Alchem's Notes: This took a lot longer than expected to release, my apologies. I had to spend a few days drafting out some sudden plot holes (No, I can't tell you what they were as they are super spoilery) and I made some pre-revisions to the world of Edolas to make it more interesting to the plot. But I don't want to hold you anymore so here it is! Enjoy!
-3/ Edolas Redux-
-Somewhere in Edolas
There, with no sign of civilization in sight, was a vast desert. Small hills, remains of the islands that fell eight years ago, dotted the landscape covered and eroded by sand. In the middle of this vast lifelessness were four tree trunks that stretched from the sky to the ground. The area around them flourished, creating a mini oasis.
*Boom!* A streak of light hit the ground in the center of the four trees, revealing the guild. Everyone lies on the wooden ground unconscious except Mavis and James who stood looking around at the new terrain.
"So this is Edolas?" Mavis asked James, looking around at the barren landscape.
"Correct. Although, I should have mentioned that we would be sent to a random area in the world meaning it will take some time for Mystogan to find us. Also, don't worry about the guild; I have filled this area with magic. They won't suffer from Magic Deficiency."
"I see, well it will allow the guild to rest up after what just happened. A jump like that burned out all their magic energy… Thank you James." Mavis turns and looks at the resting guild members.
"Oaken trees are incredibly special, which is why they are my favorite of all trees. Not only does the sap prevent magic from escaping a proximity, like being sucked into the anima for example, the sap itself carries magic power throughout the tree and into the area around it, hence the small oasis we are in. Since, these trees are connected back to Earthland, the sap is bringing magic power here to Edolas. The guild can use the oaken sap to replenish their magic supply. Also, the wood is very dense making it perfect in defense."
Her tone gets more serious, "Which reminds me, why am I here too? If Faust is after me, why bring me?"
"Insurance."
Mavis did not like the sound of that at all.
"Technically, you are still in our world, I simply linked your conscious here using your unique power, my apologies by the way; but because I am no longer in Earthland, I cannot observe what happens there anymore so I need you here to inform me of any changes back in Magnolia."
"And how will I know 'of any changes back in Magnolia'?"
"Because your body along with the Rift is still under the guild hall; even though your consciousness is here, if anything happens to Magnolia you will still feel it immediately and that information will be critical!"
Mavis understood what he meant by that.
"Also, I am very aware of your past achievements, Fairy Tactician. When battle starts, you know your guild's limits better than any other being in history." James smirked.
Mavis sighed and smiled, "It's been 100 years since I heard that title from someone other than the guild. I'll try my best."
After a brief moment of silence, James leaned and whispered something in her ear, shocking her.
"Do it… and I will hurt you." Mavis threatened with a little smirk showing.
After several minutes, everyone else slowly begins to wake up.
"It's about time you humans woke up." James commented. He sat on a stem above the ground reading one of his books.
"I don't know what happened… where are we?" Natsu said trying to come to.
"It was like we just… exploded or something." Gray said clasping his head.
"It's like I hurt everywhere, but I feel no pain." Erza looked around at the others and made sure they were okay too.
"That jump must have sucked the power out of us." Makarov implied. "Where is the First Master? James, mind explaining?"
James closed his book and jumped off the stem onto the floor and faced the guild with a serious look.
He then said with a straight-face, "It's been three days, Mavis was captured and Magnolia was destroyed; we are all stuck here now…"
Everyone is horrified by this news.
*SLAAAP!* Mavis appeared, smacking James so hard with her magic that he flew back a few feet, hitting one of the trees behind him before landing on the floor!
"Ignore the elf, everything is just fine." Mavis said with an ignorant tone.
"What! Don't give me that! You were in on this too!" James shouted.
"I don't know what you're talking about, and I said I would hurt you."
"Oh, I see how it is then Mavis!"
The two started an argument which dazed and confused the guild to the point they all passed out again.
A few minutes later
"With that said, we are simply waiting for Mystogan to arrive to our location." James just finished giving the breakdown of what has happened so far.
