With the coming and going of April fools day, I wanted to reaffirm my intention to see this trilogy through to the end. It was never my intention to make it seem like I was leaving the story as is. The days just happened to be what it was and I took the opportunity. My deepest apologies if I drove anyone away as a result.
Couple of announcements I would like to make before we begin. I've changed the title of this story to better fit with what I have planned for the rest of this trilogy. What used to be Nightmares of Scarlet has now become Scarlet: Legends of Creation. I think this title might give a better sense of the overall plot, without spoiling too much of the details within.
Due to personal circumstances, Blue will not be returning to help with the sequel. As a result, I'll probably be writing it solo. I don't mind writing it like that, but I would greatly appreciate it if anyone wouldn't mind assisting me.
Disclaimer: we don't own Fairy Tail, we only own OUR OCs.
Enjoy chapter 25 everyone!
(Worth Woodsea)
To say the Allied Guilds were shocked would be a vast understatement. The sudden attack by the guild they were hunting left everyone in a state of devastation. How could this have happened? They'd prepared so well. They'd worked so hard! It didn't help that they had a betrayer in their ranks.
They'd never expected Wendy. Poor, innocent little Wendy.
It wasn't long after the Oración Seis had left that the members of the Allied Guilds started to regain consciousness.
A dreary headcount. Confusion. Doubt. Recounting.
They weren't wrong. Erza was gone. More than likely, the Oración Seis had captured her.
Lucy balled her fists, trying to hold off their shaking. "I'm worried about, Erza," she began. "Since Eren seemed to be after her... I don't know if she'll make it."
Natsu walked up to her, bumping his hip against her own. Anything to lighten the mood he figured. "Relax," he chimed in. "Erza'll be just fine. It's not like her to be put down for very long. She'll find her way back to us and then we'll give the Oración Seis exactly what they deserve!" He had a hopeful expression, almost excited. "A good ol' ass kicking will put 'em in their place!"
"That's not what I'm worried about, Natsu," the blonde sighed, crossing her arms. Concern laced her every word. "I'm worried about what Eren might do to her. Wasn't he targeting her specifically?" Her concerns weren't unfounded. Eren seemed to enjoy tormenting Erza, just like he did during their initial confrontation.
Natsu put a hand on Lucy's shoulders, meeting her eyes. "Look, Luce," he started. "If I know Erza at all, something like this is nothing for her. She'll find a way out of it—I know she will." His words were firm, a self-believed truth. Natsu had absolute faith in Erza's ability to come out of any situation.
So, he made a decision.
He wouldn't doubt her. Not now, and not ever.
(Worth Woodsea)
Escaping from the Oración Seis was hard, but not impossible.
The hallways weren't as guarded as Erza had initially thought they'd be. There were only a few guards patrolling some of the more commonly used hallways. Pretty strange for such a high-class guild, she thought. Perhaps the attempted attack was what was making them so disoriented?
No, that didn't make sense. It had to be something else. Eren was letting her go. That much she knew had to be true.
"I've got to get back to Natsu and the others," she muttered to herself. "They have to know what they're up against!" The twins had decided to take different approaches to stop the inevitable. Eren would warn the Oración Seis of the coming threat, again trying to plead with his guildmates. Erza would do the same to the Allied Guilds.
It took her some time, but eventually, she managed to leave the building. It wasn't easy, though. Doing so created its own series of problems. A voice was calling to her. Calling for her to give up fighting. She couldn't explain it—it was like an illness. Her vision was cracking and blacking out at random times. She walked blindly most of the time, having to rely on her other senses.
Her mind was filled with images. A throne. A tree. One moment, she saw the world as she remembered it to be. In the next, she saw The Creator extending her arm out; an offering of sorts.
"Erza," she spoke, that silvery tone of her voice ever present. "Don't fight the inevitable," she said. "Accept your fate—join me. You and Eren can achieve far more by my side than you ever could by yourselves. You could save everyone."
Her voice was tempting, seductive. Every fiber of Erza's being screamed to join her; to end the imperfections of mankind. Without realizing, Erza reached out to her.
What was she doing?
Before she made contact with her, she pulled away.
"No," Erza said. "Not yet. Not until they're safe."
