Hot Wheels

Another Section of Desert
A cloaked man looked out over a dune to a small town in the middle of nowhere. "Figures they'd end up in the middle of some crazy mess. Just my luck..." Gajeel growled out before marching towards the town.
On the other side if the city of Luen, E. Lucy lead the group into the city. "How you holding up back there?" E. Brianna teased.
"Horrible..." Nicholas, in a bright neon green wig, answered from the way back. "Couldn't you have made something a little more manly?... Dear god, I'm starting to sound like Elfman."
"Hey, what's with all the closed shops?" Slate asked, looking around.
"Thank the king for this." E. Lucy answered. "It wasn't long ago when you could buy and sell magic here like anything else. But then the royal army started hunting down guilds. Now the buying and selling of magic is strictly forbidden. What's worse is even possessing it is a crime."
"Seriously?" Natsu asked, looking at a closed shop. "You can get in trouble for having it?"
"What about people who are always able to use it?" Wendy asked, making the two Edolas women shared a look.
"Look, let me make this clear. If you have magic, you just get rid of it or else you'll end up in jail, or worse." E. Brianna explained.
"I could be mistaken, but it seems that magic spell are treated like objects here." Carla spoke up. "To put it another way, since magic is finite here, that means there are no wizards who can use it like we can. Instead, its stored with in objects like lacrima. They then combine these objects with various things, such as weapons. The resulting magical item are what's considered magic here."
"So theses guys can't cast spells, they just use magic tools?" Natsu asked.
"Basically." The cat nodded.
"We're here." E. Lucy said as she stood across from her Brianna. "There's a black market for magic just down here. Trust me, you'll need this stuff if you wanna travel."
"A black market?" Wendy asked, a little nervous.
"Wouldn't be the first time I've gone into one." Nicholas said.
"Guess we might as well play by this worlds rules for using magic." Natsu said aloud.
"How adaptable." Carla said.
"You do what you can with ya have." Slate said as they walked down the steps.
Elsewhere in town, Gajeel stood inside an alleyway. "Now what do I do? Gus's I just have to start asking questions." He flipped his hood down and stepped out. "Yo, can I ask you a question?" The man merely walked away, as did everyone else he tried to talk to. "And I thought rock head was annoying to deal with."
He looked over to find three goons staring st him. "One thing stays the same. No matter where you go, there are always clowns who can be convinced to help."
He walked over and stared at the one with the Mohawk in the middle. "You trying to start something punk?" He asked.
"Step off, horse fly." The fat one on the end added.
"You got a lot to learn about insults, pal." Gajeel glared back.
"Cut the crap." The middle one said. "We ain't got time for a lecture, ya maggot." The group laughed at his joke before Gajeel head butted him to the ground. The other two threw punches at him, but his head was harder than they thought it be. Two punches to the gut later, and they fell over as the middle one got up.
Gajeel reached out and grabbed him by the shirt collar. "Listen. A giant lacrima should have popped up around here a couple of days ago. You're gonna tell me where to find it, so start talking!"
"I don't know anything!" He said.
"Let me jog your memory." Gajeel pulled his head back.
"Please, I'm telling the truth." The man begged as his friends stood up. "Right guys?" They nodded and Gajeel let him go.
"Fine, I'll ask someone else." He grumbled. "You're off the hook, so scram."
"What's with you Gajeel?" The mohawked man asked. "How'd you get so strong all of a sudden? And I never pegged you as the guy to go around picking fights."
'They must be talking about some other version of me in Edolas.' Gajeel though to himself. "Tell me, what does the Gajeel here do for a living?" The three looked at him confused. "I'm not him, we just look alike." The middle one commented on how much they look alike. "Answer the question, or your getting a knuckle sandwich."
"He's one of them freelance journalists." The middle man answered. "He's got a reputation for being way too nosey."
"A journalist?" The Earthland version asked back.
"Yeah, he writes a bunch of stuff for magazines and newspapers." The punk explained. "They're usually critical of the king. He's a busy body, so no one really likes talking to him."
"That explains why people avoided me like the plague." He mumbled. "This Gajeel's a journalist, is he? Didn't see that coming..."
----Black Market Shop
"Take a look at all the weird stuff they have." Happy mumbled as they looked at the shelves of Edolas items.
"This is the mustiest shop I've ever seen." Carla complained.
