The sun started to slowly drown itself as night fall came. The air was much colder this time, however no one around cared as there was something far more important.
"...Huh?" perplexed Carla, putting her hands on her hips. "You want to actually help those guys? The ones that kidnapped you?"
Wendy simply nodded.
"Uh Wendy, I hate to tell you this. But that isn't such a great idea." Gray said. He, Erza, Happy and Lucy joined up with the group.
"A-aye. That god of there's is bad news…" Happy explained.
"Besides, it's not your responsibility, child." Carla sighed. Wendy looked down again and gave out a long sigh. "I know." Was all she said, not giving them direct eye contact and twiddling her thumbs.
"Ok now you're making no sense Wendy." Natsu doubted, rubbing the back of his head. The entire time Erza was watching Wendy closely, trying to notice anything off. However she looked like the Wendy they all knew...minus the messy hair.
"You see," Wendy started, she gave out a deep breath. "If their god dies, then this whole place. Will crumble. A lot of people would get hurt or even worse…"
"Woah, you serious?" Gray puzzled. Natsu then closed his eyes and gave out a deep sigh. He then plopped himself on the cloudy floor and sat cross legged.
"So you're saying you have no choice huh?" Natsu guessed. "Jeez, guess not everything is supposed to be easy for us huh." He chuckled.
"So you want us to call off the rescue then?" Erza asked.
"But what about that guy who asked for our help?" Lucy brought up.
"We only came here to rescue Wendy." Erza looked down. "This isn't our business technically, but if this is what Wendy wants we'll just have to wait until it's all over."
"I guess that's the best possible option…" Lucy sighed. "Best to avoid any unnecessary fighting."
"Well if you're gonna go back then I'm going with you." Carla huffed, looking disapproving of Wendy's choice. "I want to make sure those ruffians don't try anything funny.
"...no." Wendy said quietly.
"Hm? What did you say, child?"
Wendy grinded her teeth, looking down once more while everyone stared at her. She turned away and shook for a moment. Shortly after she turned back, facing everyone.
"I'm not coming back."
Silence. Reactions were met with confusion and worry. The first one to respond was Carla.
"W-what?! What're you saying?"
"I said" Wendy gave another deep breath. "I'm not coming back. I want to stay here."
"What's gotten into you, child?!" Carla stomped towards Wendy and put her hands on her shoulders. "You wanna stay here? The same place that did *this* to your hair?! How come?!" Carla pointed at the missing part of Wendy's hair. Wendy looked away again, her hair shadow once more blocking her eyes. "Look at me!" Carla growled.
Natsu sighed and got up, she patted Carla on the shoulder. "Natsu?" She looked up and saw Natsu's calm expression. She moved aside as Natsu bent down so he was face to face with Wendy.
"Come on Wendy, what's up?" He patted her head, trying to comfort her. Wendy looked up and saw Natsu's trademark smile. "You can trust us y'know?"
Wendy stared long and hard at Natsu. She always felt like things were going to be okay when Natsu acted like this. Someone who was always confident and willing to protect those around him. However, her eyes sank. Her body started to tremble.
"I want to tell him…" She thought. She bit her lips tight and clenched her fists. "I want them to be safe…"
Suddenly, memories start to flash in her mind.
"Your loved ones will meet the same fate if you do not comply…"
"They won't listen to the warnings we've given them."
"Miracles won't happen. You cannot escape this fate!"
"Show us your loyalty towards us then. Remove it."
Wendy looked down once more, a single tear escaped her eye.
"They'll die."
Wendy's head shot up.
"Sky Dragon's Crushing Fang!" She screamed out, unleashing an attack on Natsu's stomach as a large gust of wind blasted out from behind him, sending him flying.
"Wha-?!"
"Wendy?!"
"Natsu!"
Gray, Lucy and Happy yelled out. Erza didn't say anything but was equally as surprised.
Natsu regained his composure as he landed on his hands and backflipped to a standing position. His eyes were wide eyed, before he could say anything Wendy did not hesitate as she unleashed another attack.
