Thank YOU lovely people for the reviews, favs, and follows!

Guest 1: I can't believe you read that without skipping a thing! I hope you're prepared for the MUCH longer chapters I have made (if there are any later on hehe).

Guest 2: Haha THANK YOU for the kind words *sniffles*. You don't seem fond of those cliffhangers *insert mischievous grin*. For that, I give you ANOTHER cliffhanger. Aren't I absolutely EVIL?

Juvia uses first person because I watched the dubbed and I like the way she speaks in it. :D

This time, it's pretty angsty. BUCKLE UP MY DEAR READERS! :)

Façade

Chapter 12: Prelude to Battle

The wizard summoned a sword in his right hand, raising it so it was just above Natsu's neck. "Say goodbye, Salamander."

Before the blade reached his neck, Totomaru was ambushed from behind and flew away from the Dragon Slayer. He felt Jellal's weight on his back, followed with a hiss, registering that the Wizard Saint had kneed him.

Jellal gracefully landed on both feet and got up, turning to the lacrima about to fire Jupiter. "I hope you don't mind if I destroy it."

"Ten seconds until Jupiter fires."

The Phantom Lord mage groaned heavily, standing up with frivolous effort. Totomaru grit his teeth as he replied, "I very much do mind."

Jellal shot heavenly beams out of his palm. They circled around the giant ball of infused ethernano, destroying the lacrima.

"I suppose I didn't hear you correctly. My bad." Unapologetic he was.

"One second until-" the system's voiceover did not carry out said task. "Jupiter cannot operate. Please try again later."

Gray jumped in alongside Elfman, freezing the member of the Element 4. The control room was out of commission thanks to Jellal's untimely entrance.

Gray expressed his concern when he set eyes on his friend. "Jellal, what are you doing here?"

"To help the guild, obviously."

"But aren't you not allowed to be here? I thought councillors were to remain neutral in a war at all times."

Jellal smiled at Gray's thoughtfulness. "It's alright, the guild's safety is more important than the Magic Council."

Elfman sniffled, "Jellal's the manliest of the men there."

"We still have to take out the other three before Abyss Break's activation is complete. My observations have led me to conclude that Aria is the biggest threat."

Gray nodded, "What's the plan?"

"While the others are fighting Jose's Shades, we need to assign ourselves to a member of the Element 4. Elfman, go with Natsu and team up against Sol. Gray, go against the Rain Woman Juvia. She's the weakest out of the remaining mages. And I'll take care of Aria."

Elfman scanned the room for Natsu, "Let's go, big guy…Natsu?"

Now that the contraption stopped moving thanks to destroying the lacrima controlling it, Jellal's eyes darted to the window, and he came to a dreadful conclusion. "If I had to make a guess, he went after Gajeel."

"Aye, sir!" chimed Happy.

"We have to stop him! That idiot will lose against him!"

"True, and our odds of stopping the Abyss Break are much lower now since Gajeel's not our priority at the moment."

Gray cocked an eyebrow quizzically, "What do you mean?"

"Abyss Break is a small powered by four primary elements that trace back all magic to these common ancestors. The elements are Fire, Water, Air, and Earth Magic. Gajeel does not use any of these elements, nor is he a regular mage. Like Natsu, he's a Dragon Slayer."

"That's why going after Gajeel is pointless," concluded Gray, earning a nod from Jellal. "So you're telling us to attack the remaining of the Element 4?"

"Exactly. Our priority is to stop the Abyss Break from activating. To my knowledge, Gajeel does not have any of the Fairy Tail members captive, which means we can hold off on attacking him."

Mirajane studied Erza's injuries. She was unconsciousness, perhaps uncomfortable. She laid on a wooden table in a small corner of the guildhall that wasn't violated with iron beams.

She looked back into the lacrima, where Laxus gave a cocky grin. Her eyes held their gaze, pleading. "Please, Laxus, you have to help us. They've captured Lucy."

"Who? Oh, that rich little princess who recently joined our guild? Tell you what, if blondie agrees to become my woman, I'll help you out."

Mirajane paused at his word choice. So, he did know she was the future heiress to the Heartfilia Konzern. Then again, Jose's motives for her capture made it loud and clear.

"You're such a jerk!" yelled Cana through the lacrima. After being unable to contact Mystogan through her call cards, she resorted to using a telegram found in the guildhall. It was in one piece, much to her surprise, but it served no better purpose than her magic.

Laxus gave them a hard stare and pursed his lips. "What happened to the Wizard Saint? How can you expect me to come, especially if he doesn't have the audacity to show up?"

Mirajane cleared her throat. "His position is in jeopardy, a Magic Council member cannot participate in a war. It's against the law."

"I'm not any lesser than him, in fact, I'm greater. Jellal's just a servant for the Magic Council, he values his position more than his guild, dying at the hands of Jose. Tell the geezer to hand the guild over to me, then perhaps I'll fight him." He cackled, much to Mirajane's fury. She shattered the lacrima into small pieces with her fist, sniffing.

Cana hadn't seen Mirajane cry since Lisanna's death, and the spectacle startled her. "Mira…"

She wiped at her eyes and took a shaky breath. "I shouldn't shed tears for someone like him. But it isn't fair that we keep relying on Jellal to help us when he's in danger."

"But without him, we won't be able to defeat them. As long as Jose operates that machine, we're fighting a losing battle."

"And Erza's knocked out cold. She can't fight anymore. Lucy's been taken as well because of me. And I'm just…standing here doing nothing!"

"Don't say that," Cana clasped a hand over her back and rubbed it in soothing circles as Mirajane continued sobbing. "You did everything in your power to save them. Someone followed Reedus. It's not your fault."

The barmaid clutched her forehead, "Lisanna died because of my incompetency. This situation is no different."

Cana looked over her shoulder and gripped Mirajane's shoulders, forcing her to whirl around while tears blurred her vision. It didn't take long to understand her implication when she found the table empty. Her eyes darted around the room to see if she was hiding.

Mirajane ran outside, searching for Erza to find nobody in sight. She wasn't fighting the Shades off with the others. Narrowing her eyes, she found a tiny figure running on top of the head of the cannon with a sword in hand.

"Erza!" Mirajane ran after her friend, knowing she was in no condition to fight.

As she paced along the path to reach her while running in heels, she sensed a magic seal appear beneath her, sending her below it. The last thing the mages heard was Mirajane's yelp before the seal shrunk until there was no trace of it.

"Mira!" yelled Cana, trying to pinpoint where she was taken. Perhaps it was the work of Jose, who wanted to get back at Mirajane for fooling him by transforming into Lucy.

