Back with the continuation
"speaking"
""thinking""
On with the story
With Erza
Erza and the others were following Enryuo no Kiba as the sword was leading them to Natsu
Enryuo no Kiba stops for a moment as so did everyone
"why did it stop?" Rose asked her mother
Erza stares at the sword before it floats away towards the surviving forest
She dashed towards it as she leaves everyone behind
"Mama!" Rose shouted out as she and Mary ran after her
"wait!" Ikaruga exclaimed as she chased after the twins with the others following
Erza ran through the forest as she followed the sword
""Erza""
Igneel's voice spoke into her mind as she got surprise a bit
""this voice!? Igneel?!"" she said in her mind
""please, do not bear hatred to Natsu. Please show him that he is never alone in his life""
Igneel told her in a pleading voice before disappearing
""Igneel?"" she called out to the dragon but could no longer hear his voice
""did something happen?"" Erza though as she kept running
She then reached to an open clearing where she sees a figure off in the distance
"Natsu!" Erza called out as she runs towards him
Gray and the others catches up as they see Erza running to her
"Mama!" Rose and Mary screamed out her name and was about to run to her but was stopped by Ikaruga
"it is best that the two share a moment of silence" Ikaruga told them as they look to her before looking to their parents
Erza runs to her husband with a glad smile as he was standing over a giant crater
"Natsu" she called out to him as Natsu turns to her before the two embraced to each other
He laid his head on her chest as Natsu wrapped his arms around his wife, pulling her warm body closer to him as he cried again. He desperately, nee possessively, held onto her. As if she too were going to fade away from him.
Erza felt Natsu's tightening embrace and lovingly rubbed the back of his head to allay his fears. "It's ok. I'm here." She comforted, tightening her own grip on him. "I'm not going anywhere."
Everyone watches the scene as they smiled to the two as the battle was over
One week later
Lucy looked out her window to the ruined streets of Magnolia. It had been one week since the battle with Tartaros and the town was still rebuilding.
The train station was in shambles, but it still managed to run due to the Fairy Tail wizards and townspeople managing to fix it over the course of four days.
However, hundreds of houses and businesses had been reduced to rubble, and the Fairy Tail guild was completely obliterated. Lucy was amazed that her apartment was still standing.
Though Magnolia was not the only town in the continent devastated by Tartaros and their Face bombs, the scars of the war against demons still ran deep in the members of Fairy Tail and their allies. Showing no signs that they would heal anytime soon.
"Lucy?" Yukino called.
"Hm?" The blonde tore her eyes away from the window and looked to her friend. Yukino was sitting on the couch across from Lucy's bed. "I'm sorry, Yukino. Did you say something?"
Yukino shook her head. "No. I was just wondering if you were doing ok."
"Oh yeah, I'm just fine." Lucy smiled. "I was just looking at the town."
"They're still rebuilding."
Lucy nodded. "Yeah. It will take forever to clean up the mess Tartaros made."
"Do you really think we've seen the last of them?" Yukino was frightful of the answer she might recieve. When Fairy Tail left the wreckage of Plutogrim - after the dragons disappeared - the bodies of Sayla, Torafuzra, Lamy, Kyoka and Franmalth were all unaccounted for.
Doranbolt said he would begin investigations into the demons' whereabouts after the council was back up and running, but Yukino – among others - had doubts.
"I don't know." Lucy answered. "Hopefully." Not really focusing too much, Lucy's eyes drifted to Aquarius' broken key.
Yukino noticed the forlorn look in the blonde's eyes and bowed her head in shame. "Forgive me, Lucy-sama."
Lucy looked to her in confusion. "What are you talking about? Forgive you for what?"
"If I wasn't so weak, I could have prevented you from having to sacrifice Aquarius."
"Yukino, I never blamed you for what happened to Aquarius. How could i? I did it to protect you and the others. Yeah I'm sad I won't see her anymore, but Aquarius isn't dead. I can be thankful for that and the memories I shared with her." Lucy told her
"Yes." Yukino nodded. "You're right." Yukino still didn't feel right about the situation, but she accepted Lucy's words. "I'm sorry."
