Hey guys, I'm back with the next update for this story! I'm glad that you all seemed to enjoy the last chapter because I had a ton of fun writing it! This chapter will pick up where the previous one left off and will continue Natsu and his friend's mission to save the other members of Fairy Tail, with the new information that they're a part of the massive lacrima that the king of Edolas is going to use to provide the world with magical power. So, I hope you're all looking forward to that.
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Well, that's all I wanted to say, so let's get to the fic!
"Speech"
"Thoughts"
Magic
Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail or any of its characters.
(One Hour Later: Hotel Within the Royal City)
The members of Earthland Fairy Tail all sat silently in different areas of their room. Each of them looked upset and anxious, their current situation, particularly regarding their friends, was eating away at them. Happy sat on the floor, leaning up against a wall near the front door. Carla sat at a desk with ink and pen, appearing to be scribbling something on a piece of paper. Lucy and Wendy sat next to each other on the room's sofa, nervously exchanging glances with each other and their fellow guildmates. Natsu was the only one who wasn't seated. The pink-haired dragon slayer had a fiery determination burning in his eyes as he mindlessly paced around the room. Glancing out a nearby window, Natsu felt his blood boil when he spotted the massive lacrima his friends were trapped in being transported toward the castle.
"That's it..." Natsu growled, turning away from the window and tightly balling his fists. "I can't just hide in this room any longer! I'm busting into that damn castle and saving our friends!"
"Please...just wait a bit longer..." Carla muttered as she continued to write away, not even turning to look at Natsu. "Just a bit...longer..."
"And why should I?!" Natsu exclaimed, storming over to the desk Carla was at and slamming his hands down. "You've been saying that since we hid here! Well, I'm getting pretty damn sick of waiting! My friends...MY MATES...are being held prisoner by that sick bastard they call their king! If we don't do something soon...they'll...they'll...fuck, I don't even want to think about it!"
"I can't imagine what you're feeling right now Natsu...but those people are my friends too...and I want to help them as well." Carla said calmly which caught Natsu completely off guard, seeming to quell his agitation slightly. "We can't just storm in there like idiots...we need a plan or we won't be able to return everyone back to normal."
"Damn it...I guess you're right..." Natsu said with a huff, before slamming his fist into the wall, punching a hole clean through it. "It's just so damn frustrating...I feel so powerless right now!"
"All of our friends...and so many other people...they were all turned into that lacrima..." Wendy said as she stared down at her lap, nervously gripping her stockings. "How are we supposed to change them back?"
"I know you're not going to like this...especially you Natsu..." Carla said, pausing her writing for a brief moment and releasing a light sigh. "But we really don't have any other choice...we have to ask the king directly."
"WHAT!?" Natsu snarled as he glared at Carla, his rage flaring up once again. "What makes you think that son of a bitch will even tell us!? I'd much rather beat the information out of him!"
"Wait...just wait a second...I think I have an idea." Lucy said, perking up and standing up off the sofa. "If the king really does know how to change everyone back...we just need to get close to him."
"Really..." Natsu said in a somewhat skeptical tone as he gazed at his blonde mate and quirked an eyebrow. "What's your plan, Luce?"
"I'm talking about Gemini..." Lucy said with a smirk, holding up the celestial spirit's golden gate key. "While Gemini can transform into whoever they touch...they also learn everything that person is thinking while they're transformed. In other words, if Gemini can transform into the king, we can learn how to save everyone!"
"I see..." Wendy muttered as she stroked her chin, pondering what Lucy had just explained. "That might just work."
"But Gemini can only transform for five minutes at most...and they can only store two transformations." Lucy added, crossing her arms underneath her chest and narrowing her eyes slightly. "After that, if we transform into someone new, we no longer will be able to transform into the older one. So, our main issue is, how are we supposed to get close to the king?"
"There are too many guards around...and they're likely going to be on high alert." Wendy said as she slowly shook her head. "It won't be easy...even if we try to sneak in."
"There is a way to get close to the king." Carla said, finally revealing what she had been drawing this entire time. The other members of Fairy Tail's eyes widened when they saw that Carla had apparently drawn a map of the royal castle and the surrounding area. She specifically pointed toward an area labeled 'coal mine'. "This was originally an escape route leading outside of the castle. But this underground route and the outside of the city should still be connected."
"That's amazing, Carla!" Wendy exclaimed as she walked over and closely examined the map the white cat had drawn. "How did you know all of this?!"
"This information just started popping up in my mind..." Carla explained, clutching her head as she tried to clearly see the new images flooding her head. "Ever since we came to Edolas...more and more information has been added into my head."
"Huh...that's weird..." Happy muttered under his breath as he scratched his head. "Nothing's been coming up for me."
"It's the best plan we've got." Lucy said, resting her palms on the table and leaning in closer to better look at Carla's map. "We can get into the castle from here and make this work."
"Alright, it's settled then!" Natsu said as he looked at each of his friends and guildmates, seeing a similar look of determination burning in their eyes. "Let's turn everyone back into their normal selves!"
"Good, since we all agree, we'll leave at night." Carla said, before folding up her map and slipping it into her coat pocket. "We should get as much rest as we can before then."
(Several Hours Later: Coal Mine Just Outside the Royal Capital)
"Man, it feels weird to carry around a torch..." Natsu said as he stared at the flickering flames at the end of the stick he was carrying. He practically started drooling as he watched the delicious-looking fire crackle. "I'd normally just use my own fire."
"Everyone hush." Carla said, stopping at what appeared to be a dead end. "We're here. Lucy, you're up."
"Right..." Lucy said as she grabbed one of her golden celestial gate keys. "Open the Gate of the Golden Bull! Taurus!" With a flash of blinding, golden light, Taurus materialized in front of Lucy. Before the muscular humanoid bull could begin his usual, horny antics, Lucy stopped him in his tracks. "Taurus, we need you to smash through this wall."
"Got it." Taurus said with a grin, giving a thumbs up before he turned to face the wall. Cocking his arm back, Taurus grunted as he unleashed a devastating punch that collapsed the wall almost instantly. "MOOO!"
"Nice job, Taurus!" Lucy cheered as she returned her celestial spirit before it could attempt to hug her. "Alright guys, let's keep going."
"This is amazing, Carla..." Wendy breathed out, gazing into the passage that was hidden behind the wall. "You were right. There really was a tunnel down here."
"I just hope it connects to the basement of the castle." Carla muttered with a perplexed look as she stared down at the ground. "I really hope this works..."
