Chapter 8: Comfort
Mirajane was cleaning the bar as everyone began to leave the guild for the night.
"Are you sure Erza will be okay?" Levy asked with concern in her voice.
"She'll be fine. This is Erza we're talking about." Mirajane assured her. As soon as Levy left however, Mira's smile faded.
"At least I hope so." She said to herself.
After she was done cleaning, Mirajane prepared some food for Erza and went to give it to her. As she approached the room however, she could here grunting and cracking.
"Oh no."
Mirajane wasted no time opening the door and sure enough, there was Erza, her Farewell Armor crumbling away.
"Requip!"
"Erza stop!" Mirajane wrapped her arms around Erza as her Lighting Empress Armor began cracking. The purple marking glowed brighter than ever and Erza winced in pain. Mirajane carried Erza back to her bed and threw a blanket over her. She was shivering.
"Why did you do that?" Mirajane shouted. "Do you have any idea what will happen if you keep this up!?"
Erza said nothing. She only looked up at Mirajane with tears in her eyes.
"Th-The T-Tower of H-H-Heaven." She whispered.
"What?"
"Ever since the Tower of Heaven, I've needed armor like a security blanket. That's why I wear it all the time. I guess what I'm trying to say is that I can't accept this curse because I can't accept not having my armor." Erza lowered her head in shame after admitting this. Mirajane stood still then she nodded.
"I understand. But you can't forget you have friends who'd do anything for you. As we speak, Natsu and the others are finding the person who put this curse on you so you can be cured."
"Really?" Erza weakly smiled.
"Yes. But in the meantime, just stay in bed and rest." Mirajane tucked Erza in and left. As she was returning to the main hall the front doors burst opened and a band of thugs ran in.
"Come on guys!" The ringleader shouted. "With Titania incapacitated and everyone else gone, This guild's treasure is out for the taking!"
"Not so fast!" Mirajane transformed and sent five of the thugs flying with one swing of her arms. She rushed towards the gang leader who just smiled.
"I figured there'd be at least one wizard left so I came prepared."
He was holding a staff with a strange red jewel at the top. The man slammed the staff down as he shouted "Magic Lockdown!"
Mirajane involuntarily change back before being punched in the stomach by the man.
"Too bad this spell only works every 24 hours." The man said. "But all the other wizards gone nothing will stop us from taking what we want!
From the bedroom, Erza could hear strange men laughing and knew something was wrong. It hurt just to get out of bed but she had to defend the guild, even if it cost her her life.
"Requip!"