Geez, I'm on a roll right now. Three chapters in three days! This is awesome! Hope you guys enjoy this new chapter!

The Dark Fairy

Chapter 9

"SO MANY DAMN STAIRS!" complained Joshua as he trudged up the long spiral staircase, "Whose bright idea was it to put stairs like this instead of an elevator? Seriously!"

Joshua pulled himself up another set of stairs and reached the next landing before bending over and placing his hands on his knees. He took a few deep breaths then looked up.

"Just a little further." he took a step forward then stopped.

The ethernanos in the air. They were alive and they were moving in a fury. The amount of magical pressure in the air was building to an amount that made Joshua shake with fear. Was this another threat waiting to battle him? If so, he was screwed.

"JOSHUA!" shouted a familiar voice near the top of the stairs. Joshua looked up and saw Erza racing down the steps towards him.

"Erza!" he waved happily. His smile faded as he saw the worried look on her face. She looked scared. No scared was an understatement. The most powerful person Joshua knew looked absolutely terrified. "Erza?"

The redhead tackled him on the landing.

"What are you doing here!?" she roared as she tightly gripped his shoulders, "You need to get out now!"

"B-but Erza, I'm here to rescue you." replied Joshua.

"You can't." she said softly, "I'm not going to leave this place alive Joshua." The boy's eyes widened as they started to glaze over with tears, "You have a chance still. But you need to leave now, Etherion is about to fire."

That shook Joshua's world. Etherion, the ultimate magic weapon. A magical firing circle so powerful it could wipe out nations in one shot. And now it was targeting the tower. Joshua started to tremble in Erza's arms.

"Now you need to go. Before it is too late." pleaded Erza. She let go of his shoulders and stood in front of him. "I need to take care of the person behind all of this."

Joshua felt tears dribbling down his cheeks. His lip quivered as he thought of Erza dying here and never being around anymore. He shook his head.

"No…" he trembled.

"Joshua, don't be stubborn!" yelled Erza.

"I won't leave you!" he yelled back.

The magical pressure in the air was now incredibly intense. It took a tremendous amount of strength for Joshua to just stand. He trudged forward to Erza and stared defiantly into her brown eyes.

"I won't leave." he said forcefully. His tears were gone now and instead anger was in his eyes, "If you're going to go down, then I'm going with you."

"Joshua don't be stupid!"

"You can't make me!" he shouted back.

A loud rumbling was heard and the tower began to shake. Erza's eyes widened and she stared up at the ceiling. She felt the magical energy bearing down on them. It was too late. She lunged towards Joshua and wrapped herself protectively around him. Then she braced herself for the end.

Above the tower a series of magic circles were aligned. The magical pressure around them was at the optimal level needed. A blinding light shot through the magical circles and slammed into the tower. The dark tower was enveloped in a pillar of intense magical light that destroyed all of the land around the tower. The entire earth around the blast shook and the ocean waters churned furiously. Out on a small boat, at the complete mercy of the sea, were a group of wizards that gasped and stared in horrified awe at the display of magical power.

"No…" breathed a man with raven colored hair and black pants on his legs. He wore no shirt and he trembled in shock at the tower was engulfed by the Etherion blast.

"Gray, did Natsu and Erza..." whimpered a blue cat next to the bare chested man as he fell to his knees in the boat. Next to Gray a blue haired woman wrapped her arms around a sobbing Gray.

Across the boat sat a blonde girl next to a block shaped man, a cat lady, and a blonde haired mage wearing a red jacket. All of them stared horrified as the tower disappeared within the blast radius. The blonde's hands covered her mouth and tears started to well up in her eyes. After several more minutes the light of Etherion faded away. All of the wizards in the boat braced themselves for the inevitable. The tower was gone, there would be nothing left. The light faded away completely and soon the smoke from the blast was blown away by the ferocious winds that were blowing through the area. As the smoke cleared Gray, Lucy, Juvia and the others were stunned by what they saw. The tower was not destroyed. But it was not the same either. The tower had been replaced by a massive crystal like structure. It glowed blue against the darks skies above.

"What?" gaped Lucy.

"A lacrima!?" exclaimed Gray, "But how!?"

"Does this mean Natsu and Erza are ok?" asked Happy.

"I don't know." replied Gray. He then turned to the blockhead, cat woman, and blonde haired man behind him, "Do you know anything about this?"