"I said it's fine. Now that's enough moping around." Lucy stood up from her seat and stretched.
"I'm going to meet Wendy in the park. She wants me to fix her hair. Do you want to come? We're going to visit Natsu and the others after."
"Thank you, but I can't." Yukino respectfully declined. "I was planning to go to the guild for a while."
"That's right." Lucy remembered. "A few of the others were going there as well. Are we rebuilding?"
"I'm not sure. Master Makarov has said nothing definite." Yukino stood up and quickly bowed her head. "I will visit again. If you'll have me."
"Don't sweat it." Lucy smiled. "You're welcome anytime." She walked Yukino to the door. "Be careful out there, there's still debris to clean up."
"I will. Goodbye, Lucy."
"See you later." Lucy closed the door and walked backed to her window one last time. She looked over the horizon at the clear blue sky. "I should get going too. Wendy's probably waiting." Lucy grabbed her key ring from her nightstand and walked out of the door.
Inside of Magnolia Hospital, Laxus Dreyar slowly came to. When he fully opened his eyes, he was greeted by the smiling faces of Bixlow and Evergreen.
"Alright! Finally!" Bixlow exclaimed.
"Laxus, you're awake!" Evergreen cried.
"Not so loud, guys." Laxus groaned. "My head is still killing me."
"Oh." The bespectacled woman covered her mouth. "I'm sorry."
"My bad." Bixlow apologized.
"You had us worried. We thought that you would never wake up." Freed stood from the chair he was sitting in near the window and walked to Laxus' bedside. "I'm glad you're awake."
"Pathetic…" Laxus muttered. He suddenly pulled his friends into a tight hug. The gesture surprised the trio.
"L-Laxus?!" Evergreen blushed.
"What's going on, man?" Bixlow questioned. "You still sick or something?
"I can't stay like this…" Laxus said solemnly. "At this rate, I won't be able to protect the people I care about."
"It's ok." Evergreen comforted.
"Yeah, don't worry about it." Bixlow said. "We're all going to get much stronger."
"That's right." Freed nodded. "We're a team after all."
Laxus pulled them in tighter and grinned.
Wendy turned her head to and fro, marveling at the length her newly restored hair. "Wow it really is back to normal! Actually it's even longer than before."
"It was no problem, baby." Cancer said, snipping his scissors.
"Thank you so much, Lucy." Wendy said to the blonde.
"You're welcome." Lucy smiled as she patted the young girl's head. "Are you sure you want it this long? I thought you looked cute with short hair."
"Yeah." Wendy nodded. "I only cut it short to make it even. I much prefer it long."
"I didn't know you put that much thought into that sort of thing." Lucy giggled.
"I-is that bad?" Wendy nervously asked.
"No I was just saying." Lucy twirled the locks of her own hair. "Maybe I should grow mine too."
"I think it would look great on you!" Wendy chirped.
"Really?" Lucy blushed.
Gajeel laid across part of the long stone bench in the park. Lazily watching Wendy and Lucy talk about hair styles.
"I'm sleepy…" he trailed off and began snoring.
"Hey, Gajeel you can't just sleep there. This isn't the guild." Levy chided, squatting next to him. "Besides it's not good for you with a surface this hard."
Gajeel grumbled and opened his eyes. He glanced at Levy before looking back to Wendy and Lucy.
"It's weird not going to that place every day." He mumbled to himself.
"What?" Levy asked. She barely heard him.
flashback
"We meet again, Gajeel." Org said. "How many times have we seen you this month alone?"
"It has to be at least ten." Michello spoke up. "He's nothing but a juvenile delinquent. I say we just lock him up and throw away the key."
The Iron Dragon smirked at the council members. "This gonna take all day? I got places to be."
"Why, you insolent-"
"Enough, Michello." Org ordered. "Let's begin the trial."
The trial went just like the ones before it. Gajeel was found guilty of the claims against him and was forced to pay for the damages out of his own money. He knew the drill, but that didn't make it any less irritating.
"Damn, geezers." the disgruntled dragon slayer kicked a rock down the steps of the hill the council building sat on. "They always gotta ruin my fun."
