In the dark basements of a large castle, two people stood in front of a pair giant wooden doors. One of them was facing away from the other, covering themselves with a cloak while the latter just sat in place with a stern expression and their arms crossed. The air around them was thick and the dim flames that lit up the room flickered about, the only thing audible being the draft that slipped in between the crevices of the door and their breathing.
"Are you sure about this?"
"No... not at all. But if it can bring me any sort of lead on the matter, I'll take my chances."
"So you're willing to put her in danger!? Do you even understand the risks of this plan!? Are you even confident that everything will turn out okay as you want!?"
"Do you honestly believe I would even consider this if I had any other choice!?"
The two had just come from a conference in order to discuss plans for a certain situation. Though they, and the others present during the conference, had come to an agreement on the plan, it didn't mean that all who were present actually liked it. In fact, the decision left everyone with mixed feelings. But what could any of them do? No matter what they thought of, nothing seemed to work and this plan was their final strategy - their last resort.
After the former had shouted at the latter, both of them remained quiet. They took deep breaths and calmed their emotions. They knew that if they continued to converse like this, it would only end in hard feelings and misunderstanding. What they needed right now was to have complete trust in one another about this plan. And with the situation they were currently in, doubt and fear was the last thing they needed among themselves.
"You're right... I'm sorry for accusing you and asking thoughtless questions."
"No, you're just worried as you should be... and I'm sorry for yelling at you too."
"But do you honestly believe that this plan will work? Do you really think we'll be able to find a clue about anything?"
The former just sighed and placed their hand on the wall in front of them, a bright light forming where their palm rested. The light grew in an oval shape until it was big enough for them to pass through with ease. Wind and sun began to fill the room, the wind making all the flames that lit the room move around uncontrollably to the point they blew themselves out. The latter watched calmly as the former took a deep breath and turned to look at them.
"I can only hope that it does... for her sake..."
Natsu, Happy and Nashi were heading to the guild, the child happily cheering as her father carried her piggyback style. Another days days had passed since finding out Nashi's magic and true their words, the duo hadn't told a single soul that Nashi's magic was the same as Natsu's and they definitely didn't try to figure out why. The only thing that had changed was that the pink haired boy had been testing the child in secret, seeing if she mastered any spells.
From the two (and kind of a half) training sessions they had, Natsu was impressed by Nashi's skills. The non core members had already told him that Lucy had already been helping Nashi control her magic, but Natsu couldn't believe just how much of a prodigy the girl really was. The girl knew how to control her aura and the strength in her attacks was nothing to laugh at, she could even execute a Fire Dragon's Iron Fist with ease. The only thing Natsu thought she could work on was any long ranged attacks.
When they got to the guild, everyone had greeted them. They sat at the bar and Mira immediately came out with their usual lunch menus: hot fried chicken for the two dragon slayers and a fresh raw fish for Happy. As the three of them ate, Romeo immediately ran over to them in excitement. "Natsu! Happy! You guys aren't going on a job today, right?" He asked.
Natsu looked at Happy with a confused faces, unsure as to why the boy was even asking a question like that. "No we hadn't really thought on going on any missions today." Natsu replied. "Why?"
"The fourth master is finally coming back to the guild today!" Romeo said excitedly.
"Really!?" Happy asked since he and the rest of the Tenrou Team hadn't met or even know whoever the fourth master was. "How'd you guys find out about it?"
"Oh, I got a message about it earlier this morning." Macao said, walking over as Kinana gave him a mug of beer. "Seems like Master hasn't heard about you guys returning yet if they sent the message to my place."
"So the one who kept the guild in check all these years is finally coming home, eh?" Makarov asked as he sat on the bar counter. "It's about time that they do. It seems that they have done a good job and I'd like to thank them."
"Why can't you guys just tell us who the fourth master is anyway?" Mira asked as Kinana winked to Nashi, who only giggled while chewing her food. "Is it really hard to believe?"
