Natsu and I stood upright from our positions we took in our new surroundings. The tower's basic infrastructure was gone. All that remained was a giant lacrima.
"What the hell happened to this place?" Natsu asked groggily.
"It's a lacrima, it must've absorbed the Etherion blast. It's the only reason we're still alive." I stated as I scanned the tower for a way up.
"It doesn't matter. We gotta find Erza!" Natsu said and I nodded, and with that we began to climb straight up the side of the tower.
We scrambled over the side of the tower in time to see Erza shoved into the lacrima. As Jellal turned to begin the oh-so cliché villainous monologue, Natsu and I raced over to Erza, who was screaming for him to stop.
"We've got you." I said as it took Natsu and I combined to yank her out of the lacrima.
"Erza's an important part of your Fairy Tail family." Natsu declared as Jellal turned around to face us.
"We won't let you lay a finger on her." I growled as I supported Erza.
"Natsu, Aquila." Erza whispered as we lowered her to the ground.
"Jeez, what are you doing hanging around with this loser? If we don't hurry and get back to work, Lucy's not going to be able to pay her rent. Trust me, you don't want to make her angry." Natsu said with smile down at Erza.
"Sorry, but I can't move." Erza's voice quavered and it broke my heart to see her so fragile.
"No way!" Natsu had an evil grin on his face as he began to tickle Erza, "This is serious payback for all the pain you've put me through!" I rolled my eyes at his childish display, but smiled nonetheless. Only Natsu could cheer Erza up in such a dire situation.
Erza was laughing and smiling for a moment, but as Natsu stopped, her smile faded. "You two have to get out of here."
"No way, I ain't leaving. If you can't do the fighting yourself, then I'll just have to do it for you!" Natsu rose to his feet, and turned to face Jellal, as I propped Erza up.
"Please for once Aquila, Natsu, do as I ask. You can't beat him, he's too strong." Erza whispered as a tear ran down her cheek.
"Sorry Erza, but we're part of your team, I'm your partner, and there's no way in hell we're leaving you behind." I slammed my fist into Erza's stomach, knocking her out cold.
"What sort of people are you, hitting a defenseless friend?" Jellal said with smirk.
"She did it, because she was crying. She looked so weak and fragile. Her voice was trembling in fear. No one wants to see Erza like that. I've always looked up to her as a strong warrior. And when she wakes up form this nightmare, we want her to feel like her old self again." Natsu clenched his fists as flames sprung into existence.
I turned to face Jellal fully and I smirked. "So, you're the infamous Jellal I've heard so much about. Pity, you certainly don't look too big and bad. Which is a shame for you because for making Erza cry, that means, your life is at its end buddy!" I coated my body with ice, and allowed my hair to freeze over.
"If you want to get to Erza, you're going to have to go through us!" Natsu exclaimed as flames and ice coated the ground.
'Is that a challenge? Consider my interest piqued. I would love to witness the powers of two dragon slayers. However Miss Orion, you may find I'm not so easy of an opponent to beat!" Jellal declared as Natsu and I launched ourselves at him.
I swept his legs out from under him as Natsu slammed a flaming foot into his face knocking him across the room. Leaving him no time to recover, Natsu and I were on him in an instant, alternatively punching the shit out of him.
"Fire-dragon wing attack!" Natsu spread his arms out as the extensions of his flames slammed into Jellal.
"Ice-dragon's talon!" I slammed foot which had large icy spikes coming out of it into Jellal's gut, sending him slamming into a piece of lacrima.
"Fired-dragon…"
"Ice-dragon"
"ROAR!" Natsu and I sent a blast of our roars straight for his prone figure, creating a massive explosion. From the flames and ice, Jellal emerged, ripping his tattered coat off with a smirk on his face.
"Is that the best you can do?" Jellal asked with smirk. "I expected more from The Icy Damsel and the Salamander. I was hoping to get a taste of the destructive might of a dragon slayer before I started ripping you to shreds with my bare hands. But if that's all you've got, I won't waste my time."
"We're nowhere near done you monster!" I yelled as Natsu and I made to attack him once more.
