A/N : Alright, here's goes another chapter from me. Sorry it takes so long, I've been busy this week catching up some anime, and also it might already late, Happy New Year! (^_^)ノ
Disclaimer : I don't own Fairy Tail, it belongs to Hiro Mashima. I'm only own the OCs.
Warning : Slightly OP OCs, contains elements from other anime and franchises, 4th wall break.
Chapter 20 : Darkness Arise
Previously in Fairy Tail : Dragon Emperor.
Team Natsu was in vacation on Akane resort, but they had been attacked by a group that claimed to be Erza's old friends. They have kidnapped Erza, the cats, and Nymph. Meanwhile a woman named Vivi from unknown organization begun her plans, she also the one who help them to captured Erza and the others. Later, Team Natsu are going to after them by following their scent to the Tower of Heaven.
-Magic Council Hall, Era-
"Impossible! You mean to tell me the remnants of the R-system still remains!?" Shouted one of the Council members named Org. currently the Council is now standing in a room with a giant magical circle blow their feet, while argues about the recent news about the R-System.
"R-system, is building made by a cult that worshipped black magic around 10 years ago" said another Council member.
"Those seven towers!? But we already destroy all of them five years ago?" Said another member.
"It seem there's an eight tower, it's off the coast of Caelum" said a female member named Belno. Then a picture of R-System is shown in the middle of the room.
"Don't tell me it hasn't been complete has it?" Org said slightly in worried.
"Investigators team disappear after they taken this picture" Belno said.
"It seem it already complete... " Female member with long black hair named Ultear said.
"Why the R-System show up now... " said a member with cat ears named Michello
"Tower of Heaven... "
Every members looked at source of voice who revealed to be Siegrain.
"It's not the R-System, it's... the Tower of Heaven" Siegrain stated with his eyes closed while crossed his arms.
"Who cares what it called! The R-system is a Taboo Magic! It place a grievous toll on anyone subjected to it! It will creates havoc!" Org shouted
"We have to mobilize the army immediately, we need to suppress this as soon as possible" Belno stated.
"But we know nothing about our opponent, the incident in Akane beach last night, according to the reports that the group had a relations to the one who build the R-system" a member stated.
"But who?... " asked another member.
"I heard that his name is Jellal... " the Councils immediately looked at Siegrain.
"Isn't that your twin brother, Siegrain?" Org asked him.
"Yes, sorry about that..." Siegrain just nodded and apologize of what his twin had done.
-Meanwhile-
In the morning on a middle of the ocean, we find our protagonist on a boat, they had been sailing for hours aimlessly with Natsu and Rayna got a motion sickness.
"Hey, are you sure the people that turned into cards are alright?" Lucy asked them.
"Don't worry, they already in council's hands, so they will be safe now" Gray answer her.
"And by the way, WHERE THE HECK ARE WE!?" Gray shouted angrily towards the sky.
"Juvia is think that we had been drifting aimlessly for some time.. " Juvia stated.
Currently Pyrus gazing the birds on top of them while his motion sickness sister sit next to him. "We're in near coast of Caelum" the boy stated, shocking Lucy and Gray.
"Are you serious!?" Lucy asked then she let a sigh. "Natsu, are sure this is the way?" Lucy asked but only to find motion sickness Natsu making them sweatdrop.
"We're relying on that nose of yours, so get a grip!" Gray shouted at him.
"Juvia does not believe that he would dare dash Master Gray's hope" Juvia mutter looking sharply at Natsu.
"You know that I can located them too" Pyrus said deadpan at them.
"Oh yeah we forgot about it" Gray realized.
"How did you not get motions sickness, Pyrus?" Lucy asked him while the other Dragon Slayers got motion sickness from the start while Rayna just got a few hours ago.
"Oh, me?... I just ate this red candy" He show a bottle of small red pills to them.
"Big.. Brother... That's.. My motion sickness pills" Rayna speak up while tried not to throw up.
"Oh, I thought this was a candy" Pyrus said. This making them sweatdrop, then Pyrus giving one pill to her, after that her condition became better as she not feeling motion sickness anymore.
"So you're the one who taking my pills" Rayna pouted angrily at him.
"OK I'm sorry, better if I give Natsu one too" the boy proceed to give Natsu but then stopped by Lucy.
"Wait a minute, the last time you said to me that Natsu might got poisoned if he take the medicine" Lucy stated.
"It's alright, I already perfected it so it will be okay for him and I was able to converts them into pills so they can easily consumed" Rayna assure, they give the pill to him and then his motion sickness is vanish.
"Wow! I feel much better!" Natsu exclaimed happily, standing on the boat while he take the bottle from Pyrus. "I bet my motion sickness will cured if I take all of them" Natsu then shoved all of them into his mouth and happily eat it. But then his stomach begin to growling making him throw up.
"Geez... Have you heard anything about dosage?" Rayna asked while sweatdrop.
"Why didn't you stopped him?" Lucy asked the boy.
"I want him to learn it the hard way... " the boy stated. With this, Natsu would probably have to think twice before eating all of those pills in the future.
They keep sailing until Gray broke the silence. "Dammit! I can't believe they took Erza and the cats away while we we're unconscious! How pathetic is that!" Gray said angrily.
"They got Nymph too... " Pyrus added, Gray then looking at him and say "Can you just call her with your magic?... "
"I already done it if I could, but something blocking me to reach her... Who ever made that energy dome, probably they knew about Spirit Arms weakness. So don't take lightly at them" Pyrus stated with serious expression.
"And accurate assessment... To think a mage as able as Miss Erza would be defeated" Juvia stated sadly. This making Gray glare at her and said "Ain't no way she was beaten... You don't know the first thing about Erza!..."
"Please...please forgive me... " Juvia apologize with small tears in her eyes, been glared angrily by Gray make her scared greatly.
"Gray calm down!" Lucy said to him.
Gray sit down again. While Pyrus looking at Juvia and realize something "Hey, aren't you the one who kidnapping Lucy and Rayna the other day?... " the boy said.
"Yes... Juvia is sorry about that, Juvia is just following orders" Juvia nodded and apologize at him.
"Its okay, Juvia... We forgive you... " Rayna said making Juvia smile a little.
"Lucy, are you know anything about our opponent?" Pyrus asked her.
"Erza mentioned something about those guys being her former friends... Face it, when it comes to Erza... No one here knows much about her at all..." Lucy said sadly, gripping her hand tightly as she couldn't do anything to help her that time.