After a lengthy debate, Jellal conceded and allowed Elfman to confront Sol by himself.

He was in the grand corridor, searching for the Earth Mage. By the looks of it, everything was too quiet. Elfman strained his ears to hear any movement.

Although expected of someone who could become one with the land, Elfman did not expect him to rise from the ground. Sol rose from the red majestic carpet like a doll popping out of a jukebox. His dramatic shade of purple hair added to the effect.

"Bonjour Monsieur! My name is Sol! I'm part of ze Element 4."

Elfman furrowed his eyebrows in fury, "I take it you're the one responsible for that spell?"

"You mean ze Abyss Break? Oui, I control the Earth, and ze memories that come along with it."

Elfman held out his arm, wasting no time in idle chat. "Beast Arm: Black Bull."

Sol noticed he did not do a Full Body Take-Over and confirmed his suspicions. The wizard dodged his arm with ease, having been able to get a glimpse of Elfman's memory. "So, ze rumors are true. You had a younger sister, no?"

Lisanna's death distracted Elfman momentarily, giving Sol an opening. Sweat trickled down his forehead as he relived the memory of clawing Lisanna with the monster's vicious arms. With his arms.

"Sable Dance!" the sand swirled around the Fairy Tail mage. Elfman squinted so he could locate his enemy, who was no longer in front of him. Sol appeared behind Elfman and attacked him with another spell, forming rocks and sending him flying up ahead until he collided with a wall. He choked on a gasp as the breath was knocked out of his lungs.

Elfman groaned as a shower of rocks were thrown his way from behind. His enemy unapologetically pressed on about Lisanna, disturbing the Take-Over mage. "You never tried another full Take-Over since then. How upsetting." He wiped a faux tear from his eye as if to sympathize with the hurt mage.

Elfman clutched his forehead, trying to forget Lisanna. He felt ashamed that he would resort to forgetting her, to rid his guilt of harming her.

"Stop talking about her! Beast Arm: Iron Bull!"

When he lashed at Sol, the wizard dodged his attacks and wrapped himself around the Beast Arm. Elfman used his other hand to detach the mage from his body, but his efforts were futile.

"Unhand me, Moncher Sol."

Sol frowned and corrected his pronunciation. "It's Monsieur, you fool." Followed by a kick to his face.

Elfman stretches his arm out and sprinted towards his enemy until Sol created Lisanna, causing Elfman to halt. "I read yet another gap in your memory. I did not know your sister was so lovely." He delicately placed his fingers on Lisanna's face, noting Elfman's fearsome countenance.

Elfman watched her crumble into sand, reminding him that her presence was a mere creation of an evil man. Sensing it to be another attack, he whipped his head around the hallways. "Lisanna, where are you now?"

Sol dug his fingers into the shoulders of another Lisanna clone, smiling cruelly. "That's a rude question, she's buried in her grave. Or have you forgotten?"

He created multiple clones around the mage, sensing that Elfman was attempting to perform a Full-Body Take-Over. But once he laid eyes on the dreadful faces of Lisanna, he could not complete the transformation.

He was weakened greatly, and perhaps that was the reason he couldn't bring himself to complete the Take-Over.

That would've been his excuse if Lisanna hadn't been used against him. And just like that, all the clones were reduced to dust. Elfman grit his teeth, "Fight me like a real man, fairly!"

"You have no right to question my masculinity. You are a pathetic excuse for a man, having killed your sister." With that said, Sol cast another one of his spells, creating a hole the size of a crater beneath him. From the distance, he could see Mirajane being clawed by the Super Mage Giant Phantom MK II. She yelled as the machine compressed her in the fist, squeezing the life out of her.

"Oh, I forgot to mention. Your older sister is being punished by Master Jose for deceiving him. Once in her lifetime known as She-Devil Mirajane, but now doesn't hold a candle to anyone." He paused, before adding the last part dreadfully. "Now you will witness her die like you did with your younger sister!"

Elfman witnessed Mira suffocating and gathered the strength to stand up, helpless. She was practically begging to be released from the excruciating grip. "No, Mira..."

"You've insulted the very definition of man. You bluff when you speak about manliness. It is all a lie. I shall give you ze eternal punishment of life. Merci la Vie!"

Elfman's body was becoming one with the land, turning into stone. He stayed in a trance, recalling the memories with Lisanna. His heart pounded loudly in his ears.

He was young, around the same time Happy had just been born. His parakeet recently passed away, and he was mourning over it at the grave he made for his friend. Lisanna approached him, concerned for her brother's wellbeing.

"Big Brother Elf? It's okay, things like this happen sometimes." Her voice was soothing, and it had been the most angelic thing he'd heard.

Elfman rubbed his swollen eyes, "No, it's not okay!"

As if understanding his pain, she placed his hand between her two small ones. "All living things will die someday, but they'll always live on in your heart. Forever."

"Be quiet! You know nothing..." he sniffled, batting Lisanna's arm away. "Just go away."

Lisanna remained by his side for a little longer before hesitantly running away, weeping.

"No, don't listen to him Lisanna! I didn't mean it!"

The memory transitioned into the one where the three siblings were about to embark on the S-Class mission. Mirajane had just become an S-Class wizard and the Strauss siblings were saying goodbye to Natsu. Little did they know, Lisanna would say goodbye to everyone for a long time.

Natsu and Happy separated themselves from each other, leaning on opposite sides of the same tree. Lisanna approached them with a surpressive smile. "Aw, Happy, what happened?"

"Natsu ate my fishy when I was supposed to have it!" the exceed grunted.

The Dragon Slayer protested, "I caught that fish, so I deserve it!"

Lisanna smiled, "Now now Natsu, you're the father, remember? You're supposed to look after our child, remember?"

"That was a long time ago!"

Happy teased him, "What's this about?"

"Nothing!"

"We're all a family, and Happy's our child!" recalled Lisanna, causing Happy to freeze.

"I think Lisanna's gone psycho."

Natsu glared at him. "Hey, don't say that!"

Mirajane watched them bicker and found it adorable. She wasn't as nasty as she used to be when she was younger, but the rivalry with Erza never changed. This was a way to challenge Erza, a regrettable one at that. "Want to join Natsu?" she offered generously.

Natsu immediately got up, "I want to come, take me as well!"

Elfman butted in, assuring his older sister that there was no need for him to come along. "Come on Mira, I'm the manly one in this family. I can take care of us."

Erza joined them from behind, followed by Jellal, who glanced at Happy.

"Uh oh," mouthed Happy.

Mirajane faced off with Erza, who was just as fired up as her rival. "Good luck on your S-Class quest, Mira. It'll still take you about fifty-six more to catch up with me."

