Traveling the Multiverse

by thehappy

A spin off series of one shots from my main story Dragon of the COG and other universes. Natsu and his companions visit parallel worlds to help out versions of themselves or stand alone universes. Rated M for swearing, gore, sex, and death.

41. First Contact

So, I thought of this kinda recently. Not exactly high stakes or anything, but a reversal of things. Instead of 137-C mages popping into a different Earthland, a new universe does that instead as a 'first contact' thing. Of course, post war lol.

Anyway, once this is done, back to Rising From the Embers!

Chapter 41: First Contact

---

Universe 90992-A

Crocus. June 6th, Year 793

Sunlight poured down on the city, the air still ripe with the scent of fallen rain from the night before. The royal castle stood tall and erect, the spires of stone and slanted roofs resplendent in décor as flags flew from the spires. Nearby structures shone, the glass reflective of the summer day as throngs of citizens flocked toward the central plaza, their smiles and hopes palpable.

Royal guards lined the main concourse, their swords sheathed as their helmets twinkled with polish. Keeping an eye on the throngs of people lining the sidewalk, they took the role seriously as ambient talking roared through the populace, their gaze falling upon the large, circular gate.

To the west, The Domus Flau stood high above the city, the stadium for the recent games now sitting silent as the hilltop structure supported several large flags advertising this historic event.

Standing upon the site of the now destroyed Eclipse Gate, the Kingdom of Fiore had erected something new and exciting, the curvature of steel and exotic materials sheening as a control station stood nearby, guarded by several royal knights as Levy McGarden worked.

Her team stood by, Gajeel, Pantherlily, Jet and Droy supportive and showing their own joy as they helped guard the station from nearby.

Working some calculations, her fingers flew across a floating keyboard of magical symbols, the bluish tint floating as her friends and family watched in earnest.

"Why can't we get closer, Gramps? I wanna watch" Natsu lightly complained as they stood to the far side.

"Because Salamander, unlike myself, Levy doesn't trust you idiots to not break something. This is her baby and I won't let some raging piece of charcoal ruin it!" Smugly crossing his arms, Gajeel bayed with laughter.

"Oh yeah! Just try and stop me!" Beginning to rush forward, he felt a gauntleted hand grip his shoulder, pulling him back with a yank.

"Natsu. Behave yourself. This is a very important moment for our friend and you wouldn't want to ruin that…would you?" Crushing his shoulder in a vice, Erza stared with a womanly glare of steel as her teammate slowly began to calm.

Lucy shook her head at the two, her blond pony tail wavering in the summer breeze. "Just wait Natsu. We're going with after all with Team Shadow Gear. I'm sure you can wait a few minutes"

Huffing as he sat, Natsu crossed his arms, the man defeated by female logic.

Luckily, Levy's work was uninterrupted as she worked, the script mage and growing scientist inputting the final calculations.

King Toma watched the mage work for a moment, then returned his gaze to the masses before him. His short stature adding to his kind look as he stood behind the podium with his daughter, Princess Hisui.

"A year ago, we almost faced destruction from dragons and their trickery of the Eclipse Gate! But today, that site is now home to the advancement of science and knowledge!" Excitedly waving his arm, the short king smiled as the crowd cheered before he continued his speech.

"Miss Levy McGarden of Fairy Tail invented something…amazing this past winter, and now that inventiveness is coming to conclusion! Dubbed the Crocus Transfer Gate by my lovely daughter, this gate will allow us…in theory, to visit a different Earthland! Think about all the things we could learn! The different outcomes of potential lives! It's amazing to think about as our brave mages from Fairy Tail walk forward into the unknown!"

Almost on cue, the gate rippled as capacitors flared with power, their pulsing yellow lighting up in a half circle around the arching gateway. Suddenly, a flare of energy erupted, the swirling blue and reds forming with a crackle of energies. Several bolts of electricity raced across the dimensional rift, cascading with signature pops.

Levy looked downward at the control console, her eyes wide with wonder as she stared up at the achievement of a lifetime. The readings were good, a breathable healthy atmosphere on the other side as a few assistants raced up.

"I found…I found a new world…" Laced with awe and wonder, she barely registered the dimensional coordinates she had typed at random.

137-C glowed with yellow letters across the top of the station, but Levy was already moving before the gate as the energies swirled and danced.

Feeling Gajeel and her team walk up, they were quickly joined by Team Natsu.

"We'll explore for forty eight hours. After that, a new portal will open at our exit location, letting us return" She finally managed to say, her mind still racing as she double checked her supply pack. It contained food and water, along with a recording lacrima. Giving one last look to her friends, they were adorned with supply packs as well. They had some minimal medical supplies, but with Wendy coming along, the sky maiden would be their main healer if something arose.

"I gotta say…this is really something else" Gajeel added, the dragon slayer walking up next to his girlfriend with awe in his voice.

"I know…I'm so excited I can barely move" Levy added as she slowly walked forward, her fingers outstretching to the swirling gate.

A crackle of electricity made her wary, but then she touched the dimensional wall. It felt funny…like static as her footfalls stepped forward, her team coming with as she finally stepped through to achieve her dream.

It was like walking through a doorway.

Earthland 137-C. The ruins of Crocus.

The swirling gate opened over the now filled crater of the capital, the still waters fed by several rivers.

"AHHH!" Pitching forward, Levy fell with a splash into the cool waters, only to be followed by the others in the exploration team.

"KYAA!" Lucy screamed, the poor blonde falling with a splash into the drink. Emerging while kicking her feet, Erza was already soaked, the knight bobbing as she swam in place. Pointing to the closest shore, Erza took command as Pantherlily lifted Levy from the churning water who still spluttered from accidentally swallowing some of the lake.

"To that shore!" Swimming rapidly, the knight swam earnestly as the two teams made their way to the shoreline. Climbing out, she was soaked, her red hair plastered to her head as the others were in a similar state.

Coughing, Levy cleared her mouth, the woman gasping as chilled water clung to her clothes. "I…I don't understand? We should have appeared in Crocus" Standing up shakily, Levy wondered if her coordinates were off.

"I think we did" Pantherlily finished with a pointed finger.

Finally taking in the scene, Levy and Lucy were overcome with shock.

Hell…they all were.

The charred, broken ruins of buildings surrounded the giant crater, most a dilapidated standing pile of rubble. A few leaned precariously along the cracked, broken edge, their surfaces covered in vines. No sign of the palace remained, nor most of the capital. Glancing West, Domus Flau still stood, but half the stadium was gone, ripped away as the ruins stood silent.

"Wh…what happened here?" Lucy whispered, her fingers resting near her lips in shock at the sheer destruction. Looking down, the blonde realized she was standing on a black road, the cracks and fissures stretching toward the shoreline. Slowly approaching, she glanced over, her vision picking up fallen ruins beneath the waves.

"Hey, careful Lucy" Natsu warned, the man not liking this one bit.

"I smell ash in the air" Gajeel added, his nose sniffing. "Maybe it was dragons?" He concluded, but wasn't sure as the crater was nearly circular.

Levy sighed, her hopes dashed already. "It's possible. I only had a reading of environmental factors, nothing visual. A parallel universe like this…it's entirely possible the dragons won" Discouraged, she felt guilty for bringing her friends to a world like this.

"Now we don't know that. For all we know, this could have been a natural disaster. It may be awful, but Crocus is only one city out of the whole country. We should still look around, maybe go to Magnolia to see if our guild is there" Jet reasoned, the speed mage making a good point.

"I agree. This may be a setback, but we still have two full days to make contact" Erza encouraged as she turned away from the crater.

"YEAH! I bet another me is here, beating the crap out of Gray!" Natsu added excitedly, the man running up to join Erza.

"Man…seriously? If anything, you lose to me all the time" the ice mage commented, but rapidly went silent as Erza glanced his way with a warning.

"Take this seriously"

"R…Right" Walking past, Gray had no intention of incurring the knight's wrath. Walking around a pile of fallen rubble from a half collapsed apartment building, he felt…a sadness to this place.

"So much destruction…" Lucy whispered, the celestial mage casting her gaze over to a half crushed vehicle under a pillar. The building itself was like a skeleton, the upper floors ripped away as the remaining windows were glassless. She could see half a bedroom eight floors up, the cavernous wound now covered with some vines and moss.

Rejoining Erza, she felt safer next to the S-class mage as they walked south, passing several more falling structures that had spilled into the road.

Coming to an intersection surrounded by the ruins of broken buildings, the nine mages and three exceeds stopped as the snarl of a traffic jam presented itself. The vehicles were charred, the surfaces a pitted rust and scorched metals. Some had crashed into each other, their front ends crumpled with damage.

"What kind of magic mobiles are these? They don't look like anything we have" Droy asked, the pudgy man looking at an overturned truck.

"Nevermind that…" Wendy gulped, her finger extending to a charred corpse laying across the hood of a car. It was grisly, a ruin of flesh as the younger slayer approached the vehicle. Looking inside, the girl gasped at the burnt remains of two children in the back, engulfed by what looked like the mother, her face a visage of terror and frozen ash.

