Miles and miles away from Soul Island, within a dark and ominous lab full of computer screens and tanks filled with fluid, A strange looking man sat typing away at a computer. This man wore the same kimono and white coat that gave the authority of a captain as Kenpachi and Hitsugaya. He wore a golden headdress and black paint with white lines going down his face. His prominent baring teeth, gave him a skull-like appearence.
"Hmmm.." said Mayuri Kurotsuchi curiously. "This can't be right.."
"What is it?"
A lithe and thin girl also wearing a captain's coat and kimono with two braids wrapped in white going down from her short black hair, came out of the shadows.
"Captain Soi Fon.." said Mayuri. "How long have you been standing in my workspace without my permission?"
"Serretei is currently in a state of emergency. I don't see why we need hide from each other now when teamwork is crucial."
"Even so.." said Mayuri as his eyes creaked over unnervingly in Soi Fon's direction. "Next time I catch you in here without me knowing it...I'll kill you..."
Mayuri turned his attention back to the screen he was looking at. "Hmm very interesting indeed.."
Soi Fon sighed. "And again I ask, what is so interesting?"
"I've been watching the feed from the Soul Island mission that dear Kenpachi and Hitsugaya are taking. And my..I can't help but be so strongly influenced by the interest in these espers...not to mention I feel so cheated!"
"Cheated?"
"Well yes!" said Mayuri as a bit of fury began to eb into his voice. "Who do you think invented the concept of personal reality together with his idiot magician partner who felt sharing the credit would stupid!? Darn you Aleister!! Academy City was supposed to be OUR achievement...I bet that smug bastard is sitting inside his silly tank of immortality right now just gloating about how he gets to sit on all that research..that miracle of science.."
Mayuri then began to smile wiith his strange creepy look. "But then again..now I have a perfect oppertunity...if those two would be so kind as to bring me back that Railgun specimen....After a quick dissection, not only would I understand espers..but also Dragon Borns as well...oh, how exciting.."
"But as I understand." said Soi Fon. "The mission was either to eliminate Railgun and her associates, or wipe their memory and leave them in Yugami Town so they could continue to be drained."
Mayuri's jaw dropped open. "What.....WHAAAAAAATTTT!!!?"
Mayuri stood up from the computer console. "NEMU!!!"
A woman with a short skirt-like kimono and black hair styled so that there was a long braided black pony tail going down her back walked up to Mayuri, her face expressionless. "Yes?"
"There's been a change in schedule." said Mayuri. "We're heading to Soul Island."
"Yes Captain."
Soi Fon looked scandalized. "Head Captain Yamamoto ordered that you stay and work on the left over remains of Dravis!"
"As interesting a specimen the Lord of Destruction is." said Mayuri furiosly. "The oppertunity to dissect a live Esper/Dragon Hybrid is not one I'm ignoring any time soon! Especially if it's the Railgun!!"
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Mikoto Misaka's mind swirled in and out of consciousness as Wendy pulled her through the streets of Yugami town. Now and then, images she did not understand would swirl through her head...such as strange memories of Natsu eating fire....her being comforted by a beautiful golden dragon....a mass of 10,000 people who all seemed to look identical to her...and a boy...a boy with a right hand that could render any special power useless..
Mikoto finally felt strength surging into her, and she regained consciousness. She found herself lying with her head resting against Wendy's lap and Natsu's face only inches from her own.
"Hey..." said Natsu with a grin. "Ya feeling better?"
"WHAAM!!!" Mikoto's fist rammed straight into Natsu's face, causing him to fly several feet into the air. "NATSU!! YOU KNOW I THINK IT'S CREEPY WHEN YOU DO THAT!!!!"
"Well if she can slug Natsu, I would think that she's perfectly fine." said Charle who was standing next to Mikoto with a small smile on her face.
"I'm so glad she's okay!!" said another voice. "I don't know what I'd do without her!!"
Mikoto turned her head towards the voice to find Elli standing on two legs like Charle, her eyes sparkling cheerfully...there was a pause...then...
"AAAAAIIIIIEEEEEEEEE!!!! ELLI IS ACTUALLY TALKING!!!" Mikoto jumped to her feet pointing at the pink cat.
Elli looked confused. "I'm talking? OH MY GOSH I'M TALKING!!!!!"
"Aye!" said Happy, the blue tomcat who was also standing on two legs. "It's a miracle!!"
This time both Natsu and Mikoto pointed at Happy with shocked looks on their faces. "HAPPY IS TALKIING TOO!!!!!"
"I take it their memories are still just coming back?" said Charle with a sigh as Lucy, who was standing nearby ran over to exclaim her shock."
"Yeah..looks like it." said Wendy rubbing her head awkwardly.
After a minute, Natsu, Lucy, Happy, Elli, and Mikoto finally calmed down. As it turned out, the group was in the middle of a large courtyard, a massive stone clock tower was at it's center, towering over every building in Yugami Town.
