Sorry for the delay in posting a new chapter everyone. I hope you all had a good holiday but now it's time to get back to business! This is the next chapter and I have intentionally left some parts out because if I had included every detail then it would have made this chapter boring. The next chapter will be up when I can get it finished! As always please read and review! Enjoy!

"Trying to escape eh?" One of the guards shouted loudly as he was followed by about four others as they all rushed into the cell, staffs at the ready. Milianna and Wally were cornered at the back and Sho cowered by Erza as she stood defiantly next to Jellal who stood defiantly next to Simon. They had been so close. Why was fate being so mean to them? The red head didn't know why but the reality of a second failure was enough to bring tears to her eyes.

"Tell us who's bright idea it was to escape and we won't harm the rest of you, but if no one speaks up you will all be punished." Tilen spoke angrily but had a glint in his eye that sent shivers down all of their backs. Sho shook with fear but kept quiet; Erza turning back to him before going to speak but Jellal had beat her to it.

"It was me. This was all my idea." His voice was angry.

The guards were silent for a moment before the captain spoke again." Nice try kid but I know you're just standing up for the person who really orchestrated this mess. It was the red head." His words were aimed at the bluenette but his eyes were trained on Erza and her blood ran cold. She gasped as Sho's body stilled behind her. One of the other guards approached to drag her away before Jellal shouted back.

"No! This was all my idea she didn't have anything to do with it!" Worry and fear had crept into his voice now and as the girl was carried off she offered him a small smile.

"It's okay Jellal. It's just like you said…it's not scary…" She tried to sound as confident as the boy before her but her entire body was shaking. Her fear had overwhelmed her and it was all she could so just to keep that look on her face so she didn't worry them anymore than they already were. Jellal looked shocked and the last thing she saw before they rounded the corner and he was no longer in her field of vision, was tears filling his eyes.

As she was taken she heard him one last time, "Erza!" What had any of them ever done to deserve a life like this one? They were all kind children and devoted to their friends and family. Why would god just kick them like that? Why would he put them through all of that trouble? The red head didn't have the answers but she wanted to find out if she ever made it out of this place alive.

After a while of being dragged they had arrived at a room and she was soon tied to a support beam with her hands behind her back. "So you wanna tell us why you planned the escape?" Tilen spoke with steel in his voice as he leveled a staff at her.

"I'm not telling you anything." The girl spat back, making sure to keep their attention trained on her and not back on the others. If she had to, she would be more than happy to sacrifice herself for her friends. After she spoke her entire body was alight with pain as electricity was sent coursing through her. She did her best to keep quiet and just take it but when the pain was increased she couldn't hold back her screams.

"Let's see how long that bravado lasts shall we…" Tilen trailed off and the pain ramped up again and it was more than Erza could take, falling limp seconds later.

"I have to go save her!" Jellal shouted as he punched the ground. This was his fault. If he had spoken up sooner then maybe none of this would have happened. He cursed but knew deep down that it would have played out the same no matter what he had said. From the beginning the guards had it out for their crimson haired friend. He didn't know why but he swore that this was the last time they would hurt her.

There were still two guards left in their cell and if they could just distract them then the bluenette would be able to make a run for it. Jellal looked to Simon, his eyes questioning before the brunette returned his look with a nod before jumping up and rushing the guard to their left. Wally caught on immediately and did the same to the man on the right which left Jellal open to make a break for it. He sprinted as fast as he could; only managing to avoid a magic circle before disappearing off down the hall. From behind him he could hear the screams of his friends and it tore him up inside but he was determined to get Erza back, even if it killed him. She couldn't die. She couldn't.

He ran on, dodging guards and sneaking his way up to the fifth floor where he knew they took the more serious offenders. All he had to do was make it there and she would be fine. He had to keep telling himself that or his imagination would run rampant. Along the way he managed to pick up a scattered pickax and was using that as a weapon when he needed to. As the door he was looking for came into view, so too did two more guards. Even from where he now stood, he could hear it. The screams. They grated on his ears and tore at his heart strings. That was his closest friend in there. He growled and stood ready to fight. It seemed that these guys didn't have staffs so he should be able to just take them down with what he had.

