A/N: Wow, it's been a really long time since I've last updated. I'm really sorry about that.

So, how are you guys enjoying school? What classes are you taking? (French FTW)

This is the last chapter of Erza's Promise, but I'm definitely going to write a sequel.

Now, on with the story! (Note that this mentions the Daphne arc, which is an anime exclusive arc. I tried not to go into too much detail about it, but just so you know.)

"Hidden", Gray said, mostly to himself.

Nate smirked. "A woman by the name of Daphne taught it to me. I believe you know her."

"Gray, Natsu, do any of you remember how to dissolve the spell?" Lucy asked.

Natsu turned pale. "Only Nate will be able to get rid of it."

"Aye", Happy echoed sadly.

Erza turned towards her former friend, clutching her sword. "Let. Us. Go. Now", she said, barely holding back her anger.

"Did you really think it would be that easy, my dear?"

Erza's retort was interrupted by Lucy.

"Crux has just finished analyzing the Hidden spell. There is one other way to destroy the spell, but..."

"But what?" Nastu asked impatiently.

"But to do that, we would need to kill Nate", she said softly, glancing at Erza.

The said mage took a step back, eyes wide with the new information.

Gray placed a comforting hand on her shoulder. "It's okay if you don't want us to kill him."

Nate smiled evilly at them. "Of course Erza wouldn't want to kill her dear old friend, would she?"

Her eyes darkened as she spoke is a steady voice. "Don't kill Nate."

Nathaniel's eyes glittered in the low light, the confidence clear. In his mind, he had already won.

But Erza wasn't finished. "Because", she said. "I want to do the honors."

Quickly requipping into her heaven's wheel armor, she charged Nate while she still had the element of surprise.

Hesitating only for a moment, Nate sprung into action. Parrying Erza's blade, he shot a bolt of lightning into her chest, flinging her back against the wall.

"Erza!" Gray yelled, preparing to charge Nate.

Lucy blocked him with her arm. "This is not your fight."

"Plus, Erza wouldn't let herself be defeated that easily", Natsu added, grinning.

Gray relented, not bothering to hide a half smile as he watched Erza stand up, her face showing more determination than he had ever seen.

She smirked. "That lightning doesn't hold a candle to Laxus'."

Nate frowned as the red head rushed him. He parried again, preparing to use the same technique as before, but Erza was too fast. She slashed and stabbed, each move perfectly planned and executed. She was fighting with a style all her own.

It took all his concentration to block the endless strikes, but he was still being driven back. Mind racing, Nate slowly devised a way to beat Erza. He moved her sword as far away from her face as possible, and leaned in. He kissed her, right on the lips.

Her sword arm became limp from the shock, and Nate took that opportunity to stab her side.

Erza fell to the ground, bleeding.

At this, Gray rushed forward, creating a cannon out of ice.

Nate smirked before he encased the three remaining mages (and exceed) with earth.

He addressed Erza. "Funny how quickly this earth saps one's magic power. Your so called friends are probably dying as we speak."

She stood, clutching her side, her face stony. "You can hurt me all you want, but you will not hurt my friends!"

With a cry she requipped into armadura fairy, both swords pointed at Nate.

He had misjudged her magic ability. The pure power resonating from her was more than he had ever seen before. And that was everything. Despite that, he couldn't give up yet. He would change Erza's mind, no matter how many years it took to do it.

She rushed forward, and in one quick motion, slammed Nate against the wall, swords poised to cut his throat with a single slice.

"Now", she growled. "Release my friends."

He looked deep into her eyes. "No."

Green lightning burst forth from her twin swords, hitting the skin above his heart. Nate slid down the wall as the mound of earth broke, dumping Gray, Natsu, Lucy, and Happy on the dirt floor.

Erza ran over to her fellow guild mates. "Are you guys okay?"

Gray coughed before replying. "We're fine."

They turned at a sound. "Ezra, you may have defeated me here, but know this. I will stop at nothing to make you my queen." At this, Nate lay down peacefully, eyes void of any life.

"Is he dead?" Nastu asked curiously.

Lucy walked over to check for a heartbeat. "Apparently so."

Erza's eyes had glazed over at the news.

"Are you okay?" Gray asked cautiously.

"Yes", she said forcefully. "This Nate is not the one I had once known", she said softly, as if she was trying to convince herself as well.

"We're not stopping you from mourning, Erza, but we really have to leave", Lucy said, glancing at the hallway, all remains of the hidden spell gone.

"Let's go!" Nasty yelled.

"Aye!" Happy replied.

Erza merely nodded as they walked out.

'Something doesn't feel right', she thought. The ground, no, the entire building seemed to echo Nate's last words.

She closed her eyes, thinking hard. 'Was it possible that Nate somehow escaped?'

"Erza!" Gray called, turning to look at her. "Come on!"

She smiled as she caught up to him. She would dwell on that matter another day.

"Now Gray, what did you say again? Something along the lines of 'I love you'?"

Gray smirked. "You love me? I feel so honored."

A/N: FINALLY DONE WITH THIS. Are you guys proud of me?

Please give me requests. I'm serious. I'll write anything, and I'm part of an infinite amount of fandoms.

Anyway, who can guess how Nate escaped death? Ten thousand points if you guess correctly. :)

If you're looking for more Grayza, check out bella-romeo's fics. They're really good.

Again, sequel coming soon.

Remember to review. I'd like to know what you guys think.

-starflight77