Chapter 41
Anima
"Speech"
'Thoughts'
"Magic"
Flashback / Dreams
Location / Date / Time Skip
"Lisanna! Where did you go!?" A young Natsu shouted as he ran through the foggy forest. "Come on, say something!" He tripped over a root and hit the ground nose first. "Ow." A scream drew his attention behind him and he turned around.
"Lisanna!" Natsu woke up in a cold sweat before falling out of his hammock. Normally, he'd be in Lucy's bed, but Erza forbade it after he and Laki got together. He around and found Happy still asleep before checking out the window, finding it still dark outside. "Damn it, why did they have to come back now?"
Afternoon
Fairy Tail Guildhall
Lucy chuckled as she glanced over to Carla, Rose and Wendy. "You three seem to be settling in fine."
"Yeah, this place is really fun." Wendy nodded.
"I'm just glad that there's a girls dorm." Carla said before returning to her tea.
"Hey, how come you don't live there, Lucy?" Rose asked.
"Because she found a place to live before I could tell her about it." Laki joked as she walked over.
Lucy dropped her head in shame. "I would have moved there, but the rent there is like a hundred thousand jewel a month. My place is way more affordable."
The doors to the guildhall burst open and Max ran in. "Big news!"
A bell started ringing and Laki went wide eyed. "Oh no..."
"I know why they're ringing." Natsu said as he looked out over the town. "Old Gildarts is coming home!"
The guild shouted in joy as only the new members were confused. "Gilarts, who's that?" Lucy asked. "I've never heard of him before."
"He's a pervert." Laki said, making Lucy raise an eyebrow.
"He's the strongest wizard in Fairy Tail." Mirajane said, shocking Lucy.
"Are you serious!?" The blonde asked. "I thought that was Erza!"
"All modesty aside, I can barely keep up with him." Erza confessed.
"This guy must be like the god of breaking stuff." Lucy sighed as the cheers went louder. "It's good he's back, but why is everyone in a frenzy?"
"Look how happy they all are." Wendy observed.
"It looks like fun." Rose said.
"I don't know if that's the word I would use." Carla said back.
"Its because they haven't seen him in a while." Mirajane explained. "This is the first time we'll get to see him in three years."
"That long!?" Lucy asked. "What has he been doing?"
"Well, we have regular jobs, and S-Class jobs." Mira explained. "But above those are jobs called SS-Class Quests. And after those are Decade Quests."
"Decade Quests?" Lucy asked.
"They get their name because it takes a decade to complete them." Erza took over the explanation. "But what Gildarts is doing is even above that. It's called a Century Quest."
"Seriously!?" Lucy shouted. "Who in there right mind would take on a job that lasts a hundred years!?"
"Him." Erza said.
The whole town was in a panic as mobile speakers started shouting about the 'Gildarts Shift'. "They don't seem to happy that he's back." Rose said, looking at the town.
"Uh, what's a Gildarts shift?" Lucy asked.
"Follow me." Laki lead the new blonde out the door as the whole town started shaking. Building started to get off the ground and change positions as a massive path was formed.
"Magnolia just split in two!?" Lucy asked in shock.
"Call it a safety measure." Laki explained. "Gildarts' Crash magic destroyed everything it touches. And since he's a bubbling klutz, it's better to ere on the side of caution."
"He can just walk right through them?" Lucy asked, making Laki nod. "You modify the town just because he can't walk in a straight line!?"
"He sounds amazing!" Wendy said.
"Amazingly stupid." Carla mumbled.
"I think it's cool." Rose said.
The whole guild stared at the entrance in joy until Gildarts reached. "Fight me, Gildarts!" Natsu shouted.
"He just got home and that's the first thing you say!?" Elfman asked.
Gildarts looked around as if he was in a new world before he walked over to Mirajane. "Welcome home."
"This guy is the most powerful wizard in the guild?" Lucy asked.
"Excuse me miss, I'm looking for the Fairy Tail Guildhall." He said, completely unaware of his surroundings.
"That's right here." The model said back. "Remember me? It's Mirajane."
He stared at her for few seconds. "Mira? Wow! You've grown so much! And did someone update the guild hall while I was gone?"
