Hey there everybody! What a long time it has been! Before you ask: no, I didn't die. No, I didn't quit this story. Simply put life (aka work) kept me too busy to write. Sorry!

But I do really like how this chapter ended up turning out so I hope you enjoy the next installment! Happy reading!

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail.

Fairy Tail—A Diary's Secret 2: A Fateful Journey

Chapter 2

"Anima? What's an Anima?" Happy whispered.

"How should I know?" Natsu retorted as softly as he could. "I've never heard of it before." He narrowed his eyes at Mystogan's figure through the leaves and branches of the bush. 'What the hell did he mean that Magnolia would be doomed? What the hell is going on here?'

Mystogan adjusted the cloth covering his face slightly before humming. "Where else could I look?" he said softly to himself. "I've searched the border thoroughly. It couldn't be somewhere over Magnolia, could it? I would have easily sensed it. So then where…?" He turned to look towards the north, his back now towards the snooping Fairy Tail members. "This isn't good. I can't waste time searching like this. Magnolia's future rests in the balance."

"Natsu, what in the world is he talking about?" Happy asked quietly. There was a little fear in his voice and for good reason. "Why does he keep saying that Magnolia is in trouble?"

"I'm not sure," Natsu said as he stood up, "but I'm gonna find out!" He burst through the bushes and charged Mystogan.

"Wait, Natsu!" Happy hissed.

"MYSTOGAN!" Natsu roared.

Mystogan turned towards Natsu just as the Dragon Slayer grabbed him by the collar and lifted him off of the ground with one hand. "Ah, Natsu. I thought I sensed someone's presence watching me. Were you spying on me?"

"Never mind that," Natsu growled. "Start explaining. What the fuck are Anima and why do you keep saying Magnolia is doomed?"

Mystogan's eyes shifted away. "I'm afraid I can't explain that to you."

"Like hell you can't," Natsu said darkly as his grip tightened. "I have a family, you bastard. A wonderful wife and a beautiful little girl. You're gonna tell me right now why their lives are in danger or I'll roast you where you stand!"

Mystogan sighed and calmly put a hand on Natsu's tense fist. "Just let it go and let me handle things. Besides, even if I told you, you would never believe me."

"Try me. Mira taught me to be a great listener."

"It's complicated."

"I'm not a moron. Now stop stalling and talk. Last chance."

Happy flew over. "Why won't you try explaining? Maybe we can help."

Mystogan shook his head. "You wouldn't be able to find them or close them."

"Find what? Close what? Start making sense, damn it!" Natsu shouted as small embers danced around his body.

Mystogan remained still and silent for several moments before he hung his head slightly. "Very well. I'll explain."

Natsu put Mystogan down and crossed his arms. He said nothing, but his eyes screamed his impatience.

Mystogan put a hand to his chin. "Now how to explain…I've never considered what I would say in this situation."

Natsu's finger began to slowly tap against his muscular arm.

"Perhaps I should begin with what Anima are? No, that wouldn't work."

Natsu's finger began tapping faster.

"Or maybe there's no other way?"

Natsu's finger was practically a blur.

"But knowing your knack for confusion, maybe it would be too much to begin with that."

"Oh for the love of…just start!" Natsu snapped.

Mystogan was silent again. After a few moments, he hummed. "Yes, now I know where to start. I'll start with who I am."

"Why does who you are matter?" Happy asked. "We all know that you're Mystogan."

"That's nothing more than a façade so that I could easily navigate throughout Earth Land without conflict," Mystogan said. "In truth, I am not from this world."

"Not from this world?" Natsu repeated with a quirked eyebrow. "What are you, an alien?"

"No, not an alien. I come from a world called Edolas, a land that is completely parallel to Earth Land."

"Edolas?" Happy said. "I've never heard of it."

"I'm not surprised. I've gone to great lengths to ensure that this world remained as unaffected as possible by Edolas and its goals. And one such measure is finding and closing the Anima portals."

"And now we're back to these Anima things. What exactly are they?" Natsu asked as he tried to follow this bizarre story.

