Chapter 20

Natsu Vs Jellal

"Speech"

'Thoughts'

"Magic"

Flashback

Location / Date / Time Skip

With Natsu and Simon

"Easy there, big fella." Natsu said as he helped Simon up the stairs. "You're still weak from that punch I gave you."

"Again, I thank you for that." Simon said. "I'm just glad you and Fullbuster were able to defeat him."

"Too bad that transformation spell he used ended up draining Gray when he returned to normal." Natsu added. "Hopefully, he and Happy can get the others off the island." Simon pushed off him and leaned against wall. "You sure you can stand?"

"I'm fine." He said back. "I just got word from Wally and Millianna. They found Lucy and Juvia collapsed on the ground, along with one of the assassins Jellal hired."

'Damn, Lucy's tougher than I thought she was.' Natsu thought.

"They hadn't heard we're not enemies anymore, so they were confused when I asked them to take the girls to safety." Simon explained.

With Wally and Millianna

"Guess they called off the hit on these broads..." Wally said as he carried Juvia out.

"Don't know about that, but Simon said we're friends now." Millianna added as she dragged Lucy after them.

'Right, because this is exactly what friends do to each other.' Lucy thought.

With Simon and Natsu

"Sho also told me that the final assassin has been dealt with." Simon added.

"So all that's left is Jellal?" Natsu asked.

"Yes, and Erza's gone to find him." Simon answered. "I'm not sure you've heard, but those two have a score to settle with him. She wants to settle things alone, almost like they are destined to fight each other. However, Jellal is stronger than she knows. Please, you have to help her."

"She thinks she can save him?" Natsu asked.

"How did-" Simon started.

"Simple psychology." The pinkette answered. "She can never hate the boy she grew to respect, am I right?"

"Yes, and Jellal is planning on using those emotions to his advantage." Simon nodded. "But it's more serious than that. The Etherion is firing in ten minutes. Once that happens, everyone in the tower will be obliterated."

"What?!" Natsu asked.

"She's planning on using the Etherion blast as a suicide weapon, to take her and Jellal out forever." Simon said. "She's giving up her life."

"Why didn't you start with that!?" Natsu shouted as he sprinted forward. 'Damn it, I almost blew it off. Good thing I remembered what Hades told me.'

'There is one unspoken rule in Fairy Tail.' Hades said six years ago. 'Never threaten the life of another member or allow another member to die when you can still do something. If you break this rule, you will be expelled from the guild. Do not let that happen to you, understand?'

Throne Room

"Don't tell me the game has ended already?" Jellal said as he stood up and Erza entered the room.

"Are you really that sick to get joy from messing with the lives of others?" She asked.

"From the day we are born until we die, life is nothing but a game of emotions." Jellal said. "If you don't play that game, you're nothing but a bore." He turned around and looked at Erza. "It has been a while, Erza."

"Jellal..." She said back. "Sho and the others are free from you lies."

"Not like I have any use for them." He chuckled. "With the tower complete, I have no use for those tools."

Erza raised her sword and pointed it at him. "Not too concerned that it will all be destroyed, are you?"

"What, you mean Etherion?" Jellal chuckled.

"So it was all just a bluff..." Erza surmised.

"Not at all." Jellal said as he took off his hood. "Etherion will rain down."

"Wonderful." Erza said as she readied to charge forward. "All I need is ten minutes and this will all be over with for good."

"No!" Jellal said as dark red mist rolled off his hand. "The beam will strike and you be sacrificed to Zeref. That is your fate, your destiny!"

With The Others

"Take me back, right now." Gray demanded as their boat cast off.

"Not a chance, bub, so close your mouth!" Wally shouted.

"Erzy said to get as far away from the tower as we can." Millianna added.

"But now, she and Natsu have no way to leave!" Lucy said back. "They're trapped."

"Don't worry, they'll be fine." Sho said. "I know it."

"They can't do it alone..." Gray panted. "Natsu needs me to help him."

"You can't even help yourself right now." Wally said. "Simon's with him, so I'm sure it'll be dandy."

"Not if they end up dead!" Lucy shouted.

"We shouldn't be fight amongst ourselves!" Sho shouted.

"Then turn this boat around and take me to shore!" Gray shouted.

