Lisanna watched Finn's retreating back with a thoughtful expression.
Composing herself, she once again donned her usual bright smile and entered the treehouse.
Inside the treehouse:
Edolas Wendy looked at Earthland Wendy with a mixture of surprise and curiosity.
"This small girl... is she me from another world?"
Earthland Wendy, feeling slightly self-conscious in comparison to her Edolas counterpart, who was considerably taller and more mature, offered a timid nod. "Hello."
Edolas Natsu, bending down slightly, offered a friendly smile. "Wendy, why are you so small?!"
Wendy's cheeks flushed with embarrassment, unsure how to respond to the unexpected question.
Fortunately, the timely sound of a door opening provided a much-needed reprieve.
Finn entered the room and addressed Natsu and the others. "We need to hurry to the royal capital."
"Right, let's get going then!" Natsu responded eagerly, jumping to his feet and preparing to depart with Finn.
"Hold on a second, do you even know the way to the royal capital?" Carla questioned Finn, her voice laced with a hint of skepticism.
Finn responded with unwavering confidence. "Nancy does. Right, Nancy?"
His gaze shifted towards the golden cat, who was contentedly enjoying a cake that Edolas Mirajane had kindly provided.
Nancy's expression faltered momentarily. "I never said I knew the way to the royal capital."
Finn's eyes widened in disbelief. "What?!"
Nancy, equally taken aback by Finn's reaction, offered a clarifying explanation. "I remember saying I'd guide you out of the forest, but I never claimed I could lead you to the royal capital."
Finn's jaw dropped, his body momentarily frozen in stunned silence.
Carla let out a long sigh, rubbing her temples in exasperation. "Of course, even in a guild full of idiots like Fairy Tail, even the seemingly most sensible Finn can have his moments of utter cluelessness…"
Carla then turned her attention to the assembled group, her voice tinged with a mixture of frustration and pleading. "Could someone please tell us how to get to the royal capital?"
The members of Edolas's Fairy Tail exchanged hesitant glances, but none of them volunteered an answer.
Wendy, her voice laced with urgency, addressed the group. "Everyone, our companions have been absorbed by this world's king!"
"If we don't hurry and rescue them, they'll be completely lost, their magic absorbed and gone forever!"
Edolas Wendy stepped forward, her voice laced with a mixture of sympathy and caution. "My smaller self, I'm truly sorry, but for your own safety, I strongly advise you against going."
"That's right. Anyone who dares to defy the kingdom faces certain death. This kingdom is incredibly powerful!" Edolas Lucy added, her tone grim.
Elfman hung his head in dejection. "The magical energy in this world is finite. It's only a matter of time before it's completely depleted."
"It's precisely this fear of magical depletion that drove the Edolas king to seek to monopolize all the magic in existence, isn't it, Juvia?" Edolas Gray remarked, his gaze drifting towards Edolas Juvia.
Edolas Juvia ignored Gray's comment and continued. "That's why he issued the order to disband all the mage guilds."
"At first, everyone resisted fiercely," she explained.
"But faced with the overwhelming power of the kingdom's mage teams, one guild after another fell, leaving only our guild standing," Edolas Juvia continued, her voice filled with a sense of both pride and sorrow.
"And those Fairy Hunters chasing Natsu earlier? They're from the kingdom's second mage team," Edolas Lucy added, her voice laced with a hint of apprehension.
"And their captain is none other than the infamous Fairy Hunter herself—Erza Knightwalker!"
Edolas Lucy's revelation caused the Earthland Fairy Tail members' eyes to widen in disbelief.
"Erza… she's the enemy?" Natsu's voice was laced with disbelief and a hint of fear.
"So, I might have to fight Erza?" Finn exclaimed, a hint of surprise and apprehension coloring his voice.
"That's impossible!"
"What? Judging by your expressions, in your world, Erza is an ally?" Edolas Lucy questioned, her tone laced with curiosity.
"Of course she is! It's Erza!" Natsu confirmed emphatically, his voice filled with unwavering conviction.
The members of Edolas's Fairy Tail exchanged incredulous glances.
"That Erza… she's an ally?" one of them whispered in disbelief.
"This is simply astonishing!" another member exclaimed, their voice filled with wonder.
A lively discussion erupted amongst the Edolas Fairy Tail members.
Finn clapped his hands together, silencing the animated conversation. "Let's put this discussion aside for now. Please, tell us how to get to the royal capital."
"We absolutely must go and rescue our companions," he stated, his voice hardening with determination.
"We have to go!" he reiterated forcefully, his resolve unwavering.
Edolas Lucy fell silent for a moment, then spoke slowly, her voice tinged with concern. "Are you really certain that you wish to proceed? You're talking about confronting an entire kingdom…"
"Don't bother trying to talk them out of it," Nancy interjected, cutting off Edolas Lucy's attempt at dissuasion. "These guys are completely set on this course of action. If you know the way, just tell them."