"You must be punished for interrupting my ceremony. Prepare to be destroyed by my heavenly body magic. Meter!" Jellal began to glow and he leapt into the air, dodging Natsu and I completely. As I froze for a moment, He flashed in from behind us, surprising Natsu with a kick to the chest, then he was in front of me and had slammed his fist into my gut. He proceeded to beat on us for the next several moments.
"Damn, he's quick." I snarled as Natsu and I rose to our feet. I ran alongside Natsu as we struggled to get our bearings. I listened for the wind he created and smelt the air for his scent. I turned in time with Natsu, only to miss him and be slammed into.
"Be glad you got your hits in." Jellal laughed as he proceeded to pummel us. I braced myself and took less damage than Natsu did due to my ice, but it still hurt like hell. We fell to the ground and I spit out some blood.
"Allow me to show you the destructive power of true darkness magic. May the seven stars bring judgement upon you, seven star song, GRAND CHARIOT!" Jellal's magic produced a large beam of light, and as it hurtled for us, I enacted my defensive magic. I froze Natsu over, hoping to lessen some of the damage he took.
The explosion destroyed the ground we were under and I released Natsu from the confines of my ice. He lay unconscious on the ground, as I struggled to remain conscious. "That spell packs as much power as a falling meteor. I'm surprised your bodies are still in one piece after being hit with it. Perhaps that was a little much. The R-system can't afford to suffer any more damage or it'll be rendered useless. I can feel the magic energy beginning to leak out. I'll have to hurry. It's time Erza." Jellal cast a power hungry glance towards Erza's unconscious body.
"Over… my… dead body." I huffed as I rose to a shaky stand.
"Oh, you survived did you? I suppose that would make sense for the legendary Icy Damsel." Jellal turned to face me his face disinterested.
"Did you hear that Natsu? This tower is nothing but one big, breakable, building." I grinned a feral smile as I allowed my ice to flow over me once more.
Natsu let out a low laugh as he struggled to his feet. "I heard him all right."
"Take this entire godsdamned place down. I'll deal with him." I growled as I leapt toward Jellal.
As I leapt at him he dodged backwards, yelling as Natsu began to send fractures throughout the ground, "What are you doing?!" Jellal yelled as he fended off my attacks.
"Shouldn't you know this you little sneak? Fairy Tail wizards, are the best when it comes to destroying things!" I yelled as I socked him in the face, sending him tumbling backwards.
"I won't let you get in my way!" He yelled and made to use meteor to try to stop Natsu, but I grabbed him by the ankle.
"I don't think so." I hurled him into another pile of crystal, determined to ensure he wouldn't get up this time.
"I won't let you do this!" He screamed as he launched himself at me once again, as I dodged into the air.
"Ice-dragon, blades of ice!" I formed several blades of long thick ice and sent them hurtling towards Jellal. Jellal let out a scream of frustration and sent several balls of light towards me as I hardened my ice and stood steady. "I'm no pushover, I picked up a lot from Erza over the years, and defense has always been one of my strongest abilities." I leapt for him once again, snapping my icy hair off with a flick of my wrist and sending the icy needles hurtling towards him, He cried out as a few pierced him, and he yanked them out. From behind the sounds of Natsu going to town could be heard and Jellal's face contorted with rage.
"I'll make you pay!" He screamed as a magic circle appeared over his head and a ball of darkness appeared, sucking in air and pieces of wind. The feel of the magic made me feel like I was going to be sick. I froze my feet to the ground merely to stay grounded and not be sucked towards the growing dark ball above Jellal's head. "And now, I'll plunge you into infinite darkness dragon slayer!"
In a flash Erza was in front of me. "Don't do it!" She yelled, her arms spread in front of me. "Unless you want to kill me too! You don't want to lose your sacrifice to Zeref do you?"
"That would be a problem, the ceremony requires a wizard comparable in strength to one of the ten wizard saints. However, I can find a suitable replacement. After all there is one right behind you." Jellal's spell resurged with a vengeance, morphing into a massive black hole.
