Nexus: Heroes Will Rise

by tmb1112

Universal borders have been erased and beings from thousands of universes now live on the same world: Nexus. In the first Saga of Nexus, Awul was saved, but the mysteries of Nexus remain. Now our heroes sail across the sea to Aebrith to search for lost loved ones and save the world. MCs from DBZ, KH, Soul Eater, FT, Blue Exorcist, Bleach, 7DS, OP, Ben 10, SAO, HxH, and many more!

147. Nexus HWR 22-6 The Library

A/N Hey guys! Check your settings and make sure that you turn "Email opt-in" to "Yes," because Fanfic is automatically setting everyone's notifications off because some person running the site thought that was a smart decision... yeah. Going to rant for a second: My only guess is that they're probably just trying to force everyone to get their app which has auto notifications so that they can get the sweet ad revenue from there that they must not be getting enough of here, making the experience much worse for computer-users like myself. It's not actually a mistake this time where the site isn't sending out emails and they'll ultimately fix it at some point, because to them, nothing is broken. You not receiving emails was their intention. This is just how things are now. Also, after you opt-in, you need to go back into your settings every 6 months and make sure you turn notifications on again, because they're going to automatically reset you to having emails off after 6 months. It's dumb. It was a dumb decision by whoever made it. All you can do is complain about their stupidity, and hope that someone has the good sense to go back and fix the site. I've been using fanfic for too long to switch to AO3 at this point, but I suspect the site is going to lose a lot of readers and authors over this decision. Anyway, rant over. Enjoy the chapter!

Disclaimer: I don't own any of the original media that I got characters and other proper nouns from in this crossover.

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Nexus HWR 22.6 The Library:

BOOOOSH!

A sphere of red light exploded high above Hogwarts and shook the entire castle below. The dome of an invisible barrier pulsed around the school to show its protection, but the long-haired figure who just pointed a palm into the air scoffed and chuckled to himself at the sight of the flimsy thing. He lowered down towards the front of the building and the wide courtyard and entryway that stretched farther on the island than the building itself.

Hogwarts floated above the city of Valyria as just one of the many institutions hovering up in the sky of the Magic Kingdom. The castle itself was very large, but the island was large enough that it also held a greenhouse, two dorm buildings, and the large courtyard out front with a paved pathway around it to the front landing area of the island. Hogwarts Island had what looked like a landing pad for aircraft, though none were parked there at the moment as the buff, intimidating figure floated down towards it. He floated forward as well, and when he reached the magical barrier, the man simply surrounded in a veil of white light and passed straight through the barrier that could not stop him.

A few professors nearby who got their wands ready at first froze when they felt the pressure from this man entering the barrier. His aura gave off heat, which some of them used as an excuse for why they started dripping with sweat. Headmistress McGonagall paused in the entryway of the castle where the two tall gates were wide open for students and faculty to pass freely through. She considered closing the doorway, but she hesitated when she spotted the garments the flying figure was wearing.

"Wands away," McGonagall called out to her fellow staff members. "Lower them, damn it," she snapped when she saw a few of her subordinates slow on lowering their arms. "Look at the pin on his armor carefully," Minerva McGonagall warned.

Others ahead of her in the courtyard looked closely at the light-blue skinned figure with long green hair tied in a braid. The alien wore a suit of futuristic armor with spiked spaulders, tight black leggings, and he had on a white cloak. The cloak itself was familiar already, but it was the golden pin visible on the front right chestplate of his white armor that scared everyone who saw it.

"What's going on out there?" Nami hissed to the blonde-haired witch who pulled them aside and had them duck down below the windows. They were in a front lobby of Hogwarts that had windows facing the courtyard. It was a reception area and waiting room meant for guests who were not able to just freely walk into school grounds, which included the group of five under careful watch of Glynda Goodwitch. Timmy poked his head up next to Nami who felt safe to do the same, though Glynda frowned thinking that her orange hair or the kid's pink hat might get spotted by the man out there.

Robin also covered up one eye and made it reappear on Timmy's hat too so she could see what was happening outside. Glynda stayed standing in the middle of the window, while Izumo and Juvia had each ducked away and crouched off to the sides out of sight. Juvia bared her teeth frustratedly that they were getting stalled in another way now, after already being slowed by the receptionist and this Goodwitch character both.

Glynda narrowed her gaze at the golden pin she spotted out on the armor of that figure. She was quick to recognize it. "This is not good. That's a member of the Capital 50."

"Timmy?" Nami whispered to the boy at her side without turning to look at him.

He knew what she was asking by the tone of her voice though. The two of them stared out at the intimidating figure who floated forward while lording above all the people hesitating to do anything about him. Timmy whispered back, "I don't know. I could probably take him if I need to, but there's no way to be sure. He's wearing a Power Blocker like the rest of us."

Nami tsked but mentioned back, "Then we're not risking it. We run if anything happens." I'm not letting you go up against someone who might be much stronger than you. We know nothing about this guy!

"What is he here for?" Juvia hissed over towards Glynda. "Did you rat us out?"

Glynda darted the girl an annoyed glare for her suspicious tone. Juvia just glared harsher back at the witch who she was considering thinking of as an enemy again if something underhanded was going on here. Glynda saw the much darker look directed back showing Juvia was serious with that question, and she replied in a stern tone, "No. No one would have invited him here. But we can't stop him either."

"The Capital 50. Meruem's personal army," Robin informed her comrades who darted her interested looks. Izumo had ducked down even lower and was not risking even looking outside after hearing what Glynda said about the intruder. She knew, but the others were more confused. Robin explained, "I spoke with Gray after Sora returned from the War in the Saiyan Mountains. Sora mentioned that they were there. Gray claims that the Ant King himself appoints the Capital 50 to guard the Capital and the surrounding realm, as well as carry out his orders anywhere on Aebrith."

Glynda's gaze lowered down to her feet for a second. A momentary look of shame flashed across her face that she wiped off just as quickly while raising her glare back through the glass and to the intimidating figure outside… who was also actually fairly handsome now that they could see him more clearly.

"Does he know we're here?" Timmy whispered to Glynda. He did not think she ratted him out as he had been reading minds carefully since their arrival. But that did not change the fact that this villain might be there for him.

"Greetings, magicians!" The alien figure shouted in a voice that carried across Hogwarts. "I have come to see the Library."

Nami at the same time wanted to let out a sigh of relief while also tensing up at the sound of that. On the one hand, they were not the target. On the other, this enemy was after the same thing they were.

"Who does that guy think he is?" A 16 year old boy on the third floor of one of the classroom halls of Hogwarts snapped. He was at the windows looking out towards the front of the school, as were many students and faculty around the castle who were all interested and/or concerned about the arrival of this man. "I don't like the look of him," Ginta Toramizu growled. The spiky-haired blond kid reached for a scythe on his waist and gripped the shaft tightly, but a hand grasped his wrist before he could lift it.

"Don't!" The shaking girl next to him gasp-whispered.

Ginta and his girlfriend Koyuki turned in confusion to the group of three who they had been instructed to guide through the castle. Elaine had already been there many times as part of her efforts to better learn healing magic, but the other three had never been before and needed the guides after Elaine left them to go join her instructor.

The two had been chatting up this trio and making quick friends with them. Koyuki and Ginta both stared back with their eyes massive, though Ginta only tightened his grip on his scythe even more when he saw the look on Maka's face after she stopped him. Tears had filled Maka's panicked eyes, while Soul was cowering back with a look of sheer shock and terror on his expression. Liz was trying to calm Soul down while at the same time looking panicked herself.

"Is he… here for you?" Koyuki whispered nervously while turning back to look out the windows again. "But he said he's here for the Library."

Liz realized that too and got a confused look on her own face. Neither Soul nor Maka could get over it that fast, but Liz shook her head around and hissed, "Guys! You hear that? He doesn't know you're here. Listen! We need to go!" Liz grabbed Maka and Soul by an arm each, but Zarbon's voice boomed from outside and froze them in their tracks.

"I am searching for my stolen property! I know that the Library will have a tracking spell for me. I even brought DNA of my possessions for the Library to track," Zarbon lifted up a couple of red rags and held them up while narrowing his eyes towards the gate of the castle and the Headmistress whose glare darkened even as more sweat covered her face. She stared at those rags and saw patches of white hair sticking to one of them, and she realized that the fabric of the rags was not red itself but just completely soaked through with someone's blood. Two people's blood, to be exact.

HE'LL FIND US! Soul and Maka looked at each other, and their souls synchronized in that second as they had the same exact thought.

"Headmistress, I'll handle this," a boy's voice spoke behind the older woman who was catching her breath to open her mouth and call a response to this menacing figure. She spun in surprise and opened her mouth but just froze with it open as he walked right past her.

"Uh, hello there!" The teenage boy with spiky black hair stepped down the steps just outside the gate and walked up to the courtyard. He did not step off the paved path yet, and he just looked up over the grass and to the floating figure who glared down his nose at him. "I can't let you see the Library! Sorry." He apologized, but the teen who stared at the bloody garments that this figure held up did not appear very apologetic for his denial.

"You can't 'let' me?" Zarbon scoffed at the child.

He floated down closer to the island's surface and glared harshly at the kid who leaned back a little but stood his ground. "No, sorry," the young man apologized again.

"Who is that now?" Nami questioned quietly over to Glynda who was staring out in shock herself at the boy.

"Kamijou- that idiot, he's going to get himself killed," Glynda growled, though she was grabbing her wand now and anxiously twitching in worry that she was going to have to step in here.

The sorceress they told us was here is apparently the "Library" itself, Nico Robin thought. She is not in the Library. This member of the Capital 50 has searched her out because he suspects as we do that her magic can do, hopefully, just about anything. Robin felt similarly to Nami in how she was anxious about this man searching out their same target but also hopeful in knowledge of how many people believed that this sorceress was the best source of magical knowledge there was.

"What is he doing out there?" Uiharu Kazari gasped and covered her mouth at a window only one away from where Ginta and Koyuki were looking out.

"That buffoon," Saten Ruiko shook her head. She put her hands together in a praying position in front of her chest despite what she said. "But he can't let that guy get past him. You know he wouldn't let that happen." Uiharu nodded in agreement but still looked out worriedly at him.

Saten pursed her lips and glanced up above Zarbon and out into the distance. She thought in some distant hope, What are the chances you two just suddenly pop up right now? Kuroko, Mikoto, I know the Resistance separated you two and put you on different squads, but maybe both of your squads will come to Valyria today! Please do. When you brought us here last year you said you'd come check up on us once in a while, and it's been a while! Sweat dripped on Saten's face as she looked down to the back of their male friend who stood alone facing this monster.