"We'll see about that, Erza."

Jellal frowned, crossing his arms when he realized Mirajane's second S-Class quest was with her siblings. "Mirajane, it would be wise if we came along. This is only your second quest, and you're with both of your younger siblings."

"And let you guys get ahead of me? Fat chance. Let's go, Lisanna."

Mirajane and Elfman left Natsu and the others, but Lisanna chatted for a bit before leaving, giving the Fairy Tail sign before departing. Natsu was content with their farewell. It wouldn't be long before she'd come back.

But she never would.

Elfman, witnessing the past, called out to Mira. "Don't go alone! Take Natsu with you at least!"

The third memory was fresh in his mind, enriched with detail through the eyes of a beast. Mirajane lay on the floor, unable to stand after being attacked by the monster. The rain splashed mercilessly upon the searing wounds they just received. Elfman could not control the Beast Soul, there was no such thing as sanity or state of mind. He impulsively clawed at everything—his mind obsessed with the ambitions of the beast. He had once told Mirajane that her Satan Soul powers were a blessing. He could see firsthand how inhumane he became by using Take-Over magic.

Perhaps the villagers raiding their small hut was reasonable rather than unjust to them. Inside, a demon was being raised.

And now, Elfman became the second one.

He could remember seeing Lisanna in front of him—the beast—with a smile on her face as she tried communicating with him. The beast never listened, he never had common decency.

Elfman did not listen.

Mirajane cried out to Lisanna, "You have to get away from him! Lisanna, stay back!"

She should've listened to Jellal, he always predicted correctly. She hated herself for letting her ego get the best of her.

Lisanna held her arms out, afraid, but welcoming. She was a source of light that never dimmed in the rain. She accepted her brother regardless. And with a small voice, she rasped, "Big Brother Elf?"

"LISANNA!" yelled Mirajane, as Elfman clawed her.

Elfman broke down as he remained paralyzed in his spot. He hated Sol for bringing back the memories, for using it against him. And now he would die, along with Mirajane. He couldn't stand to see his sister suffer like she already had.

Then the last memory appeared with him and Mira mourning over Lisanna's death. He knelt down before her grave in a navy blue suit, crying. The weather never lightened up, it only reminded him of the same rain in which he killed Lisanna.

"I'm sorry, I don't deserve to be here. I...killed her."

Mirajane took a deep breath before attempting her best smile. She patted her brother's shoulder, causing him to look up to her with tear-glazed eyes.

"It's not your fault. These things just happen in life. Remember what she said? 'All living things will die someday, but they will always live in your heart'." She placed a hand to her chest and hung on to every word, afraid that it was the only evidence left of Lisanna in this world.

He cried, remembering his horrible attitude towards her when she came to comfort him after the parakeet died. Jellal was just as upset, having considered her as his younger sister. They shared a history for years that had meaning. They taught each other so many lessons. Gathered at the Kardia Cathedral, the priest spoke while everyone wept. He could never forget the stares he got from the judgemental adults, blaming him for her death.

"Elfman? Elfman! Snap of it, please!" Mirajane reached out to him, crying. She never looked so terrified in her life, and he vowed to never see her cry again. "I can't lose you, not like how I lost Lisanna. Live!"

Elfman was at a loss for words. He broke his promise, and couldn't stand seeing his older sister so helpless. A purple magic seal appeared above his head, his blood pumping with each passing second. SLO's magic chipped away as Elfman's magic returned with every agonizing breath. "Who made you cry!?"

Mirajane recognized his intentions and protested. "Elfman, you're not strong enough to do a Full-Body Take Over. Stop this at once!"

He completed his transformation, ready to launch at Sol. Panicking quickly, Elfman immediately attacked Sol, swinging at his enemy multiple times.

Formerly on the verge of victory, Sol scurried away, afraid. "Wait, let me explain! I was helping you overcome your fear by showing you those memories! It was a harsh trial, but you passed. You are ze manliest of ze men!" he attempted to run away, but Elfman trapped him, attacking him once again. Sol retaliated with Platre Sonata, a spell which formed a fist out of plaster and used to send Elfman through a hole. However, it didn't have any effect.

Sol gulped.

Elfman knocked him unconscious with a final swing. Sol ended up being a coward who underestimated his opponent, and Elfman took every pleasure in seeing his demise.

Mirajane was slightly nervous after recalling the events of last time when he performed a full Take-Over. She approached him slowly and waited as he released her from the Giant Mage, bringing her towards him. His Beast Soul wore off, and Mirajane hugged her younger brother.

Comfort. It was the only thing he wanted. From his sister. "It wasn't your fault she died, you were only trying to protect us."

Elfman sniffed, "But I failed."

"No." She shook her head, taking his hand and bringing it to his heart. "She's still with us. We promised to live our lives to the fullest for her sake."

He could not contain his tears, relieved to know he did not lose his older sister. Elfman could not imagine a life without her. A guild without a cheerful Mirajane, or a rebellious one. He didn't care; he loved Mirajane either way.

Abyss Break's progress slowed down now that another member was out of commission. Mirajane stepped back and observed the behavior of the magic seal. "We have two more mages to defeat, Juvia and Aria. I'm afraid Erza will confront one of them soon enough."

Elfman gawked at her, "Why is she here? Shouldn't she be resting after taking a shot from that cannon?"

Mirajane gave a dry laugh in response, "That's Erza for you, bring her down as many times as you want, she'll still fight."

Elfman grinned, "Jellal joined the battle earlier."

Contrary to what Elfman expected, his older sister frowned. "He's here? But then, doesn't that mean he's going to be trialled after this? Council members cannot fight a war among guilds."

"You know that answer better than anyone, Mira."

Gray climbed up a window, pulling himself up with his arms to reach a rooftop. The rain added a gloomy atmosphere; he was already soaking wet. It made sense the Rain Woman carried the rain wherever she went.

"Was it raining before?" he asked himself as he studied the sky.

A woman in blue hair curled from the bottom with a black hat approached him, carrying a pink umbrella in her hand. She took long strides with her heels. "Drip drip drop. I am the Rain Woman, Juvia." She introduced coolly, halting to a stop when she was a fair distance from him.

He stood defensively, prepared to dodge any of her incoming attacks as she continued speaking. "I'm surprised Fairy Tail has taken down two of the Element 4 members. However, do not take Aria or I lightly. It's a big mistake if you underestimate us."

Gray narrowed his eyes at her. "Listen, I won't go easy on you just because you're a chick. Regardless, you're an enemy of Fairy Tail."

