I'm back everyone! With a new chapter for you all to check out and judge whether you think it's neat or if you think it sucks and should burn in the fires of your rage and disgust. Whatever works for you all.
This next timeline, like the past few ones I've done, was something I've been wanting to do for ages, and now I can finally get to it! This specific timeline will involve more characters from "thehappy" as they will be the main star for the dangerous- I mean, totally peaceful Earthland they will end up in that will DEFINITLY not try to torment them in any way, shape or form.
I will admit, even with "thehappy" providing me info to make sure I don't get anything wrong; I am a bit nervous doing this despite looking forward to doing it for so long due to not wanting to mess anything up. Since this… unique Earthland his characters will be in and my characters be viewing will be affecting the characters in a more… personal way I suppose? Not sure if that's the best way to describe it, but you all will see what I mean.
And yes I know, the more serious and darker stuff is getting old, but these ideas I have had been in my head for ages, and I really want to get them done. I do plan on the next couple timelines afterwards to be more fun and lighthearted, for example an Earthland that will have a focus on Team Natsu involving a cheesecake factory (Not the restaurant, an actual factory where cheesecakes are made) so be on the lookout for that at some point.
Now then, let's no delay any longer and jump into the fray shall we?
Enjoy, or not, I don't care you all have your opinions.
Everything belongs to their respective owners.
Chapter 155: The Wall of Sleep Pt. 1
Night has come and gone, with the early morning sun slowly rising up over the horizon over the denizens of Magnolia. Not many were up just yet, but there were a small minority already up and running prepared for the day. Whether they were business owners, the major, or were just early risers, they were all up and running for whatever the day brings to them.
This was no different for Mirajane, Lisanna and Elfman, the three Strauss siblings making their way over the guild hall to begin the day, along with unlocking and opening the guild hall up for everyone to enter. That was more so for Mira's case, having the role to officially open and unlock the building for everyone else. Normally it was just her up at this hour aside from Makarov and sometimes a couple others, but this time her sister and brother were up and decided to accompany her.
Elfman was up ahead of the two women, saying something to himself about how a real man waits to eat breakfast with his friends at the guild hall. This left Mira and Lisanna walking side by side behind him, making small talk with one another.
"What kind of realities do you think we'll be seeing today?" Lisanna asked her older sister, to which Mira went to put a finger on her chin in thought as they walked.
"I honestly don't know; I just hope it's nothing too serious or drastic right off the bat." Mira admitted to her younger sister, the memories of the recent timelines from last night popping in her head as a reminder, which prompt the white haired barmaid to shove those thoughts back to the depths of her mind, not wanting to think about those specific timelines at the moment.
"Yeah… I hope for the same." Lisanna responded, her voice softening as she looked ahead of her and her sister, seeing her brother up ahead still marching with a grin on his face. A frown forming on the Animal Take-Over Mage's face, something that didn't go unnoticed by her older sister.
"What's wrong?" Mira asked with slight concern, which got Lisanna to glance back at her sister.
"Nothing, I just…," Lisanna sighed before looking back at Mira with a more concern look in her eyes, "I'm just wondering how Natsu's doing is all. I know he said that he was okay last night, but with those recent timelines we've witnessed, I can't help but worry."
Mira widened her eyes slightly from that, before frowning herself. Truth be told, she was just as worried for the lovable Fire Dragon Slayer like her sister was. Sure, Natsu told them that he would be fine, but with what they've seen before they headed to rest for the night… the Demon Take-Over Mage couldn't help but wonder how he was doing. To see not only a version of his counterpart take their own life, but the remaining three having him as some evil genocidal version of that E.N.D demon three times in a row, she knew that had to be bothering him in some manner.
Still, Mira grabbed her sister's hand, getting Lisanna's attention with slight surprise before looking up to see a smile on her older sister's face.
"Hey, I'm sure he's okay. I bet once we see him, he'll be back to his old self wanting to fight Gray or eat a bunch of food like usual," Mira assured Lisanna, before giving her a wink, "Besides, he's got us. If something is bothering him, we'll let him know that he always has us to help him out."
Lisanna's eyes were still slightly widened from that before a small smile formed back onto her face. She then nodded towards her sister.
"You're right. He has us, and we'll do our best to help him." Lisanna responded, getting Mira to hum in agreement with a nod.
Letting go of each other's hands, the two continued to walk onward in silence for a moment, other than Elfman up ahead still marching like a man as he would put it. The quiet didn't last however, before Lisanna started to speak up again.
"Hey Mira?" She begun to ask, getting Mira to glance her way as they walked with slight confusion on her face. Lisanna felt more nervous as she felt her cheeks warm up a bit, "About what we talked last night… do you think we would really be able to work something like that out?"
That got Mira to blush a bit herself, recalling what she and her younger sister ended up talking about last night before they fell asleep. The two sisters having decided to open and be honest with one another, fully admitting to the other about their own respective feelings towards a certain Fire Dragon Slayer. While Mira figured Lisanna did held genuine feelings for Natsu like she did and Lisanna figured it was the same with her sister, the two confided with one another and fully confirmed each other's suspicions. Mira had also informed Lisanna about how Erza and Lucy had feelings for him also, and who else she believed also loved the Fire Dragon Slayer, which Lisanna would admit she had a suspicion about the red head and blonde, and couldn't deny that numerous other women they knew no doubt felt the same for Natsu also. Then they discussed about what exactly to do about this… when Mira brought up how they can simply just share him.
Despite the still present warmth on her cheeks, Mira managed to bring up a smile towards her little sister.
"I do. After all, we saw other versions of us and other women able to do the same with their own Natsus, we can do the same here. If he accepts us… then we can all be happy." Mira told her, fully believing that it was the best way for them all to get what they wanted and be happy… should Natsu accept them and their feelings that is. The possibility that he might not had popped into her head before, and if it came to that… then she will accept it. It will be difficult, but she didn't want to force Natsu into something he had no interest in either, his feelings mattered too, and the woman cared and loved him too much to ignore that. But she hoped that he would be willing to give them a chance should the time come.
Lisanna managed to smile back at her, nodding along with her. Mira was right, if Natsu accepted their feelings and decided to give such a thing a shot, then this way everyone will be able to be happy. It will be difficult, due to having to share one man and having his attention be divided among who knows how many women who harbor feelings for him, but they can make it work. All of them will be able to be truly happy.
'But that won't mean I won't be the first! I shall be the first!' Both Mira and Lisanna thought to themselves with determination and smiles, oblivious to how their respective sister also thought of the same thing at the same time.
"Mira, Lisanna, up ahead!" Elfman's voice pulled the two out of their thoughts, getting them to refocus to see the guild hall up ahead of them.
Though what surprised the two women, along with Elfman, were that they were already a small amount of their friends already up and waiting at the guild hall to be unlocked. Among the group were Erza, Kagura and Millianna, the three in small discussion as they waited. Lucy was there too, chatting along with Kinana in small talk. Gajeel, Levy and Pantherlily were present too, the latter two in discussion and oddly close together while the black Exceed looked onward with a grin. Makarov, Macao, Wakaba, Romeo, Gray and Cana were all waiting with the others as well.
The first to notice them was Romeo, who gained a wide smile before waving at them.
"Hey guys!" Romeo called out; his smile still presents on his face. His words drew the attention of everyone else who also took notice of the three white haired siblings' arrival.
"Ah, perfect timing. Have you three slept well?" Makarov asked the three as they arrived to where the rest of them were at. Moving towards the small old man, Mira greeted him with a smile while Lisanna went over to where Lucy and Kinana were, while Elfman gave Romeo a high five for his greeting, as a real man greets people with high fives.
"We did master. I hope I didn't keep you all waiting." Mira told him, not sure how long the Guild Master and everyone else were waiting for her to unlock the guild hall.
"You did not. I apologize, I would have unlocked the doors myself, but I forgot to bring the key with me." Makarov admitted, rubbing the back of his mostly bald head with a cheeky smile on his face. This merely got Mira to sweat drop, but she would admit there were times when she forgot the same, having to go back to her house and get the keys needed.
"It's alright master. I'll go open it now." Mira stated, already heading over towards the doors to the guild hall to do just that.
While she went to do that, after her own greetings with Lucy and Kinana, Lisanna looked over to everyone else were at, which got their attention her way.
"I'm surprised you all are already up. I'd figured you all wouldn't show up until later." Lisanna admitted, since normally only Mira and Makarov would have already been up and open the guild hall at this time. Cana would be the first to respond.
"Eh, found myself waking up earlier than usual. Didn't see a point to go back to bed, so I figured I'll already head here." The brown haired woman explained with a shrug. She just wanted for the guild hall to open up so she can get herself some more beer… and maybe once he arrives have Natsu sit with her. She hadn't been able to be close to him in a while, so she planned to make sure to do that before any other woman tried to snatch him up herself.
"It was the same for me." Kagura shared, having also woken up shortly before Erza and Millianna followed suit not too long afterwards.
"Yep! I'm excited to see what other new realities we'll be able to view today!" Millianna exclaimed, exciting to see what other potential types of Earthlands they will see, 'As long as it's nothing terrible. We had enough of those from last night.'
"I'm sure whatever world we will see will be suffice." Erza told her and the others listening, having a smile on her face… despite the worried thoughts that were still in her head since last night, 'I hope we don't see anything bad, especially involving Natsu. I hope he had a good rest last night…'
"I just hope it isn't boring." Gray admitted, hoping to see something with some action. The Ice Maker Mage didn't want to see something too laid back, and see some action would be nice, only if it didn't involve another horrible evil or end of the world scenario.
No one else managed to speak up before from the corner of her eye, Kinana noticed the familiar forms of Chelia, Wendy, Marvell, Carla and Happy approaching from the direction where Fairy Hill was located. Gaining a smile on her face, the purple haired woman waved at the group of younger Mages and Exceeds.
"Guys! Over here!" She called out, hoping to get their attention. This also alerted everyone else, seeing the two Sky Dragon Slayers, Sky God Slayer and the two Exceeds approach to where they were at before smiles formed on their faces.
Hearing Kinana's words, the group looked up towards where everyone else was at… before Wendy lifted her head up and spotted Romeo in the small gathered crowd ahead of them before the guild hall's entrance.
"Romeo!" She called out before rushing over and nearly tackling Romeo into a hug, catching him off guard if the comically wide eyes and now blushing cheeks were any indication.
"EH?!" A few others like Macao and Wakaba exclaimed in surprise with their own wide comical eyes, not expecting the blue haired girl doing that to the dark purple haired boy.
Romeo himself felt too embarrassed from the sudden action, not that it was unwelcomed, to properly answer… that was, until he heard Wendy softly whispered as she still hugged him.
"You're okay…" It was soft, but it didn't go unnoticed by Romeo, sensing the tone she had as concern then formed on his face. This didn't go unnoticed by the others either, while Romeo slowly returned the hug despite the warmth in his cheeks still there.
Turning to the other arrivals, Erza gained a slightly puzzled yet worried look.
"Did something happen?" She asked them, though only Marvell went to respond with a sigh.
"She had a nightmare, it shook her up pretty badly," Marvell shared, getting the others to widen their eyes from this before she looked back up towards Erza, "And before you ask, she hasn't told us what she had a nightmare about. Refuses to do so."
That got more worried looks from everyone as they looked Wendy's way, who thanks to hiding her face in Romeo's shoulder they didn't see her cheeks lit up in red from being the center of attention. But she couldn't help herself… she knew it was silly, but she was just glad to see them and Romeo was alright. Chelia watched on while Carla flew over to Wendy, knowing that Wendy needed it if it helped. Still, she couldn't help but still feel a tad jealous of seeing Romeo's initial embarrassment before concern took over.
'Would he act like that if I hugged him too?' The pink haired Lamia Scale Mage thought to herself, before realizing what she just thought and shook her head frantically to push that away while her own blush formed on her cheeks, 'Stop that! Why am I thinking such things?!'
Eventually, Wendy let Romeo go as did he, talking a few steps back to give him a bit of room after the sudden hug she launched on him.
"Will you be alright?" Romeo asked, concern still in his voice which prompt more warmth in Wendy's cheeks to appear. Yet she was able to give him a smile.
"I'll be okay. I just… needed to get that out of my system." Wendy assured him, her own smile prompting Romeo to blush a bit more once again. Seeing this got Chelia to then gain a blank look on her face, and Marvell after seeing this only rolled her eyes from the sight.
Flying over near where Carla was at being next to Wendy, who was went on to assure the white Exceed that she would be okay, Happy looked around to see if his adopted father was present also.
"Has Natsu showed up too?" Happy asked, getting those who were looking at Wendy to focus on the blue Exceed.
"Haven't seen the Salamander yet, but I'm sure he'll show up at some point like everyone else will." Gajeel told the blue Exceed. The Iron Dragon Slayer figured that his fire breathing rival was just getting as much rest as he could before coming on over to the guild hall. After all, considering what they all saw last night before heading out, he didn't blame him if he decided to get some extra sleep from seeing such ordeals.
"Yeah, I'm sure he will show up in a bit." Levy also helped assured Happy, before subconsciously leaning over closer to Gajeel with a soft smile, something that almost no one else noticed.
Keyword being almost however, as Marvell took noticed of such an action. Then, focusing on her enhanced sense of smell, could then smell how both Levy and Gajeel were covered in each other's scents. That got her to widen her eyes before a big cheeky grin formed on her face, yet she withheld from saying anything, just willing to be silently happy for the two.
No other words could be spoken before Mira fully unlocked the doors, before beginning to open them for all to enter.
"Right then, let's start the day." Mira stated with a smile on her face, entering the guild hall as everyone else did afterwards, wanting to get some breakfast in their stomachs. In Cana's case that also meant a beer. She didn't care one bit it was early morning; she will have her alcohol dang it.
When they did, they all stopped in slight surprise by what they saw. The guild hall was still a mess from the chaos last night, cracks in walls and in the floor, furniture thrown all over the place or just flat out broken, and pillars had cracks, bent or just plain destroyed meeting their eyes. It was up ahead that got them to cease movement, as Observer was at the bar sitting down in one of the nonbroken chairs.
But it wasn't just him, to their confusion and surprise Natsu was also there, seemingly discussing something with Observer with exaggerated movements with his arms. A big smile was on the Fire Dragon Slayer's face, telling Observer about whatever he was talking about while the living constellation listened with keen interest.
No one noticed how Wendy tensed up for a moment, before easing herself with a flash of guilt hitting her before she recovered from the sight of one she sees as an older brother.
"Natsu?" Lucy was the first to speak up, surprise in her voice.
"GAH!" That caught the Fire Dragon Slayer and Observer off guard, with the Fire Dragon Slayer having been the one to shout before falling down onto the floor flat on his face while Observer launched onto his feet in a defensive manner.
Upon seeing it was just some of the other mortals, Observer felt himself ease.
"Oh, it's just you mortals." Observer spoke while Natsu picked himself up off the ground, rubbing his now sore face from falling flat on it.
"Natsu!" Happy exclaimed out, a big smile on the blue Exceed's face while he flew over towards Natsu. After recovering from his sudden shock, Natsu blinked before seeing his buddy having come over and landing happily on his head, prompting a grin to form on his face.
"Hey buddy! Did you sleep well?" Natsu asked him.
"I dreamed of fish!" Happy exclaimed, getting Natsu and a few others to hear that to sweat drop, not surprise to hear that, "But what are you doing here already? I thought Mira or master had to open the guild hall first."
"Couldn't get much sleep, so I figured I'd come over and give Observer company," Natsu told him and the others listening, his grin on his face despite the look of worry and concern some others gained from hearing that, "He's been telling me a bunch of stories and stuff about the world Happy! Did you know that apparently humanity came from giant people?"
"Wait really?" Levy couldn't help but interrupt, interest in her eyes about new history and knowledge stuff she wasn't aware of before. Observer nodded in confirmation.
"Correct mortal. Natsu was interested in what I knew, and I had informed him about the Gigantes. Giants that were created in the images of the Gods of Earthland to rule and retain order of the planet. But eventually a defect began to occur within themselves, causing them to birth smaller and weaker offspring. This continued with each generation of these smaller giants eventually reaching to the stage what is now humanity." Observer explained to the now starry-eyed Solid Script Mage, wishing she had something to write this down on her to help remember such history.
"Yeah, what he said." Natsu stated, admittingly certain words he kept getting confused with despite Observer's best attempts to explain.
"Wait, so our origins are that we came from super giants basically?" Gajeel questioned before thinking on it for a moment, hand placed on his chin. It didn't last before a grin formed on his face, "Gihihi, sounds pretty cool actually."
"Huh, well that's interesting," Marvell admitted, shrugging as she continued, "So your world's humanity are descendants from massive giants. Back at home we evolved from apes."
That slowly got everyone to turn to look at the blue haired older counterpart of Wendy with blank or dumbfounded expressions, getting Marvell to blink in confusion.
"What?" She questioned, not liking the looks she was getting.
"…Humanity's origins from your Earthland… is that you came from apes…?" Gray trailed off, blinking as he struggled to understand such a thing, 'That sounds absolutely stupid. What kind of lame origin for humanity is that?'
Gajeel however wasn't as private before he burst out laughing, something that Cana couldn't help but join in much to Marvell's growing annoyance.
"What's so funny?!" She yelled out, getting more annoyed with each passing moment. Cana, despite her still laughing, was able to get out words to answer her.
"I'm sorry, it's just… that's a very stupid way for humanity to have come from," Cana managed to calm herself down further to properly speak now, though she was wiping away a few tears due to laughing so hard. Gajeel meanwhile continued to laugh from the ridiculous thing he heard, "Like, what kind of origin story is that? Being descendants from giant people is way cooler."
"Well excuse me that I can't control how humanity back home came to be!" Marvell shouted back; a tick mark having formed on her face. Cana still couldn't stop a few giggles of amusement, which only infuriated Marvell further… until an idea of vengeance formed in her head, causing her to gain a smug grin, "You know what? If that's how you want to play…"
That got Cana to cease her giggles before puzzlement took form on her face. Everyone else was also just as confused, not sure what Wendy's older counterpart had in mind. Marvell kept her smug grin before she turned towards where Natsu was at.
"Hey Natsu guess what?!" Marvell started to shout to ensure everyone can hear her, while Cana gained a comical horrified expression realizing what the blue haired girl was going to say, "Cana likes y-!"
She was interrupted when Cana rushed over and practically tackled her, shoving her palm over the younger girl's mouth much to said girl's annoyance, trying to speak yet failing to do so. Everyone else blinked at this.
"What was she going to say?" Natsu asked with a tilt of his head, getting Cana to freeze up for a swift moment.
"NOTHING! SHE WASN'T GOING TO SAY ANYTHING!" Cana shouted back, failing to stop her cheeks flaring up from heat as she did so. She turned her head to glare at Marvell, who despite having her mouth covered and being stopped still radiated smugness which only ticked the Card Mage further.
Everyone else simply blinked once more from this, though a few of the women like Mira, Lisanna and Kagura had a sneaky suspicion which only them to narrow their eyes further at the brown haired alcohol loving woman.
Figuring that it wasn't too important, Makarov cleared his throat, bringing everyone's attention to him once more.
"Alright, now that we are here and the guild hall's open up, it's best we fix the damages before everyone else arrives," Makarov stated, eyeing the damage from last night all over the hall. As much as it hurts to spend more money, resisting the urge to cry from the thought, he had no choice. Turning towards Mira and Erza, the small old man began to speak once again, "Mira, Erza, can you two go into my office? I should have money left in there for instances like this, then head out and buy replacement furniture."
"Understood master." Erza stated with Mira nodding, the two S-Class Mages already heading to the stairs to gather the money needed to help repair some of the damages wrought from what happened last night. Makarov then turned towards everyone else.
"While they do that, let's try to fix what we can with what we have. Once we're done then we can eat if none of you have already." Makarov told the rest of those within the building, many nodding along with his words.
"I can assist if you desire for me to do so." Observer offered, getting Makarov to nod with a smile.
"We would appreciate that, thank you Observer." The Fairy Tail Guild Master replied, his smile still on his face.
"A real man helps out with repairs!" Elfman exclaimed, raising his arms up with a grin on his face, getting Lisanna to shake her head in amusement from her brothers' words.
With that, as Erza and Mira returned with jewels on them, they exited the guild hall to go replace the damaged chairs, tables and other furniture and items. Everyone else begun to head to the back of the hall where the bar and kitchen were at, to gather any cleaning supplies that would help them.
Natsu was one among then, until a hand grabbing his wrist got his attention, getting him to turn around to see Lucy looking at him. A small look of concern was on her face.
"Natsu, are you doing alright?" The blonde asked him, seeing how he admitted that he didn't get much rest to have come decided to visit Observer at some point during the night. Natsu blinked from this, before giving her a soft yet genuine smile.
"Don't worry Luce, I'm alright. Talking with Observer helped clear my head from… what we saw last night." Natsu told her, trying to ignore how close she unintentionally was being causing small bits of red to fill his cheeks. Thankfully the Celestial Mage didn't notice.
Lucy looked at him more for a few moments, before sighing and letting his wrist go. She still couldn't help but worry, but she would trust Natsu.
"Okay, but if anything does bother you, please let us know. We care about you… I care about you." Lucy told him, unable to stop her own cheeks from reddening from saying that, but thankfully Natsu didn't noticed while his own cheeks redden a bit more too.
"I know you do Luce; I know you all do. Thank you." Natsu replied back, a small smile on his face, even if guilt did appear in him for a moment.
Lucy managed to give him a smile of her own, and with that the two then went back following the rest to help clean up and fix the guild hall to the best of their abilities.
'A SHORT WHILE LATER'
It was still morning, though now the city of Magnolia was much more awake and active compared to the earlier hours of those who awoken first to start the day. Enough time for the members of Fairy Tail and their guests from other guilds and alternate reality to fully fix the condition of the hall back to normal. New furniture was in place, pillars were fixed, and any other damages such as to the walls, floors or bar were also repaired without any issues.
Throughout this, the rest were able to arrive during the repairs or afterwards, with the guild hall now filled with activity, many eating breakfast prepared by Mira, Kinana and Lisanna earlier. Alzack, Bisca and Asuka were at their own table, with Marvell having greeted Pepper who came over to hang out with the blue haired girl for a bit before the puppy headed back over to the Connell family. Laxus, Freed, Evergreen and Bickslow were at a table of their own in small discussion while they finished up their food. Chelia, Romeo, Wendy, Carla and Marvell were at the bar like yesterday, with Carla standing on the bar itself standing between Wendy and Romeo. Macao, Wakaba, Makarov and Reedus were at their own table near the bar, already having beers in hand in the former three's case. Levy and Gajeel shared a table along with Pantherlily, though a few others noticed how close the two were being much to the comical despair of Jet and Droy who sat at their own table nearby. Gray, Elfman, Max, Warren, Vijeeter and Nab shared their own table eating. Juvia was nearby behind a pillar, pouting slightly since the table Gray was sitting at was a smaller one and thus didn't have any more seats available to sit with him. Nearby close to the bar at a bigger table, Natsu, Happy, Cana, Erza, Kagura, Millianna, Mira, Lisanna, Lucy, Kinana and Laki sat and ate breakfast while making casual conversation.
Some others did find it weird that most of the women present seemed to be sitting at the same table as Natsu and wanting to stay near him, but they didn't think much of it for too long before refocusing on whatever they were doing previously. No one also didn't notice how Cana and Erza had the other women give them the occasional small glare due to the two sitting right next to Natsu, wishing they could be sitting right next to him also.
