AUTHOR'S NOTE:

Hey everybody! Feel free to skip this little author's note if you want to because it's not too important. There are just a few things I wanted you guys to know. First of all, A New World is very much a romance between Natsu and Lucy so if you don't like that I apologize profusely, but encourage you to stay nevertheless because this story is also very fun and has a lot of action, adventure, humor and friendship. Secondly, I want to mention that this story takes place in between the Oracion Seis Arc and the Edolas Arc so this will be the characters' first experience with different worlds. Third, just to let you know, I have already finished writing the whole story and it came out to about 90,000 words and 18 chapters give or take. I mention the giving and taking because I am going back through and editing it as I upload chapters in order to make it as good as possible. That being said, please review because I would love your comments and critiques although I will have to ask you to be kind in your reviews! Alright that's about all that I have to say! I'll finish my ramble by saying that the Fairy Tail characters do not belong to me and that I really hope you enjoy this story because I really had a blast writing it!

Prologue

The path to the Fairy Tail guild felt warm and familiar beneath the worn sandals of the traveler. His long navy cloak floated in his wake as he passed through the bustling streets of Magnolia, drawing the attention of the citizens with his aloof and mysterious aura. The tall man's face was shielded by a mask and his hair covered by a bandana, leaving only a small slit for vision. Despite his strange appearance, the town went back to its normal stupor after the traveler turned the corner, the man's presence all but forgotten in their fleeting and easily influenced minds.

Meanwhile, the members of the Fairy Tail were unsuspecting of their incoming visitor. The sunlight shone brightly through the windows of the guild hall, giving a light airy feel to the warm atmosphere inside. Small groups of wizards sat in the long rows of tables and benches while others preferred to sit at the bar with a beautiful young lady with long silvery white hair tending to them with a smile. The request board was filled to the brim with flyers and job descriptions, but no one seemed interested in breaking the lazy flow of a peaceful afternoon with the thought of work.

However, one wizard in particular wasn't satisfied with the subdued mumblings and hazy monotone. His name was Natsu Dragneel, a fire dragon slayer also known as the Salamander and he was currently banging his head against a table.

"I'm so bored." He complained to a few of his friends sitting with him. Another young man looked up at him with obvious disinterest.

"Tell someone who cares, flame brain." Gray replied.

"That's it, ice boy!" Natsu roared, standing up and slapping his hands down on the table, making the drinks that rested on it shake. There was a collective groan from the surrounding audience. "You and me right now, let's go."

"I don't have the time to screw around with a pyromaniac."

"Sounds like you're scared, freeze face." The fire wizard said, the excitement of a challenge glinting in his charcoal eyes. Gray stood up to face him, a scowl growing on his cool complexion.

"Fine. You're on. Just don't cry when I beat the smoke out of your head."

"What is that supposed to mean?"

The two boys were now head to head, leaning across the table to stare down their rival. The rest of the guild ignored them. Seeing those two go at it was too often of an occurrence around here. While everyone else turned back to their drinks, a pretty red head sitting at the same table shook her head in annoyance.

"Natsu, Gray. Calm down." At first her casual voice blended into the crowd and wasn't enough to break up the scuffle between the two boys, but then her voice rose into a fierce yell that sent chills down the spine of anyone who knew of Erza's wrath. "I said sit down and shut up before I make you sit down and shut up!"

The very next instance the boys were back in their respective seats, hanging their heads in fear of meeting the S-class wizard's glare.

"Yes, ma'am." Their voices trembled out in unison.

"Ah, that's better." Erza said, completely clam and cheerful, like nothing had happened. "It's a beautiful day, you two shouldn't ruin it with your- what's going on?"

The red head cut off midsentence as she looked around the guild hall. Everyone started to look even sleepier than before. Their eyelids began to slowly fall shut and one by one bodies fell limp to the floor, fast asleep. Soon, the only ones maintaining consciousness were Erza, Natsu, Gray and Fairy Tail's master, Makarov.

"It must be Mystogan." Gray huffed. "That guy always puts the entire guild to sleep when he drops by."

"I know." Erza said, standing up and looking intense. "What's strange is that the three of us are still awake."

"Hey you're right. Maybe I'll get to see his face this time. I was always curious." Natsu said brimming with excitement.

Ignoring him, Erza turned to the Master Makarov. The small old man was sitting cross legged on the bar a little ways away. He silently shook his head, signaling that he didn't know what was going on either.

Then the doors to the guild hall swung upon revealing the cloaked traveler, known to Fairy Tail as Mystogen. With one strange staff held in his hand and several others strapped to his back, Mystogan strode directly towards the master. Not wanting to miss out on the action, Erza, Natsu and Gray followed him in suit.

"Mystogen. It's good to see you, my child." Makarov said, breaking the silence. "Did your job go smoothly?"

