Hi everyone thanks again for waiting. So we are just about finished with the Edolas arc, all I have left is this one, a small one after, and an epilogue chapter to bridge this arc to the next one, which is my own DMC-based arc, then we will move onto Tenrous Island. Thanks again for all your support and now let us finish up this arc.
Goodbye Edolas
The Edolas Fairy Tail members continued to look up toward the sky with expressions of fear and despair as the Reverse-Anima continued to drain away Edolas' remaining magic. At this rate, they would be sucked dry in no time.
"Is this it…?" Mary wondered aloud. "Is it… over for us?"
Edolas Eva looked toward Edolas Lucy who had a serious look on her face before the younger blonde spoke to the rest of her guild.
"Listen, this looks bad, but we gotta stay cool." She began. "Let's head to the Royal City and see what's up for ourselves."
"You're right, Lucy. The people might need our help." Edolas Eva agreed with a nod.
Edolas Natsu looked more nervous. "But, what exactly are we going to see?"
"Our future." Edolas Lucy said in a serious tone of voice. "Let's look it straight in the eye."
Most of the Edolas Fairy Tail looked in surprise at that statement before Lucy turned around and ran toward the direction of the Royal City.
"That's my little girl." Edolas Eva smiled in approval before turning back to her friends. "Well, what do you say? Lets go help as many people as we can."
They all looked toward each other somewhat nervously, however the first to gain a determined look on her face was Mary. "She's right. Come on, we're Fairy Tail. Let's make that name mean something again."
Everyone shared looks one more time before they became determined, they all nodded before everyone in the Edolas Fairy Tail ran after Edolas Lucy.
The members of Earthland's Fairy Tail, including Grey, Lucy, Trish, Lisanna, Lady, Happy, and Carla all looked toward their Edolas counterparts as they ran toward the Royal City.
"I think we should go and help to." Lisanna spoke out. "We are… sort of to blame for some of this…"
"She's right." Grey agreed. "We're not from Edolas but we can still help."
"Then what are we waiting for, let's go!" Lady stated as they to ran toward the Royal City along with the Edolas guild.
"We're coming too!" Happy spoke up as he and Carla spread their wings and took after them.
"You sure you're gonna be okay for this?" Lucy asked them, Carla in particular as she was injured during the fight.
"Yes." Carla nodded. "I'll be fine."
"Then lets go." Lucy said in a serious tone of voice as they all went to help however they could.
Anima Chambers
"DO YOU REALLY THINK THE ONLY WAY FOR YOU TO SAVE THIS KINGDOM IS FOR YOU TO DIE!?" Panther-Lily yelled at the serious and unphased Mystogen after proposing that Lily play the role as 'hero' and slay him as the 'villain' in their charade to quell the chaos ensuing outside.
Unknown to both of them, the Exceed advisor known as Nabi, still waving his arm, was witnessing the whole thing and heard every word of their plan.
As the chaos continued outside with the all magic leaving the Edolas dimension entirely, and the islands falling from the sky, as well as the panicking populace; Lily and Mystogen continued their debate of what to do.
"You may think this is madness, but it's our only choice." Mystogen told his friend.
Lily seemed to think otherwise. "But Prince…. This foolish plan… How could you ask this of me?!" Lily questioned as he remembered when he saved him when he was only a small child. "I simply cannot do it!"
"I think you can." Mystogen argued.
"Then you obviously don't know me." Lily rebuked.
"Despite the fact that you're an Exceed, you chose to save the life of a helpless human child, you understood that life has value for every living creature, regardless of what form they take." Mystogen stated.
"And still you burden me?!" Lily angrily questioned. "Make me carry the weight of this world on my shoulders!?"
"You're the only one who can bear that weight." Mystogen replied. "There's no one else. I am afraid… there is no other way."
Lily would have none of this. "You are the prince of this world! The one most suited to rule!"
"I am the destroyer of this world!" Mystogen argued.
"Nelo Angelo was the one who sought Edolas' destruction!" Lily shot back. "You've taken extreme measures to save it! You're even willing to put your own life on the line! We need someone with that kind of heart to take the helm! To steer us out of this darkness!"
Mystogen remained silent as Lily continued. "You cannot break this world and then leave it to others to pick up the pieces! You must make it whole again! It's your responsibility! You cannot escape it in death!"
"This storm cannot be quelled by me."
Royal City
Everyone continued to panic as they all made attempts to run for their lives. Frightened children clung to their parents hoping for some form of salvation in their arms, while the frightened parents hopped for the same thing.
One little boy was running and tripped, but Mary came by and kneeled down to him. "Are you okay?"
"I'm scared. I want my daddy!" The little boy cried as Mary helped him up.
"Don't worry, we'll find him." Mary consoled the child.
Edolas Lucy came up toward them. "Come on everybody! Just calm down!" She tried to get the civilians to calm down, but no one seemed to listen.
"Are you kidding!? At a time like this?!" One man replied. "I'd start running if I we're you! This place is history!" He ran away.
Edolas Natsu and Edolas Eva came up as well. "Is he serious?" Edolas Natsu asked having heard what the man said before panicking.
"We gotta get out of here now!" Edolas Natsu panicked before Edolas Eva grabbed him by the shoulders and shook him.
"Natsu! Calm down! You have to stay focused!"
