Here's the second upload of the week for Alternate Tail. Just want to thank Shadowwolf1997 and Ray Akaba 210 for their reviews yesterday. And let us begin...

Fairies Blown to the Wind Part 2

"A theater," Erza chimed as they walked through a bazaar, where haggling and bartering were heard all around them for spices, books, and jewels. "To think we could have the chance to witness the fine arts." She cleared her throat before letting out her vocals. "Do, Re, Mi, Fa, So, La, Ti, Do…"

"Hey, ease up, Erza!" Cana said as she pulled a glass bottle from her lips. "We're not here for acting, remember. We grab this Key Piece and

"Says the girl that decided to flood herself with alcohol," Laki reprimanded.

"I am not ashamed," Cana chuckled as she continued drinking.

"This place is a lot different from any other town in Fiore," Max said.

"It's cause Agremone's been closer to Bosco than Fiore," Laki explained. "It would petition to rejoin if it wasn't for one annoying factor."

Erza wrinkled her nose in distaste. "Slavery."

"Yup. Our blood might be Bosconian, but we don't want the music of chains every day."

"Changing the subject," Max spoke up. "Anything we need to know about this Chekhov guy."

"Well he's a playwright and a student of Levy's gramps," Cana listed. "And apparently he moved here from Onibus Town."

"Onibus," Erza muttered as they arrived in a small globe-shaped building. "Why does that sound familiar." She knocked on the door twice and waited until the door opened partially.

Peeking from inside was a short man with a long face, short purple hair which was styled with two antennas, and a green suit. "Oh, hello there," the man greeted. "My name is Chekhov."

"Greetings, Chekhov-san," Erza introduced. "My name is Erza Scarlet. With me are Cana, Laki, and Max. All of came from Fairy Tail-"

"Fairy Tail!" Chekhov interrupted with sparkles in his eyes. "Is that same guild with the lousy actors that saved my brother's dream. You're welcome!"

"Um, yes," Erza replied. "And by brother you mean…"

"Rabian, of course!" Chekhov said. "My identical twin brother!"

"Context, please?" Laki spoke up.

"Oh yeah, the strongest-slash-unnamed team helped a theater in Onibus," Cana said, waving her hand casually. "Don't remember much but Levy was a princess, Mira was a sexy villain, Lyon got stagefright, Gajeel's a lousy dragon, and Lily was a stagehand."

"...It's amazing I can listen to that and think that makes sense."

"Have you come to help as well?" Chekhov asked.

"Not in the way you think," Erza said. "Can we head inside?"

Chekhov frowned, but he opened the door wider to allow the four in. He led them into a small dresser room, where he sat on a stool and started to rub a small blue orb with a white rag.

"Nice orb," Cana said.

"Thank you. This lacrima is meant to help bring my plays to life during dress rehearsal and live performance. So what is the problem?" Chekhov asked.

"You were a student of Joseph Mcgarden, correct?" Erza asked.

Chekhov nodded. "That's right. Mcgarden-sensei helped me in my ability as a play writer. It was thanks to him my shows are popular here in Agremone. You're welcome."

"You're welcome for what?" Max asked.

"Unfortunately, that makes you a target," Erza said and started to explain about Clan Garten and the key piece. By the end, Chekhov was sweating madly, some falling on the orb.

"These Clan Garten people… are after me… for some gift my teacher gave me years ago."

"That's right," Erza nodded. "We came not just for the key, but to get you to safety."

Chekhov sighed in relief. "Thank goodness, you're welcome-"

"Again with that," Max muttered.

"So when do we leave?"

"Not in your short life!" they turned around and saw standing by the door was a young woman with a fiddle and a girl wearing a jumpsuit and goggles. "For fate has decreed your end, Strainseir!"

The fairies quickly stood in front of Chekhov. "Clan Garten, I'm guessing?" Laki asked.

"They matched Levy's description," Erza sternly said as she summoned a sword into her hand. She saw Cana holding a set of glowing cards and sand dancing around Max. "A fiddler named Mairi and a blind girl named Braille."

