She'd never once been this exhausted. Not when she was facing down the final monster in Pandemonium. Not when she and Wendy finally defeated her mother, Irene. Not even when Azuma kept striking her down again and again. This exhaustion weighed her down like she wore all of her armor at once, each step like wading through a waist-high pool of molasses. Her vision was unable to focus on anything, forcing her to rely on the touch of her left hand against the wall to guide her.
Erza gasped for air, clutching her sword tighter so she wouldn't lose her grip. Sweat dripped down her spine, drenching her shift every time she shivered because of the chill seeping into her bones from her bare feet. The damp red hair hanging in her eyes was just begging to be chopped off, she thought in a corner of her mind. And then she'd take her sword and bring down the entire manor herself. Maybe then she'd have enough strength to stand on her own.
Her fingers curled around a corner, drawing her attention to the room appearing on her left. She blinked furiously, clearing the sweat and haze from her brown eyes. It gave her only a moment of clarity, but it was enough to latch onto the giant, glowing machine in the center of the cathedral-like room. The breath left her lungs at the sight of it, her thoughts reeling before settling on one solid idea: this was it. She'd been searching for seemingly years, but she'd finally found it. One stroke of her sword, and this country would finally be free of the pain and devastation that had plagued them for a century. It almost made her want to cry out of relief.
There was just one flaw she hadn't considered until the moment her feet dragged her into that airy room. Tendrils of pitch black light latched themselves onto her, and this time the air was forcibly torn from her body. She stumbled forward, falling to her knees. Her sword clattered to the stone floor beside her, making her aware for the first time that she had dropped the weapon. The tendrils pumped something away from her, and each passing second left her more and more lightheaded, stomach churning and bile rising in her throat.
It's going to kill me, Erza managed to think. After coming this far, I'm going to die. It's going to suck all the ethernano from my body and leave me a shell of myself. Oh god-
All reasonable thought left her brain as more ethernano was drawn from her system, feeding the machine with more power. Through darkening eyes, she watched the machine grow brighter, pulsing vibrantly with each new deposit of her life force.
Tears ran freely down her cheeks, stomach clenching fiercely and threatening to empty itself before she lost the strength to do even that. She closed her eyes, refusing to give in and yet doubting she would ever find the energy to move again. Her hands braced themselves against the floor, stone biting into her knees and palms as she resisted the urge to curl into a ball. Even with her eyes closed, she knew her sword was only a few inches from her right hand. But she couldn't do it, she couldn't reach it, she couldn't move, she couldn't-
Erza.
XXX
Grimstone Manor had never been so silent. Wendy's nails dug deep into Natsu's arm, leaving grooves she feared might scar if she dug any deeper. His pulse raced under her touch, as did practically everyone else's in the room. Her stomach churned, but she was unable to tell what the cause was: the remains of Evia's tonic, or the sight of her fallen friend. Tears burned her eyes, but she forced herself to think logically before falling victim to grief. Lucy had survived so much; a kick into a wall certainly wouldn't be her downfall.
She closed her eyes and reached out her senses, trying to ignore the heartbeats and breathing that threatened to drown out what she searched for. Her own pounding heart and reeling head certainly did nothing to help. Her nose wrinkled when Gray's intake of air disrupted her concentration, and her eyes shot open when Evia's soft sob completely shattered what focus she had left.
It turned out she didn't need to focus after all. She smiled, tasting the salt of tears spilling over. She squeezed Natsu's arm and looked up at him, finally taking note of the feral grin still marring his expression. It seemed like he had figured it out long before her.
Ajax was ranting, back turned to the girl he had just broken. "You saw how she dared to stand up before me? This girl who betrayed my trust, all of our trust?"
"You killed her!" Racel cried, burying her face in her mom's hip and sobbing as only a child could. She pressed herself tighter, and throughout the room, women's hearts began to break. After all, she spoke the truth. This young girl had just been murdered before their very eyes over something none of them could actually explain, by a lord demanding their trust and loyalty. How could they not be devastated? How could they ever look Lord Ajax in the eyes again? How could they walk near him and not wonder about the threat he presented, the damage he could cause? How could they ever trust him and his son again?
Ajax whirled around, common sense lost in the mad haze clouding his mind. He began to advance on Racel, the girl whimpering and hiding behind her mother with every step he took toward her.
"Man, that sucked."
