AN: Sorry for the long wait. College is time consuming. The only time I've had to think about this story and its plot and all the little details has been when I'm asleep. (which isn't very often) But, as a semi-apology, this chapter is longer than the others. So enjoy.
Still don't own.
PS: the latest chapter of fairy tail stole some of my ideas.
xxxNatsuErzaxxx
Natsu could not think of a time when he had ever been more confused than he was now. Or for that matter, anywhere close to how confused and out of his depth he felt. He had never felt this lost before, not even when Erza (just thinking about his no longer mate cause Natsu's heart to pang) had decided she would teach him to read and write if she had to beat the skill into him (and beat it into him she did.)
The pink haired dragon slayer was sitting across a blazing campfire, courtesy of himself, from Mystogan. Just being awake in the covered mage's presence was unusual. The staff wielding wizard took great care to remain a mystery to all but the Guildmaster by putting everyone else in the vicinity to sleep.
Now, not only was Natsu not snoring away happily (although he denied all of Happy's accusations about his snoring), Mystogan had tracked him down for the purpose of having this discussion with him.
The pinkette had to admit he was insanely curious as to why Mystogan would follow his tracks for over a week and why he claimed that Natsu was the only one that could help in. But, so far, the other Fairy Tail wizard hadn't said a word, and Natsu wondered if he ever would or if the mushrooms he had eaten last night were causing hallucinations.
"Okay, not that this hasn't been interesting and all," Natsu was sure the sarcasm in his voice was almost tangible, "I have places to be going. So if you're not going to explain why you're being so weird I'm gonna go now."
"Wait." Natsu paused in mid motion to stand up and stared at Mystogan.
"Please."
The dragon slayer seated himself once more and waited not without a little impatience for the other to start explaining himself.
"I need your help, Natsu Dragneel. It's something only you can do."
Said man resisted the urge to roll his eyes and walk away. "You've already said that. I want to know what the hell you're talking about. And soon."
Mystogan let out a heavy sigh. Clearly whatever he had to say was weighing heavily upon his shoulders. He took a deep breath and let it out. "I'm not actually from this world."
Natsu's dark eyes stared into his own, unwavering. Then, unexpectedly, the pink haired mage erupted into uproarious laughter. A full belly laugh. And he rolled around on the ground, clutching his hands to his stomach in attempt to quell his laughter. After a full two minutes he sat up once more, still chuckling slightly, and wiped tears of mirth out of his eyes. "That was great Mystogan. I really needed a laugh. But seriously, what do you need my help with?"
Mystogan's black eyes stared out from between his high collared cloak, bandana, forehead protector, and green mask that served to obscure his face from view uncomprehending. "I was serious Natsu. I come from a world called Edolas. It is in grave danger and I need you help to protect it."
Natsu gaped at him in disbelief. Was he really maintaining that he came from another world? From this Edolas? He could not be telling the truth. There was just no way for Mystogan to come from another world.
"Another world? Edolas?" he said weakly.
The man supposedly from a different world nodded gravely. "Yes. I come from a world called Edolas. Magic is," Mystogan paused here, "different in Edolas."
"Different." Natsu said flatly. "How? Do you need to wave a wand and say incantations?"
"It is similar. Magic in Edolas is not ambient. It is limited in how much there is. It doesn't regenerate like it does here on Earthland. And it's not found in humans. All of Edolas's magic comes from lacrimas. When I left years ago, the magic supply was dwindling, and the king was making plans to steal magic from Earthland with the Anima. I have been closing these portals so that he could not take the magic, but a large one is coming. I cannot close it on my own."
Natsu ignored the odd somewhat strained tone Mystogan said left. "All you need me to do is close the portal? Do you need to use my magic or,"
Mystogan cut him off with a shake of his head. "No. This one is too large. Even together we could not hope to close it. I am asking you to do something more dangerous than closing the Anima." The Edolas wizard ran his tongue over his lips nervously. "I want you to go through the Anima and stop the King. I want you to save Edolas. To help my home."
The pink haired man stared disbelievingly at the man sitting across the fire. Mystogan was sitting tensely on his log, his face earnest and his dark eyes shining with hope. Natsu felt overwhelmed. Mystogan was literally placing the burden of saving a whole world on his shoulders.
