The last time I touched this story it was October 2017, I was only 18 then. Since then I have written two finished stories and hundreds of incomplete books. I hope my years of practice show. I missed this story. I want to see it get to a better stopping point. I will have at least one more chapter, likely up Friday. Hopefully, there are still readers for this story, and I hope this chapter is up to the standard you all expect after the last 7. Thank you, all of you. It is because of the people who loved stories like this one, that I continued with my passion for writing. Even if only 1 of the 110 followers read this update, I'm happy. I apologize for the three-year wait, but say it with me, "Better late than never!"

'Thoughts'

"Talking"

Normal

"Spells"

Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail all rights go to their respective owners.

Natsu's shout echoed in the depths of Erza's mind, "Erza you need to stop now!"

"It's so warm though, this power is welcoming! They all deserve this. They deserve this! For all the pain and suffering they deserv-"

"ERZA! Do you see that? Do you see what I see! Don't you see the blackness around you? Don't you see the color fade!"

"With this power, I can save them! I can save everyone!" She exclaimed in desperation tears coursing from her eye.

"Erza! You will lose them with this power. You will lose all of them. You will be ensnared in this dome of black with only my voice to comfort you." His arms wrapped around himself, his voice barely above a hush.

"But they will obtain freedom! Everyone look at me! We will obtain freedom…" She felt his warmth as her words faded off. The black flames around her snuffed out with her quieting emotions.

"Erza, do not use those flames," Natsu begged with a tightening embrace.

Her words were quiet but to Natsu, he felt himself to be walking on broken glass with her question, "Then why do you use them?"

"I don't choose to. They are flames of emotions, if we let them grow too strong they will control us."

"How do you control them?"

"Practice and someone to beat you senseless when you fail."

"How am I meant to practice if I can't use them?"

"It is better to be weak then to let yourself use that magic."

"Erza are you okay?" Millianna inquired followed by Simon being carried by Wally and Sho.

"I'm fine, now everyone needs to get going. I'm going to go save Jellal." Erza wiped away her tears and but on a strong smile for everyone.

Such a young girl with such a heavy burden. "We want to go with you! We won't leave without you." Sho shouted.

"It's fine, I will save Jellal and meet everyone on the ship! We will all be free." She comforted and turned her away to search for Jellal in the dungeons, all mages already dead from Erza outburst.

"You're good, child. Much better than I expect." The draconic bellowing voice resonated out from the crater of Natsu's magic.

"My frustrations were misplaced, my apologies. I don't wish to continue this fight." Natsu answered back to the voice his sole focus Erza.

"What's your name child?"

"Natsu."

"Igneel King of the fire dragons, you were right to surrender I had yet to get serious."

"That's fine, old man. It's your win. Now can you stop bothering me?"

"I'm still young! I will have you know I'm the youngest dragon in history to become king of their element." There was a visible tick on the side of Igneel's head as he spoke completely from pride.

"That's nice to hear old man. I'll make sure to gloat about it when someone asks the weakest dragon I beat."

"Weakest?! Beat?! Child! I will have you remember, you surrendered."

"I don't want to be responsible for more deaths because of my reckless emotions."

"Let's go another round!

"No, I have more important matters, and if you keep disturbing me old man I'll put you back in the ground." Natsu's curse flared up the dirt around him boiling from the heat.

Erza could hear the anger and was reminded of the warning he gave her. "Natsu you need to calm down you can't lose to your magic."

Natsu took a deep, "I need to make sure Erza is safe, if you want to fight after that, I'll let you have the first hit."

"I don't need a handicap with fighting a child."

Natsu didn't bother continuing the argument closing his eyes to his world. All that remained was the gray stone hallways that Erza dashed down in search of Jellal. She was heavily panting but the only sounds were the reverberating slaps as her bare feet slapped against the cold stone. Natsu could keep every bit of it, every gash on her soles, every slam as her body tumbled into walls. It haunted him, a peerless nightmare, there was nothing he could do. So, he would watch, engrave every second of it into his mind. Never again, this will never happen again.

Unbeknownst to him, his flames were rising from the ground encasing him.

"I, Natsu, swear I will save you Erza. I will never allow you to be sad again."

"Natsu…"

"I promise! I pinky promise x10! I will save you! I will not let you be sad again!" The tears were uncontrollable. The demon of the END crying.

"Nat-"

"So live! You are not allowed to die! You hear me Erza! You are not allowed to die! I command it! You promised you would always be with me. So, you. Are. Not. Allowed. To. Die! Do you hear me!" He cut her off, no matter what she said, it wouldn't change anything to him.

"I'm going to live, Natsu. You are stuck with me forever."

He was bawling his eyes out, he didn't want to lose her. He didn't want to imagine a life without her.

"Jellal!" There he was limp atop a pile of rubble. Erza ran as fast as her little legs would carry her.

"Jellal, wake up it's me Erza!" She shook his shoulders in hopes of some kind of answer.

"He called out to me Erza." His voice was weak and slow but grew stronger with every word.

"It's okay now, we are free." She pulled him into her embrace weeping onto his shoulder.

"Yes, we are…free." His voice grew menacing with the word free, darkness brought to the surface.

"Jellal?" She held him at his arm's reach at the change in tone, the tears staining her cheek.

"He called out to me Erza! He told me the truth! I'm to bring him back! He will bring us true freedom!"

"Jellal you are scaring me."

Jellal's hand caressed her cheek wiping away the tears. "Don't be scared, stay, and rebuild the tower. Together we can bring Zeref back to life. He spoke to me, he will bring us freedom!"

'There he goes again about Zeref being dead! Zeref is alive and well, and if he is dead, keep it that way!'

"Erza he isn't okay, you need to go, now!" Natsu informed, cold water thrown onto his face at hearing Jellal's declaration.

"I won't leave without Jellal!"

"Erza, stay and we will achieve true freedom!"

"Jellal, true freedom is outside this tower."

With a swipe of his hand, Erza was pushed back by a wave of darkness magic. "I'll just blow up the ship everyone is on. Can't let anyone ruin the plans of Zeref's rebirth."

Erza's curse roared into action the gray room turned into a void of fire.

"You will not hurt them! I will not let you hurt them!"

Natsu immediately acknowledging the situation shot up and bellowed out to Igneel, "Knock me out! I need you to hit me unconscious!"

"What?"

"We don't have time, do it now!"

Igneel slammed his arm down on Natsu's undefended skull resulting in both Erza and Natsu being knocked out.

END

We have reached the end of the first arc of this story. I hope you all enjoyed and please stay tuned for the next chapter later this week.