"I've been in worse." Slate said. "Besides, this stuff gives an item character. Scratches means they've seen battle and survived."
"What a fine eye you have." The owner chuckled. "Yes, all these things give my items flavor."
"We're not here for flavor. We want useable." E. Lucy said. "Double check everything, there's bound to be some counterfiets."
"Excuse me, mister. Got any fire magic?" Natsu asked.
"I think I do..." He reached down and pulled out a bladeless sword. "This here is the Sealed Flame Sword. Just put this in here, seal it up, and... voila." He motioned the instructions and flames popped out of it. "Pretty cool, huh?"
"That flame looks pretty weak, but it's better than nothing." The pinkette mumbled.
"How 'bout something involving earth?" Nicholas asked.
"How about this?" The shop owner pulled out a single brass knuckle. "Just strap this on and you'll turn your fist into stone."
"I'll take it." He answered.
"And can we get this too?" Wendy asked, holding a blue thermos.
"Why do you want that?" Carla asked.
"It's so tiny and cute." The bluenette smirked.
"This here is called an Air Shatter Cannon." The shop keep explained, taking it from Wendy. "All you do is pull these pieces apart and-" He did just that and wind began blowing around Wendy.
"Okay, well take them all." Natsu said.
"Thank you for your business." The owner said, walking back behind the counter. "All together they cost twenty thousand. But since I like you, I'll knock it down to eighteen."
"That's still really expensive." Slate said.
"Well, these items are incredible hard to come by." The owner defended.
"Hold it." E. Lucy spoke up. "I don't know why I didn't ask this first, but you don't have any money, do you?"
"I do... but I don't think this will cover it." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a single Jewel, making Natsu laugh.
"Not funny jerk!" E. Lucy shouted back.
"Come on, Lucy. Pay the man." Natsu joked.
E. Lucy stared at him in shock and thought. 'Got to admit, being bossed around is nice for a change.' "Fine." The blonde huff. "I'll pay for you guys just this once."
"Absolutely not." The owner protested. "After everything you two have done for me, it wouldn't be right for me to take your money. I'd be in jail if you hadn't helped me when the royal army came."
"Oh, that was nothing." E. Brianna said. "We were just trying to help."
"In any case, I'd be delighted if you'd both accept them from me as gifts." The owner said.
"Thanks. I really appreciate it." E. Lucy accepted.
They grabbed their items and left the building as the shop keep looked around. "Hey, where's the tiny bag I found?"
"Scary Lucy is a lot more dependable than our version." Happy observed.
"I told you to drop the scary, fur ball." E. Lucy said.
"Well, one thing hasn't changed. Brianna is always willing to help someone in need." Nicholas observed.
"Is there any way we can pay you two back?" Wendy asked.
"Yeah..." E. Lucy mumbled. "If you guys wouldn't mind, we'd like to hear more about your versions of us..."
----MonMon Cafe
"Ahahahaha!" E. Lucy was practically rolling with laughter. "Wait, your kidding? I'm writing a novel?" She asked between laughing fits. "And I'm some rich girl who uses magic with spirits and keys!?" She laughed even harder.
"You're certainly just as obnoxious as her." Natsu joked.
"I ain't obnoxious!" The blonde shouted back.
At a table next to them, E. Brianna sat across from Nicholas and Slate. "So, your version of me is your best friend and you've been together since you were kids?" E. Brianna asked. "On the run? For seven years? And you didn't kill my family?"
"Yes." Nicholas nodded.
"You realize how stupid that story sounds, right?" She asked back.
"Call it what you want, it still happened." He said.
"I can't seem to remember how to use this..." Wendy mumbled as she pulled out her magic item.
"Dummy! Don't just pull that out!" E. Lucy shouted, looking around. "Like I told you, magic is banned in our world. You can get in big trouble just for having it."
"Sorry about that." The little girl mumbled as she put it away.
"So, magic used to be a part of everyday life like in our world?" Carla asked.
"It was, but now things have changed." The blonde nodded. "The kingdom went and stole a part of our culture from us."
"Why'd they do that?" Happy asked.
"Because they wanna keep the magic power all to themselves." E. Brianna answered.
"Well if they don't wanna share the magic, then I guess we'll just go beat them up for it." Natsu said whole heartedly.
