A/N: Well, here it is. The much-awaited return of Jerza! Thanks to everyone who has patiently (without complaint!) waited for this chapter! :D This one's to you. :3 Thanks for this week go to Shonnyterra, FoxOnPie, Gopherplant, GingerificFabulousTime, Lightmoon54, and severedserenity for reviewing on Chapter 11! Extra special thanks to Gopherplant for also following and favoriting, as well as chelsealovesya1995 and Shinethedown for favoriting, and ScarletxBlue, Mai96, carlygrl15 and kaykay692 for following! And of course, thanks to mew96 for agreeing to read yet another of my crazy stories. :) Your support means the world to me!
Sorry it's taken me so long to upload this chapter! I've been busy with school and my original stories. I also wrote a one-shot about Gray and Lyon, so if you appreciate yaoi, go check it out!
Chapter Thirteen – Rendezvous (no, this is not code for something else!) Part 1
Erza
"Jellal!" My scream echoed through the collapsing building. Tears streamed from my wild eyes, blurring my surroundings. I used all my strength to lift the blue-haired man off of me and wiggle my way out. A cry escaped my lips as I saw that the back of his coat was on fire. Immediately, I began patting it out. A large hole had been scorched in his clothes, but at least his skin was unharmed.
Crash! More of the building fell around us, and I swiftly pulled his arm over my shoulders. I hefted his unconscious weight up as I rose to my feet. It took all my strength and willpower, but I was able to regain some semblance of composure as I looked around for some way out of the burning building. Through the blaze, I was able to see a sliver of dusky light spilling in through a hole in one wall. I grit my teeth as I pushed my way through the wreckage around us, kicking over fallen beams and sidestepping raining chunks of flaming wood. Just when I was about to reach the gap in the wall that would lead us to freedom, I heard a groaning from overhead, moments before a giant chunk of the ceiling crashed down in front of me. I coughed and staggered backwards, shielding my eyes from the flying sparks and flames. Squinting through the inferno, I realized that the way was blocked. We were trapped in the burning building.
More coughing wracked my body, nearly causing me to lose my hold on Jellal. I grimaced and realized that I was still in my usual armor. I hadn't thought to don my Flame Empress armor because it couldn't manipulate flames, but now I realized my folly. It might not manipulate the flames, but at least it would help defend against them. I quickly requipped into the armor, my skin no longer quite as feverish as before.
However, the problem of finding a way out was no closer to being solved. I spun and looked around for another opening, but the smoke and flames were now too thick for me to even make anything out. Still unconscious, Jellal coughed weakly. The sound brought fear to my heart. I couldn't let Jellal suffocate in this smoke.
My vigor renewed, I spun again and drew my sword. This would be difficult with Jellal leaning the full force of his unconscious weight on me, but I had no other choices available. With speed and precision, I lashed out and cut clean through one of the supporting beams in the middle of the room. With a groan, the beam began to lean, then fall. It was headed straight towards us.
"Time to move," I muttered, leaping to the side. With a loud crash, the beam struck the wall behind me. After another moment, it pushed through the wall, tearing a path through to the evening air. I gripped Jellal tighter and leapt onto the beam, running along its length with the fire nipping at my heels. Taking a final leap off the end, we cleared the burning building and landed on the cobblestones outside. The smoke billowed out after us, obscuring the alley we found ourselves in. I hauled Jellal along with me as I fled the alley, seeking to put as much distance between us and the fire as possible. I hoped none of the civilians found themselves caught up in the inferno, though I didn't spare much thought for them as they weren't my priority.
At last, I staggered into a side street several blocks away. Gulping deep breaths of clean, fresh air into my lungs, I eased Jellal down to the ground and knelt at his side. The evening was eerily silent, with the exception of the distant roar of the flames. Even from this distance, I could see the dark clouds of smoke billowing up above the roofs. If we'd stayed in there even ten seconds longer, I had no doubt that we'd be nothing but a pile of ashes by now. Deciding that we were safe from the flames for the time being, I requipped into my normal armor. Then I turned my attention to the unconscious man lying before me.
"Jellal," I said firmly, shaking him insistently. "Jellal, you have to wake up now." I pulled his head into my lap and cradled it in my arms, bringing my ear down to his slightly parted lips. After ten seconds, I still hadn't felt a stirring of air against my skin. Growing increasingly panicked, I pressed my fingers into his neck, feeling for a pulse. It was there, but faint as a butterfly's wing. A sigh that was part relief and part fear escaped my lips. I gently laid him back down on the ground, where he continued to lay too still. Without thinking past the need to save him, I lowered my face to his, tilting his chin up. My lips closed over his, and I exhaled my air into his smoke-clogged lungs. Once, twice. Then I looked over at his chest to see if it was rising and falling yet. No movement. Tears threatening at the backs of my smoke-reddened eyes, I leaned over him, placing my overlapping palms on his chest. Then I shoved the heels of my palms deep into his chest, over and over. I brought my head down to his chest and listened for his heartbeat. It seemed stronger now, but not much. I resealed my lips over his, blowing once again into his mouth. I could taste the smoke on his lips every time I repeated the resuscitation breaths, and my fear kept escalating. At last, on the fourth pass, I saw his chest begin to rise.