At that point, the three Dragon Slayers alerted by anomaly in the ocean.
"Do you guys feel that?" Rayna looked around with her eyes narrowed.
"There's something wrong here" Natsu stated while looked around and not getting motion sickness.
"Hey look at those birds!" Pyrus pointed out, they look at the sky, seeing groups of birds pass them then they fall to the sea and died.
"What on earth is this phenomenon?" Gray asked, they look at the water and find many fish died with some parts of destroyed ship.
"Even the fish too... " Lucy said sadly.
"I have a bad feeling about this... " Juvia stated.
"Those ship debris... " Pyrus pointed. "It looks like they belong to Fiore's naval ships" Gray said looking at torn up flag.
Natsu snapped then looked at the source. "Hey, look at that... " they look at the Tower in front of them. the tower was a huge twist of metal, it leave a jagged appearance.
"Is that... Tower of Heaven?" Lucy aksed.
"There's no mistaking it... I can feel Erza and the others are there... " Pyrus sated as he activating his wind radar. He narrowed at his eyes towards the tower, giving him some bad old memory where he meet with a member from Aegis in the first time. "Can't believe that I will facing those things again... R-System" He thought and now he thinking about Nymph and the others safety. Knowing a someone who knows about Spirit Arms weaknesses, he sure this person not a average enemy. "Wait for us, everyone... " Pyrus thought as he clenched his hands tightly
In the meantime, Sho and Simon show Erza to her cell. Sho informs Erza that she has been chosen to be a living sacrifice for Zeref. Erza shivers, not because she is supposed to be a sacrifice, but because she is being held in the very spot she was captured and punished as a kid when her group of friends attempted to escape the tower. Erza remembers the guards finding herself and her friends as they plotted to escape from the tower. The guards decided to punish only the mastermind of the escape plan, claiming that they would be 'kind' and let the other children off unharmed. It was Sho who came up with the plan, but he breaks down into tears and refuses to confess to the guards. Erza is about to confess and take punishment in Sho's place when Jellal stands and states that he was the mastermind. However, the guards aren't convinced and reason that Erza was the one who came up with the plan. Though Jellal and Simon both try to defend Erza, Erza is carried off to receive punishment.
Sho then entering her cells, he currently wearing a long red robe with collar along with a pink pinstripe suit underneath it.
Sho interrupts Erza's remembering and apologizes for not being strong enough to confess to the guards. Erza asks Sho of the repercussions of using the Revive System, but Sho brushes them off. He says that they are trying to create Heaven, with them as rulers and as such do not care of anyone else. Erza frees herself while Sho is euphoric and then knocks him out, but not without remembering how he was when they were kids and commenting on how people can change so dramatically. Her mission now is finding and neutralizing Jellal.
The Magic Council is still arguing, and Siegrain calls the members weak because of their resolve. He proposes using Etherion, an immensely powerful Magic, the Council's Ultimate weapon. The council reacts in horror, mentioning the severity of such an attack, but Ultear and another member concur with the use of Etherion. Siegrain sticks to his idea, even though it would mean the death of his twin
-Later-
Here now the team made it at shore of the tower, by the help of Juvia who camouflage the boat with water, they able to sneak in without alerting the enemy. They currently behind rocks, hiding from the guards in that place.
"That's a lot of guards... " Gray stated, looking at them.
"Who cares! Let's plough through them!" Natsu suggest, while itching for a fight.
"And put Erza and the others in dangers? Yeah, good idea..." Pyrus deadpan tone.
"Still... We need to save our energy for a bigger battle... " Rayna stated.
Juvia's head then get out from water and say "Juvia has found another entrance underwater"
"Seriously? Good job!" Gray praise her.
"The one who got praised is not you, but Juvia!" Juvia smuggled at Lucy.
"Right, right... " Lucy just nod awkwardly.
"it's a journey about 10 minutes underwater, But holding your breath for that long won't be a problem, right?" Juvia stated.
"10 minutes is nothing"
"Child's play"
"Piece of cake"
The boys said confidently
"No way!, it's impossible!" Lucy and Rayna shouted in unison.
"Then please wear this... " Juvia then make a bubble of water in her hand "it uses the water to enclose your head with oxygen, so you can breath even underwater"
"Oooh! That's cool!" Natsu said in awe "by the way, who are you again?..." This make shock Juvia and turn white, how the heck he didn't know her name this entire time.
Lucy and Rayna quickly change into their previous swimsuit, but then Rayna noticing something she forgot this entire time "Huh? Where... Where is it?" She asked herself while looking through her clothes. The blonde hair girl notice this and asked her what's wrong.
"It gone... My Star gem are gone... " Rayna mutter sadly.
"Huh?... " Lucy tilted her head in confusion.
"Big brother!... " Rayna called him in worry, the boy who is about to put the bubble of water in his head, he turn his head seeing his sister worried face.
"What's wrong, Ray?... " He asked her
"Bad news, the Star gem is... " Knowing what she mean even before she finish it, Pyrus then look at the string that warped around his neck that usually the star gem tied up and realize the gem is gone, his expression became more serious but looking calmer, he clenched his hands and said "Change a plan... " to the others.
-Somewhere-
Here's the room where Nymph is held and still trapped in the energy sphere , the room looked like a storage area with many equipment for construction. She tried to figure out how to escape, she channeling the magic inside her and draw magic from her master, but all of that was futile as soon she gather enough magic, the energy sphere would absorb it.
"I'm sorry to disappointing you, but I'm afraid that wouldn't work" Vivi come inside the room with smirk in her face, Nymph is able to see the symbol on Vivi's cloak.
"So it was you who did this... Draco Order!" Nymph stared her kidnappers, with Vivi let a small giggles.
"Oh my... Seems you're already know about us..." Vivi look down to her "No matter, you'll forget it anyway... Now come with me" the energy bubble begun to float,
"Hey let me go!... You hear!..." Nymph shouted as she hammering the sphere with her fist.
"How pathetic the Divine Spirit can't break free from a simple spell" Vivi laughed.
"If you think I'm pathetic, then let see if this cage stand a chance against when I got my powers back" Nymph pouted angrily.
the dome following Vivi, she use her staff to open the door and then they leave the room towards the throne room where Jellal is.
