Chapter Thirty-Five
Quick Recap
Link almost managed to hold back Etherion with the unexpected help of the Sages of Hyrule, but a sudden attack from Jellal knocked him out and shattered Nayru's Commandment. With the mighty defense gone, the blast continued down to consume the Tower of Heaven. Instead of being destroyed, however, the Tower absorbed its raw power to convert it for the R-System; all according to Jellal's plan. Shortly after it was revealed both Ultear and Siegrain were traitors, in fact Siegrain was nothing more than an empowered mental projection of Jellal.
Erza, enraged at being tricked and by Link's injuries, prepared to attack before being subdued by a spell that restricted her movements and sealed her magic. With a few final taunts, Jellal prepared to implant her into the now fully charged R-System to sacrifice her for Zeref's revival. Before she was absorbed, Natsu pulled her out while Gray gave Link one of his pink healing tonics. Shortly after that, though, Natsu was forced to knock Erza out as she panicked, her terror from her past trauma, Jellal's multi-layered plans, and his threat of killing Link driving her over the drive.
Both not fully recovered from their previous fight, Natsu and Gray decided the only thing they could do was swallow their pride and team up to take on Jellal. However, even combined all they could do was singe his coat and give him a small cut on his arm. Despite that, repeated damage given to the R-System enraged Jellal to the point where he also damaged it to bring Gray down hard. He then shifted his attention to the barely standing Natsu and prepared to wipe him out with one more spell. Erza, having regained consciousness at this point, positioned herself between the spell and Natsu and demanded if Jellal was willing to give up his sacrifice. With a grin, Jellal told her that another perfectly good candidate still remained.
When Erza looked over at Link in realization, she found him up on one knee with a blue tonic in hand to replenish his magical power. Glaring hotly at Jellal, Link prepared to unleash one of his Triforce Spells, Din's Eruption. Jellal, taking in Link's poor state, prepared to avoid and counter the spell as Link attacked; not once realizing he was never the Hylian's target.
Natsu, the true target of Link's attack, quickly inhaled the golden flames to absorb their power. Confused at first, the Fire Dragon Slayer accepted that Link had put the fight firmly in his hands. With a roar to make his namesake proud, Natsu prepared to unleash everything on the now trembling Jellal.
Lucy, Happy, Juvia, Milliana, Sho, and Wally all looked up from the deck of their ship to the sky with wide eyes. "Were… were those golden flames?" Wally asked as he looked up at the Tower of Heaven, now a massive blue lacrima formation. They had just seen two different flares of fire a little while ago from the top of the tower, the first sign of life they had seen since the Tower had absorbed the Etherion and transformed into its current state. The previous one had been a bright red while the second had appeared to be gold, and both had been accompanied by obvious damage to the Tower.
"Those were Link's!" Happy said excitedly as he brought one blue paw up. "When you see gold flames, Link isn't holding back!" He explained as he looked at Wally, Sho, and Milliana. But I don't know how Link is able to use them after trying to block Etherion. The blue cat admitted to himself. Even with his potions and tonics, this shouldn't be possible. He would never underestimate Link, but this was something that even he never would have imagined the S-Class Mage to be capable of.
"Juvia remembers those flames, but these were more focused than last time." Juvia said with a nod of her head as she recalled the massive explosion that had decimated the Phantom Lord Guild House.
"And the first one was definitely Natsu!" Lucy laughed with a clap of her hands. "If they're both up there, then everyone else is probably okay as well!" She said confidently and Happy nodded in agreement. Come on, Natsu! I know you can do it! She thought, thrilled at the evidence that the Fire Dragon Slayer was still alive.
Sho, Wally, and Milliana looked at each other excitedly before they looked back up at the Tower. Too far for us to contact Simon… Sho thought as his right hand clenched into a fist, but his hopeful smile remained on his face as another flare of golden flames could be seen.
Jellal's Throne Room
Jellal continued to look at Natsu in shock before he clenched his right hand into a fist to cease its trembling. "If you think that something like this will-!" The blue-haired mage froze in shock as Natsu seemed to just disappear, the ground where the Fire Dragon Slayer had been standing splintering from the force of his charge.
"GRRAAAAGH!" Natsu roared as he appeared before the still frozen Jellal and delivered a right haymaker to his face. The force of the blow rocketed Jellal back through his high-backed throne and into the wall behind it with a crash. The Fire Dragon Slayer's right foot touched the ground and he seemed to disappear again, the ground once more cracking, as he rushed in at the stunned blue-haired mage. "Karyu no…" He growled out as he appeared in front of Jellal, still embedded in the lacrima, while everyone else looked on in wide-eyed surprise. "Saiga!" He roared as he slammed his left hand, fingers out and held almost like claws, into Jellal's stomach.
"Kuah!" Jellal coughed out blood as he was torn sideways through the wall and then spun to be slammed into the floor with a gasp. Natsu's hand remained planted in his stomach though, and shortly afterwards he was torn sideways through the floor and thrown up into the ceiling high above. He became embedded in the ceiling with another bone-shattering impact, his mind trying to catch up with what was happening.
An instant later Jellal returned to his senses and quickly reactivated Meteor to free himself from the ceiling just in time to avoid another punch from Natsu. The impact broke more of the ceiling, but what had Jellal's eyes widening in further surprise was Natsu turning to track his movements as he flew away at a downward angle. The Fire Dragon Slayer's feet shifted slightly and then he was charging again, further splintering the ceiling.
Jellal was starting to get used to Natsu's speed, however, and was able to narrowly avoid the Dragon Slayer's rush. "Be judged under the seven stars!" Jellal yelled as he extended both hands before him, his left hand, with all fingers extended, cupped under his right, which only had his pointer and middle fingers extended. During his chant, Natsu landed on the ground with a loud crunch and slid for a few feet as he turned and glared up at Jellal. "Seven Star Blades: Grand Chariot!" He finished and seven lights formed before him in the shape of the Big Dipper constellation.
"Dodge it!" Gray shouted, remembering how that spell had knocked him out, the pain from its impact still making it hard for him to move.
"Karyu no Kenkaku!" Natsu roared in reply and the golden flames flared out as he launched himself at the blue-haired mage. Right as he jumped, the Seven Star Blades shot down at Natsu with an impact that shook the room. Even as concern started to show in everyone's eyes, the golden flaming spear named Natsu roared through the ensuing smoke to slam into the stunned Jellal. "RRRAAAAAAAAAGH!" Natsu continued to roar as he and Jellal slammed through the ceiling and up onto the roof of the Tower of Heaven.
Natsu's momentum finally played out but Jellal flew back for another fifteen feet before he spun in the air. Though his golden aura was still active, he landed on the ground hard and it clearly took all his willpower to stay standing as he slid back another six feet before finally stopping. Jellal gasped for breath as his left hand came up to support his agonized abs and possibly fractured ribcage. He glared at Natsu, the pink-haired fool he had been easily dismantling just a few minutes ago, and found that he wasn't even breathing hard as he glared back.
"Why?" Natsu suddenly asked and Jellal blinked in surprise. "Why would someone Erza looked up to so much, who was seen as such an inspiration while you and the others were enslaved and suffering, do something like this?" He asked and Jellal's face tightened in anger. "Tell me!" He demanded angrily as he took a lacrima-breaking step forward, his right arm slashing out before him.
Jellal glanced down at himself, taking in his own injuries, and decided that playing along would give him some time to at least catch his breath and plan something out. "Did Erza tell you… what happened all those… years ago?" He panted out as he let his Meteor dissipate to conserve his magic.
"Yeah." Natsu said with a nod of his head. "Sho's plan to escape was discovered and you planned to take the blame, but Erza was taken to the Punishment Room instead." He said before his face tightened. "That's what I don't get. How does a guy who was willing to do that for his nakama, someone who risks everything to save another one as a starting point to saving everyone, keep everyone where they suffered so much in the first place?" He growled angrily and the flames swirled around as if in response.
"You naïve fool…" Jellal sneered at Natsu before he shook his head. "Do you have any idea what happens in the Punishment Room? How something like Erza's eye being destroyed was more commonplace than the exception?" He asked and Natsu blinked in surprise. "I knew no one was coming to save me, that no one else had the heart for it. In the end all I had to do was pledge loyalty to them and they might actually let me live." He continued and Natsu's eyes narrowed again.
Eight Years Ago
"Damn you, you stubborn brat!" The fat slaver that Jellal had thought he had cut down yelled at him angrily. The blue-haired boy hung from the same pole Erza had been attached to, his eyes intense as he glared at the ground. "At least scream and give me some entertainment!" He yelled as he shoved a rod against Jellal. Electricity sparked from it and surged through him while the slaver grinned in anticipation.
"Gghhhh…" Jellal ground out as his entire body locked up in agony. He refused to submit to the pain, though, refused to give the fat pig before him the satisfaction. He was already covered in bruises, his nose broken and leaking blood, and he was idly curious when they would return to the beatings. The only thing that gave him some minor satisfaction was that Erza was no longer here, but that was dampened by the fact that she and everyone else were still enslaved.
After ten seconds the rod was removed and Jellal couldn't help but gasp as he slumped down, held up only by the cuffs that fastened him to the pole. "Well, are you ready to scream yet?" The fat slaver asked as he grabbed Jellal by his hair with his left hand and yanked his head up. "Wha-!?" He asked and took a step back in shock as Jellal glared up at him hatefully. "You know, kid, maybe there's another way we can use you." The slaver said speculatively after a minute but Jellal's eyes never lost their glare. "Yes, with that spirit I imagine you won't scream even if we keep you in here for days." He said with an evil grin and Jellal's right eye twitched at that possibility.
