A/N: Yup, I knew this was going to happen. Originally a oneshot, turned twoshot, and now officially a threeshot. And yes, my readers, a threeshot it will stay. I refuse to make this any longer than three chapters.

I'm grateful for all the wonderful reviews that these stories are receiving. All of your kind words have literally made my heart swell with happiness. Thank you so much! And also a big thank you to those who have favorited/followed the stories and/or me! Thank you!

There was a plethora of words to describe Jellal Fernandes. However, the one that kept popping up in Erza's mind seemed to fit him most accurately in this specific situation: stubborn.

It happened so quickly. Her fight with Zeref wasn't exactly going well, but this was Titania. She wasn't about to give up. So even though his claw-like hand (enhanced with magic) was clenching her throat and making it terribly difficult to breathe, she wasn't about to die like he kept muttering under his breath.

And then, when the pressure on her neck was just about overwhelming, it was gone. She felt someone grab her and pull her to safety, away from Zeref's reaching hands. Her eyesight was blurry from her lack of air, but she was able to see the golden glow emanating from the user's magic. There was only one person with that kind of magic.

They landed in a heap, and she rested her head wearily on his shoulder, catching her breath. "Thank you," she mumbled, inhaling the familiar musk of Jellal as she leaned against him.

He watched her carefully as her wounds bled, before staring back at the man who nearly killed her. She winced as Zeref approached, dark waves of magic pouring off his skin.

Jellal got hastily to his feet, and Erza couldn't help but notice that, even with the wounds marring his skin and the blood staining his clothes, he was ruggedly beautiful and handsome. The fierce light of protective rage in his eyes warmed her heartstrings, and the way he placed his body in front of hers sent a surge of gratitude through her.

She pulled herself up, allowing Jellal to support her. Her legs shook from fatigue, but she would not give in to exhaustion. This was a fight she could not back down from.

"Can you fight?" she heard Jellal breathe, and she nodded.

"I can," she said, proud that her voice did not shake and reveal her torpor. Although her hands shook from her nearly exhausted magic reserves, she summoned the last of her strength and summoned Benizakura, a sword that never once failed her. It appeared to her now, wicked curved blade glinting in the red light of battle.

The summoning of her most powerful blade drained her, but she gritted her teeth and stood up straight. This battle may very well be her last, judging from her lack of magic, but she'd make sure it would be a battle that Zeref would never forget.

"Death to all," Zeref said, walking towards the two of them. Next to her, Jellal suddenly tensed, and she had a split second warning to steady herself before he took off, away from her side, with a "keep out of this!"

Stubborn.

The cawing of a raven echoed in the background as Erza watched with horrified eyes the fight between Jellal and Zeref.

How dare he take off? She knew that he wanted to protect her, but at the same time, she was not a damsel in distress that needed a knight in shining armor. She couldn't stand by while Jellal, who was already exhausted and severely wounded, fight this battle by himself.

But her legs...they just would not move. She felt herself collapse, Benizakura disappearing from her hand as her strength failed. Slumping to the ground, she wondered if this was to be her torture: watching her beloved fight to the death with the darkest mage in history.

Jellal cried out in pure agony when one of Zeref's clawed hands slashed down his chest, renting a large tear in his torso. The stellar mage collapsed in a pile of blood and ragged cloth. He landed not too far from her, a limp body a mere twenty feet away while the Black Wizard towered above.

"No!" Erza screamed, reaching out towards him. Tears pooled in her eyes and blinded her vision, but somehow she found the strength to throw herself on top of him, shielding him from Zeref.

She looked up, her eyes watering as she stared Death in the eyes. Around her, she could hear the dying screams of her companions as Zeref's demons devastated the city.

Is this the end? she wondered, her hands clenching on Jellal's blood soaked clothes. He was still underneath her, but she could feel his chest rise and fall, however slight it was. His heartbeat fluttered under her fingers, weakening with every beat.

"E-Erza," she heard him exhale, a whisper of a breath leaving his lips. "Get out of here."

"No," she whispered, as Zeref raised a bloody hand, black magic forming in his palm. "I'm not leaving you to die."

"Please," he whispered. A green eye opened, filled with love and anguish. "Don't sacrifice yourself for me."

But you would sacrifice yourself for me.

Suddenly, she is filled with a white hot rage. Anger towards herself, for being so weak. Time and time again, she is saved by the people she loves, yet she can't protect them. Natsu saved her during the Tower of Heaven incident, Wendy healing her when the Nirvana situation rose. Lisanna and Natsu saving her from Yakidoriga and the Minerva helping her to defeat Kyouka.

And now Jellal, risking his life so she could live. Well, she was done being protected and watching others sacrificing themselves for her sake.

She looked back up at the monster before her as the hand fell. Behind her, she heard Jellal heave a gasp, but she rose, requipping a shield and slamming it as hard as she could into Zeref's body. She felt the impact and silent whoosh as air left the dark mage's body.

He was flung several feet away, and Erza sagged, panting as she gasped for breath. Her body screaming, she turned back to Jellal as he pushed himself weakly to his elbows.

"I love you," she whispered.

His eyes softened. "I know," he breathed.

She reached out and took his hand. He gasped in pain, but hoisted himself up, blood dripping out of the wound that raced diagonally down his chest. He sagged against her weight his head resting heavily on her shoulder.

Zeref was already struggling up, a furious look on his face. As he stood, magic formed in his palms once more, and a seething glare was sent in their direction.

"I don't have much left," Erza whispered.

Jellal weakly nodded. "Neither do I."

So let's make this last one memorable.

It was a silent agreement between them, the look that flashed between their eyes. And as Zeref once more launched himself at them, they fused their magic together for one last stand against their nemesis.

A/N: Part three/epilogue will be updated sometime in the next week or so. I hope you liked it! Tell me what you thought.

-Wolf