Author's Note: Here's second chapter. For those who have already read this story, the second half is new content (and the first half has been edited). Yippee. Same disclaimer.
Thanks for the reviews, I'm loving some of the ideas. (As a note, for the EarthLand FT members, I will probably be going with a mainly canon direction. As far as Edolas relationships go, who knows? Okay, I know, but I'm still developing concepts so.)
FT
Wendy Marvell had slept horribly for the last two nights, and the mages had been traveling at a slow walking pace for the past two days. Last night, she had tossed and turned on the ground while her body slowly froze half to death. Their tiny fire eventually burned out, and Wendy was left to the hard ground.
When she awoke, the floor beneath her was scorched by the sun, even though it was only morning. Her body was sore from the consistent walking, and she had no sky magic to help anyone around her. In fact, no one had their magic. So, while she wished that she could heal the aching legs and dull eyes of some of her guildmates, she was left helpless. It didn't matter that no one else could do anything about it, for Wendy was supposed to be their healer, and what was she going to do without that ability?
"Ugh!" she groaned in annoyance before sitting up to get ready to keep traveling. The exhaustion was putting her into a bad mood. They would reach Royal Kingdom today, just as Wendy was beginning to lose patience with the never changing landscape. This, at least, was something good that she could focus on. By now she considered a small cactus something out of the ordinary, for the landscape was no different from the first day. She hadn't ever experiences the same freaking environment with no change for this long of a time over this large of a distance, and she was growing weary. Even Tenrou Island was but a mere dot on the landscape behind them.
She rubbed her eyes with a hand to clear away the sleep and saw that she was the first one up. At least she wasn't alone this time in Edolas. When Magnolia had disappeared right before her eyes, Wendy had been so terrified and afraid that she had lost any semblance of a family yet again. To her, Fairy Tail was more than just nakama. The guild meant so much to her now because her entire life had fallen apart before. First Grandeeney had left. Her beloved mother of a dragon was just up and gone one fateful 7th of July.
Then Jellal left her too. When she finally thought that she had a home with a caring older brother, he was taken away from her. It was worse this time, though. With Grandeeney, she was just gone and Wendy had no idea why. With Jellal, he refused to take her with him. She could leave Grandeeney's disappearance to something like inability to find her. With Jellal, she was given no reason as to why he had to leave her. At the time, she hated herself. What had she done wrong for him to leave her? It had hurt.
After the alliance to defeat Oracion Seis, her friends and Master from Cait Shelter were revealed to be nothing but illusions. Her entire past was one of disappearing families… but she supposed that many of her guildmates had hard pasts like her own. At least now her world was finally looking up. Which was why she had been so distraught at losing it once again when Magnolia was sucked away.
Luckily, Wendy was past that now and she knew that her Fairy Tail family wasn't going anywhere anytime soon. They had told her as much, and so no matter what was about to happen she felt safe.
She would even get to see Jellal! It had been years since she had been able to talk with him (and seeing him for only a short time in battle did not count as the reunion that Wendy so desperately craved). Not only did she want an explanation, Wendy felt like she deserved it. You don't go missing on someone (much less a little girl!) without some serious reasons, and although she wasn't mad, Jellal had some talking to do.
Once more Wendy looked around, and as she did she saw Gray getting everyone else up (as she herself didn't have it in her to wake the others). She was so glad that all of her nakama were with her this time. She had the support of her fellow dragon slayers, she had Carla. Now, Wendy had people who cared about her, and that she cared about.
However, Wendy frowned. She noticed that Juvia was looking especially weak, which made sense because she was a water mage deprived of her element in a hot, dry desert. Wendy had never wished that she had her magic to help heal her friends more than then. She didn't like feeling like she couldn't do anything to help those around her.
"Juvia-san, are you alright?" Wendy asked, walking over.
"Hmm? Juvia is alright. It's just really hot out," she said, stating that she was doing okay, but Wendy knew better when Juvia's legs failed her when she tried to stand. The water mage slumped back onto the sand. It was only the second day.
"Juvia-san!" Wendy cried out.
Gray, who had woken up Natsu and was about to fight him, turned around at Wendy's call. He hesitated a moment, before walking over.