Edolas Eva's shaking seemed to clam him down. "Okay… Alright…"
"Daddy!" The little boy Mary was helping yelled to his incoming father.
"Oh there you are!" The man came up and his son immediately ran to him.
"Keep your eyes on your kid, okay?!" Edolas Lucy told him.
"You should find a safe place." Mary told him.
The man nodded to thank them before running off with his son.
It wasn't just them; all the members of both Earthland and Edolas Fairy Tail we're doing what they can to help the civilians nearby. Both Earthland and Edolas Grey helped lift a beam out of the way of a broken down door so several people could get out of the building.
Trish, Lady, Lucy, and Edolas Wendy we're helping to guide some citizens away from some of the most chaotic areas while Lisanna and the Edolas counterparts to her siblings we're helping lost children find their parents. Happy and Carla we're also looking for Natsu, Dante, Erza, and the others who we're separated from them during the fighting.
"Natsu! Dante!" Happy called out as they searched through the skies.
"Wendy! Where are you!?" Carla called out as well.
Anima chambers
Panther-Lily saw the determined expression on Mystogen's face and saw his arguments weren't getting anywhere with him. So he came up with his own plan.
"I'll do it." The large Exceed spoke up. "I will play the role of villain."
Mystogen's look turned into one of shock as Lily said that.
Outside
The islands continued to fall, even Extalia itself fell and crashed onto the ground, destroying the city once considered holy and divine, reducing it to nothing more than rubble.
Lucky and Marl saw it as they continued to hover in the air and we're shocked beyond belief.
"The whole thing's blown to pieces!" Lucky exclaimed.
"Our poor little house is gone!" Marl exclaimed as well as their farmhouse was also on the same island.
"Now the boy has no place to come home to! It's an outrage! AN OUTRAGE!" Lucky screamed.
Anima chambers
Lily began to explain. "When I was exiled by my homeland, the Kingdom took me in. But now, I've run a foul of the Kingdom as well. I'm a man with nowhere to call home. If I am to be sacrificed, there's no one to mourn me."
"Please stop!" Mystogen exclaimed, his voice shaking a bit. "You gave me the gift of life. I cost you your country! I cannot ask you to sacrifice anymore."
Lily had a look of understanding on his face. "I feel the same as you. Please do not throw your life away." Mystogen looked in surprise. This was Lily's intent, to show Mystogen the error in his plan as well as self-sacrifice, noble as it sometimes may be.
"More death will only lead to more sorrow, and much more suffering." Lily continued.
Mystogen looked down. "Perhaps, then how do you suggest we make things right? I've only caused more pain."
A Royal Army soldier ran up to the pair. "Panther-Lily sir, the situation's much worse!"
"I'm aware of that!" Lily replied to the solider. "As you can see, we're dealing with the Anima, here!"
"Uh… have you stopped it?" The soldier asked.
"No, not exactly."
"There's been massive rioting in the Royal City." The soldier informed. "The destruction is beyond our control."
They both shared serious looks. "The chaos is far worse than I anticipated." Mystogen said. "We must do everything we can to stop it."
"Controlling the crowd is the first priority." Lily replied.
"You're right." Mystogen agreed. "We cannot let it spread, we should go."
The soldier noticed Mystogen's presence. "Uh sir… who might he be?" He asked Panther-Lily.
Lily didn't answer as he and Mystogen both went to leave the Anima chambers with the confused soldier following them.
Outside
Mystogen and Panther-Lily ran along the side-path on the outside of the castle, with the soldier and joined two more Royal Army soldiers. They got a good look at the situation outside and saw it did indeed bear the resemblance of total anarchy; despite the efforts of the Fairy Tail members from both Earthland and Edolas.
As Lily and Mystogen both looked in shock at the devastation occurring outside; two soldiers whispered to each other, wondering who Mystogen was as they've never seen him before, yet there was still something eerily familiar about him.
Lily turned to the two soldiers behind him. "How many are there?"
The soldiers stood upright. "Three sir!" One answered.
"And you haven't taken them out!?" Lily questioned. "Explain yourself!"
"Uh sir…" the soldier tried to find a decent enough explanation. "They're really strong…"
A very familiar laugh was heard from their location as everyone turned outside and found the source of it. It was in fact, Natsu himself, standing on a rooftop. He bore a black and red cape and wore a set of fake-demonic horns as he tried to put on the best evil laugh he could, and it was actually pretty good acting.
"I am the Demon King Dragneel!" Natsu yelled as 'evilly' as he could. "And I have come here to steal all of your magic power!"
"What?" Lily uttered as Mystogen also looked shocked.
"Natsu?"
As Natsu laughed; Dante leaned back against a wall of a building on the ground with his arms crossed and a smirk on his face, while Modeus stood next to him and looked more concerned.
"I hope this plan of yours works Dante." The black swordsman told him.
Dante simply grinned. "Buddy, you don't know Natsu like I do."
A large crowd gathered below the 'Lord Dragneel'. They we're quickly joined in by the members of both Fairy Tail guilds.
"What the hell?!" Lady questioned as she saw Natsu.
"Natsu?!" Lucy, Lisanna, and Happy exclaimed at the same time with white circular eyes.
"Have you gone insane other me?!" Edolas Natsu questioned outright.
"I think he finally blew a head gasket!" Grey exclaimed.
