Coddiwomple 
(v.)
English
"To travel in a purposeful manner towards a vague destination."
Ex: "Akemi always wants to help people, no matter the task. I guess she coddiwomple herself into these things."

🌹🌹🌹

   "You're polite and cultured, just like me!"

   "And I think your wild and cool charms are precisely like my own! You should know that I am very talented at singing and musical instruments."

   "Oh! That's another thing we have in common!"

The two Gajeel's jumped apart and bumped elbows, grinning madly at each other.

   "Ah, is the bro-fest done?" Gabbriel pouted from behind the two, raising an eyebrow at them. 

   "You're just jealous that we haven't found your Edolas counterpart!" Gajeel chuckled, grabbing Gabbey into a choke hold and ruffling her hair. "Aw, poor Gabbey!"

   "Get off me!" Gabbriel snapped with a smile on her face, shoving Gajeel away and fixing her hair. "So not cool!"

   "I see. . .that you and your sister are close," Edo-Gajeel said slowly, watching the two of them interact with each other. 

   "She's the only family I have left," Gajeel grunted, throwing an arm over her shoulder. "Don't know what I would do without her."

   "We may fight, but we'll always be at each others' side," Gabbey commented, looking around the cobblestone path they were on. 

Edo-Gajeel furrowed his eyebrows - a thing this Gajeel actually had - before simply nodding. 

   "By the way," Gajeel started, walking forwards once he noted where they were. "Could you do something for us?"

   "Which is?"

   "A number of my buddies should be coming through here," Gajeel peaked around the corner, Gabbey right behind him as they stared at the group of soldiers. "I'm sure they'll cause a big commotion before long."

   "And then," Edo-Gajeel put the pieces together. "Sure. I'll let you know right away. My information network has its fingers even inside the Kingdom and the Exceed. . ."

   "We're counting on you. We'll make our move based on that," Gajeel sent a sly grin to Edo-Gajeel as Gabbey and him started walking away. 

   "Be careful," Edo-Gajeel paused. "Both of you."

   "Same to you," The twins replied in sync. 

🌹🌹🌹

Akemi couldn't help it. She loved to go an adventures, and she loved meeting new people. Helping people was the one thing she also loved to do. She was a people person. 

When the other world Wendy, Lucy, and Natsu explained briefly what had happened, how they needed help to fight for their guild, everyone in her guild knew what was coming. 

So, Akemi joined the three humans and two cats on their trip. Well, exceeds. It was a long process to explain to the older girl, but she did stop bowing down. 

Even when her Lucy left to go gather their guild, she stayed. Akemi started a mission, and she wasn't going to stop until she finished it. 

Akemi also loved to learn new things. So, hearing there was another world with their counterparts, she just had to find out all that she could. What kind of magic they had, if their culture was any difference from theirs, everything about the place. She even asked about her counterpart, but none of the Earthland people have met her other self yet.

Shame.

But the mission seem to be getting to everyone. After the announcement the King made to the people of the Royal City, Akemi knew it was her job to keep the Earthlanders together. Leading them to a close-by hotel for the night, Akemi made sure everyone was seated and taken care of. 

   "Okay, I'm going to go get some food and drinks," Akemi warned them. Natsu was staring out of the window, Lucy had her face buried in her hands, and Wendy was just looking at the ground. "When I get back, we can think everything through. . .Please stay here."

Not expecting a reply, Akemi walked out the hotel room (locking the door) and started walking down the cobblestone street in search for food and drinks. 

   "Watch it!" A man shouted, bumping roughly into her. 

   "Sorry!"

Roughly fifteen minutes later, Akemi was trying to find her way back to the hotel. She had skillfully hidden her guild mark, so that wasn't the problem, but there were so many people around, she couldn't help but feel suspicious of everyone. 

  "Sorry!" Akemi apologized for what seemed like the hundredth time, rounding a corner into a less crowded street. 

   "It's oka-" The voice halted suddenly, grabbing Akemi's shoulder gently. Instead of trying to get away, Akemi paused. She slowly turned to face the person keeping her in a gentle grip, not feeling threaten at all as the random stranger muttered her name. "A-Akemi?"

The person holding took her hood off quickly, revealing a beautiful girl with long black hair and gentle red eyes. Her skin had a soft glow to it and her piercing glittered in the setting sun. Her gloved-covered hand slowly moved to Akemi's shoulder to her cheek, carefully holding her face as if she was a glass doll. 

The woman's face looked hopeful.

Akemi almost felt at peace. But this was a stranger to her. She had to know. 

   "Who are you?"

The moment ended. The woman's hand dropped from Akemi's face and the look on her face disappeared. But her eyes were still gentle, taking in every feature of Akemi.

   "No one," The woman replied after a moment, flipping her hood over her head again and started to walk the opposite direction of Akemi. 