A white veil surrounded the member of the Capital 50. That aura shook the school for a moment, and Touma even stumbled around before steadying on his feet again. "I am a Lord of the Capital. A member of the Capital 50. Lord Zarbon! And I have come for a tracking spell from your renowned Library." Zarbon rose his right hand. He opened a palm and created a sphere of yellow energy that he pointed down at Touma. "And I am not asking."

"Ki blast," Timmy whispered fast to his friends. "And he effortlessly made the island shake just by flexing his power. He's probably stronger than our whole group aside from me and Goku."

"Why isn't anyone stopping him?" Izumo hiss-whispered at Glynda. "What about your Magic Knights Squads? Or the MTF? Can't anyone do anything about this- he's threatening a school!" Izumo exclaim-whispered when Glynda started shaking her head to say that they could do nothing. The witch actually stopped at Izumo's exclamation and bit down herself.

She's right. We can't just let open threats against the students here go. Even if it means fighting a member of the Capital 50? No. We can't do that. Far too risky. The Magic Kingdom could be destroyed. Meruem might even just order the Androids to do it to prove that they're not rebelling. He wouldn't have to come himself, Glynda calmed herself down. "A Lord of the Cooperative wouldn't just attack us unprovoked. He's only trying to intimidate…"

"Are you sure?" Timmy asked her in a serious tone. Glynda did not respond right away, and that hesitation was an answer in itself.

"The Capital knows that you magicians are Resistance sympathizers," Zarbon warned in a shout around. He glared specifically back at the boy below who dared to step up and tell him he could not see the Library. "If you refuse to assist me, I might just think that you are an enemy of the Cooperative."

"I'm sorry, I can't let you see her. I am the Library's, uh, protector. So it's up to me, and I say no," the young man stood firmly again and denied the powerful-looking alien figure who bared his teeth in an unsightly way for a moment.

Zarbon took a deep breath to calm down and pushed a hand back through his hair to keep himself looking composed. "Oh, is that right?" The sphere of yellow energy that Zarbon had threatened the boy with suddenly grew twice as large. It appeared less like an intimidation this time, and more an imminent threat. "I take your response as insubordination against one of the Capital 50."

"This isn't the Capital," Touma declared back defensively. "And I don't see Android 17 anywhere. I think he would have come himself if he was ordering this, but he's not here. You don't have the authority-"

Zarbon fired. Touma snapped his right hand up and grabbed that arm by the wrist using his other hand. He swung his right palm in front of him, and Zarbon's yellow sphere of ki slammed into the kid's hand. A bright flash went off… and then the ki sphere vanished without an explosion. Touma swiped his hand across the front of his body and blew away the smoke that remained where the powerful energy blast had dissipated from.

Zarbon dropped his jaw. Touma had smacked his hand straight through Zarbon's attack and made it vanish like it was nothing. Touma took a step through the fizzling smoke and yelled up, "I don't care what you try to do, you definitely aren't seeing Index!"

How did he annihilate my attack so easily?! What power does that boy possess? Is he more powerful than myself? Zarbon's mind thought at a million miles per hour. He was frozen in place, though he had already floated back a few feet from where he fired the energy blast after Touma first destroyed it. I can't die again. I need to be careful. I won't risk a foolish death against powers I don't understand, but is he really that strong?! He stopped my attack like it was nothing! How?!

Zarbon's focus was solely on Kamijou Touma, but he started to notice others as well who he avoided darting his eyes to but still scanned in his peripheral vision. On different sides of the island, below it, and high above it, he could see them. Magic Knight Squads and Magic Task Force members had emerged out of nowhere. His attempted attack on the teenager on school grounds was apparently not going to be tolerated by the authorities here in Valyria. I could kill them all easily. Possibly. Magic is, so fucking frustrating. It's the unknown.

Zarbon tensed up. His muscles tightened and his eyes actually moved this time. Zarbon lifted his gaze from Touma and above the castle behind him. He looked up to the roof of the building and a scantily clad woman at the top of it. Elaine was watching from the greenhouse where she had a meeting with Professor Sprout, but she also looked up to the top of Hogwarts' castle and smiled wide when she saw her friend. Thanks for coming out, Merlin! I thought she would have just stayed inside with the Library. But one look from her, Elaine smiled and even laughed to herself as she noticed the sweat on Zarbon's face as he stared up at the member of the 7 Deadly Sins.

Merlin faced the member of the Capital 50 with no fear in her expression. Some of the other enemies Zarbon might have to face had similar fearless expressions, but none of them looked so carefree and confident that they appeared to barely be taking him seriously at all. Zarbon floated backwards a few more feet while lowering his glare back to Touma once more. "Cowardly, insolent fucking magicians," Zarbon cursed at those around him while glaring straight into Touma's unwavering eyes.

Zarbon turned around and shot off in a veil of white. He broke through Hogwarts' barrier without any effort on his part and just kept going across the sky until he twinkled in the distant horizon and was gone.

Had he known that the scary woman on top of Hogwarts was the same woman responsible for stealing his slaves in the first place, he might have acted differently. Merlin actually sighed in disappointment. Zarbon had gotten the vibe from her that she was just looking for a reason to finish him off, and he was not wrong. She decided against giving chase though, thinking of the enemy she was sure to make if she took out one of his Capital 50.

"That was quite an intense situation," Professor Sprout admitted after finally exhaling and taking a few deep breaths.

"It was," Elaine agreed. And with the rest of the Sins down in lower Valyria… well, even if it was just myself and Merlin, we would have succeeded! That Zarbon is one of the ones who tormented King though. And his friends. It is very lucky we did not arrive at the same time as him, or that would have gone much differently.

Soul collapsed onto his butt in the hallway and leaned back on the wall across the hall from the windows. "I can't believe it," he admitted in a hoarse voice. He reached up and gripped his hat with one hand while grabbing at his chest with his other. Soul pulled his hat off, clutching it into his chest as he felt like he was having a panic attack still from how fast his heart was beating.

Maka's legs felt like jelly, and she shook her head in utter disbelief while looking back at Soul and then up at his head and the red scabs under the patchy spots of hair he still had left. Soul noticed her stare, as well as the stares of most other people in the hall. It actually shook him from his panic attack and he managed to cover his head back up. Others who had noticed the white hair on Zarbon's rags realized who that monster was searching for now, and who exactly he meant by his "possessions" that had gone missing.

Uiharu turned around and frowned at a group of people who were staring. She motioned away at them with a surprisingly harsh look for her innocent face, and the others all stopped staring in Soul's direction and scurried off to their classes they had left or were late for. Uiharu had her Hall Monitor red band around her upper right arm sleeve, and the small black-haired girl managed to make a stern enough face to get her fellow students moving to where they were supposed to be. Uiharu then glanced at Saten and nudged her friend who was staring for too long herself, and she got Saten to come along with her.

Uiharu started as they walked away, "I wonder how Misaka and Shirai are doing?"

Saten was surprised that Uiharu was going to ignore what they just saw. She understood why after thinking about it for a second and nodded quickly, then smiled and agreed, "I was thinking of the same thing a second ago. Did you hope they would come at the last second to save us? Oh Misaka-san, our hero! Again!" Saten feign-swooned then threw an arm around Uiharu's shoulders and pulled her shorter friend into her side in a way that made Uiharu blush brightly.

"We wouldn't have needed her help this time though," Saten added. She reached down her free arm that was not around Uiharu's shoulders and pulled her wand out, waving it around in front of her. "I may have had no skill as an Esper, but now I've got magic! Woohoo!"

"Oh? So you can take one of the Capital 50 now?" Uiharu wondered back. "All by yourself?"

"I wouldn't have to. Because I'd have you," Saten retorted and leaned her smiling face close to Uiharu's. The shorter girl's eyes widened again and then she blushed harder and pushed Saten off this time while looking away. Saten just laughed at her bashful friend's reaction, and the two of them kept moving on towards their next class. Saten added in a quiet voice that made her friend giggle along with her, "I can't wait to tell Mikoto who saved the day today."

Outside, said boy watched into the distance for a few more seconds in wait for that twinkle of light to come back into view. Zarbon was gone though, and Touma let out a heavy sigh of relief. Then he fell down to his knees in exhaustion. His head snapped back and he started blowing on his hand frantically before proclaiming in a loud shout, "Such misfortune!"

A pair of spectators who had been nearby getting ready to jump in like so many others came jogging over to Kamijou's side. Tsuchimikado Motoharu slowed down and started walking closer after getting a better look of Touma and seeing nothing was wrong with him. The teen Touma's age with spiky blond hair took his sunglasses off the collar of his shirt and put them back on, then he interlocked his hands behind his head while shaking it. A smirk spread over his face as he looked off into the distance for a second, Couldn't let "Lord" Zarbon spot me out here. I knew you had a handle of it though. He grinned back towards his old classmate and friend who was getting scolded by the busty swordswoman leaning down over him.

"I didn't see you stepping up, Kanzaki," Tsuchimikado remarked while approaching the woman who was scolding Touma for his recklessness, though sounding concerned as she did so. She spun towards him with a frown and dark look over her face, then Tsuchimikado added, "And Touma just saved your charge. Seems like you owe him another one, don't you?" Her face turned red in the cheeks and she spun away before Touma could look up and get a good look at her face.

Touma got distracted before he could say anything to Kanzaki, as a pair of young witches flew towards him on broomsticks and dropped off at his sides. "Kamijou-san!"

"Touma! Are you- ah, a-hem," Sol Marron caught herself and stood back straight up, tensing up as she realized some people were looking her way. She had appeared and sounded too worried for Touma's safety for a second, and she humphed and looked away after checking him over and seeing he was alright. "You idiot. Facing down a Capital 50 like that. You're, so dumb…" So cool!

"Let me see your hand- wow," Mimosa Vermillion took Touma by the hand and turned it over in her palms to check if he was alright. "That's amazing. It didn't hurt you at all?" She wondered while lifting her gaze back up and into the eyes of the boy sitting there. She suddenly realized his face was only inches from her own after she had knelt right next to him, and her face turned red up from her chin to her forehead. Mimosa jumped up and exclaimed, "Ah! Well that's amazing. You did such a great job, Kamijou-san."

The headmistress of the magical school approached behind Touma as well. McGonagall had both a grateful and stern attitude to her expression, but she stopped and turned at the sight of other Magic Knights who landed on Hogwarts outer area. All the various mages and witches surrounding the castle dropped onto the surface and were discussing what just happened or looking over towards Touma Kamijou in amazement at what he managed to do.

"Headmistress McGonagall," the Magic Knight squad Captain who approached the older woman began. She appeared to be a young woman only slightly older than her three children behind her, all with similarly white hair to their mother. She looked as young as them because she had died on their own world only slightly older than those children were now, and had been revived at that age upon their arrival on Nexus.

"Captain Acier," McGonagall greeted. "Vice Captain Nozel," she added with a nod to Acier's eldest son who stood in front of his other two younger siblings. Solid and Nebra grumbled but said nothing about how McGonagall only greeted their mother and older brother.