"Then I say we just go find him ourselves. It'd be faster than waiting." Natsu suggested.
"One thing wrong with that Natsu." Mavis said. "We don't know where we are right now; we would be running the risk of getting lost."
"Not only that." James added. "You all are still recovering from the jump into this world and this oasis is literally what is keeping you all alive right now."
"What!?" Wendy said noticing Mavis nod in agreement.
"But eight years ago, Wendy, Lucy, Erza, Gray, Gajeel and I moved about this world just fine…" Natsu said before being interrupted.
"Edolas also had magic then, yes? The Edolas now is not the same as it was eight years ago. The moment you leave the oasis' sphere of influence, the empty vacuum will strip all the ethernanos out of you, sending you into a Magic Deficiency Arrest in minutes, if not seconds. I am still creating items to allow you to leave with your magic intact."
"So, we just wait then!" Natsu complained.
"We really don't have a choice right now." Lucy placed her left hand on Natsu's shoulder to settle him down.
Ten minutes later
James had prepared oaken tea out of the sap contained in the oaken trees and served it to the guild.
"It's sticking to my iron." Gajeel complained holding a wooden glass of oaken tea.
"James said the oaken sap contains magic which will speed up magic recovery… but I agree." Lily commented.
"I'd rather have a fish right now." Happy sighed.
"It isn't bad; I think it goes down warm and smooth." Wendy stated.
"Yeah, I do agree it is quite good." Carla agreed as she continued to drink the tea.
The three stare blank-eyed at both of them.
*sigh* "It's been a long time since we have been here, even with the 7 year gap." Carla continued. "This was our home…" Lily and Happy fell silent along with Wendy and Gajeel.
"Ahahahaha!" Natsu's laughter catches everyone off guard.
"Natsu! What the hell are you doing! You will die out there!" Erza yelled as they saw that Natsu was outside the oasis.
"Nope! I have this!" Natsu revealed a necklace underneath his scarf that glew a faint green.
"What is that?" Carla asked.
"It seems they work well." Mavis said, stepping in.
"Indeed, I shall give everyone one immediately." James then proceeded to hook one around everyone's necks.
"What are these; they have a lot of magic in them." Wendy stated.
"They are special charms I created using the power of the oaken trees. As I have stated before, the sap stores magic, preventing it from escaping a proximity; this will allow you to move around Edolas without harm."
A green ring forms around their wrists, they take notice of it immediately.
"This ring that has formed describes the magic energy in your possession. As you use it, the color will change. Green means you have full or near full magic energy, as you deplete it, it will turn yellow, then orange, then finally red. When the necklace makes contact with a magic source it will refill immediately, so keep that in mind… One more incredibly important detail, if you use all of the magic, the sap inside will breakdown and the necklace will be destroyed. Do not, under any circumstances, allow that to happen."
They all nod 'yes' with determined looks. Suddenly, Mavis notices an object off in the sandy distance.
"Is that Mystogan?" Mavis asked focusing on the growing object heading their way.
"Hopefully." James said.
*sniff* "I smell iron…" Gajeel pointed out.
"I don't smell anything… wait… fire?" Natsu added.
The object got closer, creating a cloud of sand in its wake.
"I can't smell anything, but I do hear a rumbling sound… Wait! I remember that sound! It's Edolas Natsu's magic-mobile!" Wendy discovered.
"But how, didn't it run off magic?" Lucy questioned.
The vehicle got really close before sliding to a halt in front of the oasis, spraying sand into the green plant-life.
"Whoa!"
"Not cool…" James mumbled staring at the intruding sand.
Edo-Natsu popped open the driver side door and smirked to the Earthland wizards while Mystogan exited the passanger side. Edo-Lucy exited out of the backseat.
"It has been a very long time hasn't it, Fairy Tail?" Mystogan greeted.
"Whoa, it's Natsu and Lucy… but from here." Levy mumbled to herself.
"Still looking the same? What do you not age in Earthland?" Edo-Lucy commented.
