Chapter 5: From Worse to Grim

Natsu, Happy, Grey and Lucy ran to the main hall where everyone was gathered around something. The sight confused the group.

"What's going on?" Lucy asked. Her question was answered by a loud shout.

"Requip!"

"Oh no!" Lucy and the group rushed into the crowd and sure enough, Erza was the center of attention, her Adamantine armor flaking off her body in pieces.

"Erza! What are you doing!?" Lucy cried out.

"I'm sorry Lucy!" Mirajane cried. "I tried to stop her but she wouldn't listen!"

"Requip!" Erza's Purgatory armor appeared on her body, only to began cracking as well. She cried out in pain.

"Someone stop her!"

"She's gonna get herself killed!"

Please stop!"

The guild members cried out in fear and panic for their friend but, as if caught in a trance, she simply ignored them.

Requip!"

Her Japanese Cloth appeared on her body. The commotion died down, everyone somewhat hopeful the this requip wouldn't be affected by the Armor Rot since it wasn't really armor. That hope was shattered when the cloth began to disintegrate and Erza's vein's lit up once more.

Lucy ran toward Erza and held her close.

"Erza please stop. You promised!" But Erza didn't hear her.

"Re-

Erza was knocked toward the wall by the giant fist of Master Makarov. "Snap out of it Erza! Snap out of it!" Lucy landed with a thud onto the guild floor. "You've could've warned me you were gonna do that."

Erza slowly rose up while rubbing her head. Natsu quickly rushed over and covered her with his vest.

"Natsu I" Erza tried to speak but erupted into a coughing fit.

"Don't try to talk Erza." Natsu said. "Let's just get back to your room."

"I..I don't know what came over me. I lost control"

"The curse is obscuring your judgement. You need to rest" Makarov said. Natsu and Erza nodded and the fire dragonslayer walked the fairy queen to her room as Lucy approached Makarov.

"It's getting worse." He said.

"We found a cure but it's not gonna be easy to get." Lucy stated.

"Why is that?"

Lucy explained to everyone what Erza had been afflicted with and what to do about it."

"Armor Rot?" Levy said worriedly.

"And the only way to cure it is for Mist to make Erza laugh?" Wendy asked.

"I'm afraid it's our only choice. Otherwise Erza will..." Lucy began to tear up.

"Seems simple enough." All eyes were on Laxus and his Thunder Legion who had smiles of determination on their faces. "We just catch this girl and have her make Erza laugh right? Then let's do it."

"The Thunder Legion is at your service." Freed bowed.

"Me and my babies will do anything to save our friend!" Bickslow shouted.

(save our friend save our friend)

"Erza would the the same for us." Evergreen said.

Lucy smiled. "Thank you so much!"

Grey also smiled as he looked up. "Don't worry Erza. We're going to save you!"