Author's Notes: Sorry it's been taking me so long to update, but this story has been getting harder and harder for me to write as it deviates more and more from the manga. I was incredibly wrong about a lot of things, and things like that really bug me.
In this story, Edoras never happened. I have my own explanation for Mystogan and Gérard, for the Dragon Slayers and the cats, and all of those things. It might be hard to read and understand, but I do like this plot; however, I don't know if I want to keep going with it.
Tales of the Fairies
Chapter 11: Animus in Chao
Erza was in a cave.
No, it was a tunnel, dimly lit by hanging lanterns. Dust hung heavily in the rank, old air, and in the distance, she heard high, metallic clinking. She walked forward, peering all around her, wondering where she was.
Was this Gérard's mind?
After a few steps, a thick, iron door appeared, and Erza knew exactly where she was.
The Tower of Paradise. The mining tunnels where she spent her entire childhood as a slave.
This was where it all began.
"Erza-nee-chan, what are you doing here?" a high, childish voice spoke out to her. "Have you come back to help us? To free us from this place?"
"Miriana…" Erza said to the small girl, who somehow stood in front of her. "Where is Gérard? I need to find him. Tell me!"
"Gérard?" Another voice was speaking now, this one slightly deeper. She turned, and now Simon, as a child, was standing before her. "Why are you looking for him? I am the one who loves you…"
"So dandy! Erza's back!" Wally's voice. "Is she gonna kill all the overseers like in the movies? Like a hero?"
"No! I'm no hero," she said to him.
"What is big sis doing here?!" Yet another child appeared before her – this time, it was Shou. His eyes were wide and maniacal. "She betrayed us! She doomed us all to a life of slavery!"
"That's not true!" she protested. "You guys already know what happened…" But her resolve was weakening as old, painful memories were resurfacing.
"Open the cell door, nee-chan," Shou said to her, wide-eyed.
"I'm not listening to you. You aren't Shou," she said to him, as resolutely as she could. She folded her arms, almost protectively, looking down at herself. She was a child now, wearing nothing but ratty clothes, and now an eye patch was around her head. But I don't need my armor anymore.
When she looked up, Shou wasn't there anymore – instead, an older man was in his place, staring straight at her. His eyes were a piercing gold, staring right down into her soul. He had no hair on his head, instead having a long, black beard and thick, bushy eyebrows, his face one of cruelty and malice, his robes a deepest black, enshrouding his entire body. They seemed as if they were made of shadows.
"Black Mage…" she breathed, horrified. "Zeref."
"Into the cell, Erza," he spoke, his voice deep and resounding. He advanced on her, stepping forward, trying to push her into the iron door, which was creaking open.
"Where is Gérard?" she managed to whisper to the ancient man, but she was unable to hide her fear. The armored woman never felt this way… Never this afraid, never this helpless… Was this one of his dark magics?
She was pushed backward by an otherworldly force, into complete darkness – there was no room or cell behind the door. She was falling, falling… As a little girl suddenly afraid of the dark. She didn't know how long she was falling.
As she fell, she saw herself in the distance, utilizing magic for the first time to kill the slave overseers. She saw her beloved grandfather Rob dying. She saw Natsu fighting Gérard to protect her life. She saw her own selfless, vain sacrifice. She saw Fairy Tail falling. She saw Makarov die.
No.
I can't let Zeref beat me. I have to resist. Warren warned me. If I lose my mind here, I can never return to my body.
She saw her child self leading the slaves to freedom. She saw Gérard, the heroic child who had inspired her. She saw Fairy Tail overcoming their enemies. She saw Natsu, Gray, Lucy, Happy, and Mira.
Her body was reverting back to its normal size. She had her armor again. She had her swords. I can fight this!
Erza landed in the middle of the black void, standing evenly on her feet, staring ahead. Dual blades formed in her hands. "Gérard! Where are you? I've come to save you!" she shouted into the darkness.
Somewhere ahead, she spotted a young boy, his hands chained, crying into his knees. She saw the blue hair and knew immediately who it was. "Gérard!" She ran forward.
She didn't know how, she didn't know when, but she was blasted backward by a surge of magic around the boy. Erza flipped once, twice in midair, falling with her face down. She stood shakily on the black nothingness, looking ahead again at the boy. This time, the outline of a golden-eyed face surrounded Gérard, large and all-consuming, the commanding presence that was holding her here.
"This vessel is unreachable now," the man's deep voice spoke, resounding everywhere and nowhere at once. "He is needed by me now."
"For what?" Erza questioned, her face blank. Her swords were held tight in her hands.
"For destroying the magical world and rebuilding it in my image – a world where dark magic runs abound, unrestricted, the full force of nature that our world was in ancient times. The world has not been pure since, and that time has long been forgotten. The time of ley-lines, of precursors and mana, crystals and power, need to be brought back. The seal of those ancients has lifted, and the world has been reborn into the way it has now but to die by my hand."
"If you think Fairy Tail will let that happen, you are sorely mistaken," she said, holding her blade straight out to him. "We'll stop you – whatever it takes." She was fully aware of the darkness all around her, threatening to engulf her being. This emptiness was Gérard's mind, and he was a prisoner within it. "Now… Give Gérard back to me."