"Sky Dragon's Wave Wind!" She waved her arms downwards as a blast of harsh winds came crashing towards Natsu. He prepared for the attack by crossing his arms towards him. As the attack hit he started to slightly slide backwards as the harsh winds gave several cuts on Natsu's arms. He yelled out as he pushed his arms out, bursting the attack away.
"Wendy! What're you doing?!" Carla ran up frantically trying to get a hold of Wendy. However she quickly leaped towards the air. As she did, the cloak she was wearing flew off, and the first thing Erza noticed caused her muscle to tense uncontrollably.
"Wendy…" Natsu's eyes sank with shock as she saw Wendy's Fairy Tail guild mark completely gone from her shoulder.
"JUST, GO BACK ALREADY!" She raged out as one of her legs started to surround itself with wind. She flew towards Natsu, doing a front flip she screamed out "Sky Dragon's Claw!" as her foot swiped towards Natsu's face, he took a direct hit, sending him flying once more.
"Wendy…what's gotten into you…" Lucy covered her mouth as she started to cry. "Please stop it…"
Wendy gritted her teeth as she ignored everything around her desperately trying not to listen. She then dashed towards Natsu again at high speeds.
"What is she trying to do, kill him?!" Gray sputtered as he started to run towards Natsu as he was still down, Happy following suit. Erza without a word ran past Gray at high speeds as Wendy cloaked her leg in wind once more. Wendy's pupils were dilated so much it seemed like they were completely gone. Erza slid to a stop between her and Natsu, pulling out a sword as she blocked the attack from the young slayer. Gray then got to Natsu as he saw that he had a large bruise on his cheek. He lifted him up with Natsu's arm on his shoulder, Natsu was still conscious as he spat out some blood.
"Wendy!" Carla flew towards Wendy as she clashed with Erza.
"Carla! Don't get any closer!" Erza screamed in anger as Carla immediately came to a stop. Carla looked at Wendy and saw someone she didn't recognize, Wendy never acted like this!
Erza stared at Wendy's enraged state, enraged as well as she gritted her teeth.
"Is this what you truly want, Wendy!" She yelled out. However Wendy did not respond as she jumped back, appearing extremely exhausted. Erza's sword vanished as she stared at Wendy, who didn't even look back at her. "Tell us the truth, Wendy!" Erza clenched her fist.
Lucy then ran up towards Gray who was carrying Natsu away from the battle. "N-Natsu, are you okay?!" She wailed as she saw the wound on his cheek. Natsu didn't really pay attention to his wounds as he turned his head towards Wendy.
Erza stared at Wendy fiercely, demanding answers. Suddenly, Wendy dropped her battle stance as she started to tremble violently. She collapsed on the cloudy floor covering her face as she started bawling.
"I-I-I…!" Wendy struggled to speak with her hiccups getting in the way. Erza started to approach Wendy slowly.
"It's just...it's just…!" Wendy shook her head as she softly clawed her face with instant regret. As Erza approached closer, a large blast of wind got in between the two. Erza slid back a bit, blocking the attack with her arms. What emerged was Hahlos, landing in front of Erza with his usual calm expression replaced with visible frustration.
"What's going on here?" He exclaimed. Erza did not hesitate as she requiped two swords.
"Move. Aside." scowled Erza, her eyes darken with rage. Hahlos glared at Erza "You plan on breaking the peace here?"
"I said. Move. Aside." Erza gave one last warning, pointing one of her blades towards Hahlos' face. Hahlos then gripped her blade, pulling it away from his face. "Don't forget. I can see all, women." He then pushed the sword away from her as he took a few steps back, he then turned his head and saw Wendy on her knees looking at the floor with frustration and sadness. He sighed as he turned back towards Erza.
"I'm putting an end to this ugly situation." He announced, he then pointed at Erza. "I don't know how you all even got here, but I suggest you all leave. Your friend here is going to assist us and I won't let mere wizards get in the way of our future!"