"This is where things get a little more complicated," Mystogan admitted. "Anima portals are created from a spell and are being used by the King of Edolas, Faust, to siphon away magic from Earth Land."

"You mean this Edolas place is stealing our magic?" Happy exclaimed.

Mystogan nodded. "Yes. You see, unlike Earth Land, Edolas does not have an endless supply of magic. It's an exhaustible resource and it's almost completely exhausted already. King Faust, with his sickening greed and thirst for magic power, created the Anima with no concern for what would happen to the people of Earth Land. He only cares for himself."

"That's terrible," Happy said.

"I agree. That's why I came to Earth Land. I wish to stop Faust's plan by closing all of the Anima from this world. For 21 years, I have scoured the land under the name Mystogan to look for the Anima and I have been able to find and close all that I have come across without much difficulty. However, I have noticed that they have been appearing more and more frequently and have been growing in size. I fear that Faust knows that I am working against him and is trying to keep me from succeeding in my mission."

"Okay, I'm starting to get the picture here," Natsu said while closing his eyes. "Now for the big zinger; how is Magnolia doomed?"

"Right," Mystogan nodded. "You see, most of the earlier Anima took small amounts of power at a time so that it was barely noticed here. However, starting in the year 782, the Anima started to expand in size. With this expansion, magic wasn't the only thing being taken. People and places were starting to disappear. They were being taken to Edolas to serve as a power source."

Natsu's arms fell limp as his eyes widened. "So then you're saying…?"

"Somewhere very near Magnolia is an extraordinarily large Anima," Mystogan interrupted. "If I don't find it and close it, Magnolia will be pulled into Edolas. The town and everyone in it will be turned into a lacrima to be used to power Edolas."

Natsu's jaw clenched. "Son of a bitch," he muttered. He looked desperately at Mystogan. "Isn't there anything we can do? Isn't there anything I can do?"

"Natsu…," Mystogan said softly, clearly seeing the Dragon Slayer's concern and fear in his onyx eyes.

"Please, Mystogan. I have to protect Mira and Serafine. I can't let them meet that kind of fate. Let me help protect my family!" Natsu begged.

"There's nothing you can do," Mystogan said flatly.

"I can't accept that!" Natsu said as tears stung the corners of his eyes. He could feel frustration and hopelessness flooding through his body. "I can't let anyone else I care about die! Not again!" His head dropped. "Not again…"

Mystogan put a hand on Natsu's shoulder. "I know that you don't want to lose anyone like we did Lisanna all those years ago. I would tell you what you could do if I could, but there really is nothing. Since you're not from Edolas, you can't sense the Anima."

Suddenly, Natsu felt something click in his mind. "Lisanna…" He whipped his head up. "Mystogan, when did you say that the Anima first started to get out of control?"

Mystogan tilted his head slightly. "782. Why?"

Natsu's heart was beating faster and faster with anticipation. "And have you ever seen something get pulled into Edolas before?"

Mystogan nodded. "Yes."

"What does it look like?"

Mystogan thought about it. "It looks like very bright orbs of Ethernano flying into the sky."

"And what Mira said about that time…," Natsu whispered softly with a wavering voice.

"Natsu, what are you getting at?" Happy asked.

Natsu looked at Happy with a strange look of hope and fear. "What if Lisanna didn't die? What if she's in Edolas?"

"Natsu, just stop!" Happy begged as he flew as fast as he could after the Dragon Slayer.

Natsu wasn't about to obey. He was tearing through the forest as fast as his strong legs would allow him, barely noticing as branches and thorns scratched his skin. His breathing was heavy and his heart was beating wildly. His focus was on one thing; getting back home as soon as possible. "I have to tell Mira!"

"Tell her what?" Happy asked.

"That Lisanna might still be alive! What else?"

"Natsu, it's only a theory you have. We have no proof."

"If what Mystogan said was true then I think there's a really good chance."

"That's a really big 'if', Natsu."

Natsu could see the Dragneel home through the trees and somehow hastened his already breakneck pace. He broke through the tree line and tore across the grassy lawn and bounded up the even stone steps. Once he reached the door he swung it open and leapt inside. "Mira!"