"And if I do not?"
"You will die in countless and unimaginably painful ways, and I will do it myself," she boasted, hurling her weapon at the essence of Zeref with all her might, causing his magic to flare all around her blade and the point of impact. The dark presence shrank back, and Erza took the opportunity to dash forward to the little boy's aid, to free him from his chains, his nightmare…
"Wake up!" she called to him. "I'm here. It's all over. You're safe now." The boy continued to cradle his head between his knees, his blue hair shaggy and his clothes as ratty as the other prisoner children.
"The boy is lost," the voice intoned.
"Go away!" Gérard cried, and the child forced himself into a tighter ball, as if to ward away the evil.
"Gérard… Fight him off. You can do it – you're strong. This is your mind," she urged him. Zeref was not an enemy she could just battle with her swords. He was so much more horrible than anything she had ever encountered. Lullaby and Deliora were nothing compared to their creator.
Erza cried out in pain as she was about to put her arms around the boy in a comforting gesture, thrown away by Zeref's magical force. The inky blackness all around her rippled as something – an arm, she could see – materialized in front of her. The appendage was sinewy, red, and had sharp talons, and the arm was followed by a body. The creature was diminutive with beady black eyes and jagged yellow teeth. The Knight held her sword in front of her, going into a combative stance as more and more of the strange demons appeared all around her.
She slashed at one, twisting her sword behind her and stabbing at another, while her gauntleted fist punched at another that sailed toward her head. A second blade appeared in her hand, but the tiny, unnervingly fast imps were completely surrounding her, close to overwhelming… Her armor wasn't Exquipping, her limbs seemed to be moving slower and slower…
"Gérard!" she called to him. "Fight him off!" She was disadvantaged here, totally under the control of the Black Mage, unable to utilize her magic fully… One imp leapt on her back, ripping and gnashing her hair. Her arms were held down, her swords gone. She couldn't fight them off…! "Gérard!"
A piercing, golden light broke the darkness and the pain that was surrounding her, nearly blinding the mage. It was a fire, and for a moment she thought vaguely that it was Natsu. Erza fell to her knees in relief – the demonic creatures were gone, and so was the little boy.
In his place was the full-grown Gérard, garbed in the dark longcoat, a golden fire in his hand. "The Flame of Rebuke," he muttered to himself.
"Gérard…" she said to him, smiling. "You're back."
"Erza…" he began, but a storm of dark energy caught him by surprise. It was twisting, floating, reeking of evil that was far, far worse than anything she ever felt from the likes of Jose Porla or Zero of the Oración Seis. From the maelstrom Zeref appeared to them. "Erza…" Gérard repeated. "You don't have to be here. Why are you helping me, after everything I've done…?"
"You are my nakama, no matter what. And you don't have to face him alone. I am here," she said to him. "We can vanquish Zeref together." Her sword appeared in her hand again, and she held the point of the blade to the Black Mage himself. "I will not stand for your existence!"
She launched herself at the sorcerer, slashing her sword diagonally, coming up in fierce thrusts, stabs, and lunges, all of which he managed to dodge just barely. She managed to surprise him at first, but Zeref quickly regained his composure. Gérard, too, was surprised by Erza's sudden action, but he clenched his fist in determination. They could do this.
Zeref warded her off with a blast of magic, the brunt of which she managed to block, but it was enough to give him space.
"You cannot hope to overpower me, Titania," he said to her.
She lunged at him again, drawing back just in time for Gérard's own magical attacks – spurts of golden energy – to make contact. Zeref seemed relatively unharmed, but he clearly made grunts of pain nonetheless.
"You're only at a fraction of your normal power," Erza said to him. "You're just inside Gérard's mind. You're still sealed." We can beat you. But if Zeref was this strong at such a fraction of his power… She didn't want to imagine what they'd have to face if he was ever unsealed.
"And Gérard cannot hope to defeat me in this weak state," Zeref continued.
"Seven Star Sword!" Gérard called out at that moment, as if to prove him wrong. Seven spears of light converged on the Black Mage, causing him real pain for the first time. "Get out of my head!" The Heavenly Mage burst forward with his Meteor magic, slamming into Zeref with all of his power. The robed mage was blasted backward, giving Gérard room to cast another spell. "Flare!" he incanted, slicing with his arm. An explosion of fire erupted beneath Zeref's damaged form. The dark void all around them seemed to shake and flicker in and out of existence, clearing and letting her see. Erza felt as if she were standing in outer space with Gérard.
Planets – enormous, distant, many-colored planets – loomed all around them, one or two with dusty rings. Behind Gérard, she could even see the sun, which wasn't blinding her in the least. But the greatest thing was the sheer number of stars, twinkling with life and vibrant energy above, below, and all around them. A flaming meteor even soared by beneath the three mages.
"Zeref… How are you still alive?" Erza asked aloud, as the dark mage forced himself into a standing position. All three of them seemed to be standing on an invisible platform.