They hadn't caught him yet and he silently thanked whatever god was out there for that small mercy. He snuck up to the right, swinging before the first man even had a chance to react; the pointed weapon lodging somewhere in his skull before the man fell limp to the ground. Behind him he could hear the other guard rushing and turned, swinging the ax up towards his face. The man dodged but was unable to counter Jellal's next move. The boy turned again, this time bringing the weapon flying at the man from the right, making contact with his ribs. There was an awful sounding crunch followed by a yowl of pain and the rush of blood onto his hands but he didn't care. The screams had gone silent while he had been taking care of the two men and he feared the worst.

Bursting through the door he saw her. Her body had gone limp and there was so much blood. His heart stopped and his hands wouldn't stop shaking. The room seemed to be empty aside from the two of them. He dropped his ax immediately and ran to her, her name coming from him in worried shouts. When she didn't respond he lifted her head and stared, anger and disgust fighting for dominance within him.

"Erza your eye…" He said softly before he untied her and picked her up. She moved a little and opened her good eye, her vision unfocused but a smile on her face none the less as she responded to him.

"I knew you would find me…"

"Yeah I found you. Stay quiet and rest while I get us out of here. We need to fight Erza. We're not going to get out of here alive if we don't." As he walked back towards the door he found a roll of gauze and did his best to wrap it around her head to protect her injured eye. She made no noise but her hand tightened around his shirt in pain. When he was done he picked her up again and turned around only to freeze in his tracks. There before them, stood Tilen and another guard, both holding staffs poised and ready.

"An escape attempt huh? You know what happens to those who try to escape this tower…" Tilen shifted his eyes to the girl in Jellal's arms and smirked. "Do you want to end up like her?" He took a step closer and Jellal in turn took one backwards, a growl escaping him as he shot daggers at the two men with his eyes.

"Take me instead. Erza has been through enough at the hands of you two bastards. Let her go and take me in her place." He was angry but he was more worried about the girl he held and if she would ever see out of that eye again. That was also his fault and it made him even angrier. If he had gotten there sooner then maybe… He shook his head to clear it before looking back to Tilen, "Well? do we have a deal or not?" He asked.

The man before him was silent for a moment, his gaze traveling from the boy to the girl before returning to him. "Sure you've got a deal kid. You for her. Ross take her back to the cell." He spoke happily as the other man took Erza from Jellal before a magic circle enveloped him. As the girl was carried out of the room his entire body was lit with pain and he grimaced but never took his eyes off the red head until she was around the corner. At least she's safe for a little while… He thought satisfied as he endured the pain.

He soon replaced Erza at the support beam and still no noise escaped him despite the pain he felt. He would not give in and let them have what they wanted. If they wanted him to scream they were sure as hell going to work for it. As pain ripped its way through him he heard the other man return and then both of them begin to speak about their god. They were apparently trying to resurrect him with this tower but Jellal had to guess they hadn't been able to do it yet. He smirked at them both but grunted as a more powerful shock hit him.

About a day went by before they began to get any response from Jellal at all, and even then it was only small grunts of pain. The smaller of the two guards sighed and turned to the one in charge, "This is boring, he doesn't want to make any noises. The girl we had a couple days ago screamed and made things much more enjoyable around here."

Tilen nodded and walked up to Jellal, taking his face in his hands before smirking. "Hey you little bastard listen up, do you know what a sacred task it will be to complete the R-System? On the dawning of the day the tower is completed, you all will be taken to paradise. The R-System can revive our god. Revive the last dark magician."

Jellal simply spat in his face before speaking, "Shut up you fat pig." The man grunted and backed up as he wiped his face.

"What was that you little shit? What did you say to me? You think you can disrespect me like that and get away with it? I'm a fucking captain and you're nothing but a child!" Tilen roared back hitting the defenseless boy in the gut before shouts erupted from all over the tower and small explosions sounded off in the distance.

Seconds later another man came rushing in, "Captain there's been a revolt! We need help containing everyone!" He shouted before turning and running back.

