Magnolia's Disappearance

Earth Land, Ishgar, Kingdom of Fiore, Magnolia.

November, x784.

After Gildarts' return to Magnolia, another few days flew by with nothing of note taking place. While Alfonzo continued with his research in the guild library while trying to recover the magic power he used to create the [Soul Weapon Embryos], Elicia spent most of her time working on new designs for the upcoming year.

On top of that, Gildarts had been measured for a new set of prosthetics. And with Alfonzo's experience when making his own left arm, Gildarts would be able to output just as much power as before he lost his arm.

"*Sigh* I think I've almost got it." Alfonzo said as he walked lazily into Elicia's workstation while heading for the bedroom after a long day spent studying.

Putting down her pencil, Elicia turned towards Alfonzo with a smile.

"That's good." Elicia said, stretching her back as she spoke. "I just hope it works. I mean, getting stuck in stasis for seven years would kinda suck."

"I know." Alfonzo replied. "But until the day it's needed, there's no way of telling. Either way, we'll have to somehow stay alive until Acnologia gets bored and just decides to nuke the whole island."

"Yeah, I'm not really looking forward to the S-Class promotion exam this year." Elicia said, getting up from her seat and following Alfonzo into the bedroom. "If nothing changes, we'll have to fight against Grimoire Heart, too."

"I don't think they'll be much of an issue, though." Alfonzo said as he sat down on the side of the bed. "I mean, not counting us, the rest of the guild is much stronger than its canon counterpart. On top of that, we've got Sun and Marin, too."

"Plus, Laxus will be there from the start." Elicia added, flopping down on Alfonzo's lap. "But will Gildarts be okay? I mean, it took you at least a month before you could even move your arm properly, right?"

"He'll be fine." Alfonzo reassured as he combed his fingers through Elicia's hair. "This time I have the Techno Organic Metal, remember. And all though it'll hurt like a bitch, the healing will be much quicker. And because it will only be a small portion, the stiffness shouldn't last too long, either."

"That makes sense." Elicia replied with a nod. "I'm actually surprised you came back alone, though."

"Actually, when I came up from the basement, they were in the middle of a fight." Alfonzo replied with a shrug. "I didn't check to see what the fight was about, but It was probably over something stupid and I was too tired to try and break it up."

"I see." Elicia said with a nod of understanding. Then, with a seductive smile on her face, she continued. "Anyway, you really do look tired, Fonzie. Why don't you let me help you get some rest."

With that, Elicia licked her lips as she placed her hands on Alfonzo's chest before gently pushing him to lay back on the bed. Then, just as Alfonzo was lying down, both their eyes opened wide in surprise.

"[Metal Magic: Anti-Magic Dome]." Alfonzo chanted.

In the next instant, Alfonzo and Elicia's bed slid away from the wall, stopping in the middle of the room, as it was covered by an adamantine dome with a staggering number of sigils inscribed on its inside. Though, thanks to the lack of light neither of them bothered to worry about them.

"Using a metal bedframe was the right decision." Alfonzo's said while nodding to himself. "Otherwise, our bed would have been destroyed when I put up this barrier."

"*Sigh* I'd been feeling like I was forgetting something for the last few days." Elicia grumbled as she let herself fall on top of Alfonzo. "But it's definitely time for that, isn't it?"

"Yeah, it is." Alfonzo replied with a nod. "Honestly, I'm really looking forward to see what our Edolas counterparts will be like, though."

"Yeah, I guess you're right." Elicia said with a smile.

Meanwhile, while Alfonzo and Elicia chatted without a care in the world, a large vortex had formed over the town of Magnolia. And as it spun, everything in the town, from the inhabitants, to the buildings, to the animals, were turned into motes of magic power before being sucked into the vortex. Eventually, the only thing left was a fine white sand.

A few minutes later, although the vortex in the sky had not disappeared, it had stopped spinning. As a result, nothing was being pulled into the sky anymore. At about that time, Alfonzo decided to lower the barrier he had created.

"Damn, if I had known the exact date of the beginning of the Edolas arc, I would have dragged the other girls back with me." Alfonzo muttered.

"Well, look on the bright side." Elicia said cheerfully. "It's been a long time since it was just the two of us, right?"

"It looks like it still won't be just the two of us, though." Alfonzo said as he looked up towards the vortex. "There go Natsu and Wendy. They probably left without getting an X-ball from Mystogan."

