Greetings and Bienvenue, we are back for Chapter Four of Shadows Past Between Worlds, how has everyone been for me I been good. I find it kind of funny how I took a break during the month Fairy Tail 100 Year Quest got it anime adaptation (which has some stunning animation and everyone should walk even if you read the manga already like me) but let just say that was plan. Also it interesting how I release this after the newest Black Clover chapters that was release a few days ago, which I really enjoyed and might be useful later on for some things for a certain character, but that for the future and will really not have an value at the moment but enough of that how about we get right in it
"Last time on our story, Fairy Tail and its allies were busy restoring Magnolia Town, celebrating their recent victory. But suddenly, an unnatural storm brewed over the town. From the ominous clouds, a barrage of magical attacks rained down, striking the city. Fairy Tail members and other guilds quickly sprang into action, ensuring the safety of the townspeople. Once the town was secure, the guilds gathered to unravel the mystery of the storm. As the clouds mysteriously cleared, strange figures began to fall from the sky, crashing into various locations, with one landing in Fairy Tail. Each guild rushed to aid these enigmatic individuals and discovered an unknown book and unfamiliar symbol on each of them. However, one group's discovery came with a greater, unnatural toll, sparking concern among the guilds. Just then, Charmy awoke and explained that the only solution was to seek help from a mage named Asta. With Fairy Tail's request for aid, they faced a new challenge: they had to deal with the unforeseen problem of having chained Asta up and now asking for his help."
Important Disclaimer: I don't own anything from these franchises please support the original creators.
Chapter 4: A Misunderstanding
As Asta began to wake up, drifting into a semi-conscious state, he immediately sensed that his entire body was still in pain, though not as intensely as before. He knew he shouldn't be moving, so he decided to remain still, feeling the soft surface beneath him, which he couldn't quite identify. As he allowed his body to rest, it only took a few minutes before his mind fully awakened.
"What is this soft thing I'm on? Where am I? Is everyone okay?" These questions raced through his mind as his mind started to process what had happened to him, but he still couldn't fully rouse himself.
While Asta lay in his semi-conscious state, he felt his body relax, and the pain began to subside. It felt comforting, reminiscent of the sensation he experienced when being healed by Mimosa. In his half-awake mind, he decided to continue resting, assuming that she was the one healing him.
But he had a gut feeling that he needed to get up. Even though he knew logically he should stay resting, he needed to see if his friends were okay. At that moment, he slowly opened his eyes and saw a white ceiling above him.
Asta attempted to shoot up and look at his surroundings, but to his surprise, he was held back. Confused, he looked down at himself and saw that both his arms and legs, as well as his chest, were bound by an assortment of metal chains. They seemed kind of excessive to him.
One thing was certain: the sight of his restraints sent him into a full panic. He frantically looked around his surroundings, realized what this room was, and noticed that he was in luck. He realized that the room looked similar to Owen's office at the capital. The fortunate aspect was the sight of his captain on a bed to the left of him. Upon seeing Yami, a sense of happiness washed over him, knowing that his captain was with him.
However, that sense of happiness was cut short when he saw that Yami wasn't chained up like he was. This confused Asta and made him feel a little hurt that they would restrain him but not his Captain who seemed a lot more intimidating them himself. "Huh! Why the hell am I tied up? Captain, help!" Asta screamed, tears of frustration streaming down his face.
Seeing that his screams didn't work, Asta tried to break free from the chains. To his surprise, they were set in a way that made it very hard to escape. But that didn't deter him; he struggled even harder to get out. He stopped abruptly when he heard and saw from the corner of his eye a group of three people walk in... and one of them was Charmy?
"Huh, Charmy? Why are you with these guys? Can you help me out here, and why am I tied up?" Asta asked, dumbfounded by the group of people around him. Among them, he noticed two interesting individuals: one with spiky black hair and a lot of piercings, reminiscent of Magna, and another with pink hair and a white scarf that looked like scales.
"Yo, how's it hanging?" Natsu said as he walked over to the tied-up boy.
"What do you mean, 'how's it hanging', I'm tied up, you jerk!" Asta screamed, causing both Dragon Slayers to cover their ears as his yell was extra loud for their sensitive hearing.
But for once, Asta's unusually loud voice came in handy. A familiar voice grumbled, "Kid, can you shut up for once?" A drowsy Yami woke up from Asta's constant screaming. "When you're hurt, you lay down and be…." He cut himself short as fully opened his eyes and saw two unknown people over a chained up Asta. In an instant, Yami switched from his blank face to an annoyed one as he increased his magic and readied to strike the two.