"Did he seriously just notice this?" Lucy asked in disbelief.
"Gildarts!" Natsu shouted, catching the man's attention.
"Natsu! Long time no see!" The large man said back.
Natsu smirked back before launching forward. "I said fight me!" Gildarts caught him, spun him around like a ragdoll before tossing him into the ceiling.
"Maybe next time." Gildarts said back as Lucy stared in shock at how easily Natsu was taken out.
"He's still so awesome." Natsu groaned as he fell on top of Laki. "Sorry, Laki."
"Laki?" Gildarts turned and found Natsu helping her up. "You can't be Laki. She wasn't nearly this hot."
"Touch me, and you'll sink to the bottom of the nearest lake." Laki growled at him.
"Okay." He chuckled back, looking around. "Man, there are a lot of new faces here. This place sure has changed a lot."
"Gildarts." Makarov called out, making the Crash mage turn to the master.
"Oh, master! You're looking okay." He said, walking over to the bar.
"How did the job go?" Makarov asked.
Gildarts stared at him for a few seconds before laughing. "Nope. It was too much for me."
The whole guild stared at him in complete and utter shock. Gildarts failed a job? Lucy stared at him in thought. 'If the strongest mage in Fairy Tail couldn't do it, what does it take to finish...'
"Don't even think about it Lucy." Erza said.
"I wasn't thinking about anything, nope, not one thing!" Lucy shouted back.
"I should have known... even you couldn't do it." Makarov mumbled.
"Sorry for putting a stain on the guild's name." The oranges haired man said.
"No, I'm just glad you made it back in one piece." The master said back. "That's an accomplishment all by itself. As far as I know, you're the only one whos come back alive."
Gildarts smiled back. "Thanks, now I gotta head back home. I need to start feeling alive." He glanced over at Natsu. "Natsu, stop by later. I've got something for ya." The pinkette smiled back as Gildarts walked right through the wall, crumbling it into pieces.
"We have a door, ya know!" Warren shouted.
"I'm all fired up now!" Natsu slammed his own fist into the wall and broke it before marching out. "Let's go, Laki!"
"Me?" That was the only word Laki could get out before Natsu grabbed her wrist and lead out of the hole.
"Hey, are Natsu and Gildarts really close or something?" Lucy asked the blue cat.
"Aye." Happy nodded. "They might be on completely different levels, but they're still pretty good friends." He sprouted his wings and took off after Natsu. "Well, I gotta check on Natsu."
"Hey, wait up!" Rose followed his actions and flew out the door.
Outside Gildarts House
"So, why are you dragging me here?" Laki asked.
"Cause I wanna tell him about us." Natsu answered with a smile. "What do you think he got for me? Maybe it's a fire from another's kingdom or something."
"I doubt he can even start a fire." Laki said. They reached Gildarts house and Natsu kicked the door open. "Hello!"
"Hey, Natsu. I see you brought Laki with ya." Gildarts said before chuckling. "Man, Lisanna is not going to be happy about this. Or are you three in some kinda wierd swinger circle." He laughed harder as Natsu just stared at him.
"... Lisanna died two years ago." Laki spoke up, shocking Gildarts.
"Se-seriously?" He asked back. Natsu nodded and Gildarts grabbed his head in embaresment. "That explains why Mira... I'm sorry, Natsu..."
"Hello, I'm right here!" Laki shouted, feeling like a consolation prize.
"If that's all you wanted to talk about, I'm done." Natsu turned and headed for the door when Gildarts spoke up.
"Natsu... I met a dragon during my job." Natsu turned back around and stared at him. "It's not the one you're looking for. It was solid black."
"Where was it?" Natsu asked.
"At the sacred mountain, Zonia." Gildarts explained. "It's why I failed my mission." Natsu turned back to the door. "So what are you going to do?"
"Obviously, I'm gonna go ask it about Igneel and Drusta." Natsu answered.
"Drusta?" Gildarts asked back. "Who is that?"
"Well, I WAS going to tell you in private-" Laki said before whacking Natsu's head. "But I guess nows as good a time as any."
