Internet Magic in Fairy Tail

The Second Parallel World

July 1, X791

Fiore Kingdom, Crocus – the Capital City

Midnight

The tolling of the church bells echoed through the city, their “dong-dong” chimes resonating across the entire capital. Hundreds of guild members who had come to participate in the Grand Magic Games jolted awake at the sound.

At the Honey Bone Inn, Fairy Tail members stepped out onto the balconies one by one.

“The handbook said not to wander around before midnight.”

“Is there something special about midnight?”

“What’s going to happen?”

Meanwhile, on the roof of the inn, a faint golden light shimmered into existence. A moment later, Nate and future Lucy appeared in this second parallel world.

“Ah—!”

Future Lucy nearly slipped off the edge, but Nate caught her and pressed a finger to his lips.

“Shh!”

Thank you, she mouthed, her eyes full of relief.

Closing his eyes, Nate sensed the magical auras below: Natsu, Gray, Lisanna, Erza, Elfman…@@novelbin@@

“What a coincidence,” he whispered. “We’ve landed right by Fairy Tail’s inn.”

Just then, the church bells stopped, and a gigantic pumpkin head materialized in the sky above the city.

“Greetings, mages from the guilds participating in the Grand Magic Games!” the pumpkin projection announced. “Good morning!

To select the eight teams that will advance from the 113 participating guilds, we’ll be holding a preliminary match tonight!

And the preliminary match is… Sky Labyrinth!”

As if putting on a show, the pumpkin continued its grand announcement.

Future Lucy clapped a hand over her mouth and whispered, “It’s the Grand Magic Games preliminaries! I remember the eight teams that passed were… Sabertooth, Lamia Scale, Quatro Cerberus, Blue Pegasus, Mermaid Heel, Raven Tail… and Fairy Tail’s A and B Teams!”

“In my timeline, Raven Tail became a legal guild after seven years,” she added softly, “though Laxus disbanded them soon afterward.”

Her gaze drifted toward Nate again. “It’s the early morning of July 1st now, but the Eclipse Gate opens on the night of July 5th. That means we have to wait five days…”

Thunk! Future Lucy flinched, rubbing her forehead before shooting Nate an indignant glare.

“Why did you flick my forehead!?”

“You’re such a dummy,” he replied, exasperated. “Why wait five days for the gate to open? We can just destroy the Eclipse Gate now!”

“Oh! Right!” She stuck out her tongue sheepishly.

Suddenly, Nate’s expression changed. “Hmm? We’ve been noticed.” Grabbing Future Lucy’s hand, he added, “Let’s go. Time to find the Eclipse Gate.”

They vanished without a trace. Moments later, a figure bounded onto the rooftop. Erza surveyed the area, frowning.

“Strange… I sensed Lucy’s magic here. Now it’s gone?”

“Lucy’s right here!” came Lucy’s confused voice from the balcony below.

…

The Flower Light Palace, Mercurius – Royal Garden

Two crows soared through the garden’s air.

Using magic he’d learned from Irene in the Alvarez Empire, Nate had transformed himself and future Lucy into crows. After watching Irene turn the Desert King, Ajeel, into a mouse, he had practiced and mastered this Crow Transformation—technically a form of Enchant Magic.

“This transformation magic is amazing!” crow-Lucy marveled. “We can sneak in undetected!”

“It’s Enchant Magic,” crow-Nate corrected. “Transformation spells can only change the caster. Mirajane can’t turn others into different forms.”

“It’s all the same to me,” crow-Lucy joked, then sighed. “But where is the Eclipse Gate? I only know they’ll move it nearby on July 5th.”

“Leave that to me. Follow me.”

Nate’s Six Eyes allowed him to trace the magical flow of the Eclipse Gate’s energy. They flew across the front garden, eventually landing at a ventilation duct on the palace wall. Transforming into small mice, they scurried inside, slipping past the heavy defenses as if they weren’t there.

…

Royal Palace, Underground Chamber

A faint ripple of energy passed through the thick iron door, carving a Flying Thunder God magic circle on it. Moments later, Nate and future Lucy bypassed the locked barrier altogether, appearing in the room beyond.

The moment they arrived, Nate felt magical surveillance flicker through the chamber. He glanced at a stone pillar and quickly summoned two masks using Arc of Embodiment, handing one to Lucy.

“What’s this?” she asked, adjusting the mask, which only had a right eyehole.

“It’s called a ‘Tobi Mask.’ I made it in a hurry, so I defaulted to this design.” Nate shrugged. “We’ve already been detected, so let’s move quickly.”

He strode toward the Eclipse Gate, which stood silently at the center of the chamber. Still puzzled, Lucy followed him.

“Can it be destroyed?” she asked, pulling out a black key to summon Laxus with his hammer.

“Wait, don’t use—” Nate began, but it was too late. The gate absorbed Lucy’s magic on contact, causing her to collapse into his arms.

“Sorry… I forgot the Eclipse Gate absorbs magic,” she said weakly.

Nate sighed, baffled. How could she be so scatterbrained? Would she even survive without me, Miss Useless Girlfriend?

“I’ll handle it.”

Crossing his forefinger and middle finger, Nate murmured, “Domain Expansion!” A black, mist-like wave of cursed energy shrouded the Eclipse Gate, trapping it inside a massive ebony sphere.

“Why didn’t your magic get absorbed?” Lucy asked in astonishment.

“This is cursed energy.”

“Can you teach me?”

“Next time.”

With a smile, Nate waved his hand. The black sphere shrank down until it fit snugly in his palm.

“All done,” he said. “We’ll just steal the gate. Without it, that foolish princess can’t open anything—”

Before he could finish, someone shoved the iron door open with a thunderous crash. A knight in silver armor stormed inside, his eyes widening in alarm at the empty pedestal.

“Thieves! Where is the gate?!”

“Arca… what now?” Nate tilted his head, trying to recall.

Future Lucy swallowed hard. “Arcadios. Opening the Eclipse Gate is a huge mistake! It’ll unleash 10,000 dragons and destroy the world!”

“What?!” Arcadios snapped, leveling his spear. “Who are you people?”

“I’m the Sage,” Nate replied with a smirk, “and this is my useless girlfriend.”

Arcadios tried to respond, but Nate simply grabbed Lucy’s hand. “The Eclipse Gate is mine now. Don’t bother looking for it—you won’t find it. Farewell, Holy Knight.”

A golden magic circle flared at their feet. Realizing they were about to escape, Arcadios lunged, but his spear struck only empty air. The masked intruders had vanished.

“Station a team here to guard this chamber!” Arcadios roared, clenching his fists. “The rest of you, with me! Search the entire city!”

…

Elsewhere

Nate and future Lucy had already returned to their original timeline.

In Nate’s apartment, he toyed with the tiny black sphere containing the Eclipse Gate.

“Does this thing even have a use?” he muttered.