"What the hell do you think you're doing to my idiot over there?" he growled in his intimidating voice as he fully stood up from the bed, sending a death glare toward the two mages. As the magic filled the room both Dragon Slayers felt a shiver down their spines as the air was full of uneasiness and danger just from this man.
"Hey, bub, we ain't trying to do anything, we were just about to cut him loose," Gajeel said, trying to calm the man down slowly backing away from Asta with his hand up.
"Yeah, if you want to hurt someone, talk to Gramps. He told us to do it," Natsu added, feeling the immense pressure of Yami's magic, which reminded him of a certain S class mage.
But Yami didn't care about what they were saying and was about to reach for his sword. To his surprise, he looked to his side and saw that it wasn't at his waist "Of course they would take my weapon and probably didn't want me to attack them" Yami thought as he looked back at the unknown mages. Before he could demand where they had taken his weapon he was stopped in his tracks as he saw Charmy step out from behind the mages.
"It's okay, Captain. They're not bad people. They gave me some of their food, so they can't be bad" She said with a smile "Their food here is really good you should try some here I saved some for you," she said, holding up a bowl of food that was almost fully eaten.
Yami looked at his squad mate, who was offering the nearly empty bowl. "You call that 'some food left'? You already devoured most of it!" Yami said, as he began to drop his murderous aura but still kept his guard up in front of the mages.
"Oh yeah, your right," She said looking at the bowl she had "It's still good, I promise!" Charmy insisted, trying to reinforce her previous point.
Yami shrugged. "Well, as long as there's something to eat, I won't complain. Hand it over I'm starving." He reached for the bowl and began to eat what little was left. "You know, just because someone gives you food doesn't mean they're good people," Yami said while eating, casting a wary glance back at the mages.
"Really?!" Charmy shouted, in shock at the revelation Yami pointed out to her. "But the Heart Kingdom citizens gave me food and they were nice people" she retorted.
Yami ignored the small woman and calmed down, Yami started to read the two guys' ki in front of him. Within a few seconds, he could tell they were both telling the truth and didn't intend to hurt them. "But if that's the case, why the hell did they chain up Asta?" he thought as he finished the food and handed the bowl back to Charmy.
"Alright, Piercing Face and Pinky!" Yami said, fully facing the two unknown people. "Take me to your 'Gramps.' Me and him need to have a little chat," he demanded, glancing around and realizing he didn't see his grimoire either. "And where the hell is my grimoire?!"
"Um, Captain? A little help here," Asta said, hoping they hadn't forgotten about him. Everyone in the room looked at him. "Oh yeah," Yami said with a surprised face, which made Asta cry out in exasperation.
Gajeel walked over to Asta and looked at Yami to see if he was allowed to free him, Yami just simply moved his hand telling him 'Go ahead' and with that Gajeel easily broke the chain that held Asta. Yami looked a little surprised and got closer to see how he did it and once close enough he saw that the Gajeel hand was gleamed with a metallic sheen, transforming into a silvery appendage with sharp, glinting claws.
"Hmm that's new," Yami mused to himself, captivated by the unfamiliar display of magic before him.
Once Asta was fully up from the bed, a female voice called out, "Hey, did you guys get the guy? It looks like they're getting weaker by the minute."
Both mages gestured for the Black Bulls to follow as they were leaving the medical room, as they stepped into the hallway, they were met by a striking figure: a long-haired brunette woman who seemed to have no sense of shame as once Asta, Yami, and Charmy laid eyes on the voice they heard before she was dressed only in brown shorts that seem a little tight for her and a polka dots bikini top. Her attire would be shocking for anyone if they were to see her, but the Black Bulls could only be hit with a sense of familiarity at the woman's bold attire as they were reminded of Vanessa when she would go on one of her drinking binges and ended up only being in her underwear.
"Okay, so this is Asta. Great, now we can go," Cana said seeming to not release the uneasiness that the group of Bulls were feeling at the moment as she grabbed Asta's left arm and tried to pull him forward, but she wasn't able to as quickly as she tried to pull him she was just as quickly stopped as Asta effortlessly pulled back, overpowering her, and making her stumped back.
