Disclaimer: I am not the owner of Fairy Tail

Levy had hoped that arriving and stating she was with Alvarez would get their attention, fast. However, instead she and her friends were brought to what looked like a prison cell. "His majesty will speak to you for your crimes when he is available." With that, the guards had left them.

"Levy…you knew Alvarez was wanted here! Why did you go and tell them that?"

Frowning, Levy sighed and shook her head. "I just thought Mystogan would want answers fast. And be confused, with the whole emperor thing. I mean, they have a leader, but they're not exactly an empire or nation of their own in Edolas."

"There's no use complaining about it. We're still getting to talk to him eventually, right?" Dimaria grinned. "So, I'd say her plan worked, and avoided telling people we're not from Edolas after all."

"Plus, it would explain us discussing anything about magic readily. I didn't know how open we'd have to be, talking about things like that, and thought that this way, we'd be blamed as just radicals who want magic in this world."

Lucy sighed, sitting down and shaking her head. "I miss my bed…"

"Come on, Luce, it's like camping out! Just without the outdoors and stuff." Natsu grinned, lying down on the ground comfortably. "See? It's perfect." There were cots, but not enough for all of them. She didn't know if it was intentional, having them share a small cell, or if it was an accident. Either way, Levy didn't want to be separated from them either.

Settling down on the floor herself, Levy figured it would be fine for Lucy to take one of the cots. Dimaria should get the other, since she'd be the one needed to fight if things turned out poorly. Resting on the ground…well, Levy had slept awkwardly enough times to know that it caused its own aches within the body. It would not really be good to put Dimaria through that before a potential fight.

A few days passed similarly, with them passing the time through discussion and sometimes just excessive sleeping. Levy wondered if they'd ever get to the trial, and if this really had been some mistake. However, guards came to the cell at what felt like the end of the week, opening the door. "His majesty will see you for your hearing now. Be prepared to state your plea, and basic evidence of why this trial should or should not come to pass."

Oh. Well, that was something at least. Levy followed after them, with the others behind her. She didn't know much about Edolas' legal system, but a trial-based judgement at least gave her some sort of chance to undo what damage she'd done with that introduction. At the very least, she could explain to Mystogan that she was his old friend from Earthland and go from there into getting something set up to locate and prevent interference with the time rift.

Still, that thought was derailed slightly when she was brought into a large room, with Jellal sitting on a throne. Standing by his side was Mavis. How had Levy just forgotten that she'd likely be here? Mavis was his advisor, as part of her cover story. Levy gazed at the girl, taking a deep breath as they were brought before them. She still had a way of moving things forward, at least. It just couldn't be with the time rift, not with how Mavis would likely try to abuse it. "Awaken your companions, and we will begin."

Levy glanced over, seeing the sleeping forms of…oh. Her gaze flickered towards Mavis again, seeing her eyes locked on them as well. She stood tense, her eyes narrowing at all of them, yet silent when she glanced towards Jellal by her side. "They're not needed, really. Whatever sentence I receive, they'll take as well. Consider them my servants, I guess." Levy bit her lip.

"You claimed to be the leader of Alvarez, correct?" Jellal spoke, frowning at her. Then, his eyes widened. "Levy?"

"Uh, yeah." She rubbed the back of her head. "Sorry for the confusion. I didn't really know what introduction to give to get an audience quickly. I guess what I did say sorta freaked you out. I didn't realize Alvarez was…uh, never mind." She looked away, glancing at the others. Dimaria stood there, another person who Mavis seemed to glance at on occasion. Yet, Natsu and Lucy were probably her best tools, to convince Jellal of their origins without saying anything.

"Didn't realize Alvarez was what?"

She bit her lip, shrugging. Instead, she turned towards the others. "Look, this sorta hasn't gone according to plan. I may have technically—"

"Your majesty!" A guard walked in, interrupting whatever she was trying to say. She'd been at least about to be honest about her lack of leadership in Alvarez, but she didn't know if that was the best strategy or not. "Another strange guest at the gates claims to lead Alvarez…I'm not certain what is going on with all of these confessions." His gaze flickered towards the group on trial, narrowing his eyes. "He wished for me to tell you he wanted to re-open your proposal from years ago, though I cannot fathom what proposal the leader of Alvarez ever had for you in the first place."

Mystogan, however, seemed to understand that. His gaze flickered towards Levy and her group, slowly taking in a deep breath. "You…that's why you were ignorant." He paused, frowning. "You're their empress now?"

