Chapter 6: After the Blast
Riku was running up more stairs than he'd ever climbed in his life. Half way up the tower and he still had no idea where he was exactly, just that he was going up. He'd spent too much time fighting with those idiots below. As he ran, he tried to figure out some kind of plan.
The cult who built the tower originally had been trying to resurrect their God, Zeref, Riku reminded himself. Did Jellal take Erza to do the same? Images of a young Jellal floated into his mind: giving Erza her last name, comforting Sho when he was sniffling from a cold, and listening attentively to Uncle Rob's stories. He never seemed like a bad kid, Riku thought. What had happened? Riku had been moved just a few weeks before the revolt. Was it possible for something to happen and change Jellal?
Riku paused at a split in the hallway, considering the right versus the left, which looked almost identical. he magical energy felt different to the left, more alive and electric, so he took the left hallway. Come to think of it, Riku thought as he turned another corner. The night we met she mentioned Jellal. I told her I was leaving with her and she said, "You can't because Jellal..." But what about Jellal?
"I never asked," Riku snarled punching his open palm with his fist. "I asked about her eyes and not anything else, like an idiot!"
After that, they had found land and headed to find Fairy Tail and then they had joined. There had been so much pain and suffering and they were both so willing to forget, or pretend to forget, the island and people they'd left behind. I should have asked. I should have made her talk about it, he thought. A small voice in the back of his mind spoke whispered the words he had been ignoring this whole run, and now you might never get the chance.
"I'll make it up to you, Erza," Riku told the empty hallway, moving up some stairs two at a time. "I'll ask you about everything we never talked about and I'll tell you everything you want to know on our Guild Day lunch. Just don't die on me!"
He was almost at the top, he could tell. Skidding through another door he found himself gasping for breath. He paused at a window, sucking in as much air as his lungs could take. He did a double take. A man with a jet pack and an the head of an owl was rushing away from the island. In his arms was a pink haired woman in a kimono and a metal fan with a bald white head.
He didn't have time to dwell on it though. The air was crackling with magic energy and a lot of it. Erza was certainly one of the producers, though he couldn't explain how he knew exactly. The other one had to be Jellal. If he could get there before the blast then maybe they could figure a way out of this mess.
"No way are we going to end it here in this shit hole," Riku snapped and as if on cue, the whole building began shaking.
...
Outside the tower, Mystogan was watching the runes above the tower as they moved into alignment. That must be the Etherion Cannon the fleeing soldier had mentioned. Mystogan attempted again to move the boat forward, but the sea pushed him back. Still some sort of barrier in place preventing his approach. But why?
Mystogan didn't have time to ponder it further because suddenly a blinding light gathered in the runes. Mystogan squinted his eyes, holding his arm above them to try and peer at the tower ahead. There was a loud rumbling, like thousands of thunderclouds at once. The vibrations were so much that the boat began to rock violently. Mystogan took his third staff in his hand, drawing a quick rune on the ground, and steadying the deck as much as he could. He looked at the tower just as the blinding light became too much and a roaring sound filled the air.
Mystogan braced himself to his staff, turning his head downward and focusing his energy on forcing stabilizing the boat. No matter what, he had to be ready for when Riku headed back. Despite all his focus, he nearly fell off the boat when the cannon fired. The energy of the cannon made the very Earth shake as if it would split in half beneath him and swallow the ocean whole.
BOOM!
With his fourth staff, Mystogan split the rushing waves headed his way. They opened like a curtain to reveal the tower before him, still standing but broken down to its lacrima bones. Lacrima bones that were full of enough magical energy that he could feel its instability from this distance. This was a very very bad development.
Mystogan didn't wait for the waves to settled before attempting to move the boat forward. It took a lot of effort, but for the first time, the boat moved into the previously blocked waters. He had to try and get as close to Riku as possible. That whole structure was unstable and everyone had to leave as soon as possible.
"If something happens to Erza, I dunno what will put us in more danger," Mystogan considered, pushing closer and closer at a snails pace. "Riku or this tower they're all on."
...
Riku ran through the blinding light and the shaking of the tower and arrived at the top of the tower just in time to see Natsu punch Erza in the stomach, laying her down on the ground before him.
"Natsu," Riku shouted rushing forward.