"What the hell? I don't even know you! And where are we?, and why was I chained up!?" Asta yelled angrily. He looked around and realized that there was a large crowd of more than thirty people all ranging in size and looks. Another thing he learned was that he didn't see or sense any of his squad mates who didn't wake up with him around him. It was only him, Captain Yami, and Charmy.
As Asta was about to make her another retorce he was stopped by a rough deep and gravelly voice, "He's right, Cana. They don't know us or where they are," Makarov stated as he wheeled over, trying to stop Cana. "Anyone would be confused in that situation so let's give them some space so they could have some answers"
Cana seemed to understand the older man's reasoning and decided to back away from the group, but as she did both Asta and Yami could sense the woman ki and tell she was not happy that she was commanded to back away from them also sensed that she seems distressed about something, to which they had no clue what.
"Hello there, my name is Makarov Dreyar," the older man greeted me with a warm, bright smile. "You're in the guild hall of one of the most famous wizard guilds in Fiore Fairy Tail and I am its Master," he declared, spreading his arms wide to showcase the guild hall around them. The people behind him straightened up, each trying to project their strength and pride in being a part of this renowned guild.
The three Black Bulls stared blankly at Makarov, each wearing their own expression of confusion.
"Famous, huh? Can't say I've ever heard of you guys," Yami said, crossing his arms. "And where the hell is Fiore?"
"Yeah, and what's a guild?" Asta added, glancing at his squad for answers.
Charmy simply wore a perplexed expression, trying to process the old man's words, realizing she hadn't paid attention the first time he spoke.
As the Black Bulls responded, the once-proud members of Fairy Tail felt their confidence waver, replaced by bewilderment. The idea that this group didn't know what a guild was, or even where Fiore was, left them stunned. Even the Alvarez Empire had heard of Fairy Tail, yet these newcomers seemed completely clueless. The more astute members of the guild were especially puzzled by their ignorance of Fiore.
Makarov seemed to be part of both groups as he just stared back at them with wide and whited-out eyes as his jaw was hanging out. "...Um, well, you see, a guild is a place where people can post jobs for us to do almost anything, and we get paid for it. Since we are a wizard guild, we get a lot of odd jobs or missions to retrieve things, find things, or protect people," Makarov explained, confusion in his eyes. He knew that other countries had guilds as well, so for these people not to know about them was truly puzzling. He had thought it was only Charmy who didn't know of Fairy Tail, but it seemed none of them did.
"Hm, so it's like the Magic Knights, right Captain?" Asta said, finally understanding what the old man was saying.
Erza's ears perked up at the mention of "Magic Knights." There's that word again. What does it mean? she wondered, eyeing the boy they had tied up earlier.
"Yeah, kid, kinda, but we get jobs from the kingdom, not just your everyday random Joe," Yami said, glancing at the old man and realizing he might be the 'Gramps' Pinky mentioned.
"Kingdom?" Her gaze sharpened as she listened to the men talking. "They're not from Fiore could they be from Ishgar? If their system is like ours, they should have some form of identification." but as thought crossed her mind quickly, methodically her mind kept returning to the term 'Magic Knight.' "With a title like that and statements that say they are not from Fiore could they be like the Garou Knights in their kingdom?" The comparison made her uneasy, a rare flicker of doubt creeping in. "If they are, this could be bigger than we thought."
"But that's not important now," Yami said Which made Erza come out of her thoughts as she looked back at the built man in confusion. "Why the hell did you tie up my idiot over here? And you better have a good reason, or we're going to have some problems." He said with a low and threatening voice, as he began to release his mana into the area, to make clear he was serious. The amount of power he unleashed was overwhelming and more than he usually needed, but that wasn't his fault he couldn't control his output, though it was effective to enforce his demands.
The other guild members watching were already intimidated by Yami's mere presence, but now, with his magic power on display, they were even more frightened. It was immediately clear to them that this man was comparable to Gildarts.
"What the hell! Is this his magic? It's huge," Gray said, stepping back from the sheer force, while Juvia stood by his side, equally shocked.
"A...a real man doesn't run away from a fight," Elfman said, his voice shaking as he positioned himself in front of Evergreen, who was hiding behind him.
Mirajane stood ready in front of her sister, channeling her magic and preparing to transform.
Laxus felt Yami's power and grew nervous. "With this much magic power, I don't think I can fully take him on," he thought, noticing both Bickslow and Fried also stopped in their tracks, stunned.
"The guild is shaking! Is this all just coming from him?" Lucy exclaimed as she fell back, Happy cowering behind her, peeking out just enough to see Yami.
