Chapter 51 - The Sacrifice of Crocus

15/12/2015

I'm back! you guys thought i'd forgotten about this hadn't you. Truth is there are lot of reasons why this is so late out, work, uni, drinking, a new project, writers block. They all came together to make this chapter as late as possible. You should know this is not quite the chapter you were expecting but it is the chapter that was needed it ties off at least one little thing that probably needed to be tied off which has made me happy. unfortunately due to the nature of the chapter I have found it difficult to include every thing and this chapter may go through a rewrite at some stage.

I feel like this entire arc needs a bit of rewriting. looking at Fairy tail plotlines there is always quite a bit more exhibition of characters and enemies which i have missed out on due to the fact i was trying to keep everything a mystery. hopefully i should get the next chapter written the before new year if all goes well.

Anyway, tell me what you think because i am quite unsure about this entire chapter, also fave and follow if you enjoyed it.


The next thing Erza heard after coming through the portal was war. She was however totally oblivious to it, chaos surrounded her and Zelda but the only thing she could see was the collapse of the portal she had recently left. The faint shimmering vision of the green warrior drawing his sword vanished as she was cut off from Link. Her tears refused to stop. She screamed out once again in anguish before she was roughly pulled round by Zelda.

A sharp and stinging slap met her cheeks. Rage filled her as she looked up at the blonde who had hit her. Someone was going to pay for all this and Zelda was conveniently within punching distance. Furious brown eyes locked with Zelda's and then faltered. Zelda was considerably shorter than Erza however the carefree spirit that Zelda was normally had vanished, replaced by a Zelda that held cold duty filled eyes. The Zelda who was to be Queen.

Zelda looked up at Erza and without even trying caused her to back down. "Erza, I know this is hard, but have faith. This is Link we're talking about. If anyone can do this it's him. Now look around, there is a war going on here and you are bleeding out of your shoulder. We have to move quickly!" She ordered.

Erza gave a single look at the gate before nodding… she could trust Link couldn't she?

"Watch it!" A voice came from above. All of a sudden a hulking great body stood above them. An explosion erupted over him as the body shielded them from attack. Erza looked up to see Elfman in beast form shielding them from an almighty explosion.

"Erza, be more attentive there's a battle going on you know, and you have the nerve to call yourself Titania. Fairy machine gun: leprechaun!"

Evergreen flew above Elfman chastising her rival whilst releasing a spray of golden magic shots. Erza looked up at the pair of them as they smiled and stuck their thumbs up.

"Go!" Elfman roared, "Us men will cover you!"

"Just who are you calling a man!" Evergreen yelled at Elfman.

Erza and Zelda needed no second warning, they both began to run as fast as they could. Erza only now could survey the battlefield. Rune knights, mages and palace guards were all doing battle in the great arena of Domus Flau. Monsters of every kind surrounded them, from flying pterosaurs to great knights in black armour. Spaced out around the arena were the demons of Tartaros battling the various members of the guilds that participated in the games. Master Makarov seemed to be leading the battle he was in his titan form battling a black haired demon producing great roses to attack. The entire place was in chaos as all kinds of magic spilled out in all directions. A great flying lizard swooped down at them at incredible speed. Erza was about to take it head on but Zelda beat her to it. A Din's Fire exploded on the monsters chest blasting it into oblivion.

"Erza!" she heard from one of the tunnels into the arena. The voice was Wendy's but she was looking very different. Her usual blue hair was a bright violet and feathers sprouted from her ankles, wrists and back. Erza could feel the power emanating from her. Erza looked at the child's opponent, an enormous blue monster that was grinning sadistically. Erza recognised it, it was a demon of Tartaros. Carla was lying injured but conscious on the floor. "I'll be with you in a minute but…" Wendy squealed as a tentacle flew at her knocking her miles back.

The demon laughed as she hit the wall blowing up a giant dust cloud.

"Wendy!" Erza yelled, calling on her magic to summon a blade. Before Erza could do anything she heard Wendy's voice again.