I released a breath, dizzy with relief, and bowed my head as I leaned forward on my hands. Jellal's hand closest to me twitched, and a tear glided silently down my cheek. When his golden eyes flickered open, they focused immediately on mine.
"Erza," he rasped, his deep voice hoarse with smoke, "are you okay?" He made to sit up, and a harsh coughing fit overcame him.
"Jellal," I exclaimed fearfully, placing one hand on his chest to ease him back down. His resistance was frighteningly weak, and I wanted nothing more than to pull him into my arms and protect him. Once his coughing subsided, he slowly reached his hand up to feel the back of his head. When it came away sticky and red, I thought I would lose it. A sob tore from me as I threw myself at him, my arms wrapping around his neck. I buried my face in his neck, the scent of smoke clogging my nostrils. But I didn't care.
He wrapped an arm around my shoulders, hugging me to his chest. "Erza," he began again, his voice clearer. "What happened?"
"I brought you out of the building after you were knocked out," I whispered against his skin. "We should be safe here for a while."
"And you're unharmed?" he asked anxiously. A choked half-sob, half-laugh burbled up from my throat. What an incredible, loving, stupid man. He never thought of himself, and even after he was knocked out, nearly suffocated in a burning building, and possibly had a concussion, he was still worried about me.
Not caring about anything else but him at the moment, I gently cupped his face in my hands and covered his mouth with my own. I felt him tense in surprise for a second, but then he relaxed and wrapped his arms tighter around me. With an almost desperate air, I kissed him deeply, luxuriating in the feel of his smooth lips on mine. When I feared that after having so much smoke in his lungs he wouldn't be able to breathe, I trailed my lips to the hollow beneath his ear and began tracing a line down his jaw. I felt him shudder beneath me, one hand moving to cup the back of my head. His fingers threaded through my hair, and tightened when I flicked my tongue out to tickle the soft spot on his neck just below the corner of his jaw. I continued my way leisurely down the side of his neck, placing little kisses and nipping the skin gently with my teeth. A soft moan escaped him, and I pulled away just enough so I could gaze into his eyes. They were dark with desire, and I could feel my own responding. I brought my lips down to his again, placing a soft kiss at the corner of his mouth.
"Erza," he murmured against my lips. My chest was pressed against his, so I felt his words vibrating through my body as he spoke. "It's always been you, only you." His voice was raw with emotion, making something light and tingly bubble up in my chest.
My arms wound around his head, bringing his mouth more firmly against my own. "I know." No words were strong enough to express the depth of my feelings for this man, so I instead determined to show him my feelings. I tilted my head and deepened the kiss, my tongue sweeping in to twine with his. My whole body was on fire, though instead of pain, these flames brought pleasure. I knew that there were more pressing matters that we should be dealing with, but instead, all I wanted to do was stay with Jellal like this, forever lost in the taste and feel and smell of him. I knew that if I lived to be a thousand years old, I would never tire of this, of him.
"Lies," a voice whispered in my mind. "All lies. Your feelings for him, his feelings for you…all lies. There is no hope for you." I jerked up suddenly, on the alert. My heart was still pounding, though no longer from passion. Now, I was filled with tension and a flicker of fear.
"Who's there?" I demanded, looking around. All I could see was the darkening street, empty vending stalls and silent homes. No sign of life anywhere.
"You heard that too?" Jellal asked, suddenly wary. He sat up, and I stood to help him to his feet. I nodded, and together we scanned the street for any sign of a person. When, after several minutes of silence, we still didn't find any sign of another living person, I hesitantly turned back to Jellal.
"We should probably go try to find the others." Even if we had no evidence that the voice had been real, I still felt wary and creeped out.
Jellal nodded, and together we made our way in the direction we'd last seen the others.
A scream was the first thing that alerted me to the presence of other people. Immediately, I tensed and went into high alert. "Lisanna!"
We ran to the next intersection and turned the corner. I careened to a halt when I saw the sight before me. Gajeel was kneeling on the ground, Levy's unconscious form cradled gently in his muscular arms. Not far from them, Lisanna stood gazing straight up at the sky, her hands pressed to her mouth in terror. All around her, the others also stood rooted to their spots, staring up at the sky. Except for Jura and Ichiya, both of whom were kneeling next to Orga, who was covered with blood all across his abdomen.