For the next hour, Laki told Gildarts everything about her dragon. "Seriously, you're one too?" He asked in shock. "Man that's pretty- wait, that's not the point." He turned back to the pinkette, itching to get going. "Natsu, that dragon is probably long gone by now. He's out flying the sky."
"Who cares!" Natsu shouted back, making Gildarts stand up. "I can track him down if I put my nose to it."
"Natsu..." Gildarts undid his cloak and held it open. "Look at me."
"Oh, god..." Laki stared at the bandaids covering Gildarts as well as the fake limbs.
"I didn't even have the chance to fight back." Gildarts explained. "It took my arm, my leg, and then it gutted me like a fish." He closed the cloak back over him. "I don't know what kinda dragon Igneel or Drusta were, but that black one was no friend to anyone. No one can beat him."
"Look! We Dragon Slayers aren't just given that name for nothing!" Natsu shouted back. "He won't stand a chance against me!"
"I won't stoop you if you insist on going after it." Gildarts said.
Natsu growled in anger before running out of the house. "Natsu!" Laki shouted as she ran after him.
"Hold on!" Happy shouted as he and Rose started to go after them.
"Cats." Gildarts called out to them, making them turn to him. "You two better have their backs, alright? No man can beat that hint, but maybe a dragon can.
Fairy Tail Guildhall
Makarov stared out into the setting sun, deep in thought. "There are now four Dragon Slayers in this guild. It's like Porlysica said, fate has started to make its move."
The Next Day
"Wait, what's so special about July seventh, 777?" Lucy asked Wendy.
"That's the day the dragons that raised us all disappeared." She explained as Carla sipped her tea.
"Wait, that's the same day Gajeel's left." Laki said, walking over with Rose.
"Do you know what that means?" Carla asked the other cat.
"Well, I know it's not a coincidence." Rose said back. "And I doubt it was something as stupid as a picnic."
"Igneel, Drusta, Metallicana, Grandeneey, they all left on the same day." Laki mumbled. "Where could they be hiding?"
"Carla!" The two cats looked down as Happy, holding a fish in a bow, ran over from a sleeping Natsu. Laki had caught up to Natsu just before he left town and knocked him out before dragging him back to his house. Every five minutes, he woke up and she did it again.
"I caught this fish, and I want to give it to you." The blue cat said as he hopped up on the table.
"I don't want it." Carla told him. "It smells, and I don't like fish."
"Well, tell me what you like and I'll get it for you." Happy told her.
"Just shut up!" Carla shouted, shocking the whole table. "My time is far to precious to waste on someone so annoying." She jumped off the table, then the bench and walked out of the guild.
"She didn't have to do that." Lucy mumbled as she turned to Happy. "You okay?" She found the cat sulking into his fish.
"Carla, what's wrong with you?" Wendy asked as the cat reached the entrance arc.
"Calm down, I'll handle this." Rose told her as she jumped off the table. "Carla, what's wrong with you?" She asked as she ran after her friend. "You could have let Happy down gently!"
'How I hate that name.' Carla thought. 'Everyone of them is an ignorant fool.'
"Has Carla always been like this?" Lucy asked Wendy.
"No." Wendy shook her head. "Well, only to Rose on some random days."
Outside
"Carla, stop!" Rose shouted as she grabbed onto the white cats tail.
"What do you want?" Carla asked.
"An explanation." Rose said. "What the hell was up with that reaction to Happy? It was just a fish."
"That's not what it's about..." Carla mumbled, turning around. "He can't keep Natsu safe, and you can't keep Laki safe. But..." She clenthced her paw into a tiny fist as clouds covered the sun. "I will protect Wendy. I must..."
"That's what this is about?" Rose asked. "Carla, it's just bad tea. That's all it's been, and that's all they'll ever be."
"You don't know anything." Carla said as she walked away. "Not even a thing about yourself."
"I know who I am!" Rose shouted. "It's you I don't know anything about." Thunder rumbled across the sky as she shook her head. "I thought we were friends, maybe even sisters..."
"Carla!" Rose turned to find Happy running after them.
"Don't, Happy." Rose held her paw up and the blue cat came to a stop. "Carla needs some girl time." She turned and marched after her friend as Happy turned and came face to face with Gajeel, covered in scratches.