"Oh, that means Lucy and Gajeel are still here then, right?" Elicia asked as she too watched Natsu, Happy, Wendy, and Carla fly into the vortex. "We should probably go find them before we get left behind."

"Yeah, let's go." Alfonzo said as he swept Elicia into a princess carry. "I already found Lucy and Mystogan."

With that, Alfonzo and Elicia sped towards Mystogan, who was explaining the situation to Lucy.

"Yo! Mind explaining things to us, too?" Alfonzo shouted as he and Elicia approached the duo.

Shocked by the unexpected shout, both Mystogan and Lucy's heads snapped up towards its source.

"Alfonzo, Lici, you two are alright!" Lucy shouted back happily. "But how? Everyone else was sucked into that vortex. And according to Mystogan, only the Dragon Slayers and their cats should have been safe from it."

"I guess you forgot about the first time we net, didn't you, Mystogan?" Alfonzo said as he landed in front of Mystogan and Lucy. Then, he continued as he put Elicia down. "You weren't wearing a mask then, though."

"You knew I was the same boy from back then from the beginning, didn't you?" Mystogan asked as he took off his mask. "I should have expected as much from you, Alfonzo."

"Huh?" Lucy exclaimed in confusion after seeing Mystogan's face. "Mystogan is Jellal? The traitor to the Magic Council is hiding in our guild?"

"*Sigh* And this is why I always wore a mask." Mystogan said calmly. "But to answer your question, no, I'm not Jellal Fernandes."

"But you…" Lucy said, not knowing how to continue.

"I think you should let him finish, Lucy." Elicia said, wrapping her arms around the younger girl.

"Yeah, let him explain." Alfonzo added.

Hearing that, Mystogan began to explain his origins, the vortex in the sky, and what happened to the town and all its people. While Alfonzo and Elicia stayed calm, having already known everything Mystogan had to say, Lucy wore a shocked expression.

"So the town and everyone in it were turned into a giant lacrima on the other side of that vortex?" Lucy asked in a tone of disbelief.

"That's right." Mystogan replied with a nod.

"And on the other side of that vortex is a world like ours with people that have similar appearances and names to ours?" Lucy asked, continuing to find everything unbelievable.

"Right again." Mystogan replied.

"And you're the prince of the kingdom who turned everyone into a lacrima?" Lucy asked while rubbing her temples. "This is so strange."

Once again, Mystogan nodded in response. Then, he looked in Alfonzo's direction.

"So, what are you gonna do?" Mystogan asked, already knowing the answer to his question.

"Isn't that obvious?" Alfonzo replied with a smile. "We're gonna make them pay for taking our guild and town away. Plus, do you have any idea how much our house cost? Oh, they're definitely gonna pay for that, too."

"As expected." Mystogan replied with a nod and a small smile. "Then, before you go, take these."

As he spoke, Mystogan reached into his cloak. When he pulled his hand out again, he was holding a small, glass bottle filled with red pills.

"These are X-balls." Mystogan said, beginning his explanation of the pills he was holding while extending the bottle towards Alfonzo. "On the other side of that vortex is a world known as Edolas. And in that world, people do not have magic power in their bodies and can't use magic without the use of magic items."

'I actually forgot about that little bit of information.' Alfonzo said as he accepted the bottle from Mystogan. 'There's actually a chance that King Bradley and the other person I felt without magic power were from Edolas like Mystogan. I seriously doubt that, though.

"When you cross over, you'd be the same as the people on the other side." Mystogan continued. "And you wouldn't be able to use your magic. And that's where these pills come in."

"So, these little pills will allow us to use our magic over there?" Elicia asked curiously. "Does that mean there is ethernano in the air? Otherwise, how would we be able to regenerate the magic power we use?"

"That's right, there is ethernano in the atmosphere." Mystogan replied. "But the amount is finite. And will eventually be exhausted. But that is of no concern, for now. Instead, these X-balls will cause you to regenerate magic power without the use of atmospheric ethernano."

"Interesting." Alfonzo muttered as he scrutinized the little red pills in the bottle he was holding. "If I were a chemist, I'd love to see just how these things were made. Unfortunately, I'm not. Oh well, whatever."

"Anyway, when you see Natsu and Wendy, can you give them some of these?" Mystogan asked. "Before I could finish the explanation, they flew off into the vortex with Happy and Carla."

