Disclaimer: I am not the owner of Fairy Tail
With the danger of the new location, watches were established and strictly enforced at all times. The lacrima outside of the base was a beacon to anyone flying above that magic was here, and that Alvarez was likely involved as it had not been here previously. No one else had a need for large amounts of magic right now, after all. So, the Twelve Shields rotated rounds, keeping watch at the base of the lacrima for any signs of invaders. In the meantime, Mavis set up a separate rotation involving the Legion and Extalia; they were to fly the creature around the region, to help it absorb the energy in the atmosphere there.
Mavis had honestly expected to see something unusual, based on the reports. Yet…where Extalia had once been was nothing but open sky. There were no signs of magic, and no signs of anything preserved. She had studied the ground below the floating island as well, thinking that perhaps the source was nearby. Yet, it was nothing but the scarce vegetation and wildlife of the desert. She'd seen a rodent scurry across the sand that had her grimacing; Jacob had claimed that most of their meals were now coming from small rodents like that one, and she had mixed feelings on the thought. Rats were always believed to carry diseases, but she needed to eat somehow and she had starved enough in the past to not let her distaste turn her away from the meal.
The others reported similar findings, when they searched the area. While there were no obvious changes in the Legion, Mavis was hoping that the region would be thick with magic in the air, at least when compared to the rest of Edolas. Earthland's Zeref had claimed magic was returning, after all, so there likely was some minimal amount elsewhere. She just hadn't been able to confirm that theory for herself quite yet.
They had been working towards Mavis' goal for about a week when it happened. Irene had been on watch, and she sauntered inside with a sigh late at night. "Looks like we've been spotted, Mavis."
"Did you capture them?"
"Was I supposed to?" Mavis narrowed her eyes, and Irene smiled faintly. "I didn't realize that. You only said to watch, after all, and warn you if someone was near. I did exactly that, so there's no need to give me that look either."
"Why aren't they attacking?"
Irene shrugged. "Who knows? Last I saw, they turned around and headed back towards the capital." So, Jellal was going to hear about her location. Mavis grimaced, glancing out the window at the lacrima. Moving it again…there'd be no time. She needed a plan, a way to get them away from his grasp before it was too late.
"You…if this results in me losing them, I will make sure you regret it, Irene. I have tolerated your laziness for long enough, but this…this puts everything I've worked towards at risk."
Irene snorted. "Really? This is coming from someone who abandoned her entire plan, one that was well-thought through and worked on for years…all to just go out on a whim that some beast has magic? You are the one putting your plans at risk, not me. Yet, you never once asked for my opinion on the subject. You didn't ask for mine, or anyone else's. This? This is what you deserve, for abandoning such goals, Mavis."
"It will be a faster method of—"
"I don't care. I'm going to make sure Edolas gets magic back my way, Mavis."
Sting moved to stand closer to Mavis, with Invel by his side. Kagura remained silent, watching the exchange from the corner. Yet, the others gradually began standing between Mavis and Irene, prepared to defend Mavis as necessary. "Threatening Mavis is threatening all of Alvarez." Jacob stepped forward. "For that, you are the one who should bleed."
"I'm not normally one for violence, but I think I find myself agreeing with Jacob." Neinhart smiled, studying her.
"Both of you, stand down." Mavis saw them back down, glancing back at her with wide eyes. "Irene…you've betrayed us, and our goals. Speak a word of anything you know to anyone…and you will be hunted down for your actions. Of all people, you should know how connected I am." Irene rolled her eyes, shaking her head.
"Whatever you say, Miss Mavis. I suppose this is my banishment ceremony then?" When no one replied, Irene chuckled. "Well, I wish you luck in replacing me then. Not many can manage such a thing."
Zeref could. The thought came to her quickly, and Mavis' hands clenched into fists as the woman left. Yet, the damage was already done. They were tense for the next few days, awaiting attack. Wall was preparing weapons for them. Sting was sparring with Invel for practice ahead of time. Jacob and Ajeel worked overtime to ensure supplies were stocked up in the event of needing to lockdown inside of the guild hall. Kagura was spending all of her time with Simon, as if she was saying goodbye already. Everyone…everyone knew what a betrayal from someone of Irene's ranking could mean for them. Mavis was no fool; yet she knew Irene was a strategist, and not one to act out unless it became necessary for her to do so. She wouldn't reveal anything, not right now.
Mavis, however, made her best efforts to rush forward. She was out with the Legion daily, getting as close as she dared to Extalia without actually flying into it. She was reckless with her efforts, likely risking disappearing herself, but it didn't matter. She would find a way to get to Earthland, and take Zera and Zeref with her before…before they were taken from her. At least, that was the plan. Yet, when Sting came inside late at night that week, his face pale and his expression dark, she knew she had failed. "The king himself came this time. We…we won't be getting away easily, Mavis."
She inhaled deeply, closing her eyes. "All of you…thank you, for what you have done. However, I am the one he wants." She met their gazes. "Leave, and defend yourselves. I will not ask you to sacrifice yourselves for me, not now." She didn't have a guarantee that she'd be able to bring Zeref back, not without knowing which Zeref was alive currently and not without a guarantee of accessing Earthland's magic. She wouldn't risk their lives…for such a faint hope.
"We're not abandoning you." Sting met her gaze.
"If Sting remains, I will too. Your goals align with my own…and if we must become martyrs for it to become reality, I will accept that fate," Invel said.
She slowly shook her head, seeing more join in after Invel. "I've been longing for a change, longing to battle Jellal for ages now. You've granted my request, and I will fight with honor, for myself if not for you," Kagura added. Simon stood by Kagura's side, nodding with her.
