Hello Everyone!
Yes I'm back and the story is still continuing. I'm sorry for such the long wait but I had recently moved, finished school, started a job, and then Christmas came. So i again apologize but never fear I'm still here. Thank you all for being so patient. I hope you all enjoy this chapter. Now on with the story.
~wolvesfinalden
Fairy Tail: By Your Side
Chapter 17: Goodbye Edolas!
Natsu and Happy ran as they looked for a sign of Lucy and Duke. Erza, Gray, and Jellal went on ahead to settle things with the king himself. However the boys had been searching for around an hour now with no sign of the wolf and the girl. Natsu was beginning to become worried about the two. They should have made it back at least by now, what could be keeping them for this long?
"Happy I want you to fly ahead and find those two. I'll go back and help the others but if they are in any kind of trouble you come back here and tell me." Natsu said in an oddly strict tone.
"Aye sir!" Happy shouted without hesitation and flew off to find their team mates.
Edolas Duke managed to talk the exceeds into helping with the falling guild and hurried to the falling object. So far things were going to plan now the wolf was awaiting Lucy and his other self to come back with their team, however he has not been able to catch a sign of the two. He growled but kept holding the Fairy Tail guild of Earthland for the sake of their lives.
Duke's world was falling fast. They had received unfriendly fire in their search for the exceeds. The white wolf was badly injured on his one side making it difficult to stay in the air if at all. His vision began to come back as he saw his master falling just below him.
He then snapped out of his world as he desperately tried to reach her however she no matter what he did she was too far from his grip. Not knowing what to do Duke whimpered and let out a horrified howl as he tried to push himself harder.
"Foolish canine. This is what happens when you defile the kingdom of Edolas." A voice said to him.
Duke growled and looked up as he saw the feline that caused this. A cat that looked like those of Edolas, however instead of being small and harmless, he took the form of a warrior. The size of a human but the body of not a cat, no, his appearance was that of a panther.
"You'll regret this my friend." Duke threatened.
The panther laughed as he looked at the struggling wolf trying to fly as he finaly reached his master and grabbed her.
"You'll hit the ground before that will ever happen."
He then charged at Duke again showing a killing intent. Duke growled he wasn't going down here not now. Duke gathered his strength and magic as the panther kept charging. Duke let the magic build up throughout his body and eventually making its way to his muzzle, building up until he could not hold it back any more.
The wolf opened his eyes showing nothing but a bright and brilliant gold light. He then opened his mouth with a powerful howl as the attack launched on the panther causing him to fly backwards to the floating piece of land just behind them.
Duke smirked in satisfaction but it was short lived. He used too much power and was now feeling the full force of his injuries and the now opened wound on his side. The wolf couldn't support the two anymore and the began to fall once again towards the ground.
Edolas Duke was growing tired of waiting howled for help to come. Luckily for him the Queen and her aids came to his rescue. Once they got closer he began to explain the situation to her and she nodded in understanding.
"You don't need to worry about the people within this lacrama. Go in search of those two I fear they may have fallen under victim of one of the royal soldiers in the king's army. If that has happened they will surely need you. Now go quickly." The Queen said to him as she shooed him away from the Fairy Tail guild of Earthland.
Edolas Duke nodded in appreciation as he quickly shot off to find his other self and Lucy. He could only hope that if they had been under attack that he was not too late.
Gajeel walked on the strange land he had managed to get to looking for a sign of the others. There he came across a huge human-like panther, laying out cold on the ground. He stared in awe at it until he noticed the damage that had been done to it. He looked closely at the marks on the panther, wondering where he had seen this before.
"I've seen these before. When I was still a member of phantom lord." Gajeel said to himself.
It then hit him like a stack of bricks.
"Duke."
Gajeel shot up looking around for the white wolf but there was no sign of him nor was there a sign of Lucy either. He went to the edge and there he saw the two. They were falling towards the ground of Edolas.