Observer meanwhile stood nearby his device in the center of the guild hall, his arms crossed as he waited for everyone else to give him the okay to reactivate the device and set a new link up to whatever new timeline they will see.
Back with Natsu, the pink haired Fire Dragon Slayer finished his meal, sighing happily with content while Happy chilled on top of his head, eating a fish that he got from who knows where.
"That was delicious! Just like always!" Natsu exclaimed, turning his gaze towards Mira, Lisanna and Kinana with a big grin on his face, giving them a thumbs up. This got the three to smile with faint smiles, blushing slightly also.
"Oh it was nothing, but thank you for enjoying it." Kinana was able to reply, her smile still on her face. Millianna finished her food as well, giving her time to speak getting the rest of their table's occupants to pay her attention.
"So what kind of realities do you all think we'll see today?" The brown haired cat-like woman questioned, wondering if any of her friends and her crush- er, she meant friend also, had any idea what they would be seeing today.
"I'm not sure," Erza admitted, putting her fork down after she finished her strawberry cheesecake, she did not care if it was the morning she would not be denied her precious dessert, and placed a hand on her chin to think, "We've seen plenty enough with different events and scenarios already, it's hard to figure out what else we could see."
"I know!" Cana started to exclaim while putting her barrel of beer down on the ground near her due to not being enough room on the table to place it there, "An Earthland where everything is made from beer! And everyone drinks it!"
"…That's it?" Laki responded in puzzlement, to which Cana shrugged.
"If you have any better idea what we could see, I'm all ears." Cana replied, admitting that she couldn't think of what else they would see in these different timelines at the moment. Or at least, not any idea out loud as she glanced over towards Natsu who also pondered on what they could see this time around, 'Maybe one where we're together, just me and him...'
"I don't really care what we see, only if it's not anything too serious." Kagura shared. Considering the recent realities they saw from last night, the dark purple haired swordswoman from Mermaid Heel hoped things to be more on the calmer side of things. She shifted her gaze over towards the pink haired Fire Dragon Slayer, her expression softening a bit, 'Hopefully one that will be easier on him. He didn't deserve seeing such wicked counterparts like that.'
"Yeah, I don't mind if it's not as exciting as some other worlds we'd seen." Kinana agreed with the dark purple haired woman, hoping to see different Earthlands that didn't have anything dangerous or anyone she cared about being evil or killed in some horrible way.
Eventually, they continued as everyone else throughout the guild finished their respective breakfast. With that done and over with, all inside of the Fairy Tail guild hall were ready to begin more viewing of other realities.
"Observer." Makarov spoke towards where the living constellation stood, who nodded in understanding needing no other words.
"Understood. Prepare yourselves mortals." Observer informed them all, undoing his crossed arms before taking a few steps towards his device which was currently dormant.
Then, the Constellar lifted his hands up and began channeling his Arcane energy into the small orb-like machine. This caused the device to activate once again, the blue lights it possessed turning on as noise erupted from it. Then a few moments later, the blue smoke reformed high above the device for everyone to see without issue. Observer then refocused putting his energy into the blue smoke itself, searching for a new timeline to link too for them all to witness like numerous times before.
Some would admit, they were a bit nervous, unsure what they would see this time around. Most hoped that they don't see anything terrible or insane right off the bat, while others remained cautious prepared for anything.
"Here's hoping it's a good one." Natsu spoke, waiting like everyone else was for whatever they were about to witness.
"Aye." Happy agreed with his adopted father, still sitting on his head watching the blue smoke.
Eventually, Observer managed to make a connection, setting a link up thankfully this time without any issue compared to what happened before last night. Taking a few steps back, Observer crossed his arms and refocused his attention on the blue smoke. Everyone looked onward, prepared to see what they would see on the other side of the veil as a new timeline began to show itself.
And when they did, they immediately blinked or gained looks of surprise by what, or more exactly who, they were seeing. None more so than Marvell herself.
A flash of blue and yellow particles appeared briefly, interrupting the silence that was previously around the quiet landscape. But just as quickly it appeared it ended, leaving in its place four familiar armored women from 137-C standing in the area… who were also oddly enough covered in some kind of pink sparkly dust along with their armor and certain weapons.
But that was the last thing on one Erza Scarlet's mind. The woman's helmet retracted back showing her face before she turned with a rather infuriated expression towards Mira, matching her way while the white haired woman's own helmet opened and retracted back to reveal her face.
"You bitch!" Erza quickly got into Mira's face, the Demon Take-Over Mage unable to stop an amused smirk on her face despite the violation of personal space, "I can't believe you lied and told that entire guild I was under a lust spell screwing multiple guys!"
"I can't believe your double punched you in the face to cure your lust spell!" Mira responded back before laughing, unable to help herself while Erza felt a tick mark form on her forehead with her anger only growing in response.
"Next Makarov I see… I'm giving him pictures of you in the shower! After I kick your saggy ass!" Erza threatened, to which got Mira to glare with a threatening grin on her own face, butting the red head's forehead with her own, neither woman backing down.
"I'd like you see you try strawberry shank!" Mira retorted. If one looked closely, they would swear they saw a zap of lighting take place between the two rival's glares to one another.
"Ladies! We shouldn't be fighting each other! Let's not forget that I'm no longer a maid ghost and got to stab Dave in the throat with gardening sheers! And if Kagura makes me call her Mistress again, I'll melt her clothes!" Levy interrupted, a massive grin on her face from recalling the times she managed to get the drop on that stupid Necromancer, even if most of it was futile. She did manage to get more satisfaction after unleashing a Shredder Ball on the idiot after getting back into her body, so that was therapeutic for her.
Kagura was close by, trying in vain to get more of the pink heart dust off her with little success, an annoyed look on her face.
"Stupid exploding love hearts… huh," Kagura muttered before registering what Levy was saying about her to the end there, yet barely cared, "Sorry, I was ignoring your nonsense."
"THEM AGAIN ALREADY?!" Levy shouted, already seeing a reality without any craziness was shattered upon the arrival of her insane double and her three friends. Sure, it was good to see them still alive, but it didn't mean that she was ready to see whatever antics her counterpart would get up too.
"Heck yeah! They'll still alive and kicking! I knew they would be!" Marvell exclaimed, a big yet genuine smile on her face, happy to see her friends still surviving from whatever they have gone through since they last saw them.
"What are they covered in?" Chelia couldn't help but questioned, noticing how all of them aside from McGarden was covered in the odd pink colored dust and sparkles.
"I don't know, did they fall into something?" Romeo questioned himself, not sure what the pink stuff was supposed to be. It didn't seem like it was from anything dangerous, just more annoyance if the alternate Kagura's expression was any indication.
"What did that other Mira say about me?!" Erza shouted, feeling her own anger already rising from what Mira's 137-C double apparently lied about her own counterpart, 'She made a lie about myself being gang raped?! Why would she lie about something like that?!'
Her rage didn't do unnoticed as Millianna and Natsu who were on each of her side leaned back a bit, finding the intensity of her womanly aura of anger a bit too much to handle. Mira meanwhile was also surprised, trying to rationalize why her alternate self would make up a lie about something so horrible. Surely there had to be a good reason, right?
Natsu meanwhile, still leaning a bit away from Erza and her terrifying aura she was radiating currently, still looked back at the four in the other timeline. A small smile forming on his face, glad to see Marvell's friends still alive and okay, despite being covered in whatever the pink stuff was. Kagura herself was relief to see her own double still alive, though she couldn't help but think with slight worry on what kind of dangers she no doubt has been in since they last saw her.
Makarov meanwhile perked up at the idea of having naked pictures of Mira while bathing in the shower. On one hand, naked pictures of such a beauty. On the other hand, if he said anything then their own Mira would probably castrate him or threaten to do so, which is scary to get on the barmaid's angry side. So, he decided to do the smart thing and stayed silent. His fellow perverts Macao and Wakaba did the same.
"What happened to her to be a ghost?" Gajeel questioned, taking note of that and whoever this Dave guy was that she apparently stabbed. Was this Dave person a villain they had to deal with or something?
"I think it's best that we don't try to find out." Pantherlily admitted, knowing that it most likely involved some form of sanity that he preferred to not try to dwell on. Levy nodded in agreement, wishing to not even try to find out whatever madness her double got involved in this time.
Levy paid no mind, still grinning over how she reduced that Dave idiot into bloody chunks. Erza and Mira were still glaring at each other, foreheads still slammed against each other. Ignoring that, Kagura figured she'd check to see where they ended up. Hopefully nowhere too insane or stupid this time around.
"Let's see where we are…," Kagura lifted her right arm, looking at her multiverse time and designator… only to widen her eyes in both confusion and alarm, "The f**k? Why's it doing that?!"
That caught the other three's attention, seeing what Kagura was checking before looking at their own right forearms with similar devices. Where a timer and a coordinate would normally be shown, instead they saw it constantly glitching out, unable to properly give them the information they desired. Like Kagura, the three were taken off guard by this.
"What the-? Why's it doing that? It's not busted, is it?" Mira questioned, hitting the device with her left hand to see if that would help. It didn't, though she couldn't really be surprised at that even if it was annoying.
"They shouldn't be! That's weird," Levy admitted, only finding herself further ticked off, wondering why their timers and designators aren't working properly. She blinked before getting a further irritated expression, "Did that asshole Dave's stupid dust and antics mess with our gear?! I swear if that's the case I'm going to go back and shred that bastard into pieces! AGAIN! THEN SET HIM ON FIRE! AGAIN!"
"I doubt that moron's responsible for this, we've taken way worse damage and hits and the timers and designators worked fine. Maybe there's something here on this world causing it?" Erza questioned, calming down from her anger with Mira for the time being.
The red head lifted her gaze from the device on her right forearm, finally taking in their surroundings. Dead trees stood all around them, the ground was barren, seemingly colored in an ash-like grey. No sign of any life so far, not even as something small like insects or critters were spotted. No sun or moon was out, nor was there any stars. Only heavy thick dark clouds covered the sky as far as the eyes could see. Erza would have guessed it as a possible storm or a start of one if it weren't for the lack of thunder or lighting that normally accompanied such thick clouds. There wasn't even any wind blowing. It was quiet, too quiet for the red head's taste.
Everyone blinked from hearing and seeing what issue had popped up with the four shifting women's gear, as well as seeing the state of their current surroundings.
"Wait, so they don't even know they're on an Earthland?" Lucy asked, seeing how whatever devices Marvell's friends had seemed to be malfunctioning or something.
"Guess not, but what's wrong with their stuff for it to not be working?" Gray wondered, since the alternate 137-C double of Erza stated that whatever they just went through to being covered with the pink dust stuff didn't mess up their gear in anyway, 'Seriously what is that pink stuff? Did they fall into a vat filled with it or something?'
"The area looks desolated… they didn't end up on a dangerous Earthland did they?" Wendy asked with worry in her tone, not liking how they may or may not already be seeing a reality where something terrible had taken place.
"I hope not." Marvell narrowed her eyes at the sight of the other timeline, feeling cautious from the lack of something her friends had on each of them not working properly for seemingly no reason. Not to mention like her younger double pointed out, the area they were in being completely barren in such a manner wasn't usually a good sign.
Some couldn't help but grow a bit worried or concern, hoping that their worries were unfounded while they continued to watch the other timeline.
"Maybe?" Levy guessed, though she was unsure what could be on this planet that could cause their timers and coordinate designators to be glitching out in such a way. She felt herself only further annoyed while she hit the device on her forearm, which did nothing to fix it to her lack of shock, "If that's the case then we need to find whatever's causing it. I don't like not knowing where we are or how long we're going to be here."
"Where would we even go? Everything looks the same." Mira noticed, looking around while taking a few steps away from the others, eyeing the direction she was facing to see if anything was to stick out.
"Whatever direction we go, I'm sure we'll be able to find something eventually." Kagura figured, knowing that staying where they currently were wasn't going to do them any favors, eyeing upward to the sky for a brief moment before refocusing on her friends.
"I hope we don't stay here long. Next time I hope we shift somewhere different. Or something we've been too before or heard about. Like 21-A!" Mira exclaimed, getting an excited face while pumping her right fist up, "I bet I can get the me, Lisanna, and Kinana there to hook up with their Natsu no issue!"
"Please, obviously it will be the me, Cana and Lucy that will get with Natsu in 21-A first!" Erza responded back, sending a confident expression towards the white haired soldier, knowing that her own double will be the first along with the blonde and drunk.
"Hah! I bet Bisca, Levy and Evergreen will be the ones to hook with him first!" Levy exclaimed full of confidence while she huffed her chest out with pride.
"I think you'd immediately lose that bet." Kagura stated with a deadpanned look towards the blue haired mad genius. The dark purple haired woman didn't even know much about 21-A, but she had a hunch that Levy was completely wrong here.
Levy slammed her forehead on the table before her, while Gajeel narrowed her eyes at McGarden, not liking how she would think that. The Iron Dragon Slayer knew he shouldn't be surprised, but it was still annoying and frustrating to hear. Pantherlily only shook his head from this with slight amusement, not really surprised. Bisca meanwhile facepalmed while Alzack glared at McGarden himself, thought he calmed down after Bisca took one of his hands into her own after getting over the palming of her face. Seeing this got him to look at his wife who smiled at him, getting him to smile back in comfort. Asuka didn't care, just wanting to see what the four different women were going to do while Pepper hung around the little girl's seat.
Evergreen meanwhile was just ticked off if the tick mark on her forehead was any indication.
"Again with that?! Why does she keep thinking that?!" Evergreen shouted, while Bisckslow tried to hold his laughter in, only emitting small snickers in place.
"Cause she's an idiot." Laxus told the brown haired woman.
"Hey! She's not an idiot! She's just very passionate in what she thinks!" Marvell defended her friend, glaring at the blonde Lighting Dragon Slayer from her spot at the bar.
"She should learn to not say or think stupid things." Evergreen grumbled while crossing her arms, while Freed patted her back in an attempt to cheer her up.
Meanwhile Natsu, Erza, Lucy, Cana, Mira, Lisanna and Kinana merely blushed from what they heard the 137-C women wanted, while the few other women like Laki, Kagura and Millianna glared at the women at their table they shared. Natsu however felt a tinge of sadness, knowing that none of the women would feel the same way, though he was able to hide that, shaking those thoughts away for the time being.
Oddly enough, Juvia found herself feeling off putted by how the alternate Erza, Mira and Levy tried to keep having Natsu end up with any of the mentioned women. She shouldn't care, if anything be happy that they would ensure love rival didn't try to snatch Gray-Sama from her. Yet she didn't, and she didn't know why.
"No worries Kagura," Erza started to say, taking a few steps away from everyone else to get a better look at their surroundings in case anything caught her eye, "I'm sure if we ever arrive there you will aid me in helping that Erza get with Natsu. Then once we get home we will finally have that threesome with Natsu you always wanted."
She didn't get a response, getting the red head to gain a smug expression.
"Ah, no rebuttal? You finally decide to deny yourself no longer of your desire-." Erza started to say, turning around to face the dark purple haired woman along with Mira and Levy…
…Only to find herself alone.
That immediately got everyone alarmed; many jumping onto their feet without thinking on it.
"The f**k-? WHERE DID KAGURA, MIRA AND LEVY GO?!" Marvell shouted, finding herself also jumping onto her feet, eyes widened with alarm from the sudden disappearance of the three.
"Wait what happened?! They were just there a moment ago!" Chelia questioned out loud, herself just as puzzled as everyone else was from the sudden disappearance of the three women.
"I don't know… is it the result of some spell?" Romeo wondered, not sure if that was the case or not, 'Maybe its whatever's causing the gear on their arms to glitched out? 'But what could be behind that if that's true? Or is something different responsible?'
"Whatever has happened, it's clearly not good if it got them separated." Pantherlily stated, his arms crossed while looking up at the blue smoke showing them the other timeline, while everyone else remained confuse and worried for whatever was happening suddenly.
"Huh?" Erza blinked, looking around once again only to see herself all on her own. No sight of Kagura, Mira or Levy anywhere around.
Alarm bells started ringing in her head while she on instinct grabbed and held her Lancer Rifle, her previously smugness and playfulness evaporating immediately as the soldier glanced around in haste, trying to spot her friends again to no avail.
"Kagura? Mira? Levy! Where are you?!" Erza shouted out, her body moving before she even finished yelling. The red head rushing through the spacious dead forest in a random direction, each step she took while she ran leaving an ashen footprint behind her wake.
Erza herself stayed silent like everyone else was. She tried to make sense of what just happened for her counterpart to be suddenly on her own just like that. But so far nothing was making any sense, they didn't have even a clue as to the sudden vanishment of the other versions of Mira, Kagura and Levy.
"Guys look!" Happy called out, snapping everyone from their thoughts as they saw the blue smoke shifted to a different location, getting them especially Mira to widen their eyes in surprise.
"THE F**K?!" Mira shouted, taking a step back in shock, completely off guard from finding herself somewhere that clearly wasn't the previous location she was just with. And all alone to boot too.
The dark, thick clouds were still present high above her, yet they seemed to slowly move while no thunder or lighting was present. It looked like a massive, desolate gorge she found herself in, the ground completely barren like before in the dead forest, feelings of what felt like ash underneath her feet. The height of the surrounding rocky barriers of the lifeless valley standing tall towering over the white haired making her feel like an ant. There was no wind, no signs of life, and there was even less light than before, darkness seemingly all around prepared to swallow her up. The shadows casted from the large cliffs she was stuck in between didn't help with that feeling.
"I LITERALLY BLINKED! HOW THE F**K DID I GET SEPERATED FROM THE OTHERS WHILE I WAS BLINKING?!" Mira shouted in utter infuriation, hastily looking around to see if by chance she missed something. Yet the same desolated gorge she was in remained the same, "AND WHERE AND WHAT THE F**K IS THIS PLACE?!"
Each passing second only added to the anger fueling the white haired soldier, her teeth gritting in fury while she had her Lancer Rifle wielded. Stomping in one direction of the massive desolate valley she found herself in, she refused to stay still while trying to figure out where she was and how she suddenly found herself here all by herself.
"She's all on her own too." Mira noticed, seeing how her double from 137-C was on her own like the other Erza was. Did that mean wherever they were, the other Kagura and Levy were separated from each other and on their own as well?
"I don't get it! What had happened for them to suddenly be away from each other?!" Marvell couldn't stop herself from raising her voice, trying to wrap her mind over how exactly this happened. There was no noise, no sounds, no signs or hints of something taking place to have her four friends separated from one another in an instant.
"We don't know, but wherever they're at, it all doesn't look good." Gray stated, seeing how so far with where the alternate Erza and Mira were, everything looked barren and desolated. Yet it was clear to the Ice Maker Mage that something was up, something that caused the separation to take place.
Many continued to watch on, while Mira hoped that her double didn't run into any trouble. Or anything too insane or dangerous if she did.
Observer meanwhile couldn't help but narrow his eyes at the sight of the other world. He didn't know why, but something about this Earthland they were viewing didn't settle well with him. Something wasn't right, but what exactly the living constellation wasn't sure.
"Stupid planet, nothing much even happened yet and I already hate this place!" Mira gritted out; her frustration clear as day while she continued through the dark gorge. Nothing else had been spotted, and the silence while she continued onward leaving footprints of ash in her wake was getting on her nerves, "Seriously! What happened to get me away from the others like that?! If this is the work of some jackass I'm going to-!"
Faint groans and moans caught her attention, getting her to swiftly stop her movements. Eyes widened, she swiftly turned around, Lancer Rifle readied in case it was an enemy.
"Who's there?!" Mira shouted, eyes narrowing while she moved her gaze to find the sources of the noise.
There to her right did she found it, emerging from the shadows of the nearby cliffs around the desolate gorge, a number of flesh, rotting corpses walking slowly but arms raised up. Well, those who had arms that did. Intestines hanged from their opened stomachs, tongues hanging loosely from those who lacked jaws, and others didn't even have eyeballs or they hung down their faces. Few even had small or large tumors growing on them leaking pus and blood, with some fully consuming certain body parts like their necks or thighs.
Eyes widened among the Mages within the guild hall, with some growing green in the face with disgust at the sights. Sure it wasn't the first time they've seen such a thing, but it's still hard to get truly used too.
"Undead?" Lisanna spoke with worry, pushing down any disgust that she currently felt to the best of her abilities.
"Oh, just undead? Pssh! Mira can take those things out no issue!" Marvell exclaimed, feeling less worried that she did previously. Sure, she was still cautious, since one should never let their guard down, but at least it was just some undead this other Earthland had.
"I hope so, while we've seen worse looking undead, it's still gross to see." Freed admitted, still preferring not to see how seemingly mindless undead with their guts hanging out if they could help it.
Mira, despite having faced and seen countless undead who knows how many times by this point, still couldn't help but get grossed out. And annoyed.
"Zombies? Seriously?! They suck!" Mira didn't even wait before raising her Lancer up and firing at the large group of undead. Each bullet already tearing through their weak barely functioning, rotting flesh as they collapsed onto the ground. Yet more undead continued to rush towards her.
Thankfully they were slow, so she didn't have to worry about being overrun as of now. But it didn't help that more emerged from the darkness to head towards her. Any that got close to her that didn't die from her firing of bullets were met with being split from the head down by the chainsaw attached to her currently used weapon. The woman uncaring for the blood and gore of rotten flesh getting onto her, gotten used to such things years ago.
"Come on! Is this it?!" Mira gloated, cutting down another rather bloated zombie with her Lancer, the groans it emitted dying off before she turned around and quickly sawed another zombie that got close. A grin on her face, still having plenty of ammo, weapons and if needed, Magic at her disposal, "I don't know where you things are coming from, but if this is the best this planet has to offer-!"
"Ehehehehehe! Such arrogance! It's humorous to see!"
That got her to freeze, the sudden sound of a crackling and distorted voice grabbing her full attention before she swiftly turned around back towards the nearby shadows where the initial zombies came from…
Only for her blood to freeze when something the size of a house emerged suddenly from the shadows, nearing slamming a giant limp upon her if it weren't for her reflexes kicking in, causing her to dive out of the way just in time while the ground cracked and broke from the limb's attack. Getting up, the Demon Take-Over Mage lifted her gaze, her eyes widened with genuine shock and disgust.
The giant beast would be best described as a fusion between a clown and a spider gone wrong. A humanoid face, covered with makeup akin to a clown with a red nose to boot, with razor sharp, broken, yellowed teeth stained with blood and gore. The eyes resembling that of a snake, and the human-like clown head attached to a long and wiggling neck akin to a serpent, which allowed it to be attached to the rest of the spider-like body. Eight legs it possessed, mangy hair on each one too stained with blood and flesh of potential past victims. The torso of the body looked to be tattered clown clothes, all which like the rest had splattered blood and chunks of rotting and diseased flesh sticking to it all.
"WHAT THE F**K IS THAT?!" Lucy shouted, feeling even further shock and disgust from the sight of the unholy fusion the blonde was seeing.
She wasn't the only one either, as many others were just as surprised or grossed out from the sight of such a thing emerging from the darkness. Even Marvell was taken back somewhat by the sight, though more confuse as to why her friend in the other timeline seemed to be genuinely disgusted by the sight of it. Surely the white haired woman seen worse than that before, right?
