章 18: Rumbling (3)
Lucy's POV:
That was certainly underwhelming, to say the least. As we trudged forward like we were awkwardly walking on nails, the Old Man, who turned out to be Mira, guided us at a painfully slow pace toward Rebellious' headquarters located in Drasil. The moment we stepped inside, the sight that greeted us was nothing short of shocking: our guildmates, along with Jellal for some inexplicable reason, had become the White Mage's puppets. That realization only deepened the unsettling feeling welling up inside me.
In that instant, my mind conjured images of a brutal, protracted battle ahead—one where we would be pitted against our own beloved friends transformed into monstrous versions of themselves, like Laxus, Gajeel, and the rest. This thought left me feeling hopeless and desperate, as we would have to confront the White Mage to restore our friends to normalcy.
But instead of the dire struggle I'd anticipated, we were met with Yuno making a light-hearted quip about the woman who had turned the mighty Dragon God, Mercphobia, into her plaything. If it hadn't been for the lingering tension and the undercurrent of apprehension that filled the air around us as we faced this new Exceed—and watched our friends stirring back to consciousness—I might have found the moment more amusing than alarming.
As one by one, our friends woke up, confusion etched on their faces, they quickly glanced around, clearly baffled about how they ended up clothed in nothing but absurd cultist robes in a place on the other side of Earthland. All eyes turned to Mest, the lean man with an x-shaped scar adorning the left side of his face, as we collectively sought answers.
I could see our trio of friends—Yuno, Asta, and Noelle—narrowing their eyes in suspicion at him. They were obviously curious, a sentiment I understood all too well. After all, if it hadn't been for Yuno and Asta, we might have found ourselves in a conflict against our own friends, many of whom who we wouldn't have been all too eager to fight, save for Natsu. So, in the spirit of gratitude, I felt a sense of responsibility to allay their concerns.
"Mest here," I began, gesturing towards the scarred man, "uses a form of memory magic. It allows him to do many things, and in this instance, he can sync up with his memories from when he was a puppet."
The trio's eyes widened, and I could almost see the gears turning in their heads as comprehension dawned upon them. Asta piped up, "Kind of like Mushroom Head," and I couldn't help but sweat-drop at that remark. Seriously? Was that a nickname or was the East home to some bizarre species of walking mushroom monsters? Either way, the mental image invoked a strange sense of dread. Given the plethora of oddities I'd encountered since joining the guild, it was rather tame, yet the idea crept under my skin all the same. [1]
Shaking my head to clear those thoughts, I turned back to the rest of the guild, who were just now starting to register the presence of Yuno, Asta, and Noelle. Most of them, particularly Jellal—who, realistically, shouldn't even be here—gave guarded looks, and I could hardly blame them considering the chaos we had just endured.
The silence stretched out until Wendy, who usually held her tongue even among familiar faces, broke it unexpectedly. "These are our friends from the Eastern continent. They're good people, and we're collaborating with them for our quest." Friends, now, huh? Despite the rocky start, I felt a flicker of warmth for them. Asta's actions toward Elkis paled in comparison to the suffering we had endured at the hands of past adversaries like Brandish, Jellal, Ultear, Flare, Minerva, and Laxus. All of whom we had eventually forgiven. So, in light of that, I saw no reason to hold a grudge against these newcomers.
Maybe my disappointment stemmed from my own expectations—after seeing them save Mercphobia and thwart Leviathan, I had anticipated they would be a bit more self-aware of the weight of our situation. Instead, I found myself grappling with a sense of letdown. It baffled me how quickly I had grown fond of them, despite only knowing them for a week.
In a moment of shared reflection, I noticed my teammates begin to arrive at a similar conclusion. Gray, Erza, Natsu, Happy, and Carla nodded in unison, a silent agreement settling among us. Our trio looked sheepish and surprised. Yuno shot Wendy a grateful glance, while Asta blushed, scratching his cheek awkwardly, and Noelle fidgeted with her fingers, reminiscent of the shyer version of myself—once a fragile piece of glass left alone in a grand royal garden, starved for companionship and affection.
Revelations hit me hard. After all we've endured, after we resolved this conflict and dealt with Aldoron, I made a silent promise to reach out to Noelle. Perhaps I'd take her along to explore Drasil with the other girls, helping her navigate this new world filled with warmth and friendship—something I wished I had had in my own youth. It was time to build connections anew, and to finally become the friend I'd longed for all those years ago.