"No he didn't." Dante spoke up as everyone turned toward him and Modeus. "He's always crazy, but now this is just theater work, courtesy of your director Dante." The red-coated swordsman bowed.
"Theater work?" Edolas Lucy wondered.
"What on earth are you talking about?" Carla questioned.
"I promise you we will explain it all as best we can." Modeus assured.
"But for now, just sit back and enjoy the show, trust me." Dante said with a smile still evident on his face, while everyone else just looked concerned as they saw Natsu continuing his act.
"Faust ain't your king anymore!" Natsu shouted evilly. "Because my loyal servant, Nelo Angelo kicked his bucket!" He gestured to his right where he showed off Faust's dead body tied to a cross. "My Black Angel may have died, but he did his job and took Faust with him!"
Despite the act Natsu was putting on, he found the idea of hanging Faust's dead body really morbid, but knew this whole act had to look as real as possible, and the 'audience' was eating it up.
"They killed him?"
"You're majesty!"
"Poor King Faust!"
"How dare he hurt him!"
The Fairy Tail members of both Edolas and Earthland looked in shock at seeing Faust's corpse tied to a cross like that.
"The King is dead?" Mary breathed.
"I'd never thought I'd see the day." Edolas Juvia voiced aloud as well.
Modeus looked toward Dante. "I still don't like the idea of using his body like that, even if it is someone as mad as him."
"I know, I know, it's ghoulish." Dante wasn't too comfortable with it either. "But we need to put on our best bad guy act."
Natsu continued his act. "Now my faithful servants! Redfox! Marvel! Trash this lousy city!"
A line of buildings we're quickly cut down and reduced to rubble. As they fell and more citizens screamed and panicked, Gajeel, also wearing a black cape, landed on the ground with his Iron Dragon Sword on his right arm and his own evil smirk, which wasn't too hard for him to put up, complete with his own evil laugh.
"He's got a sword for an arm!"
"It's another demon!"
"We're doomed!"
Edolas Gajeel was among the crowd and saw all this as well. He quickly realized what they we're doing and went along with the performance.
"These villains won't stop until they've destroyed everything in sight!" He said to the crowd, going with the act. "The city is under attack by demons from another world!"
Wendy, also wearing a black cape, tried to put on her own villain impression as she crept up to a boy. "You better run!" She tried to scare him, but the boy looked more confused than scared, Wendy's scary-face wasn't all that scary.
However, Gajeel came up behind her and gave the boy his own scary-face, terrifying and possibly traumatizing the boy as he ran away screaming. Wendy felt maybe she did that and looked in comic remorse.
"I'm sorry."
Modeus again looked toward Dante. "I understand Gajeel, but why include Wendy in this performance?"
"Hey don't look at me, she volunteered!" Dante defended himself. "Its not my fault she's not scary."
"Just look at them!" Edolas Gajeel continued. "They're an unstoppable force of evil!"
Both Gajeels shared eye contact and smirked toward each other.
Mystogen and Lily continued to watch as the blue-haired prince tried to call to Natsu. "Just want do you think you're doing!? Stop this!"
Natsu didn't seem to hear him as he continued to put on the act. "Now my loyal servants of Dragneel! Don't stop destroying stuff!"
"Keep up with this 'servant-crap' and I'm coming up there first!" Gajeel warned.
"Just do what I tell you to, slave!" Natsu shouted down toward him.
Gajeel grumbled. "Should have been more specific."
Lily noticed the crowd's reactions and seemed to get the idea. "Hold on..."
"They're to blame for this! They're the ones that stole of Edolas' magic!"
"It's all that Dragneel's fault!"
"That's right!" Edolas Gajeel went along. "The Dark Lord Dragneel is the brains behind the whole operation!"
"Unforgivable!"
"Give us our magic back now!"
Dante still stayed in his spot and no one seemed to notice him as he continued to smirk. "It's working."
The Fairy Tail members looked toward each other and toward the smirking Dante as well as Modeus who simply nodded. It wasn't long before many of them began to figure it out.
"I get it." Lady said as she looked toward the 'dark lord'. "You're having Natsu act as the fall-guy."
"Bingo." Dante replied.
"So wait… Are you guys responsible for this?" Edolas Lucy asked them, referring to Edolas' decreasing magic power.
"No we are not." Modeus began. "We only just found out ourselves."
"What are you guys talking about?" Lucy asked.
Dante pointed up to the sky. "Mystogen AKA The Edolas Prince Jellal opened a Reverse-Anima to take all of Edolas' magic and send it back to Earthland. He thinks that without magic people won't always be fighting over it and stop killing each other. But with both Faust and Nelo Angelo now dead, courtesy of yours truly, he needs someone to take the fall so he can rally all the people."
"So… Nelo Angelo is dead to?" Mary asked.
"He is." Modeus confirmed.
All the members of Edolas Fairy Tail, including Lisanna, looked with their own expression that mixed shock and relief. "Good riddance." Edolas Eva said.
"Yeah, that monster has been hurting us for too long." Edolas Natsu agreed.
Most of the Earthland and Edolas Fairy Tail members seemed to get what Dante was doing, but Happy had something to ask.
"Hey Dante, how come you're not up there acting like a bad guy to?" Happy asked.
Dante merely shrugged. "Not my style. Besides, with how destructive Natsu is, he seemed like the perfect choice."
