I decided to update before my exams come around and I won't be able to write at all. So enjoy.
Disclaimer; I do not own Fairy Tail. It belongs to Hiro Mashima.
I Love You
x.x.x
It was nearly seconds before Etherion would be fired down up the tower. Erza stood on the roof, her hand bound behind her back and a hand placed on her shoulder guided her towards the center. Jellal had already explained Etherion true purpose, it was to destroy the tower but to charge up enough magical energy to activate the R-system. He allowed her to requip from her tattered black dress, to her normal armor since she was willing to become a sarcifice. The dark, hateful look in Jellal's eyes had told her Zeref was in complete control and that her Jellal wasn't coming back anytime soon. She would be dead before he would be released from Zeref's grip.
Above in the darkening sky, a large amount of magic gathered towards the canon that was around their heads. Erza's face shown no emotion, her dark brown eyes gazing blankly ahead as she awaited her destiny. The light grew more intense and illuminated the darkness. Five seconds remained. Even though Erza's face was unreadable, her mind was flashing back to her memories. From time in the tower during her childhood to when she was reunited with Jellal and went to Akane Resort with her guildmates. She felt a sense of guilt, her nakama knew nothing of her troubles except Gray. She didn't want to burden Natsu and Lucy but she should have known the truth would have revealed itself sometime or another.
"It is time." Zeref spoke nonchalantly, taking his guiding hand off her shoulder.
Erza glanced up at the sky, Etherion's swelling magical power suddenly released and forced it's way down towards the tower. She felt her heart skip a beat, even though she knew the blast wouldn't kill her but the sight of all that magic awake fear in her body. The intense beam crashed down creating a cloud of thick dust everywhere. Blinded and scared, Erza resisted the urge to stand closer to Jellal for comfort. It's was Zeref now, not Jellal.
Just as the clouds of dust appeared, it soon dissipated and revealed the Tower of Heaven's true form. All the stone pillars were turned into a hard, solid crystal. It was pure lacrima, crystalline magic. The powerful feeling was almost overwhelming and Erza almost had to struggle to breath, she looked over towards Jellal. Zeref's signature twist grin was plastered on his face with his blue hair covering his eyes.
"Finally! The time has come!" He cackled, reaching his arms up towards the sky. His darkened gaze was directed towards Erza, "Now it's time for your sacrifice."
Erza only nodded, her face never betraying the sudden regret of agreeing to end her life. She was doing this for Jellal, the real Jellal, that was all the justification she needed to go through with this.
"Your body will be fused with the lacrima. It will be broken down and reconstructed as my new body ... and then Jellal will be free." Zeref explained, his normal creepy, evil gaze was serious and urgent.
Lifting one hand, a thrust of magical energy forced Erza's body to the lacrima. Her facial expression didn't change but salty tears ran furiously down her cheeks. Squeezing her eyes shut, she silently sobbed as her body was being dragged inside the lacrima crystal. I hope we get to see each other again, Jellal.
"Erza!" She heard her name being shouted across the clearing but she still kept her eyes screwed shut, not wanting any false hope. But she felt herself being tugged away from the crystal that was absorbing her body. Blinking slightly, Erza could see a blurry figure looming around her. A mass of messy black hair and flesh. ...Gray?
"It's going to be okay, Erza." The dark-haired, shirtless ice mage whispered words of comfort but from the glassy and dazed look in her eyes, he could tell the lacrima had token a large amount of her magic. If he had only been a few seconds later, it would have been too late. His black eyes glared hatefully at the man before him. His expression uninterested and frowning.
Just before Gray had reached the top of the tower, there was seconds to spare until Etherion was fired. While running into the fire dragon, Gray told Natsu to take Lucy and the others to safety. Being Natsu, the fire mage refused and hatred displayed on his eyes as he wanted revenge for Erza. "I love Erza. I should be the one to save her." Gray had said. Natsu was about to open his mouth to spit out something insulting but the determination displayed in Gray's eyes changed Natsu's mind. The fire dragon had warned that if Gray didn't save Erza, he'll kill Gray. The ice-creation wizard wasn't afraid of Natsu's threat (only slightly), he refused to lose against Jellal.
"How dare you do this to her!" Gray growled after he set Erza softly down on the ground, his attention turned towards Jellal.
"You know, she had made a deal with me." Jellal's voice seemed different but Gray didn't understand why, "She told me she would fully accept being a scarifice just to save her friends and Jellal. But ... I didn't really plan on keeping that promise anyway."
