"The pieces are slowly falling into place…" A large male with black hair and red eyes spoke while staring out of a large window, looking into the distance. "The first part of the plan is nearly set. First I'll need that jewel. Then…" This was the infamous Gaius, the one Dhegensea warned everyone else about. He was staring at the other side of the island, specifically at the castle that stood tall. "Dhegensea…soon, you'll get exactly what you deserve…"
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"Mmmm…" Erza slowly began to awaken, eyesight blurry and body burning with an indescribable pain.
"Is she waking up…?" Lucy quickly turned her attention to Erza.
"About time! She's been out for a while…" Mii huffed in a clearly annoyed tone. "This is bad! This is really bad. I can't believe this…"
"Mii-san, please calm down…" Wendy attempted to ease Mii's nerves, but she wasn't having it.
"I didn't get a chance to even fight…" Natsu grumbled. He wasn't mad at Erza for losing, but he was certainly upset he didn't get to kick some ass.
"W-what happened…?" Erza sat up, looking around with a confused look. She was covered in bandages and could hardly tell what was occurring around her.
"Erza…!" Lucy hurried over to Erza's side, letting out a sigh of relief. "Thank goodness you're still alive…you really had us worried."
"Listen here, Erza-san!" Mii huffed again, storming over to Erza while poking her chest. "I cannot believe you went and lost! Now we have to leave this stupid island because you let Reve get the better of you! What were you thinking!?"
"Mii!" Makarov scolded the red head with a glare. This was the first time anyone saw her angry, but right now wasn't the time for such anger. He wouldn't allow Mii to take her anger out on Erza like this. "That's enough!"
"…." Mii growled lowly, crossing her arms before letting out a heavy sigh. "I-I'm sorry…I didn't mean to yell…"
"I lost…." Erza muttered to herself, taking it heavily once it finally set in. "I-I'm sorry everyone…I failed you…"
"It's okay, Erza…you did your best!" Cynthia tried to reassure Erza, but it didn't look as though her words reached. "Erza…"
"Are we really going to leave?!" Was Natsu's big question. "I can't stand leaving everything to those bastards!"
"…We…" Erza started, but the door suddenly flew open. "Huh?"
"Oh, great, you're still here!" Ena hurried into the room, panting heavily. She ran quite the distance to make it to the same building where she left them the day prior. "Ha…Ha…I was so worried…"
"Ena?" Mira blinked slowly. "What brings you here…? We were just about to…"
"T-that's what I'm here for…" Ena responded with a grin. "You see…I know you two made an agreement about leaving this isle depending on who won and lost…but since I'm the Princess, and you're on OUR island, it's what we say goes, not what they say. Therefore, I can effectively overturn that decision immediately."
"No way!" Cana grinned.
"Seriously?!" Wendy was quite excited about this.
"Perks of being friends with royalty, I guess…you slide this time, Erza-san…" Mii let out a relieved sigh.
"Even if they were to go…" Ena's eyes narrowed towards Mii. "You, Ms. Mii…aren't officially affiliated with Fairy Tail, so you couldn't."
"Ah…?" Mii blinked confusedly. Was Ena trying to tell her something? Whatever it was, it flew right over her head.
"Anyway…" Ena continued. "White Eclipse doesn't know about this…they're thinking that you guys are resting before heading off. Kurthnaga and I talked it over and thought this was the best course of action. I believe we truly need the both of you to stave off this war."
"Huh? But wasn't your brother all for White Eclipse being the only one right for the job?" Gray asked.
Ena nodded. "That's true. But after witnessing your determination, even he was moved. He was convinced by that tenacity alone, and realized that more numbers is better in this scenario."
"…" There was Erza, still remaining as silent as ever now.
"Oh and…!" Ena walked over to Erza, eyes sparkling with admiration. "That fight was incredible, Erza-senpai! You had me on the edge of my seat! When you unveiled that armor…! And your final stand! I just…!" Ena's gushing over Erza left the knight, and everyone else speechless.
"Erza…?" Lucy began.
"Senpai…?" Erza finished.