"I am not blind, fool!" Braille shouted. "My sight was blocked to seal my great power!"

"She's also a Chunbiyo," Erza added as a casual afterthought.

"Look, we came to keep Chekky here safe," Cana said. "So why don't you high-tail out of here?"

"Um, could you not call me Chekky?" Chekhov said meekly. "You're welcome…"

"We have no such intentions!" Braille declared.

"Wrong answer," Max taunted.

"Best leave without your back arched while you have the chance," Laki added.

Mairi frowned and started to play a high pitched wail on her fiddle, forcing the fairies to cover their ears to stop the agony.

"Crap, what is that?!" Cana shouted over the noise.

"Her fiddle!" Erza yelled back. "Someone stop her-"

"Oh no!" Erza turned around and saw that Chekhov's orb had a crack in it, a crack that was growing larger. "What have you done?!" the playwright shouted.

Erza was going to ask more when the orb completely shattered from the noise, releasing a bright white light that swallowed everyone in the area.

When the light faded, Erza found herself in a wide grassy field. But when she tried to concentrate on it, the plains shimmered. "What is this place? Heaven?"

"What sorcery is this?!" Erza turned her head down and saw Braille. However, instead of her jumpsuit, she wore a loose beige tunic with a leather belt tied around her waist. Knee-high boots ran up her legs. The only thing left of her outfit was her goggles.

Looking down, Erza saw her clothes have been replaced with a chainmail-armor that hung on her like a loose dress, metal boots, and leather gloves.

"What is going on?" Erza questioned.

"Oh dear, oh dear," Erza turned to Chekhov, who while dressed the same was holding a wooden lyre. "This is not good."

"Chekhov-san, what is this place?" Erza questioned.

"This… this is my Stagehand Magic. It puts everyone within an illusion based on my plays. It was activated when that orb I had shattered You're welcome."

"You're welcome for what?" Erza muttered. She closed her left eye and saw that the field was backstage. Still, she could hear the wind blowing through the grasses and feel it grazing her face. The illusion was not just an optical one.

She opened her left eye and turned to Chekhov. "How do we get out of this?"

"You can't," Checkov answered. "The only way is to complete 'Sir Gallant the Grand' which follows the Knight, his Squire, and a bard on a quest to save a princess. A little cliche, but it is quite popular."

"But why are we on the same team?" Braille asked.

"Well, I usually have actors with the defined roles. But without them, the casting became random. You're welcome."

"Never say that Braille the Automaton Tamer was not unreasonable," the young girl turned her head to Erza. "So what say you, Strainseir?"

Erza grinned in response and spoke dramatically. "If we are in a play, then the show must go on!"

"Graves," Elfman muttered. "Just had to be graves."

The Strauss-Mikazuchi-Exceed team's search for Rousseau has fruitless so far. A search in her old home was not able to bring out the missing Key Piece. Neither had checking with the scholar's living family, though they were able to confirm that she did receive a Key Piece from Joseph.

"She really had it?" Mira asked the man sitting on the humble couch opposite her.

"Yes," the pepper and salt haired man answered. "It matched the description you gave. My aunt said it was a gift from her teacher. After she died, it was buried with her."

"Mister Rousseau-"

"Please, call me Jaune."

"This group that's after the Key Piece will do anything to get it. They won't just go after people with a direct connection to Joseph Mcgarden, but to anyone with even a few degrees of separation. So could you please tell us where she is buried?"

Jaune Rousseau sighed. "Auntie always has a lot to say about guilds, about how they prevent individual work from succeeding. But, but I think I can trust you."

"You sure Rousseau-san wouldn't mind," Kagura asked.

"Probably she would," the grave tender leading the five said. He was a wrinkly old man with decayed skin that made him look like a zombie. "But given what that Clan Garlic-"

"Clan Garten," Lisanna corrected in politeness.

"Did to those other people, I feel that, ironically, her grave is safer explored by Fairy Tail. Stop here," he said as raised his hand. They were standing in front of a stone coffin with the name "Jeanne Rousseau" scribed on top. The grave tender put his hands on the stone slab and tried to push, only to struggle helplessly.