"You know, I never cared for clowns, but this is making me rethink my opinion on them." Bickslow spoke up, disgust noticeable in his voice as he stared at the monstrous creature. The fact that it can talk didn't help either.
"Don't worry, I'm sure she will be able to handle it." Marvell tried to tell the others, hoping that this thing won't cause her friend in the other timeline too much trouble, 'But knowing our luck, it's going to be a pain for her to deal with.'
"Where did that thing even come from? There's no way that thing could have hide in the shadows like that!" Warren exclaimed, finding it baffling that something that big could easily hide itself in the dark like that.
Observer couldn't help but think on that, finding truth in the black haired man's words. In fact, it seemed odd for the undead themselves to just suddenly emerged from out of nowhere in the dark like that either. It only added to the feeling that something was amiss with this reality they were seeing, undead and giant clown-spider monsters aside.
"Arrogant little wannabe demon! So gleeful until it turns around against her! Pathetic and weak! Pathetic and weak!" The giant spider-clown mocked, its unsettling voice sending shivers down Mira's spine. The woman unable to get over her shock, seeing such a thing before her.
"No…, no no no NO NO NO F**KING NO!" Mira yelled out, her eyes frantic while worry and hate filled her body. How and why was such a creature here?! She can't let it live! She won't let it hurt her! The woman not even wasting a second before empowering herself with her Magic, which thankfully she still had access too, emitting a small shockwave as a result, "I'M NOT GOING TO DEAL WITH THIS RIGHT NOW! F**K YOU AND DIE!"
Mira wasted no time, placing her Lancer Rifle away for a moment before quickly gathering Darkness Magic into her palm before firing it upon the crackling clown-spider. The attack landed, causing an explosion while a burst of air erupted from it. The clown-spider stumbled back, having taken some damage across its skin with some burns. That said, it still stood and crackled with laughter, finding it all more hilarious despite the pain it gained.
"Scared of little ol' me? Scared of little ol' us? You really are pathetic!" The beast laughed out loud, getting on Mira's nerves before preparing to attack the giant mutant monster once more.
"SHUT UP ALREADY YOU F**KING CLOWN!" Mira yelled out, letting her hate and anger get to her before jumping back, charging more of her Darkness Magic before flinging multiple spheres of her Magic at the larger beast, slamming hit after hit getting it to stumble back.
Her assault couldn't last long however before a loud groan grabbed her attention, getting her to widen her eyes before on instinct turned around, grabbed her Lancer Rifle once more, and tore right through another zombie that tried to get the drop of her. Not even looking as the now in half body hit the ground, the woman looked ahead to see if more undead were on their way… as sounds of countless roars of the dead hit her ears.
Her eyes widened from what she saw. In the distance within the gorge, a massive wave of undead was present, rushing over across the barren landscape within the valley to tear apart their prey. And unlike before, they were full on running, not letting anything get in their way while the distance between them and Mira closed with each passing moment.
Upon seeing such a wave of undead, everyone only grew more alarmed. Many having shocked expressions while some were completely baffled by the sudden arrival of an undead horde.
"Where did all of that come from?!" Juvia couldn't stop herself from shouting, the blue haired Water Mage not understanding why there were suddenly so many of the grotesque undead within the area the other Mira was in, 'There so many of them, tens of thousands probably if Juvia is guessing right.'
"They just showed up out of the blue!" Wakaba exclaimed, worried for the other version of the white haired woman from the mess she found herself in.
Marvell clutched her hands in frustration, wishing that she could be there to help her friend against such a thing. But alas, there was nothing she could do. She believed that Mira will be able to handle it or get out of it in the end no problem, but it did little to stop the feeling of uselessness the Sky Dragon Slayer from 137-C felt in that moment.
She wasn't the only one as Natsu clutched his own hands into fists, wishing that he was there to help the other Mira. He didn't care the difficulty or danger; he should be there helping her!
"Oh you've got to be kidding me!" Mira yelled out, seeing the massive approaching undead horde gaining in on her location. Where did such a massive undead force even come from?! She'd think she would have noticed something like that sooner!
The woman didn't get a chance to dwell on it further before a loud crackling laughter grabbed her attention once more. Tuning around, her eyes widened further before the clown-spider, having recovered from the barrage of Darkness Magic, extended its serpent neck towards her. The next thing Mira found herself in was being stuck between its teeth, desperately holding back the lower and upper jaws of the beast preventing it from closing on her and swallowing her whole. The serpent neck lifted towards the sky, the clown-spider putting on pressure in its jaws trying to devour the woman stuck in its mouth.
"Delay no more! Delay no more! Be gobbled up and swallowed whole! Be gobbled up and swallowed whole!" The giant clown-spider laughed with ease despite its mouth being occupied. This only further enraged Mira, the woman quickly able to free one hand from holding the upper jaw up before bringing out her Explosive Torgue Boltok out, the red lines emitting a faint glow while she aimed it down the throat of the monster.
"SHUT UP!" Mira shouted, not wasting a second before firing the weapon into the mouth and down the throat of the clown-spider.
*BOOM*
The effects were instant, the serpent neck and head of the clown-spider exploding into a squall of gore. Some hitting and covering the white haired woman, quickly entering her Satan Soul form and taking flight before he could hit the ground. The remnants of the clown-spider falling onto the ground beneath her, silence other than the distant roars of the approaching undead horde filling the air.
"BLEH!" Mira spat out, rubbing her tongue and spitting out more when she swore some bits of blood and flesh chunks got into her mouth when that beast exploded from her weapon, "I hate it when that happens!" She spat more blood out with a grimace expression, "Definitely does not taste like chicken."
Lucy, Wendy, Chelia, Romeo, Lisanna and a few others couldn't help but be grossed out from the sight, while Mira was relieved that one of the threats was dealt with. Still, even she thought the sight of something like that getting into her mouth grossed her out more than anything else.
"Yeah! She showed that clown-spider monster who's boss!" Marvell cheered, uncaring about the mess from the monster's death, she was just happy that it was dead.
"Don't cheer just yet mortal, there's still the horde of approaching undead she needs to take care of." Observer reminded her, getting the blue haired girl from 137-C to deadpan at the living constellation.
"I know that. I can see you know." Marvell replied back, while Observer didn't respond verbally, only nodding in acceptance before refocusing on the events happening in the other timeline.
The gore covered white haired woman however was quick to refocus, seeing the distant zombie horde closing in. Spreading her wings, the Demon Take-Over Mage took off high into the air above the surrounding cliffs of the gorge, giving her a much better arial view of it all. Expression darkening, she began to channel her Magic into her hands.
"Monsters…" Holding out her palms down towards the rushing forces of the dead, she begun channeling Darkness Magic, the air around her crackling due to the intensity she was giving off.
Then without warning, she unleashed a massive blast of Darkness, completely hitting the ground annihilating hundreds of undead in the blink of an eye. Not relenting in her attack, she continued to fire yet another one, causing another gigantic detonation that wiped out more undead by the hundreds. Unrelenting, the soldier continued this method, easily dwindling down the undead horde while in the safety of in the sky.
"Holy crap she's not letting up at all!" Elfman exclaimed, seeing her easily firing off one blast after another to wipe out the defenseless undead down below in the gorge.
"Isn't using up her Magic like that risky? What if something more dangerous comes along?" Millianna couldn't help but ask, wondering if the alternate Mira was being too reckless with her Magic at this point.
"No, I doubt she would make such a mistake. The Magic she's giving off and firing is probably nothing for her to spend." Mira figured, knowing that her double would never make such a mistake, not one who lived the kind of life she does.
"Yeah, this is barely anything for her." Marvell agreed, knowing her friend wouldn't do something so stupid and retarded.
Natsu didn't say anything, just hoping that the other Mira will be able to eliminate the threat then go back to finding where her friends were at. He didn't want anything bad happening to either of them. Others also shared this sentiment, wishing and hoping for the same.
Eventually, after what felt like an eternity despite only being a few minutes at most, the undead horde was no more. Nothing but burning remnants of any visible rotting carcasses left down filling the gorge. Mira remained airborne, taking in a deep breathe to ease herself after that scenario.
"There… I feel much better now," Mira started to say, a smile forming on her face, prepared to take off while still in her Satan Soul form, knowing it will help clear ground quicker, "Now I need to find the others. Then we can-."
"HAHAHAHAHAHAHA! PATHETIC!"
Mira froze for a brief moment yet was too late. Without warning a massive familiar spider-like limb slammed directly into the white haired woman, causing her to shout in pain before flying through the air. Luckily, she was able to stabilize herself, her body shields absorbing most of the damage as they flickered momentarily before stabilizing again.
"What the f**k was-?!" Mira begun to shout, moving her gaze forward for the source of the hit… only to feel her blood turn cold.
There up ahead before her, all around her, numerous airborne clown-spider monstrosities were all around her. Each one all possessing crooked, sickly wings with the patagium resembling blood stained web. The wings emerging from the back of their humanoid torso. Some of the monsters slightly differed in looks, with different torn clown clothes adoring their bodies, different hairstyles and colors, some even possessing more rows of their horrendous stained teeth.
The sight of the sudden numerous, flying versions of the odd fusion beasts caught everyone off guard, some even inhaling their breathes from utter shock and slight fear.
"There are more of them?!" Cana yelled out, shock to see even more of the hideous fusions of clown and spider.
"They can fly now too?!" Levy shouted herself, subconsciously moving closer to Gajeel for comfort, an action the Iron Dragon Slayer didn't mind one bit if it helped his girlfriend feel better.
"Wait hold on, where did they even come from?! They'd just showed up out of the blue!" Evergreen also yelled out, not understanding what exactly was happening all of the sudden.
"I don't know…" Kagura muttered, just as lost as everyone else was, 'Showing up out of nowhere like that, like the original one did and the undead… is something summoning them there to attack her?'
"Where did you all…?" Mira found herself muttering with her voice quiet, shock in her voice and expression from seeing more of the horrific clown and spider fusions that now can fly to go after her. This didn't make any sense! Where did these monsters come from?! They couldn't just form from thin air, did they?!
The shock and quietness quickly faded before more anger and disgust filled her body, yet she didn't have time to say anything else to voice her frustration at the monstrosities before they all laughed once more, their distorted and crackling voices echoing through the desolate air above the gorge they flew high above over.
"Confident with grins, then gaining such a look? You never learn! You never learn!" Numerous of the clown-spiders laughed before they all began their movements, flying through the air towards the white haired woman who widened her eyes from this.
Taking off through the air, she engaged with the flying monstrosities as they all chased after her. Bringing out her Explosive Torgue Boltok, knowing that only such a weapon would pack enough punch to bypass their hide's defenses, Mira bolted through the air firing upon any of the house sized monsters that got close towards. Explosions ripped through the flesh of a few of the clown-spiders, one even loosing their wings causing them to go crashing down far below, though Mira didn't pay any attention on that while she continued to fight for her life. Two nearby clown-spiders extended their serpent-like necks trying to trap her between them, though Mira merely flew upwards while the necks and heads followed, twisting around her while mockingly laughing at her which only pissed her off further. One tried to shoot itself after her, but was met with multiple firing from her weapon, causing chunks of flesh to be thrown off the beast's charred face as it stumbled back, the long extending neck retreating away. Not even a moment after that did Mira swiftly turn around and used a free hand to unleash an Evil Shower ability on the other extended serpent neck, her Magic tearing through the long neck's hide decapitating the beast as both head and main body went tumbling down below.
Another laughter was heard from behind Mira as she turned around only to be met with a wide gaping maw of another clown-spider as it flew in. With one swoop it brought its monstrous jaws down on the woman and seemingly went on to swallow her whole… only for a moment later did the beast emit a faint dark glow from its stomach before combusting in a squall of blood and gore, showing a further infuriated Mira covered with more blood and bits of guts and flesh yelling while emitting a large blast of Darkness Magic from her being. The blast was enough to push back nearby clown-spiders as they attempted to fly in. Bearing an expression of disgust and rage, Mira put her Explosive Torgue Boltok away for a moment before extending her palms outward and firing off an Evil Explosion towards the few other house sized airborne monstrosities, targeting their necks due to having weaker hide, tearing right through them while their neckless bodies and heads fell to the gorge far beneath them all. One of them managed to still survive, though Mira quickly would correct this by flying over, bringing out her Chopper Machete and cleaving right through the damaged neck, avoiding the beast trying to bite down on her in the process as the flesh was torn causing a gush of blood to erupt while the monster laughed despite meeting its end, its' body falling down.
Despite this so far, more of the monstrosities seem to just appear, continuing to give the white haired woman chase while she fended them off. It still left Mira with no understanding on what was happening, just where were these things coming from?! And why won't they all just drop dead already?!
No one spoke another word, watching with wide eyes from seeing Mira's 137-C double fending off the airborne clown-spider creatures despite the number disadvantage. Some couldn't help but feel further sick when one of them managed to get a drop on her to eat her only for her to explode the beast from the inside out. Mira herself remained laser focus on her double, hoping that the other her will be able to deal with these creatures and get away.
Yet, she and the rest were still left unsure of what exactly was happening causing the scene before them all.
'More of those things are just appearing out of nowhere. They must be coming from somewhere, but where?' Mira thought, knowing that if her counterpart didn't escape from those things or find a means to put a stop to them appearing more and more, then she was at risk from burning through her strength and Magic along with her weapons' ammo if this kept up.
"WHERE ARE YOU ALL COMING FROM?!" Mira shouted out, feeling herself being further pushed to keep on fighting, avoiding another of the large clown-spiders as she duck down below it while it flew by, allowing her to shove her Chopper Machete into its stomach and cutting right down, more blood and bits of gore and flesh chunks getting onto her body while the beast collapsed down into the gorge below from the blood lost. The woman gritting her teeth in further frustration as more of the beasts extended their necks trying to snatch her while she flew around to avoid such attempts to eat and attack her.
"RUN! RUN! RUN LIKE THOSE YOU STRUCK DOWN DID! FEEL WHAT THEY FELT! WEAK AND PATHETIC!" More of the clown-spiders yelled out, laugher accompanying them while Mira felt her eyes narrow from hearing those words, both in anger yet confusion. What were these things talking about?
She didn't get a chance before numerous of the clown-spiders and their serpent necks extended chasing after and closing in towards where she was flying at, the woman attempting to put space between herself and the monstrosities which they refuse to let happen. Then without warning their noises emitted a dark crimson glow before each fired off a beam of concentrated energy. Mira widened her eyes, bringing her arms up in defense on instinct before the beams clashed.
*BOOM*
"GAH!" Mira yelled out, feeling herself thrown back from the resulting attack and explosion, and the next thing she new she came crashing down onto ground, causing a detonation of smock and dirt to be thrown up into the air.
"Mira!" Natsu exclaimed on instinct, feeling more worried and concern for what they just saw witness.
"They can shoot lasers from their noises?!" Kinana yelled out, the purple haired woman and others normally would have found such a thing more weird under different circumstances.
"THAT'S NOT MANLY!" Elfman shouted out, wishing there was something he could do to help his alternate double of his older sister.
Marvell couldn't prevent herself from clutching her fists on instinct, wishing she was there to help her friend from having to deal with such a thing. The teenager was thankful that Mira was able to survive taking such blow, but she knew that Strauss was far from the woods yet.
However, their worries and anger from the assaulting monsters died down before more puzzlement took over upon seeing what happened next.
Slowly getting up from her now grounded spot and onto her feet, the woman dismissed her Satan Soul form while spitting out some blood. Whether it was hers, from the clown-spiders she killed that got into her mouth, or both, she didn't care at the moment. Her body shields help absorb much of the damaged, flickering before stabilizing once again.
"IS THAT ALL YOU GOT?!" Mira shouted out, lifting her head while raising her Lancer Rifle prepared to continue her fight against those unholy abomination, "I'LL TAKE DOWN EVERY LAST-!"
She stopped herself, blinking before confusion took hold of her.
"…Huh?" Mira managed to get out, eyeing her surroundings which were clearly different than where she had been before previously.
Where she was once in a large opened barren gorge or above it in the sky, a desolate ruin of a town or city she now found herself in. The buildings were crumbled and old, mostly standing yet spread out around her. The streets were devoid of life, devoid of anything from what Mira could see. A nearby train station could be seen from behind her, yet it led to nowhere considering the spread out and barren landscape the buildings and structures were stretched out from each other. The sky was still the same, dark and thick clouds blocking out any otherworldly bodies that may be spotted above. Even in the streets Mira could feel ashes and dirt get stuck to her boots. Oddly enough, the buildings despite being old and worn, looked oddly familiar.
"Where…?" Mira voiced to herself, looking around while narrowing her eyes, refusing to let her guard down while she kept her Lancer Rifle raised. None of the clown-spiders were in sight anymore. There didn't seem to be anything around. Which only left her further loss on what was going on. How did she end up in a completely different area just like that? Where did those horrendous beasts go?
The other Mira wasn't the only one, as those within the guild hall witnessing the scene shown to them by the blue smoke were just as loss and puzzled as she was.
"Hold on, what just happened? She's somewhere completely different now!" Wakaba questioned before exclaiming, utterly lost as to what happened just now for the other Mira to end up in a completely different location.
"I don't know, but those monsters don't seem to be around anymore." Laxus responded, seeing the other version of Mira by herself once again.
"I don't know if that's actually a good thing or not." Mira admitted, her eyes looking around at the new landscape her 137-C counterpart was now in. The fact those things had been appearing from out of nowhere only to then vanish along with the change in scenery didn't settle well with the white haired barmaid.
"But where is she now?" Lisanna asked, not sure what town or city, or some remnant of a town or city her alternate older sister was now in.
"I don't know, but I got a bad feeling about this." Natsu admitted, feeling that the other Mira was not out of the woods yet by a long shot, yet he had no clue what to expect next. Marvell and some others were feeling similar senses, knowing that something wrong was just waiting to happen.
Mira kept her eyes on her surroundings, her guard still up trying to figure out where she was supposed to be. She didn't like this one bit. She didn't know why or how, but she knew something was at play here. All those undead and those hideous clown-spiders showing up from nowhere only to vanish and her being somewhere completely different, it all didn't add up. Then of course there were the fact her friends were also who knows where dealing with who knows what for all she knew.
"Okay Mira, deep breaths," Mira told herself, easing her breathing after what she just went through, best to calm herself down before anything else can happen, "Racking your brain when you don't have even a clue on what's going on isn't going to work. Best course of action would be to get moving, and see what I can fi-."
*BOOM*
"GAH!" Mira didn't see it coming, a Magical blast slamming direction into her back and causing a minor explosion knocking her into the ground a few yards away where she once stood. Her body shields flickered for a moment before recovering, once again taking up most of the damage along with her armor.
Eyes widened among nearly everyone within the guild hall, having too been caught off guard by the sudden surprise attack.
"Oh no…" Mira whispered, seeing her double once again in trouble from whatever was now attacking her. Was it more different undead or those spider clown monsters again?
"Mira!" Marvell couldn't help but call out, worry in her tone seeing her friend get hit into the ground like that, but anger was quick to once more fill the blue haired teenager, "Who's she dealing with now?!"
Thankfully, Mira was able to get back up, her back turn towards whoever attacked her. Gritting her teeth, she prepared to fight taking hold of her Lancer Rifle once more, having been able to hold on to it and not drop it from the surprise attack.
"OH WHAT NOW?!" She yelled out, prepared to turn around to deal with whatever monster she needed to kill this time!
"Oh, feisty aren't cha? Guess that's no surprise." A voice spoke back, getting her more alarm turning around fully pointing her Lancer in front of her.
She felt her eyes widened in shock yet also rage once more boiling underneath her skin, the sight of numerous men suddenly gathered all around before her in large numbers. The clothing and armor they wore, plus the weapons they had with a few having their hands glowing with Magic was all Mira needed to know who these bastards were. Bandits, heavily geared in different ways and Magic wielding bandits. Bandits that she loathed with her entire being. Some even resembling those who once tried to rape her all those years ago initially before Natsu rescued her.
"Bandits?" Erza questioned with surprise, not expecting to see ordinary yet vile criminals to be there considering the landscape and what they've seen so far. She wasn't the only one surprised, as everyone else was also not expecting the sight of such people.
"What are bandits like that doing there? People still exist in this other Earthland then?" Max asked, as he figured there would be nothing but those undead and clown-spider monsters considering the way everything seemed so lifeless and barren in the other reality.
"No, something is amiss here." Observer stated, his eyes narrowing from the sight. The feeling he had about this other Earthland only growing in him with further suspicion.
That didn't help the worry and confusion the rest had, only looking back at the other Earthland in the blue smoke hoping the other Mira will be able to handle the sudden if not mysterious arrivals of so many bandits and criminals.
"Let's not wait, the slut needs to know her place-!" Was all one of the bandits ahead got before his head was blown into bits, blood gushing out from the headless body before Mira quickly rushed towards the large group, gunning more down with her Lancer blowing big holes or limbs off as one by one they fell dead before her.
This didn't bother the rest of the bandits, uncaring for the loss of their allies as they rushed towards the white haired woman. Feeling her helmet unretract giving her head further protection in case, the Demon Take-Over Mage from 137-C wasted no time firing more of her weapon at the approaching bandits, and when one got too close, she had no issue shoving her Lancer into his chest, tearing through his chest before ripping it upwards until the upper half of his body was split in half. She paid no heed as the body hit the ground spilling blood and shredded organs before refocusing on the rest. She had to dive out of the way when one of the bandits unleashed an explosive spell her way, causing it to fly pass her before detonating causing a small shockwave behind her, though Mira didn't let it phase her.
Aiming her Lancer Rifle, the white haired woman remained holding an expression of hate even if the helmet made it impossible for anyone to witness it. Firing more rounds at the approaching bandits, their bodies bursting with blood and chunks of gore from her weapon unleashed on their fragile flesh bodies despite the gear they wore.
"So many monsters… where did they even come from?" Mira whispered to herself, feeling further frustrated on what was going on as another bandit got close, only for the woman to raise and swing her Lancer down on his head before sawing him in two from the head to his waist then kicking the corpse away from her. None of this made any sense! She looked around previously to see nothing then all of a sudden a large group of low life cocksuckers show up from this air!
The small shaking of the ground caught her attention, seeing that as a sign that either something large was appearing or a massive group was on the move. She would get her answers when one of the bandits up ahead laughed with glee and amusement, still uncaring about the death happening to them all by the rage filled woman.
"Looks like the calvary's here! Go say hi to some old friends bitch!" The bandit announced before taunting until Mira like with numerous other shot his head off, getting it to explode in chunks of gore and brain matter while the headless body fell on its back.
"I don't care how many of you there are!" Mira shouted, turning around to face whatever force was seemingly arriving onto the scene, "I'll slaughter ever last one of-!"
For a brief moment she froze, her expression of shock hidden behind her helmet's from what she saw before her, and what she saw was-.
"GET HER!" One Gray Fullbuster resembling the one from Earthland 877-X along with the rest of numerous doubles of other men from their allied word shouted leading the charge of over a hundred men from the distance within the spread out ruins of the barren city. Among them doubles of Elfman, Laxus, Jet, Droy, Alzack, Gildarts and others among the charging horde. Doubles who were supposed to be long dead by her and her friends' hands.
"HUH?!" Gray and Elfman both shouted at once, surprised while most of the other males like Alzack, Romeo, Jey, Droy, Gajeel and others gained looks of shock themselves. In fact, it seemed like all doubles aside from Natsu and Makarov were present within the horde of these vestiges of long dead wicked versions of themselves.