"Wait right there, Gajeel."
Gajeel looked over his shoulder to see Elder Belno walking up to him. "What do you want now?" For the past few trials Belno had sought him out before he left back to Oak Town. She always told him the same thing each time they met, and Gajeel was starting to get irritable.
"I'll tell you again." She began. "It would be better for you if you left Phantom Lord."
Gajeel sneered at the woman. "Like I said last time, you can spare me the advice. You ain't the boss of me, lady."
"Phantom's actions as of late are growing more and more unruly. I have no idea what Jose thinks he's accomplishing by egging on the council, but if things don't calm down then we will be forced to-"
"Look, you old hag!" Gajeel interrupted. "I told you before that you're not the boss of me. You think you can just order a dragon slayer around like some dog?!"
"I will say it as many times as needed to penetrate that iron skull of yours. Believe me I've seen hundreds of young men like you come and go. Chances are I will see a hundred more. No matter their outward appearance they were always the same sad, lonely, person on the inside. You do not have to follow that path."
"You're really starting to piss me off…" Gajeel grumbled.
Belno gave him a wry smile. "I'm not saying that you have to become an upstanding member of society. I just want you to find meaning in your life."
Gajeel raised an eyebrow. "Meaning?" He began to laugh. "If that's all you want then I got plenty! Phantom is going to go to war with Fairy Tail soon! I'll find all the meaning in the world after I start wailing on some fairies! Especially when I take down that Salamander jerk!"
Belno's smile fell and she began to walk away. "I truly hope that you find meaning in your life, Gajeel. Before it's too late."
"Are you deaf?! I already told you I found meaning! Now leave me alone will ya?! Next time I might not be so nice!"
Belno stopped and thought about Gajeel's words. She looked over her shoulder at him. Flashing a warm smile that caught the dragon slayer off guard. "You remind me so much of my late son. You even kind of look like him." With that Belno walked away, leaving the stunned Gajeel in her wake.
"What the hell was that about? Weird. Comparing me to some dead guy." Gajeel turned around and walked down the steps with his hands in his pockets, and a light blush on his cheeks.
Gajeel's reflection brought him forward to just after his group found Belno's body. After reporting to Makarov he went to the roof of the deceased woman's home and sat there, looking out at the setting sun with a morose expression.
"Granny, you and I never had a chance to have a decent talk. You wanted to help me find meaning in my life and I just kept blowing you off like a jackass. You looked out for me ever since I was a snot-nosed brat."
Tears formed in the dragon slayer's eyes. "And I never found a way to pay you back for that! I'll find the bastards that did this to you and make them pay, no that's not right. I'll remember your words instead. And I'll do my best to live up to them. Just watch me!"
Flashback ends
Gajeel opened his eyes and saw Levy's face again.
"Geez, Gajeel." She pouted. "I told you that you can't sleep here."
"Just…watch me…" Gajeel lazily said before he drifted off to sleep once more.
"Gajeel!" Levy shouted. He snored in response and Levy once again sighed in frustration, but after seeing the peaceful look on his face as he slept, she smiled.
Charla sat on the grass as she watched Wendy and Lucy. Lily approached her.
"How does Wendy seem to you?" he asked.
"She's the same as she ever was." Charla answered with a wry grin. "She's putting on a brave face so no one worries about her. That child can be quite the handful. What about Gajeel?"
"Nothing new to report." Lily took a seat next to Charla. "That goodbye was tough on everyone."
"Yes it was." Charla nodded. "But I worry about Natsu the most. So does Wendy."
"I wouldn't worry about Natsu. He'll be fine."
Charla was curious about her fellow exceed's words. "Why do you say that?"
"He's got Erza with him doesn't he?" Lily grinned at the tabby, who returned with one of her own.
"You're right" Charla replied with a warm smile
Gray sat in the snow-covered ruins of his hometown of Isvan.
He sat on a rock, staring at a cross stuck in the ground that read: Silver X Mika. He reflected on the people he had lost. His parents, his father twice now. Ur. Ultear. He clenched the sleeve of his jacket.
"It's too much."