The man laughed at that sign before he let go of Jellal's hair, letting his head slump back down, and turned to walk away while tapping the rod against his left hand. "Swear your loyalty to us, and if we determine that you are sincere we'll let you live." He said and then stopped walking, though he kept tapping the rod against his hand. "You'll get the chance to continue your contribution to this tower, and be recognized upon the return of our god, Zeref." With a final top of the rod he turned back to look at Jellal, his head still slumped and breathing heavily. With a sigh the man walked back over and pulled his head up again by his hair. "Well?"
After a few seconds Jellal cleared his throat as if to speak before spitting a combination of mucus and blood into the man's face. "You can take all that and go to hell." He angrily declared into the shocked expression on the man's face.
"You dog!" The man yelled angrily and slammed the rod into Jellal's stomach, getting a gasp, before sending a surge of electricity into him.
Jellal's teeth clenched down, still determined not to scream, and he ended up biting off the tip of his tongue. "Gggghhhhh!" Blood spurted through Jellal's clenched teeth and he closed his eyes, still refusing to give in.
Finally the slaver removed the rod and Jellal gasped, blood dripping from his open mouth and broken nose. A second later Jellal grunted as he was backhanded across the face, more blood spraying from his nose and mouth. "Well, let's see how you feel in a couple of days." The man said angrily as he turned around and left the Punishment Room.
Join them… Jellal thought as he looked down at the ground, finally letting his exhaustion show now that there was no one else in the room. Who could swear loyalty to such a group… to people who follow a supposed "god" that would allow such cruelties… He wondered, his vision blurry, as his blood continued to drip onto the ground. This world… what the hell is wrong with this world… He wondered as he replayed all that had happened since his capture into slavery. I hate this… He thought and his entire body tensed up as hatred welled up in him. I hate them… If I can get free again, I won't make the mistake in not killing them next time! He vowed as a dark fire grew in his eyes.
"Yes… that's the way." A deep, echoing voice suddenly said and Jellal locked up before he looked around in a panic. To his surprise, though, he didn't see anyone. "Finally, someone who can hear me." The voice continued and this time Jellal blinked in surprise.
"Who… who's there!?" The boy demanded angrily as he tried to find the source of the voice.
"Who?" The voice echoed with a chuckle. "Why, I am what the fools of this place are looking for." The voice announced and Jellal froze as a dark mass started to form before him. "I am Zeref!" The large, shadowy form said as it towered over Jellal, who looked up with wide eyes. "But for all their calls of belief, not one of them had the thing that would allow them to hear me." It said before reaching out with one massive, shadowed hand and placed it on the shivering boy's head. "HATRED!" It roared as it suddenly thrust its dark head before Jellal and one large red eye with a golden iris appeared in its depths, making Jellal jerk back in fear.
"Wh-what do you want with me!?" Jellal yelled in terror as he kicked out at the form, doing nothing but phasing through the darkness it was composed of.
"Hehehehe… why, I want what you want." The figure said with a dark chuckle and Jellal froze as he looked at it in confusion. "I want to live… I want to be free." It said and Jellal tensed up as he stared at it. "But we both lack the ability to achieve this. I, a living body and you, the power." It said and Jellal swallowed the blood in his mouth. "But I can grant you some of my power, and once you resurrect me I can give you even more. Nothing will ever be able to stop us, to keep us from being truly free, ever again." It said as it continued to look at Jellal with its unblinking eye. "Tell me, boy, what do you say?" It asked and its shadowed head cocked slightly to the right.
Jellal looked at the form for several seconds before he gulped and looked to the side. "I… I don't know… This sounds too good to be true…" He muttered but froze as the hand went away from his head.
"Well then, I suppose I'll leave you to your fun then." It said with a dark chuckle and Jellal's eyes went wide.
"No! I'll do it!" He yelled desperately but the shadowed form had already shifted so that the glowing eye was no longer visible to him. "Give me the power to make these bastards pay and I swear I'll bring you back!" He shouted angrily and at that declaration the form paused.
It slowly shifted around, the eye reappearing to lock on him with its red and gold glare. "Good… but remember, what you're about to feel is only a taste of what awaits you." It said before a part of it broke off and shot into Jellal's mouth.
"AAAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Jellal screamed as he felt something spread out through his entire being, hardly aware as his injuries started to mend.
Present Day
"The strength I felt was incredible… with it I had that fat fool at my mercy the second he walked in." Jellal said with a malicious chuckle. "That's how it happened, you fool." He said with a shake of his head before he looked at Natsu's shocked face. "At my lowest point, when I had no hope, the only one who came for me was Zeref! Not my so-called nakama, but him!" He yelled out fervently.
"But they did come for you!" Natsu yelled back angrily as his hands clenched into fists. "Erza rallied everyone, led them to freedom, and then came to save you! Everyone was ready to leave and be free before you betrayed them!"
"Freedom?" Jellal scoffed and shook his head as his breathing started to steady and he gingerly removed his arm from his stomach. "In a world that allows such atrocities to happen? That would condemn children to such a hell and do nothing!? Tell me, what kind of freedom is there in such a world that does nothing when such events happen!?" He yelled as he glared back at Natsu. "With Zeref back, we can get rid of such injustices, such atrocities, and bring about a world of true freedom where no one has to suffer as we did! Only someone with a strong enough will, only I, can do this!" He declared as his right hand clenched into a fist.
"You think someone like you can actually do that?" Natsu asked before shaking his head in disbelief. "What would an unthinking tool possessed by a ghost know about freedom!?" He roared back and Jellal's face tightened as he reactivated Meteor.
Jellal's Throne Room
Shortly after Natsu slammed Jellal through the ceiling, Link started shifting as he weakly tried to get up. "Link!" Erza cried out as his movement got her attention, and with wide eyes she immediately ran to his side. At the same time, Gray winced and slowly started to force himself back up to his feet.
"Here." He heard and looked over to see Simon offering him his hand. "If we limp together, we might get there faster." Simon offered with a gentle grin behind his metal jaw.
Gray looked at Simon for a second before smirking back. "I thought you were supposed to be heading back to the ship." He said as he took the hand.
"And you believed that?" Simon asked as he helped Gray struggle to his feet and got a weak chuckle from him.
"Not at all." Gray admitted as they both made their way over to Link and Erza.
"Link, what were you thinking?" Erza demanded angrily as she glared at him and carefully put him on his back, kneeling on his right side. Link, his eyes closed as he panted, offered a weak shrug as he Requipped his pouch to his shaking right hand. "If you had just stayed behind like I wanted then-"
"Okay, that's enough!" Gray snapped angrily as she took the pouch and started to open it, making Erza pause. "What in the world made you think that Link, Link of all people, was just going to let you run off into something like this alone?" He demanded as he and Simon finished making their way up to them. "This is the guy that was going to quit Fairy Tail to help people he didn't even know. What exactly happened in the past 24 hours that made you think that he wasn't going to go through hell for you?" Gray demanded emphatically and Erza's eyes wavered before she looked away uncomfortably.
"Hindered." Link said weakly and everyone immediately looked down at him to see his eyes still closed.
Erza shook her head after a couple of seconds, none of them noticing the lack of combat up above. "Link, my armor did nothing-"
"Not that… armor..." Link interrupted before bringing one shaky hand up to lightly touch the top of her left breast with his fingertips. "This… armor…" He said as Gray and Simon blushed slightly at the movement.
Erza, however, looked down at his hand in confusion for a few seconds. "Is it armor for the body… or the heart?" The conversation from long ago played in her mind and realization caused her eyes to widen.
"My… heart?" She asked and Link nodded as he let his hand fall back down to hit the ground limply.
"You armored… against your… fear…" Link said before wincing in pain, his entire body shaking with the movement.
Erza quickly started to open the pouch after his wince before Gray reached over and took it from her. "Keep talking." He ordered gently as he took out the ointment jar and a roll of bandages to start dressing Link's wounds.
Erza swallowed nervously as she returned her gaze to Link. "Yes." She admitted with a nod as she brought her left hand up to her chest. "When I saw Simon, Sho, Milliana, and Wally… then when Simon said I was being brought back… and when Lucy screamed in pain because of my past failure… it was too much." She said and Simon looked to the side uncomfortably before he moved to help Gray. "The only thing I could do was block out my fear and try to keep you all safe…" Erza trailed off as her eyes widened slightly. "I blocked out more than my fear of everyone getting hurt." She realized before she looked back down at Link, who seemed to sense her gaze and nodded. "I blocked everyone out, blocked out the truth that they… that you… would want to keep me safe as well." She swallowed again before she closed her eyes, tears welling in her left. "Even though I hurt you so badly… you knew why and followed me anyways…" She sobbed out as her tears fell to the ground.
The feel of his hand covering hers had her eyes snapping open in surprise to Link looking up at her, his eyes warm and a small smile on his face. "Partners." He said softly and Erza felt something in her crack as a heaviness started to lift.
Erza took in a quick, short breath at the feeling before a watery smile came to her and she nodded. "Partners." She choked out as she turned her hand to grasp his firmly. Her heart felt lighter than she could recall in a long time as she accepted that despite her weakness to her past, despite her childish fears that he would turn away from her because of it, and despite her best, foolish, and shameful efforts, Link would always be there for her.