"That's the craziest thing I've ever heard!" E. Lucy shouted, standing up. "We wouldn't stand a chance against the royal army."
"If that's true, then why'd you two follow us?" Slate asked. "And I don't want that bs excuse of 'keeping an eye on him'." He told Edolas Brianna.
"I just wanted to make sure you knew the way to the capital." The blonde answered. "We aren't looking for a fight with anyone."
"Okay, if you say so." Natsu said back, making the blonde advert her eyes.
"Don't mind her." E. Brianna said. "She might act tough, but deep down she really-"
"They're here! Court off the area!" The sentence was interrupted by a squad of royal soldiers bursting into the cafe.
"The royal army!" Both Edolas females shouted.
"Freeze, Fairy Tail wizards!" One guard shouted.
"How'd they find us?" Carla asked.
The guards charged them as Natsu pulled out his new sword. "Time to try out my new magic!"
"No!" E. Lucy shouted.
"Fire!" Natsu pressed the button and sent a wave of flames at the squad.
"Carla, do you remember how to open this thing?" Wendy asked as she tried to open the canister.
"How should I know!" The cat asked back.
"That's how we handle thing back- home?" He mumbled the last part in shock as the smoke faded, showing the guards hiding behind magical shields. "No fair! Another blast, coming at you!" He tried to fire again, only to end up with smoke.
"I told you magic is limited here!" E. Lucy shouted. "You can only use that so many times!"
"It's only good for one blast!?" Natsu shouted in shock.
"No, but in terms of out put, you just used it about a hundred times!" E. Brianna shouted as the guards charged them.
"Up close and personal. Just the way I like it." Nicholas chuckled as he put on the knuckles. "Take this!" He swung a fist at the closest one, expecting him to fly back. Instead, the shield activated and he was sent back. "The hell!?" He looked at the device in his hand. "This thing isn't even loaded!"
"They're coming for us!" Happy screamed.
"I just have to open-" Wendy struggled to pull the canister open. "It!" She finally did, and a tornado swallowed the eight.
"Why'd you do this, Wendy!?" Natsu asked as they spun around in a circle.
"I don't have a clue!" She shouted back as the tornado crashed into a building. The guards chased after them and missed the building entirely as E. Lucy peaked out a hole in the door.
"We gotta away from the army this time. But we're stuck in this city." E. Brianna mumbled.
"Man, the magic here sucks." Natsu complained.
"No kidding." Wendy agreed.
"I never even got to use my weapon." Nicholas complained.
"What should we do?" Happy asked.
"How about you get off me?" Slate asked from underneath the blue cat.
"Isn't there another way to leave?" Carla asked.
"Not that I know of." E. Lucy said.
"They're here! It's Fairy Tail!" A guard shouted, scaring them. They waited for the door to be busted down, but that never happened so they peaked out the door.
"Let of of me!" The eight stared in shock as one guard held a blonde girl by the wrist.
"You're Lucy of Fairy Tail, aren't you?" The guard asked.
"Yeah, I'm Lucy. Now let go!" The blonde said back.
"Lucy!?" Natsu, Nicholas, and E. Brianna shouted at once.
"The other me!?" E. Lucy shouted.
"Let go!" The Earthland blonde shouted.
"Why is Lucy here?" Happy asked.
"I have no idea..." Carla answered.
"Let go!" The blonde shouted again.
"We have to help her!" Natsu said as he raced over to her.
"Wait!" E. Brianna and Lucy shouted at the same time.
"Open, Gate of the Scorpion -" Lucy chanted as she held a key high.
"Wait, Lucy! That won't work!" Wendy called out.
"Scorpio!" In a flash of light, the spirit appeared and took the guards out with sand.
"Magic!?" Both men asked in shock.
"No way!" Wendy said in surprise.
"How'd she do that?" Both Edolas women asked as the spirit faded.
"Lucy..." Natsu mumbled, making her turn to them.
"You guys! I missed you!" She ran over in joy.
"Now I'm thoroughly confused." Natsu mumbled.
Lucy reached them before turning to herself. "It's me!?"
"I'd knew we'd look alike, but seeing here is freaking me out." E. Lucy said.
More guards arrived and surrounded the group. "Let's skip the introductions and try to survive!" Slate shouted.
"Who are you?" Lucy asked, making the cat jump up and grab her hair.
