~*****~

We resumed our trek through the forest. "Life can get pretty weird sometimes, don't you think?" Happy asked.

"What, is that supposed to make me feel better or something?" Natsu asked. "And since we're sneakin' around, tell your stomach to be quiet."

"Uh oh--" I murmur as my gaze flies up.

"What's wrong?" Happy asks curiously.

Two people are on a bridge above us, peering down cautiously. "We've been spotted again." Carla sighs.

"Well, what should we do now?" Wendy asks.

"I uh..." Happy trails off. "Hello, we're not from around these parts and we seem to be a little lost in this forest."

The two people immediately bow to the ground. "We're sorry! It's not our faults, we swear!" The older woman yelped.

I glance down at Happy. "Mighty Exceed, please forgive us and let us leave with our lives!" The man stammers nervously.

"Exceed?" Natsu echoes.

"I wonder who they're talking about," Wendy hums.

"Yo!" Natsu called out.

"Don't scare 'em, Natsu!" Happy cried.

"Well, it's not like we can avoid them now, huh?" Natsu grinned. "I got somethin' important to ask you guys so listen closely, okay?" I approach slowly with Ballad sitting contently in my arms. "Some of our friends are here in Edolas and--" They scream at the sight of me before bolting, screaming out that we don't hurt them.

Natsu turned to me and grunted. "Did you use that scary look of yours?" I narrow my eyes at him. "Yeah, that one!"

I sigh loudly and tromp off. "It's strange. I think they're scared of Happy, Carla, and Ballad," I mention as Wendy catches up.

"Right? I knew it wasn't your fault, Aria!" Natsu chirped. My head snapped to him; eyes narrowed. "Got it. Still mad."

"Tell me the truth. Am I really that scary looking?" Happy asks curiously.

"You looked like you were gonna eat 'em," Natsu laughed.

"No, I didn't!" Happy shot back.

"With your tummy being so loud, they probably thought you were," Ballad giggles.

"Oh, man. I better get somethin' to eat before I scare anymore locals away!" Happy whined.

My foot landed in something squishy. "Whoa--" I stammer as I sling myself back cautiously as the mushrooms on the ground lift up.

"Now what's happening?!" Carla yelped.

"I don't think this is gonna be good guy," Happy mentioned shakily.

My throat hitches as we're suddenly launched into the air and bounced on several mushrooms along the forest. We slam into some strange warehouse. "I don't wanna fall anymore," Wendy murmurs.

"That's quite enough for me," Carla groans.

"Get off of me." I growl at Natsu as his face remains firmly planted in my chest. Natsu flings himself back, his face turning a violent shade of red. I sigh irritably and stand up. "Where the heck are we now?"

"It's like some kind of weird warehouse," Happy comments.

Carla hums in thought. "Although I believe we're well beyond the point of taking preventive measures, let's see if there are any clothes in here that we could use to disguise ourselves."

We begin rummaging through the house. "Whoa! They've got loads of cool stuff in here!" Natsu exclaims.

"Natsu, would you please not look this way for a minute?" Wendy asked hesitantly.

"I'll cover you," I mention to her as I pull off my overcoat and hold it up to block her body.

"Thank you," Wendy smiles affectionately before she dresses quickly.

Once Wendy is finished, I find myself something to wear. "You better not be peeking, Natsu!" Ballad chirped as I untied my top and tossed it to the side. I snort and wrap my chest tightly and yank up a pair of shorts. I glance down at the boots I'd found and hum curiously. "I said, no peeking!" I flinch and peer over my shoulder to see Ballad slam directly into Natsu's head.

"I wasn't!" He bellowed at her before I shove my feet into the boots and tromp over to pluck the irritated cat off of him. He gazes up at me with a strange look on his face before he nervously glances away. I ruffle his hair for a moment before tromping off.

"Did you find something, Ballad?" I ask. She nods immediately and flies off to grab it when Natsu starts whimpering in shock.

"You find something?" I ask curiosuly.

"It's Fairy Tail!" Natsu yelps.

We flinch and peer out the window he's staring through before sucking in our own breaths and running out with him.

"It's in disguise, too, but I'd recognize it anywhere! That's where they are!" Natsu cheered.

"Hold on!" Carla cried.

"Wait for us!" Happy shouts.

"Keep up, you two!" Ballad chants from my shoulder.

We run until we find what looks like a giant beanstalk with the words Fairy Tail written over the front, the banner just handing above. We push open the doors and gape. "They're okay--" Natsu gasps.