Ajax paused mid-step, foot hovering an inch above the ground as that voice hit his ears. Nobles and servants alike gasped, guards leaning toward one another and whispering their surprise. Ajax turned slowly, brow furrowing as he locked onto the source of the voice.
"But you really aren't that strong. I mean Asuka kicks harder than that."
Gray smirked, shaking his head even as his arms crossed across his chest. What was up with their guild's love for drama and theatrics? She could have just gotten up normally and continued on, but no. She just had to go and make them all worry. It was always Lucy who gave him heart attacks. Then again, the last time he'd thought someone important had died right in front of his eyes it had been…
He shuddered, returning his attention to the matter at hand. Yet thoughts of Juvia lurked in the corner of his mind, the smell of fresh water that lingered around her, her creamy skin that warmed his fingers, her kind eyes that gave him strength. He'd forgotten the exact shade of her eyes. How could he claim to love her if he forgot something as simple as that?
"Oh Ashley," Evia laughed with a hand pressed against her chest. It was that exclamation that finally drew Gray from his memories, forcing him to look at the blonde who had risen to her feet and now was looking down on the lord before her, shoulders back and chin up. Gray rolled his own shoulders. The time to reflect on his failures would be later. Now he had to do what he could to help his team finally beat this endless quest. Then they could go back home.
"How," Ajax bit out, glaring down at the woman almost a foot shorter than him. Yet her stature made them almost even in height to the onlookers.
"Oh don't worry," Lucy said. "You did kill Ashley. She'll never return again. But luckily for this country, I'm still here. I'm still standing. And I'll never back down until you're gone and Benos can breathe freely again."
Annea, pressed against the far wall, decided that Lucy needed a little push in the right direction. "Why are you here? Who are you if not Ashley?"
Lucy smiled at the girl, a warrior angel in her torn gown and bloodied features. "My name is Lucy. Lucy of Fiore. I was sent here by my guild to bring magic back to Benos."
"Magic doesn't exist here!" Someone cried, and many more exclamations and arguments rose up from the crowd. Ajax raised an eyebrow, crossing his arms and letting the crowd rile itself up.
"Liar!"
"Why are you actually here?!"
"You've broken our trust!"
Nobles raised their voices and directed their anger at the battered girl. She didn't falter. She locked eyes with what servants or guards she could see, seeing that they were wavering toward her side.
"Shuddup!" Natsu hollered, voice cutting through the turmoil. Nobles turned in shock to him, while Annea smothered a laugh. After what Lucy had revealed, the kitchen maid had a strong suspicion that 'Lord Drago' was actually Natsu Dragneel. It made sense; the pink hair and fiery attitude were key components to the famed Dragon. She'd been worried about Lucy when Ajax had dragged her away, and yet again when he'd almost killed her. But she didn't have to fear anymore. Not when Natsu and probably the rest of the team from Fairy Tail was here. She wondered if the two flying cats were nearby as well…
Lucy dipped her head at Natsu, whispering a quick thank-you under her breath. Then she returned her gaze to the room, scanning the crowd and searching for any sympathetic faces. "Please, listen to me. Magic exists everywhere, and it certainly exists here. Just think it through, please. Why would there only be one country in the entire world without magic? It's not because you've been cursed by the gods, and its definitely not that Benos just ran out of magic. It's impossible. Trust me, I know. I don't know exactly what happened here, but I know who caused it." She returned her eyes to Ajax, darting briefly to Verlane who stood just a few feet behind. Lucy met his furious eyes calmly, feeling better than she had in months even as her heart hammered against bruised ribs and blood dripped into her cracked lips. "Ajax and Verlane, the two of you are responsible for keeping the ethernano from this land. I find you guilty, and though I don't know how you've done it, there is no doubt that it is you."
It was silent once more. No one knew what to say after that accusation. What was there to say? This stranger had just turned their entire world upside down.
"You just said you have no proof," Verlane spoke into the deafening quiet. He came up alongside Ajax, hoping that the older man would let him take the lead. Ajax's blustering and yelling would only turn the manor against them, and they certainly didn't have the time to deal with that. Of course, they'd be able to get the situation under control once more, but he had absolutely no idea how long that task would take. "If you have no proof, how in Earthland do you expect anyone to believe you? You admitted it yourself; you are a stranger to this country and to our halls. You have no right to expect anyone to trust you. Especially after you tricked Shelia and her family into believing you were their maid."
"But how did she do that?" A guard said. "How could they possibly think that if she's from an entirely different continent?"
