I actually have a legitimate excuse for being late. Not only did I have a ton of homework, I got my wisdom teeth taken out. So my face resembles a chipmunk right now, and I'm so uncomfortable. I still wrote this thought. AND NOW ON TO MORE ANNOUNCEMENTS:

Okay so I was going to a remake of the Tower of Heaven arc and then do a separate thing where we get caught up to the beginning, but then I decided to skip the Tower of Heaven thing and combine them. So it's getting close to the end of part one, and I can't tell you how excited I am for part two. There will be so much more action and magic and less mystery.

The main characters are also going to change, because I have plans for Mirajane to get super big in the next part. Another thing I keep meaning to talk to you all about, how many people would be okay if I added Miraxus in? It would be super cute…

Another thing, I now have a writing tumblr! Find me at .com

"Are you, are you, coming to the tree?

They strung up a man they say who murdered three…"

"Don't you think the stars are beautiful?"

The question is an odd one, coming from her. Gray turned his head, a contented smile filling his features as he reached out an arm to rope her back into his embrace.

"What made you think of that?" he inquired, leaning down to press a quick kiss against her temple. She smiled, that beautiful smile of hers that made everything better.

"What's my name Gray?" she asked, her brown eyes wide and innocent.

"You're Erza Scarlet," he said, "Why are you asking me that?"

"No," she said, her brown eyes growing harder, "what's my given name Gray? What am I called?"

"I don't understand," he said stupidly, his brain going blank.

"The stars are so beautiful," she repeated instead of explaining, "don't you think?"

…

Gray woke up with a start, sweat sticking his shirt to his chest, his breathing ragged. He always woke up like this, in a state of distress, and it doesn't make any sense. They're happy dreams, except for the part where her eyes harden—

He nearly jumped out of bed, lunging for his sketchpad, the intention to draw doing cartwheels through his brain.

His pencil moves across the paper faster than he thought possible, tracing the outlines and shapes with practiced ease. He's in a haze, but everything is spot on.

When he's finished, he sat back to observe his masterpiece. It's a picture of a girl with a crack running through her face, with sad blue eyes and purplish lips, elf ears and odd sticky up hair. Strangely enough, it looks like Mirajane, but it can't be her.

He stuffed the drawing in a drawer, wondering what was wrong with him. He reached up and rubbed at his eyes. He shouldn't be doing this anymore. He used to do it after his Mom died, every night until he was a walking nightmare from the lack of sleep. The therapist he had been forced to go to said it was a product of the trauma he'd gone through, but he was happy right now. Happier then he's been in a while. It didn't make any sense.

…

"We need to get everyone out of the school for this plan to work," Jellal said yet again, his finger tracing down the elaborate plan they had written up. They were out on the school grounds at midnight again, as they had been for the last two months.

"I know," Ultear responded, they were just going over the details yet again. The Duchess had apparently informed Jellal that this particular task needed to be done by tomorrow. The dark haired girl was not happy with this statement; she hadn't had a chance to think of a way out of this yet. She hadn't figured out a way to save Erza yet, and Jellal obviously hadn't.

"So we need you to pull the fire alarm," Jellal continued on, pretending she had never spoken.

"We've been through the plan many times," she sniffed. "Why don't we talk about how we can not do this particular thing?"

"There is no way out of it," Jellal hissed, "if Erza doesn't die tomorrow, then Meredy will."

"So you're forced to choose between whom you love," Ultear said softly, her violet eyes rising to meet his.

"Erza would have told me to save Meredy," he hissed, "You know that as well as anyone."

"Then why don't you let me kill her," she whispered, "it would be simpler. Her blood wouldn't be on your hands."

"You can't fight against Erza," he scoffed, "you both don't have magic, and her level of physical ability is far stronger. I can take her down, I know it."

"Alright," Ultear let out a long sigh, "I'll pull the fire alarm tomorrow."

…

Erza Scarlet was happy. Happier then she had been since her Mom died and left her with Zero, and it was all because of Gray. It was the way he held her hand, the way he kissed her forehead, her lips, how hesitant he was to beat her up in training.

That was before she saw Jellal and Ultear parting ways outside of the school at midnight (she had to go to the bathroom), and her heart stopped. It was obviously him, with blue hair and a curling red tattoo, shoving a hood over his face and walking towards the forest. The same boy from her cursed childhood.

That was obviously Ultear, with long streaming dark hair and cold violet eyes. She looked nervous about something, and Erza was determined to get to the bottom of this.

Pushing back her covers, she tiptoed out of her dorm, trying not to wake Wendy. She was going to get Gray, ask him if his sister was friends with a man named Jellal. A dangerous, evil man. Ultear didn't seem like a bad person, and Erza didn't want her to be getting caught up in that.