"Gray-sama…?" a sweet, yet familiar, voice called.
"Juvia?!" Gray nearly fell from his seat in his shock. "Did you follow me here?!"
"I did! I-I'm so sorry for intruding on your private moment but…" she fidgeted nervously. "There's something important that I have to tell you."
"What is it?" Gray sniped.
"The necromancer who was keeping your father alive, Keyes, I…I was the one who killed him. I am to blame for your father's death."
Gray's eyes went wide at the revelation. "You did…?!"
Juvia nodded solemnly and her eyes began to mist.
"I-I know it was wrong. But…" Juvia sniffed. "That's no excuse for what I did, Because my weakness was…"
Gray stood up and walked to Juvia, not looking at her directly as he grabbed the collar of her coat and lifted it.
"You…" His clenched teeth slowly began to shake, and his angered sneer faltered to a saddened whimper. His forehead fell into Juvia's chest, his grip on her loosening.
"Thank you…" he sobbed. "Thank you..."
Juvia was taken aback by the words.
Gray slumped to his knees and Juvia followed, still holding onto him. He began to repeat himself. "I'm sorry…I'm so sorry." Juvia couldn't readily figure it out, but she eventually gleaned that Gray was apologizing to her
"Gray…"
"I'm sorry."
Juvia wrapped her arms around him and he did the same. Juvia rubbed the back of his head as he continued to cry and shake.
As the two embraces each other, a lone figure appears and approaches them
Erza sat on the hill next to the bridge crossing over Magnolia River.
She had been there for hours, but it had felt like days.
Ever since the battle with Tartaros, Erza was afraid of being touched by anyone, including Natsu. The last person to touch her – by accident – was Max, and she nearly sliced him in two.
When talking she kept out of arms reach, and always folded her arms as if to protect herself.
Her phobia had even gone so far as to not sleep in the same bed as Natsu. He had been sleeping on the couch in the living room for the past few days.
Erza knew that she was acting strange, but she couldn't help it. Her torture at the hands of Kyôka had affected her psyche, dredging up memories of her slavery in the Tower of Heaven. Every bitter memory that she tried to repress forced itself to the surface. She thought she had moved past the darkness, but she had only managed to bury it.
She looked at her hand. It was trembling.
""I thought I had begun to move past those tribulations. Just thinking about them makes me tremble. Beaten. Betrayed. Stripped bare of my dignity. Humiliated. I'm too frightened to even allow Natsu – my own husband – to touch me!" She cursed her weakness.
""After all that's happened how can I keep going? I don't know if I can.""
"You'll be just fine."
Erza turned and saw a cloaked man approach. She recognized his voice instantly. It was Jellal. She stood and faced him as he passed by her.
"You understand both human strength as well as weakness. Let your light guide your path, and move you forward. Never waiver." He walked to six other cloaked figures standing just ahead. As for us we will walk the path of darkness in order to defeat Zeref. Though your path may one day align with ours.
Cobra smirked as his ears twitched. "He thinks he so cool, doesn't he?"
"Tell me what you hear later." Racer requested with an equally mischievous smirk. "I wanna know too."
""When that happens I want you to shine brightly, just as you always have. Bright enough to erase our dark skies.""
"This is love…is it not?" Richard mused.
"this cloths as so raggy" Angel whined with her cloak
"just bear with it" Meredy told her
""Move forward, Erza.""
Jellal joined with the rest of his new Crime Sorciere and they all began to walk away. The redhead looked at them with a smile.
evening
Makarov and Mirajane stared at the ruins of the guild hall. Everyone else had gone home for the day, but those two stayed behind.
"Is it even possible to rebuild this time, Master?" Mirajane asked.
Makarov remained silent. He thought of what he should do all day, and had finally come to a decision.
Doranbolt approached the pair, heaving a long sigh. "Alright it's done. I've erased Lumen Historie from everyone's minds except hers." He looked to Mirajane.
"I know you want me to erase mine as well, but I don't want to tamper with my own memories."
"You've done it before." Makarov countered. He turned to face him. "You can stop now, the mission is complete."
"Master?" Mirajane questioned.
