Fireball

"Do we really have to do this?" Levy asked. She and Gajeel had entered into a bar to find Gajeel's Edolas counterpart, whose name was Gajeel Greenwolf. From what they heard he had connections and information, and that he was in town. No luck so far.

"You got a better idea?" Gajeel said.

"Look, if this guy is the opposite of you, shouldn't he be in places you wouldn't go?" Levy suggested, arching an eyebrow. Gajeel scowled at her.

"I almost want to meet your counterpart, maybe she'd be less annoying." Levy rolled her eyes at him, before looking around some more. She noticed one guy in a blue suit, with a blue hat at the bar. He had a rather familiar physique to a guy she knew.

"Could it be…," she muttered, as she stood up, and walked over to the bar.

"Where're you going, shrimp?" Gajeel asked. Levy ignored him as she came up to the bar, and sat next to the guy in the suit.

"So how about that giant lacrima, huh?" she asked.

"I don't know what you're talking about," the man said. All it took was a few words from that voice, and Levy knew who it was.

"You're Gajeel, right?" she asked. The Edolas equivalent of her guild mate looked at her. Levy struggled not to snicker slightly. He had short curly hair, and wore glasses, which looked completely out of place on the chiseled face with the red eyes, which widened slightly.

"Levy?" he asked. Levy blinked at his reaction. This new Gajeel (Greenwolf) then grabbed her shoulders smiling.

"Its been so long!" he said happily, though softly. Earthland Gajeel (Redfox) was surprised at the sight of that.

"Uh…," Levy said.

"Since you guys were declared illegal, we haven't been able to go on as many dates as we used too," Greenwolf said.

"Date?!" Levy hissed. That caused Redfox to twitch slightly. He then stood up, as he approached the two.

"Hands off my shrimp," he said. Levy flushed red at the sound of that. Greenwolf looked up at Redfox, glaring at the sight of him.

"The heck's this?" Greenwolf said. He really is different, Levy thought Our Gajeel would've said "fuck".

(with Lucy, Natsu, and Wendy)

"A Complete History of Edolas?" Wendy asked, as she looked at the book Lucy and managed to acquire.

"Yep!" Lucy said as she took it back, smiling big, "Books are books, after all!" She and the others, save for Lucy Ashley, were taking a walk while Ashley made her call.

"Maybe we can find some good baby toys," Lucy said to Natsu, "I think our kid would like some, and we can find some unique ones here." Natsu made a face.

"I don't like this place," he said, "I don't want my kid to have any crap from here."

"Don't be such a stick in the mud," Lucy said with a pout.

"Aye!" Happy said, "I'd like to see a stuffed fish from this world!"

"Of course you would," Carla muttered.

"We could always use one of you two," Lucy said, "I'm sure our baby would like to snuggle with some flying cats."

"I'd sooner get my wings clipped," Carla said.

"Come now, Carla," Wendy said, "Don't be so harsh." Eventually they got back to their inn, and saw Ashley leaning on the wall.

"Took you long enough," she said as the group came up. She then noticed the book in Heartfilia's hand.

"I've read that book," Ashley said with a snort, "All it is is glorifying the kingdom and its conquests, and how magnificent this land is."

"You talk like Edolas spans the entire world," Wendy said.

"Well, it almost does," Ashley said, "Under the reign of the current king and the last, most of the other countries were conquered. Though everyone uses the word 'unified'. Conquered is too mean a term. There are only a few places that are still independent." She then looked up, and saw something.

"We've got to go!" she said. The others looked up and saw an… airship?

"Its like that thing Blue Pegasus has!" Natsu said.

"The Royal Army is coming, we've got to hide!" Ashley said, as the group dove into the shadows. Several platoons ran through the roads, heading towards the ship.

"Move your ass! You don't want to be left behind!"

"What's with so many deployments to the capital?" another soldier asked.

"The day after tomorrow is when they're going to start the magic extraction," a third answered, "You can never be too careful."

"Day after tomorrow?" Wendy asked, "We only have that long?"

"We better start thinking of a plan quick," Carla said.

"Isn't it obvious?" Natsu said, as he grinned, "We take the ship!" Everyone stared at him surprise.

"You're kidding right?" Ashley asked, "That's a fully armed, fully stocked airship!"

"If this weren't a vehicle, I'd say he was kidding," Happy said, "But since this is a vehicle, there's no way Natsu would get on one."

"Really?" Ashley said. Wow, he really isn't my Natsu she thought.

"Well, its not like we've got any choice," Heartfilia said.

"You're agreeing with this?" Carla demanded.

"Well, Natsu's never steered me wrong before," Heartfilia said.

"That's a lie," Happy said. Heartfilia ignored him.

"We have to do something, right?" she said, "And besides, since there are only three Fairy Tail members, I guess that makes me the third most powerful member, right?"

"You might be stronger than me, Lucy," Wendy said.

"Then that might make me the second strongest," Heartfilia said proudly, taking an attempted sexy pose, " With Natsu being the first of course."

"Its hard to look sexy when you look like you swallowed a beachball," Ashley said.