"So..let me get this straight.." said Mikoto after a lengthy explanation by Wendy. "Me, Natsu, Lucy, Happy, and Elli used to be part of some wizard guild called Fairy Tail, I'm something called an esper, and after I supposedly destroyed some mega appocalypse dragon, these guys called Soul Reapers took us and placed us in this weird prison town with wiped memories because we lived when we should have died?"
Wendy nodded.
"And now you're trying to rescue us before this town supposedly drains us after 15 years and deletes our existance?"
Wendy nodded again.
"Thats..."Mikoto began. "THE LAMEST STORY I EVER HEARD IN MY LIFE!!!! What's next!? THE TOOTH FAIRY!?"2
"I don't know Mikoto." said Lucy. "When you think about it...it kinda makes sense....wait a second...no...ACTUALLY IT MAKES NO SENSE!!"
Natsu just opened his mouth dreamily. "Cool....I can breathe fire..."
"Fish!" said Happy. "Did I have alot of fish where I came from!?"
"Eh..I know it's a lot to believe." said Wendy. "But aren't you wondering where all those memories and strange powers are coming from?"
Mikoto opened her mouth then closed it.
"Cool.." Natsu repeated, having not heard anything that was said just then. "I can breathe fire..."
"To be honest, I'm not really good at explaining it." said Wendy. "Erza would explain it better...in fact she was supposed to meet us here along with Gajeel...but of course Gajeel had to hold that weird bald man off for us..and Erza...I don't know what's keeping her.."
"For some reason every time I hear you say the name Erza, I start getting really scared." Natsu muttered.
"Aye.." said Happy. " I think my fur is getting ruffled up just thinking about it.."
Mikoto looked down at Elli who looked back up at her. The two of them seemed to come to some sort of unspoken agreement. Mikoto looked at Wendy, as she looked into her face, she felt the strange memories and images resurfacing, as if they were merging with her head like long lost friends...
"These strange marks on our skin...you people coming to rescue us...is it really true?"
Wendy nodded fervently, a tear seemed to trickle down her face. "I-I've missed you all so much.."
Mikoto smiled and hugged Wendy. "I'm sorry I don't remember everything right now...but after a little bit of thinking...I'm astounded to think that I ever forgot you.... Wendy Marvel."
Wendy's eyes widened. "My last name...I never told you..your memories..are they..?"
"They're not all back yet." said Mikoto. "I'm still confused about a lot of stuff...but...yeah, some of it's coming back..right Natsu?"
Natsu wasn't paying attention. Instead he was snapping his fingers over and over again, igniting and snuffing out the flames on his fingers as he did. "On...off...on...off...on...hehehehe...so cool."
Mikoto and Lucy slapped hands to their foreheads and groaned. "There Natsu goes again.."
"So you said we were supposed to meet this Erza person here.." said Elli. "Could those weird sword people you told us about have gotten her?"
"I hope not." Mikoto said as she remembered Kenpachi. "Whoever they are...they're relentless."
"Oh please." said Charle. "When you all regain your memories of her, you'll see that there's no way she'd fall so....so...."
Charle started to look fearful as a massive quaking pressure pressed down on the group. The ground began to shake as a familiar voice began to speak.
"So...your memory is coming back more eh? Does that mean you remember Thunder Dragon...how strong you can be...how ruthless in battle you can be?"
Mikoto knew she only had seconds...she saw the shadow cast over her as the large hulking man suddenly appeared, his jagged battle worn blade raised over his head in preperation to cleave Mikoto in two..
Suddenly, another sword, one that looked like a european mideavel blade clashed against Kenpachi's blade with a bursting shockwave, that exploded throughout the entire courtyard. The woman wielding the blade had shining armor with a cross design, her long red hair flowed in the wind as her intimidating eyes glared at Kenpachi.1
Mikoto suddenly felt a flood of memory pour into her as she spoke the name softly. "Erza..."
Kenpachi looked shocked at first as his blade pushed against that of Erza Scarlet's...then he began to smile...soon he was laughing. "You..You're strong!! YOU'RE REALLY STRONG!!!!"
Kenpachi raised his blade again and began swinging, slicing, dicing and cutting his blade relentlessly at Erza with enough force to demolish buildings with just the residual force.
Erza swung her blade and parried quickly, her flashing sword moving quicker then any human eye could comprehend.
Erza's body glowed with a tremendous light and she became covered in heavy black spiked armor, her sword becoming massive, black and spiked to match the Purgatory Armor. She used the tremendous force of her augmented abilities from her armor to ram Kenpachi's blade aside and slice a bloody cut in the Soul Reaper's torso.
Kenpachi lashed out his blade again and Erza ducked and rammed her shoulder into Kenpachi's gut, causing him to skid back several feet. However Kenpachi did not lose his footing.
"HAHAHAHAHA!!" Kenpachi sounded overjoyed. "That power!! That skill!! That force!!! Where have ya been all my life!? HAHAHAHAHA!!!!"
Erza's expression didn't change. "You just tried to cut down my friend..."
"Heh.." said Kenpachi. "Every opponent is just the next challenge to me...I don't care about that right now.."