"We should..." Natsu stopped after taking a few steps, noticing that Happy wasn't following them. Quirking an eyebrow, Natsu walked back over and crouched down next to the blue cat. "What's wrong, Happy? You look...confused."
"I just...why don't I have the information Carla does?" Happy asked as he pressed both of his paws against his head, narrowing his eyes slightly as he tried his best to concentrate. "I'm the same Edolas cat...and I have been sent to accomplish the same task...right?"
"Happy..." Carla said, glancing over at the blue cat. "You promised me that you wouldn't ask about that, correct?"
"A-Aye..." Happy muttered as he nervously pressed his paws together. "I won't ask anymore."
"I have no idea why you can't remember what I can." Carla said, releasing a light sigh as she continued to walk down the passageway. "Let's keep moving further inside."
"It's okay, bud." Natsu said with a sympathetic look as he gently patted Happy on the back. Standing up, Natsu took lead and proceeded to lead the group deeper into the tunnel. As the Fairy Tail mages descended deeper into the passage, Natsu grimaced as he examined the rotten and warped support beams. "Damn, we better move quickly. It looks like this place could collapse at any moment."
"Ugh, please don't jinx us, Natsu." Lucy said in a slightly nervous tone, before practically latching onto Natsu when she heard a nearby support beam start to creak. "Yeah, let's get the hell out of here as quickly as possible."
"We need to turn left up ahead..." Carla said as she took the lead, clutching her head as new information filled her head. The rest of the group followed Carla's lead, taking several turns and walking down a seemingly unending maze of passageways. "We're almost there...just a bit further."
"Let me take the lead here guys..." Natsu said, holding his torch out as he walked in front of everyone else. After taking a few more steps, Natsu's torch illuminated a rather large cavern. "It's okay to come in everyone, it looks like we've found some type of clearing."
"It seems like these tunnels are connected to the castle's basement from here." Carla said as she gazed around the cavern. "We're so close to our goal."
"I don't know how you did it, but I'm seriously you're glad you're with us, Carla." Lucy said with a smile, before crouching down and gently patting the white-furred cat's head. "We'd be totally lost right now without you."
"I wish that I could explain how I knew how to get here." Carla explained as her eyes narrowed slightly, crossing her arms over her chest. "The information just keeps filling my head."
"Thanks so much, Carla!" Happy exclaimed with a smile, raising his paw into the air. "You're so awesome!"
"Save your praise until we've rescued everyone." Carla said with a huff as she glanced back at Happy. "Everything has been easy up until now. We need to sneak into the king's bedroom undetected, then escape. If the guards discover us before we get to the king, there's no way we'll win against them."
"Well, if we run into any trouble, I can still use my magic." Lucy said, placing a hand on her celestial gate keys. "I'll hold off the guards for as long as possible."
"You won't need to do all the work, Luce!" Natsu said with a grin as he punched his fist into his palm. "I'll help you kick some major ass!"
"Thanks, Natsu. We'll need to-" Lucy was cut off mid-sentence when a slimy, tentacle-like binding wrapped around her. "UGH! What the fuck is this stuff! It's so gross!"
"Luce!" Natsu as he tried to rush over to his mate's side. However, just as Natsu was about to pry the slime off Lucy, he was stopped when another tentacle shot out and tied him up as well. "Damn it! Where is this shit coming from!?" Wiping around, Natsu saw that Wendy had been bound as well. "Wendy, you too!? What is going on here!?" Just then, the sounds of clanking armor filled the cavern as dozens of Edolas soldiers swarmed around them. "How are these guys here!?"
"It doesn't make any sense!" Lucy grunted, desperately thrashing around in a vain attempt to break free. "There's no way they could have known we were here!"
"So...these are mages from Earthland..." Natsu felt his entire body tense when he heard a familiar, imposing voice speak up from behind him. Turning around, the pink-haired dragon slayer wasn't surprised to see Erza Knightwalker approaching him. "It's true they look exactly like their counterparts..." Natsu tensed once again when Knightwalker stopped in front of him, reaching out and gently caressing his cheek. As she leaned in closer, Natsu saw her menacing brown eyes soften slightly. "You...really do look just like my Natsu...are you truly not the same person?"
"Knightwalker..." Natsu breathed out as he locked eyes with the scarlet-haired knight. "I talked with Lucy Ashley...and Edo me...I know about your...situation. You need to talk to them! I know you three can work things out!"
"How dare you! You have no right to interfere in my personal life! You don't know anything!" Knightwalker growled, before stepping back and harshly slapping Natsu across the face which left his cheek bright red. "Get them out of my sight! NOW!"
"Erza...at least hear us out!" Lucy exclaimed as the soldiers began to drag her, and her friends, out of the cavern. "You don't have to do this!"
"Carla!" Wendy yelled, digging her heels into the ground as she did everything possible in an attempt to stop the soldiers from taking her away. "Help us, please!"
"Wendy!" Carla exclaimed, running after Wendy. However, she was stopped when Knightwalker stepped in front of her and Happy. "W-What do you want?"
"Exceed..." Knightwalker said cryptically as she stared at both cats. Before Carla and Happy could question what was happening, they were shocked when Knightwalker and all of the soldiers kneeled before them. "Welcome back, Exceeds."
"Exceed?" Lucy parroted in a confused tone, watching the bizarre scene unfold in utter shock. "What are they talking about?"
"Carla...Happy..." Wendy said in a shaky voice as her eyes widened slightly. "Who exactly are you guys?"
"I must congratulate you both on escorting these trespassers." Knightwalker said, causing Carla's entire body to freeze up as she broke out in a cold sweat. "The plan worked flawlessly."
"Carla..." Happy thought as he stared at the white-furred cat in shock, a chill running down his spine. "What is she talking about!?"
(Twenty Minutes Later: Royal Castle's Dungeon)
"OOOF!" Natsu grunted, stumbling to the ground as he and Wendy were tossed into a dark and musty cell. Quickly getting back onto his feet, Natsu helped Wendy back up. "Are you okay, Wendy?"
"I'm fine, Natsu..." Wendy replied, staring around the cold and depressing room they had been thrown into. "Where are the others? Lucy? Happy? Carla?"
"You son of a bitch!" Natsu snarled as he rushed toward the cell's door, before skidding to a stop just as it was slammed shut in his face. There was a small, barred window on the door and Natsu tightly gripped the bars, glaring fiercely at the person who had shut the door. "Where is everyone else!? Where is Luce!? I swear to god if you bastards hurt her!"