Wendy soon joined her as she was startled by the surge of magic in the air, and clung to Carla, who was shaking just as much as she was.
"Man, this magic power is insane," Natsu said, clear shock in his voice but with a little excitement behind it, as he had flashbacks to his fight with Gildarts back on Tenrou Island but this time he wouldn't back down.
Alzack and Bisca shielded their daughter behind them, hoping Yami wouldn't attack her, but each had their guns ready at their sides, prepared to fire if he got too close.
Lily jumped in front of Levy and drew his sword, his whole body shaking but ready to defend her. Behind him, Levy fell back from the sheer force of Yami's book rocketing out of her hands and headed straight towards Yami, Jet and Droy tried to intercept her fall but Gajeel caught her, making both Jet and Droy slide onto the ground from their attempt.
"Wait, please, we have a reason for that. If you just allow us to explain," Erza said, stepping in front of the group of guild members, trying her best to protect them.
As Erza spoke, Yami read her ki and could tell she was telling the truth. He decided he might as well listen. "Okay, but if it's not a good reason, you're dead," Yami said, lowering his magic power and noticing his grimoire was back at his side.
The entire guild took a collective breath, relieved that the immediate threat seemed to have passed, and looked towards Makarov, hoping no, forcing him to handle the situation since he was the one who had given the order.
Makarov, shaking and realizing he had underestimated these people, tried to keep calm. "We were... well, you see... um, you came crashing into our home! And after repeated attacks from the sky, we thought you were attacking us," he said, not really lying but not telling the full truth either. "You see, this is just a bit of a misunderstanding. We found you unconscious and severely injured, so we took you in and healed you all."
"That's it? Then why'd you chain him up?" Yami said, pointing his thumb at Asta while reaching into his back pocket to pull out a cigarette. Makarov began to sweat as the powerful man questioned something he hadn't prepared an answer for yet.
"..Well, we thought you might be dangerous even while unconscious, and we were right considering the power you displayed," Makarov stammered. "It was a precautionary measure. We didn't want anyone to get hurt if you woke up disoriented as you can see we have some younger folks here," he said gesturing to the younger children behind him.
Yami took a drag from his cigarette, exhaling slowly as he considered Makarov's explanation and saw all the young kids behind him. "A precaution, huh? Then why was it only my idiot over here that you guys chained up" he said looking at the old man.
"Well.. we found some things on him that seems to be similar to an enemy that we recently dealt with so we were worried he was connected to them," Markarov said, as he felt a shiver down his spine as he swore he saw's the man eyes turn bright red "But we were obviously mistaken as he seems like a nice young lad" he quickly barked out in a laugh
Yami seemed to drop his death glare and take another puff of his cigarette "Wouldn't call him nice more annoying and loud but he's fine. But next time, you better think twice before chaining up one of my people. Got it?" he declared to the old man
Makarov nodded vigorously. "Yes, understood. We apologize for any misunderstanding."
Asta seemed a little hurt and happy by Yami's words but stepped forward in front of the old man and did a full bow "We are so sorry that we fell into your home we were fighting someone and then we chased after him as he was trying to leave, but it look like he got away and we ended up here," Asta said trying to show how remorseful he was.
Markovor seemed a little shocked by the boy's actions given what they did to him but ignored that feeling, "Um... it's fine don't worry boy," Makarov said mostly happily he could steer away from the conflict. "But if you don't mind me asking can we ask you some questions?" he asked looking at the group all together as he and the rest of the group needed answers.
Gray stepped forward, his curiosity getting the better of him. "Yeah, like who the hell are you guys?" His tone was more curious than accusatory, trying to make sense of the strange group before him.
Lissana chimed in, "And where did you guys come from?" Her voice was filled with genuine curiosity, her wide eyes reflecting her interest in their unexpected visitors.
Levy, always the scholar, pushed her way to the front, eyes gleaming with excitement. "What kind of magic do you use?, I've never seen anything like it before!" She was practically bouncing on her toes, eager to learn about them.
Gajeel grumbled from the back, arms crossed over his chest. "And what's with your fancy 'Clover' books?" he said towards them, "They seem to react to you and your magic." His tone was more cautious, still wary of the strangers despite the more relaxed atmosphere.
Mirajane, ever the peacemaker, stepped forward with a gentle smile but still gave off a sense of nervousness. "And what brings you to Magnolia? You mentioned not being from here... could you tell us where you're from?" Her voice was soft and inviting, trying to keep things calm.