"The Library's protector really came in handy," Acier said. She smiled brightly over towards Touma and then chuckled at the sight of all the good-looking women surrounding the boy who did not appear to notice them, or notice the men glaring his way because of that.

Fuegoleon scanned around the courtyard and then nodded his head once as he was sure that things were going to remain calm now. He turned around to other shiny-golden-cloaked members of the MTF and ordered, "Move out. Everything is under control here." The other five members flew off before him. Fuegoleon turned first before leaving though and glanced towards some Magic Knights of a squad who all had red shawls of his former squad, the Crimson Lions.

The captain of that squad looked over towards his older brother and lifted a hand that he waved around fast with a giant smile appearing on Leopold's face. Fuegoleon shook his head at the immaturity of his younger brother who had proved himself enough for Fuegoleon to hand his squad over to when he joined the MTF. But before he flew off himself, he did pause for a second and then lift his own right hand and give a short wave back to his brother.

Leo lowered his arm after watching his brother fly away. He smiled a little more after seeing Fuegoleon wave that right arm, even if he knew that it was a prosthetic and not his brother's real flesh and bone. Leo's smile did drop though as well as his gaze when he thought of a sibling of his who was not as lucky as his brother to only lose an arm. Mereoleona nee-san. The Cooperative continues to terrorize us. Is brother correct? Should we really still be here? Or were you right to fight with the Resistance… until your last breath?

Leo was too deep in serious thought, and his vice-captain Randall Luftair noticed. Randall nudged Leo with his left elbow strongly then nodded towards Touma when Leo spun to him in surprise. Randall egged his Captain on, "Can you believe that guy? I hear he doesn't even know magic. Scaring off Zarbon while we all sat around. Makes you mad, doesn't it?"

"Yeah, yeah it does!" Leo exclaimed. "Men! We need more training!" Leo yelled back at his squad who he spun to. "Who are we?!"

"THE CRIMSON LIONS!"

"HAAAA!"

Leo riled up his squad and then led them back off the floating island to go get more training in. Sol rolled her eyes as she looked back towards Leo, then she glanced Touma's way once more before sighing and stretching her arms out in front of her. I'm exhausted. Such a long night, and I still haven't slept… because of you idiots! Sol glared over towards the gates of Hogwarts that a group of people were heading out of and straight towards Touma themselves.

Juvia glared straight back into Sol's eyes at the look the Blue Rose Captain was giving them. That only made Sol's glare narrow deeper though and more suspiciously at the blue-haired woman who she was already most cautious about.

"You're one lucky guy, Touma," Tsuchimikado remarked at his friend who finally got back up on his feet.

Touma nodded his head in agreement and shivered at the thought. "I can't imagine what would have happened if that Zarbon called my bluff. Pretty sure with his speed, I wouldn't have gotten my right hand up in the way if he sped behind me," Touma admitted.

"Oh no way," Tsuchimikado agreed and laughed. "Zarbon's one of the strongest of the Capital 50 too. Guy could obliterate mountains with a thought. Probably could destroy Valyria if he wanted to, though he's not as strong as the Androids, so he's probably too scared to do that."

"You know that much about him?" Mimosa asked the blond boy in surprise.

Tsuchimikado chuckled and then shrugged his shoulders back at the Magic Knight. Sol gave him a suspicious look while Kanzaki turned and looked at him in a more knowing way. Not everyone was aware of Tsuchimikado's activities outside of the Magic Kingdom. Not even his good friend Touma knew, though Kanzaki was more aware than most.

I'm actually only back here for more Polyjuice Potions. Then it's right back to the Capital with this spy. All thanks to my buddy Finral and the spatial magic he taught me, Tsuchimikado turned and rose his eyebrows high at the sight of people whose faces he recognized approaching him. What the heck are they doing here? He nearly laughed but kept any sign of recognition from forming on his expression and instead just appeared surprised and interested in who this approaching group were.

Part of why Tsuchimikado rose his eyebrows in amusement though was the same reason that men all around the outer courtyard were glaring at Touma even harder now. Glares of jealousy came from all directions as Juvia, Izumo, Nami, and Robin all approached the young man who was already surrounded in beautiful women before that.

Liz Thompson had kept watching out the window for a bit after Zarbon left. She glanced back to see if Soul and Maka were watching, only to realize that her friends were still shaken up by the terror of getting taken back by their master. The risk of that was gone now, but neither seemed like they thought it was completely over either. Not until we get all the way out of Cooperative territory will they ever feel safe, Liz thought. She shivered, And I won't either. But I need to focus on them! I had it easy in comparison.

"Why are you two here training at Hogwarts anyway?" Liz suddenly asked. She looked at Ginta and Koyuki who spun back her way in surprise. They had also both been looking at Soul and Maka who had yet to relax. While Uiharu had scared off everyone else nearby, Ginta and Koyuki were guiding this group and could not just scurry away to avoid the uncomfortable situation.

"Uhh, are you-" Ginta began hesitantly.

Koyuki elbowed him in the gut which caused Ginta to double over. She understood what Liz was doing, and she responded first, "Our friend Dorothy got to become a member of a Magic Knights squad when we arrived in Valyria. We didn't get picked though, and the squad Captains suggested that we train more before we could join-"

"I was ready already!" Ginta proclaimed, sounding indignant about their choice to exclude him. He crossed his arms frustratedly and said, "But I'll be joining the Blue Rose knights in no time and prove to Dorothy how wrong she was to mock us-"

"Idiot!" Koyuki bonked him on the head with a fist, making him hunch over again with a bump sticking out of his spiky blond hair. "The Blue Rose knights are an all girl squad! Captain Sol's not going to let you on. Me, on the other hand," Koyuki beamed while sticking her chest out. Ginta glared at her, though his eyes lowered for a split second down to her chest that she puffed out, then he darted his eyes right back to her face and sighed in relief that she did not notice. A tick mark popped on Koyuki's forehead though a second later, and her eyes narrowed and glared back down at the shocked boy who had no idea how she noticed!

"Come on, guys," Liz started to the duo who got distracted by their new friends' antics for a moment. Soul and Maka turned to Liz and saw their friend smiling back at them. Liz motioned with a nod down the hall, and she said, "Let's get moving. We don't have much time here before the Sins get moving again. Let's do what we can before then."

Maka gulped down the lump in her throat and finally nodded back at Liz. "Yeah, you're right. Let's go, Soul." Soul Evans faced her and after a second shook his head around to push aside the nerves. He nodded back at Maka first and then to Liz too to show he was ready to move on from this, even frowning deeply as he thought about how much he froze up just seeing Zarbon there for a moment.

One of those Sins who Liz just mentioned was watching amusedly the group approaching Kamijou Touma down at the front of Hogwarts. Her eyes focused on the back of one member of that group who she did not recognize. She did not know Izumo Kamiki either, but her focus was on the short boy in a pink hat. His magical power is insane. Merlin's interest piqued and she tilted her head to the side while examining him closer. It's not just his energy which is stronger than anyone else on this island, and maybe in this whole city. That magical power is beyond even my own! Where does it come from-

Merlin tensed up. Her body froze for a second and her eyes grew wide, because the child she was staring at turned his head so fast that it looked like a blur. He was floating a few feet behind the rest of his group, so the women with him did not notice as Timmy turned around like that and glared up at the roof of Hogwarts. He stared straight into the eyes of the dark-haired witch who he sensed was hiding enormous power despite her Power Blocker.

Merlin relaxed and her eyes returned to normal size. She chuckled in a dark way while staring at the kid who managed to make her tense up, if even for a moment. Merlin vanished. Timmy kept his serious expression when she met his gaze, but he did get confused when the woman suddenly vanished from in front of his eyes. He turned back ahead in confusion, only to freeze at the sight of the tall witch standing on the other side of his group of friends. Merlin appeared right between Sol and Mimosa who had each failed to yet notice that someone else was standing there now.

"Uh, hello there?" Touma greeted the group of women who had approached him. "Do you need something?" He asked.

"Yeah, we're looking for the Library," Nami began. "You're 'her,' protector? Is that right?" Nami still hesitated on the "her" part of this, and she was also confused by the fact that supposedly the most powerful sorceress in the lands had a teenage boy as a bodyguard.

Juvia's dark look made Touma hesitate to respond for a moment when he glanced to Nami's right side. Nami nudged Juvia to ease up her expression, but Juvia just glared back to her side at Nami instead of letting up. Why am I even here right now? Juvia wondered. They were so close to their destination, but she had never felt more annoyed by the whole journey. Here I am. At the witch who might be able to help me. We don't even know if it will work. And, I don't even need help in the first place.

So I'm changing. That doesn't mean it's changing for the worse, Juvia thought. I'm thinking clearer than I ever have. Actually, this version of me might be better. It is. I'm certain of it. Nothing clouding my mind. No man in the way… Is that what Gray-sam… Gray, was to me? Just a man. A man I adored? I don't even care about him. Or "fixing" myself. They said they'd "fix" me and I just went along with it. But what is it they really want from me? They want me to change. They can't accept the new me. Juvia took her glare off of Nami and pretended to relax it. They wouldn't accept that now though. They'd think it's some curse messing with my head and try to stop me from leaving. They have me prisoner. That's what this is.

Juvia's lost it, Robin thought. She was also pretending to relax and not notice the shift in Juvia's entire demeanor. Her eyes did shift over towards Timmy though who darted his eyes sideways and met Robin's for a split second. But we can't let her know that we know, Robin thought in understanding to why Timmy did not keep her gaze for long. We need to get her in front of this Library first. Get her as far as we can get her while she thinks she's still in control.

"I don't know," Touma began. He hesitated after looking into Juvia's eyes for a few seconds. "Why is this my whole day today?" He muttered under his breath, feeling as misfortunate as ever in the moment.

"Who are you people?" Kanzaki demanded to know. Her voice was harsher and her eyes narrowed in on the group as a whole. She rose her gaze for a moment back to Glynda Goodwitch who stopped a few meters behind the group of 5 but looked to be with them. Or is she making sure they don't do anything? Kanzaki Kaori felt the second option was as likely, making her even more suspicious of the strange group attempting to meet the Library.

"Bu-hah! How is he pulling that?" Sekke Bronzazza snapped as he stared at a group of gorgeous women surrounding Touma that only seemed to get larger by the moment. "While I, a Magic Knight Captain, am surrounded by dudes-" Sekke stopped complaining mid-sentence. The young man with long blond hair froze and darted his gaze to the corner of his eyes where he saw the entire Silva family with the top halves of their faces shadowed over.

The three children of Acier, with the former captain Nozel who was now a lower rank technically than Sekke himself, all had hateful glares pointed towards the pathetic mage who had somehow managed to become the captain of the Purple Orca squad. Even Sekke's own subordinates were looking at his back in annoyance as he complained about not having more female members, but they gulped too when they saw the Silver Eagles glaring their direction.

