"The villagers on this island are actually demons with the ability to transform. They normally take human form to interact with the humans outside."
Ultear raised her head, her gaze passing through the darkness to the eerie purple full moon in the sky.
"The reason they've been acting strangely is that a thin film is covering the sky above this island."
"A film?" Happy blinked, looking bewildered.
"The Moon Drop ritual we performed produced a very low-purity waste gas along with the Moon Drop itself. That gas lingered above the island and formed a film, making the moon look purple from here."
"Then why does everyone in the village believe they've been cursed into becoming demons?" Lucy couldn't help asking.
Ultear lowered her gaze to Lucy and patiently explained:
"Because although this gas has no effect on humans, it does affect demons' memories."
"The demons in the village only think they're human because their memories have become confused. In fact, they've been demons all along."
"So that's how it is..." Gray nodded in understanding.
"In other words, once we break the film of waste gas covering the island, the villagers' memories and perceptions will return to normal, right?"
"That sounds a lot more plausible than destroying the moon!" Lucy breathed a sigh of relief.
"All right!" Natsu excitedly knocked his fists together, then turned eagerly to Happy.
"Happy, fly me up there! I'll burn that whatever-it-is film to ashes!"
"Roger!" Happy swiftly darted behind Natsu and grabbed him by the back of his collar.
"Wait!" Blanc stepped forward and held the two eager troublemakers back.
"Blanc! I'm not letting you have the moon-destroying job! You've hogged all the fights on this mission, so you've got to leave the finishing touch to me!!" Natsu looked terrified that his fight would be