Erza, though still on guard, still asked a question of her own. "You said you were chasing an enemy. If they pose a threat to Magnolia, we need to know."
Natsu, who had been quiet for too long by his standards, finally burst out, "Yeah! Who were you fighting? Were they strong? Did they put up a good fight?! Can I fight them or you guys?!" His eyes sparkled with excitement, clearly more interested in the prospect of a strong opponent than anything else.
Lucy, standing beside Natsu, couldn't help but add, "And how did you manage to fall from the sky? That part doesn't make any sense!" Her voice was tinged with disbelief, still trying to wrap her head around the situation.
Wendy clutched Carla close, and asked softly, "Are you hur…
But she wasn't able to finish as the room once again filled with the man's magic as it did before, but instead of the quiet force presence that he had done before, this was accompanied by a loud shout from him and the floor of the guild he stood on break from the sheer pressure of his magic.
"QUIET!" Yami shouted as his eye went back to his previous red glow and slammed his foot down on the ground as the fairy tail mages had caused a familiar feeling similar to how his squad would do when he gave them a mission and bombarded him with questions.
All the Fairy Tail mages stopped in their tracks and froze at the sudden jump in power again, and with the scream that was accompanied by it the mages on the lacrima screen were also frozen in place just by its booming voice.
"Why does everyone keep asking me questions? It's annoying," Yami grumbled, clearly irritated. He called out, "Finral!"
But after a few moments of silence, Yami's brow furrowed he narrowed his eyes and looked around realizing, "Oh… right, he's not here." He turned his attention to Asta, who was brimming with energy. "Hey, kid. You take over Finral's job."
Asta's eyes sparkled with enthusiasm as he snapped to attention. "Yes, Captain!" he exclaimed. He stepped forward confidently, a broad smile on his face, and faced the intrigued Fairy Tail members. After a respectful bow, he proudly announced, "Hello! I'm Asta, and I'm here to introduce us."
He gestured toward the petite woman beside him. "Here we have the always-hungry Ms. Charmy! She can eat a lot, but she's good people and an amazing cook," he said, his tone full of admiration. As Asta praised her, Charmy struck a pose that she thought was sexy, though to everyone else, it appeared more cute than anything.
Asta then shifted his focus to Yami, extending his arm toward him. "And this is our fearless leader, Captain Yami, the King of Darkness!" he introduced, his voice brimming with pride. The mention of Yami's title piqued the interest of the Fairy Tail mages, but they held back their questions for the moment.
"And we're the Black Bulls!" Asta shouted with excitement as he was able to recall how Finarl would introduce them. He then sheepishly scratched the back of his head, adding, "Well, part of them, anyway since not everyone's here right now."
After Asta finished his introduction, Erza moved closer to Mirajane, leaning in to whisper, "Have you heard of any guild by that name?"
Mirajane slowly shook her head, her expression matching Erza's confusion. "I do not know any legal or dark guild with that name. They could be from another country," she whispered back, equally puzzled.
Yami's keen senses picked up on their hushed conversation. His eyes narrowed slightly as he took a drag from his cigarette, exhaling a plume of smoke that curled lazily above him. "These folks have no idea who we are," he thought, "and this place doesn't look like anywhere in the four kingdoms."
Lucy, overhearing their conversation, decided to step forward. "Hey, Asta, where are you guys from? I don't think I've ever heard of the Black Bulls," she asked, hoping to clear up the confusion.
Asta tilted his head, puzzled by the question. He knew they saw their grimoire being that the man with piercing around his face stated them early. "Um, we're from the Clover Kingdom. Didn't you guys see our grimoires?" he asked, directing his gaze toward the blonde girl.
As soon as Asta mentioned their home, he and Yami sensed a shift in the room's atmosphere. The Fairy Tail members exchanged bewildered glances, their previous curiosity now replaced with outright confusion.
What happened next shocked the Black Bulls in the room. A pink-haired person casually stepped forward. "Clover Kingdom? Never heard of it," Natsu said, leaving the Black Bulls even more bewildered.
Yami's eyes narrowed further, his gaze turning sharp. He dropped his cigarette and crushed it with his foot and stepped forward, his towering presence commanding attention. "Hey," he began, his deep voice cutting through the murmurs, "You seriously telling me you've never heard of the Clover Kingdom?"