Mira was washing dishes in the sink when she heard her husband call out her name over the rushing water. "In here, Natsu."

Natsu ran into the kitchen. "I need to talk to you. Now."

"Alright, alright," she replied. She turned off the water and reached for a drying rag. She turned to face Natsu with a smile. However, the smile was replaced with concern when she saw the look on Natsu's face coupled with his heavy breathing. Something was definitely up. "What's wrong?" She looked him over. "Where are the groceries?"

"I don't have them," he said quickly as he tried to catch his breath.

Her expression darkened. "You forgot the groceries again? Damn it, Natsu!"

"Forget about the groceries for a second!" Natsu exclaimed.

"And let you get away with forgetting again? Not a chance, mister."

"Look, I have something to tell you and it's really important!"

"Is that Papa?" Serafine called from the second floor. The sound of quick footsteps bounding down the wooden stairs echoed in the house as Serafine ran into the kitchen. She looked excitedly at her father. "Did you get my Honey Puffs like I asked?" She looked around excitedly like a hungry wolf, but couldn't see any signs of new groceries. She gave her father a disapproving glare. "You forgot to go shopping again, didn't you?"

"Would you guys forget the stupid groceries for literally five seconds?" Natsu begged as he ran a hand through his hair. "Mira, will you please just let me tell you what I need to tell you?"

Mira sighed. "Fine. But then comes your punishment."

Natsu was too concerned about telling Mira what he knew to comprehend the threat of punishment. "I need to tell you about what I heard from Mystogan."

"Mystogan?" she echoed. "When did you see Mystogan? He was supposed to be away on an S-Class mission."

"I saw him in East Forest."

"Okay. That's certainly odd."

"But there's more. I heard from Mystogan that…"

"Natsu!" Happy called out as he finally flew in through the door. He collapsed on the kitchen table and his exhausted wings disappeared. "Please just wait! Think this through!"

"Damn it, Happy! Stop trying to stop me!" Natsu barked.

"What's going on, Papa?" Serafine asked in confusion.

"Yes, what is this all about, Natsu?" Mira asked.

Natsu took a deep breath. "I overheard Mystogan talking about something called Anima. After confronting him about them, I found out that they're part of a magic spell from another world known as Edolas to steal Earth Land's magic."

Serafine giggled. "Papa's snapped."

"I have not!" Natsu retorted. "I'm telling the truth!"

"Okay, so Mystogan told you about these Anima things. Is that what has you all worked up?" Mira asked calmly as she put down the dish she was drying and began drying another.

"No, but it's a huge part of it," Natsu said.

"Then get to the point, Natsu. I'm very confused."

Natsu opened his mouth to speak, but suddenly found the words to be escaping him. "I…I think…I think…"

Mira sighed and smiled softly at Natsu. "It's okay, Natsu. Just breathe and let it out. I'll listen to what you have to say no matter how ridiculous it sounds."

Natsu hung his head slightly and controlled his breathing. Once he felt sure of what he was going to say he lifted his head and looked deep into Mira's soothing sapphire blue eyes. "Mira, I think that Lisanna may still be alive."

The sound of shattering ceramic split the air as pieces of the plate Mira had been drying scattered across the wooden floor. She was standing completely frozen, her eyes fixed on Natsu.

"Mira?" Happy asked slowly.

Mira's head slowly fell forward. Her gaze was shadowed by her hair. Her arms went limp. "Serafine, please take Uncle Happy and go to your room," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.

Serafine looked between her parents. "But Mama, what…?"

"Now!" Mira ordered loudly.

Serafine shrunk back slightly before obeying, darting up the stairs to where her room resided. Happy flew closely behind her.

"Mira, what's wrong? Why did you send Serafine upstairs?" Natsu asked.

Mira slowly approached him until she was standing directly in front of him. She then swiftly struck him across the face.

Natsu was stunned. He slowly turned his head forward and he could see her slender shoulders trembling. "Mira?"

Mira lifted her head and it was then that Natsu could see tears flowing freely like twin rivers down her cheeks and onto the floor. "Why would you say something like that to me?" she rasped.