Rain started pouring down from the sky as Carla kept marching through Magnolia's streets, with rose behind her. "Carla!" The cats looked up to find Wendy calling out for her. "I've been looking everywhere for you!"
"Wendy, you'll catch a cold out here in this weather." Carla scolded the young girl.
"That's a complete 180 from earlier." Rose said as Wendy knelt down.
"Why are you so mean to everyone?" Wendy asked. "After everything they've done for us, you could at least try to be nicer."
"I don't see why I have to." Carla huffed, crossing he arms.
"Maybe because they let us join." Rose reminded her.
"As long as I have you, I don't need anyone else." The white cat said to Wendy.
"I don't understand you." Wendy complained.
Footsteps drew their attention to the side as Mystogan walked down the street and stopped in front of them. "Hello, Wendy."
"That voice..." Wendy mumbled.
Carla and Rose went wide eyed in recognition. "No way..." The dark green cat mumbled.
"I never imagined you'd join Fairy Tail..." He pulled off his bandana, revealing his face. "But I'm glad you did."
"Jellal!?" Wendy asked in shock.
"How!? We all saw the council drag you away!" Carla shouted.
"That was a different person." Mystogan said, confusing them even more. "I am Mystogan, and I'm a member of Fairy Tail. When we first met seven years ago, I didn't know anything about this world. I told you my name was Jellal."
'This world!?' Carla thought in shock.
"That means..." Wendy mumbled as tears started filling her eyes. "You're my Jellal. I thought you had forgotten about me. I can't believe you're here..." Her tears started pouring down her eyes. "I've wanted to see you again for so long..."
"I'm sorry I couldn't see you earlier." He told her. "But this is no time for a tearful reunion." The three ex Caith Shelter Members looked up, confused. "Leave town as soon as you can." He dropped to a knee in exhaustion.
"Jellal!" Wendy shouted concerned.
"I failed my mission." Mystogan panted. "The Anima is to big... I can't control it anymore. Soon, Magnolia will cease to exist."
The three stared at him in confusion. "Hold it, what do you mean by 'cease to exist'?" Rose asked.
"That can't just happen. There must be something we can do!" Wendy shouted.
"I'm sorry, Wendy... but this city's destruction is unavoidable." Mystogan told her. "You need to leave, now."
"But what about everyone else!?" The young blueneete shouted. "What's gonna happen to them, tell me!"
Fairy Tail
"Man, it is really coming down." Lucy complained.
"Yep." Cana nodded.
"I'm not the one doing this." Juvia defend herself.
"We know you didn't do this." Laki told her.
"Besides, you aren't the annoying one." Gray mumbled as Natsu snored next to him.
"Man, he can really saw a log." Elfman mumbled.
"Who wants to see graffiti on him?" Gray asked, holding a marker.
"I better not see anything dirty." Laki warned.
In Magnolia
"I'm not moving until you tell me!" Wendy shouted.
"Very soon, all of them... will die." Mystogan answered, shocking the three.
Seconds later, Wendy turned and started running towards the guild hall. "What are you doing!?"
"I have to tell everyone!" Wendy shouted back. Rose sprouted her wings and fell after her.
"You can't go there, not now!" Mystogan shouted. "Get out of town, all of you!"
"Screw that!" Rose shouted back, flying next to Wendy. "We're Fairy Tail wizards, and we don't abandon our friends!"
Both ran into the rain storm, leaving Carla and Mystogan behind. "I don't suppose you can convince them to leave?" He asked.
"Honestly... I don't know." The cat answered before running after them.
Fairy Tail
Natsu kept snoring as Gray finished drawing whiskers in his face. "Seriously, that is?" Lucy asked.
"Hey, if you want more, I'll give you more." Gray chuckled as he panda spot on his eyes.
"How can he possibly sleep through that!?" Lucy shouted, waking Natsu up.
"Alright, who want to-" He started before Laki held up a mirror. "Okay, whose dumb enough to draw on my- wait, Gray!"
"Its what you get for that bear snoring you did!" The ice wizard shouted back, sparking a brawl.
"He's so galant, like a knight." Juvia swooned next to Laki.
"Knights don't draw on sleeping people." Laki pointed out.