"It wasn't even that much trouble to find 'em." Wendy says happily.

"Is it just me, of does something seem kinda different?" Happy asks.

"Who cares about that, they're here!" Natsu chirped.

"Yeah, I guess you're right." Wendy states.

"No, there's something definitely wrong here." I mention. "Come on, under here," I hiss and lift up a table cloth.

"Hey, look, here's the request board," Happy murmurs.

"Seems normal enough to me." Natsu comments. "I don't understand why we have to pretend like we're not really here."

"Just look, will you?" I snap.

"Yeah? See what?" Natsu asked irritably.

"Well, I'm off. I just took on a pretty major job." Juvia hums happily in a strange tone.

"Take care!" Max says.

"Juvia, my beloved!" Gray shouts. "Please, wait!" I snort and try not to bellow with laughter. "If you're gonna go out, please take me with you. Pretty please?"

"You're such a wet blanket and take some of those clothes off for a change." Juvia retorts.

"What?" Natsu gasps.

"Give me a shout when you have your summer wardrobe." Juvia waves her hand at Gray.

"I just get really cold!" Gray complains.

"He needs to learn a think or two about bein' clingy," Warren laughs.

"The poor guy is head over heels in love with her and just doesn't know what to do with himself." Max agrees.

"WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON?!" Natsu cried.

"I'm tired of your excuses, Elfman." Jet says in an overly aggressive tone.

"You actually bungled up another job?" Droy mentions loudly.

"It's so embarrassing." Elfman sobs.

Jet and Droy lay into him about being a man, and I'm trying so hard to keep it together. "Jet and Droy may be our strongest members, but they don't always have to scold the weaker ones. Elfman's just not that capable." Max explains.

"Lay off him, you two!" Warren calls out.

"GOT A JOB TO DO!" Nab says.

"Man, does that guy ever take a break?" Warren laughs.

"Him? Never." Max beams.

"Miss Cana, would you care to join us for an adult beverage?" Glasses Macao asks.

"Yeah, tip one back and relax!" Non-Smoking Wakaba cheers.

Cana, who's dressed so prim and properly. It makes me feel uncomfortable to see her without her barrel of wine. "Oh, don't be silly, you two. I've never had a drop of alcohol in my life. Why start now?"

"Hey, my hot biscuit," Alzack hums as Bisca sidles up to him in a loving embrace.

"Alley Cat. My little gunslinger~" Bisca coos.

"That's hot--" I mention as I peer at them, my cheeks flushing. "Although, I kinda want the shy Alzack and Bisca to do that."

Everyone continues to speak strangely. "Yeah, something is definitely wrong here!" Natsu murmurs.

"Everybody is acting crazier than normal!" Happy chirped.

"Hey, what the heck do you think you're doin'?" A voice chirps out as someone kneels down to stare at us. We flinch in surprise at the familiar face. "What's the big idea with you sneakin' around our guild like this?"

"Lucy?!" We yelp.

"I'm scared, Carla," Wendy stammers.

"Don't worry, child, it'll be all right." Carla says. "But what the devil is going on here?"

"Goodness, you're lookin' savage, Lucy." I mention as I poke my head out from the table. "And why are you all acting so freaky?" I say as we back up slowly.

"You think this place has warped their minds somehow?" Wendy asked shakily, her hand clasping mine tightly.

"Aria?" Lucy hums as she leans in close. I swallow thickly, preparing myself for a fight that might come. "Why didn't you just say it was you, ya big bone head?! I didn't know you were back from your job!"

I suck in a breath as I'm being squeezed tightly. "Wait, that's Aria?" Someone asks.

"What happened to being properly covered, huh?" Someone else teases.

"Natsu?" I murmur irritably. "What the heck is going--"

"Natsu, you're here, too?!" Lucy gasps as she moves to hug him. "Where have you guys been? I was thinking the worst happened. Don't ever make me worry like that again!"

My brows raise in confusion. "I'm sorry?" Natsu hums.

She immediately leaps onto him and begins grinding her fists into his skull. "No, but you're gonna be!"

"She broke out the good stuff!" Warren chirped.

"No one can escape Lucy's grind crushes, it's one of her forty-eight torture techniques!" Max exclaims.

"Torture?!" I yelp. "Lucy?!"

"Lucy, don't be so hard on the poor thing. You know how he can be." Cana says politely.