Heat rushed up to Juvia's cheeks, and she turned on her heel. Needless to say, she was infatuated by Gray the moment she laid eyes upon him. Now wasn't the good time to be turning into a jittering mess in front of her enemy. "Well then, I suppose I'll go. You win."

Gray gaped at her as she walked away, conflicted. Juvia put a hand on her heart, afraid of her heart rapidly pacing.

What is this feeling?

She slowed down, only for Gray to catch up to her.

"Wait! Can't you stop the Giant Mage? The whole town's going to be destroyed if we don't put an end to this!"

They both held their ground as the Juvia stopped, abruptly declaring, "I must make him mine. Yes, that's the answer. Water Lock!"

With a swipe of her palm, Gray was trapped inside of a ball of water floating within it. He froze Juvia's spell by crossing his arms in front of him, freezing the water.

Juvia marvelled at his success, "He must be an Ice Wizard, and he broke through my Water Lock. I've never witnessed the power of Ice Magic, it's beautiful!"

"Man, you really surprised me with that attack. It hurt." His shirt slipped off his shoulders, coming off the wrong way for Juvia.

It's too early to do this! I just met him, but I wanted to take things slowly!

"I don't want to fight a girl, but I will if I have to. So get ready! Ice-Make: Lance!" he shot massive lances made of ice towards her, and she made no effort to dodge it. Juvia stayed still, holding her umbrella as the lances pierced through her body.

"As you can see, my body is entirely made up of water. Surprised? Drip drip drop." She paused before remembering her purpose. "Yes, I mustn't forget, my love is also my enemy. This is farewell, my prince. Water Slicer!"

Gray dodged her attack, only to witness her spell destroy a few pillars. He had no idea water of all things had the ability to slice through hard items. "Ice-Make: Battle Axe!"

The attack was futile; she stood there deadpanned, unafraid and rather confident in her skills. Juvia sighed, "There's no way you can defeat me. But there is one way your guild can be spared. All we ask is that you surrender Lucy Heartfilia. If you do, I'll ask my guild master to call off the attack."

Gray laughed, much to Juvia's confusion. "Don't give me that crap. We all know we're past the point of no return. I'd rather give my life than hand her over."

With this, the Rain Woman became enraged.

He'd rather give his life for Lucy! Give his life, give his life! Lucy's my rival, Lucy's my rival, Lucy's MY RIVAL! HE LOVES HER!

Juvia fisted her hands into her hat, screaming in agony. "AGH! Oh, the pain! How can fate be so cruel? My heart feels like it's been shredded to bits! Ah, it hurts, it hurts!" Juvia clenched her stomach, looking like she was about to die.

Gray panicked, "What's wrong? Are you sick or something?"

She recovered from her dramatic act and angrily declared, "Lucy Heartfilia cannot be allowed to live!"

"Huh?"

Juvia unexpectedly shot a geyser of hot water in his direction, causing him to gasp out. His bandaged abdomen started aching. "That burns, and what's your deal? What's your problem with Lucy?"

She seethed in anger and shot another geyser towards him. He jumped, attempting to respond with his own magic, but she was faster. He was forced to avoid the attack as her spell looped around her. He almost lost his footing when he stepped into a puddle, wobbling towards the edge of the roof. He caught himself just in time, sighing in relief.

Juvia approached him with grace in her footsteps, her umbrella no longer with her. She had dodged his magic with ease, implying she had never gone all out to begin with. "Ever since I was born, the rain had always followed me. The rain is what gives me strength, I am invincible. Prepare to be sculpted by my jealous rage!"

The mage summoned a whirlwind of water and threw her attacks one by one towards him. Gray jumped each one as if he was avoiding the puddles.

Confused, he asked, "What are you jealous of? Ice-Make: Shield!" the water was too hot, it was melting away his shield. He knew his magic would not last long against her enhanced spells. This time, her magic encased him fully. Gray used the opportunity to escape her attack using the glass pane he used to climb to the roof.

"He used the steam as a smokescreen. Not only is he handsome, but he's smart as well."

Gray ran through the corridors of the Giant Mage, trying to get as far as he can from Juvia. "I got to get away from that crazy water chick!" before he could proceed any further, a strong current of hot water burst within the hallway, trapping Gray. The water brought him back to the roof.

She used her magic again, this time while he was in the air. "It's all over now!"

"Yeah, you sure about that?" Gray froze the water and slid down while freezing the entire current. Juvia was frozen inside the giant lump of ice, but she was blushing. Not angry like she should've been.

I know I'm supposed to be mad...but-

Gray panicked when he realized his hand groped her chest indecently. He pulled it away as fast as he could, staring at his hand for a long moment. He released her from his spell, causing her to collapse on her knees.

Even though I'm his enemy, he still released me. He's such a nice guy!

Gray shook his head, trying to rewind and forget about the weird events. "Hey, let's just start over, okay?"

She stood up with her face contorted in guilt. Juvia brushed off the "Let's not. Honestly, I don't want to hurt you, so there's no point in fighting anymore."

"Is this your way of giving up?"

"You know, I'm much stronger than Lucy. I can protect you."

"Protect me from what?"

Taking a shaky breath, she flushed. As if on cue, the rain returned. "You know, from anything that will hurt you. Because I think that you're a—you're so..."

"Man, is it just me, or is this rain getting worse? It won't let up, man, this rain is so gloomy."

Juvia almost cried, trying to pretend he had said nothing. No matter how many ways she tried, she could never shunt that sentence out of her life.

He's just like the others. How could he be so cruel?

A giant gush of water started burning Gray's skin. He crossed his arms, attempting to freeze it like he had before, but his efforts were futile. "I'm through with love, and I'm through with you!" she screamed, sending Gray to his demise.

She always thought her tears could blend in with the rain or water, unnoticed.

The title, Rain Woman, first originated from her classmates, who never came to terms with her.

A woman who was never accepted for who she was, until Jose took her in after sympathizing with her.

The rain would never let up around her house, so she spent most of her days in her room, sewing Teru Teru Bozu dolls. She would make excessive amounts because she believed they would stop the rain. "A sign of spirits answering your prayers," they would say. She started with one, then ten. And a hundred. Her entire room piled with the dolls as tears rained upon each doll. She thought of her tears as the love and effort she put into making each doll. In another life, maybe they could have been her friends.

They never stopped the rain, despite always carrying one to school, hoping the rain wouldn't follow. From then, she attached one to her shawl.

At lunch, she would watch the kids play outside, where she could not witness the sun shining so brightly. And when she asked to play with them, they rejected her.

"We can't let Gloomy play with us, the rain is hideous!"

A boy threw one of her dolls away, a doll she put time into making.