"Oh yeah, it would make sense you all aged… And it's a long story." Lucy remarked.
Mystogan, Edo-Natsu, and Edo-Lucy had grown older standing taller and more modern dressed than the Earthland wizards. Mystogan had dressed in a black and blue suit that had the Fairy Tail Crest on the top, front left pocket. Edo-Natsu wore in a white t-shirt with flame cargo pants and a watch; the Fairy Crest on the back of his shirt. And Edo-Lucy sported a dark green mid-chopped shirt with grey long cargo pants; her Fairy Crest on the sleeve. She also had a large pack on her back.
"You must be Mavis then?" Mystogan said to the transparent girl.
"Jellal… who are you taking to?" Edo-Natsu stated standing behind him.
"Hold on, weren't you afraid of leaving your vehicle?" Lucy pointed out.
"It's been eight years! Times changed." Edo-Natsu replied.
"It appears our Natsu and Lucy cannot see you." Mystogan stated to Mavis
"That's because they can't. Only members of our Fairy Tail, and a certain someone, can see and hear me." Mavis explained.
"I see, then it will be difficult for us to communicate with you then."
"Not really, Warren can use his telepathy magic to connect me to your Fairy Tail's members for discussion."
Warren immediately interjects, "Whoa, hold up! Don't assume I can, considering there is no magic in the world, including none in the people!"
"Try it then." Mavis insisted.
*sigh* "Here goes nothing." Warren then focused on Edo-Lucy and Edo-Natsu's minds. "Hello, can you hear me?"
"What is he doing?" Edo-Lucy questioned.
"Can you not hear me?" Warren questioned back.
Both Edo-Lucy and Edo-Natsu shake their heads 'no'.
"And there we have it." Warren stated.
"That also means I cannot receive this telepathy either." Mystogan said.
"Then that means someone will have to translate..."
"If I may, make a suggestion; you could adjust your spell to allow them to see and hear you." James intervened.
Mavis didn't reply.
"Oh, come on. We all know of you, even the enemy knows of you. Why hide anymore?"
Mavis sighs and puts her hands together. Edo-Lucy and Edo-Natsu gaze upon the light that beholds them as Mavis is revealed.
"Whoa!" They both exclaimed.
Mavis did not like the fact she had to alter her rules, but there really was no point now.
Suddenly a ringing came out of Edo-Natsu's pocket. He pulls out a box like object similar to the one that Mystogan had given James and answers it.
"Hey babe!" Natsu said enthusiastically.
"Babe?" That word caught the ears of a few Earthland wizards.
"I'm firing a flare now." Edo-Natsu pulls out a flare-gun and fires it into the air. "You see it?.. Good, see you in a few! Love you too!" He hangs up and puts the object back in his pocket with a smile.
Love? Lucy thought to herself. If I'm right there then who is… relax, they are not the same as us, Lucy.
"Wait! Faust could be listening right now." James pointed out.
"Impossible." Mystogan stated. "After investigating, the only reason Faust was able to infiltrate our previous conversations was because the line was used through magic in the anima. Here we won't have to worry about that."
"Here she comes, prepare yourselves!" Edo-Natsu yelled.
Out in the distance they could see a flying object in the distance, closing that distance fast.
"What is that?" mumbled the Earthland wizards.
As it closed in, it slew down above them; the winds picking up and blowing sand into the oasis. Everyone immediately covered their faces, shielding themselves from the gusts of wind and sand.
James simply looked down at the raging, intruding sand, "Seriously not cool…"
As the gusts settled, the Earthland wizards gazed at the new, big sized vehicle that just landed in front of them. Edo-Natsu walks over to it.
"How is all this running without magic?" Erza commented.
"It's not magic, its technology…" Mystogan stated. "How do I put this in terms you all can understand? You all have magic and everything runs off magic. Since we no longer have magic, we've invested into researching using other resources in the world and building new technologies."
The Earthland wizards, including Mavis and James were confused.
