Chapter 13

First steps to destiny.

I followed the path that would guide me to the cave. I walked, but not too fast. I knew I had time. I knew she wasn't arrived there yet because the event that would mark the beginning of the end had not happened yet, but I knew it only was a matter of time. Ultear had told me that, when the sky had darkened for few seconds, she had known that something wrong was happening. It had not happened, yet.

I walked constantly, but slowly. However, I knew that she was probably walking very fast or running. I suspected that she wanted to get rid of me because she necessarily knew that I was following her. I had promised that I would save her. Knowing I was her daughter, made of the same steal; she knew I wouldn't go back on it. And, I knew where she was heading; straight in a trap. I had warned her before, but I was sure that all she was thinking about at this very instant was to save my father or maybe she thought she was strong enough to save him and herself. Unfortunately, I knew otherwise. My father had finally told me what had really happened after I had asked him repeatedly; I knew what to do to prevent it from happening. I had fairly thought it through!

I had been walking for hours when the sky had darkened promptly and changed back into a pure blue in an instant. Time was come...

Without thinking, I immediately started to run. I ran as fast as I could. I stopped when I saw the entry of the cave. I witnessed as my mother entered it, a sword in hand; clearly ready to fight.

I let her get inside. I didn't immediately go after her. I had to wait. Even if my feet were itching, I had to let her met Zeref. They would fight. She would lose and he would tie her up as a trap set for my father. My dad had told me that the vision of his dear Erza defeated and unconscious had brought him to his knees; exactly what Zeref wanted to...

I had been waiting for about an hour, when I heard a deafening sound that forced me to close my eyes and to put my hands on my ears. Even then, I clearly heard the message.

''Hear me, Jellal Fernandez! I've got what you cherished the most in this world! Come to me or I will crush your Scarlet heart.

When Zeref voice stopped, my head stopped spinning, but I felt dizzy.

My father had told me about that ''call'' but Zeref voice had left me shook up. There he was, the man who had killed my mother, the man who had deprived me of her love and care. Soon, I will face him and I would die at his hand, but not without trying to bring him with me...

Few minutes after, I succeeded to regain my composure and, quickly, I started to walk toward the entry of the cave.

Inside the darkness, the air surrounding me was disgusting. The more I walked, the more it got worse. I walked in the dark tunnel for few minutes, as quietly as I could; the dark magus should not perceive that I was there. I had to surprised him to succeed my mission. I had to be extremely cautious. But, I had a big asset; according to Ultear, the fact that I came from the future and that my alter ego was born in the space time conferred me an advantage, I had lost my own scent, so his senses would be mixed up. I hoped she was right!

I walked along the rocky walls on many meters. Then, at the far end of the tunnel I saw lights. Slowly, I walked toward them, on my tiptoe. There, the tunnel was opening on a larger room; a catacomb. Still sticking myself to the rocky walls, I briefly glanced inside the room. The lights were bright enough for me to see the room clearly. The vision I saw nearly brought me to my knees. There she was, lying on the floor, in front of two big rocks that were separated by a thin crack. Her hands and feet were tied up. She laid there, unconscious. Before taking a step further, I looked around; no sign of Zeref. So, I went to take place behind the rocks, near the crack. That way, I could be able to watch everything that would happen and, most importantly, I would be able to act.

Few minutes passed by before I heard someone approaching my mother. At first, I thought it was Zeref, but the face I saw through crack and the voice I heard proved me that I had guessed wrong

''Erza! Erza! Speak to me! Please, answer me!'' said my father, deeply worried.

He grabbed her by her shoulder and he shook her; I heard her armor rattling. Then, I heard a loud sigh. She was obviously awake.

''I thought I had lost you!'' he said, clearly on the verge of tears.

Their reunion didn't last long. Soon, I saw a shadow, I heard a big thud and a woman scream. Then, I heard a deep voice who made me dizzy.

''Now, let's finish it.'' said Zeref, almost laughing.