Hey everyone, I'm back with another chapter!

I've got some new for you all, as of now I'm putting A Phoenix Rises on a temporary Hiatus as I'm currently lacking inspiration as to where I would like the story to go from where it currently is. I'm going to be changing the way that Legends of the Atherial will be written. It will now be similar to how this story is written. As I feel more comfortable writing this way compared to how I previously wrote. I hope you all understand where I'm coming from.

I've mentioned this before but I would like to know if anyone would be willing to be a Co-author in writing this story. I know I can only do but so much, and it would be appreciated to have another set of eyes and ideas for this story as well.

Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail, I only own MY OCs

Enjoy chapter 7!


"TIME TO DIE ERZA!" her brother yelled at her as a blast of pure magic energy rivaling that of the Jupiter cannons blast rushed towards her. As the blast hit her shield, a bright light shone across the room blinding everyone inside of it. Erza's armor cracked under the intense amount of magic energy sent her way, but still, she held firm. Determination still on her face to defeat and kill her supposed rival.

As the light dissipated, both Erza and Ivan were still standing albeit each was considerably weakened by that last attack. Natsu and Simon were in awe at the magic power that they had just borne witness to.

Ivan fell unconscious after expanding two much magic energy, with Erza quickly getting to her feet. The look of victory on her face as she slowly made her way to the form of her brother. With a killing glare at the soon to be a corpse, Erza prepared to strike her brother down for good.

"The strong absorbs the weak and becomes whole, the world cowering at their feet with what follows." Erza mindlessly said. Unfortunately for her, however, she didn't notice Natsu running up to her and swiftly knocking her out with one blow to her gut.

Natsu set Erza's unconscious form down close to one of the walls while Simon did the same with Ivan's body. Not a word was said as this happened, as neither party wanted to comment on what they had just seen from the two of them.

The two of them simply waited in the center of the throne room for one of them to wake up and explain what had happened between the two of them. No one disturbed the silence and serenity that had encompassed what had once been a raging arena.

(X784 Tower of Heaven)

Erza was the first of the twins to wake up after their battle at the top of the tower. Pain coursing through her body as she tried to open her eyes. The lights in the room causing her to quickly close them as they readjusted. As she once again opened her eyes, she saw Natsu almost on top of her. With his toothy grin out for the world to see.

"Rise and shine Erza, time for us to get out of here and meet up with the others. Bet they're worried sick about you." Natsu said, joy and happiness evident in his voice.

"Natsu- Where's Ivan? Is he alright?" Erza asked with fear and worry ever present. Her body shaking with worry.

"You mean the guy with red hair? He's out cold over there" Natsu said pointing at Ivan's body. "You must have done a number on him if he's out like that." Erza had a shocked look on her face. Her eyes widened in shock as she found her brother's body, unconscious and bleeding from numerous locations.

"IVAN!" Erza yelled desperately running to his location, hoping that he was alright. "Ivan are you alright? Wake up, Ivan… please, I need you." Erza laid on Ivan's body, crying more than she ever had up to this moment. She brought him into a loving hug, desperate to try and hear some semblance of life.

"Please don't leave me again. I don't know what I'd do without you, please wake up!" Erza was desperate for Ivan to wake up. Not wanting to lose the only family she had left. She didn't care that others were seeing her like this, all she wanted now was for her brother to wake up so they could make amends for their past.

"Erza, it's time for us to leave. The Council wants this place evacuated so they can level it." Natsu walked over to Erza sobbing form and put a hand on her shoulder in an attempt to comfort her. It did not do much to comfort her sorrows, but it did give her enough strength to get on her feet and walk out of the tower. Carrying her unconscious brother bridal style while doing so.

(X784 Tower of Heaven shore)

When Everyone got to a safe distance away from the tower, Erza dropped to her knees keeping Ivan's head above the water. 'I don't know how long it will be, but I want to be there when he wakes up. He's had to grow up without anyone there to support him ever since we escaped that prison all those years ago. Now that I have the chance, I can finally be the sister I should have been.' Erza smiled at the thought, dreaming of the possibilities the two of them would be able to experience together. From going on missions together to just spending time in each other's company. Granted she knew that he was a dark mage and that they would have to fight the council often, but in her opinion seeing Ivan smile more often would more than make up for any hardships that they would encounter together.

Surrounded by her friends and guildmates, everyone watched and waited for Ivan to regain consciousness. Natsu broke the silence by asking Erza about her relationship with the figure in her arms.

"I wasn't alone when I was growing up." Erza began, "there was always someone with me whenever we would go and do various things. We were so close, all we had to rely on was each other. No matter what happened we promised each other that we would be there for one another, never leaving the other's side no matter the circumstances." She shut her eyes and began crying as more memories of their childhood before the tower came back to her. They were pleasant memories, of a more peaceful time. One that has long since past and replaced with the one they currently live in.

"On the day before I was taken to the tower, I took Ivan out on an adventure in the forest just outside of where we grew up. The forest itself wasn't anything special to look at, but just being outside of the village where we grew up made the experience more than worth it. To this day, I still hold that memory dear to me. As the next day, our village was raided and we were taken to that tower as slaves." Everyone presents gasped at what they just heard. They would never have imagined that Erza would have been a slave anywhere.