-With Happy and the twins-
"Huh?..." Happy just wake up from his sleep and find himself in a room full of cat motives furniture, like cat motive sofa and pillows, cat dolls, and more.
"Cats! Cats everywhere!" Happy shouted in surprise. This cause Tommy and Alice woke up from their sleep beside him.
"Yawn... What's the matter Happy?" Tommy asked while still sleepy.
"Ah, you guys have woken up!" Happy said.
"Huh? Where are we?...and where's Rayna and the others?" Alice asked them as they gaze around the room.
"Meow..." The cat girl or Millianna stare at them right in front of them, making them confuse then she say "How's it going?"
"That's the cat girl from before..." Alice thought in surprise. The three of them just stay silent until Happy replying her by saying "How's it going?"
"Meow! It's talking cats!" Millianna exclaimed happily.
"Millianna... make it dandier" Wally said while leaning towards the door making Millianna little confuse of what he said.
"Wait, You!..." Happy and Tommy said knowing this person is the one who captured them.
"It's not talking cats. It's talking, so that's make them cats" Wally explained to her.
"Now I get it!" Millianna said.
"That's absolutely make no sense at all!" The cats shouted at him.
"What is this place? What happened to Natsu!?" Happy asked to him.
"Hey cat, the boy should be kissing the asphalt right now" Wally stated, making Happy remember that Natsu got shot towards his mouth directly.
"That's won't be enough to kill Natsu..." Happy said to him and the twins nodded, knowing how powerful the Fire Dragon Slayer is.
"Wally! Millianna!..." Simon rushed to the room and say "Erza escaped!" He inform them.
"Erza!? She's here?" The cats said simultaneously.
"Escaped? Brings back lots of memories!" Millianna said.
"Simon, you gotta be dandier. There's no way she can escape from this tower" wally said confidently.
"Doesn't look like she's running away, but she going for Jellal" Simon stated making the two of them surprised. They quickly go after Erza leaving the cats in the room.
-With Jellal-
Here is now Jellal laughing loudly as he hear the reports about Erza escape. "Lord Jellal?" His attendant said in confused.
"Heh heh... Erza's a fine woman as expected. She truly is fascinating" Jellal smirked "I Can't wait to see whether Erza or me who will win in the end. Life and death, connecting the past and the future, a Heaven's Game"
-With Team Natsu-
Now the group currently diving in the water, where there's a passage towards the tower's basement, by using Juvia's bubble water, the group is able to breath under water and made their way inside the tower.
"So this is the tower's foundation" Gray said after they get out from the water as they look around the place.
"Where are Erza and the others?" Natsu asked himself with his scarf warped around his head.
"It's a bit tacky, but this things sure are convenient" Lucy praise the water bubble.
"Lucy's was made a bit smaller, I'm impressed that you made it" Juvia said behind her.
"Hey, hey... " Lucy sweatdrop as Juvia was practically wanted to kill her with that water bubble .
Pyrus just done checking out the entire tower with his wind radar, he found that a huge magical power on top of the tower, he guessing that's the one who control this place. He was looking for the one who had been steals his and Rayna's star gem, but still couldn't find it. He couldn't not found Nymph but able to found Erza, as she run through the corridor of the tower while facing many guards.
"We don't have much time here, come on guys!" Pyrus said to them.
"But, Big brother... We need a plan first" Rayna said.
"Yeah, why are we such in hurry looking for your gems?" Lucy asked and the other then pick an interest in the topic.
"Those are not just ordinary gems..." Rayna said to them.
"Huh?" They confused simultaneously.
"Those gems stores a large amounts of magical power that had been collected during every battles we have so far. If somehow they able to extract the power from the gems, they could use it as power source for a weapon that could destroy entire town of magnolia many times over" Pyrus explained.
"Wait, You're kidding right!?" Gray asked, not believing those gems are that powerful.
"If they aren't that powerful, I won't be worried right now" Pyrus stated "and also, there's his..." Pyrus thought as one if the guards then spotted them.
"Intruders!" He said while riding a strange winged monster without eyes.
"Crap!" The group cursed except for Rayna.
And then the guards from the Tower of Heaven go to their position. "Who are this guys!?" One of them asked.
"Since it's come this, guess there's no other way" Gray stated.
"Right" Juvia nodded.
"You guys want to know who we are?" Natsu asked with pissed off expression as his magic power appears around him. "Your accomplices attacked us and yet you don't even know?!" Natsu then punch the ground using a fist enshrouded by flames that cause a big smoke explosion.
"What!?" One of the guards surprised at the sudden move.
The group then jump out from the smoke and Natsu say "We're Fairy Tail, you dumbass!" Then shot his dragon roar towards the guards that riding the winged monster and burn them alive.
"Ice Make : Lance!" Gray fired his ice lance towards the guards and knocked them unconscious.
Lucy and Rayna landed on front of some guards.
"Oh Swimsuits!"
"Thank you very much" they exclaimed.
Lucy then take one of her keys "Open! Gate of the Maiden, Virgo!"
"What is thy bidding, Princess" Virgo appear with her usual maid uniform making the guards excited
"It's a maid!"
"Who needs bikini girls now?" The guards said excitedly making Rayna sweat drop while Lucy comically have a vein mark on her head.
"Please proceed with the punishment" Lucy pointed towards them in annoyed.
"Well, then... " Virgo then proceed to dash towards them, sent them flying while some of them screaming like a little girl.
Meanwhile the guards attacking Juvia, but their weapons just went through her water body.
"Watch out! blades don't hurt her!" One of them said, then they fired Juvia with their guns, but the bullets just went through her.
"Water Slicer!" Juvua swing her hand to the right and creating a strong wave of water, that sent them flying.
Meanwhile Pyrus is surrounded by the guards as they they ready their weapons and then strike him at the same time from every direction. The boy just cross his arms in front of him and then "Wind Dragon's Gale Force Wall!" He release a powerful wind wall that sent all of them flying. The team able to defeat the guards easily using their attacks without any efforts.
"We're mostly finished here" Juvia stated, looking at the unconscious guards.
"That's so... " Gray look around.
"After making so much noise, will we be all right?" Lucy asked in worried "Oh, who am I kidding?" She sweatdrop as she see Natsu and Pyrus interrogate the guards by lifting their collar.
"Hey! Where's that blockhead!" Natsu asked angrily.
"And where's Erza and the others!" Pyrus added. Then a path come from head statue appear that show them to the next room.