"What are talking about-"a light began to shine on Doranbolt's shoulder, ripping the cloth from the arm of his coat.
"What's going on?!" To the councilman's - and Mirajane's - shock, a Fairy Tail symbol slowly materialized on his arm.
"What is this?! What did you do to me?!"
"I did nothing," Makarov said. "You've been a member of Fairy Tail from the very beginning. You erased your memories and infiltrated the council."
Mirajane gasped in disbelief.
"What?! That makes no sense! How can I be a member of Fairy Tail?! Why would I erase my own memories and infiltrate the council?! And Tenrou Island! What about what happened there?! This doesn't make any sense!"
"I actually told you not to erase your memories, but you insisted on it. This is exactly the situation I was trying to prevent." Makarov let out a rueful sigh. "It's not like it matters now though."
"What do you mean?"
"it means that he is running away" a voice spoke as this surprise the three
Makarov looks behind and sees Natsu approaching him
"why are you here, Natsu? Shouldn't you be with Erza right now?" Makarov asked to Natsu
Natsu stood silent for a moment before he grins evilly as black markings appeared on his face
"I'm not Natsu"
With Natsu
Natsu and Erza stood near the lake near their home as their children were with Mira and the others while Ikaruga left the home to spend some time with Cana
The two sat in silence before Natsu laid his hand on top of Erza's
"it's been a long day, hasn't it?" Erza muttered out as Natsu nodded
The two watched the view as the sun started to set
"Erza" Natsu called out to his wife as Erza turns her head to him
"wha- kya!" Erza replied before Natsu pushed her down
"Natsu?" Erza looks to her husband who was looking back to her
They stared at each other's eyes for a single moment before Natsu leans down and connect their lips together
Erza's eyes widen in surprise before they soften as she returns the kiss
Their hands roams around each other's body as Erza moans in the kiss when Natsu gropes her breast
Natsu leans away as he strips off his vest before reaching back in to kiss his wife again
As the suns sets as so came the night
Minutes passed of their activities with each other as Erza lay down in Natsu's arms as the two watched the moon at night
"it's beautiful" Erza said as she gaze upon the moon's reflection
"yeah….it is" Natsu replied with a solemn look on his face
They rested with each other as the fireflies came out of their home and started dancing in the air
Natsu smiled sadly to Erza as he combs her hair behind her hair and gives her a kiss to her cheek
Erza smiles to the affection and returned it with one of her own
"let's head in, Rose and Mary are probably on their way home" Erza said as she stands up and offered a hand to Natsu
Natsu stands up with his wife as Erza walks towards their home but noticed that Natsu stood in his place
"Natsu? Are you coming?" Erza asked as Natsu shook his head as a "no"
"I'm sorry…Erza. I love you" Natsu said as a tear slides down his right eye before black markings started to appear around his left side and then to his face
Erza's eyes widen in surprise as Natsu's eyes turned black and his pupil turned red
Gray and Juvia stood with each other over the grave mark before sensing an evil presence behind them
"who's there!?" Gray exclaimed as he turns around and sees Natsu standing in the snow in front of them
"Natsu-san?" Juvia said in surprise to see him here
Natsu looks over to them before grinning evilly as black markings slither around his face
Makarov looks at Natsu and his evil like appearance
"I am the one who brings the destruction to the world"
"I am the one who ends all life in existence"
"I am the one who stands above all demons"
"I am"
"""END"""
Erza's eyes widen in shock as Natsu's appearance changed
"Nats…su?" Erza whispered out his name as Natsu chuckles to her before laughing evilly
"I am END, Etherious Natsu Dragov. A demon from the Books of Zeref!"
"END?!" Gray exclaimed in anger
"yes, the very demon who you seek to destroy!" END told him
"Natsu, what happened to you?!" Makarov exclaimed in shock as Natsu looks over them with a snickering grin before looking at Mirajane
"you have somethings that I desire" END said before he suddenly appeared in front of Mira
"wha!?"