Ivan began to stir, as everyone except for Erza took a step back in fear of what might happen. She only held him tighter not wanting him to leave her again.

"Sis? what happened? Where am I?" Ivan asked rather weakly, still trying to get used to his new surroundings.

"You're with family Ivan, one that will never let you be alone again," she replies in a loving manner.

"Family? You're funny Erza, there's no such thing as a family. Did we learn that the hard way?" Ivan replied.

"There is such a thing and if you'll let me I can help you figure out what a family truly is," Erza said with a small smile. Even though it seemed like Ivan didn't want to join her, she was still happy that he was alright and mostly unharmed.

"If they found out who I truly am, they would turn me into the council almost immediately. Assuming you haven't told them who I am yourself." Ivan remarked with his eyes closed and his head hung low.

At this point, Natsu having heard the entire conversation decided now was as good of a time as any to enter the conversation to try and find out more about Ivan personally.

"Hey, Erza, who is he exactly and why does he smell like blood?"

"Natsu, His name is Ivan Scarlet and he is the one I told you all about earlier," Erza spoke before Ivan interjected.

"As for why I apparently smell like blood, well I've killed people. A lot of people actually, and I don't regret killing them in the slightest. I assume you know of the crimson hunter?" Natsu and everyone else present nodded in the affirmative.

"well, that would be me. Since the year 778, I've tracked down and killed anyone and anything related to Zeref. All in efforts to grow stronger and get revenge for what happened all those years ago." Everyone except for Erza took multiple steps back at the sudden realization of who they were talking to.

"Erza, how can you be so comfortable around him? He's a dark mage!" Lucy tried to talk some sense of reason into her.

"I can because he's the only family I have left. Ever since we left the tower together, I've never had the chance to care for him as I should have. I'm not passing up this opportunity to do so!" Erza instinctively held Ivan closer to her, as she yelled her response at Lucy.

(X784 Era, Magic Council Headquarters)

"It seems that the R-system project has failed. Jellal couldn't get the council to fire off the Etherion. He apparently never bothered to consider the fact that the supposed sacrifice had a twin brother who was just as angry at Jellal." A hooded Ultear says to a figure through a communication lacrima.

"I should have figured as such; the project was doomed to fail from the start. You mentioned that an unknown person was involved in that incident? And that the sacrifice and said person were twins?" The person on the other side of the lacrima asked. "do you know how they appear?"

"I do, the figure was wearing a white shirt and a pair of brown slacks. His hair was similar to the sacrifice's own. My sources claim that the two of them fought each other after Jellal had been defeated. They even claim that his final attack rivaled a Jupiter cannon in power." Ultear simply responded.

"good, keep an eye on him. He may prove useful in our plans to reach the Grand Magic World. A mage with that much power behind him" The voice ordered.

"of course, master Hades. He will either join us or die." Ultear said before closing the communication lacrima before returning to her duties as a member of the Magic Council.

(x784 Tower of Heaven)

"Erza you can't be serious, having him among our ranks will only make the council even more mad at us than they already are. Fairy Tail would be disbanded if we took him in!" Lucy yelled, desperate to get Erza to understand the bigger picture of what would happen.

"She's right Sis, you should listen to her. You should know what will happen if I come with you." A dejected Ivan said, knowing the truth in Lucy's words.

"no, I refuse to accept it. I can save you, bring you on the right path. I'm sure of it!" Erza said, sobbing on her brother's shoulder. He turned around to face her and then brought her into a loving hug once again.

"You've already done so much for me Erza, I have to thank you for that. You've already shown me that there's more to life than simple revenge. I could never thank you enough for what you've done." Erza simply reciprocated the hug in response. Not wanting to say any more than she had to.

"Now I'm going to find my purpose in life again if you want you can come with me. Just like all those adventures we had together back in Rosemary Village." Ivan pushed Erza away slightly, while she was still crying.

"As much as I would like to, my guild needs me to be there for them. So I can't, please forgive me." Both of them got to their feet trying to maintain themselves.

"Believe me, I would like nothing more than to be there with you wherever you go. But Fairy Tail is my home and I have to be there to support them. Wouldn't you do the same for your guild?" Erza asked fighting to hold back more tears from being shed.

"My guild could burn for all I care, they were simply just a means to grow stronger. Nothing more than that." Ivan replied with his usual stoic exterior, trying to hide the fact that he was in the same condition as his sister. "I believe I've overstayed my welcome. I'll be going now and everyone." He turned his head to the group of Fairy Tail mages as he walked away from them. "Take care of her for me. She's going to need it now more than ever." Leaving with a small smile on his face. He set out to face his new destiny, regrettably leaving a sobbing Erza behind him as he did so.


So, what did you all think? I felt rather emotional while writing this chapter, and I believe that this is a good point to end the opening arc don't you agree?

Feel free to leave a review and I'll see you all in the next chapter!