Tilen growled and looked back to Jellal, "We're not done here. I'll be back don't you worry." He said before both men raced after the first and were soon out of sight.

After hearing them go on and on about reviving their god Jellal could only grimace. There's no such thing. I don't need a God that can't even save a kid like me. I hate those guys, their God, and this entire world… He thought angrily as he ground his teeth together. Seconds after he had thought that a voice reached him. 'Hate strengthens me.' He froze and looked around; trying to find where the voice had come from but the room was empty save for him.

"Who's there?! Show yourself!" He shouted

'Those arrogant morons…I've been here this whole time and yet they think to revive me…' the voice tapered off as a smoke began to drift towards Jellal before he shouted again,

"Come out!"

'No matter how much faith you have, it's futile. Without powerful hatred you cannot truly feel my presence. You're very lucky child you have the chance to meet the god worshiped by so many.'

Jellal felt his body growing cold before the smoke began to take form before him, enveloping him in the process as he stared shocked.

'My name is Zeref and hate is the reason for my existence.'

"Today we're going to free Sector Eight get ready everyone! We can do this!" Shouted Erza as she led a rebellion that had taken over half the tower already. The prisoners were fighting back and it looked like they would actually do it. Yet seconds after she spoke, a blast erupted in front of them all and soon another army of guards came into view.

"There's too many of them!" Someone shouted from behind her and soon everyone was off and running in the opposite direction.

"Wait! We have to rescue Jellal! If we don't then who will?!" She shouted back, turning to beg everyone to stay and fight. The only ones who stayed were her friends and together they faced the army, all stricken with fear but all standing tall with bravery.

From her left Simon spoke rather softly, "Erza…do you like Jellal?" He looked sad but also determined to hear her answer.

The girl under scrutiny turned as red as her hair and dismissed his inquiry, "Why are you asking me that at a time like this! Now's not the time for that…" She trailed off before he spoke again.

"Erza there's been something I've wanted to tell you-!" He was immediately cut off by a blast to his face. The air around him singed with energy and he was blown back quite far before one of the other few remaining men stopped him.

All Erza could do was stare in shock before a scream came forth, "Simon!" But before she could say anything else more blasts were sounding off all around them and finally Sho spoke up.

"Look! More magic soldiers!" He pointed in fear behind the red head and turned back to his friend who was already hit. Simon wasn't looking good and they were in over their head. "Sis we need to get out of here! We can't take them all on our own!"

Her arms hung limp at her sides, her left holding a makeshift shield and her right grasped tightly around a sword, as she watched people drop like flies left and right. All around her shouts of retreat were ringing and something inside of her snapped.

"Don't give up yet! Either we fight, or we all die here! We have to save Jellal! We have to fight for our freedom!" No sooner had she shouted did a blinding light catch her attention. In front of her multiple guards had staffs raised and pointing an energy beam right at her. Her eyes widened slightly as Sho screamed for her to get out of the way but it was like her legs had a mind of their own. She was frozen in place. She held her breath and shut her eyes as she waited for the attack to land but it never did.

Instead she heard a loud crash and when she opened her eyes she could barely speak let alone comprehend what had happened. There before her, stood old man Rob, his body blocking the attack and protecting her.

"No! Grandpa Rob!" She screamed as she ran to him, his body falling to the ground. He was weak and his body was burned all over but still he smiled at her.

"A useless old geezer like me was good for something after all…" He trailed off as he looked to the girl before him, "Even though I gave up magic long ago, I can still feel it within me. It's been so many years that I forgot I was even a wizard. You don't know how much you needed something until you can't have it anymore… Erza, you have so much potential. So much promise and power within you, you just need to reach deep down and tap into it…in your heart..."

Erza had tears in her eye as she thought back to a conversation they had had at one point. How he had explained magic to her and how just believing in herself would allow her the ability to use magic. She had been so happy that day, as she had dreamed of this power he had spoken of. She had joked about flying away and taking him with her when she learned magic and all he did was smile and encourage her, giving her all his faith.