The diminutive yet authoritative guild master, approached Yami, looking up to meet his gaze. "I can assure you, young man, we have never heard of such a kingdom in these parts. You're currently in the Kingdom of Fiore, and the only place that I know of with 'Clover' in it name is Clover town but that with this Kingdom" Makarov explained calmly.
Yami's brow furrowed deeper. "Fiore? That's nowhere near the Clover Kingdom or any other kingdoms, hell it's not even on the same map of the continent," he mused. Turning to Asta and Charmy, he saw their mirrored expressions of surprise and realization.
"So, you're saying we're in a completely different kingdom? Maybe even a different continent?" Yami probed, his voice tinged with skepticism. But he didn't need an answer, because now that he focused on each of the mage's clothing and there accents he released that none sharded any similarity with any of the other four kingdom citizens.
Yami let out a low whistle, crossing his arms. "Huh. Well, that explains the odd looks you all have," he remarked. "Guess that ugly bastard took a wrong turn somewhere and we ended up here."
As both Yami and Asta were trying to understand the mess they had gotten into Charmy, who had been silent until now, tugged on Yami's pants. "...Captain, does this mean ...there's new food to try here?!" she asked, her eyes sparkling with excitement.
Yami chuckled, the tension in the room easing slightly. "Trust you to think with your stomach."
Makarov smiled warmly. "Why don't we continue this discussion over some food and drinks? It's the best way to figure out what had happen and how you all ended up here," he offered.
But before they could move on, a brown-haired woman stepped forward hesitantly. "Wait, if everything is settled now, we still need your help with one of our problems. One of your members is hurting our friend, and the small girl here said you're the only one who can stop it. So... can you?" Cana's voice carried a mix of urgency and annoyance, clearly frustrated by the situation but still conveying the importance of their need.
Asta blinked in realization, finally understanding why she had been so insistent earlier. "Oh, that's why you needed my help! Sure, I'll help you guys, but who is it? Luck? Mr. Magna? Or someone else?" Asta asked, glancing toward Charmy, who was weirdly drooling and seeming to be deep in thought. "Charmy?" he prompted her.
Charmy snapped out of her food-induced trance of food she had never seen before, and looked back at Asta. "Oh, um... I think it was Henry," she said, wiping some drool from her mouth. "The big ball over there showed people that looked like when Henry absorbs too much of people's magic."
Upon hearing this, Yami, who had been standing stoically moments before, leaned back and let out a hearty laugh, tears forming in the corners of his eyes. "Hah! That sucks for them. Henry's probably drained them dry by now!" he chuckled, clearly amused and not grasping the seriousness of the situation.
Asta noticed the growing nervousness among the Fairy Tail members, especially as they looked at the big magic-draining ball that was once their friend. The concern on their faces made it clear this was no laughing matter to them.
"Alright, I'll help you guys out," Asta said, his tone turning more serious as he offered a reassuring smile. "Consider it a thank you for healing us." He stepped forward, determination in his eyes, ready to resolve the situation.
Cana looked at the shorter, muscular man and smiled. "Thank you. Now let's go; I'll show you the way," she said, about to lead Asta when the Thunder Legion stepped forward, blocking her path.
"We're going with you," Laxus declared, his team standing resolutely behind him. He fixed Asta with a hard stare, trying to intimidate him. "I don't fully trust you not to do anything when were not looking. Got that?" Laxus added, suspicion clear in his voice. "And the fact that girl said only you can do it seems fishy," he thought.
Asta, however, simply grinned widely, "No problem! Just lead the way," Asta replied cheerfully, completely unfazed by Laxus's attempt to intimidate him.
Laxus blinked, momentarily taken aback by Asta's unexpected response. Before he could say anything, Bickslow chimed in with his usual mischievous grin. "You sure you can handle this, short stuff? We don't want you getting lost along the way," he teased, his totems floating around him, their eerie laughter echoing his words.
Freed narrowed his eyes at Asta. "This situation is far too peculiar to leave unguarded. We'll be watching you closely," he said, his tone calm but laced with a warning. His hand hovered near his sword, ready to act if necessary.
Evergreen adjusted her glasses, giving Asta a once-over. "You better not try anything funny. We've got our eyes on you," she added, her voice dripping with skepticism.
Asta's grin only widened. "I wouldn't dream of it," he responded, his cheerful demeanor unwavering, which seemed to both confuse and slightly irritate the Thunder Legion.