"This is?" Natsu stared in confusion.
"They're inviting us in?" Gray said.
"Could this be a trap?" Rayna wondering.
"With that noise we made, they must be already know about us" Pyrus said.
-Meanwhile-
In the throne room with Jellal and his attendant, they monitoring the group using magic circle as it shows their images.
"Lord Jellal, why did you let the intruders in?" The attendant asked.
"I told you before, right? This is a game. They've merely cleared a stage. That's all there is to it. This make things more interesting." Jellal answered casually.
"But if we don't hurry up with the ritual.. The ships we wrecked the other day have surely warned the council about-"
"Vidaldus, are you still worried about that" Jellal cut his sentence. While at the Council meeting place, they still voting to use Etherion, with only two members left to agree about activating it. "They can't stop me. Not those fools on the Council, that's for sure" Jellal smirked confidently.
-Team Natsu-
"Blockhead!" Natsu shouted.
"Keep your voice down!" Lucy whispering to him.
"We already threw a tantrum downstairs" Gray said.
"Yeah, so there's no reason for us to be stealthy anymore" Pyrus added.
Currently the group arrive in a room with tables full of foods on the middle. They eat the foods without worrying if the foods is poisonous or not.
"What are you eating!?" Lucy asked in upset.
"Seems like a feast was prepared. Princess, do you wish to join?" Virgo politely said while she have not return to Spirit World yet.
"That drop gate just now was operated remotely via magic. Our presence is completely known" Juvia explained.
"Then why on earth..."
"They probably wants to challenge us" Pyrus said as he take a bite of the fried chicken.
"A challenge?" Lucy wondering in thinking position.
"Princess, is it appropriate to eat while wearing such attire?" Virgo pointed out.
"Appropriate?" Lucy said in surprise as she still wearing her swimsuit this entire time.
"Would you like me to change it for you?" Virgo asked.
"Hey! Wait..." Lucy tried to stop her. This making Gray blushed as he watch her change clothes.
"Master Gray! You must not look!" Juvia yelled.
When that done, Lucy is now wearing a green long dress with white ribbon on her chest and her arms, while the bottom is light green with brown shoes and white socks.
"These are clothes from the Spirit World" Virgo stated.
"What do you think? I must look good, don't I?" Lucy said while rise her right hand to back of her head.
"That's quite cute" Gray praised.
"Juvia is frustrated!" Juvia jealously said.
"Like a real princess" Rayna muttered.
"He liked her~" Virgo roll her tongue just like Happy did.
"Don't roll your tongue like that... " Lucy said while she, Gray, and Juvia sweatdrop.
"Where did you Learn to copy Happy?" Natsu asked her suspiciously.
-With Happy-
"Achoo!..." Happy sneezed.
"Are you okay, Happy?" Alice asked the blue cat, while her brother trying to find a way out.
"Yeah... Meanwhile, what should we do?" Happy asked her. Still trapped inside room that full of cats furniture.
-back to Team Natsu-
"And what about you, Young Mistress Rayna?" Virgo then glance at her.
This making Rayna step back a little and say "Umm... It's alright, I already brought my own clothes in my pocket dimension" Rayna assure then bright light covered her. When the light is gone, Rayna is already wearing outfit almost resembling a school uniform consisting of a black jacket-dress with purple lining consisting of thin double white stripes. A black choker, and around her neck is a pale yellow ribbon tied. At her chest is a small pink marking while the pockets and buttons are purple. she wears pink and black striped socks with white and purple shoes.
"Oh, that's very cute" Gray said.
"Nooo! Another rival!..." Juvia screamed.
"Gray, if you're trying to hit on her... " Pyrus just glare daggers at him.
"Hey, chill out man, no need go all big brother on me..." Gray tried to clear this misunderstanding. While Natsu and Lucy just sweatdrop looking at the scene.
"Well then... Princess, please be safe and sound" Virgo politely said.
"Thanks Virgo" Lucy nodded and Virgo return to the Spirit World. "Speaking of which, are you guys fine with wearing wet clothes?" She asked the boys.
"They dry real quick if you do this" Gray said while he and Pyrus use Natsu that covered in flames to drying their clothes.
"A Human drier!" Lucy shouted in surprise with their invention.
"There they are!"
"The intruders!" A group of guards came from hallway with their weapons ready.
*SLASH!*
Before the team could do anything, someone charge through the guards. It revealed to be Erza with her sword on her two hands, knocking the guards unconscious with many cuts on them.
"Erza! You're all right!" The team Natsu said relieved with a smile on their faces.
"Cool..." Juvia muttered in awe with some blush on her face.
Erza then notice her comrades with wide eyes in shock that they're here in this place, "W-why are you all here?" She asked them.
"Why?..." Lucy confused that it should be normal for her friends to worry about her and then trying to save her.
"Go back!" Erza half shouted. "This is not a place for you to stay!" She stated.
Then Natsu punch his left palm with his right hand that cause small flame "Don't say such a thing, Erza! If we just run away like that, we will dishonor the name of Fairy Tail!" Natsu said in some anger in his voice. "And I'm not going to forgive that blockhead!" He added.
"I said go back" erza said once again.
"But..." Lucy wants to say
"Nymph and the cats' been captured! You expect us to leave them?" Natsu finishing what Lucy about to say with angry tone.
"What?... " Erza muttered in surprise "That's right, I almost forgot about them" Erza thought, "Happy and twins could be... With Millianna" Erza mumbled.
"Where are they?!" The three Dragon Slayers asked in worry.
"Beats me..." Erza said while no idea where Millianna's room is.
"Okay, got it!" Natsu wipe his nose in understanding.
"Got what?" Gray asked in sweatdrop.
"Happy is Waiting for me!" Natsu quickly runs towards where Happy and the twins could be held, he run while leaving dust trail and the others.
"That idiot" Gray face palm.
"Natsu..." Pyrus and Rayna know how he feels about their captured friends.
"We're going too!" Lucy exclaimed. But Erza stopped them by pointing hee sword at them. This make them jump out from surprise.
"No! Millianna has a fetish for cats. I don't think she's going to harm Happy, Tommy, and Alice" Erza assured as she lowered her sword. "I will take responsibility for bringing them back. You guys escape from here as soon as possible." She said to them.
"No! Not without you, Erza!" Lucy told her.