She'd go home, only to make more dolls while shedding more tears. More of them filled her room, it seemed that she would never about the lack of company.

Still, why did it feel so lonely?

Why would the rain not tire of her?

Or the misery that came along with it?

Would her parents love her? She wished they were alive to wrap their arms around her, to reassure her. Orphaned at a young age, Juvia tried to love others. Love she was never taught because the girl was alone.

But she tried anyway, with Bora of all people.

She met up with Bora, who was dating her back then. They both donned umbrellas due to the rain. Juvia felt as though she owed him her life for accepting her, just like she slaved herself for Phantom Lord. She would notice the look in his eyes when they passed other women. There was something passionate about his gaze that he never bothered sharing with her.

Juvia kept her mouth shut, like good girls were supposed to do, as her boyfriend told her. Good girls were dolls, like the countless ones she made for him—to stop the rain. Good girls were obedient.

Juvia was a good girl.

So why did he break up with me? She wanted to scream when he first informed her of his decision. It was so unlike her to lose her composure.

"Can't you ever do something about the rain? We can't do anything outdoors, no fishing, no camping." Came his voice, causing her heart to pound louder. She was afraid she'd lose the only person who loved her.

"I'm sorry, but I can't do anything about it." She was sincere and hoped he would stay. Hoping she could find comfort in anyone.

She watched him drop his umbrella on the sidewalk. "Well, I'm off. We should see other people."

And just like that, he broke up with her. Maybe it was for the better. She could find someone who'd come to accept her, but everyone she met hated the rain.

She hid behind a tree, while other people were having a picnic. "Man, why did it have to rain today?"

Another time, a couple was sharing an umbrella, talking with each other. "This rain is so gloomy."

It seemed that for many others, raining was a symbol of sadness. There was nothing beautiful about the rain or the woman who controlled it. She was left empty within it.

One day, she saw two people walking around Magnolia; they didn't have any umbrellas. The girl's scarlet hair was damp from the rain, but she was jumping in the puddles purposefully. Maybe to make the other person mad, but they were both laughing.

Jellal's new suit had gotten ruined, and today was his first day on the Magic Council. "Now my pant is stained with mud!"

Erza shamelessly stepped on his newly bought laced boots. "Go home and get a change of clothes."

He pushed her into a bigger puddle, causing her to retaliate by pulling him down with her. His pants were almost soaked from the rain, but she laughed, staring at the sky while in the puddle.

"The rain smells nice," she told him.

Jellal nodded, even though all he could smell was her coconut scented shampoo. He got up, offering his hand. Erza took it, but he pushed her down again. She looked up at him with a mischievous glint in her eyes. She used her magic and requipped into something more comfortable.

"You're lucky, you can use your Requip, I can't magically change my clothes."

"Well then, I dare you to go inside the Magic Council like that."

He accepted her dare, deciding to part ways with Erza. For the first time in a while, Juvia could smile for someone else. For they didn't shame the rain. Rather, the two mages made the most of their time in the rain.

And shortly after she returned to the guildhall, Gajeel had to go to the Magic Council to submit a letter written by Jose because Gajeel couldn't properly format a letter. His writing was even worse.

The guild master had Juvia accompany the mage with anger issues in case the situation escalated. They walked in the halls of Era, where they were supposed to meet a member of the Magic Council.

They approached the same councillor Juvia saw on the way back to Phantom Lord. One of the first people she met that enjoyed spending time in the weather she carried with her. He was dried off, but he had specks of mud on the bottom of his tucked in trousers. It didn't show as much since his outfit was black.

"Greetings, I'm the new Magic Council member, Jellal." He introduced with a smile on his face.

Gajeel grunted as if he was losing his patience.

Juvia returned the smile. "My name is Juvia, I've come here today with Gajeel. He has to submit a written apology."

Jellal met Gajeel's gaze, holding out his hand. "I heard lots about you, Gajeel. You have a renowned reputation for hostility."

"Watch that mouth!" Gajeel swung his arm, and Juvia gasped, certain that he would hit Jellal. But Jellal caught his arm with one hand, maintaining a poker face.

"Wow, I didn't know council members were so strong," murmured Juvia, putting a hand over her mouth in shock. Gajeel cocked his head in her direction and shot her a menacing glare. She never bothered with his attitude, nor did it frighten her.

Gajeel turned back to the Wizard Saint and glanced at his restrained limb, surprised at the man's fast reflexes. Jellal released his arm, "A very predictable move. You would be wise not to mess with the Magic Council. I'll take the letter."

He purposely plucked the letter from Gajeel's loosened grip and gestured them to follow him.

Juvia found it exciting to know a Magic Council member enjoyed the rain. "So, what guild are you from? Weren't you with Erza Scarlet of Fairy Tail earlier?"

"I was," he admitted as they continued walking along. Jellal slid the paper out of the envelope and began skimming the letter. "But I'd prefer not to reveal my identity."

Juvia hummed in response and wondered why he was hesitant to share something as simple as the guild he belonged to. Maybe she was asking a personal question. But it'd be best if she didn't know, otherwise she would think of him as an enemy. From the looks of it, Gajeel did not know his affiliation either—asides from a councillor, despite visiting the Magic Council often.

Ever since then, she could not help but admire him from a distance. Jellal never changed into a distant person, even if he was a councillor. That was probably what she liked about him best.

But it was Phantom Lord who had fully come to accept her. Not him, not the girl with him.

She wondered if the rain ever brought them together again.

"I am one of the Element 4, a proud member! Sierra!" she became one with the water and rushed towards him with fast speed.

"How can you be proud to be one of them!? You and your guild are going down!" with the rest of his power, Gray froze Juvia and her water, sending her flying in the sky. She screamed in response to the attack, unable to control the speed of her fall.

She looked up and watched as the droplets of ice froze up. "He even turned the rain into ice. He's amazing!"

"Ice-Make: Geyser!" a large chunk of ice surrounded Juvia, breaking into small bits after a bit. She was now falling off the roof.

It's all over, I lost.

Now I'm going to fall to the ground and splatter, just like a raindrop. I suppose it's a fitting end for a Rain Woman, who no one wants.

Farewell Gloomy Juvia.

Sensing her impending death, she closed her eyes, afraid of the height of it. Rejection was only one of the many fears she held along with death.

Juvia gasped when she felt a hand catch her. Gray was on the edge of the roof, preventing her from falling to her demise. She was prepared to die as a martyr for Phantom Lord in the past, thinking she owed her life to them. Her thoughts differed after seeing the warmth of Fairy Tail wizards. Their atmosphere was nothing like the violent clashing in Phantom Lord. They probably did not kill their own comrades for making a simple mistake.

