Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail... or Even... Erza or Jellal *sad* Yeah, uhm,I quit!
Warnings: ERZA!
Sorry for any grammar or spelling mistakes. This was done without my Oh-not-so-cool-beta.
Letting Go
Chapter 1 - 60 days
"They're already sleeping..." Jellal whispered looking at his comrades (as Natsu said it) who were laying sprawled across the cell in weird and inhuman positions, sleeping. Some peacefully others rolling around and snoring loudly. He noted how Lucy was sprawled like a fish star on the floor and on top of her were Natsu and Gray, with Happy who was talking about fish and their taste through sleep. Further down Eve, Hibiki and Ichiya where all cuddling each other and Ichiya kept mumbling Erza's name. Ren was with Sherry and Wendy was with Jura whose chest acted as her pillow and Charle as a teddy who was squished against the young dragon slayers chest.
"Yeah, they done well during the fight with Oracion Seis." Erza said, a soft smile tugging at the corner of her lips when she saw Lucy trying to scratch herself but ended up scratching Natsu's ass, that was way too close to her face. What if he farted?
"Yeah..." He agreed staring at the ceiling with a thoughtful expression. Erza studied his features and took her time remembering them in her mind. Soft hazel eyes narrowing slightly in thought trying to recall any information, a crease in-between his furrowed brows. His lips tightened into a thin line and soon he was frowning at a wall. His blue bangs brushed against his eyelashes and his scarlet tattoo stood out against them. She took her time registering the small bruises that were lined against his jaw and torn clothes from the fight when he protected Natsu and gave him the fire of guilt.
"Why?" He whispered softly but Erza didn't hear, too lost in her own thoughts of studying him after what felt like years. "Why?" He repeated louder and successfully gained her attention. She raised her eyebrow, brushed away a strand of her red hair that was in the way and tucked it behind her ear, leaning with her side against the wall.
"Why, what?" She asked, confused.
"Why would you save me? A criminal? Someone who took away Simon's life? Don't you think I deserve being put into prison? I don't even know what I've done wrong! This makes it even more horrible... if I just knew... if I knew in what ways I've hurt you... I-" He's voice cracked and his lip trembled as he forced back a sob. It would've been the second time he cried because of amnesia. The first one was when he tried to destroy Nirvana, which he failed at.
Erza grasped his cold hand into hers and warmth spread across both their chests like wild-fire. She smiled at him with glossed eyes. "You were someone important to me, you know? When we were younger you always had my back and I had yours. You were the most important person for me. I won't let you be swallowed by darkness. Not again, anyway. I will be the one who will help you remember about Simon, about Milliana, Wally and Shou. About Tower of Heavens and how you fought with Natsu. You understand?" He squeezed her hand and nodded in response and she sighed with relief, that she didn't have to make it more complicated as it was already.
With the amnesia he probably didn't have any idea what she was talking about, let alone who those people were that she mentioned Well except Natsu and Simon who she told him about briefly after she found out about his memory loss. Or more like she pounded into him with fury that blinded her at the moment making her forget about Nirvana, Oracion Seis and her friends all together.
Seating together, hand in hand in the small jail they finally were together, awaiting the judges to come and get them for a hearing.
A snore cut through the silence from time to time and Erza felt at peace.
She was with her friends.
6 hours before.
"Jellal Fernandez!" Erza's scream pierced the loud shouts of protests against imprisoning Jellal. Everyone stopped whatever they were doing, leaving Natsu with his hand in someone's mouth stretching it out. All eyes where set on the scarlet haired mage who was shaking uncontrollably with clenched teeth. She raised her left hand towards Jellal, her palm facing him. He's eyes widened when her other hand trailed her Fairy Tail mark. "Come home with us!"
"W-what?!" Lahar roared and a vain popped out on his forehead. "Even you, Erza Scarlet? How can you go up against the council?"
"If my friends are willing to do so much to save my friend, then I am not someone who should standby and watch. I should be the one saving his sorry ass. So, hand him over." She glared and Lahar gulped knowing well how strong Titania was. She didn't get that title for nothing.