"Everyone else...Lucy?" Hughes repeated, quirking an eyebrow as he stared at Natsu in confusion for several moments. "Ah...you mean that blonde girl. I hate to break it to you, but we no longer have any use for her." With a smirk, Hughes shrugged his shoulders and shook his head. "Maybe she'll be executed, I don't know."
"You fuckers better not lay a finger on Luce!" Natsu roared in fiery, draconic rage, slamming his head against the door's bars. Hughes took a fearful step back as he watched a trail of blood trickle down Natsu's forehead, veins bulging the pink-haired dragon slayer's hands and head. In a showcase of his impressive strength, Natsu began to bend the bars apart slightly, causing Hughes to yelp in surprise. "If you guys hurt her, I'll burn you all to ashes! Not even your bones will be left!"
"H-Holy shit..." Hughes thought as he took another step away from the cell, staying well out of Natsu's potential reach. Coughing into his hand, Hughes attempted to recompose himself and put on a cocky demeanor. "Oh my, aren't you scary. Are all you earthland mages this savage?"
"Why was Lucy the only one separated..." Wendy asked, walking up to the cell door and placing a hand on Natsu's shoulder which seemed to calm him slightly. "What about Happy and Carla?"
"Happy? Carla?" Hughes muttered as he scratched the side of his head. "Oh, you mean the Exceeds."
"Their names are Happy and Carla..." Natsu growled, continuing to glare daggers at Hughes. "Call them by their names!"
"Tch, whatever...since...ugh...Happy and Carla have completed their mission, they've returned to their homeland." Hughes explained which caused Natsu and Wendy's eyes to widen in shock. "Perhaps they're receiving a reward and eating good food right about now."
"Completed...their mission?" Wendy said under her breath, pondering what Hughes had said for several moments. After everything they had been through together, Wendy knew that there was no way Happy or Carla would betray their friends. "That doesn't make any sense. I don't know what this 'mission' was, but Carla said she abandoned it."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk, wrong, little girl." Hughes mocked as he wagged his finger and shook his head. "She most definitely completed it."
"What...what was their mission?" Wendy asked, taking a deep breath as she prepared to hear the worst. "Please, tell us."
"Tch, there's no reason not to tell you..." Hughes said before a twisted smile spread across his face, causing a chill to run down Wendy's spine. "Our main target was you two." Both Natsu and Wendy's eyes widened when they heard this. "We want the power of dragons! Especially you, ya pink-haired bastard! You've got the power of two dragons inside you! And soon, that power will be ours! HAHAHA!"
(Same Time: Unknown Location)
"Ugh..." Happy groaned, rubbing his head as he sat upright. After taking a moment to rub his eyes, Happy took in his surroundings. He was surprised to see that he was in a rather spacious and well-furnished room and that he was lying on a large, comfortable bed. "Where...am I?" Hearing some mumbling, Happy looked to his side and was surprised to see that Carla was lying on the bed next to him. Reaching out, Happy gently shook Carla's shoulder. "Carla, you have to wake up."
"Happy..." Carla muttered as she sat up, rubbing the sleep out of her eyes. "What...happened to us?"
"That scary lady who looks like Erza put us to sleep..." Happy explained, staring at the rather luxurious-looking partially see-through curtains that wrapped around most of the bed. "I wonder where we are." When Happy glanced back over at Carla, he saw that she was staring down at her lap, a downtrodden look on her face. "Carla...what's wrong?"
"My 'information'...that map I made..." Carla replied as she tightly gripped the hem of her dress. "It was all a trap."
"What are you talking about?! Us getting caught was all just a terrible coincidence!" Happy exclaimed, doing his best to try and cheer Carla up. "This absolutely isn't your fault!"
"I swore to her..." Carla said as she fought back tears, her body trembling slightly. "I promised Wendy that I'd protect her."
Before either Carla or Happy could say anymore, the door to the room slowly creaked open. Both cats gulped as they anxiously waited for this newcomer to enter the room. However, there was no way they could have anticipated what walked into the room. In stepped a cat like Carla and Happy that had similar facial features to Ichiya. He had a distinctively large head, with orange fur arranged in a wavy style with a fringe hanging on his forehead. He also wore a red hat with a cat symbol on it. Appearing to be some type of soldier he wore a royal blue army coat with a brown belt. He also wore a two-paneled apron, with some type of military logo imprinted on it, dark-green pants, and brown boots. Lastly, he carried a sword encased in a scabbard. And much like Ichiya, this cat was standing with his index and middle fingers pointed out.
"Are you two the ones who completed their mission in Earthland?" The flashy cat asked the stunned Happy and Carla, receiving no reply from either of them. Taking another trait from Ichiya, the cat took several long sniffs of the air. "Hmmm yes...what a great perfume."
"I-Ichiya?!" Happy nervously exclaimed as he dove to hide behind Carla. "Who are you!? This is really weird!"
"What are you talking about?" The Ichiya look-a-like cat asked in a confused tone, quirking an eyebrow. "We're the same, Exceed."
"Nichiya-san..."
A new voice said as another cat entered the room. This new cat was a black Exceed. His tail was thin and rectangular. He had a large, black, rectangular head, with a large portion below his nose being white. His eyes were perfectly round with small white eyebrows that took the shape similar to a scalene triangle as well as pink ears and two whiskers on each side of his face. This new cat wore a black jacket with three golden buttons and a light-colored turtleneck beneath it. He also wore a dark yellow pair of pants and small, ankle-high boots that were brown in color.
"It's their first time being in Edolas." The new cat said as he put one hand behind his back while the other waved energetically. "It's probably their first time seeing another Exceed."
"Oh! I see now!" Nichiya exclaimed, smiling at Happy and Carla which slightly unsettled both cats. "I am the captain of Extalia's imperial guard. My name is Nichiya!"
"And I'm Nadi, Minister of State." The now named Nadi said as his arm continued to rapidly wave around. "Good job on your mission."
"Mission..." Happy repeated in a confused tone, glancing over at Carla who seemed to be in an even worse mood. "That scary lady who looked like Erza mentioned a mission too."
"I'm afraid that we mustn't delay any further." Nichiya said as he turned around and began to walk out of the room, gesturing for Happy and Carla to follow him. "The queen is waiting for us, so please follow me."
"T-The queen!? There's a queen here?!" Happy exclaimed nervously, glancing over at Carla. The white-furred cat still appeared to be quite downtrodden. "Carla...you can leave things to me this time. For now, we just need to follow these guys." Reaching out, Happy took Carla's hand and began to gently lead her out of the room. "Don't worry, I'll keep you safe, no matter what."
