Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or Fate Stay Night, any resemblance to any other Fairy Tail or Fate Stay Night fan fiction is coincidental and plagiarism is not intended. No flames please, constructive criticism only.
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Eventually, after walking for a while Erza and the others came to a cliff, which offered a view which caused them to gasp. In addition to strangely shaped plants they could see a river flowing through the air itself just above their view, while they had seen it on their entry to Edolas, the sight of it up close amazed them.
The view also showed them that there was a small town nearby. It sat just outside the forest which spread out from the base of the cliff and had the sea right next to it. They decided to investigate the town hoping to gain their bearings by talking to the people there.
It didn't take too long for them to descend the cliffs. As they exited the forest and began approaching the town, they could see soldiers in dark blue and silver uniforms wearing steel helmets patrolling the town and seeming to search for something or someone.
"Whatever happens prepare to play along, understood?"
"Right." Wendy and Natsu agreed.
"Carla and Happy, we can't be too sure how people would react to you, so wait out here for us."
"Very well." "Right."
"Wendy, I want you to hang back, just in case something happens with Natsu and me."
"Alright."
With that Erza, Natsu and Wendy began approaching the main gate of the town, leaving Carla and Happy to hide behind a tree not too far away. Both, however, peaked from behind it, keeping an eye on their friends from afar.
As the humans stepped through the main gate one of the soldiers who was closest to the gate turned to face them. Closer inspection revealed the soldier was female, upon seeing Erza she immediately stood up straight, spear by her side and saluted.
"Captain Knightwalker you're back ma'am!" The soldier greeted her with the serious yet tone only a soldier could manage when talking to a superior. You look less pale today, and your eyes are green instead of yellow."
"I experimented with some makeup and used some contact lenses, is there a problem?" Erza asked hardening her glare.
"N-no…I see you've captured the dark wizard Natsu Dragion." She said nervously trying to change the subject.
"I'm not a Dark wiz-GAH!" Natsu protest was silenced as Erza drove her fist into his stomach knocking him clean out and allowing him to drop to the ground.
"Never mind that," Erza said in a strict tone deciding to play along, the knight in her didn't like deception but right now it was necessary. "I've noticed that things have gotten lax around here lately. Soldiers getting too lazy, so I've decided I'm going to question you on basic information as a test to make sure you are up to standard. So just answer my questions no matter how obvious they may seem, are we clear?" Erza emphasised the last question with a dark glare causing the poor soldier to sweat nervously.
"Of course Captain ask away." She said nervously.
"Now then, what's the name of this place?" Erza asked with a demanding tone.
"This is Sycca town ma'am."
"And our current mission?"
"To hunt down any stray wizards from the dark guild Fairy Tail, while you and your partner attack the guild proper." The soldier answered seriously.
'Fairy Tail is a dark guild?, I need more information, wait did she I went to attack it?'
"Good, and now why is Fairy Tail considered a dark guild?"
"Well, the king decreed that due to magic being a limited resource its use was banned without express permission from his government until a solution to the problem could found, as such all magic guilds were outlawed and ordered to disband." The soldier explained "Some like Lamia Scale and Blue Pegasus dissolved accordingly, but others like Fairy Tail rebelled against the order and were labelled dark guilds as a consequence. Fairy Tail is the very last of these guilds, with all the others having been hunted to extinction. You yourself killed Fairy Tail's previous guild master Gildarts not long ago which weakened them further. He was a reincarnate, meaning a human who was a powerful heroic in a past life who reincarnated with great powers and special abilities or weapons as Noble Phantasms. Like yourself, Lucy Ashley is also a reincarnate and the last one Fairy Tail has."
'So there are reincarnates in this world too other than Mystogan, my counterpart is one and so is Lucy's but I need more information.'
Wendy stayed back and watched Erza's interrogation of the soldier whom she felt sorry for. Eventually, it ended and Wendy could hear the final part of the conversation where she saw Erza's glare at the soldier grow darker.
"And don't mention this to talk to anyone, even myself, understood?"
"Yes, ma'am!"
"Good, now get back to work." With that Erza grabbed one of Natsu's legs and dragged him like a sack of potatoes towards Wendy and the two of them walked out of the main gate into the forest where they met up with Happy and Carla. After Natsu woke back up she began sharing what she had learnt.