"For example," Mystogan pulls out his box item. "This is a phone. Using radio waves, it can allow two people to communicate with each other simultaneously." He points to the two vehicles, "That is a Desert Runner and a Passenger VTOL Helicopter, instead of magic they use fuel and allow for rapid transport…" Mystogan just realized that they have no idea what he is talking about.
"I think you just dumbfounded them even more Jellal." Edo-Lucy said with a chuckle.
"Okay!" Edo-Natsu yelled. "All is ready to go!"
Edo-Natsu came back to the meeting area, holding hands with another Edolas Fairy Tail member.
"Hey Earthland Fairy Tail! It's been a long time, and little me is still little!" Edo-Wendy greeted the Earthland wizards taking some of them by surprise.
Wendy took notice of both of them and blushed heavily. But, I don't feel that way towards Natsu. He is like an older sibling to me, that's all.
"Hehe, Natsu and Wendy? I never thought that could ever happen." Cana remarked.
"Of course! I drive fast and she flies fast," Edo-Natsu stated, "we are the perfect couple!" Both of them along with Edo-Lucy started laughing. Mystogan had a smile.
Edo-Wendy then continued, "Now, if all the pleasantries are finished, we need to get moving. The radar has picked up some underground activity in the area, possibly Dune Scorpions."
Mystogan ordered, "Okay, you all get on…"
*Burst!* A giant scorpion tunneled out of the ground; doing so it grabbed the desert runner and tossed it away from the oasis. The desert runner hit the sand, rolling a couple times before exploding!
"My ride!" Edo-Natsu screamed. "Oh, you're gonna pay for that you tunneling freak!"
"We'll handle this!" Mystogan said to the Earthland wizards.
Mystogan drew a compact submachine gun from under his vest, Edo-Natsu drew a hand cannon from his other pocket, Edo-Lucy unraveled her large pack to reveal a large machine gun, and Edo-Wendy dew two pistols from their harnesses on her belt.
"Engage."
The firearms discharged; projectiles immediately shredding the monster as it attempts to defend itself. The sound of the firearms causes most of the Earthland wizards to plug their ears while the Dragon Slayers recoiled on the ground as the piercing sounds rang in their sensitive hearing ears.
The Dune Scorpion falls in a matter of seconds and the gunfire ceases.
"It looks dead, no time for questions; quickly everyone to the helicopter… that thing over there!" Mystogan commanded pointing at the helicopter.
As the Earthland wizards leave the oasis, they feel their magic being pulled and detained by the oaken necklaces, saving them from facing the effects of Magic Deficiency. They quickly board the helicopter as Edo- Wendy and Edo-Natsu take the front seats and begin take off.
"Everyone on board?" Edo-Wendy's voice came over the speaker.
"Yeah, your good to go" Mystogan shouted as he sealed the rear door "And just enough room at that."
The Earthland wizards had finished strapping themselves in while Mystogan, Edo-Lucy, James and Mavis stood. The helicopter began to lift off of the ground.
"Wait. It just occurred to me… this is transport isn't it." Natsu said starting to feel motion sick.
"Hey, Wendy, can you cast that Toria spell on us please?" Gajeel begged, beginning to fight the sickness.
"I… I can't concentrate for some reason…" Wendy, clenching her head, was feeling very light headed
"No! You are not to waste your magic energy." Carla enforced, beginning to message Wendy's neck to ease her first stages of motion sickness.
"So, all three of them now have it then?" Laxus chuckled.
"Oh yeah… how are.. you holding.. Laxus!" Natsu grumbled.
"I'm doing just fine." Laxus said.
"He's holding it." Lily pointed out.
"WENDY! THREE O' CLOCK!" Edo-Natsu yelled as another Dune Scorpion emerged from the sand.
Edo-Wendy tried to evade right but was not fast enough as the Dune Scorpion used the flat end of its tail to slam the helicopter off balance. Everyone in the back was jolted to the right!
"The engine's been damaged! I'm trying to maintain control!" Edo-Wendy stated. She then got on the intercom. "Lucy, I need you to man the left gun and stall the Dune Scorpion!"