"How horrible…" Levy whispered with a gasp, her eyes studying the dead.

"There are more" Erza pointed out, her sight picking up dozens of charred corpses, some in the middle of trying to escape the gridlock.

"I just hope it happened quickly" Carla finished, her voice constricting from the devastation.

"Yeah…" Wendy gulped as she was turned away by Natsu, the man vainly trying to shield her from the silent violence.

Walking through a store on the right hand side missing its roof, the mages saw a few more silent corpses, the ashen remains huddling in a corner.

Nobody said anything, only electing to leave this city of death.

Levy remained silent, but still tried to learn as her lacrima pulsed with recordings in an area affect around her team and friends. Leaving the ruined structure and gridlock behind, the mages walked along the road, the surrounding apartments ranging from full collapse to a towering ten stories.

"What is that?" Natsu pointed across another intersection, his eyes falling upon a machine that had crumpled into the roadway, leaving a furrow of destruction. Large blades seemed to lilt on top, the rusting appendages hanging over a sleek, central body. The rear was long, tapering off in a sideways propeller, but it was twisted by damage.

"A vehicle perhaps? I've never seen anything like this though" Erza commented as she approached. Looking inside the broken glass at the front, a body sat, the flesh charred. Still wearing a type of helmet, the knight felt another wave of sorrow for the lost life.

"HEY! Everybody! Come look at this!" Jet shouted from further up the road, the man pointing toward something hidden.

Running forward along the rubble strewn road cracked with ruin, the mages came to a sudden stop, their eyes going wide.

Embedded in a building was what someone would only call a giant…spider skeleton. It was surrounded by collapsing floors, its open maw still showing rows of razor teeth nearly the height of a human. Some flesh still remained, but most had been picked away by rodents and nature.

"I think we can rule out dragons…" Levy gulped, her eyes quivering from the monster corpse.

"Giant spiders…" Gulping, Lucy really was glad this thing was dead. She had no desire to see a living one… "OH GOD! WHAT IF THERE ARE MORE!" Suddenly shrieking, she hid behind Natsu, knowing her friend would protect her.

"It's possible. We should stay on guard" Approaching the ruin and deceased monster, Erza scrutinized the hellishly large creature, then looked past it toward the destroyed lobby of the building. Peering through the glassless window, she came upon a new shock.

"Hey. Looks like a soldier" Entering after ducking beneath a fallen beam in the doorway, Erza approached the body as her friends followed.

Clad in combat leathers of harnesses and buckles, the creature's skull was lopsided, the sharpened teeth and skinless skull showing something not human. Legs splayed out, the combatant held a weapon, the end a curved chainsaw as empty brass casings littered the floor.

"What. The. Hell is that? That's not human, right!?" Jet pointed, his gaze taking in every horrible detail.

Erza remained silent, her hand reaching for the weapon, her curiosity gaining the upper hand. Retrieving it as some muscle and sinew pulled away, the woman tried not to be sick as she wiped away the strands of flesh.

"Is that a gun? Like what Bisca and Alzack use?" Natsu asked, the man thinking a good punch with fire was way better.

"I don't know. I can't see any magical enhancements or anything" Setting it down, the others looked at it with a sense of disturbance.

"Just what happened here? A dark mage summoning? Some new monster? And what would be the benefit of a chainsaw on a non-magical gun?" Levy asked, her curiosity becoming more apparent.

Sure, there were non magical guns, but they were rare and primitive. This one looked like it would outclass anything their world developed.

'Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud'

"What's that sound?" Wendy inquired, the girl rushing out into the street while looking up, her gaze soon falling on a strange, flying vehicle rapidly approaching.

"IS IT THAT MONSTERS FRIENDS!?" Lucy screamed in fright, the blonde gulping as the sudden backdraft of the vehicle picked up, hovering directly above them with a swirl of blades. Far larger than the fallen craft they had seen before, the wind was kicking up dirt.

"Surrender immediately! Resistance will be met with force!" An intercom blared from the hovering craft as side doors opened, ropes dangling down. Suddenly, four armored soldiers slid down, hitting the cracked pavement. Immediately unslinging rifles from their back, each was covered head to toe in heavy armor as yellow lenses glowed from the helmet.

"SURRENDER! NOW!" the lead soldier roared through his helmet, his face unseen as he wielded a different weapon, the tip and length glowing an azure blue. Still showing off the chainsaw of the deadly looking rifle, he meant business as the other troopers flipped switches of the own weapons, bringing out a soft glow.

"Hell yeah! A fight!" Natsu grinned, his fist coating in fire as he charged toward the heavily armored men.

"Natsu! Don't!" Levy shouted, her face scrunching up in horror as Gajeel slammed his fists, his grin for a good fight taking over.

The leader turned, shooting Natsu in the chest as a warbling cascade of electricity erupted from the round. Screaming as he convulsed and fell with a twitch of limbs, the man rapidly shot Gajeel Redfox, much to similar effect.

Growling at the attack of her friends, Erza started to pull her sword from its sheath, only for a third shock charge to strike her neck.

"AAAHHHH!" Howling in agony as electricity convulsed through her limbs, Erza fell in collapse, her gaze flickering between darkness and light. "How…? How was I defeated so…so…eas…" She fell unconscious, laying in the street as the soldiers raised their weapons.

"DON'T MOVE!"

Wendy gulped, looking between the three fallen mages as she walked backwards with shaky steps.

"I SAID DON'T MOVE!" Shooting Wendy, the sky maiden screamed as one of the troopers used the same weapon, the glowing wave of electricity flaying across her body. Dropping to the pavement, the poor girl twitched as the Carla flew rapidly.

"What's wrong with you!? She's still a girl!" Carla spat, but none of the troopers cared, each keeping their weapons trained on the remaining mages.

"ON YOUR KNEES! HANDS BEHIND YOUR HEAD!" The leader barked as the transport set down, disgorging an additional four soldiers in heavy armor. Each carried those deadly looking rifles, their lensed gaze falling upon the mages.

"Okay! Okay! Just don't hurt us!" Levy shouted, the shorter script mage falling to her knees. She knew that if her unconscious friends had been defeated that easily, she wouldn't stand a chance. Feeling her magic get sealed as one of the soldiers roughly clasped her hands behind her back, Levy was hauled to her feet.

"Levy! Don't give up! I'll use my super speed to out—" Another shock round slammed into Jets neck, causing the mage to collapse with a twitch, the responsible trooper marching forward with magical cancelling cuffs. Slapping them on Erza first, soldier lifted the unconscious redhead and hefted her toward the transport.

Lucy didn't know what to do, her eyes brimming at the hostiles. Frozen in spot at how quickly her friends had fallen, her gaze fell on Levy already being marched to the churning craft.

A soldier grasped her wrist, wrestling the blonde to the ground and slapping the cuffs on her with efficient ease. Eyes brimming with tears, she watched as Natsu received the same treatment.

"Hey, we don't have enough cuffs for the exceeds" A soldier commented.

The leader stared down at the three cats, his helmet blocking any visual cues. Pantherlily growled, his stare hard as the other two felt a strange fear. Clutching his fists, he considered transforming into his battle form, but watching them drag Gajeel away, he knew that they would do the same to him in a heartbeat.

"Where are you taking Natsu!?" Happy wailed as he watched his best friend disappear into the transport.

"To see the king. I advise you to behave yourselves" Turning, the soldier expected the trio of cats to follow, and they did.

Floating into the transport, they saw their friends strapped and secured.

"Hey! Those are my keys!" Lucy tried to argue as one of the soldiers relieved the blonde of her valuable items. Throwing them in a lockbox, the soldier sat across from Lucy while the back ramp clanked shut.

It was finally at this point Lucy noticed the key thief was a woman, the bulges of the chest piece protecting the breasts.

"They will be returned in time. Now be quiet"

Lucy gulped, then tried to get comfortable as the craft lifted up with a thrum of power and vibration.

Levy found herself wedged between two of the large men, and another watching her with guarded caution. Holding the bulky, chainsaw rifle across his lap, Levy gulped.

"Um…do you think you could at least cuff me from the front? This is uncomfortable" Leaning forward, she tried to appear non-threatening as the craft banked, heading to see the king…whoever that was. They could at least have a window, but there were none, only a reddish light from the ceiling of the craft, bathing them in crimson.

"I'm sorry Miss McGarden, but operation procedures prevent that. The trip is only an hour, just deal with it" the obvious leader replied, his armor stenciled with E. Hasglow over the right breast.

"Come on man, just let her get comfortable. I mean, who would treat Levy like that!?" Droy asked loudly, then flinched as a soldier looked his way, the yellow lenses showing nothing.

Hasglow pointed, indicating Levy. "She would" Falling silent, the statement was confusing to those still awake as the craft flew through the air with a rumble.

Lucy looked over at Natsu, the man cuffed and secured to a bench next to Erza as Happy sat nearby, the cat obviously worried. He looked almost peaceful now, but she knew he had been beaten. "At least he's unconscious. He'd get so sick on this thing"

Sighing in defeat, Lucy resigned herself to fate as the craft thudded forward across the sky.