Jellal placed his hand on my shoulder, and I turned to look at him. His mouth was pulled down in a grim line, and he nodded his head towards the sky above the group. Or rather, at something in the sky, as I saw when I followed the direction in which he was looking. There, fighting it out in the air above the others, were Mira, Fried and another man I didn't recognize. He had a long white coat and blond hair. Even from here, I could feel the malice seeping from him like a vapor of poison. Jellal and I exchanged a look, and then we took off down the street towards the others.
"Jura! What's the situation?" I cried as we approached. The wizard saint looked up at us in surprise. That he had not already heard us approaching did not bode well.
"Erza, Jellal! Are you alright? Things are not looking good here." His usually collected voice was strained.
"I have done all I can for Orga-san with my healing parfum," Ichiya contributed in an uncharacteristically grim voice. "Now all we can do is wait to see if we got to the wound in time for him to be saved."
I gazed down at the Sabertooth lying face-up on the ground. His face was pale and chalky, sweat dampening his brow. His breathing was labored, sounding wet and ragged. Even as I watched, blood bubbled up from his gaping mouth and spilled down the side of his face. It sizzled and burned across his skin as it traveled. And then, with a final rasping breath, Orga was still. Forever.
"What did this?" I whispered hoarsely, staring down at the carnage in horror. The hole in his stomach was neat and clean, but all around it, the flesh had bubbled and blackened, as if it had been burned. Or poisoned.
"The sword that man wields is demonic," Jura said somberly, bowing his head and crossing himself before turning away from the dead man. "Our powers can do nothing for its effects."
I nodded grimly and looked up at the aerial battle. I didn't see any cuts on Mira or Fried, but if they did get cut with that demonic blade….
"What's wrong with Levy?" Jellal asked worriedly. I followed his gaze over to where Gajeel was still cradling her, his eyes blazing with fury and pain as he looked up at the blond man in the sky.
"Her magic has been stolen," Jura declared flatly. A grief settled over him, so heavy it was as though he had the weight of the world on his shoulders. As if he had just lost a child.
"What?!" I exclaimed, whirling to look over at Levy again. She looked as though she could be sleeping. Before Jura had a chance to respond, I dashed over to Levy, crashing to the ground at her side. "Levy, can you hear me? Wake up!" Her brow was feverish, rivulets of sweat trekking down her pale face. Her usually peppy blue hair was dull and limp, a grayish pallor over her whole body. She looked like all the life had been leeched from her.
"Leave her alone," Gajeel growled, his voice raw with pain. I glanced up at him in surprise. Were those…tears in his eyelashes? Ah. That's right, they're sweet on each other. All of a sudden, my heart began to ache for the two of them. I tried to imagine what I would do if Jellal was in Levy's position, but failed. It was just too traumatic for me to even think about.
I nodded my understanding and backed away from the pair, leaving Levy in Gajeel's hands. Now I understood why no one else was attending to the girl. I watched along with the rest of them as the battle unfolded in the air. Every instinct in my body demanded that I join in the fight, but I knew that any attempt I made might either end up distracting my guildmates or hurting them. It was maddening, being this helpless. Judging from Jellal's scowl at my side, he felt the same way.
My head snapped to the street to my left. I thought I had heard a noise. I narrowed my eyes as I saw movement in the shadows. Changing into my Heaven's Wheel Armor, I prepared to launch an attack on whoever appeared. My thoughts immediately went to the sinister voice I had heard in my head earlier.
I was just about to unleash a volley of swords into the shadows when two figures leapt from them, battle-ready. My jaw dropped when I recognized Cana, closely followed by Gildarts. "You guys, what are you doing here?" I asked, before I could think of a more eloquent question.
Cana came to a halt before me, her face grim as she took in the scene around us. "We were all knocked out from a giant explosion, but Wendy healed us and then Natsu came. Gildarts and I left to find the other groups, leaving them to handle things back there. By the looks of things, it isn't going much better here."
I shook my head sadly. "Orga's been killed, and Levy…her magic has been drained. Completely."
Cana gasped. "How is that possible? What happened?"
"I'm not sure, but I have a good idea. Jellal and I were a few blocks away, speaking with an old woman. The building exploded and caught fire, and as soon as we were out we came back here. We actually just arrived. But the woman told us that many of the people in this city have been drained of magic, permanently. They started disappearing when this dark guild showed up, demanding sacrifices for some type of ritual. I think that might be why they were draining their magic."
"So Levy's been used in some type of ritual?" Cana's eyes widened with shock and horror as she turned to look at Levy. Gajeel glared at her accusingly, hugging Levy closer to him.
"I don't think so," Jellal said, coming to stand at my side. "From the looks of it, Levy was just a victim of circumstance, whereas the others were lured in for this ritual."
Gildarts nodded his head darkly, rubbing his hand along his stubbly jaw. "Is there no way for her to regain her powers?"