"This is a personal matter! I don't want to get any of you involved!" Erza said as she walk away.
"It's already become our problem! You saw Natsu, right?" Gray said to her.
"Yeah! We're not going to get out from this place before we save Happy and the others!" Pyrus added.
"Erza, what is this tower? Who is jellal?" Lucy asked. "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!" Lucy exclaimed with confident smile.
"It's as she said" Gray added.
"Hm!" Rayna nodded.
"G-Go back" Eeza told them once again.
"Erza..." Lucy call her.
"This isn't like you, Erza." Gray begun to talk "The normal you would have said. 'Follow me and don't complain!'. We'll lend you our power! It's fine for even you to be afraid sometimes, you know?" He said in a smile.
Erza just silent for a moment, before she turned around looking at them with some tears on her eyes. This making them surprise that they could see Erza cried in front of them.
"Aw, now look what you did, Gray. You make her cry" Pyrus pointed out.
"That's my fault!?" Gray asked comically.
"Who else?..." Pyrus asked him.
"I'm sorry..." Erza apologize as she wiped the tears away, they attention their heads to her. "Whether I end up winning or losing this battle, I will perish from this world." Erza stated in slightly sad tone while put her hands to her chest in a worry.
"What do you mean by that?" Rayna asked in confusion.
"This is a future I cannot change. That's why, that's why, while I'm still breathing, I will tell you the whole thing..." Erza said while Lucy gulped in nervous.
"This tower is called the Tower of Heaven. It's also known as the R-system" Erza explain, while Rayna eyes widened to hear that name,
"Wait, R-system?... Isn't that where Big brother save Felly..." Rayna thought, she then glance at Pyrus who secretly clenched his fist.
"More than ten years ago, a black magic cult constructed it to utilize a forbidden spell-"
"To bring back an individual from the dead, am i right?" Pyrus cut her line making the others look at him in surprise.
"Pyrus, you knew about it?" Erza taken off guard by that statement, the boy nodded.
"R-System or the Revive System, those seven towers that located secretly around Ishgar were all created to sole purpose of reviving someone from the dead in exchange for a great amount of human sacrifes" the boy explained.
"Wait? Seven Towers!?" Erza questioned that she never know there more out there in the world.
"Yeah, one of my friend was also involved with the R-system project few years ago and will be used as one of the sacrifices. Good thing that i and my friends able to stop one of those tower before it complete, while the rest is taken care by the council" he explain them. Erza feeling a little sympathy that his friend is facing the same fate as her.
"Just like he said, a large number of human sacrifices we're needed. Also, through the labor of these human sacrifices, they amplified the magical power input." She continue with sad face as the others listened carefully.
"I also was one of those human sacrifices when I was young. Those who attempted to escape or rabel... one by one, they disappeared. There was no peace of mind. Fear is what we had to endure all this time. Even so, there were friends who I could open my heart to. Even if it was only for a brief moment. And one of those people I knew was Jellal" Erza said.
*FLASHBACK*
Erza then recalls being held in a cell after receiving punishment for plotting the escape plan. Though she was kept in chains and guarded, Jellal fought his way through her guards and came to rescue her. However, one of the punishments Erza received was the maiming of her right eye, rendering it useless for her sight. Jellal carried Erza from her cell, stating that they should no longer consort to being treated as slaves and that they should fight back. As they were escaping though, Magic troops appeared and halted them. The guards then took Erza back to her cell, where everyone was glad to see her, then they asked where Jellal is. But a old man named Rob said that they should be glad that she returned alive and knew that Jellal had been taken in her place.
The younger Sho begin to cry as he can't stand this anymore, the others trying to calm him down. The guards tell them to get back to work. Erza then remembers Jellal's words about fighting back, then she snapped as take a shovel then attacks the guards with it, send them out from their cells.
"Take their weapons! Even if we obey them, or run away from them, we will never be free! We have no choice but to fight! For our freedom! Stand up and fight!" Younger Erza told the other slaves and started a rebellion against the guards.
*FLASHBACK END*
"For the sake of our freedom and to save Jellal, we rose up and fought" The team continue to listened her story. "Jellal was everyone's leader. He had a strong sense of justice, and I admired him. But..." Erza turned her head towards them.
"It was that moment when Jellal turned into a completely different person. If it's possible to refer to a person as 'evil', I would call Jellal that" Erza said to them.
-Meanwhile with Happy and the twins-
In Millianna's room, Happy currently facing a robot toy cat that he found, it shaking when he activated the switch.
"My hearth will not be tempted by mere cat merchandise!" Happy proudly said crossing his arms. Alice is also looking at the cat toy.
While Tommy looking at the see from the window, tried to think a way for them to escape. "Hmm... The air current from up here is very strong, we would be blown away if we fly from here" he then glance at his sister and Happy that looking at the robot cat toy as he approaching them.
"What are guys doing?... We don't have time to play with Robot Cat" He said to them.
"Well, we don't have anything to do here, so... "Alice said to him.
"Don't worry Tommy. Is not like this robot cat will do anything" Happy assured then the robot cat moving around as the head spring up while saying 'Meow' continuously. The three of them flinched their eyebrows as the looking at the robot cat.
Then...
"Wait!..." Happy and the twins happily chase the robot cat down in the hallway, out from Millianna's room just like toddlers following their toys.
-With Pyrus-
The team still listening Erza as she narrate her past. Everyone in the Tower had risen to fight for their freedom, while Jellal was being tortured. The slaves continuing their rebellion but the Magic Troops attacked, and everyone began to flee for their lives. Erza pleaded to everyone to fight and save Jellal, but no one would.
At this point, she was targeted by the Troops, but Rob stepped in and shielded her with his body. Using the last of his Magic and life, he blasted away the troops with his Fire Magic and continued to protect Erza. By doing so, he succumbed to death. Erza recalled what Rob taught her that Magic comes from one's heart. Erza expressed her wish to become a witch in the future, so she can fly free in the sky, promising Rob that she would let him fly with her as well. Just moments before his death, Rob said that Erza will be able to fulfill her wish. Facing the loss of her loved one, Erza summoned from within all her Magic Power, and made every object in the area attack the guards.
They were obliterated and she entered Jellal's room. All the prisoners were on the ships, waiting for Erza and Jellal to leave. Jellal, however, refused to leave, saying that in this world where there is no freedom and that the only way to get it is by bringing Zeref back to life.
