"The existence of villains and heroes..."
"Yes. The hero is the one who bravely exposes and executes the culprit plunging this world into chaos," Mystogan explained.
"This hero will step forward to reunite the people and become the new king."
Lily seemed to understand Mystogan's plan, but he still found it hard to believe.
"Then... who exactly will play the villain and the hero?"
"Well..." Raizel interrupted. "Lily won't do. As an Exceed, Lily still has magical power within his body."
"Then Raizel, I would like to ask you..." Mystogan started.
"Stop right there. I won't accept your request," Raizel firmly replied. "There is clearly a better way. Just have the guild members cooperate with you and put on a play. We, who come from another world, will be the culprits causing the disappearance of magical power. You will be the hero who defeats the demon king."
"This way, you can logically become the new king and use your talents to lead the people of Edolas into a new life."
...
[Natsu, Gajeel, you can make your move now. Show off your skills!] Raizel telepathically commanded.
"Someone is coming, I'm leaving." After saying this, Raizel disappeared on the spot.
"Lily-sama! Something terrible has happened!" a royal soldier yelled, running over.
"How many rioters are there?" Lily asked. "There are three people!"
"Only three people? Why didn't you stop them?!" Lily wildly exaggerated his acting to match the plan.
"Because... because they are just too strong!"
"Hahaha—!" Natsu laughed from the bottom of his heart, absolutely thrilled to be able to cause destruction so freely.
"I am the Great Demon King Dragneel!"
Natsu wore fake bull horns on his head and a ragged red cloak draped over his back.
"I will gladly take this world's magical power all for myself!" he roared. "Your useless king has already been dealt with by me! Hahaha!"
Natsu pointed dramatically at King Faust, who was securely tied up beside him.
"His Majesty the King..."
"No..."
More and more terrified onlookers gathered in the square.
"Red Fox! Marvell! My dear loyal servants! Destroy the town now!" Natsu waved his hand grandly and gave the order.
Gajeel, standing nearby, immediately selected a lucky building and sliced it down with his Iron Dragon Sword.
"Our town..."
"These people are the great villains trying to destroy our town!"
"Yes, it is them!"
"So despicable!"
"They are practically the embodiment of demons!"
Kagura and the other hidden Fairy Tail members successfully guided the rhythm of the crowd's anger, hyping up the fear.
'It is your turn to perform, Jellal' Raizel thought, watching the play from a high rooftop while casually eating an apple.
"Continue the destruction! My dear loyal servants!" Natsu yelled.
"What do you mean 'dear loyal servants'?!" Gajeel grunted, indicating that even in acting, he refused to accept this subordinate role.
"Do not talk back, get to work!" Natsu hissed quietly.
"Give us back our magical power!" the people of Edolas protested angrily.
"I won't! Anyone who dares to defy me will all be..."
"What is happening?! He is spitting fire from his mouth!"
"Is he a monster?!"
"Enough!!!" Jellal's voice suddenly echoed across the square.
"Look over there!" the crowd gasped.
"Hmph, I am the Great Demon King, Dragneel! Come at me if you dare, Prince of Edolas!" Natsu challenged.
"Prince?"
"Is he the prince?"
"Is he Prince Jellal who has been missing for years?"
With the atmosphere sufficiently charged, Natsu flung his cloak and beckoned to Jellal.
"Come on, or I will make this entire city vanish without a trace."
[Please act more convincingly... If we are discovered, the damage will be irreparable,] Lily prayed inwardly.
"Is he really the prince?"
"Look! He is preparing to face the Great Demon King!"
The magical power in Jellal's magic staves had been completely drained by the Anima, leaving him unable to use any magic.
"What is wrong? Scared without your magical power? Well, that makes sense—magical power is strength, after all!" As he spoke, Natsu unleashed another Fire Dragon's Iron Fist, demolishing the building beneath his feet.
"Isn't Natsu going a bit too far...?" someone muttered.
"It is necessary," Erza noted. "This is how we create the perfect image of a magic-less hero bravely confronting a demon with immense power."
Standing atop the ruins, Natsu and Jellal faced each other in silence.
"Let's settle this!" Natsu charged and landed a heavy punch directly on Jellal's face.
"How can someone be so violent?!" exclaimed the distant spectators.
"Fight seriously," Natsu whispered, catching Jellal's retaliating fist.
After taking several hard hits from Natsu, even the mild-tempered Jellal began to feel genuine anger.
Jellal and Natsu launched into a desperate, no-holds-barred brawl—real combat with every punch connecting.
A fist to the face, a kick to the stomach.
"This is our Fairy Tail-style farewell party for you!" Natsu spoke softly.
Jellal froze in surprise.
Natsu continued, "For those leaving Fairy Tail, we must convey three rules."
"First! Never in your lifetime are you allowed to spread any sensitive information about Fairy Tail!"
"Second!" Natsu's speech was violently interrupted by Jellal's punch.
"You must never casually contact former clients for your own personal gain!" Natsu finished, striking back.
"Right, right! Third! Even if our paths diverge, you must continue to live your life with all your might! You must never treat your own life as something insignificant!"
Originally, Raizel hadn't included this part in the script—Natsu added it himself as his personal heartfelt farewell to Jellal.
"And for the friends you loved—" Natsu started.
Jellal completed Natsu's sentence, "You must never forget them for as long as you live!"
Both delivered their full-powered punches directly to each other's faces...
"Did the message get through? As long as you do not forget the guild's spirit, nothing is impossible. I hope we meet again, Mystogan," Natsu whispered.
Natsu then slowly and dramatically collapsed to the ground.
"Woooo—!" "Hooray!!!"
"The prince won!"
The hidden Fairy Tail members of Edolas smiled, fully understanding Natsu's well-intentioned efforts to play the bad guy.
Natsu's fallen body suddenly began to glow... as did Gajeel and Wendy, who were standing nearby.
Kagura and the others, who had returned to Raizel's side after completing their crowd-control roles, also began glowing brightly.
"Let us struggle with all our might!" Natsu yelled as his final villain line.
"Look at the demon king's body!" a citizen pointed.
"This is..." Lily panicked upon seeing his own furry body glowing as well.
Raizel explained, "Exceeds possess magical power within them. They will be expelled from Edolas by the reversed Anima. Do not resist, relax your body, and let it happen naturally. Soon we will all return to Earthland."
"The Demon King is being sucked into the sky! It was the brave prince who saved us all!"
"Long live the prince!"
"Farewell, Mystogan. I hope we may meet again someday," Erza whispered as she began to float upward.
"Prince! I believe you will surely lead the people of Edolas well!" an Edolas citizen cheered.
'Farewell, Lily. Thank you, Raizel, Natsu, and everyone from Fairy Tail...' Mystogan thought with a grateful smile as he watched the glowing lights ascend into the sky.
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