"He cannot be killed here," Gérard answered, glaring at the man that had tortured him for years. "Only expelled. Do not stop attacking."
The two mages rushed forward to surround Zeref on both sides, letting out shouts that were almost primal in their intensity. A golden beam of energy erupted from Gérard's hands after Erza slashed the Black Mage across the chest. The point of impact from Erza's weapon surged with evil, dark energy, forcing her back with great force once again. Zeref screamed, the volume of which was painful even to Erza, who fell to her knees and had to cover her ears. She looked up at Zeref, whose eyes were bulging, his arms and legs outstretched, with darkness shooting out of the wound she had inflicted.
Gérard stood in opposition to him, golden light once again surging from his hands, fighting back the darkness, parting it as if it were water. He forced his way closer to Zeref, pushing against the dark power as the mage continued to scream in agony. The golden light that had split the darkness caused it to shoot out in all directions, barely missing Erza, but with each tiring step Gérard was able to get closer and closer to Zeref.
"Don't give up…" Erza told him under her breath. "Keep fighting. I believe in you."
The golden magic struck Zeref in the heart.
Once contact was made, Zeref's screaming suddenly died out, replaced by a loud ringing noise, and his body seemed to fade away.
All she saw was white.
Warren had told Natsu that Erza – and hopefully Gérard – would wake up on her own, freeing the former Wizard Saint and Magic Councilman of Zeref's dark influences. Natsu didn't know how he would stand with Gérard once this was all over and done with – he had already done so much to hurt them, and had even killed Erza's old nakama, Simon.
He paced, and he waited impatiently. Both Erza and Gérard were lying motionless at the base of the tree he was previously bound to.
He heard Erza the moment she stirred.
Her eyelids fluttered open, seeing first the blue sky, and then the warmth of Natsu's eyes as he eagerly looked over her.
"Her lips are curved," Lucky said, noticing Erza's smile in her odd way. Max crouched down next to her.
"Did you win?"
"Gérard's mind seems to be cleared," Warren answered, standing stoically. "Mission successful."
With slight clinking of her armor, Erza sat up, smiling in gratitude to Natsu and looking down to Gérard. His eyes were opening slower than hers were. But it's him. He's really here, she thought to herself. She laid an arm on his shoulder.
He was fully conscious, but did nothing except lay and stare at the clear sky. He outstretched a gloved hand after a moment, as if hoping to pluck a cloud right out of the sky. Warren, Max, and Lucky nervously took a step back. "He is gone," Gérard finally said. "Zeref is finally gone."
"Are you alright?" Erza asked him, as Natsu inspected him closely.
Gérard sat up, and turned to stare at Erza fully, ignoring the presence of everyone else. "Erza… Thank you." Her arm, resting on his shoulder, fell to cover his hand.
"I'm here for you," she said to him earnestly. He looked down at their joined hands, and averted his eyes.
"I don't see why you would do this for me… After all I've done…"
Erza furrowed her brow, and quicker than anyone could blink, punched him across the face. Natsu widened his eyes in fear and the other three Fairy Tail mages leapt back several more steps.
"Don't ever think that," Erza said to him sternly. "That was all Zeref's fault. You had no control over anything you did, and don't let me ever hear you mention that part of your past again."
Gérard braced himself from slamming against the ground with his arm, using his other hand to rub his already bruising cheek. "The rest of the world doesn't know that. I am considered a SS-Class criminal, am I not?"
"Join Fairy Tail," she told him, much to the shock of her companions again. "We are hidden from what little government this world has left, and we will take full responsibility for your actions."
"You would really accept me?" he asked.
"I'm asking, aren't I?" she said, crossing her arms. "Don't make me hit you again."
"Watch out, man. She will," Natsu warned.
"You have helped in a small battle against Zeref, and I know you will continue to help us in our fight against the Balam Alliance. You don't have much of a choice, and any intelligence you have picked up from being in Grimoire Heart would aid us greatly," she continued.
"Joining a mage guild, huh?" he said to himself. He looked up at Erza and smiled. "I see. I would like to join Fairy Tail."
"Your request will be put into consideration and you will get your result once the Fairy Council decides," she said. Her business-like demeanor dropped, and she hugged him. "I am so happy to see you again."
"All right! I'm all fired up!" Natsu exclaimed, standing up straight and punching his palm. "Let's get back to the guild! Any friend of Erza's is a friend of mine!"
Lucky giggled at his enthusiasm while Warren and Max rolled their eyes and scoffed at him, but Erza smiled at him in gratitude.
It was time to fight back against the Alliance.
Author's Notes: Hehe, a lot of people are joining/rejoining the guild in this story, aren't they? We started off with Wendy and Charle, and then Laxus, Porlyusica, Gildarts, and now Gérard. Don't worry… There will only be one more xD
By the way, the title of this chapter means "Mind in Chaos." It's in latin, but it's grammatically incorrect, but "Animus in Chaom" sounded kind of dumb. Latin is such a cool language. I'm currently studying it!
Anyway, hope I didn't lose any readers over the update gap. Please review if you're still there!