Jellal killed the two guards who tortured him, even though Erza pleaded him not to. He wanted her to complete the R-System together with him and when she refused, he blasted her away, and told her to leave with her "freedom", but not to tell anyone and not to approach the tower, or else he will kill everyone. He said that he will keep the prisoners there to help him build the tower, which he believed to be the way to heaven. Erza then woke up in a beach, powerlessly crying under the moonlight sky.
Erza end her story there as the other imagine of what happened.
"I.. will fight Jellal" Eeza said with tear drop from her left eye.
Meanwhile the Magic Council need one more vote to activated Etherion, even though they will be accused of committing a surprise attack on the Land of Caelum.
"Wait a second, Erza... The Zeref you mentioned in your story" Gray try to put the pieces together.
"Yeah, you all should know about Zeref" Eeza said as everyone remember the monsters they fought, Lullaby and Deliora are Zeref's demons.
"And Jellal is trying to resurrect Zeref?" Juvia asked.
"I don't understand his motives. Sho, one of my former friends, said once the resurrection is completed, they will become the rulers of heaven" Erza told them.
"But, why did your former friends turn against you?" Lucy wondering.
"Yeah, wasn't Jellal the traitor and not you, Erza?" Rayna added.
"He must have somehow brainwashed them while I'm gone" Erza assuming "But I left them here for eight years. I did, in fact, betray them"
"But that was for their own safety! and yet-"
"That's enough, Lucy" Erza stopped her. "If I can defeat Jellal, all of this will be over" She stated seriously.
The other just stare at her, with Pyrus suspiciously thinking that Erza is not tell them all the truth. Recalling that Erza said earlier that she perish even if she winning or losing.
"Big sis, that story... What was that?"
The group looked at the source and revealed to be Sho who in confuse expression.
"Sho..." Erza muttered.
"You tried to gain your friends' sympathy by telling them that mighty tale? Don't mess with me! That's not even close to the truth!" Sho said in slight anger in his voice. The others confused by this, "You blew up our ships and ran away all by yourself! Had Jellal not noticed your betrayal, we would have all sunk on the bottom of the sea!... Jellal told us that was the fate of those who couldn't use magic properly. You we're so conceited with your magical power that you wanted to rid yourself of your past and all of us!" Sho stated making Erza could only listen to him.
"Jellal told you that?" Gray asked.
"Is that something the Erza you know would have done?" Lucy asked.
"They are right, how could she blew up the ship while she don't have any magic could do that? And when did she have time to set up the explosion in first place. If I'm right, she was rescue Jellal that time... " Pyrus pointed out.
"Wh-What do you people know? You don't know anything about us!" Sho said with tears came out from his eyes. This making Pyrus wants to punch him directly to his face for thinking like that. "Only Jellal's words gave us a reason to move on. That's why we spent the past eight years building this tower!... For Jellal, if it was all a lie..."
Sho's body shaking "If you are right, Big sister, and Jellal is wrong..."
"That's right... " a voice said making Sho widened his eyes. Then Simon appear near the group.
"Bastard!" Gray glare at his attackers before.
"Please wait, Master Gray" Juvia stopped him for trying to pick a fight with Simon. "Back then, he attacked your ice clone on purpose" Juvia stated.
"What?"
"There's no way a user of darkness could have been fooled by that. Juvia came here to ascertain his true intentions" Juvia explains to them.
"Just as I expected of one of Phantom's famous Elemental Four" Simon said.
"What's going on?" Sho stared in confusion. Everyone then look at him.
"Sho, I pretended to do all of that to trick you and have everyone return to the tower" Simon told him.
"W-Why? Why would you..." Sho cried then facing the ground.
"Sho..." Simon put his hand on Sho's right shoulder. "everyone was deceived by Jellal. I had to go along with you until the time was right" Simon said.
"Simon, you... "Erza muttered.
"I believed in you, Erza..." Simon turned his head towards her, "For the past eight years, I always have" Simon said with a smile even though it couldn't be seen because of the iron on his face. Erza smile and happy to know that her former friend still believe in her.
"I'm happy that we could finally meet, Erza. From the bottom of my heart" Simon hold her hand then proceed to hug her, everyone is touched by this scene.
"Why... Why did everyone believe in Big sister so much? Why? Why wasn't I able to believe in her" Sho said sadly as he down to his knee.
"DAMN IT!" Sho shouted as punch the floor in regret, he cried because he didn't believed the one who he respect "What's the truth?! Who should I believe?!" He asked himself as he continue to cried.
Erza then crouch down to his level and say "It must be difficult for you to accept all of this. But let me say this : over the past eight years, I have never once forgotten any of you" Erza then hug him to comfort him "I wasn't able to do anything. I'm so sorry I was too weak" Erza apologize to Sho.
"But now you can do it, isn't that right?" Simon asked her and she nodded a little. He then look at Pyrus and the others and say "I've been waiting for this moment a long time. Waiting for many powerful mages to gather here.
"Powerful mages?" Lucy repeat in confusion.
"To fight against Jellal. We'll need to work together. Jellal is not an ordinary mage, he so powerful even I didn't know how powerful he is" Simon stated and they just nodded.
"First, we need to prevent Wally and Salamander from fighting each other" Simon told them.
-Meanwhile-
After a long search, Natsu finally found a room full of cats furniture.
"What's this?" Natsu asked himself. He enter the room with some sweatdrop. "It's full of cats" he said, then he found a cat helmet and puts it on, he then play around pretending to be Happy, but when he about to remove the helmet, that's the moment he realized that his head stuck in the helmet, not knowing that Wally behind him with his Polygon Rifle ready.
"It's the end. Get it, boy?" Wally said while pointing his rifle at Natsu's back.
-With Pyrus-
Here is now Pyrus and the others climbing the stairs to upper level, while Simon tried to communicate with Wally and Millianna.
"Damn! My communication link with Wally and Millianna is being disrupted! Shit, I don't know where they are" Simon curse as his magic didn't work.
"Communication?" Lucy asked sprinting at the stairs while lift up her skirt.
"Telepathic Communication Magic, am I right?" Juvia said.
"And he cursed a lot" Pyrus pointed out making Lucy and the others sweatdrop.
"You worry about that?" Lucy asked while sweatdrop.
"Hey, Big brother. Can you contact Natsu with your telepathic magic?" Rayna asked while running beside him.