"You guys are from Yashima?!" The familiar squeak of excitement sliced through the thick air, and I turned to see a petite blue-haired figure deftly squeezing her way through the crowd. Instinctively, everyone parted to make way for her, as if wary of disturbing either her or the precious life growing within her. Gajeel and Lily exchanged nervous glances, beads of sweat glistening on their brows as they quickly surrounded her, casting anxious glares at anyone who might still be standing in her path as she approached our trio. [2]
Levy wasted no time getting right up into Noelle's personal space, her enthusiasm palpable as she began to gush, embodying the quintessential bookworm. "I've always dreamed of visiting Yashima! It's so isolated that the books I find are often vague and terribly outdated. I even tried asking Kagura-chan, since her mother is from there, but she could only recall a few bedtime stories her mom used to tell her. Hey, is it really true—"
"Levy," Erza interrupted, placing a gentle hand on her shoulder and pulling her back, her exasperation clear. "Can't you see you're scaring the poor girl?" I nodded in agreement, glancing at Noelle, whose cheeks had flushed a bright red. It was clear she was overwhelmed by this stranger's unabashed enthusiasm.
Noelle seemed to be struggling to reclaim her regal composure, desperately trying to formulate a response amidst Levy's excitement. Sensing her distress, Levy's expression turned to one of guilt, and she instinctively bowed her head as low as she could manage given her condition. Gajeel, ever the protector, urged her to stand straight.
"I-I'm really sorry for scaring you!" Levy stumbled over her words.
"It's no big deal," Noelle managed to say, her voice shaky but sincere. She gently encouraged Levy to stand tall, her kindness shining through. "Y-you don't need to bow," she added, and then pointed toward Mest as if seeking a reprieve. "W-we can talk more after w-we get some answers, okay?" Her nervousness was palpable, yet there was an undercurrent of hope in her tone.
Levy's face brightened with a soft smile, her eyes crinkling at the corners. "Alright, I'll hold you to that!" she promised, closing her eyes in delight. I couldn't help but grin as Noelle, for a brief moment, blushed and flicked her hair back like a true noble. "Of course," she replied, and I chuckled internally. Ah, so she's a tsundere type.
Just as I was about to interject with a light-hearted quip, Noelle continued, "You don't need to tell me twice; I'm royalty after all." A stunned silence fell over us as the weight of her words sank in. The collective shock of the Fairies, particularly from Team Natsu, was palpable—gaping jaws and wide eyes in abundance. I winced as Asta and Yuno sighed in exasperation, slapping their foreheads as if trying to contain the flood of complications that could arise from this unexpected revelation.
"You're a… princess?!" Wendy gasped in disbelief, her eyes shimmering with wonder. Levy stared at Noelle, her gaze sparkling with uncontained excitement, as if she'd just uncovered a rare treasure. Really, guys? We're friends with Hisui E Fiore, the former princess and the current queen of Fiore. This revelation shouldn't be astounding!
"N-not the crown princess or anything," Noelle quickly clarified, her voice tinged with anxiety. "I-I'm just a member of the main branch of a royal family of knights—" But she was abruptly cut off as Asta, presumably her boyfriend given their interactions, clamped a broad hand over her mouth from behind, his expression a mix of indignation and something else—perhaps protectiveness, or even affection. Once Noelle settled down and he released her, she turned back to Levy, apologizing.
"S-sorry, it's just that things are a bit complicated back home right now. I-I remember I'm not supposed to talk about it." Each time she mentioned the complications back home, my curiosity piqued. Was there a civil war or a succession dispute brewing? But then again, if it were that straightforward, I doubted they would be alluding to world-altering wishes in the first place.
Levy, bless her, couldn't mask her disappointment, and I saw the shame flicker across Noelle's face as she turned away, exchanging some silent assurance with Yuno. After a reluctant sigh, Yuno nodded, giving her the go-ahead. Noelle's demeanor brightened, and she turned back to Levy with renewed determination. "But that doesn't mean there aren't things I can't share with you—just not as in-depth as you may have liked." She rubbed her arm nervously, awaiting a response.
It seemed Noelle intended to share whatever information they could relay about Yashima, tidbits likely pulled from what was recorded in Elefseria's spirit library that currently resided within Yuno's soul. Although undoubtedly factual and statistically oriented, this information would be devoid of fuzzy personal anecdotes.
However, Levy's enthusiasm surged once again, her face lighting up with joy as if she had just been granted a wish. "That's all I can ask for!" she exclaimed, her delight infectious. It was clear she was unyielding in her quest for knowledge and eager for any morsel about the fabled land of Yashima. I couldn't help but smile at the sight—this unexpected friendship blooming before our eyes was indeed heartwarming.
