SailorStar9: After getting Chapter 10 out, this is Chapter 11 of this fic. (Sighs) Guys and girls, is it too hard for you to leave a review, instead of just putting this fic up on your favorited list and story alerts?

Disclaimers: I own nothing, except for the plot bunny and my OC.

Chapter 11: Gerard

"Hey, do you think the people who were trapped in those cards were rescued?" Lucy wondered.

"We informed the army." Gray replied. "They should be fine by now."

"I sure hope so." Ulyo mused. "Never mind that, where the hell is this place?"

"Maybe Juvia's group is lost." Juvia suggested.

"Natsu, are you sure this is where they went?" Lucy asked.

"We're placing all our bets on your nose here!" Gray snapped, the 'Troia' spell Ulyo cast on Natsu before they got on the boat had worn off. "Get yourself together!"

"Natsu," Ulyo gave the Dragon Slayer a sweet smile. "Either get your act together or I'm singing 'Riot' again, on repeat."

"Dammit." Gray cursed. "It's unbelievable that Happy and Erza were taken away while we were unconscious. How pathetic can we get?"

"But how could a mage as strong as Erza be defeated?" Juvia wondered.

"She wasn't defeated!" Gray retorted. "Don't speak as if you know anything about Erza?"

"Gray, calm down!" Ulyo chided.

"They said that they were Erza's friends from long ago." Lucy mused. "So, even we might not know anything at all about her…"

"What's this feeling of danger?" Natsu wondered.

"The birds…" Lucy gaped as the birds started dropping out of the sky.

"What on earth is this phenomenon?" Gray inquired.

"Even the fish too?" Ulyo blinked as the upturned fishes. "This isn't natural."

"That debris…" Gray spotted the wreckage. "It's from Fiore's naval ships."

"Over there." Ulyo turned to the twisted tower.

"That's the Paradise Tower?" Lucy gasped.

"Water Dome!" the two water mages summoned a water sphere.

"We'll use this camouflage to make our approach." Juvia explained.

"I can't hold it…" Natsu choked.

"Just hold on a little longer." Lucy chided.

"Seriously, can't you see we are dealing with an emergency situation here?" Gray scolded.

"There are lots of lookouts." Gray remarked, once they landed on the island.

"Shall we break through?" Natsu suggested.

"No, Erza and Happy are still in captivity." Lucy reminded. "If we aren't careful, we'll put both of them in harm's way."

"That's disadvantageous to us." Gray concurred.

"I found an entrance underwater." Juvia reported.

"Good work, Juvia." Ulyo nodded.

"It's approximately a 10-minute dive." Juvia added.

"That's nothing." Natsu waved.

"Child's play." Gray agreed.

"Then, please put this on your head." Juvia requested, a water bubble manifesting above her hand. "Oxygen is trapped in this watery shell, so that you can breathe underwater."

"Someone has been practicing." Ulyo smiled.

"So, this is the tower's foundation." Gray noted, the group having surfaced.

"Where are Erza and Happy?" Natsu wondered.

"Intruders!" a guard reported. "Who are you?" the troops demanded.

"Since it comes to this…" Gray remarked. "Guess there's no other way."

"You want to know who we are?" Natsu glared. "You accomplices attacked us and yet you don't know?" and slammed his fist into the ground. ""We're Fairy Tail, you dumbass!" he roared, the five mages going onto the attack.

"Ice Make: Lance!" Gray released his multiple spikes.

"Open up, the Gate of the Maiden!" Lucy pulled out Virgo's key. "Virgo!"

"What is thy bidding, Princess?" the Spirit inquired.

"Please proceed with the punishment." Lucy pointed.

"They just don't get it, do they?" Ulyo joked, her 'Water Release: Water Encampment Pillar' already in place to deflect the attacks the soldiers fired at them.

"They don't, Ulyo-sama." Juvia agreed. "Water Slicer!"

"Water Release: Slicing Shark Wave!" Ulyo let her attack loose.

"We're mostly finished here." Juvia reported.

"That so?" Gray inquired, the troops decimated.

"Where is that blockhead?" Natsu demanded. "This is?" he blinked, the statue's mouth opened and its tongue extended down to the ground.

"They're inviting us in?" Gray wondered.

"Blockhead!" Natsu roared.

"Keep your voice down!" Lucy chided.

"We already threw a tantrum downstairs." Gray reasoned. "There's no reason for us to be stealthy anymore."

"What are you eating?" Lucy fumed, the rest of the group having settled down at the dining table.

"Seems like a feast was prepared." Virgo surmised. "Princess, do you wish to join?"

"That drop gate just now was operated remotely via magic." Ulyo explained. "Our presence is completely known."

"Then, why on earth…" Lucy wondered.

"Maybe they're challenging us." Gray guessed.

"Princess, is it appropriate to eat while still wearing such attire?" Virgo inquired. "Let's have a change in clothes. Ulyo-sama, too."

"Right here?" Ulyo echoed.

"Hey, hey!" Gray flushed.

"These are clothes from the Spirit World." Virgo explained, redressing the two females. "Princess, please be safe and sound."

"Thank you, Virgo." Lucy smiled, closing Virgo's gate. "Speaking of which, are you guys fine with wearing wet clothes?"

"We already dried them." Gray deathpanned, using Natsu's fire.

"Human drier!" Lucy gaped.

"There they are!" another troop rushed in. "The intruders!"

"Erza!" the group beamed, Erza slicing through the soldiers.

"Why are you all here?" Erza was stunned.

"Why?" Lucy echoed.

"Juvia… is…" Juvia started.

"Go back!" Erza ordered. "This is not a place for you to stay."

"Don't say such a thing, Erza." Natsu snapped. "If we run away just like that, we will dishonour the name of Fairy Tail." I'm not going to forgive that blockhead."

"I said go back." Erza insisted.

"Happy's been captured!" Natsu argued. "You expect me to leave him?"

"Happy?" Erza echoed. "Could it be… Milliana?"

"Where is he?" Natsu pressed.

"Beats me." Erza admitted.

"Okay, got it." Natsu decided.

"Got what?" Gray twitched.

"Happy is waiting for me!" Natsu dashed off.

"That idiot." Gray muttered.

"We're going too." Lucy stated.

"No!" Erza unsheathed her sword. "Milliana has a fetish for cats. I don't think she's going to harm Happy. I will take responsibility for bringing both of them back. You escape from here as soon as possible."

"No!" Lucy protested. "Not without you, Erza!"

"This is a personal matter!" Erza snapped. "I don't want to get any of you involved."

"It's already our problem." Gray retorted. "You saw Natsu, right?"

"Erza, what is this tower?" Lucy pressed. "Who is Gerard? It's fine if you don't want to tell us. They claimed to be your former friends, right? But now, it is us who are your friends. We're behind you no matter what, Erza."

"Go back." Erza hissed.

"This isn't like you, Erza-san." Gray taunted. "The normal you would have said, 'Follow me and don't complain.' We'll lend you our power. It's fine for you to be afraid sometimes, you know?"

"I'm sorry." Erza muttered, tearing up. "Whether I end up winning or losing this battle, I will perish from this world."

"What do you mean by that?" Gray demanded.

"This is a future I cannot change." Erza was adamant. "That's why, while I'm still breathing, I will tell you the whole thing. This tower is called the Paradise Tower. It's also known as the R-System." And started her explanation.

SailorStar9: Now that's done, read and review.