"Same here! Turn around now!" Lucy added.

"That ain't gonna happen!" Wally repeated.

"SHUT UP!" Happy shouted, scaring them all. "Just try to get along! I wanna go back for them too, but we can't because Etherion is gonna blast that place any minute! Natsu is gonna save her, and then they're gonna make it out of there alive! Simon said so! He said once Natsu's true power awakens, Jellal won't stand a chance..."

Throne Room

"Only seven minutes left..." Jellal mumbled. "And when that blast strikes this tower, we'll take our final breaths. What say you? Shall we enjoy these last moments together?"

"I have nothing to fear." Erza said back. "Even if Etherion does fire, all that matters is that I take you with me."

"Is that so..." Jellal asked as a large mass of magic floated above his hands. "Let's see about that!" The mass turned into tentacles and launched towards Erza, who calmly sliced through them. She launched forward and Jellal caught her hand before sending a blast of magic from his finger, destroying the wall and sending Erza out of the tower.

She jumped from rubble to rubble before landing back inside. "I thought this tower was your goal. Why are you working so hard to destroy it?!" She launched forward and swung her sword, slicing through the game board.

"Who cares about a pillar or two?" He chuckled back. "Nothing more than mere decorations."

"Sho and the others wasted eight years of their lives for mere decorations!?" Erza growled in anger.

"Don't play your little word games with me..." Jellal said as a ball of magic floated over his hand. "I never forced them to work here, they choose to. They knew how important the tower was to me." He slammed his fist shut and destroyed the orb. "And now it is complete!"

Tendrils grabbed Erza's feet and worked their way up her body, immobilizing her in an orb of magic. "No matter how strong you think you are, you are nowhere near my level." He chuckled before the orb was sliced into four pieces. She launched forward and swung her sword, catching him in the chest. He landed on his back as Erza trapped him underneath her and pointed her sword at his throat.

"Why don't you tell me what your real goal is, Jellal?" Erza demanded. "We both know the R-system isn't anywhere near complete. Do you know what I've been doing for the last eight years? Researching it relentlessly. The tower might be built perfectly according to the blueprints, but your still missing one key thing."

"I already told you, your sacrifice will complete it." He said back.

"No, it's something much more basic than that." Erza said. "Pure magic energy. To activate the R-system requires so much magic, that even if all the mages on the continent were gathered, it would only be a fraction of what you need. And you sure can't fill it all on your own. I find it intriguing that you haven't fled despite knowing the council's plans to attack. Just what are you up to?"

"Only three minutes left..." He mumbled.

"Answer me!" She shouted. "Your dream died before it could ever live, so why are you willing to risk your life? Do you really want to die so badly?!" Jellal clenched his fist and Erza squeezed his arm tighter. "If that's so, I'll hold you down right here until the last moment!"

"Honestly, that doesn't sound so bad..." He said as he relaxed his arm. "I've had no control over my own body. Zeref possessed me to be made flesh again. I'm nothing more than a puppet."

"Possessed?" Erza asked back.

"I couldn't save myself, let alone my friends." Jellal said. "And then it hit me. Heaven doesn't exist, and neither does true freedom. All of creation was finished before it even began."

Era

The Etherion cannon had entered its final stage. All the council members were gathered to see it go off. "Thus we pray." Org said as others followed his lead.

"Thus us pray." Ultear said.

"Thus we pray." Siegrain added as Yajima stared at him from behind.

Tower of Heaven

Throne Room

The tower began to shake as Etherion drew closer to firing. "I wanted to stop it, but I couldn't. I was just a train without any brakes. Erza, I surrender. You won this fight, so go ahead and finish me."

"There's no need for me to spill your blood." She said as she removed her blade. "Etherion will fire any second now. That means this is the end, for both of us..."

"It's a grim fate, but it is our fate..." Jellal added as he sat up.

"In the end, you were just another one of Zeref's victims..." She added.

"It's my own fault." He said. "I let my weakness get the best of me. I gave into my anger and Zeref took advantage."

"But don't you think that burying all of your weakness, the things you kept locked away, isn't that what friends are for?" She asked back.

"That's true..." He nodded.

"I'm at fault as well." She explained. "I wasn't able to save you back then."