"We were clueless." replied the blockhead.

"Nya, yeah." replied the catwoman, "None of us were aware of this."

Gray stared at the giant lacrima pillar that jutted up into the night sky.

Please be careful Erza, Natsu.

….

Erza didn't feel any pain. Which was strange, because she knew that Etherion had hit the tower. Was this what it felt like to die? Was it truly this painless? She shifted her arms and felt the small body of Joshua still wrapped in them. She then opened her eyes and stared wide eyed around them. The tower had been obliterated and replaced with a giant magical lacrima. Her embrace around Joshua loosened and the ten year old glanced around as well, his mouth hanging open as he stared at the massive crystalline walls around them.

"Did we die?" he asked.

"I don't think so." replied Erza.

The sound of insane laughter filled the area around them. Erza's face hardened and she turned around to face the man laughing at them.

"Oh you are not dead. Not yet at least." laughed a man wearing a black coat with gold trimmings.

"Jellal." growled Erza.

"That's Jellal?" said Joshua behind her, "He doesn't look so tough!"

"But he is young one." said a second voice that sounded exactly the same as Jellal's. Joshua and Erza turned their heads to see a man in a white coat with black trimming casually walking up beside Jellal. The two looked completely identical, "I would know after all."

"I should have known." snarled Erza, "You always looked like a traitor Siegrain."

Joshua's eyes narrowed and his face scrunched into a frown. Magic council member Siegrain. He always got a bad feeling around this guy. And he was partly responsible for the magic suppression cuffs that were sealed onto his wrists. Joshua fist clenched by his sides. He had a bone to pick with him.

"My only question is why, Siegrain?" continued Erza, "If you truly cared about your brother then you wouldn't have let him go through with this insanity!"

Wait brother!? But, Siegrain feels so lifeless compared to Jellal. Thought Joshua.

Siegrain and Jellal chuckled in unison. "You see Erza-" started Jellal.

"We aren't exactly separate people." finished Siegrain. He stepped towards Jellal. His outline began to grow blurry and he was soon absorbed into Jellal's form. Joshua's eyes widened.

That would explain a lot.

"A thought projection!" gasped Erza.

Jellal clenched his fists then opened them. He smiled, "Finally back to full strength. It's been far too long." He smirked at Erza then lowered himself into a fighting stance, "Now to acquire my sacrifice. Heavenly Body Magic: Meteor!"

Jellal's body began to glow with a light similar to stars. He squatted low before racing forward at a blinding speed that caught Erza off guard. He slammed an elbow into her stomach cracking her armor from the amount force behind the blow and sending her flying across the lacrima. Erza rolled and leapt to her feet.

"Stay behind me Joshua." she ordered before Jellal slammed into her again, but from the side this time.

Erza cried out in pain as she hit her head hard against and lacrima wall. Her vision grew spotty and a dark haze covered the edges of her vision. Before blacking out she looked over at Joshua and saw the boy completely paralyzed with fear. She fought to stay conscious, she had to protect him from Jellal. He was not strong enough to stand a chance against him. A fist slammed into her cheek and her vision blacked out completely.

….

Joshua was rooted in place, completely paralyzed with fear. He had never seen someone so powerful before. And he had never seen Erza so thoroughly beaten by anyone before. She was the strongest person he knew, and this Jellal person wiped the floor with her. He watched her fall unconscious against a lacrima wall as Jellal delivered a devastating punch. He felt fear strangling him. He couldn't move. He desperately wanted to help Erza, but against such an incredible force, what good was he?

"Ah, that was easier than I expected." smiled Jellal. He roughly grabbed Erza and carried her over to small crystal pillar in the room, "And you thought you could stop me."

He shoved her limp body into the pillar. Instead of bouncing off of the crystal the crystal seemed to suck her into it. Joshua could feel the effects immediately. The magic in the lacrima seemed to accept Erza's body and it felt like it began to break down her body.

"No…" he trembled, "You won't do this!" he charged at Jellal. The blue haired man smirked. Joshua suddenly felt a massive shock course through his body. He yelled out in pain and fell onto his face as electricity coursed through his small form.