Nadi and Nichiya quickly lead Happy and Carla out of the building they were staying in. When they finally stepped outside, Happy was stunned by what he saw. In a bustling city all around him, were dozens upon dozens of other cats that looked just like him and Carla. These cats were selling goods, playing games, teaching lessons, and numerous other things you'd see happening in a normal city. As Happy and Carla walked by, he overheard several of the cats talking about them, even referring to them as heroes for some reason.
"It's an entire country full of cats..." Happy said as he watched a group of children run past, appearing to be playing tag. "I've never seen anything like this before."
"We're not cats, we're Exceeds. We stand above humans and guide them. We are the Exceed!" Nadi said, pointing toward a banner with the same cat symbol that was on Nichiya's uniform. "And this is our kingdom, Extalia."
(Ten Minutes Later: Extalia's Royal Castle)
"You see, humans are quite simple-minded, inferior people." Nadi continued his ramblings as he and Nichiya lead Happy and Carla through the castle's winding corridors. "We have to be careful and manage them properly. The queen governs over the humans from this castle."
"Ugh, those humans have a terrible perfume, simply awful." Nichiya said, his nose crinkling in disgust as his brow furrowed. However, his revulsion was soon replaced with delight as his cheeks flushed slightly. "The queen however has a lovely scent."
"It's truly troublesome when they start to increase in number despite our urges not to. The queen has ruled that any additional humans..." Naid said in a sweet, yet menacing, tone as he turned to face Happy. The blue-furred cat felt a chill run down his spine when he saw the frightening look in Nadi's eyes. "Are to be executed."
"W-What!? Why would you do that!?" Happy exclaimed in utter shock at what he just heard, nearly tripping over the stairs they were climbing. "Why would you kill innocent people?!"
"Innocent? That's a funny joke. As for why we need to manage the human population. It is to normalize the magic that we are steadily losing." Nadi explained as he turned to look back at Happy and Carla. "That is what her majesty said. The queen not only governs the humans of this world but also those living in Earthland as well."
"Her majesty has the power to do that." Nichiya added in a serious tone, leading the small group around a corner. "Because she is a god."
"A god..." Happy breathed out as he felt a strange chill across his body. "This place is becoming stranger and stranger the more I learn about it."
"What was our mission?" Carla asked, stopping in her tracks just as a bell tolled in the distance. "It's been ground into me since the moment I was born. That I was chosen in accordance with the queen's human management plans. To...kill...the dragon slayer, Wendy."
"W-What..." Happy said in utter shock as he felt his heart skip a beat. His entire body felt cold as he whipped around to face Carla. "What are you talking about, Carla!? Answer me right now!"
"Be quiet." Carla said barely above a whisper, turning her head away from Happy as she tried to avoid his gaze. "You don't know-"
"Don't give me that! What do you mean by kill, Wendy!?" Happy yelled which caused Carla to flinch slightly. However, before Happy could say anymore, he immediately froze up when he came to a sudden realization. "W-Wait...if your mission...was to kill Wendy...does that mean...no...no...that can't be true...it has to be a lie..."
"They say 'ignorance is bliss,' right?" Carla said as she watched Happy start to tremble and break down. "You wanted to know our mission."
"I won't believe it...I-I would never hurt Natsu..." Happy stammered out, feeling tears sting his eyes. "There's no way...my mission was to kill Natsu!"
"Please, try to calm down, Happy." Carla said as she turned to face Nadi and Nichiya. "We have not completed our missions and have no intentions to do so. Why have you told us that we have!?"
"Hmmm, this is odd..." Nichiya said, stroking his chin as he quirked an eyebrow. "Perhaps it is memory loss?"
"Well, we didn't have any other choice." Nadi said as he shrugged his shoulders. "Superimposition has several different side effects."
"Don't ignore us!" Carla exclaimed, pointing at Nadi and Nichiya as she glared at both cats. "Answer my question!"
"No need to get so worked up, I'll explain..." Nadi said with a smile as he energetically waved his arm. "Following the queen's human management plans, 100 Exceed were sent to Earthland 6 years ago. They were provided with the necessary information in order to find and destroy the dragon slayers once they hatched. However, when the man-made Anima appeared and created new possibilities, it changed the plan. It was something created not to kill humans, but to makeuse of their magical energy."
"No...no...no..." Happy repeated like a mantra, biting his lip to fight back tears as he violently shook his head. "This isn't true...no...no..."
"For the dragon slayers, when they were absorbed by the Anima, they were turned into a special magical energy." Nadi continued, his overly happy demeanor was quite unsettling when contrasted by his dark explanation of the queen's plan. "Because of this, your mission was changed at the last minute. It was modified from killing the dragon slayers to capturing them."
"S-Shut up...stop talking..." Carla choked out as tears began to stream down her cheeks. "I...I wanted to protect Wendy...because I cared about her...not because of-"
"Wrong. That was simply your mind playing tricks on you." Nadi said in a menacing tone, seeming to tower over Carla as she began to tremble uncontrollably. "Your mission was changed from destroy to capture...in other words, it was modified to 'befriend the target.'"
"I SAID STOP TALKING!" Carla screamed as she fell to her knees, covering her ears in an attempt to stop herself from hearing any more of Nadi's cruel words. "THIS IS ALL A LIE!"
"All of your actions were subject to our commands." Nichiya said in a cold tone as he looked down at Carla with an uncaring gaze. "Everything you've done has been-"
"ENOUGH!" Happy yelled, rushing over and standing protectively in front of Carla. The blue-furred cat's face was twisted in rage as he grit his teeth, a few angry tears escaping his eyes. "WE'RE NOT SOME PUPPETS FOR YOU TO CONTROL!" Untying his green backpack, Happy dropped it to the ground and turned his back toward Nadi and Nichiya, proudly displaying his Fairy Tail guild symbol. "WE ARE MAGES OF FAIRY TAIL!"
"H-Happy..." Carla managed to say as she weakly tried to wipe away her tears. "I never knew he had the strength to stand up for himself like this."
"Let's go, Carla!" Happy exclaimed, suddenly grabbing the white-furred cat's hand and dragging her away from Nadia and Nichiya which seemed to surprise both cats. "We're going to save them by ourselves! Don't worry, we'll definitely save them!"
"T-This is..." Nichiya said in a shocked tone as he watched Happy and Carla run off. "Really bad..."