The two embraced in a hug as the tower shook even more. "Erza, you have saved me."

Era

"We pray to the sacred light for forgiveness!" Org shouted. "Fire the Etherion!" The workers obeyed and fired, releasing a blast of magic that fired into shot the sky and bounced off the satellite square.

With Simon

"So, we're too late..." He huffed as he leaned against a wall

With Natsu

'Damnit, damnit, damnit!' Natsu shouted as he raced up the stairs. 'If I don't get up there soon, Erza is gonna die for some lunatics fake dream!'

With Sora

"So, this is the end, huh?" The teen asked as he looked up to see a white light coming through the ceiling. "I'll see you soon, Kairi..." He closed his eyes and waited for his end, unaware of the young girl who walked intothe room.

"Target acquired." She said before both were teleported away.

Tower Shoreline

"Well that's just grand!" The Overlord complained as he looked up at Etherion. "I swim all tjw wau back here, and now I'm gonna die."

"Sucks to be you, doesn't it?" He turned around to find a blonde man with red eyes.

"What the hell do you want?" He asked the man before suddenly getting knocked out.

"I got him." The blonde said as both disappeared in a poof of black flames.

Throne Room

The light enveloped both of them as a demonic smile came on Jellal's face. Huge chunks of the tower were blasted off, creating a giant tidal wave that rode out form the shore line. Lucy and they others were caught in the wave and their boat was violently thrown around. Gray pulled himself back into the boat to find the tower covered in smoke.

Era

"Etherion has successfully fired! A direct hit!" One of the workers reported.

"Has it been completely destroyed?" Another asked back. "We need conformation!"

"The ethernano density is increasing!" A third said. "Be prepared for extreme weather conditions."

"Just how many innocent people were inside the tower?" Org asked.

"The prevention of Zeref's revival was absolutely necessary." Michello reminded. "If a few were sacrificed, then it was for the greater good."

"We can try to justify it all we want, but that won't bring closure to all the families we just destroyed today." Org said.

In the Sea

Juvia used her Water Dome to create an orb of water and protect them from the blast. Smoke still covered the tower as everyone inside it stared at it. "We-we can't have lost them..." Happy sobbed.

Throne Room

Erza opened her eyes to find herself still alive and the tower now turned into a giant, twisted lacrima. "How are... Alive?" Jellal stood up and chuckled before bursting into a maniacal laughter.

Era

"This can't be happening!" The second worker shouted. "Fusion density has gone into a rapid decline! We're getting high levels of magic energy of some kind. Our equipment can't keep up with it! Someone tell me what's going on!?"

"Restoring visuals now!" The third shouted as the projection cleared up.

In the Sea

"It's a... Big lacrima?" Happy asked.

"Just what the heck is going on?" Gray asked.

"Hey, they're all okay, right?" Lucy asked.

With Natsu

"Damnit all!" Natsu cussed. "I have to freaking hurry!"

With Simon

"The Etherion was fired!" Simon said from his back. "How am I still here?"

Throne Room

"Finally, my hour of glory has arrived!" He shouted as Erza stood wide eyed. "This is the towers true form, a giant lacrima crystal, charged by the foolish council's Etherion cannon. Its pure magic power provided all the energy I needed. Meaning the R-system is now complete!"

Era

"The target still stands!" A worker shouted. "Now it's a giant lacrima!"

"Wait, it absorbed the magic energy of the Etherion!?" Leiji asked shocked.

"It's not possible..." Org muttered in disbelief.

"Siegrain, I think you owe us all an explanation!" Yajima demanded, only to have the bluenette fade away. "He just... Disappeared..."

Ultear stood behind him with a smirk on her face. 'Finally, I can end this charade...'

Throne Room

Erza stood up with pure rage in her eyes. "So, this whole time, I was nothing more than a pawn..."

"That expression of yours is priceless, Erza..." Both looked over and stared at Siegrain. "He can't use his full power, so he had to manipulate you to save himself."

"Siegrain!?" Erza shouted. "What are you doing here?!"

"Remember when we first met?" He asked as he walked over to his twin. "You and Makarov came in to present the council an apology for destruction of property. But when you saw me, you mistook me for Jellal."

