Hello everyone! Welp...at least it hasn't been two months, right? This chapter was...I guess the nicest way to say it is-a challenge. It took forever to come up with an idea and then I had one. But then as I started to write it, I realized that it made no sense in regards to the consistency of the story. So I had to scrap it, revise the plan, and rewrite it. And of course all of this is happening while work decided to really pick up. BUT I PERSEVERED! I really wanted to get this chapter out to you sooner, but what can you do?

Now, without further ado, please enjoy (I hope) the next chapter!

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail.

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

Chapter 3

The Library of Magnolia. Once a small, one-story building that was often forgotten, this library was now a towering, majestic stone building that could be seen from afar like Kardia Cathedral. The expansion of the town sparked the decision to upgrade and with the upgrade all sorts of books from all over the world began flooding in, exposing the populace to all kinds of new information regarding culture and myth.

And it was in this library that Mira and Serafine sat at a table, stacks of books surrounding them on the table top. Some had been read. Some had yet to be read. Mira was sitting calmly, a small smile on her relaxed face as her eyes darted back and forth across the pages. Serafine, on the other hand, was sitting with her brow furrowed, frustration and a little boredom evident in her expression. Little groans escaped her throat every now and then as she flipped from page to page.

Mira quietly closed her book and sighed. "What a lovely story. It's too bad it didn't have any information on Edolas or the Anima portals, though." She placed it gently in a pile to her right which, evidently, was of all the books she had read that didn't contain any information that she was searching for.

Serafine slammed her book shut. "Mine has nothing either!" She dropped the text with a thud and scratched her head vigorously. "So annoying," she whined.

"We have to be patient, Serafine," Mira said calmly. "From the start we knew this would be a stretch. The chances of finding anything on this mysterious other world were slim to none. We can't get discouraged that easily."

Serafine folded her hands in her lap and pouted. "I know. I'm sorry, Mama."

Mira giggled and gently pet her pink and silver hair. "It's alright. If you're tired you can take a break." She motioned to all of the books on the table. "As you can see, we have a lot of reading to do and not a lot of promise to find what we're looking for."

She shook her head. "No way, I'm gonna keep helping! Papa is counting on me!"

Mira picked up another book in a pile and smiled sweetly at her daughter. "What a good girl."

Groaning, Serafine lazily picked up the book she had been reading and moved it to her pile of failures. She slid another new book from the piles around her and opened to the first page. She placed her chin on the table and began to read. "I hope Papa and Uncle Happy are having more luck…and more fun."

Deep within East Forest, Natsu and Happy were searching everywhere for Mystogan. They had been hoping to find him easily since he was looking for that Anima portal near Magnolia, but he was nowhere to be found. They had scoured the large forest with no indication of where he might be.

"Mystogan! Where are you? Mystogan!" Natsu called out, his hands cupped around his mouth.

Happy flew alongside him, looking around for any signs of the mysterious mage. "Natsu, I don't see him anywhere."

"He's gotta be here," Natsu said. "He's looking for the Anima portal nearby."

"But he tried around here already. Maybe he's searching elsewhere. Remember he doesn't know exactly where it is."

Natsu crossed his arms in irritation. "You're probably right. Goddamn it."

"Do you smell him at all?"

"Not a trace. Now I really think you're right. So where do we look next?"

Happy hummed. "He mentioned that it was near Magnolia, not in it. So maybe he's looking near the water behind the guild."

"It's worth a shot I guess. At least we can rule out searching the entire town now." The two turned to the east to return to the guild.

The guild hall was settled near the edge of Magnolia on a rocky cliff, so there was a shoreline there. It was one of the more accessible points if one wished to reach the water's edge. However, there were no beaches in Magnolia so the only attraction was fresh sea air.

When Natsu and Happy arrived behind the guild hall to the fairly decent sized field, they hoped to see Mystogan standing there. However, he was not there.

"Damn it. We were wrong again," Natsu complained. "Where is this guy?"

"I don't know," Happy said. "I really thought he might be here. But maybe he checked it out a long time ago."

Natsu plopped to the ground while crossing his legs and arms. "Then where else could we check? If he's not in East Forest and he's not by the water, then where? The mountains are too far west to be considered 'near Magnolia' so that has to be out, right? Maybe the cliffs…no, those are still considered part of East Forest and we already searched that place with a fine tooth comb. Man, I'm at such a loss! I hope the girls are having more luck than we are. If only I could smell him out…"

As Natsu thought out loud, Happy looked left and right along the rocky shore when a figure caught his attention to his left. It was far away and he had to squint to even remotely make out a shape, but he could clearly see well enough for he gasped and pointed. "Look, Natsu!"