"Come on, you!" he grumbled. Suddenly, he almost fell into the coffin when the top was pulled away.

"Sorry," Mira said as she put the stone slab gently onto the ground with ease. "But we're in a rush." She gazed inside and saw the preserved body of a gray-haired woman that died roughly in her 50's. And in the grasp of her hands was a golden Key Piece

"Oh, you young people usually are," the grave tender replied before reaching. "Just leave this part to me." He carefully removed Rousseau's fingers from the artifact, picked it up, then handed it to Mira. "There you go. Now about that sla-" he turned and saw the slab was already done.

"This man's got it covered," Elfman said while wiping his hands free of any dust or cobwebs.

The grave tender shrugged. "Well, I guess you do. Now let's get moving before-" suddenly he swayed on his feet.

"Mister Gravetender?" Lisanna asked in worry.

"I… feel… sleepy…" he collapsed face first and was quickly caught by Kagura.

"Mister Gravetender!"

"Don't worry," a familiar voice called out as Murry stepped forward with a team of five Clan Garten warriors. "I simply used a sleeping spell," she rubbed her bracelets where three glyphs had a faint glow. "Unfortunately, it only works best on weak targets."

Mira stood ready for a fight with one first raised and the hand holding the Key Piece behind her. "We already got it, so just leave before we get rough."

Murray frowned in annoyance. "That's not going to happen," she turned to two of her men who pulled out swords. "Do it."

The two men struck their swords into the ground, causing knot-like circles to appear on the ground in front of them.

"Come forth, Hell-Pig!"

"Come forth, Megalania!"

From the summon chant came forth two automatons. The first was a snarling metal boar-like beast with sharp incisors, a massive head, and rivaling Elfman at the height of 6.9 feet.

The second was a long metallic lizard that reminded Mira of a monitor lizard, though much bigger at 15 feet long from head to tail.

"Those are some manly beasts," Elfman stated as he raised both fists in front of him.

"These automatons are getting quite annoying," Carla muttered as she dragged the grave tender away from the area.

"Automatons," Lisanna said. "Machines with souls trapped in them. She turned to her older sister and whispered. "Mira-nee, I might know how to take those out easily."

"You sure about that?" Mira asked.

"I hope so. Though it might work best one at a time."

"Let's hope they won't combine again," Kagura added. "But we'll try to keep them apart."

"Good luck," Mira said, before turning to face Murray. "Because I'll be dealing with the main threat. Satan Soul: Kitsune!" Mira's body glowed before transforming into the fox demon.

"How interesting," Murray said. "The Kitsune, an ancient demon even older that the Golden Age. Take them down."

The five warriors and the two automatons charged forward. The two with the sword were met by Kagura's blade, while three were knocked away by Elfman.

"Yeah, that's how a man does it- wow!" He quickly caught the charging Megalania before it could take a bite out of him. "Not so fast, you overgrown iguana!"

"Yokai Cross!" Mira charged flames onto her gauntlets and unleashed them onto Murray. The Garten woman merely raised her hand and said "water," creating a knot-like magic circle that sent out a stream of water to put the attack out and create steam.

"Well, that was- wow!" Murray quickly moved away to avoid a jab from Mira, then again from a claw need kick before grabbing another. "Not bad," she complimented.

Mira smirked. "You seen nothing yet, "her nine fox tails lit on fire, forcing her opponent to move away from the immense heat.

Meanwhile, Lisanna was doing her best to avoid being trampled by the Hell Pig. But once the large automaton was trapped going forward by its momentum, she took her chance.

"Animal Soul: Cat!" Lisanna quickly transformed before pouncing onto the Hell Pig's back, causing it to snarl as it tried to shake her off

"Easy, easy!" The Takeover shouted as she reverted to her human form. She placed her hand over where the heart would be if the automaton was flesh-and-blood instead of hard steel and gears.

'Weird, the souls more to the head,' she thought as she moved her hand forward. 'It should still work.'