"Wait! You can do that?" Simon and Gray asked in surprise, but he just shook his head.
"Sorry, my telepathy magic is actually a shared skill from Nymph. Because she isn't here, I can't do it" The boy explain. "Do you know where she is?" He asked simon.
"Hm, if you looking for the red-eyed girl, then she should be in a storage area above us" Simon told him. Pyrus just narrowed his eyes, thinking about what they want with her.
"I need to ask, but what are you guys wants from her?" Pyrus then sprint beside Simon.
"I honestly don't know, it was a request from a woman who appear out of nowhere. Jellal seems to interested in her plan" Simon.
"A woman?..." Pyrus thought as he slow down and Gray catch up with him.
"Hey Pyrus, can we really trust that guy?" Gray asked, Pyrus and Juvia pick a interest in that topic. "It's true that he deliberately avoiding killing us, however... "
"I won't explain myself any further" Simon said.
"Oh, you heard me? Gray said.
"If any mage were to be killed by that, they would certainly be unable to stand against Jellal" Simon explain the reason he attacked Gray and the others. "that goes with you two... " Simon glance at Pyrus and Rayna. "If you survive ten bullets from Wally's strongest attacks directly at your face, then I am confident that... Natsu won't die" Simon said.
"Wait! That wasn't a sleep bullet?" The siblings said in unison.
"Umm, what about me?" Lucy asked nervously.
"Some of you people haven't realized the true potential of Dragon Slayer's power. When they obtains the true power of the dragon. He or She will slay any evil that stands before them" Simon explained, then Rayna look at herself.
"There's that kind of power?" Rayna asked herself.
-With Natsu-
"ACHOO!" Natsu sneez while still stuck inside the cat helmet. "Ah! I can't even wipe my mouth! This feels gross!" Natsu panicked.
"I guess I really should take this thing off! But it's stuck! Natsu tried to removed the helmet while Wally pointing his rifle at his back.
When he was about to fired it, Millianna stop him causing him to miss. This surprised Natsu.
"Blockhead!" Natsu find the familiar presence behind him.
"Millianna, what do you think you're doing?" Wally asked a bit angry because he miss. Millianna glare at him then say "You mustn't bully the Kitty cat!" She hammering her hand at him.
"That's not a cat! Take a good look at him!" Wally tries to make her understand that Natsu is not a cat, but Natsu meows, and she is convinced she is not wrong. Wally continues his attacks but Natsu defend against his polygon attack with cats doll which he call it 'Cat-Barrier', and Wally convinces Millianna to help him after he tell her that there's a person inside the cat helmet. Millinna then angry because Natsu pretending to be a cat and she binding Natsu's right hand with her rope called Cat Tubes, Wally praise her for her excellent work and attack Natsu again. As Natsu was about to destroy the flying polygon using a technique he developed awhile ago called 'Cat Fire'. But to his surprise, he can't activated his fire and Wally's attack hit him directly to his face or the cat helmet.
"What the hell! I can't use any magic all of the sudden!" Natsu said "is it because of this thing?" Natsu tried to remove the cat tubes from his hand, but Wally and Millianna didn't just stand there and strike him then completely capture him using her ropes. Wally then pointing his rifle at him while trying to say his dandy catchphrase and it seems that Natsu is about to lose when Happy, Tommy and Alice intervenes and sneak attack him using the robot cat and shadow eagles as their weapon.
"Happy, Tommy, Alice is that you!?" Natsu aksked
"Natsu!, I'm so glad you are safe!" Happy said in relieved.
"But, what's with that disguise?" Tommy asked swaetdrop along with his sister.
"Whatever, just get it off me!" Natsu pleading them and they nodded
"You little... How dare you interrupt my catchphrase!" Wally angrily at them. the fired the cats with his gun which Happy and the twins avoid narrowly.
"Don't! You mustn't bully the Kitty cat!" Millianna pleading him to stop.
"Cats can't fly! Talking is still within the acceptable range, but flying?!" Wally told her.
"Guys, right now!" Natsu said.
"Aye Roger that, sir!..." The three of them said in unison.
"Like I'll let you!" Wally pulled his gun free from Millianna and tried to shot them.
"I said don't!" Millianna then pull him by his muffler.
"Release me!" Wally order her while he couldn't aim right.
Happy, Tommy, and Alice tried to remove the binding and the helmet off from Natsu.
"Faster, guys!" Natsu said.
"The thing just won't come off, Natsu!" Happy replied as he tried to undo the bind.
"Man, what are this thing made of?!" Tommy said then he bit the rope, hoping that the rope would break.
"Hang on a little longer!" Alice said using her claws to cut the rope.
"Dammit! Guess I have no choice but to use that!" Natsu desperately said making all of them confused of what he gonna do.
"Secret Move! : Kitty in Distress" Natsu use his last resorts which is depicts him as a crying and pitiful kitty making Happy and Tommy mouth open wide while Alice's eyebrows twitched. Millianna takes pity on the 'kitty' and releases him from the Cats Tubes
"Huh? It worked?" The cats said in disbelieves.
"What are you doing, Millianna!?" Wally surprised that Millianna free him easily.
"But the kitty cat was..." Millianna cried using a handkerchief to wipe her tears.
"But what?!... " Wally asked her.
"All right!" Natsu back to his fighting spirit.
"Go for it, Natsu" Happy madly cheers for him.
"Burn! Burn them to dust!" Tommy is also follow Happy.
"Fire Dragon's Wing Attack!" Natsu hands enshrouded by flames as he charge towards Millianna and Wally, the attack hit them at same time making them unconscious.
"Sigh... my revenge on the Blockhead is finally complete!" Natsu exclaimed happily.
"And how long do you plan on wearing that?" Alice asked him, when he will remove the helmet.
"I can't get it off..." Natsu lethargic replies with a sweatdrop.
-Elsewhere-
Here's now at the throne room, where's Jellal monitoring the battle, he then grab a red dragon chess piece and knocked the cat and archer piece with it. Then place the dragon piece in a new square. Currently at the chess board, there's 12 pieces left which include a Knight, crystal shard, water jug, key, castle, card, Red, Blue, and Yellow dragon, blue, black, and white fish. And a king that opposed the other pieces.
"Sho and Simon have betrayed me. Wally and Millianna have been defeated by Salamander" Jellal said to his attendant Vidaldus "This is how a game should be, after all. There's no point in playing a one-sided match against one's opponents" then he let a smirk across his face.