"So the Fairy Tail in this world is a dark guild because they refused to disband?" Wendy asked,
"Correct, as such, they are constantly at odds with the royal army, it also appears that my counterpart is a member of the army, she's particularly vicious and has earnt herself the moniker the Fairy Hunter after relentlessly hunting down Fairy Tail and whittling away their most powerful members with each encounter," Erza told them as she leant against a tree.
"Ok, so what about our friends and our Fairy Tail, where are they?" Natsu asked still holding his stomach.
"They were converted into a giant lacrima crystal which is currently situated in the capital city under heavy guard."
"What are we waiting for then? Let's go and rescue our friends!" Natsu yelled enthusiastically as he punched his palm.
"No." Erza shot down the idea with no room for argument.
"Why not?"
"Because the royal army has reincarnates of their own, we have no idea how many they have on their side or more importantly who they are and were in this life and the last." Erza replied sternly "Aside from that we also need three things, first to know what the kingdom is planning to with the lacrima that contains our friends, second a way to change them back to normal and third we need a way to get home."
"Well for the third one we would need to use he Anima again. We used it to get us here so it's only logical we can use it to get back" Carla pointed out. "However we would need to find where it is controlled from for that."
"Which is why I think we should split up," Erza suggested to the surprise of the others. "I will go to the capital and see what information I can gather there. I look enough like my counterpart to fool common soldiers, and if I can emulate her hairstyle and wear a uniform I might be able to fool most from behind."
"Then why can't we go with you?" Natsu asked,
"You two can't fight at the moment, however, Noble Phantasms still work here, I can summon my holy sword in a pinch and get away, but right now you two are defenceless." Erza replied, "Go to Fairy Tail, they must have some way of fighting if they've survived this long, plus the might know something we don't."
"Wait, but what about your counterpart?" Carla asked, "Won't there be trouble if you run into her in the capital."
"From what I've gathered she's not in the capital at the moment, she's out hunting for Fairy Tail right now." Erza replied "Fairy Tail isn't far from here, according to the soldier they're east of here through the forest in a clearing. Get there before she does. They are bound to have some way to quickly escape."
"The plan does have merit." Carla sighed "However I can't use the magic key to allow Shirou to switch with Wendy at the moment, so if we run into your counterpart we'll be in trouble, so we'll just have to make sure we aren't spotted."
"We'll try to meet up after we've learned what we can." Wendy said nodding her head "But what about Lucy?"
"Don't worry, she'll turn up sooner or later," Erza said with a sigh. "Whatever she's up to we'll definitely meet up with her whether we like it or not."
"What could she be after?" Carla wondered "Never mind, we'll find out eventually I suppose, now let's get going."
With that, the group split up, with Erza watching after her friends for a little while before heading back to town and commandeering a legion. A large flying beast which was native to Edolas and which the army used for transport in lieu of magical vehicles to conserve what magic power Edolas had remaining. Thankfully it was rather easy to control the beast due to her B ranked Riding skill.
As she flew towards the capital she looked backwards, giving a silent prayer for her friend's safety.
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In the council chambers of the royal palace of Extalia the Exceed homeland which hovered above the clouds of Edolas, six Exceed were alone. The room was privately sealed and guarded to prevent any from overhearing or spying on the meetings and what was said there. These six were Nadi, the Minister of State, the Four Elders; Muganto, Mejeer, Mysdroy and Martam. Finally, was Queen Shagotte herself, known publicly as the god of the Exceeds.
"Our report indicates that the human's use of the anima was successful this time," Mejeer stated.
"Indeed" Martam agreed "The lacrima produced by its use is absolutely massive and is brimming with magic power."
"It's half the size of Extalia itself," Mysdroy observed with suspicion.
"Do you think it could be the cause of Extallia's impending destruction?" Muganto asked releasing his train of thought.
"No." Shagotte cut in surprising them as she had been silent throughout the meeting.
"My Queen, did you have a vision?" Mejeer asked recognising the shaken look on her face.
"Yes, I saw Extalia's destruction, only…." Shagotte swallowed her distress and managed to continue "it was much clearer than the vague vision I had six years ago."
"Please, tell us what you saw," Mysdroy implored her.
"There was a pair of humans on Extalia, they were on the ground and exhausted. I can't see them properly" Shagotte began describing her vision, none dared interrupt her. "One of them stands up, she became clearer, a human woman with red hair. She picks up a golden sword and light envelopes the blade. The other human yells something as if pleading for her to stop. She ignores it and then plunges the sword into the ground burying it up to the hilt. The golden light spreads through the ground like large cracks, quickly spreading throughout all of Extalia and then….it explodes. Our homeland is no more."
