Ch. 8- To the Capital!

Fairy Tail © Hiro Mashima

OCs are mine

After her little tirade earlier that morning, Lucy was happily strolling down the streets of Sycca, humming merrily while practically hugging a book in her arms.

"So it all took for you to calm down was for Natsu to buy you a book?" Haru asked with a smirk.

"That's Lucy! Always the bookworm!" Happy added.

"It must have been a really rare book, huh?" Wendy inquired.

"Don't you guys wanna know a little more about this world?" Lucy asked.

"Not really," Natsu shrugged. "I just bought you that book because I thought you might like it, Luce."

"You mean you bought it for her without realizing what kind it was?" Haru asked with an incredulous look, and even Blue Fang had the same expression as her.

"Look, all I know is that she likes books!" Natsu spat with a light blush on his cheeks. "Don't read too much into it!"

"It's a book on the History of Edolas!" Lucy exclaimed. "It's really fascinating!"

"Really?" asked Wendy.

"What have you found out so far?" asked Haru.

"Well, about 100 years ago, there was this race of beings called the Exceed who-" Lucy started.

"Booooriiiiing!" Natsu cut her off while putting his hands behind her head. "Who cares about that when we're just tryin' to get to the Capital?"

"Ugh…" Lucy groaned. "You know something, Natsu? It wouldn't kill you if you did your research once in a while. Who knows? It might save your life, one day!"

"I doubt it," Natsu replied… but then, all of a sudden, the streets went dark as a shadow loomed over the group, causing them all to stop in their tracks.

"W-what's going on?!" Lucy questioned as she instinctively wrapped her arms around Natsu, who quickly grasped her hands with his own as he looked around.

"Why did it get dark all of a sudden?!" Wendy asked.

"Don't tell me…!" Haru whispered while Blue Fang growled viciously with his fur bristling.

"Look! Up there!" Happy cried as he pointed up at the sky, and that's why they spotted a gigantic aircraft, which had wings for flying and oars for steering, and even several gigantic Lacrima crystals as an energy source!

"Oh, crap!" Haru cursed. "They've got an airship!"

"You don't think those Royal Army guys followed us here, do you?!" Happy questioned.

"I don't think we should stick around to find out!" Carla answered. "Quickly! Hide!"

"Over here!" Natsu shouted as he pointed to a nearby alley while pulling Lucy along. "Hurry!"

"Make room for me, please!" Wendy cried as she attempted to squeeze in with the others. Haru grunted as she tried to pull Blue Fang into the tight space, but the silver wolf almost couldn't fit due to his large frame. Despite that, Haru managed to get him into their hiding spot, just as the soldiers from the Royal Army came running through the streets and headed toward the airship. For some reason, though, they seemed rather excited about something.

"Hurry!" one soldier called. "The airship will take off soon!"

"The extraction of magic from that enormous Lacrima will finally start the day after tomorrow!" exclaimed another.

"If we miss this ship, then we'll miss the event of the century!" declared a third.

Little did they realize that the Fairy Tail wizards had been listening in on this… and they didn't appear to like what they heard, given their disturbed expressions.

"Did they say 'enormous Lacrima'?" asked Natsu.

"They must be talking about everyone in Magnolia!" Wendy realized.

"They said that magic extraction starts two days from now, didn't they?" asked Lucy, worriedly. "That means that if we walk there, we won't make it in time to save everyone!"

"Hold on!" Haru added. "When they said 'magic extraction'... what'll happen to everyone when that starts?"

"Once they begin extracting the magic from that giant Lacrima crystal," Carla began, "then there's no way they'll be able to return to normal!"

"Then what are we gonna do?!" Happy questioned… and that's when Natsu glanced over at the airship that had yet to take off. The moment Haru saw her brother get that all too familiar glint in his eye, she instantly had a look of disapproval.

"Oh, no, Natsu," she said. "Don't even THINK about it! We are not gonna hijack that airship!"

"Actually, I was thinkin' we just stow away on it," replied Natsu before he smirked impishly, "but I think I like your idea better, sis!"

Haru gaped before she smacked herself in the face in exasperation.

"I walked right into that one, didn't I?" asked the Beast Wizard.

"Yeah, you did," Lucy replied as she put her hand on her shoulder in consolation. Even Blue Fang felt sorry for her as he placed his large paw on her other shoulder.

"Natsu, you're actually suggesting that we get on a moving vehicle?" asked Happy. "Are both worlds coming to an end?!"