"Erza! What are you doing?!" I screamed at her. Natsu had ceased his destruction and was standing beside me, his eyes wide.
"It's my fault that you're in this mess. The least I can do is protect you!" Erza responded, refusing to turn and look at me.
"Get out of the way! I have my defensive magic, we'll be alright!" I screamed with desperation as Jellal fired his spell at us.
"ERZA!" I screamed as the spell headed straight for her.
In an instant someone stepped in front of Erza, and a magic circle appeared, blocking the spell, revealing it to be Simon. A massive explosion echoed throughout the room and smoke was everywhere.
"Simon." I whispered as I saw that he had taken the spell, for Erza.
"Why Simon?" Erza whispered.
"To… save… you." Simon managed to get out before he collapsed. Erza ran to his side as Jellal began to gloat about his fast-approaching death.
I felt a tear run down my cheek as Simon died, being held by Erza, his long-lost friend. I could feel Erza's anguish as she sobbed and wailed. I didn't know jack about Simon, only that he cared for Erza. But that was all I needed to know in order to mourn him, and despise Jellal for his death.
"What a perfectly foolish thing to do! He tried to play the valiant hero, but is death won't change a thing! Simon gave his own life to save yours, but he should've known I'm not letting any of you leave this tower alive!" Jellal laughed at his death and that was when I snapped.
"Shut your damn mouth!" Natsu roared as he and I were in front of Jellal in an instant.
"You're the one who won't be leaving alive." I snarled as my magic swirled around us, and frost grew on the floor. Natsu's punch sent Jellal slamming into the structure, destroying more of the lacrima. I froze as I heard Natsu crunch on something and turned to watch him eat the lacrima from the tower. The magic energy began to flow into him from the tower, as he roared with renewed power.
That damn fool, it contains all magic not just fire, he'll be lucky if it doesn't kill him! I thought as I watched him send a blast of magic energy towards Jellal. He stopped and began to clutch at his throat as the magic began to clash within him. "Natsu, you idiot, don't die on us!" I yelled as I knelt by his side, helpless to do anything but watch.
"What an idiot. Did he really think he'd be able to power up by consuming elements other than his own? It'll certainly make my job easier if he kills himself." Jellal said with a sneer.
"Not quite bastard!" I yelled and turned to face him. Then a felt a rush of heat behind me and turned to see that Natsu had done it. He had converted all the energy into flame. Scales appeared on his face and I grinned. He had scratched the surface. Now it was time I showed my skills. I stood and forced my magic to flow faster, work better, and I could feel the scales appear on my face and arms, as though they had been carved into the ice that was my body.
Natsu launched himself at Jellal, and slammed a knee into his face. I followed close after with a barrage of ice spikes.
"You made Erza cry!" Natsu roared as he slammed into Jellal once more sending him through the floor.
"That's a crime, that can't be forgiven!" I yelled, as I slammed my foot into his gut. "We promised that we would take care of Erza!"
"And we won't ever break our promise!" Natsu yelled as Jellal slammed through several more levels of the tower. "Hurt her again and we'll kill you!"
"Your threats don't scare me, meteor!" Jellal activated his spell and flew for the top, leaving Natsu and I to plummet. But that wasn't happening. Natsu and I began to leap from falling piece to falling piece, catching back up to Jellal. "You'll never be able to catch me at this rate!" Jellal cackled as he continued upward.
However, Natsu and I weren't to be deterred. We continued leaping up towards Jellal, swinging each other up in coordination that took years of fighting with each other to perfect. Natsu reached him first and slammed his fist into Jellal's stomach.
"I won't lose, not to you!" He yelled as he kicked Natsu into the lacrima.
"Oh yes you will!" I roared as I shot up behind him and nailed him with a kick to the back, sending him to the ground, but he just got up again.
"I'm destined to create a land of freedom, I know this because in my darkest hour I could hear Lord Zeref calling out to me! He told me he could make all my dreams come true and I believe him. There's a reason I'm the only human who can sense Zeref's presence, it's because I am the chosen one! Once he's been resurrected, we'll work together to create a land that's truly free!" Jellal yelled, his eye betraying his madness.