Magnolia City. One day later…

"I'LL KICK YOUR ASS!" Jumping upward with jolt of movement, Natsu awoke, the man tripping over his feet to the cobbled floor. Groaning, he picked himself up.

"Well…that's everybody awake…" Gajeel grunted from the side bench, the man sitting next to Levy.

"Huh? Where are we?" Rushing toward the barred gate, Natsu gripped the bars, his magic suddenly fading. "ugh…what?"

"Natsu. Just sit and calm down. We are in a cell, and it's lined with magic cancelling stonework. Even the bars are enhanced with it" Lucy told her friend, the blonde depressed by the situation.

"BUT I WANNA KICK THEIR ASSES!" Roaring out, he punched the bar, only to flinch.

"That wont work, Natsu. Just…sit and eat something. They brought food" Wendy added, the girl sitting on the floor with Carla and Lucy. Picking at a plate covered with a prison meal, the teenager sighed.

Gray ran his hand along the wall, not detecting any weaknesses he could exploit. "Gotta say…they made a good cell"

"Indeed" Erza agreed as she drank water from a cup of some sort of plastic, the material easily crumpled. She had considered trying to use the utensils with their latest meal, but they were flimsy plastic. Any attempts to pick the lock would be pointless.

"Do we even know where we are? How do we get back to Crocus and warn them of these bad guys!" Natsu shouted with growing anger and shaking fists.

"Well…technically, we invaded their world. But no, the moment we set down, they placed black bags over our heads and marched us into some doctor office. They scanned us all with these strange devices, then took us here. I think that was a day ago" Lucy tried to smile and reason, her heart heavy.

"But I did hear the noise of a city, so we're most likely in a prison nearby" Levy added, the woman trying to remain calm despite their dire circumstances.

"Do you think they'll hurt us? Or kill us?" Jet asked, the speed mage slumped over in the corner, his efforts to protect Levy completely useless against those soldiers.

Erza narrowed her brow in thought, the woman experienced with being in jail. "I don't believe so. If they wished us dead, they would have simply killed us in the ruins of Crocus. Plus, from what Lucy told me upon waking, they want us to meet the king at some point"

"King Toma? He'd treat us better than this, right?" Droy added, the plant mage trying to find a way out, but the pudgy mage found no weakness in the cell.

"We don't know that" Levy finished, her eyes downcast. "We might never return home…it's my fault…"

Footsteps approached, the footfalls lighter and distinctly feminine.

Perking up their eyes, many were floored as Sorano Agria stood there, the female standing in a simple yellow dress that fell past her knees. The top was conservative, showing some cleavage, but not much. With silver hair falling past her shoulders, the woman gripped a magical tablet in her right hand while two heavily armed guards cradled heavy weapons. A brown belt wrapped around her waist, showing a key ring with several celestial keys dangling along her left hip. Hugging the right was a holstered firearm, the dull metal and brownish handle clasped by a simple strap. Another leatherlike box sat behind the holster, its contents unknown.

"SORANO! ARE YOU THE KING!?" Natsu pointed, his roar a shock.

"You're an idiot! If she was the ruler, she would be queen!" Gray shot back, only to be scolded by Erza as she stepped forward, her glare taking in the black mage.

"What are you doing here…Sorano?" Voice laced with mistrust, Erza desperately longed for a weapon or access to her requip.

"I am here to escort you to the king. As one of his guards and main assistant to the monarch, it is my duty to ensure the meeting goes smoothly" Raising a hand, she indicated the heavily armed men flanking her. "They are equipped with live rounds, not those stun munitions from before. They will kill you if you are deemed a threat or try to assault the king. Please behave yourselves and follow me" Extending a key, she unlocked the cell door before turning and leaving.

The mages filed out, the rear taken up by the armed men with rifles as Sorano led them up a set of wide stairs.

Lucy walked behind, eyeing the dangling celestial keys on the woman. "Uh…did we ever fight? I notice you still have your key's"

Sorano paused at a heavy door, her hand resting on the handle before pushing it forward, letting light pour into the stairwell. Leaving, she led the mages and escorts through a hallway of grayish stone. "No. While I was a dark mage, Natsu did give me a chance to atone, not that my crimes were very serious. Robbing and theft are hardly crimes to worry over. However, I took that chance, and soon found myself working for queen Hisui. I earned their trust and am now a royal guard with assistant responsibilities" Smiling, she looked over her shoulder at Lucy. "I also managed to reunite with my sister, Yukino. We live here in the capital"

Stopping at the first window, the mages gathered, their gazes falling upon the familiar city.

"We…WE'RE IN MAGNOLIA!? BUT LOOK AT ALL THOSE TALL BUILDINGS!" Natsu roared in excitement, his finger pointing toward the distant structure of the guild hall toward the north of the city. Surrounded by towers of stone, glass and steel, the city seemed to buzz with activity.

"Woah…amazing!" Levy whispered as she gazed upon buildings stretching skyward with shimmering glass. Tracing her gaze along the familiar river, her eyes soon fell upon a large gate situated at the end of a large boulevard in the middle of the city. "YOU HAVE A DIMENSIONAL GATE!?"

"Yes. After all, you designed it, Levy" clasping her hands behind her back, Sorano let the mages admire in wonder for a few minutes.

"I still can't believe this is Magnolia" Erza uttered, her vison taking in a host of flying machines darting through the sky. Tracking her gaze Eastward, a large hi-way of concrete spread to the distance as several vehicles rumbled along.

"It wasn't always like this. During the war…" Sorano clenched her fist, the woman obviously remembering harsh memories. "Come, the king is waiting"

"War? Was it with that giant spider thing we saw in Crocus?" Gray inquired, the man curious.

"…Yes. That would be called a Corpser" Her tone was clipped, the silver haired woman not wanting to divulge more.

Walking through the hallway as windows poured sunlight, the visitors saw numerous men and women, presumably workers of the government…along with several armed guards in full gear standing at station along the hallways or hallway junctions.

"By the way, what do you think of the Rune Knights? Well, Rifle Knights now"

"No way…those guy's suck. They get beaten all the time" Gajeel said offhandedly, then feeling a slight chill from one of the escorts who had slowly turned his head to stare from behind those yellow lenses.

"Uh…I mean…looks like they trained hard?" the man tried to explain, the marching solider staring for a few more moments before arriving at an elevator. Stepping inside, the group slowly waited as the doors closed without a sound.

"So…what can you tell us about the king?" Wendy tried to pry, the young woman studying Sorano who lightly smiled.

"He made me promise not to tell. I think he enjoys surprising you parallel visitor's"

"How many visitors from other worlds have you received?" Levy inquired with curiosity. Granted, she was disappointed this world was further along with technology and her invention, but she believed they were out of danger.

"We are allied with Earthland Eight Seven Seven-X, Two hundred AB, One Thirty Two F and the Seran homeworld. We've also catalogued several hundred at this point and trade with nearly a dozen"

"That's…amazing" Levy uttered, her mind reeling with the possibilities.

"I suppose. Though I've only been to Sera"

The doors suddenly slid open, revealing another bustling floor. More men and women seemed to flow, each helping to run the government as a row of Rifle Knights lined the hall toward a closed set of double doors to the right.

Strolling past more large windows that allowed in shafts of light, many of the mages were in awe of the towering structure. Sure, it wasn't reaching the clouds, but it was already taller than the royal castle back home.

Taking up guarding positions at the door, Sorano pushed it open, revealing a rather plain office as the two soldiers went immobile. A few paintings hung from the walls, nothing really special while a small bar lined with a mixture of alcohols and glasses tinkled with sunlight near a secondary door set into the left wall.

A balcony was open, the doors allowing in a slight breeze that rustled several nearby drapes. The ambient noise of Magnolia filtered through, but it was comforting in a way. Nearby, a wide, oaken desk sat, covered with papers and stacks of information as a man sat, silently signing something with a small mutter. Resplendent with salmon hair, he was concentrating on the form, his face unseen.

"My king. The visitors we found in the Crocus ruins" Bowing, Sorano's voice was filled with respect and a slight purr of femininity.

"You can just call me Natsu, Sorano. You know I hate all that formality crap" Looking up, the visitors gained quite the shock.

Yes, it was Natsu, or at least, an older version of him. Setting down the pen, the man stood, his broad shoulders straining against a simple, blue shirt. Black pants covered his legs along with some polished boots, the leather sheening.

Of course, the most distinctive feature was the long, vertical scar that trailed from above his left eye to the near corner of his mouth. Years old, his gaze was hard, filled with memories that none could guess at.

"No way…NO FUCKING WAY YOUR KING! THIS IS A TRICK, RIGHT!?" Gray roared, the ice mage in complete disbelief as Natsu chuckled, the fire mage stroking his chin with a smirk.

"I really like this universe. I'm king, I have a cool scar, and I have the power to imprison the ice princess for stripping" Nodding his head, Natsu was clearing enjoying the fact as Gray spluttered with Gajeel taking up the slack.