"It's cool!" Natsu exclaimed. "Wendy can just use Troia on me and I'll be right as rain! Right, Wendy?"

"I can't use my magic, either, remember?" asked Wendy, sheepishly.

"…Then hijacking that ship won't work," Natsu realized as he began to sweat nervously.

"Do you want Lucy to give you some tummy rubs?" Haru asked with a teasing smirk, causing both the Salamander and the Celestial Wizard to blush as they glared at her.

"So, what should we do?" asked Wendy.

"Maybe we should just go for it," Lucy shrugged. "I mean, I can use magic, at least, right? Plus, now that I think about it, it occurred to me that our magic on Earthland is a lot more advanced there than in this world."

"Well, give it a try, Lucy!" Haru answered. "What have we got to lose?"

"Yeah… let's go for it, Luce!" Natsu exclaimed, causing Lucy to nod her head before she reached inside her pouch. Once she was certain that she got the Gate Key she was looking for, she soon raced out with the rest of the group following after her. That's when the Royal Army noticed them.

"Look! It's Lucy Ashley of Fairy Tail!" shouted one of the soldiers.

"Open! Gate of Canis Minor! NIKORA!" Lucy called out as she pointed the Silver Key of Canis Minor to the ground, and in a flash of light, little Apollo appeared with a mighty (and cute) howl!

"A… little puppy?" asked one of the soldiers before they all began to burst into laughter.

"Don't underestimate this little guy!" shouted Lucy. "Apollo! Starburst Beam, now!"

Apollo didn't hesitate. The tiny pup gathered as much energy as he could into his mouth before he let it all go in one huge burst, creating a beam of magical power that sent the once-mocking soldiers flying every which way.

"Yes!" Lucy cheered. "Good boy, Apollo!"

"Wow! That's amazing!" Wendy declared in awe.

"Awesome job, Laser Puppy!" Natsu exclaimed.

Unfortunately, her celebration was short-lived, for Apollo whined as he soon collapsed, panting in exhaustion before he disappeared, heading back to the

"AH!" Lucy yelped in comical panic. "I forgot! He can only use that attack once when he's summoned!"

"So much for that!" Happy complained.

"And there are reinforcements coming!" Carla cried as she noticed more of the Royal Army beginning to close in on the heroes.

"Lucy! Quick!" Haru urged. "Summon someone else! Summon Loke!"

"Oh! Good idea!" Lucy realized before she brought the Key of Leo. "Open, Gate of the Lion! LEO!"

In another flash of light, another spirit soon appeared… except it was not the one that Lucy was expecting.

"You called, Lady Lucy?" Virgo asked, causing Lucy to gape in disbelief.

"VIRGO?!" Lucy questioned. "WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?! WHERE'S LOKE?!"

"Brother Loke is currently on a date and he may not respond to your summons," Virgo answered.

"Wait… brother?!" Lucy repeated.

"Yes," Virgo affirmed. "He has previously asked me to refer to him as such."

"THAT NO ACCOUNT JERK!" Lucy shouted.

"Well, now what?!" Haru questioned as they found themselves surrounded. "They've got us surrounded!"

"Apollo couldn't deal with all these guys, and I was really hoping that Loke would be able to finish them off for us," Lucy said, worriedly. "I'm running out of ideas, here!"

"Milady, if I may," Virgo said. "If I were to use my full power…"

Everyone looked at her, eyes shining with hope.

"I could do a dance the likes of which they've never seen and-"

"CLOSE, GATE OF THE MAIDEN!"

In a flash of light, Virgo had been returned to the Celestial Realm… but now, the Royal Army was getting closer with their weapons brandished, leaving very little room for escape.

"Lucy, quick! Summon Aquarius!" Happy cried.

"I can't!" Lucy answered. "There isn't any water here!"

"Well, what about Taurus?!"

"I can only summon him on certain days!"

"What about-"

"I can't summon Cancer, today, either! Or Scorpio!"

"Someone, do something!" Haru cried.

"Looks like it's up to us, Wendy!" Natsu exclaimed as he held up his Sealed Flame Blade, which released a more subdued jet of fire. "Let's use the Magic Tools that we bought in that other town!"

"Right!" Wendy answered while holding her Air Shatter Cannon. "I think I have a better idea of how this thing works, now, anyway!"

"Wait! I still don't know how to use mine, yet!" Haru cried as she held up the Illusory Bombs that Edo-Haru had bought for her.

