The underground command center of the Edolas Resistance was a hive of controlled chaos. Mechanics welded armor plates onto walker-mechs, strategists argued over supply lines, and the hum of the ventilation system provided a constant, industrial rhythm to their planning.
At the center of it all stood the two Blakes, flanked by the disparate group of mages, rebels, and cats.
He walked over to the massive central tactical table. With a flick of a switch, a holographic projection flared to life in the air above it. It displayed the floating island of the Royal Capital, and hovering above it, a massive, jagged crystal.
"This," Edolas Blake said, his voice grim, pointing to the crystal, "is the Dragon Cry Lacrima. Or as you know it, the entire population of Magnolia."
Natsu growled low in his throat. "Gramps... everyone..."
"The King, Faust, isn't just collecting magic for storage anymore," Edolas Blake continued. "He's desperate. The magic in this world is drying up faster than his alchemists predicted. So, he's authorized Code ETD: Exceed Total Destruction."
The hologram changed. It showed the Lacrima accelerating, turning into a massive projectile, and slamming into a higher floating island.
"That," Edolas Blake pointed to the target, "is Extalia. The home of the Exceeds. The 'Angels' that the people of Edolas worship."
Carla gasped, her paws flying to her mouth. "My home..."
"Why?" Wendy asked, horrified. "Why destroy them?"
"Because the Exceeds control the flow of magic," Edolas Blake explained, his mechanic's mind breaking down the politics. "Or at least, that's what the people believe. But Faust knows the truth. The Exceeds possess an infinite supply of internal magic—something humans here lack. By crashing the massive Lacrima into Extalia, the collision will result in a fusion reaction of magical energy. It won't just destroy the island; it will rain liquid magic down upon the Royal City for eternity. Faust gets his infinite battery, the 'Angels' are removed as political rivals, and your friends..."
He looked at Natsu and Earthland Blake.
"...Your friends become the fuel. They will be shattered into dust to power this kingdom."
The silence in the room was heavy, suffocating.
"We won't let that happen," Earthland Blake said, his voice dropping to a temperature that chilled the room. "Not a chance."
"Agreed," Edolas Blake said. "But we can't just storm the castle blindly. If we attack the King now, we might stop the launch, but the Kingdom falls into civil war. The people are terrified of losing magic. If we take it away without giving them a new hope, they'll riot. Thousands will die."
He looked at the Earthlanders.
"The Prince," Edolas Blake said. "Jellal. He's been wandering Earthland, closing the Anima portals I couldn't reach. He is the only person in the Royal Family with a conscience. He is the only one the people will listen to if the King falls. We need him to take the throne. We need him to be the face of the new Edolas."
"He's here," Earthland Blake confirmed. "I met him in Magnolia before we left. He crossed over just before the Anima took the town. He's in this world, somewhere."
"Good," Edolas Blake nodded. "But finding one man in the Royal Capital while dodging the Army is like finding a needle in a haystack made of swords."
"It gets more complicated," Edolas Lucy (Lucy Ashley) chimed in, stepping up to the table. She slapped a scouting report down.
"Our spies in the lower districts reported a 'Man of Iron' eating the royal architecture," Lucy Ashley said, rolling her eyes. "He's been attacking patrols, breaking into restaurants."
"Gajeel!" Natsu shouted. "Metal-head made it too!"
"He must have been sucked in separately," Earthland Lucy mused. "But if he's rampaging, he's going to draw the entire Royal Guard down on us before we're ready."
"He's a distraction," Edolas Blake analyzed. "Or a liability. Either way, we need to corral him before he ruins the stealth phase of the operation."
The mission parameters were set. Stop the Lacrima. Find the Prince. Secure the loose cannon.
"We need to split up," Edolas Blake said. "I need to prep the Titan-Rover for the final assault. I can't leave the base."
"I'll take the Prince," Earthland Blake said confidently. He tapped his temple. "My sensing ability... Haki. It works perfectly here. I can filter out the noise of the city. I know Mystogan's signature. If he's in the capital, I'll find him in ten minutes."
"I'm going with you," Earthland Cana said, stepping up to his side. "I'm not sitting in a bunker while you have all the fun."
Blake smiled at her. "Wouldn't dream of leaving you behind."
Edolas Blake nodded. "That leaves Gajeel."
"You four," Edolas Blake pointed to Earthland Natsu, Edolas Natsu, Earthland Lucy, and Edolas Lucy. " Go find Gajeel. Follow the explosions. If anyone can talk sense into that maniac, it's you guys. Or at least, you can cause enough chaos to cover his escape."
"Wait," Edolas Natsu squeaked, currently in his timid, non-driving mode. "Me? Go out there? Without my car?"
"You'll be fine," Lucy Ashley grabbed him by the collar. "Man up, Fireball."