Gray and Simon both grinned at the sight before Gray reached over to hand her a new roll of bandages. "Care to get that arm while Simon and I get his chest?" He asked and Erza sniffed before she nodded and then took the bandages from him.
Natsu and Jellal crashing back through the ceiling a second later ripped them from the moment as they quickly looked over to see Jellal kick Natsu away from him. "Take this!" Jellal yelled as he slashed his right hand out and four golden blasts shot out at Natsu.
The Dragon Slayer barely grunted from the kick as he twisted to easily land on his feet. As Natsu saw the incoming blasts, he roared while he slashed out with his own hand to send out a wave of golden fire and the resulting impact caused a small explosion that shook the room. "I'm done with this!" Natsu roared as the smoke cleared.
"Something we agree on!" Jellal yelled back from fifty feet above the Tower, for he had used the smokescreen provided to take off at max speed. He brought his right hand up with pointer and middle fingers extended and several, swift slashing movements. Instantly a large seal appeared before him and he quickly placed his right palm against it. Link and Erza both looked at it in shock, instantly recognizing the pattern of the seal.
Tower of Heaven Ship
"No…" Juvia said as she saw the seal appear high in the air, recognizing what spell was about to come.
"What is it?" Lucy demanded quickly, seeing the shock and fear on Juvia's face and unnerved by it.
"Abyss Break, a powerful spell that combines Fire, Water, Air, and Earth Magic into a devastating blast." Juvia answered before she swallowed nervously. "Master Jose had it set up so our castle could utilize the Element Four to deploy it in case the Jupiter Cannon wasn't enough." She said and everyone looked at her in shock. While Wally, Milliana, and Sho might not have been there, they all knew how much devastation such a weapon could unleash.
"B-but that took all of Erza's strength to stop, and this spell is more powerful!?" Lucy demanded nervously and Juvia slowly nodded her head.
Gray-sama… Juvia thought as tears of worry formed in her eyes.
Jellal's Throne Room
"You're going to sacrifice the Tower as well!?" Erza shouted angrily up at Jellal, and the desperate edge to her voice made Gray and Simon look at her in surprise.
Jellal just smirked down at them from behind the seal. "So it'll take another eight years." He said with a shrug and then paused. "No, this time I'll make it in five… just a little longer, Zeref." He murmured as he prepared to unleash the spell.
The golden flames around Natsu suddenly flared out and swirled to outline Natsu in the shape of a dragon. "NO!" He roared defiantly as he launched himself up, cracking the floor, and the flames extended out into wings. The Fire Dragon Slayer's face tightened with his burning determination as he flew up like the incarnation of his magic's namesake.
Tower of Heaven Ship
"GRRRAAAAAAGGHH!"
"N-Natsu…?" Lucy said uncertainly at the roar as she and everyone else watched what appeared to be a small, fiery gold dragon fly up to the Abyss Break seal. "BEAT HIM, NATSU!" She screamed as soon as she finished her question, realizing that there was only one mage both crazy enough to face that spell head on and have their magic take such a form.
"AYE!" Happy yelled out victoriously, having realized the same thing at the same time as the Celestial Spirit Mage.
No one knew exactly what had taken place up there, but no one could deny the way their hearts raced at the sight before them as a golden dragon roared defiantly in the face of such overwhelming destruction.
Jellal's smirk widened slightly before he froze as his abdomen flared up in agony from the strain of preparing the spell after taking so much damage. First Erza's slashes and kick, then Natsu's Karyu no Saiga quickly followed by Karyu no Kenkaku; the short break he had been able to enjoy due to Natsu's question was nowhere near enough recovery time. The Abyss Break dissipated as he winced in pain, and a second later his eyes widened as he remembered what was coming.
"Jellal, your goal was impossible from the start! Someone still enslaved by a ghost could never lead people to freedom!" Natsu roared as he closed in on Jellal. "First you need to free yourself!" Jellal froze both at his statement and at the way he seemed to disappear before he reached him. A second later he felt a heavy hand hit his shoulder, making him look back and wince as smoke rose from his skin. His eyes went wide in fear as he saw a fiery dragon glaring down at him, its right fist cocked back and glowing with golden power. "KARYU NO TENKEN!" Natsu roared as he delivered a haymaker into Jellal's face.
Jellal felt as if a mountain had fallen on him, or perhaps more accurately as if he stood in the path of an erupting volcano; his face blistering even through his Meteor aura. He barely had a second to register the blow before he was sent rocketing down to the Tower of Heaven, the impact dislodging something from his pocket. A second later he slammed through the middle of his Tower with a bone-shattering crash that shook the entire lacrima formation and caused more steam to rise up.
"GGRRRRAAAAAAAGGGHHH!" Natsu's roar of victory echoed through the night sky, causing everyone's heart to swell in excitement and relief.
Gray would never admit it, but he couldn't deny the exhilaration that swept through him and offered a proud smirk up at his rival. Not bad, hothead. He admitted before his eyes narrowed as he saw something fall towards him. He barely caught the item before it slammed into his face, wincing from the impact, and he turned his hand to look at it curiously. His dark blue eyes went wide in surprise before another smirk came to him as he put the item in his pocket.
Erza, Link, and Simon barely noticed as they continued to stare up at Natsu. "It's… it's over…" Erza finally said with a smile. "Everyone's free…" She said and looked over as Simon kneeled next to her and put a hand on her shoulder.
"After eight years…" Simon said and tears welled up in his eye. "I can't believe it." He admitted with a smile as he brought his free hand up to wipe at his tears. "Thank you… all of you… thank you for finally freeing us…" He said roughly before he took a shuddering breath.
Natsu came back down before anyone could reply and, with one last flap of his wings, landed lightly on the floor. As he started to take a step, the golden flames suddenly disappeared and he stumbled forward a couple of steps before catching himself by putting his hands on his knees. "What… a rush…" He panted out with a feral grin as the scale patterns disappeared before he stood up straight again. His grin disappeared when he saw that Link's eyes were closed and he quickly ran up to them. "Hey, is Link okay!?" He demanded anxiously.
"Link will be fine, Natsu." Erza said as she looked back down at her partner. "I think the only thing keeping him conscious was his determination to ensure everyone's safety." She said with a gentle smile as she reached down to place a hand on his head.
Natsu froze at her words before a wide smile overtook him. "Hey, hothead." Gray suddenly said as he slowly stood up. "Remember how I had to save you from Fukurou?" He asked and Natsu's expression soured as both Simon and Erza looked at the Ice-Make Mage in surprise. Gray, however, just kept looking at Natsu before he smirked, pulled the item he had caught from his pocket, and casually tossed it at him. "I'm willing to call it even." He remarked as Natsu caught the item with a questioning grunt and looked at it.
Natsu's, as well as Erza's and Simon's, eyes went wide as they saw the blue medallion. On it was a silver cross overlaid with two rows of patterns, a circle separating each row. The first row had a heart next to each inner corner of the cross, and the second had two curved diamonds side by side at each outer corner of the cross; it was a medallion of a Ten Wizard Saint, the magical elite of Fiore. The Fire Dragon Slayer looked at it for a few seconds, excitement building in his eyes, before he stilled and then sighed. "No… I didn't win." He said as he tossed the medallion to the side and everyone looked at him in surprise. "Link gave me his strength… that's why Jellal was beaten." Natsu said solemnly as he looked down at his hands. "But next time I'll be able to win a fight like that on my own." He swore, his hands clenching tightly, as he looked back up.
Erza smiled at his declaration before she moved to finish dressing Link's arm. Simon offered a small grin before he moved to work on Link's chest. Gray just looked at him for a few more seconds before he crossed his arms over his chest. "Not bad, hothead…" He finally said with a smirk. "Well, I guess I'll be keeping that ammunition for later then." He said and Natsu blinked before his eyes went wide.
"Now hold up!" Natsu yelled as he pointed at Gray angrily. "I already said that I would've won if he hadn't used his jetpack on me!"
"Are they always like this?" Simon asked Erza as they finished wrapping Link's wounds and got a grin from her while Natsu and Gray argued.
"I'll let them have their fun before reminding them how nakama shouldn't argue later." Erza replied as she leaned back and inspected the bandages. "After all-" A sudden quaking of the Tower made her cut off her next words as everyone looked around in surprise.
A large crack appeared off to the side and a burst of steam immediately blew out with a loud, whistling sound. "What the-?" Natsu was forced to stop and cover his eyes as the lacrima suddenly shone brightly and more cracks started to appear.
"The Etherion, it's going out of control!" Gray shouted as he realized what must be happening.
Tower of Heaven Ship
"What did you say?" Lucy demanded, horrified, as she looked over at Sho. "Why would it be going out of control?" She asked desperately and Sho swallowed as he continued to look up at the glowing Tower.
Happy, however, was the one who answered Lucy's question, fear reflected in his eyes. "Trying to keep that amount of magical power in one place… there's no way it could be stable for long." He said and started to shiver as tears formed in his eyes. "If it's not used, it'll burst out…"
"Gray-sama and the others are still in there!" Juvia yelled before she shook her head in denial and dropped to her knees, her hands coming to cover her eyes as she sobbed.
"You mean it's going to explode!?" Wally demanded, his blocky arms flailing about, as Milliana sniffed, tears streaming down her face. "With that much power, we'll all be caught up in it!"
"No…" Lucy sniffed as she fell to her knees. "After all that… everything we've done… it can't… it can't end like this…" She said before she fell forward on to her hands, tears falling to the deck of the ship.