"Roger!" Edo-Lucy quickly opened the left door and pulled down the machine gun, primed it, and fired.
The Dune Scorpion got ready to take another swing despite the gunfire.
"BRACE FOR IMPACT!" Edo-Lucy yelled.
It then thrusted its tail at the back of the helicopter; before it hit, it was stopped and snared by roots from the oasis. The roots then crushed it, dismembering its limbs, killing it.
Everyone looked at James and learned immediately that he had used his magic to prevent the creature from downing the helicopter, the indicator being that the ring around his wrist had diminished to a greenish yellow; it was no longer a pure green like the rest of them.
"Now that we are in the clear," James said. "It's time we moved now."
The helicopter was able to reach a safe altitude before the wings stretched out and turbines turned horizontal and engaged, thrusting the VTOL helicopter full speed forward.
"Okay, everyone listen up." Mystogan stated; he was then interrupted.
"I'm sorry… but we.. aren't rea..lly in the best condition…" Wendy muttered.
"The Dragon Slayers get motion sick?" James questioned, pulling out one of his books from under his robe.
"It's kind of their biggest weakness." Lucy said.
"I'll have to add this to my research." James said before raising his hand. "Toriatic Harmony!"
Suddenly, the Dragon Slayers immediately recovered from their motion sickness as James put the book away.
"I feel fine again." Gajeel said
"What is that? A form of toria?" Wendy questioned.
"A higher stage of toria, it can affect multiple people for a longer duration." James educated.
"Whoa, hold up!" Natsu barged in. "How come you said to not use magic, yet you are using magic!"
"I never said you couldn't use magic. I only said to never allow the necklaces to be broken while in the world."
"That's basically the same thing!"
"Incorrect. Also, you should know that I wouldn't risk my life for something so mundane. My actions are always planned in advance." He pulls out a pouch filled with little chews, takes one out and eats it. His ring filled to a bright, pure green again.
"Don't tell me that's more oaken sap…" Lucy stated with disgust.
"Correct. Oaken sap has a simple job, but that simple job can fulfill many roles; especially in this one. Hence why they are my absolute favorite of all trees."
"Can I speak now?" Mystogan stated growing impatient.
Everyone fell silent as Mystogan began speaking.
"We are heading back to the main capital that was once the imperial city, there we will meet up with the rest and hopefully my agent will have more news on our enemies' movements. The city has changed much and grown drastically so I do not want any of you to leave the capital building without escort, out of fear of getting lost."
He then twitches in his left eye and points to Natsu, Wendy, and Gajeel, "You three in particular are forbidden to leave the capital building without proper disguises. Not only because you are Faust's main target, but because of what you three did eight years ago, I hope you remembered."
'I am the great wizard demon, Lord Dragneel! And I have come to steal all of this world's magic power! / Redfox! Marvel! Destroy the entire city! / You'd better run! / We have defeated your king, now where's the Prince!'
"…hehehehe…" The three Dragon Slayers laughed in fear of the returning memories.
"YOU THREE DID WHAAAAAAT!" Makarov demanded.
"We're sorry Master!" The three begged, doing quick bows.
"I was really hoping this would never be brought up again!" Natsu said in panic.
"Considering what was happening it was possibly the best outcome, I wouldn't hold it against them." Mystogan said in defense to the Dragon Slayers.
About 30 minutes of flying go by as everyone sat patiently waiting for a sign of arrival, they have left the desert and now are cruising along open plains. James distributed oaken chews to everyone to use in case of emergency and casual conversations continue amongst the Earthlanders and the Edolas members.
"So, it just occurred to me." Mira said. "First Master, how come you don't need a necklace?"
Mavis replied, "Simply because I do not physically exist in this world, this form is merely my conscience being projected, and because of the Infinium Rift, I never have to worry about suffering from Magic Deficiency."
"I see."
The intercom comes on, "This is your pilot, Wendy, speaking. We are almost to the main imperial city. We will be landing in a few minutes."