Before more could join in, Mavis shook her head. "I see." She gave them a smile, looking at their eyes slowly. She stared at them…at the friends she'd made, despite only keeping them by her side for her plans. They hadn't mattered at all…yet she mattered to them. Somehow, throughout all of their planning, they'd become close. It was like their own small family of sorts, and now…now it was time to say goodbye, and move on. She wouldn't lose more family, not when she already had to save Zera and Zeref. She wouldn't watch them die, not for her. "Then I wish you luck, in accomplishing that goal."
They frowned at her, but Mavis was already running. She charged out the door, slamming it shut behind her. She leaned against it, blocking it from opening again. Yet, the pressure from behind her was strong, trying to shove her off balance and make her move. The Legion came to her side, used to going on a trip with her when she left. She rubbed its chin, smiling faintly. Then, she reached onto its back, where random possessions still lingered that they had not yet unpacked given the panic of being found. Wall had left some of his contraptions there, including his latest sleeping gas. Even if they were captured, they'd all still be alive, at least. Pulling the plug, she quickly threw it towards the window beside the door. It shattered as the metal crashed into it, and soon, gas was clouding her ability to see inside. The pressure faded from behind her, and Mavis took a deep breath. Then, she climbed onto the Legion, glancing up into the sky.
"Mavis…I wondered if this meant you were here." Jellal came down to the ground, with his own creature to fly upon. The Royal Army was with him, guarding him like usual, along with a few members of Fairy Tail to assist in the task. "Surrender now…and this will be easier on you."
She closed her eyes. Would that be for the best? "What…what will you do…to Zera and Zeref?"
He frowned, glancing to his side. "Give them an appropriate burial, and respect them as they should be. Mavis…the dead are not meant to be paraded as statues, not like this."
She swallowed. He'd…destroy everything. He'd make her a potential murderer, if that was Earthland's Zeref, or a promise breaker if it wasn't. She'd…fail them both, and all of Alvarez. Her gaze glanced at the run-down guild hall behind her, where her team had fallen because of her own actions. They'd hate her. She drugged them all, put them to sleep. None of them would forgive her for this. Mavis would be alone again, and she'd have to start over. What else could she do?
Glancing at the lacrima, Mavis inhaled deeply. The spell within had already healed the damage from the visitors before; the strange marking left behind as a message had healed away from Zeref's skin, and he was ready to come back once more. Her eyes were burning, and she was fighting against tears, but she couldn't just give up now. "Mavis, I know you miss him. I do too…but, he's already gone." Natsu was there, staring at her. "He…he came to me, you know? Said goodbye. He told me…not to be upset anymore. He said things were better this way. He realized that maybe he was meant to die at this time. That it was meant to make both of us stronger, strong enough to live on our own."
Mavis slowly shook her head. "No…no, he couldn't have meant that…" It meant that her Zeref was back, but her Zeref would fight to live. He'd fight to stay by her side, just like she would.
"I'm sorry, but please, let him rest…"
She shook her head, inhaling. "No. I'm…I'm not giving him up, not to anyone! I will save him!" She launched herself onto the Legion, staring at the lacrima with narrowed eyes. There was no magic in the air, but the lacrima itself was magic. Taking in a shaky breath, She guided the Legion towards the crystal at full speed, she held a hand out, reaching for the magic to unravel the spell. With a loud crack, the lacrima began to shatter, breaking apart down to the base. Zeref and Zera both began falling to the ground, but Mavis quickly caught them both.
By that time, Jellal and Natsu were both preparing to chase after her. There was no path for escape, no easy place to hide and lose pursuers in this location. It was a desert, with clear open skies and only one place to go. Taking a deep breath, Mavis set off in a familiar direction. She gave the guild hall one last glance. "Goodbye, my generals." She paused, taking a shaky breath. "My family, for however short our time together may have been."
The guild hall was vanishing behind her, but Jellal and the army were not. She picked up speed, and the Legion let out a mewl as she pushed it harder, demanding for more speed. It flew towards Extalia, soaring higher than she had in the past. She didn't know the exact location, she didn't even know where it would take her. However, there was a place here, where she could vanish from sight. Dimaria had heard the rumors, and rumors like that do not appear without some form of basis to start. She knew something was here. All she had to do was find it.
She circled around, her path likely unclear to those behind her. "You can't hide, Mavis! There's no where left for you to go!"
She swallowed, before she noticed her pace slowing. She frowned, glancing down at the creature beneath her. Its wings were fluttering, and it was giving out a whining noise, growing louder every moment. It was as if it was fighting against a strong draft, trying to pull it elsewhere. Her eyes widened, and slowly, she began to smile. "There is somewhere left to go…and I can indeed hide from you." She stroked Zeref's hair, smiling down ash I'm where he rested on the Legion. "We will succeed. I will find a way out of wherever this takes me, and accomplish my goals, no matter what it takes." The Legion began to get dragged backwards, its noises becoming growls in the sky. Jellal stopped his pursuit, seeing the creature's odd behavior. Yet, that was when Mavis saw the Legion finally react. Something colorful and bright began to appear around them…yet that too seemed to vanish in an instant, dragged in alongside of them. The tugging seemed to hit her as well, and her limbs began to burn as the tugging amplified around her body. She groaned, before letting out a scream as the pain intensified. Before long, she blacked out, unaware of where she had gone or if she'd even survive the trip to get there. The last thought Mavis had was filled with confusion. Whatever was now here in what was once Extalia, it was no form of magic she had ever been familiar with.
And here we have a bit more on Edolas, before we really start tying everything together. There's a bit more I need to finish up with the other side of the story before it happens, but we are getting closer. I do hope you enjoyed! Feel free to review and tell me what you think!