END smirks before he pierced through Mira's abdomen making the barmaid gasped in shock
"Mira!" Makarov exclaimed as END pulled back his hand and takes out several glowing orbs from within Mirajane's body
"so you were the one who took them" END said as he walks away and left Makarov and Doranbolt to tend to Mira
"Mira! Get a hold of yourself!" Makarov exclaimed as he holds her up and his eyes widen in surprise to see that there was no wound on her
"I was asleep for quite some time and the Natsu you knew and Love was created in my stead of hibernation" END told to Erza
"the Natsu you loved was just an illusion, he never existed. Never was and never will" END cackled to Erza at her shocked and horrified look
"bastard!" Gray shouted as his Devil Slayer tattoo appeared and he tried to strike at END but failed as the Demon snaps his fingers and several shadows binds down Gray to the ground
"gah!?" Gray grunted as he tried to break free but could not
"Gray-sama!"
"don't be so hasty, Gray. You will have your chance to destroy me...in time" END told him with a grin
"what have you done to Natsu!?" Makarov shouted at END who was playing around with the orbs in his hands
"nothing, because I am Natsu, the one and the only Etherious Natsu Dragov" END told him
"it must be shocking, isn't it?" END said as he walks towards Erza and looks at her
"to know that you've been betrayed by your own husband who never existed in the first place!"
END laughs at Erza as she fell to her knees
"Natsu…..never existed?" Erza muttered out as tears started to pour down her eye
END looks at her expression before he tried to hold down a laughter
"a war is coming, a war with the world at stake" END told to Gray and Juvia
END pointed towards the sky as he grins
"The war between Ishgal and Alvarez!" END proclaimed, surprising Makarov
"Alvarez!?" Makarov exclaimed
"the bordering nation from the west!?" Doranbolt said
"in that war, you must try and win in order for you to have your chance to destroy me, Gray" END told him
Gray glares at him as the shadows bind him down
END looks at Erza as she was in shock and couldn't move or speak at all
"looks like she is in total shock now" END said with a chuckle
END turns around and started walking away before he suddenly stopped as his body stopped moving
"what do you think you're doing? You had your time for peace with her already" END spoke as an astral figure of Natsu appeared in front of him
""please"" he said as END looks at him before sighing
"just one minute" he told him before he and Natsu switched minds again
"why!? For what does Alvarez want a war for!?" Makarov exclaimed at END
"Fairy Heart" END replied to him as Makarov's eyes widen in surprise
"ah, or should I call it Lumen Histoire? But that doesn't matter, this war will come even if you come for a peace negotiation"
"rebuild, strengthen, and survive, Gray! Carry on your old man's will to destroy me!" END shouted at Gray who shouted at him
"I will destroy you!"
Natsu kneels down in front of Erza as he caresses her cheek
"Natsu…." Erza whispered out his name in tears as Natsu had tears running down his eyes as well
"I'm sorry….i'm really sorry" Natsu said to her as he pulls her in for one last hug
"I'm sorry….for everything"
Erza cried out in tears as she pulls him in tight
"survive this war, Fairy Tail." END said as he turns around and walks away before disappearing
"fuel your anger! Fuel your hatred! Freeze your heart till there is nothing left!" END told to Gray as he laughs before disappearing
Natsu embraces Erza as this was his Farwell to her
""it's time"" END spoke to Natsu as the man nodded
He leans away from Erza as the scarlet knight tugs him back, not wanting to let go
"please…..don't leave me" Erza whispered to him as she looks at his eyes in tears
Natsu frowned to her as he leans in for another hug
"I'm sorry" Natsu whispered as he had a glowing red sphere appearing in his hand
Erza's eyes widen as she gasped in pain a bit as Natsu had slammed the orb to her abdomen as the orb got sucked into her
Her grip on him weakens as she was losing conscious
Natsu sets her down to the grass before looking to her
He gives a kiss to her before leaning away as he stands up and started walking away
"Na….tsu" Erza's hand weakly reached out for him before he disappeared into thin air as her hand falls to the grass and Erza loss conscious
Far away
END stands on top of a cliff as he looks over to the ruins of Magnolia
"the END has just begun"
~fin~
The next and final part of the story
"Reborn Scarlet Roses"
Will coming out soon
Bye bye