"If we stay here, we're all gonna get captured!" He shouted in her face.
"Why are you worried about that?" Lucy asked as Nicholas pulled the cat off. "Natsu, take them out!"
"How? We haven't been able to use our magic since we got here." Natsu said, shocking the blonde. "And a better question is why can you use it!?"
"I don't know!" The others begged and encouraged her to deal with the guards... but she got the wrong idea. "So I'm the strongest one now."
"Yeah, you're a big hero! Now take them out!" Nicholas shouted.
"What's with this girl's ego?" Slate asked, earning a shrug.
With a smile, Lucy pulled out another key. "Open, Gate of the Ram - Aries!" In a puff of smoke, the ram spirit appeared.
"...I'll do my best." The spirit mumbled.
"It's the fluffy one!" Happy cheered.
"What is kind of magic is that?" E. Lucy asked as guards started mumbling about demons.
"Aries, can you beat them?" Lucy asked.
"Y-yes! I'll try!" The ram shouted before summoning a ball of pink wool. "Wool Bomb!" She threw it and it exploded, acting like a big bed to the guards. "I don't think it's working."
"No it's working! Let them have it!" Lucy cheered as the ram spirit sent more wool towards them. "Let's go! Everyone get out of here!" She told the group as the spirit returned to the realm.
"Well, that's one way to take out an army." Natus joked as they ran out of the city.
"I'm strong! This rocks!" Lucy said, patting herself on the back
"This is Earthland magic?" E. Lucy asked, looking back at the wool.
"It's kinda wierd, don't you think?" E. Brianna asked.
----Outside the Town
"...and so, when the Anima hit the town, Horologium saved me." Lucy said as she explained how she got to Edolas. "He said he felt like space-time was being twisted or something. So he shoved me inside him and kept me safe. After that, I was alone for a bit before Mystogan came along."
"He survived that thing too?" Natsu asked.
"Yeah, then he explained everything and then sent me to this world." Lucy nodded. "After that, I started searching for anyone I knew and that's how we reunited."
"So, who is Mystogan?" Nicholas and Slate asked at the same time.
"Honestly, we couldn't answer that even if we tried." Happy answered. "Did he say anything about why you're magic works, but ours doesn't?"
"Well... maybe I'm a legendary and beautiful heroine here!" Lucy suggested, letting her imagination run wild.
"Never, in a million years, could you be a legendary anything." Nicholas said, shattering her hopes and dropping her head.
"I wish I knew myself." She mumbled. "If you guys can't use your magic, then I don't know who we're gonna win."
"You mean you still wanna go up against the kingdom!?" E. Lucy asked.
"Duh." Natsu answered.
"If we don't save our friends, then who will?" Happy asked.
"You guys can't even use magic, and you still wanna fight them?" E. Brianna asked. "That's suicidal."
"Excuse me! I still have an entire arsenal of magic!" Lucy shouted. "Everyone just sit back while Fairy Tail's strongest wizard handles this by herself. I'm all fired up!"
"I feel violated." Natsu said, offended by his catchphrase being used.
"Well, we don't have a choice." Carla said. "All we can do is hope."
"Aye!" Happy cheered.
"You can do this Lucy!" Wendy cheered.
"Yeah, we're screwed." Nicholas/Slate said together.
"These guys are all crazy." E. Lucy mumbled aloud.
"Yeah, they are." E. Brianna said. "But you gotta admit. These guys will make you smile."
"You don't think... they could change things, could they?" E. Lucy asked.
"Only time will tell." The other Edolas girl answered.
----Shicca City
The dragon slayers, cats and E. Brianna sat around the map on the table. "Man, the royal city is a lot farther away then I thought." Natsu mumbled.
"I don't care how far it is. We're going there." Nicholas said.
"But with all the royal soldiers looking for us, it could take weeks before we could get close enough." Wendy said.
"This is nuts." All looked up as Edolas Lucy stood in a towel. "She's just like me. We've even got the same freckles on our butts."
"I don't have freckles anywhere!" Earthland Lucy shouted, also in a towel.
"Wait, Scary Lucy. Did you for get about Nicholas and Natsu?" Wendy asked.
"I can see them fine, half pint." The Edolas blonde answered. "I just don't care."
"You should!" Lucy shouted. Edolas Brianna stood up and walked over to her friend.