"Why me? Why am I the only one that can save Edolas? Why can't you save your world?"
"The magic supply in Edolas is depleting." Natsu refrained from rolling his eyes as Mystogan continued to put emphasis on Edolas's lack of magic. "In Edolas, dragon slayer magic has limitless functions. It is the ultimate form of magic. That's why I need your help. A dragon slayer is the only one who could possibly stand a chance against the King. Natsu, you are my only hope for saving Edolas."
Said dragon slayer thought it could have been a great plan. But there was one issue, "But you already said that my magic is useless in Edolas. How can I help if I can't use magic?"
"But you can. Dragon slayers are the only wizards that can use magic without a lacrima." Mystogan's voice wavered, "Please help me, Natsu. Help me save Edolas."
Mystogan fell silent waiting for Natsu's decision. The pinkette was trying to think of various reasons why he shouldn't just run off and save a world that he hadn't known existed until an hour ago. But all he could discover were reasons to go.
He was alone. That may have been by his choice, but nonetheless he was alone. Erza, gods it hurt even to think about her, cared more for Jellal than him. He couldn't help but listen to the voice that hissed that Mystogan, somewhat he wasn't close to and someone not even from this world, was the only one to come after him. Natsu decidedly ignored the part of him that said Mystogan only came because he needed Natsu's help.
The dragon slayer rose off his log and Mystogan did the same. He didn't address the anxiously waiting staff wizard, but instead turned his attention to the campfire. Natsu inhaled the fire, smacked his lips, and stretched his arms up and behind his head. The really cool thing about being a true dragon slayer, he discovered, was the ability to eat his own fire and not get violently sick.
"Now I'm all fired up. So, how are we getting to Edolas?"
A grin that was a mixture of relief and gratitude blossomed on Mystogan's face. Well, that's what Natsu assumed because he couldn't actually see the guy's face, just the shift from the clothe covering it.
xxxNatsuErzaxxx
Natsu gaped, uncaring of the bemused looks he received from Mystogan for doing so.
Edolas was so much cooler than he had imagined. It was a world of floating islands. Floating islands. And the river flowed through the sky. Edolas was simply amazing and Natsu was hard pressed to keep his attention on Mystogan and the plan he was detailing because all he wanted to do was explore this new and fascinating world.
"Come, Natsu. We must go to the Royal City." The taller male swept his arm out, motioning to their east at one of the larger islands. Natsu could see clearly from this distance the towers that reached for the sky and the surrounding walls of the palace.
"Royal City." He deadpanned. "You people are so unimaginative. Can't even name your capital."
Mystogan's only reply was a wry grin as he began the trek towards Edolas's center island, home to the palace where they would find the King. Natsu sighed, muttering under his breath, but not so quietly that his partner couldn't hear, about just how uncreative the people of Edolas were and how he could have given the city a much cooler name.
Mystogan had to stifle his laughter. He was pretty sure that Natsu City and Dragon Palace wouldn't be appreciated.
xxxNatsuErzaxxx
They were a little over an hour into their journey, and Natsu was starting to think that this island never ended and he was worrying about how they would get from there island to the one the palace was on, when the ground gave a frightening lurch beneath them.
The dragon slayer staggered and lost his balance. The unexpected pulsing of the earth beneath him slammed him into a tree. There was a nasty crack; Natsu's elbow broke. He drew blood when he bit his bottom lip to keep from crying out in pain. Cradling his right arm, he slid down to the base of the trunk.
The tremors stopped. Natsu turned his head, trying to find Mystogan.
Mystogan looked as confused as he felt, leaning heavily on one of his many staffs in order to maintain his balance. The earth stopped shaking and Natsu thought that it was over, whatever it was.
He was wrong.
The ground lurched again, this time literally dropping out from underneath his feet. The pinkette flailed wildly for a few seconds before gravity reasserted and slammed him into the earth. This time he could not stop his scream of pain. Although it did remind him that he was stuck in the middle of nowhere on an island that for all intentions seemed to be trying to buck the two wizards off, and Natsu couldn't even begin to think about where on Edolas he would find someone capable of healing magic. The rest of the journey, which appeared to be getting even longer, was going to be painful.