"We have to find this human and order her execution at once," Mysdroy yelled with a panic. "That will save our homeland."
"Don't forget, all of our Queen's visions have come to pass without fail." Mejeer pointed out.
"Indeed." Martam said "ordering her execution could be the very thing which causes this human to destroy Extalia in the first place. If we do order this search we must be careful to ensure it does not turn into a witch hunt."
"Actually concerning that I recently received a report from some scouts that might be relevant to this matter." Nadi chimed in incessantly waving his paw as he picked up a piece of paper in front of him and began to read it. "When the humans used the Anima to gather magic power earlier, a little while after the operation was finished a magic vehicle flew through one of the anima portals. It was carrying four humans and two exceed. While the scout didn't get too close as they were only passing by, he did note that one of the humans had red hair."
"That could make sense." Mysdroy stated, "Earthland humans might see our control over the humans here as oppression and seek to destroy Extalia to free their fellow humans, they would not be aware of the Queen's 'powers' and thus would not fear us as those in Edolas do."
"I suggest we order our patrols to keep an eye on red-haired human women who are clearly military but only watch, have them detained only if they have a golden sword." Maram proposed.
"A good idea." "Yes" "Indeed."
"Then we all agree?" Nadi asked looking around the room.
"Yes." The other four all echoed.
Throughout it, all Shagotte remained silent, still in shock at the vision she had seen.
"Come, your highness, perhaps you should take a rest," Muganto suggested walking up to Shagotte and helping escort her out of the room.
"Yes, thank you." Shagotte agreed still shaken. "I need….to lie down."
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Natsu and Wendy had been following the directions that Erza had provided. They kept going through the forest until they could hear the sounds of battle nearby. The clashing of steel against steel, tremors and trees being violently disturbed. Natsu had wanted to go fight as well but Wendy and Carla quickly reminded him that he couldn't use his magic. So they kept going, until, finally they reached a clearing where there was a plant shaped building with a banner on it which had familiar logo emblazoned proudly on it.
"It's Fairy Tail."
"We found it." Natsu cheered as he ran towards the doors.
Bursting in he saw a strange sight. While the faces were familiar many of the members of Fairy Tail were acting differently from their Earthland counterparts. For one Gray was wearing several layers of clothing and was hitting on Juvia. Jet and Droy were berating a crying Elfman about manliness. Cana was dressed like and was acting as, a refined lady. Plus Wakaba of all people was not only not smoking but also had a no smoking sign on his shirt.
"Everyone's acting so weird," Natsu commented.
"Well, we're in another world so that's to be expected," Wendy said looking around the guild.
"Natsu you're back." Wakaba greeted.
"Glad you made it back in one-piece Natsu, you're just in time," Macao said with a relieved tone. "Levy's nearly finished fixing the transportation system so we can escape but the Fairy Hunter found us."
"Lucy's holding her off, but I don't think she can hold her." Wakaba said nervously "I mean the Fairy Hunter killed Gidarts so easily."
"By the way, Natsu, what's with the kid and cat, are you a babysitter now?" Macao asked changing the subject to something more cheerful.
"Natsu didn't answer instead he and Wendy looked towards the door, out where the battle was taking place.
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Steel clashed against steel as a pair of blades did their deadly dance. One was a strange shape, like aflame which had transformed into metal, while the other was a longsword. The sword in question, however, was stained black with a red pattern across the blade. Lucy Ashley grunted in pain as she skidded backwards, holding her wounded side from where the Fairy Hunter had struck her. All in all, things looked bad, not only was she outnumbered she was outmatched. The black knight was simply a better swordswoman than she was.
Lucy's red dress was torn up and she was covered in cuts and bruises. Not only that but her vision as impaired due to a wound the knight had inflicted on Lucy's forehead causing blood to flow down forcing her to shut her left eye.
"You've done well to last this long." The Fairy Hunter commented, her yellow eyes causing Lucy to shiver just a bit. "You've certainly lasted longer than Gildarts did even with his Noble Phantasm without being unable to unleash yours."
Quick as lightning the Fairy Hunter jumped out of way as some projectile shot out of the trees behind her and exploded in front of Lucy sending her rolling across the ground, her sword flew from her hands and landed impaled into the dirt a ways away.
"Stay out of this!" The black knight yelled angrily to the trees. "I don't need any help."
"Maybe not, but we are on a schedule." A voice replied with a sigh "She's just buying time so Fairy Tail can escape again, so stop playing around and just finish it."
