Some changes made to the chapter if you reread then you'll see it but it is an important change.
"Etherion has been successfully fired! Direct- wait what happened!" A supervisor yelled horrified.
"Well, we hit the tower, just not with an entire blast." Another pointed out.
"You mean the tower wasn't destroyed? What could be strong enough to block that type of hit?" An attendant demanded.
Erza looked around in shock as she realized they were still standing, only having felt slight tremors.
Jellal lifted in eye curious as he stood in pain, "Now who could have done that. nevertheless, I still got what I needed."
Erza looked around still confused as to how the blast was stopped, only to see a bruised and bloodied blonde suddenly appear next to her with a goofy grin making Erza's heart soar, the next second a look of horror appearing as she watches her kick Jellal across the room in the face.
"Something counteracted the Etherion fusion in the center of the blast!" A worker exclaimed.
"We barely got a quarter of the blast to get through!" another shouted.
Juvia stared at the golden shield which protected the tower while the blast shot down on the tower, "Who could possibly have such power to produce such a thing and protect the tower like that?" Juvia asked in shock.
"I've only seen one person do such a magic" Gray said with a small smile. " The flame brain 2.0 would never let something like an Etherion blast take her down."
"You mean..." Simon looked to Gray. "That was Lucy?"
"Yeah, I wasn't lying when I said she was powerful" Gray said, still looking at the tower, beginning to frown when the shield shatters allowing the blast to hit the tower.
"What the- "Jellal said in surprise as a boot slammed into his face.
"Lucy! What the hell!" Erza yelled slamming Lucy to the ground.
"He's lying" Lucy grumbled.
"About what, you knocked him out before he could say or do anything!" Erza questioned looking to the blue haired man lying motionless on the ground.
"Well good, then we won. Les go home already, this tummy wound doesn't look to good." Lucy grimaced, poking a finger in the giant wound.
"Don't do that idiot!" Loke scolded, using the bandage wraps virgo had given him to start dressing his masters wounds.
"Grr, Lucy! You can't just knock people out when they aren't bad!" Erza growled.
Lucy shrugged at her mate. "I didn't. I knocked out blueberry head. And trust me he was bad. Now hurry up and cuff the guy before he wakes-
Lucy was rudely interrupted by Jellal laughing from his slumped postion before she could finish speaking. He slowly worked it up to a maniacal laugh.
"Uh, this guy is so damn troublesome." Lucy whispered to Loke who was still dressing her wounds. "Great job cuffing Jerry up babe." Lucy drawled sarcastically.
Erza glared at the blonde before looking on worriedly at Jellal.
"Well, done Ishgar De-cough-demon. For someone on deaths door…you truly amaze me! But it matters not because I've got what I needed!"
"What?" Erza asked lost.
"This is the true form of the Tower of Heaven. A giant lacrima crystal!" He spread his arms wide slowly getting up. "And thanks to the power of Etherion, I have gathered the magic energy I need. The R-system is now fully complete!"
"You..." Erza grit her teeth, apologetic at the fact she slammed Lucy to the ground for hitting Jellal "You tricked me!"
Jellal merely smirked at the scarlet mage. "Yes, I did. And the dumb demon figured it out before you, Ti-ta-nia."
Erza couldn't help but hide the blush on her face from embarrassment.
"Hey now, Lucifer said it's not nice to lie to those you care about." Lucy said, shifting her body from her now lax position on the ground. "Look here, Erza may not love me and she may be okay with dying with the devil incarnate-
Erza looked down guiltily as she listened to Lucy's words watching as she wiped the blood dripping from her face.
"But I'm sure as hell not! She has family that she has to go home to!"
Erza felt a tear fall from her eye. "Lucy..."
Although they had lost their boat, the escaped mages managed to get away while enclosed in a water barrier thanks to Juvia. "What is that thing?" Gray scowled.
"It's the R-system." Simon frowned. "It's the true form of the Tower of Heaven we constructed. It is now being activated."
"Activated?" Juvia panicked. "Are you saying that Zeref is being revived?"
"I don't know." Sho grit his teeth. "It's our first time seeing this..."
"Oh? And just what can you do to me? After that punch from Erza you look a bit disoriented." Jellal said smirking as he went soaring towards Lucy who managed to throw herself to the side dodging Jellal. Erza looking away guiltily.
"Even so, Lucifer always said take down the enemy or die trying! And I'm fine with that!" Lucy said, smirking when she realized she still had a piece of celestial food in her pouch that Virgo had given her earlier. Quickly devouring the food, Lucy felt her body no longer fill so weak and her magical container fill up. Oh she was so going to rid this annoying pest.