Juvia heard Gray shout from above, "Just hold on tight, alright? I promise I won't let you fall."

She was at a loss of words, remaining motionless when she was inched upwards by her arm. Her mouth remained hung open, and she turned away, confused.

"Why did you save me?" she asked, curious about this man's intentions.

"Just 'cause. Now get some rest."

She blinked away her tears when the sun came up, witnessing the beauty and warmth of this celestial body she couldn't witness in seventeen years of her life.

"The rain…it stopped."

Gray grinned, "Hey look, the sun is coming out."

"The blue sky. I've never…seen it before."

Gray turned around so he could face Juvia. "Seriously? Well, there you go. It's pretty, don't you think?"

"It is, it's beautiful."

She closed her eyes, sleeping in the warm sun. Perhaps it was her remedy, the very thing that would heal her wounds. The rain brought Jellal and Erza together, but she couldn't find love in such gloom. It had to be the sun; she was sure of it.

"I'm coming for you, Gajeel!" yelled Natsu, running towards the main hall of the Giant Mage. He abruptly bumped into something, perhaps an invisible wall. No, that wasn't right. Spacial Magic, he concluded.

"You've made a mistake to encounter me, Salamander." Spoke a voice full of confidence. Before him stood a gigantic blindfolded man, controlling the vacuum of space with his hands.

"So you're the one who hurt Master?" Natsu asked with distaste. Despite the lack of response, Natsu confirmed it was this man. "You made a huge mistake, and you'll be sorry!"

Happy could tell that Aria brushed off Natsu's threats. Either he was awfully stupid to casually disregard the statement, or he was confident in his powers.

Natsu ran in his direction, only to be sent flying away when Aria summoned a whirlwind coming at him in full force. Natsu's magic also backfired, being controlled by the air. He huffed when he regained his footing, shuffling to the side to dodge the attack.

"Natsu!" yelled Happy. "Don't die on me!"

"Don't be silly, Happy. I've got this in the bag. Fire Dragon: Wing Attack!"

The Phantom Lord mage disappeared right before his eyes. Natsu's eyes widened far more than his liking.

Dumbfounded, the Dragon Slayer stopped in his tracks and scanned the room. "Where'd he go?"

Aria appeared behind Natsu with his hands positioned as if he were holding an orb. "Your days in Fairy Tail are over, Salamander. Your fate is sealed."

He opened his mouth to protest, wondering why everyone in Phantom Lord referred to him specifically as Salamander. He hadn't done anything remotely like that creature to earn himself that title.

Aria cast Metsu, the same spell used to wipe out Makarov. Natsu yelled his lungs bloody as his magic was being sucked out of him. Happy clung to his scarf and shrilled as the waves of magic continued engulfing them. "I'm too young to die!"

Their enemy scoffed at their childish behaviour even as they remained on the verge of death. "In this world, there will always be someone stronger than you."

Natsu gripped the carpet beneath him and continued fighting the magic away. He cracked an eyelid open and felt his heart flutter for a different reason. He watched as black boots collided with Aria's stomach, sending him flying back and releasing Natsu from his hold.

"Erza!" cried Happy in relief. They both stopped in their tracks when they studied her face. Her skin didn't sustain any bruises, scars, and markings.

Natsu squeaked after studying her countenance. "Holy cow! It's like she never got injured in the first place!"

Erza glared at Aria, who recovered from her brutal kick. He smiled, "Ah, so the Great Titania has decided to grace me with her presence."

The S-Class wizard held her sword out. "And you're the one who attacked our guild master."

He reached his hands behind his head. "Well, I suppose I should get serious now that I'm fighting a formidable opponent."

She shot him a quizzical look as she studied his eyes. Happy mouthed something at Erza, and she wasn't sure what he implied until she jumped back. Aria's eyes possessed the power to take countless lives.

"Allow me to introduce you to the airspace of death, Zero. Step in Titania."

Erza pointed her sword towards him. "How can you be so cruel!? Carelessly taking the lives of so many people."

Aria grinned, "It'd be best if I could show you."

The void of air sent Happy and Natsu flying. The cat held onto Natsu's scarf. This time, it was even more vicious than before.

Erza lunged off of one foot and struck the air with her sword, cutting through it. She was cutting cuts on herself from the powerful force, but nonetheless stepped forward. She jumped up and requipped. "Heaven's Wheel: Scattered Petals!"

A range of swords struck all over Aria. He collapsed from the impact. The mage looked up in wonder, tearing up at his defeat. The few tears soon turned into wracking sobs.

"I've been defeated. This is so sad!"

She defiantly glared at his collapsed form, "A person like you can never stand up to our master. You'll be known as a sobbing coward who was defeated by my hands."

Her façade didn't last long. She collapsed again after her armour wore off, panting heavily.

"Erza!" yelled Natsu, stumbling towards her. She opened her eyes slowly, watching him praise her efforts. "You did well, but I'm surprised Jellal didn't reach him first."

Her eyes widened, and she sat up immediately. "He's here?"

Natsu raised an eyebrow at her suspiciously. "Don't tell me you're surprised at that? Jellal would never abandon us."

"He…left the Magic Council?"

Forgetting the heated one-sided argument between the two earlier today, he asked, "Huh? Jellal was at the Magic Council today?"

Erza didn't know whether to laugh at Natsu's stupidity, or cry out in relief. Fairy Tail was handling everything pretty well.

Mirajane sighed when she saw her friend resting against a pillar. "You're alright!"

"I still have a lot to learn."

Gray joined them in a frenzy and heaved a breath as he recovered from his battle injuries. They could feel forbidden magic permeating the air. The light from the room faded into a blinding smoke of fog with Shade Magic. The mages cautiously surveyed the area with guarded expressions. Erza felt the magic instill fear into her, along with the others.

"I sense death."

Gajeel pummelled Lucy to the ground with his iron club. She gasped as his hits increased in pain and severity. She thought she would die; it wasn't long before he would kill her. Gajeel made his intentions clear from the beginning, even if it meant defying his guild master's orders.

"I want screams." He declared, ceasing the hits to allow a wave of quietude to wash over him. Nothing about this was normal to the others cowering behind. They didn't dare draw attention in fear of falling victim to him. "Are you going to give me what I want? Or will I have to force it from you?"

She dropped to the ground like a wounded bird, unable to stand. Lying on the floor, she laughed, much to the confusion of the other Phantom Lord mages. "Go ahead, just finish me." She spat, earning another punch to her gut. She clutched her abdomen and winced in pain, but continued. "But when you do, you will regret it as the biggest mistake of your life."

