Erza vs Azuma

While a number of different battles had commenced, Erza and Azuma had been dueling for some time.

Currently equipped into her Black Wing armor, Erza slashed at Azuma, who easily avoided her attack. He then held up his finger, as four roots sprung from the ground, and twisted at the mage, who easily cut them apart. Azuma then twist his hands together, as several new roots sprung up, with the ends forming into hands. Erza avoided them all, but using one of them as a boost. Springing at Azuma, Erza required into her Flight Armor, and dashed through the grasping vines towards Azuma. However, the tree mage was protected by a block of wood, that prevented Erza from reaching him. The block then produced several more hands, which grasped at Erza. While Erza managed to avoid a couple, one of them grabbed onto her ankle. Azuma then snapped his fingers.

"Bleve." The root grasping her Erza then exploded, which sent Erza careening away. She required into her Heaven's Wheel Armor, and summoned up a number of swords, which descended upon Azuma. A ring of vines formed around him, intercepting the bulk of the swords, though one managed to slash his cheek. Azuma reached up to the touch the cut.

"Impressive," he said, "I suppose I should expect nothing less from Titania."

"I don't care about your compliments," Erza sneered.

"Not so much a compliment as an observation," Azuma said, smirking, "I'll confess, I'm not really interested in what Master Hades is after. My goal is simply to fight strong people."

"That's a pathetic thing to fight for," Erza said, "I don't see much purpose in only looking for strong people."

"This coming from a woman who actively seeks to increase her power at every opportunity?"

"Power is just a means to an end," Erza said, "I seek power to protect the people I care for, and to protect the innocent. That is my duty as a knight." Azuma just looked at her closely.

"People like you always fascinate me," he said, "Always sticking so firm to your code, and your personal policies. To stick so strictly to just some abstract guidelines, lest you lose your life to something."

"Is there a point to this soliloquy?"

"Not especially," Azuma said, "But it stands to mention that my task has to be completed." Erza arched an eyebrow.

"Care to share it?"

"Technically, what I said wasn't the whole truth," Azuma said, "I also came here to take control of the vast power within this island." He then close this eyes, as he held up his arms. From his ankles, roots came out, and started digging into the ground, and radiating out around him.

"What are you…" Erza couldn't finish as the ground starting shaking. She then looked up, as she realized in horror what he was doing. The great Tenrou Tree in the center of the island was being to twist and warp, before starting to list to the side.

"Wait!" Erza said, "You don't meant…"

"Exactly," Azuma answered coldly. Then, with a tremor that seemed to shake the whole island, the tree collapsed.

Instantly, all the Fairy Tail mages across the island could feel their powers sapped away. Needless to say, the Grimoire Heart mages jumped not the opportunity, and turned the tables on their opponents. Erza managed to remain standing in her stance, but she too could feel her power being drained.

(with Zeref and Mavis)

Mavis watched as the tree she'd known her whole life lay broken on the ground. Tears streamed down her face as she cried. Zeref was standing behind her.

"Zera and I used to dare each other to climb up to the top of that tree," she muttered to herself. Zero's fists tightened more than they already were; already they had made her cry, but this was officially crossing a line.

"I'm so sorry Mavis," he said, as he held her, "I'll see to it that these people are punished." With that, he turned on his heels, and started moving away. It was time he had a "discussion", with the master of Grimoire Heart.

(with Erza)

Erza doubled over, panting, using her sword to maintain her balance.

"Master Hades knows the magic that cloaks this island well," Azuma said, as he rose into the air on a root, his arms folded, "There is a special blessing that protects those who bare the crest of Fairy Tail. The great Tenrou Tree is the source of that magic, and once one takes away the magic's source…"

"What kind of coward would do such a thing?!" Erza demanded.

"I take no pleasure in this," Azuma said sternly, "But orders are orders." Erza would've shot back at that, but she had too much on her mind. She knew that if she couldn't stop Azuma, all of Fairy Tail would continue getting its magic drained, until there would be nothing left. However, suddenly, she felt a surge of power coming through her.

"What is…"

"I never said my orders were to drain all of Fairy Tail," Azuma said, "Just that it was to topple the tree. I'd much rather fight you at full strength, to see if you truly have the power you need to protect your family." Erza's teeth clenched as she pulled up to her feet.

"Very well then," Erza said, "Then if that's the case, after I defeat you, my allies will get their power back, yes?"

"On my honor, I shall see to it," Azuma answered, "But only if you can defeat me."

"I've faced worse odds," Erza said, as she shifted into her Heaven's Wheel armor, "All one needs is the will to do it, and when they have that, they can do anything!" With that, she sprung forward, creating a ring of swords, which Azuma intercepted with his roots. Several roots then came up to grab Erza, but she cut them all down. However, as her focus wa son that, a fist made of roots formed, and knocked her away.

Re-quipping into her Flight Armor, Erza sprung at Azuma, who had just enough time to block the strikes. However, a slash mark appeared on his chest. Holding the bleeding wound, Azuma had only just enough time to look up, as Erza re-quipped into her Flame Empress Armor. Swinging a flame enhanced blade, Erza went for Azuma again, but a wall of roots blocked the attack.

As Erza moved back, several more hands appeared from the roots. Erza leapt back, towards another branch, where Azuma emerged and grabbed her ankles in an ambush.

"Tower Burst!" A massive explosion rocked the area, sending Erza careening away. Erza managed to skid to a halt, wiping the side of her mouth, down, but certainly not out. Considering her options, Erza returned to her Heart Kruez armor. He definitely surpassed her in terms of raw power, so Erza knew she would have to use strategy instead. That's when the solution came to her, as she re-quipped into her bandage armor, with a red-tinted sword. It was a sword that Azuma recognized.

