A/N: Amns, if you're reading this, I advise you to turn back. This is gonna be nothing but pure angst.

Now, continuing on, hello lovely readers. Yes I know, I'm alive. It's a miracle. Wolf is alive!

This is a request from blackbutterfly101, aka Sanaa-bae. This is gonna be a hard ride for all you fluff readers, cuz as I said, it's pure angst. It's gonna be in two (hopefully not three, fingers crossed) parts, which will be updated later on in the week (fingers crossed).

This has a canon idea to it, but I remind you that this is mostly AU.

Tell me whatcha think!

Irrevocable: Part One

"I'll always love you. But it's time to let go. Thank you for everything."

Her hair is blowing back in the wind while she tries to tame it, but the wild scarlet locks are hard to control. Sometimes, he thinks, her hair has its own mind, and longs to break free. However, today is not the day it will find release. He watches as she gathers her hair and pulls it high, securing it with a ribbon so that it is finally contained.

"What?" she says, frowning as she turns to him, her beautiful brown eyes narrowed in concern. Some of her fiery locks escape the constraints of her ribbon and tumbled around her face, cupping her cheeks and tickling her neck.

He realizes he's staring and shakes his head. "Nothing," he says quickly, reaching out to tuck her hair behind her ears. From where they're standing, on a cliffside looking out over the sea at sunset, he's pulled back in time, back to a place where he first realized Erza will forever be the one to occupy his heart. She flows through his veins and lives in his mind, etched into his soul like ancient markings forever preserved on cavern walls. She is stitched within the very confines of his being, and there she will stay, forevermore. No matter what happens.

She sighs, closing her eyes and turning back to the sea, breathing in the salty air. "You're quiet today," she mumbles after a moment. "There's something going on, isn't there?"

It's amazing, how easily she can read him. Even after all these years, he can't keep any secrets from her. Maybe it's because she is a part of him, and knows him all too well. Sometimes he thinks she knows him better than he knows himself.

He squeezes his eyes shut, dreading what is about to come next. However much he resisted this, avoided this, delayed for this, eventually, he was backed into a corner with nowhere else to go. This was bound to happen, but still, Jellal abhors what is about to happen.

"You wished to see me, Master?" Jellal asks, entering Makarov's office. The old man nods and ushers Jellal in with a "close the door behind you, my boy," which tells Jellal that whatever Makarov has called him here for, it cannot be good.

"What is it, Master?" Jellal asks, leaning against Makarov's wooden desk, arms crossed. Makarov has a troubled look in his eyes, which only intensifies Jellal's suspicions that something is wrong.

Makarov closes his eyes. "I have no right to be called "Master" by one such as you." Jellal leans forward in protest, but Makarov raises a hand, demanding silence. "You are much more powerful than I in terms of magical abilities, and despite your youth, I believe you have much more experience in dealing with problems, like the one I am about to bring up, more than I."

"I do not know what you mean," Jellal begins warily.

Makarov sighs. "Jellal," he says wearily. "There is a mission assigned to Fairy Tail. Only you have the experience and the capabilities to be able to take it. No one else in the guild is powerful enough to do so."

"What do you mean?" Jellal asks warily. "I'm sure Laxus and Erza are just as equally qualified-"

"No," Makarov says bitterly. "They're not. Jellal, what I'm about to tell you is top secret. Only those in the Magic Council and the Wizard Saints know about this."

"I'm not in either-"

"Yes," Makarov interrupts. "But you were. You had great influence in the Magic Council and you were one of the most powerful of the Wizard Saints. And yet that was only your thought projection. I'll have you know that you were tapped to become one of the Four Kings of Ishgar, had you been on the correct side in that time."

Jellal frowns. He doesn't care about status or fame; in truth, as long as Erza remains safe and free from harm, then he is satisfied with his life. If it was any other person in this room being told they were once considered to be among the most elite of elites, it would have been a different story. But Jellal is selfless and humble, and could care less about this news.

"Jellal," Makarov says, turning a fierce glare in his direction. "God Serena defected."

Jellal freezes. He's never met the legendary mage, the one man considered to be the most powerful mage in all of Ishgar, but he has heard stories. They say no one has ever seen this man's magic work; just his magical pressure alone is enough to bring any lesser person to their knees.

"Why are you telling me this?" Jellal whispers. "Why doesn't the Magic Council- you Wizard Saints- why don't all of you go after him?" He can't fathom Makarov's logic in telling him this.