"At least I wear a color that doesn't make me look like the Grim Reaper's maid," Heartfilia countered. Ashley just stuck out her tongue.

"Alright!" Natsu said, cracking his knuckles, "One strong breath should handle this."

"Don't forget about me!" Heartfilia said, as she pulled out one of her keys.

"I can use Troia to manage Natsu's motion sickness," Wendy said, "So we don't need to worry about that."

"Are we really doing this?" Ashley asked, "You know, I've…" "Now let's do this!" With that, the two confidently strode out.

"Yo! Shell heads!" Heartfilia yelled. The guards all turned. One of them was suddenly introduced to a fire infused fist, which sent them careening away.

"We'll be taking your ship now!" Natsu said, as he smiled, his chest glowing bright. He then kicked up with a fire infused kick, sending another couple guards away.

"Wait!" Ashley called, "You don't need to do this!"

"Save some for me!" Lucy said, as she held up her key, "Open, Gate of the Lion: Leo!" There was a massive flash, before from the light appeared…. Virgo.

"Hello, Princess," Virgo said, "Do you wish to punish me?"

"Virgo!" Lucy cried, "What're you doing here?!"

"Big brother is currently on a date," Virgo answered, "But am I here to assist you."

"First off, don't call Loke that," Heartfilia said, "Second, if you're here than give us a hand!" Virgo glanced a the charging soldiers.

"Do you think they'd like my dance?" Virgo suggested as she gave some kind of weird dance. Heartfilia face palmed.

"And here I was hoping to show off," she said, "Just go home." As Virgo flashed back into the Spirit World, Heartfilia noticed Natsu blasting another platoon of guards away. She pouted.

"Why can't I be badass like that?" she grumbled.

"What's with this guy!" one soldier yelled, "He can shoot fire out of his fingertips!"

"That's dragon fire for you!" Natsu said, grinning, "Nothing's stronger! Now who's next?" He turned, and saw another battalion charging them.

"Great, more kindling!" Natsu said, as he inhaled. However, before he could exhale, the line suddenly exploded, as a shape flashed by.

"Finally, he took his sweet time," Ashley said, as she put her hands on her hips. It was some kind of vehicle. The vehicle's window rolled down, and a familiar face stuck out.

"You called, Luce?" a familiar voice asked.

"The hell took you!" Ashley said, swinging open the door.

"Let's go, Natsu!" Heartfilia called, as she ran towards the vehicle.

"Ah, crap," Natsu muttered, as he ran towards it. Wendy and the cats did the same. Once they all piled in, the vehicle took off

(with Gajeel and Levy)

"No, I refuse to accept that," Levy said. Her face was so red, it made her entire head a contradiction.

"Well its real," Greenwolf explained, "Levy Emara is my girlfriend." Levy shook her head desperately, turning an even brighter shade of red. She and the Gajeels were sitting around a table in the corner of the tavern.

"Who cares?" Redfox asked, "Don't we have more important things to worry about?"

"Okay," Greenwolf said, as he pulled out his notepad, "I'll tell you this is quite possibly the most insane story I've ever heard in my time doing this."

"That's probably a severe understatement," Redfox said, "How often do you meet yourself?" Greenwolf chuckled.

"Well I've got to say that you're bluntness is refreshing, actually kind of reminds me of Levy," he said.

"The shrimp, blunt?" Redfox asked, "Now that's got be a joke."

"I'm not sure if I should be insulted at that," Levy commented.

"I'm the blunt one, eh?" Redfox said, "You're the guy whose causing trouble with the Kingdom?"

"I'm not causing trouble," Greenwolf responded, "I'm just telling it like it is. That's my duty as a reporter, telling the people the truth, whether they like it or not. Of course its the 'or not' part that might get make me some enemies."

"We ran into some of those enemies," Levy said, "They really didn't seem to like you."

"And now they're munching dust," Redfox said.

"Sorry to drag you guys dragged into trouble I've caused," Greenwolf responded, "I know I've got my fair share of enemies for what I've wrote, but its my life's purpose to speak the truth."

"You know when I first got here I figured everything would be completely opposite," Redfox said.

"Its not?" Levy asked.

"Well…," the Gajeels said, as they looked each other, before sounding off together, "We're exactly alike!" Levy sighed at their antics.

(with the main group)

"Wow! We'll be at the capital in no time!" Happy said.

"Troia… please," Natsu whimpered, as he lay in Heartfilia's lap.

"Sorry, Natsu," Wendy said, "I already cast it."

"This guy's such a wimp!" the driver said back. The group was whisking around the desert at top speed, heading towards the capital. The Earthland goers were in the backseat, with the Edolas goers in the front.

"What kind of idiot gets sick in a car?"

"Hold your horses," Ashley said from the shotgun seat.

"Whatever, I don't know why you wanted an airship," the driver continued, "My baby's way better! Hell, how do you think I got my name?" With that, he turned to face them, and the group got a good look at his face.

"Why do you think I'm known as 'Natsu Dragion the Fireball'?" he asked.