"So troublesome, looks like that food wasn't enough to fill me up. Well guess I'll just use THAT if the time comes. For now, take a break alright guys."
"Fine, but if you die, we're gonna bring you back just to kill you got it" Aquarius said.
Lucy began to sweat as she nodded, "got it!"
"Lucy!" Erza yelled going to help.
Jellal quickly dodged Erza's attack by tossing her across the floor watching as she tumbled several times until she hit a wall
"Where's all that bravado you had earlier?" Jellal asked, "I thought you were going to take me out?"
"Are you still so weak Erza?"
Erza grit her teeth and requipped a regular sword.
"Right now, the council is completely paralyzed." Jellal mused, easily dodging her attacks. "I'll have to thank Ultear. She did well."
"If everyone in heaven is of one mind, I will no longer fear death." Jellal smirked. "Really, I have to thank your simple-mindedness as well."
"You'll get what you deserve!" Erza yelled. "I will get you for what you've done to Sho and the others!"
"Oh, not Lucy specifically, is she chopped liver?" Jellal said, hoping to provoke Erza.
Erza began to blush at his words, "I said others didn't I"!
Erza was mid attack when a snake-like mark on her back suddenly uncoiled and wound itself around her sword arm.
Erza struggled to move. "What is this?"
"A binding serpent spells." Jellal explained. "I put it on you when we were hug-ack." Jellal turned to see who hit him only to see Lucy a look of hatred on her face.
"No one touches my mate but me, even if she does hate when I do it!" Lucy growled.
Erza, rolled her eyes before groaning as the mark spread to immobilize her entire body. "I... I can't move, Lucy!"
Lucy turned to Erza worry in her eyes, turning her back on Jellal for a moment.
Jellal seeing this quickly took advantage of the distraction and using meteor dashed forward towards Lucy hoping to toss her into another pillar. However, thanks to Lucy's slayer senses, she was able to hear Jellal soaring towards her and threw herself across the room…into a pillar.
"I think it's going to be Lucy who ends up killing herself one day" Loke said, as he clutches his chest.
"Indeed, perhaps we should put miss Lucy through a "How to take care of yourself" safety first class" Capricorn offers.
"Yeah, Ebi might benefit from that" Cancer, says sweating.
Erza let out the breath she was holding when she saw Lucy still moving but unable to fully get up after dodging Jellal's attack.
"I already have all the magic power I need. Despite that thing that blocked most of the Etherion blast" Jellal observed, watching Erza struggle and Lucy still not get up. "And now that I have the sacrifice, Zeref will be revived. I will take all the magic energy collected by the lacrima and fuse it with your body. You will then be broken down and reconstituted as Zeref's new vessel."
Jellal smirked as he pushed Erza into the lacrima wall. "Goodbye, Erza."
"You bastard!" Erza shouted as she began to sink in the crystal.
"Oh, exalted Zeref. I stand before you!" Jellal announced. "I offer you this woman's body as your sacrifice!"
The tower began to glow, a deep rumble surrounded them all.
"Jellal!" Erza shouted desperately, trying to pull herself out.
Erza and Jellal's eyes widened when Natsu and Lucy both grabbed her arm pulling her out of the lacrima. "Can't get away from us that easily." Natsu said grinning, with Lucy by his side.
"Erza belongs to Fairy Tail- "
"And me" Lucy added.
Natsu nodded, before looking back to Jellal. "We won't hand her over to you!"
"You idiots..." Erza muttered.
"So, tell me Luce, what's the situation?"
"This guy's such a jerk, I mean really annoying, Natsu. Erza loves him apparently, and she was okay with dying with him, and then get this, this guy put some immobile snake on her!" Lucy said incredulous to Natsu. "Oh, and I swear I heard Luce's voice in my head!"
Natsu was listening intently to his best friends words his eyes widening as her story unfolds, while the two other occupants are watching, unsure if what they are seeing is real or not.
"We're gonna put a pin in the Luce thing first off. Second, I'm sure Erza didn't mean it that way. Let's just finish this fight then we can talk it all over alright?" Natsu says patting his friends very bloody back.
Lucy merely sighs, nodding her head. "Alright then."
"Hey, Erza why haven't ya finished this guy! Lucy and I gotta get back to looking for Igneel and Lucifer so they can have an all-out fight to see who's stronger!"
"Did you not hear the part where Lucy said an immobile snake was put on me?" Erza groaned. "I can't move my body."