As a Takeover, more specifically an Animal Soul Takeover, Lisanna had the power to reach into the souls of animals (excluding sentient animals like Vulcans, Exceeds, and humans) and take over them. It was the same process that allowed her to reach into the Hell Pig.

'A boar soul, but just like that bird Automaton, centuries too old. It feels like the machine took over its soul.' She whispered as the boar slowed its rampage. "It's okay. Let me help you rest." The boar let out a short, placid snort

"That's it Lisanna!" Elfman roared as he held a tight grip on the Megalania. "Keep it up- ah!" In his praise, he could not see the lizard-like automaton biting his leg, forcing him to let it go. The Megalania took the chance to sprint to Lisanna and the Hell-Pig. "Lisanna, look out!"

"Huh? Lisanna pulled her eyes from the boar automaton, only to see the Megalania inches from her face. " Ahhh!" The lizard Automaton let out a steamy hiss as it grabbed her.

"No!" She shouted as her body started to glow a bright white. "I can't link to two souls at- AHHH!"

"Lisanna!" Elfman roared at the top of his lungs as he ran to the light, causing the battle around him to come to a halt.

"Lisanna?" Mira asked fearfully in the presence of the inhuman light.

"What's… what's happening?" Murray asked in shock.

The bright light faded, revealing two outcomes.

First, both the Hell Pig and the Megalania were lying deadly still on the ground, the sounds of grinding gears no longer in either of them.

Second, standing above them was a six-foot-tall female figure. It was mostly covered in scales, except for the forearms, lower legs, and a bikini-shaped portion which were covered in mossy brown fur. A long dangly tail swung behind it. It hands ended with sharp claws while its feet we're cloven hooves. It had a long lizard face ending with a snout and tusks coming from the side of the mouth. But from the top of its head came a short crop of white hair.

"Lisanna?" Elfman asked cautiously. "Is that you, sis?" The creature let out a sound that was a mix of a serpent's hiss and a boar's grunt.

"Chimera Syndrome?" Mira gasped. "Of all things to happen now."

"What happened to Lisanna-san?" Kagura asked.

"I think… I think she unintentionally to take over both of them at once," Carla guessed, though with little certainty.

The three Garten warriors that Elfman knocked away got back to their feet and watched the scene with shock.

"Did you see that?" one of them said. "That Strainseir girl just took out the automatons by taking their souls."

"I thought only Relbeo-sama could do that," The second added, before swallowing. "what sort of monsters are they?".

"Never mind that," the third said. "This might be our chance," he raised his staff and quickly write in the air. " Solid Script: Fire!"

Both Mira and Murray saw this. "Don't!" They shouted, one in fury and the other in a warning. But it was too late as he flung the burning word straight at the takeover.

"No!" Elfman roared as he held his arm in front of Lisanna. "Take Over: Stone Arm!" His arm became stone as he easily intercepted the spell. "I got you, sis!" He said, only to turn around to see the reptilian pig-woman was gone. "Lisanna?"

"Ahhh!" He looked forward and saw that two of the Garten warriors we're on the ground, while the one that cast the fire spell was lifted by his throat by Lisanna.

"Please," the man begged. "I'm sorry! Don't eat me" Lisanna merely snarled as she opened her jaws wide to bit into his face. "Help!"

Elfman ran over and pulled his younger sister away from her past, who fainted from pure terror "Lisanna, cut it out! This isn't you!"

Lisanna only snarled back as she clawed her brother, forcing him to takeover.

"Ah!" Elfman shouted, what's gotten into you, "what's gotten into-" he came to a stop when he saw her eyes. They were cold, black, and soulless, with nothing of his sweet little sister in them.

He only saw such eyes before in his nightmares from the time his Beast Soul took over him.

"Oh sis…" he muttered, only to raise up his stone arm to block his snarling, hungry sister.

"Lisanna, calm down!" Mira shouted and tried to fly to her sister, only for a stone wall to block her path.