Grey, Lucy, Happy, Trish, Carla, Lady, and Lisanna all smiled while having sweat drops appear on their heads.
"Well he's not wrong." Carla said.
"Yeah that's Natsu for you." Lisanna added.
Natsu continued with his act as he addressed the angry Edolas citizens below him. "Better be careful." He warned. "Cause you know what happens when you play with fire!" He unleashed one of his trademark fire-breaths from his mouth into the sky, causing even more screams and panic from the citizens.
"Oh no!"
"He really is a demon!"
"He breathes fire!?"
"NATSU! STOP THIS NOW!" Mystogen shouted from the castle.
Everyone turned to the sound of his voice. Dante maintained his smirk. "Right on time."
"Is somebody challenging him?"
"He's over there in the castle tower!"
"Do you know who it is?"
The Fairy Tail members all noticed him as well. "It's Mystogen." Grey pointed out.
"Yep, our little 'knight in shinning armor'." Dante replied.
"What do you mean by that?" Mary asked.
"You'll see." Dante said as he looked toward Natsu, who looked back. The two made eye contact as Dante nodded. Natsu then looked toward Mystogen as he maintained his villain-role.
"Are you telling me what to do, you little punk?" Natsu challenged.
"Stop this foolishness!" Mystogen exclaimed to him. "The King has been defeated! There's no need to attack innocent people!"
In direct response to that, Natsu unleashed his fire-breath-attack directly toward the crowd below him. Though the Fire Dragon Slayer was careful that he didn't actually hit anyone.
"No don't!" Mystogen shouted, while Natsu maintained his evil grin.
"If you're trying to scare me, it ain't gonna work! I don't care if you are the prince!"
This got the attention of everyone in the crowd.
"He's the prince?"
"Could that really be him?"
Edolas Gajeel was actually surprised at that. "But the prince mysteriously vanished seven years ago." He quickly put on the act again. "Prince Jellal is back!"
Everyone had their own looks of surprise, they almost couldn't believe it as they looked up and saw him with their own eyes.
"I don't believe it. He's returned?"
"Just in time!"
"It's a miracle!"
Mystogen and Panther-Lily continued to look as this scene unfold. "Just what are they doing?" Lily questioned aloud.
"I'm responsible sir!" Nabi suddenly appeared as he was still waving his arm.
This caused some confusion. "What do you mean by that?" Lily asked.
"I happened to overhear your conversation earlier." Nabi began, referring to the debate back in the Anima-chamber. "I told the Dragon Slayers and their comrades of your plan, and that Dante-fellow came up with his own iteration."
Dante looked toward Natsu as he 'prepared for battle'. "This is it Natsu. The fate of this whole world hangs on you putting up a good show."
"Let's fight." Natsu challenged Mystogen. "Or your precious city is gonna get burnt to the ground!"
Mystogen finally knew what was going on as he maintained a serious look. Lily understood as well. "It seems we have our villain, don't we?"
The crowd began to look toward both Natsu and Mystogen, falling for the act.
"Why isn't the Royal Army doing anything?"
"Our king is dead, so it's up to the prince to save us!"
"Can anyone be sure that's really the prince?"
"I don't care who he is, so long as he can beat that monster!"
Modeus saw the doubt that was forming. "The citizens don't seem to believe in the Prince yet."
"Oh they will." Dante assured. "Just give it a moment."
"Natsu!" Mystogen shouted to him. "Stay right there!" He was now going along with the act as well as he jumped from the window and onto the ground and began running toward him.
"Didn't you hear me? I'm the great and powerful Lord Dragneel!"
Everyone saw Mystogen running toward the 'villain' while the citizens looked with concern; everyone in the Fairy Tail had their own expressions of concern as well. Though Gajeel and Wendy crossed their arms and glared as part of the evil henchman act, and Dante still maintained an air of confidence.
Lily continued to look on as Nabi spoke to him. "Sir, I'd advise you to be ready for some major surprises." He said, having heard the full extent of Dante's plan. "There is much more in store for tonight, to say the least."
Elsewhere
The giant lacrima that had formed when Code ETD was first unleashed upon the Exceed Royal Guard was now changing back due to the effects of Mystogen's Reverse-Anima. It had now reverted back to Nichiya and his army of Exceed soldiers all piled on top of each other, with Nichiya on the bottom.
"Oh my… I feel myself again." He said. "EXCEPT FOR THIS CRUSHING WEIGHT! I'M BEING SQUASHED BY MY MEN!"
All the Exceed soldiers stood up and tried to collect themselves as they saw what was happening around them with the Reverse-Anima and flowing magic power.
"What the devil is happening here? Is that magic power?" Nichiya questioned. "The Queen! I must protect the Queen! MEOW!"
Royal City
Mystogen ran along the streets through the crowd of people and passed the Fairy Tail members, including Dante. Mystogen and Dante both shared brief eye contact before Mystogen continued to run.
He even passed Edolas Gajeel as he went along with it. "There goes the Prince! Is he really going to fight that monster by himself?! What unbelievable courage he has!"
Other citizens began to think this as well as they bought it.
"He's so brave."
Mystogen continued to run as he thought to himself. "You idiot! I understand what you're trying to do! But you're just going to end up making things worse for everyone!"