Makarov sighs. "When Serena left," he whispers. "He attacked the Magic Council and us Wizard Saints. Seven are dead, four of which are Wizard Saints. Jellal, we are vulnerable, and we cannot go after him. I fear I must turn to you, as a former Wizard Saint. Please, you need to go after him."

Jellal narrows his eyes. "If he managed to kill seven of you, how the hell do you expect me to get him?" He snarls. "Makarov, what you're asking is suicide." Jellal's magic may be powerful, but he doubts that he'd be able to last a minute against Serena's magic power, let alone the actual magic.

"I'm asking you because I have faith in you!" Makarov exclaims. "Jellal, you are the only man on this continent with the ability to face Serena. Your magic is not only the rarest magic in all of Earthland, but it's considered to be one of the most powerful magic types in the world. You are the only man to possess such a magic."

"No," Jellal retorts. "I am not. Have you forgotten? Lucy and Yukino also wield celestial magic."

"Their magic relies on the Celestial spirits," Makarov says. "Yes, their magic is just as rare as yours, but when it comes down to it Jellal, the heavenly bodies in the sky are much more powerful than all of the Celestial spirits, the king included, combined."

Jellal begins to pace. "What if I don't accept this mission?" he asks, turning to Makarov. "What then?" He doesn't want this mission. He's spent years living in peace, finally atoned for his sins and free from the Council's wrath. He doesn't want this. He wants to stay here, with Erza, among the people who've accepted him. Jellal is selfless, but in this moment, he succumbs to his greed.

"If Serena gets away, he will most likely start a war. And if he does, we cannot stop him. Countless people will die, Jellal, all in vain. We need to protect them. I have people that I love, and I will do anything to protect them. I know you do too."

Erza.

Jellal stops pacing, his hands falling limp at his sides. An image forms in his mind: Erza lying limp on a battlefield full of dead mages. She's bleeding, and Jellal sees the light fade from her eyes as she takes her last, struggling breath. A tear runs down her face, and her scarlet hair shimmers like blood.

He closes his eyes. He can't let her die. She's too pure to be stained with the blood of the battlefield, let alone a war started by God Serena. He vowed to always keep her safe the day he got the Fairy Tail emblem imprinted onto his flesh. He now clutches the mark hidden under his sleeve, right on his right bicep. This mark is a testament of his vow; if he breaks it, he breaks his bond with Fairy Tail and gives up all rights on Erza.

"What will you have me do?" Jellal asks in a steely voice. He stares unflinchingly at Makarov. "I will accept this mission. Command me, Master." He still doesn't want to do this, but if it will save Erza from a terrible fate, then he will do it.

"Find Serena. He was last seen heading for the border of Bosco. Find him, and stop him if you are able. I will rally the remaining Wizard Saints and follow as soon as we are able to."

"Is that all?"

"No," Makarov begins, suddenly looking depressed. "Jellal, if Serena overpowers you, to the point where you are at his mercy, everything is in danger. He will suck dry every bit of information about Ishgar, Fairy Tail, the magic council out of you." His eyes close, and Jellal senses feeling of dread pooling in the lower pits of his abdomen. "The Council asked me, if you accepted, to give you this." He holds out his hand, and Jellal sees a tiny white pill in his palm.

"This is a cyanide pill," Makarov continues. "It's a fast-acting neurotoxin that will kill you in heartbeats. Some call it the-"

"Suicide pill," Jellal finishes. He reaches out and picks up the tiny pill from Makarov's hand. "I know what this is." He'd seen it before, with countless dark mages when he was a member of Crime Sorciere. They had it implanted in their mouth as a fake tooth and when they were captured, used it to kill themselves to prevent their enemies from obtaining information. Jellal and his companions had lost countless sources from this damned invention.

"Porlyuscia can fashion it to look like a tooth," Makarov says. "All you have to do it break it and the toxin will finish the job."

"And the council wants me to commit this sort of "rational suicide" incase Serena overpowers me and tries to get information from me, am I right?" Jellal asks, rolling the pill between his thumb and forefinger.

Makarov closes his eyes. "I don't like this anymore than you do," he whispers. "I was strongly against giving this to you. But the remains of the Council agree that these protective measures are necessary."

"Well," Jellal says. He holds up the tiny pill so Makarov can see it clearly. "I am completely against this idea as well. So," he breaks off, letting his magic do the talking. Makarov's mouth opens once he realizes Jellal's intentions, but he is too late, and can only watch as Jellal's magic flows through the pill, shattering it and rendering it into a pile of dust, which fades away.