"I admire your loyalty, really," Murray commented as she held her arm across her body. "But I am not leaving without that Key Piece."

Mira scowled viciously as her eyes darkened in rage. "You're going to regret that."

Deep in a grass-filled courtyard, a man with a shaved head and double arrow markings underneath both eyes stabbed his spoon into his bowl of grit. He looked around, seeing many prisoners wearing the same gray pants that made their uniforms.

The man was Erigor, once Erigor the Reaper of Eisenwald. He was a feared dark wizard only second to the upper three guilds of the Balam Alliance. But seven years ago, he was humiliated twice before being arrested. Now he was a prisoner of the Magic Council under Chained Ego's watch

"Pennies for your thought, reaper?" a voice asked. Erigor looked up from his lunch to glare at the man sitting opposite him.

"Don't go patronizing with me, Ore," Erigor growled at the man. "You're not the millionaire big shot from years ago."

Opposite to him was Thomas Ore. To the public before his arrest he had a large control of the mining industry. But now he was infamous for staging the death of the Wizard Saint Joseph Mcgarden.

"I only want to bond with my fellow prisoner," Ore commented

"How the hell did some priss like you killed a Wizard Saint?"

"Not in a direct fight like you might think," the Crystal Mage boasted. "I simply put a crystal in his Magic Vehicle."

"Heh, and all that to get a girl," Erigor smirked. "Aren't you a real romantic? Course now you're the warden's least favorite guest."

"Still, your old plan is impressive too," Ore commented. "Killing off the guild masters in one fell swoop with a single song. Such a spectacular would be breath-taking, pardon the pun."

"Damn right!" Erigor cackled for a moment before scowling. "If it weren't for Fairy Tail!"

"Agreed," Ore mused. "They have that spirit that turns week weeds into stubborn minxes."

"And that spirit was their strength," the two turned and saw a man with a silver pompadour smiling at them while a pale obese giant stuffed his face with grit.

The first man was Rustyrose while the second was Kain Hikaru, both members of Grimoire Heart. Seven years ago, they were defeated by Fairy Tail and arrested by the Council after being found in the stranded remains of their airship.

"A garden of mighty sprites," Rustyrose recited. "That was where we met our end."

"Yeah, they were crazy," Kain grumbled through his mouth, "filled with blue-haired nerds, weird black bears, mean blue cats, and total tsundere's!"

"...What did he just say?" Ore questioned in annoyance.

"Between the fact that it's about Fairy Tail and it's him talking, it's best not to clarify," Rustyrose said.

"The point is they're a pain in the ass. Fairy Tail, Chained Ego, the Magic Council," Erigor growled, gripping his spoon. "If we had our magic, we could easily…"

Suddenly all of them screamed out from a burning feeling on their neck, coming from a searing red number brand appearing there.

"Piped down!" A Chained Ego shouted as he put a hand on his wrist.

"Anthony, stop that!" the guild member turned and paled at the sight of his furious master with the Nebula Knights, Lahar, and Doranbolt behind that.

"B-but master they were-"

"Talking. I saw before you used the Correction Spell on them. Were they talking about escaping?"

"Well, no, but they're scum!"

"Just leave," the guild master ordered, with which the grunt reluctantly complied.

"Even that is too harsh," Doranbolt commented.

"Agreed," Zimbardo said, pinching his forehead. "I prepared my Branding Magic to suppress the prisoner's magic and know their location, but my men have often abused it to dominate over them. Even I was tempted by its power…"

"Well, you know what they say," Evergreen said. "Power corrupts, and absolute power corrupts absolutely."

"What exactly does the Magic Council want to send their prisoners here?" Freed questioned Lahar. "Especially with two members of Grimoire Heart."

Lahar narrowed his eyes as he explained. "Our prison infrastructure has been overwhelmed with the number of arrests recently. So we have no choice but to outsource to reliable guilds like Chained Ego. Besides, we are going to transfer those two into a more secure facility in Deserito. Our third-in-command Lulu is busy making preparations for that as we speak."

"This place smells crazy, like a box of riled up honey badgers," Bickslow said. "It's a disaster waiting to happen."