When Sekke saw even Acier glance over past Minerva McGonagall for a brief moment only to stare at him in a disdainful way, he gasped and shivered at the look. Sekke quickly spun to his men and called out, "Time to go! On me!" Sekke jumped back on his broom and flew back into the air, and the subordinates of the Purple Orcas who had come with him sighed but then followed after their "fearless" leader.

Back at the group of women surrounding Touma (and Timmy and Tsuchimikado), Nami pleaded with the hesitant boy who still looked more inclined to listen than the scary woman who had gripped the sword hilt at her side after meeting Juvia's dark expression for a few seconds. Kanzaki looked ready to draw, and Juvia did not seem much farther away. "Please, we need help," Nami begged the boy. "We aren't going to do anything bad like that Lord guy was trying."

"You're really strong too," Timmy added. "I'm sure you could stop us. You destroyed Zarbon's blast like it was nothing," Timmy praised him. He did it to boost the guy's attitude of them and his confidence, though he was not lying either as he said it. "How did you even do that? Are you a very powerful mage too?" Timmy wondered.

Nami's eyes lit up for a second. Do we even need that other witch? If this guy really is as strong as Timmy thinks-

Touma waved his hands around before these people could get any further wrong ideas. "Nuh-uh, I'm no magician. I can't help you."

Mimosa nodded her head while looking past and to Robin who had given Touma a curious look wondering why the boy would deny it and why he was here in Valyria then. Robin could tell from the earnest-looking girl's expression that Touma was not lying to them and that he really was not a mage himself.

"But Index can," a mature woman's voice spoke up behind Touma who spun around in surprise at the sound of it. Mimosa and Sol each jumped at the sound of that voice between them and just far enough back that she was out of their peripherals.

"Merlin," Kanzaki began in surprise. She spun back to Hogwarts then glared behind her at Merlin, "You were meant to stay by Index's side while we checked out-"

"She is fine," Merlin waved off Kanzaki's concern.

"Merlin?" Nami wondered. She gave the beautiful woman in a sexy purple outfit a confused look as to who she was. Nami's eyes lowered from the woman's eyes though and to her neck that was exposed because Merlin's black hair was short and barely fell that long. On the left side of her neck was a red tattoo that Nami recognized as did Robin and Juvia. "You're, one of the Seven Deadly Sins?" Nami asked. "Like Meliodas?"

"And you recognize us," Robin added. She was not with them when we met.

"I was keeping an eye on them at the time. I know who all of you are," Merlin said, holding up a palm to say that they need not introduce themselves. She even flashed a smile at the young boy who tried to read her mind but tensed up when she easily blocked him this time. "I am Merlin, the Boar's Sin of Gluttony."

She's a glutton? Looks like a Goddess, Izumo thought. She even felt a bit jealous of the busty older woman's slender figure that she could maintain while apparently eating a ton.

"You know them, Merlin?" Touma asked curiously to the witch. His shoulders relaxed a bit more as Merlin nodded back at him.

"I believe you can trust them," Merlin informed him. "The other Sins down below in the main city would also vouch for this group. Of course, it is difficult for anyone to vouch for someone suffering like Juvia is. It makes her quite unpredictable, doesn't it?" Merlin looked over and straight into Juvia's eyes that narrowed back darkly at the witch for what she just said.

Touma spun to Merlin again and then back to the angry-looking blunette in front of him who apparently had something wrong with her. While Juvia glared back at Merlin though, Touma also noticed the others in her group all giving Juvia concerned and scared looks. "Hahhh," Touma let out a long sigh and rubbed his forehead in a reluctant but accepting way. "Fine. I'll trust you guys. Maybe Index can help out with, whatever it is you're going through," Touma added. He still got a bead of sweat dripping down the side of his face when Juvia cast him a dark glare this time.

"Come on, Juvia. We're almost there," Nami started, putting a hand on Juvia's arm and then squeezing when Juvia instantly tried to yank it free. "Just let this 'Index' take a look at you, okay? That's all I ask."

Juvia turned and glared back at Nami. The Rain Woman froze though and suddenly darted a look all around away from Nami's pleading gaze. Would they let me run? They can tell I'm thinking about it. Timmy! GET OUT OF MY HEAD!

"I think it would be easier if I just teleported us in there," Merlin admitted. She snapped her fingers, and they all vanished. A few of the others were left outside though, like the Magic Knights who had come to check on Touma, as well as Kanzaki and Tsuchimikado. Tsuchimikado started laughing while Kanzaki fumed at being left outside, and the swordswoman sprinted for the entrance straight through the spot that Glynda Goodwitch had also vanished from.

Mimosa sighed that she was left out, but she turned to Sol and shrugged her shoulders. Sol frowned herself but then nodded in agreement that it was probably better off this way as they would have just gotten dragged into the whole ordeal even further if they had teleported inside.

The group did not teleport all the way to where they needed to go. Inside of Hogwarts on the other side of the grounds as the front gates, there was a tower with a public library inside for the students. In the back of that library was the Inner Sanctum, and they had teleported into that section of the building but not past the final checks. "Merlin helped build these magical defenses, sometimes using Index's spells to create them. Even she can't just teleport straight in to see Index," Touma explained to the others as to why they were stuck outside of a door.

"Would be pretty poor defenses if I could," Merlin stated. She did not seem perturbed by the fact that she could not just go straight in, as it would have been more of an insult to her magic if that had been possible.

"We'll just see what this girl has to say and then leave if there's nothing. Promise, Juvia. Let's hear her out though," Nami continued talking in a soft voice to the furious mage who found herself getting dragged along more and more against her will at this point.

"Are you asking that of me, or demanding it?" Juvia growled back at Nami. She did not even break eye contact as Nami leaned back and let go with an anxious and hurt look on her face. "You selfish pirates are doing this for yourselves. Not for me. Same with you, Timmy. You're all just guilty that you let me die," Juvia spun her head and glared at Robin then Timmy too. The others with them hesitated after hearing what Juvia just said, staring in shock at the girl with blue hair who had apparently passed away.

"Juvia, that's not-" Timmy started.

"You already admitted it," she snapped back at him. "On the speeder. I said I forgave you, but I don't. And you two," Juvia hissed at Nami and Robin while taking a step backwards. She glared over her shoulder though and saw Glynda Goodwitch a few meters behind her, wand in one hand down at her side. Merlin had barely reacted while Glynda had stared in shock only to narrow her glare a second later and draw her weapon.

"Calm down, Juvia. Everyone," Robin started in a firm voice to try and keep things under control.

"Touma, if you would," Merlin motioned at the magical barrier in front of them that was the next line of defense in front of the powerful doors that needed a combination that not many people knew. Touma looked back at Merlin and felt hesitant again about doing this. He reached his right hand out though and shattered the barrier. Merlin explained to anyone who was listening and not solely focused on Juvia's angered outburst, "The barriers are automatically re-applied in short intervals, so Touma destroying one doesn't do anything but allow us free ability to move inside for a few minutes. Follow me," Merlin instructed the group. She typed in a combination on the keypad that she could now reach due to the thin glowing yellow barrier shattering, and the steel doors slowly opened inwards.

"I'm not going to stay calm," Juvia responded while glaring back at Robin. "You're trying to change me back into what I was before. A weaker woman-"

"That's not true! You wanted this," Nami reminded Juvia. "You were afraid-"

"Well I'm not afraid anymore," Juvia cut the woman off. "I'm fine with who I am now. It's you who can't accept it any longer. Let me leave. You have no business keeping me here," Juvia glared at Timmy as she said that, her glare darkening more at the boy who she knew could stop her. He's the only one who can right now. If I can convince him…

"Juvia, what about Gray?" Robin wondered. "Have you forgotten him already?"

Juvia turned her head slowly and glared furiously at Robin. "No. But I was codependent. You want me to go back to that? Living for a man, like a weak little girl?"

"You weren't weak," Robin countered. "You were stronger because you had him. Because you had people you cared about." Juvia opened her mouth and Robin added quicker, "Ignore us. Myself, Nami, Timmy, pretend like we weren't here. But what about your nakama? What about Natsu and Erza? Your other comrades of Fairy Tail? Do you actually not care about any of them right now? Do you really think that that makes you stronger?"

Juvia tensed up. Robin stepped closer to the younger woman who everyone else stared at anxiously. They all also shot Robin hopeful glances as well since the older woman managed to silence Juvia. "I've heard the stories you and your friends told all about the fights you had on your own world. And here on this one. You know the power in having those friends. Juvia, you told us what it meant to you to become a part of Fairy Tail. You were stronger because of your nakama. Do you now think those connections made you weak? If you think back, can you really justify that opinion to yourself?"

"Or is it this curse?" Robin finished in a firm voice. She stated it in question form but did not raise her tone at the end like she was asking a question. She just stated at the girl, "Is it this affliction making you think that you don't need anyone? That having friends, having Gray, was a weakness that you've gotten rid of? I can tell you from experience, Juvia. Having no one doesn't make you strong." Robin stepped closer to the girl again and stared straight into Juvia's eyes. Steam started coming off of Juvia's fists, but Robin did not flinch or back off at all. "We don't want to force you to stay here. We don't want to force you to find help. Just a few days ago you were desperate for it though. It's accelerated so fast, that you have to realize it yourself. How badly it is messing with your mind."

"Please, Juvia," Nami begged. She stepped closer herself and whispered, "Let us help you. You do need help. We're not just saying that for our sakes. So that we don't feel guilty anymore. We're saying it for your sake. You're our friend, and we can't leave you like this. Thinking that nothing else is important? Is that how you really want to live?"

Don't I? Why am I fighting them? Why not? I don't need to change. Or is it, that I don't care if they're hurt by my deciding to leave? When did I start doing this for the sake of others? It must have always been the reason. If I stay, doesn't that mean I'm still doing it for them then? But if I don't care, shouldn't I leave?

Are they even really giving me a choice? They want me to choose to stay and get "help." Juvia would. Am I accepting that we're different people now? Gray… Do I care nothing for him? That's not true! Juvia's eyelids flickered for a moment as she stared back into Robin's eyes. What? So I do? Thinking about him, Juvia gulped and pursed her lips. I still care. I thought there was nothing I cared about. I feel it though. Something. It's weak, but it's still there. "Fine," Juvia said in a curt, quick voice. "Let's get this over with. I'm sure she'll just disappoint like Cartman did."

"The Wizard King?" Merlin wondered over her shoulder back at the group. "He could not assist you?"

"Too much magic for him, apparently," Nami said in an annoyed voice, moving swiftly up behind Merlin herself. We need to go fast. Please. Please let this work!

