Natsu and his friends reach the Royal City, where an enormous lacrima made of the magical energy of Magnolia is on display. To save their friends, Carla reveals that she has had information about Edolas flowing into her head since they arrived, and the group devises a plan based on getting close to the Edolas king, Faust, and having Lucy use Gemini to learn how to transform the lacrima back. Their plan is foiled when they are ambushed by Nightwalker, whose forces exalt Happy and Carla as beings known as "Exceed".