"Riku?" Natsu said, surprise written across his face. Then it broke into a smile. "I should have figured you'd find your way here if Erza was in trouble."
"Are you with this idiot," snapped Riku, gesturing to Jellal who seemed amused by this development.
"What," Natsu snapped, offended. "No!"
"Then why," Riku growled, hand going for his sword on his back. "Are you knocking out Erza?"
Natsu looked from Riku to Erza then back to Riku again. "Hold on," he said holding up his hands. "If you've been here as long as we have then you must know that this guy kidnapped Erza and is trying to sacrifice her."
Riku narrowed his eyes and brought them to Jellal, before bringing them back to Natsu again.
"And he was trying to do it when I got here," Natsu growled, now eyeing Jellal as well. "I pulled her out of that lacrima over there."
"I'll rip him limb from limb," Riku snarled, hand grasping the handle of his sword and a rage pumping in his veins. He took a step forward, but a wall of fire zipped past him before dying away.
Riku turned to Natsu again, "Watch it!"
"He's mine," Natsu stated, crossing his arms and shaking his head. "And if you want to fight to figure out who gets to beat him to a pulp, then so be it."
"That's the stupidest thing-" Riku began, but Natsu cut him off.
"Besides, someone's got to make sure Erza's okay. She can't move."
Riku's face paled, cold fear suddenly dampening the boiling rage. He moved his hand from his sword. "Alright," he agreed. "Kick his ass and don't lose."
Natsu gave Riku a single nod before turning to face Jellal, who's hands were in his pockets, looking bored. Riku hurried over to Erza. She was dressed in a white sarashi round her upper chest and a red hakama with a gold flame-like pattern at the bottom with black highlights, tied by white strings. She looked battled and bruised, but oddly peaceful in this state. Riku gently took her head and placed it on his lap, moving some hair from her face and seeing a bit of a shiner appearing on her cheekbone.
"You don't look so good, Erza," he said kindly. "But I bet the other guy looks twenty times worse."
"Riku," Erza asked. Her eyes fluttered slightly, as if she were attempting to open them.
"Don't do that yet," he said kindly. "I'm here and we're going to get off this ridiculously tacky tower."
Erza's mouth twitched slightly in a small smile.
"When did you get here," she asked, voice so weak it was barely above a whisper.
"Oh you know, a little while ago," Riku said, twirling one of her stray hairs nervously. "I was bored and thought 'why not travel down memory lane,' right? What about you?"
"It feels like I've been here forever," Erza admitted with a pained sigh.
Jellal's laughter interrupted their conversation. Riku looked up to see Natsu was panting in front of a wall of flames. With a wave of his coat, Jellal cleared the flames entirely. He was still standing and completely unmarked.
"Is that the best you can do," Jellal asked. "If that's all you've got, then I won't waste my time. Prepare to be destroyed by my heavenly bodies magic! Meteor!"
Riku watched as Jellal sprung into the air as if he were flying. He zipped past Natsu: once, twice, three times. Each time landing a punch on the fire dragon slayer. Natsu hit the ground hard.
Riku gritted his teeth. All that brawling in the guild hall and this idiot is getting clobbered? I have to go help! He made a move to stand, but Erza made a soft hiss of pain. Riku sat back down again, apologizing to the wounded girl.
"Just a few more moments," she said. "I just need a few more moments."
"Yeah," Riku said. "Yeah, okay." Riku looked up just as Jellal punched Natsu so rapidly that it sent Natsu flying in an arc in the air.
"Oh shit," Riku breathed watching as Jellal leaped into the air. Riku moved his hand to his sword, pulling it out as quickly as he could without moving Erza.
"May the seven stars bring judgement upon you. Seven Star Sword! Grand Chariot," called Jellal.
Riku brought his sword down as hard as he could, but he was too late. His dark energy twister roared across the tower to a place that Jellal no longer stood. He's too fast.
"Alright," Riku said looking around. "We have to go. We have to get Natsu and get off this tower and away from this insane jerk."
"Natsu..." Erza repeated and her brow furrowed.
Both of her eyes opened when they heard the sound of crystal being smashed. Erza made a move to sit up, but Riku put his hand on her shoulder. Looking over her he could see Jellal's back and in front of that was Natsu, slamming his fist into the tower.
