"Do I have to get on the boat? I think I like my chances in the water," I shuddered. 

"Shut up and climb the damn rope," Reiki ordered. 

I reluctantly did as I was told and climbed the rope ladder onto the fishing boat. As soon as my feet hit the deck I felt my stomach squirm and I fell onto the floor in queasy agony. Reiki sighed and propped me up against the side of the ship and began to help others onto the boat. 

Luckily, after Brandish turned the island into a rock, a group of fishing boats came to the island's rescue. We were in the process of getting people out of the water and onto the ships to make sure everyone was accounted for. 

"That's everyone," Storm announced. Just then my stomach lurched and Storm quickly passed me a bucket, which I proceeded to puke my star mango gelato into. I felt a hand start to rub my head and saw that it was Lucy stroking my head and Natsu's back as we puked our guts out.

"So what's our next move?" She asked. 

"Good question," Erza pointed out. "We should start by finding out-"

Erza's words were cut short when she disappeared into thin air. We all yelped in surprise before we all were teleported off the ship by Mest. When my surroundings reappeared, we were in a stone building with dark windows. 

"We're fine. It's my magic," Mest explained. 

"Warning us would have been the considerate thing to do!" Carla barked, she was still in her human form, but her frustration was still cat-like.

"Yes! We're free!" Natsu and Wendy cheered. I jumped to my feet with a cheer as my nausea vanished. 

"So where are we?" Storm asked. 

"We're still near Caracol Island, but we're underwater," Mest explained.

"Woah! Look at all the fishies!" Happy pointed out the window. I joined the exceed at the window and realized there wasn't any glass. To prove it, I stuck my hand through it and grasped a stalk of seaweed growing near the window. I pulled it back in curiously and showed it to Happy. "Wow!" He exclaimed. "Can you grab me a fishy?" He drooled. 

I laughed at the exceed's request and attempted to grab one of the fish in a nearby school. Happy began to cheer for me as I almost grasped one. Just then, the building jutted upward and I felt my stomach flip. Suddenly the building started moving and I tumbled to the ground. 

"Where are we going?" Wendy squeaked.

"Straight to hell," Natsu answered. 

"You three should rest," Erza explained. "It'll be a long ride to Alvarez,"

I watched helplessly as she rendered Natsu and Wendy unconscious. Finally she stood over me. "Please," I groaned. 

"Goodnight Nashi!" Kali mocked. Then I felt a blow to my head and my world went black.

- - - - - - -

"Nashi wake up," Lucy shook my shoulder. I moaned and swatted away my mother's hand, rolling back onto my side. "Nashi we're here,"

"Okay. Nigh-night," I groaned. 

"Get up," She said more sternly this time. 

I bolted upright at her command, suddenly wide awake. "I'm up,"

When I looked around I saw a dense forest surrounding us and a massive castle in the distance. Well, "castle" isn't the right word. It was a major city all condensed together that looked like a castle. Regardless, it was enormous. 

"Where are we?" I asked.

"Alvarez," Kali answered with a smile as she sat on my lap and whipped her tail in front of my face. "We rode here on Angel's walking temple while you were napping,"

"I'm going to find Makarov," Mest said. "I'll be back soon,"

"Be careful," Erza warned. Mest nodded and teleported away. "I suppose now we just wait for Mest to return," 

"Hey I got a question," Natsu wondered. He looked at me with a skeptical face. "How were you the only one that was able to land a hit on that other teleporting guy?"

"Marin? Well, I noticed that he always attacked a person's back first," I explained. "So when I wanted to attack him, I waited and listened. When I heard the sand behind me shift, I was already ready to throw the punch and catch him off guard."

"Wow, that's really smart," Lucy pointed out.

"You were able to tell where he was just by hearing the sand shift?!" Natsu exclaimed. "That's so cool!"

"I know right! A couple months ago, Gale and I started training blind-folded! That way it forces you to listen and feel your surroundings to predict your opponent's moves. It's so cool and it really heightened my senses. Of course, sometimes I would lose focus and Gale would sneak an attack under my nose, but overall it really helped!"

"Woah that's so awesome!" Natsu beamed. 

"Hold on," Gray pointed out. "A couple of months ago?"

My nerves jumped at the realization. "Yeah, a couple months ago meaning..." I quickly tried to do the math in my head, but my brain was so frantic that I couldn't calculate it. 

"For you guys that would have been around the time... wait that can't be right. That would have been only a month after the Grand Magic Games. You and Gale were separated during that time," Lucy determined.

"You know, all of these days just kind of blend together," I stammered and twirled my fingers. "I think it was actually less than that. Yeah, it was right after we found Gale that we started training."