   "Wait!" Akemi snapped out of her stupor and following the woman around the corner into the busy street-

And she was gone. 

There wasn't a single glimpse of the cloak the woman wore, nor was there anyone with her mesmerizing red eyes.

So, with a hand holding the spot the woman caressed, Akemi made her way back to the hotel in a daze. 

As soon as she walked into the room though, her mood snapped and she stared into the determined eyes of Earthland Natsu. "We have a plan."

Gabbriel couldn't help it. She just had to hold her face for once last time. Look into her grey eyes and behold her beauty, even if it really wasn't her. 

She was still mourning. 

Gajeel knew something was wrong when Gabbriel walked into the hotel room they were staying at, not even having to check the bond to see she was upset. 

   "Gab-"

   "I saw her," Gabbey interrupted him, standing still and staring at the ground in a daze. "Akemi Porla. I saw her. But. . .I didn't. . ." She clenched her hands into fists. "She looked exactly like her, Gajeel, exactly  like her. The same hair, the same eyes, hell, even her voice was the same."

   "Gabbey-"

   "I thought for a short second - whoever that person was - I thought she was my Akemi. I thought she was alive, and well, and living her life to the fullest. But. . .My Akemi is dead. She was killed, and it was my fault. I killed my mate. "

   "Gabbriel," Gajeel murmured, bringing her sister into his arms. "Stop. Everything is going to be okay."

   "Is it? Is it really?" Gabbey whimpered, hugging her twin close, but not letting a single tear fall. "It's been almost two years, why can't it just go away?"

Gajeel said nothing, he didn't know what to say. What could he say? He's never found his mate, much less lost them. It didn't stay quiet for long though. 

 "Did your Gajeel say anything?"

   "Just said we have to meet up tomorrow. He has a plan." Gajeel paused. "But you don't have to go through with it if you don't feel up to it. You can just lay low here."

   "No, I, I'm good. Lets. . .Lets just sleep. Please?"

🌹🌹🌹

The cave system Carla led them to was far outside of the Royal Kingdoms' walls, but it seem to be a better place to enter from than the front gates. 

   "The entrance to the tunnel should almost be in front of us," Carla announced, glancing at the piece of parchment she held. 

The entrance to a dark tunnel soon appeared, leading into Edolas below them. The six of them paused in front of the entrance, not being able to look that far in before the inky blackness showed. 

   "Is this it?"

   "Yes, definitely it."

   "Great!" Natsu grinned, starting to walk into the cave. 

   "Wait."

   "Again?!"

   "I understand your impatience, but stay calm," Carla demanded softly. "We can't go anywhere without light."

   "Not all of us have advanced eyesight," Akemi pointed out, crossing her arms as goosebumps rose. Her light whip was hooked to her belt, but she knew she could only use its magic if they absolutely needed it.

   "Just leave that. . .to me!" Natsu declared, throwing a fist out to the air in front of him. Nothing happened. 

   "No magic, remember?" Akemi reminded him with a bitter smile. 

   "See, you forgot."

Natsu kicked a rock in frustration as Happy reminded them. "Lucy's the only one who can use magic. Yeah, I'm not feeling too confident about that."

   "Well sorry for not giving you enough confidence." Lucy replied sarcastically. 

   "Oops, did you heard that?"

   "Lucy-san, is that. . .?"

   "Torches!" Lucy grinned proudly. "I picked them up over there. I've already wrapped them in cloth and soaked them in oil, so all we need to do is light them and we're set."

   "But, what about fire?" Carla asked. 

   "Oh! I got that!" Akemi grinned brightly, already gathering some abandoned tools. Hopefully, one was made of steel. She walked towards the cave, picking at the wall before coming back with a light colored stone. "Stand back," Akemi ordered. 

Making sure she had some dry leaves and a small pile of wood, Akemi smacked the steel and flint stone together a few times. Sparks flew, but none of them caught until. . .

   "Got it! Give me a torch!"

   "Light!" Wendy cheered, holding the now burning stick. 

   "All right!!"

   "How did you even know how to do that?" Lucy asked in awe, Natsu lighting the other torch as they waited for an answer. 

   "A-Ah," Akemi giggled in embarrassment. "After I was booted out of my house years ago, I had to learn to survive on my own. I had help, an old man actually taught me everything I know. . .Then I joined Fairy tail and, the rest is history." Akemi jumped to her feet, stretching her back out. Her gaze went to Natsu, who was staring at the fire in thought. 

   "What is it?" Happy asked, also seeing the look Natsu had. Without warning, Natsu chomp on the torch, making Akemi squeal. 

   "You're not suppose to eat fire!!!"

   "Oh, I get it. If you eat fire, then just maybe. . ."

   "It's a part of being a Dragon Slayer, eating your element," Wendy explained to the distraught Akemi. "I guess we forgot to tell you that part. . ."