"It's rude to interrupt people!" She yelled casting the dust cloud away with a blast of air.

"I control this space." She announced warningly, staring down the great demon, "Shattering Light! Sky Drill!" she yelled.

Light tore forward from the small dragon slayer carving its way towards the four armed enemy. The great demon was consumed for only a moment before he sliced his way free. Each of his arms had become great blades, "Slashing mode," it roared. But its transformation was far too late. Wendy was already below the demon. "Sky Dragon's call." She said peacefully as she placed a hand on the demon. Immediately a great tornado of wind erupted from her hand and thrust the demon miles into the sky outside the arena.

Erza looked on in awe more than a little proud. After that Wendy could no longer be called a timid little girl. There was no doubt about it she was a true dragon slayer.

"Erza your arm!" Wendy called running up to her.

"You must be Wendy," Zelda said, "Please stop the bleeding, she won't last long otherwise."

"Right," Wendy said frowning as she got to work.

"You were amazing Wendy." Erza complimented calmly.

"Thanks but I'm at the limit of my power, everyone else is the same. This battle isn't going well Erza, for everything we beat another just takes its place and we have no clue where they are coming from, we need Natsu and Link… Can I… do you know where they are?"

Erza's lips tightened as her chest became heavy.

"They're coming the long way round," Zelda interrupted, "We should retreat quickly there is no need for the needless loss of life and I don't think we can win this battle."

"We know we are already trying to retreat but we haven't had an opportunity. Jellal and Mest are doing their best to organise the retreat in the city. We're only here so the lesser guilds and the rune knights can get out." Carla said flying over.

"Right, in that case I'm going to get Erza out of here, I'll be back to help fight as soon as possible." Zelda said to the Exceed.

"No." Erza grunted as her arm sealed over, "I can still fight."

"Erza you can't you don't have nearly enough energy left." Zelda complained, "You just battled Ganondorf for Nayru's sake." Zelda complained.

"I can still fight," Erza said firmly, looking into Zelda's eyes. She then turned to Wendy. "Wendy, help get the rest of the Rune knights out of the arena, anyone who is injured or cannot continue needs to leave."

Wendy nodded and flew off to get to work. Erza turned to the battlefield. The members of Fairy Tail, Saber-tooth, mermaid heel and many others stood in a stalemate on one side of the arena, the demons of Tartaros bared their fangs on the other backed by the hordes of monsters surrounding them. Erza paced forward with a fury. She thought about Lucy, Makarov, Cana, Gray, Natsu, Wakaba, Macao everyone she had grown up with her family. Link.

The conditions were met.

Opening her eyes she exploded with magic power interrupting everyone from their fights. "Requip Armadura Fairy Armour: Titania form." Everyone turned towards the source of the light emanating from Erza. The intense magic power that came from the suit of armour she now wore was incredible. The armour was pink in colour and far more grandiose than when she had worn it in Edolas. It had been a long time since she had worn it but this was the occasion. The armour to use when she was fighting for her guild.

She walked forward menacingly. Wielding a single shining sword in her right hand that she raised above her head.

"Mages of Fiore! On Me!" She roared. As she began to charge. Following her instruction the mages surrounding her all grinned and roared with the Queen of the Fairies joining her in her charge against Tartaros."

Makarov grinned and brought his fists onto his opponent. Mard Geer grimaced below them.

"Looks like the tides of this battle are about to change little demon." Makarov said in his booming voice, "Now you are facing the wroth of Fairy Tail!" With an explosive roar Makarov went in to kick the small figure of Mard Geer below him. His foot tore through the thorned rose vines that Mard Geer produced to defend himself and he struck the demon in front of him.

"Not even close, old man!" Mard Geer sneered as rose branches coiled up Makarov's legs and sinking thorns into his flesh. Instantly they constricted dragging Makarov to earth. "You and you little family will lose. None can withstand the power of a demons curse." He grinned "Just watch."