"What's that!?" Sho suddenly yelled and everyone looked up to see a large, enclosed tube of ice extend down to them from the top of the Tower.
"Gray?" Happy asked numbly as the ice reached them, attaching to the railing on the aft of the ship with the opening right above it. "What's going on?" He asked as they looked at the ice with a confused expression before he recalled Gray's earlier plan.
"MOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOVVEEEEEE!" They heard come from out of the slide a few seconds later.
Lucy's and Happy's eyes went wide in surprise and joy as they recognized Natsu's voice a couple of seconds before he came out of the slide. "Get the sails up!" He yelled as he flew by and grabbed the mast before he could fly off the ship. He spun around it twice to bleed off his momentum and jumped back to the aft end of the ship, making sure to land to the side of the slide. "Move!" He demanded angrily as he glanced back to see everyone looking at him in shock.
Everyone jerked before Sho and Wally moved to raise the sails, a move that also confused them as it wouldn't allow them to use the wind, meager as it was, to try and escape. A second later Simon flew out of the slide and hit the deck with a grunt. He rolled up to and slammed into the railing by the helm with another grunt and coughed up some blood from the impact. "If it's not already up, raise the anchor now!" He yelled desperately after the cough.
The ice slide suddenly started to shatter apart from the top, making everyone's eyes go wide in shock as the damage spread down the slide. A second later Gray flew out of the slide with a vial of blue tonic held in his left hand and Juvia's eyes sparkled with joy as the Ice-Make Mage rolled as he hit the deck. He only got two rotations in before he got to his feet and slid across the wooden planking.
"Gray, what about-?!"
"Damnit!" Gray's yell of frustration cut Natsu off as he dropped to one knee and punched the floor.
Earlier
Quickly realizing they didn't have much time; Gray, Natsu, and Simon tried to figure out what they could do to try and escape the blast radius. Gray hadn't been filled with much hope. He had informed them that even if he made a slide like originally planned they still wouldn't get away in time, but Natsu's determination to try something wouldn't let him be idle.
After a few seconds of silently staring at the lacrima, Erza suddenly spoke up. "Natsu, if you had enough magic could you make a powerful enough blast of fire to boost the ship?" The Requip Mage asked and after a blink Natsu nodded his head confidently. Erza quickly reached into Link's pouch and pulled out three vials of his blue tonic. "This will restore your magic, drink quickly!" She ordered as she tossed the first one to Gray and the second to Natsu. After a short pause, she reached back in and pulled out a small red, spherical pill. "This is something Link's been working on, it should help with your motion sickness long enough to get us out of here." She explained as she tossed it to Natsu, whose eyes lit up happily before eating it.
Gray quickly ran to the edge of the Tower and looked around, quickly spotting the ship down below in the water before he brought his right fist up over his left palm. "Ice Make: Slide!" He yelled as he dropped to one knee and slammed his hands on the floor. Instantly a large slide of ice started to form and raced down to the ship. "Natsu, get going!" Gray ordered before it could reach the ship and got a nod from the Dragon Slayer as he rushed forward. "Tell them to get the sails up! Otherwise the drag will slow us down!" He added just as Natsu jumped in feet-first.
"I'll make sure they didn't drop the anchor back down!" Simon added as he jumped in a second later, his eye intense.
"Erza, hurry and get down the slide with Link! I'll be right behind you!" Gray shouted but paused when he felt her hand on his shoulder. "Erza, what-?" His question was cut off as Erza placed the third vial into his left hand and he looked at it in confusion.
"Gray… have Happy fly up and get Link once it's safe." Erza said softly and Gray's eyes slowly widened before he was pushed into the slide.
"Erza!" Gray yelled as he looked back. Shock flooded him as he saw her standing with a gentle smile, a smile of goodbye. She brought up a Requipped broadsword and the smile hardened as she prepared to slash down.
Present
"What the hell are you planning, Erza!?" Gray yelled as chunks of ice fell into the water and everyone looked at him in shock.
Jellal's Throne Room
Erza gently placed Link down on the ground as the Tower around them continued to shake itself apart. "Don't worry, Link, you'll be safe." She said softly before she looked up at the lacrima altar that she had almost been absorbed by. The magical power of Etherion was supposed to bond to me and then break me down… if I can control it in this unstable state and redirect it… She thought as she swallowed and started to stand up.
Link suddenly grabbed her arm, making her freeze and look back down at him in surprise. "Er… za…?" He asked weakly as he looked up at her in confusion, not sure what the quakes were about or indicated, but sure that something was wrong.
Erza's expression turned gentle as she looked down at him before she carefully reached down and took his hand from her arm. "It's okay, Link." She said but something in her tone and expression told him otherwise. "Etherion is going to explode, but I have a plan." She said and Link's eyes widened at first before turning questioning as she got up and walked around him to the lacrima altar. "If I enter the lacrima now, I should be able to fuse with Etherion and redirect the power back up into the sky." She said and his expression swiftly changed from questioning to shock at her reasoning.
Link winced as he slowly started to roll to his side, his body screaming in protest. "It's okay, Link." Erza said again but Link just grunted as he finished rolling to his side and then to his stomach with a gasp. "With this I can save everyone. I can save you." She said as she placed her left hand against the altar and pushed against it.
Erza winced as her hand slowly went through before she smiled. It's still accepting me. She thought in relief as her body slowly started to be absorbed. "If I can do that, if I can save everyone important to me, then I'll gladly sacrifice this body." She said and Link froze as he managed to get to his hands and knees. "That's how much I love Fairy Tail. How much I…" Erza trailed off as her left arm and leg were absorbed, wincing again from the pain.
"Before, you said if our partnership meant anything I would answer you." Erza said softly before she turned back to look at the panting Link with a gentle smile. "The truth is it was everything." She said and the trembling of Link's body grew. "Because of you, I was able to truly smile again. I was able to truly laugh again. I was able to truly live when I thought all I would be able to do was cry." She said as she was lifted up, her right arm and leg now being absorbed.
Link all but launched himself up and slammed against the lacrima, his eyes closed from his exhaustion. "I'm sorry, Link, but there's no following me this time." Erza said gently as Link brought his trembling hands up and placed them against the lacrima. "Farewell… partner. Hnnnggg" She said with a final groan of pain before she was completely absorbed into the lacrima and pulled back.
"Please…" Link said softly, his face lowered and the top of his head pressed against the lacrima.
Don't worry, Link, you'll be fine. Erza thought as she closed her eyes, her smile content. I know you'll be able to make it back to Hyrule one day. Until then, please take care of everyone at Fairy Tail.
"Not again…" Link begged brokenly and Erza's eyes popped open in surprise to see tears streaming down his face and to the ground.
"But I defeated Gohma!" Ten-year old Link cried out from his hands and knees, dressed in his green tunic and cap with his wooden Deku Shield and Kokiri Sword on his back. His tear-filled gaze was fixed on the mighty, mustachioed Great Deku Tree while Navi floated at his side, stunned silent.
"Not again…" Link begged once more as sobs shook his body and Erza's eyes widened at his tears, something she had only seen once before.
"I ended the curse! I saved you!" He pleaded with the silent guardian deity. "Please… you can't die…" Link begged as tears streamed down his face.
"Not…" Link's entire body tightened as his tone firmed, going from a plea to a statement of fact. "Again…"
Young Link looked on silently, his eyes glistening with unshed tears, as he gazed at the petrified remains of the Great Deku Tree. At the monument of his failure to save his father.
Golden light radiated from Link's trembling left hand as he pushed against the lacrima. "Not!" He yelled determinedly as Erza watched, her eyes wide.
"No." Young Link said and Erza looked at him in surprise as they sat on the train to their first job. "We're partners, so I'll make sure nothing happens to you." He said firmly and Erza gave a small grin.
"Again!" He finished as his hand started to push through while translucent orbs of magical power formed around him from the Etherion.
That was the last thing Erza saw before she was forced to close her eyes from the pain of Etherion beginning to fuse with her.
Unknown
What… is this? Erza thought as she felt herself floating through nothingness. What was I… oh… right… I fused with Etherion. She recalled as the feeling persisted. Is this what death is like? She wondered idly as she continued to float along lazily. The sound of rain falling suddenly surrounded her, quickly followed by the sounds of restrained sobs. What? She wondered as she slowly opened her eyes.
Erza was surprised to find that she was floating over the Magnolia Town graveyard, now wearing a white, flowing toga held together with a white sash at her waist in an overcast, grey sky. Rain sprinkled down gently as she looked down to see Makarov and Link standing twenty feet before a statue of a female, winged knight in full plate armor with an enclosed helm. The woman wielded a spear in her right hand and sat upon a rearing horse with her left hand raised up in victory as it faced towards them. Situated behind it was a large, stone cross with a rune-engraved circle going across its center.
Makarov wore his ceremonial white coat with fur trim on his collar, the symbol of the Ten Wizard Saints on its back, and black slacks. Link stood in his dark blue mourner's suit and shoes; his blank face downturned, his eyes almost closed, and his ears hanging limply. Lined up another ten feet behind them stood almost all of Fairy Tail, all in black suits or dresses, and tears in most of their eyes. As Erza looked again at Link, she noticed that his golden earring was gone with only a small hole where it had once been.
"Erza Scarlet." Makarov started solemnly and Erza's confused gaze returned to him. "In God's grace… God fearing… her heart was as wide as the eternal sky." He said and her eyes widened as she realized she was bearing witness to her own funeral. "Her sword shone nobly for her loved ones. Her figure a dancing, fluttering fairy. Her beauty was a match for nature itself." Happy, Lucy, Mirajane, Levy, and several others all sniffed at Makarov's words as tears welled in their eyes.