   "So you think you can handle magic now?" Lucy asked.

   "So?"

   "This part of me got all warm," Natsu said, pointing to his sternum. 

   "Does that feel like Magic?"

   "Feeling? It might be!" Natsu exclaimed. 

   "Ooh, neat!" 

   "Do I get to see Dragon Slayer magic now?!" Akemi asked, eyes wide with anticipation.

    "Give 'her a whirl! The Iron Fist of the Fire Dragon, reborn!" Lucy cheered. 

   "Go!" Natsu threw his fist out again. Once again, nothing happened. Natsu deflated. "No use."

   "You're just struggling pointlessly." Carla sighed. The group started to walk into the tunnel, Akemi re-lighting the torch that Natsu ate. 

   "I thought I could use magic by eating the fire here!" Natsu defended himself. 

   "It was a good try," Akemi tried to make him feel better. 

   "Well, as long as I have my torch, we'll be fine!" Lucy waved her torch around. 

    "Don't get carried away."

   "Don't steal all of the credit, Lucy!" Akemi teased.

   "Ah! I'm sorry! Akemi's and my torch!"

It wasn't long before the group faced a tiny problem. Up ahead, their way was blocked by stone and wood planks, with the writing of KY-2c. Natsu was now carrying the torch, and Wendy still carried hers'.

   "This is it," Carla said, Akemi walk forwards and gently tracing the carved in symbols. 

   "It's quite thick," Lucy explained after knocking on the wall. "Plus, it's been coated with magic."

   "That's why the symbols are here," Akemi added on. "They're not just random letters and a number, its runes."

   "We can't get through that."

   "But I'm correct. There should be another escape exit around here." Carla tried. 

   "We have to break through it, then. . ." Happy murmured. 

   "My whip won't be enough to take it all down," Akemi admitted, crossing her arms. 

   "We still have a way!" Lucy declared. "This is a perfect job for me!" 

Akemi watched with interested eyes as Lucy pulled out a golden key, shaped like an axe at the end, and said in a clear tone, "Gate of the Golden Bull, I open thee! Taurus!"

   "A. . .cow just appeared out of no where," Akemi stammered, watching said cow moo and flex in front of her. 

   "Right! Taurus can do it!" Happy cried.

   "Taurus has the most power out of all the spirits I command," Lucy informed Akemi. "He should totally be able to break down that wall." 

   "If that is what will do you good, I'll do it!" Taurus exclaimed.

   "Do a number on that wall!"  

   "Here I come!" Taurus declared, walking forwards. Without hesitation, he started to punch the stone wall away. 

   "Whoa!" Natsu grinned. 

   "Oh, that wasn't much. . ." Lucy gloated. 

   "He did it," Akemi said in an impressed tone, the dust finally settling. "Look!"

   "There's a path!" Wendy finished. 

   "Your information was right, Carla!" Happy said. 

   "That was a cinch, Lucy-san!" Taurus boated. 

   "Thank you, Taurus!" 

   "That's it?!"

   "What?"

   "If you're really grateful, you can show it by giving me a. . ." Taurus trailed off as a white light enveloped him and he disappeared. 

   "Please stop leering at me like that." Lucy huffed. 

   "This should connect straight to the basement of the castle, I hope. . ." Carlra mumbled.

   "The information was correct, so I'm sure it's right ahead." Wendy assured her friend. 

   "What's wrong, Happy?" Natsu asked, seeing the look on his best friends face. 

    "So, why don't I have any information, do you think?" Happy asked suddenly, making the group pause and turn towards him. "I'm a cat from Edolas, sent to Earthland with some kind of mission, just like you, right?"

   "You promised not to talk about that, remember?" Carla reminded him in a short tone. 

   "Aye," Happy replied. 

   "I don't know about a case like yours, either."

   "Anyway, lets go further in," Lucy suggested, and the group started to move again. Seeing as Happy was still down, Akemi sent him a smile. 

   "I think you have a different mission, Happy, which is why you don't have the same information. Don't worry, I'm sure you'll find out." 

   "Thanks, Aki," Happy smiled back the best he could before they walked to catch up to the group together. 

  "Looks like the place is about to collapse." Natsu commented. 

   "Don't jinx it, sheesh!" Lucy hissed. 

   "Unless there's a quake," Akemi supplied. "But, that is not likely to happen. The quakes around here stopped as soon as the King stopped mining for magic."

   "But this really is an ancient tunnel. . " Wendy trailed off. 

   "I wonder if there are ghosts and stuff?" Happy asked. He looked back at Akemi, as if asking her as well. 

   "Well, ghost sightings are rare around here," Akemi admitted. "Ghosts only really appear if they had a violent death, and unfinished business. But we haven't had a major war in decades. . ."