"It's so strange to see you all dressed up and not blasted!" I exclaim, my head swimming with the strange atmosphere.

"And why is Elfman crying instead of preaching about the glory of manhood?!" Happy shouted.

"FOR CRYIN' OUT LOUD, WOULD YOU STOP CRYIN' OUT LOUD?!" Jet and Droy bellow to Elfman.

"Why is everybody acting so crazy?" Ballad sobs. "Gray's not naked, Nab is actually taking jobs, and Juvia isn't professing her love for Gray every five seconds!"

"We're glad you made it back in one piece. Right, my sweet, Juvia?" Gray chirps.

"Sure, whatever." Juvia sighs.

"Wendy's right. I think this place has changed them somehow." Happy murmured. "That's the only explanation for why they're being so weird."

"Hey, Natsu! Aria! Glad you made it back safely!" Mira shouted from the bar, dressed in a very revealing outfit.

"At least Mira seems normal," Natsu mentions.

"Yeah, that's kind of a disappointment, though." I retort.

"By the way, guys, what's with the kid and the cats? You a babysitter now?" Macao asks.

"Seriously." Wakaba snorts.

"Wait a minute." They both hum. "What are these cats doing here?"

"Cats!" Everyone bellows.

Ballad gives a yelp and buries herself into my chest. "How'd they get inside?!" Jet shouts.

"Those aren't regular house cats, those are exceeds!" Droy agrees.

"No way--" Gray says shakily.

"Shouldn't we do something?" Juvia asks.

"It's the outfit, isn't it?" Happy asks nervously.

"Natsu, Aria, what the heck is going on here?" Lucy asks.

"Has anyone else noticed that every person we've met so far freaks whenever they hear Exceed? What does that mean, anyway?" Natsu asks.

I lift Ballad up and hum. "D'you remember anything else?"

She shakes her head and peers around. "It's way too hot for this get up," Happy sighs.

"They sure do look alot like them," Mira hums as she peers closely at Ballad. "Now I understand why everybody's so on edge."

"Careful," Macao and Wakaba hum. "Don't get too close to it, it may bite you."

"I don't trust them one bit," Gray stammered.

"You know, I think big sis is right," Elfman says. "Don't worry! The little guys just look like exceeds!" Elfman chants.

"Whatever you say," Juvia hums.

"I've got a bad feeling..." Max comments.

"That makes two of us, I mean, a spade's a spade." Warren agrees.

"Spade?" Happy stammers.

"Calm down and put your helmet back on." Carla snapped to Happy.

"But it's so stuffy when it's on, I can't breathe!" Happy whined.

"Quit complaining and just put up with it!" Carla barked.

We took a seat and I had to lean away as Lucy peered closely at my face. "Lucy's really scary..." Wendy murmured delicately.

"Spill it, Cat Wrangler, I wanna know where you were, what you were doing, and you better hope I like your answers." Lucy snapped at me.

I yawned and stretched my arms back. "I'll get back to you on that," I mention irritably.

"We don't have time to waste, so tell her everything that's happened so far," Ballad said to me.

I sigh loudly. "Fine, fine. We were in the guild hall, Natsu was passed out on my lap--" That earned some choked grunts of surprise. I grasp the elbow that threatens to dig into my head. "Don't bother with that," I snap at her.

"You never--"

I swat her away. "Will you quit it!" I snap irritably. "God, you're so annoying like this!" I shout at her. "I want my Lucy back, the one who's friendly and always boasting that she's so pretty! That one holds my hair back when I vomit from too much drinking! God!" I slam my face on the table and try to zone out all of the strange talk. My head pops up when I finally take a look around. "You know, I haven't seen Erza around."

"That might be a good thing," Natsu grumbled irritably.

"No kidding. Do you think she'd be the complete opposite of herself, like everyone else?" Happy asked. I peer under the table as Natsu hides against my leg.

"The way our lucks been, she'll be even more psycho than Lucy." Natsu commented.

"I hope not." Wendy murmurs.

"It's hard to imagine what Erza's opposite would be like." Ballad mentions.

"Maybe it's something like this..." Natsu trailed off. His version sounds a little strange. "Like that!"

"There's no way bizarro Erza would be that pathetic." Happy commented.

"All right, then. Since you're such a smarty cat, what do you think she'll be like?" Natsu asked.

"Oh, I don't just think, friend. I know!" Happy chirps as he stands up. He explains a version of Erza who's calling him Lord and Master. "Awesome!"