Mest stepped into the center of our circle, his presence commanding attention as he drew all eyes towards him with a stoic expression. He spoke up, his voice tinged with exhaustion, "Can I fill you guys in now? I processed all the memories."
We all turned to Master Makarov, who was poised to give the go-ahead with an encouraging nod, but once again, our moment was interrupted—this time by Gray, of all people. Surprisingly, he was still fully clothed! "Don't want to be that guy," he said, raising a finger, "but shouldn't we do something about these two first?" He gestured toward the Exceed, who was scanning our faces before inexplicably fixating her gaze on Happy, as well as the White Mage, who could awaken at any moment.
How did we collectively forget about them? I felt an overwhelming urge to slap my forehead in embarrassment. Mest, quick to respond, pointed at the White Mage with a bluntness that left little room for doubt. "I don't know about the cat, but let's kill her."
Ah, good to see his ruthlessness remained unchanged. I sighed at his behavior, knowing his methods often clashed with the more compassionate outlook of our guild. Of course, Wendy was immediately offended by his suggestion.
"No need!" she shouted, and Mest sputtered in response, seeming helpless yet again in the face of the little girl's spirited resolve. Just as another argument was brewing, Wendy continued, "I already sealed her magic power. Just tie her up for now; she's no threat anymore!"
Enchantments certainly came in handy. "That's new," Erza remarked, her tone impressed as she regarded our youngest member (not counting Asuka, who wasn't a wizard yet).
Wendy flushed slightly under Erza's gaze, hesitating before responding. "I learned it when Irene possessed my body."
Belserion? A quick shiver ran down my spine; wasn't that Erza's mother? Sure enough, I could see the complex emotions flickering across Erza's face as she slightly nodded in acknowledgment.
Everyone seemed to accept this arrangement without further protest. Gajeel stepped forward and expertly wrapped an iron beam around the White Mage's waist, pinning her securely to a nearby pillar. That just left us with the Exceed…
And just then, chaos erupted anew. "Natsu-sama!" A jubilant squeal pierced through the tension as a newcomer charged over to Natsu, but instead of stopping before him, she bypassed him entirely and tackled Happy to the ground?! What was going on?
For reasons I couldn't quite comprehend, my guildmates appeared far less confused than I was. They studied the Exceed, who was now enthusiastically hugging a blushing Happy, while Carla looked on, visibly jealous. Any other time, I would have relished the opportunity to tease her about her feelings for him, but at that moment, I could only watch, trying to process the absurd scene unfolding before me.
In the midst of the chaos, Gajeel and Juvia cornered the new Exceed, pointing an accusatory finger at her.
"You're the real Touka, right? The one who wanted Wendy to free her with her enchantments?"
"Juvia knew! She saw a tail!" Juvia exclaimed, enthusiasm bubbling over.
"She was a cat all along?!" Droy shouted in disbelieving awe.
"And why is she calling Happy Natsu?!" Jet added, confusion stark in his voice.
Carla furrowed her brow in bewilderment. "I've never heard of you from the Exceeds of Extalia. Were you another one who was shot into Earthland from Edolas when you were just an egg?"
Finally pulling away from Happy (to his chagrin), Touka rose to her feet, dusting off her clothes. With a regal grace, she crossed her arms in front of her chest in a V-shape and slightly bowed her head. When she opened her mouth to speak, her voice was surprisingly elegant. "That's because I'm not from Edolas; I'm from Elentear."
The revelation hung in the air, igniting curiosity and questioning glances among us. Who was this new Exceed? What did her origins imply for our understanding of the magical world we inhabited? My mind raced with possibilities, and I leaned in, eager to hear more about her enigmatic homeland.
"Elentear?" We all exchanged puzzled glances, the name unfamiliar yet intriguing. Finally, Yuno broke the silence. "It's a world that could be considered the complete opposite of Edolas. While Edolas lacks magic, Elentear is actually overflowing with it. Essentially, they have too much."
Too much magic? I pondered. I glanced at Touka, who appeared momentarily surprised by Yuno's interruption, then decided to elaborate further.
"That's because the Moon Dragon God—or rather, Goddess Selene—is currently making Elentear her nest." Touka's expression shifted to one of frustration as she spoke, her head hung low. "You experienced firsthand the effects of Mercphobia's presence, even when he was attempting to control his power. The sea levels kept rising, forcing the Erminans to assume fish-like forms just to survive. Can you imagine the consequences if a being of similar magnitude didn't hold back their magical energy at all and allowed it to engulf the entire world? Especially in a realm that is already bursting with magic, her presence would likely multiply that chaos severalfold."