"Mutt! Bunny Girl! Wake up!" He yelled down at them.
No matter how much Gajeel yelled it didn't stir the two, not even a bit. Gajeel then glared at the panther on the ground. He marched over to the thing and shook the thing awake.
"You are going to save those two before they hit the ground." Gajeel ordered.
"What makes you believe I will do anything you say." The panther spat back at the iron dragon slayer.
"Maybe this will teach you a little lesson." Gajeel smirked.
"Iron dragon: Iron fist!" he screamed.
Gajeel's entire fist and arm became a giant iron rod, that slammed into the panther knocking him away farther.
"There's more where that came from there cat."
"Fine! I'll do as you say." The panther finally said as he raced down to save the wolf and girl that were almost to the ground.
Happy flew as fast as he could looking for a sign of his friends. He had found no sign of them yet but he wasn't going to give up.
"Duke! Lucy!" he called out for the two.
As he flew he noticed something falling towards the ground and got a little closer to see what exactly it was. It was then he caught the glimpse of blonde hair and a brilliant white coat.
"No! Duke! Lucy!" he screamed as he flew max speed towards them.
However what Happy didn't realize was he was not the only one on the scene at that moment. As he got closer a flash of black passed his left and a flash of white passed him on his right at the exact same time.
He watched surprised at who saved his friends but it was then he was given another order that made him turn his tail right back around.
"Happy go and fetch Natsu now!" it yelled.
"Ayyee.." Happy shakily answered as he hurried and flew the other way back towards his dragon slayer.
Edolas Duke flew as fast as he dark wings would take him. He reached another floating piece of island and took no mind to it until he saw something falling from it. It looked as if it was in the air for a moment and then plummeted in almost a matter of seconds. So the wolf flew fast towards the object until he saw exactly what it was.
There he saw the shape of a human girl and a wolf around the same shape and looks as his own. His eyes widened when he realized who it was.
"No brother! Lucy!" He screamed as he flew fast towards them.
At that moment he noticed a blue blur close to them and next to him he saw something that made the wolf grew even angrier.
"You!" he growled
"Not now canine I have an order to fulfill." he said as he flew down towards the two.
"Like hell you will."
The two raced and passed the little blue thing as they passed Edolas Duke recognized the scent in a heartbeat and didn't hesitate to order them.
"Happy go and fetch Natsu now!" He yelled as loud as he could.
He heard the cat agree and race away at his command. Which gave some relief to the wolf as he got closer to his other self and Lucy. He grabbed Duke by his scruff, bringing Lucy along with him. Once they were snatched he flew away from the panther that was tailing them as fast as he could to the island that was just above them.
Edolas Duke landed and quickly placed the two and readied himself for the panther to come back and try to take them. That is until he heard a voice behind them as well.
"Well I was expecting the panther to do the job but this works too." The voice said.
The red eyed wolf jumped and turned facing the other way baring his fangs at the voice, showing no mercy to them.
"Wow there easy. Your just as bad as Duke over there. At least he gave me a chance."
"Whoever you are show yourself, enough of the games."
"Who said anything about games?"
Then a man came out into his line of sight, he had jet black hair with studded piercing all over his face.
"My names Gajeel. Those two are my guild mates. So I really do appreciate you saving them. I sent that panther to do the job since he could fly but it seems you've done the job just fine."
"I apologize Gajeel I didn't realize who you were. Now if you don't mind me asking but why did you team up with that cat. How did you get him to agree to follow your orders?"
"He wouldn't listen till I literally beat some sense into him. After that he was all ears."
"I see, smart."
"How did you know him then?"
"He was one of the royal soldier for the king. I met him while I was locked away in the palace. So forgive me for being a little uneasy about the man."
"Fair enough."
At that moment the cat appeared to them on the island and glared at Gajeel.
"I would have performed my task if someone hadn't have interrupted." The panther said to them.
"Now now kitty don't get to mad because I have another offer for you."