"That's crazy," I retort. "And Natsu's was blown out of proportion?" I ask.

"I think I know what she'd be like!" Wendy giggled. Her version was baking a shit ton of cakes just for Wendy.

"You gotta be kidding?!" Natsu and Happy cry.

"I dunno, Erza loves her cake." I mention impishly. "I think she'll be like this--" I trail off as I explain my version. Erza actually being a big softie on the outside, and a total softie on the inside as well. Completing herself as the cutesy girl who just wants hugs and sweets all the time.

"Isn't that Erza anyway?" Ballad asks.

I start sobbing. "I miss everyone!" I sob.

"Honestly, these fantasies of yours are a waste of brain power, not to mention embarrassing." Carla commented.

"Still, I can't help but wonder how different she'll be." Wendy states.

"Yeah, I know! It's kind of exciting!" Happy chirps.

"All right, Aria! You better start talking!" Lucy chirps as she hauls me out of my chair. "This new move's gonna rock your socks off!"

"Will you quit it!" I snap at her just a little too aggressively. "I don't have time for this--"

"That so? So, ya wanna play tough?" Lucy cuts me off, her eyes slicing into a glare. "I love that game."

I duck quickly, narrowly avoiding the elbow flying towards my face. Unfortunately, it hits Natsu straight in the forehead. "God, you're insufferable!" I shout at her as I begin fighting with her.

"It's about time you decide to play with me!" Lucy barks as I wrangle her into a choke hold.

"It's so strange to see Aria so riled up..." Cana comments as I hit the ground and twist my leg out to trip Lucy.

"Will you just spit it out!?" Lucy barks at me as we lock our arms around each other's necks. "Tell me where you guys have been!"

"I would if you stop being so freaky!" I snap at her.

"Lucy, are you harassing poor Aria again? You should know better, she's not one to be messed with!" An unfamiliar voice rings out.

I peer over and stare at the unfamiliar girl. I raise a brow before the recollection hits me. From the painting that Mira showed me, I can immediately tell it's her younger sister, Lisanna. I release Lucy and glance over at Natsu as he stares in utter disbelief. "Fine, whatever, I was goin' easy on her." Lucy hums.

"Am I dreaming?" Happy asks.

"Hey, welcome home." Elfman hums happily.

"Glad you made it back. I was worried." Mira chirps.

"Good to see ya, sis. You too, bro. Sorry for the wait." Lisanna smiles.

"It's really you--" Natsu mutters.

Both Natsu and Happy stare at her longingly. "She's alive--" Happy stammers.

"Lisanna--" Natsu breathes.

"How many times have I told you jerks not to bully my brother when I'm not around?" Lisanna scolds Jet and Droy.

"Yeah, we know." They drone.

I can't help but stare at Natsu as tears spring to his eyes. My chest tightens for some reason, and I try to swallow it down. This is no time to feel possessive. Not over this. This was someone he was very close with as a child. I had no right to feel this way. "I found you..." He murmurs delicately.

Lisanna panics as he and Happy literally bolt to hug her. "Lisanna!" They cry.

"NOT HAPPENING! YOU GOT THREE SECONDS TO TELL ME WHAT'S GOING ON!" Lucy bellowed as she literally kicked them away. "And then I start breakin' bones, you hear me?!"

"She's there--" Natsu commented, tears in his eyes. "Aria, Lisanna's alive--" He says as he swings his head towards me. I force a smile and nod.

"Of course she is!" Lucy snaps.

I flinch visibly as Natsu curls himself into my front, sobbing into my shoulder. I hum irritably and pat his head. "There, there?" I say uncertainly.

"Just cry it out, don't worry, we're all old buddies, we won't judge you." Gray hums as he tries to move in on the group hug.

"The Gray I know would be half naked by now," Natsu whimpers.

"Well, you three sure make a cute thrupple, don't you?" Lucy says irritably. "So adorable, I think I'm gonna vomit."

"Real friends talk to each other, not fight like you and Levy," Gray mentions as I hold my hand against his face to keep him away.

"Wait, how's Lisanna here in the first place?" Happy asks, tears still in his eyes.

"Mira and Elfman's sister?" Wendy asks. "But I thought she'd been killed on a dangerous job."

"That's what I'd heard, too." I mention. "Okay, this world might not be the opposite of our own... If it were, Mira would be behaving like a demonic hellion. But the biggest proof is right there." I say as I point out a familiar face.