"Here," he said, albeit reluctantly, "You're probably the worst off from all of us," as he gave her his arm to lean on.
"Ah! Gray-sama is giving Juvia his body?!" Her eyes filled with hearts, and Gray grimaced.
"Just get up and walk already." Gray said in an irritated voice, but Wendy noticed that he still let Juvia use him as a living cane (even if she held on a little more than necessary).
Lucy came over to join the small commotion. "I'm glad that we're almost there - I don't think that Juvia can carry herself much farther."
Lucy herself was feeling tired, although not to the point of exhaustion. She wished that she could call to her spirits to see how they were doing (and to possibly give her legs a break - it was a Monday and Horologium was now available).
She missed her spirits deeply though, more than just a wish to relieve her muscles. She missed the companionship of Loke, even though he would constantly be flirting. She yearned for the chastisement of not having a boyfriend from her oldest zodiac gate, Aquarius.
Despite their quicks and annoyances, they were her friends, and she missed them just as much as she would her nakama with her currently.
Luckily Lucy was distracted from her thoughts by the journey the group had yet to make. Before the sun rose too high, they were off and walking. Gray had even begrudgingly carried Juvia piggy back style; she fainted on his back afterwards, of course.
The guild moved at a slower pace today. No one raced ahead, no one let any other fall behind. Sure it was slow going, but they were going together, and that was what really mattered.
About halfway through the day, Fairy Tail Team Tenrou could see the entire castle, and it gave many of them a new determination to keep going step by step. Cana especially. She had run out of her personal booze stock (stored in a magical flask in her shoulder bag) the previous night, and was seriously needing a drink. The kingdom had better have a good stock, or else Cana was going to go mad without her boyfriend. She also learned to (1), carry more booze around with her for situations like this, and (2), that she didn't really enjoy the lack of alcohol in deserts, so they weren't her landscape of choice.
"Tch." Cana saw that Gildarts, her recently realized father, continued to stick near her side. Honestly, she was a grown woman. Just because he knew that he was her father did not mean that she should get treated like a child. Cana guessed that to some level, this was what she was hoping for all those years.
The stars were alive the Fairy Tail members as they settled in for a dark night in the desert, since the fire had been eaten by none other than Natsu. They had decided to leave it, as finding the dead leaves to strike up another fire would be futile since it was already dark. Cana lay beside Gildarts, and he had his hands folded behind his head, relaxed.
They gazed up into the mass of sky above them, comfortable in each others' company.
"... Cana, what did you plan to do if you became an S-class mage? Do you have any other plans for the future?"
"Blegh. Don't give me that crap Gildarts. I may be your daughter, but it's way too late to be asking me the sappy kids' questions."
"..."
Nonetheless, a smile graced both of their faces.
The other mages had already fallen asleep, but Cana found herself wide awake in the absence of her favorite drink. She didn't know very many constellations, but she could make out a few. Leo and Aries were shining bright against the midnight blue. So the stars were the same here as they were in Earth Land. That was a good thought at least, and it reminded her of home.
She sighed. "I guess I mainly wanted to become S-class because… well, I had such a powerful father. You know? The strongest in Fairy Tail. Surely I wasn't worth his time, not when I was so weak myself." The conversation lapsed into silence. Cana wished that she had some beer to fill the quiet with. She didn't like going into the serious topic of her past very often. Especially not to the matter of most of her past.
Cana was relieved that she had finally told Gildarts that he was her father. It had taken years of convincing herself. Looking back, Cana didn't need to become S-class in order to tell him, but it wasn't like she could go back in time and tell her younger self to stop being so foolish. He would accept her either way, and he had. The pressure that she had put on herself was gone, so Cana felt free to relax fully for the first time in a long time.
Her eyes were fluttering closed against her will now. The bright stars gave her comfort, and so did the words she heard before she fell to sleep.
"Thank you, Cana. For letting me into your life," he said, just before they both nodded off.
Yep. Treated just like a child. Cana shook her head to clear the memory. What she needed now wasn't an adoring parent. She needed a parent who could get her some alcohol, and unfortunately for her, Gildarts didn't have any either.
Maybe Mira had some on her… no, she had already asked. Juvia? She barely had enough strength to talk, let alone drink. Cana groaned. She could not wait until they got to the castle and end her hell.