"I don't understand why you're so upset," he said. "I thought you'd be happy."

"I was there, Natsu. I saw Lisanna disappear. Are you saying that I imagined it? That I imagined that indescribable pain of losing her that day? That all of that sadness that I felt, that I still feel, is a figment of my imagination?" Her voice was shaking with a mix of sorrow and anger.

"No, I'm not saying that. I know it was hard to see. It was hard on all of us to lose her."

"THEN WHY?" she shrieked as the tears intensified. "Is this your sick idea of a joke? Why would you want to bring up such painful memories after all this time?"

He grabbed her and pulled her into a strong embrace. He gently stroked her head to try and calm her. "Of course not. I would never joke about this. You know I wouldn't drag up those memories unless I was really sure. I would never do that to you. I love you and never want to hurt you. But I really do think that she may be alive. Will you please listen to the whole story?"

Her whole body trembled as she cried into his shoulder. Too gripped with sadness to speak, she nodded against his body. Her hands grabbed hold of his shirt and bunched the fabric tightly in her fists.

Natsu began to calmly recount every last detail that he heard from Mystogan. He told her everything exactly as Mystogan had said. He told her all about the Anima portals, Edolas, Mystogan's mission, the Anima near Magnolia, all of it. But he made sure to emphasize the part about the way that magic traveled between worlds.

Mira backed away slightly. "That…that does sound like what I saw."

"Right?" Natsu said as he gripped her arms. "Don't you think there's a chance that Lisanna didn't die, but instead somehow got sucked into one of those Anima and ended up in Edolas?"

She wiped her eyes. "I suppose there's a small chance. Still, it's such an insane theory."

"But there's a chance. See? There's some hope."

She looked into his eyes before resting her head on his broad shoulder. "I'm sorry I hit you," she muttered.

He smiled and shook his head while wrapping his arms around her frame once more. "Don't even worry about it. Actually, I think that was pretty laid back for one of your reactions."

"Shut up," she chuckled and sniffed. She returned the embrace, resting her open palms against his back.

He kissed the top of her head. "So what do you think?"

"It's a nice idea, but I have no idea what to do about it. It sounds like Mystogan is the only one who can find the Anima. What could we possibly do?"

"Let me figure that part out."

They stayed in each other's arms for a while longer in complete silence when suddenly…

"I want to help you look!" The two looked towards the voice to see their daughter standing in the kitchen doorway. She had a determined and excited look on her face. "I want to help you look for Aunt Lisanna!"

"How much did you hear?" Natsu asked.

"The whole thing," she admitted.

"Young lady, you were supposed to be in your room," Mira scolded.

"I was gonna, but then I had to go to the bathroom as soon as I got upstairs."

"I didn't hear a flush," Mira said suspiciously.

"The urge passed."

Natsu laughed. "That's my girl!"

"Natsu," Mira scolded softly while gently slapping his shoulder.

Natsu smiled at his daughter. "Tell you what. If you want to help look then you can help out!"

"Yay! Thanks Papa!" Serafine said excitedly while jumping up and down. "It'll be like a family mission; me, Papa, and Mama searching the globe for an Animal that will lead us to Aunt Lisanna!"

"It's Anima, not Animal," Happy sighed as he floated into the kitchen. He looked apologetically at Mira and Natsu. "Sorry, she wouldn't listen to me."

Mira shook her head. "It's alright." She sighed. "What am I going to do with you two? Very well. We can all look for the Anima. Together."

"I'll go looking for Mystogan tomorrow and look for more information. Maybe he can give me a more general location for finding it," Natsu offered.

"I'll see if there's anything at the library that can help in the morning," Mira added.

"I'll go with you, Mama! I'm a great reader," Serafine said proudly.

"Then it's settled," Natsu said with his signature grin. "Tomorrow our mission will begin!"

"Yay!" Serafine cheered. "I can't wait!"

Mira shook her head and giggled. 'Like father like daughter, I guess. They're both so excitable.' She looked at the ceiling. 'Is it really possible? Are you really still out there somewhere…Lisanna?'