"You can tell the Council this," Jellal says, turning around and making his way towards the door. "I'll be their dog and do their dirty work, but I won't die on their terms. If it comes down to it, I'll die on my own terms. You can be sure of that."

A warm hand on his face brings him back to reality. He opens his eyes and meets Erza's sweet and concerned gaze. He leans into her hand, cupping it with his own, and feels the tears burning in his eyes.

She saddens. "You're leaving me, aren't you?" she whispers dejectedly. She feels tears pooling in her eyes and knows his answer when he gasps, tears falling from his eyes. She knows.

"Erza, love," Jellal gasps. "I-"

"I understand, Jellal," she continues, drawing away from him. "Just come back safe-"

"Erza," Jellal whispers, reaching forward and grabbing her hands, drawing her towards him. "I may not come back." He's desperate, because he cannot tell her the reason for his leaving, but she has to know the possible outcome.

"What?" She asks, her eyes widening. She opens her mouth to continue but Jellal, in one final act of desperation, leans in, kissing her gently. He can't tell her, he realizes, otherwise she'll beg him to stay, or worse, get the information out of him and then go herself. So he resorts to this: kissing her goodbye.

She responds immediately, her lips molding against his. He gasps, suddenly aware of how much he needs her, and wraps his hands around her neck, threading his fingers through her hair. Her hands, now free, run up and down his chest, up his neck, cupping his cheeks. They're kissing frantically now, as if they're trying to consume each other in these last few moments. Because she knows, no matter how much she tries to deny it, that this is goodbye. She can taste the farewell on his lips and tongue, sense the goodbye in his arms as they crush her to his chest. Everything about him in this moment tells her he is leaving.

"Jellal-" she gasps against his mouth. "Why are you going-"

"Goodbye, Erza." He whispers, and her eyes open to see the farewell glimmering in his eyes. "I'll always love you. But it's time to let go. Thank you for everything." There is a hidden meaning behind his words, and he knows she knows. But she's too late, he realizes.

She realizes too late as Jellal's magic energy seeps into her own, lulling her into unconsciousness. She slumps against him, inhaling the warm smell of his cloak one last time before she succumbs to the blackness. She hears him whisper her name one last time before all goes dark.

"Was that really necessary?" a voice calls out as Jellal gently lays Erza to the ground, tears pouring down his face. He doesn't say anything as Makarov walks up, and continues to watch the woman he loves sleep peacefully.

"Yes," he whispers finally, caressing her soft cheek. "She never would have let me go if I didn't." And I can never say no to her.

Makarov sighs. "The less people know about this-"

"She doesn't know anything," Jellal hisses. "All she knows is that I'm leaving, and may not come back. That's all."

He stands, ignoring Makarov's concerned gaze. "Take care of her, Makarov. Make sure she doesn't suffer."

"You make it sound like you're never coming back," Makarov states.

Jellal gave him a wry grin. "Gotta be prepared for the worst, right Makarov?" He says bitterly. He turns to look down at Erza. "Just watch her, please. Tell her I'm sorry, and that I love her."

He knows that if he stays any longer he won't leave. So with one last look at Makarov, he nods farewell. Turning to the woman he loves, he bends down and presses one last kiss to her lips. Forgive me, love, he thinks sadly. I'm sorry.

He stands, his eyes piercing the horizon. Then, with a determined set in his jaw, he begins the first of many steps in his mission. He never looks back. Makarov watches sadly, unknowing that this will be the last time he sees this legendary mage alive.

A/N: I have this headcanon that Jellal's magic is one of the most powerful in all of Earthland (hence Starcatcher *coughpleaseR&Rthatonecough*) and that he has the potential to be one of the Kings of Ishgar. That's just me, but I would love that to be true. I hope (SPOILER ALERT IF YOU HAVE NOT CAUGHT UP TO THE MANGA PLEASE TURN AWAY) that Jellal will have a big part to play in the Alvarez arc because the Spriggan are so powerful and Jellal is totally one of the most powerful mages in the the manga (fingers crossed). Anyway, enough of my rambles.

I'm almost done with finals, so as soon as tuesday is over I will be starting up again. I've got several request to work on, and I'm partially through with the 11th chapter of Rose of Winter (about 25% done). So things will be happening as soon as winter break starts. I'll keep you guys updated!

See ya soon!

-Wolf

P.S. If you got any hints of naruto in this fic, then I applaud you. You are quite perceptive.