The Creator seemed dissatisfied, understanding, and disappointed. She could see that her daughter still cared for the world as it still was. It was something she would have to break. She needed Titania to side with her.
"Erza," she began, "you need me. Just as I need you. I can give you the life you seek—one with Eren living happily by your side." Erza stopped, her eyes widening. Was it possible...? Could she really have the life she had sought after for so long?
"We're one and the same, Erza," she continued. "We both desire perfection." Erza could feel herself being drawn towards her. Much like earlier, a small but growing part of her accepted it. This so-called fate. It grew to the point that she didn't want to fight it anymore. The desire to join her outweighed any other desire she could think of.
At last, Erza reached out and accepted The Creator—fully integrating herself with her "mother".
Neither of them needed to say anything more. It was decided. There was no stopping the oncoming storm. It was exactly as Eren had said. Brain would activate Nirvana. He didn't care what would happen as a result. That old man was a perfect example of the flaws that humanity possessed. He was selfish; caring for no one but himself. A despicable example of what humanity could achieve.
Erza finally understood this. Her willpower faded away, slinking into an easy form of servitude and obedience.
"I understand, Mother," she said, almost monotonously. "I'll see to the activation of Nirvana."
The Creator smiled—it was genuine. Both of her children had accepted their roles. She would grant them life as their reward. They would be happy; the first ones in her new world. Them, and everyone they cared for. It was the least she could do to thank the twins for their service.
"I'm proud of you, Erza," the divine being spoke. She smiled, the corners of her eyes crinkling. "Once I am remade to be whole in Earthland, you and Eren shall finally have the lives of happiness you've been longing for, with those you care for alongside you."
For the briefest moment, Erza's eyes went heterochromatic. Her real eye turned blue while her false eye remained brown. When the returned to their natural color, Erza had a smile to her face. It was one of pure happiness. Tomorrow she would finally have the life she had been waiting eight years for.
(Worth Woodsea)
"Erza, you're okay!" Lucy called out, unaware of the thoughts plaguing the scarlet-haired knight's mind. "We thought you got kidnapped!" Her voice held an innocent joy to it. She gave her a tight hug.
"She's coming…" Erza muttered.
Lucy pulled away, scanning her friend's face. "What? What'd you say?"
"She's coming," she repeated. "She's coming, she's coming!" It was a mantra, repeated over and over again, like a sick obsession. Her eyes were wide-open in fear with what was to come. Sure, it may not have been genuine, but she had to act like this. Erza needed them to be convinced. The imperfection pained her, but it was necessary for her goal.
Many tried to comfort her—none succeeded. No one was able to stop her supposedly fear-driven mantra.
Natsu tried, looking deeply into her eyes, his calloused hands rubbing comforting circles on her back. She almost felt guilty for a moment. "Erza, who's coming?" he asked, trying to be gentle with her. "Who is she?" He held her close, warming the air around him so that her nerves would try and relax.
She set aside her light twinge of guilt, remembering her goal. "Natsu…" she started. "Y-You've seen her face before, haven't you? The throne room?" She wasn't shaking as bad but hearing this caused Natsu to shake for her. That woman… She could send shivers down anyone's spine. His mind recalled the events in the throne room, back when copies of Eren and Erza defeated Laxus so mercilessly. The looks of joy that adorned their faces were forever burned into his memory.
He swallowed thickly, audibly. "You're not talking about—?"
He was cut off by Erza, her glazed-over eyes looking deep into his soul. "Yes. Her." The last word was drawn out, like the whisper of a forbidden curse.
Some of the other members tried to interject, but Fairy Tail was having none of it. All this pointless rambling would get them nowhere. Erza seemed to have information that would be useful, but she was in too much of a state to saying anything decipherable.
"Erza," Gray chimed in, "what do you mean by 'her'?" Together, they tried to ease her fears—bring her back to a more normal state of mind.
Erza took a deep, shaky breath. "Everyone…" she began, regaining her composure. "We have a new objective. One that should be put above all others."
Jura raised a brow. "And what would that be, Titania?" Something felt off about her. The great Titania was scared and shivering like a child? The one he had always seen be so strong, even in the face of pain? He couldn't place it. Her aura was the same, yet it felt different. It was more aggressive than it was previously; like it could swallow the earth. It felt like it was soaked in something otherworldly. Divine.