"We got involved with Tartaros right after you found Gale. You didn't have any time to train," Gray crossed his arms.

"I think what she really means is a couple months ago in our actual time period!" Kali declared. "A couple months ago in X816,"

"Hey we're back," Gale greeted. "We got a great deal on a magic mobile, so let's try to bring it back to the rental place in one piece," She grinned as Reiki and Storm stepped out of the vehicle.

"Stop lying and just tell us the truth," Erza ordered me. 

"Yes ma'am!" I squeaked.

"What's going on?" Storm asked.

"All of you are usually in on the secrets, so spill the beans. What aren't you telling us?" Lucy explained crossly.

"I told you we shouldn't have left her alone," Reiki muttered. 

"Come on, just tell us the truth, I'm sure there's nothing wrong," Natsu tried to smile, but he was confused.

"What did you tell them Nashi?" Storm exclaimed.

"She was telling us about some new training she and Gale started a couple of months ago," Gray said.

"But the math doesn't add up, because a couple of months ago for you guys puts that story a month after the Grand Magic Games. A time when you were all separated." Lucy explained.

"Then Nashi tried saying that it was right after you found Gale, but you wouldn't have had time to train together because that's when Tartaros attacked," Erza added. 

"There's some other stuff that doesn't add up either," Gray narrowed his eyes and pointed at Gale. "That tattoo definitely wasn't there before, your hair dye is already fading out, and there's no way you mastered a new skill like manipulating metal in just a week. Even if you had been practicing for the three months after the eclipse, you still wouldn't be able to use it with that much accuracy. So how long have you all really been in this time?"

We all froze and didn't say anything. 

"We got here a week before Fairy Tail reinstated." Storm answered. 

"Don't lie to me Storm," Gray challenged with a calm and collected tone.

Natsu looked at me curiously. I could tell that he was starting to become suspicious of me. "Your hair's longer." He said.

"What?" I laughed. 

"When you were missing for three months, your hair got really long. If you got here a week ago, your hair should be about the same length, right? But it's a whole lot longer than it was last time."

I started to get nervous and didn't do anything. I looked at my friends who just stared back at me with uncertain eyes. 

"Okay," I sighed. "I guess there's no point in lying anymore... we've been here a year," I whispered.

Everyone was shocked as they stared at us. 

"A year?" Natsu questioned.

"The portal dropped us off a month after Fairy Tail disbanded," I answered.

"So why didn't you reach out and tell us that you were here?" Lucy exclaimed with a concerned voice.

"We didn't want to mess with the timeline," Reiki answered. "If we had reached out to any of you, we could have accidentally started the war too soon. You all would have stopped training and you wouldn't be as strong as you need to be to face Alvarez. We couldn't risk it."

"It still would have been nice to know that you were here," Lucy folded her arms.

"Please understand," I stood up and pleaded with my family. "Laying low was our best option, we all trained really hard so that we could help you fight in the war, and we're here now. We're ready to fight, so please don't leave us out of this war,"

Everyone shared a look. I could tell that they were disappointed that we didn't reach out during that year. Yet it's not like they were any better than we were, they didn't reach out to one another during the past year either.

"You need us," Storm explained. "We know things about this war that are vital to Fairy Tail's victory."

Just then there was a shift in the air and Mest reappeared with Master Makarov in his arms. He was breathing heavily. 

"Gramps!" Natsu greeted happily.

"My children are here," Makarov said curiously.

"Guys, I saw Zeref. He was with Zeref." Mest panted.

"Zeref is here? Like on this continent?" Natsu questioned.

"I can hardly believe it myself, but this continent's leader known as Spriggan is actually the black wizard, Zeref himself," Makarov explained. We were all stunned silent at the news. "Since you're all here, I assume Mest filled you in on the situation and what I was trying to accomplish by traveling here. I've been far too naive through this whole ordeal. I came here believing they would be willing to negotiate, but that was just a fantasy. And before I made the journey West, I put the future of the guild in jeopardy. All that heartache and pain was for nothing. I've never felt such regret and embarrassment in my life," Makarov's tears slid down his beard and fell on clenched fists.

"This year was tough," I spoke up. "but we all made it through and came out even stronger."

"It really is true," Lucy smiled at me caringly. "and the bond we share is unbreakable. That's how we found each other,"

"If concern for another is what pushes you to act then it means something. Showing you care is important. Master, you taught us that lesson," Erza added.

"Come on Gramps," Natsu extended his arm to Makarov. "Let's go home. Fairy Tail's waitin' on us,"