Makarov took a shuddering breath as tears welled in his eyes and Erza's eyes tightened in sorrow at the sight of her Guild. "Love… makes us stronger, and it is love that makes us weak as well." He continued roughly after his breath and his hands tightened into fists as his body shook. "I… she was… she was like a daughter to me…" He choked out and his eyes squeezed closed as his tears streamed down.
Master… Erza thought sadly as she swallowed against the knot forming in her throat. She turned a hopeful gaze to Link, remembering how he had been a rock at Lisanna's funeral. Link, however, barely seemed aware of Makarov's tears, or of anything else. His face remained blank, his eyes almost closed, and his ears low.
The sound of a staff tapping against the ground got most of Fairy Tail's attention. They looked back to see Org and the remaining Council Members walking through the rain, all wearing black robes and looking solemn. "The Council has decided to award Erza Scarlet a seat in memorandum, now and forever, that we may never forget the lesson of what our pride would have unleashed on the world." Org said solemnly as he and the other members came to a stop. "Erza Scarlet is also to be counted among the ranks of the Ten Wizard Saints for her heroic actions." He finished as he looked at the devastated Guild before him. The looks that he received showed no gratitude at his words, instead many just started crying at their finality.
"What's with this bullshit!?" Natsu's voice suddenly yelled out and everyone but Link looked in surprise to see him standing behind the Council. He was dressed in his usual black vest, white scarf and pants, and wooden sandals, and his entire body shook in rage as he looked at the funeral. Natsu ground his teeth as his eyes locked on the statue and he marched forward in angry determination.
"Natsu, what do you think you're doing?" Gray demanded in a hard, angry tone as he moved to try and intercept the quickly walking Dragon Slayer.
Natsu muttered angrily to himself as he got past his Guildmates, his voice too low for human ears to hear clearly. However, it wasn't too low for a Hylian.
Just as Natsu reached the slowly reacting Makarov and passive Link, the blonde's right hand clenched and came up to slam Natsu in the face with a hammerfist strike, taking the Dragon Slayer by surprise. "Gah!" Natsu cried out as he was sent flying back several feet before he started to recover. Everyone looked at Link in surprise, but he seemed unaware as his fist slowly unclenched and returned to his side. Not once did his expression change or his ears even twitch. "Bring it on, Link!" Natsu yelled after a quick shake of his head.
"That's enough!" Gray demanded as he grabbed Natsu's right arm with his right hand. As the pink-haired mage started to shake him off Gray extended the arm fully, locking Natsu's elbow, and put his left hand behind his shoulder and slammed him to the ground. "Help me hold him down!" He ordered as he felt Natsu try to break free of the hold. Macao and Wakabe quickly ran up to help hold down the struggling Dragon Slayer.
"Let me go!" Natsu demanded as he continued to glare at Link's back.
"Natsu…" Happy whimpered as tears streamed down his face. He crouched down and brought his paws up to pull down his ears to try and block him out.
"Natsu, cut it out..." Lucy said quietly as she wiped at her tears.
"I have to fight him! I have to!" Natsu tried to explain before he gritted his teeth. "Link, look at me!" He demanded but Link didn't even so much as twitch.
"Natsu, leave him be." Makarov ordered softly as his body continued to shake from his sobs.
"Link!" Natsu yelled angrily before he took a deep breath. "LLIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIINK!" He roared at the top of his lungs, making several people cover their ears and wince.
"I said that's enough!" Gray shouted as he put his left hand on the back of Natsu's head and slammed it into the ground to try and stun him. When Natsu suddenly stopped struggling he thought he had succeeded before he noticed Natsu's intense gaze still locked forward. The Ice-Make Mage looked up in time to see Link's ears twitch one more time before the blonde started to turn.
Erza's breathing started to quicken as she noted Link's sluggish movements while he completed his turn and slowly looked up, his eyes fully opening. Shock filled her when they did, a reaction shared by everyone else from Fairy Tail. Dull grey eyes looked down at Natsu blankly; eyes that always before shone a fiery blue. As Erza took in the beaten, hopeless look in Link's eyes she felt tears well up in her left eye. No… this… this can't be right. She thought, her head shaking in denial, as her hands came up to cover her mouth in horror.
"Link…" Mirajane sobbed at his lifeless eyes before she brought her hands up to cover her own, tears streaming down. Elfman sniffed as he brought his arms up to envelop his older sister in a hug, his glistening eyes never leaving Link's face.
Natsu's breathing started to deepen while Link just continued to look at him as if waiting for something and the pink-haired mage felt something inside of him snap. A quick shake knocked off the loosened grips of Gray, Macao, and Wakabe, and in the next instant Natsu charged in at Link with his right fist cocked back. "Grrrr…" He growled angrily as he rushed in and Makarov blinked at the sound before he slowly turned in confusion as everyone else finally seemed to notice the Dragon Slayer's charge.
"Damnit!" Gray swore to himself as he got to his feet before freezing as Natsu reached Link and lashed out.
Link watched, indifferent, as Natsu's fist came in before it stopped centimeters from his face. His dull eyes continued to stare at the shaking limb for a few seconds before his gaze slowly shifted up to meet Natsu's.
Natsu stared at Link's face, his eyes wide with shock, as he continued to breathe deeply. From the first time he had met Link, he had never been able to get through his defenses to deliver a solid hit. But just now, with a straightforward charge that had all but screamed his intentions, he would have been able to send Link to the ground as if he was a child. Natsu suddenly ground his teeth together before he grabbed Link's collar with both hands. "Erza's not dead!" He yelled into Link's face and everyone's eyes widened in shock.
"No…" Mirajane said softly as she looked up while Link's blank face slowly became confused. "Natsu, please don't do this to him." She begged as her tears continued to fall.
Please Natsu… Please don't give him false hope. Erza echoed as she slowly shook her head.
"She can't be!" Natsu yelled and cold fury shone in Gray's eyes as he angrily marched up to them. "She's too strong! She has to be out there!" He declared and Link blinked as life started to return to his eyes. "We just need-!" Natsu started to continue excitedly before he froze, everyone froze, as tears streamed down Link's face and two emotions appeared; grief and pity.
Link's lips twitched as if in speech, but his words were so soft that even Makarov could barely hear any sound as he stood next to the two.
Natsu's face flooded with disbelief before it twisted in rage as he glared at Link. "No!" He roared in denial as he shook Link by his collar and everyone looked at Natsu in confusion.
"She's gone." Link repeated softly, this time barely audible to everyone, his voice breaking at the words.
"Shut up!" Natsu demanded as he shook Link again while Makarov's eyes closed again at the pain in Link's tone. "You don't get to say that!" He ordered, his voice breaking, as he squeezed his eyes against his forming tears. "You don't…" Natsu trailed off as he felt a hand on his shoulder and he looked back to see Gray, his eyes tight with pain but no longer filled with rage. "I…" He started to say as he let go of Link's collar, only to look back in surprise as Link dropped to his knees with a dull, wet thud.
Link… why? Erza wondered as he stared down at the stone ground, his tears falling in tandem with the rain.
Makarov stepped up next to the blonde and put his right hand on Link's shoulder comfortingly. Link's ears twitched slightly at the contact before he turned to look at the older man. The Fairy Tail Guild Master felt his heart break all over again at the haunted look in Link's eyes before he moved to stand before him, Natsu easily giving way as more tears welled in his onyx eyes. "Link… you did everything you could." He said gently and Erza swallowed against the lump in her throat, praying Makarov could get through to him.
"I failed…" Link replied softly and Erza's breath caught. "I failed… I couldn't save her…" He continued numbly, ignoring Makarov as the elderly mage started to shake his head. "In front of me… but I couldn't save her…" He said before his face tightened. "Again… I couldn't… again…" He sobbed as he closed his eyes and everyone's looked at Link in a mixture of surprise and sympathy at his words.
No… Link, how could you think that? Erza wondered in despair as she looked on while the rest of Fairy Tail continued to mourn. This… this isn't what I wanted. She thought as she swallowed before she buried her face into her hands to block the sight with a sob. I wanted everyone to live… to continue smiling… She thought as the sounds of their cries continued to echo around her. I didn't want… this… The redhead barely noticed as she felt a hand grab her arm.
Erza slowly became aware that something was different. The sounds of crying were replaced by waves lapping against a shore and a familiar panting. The feeling of floating was replaced by being carried in strong yet trembling arms. As she started to shift she realized that her eyes were dry and her arms lay draped on her stomach as if she had been sleeping. After a couple of seconds her brown eyes slowly twitched opened and she found herself looking up at a familiar blonde wearing a green cap, his eyes closed in exhaustion, while they had somehow been transported to the blue waters of a beach.
Link… Erza thought as she looked up at him in surprise, barely noting how she was still in her Flight Armor. Did you… follow me… through the Etherion? She wondered in awe before blinking as Link slowly started to put her on her feet. The instant she was standing both fell to their knees in the shin-high ocean water from exhaustion.
Link grunted and winced with the impact, his entire body trembling from the abuse he had put it through, and Erza's eyes widened in concern. "Link, are you-?" A stinging slap delivered by Link's left hand silenced her as quickly as it rocked her head to the left.
