Fairy Tail: Vector Manipulation

Lucy drifted slowly down from the air, looking back and forth in confusion, not knowing what had happened to her.

"Is everyone okay?"

"I'm fine."

Suddenly noticing Lucy staring blankly ahead, Natsu shook her body, but got no response. He gave her two slaps. "Hey, Lucy, are you okay?"

With a bang, Lucy punched Natsu and shouted, "What are you doing? That hurt!" As she spoke, she rubbed her face hard.

"I should be asking you that. Why were you spacing out?" Natsu said.

"Have any of you seen Chen Fan?" Gray's anxious voice rang out.

Just then, a voice came from above. "Hey, can you hear me? Is something wrong?" The echo reverberated off the walls.

"It's Chen Fan's voice," Happy said in surprise.

"That guy really is lucky. He didn't fall down," Natsu remarked, sounding rather annoyed that Chen Fan had not fallen along with them.

"Uh... we're down here. We're fine," Gray called back to Chen Fan.

"Oh, that's good. I'll look for another way down." With that, he ignored Natsu and the others' shouts, turned around, and left.

"Oh, look! There's a hole here! Let's explore! Let's explore!" Natsu twisted his waist as he ran forward, with Happy flying after him.

"Hey, don't just wander off!" Gray shouted at Natsu and the others as he headed toward the hole. Turning back, he found Lucy still sitting on the ground and asked in confusion, "What's wrong with you?"

"Oh, nothing, nothing. Let's go." Lucy got to her feet and answered quickly, immediately following them and walking ahead of Gray. Gray stared after her in bewilderment, but still followed.

Chen Fan looked at the enormous Moon Temple and said expectantly, "I hope this trip won't be too boring." Then he began climbing upward, one step at a time.

Meanwhile, aboard a pirate ship not far from Demon Island, Erza stood imposingly on the deck, looking toward distant Garna Island.

The pirate captain turned to Erza and asked, "What are you going to that island for?"

"Don't ask. Just steer the ship."

"Spare me—no, please spare all of us! Garna Island is a cursed island. Rumor has it that it turns humans into demons."

"I'm not interested."

"Is that so?"

"I'm going to punish those who broke the rules, that's all. Especially that guy named Chen Fan. I'll make him wish he were dead," Erza said through gritted teeth, clenching her fists.

"So cool! So awesome! Whatever you say, Boss, goes! We'll go punish that guy named Chen Fan too! Who told him to make you angry, Boss?"

"Is that so? That's wonderful. I never expected even you to know about Chen Fan's evil reputation. I'm so touched."

"Oh..."

"Achoo..." Chen Fan rubbed his nose and pulled his clothes tighter around himself. He had no idea what had been going on lately; he kept sneezing. Could it be that some young girl was thinking about him again? Having too much charm really is troublesome, Chen Fan thought shamelessly.

Urutia

Chen Fan walked through the Moon Temple. He did not care about Deliora at all, but this journey was still necessary. Otherwise, a seed of regret would remain forever in Gray's heart. Perhaps Gray had not noticed it yet, but his magic had been progressing more and more slowly.

No matter what kind of power it was, it had to be controlled with the heart. Makarov had his great love for Fairy Tail; Natsu had his longing for the Fire Dragon; Laxus wanted to change his grandfather's mind and gain his grandfather's approval; Erza had her childhood fears. Whether those thoughts were good or bad, they would ultimately make a person stronger. And a powerful person's heart had to be powerful as well.