"And what exactly is that?"
"You will come with be and be my cat on Earthland."
"You're kidding." The panther said.
"Nope not one bit. Every other dragon slayer has a cat except for me. So if you don't mind I would like you to do the job. After all I'm pretty sure your boss won't like when he finds out you saved two enemy's and followed another ones orders. Besides you'll fit in much better with Fairy Tail." Gajeel said.
"He's right you know." Another voice chimed in.
The group looked to Duke and Lucy. Duke was finally awake and slowly managed to get up.
"Fairy Tail will accept you into our home. However here I doubt you were treated and left to be how you wanted to be. Though Gajeel can't force you to come with us, that is your choice my friend." Duke spoke to the cat.
"It's PantherLilly and now that you speak about it that way it is a tempting offer. I don't see why not, the king will have my head if he ever finds out what had happened."
"Welcome PantherLilly." Duke said and turned to the others. "On to different matters what's the guild's situation?"
Edolas Duke turned to him and began to explain.
"The Exceeds are taking control of that for the time being but they can't hold it for too much longer. I just hope the others defeat the king soon." Edolas Duke said.
"If you need that lacrima with your friends in to be held I can go assist the others." PantherLilly said.
"Yeah I'll help out too, had I known sooner I'd be there now." Gajeel said.
"Great. PantherLilly please take Gajeel with you and keep the guild at bay. Edolas Duke go help them out. With all of you there then I can go check on the situation of the king and when it is done I'll give you a signal." Duke told him.
"Sounds fine to me but what about your master, she still has yet to wake up." Edolas Duke said motioning towards Lucy.
"Don't worry about her, I'll stay with her and when she awakens we will be on our way. Now move out."
"Roger brother." Edolas Duke said leading the way for himself and the other two as they raced towards the lacrima.
Duke turned back to Lucy and laid beside her. What the others didn't know is that his wounds were taking a massive toll on him. He didn't want to admit it but who knows if he could even make it back to where the king was let alone Natsu and the others.
"Wake up soon Lucy. I'm going to need you now more than ever." He said to her.
Happy and Natsu were on their way to where Happy last saw Lucy and Duke. Natsu was on edge with how Happy described their situation. He hoped she was alright and that Edolas Duke had been able to save them in time.
They made it to the spot and first looked on the ground but when they found no sign of them, Happy mentioned that there was a floating island and maybe Edolas Duke had took them there. Natsu nodded and let Happy take them to the island.
When they landed they found Duke and Lucy laying on the ground, however it was Duke that hurried and turned towards them. Natsu raced towards them and looked over both of them. Lucy looked alright just a little beat up but when he turned to Duke that was a different story.
"Duke are you alright what happened?"
"We came across unfriendly fire, Gajeel was here along with Edolas Duke so everything is taken care of. However the king must be beaten soon or the guild will fall to the ground before we can do anything to stop it. Right now the Exceeds, my other self, and Gajeel, are there helping them keep it at bay for now. However they can't hold it there forever." Duke explained.
"Erza, Gray, and Jellal found the king and are about finished with him. I helped as much as I could before Happy came to get me. Jellal has to defeat him since it's his right of passage to do so." Natsu explained.
"That's good to hear, we'll have to send a signal when the king is beaten. That way the others know."
"Come on we'll head there. Can you make it that far?"
"I'm not sure about that." Duke said looking back towards Lucy and then returning his gaze over to his own injuries.
Natsu looked over Duke then turned to walk over to Lucy, who has yet to wake up. He slowly picked the girl up and cradled her in his arms and then turned to Happy.
"Alright buddy I need you to take Lucy and I back to where the others are. While keeping Duke in sight. Can you do that for me?"
"Aye sir!" Happy said will full confidence.
Natsu then looked back at the wolf and smiled.
"I trust you can make it there on your own but don't lose sight of us. If you need assistance yell up to us immediately." Natsu told him.