"A rebellion..." Nadi muttered, breaking out into a cold sweat as he trembled slightly. "Those Exceed have been poisoned by the impurities of Earthland and become rebels!"
"MEEEN!" Nichiya exclaimed as he dramatically fell to his knees, comical tears streaming down his face. "Two rebels have escaped! Imperial guards, stop them now!"
"Come on, Carla, we need to-" Happy was cut off mid-sentence when he spotted several massive guards starting to chase after them. "WAH! We really need to move now!" Dodging and jumping over several sword swings, Happy and Carla eventually managed to pull away from the guards, bursting back out on the busy streets. Happy pulled Carla into a bustling area full of vendors selling goods in an attempt to slow the guards down. "OUT OF OUR WAY! GET OUT OF OUR WAY!" Spotting a nearby wooden cart full of hay, Happy quickly jumped inside with Carla. "Let's hide in here!"
Happy and Carla waited in silence, listening for the guards to run past them. After a few moments, they heard dozens of footsteps hurriedly move past the cart they were in. Poking his head out, Happy breathed a sigh of relief when he spotted a large group of guards running in the opposite direction. However, just as Happy was about to help Carla out of the cart, he yelped in surprise as they began to roll down a steep slope.
"HANG ON CARLA!" Happy yelled as he held on to Carla tightly, making sure she didn't go flying out of the cart. Carla meekly nodded her head and allowed Happy to hold her close. Eventually, the cart reached the bottom of the slope and tipped over, throwing Happy and Carla out of it. Now slightly battered and bruised, Happy groaned as he slowly got back onto his feet. "Ugh...are you okay, Carla?"
"Yeah...I-I'm fine..." Carla replied, getting up and dusting herself off. However, Carla stopped when she noticed something floating off in the distance. "Happy! Look at that!"
"What is it-" Happy stopped talking when he noticed what Carla was looking at, the massive lacrima they had seen earlier was floating nearby. "The lacrima is floating!? Everyone in Fairy Tail is trapped in there!" It was then that Happy noticed that they were actually on a large island floating above the capital. "WOAH! This place was a floating island the entire time!?"
"The rest of the kingdom is so far below us..." Carla said, gazing over the edge of the island at the capital city below. "Is there any way we can get down? Since we can't fly right now."
"OI! What are you young'uns doing in my field!?" A sudden gruff, angry shout caught both Happy and Carla off guard. Turning around, they spotted an elderly-looking Exceed sporting white fur, thin black facial hair, and a mono-brow. His attire consisted of an open blue vest with a yellow t-shirt, a straw hat, with holes cut out for his ears, green pants, and a brown pair of shoes with pointed toes. This new exceed was brandishing a hoe as a weapon as he glared at Happy and Carla. "Oh, I get it now...you two must be those damned 'rebels' the soldiers were yelling about."
"Aye, we're sorry about intruding." Happy said in an apologetic tone, catching the upset, older Exceed off guard. "We were hiding in a cart and it rolled into your fields. We'll leave right-" Happy was cut off when heard yelling in the distance. Turning toward the treeline, he could clearly see a group of soldiers running toward them. "Oh no, they're here already."
"Grrrr...hrmmmmm..." The older exceed grumbled as he crossed his arms, seeming to be mulling something over in his head. After a few moments, he dropped his hoe and grunted. "Alright ya, little brats, get the hell out of my fields..." Happy and Carla were instantly worried at the sudden rejection as they watched the soldiers draw even closer. However, they both breathed a sigh of relief when the older exceed suddenly pointed toward his house. "And into my house, damn it!"
(Ten Minutes Later)
"Ara ara, that sounds so troublesome." A new elderly exceed said as she walked into the home's dining room, just as Happy finished explaining their situation. This new exceed appeared to be the farmer's wife. She was covered in blue fur, almost exactly like Happy's, and wore a white dress, over which she had on a yellow apron. She also sported a dark green scarf, with holes cut out for her ears, which was wrapped around her head in a similar fashion to a Hijab. "I hope you little ones are doing okay. By the way, I'm Marl and you've already met my husband, Lucky."
"Mister, ma'am, thank you so much for hiding us." Happy said with a smile, watching as Marl set a plate of fish down on the table. "We really appreciate it."
"KAH! Stop yammerin' already!" Lucky exclaimed as he angrily pounded his fist on the table. "You two must be starving, so eat up!"
"Thank you..." Carla said in a dejected tone, staring down at her lap. "You people are very kind."
"Our household doesn't conform to the will of the kingdom." Marl said as she set down a tray full of drinks. "We were exiled quite a long time ago and live out here now."
"KAH! Why you go an tell'em that!?" Lucky yelled, slamming his fist onto the table once again. "That's nothin' they need to know!"
"Okay, okay, dear..." Marl said as she began to walk toward the kitchen. "Don't go scaring out guests now."
"I see...so that's why you both took us in." Happy said with a smile, grabbing a fish and taking a bite out of it. "Carla's right, you really are kind people."
"Bah, that's got nothin' to do with it..." Lucky said in a surprisingly caring tone as he crossed his arms over his chest. However, his didn't last long before his angry demeanor quickly returned. "After you finish eating, go take a bath! We'll provide some fresh clothes for ya! And a place to sleep! Kah! Now stop yappin' and start eatin'!"
Several hours later, both Happy and Carla had eaten, washed up, and rested. Both Fairy Tail cats were seated on the back porch of Marl and Lucky's home, gazing out at a small personal garden. Happy appeared to be a bit more upbeat, but Carla still seemed to be quite downtrodden.
"So, you're names are Happy and Carla? My oh my, those are such beautiful names." Marl said with a sweet smile, walking up behind both cats. "You were both born in Earthland, right? Who gave you those names?"
"Natsu gave me my name!" Happy proclaimed as he hopped up and turned to face Marl. "He's my best friend!"
"The same...goes for me..." Carla replied, not even turning to look at Marl as she continued to stare down at her lap. "A dear friend gave me my name."
"Those friends are being held captive in the capital!" Happy said with a determined look in his eyes as he balled his fists. "We have to go rescue them!"
"So, you're going to rescue humans?" Marl asked, stepping in between Happy and Carla. "That sounds quite dangerous."
"I know that in Extalia, such things sound ludicrous..." Carla said as she tightly gripped the edge of the porch. "But we have to save them."