"I didn't know a human could be a senpai for a dragon…" Lisanna let out a quiet chuckle. "So…uhm…what are we supposed to do in the meantime? Just…lie low or something?"
"Pretty much." Ena nodded. "Until White Eclipse goes off for battle, you guys have to stay out of sight. Then, when the battle starts and they're having a rough time, BOOM! Fairy Tail arrives as the cavalry and brings back the victory, and the second half of the Scared Jewel!"
"Sounds like you planned this out for a while, huh…?" Levy giggled. "I guess if we have no other choice…"
"If Gildarts were here…" Cynthia started then ended her thought. "Never mind…he's back in Fiore…or somewhere."
"Anyway…I'll be right back. There are some things I have to tell White Eclipse back at the castle. It shouldn't take too long!" Ena nodded and happily skipped out the door.
"Well, she sure seems energetic…" Mii said with a slight sigh and giggle.
"We're gonna be here a while it seems…" Lucy crossed her arms, turning her attention towards Mii. "I think you should tell us a little more about yourself since you're still stuck here with us for the time being."
"Huh…?" Mii blinked. "More? What else could I tell you?"
"What's your magic?" Lucy sat down, legs crossed while eying the red head.
"My magic…?" Mii paused. "Oh, that's simple…Support Magic, literally!"
"What's that mean…?" Natsu crossed his arms, giving Mii a bland expression.
"It's simple!" Mii threw her hands up, suddenly having a pair of pomp oms in each one. Standing up, the female began to shake them with a grin. "I can cheer someone on and it'll give them a huuuuge moral boost and an overall boost in strength. "I like to call it Cheer Magic!"
"That sounds really neat!" Wendy complimented Mii's magic with a grin.
"That's not all of it, is it?" Laxus on the other hand was uninterested completely in plain old Support Magic.
"Hey, a good cheer can come a long way you know…" Mii huffed, placing her hands on her hips. If there was more, she wasn't going to say anything about it.
"Right…" Laxus merely shrugged before turning to Bickslow. "Oi…find anything out yet?"
"What do you mean by that…?" Lucy was a little clueless on the situation.
"Heh…" There was a small noticeable grin on Bickslow's lips at Lucy's question. "I left one of my guys in a statue at the palace. Since we're all certain that huge lizard didn't tell us everything, I figured we'd at least get some information via eavesdropping. Sure that ain't a problem, right Old Man?"
"As long as you are not discovered. Any new information will be a great help, Bickslow…" Makarov nodded slowly.
"Hyahaha…let's get to work then, Baby!" Bickslow let out a laugh while Figure Eyes activated, using the soul he put in the statue of the castle to give him a good view. It was odd; however…he couldn't see a single thing in the hallway. "Huh…That's odd…"
"What's wrong?" Evergreen asked while fanning herself with that large fan of hers.
"Remember those guards at the palace who kept givin' Laxus the evil eye?" Bickslow began. "Well, for some odd reason…they're all lyin down on the ground, and it doesn't look like they're breathing either…"
"Did something happen at the castle..!?" Natsu sprang up, preparing for any kind of action.
"Is White Eclipse there?" Erza asked begrudgingly.
"Don't think so…maybe they've left already…?" Bickslow shrugged.
"Hm…" Lucy kept her eyes on the Raijinshu while walking over to the sink to prepare a glass of water. "I wonder what could've happened…" She left the glass half full and started to tilt it to her lips.
"STOOOOOOOOP!" Ena bolted through the doors, running towards Lucy and slapping the glass of water from her hand. "Do NOT DRINK THAT WATER!"
"E-Ena?!" Lucy jumped from the princess's sudden entry, eyes wide. "W-What are you doing back so soon!?"
"We have a problem!" Ena was panting heavily, trying to catch her breath. "W-We were gravely mistaken about Gaius!"
"What do you mean!?" Erza questioned, standing up immediately.
"W-We knew he had to make the first move…but he's been a step ahead of us this entire time!" Ena was panicking now. "He had one of his subordinates, Venoma, poison the water supply!"
"WHAT?!" Juvia was the first to stand up, absolutely outraged that water would be used in such a horrendous fashion. "Why would they…?!"