Erza stayed still for several seconds after the slap, shock on her face. Finally, she brought her trembling right hand up to her stinging cheek as her eyes filled with sorrow, certain that Link had finally reached the end of his patience with her. She slowly looked over, ready for the rage that was no doubt in his eyes, but what she saw when she finally met his eyes made her freeze in stunned disbelief.
Over the years, Erza had seen many emotions in his piercing eyes. Grief, haunted, joy, nervous, determined, anger, thoughtful, fear, the list went on. But never before had she seen the depth of terror she now saw that overshadowed his anger and had his eyes glisten with tears. Erza swallowed against the dryness of her throat at the sight before reflexively wincing and closing her eyes as Link jerked forward again. However, a second later her eyes snapped back open as she found herself in his trembling embrace. "L-Link?" She asked in confusion at the shift from a slap to an embrace.
"Do you still believe… no one cares about you?" Link asked her roughly and she froze.
"Master may let us go on these jobs… but I think if something happened to us he would be heartbroken." An eleven-year old Erza said before her eyes lowered. "That could just be a hope someone might care about me, though."
Tears welled in Erza's left eye as that memory faded and she recalled the sight of her own funeral, of Makarov and the rest of Fairy Tail crying over her death. More importantly, she recalled the devastated, hollow expression on her partner's face.
"Do you think…" Link's voice broke and he swallowed as tears rolled down his face and fell on to Erza's back. "Do you think it meant any less to me?" He demanded and Erza swallowed at his question. "I only had a purpose. I was to return to Hyrule. I was to find any information I could… and help people along the way. That was all I had… all that mattered." He said hoarsely before he took a shaky breath as she quivered at his words. "But you… you made me take care of myself. You reminded me... to take joy in the little things. You showed me that it was… okay to have fun and play." He said and Erza's eyes widened as she recalled those moments. "If not for you, I… I don't know…" Link's voice broke again but this time he didn't try to resume talking.
How… how could I hurt him like this again? Erza thought as tears streamed down from her left eye. How could I think that he didn't feel as strongly as I do? She reprimanded herself before she took a shaky breath. If… if it's the only way to not hurt him… the only way to see him smile again… I have to live! She determined and then felt something that confused her. Her vision, slightly blurry from the tears in her left eye, blurred completely as something welled up in her right.
Eight Years Ago
Porlyusica looked down at Erza thoughtfully as the girl finished putting the eyepatch over her right eye. The girl's red hair barely touched her shoulders and she wore a breastplate with a long-sleeved shirt under it, a white skirt with black leggings, and brown shoes. "That's a dreadful wound." She said after a few seconds, dressed in her usual dark green blouse with a black tie around the collar and a maroon skirt under a red cloak with a long, upturned collar that ended in what appeared to be sharp teeth.
"Now, now, be nice." Makarov said in a mildly reproving tone as he stood off to the side while Erza looked down at the ground uncomfortably. The diminutive Fairy Tail Guild Master was dressed in a black t-shirt, slacks, and a rounded hat with black wings coming from the top. "A pretty girl like her shouldn't have something like that, so why don't you help her?" He asked with a wide smile at the taller woman.
Porlyusica looked over at Makarov speculatively, making him look up at her curiously, before she reached down and grabbed his ear. "Come here." She commanded as she dragged him a short distance away.
"Ow ow ow ow!" Makarov complained the entire time and Erza looked up in mild curiosity at their interactions.
"You're not planning on putting your hands on her when she's older, are you?" Porlyusica demanded once they had gotten several feet away with a stern glare.
Makarov froze before letting out a nervous chuckle at the accusation as he rubbed the back of his head. "N-Not at all, Porlyusica." He assured her as tears of pain started to form in his eyes from his poor ear's treatment.
After a couple more seconds of scrutiny, Porlyusica sighed as she released his ear. "Well, where did she come from?" She asked and then paused in surprise as Makarov went still.
The diminutive elder swallowed before he looked down at the ground. "Apparently Rob helped her out." He said solemnly and Porlyusica's eyes widened in shock at their old teammate's name.
"R-Rob?" She asked and got a nod in response. "Where is he?" The potion master demanded and Makarov's eyes tightened before he looked back up at her.
"Dead." He reported gruffly and Porlyusica froze as sorrow filled her red eyes before she looked over at the young girl.
Erza immediately looked away, her body quivering. "You there, come with me." Porlyusica ordered and Erza nodded before moving forward. "As for you, I better not hear of anymore children being taken in like this. Fairy Tail isn't meant to be an orphanage." She said sternly and Makarov froze before he chuckled nervously.
"O-Of course not…" Makarov said as he rubbed the back of his head while Porlyusica walked away.
"But Master, what about-"
"Shhhh!" Makarov quietly interrupted Erza's question as he brought his right pointer finger to his mouth. The last thing he needed Porlyusica to hear about after that comment was the child that literally appeared from thin air, at least not while he seemed to be recovering from his wounds with the supplies in the Guild House. "Just go and get that taken care of." He said with a comforting smile and after a couple of seconds Erza nodded before continuing to follow the pinkette.
Porlyusica's House
"Okay then." Porlyusica said some time later as she finished undoing the bandages she had wrapped around Erza's right eye. "Take a look with this." She said as she placed a mirror in the young redhead's right hand, who had kept her eyes closed while the bandages were removed.
Erza's eyes remained closed for several seconds before she mustered the nerve to slowly open them. When she finally looked in the mirror, she froze in shock to see two perfectly healthy brown eyes looking back at her. "It's… it's healed…" She said in disbelief as she stared at her reflection.
"You can see out of it?" Porlyusica asked as she went to throw the bandages into a wicker basket.
"Y-Yes." Erza answered numbly before a smile slowly came to her as one hand came up to rest by her newly restored eye.
"Good, then get out." Porlyusica ordered as she turned around imperiously. "I can't stand humans, so-" She froze in surprise as she saw tears of joy flow down Erza's face. "Y-Your eye…"
Erza blinked in surprise as she realized what had gotten Porlyusica's attention. Tears were only flowing from her left eye; her newly healed orb seemed incapable of the same.
"I don't get it." Porlyusica muttered as she walked over to the book on her desk. "I didn't make a mistake… what's going on?" She wondered as she flipped through the pages to find the answer.
Erza continued to look at her reflection in surprise for a few seconds before a small grin came to her. "It's okay." She said and Porlyusica paused before she looked back questioningly. "I've already cried half of my tears anyways." She reassured Porlyusica with a shake of her head.
Present Day
Am… am I...? Erza thought in disbelief as she felt tears fall from her right eye, the first tears to fall from the orb since before the Punishment Room eight years ago. But this… shouldn't be… Her right hand slowly, shakily, came up before she froze as she felt more tears hit her back. Any questions about her eye could wait. She had something far more important she had to do first.
"I'm sorry!" Erza sobbed quietly as her arms wrapped around Link to return his hug. The Hylian froze at the embrace before his own arms tightened slightly in response. "Please… please forgive me." She begged softly as her tears ran down to fall to Link's bandaged back.
Link sniffed before he took a deep, shuddering breath. "Never… scare me like that again." He named his terms for forgiveness firmly, no hint of compromise in his tone. Erza let out a sobbing laugh before she quickly nodded her head in agreement. He released her from his arms and moved back, to which she let go as well in mild confusion. Once Link got far enough back he placed his tear-streaked face centimeters from her own, his eyes intense as if searching for something.
Erza blinked in surprise before her face softened with a gentle smile as she brought her right hand up and placed it on his cheek without speaking. Rather, she let him see in her eyes her resolve, her conviction, to do all she could to live no matter what.
Relief shone in Link's eyes and a small smile came to his face when he saw what he had been looking for. The blonde closed his eyes and gently placed his forehead against hers, to which she closed her eyes in response. Both of them stayed that way, both simply enjoying each other's presence as they had so many times before. Both were barely aware at the feel of each other's breath against their face, both unaware as they drifted closer.
However, both of them became aware at the feel of their lips coming together in a tender kiss.
Blue and brown eyes snapped open and a pair of long, pointed ears flicked in surprise as they slowly pulled away. Link and Erza both swallowed as they looked at each other in surprise and wonder with light blushes on their faces, the phantom feel of the other's lips still on their own.
"Erza/Nee-san/Er-chan! Link!" Their names echoed from behind Link and both of them jerked as they blinked in surprise.
Erza looked behind Link to see them. Simon, Lucy, Juvia, Sho, Happy, Gray, Natsu, Milliana, and Wally all charged towards them through the water with the ship some distance away and further out. Tears of joy sparkled in Sho's, Milliana's, and Lucy's eyes as they ran in, while relief showed in everyone else's face at the sight of the two S-Class Mages. "Everyone made it…" Erza said with a happy smile.
Link suddenly collapsed against her, making her eyes widen in surprise and fear. "Link!" Erza cried out as she quickly maneuvered him to lie in her arms and everyone's eyes widened in concern at her tone. Her panic quickly faded, though, as she saw his eyes closed and his breathing a little ragged but stable from sleep. Your own life is always your last priority, Link. She thought in resigned amusement as she realized what had happened.
"Erza, is Link okay?" Lucy asked, her tone worried, as everyone reached them.
"Link's fine." Erza said with a smile as she continued to cradle him in her arms and everyone smiled in relief. "His nakama are here… so he's fine." She said gently as she reached up and brushed at his hair. She knew that with the knowledge of everyone's safety he could no longer call upon his unbreakable willpower to ignore the price of his exertions. That he could finally rest.