Cana's view of Juvia was correct. The water user was slumped on Gray's back with not even enough energy to be fangirling over her Gray-sama. She didn't even have access to her magic, yet she was still affected terribly. The only good part, Juvia thought, was that she was being carried by Gray. It made her feel only slightly less miserable.
The stripper hadn't been shedding his clothes, if only because his hands were busy carrying her. That was good, because if she didn't have the energy to walk let alone pick up the clothes for him. It took Juvia's level of love (or stalkerism?) to realize how many shirts he had lost since she joined Fairy Tail. Not counting the ones that she found, washed, folded, and placed back in his house, he had lost (Juvia knew down to the exact number) 37. These were the ones that he must have lost without her near, where unattainable (such as thrown over a cliff), or unsalvageable (such as torn to bits once they left his back).
Juvia had come to the realization that while she immediately loved Gray upon their meet, she hadn't fallen in love with him then. What she loved now was more than just her understanding of him. She loved how he was a major support to the guild, she loved how he cared so much for everyone else, and even though he didn't love her, she was willing to be patient and tone down the obsession.
For now though, instead of worrying over what clothes her beloved Gray had lost, Juvia was content to be carried by him. Juvia cared so much for her him, and she didn't ever want to burden him or force him into a decision. She loved him so much that she was willing to wait out a lifetime for him, even if deep in her heart she had no idea if he could ever return her feelings.
She sighed, wrapping her arms around his neck tighter to try to ease the weight that he had to hold with his arms and placing her head on his shoulder. Gray looked back to her with a neutral face. No scowling (although Juvia saw no smile either). Maybe he didn't mind her too much after all. Of course, only when she was too tired to be all over him and obsessed. Sometimes she was very clingy, Gray thought.
"You okay, Juvia?"
"Ahh. Gray-sama cares enough to ask how Juvia is!"
"Tch. I'll take that as a yes."
Happy snickered behind the last fish from his bag quietly, "He liiiiiikes her."
Erza gave a soft smile. While the sun continued to beat down on them, their steps steadily led them into the outer edge of town and under a large golden gate. Even the lowest tier of the city had people out and about.
The people of Edolas lived differently now, with no magic, but just as much spirit. They saw the bustle of the main street as people walked about and chatted. They also happened to hear the gossip about themselves as they headed in.
"Who's that?"
"Is it Fairy Tail?"
"I thought that they were working in the capitol?"
"But wait, that doesn't really look quite like them…"
Levy was slightly nervous. They were walking towards the center of a large town, filled with people, with no magic. It almost made her feel defenseless, even though she basically had an iron wall walking right behind her. A horse and carriage drove by them, the driver tipping his hat. They certainly didn't fail to draw attention to themselves, even though everyone else already had stuff to do. It was a glance here or an odd look there.
As they came farther into the spiral of walls, the population of people steadily increased. This caused Makarov came up with the idea to split up. Some of the team needed water (Juvia) or food (many of them) or weapons (Erza). They would meet back up in two hours near the wall of the castle specifically. Until then, they would try to blend in better in groups of two or three. Levy found herself with her S-class trial partner, Gajeel, and his exceed, Panther Lily (who was walking on all fours like a normal cat).
"I can't believe that I'm disgraced to this in my former home…"
She giggled quietly behind a hand. It did make sense, however, why the exceeds would all walk that way. Now that magic was gone from Edolas, walking cats (and exceeds in general) would be an abnormality.
Levy tried to take in all of the city at once. Unlike some of the members, (mainly Team Natsu), she had never been to Edolas. The townspeople seemed to be very busy, even though it appeared that any damage done to buildings was now repaired. There were friendly calls across the street and the steady sound of a town that had come to life. Levy was surprised that they hadn't seen any of the Edolas Fairy Tail yet, especially Mystogan. Surely someone would have notified him by now - he was the king after all. However the three continued to walk past the numerous cafes, shops, and people and into the very center of the town - the Royal City palace.
