Ch. 6- Nirvana Awakens

Fairy Tail © Hiro Mashima

Story and OCs © Me

Blue Fang's paws thumped against the ground as he galloped through the forest, carrying Natsu, Haru, and Wendy on his back while Happy and Carla flew alongside them. Earlier, Gray had remained behind to keep Racer from chasing after them... and though Haru was hesitant to leave him behind, time was of the essence. Erza could practically be on the brink of death, but luckily, thanks to Hibiki's Archive Magic, they at least had a map to the others' location.

However, the air around them was very tense. Natsu kept his eyes focused on the path ahead while Haru sat behind him, casting her eyes downward in dismay, and Wendy didn't look much better. She had remained silent the whole ride. Even Happy and Carla could feel the tension between the group and yet, they said nothing.

Eventually, they arrived at the location where Lucy and Hibiki were waiting. The moment they did, Haru gasped upon seeing Erza's motionless body, and she immediately jumped off Blue Fang and ran to the Fairy Queen's side.

"Erza!" Haru cried. "Erza, are you okay?!"

"Try not to move her!" Lucy said as she gently held the Beast Wizard back. "She's been badly poisoned!"

"Oh, no...!" Wendy whispered in dread.

"Wendy... please, can you help Erza?" Natsu asked as he got down on his hands and knees and bowed his head to her. "Please! You're her only hope!"

"We need Erza's strength in the fight against Oración Seis," Hibiki said.

"Please, Wendy," Lucy said as she bowed to Wendy, as well. "Please, you have to save Erza!"

"Please, Wendy...!" Haru added, her eyes welling up with tears. "I know I already asked a lot of you, already, but please save Erza!"

A pause... but then Wendy nodded her head in determination.

"Of course, I'll help her!" she said, causing everyone to breathe a collective sigh of relief.

"Thank goodness!" Happy exclaimed as he dropped to the ground.

"How long do you plan on lying there, you lazy tomcat?" asked Carla. While Wendy got to work on healing Erza, Haru smiled as she watched them... but then she felt a hand on her shoulder, causing her to turn around and see her brother, who glared down at her sternly... and it was very rare for Natsu to ever be stern.

"We need to talk," he said, causing Haru to cringe slightly before she soon walked after him. Blue Fang whined worriedly as he attempted to follow, but Haru raised her hand at him, telling him to stay, so the silver wolf sat down on his haunches as he watched the Dragneel Siblings walk away. Lucy and Hibiki also noticed the tension between the two before glancing at each other in concern. Even Happy and the normally haughty Carla seemed nervous as they watched them leave.

It wasn't too much longer before the Dragneel Siblings stood near a cliff with Natsu crossing his arms in front of his chest while Haru stood behind him, holding one arm behind her back. There were no words between the two. Just the sound of the howling wind and the rustling leaves.

"...In case you're wondering," Natsu began, "I'm not mad at you, sis."

"No," Haru replied. "It's worse than that... you're disappointed, aren't you?"

Natsu turned to Haru, fixing her with a calm and serious stare, causing her to bite her lip as she shrunk a bit.

"Haru, what made you think it was a good idea to have Wendy heal Jellal?" asked Natsu.

"I didn't make her do it," Haru replied. "It was really her choice."

"You still encouraged her," Natsu countered. "Did you forget that Jellal almost had Erza killed?"

"I know that!" Haru replied. "But Natsu... he saved Wendy's life a long time ago... plus, the things he did wasn't really his fault, you know! He was possessed by the spirit of Zeref, so he wasn't even in control of his actions!"

"He still attacked us, Haru," Natsu countered. "That proves that he's still not on our side. Now, not only do we have to stop those Oración Seis guys, but now we have to deal with Jellal, too! Did you ever stop and think about that?"

"I... I just..." Haru muttered.

"And even worse," Natsu said. "What do you think is gonna happen if Erza ever finds out about this? She couldn't take him because he used her feelings for him against her, and he's probably gonna do the same thing if they ever face each other, again!"

By now, Haru was in tears, once more... her heart clenching with regret and shame. She sniffed as she wiped her eyes, but the tears kept falling... and Natsu only stared at her, and though he still had that disappointed expression, he did feel his heart go out to his sister. Though she could be a bit naïve and just as impetuous as he could be, sometimes, he knew that Haru only told Wendy to revive Jellal because she was doing what she thought was right and never out of any selfish intentions.

"I'm... I'm sorry...!" Haru whispered. "I'm so sorry!"

Natsu opened his mouth to speak... but he gasped as the ground began to tremble, causing him and Haru to look out... and that's when they saw a shaft of black light emerge from the forest.

"W... what is that?!" Haru asked, worriedly.

"...We better get to the others," said Natsu before he turned and ran. "Come on, sis!"

Haru quickly followed after her brother as they headed back to where the others were hiding. As they arrived, they saw Wendy had backed away from Erza, but she, as well as Lucy, Hibiki, Happy, Carla, and Blue Fang were all looking toward where the black light was coming from.

"Hey!" Haru called. "What's going on?!"

"...It's here," Hibiki answered with a stunned expression. "Nirvana has awakened!"

"What?!" Haru questioned. "How is that... possible...?" She trailed off as she realized something else. "Oh, no..."

"What?" Lucy asked. "What's wrong, Haru?"

"Jellal..." Haru whispered as her eyes widened in horror. "He was the only one who knew where Nirvana was! He must have activated it!"

"What?!" Natsu questioned.

"Wait... what do you mean by that?!" Lucy asked. "I thought Jellal was dead!"

"...Not anymore," Wendy spoke, causing everyone to look at her as she looked at them with a remorseful expression. "I'm sorry... I'm the one who cured Jellal of his Etherion poisoning."

"Oh, Wendy..." Carla said, worriedly.

"Wendy... no," Haru said. "It's my fault... I'm the one who pushed you."

"Dammit...!" Natsu cursed before he ran off. "That light is where he is, right?! I gotta find him and kick his ass!"

"Wait, Natsu!" Haru called, causing Natsu to look back at her. "Please... I wanna help. This is my fault, you know! Please, let me go with you so I can make this right!"

A pause... before Natsu sighed as he gave her this answer.

"Stay here... and look after Erza, got it?" he asked. "We can't ever allow them to meet."

Haru stared at her brother, who only stared back at her... and though he told her to stay here, she could see by the look on his face what his words really meant.

"Stay out of the way. You've caused enough trouble, already."

"...I understand," Haru said, sadly. "I'll stay here."

Natsu nodded before he turned and ran, leaving the others behind... and as soon as he was gone, Haru sniffed as she sat down on a tree root. Blue Fang whined as he walked over to Haru, nuzzling her face and licking her cheek while Happy walked up to her, placing a paw on her leg in consolation. Lucy soon sat beside her, putting her arm over her shoulder.

"Oh, Haru," Lucy said. "It's gonna be okay."

"...I really messed up," Haru said with a hiccup. "Natsu... he doesn't trust me, anymore...!"

Unknown to the group... Erza slowly started to wake up, her eyes fluttering open, and as she did, she muttered one name...

"Jellal...?"

Just so you know, Natsu didn't really say that Haru has caused enough trouble. That's just what Haru thinks, right now.

Anyway, review, please!