Please enjoy yourself!
Chapter 9. Which one of you is the real one
"Let's see who is hiding his face behind my mask," continued the newly arrived Mystogan and took a step forward.
Silence ensued. No one had expected such an incredible situation. No one could find words… Even Natsu was speechless.
Two masked men stared at each other. None of them showed any emotions.
Erza couldn't take breath. She didn't believe her eyes. Was that sight just her imagination? She looked to the left, and then turned her head to the right…
Yes, there was no mistake. Her eyes hadn't misled her. Two absolutely identical men were standing before her. They were as like as two peas. Heavy clothes and black cloaks covered their bodies, their faces and hairs were hidden under exactly the same masks and hats. But who had visited her in her room? Who had asked her to go on a mission with him? What could help her to make a difference between those two men?
"It just can't be!" thought Erza. "Why is this happening to me? It couldn't be true… It is definitely a dream… No, it is a nightmare! That's right, a nightmare! Oh, I wish to wake up immediately!"
But no, it didn't look like a dream. She pinched herself. The pain was real…Yes, it was quite real.
The others were also stunned. Gray was frozen in shock. Natsu couldn't close his mouth. What was going on? There were two Mystogans? Well, that was far too much even for the Fairy Tail guild. Obviously one of them was an impostor…
"This is just not possible…" said Lucy to herself. "Only one of them is the real Mystogan… But who is he? And more importantly, who is the other? Who can be insolent enough to call himself Mystogan?"
Happy's eyes were widened in shock. The little cat was trying to say something but he couldn't.
Even Levy raised her head and stared at the two identical men. She was completely amazed. Just until a few hours ago she had never seen the masked S-class mage… and now she saw two.
"Am I dreaming?" thought the blue-haired girl.
Erza was first who managed to speak.
"What is going on? Is this some kind of a joke?" asked she. Her voice was trembling. "Two masked mages? Which one of you is the real one?"
"It's me! There is only one Mystogan in Fairy Tail guild and it's me!" answered both of them at the same time.
She had expected such an answer and it didn't surprise her.
"We will see right now who says the truth and who lies. Luckily, there is one way to discover the truth," said the newly arrived man in a calm tone. His eyes sparkled as if he was smiling… but the others weren't sure because they couldn't see his face. He looked at the girl behind him and continued: "Please Mirajane, tell us where is Mystogan's Fairy Tail sign! You know this!"
The other masked man obviously didn't expect that. His eyes widened in horror. He unconsciously took a step back and wrung his left forearm with his right hand.
Everyone's eyes turned to Mirajane. She didn't reply immediately. Now she realized why Mystogan had brought her along.
Flash-back
"Why do you bring me along?" asked Mirajane while they were travelling to the city of Mersyerella.
Mystogan looked at her through his mask. His eyes were boring into her. Maybe he hesitated to answer… or he just didn't want to speak with her unless it was absolutely necessary. It didn't surprise her. His unsociability was proverbial.
The silence dragged on.
"If someone tries to pass for me, you can help me to expose his deception," the man said finally.
"And how can I help you?" The girl didn't understand what he had in his mind.
"You will see."
That was the only answer she got. He didn't say a word more.
End of flash-back
After a few seconds silence Mirajane answered: "His sign is on his right forearm."
The newcomer immediately took the bandage off his right forearm and everyone saw the Fairy Tail symbol on it… the overwhelming evidence that he was the real Mystogan.
Erza looked at her bandaged hand. She remembered what had happened a few hours ago. The supposed Mystogan had dressed her injury with his bandage… and then she had seen a Fairy Tail sign. (1) But it was on his left forearm. As it turned out, that sign was a fake one! So he was an impostor! There was no doubt about it! (2)
"It means…" said Lucy under her breath.
"If this one is the real Mystogan, then… then who are you?" asked Erza in a menacing tone pointing the man next to her.
There was complete silence for a few seconds.
"Who are you? Answer me!" Erza felt that she was flying into a rage. "Did you hear what I asked you? Who are you and how dare you deceive me! And not only me but all of us… the entire Fairy Tail guild!"
"And how dare you pretend to be a Fairy Tail member! It is… it is unforgivable!" yelled Natsu. His blood was boiling with anger. He felt an unspeakable wish to pummel the impostor, to force his mask off… The pink-haired Dragon Slayer was about to punch the fake Mystogan but at the same moment he crushed against an ice wall created by Gray.
"You hot head! Don't be so hasty at least once!" ordered Gray.
Natsu growled and turned to face the ice mage.
"How could you… How dare you stop me!" he yelled and levelled his blow at Gray. At the next moment they were already fighting.
"That is enough, boys! Calm down… both of you!" said Lucy.
The fake Mystogan didn't pay attention to them. He remained silent and stone-still for a few seconds. Then slowly, as if against his will, he took the mask off.
Amazed by the sight, Natsu and Gray stopped their fight. Lucy exclaimed with surprise.
"It can't be!" Happy managed to speak finally.
What she saw was far too much for Erza. She had expected everything but that. Her body started trembling under the stress of her feelings. She felt a sudden weakness in her feet and would have fallen on the ground if Gray hadn't held her. Her anger gave way to astonishment. She hadn't been so shocked even when she had seen Mystogan's face.
The impostor's face was well-known to her. She recognized it immediately. It was none other than…
"You?" exclaimed Natsu and Lucy at the same time.
"Jellal?" whispered Erza. "But how…? You must be in the prison!"
-ooo-
(1) See Chapter 5.
(2) I have thought about different variants of the story and I have chosen the following variant. The impostor had known that he would need a Fairy Tail sign to present himself as a guild member. So he had taken care to secure a fake symbol for himself. However, he had placed it on his left forearm because he hadn't known that Mystogan's sign is on his right forearm. This is the difference between them. I decided to make Mirajane the person who knows where the real Mystogan's sign is (that is why he brought her along).
What do you think about this chapter? Review please, please, please!