"I can't overpower you as is," Erza said, "But that doesn't mean I can't beat you." Azuma narrowed his eyes.

"The Demon Blade Crimson Sakura," he muttered, "One of Seven Tools of Ankhseram."

"The what?"

"Seven of the most powerful weapons known to exist," Azuma explained, "I've seen a couple of them. Now I can say I've seen another."

"I've never heard of them," Erza answered, "A sword is a sword, and that's all that matters."

"Very well then," Azuma said, as he took a battle stance, "Then come face me!" With that, Erza sprung at him, bringing the blade towards Azuma. Holding up his hand, Azuma let her come at him, as a shield of wood appeared. The sword cut straight through wood, but as Erza passed through the gap in the wood, tendrils came from the wood. The tendrils constricted Erza.

"I can't move!" Erza said, as she immobilized.

"I release all the magic energy kept within this land!" Azuma roared, "Terra Chyrmal!" Erza was swallowed in the explosion, which was so big, it was felt by people on the other side of the island. When the dust cleared, it showed Erza broken on the ground, and Azuma still standing, smiling.

"Thanks… for the fight," he said through his pants.

(at the Magic Council prison)

Deep within the Magic Council's prison, there was a cell at the absolute bottom. In that cell, Jellal sat, staring at the floor, before looking up slightly.

"Erza…"

(on Tenrou Island)

"… don't lose."

Azuma had just enough time to turn around, as he got slashed through the side, in a shallow, but still painful cut. As he held his bleeding side, he saw Erza back on her feet, wounded, but still willing to fight.

"I've come to far," she said, "I can't give up on my comrades now. I have to keep on fighting." She then re-quipped out of her sword, and into a weapon even Azuma had never seen.

"Re-quip: Ten Commandments!" Erza held up the spear she won from Erza Knightwalker, and pointed it at Azuma.

"Interesting weapon," Azuma said, "Is it from Edolas?"

"How would you know about Edolas?"

"Information travels well," the Tree Mage answered, "But I can't say I've ever battled with such a weapon."

"Not even I could beat this spear," Erza said, "I only won it by the grace of my opponent."

"Very well then," Azuma said, gesturing, "Let me see what it can do." Not intent on keeping her opponent waiting, Erza launched at him.

"Blue Crimson!" The spear split in two red and blue weapons, as Erza cut at him with a combined fire and ice attack. The roots Azuma had sent at her were destroyed, allowing for Erza to come at him again. With a cry, Erza brought down both weapons, but when she did, she found that it was a double made of wood. Azuma appeared behind her, as he held up his finger.

"Folium Sica." A series of sharp leaves gathered together, and when Azuma pointed, they all went at Erza.

"Rune Save!" The spear shifted into a jagged, green shape, and cut through the magic leaves, negating the attack.

"Mel Force!" Shifting again, Erza sent a wave of vacuum at Azuma, which was strong enough to push him away, and send him careening through several trees. As he skidded to the halt, he brought his hands together as if praying. All the roots then gathered together, to form a colossal fist of wood.

"Wood Titan!" The fist came down at Erza, but to Azuma's surprise, Erza's spear had shifted again, as it shattered the wood instead of cutting.

"Gravity Core!" The Ten Commandments had turned into a jagged, dark form, as another orb of dark energy gathered in it, and blasted at Azuma. Azuma moved to dodge, but the opposing energy pushed him away. That gave gave Erza an opening.

"Ravelt!" The Ten Commandments shifted into its ultimate form. Erza then sprung at him, bringing the tip down towards him. As she bore down on Azuma, she could feel a strange energy coursing through her. Master once told her that the island's magic draws its power from the bonds that the Fairy Tail members shared. Erza would've smirked at that thought; people mocked the guild for drawing all its strength from the "power of friendship", but as far as Fairy Tail was concerned, that was all they really needed. Azuma saw Erza baring down at her, as he just smiled.

"Well done," he said.

"Dance of One Blade!" With a single strike, Erza cut Azuma down. The strike was deceptively small, but it seemed to cut straight through Azuma's magic power. Coughing up blood, Azuma fell o the ground, as Erza landed, panting, and balancing on the spear. Looking towards Azuma, Erza narrowed her eyes.

"You lost, hold you your end of the bargain," she said, "and return my guild's power." Azuma chuckled as he lay on the ground.

"I guess now there are Eight Tools of Ankhseram," he said softly, "The Ten Commandments was it?"

"I don't care," Erza answered, "Just do what I said." Azuma just smiled.

"Tell me something," he said, "What do you think the origin of magic is?" That surprised Erza; no enemy she ever faced tried to get this philosophical for her.

"I don't know," she answered, "And its not my concern. The only thing that concerns me, is how it can be used. Those who fiddle with unanswerable questions like those, are just setting themselves up for their own fall." Azuma listneed to her opinion, and sighed.

"Go," he said, "You have more battles to win." But Erza had already left, to go find her friends, and bring an end to this.

"What a guild," Azuma muttered, as he smiled up at the sky.

Note: As you can see, I cut out most of Jellal's bit. While I would rather have not if given the option, for the sake of the story, it needed to be done. You'll also noticed I spared Azuma. That's all I'll say for now.

I'll be cutting Gray and Ultear's fight, because it would've ended up just like canon, so to that end, the next fight will feature Team Natsu and Hades.

Be sure to review.

As Fairy Tail nears its conclusion, I'm wondering how much longer it'll go on. At first, I'm inclined to think that if Mashima keeps up the current pattern of the covers representing the past arcs, we'll have at least 14 more chapters. The question then becomes if the story can end in that space of time, which is possible. Its a pity, since this was among the first manga I started reading. Hopefully the anime will come back soon, because we can keep up with FT. Ah well, I'll just do what I did when Rave Master ended, reread it, since even after it ends, it'll still be my favorite.