Macao just shrugged and took another sip of his beer. "Where would the fun be in that?"
Natsu and Happy just sighed, not liking how everyone was keeping them and the rest of the core members in the dark. So, Nashi just looked their way and smiled in a childish manner, making the duo cheer up. "Don't worry Papa. Happy. Master is really really nice! You'll like them a lot, I promise!"
"If you say so, Nashi!" Happy said as the peach haired girl replied with his 'Aye sir'.
After the announcement of the fourth master finally returning to Fairy Tail, everyone in the guild decided that they would all wait and hang around the guild until they show up. Of course, all the non core members and Nashi knew who the fourth master was, and they all couldn't help but look at each other and chuckle. They couldn't help but imagine what could the Tenrou Team's reactions were but it was only a matter of time before they found out. Fairy Tail was bustling with noise as always.
However, that all stopped when Nashi began to sniff the air. While Natsu was trying hard to restrain himself from fighting Gray in front of her, the peach haired child turned her head to look passed the doors that led outside. She was frozen and all sound around her seemed to fade. All she could do was smell a certain scent. One that sent chills down her spine as she broke out in cold sweat. Her body began to shake and her eyes widened in fear. Her thoughts going around her brain like a tornado.
Natsu soon noticed the silence of the girl and he was about to ask why she had gone silent until he noticed her form. His expression immediately changed into concern as he gently placed a hand on the girl's shoulder, but Nashi gave no response and that made the dragon slayer's concern grow. When Happy and Gray noticed that Natsu's attention was all on Nashi, they too also noticed her terrified expression and they became concerned as well. So, Happy jumped down to sit on her lap.
"Nashi?" Natsu asked softly so he doesn't scare her even more than she looked. "Are you okay? What's the matter?"
"Did something scare you, Nashi?" Happy asked.
"Hey, I'm sorry if me picking with a fight with your dad was too much." Gray apologized.
"I don't think that was it, Gray." The dragon slayer replied with a sour tone.
None of their questions seemed to have been heard by her and that only made the three boys worry even more. Nashi was never quiet unless she was reading a book, a habit that she got from Lucy, and it was obvious by the expression on her face that something was most definitely scaring her. Tears began to form in the child's eyes and Natsu immediately took Happy off her lap and knelt down so that he was eye level in front of her, placing both of his hands on her shoulders.
"Nashi! Snap out of it!" He shouted, catching the rest of the guild's attention. But even that didn't make her move. "Nashi, I can't help you if you don't tell me what's wrong! Papa's right here, see!?"
"What's wrong with her!?" Levy asked, running over to the group.
"We don't know." Gray replied, not liking the feeling he had in his gut. "She's just... paralyzed."
As everyone began to go over to the group in worry of the celestial mage's daughter, Nashi's mind began to fill with blurry scenes and she began to see rushed images that seemed to be a part of her memory. Yet she didn't recognize any of what was happening. She could see someone crying as they pushed her away. She could hear walls crumbling and large fires burn. The same scent filling her nose and the immense feeling of magic energy. None of it made any sense and her cold sweat began to grow.
"No... I... Mama... I want Mama..." She whispered so softly that not even Natsu could hear. Her tears began to overflow and she brought her hands to cover her ears from the sounds getting louder. "Mama... help me..."
"Has anything like this happened before!?" Lisanna asked, turning to the Connell family.
Bisca only shook her head as she carried Asuka. "No... nothing like this has happened before since she came here."
"The only other incidents we had with her was when she cried after taking one look at Natsu and Lucy." Alzack added. "She's never once acted like this in all these years."
Nashi soon looked around, shifting her pupils to see that everyone now crowded around her sides with worry in their eyes, Natsu being the only one in front of her. Her vision was still blurry due to the tears but that didn't stop her from looking past her father and seeing something approaching the guild in the distance. She squinted her eyes and was able to make out a metal floating orb. After about staring for five seconds, a grapple shot out from within and was about to grab Natsu.