Karyu no Saiga – Fire Dragon's Crushing Fang
Karyu no Kenkaku – Fire Dragon's Sword Horn
Karyu no Tenken – Fire Dragon's Heavenly Fist
Into the Past: Triple S Part 2
The sun shone in the blue sky as Erza, Link, and Mirajane walked up to the recovering Smokesen Village, Erza pulling her wagon loaded with suitcases behind her while other supplies and bags were conveniently stored in Link's pouch. Three square, stone houses with three windows and wooden roofs as well as a larger, rectangular stone structure with ten, large windows remained standing while multiple piles of stone rubble could be seen scattered about. In addition, they could see the foundations of another five houses cleared and looking ready for new construction over them. As they got closer they could see seven men in simple looking clothes working together to clear out one of the piles of rubble.
"Oi!" Mirajane called out and they all stopped to look over in surprise. "We're looking for Mayor Patis, any idea where we can find him?" She asked in a more normal volume as they walked up to the group.
"Well, yes and no." One burly man in a brown shirt and blue jeans answered with a grin that showed through his thick, brown beard. The others of his group all looked at each other and chuckled at his reply while the three S-Class Mages looked at him in mild confusion. "Mayor Patis is in the gathering hall and probably giving everyone else their worklist for the day or checking on the kids." He said and then offered a wink as their confusion only deepened. "She's a tough old bear, but calling her a man is a good way to get knocked out." He explained and they blinked in surprise.
"You would know, Terry!" Another man laughed. The rest of the group laughed as well while the bearded man shrugged, his grin never shrinking.
"Thank you." Erza said as she and Link both gave a short bow before the three walked over to the gathering hall.
"Why is she hauling all of that stuff?" One of the men, a dirty blonde with no beard, asked as they watched the three walk away and got a shrug.
"Better question, what brings them out here?" Another one asked, brown-haired with a light shading of facial hair.
"Probably mages for the job." Terry reasoned thoughtfully then shrugged his indifference before he looked back at the surprised looks of the others. "Here's an even better question. Who wants to tell Patis that we're slacking off?" He asked and they all froze before quickly getting back to the pile of rubble.
"They seem happier than I thought they would." Mirajane remarked as they walked up the few steps to the gathering hall's wooden doors, Erza leaving her wagon to the side, and got a nod from Erza and Link. "I guess they're in a laugh or cry mentality." She remarked with a shrug as they opened up the doors and all three paused at the sight.
The inside of the gathering hall was spacious, somehow looking even larger on the inside than one would think possible. The floor looked to be polished oak, something Mirajane found to be an odd touch in this remote village, with several wooden tables and chairs pushed to the walls. At the back corners of the gathering hall, on either side of a stage, there were two more wooden doors that led further back. What had quickly gotten their attention, however, was in the center multiple men and women lay on blankets and covered in bandages, with a few women going between them and doing what they could to help ease their pain.
Link quickly walked forward with a serious expression on his face as he reached for his pouch. "Link?" Mirajane asked curiously but got no response as he pulled out several vials filled with a pink liquid. Her right eye twitched at being ignored but stayed quiet as she watched him walk up to a surprised brunette as she changed one man's bandages.
"Can I help you?" She asked as Link knelt down on the other side of the injured man. In response, Link gave her all but one of the vials and pointed at the other injured. "What are these?" The woman asked as she hesitantly took the vials from him.
"A tonic to help stabilize everyone and ease their pain." Erza answered for Link as she walked up with a curious Mirajane and the brunette blinked in surprise. "I've had to use them multiple times, they're quite effective." She said with a kind smile as Link carefully helped the man drink.
"Y-You're a potion master?" The woman asked as she looked back at Link. The blonde shook his head in response even as the man let out a sigh of relief from the tonic.
"Link would tell you he's a potion maker, not quite a master." Erza said with an amused shake of her head and Link nodded in agreement as he reached back into his pouch.
The woman still smiled in relief as she quickly moved to distribute the vials to the others. "Everyone, a potion master seems to have stumbled on us!" She called out and the other women all quickly moved to help administer the vials.
Link's ears twitched and he sighed but said nothing as he pulled out a few of his ointment jars and rolls of clean bandages. Hopefully Porlyusica doesn't hear about that. He prayed as he finished the process of removing the man's bandages.
"Since when is Link a doctor?" Mirajane quietly asked Erza as they watched him work. The man's injuries seemed to have started to heal on their own, but Link didn't hesitate to administer the white ointment to them.
"As I said, Link is a potion maker." Erza whispered back as she looked around to try and find the "tough old bear" the man outside had mentioned. "When we come across events like this, the first thing Link does is help with the injured." She said and Link nodded in agreement.
Mirajane blinked in surprise before she sighed and put her right hand on her forehead. Right… there's no point in whispering with those ears. She realized before she moved to walk to the back, leaving a surprised Erza behind. "Is Mayor Patis here?" She asked and one of the women nodded.
"Mayor Patis!" The blonde woman called out and several seconds later the back left door opened up.
A tall, muscular woman with modest curves walked out and immediately looked upon the three newcomers. The tanned woman wore a green shirt and jeans taut to her muscled physique under a long, brown hide jacket. Her face was slightly creased with laugh lines and her dark brown hair, up in a ponytail, had a few streaks of white in it, but her hazel eyes shone with the luster of a young woman as she looked at the three appraisingly. "Well, what do we have here?" She asked in a strong tone as the sound of children playing echoed from the room she'd just left before she closed the door.
"We're here for the job." Mirajane answered confidently as she crossed her arms over her chest. Her answer raised the eyebrows of the villagers, not expecting the small group of teenagers to be here for their demon troubles. "I'm Mirajane Strauss." She added a second later.
Patis's right eyebrow rose curiously before she looked over at the still working Link and then Erza.
"I am Erza Scarlet." Erza said with a polite nod of her head before she came up to stand beside Mirajane and a faint smile came to Patis before she glanced at Link. "He is Link Kokiri." The redhead answered for her partner as he finished applying the ointment.
"Well, well, here I thought I had some brats who stole an S-Class job to make a name for themselves." Patis said with a chuckle as she came to stand before Mirajane, whose eyes flashed angrily at her words, and Erza. Though most of the villagers looked at her curiously, a few were looking at the three in wide-eyed surprise. "Demon Mirajane, Erza the Titania, and Maharathi Link of Fairy Tail… three of the youngest S-Class Mages in history have come to our humble village. Welcome." She said with a short bow, which still left her towering over the young women.
"W-w-wait… you're an S-Class Mage?" The man Link was bandaging asked and got a nod of confirmation from the blonde. "Th-thanks again." He said and Link offered a small grin with another nod.
"Here, I can take back over." The brunette Link had first given his pink tonic vials said as she kneeled on the other side of the man. Link nodded before he pointed at the ointment jars then at the other injured villagers. "A-are you sure?" She asked uncertainly and got a nod from him before he stood up and went to join Mirajane and Erza.
"Come with me." Patis said before she walked over to the door on the right side of the stage and all three followed after.
Patis motioned to a few chairs on one side of a hickory desk as she walked to the other side to her own cushioned chair. "First, what are your questions?" She asked and Erza leaned forward.
"We need the location of the ruins and anything you can tell us about those demons." The Requip Mage said and Mirajane looked over at her irritably. "What?" She said in response sharply and Patis's right eyebrow rose.
"I thought the deal was for Link to be in charge." Mirajane said back testily, not liking how Erza seemed to be taking the lead.
Erza's right eyebrow came up in response. "Oh, should I have waited for Link to ask?" She asked and Mirajane froze before looking to the side in disgruntlement.
"Are you three going to be up for fighting demons like this?" Patis asked and the two rivals looked back at her sharply.
"Yes." Link said before the other two could reply and Patis turned her gaze to him. The Hylian said nothing as he matched her gaze easily for several seconds and got a grin from her.
"Strong, silent type, eh? Not bad on the looks department either." Patis remarked and Link blinked as his ears flicked in surprise at her comment. Erza's eyes narrowed slightly and Mirajane couldn't help but smirk at her reaction. "Well, to start here's a map that will lead you three to the ruins." She said as she opened a drawer on her desk to pull out a rolled-up piece of paper.
Link silently took the proffered parchment and placed it in his pouch, wanting to hear the information on the demons before studying the map. "As for the demons… I can't tell you much." She said with a shrug and they looked at her in surprise. "A few of my people were exploring and stumbled upon the ruins. They found the stone doors locked with Runes and thought they might find some treasure or, if nothing else, we could sell the location to some archaeologists. After a few days they managed to find a way in and explored." She said and offered a snort. "Well, they found something alright; two sealed and very pissed off demons. One stayed back to try and slow them down while the others escaped." Patis paused for a few seconds before she slammed one hand on her desk, making the three flinch in surprise. "That bitch and bastard duo showed up an hour after they got here and attacked. Took everything we had to just get them to leave, and while I'm confident in my people I doubt the reason they haven't come back is because they're afraid of us." She snarled angrily, her body swelling in her growing anger.
Link, Mirajane, and Erza looked at her in surprise at the sudden change. Tough old bear, indeed. They thought as they looked at her flashing eyes, for in that moment they couldn't help but see her as one of the ferocious creatures.
