Wings & Mages (Version 2)

Chapter 2: Into the Other World

Recap:

"Believe me..." she said as she put one leg trough the portal, "I'll capture him successfully."

With that, she went inside the portal, which immediately shrunk and disappeared right after it absorbed her. Gajeel and Gray stood there with no choice left rather than count on her.

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The bright light that engulfed her nearly blinded her. It was pure white when she entered, but that brilliant light changed into an endless bunch of swirling violet and pink light. Juvia didn't know where she would be transported and if she could ever return to her beloved guild. All she wanted as of now is to capture the last member of Grim Lore who escaped and who she believed to be their incumbent master.

As the swirling lights started becoming wild, Juvia could feel her body burning in the process. She could feel her soul being torn away from her body as she squeezed her eyes shut and screamed as loud as she could, but no one heard her. No one was there to help her. The process was taking longer and the pain was becoming more unbearable each minute passing.

Juvia forced one of her eyes open, desperately looking for the exit. All she could see was the wild swirling mists that serves as a boundary to the passageway. Out of curiosity, she stretched her arms out and tried to reach it, but as soon as her fingers touched it, she felt the electricity built in it. She backed her hand away immediately.

Shortly, the swirling violet and pink light was replaced by the steady white light with a hint of black. The burning sensation finally disappeared as Juvia concluded that she reached the nexus between dimensions. She opened both of her eyes and looked around different directions, looking for her target. She didn't find him and lost hope in finding him as more and more openings to more dimensions began popping up in sight. When she reached the center, she stopped.

Juvia rested her chin in her hands in desperation, her cheeks in contact with her palm. "What am I supposed to do now?" She knitted her brows, trying to think of her next move.

More openings continued to materialize in the process while she was squeezing her brain for directions on what to do. She then closed her eyes so that she could think better, but no idea came. Instead of it, her flashback started.

- FLASHBACK –

Gray was standing in front of the request board, looking for a nice job he could accomplish on his own. He hasn't been out since they arrived home from the Grand Magic Games and it has been around seven days already.

Many things happened during that event, which was supposed to be a game enjoyable to all. They competed against the two most challenging guilds which were the Raven Tail and the Sabertooth. Raven Tail, the guild of master Makarov's son, Ivan, has been disqualified when the true identity of their masked member was revealed during his fight against Laxus, and that explained why they were cruel to Fairy Tail. Also, the leading team, Sabertooth lost in the battle due to the cruelty they showed Fairy Tail. After the games, their master, Gemma and his daughter, Minerva, were never found.

The two teams of Fairy Tail merged into one to continue with the battle. And on the seventh day, the Eclipse project was activated, bringing the future Rogue and seven dragons to the present. All the competing teams in the Grand Magic together with Cobra, from Oracion Seis, united to sort the present time from the past and the future. Most of the lives were placed in jeopardy before Ultear repented and gave her life up to rewind time. Time was rewinded by one minute in exchange of her life, which saved plenty more lives. They won and the future Rogue dissipated into mists.

Gray tucked his hands inside the pockets of his coat, feeling uncomfortable wearing it. He was having a hard time in choosing a job suitable for him since most of the jobs offered requests for groups of wizards to come along. He wanted to be alone and wanted to accomplish one by himself, not needing the help of other people.