"T-that's insane! ARREST THEM ALL!" Lahar shouted. All mages officially involved with Niravana assembled behind Erza getting ready to fight. Rune knights started running their way and Jellal gulped afraid to see what would happen next.
"Hand him over!" Natsu shouted and smirked seeing magical power leaving Erza's body and embracing her. She re-quipped into one of her most famous armours. The Heaven's Wheel armour She grasped a sword in her hand and another, what seemed like a hundred, appeared and were now facing the rune knights who stopped in their tracks.
"She's totally serious..." Lucy face-palmed herself, afraid where all this will lead to.
"G-guys, stop it." Jellal whispered, looking at the ground, avoiding everyone's eye contact. Especially Erza's.
"Like hell we will." Natsu answered darkly and lit his fist with fire. "We will only when you're with us. In Fairy Tail."
"T-this is crazy!" Lahar shouted furiously, anger boiling inside of him and he clenched his fists. What could he possibly do against Erza, Natsu and Jura, one of the Ten Wizard Saints ? He knew where he had to draw the line. It was right there.
"H-how about a deal?" He asked and Erza's eyebrow rose and hid under her red bangs that adored her forehead.
"What kind of deal?" She asked, suspiciously and one of the swords inched towards him, stopping only 3 centimetres from his throat.
"You, umm, could speak to Gran Doma and negotiate your way with him? Naturally, you'll have to stay in a cell until he decides to see you." He proposed and she sighed.
"Deal." She said. After all, it was better than spilling blood, right?
"Your friends are coming too." He said.
"Eh?" Lucy's whisper was heard and Lahar chuckled.
"In case you tried something... irrational." He sent a meaningful look towards a certain pinkette, who growled in response.
"Fine with me." Jura said, crossing his arms.
"Let's go then." Lahar said and Erza's swords disappeared and she re-quipped back into her normal armour.
Back to Magic Councils Prison.
"You know, this brings back memories." Erza said after few long minutes of silence.
"How?" Jellal asked. It was his turn to be confused.
"I once got arrested and put in front of the Chairman. Natsu's irrational behaviour locked up in a smaller cell."
"What did Natsu do?" Jellal asked curiously.
"He dressed up as me, and broke one of the walls in the court room claiming he's the real Erza. He didn't realize it was just an act, to show that Magic council isn't ignoring everything that's happening in the magic world." She explained softly and smiled at him.
"Natsu seems to be caring about his friend." He stated quietly and smiled softly hearing his snore erupt through the room. Lucy cringed in her sleep and soon her eyelids fluttered showing chocolate orbs staring at the ceiling in confusion. A vain popped out on her forehead when she realized what was wiggling closer to her face.
"GET OFF ME!" She roared and Erza giggled seeing Lucy throw them off and the three mages that slept on her hit the wall but continued sleeping with just a groan of irritation leaving their mouths when they collapsed to the hard ground. "Morons."
"Lucy come over here." Erza said and motioned the blonde Celestial mage to approach her. And she did, sitting herself down in front of both Erza and Jellal with a frustrated sigh.
"How comes they fell asleep on me?" She groaned.
"You guys were arguing before you just dropped to sleep." Erza explained and Lucy's fist clenched by her side.
"They're so gonna get it... Wait, how long have I been out of it?" She asked and leaned in closer.
"About 4 hours. We're still waiting to be called out for the hearing." Jellal answered her and she nodded. Erza smiled softly.
Lucy understood in seconds what Erza was going through and that's why they were close to each other The blonde accepted Jellal, as he was seemingly a good medicine for the re-quip mage who was often lost in thought after The Tower Of Heavens. Seeing her smile and fight for what she truly wanted made Lucy's heart hammer in her chest and a warm feeling spread across her body. After all, who would've thought the Great Titania had a soft spot for her childhood friend or perhaps more? She still wasn't quite sure what relationship the two mages had, but she was sure to find out.
