After a heated argument with Levy, Lucy ultimately backed down first, letting Levy go repair the machine.
As fellow top Mages of Fairy Tail, while Lucy might be slightly stronger in combat, Levy was the guild's only super technician.
Without Levy to repair and operate the Teleportation Device, the guild would likely have been wiped out long ago during the repeated assaults of Erza the Fairy Hunter.
"Speaking of which, there has been no news from Natsu since he left... I hope he hasn't encountered any trouble." Lucy sighed, finally quieting down as she leaned against the window and spoke with worry.
At that moment, Cana, wearing an elegant, fitted dress and leisurely sipping tea nearby, smiled playfully and teased.
"Miss Lucy and Natsu are still so close, aren't they?"
Lucy fretfully ruffled her own hair, frowning and pouting as she said, "It is all because that guy has been gone for so long..."
"With the kingdom suddenly tightening security, I don't know if he is in any danger."
"He will be fine. Natsu is our guild's 'Fireball.' Those soldiers could never catch him."
Gray, bundled up in thick layers of clothing until he looked like a giant ball, came over to comfort Lucy before quickly scurrying away to fawn over Juvia.
"Juvia dear thinks so too, right~"
Juvia, wearing tight, sexy leather and sporting her original short hairstyle, pushed Gray away with a disgusted expression.
"You and that guy are both so weak. Who knows what might happen after Natsu gets off the train?"
Lucy's expression began to show worry again, but then she glanced sideways and suddenly roared.
"You two! Go make out somewhere else!"
Bisca and Alzack, who were sitting nearby boldly embracing and kissing each other, completely ignored Lucy's single-girl frustration.
Just then, Wendy—a tall and curvaceous beauty with a mature aura—suddenly frowned.
She looked out the window and urgently said, "Everyone, look! What is that outside?"
The guild members quickly turned their attention outside.
They saw that an island had inexplicably appeared in the previously empty sky.
Moreover, the island featured an extravagant, super-sized building with a clear emblem at its entrance—Fairy Tail!
"The guild?! No! Why did an island suddenly appear? And why are those people using our guild's emblem?"
Lucy slammed her hands on the table and stood up abruptly, shouting toward Levy.
"Levy, isn't the teleportation machine fixed yet?!"
"Please! It cannot be this fast!" Levy moved much more nimbly, diving into the machine and starting to work desperately.
Lucy gritted her teeth, her face shifting between emotions.
'That fake guild might be a scheme by the Kingdom Army.'
'Teleporting to escape would be the most reliable option, but...'
"No! This is bad!"
At that moment, the guild's doors burst open as two people rushed in gasping for breath, their faces filled with terror.
"That guild has produced many 'copies of us,' and they look really strong!"
"It's the 'Strongest Candidates,' Jet and Droy!"
"Even they are this frightened?"
Seeing there was no avoiding this, Lucy immediately rallied everyone, shouting with determination.
"Everyone, fight them with all your magic! No matter what, we must buy Levy time to repair the machine!"
"Right!"
...
"Please, Jet and Droy, must you always be so impulsive?"
Earthland Levy stood helplessly before Earthland Jet and Droy as she spoke.
Both men had black eyes from punches, looking utterly ridiculous.
Jet covered his bruised eye and complained pitifully, "But... I have never seen another version of myself from this world."
Droy similarly sighed, "Yeah, the versions of us from this world seem so much more confident."
Lucy watched Jet and Droy—who had been instantly knocked out by their investigating counterparts—and could not help but complain.
"More like, you two managed to lose even when fighting yourselves this quickly..."
"Lucy is being so harsh!"
"Yeah, yeah!"
Ankh watched the approaching Edolas version of Fairy Tail and laughed.
"The versions of us in this world are just as rowdy."
Laxus nodded calmly. "The Jet and Droy of this world do appear confident. I wonder how the others are doing."
Makarov, who had led a group of over ten members to visit, gazed at the aged and weathered building before them.
With heartfelt sympathy, he lamented, "Who knows what hardships the children of this world have endured."
Ankh's ears twitched as he shifted his gaze to the guild entrance, smiling.
"Don't worry, Guild Master. They still seem quite lively."
"Hmm?"
Makarov turned to look and saw a large crowd pouring out through the main entrance, brandishing various magical weapons.
"That damned king... Huh?" Edolas Lucy charged ahead fiercely, her magic blade in hand, ready to attack the enemies.
But the moment she saw the 'enemies,' she froze completely.
And she was not the only one stunned.
Both groups from the same guild stared at each other in mutual bewilderment.
Earthland Lucy stared at Edolas Lucy, her jaw nearly hitting the ground in shock.
Earthland Wendy looked at Edolas Wendy, biting her handkerchief tearfully, utterly perplexed.
Earthland Gray looked at Edolas Gray, shuddering uncontrollably.
Edolas Cana looked at Earthland Cana, blushing too hard to look directly at her.
When the two pairs of Alzack and Bisca met, only one couple blushed so hard they seemed to steam like boiling water.
And... Juvia watched as Gray from the other side tried to cling to the expressionless 'her,' turning green with jealousy.
The Edolas 'Strongest Candidates' versions of Jet and Droy immediately pointed at the opposing group, jumping and shouting.
"See! We told you! A bunch of 'us' came!"
Their shouts snapped both stunned groups out of their daze.
Edolas Lucy quickly yelled, "Wait! Something is not right here!"
The members of Edolas Fairy Tail immediately halted their steps.
Edolas Lucy's authoritative demeanor reminded Earthland Natsu so much of Ankh that his eyes nearly popped out of his head.
After searching for a long time without finding this world's version of himself, Makarov, the Guild Master of Earthland Fairy Tail, stepped forward first.
He addressed Lucy, who appeared to be the leader.
"Excuse me, Lucy. We are from the Fairy Tail guild of another world. Due to certain circumstances, we were transported to this world and have come specifically to seek your help."
Lucy hesitated briefly, but when she looked at the group before her, her pupils suddenly contracted.
She pointed at Erza in their ranks and shouted in panic.
"Fairy Hunter Erza!"
Erza quickly waved her hands in denial, while Ankh explained on her behalf.
"She is the Erza from our world, a member of our guild!"
Lucy, still shaken, asked, "Erza is a guild member?"
For a Fairy Tail that was constantly being hunted by Knightwalker, this was simply unbelievable.
Ankh smiled slightly and said, "We truly are alternate versions of you. If you do not believe us, you can test us with guild-related questions."