"No, I won't allow that!" Zimbardo protested. "We do what we can to keep this under control. Nothing can go wrong."

"Famous last words~"

"Stop taunting him," Lahar ordered the crazy knight.

"Don't order my teammate, Commander" Freed said curtly, before turning to Zimbardo. "Anyway, we need to speak with you in private Zimbardo-san."

"Certainly-"

"Then we'll come too," Lahar said.

"That's not necessary. This is a private matter-"

"And if it has something to do with not only Zimbardo being targeted but the fate of numerous letter mages being put into a coma, then it is our matter."

Freed gave the other man a stony glare before sighing. "If that is what you want, then so be it."

"...Okay then," Zimbardo said awkwardly. "Let me lead you to my office," the older man led the guest through the courtyard and into the hallway before entering a small room with only a chestnut desk with a single lacrima on top, a light lacrima in the ceiling, a bookshelf to the right side, and a window to the left.

"What's with that lacrima," Bickslow asked, pointing to the one on the desk.

"That allows be constant control of each brand on each of the prisoners," Zimbardo explained. "I can activate them all at once and whatnot." He sat down at the desk and gestured at Freed. "Go ahead."

With that Freed began. "The organization after you and other individuals connected to Joseph Mcgarden is called Clan Garten. They are," he looked at Lahar and Doranbolt for a brief second. "After an object called a Key Piece that was in the hand of Joseph Mcgard. We believe that it was given to one of Mcgarden's students."

Zimbardo shook his head. "I'm sorry. But Joseph never gave anything of the sort."

The three Fairy Tail wizards deflated. "Oh, great," Evergreen said. "Nothing to gain here."

"We were on a wild goose chase," Bickslow grumbled. "And the others have us beat!"

"Our other goal still matters," Freed stated. "While we might know Zimbardo-san doesn't have the Key Piece, Clan Garten still suspects he does. We must get him to safety-"

"Just one question," Lahar spoke up. "What's so special about this Key Piece that this so-called Clan Garten is after it."

"It is nothing to be concerned about-"

"As already stated, it is under my concern," Lahar interrupted coldly. "The Magic Council can't allow unknown

"Oh yeah," Bickslow slurred. "Ain't that why you sent memory boy over there to spy on us?" he gestured at Doranbolt, who looked away in shame.

"That has nothing to do with this-"

"And neither do you," Evergreen said, pushing up her glasses. "Clan Garten's targets include some of our guildmates. That's why we're going to stop them."

"Enough already!" Doranbolt shouted. "We both want the same thing, don't we?!"

"The same goal does not always guarantee the same beliefs," Lahar said.

"What does that entail?" Freed questioned.

"Knowing the consequences when on everyday missions, we can't predict the destruction if you fight against an organization large enough to target this many wizards across Eastern Fiore."

"Everyone calm down!" Zimbardo yelled. "Can't we just-"

He suddenly stopped when the glass window shattered and an object fell through.

"Keep back!" Freed shouted as everyone moved away from the projectile.

"Wait, is that a runestone?" Lahar asked, staring at the round stone covered in white runes.

The Nebula Knights almost choked in shock. "Oh no…"

The stone suddenly glowed and a projected image of Moreau Garten appeared above it.

"Who is that?" Doranbolt asked.

"I know him," Evergreen seethed. "He's that freak from Clan Garten that gets magic when he eats paper."

"Such cruel words, Fairy," the projection said. "My ability is nothing more than the result of new magic. But that is not important. Zimbardo, for possessing stolen magic and a stolen artifact from Clan Garten."

"B-but I don't have that artifact," Zimbardo replied.

Freed and Lahar stood protectively in front of him. "Enough," Lahar said sternly to the projection. "

"He is a student of Joseph Mcgarden. This war comes to him and his guild as a result." Moreau titled his muzzled head to them. "The Brand Magic you are so proud of. Joseph Mcgard taught you how to use Bodylink magic using written markings on a subject. However," he glared straight ahead at Zimbardo. "That technique came from Clan Garten."

