Author's Note: Sorry…It's been a while. Thank you for all your support and patience.

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail.

Exceed Hunt arc~ Chapter 6~ Chagotte's Foresight

Stationed in the governing hut that overlooked the village, they stood on opposing sides of a grand round table. On one side, the queen and the Four Elders. On the other, the mages of Fairy Tail; the three Exceeds stood on the table bearing determination towards the opposing faction, Shinji crossed his arms while nervously smiling. Aria, however, was switching glances between Queen Chagotte and Carla...discerning potential similarities.

The tension in the air was incredibly suffocating, the lack of conversation added more poison into the mixture. At last, it was Martam of the Four Elders who broke the silence. He adjusted his spectacles and pointed at Lily, "While I would have been delighted at your return under regular circumstances, I am appalled that you would burst in here carelessly roaring out to our citizens that they are in danger!"

Chagotte turned to the elder who was much a father-figure to her, "Martam, you mustn't scold him. Lily has returned to help our people."

Lily bowed his head apologietically, "No, my queen, Martam is right. I was too rash in with my words. My apologies."

Martam huffed. Mejeer, the aqua blue Exceed, placed a hand on his shoulders, "Please forgive Martam's strictness. Us Elders and the Queen have known that something like this would happen for approximately a month. Although we wanted to keep this matter private, we only told our people that we should be expecting some visitors...Whether they were good or bad was out of question."

"It's true that you guys were chased in Edolas. To be sought after like this now that you could finally call this place home is cruel," Carla spoke sadly, "But keeping this a secret from the people when their lives could be at stake is also unfair."

"It can't be kept a secret anymore now that the first part of Queen Chagotte's foresight has come true..." Mysdroy, the purple Exceed grumbled melancholically.

Aria's eyes widened,"Wait...the Queen has the ability to see into the future...just...like..." she shifted her eyes to Carla, nervously she turned to the elders, "Um...I feel kinda out of place here, I don't know fully understand some things you guys discussed...What is 'Edolas'? Why were the Exceed persecuted? What did the Queen see in her vision?"

All Exceeds in the room stared at Aria, overwhelmed by the ocean of questions she poured upon them.

"I would also like to understand the situation more..." Shinji interjected, only to redirect all the stares Aria acquired onto himself.

"Allow me to explain." Muganto, the only female of the Four Elders tapped her stave firmly onto the wooden floor, "Our race, the Exceed were originally not from Earthland. We lived in another world called Edolas. Unlike Earthland, magic-or more specifically ethernano-was a limited resource in Edolas. Humans and most other races in Edolas couldn't harness magical power from within their bodies. However, us Exceed were one of the few races on Edolas to be capable of such a feat. The common magic of our race, Aera, enables us to create the wings we need to fly.

"Why would cats need to fly?" Aria pondered.

Mysdroy of the Four Elders chuckled, "Edolas consists of many floating land masses. Extalia is among them, dear lass."

The pinkette was taken aback,"Floating land?!"

"However, dear lass,"Mysdroy continued, "our kind lived in fear of the humans of Edolas for they created magic weapons. However, hope was born when Chagotte was revealed to have an exceptional ability amongst our kind; the ability to see the future. Chagotte's visions were also convincing to the human race. We used the validity of her capabilities to make her the Queen of our race; a god-like figure for the humans to fear with prophecies of doom for man-kind if they dare disturb the Exceed. Us wrinkly four would supervise her as the Four Elders.

Shivering, Mejeer continued for Mysdroy,"Still, the king of the Edolas humans at the time was secretly developing a machine that could turn our kind into lacrima because of the magic we have in our bodies. A machine called the Dorma Anim. Once that machine was activated, our persecution was neigh. Fortunately, some wizards from Earthland interfered and bust that wicked scrap pile into smithereens. Then we ended up here because of some dimensional magic that carried all the remaining magic from Edolas into Earthland. The End."

Albeit the skipping of some necessary filler details, Aria simply nodded. Meanwhile, Shinji was baffled, "Edolas is another world? How did mages from Earthland get into Edolas? What is this cross-dimensional magic?"

Aria turned to Shinji and placed a finger on her lips, "Sssshhhh. Shin-kun, those details aren't necessary at the moment," she then shifted her head back to the table looking at th Four Elders and the Queen. Dolefully yet serious, she spoke."Magistia is a lacrima company. Just like how the king of Edolas wanted to turn the Exceed into lacrima for supply...most likely Magistia wants to-."