Natsu propped himself up on his uninjured hand. "Hey! Mystogan! What the hell is going on here?"
Said blue haired prince didn't answer him. Natsu bit back the urge to start swearing at the man from Edolas and asked his question again.
"The magic of Edolas is failing. It is the magic that holds up Edolas's floating islands. With the loss of magic, none of the islands will stay afloat. We need to hurry and get to the palace. I had not known that the situation was so dire."
"Well, I'm all for hurrying and getting the hell of the falling islands, but how exactly do you plan to get off?" Natsu bit out.
Mystogan gave him a sideways look. "You are going to fly us to the palace. A dragon slayer is the only wizard that can naturally use the magic within him in Edolas."
The dragon slayer gaped at him. He could use magic here? And he hadn't told him? "Why didn't you tell me I could use magic? I could have had us at the Royal City hours ago. I didn't have to walk!"
"Edolas has a royal army. There is a whole division, led by Erza Knightwalker, whose sole purpose is to hunt down wizards who use magic without the King's permission. To hunt down the guilds." Natsu froze at the mention of Erza. Erza had an Edolas counterpart too? And she worked for the evil king? Hunting down their nakama?
"They have ways to detect the usage of magic. I was hoping not need you to use your magic. It would have been a great advantage if we could surprise them with your ability to use magic unimpeded by the deterioration of Edolas's magic." Mystogan continued.
Natsu cracked his knuckles, fiery wings exploding behind him. "Alright, one express trip to the Royal City coming right up."
"No, Natsu. The more magic you use the easier it will be for Knightwalker to find us. Just take us to the next island. We'll continue to travel on foot from there. We need to lay low. Our only chance of beating the king is if we can surprise him." The prince cautioned.
"We must not be caught. We have to avoid Erza and the rest of the Royal Magical Army at all costs."
Natsu sobered, staring at Mystogan's solemn expression. As impossible as it was to imagine an Erza that chased down and arrested Fairy Tail wizards, he knew of Edolas only what his quiet partner had told him so he would have to trust him and avoid using magic.
xxxNatsuErzaxxx
The dragon slayer ferried the Edolas native to the next island, one full of trees, and followed Mystogan through the dense forest. The silent forest disturbed Natsu. He had grown up in a forest with Igneel. It had been full of sounds of other animals. Now, however, he only heard the echoes of his and Mystogan's footsteps and the rustling of the branches. It made him feel uneasy, almost like someone was hiding in the canopy, shrouded by leaves, watching them.
Given the older male's preaching on being cautious about using his magic, Natsu was completely taken surprised when Mystogan practically waltzed right up a huge tree with the Fairy Tail symbol painted on the door.
Mystogan threw the door wide open and everybody inside stilled. Then there was a shout, "Mystogan's back!" and the blue haired man found himself at the bottom of a very large dogpile.
Natsu stood awkwardly when Mystogan dug himself out of the pile and introduced him. Fairy Tail looked the same. Aside from being located inside a tree. But it still had a bar, manned by a Mirajane doppelganger, the mission board, the second floor (how did that fit inside a tree?), and all the same people.
Except for Erza. And plus a Lisanna. Natsu nearly cried when he spotted the white hair of his friend. Guilt churned in his stomach. Lisanna had died on a mission in Edolas. A mission he had asked Mira if he could accompany the Strauss siblings on. Natsu had often taken missions with Lisanna and her brother and sister. But this time he had been rebuffed, told he wasn't need. It was a simple mission and they would be back the next day.
But Lisanna didn't come back. He still didn't know the full details, but they had come across something unexpected, a monster that even the Demon Mirajane couldn't defeat.
And Lisanna had died.
Lisanna wasn't the only change. While the people of the Edolas Fairy Tail resembled his nakama from Earthland, their personalities were the exact opposite. Lucy was dressed in black and quite the badass. And much stronger than Earthland Lucy. Alzack and Bisca (very skimpily dressed Bisca) were all over each other. Natsu could see the pink hearts floating around the couple. Levy was extremely competitive, and with Lucy of all people. And Wendy! The sweet, innocent, childish Wendy that had only just recently joined his guild was all grown up. A woman with breasts!