"Oh?" taunted Gajeel, darling her to press on.

"They'll take revenge—my guild. And when they do, you're going to die. They will hunt you down for the rest of your lives!"

"They didn't bother helping you until they found out about the Heartfilia fortune and whatnot. Your only value in that pathetic guild is your rich dad who's calling the shots around here. But I'll admit, you've got guts, lady, considering you're just Fairy Scum. If you have a death wish, I'll grant it without hesitation!" he jumped into the air, extending his arm with the beam that pummelled her into the ground countless times. She could likely imagine the horror of Levy, being ambushed from behind in the lonely night, without anyone to hear her desperate pleas for help.

Gajeel didn't expect to lose his footing and land headfirst onto the floor. He glared at the intruder, wondering who had the audacity to confront him. Using his arms, he pushed himself off the ground and whirled around to confront his enemy.

"Black Steel Gajeel," Jellal narrated fruitfully, "the man who causes trouble almost every single day, you have quite a record. It's exhausting that I have to deal with a pest outside the Magic Council. But the moment attacked Levy, it was inevitable I would be involved."

Lucy sighed in relief at the sight of Jellal taking down Gajeel. He jumped back, waiting for the Iron Dragon Slayer to get back on his feet. The Dragon Slayer clutched his injured arm, glaring at Jellal with a newfound hatred. "What are you doing here? If I recall correctly, a Magic Council member can't fight in a war."

Jellal gestured to Lucy and waited for Gajeel to piece his affiliation with both the Magic Council and Fairy Tail. After a moment of looking back and forth between the Fairy Tail mages, his laugh echoed throughout the room. "You were always part of Fairy Tail, weren't you? That's why you didn't give Juvia an answer when we first met you!"

"What business do you have with Lucy? Jose's after Jude Heartfilia's fortune, not Lucy. You don't care about wealth."

Gajeel scoffed and held his arm out to show his intentions. "The girl wouldn't shut her mouth, so I thought to do it myself."

"I shouldn't have expected anything less. After all, you have the audacity to hurt your own comrades," he retorted.

Gajeel grinned, "Everyone is a nuisance here, they only do Master Jose's bidding like obedient dogs. I don't play by the rules, councillor."

Jellal glared at his opponent, noting the tension within the room rise as the Phantom Lord mages prepared to attack the Wizard Saint. They didn't seem bothered by the way Gajeel addressed him, nor did they protest.

On cue, all the members except Gajeel raced towards Jellal. His first opponent was Sue, who aimed for his legs to restrain them. She pounced in the air to grab him, but Jellal flew past her with Meteor and grabbed another body, sending them crashing towards her in a backward motion. The two mages tumbled until they landed against a wall, groaning in pain. Gajeel found it interesting to witness a Wizard Saint's power firsthand, especially since he was rumoured to be on par with Jose. Even then, nobody had seen their guild master fight someone seriously.

Another man, who was probably the girl's sibling, tried attacking him the old-fashioned way. Jellal outran him and delivered a kick to his femur, causing his opponent to stumble forward. He readied his fist, to which Jellal caught and sent him flying to Gajeel. The Dragon Slayer avoided the attack and watched his comrade roll to the ground.

"I've never seen someone so talented in combat," Lucy mumbled, watching as Jellal fought off the group without his spells. Lucy heard about Jellal's strength without using spells. There was a reason why he was granted the title at an early age. She attempted to flee the scene, coughing as her legs wobbled. Gajeel threw his iron blade in her direction. He rushed over and grabbed Lucy by her hair.

Jellal halted his movements, to which Gajeel's smile widened. "One more move and she's a goner."

"I can grab her before you kill her."

"True, but I got an idea of how fast you move."

The air was still as Jellal calculated another way to get Lucy out. He considered the possibility of Gajeel bluffing, but didn't want to take the risk of finding out. Attacking now would be futile since the others sprung back up, ready to lunge at him.

"I DON'T THINK SO!" yelled a certain Fire Dragon Slayer, crashing into the room from above and kicking Gajeel's arm away from the Celestial Mage.

"Jellal, I can handle Gajeel." Natsu declared as he rolled his head to the side. "You need to stop the Shades, then help Erza defeat Hose."

"I'm pretty sure his name is Jose," Happy corrected.

Natsu spat, "Whatever."

"What happened to her?"

Happy flew around Jellal hurriedly, "She fought off Aria even though she took a direct hit from Jupiter!"

Natsu nodded, "That chick is crazy!"

"Natsu, you literally had one job; to help Elfman defeat Sol. Erza was not scheduled to go up against Aria."

"Don't blame me! Since when were you scheduled to even join this fight?"

"Fine," he conceded breathlessly. "You can fight Gajeel, I'll take care of Jose."

Jellal jumped onto the roof through a small window and realized Gajeel was still chasing him. Natsu interfered and wrestled Gajeel until the Iron Dragon Slayer gave up, resuming his fight with Natsu.

The only place where Erza could've possibly went was where the guild master was, since she was the only one who stood a chance. Even now, she couldn't hold a prayer against him. Not when her injuries were so severe and her adversaries grew more powerful.

Gray and Elfman were in tatters by the time Jose had begun fighting them. They rolled on the ground countless times before having the strength to get up. Mirajane reached out to them, but tumbled away when the remnants of the room were thrown at her. She pivoted away from Jose and held her arm out towards her sibling.

"MIRA!" yelled Elfman, stumbling towards her. Elfman never looked more terrified in his life, glancing back at Jose, who was easily overpowering them. "Just what is he?"

Mirajane mouthed the answer quietly, afraid of drawing attention. She had been so close to death because she made a fool out of Jose.

Monster.

Everyone turned towards Erza, who reflexively dodged the attacks thrown at her. She was in her Black Wing Armour, using her wings as leverage against their enemy. "Leave, I'll take care of him."

Gray paused, "We can't! You of all people should know it's useless to fight Jose. You're injured, and Master didn't stand a chance against him."

Erza glared at them, "Now! That's an order!"

They hesitantly made their way, Mirajane placed a hand on Gray's shoulder, "She survived the Jupiter Cannon and took out Aria, Erza will defeat him."

He hesitantly nodded and ran to gather other people to devise a plan against the remaining Phantom Lord mages.

Erza gracefully landed on the ground kneeling then jumping back, holding out her blade.

Jose grinned maniacally, "Interesting, you took a shot from Jupiter did you not? Yet you still stand."

She stilled, and narrowed her eyes at him. "Only because the others are still fighting. I'll keep getting up until you stay down."