Natsu stopped, gaping at the empty space in front of him. Lucy instantly thought the worse, letting out a squeal. 

   "W-What is it, Natsu? Is there something there?"

   "Hold this." Natsu demanded, shoving the torch into Akemi's grasp. 

   "W-W-What?" 

   "Don't move now." Natsu demanded. With a childish grin, Natsu lifted his hands up and started making a shadow puppet. "This is my territory!"

   "That's cute," Akemi commented, Lucy yanking the torch out of her grasp and choking Natsu with it. 

   "This is no time for playing around!" Lucy scowled him. 

Miles later, Akemi could tell they were far underground. If it wasn't from the crystals that would shimmering in the light every now and again, it was because it seemingly got colder. There wasn't much talking, only Carla leading them the right direction.

    "This should be it."

    "Left right here."

   "Turn up there."

Finally, they made it into a huge cave, with glowing crystals in the walls and ground. 

   "We've come out to a pretty open place," Lucy noted. 

   "It looks like this is where it connects to the basement of the castle." Carla pointed out. 

   "Of course this is near the basement of the castle," Akemi growled, glaring at the crystals around her. "They told up no more crystals were found underground. Prohibited anything that had to do with mining. Those. . ."

   "It's alright, Akemi-san," Wendy held Akemi's hand in support. "We're going to help your world."

   "I'm not sure how you did it, but you really saved the day, Carla!" Lucy exclaimed. 

   "I don't know, either," Carla admitted. "Information just keeps popping into my head."

   "Thank you, Carla," Happy thanked his crush. 

   "If you want to thank me, do it after we rescue everyone," Carla retorted, facing the rest of the group. "Now is when things get difficult. We have to get to the King's chambers without being noticed, and escape as well! If we're found by the army now, we won't have a prayer of winning."

   "You guys are in luck," Akemi grinned bitterly at the group. "I know the exact layout of the castle. I know exactly where the King's chambers are."

   "How. . .?"

   "My parents where advisers in the castle," Akemi explained, starting to walk forwards. "So, I've grown up in this castle. Before they kicked me out."

   "That-" Lucy started, walking next to Akemi. She was cut off though as two white sticky strings shot out of the darkness and wrapped around Lucy's figure. "Ack!"

   "Lucy!"

   "Lucy-san!"

   "What is this?" Lucy said in a grossed out tone. 

   "Guards," Akemi hissed, whipping her whip out and pressing a button. Sparks started to flow down the whip, casting more light. "They know we're here."

Wendy was caught next, letting out a squeak, before Natsu was caught as well. One of the strands stuck to his face, so he coudn't see or talk. 

   "Show yourselves, cowards!" Akemi shouted, rearing her weapon back and throwing it to where the white strand that held Lucy began. A shout of pain was heard before the strand was dropped. 

Soldiers started to rush out of the darkness, someone picking up the staff he person on the ground dropped. They were easily surrounded. With a yell Akemi swung her whip around carefully, making sure to hit the guard and not the Earthlanders.

   "The army!"

   "Why are there so many in this tunnel?" Lucy asked in panic. 

   "How did they find us?" Happy whispered, jumping when Akemi let out a shout of pain. He whipped around, eyes wide. "Akemi!!"

Her arm hung uselessly to her side, a spear having been thrown at her and hitting her shoulder. Akemi grunted in pain, eyes tearing up as she torn the spear out and switched hands to fight. 

   "Someone must have reported back to the castle, someone saw u-" Akemi stopped, her whip clattering to the floor and going out. Her knees shook as she looked down and saw a familiar blade sticking out of her stomach. 

   Akemi!!" Lucy shrieked in surprise, watching the older woman fall to her knees. 

   "Akemi-san!"

   "So, these are the wizards from Earthland?" A cool voice said from behind Akemi. One that caused Akemi to tense up in fear, eyes going wider. She was harshly shoved to the ground, the blade hitting the ground in front of her, before she felt feet walk along her back. A pair of black boots stopped in her field of vision. 

The Fairy Hunter.

   "Erza!"

   "Are you really different people than Natsu Dragyon and Lucy Ashley?" Erza asked, barely giving Akemi a glance. "Take them."

   "Yes Ma'am!"

The three of them were tugged away from Happy, Carla, and Akemi. 

   "Erza, listen to me! Okay?" Lucy begged. 

   "Wendy!"

   "Natsu, Lucy!"

   "Let them go!" Akemi demanded from her spot on the ground, coughing madly. "They-"

   "We'll deal with you later," Erza snapped, kicking Akemi hard in the jaw. Akemi cried out, head making contact with the ground harshly. Erza walked in front of Happy and Carla, blocking them from their friends. 

   "Exceeds," She said before the whole guard, including Erza herself, bowed down. "Welcome home, Exceeds. I thank you for leading the intruders into our custody."