I let out a solemn whistle. "Something pretty bad," I guessed. Touka gave me a reluctant nod and continued, "Her mere presence is destroying our world. That's why Faris came here." She pointed at the unconscious White Mage, who we had finally learned was named Faris.
"You seem to be skimming over a lot of details," Erza interjected, raising an eyebrow at Touka. The Exceed sighed in exasperation, realizing she needed to lay everything out for us to fully understand.
"In Elentear, we have a group of shrine maidens skilled in White Magic, working specifically with a spell called Whiteout. They are responsible for absorbing Elentear's excess magic and exiling it to prevent any mutations or catastrophic events," Touka began, capturing our full attention.
"However, even with an entire village working in unison, they were unable to counter Selene's immense presence. Desperate, they grasped at straws, losing hope for their world. That's when Selene made a deal with one particular White Mage." She pointed at Faris, then added with a hint of disdain, "Wait, I should say she coerced or threatened her. Selene told her that unless she used Whiteout to suppress Earthland's and the other dragon gods' powers, she would never leave Elentear—until there was nothing left of Elentear to leave."
Touka continued, her voice steady. "Of course, Faris doubted Selene's claims, but had no choice; complying was the only way to save everyone she loved. So, she possessed my body—a mage capable of the water-based spatial spell Aqua Aera—allowing her to warp to Earthland and undertake this monumental task. However, something went wrong during the possession. The forceful takeover caused a mutation, making Faris a bit power-hungry and often forgetful of her original purpose, transforming into the devilish woman you've all encountered."
I winced at the thought, a moment of understanding dawning on me as I glanced at the restrained Faris. She reminded me of Faust, the former king of Edolas—Master Makarov's counterpart. Both had succumbed to the corrupting influences linked to their worlds losing their magic.
As Touka spoke, I caught the trio's faces lighting up for a fleeting moment at the mention of spatial travel. It didn't go unnoticed; the narrowing of some eyes among my guildmates suggested they recognized something significant too.
Then, all at once, the dark tone in Touka's voice shifted to a bubbly demeanor as she hugged Happy, rubbing her cheek against his with glee. "Shortly after we landed in Earthland, we were captured by bandits! And while I was in control of the body, Natsu-sama came riding in on a flaming dragon and saved my life!"
"Um...my name is Happy," the blue cat interjected, still relishing the attention.
"And I'm Natsu," the pink-haired boy, who occupied my thoughts more than I cared to admit, added somewhat obliviously. "You probably just saw Happy carrying me!"
Touka froze, dropping to her knees, covering her face with her hands as she cried out, "How terrible of me to mistake the name of my beloved!"
I watched as Happy attempted to comfort her. Natsu was the one who saved you, though, shouldn't he be the one you call your beloved? Strangely, I felt a surge of satisfaction that Natsu wasn't on the receiving end of romantic affection from another girl, even if that girl happened to be a cat.
"Wait, something doesn't add up." Jellal interrupted, slowly walking forward and stopping directly in front of Touka. He looked down at her, his expression arched with skepticism. "I was at Fairy Tail investigating the White Mage and the cult Rebellious. They've been active for over a century. Based on what you're saying, you've only been in Earthland for a year or so. How are you in charge?"
His question echoed the confusion lingering in the air, and I couldn't help but agree. Sure enough, it didn't take long for Touka to explain herself. "The White Mage was just an identity that Faris replaced. The cult was desperate after the previous White Mage disappeared about a century ago. Shortly after the cult was established, none of them managed to replicate the abilities of the former White Mage, whoever she was. Sooner or later, they would have had no choice but to disband. When they learned Faris was capable of Whiteout, they were surprisingly compliant in allowing her to inherit that mantle."
How convenient that sounded. I instinctively turned to look at Yuno and the others, particularly Yuno, who seemed to hold the missing pieces of the puzzle. I caught a flicker of emotion in his eyes, but it vanished just as quickly when he met my gaze. He shook his head, and I held back my impulse to press him for clarification. He seemed reliable, and if he chose not to explain right now, there must have been a good reason. I made a mental note to seek him out privately later.