The Fairy Hunter clicked her tongue with annoyance and glared at her partner hidden in the trees before fixing her gaze back on Lucy who was struggling to stand back up. She nearly succeeded only to fall to her knees. Looking up she saw the Fairy hunter's sword now blazed with a black aura which seemed to be three times larger than the sword itself.
"Now begone and take your guild with you! EXCALIBUR MORGAN!" She swung the sword down and from it, black light rushed forward.
As the sound of the black light's roaring filled her ears, Lucy couldn't help but be filled with despair and regret. 'I am sorry my performers, but I have failed, please forgive me.'
She closed her eyes as the roar became louder, awaiting death to take her. Then, the roar was replaced by a loud sound, like a massive gong being struck.
"What?!" The Black Knight exclaimed in surprised as her target was suddenly protected by a massive, ornate dome-shield, the black light of Excalibur Morgan being deflected and destroying several trees off to the side.
Above it were several golden portals, the sight of which caused her partner in the trees to curse as out of them emerged weapons, only these were guns, mostly rifles and machine guns even a chain gun or two. It was easy to recognise them all as Noble Phantasms.
"Knightwalker dodge!" Her partner screamed in warning.
It was one she heeded and was thankful she did as not even half a second later all of the weapons opened fire utterly destroying the spot she had been standing, it was not over however as the portals swivelled to track her forcing her to stay on the move, she ran behind the tree her partner was in only for it to be shredded to splinters by the fire coming the Noble Phantasms, forcing them both to find new cover.
"Why did you do that?"
"I was running for my life just put a sock in it," Knightwalker grumbled.
Finally, the noise of gunfire stopped, replaced by a haughty laughter.
"If there is one thing I cannot stand it is my visage being harmed, even if it is an inferior version of me, it is still me and thus I will not allow any more harm to come to her."
Both Knights of Edolas looked up and one of them cursed, floating just above the dome-shaped shield was another Lucy, only this one had long waist length blonde hair, crimson coloured eyes and was adorned in golden armour.
"Of all heroes to be reincarnated why did it have to be Gilgamesh?" Knightwalkers partner grumbled.
"You know her?" Knightwalker asked,
"She's Gilgamesh, the King of Heroes, we need to retreat she's far powerful, we might have stood a chance with my Noble Phantasm but I-"
"Can't use it?" Lucy finished with a smug smirk. "What a coincidence your other self is having similar performance issues Wendy of Edolas, or do you prefer Archer or perhaps EMIYA?"
Archer clicked her tongue with annoyance and in her hands appeared Kanshou and Bakuya. Her red overcoat flapping gently with the breeze. Suddenly Lucy tapped her foot on the dome-shaped shield which vanished revealing Lucy Ashley who was surprised as her survival.
"You have the same problem, every time you project your half of that reality marble mass produces swords which have nowhere to go and thus infest your body." The Golden Lucy sighed "Every projection brings you closer to death, which means it is in your interests to battle your other self as soon as possible."
Kanshou and Bakuya flew through the air along with two more pairs only for all six to be shot down and destroyed by a hail of gunfire. Before the king could react however the faker had a bow in hand and a familiar spiral shaped sword made into an arrow. EMIYA visibly flinched in pain but loosed the arrow anyway. A small blast of lightning from a disc which emerged from another gate destroyed it, creating a large cloud of smoke. When it cleared the two royal army knights had fled.
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The guild hall fell into a tense silence as the sounds of battle died down after a loud explosion echoed from the battlefield. Natsu clenched his fist ready for a fight, as did Wendy when they heard the sound of a pair of metal boots approaching. The tension grew and as the footsteps got closer and closer until finally, the doors swung open revealing….Lucy Ashley. Her red dress torn up and blood leaking for wounds but she was alive and….floating.
Indeed, the red-dressed girl was floating in the air with a golden aura surrounding her.
"I have…..returned…..my Performers." She greeted between breaths.
"Lucy!" "You're alive, thank goodness" The Edolas Fairy Tail gathered around Lucy Ashley and began expressing their relief or concern for her safety as she finally was levitated onto a seat in a sitting position as the golden aura faded away. Gray went to fetch a medical kit.
"Ah, here you are." Natsu and the others looked at the door to see their Lucy adorned in golden armour striding into the guild.
"Lucy." "Where were you?" Natsu demanded.
"I was off gathering information." She replied casually "You seem to be missing a person."