"The fu-? HOW ARE THEY THERE?! THEY'RE SUPPOSED TO BE DEAD!" Marvell shouted, realizing who these doubles of the guys were supposed to be. She was only told of them, but the blue haired teenager knew these as nothing but vile rapists from their allied world of 877-X who are long dead, 'Then why are they here?! Is this some illusion or some sh*t?!'
That got Romeo, Wendy, Carla and Chelia to look over at the now angry yet baffled 137-C version of Wendy.
"You know these versions of us?" Romeo asked her, while Marvell only growled in response.
"They're the rapist versions of you all from 877-X, scum that were killed long ago! They shouldn't be there!" Marvell responded with rage, already knowing that her friend in the other timeline will no doubt slaughter those pigs, yet it didn't do anything to answer as to how these wicked counterparts were there never mind who would even know about them to summon forth such vestiges or illusions if they were that.
That got everyone's eyes to widen from learning of this, before many of them, especially the males within the guild hall to grew furious expressions from hearing on who these other versions of themselves were, knowing full well of the sins carried out by the men of 877-X.
"How they are there doesn't matter, only if the other me can put them down." Mira stated darkly, knowing that these other versions were only monsters that needed to be put down once more. It didn't matter if they hold the same faces of her family and friends, just like with those other wicked versions of Natsu and E.N.D, they were threats that needed to be stop.
"A REAL MAN MAKES SURE A WOMAN KNOWS HER PLACE OF BEING A USELESS BITCH FOR F**KING!" The vestige of 877-X Elfman shouted out, running ahead of the others with a sword in his hands.
Mira didn't understand, she didn't get how men she know are long dead are here, reminding on how the first time to kill a version of her brother. Yet the shock quickly burned away to anger and resolve. She knew something or someone was at play here, using such vestiges against her, but right now she had to focus.
"Nothing but a monster…" She whispered to herself, reminding herself of who these versions were and what they have done.
When the double of her brother closed in, she used her Magic to give herself a boost of speed, and before the wicked vestige of Elfman knew it the white haired woman cleaved his head down into two with her Chopper Machete. This got blood to splatter on her armor along with bits of brain matter leaving on her blade.
Kicking the body away, she looked ahead then turned around to see more of the previous bandits preparing to charge her with their own weapons and Magic in hand. She would not be deterred. Whatever was going on, she refused to let it get to her.
"I AM AN ANGEL OF DEATH!" Mira roared out before charging head on to the approaching horde of the wicked men and doubles, her Lancer Rifle raised and already firing off while she met the enemies head on.
Elfman would admit that seeing a version of himself having his head cleaved into two was unsettling, but the white haired male knew it was deserved considering what atrocities he heard that his double have committed.
'A real man protects his family and friends.' He thought to himself, a determined look on his face seeing the war-torn version of his sister preparing to meet the rest of the wicked vestiges and doubles head on along with the rest of the bandits that continued to be a danger.
"As deserving as that was, that has to be horrible from a mental standpoint right? Having to fight against such wicked versions of our friends?" Evergreen questioned, not sure if that was doing any favors to the woman's already damaged mental state.
"Is it? We've seen evil versions ourselves and seen them die." Bickslow asked to the brown haired woman with puzzlement.
"But we've only seen them and saw someone else fight or kill them. If we actually had to face an evil version of someone we know ourselves in person, it would be hard to not see them as our friend." Laxus pointed out to the blue and black haired man.
"How?" Natsu's voice caught the blonde Dragon Slayer's along with everyone else's attention. The Fire Dragon Slayer's gaze not leaving the blue smoke to see the other version of Mira fighting the vestiges of the men from 877-X along with the bandits that also kept appearing, "Just because they share a same face, that does not make them like our friends. Someone wicked and monstrous like that, none of our family or friends would ever be that. They're only monsters, nothing more."
The fact that Natsu spoke those words so seriously all without his gaze leaving the sight of the other timeline was rather unnerving to many within the guild hall. Others like most of the women couldn't help but grow more concern, wondering if the Fire Dragon Slayer was rationalizing that due to seeing the evil versions of himself and that E.N.D demon and the damage they have caused to their respective realities.
Yet the conversation couldn't continue, as the blue smoke then shifted scenes, pulling away from the other Mira to focus elsewhere within the other timeline, catching them all off guard. Yet it didn't last, as before any of them could question the sudden change away from the alternate Mira while she fought for her life, they were met with the sight of a familiar blue haired mad genius counterpart of Levy.
"AM I HALLUCINATING AGAIN?! WHERE DID THOSE BIMBOS GO?!" Levy shouted with utter frustration, grabbing her hair in frustration from suddenly finding herself all by her lonesome.
Trying to calm herself down, the mad genius looked at her surroundings with frustration and annoyance, hoping to not see anything that may appear out of nowhere and try to kill her. The last thing she needed was letting her guard down and dying to some lame monster or bandit. Again.
She found herself in a ruined city, nothing but the same dark thick clouds blocking out the sky while no wind blew, leaving total silence. The street she found herself in were filled with wreckages and rubble, and the buildings that still stood around her as far as she could see looked charred, with numerous walls missing allowing the insides of the abandoned and vine grown floors to be seen from the outside. Wreckages like vehicles and war machines were also seen throughout the streets, with some set ablaze with flames.
Levy has seen such a sight of desolation far too many times for it to really affect her in any manner, yet oddly enough the city and the remnants of machinery and the architectural style of the ruined civilization reminded her of Sera and home. Yet she didn't know why it reminded her of those places specifically.
Levy looked on with slight surprise, not just because she was seeing her own crazy double again, though she was glad to see her currently not in danger. But due to the sight of the ruined city her counterpart was in.
"Where… is she?" Levy questioned with a soft tone, not sure where her double was supposed to be. Yet… she didn't know why but a sense of sadness enveloped the Solid Script Mage from the landscape she and the rest were witnessing.
She wasn't the only one who felt this way, even Marvell was hit with the sense of the ruined city reminded her back home and Sera. Yet she herself wasn't sure why she was being reminded of those two places from such a sight.
"Here's hoping nothing bad happens to her." Droy stated, not wanting anything bad to happen to the other version of Levy despite her issues and insanity.
"Please don't jinx it." Jet told his friend and teammate, unsure of what was going to happen next or if anything was going to happen.
Levy sighed, feeling a headache coming on from the sudden separation from her friends and the lack of knowledge on what was going on or where she was.
"Whether I'm imagining this whole thing or not, standing around like a moron won't do any good," Levy grumbled, already wanting a beer to drink to deal with this nonsense. Raising her left arm up, she typed away before a moment later did Normal Face was summoned, landing onto the broken concrete beneath his feet.
"I have been summoned! What do you need of me Miss Levy?" The sentient killer watermelon asked, hoping to have something to kill as it stood ready like a soldier awaiting orders from a superior.
"Normal Face. We're currently separated from the other three. Zero idea on where we are or what reality we're in," Levy begun to explain looking away from him to get a better look at their current landscape. Eyes narrowing at the ruins around her, she continued speaking even as she turned back around to face her sentient killer melon, "We're going to search and get a move on, and if anything annoying or bad that needs killing shows up- WHERE THE F**k DID YOU GO?!"
As she talked and turned to look back at the sentient watermelon, she was quick to notice that Normal Face was nowhere to be seen. It was if he just vanished into thin air the moment she took her eyes off of him! Don't tell her she was already losing her mind already?!
That quickly got everyone off guard also, not expecting the sentient killer waterlemon of Levy's to suddenly be missing just like that.
"What the-? What just happened?!" Gajeel couldn't stop himself from raising his voice, seeing the killer melon vanishing just like that without warning whatsoever.
"Did whatever got them to separate in the first place do the same thing with the watermelon?" Kagura wondered, seeing how this wasn't a good sign if one were to ask the dark purple haired woman.
"Maybe? But what could cause it and the other Levy to be away from one another just like that?" Gray replied, the Ice Maker Mage only getting a worse feeling, all while he didn't have a clue on who or what was behind all of this in the other timeline.
No one had an answer, with many only growing more worried that the other version of Levy may be in danger like the other Mira currently was. Levy herself grasps her own hands together before her chest, hoping that regardless of her double's madness, she didn't want anything bad to happen to her.
Levy blinked before slapping to make sure she wasn't losing her mind. Still no sight of Normal Face anywhere. She looked back over her digistruct device, looking over it and checking to make sure she didn't just imagine the whole thing.
"I did bring him out! But where did that former disco ball go?! He better not be having a mandatory dance party with that robot again! People died because of Claptrap! AND LASERS!" Levy continued her rant even as she begun to walk down the ruined street within the silent yet desolate city. Rechecking her digistruct device on her left arm, she went onward with her movement while scrolling through what she had stored away, "Whatever, best to grab some extra gear and weapons in case anything ugly shows up. Like STICKY GRENADES-!" She stopped her words as her expression dropped while looking in her digistruct's inventory, "THREE?! I ONLY HAVE THREE LEFT?! Grr… at least I have spare socks and pitcher of honey, that could work with some- NO C4 EITHER GAH!"
She let out a huff, dismissing the digistruct for the time being but not before grabbing her Light Machine Gun out, holding it currently with her right hand while rubbing her forehead with her left.
"Ugh… I'll just craft something with explosion science then! The superior science!" Levy boasted with a grin, already thinking like a totally normal and not deranged person whatsoever.
Many blinked upon hearing the words the alternate version of Levy just spat out, forgetting about the unknown situation she was on and the confusion of where she was at to process what she just went on about.
"…What is she even talking about?" Levy questioned with utter puzzlement. A part of her realizes that asking and questioning the words and antics of her 137-C double was pointless, but she was unable to stop herself.
"I don't know, just sounds like her usual insanity." Gajeel figured, already having gave up on trying to understand his girlfriend's crazy double.
"Hey! She's not that insane!" Marvell defended McGarden, which did little to actually do her as some of the others merely glanced her way unconvinced.
"She kind of is." Romeo pointed out, which only got Marvell to gain a tick mark and cross her arms over her chest.
"She's not that bad…" Marvell grumbled to herself, to which Wendy only sighed from seeing and hearing this from her older counterpart.
"Shouldn't she me more concern on where she is and what's going on than whatever she's talking about?" Chelia couldn't help but point out, not understanding why the other version of Levy wasn't taking her current situation more seriously. Sure, this probably wasn't the first time something like getting separated and ending up in a ruined location happened to the other Levy and the other 137-C woman, but the Sky God Slayer from Lamia Scale figured she would take it more seriously than this.
"She should be, but that's expecting too much considering how she is." Levy admitted, not noticing the small glare Marvell sent her way from how insulting that sounded to her friend.
The sound of a thud quickly catching her attention, sounding as if something or someone just landed on a nearby vehicle remnant. She groaned, feeling more annoyed than anything else from her words being interrupted.
"Great, probably some threat or whatever." Levy muttered to herself, preparing her weapon, though briefly wondering if she should make a laser rifle with some random stuff she has stored in her digistruct. Laser weapons were cool, not as fun as explosive weapons, but still fun to use.
Right as she was about to however…
"HAHAHAHA! IT'S THE WOMAN WHO DIDN'T SHOOT ME IN THE FACE LOSER!" A voice from the direction of the original noise got her to freeze, her eyes widening… for about two seconds before boiling rage flooded her veins in an instant.
Swiftly turning around with her Light Machine Gun raised and pointed, she was met crouching down on a nearby burning vehicle remnant what looked to be a guy with a large, red mohawk with a mask covering his face. His chest was bare barring the odd object hanging around his neck, and he wore basic bandit-like pants and boots.
"YOU?!" Levy roared with rage, prepared to shoot at the man who should be dead ahead of her on the burning vehicle, a raging flame nearby helping the masked crazed bandit casting a shadow from behind him. The blue haired woman not at all even questioning why someone who should be dead and who Kagura killed before she could, was here on whatever this place and world was.
"HAHAHA! What's wrong Levy? Can't shoot me in the face? I'll have you know the reason you can't shoot me, is because you can't!" The odd bandit, Face McShooty begun to explain and mock, standing fully up and jumping off the ruined vehicle wreckage before landing face first on the ruined pavement below. Yet he quickly jumped back on his feet without issue, "Kagura shot me! And murdered me before you could!" He started dancing in place and laughed once again, "That's right! Face McShooty is right here, and you can't do anything about it!"
The deranged man points at his face, while Levy felt her irritation grow if the gritting teeth and tick mark on her forehead were any indication.
"See?! Can't shoot my face! Kagura already did and I recorded it after my death! Great advertisement all over Pandora! FACE MCSHOOTY! BULLETS TO THE FACE! EXCEPT FOR LEVY! MUWAHAHAHAHAHA!" The vestige of the lunatic continued onward, laughing more hysterical than previously.
Everyone just blinked from seeing this exchange.
"…What is going on?" Kagura questioned with a blank look on her face. She wasn't sure what she or the rest was expecting, but seeing someone that the other Levy knows and talking the way he was just screamed moronic, 'But my double apparently killed him if he's telling the truth, yet he's there? An illusion like those rapist versions of the men?'
"I don't know. Not sure if I should be happy that's it's nothing serious or not." Levy stated, her eyes narrowing at the sight they all were seeing. It was still not helping any of them out as to what was going on, since from this Face Mcshooty guy's words were to go by, he should be dead apparently yet he was there.
"Didn't they mention a Pandora when they were at that beach with that older Asuka and her friends? Maybe he's from that place." Lucy recalled, remembering when how the 137-C women aside from McGarden due to being out cold at the time mentioned and talked about a place called Pandora and how they apparently died multiple times. That was still something the blonde found unnerving, knowing it couldn't be good on their mental states.
"Okay then why is someone who got killed there here on this other Earthland? And why would McGarden have an issue with an idiot like that?" Freed replied with puzzlement, not seeing the connection between this Face McShooty weirdo and McGarden.
"Obviously she never got to shoot him in the face! BUT NOW'S YOUR CHANCE LEVY, I KNOW YOU CAN DO IT! SHOOT HIS FACE LIKE THE BADASS YOU ARE!" Marvell stated before shouting out towards her friend in the other timeline despite knowing she couldn't hear her. She will be supportive of her friend and obtain the shooting of the face!
'Can't she treat this more seriously?' Chelia couldn't help but thought with some frustration, knowing that considering what the other Mira was currently going through, no doubt something was bound to go wrong with the alternate version of Levy, yet she didn't seem worried whatsoever.
"SHUT UP YOU SMUG SHOOTABLE FACE BASTARD!" Levy was already pissed off, aiming at and firing her weapon at the mad bandit directly into the face… which did little as the bullets just bounced off much to her frustration, "I SWEAR I'LL KILL YOU AND GET THAT SWEET SATISFACTION FROM THE EASIEST QUEST IN THE MULTIVERSES!"
"SEE! ALREADY BEEN FACE SHOT! AND THE MORAL IMPLICATION WERE MININAL!" Face McShooty laughed like a maniac once again, holding his stomach while he leaned backwards doing so, while Levy ready to follow through on her promise.
But then Face McShooty stopped abruptly tilting his head to the wide while still leaning back.
"But since when did you ever care about morality?" The mad bandit asked in a far quieter, subdued, almost… innocence, voice.
That took Levy back, the sudden change of behavior and the way he spoke those words, snapping her out of her anger. The fact he stared at her without moving or flinching a muscle, with such a different voice unlike the mad bandits from Pandora were supposed to have.
"What?" She was able to get out, finding the sudden change and what he said, and the fact he was still unmoving blankly looking at her, was actually creeping her out in a way she didn't like.
*BOOM*
*HOOOONK*
The sudden detonation from behind nearly knocked her over, as debris and smoke erupted and covered the area behind her, the source having emerged from the ruined road itself. Yet it was the honking noise afterwards that truly got her expression to freeze, hastily turning around ignoring the smoke blown her way, hoping that it wasn't what she thought it was.
Sadly for her to it was. Emerging from the now hole in the ruinous street of the desolated, burning city they all resided within, a mass of black and purplish tentacles withering and constant motion in all directions, many slamming and picking up debris all around it lifting it all up without issue. Two massive wings could barely be seen from the mass of slithering limbs, somehow being pristine white. A head could be barely made out from the heap of limbs, resembling that of a swan's head beak and all. Only that the orange-reddish beak was opened far too wide for an ordinary swan to open, with multiple rows of jagged, sharp teeth. Adding to the deformed creature numerous rows of teeth could also be seen within the mass of tentacles, unbounded and moving in ways they shouldn't be able to do.
"WHAT THE F**K IS THAT?!" Lucy and Juvia shouted together at once, terror in their eyes at the sight of the unholy mass of tentacles and teeth.
The rest within the guild hall were just as caught off guard, shocked and appalled by the sight of the hideous creature. If it could even be called that.
"Where did that thing even come from?!" Warren shouted, feel more unnerved as he looked at the monstrous thing.
"That's not important! McGarden's now in danger!" Gray exclaimed, seeing how things went from ridiculous to dangerous just like that. The fact that potentially more of these things could show up popped into the Ice Maker Mage's head, and he didn't know if he wanted to have to see the other Levy having to deal with such dangers.
Levy could only look on as the swirling mass of teeth and tentacles fully arose from the hole from the ground. Her eyes fully widened, flashes of horrific memories into her mind. Seemingly beautiful swans transforming into such horrendous creatures… regenerating from whatever wounds the mad genius inflicted upon them, rendering her Shredder Magic, a power she prides herself on being capable of killing anything, useless.
"NO! GET AWAY!" Levy yelled out, completely forgetting about Face McShooty behind her as she ran and dived to her left just in time to avoid the mutated beastly swan creature fling itself in her direction. Its main jaw clamping down on the still vestige of the mad bandit, lifting its body up and tearing the quiet body to shreds behind swallowing it all down its barely visible pulsing throat.
Getting back on her feet with haste, her expression remaining on the mutated swan-like beast while the creature lifted itself up fully, its size towering over the blue haired woman, turning her way to feast on her. Sweat ran down her face, feeling her own heart beat speeding up from the adrenaline, from the terror. If she had paid more attention, she would have noticed the sky becoming more reddish and orange from the sudden increase in flames that began to erupt throughout the desolate metropolis.
Yet the beast wasn't the only thing that decided to make itself known. The numerous noises of limbs emerging from the old pavement all throughout the street and possible throughout the whole city, catching her eyes as she briefly tore her gaze away from the beastly swan to see such sights. Rising from the land itself, their bodies covered in ashes and melted exposed flesh, countless undead from all over rose. Yet their eyes emitted a sickly glow of yellow, along with visible veins glowing of the same color filled with odd liquid making them more unsettling. Some had their mouths opening from the side of their face with yellow stained sharp teeth from the curved gums. Others had extra limbs with sharpened bone exposed from their arms and hands. Even then more were shown to have their full front chests and stomachs opened up rotting with exposed ribs, the outer flesh melting intertwined with the inner organs and muscles while they hanged and dripped, all while said organs and muscles had the same sickly yellow taint as the eyes and liquid that flooded their veins.
"More undead…?" Erza muttered, her voice soft while she had to swallow to push down the feeling of wanting to vomit from the sight of these undead, not being like the previous types that they have seen before with Mira or other timelines before. A few others weren't as able, rushing to empty their stomachs in the restrooms from the sight of such grotesque creatures.
"They're appearing all over the place…" Natsu whispered with worry in his tone, pushing his own disgust and nerves from the sight of them and the beastly swan-like monster down as much as he could, only more concern for McGarden seeing what she will have to face, 'I should be there, I should be there to help her damn it!'
Marvell merely clutched her fists, feeling utterly helpless once again. Her friend had to deal with these monsters, and yet she couldn't do anything to help. She chose to believe like always that her Levy will be able to handle it like the badass she is, yet the teenager couldn't help but worry for her friend.
"Oh f**k me." Levy muttered to herself, seeing the sudden horde of ash infused undead rising from the ground throughout the city, which was now roaring with even more flames than it did previously, yet the blue haired woman paid little mind to that detail.
*HOOOONK*
The mutated swan-like beast let out another noise catching Levy's attention once again, the larger monster rushing over towards the mad genius, while the undead around her begun to also take off towards her to take her down. Their speed far faster than the typical zombie she has seen and faced in most realities that had them.
"F**K OFF ALREADY! SHREDDER BALL!" Levy yelled out in frustration, before following up with summoning forth a sphere of Magical parchment before flinging it at the swan-like beast. The creature was sliced up, numerous of its tentacles and other parts of its body stumbling and hitting the ground while thick black blood poured from all the wounds and cut off limbs. But the woman knew it would only slow the thing down, giving her enough time to put distance between it and her.
Of course that left with the other issue with the massive number of ash infused undead rushing at her from all direction. Not wasting any time, Levy summoned forth many more Magical parchment before flinging it all around her, slicing down as many of the undead as she could spot.
"Staying grounded won't do any favors! Got to keep my distance!" Levy exclaimed. She begun to move before using her Magic to summon forth her Paper Carpet, jumping on it before it took off into the air. Just in time before more of the undead could swarm her. The ones that were in front of her having been cut down while she took off by the large Magical parchment she now stood on like a surfer.
Many within the guild hall were caught off guard, not expecting McGarden to use such a technique like that.
"She can fly now?!" Natsu and Gray shouted at once.
"That's what I'm talking about!" Marvell exclaimed with a big grin on her face, holding her hands as fists before her with excitement. McGarden was not out of the woods by a long shot, but it was cool to see her have new techniques with her Paper Shredder Magic.
"She's not out of danger yet. Who knows what may happen in this other Earthland next to throw her off." Observer stated, not going to let his guard down in the event of things going sideways in some manner.
Now up in the air, standing on her Paper Carpet, Levy looked down at the now every growing burning city beneath her. Flying in between ruined and burning buildings, Levy kept her eye out around her and down below, knowing that swan monster would no doubt regenerated by now and be out for her. Not to mention the masses of undead down below rushing all over.
"This is ridiculous! There's nowhere to land that isn't in flames or filled with those stupid zombies! I can't stay like this forever and burn through my Magic! SERIOUSLY WHAT'S WITH THE FLAMES?! THERE WASN'T THAT MUCH ON FIRE EARLIER! AND HOW BIG IS THIS STUPID CITY?!" Levy shouted out, flying through the burning undead filled metropolis, which didn't seem to end no matter how far she went flying in a direction.
*HOOOOONK*
She felt herself freeze for a moment before turning to her left only to be met with an airborne mass of teeth and tentacles and wings that arrived, and not letting Levy have any time to even shout something, numerous of the tentacles launched themselves forward above and below the Paper Carpet, shattering right through it while another one slammed directly into Levy, causing her to shout from the sudden attack.
Said attack launched the woman into a nearby burning tall building through an already broken window, causing her to roll over onto the floor a few times before coming to a stop. The body shields she had flickered for a moment but was able to absorb most of the damage this time around.
"GAH! ARE YOU F**KING KIDDING ME?! SINCE WHEN COULD THEY BREAK MY CARPET!?" Levy yelled out while rushing back into her feet.
Levy didn't even have time to ponder on her next more or cursed out more words before roars of undead grabbed her focus. Turning around towards the windowless hole in the skyscraper she was in, she was met with numerous of the ash infused undead climbing into the high leveled floor of the structure she was currently now in from the outside. Upon spotting her, the deformed and ash clutched living corpses made a rush for her.