"How dare you point out the flaws of my beloved!" Juvia shouted. "And you call yourself a rival!?"
"I don't, you do." The Wood Dragon Slayer pointed out. "And in case you've forgotten, I'm with Natsu."
"On the surface..." The rain woman mumbled.
Cana chugged down a few gulps of beer from a barrel before coming for air. "It's nice to spend some time with your boyfriend."
"Just make sure you save some of your boyfriend fro everyone else." Mira, in a black coat, chuckled as she walked up from behind.
"Wait, your actually gonna go out into that mess? Why?" The card user asked.
"Just paying a visit to the church..." Mira explained before turning around. "Elfman, let's go."
"Just a second." He told her as Jet and Droy hung their heads in shame. "These two need to be taught a lesson. They screwed up their last job and got knocked out, leaving Levy to handle everything."
"We're sorry." Both said at the same time.
Mira walked down the steps with a smile. "I think they're both doing fine." Her words brought smiles to the men's faces. "In their own way."
"That was cold!" Both shouted.
"Hey, do you know why Elfman and Mira are going to a church in this weather?" Lucy asked Laki.
"Yeah, I do..." She mumbled back.
"Lisanna's death anniversary is coming up." Cana added.
"Lisanna?" Lucy asked.
"She was Elfman and Mira's little sister." Laki explained. "She died on a mission two years ago. Since then, they go to the church more as the day gets closer. Everyone here really liked her..."
"Hey, stop it." Cana told her. "I already told you, Mirajane and Elfman are cool with it. There's no need to feel like you stole Natsu from her."
"Were they that close?" Lucy mumbled aloud. She turned to find Natsu passed out again after he finished his brawl.
"You're doing it wrong." Gray told Juvia, looking at the food in her hands. "Can't you just hold it normally?"
"I've never done this before." Juvia complained as the syrup covered her hands.
'Don't they know what they sound like?' Bisca and Alzack asked themselves at the same time.
"This is how you eat a caramade frank." Gray told her before shoving it into his mouth. "You open your mouth as wide as you can, than take a big bite out of it."
"Like this?" Juvia asked as he copied him.
"Its not something you need grace to eat." He told her.
"But what about clothes?" She asked, point at his lack of shirt.
The gunners stared at the two, thinking about each other. They glanced over at each other and started random small talk to not sound awkward.
"Good to see the two of you as close as ever." Both turned around in a panic as Erza walked up behind them. "You must treasure these moments because they won't return. Do that, and you won't regret a thing."
"Huh?" Both asked aloud as the master called over Erza.
"I'm so bored." Lucy complained.
"Hard to do anything when the weather keeps you inside." Levy said.
"I just want something interesting to happen." The blonde mumbled.
With Wendy & Rose
The girl ran through the street as the cat flew next to her before Wendy tripped over a loose stone and fell to the ground. "You okay, Wendy?" Rose asked, landing.
"I'm fi-" Wendy started before staring into the reflection in the puddle. The storm clouds started spinning together faster as blue flashes escaped the eye.
"Something tells me this isn't a normal storm." Rose mumbled as they resumed their run to the guild.
The ground started shaking as the guild entered their sight. "Everyone!" Wendy shouted as loose stones started floating up behind them. Buildings started turning into a glowing powder before they floated up into the storm. "Get out! The sky is-" The building started shifting around in a circle, going up to the vortex in the sky.
"No!" Rose screamed as a blast wave pushed them back. Other buildings started flying up in chunks as the storm sucked up everything it could. With one final glow, the storm died down, leaving the two alone in a sea of white powder with bubbles floated up around them. Fairy Tail was gone, and so was all of Magnolia.
"The guild hall... it's gone..." Wendy mumbled in shock. "The town, everything is gone..."
"This-this has to be a dream..." Rose said as she looked around. "A whole city just can't vanish."
"Hello!" Wendy shouted. "Is anyone out there!?" The only sound she got was the whistling wind, making her drop to her knees. "Not again... I lost my family again... but why am I here? Why am I always losing people!?"
The ground next to her started to push up. "Wendy..." Rose pulled on her dress. "I don't think we're alone..."
The powdery substance exploded and Natsu's head popped up. "The hell was that!?" He asked. "Is this a dream?"