Reedus was stick thin, Elfman had no muscles, Gray wore so many layers of clothes that Natsu contemplated shoving him and seeing if he could roll, Juvia revealed a lot of skin and was totally domineering (Gray loved Juvia but she hated him!), and Cana was dressed in some ruffley dress with a wide brimmed hat preaching about getting along and how other people shouldn't be drinking so much.
Natsu had never felt so out of place.
Until he met his counterpart.
Edolas Natsu looked the same as he did; spikey pink hair, black eyes, slightly tanned skin. He was wearing what Natsu guessed to be a racer's outfit, although he couldn't figure out why. Edolas Natsu seemed abnormally nervous, sitting at his table with Lucy (at least that hadn't changed) trembling (though that could have been because Lucy had threatened to test Torture Technique number 38 on him) in his chair.
Natsu was astounded to discover that his twin only felt comfortable in a car and believed himself vulnerable and exposed if he wasn't in a vehicle. He had never heard of someone being afraid of being on land, but Edolas Natsu was; and he would have lived in his car if it weren't for scary Lucy and her threats.
Natsu was jealous that his Edolas image could even think about getting in a car without getting sick.
The fire magic user turned his attention back to Mystogan, who had finished explaining why he was here while Natsu was observing the Edolas Fairy Tail.
"Will you help us?"
The whole guild shifted anxiously and adopted looks a cross between guilty and nervous. "You know we normally would, Mystogan, but we're the last guild in Edolas. Knightwalker has been tracking us down for years. We've only just barely managed to survive all these years by transporting the guild. But we only have enough magic for one last jump. If this were to fail, we would be trapped in the Royal City. It would be like handing ourselves over to Knightwalker. We can't take that risk."
Lucy answered for the whole guild. Each member was nodding along with her. Natsu felt fury clawing at his throat. This was their country, their world, their magic at stake, and not one of them was willing to take the risk and chance defeat to save it. They were going to leave it all up to him and Mystogan, really just Natsu because he was the only one who could use magic freely.
This guild may have looked like Fairy Tail, and the people looked like his guildmates, but these were not his nakama. They may have borne the symbol of Fairy Tail, but none of them were actually a member of this guild. Not one of them felt the bonds between nakama. None of them had Fairy Tail's unwavering courage or sense of justice. Each and every one of them was content to sit on the sidelines and hide in their portable guild hall, waiting for someone else to come and rescue them.
It disgusted Natsu. He wanted nothing to do with Fairy Tail wizards that didn't have it in them to do the right thing. Or cause chaos, havoc, mayhem, and destruction like all Fairy Tail wizards were supposed to.
xxxNatsuErzaxxx
Mystogan followed Natsu out of the tree turned guild, attempting to question the pinkette.
"Wait, Natsu. Where are you going? We need to convince them to help us fight King Faust. We don't stand a chance on our own."
"You're wrong," was his soft spoken but firm reply. "You've been preaching about how a dragon slayer is special, how I can do what others can't. I have, according to you, unlimited magic at my disposal, all the while Edolas's magic is vanishing. We don't need them. They wouldn't be able to help us. They're not even real members of Fairy Tail."
Mystogan was confused. "What do you mean? Of course they're Fairy Tail wizards. They're the only guild left. And they all have the stamp."
"Having the stamp doesn't make you a member of Fairy Tail." Natsu shook his head. "Fairy Tail is the strongest guild in the Kingdom of Fiore, not just because we have some of the strongest wizards out there, but because of the bonds we share, and the will to discover new adventures and tackle new challenges. Because we push ourselves and those around us to become stronger.
"Those people in there don't do that. You heard them. They told you plain as day they weren't going to lift a finger to help save their world. They're too afraid for themselves to fight for others. They don't belong in Fairy Tail."
The prince of Edolas could only stare stunned at Natsu's back as the dragon slayer walked away. Even during his time on Earthland, Mystogan had never given thought to the bonds his other guildmates shared amongst them. He never questioned why they forged those bonds, and why he didn't. He had gone out of his way to ensure that he didn't form any close ties with anyone on Earthland since he knew he would be returning to Edolas.
