Chapter 15
March Towards Destruction
"Speech"
'Thoughts'
"Magic"
Flashback
Location / Date / Time Skip
With Erza
The armored female ran through the forest, thinking about a single name. 'Jellal... he's come back to life. How? And why did he show up here of all places?' Her mind flashed between him as a child and as an adult. 'How am I suppose to feel? How am I supposed to face him?'
Erza soon found herself at Nirvana's resting place. The dust swirled around her until it was blown away as she came face to face with Jellal. The once old friends stared at each other, unaware of the hidden foe.
'Titania, what the fuck is she doing here?' Salamander thought from the side. 'I knew we should have just killed the runt. I was so focused on Jellal, I didn't even notice her coming. I can't let her stop him from activating Nirvana!'
"Jellal..." Erza was the first to speak.
"Erza..." Jellal said back.
"Tell me, why are you here!?" She asked.
"I can't tell you that..." He said back. "Erza... who is that?" Erza gasped at the question. "That's the only word I can remember..." He grabbed his head in pain. "I don't know who I am... or where I came from... can you tell me?" He looked up at Erza in hopes she would know. "Just tell me who Erza is! Please, if you know, you have to tell me!"
Erza stared back with tears in her eyes.
'Wait, this guy lost all his memories?' Salamander asked himself. He heard Erza's thoughts and smiled. 'Titania, you snake.'
Erza started to walk forward, scaring Jellal. "Stay away!" He held out his hand and blasted her with golden energy. Battered and bruised, she stood still, staring at him
"Then you come to me, because I am Erza." He stared at her before she continued. "Your name is Jellal. You were a good friend. But you were forced to do horrible things by our captors. In the end, you saved the world by sacrificing yourself." Jellal stared at Erza with a soft smile.
"Oh, that's bullshit." Both looked over as Salamander walked out from behind a corner. "Tell him how you really feel, Titania."
"Salamander!" Erza summoned a sword and swung it at him, only for him to dodge before kicking her into a large rock. He reached Jellal and pushed his head up.
"According to her real thoughts, you were a tyrant." Salamander said, shocking Jellal. "You disrespected the dead, tormented your so called friends, destroyed the magic council, and almost caused a war. You even smiled as you watched me kill your old friend. No matter what lies she tells you, you are and always will be a monster."
With Lucy
Lucy groaned as she woke up. She grabbed her nose in pain only to find it in a cast on it. "Who did this?" She looked down and noticed her new outfit. "And where did this come from?"
"I brought those from the Celestial Spirit world." The blonde looked over at Virgo. "And I changed you and treated your wound."
Erik groaned as he woke up in a similar style of garments. "Where am I?"
"I also did the same for sir Erik." Virgo said.
"Totaly unnecessary." Lucy said back.
Erik shot up and looked around. "Jellal! Wait, where's that light thing?" He turned and all looked at the massive beam of light.
"Were closer, but it looks kinda different." Lucy said.
"Yes, the light changed while you two were unconscious." Virgo explained.
Erik growled at the light before calming down with a breath before turning to Lucy. "Thanks for helping me back there, Lucy."
"Uh, no problem..." She mumbled back.
"She likes you." Virgo teased, annoying the blonde.
"Wait, where's Happy?" Erik asked before turning to Lucy. "Matter of fact, weren't you suppose to stay with Erza?"
Lucy dropped her head in shame. "I was, but we got split up."
He turned back to the light. "Looks like we're gonna have to head towards the light on our own."
"Goodbye for now, princess." Virgo bowed before fading back to the Spirit world.
"Hold on!" Lucy tried to stop it but couldn't. 'That's right, I don't summon her. She crossed over using her own power. Does that mean I use up all of mine?'
Erik heard a rustle in the bushes and turn to it. "Come on out, now!"
"Calm down, scale licker." Both recognized the voice as Grays as he stepped out of the forest. "Why are you two dressed the same?"
"Virdo gave them to us." Erik answered.
"For the hundredth time, it's Virgo." Lucy said as she shook her head, noticing the bandage wrapped around her head.
"What happen to you?" Gray asked, slightly limping as he walked forward.
"Had to fight a member of the Oraciōn Seis." Lucy explained. "She almost strangled me to death before she went down."
"Well, that's two down then." Gray smiled. "Me and Lyon took down another member. Weirdo even tried to fool us into thinking he had a bomb."
"So, that's two down, and four to go." Erik said, looking over to the light. "Including him..."
