Erza opened her eyes to the sun shining. Tired she tosses and yawns trying to fall back asleep.

Erik looks at her already awake he had decided to gather firewood for their campsite. He hasn't seen Jellal since he woke up, and was hoping it meant he had left for a while. He use to do that when he would travel with him and the girls. At least then it would give him some time to sort things out with Erza. Things have been hectic ever since Jellal made a reappearance in her life.

Erza was never one for irrational behavior but when it came to Jellal that's all she was. Erik saw her mental struggle and he was annoyed, maybe even hurt. If Jellal still has this kind of affect on her, maybe she never stop loving him. What made him want her so badly now was the real question. He would always push her away the second something started between them and even though she was all smiles about it, Erik saw from the moment he joined Jellal guild, that she deeply cared for him.

Scoffing as he makes his way back to the camp with wood he reaches that conclusion.

He was stupid for thinking things would be different between them. He also pushed her away when she started getting to know him. He convinced himself that she actually cared for him, when in fact it was probably nothing more than a rebound. Still he couldn't always help himself when it came to her. Sure she was strong, she was always proving that. But she has a gentle heart he has seen that side of her and it was what made him fall for her. However if Jellal was the person that made her smile he would bite his tongue and let her be happy.

Finally back on the campsite he throws the wood into the pit lighting it up. He look at Erza who has rolled all over the ground now still sleeping heavily. Sitting down he watches the fire just dozed off thinking to himself. It would be easier to read her mind and just sort out the complications, but he did his best to respect her privacy.

"I'm want cake" Erza mumbled tossing again in her sleep. She really likes cakes huh, Erik thinks to himself and can't help but to laugh. Erza hears someone laughing not so far off. Her little dream bubble of cake fades away. Opening her eyes she hears the laugh more clearly. Turning around she see Erik looking at her a cheesy smile on his face as he tries to suppress another laugh. Her mind goes back to her cake. "Did I say that outloud!" she question jumping up to a sitting position, her face turning crimson red in embarrassment. "How often do you dream about food?" he asks answering her question.

"Well we should get some food" she says pouting as she crosses her arms. "Sure, we have some canned food in our bags" he tells her going into the bags to reach for them. Looking around Erza notices that Jellal isn't on the campsite but doesn't want to ask Erik where he is. If anything the perfect opportunity just presented itself.

"Erik" she calls out to him. "Hm?" he responds passing her a can to warm up on a rock near the fire. "I wanted to talk to you" she says trying to ease her way into the questions. His heart stop, really tempted to just peek at her mind and wonder if it was about them, but he shakes the urge off. "About what?" he says trying to look casual.

"That night the girls got kidnap, I never got the full details on what happen, and therefore I am at a lost of how we can find" Erza explains. Erik thinks it over walking back to their bags he takes out a bag of marshmallows showing them to Erza. It wasn't cake but she was a sucker for sweets. Looking at her eyes light up he laughs again. "Don't distract me, I am being serious" she yells grabbing the bag in the process.

"Alright, it's a bit of a stupid story" he explains but she gives a look that she is keen on listening. "We were looking for clues that lead to this town. I'd advised against us going here because I have been here before with my old group, and we heard rumors about a rogue wizard that was incredibly powerful. But Jellal ignore me, his ego wouldn't let him think. After all that has happen especially after the games he consider himself a protector, indestructible. So we went." he says sitting down to get comfortable he grabs a marshmallow popping into his mouth.

Erza look at him, he was so calm compared to Jellal behavior last night. "It all happen pretty fast, this guy comes out of nowhere with so many henchman, so we started to fight. The girls were automatically trapped under a spelled rope, they couldn't move. I was going to help them but then Jellal starts screaming his head off. Next thing I know he was on top of me beating me to a bloody pulp, I lost consciousness for a bit, by the time I woke up Jellal was just getting off the floor, I must have kick him off before he knock me out. He didn't remember attacking me, but the girls were taken, and he sucks as a leader." Erik says his last sentence filled with hate letting Erza know they weren't on good terms for a while. "He really pissed me off afterwards. Wouldn't shut up about you. I left when he mention bringing you into this mess"

"Erik are you telling me the truth" Erza questions Eriks eyes narrowed looking at her. "Have I ever lied to you, or did he tell you something else" his body felt hot with anger. He wasn't sure why but he tried to suppress it. Grabbing his hand to calm him down she shakes her head "No, I'm sorry I didn't mean to come off accusing you" she explains. Pulling his hands back he nodded but tried to keep his distances. "Are you okay?" she asks noticing how fast his mood shifted. He got up walking to their bags as a distraction. Closing his eyes he took a deep breath unsure of what just happened back there, where did all this anger come from. "I'm fine" he lets her know as he feels himself calm down.

