Chapter 2-Titania
"Hey Jellal, we're back." Wally said, walking into the throne room. Simon, Shô and Milliana weren't far behind. Jellal didn't move, his hood covered his face so none of them could see his expression. Lilura knew that that usually meant he was in Siegrain's mind so she stepped in front of the four. "He's preoccupied at the moment, but if you tell me I'll relay the message later."
The blocky wizard sighed and said "Jus' tell 'em we're back." "And I trust you succeeded with your task?" Jellal suddenly said, causing Lilura to turn and look at him in surprise. "I thought you were busy master." She said calmly. "I was, but the matter is taken care of now." She nodded and went back to her place at his side. Simon looked a bit suspicious but didn't say anything. Shô was shaking a bit from either nervousness or excitement, Lilura couldn't tell. "We did jus' like yous said." Wally said.
"Good." Jellal replied "You all may rest now, I'm sure you're tired after such a long journey." Lilura looked confused as the four left and she looked at Jellal "What task did they have?" She asked him. He smirked a bit and said "I sent them to retrieve the sacrifice that I'll use to resurrect Zeref. I thought she may cause trouble but it seems not." Lilura's eyes widened in surprise but she quickly calmed down.
This both made her relieved and upset, she'd keep her life, but some other wizard would lose theirs. "Speaking of whom, why don't you go check to make sure she isn't hurt. We wouldn't want a damaged body for Lord Zeref to claim." She saw a flash of red under the hood and held back a shudder. "Yes Master, of course." She said, conjuring a magic circle under herself and disappearing.
She reappeared in the dungeons, the gloom being lit momentarily by a purple light from her circle. There was light coming from a single cell, the one the prisoner was in. Lilura took a deep breath and calmly walked over. She grabbed the key from beside the door and unlocked it, stepping inside and locking the door behind her. She turned to look at the prisoner and gasped in surprise.
"But, but, he promised to set you free." She breathed looking at the unconscious form of the one and only Titania Erza.
Up above in the throne room, Zeref smirked through Jellal. The completion of the tower had given him strength and he wanted to ensure that any who remained in the tower after his resurrection were loyal to him, including Lilura. If the wizard tried to help or free her sister, he'd kill both of them on the spot.
Lilura walked over to Erza and put her hand on her younger sister's cheek. "I can't believe it's you. You've grown into such a beautiful woman." She whispered, but took a step back when Erza groaned and began to stir. Lilura looked down and frowned when Erza asked "Where am I? Who are you?"
Lilura met her sister's eyes, causing Erza to narrow her own. 'Why does she look so familiar to me? It's like I know her.' Erza thought to herself. Lilura knew that it was unlikely Erza would remember her, after all she'd left when Erza was only a child, it'd been nearly 15 years since they'd seen each other.
Lilura gathered her voice and slowly said "I am a servant of my master, he has brought you here to be a sacrifice." She stumbled over her words, the realization that Erza was going to be killed hitting her. Erza frowned and said "Your master being Jellal?"
Lilura blinked in surprise, not expecting Erza to remember Jellal. "He wished me to check that you were unharmed, I have done so." She bowed her head and began to head out, unlocking the door. "Wait." Erza said, causing Lilura to stop.
"Who are you, to me? You look so familiar, but I'm not sure how." Lilura trembled a bit, biting her lip and walking out, letting a tear drip off her cheek and hit the ground. She locked the door and started down the hall, deciding to walk back to the throne room rather than teleport as she needed time to think.
Erza had recognized her! She knew that Lilura was important to her somehow! It made Lilura feel ecstatic inside that she had not been completely forgotten, yet it also made her sad. If Erza did figure it out, then she'd know that her only sister had a part in the plan that would lead to her death.
Milliana had brought back a few issues of Sorcerer Weekly in the past; some had articles about Erza and the guild she was in, Fairy Tail, so she had some idea of how strong Erza had become. She hoped that the red headed mage would find a way to escape on her own. That way she could try to get out of the tower without Lilura's help.
Lilura was headed up the large spiral walkway to the top of the dungeons when she saw a flash of reddish pink light from Erza's cell. On instinct, Lilura stepped into a shadowed alcove and watched as, true to the rumors, the door of the mages cell burst off its hinges and Erza came running out. She now wore an armor chest plate and gauntlets that went up her arms. In her hand was a large sword and she looked angry.