Now she was at his side as he was dying and all she could do was cry. "I…never thought I would see you smile like that…it was nice…" He spoke, obviously having the same flashback she had just had. "Freedom is in your heart Erza; your dream will surely come true…" He trailed off again but this time he did not speak again. Instead he let out one more breath and then he stopped moving all together.

The girl was shaking now, her body racked with fear and sadness over the death of someone close to her. "Grandpa Rob!"

"Simon needs medical attention. Erza we need to retreat for now to get him somewhere safe!" Wally shouted from somewhere behind her but she barely heard him, instead staring down at the body before her as it disintegrated; the weapons around her beginning to shake and vibrate. In that instant the red head screamed, in fear, in sadness, in anger, and in determination as a wave of red energy poured out of her. The air around her sizzled and the weapons that had been shaking seemed to levitate off the ground. Her power only seemed to increase as she shot all of the guards a glare so deadly it probably would have scared even her. Seconds later the weapons she had picked up were flying towards them at a blinding speed. None of them had a chance really.

There were screams and shouts and bangs all around her and dust was blocking her vision but she knew from the silence behind her that everyone had either stopped to stare or had run off to find cover. When the dust settled all she could see was bodies, riddled with blade wounds and the ground soaked in blood. There were a few who had survived but Erza paid them no mind, instead turning to her friends, her mind drifting off. This is the magic Grandpa Rob was talking about…he knew I had it in me the whole time…he never lost faith in me…with this I can save Jellal, I can save everyone… she thought as she stared them all down.

"Come with me! Together we will fight and together we will win!" She lifted her sword and gave her best determined look, making sure everyone knew not to be afraid anymore. Slowly they nodded and pretty soon everyone was roaring with anger and rushing towards the remaining guards. The red head turned to Wally, Sho, and Milianna before speaking, "You guys get Simon to a boat and look after him. I'm going after Jellal and I'll meet you all at the boats later. Be safe you guys." She said before running off, not giving them any time to argue with her.

As she ran, she took down anyone that stood in her way to get to where her friend was being held. When she came to the right door she had long discarded her shield for another sword and when she swung, it collapsed in on itself and sent debris flying off in every direction. She was angry now and she was going to get revenge for everything that had happened to them up until this point. She stalked towards the guards, her swords hanging menacingly at her sides as she growled.

"Wait, wait, we know we wronged you before but we were only following orders from above. We had no choice! We're the only ones left now so why not call it a truce and we can all go home happy. How does that sound?" Tilen held his hands up in surrender but his voice was shaky as the girl came ever closer.

"Out of the way." Was all she said, giving them one last chance to do as they were told. When they didn't move she sprang forth, her blades making contact as she sprinted past them, leaving them both to bleed on the ground as she looked for Jellal. There in the corner of the room he hung from chains, his body not moving. She was at his side immediately, cutting the rope that bound him and catching him as best she could. "We did it Jellal, We fought back just like you said and it's all over. Simon got hurt pretty badly and Grandpa Rob died protecting me…many others sacrificed themselves for this but we did it Jellal. We won! We're all free!" She shouted happily as she tried to support him.

"Come on let's get out of here. Wally and the others have boats waiting for us to get off the island. We're finally free Jellal." She continued as she began walking towards the door.

"Er…za" He stuttered before pulling her into a hug, "We don't have to run anymore…" He trailed off, squeezing her ever tighter and she yelped.

"Freedom is right here…"

"What are you talking about Jellal? Let's escape the island together-"she was cut off.

"There is no freedom in this world. I've finally realized that what we've been fighting for isn't true freedom…true freedom is in Zeref's world." He looked at her then, and something inside of her ran cold. This was not the same Jellal who had saved her days before. This wasn't the kind boy she had grown to love. Somewhere along the lines he had changed and it scared her to no end.

"I'm beginning to understand their feelings and their devotion to their god but these guys could never feel Zeref's presence. They were only a bunch of pitiful believers." He paused to walk up to the two guards who were still on the floor, slamming his foot down on Tilen before speaking again, "Isn't that right?" he asked but was only met with a grunt in response.