"I brought fish" Jellal says from a distant as he hold up a few fishes on a large wooden pole. Looking around he see that Erza has her mouth stuffed with Marshmallows and Erik was near their bags probably looking for more food. "But I see you two have already eaten" he comments as he makes his way to the fire. Keep to himself he take knife out and starts to clean and gut the fishes preparing to cook them.

Erik's anger was coming back again as he ignore Jellal and sat away from them, already noticing how Jellal has sat down next to Erza the second he got the chance to. Erza blushes as he tells her something in her ear, placing a bracelet around her wrist. Annoyed he stands up grabbing a blanket out of the bags "Erza you look cold, take this blanket" he tells her as he throws it over her wrapping her in it. Surprised she doesn't resist. Jellal moved away when Erik got closer to her, clearly annoyed of the interruption. Yeah Erik said he was going to let her be happy, it didn't mean it was going to be easy when the asshole was waving it all around his face.

"Umm thanks" she says shortly after. A smug look on Jellal face as he throws the words at Erik knowing he could read his mind. "If she wanted you, she would have been with you. Suddenly Erik mind is flooded with images or Erza, her naked body wet, and squirming under Jellal hands. Erik eyes narrow down in anger staring at Jellal. His jaw clench as his teeth were grinding together, he was blinded by his anger as he stood still his hands clench into a fist.

Erza felt the mood switch now with Erik looking like he was ready to kill his whole body tense and visibly angered. Jellal was challenging him, she knew he did something to taunt him. What the hell did she just miss?

"What the fuck is your problem" Erik yells unable to restrain himself as he punches him across the face. Jellal still had the smug look on his face as he falls back. On the floor he brings his sleeve up wiping the blood from his mouth "What the matter, did that bother you" Jellal taunts him. Erik didn't waste any more time, jumping on top him he straddles him punching his face again. Jellal is blinded by the hit, first his eyes and then his nose as the pain spreads across his face.

Pulling himself together, he grabs the next hit Erik throws at him. His teeth clench in anger as he lets out a deep breath being able to breath again from the assault on his face. "Get off!" Jellal yells grabbing the rest of Erik arm flinging him off with all his strength, feeling Erik arm dislocate in the process. Getting up he feels the blood trickling down his nose. Wiping it off he gets into a fighting stance staring at Erik as he was getting up from the throw. His arms beings slowly transformed into claws, one was limp but he didn't back down.

It all happen so fast it took Erza a second to realize how badly they have hurt each other. Erik could no longer hit at close distance with his arm dislocated and Jellal has taken quite the punches leaving him sluggish. Erik stance has changed and Erza recognized it immediately, after all her guild was filled with dragon slayers.

Poison Dragon Roar.

He was going to kill Jellal.

Grabbing her shield she runs in between them just as he throws the attack, placing herself behind the shield she takes the hit.

Erik was still in rage, what the fuck was she doing. She was always going to pick Jellal over him. Whatever It didn't matter. he couldn't stand it, seeing Jellal face was irritating at this point.

Slowly her shield began to rust the poison eating it up. Startled she lets go of it, looking up to see Jellal and Erik have engaged in the fight again ignoring her. They were charging right into each other, theirs hands glowing with their magic. Erza was done she was tired of trying to be understand, they have both lost their mind.

Once again jumping in front of both them she uses her swords re-equipping into her clear heart clothing, pulling her double swords out as she points them at each one of them at their neck. If they were to move another step closer they would impale themselves on her swords. "STOP!" she yells demanding and anger in her voice. They both stop breathing heavily, letting their hands drops their magic fading.

As soon as they stopped she grabs both of them by the collars of their shirt before throwing them to the ground. Surprised at her force they both fall easily, on their hands and knees. Getting enough time to turn around and look at her she was red with anger. "WHAT IS WRONG WITH BOTH OF YOU!" she yells. Inside Erza was trying not to cry but her anger easily masked that emotion up.

Finally snapping out of it they got up slowly. "Erza" Jellal says carefully approaching her. "Calm down, we didn't mean to let it get this far" Erik adds on. But she was heaving with anger. She tried breathing but all the thoughts that ran through her mind. Neither one of them were ever like this, so quick to lose their composure, to always be at each other throat, even with everything that they have been through. Her rage was leaving her drain out now that it was fading away. Falling to her knees, both of the guys runs to her worried. "Erza, what's wrong?" Jellal asked. Erik seeing how tired she was picks her up in his arms brings her back to the campsite where they have strayed away from.

Putting her down, he feels like he knows what's wrongs, he feels it in her body. "I'm fine" she says getting right back up. She stretches her arms walking away from them telling herself to stay up. Taking deep breaths she looks back to them. "Erza you never had proper rest after being poison" Erik tells her walking up to her. She backs away "if that's the case then it best for me to not be around you two, you're causing all kinds of stress" she says and walks towards her bag. "I'm leaving" she explains to them. Grabbing it, only to have Jellal jump right in front of her. "you can't fight alone" he warns her telling her as he places his hand on her shoulder.