Dragneel grunted, coming around the desk, the man flaring his magic for a moment. "I assure you I am…Gray" His tone was harsh, like a rumble of gravel as he looked at the nine mages and the exceeds. The ice mage lightly flinched, not used to that older tone from his rival.

Straightening his back, Dragneel continued to study the nine, his gaze lingering on Levy…then Erza for a few heartbeats. "I do apologize for your capture and temporary imprisonment, but when we detected an unknown dimensional rupture in Crocus, the military had to act. We cannot take the chance you might have been hostile"

"You're joking, right Natsu? I mean, we're all Fairy Tail" Lucy tried to reason, the blonde gulping as King Dragneel looked her way for a moment.

"That doesn't mean shit in the multiverse. I can think of at least a dozen Earthlands where Gajeel there raped women. Or Laxus murdered Makarov. Or one where Alzack beat Bisca and his daughter for his own failings. Hell, I've been to a world where Lucy was raped by Bora and his men. So no, Lucy, your guild affiliation means nothing to me" Walking over to the bar, he poured himself a glass of some amber liquor, then stepped back. "Help yourselves"

"You…you're joking about the Bora thing…right?" Lucy gulped, the blonde not moving as the king took a sip.

"I don't think he was, Lucy. If my theory is correct, then every possible outcome for a situation must occur in the multiverse…including bad ones" Levy added, her tone pondering.

Dragneel raised a glass, pointing at the script mage. "Correct, Levy. Every possible situation can occur, including death, imprisonment, torture, and any vile thing you can think of. But, I will say that the same is true of positive outcomes"

"Such as?" Gray asked, the man helping himself to drink. Gulping it down, he really didn't want to think of Lucy being forced by Bora. Or Laxus murdering the old man.

"Earthland's without dark mages. Or advanced technology that cures diseases. Space travel, food for everybody. A world where Erza grew up with her mom by her side. Or where Layla lives in Magnolia with Lucy. Maybe an Earthland where Ur is a wizard saint and got to see Gray and Lyon become great mages themselves" Giving an audible grunt, he looked at Erza. "There is an Earthland with the best strawberry cheesecake in the multiverse. So advanced that it makes us look like cavemen with sticks. You could go there and buy one, falling into an ecstasy of flavor. Of course, they have quite the stellar empire, having settled nearly fifty habitable planets"

"Tell me" Erza said with a narrowed gaze, her mood instantly changing at the mention of such a place. She didn't care about space travel. But the mention of Strawberry cheesecake…that was important.

Dragneel finished his glass, ignoring the woman. "What, trying to scare me? I've faced far too much evil and destruction to be effected by some simple glare. The most likely outcome is you'll become filled with lust and wish to have sex. After all, you got great curves, large breasts and a strong will. In fact—" smirking, a few purplish lines started to appear on the king's bare arms and along his neck, the man smile growing.

"Dude…are you insane! That's Erza! She'll destroy you!" Natsu shouted, fearing for his double's life as the redhead started to clench a fist, not liking the tone.

Dragneel coughed, the purple lines disappearing as the magical power receded. "You'll have to pardon END, he's basically a pervert living inside my head" Watching Erza give him a death glare, the woman's brow twitched.

Dragneel laughed, his scar pulling upward in a rare display of mirth. "I honestly forget how scared I used to be of Scarlet. But that was years ago and Erza…my Erza…she's…" His mood fell, the man grunting before going to refill his drink.

"Is she…is she dead?" The scarlet woman asked, fearing the answer as her mood instantly softened, the woman easily able to read the saddened tone from the king.

Dragneel turned, taking a fresh sip of rum from the tumbler, his face a scowl of hurt. "As far as I know, she's alive. But she's stuck in the multiverse…a constant shifting of worlds. Same with Mira, Kagura…and Levy" Leaning against his oaken desk, the man sipped, his gaze looking outward toward the city. "There was an attack during transit. The locust horde attacking our gate in order to cut us off from our allies. I made it to Sera with Gray, Happy, Ultear and Sorano. Those four were coming with…but they never made it. From the few random updates of contact with Earthlands they come across out there, their bodies absorbed insane amounts of exotic particles, which keeps throwing them into a fresh hell every time" Sighing, he turned toward Erza…then Levy. "Here…you two were part of the sisterhood. Basically a harem that somehow grew to love me despite the fact I've killed thousands of people. I've ordered the burning of cities and oversaw the executions of hundreds for simple crimes like theft"

"You had people executed for theft?" Gajeel asked incredulously, the man hoping Dragneel was playing a sick joke, but deep down, he knew the man wasn't.

"They endangered the surviving populace by stealing food and supplies. People were starving…and some thought just because they were once wealthy landowners in Minstrel, they could just take what they pleased" Natsu sipped again, his voice harsh. "I had them shot. Everybody had to contribute for the war effort…no matter the cost" Gaze narrowing, he dared Gajeel to object, but the slayer remained silent as Dragneel swirled the amber liquid, the ice clinking.

"Knowing they are out there, and I can't find them hurts. No, it fucking hurts. But not as much as watching Bisca getting vaporized before my eyes mere minutes before the war ended. And that genocidal bitch Myrrah laughed about it" Tone getting darker, the king replayed the memory for the millionth time, his teeth clenching.

"Wait…you're telling me you had Erza, Mira, Levy and Bisca as your…your girlfriends!? That's messed up!" Droy shouted, the pudgy man's voice filled with disbelief as Levy looked on with stunned disbelief.

"Read the room! Things are different here!" She tried to say, but was interrupted by her other teammate.

"Yeah man, Levy would never date you! And Bisca has way better taste!" Jet added, the smug man grinning before Dragneel disappeared in a flash of fire, then hefted the man off the floor by his throat. Glaring, the king seethed with rage as this…weakling struggled.

"Never presume you have the authority to decide for her! Levy in this universe is one of the strongest S-class mages on the planet! She developed the Jupiter Tanks! Established the HOD system and has liberated an Earthland where you were nothing more than a sex slaver!" Bringing Jet closer, Dragneel's voice dripped with scorn as his eyes flared with flashes of fire. "She is one of my queens you fucking corpse and you are nothing compared to her. Also…if you insult the memory of Bisca again…I'll fucking kill you" Dropping the gasping mage with a sneer, Dragneel turned away, leaving Jet to splutter and cough as he nearly pissed his pants.

"Please accept my apology. We're guests and Jet shouldn't have been that rude nor cruel about a lost loved one" Levy hastily bowed, the short woman still unsure about all this…this harem talk. But then, the multiverse would allow it. Plus, she was positive this other Natsu would kill somebody for insulting the memory of his lost loves. Jet was lucky to get just a warning from such a man.

"Doesn't matter. He's been dead so long I forget what he looked like. He's a fucking weakling" Waving her off with his harsh words, the king walked out onto the balcony, looking over the city. Clasping his hands behind his muscular back, he embraced the sounds of traffic…the warmth and breeze that added to the tranquility of peace.

"Is it true? That Jet is dead here?" Levy asked a minute later, the blunette walking onto the balcony to join the king. Clutching her curled fist to her chest, she didn't want to think about her friends dying.

"Yes. Killed by the locust horde. Same with Droy, Romeo, Macao, Laki, Bicslow, Nab, Vejetter, Alzack, and Bisca" Spreading his arm out, the man's voice was filled with sorrow. "Most of the guilds are gone now, the war…it consumed this planet. Every country fought…most were wiped out by the horde as they took the war to every corner of Earthland. Now…Only twelve million remain. Magnolia…Magnolia is one of the few cities left here" Looking down at Levy, Dragneel could see she was on the verge of tears.

"All those people…are gone?" Wendy asked, the young girl deeply saddened and trembling by the loss of them all, especially Romeo.

"Yes. This was a world at war, thrown into a conflict of survival. It was either victory…or extinction. The pain…the suffering and carnage was…we almost starved during that final winter while the grubs threw everything they could at us. Then of course…the Stabbers…" Clutching his fist, the king went to a far away place, the roiling memories a nightmare of slaughter. "None of you can even comprehend the suffering I've seen. The bloodshed and sheer…atrocities"

Abruptly turning, he locked eyes with the group. "Marvell will escort you around the city. Feel free to conduct a gathering of public information, or shop and enjoy the benefits of modern society. Perhaps Cana will give you a free meal at her bar. Just be prepared for her trying to convince your Natsu to date your own Cana back home"

"Wait…her too!?" Gray asked with a shout as Dragneel grinned, his mood improving by minimal amounts. "Yeah…and Juvia. She's my wife now, even gave birth to twins, my beautiful daughter's Azura and Tempest. Man…I gotta say, being a dad…all the struggle…the battles and death that swirled around me. Seeing them all every morning…it's a wonderful feeling"

"Still man…Juvia. No offense, but how did you get her to stop chasing…uh…the Gray here?" the ice mage asked, not wanting to incur the king's wrath like poor Jet who was still red in the face. He felt that power for a moment and had no desire to face it. Hell, he doubted even Erza would last long against that type of magical strength.