"Those cuffs serve another purpose as well kid." said Jellal with an evil smirk, "I know how strong you actually are," he knelt in front of a gasping Joshua as more electricity rocked his body, "so I made sure that those cuffs had some sort of safeguard." He grabbed Joshua, "Maybe two sacrifices will do. After all, I'm not a cruel person. You and your dear Erza shall die together." he tossed Joshua into the lacrima.

Pain washed over his small body and he attempted to scream out but the lacrima drowned out all sound coming from him. The magic inside the lacrima was tearing at his body. It was the most unbearable pain he had ever felt. He then heard Jellal talking to him from the other side.

"Enjoy your last moments kid."

"FIRE DRAGON ROAR!"

Joshua looked up in shock and saw a stream of red hot fire launched at Jellal and catch the blue haired wizard off guard. He barely dodged the deadly column of fire and then whirled around, only to be met by a fist of fire.

"FIRE DRAGON'S IRON FIST!"

Jellal flipped to remain on his feet, "Meteor."

He launched forward and slammed into the pink haired dragon slayer that had come to Joshua and Erza's rescue. Once Jellal was upon him it was apparent that Natsu was thoroughly outclassed. He couldn't hit Jellal now as the blue haired man attacked Natsu with fury. In a matter of seconds, Natsu was laying in a heap on the crystal floor.

We're doomed. Thought Joshua.

He then heard Erza wince in pain. She was fighting but she was losing. He could feel her life force beginning to ebb away.

You are too weak to save your friends….

"NO!" Joshua yelled at the top of his lungs he reached over and grabbed Erza fighting the pain that stabbing his body like needles.

He gripped her wrist and fought against the Lacrima's grip. His eyes flickered between fiery red and hazel. Through sheer will he dragged himself and Erza out of the Lacrima while Jellal was busy toying with Natsu. Joshua gasped for air as he was on his hands and knees outside of the lacrima. He looked over at Erza. She was alive, he could tell. Joshua breathed a sigh of relief.

"How did you get out?"

Joshua heard the voice and he hated it with every fiber of his being. He was no longer angry at Jellal. No, he hated him. He wanted to rip him limb for limb. Joshua shakily rose to his feet and stared down Jellal.

"Oh well, guess I'll have to get rid of you the old fashioned way." Jellal made a strange hand sign with his fingers, "I won't make the mistake of going easy on you." Jellal leapt into the air, "Heavenly Body Magic: Altairis!"

Joshua eyes widened as a massive amount of magic rocketed towards him from Jellal. He was too dodge. He squeezed his eyes shut waiting for the end. But it never came. Joshua opened his eyes and saw someone standing in front of him. The large man in front of him was the same one he saw back at the resort. His body was bleeding and bruised now and he was breathing heavily.

"S-Simon." gaped Erza as she awoke to see her childhood friend crumble to the ground in front of Joshua. She scrambled over to him while Joshua stared stunned at the man. She cradled Simon's head in her hands as he coughed and wheezed. "Simon!"

Joshua saw tears falling down from Erza's eyes as she leaned in close to hear the man named Simon whisper something to her. Then he saw Erza's begin to sob heavily as the body of Simon fell limp.

"SIMON!" screamed Erza as Simon's eyes closed and his breathing stopped. Joshua stared wide eyed at the man as Erza sobbed.

"What a fool." scoffed Jellal across the room from them, "Throwing away his life for nothing. He deserved it."

Something inside of Joshua snapped. This man, someone he had never met in his life, willingly gave his life to save his own. All because he knew Erza. And this coward in front of him that was mocking such a sacrifice had the gall to say such things about Simon. Joshua began to shake with fury as he heard Erza's sobs growing.

"You will pay." Joshua snarled as he looked up at Jellal.

"Oh really? How do you plan on doing that." He held out a hand and electricity shocked Joshua from the magic suppression cuffs, "You can't do anything with those cuffs on you." laughed Jellal.

Yes, use your aggressive feelings boy. Let the hatred flow through you. Said the voice of the old man in Joshua's mind, He has dared to mock you and your friends. He has tried to kill you and your friends. Make him suffer. Give into your anger, your hatred-

"You don't need to tell me twice," Joshua looked up at Jellal. Jellal shifted as he saw Joshua's eyes were no longer hazel but now a menacing crimson color. "I'm going to annihilate you!"