"Move!" A muffled voice shouted from underneath him before Laki's head popped up next to him. "Wendy? What's going on? Where's the guild hall?"
"Laki, why are you in my dream?" Natsu asked, making her pinch his face. "Wait, this isn't a dream?"
'I'm not alone...' Wendy thought in joy. "Do either of you have any idea what happened?"
"Nope, nothing." Natsu answered as he pulled himself out of the hole before helping Laki. "What about you?"
"Nothing." She answered.
"This is all that's left of the guild..." Rose mumbled.
"What?" Both asked at the same time.
"All of a sudden, a giant hole showed up in the sky and... the guild hall, the town, everything got sucked into it!" Wendy shouted, confusing Natsu. "Were the only ones left!"
"Don't panic, but I think you have a few screws loose." Natsu told her as he studied her head.
"Natsu, look around!" Laki shouted. "She isn't making this up!"
"Wait, why weren't we taken?" Wendy asked. "Is it because we're Dragon Slayers?"
"...That's right." The four glanced over to find Carla flying over to them.
"Carla!" Wendy shouted, running over. "You're safe!"
"Indeed. You three are lucky you're Dragon Slayers, other wise you'd meet the same fate as the others." The white cat mumbled, ignoring the cry of joy." "Not that I care. All that matters is that you're safe."
"Okay, I've had it!" Natsu shouted. "You're saying the others disappearing isn't important?" He turned to Wendy in shock, like a light bulb went off over his head. "Wait, they really disappeared?" The girl nodded and he started calling out for others.
"Don't bother." Carla told him. "No one is left to hear you. They were all sucked up into the Anima, and no longer exist."
"The Anima?" Laki asked.
"That hole Wendy was talking about was a portal to another world called Edolas." Carla explained.
"Talk normal, will ya!?" Natsu shouted. "I don't understand a word your saying! Where is everyone?!"
"Calm down." Laki told him. "Wait, how do you know?"
"And another question, why are we safe?" Rose asked. "Shouldn't we have been sucked up with it?"
Carla stared at the ground as if in thought."Natsu!" Happy screamed as he flew over. "The whole town is gone! Everything is just a-"
"I know so much about Edolas because I came from it." Carla spoke up, shocking all but Happy, who looked more confused. "The same with Rose and the tomcat."
"Wait, what?" Laki asked.
"In fact the whole reason the town disappeared was because of us." Carla added. "The world of Edolas is different from our own. Over there, magic has begun to run out."
"They're running out of magic?" Laki asked. "How?"
"In Edolas, magic has its limits." The white cat explained. "But the people there used it like it was as common as air. And now it's on the verge of disappearing. So the king came up with an idea; 'if we can't make more magic, we'll just take it from somewhere else.' He created a spell called Anima, and that is what opened the hole in the sky."
"The plan was hatched six years, and it caused Anima to appear along the borders of the world's. But something was wrong; someone was working to close all the Anima." She added before thinking of something. 'When I heard about Jellal... no, Mystogan from Wendy, I couldn't believe it but I suspect it's his doing.' "But this anima was just too big, and therefore uncloseable. So the guild and everything around it was sucked up."
"Okay, so why take our friends?" Natsu asked.
"Like I said, Edolas needs magic power." The cat repeated.
"They're gonna turn our friends into batteries just because we're strong!?" Laki shouted.
"Indeed..." Carla nodded.
"That's a damn selfish move!" Natsu shouted to the sky. "Give everyone back, ya jerks!"
"...Is it true Carla?" Happy finally spoke up. "Did the three of us cause this?"
"Indirectly." Carla nodded. "The three of us were sent her by the king of Edolas with another mission in mind. Something completely independent of the Anima.'
"Oh, don't give me this crap again!" Rose spoke up. "Wendy found us when we were eggs, and I assume the same goes for Happy. We can't get a mission from a place because we've never been there!"
"What!?" The others asked. "You've never been there?!"
"Correct." The white cat nodded. "I've never set foot in Edolas. As Rose said, all three of us were born and raised here. But our minds were imprinted with knowledge of both Edolas and our mission. We should know everything about the, since our birth. We were born to carry out this mission for our kingdom!" She turned around and faced Rose and Happy. "So why don't you two know anything!?"
