Chapter 1: Prologue: Scarlet Heavens
A/N: When an entire section of text is italicized, it means that that part is a flashback.
Enjoy!
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail. I just love it. All copyrights belong to Hiro Mashima.
Prologue: Scarlet Heavens
The dungeons of Era are not very well known. Their presence is indeed shrouded in mystery, as the Magic Council tightens its lips concerning matters about enemies of the state. What is known, however, is that the wards that are strewn throughout Era Undertown limit the effectiveness of magic within the border. It can be deduced that, on occasion, mages are held prisoner. However, what is captivity to those who can bend reality to their will?
Running a hand through his indigo hair, Jellal absently traced the tattoo around his right eye as he mentally chalked up the amount of time he had spent in this cold stone cell. He concluded that it had been a fortnight since 4th Custody Enforcement Unit Head Lahar had left him here with only his murky thoughts as company. Footsteps echoed through the dank hallway outside of his cell as a pair of Rune Knights made their rounds for the day. He could dimly hear the sound of two buckets thumping against the flagstones as the Knights stopped in front of each cell. As they drew nearer, Jellal was able to make out parts of their conversation.
"…and just how many times did Ryn fall off of his stool? He's the main reason why we aren't allowed to have alcohol anymore when we're off-duty!" The first voice grumbled.
"A few times, I suppose. However, you were the one who egged him on, Kal. He mentioned as much to that busybody, Lahar." The second voice dryly remarked.
"Bah, you were the one who told me to do it in the first place, Ian! Anyways, help me with the buckets. I'm starting to get tired." Kal sighed.
Jellal tuned out the guards, preferring the disquiet of his own thoughts to the antics of the two novice Knights. Sitting up, he held his arms out in front of his body, watching with disinterest as the shackles slipped around his slim wrists. Sighing, he clasped both hands together in a reverse grip and stretched until his knuckles popped. Lying back down, he waited for the guards to reach his cell.
In short order, the footsteps finally came to a halt outside of his cell. He looked up and found that both of the Knights were staring at him with expressions ranging from pity to loathing. The taller one pressed his left hand against the wall next to the cell door and waited for the rune barrier to fully materialize before making a negating motion. As the barrier dissolved, the shorter Knight called into existence a tray that contained utensils, a bowl, and a cup. Pouring a thick gruel-like substance from the first bucket into the bowl, he then dipped a ladle into the second bucket and held it above the cup before speaking.
"We know who you are, Jellal. It isn't every day that a former Wizard Saint ends up as a prisoner in this dungeon. Tell me, how does it make you feel to have to slowly wither away each day in here, while we're free to walk around as we please?" Ian snorted in derision.
Jellal gave Ian a blank look before rubbing his eyes and yawning. Ian growled underneath his breath as he poured the water into the cup, roughly shoving the tray through the slot at the base of the cell door. Jellal slid the tray closer towards himself with his foot before sitting back on the bed and staring at the ceiling.
Kal stated, "Well, it's not exactly as if he has anything to live for. All that ambition and yet it didn't lead him anywhere." He shook his head before adding, "It's a shame, actually. He had plenty of potential to help the world, but chose instead to follow the path of darkness."
Ian rolled his eyes before chuckling, "Yes, as if he would've been able to do anything else when he was wrapped around Ultear's finger. Too bad about his pals from Fairy Tail, however.."
Jellal jumped up and stared at Ian, clenching his fists, before stuttering, "Wha.. What happened?"
. Ian cocked his head and continued, "Oh, I suppose that nobody felt the need to mention it to you, then. An island upon which Fairy Tail's most powerful members were training was blasted into oblivion by a dragon believed to be called Acnologia."
Kal studied Jellal for a few moments before adding, "The known list of members on the island include: Makarov Dreyer, Lucy Heartphilia, Natsu Dragneel (Ian chuckled at this.), Mirajane Strauss, and Erza Scarlet."
Jellal's eyes widened as he gasped, "Er.. Erza?! This can't be happeni.."
Ian cut in ruthlessly with a merciless gleam in his eyes, "Oh, yes. They were all taken unawares, apparently. Don't expect to see them again. Even Erza, the Fairy Queen, was unable to stand against something. Now you have no hope of seeing her again!"
Jellal's eyes dilated as he murmured to himself, "No.. Erza..?"
Kal paused in the act of berating Ian as he became aware of a powerful magical force building up within the cell. Hastily gesturing at the cell door, he barked, "Rune Lock: Magic Dampen!" before cupping both hands in front of himself and slicing in opposite directions. The cell door flared with a coruscating white light as the runes took hold.
Kal howled, "We need reinforcements! I won't be able to contain him! Run, Ian!" Ian took one last look at the interior of the cell before running through the wall, his runes transporting him to the 1st Detention Unit's headquarters down the hallway.
Jellal rigidly stood up, glowing with a holy golden aura that grew brighter with every passing breath. Rune tendrils started to drift towards him, but were burned away in the overwhelming fury of his power. Kal exerted more force over his rune barrier, sweat starting to slide down his forehead. Jellal's aura steadily ate away at the barrier, white light and gold clashing in spurts of flaming sparks. Finally, Jellal clasped both hands together as if in prayer and commanded, "Heavenly Body Magic: Abyssal Flux!"
His aura condensed into a midnight purple and sun-touched gold orb that rested above the palm of his right hand. He spun once on his heels and launched the Flux Orb at the cell door. Upon contact, the cell door simply dissolved and the runes exploded in a violent shower of sparks. Kal was blasted against the opposite wall and slid onto his side, laboring for breath. Jellal stalked closer towards him, his eyes hidden in the shadows of his hair.