"Can't say I blame her, after all we do have the same face." Jellal said.

"I only managed to calm you down when I told you we were twins." Siegrain continued. "But I doubt you ever lost your hostility to me."

"What do you expect!?" She shouted back. "If you actually cared about your brother, you would have tried to stop him. Instead you spent your time spying on me!"

"A mistake on my part..." Siegrain confessed. "In hindsight, I should have said something to make you think I was going to track down Jellal and kill him. But the real mistake was running into you in the first place, and after all that trouble I went through to become a council member. Nothing is worse than coming up with an excuse on the spot."

"I knew it..." She growled. "The two of you were in on this together."

"'In on this together'?" Jellal repeated.

"You still don't get it, do you Erza?" Siegrain asked as he started to flicker. "The two of us are one in the same, we always were." Jellal's body glowed as Siegrain faded into him.

"A Thought Projection!?" She asked in shock.

"You had no idea, did you Erza?" Jellal asked back.

"Then you're the one responsible for all of this!?" She asked in a rage. "You wormed your way on to the council just so you could fire Etherion, didn't you?"

"I do hope you enjoyed the freedom I granted you all those years ago." He said. "Your release, Etherion, it was all apart of my plan to resurrect Zeref."

"Just how many lives do you plan to destroy!?" She shouted.

"My magic..." Jellal muttered. "My magic has returned to me."

Era

"A huge amount of magic energy is building up in the tower!" A worker reported.

"With that much power in one space, it's going to explode!" Another added.

"We've been played, like a damn flute." Yajima said, leaning against the edge before it crumbled away. The whole building began to shake as stone turned to dust and it began to collapse.

"This is the Arc of Time..." Org mumbled. "But that's supposed lost magic..."

Workers fled in a panic as the statue crumbled into giant pieces. Yajima looked around until he locked eyes on Ultear, a magic seal above her hands. "Not you too, Ultear..."

"This is all for master Siegrain. No, master Jellal." She said as she looked over. "Now his dream can come true." 'I feel sick talking about him like this, but it's all for a good cover.'

In The Sea

"That thing is the R-System?" Gray asked.

"It's true form, anyway." Wally answered. "I ain't seen it myself, but I think this is what Jellal was talking about."

"It's been activated." Millianna whispered.

"Wait, does that mean Zeref is gonna be resurrected?" Lucy asked.

"I don't know..." Sho whispered. "We helped Jellal build it, but we've never seen it activated."

"And now, Natsu and Erza are inside that thing." Gray said.

"Yeah, and so are Simon, and Jellal." Sho nodded.

Throne Room

Erza skipped along the floor as Jellal pulled back his fist. "Well you're certainly worse for ware." He teased. "Don't tell me you used up all your magic fighting Ikaruga."

Erza forced herself to stop before summoning a large sword. "Jellal! You're dead!" She charged forward and swung her sword before summoning another one. He dodged every swing before jumping onto a platform.

"The council is most likely in ruins now, thanks to Ultear." He said. "I can't tell you how useful it is to have someone as gullible as Ultear. She played the part of puppet perfectly. She thought she could control me, but in the end, she just gave her life for my cause."

"Damn you!" She shouted as she sliced the platform. "I'm taking revenge for everyone you've ever abused! This is the end, Jellal!" She launched forward only to noticed a snake like tattoo wrapping around her body. "What's wrong with my arm!?" She asked as she was forced to drop her sword.

"It's just a Bind Snake." Jellal snickered. "I slipped it on during that heartwarming embrace we had." The snake coiled all around Erza and immobilized her. "Now that I have the power and the sacrifice, I can begin the ceremony." He walked over and cupped Erza's chin in his hand. "This is your que, my dear."

"The magic energy in this crystal must be fused with the body of my sacrifice. Once that happens, it will deconstruct your body and take the shape of Zeref." A large crystal shot up from behind Erza before Jellal pushed her into it. "The sad thing is, I truly did love you, Erza."

"No, you can't do this!" She shouted.

"Oh, exalted Zeref! I am here before you!" Jellal chanted. "I offer you this woman's flesh, so you may be made whole again!"

Erza screamed in pain before Natsu grabbed her and pulled her out. "So, this is where you were, huh?"