"This tower is mine now, I will be the one to complete it and resurrect Zeref." The smile that had grown on his face had Erza shaking with fear but still she spoke.

"What are you talking about Jellal…I don't understand what you're saying…" She trailed off as screams met her ears and blood splattered everywhere as her best friend slaughtered the guards with little effort.

"Jellal you didn't have to kill them! What's gotten into you?!" She shouted at him, grabbing his arm.

He turned on her so fast she gasped in surprise, "Don't you hate these guys Erza? For what they did to you, for what they've done to all of us?" His eyes were angry but searching at the same time.

"Well yeah but…this is…" She trailed off and Jellal shook his head in disappointment.

"That won't do. You'll never feel Zeref's presence like that." He spoke solely before returning his gaze to the guards, finishing them off by blasting them away. He laughed and began walking towards Erza, "Erza, let's complete the R-System together…"

"Stop it Jellal! Stop talking this nonsense and let's go. We're all leaving this island!" She shouted back before she was hit with a blast herself and was sent flying. She crashed through a wall and dropped back into the yard in which the revolt had started days ago. She grunted as she hit the ground and struggled a bit before coming to her feet. Her expression was a mixture of shock and betrayal as she stared Jellal down as he walked into view, a smirk playing about his face.

"If you want to leave so bad then you can go by yourself. The others will all stay here and help rebuild the tower."

"But Jellal…" Erza trailed off as he started walking closer.

"You don't have to worry; I won't be like those other guys. I will make sure they all have clothes, food, and get plenty of rest because doing labor under fear and intimidation is too insufficient."

"What are you talking about? Everyone is already on the boats and waiting for us. They'll never come back to this island!" She countered his argument with her own and held out her arms in question.

"That's because those morons never told them the reason why the tower was being built in the first place. I will tell them that their true purpose is to revive the great black wizard Zeref."

"Jellal please…open your eyes." Erza responded before he made a quick movement with his hand and before she knew it, her throat felt like it had a hand around it, squeezing the life out of her. Breathing had suddenly become difficult and she reached up to try anything that would help but she was unsuccessful. It hurts… she thought weakly.

"I don't need you anymore but I'm not going to kill you. I will show you mercy in thanks for taking care of those annoying guards earlier. The insignificant freedom that you search for doesn't exist but you are free to go try and find it. You will however be going alone." His words were harsh and hurt her heart but all she could manage was to mutter his name before he spoke again.

"I think you're smart enough to understand that what happened here today is not to be spoken to anyone. If the government were to get wind of what we were doing here then my chance at reviving Zeref will be ruined. If we are found out I will have to destroy this tower and everyone in it. From today forth you are forbidden from ever returning to this island. If I ever see you around here again I will kill them all. Maybe I'll kill Sho first…" he trailed off as tears streamed down her good eye.

He laughed then, the sound ringing through her ears and all she could see was his face. His beautiful face that was once filled with compassion and love for them all. Now it was nothing but evil and power. "That's your freedom! Go on and live while everyone's lives are on your shoulders! Whether they live or die is on you Erza!" He shouted. That was the last thing she remembered as she was launched from the tower and into the ocean.

When she woke next she had washed up on a shore she didn't recognize and silence beckoned all around her. The sound of the waves did little to calm her erratic heart and she winced as she tried to pull herself up. She cried while she stood, looking around for a moment before her legs buckled beneath her and all she could do was scream at the sky. When she was strong enough to move she climbed to her feet once more and trudged onward, old man Rob's face in her mind. She recalled the guild he was in a long time ago and even thinking about him had tears welling in her eye again. She held back her sadness as she willed herself to remember the name of the guild. He had told them all to find this guild if they ever made it out alive and that's exactly what she was going to do. She would find this guild, join it, and become strong enough to rescue her friends and bring Jellal back to his senses. Her eye held a new kind of determination this time. It was not to protect anyone or to even get stronger. No, this determination was simply her will to live and survive. She would find a way to survive this and she would find a way to this guild. She would find her way to Fairy Tail.

O.o what's going to happen next?! Will they finally have the reunion? Or will something else keep them apart? Read to find out! until next time!

Regards,

dark