The pressure around Joshua climbed dramatically and the Tower began to tremble. Cracks formed in the walls around them and Jellal began to lose his balance as the tower began to violently shake. Suddenly the sound of stone cracking echoed around them. The magic suppression cuffs fell from Joshua's wrists and crumbled to dust as they hit the ground. The shaking then stopped. Jellal and Erza looked at Joshua, whose face was now blank.

"That's better." he smiled.

Erza stared in awe at the ten year old standing over her. He seemed like a completely different person. He was much darker, hatred was evident in his eyes. The air around him was icy and the entire area felt lifeless. The pressure built up around Joshua and he suddenly propelled himself forward. Jellal stood in a defensive position and blocked a devastating punch from Joshua.

"Requip!" Joshua growled. His rapier appeared his left hand and he lashed out at Jellal.

The blue haired mage barely back away from the blade in time. Jellal smiled, this was interesting.

"Meteor." he rushed around Joshua and was about to strike when Joshua raised a hand towards him.

A massive chunk of Lacrima flew towards Jellal and caused him to alter course and avoid hitting the kid. He stopped his spell and stood still. The kid turned towards him. He held his right hand out and clenched his fist. A chunk of the tower broke off of the walls and was launched towards Jellal. Jellal ducked out of the way. But just as soon as he did another mass of lacrima hit him hard, then another, and another.

Jellal grit his teeth. He wasn't going to lose to this kid. He made a hand sign.

"Heavenly Body Magic: Grand Chariot!"

Seven stars in the sky lit up brightly. Joshua stopped his telekinetic onslaught and stared up at the sky before being engulfed in a massive amount of magical energy.

Well shit… Joshua braced for the pain.

"No!" screamed Erza as Joshua was launched away and lay in a crumpled heap on the ground. She built her own magical pressure, "Requip: Purgatory armor!"

Her body was engulfed in a bright light before she reappeared in bulky black armor. Power emanated from her as well as fury. She charged at Jellal and swung her blade at him. Jellal wasn't able to dodge in time and he was sent careening into the wall. He groaned in pain before rising to his feet once again.

"I'll admit, that one hurt."

"You will not touch him!" roared Erza as she stood defensively over Joshua's fallen form. The tower began to rumble once again and more cracks formed in the crystals around them.

"The tower is growing unstable." observed Jellal, "Unless a sacrifice is made, the tower will explode and destroy everything for miles around."

Erza's eyes widened.

"Everything in the area will die." continued Jellal, " If you wish to save him Erza, to truly save him, you will be my sacrifice."

Erza lowered her sword. She could feel the magic in the tower growing increasingly unstable. It wouldn't be long now. She looked down at Joshua and sighed before requipping back into her normal armor.

"Don't you do it Erza!" shouted Natsu who was now finally coming back to his senses after getting the crap beaten out of him by Jellal.

"Natsu," she mumbled, "Make sure you get Joshua out of here." she walked over to the lacrima crystal.

"DON'T DO IT ERZA!" shotued Natsu once again as he struggled to stand.

"If you don't do it Erza everyone here will die. Do you want that for them?" remarked Jellal as the tower began to shake even more violently.

"I know that now." she breathed. She closed her eyes and was about to step into the Lacrima's painful embrace when she suddenly felt an invisible force grip her body and hold her in place. She turned her head to see Joshua's outstretched hand pointing at her.

"I'm sorry Erza." he whispered

"Joshua-" She felt the force build up around her and then toss her away from the tower like a rag doll. She flew through the air and over the churning ocean, "JOSHUA!" The angry ocean below took her.

"You fool!" shouted Jellal at Joshua. "You really have a death wish don't you!"

Joshua rose to his feet and spat some blood onto the tower floor. "I won't let her become a sacrifice for a monster like you." The tower began to glow, "And if that means I die here. Then so be it."

Jellal grimaced, "You really care about her don't you."

"More than you could comprehend." replied Joshua.

Jellal smirked a little, "Alright then, looks like you will be the sacrifice instead."

Jellal surged forward. He had this kid, he wasn't moving out of the way. All he had to do was push him into the lacrima and it would be over. Suddenly pain washed over Jellal. He looked down to see a sword sticking through his stomach and out his back. The kid had sidestepped him so quickly that he didn't even see it. Jellal coughed blood and stared stunned at Joshua.

"I didn't say I'd do that willingly." Joshua yanked his rapier out of Jellal and smacked the hilt over the back of his head knocking the wizard out.