"Natsu..." She whispered.

"Why is it that whenever I leave, something bad always happens?" He asked as they lay on the floor. "You okay?"

"No, I can't move." She confessed.

"Seriously?" He asked before looking at her arm. "Bind Snake spell. I can't burn it off."

"Natsu, please, you have to leave." She said.

"No way." He shook his head. "I'm not gonna let you die here."

"You can't." She said back. "He's too strong for you. And you don't know anything about him."

"When has that ever stopped me before?" He asked.

"Please, just listen to me..." She begged as tears rolled down her eyes. Natsu wiggled his fingers and the sound canceling rune appeared on her forehead before he slammed his foot in her gut, knocking her out.

"Finally, that was getting annoying." He said standing up.

"What, do you really think you can defeat me and save her?" Jellal asked.

"Listen, pal. I don't really give a damn about her." Natsu said. "Hell, I would have negotiated with you so you join my side. But the one thing I won't tolerate is someone making fun of my real friends." His fist and feet ignited in his anger. "And guess what? She and I share the same master, and he said I can kill you. I plan on taking this nice and slow."

"Then let us see the power of a Dragon Slayer." Jellal egged on.

Natsu launched forward and threw a flaming punch that Jellal dodged, only to have Natsu deliver an axe kick to his face. He grabbed Jellal's coat and spun in a circle before throwing him into a crystal and followed up with a punch that sent him through it.

"Frie Dragon Scattershot!" Natsu ignited his fists and slammed them together, sending bullets of fire that peppered Jellal. "Fire Dragon Tail Whip!" He coated his arm in a whip of fire that slammed into Jellal and dragged him through multiple pillars. "Fire Dragon Flame Elbow!" He launched forward and sent Jellal through another pillar. "And stay down."

"Is that seriously all you have?" Jellal asked as he threw off his jacket. "If this is your limit, then I can see what kind of company your so called 'master' keeps. Weaklings." He raised his hand and his body glowed in a yellow aura. "I was hoping to get a taste of your power, but it turns out Dragon Slayer magic isn't that impressive."

"Listen buddy, that was me at 10%." Natsu said back, cracking his neck. "You want a hundred, you got a hundred."

"You had the nerve to interrupt my ceremony, and for that you must be punished." Jellal continued. "Prepare to be crushed by my Heavenly Body Magic! Meteor!" He rushed forward and left a trail of light that reappeared behind Natsu and slammed into him.

"What the?" The pinkette turned around only to get kneed in the back before receiving a barrage of punches and kicks. "Super speed? Damn it, it's like trying to tag Jet." Natsu closed his eyes and focused his senses. "Hard, but not impossible!" He spun and delivered a kick that Jellal dodged, only to raise his other foot and strike him with that. "They always forget about the second foot."

"Lucky shot..." Jellal growled before unleashing a series of cross jabs at light speed. "You won't hit me again." He kicked Natsu in the gut and sent him into the air. "Prepare to taste the true power of my magic." He floated up to the sky and slammed his hands together. "The seven stars bring judgement upon you. Grand Chariot!"

An outline of the Big Dipper appeared beneath Natsu before it exploded, sending Natsu flying into the ceiling before falling back to the floor as Jellal landed. "That spell is comparable to a falling meteor. The fact that you're still in one piece is impressivein itself. Then again, that might have been much. The tower can't take much more, the Etherion energy is already leaking out."

"Flame God Bellow!" Jellal jumped out of the way as a beam of black flames appeared out of nowhere. "There you go, Natsu..." Jellal looked over as a blonde help Natsu to his feet.

"What are you doing here, Zancrow?" Natsu asked.

"Ultear thought you could use some help, buddy." He answered. "And you know I'm always good for a fight."

"Well, the dudes got a big mouth." Natsu grinned. "So, let's start with this!" He raised his foot and ignited it before slamming it down, cracking the tower. "And now you've face two of the scariest dark wizards in the world."

"I will kill you both!" Jellal growled. "I won't let anyone ruin my dream!"

"Oh, scary." Zancrow teased. "You think we should listen to him?"

"A dragon and a god slayer listen to a mere mortal?" Natsu asked back. "You must be drunk off your ass."