Not wasting a moment, Levy yelled out in frustration while grabbing and firing off her Light Machine Gun at them. Good news was that their ash covered, grotesque bodies were easy to light up with bullets. Bad news was that more kept on climbing into the holes before her. Any that tried to get close the blue haired soldier shoved the bayonet on her gun into the throat then blowing their heads off afterwards for good measure.
"Screw this! This isn't working!" Levy realized, quickly pulling out from her digistruct the few sticky grenades she had on her. Eyeing behind her to spot an opened entrance to a hallway within the building, the woman rushed towards and through it, before turning back around and throwing the sticky grenades around the door entrance. All while the undead rushed after her, "TRY GETTING PASS THIS ASSHOLES!"
Not even turning back around, she ran down the smoke-filled hallway from nearby flames while an explosion erupted from behind her fully engulfing the room she was initially in. This also caused the floor above it to collapse down into it, fully encasing the pathway to prevent any more undead from following. Her helmet closing her face to help deal with the smoke, now all the woman needed to do was get out of this burning before the flames decide to bring the whole thing down.
Everyone so far was looking on with intense expression and the occasional worry look. So far Levy was able to escape and fend off the swan beast and the undead. Yet how much further will she be able to keep making a getaway before she may come across a dead end?
"HAH! THAT'LL SHOW YOU JACKASSES! TRYING TO CORNER ME AND KILL ME?! I'M LEVY F**KING MCGARDEN! I'M AWESOME!" Levy shouted while she ran down the hallway, eyeing down ahead to show a hole in the way leading back to the outside. Grinning, she summoned forth her Magic before creating yet another Paper Carpet as she jumped through the hole, landing on her Parchment transportation.
Back outside, the woman found herself once again flying through the burning ruined city. Eyeing down below and her surroundings, she still noticed that more fire continued to spread and grow among the undead infested city. The soldier also made sure to keep an eye out in case that stupid swan beast showed itself again.
"I have zero idea what's going on or if I'm just imagining the whole thing, but whoever or whatever is behind all this needs to step up their game! EVEN THAT STUPID SWAN COULDN'T STOP ME! HOLY SPACE POPE I'M AWESOME!" Levy let out, feeling the excitement despite her utter puzzlement on the situation and the horrendous swan beast she had to face and was no doubt still hunting for her lingering.
Then why did you let us burn?
Levy felt herself freeze up, turning her gaze all around almost like a bur. Who or what said that? Was she imagining hearing things now?!
It wasn't just the alternate Levy who heard those words however. Everyone within the guild hall felt themselves grow further confuse or alarm from the sudden hearing of words being spoken.
"What the-? Who said that? You guys heard that too, right?" Gajeel asked the others, his gaze glancing over to the rest of the Mages within the building only to be met with confused and worried expressions every time.
"Of course we heard it! But where did it come from? Who or what was speaking?" Cana responded to the Iron Dragon Slayer before questioning even though she knew no one else had any answers to that.
"It sounded like multiple people…" Wendy noticed, almost like numerous voices were speaking at once. She didn't know why, but when she heard them… she felt saddened. But she didn't know why.
No one could question it any further before the other timeline in the blue smoke grabbed their attention once again, pulling any thoughts from the unknown speaker or speakers for the time being.
*HOOOONK*
She was pulled out of her thoughts from the sight of the mutant swan beast appearing once again, having bulldoze its way from one of the higher levels of a nearby burning building. Flapping its wings and masses of tentacles, the monster threw directly towards the airborne blue haired woman. The woman only felt more infuriated.
"You don't know when you quit do you?" Levy muttered, knowing that she had to deal with him thing permanently otherwise it will never stop chasing after her. Putting her current weapon away, from her digistruct did she bring forth one massive, silver, cannon-like weapon that even she could barely hold up. A little something she picked up in one reality with a planet filled with mechanical abominations with weapons perfect for situations like this. Holding the massive cannon up, she aimed at the approaching swan-like beast, her Paper Carpet still shooting through the air throughout the burning city, "TRY REGENERATING FROM THIS COCKSUCKER!"
With a pull of her trigger, the weapon fired off a massive beam of raw energy, nearly blowing her back from the recoil but she was able to hold her ground. The winged and tentacled beast saw the danger, yet only had enough time to start another roar before the whole beam fully enveloped it, fully evaporating it to nothingness while the beam continued to shoot outward before hitting the higher levels of another nearby building behind the beast, causing it to crumble down into the burning streets below.
"Whoa!" Multiple Mages throughout the guild hall exclaimed at once, not expecting the other alternate Levy to pull out something massive like that out of nowhere.
"That was so cool! Where did she get that?! I want something like that!" Marvell exclaimed with stars in her eyes, her hands held up with excitement. Imagine if she had a weapon like that on hand, reducing any threat to nothingness while looking awesome!
"Now's not the time to focus on her weapons! She's still in danger!" Chelia reminded the older counterpart of Wendy, not liking how she was getting distracted when her friend was still in a dangerous situation. Marvell gained an annoyed look before glancing her way.
"I know that. But so far she's kicking ass and not letting her guard down. I think I can complement on a cool weapon she has without freaking out on the obvious." Marvell responded to the pink haired Lamia Scale Mage.
"Guys please don't argue. Now's not the best time for that." Romeo asked them, feeling the two narrowing their eyes at one another before he spoke up. They shifted their gazes toward him for a moment, making him feel a bit nervous before the two looked away, refocusing on the other timeline which got Romeo to sigh in relief.
"YEAH! THAT'S WHY YOU DON'T MESS WITH ME!" Levy boasted. Glancing at the small glowing crimson lines near her trigger, she scowled from seeing the two remaining shots left. The downside of finding such a weapon, as powerful and destructive it was it barely had any ammo in it, only good for a few shots. She didn't have time to try to find more ammo for it before she and the others shifted away from that respective reality, "Making me waste my precious shots! I could be using it to kill something way more important! Stupid regenerating-!"
*HOOOONK*
Levy barely registered the sound before the building she was passing to her right exploded, causing smoke and debris to fly all around when another swan-like monster emerged, its jaw full of teeth and tentacles all shooting outward wiggling. The woman's eyes widened from the sight, seeing yet another of the same monster that could survive her Paper Shredder Magic.
"Are you-?!" She couldn't finish when the mass of tentacles shot toward, slamming into the woman and piercing her Paper Carpet shattering it into pieces. Levy screamed out as she felt herself plummet down into the street, crashing directly on top of a ruined vehicle caving in the rusted roof of it. Her body shield flickered for a moment, having tanked much of the damage yet it's clear it won't be able to survive another long fall like that.
Everyone felt their breathing hitch, seeing yet another of those horrible creatures appearing from nowhere. Their worry only grew upon seeing McGarden being knocked down all the way down to the damaged street below.
"Oh no…" Levy muttered, unable to stop herself from clutching her hands to her chest with concern.
"She's grounded, meaning all those undead can get to her now." Observer realized, seeing the situation was now worse for the alternate version of Levy than it was previously.
"That won't stop her. Difficult maybe, but I know Levy will be able to handle it and kick their asses!" Marvell stated, believing that her friend will triumph in the end no matter how difficult this other Earthland wants to make it.
"I hope so…" Lucy trailed off, hoping for the best like everyone else was.
"F**K THAT HURT!" Levy yelled out, rolling over off the dent in rusted and ruined vehicle and onto the ground. She didn't get it! There was another one of those swan monsters?! Where did it even come from?!
Picking herself up and grabbing her weapon which landed nearby without much damage thankfully, the woman could hear the roars of the undead approaching her, along with the loud honking of the second swan-like beast landing nearby. The weight of the creature causing cracks into the already damaged street where it stood. The beast honked loudly once more before it shot forward, many of its tentacles and rows of teeth shooting outward in hopes of catching and devouring the prey before it. Many of the ash infused undead also reappeared from all directions, rushing forward with ease with other easily jumping high over any obstacles like the flames or ruined debris from collapsed buildings.
All of this only succeeding in shortening Levy's already short fuse.
"F**K OFF ALREADY!" Levy yelled out, bringing up her laser cannon without a moment's hesitation before firing it once more. Ignoring how the recoil nearly knocked her over, she gained small bits of satisfaction seeing the massive beam of energy shoot forward decimating everything in front of and around it, including the swan-like beast and numerous undead, vaporizing them into nothingness to return from.
Yet that satisfaction ended when she spotted more of the undead from all around rushing at her. Putting the large laser cannon away, she pulled out her Light Machine Gun once more, knowing it was more effective to mow down more enemies when surrounded. As infuriating it was, she was going to have to fight her way to safety before trying to take flight in case any more of those regenerating swan monsters show up out of the blue again.
"BRING IT ON ASSHOLES!" Levy shouted out before charging towards the nearest rushing ash infused undead before piercing its neck with her bayonet, ignoring the splatting of yellow glowing blood that got onto her while kicking the body away.
The undead didn't stop their assault, rushing in with roars without a care if it meant to hunt and tear their prey apart. Yet Levy stood defiant, gunning down any undead that tried to get the jump of her. As multiple ash infused undead leaped at her arms wide out, Levy was quick to respond with summoning numerous Magical parchments from her Paper Shredder before flinging them outward, slicing the undead causing their shredded bodies to hit the ground with more of their yellow blood spilling and staining the ruined pavement below. Taking the opportunity with no undead around her, the woman continued to fire off her weapon at the distant weapon, not focusing on aiming due to them being in all directions while taking off into the streets, hoping to have more space.
Those within the guild hall continued to watch on, some feeling more concern about the situation due to the endless ash infused undead that continued to come out of the woodworks from all throughout the burning city. They hoped that the other Levy would be able to find safety or at least a moment of rest before continuing to fight.
"COME ON! TRY TO MAKE THIS MORE EXCITING YOU STUPID DEAD F**KS!" Levy mocked, gunning down more of the approaching ash infused zombies, quickly blasting numerous ones into pieces as their bodies collapsed. A few other undead were able to rush in and one more attempt to leap at her yet the woman quickly brought out her Gnasher shotgun before blasting the leaping grotesque living carcasses into bloody chunks sending them flying back, "NOT SO DANGEROUS WITHOUT THOSE STUPID REGENERATING SWANS TO HELP YOU ALL!"
More noise of movement could be faintly heard coming to her from behind despite the raging flames and the dying sounds of the ash infused undead and the firing of her current weapons. She merely grinned, not at all afraid, willing to take on whatever threat that decide to show its face.
"I CAN HEAR YOU F**KS! YOU WON'T-!" Levy begun to yell as she twirled around, grin on her face prepared to gun down whatever decided to appear.
(Cue: "Light up the Sky" by From Ashes to New)
…Only to be met with living humanoid pillars of ash.
Levy's eyes widened behind her helmet, freezing for just a moment to see the living ash figures… ash structures resembling those who were burned away from the Hammer of Dawn on Sera. Men, women, even children, all pillars of grey and black ashes given physical human forms as they all stared at her, making their way over to the soldier.
She wasn't the only ones caught off guard, as many within the guild hall also found themselves widening their eyes in shock. For the Fairy Tail Mages, they remembered when those from 137-C last visited them, they got a glimpse of Sam's world. They remember the pillars of ashes that resembled people. People who couldn't be saved when the Hammer of Dawn struck. Marvell also felt herself freeze up, recognizing the ash-like victims who were doomed to die by fire as their only salvation.
"They're… they're the same as those we saw…" Lisanna muttered, her tone soft, recalling what they were shown back then, 'But how? How are they here in this other Earthland? And how are they alive and moving?'
Hearing that got Chelia, Millianna and Kagura to look at the Animal Take-Over Mage's way with confusion yet alarm.
"You saw those things before?" Millianna asked with confusion, yet her tone was also still filled with worry and was quiet from the sight. It wasn't no where near gruesome or horrible looking compared to the undead and other monsters they've seen… yet the cat-like woman couldn't help but feel a sense of sorrow from the sight of the living ashen figures.
"They were people who we couldn't save… reduced to ash by the Hammer of Dawn…" Marvell whispered from her spot, feeling a sense of sorrow yet was still utterly baffled by how such ashen statue-like figures were in this other Earthland, 'What is going on here? Things were already confusing and stupid enough. But now we're seeing this?'
That got the three to widen their eyes. For Chelia this was the first time hearing the specifics of Marvell's world and this Sera planet and what kind of choices they had to make for survival. For Kagura and Millianna, they remember being given such a rundown from Erza and the rest when they first arrived, yet to see the result from one such conflict… and seeing it being turned against McGarden, they didn't know what else to think on this.
"What…?" Levy muttered, suddenly flashes of memories hitting her on the times of her missions she once took on Sera before the Locust invaded her home. Remembering the ashen statues of those who met their end in fire. Then flashes of Etherion Day hit her, recalling how she in hand with Natsu and Hisui unleash the satellite weapons that burned away Earthland to push their hated enemy back, "Wait… no… how are you…?"
Why did you let us burn? Were we not worth saving?
The voices… the voices from earlier could be heard once again. Sounding like an untold number of man and woman and child speaking in unison. The ashen sentient figures rush towards her, Levy feeling her mind bombarded by those words, along with the memories once again as panic began to settle like before with the arrival of the first swan beast.
"GET AWAY!" Levy shouted, summoning forth her Paper Shredder before firing them at the approaching ashen figures. If she paid more attention, she'd had notice all the previous undead were completely gone, their place taken by the ashen pillars of those who burned.
The Magical parchments cut through their targets… yet their ashen bodies simply reformed and they continued their march as it was nothing more than an inconvenience. That once more got Levy to widen her eyes, feeling more overwhelmed from her deadly Magic ineffective all while memories for reasons unknown continued to rush to the forefront of her mind, causing a headache too much for her to ignore.
We didn't do anything wrong! Why did you condemn us to the fire? Did our lives mean nothing?
"Shup up! JUST SHUT UP! YOU'RE NOT REAL! YOU'RE JUST HALLUCINATIONS!" Levy shouted out, clutching her head with her left hand while firing her Light Machine Gun with her right. Yet the bullets simply passed on through each of them, not a single one distracted or bothered by it all.
"Levy!" Marvell exclaimed with worry for her friend. The voices also heard by everyone in the building, the voices of those who met their end by not just the Hammer of Dawn but met their end on Etherion Day back in 137-C, "I don't get it! What's going on here for them to be there and say things?! Who's causing this to happen for these illusions to appear?!"
"They're not illusions," Observer spoke up, getting her and everyone else's attention, while his own gaze remained on the blue smoke showing the events of the other timeline, "I think I figured out what's going on. This Earthland… somehow it has access to their memories, to their emotions, and it's using it all against them like a weapon. Fully creating them and brought them to life. Perhaps it's done as a form of punishment. I'm still unsure, but I believe this is the case, at least with your Mira and Levy so far."
That got everyone in the guild hall to grow surprised.
"You mean… it's not a bad guy behind this but the planet itself acting against them?" Juvia asked with surprise and alarm. If that was the case then the whole planet was essentially out to get not just the other Mira and Levy but no doubt the other Erza and Kagura also.
"Wait how would the planet do something like that? Wouldn't that mean this other Earthland is somehow sentient and alive?" Gray replied, unable to see how that could be the case.
Noises from the blue smoke brought them out of their thinking before they could continue the conversation, growing further distress among everyone witnessing the other Earthland shown by the blue smoke.
Levy felt her own heartbeat in her chest, seeing the ashen sentient figures unbothered by what she fired at them. Numerous ones managed to reach where she was, practically jumping on her in attempts to hold her down.
"GET OFF OF ME!" She yelled out, struggling yet the ashen figures held their grounds as they continued to hold their grips on the woman. More of the figures rushed in and crowded all around her, more doing their best to ensure the blue haired woman could not escape, "I WON'T LET YOU BEST ME LIKE THIS! YOU'RE JUST ANOTHER STUPID HALLUCINATION I HAVE! NOW GET OFF OF-!"
A loud boom and charging noise from high above cut her off, forcing her to look up high into the sky… only with growing shock and horror seeing a familiar glow of bright yellow forming in the clouds that twirled all around the opening, directly above where she stood and held down by the ashen crowd.
A familiar sight among nearly everyone aside from the visiting Mermaid Heel and Lamia Scale Mages, recalling the similar Earthland they saw like 137-C when a similar glow formed above a city before a beam of flame came down scorching and obliterating it all. Marvell instead recalled seeing the glows when Etherion Day happened, seeing the distant pillars of fires bathing their targets in flames, with billions having met their end by them.
"No…" Marvell whispered, genuine horror in her voice seeing what was about to strike down her friend.
"…Me?" Levy finished, recognizing what it was… and what was sure to follow.
Burn you murderer… BURN LIKE WE DID!
The voices of the ashen roared in unison, overwhelming Levy in the same moment did the pillar of fire came crashing down from the sky above. The fiery beam hit and fully covered the woman, along with her surroundings enveloping everything in an ever-channeling storm of flames.
Oddly enough… she wasn't reduced to ashes. Her skin and armor remain intact even as it all bathed in fire. Her hair also seemingly unaffected. Her body was still the same, undamaged.
Yet she still burned.
Levy screamed, feeling as if she was bathing in the hottest of flames, feeling like she was melting and dying over and over and over again with each passing agonizing second. All the while, vestiges of the ashen figures surrounded her unaffected by the bathing of the fire from above. In fact, they seem to still surround the woman in utter agony, ignoring her agonizing screams. Their voices of billions chanting and screaming inside her head to burn… burn… burn… over and over again.
And burn Levy did.
"NO!" Levy, Gajeel and Marvell shouted at once, unable to stop themselves from seeing McGarden, her body infect yet feeling the agony of being bathed from the fire from above.
Yet before any words could be change, the blue smoke changed the scene into elsewhere, catching everyone off guard from the sudden shift.
"It's changing the scene?! Now of all times?!" Natsu shouted in anger, feeling furious seeing what had befallen the other Levy. Yet also furious at himself for being unable to help or save her.
"Is… is she dead?" Wendy asked with worry, not sure if McGarden was surviving what she just went though.
"DON'T SAY THAT!" Marvell roared, getting Wendy to flinch from the shout. Marvell felt her breathing go more frantic, yet still she tried her best to control herself with mixed results, "She can't be dead… she can't have died… she didn't burn away into nothing… a blast like that should have reduced her to ash but it didn't."
"Yeah… it didn't seem like it was meant to kill her… only to inflict as much pain and agony as it could." Erza realized, yet that didn't make their concern and distraught any better. If anything, for some it just made it worse, 'This other Earthland, if it really is somehow alive and responsible for this, it's wishing to inflict as much suffering on them as it can. What could have happened for this Earthland to be able to cause that and want to inflict such pain?'
The red head was pulled from her thoughts along with everyone else, seeing the new scene taking place, this time returning to Erza's own 137-C double.
"Damn it! Where are they?!" Erza shouted in frustration, the red head continuing her way throughout the dead forest. A faint trail of footsteps she left in her wake in the grey ash covered ground, moving past any of the dead, lifeless trees while she continued to search for her friends.
No matter how far she went, there was no sign of the others nor any sign of whatever might have been behind their sudden disappearance. It made no sense! People don't just up and vanish like that without a sound! Something or, as annoying as it was if it's the case, someone was behind this. But who or what could that be?
"Would be easier if I could find anything to point me in the right direction!" Erza complained, continuing her march through the barren, lifeless forest. The red head remained on guard however as she treks onward, her Lancer Rifle still in hand in case she needed to defend herself, "Felt like I've been walking in circles! Everything still looks the-!"
A faint crack emitted from underneath her as she took another step, getting her to stop before looking down. Nothing looked out of the ordinary, no twigs she stepped on to alert anything, if anything was nearby that was. Just more dirt and ash.
"What was-?" Erza begun to question, wondering if she was just hearing thing…
…Only for the ground to completely give in, getting her eyes to widened in alarm as the land around crumbled all around her. She could only yell out as she found herself in free fall, the forest above being left above while she fell into the dark below.
Like times before, everyone in the guild hall were caught off guard from this, alarm growing in nearly everyone present.
"Erza!" Natsu shouted in worry for the red head's counterpart from 137-C, while Erza herself widened her eyes with surprise and worry from seeing her double now falling in the dark underground to who knows where.
"What's happening now?! Why did the ground give in like that?!" Bickslow yelled in utter puzzlement.
"How should we know that?!" Evergreen responded back to her fellow teammate, knowing that none of them would have any idea as to why such a thing happened.
Marvell looked on with slight worry in her eyes, hoping that it wouldn't be anything too serious like what befell McGarden. She knew her Erza was tough, was strong, but with what they have seen so far she was more on edge than normal. If this other Earthland was indeed alive and had access to Scarlet's emotions and memories like with Strauss and McGarden, who knows what the planet will bring out to attack her with.
Only seconds seemed to pass, yet it was seconds too long while Erza felt herself falling still shouting. Shouting which then turned to short yells and grunts of pain as she felt herself collide into rock, yet it was angled thus she now felt herself tumbling onward like she was rolling down a hill.
Eventually, after what felt like an eternity, the tumbling stopped as she crashed onto flat, cold ground. Groaning a little, the red head slowly but surely managed to get back up onto her feet. Her eyes were closed while she rubbed her head.
"Ow… what the f**k just happened?" Erza questioned, lowering her hand from her head after a few moments. Opening her eyes, she noticed her weapon was gone, but any worry or frustration from that melted away a moment later when spotting her Lancer Rifle lying on the rocky ground a few feet away. Sighing with relief, she moved and reached down, picking it up before holstering it in her hands, giving it one look over, "Okay, nothing looks damaged from that fall. Would be a pain to be down a weapon from that."
With that out of the way, she took a glance at her surroundings, which only succeeded to put her more on edge than before. She was in a cavern, that was obvious from the start being underground, and it was very dark, barely able to see the outlines of the walls and ceiling. Yet her confusion only grew from seeing the tunnel she was in only went left and right, the roof above fully sealed despite having fallen through an open that let her arrive in such a place in the first place.
"Sh*t. That confirms something unnatural is up here at least." Erza grumbled to herself. Something or someone must have closed whatever the opening to the surface was to prevent her from trying to climb out. Meaning she was going to have to explore this underground cavern and find a way out. Oh, what joy.
Everyone remained on high alert, seeing how the planet, if Observer was right and it was the planet itself acting and not some person with a powerful illusion or reality warping abilities, moved Scarlet elsewhere and trapped her down underground. They hoped it wouldn't be anything too serious, yet some knew it was only a matter of time before something bad happened.
"Might as well get a move on. Better keep an eye out in case anything tries to jump out at me." Erza muttered to herself, posing her Lancer Rifle up in front of her to be ready should thing go sideways. Well, more so than they have already. Her helmet closed around her head, with the inside of the helmet's visor helping give her light to better see in the dark.
Thus the red head moved onward picking to go right, making her way through the dark tunnel deep underground. Nothing but her steps could be heard echoing throughout it all, with the occasional of what sounded like water dripping from the cavern roof above dripping down. Her caution never once fading away, remaining on alert while she went further and further in her direction.