"Oh?" Natsu smirked evilly. "Is that so?" He then whispered something in Lucy's ear which brightened her face as she looked at Erza.
"Payback, mate" Lucy said with a devilish grin before she began tickling her everywhere, she could reach. "This is for all those times you beat me up!"
"Lucy..." Erza wheezed in between giggles. "You have to leave this place now..."
"No way!" Natsu objected. "If you can't handle him, then let me have a shot!"
"No." Erza shook her head. "He's too dangerous. You don't understand him at all."
Natsu frowned. "I can't win if I don't understand? That make sense Lucy?"
"I don't know. I don't understand a lot of stuff." Lucy said, "Like for one, why Erza won't accept me? For two where does the sun go when the night comes?"
"Mavis, and I'm falling for this fool" Erza mumbled, unaware she had said that out loud.
Large grins grew on Natsu and Lucy's face, the two mages nudging each other in excitement at Erza's words.
"Told ya Luce" Natsu said giddy at Erza' confession.
"Natsu please, take Lucy and leave." Erza grit her teeth, unaware of the two slayers shit eating grins from her confession. "Please... do as I say..."
"Nah, I'm good. What say you Lucy?" Natsu asked as he helped Erza stand.
"Nah."
"Eh?" Erza said at the two blunt answers.
"Lucy may be have a really big life-threatening hole in her stomach but we can still win! Right Luce!" Natsu declared, slamming Erza in the stomach and knocking her down, unconscious.
"Right!"
"You're even more irrational than I've heard." Jellal observed. "Did you enjoy striking a comrade who couldn't move?"
"Erza..." Natsu whispered. "She was crying." His fist shook. "And saying depressing things with a shaky voice. I've never seen Erza like that. She should be strong, mean, and scary." He turned towards Jellal, his face contorted with rage. "When she wakes up, I hope she'll be the Erza I know! And plus, Lucy still hasn't mated with her so she needs to come back with us so her and Lucy can do that."
Raising his hand for a high five which Lucy gave, "Slayer power!"
"Interesting." Jellal mused as Natsu shot at him with a flaming fist. "In that case, let me see the power of a Dragon Slayer."
He smirked, although he was having a bit of trouble dodging the oncoming punch thanks to the blonde's injuries, he still managed to give the dragon slayer a hard time.
Natsu growled as he followed up with a fiery kick that caught Jellal in his face. Having pushed him back, Natsu pressed his advantage with three more punches to his injured stomach and an elbow to the face.
"Fire Dragon's Wing Attack!" He shouted, knocking the blue-haired man into the air.
"Fire Dragon's Claw!" He added, appearing above Jellal and smashing him back into the ground.
He sneered as he landed. "Fire Dragon's Roar!" A massive gust of flame engulfed Jellal, flowing towards Lucy who decided to have a snack and help speed up her recovery.
"Is that all you can do?" Jellal asked, spitting at the two slayers as the smoke cleared.
"The Ishgar Demon displayed far more power than you! To think I had hoped to see the destructive potential of a Dragon Slayer before I killed you." He shrugged. " I've seen nothing special so far."
"You had the nerve to interrupt my ceremony." He sighed as Natsu shot towards him again. "Now I'm going to use my Heavenly Body magic to crush you."
"Meteor!" He intoned, getting surrounded by light and surging forward at an incredible speed. Natsu frowned when Jellal shot past him and swerved to aim at his back. He turned to face the threat... and blinked when Jellal moved around him, going to smashing a knee into his chin.
"Bastard!" Natsu roared, throwing a wild punch which predictably missed. Jellal smirked and countered with a fist of his own, knocking Natsu back.
"Dammit, he's too fast." Natsu observed.
"I can't rely on my eyes now." He closed his eyes, standing still and focusing his other senses. "Focus." He swung at the direction Jellal was approaching from. "There!"
Jellal smirked as he sped up even more and easily dodged.
"He got faster?" Natsu exclaimed in shock.
Lucy who was still on the side since Natsu told her to take a break kept her eye constantly following Jellal.
"I won't let any of your attacks touch me!" Jellal announced as he assaulted Natsu with a barrage of blows. The boy coughed up blood when Jellal kicked him in the stomach.
"It's over!" Jellal declared as he flew up high. "Time for you to have a glimpse of real destructive power. Grand Chariot!"
Natsu's eyes widened in fear as seven magic circles lit up in the sky and a barrage of light attacks fell from them hitting him. However, before he could take the full brunt of the attack, he was rushed out of the way by a Lucy who slumped onto her knee's once they were out of danger's way.
"Sorry for taking so long" Lucy said with her signature grin, "But thanks for the fire" she added.