"Let me guess…" Elicia said with a wry smile. "They ran off as soon as you said something about the guild being turned into a lacrima on the other side, right?"

"*Sigh* That's right." Mystogan replied in a tired tone. "In fact, I don't believe there are more than a few wizards in our guild that would take the time to listen to the entire story."

"I wish I could say you were wrong, but…" Alfonzo said, trailing off at the end.

"Anyway, what will you do, Mystogan?" Lucy asked curiously.

"I'll see if there is anyone else who wasn't pulled through the vortex by the anima." Mystogan replied. "Then, I'll give them some X-balls and after I'm sure everyone has been found, I'll head over myself."

"Sounds good. And Gajeel should be in that direction." Alfonzo replied, pointing his finger in a particular direction. "Then, I guess we'll see you on the other side."

With that, Alfonzo held his free hand towards Mystogan with his fingers balled into a fist.

Surprised by the friendly gesture, something he rarely received as he often stayed alone, Mystogan hesitantly raised his own fist before bumping it against Alfonzo's.

"Oh yeah, and I hope you told Erza about who you really are." Alfonzo said as he pulled his hand back.

"Sort of." Mystogan replied. "I didn't know how to tell her about Edolas, though."

"Well, that's better than nothing, I guess." Alfonzo replied with a shrug. "Anyway, we'll get going."

"See ya later, Mystogan." Elicia said with a smile while waving her hand.

"Yeah, we'll see you later." Lucy added.

With that, Alfonzo poured out a total of three X-balls from the bottle, giving two of them to Elicia and Lucy before popping the third in his mouth. Naturally, Elicia and Lucy did the same. Then, Elicia pulled Lucy in front of Alfonzo while she clung onto his back. A moment later, she wrapped her threads around the three of them.

"Okay, Fonzie, let's go!" Elicia shouted energetically as she raised her righthand and pointed at the vortex in the sky.

"Right." Alfonzo replied with a nod.

A moment later, Alfonzo, Elicia, and Lucy were slowly ascending towards the vortex. And as time passed, their speed increased. Eventually, before Alfonzo could reach is maximum speed, they passed through the vortex, disappearing from Earth Land.

Edolas, Edolas Continent, Unnamed Plains.

In the middle of a plains area, under the lime green Edolas sky, stood a building. Though, if one were to call it a plant, there would not be much room to argue, either. And although the area around this plant-building was peaceful, that atmosphere was broken when a vortex opened above the plant-building.

From the vortex, a young man and two young women, Alfonzo, Elicia, and Lucy, were spat out, free falling towards the ground.

"Ahh~~~~~~~!" Lucy shouted as she wrapped her arms around Alfonzo tightly. "We're falling! We're falling! Alfonzo, do something! I'm too young and pretty to die like this!"

"Calm down, Lucy." Alfonzo said calmly. "I've got everything under control."

As he spoke, Alfonzo adjusted the group's flight path and speed with is [Electromagnetism Magic]. Then, after a few moments, the three Earth Land wizards were standing safely on the ground.

"Oh my god…" Lucy muttered as she dropped to her knees in relief. "I've never been so happy to be standing on the ground in my life."

"Now, you're just overreacting." Alfonzo said with a smile.

"Yeah, there's no way Fonzie would have let you fall, Lucy." Elicia added while patting Lucy on the shoulder.

"*Sigh* In my heart, I know you're right." Lucy said as she raised her head to look at Alfonzo and Elicia. "But considering how many dangerous situations I've been in with Natsu, Gray, and Erza since I joined the guild, I'm never really sure. Anyway, where… are… we?"

As she asked her question, Lucy caught sight of the large plant-building. And although seeing a plant that was shaped like a building was strange, what caused her to trail off was the familiar banner hanging on the front of the plant.

"Is that… the Edolas… Fairy Tail?" Lucy asked in a disbelieving tone.

"Looks like it." Alfonzo replied calmly.

"Should we go say hi?" Elicia asked curiously.

"Why not?" Alfonzo replied with a shrug.

Like that, Alfonzo and Elicia started walking in the direction of the plant. Meanwhile, Lucy only looked at them with a shocked expression on her face.

"How are you two so calm?" Lucy asked loudly. When she realized that Alfonzo and Elicia weren't stopping, however, she quickly climbed to her feet and ran after them. "Hey, Wait up! Don't' leave me behind! "