Still highly annoyed she shrugs it off, "I'm getting nowhere being here with either you" she explains and makes her way from the camp. She would find her friends on her own if she had to.

Erza stop suddenly. Looking back she sees that Erik and Jellal had sense it too, as they were both looking around for someone. Someone very powerful was nearby, and getting closer. Dropping her bag she pulls out her double swords waiting for this person. Jellal walked over to Erik grab his dislocated arm as he made eye contact with him. Understanding Jellal intention, Erik nods his head his stance tensing up the rest of his body except for that right arm. In one motion Jellal jerks it up as you hear another sound of it being forced back into place. Erik grunts in pain as he grits his teeth and then breathe as Jellal let's go of it.

Letting that breath out he begins to move his arm in a swing motion. Now that his arm was relocated he stood a better chance at taking on whatever was heading their way. "wait I know that power" Jellal comments thinking of where he felt this power before.

"Protect Erza!" Jellal yells running to her side. This distance between Erza and the boys was still quite large, and Jellal couldn't make it to her side in time before a whole bunch of men dressed in black clothes surrounding them have already drawn their swords out. "ninja?" Erza questions their manner of dressing.

She felt someone approaching her fast and she drew her blade out blocking their blow. Pushing away she look at Jellal and Erik who were equally busy with them. There were at least forty. Bringing her blade back up again she block another attack. And had to actually use strength to fight them off. They were pretty strong, either that or she was still extremely weak from the poison. Looking up she notice that Jellal and Erik were struggling just as much as her. Pushing back from her sword lock she increases her speed bringing it down on her opponent. One down thirty nine more to go.

"Erza get out of here while you can!" Jellal yells at her taking on three at once. They both knew she was most likely the target. Focusing back to her fight, Erza pulls away from their attack and brings her swords down again taking down two at once. Four more appear in their place doubling. There was really no end to them. All four attacking her at once, she changes to a defenses stand avoiding their attacks.

From the corner of her eyes Erza see Erik struggling to keep up with the next three that have gang up on him. Even though he had his arm relocated, it was sore and bruised slowing him down. Same for Jellal. His movements were a bit more sluggish and hesitant even though he did better at keeping up with his opponents. They were really going at it when they fought each other. Jellal was caught in a sword lock with two of the enemies and a third approaching him from behind, while Erik was slowly being overwhelmed. Little bits of blood trickled from certain cuts they have both managed to sustain.

They were going to get seriously hurt, pulling herself back into her fight she attacks all four at once trying to be as fast as possible. Turning on her heels she runs to aid the guys. She takes on their attackers hoping they don't take anymore damage. They might be a pain in her ass, but she couldn't bear the idea of them being really injured. In one swift motion she made it all across the field taking on all of their attackers.

When they finally noticed it they saw her closer to Erik. Her sword in her hands filled with blood as she pants exhausted. She felt her energy draining, but still managed a smirk towards to boys when they looked at her surprised.

A look of pain falls across their face, as they both simultaneously fall to their knees. She felt some kind of presence behind her, turning around to locate the enemy she is lifted into the air. "Bravo" she heard a voice. Someone in a hooded cloth stood next to her. She was in air and couldn't move, a glowing rope was wrapped around her, still she tried breaking through. "that won't do any good, the rope is enchanted with magic that makes it harder to break through the stronger you are." he explains to her his voice calm and strong, masculine.

Looking back at her friends, she has noticed they haven't move. Both on their knees, heads down looking at the floor as if they was dazing off.

"Jellal, Erika, get up!" she yells at them still trying to break through the ropes. They stayed still immobilized as if they couldn't hear her. "What did you do?!" she yells at the man in robes. "Just a little dazed for now, people's emotions can be their weakness" he tells her. "You see, I just helped them in expressing the feeling they have always suppressed"

"Now, to business we must get to" he says getting closer to Erza "You magic is indeed beautiful, I have plans for you" he chuckles, annoyed and as childish as it seems Erza slip off her boot, kicking it in his direction hitting him in the face.

It was a hard enough kick to catch him off guard and almost fall back. "Enough! Let's go" he growls as he hold his face in pain. he gets up flying away with Erza right behind him "wait my friends!" she yells

"Don't worry they will wake from the trace. They have been bringing me quite powerful women, I have decided to let them live" he comments as the flew further away.

If that was the case maybe Erza could give them clues on finding her. One by One she began to rip her the beads of her bracelet placing a small bit of magic in it and then letting it drops in hopes of them recognizing her magic.

"Where are you holding my friends!" she asks trying to keep him distracted of what she was doing. "We will be there soon" he mumbles, not giving her any information. This was going to be really annoying, she keep pulling the ropes, but her body wasn't at it's strongest and her magic was quickly fading. She could only leave it up to them, to find her.