"Oh, don't be ridiculous, dearie. I think what you're doing is wonderful." Marl said with a smile, surprising both Happy and Carla. "It really doesn't matter whether your friends are human or Exceed. Because, even if we look different, our feelings toward each other are the same."
"Feelings...it feels like my feelings are being manipulated by someone else." Carla said as she released a light sigh. "Even right now...I can't be sure whether it's really me speaking these words."
"Don't talk like that, Carla! Of course, it's your words! Of course, it's your feelings!" Happy proclaimed, surprising Carla with his sudden declaration. "Our feelings of wanting to rescue our friends, those are absolutely our own!"
"You seem a bit lost right now, dear. But I'm sure everything will be okay." Marl said in a caring tone as she patted Carla's shoulder. "Besides, you have such a wonderful knight right here protecting you." Being called a 'knight' caused Happy's face to flush red in embarrassment. "You will be able to find your own heart. No, I'm sure you already have it. All that's left, is for you to recognize it. And trust that feeling of friendship."
"You're a strange lady." Carla said, smiling for the first time in quite a while as everything Marl had said resonated with her. "But not in a bad way."
"Hmmm, is that so?" Marl said with a chuckle as she rested her head on her palm. "The exceed seem themselves as 'angels' or something similar. They believe that humans are a lesser species. In the past, even I used to think that way...but my children were taken by the queen. For the dragon slayer assassination plan, 100 eggs were collected. And before I could even see my child's face, they were sent to Earthland. It was because we opposed this plan, we were exiled."
"That's terrible." Happy said, understanding why Marl and Lucky seemed to resent the kingdom. "I'm so sorry that happened to you both."
"No need to apologize, dear. It was about time that we figured it out...we aren't gods or angels, just parents." Marl said as she stared out at the vast sky overhead. "Once I realized that...humans and exceeds, and all those other things didn't matter anymore. My husband may cuss and yell, but he feels the same way as me."
"KAH! Stop spouting all that nonsense!" Lucky shouted as he stormed over, stopping next to his wife. "How long are you moochers planning to stay for?! Sitting around, moping, and making such depressing faces! Be happy that you are alive! Kah! Stop acting like pampered brats! Now hurry up and get going!"
"Come now, Lucky." Marl said, glancing at both Happy and Carla. "You don't have to throw them out so suddenly."
"No...he's right." Happy said with a determined look as he pumped his fist into the air. "We can't waste any more time and need to go rescue everyone!"
"Tch, if you're shaking in fear, then you won't be able to do anything." Lucky scoffed, crossing his arms over his chest. "You young ones today don't even know that!"
"Thank you! Mister! Ma'am!" Happy exclaimed as he lead Carla away from the small farmhouse. "Thank you so much for everything!"
"KAH! Never come back here again!" Lucky yelled, angrily shaking his fist. "Now get out of here! For real this time!"
"Please watch out and take care." Marl said as she waved goodbye to their short-term guests. "I just know you'll save your friends."
"You know, Carla, ever since I arrived in Edolas I've been filled with so much anxiety." Happy said, approaching the edge of the island with Carla. "It's been eating away at me for a while now."
"Yeah, I've felt the same." Carla said as she nodded her head, completely understanding Happy's feelings. "Ever since we got here, I've felt a bit off."
"But that stops here!" Happy exclaimed with a smile, before grabbing Carla's hand as both cats leaped off the floating. "We have to go forward! We have to fly!"
"We are exceed..." Carla thought as she began to fall toward the ground below with Happy at her side. "The only ones who are capable of storing magic within our bodies. We could not use magic before because our hearts were uneasy." Then, like a mental block had been removed, both Happy and Carla began to soar through the air as their wings re-emerged. Both Happy and Carla smiled at each other as they began to gracefully fly through the sky. "Let's go, Happy! We have to save everyone!"
"Aye, sir!" Happy exclaimed, letting go of Carla's hand as they increased their speed. "Don't worry Natsu, we're coming!"
"Kah! So he can fly properly!" Lucky exclaimed as he watched Happy and Carla zip around. "Why didn't he do so sooner?!"
"He looks exactly like you when you're flying." Marl said, walking up next to her husband. "Such beautiful flying."
"KAH! Don't be stupid! It's not the way he flies!" Lucky yelled as he felt tears start to sting his eyes. "One look and of course I'd notice it! There's no way I wouldn't!"
"You're right..." Marl chocked out, tears streaming down her cheeks as she gripped her apron. "I wonder if that pretty girl was his girlfriend?"
"KAAH!" Lucky shouted as his tears finals began to fall, unable to hold them back any longer. "It's way too early for him to be bringing a girl home!"
(Same Time: Back in Edolas' Royal Castle)
"EHEHEHE...sho it ish true what they say..." Byro said with a smirk, clasping his hands together. "We discovered that those mages from Earthland all store magic within their body."
"Hmmm...it's almost like they're exceed." Sugarboy said as he nodded his head and crossed his arms. "That's quite interesting."
"That may be true, but their magical power can't compare to that of any exceed." Byro added, scoffing and shrugging his shoulders. "Nothing can compare to an exceed."
"So, does that mean that Lucy girl also has magical energy in her body?" Hughes asked which caused Byro to nod his head. "If that's true, then it's a good thing we haven't killed her yet. We should try to find a way to drain her power indefinitely."
"No." Faust said sternly, glaring at Hughes which silenced any protests he may have had. "The queen of the exceed, Shagotte, has ordered that girl's execution."
"It's the queen's orders, so we can't disobey." Coco said as she furrowed her brow. "I feel kinda bad for that Lucy girl."
"Man, what a fucking waste!" Hughes cursed, throwing his back and releasing a heavy sigh. However, Hughes felt a chill run down his spine as remembered Natsu's face, remembering his threatening words. "Damn, that guy looked like an animal. I'd hate to see what he's like after we kill this Lucy chick."
"I must ask, what are we going to do with those two dragon slayers?" Panther Lily asked as he glanced at everyone gathered at the table around him. "That pink-haired one is making quite the ruckus. Apparently, he even knocked out one of the guards who was watching his cell."
"Ah yes...the humans who aren't quite human..." Byro said with a dark chuckle, tapping his fingertips together. "If our experiments are successful, we will have found a semi-permanent source of magical power."
"Very good, Byro. Begin your tests immediately." Faust said as everyone at the table cheered and congratulated him for possibly finding a solution to their magic shortage problems. "But also hurry up with the extraction of magical energy from the Earthland lacrima. We must be prepared for the unlikely chance that some unpredicted complications arise."
