AN: Hey all, thanks for waiting. Sorry that this chapter won't be as long as the last few, it has been tough to find the time to rewatch the ToH arc to get the dialogue right etc...Anyway, hope you enjoy :)
The guards backed them against the wall, as more and more joined. The children all began to cower, and Jellal could sense their fear growing. He placed himself in front of everyone. I have to do whatever it takes to keep us safe. Though he had no idea how he could accomplish that.
The super fat guard spoke first "Did you brats really think that you could get away that easily? Ah, you're all gonna be punished big time for trying to pull one over on us." The bucktoothed guard interceded him "Now now, normally I'd agree with you but we cannot afford any more construction delays on the R-System. If you tell us who came up with your escape plan then we'll just take them and leave the rest of you alone. That's pretty nice of us don't you think?" Jellal hated them all. We were so close! Why did it all have to go wrong like this?
"Speak up! Which one of you was it?" The obese man demanded. Jellal heard shuffling behind him. None of us will rat out Sho - I know it! Just then, Jellal heard a voice behind him, to the left. It's Erza "I was-" She's going to try to take Sho's place! I CAN'T allow that!
"It was me! I came up with our escape plan. It was all me." He exclaimed, hoping beyond hope that they would believe him.
The fat guard smiled "Oohh?" but his bucktoothed companion once again interrupted him. "Hmmm, well aren't you brave? But I know it wasn't you. It was the redhead!" Jellal felt his stomach drop. No! I can't let this happen! I'll do anything! Anything but this!
"Take her away!" The human blob of lard ordered. Jellal tried to cry out "NO! It wasn't her I swear it was my idea! She didn't do anything!" as a guard picked Erza up and began carrying her away. He knew it was fruitless, yet he couldn't just let them take her. She means so much to me...I can't let this happen. But it was happening, and Jellal was completely powerless.
"Yeah! Let her go"' Simon joined in with his pleas. He was having a panic attack. Anything would be better than this. She...I can't let them take her. She's everything to me. The guards turned. "That's enough!" The fat guard yelled, lifting his magic staff and shooting a bolt of electrocution at the two of them. Simon staggered from the hit and nearly fell, but Jellal caught him. He looked up to see Erza being hauled off by the guards. "Please, don't worry about me. Cuz I'll be okay." Once again, she was smiling through her tears. The sight of her being taken away like that broke Jellal inside. I'll do anything...anything to stop this. "ERZA!" Jellal screamed in torment. He wasn't even aware of how much he was shaking.
Erza tilted her head to the side, trying to console her comrades. "It's just like you said Jellal. There's nothing to be afraid of." Jellal was shaking. Of course she's trying to put on a brave face for us - to stop us from worrying. Can't she see how futile that is? I know she's afraid. I NEED to stop this! "Erza…THEY WON'T GET AWAY WITH THIS!" He howled, though it seemed his threat landed on deaf ears, as when the fat guard heard his plight, he merely giggled and smirked. There they go again; laughing at our distress. Jellal was in a fit of rage; he was going to break down any second, he needed to run; to do something that could help Erza. He couldn't just sit here in their cell.
It took quite some time after the guards had carried Erza away for Jellal to stop shaking. He wasn't sure what to do, and hated himself for not being able to come up with a plan to get Erza back as soon as possible. Every second I waste here trying to think about it is another moment she has to suffer at the hands of those sadistic creeps. But...if I keep thinking like this, being distracted by my emotions, it's going to take even longer for me to get her back. So he stilled himself from his pacing that he hadn't realized he was doing, sat down, took a few deep breaths and tried to clear his head. He mulled over any and every possible way of saving Erza, but each seemed more dangerous than the last for both her and him. He soon realized there was really only one course of action to take. But...I can't let the others get involved, it's too risky.
