(A/N)- JUST WHEN I ESCAPE THIS HELL I'M DRAGGED BACK IN.

Based on Shirou and Saber's face-off against Gilgamesh after their date in Fate route.

Enjoy!

Disclaimer: Nope! Don't own.

Indomitable

Stars glimmered out from the darkening sky, twinkling into being one by one. The evening breeze had a pleasant chill, wafting around them, lifting her crimson hair gently.

Erza pushed the wayward strands out of her eyes, inhaling slowly, savoring the cool night air. Wind whispered through the trees of Southgate Park and silver moonlight was gleaming on the leaves and branches. The fresh air was heavy with the scent of rich, damp earth, and just the faintest hint of Gray's aftershave.

The Saber-class Servant glanced aside at him and smiled.

"Gray…"

He startled a little at the sound of her voice, or perhaps her addressing him by name instead of calling him "Master". His dark eyes met hers.

Erza dipped her head. "Thank you," she said quietly. "Today was… pleasant." She shook her head wonderingly. "I did not know there would be so much to do in Magnolia but… you proved me wrong."

He relaxed at that, a warm smile spreading over his own face. "I'm glad," he said. "That you had fun."

They fell into companionable silence for a while, looking out across the park, their hands intertwined between them.

"A date?" she had repeated skeptically that morning, when Gray had first proposed the day's plans to her.

"Yeah. We both deserve a day off from the Grail War," he'd argued. "So come on, let's go into town."

She had argued against it of course, citing the enemies still at large and the danger being out in public would bring.

But now, with Gray's warm fingers between hers, the calm of evening seeping into her, the rustle of wind in the trees and the distant warble of songbirds drifting to her ears… she felt more at ease than she thought she'd ever been in her life.

A niggling thought at the back of her mind said they should be getting inside soon, but Erza stayed it, wanting to linger here in this moment of blissful peace.

She gave a sigh of contentment, her heart warm.

She started to lean into Gray's shoulder.

"Well," a voice interjected. "Isn't this a pretty scene?"

A chunk of pure ice dropped into Erza's heart, turning her stomach and her insides cold with dread. Her eyes widened in recognition of the voice and she found herself paralyzed, her limbs wound tight, unable to move.

No… it couldn't be…

Gray had stiffened beside her, twisting his head around to look and see. Ezra turned slowly as well, her mouth going dry and her breaths shaking shallowly.

A hooded figure stood casually down a ways from them on the park path, hands in its pockets, face shadowed. He came forward a few steps into the moonlight, the silver beams illuminating a handsome face with ragged blue bangs and a prominent tattoo across one eye.

"Have you forgotten me already, Titania?" a young, charming, horribly familiar voice came from him.

Erza trembled, fear knocking around inside her.

"J… Jellal…" she whispered.

He shook his head, an eerie smile playing at his lips. "That's not my name anymore, Titania," he scolded gently. "You know that."

Erza swallowed the thick terror that was threatening to strangle her. So, now they knew the identity of the mysterious Archer-class Servant. The knowledge was little comfort to her. Her body trembled. Her mind screamed in denial.

She couldn't… she couldn't face him again. Not again…

Please not again, she begged whatever gods or higher beings were listening.

-FT-

Gray felt her hand shaking inside his and gripped it tighter, protectively, shooting the newcomer a glare.

"If you're gonna fight us, just go on and do it," he challenged. "You won't win the Grail."

The stranger tilted his head. "Fight?" he repeated. "Oh no, I don't intend to fight you. It would be very troublesome to keep Erza here if I injured you too badly."

Gray gnashed his teeth. "Then what do you want, you weirdo?" he demanded.

The man extended a hand out, palm up, towards Erza. "All I want is my beloved Titania," he said. His eyes were lined with affection and something dangerous hiding in the depths. "Erza…" he called gently.

She inhaled sharply through her teeth next to him, tensing.

"Come with me and no one else has to get hurt."

There was a vague threat underlining the words, and Gray let go of Erza's hand, placing himself in front of her, arms outstretched and shielding.

"You can't have her," he growled.

"Gray…" Erza's voice was thin and strained, and she shook her head in small, tight motions. "Please… He'll kill you."

"I don't care," Gray snapped back. "I won't let you go with him."

The man dropped his hand, drawing himself up with anger. "Do you even know who I am, boy?" came his question, tone chilling.

Gray's hands tightened into fists. "You're the jerk who made Erza cry," he said.

The stranger stretched to his full height, tossing back his hood, letting the moonlight shine down starkly across his bright blue hair.

"I am Siegrain!" he declared, throwing his arms out. "Champion of Caelum! Builder of the Tower of Heaven that will pierce the veil between life and death!"

"Bastard," Gray spat, unimpressed. "You broke her heart. Made her not want to exist!"

He felt Erza gathering herself together beside him and looked over just in time to see her requip into her battle armor. She lifted her sword, brandishing it.

"Go, Master," she told him, her eyes steely and determined. "I will keep him at bay. Go to the guild hall and get the others."

Gray shook his head, already stripping off his shirt. "No," he said firmly. "We'll face him together."

"You don't stand a chance against him," she said quietly, the grip she had on her sword shaking.

"I ain't letting you fight him alone," he argued hotly, squaring off with her. His voice and expression turned softer. "Because you and I… we're Fairy Tail. We're a team."

His clenched fists loosened and his hands hung limp by his sides. His eyes were earnest, agonized, pinching under the weight of his words.

"Because I love you," he strained out.

Something changed in Erza's expression. A fire lit behind her eyes, a wild look that shone with passion and warmth and brave determination.

Her shaking stopped. She stood firm and unmovable. Gray's words had stripped away her fear and now she shone with strength and courage, almost glowing in the moonlight, a flaming Heroic Spirit.

"You're an idiot," she said, laughter under her words. "But don't ever change."

She shifted to face their opponent, stepping closer to his side.

"Together it shall be," she determined, raising her sword again.

Gray stood next to her, readying himself for battle, ice beginning to curl up his arms. They faced off against the ghost from Erza's past, indomitable and ready for whatever he threw at them.

They would not break They would not yield.

They were Fairy Tail.

And they were going to win.