"Oort!" Jellal summoned a seal that shot out half a dozen spears of light at the two.

"Flame God Infernal Wall!" Zancrow swung his arm and black flames blocked the attack.

"Fire Dragon Iron Fist!" Natsu leapt through the flames and ignited his fist in a flaming punch that connected to Jellal's face.

"How dare you!?" Jellal unleashed a blast of magic that shot towards the two.

"Fire Dragon-" Natsu took a breath.

"Flame God-" Zancrow did the same.

"Roar/Bellow!" Both unleashed at the same time and met the blast head on, creating an explosion that stirred Erza.

"Natsu!" She shouted through the smoke.

"Shit." Natsu mumbled. "Zancrow, hide that thing." The blonde nodded and flipped his outfit around, hiding his guild mark.

"Got news for ya, pal." He chuckled. "You holding back ain't the smartest option! That just means we don't have to!" Both charge forward as Jellal fired another blast, knocking them both back.

"What's going on? Who is that!?" Erza shouted at Natsu as the sound symbol faded.

"For now, all you need to know is he's a friend!" Natsu shouted as both combined their flames.

"Dragon God Destruction Flame Wave!" Both shouted as the slammed their fists to the ground, shaking the tower and sending chunk of it falling to the floor.

"Their movements are in perfect synch..." Erza mumbled to herself. "How well do they know each other?"

"Now I'm angry!" Jellal growled. "It took me eight years to build this tower! And I won't let you two idiots tear it down when I'm so close!"

"Hey, pal, you said that already." Zancrow said back. "Geeze, it's like a broken record with this guy."

"I'm just glad I can finally go all out." Natsu said. "I doubt anyone really important is gonna care about this hunk of junk."

"I will kill you!" Jellal shouted as he raised his hands above him. Wind whipped around them as shadows bent towards Jellal.

"Better get ready." Zancrow nudged as Natsu nodded. Both fell to their knees as the wind picked up.

"Prepare for a world of infinite darkness!" Jellal shouted.

"Stop!" Erza sprinted forward and stood in front of the two slayers. "Unless you want to kill me too!"

'Damn, that is one fine ass...' Zancrow thought as he looked at Erza's derrière.

The spell faded as Jellal stared in shock. "You don't wanna lose your sacrifice to Zeref, do you?" She asked.

"That would be a setback." Jellal confessed. "The ceremony requires a wizard comparable to one of the ten Wizard Saints. However, I can find a suitable replacement. You aren't the only person who fits that description." Erza gasped as Jellal continued the spell. "I can worry about that after I kill you all!"

"Erza, move!" Natsu ordered.

"It's my fault you two are in this mess." She explained. "The least I can do is protect you."

"Move!" Both shouted.

"Heavenly Body Magic: Altairis!" Jellal threw a ball of black magic at the group, tearing the floor of tower to shreds. Natsu nudged Zancrow and both watched as a figure throw themselves in front of Erza, taking the blast for them.

The smoke faded, revealing Simon standing in front of her, his arms wide in defense. "Simon..." Erza mumbled. "Why?..."

"To save you..." He fell on his back and Erza rushed towards him.

"That little bug is still crawling around here?" Jellal chuckled as Natsu just stared in silence.

'Oh boy, he's getting ready to act mad.' Zancrow thought. 'I'd better get out of here unless I wanna die of friendly fire.' He disappeared in a poof of black flames.

"Simon!" Erza shouted as she reached him. "What are you still doing here? Why didn't you leave!? Simon! Talk to me!"

"Oh, good..." He gasped. "I was wondering... When I could... Be some... Help..."

"Please don't speak!" She shouted. "You need your strength."

"You were... Always so sweet..." He coughed. "The only one... Who could make... me smile..." 'I've alwaysed... Loved you...' He took one final breath before he closed his eyes for good.

"Noooooooo!" Erza screamed before sobbing on his chest.

"Now that is just pathetic!" Jellal chuckled. "That is the textbook way to die in vain! The situation hasn't changed one bit! No one is going to leave this tower alive!"

"SHUT THE HELL UP!" Natsu shouted as he punched Jellal into a pillar. Jellal looked up as scales cracked through Natsu's skin and his eyes turned pure reptilian.