"And you're going to do that by taking away the rights of everyone else in the world?!" Natsu yelled as we dodged Jellal's balls of light.
"If that's what has to be done to make everyone free, then so be it!" Jellal responded. "I couldn't care less about what happens to feeble minded fools like you!" He flew into the air, and created a large magic circle pointed directly at Natsu and I. The circle was… Abyss Break.
"Are you insane?! You'll destroy the tower so many died to create!" Erza yelled from where she stood by Simon's body.
"This tower means nothing to me. Now that I've done it once, I could do it again in half the time!" Jellal gloated, then he froze as he clutched his stomach.
"You'll never know what it means to be free, not as long as you're possessed by that spirit!" Natsu roared as he launched himself at Jellal, his flames taking on the image of a dragon.
"You're a fool Jellal, for thinking that what you want is freedom!" I yelled leaping up there myself, and slamming my fist into his gut, sending him straight towards Natsu.
"Why are you letting him manipulate you?! You can do it Jellal, free YOURSELF!" Natsu slammed his fist into Jellal's face, sending him slamming down the center of the tower. Natsu and I crashed down beside him, standing up and turning to Erza. We grinned at her and she smiled back.
Natsu began to fall, exhausted form his eating of Eternano and the fight. I caught him as Erza scrambled over to us. She grabbed us both and yanked us into a hug. "I knew you'd find your inner strength. You're amazing." She whispered to Natsu and I grinned at her. He was always surprising is, that's for damn sure.
We started when the tower started to quake and the lacrima began to glow. "Damn, when I told him to go nuts on the tower, I did not think that through!" I cursed as I struggled to my feet, supporting Natsu as well. Erza turned to watch as Simon's body began to slide down towards the sea.
"Hold, Natsu, I'll get him!" I ordered Erza, then stumbled as she grabbed my arm.
"No. That's not Simon. That's merely his body and I won't risk your life for something that isn't even him anymore!" Erza ordered and I turned to look back at him.
"But Erza, he's your friend-"
"You are my partner! I'm not letting you risk yourself for him. He'll be with me, in my heart." Erza gave me a watery smile and I relented.
We began to make our way out of the tower as it started to explode and crumble around us. We skirted the geysers of magical energy that began to erupt around us. One exploded close sending Erza, Natsu, and I flying. Erza cried out at the impact as I struggled to get back on my feet.
"It's over." Erza whispered as she slammed her fist into the ice.
"It's never over! There must be some way to get out of here alive!" I spoke furiously as I desperately tried to think of an idea. Then I saw Erza staring at the lacrima beside us.
"No way. No way in hell!" I said when I realized the crazy idea she was having. "Natsu and I didn't get beaten all to hell for you to end up inside that thing. My ice, I can use my ability to shield us!" but Erza shook her head.
"It won't be enough. The destructive force is massive, we would be lucky if Natsu and I survived inside that, let alone you." I grit my teeth in anger at her hypocrisy,
"So I can't sacrifice myself, but you can?! I won't let you Erza, there has to be a way where all three of us make it out of here alive!" I cried out desperate to stop her from doing something stupid.
"There is no other way." and I felt Erza sink her fist into my stomach. I dropped to the ground, stunned as she turned and began to slide herself into the lacrima.
"No don't do it!" I cried out as I struggled to make it to stop her. I felt her hand grab my shoulder and I looked up at her with tears in my eyes.
"I can't even imagine what my life would've been like without Fairy Tail. If it weren't for you and the others, I probably wouldn't be here today. I hope you know how important you all are to me. I care for you so much." Erza smiled at me and I felt like my heart was breaking.
"Erza. Don't go! Don't leave us!" I sobbed as tears flowed out of my eyes. "You're my partner, you're one of my very best friends! Don't leave me!" I wailed as Erza removed her hand from my shoulder.
"I'm so glad you asked me to be your partner on the S-class exam." She whispered as slipped fully into the lacrima. "I'm willing to give my life, so that my loved ones may live."
"ERZA!" I screamed as the crystal began to glow.