Aria couldn't speak anymore of the avaricious nature of this reality for the Queen gasped and buried her face into her paws. The Four Elders all paled at Aria's revelation. The pinkette dropped her head down in shame, afraid she went too far with her correlation, "I'm truly sorry...there's no way we know for sure..."

"A-Actually...we are," Chagotte lifted her head from her paws, no more tears left to cry, "It was one of the things I saw in my vision: a giant machine firing a laser towards our village." The Queen then locked eyes with Carla, "Carla. I need you to see my vision, too."

The white Exceed crosses her paws and scoffed, "How could I possibly do that? I have no control over what I can see when I use it."

Chagotte wiped away the remnants of her tears, "I can show you, [my] child."

Chagotte walked over to Carla until she faced the smaller white Exceed. Carla was a tad flustered, "Wha-What are you planning to sh-show me?"

Without response, the Queen kneeled down to get to Carla's level and pressed her forehead against Carla's. It was then when Carla's eyes widened as she began to have another vision.

Visitors at the gates of the village.

"Indeed, this part of the vision was complete." Carlathought to herself. What followed shocked her.

A humanoid-machine, larger than the Dorma Anim, approaching the village. From the mechanical deity's view, the Exceed Village could be seen as it hovered over the vast woodland. Alas, it directed its arm at the village and fired a laser in its vicinity.

At that point Carla woke from her premonition-dormancy and heaved heavily as she tried to catch her breath. Devastated, she rose her head at the Queen, "Outrageous...What is that thing?"

Chagotte squeezed Carla tightly, "I don't know. I...don't...know."

Everyone looked nervously at the premonition-users. Surely their stress was an omen of near-imminent calamity.

All their worries were accelerated by a small boom outside...

Despite their fair share of mishaps, Romeo and Wendy finally arrived at the village...although not in the way they intended...Wendy sat atop a Romeo who was faceplanted into a charred patch of ground. Wendy shook herself awake and examined her surroundings. The Sky Dragon Slayer smiled and jumped up in jubilee, "Yay! We made it!"

However, her feet didn't touch the ground...

"Ghhh..."Romeo's back arced, raiding his face from the ground as he grunted in pain.

Wendy quickly noticed what she was standing on and placed her feet on the ground, "Ahhh! Romeo-san! I'm so sorry!"

She kneeled down and gave her Fire Mage chauffeur a hand. One he firmly took, to get up. In addition to the dirt stains, Romeo had burns and bruises he had from fighting Magius...

Wendy lowered her head solemnly then immediately raised her head, "Let me patch you up."

Romeo shook his head, "Burns like these are nothing to me. I'll be fine."

"Halt! Stay where you are!"

Before they knew it, the two Fairy Tail mages were circles by Exceed warrirors who pointed the tip of their spears towards them as if they were hostile intruders.

"Damn my luck,"Romeo sweatdropped.

"W-W-Wait! We've come here to help you!" Wendy gestured with much exasperation.

"How can we trust you when you've damaged a portion of our land?" An Exceed guard hollered. The rest shouted in agreement as they stepped closer, their spears closer to the intruders.

"My bad..." Romeo scratched the back of his head guiltily.

"Let them be! They are also mages of Fairy Tail!" An authoritarian feminine voice resounded.

In response, the guards withdrew their spears, "Yes ma'am!"

Queen Shagotte entered the circle, followed by the Four Elders, Shinji, and the Fairy Tail Exceeds.

Behind the two mages, Aria suddenly appeared from mid-air. She hugged them both affectionately , "Oh you guys! I was so worried about you."

"Aria-san !" Wendy's eyes widened with joy.

"Romeo! Wendy!" Carla and Happy flew to their nakama landing into their arms.

Happy frowned at Romeo, "Romeo...you looked really battered."

"I do don't I?" the Fire Mage stifled a laugh.

Wendy poured at him, "That's why I offered to heal you...yet you refused."

Aria giggles, playfully punching Romeo's shoulder, "Playing tough guys aren't we?" her playful expression then changed to a more concerned one, "But please, we need you to be patched up ASAP. Things aren't over yet."

Chagotte eyes Wendy and smiled, "It has been a long time, Sky Dragon Slayer."

"Chagotte-san, it's nice to you again." Wendy smiled back.

"EHHHHH?! You know each other?!" Romeo and Aria gawked at their teammate.

"It's kind of a long story..." Wendy giggled.