"Well, ya better start learnin' sis, 'cuz here they come!" Natsu shouted as the Royal Army went on the attack… and somehow, they easily tossed the two Dragon Slayers aside!

"WHAT THE HELL?!" Haru questioned.

"Ugh… I'm sorry…!" Wendy whimpered.

"What is WITH US, today?!" Lucy questioned.

"We're just wasting our time trying to fight!" cried Carla. "We have to get to the airship before-"

Too late. Before anyone could do anything, the airship took to the air and flew off in less than 5 seconds, leaving the heroes stranded and ambushed.

"Dammit!" Natsu cursed.

"AGH!" Lucy cried as she was suddenly grabbed from behind and had her hands forcefully pulled behind her back. "Let go of me!"

"Lucy!" Natsu shouted as he ran to help her, only for the soldiers to pin him down before he could even reach her. "UGH! G-get off me, you assholes!"

"S-stop! Let go!" Wendy yelled as she tried to get away, but the soldiers gripped her wrists tightly. "That hurts!"

"Wendy!" Carla cried, fearful for her charge's safety.

"Hey! Get your hands off me!" Haru shouted as she tried to pull away while Blue Fang suddenly found his mouth muzzled shut by ropes, but even then, the silver wolf fought back as best he could.

"It's over, Fairy Tail!" shouted the Royal Army Commander. "You're all coming with us!"

Haru growled as she kept trying to fight back with all her might, but it was just no use.

'Dammit… this can't be how it ends for us!' she thought… until she spotted something out of her peripheral eye. She gasped silently as she looked to her left, where she could see a cloud of dust that was growing larger and large as the distance began to close. That's when Haru began to make out a familiar shape… and her eyes widened.

"Is that…?" she whispered, and that's when it appeared: a familiar car, made of metal and wood bearing the Fairy Tail crest on its roof. It easily barreled over the Royal Army soldiers as if they were a row of bowling pins, knocking them and sending them flying.

"Is that a Magic Four-Wheeler?!" asked Lucy.

"Why does it have the Fairy Tail symbol on it?!" asked Happy.

"It's him!" Haru exclaimed, happily, just as the vehicle came to a stop. That's when the window rolled down… revealing Edo-Natsu at the wheel!

"Yo," he said with a cocky smirk not too different from his Earthland counterpart.

"Wait… what the hell?!" Natsu questioned. "That guy looks like me!"

"That's because it is you, bro!" Haru said. "Well, I mean, this is the other you, anyway!"

"Oh, right!" Wendy recalled. "Haru, you said that he saved you, didn't he?"

As Natsu gaped in utter shock at his parallel self, Lucy suddenly smirked at him.

"Hey, Natsu," she said. "Wanna try that mirror trick with him?"

"Hey, are you guys gonna gab or are you gonna get in?" Edo-Natsu asked. "Come on! Those Royal Army goons will be back with reinforcements soon!"

"You heard him!" Haru shouted. "Everybody in, now!"

Soon, everyone got into the car, except for Blue Fang, who was forced to sit on the back due to his size. Once they were all in and buckled up, Edo-Natsu began to rev up the engine.

"Hold on to your stomachs! I'm gonna run this baby at full throttle!" he shouted before he floored the gas pedal. "FIRE!"

As flames burst from the tailpipes, the car took off at full speed down the streets.

"CURSE YOU, FIREBALL NATSUUUUUUUUU!" shouted the Royal Army Commander.

As the group rode out into the desert, Haru grinned as she looked back from the front passenger seat beside Edo-Natsu, then sighed in relief. Lucy, Wendy, Happy, and Carla were all sitting in the back while Blue Fang clung to the back of the car. Natsu was also in the back seat… groaning in misery as he lay his head on Lucy's lap.

"Ugh… still… in a vehicle…!" Natsu croaked as he began to break into a sweat and his face turned sickly pale.

"Aww, poor baby," Lucy cooed as she gently rubbed circles on his tummy and combed her fingers through his hair to help ease his motion sickness.

"Thanks for helping us, other Natsu," said Wendy, gratefully.

"Yeah, thanks, other bro," said Haru. "You totally just saved our bacon, back there!"

"Tsk! Please," Edo-Natsu scoffed. "I'm only helping you guys because Lucy and my sister wouldn't get off my back otherwise. Now hold on. We're goin' to the Capital!"

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