Lilura smiled a little and watched Erza run down a corridor. Lilura then teleported herself back to the throne room and said "She is unharmed Master, though she is aware of why she is here and that you are in charge." Jellal smirked and said "It shouldn't take her too long to escape, nor for her friends to arrive." "Friends?" Lilura questioned, not sure what he meant.
At that moment a guard came running in and knelt before Jellal "There are intruders in the passage below the tower." Jellal smiled sadistically, his eyes flashing red. "Excellent, right on schedule. Lilura why don't you welcome them in the south dining room, I'm sure they will be famished after fighting their way in." She nodded and turned to leave but Jellal said "And if you see Erza, tell her that I'm waiting for her and that I am not a patient man."
Lilura shuddered a little but nodded "Of course Master." She said softly before teleporting to the kitchens.
The guard that was in the throne room looked confused and asked "Shouldn't we try to stop them sir?" The guard asked. Jellal smirked and said "You can try but you will not succeed. Now leave me."
As Jellal had predicted, Erza was making her way through the tower, taking out any guards she came across, at the same time the rest of the Fairy Tail wizards were fighting off a few squads of guards with little trouble. In no time at all, all the guards lay on the ground unconscious or groaning in pain, a passageway opened and the wizards followed it after little deliberation, finding themselves in an ornate dining room.
The table was covered in food, all fresh and much of it still warm. Natsu and Happy dug in with no hesitation, Gray followed soon after seeing the Dragon Slayer was fine. Juvia looked a bit suspicious but eventually shrugged and joined in. Lucy looked stunned and appalled. How could they possibly be eating food just sitting out in an enemy's hideout, in a room that was obviously meant for them to find?!
Lilura then stepped out of the shadows, curtsying quickly despite the attacks aimed at her. She wore a stylized Gothic Lolita outfit, something Milliana had gotten for her from the mainland as a gift. "If it makes you feel better, I cooked everything myself, it's all perfectly safe. My master wishes you all to be at your full strength before his game begins." She said emotionlessly.
"Game? What game?" Gray asked suspiciously, his hand still cloaked in ice. Lilura looked at him and said "All will be explained in due time." She gave a small nod and turned to leave the room. "Wait!" Lucy said "Who are you anyway?" Lilura turned and looked at Lucy, an ever so slight smirk on her face in a mocking expression that said 'I know something you don't'.
Lilura turned back around and took a few steps before she heard the sound of boots running into the room on the marble floor. There was the sound of a sword being drawn and a couple of relieved gasps. Her smile widened and she froze. "I wondered how long it would take you." She said raising her hand as it began to glow with purple energy.
She felt both the Salamander and the Ice Mage pull magic on their hands. But Lilura didn't attack, her magic spread into the air in a multitude of purple tendrils, each struck a different place in the room, a tiny explosion going off at each point. She waited for the dust to clear and then turned to look at them, her eyes locking with Erza's.
All of the Fairy Tail wizards aside from Erza looked confused when the explosions went off. "Wha?" Lucy said in astonishment. "I don't get it. We we're being watched?" Lilura gave a small nod "Come, you must leave. Quickly follow me, before he realizes I'm helping you." She said, turning towards the door. "Why should we?" The blonde celestial mage said, crossing her arms over her chest. Lilura looked at them and said "Because I know the fastest and safest way off the island. You have to leave before it's too late." They all looked a bit suspicious until Natsu said "Then what are we waiting for? We saved Erza, let's go!" Lucy looked stunned and said "I thought you wanted revenge on blockhead?" Natsu looked at her and said "Course I do, but only after I'm sure my nakama are safe."
The rest of them realized that for once, Natsu was right; this may be their only chance to all get out. Erza nodded to Lilura and said "Lead the way." The black haired woman nodded with a small smile and quickly walked out the door. "Are you sure about this Erza?" Gray asked her, "She said she worked for the guy in charge. She could be leading us into a trap." Erza glanced out the door where Lucy, Natsu and Happy had gone and said "She won't betray us like that. I don't know how I know, but I'm sure of it." Erza smiled a little before jogging after the rest of them Gray and Juvia close behind.