If this doesn't work, we're out of luck. Juvia will be done searching with us and might even get in our way from this point forward, Robin admitted to herself. We might have to restrain her. For her own good…

Gray. Just keep thinking about Gray. If he's the only thing tethering you to Juvia- to yourself! You're about to lose yourself, and you know it. Don't let it happen so easily. Robin's right. It won't make me any stronger. Juvia was weaker in Phantom Lord. She was weaker when she had no one. Having Gray by her… by my side, made me stronger than ever. Am I doing this for strength then? Or, is it just, that there's no good reason not to try and fix this? "Fix?" Am I accepting their version of things again? That I am broken?

Juvia looked as conflicted as ever as she stepped into a massive empty room. The library they entered had six floors with ladders around the different bookshelves, long aisles between the shelves that had no one standing in them, and a glass ceiling high above that light shone down from. The outside of the tower did not show a glass roof like that though, though that was not the craziest part. The fact that this library in the back of the small Inner Sanctum of the school was five times as wide as the Tower itself that the greater library was inside of was messing with their minds as the group looked around in the giant space they had entered.

"Magic," Izumo mumbled in a gross voice. Her cheeks puffed out for a second but she swallowed back. "I'm gonna be sick," she said in a raspy voice. I thought the Black Market was disorienting! Izumo rose her hands to her eyes and rubbed them.

"So where is she? Where's this amazing witch that's going to help Juvia?" Nami asked the spiky-haired boy who led them in here.

"Touuuu-maaa! Ha!" A high-pitched voice of a young girl held out Touma's name and then yelled out as she leapt from the second story above down at the teenager.

"Index?! Wai- ah!" Touma got knocked onto his back and his head snapped backwards as the child headbutted him in the face.

Please don't tell me. Nami facepalmed and then cast an anxious look back at Juvia who just glared straight into Nami's eyes with a deadpan expression on her face.

"This is the most amazing wizard that they sent us across the continent for?" Juvia asked in a flat voice. She was surprised but just sounded unamused and like she was accepting that the lead could always have been a dead end, and she was not that disappointed to find out that it was.

"Index Librorum Prohibitorum," Merlin announced. "Her full name."

Index bit down on Touma's forehead and made the boy below her who was disoriented from the headbutt wince. He shook his head around and then reached up and pried the nun in a white cloak off of his face. "Index! What are you doing?!" Touma froze when his right hand touched her, and he let go of Index as fast as he could. He was too slow though. The white nun outfit that she had on which was entirely made of magic, shattered in a flash of white light and left the girl naked as Touma dropped her.

Merlin waved her hand, and the shattered light shards reversed back to their original state wrapped around Index to redress her. Touma and Index both blinked a few times in surprise at how quick that happened, though Index's face turned bright red a second later and she charged at Touma, reaching her arms over her head and pounding her fists into his chest. The white-haired girl was so short that she could only reach about halfway up his chest with her punches, yelling, "Idiot Touma! Stupid Touma!" the whole time.

"Are you certain that this is who we were looking for?" Robin wondered, looking back at Glynda as she asked the question.

Glynda paused for a second and then sighed herself as it did seem unbelievable after witnessing their antics. She rubbed her forehead but then nodded for the group in front of her to see, surprising them and making them all look back at the short girl who finally turned from Touma and stared at them all in interest. "Who are you people-" Index stopped her question. She froze while staring at Juvia and tilted her head back with her eyes growing huge. "Whoa!" Index grabbed Touma by the sides and moved herself behind him, only partially sticking her head out from behind Touma's back to stare at Juvia cautiously.

"Index?" Touma questioned in surprise at the girl's reaction. He shot a look to Juvia again then back at the girl cowering behind his back. "Are you okay? What is it?"

"You recognize her affliction?" Merlin wondered to the young girl who she held such interest in.

"Do you?!" Nami exclaimed excitedly, looking to Juvia after with a hopeful look that the mage did not share with her.

Juvia just remained skeptical though even more cautious now after seeing the way this girl looked at her. What is it? Is there actually something really wrong with me? Why else would this supposed amazing magician be looking at me like that? I doubt she's even what they make her out to be. I mean, just look at her. She's a child.

"Yes, I mean," Index cut back but the paused again and looked Juvia up and down nervously. "Are you alright?" Index asked, sounding worried for the older girl but also cautious of her at the same time.

That sounds exactly like how she should be feeling, Robin felt hope grow inside her at the sound of Index's tone. "She is not," Robin informed before Juvia could respond herself. "She was brought back to life by something called, the Lazarus Pit. She-"

"Has she already started killing?" Index asked in a nervous voice.

Everyone froze. Nami tried to regain her last expression quickly. Juvia's eyes had narrowed already though. Glynda's fist tightened around her wand even more as she started to realize exactly what the nature of this affliction was. I already had my suspicions, Glynda thought, though she was actually ready now to make a move.

"Fire Nation soldiers," Juvia started. "I didn't have to kill them… but I couldn't stop myself. Something, inside me," Juvia paused again. Her explanation was slow and she kept watching the young girl's expression as she spoke, though she was also keeping part of her attention on Goodwitch as well. Izumo gulped herself as she listened to Juvia's explanation, even taking a step away from the blue-haired woman as there was no tone of regret in Juvia's voice for what she did. Izumo only heard a hesitation to recount her actions because of concern on how they might react to it.

"That's why we're here," Nami continued quickly to finish for her friend who glared in Nami's direction for speaking for her.

"Can you help her?" Robin asked. Moment of truth. "Please," Robin added. "We beg you, to help her."

"You're our only hope," Timmy added. He looked at the white-haired girl who looked no older than him, maybe even younger. Her mind is so full of knowledge. I've never been in anyone's head that ever felt like that. She really can help us! I'm sure of it. "Please," Timmy added. "Help her."

Juvia glared over at Timmy. Then back at Robin and at Nami too. Izumo pursed her lips but then looked back to Index herself in agreement with the others. Glynda kept gripping her wand tightly as she watched the blue-haired woman, but she noticed that Juvia was not keeping an eye on her anymore. And the angry expression Juvia kept glaring around at her friends with had changed its appearance as well. Her eyes were wider as she saw the desperation of her friends to get her help. Those eyes stayed wide as she looked back at the white-haired girl who finally stepped back out from behind Touma, and then in front of him despite the teenage boy looking like he was willing to stay between her and the potential threat.

Index stepped closer to Juvia and looked into the shaking eyes of the woman who was clearly touched by her friends. It was not just Gray that kept Juvia holding on, and Index saw the emotion on Juvia's face that told her where in the progression of Juvia's ailment she currently was. "It's not too late," Index started. "I can try. I can, try to help you," Index offered and then smiled at the woman. She still felt afraid of Juvia as she could see a dark aura around her that no one else there could. But Index thought of the boy behind her as well. Touma won't let anyone hurt me! I can do this!

"Thank you," Timmy rose his head back up and looked so gratefully back at the girl. "Thank you so much."

---

"You're not sticking with us any longer?" Izumo wondered to the older blonde woman who just stated aloud that she was heading out.

Glynda glanced back to the teenage girl then around at the others in this new arrival group. Only the blunette girl was in a different area of the Inner Sanctum's secret library, sitting across a wooden table from Index and looking curiously into the glowing white eyes of the child who had not moved in several minutes. Touma stood on one side of Index, leaning back against the table and yawning as this was taking quite a while. On her other side was Kanzaki who had finally caught up with the others. Tsuchimikado was not here with them, having left the island already.

Izumo asked it of the professor, but Nami, Robin, and Timmy were all looking at her as well. Glynda turned to them and said, "I must get to class. I was heading here anyway, but I cannot be late. It would set the wrong example for my students if their teacher cannot be on time." She had scolded her kids enough for it that it would feel quite hypocritical not to show up when she expected them to.

"Oh, okay. Um… what should we do? In the meantime?" Nami wondered. Timmy looked up at her with a similar look to his pirate friend's that seemed uncertain about their status here.

Glynda humphed and just turned away from them. "That is not my concern. I was to show you the way. Not be your babysitter while you are here. Just, do not make another commotion," she finished and glared back towards Timmy and Izumo specifically. The two of them nodded quickly at the MTF member who did not sound like she wanted to have to see them again.

Glynda Goodwitch headed out of their library. She received a wave from the other woman in there up on the third level which she caught out the corner of her eyes. Glynda ignored Merlin though who she felt even more suspicious of than the new group. The Sins are much too powerful, the professor thought. That woman could make all of Hogwarts vanish in an instant.

Merlin floated down to the first level and chuckled to herself while watching Glynda struggle to make her way out of the door system that kept the Library protected. Merlin was not going to assist this time, and instead she turned to the more interesting group whose members she focused on one at a time. "Hi there, Merlin? Right?" Nami greeted this woman again. "How uh, how long have you been practicing magic for?" Nami wondered. "Longer than Index, I imagine?"

Nami glanced back over towards the short girl who apparently knew more spells than anyone in the world. She did not really understand their explanation, but Index appeared to be searching her mind for some kind of magic to help Juvia, so Nami decided against questioning a good thing. She just hoped it would work. In the off chance it did not succeed though, she was already looking for backup plans. "All of you Seven Deadly Sins are really powerful, aren't you? Do you think that you might-"

"Perhaps," Merlin replied to the long-winded question Nami was getting around to. "But I will not be needed. The Library has more than enough knowledge to assist your friend with her… affliction." Merlin gazed over towards Juvia and smirked for a moment interestedly. Then she refaced Nami and added, "Even if I have been practicing magic for thousands of years longer than her."

Nami nodded her head with a blank expression. Did she just say… "I'm not a kid." Nami sweatdropped as she remembered a comment Meliodas made after she called him a kid on their first meeting. She also remembered a comment Elaine made as well, "I am hundreds of years old. Much older than a human could dream to live to." Didn't they call Ban an "immortal" too? What is with these guys? Do they all live forever?!

"Merlin-san," Robin began to the woman who was apparently much older than them. She did not get as taken aback as the others, as she was already half-expecting this person to be as old as Meliodas or Elaine. "Could you explain to us how this school system works? Are the magicians here being trained for combat? Warriors for the Magic Kingdom, or for the Androids? Or because of this nation's relative freedom, do many of the graduates head for Resistance lands after their training?"

Robin sounded genuinely curious and not like she was just making idle conversation. A bead of sweat dripped down Izumo's face as she glanced sideways at the older woman. Is she scouting out enemy positions right now? Izumo could not read Robin's expression in the least. She was reminded that the kind woman who had bought her her current outfit back at Vanessa's shop was also a pirate and a very intimidating one at that. No wonder her Nobody turned out to be so terrifying. Bronxi's a version of Robin who uses that brain of hers for evil. That's just great.