Natsu maintained his villainous smirk as Lilly, Nabi, Dante, Modeus, Gajeel, Wendy, and all the other Fairy Tail members had their own anticipated expressions, hopping this plan would work. The crowd looked with anticipation as well, only theirs was for their prince to be the savior to vanquish the monster.
Mystogen tried to shoot magic out from his staff. "Sleep…!" However, all the magic faded quickly as he now barley had any to use. Mystogen looked in shock.
"The Anima must have taken my power!"
Dante however smirked as this worked out even better, knowing where this could go.
Natsu went along. "What's the matter? You scared without your magic, huh?" Mystogen glared as Natsu continued to taunt.
"Well you should be!" Natsu said as he lit his fist on fire. "Cause check this out! I got plenty!" He delivered a firey-punch to the building he was on and collapsed a major part of it, causing even more panic among the citizens.
"I said stop!" Mystogen exclaimed.
Wendy was looking a bit worried. "Natsu, you're going way too far!"
"No he's not." Gajeel told her, as he had his own grin. "The more powerful a villain's magic seems to everyone, the stronger the hero looks when he beats him without using any magic at all."
Everyone in Fairy Tail looked toward Dante. "This is it, it had better work." Modeus whispered.
"It will, just relax." Dante replied back as they continued to watch the show.
The Edolas Prince Jellal faced the 'Demon Lord Dragneel' as the fire-user stood on top of a large piece of rubble.
"Listen Natsu." Mystogen began, in a tone that no one else could hear. "You're making a big mistake with all this, this whole show you're putting on. You can't expect to fool all these people."
Natsu still maintained his act. "I challenge you!" He exclaimed as he slugged Mystogen across the face, knocking him down, surprising the citizens.
"Prince!"
"Watch out! He's dangerous!"
Mystogen tried to stand up. "You fool! You can't bring the people together like this… through evil!" He tried to go with the act while also trying to pull his punch, but Natsu caught it with no effort at all.
"Fight me for real." Natsu uttered. He knew if Mystogen pulled his punches, it wouldn't fool anyone.
Mystogen got the message as he delivered a real kick to Natsu's jaw, staggering him back quite a bit. This resulted in cheers amongst the crowd.
"Yeah! You got him, Prince!
"We know you can do it!"
"You're our only hope!"
Mystogen saw all of the crowd's reactions, as did the Edolas Fairy Tail and they all looked toward each other as they nodded and decided to step in as well.
"Come on Prince Jellal! Kick that guy's ass!" Edolas Lucy went with the act as well.
"Defeat that monster!" Edolas Natsu faked cheered.
"We believe in you!" Mary exclaimed to.
"Go for it!" Edolas Eva cheered with the act as well.
Dante maintained his smirk, as he knew his plan was working.
Natsu gave a chuckle. "Yeah, now they're really getting into it!"
Mystogen glared slightly. "You idiot. You should have stayed down so we wouldn't have to stretch this out further!" He made sure to keep his voice down so no one else would hear him.
"Not my style!" Natsu punched him in the gut and knocked some of the wind out of him.
"Oh no."
"Get up."
"How dare he strike the Prince like that."
Mystogen grimaced through the pain before punching Natsu across the cheek. Natsu tried to respond with a punch toward the jaw, but Mystogen caught it. The crowd continued to cheer for their prince as they saw all of this.
"Go Prince! Go Prince! Go Prince! Go Prince! Go Prince!"
Natsu pulled Mystogen close as he began to whisper to him. "This is it, buddy. I'm gonna give you a real Fairy Tail send off."
Mystogen was slightly surprised as Natsu continued. "Since you're leaving Fairy Tail, you gotta swear to follow these three rules…"
The two of them began to parry punches and kicks as Natsu continued. "Number one! Never ever share sensitive information about Fairy Tail with anyone! As long as you live! Number two…"
Mystogen punched Natsu in the face, causing Natsu to forget that rule. "How'd that go again?" Natsu dazed.
Mystogen continued as he punched Natsu across his body. "Rule number two, you must never contact any clients you've worked with in the guild for your own personal gain!"
"Yeah that's right." Natsu said as he put on his 'loosing act' now. "And don't forget number three!" He punched Jellal in the gut again. "Although our paths must now stray, you gotta promise to live your life to the fullest…" Mystogen drove both his fists on Natsu's head, staggering him back as he continued. "That means to treat every day like it was gonna be your last day in this world." He smiled. "Don't forget the friends you loved."
Mystogen smiled back. "You must treasure them for as long as you live." He finished before they both delivered punches to their face at the same time.
Everyone; Edolas citizen, Exceed, and Fairy Tail member, all looked with anticipation as both Natsu and Mystogen began to fall.
"Did you get all that?" Natsu asked as he fell. Mystogen grunted in acknowledgement as he caught his footing, but Natsu fell to the ground, signaling the villain's defeat for this performance. "When a guild works together, there's nothing they can't do. So long pal, later." He said with a smile as he laid in 'defeat'.
Everyone in the crowd all cheered at the victory of their Royal Prince. Mystogen looked down toward Natsu…
"Thank you…"
"Our prince won!" The crowd continued to cheer.
"He beat him!"
"You're awesome!"
"Prince, you're my hero!"
Dante maintained his smile, his plan worked. Everyone in Fairy Tail smiled as well, Modeus included. Lily to smiled from his spot on the Royal Tower. Edolas Gajeel also smiled as he turned around and began to walk away. Gajeel saw his Edolas double walking away while giving a wave, causing Gajeel to give a slight smirk himself.