"Yes, however, I must discuss with the four of you a matter of grave importance." His voice was deep and confident, but there was a sense of urgency that Fairy Tail's master did not miss.

"The four of us?" Erza asked, also detecting the hint of desperation behind his tone.

"If I may correct myself, I suppose it is the five of you." Mystogan said as he flicked his eyes off to the side. Following his gaze, the wizards so a flash of blue flying in through an open window.

"Hey little buddy!" Natsu cheered as the small blue cat came to a halt and hovered in the air beside his partner. "I was wondering where you were!"

"I was sharing a fish with Carla when she suddenly fell asleep. I can't wake her up!" The big eyes of the exceed were filled with despair.

"It's okay, Happy. She's going to be just fine." Erza said comfortingly.

"Yeah, Mystogen here put everyone to bed because… wait why are you here again?" Natsu said accusingly. Erza shook her head at his rudeness.

"He is a member of Fairy Tail."

"No, the young dragon slayer is right. I do have a purpose for coming." The masked man said.

"Please, child. Speak your mind." Makarov encouraged the mysterious wizard.

"I need your help." He said, turning to Erza, Natsu, Gray and Happy. "I've sensed a magical disturbance and I cannot hope to deal with it alone."

"You need our help?" Gray asked, suspicious.

"It is a very delicate matter. The job I am asking you to do requires travel to an unfamiliar place and to stay there for quite a duration of time."

"Oh no." Natsu moaned. "Don't tell me I have to get on a train."

"No. The place I am speaking of cannot be reached by a train. You must travel to a different world."

At Mystogan's words the Master opened his eyes wide in shock while Erza and Gray narrowed theirs in confusion. Natsu looked dumbfounded.

"A different world?" He echoed.

"It is called America and it is in a universe entirely of its own."

"How do you know of this world?" Erza said, asking only one of the million questions forming in her mind.

"I can only say that I've had experiences with different worlds before. My magic helps make travel between them possible."

"And you think this place- America- is in trouble?" Gray questioned. He wasn't buying any of this. Different worlds? That is just crazy.

"I am sure of it. Recently, I've felt traces of magic coming from America."

"And that's a bad thing?" Natsu asked, scratching his head.

"Yes. It is very bad. You see, America is a world without magic."

"What?!" Natsu, Gray and Erza shouted out all at once.

"What does that even mean?" Gray said.

"It means that America's inhabitants have found ways to live their lives without using magic. It is a technologically advanced world, although it is not without conflict."

"But how do they fight without magic?" Natsu asked, still looking confused.

"Really, flame brain? We find out another world exists and that is your first question?"

"Like I said." Mystogan cut in before a fight could erupt between the boys. "Technology there is beyond your belief. They find ways. However, the only reason I am telling you this is because the balance of their world has been upset. Magic has not existed there for centuries perhaps even longer. It simply doesn't belong there. Its discovery could potentially cause extreme destruction and chaos. Furthermore, if someone from America was able to manipulate magic, then that individual could quite literally take over the world if the magic is strong enough. All of this is speculation but there are risks we cannot afford to take. The people of America aside, if this other world was to be destroyed then ours could be affected as well. We must stop the root of the problem before it has an opportunity to grow."

"So you want us to go to America and investigate the source of magic you sensed?" Erza said, nodding her head.

"Yes, and destroy it if you can. If not then bringing it back to our world is an acceptable option as well."

"But why can't you do this, Mystogan?" Erza asked looking thoughtful. "Why ask us for help?"

"I would do this on my own if I could, but that is not an option. I have equally important responsibilities here that I must attend to."

"What?!" Natsu protested. "You're going to drop us off in a different magicless world because you have better things to do?"

"In its most crude explanation, yes. However, I hope you trust me enough to know that what I must take care of is of equal if not greater importance."

A small cloud of silence fell over the guild hall. All throughout Mystogan's talking Makarov had not spoken, remaining still as stone with his head bowed as he sat on the bar. Erza looked at him while Gray continued to stare down the masked wizard.

As always Natsu was the one to break the tense silence. He smashed his fist into an open palm and smiled fiercely, a toothy grin that seemed to engulf his entire face.

"That's good enough for me. Besides, this job sounds like fun."

"I don't know about this…" Gray said, shaking his head at Natsu's enthusiasm.

"Why? You scared?"

"Would you quit saying that? Sorry if I like to think over something before I charge in full force, unlike you." Gray argued back. Natsu scoffed at his words and crossed his arms.

"Well I'm going to help Mystogan out whether you guys come with me or not. He's a member of Fairy Tail so that means he's family. I trust him for sure." Natsu said. While Gray stared back at him Erza and Makarov couldn't help but smile at Natsu's spirit. Although he didn't show it and kept his dark green eyes as blank as ever, Mystogan was surprised but nevertheless grateful for the pink haired boy's words about him. He wasn't aware that his guild mates saw him in that light.