Erza took the chance to strike him down. Jose dodged the strikes with relative ease, almost smiling as he did so. "I wouldn't have gone to such extremes if Makarov hadn't bragged about you kids in the first place. The humiliation he made me endure, all because of my grandfather's rivalry against this guild!"

"That doesn't give you an excuse to declare war! You're violating guild laws."

"Rules are broken on a daily basis, my dear." The way he addressed her sent chills down her spine. "Honestly I don't see why the Magic Council bothers to enforce all these laws. All I want to do is to settle the score with Fairy Tail."

Erza wielded her blade so Jose would be sliced in half had he not dodged her attacks.

"Let's see how much longer you can fight this war, Titania!"

Staggering back, Erza took deep breaths, trying to regain her composure, before aimlessly swinging her sword, but she never hit him. She never could, not with all those injuries. She panted heavily and halted her advances, trying to catch her breath.

Jose growled, "Even after having S-Class mages in his guild, Makarov stopped at nothing to invite Lucy into Fairy Tail. He uses her for money. No matter, now that she's in our hands, we're going to squeeze every last penny from Jude Heartfilia."

Erza felt bile rise in her throat as Jose's shadows surrounded her, squeezing her in the process.

Even so, she laughed, confusing the guild master. It mirrored Jellal's nature—reminding her of his fearless attitude in front of his enemies. Never let them exploit your weaknesses, he had once told her.

"It's funny that you know absolutely nothing about Lucy. She doesn't have access to her family's wealth. She came to Fairy Tail after running away from her father."

Jose scowled, "What?"

"Why is that surprising? Just as flowers don't get to choose where they bloom, children don't get to choose their parents. It doesn't matter if you're wealthy, families encounter all sorts of problems, Lucy included. In the end, she will never be a means to obtain money."

The Phantom Lord mage was in a state of shock, his hold on Erza tightened, causing her to groan in pain.

"I'll find a way to get the money, little one. As for you, your precious guild is in tatters. I wonder how they'll react when they see one of their strongest members lifeless, in the verge of death. You will become one of my minions. Nothing more than a shadow who follows my every whim."

Erza gasped, trying to find air to breathe in. Her mouth hung open, trying to grasp the situation. She almost cried, but kept reminding herself of what Jellal taught her. A weakness. A weakness. He's trying to find your weakness. End your life. End your life before he finds it!

She couldn't think straight with a gravity field positioned in front of her. Her body slowly drew closer to the source of shadows. Erza hurriedly requipped a blade from behind, aimed for her heart. A slow, painless death.

Jose didn't seem to notice. She sighed in relief.

But also in agony. She felt like her child self, stripped of her freedom she so longed for. She would rather die than continue her journey in the Tower of Heaven. Oh how she longed for an end to her life once upon a time.

Not having enough time to make the right decision, Erza closed her eyes and commanded the sword to inch closer to her. Still oblivious, Jose kept her in place and relished in his final achievements.

She dropped to the floor after being released from Jose's excruciating hold, and out of strength.

When her eyes darted across her body for any signs of blood, she was met with the sight of another body, shielding her from her own attack. Erza hesitantly opened her eyes, staring at her body covered in injuries. "I'm still alive."

Her relief washed away into despair as she laid eyes on her guild mate. Erza took a long moment to register what she had done to her beloved friend. It was all she could do, try to deny the reality of the situation. She felt a tear. Then two. Then countless many.

Years imagining a future with Jellal, a family, little children who resembled them both, and growing old together had suddenly gone to waste right before her eyes. She held her palm against her mouth to stifle a sob as she came to a horrific realization.

"No. Nononono." She rasped again and again. Jellal had taken the blow, lying down and gasping heavily. "JELLAL!"

He slowly unsheathed the sword from his middle, remaining soundless. Erza lifted him up, and watched him grit his teeth in pain. "What were you thinking, Erza? How could you try to end your life?"

Her eyes watered without her noticing. She shuddered as she felt his blood seeping through his white attire. Right through his entire existence. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. Please, stay with me...Jellal? Jellal!" she wept. "I didn't mean anything I said. You should have stayed at the Magic Council."

She found his hazel eyes, the beautiful forest green she had come to love. Jellal weakly reached out and grazed a gentle thumb to her cheek, wiping away the wetness. He managed to smile before blacking out. "Don't cry, Erza. Everything's going to be...fine."

He couldn't help the shivers as more blood escaped. Erza was in full tears by the time he was lifeless, lying on the floor, bleeding. She used whatever magic she had left to summon a cloth, wrapping it around his body as quickly as possible. Erza hugged his frame and held him to her chest, trying to protect him from Jose. Just like the way he'd done to her for all these years. Jose yanked her away from him by her hair, gripping her skull. She yelped in pain and thrashed against the guild master. The last thing she wanted was Jellal left unconscious and in the clutches of Jose.

"I must admit, I didn't expect him to take the blow. I never anticipated that you of all people would kill him, Erza."

Erza sobbed louder, "He's not dead, he can't be. Jellal's stronger than anyone else, he's still alive."

Jose lifted her off the ground so she could come face-to-face with him. He grit his teeth menacingly but spoke calmly. "He was the only way I'd get information about the Magic Council, and you killed him, dear Erza." He mocked, "For that, you must pay with your life."

When had been the last time she had been truly afraid? She couldn't remember. Erza flinched as she stared at her blood-stained hands.

"Oh, your hair is such a lovely shade, isn't it?" he cooed, continuing to drag her against the floor by her hair. She suddenly felt ashamed of her hair colour. It wasn't something meant to love, it was a symbolic reminder of pain and all the ugly things about her. Her legs kept moving desperately, trying to drag her friend with her. "It's like his blood. The poor thing, you probably live with that guilt. Tell me, how many times have people spoke fondly of such a hideous colour?"

Scarlet, the colour of your hair. That way I'll never forget.

Jose felt bile rise in his throat. There was a newfound hatred for Erza, and she did not understand what she did to provoke him. "D-don't touch him! Don't touch Jellal! Please!"

"Ah, you beg so nicely, I almost reconsidered. However, such pretty words cannot bring back the dead, mon petit tueur."

Jose used his grip on her hair to drag her away from Jellal, lying unconscious in the middle of the room. She could only manage broken sobs as Jose threw her out the window and into a deep sea of water.

Words could not express how much she owed Jellal for everything he had done for her up until this point.

And she had hurt him beyond what any enemy had done.

"Mon petit tueur" translates to "my little killer".

In the dubbed version, some characters spoke a few phrases in French—specifically Sol—so I'm assuming it's an official language in this universe? Regardless, I'm going to make it one for plot purposes.