~Magistia Airship Crew Cabin~

Magius examined a holographic map which showed the ships beacon pointing in the direction of a flashing red beacon faraway. He sighed, "Ahhh, Wanda performed so splendidly in her infiltration task! Tis a shame we can't go any faster without warranting suspicion...isn't it, Ambrose?"

He turned to his red-headed assistant. Ambrose emotionlessly nodded, "A shame indeed, Sir."

"Given the mess earlier...I am expecting some setbacks from those mages. Fortunately, I've made vast preparations." The elderly man folded his fingers devilishly projecting two new holographic surveillance images. He gestured at the hologram which displayed a squadrant of soldiers wearing visored helmets and armed with lacrima blasters, "Employees are such wonderful tools. All you have to do is offer them extra pay for doing a certain task and they are in...although none would have suspected I'd sick my mind-control lacrima on them."

The other holographic image showed a red-eyed Papillon locked in an empty room staring right back at the camera...

Ambrose's breath almost inaudible hitched, "Papi..."

"Ohhh...I know you're watching, you stupid old man," Papillon(?) wore a creepy grin whilst banging the walls, "Just release me from this shitty hatch already so I can kill as I please...kill...kill...Kill...KILL! KILL! KILLL!"

Magius slightly squeamed, "How rude! To think Papillon always had such a carnal personality deep within. However, it's Papillon's fault for betraying me. Phalene, although psychotic, is better suited for the task of fighting."

"Papi is the sweet, innocent butterfly...Phalene is the moth who wails madly in the night...Papi...I'm sorry..." Ambrose clutched his heart as he gazed at Phalene in his madness.

Magius turned to Ambrose with a paltry smile, "Dear Ambrose, I understand you've known Papillon ever since you two were living in the slums as children but Phalene won't be done in so easily. However...if you fight well...perhaps I'll make sure he doesn't step a foot in the battlefield..."

Ambrose's eyes widened at Magius's offer, "Quickly he reverted back to his emotionless state."

At that, Magius cackled, "BAHAHAHAHAHA! Excellent! I knew you'd comply!"

With that, he laughed as left the cabin.

Ambrose clenched his fist as he looked at the closed door, "Papi..."

~Exceed Village~

Outside the village's medical hut, Wendy was casting her healing magic on Romeo to lessen the severity of his wounds. Aria held the gauze and skin ointments. Meanwhile, Shinji was discussing matters with his fellow Fairy Tail Exceeds and the governing Exceeds, "There is no limit to human greed these days...On behalf of the human race, I apologize."

"No need to be so apologetic, young man," Mysdroy comforted the swordsman, "Even if there are humans that think they are above other races, there are also virtuous humans such as yourselves who are willing to fight for the sake other races."

"Also...one more thing..."Shinji added, running a hand through his raven hair,"I should have mentioned this earlier but...Ever since we got into the village...I felt that we were being followed..."

Upon hearing those words, Wendy and Romeo remembered something. Something important. Something they needed to address immediately.

"Followed? You must be mistaken...According to the guards report, we've had no additional visitor-" Martam spoke.

"No, actually..." Romeo, now healed and bandaged, interrupted, "At Magistia HQ...Magius revealed to us that he sent a spy...you don't think that-"

Before he could finish, a myriad of ruby jewels were launched into the air. Each jewel shimmered upon reaching a specific point in the air became the corners of a translucent, magenta isohedral barrier that trapped everyone inside. Caught off guard by the sudden event, everyone wore expressions of pure shock.

"Crap." Romeo cursed under his breath, "They're here..."

Footsteps...not the kind that just anyone could hear, but the kind someone with enhanced senses could hear. Wendy immediately turned her head in the infiltrator's direction, but saw nothing there, "Who's there?"

As if on cue, the spy appeared from a poof of white smoke, "TA-DAAAA! You found me!"

Their assailant was a light-blue haired teenage girl dressed up like a cute magician girl: top hat, navy blue polo dress, frilly gloves, wand and all. She smiled at them as if they weren't a threat, "Did you like my trick? By setting up multiple sister lacrima, I created a barrier that no one can leave-Oops, silly me! A good magician mustn't reveal their tricks!"

Everyone was nervous...except Aria. The pinkette stepped forward, "I admit, you got us. So, I take it you've revealed the village's location to the reinforcements..."