"I was wondering that too." Wendy pushed in front of Natsu, drawing the attention in the room to her. She shuddered, mentally cursing the tonic she had taken just an hour prior for absolutely no point. "She's been with us since before I was even born. Ashley?"
Lucy smiled softly at the Sky Maiden, a secret signal meaning keep it up. She rubbed the back of her head, skull throbbing from the gash still leaking scarlet drops. "When you all stopped in Coracre," she began, careful to not use numbers of the group to keep suspicion away from where Erza was, "I used Memory Control to write myself into your lives. I only joined you in December. It hasn't been forever."
Wendy stumbled back against Natsu, hoping her acting skills were up to par. "That's impossible," she gasped, clutching her heart and staring in disbelief at Lucy.
From up above, Carla snorted. "Laying it on a bit thick, aren't we?" She muttered, causing Happy to snicker.
"They all are. But I guess they gotta keep everyone distracted until Erza gets it done."
"I wonder what's taking her so long," Carla responded, eyes still watching the scene down below. "It's been over an hour already."
"Maybe she got distracted by some yummy fishies?" Happy offered. Carla rolled her eyes, not bothering to dignify that statement with a response.
XXX
Erza.
She froze, thoughts locking on that voice. She knew it. How did she know it? And why did it mean so much to her?
This is not how your story ends, Erza. Come on. Stand up. Raise your weapon. Strike.
Fairy Tail? She wondered, spiraling through a black sea. She'd been here before, hadn't she? Or was it a blue sea? White sea?
Oh come on Scarlet, a new voice added. Unlike the first, this one was feminine, the strong and slightly sarcastic tones cutting through her. She knew her. What was her name? All she could picture was black hair and cunning green eyes. You faced Kyôka with no senses and didn't falter. So why the hell are you struggling now?
Erzy! You can do it! I believe in you!
Erza! We're all rooting for you! Make the guild proud. We're waiting for you to come home.
Mirajane, she thought with certainty. That was Mirajane. And Millianna and Minerva and-
Erza! We're counting on you!
That was Natsu. She knew that for certain. His words bounced against her skull, jarring her into action. Yet she was still too weak, too drained from the… what was it again? Why was she floating here in space? Shouldn't she be back at home at the guild? What guild?
You didn't come this far just to give up, did you? His icy words possessed the tone she needed, the warmth and worry to push her forward. But she was still stuck, unable to move or even open her eyes, even as the rest of her teammates' voices rang out, stirring her emotions but not her wooden limbs.
Erza! You can do this!
Come on Erza!
I'll give you my biggest fishy if you do this!
Don't give up now!
I'm can't, she yelled back into the void, body not responding to the desperate commands she sent. I'm trying and I can't! Please, show me how to do this!
Erza.
Everything stilled. She latched onto that voice, the first voice she hadn't been able to name. But now she could. It was home. It was happiness and pain and joy and loneliness and, and, and something else. Something almost foreign to her, yet something she had never been without. Something she never could live without.
Come on.
Air rushed through her lungs, her heart pulsing loudly.
Erza.
She gasped, fingers twitching toward the weapon she had dropped years before.
Stand up.
Her senses rushed back, feelings returning to her heavy limbs and sending shock waves through her veins.
This is not how your story ends, Erza.
Another rattling breath shuddered through her body, and she once more became aware of the tendrils sucking the life from her body.
You're so much stronger than you know.
Her aching fingers managed to wrap around the hilt of her sword, energy rushing through her system at the touch of the cool leather and steel against her palm.
I'm waiting for you to come back.
Her trembling arms found their way under her shoulders and began to push upward. What was that feeling? What was that voice? Why couldn't she name it?
Fiore isn't the same without you.
She was kneeling once more, hair brushing against her hands and shift sticking to her heaving body with sweat. She knew him. She could see his messy blue hair, his pained hazel eyes, his pale skin marred with scars.
I miss you.
Erza Scarlet rose to her feet, eyes still shut and sword brandished before her. His words gave her strength, gave her life and energy and breath. She moved forward, finally putting a name to that feeling, to that voice.
Finally, she raised her sword, driving her sword forward. The black tendrils of light shrieked in fury and pain and pulled more ethernano from her, but it was too late. She raised her sword above her head, hair flying around her as she leapt forward. She was the picture of an avenging angel.
As the sword made contact, she finally opened her eyes. That name. She would never forget it again.