"Natsu's right." Erza said nodding her head, still with a smile on her face. "I'd like to help Mystogan as well. If that's alright with you, master."

"As much as I hate to see my children stray too far away from their home, I approve of this mission. If Mystogan's senses are correct, then I have no choice but to comply. There are no three wizards I think are more suited to the task." Makarov said, speaking for the first time in a while. His voice held a commanding yet warm rasp as he turned his head to the dark haired boy. "That is, if you would like to help as well, Gray."

"Fine. I'm in." He said. No way was he going to let Natsu and Erza get all the fun. Who knows, maybe this new world will be pretty cool.

"I cannot thank each of you enough." The cloaked wizard said.

"Wait! I get to go too right?" Happy's small squeaky voice chirped up. The wizards had forgotten about the little blue cat. Well, forgotten by all except one.

"Of course you are, little buddy!" Natsu said, patting his friend on the back. "Wouldn't have it any other way."

"Then it's settled." Makarov said. "Natsu Dragneel, Erza Scarlett, Gray Fullbuster, and Happy. I order you to go to America and deal with any traces of magic you might find there. Work hard and return home safely."

XXX

"Wait so this thing is an Anima?" Natsu asked as he stared up at the sky. It looked as though the sky was twisting and spiraling, appearing almost like a whirlpool made out of thick heavy air. The clouds in the vortex were dark and ominous, all rotating around some sort of epicenter that held a great deal of magical power.

Mystogan had led the four Fairy Tail wizards out into a wide field a few miles away from Magnolia. He said that he was taking them to an Anima, a portal between worlds that he could send them through with his magic.

"Yes."

"And it's going to take us to America?" The pink haired mage added skeptically.

"With the assistance of my magic, yes." Mystogan replied. He held out one of his staffs and raised it towards the sky. Layers of intricate magic circles varying in color sprouted from the top of the staff and expanded up towards the Anima in the sky. The vortex began to spiral faster and faster. The concentration of magical energy grew.

"Natsu, I'm scared." Happy whimpered, cowering closer to his partner.

"It's going to be okay." Natsu didn't blame him for being frightened. The sky now looked like some portal to hell and the air grew cold, picking up its velocity into freezing gusts of wind that were enough to topple over a small tree. The wizards held their ground and Natsu held Happy in his firm grasp.

"And how are we going to get back once we've completed our mission?" Erza asked as her long red hair was tossed wildly like a whip in the wind.

"I will reopen the Anima from Earthland when your mission is complete. However, when I do that all of you must be directly beneath the adjacent Anima in America at the exact time I preform my spell."

"But how will we know when? We'll be in different worlds, it's not like we can communicate." Gray said, scowling against the wind.

"I will reopen it exactly one year from now." Mystogan said, still focused on his spell. With his free hand he reached into his pocket and pulled out a small device about two inches in diameter. It looked like a clock, except there was only one long hand. "When the hand makes one full rotation, your year will be up and I will reopen the Anima to bring you back."

"A year?!" Natsu said, outraged. "Don't you think that's a bit of an overkill? Will this mission really take us a whole year?"

"I do not know." Mystogan replied. He tossed the clock to Erza, who quickly pocketed it. "It all depends on how quickly you are able to find the source of magic I sensed. You may find it quickly or you may find yourselves pressed for time. I would have liked to give you more time, but this Anima will only last for a year."

"So that means we only have one shot at this." Erza said.

"Exactly. If you were to fail to find it in your one year, the Anima we are using now will close and will be unable to reopen. I could try to find another that leads to America, but that is not certain. By the time I find another way to get back to America it might be too late."

"We understand." Erza said with a nod. "A year is more than enough time. You can count on us."

"Thank you." Mystogan said. "Alright the Anima is ready, prepare yourself to be transported. Remember, your objective is to find the source of magic and destroy it. Regardless of whether you succeed or not, return back to the exact location where you arrive in one year. If not, you will be stuck in America forever. I wish you luck."

Natsu, Erza, Gray and Happy braced themselves to be whisked away. They shut their eyes and tensed up their bodies. Suddenly, they were sucked upwards, as if they were specks of dirt rising up the vortex of a tornado. The air around them grew very cold, so cold that it burned their skin. Their bodies rocketed across dimensions, waves of time and space seemingly tearing them apart. The space around them grew rapider and fiercer until suddenly, everything stopped. The four wizards hung in a spaceless void, suspended in nothingness until gravity suddenly kicked in. They plummeted down until they hit a wall of solid ground.

Feeling a cool breeze on their faces and sensing grass beneath their backs, the wizards slowly cracked open their eyes.

They had arrived in America.