I exchanged glances with Jellal. "Truthfully, I'm not sure," I said slowly. "There might be. There might not. We'll have to ask Master."
We all returned our attention to the battle unfolding above our heads, our minds full of the grave news. I determined that we would definitely defeat these bastards, and then I would find whoever was in charge of them and make them restore Levy's magic. And then I would make them pay for everything they'd done to my friends.
Juvia
Pouring all my fury into my attack, I created a vortex of water that hurtled toward Aprindere. All his focus was directed towards Lyon, so he didn't see the vortex until too late. To prevent him from reacting in time, Lyon grabbed him and froze himself to the mage, so that he couldn't move his arms or head. But neither could Lyon.
I cried out as the vortex slammed into them. Immediately, the crushing weight of the water slammed into them with enough force to rip them apart. I could do nothing but watch in horror as the giant funnel of water rose into the sky, carrying the two mages with it. I was torn between stopping it so that Lyon would be safe, and continuing through with it to end Aprindere. But in the end, I realized what I had to do. Lyon had known what he was doing when he froze them together. He would want me to go through with it. I just had to finish the move, so that his sacrifice would be for nothing. A tear slipped down my cheek. Lyon, please be alright. And then I whipped the cyclone around and slammed it down with as much strength as I could muster. The funnel of water struck the earth with enough force to shake the ground. Several nearby buildings collapsed, already weakened from the flames licking at them.
We all stood in stunned silence for a few moments as the water flooded across the street, spilling its load onto the cobblestones. The others in our group looked on cautiously, afraid of what they might see. I could do nothing but stare at the two figures for a minute, lying several meters apart. But then I flew across the small river winding through the street to collapse on my knees beside Lyon. He was laying face-up, his eyes closed. Several bloody gashes peppered his face and body, and suddenly his image blurred as more tears filled my eyes.
"Lyon!" I cried, pressing my hand to a wound on his forehead to staunch the flow of blood.
He twitched, his eyebrows drawing together in pain. I anxiously leaned closer, wanting to see the second he opened his eyes. When he did, they were filled with pride. "Juvia. I always knew you had it in you." His voice was frighteningly weak. I had to bring my ear practically to his mouth to catch his words. "I'm so…proud of…you."
"No, Lyon! You have to stay with me!" I shook him, trying to force him to stay awake. It was useless, though. His eyes drifted shut again, and I frantically looked around for the Sky Dragonslayer. "Wendy! You have to come heal Lyon!"
The blue-haired little girl came running through the water, a frightened look on her face. "Juvia-san, is he okay? That was a very powerful attack…."
"I know!" I moaned. "Please, heal him!"
As Wendy placed her hands over him and set to work, I turned my attention to the other mage, lying face-down in the water a short ways away. I warily approached him, and when he still didn't move, I gingerly poked him in the shoulder. Still no response. So I flipped him onto his back. And felt like puking. His entire body looked like it had been through a meat grinder. His clothes and skin were torn and bloody, slashed repeatedly by the razor water blades in the vortex.
"Well, he looks like he's down." Laxus's voice was dark as he sloshed through the water towards me. "That bastard got what he deserved."
I looked away from Aprindere, not wanting to look at him for long. I couldn't bring myself to touch him to feel for a pulse, but I figured that there was no need. Not with the condition he was in. I accepted Laxus's offered hand and got to my feet. The others gathered around us, looking down on the two bodies lying in the water. I watched Wendy tensely, each second seeming to last an eternity. When she finally took her hands away from Lyon, I practically strangled her in my desperation to know what the scoop was.
"Is he okay? Will he make it?"
Wendy looked up at me with tired eyes. She nodded slowly. "He should be alright now. Just a little tired when he wakes up." I heaved a sigh of relief. The relief made way for a little flicker of guilt, for being the one to cause his state. However, I couldn't help but be proud for having single-handedly defeated Aprindere.
"What now?" Chelia asked.
"We go find the others," Laxus declared in his deep voice. We all nodded our agreement, and Laxus stooped to sling Lyon over his shoulder. I winced at the unceremonious position, but knew I could do nothing about it. Elfman grabbed Hibiki, who was still lying unconscious on the ground where Natsu had left him. Before he…. I couldn't finish the thought.
And so we all set off through the town, leaving the burning buildings behind to draw closer to the group the two members of our group who had gone on before us had stumbled across.
Hey guys! Hope you all enjoyed the return of Jerza! :D From here on out, they'll be around for the rest of the story! Since, you know, they've all rendezvoused. ;) But about that... I actually started to write this chapter, and then when I got to like 8,000 words, I decided to break it up into two chapters! :D You're welcome. So now, you lucky ducks get a double update! :D Woot woot! So the rest of the groups coming together will happen in part 2. Hope you all enjoyed this part!
Don't forget to leave a review, favorite, and follow! :D