"Um…"

"Regardless, send him in. I think…I think this may just turn into a rather informal meeting, at this rate." Mystogan sighed, glancing over at Mavis. "My apologies for calling you here for nothing. These people, strange as they may be, are not the ones we are looking for at all."

"How can you be so certain? They admitted to leading Alvarez openly and plainly."

"Because I've met them before. They are—"

"Isolated, refusing to live in society, hobos, wanderers, travelers…take your pick." Dimaria smirked, tilting her head. "To put it bluntly, we don't have a clue about what is going on around here, but we heard someone mention Alvarez in a rumor. Since we wanted to speak to the king, we figured we needed a big name to back us up. Didn't realize it'd get us locked up, though."

Mystgan frowned at her before slowly nodding. "Yes. I met them…just before I left to stop the former king's plan." He paused, glancing towards Mavis. "I'm sorry, but would you mind grabbing me something to write with? I'd like to have this documented, as I'm starting to think this meeting will be even stranger than I originally thought it would be."

Mavis glared at him, turning towards the group in front of her. "Fine." She walked up to Levy first, however. "But there's no way in hell I'm believing a word any of them say. They're hiding something and I won't let them hurt Edolas with whatever it is they're plotting."

Meeting her gaze steadily, Levy smiled. "I'm only looking to do what is best for Zera right now. Considering what I know of you, I thought you'd want the same."

The blond stilled, something twitching in her. "Zera?" She slowly took in a breath, shaking her head. "Sorry, don't know the name. Good luck, though, with whatever you have in mind."

With that, Mavis walked off, glancing back at the body on the ground. The blond shook her head, moving again with a scowl on her face. Once she was out of the room, Mystogan glanced between them. "Is there a reason you lied?"

"Because, we don't exactly want to broadcast where we come from. There's a problem that might become far worse if we do." Dimaria shrugged, glancing over at Levy. "She's got an idea of how to fix things, but it sorta involves—"

"Actually, given who is here, I think we need to do things a little out of order." Levy bit her lip, glancing at the door. "I think we need to deal with Alvarez first, and then with Mystogan."

"What? But you said we'd get Jellal to—"

"I know, Natsu." Levy sighed. "But you know who is here." She met his gaze. "Do you really think that's a good idea?"

He frowned, while Lucy slowly shook her head. "Right. I…I guess we need to switch things up again."

"We've definitely—" Levy broke off, the door opening again behind them. The guard returned, this time guiding…Zeref. Levy froze, her eyes widening. Yet, he walked forward, pausing when he seemed to notice them there. His eyes narrowed, studying them, before slowly nodding and smiling at them.

"Ah. How much have you already explained?"

"Not much. His…advisor is here too." Then, Levy belatedly realized Zeref knew nothing of that. "Um, someone we'd rather not hear about all of this. The fewer people who know, the better."

What was he even doing here? Even Dimaria looked angry. She was glaring at him, yet she let that anger wash over her silently, as Zeref turned towards Mystogan. "For reasons I cannot reveal quite openly…I'd like to request that you place ground patrols around the region you once called Extalia. Do not have them in the air, or else you risk…other dangers, however, that region is the location of a rather unstable anomaly in your world." Zeref glanced towards the others. "We will be working to stop it, but keeping others away is vital to our success."

"I…" Mystogan stared between them all, looking lost. Mavis returned then, holding out a paper and pen, before freezing at the sight of Zeref.

"Zeref…"

He met her gaze, shaking his head. "Emperor Spriggan. I'm afraid you have me confused with another."

Still, she looked pale, staring between them all. "What…what is going on? Who are all of you? Why…I just don't…" Mavis grimaced, staring at her feet.

Levy walked forward, taking a deep breath. "Mavis, if it is okay with King Jellal, why don't we step outside and talk? I think Spriggan and my friends can handle the rest of this, now that that bit of confusion has been cleared up." She'd get away from Zeref as well, and whatever he was planning here. Levy didn't know if she could deal with him as well as all of this, not right now.

"That would be fine. I'm…your companion just looks similar to someone she was quite close with in the past." Jellal nodded. "Some air and time away will likely help clear her mind."

Mavis met Levy's gaze, taking a deep breath. Then, she slowly began to smile. "You know what? I think you might be right about that."