"No problem, Luce" Natsu grimaced, trying to get over the pain of those hits.
"This magic is comparable in strength to an actual meteor." Jellal explained, landing.
"I'm quite impressed you were able to move out of the way given your injuries Ishgar Demon, then again if the stories I've heard about you have any semblance of truth to them then I guess I shouldn't be surprised".
The man looked around, noticing the hole-riddled floor. "It looks like I overdid it. It seems that due to the damage to the R-system, the magic energy is beginning to leak out."
He glanced at Erza and smirked. "We'll have to hurry. Right, Erza?"
Jellal turned back around when he felt something hit his back. Turning around he saw Lucy and Natsu throwing pebbles at him.
"Demon pebble throw!" Lucy yelled, a pebble catching Jellal in the face.
"Shit! That hurt!" he yelled.
The two slayers high fived.
"This tower is made of crystal, right? If it gets damaged, it will lose power, I'm guessing?" Natsu's fist lit up and he smashed it into the floor, breaking it. "That's too bad for you! Mages of Fairy Tail... specialize in property damage!"
"And I'm the Ishgar Demon, Anywhere I go ends up a pile of rubble!" Lucy yelled, igniting herself so bright both mages quickly shut their eyes so as not to blind themselves. When they finally can open them the sight before them is jaw dropping. Over half of the tower had been decimated by Lucy's power.
"Holy shit Luce, have you been holding back this entire time?" Natsu says slightly frightened.
"Yeah, I was hungry but then I started to absorb the celestial energy from the stars, and Virgo packed a piece of celestial food in my pouch, add your fire into the mix and I'm pretty pumped…well that's a lie I'm still pretty tired since I still have a hole in my stomach…" Lucy mumbled.
"That's alright I'll take it from here! I'm still in the mood to fight." Natsu grinned. "I've never felt better in my life!"
"You little punks!" Jellal grit his teeth in fury. "I'm going to finish you in an instant. You're going to regret getting up again when I send you to hell!"
"I've got confidence in my stubbornness and with Lucy by my side you can't beat us." Natsu shot back. "Come get me if you can."
Jellal screamed in fury and sent a set of dark blasts at Natsu, who dodged easily.
"Come on!" The Dragon Slayer cackled. "That all ya got?"
The next shot went to catch him dead on but luckily Lucy pulled him out of the way with her hellfire whip.
"Shit Luce, that actually burned me!" Natsu whined, still thankful she saved him from getting hit.
"Told ya didn't I…Celestial fire burns hotter than any fire on Earthland" Lucy grumbled, as she kicked Jellal in the face away from Natsu.
"You're a monster Luce" he laughed, before looking back to Jellal, " And you! are you holding back cause you're afraid to damage your precious tower?" He panted, trying to hide how tired he was. "Because I mean it's already pretty much gone thanks to Lucy!" Natsu said laughing as Lucy shot a peace sign.
"Don't get too cocky, you brat!" Jellal yelled, blasting the two with another shot.
"Natsu, Lucy!" Erza yelled, having just woken up.
Even as they skidded back, Natsu prepared another attack. "Fire Dragon's Brilliant Flame!" He yelled, creating another deep hole in the tower.
"Hey Natsu, wanna see a new move I made up?" Lucy smirked.
"Hell yeah!" he yelled, shielding his eyes when he saw her body begin to burn bright.
"Scarlet Demons Raging Blaze!" Lucy yelled, blowing an identical hole in the tower.
"Holy-
"Did Lucy really name another move after me" Erza said blushing.
Jellal's eyes were wide with fury. "My tower... I spent eight years building it." He sneered. "Unforgivable!"
"Natsu, Lucy..." Erza whispered, watching the two heavily breathing mages. "You two can barely even stand..."
A whirlwind tore through the battlefield as Jellal began to gather energy.
"What is this?" Erza gaped. "The shadows are reaching towards the light?"
"Enough! I just need to take you out and the other one will fall soon after" Jellal yelled referring to Natsu. "Fall into the endless darkness, you idiot slayer!" Jellal roared.
Erza stepped in front of Natsu. "Are you going to kill me?" She challenged him. "Zeref's revival requires the body of a strong wizard as sacrifice, right?"
"That's true." Jellal narrowed his eyes. "The conditions require a body with enough magic power to match one of the Wizard Saints. However, at this point it no longer has to be you specifically!"
Erza's eyes widened.
"The two of you are going to be smashed to bits!" Jellal proclaimed, holding up a huge sphere of black energy.
"Erza!" Natsu shouted. "Get behind me!"