Modeus looked toward Dante. "I will admit, your plan did work."
"Of course it did, I thought of it." Dante smirked.
Happy flew up toward Dante with an excited look on his face. "Aye Dante! You're super smart!"
"Just don't let it get to your head." Carla said in a joking tone.
"A bit late for that one cat." Lady joked as well.
The Fairy Tail members of both Earthland and Edolas chuckled at this, knowing things we're going to be okay from this point. However, Edolas Eva had something to say to him as she walked up toward him.
"Hey Dante, you're okay, right?" She asked as he looked toward him. "I mean, you just fought both Faust and Nelo Angelo, so… you're gonna be okay?"
Dante smiled toward her. "Yeah, I'll be fine. Trust me, I've been through quite a lot."
"That's good." Edolas Eva looked down with a smile. "I can't really explain it but… I'm just glad you're okay."
Dante didn't quite know how to respond; though some of his friends in Earthland, particularly Modus, Lady, Trish, and Lucy looked toward him with serious expressions.
"I know…" Dante tried to reply. "It feels weird, but I guess…" He was stopped when Lady put a hand on his shoulder. He turned toward her as she gave a slight smile and she nodded.
Dante sighed as he got the message and turned toward Edolas Eva. "Hey listen, there's this woman in my world also named Eva."
"My counterpart in Earthland?"
"Yeah." Dante nodded. "You see… she… well…" Dante rubbed the back of his neck. "She's… my mother."
That caught the members of the Edolas Fairy Tail by surprise, especially Edolas Lucy and Mary. None however we're more surprised than Edolas Eva as her pupils shrunk and her eyes shook.
"What…?" Edolas Eva breathed.
"I'm the son of your counterpart." Dante explained.
Edolas Eva didn't know how to respond to that. "I… I… never married…"
"Yeah lets just say that my dad was… very unique." Dante briefed. "But he and my Mom died when I was just a kid." He showed his red and silver amulet. "She gave this to me on my eight birthday and I never take it off."
Edolas Eva remained silent. All the other Fairy Tail members simply watched but kept silent as this exchange was only meant for the two of them.
"I know this sounds messed up." Dante tried to talk to her. "Hell, even I'm feeling weirded out by this… I saw my own mom die; yet I'm talking to someone who is her and who isn't her at the same time. Doesn't that screw everything up? What I'm trying to…"
Dante didn't get a chance to finish as Edolas Eva pulled him into a large hug, wrapping her arms around him. This surprised everyone in Fairy Tail, but none we're more surprised than Dante.
"I'm sorry." Edolas Eva uttered, her voice cracking a bit. "I'm so sorry you went through all that. No one should have to go through something like that."
Dante looked toward her as she continued to embrace him. "I don't know who your mother in Earthland was, but… If I we're in her place, I would be nothing short of proud." This caused Dante's eyes to shake as Edolas Eva pulled him away and looked at him with a smile and tearful eyes.
"You saved me. You saved my guild and my friends. You saved our whole world." Edolas Eva said as she had tears of joy in her eyes. "If I truly had a son like you I would be nothing but proud and happy for him as I'm sure your mother is now as she is looking down on you. You are true hero, a knight in shinning armor!"
Dante was speechless as he breathed heavily, tears formed in his eyes and we're ready to fall. Despite this, all his friends in the Earthland Fairy Tail couldn't help but be happy for him. Grey, Lady, Trish, Modeus, Happy, even Carla all smiled toward Dante, even Lucy who shed a small tear in her eye.
Lisanna looked toward this with a smile as well. She didn't know Dante, but this was still happy to see. She felt some hands on her shoulders as well, on her left was the Edolas Mira and the right was the Edolas Elfman as they looked to Lisanna with smiles, feeling the same sort of feeling toward her that Edolas Eva had toward Dante. This caused Lisanna to smile back.
As Mystogen looked down toward the 'defeated' Natsu, the Dragon Slayer's body began to glow, surprising him.
"What? What's that?"
It wasn't just Natsu; Gajeel and Wendy began to glow as well. "It's starting." Wendy said.
"Yeah I guess our little song-and-dance ain't over just yet." Gajeel said in agreement.
The citizens began to notice this as well.
"Do you see that?"
"Their bodies are glowing?"
Dante's body began to glow as well, surprising Edolas Eva. "Dante?"
"I don't know… I don't know what's going on?" He said, still shaken emotionally a bit.
"What's happening to us?" Lucy asked as she, Lisanna, Trish, Grey, Lady, and Modeus all began to glow as well, including Happy and Carla as they all looked confused and worried.
"I have no idea." Grey responded.
"Okay anyone else feeling really weird?" Lady questioned.
Lily and Nabi, both still in the Royal Tower, began to glow as well. "What?" Lily questioned as he looked at himself. "What's happening to us?"
"The Reverse-Anima spell is beginning to expel every remaining shred of magic out of Edolas." Nabi explained, as he still waved his arm. "And since we possess internal magic powers, it includes all the Exceeds, Dragon Slayers, and Earthlanders as well. We'll be pulled into Earthland!"
"Say what?!" Panther-Lily questioned in surprise.
"I believe the Queen is preparing for this occurrence as we speak!"