In a blink of an eye, Jellal's body lunged forth to attack Gray. Gray quickly moved his arms to protect his face but a sharp, powerful blow hit his stomach and sent him flying backwards. Skidding across the crystal floor, Gray slammed his hands together, "Ice-Make: Lance!"
Ice formed into the shape of lances, extended forward in an attempt to impale Jellal. The pillars of ice came crashing down upon the man's body but as the dust cleared, he was gone except for his trenchcoat. Dammit. Gray mentally cursed himself but as soon as he twisted his head to look around, an fist collided into his back and sent him flying across the top floor once more. Gray coughed up some blood as he tried to bring himself up from the ground. Golden light danced around him, he assumed that was apart of Jellal's abilities. Heavenly magic. His body was covered in the golden light that which made him extremely fast.
"Die!" Jellal yelled as he came crashing down upon Gray from the sky. His fist creating a crater in the lacrima. The smoke from the impact vanished almost instantly, revealing a tattered body, "It's a shame. I would have rather killed the dragon slayer. He would have been a better match than some creation mage."
"I thought you loved her!" Gray managed to yell, his voice cracking slightly, "If you love her, why are you going to kill her! I don't know what's going on, but I know real Jellal that Erza loves wouldn't do this to her."
"Quit your useless babbling." Jellal snapped, raising a hand. Magic charging in his palm for what looked like was going to be a final blow, "The real Jellal is dead. I, Zeref, is now in full control and whenever I get my new body, this one will break down into nothingness. Now die."
"S-Stop!" Standing over Gray's limp body, Erza protectively stood in front of him. She was clearly weak from the loss in magic, her limbs shaking uncontrollably but her brown, fierce eyes shown strength, "I can't let you do this. Jellal I know you can hear me!"
"It's useless." As he hand grew brighter, Jellal aimed it towards Erza, "I'll kill you too, you're too much of a distraction."
The light exploded from Jellal's hand and Erza braced herself for impact, hoping her body would stop Gray from being killed but this kind of blast seemed too powerful. I'm sorry. Just as the magic begin closing in on Erza, it stopp abrutly. She looked back to Jellal, his other hand clasping roughly on his other to cease the attack. The magic died down and Jellal hands gripped his head tightly, "I won't let you kill her!"
"J-Jellal?" Erza muttered, worry creasing over her face. Stepping forward with caution, Erza stretched out her hand and lightly grasped one of his gloved hands clenching his head. The ice-creation mage behind the two watched them with ragged breaths of exhaustion. A tinge of jealous stabbed his heart but he knew Erza loved Jellal, even if there was a monster inside of him. The only one would could defeat Zeref now was Erza. The scarlet-haired warrior gently moved his hands and cupped his cheeks, "Jellal, I love you. I'll do whatever I can to rid you of that ghost."
"Erza." She brought his face closer to hers, placing her lips gently on his. Jellal returned the gesture, applying more pressure on her beautiful, red lips.
"Tsk." Gray sharply turned his head away from the scene but couldn't help give a small smile, he was glad Erza was finally happy.
Boom! A loud, booming sound echoed throughout the sky and light began bursting out from the lacrima. Large amount of crystal began cracking from the light penetrating the surface and started falling apart. The Tower of Heaven was self-destructing. Heavy, thick clouds of smoke began to crowd the air and cover the glowing moon.
"W-What's going on!" Gray called out, trying to steady his weakening body on the crumbling surface.
"The Tower of Heaven is very unstable due to all the magic in one concentrated area, it's going to explode and destroy everything in it's path." Jellal explained, his arms wrapped around Erza.
"Wait! I have an idea." Erza said, pushing away from Jellal's embrace, her chocolate, brown eyes red from tears and a fragile smile on her bruised face, "If I fuse my body with the lacrima, it shoulder stable it, right?"
Before Jellal or Gray could say anything, the Titania raced off through the cracking crystal floor. Jumping from platform to platform, Erza disappeared through the falling tower, "No, Erza! You can't do this!"
I have to do this for my friends. For Jellal. If she didn't sacrifice herself, the tower would explode and destroy everything she loved. Losing her body for the sake of her loved ones was a small price to pay. Her feet rest on a platform that was created from the floors falling apart, it stood only from the support of at least three pillars. There was a large chunk of lacrima before her. The crystal reflected her image. Her beloved armor was dented and the cloth was completely ripped, her scarlet hair was a mess and eyes red and swollen from the constant tears. This is it. Her small, slender, hand was placed on the shell of crystal lacrima. It had began to liquify to her touch. Ripples spread throughout the surface and her pressed her hand further inside. Thankfully the lacrima was still accepting her. Pain began to shoot up arm and through her chest but she ignored it and pushed her body more inside of the crystal.