"I've been telling you why for the last six years." Rose said back. "There. Is. No. Mission! You just drank some bad tea, and it mixed with that thing you call a brain!" The two glared at each other for a long time.
"Carla... what's our mission?" Happy asked.
"You actually believe this stuff!?" Rose shouted in shock.
"It doesn't matter what it is." The white cat answered. "As long as we came from Edolas, this matter is our fault."
"Please, tell me." Happy begged. "I wanna know who I really am."
"Both of you figure it out yourselves!" Carla shouted.
After a few moments of silence, Natsu let out a sigh. "Okay, now that the cats been let out of the bag, we gotta move. Edolas waits for no one."
"Have you lost what's left of your mind!?" Carla asked.
"No, he hasn't." Laki said, looking up to the sky. "All of our friends are in Edolas, so if we're going to save them, which we are, that's where we're going."
"Natsu..." Happy mumbled before his stomach growled. "I'm scared."
"Of what?" Rose asked. "The ramblings of a conspiracy theorist?"
"I am not!" Carla shouted. "...But you are correct. They're in Edolas, but I have no way of knowing if we can save them, let alone how. On top of that, I'm not sure we can ever return."
"Oh, well." Natsu said back. "If my friends aren't here, then what's the point of staying here? ...other than looking for Igneel."
"Same here." Laki nodded, holding his hand.
"Right." Wendy agreed.
"We should try to save everyone, right?" Happy asked as his stomach growled again.
"Is that like a nervous tick or something?" Rose asked.
"...Someway or another, I've become a member of Fairy Tail." Carla spoke up. "And I am responsible for this, so I'm not opposed to this. But if I do this, you must promise me some things. I'm returning to Edolas, therefor abandoning my mission. I cannot be spotted, so we must go in disguise."
"That's it?" Laki asked.
"You sure about this?" Wendy asked.
"I have, and I made up my mind." The white cat told her before turning to Happy and Rose. "Another rule, you are not to ask me about our mission."
"Don't worry, we won't." Rose told her.
"Third, I don't have any knowledge of Edolas other than what I already have, so I cannot guild you." She told everyone. "And finally, if any of us do something that classifies as treason, kill us."
The Slayers started at her as Happys stomach growled. "Not going to happen." Rose told her.
The humans gave a quick nod as the cats sprouted their wings. "Let's go. The two of you grab on to your partners." Carla told them.
"We're gonna fly there?" Wendy asked.
"That's what our wings are for." The white cat answered. "To return home."
"Alright, then. Let's go see Happy's home!" Natsu cheered.
"...Aye!" The blue cat cheered as the cats grabbed their partners and flew straight up.
"Both of you! Don't hold back any power!" Carla shouted.
"Right!/Aye!" The other cats let lose their power.
"We can get through to Edolas through what's left of the Anima!" Carla explained. "On my que, give it everything you've got! Now!" The cats hit Mach 1 and flew the remnants of the portal, carrying their partners. In a grand flash of light, the last of Fairy Tail went into the new world.
And Edolas arc has started. For the sake of clarity, I will either refer to the Edolas versions of characters by their last name or E. (insert name).
Seven of you gave suggestions for what you wanted Laki's counter part to be like and I had a conversation with one or two of you, but there was only two that stood out from the cries of 'turning her into a pervert'. So, Edo Laki will be a mix of JuliaSora's and a guest review. Here's why she won't be a pervert: her anti-pervert nature is not her dominant trait in THIS story.
Speaking of this story, now I have the opposite problem for Tenrou; too MANY ideas. So I'm setting up a poll for what you guys want to see. There are six options and you three votes. I would make her Natsu's partner, but that's already been done. And while the story isn't finished, I just don't like copying someone else's idea. I try to do my own thing. It's what almost everything you see on my page is my own idea, even the bad ones. Anyway, the poll will stay up until the end of the arc, so make your vote count.
Also, I have this wierd feeling that I can get through the whole Edolas arc without using Lucy AT ALL. NiA doesn't like it, but my gut is telling me to do this. So, yah or nah?
Beta read by Natsu is Awesome.