Levy stopped by a small weaponry shop and decided to buy some iron. If she couldn't make it with her magic, at least she could pay for some for Gajeel to eat. Other than a couple of small plants or that one piece of small game, Natsu was the only one who ate and hence they were all starving. Levy herself, after giving the two iron axes to Gajeel, went across the street to eat at a small cafe. At least they looked less suspicious, Levy assumed, as she sat down. Maybe they looked just like the Edolas Fairy Tail members, going about their normal business.
We are not looking just like the Edolas Fairy Tail members, Lucy thought, in a slight bit of panic. She was having a very hard time. She had split up with Erza and Gray to head towards to inner city, and acting like a tough and aggressive Lucy Ashley was becoming harder by the second. Not to mention that her worn, colorful clothes looked nothing like the edolas former mage would wear. It had been Erza's idea to blend in by acting like their counterparts, and poor Gray was practically melting inside the two coats that Erza had stuffed him into. He still looked too underdressed to be Gray Surge in Lucy's mind.
She sweatdropped as she frowned and glared at all of the people that she passed. Or rather, she tried to, but glaring just wasn't in her nature! She didn't want to be rude to people and act all aggressive just to blend in. She was pretty certain that Erza was making it hard enough to herself.
Didn't Erza Knightwalker hunt the fairies anyway? How would their Erza pass off as her opposite? Either way, Erza quickly herded her friends into every weapons shop that she could find and bought the best that she could find there. She turned out with three swords, one long sword, and a spear before leaving the store. She placed them all in a new, though smaller, luggage cart.
"Um, Erza, don't you want some armor?"
She shook her head and responded stoically. "I wear mainly Heart Kreuz armor. You know that, Lucy. I will wait until I find their store."
Lucy figured that it probably wouldn't be a good idea to tell the redhead that Heart Kreuz might not sell the same things in Edolas and that Erza might be stuck in her ripped Heart of Courage Armour.
Gray followed as she marched off, still sweating. He hadn't stripped yet because a sword was pointed at him the moment his hands found the buttons. Lucy supposed that that was one way to get a stripper to stay dressed. She said so.
"Ah, well that was the method that she used to get me to quit smoking…"
What? Lucy hadn't remembered that Gray used to smoke! She got to know her teammates better day after day apparently.
After the three ate, Lucy found herself bored. Erza had a lot that she wanted to get done in the one hour left, but Lucy didn't have need to find such things.
She looked into a small store that she was certain used to sell magical items, and she wondered what they sold now. Lucy was dragged back into the traffic in the middle of the road by Erza.
Soon enough, the second hour was over and Fairy Tail had gathered outside of the castle walls. They towered over the group, and Natsu was pounding at the main gate.
"Oi! Let us in already! I'm gonna fight Mystogan!" Natsu called loudly. The guard nearest to them came over.
"My apologies, but outsiders are prohibit-"
There was a whoosh sound of a sword being drawn out of a scabbard, and the guard let them in.
Lucy saw the motion that signaled more guards, but the fairies were on the move, hunting down their previous member. Now full and nourished, all of them could keep up with Erza's run through the hallways. Working on instinct, Erza appeared to simply burst down any doors that she deemed necessary to pass through, and took corners at lighting speed with no hesitation.
Lucy barely had time to even look around her as Erza threw doors down and threatened guards to let her through. However, what she did see was magnificent. Tall corridors and glowing lights with actual flames lit the place up, and it seemed to be so much more welcoming than it had before.
By the time they even found Mystogan, they had a pack of soldiers trying to keep up behind them. The exceeds were being carried, seeing as walking - either on all four paws or otherwise - was not as fast as flying, of which they were unable to do.
Thus, with Erza being in the lead, she was the first to come face to face with her counterpart Knightwalker when another hallway was entered.
While the two redheads' quick reflexes had them at a stalemate of weapons-at-throats, the soldiers who were chasing the group finally caught up and surrounded the intruders. The other unarmed members stood with their hands up, as they had no means of magical defense.
Lucy supposed that yes, they were trespassing and breaking into a kingdom, but hey, they knew the king. Still, she sweatdropped as even more palace guards came around the group.
Wendy was the only one not afraid of the multitude of swords pointed at them, or maybe she just hadn't noticed the threatening objects. Instead, she was leaping past Knightwalker and into the arms of a blue-headed king.
"Jellal!"