"Bad Ashley!" E. Brianna said, flicking the blonde between the eyes. "You don't go around talking about other people's butts."
"Okay, I'm sorry." The now fully named Lucy Ashely said, rubbing the sore spot.
"Doublucy sure is lively." Happy joked.
"That was bad." Slate said. "I've seen horror movies funnier than that joke."
Natsu stared at the two blondes in thought about something. "Like what you see? I'll show you more." The Edolas blonde teased, reaching for the towel.
"Don't you dare!" Lucy shouted. Natsu let out a stifled laugh, catching their attention. "What the heck are you laughing at? I see, you were gonna make fun of me by saying the other me is better looking, is that it? Well, if you wanna die, be my guest."
"I was just thinking..." Natsu said, trying not to laugh so hard. "You can wash your own back now."
The whole room just stared him in shock. "Well, now we know where Happy gets it from." Nicholas said. "Still, it's creepy how much you two look alike. If it wasn't for that tattoo, I'd call you twins."
"I'm pretty sure my behind is in better shape." Ashley said, rubbing her butt. She looked ahead and got another flick. "Hey, I was talking about my own butt."
An idea struck Natsu and he started spinning around in a circle. "You guys have to try some sort of mirror routine together."
"Not happening!" Both blondes shouted at once.
"Wow, talk about perfect sync." Wendy mumbled.
"More like perfectly annoying." Carla said.
"So, are you two just gonna stay in a towel or..." Slate said.
"Ah! I'm still naked!" Lucy shouted.
"Still, we need need more than a tattoo to tell us apart..." Ashley mumbled as the two finished getting dressed in pajamas. "Hey, you got one of them ghosts that good with scissors?" She asked we counter part.
"You bet I do." Lucy chuckled as she summoned Cancer.
A few snips later, Edolas Lucy now had short hair. "How do you like it, baby?" The spirit asked.
"There shouldn't be any trouble telling us apart now, right?" She asked.
"Are you really okay with cutting your hair?" Lucy asked her counterpart. "Mine took forever to grow."
"Yeah, it's just hair." Ashley said. "It's not like it's serving some higher purpose by being longer, so who cares what length it is."
"Every girl should have pride in her looks, baby." Cancer said.
"I guess so..." She mumbled back as she walked over to the window. "In a world like this, you end up forgetting about things like boys and girl. In the end we're all just survivors."
"But if it's that tough, then why did everyone at your Guildhall seem so care free?" Happy asked.
"Of course they did. It's important to keep your spirits up, even if you have to force them." The blonde explained. And when we can't do that, we remember that there's people out there that need us. Even if we're labeled a dark guild, Fairy Tail will always lend a helping hand." Natsu gave the blonde a soft smile. "But I guess, that isn't enough in the end."
"Huh?" Lucy asked.
"Oh, it's nothing. I'm just rambling." Ashely said. "Hey, Brianna, can I talk to you for a second?"
----The Next Morning
"You have got to be kidding me!" Lucy shouted, waking everyone up. "I can't believe those two!"
"You're sure full of energy today." Natsu mumbled as he rubbed his eyes.
"Is she always this loud?" Slate asked Nicholas.
"What is wrong?" Carla asked.
"They left us!" Lucy shouted, showing off the paper in her hands.
Wendy walked up behind her and took the paper. "'Keep walking for three more days and you'll get to the Royal City. We have to get back to guild now. Good luck and try not to get busted'."
"What was all that about lending a helping hand?" Lucy asked in anger. "If I ever see them again, I'll ring their scrawny necks!"
"So since if them is you, does that mean you have a scrawny neck?" Happy asked.
"Shut up!" Lucy shouted before mumbling about her counterpart.
"Why are you mad?" Nicholas asked. "They told us they weren't going to fight, so that left going back to their guild."
"I can't forgive her as myself!" The blonde shouted. "Someone with my face doesn't just abandon people in need."
"What do you care? It's not like it's actually you." Nicholas said.
"It matters to me!" She shouted.
Outside the hotel, Edolas Brianna and Lucy took a final glimpse at the hotel. "Are you sure this is a good idea?" E. Brianna asked.
"I am." The blonde nodded. "We can't expect to put all our hope on outsiders. We have to fight for our world too. That's why we're going back to the guild. It's time for the Edolas Fairy Tail to stop running from our problems. Which is why we're going to convince them." The two shared a look before heading towards the town entrance.