Merlin hummed then responded to the question asked of her in a respectful way that she appreciated. "It is doubtful any would join Android 17. He has few 'forces' of his own to speak of. In fact, he primarily just ignores the presence of the Magic 'Kingdom' inside his territory as long as they simply accept his rule over the area. He has a very hands-off approach towards his lands, so long as you don't mess with the environment."

"The 'environment?'" Timmy wondered.

"He is quite the conservationist," Merlin replied, only making Timmy sweatdrop in further confusion. "I'll let you in on a little secret," Merlin went on to the surprised group before her. "Most of us top magicians know that 17 is much less cruel than he's thought to be. More than anything, he just wishes to be left alone and his land not burnt by idiots engaging in warfare with one another." The four in front of Merlin looked at each other in surprise to hear that, then stared back in even more surprise as Merlin added, "He crushed the Resistance in these lands, but he also wiped out 'allied' forces of his who Scorched his landscape."

Merlin chuckled to herself and added while turning away, "Some mages even go out of their way to terraform the region around us. They believe that by making it appear as beautiful as possible and protecting its endangered species, they are appeasing the High Lord of these lands."

"That's…" Nami did not know what to say about that. I thought the High Lords were all these super bad guys. 17 doesn't sound all that bad… other than the "crushing the Resistance" part.

"Hmm," Robin hummed and then nodded gratefully at Merlin's back for the witch's explanation. She had more she wished to ask, but Merlin was headed for the exit of this inner Inner Sanctum. "I have things to do," Merlin stated. She rose a hand at her side and gave a half-wave, but she added, "You should come to the Boar's Head later tonight. You'll find the bar on the east side of the lower city."

"Th-Thank you!" Nami called out, raising her voice as Merlin vanished from in front of their eyes after reaching the doors. "I guess, going out is easier than getting in?" Nami muttered confusedly as to how Merlin just teleported away. "Though it took Glynda a little longer," she finished in a lower voice.

"Are all those Sins people you know like her?" Izumo questioned and rose her eyebrows at the others. Timmy just shrugged his shoulders though when Izumo looked to him.

"I'd like to meet them," Timmy said. He looked up at Nami wondering if they could go check out this bar and meet the people who the rest of his friends had apparently made the acquaintance of while he was gone.

Nami hummed back then turned her head to check on Index and Juvia. She spun the rest of the way and jogged over as Index's eyes were losing their white glow to return back to normal. The girl started panting which made Touma bend down next to her and ask if she was alright. "That took you a while. Are you okay, Index?" Touma wondered.

"Yes," Index replied softly. She lifted her head back up and met Juvia's gaze. Then, a small smile spread over the nun's face. "I think I can help you. There's no exact spell that is made for the Lazarus Pit. None that I know of, at least. But I have found compatible spells to mix together to attempt a cure. There are many hundreds of combinations to test, and I'm sure one will work! I just know it."

"You really think so?" Nami asked rapidly, leaning over the table after jogging up on Juvia's side. "You hear that?" Nami asked in an overly-excited voice to her friend who she wanted to share in that optimism. Juvia frowned deeper at Nami's attempt which got the orange-haired woman to lean back away from her and stop with that attitude.

Juvia pursed her lips though at her friends' hopeful expressions. "I hear it," she finally responded to Nami. "An untested, uncertain cure. One she hasn't even come up with yet. Hurrah." Juvia's tone was flat and sarcastic.

Kanzaki's eyes narrowed. "She does not have to help you," she scolded the ungrateful mage.

"But we are grateful that she is offering," Robin cut in before anyone could say anything more confrontational to one another. "Index. Do you really believe it will work?" Robin asked the young girl.

Index turned to Touma first and met his eyes. Then she looked back and nodded once firmly with as intense a look as the young girl could muster. The others who thought this short teenage girl was younger than Timmy got a glimpse of her real age for a second in that serious look she gave them. "I'll do what I can."

---

Hogwarts, one of the most prestigious schools in the Magic Kingdom, was also not a for-profit institution unlike many others. The Magic Kingdom used the same currency as the rest of Aebrith both inside and outside of the Cooperative. "Dollars" were needed as payment for food and rent, and people worked for one another in order to sustain their lifestyles. Nearly two and a half years had passed on Nexus, more than enough time for society to rise up and become strong and sustainable. After all, the nations that were fastest to adjust and grow strong were the ones that had survived the tumultuous years and their many wars.

Despite the necessity for payment in order to keep their new society running, Hogwarts managed to function as a pinnacle of education for magicians despite its non-profit status. The Magic Kingdom did not fully fund the institution either, (as arguments were made by politicians that graduates should be pushed into military service if public funding was used to completely run it), however there were many wealthy benefactors who assisted through donations to keep Hogwarts up and running. Some government funding was also taking place, but hardly enough to make Hogwarts as prestigious as other private magical boarding schools.

Hogwarts had a different kind of selection process when choosing which students to accept. It had high acceptance rates, and therefore large classrooms and lecture halls all over the island of Hogwarts. The island itself was not large enough to house its whole student body, and some lectures were even held in off-campus auditoriums down in Valyria below. This actually helped the students who lived off-campus in the many apartment buildings and dorm houses that had been built in the Magic Kingdom's capital.

Nami, Timmy, and Izumo watched as a flying bus landed at the edge of the island not too far from them. They watched as a group of middle-school aged kids got off the bus all wearing their school uniforms, though with different colored scarves and ties to show which of the "Houses" they were in. The bus unloaded the kids and then loaded up passengers who had just finished classes up here on the main island of the school but had to get back to their dorms down below. The group of three who were interested for a moment in the flying bus got back focused on their own exit from the island.

"Let's go," Nami said. She was leading the way as the oldest of the group. She was also the only one who had previously met the people they were heading off to meet. "They're an eccentric bunch, but it'll be good for you to know them, Timmy. They helped us out a lot at the Dread Fort." Nami looked over Timmy's head and added, "I'll introduce you as well, Izumo."

Izumo nodded back gratefully. I have no reason to stick around at this school. Robin's enough to watch Juvia for now while Index and her have their first "session." Izumo frowned after that thought. Timmy was about to lift them off to fly away, but Izumo asked first, "What do we do if it turns out that Index is going to need a long time to help Juvia?"

Izumo questioned the pair next to her, then a bead of sweat formed on the side of her face as Nami just frowned for a moment then looked away when Timmy met her gaze. She did not have a quick response for Izumo though and could not hide that from the boy who also looked to her as if she knew what to do. Once Timmy saw Nami's hesitation, his eyes lowered to the floor himself and a more thoughtful look spread over his face. What next? Timmy wondered.

"We'll talk about that later. Maybe Index will figure it out by the time we get back," Nami replied. She shook her head as there was no point in talking about it when that was a possibility, and Izumo nodded back at the older woman. Timmy took another second but then nodded as well. Then he floated off the floor and lifted the women at his sides telekinetically as well to fly them away with him.

Up on the second floor of the main castle's front-facing side, Harry watched the trio fly away before turning back to the other magicians with him. "I don't think they look like much of a danger," Harry admitted. "The Magic King wouldn't have let them just wander around here if they were a threat."

"Unless Vangeance allows their presence for the same reason he allowed that Zarbon to approach us," Godric responded in a less certain and more suspicious tone. The bulkier wizard than Potter similarly wore a red scarf but also had a sword strapped diagonally over his back. He wore a black robe like most other professors, and he had red highlights to his as did Harry Potter who hummed at that suggestion. Godric Gryffindor, the founder of the Gryffindor house and one of the founders of Hogwarts itself, scratched his long black beard and then turned to the thin man on his left who spoke up next.

"Surely if that were the case, the MTF would be keeping a closer watch on them as they were with Lord Zarbon," Snape countered Godric's concern. The older and more ancient wizard in a pointy hat hummed back at Severus' response. "But Magic Knights do not surround them and keep them under close supervision. Rather they are treated as… non-threats." Snape finished in a tone suggesting there was no need to continue the discussion any further.

Another professor who agreed with that nodded his head quickly. "Very good then. Excuse me, gentlemen. I have Introduction to Magical Beasts to get to," Newt Scamander nodded his head in a respectful way to the others and then spun around. He planned to head off his students he just saw get off their schoolbus who might reach the classroom first if he did not hurry. "Come, Mr. Longbottom."

Newt's TA rushed off after Newt who sped-walked around the bend. Neville looked back and gave a wave to his old friend Harry who waved back before turning and glancing out the windows once more. I feel like I've seen them recently, but I do not know where, Harry thought. He tried to put his finger on it but could not. Harry had only briefly spotted them though on a recent trip through the Black Market's bazaar, so it was not surprising that he could not recall them in passing.

The last professor who had gathered at the windows to watch the departure of "that" group saw Harry Potter's discerning gaze and suspected that Potter recognized them as well. Lahar thought it was because of a different reason though. The professor who also wore glasses like Potter had long black hair tied into a ponytail, and his robe had white highlights to it reminiscent of his old uniform for the Magic Council of Fiore. In that position he was used to investigating dark guilds, and in this new world he had a tendency to keep up with his old ways. Wanted criminals in the Cooperative. They were present in Pyraxas for Sozin's fall. No Natsu Dragneel, however. That insane Salamander of Fairy Tail has created enough chaos on our world and this one for several lifetimes.

Lahar turned back and looked the opposite way through the castle in the direction of the library on the other side of it. Perhaps Juvia Lockser can give me more information on his whereabouts. Hopefully on the whereabouts of Master Makarov as well.

Across the main campus of Hogwarts, so on the other side of the island where Lahar was staring towards, Nico Robin strolled down an aisle of the large public library that she was very impressed by. All of these books were written from memory in the past two years. Some are new themselves, but most are just rewritten from their original worlds. So much information. So many different worlds' histories. A smile covered Robin's expression that she did not bother to hide.

She had offered to stay behind to look after Juvia while her friends left for the Boar's Head. Index had asked for space for the "treatment" that Robin put her faith in, so she just left to read in the meantime. She did stay close enough to the Inner Sanctum to make sure that Juvia would not try sneaking out and leaving though.

Robin left the aisle and glanced over towards the opening to the Inner Sanctum again, but she saw no sign of Juvia and doubted she would. Juvia isn't fully off the deep end like I feared. She has kept some semblance of who she was, and she's willing to get back to that person. If it does take a day or more, I am concerned about the speed of her deterioration. Whatever books I find, I should read them while in full view of the exit to the Library's quarters.

Robin already had two books tucked under her left armpit. She examined the binding of another interesting text at the start of a new aisle, but there were a pair of men in this aisle who would have made it difficult for her to walk past if she walked down it. They were muscular men, but they also wore suits of silver armor that bulked them up even more. The pink and blond-haired Holy Knights examined the ancient tomes that caught Robin's eye and that she reminded herself to come check out later.

"How about this one?" Howzer wondered. He removed the book from the shelf and opened it up, scrolling through the pages quickly but carefully because of how fragile the pages felt. "Oops," Howzer paused and darted his eyes around to see if anyone noticed that he bent a corner of the page too quickly and it tore.