The Runestone shook before sending out a burst of white magic, which flew around Freed, Lahar, and Zimbardo to strike the Lacrima on the desk, shattering it immediately.

"What did he do?" Lahar questioned.

"He… he destroyed the control lacrima," Zimbardo gasped, sweat racing down his paling face. "He disabled all the brands… the prisoners are free!"

Across the guild, the prisoners felt a cool touch on their neck. They felt like a chain around their throats disappearing all at once.

"C-c-cold!" Kain shivered from the feeling. "Is someone talking about me?"

"Something is happening," Ore said, holding his palm in front of him. He smirked when he saw crystals appearing within it. "Interesting…"

"Hey!" the guard that struck the four earlier marched towards them. 'Return to your cells now! It's an emergency!"

The four looked to each other before glaring at the man. "And why on Earthland should we do that?" Rustyrose asked.

"This is why!" the guard pressed his fingers onto his wrist, expecting the prisoners to wither in agony. But he became terrified when they remained nonchalant.

"W-what's going on?" he stuttered. "You should be on your knees. Get on your knee-"

The entire courtyard watched as a burst of wind blasted him to the wall.

"Change of plans," Erigor grinned maliciously. "All of you get on your knees."

"What happens now is a system of controlled chaos." Moreau's projection crossed his arms and continued. "You want this madness to end, hand over the Key Piece."

"So you're Levy Mcgarden, huh?" the archeologist said happily to the girl in front of him. "Why, you look just like your mother."

"You knew her, Neville-san?" Levy asked while her guildmates stood next to her. The group was standing within a small tent filled with maps and old documents, while outside the sounds of excavation and loud debating filled the air.

The man in front of them, Jean-Luc Neville, was a tall, stoic looking man with a sharp purple beard, a matching mustache over his lip, and a short ponytail tied behind him. He wore a brown wide-brimmed hat on his head, a brown pocket-vest, and loose baggy pants.

"Meet her years ago," Jean-Luc smiled for a bit before frowning. "My condolence to you about her death, and your grandfather's.."

Levy sighed. "It's alright. Actually, that's why we're here. You must have heard about the recent attacks."

Jean-Luc stroked his beard. "I have. I met a few of them myself. I just learned of what happened to the others, to Reyna Dahl…" he trailed off at the end.

"That's why we're here," Levy said. "A group calling themselves Clan Garten is going after everyone my grandfather knows to find something called a Key Piece. I'm not sure if you-"

"Actually," the archeologist spoke up. "I know exactly what you mean." He walked over to a small box on the table, pulled out a key from his pocket, and used it to open the box, before pulling out a key piece just like the one found in Mcgarden Manor.

"Is that it?" Jet asked as the five stared at the artifact in Jean-Luc's hand.

"A near-exact copy," Lily said.

"Two years before his death, Joseph came to me to give me this," the archeologist explained. "He never told me what it was, only requesting me to keep it safe until he returns." He tilted his head down. "Of course, that can't happen anymore."

"Thank you, Neville-san," Levy beamed as reached out for the key, only for Jean-Luc to weakly pull it away. "Huh?"

He looked at her sheepishly while speaking. "I'm sorry Levy. I want to trust you with this, but your guild," he looked at the four around her. "They have a reputation."

"Hey, we're not that destructive nowadays," Droy protested, before turning to Gajeel. "Well…"

"Not a word, Bulb-head. Not a word."

"Please, Neville-san," Levy begged. "We can't let Clan Garten get their hands on you or the Key Piece."

"Well…"

"Look, let's just take it from him," Gajeel suggested with a shrug. "We can handle him."

"Gajeel, does the word diplomacy mean anything to you?" Lily questioned.

"Hey, listen-"

"Did he said Gajeel?" Jean-Luc piped out, looking straight at the Dragon Slayer. "As in, Black Steel Gajeel?"

Gajeel raised an eyebrow before grunting out an answer. "Yeah."

"Student of Black Steel Metalicana?"

"What about it?"