Almost instantly, as if she saw everything in slow motion, Nashi regained her sanity just in time to push Natsu to the ground, the act making his and the others' eyes widen. But as her sense of time returned to normal, the grapple wrapped itself around her body and began to pull her towards the orb, everyone's heads following her body. Just before her body came in contact with the orb, it transformed and became the shape of a test tube and surrounded her body, leaving her head free.
"Papa!" Nashi cried, her voice making Natsu get on his feet and dash towards the thing encasing her body, the others following right after him when they got over their shock.
"No..." The canister began to move and levitate, bringing Nashi's body with it. "NASHI!"
When Natsu got outside, the rest of Team Natsu right behind him, their eyes narrowed in anger as they looked up at Nashi's abductor. They stood on a floating piece of metal that resembled a surfboard as Nashi's body floated atop their raised left hand. They wore black head to toe; a black half sleeved turtle neck was tucked into their black cargo pants that were also tucked into their black combat boots. They wore black leather gloves on their hands and a black cloak to top it all off.
Their body type was more on the skinny side and was that of a woman's as she rested her right hand on her hip. Her hair was a bright green and was parted to the left as it drifted all the way down past her thighs. She tilted her head ever so slightly, uninterested at the death glares from the fairies. But they couldn't even read her expression at all... her face was completely covered by a black mask that had a bright red streak going across it diagonally.
When the woman looked over to Nashi, the child's panicked expression changed to one of trauma. The images she saw earlier flashed through her mind, but this time at a faster rate and Nashi began to shake her head back and forth, crying as she tried to somehow wiggle her way out of the canister. But to no avail. Her cries just made Natsu all the more angry and hits fists were suddenly encased by his fire. But all he got in response was a scoff.
"Really?" The woman asked in a bored tone. "Do you honestly believe a little fire could be any threat?"
"Release my daughter right now, lady!" Natsu demanded.
The woman looked down at Natsu's form and just laughed. "Your daughter? I don't remember ever hearing the famous Natsu Dragneel having children." She said, talking to herself. "Oh! But then again... I guess you aren't totally wrong..."
"For what reason do you capture her!?" Erza asked, pointing her sword towards the woman. "Who are you!?"
"Ah! The ever so famous Titania - Erza Scarlet! Of course you of all people would be concerned for her next to the father, but don't be. I'm the one who brought her to this filthy place after all."
"What!?" Makarov asked, not understanding what that meant.
"Now I'm afraid I must take my leave. This child needs to come with me before that-"
"VETANI!"
Before the woman could even finish her sentence, someone came from behind the fairies and ran passed them. They pulled their fist back while jumping at an incredible height, a golden aura surrounding their fist as they dropped straight for the masked woman. The fairies watched helplessly as the two collided and the golden aura dispersed, blinding them momentarily. The magic energy in the area increasing by the arrival of the unknown interceptor.
When the light ceased, everyone opened their eyes to see the masked woman alone on her platform standing in a defensive position. A meter away from her, levitating, was the unknown figure covered in a brown cloak with Nashi now in their hold. The peach haired girl had snapped out of her traumatized state and immediately looked to the person that held her. The figure said nothing and placed their palm on the canister, whatever was making it move now switched off.
When the woman, whom the figure called Vetani, recovered from the clash, she groaned as the figure descended and landed on the ground. "Of course you come back when it's least convenient for me..." She said in annoyance. "Now I have to deal with the most annoying obstacle to get my way."
"Leave this place immediately, Vetani!" The figure, who's voice seemed to indicate was another woman, ordered. "You weren't welcome here then and you certainly aren't welcome here now!"
When the figure spoke, those who stayed behind and Nashi all gasped before their bodies relaxed. The core members all thought this to be strange and looked at the woman who held the peach haired girl. Natsu would have ran over there and take her in his arms, but he was afraid that one wrong move would result in everyone getting hurt and he was not about to let that happen to Lucy's daughter. So he held himself back and watched helplessly.