"Alright Natsu, I'm right behind you."
Natsu nodded as Happy brought out his wings and picked up Natsu, who was holding Lucy and shot off away towards the others. Duke sighed and grew his own wings. The brilliant white was now spotted in his own blood and his right wing showed a bit of damage.
'I hope I can keep up my friend.' Duke thought as he shot off after his friends.
Erza and Gray watched as Jellal took on the king. Jellal was doing well for the most part however he was struggling to keep up with the king. Looks had been deserving to the team. The king may have been old and looked as if he had seen better days but they were wrong to judge, especially Jellal. The king showed no sign of weakness as he went on ruthlessly attacking the blue haired man.
"He needs help Erza." Gray said to her.
"I know but he said that he must do this himself."
"I understand that but it's not just this world its affecting it will affect us as well."
"True but I will wait until we absolutely have to interfere." Erza told him.
Gray nodded slowly still not agreeing with their situation at all. He continued to watch and saw that now Jellal was horribly losing his own fight. The boy was beginning to lose his patience with Jellal. Time was not on their side and here they are watching and waiting.
'I just hope the others have everything under control.'
Duke flew as fast as he could following the Exceed. He felt pain surge through him but he didn't care, this was of little importance now. They needed to get to the others as quick as possible.
'They have to have him beaten by now.' Duke thought as they kept their pace flying.
Natsu was under the same impression but understood that Jellal was the one fighting him..alone. Against Natsu and everyone's better judgement they let Jellal take on the king on his own, out of respect for the world they fell into. However now was different. Natsu knew that the others didn't understand just how important it was that now the king is defeated as soon as possible, their own home and friends now depended on it.
"Natsu are we close!" Duke yelled.
"Yeah not too much longer now Duke."
At that moment Lucy began to stir from her sleep and looked up to find not her wolf but Natsu instead. Looking around she was confused, she didn't see Duke anywhere and was now fearing he was nowhere to be found.
"Natsu?" she asked.
"Luce! You're awake thank goodness." Natsu replied.
"Natsu where's Duke?" She asked worriedly.
"Don't worry Luce he's right behind us."
She then looked behind him to see her wolf flying with a little trouble as he kept up with Happy's pace. She saw that he was still badly injured from their fight and was now pushing himself as hard as he could.
Duke perked up when he saw that Lucy was indeed alright and awake now. Power began to slowly come back as he saw her. His wounds still stinging with pain but was becoming a numbing effect as he focused on the task ahead. The wolf picked up his speed showing Happy to go faster.
Natsu looked back and saw Duke had picked up his pace and was wanting the group to go faster. Natsu called to Happy to go faster. The blue cat agreed and picked up his speed as the wolf hurried after them meeting their pace. He brought himself to their right side as they flew on.
It was then they saw the kingdom ahead, Natsu then smiled they were here. Happy flew down closer and dropped Natsu still holding Lucy and Duke hurried and landed himself. Duke nodded to Natsu as he put Lucy down and the group raced towards the others.
Gray was about to jump in and join the fight with Jellal until he heard someone approaching them. Erza heard this too and they turned to find Natsu, Lucy, Duke, and Happy approaching them quickly.
"Is he beaten yet?" Natsu asked.
"No not even close." Gray answered.
They then stopped in front of them and now Duke was furious they had all this time and they weren't even close.
"Jellal had his chance, we all need to pitch in now. Our guild is relying on us now and so are those keeping them from smashing into the ground. They can't keep this up forever." Duke finally said with a hint of anger in his voice.
"Since when could you talk?" Gray asked confused.
"Now's not the time to ask questions." Erza said looking at Duke. "We have a job to do."
They nodded and didn't hesitate to join Jellal's side.
"I told you I must do this on my own." Jellal said.
Duke had enough of this and finally snapped at the blue haired man.
