Natsu and Happy, with their characteristically thick-headed natures, failed to notice the strangely subdued reactions of both worlds' Miraja
Natsu and Happy, with their characteristically thick-headed natures, failed to notice the strangely subdued reactions of both worlds' Mirajane and Elfman, and Lisanna's behavior was particularly suspicious, prompting further scrutiny.
Drake, however, possessed a complete understanding of the underlying circumstances.
This Lisanna was, in fact, a native of Earthland! Two years prior, during the incident where Elfman had succumbed to a berserk rage, a fortuitous event transpired: a miniature Anima portal had inexplicably opened, resulting in Lisanna's unexpected transport to Edolas.
Coincidentally, around the same time, Edolas Lisanna had met with an unfortunate accident, plummeting from a cliff and vanishing without a trace, leading to the strong likelihood of her demise.
Lisanna, finding herself stranded in Edolas, had subsequently integrated herself into Edolan society, seamlessly assuming the identity of Edolas Lisanna.
However, despite the superficial similarities, subtle yet undeniable differences existed between the two Lisannas. As the closest members of her family, Edolas Mirajane and Elfman should have been able to readily discern these distinctions.
It is plausible that, harboring an unconscious reluctance to fully accept the painful reality of their family member's departure, they had, over the course of the past two years, subconsciously chosen to embrace this Lisanna as their own younger sister.
Equally, Lisanna had come to regard Edolas Mirajane and Elfman, along with every member of the guild, as her own cherished family.
Nevertheless, as the most intimately familiar members of her family, Mirajane and Elfman had, during the heartfelt embrace, unequivocally confirmed that this Lisanna was indeed their beloved sister, whom they had long believed to be lost forever.
It was at this precise moment that Mirajane finally grasped the true nature of the "surprise" that Drake had alluded to.
In the wake of the overwhelming joy and relief of their reunion, they also came to fully comprehend the profound difficulty of the decision that lay before Lisanna.
In the context of two distinct worlds, only one Lisanna could exist. Irrespective of the world she chose to remain in, the Mirajane and Elfman of the other world would inevitably have to endure the profound emotional pain of losing a cherished family member.
For the inherently compassionate Lisanna, arriving at a resolution to this agonizing dilemma proved to be an insurmountable challenge.
As Lisanna grappled with this emotionally taxing predicament, Drake stepped forward, interjecting with a decisive tone. "Very well, now that we have assembled the majority of the individuals we require, it is time to address the matter at hand!"
In Edolas, due to the relentless persecution at the hands of the king, Lucy had unexpectedly risen to become the de facto leader of Fairy Tail.
Lucy, stepping forward, addressed the assembled group. "I apologize for the lack of clarity in my previous explanation, but I must now request that you provide a comprehensive account of… the precise nature of your objectives in coming to this world."
Drake responded directly. "Mystogan, who is also known as Prince Jellal in your world, harbors a fervent desire to bring an end to his father's reign of tyranny. As his comrades and allies, we are here to provide our unwavering support."
"To put a stop to tyranny? What precisely do you mean by that?" Edolas Lucy pressed for clarification.
Drake provided a concise explanation. "Essentially, it entails the removal of the current king from power and the subsequent establishment of a new order under the leadership of your prince."
"That's utterly impossible!"
Lucy's voice rose in a sudden, impassioned outburst.
Lucy, immediately recognizing the inappropriateness of her emotional display, composed herself and resumed her seat. "That is simply not feasible. No one possesses the capacity to defy the king's authority. Even the valiant efforts of our world's Fairy Tail proved unsuccessful; the kingdom's power is simply too overwhelming.
Moreover, your numbers are exceedingly limited; you stand absolutely no chance against the might of the entire kingdom."
Drake surveyed the assembled group, observing that each member of the Edolas Fairy Tail guild mirrored Lucy's expression of profound sorrow and despair.
Natsu, ever the impulsive one, interjected with a resounding voice. "Hold on a minute! Don't let your spirits be dampened like this! Is this truly the Fairy Tail that I know?"
In Earthland, Fairy Tail had long been synonymous with an untamed, rebellious spirit, a guild renowned for its unwavering defiance and fearless approach to any challenge.
Witnessing the palpable apprehension and timidity of their counterparts from Edolas, Natsu's frustration was entirely understandable.
However, Drake possessed an empathetic understanding of the emotional state of Edolas Lucy and her companions.