----Luen City
Bar
"Did you hear?" One guy asked. "They're gonna start sucking magic power from that giant lacrima in two days."
Gajeel walked over to the bar and sat behind the talking table. "It's kinda freaky if yo asked me. Where'd they get all that power from. Another world or something?" The second guy at the table said.
"I hope they know what they're doing." The third table member said. "Messing with magic power like that is looking for trouble."
"Careful, sound to me like you're questioning our great king." The first guy teased.
"No, that's not what I meant at all. I'm loyal." The third guy said in a panic.
"Relax." The first guy said. "Everything will work out in the end. Just leave it to his majesty and everything will be fine."
"Intresting conversation." The three looked behind them as Gajeel and his counterpart spoke at the same time. "You punks wanna tell me more before I make you?/Would you mind explaining it to me in greater detail?" Both let out a confused gasped before they turned and stared at each other.
----Shicca City
Lucy had a smile on her face as she hugged the book in her arms. "Well, we got her to stop screaming." Slate said.
"It's good to know you can cheer Lucy up just by giving her a rare book." Wendy said.
"So what book did you buy?" Natsu asked.
"A complete history of Edolas, silly." She answered. "Don't you wanna know more about this world while we can?"
"Nope." Natsu said.
"Not in the slightest." Nicholas said.
"This book could tell us everything we want to know." Lucy said. "For example, there's a ton of history regarding a tribe called the Exceed."
"We said we don't care." Natsu reminded her.
A rumbling caught their attention as a massive shadow blocked out the sun. "Above us." Carla said. The others followed her and found themselves staring at airship.
"Move it, or you'll be left behind." A royal soldier shouted as they ran by the crowd looking up at the vehicle.
"It's the royal army." Lucy said.
"Quick, hide." Wendy pushed them behind a pillar as the airship got lower to the ground.
"Is it rule that the king is gonna pull the magic out of that huge lacrima?" The first soldier asked.
"Yep, the day after tomorrow." A second one answered. "That's why they need all the extra security. If you don't get on that ship, you'll be in big trouble."
"They're talking about our friends." Natsu said.
"And everyone in Magnolia too." Wendy added.
"The magic extraction is in two days? That means if we go on foot we'll never make it." Lucy mumbled in realization.
"And once the extraction process has begun, we lose any chance of bringing them back to their normal selves." Carla said.
Nicholas looked out from behind the corner at the ship. "We need to take that ship." He said, shocking everyone.
"Are you insane? The more practical thing would be to sneak aboard the ship." Carla said.
"Okay, then let's do that." He told her.
"Why are you even suggesting that?" Lucy asked. "Are you two gonna get motion sick?"
"The hell are you talking about? I've never had that happen to me in my life." Nicholas said, confusing them.
"Worse case, we just have Wendy cast her Troia spell on us both." Natsu chuckled.
"Did you really forget that we can't use magic here?" Wendy asked, scaring Natsu.
"Yeah, let's move on." He mumbled in embarrassment.
"No, we're taking a ride on that ship." Nicholas said back. "I am not losing my friend because some stupid weakness."
"I'm with him." Lucy said. "It's our best chance on making it on time to save everyone."
"But how do we do that?" Wendy asked.
"Duh, with my magic." The blonde bragged. "Are you forgetting that I'm the strongest wizard in Fairy Tail?"
"Only because of a technicality." Slate said.
"Whatever." She said back. "Didn't you notice how quickly we got the upper hand on the guards back in Luen? That means our magic is far more powerful than anything here."
"I guess..." Wendy mumbled.
"Check this out." Lucy shouted as she took off towards the guards, holding a key. "Open, Gate of the Lion - Leo!" The guards looked at the cloud of smoke... and Virgo popped out. "Whaaaat?"
"I'm sorry, princess." The spirit said.
"Why'd she summon her?" Nicholas asked.
"What's going on here? Where is Loke!?" Lucy shouted.
"Big brother is currently out on a date, so he cannot be summoned." The pinkette explained.
"Big brother!?" Lucy repeated.
"Master Leo requested I refer to him as such." Virgo explained.
"He's such an idiot!" The blonde shouted.
"That's Lucy! Capture her!" The guards shouted as they raced towards them.