"Lord Jellal, let us quickly proceed with the capture of Eeza and begin the ritual" Vidaldus said to him "There's no more time to play around"
"Then, do you want to give it a go Vidaldus?" Jellal said.
"Is that your wish? Then next, is it our turn?" Vidaldus assure as Jellal put another three pieces in the chess board. Which it a Bass guitar, a Shrine maiden, and a owl.
Then a wide grin appear in Vidaldus' face as then transforming into some sort of rocker clothes and two other people appear beside him: a bird man named Fukuro and a woman named Ikaruga.
Vidaldus' skin is now much paler, and he dons dark makeup around his eyes and on his lips. He's bare-chested, with a tattoo reading 'Skeletoy' visible on his chest, and he dons shoulder pads and arm guards covered in prominent spikes. His pants were replaced by tights held up by a belt with a skull-shaped buckle, and he dons boots paired with greaves decorated by flames-motifs.
Ikaruga has long, bright pink hair which is tied on top of her head in two large buns. She has a curvaceous figure, peach skin, a beauty mark underneath each eye and sports red lipstick.
She wears a long, slightly loose white kimono with a red stripe in between two black stripes around the waist as well as a red triangle at the bottom of her dress, decorated by flames and skulls motifs, open at the top to reveal her shoulders and a fair amount of cleavage; it's closed around the waist by a large black belt adorned with a horned skull.
Fukuro has the body of a man, but the head of an owl, as well as a rocket pack strapped to his back. His body is heavily muscular and mostly bare, with his clothing consisting only of a pair of green short tights held up by a belt, whose buckle bears a symbol reminiscent of a waning moon with a triangle pointing left in the empty part, and high sneakers bearing the same symbol. He also dons wristbands, and each of his biceps is adorned by a band which has several long feathers hanging down from it.
Jellal smile looking at three in front of him "Assassin's Guild : Death's Head Caucus."
"Vidaldus Taka"
"Go to hell! It's hell! I'll show them the deepest and darkest depths of hell!" Vidaldus exclaimed with a big creepy smile, much creepier than Jose if you ask me.
"Fukuro"
Fukuro replies just tilted his head just like a owl would do.
"The commander, Ikaruga"
"Perhaps it's the fate of both love and life to be broken asunder, isn't that right?" Ikaruga said as Sakura leafs flying around.
"The festival starts now. We're Death's Head Caucus from the Assassin's Guild. Special Frontier Squad : Trinity Raven, at your service " Ikaruga ant the other two bow to Jellal.
"It's your turn now, Go!" Jellal command them. The Trinity Raven nodded then exit the room. Leaving Jellal alone in the throne room. But not long after that, Vivi enter the room with Nymph beside her, Jellal let a smirk as the woman he was waiting for had arrive.
"Oh, What have take you so long?... " Jellal asked.
"Hmph! You should install elevator in this tower, climbing stairs is really killing me" Vivi suggested as she catch some breath. With Nymph sweatdrop at her.
"Sorry about that, but that will make the participants reach this room easily" Jellal replied. "And now, is it ready to use it?" jellal asked as he shows her the golden darkness ball.
"Yes, it should have" Vivi replied, when then taken out the two star gems from her robe pocket. "And with this, I have completed my objective"
"I must thank you for your cooperation... " Vivi thanked him. Jellal just nodded then proceed looking at Nymph.
"What are you gonna do?!" Nymph asked him nervously as she now in a big trouble. "I can feel the same power from three years ago in that golden darkness thingy" Nymph thought in panic.
"Hehe, now the game will become more interesting. Are you ready to fight your own friends?" Jellal asked her with a evil grin.
Jellal then slowly throw the darkness ball towards her, with Vivi only watch with smirk at the scene.
"Oh no! This is bad! This is bad! This is bad! This is bad! This is bad! THIS IS BAD!" Nymph shouted in her mind as the darkness slowly approach her with cold sweat dripping from her head. "Why the Author have to choose this script, it should be the B-scrip!" Nymph thought.
Now if the darkness touch her, it will control her and the biggest possibility that she would have forced to fight her Master.
But unexpected thing happened as the two star gems begin to glow with blue and red light. This surprised both Jellal and Vivi as the golden darkness pick an interest at the light and made a way towards it.
"WHAT!?" Vivi thought, if the darkness touch her, then she will affected by it. So she dropped the gems and take step back from it. The golden darkness continue to approaching the gems and when it touch it.
*BOOOOM!*
A powerful explosion of darkness and black green flames consuming the room.
The team Natsu felt the explosion at their current location.
"What was that?!" Gray asked the group as they stop their journey.
"I don't know but, that explosion of a magical energy" Erza assume.
"But, what could be possibly can create that explosion?" Rayna asked them.
"It seems it came from the throne room" Simon stated.
"Jellal..." Erza thought with Sho notice her worries.
"Hey Pyrus, you okay?" Lucy asked him. Currently Pyrus is the most shocked than the others, his eye open wide with sweats formed in his head.
"This power..." Pyrus thought.
-Back to Jellal-
Currently the throne room covered in smoke with some black green flames. Jellal sit still on his throne chair, he looking at the one who responsible for this mess.
Vivi is kneeling down on the floor and then coughing up some smoke as looking at the flames.
Nymph still inside the sphere looking at the flames, tears dropped from her eyes looking at the scene. Inside the blazing black green flames, stood a young man who not older then 16 years old with messy jet black hair and pair of wolf ear a top of his head. His body is muscular with many scar mark and a wolf tail on his back. He only wearing a black pants, simple green belt and black-green combat boots. His face looks exactly like Pyrus with cold sharp emerald eyes that shadowed by his bangs.
"N-No way..." Nymph stared at him in disbelieve "Master... Ventus?"
-To be Continue-
A/N : Sigh... Now that out of the way. Once again, sorry it take so long. I was planning update this at the New year, but I forgot to save the chapter and make it half done and start over. Anyway, please fav and review this story.
Originally, I was planning for Pyrus or Rayna got kidnapped, but then I change it into Nymph instead. And this chapter supposed take 3 whole episodes but I had to cut it into 2 episode and a quarter of episode 36 due of my school vacation is almost over.
Thanks you for reading this chapter, and sorry if there's a grammar mistakes.
Next Chapter's title : Heaven's Game