Natsu turned in the direction Happy pointed. "What?"

"Look! Way down the shoreline on the rocks!"

Natsu squinted his eyes as he tried to see what Happy saw. Soon, he was grinning happily. Standing on the large, wet rocks less than a quarter of a mile from where they stood was a figure wearing green clothes with sticks behind its back. It was impossible to tell features beyond that, but the profile was too unique to be mistaken as anyone else other than…

"Mystogan! He is here!" Natsu exclaimed as he leapt quickly to his feet. "Let's go, Happy!"

Happy grabbed him by his shirt and hoisted him into the air. "Aye sir!"

The two flew towards the motionless Mystogan and landed beside him. The S-Class mage turned upon hearing someone approach. "Why if it isn't Natsu again. I'm surprised that you found me."

"We thought you'd be around town somewhere looking for that Anima portal," Natsu replied.

"Pretty astute," Mystogan complimented. "Now do you need something? I'm sorry, but I just don't have time to waste with you today. I must hurry and find the Anima. If I can't pinpoint its exact location then I can't close it."

"I'm not here to waste your time. I just want to know how I can go about finding the Anima," Natsu said.

Mystogan sighed. "Again with this? I thought I was clear enough yesterday; since you aren't from Edolas you can't possibly sense the presence of an Anima. You can't find them."

"Oh, you were clear. But I also clearly remember saying that I couldn't accept that. I refuse to believe that there's nothing I can do."

"But there isn't," Mystogan said with slight agitation. He turned on his heels and began walking back towards the small patch of trees nearby. "There is no Anima here so I'm looking elsewhere. I'm sorry, but we're done here."

Natsu huffed and ran to catch up with Mystogan. "If you're in such a rush at least let me help you look."

"That would be pointless. You would only distract me and slow me down," Mystogan said quickly.

"Bastard," Natsu hissed.

Happy quickly intervened before Natsu got any more heated. "Natsu has a sharp nose. Maybe if we knew what the Anima smelled like…"

"They have no such indicators. They simply give off magic power that, to people from Earth Land, cannot be identified."

"So that's how you can find them," Happy clarified.

"Then why is this one giving you so much trouble to find?" Natsu asked. "You've found and closed Anima before. What makes this one so special?"

Mystogan never stopped walking, but did look towards Natsu. "This Anima, as I mentioned before, is extraordinarily large. The magic power it's giving off is spread out over a large area. Until I can find a more exact location I won't be able to close it. And I must hurry." His gaze darkened as he faced forward. "Time is running out."

"It is?" Happy asked fearfully.

Mystogan nodded. "Yes. I fear that the Anima is going to open very soon. I must not dally any longer."

"How soon is soon?" Natsu asked.

"I couldn't possibly venture even the slightest estimation. Anima are completely unpredictable. They could open at any given time," Mystogan explained.

"Then what makes you think that time is running out?" Happy asked.

"The pressure it's giving off has begun to steadily increase; a clear sign that it is close to opening. However, I don't know how much longer this will continue before it does open."

"So where could you look next?" Happy asked. "You tried the water and East Forest."

"The location isn't necessarily a landmark," Mystogan replied. "It could be anywhere."

"One more question for ya," Natsu said. "How can you be so sure that the Anima portal isn't directly over Magnolia?"

"If it were directly over Magnolia then the pressure I would feel simply walking through town would be beyond measure," Mystogan answered.

"So that's what you're doing while you search," Happy realized. "You're waiting until you feel a pressure spike."

"Exactly."

"If this pressure is so intense, then why is it that we can't feel it?" Natsu snapped.

Mystogan sighed. "I don't have time for this," he muttered, but answered the question regardless. "Since you were born here and have never known what it is like to live with finite magic, you couldn't perceive the sensation of suddenly being surrounded by such incredible power. Your bodies are used to it in the same way that people used to cold climates adapt and become accustomed to such conditions."

"I get it," Happy said. "So it's kind of like knowing you were splashed with water when you're sitting by a river, but fish never really feel water being splashed on them because they're already surrounded by it."

"I…suppose," Mystogan said slowly as he tried to wrap his head around Happy's strange connection. However, he quickly shook his head of the thought and hastened his pace. "I will try the western border next. It's a large area to cover, so I don't have any more time to waste answering your questions."