"Certainly. Mr. Magius's ship is flying over here from beyond the hills as we speak." Wanda smiled, twirling her wand like a baton "I'm so sowee you guys couldn't find me. The Invisi-wand is my personal favorite."

"Is that wand enables you to turn invisible...No wonder I couldn't notice either." Aria kept the the conversation cordial. She then flashed Shinji a determined smile. Shinji's worries vaporized and he smiled back, "Of course, how could I forget."

Wanda, not noticing, continued her magic show exhibition speech, "Stay tuned, that's not the only trick I have up up my sleev-"

Interrupting, Aria snapped her fingers, causing Shinji, Romeo, Wendy, Happy, Lily, and Carla to vanish.

At this Wanda was taken aback... "W-W-What did you just do?!"

Aria smiled at Wanda, "I have some vanishing tricks my sleeve. Like, a ton. As we speak, my friends will be on their way to take out Magius's forces."

Wanda puffed her cheeks at Aria, maintaining her cutesy reportoire, "MMMMM...No fair! No fair! No fair! I didn't know you could do that!"

Queen Chagotte and the Four Elders were just as surprised. Aria reassures them, "Don't worry, they're not dead. I need you to move everyone to a safer place. I don't want you guys to get hurt."

Mysdroy nodded at the pinkette and turned to the militia, "Soldiers! Disperse and protect the civilians!"

"Aye sir!" they yelled before running away from the scene.

"Not on my watch!" Wanda pulled out a different wand from her polo dress; a pink wand with a jewel heart at the tip. This wand was the embodiment of the standard "magical girl" weapon. She pointed it at the fleeing Exceed soldiers. Before she could launch the attack, Aria teleported in front of her. The pinkette kicked the hand Wanda used to hold the pink wand, causing it to point up. A magenta laser fired from the wand and up into the barrier. Upon reaching the isohedral barrier, the beam was reflected back down into the ground. Barely missing both girls, the beam produced a shockwave which blew them both away along with all the nearby Exceeds.

Alas, the turmoil began.

Martam turned to Chagotte, who was getting back up on her feet, "My Queen, we must take cover..."

Chagotte, worries, looked up at the sky discolored by the magenta barrier, "Carla, please stay safe."

Immediately she nodded at Martam. Before she let herself be escorted, she glanced worriedly at Aria who immediately got up on her feet while Wanda was dusting her skirt with her hands. The Magistia employee puffed her cheeks, "You got my outfit dirty...you're going to pay for that."

"That doesn't matter. You kept your eyes off of me." the pinkette brushed off the trivial matter. From her right palm, she a crystal dagger formed. She glared at Wanda with her ruby eyes, "Never keep your eyes off your opponents."

~Outside the Barrier~

In a flash, they appeared outside the isohedral barrier encasing the village. Everyone, except Shinji, was surprised.

"How did we get past the barrier? How did we get out here?!" the blue fur on Happy's tail spiked up.

"What on earth?" Lily looked back at the barrier, "We need to get back in there."

"It was Aria." Shinji interjected, gaining everyone's attention, "she got the spy to speak about Magius's plans knowing full well she could teleport us beyond the barrier..."

Carla sighed in relief, "Gosh I should have known. That girl is quite the sneak."

"But...can't she just teleport everyone out of the village, then." Happy added.

"No. That must be too strenuous for her," said Lily "It's already impressive enough that she could teleport us six this far outside the village.

"Also...she chose to teleport us specifically so we could disrupt the enemy's course." Wendy added.

Shinji summoned a katana, and brandished it, "So, we know the enemy will be coming from above the hills. Are you guys ready to pulverize them?"

Lily transformed into his full grown form and held out his blade,"For my kindred, I won't hold back."

"Of course!" confidence radiated from Wendy's being.

"Aye sir!" Happy yelled his signature cat-chphrase.

Carla grinned and scoffed, "You don't have to ask me."

"The guild's pride is on the line. We're going to give them a taste of Fairy Tail!" Romeo crushed his fists together, setting them ablaze in crimson flames.

"We're all fired up!"

They pumped themselves up as they bounced towards the hills.

Holy...First, I would like to say that I am so sincerely sorry for making you guys wait. Like, I am busy with extraneous things because life is...life. But never have I ever forgotten about this.

For Romeo, I never intended to make him have new magic. There is so much I can do with Rainbow Fire.

I am going to make it my personal goal to finish this arc by the end of September. So stay tuned!

Also as always, your feedback and critisms are welcome. Thank you for your faith :))))