"Careful!" Gilthunder whispered to his side after noticing what Howzer just did. "You do not want the librarian to catch you doing that." Both Gil and Howzer shivered and glanced around but did not see the intimidating librarian anywhere around them. Gil glanced back at the text he was browsing through himself but sighed and returned it to the shelf. "To the next one," he muttered tiredly, before shaking his head and refocusing his expression. He pulled the next book and got to looking through it as seriously as the last one. "Keep it up, Howzer. We must find something."

"I know I know," Howzer replied. He put back his book and glanced once more anxiously for the librarian who they were lucky did not catch him there. That spirit freaks me out, Howzer thought and shivered as he pictured the razor sharp beak of the librarian.

Robin continued to walk down the main aisle between two rows of shelves that had narrower paths between them. She was nearing an open area with study tables and booths where some students were sitting in groups or on their own. Before she could reach that area though, a man came out of the first aisle after the clearing and turned her way. He also had two books under his armpit, and he stepped out too quickly and in a rush that he did not notice the woman he nearly ran right into.

Robin sidestepped, but the man in a golden suit of armor with long silver hair still spun out of the way in an attempt to dodge and tripped over his own metal boots. He had a long cyan cape that his hands got tangled up in when he threw them to the sides to catch himself, and he wound up face-faulting on the library floor with a loud clatter.

His books fell from his hold too and sprawled in different directions. One of them slid into Robin's right foot, so she bent down and picked up the book for the man. "Apologies," she began while looking down at the title. The Necronomicon? Robin thought the strange dark design of the book looked more intimidating than something this clumsy man would pick out. She lifted her amused gaze from the book cover to the man before her whose cape flipped over his head when he fell so that it covered his face.

The armored man sat up and flipped his cape back over his head. "No no, I'm sorry for that. I was too excited and didn't watch, where I was…" Zaratras stopped speaking at the sight of the woman before him. She was beautiful, but that was not what made his words catch in his throat. "Whoa now," he held up his hands defensively at the look she was giving him.

Robin dropped the book she was handing back and quickly stepped away from the man. "I know you," Robin whispered. She saw the grays and blacks of his eyes. Robin had not been there to see Riku release him and Blackbeard, but she did hear Usopp angrily ranting about it when they all met back up after being separated by the Spriggans. "Zaratras," Robin said, examining his expression closely as she did.

Zaratras nodded in response and got back to his feet himself. He lowered his hands that he had held up defensively, and he glanced around before reaching down to pick back up both books he had dropped. Necronomicon. Necromancy. Is he trying to find a way to revive himself fully? Robin's thoughts raced as she watched this being who she knew to be extremely powerful, and who she was very wary of. "Tell me, are the orders Orochimaru gave you still affecting your judgement?"

Robin asked the question cautiously, though she was already starting to relax a bit as she continued to examine this man. "Hahaha! Oh I see now," Zaratras laughed heartily. He then spun and 'eeped' apologetically as some children shushed him from the study area. He put two fingers in front of his mouth and pretended to zip it shut, then he looked back at Robin and motioned the other direction away from those students. Robin hesitated for a moment but then nodded back and turned to walk with this Reanimated figure. "I can assure you," Zaratras whispered. "Orochimaru's orders are no longer controlling me. I am simply a dead man walking the surface. It must be strange, but it is honestly not even my first time! HA- ah, haha," he caught himself this time before laughing too loudly, and he whisper-laughed at the end.

"Great Holy Knight Zaratras?" Howzer wondered softly out of the aisle at their leader walking by who waved a hand at Howzer to just focus on his search. Gil glanced out at his father and nodded himself, and Howzer shrugged his shoulders but got back to it as well.

Robin nodded at Zaratras after a few more seconds. She accepted that what he said was likely the truth, as it certainly sounded like he was in control of himself and not under any evil ninja's spell. "The Reanimation has not been cut off yet though?" Robin wondered. "Are you trying to make it last longer?" She suggested with a nod at the books Zaratras held in his armpit.

Zaratras shook his head though. "Quite the opposite," he explained. Robin lowered the corners of her lips apologetically and nodded in understanding. Zaratras shook his head again and smiled back at her. "Oh no. Not for myself. This Reanimation Jutsu may keep me from truly 'living,' in a sense that many people would have a very hard time with. I am not suffering though," he reassured the woman who looked to pity him for a moment there that he was looking for a way to die.

"Then, why?" Robin questioned. Her eyes started to grow wide when she realized it. Zaratras' expression got harsher as he looked away too. "Blackbeard?" Robin asked.

Zaratras nodded his head. "You are quite intelligent," he commented. The speed at which she was putting things together impressed him. He even brought back up his smile for a moment, though his eyes looked darker than they already did due to the Reanimation. "I understood your concern just as I understood Riku's reluctance to free me. I was also a bit worried when Blackbeard and I both suddenly emerged from the darkness and started fighting the monsters swarming us on orders from another. I had some darkness swirling around me though and came to realize that what I was doing was not due to Orochimaru's commands, but due to the orders of the one who used that darkness. Just as Blackbeard figured out as well."

Zaratras sighed and then scratched the back of his head through his long silver hair. "I came to my senses first thanks to the light in me, however I kept fighting the monsters anyway in order to give those who I believe are your friends… time to flee." Zaratras paused while hinting at it, and Robin nodded her head back to show that Zaratras was correct in assuming that.

"Then, when I saw Blackbeard coming around, I tried to stop the pirate. But… well," Zaratras shook his head and moved the books in his left armpit in front of himself for a second. Robin nodded slowly in some understanding of what he was getting at. Zaratras explained anyway, "Both of us just regenerated constantly from our injuries. The fight lasted half a day before Blackbeard got bored and flew away from me in a flash of yellow light. Too fast for me to keep up with," Zaratras confessed regretfully.

"I am worried about that man," Zaratras finished. He turned to face Robin who faced him as well. Zaratras spoke in a low voice as he warned her, "Teach has the potential to be one of the strongest monsters on this continent due to his immortality and possession of three Logia Devil Fruits."

Robin tried not to let her expression show any fear. Yet somehow she knew in that moment that she had already known what Zaratras just said to be a truth. I've been pushing it out of mind. The enemies on Aebrith have been more powerful and control far more than the Underworld ever did on Awul. Blackbeard is a bigger threat now than he ever was on Awul though. An immortal threat with his own dark powers, Kizaru's light, and Akainu's magma. Robin was unnerved by the idea of it, and despite her efforts, Zaratras noticed her anxiety.

He smiled after seeing that Robin was taking it seriously as a threat. "Do not worry," he began again. "I have been coming up with counters with my son and Howzer over there," Zaratras nodded back towards the aisle they had walked past a minute ago. Robin glanced back herself then to the taller man again who continued, "There are magic spells that can transport Blackbeard to any number of towns with Hell gates that we can lure him into. Tricking and trapping Blackbeard seems like the smartest move at the moment… once we can track him down."

"His last confirmed sighting was in the now-decimated city of Sodom. Lord Lord, or Lord Maxwell Lord, was killed in his realm between the Land of the Chimeras and Terminus-controlled territory. That city was the second sacked, following Lord Jose Porla's death not too long before in a region of what was the Fire Nation." Zaratras shook his head after recounting it. "I believe he is recruiting while rampaging without any care for the politics of the Cooperative or Aebrith as a whole. Something very few on this continent can manage and get away with."

Robin relaxed a bit after the last line Zaratras mentioned. But my friends and I are among those few. "Thank you for the information, Great Holy Knight. I am glad that you are looking to stop Blackbeard. I wish you good fortune in that quest."

Zaratras rose his eyebrows up at Robin's reply. He paused for a second and then nodded back at the woman who sounded like she would not be taking part. Zaratras did add though, "I suspect you are not traveling with Riku at this moment. When you next see him, I would ask that you inform him of what I am doing, and of what Blackbeard has been up to. Should I fail in my attempt to stop Teach on my own, I do believe Riku has the power to return Blackbeard to the darkness and trap him once more."

"I will let him know. Though I am sure he is already looking to recapture Blackbeard himself," Robin added. "He was, sorry for keeping you in there for so long," Robin mentioned as well. Nami is convinced that he truly believed he had no choice. I am not as certain, though I also do not have the crush that Nami has on him. Still, he is my comrade. "It was a difficult situation for him to be in."

"I do not blame him," Zaratras replied. "In his position, I do not know if even I would have released myself and risked Orochimaru's orders being carried out by an immortal and powerful force. I hope you tell him that."

"I will. Thank you," Robin bowed her head to the dead Holy Knight who did the same in reply.

Back out in the city of Valyria, Timmy flew with Nami and Izumo over a financial sector twice as large as the one in Metropolis. The suburbs stretched farther in all directions. Apartment and office buildings rose into the sky miles to the east where they were heading, but also to the south, and north, and behind them too. It was all so much more spread out than Metropolis was, but without the tall walls blocking different sections of the city like Nami remembered from Pyraxas.

"This city is amazing," Timmy said what all three of them were already thinking. "The Magic Knights and MTF must keep enough control here not to worry about walls or barriers. I noticed the surrounding area doesn't have many monsters at all, but it's more than that. It's just-"

"Safe," Izumo finished for him. She found the word Timmy was looking for, and he nodded as that was exactly what it felt like. "Yeah," Izumo admitted softly. It does feel safe. Should I… stay here? I could. Maybe I know someone in this city. Maybe, I could go back to a school here rather than live as a warrior… An Amazon. Izumo looked away deep in thought, matching a look Timmy regained on his face too.

"Nowhere is completely safe on this world- whoa," Nami started to counter the two of them, but she spun and stared in awe at what just caught her eye.

"No way," Timmy added, snapping back out of it again. "It's a whale!"

"A flying whale," Izumo corrected.

A man with long brown hair who wore a purple tunic stood on top of the giant flying whale Cetacea. Erdrick had a sword hilt sticking out over his right shoulder. He turned his head and stared at the flying trio who paused because Timmy was amazed by the sight of the huge white whale flying towards them. The whale turned though at Erdrick's command and then flew up above them instead towards a small island with a couple of houses on it.

"Let's stop staring," Izumo suggested, as that man had apparently just been pulling in to his own driveway.

"Oh! Yeah," Timmy agreed, and he kept flying them off into the east.

Erdrick hopped off of Cetacea's back and nodded to the whale that called back in song before flying up into the clouds and vanishing from sight for now. It was his ride but also a beast that he protected, and Erdrick knew that it would not go far while he was home. He and his wife were not the only ones who protected it, as her sister was also a big part in keeping Cetacea safe in those early days. Erdrick glanced towards the house next door to his and saw a broomstick resting up against the wall outside the front door just like at his own that showed his sister-in-law had finally returned from her shift as well.

