A Wise Fairy Once Told Me part 1
Erza looked up into Kagura's burning ember eyes. She could see behind the mage's crumbling walls to the pain locked away there. That pain had been left to intensify over many lonely years. Erza knew all too well the pain of locking away your emotions.
"Jellal did not kill Simon," Erza said while clutching her injured shoulder. "I did."
Kagura flinched like she'd been slapped. Her lust for revenge was evident in her savage glare as her confusion melted away. She grated her teeth together.
"You'd go that far…that far to cover for him?" she choked, pointing a shaking finger at Erza.
Erza's gaze was unwavering as she continued to look up at the gravity mage.
"It's the truth. It was my weakness that killed Simon."
Kagura recoiled at the bestiality that was conveyed so bluntly by the requip mage and swiftly grabbed at her sword. Shaking with fury Kagura clutched at the sword hilt as Erza remained on the floor. In a heartbeat she had it unsheathed.
Erza looked down at her fists clenched and braced herself…but the blow never came. Instead, she felt hot blood splatter across her face.
Erza's head snapped up only for her to be met with a blade mere inches from her face…
….and it was impaled straight through Jellal's heart.
Blood dripped nefariously from the blade and Erza gaped in horror, as she felt her own heart freeze in her chest. Kagura yanked it out and Jellal fell unceremoniously to the Earth.
Erza cradled him in her arms while Kagura stood unbelieving with her bloodied sword hanging limply by her side. "Why…Why would he do such a selfless thing?"
With shaking hands, Erza removed Jellal's Mystogan disguise and stroked his pale face.
"Erza…I'm sorry," he whispered.
"No! I am not doing this again. Don't you dare leave me!" she cried holding him closer.
"I'm sorry for all the…all the pain that I've caused you. I want…I want you to…"
"Shhh! Don't speak! It's going to be okay. It's going to be okay," Erza reassured wrapping a piece of his cloak around the ugly gushing wound.
"Stay strong Erza. Live for me," Jellal said clutching her shaking hand. "Live for me," he repeated through sickly blue lips.
"Too many have died so that I could live," choked Erza.
Jellal smiled sadly and tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and lay his palm against her cheek.
"Scarlet…My Scarlet…" He murmured before his head lolled back and he went limp in the Titania's arms.
"JELLAL!" Erza screamed as loud as she could vociferate, crying over his inert body. She held his cold hand to her cheek. A shuddering whine wrenched up through her chest and throat. On the outside she was a crying wreck of devastation. On the inside…on the inside she felt like she was missing an important organ named Jellal Fernandes.
"Erza! Erza wake up!" someone was shaking her forcefully causing her to suddenly jolt awake. Eyes darting frantically around the room, she took in her surroundings. She was in her bedroom at Fairy Hills with a concerned Jellal standing over her clutching her shoulder.
It was just a dream.
Her heartbeat felt like cannon fire as it reverberated throughout her entire body but she tried to sound nonchalant. "I'm fine. Everything is fine," she said with a half hearted smile not realising that her face was soaked with tears. Jellal furrowed his brow and leaned forward, gently wiping away a fallen tear.
"Erza-" Jellal began before he was interrupted as Erza flung her arms around him pulling him close. Most unbecoming of the Titania she began to cry quietly into his shoulder.
"Only I'm allowed to have nightmares," Jellal said softly causing Erza to pull away.
"Would you stop it with the damn atonement already," grumbled a still shaken Erza. "Just…stop." she clenched her fist in the air and then gently thumped it against his chest. His beating chest without a great big gaping hole in the middle of it.
"I'm sorry."
They held onto each for several moments until it finally dawned on Erza that Jellal was actually in her bedroom. Which was completely against the Fairy Hills rules.
"How did you know I was having a nightmare anyway? Were you creeping at my window?" whispered Erza questioningly.
Jellal cringed at her tease before looking away. "No! I mean… no," he uttered more quietly. "It's like I…heard you in my head. It's happened once before when I was in prison. I can't really explain it," he said running his hand through his blue hair.
"Hmm I also experienced that when I was fighting Azuma on Tenrou Island. I could hear you in my head…it helped get me back on my feet," admitted Erza with a smile.
"Is it some kind of telepathy magic?"
"I have no idea," replied Erza.
The pair sat puzzled before Erza spoke slightly distant. "You should go. No males are allowed in Fairy Hills," triggering Jellal to abruptly stand up from the bed. "You're right I-I shouldn't be here. It's a breach of conduct. I'm glad you're alright. I'll leave immediately," he stuttered but he felt something suddenly grip his arm like a vice. He turned to see Erza clutching his arm.
"Erza…?"
Erza remained silent.
"Uh…Have I still to…"
"Kagura killed you."
Jellal felt a sudden sinking feeling in his gut.
"I was frustratingly weak and feeble for some ridiculous reason and just sat there instead of fighting back…I was just going to let her kill me but then you sacrificed yourself for me. You died," Erza said in a pained voice. "It was so real." Erza sounded so hurt and unlike her usual self, Jellal without missing a beat, closed the distance and hugged her, holding her tightly to his chest.
"I'm not dying anytime soon Erza. I'm with you. You know a beautiful and wise Fairy Tail wizard once said that you don't die for your friends; you live for them," he stated with a smile stretching across his features. It was so rejuvenating to see him smile so often now like it was the most natural thing in the world for him to do. Erza smiled back at him for quoting her famous line. His smiles were just too infectious.
"Will you stay?" asked Erza. Jellal brushed his lips against hers. "Always."
Erza snuggled next to him listening to the soothing sound of his steadily beating heart.
I am breaking harsh Fairy Hills regulations! I would punish another girl severely for doing this. She cursed herself for portraying such weakness.
Satisfied Jellal was alive and well Erza let herself get carried off by the enticing lull of sleep, safe in the arms of the heavenly body magic mage.
Just this once...I'll abuse my position of Matron of Fairy Hills. Just this once...
Special responses to reviews from Chapter 4
TheSecretDreamer: I know right?! I'm thrilled you like Team Redemption and yes they absolutely can rival Team Natsu. In fact there might just be an epic face off between the teams in the future...
Ajerzaaddict: Yes I'm glad you like the lighthearted Jellal x Erza a little break from all the Jerza angst in canon XD
Dark Knight Jay: Thank you! Yes I like keeping everyone in character. It just feels like an insult to them if I don't stay true to their personalities. I'm glad you read it like an episode that is exactly what I'm hoping to capture especially later on in the story.