On second thought, she paused, her body turning towards the grounds. She could go and find Jellal herself and ask him.

She chose the second option; just because she would have to explain things she really didn't want if she went to Gray. Besides, Jellal wouldn't hurt her. She could at trust him with that. If she could trust him with anything.

…

She's fast and nimble, and manages to slip into the woods undetected. She's also quite smart, and can spot what path he's taken, a worn out path that looked like it had been worn down by feet marching upon it's soil many times. So this isn't the first time.

She followed the path, being as quiet as she could. She didn't want him to know she was coming; she wanted him to be surprised and terrified of her. He deserved it.

"Erza," said a low sneering voice said from behind her, and she realized she had forgotten to watch her back. She whirled around, and the sight of him leaning against the trunk with his arms crossed didn't even faze her. As soon as she heard his voice, she knew it was him. The reason for her ruined life.

"What are you doing here?" Erza hissed, taking a hesitant step closer. Jellal grabbed her arm and shoved her against a nearby tree, the branches rattling like candy in a box. He breath tickled her face as he leaned in, brown eyes meeting her own.

"I could ask you the same question," he breathed, leaning down and capturing her lips in a kiss. She let out a hiss of disgust, turning her head to the side so she parted from his lips.

"I saw you talking to Ultear. What do you want with her?" she snarled, and something flickered in Jellal's eyes. Regret?

"Just old friends," he said, shrugging, but did not release the grip he held on her.

"Don't lie to me," she laughed, "you don't have friends."

"You were my friend."

"Worse decision I ever made," she glared firmly into his eyes. There was no way she was backing down, "Let me repeat my question. What do you want with her?"

"Did you know that someone wants you dead," he said, his voice breaking.

"Wants me dead?" Erza demanded, red eyebrows rising into her hairline.

"Yes, someone very powerful," Jellal said, "That same person hired me and Ultear to kill you."

"Why are you telling me this?" Erza inquired, her voice quavering slightly. She felt something prick her stomach, and she knew at once it was a knife. It drew a little bit of blood, the hot sticky liquid flowing down her stomach.

"Because I have to kill you now," he whispered, "we were going to wait until tomorrow, but when you walked so willingly into my arms—"

"What so you're the chess master again?" she snarled, "controlling me, controlling my life—"

"I am not the master anymore Erza," he hissed sharply, "I'm just a pawn. Just like you are."

"You were never a pawn, so tell me, why choose to be one now?"

"They have something I want."

"What is that?"

"Meredy," he let out a sigh like the name hurt him, "and I have to kill you for her to live."

"I can't let you do that," she whispered, bringing up her foot and kicking him right in the balls.

He sprang back, whimpering and she attempted to kick him in the head, wanting to knock him out and leave him for the police to find. His hand shot upwards and caught her foot however, and he flipped her to the ground. She was back to her feet in an instant, sending a right hook towards his face. He dodged it easily, sidestepping her. Her fist went flying forwards and smashed into a tree. He had always been a good fighter, but never this good.

"Heavenly beams," he hissed, and several beams of light shot from his hands towards her, and she just managed to duck out the way. The light beams hit a tree behind her and caused it to catch on fire. A signal.

Her eye caught sight of something glinting on the forest floor and she lunged for it, his knife. She raised in her hand, satisfied now that she had a weapon. She slashed at his chest, but again he easily dodged, his eyes narrowing.

"Heaven Breakdown," he swiped his hand and the ground before her split open, trees and other wildlife falling into the crack he'd made. She jumped several feet away from it, the ground suddenly slippery.

"I don't remember this being one of your talents," Erza panted, sweat dripping into her eyes.

"You don't know a lot of things about me Erza. I am sorry to do this but, Grand—"

There was a great flash of yellow lightning, splitting down right before Erza was standing. The bolt formed into the shape of a man. tThe headmaster?

"I won't let you hurt her," Laxus Dryar snarled, "Erza I need you to get back to the school, evacuate everyone—something's coming for us."

"You were just… lighting?" Erza questioned, her mind numb.

"Erza now!" Laxus barked. "I don't know why they want you dead, but they most certainly do, so get the hell out."

He didn't have to say it twice. Turning sharply on her heel she started for the school, running as fast as she dared flashed of lighting and other light resonating behind her.

She was so desperate to get back to the school, she didn't notice the man until she ran straight into him.

It was someone tall, with orange hair and glasses, a handsome black suit adorning his figure. He looked down at her, and for a moment she was afraid he was going to hurt her too. Instead he leaned down and shoved her to her feet.

"Go get Lucy out!" he shouted, shoving her towards her school and taking off for the fighting.

What was going on?