Lilura heard Erza's words and smiled, even if she couldn't tell her the truth, both sisters had come to a mutual understanding to trust and help each other. And that, to Lilura was worth just as much as being remembered.
Meanwhile, up in the throne room, Zeref smirked and in Jellal's mind said 'The time has come, I have no use for you now.' Jellal let out a scream of agony as the evil wizard took over the teens mind completely. Normally Lilura was there to help Jellal regain control, but not this time. His screams died down and his eye glowed bright crimson as Zeref smirked. He saw Lilura helping the Fairy Tail wizards escape but didn't stop them right away. Their feelings of anger would be that much better when she betrayed them before they could escape.
The group in question snuck quickly through the complex, staying completely silent and following behind their guide. Erza was still trying to figure out why this woman seemed so familiar to her. She walked up next to her and said "I know you know something and aren't telling me. Please just tell me who you are." The mage begged.
Lilura gave her an almost sorrowful look, she hadn't wanted to tell her earlier because of Jellal, but at this point she was doing what she felt was right instead of what he said, so what was stopping her from telling Erza the truth? Perhaps she didn't want to tell her little sister that she'd been here for almost ten years because she wanted Erza to have a chance at a real life and didn't want the younger sister to feel guilty about it? Or maybe it was for a more selfish reason, that she wanted the few memories Erza had of her to be ones of the strong sister she looked up to and not of the subservient one she'd become.
Lilura closed her eyes and decided that Erza deserved to know the truth, even if it didn't change anything between them and Erza never spoke to her again. But before she could say anything they walked out of a tunnel into the daylight. "This is as far as I can take you." She looked around nervously and felt a slight tug in her mind that was Jellal requesting her presence. But this time it felt darker and more compelling. She gritted her teeth and said "Hurry, before he realizes what I've done. You must go and never come back." She said giving Erza a woeful glance as Juvia went to find their boat. The pull in her mind grew stronger and she realized in horror that it wasn't Jellal, but Zeref who was in control. Jellal wouldn't resort to anything besides a simple scolding if she didn't come right away; Zeref would do much much worse.
She felt her mind begin to fog and said "I'm so sorry, but you may be forced to fight me." "What? What are you talking about?!" "Lord Zeref requests my presence and I am disobeying him by staying here, even for a moment. I won't have control over my mind anymore, please forgive anything I may say or do to you, I don't want to hurt any of you."
Zeref growled in anger when she continued to disobey his summons, and went to drastic measure, casting an enslavement spell on her mind. 'You've disobeyed me for the last time.' He snarled in her mind.
Lilura let out a yell and fell to her knees. Erza ran to her side to try and help her but she said "No! You must leave this place!" "I won't leave you behind! You've suffered enough!" Erza said. Lilura gave her a kind, if somewhat strained smile and whispered "My name is Lilura Ameina, Scarlet."
Erza got a look of recognition and amazement on her face but before she could say anything Lilura yelled in agony and passed out for a moment. She regained consciousness almost instantly, but now here eyes were bright red and bore the mark of Zeref
Erza was too stunned to notice at first, Natsu grabbing her and pulling her out of the way as Lilura attacked at Zeref's command to kill them. "Erza wake up!" Natsu yelled at the red haired mage, "It's no use!" Gray said, blocking an attack that was aimed at Natsu when he was distracted. "We'll worry about Erza later; right now we have to deal with her." He said, putting up a shield to cover Natsu and Erza as Lucy called out Taurus. Natsu looked at Erza worriedly but knew Gray was right and quickly began to fight against the darkness wizard.
Erza was physically fine, she was just overwhelmed as memories came crashing down on her ; a flash of black, a glimpse of purple, a kind smiling face that bore striking resemblance to the woman here. 'Did I beat you Lily?' a little girl said, her red pigtails swaying back and forth as she panted for breath. The smiling face gained a body and a voice 'Not quite, but you were very close.' She said, causing the little girl to frown. Lily crouched down and put her hand on her sisters shoulder 'Oh don't be like that Erza, I'm only faster because I'm older, I guarantee that when you get older you'll be even faster than me and I'll be the one a few seconds behind.' Erza smiled widely and hugged Lily tightly. 'I love you sissy.' 'I love you to Erza.' The elder replied kissing Erza's forehead. She stood and said 'C'mon lets go inside and get a snack, Mom just finished baking a strawberry cake, and I know how much you love those.' Erza got excited and practically dragged her sister back into their house.