Erza went on, "We need to stop Nirvana before it activates. All of us must focus on that task. The Oración Seis is now a secondary priority." Her voice was serious; a perfect lie. This matter had grown beyond a simple dark-guild elimination mission. For Erza, it was a matter of her fulfilling her purpose. She had to get Nirvana to activate, no matter what.
If she could get the allied guilds to focus on Nirvana, Brain would activate it. Those were the necessary conditions for the beginning of the new world.
Lyon chimed in, "I get Nirvana's important and all, but I thought our primary mission was to defeat the Oración Seis above all else."
That comment drove Erza mad, enraged to a point where she summoned her entire arsenal of weapons, pointing them directly at the silver-haired mage. Did he not understand the significance of what she just said? The other mages readied their powers. A quiet prayer was passed around, everyone hoping that Erza wouldn't turn traitor as Wendy had.
"Lyon, you better take that back," Erza growled. Her glare was colder than a winter chill. She took a deep breath, trying to calm herself. She couldn't lose control like this. "Because of your history with Gray, I'll let you off just this once." She closed her eyes, requipping the vast quantity of swords and other weapons back into her pocket dimension.
She continued, "If you want me to continue being your ally, we destroy Nirvana before it activates. Otherwise, Eren and I will become the greatest enemies you will ever face. I doubt that even every single one of you banded together could beat us." She gave Natsu a sidelong look. "He can attest to that."
Aware of what she was talking about, the dragonslayer nodded.
Despite her obvious threat towards Lyon, the other mages seemed to disbelieve that Erza could become their enemy. To them, it seemed impossible that someone like her could become like what she described. Erza wasn't the type who willingly would betray someone over something like this.
"Erza," Jura began again, taking a step forward, "I think I know what you're talking about, but what does Nirvana have to do with you turning against us? Do you know that you will be its first target?"
Her face darkened. Why would Jura even think something like that?
Jura stared at the redhead. Another look at her aura proved that he needed to tread carefully. The strength of it was growing by the second. If he wasn't careful, he would be on the receiving end of a force he didn't want to deal with. It didn't help that Natsu was shaking.
"No, Jura," Erza said, trying to keep her voice level. "It's nothing like that at all. If Nirvana awakens, it will create the conditions necessary for a new world to be born." Erza's power was visible at this point. Not just for well-seasoned mages, but for anyone to see. Light and darkness visibly clashed and coalesced. It was perfection as well as imperfection. It was chaos.
Taking a brief minute to think, Jura closed his eyes. This was a scenario he couldn't have foreseen. What was supposed to be an attack on one of the darkest guilds in Fiore had turned into a race against time.
"Erza," Jura began carefully, trying not to set her off. She was already ticking like a bomb, ready to go off with the slightest disturbance. "I think it would be best if we focused on our original goal, don't you?" She said nothing. He swallowed. "It just seems that… Something might be off about you. I don't want you to do anything that you'll regret later on in life, so if I need to, I'll stop you with my own two hands."
Erza glared at him. "Well then, Jura…" She turned her back to him and the others. "You've just damned all of humanity to a fate I wouldn't wish on even the darkest of mages."
With her peace said, Erza walked back to where she came from. She had done what she came here to do. There was but one final objective for the scarlet-haired knight. The light guilds rejected her pleas—she had a sneaking suspicion that Eren's guild would do the same.
All that was left was to activate Nirvana. Then they would sacrifice themselves.
"It seems like I won't need to do anything," she muttered. "Nirvana will activate itself." She walked towards the site of the ultimate imperfection. "Soon this world will become as it should have been from the beginning. Absolutely perfect." There was an elicit smile to her, one that either meant happiness or a plan finally being set into motion.
"Eren, after eight years... We'll finally have the happiness we've been searching for."
The Titania has fallen, the new world draws ever closer. we're reaching the end, yet there are still many more things to do. Many plots left unwritten, characters not introduced. It will come, I promise you. There are still many stories and adventures to go. It'll feature characters which weren't given much attention here, like Levy and Gajeel. Cana might play a bigger role in the sequel as well.
I hope you all have a wonderful day and we'll see you all in the next chapter!