"Aye!" Happy cheered. "Team Natsu and Team Lucy, unite!"
That left the youngest members.
Wendy looked ready to volunteer, her small fists clenched. "I want to help too! I want to find Jellal!"
Edolas Blake knelt down, bringing himself to her eye level. He looked at the young Sky Dragon Slayer. He saw the potential, but he also saw the risk. If the King captured a Dragon Slayer now, he might use her to accelerate the Anima.
"Wendy," he said gently. "You have the most important job. You're our healer. When the fighting starts—and it will start—people are going to get hurt. I need you fresh and safe here, ready to patch us up. Can you hold down the fort with Lisanna?"
He gestured to Edolas Lisanna, who smiled warmly. "We can bake supplies? Or organize the medical bay?"
Wendy hesitated, looking at Carla.
"It is logical, child," Carla said, though she looked anxious about Extalia. "We are targets. Staying hidden is the best way to help right now."
"Okay," Wendy nodded. "I'll protect the base!"
"Good," Edolas Blake stood up. "Teams are set."
"Hold on," Edolas Blake called out before they reached the blast doors.
He walked over to a secure cabinet and punched in a code. The heavy metal drawer hissed open. Inside sat several small, glass vials containing red, glowing pills.
"You're going into the hornet's nest," Edolas Blake said. "Cana, Natsu... you're useless without magic."
"Hey!" Natsu protested.
"It's true," Edolas Blake said bluntly. "You can't punch a magic-shielded tank with bare knuckles."
He tossed a bottle to Natsu and another to Cana.
"X-Balls," he explained. "I synthesized them, swallow one, and it will fuse with your internal Ethernano container. It creates a temporary, self-contained magic reactor inside your gut."
Cana caught the bottle, examining the red pills. "So... we can cast spells?"
"For a limited time," Edolas Blake warned. "And don't go nova immediately. It simulates Earthland's atmosphere inside your body, allowing you to project your power. But once it runs out, you crash hard."
Natsu popped the cork and downed a pill instantly.
FWOOSH.
Flames erupted from his body, bright and hot. The dull, heavy feeling of the magic-less world vanished.
"OH YEAH!" Natsu roared, breathing a column of fire at the ceiling. "I'M BACK, BABY!"
"Watch the ceiling!" Lucy Ashley yelled, smacking him.
Cana took hers, her eyes lighting up as a purple aura surrounded her. She summoned a card—The Thunderbolt—and it crackled with genuine, lethal electricity.
"Much better," she grinned, holstering her deck. "Now I feel like myself."
"Go," Edolas Blake commanded, turning back to his maps. "Find the Prince. Find the Dragon. We strike at sunset."
---
The two teams exited the underground base, emerging into the twisting, shadowed alleyways of the Royal City's lower levels. The city was a vertical maze, and the sounds of the bustling metropolis above drifted down to them.
"We split here," Earthland Blake said. He looked at Natsu. "Try not to destroy the city before we save it."
"No promises!" Natsu grinned, running off with Happy, the two Lucys, and the timid Edolas Natsu trailing behind.
Blake turned to Cana. "Ready?"
"Ready," she said.
They moved through the streets, keeping their hoods up. Blake didn't need to ask for directions. He closed his eyes, his Observation Haki spreading out like an invisible radar.
He ignored the guards. He ignored the merchants. He filtered through thousands of magical signatures—the weak, artificial buzz of magic tools, the static of the Lacrima streetlights.
He was looking for something distinct. A signature that felt like the wind between worlds. A signature that felt like sleep.
"He's moving," Blake murmured, opening his eyes. "Upper District. Near the Cathedral."
"The Cathedral?" Cana asked. "Isn't that crawling with guards?"
"It is," Blake said, taking her hand. "Let's go say hi."
They moved fast, using the rooftops and maintenance ladders to ascend the floating city's levels. Blake carried Cana up the steepest ascents using Geppo, moving like a shadow against the twilight sky.
Within twenty minutes, they were perched on a gargoyle overlooking the Royal Cathedral plaza.
And there he was.
Walking through the crowd, wrapped in a thick cloak, carrying a bundle of staffs on his back. He walked with a purpose, his head down, avoiding eye contact.
Mystogan. Or, as he was known here, Prince Jellal.
"Found him," Blake said.
He didn't shout. He just projected a small, directed pulse of Haki—a 'hello' that only a master would feel.
Down in the square, Mystogan stopped. He stiffened. He looked up, his eyes locking unerringly onto the gargoyle where Blake and Cana stood.
Blake gave a small wave.
Mystogan hesitated, looked around to ensure he wasn't being watched by the Royal Guard, and then ducked into a side alley.
"He wants to talk," Cana said.
"Let's not keep royalty waiting."