"Didn't. She was interested the first moment we talked. Of course, she never was part of Phantom Lord. Erza and Levy found her living in a cave by herself, so they invited her back. Man…so many years ago. Now, she's a mom, a top level mage, not to mention stunning as always. Frankly Gray, I think the fact you refuse her advances across so many realities…pretty fucking dumb. She's a wonderful woman, kind, and with a good heart. Plus…she's got great curves like Erza"

"Uh...this conversation got weird. I'm not talking about romance with you"

Dragneel shrugged, not finding offense. "Suit yourself. Now if you'll excuse me, I have paperwork to sign because…Hisui decided to leave it all for me…damn her…" whispering the last words, Dragneel retreated behind his desk. "Sorano. Make sure they have adequate funds for their visit. And give Miss McGarden a lacrima data core. She made so many critical errors during this first trip she's lucky not to have landed among a horde of undead on some apocalyptic Earthland"

"Of course, Natsu. Will there be anything else?"

"No. That should be fine" Waving the group away, they left as Sorano closed the doors, leaving the king to his work.

Lucy rubbed her temples, her mind still reeling. "I can't believe Natsu is king here…wait. What happened to King Toma?"

"Dead" Sorano added briskly, the mages now following the beauty toward the elevator.

"Oh…" Lucy added, the blonde a little uncomfortable. Entering the elevator, the group rode down as Sorano typed in several keystrokes to her magical tablet. "Miss McGarden, here" Handing a type of card that sheened with a blue coating, Levy studied it with curiosity.

"That will allow you to take a data core from the Magnolia City Library, specifically, the restricted wing. Your notes and research will be included"

"Oh…right" Still finding it weird they were talking about research a different version of herself, Levy looked up at Sorano. "What am I like here?"

Sorano turned and studied the shorter woman, slightly cocking her head as silver hair flowed. "Well, you have C-cup sized breasts. Have developed paper shredder magic for turning people into chunks of bloody meat cubes. You're also a heavy drinker with numerous mental issues. Developing weapons to kill monsters and people is one of your hobbies. You also have single handedly killed off entire dark guilds. Using hatchets, hammers, knives, guns or any weapon is well within your moral compass to achieve victory in a fight. Simply put, you are one of the most destructive mages on this planet that deployed the Hammer of Dawn to employ a scorched earth policy against the locust. Hundreds of millions died because of that, but it also saved us from extinction. Also, you consider Gajeel a 'metal faced moron' If I remember correctly"

"H…hundred of millions! I killed that many!?" Levy wailed, her eyes quivering with horror as she suddenly felt sick.

"It was deemed necessary by King Dragneel and Queen Hisui. He gave the order…you helped carry it out so Earthland could survive"

"But…but all those people…" Lucy gulped, then looked at her friend falling into the pits of depression.

"Were dead already. Crops had burned, most were trapped or their militaries wiped out as the grubs closed in. In reality, those casualties would have died from starvation, exposure, or simply have been slaughtered by the locust horde in another few weeks. At least the losses served a purpose and destroyed a vast majority of the locust forces" Studying the mages crowded in the elevator, Sorano's gaze hardened. "It was the only solution we had besides extinction"

The visitors went silent, each knowing they had nothing to compare or judge with. This planet had greatly suffered, and by an enemy they knew very little about.

Levy gulped, looking down at the card. She felt sick…her mind horrified as she struggled to understand. "How horrible was this enemy to cause such a decision?"

"Hey…Dragneel said Ultear is here, right?" Gray asked, the lift slowly descending through the government tower as the man tried to steer the very awkward conversation away from the topics of genocide. Studying Natsu, the normally jovial man had the same look of horror…the realization that King Dragneel had done something incredibly cruel. Averting his gaze, Gray returned attention to the celestial mage.

"She is. While not a member of Fairy Tail, Meredy is so she's in the city" Tapping the light pen to her lips, Sorano thought idly for a moment. "I wonder if Ultear would like to have sex with Natsu again? That was quite the night and we do need to repopulate…"

Hearing the idle thought, Erza, Lucy, Wendy and Levy all went red, their minds going into the gutter.

"What the hell! What type of relationship does that bastard have with women!" Gajeel roared out, snapping Sorano out of her musing as the mood switched from horrified to confusion and anger. Smiling coyly, the silver haired key mage glanced impishly at Natsu. "A very open one. Perhaps Natsu here should start thinking of laying with some women himself…unless he already does?" Cocking a brow at Erza and Lucy, both females turned a deeper crimson at the implication.

"I'm so dead…" Natsu whispered, his female friends lost in thoughts, but they would recover soon enough and somehow blame him.

Levy was the first to recover, the shorter woman finding the idea of Natsu with Lucy or Erza a compelling thought. Looking over, both were starting to mentally recover, berating the helpless man for 'having lewd thoughts and being a pervert' At least, that's what Erza was saying as the elevator finally came to a rest on the bottom floor.

Sliding open, a young woman of fifteen or sixteen years stood there, her twin ponytails flaring outward like ocean water. A firearm rested on her right hip, with a few spare magazines resting in pouches. Slung across her back was a metal bat, the material a swirl of green and blue paint as gripping tape covered the handle. Wearing a pair of khaki tan pants and a turquoise shirt with Marvell stamped across the front in glittering letters, the girl grinned.

"Hey! Looks like I'm gonna lead you around the city! But only because I get out of schoolwork!"

"Uh…what?" Wendy gulped, her eyes instantly tracking the growing bosom of her older self that appeared to be in the B-cup range.

"They're that big already!? NOT FAIR!"

"You can call me Marvell! Now come on! Oh, right" Tossing a card toward Erza, she winked. "Food and expenses, try not to go overboard, okay? We're being nice, but if you try to spend ten million jewel on lingerie or clothes, the government will make you pay it back"

"I understand. You can trust me to spend responsibly" Erza replied with a serious tone and thumbs up.

"I really don't. but then, I don't pay taxes yet, so I don't care" Waving casually while walking away, the teenager had a slight sway to her hips.

"Marvell…just take them around the city. Nothing crazy…and no dimensional travel!" Looking at Natsu, Sorano had to wave her finger in lecture. "And no trying to set up Natsu with his female friends!"

"Oh, come on! Why not!? It's not like they have anybody else to choose from! Gray practically bathes in sewage!"

"Hey!"

"Nah…she's right about that" Natsu chuckled as Gajeel laughed at the grumbling ice mage.

Clamping down on Gray, Erza controlled his outburst. "Perhaps you could begin the tour of the city? After all, we are here to gather information"

Marvell huffed. "I guess I can make fun of him later. Alright, where to first? I know! My clinic!" Running out of the government structures front doors, Marvell pointed toward the main canal and the built up buildings along the waterway. "It's that way! Oddly, only three blocks from Lucy's place"

"Oh…think I could meet her?" Lucy inquired, the blonde a little giddy at the possibility of meeting herself.

"Maybe? She's kinda busy being a mom and all. I mean, most of us don't really drop what we're doing when some random parallels portal in. Especially when they conduct a blind jump" Suddenly whirling in the middle of the sidewalk, Marvell pointed at Levy, her mouth turning into a frowning scowl. "Seriously? You didn't do any recon? Just…walked through? That's so fucking stupid and unbelievably dangerous!"

"I checked for a breathable environment…" Levy replied meekly while rubbing the back of her head.

"Take this seriously. As someone who's done a blind jump, it can be near fatal. Trust me" Emphasizing the words, Marvell turned with a huff.

"Did something happen?" Wendy asked her older self, the group simply blending in with the foot traffic. Stopping at a crosswalk as vehicles rolled past, Marvell nodded her head.

"Basically got tossed into one by some END demon who doesn't know his ass from a toaster. He fucked up my portal gun and I ended up in a city crawling with zombies and other genetic horrors. No magic, constantly running and fighting, scrounging supplies and ammo…it was hell. Got shot and impaled too" Lifting up part of her shirt, a ghastly scar covered part of her abdomen.

"Oh…you poor girl. That must have been horrific" Carla added with pity, the white cat floating nearby.

"I survived. But still…I really hate leeches now…" shivering at the disgusting, crawling things, the teenager rubbed her arms under the warm, summer day.

The crosswalk turned, allowing a stream of pedestrians to flow across the street. Crossing hastily, they were now along the waterfront, the wide boulevard inhabited by high end condos, restaurants, café's and other eateries. Many had a deck for customers, the patrons enjoying the view of the canal and its pristine waters as they talked, their lives calm and peaceful.

Several large transports laden with armed troops rolled by, the large wheeled trucks soon joined by a platoon of clanking, treaded vehicles with a large cannon pointing out of the turret. Sloped armor was a dull, splotched green of paint as each rumbled past with a man or woman standing through an open hatch.

"What's all that stuff?" Droy asked, the plant mage watching as the trio of transports turned at the wide boulevard, their rumbling mass nearly clipping a car.

"A couple companies of soldiers and some Jupiter Tanks. Another weapon that Levy helped develop after the Phantom Lord thing. Probably for a weapons shipment to one of our trading partners" The young woman added.