Bending down, Jellal whispered to Kal, "I will not harm you any further. However, I will be leaving this place."
Kal stretched his hand out and formed a rune barrier around Jellal. Jellal scoffed and raised his hand to break the barrier down. Voices raised in anger abruptly filtered down the hallway as a battalion of Rune Knights ran towards Jellal, Lahar and Ian leading the way. Sighing, he spread his hands to his sides and envisioned a special grove outside of Hosenka Town.
His palms began to glow with a soft blue light as he rapidly chanted under his breath, "My soul shall be whole/ My spirit is as one/ As one part splits into many/ Many become as one!"
The rune barrier shattered as a gaseous form flew from Jellal's hands and shot through the dungeon wall. He watched with his mind's eye as the gas took on his form and began to solidify. Stepping down into the grove, Jellal pressed both hands against his chest and finished with, "My power shall be split in twain/ Oh, avatar of mine, become as one with me!"
His spirit body grew cold as part of his magical power was wrenched from his physical body and implanted into the thought projection. Looking up through the eyes of his original body, he noticed that Lahar was only a few feet away. Clasping his hands together, he finished molding the bond with his avatar and waited for Lahar to subdue him. In a less than a breath, Jellal was suspended in midair, his magical force completely leaching away from him as Lahar snarled, "Magic Drain: Spellshear!"
Jellal's eyes clouded over as he began to lose consciousness. The last image that his mind processed before he slipped into darkness was Lahar linking with the other Knights and forming some type of rune barrier.
Jellal slowly became aware of a metallic screech coming from somewhere close by. Gingerly cracking open his eyes, he found that he was suspended from the wall by a series of crystal chains. Lahar was standing below him, placing a steel-tipped torch into its holster in the middle of the chamber. Glaring at Jellal with an infinitesimal amount of ire, Lahar walked towards the only door in the chamber, opening it with the touch of his hand. Pausing in the doorway, he turned around and faced Jellal.
Lahar stared at Jellal for a few brief seconds before quietly stating, "You will stay here until the Magic Council decides on what to do with you. You will be fed each day, but your magic will not come back whilst you reside in this chamber. Goodbye, Ex-Saint Jellal."
With that, Lahar walked through the door and closed it. The portal faded away and all that Jellal was left to look at was a blank wall of dark rock. Looking closer, he watched the torchlight flicker and dance across the grey slate floor. It illuminated scarlet swirls that wove their way through the rest of the rock, twisting around until fading back into grey. Closing his eyes, he sighed and let his memories take hold of him as he synchronized with his thought projection.
Jellal looked at the umber-eyed waif with an appraising eye as he asked, "What's your name?"
The girl looked up at him with shadowed eyes as she softly replied, "Erza."
Jellal muttered, "Just Erza?"
The girl nodded, lowering her head back down and staring at the rough stone floor. Jellal cocked an eyebrow at her and scratched his chin in thought. He appeared to be deep in thought for a few moments before walking over to her and grabbing a lock of her hair. He snapped his fingers before saying, "Oh!"
Erza blushed slightly before asking, "What?"
Jellal grinned at her as he stated, "I know your name! Your hair is a pretty scarlet, so I'll call you Erza Scarlet from now on!"
Erza's face became drawn in thought as she mumbled, "Erza.. Scarlet..?"
Jellal opened his mouth to apologize, but Erza jumped up and happily exclaimed, "I love it!"
Jellal sat down in the grove and watched as several shooting stars passed overhead, long streaks of shimmering dust trailing in their wake as they blazed across the night sky. The moon hung low, making it seem as if the landscape was bathed in weak winter sunlight. He turned his head towards Era, where he could still feel his original body chained to the wall. Maybe now, I'll be able to make amends, he thought. As a series of fireworks burst out from the town nearby, Jellal's attention was immediately drawn to a scarlet sunburst that exploded off to the side. It slowly revolved in midair before splitting into a series of swords that all revolved around a center point. After a few moments, each of the blades lit up for one final cycle before dissipating into the crisp night air. He could barely make out scattered applause from the town.
He closed his eyes and softly breathed out, "Erza.."
Opening his eyes, he held out his left hand and willed his power to flow through him. A pale golden flame flickered above his outstretched hand for a heartbeat before fading away. Sighing, he faced towards where he knew Magnolia was located and began to walk along the path. I know that my power is currently negligible, but I'll be able to harness more over time, Jellal ruminated.
Pressing a hand over his heart, Jellal vowed, "I'm coming for you, Erza."
I will save you.
-cough- I wasn't confused about the genres that I set for this story. I'm just setting up everything that will happen in the future! XD
Oh, and I'm making it so that Hosenka Town is copying Akane Resort and setting off fireworks every couple of nights (...annnnd Akane Resort started it after Erza sent off her friends after the Tower of Heaven incident). Jellal just managed to arrive at the right time!
If anybody noticed, I kinda made up new skills for Jellal. Expect the other characters to gain new skills, too. Rawr.
So, the new skill(s) so far are:
Heavenly Body Magic: Abyssal Flux - Combines the power of light and darkness to nullify (or dissolve) certain materials.
A/N # 2: (May 21st 2014) I'm changing the story to now occur when FT gets blasted by Acnologia, rather than when Magnolia gets sucked into the Anima. I can't remember where I was going with the original storyline, and this one fits better, I do believe!