Erza felt a tear slide down her face as she came back to reality. She looked to where her friends were fighting and whispered "Is this where you went Lilura? You've been here all these years?" She saw the mark on her sister's eyes and narrowed her eyes. This was all Jellal's doing! He would pay for what he did! She stood and quickly requipped into her Black Wing Armor, one that had greater strength against dark magic before leaping over the ice shield and using her sword to block a blast of dark magic.
"Get behind me, all of you! This is my fight and mine alone!" She commanded, standing in a fighting stance, her eyes never leaving those of Lilura. "But Erza." Natsu whined. "Natsu." Erza warned, causing the dragon slayer to gulp and nodded quickly.
Zeref watched the fight and smirked "So that was your trump card little servant, get Titania to remember you so she could defeat me. How pathetic." He said to himself. "Oh well, it seems you've made your choice and forced mine. Bring her to me, alive. Kill the others." He instructed. "Yes my Master." Lilura replied darkly, her hand crackling with dark energy. Zeref proved how truly sadistic he was when he looked into her mind and compelled her to take advantage of Erza's memories to distract her. The energy in Lilura's hand took the shape of a sword made of black metal, drawing gasps from Natsu, Lucy, Gray and Happy.
"Have you forgotten? You're not the only one who can requip Erza." Lilura smirked. Erza's expression didn't change but she said "That may be so but I am still stronger than you." Lilura laughed manically and she smirked "You think you can defeat me? I've always been stronger than you!" "Only because you were older, I've grown up and gained strength since then. I will defeat you to save you and my friends." Erza said confidently. Lilura smirked and said "Is that so? We'll see."
She raised her sword and swung at Erza, who blocked the strike with her own. The two began a furious duel unlike anything Natsu, Lucy and the others had ever seen. They'd never seen someone match Erza in sword play, let alone when it was personal. The only sound was the clashing of metal as they fought.
'Stop wasting my time girl!' Zeref commanded in Lilura's head, causing her to grimace. Erza noticed and took her chance, disarming and pinning Lilura in one swift move, her sword poised over the elder woman's throat. "I promised I'd defeat you. I always keep my word." Erza said, breathing a bit heavier than normal but otherwise unscathed aside from a few scratches.
Lilura looked stunned for a moment but then her face turned into a furious snarl. She sent a blast of dark energy at Erza at point blank range, leaving no chance of dodging for the younger mage who was thrown backwards. She hit the ground and slid towards the edge of the cliff, at the last moment she thrust her sword into the ground and came to a stop, slowly standing and glaring at the now standing Lilura. Both sisters stared at each other for a few seconds in tense silence.
Lilura knew Zeref was getting impatient and acted quickly, firing a blast of her death magic, a pillar of swirling black and red energy, at the rest of the Fairy Tail wizards. Erza gasped and in one motion, requipped to her Adamantium armor as she ran to get in front of them. Her shield barely blocked the attack, the force and magic behind the strike causing her to grimace in effort. Lilura yelled in anger and ran at Erza, swinging her sword in fury, but the high defense of the armor held and Erza blocked the blow and forced Lilura away.
'How useless are you?!' Zeref growled in her head. 'Never mind them, I'll send Trinity Raven to deal with those brats since you are incapable. Get back here at once.' Lilura frowned but relaxed her fighting stance. The other wizards looked wary and got ready to attack when a magic circle appeared under the dark wizard, but instead of attacking, she teleported away, glaring at Fairy Tail as she did.
A few seconds passed and Erza requipped back to her normal armor and stumbled onto one knee. Lucy ran to help her stand, but Erza refused any other help, her eyes shut tightly in what looked to be pain, but in reality she was trying to hold back tears. Lucy noticed and softly asked "Erza, who is she?" They were all silent for a minute when Erza started to quiver as if she was about to cry. Lucy pulled her into a hug and said "You don't have to tell us if you don't want to."
Erza took a few deep breaths and calmed herself down; going back to her normal composed self. "Her name is Lilura Scarlet and she is my sister."