"Now what!? Loke was supposed to be my trump card." Lucy shouted in a panic.
"Princess, it would be very presumptuous for me to do my best..." Virgo started before breaking into a dance.
"Go home!" Lucy shouted, sending her away. The guards were getting closer as Lucy started thinking about ideas.
"Fine, we'll just use their magic if ours won't work." Natsu said, pulling out the sword.
"Finally, I get to see what this thing does." Nicholas said, putting on the knuckles.
"We know what we're doing now." Wendy added, her Cannon.
The soldiers charged them and took them out. "Without their own powers, these guys are useless. But they're still better than Lucy." Happy said
"I want to shine." She cried out.
"The airship!" Slate shouted as it took off.
"We need to do something!" Wendy shouted.
"Get back here!" Natsu shouted as the ship left them behind. The guards had them in their grasps as a cloud of dust head towards them. "What is that?"
The cloud hit the guards and they flew off them. The dust faded to reveal a car with the Fairy Tail emblem on it. "Who's in the magic mobile?" Lucy asked.
"I don't know but it's got Fairy Tails logo on it." Happy pointed out.
The window rolled down a bit and the driver spoke up. "Lucy sent me. Need a lift?"
"Shotgun!" Nicholas called out, only for Lucy to get it first. He looked to the back and found it filled by the other five. "Where am I gonna sit?"
"Grab a pipe." The driver said. As the guards started to move, Nicholas did as instructed. "I drive fast, so hold on." The driver shifted gears and the car took off with flaming wheels, leaving the guards in the dust.
----Luen City
"So to summarize; you came to this world by way of a 'mister Mystogan' with nothing but a simple explanation?" Edolas Gajeel asked his counter part.
"Yeah, that about sums up everything." Gajeel answered. "This is one weird place, I'll tell you that."
"Well, this is definitely the strangest story of my career." E. Gajeel mumbled as he wrote down some details.
"Duh. How often do you meet yourself?" The Earthland version asked.
"A simple perspective is refreshing." E. Gajeel joked.
"Seems like a lot of people aren't to happy about you raking muck." Gajeel said as his doppelgänger sat on the other side of the table.
"Investigative reporting will do that." E. Gajeel said back. "Of course some people aren't to happy about my truth telling."
"Truth ain't an easy pill." Gajeel added. "In fact, there's some losers out there who thought I was you. They're eating dirt right now."
"I thank you for dealing with them, and at the same time apologize for making you deal with my problem." E. Gajeel said, taking a sip from his drink. "Not going to lie, I've become a thorn to many powerful organizations. A lot people blame my writing for problems. But I don't care; as long as I can still write, I'm going to."
He put the cup down and Gajeel chuckled at himself. "When I first heard about this place, I'd thought it be totally different."
Both stood up and wrapped an arm around each other's shoulder. "But you and I are exactly alike./ But me and you are exactly alike." Both said at the same time before the left the bar like that.
"You not only don't take crap from anyone, but you dress sharp and write fancy words like I do if I care." Earthland Gajeel said.
"And you're just as unkempt on the outside as I am on the inside." Edolas Gajeel said. "We have so much in common. By the way, how are you with instruments and singing?"
"You even need to ask?" Gajeel joked before looking around a corner as guards ran out of the bar. "Some pals of mine are here too. "They're a bunch of morons, especial the one with brown hair, but they got plenty of heart. They like to cause trouble, so we need to find them when."
"I'll let you know the moment they strike." E. Gajeel said. "I've got sources everywhere. The king can't sneeze without me knowing. This will be nothing compared to that."
"Perfect. I'll stay out if trouble until you say so. Don't keep me waiting." Gajeel said before the two walked away from each other.
----Magic Car
"Slow down!" Nicholas shouted, holding on to the car with one hand and his wig with the other while his pendant bounced around. "I can't hold on forever!"
"Thanks a lot for the ride." Lucy said.
"You just saved our lives." Wendy added as Natsu groaned in pain.
"Not a prob. It's a pleasure." The driver said. "My wheels are way faster than that airship. Then again there isn't a vehicle I can't leave in the dust." He took off his goggles, shocking those inside. "I'm a big deal here. They don't call me Fireball for nothing."
"Natsu?" All the inside passengers shouted.
"M-me...?" Natsu groaned in pain.