"So what is that thing?" Gray asked.
"That's Nirvana..." Lucy answered.
With Happy
The cat, having pulled himself out of the tree, dragged Hibiki to the shore of the river. "I hope the others are okay..."
Nirvana's Resting Place
"So, now that you know what Erza really thinks of you, how did you unseal Nirvana?" Salamander asked. Erza tried to hit him but the snake blocked her sword.
"While I was unconscious, I heard someone's voice." Jellal spoke up. "I must have Nirvana, that's what it said. It was strange, but when I woke up, I knew exactly where to find it. I could also sense how dangerous this magic is. And so, I decided to break Nirvana's seal, so I could destroy it."
"You what?" Salamander shouted.
"How do you plan to do that?" Erza asked.
"I've cast a Self-Destruction Spell on this monstrosity." Jellal explained as purple magic lines spread across Nirvana. "Nirvana will soon be completely destroyed."
"You bastard!" Salamander threw Jellal to the side and studied the lines. "Damn it, I've never disrupted a spell like this. One wrong vibration and I could set this thing off!" He turned back to Jellal in anger. "Tell me how to stop this thing, right now!"
Jellal grabbed his chest in pain. "Erza... every time I hear that name, a calmness washes over me. Kindness, friendliness, a fierce unwavering loyalty... There's not a doubt in my mind you'll continue to hate me. But that's hatred will only rob you of your freedom. If I really am your friend, I can't allow that."
Jellal coughed in pain as Erza stared at him before she noticed the Self-Destruction spell on him. "I'm sorry you've suffered because of me. I'll do what I can to make it right."
"You fuck!" Salamander shouted as Jellal fell back.
"Be free... from your hatred..." Jellal whispered as Erza stared at him. "I'll take it all with me..."
"Is this moron for real!?" Salamander asked. "He's gonna blow himself up with Nirvana!?"
"Be free... from your hatred..." Jellal whispered as Erza stared at him. "I'll take it all with me..."
"If he blows, he's taking the shut down codes with him!" Salamander growled.
Jellal hit the ground and Erza ran toward him, shouting his name. Reaching him, she grabbed his collar and lifted his head off the ground. "Listen to me! I won't allow you to die like this! You have to atone for your sins!"
His eyes opened again and he stared up at Erza. "You can't die ignorant of what you've done! You won't ever be forgiven by the people you've hurt! Own your sins and fight! Jellal!" Tears fell from her eyes as Jellal took notice.
"Erza... don't cry..." His words made her look at the water in her hand. "You're a good person..." His head fell back and he closed his eyes again.
"Jellal!" Erza shouted again. "Pull yourself together."
A staff slammed into the ground. "What is the meaning of this foolishness?" Brain asked.
"He's here..." Salamander mumbled. Erza whipped the tears from her eyes and glared at Brain.
The Oraciōn Seis leader looked up and noticed the lines on Nirvana. "A Self-Destructuon Spell?"
"Jellal cast it!" The pinkette shouted. "If we don't stop this idiot, all our work will be for nothing!"
Brain merely smirked at the panicking wizard before walking over. "Calm down, Salamander. I don't get the name 'Brain' by chance. Do you know how I came to be called that? I worked at the Bureau of Magical Development and during my time there, I produced hundreds of spells, including ones like this. I hold that knowledge to this day."
He walked passed the friends and looked down at Jellal. "In fact, I was the one who taught you how to use it. Or did you forget that as well?" He finally noticed the seal on Jellal. "So he plans to take the cancellation code with him, does he?"
"Something tells me he's not gonna stroll down memory lane with you." Salamander said, catching Brain's attention. "All that ethernano wiped him clean."
Brain laughed at the statement. "Is that so? How comical." Erza glared at him as Brain reached the wall and touched a section. "We have no further need for him. Even with out the codes, I can nullify this spell." He raised his hand and the spell broke like glass.
Erza and Jellal stared in horror. "You can't..."
"Nice!" Salamander cheered.
Brain chuckled at Jellal's actions. "In trying to make amends, Jellal, you've given Nirvana to my control!"
Erza launched forward and summoned a sword. "I won't let you!"
"Nirvana! Arise!" At Brain's words, the ground shot up, catching Erza and Jellal. "Reveal your true face!"
"This is it!" Salamander shouted. "This is the sound of our future! Light crashing to the ground!" The whole ground exploded as Jellal and Erza reached out for each other. The pillar of light exploded and grew in size. "I'll go get the others." Salamander took to the sky's on Cubelious, listening for his teammates.