The Earthlanders looked out of the windows and begin to see large open fields containing crops and animals with sparse buildings, but as they got closer they starting seeing more.
The VTOL helicopter slew down vastly to avoid collision with the incoming buildings. As they entered into the main city, the buildings grew massive; stretching high into the sky. They looked down at the ground to see many pedestrians walking along sidewalks as automobiles took the streets and similar helicopters flew around. Lights lit up the evening atmosphere; screens advertising alongside buildings and large parks took the attention of the Earthlanders as they gazed at the impossible.
"All of this… happened in eight years…" Lucy said in astonishment.
"It's like… if Magnolia stacked itself on top of each other a bunch of times… and there are more non-magic mobiles everywhere!.." Wendy said taken aback by the view.
"I admit, even I am incredibly impressed by this. Tell me Mystogan, how your people accomplished such feats in a short time frame?" James questioned
"After the loss of magic, the new discoveries that were made sent us into a new golden age. What used to take us weeks or months to complete could now be done in a matter of days or hours. We have the time now to do many things that we could not do otherwise." Mystogan stated.
They then breached the cloud base immediately hiding the city from view as they scaled alongside a massive building that scaled farther and higher than the rest, the Capital Building. The building that used to be the central castle!
They get to the top landing bay and enter the building, landing on one of the areas marked on the ground as crew started toward the landed helicopter.
"We're here." Edo-Lucy said opening up the back door of the helicopter.
They all stepped out… into unknown territory.
-Meanwhile in a large abandoned room
"We have located the anima's opening; however, it's protected by trees. We are unable to enter, even with the best of our abilities." Another familiar voice said.
"Don't worry about it." Byro assured. "We have just the perfect weapon to blast straight through that defense."
"Interesting, so that means his majesty has decided to use the Dragon Soul Javelin." Erza Night-walker said.
"And there are three of them right for the picking. But which one?" the other voice continued.
"The blue haired girl. As my memory recalls, she has an immense amount, enough to single handingly charge the Javelin. Faust has ordered for her capture only. Under no circumstances is she to be killed, otherwise we lose the chance at breaching the anima."
"Understood."
The blue haired girl then, huh. There stood on the balcony in the darkest of shadows was a figure almost completely invisible to the best of trained eyes. It eavesdropped on the proceeding conversation.
In that same instant, Night-walker fixed her pupils on the balcony but saw nothing. Just like that, the figure that was there is immediately gone, no trace left behind.
"Erza? Is something wrong?" Byro caught her immediate distraction.
"It's nothing, this place is just creepy sometimes."
"Creepy? My,my, I never thought you would be creeped out by a place like this" Byro laughed.
Night-walker remained silent… Nightingale!
-3/ End-
Alchem's Notes: Did you enjoy? I hope you did! And now I shall use my powers of foresight to pre-answer 10 comments before they are submitted!
1) I don't think Edolas could have modernized like that in 8 years. A/ Why not? They had the necessary tools, they just needed to find a new way to use them and advance down the path of science!
2) NaWen has made it's appearance. A/ I think you mean Edo-NaWen. =)
III) Nightingale! A/ Servents of the Empress of Murk and the Daughter of Twilight, they believe her as their patron. They serve her without prayer, without charity, and without celebration. They are known only through whispers and rumors, and not even the best of assassins can catch them as they will be forever lost in the nightingale's shadows.
4) James is an asshole. A/ No comment.
5) Oaken trees are awesome! A/ I know! =D
6) HOLY SH*T! GUNS! A/ Everyone needs a good gun at some point.
7) I forgot about the Magic Deficiency Disease. A/ I did too, that was one of the things I pre-revised in the draft.
8) Dragon Soul Javelin? Should that name concern me? A/ Yes. Yes it should.
9) What does VTOL mean? A/ Vertical Take Off and Landing. These are real aircraft that can fulfill the roles of both a helicopter and a jet.
10) Seriously, Mavis x James already! A/ No. I said this before, James is an elf and Mavis is a ghost.