"Natsu... What is this?" Erza asked.

"I will kill you!" Jellal shouted. Natsu rushed forward and clotheslined him to the ground.

"Not on my watch!" Natsu jumped into the air and slammed his feet down, sending Jellal crashing through layers of the tower. "I won't let you get away with this!"

"Oh, shut up!" Jellal shouted. "Meteor!" He rushed out from under Natsu's grasp, only to have Natsu spear him upwards as flames shot out of his feet. They tore their way up to the top of the tower, past Erza as Natsu put another noise canceling rune and a sleeping rune on her, and Jellal kicked him away.

"I am not going to lose!" Jellal shouted as he landed on a chunk of crystal. "I am destined to create a land of freedom! Zeref told me so himself!"

"That was just to turn you into our puppet!" Natsu shouted back. "Lord Zeref isn't dead, but even if he was, he would never speak to someone as weak as you!"

"How dare you speak such blasphemy!" Jellal shouted as he sent blasts of light at Natsu. "Once he is resurrected, we will work together to create a land that is truly free!"

"This tower doesn't even work anymore!" Natsu shouted as he avoided the blasts. "Even if you did do the ceremony, you don't have that much magic left to do anything!"

"Well then, I'll just start over!" The bluenette waved his hands and summoned a large seal.

"Abyss Break?" Natsu asked.

"This tower means nothing to me." Jellal said. "If you are telling the truth, I'll just build another one in half the time!"

"Not gonna happen!" Natsu leapt off a pillar and flew straight through the seal, grabbing Jellal. "Dragon Slayer Secret Art: Crimson Lotus - Supreme Impact!" Both fell to the ground as Natsu lit himself on fire. They hit the tower and created a massive explosion, causing the sea to shake.

With the Others

"What was that?" Sho asked as the dome bounced on the waves.

"Was that another explosion?" Wally asked.

"No, that had to be Natsu!" Happy shouted.

"Yeah, has to be..." Lucy nodded. "They must be up their fighting."

"Do you think they're gonna be okay?" Millianna asked.

"I hope so..." Gray said. "But it's too early to tell. He's going on a serious rampage."

Throne Room

"Consider your dream crushed." Natsu said as he stood over the broken body of Jellal, buried in the floor. He snapped his finger and both runes disappeared, waking Erza up. "You okay, Erza?"

"What happened?" The red head asked. "Last thing I remember was you and Jellal flying past me."

"A rock must have hit you in the back of the head." Natsu said. "Well, we don't have to worry about him anymore. He's beaten."

"You mean-" Erza looked over and saw Jellal's body.

'Two punctured lungs, a burst apandex, a massive aneurism in his brain. It's done.' Natsu thought. 'He's dead.'

Erza stared at Natsu as Jellal's Wizard Saint medal fell to the ground. 'So this is the power of a Dragon Slayer.' Natsu coughed before falling to his knees, making Erza run over to him. 'After all this time, the nightmare has ended. Now Sho and the others can truly be free.'

"You really are something else, aren't you?" The tower began to shack and glow, making Erza gasp.

With the Others

"Oh, pretty..." Millianna said as the tower shined a blue tint.

"That can't be good." Wall mumbled.

"There's an incredible amount of magic energy coming from that light." Juvia said.

"That's a bad thing." Gray said. "The ethernano inside the tower must be going wild."

"What does that mean?" Lucy asked.

"The magic energy from the Etherion can't all be kept in one place for so long because the energy will become unstable." Happy explained.

"And with nowhere to go, the ethernano will keep growing until it bursts, causing a massive explosion." Juvia added.

"What!?" Wally shouted. "Come on, let's make tracks or else we'll all be dead meat!"

"But what about the other!?" Sho asked.

"All we can do now is have faith that they'll make it out." Gray answered. "Because if that tower explodes, it will wipe us all out!"

Throne Room

Erza picked Natsu up on her shoulders before looking back at Simon's body. 'I'm sorry...' She turned and ran for the exit as it fell to the bottom of the tower. An explosion of magic energy sent her to the ground and Natsu to the side. She forced herself to her knees as the magic solidified into blobs.

'The power... It's actually changing the lacrima containing it...' Erza thought in panic. "Its destructive power might be greater than I imagined. Even if we escape the tower, we'll still be caught up in the explosion.'