"Don't worry, Natsu." Erza smiled. "I'll protect you!"
"Erza!"
"Heavenly Magic." Jellal laughed in victory. "Altairis!"
The huge blast shot at them. Natsu cursed as he tried to move in front of Erza, only to stagger weakly as his feet failed him, fatigue from the ongoing battle finally hitting him.
"Erza!" He roared desperately.
Before the blast could hit them however Lucy jumped in front of them arms crossed taking the full brunt of the blast with a determined look on her face.
"Mate...Natsu" Lucy chuckled, as she turned her face towards the two people she's come to trust like family. "Can't believe you left me out of this equation to protect you two idiots" Lucy grimaces.
Natsu tried to stay awake to berate Lucy for doing something so foolish but after his fight and taking such a beating, he just couldn't. He was honestly surprised Lucy still had the energy to take such a blast with all her injuries.
Erza's eyes widened as she took in Lucy's condition. The front of her torso began bleeding heavily, most likely from exertion, while her arms, while still crossed seem burnt with blood dripping.
"Lucy! You idiot, why didn't you just use your shield spell!" The redhead yelled.
"Told ya didn't I? I have to be focused when using it otherwise it could be harmful rather than helpful, and I didn't feel like wasting my magic on it right now" Lucy smirked, uncrossing her badly damaged arms, "Besides it was either let you get hit and die, or I take the hit"
"And kill yourself!" Erza screams as Lucy.
"Pfft, as if a hit like that could take me out" Lucy said, despite all the damage she had taken Erza realized Lucy was still managing to smile.
Erza held her tears looking away, not wanting to show any signs of weakness, until Lucy went towards the scarlet mage.
"I'll always protect you idiot". Lucy said, somehow despite how beaten she looked she still managed to make the moment romantic.
"I know, and I hate it" Erza said, softly.
"Touching" Jellal drawled, raising an eyebrow in amusement. "I'm rather surprised, even after all that you were still able to take a hit like that, I'm honestly shocked you're not dead right now. I mean seriously your blood is literally covering this entire floor right now, you should've bled out already. You are defying death" he says as he watches the blood pool around the Wizard Saint panting while holding Erza behind her back.
"You almost killed Erza and Natsu, now I'm mad" Lucy said, her eyes darkening, and red markings appearing on her right arm as well as face. The amount of magic power beginning to suffocate all three mages in the tower.
"Lucy calm down! Your magical container is practically empty, and by the looks of it the amount you're going to use could kill you." Erza pleads.
Lucy glances at Erza with a smile, "That'd be true. If I had used up my second origin too Scarlet." Lucy said enjoying the look of shock on her mate's face when she reveals her secret.
"You've already unlocked your second origin?' Erza gasped. "And you didn't use it this entire time!"
"Of course, I have, I'm a wizard saint… and I didn't feel the need to" Lucy laughs grimacing at the movement. "Now mate, I have a request for you" Lucy said with the utmost seriousness in her voice."
"Yes?'
"Get the hell out of here".
"What, but we can't leave you! This place can explode any second-
"Erza please". Lucy growled, her eyes darkening.
The Knight mage gasped having never heard Lucy call her by her actual name in such a way. It felt weird if she were honest.
"Are you kidding me, do you really think I'd be so kind as to let my sacrifice leave this tow-oomph" before he could even finish his sentence Lucy was already sending him soaring through numerous pillars. Her speed multiplying tenfold, as if she was never even injured.
"I see you're being stubborn." Lucy said.
"Of course I'm stubborn, you're practically killing yourself!" Erza shouted.
"Tsk, please I'm Lucifer's daughter it'll take more than a blueberry haired demon possessed freak to take me out" Lucy glared, "Besides..." Lucy said grinning.
Erza could already tell she was going to hate her next words.
"You said you're falling for me, so obviously I have to make it back so I can win you over officially" she said, trying to hide the pain racking through her body with her signature dopey grin.
Erza froze at Lucy's words, not having thought she would've heard her, but not hating it either.
Erza merely grit her teeth. "Promise you won't die, you stupid demon."
"With a kiss?" Lucy said mischievously.
"Don't push your luck" Erza said before she felt herself being lifted along with Natsu.
Lucy smiled at her mate leaving before turning back to Jellal who had finally managed to get up.
"Happy?" she asked.
"Not Happy, Piri, Piri. Gemini. Miss Lucy requested we take you out of here before she finishes the fight" the spirit said somberly, preparing to lift off.
"Gemini. What are the odds of Lucy making it out?" Erza asked.