Elsewhere
Queen Shagotte and a number of Exceed children we're hiding in a forest as they began to glow. The children we're looking quite scared at this.
"I'm scared your highness."
"I'm feeling very weird."
"Don't be afraid." Shagotte consoled a pair of crying children. "It'll be alright. They don't need angels now we have to move along. There's going to be a big change for us, and we all have to walk toward it with a brave face."
Royal City
Modeus, Carla, Trish, Happy, Lucy, Lisanna, and Grey all began to float up off the ground.
"What the hell is going on?!" Trish questioned.
"The Anima is pulling us out of this world!" Carla answered in an exclamation as they we're pulled upward.
Natsu, Gajeel and Wendy began to float up as well as the Reverse-Anima was working on them as well. Among the last was Dante as he was beginning to float upward as well, but before he got too much further, Edolas Eva gently grabbed his hand with both of hers.
She looked up to him with a sad smile, as did many of the other Edolas Fairy Tail members. "It looks like you have to go now."
Dante didn't smile however, in fact, he actually looked kind of sad. "Come with me." He uttered, almost sounding pleading. "Please… I… don't want to lose… you again…"
Edolas Eva had tears in her eyes as she still maintained her smile. "I think we both know that's not going to happen. You belong in Earthland and I belong in Edolas."
Dante looked toward Edolas Eva as tears formed in his eyes to, but she still smiled as she slowly pulled him close and placed her forehead onto his.
"You're a good boy, Dante." She told him. "I would love to spend more time to get to know you, but fate has other plans. As much as I want to go with you, I can't, but that's okay, because I'm glad I met you. You brought so much hope to Edolas, to me, and I can't thank you enough." Tears fell down her face as she continued. "I know you found a family in your Fairy Tail just as I found one in mine, now go to them. Keep making your mother proud, just as you've made me proud."
Dante's tears we're getting hard to fight back as she gave a tearful smile with a small laugh. "I know this is gonna sound really weird but… I love you."
That was it, Dante finally let his tears let loose as they streamed down his face. Despite them falling, he gave a real and honest smile to her "Yeah… I love you to. And you're right… it does sound weird." He chocked up a laugh before he and Edolas Eva finally let go and Dante flew up toward his friends.
"Hey Dante." He heard as Dante floated close toward Natsu, Wendy, and Gajeel. Wendy smiled to him, Gajeel gave a slight smirk and thumbs up while Natsu gave his trademark grin as they heard the whole thing.
"Sometimes even a devil may cry, right buddy?" Natsu said with a smile.
Dante smiled back as he rubbed the tears from his face. "Right."
"I really am happy for you Dante." Wendy told him.
Even Gajeel smirked a bit. "It ain't sappy to cry about your mom. You're still a badass in my book buddy."
Dante gave his trademark smirk, but deep down he was grateful for their support. It wasn't long before the four of them we're caught up with Happy, Grey, Lady, Carla, Modeus, Trish, Lucy, and Lisanna.
"Hey, good to see you guys hanging around." Dante put on his joking demeanor toward his friends.
"Keep it up, jerk." Lady joked back to him.
"Glad to see you guys are okay." Grey told them.
"We're all back together now." Modeus said with a happy smile. "And now we're going home."
"Yep, this ride is finally over." Trish agreed with a relieved sigh.
The Edolas Fairy Tail continued to look up toward them as they left. Edolas Eva still had tears of joy in her eyes, and was quickly joined by both Edolas Lucy and Mary as they gave her comfort and smiles of their own.
"Looks like this is it." Mary said with a bit of a sad smile. "Our magic is gone forever."
Worry began to take most of the Edolas Fairy Tail. "Are we going to loose our guild?" Edolas Bisca questioned as her lover, Edolas Alzack, comforted her.
"I'm so scared." Edolas Cana said to Edolas Juvia. "What will ever become of us now?"
"You're asking me like I've got some kind of answer?" Edolas Juvia questioned.
Grey, as he and the others floated upward, spoke down toward them. "You don't have to worry about it, you guys!" He called down to them. "It takes a whole lot more than just magic to make up a real guild, trust me!"
Edolas Grey looked up to his Earthland counterpart as he put a fist toward his heart. "It's what's in here! It's all about heart!"
"He is right!" Modeus called down to them. "What matters most is not power, but the bonds you form with each other! So long as you have them, your Fairy Tail will continue to live on, just as ours does!"
Elsewhere
Both Erza Scarlet and Erza Knightwalker continued to lie in the crater where their battle ended. Erza Scarlet began to glow as the Reverse-Anima was now taking its full effect on her as well, and she to began to float up toward the sky.
Knightwalker rose up from her spot slightly to see Erza ascending. "Is this it Scarlet?" She asked, having a feeling this would be the last she would see of her counterpart.
"I'm afraid so Knightwalker." Erza replied. "No… we're both…"
"Erza" They both said at the same time.
At the same time; all the Exceeds we're being pulled up by the Anima as well. All those that we're transformed into Lacrimas had been reverted back to normal and we're being pulled up as well. Among them we're Lucky and Marl as they tried to hold onto some rocks on the ground.
"What in tarnation… is going on here!?" Lucky exclaimed in frustration as he tried to hold on.
"This force is pulling us in!" They both lost their grip and we're sucked up as well.