He walked inside his house and closed the door quietly so as not to wake anyone up. It was mid-afternoon, but after the long night that Serena had, she had fallen asleep not long after returning home. Erdrick opened his bedroom door and glanced in to check but smiled to see Serena sleeping peacefully. Then he closed the door and walked to the next room. As he walked towards it he passed a shelf that they had up against the wall with some picture frames on top of it. Erdrick's smile lowered as he saw Gemma's face there smiling back at him, but he shook out the thought of his childhood friend who he had lost earlier on Nexus. Then he looked past the picture of the older man in a red cap who stood proudly next to Erdrick in his suit and Serena in her white dress with Veronica in a red bridesmaid dress on Serena's other side. Rab looked so happy in that wedding picture, and Erdrick only felt sad for a moment as he looked at his grandfather's face.

Rabert, he thought. Erdrick turned from the pictures and stepped to the door one down from his and his wife's bedroom. He walked inside and straight over to the crib where a napping child seemed to know his father was home and was already rousing. The former hero and current stay-at-home dad wanted to let Serena get her rest due to how much work he knew the Blue Rose Knights had last night. Erdrick put down the bags he had carried off Cetacea and inside, and he picked up his son, baby Rab, instead. The line at Fortune Teller Baba's was almost too long. I'm glad I made it back from her shop before you could start crying and wake your mother.

The "shop" Erdrick had just visited sat on a tiny island actually on ground level which was an anomaly compared to most islands in Valyria. Two rivers did cut through the city though that had been built at this location particularly because of the river valley. On a wider section of the eastern river, an island that rose out of the surface had been claimed by a short old woman who floated around on her crystal ball.

Fortune Teller Baba looked up past the brim of her black witch's hat and lifted her gaze to the sky. She watched an interesting group of three who flew right over the river and only gave a quick glance down at the item shop on Baba's island. The general store still had a fortune-telling section to it, but Baba had needed a much more profitable enterprise to be able to keep affording such a valuable piece of property in the middle of Valyria.

That group of three flying over Baba's island continued off towards a hill in the each that Nami pointed them towards. They continued their conversation after Nami interrupted to point out the Boar's Hat bar. "You're from a little village?" Izumo asked about Nami's hometown. "Have you even seen any big cities like this before coming to Nexus?"

"Hah, of course I have. Who do you think I am? As pirates we were a world travelers. Alubarna, Water 7, I've been to some big cities. Just nothing like this! Metropolis and Pyraxas come close though." Nami paused for a second then asked, "Were cities on your world even larger?"

"Oh yeah," Izumo replied. "I went to school in Tokyo which had more people in it than any other city on my world-"

"My world too!" Timmy exclaimed excitedly back at the girl who rose her eyebrows in surprise at him. "I mean, Dimmsdale was a pretty big city too. This other city nearby was much bigger though. Los Angeles-"

"I had a Los Angeles too-" Izumo jumped in, getting excited for a second before catching Nami giving her a look with her eyebrows raised at Izumo's enthusiastic response. "A-hem, uh, yeah. L.A. was pretty big for my world. And those cities stretched a lot farther out too," she added.

Timmy hummed and admitted, "Those metropolitan areas that our cities had don't really work here in Nexus. It's just not safe enough too far from the city center. Even here in Valyria where it feels pretty safe, it's clear the buildings are pretty densely packed together. Still, the cities back home were ginormous," he looked back to Nami while finishing, and she just shrugged her shoulders up. Nami did not look that impressed to the other two younger people, though she was hiding her minor annoyance that the other two were connecting over their worlds' shared similarities. Why wasn't there a Los Angeles on the Grand Line? Nami thought.

She sighed but then smiled as she spotted a pair of men standing outside of the Boar's Hat with a white-haired woman there with them. Meliodas waved them 'Hello' while Weiss and Ban just looked the trio over, noticing that Nami was not traveling with the same people as the last time they saw her. Nami also spotted a short man on a floating green pillow who she did not recognize either, or the woman in a bright orange jumpsuit with brown pigtails who walked out of the bar next to him.

Diane and King did not know who any of these people were. The two looked towards Meliodas as their Captain mentioned something about them though. Then they spun back to look at the approaching figures with much wider eyes that only Timmy understood the reason for, as he had super hearing and heard what Meliodas just said about their traveling with Son Goku. Timmy descended their group towards the bar at the top of the hill, but he glanced behind him once before landing. Goku. His name makes such an impression on everyone we meet. Over on Awul everyone knew my name, so I didn't realize how much more famous Goku is than me. Why? Why do they all know who you are, Goku?

---

A/N That question will be answered... this chapter of Nexus! Lol I've mentioned it quite a few times, but we'll get a much better idea of it before the end of Nexus HWR 22 (which still has 3 more parts to go). Index! Touma! Hogwarts! Fortune Teller Baba! XD Lots of new characters introduced this chapter once again. The Magic Kingdom is an interesting place with a ton of characters all over doing their own things. I wonder if anyone predicted that the "Library" was going to be Index? If you've seen the To Aru series, I think I made it pretty obvious! But anyway, it sounds like Index might have a way to help Juvia. We'll see if she can manage, and if Juvia can manage to stick around and not run off. Robin manages to remind Juvia of her humanity to get her to stick around and try "fixing" herself. The speed at which Juvia's condition is worsening is making everyone nervous though. Zaratras appears at the end too with Howzer and Gilthunder, all of them looking for ways to stop Blackbeard who we last saw in the chapter "The Old Boss" I'm pretty sure, where he recruited Shiliew again after killing Lord Porla (Juvia's former Guild leader). Anyway! Lots of new characters. I'll put a list below showing where I got them all from if you want to see what they look like or what show/game/etc. they are from. I am sorry to my readers who will not see this update because of the stupid email opt-in thing, and I hope someday they check back on the story and realize that it has been updated. For those of you who did check though and noticed, thanks! I'll put review responses below just after the list:

Marchen Awakens Romance (MAR): Ginta, Koyuki, Dorothy

To Aru Series: Touma, Misaka, Kuroko, Uiharu, Saten, Index, Kanzaki, Tsuchimikado

DBZ: Goku, Fortune Teller Baba, Android 17, Zarbon

Hunter x Hunter: Meruem

7 Deadly Sins: Gilthunder, Howzer, Zaratras, Meliodas, Merlin, King, Diane, Ban, Boar's Hat, Elaine

One Piece: Nami, Robin, Blackbeard, Shiliew

Supergirl: Maxwell Lord

Fairy Tail: Lahar, Juvia, Natsu, Gray, Erza, Master Makarov, Jose Porla

Fairly Oddparents: Timmy Turner

South Park: Cartman

Harry Potter: Harry, Neville, Newt Scamander, Godric Gryffindor, Professor Sprout, Minerva McGonagall, Severus Snape, Hogwarts

Soul Eater: Liz Thompson, Soul, Maka

RWBY: Weiss, Glynda Goodwitch

Black Clover: Leopold, Mimosa, Sol Marron, Fuegoleon, Mereoleona, Acier, Solid, Nebra, Nozel, Finral, Sekke, Randall

Dragon Quest XI: Erdrick (hero), Serena, Veronica, Rab, Gemma, Cetacea

Game of Thrones: Valyria

Blue Exorcist: Izumo Kamiki

-Alright! I think that's everyone. If I missed any characters, let me know in a review below and I'll tell you where they're from in next chapter's review responses!

Espada-001 chapter 146 . Jan 25

Thanks for another great update! And I'm glad to see that the MAR series managed to make it into your magic arc. I hope we'll get to see some more characters from the series make an appearance. I'm also glad you liked the idea of the training gate. Whenever Goku's in a pinch for time he loved to fall back on the good old time chamber.
Well until next time have a good day and I look forward to reading the next chapter!

You're welcome! XD Hope you enjoyed seeing Ginta and Koyuki about in this chapter. I do really like the idea of the time chamber and having it maybe be a new version of one that Goku finds on this world... but we'll see how he winds up training later on. Thanks for the review!

cyberdog chapter 146 . Jan 24

i love this chapter sauron dying to kryptoians, ant king fought socercer supreme(i know who he is) and where about to see hogwarts, cant wait to see more magical characters.

Glad you loved it! Nexus has been around for a long time so there have been tons of clashes in the past that would take years to write all about... I love to world build in flashbacks, but sometimes just mentioning those epic events is fun too. Hope you enjoyed seeing Hogwarts and all those magical characters, and thanks for reviewing!

Limit-Breaking chapter 146 . Jan 28

Just a heads up the long guest comment is mine, I think I forgot to login when reviewing 146.
I believe i posted it so hopefully it shows lol.

Weird I didn't get a notification for the new chapter. But hopefully it fixes itself next time.
Either way sucks to be either Timmy, juvia, or izumo two are depressed and continue to blame themselves for mostly everything and the other is very angry and wants to kill.
They even got blackmailed just to save nami and robin and sora. Luckily it worked out for them though I thought for sure the magic king could possibly help juvia.
The fact that he knows they are wanted criminals is also alarming, kinda makes me wonder if they will really let them go or report them to higher authority after gaining their trust, so they don't end up in the same situation as the Amazons.
Sadly from the looks of it it seems to not indicate well for juvia, man look saddened when looking at her. Hell makes me wonder how killua doing since if I do recall he was also potentially resurrected or very close to death I can't recall.
If he's dealing with the same thing I wonder how he's handling it.
Either way great stuff alot of fun as usual and hope to see more whenever you get a chance.

You not getting an email was by design apparently. :/ Yeah, that new policy really has me peeved. It kind of sucks that they did this. Hope you notice this new chapter coming out though, and you should go into your account settings after this and find the "Email opt-in" button and make sure you save that for the future! Anyway, things did seem rough for Timmy, Juvia, and Izumo last chapter. This chapter was tense too, but there was some good news near the end as Index shows signs that she might be able to help Juvia. We also saw Lahar watching the group closely, as he also knows about their reputation like the Magic King did. Will the magicians be able to keep quiet, or is someone going to rat them out? We'll see... but no spoilers. Amazonia definitely had some strong fighters, but nothing like what the Magic Kingdom has, so it'd definitely be tougher for a situation like Amazonia to happen to them too. And from what Merlin hinted at, Android 17 is a lot different from the Organization. Also! Nice picking up on Killua, because he was killed by Sozin during that attack in Pyraxas. Kirito used the last of the Lazarus Pit water that he had saved up on the wound on Killua's chest, and it was just enough to get his heart beating again. Was that much water enough to alter Kil's mind? Juvia also spent a lot longer dead than Killua did... but no spoilers! Again XD. Thanks for the review, and happy that you managed to see the update despite the new email system. Hope you enjoyed the new chapter! And thanks as always to everyone who read, reviewed, followed, or faved this story! 'Til next time!