"Erza said we needed to split up and get more information." Wendy replied, "She went to the capital to pose as her counterpart to try and get information on our friends and the royal army's plans."
"Yeah, she said they were turned into a giant lacrima and it's in the capital," Natsu stated.
Suddenly the whole guild began to rumble and, pieces of rubble and began to float as did some of the guild members.
"Activating teleportation circle." Levy yelled, "Everyone hang on!"
Then suddenly there was a loud bang and everything seemed to fall.
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When everyone regained their bearings the guild had relocated, outside the doors was now a large sand dune instead of the forest. They were now in the desert.
"What was that?" Natsu asked with a groan.
"I think the guild changed location." Happy said.
"So did my stomach," Wendy complained.
"Stand up you fools," Lucy ordered sternly. "There is much to do."
"Gimme a minute." Natsu groaned.
Lucy sighed and opened a Gate out which flew a golden light which struck Wendy. Next to her Shirou appeared once again as a projection.
"Erza's counterpart is a member of the royal army," Lucy stated
"Yes, we know that," Carla said. "Our Erza took advantage of it to gain information earlier."
"But what you didn't know is that annoying Archer of yours is here, he reincarnated and is also a member of the Royal Army as Erza Knightwalkers partner," Lucy revealed.
"Archer is here….but with the royal army?" Shirou could scarcely believe it.
"Yes, it seems that she has reincarnated as Wendy's counterpart, but unlike you, she reincarnated properly," Lucy told them as the rest of the guild began to get their bearings. "You're most likely simply a weirdo."
Shirou grunted but didn't argue, there was no point arguing with Lucy, it would simply cause a headache.
"Anyway, this is your best chance to confront her, I suspect that if you both try to use your reality marble while in close proximity to each other both halves should repair themselves using the other half, then it would be just a matter of not being killed until we get back home and have you put into surgery."
"Wait, surgery?" Wendy was confused.
"Yes, the infestation of swords into your body was slow because Shirou and Archer were separated by worlds." Lucy began to clarify. "But now they are in the same world and on a cosmic scale are very nearby, that is no longer the case, the two halves are resonating with each other much more strongly now, which means whenever Shirou projects the infestation will be far worse, each one bringing you little Wendy closer to death as the sword because to creep towards your heart and brain."
"But that's….. As long as Shirou remains sealed that won't happen right?" Carla asked fearfully.
"Yes, if we return to Earthland the situation will go back to the way it was, the infestation will slow down to barely noticeable levels," Lucy replied with a shrug.
"Thank goodness." Carla sighed with relief.
"But it'll still be a problem right?" Wendy asked shocking Carla out of her relief.
"Yes, it will be slow but the infestation will still progress. Even with constant surgery it the swords will continue to grow inside your body each time the Faker projects."
"Then we need only never bring Shirou out!" Carla cried caused some of the Edolas Fairy Tail to look over at the group.
"Hey, it's another Lucy." "Look at those cats." "Are those Exceeds?" Exceeds here?!"
"I have a Noble Phantasm which can allow Shirou control while allowing Wendy to speak. However every time the faker projects it will bring you much closer to death." Lucy pushed on ignoring the voices of the guild around them. "So if you chose to let him have control, he will need to find Archer quickly. Ultimately, Wendy, this is your choice."
"Obviously the answer is no!" Carla yelled.
"Let's do it," Wendy stated firmly after a few seconds of thought.
"Wendy!" Carla screeched with shock.
"I need to help Shirou, besides this will happen anyway if we just ignore it," Wendy argued.
"But….you could die," Carla argued back as tears began to fall from her eyes.
"I could die anyway if I just ignore it, plus Shirou's my friend I won't just abandon him." Wendy reasoned wiping the tears away from the cat's eyes.
"Hey, Natsu." Happy tugged on Natsu's vest.
"What is Happy?"
"Look." Happy pointed and Natsu followed the direction of his finger and gasped.
Standing there between Elfman and Mirajane was someone who he thought had died two years ago, the youngest Strauss sibling and one of his closest friends. Lissana Strauss.
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So yeah, finally this chapter is out right? Wow I am really not good at being subtle hence revealing Knightwalker and her partner's identities. Oh well, at least we still have the mystery of King Faust and what he wants Illya for right? Also the Holy Grail. Don't expect to see any servants period. Next time we'll see how Erza gets on infiltrating the capital, can she succeed in fooling everyone all while Knightwalker and Archer are returning.