Was it friendship that made the Fairy Tail of Earthland so strong? Was it because they fought for something other than their survival? What did that mean for his world? The citizens of Edolas feared the Exceed Queen that was revered as a god and could order the death of any human. Would none of them be able to fight because they were all too afraid of what would happen to them?
But if that was so, how was he ever going to save Edolas? Even a dragon slayer that Natsu was wouldn't be able to save a world singlehandedly. That's why they needed Fairy Tail to fight with them.
In the end, Mystogan decided to follow Natsu. The pinkette knew more about guilds and Fairy Tail then he did, so maybe he was right. Maybe it was the bonds between nakama that made the wizards of Fairy Tail so strong. The bonds that the Fairy Tail of Edolas lacked. Maybe Natsu's faith and his strength would be enough to win this battle.
So Mystogan trailed after the dragon slayer, choosing to believe that Natsu's strength and belief in the bonds he cherished would be the reckoning that Edolas needed to realize that they needed to change.
And as he walked behind Natsu, focused on the gold trimmed black waistcoat and white scaled scarf that fluttered behind him, Mystogan found himself believing that Natsu was capable of miracles, because he exuded such power and authority so naturally.
xxxNatsuErzaxxx
Erza had tried.
She really did. When Natsu had left over a week ago, without any explanation, without saying goodbye, she had really tried not to break down and hole herself up in his cottage again. She didn't want to be so dependent on one person.
Needless to say, since she was once more ensconced in his hammock, she had failed. Erza had lasted until the Master had finally caved and given her the explanation she had been demanding for a week and a half.
For the second time, Natsu was gone because of her. He might not have been dead this time, but he had left. Natsu had abandoned Fairy Tail, abandoned her, because she foolishly begged him to save Jellal, to keep her childhood friend out of prison. Erza had made him question her feelings for him. Natsu thought that she wanted Jellal more the she wanted him.
He had left because he couldn't be happy without her, and he thought she was happy with Jellal.
But Natsu was wrong.
Erza cried noisily. Her eyes turned bloodshot and puffy. The salt from her tears dried the skin on her face, making it hurt to even blink. Snotty tissues littered the ground.
She cared greatly for Natsu. He was a constant in her life. Ever since he had joined Fairy Tail, the pink haired boy had been a constant source of amusement. He was always there, always smiling brightly, always eager for the next fight, always practicing to get stronger.
Natsu could make her smile. His presence washed away the day's troubles and made Erza feel less fatigue. He never failed to manage to cheer her up. He was always there. Loud. Bright. Obnoxious. Causing mischief. Grinning like a fool. Full of excitement. Eager. Full of energy. Caring. Pushing himself to exhaustion.
His disappearance was just as noticeable the second time around. Even more so because every had the knowledge that, this time, Natsu had chosen to leave. This time their nakama had deliberately left Fairy Tail behind.
Most of the guild didn't know why Natsu had left, so none of them blamed Erza.
But it didn't matter. She blamed herself.
Natsu had told her she was his perfect mate. She was his other half and he was hers. There was no one in Fiore better for him. He had told her that he loved her. He didn't care that he had to wait for her to love him.
Now that he was gone, Erza was startled to come to the revelation that she loved Natsu. She had thought it would take more time to fall in love with him. But looking back on her memories, from times where she had beat him up for making mistakes during his reading and writing lessons to times when he had defended her, protected her, taken the fall, the blame, the hit, for her, she had reached the conclusion that she had already loved the spikey pink haired dragon slayer with a roguish grin and had been denying her feelings.
Her new found epiphany did her no good. Natsu was gone. Erza couldn't tell him the she loved him. That she wanted him more than Jellal. That she would always care for him more than she did for her childhood friend.
Erza stood from the hammock. She wasn't going to curl in on herself and cry until she had no tears left. She and Natsu were supposed to be mates. Surely that meant they were connected somehow? She would be able to find Natsu.
She strode out of Natsu's house, red hair whipping side to side with her fast, clipped gait, determination visible in every muscle. The dragon slayer only had ten days on her. She would bring him back and make him see how much she loved him.
Then she would beat him half to death for leaving her again.
How hard could it be to find one pink haired dragon slayer capable of accidentally destroying towns?