Laxus, still trying to get a read on Asta, looked to his team. "Keep your guard up. We're not taking any chances," he ordered/whispered, his tone firm.
As the group prepared to move, Laxus was suddenly pulled aside by Mirajane. She whispered something in his ear, her words causing Laxus to glance briefly at Asta before nodding in agreement. With a more serious expression, he rejoined the group, and they all began to follow Cana toward where Quatro Cerberus was.
"HEY!" Sting's voice boomed across the room, capturing everyone's attention just as Asta and the others left.
"Can one of you guys come over here and help? Natsu, Wendy please we need your help dealing with that crazy fire wizard and healing us!" Sting shouted his desperation evident. "Or heck even one of you guys!" He gestured frantically toward the remaining Black Bulls members.
"Crazy fire mage?" Yami questioned before the gears in his head made him realize who they were talking about. And once he did he immediately burst into laughter, as he did the deep, rumbling sound echoing through the room.
"Oh man, you got the crazy lioness in your place!" he bellowed, his amusement only growing stronger. The members of Fairy Tail exchanged uneasy looks, unsure of what to make of Yami's reaction.
Sting seemed visibly perplexed and tried to ask Yami what he meant by 'crazy lioness', but before he could get a word out, Yami continued "You guys are doomed! Good luck hope you survive!" he said between fits of laughter, his words doing little to ease the growing concern among the guild members.
"Um, what do you mea—" Sting began, but his question was abruptly cut off by a massive fiery explosion that reverberated through the lacrima feed. The lacrima feed flickered violently, and with a final burst of static, the screen went dark.
The room fell into an uneasy silence, the gravity of Yami's words settling in as the Fairy Tail members stared at the now-blank screen, their minds racing to comprehend what had just happened. Meanwhile, Yami leaned back, still chuckling, clearly unfazed by the chaos he knew was unfolding on the other side.
"What just happened?" Wendy's voice trembled as she stared at the now-static screen. "Is everyone okay?"
Erza's fists clenched, the usual calm in her eyes replaced with a rare flicker of anxiety. "We need to get over there, now!" she commanded, her voice firm. The urgency in her tone jolted the guild into action.
Without missing a beat, Natsu, who had been growing more impatient by the second, sprang into motion. His eyes burned with determination. "We're going to help them!" he roared, already bolting towards the exit with his team close behind. "I'm heading to Sabertooth!"
"Wait, you idiot!" Gray shouted, his frustration clear as he sprinted after Natsu. Erza, Wendy, and Carla quickly followed, determined to keep pace with Natsu's reckless charge.
"Why are we always the ones that end up rushing into danger?" Lucy grumbled as she and Happy hurried to catch up with their team heading towards Sabertooth.
"That's because we're the best," Happy said while flying alongside Lucy
Makarov, seizing the moment, turned his attention to the lacrima screen. "All of you, come to Fairy Tail immediately," he ordered, his voice firm and authoritative. "We need to fix this quickly before more confusion and aggression befalls us and our …guest." As he spoke, he glanced back, noticing that Yami had finally stopped laughing.
The other guilds quickly understood the urgency of the situation. Without hesitation, they signed off and began gathering their unconscious mages, making swift preparations to head towards Fairy Tail. The atmosphere was tense, everyone moving with a sense of purpose as they readied themselves for whatever was coming next
"Understood, Master Makarov," Kagura responded firmly, cutting the lacrima connection with a decisive motion. She immediately turned to face the four other Mermaid Heel members, her eyes sharp with focus.
"Beth, Millianna," she began, her voice steady yet urgent, "I need you two to gather three of the unconscious mages and bring them outside."
The two nodded, understanding their orders, and prepared to move quickly.
"As for the rest of us," Kagura continued, her tone commanding, "We'll head out and get ready. When I rushed outside earlier to deflect that dragon attack, I spotted an overturned wagon not far from here. We can use it to transport the others. That way, our way to Fairy Tail will be faster and safer."
Kagura led the remaining members outside. The air was tense, thick with the aftermath of the battle. As they reached the wagon, she paused for a moment, surveying the scene. The wagon lay on its side, battered but still usable. With a swift nod, Kagura and her comrades began the task of righting it, their movements synchronized and efficient. "Let's make this quick," Kagura urged, her voice firm.
Meanwhile, Beth and Millianna exchanged a quick glance before hurrying off toward the rooms where the unconscious mages were being kept. Their footsteps echoed in the quiet corridors.