"Heh, it won't be much longer before our world has magic again!" Faust laughed, pushing away from the table and getting out of his seat. "It's going to be great!"
"Hmmm... there are so many things I want to try." Sugarboy muttered as he stroked his chin, walking out of the room with Hughes and Coco. "Perhaps I'll try magical surfing."
"What is wrong, Lily?" Faust asked, noticing that the massive exceed had stayed behind. "You seemed to be troubled by something."
"Your majesty...with the regard to the recent bolstering of military armaments..." Lily stared to say but stopped when he noticed the dangerous look Faust was giving him. Releasing a light sigh, Lily decided that it was best to drop the subject. "No...never mind. Please excuse me."
(Same Time: Lucy's Cell)
"So...Happy and Carla are a part of a race called exceed...and the exceed exist in this world and are viewed as some type of 'angel'...their queen is named Shagotte, who they revere as a 'god'...her word is law, and her main job is to manage the humans...if she merely mentions the word 'die', the human in question is killed." Lucy muttered, sitting on the floor of her cell and staring down at her cuffed wrists. "This place...nothing here makes sense..." Tightly balling her fists, Lucy sniffled a few times as she fought back tears. "I miss, Natsu..." Unconsciously, Lucy reached up to touch her mate mark but sighed in disappointment when she couldn't quite reach it. "I hope he's okay."
"Seems like you miss your lover..." Lucy yelped in surprise when she heard a new voice suddenly speak up from the door of her cell. Looking up, she saw Erza Knightwalker staring down at her. "Since you're Ashley's Earthland counterpart...I guess Natsu is the one you're pining over."
"Yes, Natsu and I are in love..." Lucy said, locking eyes with Knightwalker. "But he's also with Earthland Erza too." This seemed to catch Knightwalker off guard momentarily as she seemed taken aback by this revelation. "Natsu wasn't lying earlier. He knows your situation too well. You need to talk with Ashley and Dragion...you three can work things out."
"I...I..." Knightwalker said as she seriously seemed to be contemplating what Lucy had said. However, her eyes suddenly hardened and she glared at the blonde-haired mage. "Enough! I won't hear any more of this nonsense!"
"Fine...you're as stubborn as my Erza..." Lucy muttered, releasing a heavy sigh. "Will you at least tell me if my friends are okay?"
"Yeah...they're fine." Knightwalker replied as she opened the door and walked into the cell. "For now at least."
"HAAAAA...that's such a relief." Lucy breathed out, her shoulders slacking as she let out a long exhale. "I was seriously worried."
"You're relieved?" Knightwalker repeated in a confused tone as she quirked an eyebrow. "Do you not understand the situation you're in?"
"Oh yeah...I guess it's true that I'm in a precarious spot..." Lucy said with a small smile, chuckling for a moment. "Your face...and your voice...they're just like the Erza I know...and she's like a sister to me. So, I guess that I unconsciously loosened up a bit."
"The Earthland version of me, huh..." Knightwalker said as her eyes narrowed slightly as she began to ponder what Lucy had said. "Did she really find happiness with Natsu? Was she really able to make a relationship between the three of them work out?"
"You know...in my world, you were a part of Fairy Tail too." Lucy revealed, shocking Knightwalker and snapping her out of her thoughts. "You were always so strong and cool, a little scary at times, but everyone in the guild relied on you. Despite that, you could be quite girly, fussing over your hair and wanting to wear cute clothes. And don't get me started on strawberry cake HAHAHA!"
"Enough..." Knightwalker said as she cut Lucy off, grabbing the blonde mage by her hair and dragging her out of the cell. Lucy hissed in pain as she tried in vain to free herself from Knightwalker's grasp. "I've heard enough out of you and Natsu...I won't have you poisoning my mind and clouding my judgment. I hate to break it to you, but I'm not the Erza you know."
"N-No...I-I can't believe that!" Lucy grunted as she gave up trying to break free, knowing that it was useless. "You may say you're different, but deep down...I get the feeling that you're the same! You're not the type of person who would laugh and mock someone else's suffering! You OOF!" Lucy grunted in pain as Knightwalker threw her against a low wall. Quickly regaining her composure, Lucy tried one last time to plead with Knightwalker. "Please! You have to help me! I just want to save my friends! I want to save Natsu!"
"I said that I've heard enough out of you. So, stop trying to get into my head." Knightwalker said, thrusting out a multi-pronged spear and using it to lift Lucy up by her cuffs. Lucy screamed when Knightwalker hoisted the blonde mage over the wall and dangled her over a several-story drop. "You're going to die here. Then your friends are going to die. That includes Natsu. I'll make sure his death is relatively quick and painless."
"No...no!" Lucy yelled as she began to thrash around, anger starting to bubble up inside her. "Don't you dare hurt, Natsu! Don't you dare hurt my friends!"
"You've really got the wrong impression of me. I do love watching people suffer." Knightwalker said with a devious smirk, slowly releasing her spear's grip on Lucy's cuffs. "I've got the nickname 'Fairy Hunter' for a reason, I've killed countless Fairy Tail mages. And soon that will include Earthland Fairy Tail members."
"Saying such vile and wicked things with Erza's voice and face...putting my friends in danger...threatening my mate!" Lucy roared in an uncharacteristically ferocious tone as she glared fiercely at Knightwalker. The scarlet-haired knight gasped when she saw Lucy's eyes turn almost animalistic, the air around her heating up and crackling with electricity. Reaching out, Lucy grabbed ahold of Knightwalker's spear as her entire body was suddenly engulfed in roaring flames and sparking electricity, her cuffs literally melting off her wrists. "I WON'T ALLOW IT!"
"You won't have long."
"But use our power wisely."
Swinging herself forward, Lucy hit Knightwalker in the stomach with a powerful kick, sending the knight skidding backward. Knightwalker hissed in pain as she gripped her stomach, a thin trail of smoke lingering where Lucy had hit her. However, before Knightwalker could question or even fully comprehend what was happening, her eyes widened as leaped out of the way of another attack from Lucy. But Lucy wasn't about to let Knightwalker get away and she was on the knight almost immediately. Pouncing onto the knight, Lucy struck Knightwalker with a flaming punch to the jaw. Feeling Natsu's magic rapidly depleting from within her, Lucy cocked her fist back to knock Knightwalker out cold. But before Lucy could land her attack, something stopped her.
"LUCY!" Hearing a familiar voice, Lucy's fist stopped just a few inches away from Knightwalker's face, the flames grazing the knight's skin. Whipping around, Lucy was surprised to see Happy and Carla floating in the air behind her. "W-Wow, looks like you didn't need our help."