"Hey, Wendy, that shrimp there kinda looks like you. A little you." Warren comments to a woman.

"Yeah, you think so?" Adult Wendy hums.

"Now that you mention it, they do look similar," Max nods.

"Are you saying that's me?!" Wendy cried.

"This is bad. We should leave here as quickly as possible," Carla says.

"Why? What's going on?" Happy asked.

"These people aren't our missing friends," Ballad murmurs. "This isn't our Fairy Tail."

Carla hums in agreement. "They're not opposites. They're entirely different people. They've been Edolas citizens from the beginning. It's not as crazy as it sounds. Think of it as sort of a parallel world. Edolas has it's own separate history and culture. So, it's possible for a completely separate Fairy Tail to exist."

"No way," Wendy gasped.

"My head hurts. I can't handle all this complicated crazy talk." Happy complains.

"Okay, if these people aren't our friends, where are we supposed to find 'em?" Natsu asked, suddenly no longer crying and prying himself from the mess he made on my shoulder.

"What are you babbling about over here?" Lucy drawls as she grasps my arm tightly.

"You expect me to know that? If I did, we wouldn't even be on this wild goose chase," Carla comments, ignoring Lucy. "We shouldn't remain in this place a minute more. Come along now."

"Carla, where'll we go!" Wendy cries.

"The royal city!" Carla calls back. "If there are any clues as to the whereabouts of our friends, we're sure to find them there."

They stop short as Nab comes back in. "We've got big trouble! The Fairy Hunter is here!" He shouts.

"Where do you think you're going? You wanna die?" Lucy barks at Carla and Happy. "Don't you dare walk out!"

"Impossible!" Max cried.

"How could she have tracked us down so quickly?" Warren asks.

"Those monsters from the kingdom, will they never stop hunting us?" Cana asks nervously.

"I don't know if we'll get out of this one!" Macao and Wakaba barked.

"The kingdom?" Ballad echoes.

Carla nodded. "They're the ones who created Anima and sent the three of us to Earthland on our mission."

"So that means... the three of us are enemies to Fairy Tail." Happy whimpered.

"Preparing reactor for ignition!" I hear Levy shout. "Entering coordinates! Automated error correction in five, four, three, two, one... Marker connected. Routing magic power to shock absorbers."

"Shut up and cast the teleportation circle already!" Lucy shouted.

"D'you wanna go out there and buy us some time?" Levy snapped.

"Oh, you're so funny. Just cast it before she gets here!" Lucy ordered.

"I'm trying, don't rush me!" Levy complains.

"This is no time for a cat fight, ladies!" Jet and Droy complain.

"Is the Fairy Hunter a monster?" Natsu asks.

"Magic power output at forty percent for teleport criticality." Levy states. "Forty-three, forty-six, fifty-one."

"What's going on?!" Ballad cried.

"I don't wanna die today!" Gray shivered.

"Quit freaking out, it's embarrassing!" Juvia barked at him.

"Go faster!" Jet shouted at Levy.

"Can't you speed it up or something?" Droy barked.

"You wanna walk instead?" Levy retorted irritably. "Output at sixty-one, sixty-three, two minutes to teleport."

"What's with the air? It's vibrating," Wendy murmurs.

"She's here!" Elfman roars.

"Whoa-- what is that?!" I bark.

"The Fairy Hunter!" Happy cries.

"What a monster!" Carla stammers.

"Why would the kingdom send that after Fairy Tail? I don't understand!" Wendy shouts.

"Are you that out of the loop?" Adult Wendy hums.

"What do you mean?" She whimpers.

"The king ordered all guilds destroyed to protect the limited magic supply." Adult Wendy explained. "Out of all of them, only one is still standing and it's this one. I don't know where you think you are. But this is Fairy Tail and we're a Dark Guild."

"All right, we've finally reached criticality!" Levy barks as I stare at Adult Wendy in absolute shock. "Now! Activate the shock absorbers. Teleportation circle deploying!"

"WHY IS EVERYTHING FLOATING AWAY?!" Natsu cried as we begin lifting into the air.

"What's happening to me?" Carla cries.

"This is crazy!" Happy shouted.

Ballad just burrowed into my overcoat, clutching on for dear life.

"Everyone grab on to something, quickly!" Lucy ordered.

My stomach turned. "This is a vehicle?!" I bark before I visibly start suffering.

"Oh great--" Natsu complains.