That smile…Levy had a feeling this girl would be getting violent soon. Still, she held her head tall, moving confidently out of the room and into the hall. Once they were just a few steps away, Mavis spun around, lunging at Levy. Having expected it, Levy dodged to the side, letting Mavis blink in surprise. "I'm not joking about meaning you no harm, Mavis. I came here to make a deal with you."

"Oh yeah? Then explain why you've stolen from me! You brought them here, to the heart of Edolas!"

The demons…Levy sighed. "Look-alikes. Not the actual thing."

Mavis froze, her eyes widening. "Wh-what?"

"They're meant to help with a plan of mine." She met Mavis' eyes. "Like I said, I want to negotiate a deal with you and the only place I could be certain to find you was here. So, let me rephrase what I mean by that. Just what would you give to have someone fulfill all of your goals, Mavis? I brought with me every tool I need to bring back Zera and Zeref for you. I could do it right now, even."

Mavis sucked in a sharp breath, before glancing around the area. After realizing it was clear, she swallowed, and met Levy's gaze, some of the tension leaving her. "Well, I suppose I have to know what you want. Getting magic here, doing something like that, it can't be easy."

"I'm not offering magic in this world. I'm offering them."

"Aren't they the same thing?"

"Not necessarily." Levy met her gaze. "But, isn't that enough? The entire reason you wanted magic anyway?" Slowly, the blond began to nod. "Then I have two requests, in return for them. You will stop your attempts to bring magic to Edolas. That means this will become your reality, advisor to the king, no secret organization plotting against everyone, and all that." Mavis frowned, but said nothing. "Secondly, you will let me have your lacrima, once they're returned to you. There's something I need to do with it, for my own plans to work."

"What…just what are you planning to do?"

She needed something. What could she use? Then, Levy slowly smiled. "I'm an agent of Demon Lord Dragneel. He wishes to obtain all magic for himself…and your lacrima is something he failed to capture before. So, he sent me to take it for him. I decided that I could offer just a slight use of his magic before leaving, to ensure that you don't attempt to steal anything back from him when I'm finished."

It was the absurd story they'd used before, from what she'd gathered. Yet, it was so perfect, painting herself in the light of a villain just like Mavis. "So, that's why you want me to stop stealing magic as well." Levy nodded, and Mavis studied her closely. "And…you will uphold your end of this agreement? You are able to bring them both back, completely?"

"It will not come without costs, of sorts. But yes, they will live again, for how long depends on your actions." She paused, turning away. "Demon Lord Dragneel's agents…we are tethered to magic, which is why he seeks such large quantities of it. We will die if it is lost and the spell I use will ensure you uphold your end of the agreement. For the spell is used by me, it ties their lives to mine. Should I lose magic and die, Mavis, so will they. However, so long as I live on, they will remain by your side as they were before."

"So, it wasn't a selfish act at all then. Just one of survival, when he invaded…" Mavis stared with wide eyes. Then, slowly, she began to nod. "In that case, I cannot blame you for wishing to live. If you can do as promised…I will agree to put an end to Alvarez. Meet me tonight in the park on the border of the city. I will find you, if you cannot find me. And from there, I will bring you to them to do as you promised."

Levy nodded, seeing her turn around. "Now, do you think we can get back to the hearing I'm supposed to be at? I really have no idea what we've missed. Spriggan can be a bit unpredictable, and I had no idea he was even going to show up here."

"Well, I imagine things are turning out well, since Jellal is looking favorably on all of you." Mavis paused, glancing towards her. "I'm sorry for attempting to dissuade him from your freedom before. Having someone blamed for Alvarez was ideal, given my situation, which you seem to know all too well."

"Oh, we know everything we need to know, Mavis. We keep a close eye on places like this…places that were once ripe for stealing magic away from."

"You are a cruel group of people, you know? Stealing magic away…yet even I cannot be angry anymore."

"Well, at least we understand each other, right?" Mavis nodded, and Levy smiled. "So, let's get your friends back, and call this whole mess over."

With that, they returned to the throne room. Natsu, Lucy, Dimaria, Zeref, and Jellal all seemed to be talking quietly together, and they went silent when Levy returned. Likely, they were finalizing plans to keep the time rift away from Mavis, though how Zeref determined its location was also unknown. She glanced at him again, frowning and wondering just why he even decided to come here. Yet, they were released, and the answer still didn't come. He just followed after them, as if he'd been a part of their group from the start, and Levy started questioning just what had happened to him when she left Alvarez to finish her plans.