The rest of Fairy Tail's main team waited in the guild hall as Erza discussed the issue at hand with Makarov in the Master's room. Lucy sat at a table in silence, anxiously eyeing the door to the room. Gray sat opposite her, occasionally tapping a finger on the tabletop. Natsu paced the floor impatiently while Happy clung onto his head.
Erza hadn't said a word on the way back to the guild. None of the others could possibly comprehend how she must have been feeling after receiving the news, but they did know that it had deeply affected her just from the tension present in her stride.
In the Master's room, Erza was struggling to find the right words to say. "Master…" she began.
"Something is obviously troubling you," Makarov cut in. He gestured for her to take a seat and hopped onto his desk so as to speak with her at eye level. "What is it, child?"
She put the newspaper, slightly damp from its prior fall to the riverbank, on the desk in front of him. He skimmed it and then mused, "Jellal Fernandes, huh…? He means a lot to you, doesn't he?"
"Yes," answered Erza without hesitation. Then she averted her gaze. "But I don't know what to do now. If I stop his execution, I'll be directly opposing the Magic Council. Our guild will be labeled criminals and everyone will be in danger."
Makarov put a diminutive hand on her cheek, prompting her to look back at him. "Then let's start with the simplest question. Do you want to save him?"
She nodded once, resolutely.
His lips curved up in a soft smile behind his mustache. "You've already betrayed your heart once by letting him go, Erza. Don't do it again. Live honestly."
Erza inhaled sharply at his words. "Master, how could you tell me to jeopardize the safety of our whole guild for my own selfish desire to save one man?"
"You're not being selfish at all, Erza," Makarov admonished her. "Saving someone else's life is the most selfless thing a person can do." He turned to the large, outward-facing window behind his desk. "And you would do nothing but honor Fairy Tail's legacy if you were to risk everything to save a precious friend."
Staring at his small silhouette against the bright white sunlight pouring in from the window, Erza was stunned into speechlessness. After a lengthy silence, she managed a flustered but grateful "Thank you, Master."
Makarov chuckled. "Our guild is always getting into trouble with the Council anyway. A little more infamy wouldn't hurt." He turned to face her. "Go tell the other brats about your predicament. I'm sure many of them would be happy to help."
With one final bow of gratitude, Erza exited the room. Her team immediately crowded around her when she emerged.
Natsu was the first to speak. "What is it, Erza? Are we gonna kick some Council ass?"
The Requip mage frowned at him disapprovingly. "Our main priority is to rescue Jellal. If that happens to involve 'ass-kicking,' as you call it, then so be it. But I'd like to settle this with as little violence as possible."
"We're going against the Council…" Lucy muttered, worry written across her face.
"You don't have to come if you don't want to," Erza assured her hurriedly.
A spark of resolve manifested itself in the Celestial Spirit mage's brown eyes. "No, I'll come. It's the right thing to do."
Gray grinned widely. "We're all behind you, Erza. For better or for worse."
Natsu suddenly grabbed the newspaper from Erza's hand and ran up to the request board. Without need of a command, Happy, who was still perched on his head, grabbed a tack and pinned the newspaper to the board while Natsu held it down. The Fire Dragon Slayer high-fived his partner and then proceeded to bellow in a voice that flooded the guild hall. "Guys!"
Every head in the guild pivoted to face him. Mirajane put down the glass she was cleaning; Cana relinquished her keg of beer; Levy looked up from her book of runes; Juvia came out from her favorite stalking place. All eyes were trained on Natsu now.
Natsu indicated the newspaper, slamming it forcefully with an open palm. "This is Erza's request! Will you help her complete it?"
The guild approached as a unit to get a better look at the article. When understanding dawned on all of them, an army of fists pumped into the air.
"Yeah!" rang the collective shout. It could be heard throughout all of Magnolia. This was the undying spirit of love and friendship, the very essence of Fairy Tail.
For the first time since Jellal's arrest, Erza was crying. Witnessing the fiery determination in everyone's eyes and the unwavering support in their smiles, she proclaimed through her tears, "I love you all."
Back in his office, the Master smiled. "Good luck, brats."