"Our own guild is in trouble and their fate is determined by how fast we can bring the king down. You had your chance and you couldn't. Don't be ashamed of help for once in your life accept it with open arms because even a leader cannot do everything on their own. Now accept it." Duke demanded as he glared at the man.
Jellal was frozen by Duke's words but then slowly nodded accepting the aid of the Earthland Fairy Tail members.
"Alright now let's bring him down." Natsu said. "I'm all fired up."
Duke then lead the charge wounds and all. He lept up in the air, looking to take a bite out of the man's neck. However the team saw a chance to catch the king off guard. Natsu quickly took aim to the king just under Duke's body.
"Fire Dragon's Roar!" he yelled.
Flames shot forward going underneath the wolf and hitting the king straight on. This caused him to be knocked back to the wall with burns covering his entire body. However he still managed to get back on his feet and readied himself to attack himself.
"No you don't. Open Gate of Lion: Loke!" she yelled.
Out came Loke wearing his signature suit and red tie, with his glasses. Duke heard the name and immediately shot back off the king towards the others and spun around facing him once again. Lucy ran over to Duke and put a hand on his back as Duke's body engulfed in a red and gold tint. Natsu saw this and was amazed, he then looked over to Gray and Erza who got the hint.
Gray stood and readed his ice make magic and Erza summoned all her swords forward. Jellal was ready with his own weapon and waited for the signal.
"I believe in you Duke." Lucy whispered.
Duke's eyes shot open, showing nothing but gold and small objects that looked as if they were dancing embers in his eyes.
"Elemental magic: Flame's Light!" Duke and Lucy shouted as light shot out with small amounts of flames seemed to dance around the light.
"Fire Dragon's Roar!" Natsu shouted as he flames let loose and followed Duke and Lucy's attack as it shot into their attack making the flames dance more aggressive as the roar engulfed the middle of the light.
Erza then shout out all her swords as they surrounded the attack just fired. Gray and Jellal didn't hesitate to follow suite as Gray's ice canon shot after them and mixed in with the fire, light, and swords. While Jellal shot his own towards the center of the attack becoming the head of impact. Loke smiled as he let his ring magic do the rest and shot it out and let it hit the mixture of attacks causing the attack to come at the king in full force.
"NO!" the king shouted just before the attacks all hit him at once.
He was flown through the brick walls of the castle and landed on the other side however this time he didn't even budge to get up, the king was knocked out completely cold. Duke saw this as the opportunity to send a signal to his other self. The wolf quickly ran towards the outside and leaned back and gave a mighty howl that echoed throughout Edolas.
Edolas Duke was about to give up along with everyone else. They couldn't hold this poor guild any longer however before he could give the signal for them to let the lacrima go, in order to save everyone there, the red eyed wolf heard a howl echo through the wind. A sign of victory among their kind. He smiled as he heard it and saw the others stare in confusion.
"My friends the king is beaten!" He called out.
Everyone cheered as they gripped the guild for dear life, hoping they can keep it up just for a moment more. It was then that Edolas Duke saw something that amazed him. The lacrama was slowly dripping off the guild but the guild was also giving off a brilliant light. The wolf couldn't explain what exactly was happening but before he could put words to his mouth the guild was slowly vanishing into thin air until there was nothing left but little bits of light hanging in the air.
"What has happened?" The Queen Exceed asked.
He stared more at spot where the guild was just there a moment before. Then he smiled as he looked over to Gajeel and PantherLilly. Gajeel looked a little more angry than confused but he saw a bit of confusion in there as well. He couldn't fool him.
"Our job is done. They finally went home." He said with hope as he stared at the sky.
Everything was peaceful the group watched the town and kingdom accept Jellal as their new leader and thanked those that had aided their new leader. Duke smiled as he looked up at the sky, hoping their own guild was alright now.
"Brother!" a voice called.
Duke looked around to see Edolas Duke but with the Edolas Lucy and Natsu on his back and right behind him was Gajeel and PantherLilly.
