Italics indicate thinking

Bold is for attacks

Kanji's POV

"They opened the door for us so it's safe to assume they know we're here." Juvia said as Gray and I dried ourselves using Natsu's fire.

Maybe I should have kept the sweatshirt…ah whatever.

Another group of men came into the room to attack us.

"They don't know when to give up do they." Natsu remarked getting ready to fight the men.

Before we got a chance to eliminate the men attacking us, they were cut down where they stood.

She's okay.

"Erza!"

Erza looked over and didn't seem thrilled to see us.

"What are you doing here?"

"Isn't obvious we got the crap beaten out of us and we came to settle the score." Natsu told her.

"That's not why I came at all!" I yelled, I walked up to Erza, but when I got close she stepped away.

"Leave."

"No way, Happy is in here somewhere an I won't just leave him." Natsu told her "So where is he?"

"I don't know."

"Kay thanks!" Natsu yelled running off.

"Wait you idiot!" Gray yelled.

"Let's go after him." Lucy groaned.

Before they could take a step Erza blocked their path "I told you to go."

"Erza?"

"I'll take care of Natsu and Happy the rest of you leave."

"That's never gonna happen Erza." I told her "We're not leaving without you. Look at me Erza." She didn't turn around

"I said look at me!" I grabbed her shoulder and forcefully turned her around "We're already pretty deep in this mess so I want some answers, what the hell is this tower and who's this Jellal I keep hearing about."

She still didn't answer

"Fine keep being like this, never answer my questions, be stubborn I don't care anymore. Lucy said those people called you their friend but I've never heard of them, I thought…I thought I was important to you Erza, but I guess I was wrong. I don't care Erza, I don't care if you never give me an answer, because I love you and that will never change. I will always be there for you."

"Ju…Just go." She said turning away.

"What is your problem?" Gray said "You freaking us out, this isn't like you."

"I'm here to help you Erza, just say the word." I told her "It's okay to be scared, don't you remember what I said the other night, I can protect you; you don't always have to protect yourself."

Erza turned around…and she was crying.

Don't do that. As Elfman would say 'Men are weak to womanly tears.'

"I'm sorry. This fight, no matter what, win or lose, I'll disappear from the world."

"What?!"

"Don't say things like that."

"It's unavoidable." She turned to me and put her head on my chest "So while I'm still here let me give you the answers you've always wanted."

Stop talking like you're gonna die.

"This place is called 'The Tower of Heaven' also known as the R-System. A decade ago a magic cult built a tower that they believed could resurrect the dead."

This sound like something Dad mentioned once.

"Since the project was illegal and underground, they took people from nearby villages and used them as slaves…I was one of those slaves."

What the hell…what do I say.

I just stood there while Erza told us what happened to her in her childhood, something I didn't even know.

I did know one thing though

This place is nothing but a curse, not just on Erza. It's a curse on the whole world. I tear it down!

"So we stood up to rescue our friend, Jellal. He was the leader, the person I looked up to most. But then, Jellal became a different person. The best way to describe him…is pure evil."

Erza continued her story. She had it rough trying to help this Jellal guy…she said someone named Simon got pretty messed up.

That sounds like the man with the metal jaw.

One part of the story really caught my attention. Some old guy named Rob saved her life.

Didn't Gramps have a friend named that…probably not the same guy Rob is a common name.

Then when she got to her friend he was different…he was evil. He tried to convince Erza to stay in the tower and revive Zeref. When she refused he attacked her. In an act of 'generosity' Jellal allowed her to leave and find 'freedom' but she was never allowed to return to the tower or speak of the events there; otherwise he'd kill her friends.

So it wasn't that she didn't want to tell me, she couldn't. She wanted to tell me but this guy stopped her. He's been torturing her for eight years

"Erza…" I still didn't know what to say.

"Wait you said Zeref?" Gray said.

"Yes he is history's most terrifying dark mage."

"He's the one that made the Lullaby right?" Lucy asked.

"Yeah." I told her "And I have a strong felling he's the one that created Deliora too. They say Zeref creates demons by barely lifting a finger."

"According to my old friends…when they revive Zeref they'll become 'Rulers of Paradise"

"Why'd they call you a traitor Erza?" Lucy asked "Seems like Jellal is the bad guy here."

"Who knows what Jellal had been telling them since I left…but I did leave them for eight years so I guess I did betray them."

"That's not true." Lucy told her "You were trying to protect them."

"That's enough Lucy." Erza said "I will take care of Jellal and this will all be over."

You really think that's it, how stupid do you think I am. It's obvious from your words earlier you think you're going to die regardless. Like hell I'll let that happen.

"What do you mean by that…sister?" a dark-skinned man asked.

"Sho."

"Stop trying to get sympathy from your new friends! You're the one who couldn't control her magic and destroyed the boats we were escaping on. Thankfully Jellal saved us and warned us about you."

"Jellal told you that huh?" I said looking at the guy "That doesn't sound anything like my Erza."

"You…You don't know anything! I was saved by Jellal…We all were! That's why we helped him build this tower. It can't…It can't have all been a lie!"

"It's the truth."

We looked up and saw the man with the metal jaw stalk into the room.

"Simon!"

"You!" Gray and I were ready to go at this guy but Juvia stopped us.

"Wait, back at the casino he knew he attacked the Ice decoy. He cast the darkness spell so it had no effect on him. I came with you to confirm this fact."

"As expected from a member of the Element Four."

"I still don't like this guy." I grumbled.

"I had to play along with Jellal for all this time. He had all of you convinced he was right." The man told his dark-skinned friend "I waited for the right time, and kept pretending to believe in him."

"Simon…"

"It's been a long time Erza, I've always believed in you." He said hugging Erza

I saw that! HE'S MY LOVE RIVAL!

As much as I wanted to punch this guy for how he was acting I knew Erza needed this so I let it slide.

"Why…" We looked over and saw that Sho wasn't looking to good "Why were you able to believe in Erza and I wasn't. I don't know who to believe anymore!"

"I'm sorry Sho." Erza said "But for all these years I never once forgot about you. I was too weak to stop Jellal back then."

"But you're ready now?" Simon asked.

Erza shook her head yes in response.

"This is what I've been waiting for…When a group of powerful mages like you would gather here at this tower. We will fight Jellal with our combined strength…but first we must stop Salamander and Wally from fighting."

So this is it huh? If I wanna save Erza I have to stop Jellal. Just point me in direction.

I'm coming for you…I'm gonna end you Jellal!

AN

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Till Next Time!