Gray streaked past his master's eyes as he chased a second ice make mage. Blue ice followed purple in a spiral of power. It was a high speed chase that took up the entire arena, both combatants were skating across mid-air tracks of their own making in their battle. His opponent was currently wearing a mask but Gray couldn't hide the strange sense of déjà vu he was feeling from this battle.

Grunting he unleashed an attack at his opposition. "Ice Make, Lance!" he called launching streams of ice bolts at his foe. In a great collision the other mage met his attack with one of his own. The explosion of ice particles caused Gray to shield himself. All too suddenly his foe burst from the ice cloud flying directly towards him. He was wielding a hammer of gargantuan size and it was aimed directly at Gray.

"Ice make Shield!" Gray called casting in front of him. The crystal shield spread out in front of him but was futile to the attack as it burst through and threw Gray into the ground. Gray got up as fast as he could and produced as many swords as he could around himself. With a roar he released them throwing them towards the armoured demon who was descending on him. The great man he was fighting was holding two ice blades of his own and spinning like a dervish he managed to easily counter the blades flying at him. He roared as he brought his blade down on Gray only to have it deflected by a new sword of Gray's.

Before the demon could attack again Gray thrust a spike of ice out of his elbow and swung round to attack the armoured man. The distraction worked. The demon blocked the elbow spike and was not ready for Gray's next forceful attack. Gray's hand landed on the demons cuirass. "Ice make Pillar." Gray roared. A pillar flew from his hand throwing the demon away for way before the armoured man suddenly stopped. Gray's Ice built around him as he poured magic power into his attack but his foe did not budge. The demon bellowed and shattered the ice surrounding him using only his arms. The demon grinned as he mirrored Gray producing a pillar of his own that struck Gray knocking him to the edge of the arena.

Makarov's eyes turned to Erza.

Erza tore through lesser monsters with the rage of a hurricane. No evil thing was spared from her rage. She was tired and she could feel it but she would continue she would force her way through. She loosed blades in every direction hitting anything that could be hit and interrupting any fight she could. She zoomed past Mira who had just collapsed to the floor screaming in her Satan Soul form. Her target was the rather busty helmeted demon who didn't even flinch in her presence.

"Erza Don't!" Mira shouted, from the lips of the demonic barmaid it was an order, an order that Erza ignored. Erza roared at the demon in front of her bringing her blade across in a wide arc the demon did not even flinch as she smiled.

"Sensation!" The demon ordered.

Instantly Erza faltered as pain wracked every pore from her body. She screamed in pain as a heeled boot collided with her armoured torso. Erza was blasted away.

"Tch, for the Queen of the Fairies you sure are reckless. You left yourself wide open and now… you're mine." The demon grinned bending over to grab a hand full of hair she pulled Erza up to eye level and licked her lips. "Now now, don't struggle… The sensation curse can become quite pleasant of you just relax."

Makarov shivered as he looked around the arena it wasn't just Gray, Mira and Erza, many members of other guilds were ready to fall as well. He could feel his body shrinking but the rose thorns didn't loosen for a second. Even Mace and Kagura were barely able to stand, they stood back to back both of them fresh out of energy.

"Your fairies are dropping like flies old man."

Makarov gave a glance to the portal that had erupted in the centre of the arena only an hour ago. He grimaced at the now ruined structure, abandoning the arena meant abandoning his remaining children on the other side, Link and Natsu. He sighed having no choice. He would have to trust them to find their own way home.

"So what are you going to do, don't tell me this is all you have to offer, are you not going to fight back more to protect your little guild?" Mard continued to taunt.

"Master, the city is now clear of people you can retreat now. Jellal is creating an opening for you." Makarov heard the voice in his head. He frowned letting his age show drastically as he shrunk to his normal size. Mard now towered over the man with a savage sneer. Makarov now only had one choice, he had to buy his friends the time to retreat.

"Mard Geer, Demon of Tartaros, you have won this battle, but you will never win this war." Makarov threatened.

"As a warning I shall count to three, cease your attack and surrender or face The Wrath of the Fairies." Warren, in that time tell everyone to run as fast as they can. He told Warren.