Heavy footsteps echoed around the prison and the three mages that weren't sleeping snapped their attention towards the cells door at which a frog-like creature appeared with a bored and annoyed expression fused into one. He grabbed a handful of keys and slowly started going through each one of them at which Jellal, Erza and Lucy raised their eyebrows in question. Who was he and just what the hell was he doing? He gave Jellal a glare and grabbed one of the smaller silver keys before slamming it loudly into the lock and twisting twice. The loud screeching noise woke up everyone in the cell and a smirk lingered on the toads lips.
"Jellal Fernandez..." He started with clear disgust. "Erza Scarlet, follow me. The rest stay here."
Erza stood up and smiled at Lucy reassuringly before she left with Jellal following close by.
"Finally, it's time." Jura said from behind Lucy who nodded.
"It's time." She said, more to herself than others.
Magic Council Court Room
Magic Councils court room was a specious room that a podium across double-winged doors. On the podium were Though Projections of The Magic Council Members, which once included Siegrain (Jellal's fake projection he created to infiltrate the Council). Erza stood in a balustrade that had an open back whilst Jellal was forced to sit in a lacrima cell in the far corner of the room, without the allowance to speak during the trail.
Gran Doma stood in the middle of the golden podium. He had a strong posture and his aura seemed to be giving off leadership strongly, which was expected of the Chairman from the Magic Council. He was a serious man, and Erza knew it would be her hardest job so far. Persuading him to let the criminal go, a one who infiltrated the council at that, was practically impossible. But she had to try. Her friends went so far for her that she would never forgive herself if she gave up without putting a fight.
"Erza Scarlet. You are called forth to explain your irrational behaviour against Lahar and his division." Gran Doma's deep voice erupted against the court room. "Lahar has informed me that you would like to make a deal. To let Jellal Fernandez free. Is that true?"
"Yes, it's true." She answered simply but seriously. After all, that man wasn't to be taken lightly.
"Do you realize that he is a threat to the entire world?" He asked.
"Yes."
"State your reason for trying to free him."
She took in a deep breath. "It is true that Jellal Fernandez committed great crimes, breaking the law and laughing at the council. He completed System R, infiltrated the council and wanted to revive Zeref. However, Jellal wasn't himself. Before I managed to escape System R, 8 years ago, he was possesed but even now it is not known who was behind this. He took down the Lacrima that was going to blow up and was in a half-dead state, in the ocean. He was fully revived during the Niravana incident, which he tried to seal away or rather destroy but failed as Brain saw through that and sould decipher the code he set on bot himself and Niravana. He helped us defeat Zero, Brains second personality, and destroy Nirvana. At that, he has no memories at all. I believe it is right, that before he is to attain for his sins, he should at least remember what he did wrong in the past." She stated without blinking and Gran Doma raised an eyebrow at her serious expression and a small glare that was set in place.
"Loss of memory is not a good enough reason to let him go." He said.
"He had no control over himself. As I said, he was manipulated but we are yet to find out who was behind it."
"We?" He asked.
"Fairy Tail will send S-class mages to research about System R and what happened there 8 years ago. Hopefully we will find out who it was." She said.
"Erza Scarlet, we will now decide. Don't expect anything too much." Gran Doma stated and projections vanished.
Erza clenched her fists letting out a sigh of relief and stress at the same time. She was nervous, she had to admit. If she said something wrong, it would affect their judgement and she knew the others where analysing her words and if she was hanging back with any details. She ahd to stay calm and serious and just not screw it up. The projections lit up after another 15 minutes of silence between her, Jellal and the toad who bought them in, surprisingly the guard. Gran Doma was stroking his bear in thought.
"We have come to a decision." He said and Erza gulped. Jellal looked up, bored of playing with the hem of the coat he stole from Erigor. "Jellal will be set Free for 60 Days. Erza Scarlet will be placed as his guard and is not aloud to leave his side for the time being. It is Erza Scarlet's job to make sure his memories return and in 60 days he will return here for judgement. Does this seem fair to you, Erza Scarlet? Titania."
"Y-yes. That is a lot. Thank you very much." She bowed and smiled inwardly.
60 days? That was more than enough.
She would make him remember.