"Could you, show off some of your magic?"

Gajeel rolled his eyes before transforming his right arm into a jaded sword

"Incredible," the archeologists gasped as he examined the blade. "Only genuine Lost Magic can do shapeshifting at this level. And there's only one dragon in recorded history that had the element of iron…"

"The hell are you talking about?"

A wide smile crossed Jean-Luc's face. "Tell me, have any of you heard of Spartoi?"

The fairies responded with confusion. "Isn't that an old nation from centuries ago?" Levy asked.

"That's right. My group has been researching the Golden Age for the last few months. The site here, an old city named Silmirinion, was once the meeting place for ancient lords. Our main focus is on Spartoi, an ancient nation back when dragons and humans lived side-by-side in Ishgar. Spartoi was legendary for its military might and ferocious warriors and was always led by a general-like figure called the Praetor. Spartoi had many in its history, but its last and most famous was the Iron Dragon, Metalicana!"

The fairies gasped. "Metalicana was an ancient ruler?" Lily asked in shock, before turning to Gajeel. "How come you never mentioned this before?"

"Come on, it's Gajeel," Jet said in a joking tone. "He probably thought it wasn't important to mention."

"Yeah, so unimportant I never knew about it," Gajeel gruffed, causing the speedster to look in surprise.

"Seriously?"

"Not even a thing?" Jean-Luc asked with fragile hope.

"Look, he was more focus on my training than his past," Gajeel replied with annoyance. "I don't know why he kept quiet."

"Oh, but still, they must be something! Some form of training that originated from the nation, or-" he quickly slapped a palm to his face, took a deep breath, and remove his hand. "Sorry about that. I'm just so excited to meet a possible legacy of a mighty warrior."

"Just keep it down already," Gajeel replied. "And don't make a big deal about my old man."

"Yeah, well, heh," Jean-Luc smiled. "I feel like I was younger again, a newly licensed archeologist. Remembering that inspired me," he smiled to Levy and held out the Key Piece to her. "It reminded me of you young ones. I think this Key Piece will be in good hands."

Levy beamed as she accepted the key piece.

"Thank you, Neville-san," she replied happily, holding tightly onto the key piece. "Our next task is getting you to safety. You might not have this anymore, but Clan Garten will still go after you.

"Good idea," the archeologist nodded. "I'll let my men know we're departing early." He was about to step out of the tent when Gajeel's bladed arm blocked him.

"Do you hear that?" Gajeel questioned everyone suddenly.

Droy shook his head. "I'm not hearing anything."

Jean-Luc stiffened as Gajeel growled. "That's the problem."

"Oh no," the archeologist ducked under Gajeel's sword and ran out of the tent. The rest followed him to see a ghastly sight.

The digging site was completely overturned with tool scattered elsewhere. Three short men were unconscious at various points.

Jean-Luc looked at the three men in horror. "Carter. Banerji. Perkins. What happened to you?!"

"They're not dead," a deep voice echoed. The fairies braced for battle as white runes came from the air and solidify into two familiar figures. "I simply knocked them out when they refused to get out of our way," Mercator explained. "I have no intention of spilling blood against non-warriors."

"What did you do to my men?" Jean-Luc furiously demanded as he stepped forward, only to be pulled back by Lily in his battle form.

"Don't let him bait you in," the Exceed said sternly. "He's powerful and dangerous

"Well, well," Alexis said next to his father as he glared daggers with a hungry smirk at Gajeel. "Black Steel. Face to face again, huh?"

"You again…" Gajeel snarled as he cracked his neck. "I'm about to stuff those lances up your ass for what you did."

Alexis twirled each lance in his hand. "Bring it on, gowl!"

"Make this easier for all of us," Mercator demanded coldly. "Hand over Neville, Levy, and the Key Piece, or suffer our wrath."

And that's that. This is the last chapter before Winter Break, so I hope you all enjoyed it. Make sure to leave your reviews on what you thought about this so far.

Also, don't forget to check out the story's TV Trope page under "Alternate Tail Series."

See you all in December.