Erza's Armed and Ready
Erza Scarlet shot forward in bed sweating. She looked at her clock, it was almost midnight. She decided to get up and stretch her legs. Those were always good after a nightmare. She left her room and decided to wander towards the kitchen. When she got there, guess who she found. It was Cana, but she was sleeping on a pile of wine barrels. Why was she here? Oh wait, now she remembered.
Earlier Cana was talking about a rumor she heard. That there was a mysterious radio station. If someone tuned in on 77.7 on midnight of a full moon, the station would play a song that reflected your soul, or a song from another world. Erza didn't really pay that much attention, but she did see a radio lacrima on one of the barrels. Apparently, Cana fell asleep, she would have to scold her about drinking so late at night again.
Erza went to the fridge and pulled out a slice of cake. No one dared to take her cake, they knew it was a death sentence. She sat at the table, biting into the sweet that she loved so much. Her thoughts however turned back to her nightmare… it was about the tower.
Erza wasn't always the powerful S-class wizard. Once she was a little girl, abandoned, kidnapped, and enslaved. She found strength for a brief minute, that led to an uprising, that was supposed to lead to freedom. She remembered running through the halls, racing to find him, Jellal. There was nothing that she wouldn't do for him.
However, the Jellal she remembered was gone. Replaced with someone cruel, sadistic, and blood thirsty. Erza begged him to change back, to leave with her. Instead he cast her out, and her friends were gone. Erza had no idea if they were alive or not. Jellal threatened their lives if she returned.
She found and joined the guild grandpa Rob told her about. Slowly but surely she got stronger, she made friends. She was happy, but Jellal never truly left her mind. She knew one day, her past would come back, catch up to her. That was why she trained so hard. To become stronger. To have armor that protected her, a sword to fight with. However, the thought still made her tremble.
She put her fork down, when she realized she was shaking. She took in a deep breath, trying to fill her lungs with air, instead of fear, but it felt like something had reached into her chest and was strangling her heart. Her armor instinctively materialized. It made her feel a little better. She noticed the radio again, and that it was about to strike midnight.
Well, she was a guild wizard, she lived to face the unknown. She got up, retrieved the radio and sat back down. She turned it on and tuned in to 77.7, all she got was static, and Cana's snoring. How could she sleep through that?
Erza waited, she watched the clock strike midnight… then nothing, just more static. Erza sighed. She was about to turn it off when…
Armed and Ready
Erza's eyes widened. Who said that? Then a song started, it was lead by a piano. Quick and jittery. It sounded like panic.
It happens every night
I watch my world ignite
But there's no waking from this nightmare
The stage is always set
The place I can't forget
The hidden eyes, that I can feel there
After the first verse the song became rock and roll. Erza had to admit it was pretty good.
My eyes are open wide
I'm racing to her side
There's nothing that I won't do for her
But this is not a dream
My mind repeats the scene
I can't forget it and it's torture
Erza frowned. She could relate. A terrible thing that left scars, emotional as well as physical. And forced to carry that memory with you. Reliving it in your nightmares. It was indeed torture.
That was before
But not anymore
I've left it behind
As much as I lost
Once I'm across I'll find
Find what?
I've found the strength to grow so much more
A whisper to a roar
No more crying
It's time for me to soar
Soar?
Feel like I'm finally unbroken
Feel like I'm back from the dead
My strength back and confidence growing
Out of my way
Cause I'm Armed and Ready
(Armed and Ready)
Ready
(Armed and Ready)
I'm ready
(Armed and Ready)
Ready! Ready!
(Armed and Ready)
Erza smiled. Hearing this was somehow comforting.
Remember all too well
My time of living hell
The night my enemy would conquer
Erza trembled again. The night Jellal just toyed with her. She was alive because he decided to spar her out of pity.
But now I've been set free
Lived through the tragedy
You'll wish you'd killed me; now I'm stronger!
She remembered that arrogant smile. Cocky attitude. Then she remembered all the victories she had. Erza was stronger! She wasn't a child anymore.
I am the golden one
Who burns just like the sun
Next time we meet is your disaster
I'll bring the punishment
Your song will be lament
Revenge, my happy ever after
Erza was the strongest female wizard in Fairy Tail. She earned that title through her resolve and will. Jellal could had been there. Jellal, Simon, Wally, Milliana, Sho, they all could had been there. All could had been happy. Erza's hands clenched into fists, "You will regret that!"
My misery I'll live my life like every day's the last
My agony
Has taught me to fly
The pain I went through
Left me with a new
War cry!
No living in the past
Best day's ever
I'm never looking back
If Erza wanted to live in the future, she knew she couldn't live in the past, let her failures slow her down. That's what it meant to be a Fairy Tail wizard.
Feel like I'm finally unbroken
Feel like I'm back from the dead
My strength back and confidence growing
Out of my way
Cause I'm Armed and Ready
(Armed and Ready)
Ready
(Armed and Ready)
I'm ready
(Armed and Ready)
Ready! Ready!
(Armed and Ready) Call me sweetheart and I'll tear you apart
Just call me, "sir"
Try to resist once you meet my new fist
Bye-bye
Erza remembered the time Loke tried to flirt with her. And the several times Ichiya tried to flirt with her. She rejected them with a punch to the gut.
Just look at the fire in my eyes
And bring my strawberry sunrise
Erza did love a strawberry sunrise from time to time. She loved anything strawberry flavored really.
It was you who began it
Now you're saying: "God dammit."
Next time, there's no compromise
Erza reflected on her past. She reflected on who she was. She was stronger. Jellal was someone who tried to keep those around him weak. He thought they were weak, incapable of strength. Erza was not the scared little girl who lost her eye, who lost her friends. She would not lose anyone anymore. That's why she got stronger, learned magic. When it was time, there would be no compromise. She was going to take him down. Nothing was going to stop her. Then Erza listened to the final verse.
Feel like I'm finally unbroken
Oh, now like I'm back from the dead
Strength back, confidence growing
Out of my way
Cause I'm Armed and Ready
(Armed and Ready)
Ready
(Armed and Ready)
I'm ready
(Armed and Ready)
Ready! Ready!
(Armed and Ready)
The song ended and static replaced it. She turned it off. She didn't really know if that song fit her. Although it might fit Natsu.
Then Cana snored, Did she seriously sleep through all that?
I was torn, between Armed and Ready and Nevermore. They both fit Erza so well. She is strength. She wasn't born with strength. She earned that strength through a trial of fire. That makes her one of my favorite characters. All hail the queen of the fairies!