Tears flowed from the woman's eye as the spirits continued to fly her to her friends unable to answer her question.
"You truly are an idiot!" Jellal cackled. " This changes nothing! No one will leave this tower alive!"
"Shut up!" Lucy roared angered at seeing her mate leave, even if it was by force.
Moving quickly, she went and smashed his face into the floor hard enough she was pretty sure she broke his nose as she saw blood dripping down.
Feeling her power surging through her body Lucy called upon Loke, who then helped her out with defense while she went on offense.
As Jellal got a few hits in Lucy got double those, the fight going on for too long in Lucy's opinion, forcing her to activate her demon force.
Meanwhile Gemi-happy had found where Gray and the others were and once gently dropping them off the twins disappeared before Erza could say anything to them.
"Erza! What the hell, where's Lucy?"
Erza wiped her tears, as she quickly explained what happened. When Natsu awoke it would only be when the tower of Heaven had exploded, and Lucy was already gone.
Once Lucy had fully activated her demon force, fire erupted around herself, taking the shape of a demon. Grinning devilishly, Lucy turned to glare at Jellal as her body was covered in even more markings.
Seeing Lucy's immense power boost caused Jellal to pale, her movements while already faster were accelerated as well as powered up.
"It's all because of you!" The girl shouted, smashing Jellal through several floors. "You're the one that made Erza cry and you're the reason she felt like she had to almost die to save us!"
"I made a promise..." Lucy stated, continuing to crash through crystal. " to always protect her!"
"Shut up!" Jellal shot back. "Meteor!"
"You can never match my speed!" He observed, shooting upwards. Lucy kicked off the ground, landing a vicious uppercut in Jellal's gut.
"Impossible!" Jellal coughed. "I cannot be defeated! I will create a land of freedom!"
He roared maniacally. "I am the only one who can sense Zeref's presence! I am the chosen one! Together with Zeref, I will create a nation of true freedom!"
"The hell if you think I'll let you do that!" Lucy countered angrily.
"The will to change the world is enough to turn the wheels of history!" Jellal proclaimed, creating a large magic seal in the sky. "Why can't you fools understand that?"
"What the hell is that?" Lucy said as she looked up.
"Abyss break" Loke said, after having showed up with his own power, surprised the man would use such thing. "Do you even care about this tower?"
"Give me another eight years... no, this time five will be enough." Jellal grinned. "Zeref... just wait a while longer."
"You're never going to find freedom!" Lucy roared, flying towards him, kicking him in the stomach causing pain to flair in the wound he had gotten earlier, distracting him and causing the seal to vanish. "There is no freedom for a guy who lets some stupid ghost manipulate him!"
Jellal paled as the Lucy in his vision got replaced by what he assumed was a real demon.
"Free yourself from this, Jellal!" Lucy shouted, knocking him into the structure savagely and bringing it crashing down on him. The man screamed in agony as the force of the blow sent him smashing down every floor until he landed in the sea under it. That last blow ridding the demonic power from inside Jellal.
"It's always a sight to see the Ishgar demon's true power..." Loke said with a smile. "The true power of a Demon Slayer."
"I defeated Jellal. For you Erza... Your dumb battle is over."
Lucy turned to Loke and grinned, before collapsing from exhaustion.
"Lucy" Loke shot towards him, engulfing her tired form in a hug. "You are absolutely incredible, princess" Loke said, "Lucifer would be proud."
"Ya think?"
"I know" Loke said, before almost falling due to the towers tremors which erupted, and several beams of light bursting out of it.
"Don't tell me Etherion's power has gone unstable!" Gray exclaimed as the escapees watched the scene unfold.
"Unstable?" Milliana shrieked.
"Just storing all that magical energy in one place in dangerous..." Happy observed.
"And all that magical power has nowhere to go." Juvia added. "It's going to erupt in a gigantic explosion."
"What about Lucy and Jellal? Sho panicked.
"There's no point talking about saving Lucy." Gray scowled. "Because every single one of us is doomed."
"No, Lucy will find a way back! She's the Ishgar Demon! She promised she'd find her way back to me!" Erza said forcefully to the others.
The others shocked at Erza reaction.
Loke picked up Lucy readying themselves to leave when she pulled his sleeve smiling.
"Loke" ... She grit her teeth. "We can't leave...
"What-what are you talking about? This place is about to blow, we have to leave now, or we'll go with it!" Loke said trying to get through his master's thick head.
Lucy nodded sadly as she stood up on shaky legs. Putting one arm on her trusted spirits shoulders before walking over to the lacrima crystal.