FT
Meanwhile, a face that the guild knew quite well had been making their own journey across the desert. This mysterious shadow drew nearer to the kingdom as they followed Fairy Tail's path. Worry clouded their mind while their feet marched on at a brisk pace. The Fairies must be reached before they arrived at the castle.
FT
His guild, Fairy Tail, was in Edolas. Mystogan wasn't sure how they were, or why. He didn't know how long they would be able to stay. However, the king of Earth Land's parallel world did know that he missed them, and he especially missed one blue haired girl and a dark colored cat.
When Wendy practically flew into his arms, it took him a moment to register the hug. It was familiar and comforting. Just as quickly, he had his arms around the girl that he had to abandon years ago.
"Wendy…" He could see the tears of joy that she shed upon seeing him. Maybe at last he would have the time to properly apologize. Their embrace wasn't long enough, for the guards of the royal kingdom were asking for his orders. He reluctantly released Wendy.
"Your Majesty, should the intruders be killed or imprisoned?"
Couldn't they see that he was busy? Couldn't the royal army of Edolas recognize that he had one of the so called 'intruders' in his arms? Jellal stepped back from Wendy after smoothing down her long hair with a frown.
"Neither. I know these people; they are not here to harm us."
Although he stepped back, Wendy wasn't about to give up contact. She held onto his hand as he saw the guard grimace. "But Sir-"
"My orders, Lieutenant. Put down your weapons and allow them entry. I will expect a full report later today. For now you are dismissed." He took in the large group of his friends that were now just standing around (except for Natsu. He was being held back from running up to him by Lucy). He gave a soft smile. They were such a nice reminder of his previous home.
Both Captain Knightwalker and Erza Scarlet had brought down their weapons as well, although one with a stubborn glare.
"Erza Scarlet. What are you doing here?" the leader of his army asked her twin.
"Yes. While this is a pleasant surprise, Master Makarov, what are you doing here? All of the magic of this world is gone now." Mystogan didn't have much of a problem letting his friends see his face or hear his voice anymore. They knew that he wasn't Earth Land's Jellal. Still, he was puzzled as to their presence in his kingdom.
The Master gave a huff, his arms crossed. "Well, these brats of mine-"
Knightwalker interrupted. "King Jellal, I believe that calling another 'Master' is below your current station. Please refrain from using it."
One thing that Mystogan wasn't used to quite yet was being referred to as 'King'.
He shook his head. "It doesn't matter as of right now. I am sure that you are tired. Please show them to the West wing, Captain. We have many spare rooms."
"Oi! Mystogan, are you afraid to fight me now?" Natsu asked him. Sighing, Mystogan answered with formality in his voice.
"Now is not the time, Natsu. I will see you all for dinner in the banquet hall." Halfway crouching down, he gave Wendy a smile and gently pushed her to the rest of her team. He then turned around and walked off. It may have seemed distant, but he was a king now, and his duties to his people did have to come first, to some degree. However, the meeting that he had planned would definitely be rescheduled. Tonight, he had a meal to attend.
FT
Apparently, some things never change, Mystogan thought as he read the three and a half page long document describing the actions of the Earth Land Fairy Tail members. It didn't surprise him that Erza Scarlet was leading the charge, a broadsword clenched tightly in her hand as they crashed down doors. If all it took to get into the heart of the castle was a weapon, they seriously needed to up security. He would plan to talk to his advisors about that.
He read over the quoted 'threat' from 'a pink haired maniac' who was 'planning to assassinate His Royal Majesty, the King'. Heh. That Natsu was always trying to fight those around him. Mystogan hoped that he would have time to interact with his former guild. Never mind that, if he didn't have time, he would make it. Mystogan may have become the leader of a nation, but his friends were in that nation, and therefore deserved his undivided attention. (Well, as much as he could give without completely abandoning his duties.
The day's earlier events piled up in his mind. He had missed Wendy, and he regretted the short conversation with her before the anima pulled in Magnolia. During that moment, he had wished that he had a much longer time to make it up to the girl, but he didn't; a war could not be avoided.
Now, Mystogan had all the time that he could wish for, provided that the mages didn't just disappear into thin air again. And he was planning on using as much of it as he could.
Next chapter hopefully coming out soon. (emphasis on the hope guys, sorry)