The desert sun beat down mercilessly on the wooden roof of the relocated Fairy Tail guildhall.
Inside, Edo-Lucy rolled out a worn parchment map on a large, circular table, pinning the corners down with heavy mugs.
"The Royal Capital is here," she said, pointing a finger to a heavily fortified city at the center of the continent. "It's a fortress. The King keeps the giant lacrima—your friends—floating right above the palace to drain their magic."
"Then we just have to smash the crystal and everyone will turn back to normal!" Natsu said, slamming a fist onto the table.
"You can't smash anything right now, idiot," Edo-Lucy sighed, glaring at him.
She walked over to a dusty wooden chest near the bar and kicked the heavy lid open.
"If you're going to fight the Royal Army, you need magic tools. We don't have much to spare, but you won't survive without them."
She reached in and pulled out a heavy sword with a bright red hilt, tossing it to Natsu. "Fire Blade. Channel your physical stamina into the hilt, and the lacrima core generates real flames."
Natsu caught it, his eyes lighting up as he swung the heavy blade through the air. "A fire sword? I'm taking this!"
Edo-Lucy reached into the chest again and handed Wendy a pair of sleek, silver bracers.
"Air Shatter Vambraces. They compress the surrounding air. When you throw a punch, they release a shockwave that hits like a hammer."
Wendy slipped them onto her forearms with a determined nod.
"Thank you, Lucy-san."
Ace stood by the window, watching the heat waves ripple across the rolling sand dunes. He didn't sweat. His digital soul kept his body perfectly regulated, preventing him from feeling the stifling heat of the wasteland.
"How do we get to the capital? It looks like a long walk."
"We aren't walking," Edo-Lucy said, a sly smirk crossing her face. "We have the best driver in Edolas."
Right on cue, a loud, roaring engine echoed across the dunes.
A sleek, four-wheeled magical vehicle drifted around the corner of the guildhall, kicking up a massive cloud of sand before slamming on the brakes.
The driver wore a leather jacket, dark goggles, and a cocky, arrogant grin. "You guys need a ride? Get in. The Fireball is ready to roll!"
Natsu stared, his jaw hitting the floor. "Me?! You're me?!"
Edo-Natsu flipped his goggles up, revving the engine loudly. "Who are you calling 'you', pinky? I'm Natsu the Dragion! Fastest wheels in the wasteland. Now buckle up or eat my dust!"
"He's... cool?" Happy whispered in horror.
"This world is messed up," Natsu grumbled.
Ace hopped into the back seat, making room for Wendy, Carla, and Gatomon.
Edo-Lucy took the front passenger seat.
Natsu reluctantly climbed in beside Ace, already looking a little green just from the smell of the exhaust.
"Hold on to your lunch!" Edo-Natsu yelled. He slammed his foot on the pedal.
The magic vehicle launched forward like a rocket. It tore across the desert, launching over sand dunes and sliding around jagged rock formations at breakneck speeds.
Edo-Natsu laughed maniacally, dodging massive boulders with inches to spare.
Earthland-Natsu hung over the side of the door, groaning as motion sickness ravaged his stomach.
"Slow... down... I'm gonna throw up..."
"Slow down?!" Edo-Natsu laughed, rapidly shifting gears. "The Dragion doesn't know the meaning of the word! We're blasting straight to the capital!"
Ace crossed his arms, leaning back against the seat. The bumpy, erratic ride didn't bother him in the slightest. Gatomon sat on his shoulder, happily enjoying the intense wind whipping through her white fur.
After a few hours of relentless, chaotic driving, the landscape shifted from open desert to rocky, towering canyons.
Edo-Natsu slammed on the brakes, drifting the vehicle into a small, dusty outpost carved directly into the canyon wall.
A single, rundown restaurant stood at the edge of the road, offering a brief respite for travelers.
"We need to let the engine cool down," Edo-Lucy said, hopping out of the passenger seat.
Natsu practically fell out of the car, kissing the solid dirt. "Oh, thank god. I thought I was going to die."
Edo-Natsu opened his door and stepped out.
The second his boots hit the dirt, his confident swagger vanished. His shoulders slumped, his lip quivered, and tears welled up in his eyes.
"I'm so sorry!" Edo-Natsu wailed, dropping to his knees and bowing frantically to Earth-Natsu. "I drove way too fast! I'm a reckless monster! Please don't hate me!"
Natsu stared at his crying counterpart, thoroughly disturbed.
"What's wrong with him?!"
"He's only confident when he's behind the wheel," Edo-Lucy sighed, walking toward the restaurant.
"Outside the car, he's a timid crybaby. Let's go get some food and figure out our route into the city."
They walked into the restaurant. It was dimly lit and mostly empty, save for a few weary merchants. The boss, a gruff old man with a thick beard and a dirty apron, wiped down the counter and grunted as they took a large booth in the corner.
"Just water and whatever stew you have," Edo-Lucy told the boss as he walked by.
Ace sat next to Wendy, keeping an eye on the front door. "So, what's the security like around the capital?"
Edo-Lucy unfolded her map on the table, keeping her voice low. "It's tight. The Royal Army patrols the perimeter, and the King's top commanders guard the inner city. We can't just drive through the front gates. We need a disguise or a distraction to get past the outer wall."
"I'll be the distraction," Natsu said, his energy quickly returning as the boss dropped hot bowls of stew onto the table.
"I'll smash the gate with my new sword, and you guys sneak in!"
"No," Ace said, cutting him off. "That's reckless. We don't know the full layout, and we don't know what kind of weapons the commanders use. We need to get close to that giant lacrima without the entire army dropping on our heads at once."
"He's right," Edo-Lucy agreed. "We should sneak through the old mining tunnels beneath the city. They lead straight into the lower levels of the palace. But the entrance is heavily guarded by a Royal garrison."
"Guards aren't a problem," Gatomon smirked, taking a bite of fish from her bowl. "Ace and I can clear them out before they even know we're there."
Wendy looked down at her new silver bracers, her expression hardening. "I want to help, too. I don't want to just hide behind you guys anymore."
"You'll get your chance, Wendy," Ace said, his tone reassuring but serious. "When we get inside the palace, it's going to be a warzone. We'll need every bit of firepower we have."
Edo-Lucy looked at the strange group of Earthland mages.
They were loud, impulsive, and weirdly confident despite losing their natural magic.
But as she watched Ace calmly eat his stew, radiating an aura of confidence, she finally felt a genuine glimmer of hope for her world.
They quickly finished their meal and headed back out to the magical vehicle.
Edo-Natsu was still crying by the rear tire, apologizing to a small desert lizard for startling it.
"Get in the car, Natsu," Edo-Lucy ordered.
Edo-Natsu immediately perked up, jumping into the driver's seat. The tears vanished instantly, replaced by his cocky, fearless grin.
"Buckle up, nerds! The Dragion is taking you to the capital!"
Natsu groaned, holding his stomach as he climbed back into his seat.
The engine roared to life, and the vehicle tore out of the outpost, speeding down the dusty canyon path.
Ace leaned back against the leather seat, keeping his eyes fixed on the towering ominous spires of the Royal City slowly growing larger on the horizon.