He took a deep breath and let his rage simmer down. He had won. Erza was safe. He had proven those in the guild who hated him wrong. He had done good. Joshua smiled as the magic grew far too unstable for the tower. He hoped Erza would forgive him for this. Joshua closed his eyes and let the tower take him.

….

Erza broke the surface and felt arms hook under her shoulders.

"I got you Erza!" said Gray as he pulled her into the boat.

"JOSHUA!" yelled Erza as she struggled against Gray and tried to get back to the crumbling tower.

"Erza stop!"

"NO! LET ME GO!" roared the redhead as she smacked Gray so hard that it knocked him out. She was about to leap into the water when the tower suddenly stopped glowing. A massive explosion occurred sending the boat and all of it's passengers flying through the air. Erza landed hard onto a sandy shore. They were thrown all the way back to the mainland by the explosion. She shook her head and tried to get the fog out of her mind.

NO!

She jumped to her feet and looked out at the ocean. The tower was nowhere to be seen. Tears filled her eyes and she dropped to her knees.

"No…" she whispered. He was gone. Joshua was gone. Taken by the explosion. She closed her eyes. She didn't know what to do right now. Everything felt empty.

"Erza look!" shouted Lucy.

Erza eyes opened and she looked down the beach. Standing in the waves was Natsu and in his arms was a small ten year old boy. Erza's heart went to her throat and she held back sobs of both worry and joy. She rushed past Lucy and towards Natsu. Natsu dropped to his knees and set Joshua gently down onto the ground. Erza skidded to a stop in front of him and went onto her hands and knees.

"Natsu is he-"

Natsu looked up at her then he face broke into a toothy grin.

"Your welcome." he smiled.

She yelled out and hugged Natsu. Natsu was scared at first and thought Erza was trying to kill him as she squeezed him tightly in her arms.

"Choking-not-breathing!" gasped Natsu.

Erza ended her embrace then looked down at the unconscious ten year old in the sand. She smiled softly and picked him up.

"C'mon everyone. Let's get back to the resort."

….

"So Natsu, how the hell did you manage to get yourself and Joshua out of the tower?"

"Hm…" Natsu replied with a mouthful of food as they all sat out on Erza's room balcony. "M, nosh shure."

A metal fist smacked him over the head, "Swallow, Natsu." ordered Erza. Natsu quickly gulped the food down.

"I said, I'm not sure."

"How can you be not sure?" asked an exasperated Gray.

"I don't know! All I remember is grabbing Joshua and jumping out of the damn thing before it went boom. I have no idea how we made it."

"The explosion was a lot smaller than I thought it would be." Erza said as she leaned against the railing, "I mean, considering all of the magical energy in the tower, it should've wiped us all out. Instead it just shot us all the way back to the mainland."

"Maybe that Jellal guy stopped it somehow?" Lucy suggested as she leaned back in a chair.

"No way!" replied Gray, "That guy was rotten to the core. He wouldn't do something like that."

"Who knows." said Erza quietely, " We should all just be grateful that we are all safe now."

The others nodded.

"Hey Erza, where did Milliana and the others go?" asked Lucy.

"Yeah, I haven't seen them all day." Gray said.

Erza smiled lightly as she stared out at the ocean, "They went on their own adventure." she then yawned. "Alright everyone! I'm going to sleep."

"So?" said Natsu.

"So it's time for you to get out!" remarked Erza.

"You've never had a problem with us staying before." Gray observed.

"Gray." Erza glared at the ice wizard who gulped and quickly grabbed Juvia and Lucy.

"C'mon everyone we are leaving!" he said fearfully. Natsu and Happy quickly followed them.

When the door shut behind them Erza breathed a sigh of relief. Finally some peace and quiet. She rubbed her bandages and walked back into the room. On the bed lay Joshua, still unconscious after three days. She sat down on the edge of the bed and ran a hand along his face.

"Get well soon." she whispered before she yawned and slumped into a large easy chair.

This wasn't much of a vacation was it. She smiled, Oh well. When we get back the Fantasia parade will be happening soon. I'm sure Joshua will love it. Erza yawned again and then closed her eyes as she slowly drifted off to sleep.

And end chapter! That ends the Tower of Heavan arc! I hope it met your guy's expectations. I'll have a new chapter ready to go soon. As always I hope you all enjoyed and have nice day!