"You did it! Your guild is finally home." He told him.
"That's the best news I've heard in a long time." Duke admitted.
Edolas Duke smiled as he let Natsu and Lucy off of his back.
"Good job guys. I knew you'd do it." Edolas Lucy said with a smile.
Duke then looked behind them to find their guild had joined them. Edolas Duke looked over in surprise to see his own guild had followed them there. It was the happiest he's ever seen them before. He then turned to Duke.
"My brother I thank you. You don't know what you have done to help us here in Edolas. On behalf of this world I live in, I thank you. You and your own friends and master." Edolas Duke spoke with gratitude.
"Anything for you my brother." Duke said with a smile.
The two then hugged but it was short lived. He began floating in the air along with everyone else that lived on Earthland. Duke looked over to his other self and smiled.
"I guess this is goodbye." Duke said to him.
"Indeed. Goodbye my brother. I will never forget this day nor will I forget any of you."
"I feel the same." Duke smiled.
He then turned to their group and smiled.
"I hope this sends us home for good now." Lucy said.
"Yeah I kind of miss that place." Natsu said with a goofy grin.
"Indeed." Duke said, his thoughts were somewhere else.
'I think it's about time that you too come home. You've been missed dearly, don't you agree, Lisanna.' The wolf thought looking down at the girl who started floating among her guildmates.
Edolas Duke watched as Lisanna apologized to her brother and sister that she lied to them about who she was exactly. He understood, this was as close to home as she thought she'd ever be. That was why he chose to accept her in to their guild without a second thought.
He walked over to her and smiled at the girl.
"Lisanna your time with us has come and passed. You are to return home where you belong. I've known all along that you were not the Lisanna of this world. As did your brother and sister as well as Lucy. Change is difficult so we accepted you in as who you were here. After all you were still a Lisanna of Fairy Tail. Where else could you go." Edolas Duke told her.
"Now it's time for you to go back home, I'm sure they missed you dearly." He told her.
She cried and hugged the wolf tightly.
"Thank you Duke. Thank you." She whispered.
"My brother will greet you with open arms and show them you are their Lisanna. No need to fear my dear." He promised her.
He then watched as she disappeared along with the Earthland group.
Everyone woke up and was relieved to find that they were back home. Duke shook off some grass off his coat and looked to find everyone safe and sound. Though there was a scent that caught his nose.
"I think it's time we went back, how about it Duke?" Lucy ooked over to find her wolf was occupied with something.
"Duke?" she asked again.
Natsu and the others watched as Duke slowly approached something near them. They got ready for what it was, however Duke showed no fear.
"Welcome home Lisanna." Duke said to the girl.
Everyone gasped in shock at the mention of the name. Natsu stood up staring in disbelief at who Duke spoke with.
"Duke. I'm home." She cried and hugged the white wolf.
"Indeed girl you are." He said as he let her hug him.
Lucy smiled she overheard Edolas Duke and her Duke talk about a girl named Lisanna. She then remembered the story she heard at the guild about what had happened to her. She was happy to hear that she was alive and well after all.
Lisanna then looked at them and ran to them and hugged everyone. Crying as she said how much she missed them.
Duke looked on and smiled then looked towards the sky. He saw the vision of the Edolas Lisanna smiling at the sight.
"She's home. Now you can rest easy." Duke whispered.
The girl then disappeard with a smile on her face. Finally things were looking to be back to normal once again.
That's the end of our little Edolas Arc. I hope you guys enjoyed this chapter to make up for lost time I decided to make this chapter as long as possible to end the arc but also because you guys have been so patient, I wanted to give you a long chapter to read. I will work on the next chapter as soon as I can. I hope you all enjoyed your Holiday and also if I don't post before then I hope everyone of you have a Wonderful New Year! Also as always if you enjoy this story and haven't yet please fave or follow this story, that way you're up to date on when the story get's updated. Thank you all so much and until next time :)
~wolvesfinalden