"How did that go for you? I mean, who replaced Juvia as a water mage?" Gajeel inquired as more transports rumbled past, the civilian traffic slewing to the side to make room for the military convoy. Despite himself, he was curious how his old guild fared in this wartorn world.

"I dunno…Some sadistic asshat that tortured Lisanna. Laxus killed the fucker though" Stopping, Marvell tried to remember. After all, she wasn't part of the guild at that time. Stopping in the middle of the sidewalk as a family walked past, she stroked her chin in contemplation.

"I do know Natsu killed Jose for putting a knife against Cana's throat. And Gajeel had quit the guild a few weeks before. Didn't want to face that kind of wrath. Uh…I think Sol had his head bashed in?" Tapping her foot, Marvell stared at the sky. "Oh yeah! Gajeel killed Aria! Shredded him to bits with a metal dragon roar to protect Sue. She joined too, married Glenn" Turning to continue her walk, Marvell dodged past a woman in a business suit.

"Isn't that wrong? I mean…they were still light mages" Lucy reasoned, the group continuing to walk and trying not to judge.

Marvell shrugged. "People die all the time. I've killed some myself. But to be fair, most were mercy kills!" Shouting in worry, she tried to smile, but it came out very awkward.

"Do you really sell weapons to other Earthlands?" Lucy asked after a few minutes and another two blocks. Watching another small convoy of squat, armored vehicles with six wheels and open firing ports, it looked like a mobile…miniature fort.

"Armadillo" Marvell waved in explanation as six rumbled past before answering Lucy's initial question. "We provide the means to protect nations from hostile forces. We don't make anybody use them, but if your country was facing down a Bosco-Minstrel Alliance intent on enslaving your population, I bet you would take every rifle, bullet, tank and aircraft you could get. But sure Lucy, next time you fight some dark mages, level the playing field so it's fair"

"Your very pessimistic for your age" Erza added, the knight looking around as the bustling city seemed to flow around her.

"Despite a global war, they seem to be doing very well for themselves. It's a shame I could not have met my doppleganger"

"Always assume the worst in any situation" Stepping in front of a low slung building wedged between two high end condos ten stories tall, Marvell smiled. "And here we are!" Stepping into the clinic, Marvell was pleased nobody sat in the waiting room for once.

The mages looked around, seeing two hallways that ran past the front desk on either side. To the left, a vending machine for snacks and drinks hummed, the front a glossy material while pristine walls of white seemed to add a serenity to the lobby.

"Oh look…the wind skank is back" Meredy causally mentioned while flipping through a magazine behind the desk. Turning the page, the pink haired teenager had her feet propped up on the desk, her mood bored as a computer hummed from lacrima power.

"Better than being some flat chested anvil"

"Your basically an ogre" Smirking as Marvell twitched, Meredy went back to reading as a tiny dog scampered around the desk, yipping.

"Ah! Pepper! Miss me?" Picking up the tiny dog, Marvell smiled.

"So cute!" the visiting women thought in unison as they stared with longing. Setting the dog down, it scampered to Carla, giving another yip.

"What? No, I won't give you a bag of chips"

"Can I hold her?" Wendy asked with a pleading tone, her eyes sparkling.

"Sure! She's a survivor of Raccoon City like myself. Such a sweet little dog"

"I would've survived better" Meredy added offhandedly, turning another page.

"You shut up!"

"Make me!" Sticking out her tongue in an insult, the pinkette went back to her reading.

"So…uh…I mean it's a nice clinic and all that…but why are we here?" Gray asked, the ice mage kinda confused with their first destination.

"Right! Just a sec!" Rushing to the back, the teenager disappeared.

Lucy petted the tiny dog with Erza, each woman swooning at the creature before looking at the seated girl behind the desk. "So…why were you insulting Marvell just now?"

"Hmph! She's my rival! Thinks just because she survived an undead apocalypse, found a cute dog, ranked second in the last S-class trial and is on the way to having a figure like Erza she's better than me! But just you wait! I'll be way more attractive as a woman! Plus, I AM NOT AN ANVIL!" Raging at her desk, the woman was shaking her curled fists at the ceiling.

Ultear poked her head around the corner of the left hallway, her black hair falling like a river as another Carla floated above, the native exceed quickly studying her twin, then dismissing her. "Meredy…don't you dare start a fight in this clinic. If I have to reverse time and fix everything again, I'll make sure you regret it…" Singing the last word in a teasing tone, Meredy gulped then huddled down and read her magazine as Ultear smirked with impishness.

"Ultear…" Gray whispered, the man never thinking he'd see the daughter of Ur again. Yet there she stood, youthful and happy. Then something clicked in his mind. "Wait…DID YOU REALLY DO IT WITH THIS FIRE IDIOT!" pointing, Natsu had been looking at the vending machine, tempted to try one of the drinks with that fancy cash card.

"Sure did…relieved a lot of stress too. Would you like to hear about it?" Looking at Erza and Lucy, the female time mage grinned with mischievousness. "You know that Natsu has a nine inch lo—"

"Please no…" Meredy whispered, the girl covering her ears as her eyes brimmed with horror.

Gray flinched, the thought of Natsu and Ultear…doing that causing his synapses to misfire as he collapsed. Curling up on the floor, the ice mage tried to push out the random erotic thoughts of those two. "Hell…this is some sort of hell…"

"I think your over-reacting" Levy commented as the man continued to curl up tighter, his body flinching as Happy poked him with his paw.

"Awe…he's broken…"

"Here we go!" Marvell said with an outburst, the young woman simply stepping over the mentally ruined ice mage while holding up a lacrima data core. Pressing it into Wendy's hands, the older girl smiled. "That's some advanced medical knowledge. Like everything I know. Sure, you still have to study it all and develop the skills, but I'm sure your Earthland could use something like that, right?"

"Woah…really?" Wendy added with wonder, the girl holding up the smooth, reflective orb.

"Yup!"

The door suddenly burst open, a father holding a crying boy who cradled an obviously broken arm. "I need help! My son fell and broke his arm!"

"Shit…alright, get him to the back" Sighing, Marvell waved in apology. "Sorry, this might take awhile. The job of a healer is never done. I'm sure you can explore by yourselves. Stop by the guild, gather information at the library, enjoy yourselves!" Turning, she almost tripped over Gray, then snarled. "But…MAKE SURE TO TAKE THE STRIPPER! HE'S STAINING MY FLOORS WITH TEARS!" Kicking the man, he flew out the door, his cries of mental anguish turning to pain.

"Oh, that was a pretty good kick"

"I give it nine points" Natsu added, agreeing with Gajeel as he drank a cherry soda with a long slurp. Heading outside, Erza picked up the sprawled mage who gasped with pain upon the sidewalk.

"Did she have to kick me?"

"It did look like an emergency and you were on the floor crying"

"I just…pictured Ultear with..with…I can't fathom it" Grasping his head, the man trembled.

Jet set a comforting hand on the man's shoulder. "Try not to think about it. Ugh…Levy and Natsu" Nearly throwing up, Jet's face went blank with a shudder.

"Really!? Come on, your over-reacting!" Lucy bayed, the blonde grabbing Gray by the shoulders and shaking the man who just seemed to cry.

Erza ignored the antics, her face still a hued blush of red. Glancing sideways at Natsu, the woman gulped. "Ultear…She was about to say ni…nine inches. And if my knowledge of romance novels is anything to go by…" Gulping again, Erza stepped forward with boisterous purpose as she tried not to think of her friend in such a manner.

"I suggest we head to the city library! Levy has received a card for the release of information and we are exploring despite our initial imprisonment!" Practically shouting, her determination almost sparkled.

"That's true. We are exploring this new world"

Levy pulled the shimmering blue card, the small piece of plastic reflecting with a few lines of some element. "Sorano did say this would allow us to take a lacrima data core" But if she were to be honest, Levy was afraid of what they would find. Her double sounded…sounded like a genocidal madwoman that only worked on the right side of history. "Did losing Jet and Droy break her somehow?" She had no idea, the script mage watching her team talk amongst themselves.

Steeling her resolve, Levy knew she couldn't shy away from new information. "If this city is laid out similar to our own Magnolia, then the library should be…that way" Pointing slightly south, the group nodded in agreement as they started to traverse the large city.

---

The group found the library an hour later, the large structure taking up half a city block. Manicured lawns and trees covered the property while a small fountain gurgled in a small plaza. Rising steps of stone rose to two sets of double doors, the building embraced by several pillars rising to an arched roof. Lines of windows dazzled with reflective light, adding to the serenity of the looming structure. Several men and women milled about, reading while sitting on several nearby benches, the sunlight more than pleasant for all.

"Well…it's bigger than ours" Lucy mumbled, the lover of books looking upward at the structure with a sense of awe.

But Levy was already moving, nearly running up the steps in excitement. Pushing open the heavy, wooden doors, she burst inside as more patrons read and talked lowly.

"Ughh…that's a lot of books" Natsu groaned, the man very disinterested as he took in rows and rows of bookshelves.