Patis smoldered for a few more seconds before she closed her eyes and took a breath. "The bitch used Dark and Fire Magic; fast as hell, too. The bastard used a massive sword of weird design that could shoot off blasts of pure magical power like it was a dagger. Don't get me wrong, though, for the bitch was strong and the bastard certainly wasn't a slouch in speed either; one just had the edge over the other in those regards." She said with a sigh as she brought her right hand to her forehead. "I don't know demonic nature very well, but I guess after just "waking up" they probably weren't at full strength. I really don't want my people to face something like that, but none of us like the idea of leaving… especially since we kind of had to sell the location in order to pay for this job." She admitted and they looked at her in surprise. "Oh sure, we can pay it back if we need to. But once the job is out it's not like those vultures wouldn't start sniffing around and find it on their own, might as well get something out of this." She reasoned with a smirk.
"Ha!" Mirajane exclaimed in amusement at the mayor's reasoning. "Okay, I have to ask. What did you all do before coming out here?" She asked curiously and Patis raised an eyebrow at her. "One man quickly staying back to hold off two demons, your people fighting them off, and everyone is far too… normal after such an event." She listed with a wave of her hand on that last point and after a few seconds Patis offered a grin at her reasoning.
"S-Class Mages, indeed." The mayor said with a respectful nod. "Truth is that most of the men and some of the women were under me as part of a Mercenary Guild." She said and all three mages blinked in surprise. "However, we all decided we were done with that life and wanted to find somewhere remote to build a new one; one where we could still have the occasional fun." She said with a smirk before she sighed. "I'm proud, but my first concern is always for the people under me and this… this is beyond even us." She admitted unhappily.
Link stood up from the chair and offered a short bow. "Thank you." He said as Erza and Mirajane also stood up. "Would you like me to restore the houses?" He asked as Patis also stood and she froze in surprise.
Mirajane also looked over in surprise at the offer, not sure what her continually surprising nakama had planned.
"Y-You can do that?" Patis was finally able to ask and Link nodded his head. A couple of seconds later her right hand enveloped his left arm and he was all but dragged out of the room with a blink of surprise. He barely kept his feet as they went through the gathering hall, Patis ignoring the looks of surprise on the villagers, while a surprised Erza and an amused Mirajane quickly followed after. The Smokesen Village mayor took him out the doors and quickly down the stairs before finally stopping and looking down at him. "Please pick a house and get started." She said while Link tried to get his bearings back.
"Patis?" Terry asked curiously as he took notice of them.
"This kid, Link, says he can restore everyone's homes." Patis said and got looks of surprise from her people.
Link held out his left hand to Requip the blue Ocarina of Time and then motioned for the villagers to step away from the rubble; which they did with mixed expressions. Link nodded his head before he closed his eyes and brought the Ocarina to his mouth.
Doo dooo du doo dooo doo
The slow, haunting melody he played had everyone but Erza look at him in surprise as he swayed with the music. After a few seconds, one of the villagers looked to the side and his eyes went wide. "The hell!?" He swore as he took a step back in surprise and everyone quickly looked to see what had gotten his attention.
Mirajane's eyes went wide as she saw everything start to shift around and move before the rubble started to reassemble itself and reverse the damage; even the rocks and wood that had been carted off to the woods floated back as if carried to restore the buildings. What is this? She wondered as she looked back at Link as he lost himself in the Song of Time.
After several minutes, Link played his final note and opened his eyes to see all the stone houses back in one piece. "HE ACTUALLY DID IT!" All the villagers yelled in celebration, including those from inside the gathering hall that had some mobility and wanted to see what was going on. Link winced and his ears flicked twice as he Ex-Equipped the Ocarina of Time before a small smile came to him at their excitement.
"You little runt!" Patis yelled happily as she picked him up in a bear hug that almost took his breath away. "Oh, if only I were younger and single!" She exclaimed before she planted a strong kiss on his cheek.
Link's face went bright red and his eyes went wide as his ears flicked several times in embarrassed surprise. "Hahahaha!" Mirajane couldn't help but laugh at his expression, her arms going to her stomach as she leaned forward in her mirth. Erza, however, had also blushed slightly at the older woman's words with a slight glare.
"Hey, Kodiak, would you mind not seducing a kid in front of us?" The brown-haired man with a shadow of facial hair called out with a laugh.
"Come on, Gregoire, if I was seducing this young man he'd already be in my bed!" Patis remarked back with a laugh as she put the now fully red Link down on the ground. "Thanks again, Link." She said with a pat on his shoulder that made him jump slightly before he cautiously backed away with a nod of his head. "Would you like someone to show you three to the ruins?" She asked and Link shook his head before opened up his pouch to take out the map. "Well, best of luck then." Patis said with a nod before walked over to the burly Terry. "As for you, I noticed those Runes are also back in place." She said as she poked her right index finger at his chest while looking him evenly in the eye.
Terry cleared his throat as both men and women at the village laughed at her statement. "Now hold on, Patis, it's still daytime and-"
"Isn't that the guy that called her a tough old bear?" Mirajane suddenly asked Erza as Link made his way over to them.
Terry's eyes immediately went wide and his face pale as Patis's head whipped around to look at them in surprise. "Oh… he did, did he?" She asked as her eyes narrowed before she slowly looked back at him and his working party all took a few steps away from them. "Is that true?" Her eyes flashed dangerously as she glared at him and he swallowed nervously, to which she grabbed a fistful of his shirt. "Well then," Patis said before pulling him into a fierce kiss that had all three S-Class Mages blinking in surprise. "Seems momma bear needs to remind you how young I can be." She growled huskily with a spark in her eyes and he swallowed again even as his eyes sparked eagerly in return. "Gregoire!" Patis called out as she let go of Terry's shirt and walked past him. She quickly grabbed the back of his collar even as he brought his large hands to his bearded face with a sigh and a grin and proceeded to drag him to one of the houses as if he weighed next to nothing.
"Yeah, yeah, I've got it." Gregoire said tiredly with a wave of his hands. "Just turn the damn Runes on." He reminded her as Link, Erza, and even Mirajane blushed at what they were seeing unfold.
"Done." Patis said with a content smirk as she opened the door and threw Terry inside before she walked in. As she closed the door behind her, several Runes on the house glowed momentarily before dimming again.
Gregoire and several others sighed in relief before he turned to look at the still dumbstruck and flushing mages. "Did she at least answer all your questions?" He asked and they all slowly nodded. "Well then, good luck and try not to die." He said and they all nodded again as they tried to process what had just happened.
Two Days Later
Link, Erza, and Mirajane looked through the trees at the small clearing into the rocky side of a mountain cliff. There were several toppled stone columns covered with moss, a crumbling stone wall overrun with moss and vines, and an open doorway with piles of stone rubble around it. "I see that 'managed to find a way in' means, 'finally found a good place to break it'." Mirajane remarked dryly and got a small chuckle from Link.
"Well, Link, what do you propose?" Erza said after a few more moments of scrutiny.
Link continued to look at the ruins for another handful of seconds and then shrugged. "We need to explore first." He said and Mirajane looked at him blankly even as Erza nodded. Link looked back at Mirajane and then sighed before he motioned to the ruins with his left hand and tilted his head curiously.
After a few seconds, though, she could only sigh and nod. "Yeah, not much to work with." Mirajane agreed before they walked up to the ruin entrance, Erza leaving her wagon behind.
Ruin Interior
In a sprawling, massive chamber, where the only light came from purple, flickering torches that kept the shadows moving constantly, a red-skinned figure sat cross-legged on the stone floor with a large sword, roughly six feet in length, lying beside him. The figure was male and large, a behemoth actually, muscular but highly toned, with long, wild hair that reached down to the middle of his back. He wore a pair of black, ragged pants with a leather harness on his massive chest. His eyes were closed as he breathed in a deep, growling way that had his hair shifting with every breath.
Suddenly his eyes snapped open, revealing black orbs with golden irises slit like a cat's. "You sensed it, Oni?" A purring, feminine voice asked near the one of the walls of the chamber.
The source of the voice was sitting in a stone chair and obviously female with a very curvaceous form, as well as armor plating up her neck, three spikes on her chin, and two large golden horns that sprouted sideways from her forehead. She wore a dark purple high-collar overcoat with white edges that revealed a fair amount of cleavage. The open coat was circled and secured by a light belt passing just below her breasts with a second belt that circled her waist and held a white half-cloak that went down the back of her legs. Under the half-cloak she wore white, skin-tight pants with purple motifs over the groin and down the sides of her legs. A large, dark cape sat on her shoulders and trailed down her back. Her long, scruffy hair was a dark purple with red highlights that occasionally glowed brightly before dimming again. Her eyes were black like Oni's, but her cat-slit irises were a glowing crimson.
Oni gave a low growl in confirmation, his fangs showing as his lips pulled back, before he looked down at his massive, right arm and squeezed his hand tightly, forcing his muscles to bulge and shake. "Full strength." He growled out, his voice a deep, rumbling avalanche, as he relaxed his arm before he looked back at his fellow demon.
"Oh, I feel it too." She agreed with a fanged smile and a nod. "How would you like to go and have some real fun?" She asked in that same, purring voice.
Oni gave another growl as picked up his sword and brought it before his eyes. Massive in dimensions, it appeared to be two blades, one pale green and the other turquoise, warped in a helix pattern and attached to a foot and a half long, dark green hilt. "Yes, Sitri." He growled out with a demonic, savage smile.
Well, this arc is finally completed and much fun left to be had. I would make a joke but I'm afraid some higher force would hear me and take it as a challenge…
I don't know why the Into the Past became a three part thing. At least I got to the demons and I swear the next one will wrap it up.
Hope everyone enjoyed the chapter.
Till next time.