Minutes passed with nothing but near silence following her, with the only thing changing was the tunnel widening a bit more as she went in… deeper? Higher? Erza wasn't exactly sure if she was making her way upward to a higher level or deeper underground, the sheer darkness and the lack of much change in altitude doing very little to provide her that information, even with the extra lighting her helmet was providing her to see through. But little by little the scenery changed just a bit as the tunnel widened a bit more to give more space. Large, oddly glowing mushrooms and other plants could be spotted here and there which provided extra light. The rock formations on the walls started to become stranger, yet oddly enough being familiar to her, yet she didn't let herself dwell on this. The noise of a nearby underground river caught her attention, passing by as the light from the previous mentioned mushrooms and plants reflected from it even as the small river rushed by. Multiple amounts of both stalactites and stalagmites were spotted littered the high cavern ceiling and rocky terrain of the ground, large enough to give cover to anyone that hide behind them.
If Erza was honest, she hated the sight of this. It reminded her of the Hollow.
"No, don't dwell on that right now Erza." She told herself, shaking her head while keeping herself moving while making sure not to trip over anything sticking out of the rocky terrain or slip on anything. The last thing she needed was to have her mind occupied by such memories of that accursed place.
Yet, things would not go her way when a faint but noticeable shaking within the cavern was picked up, forcing her to cease her movement while her eyes widened underneath her helmet.
"Oh no…" Erza muttered, already worried for whatever nightmare that this other Earthland was about to throw at her counterpart.
"Please don't tell me the cavern is going to collapse onto her?" Max questioned, hoping that wasn't the case.
"Don't say that! You'll jinx it!" Droy exclaimed at him, getting the other male to flinch from the Plant Magic user's loud words.
'Please… don't let it be anything too bad.' Marvell thought, clutching her fists with worry. She didn't know everything what her friend had gone through other than the bits they have gathered from her and the other three's words from previous realities, but the Sky Dragon Slayer from 137-C hoped that it wouldn't be anything too bad. She had faith that the red head will be able to survive like always, but who knows what bad memory or fear that this other Earthland will use and fling at her?
"Oh don't tell me the place is going to cave in WHILE I'M IN IT?!" Erza shouted, prepared to bolt to make her way through the wide cavern space, prepare to try to avoid being crushed should the cavern roof come crashing down.
Yet that didn't happen, and before Erza could move, from the ground a bit away from her multiple areas burst opened, causing her to swiftly turn her head towards that direction with her weapon raised and pointed. She expected many things, underground undead, giant digging mutated bugs, maybe even mad miners of the sorts.
But the last thing she expected to see, that made her freeze with her eyes widened with utter shock…
"Humansssss!"
Was the sight of Locust, each group that emerged from each of the multiple emergency holes throughout the large underground chamber led by a Kantus, wearing the standard armor of the Kantus priesthood while numbers of Drones and different Boomer variants emerged right behind, many roaring out with their weapons prepared for slaughter against the surface dweller before them all.
Eyes widened among everyone within the guild hall, the sight of 137-C's most hated enemy taking them all by surprise. Some were disturbed from the sight of the tall, scaled creatures, while others simply froze at the sight of the grotesque creatures. They may not have been the most gross or monstrous things the Mages have seen from all these alternate timelines, and they did see them before, but it was still unnerving to see the lizard-like humanoids, not to mention their armor and weapons.
"What…?" But none were more caught off guard or froze at the sight as much as Marvell did, her eyes widening completely while her body froze up, her voice quiet… yet that quickly melted away into utter rage, her expression narrowing and filled with hate while Magic slowly radiated from her being.
This didn't go unnoticed by the others, with some turning their heads over to see the enraged counterpart of Wendy staring up at the sight in the other timeline with utter hatred in her gaze. If that wasn't alarming enough, signs of her Dragon Force erupted for a brief moment, yet her eyes morphing into those akin to a dragon from her Magic and brief connections to the powerful form of the Dragon Slayers.
"Marvell?" Wendy asked with worry from her side, yet Marvell paid little heed to his.
"Of course… of f**king course, I should have expected this… of course this other planet would use those beasts to hurt Erza!" Marvell growled out in rage, barely containing herself from lashing out and from her Magic from erupting from her body. She didn't want a repeat of what nearly happened when seeing the fake Brumak created by that Axol guy yesterday, yet it was a struggle to not let her anger out.
The sound of fighting starting from the other timeline pulled her and everyone's attention once more, getting them to refocus on what was happening now in the alternate reality. Erza herself clenched her fists, worry on the red head's expression.
Memories flashed in an instant in Erza's mind. Every battle, every sacrifice, every unnecessary death and every suffering caused by the Locust that ruined both her home and Sera flashing through her eyes in an instant. And now, somehow, they were standing before her.
Any thought of questions, of why they were here, they didn't fill her head. She didn't shout in shock, in horror, or in rage. No… behind her helmet, an expression quickly formed of sheer, cold hatred and rage, resting on tranquility.
"DIEEEEE!"
It was on instinct as she acted, quickly diving over to the nearest stalagmite for cover as the Locust began to fire at her location. The large and thick rising column of calcium salts able to withstand the current firepower being launched at the red head for the time being, yet Erza knew it wouldn't hold for long.
A Drone made the rush to reach her location, yet the scarlet soldier rose up and without hesitation knocking the Drone back with a slam into its chin from her head, getting it to stumble before Erza without hesitation shove her Lancer Rifle through its armor and white hide, blood spilling and splashing onto the armored red head who didn't flinch in the slightest. She didn't let the cut opened remains hit the ground, grabbing it and using it as a meat shield while rushing over to more cover from another nearby stalagmite, firing her weapon at the number of Locust even hitting a few more Drones including a head shot causing a burst of brain matter and gore to spread around the corpse while it collapsed onto the ground.
This didn't frighten the Locust, only more determined to snuff the life of the red head out as more Drones rushed towards where Erza now hide behind. Gritting her teeth, Erza shifted to the left side of her current cover spot, quickly aiming and firing more of her Lancer Rifle at the incoming Drones, gunning most of them down as bursts of blood and chunks from both their armor and flesh flew off with their bodies hitting the ground. One Drone managed to maneuver its way to the left, turning around the corner yet Erza was quick to noticed. Turning around both her and the Drone rose and clashed both their Lancer Rifles against each other, sparks flying and the sound of metal against metal could be heard while the two pushed against each other. Despite the small struggle, Erza eventually managed to push the Drone back, causing it to stumble enough for her to shove her Lancer Rifle right through its abdomen, blood splattering onto her while raising and tearing the weapon up through the Drone's chest and then through the neck, leaving the nearly sawed in half Locust to fall dead onto the ground.
A few within the guild hall wouldn't lie, despite seeing similar or worse gruesome deaths and sights before but seeing Scarlet sawing the Locust Drone nearly in half with all its blood and organs spilling out was quite nauseating to see. Yet they managed to gulp their disgust down, refusing to look away when a version of their friend was fighting for her life.
Any satisfaction from that she may have, Erza didn't have time to get before the stalagmite she hid behind burst into pieces, causing a shout of surprise while she flung herself onto the ground to avoid the many numerous shots being fired from the other side of the cavern.
"GRIIIINNNDDD!" A Grinder responsible for the constant bullet storm while the Boomer variant continued to fire its Mulcher weapon in the direction of where Erza was at, and that wasn't counting the other Locust that were also continuing to fire their own respective weapons while charging towards her direction. One of the Kantus was giving out shouts near a few of the wounded Erza got shots on earlier, somehow healing them as their wounds closed.
"F**king bucket heads…!" Erza growled in a low voice, feeling more resolve to slaughter these monsters while remaining down to avoid being reduced to a bloody mist from the constant rain of bullets. Hastily looking through her digistruct, she was quick to find a few frag grenades she still had on her, pulled them out from the device before quick to pull the pens before turning around throwing them over the remnants of the stalagmite at the groups of Locust.
The grenades detonated, causing shouts as many fragments from them pierced and injured many of the Locust all around. A few closest them when they detonated receiving lethal wounds causing them to fall over dead. With it having stopped the constant firing of bullets, Erza took this chance to go on the offensive. Picking herself off the ground, she dived to her left leaving what little cover she had before rushing over towards the nearest group of Locust forces, Lancer charged up and ready for more Locust blood. One Drone still dazed from the shrapnel in its face barely registered the incoming red head yet was too slow as Erza slammed herself into it with enough force to knock it down on the ground, following it with a quick yet forceful stomp on its skull crushing it underneath. Ignoring the blood and brain matter that now rested on her foot, she quickly replaced her Lancer away in her digistruct before bringing forth a Flamethrower, pointing at the other Locust ahead of her before bathing them all in flames as their armor and flesh melted from the intense heat.
Erza continued this before the other Locust elsewhere within the chamber shouted out to retaliate, getting her attention before ceasing her current action with haste and grabbing the body of the Drone who's head she stomped into paste before ushing it as a meat shield to block the incoming bullets from the other Locust. Rushing forward to the next group with the meat shield still in hand, she didn't slow down even as a few bullets managed to pierce through the Drone's corpse and hit her, causing her body shield to flicker a few times from it, protecting her for the time being. With her flamethrower put away in the digistruct, she grabbed her Boltok Revolver and pointed and fired at the Locust she was quickly approaching towards, getting some shots in to several of them including a Kantus who shrieked out from the blow. Closing in towards the closest Locust which was a Mauler, she shoved and threw her meat shield into the other Locust who use its Boom Shield to block it, yet was still pushed back. This got the creature to stumble back enough for Ezra to reach out and pull it into a chokehold for a moment before snapping the Mauler's neck.
Throwing the corpse aside, Erza refocused her attention as a Drone rushed her with a Lancer in hand, causing her to quickly switch weapons bringing forth her own Lancer Rifle once more. The two's respective weapons clashed, metal screeching against metal with sparks flying for a few brief moments until Erza managed to push the Drone back, getting it to stumble for just enough for the red head to bring down her Lancer upon it tearing through its left shoulder down to its waist before kicking the sawed carcass away from her. Not wasting time, eyeing the recovering Kantus knowing it had to be death with, Erza fired off numerous shots towards the Locust Priest tearing numerous holes and blowing limbs off of the creature before delivering a head shot causing its skull to burst into a squall of gore and brain matter.
Everyone only watched with all of this with wide, shocked eyes, seeing Erza's 137-C ruthlessness against the Locust vestiges with cold, calculated fury.
"Holy crap! She's not letting up at all!" Bickslow shouted, seeing the other version of the red head continuing her slaughter against her hated foes.
"YEAH! SHOW THOSE GRUB BASTARDS WHAT THEY DESERVE ERZA!" Marvell cheered, filled with utter joy from seeing the slaughter of those monsters before her very eyes. She was still on edge, but the sight of the Hollow monsters being reduced to corpses was satisfying for the blue haired teenager to witness.
"She needs to be careful, who knows if more will show up." Erza stated, knowing that things could easily take a turn for the worse if her counterpart wasn't careful.
"Not to mention if anything else that's not the Locust will decide to show itself." Laxus agreed with the red head, knowing that this other Earthland will probably pull something else terrifying or dangerous from Scarlet's memories and emotions to throw at her to put her in greater risk.
"She'll be okay," Natsu spoke up, his eyes not leaving the sight of Scarlet fending against the Locust vestiges in the other timeline, getting a few of the others to look at the Fire Dragon Slayer's way, "She's smart, and she's strong. Whatever happens she will be able to handle it."
"I hope so…" Millianna replied, hoping for that to be the case, feeling a bit sick from seeing the gruesome slaughter between Scarlet and the deaths she inflicted upon the Locust creatures.
"Die, groundwalker!" A Locust Drone from another nearby group of the Locust grabbed Erza's attention, getting her to quickly act on both experience and instincts, picking up what remained of the disfigured carcass of the Kantus before using it like a meat shield, taking charge towards the other Locust as they fired at her. Despite the corpse taking most of the damage, another bullet managed to pierce through the weakened meat shield and hit against the red head's left rib, though her armor and her body shield once again protected her. However, with that and the previous hits earlier, she knew her body shields won't be able to handle any more than a couple shots before they go down.
But she will finish this before any more risk of that happening, she silently swore to herself before getting close enough to the group before pushing and shoving the carcass into a Drone, knocking them down before she once more like before lifted her foot before stomping on its head shattering it with blood and brain matter splattering around it. She didn't waste time before rushing over to a firing Locust Drone with Lancer in hand, taking another shot that her body shield protected from while she arrived and shoved the Lancer's through its abdomen, sawing right through it before bringing it up tearing up through the creature's right shoulder.
"BOOM!" A standard Boomer shouted before firing its weapon at her, yet Erza's reflexes kicked in, replacing her Lancer and bringing out her bat Strawberry, and living up to its status as a bat she whack the incoming grenade back at the simple Locust, causing it to explode upon colliding causing chunks of the Boomer's flesh to splatter all around where it once stood, the remnants of its carcass falling backwards with a thud. Though they were not near enough to get hurt, the remaining Locust were still temporarily blinded from the sudden near explosion, allowing Erza the opening she needed. Rushing to the nearest Locust Drone, the red head raised Strawberry before bringing it down upon the creature's cranium with overwhelming force, caving it on as it collapsed onto the ground, with brain matter now covering her weapon from it. Rushing over to another Boomer Locust, Erza switcher her weapon to her Boltok Revolver before shooting at the Boomer multiple times before slamming the base of her weapon into the creature's skull enough force to cave in its skull, killing it with its body hitting the ground.
A roar from the remaining Kantus and Locust drew her attention, turning around only to receive a shot from its Hammerburst Assault Rifle in her right shoulder, using up the body shield for the time being. Realizing this, Erza's eyes only lit up in anger underneath her helmet, with the Kantus prepared to continue its offensive against the scarlet haired soldier. Yet Erza would refuse to let it get another hit in like that, rushing forward before grabbing both of the Kantus's arms catching it off guard, before with a shout using her strength ripped off both of the Locust Priests arms causing it shriek from the loss of limbs. The next thing it knew Erza would use its own arms as weapons, hitting it to knock it onto the ground before with rage Erza slammed the severed limbs as if they were bludgeons into the downed Locust Priest, eventually killing it.
Some flinched at the sight of this, not used to the sight of any version of Erza being so brutal and using such methods to beat down and kill villains and monsters. The rest meanwhile were still more concern about whatever may happen next, should this other Earthland decide to throw more danger towards the alternate red head's way.
Yet any moment of peace of rest Erza may have expected to get afterwards would be thrown out of the window, before nearing the nearby river flow more of the earth shook and burst forth upward, with more Locust emerging roaring and ready to continue the slaughter. With this, Erza narrowed her eyes, prepared to keep on fighting while she turned in their directions.
"Come on grubs… I'll send you all down to Hell." She muttered, her voice cold and filled with utter hate.
Before she could properly act however, from the emergency holes ahead with the Locust, a monstrous roar was heard. Following it bursting from the ground, a Berserker emerged, knocking any unfortunate Locust nearby away before the might beast charged towards her. Widening her eyes. Erza could only react fast enough to pull a shield from her digistruct, bracing herself as the next thing she knew the large female Drone slammed one of its arms into, sending her flying towards a cavern wall, smashing completely through it.
"Erza!" Marvell exclaimed, worry flashing in her eyes while many others also widened their eyes in shock and concern from the blow.
"What was that thing?!" Chelia yelled with fright in her tone, seeing the ten foot tall bulky creature even if it was for just a brief moment.
"Smart of her to bring forth a defense to take much of the blow. She must have realized she didn't have time to dodge so she braced herself as much as she could in reaction." Observer took note, seeing how the alternate version of the S-Class Mage of Fairy Tail managed to defend herself as much as she could in such a brief moment.
"But now she has that thing and the rest of those monsters to worry about!" Millianna exclaimed with worry, not sure how the other version of her friend was supposed to handle the ever growing threat.
"Wait, look!" Kagura took noticed, seeing the sight of Scarlet's surroundings having changed.
That got everyone's attention, getting them to refocus on the other timeline… only to see something that caused Erza and Millianna to grow further shocked by a familiar sight compared to the rest within the guild hall.
"GAH!" Erza shouted out, feeling herself stumbling over onto the ground after emerging from the other side of the cavern's rocky wall before coming to a stop. Groaning, the woman slowly recovered from the sudden blow, the shield she had having been shattered completely upon impact from the Berserker's blow. But better that than her as far as she was concern.
Slowing pushing herself off the ground, she was about to reengage with the threat… only to quickly took notice of the ground beneath her.
"Wait… the ground changed?" She muttered, seeing not of the cavern Hollow-like ground but instead a more crystal-like appearance. Odd, why did it make her think of…?
Her thought trailed off while she raised her head up, her helmet still covering and encasing her face prevent her expression from being fully seen. Yet all one would see is a look of surprise, rage and utter confusion wrapped in one that Erza had.
Surrounding all around her, blue crystalized lacrima spread about. Any walls and pillars that were present also made up of the Magical solid substance, jagged and jutted in random directions. The outside pitch-black night was visible, a faint breeze of wind she felt hit her, yet no star was visible, only pure darkness surrounding the outside of the structure where the red head found herself on the very top floor of.
The landscape was simple, yet bad memories once more flooded into Erza's mind. The Tower of Heaven, more specifically after it was struck by Etherion.
"The Tower…?" Erza muttered in surprise, not expecting to see the sight of that place once again in another of these realities. The red head then frowned, clutching her fists in frustration, 'I should have figured, this other Earthland is using their memories against them. It makes sense it would bring forth such a setting to use against her.'
"The other world changed its surrounding again, what does it plan on doing next?" Mira wondered, eyeing to her red head rival and Millianna, knowing what such a place meant to the two. It wasn't the first time they saw the place, but the white haired barmaid knew it still brought bad memories to the other two women.
"Damn it… I wish we could do something!" Natsu clenched his teeth in anger, as did his fists. He wished he could be there, try to help and figure out why this other Earthland was doing this, or is it wasn't the planet but some bastard's doing. But without coordinates they couldn't do anything, and even if they did, would they even make a difference at all?
Kagura didn't say anything, only knowing that this accursed place was the reason why her brother, Erza, Millianna and others were taken away from their homes, and how her brother lost her life there to stop Jellal then. To think that if it weren't for Erza, she would have had been a slave there, forced to construct the structure and suffer just like her friends and late brother had. Her gaze was hardened, wondering what horror or danger this other reality was going to throw at Erza's double with the Tower of Heaven as the setting.
Erza slowly managed to rise back onto her feet, getting a full clear look of the crystalized area she now found herself in, trying to wrap her mind around and figure out what was going on.
"The Tower…? How did I… WHAT IS GOING ON HERE?!" She shouted in frustration and rage, the sight of being back in the place that had brought so much ruin in her life making her more riled up. First she was in a forest, then her friends vanished, then she fell down into a cavern that resembled the Hollow, then Locust somehow showed up, now she was here?! What was going on?! Was she hallucinating or something?! She thought that was Levy's thing!
"Losing your cool? Guess you didn't change that much in certain ways even after all this time."
Erza froze. That voice… and with where she was at…
The red head turned around, only to see the sight of a man she hated almost more than anything else. Foot raised on an elevated jagged lacrima rock, the vestige of Jella from 137-C with his arms crossed looking down at the armored scarlet soldier with a grin on his face.
"Jellal?" Kagura looked surprised, before narrowing her eyes at the sight. It was quick to realize that this Jellal was no doubt the one from 137-C, and if she was told and hinted at from previous conversations and timelines, this one never reformed. Or at least got the chance to. She hoped the other version of Erza bashed his head in, remembering how her Edolas counterpart from 200-AB did something similar to another evil Jellal.
"That bastard… YOU BETTER BASH HIS HEAD IN ERZA! MAKE HIM SUFFER!" Marvell growled before shouting, her fists raised up in encouragement for her friend in the other twisted timeline.
Erza however could only frown at the sight. Even with the issues and with what he has done, it was a bit difficult to see a version of her old childhood friend who further went down the path of evil in 137-C's world. She just hoped this wicked vestige of the blue haired man was taken down before he could try to do anything to her counterpart. Natsu meanwhile only glared at the alternate vestige of 137-C's Jellal, hoping that he gets taken care of before he tries anything to Erza's soldier counterpart. Millianna was hoping for the same thing, not wishing to see the situation getting worse… that and seeing an evil Jellal die would be a sit satisfying to see again she wouldn't lie.
"Long time no see Erza. You have grown since the last we met." Jellal stated, his grin still on his face while looking down at the red head a bit away from where he stood.
Erza only blinked once before on instinct grabbed her Lancer Rifle and fired at the blue haired Dark Mage, yet quickly activated his Meteor ability to avoid the incoming bullet. Coming to a stop, the man gained an amused expression which only further angered Erza.
"Not even a proper greeting Erza? I didn't think you lost all your manner since our last encounter." Jellal mocked, quickly using Meteor again to avoid another bullet fired by Erza, who kept on firing while the former Wizard Saint moved all around the crystalized area.
"I don't need to listen to a word you say monster!" Erza responded back, growing more angered that her bullets weren't hitting their mark. Jellal then landed on another elevated jagged boulder of the crystalized substance nearby to her left, her angered expression never once left her face, "I know what's going on now. How the Locust were here and how the environment changed and you… You're nothing but an illusion playing on my mind. I won't entertain a fake ghost."
Jellal only chuckled at that, which further got on Erza's nerves.
"I can assure you; I am very real." Jellal responded, before being enveloped by his Magic once more activating Meteor to dash across the space between him and Erza. Eyes widening under her helmet, Erza raised her Lancer Rifle only for Jellal to make a turn to his right, coming up fast enough from her left side before she could react properly. Thus the armored woman received a strong kick to her left rib, causing her to shout before she went diving down onto the ground with a thud.
"You f**ker…!" Erza managed to get back up however, turning around and switching her Lancer Rifle for her Boltok Pistol before aiming at Jellal. She had to stumble back a bit however, when Jellal appeared right before her, his face close to her own helmet covered one.
"And to call me a monster? We both know that a bunch of bullsh*t," Jellal mocked, quickly moving out of the way before Erza could even fully raise her weapon at him. Appearing from behind, the former Wizard Saint continued, mocking smirk still plastered on his face, "You have committed far more atrocities than I could ever dream of at this point. If anything, I can't help but feel proud of you for doing what you condemned me for."
Hearing those words got Erza to freeze for just a moment, his words registering in her mind before utter fury erupted from her. Teeth gritting as her grip on her Boltok Pistol tightened, she twirled around to face the blue haired man once again.
"YOU SHUT YOUR F**KING MOUTH!" Erza roared out, once more failing to as Jellal dashed out of the way to his left using Meteor once again. Eyes filled with fury, the red head managed to keep him in her sights even as he bolted around the area, "DON'T YOU DARE COMPARE WHAT I HAD TO DO FOR SURVIVAL WITH YOUR SELFISH DESIRES!"
"Survival? Really? You're actually going to use that excuse?" Jellal landed nearby, shaking his head in amusement while Erza tried to think on how to get a hit in before he could see it coming to dodge, "So robbing stores and threatening death and pain upon even innocent people is considered survival nowadays? Forcing your view on everyone you come across and get violent when they dare talk back to you? Wiping out cities and killing people while you act all amused from it? I shouldn't be too surprised, you always been selfish, only caring what you wanted and nothing else, no matter who you hurt in the process. With me, it was all for the sake of a revival for another, for Zeref. But you… it was only about you."
The words from the alternate version of Jellal admittingly took them all off guard, not expecting to hear such things to come from this vestige of the wicked evil version of Jellal.