"I don't remember taking orders from you!" Vetani retorted with a hiss. "I am not leaving until I take the girl."
"Over. My. Dead. Body." The figure said with conviction.
The green haired woman scoffed and raised her arm, a ball of red and orange magic energy growing larger and larger atop the palm of her hand. "Have it your way." She said as she brought her platform higher as she aimed her hand towards the group of fairies. "EXPLOSION!"
"Protect!" The figure chanted as a golden dome surrounded the entire guild property as all the Fairy Tail members covered their eyes. Vetani's spell collided with the dome, but it only resulted in a large shockwave of dust that went through Magnolia.
When the dust cleared and the spell had ended, the figure brought down the dome and looked up at Vetani, who was panting in exhaustion, with rage. "If you are smart, I'd suggest you leave before you recklessly use up your magic power."
"If you were smart, you would know that it would be better for you to capture me and interrogate me for information."
"I'm not so naive to simply allow you to stay a prisoner at my guild hall." The figure said with a sneer. "You are not the one I'm looking for nor are you the one I want... now get out."
Vetani just gnashed her teeth with dissatisfaction, raising her hand to create a blue vortex which seemed to act as a form of teleportation, and made her platform back up into it. "You are one dumb guild master..."
Once the masked woman had disappeared, the cloaked figure letting go of the breath she had been holding. She brought a palm to the canister that held Nashi captive and rested it on the surface, ice soon surrounding the entire piece of metal. Natsu was about to attack, thinking that the woman was about to freeze Nashi to death, until Macao just stopped him whilst shaking his head. The dragon slayer looked at the purple haired man in confusion, only to receive a chuckle in response.
"Just watch." He said in a reassuring tone. "She's nakama after all."
The ice continued to surround the canister, save for Nashi's head, and once it was completely covered, the figure nodded which made Nashi smile brightly as she closed her eyes and allowed for her magic energy to grow immensely, shocking the Tenrou Team. A red aura surrounded the peach haired girl and once it grew to a certain point, Nashi stretched her limbs out as the canister shattered into bits and pieces. She landed on her feet and looked up at the figure who knelt down to match her eye level.
"Are you alright?" Nashi nodded with a carefree smile on her face and the figure sighed in relief as she stood back up so her side profile faced the rest of the fairies. "Now... MACAO! WAKABA!"
"Ah gheez here we go..." Wakaba complained under his breath as he and the fire mage walked to the front of the members.
"Who allowed Nashi to practice her magic without my supervision!?" The figure demanded in a shouting voice. "This is exactly why she is not to practice magic unless I am present!"
"I know this looks bad, but I swear she hasn't practiced any magic since she returned with Asuka!" Macao replied.
"That woman is a very dangerous rogue mage that is known to kidnap children of advanced magical potential in order to experiment on them!" The figure shouted, pointing where Vetani was floating a few moments ago. "Do you have any idea what would have happened if Nashi was actually taken or worse even showed a fragment of her power!?"
"Now now... we don't want you exploding the guild, do we?" Wakaba asked in an attempt to calm her down.
"I go away for four years-"
"It was two weeks here this time." Romeo interrupted, finally speaking up and confusing the core members with his response.
"Whatever. I go away for however long I was gone for, excited to come back because I'm told that you all have exciting news upon my return, only to see this!?" She ranted. "And don't get me started on..."
None of the core members said a word as they watched her rant in a familiar, yet unfamiliar, manner. The way she carried herself when faced with Vetani was something that made them speechless. Her aura was strong and so was her voice. It commanded obedience and authority, yet everything about her was oddly nostalgic and made them forget about the dire situation that had just transpired a few minutes ago. They just couldn't believe what they saw.
"And all of you! Why are you... so... quiet..."
When she turned around, her voice immediately began to soften and the core members couldn't help but feel awkward at the fact that the person who saved Nashi is now in shock at their presence. Meanwhile, those who stayed behind including Nashi, only chuckled at the woman's reaction but since her identity was still concealed, the reaction wasn't mutual and that was no fun. So of course, Laki stepped up and gestured for the woman to take off her hood.