"Happy! Carla!' Lucy exclaimed in a relieved tone as she exhaled in exhaustion, feeling the flames and electricity encasing her body fizzle out. Clasping her head, Lucy got off Knightwalker, who was still too frazzled to move. "I'm so glad to see you both."
"As impressive as that display was, we really need to get going." Carla said, flying down and picking up Lucy. "Don't worry about Knightwalker."
"Hey, you guys got your wings back." Lucy said with a smile as Carla lifted her into the air. "When did that happen?"
"It was apparently a problem with our hearts." Happy said, flying up next to Lucy and hugging her. "It's so good to fly again! I hated walking everywhere!"
"E-Exceed...what the hell..." Knightwalker said as she slowly got back onto her feet, rubbing her bruised jaw. "The queen's orders were to kill that girl!"
"That order was retracted." Carla said, passing Lucy over to Happy. "You don't have to worry about this girl anymore."
"That may be so...but even if it's an order from an exceed, you don't have the power to overrule an order from the queen." Knightwalker said as she spat some blood out of her mouth, glaring at the three Fairy Tail mages. "Please hand that girl back over to me and I'll confirm the change in order myself."
"How arrogant of you, lowly human." Carla said in a haughty tone, surprising both Lucy and Happy. However, neither Happy nor Lucy was prepared for what Carla was about to say next. "Who do you think you're speaking to? I am Carla, daughter of queen Shagotte, and princess of Extalia."
"I-I humbly apologize, ma'am!" Knightwalker exclaimed as her eyes widened in shock, instantly dropping onto one knee and bowing her head. "I ask that you please forgive my rudeness!"
"We'll discuss your punishment later." Carla said, keeping up her royal facade as stared down at Knightwalker. "Now where is Wen...I mean the dragon slayers?!"
"T-They're in the basement in the west tower." Knightwalker instantly replied as she kept her head lowered, not daring to look up at the exceed. "They're safe for now."
"Release them immediately." Carla ordered, immediately cutting Knightwalker off as she was about to protest. "Don't speak, just do it!"
"Erza!" Knightwalker was surprised to hear a familiar voice call out to her. Turning her head, she saw Panther Lily and several guards running toward her. "Don't listen to them!"
"W-Who the hell is that guy!?" Lucy exclaimed, being caught off guard seeing an exceed like Panther Lily. "I've never seen anything like him before!"
"Those two are fallen exceed!" Lily yelled as he growled and bared his fangs. "They're fleeing from Extalia!"
"We're getting out of here! Now!" Carla said, turning around and flying away as fast as possible. "Let's move, Happy!"
"H-Hold on a second!" Lucy exclaimed as she stared at Carla in a mixture of shock and confusion. "So you aren't a princess!?"
"It looks like being branded 'fallen' means we're traitors or something." Happy said, both cats diving away from the building. "Guess we're in real trouble now."
"You bastards..." Knightwalker snarled as she watched the three Fairy Tail mages fly away, slamming her fist onto the stone railing and breaking off a chunk of it. Whipping around, Knightwalker barked at the soldiers that had arrived with Lily. "Annoucement for all troops! The fallen exceed have escaped with a prisoner! The fallen exceed have white and blue fur! If they are found, kill them immediately!"
"Thanks, both of you..." Lucy said, breathing a sigh of relief as they soared through the air. "Natsu's magic ran out as soon as you arrived."
"So it's true, your mate mark truly allows you to tap into Natsu's magic for a limited time...that's amazing..." Carla said as she glanced back at Lucy, feeling a pang of guilt. "Aren't you made at me?"
"Huh?" Lucy said in a confused tone, quirking an eyebrow. "Why would I be angry?"
"We were the reason you were all caught in the first place." Carla admitted as she turned her head away, unable to look Lucy in the eye. "Our mission was to capture the dragon slayers, so we lead you into a trap."
"But you came to save me, that's all that matters." Lucy said with a smile, looking at both Happy and Carla. Seeing that the blue-furred cat still seemed uneasy, Lucy frowned and flicked his nose. "Listen, I said that I'm not angry! I mean it! I'm more surprised to learn that Carla is the queen's daughter."
"Yeah, I didn't know that either." Happy said as he turned his attention back toward Carla. "That's crazy, Carla."
"That was obviously a lie." Carla said in a deadpan tone, crossing her arms over her chest. When Carla glanced back over at Happy, she huffed whe she saw him grinning at her. "What are you smiling about, Happy?"
"Nothing...it's nothing..." Happy said as his smile widened. "I was just thinking that was totally something you would do."
"S-Shut up!" Carla exclaimed, her face flushing a light shade of red. "More importantly, we need to go rescue Natsu and Wendy!"
"Aye sir!" Happy cheered as both exceed sped toward a tower in the distance. "Didn't Knightwalker say that they were being held in the basement of the west tower?"
"Hold on second guys..." Lucy said, hearing a strange sound echoing in the distance. "Do you hear that?"
"Yeah, it's-" Happy stopped mid-sentence when he turned around and spotted a small army of Exceed flying toward them. "GAH! They found us!"
"We found you!" Nichiya shouted as he lead the brigade of exceed soldiers. "Get the fallen traitors!"
"It'll be too hard to lose them in the air!" Carla yelled, instantly diving toward the ground. "We need to head down to the surface!"
"H-Hold on a second, Carla!" Happy screamed in a panicked tone as he noticed Carla was diving directly toward a gathering of Edolas soldiers, being led by Knightwalker. "We need to find another way!"
"There are enemies on the ground and in the sky!" Lucy exclaimed as she looked between both groups of foes. "What the hell are we going to do!?"
And done! I know this was kind of a shitty cliffhanger, but there's a big action set piece coming up and I want to drag this chapter out much longer. The next chapter will pick up where this one left off and will really start to wrap things up for this arc! If I had to guess there are probably about three to four chapters left before we're finished with Edolas. So, I hope you're all looking forward to that! Remember to follow/favorite if you enjoyed, PLEASE REVIEW (I NEED YOUR FEEDBACK), CHECK OUT MY P ATREON AND CONSIDER SUPPORTING IF YOU HAVEN'T ALREADY, check out my profile and other stories, and PM me if you have any ideas for my stories. If you celebrate Christmas, I hope you have a very merry Christmas, and if you don't I hope you have a safe and happy holiday! So until next time, I'm outta here!