CHAPTER 490: ASKING THE QUEEN TO USE HER DIVINE POWER

It was exactly because Carla feared this, seeing Wendy’s face fall into confusion and heartbreak, that she never wanted to speak about the mission.

If she had to hurt Wendy with her own hands, she’d rather have died in silence.

Even though she couldn’t understand why Happy didn’t remember anything, she believed that, deep down, he would feel the same torment if he did.

"That’s right," Carla said quietly, her voice hoarse. "It’s true. Every Exceed sent to Earth Land was born with one mission: to find and kill a Dragon Slayer."

She closed her eyes, her body trembling, as if she’d surrendered to despair. "That’s why I said we shouldn’t go to Exceed. I don’t know if the only reason they gave me so much information is to lure you there... just to kill you."

Happy stood frozen. "Carla..." he whispered. Then, slowly, he turned his head toward the doorway, looking at Natsu with wide, uncertain eyes. "Natsu..."

Carla’s voice cracked. "That’s the truth. So if there’s even a chance we’re dangerous... then just kill us now."

"No!" Wendy shouted. "Carla would never do something like that!"

She stomped her foot, her small frame trembling with emotion. "I don’t believe it! I won’t believe it!"

Carla turned to her in disbelief, tears pooling in her eyes.

Lisanna stepped forward with a gentle voice. "I don’t believe it either. And Happy... he was born in the guild. Everyone saw him hatch from his egg. He’d never do anything like that."

Happy’s eyes watered again, his heart caught between fear and gratitude. He hadn’t even realized he might be considered an enemy of Natsu. He had just learned something that shattered everything he knew about himself. But now, someone was standing up for him, and it almost broke him.

Lucy raised her hand, firm and clear. "I believe in Happy and Carla too!"

"Happy’s an idiot..." Natsu muttered from the side, trying to act like it was no big deal. "But no way... no way would he ever... do something like that..." His voice broke into a dry heave.

"Natsu!" Happy cried out, rushing to his side and hugging his leg tightly. To him, Natsu’s trust meant everything.

"Get away from them!" Carla snapped, pulling Happy back protectively. "Don’t get so close. Not until we’re sure. Not until I’m sure. I can’t even trust myself right now."

She looked around, her panic growing. Then she turned to Rhodes.

"You, aren’t you going to stop him?" she said, her voice shaking. "What if we’re just pretending? What if we’re dangerous? Didn’t we agree you would do something if it came to this?"

"I don’t think I need to," Rhodes replied calmly. "Why would I stop him?"

Carla stared at him, stunned. "Why... why are you trusting us so easily?"

Rhodes gave her a small smile. "Why wouldn’t I?"

"You," Carla couldn’t find the words. Wasn’t he supposed to be the most cautious one here?

"Rhodes..." Happy whispered, his voice thick with emotion. The tears were right at the edge again. It was because of things like this, because of people like this, that he loved the guild so much.

Rhodes saw no reason to hesitate. Even if he thought about it logically, Happy and Carla had lived with Natsu and Wendy for years. They shared meals, traveled together, laughed and fought side by side. If they had wanted to kill them, they’d had countless chances. All it would’ve taken was a meal laced with the wrong herbs. Those two wouldn’t have stood a chance.

No, this wasn’t about reason. This was about trust. And right now, what mattered more than anything was that the two Exceed weren’t crushed by the weight of guilt they never asked for.

So Rhodes stood straight and said, "We’re going to Exceed. And we’re going now."

Carla’s ears twitched. "What? Why?! Didn’t I just tell you how dangerous it is?"

"We have to go," Rhodes said, pointing toward the skies, "to save our companions back at the floating island."

Then he pointed at Happy and Carla. "And to save our companions here, the ones standing right in front of us."

Carla’s voice came out soft, almost inaudible. "What... what are you talking about..."

"Because only by going there," Rhodes said, "can we find out who made such a foolish decision and why. Only then can we discover who’s forcing the Fairy Tail mages to go against their will. And after that..."

He looked around at the others, a playful smile on his face. "And then what?"

Lucy grinned and threw her fist into the air. "Of course, we’ll cause a big commotion and beat them up!"

Lisanna and Wendy echoed her cheerfully, "Beat them up!"

"Beat... beat them... urgh..."

The one who should’ve been shouting the loudest was now the quietest. Natsu flopped back with a groan, still feeling sick from the ride.

Rhodes laughed softly at the irony. Happy, who understood the least, was already wagging his tail again, reassured by everyone’s support. But Carla remained distant, quiet.

He crouched down beside her and gently patted her head.

"Everyone believes in you," he said. "But if you’re still not sure... I know a way you can face your true feelings. Want to try it?"

Carla blinked and looked up at him. In that moment, her reflection shimmered in Rhodes’s eyes, but not just hers.

Behind her image, she saw Wendy, then Mira, Makarov, Erza, Natsu, Gray... everyone. The whole guild, smiling as if waiting for her at the guild hall window.

Her eyes widened as the warmth in her chest stirred again.

"What way?" she asked quietly, tears still clinging to the corners of her eyes.

Rhodes pointed at Lucy.

"When she’s rested, we can have Gemini transform into you. Then ’you’ can talk to you, and tell you what’s really in your heart."

Carla stared. "Have ’me’ talk to me?"

"That’s right," Rhodes said. "Who knows Carla better than Carla?"

Lucy suddenly sat up, realization dawning. "Oh! I get it now! That’s actually brilliant! Gemini can copy not just looks, but feelings too! So the transformed me would know how I truly feel!"

Then she pouted a little. "But... why do you always think of these Celestial Spirit tricks before I do?"

Rhodes smiled and waved her off. "Ask yourself that, not me."

He turned back to Carla. "So? Want to try it?"

Carla held his gaze for a few silent moments. Everyone thought she was hesitating. But then...

A pair of white wings unfolded from her back with a soft flutter.

"Carla!" Wendy cried out, joy lighting up her face.

Carla turned slightly to look at the wings. She hadn’t even meant to summon them. Her magic had answered her heart before her mind had caught up.

A small, uncertain smile crept across her lips.

Maybe... she didn’t need that talk after all.

...

Meanwhile, trouble stirred across Edolas.

The loss of the massive magic crystal and the stolen airship caused immediate uproar within the capital. At such a crucial time, this incident shook the King’s court to its core.

The Legion Team was placed on full alert. Every flying battleship in the capital entered combat readiness, and urgent orders were dispatched across the country to search for the missing vessel.

But Edolas was vast, and most of the kingdom’s troops had already been summoned to the capital for the Anima operation. The outlying regions were severely understaffed. Even though the orders were urgent, execution was slow.

By the time afternoon sunlight spilled over the floating islands, word had reached the skies above, specifically, to Exceed.

A confidential report had been sent.

It stated that two Exceed had been seen aiding humans from Earth Land, interfering with the Anima Plan. The messenger asked if this operation had been authorized by Her Majesty the Queen.

If not, then those Exceed were to be considered ’Fallen Angels’, traitors to their race, and the Exceed Guard Division was expected to take action.

The message from the capital came with a final plea, stamped with the royal crest and bearing the King’s personal seal:

"We humbly request Queen Shagotte to use her divine power to eliminate all humans obstructing the plan, excluding the Dragon Slayers. Only then can the glorious Anima Plan proceed as designed."

...

Bonus @400

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