She turned her gaze towards Finn.
"I've been trying to talk some sense into him this whole time, but his determination remains unshaken," she added with a sigh.
Finn offered a confident smile. "That's a given."
"Argh! I've been completely outmaneuvered!" Edolas Lucy exclaimed, her voice laced with exasperation.
"Very well, then. I'll guide you to the royal capital," she conceded, her tone laced with a mixture of resignation and reluctant respect.
"Really? That's fantastic!" Natsu exclaimed, his voice filled with unrestrained joy.
"Then, without further ado, let's set off immediately. Thank you, Edolas Lucy," Finn stated, turning to address Natsu and the others, urging them to prepare for their departure.
Finn then turned his attention towards Nancy, his voice softening. "Nancy, thank you so much for your assistance. Now, would you prefer to return to the forest, or would you like to accompany us to the royal capital?"
To be honest, Finn had developed a genuine fondness for the little cat. Moreover, Nancy's experiences resonated deeply with him; both of them had endured solitary lives in the perilous depths of the forest.
However, Finn's strength had been significantly greater, and he had encountered Gildarts at an early stage, who had subsequently guided him out of the forest and into the welcoming embrace of the Fairy Tail guild.
The shared experiences of hardship and eventual triumph had sparked a desire within Finn to bring Nancy into the warmth and camaraderie of his guild.
However, considering the inherent dangers of their impending journey to the royal capital, Finn was unsure whether Nancy would be willing to accompany them.
Therefore, he deemed it prudent to inquire about her preferences before proceeding.
"I think I've had enough of life in the forest. I'd like to see what else is out there. And, to ensure that my savior doesn't meet with any harm, I'll accompany you," Nancy replied, setting down her cup and approaching Finn.
"At the very least, in a pinch, I can help you escape! Consider it repayment for saving my life," she added with a determined glint in her eyes.
A smile graced Finn's lips as he gently stroked the top of Nancy's head. "If such a situation arises, I'll be relying on you, then!"
"Of course!" Nancy purred contentedly, basking in the warmth of Finn's touch, a feeling reminiscent of the affection she had received from her parents.
Edolas Erza returned to the royal capital.
She walked slowly through the deserted corridors, pausing at a certain point.
Her gaze drifted towards the distant horizon, where a colossal magic crystal, resembling a towering mountain, stood majestically.
Even from this distance, she could sense the immense magical energy contained within the crystal.
It was a quantity of magical energy sufficient to power the entire kingdom for a decade. The sheer magnitude of this power was enough to stir the blood of even the most seasoned mage.
However, Erza Knightwalker felt no such elation.
For this immense power had been obtained at the cost of countless innocent lives.
Gazing upon the magnificent yet monstrous magic crystal, Erza Knightwalker found herself wrestling with conflicting emotions. The crystal was both beautiful and horrifying in its implications.
Had she made the right decision?
The question echoed in her mind, a silent torment.
"That's a magic crystal formed from the combined magical energy of tens of thousands of people from Earthland. Isn't it magnificent?" a voice spoke from behind her.
"Perhaps," Erza Knightwalker replied, her voice barely a whisper.
"I still can't believe Erza's the enemy," Happy's voice echoed across the desolate landscape.
"It's terrifying in both worlds," Natsu added, his voice filled with a mixture of apprehension and awe.
Edolas Lucy chimed in, her tone solemn. "For us, the idea of Erza being an ally is simply unthinkable."
Edolas Lucy's voice grew grave as she continued. "There isn't a single mage in this world who doesn't tremble at the mere mention of her name."
"Just seeing her face is enough to make you feel like you're staring death in the face!"
At this description, a bead of cold sweat trickled down Natsu's temple.
"I definitely don't want to meet her. She's terrifying enough under normal circumstances," Natsu confessed, his voice laced with a distinct note of apprehension.
"Hmm? Is Erza really that scary? I don't think so," Finn countered, his voice calm and unwavering.
"Of course you wouldn't," Happy retorted, his voice tinged with a hint of sarcasm.
"Finn and your Erza are close, aren't they?" Nancy inquired from her perch atop Finn's shoulder.
The little cat had taken the precaution of disguising herself, given her status as a Fallen Angel and the group's primary objective of locating the magic crystals formed from the absorbed Earthland guild members. Therefore, discretion was paramount.
Edolas Lucy also turned her attention towards Finn, her eyes filled with curiosity.
"I'm also quite curious. You're actually close to that Erza?" she asked, her voice laced with a mixture of surprise and intrigue.
"Finn's relationship with Erza and Mirajane is… quite special," Happy teased, his voice laced with a playful undertone.
"Huh?!" Edolas Lucy's eyes widened in surprise, the pieces of the puzzle seemingly falling into place before her.
Her gaze was fixated on Finn, her expression a mixture of astonishment and dawning comprehension.
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