"Lucy, what are you doing?" Loke said panic clear in his voice.
"Loke, when I went to Fairy Tail, I didn't have very many expectations. But then I found friends, family, a mate who I found out has started falling for me and honestly, I was the happiest I had been in a long time. I can't let them get hurt from this tower thing exploding when there was a chance, I could've stopped it."
"What are you saying?" Loke croaked.
"Lucifer always said one huge heroic thing is better than 12 small ones".
"Princess…please don't".
Slowly Lucy pushed her arm in the lacrima crystal
"Look at that Loke... at least somethings accepting me" Lucy said cracking a joke.
Loke couldn't help but laugh at his master poor attempt at mating humor.
"Mavis, you're so bad at jokes, Lucy" Loke said tears clear in his eyes beneath his glasses.
"Goodbye Loke" Lucy said as her body was enveloped by the crystal her last view a broken smile from her most trusted spirit.
"Goodbye princess."
The tower exploded upwards, unable to harm anyone, cheers from the boat until they realized they still were missing one person.
"There it goes!" Wally shouted. Milliana wailed in fear and clung to him for dear life.
"Lucy..." Gray stared at the energy,
"It's gone..." Simon muttered as no trace of the tower and the island remained. "It's all gone..."
"That dumb demon" Erza cried.
Natsu right beside Erza staring aimlessly at where the tower once was with his best friend.
Lucy slowly opened her eyes to see the one person she had been missing for several long years. Tears began to flow down her face as she ran to the demon hopping on the demons back for a hug.
"I missed you so much, Luce!"
"I know little demon. I missed you too. I've seen you've taken all my training to heart."
"To find you Luce...why'd ya leave me" Lucy cried.
"Somethings just need to be done for a person to grow little demon".
"You forgot about me, didn't you?" Lucy deadpanned.
Lucifer let out gruff laugh. "That would be the last reason I ever leave you my little demon, I could never forget about you."
"Well, then why'd ya wait so long to let me see ya?" Lucy asked, "Are you dead and I'm just dreaming this?" Lucy said saddened by the idea. "Or am I dead and I'm dreaming this?"
Lucifer stayed quiet for a moment before answering. "Little demon either way you're dreaming this, just the other one of us is dead", he chuckled.
"Oh. Then if you're not dead, where are ya?" Lucy asked.
Lucifer stared at his little demon smiling softly at the annoying little shit. He knew he couldn't tell her just yet what happened to him. If he did she'd break down and leave her guild, something he didn't want to happen.
"Don't worry lil demon, I'm actually not that far from you, but it's not time for us to reunite."
"What the heck kinda answer is that!", Lucy asked with tears in her eyes.
"It's a good one in my opinion."
'No, it's not you dumb demon!"
"Yes it is, you dumb little demon!" Lucifer yelled. "Grr, listen little demon. The decision to leave you behind was not one I chose lightly, and while I can't, or rather won't, reveal why just yet, know this… You've made me very proud."
Lucy felt hot tears begin to fall from her eyes at the words from her father, "Luce."
"And nice catch with your mate."
The last words spoken before Lucy's world went blank.
Lucy opened her eyes again to an empty space with no sign of Lucifer. As she searched the area, she realized she was floating indicating that she was most likely dead.
"Where the hell am I!" Lucy said panicking as she couldn't control her movements and began spinning in the empty space getting motion sickness.
"I'm dead, how do I still have...blurh. motion sickness!"
She was in the middle of throwing up when something caught her attention. "Oh..." She watched a crowd of black-clad people gathered around a monument. "So, I'm dead and people are worshipping me now…sweet!"
"Lucy Heartfilia..." Makarov started. "She was, well a person who didn't know what personal space was, had the education of a third grader, and an immense appetite-
"Is this a funeral or a roast!" Lucy yelled.
"Despite all that she was the Ishgar Demon, a girl who spent years keeping an entire continent safe from dark guilds and becoming a wizard saint before most people become a S-class mage. She barely knew us when she joined, yet she protected every one of us like we were family.
"She never failed to walk into this guild with a dopey smile." Makarov announced. "And in doing so she became the light of our guild. Whether she knew it or not."
Makarov wiped his nose, regaining his composure.
Lucy wiped her eyes, "Man, that was so beautiful!" Looking to her grave she read her inscription.
Lucy Heartfilia the Ishgar Demon: X766~X784.
The guild took a moment to chuckle, one woman wiping away tears for her regret of never accepting the offer from the woman who sacrificed herself for the team.
"Stop messing around!" Natsu shouted. "What the hell do you all think you're doing?"