"We haven't been wasting your time. We're just trying to understand and help out!" Natsu barked. "Why can't you see that?"

The two broke through the line of trees and into the outskirts of Magnolia when a voice hit their ears.

"Papa!"

Natsu and Happy stopped as Mystogan kept walking. They turned to see Serafine running towards them with Mira following behind her. "Serafine? Mira?" Natsu said with surprise. "What are you two doing here? Weren't you two at the library?"

Serafine leapt at her father, who quickly reacted and caught her. "I got tired of that place. It was too boring."

Mira giggled. "So much like her father. Although I give her credit; she held out longer than I expected. Truth be told, we were both coming up empty. Sorry that we were of no help."

Natsu huffed at the shot about his patience level, but brushed it off. "Don't worry about it. You tried your best." He put Serafine down and patted her head. "You both did."

"We really did," Serafine said with an enthusiastic nod as she turned towards Mystogan's retreating figure. "So that's Mystogan?"

"Yeah, that's him," Natsu said while narrowing his eyes. "He's refusing to let us help."

"Aw, but why not?" Serafine complained.

"Let's not get into it again," Happy said while shaking his head. "Natsu may burst from anger."

"Good call," Mira said. "So what do we do from here? Do we give up on the notion of finding the Anima?"

Natsu clenched his fists. "I don't want to, but…"

Mira sighed. "I think we have to stop trying, Natsu."

"But Lisanna…!"

"Natsu," Mira said sternly. "Believe me, I'm just as disappointed as you, but we have to face facts. We're powerless here. We don't understand Edolas. We don't understand the Anima. We don't have the ability to find them. So what else is there? I think we have to just let this go and let Mystogan find and close the Anima. It's for the best."

Natsu wanted to argue, but found himself at a loss for words. What could he say? Mira was right and deep down he knew it. But still…

"Screw that," Natsu said. "I can't accept this sitting back bull when everyone's in danger! I want to find that Anima, find Lisanna, and then close it to protect Magnolia!"

"And I can understand that, but the reality is we can't, Natsu."

Serafine watched her parents argue when something caught her attention. She turned to see Mystogan running as fast as he could off to the right. "Hey Papa! Mama! Look! Mystogan is running off."

Natsu looked and grit his teeth. "Aw, hell. He's trying to shake me while I'm distracted." He took off running after the mage. "It'll take a lot more than that to lose me, Mystogan!"

"Natsu, wait!" Mira called after him, but Natsu would not stop. She sighed exasperatedly. "Geez, that man." She ran after him with Serafine and Happy right beside her.

The four chased after Mystogan deeper and deeper into the woods until reaching the small cliff range on the eastern edge of the town. Natsu looked up to see Mystogan leaping from ledge to ledge with incredible athleticism as he climbed higher and higher.

"He's like a monkey," Serafine marveled. "Look at him climb!"

"You won't shake me!" Natsu roared as he began leaping from ledge to ledge.

"Natsu, for God's sake stay still!" Mira shouted after his shrinking figure. She groaned in annoyance as she leapt after her husband. "Happy, watch Serafine please while I fetch Natsu."

"Aye!" Happy called after her.

"Uncle Happy," Serafine said with a pleading look. "Carry me up there please."

"No way!" Happy cried. "Mira would kill me!"

"Pleeeeeeeeeeeeeeeaaaaaaaaaaaaasssssssssssssssssssse?"

"Out of the question!" Happy refused while crossing his arms in an 'x'.

Serafine huffed. "Fine. I'll climb on my own."

Happy grabbed her by the shirt and began flying her up with tears in his eyes. "You must get that manipulative side from your mother. She's so going to kill me for this."

Serafine smiled wide. "You're the best, Uncle Happy!"

At the very top of the cliff, Natsu stopped and looked both ways. "Damn it, where are you, Mystogan? I won't lose you."

"Natsu!" Mira scolded as she reached the top. She grabbed his ear and pulled. "Would you please just stop?"

"Owowowowowow! Mira, quit it!"

"Not until you quit it!"

"Hey you guys!" Serafine called out as Happy let her small feet touch the top of the cliff.

Mira rolled her eyes. "Oh, for the love of…does no one listen to me anymore? I asked you to watch her, Happy!"

"I technically did," Happy replied sheepishly.

With Mira distracted but with a death grip still on his ear, Natsu proceeded to scoop Mira up into his arms and run after Mystogan. "I think he went this way."