"Why you, scum!" Erza cursed as started to dash towards him. However Natsu, who pushed Gray away from him, ran past Erza with his fists enveloped with flames. His pupils were dilated and veins bulging as he screamed out in rage.
"LIKE HELL SHE IS!"
Hahlos blocked Natsu's harsh attack with his hands as he gritted his teeth. The gloves he was wearing started to melt and the skin was burning. "Grrh!" Hahlos growled as he pushed Natsu away from him. Natsu slid back and he got in a battle stance.
"It seems mere words won't work on fools like you!" Hahlos criticized as he clapped his hands together. He then proceeded to wave his hands around as his fingers drew a magic symbol. "You will be punished for causing trouble in our peaceful home!" He shouted as the magic symbol glew brightly.
"Shred Them To Dust: Black Gale!" Suddenly a large black wave came crashing out of the magic circle towards Natsu and the others.
"PLEASE STOP IT!" Wendy begged.
Hahlos' eyes then flashed blue for a moment as he foresaw something unexpected. Jellal appeared, surrounded in a yellow cloak as he conjured a Hexagon Barrier which effortlessly blocked Hahlos' attack. The wind subsided as Hahlos dusted himself off.
"Natsu!" Sting yelled out as he, Rogue, Gajeel and Chelia came running towards the group. Jellal and Hahlos stared at each other as Jellal got in a battle stance.
"...Fine." Hahlos sighs. "I'll give you one more warning. If any one of you takes one step back in Exahelm…" He then gave them a harsh glare. "Then you will be executed." He then turned around, facing Wendy.
"Wendy!?" Chelia saw her friend as she reached her hand out. Wendy gritted her teeth, trying to not look at her friends. Hahlos then reached his hand towards Wendy. "Let's go…" he ordered.
Wendy then looked up at her friends one last time as her tears subsided. She then gave a soft smile as she grabbed Hahlos' hand.
"Everyone, I'm sorry…Please don't worry about me, just stay safe."
She and Hahlos then vanished immediately.
Natsu then dragged his fingers on the ground as he shook furiously. He let out a loud cry in despair.
Minutes passed as Natsu's injuries were patched up and everyone else was filled in with what happened.
"N-no!" Chelia cried. "Wendy would never do that!"
"I couldn't believe it either…" Lucy hung her head down. "I don't get it…"
"It's pretty obvious she did all of this to protect us from any danger," Jellal commented. "Perhaps there's something more sinister going on that we're missing…" Jellal looked over at Erza who's back was turned towards everyone, looking at the town. "Did you notice anything, Erza?"
Erza stood in silence as she clenched her fist. "Her purpose in being here was to revive their dying god." She started. The cloudy floor they were standing on turned dark as the noise of rain was heard from below. Erza bit her lip hard where she drew blood.
"For her to erase her guild mark, and to attack Natsu. Telling us to leave…" She shot her eyes open in rage as she drew a large sword and sliced the clouds in front of her, creating a split path on the cloudy floor.
Jellal closed his eyes in realization and gave a deep sigh.
"She's going to be used as a sacrificial pawn." Erza seethed.
No one in the group was in shock as they all came to the same conclusion. Reactions mixed with sadness and anger.
"I don't like this." Gajeel stated, the veins on his head bulging.
Rogue then sighed deeply as he looked at everyone. "So, what would Fairy Tail do in this situation?" He asked. Sting looked at Rogue then gave out a smirk.
Carla sighed as she transformed back into her cat form. Lucy tied the back of her hair in a ponytail. Gray took off his shirt and threw it away as the wind carried it away. Erza turned around as she walked towards Natsu and looked at him. Natsu then closed his eyes and gave out a deep sigh as he sat up. He took off both the plastic wings and halo and crushed them.
"We're through, following their rules."
The various other members of the group took off the disguises and either tossed them or destroyed them. Jellal sighed as he smirked. "Guess a war was unavoidable huh?"
"No." Erza reassured. She marched forward facing the town as everyone behind her looked ahead. "Fiore won't have another way, this is a war between us and them."
The clouds below them flashed as the thunder boomed.