Since the king's decree outlawing all guilds, Fairy Tail had been forced into the role of a clandestine, underground organization, constantly evading capture and persecution at the hands of the kingdom's relentless military forces.
It was highly improbable that every guild had passively accepted their fate; Fairy Tail, along with other guilds, undoubtedly mounted a resistance against the king's oppressive regime.
The outcome, however, was that only Fairy Tail, possessing the unique ability of spatial magic, managed to survive the brutal crackdown.
In the course of this protracted conflict, they must have inevitably suffered the devastating loss of numerous cherished companions.
The collective trauma of these losses had eroded their hope and sapped their courage to resist any further.
Therefore, Drake intervened to prevent Natsu from further exacerbating the situation. "I understand," Drake stated, his voice imbued with empathy and understanding, "the profound fear you harbor of losing any more of your precious comrades!
That is precisely why we have come to your world. Regardless of the formidable adversaries that stand in our path, we shall overcome them, for we are Fairy Tail!"
Every member of the Earthland Fairy Tail contingent stood firmly behind Drake, their faces radiant with unwavering resolve and shared determination.
Edolas Lucy's eyes welled up with tears, and a faint glimmer of hope seemed to ignite within her as she recalled the glory days of her guild.
Drake possessed a comprehensive understanding of the challenges facing Edolas; in essence, he recognized that this world was profoundly ill.
Both the human inhabitants and the unique Exceed race were deeply afflicted by a pervasive malaise.
The root cause of this widespread affliction could be succinctly summarized in a single word: fear.
The fear that gripped the human populace was the fear of losing their magic. The most significant disparity between Edolas and Earthland lay in the fact that Earthland was currently experiencing an era of unprecedented magical abundance, while Edolas was grappling with a relentless decline in magical energy.
Magic served as the sole energy source for Edolas, powering everything from production and transportation to even the streetlights that illuminated the kingdom's thoroughfares.
By considering the potential ramifications of a modern society suddenly deprived of electricity, one can readily appreciate the profound fear that the citizens of Edolas harbored regarding the prospect of losing their magical energy.
This fear was particularly acute amongst the ruling elite, led by King Faust, whose anxiety over the depletion of magic had morphed into an insatiable greed for magical power.
This avarice had effectively twisted their minds, leading them to employ the Anima magic to convert the life force of Earthland's inhabitants into magical energy for Edolas. The sheer magnitude of this cruelty, which had been perpetrated for seven years, is almost beyond comprehension.
Remarkably, not a single member of the kingdom's high command had voiced any objection to this morally reprehensible practice of sacrificing the lives of others to obtain magical energy.
They had forgotten that, just as modern society had gradually evolved over time, Edolas had also once existed in an era before the invention of magical tools; even without magic, they could still have lived and thrived.
Magic and life are not interchangeable commodities; they are distinct and invaluable entities.
The callous disregard for life exhibited by Edolas Erza Scarlet was a direct consequence of this warped perspective.
The Exceeds, revered as deities in this world, were similarly afflicted by fear, which had shaped their current state.
While Exceeds are inherently magical beings, their actual strength pales in comparison to that of humans.
Driven by the fear of being subjugated and enslaved by humans, they had concocted a deceptive narrative, a falsehood that even they themselves had come to believe.
They proclaimed themselves to be gods and angels, leveraging their inherent magical abilities to compel human beings into submission.
Furthermore, Queen Shagotte's ability to foresee human deaths was skillfully exploited to orchestrate so-called divine judgments, further instilling terror and reinforcing the humans' fear of the Exceeds' power.
However, the Exceeds remained oblivious to the fact that their attempts to control others through fear would ultimately lead to a powerful backlash, a surge of pent-up resentment and rebellion.
The Exceeds, despite lacking any genuine divine power, had ascended to the position of deities, even adopting the arrogance typically associated with such a lofty status.
Even in the absence of King Faust's avarice-fueled tyranny, the inherent problems plaguing the Exceed race would have inevitably led to their downfall, as the deep-seated conflict between the Exceeds and the human population had become irreconcilable over the passage of years.
The state of Edolas was such that its affliction permeated every level of society.
To effectively cure this pervasive illness, the most promising approach might be to follow Mystogan's plan: to transfer all of Edolas's magical energy, including that of the Exceeds, into Earthland.
By alleviating the fear of losing magic, they would demonstrate that the loss of magic is not a catastrophic event.
The role of Drake and his companions, therefore, is to assist Mystogan in eliminating any obstacles that stand in the way of achieving this crucial objective.
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