"Well I do.." said Erza as a fiery light emerged in her eyes. "And you've made me angry. Very...very angry..." With ever word Erza spoke, the energy around her got more and more intense, till rubble and rocks began to levitate around her from the sheer power coming from her.
When Kenpachi felt the power however...he didn't waver...he didn't feel intimidated....he just felt all the more thrilled.
"Yes...yes..YES!!" Kenpachi flexed his fingers on the hand holding the handle of his nameless blade. "I want to fight you...no..I will fight you...You will be fun..maybe even as fun as Ichigo Kurosaki...maybe even more so..I don't know..all I know is that you're one of the most powerful opponents I've ever met...AND I LIKE IT!!"
"So...you merely live for battle." said Erza. "But I'll tell you now..a fight with Fairy Tail isn't something to be thrilled about..."
"But I'm not fighting Fairy Tail.." said Kenpachi. "I'm fighting you...girl..what is your name?"
"Erza Scarlet.."
"Erza..." Kenpachi spoke the name as it seemed to echo. "Erza Scarlet....that's right Erza Scarlet..you're the only one I'm interested in...Don't hold back...use your full strength...unleash all your might..all I hope is, that this battle lasts all the longer because of it!!!"
As Kenpachi said this, he dashed at Erza, his blade ready for a deadly attack, the ground erupting in his wake as his power exploded around him from his body.
Then, Kenpachi stopped...his sword only inches from Erza's raised blade. His eyes widened and he looked up at the sky. "Damn..what is it now Kurotsuchi? Blast..and I was having so much fun.."
Kenpachi looked back at Erza. "Don't you worry Erza Scarlet...me and you will have our fun soon enough..but for now, it looks like I have to wait...damn it..I'm not exactly a patient guy.."
Kenpachi dissapeared as a large obscuring mist rushed in out of nowhere from between the houses around him. The fog blew away...leaving nothing but the town around it.
Erza glowed again and requiped back into her original armor. As she did, Natsu stood up pointing at her.
"AAAAAHHHHHHH!!!! YOOUUUU!!!"
"You remember me?" said Erza.
"YOUUUUUU!!!!! Natsu said. "I have the weird feeling I've seen you somewhere...OH YEAH!! You're that janitor who lives down the street right!?"1
Erza stared at Natsu for bit. Erza then walked over to Natsu and hammered him on the head with her fist, causing him to fall to the ground going. "WHAT THE HELL!?"
Natsu then looked like he had just experienced an instant revelation. "E-Erza?"
Erza nodded with a smile. "Glad to see some things still work on you."
A little later, the group had gathered at the top room of the Clock Tower. The slow large metal dial shifted from side to side as massive gears turned around the room.
"I don't know.." said Natsu folding his arms. "My memory is coming back a bit..but everything is still foggy. Why the heck did we even end up in this town anyways? Wendy explained a bit...but..I'm still not sure."
"Well the first necessary thing would probably be to explain what exactly Yugami Town is." said Erza.
"What is it?" Mikoto asked. "Why were we sent here?"
"Yugami town is none other then a prison town." said Erza. "Meant to hold living people who have somehow been sent to the afterlife."
"Wh-what!?" Mikoto said feeling confused. "Living people in the afterlife?"
"You're currently in a special dimension. A dimension called the Soul Society." said Erza. "It's a dimension where all the souls of dead eventually gather and manifest physical forms as they live after death. However, some souls here, never truly died. Rather due to some mysterious circumstances, they somehow managed to escape death, but their souls were still thrown into the afterlife along with their still living bodies.."
"So you're saying we're people who haven't properly died..but were sent to the afterlife anyways.." said Lucy.
"That's right." said Erza. "As a result..supposedly the Soul Reapers, those who keep order in this world, theorize that should any of these special living souls should continue to exist for too long at a time..their mere presence would cause disorder and chaos in multiple dimensions. However, this theory has never been proved.."
Erza paused for a minute, as if contemplating the truthfulness of this theory.
"Last week, six months after you all dissapeared, a boy claiming to be associated with the Soul Reapers found me and told us about you all still being alive, he directed us to this man in a place called Karakura Town...where there was a shop owner named Urahara who helped us travel here. We took our best members with us to come find you along with some members of Necessarius who felt indebted to us...and now.."
Erza wiped a tear away from her eye. "I'm just glad to find what that strange boy said was true...that you are still alive."
"Erza.." Mikoto didn't know what to say..though her memories of Erza were still slow coming...she couldn't help but feel the same as the armored mage...
"One question though.." said Natsu seriously. "If what I heard is correct, people here dissapear here after 15 years...why?"
"I'm not exactly sure.."said Erza. "But supposedly, those who stay in this town long enough dissapear from existance and memory after they've been here long enough..not even that shop owner Uraharu could tell us why.."
"What I really want to know, is what made that big Soul Reaper stop?" Mikoto said. "He was all into the fight then...boom, he had to go.."
"I don't know.." said Erza. "But that man...he's dangerous.."
As Erza said this...Mayuri watched the tower from a distance in an alley. Wondering...researching...He wasn't going to miss out on this oppertunity...no...he was going to dissect his specimen..even if he had to almost kill the girl..