"Natsu!"

"Me?" Dragneel forced out.

"Well, yeah," Ashley said, "He's our courier." Dragion glanced back at Dragneel.

"Even though I'm him, I'd hate to be like him," he said, "I'd lose my mind if couldn't be in my car!"

"So this runs off lacrima too?" Wendy asked.

"Yeah," Dragion, "A special kind that draws every ounce…"

"Stop it!" Ashley said, "Once you get talking about this, you never shut up." Heartfilia poked her head up to get a good look at Dragion's counterpart.

"Wow!" she said, "You look exactly like my Natsu!"

"And you look exactly like my Lucy," Dragion said, before glancing at her stomach, "Minus the bulging stomach, of course. You might want to lay off the…."

"I will have you know I'm pregnant!" Heartfilia snapped, flushing red. Dragion did a double take.

"Say what?" he asked.

"I'm pregnant," Heartfilia repeated, rubbing her stomach, "And my Natsu just so happens to be the dad!" That caused Dragion to slam on the brakes.

"Wait! You mean…."

"Aye!" Happy said, "Natsu and Lucy are a couple!" Heartfilia leaned back, and placed Dragneel's head back in her lap, stroking his hair gently. Dragneel seemed to get more comfortable at the feeling of Lucy and his child being close (though Wendy would suggest it was because of Lucy's scent, but that seemed less romantic). Ashley cleared her throat nervously.

"Come on!" she said, "Let's keep going!" With that, Dragion moved forward. He and Ashley looked at each other, before they both quickly looked away, both blushing. After sometime of driving in awkward silence, Dragion stopped.

"Alright!" he said, "We're here!"

"Finally!" Dragneel said happily as he leapt out of the car and hugged the ground like it was Lucy, "I missed you so much ground!"

"Alright!" Ashley said, "Everybody out!" It didn't take long for the others to be kicked out onto the dirt too.

"What was that for?" Heartfilia asked.

"Look we agreed to get you to the city," Ashley said, "We didn't say anything about taken on the government."

"We've got to get back to our guild," Dragion said, "With the Fairy Hunter still on our ass, we're going to have to change location again soon."

"Come on!" Dragneel said, as he sprung forward, and grabbed Dragion by the collar, "Don't be like that!"

"You don't want to…," Ashley couldn't finish.

"Wait! No!" Dragion was promptly removed from the car, and sent onto the ground. He then looked up, and saw Dragneel looming over him.

"Now you're going to tell me how you don't get carsick!" he said. However, instead of getting an answer, Dragion just cowered, much to Dragneel's surprise.

"Please! Don't hurt me!" Dragion said as he looked up, a look of sheer terror on his face. The air turned still as everyone stared at him. Ashley sighed.

"Uh….," Dragneel said.

"This Natsu's even weirder than ours!" Happy said.

"I'm sorry!" Dragion whimpered, "But people always say I'm a completely different person in the car!"

"That's putting it mildly," Ashley muttered.

"I can only take you this far!" Dragion said, "I only did it because my Lucy made me!"

"I'm standing right here you know," Ashley said.

"I'm sorry!" Dragion said.

"I for one certainly don't want to bring a coward like him!" Carla said.

"Be nice Carla!" Wendy said. Ashley sighed again.

"Look," she said, "You got here, didn't you?"

"What do you…" Everyone turned, and saw a vast sprawling city.

"Is that…," Happy began.

"The Royal City!" Carla said.

"Its huge!" Wendy said.

"Why didn't you tell us this earlier!" Dragneel said with a big grin, throwing an army around his counterpart's shoulder.

"I'M SORRY!"

"Well we've got no time to waste!" Carla said as she started running down.

"Aye sir!"

"Wait for me, you guys!" Wendy said as she followed.

"Thanks for everything!" Heartfilia said, smiling at the others. She then bent down and Dragion flinched, only to be kissed on the cheek, causing his face to glow crimson, and Ashley's to glow even brighter.

"Hey!" Dragneel whined, "What about me? Don't I get a kiss?"

"Technically you just got one," Heartfilia said with a grin, "But two for flinching." She then kissed Dragneel on the lips, before moving down after the others. Dragneel looked to follow her, but turned back to face them.

"Thanks for all your help," he said.

"Are you really going to take on the kingdom?" Dragion asked. Dragneel just grinned.

"Let's just say, you mess with the dragon, you get the fire!" he then turned, before looking back, "And one more thing, me! Just go for it!" With that, he ran after the others.

Now alone, watching the others in the distance, Lucy and Natsu looked at each other again, before flushing red again, and looking away.

Note: I don't know why I called Edolas Gajeel "Greenwolf", by I guess it was like "color" and "canine", like "Redfox". And I figured I'd through in some more GaLe to boot.

Bear in mind, I'm following the anime on a lot of this opposed to the manga, since the anime expands on it. For example, Edolas Gajeel is from the anime, I didn't invent him (aside from his last name). Next chapter things should really start picking up. And we may know Subject S soon.

Be sure to review, I'm trying to get to 500 by the GMG arc.