Nichiya and all the Exceed Royal Guard we're being pulled into the Reverse Anima portal as well.
"This cannot be!" Nichiya exclaimed. "Just when we we're revived and ready to perform feats of unimaginable heroism!"
The Fairy Tail members that we're in the Royal City continued to ascend higher as they made eye-contact with the members in Edolas that we're their counterparts and friends that they've made.
Wendy looked at Mystogen and spoke to him. "Mystogen! I mean Jellal! I never got the chance to thank you! You saved me so long ago!" Tears we're forming in her eyes. "You we're my first friend! I'll never forget you! I love you!"
Mystogen smiled as a tear formed in his right eye as well. "I love you to Wendy. I know you'll be just fine." He didn't need to say it because Wendy knew he felt that way.
Behind him, the crowd was cheering in uproars, as they believed that he had defeated the villains and sent them packing back to wherever it was they came from.
"Prince!"
Mystogen looked toward Panther-Lily as he and Nabi we're being pulled up as well. The muscular Exceed looked down upon him with a smile.
"Although things are changing rapidly don't forget adapting to them can take time. Don't rush; lead your people with warmth and a calm heart. Take them at a pace they can keep up with, they will march alongside you into the future."
Tears we're still present as he looked toward Lily as well. "I will." He said, almost reading his thoughts.
Edolas Lucy looked up toward Dante and called up to him. "Yo Dante!" He looked down toward her as she had a tear in her right eye and gave a thumbs up. "We stood our ground against the Gates of Hell! I'd say we did pretty good, don't you?"
Dante smiled as he gave a returning thumbs up. "Yeah, not bad Blondie. Not bad."
Lucy waved to her as well. "Bye-bye Lucy Ashley!" Edolas Lucy nodded as well.
"Later! And best of luck to Edolas me!" Natsu called out.
"Try not to die!" Trish called out as well, sending her own goodbye.
"Good luck to you to!" Edolas Natsu called out to them.
"So long Earthland me!" Mary called up to Lady. "And good luck to you and Dante!"
Lady looked surprised as her counterpart gave her a wink, causing Lady to blush a bit. Regardless, Lady smiled back "See you around!"
Lisanna waved toward Edolas Elfman and Edolas Mira. "Mira! Elfman! All of you! Thank you for everything! I won't ever forget any of you!" She began to shed some tears.
"We won't forget you Lisanna!" Edolas Elfman cried.
"We know you have your own brother and sister in Earthland so go to them!" Edolas Mira called to her with teary eyes.
Coco waved goodbye among the other members of the Edolas Fairy Tail. "Bye-Bye Princess Lucy! You to Dante! Thanks again for saving me!"
Happy waved to them all as well as he ascended up with Carla. "Bye-Bye everyone! We'll see you later!"
"Don't be such a fool." Carla told him. "We won't be seeing them again, never."
"WHAT?!" Happy then began to cry huge tears. "I'LL MISS YOU!" He shouted to them.
"Stop being so sentimental." Carla told him as she looked away, with tears in her own eyes as well. "It's just pathetic."
Grey gave a salute with his fingers; Modeus gave a gentle smile as did Lily. Natsu, Wendy, and Gajeel each gave their receptive grins, along with Trish and Lady. Lucy and Lisanna waved as they shed tears. Erza had her own gentle smile as she floated along with them.
Dante gave one last look around.
"Okay so maybe Edolas wasn't a total shithole. It's still got some major problems… but the people… they got it where it counts. Without magic they'll definitely have a hard time adapting to all this. But it ain't the end of the world." Dante looked toward the Edolas counterpart of his mother as she shed tears of joy and watched him ascend. He smiled. "Yeah, something's telling me they'll be just fine."
Right before they came to the portal that would take them back to Earthland, Dante flashed a pair of 'rock-on devil horns' signals with his hands as he shouted so loud almost this entire world could hear him.
"GOOOOOOODNIGHT EDOLAS!" He bellowed as he, his friends, and all the magic vanished from Edolas forever.
Everyone heard him as the Edolas Fairy Tail cheered, while Edolas Lucy just had a humorous smile with a tear in her eye.
"Showoff."
The sun rose as day returned to Edolas. Prince Jellal walked on top of a destroyed building with his staff in his hands. He looked toward the sky, to the world he would now lead, one without magic and one that was forever safe from the Demon Realm.
He turned to address his citizens as he raised his staff. "THE MONSTERS HAVE BEEN DEFEATED! WHETHER WE HAVE MAGIC OR NOT OUR KINGDOM WILL LIVE ON SAFLEY AND PEACEFULLY FOR ALL ETENRITY!"
Citizens below cheered for their new leader. It was a new dawn for all of Edolas, and its future just became a whole lot brighter.
Done. Again sorry for the wait, and sorry for the short chapter. I hope you all enjoyed it. Mystogen and Fairy Tail have now saved Edolas and returned to Earthland with some extra company. Dante also had an emotional moment with Edolas Eva; he finally had a chance to say goodbye to his mother. I hope you enjoyed that as much as I enjoyed writing it.
There is just one more chapter left as Fairy Tail returns to Earthland and the Exceeds explain some things to them, as does a certain white-haired girl presumed dead for two years by her guild and loved ones. Then there will be an epilogue chapter for the next arc. I promise to have the next update up real soon.
See you later. Thanks and Jackpot!