"It was a ploy…." Ena continued. "Poisoning all the water in our current supply, save for the Mystic Water. They can't touch that…unfortunately they sealed the lake off for now. And to make matters even worse, they kidnapped Nasir! He has the other half of the Gem and…!"
"They're moving so fast already…!?" Mii hopped up. "Wow, who would've thought the enemy was so crafty…where's White Eclipse when ya need 'em?"
"We DON'T need them," Natsu replied to Mii's remark with a scowl. "But yeah, where did those bastards run off to, eh?"
"As soon as things started occurring, they left immediately! They're already heading out to Gaius' castle as we speak." Ena nodded slowly. "I would like you guys to head out immediately as well, but not before speaking with Father on the situation at hand. He will fill you in on what you need to know about Gaius and his men…He is waiting by the Gates on the other side of the city."
"What about the poisoned…?" Wendy was clearly still concerned for those who were caught in the attack from the poisonous water.
"We're doing everything we can for them as we speak…but please, don't concern yourselves with the people, attacking Gaius is the highest priority!"
"But…" Wendy began.
"You can't save them all." Mii spoke, her tone grim compared to her usual cheery self. She was blunt and there may have been a little regret in her tone as she spoke. "Your team needs your powers right now. You can't waste them attempting to save everyone. You'll only be slowing down the bleeding when you need to take down the root of problem."
"Mii!" Mirajane huffed. "Don't say things like that! It's not a waste to try and…"
"Lying to a child isn't something I'm capable of," Mii responded with a serious tone. "You need her and you know it."
"Wendy…" Cynthia placed her hand on Wendy's shoulder.
"Okay…" Wendy nodded slowly, placing her hand on Cynthia's with a soft smile. "I'll fight with you guys."
"Glad to hear it." Carla gave a slow nod…it was around then that her eyes widened, having a sudden vision. It was hazy and unclear, but it showed Natsu, Lucy, Wendy, and Cynthia down in the face of a towering figure, while Mii was standing by without giving anyone any help. "…!"
"Carla…?" Wendy tilted her head. "Are you okay…?"
"Ah…I'm fine!" Carla responded with a forced grin. "Let's not linger here any longer. Ena, to the gate please?"
"Oh, right…follow me…"
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The gate to the other side of the island was guarded by Dhegensea and Kurthnaga, both of whom looked on in interest as Fairy Tail approached. "Ah…There they are…" Kurthnaga let out a sigh of relief, glad Ena caught them before they departed. "Oi, over here!"
"What's the situation now?" Erza asked.
"White Eclipse has already gone on ahead." Kurthnaga pointed to the gate. "The Ghost Mage they had fought our gate's guardian to prove they were worthy of crossing over. It was a pretty intense match that looked even…"
"Sidney is even with a dragon…? How strong is this guy…!?" Gray sucked his teeth.
"You'll have to do the same." A female clad in brown armor and a helmet walked forward, standing in front of the gate with her arms crossed. "Sidney Castle proved he and his guild were capable of fighting a dragon on par with Gaius. Before you can cross, you'll have to do the same. Or it'll all be for naught."
"We don't have time for this! It's not manly!" Elfman protested.
"…That voice…" Natsu's eyes narrowed at the armored female before them. She seemed highly familiar, but he couldn't put his nose on it even though the scent was strong. "That scent…is that…?"
"It's a safety measure," Dhegensea replied. "The match will last five minutes…long enough to determine but short enough as to not waste time."
"Ah…" Mii stepped forward, pointing her index finger at herself! "Allow me to fight in Fairy Tail's name!"
"YOU!?" Deadpanned look across all the Fairy Tail members.
"Of course!" Mii grinned brightly. "C'mon, let me show you what I can do when I try!"
"Shaking pom poms won't help us in the slightest here, baby," Bickslow shook his head.
"I say let her attempt," Dhegensea's input shocked just about everyone. "Surely there's a reason she's still on his island, correct?"
"See, the old lizard gets it…Er, I mean the king…" Stepping forward once again, Mii stood a few feet away from the armored guard. "Just leave it to Mii!" Pun intended, some groans and eye rolls following.
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Next Time: The War Begins!