"You know Master, they've been waiting quite a bit for your return." She said with a giggle. "Isn't it fair for them to see your face?"
The woman, who the core members now knew was the fourth master, could only look at Laki in shock and then turned her eyes to Romeo, who stood the closest to her. She was practically paralyzed, completely convinced that the group of people before her were just apparitions from her imagination. Beings her mind created because she had not seen the guild in quite awhile, even though she was technically gone for only two weeks in Earthland.
"Romeo? Tell me I'm dreaming. Or better yet, tell me that I went back in time."
"How would that make any sense, Master?" The boy asked, emphasizing the word 'Master' like Laki had. "Dad, me, everyone else are still the same age as you saw us before you left."
The fourth master looked at the boy with a dumbfounded look and couldn't believe how he and the others looked so nonchalant about the image that stood before them. After all, her nakama aren't around anymore and they haven't been around for the last seven years on Earthland. Maybe she overworked herself again, that had to be it. Since the others didn't seem to mind, she had to be the only one hallucinating. Yeah, that seemed to make sense.
"You're right." She said with a sullen expression. "I must be so exhausted that I see them in front of me."
"I thought you were smarter than that, Master. Virgo didn't tell you that we had exciting news for you for no reason after all." Wakaba said as he took a breath from his cigar, the Tenrou Team's eyes widening at the mention of the celestial spirit.
"You know Master, it wasn't easy to find them you know." Macao said, scratching his head. "Blue Pegasus was able to sense a rising trace of ethernano a few days after you left and sent us the coordinates"
"It took us awhile but we found them!" Droy cheered.
"Turns out one of the three grand fairy spells, Fairy Sphere, was activated and protected them. But it took seven whole years for the spell to be broken and they were trapped in a non-aging state." Kinana added. "So, they really are in front of you."
Lucy could not believe the words she was hearing. She was facing the very people she had wished to see just one more time and they were all staring at her back, their shocked faces mirroring hers. She closed her eyes and shook her head, trying to wake up from the dream in front of her. But when she opened them again, there they were just the same. They couldn't be real, they couldn't. The celestial mage didn't want to go back down that sad road.
However, she was pulled out of her thoughts when Nashi began to stretch her arms, wanting to be carried. "Mama."
That simple word that Nashi used to address her mother was more than enough to break Lucy and the Tenrou Team out of their trance. Lucy bent down and carried the girl, only for Nashi to reach for the clip on her cloak and unhooked it so that her appearance was revealed. When they saw her face, the core members looked at her they were in shock. Their eyes met with not only the fourth master of Fairy Tail, but their beloved celestial mage; Lucy Heartfilia.
"She only looks three years older compared to the others!?" The Tenrou Team thought in utter shock.
True to their thoughts, Lucy's blonde hair now cascaded a little past her waist while her eyes became more angled, showing off how mature she was. Her body was well toned, clearly well trained since the last they had seen her and now she was probably only half an inch shorter than Gray. She wore denim shorts that came down to the middle of her thighs and a pink strapless crop top. On her waist were a familiar key ring, a whip and on the back of her right hand a pink Fairy Tail guild mark.
Slowly but surely, the core members came out of their trance and they finally got rid of their shocked expressions. Neither side could believe that the other was in front of them. Their beloved friend and sister. The blonde girl that they had wanted to reunite with more than anything. Her long lost nakama that she missed so dearly. Her nakama that she became strong for. Her nakama that she wished for so many years to come home. Now that the reality had actually come, neither did not know how to react.
"L-Lucy?" Erza finally spoke, the sound of her voice so familiar to Lucy that tears began to form.
"It's amazing... Lu... that's you right?" Levy asked.
Lucy just let her tears flow as she held Nashi tightly in her arms, something she hadn't done since she the magic Council told her and the others that Tenrou Island had been 'destroyed'. "Dear Mavis..."