"Wiping out entire cities of people…?" Chelia muttered in shock. Yes, she was informed from Marvell and everyone else when she first showed up about the war Marvell and her world were in, and even mentioning the things they had to do to live another day, but something told the pink haired girl that wasn't what the wicked vestige of Jellal was referring too.
"Of course the bastard would try to turn what they needed to do to stay alive as something bad. If he thinks that will make her feel guilty or falter, then he has another thing coming!" Marvell responded with a proud grin, not going to let the attempt villainization the alternate vestige of 137-C's Jellal get to her.
"When did stealing from and threatening people who did nothing wrong count as survival?" Wendy asked quietly, mainly to herself more than anything while her eyes not leaving the other timeline. She didn't notice Marvell having heard and being taken back by what she said, not expecting her counterpart to go against her friends in that regard.
But Marvell didn't respond to hearing that, the event in the other timeline quickly catching her attention once again, pushing the anger she felt from hearing her double's question to the back of her mind.
"If you think you can guilt trip me than you have another thing coming," Erza growled, refusing to let this illusion of the blue haired man try to make her think that they were the same, "You don't know me. You never known me. Just a dead man who I will sent back down to Hell to rot with all the other demons and monsters I've slain."
Jellal only huffed in amusement, smirk still visible on his face.
"I didn't realize innocent people who just wanted to live counted as monsters. We both know everything you try to justify and say is utter nonsense. At this point you have far more blood of innocence than that of the wicked. Just like that little girl you couldn't save." Jellal casually stated as if it was a well known fact.
Hering that got Erza's blood to freeze, the memory of putting the tortured girl down in the Locusts' grasps to save her from the misery flashing in her mind… seeing her freeze up once more got Jellal to grin more than before.
"Oh? Did I touch a nerve? I wonder, if someone that was actually more capable arrived, maybe she could have been healed. Maybe she could have been saved. But we both know despite what lies you tell yourself and others, when you pulled the trigger snuffing her life out… you didn't feel sad, pained, or regret. All you felt was pure… unadulterated… ecstasy." Jellal finished with his grin still intact.
It was like a switch in her went off. Hearing such a words, if it weren't for her helmet perhaps he would have seen now much that struck her, how much that enraged her. He dared to tell her that she got enjoyment from killing that tormented girl? That she gained bliss from having to give her mercy?! He dared accuse her for what still haunted her even after everything she had gone through?!
"YOU'RE F**KING DEAD!" Erza roared out, charging at him fast enough to catch even Jellal off guard. It was just a moment, but a moment all the red head needed before switching weapons and pulling out her bat prepared to swing as she closed in on the off guard former Wizard Saint, "STRAWBERRY'S THIRTY FOR YOUR BLOOD!"
And with a swing a loud smack and crunch could he heard echoing throughout the opened crystalized room. Jellal collapsed right onto the lacrima made floor, yet Erza was nowhere near done as she raised her bat up before bringing it down once more. And on repeat multiple times did she continued to do so even after Jellal's head was more smashed in with blood covering the weapon she named. Bits of splashes of his blood even getting onto her armored form as well in the process.
Many couldn't help but flinch from seeing this, especially how brutal Scarlet kept on going with it despite the vestige of the blue haired man being no doubt dead by this point. Sure they've seen such things before, but they couldn't help it.
"Guess that takes care of that…" Romeo mumbled, knowing that the wicked illusion of the Heavenly Body Magic user no doubt deserved it from what he remembered they were all told about what he done, but it was still slightly unnerving to see Scarlet lay into him like that.
"There we go! That's what we like to see!" Marvell cheered, feeling satisfied to see the sight before her.
"It is a bit… satisfying to see I shall admit." Kagura admitted, which got a few like Lucy, Lisanna, Elfman and others in the guild hall to look at the dark purple haired woman with slight disturbed looks, feeling a bit scared now. Kagura herself didn't notice such reactions.
"Let's just hope nothing else immediately happens to throw her into danger." Erza told the others, knowing that her double was still far from the woods yet, 'But what else would this other reality use against her? I'd imagine even with whatever she had to face the Locust and Jellal would be the worst in her eyes.'
"I doubt it, but let's see for ourselves." Laxus replied back, knowing it was unlikely this other Earthland and however it was doing all of this was going to give the red head's double a chance to breathe.
Eventually, the adrenaline she felt in those moments faded away, leaving her breathing a bit while leaning back and swinging Strawberry over her right shoulder. Her helmet reopened up, allowing her expression to seen. A face of content and satisfaction present.
"Hah… hah… hah…," She was easing her breathe, yet her expression remained unchanging, looking up at the crystalized sealing of the Tower's room, "Served him right… thinking I'm anything like that bitch."
Her breathing at eased, Erza looked down at the sight to see her work… only for her to freeze when instead of Jellal, a brain splattered Natsu Dragneel lied at her feet… HER Natsu Dragneel.
That caught everyone off guard, none more so than Natsu himself.
"Me?! What happened to Jellal?!" Natsu exclaimed, not expecting for the vestige to take another form even after being struck down. Yet sorrow quickly filled his heart, along with anger with how this other Earthland dared to use a sight of Scarlet's own Natsu as a corpse to get to her.
"It isn't just enemies or those that died back in their world that the women have faced that this world can use against them?" Mira asked, horrified at the sight of seeing another version of Natsu having his brain splattered all over the place, even if it wasn't her own and was just a fake.
"Just when I think I couldn't hate this other world more than I already did…!" Marvell growled, the sight of even seeing an illusion of her own Natsu in such a state nearly threw her into a frenzy. The only thing anchoring her down was due to knowing it's not real, it's not a real one… but it didn't make it less enraging to witness.
"She… she shouldn't let it get to her. She must know it's not real." Erza tried to convince herself, yet seeing the sight of Natsu even if it wasn't her own or real deceased in such a way broke her heart. Her fists clutched, trying to ignore the thought that it was her own Natsu lying dead at her own feet, her teeth gritted while anger grew in her, 'I'll be damned if I ever let anything happen to him! Over my dead body!'
No one else said anything else, simply hoping that Scarlet was able to realize it was fake and that she didn't actually cause such a death to her own Natsu.
"What…?" Erza muttered softly, her breath caught in her throat while she took a step back. It wasn't real, she knows it's not real, so why was it getting to her like this? "No… I'm not falling for it! You think you can fool me?! Just an illusion! A fa-!"
"YOU F**KING BITCH!"
The familiar voice screaming in utter hate and rage registered to the red head for only a brief moment, before a fist enveloped with red Magic slammed directly into her left cheek, causing a shockwave as the red head went flying, shouting in pain before crashing right through a nearby crystalized lacrima wall. She continued being flung before crashing into the ground and coming to a stop, an ache washing all over her.
Everyone widened their eyes, seeing not only the other version of Erza being struck by a new attack, but by the familiar voice that roared in both heartbreak and utter fury. Marvell being the most surprised and feeling worse realizing what this meant.
"No… you can't be serious…" Marvell trailed off, feeling more anger towards this sentient planet or whatever was going on that was behind all of this in the other timeline.
Despite the pain, Erza slowly managed to pull herself onto her feet, feeling her cheek that got struck burn from the blow along with whatever energy or Magic was used.
"The f**k was-?!" Erza started to shout only to quickly cut herself off just as she started. Her eyes widening with shock from what she saw.
It wasn't her new surroundings, even though it also added a sense of longing yet sorrow inside her. A ruined, battle scarred Magnolia the soldier found herself now in. Her home of 137-C; the woman standing in the rubble of what was once a building. The familiar structures, the worn down and rusted vehicles, the opened yet debris filled roads and streets of the city. Somewhere in just a similar state, the guild hall and other important landmarks and structures of her home spread out in empty ruin. It was not the sight of her being here that got such a reaction from her…
…But from the sight of a tear stained, utterly enraged Samantha Byrne in her armor and enveloped with her Phoenix Fire, staring Erza down as if she was the enemy, the monster.
But she wasn't alone. Near her were others of Erza's friends, of her family back home, standing with their respective fighting stances, gear and weapons, and Magic readied at the helm eyeing Erza as if she had committed the greatest sin. Knightwalker, Juvia, Bisca, Natsumi, Elfman, Gray, Gajeel, Millianna, Gildarts, and more of her family and allies surrounding her from all sides as much as she could see. Each and everyone one of them staring her down, with looks of both heartbreak and unyielding rage and hate all aimed at her.
"Our doubles from 137-C…" Gray muttered, seeing the enraged vestiges of all of Scarlet's friends from her home reality all present, staring at the alternate red head down and prepared to fight.
"Even doubles of others like Natsumi, Sam and Knightwalker are there." Erza spoke, feeling her fists clutched up once more seeing the situation escalating into what it was now for her own double.
"It seems they're reacting to Scarlet as if she genuinely struck her own Natsu down. Is that a fear she possesses within her?" Observer figured out, before wondering if somewhere in the other red head's conscious if she feared she returned with her mind fully lost and attacking her friends and family.
No one else spoke, worried and confused as to how Scarlet was supposed to overcome this or escape it somehow. Marvell felt her own anger grow, feeling powerless that she couldn't do anything about what was happening. The fact this other Earthland using her own family and friends against the red head only added to her frustration.
"Wha-?" Was all Erza could get out before the next thing she knew Knightwalker bolted towards her, a fist enveloped with purple lighting thanks to her Magic. The red head couldn't react in time as it struck her directly into the face, launching her flying back from her Edolas counterpart with a cry of pain.
"PUT HER DOWN!" Erza could hear Knightwalker shout even as she was still launched through the air. The soldier never got a chance to land before Elfman in one of his Take-Over Beast forms along with Evergreen diving with their feet slamming directly into Erza's left side, causing her armor to crack from the pressure and sending her in the opposite direction.
Crashing through a few large debris of decimated buildings before hitting the ground to a stop, Erza was able to get back up, only raising her head at the right moment before widening her eyes and jumped back upon Natsumi bringing a Fire Dragon's Fist down on where Erza once stood, causing a detonation of flames which pushed Erza back further. Natsumi charged after her, yet Erza raised her left arm and swung it knocking the pink haired woman to the side and on the ground a few feet away. Erza didn't have time to breathe, however; Gajeel and Gray coming towards her with their respective Iron Dragon's Sword and Ice-Make: Ice Bringer to throw at her.
"I won't be fooled…" Erza muttered, raising her Lancer before firing at the two incoming Fairy Tail Mages. Hitting them directly and knocking them back, receiving minor damage due to their own armor. With that Erza started moving, eyeing her surroundings and seeing more of these… images of her friends looking at her as if she was a diseased animal. It wasn't real, she knew it wasn't real… and yet why did it hurt so much to be looked in such a way?
She was snapped out from her thoughts when Gildarts out of all people came down from the sky, a fist pulled back before throwing it directly down at her. She barely had enough time to jumped back to avoid the hit itself, yet the resulting destruction from the strength and Crush Magic blew her away as the ground crumbled apart with a shockwave emitted from it all. Landing a bit away from the orange haired man, Erza then found two whips made of water reach out and wrap around both of her wrists, forcing her to look to her right to see an approaching Juvia rushing at her, one hand raised due to unleashing the water whips and the other hand prepared to take her down. Something Erza was quick to realize with alarm.
"DRA-!" The Water Mage couldn't finish in time, when in quick session Erza, despite the struggle from the whips trying to hold her down, raised her Lancer and shot directly into the blue haired woman's head, bursting it into water while the whips retracted. Taking the chance before Juvia's water body let her recover, Erza bolted down further into the ruinous streets of Magnolia, her heart beating into her chest from that close moment with death.
"I need to keep my distance! Juvia's Drain can only work if she's in a certain range!" Erza shouted to herself, continued running through in hopes of either staying hidden from the vestiges of all her friends and family, or hopefully find a way to leave this nightmare. Not to mention to avoid other techniques like Cana's Card Slicer, if she gets one hit with that then it's over!
Erza was cut off when from her left, through the large remnants of what might have been the library she was passing by it exploded outward causing smoke to erupt to obscure her vision. Her helmet closing over her face to ensure she didn't breathe it in, yet she raised her arm on instinct to protect her eyes. An error which was made when yet another fist decked into her face, shattering the helmet in the process causing her to be thrown back onto the ground some yards away with a shout. The one behind it, Samantha raised her hands, forming Magical orbs of her Phoenix Fire to launch at the red head.
"HOW COULD YOU?! AFTER ALL THE SH*T WE WENT THROUGH THIS IS WHAT YOU DO?! KILLING THE MAN WE LOVED?!" She roared out before throwing the orbs at Erza, who managed to get back onto her feet only to hear Sam's words and see the incoming attacks. Rushing to her feet, Erza dashed, avoiding each orb as they crashed behind her causing explosions one after the other.
"I WOULDN'T-!" Erza started to shout back, not even sure why she's trying to argue with fake vestiges of her friends. But she never got to finish.
"SKY DRAGON'S CLAW!"
The resulting blow collided right into Erza's abdomen while she's distracted with Sam, causing her armor to crack and receive further damage while she screamed from the pain with blood erupting from her mouth. This also caused her to be thrown back through the air before smashing through multiple remains of barely standing structures, bringing them all down in the process.
Crashing and rolling onto the ground then coming to a stop, Erza felt the pain all over as she looked up, only to once more widen her eyes at the sight of Wendy Marvell in her Dragon Force, the Magical energy radiating from her body while she stared ahead at the injured red head with utter hate in her tear-stained eyes.
"What the-? That's me!" Marvell shouted, seeing the fake double of herself fully using Dragon Force against her friend. That got her odd looks from some of the others within the guild hall.
"You're surprised? With this other world using memories of Scarlet's own friends, it makes sense you would also be among them." Laxus questioned from his spot in the guild hall, figuring that she would just be upset that her own memory would be used against her friend.
"No, I mean that's me as I am now!" Marvell clarified with frustration and bafflement in her expression and tone. Her eyes not leaving the sight of the alternate timeline shown from the blue smoke, more specifically on her vestige, "If this world was just playing on the memories of my friends, then my Erza would only have the memories of me from when she last saw me, out of date! But that's fully me! Even with the clothes and weapons I have now!"
That got eyes to widened, before looking back in the other timeline. Upon closer look, the fake vestige of Marvell in the other Earthland looked exactly the same as Marvell did currently with them, clothes, weapons and all.
'That doesn't make sense. If this Earthland is only using the memories and emotions of the girls against them, then how is Marvell the exact same there? If she's correct, then whatever old memory Scarlet would have of her should be different.' Makarov realized, even more confuse by it all. Just what exactly was going on?
"YOU'RE F**KING DEAD YOU BITCH!" Wendy roared out, the faint echo of a dragon radiating from her shout before she charged towards the shocked red head, causing a burst of wind to be blown from behind the now currently pink haired Sky Dragon Slayer.
Wordlessly, Erza could only act by raising her arms to block the incoming blow from the younger girl. This caused another burst of wind to emit from the collision, causing Erza to be blown back away from the Sky Dragon Slayer, launching her through the air once again. Shouting from the push back, Erza eventually crashed and tumbled over a few times on the rubble filled street before coming to a stop.
"Why… that's not Wendy…," Erza tried to remind herself… yet now doubt was creeping up inside of her. Wendy didn't look like that. Not when she last remembered her, which was years ago for the constantly shifting soldier of war. Yet she looked different, not just in clothes and the weapons she spotted on her, but older even if was just a little. Was this not just an illusion after all? Was… did she really just killed Natsu, HER Natsu, in lapse of hallucinations and madness? "No! This isn't real! IT'S NOT REAL! I DIDN'T KILL HIM! NONE OF YOU ARE REAL!"
Changing weapons for something lighter while she got back on her feet, she pulled out her Boltok Revolver and aimed forward where Wendy was at up ahead only for a gunshot to be heard as her weapon was shot out of her hand, catching her off guard. Swiftly turning towards the source, she sees a distant Bisca with a similar expression of hate and fury, tears threatening to spill with a Longshot in hand, laying low on top of a remnants of a building far ahead from where Erza currently stood.
The sudden act from the green haired woman was enough to pull Erza's attention away, allowing both Natsumi and Wendy to rush in from different directions before throwing their respective Dragon Slayering Magic Fists into the red head's stomach, causing another blow that emitted a loud shockwave while the soldier vomited blood in response. Along with once again being launched through the desolated and ruined city before crashing through a still standing wall of a collapsed house, bringing it down while Erza came to a stop once again.
"She's getting overpowered." Observer took note, seeing how slowly but surely the alternate red head from 137-C was receiving more damage.
"Damn it! Is there nothing we can do to help her?! I feel so useless!" Natsu shouted, catching some others off guard from the sudden outburst, but no one could blame him for they felt the same, none more so than Erza due to it being her counterpart involved and Marvell due to Scarlet being her friend.
"She has to have an opening to get away. She has to get away right?" Freed questioned with worry in his expression and tone, his sight not leaving that of the blue smoke showing the events of the other timeline, "Or will she end up like McGa-?"
"DON'T SAY THAT LIKE SHE'S DEAD!" Marvell yelled at the green haired Mage, causing him to flinch in response from the sudden furious shout from the now enraged Sky Dragon Slayer from 137-C who unintentionally gave off a small burst of her Magical energy from her body, "MY LEVY ISN'T DEAD! AND ERZA'S NOT GOING TO END UP DEAD EITHER! DON'T YOU DARE THINK OTHERWISE!"
A hand reached out grabbing her own, causing Marvell to swiftly turn back to look at Wendy. The younger girl having a look of concern on her face to her older double.
"Marvell, he didn't mean it like that. He's just worried for her getting hurt more than she already has. Please calm down…" Wendy's voice trailed off, her voice quieter than it had already been at the start of her words.
Marvell stared at her way, normally she wouldn't been annoyed from someone grabbing onto her like this even if it was just her hand. But right now, all she could do was look back at the blue smoke showing them the situation happening to her friend in the other world. Her breathing easing up yet concern still noticeable in her eyes.
"She's not going to die… none of them are going to die…" Marvell whispered, though only Wendy, Romeo and Chelia heard it while Marvell tugged her hand away from Wendy's own, but not harshly. The three gave each other concern looks before the events in the other timeline caught their attention again.
Again like before in this short amount of time, Erza slowly recovered and got back up on her feet, the hits she receiving beginning to take their toll on her. Her body shields were down from the fighting with the Locust earlier, and now her armor has received some damage especially her helmet, so she was lacking defenses to better defend herself. But that was far from the last thing she was focusing on.
"Not real…" She growled out, only to widen her eyes when seeing Lucy rushing in with a Lancer intending on sawing her into two. Bringing out her own Lancer from her digistruct device she quickly flung the weapon outward, causing the two weapons to collide. Sparks flying as metal clashed against metal before Erza pushed the blonde back, hardening herself to strike the vestige of her down.
But she didn't get a chance when Knightwalk appeared once again, thrusting her fist which was enveloped with her Purple Lightning Magic before like previously slammed into her, this time into Erza's right side. This caused Erza to scream from the blow before once again being launched through the air from the blow.
You live on making promises you can't keep.
Voices rung throughout the air… sounding like a mix of all her friends and family, and others she couldn't pinpoint exact. Yet Erza couldn't focus on that when a focused beam of Phoenix Fire slammed into her from her right, courtesy from a distant Sam causing an explosion while Erza cried out in pain, knocking her down into the ground as dust and bits of debris kicked up into the air from the result.
The sudden voices in union was also heard by everyone in the guild hall, their worries, concerns and confusion only growing further from seeing what was going down in the other timeline, while a few like Natsu, Erza, Kagura, Marvell, Millianna and others only felt further frustrated from being unable to do anything but watch.
You're running from the consequence you won't reap.
Slowing getting back up like many times before, Erza spat out more blood, feeling more drained and exhausted from the battle and injuries she's sustained. The voices all speaking in union didn't help either, feeling the aching in her head from pain due to the voices, wherever they were coming from. Yet she couldn't focus or question on what they were trying to say when the vestiges of Gajeel, Millianna, Gray, Lisanna and Natsumi charged and jumped at her once again.
"Stop it…!" Erza gritted her teeth, pulling out Strawberry before narrowing avoiding Gray's thrown punch before swinging her bat directly into the Ice Maker Mage's skull, a loud crack filling the air as he went down with blood flying from the blow. Yet that didn't slow the others down, with Gajeel bringing down an Iron Dragon's Club her way, with her barely avoiding it only for Millianna to launcher herself and deliver a swift kick into the red head's stomach, knocking her back. Following up that was Lisanna charging in with her War Cheeta Take Over form, bringing her claws down while Erza was forced to raise her own arms up to block the barrage of swipes of the white haired woman. Because she was focusing on that, it was too late for her to detect Natsumi coming from behind before unleashing a strong kick encased with flames to the left side of Erza's head. This caused a small shockwave to emit while Erza went through the air and crashed and rolled over multiple times through wreckages of ruined buildings before landing on her feet and sliding to a stop.
Sell me out in the end, were you ever a friend?
'SHUT UP! SHUT THE F**K UP ALREADY!" Erza had it with the voices she was hearing, had it with her friends trying to kill her like she was an enemy! "NONE OF THIS IS REAL! NONE OF YOU ARE REAL! I WOULD NEVER TURN MY BACK ON THEM! I WOULD NEVER HURT THEM! I WOULD NEVER-!"
Her rant ended when heat could be felt all over, heat that was increasing before Erza turned around only to be met with burst of overwhelming fire, leaving burn marks and scorches on her armor while she screamed out and got thrown back several yards away. Footsteps and the landing of others arriving being heard despite the noises of flames flickering, the heat feeling overwhelming while she tried to get back onto her feet, only to fall back down onto one of her knees.
But it was never perfect, tell me was it all worth it?
Erza, despite the pain she felt all over, and the pounding ache in her head from the blows and voices speaking suffocating her thoughts, managed to look up at where the attack came from, thinking it was the vestige of Natsumi…
…Only for her heart to drop and shatter upon the sight of Natsu Dragneel slowly taking steps towards her, the King of Fiore using Dragon Force as his Magic Energy radiated from his form threatening to suffocate the red head from the pressure of it alone. His head was bleeding profusely, like it was with the sight of his head caved in earlier where he took the place of Jellal. And his expression… the disgust and hate in his eyes alone was enough to make her feel the weakest she ever felt in her life.
Natsu felt his own eyes widen from the sight of the vestige of his 137-C counterpart, while everyone was just as shocked to see the sight. Marvell felt herself freeze a bit, for despite knowing this was just an fake to get at Scarlet, seeing Dragneel having such a look towards one he loved and cherished, it wasn't aimed at Marvell yet she felt her heart break a bit from it regardless.
"That's their Natsu…?" Kagura muttered, the dark purple haired swordswoman seeing the version of Natsu from 137-C for the first time alongside Millianna and Chelia. They saw him earlier taking the spot of Jellal's dead corpse, but now they were able to get a full better image and sight of the Fire Dragon Slayer from Marvell's home reality.
Erza felt anger grow towards this other Earthland, seeing how it was daring to use the man her counterpart loved against her to hurt her. She glanced towards Natsu next to her, seeing him looking more enraged from seeing his image being used to hurt someone else. With the past few timelines still remembered and lingering in her mind from last night, the red head hated how once again, even if it was a fake, a version of Natsu was being used to cause pain towards others.
A thought Natsu himself had, staring at the alternate timeline shown by the blue smoke. He didn't care it was just a fake vestige the other Earthland was using to hurt Scarlet. To see how he was once again being used to hurt others, it only added to the guilt and hate the Fire Dragon Slayer had towards himself.