"Erza!" It was Gray. He was pushing his body to the limit but he continue to jump from the rumble and land to Erza's side, "I can't let you do this!" He yelled, grabbing her free arm.
"No! Everyone will die if I don't!" Erza snapped, trying to yank her arm away but Gray used the rest of his strength to force Erza away from the lacrima. They both fell onto the ground, Gray's body was unable to move due to his weakened state. The Titania glared at him for trying to stop her, but the soften look on his face changed her expression to concern.
"A world without Erza isn't a world I want to live in." Gray muttered, his usual grin appearing on his face, "I think everyone thinks the same."
"Gray." Those damn tears started again, pouring down from only one eye, "It shouldn't end like this!"
"I know, Erza." He muttered, "I know."
"Erza." Jellal? The Titania turned her head, he was standing behind her. Erza sat up as much as she could but her legs felt too weak to stand, she wanted so badly to embrace him before they all died, "It doesn't have to end like this."
"W-What do you mean?" Jellal took a few steps backwards, towards the crystal. The same liquifying effect occur as his body touch the lacrima, "No! You can't die!" With all her might Erza tried to stand, tried to run to Jellal, tried to stop but her legs refused to move.
"It's alright, Erza. If I sacrifice myself, Zeref won't be reborn, his mind will just be absorbed inside the lacrima." Jellal explained, a sincere smile on his face.
"No! Jellal, I love you. I don't want you to leave me!" Erza cried out, agony tearing at her heart. She reached out her arms, her hand trying to stretch towards Jellal. He lightly touched the tip of index finger but pulled his hand away, turning his head away. His body was trembling now, she couldn't see his eyes but a gleam of light signified that tears were falling from his eyes.
"I'm sorry, Erza. I love you, too. But what the ice mage said was right. A world without Erza isn't a world I want to live in." Looking back at the woman his loved, tears running freely down from his face, "I'm sorry for the pain I put you through, you deserved so much better."
"Don't leave me." She continued to cry, she was growing more and more weak. Exhaustion was hitting her body hard, her arms felt weak and had dropped to her sides, Erza had to force herself from collapsing as Jellal spoke with her. The smaller explosion from the tower keep going off in the background, it was long until the whole thing blew up.
"I promise, Erza, one day I will see again." Jellal said, all but his face was now engulfed inside the lacrima, "One day, I'll see you again. I promise."
"Jellal!" With the rest of strength, Erza shouted his name as Jellal fully disappeared inside the crystal, his body gone. An intense, bright light blinded her and an insanely strong gush of wind swopped her body away. She didn't fight it and let the current carry her body. She didn't know where Gray had gone but nothing mattered at the moment, all she wanted to do was sleep.
Waking up to nothing but darkness, Erza had to strain to open her eyelids. Above her was a dark sky and a bright, illuminating moon. Only able to move her head, Erza turned to see her friends. There were on a shore, small waves were touching her feet. The fire dragon was the first to see that Erza had finally awoken, he called out her name and the rest of her nakama looked back at her, joy spread across all their faces. Even the rain woman she barely knew seemed excited that she was alright.
"Erza! I'm so glad you're alive!" Lucy cried, lifting Erza body up so she could hug her. It felt painful, yet soothing as Lucy's grip tighten.
"Of course, she's still alive." Natsu said, crossing his arms.
Erza's eyes scanned the clearing in search for Gray. His was also near the water of the shore, Juvia stayed by his side instead of greeting Erza. His eyes were still closed but there was a slight rise and fall off his chest. Looking up, she noticed the tower was no more and the power from Etherion was sucked back up into the air.
"Natsu and I were so worried about you." The blue cat, Happy, muttered as he joined to hug Erza with Lucy. Natsu didn't say anything, but turned his head abruptly as Erza's gaze rested on him. She gave a weak smile, trying to hold back her tears. Everyone was alright ... except for Jellal.
He sacrifice himself just for me. He saved everyone.
"Thank you." Erza muttered inaudibly as Lucy and Happy continued to cry loudly as the hugged her even tighter.
.
.
.
"One day, I'll see you again. I promise."
A/N ;; After watching some more of the anime (S-Class Mage Trials), I've realized Zeref isn't as sadistic as I portrayed him in this story. I started writing before the anime was that far D :
Anyway, the end. I hope you all enjoyed it as much as I enjoyed writing it. I thank everyone for their support and reviews!~ I love reading every single review, it makes me so happy! I might after my exams write a little epilogue or a oneshot after this chapter. And maybe, one day, I might make a sequel, it depends.
Thank you for reading!