"Yeah…so boring…" Happy agreed, the cat drooping.

"This is important" Erza scolded, her eyes tracking in a panning gaze. Falling upon a set of metal doors situated against the far wall, she marched past the reception desk and bored looking librarian. Coming to the security doors of heavy steel, the words Restricted Data had been stamped in big, red letters across the surface.

A small scanner was embedded in the molding to the right, its red light blazing. Walking up, Levy awkwardly waved the bluish card, causing the light to switch to a pleasant green. With a click, the doors unlocked as the group moved in.

Closing behind them, the heavy doors relocked, sealing them inside.

"Impressive" Pantherlily admitted, the exceed studying the circular room at the end of a short, open hallway. It was smooth metal with hints of light blue, the polished floor and surfaces rising in a curvature to the ceiling. Hundreds of strange, silent pieces of technology were embedded in the upper walls and floors, all perfectly spaced as lens adorned each.

To the immediate right of the door was a line of circular, glowing lacrima orbs upon a shelf, each reflective with unknown secrets.

Some of the bulging emitters suddenly sprang to life, the lens a sparkle of colors as a person formed in the center of the room. Rippling, the person's details came prominent.

Blue, waving hair and a similar height matched Levy, but really, the similarities ended there. A nasty, four inch scar ran along the left cheek while a pair of blue tinted goggles rested apon the forehead. Dressed in a pair of black cargo pants, a brown belt with numerous pouches, and a blue shirt emblazoned with Cereal Killer that sparkled red over straining breasts, the image suddenly smiled.

"YO! I'm Levy McGarden! This holographic image is a compiling of my known habits, attitude, and mannerisms collected over several years of combat missions, recordings and blatant murder of dark mages! HAHAHAHA! GOD! I just love turning those sadistic fucks into meat cubes! Think they can rape me! I'm LEVY FUCKING MCGARDEN!" Roaring to the ceiling, the holographic image rippled before it made a flask and drank from it.

"Uhhh…WHAT THE HELL!? What kind of introduction is that, Levy!?" Droy and Jet roared, both men more surprised than the actual flesh and blood woman.

"Hey, shut the fuck up, asshole. I can introduce myself however the fuck I want" Drinking from her flask, the woman suddenly made a long rifle, the bayonet dripping with blood as she checked the box.

"You shouldn't talk like that to your friends, what's wrong with you?" Lucy huffed, planting her hands on her hips.

"Psh! They've been dead for years. And even then, they barely killed any grubs. Plus, these assholes fucked up my first IVD, causing Erza to be thrown to Sera and facing the locust" Sighing, the scarred blunette reloaded the gun again despite it just being light. "You know…it really sucks I'm just pixels. I could go to some Earthland and just…lay waste to a few dark mages or set Natsu and Levy on the path to being lovers. Probably would use my baby here…against something?" Patting the gun, she smiled as the nine visitor mages just stared in extreme confusion. "OR MAYBE A HAMMER! Yeah…just beating their fucking heads in!" Finally turning her gaze, she locked eyes with Gajeel, her image rippling. "Oh..great…a metal idiot. Couldn't you have left him in a kennel or something?" Rubbing her imaginary temple, the mage groused.

"I'm not some dog!"

But this scarred Levy didn't care, walking forward with a sway of her hips and a small bounce of her larger breasts. Walking up to Natsu, she dragged a finger across his shoulder, smiling coyly. "Look at you…I could just eat you up. Uh…sexually. Not like a cannibal"

"There was no confusion about that!" Levy shot out, her voice cracking. "Now please! Can I ask some questions!?"

"No need to shout? That's what I'm here for…do wish I could get laid though…ugh…stupid body of light…"

"Thank you. Now, we'd like to study the history of this world. After all, we—" Erza started to explain, but received a hand to the face by this extremely rude pixel Levy.

"Yeah, yeah, shut up. First jump into the multiverse and you wonder what we fought? Or how we rose in terms of technology and weapons. Well, I'll tell ya! And if you need to throw up, there is an emergency bathroom…ugh…over there" Pointing, a singular door was set into the short hallway.

"How did we miss that?" Wendy asked, the short girl turning back as the lensed technology started to glow and form a serene forest of pixelated trees. A holographic image of Erza, Mira, Happy and Natsu were walking down a dirt road, the team obviously still early teens judging by the age.

"You better be ready…Now, it all started…" Grinning savagely, the history of 137-C unfolded before the visitor's eyes.

Those nine were subject to the full scope and horror of the locust war, all told by a pixelated version of Levy who spared no details of the sheer scope of destruction and atrocities they faced.

Meanwhile…at Natsu's office.

Natsu clasped his calloused hands, steepling the limbs upon the desk as he studied Sorano standing before him. They were alone, the afternoon breeze still warming the office.

"So…what's the recommendation from the ministers?"

"Our recent visitors were scanned during imprisonment and we established full observation, courteous of the Multidimensional Reconnaissance Office. Gathered intel is year seven ninety three, summertime. All appearances support a standard Earthland. Normal levels of dark mages and wildlife"

"Military strength?"

"Minimal. Sword, mage and bow. No air force or any armor. Rune Knights are a non-factor. Light guilds are believed to be average magical strength"

"Industry?"

"Essentially like our world before the war"

"So basically nothing" Dragneel snorted, the king unimpressed as he stood, once more walking toward the balcony. Watching as several Ravens sliced through the air over the towering factories and manufacturing plants to the south, he waited as Sorano approached with a sway of her hips and light heft of her bosom.

"We prepared a strike force in the event of a threat. A mixture of armor, artillery, and infantry"

"I doubt we'll need them. By all appearances, Nine zero nine nine two is a relatively peaceful Earthland that managed to discover dimensional travel"

"They're lucky. We all know what types of horrors are out there" Sorano added, the woman brushing away strands of silver hair as her large breasts heaved. Looking down at her tablet, there was hardly anything else distinctive about this Earthland aside from setting up a dimensional gate in Crocus. "What are your orders?"

"Return them when they're ready. Their world is not a threat" Clasping his hands behind his back, Natsu enjoyed the moment of peace and tranquility. Especially away from the madness of his home life.

Of course he loved his wives…his children. But sometimes a man needed a few hours of peace.

"Ironic that the calmness of my day is at work among stacks of forms and document's" He momentarily glanced at the unending stacks of forms, snorting with derision. "At least Juvia is cooking with Kinana tonight. They make such wonderful chicken and mashed potatoes"

"Should we keep the 3rd recon on standby? Just in case?"

Natsu momentarily thought, pulled away from the thought of a home cooked meal, then nodded. "Yes. Assuming the best outcome is how people die. Oh, and assist them with returning when they desire. I doubt they can just walk through their own portal in the middle of the Crocus crater"

"Of course, my king"

"It's Natsu. You're just calling me by my title to annoy me"

"Of course not…my king" Smiling with a feminine impishness, Sorano quickly left, leaving Natsu to look out at the sprawl of Magnolia.

"Those mages…they have no idea how fortunate they are" Blinking, the man slapped a palm against his head. "Shit…I gave them access to the restricted wing. That holographic Levy probably already fucked them over with everything…dammit! SORANO! MAKE SURE THEY'RE MENTALLY SOUND! THEY WENT TO THE LIBRARY! WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENED LAST TIME SOMEBODY TRIED TO LEARN!" Roaring, the assistant poked her head back into the office.

"Right away, my king"

"It's Natsu…AND MAKE SURE TO SEND THE CONTACT LACRIMA!" Shouting the command toward his assistant, the king still had a few hours left. Going back to his desk, he sat, then picked up the proposal for a new iron mine near the ruins of Woodworth. Signing it, he knew industry from a few nearby towns would greatly benefit…especially the rebuilt steel mill at Harvar.

"Still so much work that needs to be done" Setting it in the finished pile, he picked up the next document, the paperwork never ending. Looking at it for a moment, the man set it down with a heavy sigh. Thinking of Mira, Erza and Levy, Natsu went to his bar, pouring himself a drink then walked to the balcony, leaning against the stone railing while a light breeze ruffled his hair. "Maybe…maybe the scans of the multiverse will have found them today"

It was a hope, but a pipe dream. They could be literally anywhere. On some random planet across the universe in a reality so far away that Natsu could search for a thousand years and still not find them.

It was like looking for a needle in a stack of identical needles that had been thrown out a plane over a snow capped mountain across the planet. Sure…technically it was possible to find them again…but odds were…

He drank the glass of whiskey in one gulp, trying to drown the pain of his lost queens.

And Bisca? That useless piece of shit Jet had just ripped open that wound. Natsu was surprised he hadn't beaten that prick to a pulp. Unleashing another rumbling sigh, Natsu just watched Magnolia under a summer day.

Universe 90992-A. Crocus June 8th, Year 793

Most of the crowds had dispersed after the initial transit two days before, the citizens going about their business in the city as a few of the guilds checked in on occasion.

But mostly, it was the Rune Knights and a few men and women manning the console that kept a vigil. Simply waiting for forty eight hours to pass, they still had another three to go before they would re-open the gate.