Jellal Fernandes.
And that feeling she associated with his voice…
I love you.
And though she knew he wasn't there, she could have sworn they locked eyes in that basement room. She smiled, meeting his gaze over the machine as her sword drove in deep, the machine fracturing beneath her weapon. It didn't matter if he was real. He was the reason she had stood up and kept fighting as he so often was.
That feeling was love. It always had been. And it always would be.
XXX
Verlane heaved a sigh of relief. Shelia was innocent. That was good news. And so it seemed was the rest of her family. That was the only thing he'd been worried about. The fact that Lucy had made it so far really wasn't consequential.
Ajax wasn't so easily convinced. "I don't believe you. And no one should. This is obviously a lie meant to trick us of these nobles' innocence, innocence that shouldn't be trusted. Listen to me now-"
"Oh shut up, will you?" Lucy stood up even straighter, and Natsu swore that for a moment, she seemed to glow with the light her Celestial Spirits utilized. "No one cares what you have to say. Especially not after all you've done. There are people, all across this country, who are suffering and dying for Heaven's sake, all because of the atrocity you have committed. This could be a beautiful, wonderful country, filled with wizards and nobles and farmers and, and, and even robbers or black mages! These people should have been born with the chance to become what they wanted, the chance to learn magic or travel the world. But instead, they have all been kept poor and sick while you prosper."
"People like Shelia, like Evia's daughter, like all the people who have died of incurable sickness that causes people to wither away, they die only because of the lack of the lifeblood you have taken away! Shelia only survived because I went out and found an herb that still had magic, for crying out loud! Magic gave her the strength to recover, and that's why she can stand here, as healthy and strong as Ajax and Verlane. A magic herb that replenished the ethernano in her veins." She let out a sharp laugh, throwing her arms out.
"How is any of this fair?! How is it fair that good people suffer without any knowledge why?" She shook her head, fire burning in her veins and shining from her eyes. Gray silently reminded himself to never get on Lucy's bad side. "You may call yourself a lord, but you will never be anything more than a lying, swindling asshole ruining lives for his own benefit."
Natsu touched the bracelet at his wrist, biting down hard on a grin. Lucy always did have a way with words. I can't imagine anyone standing against us after this. Wendy looked up at him almost as she had heard his thoughts, and he clamped his hand down on her shoulder, hoping to look like a dad comforting his child.
The crowd seemed moved by her words. They whispered to each other, even nobles looking warily at the two lords still ostracized in the middle of the room. Verlane took a deep breath, but yet again, Ajax was one step ahead.
"You know what? None of this even matters. I hope you know that, Lucy of Fiore," he mocked. The air grew cold around him, blue eyes flashing manically. "How do you think we've kept control for so long? You're not the only one with powers against memory in their hands. After today, no one will remember your speech. No one will remember your actions. No one will remember you."
If he hoped to make her tremble before him, he certainly went the wrong way about it. She snorted, looking around the room. "Even if they forget me, you can't make them all forget the doubt they now have. Every time they look at you, they'll remember the fear they feel now." She smirked, hand snaking into her apron pocket. "You think I'm scared of you? I've fought villains a thousand times worse than you. I have stood before gods and watched them crumble. I have seen death and destruction, I have seen my closest friends suffer for the family and beliefs they hold close, I have seen war rip apart entire countries. And you know what? I still stand here tall and strong and ready to fight you."
She drew her key ring out of her pocket, holding them aloft and letting them catch the candlelight. They glowed golden, drawing gasps from the onlookers. "These keys mark me as a Celestial Wizard. That means I never break a promise. And I made a promise that I would help the people of this country, no matter the cost. As one of the last people in a very long line to come here, I refuse to lose. I won't give up until you're defeated and the people are safe again." Ajax gaped at her, noting the keys and the pink traces on her hand and putting the pieces together. She held her right hand up to the sky, showing off the emblem proudly. "I'm Lucy Heartfilia of the Fairy Tail guild! And guess what, asshole?" She smirked. "Maybe you should remember people better. Cause I'm not alone."
And the world shattered.
I am so happy with this chapter! I absolutely love the Erza and Jellal chemistry, and how he always pushes her even when they aren't together (sorry CoolkidKing34662, I know how much you don't like Jerza cause you're crazy) AND THINGS ARE HAPPENING I DON'T KNOW WHAT ELSE TO SAY BESIDE THAT
until next time! who knows what might happen there...