He turned to his friends, who he hadn't noticed were staring at him with worried looks. Sho and Millianna were crying, and Simon looked like he was trying his best to hold back tears, still wincing from his injuries. Before any of them could say anything, he spoke up. "I need for you guys to all do me a big favour. When the mealtime guard comes in here with the food, I'm going to attack him" His friends all gasped. "I need for all of you to promise me that you won't help out. This is something I have to do on my own." Instantly his friends began to argue against his decision. "That's no fair!" Yelled Wally. "We all want to save Erza just as much as you do - don't take this all on yourself - that's suicide!" "I have to!" Jellal cut him off. "C'mon, Erza would never forgive any of us if we all got in trouble. Don't worry, I have a plan, and I really need for you all to have faith in me. I promise that no matter what it takes, I will bring Erza back" He stated with determination. "This way, I can be more stealthy, and if I am caught, it's not all our necks on the line. Please guys, I really need for you to do this. I can't do it any other way!" He finished with tears in his eyes. His friends all looked at him, shocked. Jellal's rationale in actuality was a bit more convoluted; every other person here had someone to go back to, while no one outside the tower would be left behind to miss them if he or Erza died. That's why I have to save her, so that we can be there for each other.
"I… I don't like it, but I understand" Said Sho, quivering through his tears. "I'm not strong enough to be of any real use to you, I would only get in the way of saving sister…" Jellal looked away, trying not to flinch. He hated making the others think that he was doing this alone because they weren't good enough, but if this would save them, he figured hurting their feelings a little would be worth it in the long run.
"Thank you for understanding. When I take down the guard, I need you all to guarantee that you won't help me take him down, and that you won't leave this cell. If one of the guards comes back and sees you acting up, they'll be sure to punish you." He avoided eye contact with them throughout the course of his speech. He didn't know how to look them in the eyes when it might be his last time doing so. When he looked up at them he realized they were all looking away and crying.
"This is stupid!" Cried out Simon angrily. "Why are you taking this all on yourself? At least let me help you Jellal! I know I can be of use!" "Please don't" He replied, trying to avoid meeting his eyes. "You're being irrational!" Simon yelled. "You know that we'd have a better chance of saving her together! Don't tell me that you're going to risk both your lives just so you can play the hero!" Jellal frowned. "That's got nothing to do with it" "Oh? It doesn't?" Simon scoffed "Y'know I think you don't want me there so that when you get to Erza, you can keep her gratitude and attention all to yourself!" At that Jellal looked up, glaring Simon in the eye."Just because you're my love rival Simon, doesn't mean I would ever act so selfishly. There are better reasons behind what I'm doing!" Simon looked like he was having trouble not rolling his eyes "Yeah right-" He started, but Jellal interrupted him. "You have a sister" He said. Simon looked at him inquisitively. "Yeah...so?" He replied. "So...so you need to live for her, no matter what. She's waiting for you back home Simon. Do you really want to let her down by dying in this place?"
Simon let his eyes fall, looking ashamed. "No…" He remarked, trailing off with his answer. "Then please, work with me here, and trust in my plan. You all have people waiting for you back home; people to live for...I...I don't have that. Therefore this risk is one that I have to take alone. I don't have anyone to miss me if it all goes wrong." Jellal implored them to agree with him.
"That's not true! We all care that you make it out of this safely!" Cried Sho. "Yeah! What about us Jellal? Don't we count as the people who would miss you and be left with regret if stuff goes not-dandy?" Asked Wally. "C'mon Jellal, we all really care about each other here!" Millianna wailed, tears streaming down either side of her face.
Jellal smiled softly. "I know. But...since we're all here together, I know that you guys will understand. I know...I know that you get that I could never live with myself if I don't do everything in my power to save her and bring her back. I...she means...she means so much to me…" He trailed off, crying. The others' tears seemed to multiply as well. "Okay" They all agreed.
So when the guard came in to serve the prisoners their daily morsels of stale bread, Jellal gave a nod to his comrades, snuck up behind the guard, grabbed ahold of his large, thick blade, and whacked him over the head before he'd had the chance to respond. Falling to the floor, Jellal said "Wish me luck" to his friends, and dashed out the cell, trying as hard as he could to make no noise.
Time to save Erza. He thought to himself, focusing on his resolve to do whatever he could to make sure that both of them made it back alright.