"Did you hear that, Riku," Natsu grinned. "He doesn't want us to destroy the tower!"
Riku could take a hint. He gently placed Erza's head back on the ground and stood to face the tower, Jellal, and Natsu. He looked at Jellal as his hands began to glow with his dark energy dragon slayer magic. Then, before Jellal could make a move towards him he let out a string of punches and kicks to the towers itself, chipping away bit by bit. A jagged boulder shook from the impact before dislocating completely and rolling down the tower.
Jellal's eye twitched with rage and he lunged for Riku, but Natsu met him before he could get there.
"I told you," Natsu said. "I'm your opponent!"
They went on like this for some time: Riku destroying the tower, with one eye on Erza, and Natsu fighting with Jellal. Jellal was getting visibly angry, which only made the whole affair more enjoyable as far as Riku was concerned. He might not know why the sweet kid from their cell changed into this monster trying to resurrect Zeref, but he didn't need to know that to destroy stuff. Natsu was right, it was their guilds specialty.
"I'LL MAKE YOU PAY," Jellal screamed, his eyes more insane than ever before. He crossed his arms and suddenly the air shifted. A black orb was appearing above Jellal, and like a black hole it seemed to be sucking up magical energy and gathering it for its own use. Riku knocked down the second boulder and turned, seeing the power as his eyes widened. He realized what would happen if that spell hit Natsu at the exact moment Erza did and in a flash she was between Natsu and Jellal.
"You don't want to lose your sacrifice to Zeref, do you," she snarled.
"That would be a problem,"Jellal agreed, eyes not losing their insane glint. "But with Riku here, I have my plan B. After I kill both of you, I'll simply move on to him for Zeref's reincarnation process!"
For Riku, it all seemed to happen in slow motion. He turned to rush towards them, just as Jellal's magic reached it's full force. Natsu called for Erza to get out of the way as Riku jumped over a stray boulder. He aimed an attack at Jellal as Jellal called out "altairis!" He released the black ball of magic and in the same movement, seemed to sweep away Riku's attack as if it were merely a fly on his shoulder. Riku was rushing toward his guild mates. He was trying to get to Erza and Natsu before the ball of power. His mind was blank except for trying to get to them and to stop this death sentence. He was so close, but he wasn't going to make it in time!
Simon appeared and the blast hit him head on.
The impact of two magics colliding sent Riku flying. He slammed against a rock, feeling an uncomfortable crack in his rib area.
Riku turned over, pushing himself up and coughing up a little blood. He could hear Erza's ragged voice and sobs coming from where Simon was and he could see his own blood, but they both seemed so far away. He blinked: once and then twice. It seemed to take a lot of effort to register the movement.
Something was wrong.
Distantly, as if hidden deep inside himself, he could feel something straining. Beneath that he could sense the bubbling rage in his stomach.
...
Mystogan stepped foot on the island for the first time and paused, looking up to the top of the tower. He could feel the seal he'd placed on Riku straining. Something bad was about to happen. Something Riku wouldn't be able to control. Letting out a string of cuss words, Mystogan began moving up the tower at rapid speed. He had to find that idiot before his seal broke, and it was so close to breaking.
"Don't be a damn fool," Mystogan growled. "Riku, have some control for once!"
...
Despite the fuzziness in his mind, Riku could hear Erza crying. She yelled out in pain and Riku knew. Simon was gone.
The distant bubbling seemed to grow, moving into a ball tightly against his heart. His ears were pounding with fury, it felt like his chest might combust from the rage within it, but still something seemed to hold the rage at bay. Something that was being pulled tighter and tighter, like a rubber band being pulled farther and farther apart. He leaned forward, holding one hand to his chest and using the other to hold himself up. He needed to move. He needed to fight. He needed to avenge Simon. The rubber band pulled too far and snapped.
All Riku could feel or hear was the rushing of his own power around him as the ball of rage seemed to explode within him, amplified a hundred times now that the restrain was gone. He opened his eyes, but he didn't register what he saw. He only knew the rage and his goal: destroy and survive.
Hope you enjoyed. I'm so proud of myself for being so consistent at updating. I'm usually so bad at keeping to my schedules. Don't forget to review & get ready for the next chapter: Darkness Dragons Secret Art- Dark Dragon Take Over.
Thanks so much sketchywolf for the review!