No one seemed to pick up on our silent exchange as Touka inhaled deeply, preparing to finish her story. "And the rest is history as you know it. Mercphobia was the easiest target, so Faris exploited Karameel to steal his magic energy. Afterward, I gained brief control—just long enough for her to digest his power—then I rushed over to Fairy Tail, not only to reunite with my dear Happy-sama but also to seek out Ms. Wendy. I had heard she was talented in enchantments and hoped she could help separate our bodies. Unfortunately, plans went awry. Wendy was away, and Jellal's presence made Faris anxious, forcing her to act by engulfing the entire guild in White and dragging them here to deal with the rest of you and Aldoron."
I observed Erza's sharp glare directed at Jellal, her eyes seething with unspoken fury. She smacked him lightly on the back of the head, his shame evident as he hung his head, too embarrassed to defend himself. We then turned our attention back to Mest, who lay against the wall in silence, shaking his head as if indicating there was nothing more to add. He seemed almost sulky—the role he might've played overshadowed by Touka's revelations.
Then, a question bubbled to the surface of my mind. I looked at Touka and asked, "How was Faris planning on dealing with Aldoron, anyway? I doubt she could just absorb the power of the largest dragon in the world without suffering a catastrophic overload."
Touka blinked, then turned to point at a nearby pedestal that held an orb. "There are four similar orbs in every church throughout all of Drasil's towns. Selene told Faris she could easily siphon away Aldoron's might by destroying them. For some reason I don't understand, it's dangerous for her to touch the orb; that's why she wanted to control your guild to do it for her. What's more, if any complications arose, she planned to have your dragon slayers handle them."
So that's the plan, I thought, cocking my head in understanding as I studied the dark red orb.
Suddenly, Natsu's voice broke through my thoughts. "Who are you?" He was pointing at the orb in shock. I mirrored his surprise, searching for whatever he might have seen. But there was nothing there—at least, nothing visible to me. Just as I was about to scold him for a prank, I realized he wasn't alone in his perception.
"Get your hands off the orb!" Gajeel frowned, speaking to thin air, a somber grin spreading across his face. My shock intensified as Laxus, Wendy, and even Noelle and Yuno joined the circle around the pedestal, their expressions serious and somber.
Of the three, Asta seemed blissfully unaware of whom they were addressing. I could hear shouts of confusion erupting from our guildmates as they pressed for clarity about who or what they were confronting. We all tightened our defenses; with Laxus involved, it was clear this was no simple ruse.
Thoughts raced in my mind. Were only dragon slayers capable of seeing whatever it was they were gazing at? Or perhaps it was something specific to dragons? Noelle's ability to see it made sense with her connection to one. I observed Yuno, though, and realized he was unaffected by Whiteout—there was more to him than met the eye.
My focus sharpened as I caught the sound of a crack. I watched in morbid fascination as the orb began to splinter, eventually shattering into hundreds of glassy shards.
"Damn it, get back here!" Natsu roared in frustration. The six of them unleashed a torrent of magic—flames, iron, lightning, and wind entwined with water and beams of starlight shot toward the orb, no longer needing to hold back. The explosion obliterated the pedestal, tearing a gaping hole in the wall.
"Che, he got away!" Gajeel tsked angrily, his sentiments reflected in the annoyance on the faces of the others. My eyes were drawn again to the scattered remnants of the orb. This couldn't be good.
And just as that thought passed through my mind, the ground shook violently, cracks snaking out beneath us.
"Earthquake?!" The cries of alarm from my guildmates were echoed by terrified screams outside. This was different from the usual tremors in Drasil—there was panic in the air. And then we heard it and felt it.
A roar of fury and an overwhelming magical presence erupted around us, eclipsing the energy that even Mercphobia or Leviathan had unleashed. Our eardrums screamed beneath the cacophony, and we froze, brought to our knees by this unspeakably terrifying presence. Only one name flashed across my mind.
Aldoron.
[1] Author's note: (For my fellow LOTM fans - Frank Lee - If You Know You Know)
[2] Author's note: I decided to give the unnamed eastern continent a name because I just find it awkward to keep addressing it as the East. Should Mashima ever name it, and I'm still working on this I'll go back and rename it. Given the oriental-style culture hinted at for the eastern continent, a name like "Yashima" would align well with its Japanese influence. "Yashima" evokes traditional Japanese imagery, referring to a poetic term for Japan, meaning "land of eight islands." The continent could be home to nations known for kimono crafting and similar cultural elements, reflecting an ancient and mystical atmosphere, deeply connected to nature and spirituality. Its architecture might feature temples, Zen gardens, and cherry blossoms, emphasizing the serene yet powerful magical traditions of its people.
— 次の章はもうすぐ掲載する — レビューを書く
週次パワーステータス
-- 推薦
ランキング 
-- 推薦
チケット