With The Fairy Tail Group
"What the heck is that!?" Erik asked as they stared at the light.
"I hope that's not as bad as it looks." Gray said.
"No I think it is." Lucy said.
"And once again, Erza is right in the middle of things." Gray complained.
"This is the most dangerous thing I've ever smelled!" Erik shouted.
Giant stone tendrils shot out of the ground, raising the light even higher. "Now what's going on!?" Erik asked.
"I don't know, but it doesn't look good." Gray said.
"Do you think this is Nirvana?" Lucy asked. The ground beneath them started to shake before a tendril lifted them into the air. "I hate being right!"
With Wendy
Wendy screamed as a tendril shot up beneath her before Carla picked her up. Both looked as the light and dust faded, showing a giant ancient city on leg, covered in moss and plant life.
With Brain
"At last, it is mine!" Brain shouted at the top of his lungs. "The greatest weapon against light itself! The legendary reversal magic, Nirvana! Those pathetic light guilds strongest weapons, unity and trust, will be useless from now on!"
With Erza
Titania held onto the ledge for dear life in one hand and Jellal in the other. "Cancel that Self-Destruction spell you've put on yourself. Do it now." Jellal just looked up at her. "You have a duty, and that's to stay alive. No matter what you've done, you have to fight for your life!"
Jella just dropped his head in shame. "I failed... I couldn't stop Nirvana..." Summoning her strength, Erza pulled Jellal up onto the ledge. "The world is doomed, and its all my fault."
"It's not doomed yet." Erza looked over to a leg. "Look there." Jellal followed her eyes to a cloud of dust climbing the leg. Erik, Gray and Lucy were running up leg, roaring their lungs out.
Wendy and Carla saw the cloud and flew towards it.
With Lisanna and Jura
"Go on ahead." Jura told the girl. "I'll meet you there soon." Lisanna nodded and turned into her bird form, flying up the leg. "I should really have fixed that wound..."
Ledge
The two on the ledge stared at the sight. "As long as we can breath, hope will never die." The red head said.
"Once we get to the top, I'll smash this thing into a million pieces!" Erik shouted.
"So, why did Virgo give you guys wearing matching outfits?" Gray asked Lucy.
"I'll explain later!" The blonde shouted back.
"That hope will never leave your life." Erza turned back to Jellal. "So never give up the end." Jellal nodded as she helped him to his feet.
Above the Forest
Salamander stood on Cubelious as the sun set, listening for his guildmates. 'Racer and Hoteye have been beaten... guess we underestimated them. Midnight's already on board the city, so that leave-' His eyes went wide as he found Angel. 'No, no no no no!' He tapped Cubelious and flew towards a stagnant pond, finding Angel floating in it.
"Natsu..." She weakly reached out and he pulled her out of the water before resting her against a tree. "I'm sorry..." Tears fell from her eyes before he wiped them away. Physically, she was fine, but her mind was exhausted as she tried to stay awake.
"Who did this to you?!" Natsu growled as he held her hand.
"The blonde... bitch..." She answered. "Somehow, she... turned my keys... against me..."
Natsu dropped his head, letting his hair cover his eyes. "She will pay... they all will pay."
"Natsu..." Angel pushed his head back up. "Promise me you'll... keep our dream alive... Take Nirvana... for us..."
He smiled back at her as he reached into his vest. "Don't worry about that. I've got that taken care of."
Sorano watched as Natsu slowly pulled out Racer's bomb. "That's..."
"The key to our future." Salamander put it back in his jacket and kissed her forehead. "I'll come back once they're all dead. Well, maybe not the runt. We use her to heal you." He kissed her again, this time on the lips. "Get some rest, and I'll come get you once I'm done." He stood back on Cubelious and flew back towards the city.
Angel looked at her lover with joy as he flew away before dropping her head. Before she closed her eyes to rest, she looked down at her arm and noticed the tattoo on her. 'Still haven't... figured this thing out...'
Almost included Wendy's flashback in this, but seeing that doesn't add anything to this story, I left it out. As for Erza's words, that's what I would have done if my old friend lost their memories. I'd want them to remember the positives and forget the negatives. Maybe that makes her a bad person, but it's my fic.
Next up, the rematch from the tower and hopefully, you'll all like the little twisty twist I'm planning on doing.
Beta read by Natsu is Awesome.