"Damn it all!" She punched the ground beneath her as she glanced at Natsu. 'No... I refuse to give up...' She willed herself to her feet as a steam explosion went off nearby. 'Natsu, it's my turn to save you. But we can't run from this or defend from it, so what can I do?'

Her eyes went wide as she remembered what Jellal wanted to do to her. 'That's right, if I fuse with the Etherion energy in this lacrima, I might be able to control it and keep it from exploding.' She placed her hand on a nearby crystal. 'It's a risk I'll have to take.' She pushed on the crystal and her hand sank in, making her scream as Natsu opened his eyes. 'Good, I was afraid it would reject me.'

"Erza..." She turned around and found herself looking at Natsu. "Are you doing what I think you're doing?"

"We don't have a choice!" She shouted. "If I don't do this, then the tower will explode and kill untold numbers of people!"

"But if you do that, then you'll just be giving up your own life!" Natsu shouted. "I won't let you!" Her arm sank in more and he stood up only to fall back down.

"I promise I'll stop it." She said as her legs joined her arm. "Don't worry about me! I'm going to save all of you!"

"By giving up your life!?" Natsu asked as she put both arms in. "Stop it!" He hopped over and collapsed in front of the crystal blob.

"Natsu, listen. I can't imagine what my life would be like without Fariy Tail." She said, pulling her arm out and holding his chin up. "If it wasn't for you and the others, I probably wouldn't be here today."

'I think I'm gonna be sick.' Natsu thought, unable to move. 'Does every hero have to have a cheesy farewell speech when they give their lives?'

"If giving my life means saving everyone else's, I'll gladly do it." The energy in the crystal pulled her in more.

"Damn it! Stop!" He tried to grab her, but it was to late. Her whole body was now in the crystal.

'Natsu, watch over everyone for me.' She thought as her body sank deeper into the he crystal.

'Damn it! If I lose her, all the work in this goddamn guild will go to waste.' Natsu thought in anger as the tower exploded, sending all of the energy up into the sky.

8 Years Ago

Porlyusica's Hut

"That's a pretty bad wound she has..." The healer mumbled as she looked at Erza's young face. "It'll be almost impossible to completely restore her sight."

"Oh, don't be like that." Makarov said to his old friend. "If anyone can do it, it's you. Wearing an ugly eyepatch when she has such a pretty face, it's a shame."

"Makarov..." Porlyusica grabbed the master's ear and pulled it hard. "You're not planing on putting the moves on her when she grows up are you?"

"No, of course not." He said.

"So, what happened to her?" She asked, letting go of the ear.

"She's not much of a talker, but it seems Rob sent her to me." He explained.

"Our Rob!?" The healer asked. "Where is he then!?"

"According to the child, he's dead." Makarov confessed. The older woman gasped before turning to the young girl.

A Few Days Later

"Alright, take a look." Porlyusica handed Erza a small mirror and Erza opened her eyes, letting her see both eyes fully healed.

"It's... Healed..." The red head mumbled in disbelief.

"You can see all right?" The pinkette healer asked, making Erza nod. "Then I think it's time you leave. Nothing personal, but I can't stand humans."

"Thank you... So much..." Erza smiled as tears streamed out her left eye.

"Wait, that shouldn't be happening." Porlyusica said as the right eye reminded tear free. "I don't understand. I'm positive I mixed everything perfectly."

"It's okay." Erza said with a smile. "I think I've cried so much, I've used up half my tears."

With Erza

Erza opened her eyes and found herself floating somewhere. 'Where am I?'

And just like that, Heaven is dead. Now, next chapter is the whole vision of the future thing. I'm pretty sure it's based on what she thinks will happen, so don't be surprised that Natsu acts like he does in canon. On the plus side, we'll be skipping the goodbye between friends for something else, something darker.

A heads up, I'll be starting a new story called 'Why I hate...' It will be a series chapters that explain why I, and possibly others, hate specific characters from various series or series in general. It will be updated very slowly as I find new characters to add. First up will be someone from either Fairy Tail or RWBY, or Star Wars in general. All flames will only make me stronger!

See you then.

Beta read by digemsmack.