SailorStar9: After getting Chapter 11 out, this is Chapter 12 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 12: Voice of Darkness

"Wait a second, Erza." Gray stopped her narration. "That Zeref that was in your story…"

"Yes, you should know about Zeref too." Erza agreed.

"I'm pretty sure they called that monster that came out of Lullaby one of Zeref's demons." Lucy recalled.

"That's not all." Erza corrected. "I suspect that Deliroa was also one of Zeref's demons."

"And Jellal is trying to resurrect this Zeref person?" Juvia echoed.

"I don't understand his motive." Erza admitted. "Shô… one of my friends in the past… he said something about when the resurrection was complete, they'd become rulers over heaven."

"But what I don't understand is why your past allies turned against you." Ulyo mused. "Wasn't the traitor Jellal, and not you, Erza?"

"He must have indoctrinated them somehow after I disappeared." Erza reasoned. "But I left them here for 8 years. The fact is I did betray them."

"But it was for their sake!" Lucy argued. "And yet…"

"Enough, Lucy." Erza stopped her. "If I can defeat Jellal, this all will be over."

Is this really the truth? Ulyo wondered. Those words are really bothering me. She frowned, recalling Erza' declaration.

"Sister…" Shô gaped. "That story… what is that supposed to mean?"

"Shô…" Erza blinked.

"You trying to get sympathy from your pals with that tall tale?" Shô demanded. "Give me a break! That's not even close to the truth! You blew up our ships and ran away by yourself! If Jellal hadn't noticed your betrayal, we would have all sunk into the sea. Jellal told us that was the fate of those who didn't learn the proper way of using magic! You were drunk from the power of magic! You tried to rid yourself of all of us and your past."

"Jellal told you this?" Gray questioned.

"Is that something the Erza you knew would have done?" Lucy pressed.

"What do you know?" Shô snapped. "You don't know anything about us! Only Jellal's words were able to save us. That's why we spent these past 8 years finishing this tower. For Jellal… if it was all a lie… if you are right, Sis… and Jellal is wrong…"

"That's right." Simon confirmed.

"It's you." Gray growled.

"Gray…" Ulyo stopped him. "Back then, he purposefully misaimed his attack."

"What?" Gray blinked.

"Ulyo-sama is correct." Juvia confirmed. "There is no way a user of darkness techniques would not be able to hit his target dead on at such close range."

"I see the Guardians deserve their reputation." Simon remarked.

"What's going on?" Shô was confused.

"Shô, I put on a performance to both trick you and get them into the tower." Simon informed.

"Why…" Shô gasped. "Why would you…"

"Shô…" Simon rested a hand on the younger mage's shoulder. "Everyone has been fooled by Jellal. I played the fool as well until the time is right. I believed in you, Erza." She turned to the weapons mistress. "I always did for the past 8 years. I'm glad we could meet, Erza." The two old friends reuniting in a handshake. "From the bottom of my heart."

"How…" Shô muttered. "How could you believe in her so much? Why… why wasn't I able to believe in her? Damn!" he cursed. "What is the truth? What should I believe in?"

"It must be difficult to accept it all at once." Erza knelt before him. "But let me say this much, for these past 8 years, I have never forgotten about you. I couldn't do anything for you." She drew Shô into a hug. "I'm sorry I was so weak."

"But now you can do it." Simon corrected. "Isn't that right? I've been waiting for this moment for a long time. Waiting for a number of powerful mages to gather here."

"Powerful mages?" Lucy echoed.

"To fight Jellal." Simon replied. "We'll all work together. First, we have to prevent Wally and Salamander from clashing."

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