Still, the mages of Fairy Tail had shown up early, eager for their friends return from another world along with members of several other guilds.

"Think they're alright?" Laxus asked his grandfather, the blonde man sitting on a bench as the early morning dew still collected on the ground and several trees lining the plaza.

"I'm sure they're fine. Erza is an S-class mage and the rest are all quite capable"

"Juvia should have gone with her precious Gray. How can she be by his side if the love rival attempts to steal him?" Clasping her hands in worry, Juvia stared at the silent gate, her blue hair matching the azure of her dress.

"Pretty sure they had more important things than harboring your delusions" Evergreen pointed out, the brunette positive Lucy had no intention of stealing Gray from the love sick water mage.

"Maybe I should have gone as well…" Mira asked herself, the woman worried sick for her friends. Looking over toward the corner, she watched Crime Sorcerie standing subdued, the now pardoned mages worried. Well…mostly Jellal for Erza.

The gate popped…a slew of electricity and particles dancing as the energies started to collect.

"I thought we still had three hours?" Princess Hisui asked with a loud shout, her father confused at the sudden activation.

"It…IT'S NOT FROM THIS END! Somebody must have activated from the other Earthland!" A technician shouted from the console, the man trying to do something…anything to understand how this was happening.

In a flash, the dimension tear opened, a crackling doorway of cascading colors as lightning arced. A burst of light pulsed, their friends reappearing as they walked forward.

"Hey! They're back!" Romeo shouted with excitement, the teenager boy rushing forward to meet Wendy.

Stopping a few feet before his beloved family, Romeo was all smiles. "How did it go!? Did you meet yourself? Or me!?" Obviously excited, a slew of mages from Fairy Tail, Sabertooth, Mermaid Heel, and Crime Sorcerie raced up, the princess and king among them.

"Hey Natsu! How was it!?" Sting shouted, the dragon slayer grinning from ear to ear.

It was Jellal that noticed the subdued looks first…the eyes brimming with red puffiness and dried tears. Looking at Erza, the woman stared back…then turned away.

"We…made contact…" whispering, Erza's mind reeled. Jellal reached out, trying to comfort his secret love.

"DON'T TOUCH ME!" Screaming, Erza's eyes brimmed with horror, her mind replaying everything she had seen. Grasping her sword, she instantly pointed it at the man, her hand shaking. "What is he planning!? To rape me!? To murder my friends!? He might…the locust…Berserkers…Wretches…" Dropping the sword, she simply shook as she fell to her knees, her gloved hands grasping at scarlet locks. Mind bereft of horror and nightmare, she didn't even hear Jellal or Master Makarov.

"I…I can't…I can't…" Droy whispered, then curled up in a ball, his stare blank. Jet was just…catatonic, the speed mage staring into space.

"What happened, Natsu? Levy?" Cana tried to ask, the brunette card mage instantly worried as Lucy started to cry, the blonde's bawls creating a trail of tears.

Levy gulped, looking at all the faces of her friends…her family. Master Makarov…King Toma…even the concerned gaze of Minerva standing near Sting and Rouge. Blinking back tears, they flowed down her cheeks like rivers. Somehow guided to a bench nearby by Mira, Levy went silent for a moment, the woman trying to halt the flow.

"There was a war there" Gajeel finally managed to say, the iron dragon slayer standing behind Levy, his firm hand resting upon her shoulder as the woman suddenly cried.

"With Alverez?" Princess Hisui inquired, the woman showing extreme concern.

"No…Alverez was an ally with Fiore…the enemy they fought was…was pure evil. I can't even properly describe it" Natsu managed to say. Running a hand through his salmon locks, he looked like he had aged ten years in two days.

"THEY FOUGHT MONSTERS! LITTERAL MONSTERS! GIANT SPIDERS AND THESE SHRIEKING THINGS THAT COULD RIP A PERSON APART! AND THEY CAME FROM UNDERGROUND LIKE DEMONS! NEARLY EVERYBODY DIED! AND…AND THAT WORM! GODS! IT SANK CITIES!" Erza screamed, the redhead flailing about as Natsu rushed over, hugging his friend as she cried into his shoulder. Her mind was a wreck, a constant parade of images and slaughter.

Wendy sniffed, looking at Romeo with teared, red eyes. "Romeo…was dead there. And his dad…and so many…Bisca…Laki…Bicslow…Alzack…and that's just Fairy Tail…" Sniffing, the girl cried harder, much to the horror of the named individuals.

"I…I have a message from their king. And…and a historical data lacrima…I…I think I need to drink" Levy gulped as she stood, handing the lacrima's to Hisui.

"I think we all do" Lucy added, the blonde walking away on shaky legs. Looking back, Natsu was helping Erza…and all Lucy could see was a hallucination of King Dragneel overlapping her friend. "He saw…so much destruction…that man…that version…"

He had fought evil…pushed it back while standing on a mountain of corpses…they all had.

"I'm nothing compared to them…" Shuffling away, Lucy just wanted to forget everything at the bottom of a bottle.

"Gray?" Juvia whispered, the ice mage still unable to process it all. Hearing his name, he slightly turned his head, the water mage staring at him with love and worry.

Gulping, there were no words to convey. "We saw their history…the…the genocide. But…those mages? They lived it. We're just…just random visitors that haven't accomplished anything" Slumping his shoulders, Grey could feel the pain as he walked past Juvia.

"Gray..?"

"I'll…I'll talk with you tomorrow. Something important"

The assembled mages, knights, and royal family watched the nine mages and three exceeds leave, none looking back.

"Daughter? I believe we need some answers" King Toma indicated, pointing to the first lacrima that pulsed a light red. Setting it down, Hisui pushed a miniscule amount of magic into the stone, activating the message.

A rippling of light formed, the particles quickly assembling into the image of a familiar, battled hardened dragon slayer. Dressed in formal military attire as rows of medals adorned his chest, the scarred Natsu finally spoke as his image rippled.

"I am King Dragneel of Fiore, Universe One three seven-C. I do apologize for the generic greeting, but I simply have no desire to personalize a message for every Earthland we come in contact with. However, this lacrima does have the capability to respond to inquires if needed"

"Wait…Natsu is the king there?" Sorano inquired with confusion and disbelief, knowing that while Natsu was strong, he was hardly leader material.

"That can't be right" Princess Husui added, the young woman not believing it.

"It's true. Your father was killed during a locust attack. You took command of the country and become known as 'The Emerald Queen' Your leadership during the war kept us in the fight, but the losses were heavy"

"How heavy?" Mira asked the hologram. Oddly, the rippling form of this other Natsu stared her way, his gaze very hard…then momentarily softening, the gaze almost lovingly before turning his head away.

"Approximately ninety nine percent of our planet's population perished. While we are beginning to repopulate, our current estimate puts us at around twelve million"

"I'm sorry…those losses…" Makarov whispered, the old man unable to fathom such casualties. It was a horrific statement, causing a ripple of pity and shocked gasps from the assembled mages.

Like being punched in the gut.

"We don't need nor desire your pity" Straightening his back, the broad shoulders were prominent as his natural scowl took over. "Contact and trade with our two worlds is possible. We have technology, advanced weapons, construction techniques and advances in medicine that your world could use. However, we will not pursue in the event of rejection"

"What if we go to war, take what you have? After all, we have more people than you" King Toma asked, testing the hologram.

"I believe the destruction of twenty cities will be enough to break your will to fight. You may have numbers, but we also have allies. Any conflict with us will result in your loss"

"You're bluffing. Natsu would never do that" Sting added, the dragon slayer quite sure of his statement.

"A few million dead is just a statistic when dealing with hostiles. The choice is yours. Trade and advancement. War. Or a cessation of contact" Blinking away, the interactive message ended, leaving the assembled men and women in a sudden silence under the shadow of the multiverse gate, its towering mass suddenly more ominous.

"You know, that scar of his was pretty manly" Elfman suddenly spoke, the muscular man commenting as he tried to lighten the mood.

The lacrima blinked on again, King Dragneel suddenly reappearing with a sly smirk. "Of course I'm manly. I fucked Mira after all. In fact, I'm so manly most of the guild's women are my wives, including Cana" Blinking away, Gildarts and Elfman blinked, the words still trying to register.

"THAT SON OF BITCH! I'LL SHOW HIM A REAL MAN!"

"DAMN RIGHT! NOBODY TOUCHES MY DAUGHTER AND LIVES!"

"That's what upsets you!? Not the global genocide!? Or the death of friends!? Horrific monsters or possible trade with an advanced society!? You're an idiot, dad" Shaking her head, Cana walked away, her face formed into a deep frown. Knowing that whatever happened now, would be up to the kingdom as the sunlight poured down from a serene, blue sky.

So yeah…wrote this in like three days which is fucking insane. Sure, it may not be high stakes, but I think the idea was still cool since its usually 137-C that made contact in the past. Throws it on its head in a way.

Anyway, I'll be starting Rising from the Embers in a day or so.

The happy