Mira released his ear and gently beat his chest. "Natsu, put me down! Stop and put me down! This is getting ridiculous. You're acting like a child."

"Sorry, but I'm not quitting, Mira," Natsu said with a serious look.

"Hey, wait up!" Serafine cried as she ran after her parents.

Happy sighed as he flew after them. "What I wouldn't give for some fish and a nap right now."

Mystogan froze, panting as he looked up at the sunny and clear sky. His eyes darted quickly over the blue canvas. "It's not what I was looking for, but that doesn't change the fact that one is still here."

"MYSTOGAN!"

Mystogan turned to see the Dragneels running towards him. "I'm trying to remember a time when I didn't hear you calling my name, Natsu."

Natsu skidded to a stop by Mystogan and put Mira down. "Sorry, but you can't shake me off of you that easily."

"Shake you?" Mystogan repeated, confused. "I wasn't trying to shake you." He returned his attention to the sky. "There's an Anima here."

"You mean…we found it?" Mira asked softly as she looked to the sky. Was finding Lisanna possibly within reach after all?

"No, this is a different Anima. It's odd for multiple to be in the same area simultaneously, but this one is but a small one. A tiny fraction of the size of the one I seek."

"So are you going to ignore it?" Happy asked.

Mystogan shook his head. "No, I will close it. I will never ignore an Anima."

"Wait, before you close it," Serafine interrupted with a look of pure excitement on her face, "can you send us through?"

Mystogan looked at her as if she had suddenly sprouted five more heads and begun speaking another language. "Are you crazy? You want to go through the Anima and into Edolas? Why in the world would you want to do that?"

"We want to look for Aunt Lisanna!"

Mystogan sighed. "I see. So that's what all of your hounding was about, Natsu. That's why you wanted to know how to find the Anima. You want to look for Lisanna. Still, it's out of the question. You don't even know if she is there. It's far too dangerous for a simple hunch."

Natsu stepped forward. "That's something for us to decide, not you," he said calmly. "To us, taking this opportunity to possibly find Lisanna is worth every risk."

"I refuse to…"

"What if we also went to stop Faust?" Natsu interrupted.

Mystogan was silent for a very long time. He certainly appeared to be thinking things over. And then he spoke. "So you would stop Faust's plan from Edolas while I worked to stop him here."

"Exactly," Natsu said with a nod. "So how do we get there?"

Mystogan was silent again as he continued to mull over the idea. After a while, he sighed. "Very well. Before I close this Anima, I will send you all through."

"Yay!" Serafine clapped. "Our adventure continues!"

"It never really got started," Happy sweatdropped.

Mystogan reached into his cloak and pulled out a small vile filled with small red, spherical pills. "Take this vile with you. It's filled with X-Balls."

"X-Balls?" Serafine echoed. "What are those?"

"These are small pills that, once eaten, will allow you to retain the ability of regenerating magic power even in Edolas."

"Handy," Natsu said as he took the vile. "How long does each one last?"

"Roughly a day."

Natsu grinned and stuck it in his pocket. "Works for me."

"Now before I send you," Mystogan began, "I need to warn you. Faust is powerful and has many resources and soldiers at his disposal. He is no easy foe to face. You'll also need to be on your guard while searching for Lisanna. You never know who's working for the King as an informant."

"Understood," Mira said with a nod. She could feel anticipation coursing through her like a hot fire. She couldn't contain her excitement much longer.

Suddenly, the sky began to break apart like a vortex. Trees, rocks, and grass all began being pulled upwards. The group looked up to see a dark spiral had formed in the sky. They could feel the wind picking up around them.

"Is that…?" Mira began.

"We're fortunate that this one is so small," Mystogan said. "If this was the large Anima, you all would have been sucked inside and turned into a lacrima before you knew what hit you." Mystogan lifted one of the staves from his back and pointed it at the group. It glowed a pale blue as they all began to levitate in the air. "Best of luck to all of you. And stay safe."

"You got it!" Natsu cheered as they rose higher and higher.

"Bye!" Serafine waved.

Mystogan watched them soar towards the open portal and narrowed his eyes. 'I truly hope that you can be successful, Natsu. For if you can stop Faust before the Anima opens over Magnolia, countless lives will be saved.'

Things are starting to get exciting, aren't they? The Dragneels are on their way to Edolas. What awaits them? Find out soon in Chapter 4! Until then, my friends!