Thought you were my family…
"But now you're nothing to me." Natsu finished, the voices dying out as Natsu's voice laced with fury and distain alone spoke to the frozen scarlet soldier up ahead of where he stood. Magical power slowly being gathered within him as the other vestiges of Erza's friends and family stood by, waiting for the monster before them to be burned to ashes.
All which only succeeded to shattering Erza's heart and spirit.
"No… Natsu please…!" Tears went down her face, unable to care that what lied before her was fake or not. To hear her Natsu look at her in such a way, to say such a thing… her mind damaged from the years of survival and horrors she had to face was unable to tell anymore if this was fake or real. Nor did she even bring herself to care at this moment.
Her words went unheard; Natsu opening his mouth before unleashing a massive Fire Dragon's Roar towards her way. Everything before and around the massive burst of flames reducing to ash all around while the incoming attack took the form of a dragon's head resembling Igneel. Erza could swear she even hears the attack actually roaring like a real dragon as it closed in on her. Unable to do much, as Erza could do is raise her arms in defense and bracing herself for the impact.
*BOOM*
An impact that fully engulfed her and launched her back, scorching her armor even further while she screamed from the Fire Dragon's Roar causing overwhelming agony before she felt herself crashing onto the ground once again akin to a ragdoll. Smoke visible coming off from her form while she groaned from the pain she felt all over.
Smoke filling her nostrils, the scarlet soldier barely was able to lift her head up, pushing herself off the ground to see if Natsu was still there.
Instead, nothing but raging fires surrounded her from all sides. Nothing but the flames she could see, and nothing but the crumbled rubble of whatever structure once stood where she was underneath her body. The sky above darkened and thundered, growing more frantic with each passing moment.
Once more like many times previously than they like to have done, everyone was surprised to see the scene having changed to nothing but flames all around the counterpart of Erza.
"Did that vestige of Dragneel caused all that? Where did everyone else go?" Kinana asked with worry, her hands clutched over her chest. The relief she had seeing Scarlet still alive from the attack by the fake vestige of Natsu's 137-C counterpart faded into concern seeing Scarlet's current predicament.
"I don't know, but something tells me it's only going to get worse." Laxus replied back to the purple haired barmaid, keeping caution on what may or may not happen next.
No one else said anything after that, only waiting to see what else might happen that Scarlet may have to deal with.
"Too hot…" Erza managed to get out, barely able to pull herself onto her feet, clutching Strawberry in hand ahead of her. The intense heat was enough to evaporate her tears from before, yet still tears threatened to spill from all the garbage she has been dealing with. Was Natsu still here? Was he going to try to finish what he started?
Humming caught her attention from the flames ahead of her, sounding like that of a young girl's. Steadying herself, the soldier waited and prepared for further battle, refusing to let her injuries and exhaustion put her down. Slowly, within the flames yet becoming more visible as it approached, a small silhouette could be spotted.
Once it became more clearer, Erza felt herself freeze, for before her within the flames still a good distance away yet visible to see… was the young girl Erza had to give mercy through death all those years ago. Wearing nothing but a tattered gray dress; she was akin to a walking skeleton, the curvature of her skull and her ribs visible. Few strands of brown haired remained on her head with the rest having been burned away. Lacerations and cuts covered her whole body, showing infections. The humming seemingly coming from her, yet it echoed all around the burning landscape while she remained unaffected by the fire she was bathed in.
Gasps erupted from some in the guild, with a few like Lucy, Lisanna, Millianna, Kinana, Wendy, Chelia and others couldn't stop themselves from bringing their hands to their mouths of shock and horror, seeing the sight of the emaciated and tortured girl standing in the flames.
"Is… is that the girl…?" Erza spoke softly, recalling on what her double had to do from what Dragneel and Connell had told her and the others when they appeared a few days ago.
"The Locust did that to her? To a child so young?" Levy muttered with tears in her eyes. It wasn't the first monstrous thing they saw or heard of being done to something young, but it didn't make it any better from seeing the sight before her.
"Those bastards!" Natsu and Gajeel roared out together, feeling more enraged than anything else. Not like the rest could blame them, feeling just as angered from seeing this as the two Dragon Slayers were. The fact the girl was now being used by this other Earthland to get at Scarlet only added to their frustration.
Marvell felt rage as the rest did, but she couldn't help but also feel sorrow from the sight. For her friend to have to see and deal with this again, she didn't understand why Scarlet was forced to relief this. Why did this other Earthland have the need to hurt her and the others?
No words came from Erza. Flashes of memories from that day appearing in her mind, repeating like a broken record. Her resolved faltered for a moment, the sight of the girl with everything that she had to deal with already being too much for her to fully process.
Yet as the humming continued, Erza took noticed that more figures began to appear in the flames. More children in different states, those killed from monsters, villains, or from her and her friends' own hands, their voices adding to the humming that echoed throughout the smoke filled air. Then adults emerged all around joining the young, victims from all sides either by the hands of Erza's enemies or by her own hands or the hands of her friends and family. Then to Erza's growing bafflement and alarm, silhouettes of Locust, of monsters, of people both good and villains from all of her travels began to emerge from the flames. Even though most were obscured still by the flames and only their silhouettes could be seen, she knew who and what they were. It was like every victim of her or her family and friends, whether they be good or bad are appearing from the flames and walking and staring her down.
Obsessed with your life, now you've ruined mine.
Woman or monster, you're dead inside.
Her voice, the young girl's voice along with the voices of other young souls lost by the soldier's hands sung out. Erza tried to not let it get to her, eyes glancing all around with alarm as the hordes of her innocent and guilty victims slowly approached her from all sides despite the flames intensifying like an inferno and shrouding them. Yet her words struck a chord to her, doubts and self-hatred bubbling underneath her surface.
I'll tear down all you've built if you give me time.
A kingdom or torment that never dies.
The sky booming high above caught Erza's eyes, forcing her to look up only to see something massive began to fall down pushing the dark gathered clouds down and apart.
And to her utter horror, bursting from the sky above, the massive maw of the Riftworm tore through the blanket of gathered clouds. The dark grey, gigantic, ten-mile-long Locust Deity's roar echoing like a loud drum in her ears.
"WHAT THE FU-?!" Was all Erza could yell out before the massive beast crashed down directly upon her and her surroundings, the vestiges of all her victims including the young girl vanishing in the process while the massive subterranean worm entered the ground while Erza felt herself falling into the beast's inside.
Don't be so terrified.
That was the last thing Erza heard from the girl's voice while she screamed, falling down into the belly of the Locust Deity, and total darkness enveloped her.
"ERZA!" Marvell shouted with worry in her tone, while everyone else was horrified not just from the sudden turn of events, but from the sight of the massive beast that just came down from the sky.
"WHAT THE F**K IS THAT?!" Bickslow shouted in utter shock and terror, feeling himself freeze from the sight of the grotesque dark grey creature that just swallowed Scarlet down its massive jaw. The blue and black haired Seith and Eye Magic user wasn't the only one grossed and terrified from the sight of the massive beast, as many others were just as taken back and horrified by the sight of it. A few had to hold the urge to vomit up their breakfasts as they tried to swallow the bile that rose in their throats.
"That… was the Riftworm." Marvell, despite still worried for Scarlet from just being eaten by the massive beast, managed to respond, her voice calmer with only a sigh escaping from her mouth afterwards, "And yes, it's indeed that big and monstrous as you've all saw before."
Granted, it was only the remnants of the beast that the guild, minus Kagura, Millianna and Chelia had witnessed when they were shown Sera from Marvell's previous visit with a few of her other friends.
"The Riftworm…?" Chelia asked her, frightened from the sight of the massive beast that just ate the other version of Erza.
"I remember being told that Dragneel and a few others were eaten by one before. Will Scarlet have to fight her way out of it like they did?" Mira asked Marvell, trying to calm herself down from seeing the sight of the giant worm, trying to remind her that a massive worm wasn't the worst thing they heard or seen before.
"As annoying as that is, she'll most likely will." Marvell told the Demon Take-Over Mage, trying to ease herself from seeing how her friend will have to go through that to escape.
"How could you say that so calmly?! She just got eaten! How do you even know she's even alive after that?!" Chelia couldn't stop herself from shouting, not understanding why Marvell was acting this calm when her friend just got eaten by a massive worm monster.
"She is alive! This isn't the first time my friends got eaten by that thing!" Marvell responded back with a glare, hating how the pink haired girl is thinking the worst happening to Scarlet, "She's going to be fine! She'll just fight her way out of the stupid worm like the badass she is and go on from there!"
"BADASS?! IN WHAT UNIVERSE IS ALL THE CRAP WE JUST SAW AND REVEALED TO US SHOWS HER THAT SHE'S THAT?! SHE JUST HAD TO RELIEVE THROUGH HER TRAUMA AND YET YOU ACT LIKE IT'S NO BIG DEAL!" Chelia shouted out in anger, refusing to think that considering how… broken, Scarlet became upon seeing the vestiges of her friends and victims, 'She shouldn't have to go through that, her having gone through it before doesn't mean it should be normalized!'
"DON'T PUT WORDS INTO MY MOUTH! I DIDN'T SAY IT WASN'T A BIG DEAL! SHE DEALT WITH IT BEFORE, SO I KNOW SHE'S GOING TO COME OUT OF THIS!" Marvell shouted back, unable to stop her glare towards the other girl.
"NO YOU DON'T! YOU DON'T KNOW THAT SHE WILL! THIS OTHER EARTHLAND IS TRYING TO KILL HER! HOW DO YOU KNOW IT WON'T MAKE IT COMPLETELY DIFFERENT TO THROW HER OFF?!" Chelia retaliated, refusing to let Marvell's glare and shout scare her into submission.
"GUYS CALM DOWN!" Romeo got in between the two, forcing them both to look at the Rainbow Fire Mage's way, "None of us know how any of this will go! We just have to have faith that Scarlet and the others will be alright, but getting worked up and going at each other's throats isn't going to do anything!"
Both girls stared at Romeo, before calming down and easing their breathes from this. Marvell pulled her eyes away from Chelia and him with a huff, while Chelia eased her own emotions. Eyeing towards Romeo before looking at Marvell again, a look of sadness and regret formed on her face.
"I'm sorry… I shouldn't have blown up like that." She apologized, all while Marvell only sighed.
"It's fine. You're just worried is all. I don't know how things will go, but I have faith that Erza will be able to get through it." Marvell replied to her, glancing her way. She would admit however that she was kind of proud that Chelia didn't back down like that, knowing more of that was good for anyone to have.
Everyone else just watched this exchanged from their spots, initially worried once Chelia and Marvell raised their voices towards one another, but grew relieved from seeing them calm down thanks to Romeo's intervention.
"Guys look!" Millianna's words pulled everyone's attention away from that however, seeing the brown haired cat-like woman pointing out the scene changing in the other reality into elsewhere once again.
With that, everyone looked onward, seeing the scene pulling away from Scarlet, and instead now showing Kagura's own 137-C counterpart… and the total dark area she was lost in to all of their puzzlement.
"HELLO?! ERZA! MIRA! LEVY! ARE YOU HERE?!" Kagura shouted out, making her way through her current location that she found herself in out of nowhere.
Said location however, being nothing but total darkness all around. Nothing but utter silence greeting her as Kagura only grew further baffled and caution from her current situation. She couldn't even see the ground she walked on, having no idea what was going on or why she ended up in this pitch-black place. Each step she took echoed all around, and no breeze was present feeling like she was in an airless place. The only reason she knew that wasn't the case since her armor didn't automatically close up incase of lack of oxygen.
The dark purple haired woman only sighed, feeling more confused and tired from it all.
"None of this is making sense. I blinked for one moment, and the next thing I know I'm in this total dark place with the other three gone," Kagura sighed once more, raising her Lancer Rifle as she continued her march through this unknown and dark place. So far she didn't sense or detect any hostiles or anything else, but honestly the lack of that only made her more unease than it should have, "I hope they're not up into any trouble. The last thing we need is them actively making things worse."
Kagura only shook her head from that, knowing that alone was too much to ask. Knowing those three, they probably did but are having the time of their lives right now.
"Where is she?" Kagura asked, confused from where her double was apparently sent too. Nothing else looked to be around, yet why was her double sent there of all places?
"How would we know that?" Evergreen responded back, just as confused as the Mermaid Heel swordswoman was.
"I doubt it's going to be anything good. Something is going to appear, but what?" Gray figured before pondering over. From what they have seen of this Earthland and what it has wrought to the 137-C women so far, as terrible as it was to acknowledge things will no doubt go south for Kagura's counterpart. The question is how badly will it go?
"Maybe she'll get lucky and it won't be as bad?" Elfman guessed, trying to be optimistic since that was the manly thing to do. But even he knew that was highly unlikely as much as he hated to admit it.
"Guess we'll have to see." Erza figured, already worried over what has happened to her own double, and to Mira's and Levy's own so far. She didn't want to know what danger or horror that this other Earthland will come forth with to torment the double of the woman she considers her little sister.
Kagura kept on moving, nothing but the echoes of her steps breaking the silence along with her breathing. Yet she remained guarded, knowing that letting it down was a bad idea in case something did appear. And knowing her luck, bigger chances that it would be something terrible than something pleasant.
That would be tested, when without any form of warning, a bright light appeared from behind her. The noise of it's appearance caught her attention.
"Who's there?!" Kagura demanded, her Lancer Rifle raised and pointed forward in the direction she now faced.
The dark purple haired woman quickly became confused however, by the sight that she saw before her. Underneath the light like one shown onto a performer during a show or performance, with a piano… was a shirtless Natsu with his back turned, if the spiky pink hair alone wasn't enough of a giveaway.
Everyone blinked at this.
"Huh? Is that me?" Natsu asked with puzzlement, confused from whatever they were expecting, it wasn't the sight of him without his vest, or to his confusion and worry, his scarf wasn't present either.
"Why is there a Natsu sitting down at a piano? That's seems ridiculous." Wakaba stated, and Natsu and the rest couldn't blame him, since compared to what they have seen so far it seemed out of place.
"Maybe the piano will come alive and fuse with Natsu into a dangerous piano monster hybrid," Cana guessed, which got many of the others to look at her with either confusion or deadpanned stares, wondering if the woman got drunk at some point during this. Something she was quick to notice, "Hey, I'm just guessing here! With all the things Marvell's friends went through I wouldn't be surprised if that was something they faced."
"I really hope not." Laki replied to her, not wanting to see something that ridiculous actually being a thing but also not wanting to see another version of Natsu being evil or a monster.
"Natsu?" Kagura was confused now. Still, she didn't let her guard down, for all she knew this was some type of illusion.
The sound of the piano being played caught her attention, Natsu still having his back turned to her while he played the instrument before him. The music itself sounded… rather haunting, and for some reason Kagura felt her survival instincts flare up, getting a sense something was amiss. Well, more so than usual that is.
"Do you want to play with me~? A simple game of hide and seek~?" Natsu's voice began to speak, or more accurately sing, and his words alone put Kagura more on edge, wondering if she should just shoot him just to make sure it wasn't some creepy monster in disguise or something. He raised his right hand, raising three fingers while Kagura noticed the keys still being played despite his hand no longer on them, "Close your eyes and count to three~."
He brought his hand back down on the piano, resuming playing the keys of the piano before him.
"Keep this interesting… for… me~." Natsu trailed off and finished, ceasing playing the piano…
…Then he leaned fully backwards, revealing pitch black sclera and two glowing red irises with bloody rashes underneath them, along with a stretched mouth that seemed to be melt over his rows of yellow, sharp teeth catching Kagura completely off guard. All while a twisted, demonic giggle emitted from him as he stared down at the armed woman behind him.
Everyone froze, the sight of the familiar demonic version of the Fire Dragon Slayer catching all of them off guard.
"What?" Natsu spoke, his tone soft yet horrified by the sight that he was seeing.
Wendy however, look the worst out of everyone, completely frozen in fear at the sight of the demon with Natsu's face. Her mind drifted back to last night as she slept…
The scene of Magnolia drowned in blood, bloated and deformed carcasses of so many people littering the ruins of the city. All her friends being brutally killed one way or another followed up by that accursed and horrifying laughter of the demon behind it all. The landscape beyond twisted into a nightmarish version with the sky blood red. The sight of Romeo bloodied and ripped apart, lifelessly hanging by the claws of the monster standing before her, mocking her with his laughter. A monster bearing the face of one she considered an older brother, blood going down from his eyes boring directly into her soul. Before he rushed in, snatched and raised her up before… before…
"Wendy!" Romeo exclaimed with worry, seeing the completely horrified and terrified expression Wendy had with tears silently going down her own cheeks before hearing Romeo's words, snapping her from her thoughts.
Still, her expression only worsen as more tears spilled, and on instinct grabbed onto Romeo, barely keeping her sobs quiet trying to push the nightmare back, and the guilt to even dream of viewing Natsu as that monster.
"Are you kidding me?! They encountered a version of that stupid demon like the one we saw last night?!" Alzack shouted in shock and anger, recalling how everything his double there and the remaining survivors tried to find a way to escape that nightmare only to be culled with ease and in horrifying ways.
'No, that isn't right. I don't know why, but that isn't the reason,' Observer thought, realizing that something else was at play here… before the realization hit the Celestial being, making his eyes widened before he realized what this meant, "No, this other Earthland has access to our own memories."
That caught everyone's attention, their eyes pulled towards the living constellation, who went on to explain.
"This other Earthland is reacting to the link we have showing this world to us. With us having a window into it, it's able to bring forth our own memories. fears and emotions to use. That's why Marvell's copy earlier was up to date with how she is now, it was able to pull through the veil and weakened it to use what you mortals remember, feel and fear. But since we're here and not on the other planet's surface, it's using it against Marvell's friends instead." Observer explained, believing that was the case. But that only raised alarm that this other Earthland could potentially weaken the link between their worlds further, and if that was the case then the Celestial entity didn't want to think on what it could do or what affect it could have on them all.
Hearing that however surprised and shocked everyone present, and only added to their worry and alarm on the situation.
"You mean we might be actively making it worse? Should we stop watching then?" Juvia asked the rest, unsure if that was the best thing to do or not. Because if them viewing the other Earhtland was only going to make things even more difficult and worse for the 137-C women, wouldn't it be better to cut the link before things get worse?
"No! I have to see this end! Not with my friends being put in danger! I have to make sure they get out of this alive!" Marvell shot the idea down, refusing to abandon it knowing that it probably didn't make much of a difference anyway. Her friends were still in danger despite who's memories or fears was being used.
Before anyone could respond to her words and question if that's the best idea, the other Earthland quickly caught their focus again, seeing what was about to transpire.
Taken back, Kagura didn't get a chance to get any words out before the pink haired demon before her vanished completely, the light once shining on him vanishing as well. Then without any warning the ground gave away, causing further alarm before she found herself free falling, shouting in shock from this feeling wind hitting her face.
Yet the fall didn't seem to last long before the dark purple haired woman crashed face first into dirt. The sounds of crackling thunder being heard. Intense wind picking up while the heavy smell of copper hit her noise. Eyes widening, her helmet closed over her face as she hastily got back onto her feet, before widening her eyes at her new surroundings. Which only made her feel more freaked out from what she saw around her.
It was a forest, the trees twisted in a nightmarish design and moving as if they were sentient with deformed screaming faces covering every bit of their bark, all while it poured down blood. It poured with immense force that Kagura struggled to see anything because of it, quickly covering her and everything else all around in blood. Crimson lighting struck and danced in the pitch-dark sky among the blanket of black thundering clouds.
"Are you f**king with me?! What's going on?!" Kagura roared out, caught off guard by the sudden change of surroundings. It didn't help that it was pouring down blood from the sky above, reminding her of that Magical Forest from so long ago before it went to hell.
And things would only get worse for her when from the thick of the trees around her, did giant monstrous insectoids emerged screeching loudly tearing down any obstacle in their way, even as the trees literally let out a bloodcurdling scream from being trampled. They stood between two to three meters in length, the rearmost pairs of legs it possesses much longer compared to the two front forelegs it has. They also have upper forelegs higher up the lower two front ones. A pincer-like mandible is also seen on them.
"GIANT BUGS?!" Lucy and Lisanna shouted in union in utter disgust and fright, as everyone else was also caught shocked by not only that but at what was happening in Mikazuchi's new location.
"It's raining blood too?! Just like what that E.N.D bastard caused in his own timeline!" Warren shouted in shock and disgust from seeing this once again.
"Where did he even go?" Max wondered, seeing how the demon with Natsu's face just vanished completely before Kagura's double arrived in her current predicament.
"That's not important! She needs to get out of there!" Kagura exclaimed, knowing that her double was in great danger, and things would no doubt grow worse if she doesn't find a way to get away from all this.
None of these giant warrior bugs cared about being coated by the pouring rain of blood, only focusing on the foe that lied before them all… much to the utter hate and shock of said enemy.
"OH COME THE F**K ON!" Kagura shouted in rage, quickly raising her Lancer prepared to fight. She had no choice, if she was going to find a way out of this mess she was going to have to fight her way through, "F**K IT! YOU WANT A PIECE OF ME?! I'LL GUT EVERY LAST ONE OF YOU OVERGROWN NSECTS!"
With that, using her hate for insects as fuel, the blood bathed soldier charged forward to engage in combat, all while a faint twisted laughter of a certain demon echoed throughout the thundering blood storm.
DONE! FINALLY, I HAVE FINISHED! After months of being a pain I finally got this out! I really hope I managed to do a good job with this, and that I managed to not mess up "thehappy"'s characters and the like. Otherwise I'll just jump off the highest volcano I can find.
In all seriousness, I'm glad that I managed to get this done. Felt so bad for taking so long since I still have like two chapters planned for this timeline after this.
Now to slightly explain what the heck is going on in this other timeline, basically the Earthland here is somewhat alive and sentient, and it punishes those who dwell on its surface with the fears, nightmares and other bad things each person possesses to essentially punish them for their sins. It fully creates and morphs its surroundings to match what it uses. So all of it is real as day, thus the girls aren't secretly still next to each other being hit by some illusion, the planet physically moved them to different areas far away from each other before transforming into different scenes and locations before beginning the punishments.
If one were to look at this Earthland in space, they wouldn't see oceans or continents. Instead, all they would see is this sphere of pitch-black darkness that sucks in light akin to a blackhole. As to why this Earthland is like this, who knows. Maybe it used to be normal but something went wrong. Maybe it was always like this since it appeared. That may or may not be a mystery that might never get solved.
Anyway, that's that for the chapter. All seriousness, I hoped I didn't mess up "thehappy"'s characters and the way they react too badly. I bet seeing how this other Earthland having also access to Fairy Tail's own Earthland thanks to the link set up between them. I will say nothing too much will come from this other than a couple of other things, since this is still mostly focusing on the shifting girl's own fears and issues that will be used against them. Won't say anything else on that to avoid spoilers since I do have something else planned to involve this use that may or may not be a good thing. Or maybe a bad thing. You won't know until then HAHAHAHAHAHA *Hacks and coughs*.
Anyway, what did you all think? Good? Bad? Want me to kill myself? Let me know.
See you all next time, whenever that will be.
Shapeless, shifting void
The sanctum of the weary and the paranoid
A source of untold fears
Helpless to observe
Beyond my understanding my own soul's unnerved
With music to my ears