"So, what do you think?" Millianna asked as she walked alongside Beth, her tail swishing nervously. "Do you think these guys are dangerous? Meow," she added, her mind replaying the chaotic events they'd witnessed so far.
Beth glanced at Millianna, her expression thoughtful but tinged with unease. "Honestly, I don't know," she admitted, shaking her head. "Everything's been crazier than a cattle in heat." As they approached the door, Beth reached out and placed her hand on the doorknob, trying to mask her growing apprehension. "But what's the worst that could happen?"
As Beth began to turn the knob, a shiver of dread suddenly ran through Millianna's body, a sensation that she could only describe as her animal instinct kicking in. Every fiber of her being screamed that something dangerous was on the other side of that door, and they needed to move, fast.
Without hesitation, Millianna leaped back, shouting, "Watch out!"
But her warning came too late. The door was barely ajar when a blinding blue flash erupted from within. In an instant, Beth was engulfed by a surge of crackling electricity. "Ahhhhh!" she screamed, her voice echoing with pain and fear as the blue lightning coursed through her body. The shock was relentless, holding her in place as the electricity danced across her skin.
The force of the blast finally overwhelmed her, and with a final jolt, Beth was flung backward, her body skidding across the floor until she came to a stop at Millianna's feet. Her clothes were singed, her skin marked with burns from the intense shock.
Millianna dropped to her knees beside her friend, her heart pounding in her chest. "Beth!" she cried out, panic surging through her as she reached out to check if Beth was still conscious. The sight of her friend lying there, burned and battered, filled her with a mix of fear and anger.
The door that had shocked Beth burst open with a thunderous crash, the force sending shards of wood flying. Millianna whipped her head around, trying to grasp what was happening, but before she could react, a brilliant blue flash shot past her in a blur.
Her instincts kicked in as she attempted to track the blur, but every time she tried to focus on it, the blue flash darted away, moving too quickly for her eyes to follow. The room seemed to pulse with energy, the air crackling with tension as the blur zigzagged unpredictably around her. Just as she was about to lose hope of pinpointing it, a loud crunch reverberated through the room, the unmistakable sound of something digging forcefully into the stone wall.
Millianna spun around, her breath catching in her throat at what she saw. The once unconscious blond boy they had found earlier was now wide awake, and he was nothing like the vulnerable figure she had seen before. He hung off the ground, with a vivid blue aura of lightning magic crackling around him. His eyes gleamed with wild, animalistic intensity, and his mouth twisted into a manic grin that sent chills down Millianna's spine.
The boy's arms and legs were encased in what appeared to be blue, lightning-infused armor as arcs of electricity bursting from the soles of his boots and striking the wall behind him. His hands were encased in claw-like gauntlets that crackled with power, their tips embedded deep in the stone to keep him anchored as he locked eyes with Millianna.
But as she locked eyes with the boy she recognized that look in his eyes, it was the same crazed, unhinged gaze she had seen before, back in the Tower of Heaven, when someone had lost all semblance of sanity. The boy's eyes were wide with anticipation, his grin widening as the electricity around him grew more intense, sparking off him like a living entity.
"Heh, who the heck are you guys?" the boy, Luck, chuckled darkly, his voice laced with unbridled enthusiasm. His gaze flitted between Millianna and Beth, sizing them up. "Whoever you are, you seem strong… Let's fight!" His grin widened even further, and the arcs of electricity around him grew more intense as if feeding off his eagerness.
Millianna's heart pounded in her chest, but she swallowed her fear and stepped in front of her injured friend. The gravity of the situation weighed heavily on her, yet she forced herself to focus. She couldn't afford to show weakness not now, not with Beth's safety on the line. Taking a deep breath, she squared her shoulders and assumed a defensive stance, ready for whatever the crazed boy might throw at her.
To be Continued
Haha, I know cliffhangers right after a break can be a bit of a tease, but I wanted to keep things exciting instead of dragging out a scene full of orders. So, I couldn't resist adding a little suspense for you all. But that wraps up Chapter 4, and I got to say I didn't realize how challenging it would be to get the dialogue just right between the characters. I had to keep double check and tweak it to ensure to me it felt close to how they would talk to others, but I'm pleased with how it turned out. But another then that I don't think there anything else to say except brace yourselves for two crazy battle loving mages going against there unexpected/undeserving victims. So for now I hope you all enjoyed it, and if you liked it please favorite, follow, or leave a review.
Until we meet again