"Three,"

"A warning huh?" Mard frowned. Members of Fairy Tail turned to their master in shock as they heard the plan, clueless as to what he was about to attempt.

"Two,"

A flash of power erupted in one of Makarov's hands, so powerful it caused the entirety of Crocus to shake. The light burst through the vines covering Makarov leaving him standing surrounded by power. The man was un-ignorable to the demons of Tartaros as they shielded themselves from the light. Mard took a step back.

"One… Invoke, Fairy Law." Makarov commanded pointing two fingers at Mard Geer, A golden circle erupted from him and the sky above him lit up burning through the dark clouds above them. "All you mages here, you knights, you warriors, RUN! Run, my children!" Makarov shouted as he released more and more of his magic power.

"Mard removed the sleeve from his eyes in anger, the lesser monsters that once backed them up were fleeing in fear. This light was more than a mere warning, this was a real and genuine threat. "Demons! Stop him!" he yelled casting a powerful curse at the old man in front of him. Rose vines attempted to pierce the body of his foe but they bounced off as Makarov began to grow in size once again.

Makarov looked at the people surrounding him, at his allies and at his families. Wendy and Zelda were the first to take the initiative to force people out of the arena. Rune knights sprinted towards the exits while they could, the other guilds also ran carrying everyone that could not run themselves. Erza dragged herself up supported by Mira as they began to run no longer were they under Kyoka's curse as she was now occupied with the growing giant that threatened to end their very existence. They ran to the exit joining up with Gray, Wendy and Zelda. Who were looking on at their master tears in their eyes…

Tears? Why?

Erza's eyes widened and she turned in panic...

She met eyes of her master. They were filled with sorrow but there were no tears. Behind him a cloud of dark curses began to amass themselves.

"Master?" Erza said stepping forward.

"Erza, there is a long road ahead of you, but I will not walk it with you." Tears began to fall from Erza's eyes, she couldn't believe what she was hearing. "Know that I have treasured every day with you my children, watching you grow, I can honestly say those have been the greatest times of my life."

"Master! No you can't you can win this… you can win this can't you? Fairy Tail always wins." Erza cried.

"Master, don't be a hero!" Gray shouted, "You can get out of this hurry!"

"No, my fate was decided long ago." Makarov looked at Carla who looked away guiltily as she cried into Wendy. "These demons are right, physical magic cannot stand up to their curses, but never forget. There is a greater magic, you must learn to harness it. The magic of comradery, of friendship and of love. Never forget it. Erza, it's up to you now, you have to lead Fairy Tail in my place!" he shouted as a purple mist surrounded him.

"No master, you can't go!" Mira screamed covering her mouth, "Don't leave us…"

"Can I trust you to uphold the laws of Fairy Tail?!" he said through gritted teeth as the two spells grew in power combating each other in a terrifying mix of good and evil.

"Gramps! You can't!" Gray yelled.

"Can I trust you to never give up and to destroy evil where it stands?!"

"Master," Erza whispered, Wendy was now crying into Zelda's chest unable to watch.

"Can I trust you to follow my final command as the seventh master of Fairy Tail?"

They were silent as the man's body was consumed, his final words rang in their heads. "Run."

"Momento Mori!" They heard from behind Makarov and suddenly the mist became a great beam of light that cut through fairy law like water. Makarovs screams of pain were the last straw as Erza dropped her sword and pulled Mira, Wendy and Carla away running as fast as she could. Gray and Zelda followed blinded by their tears.

Makarov screamed behind streams of tears, one by one memories of his life, of his guild and of his children filled his head. One by one they disappeared as his existence was erased. He had not a single regret. He was satisfied with his life. With his sacrifice. To save his family one last time.

And with one final breath he raised his arm to point at the sky and spoke one last time, "I'll be watching, always. Fairy Tail."

Thousands looked on at that beam of light. Transcending both death and life the leader of Fairy Tail vanished without a trace.