Gray grit his teeth as Natsu kicked a bunch of flowers off the monument. "Why, you..."
" Lucy isn't dead!" Natsu wailed. "There's no way she would die! She's the Ishgar Demon of Fairy Tail"
"Get off me!" He struggled against Gray and Elfman, who forced him to the ground. "She's alive!"
"Natsu" Erza said as she walked up to the dragon slayer crying on the floor. Wrapping the boy in a hug she shared in his hurt also sad at losing someone who had grown so close to them in such a short amount of time.
Lucy watched the scene below her unfold, scratching the back of her head. She felt awkward watching those she grew close to cry for her.
"What a drag, man. I did this for them...to live on and all they seem to be doing is crying for me. Tsk".
She watched as more and more people began crying. 'Ughh, this isn't the future I was hoping to leave behind, hell I don't even know what I was expecting but it sure as hell isn't this", she growled.
"YOU BARELY KNEW ME..." She yelled. "STOP CRYING FOR SOMEONE YOU BARELY KNEW" she begged. "Move on and live your damn lives! Lucifer would hate that I caused all of you this much trouble" she whispered. "I want to see you guys smile like I do".
She rubbed her faced angrily as a light began to shine on her, "I could never hate you, little demon".
Lucy's eyes immediately open when she hears that, oh so familiar voice, only to notice the moon. "Uh, where am I?"
"Lucy!" Erza called as the entire group from the tower ran up to her. "Thank Mavis you're okay, you dumb demon!"
"Don't make us worry like that, dammit!" Gray scowled.
"What the heck, I could of swore I died..." Lucy said confused. "How did I..."
She looked up and her eyes widened when she saw Loke holding her in his arms with a determined frown and eyes shadowed by his hair.
"Loke, but we said goodbye to each other..." She said, really confused now. "How did you?"
"Aquarius would've never let me hear the end of it, had I let you die" Loke joked, dropping to his knees but holding on securely. "And you still need to find Lucifer remember…we still need to find Lucifer" he said with a smile.
Lucy looked around at the happy and relieved faces.
"Don't. Don't do that again, Lucy" Loke shook his head. "We, the spirit world, could never handle being without you."
"You got it." Lucy smiled. "Thanks, Loke."
I really am a dumb demon, she thought, watching Natsu wipe away tears, Gray and Juvia smile at her appearance and even Erza smile at her despite crying.
"…"
Gray sweat dropped, watching a heavily bandaged Lucy sleep. "Is Lucy really ok? I mean I know she's been through stuff probably worst then this but, this is a little much don't you think?"
"Aye!" Happy nodded. "She's been sleeping for three days straight now!" He looked to Natsu who smirked and nodded his head.
"Hey, Lucy! Erza's naked and wants to accept your claim now." Natsu yelled.
Erza pinched the brim of her noise before tossing Happy and Natsu out the window. "If that wakes her up, she's going next." She said turning to glance at Lucy.
Gray and Erza yelped at the blonde who was currently sitting up despite being heavily bandaged.
"Uh, Lucy…ahem are you okay?" Erza asked.
"Happy said you were naked and ready to accept my claim…he lied, didn't he?" Lucy said her toothy grin, turning to a pout.
"Yes. I'm sorry."
"Whatever I'm going to get something to eat then" Lucy yawned walking to find something to eat.
"I'll admit from what Loke told me, Lucy had activated her demon force, putting in mind she had emptied her first origin thus using about half of her second origin it only makes sense she be so tired. I mean she may be a wizard saint be even they have limits.
"Yeah, still can't believe what Loke said..." Gray sighed. "This girl gets more and more like a demon every time I see her".
Erza smirked. "Are you really one to talk?"
"I caused all of you so much trouble in this incident." She mused, glancing at Lucy's bandaged limbs and stomach. "I just don't know what to say..."
"Shaddup" Lucy mumbled as she walked back in, flinching slightly as her stomach flared in pain. Already figuring she was going to have a scar there and on her palm from where she grabbed Erza's sword.
"That reminds me." Erza noticed. "Lucy, how in the world were you able to survive all that damage from Jellal and the blast?"
"I wasn't lying when I said I've gone through far worst Scarlet" Lucy observed, causing jaws to drop. "Compared to the mages in Alvarez, Jellal was a cake walk, despite how I look." The girl shrugged, as everyone's jaw dropped.
"Don't ask me how I survived the blast though, I've got no idea how I got through that...pure luck on my part I guess" Lucy said with a grin that didn't match her bandaged face.
"Damn Lucy, what have you been through in Alvarez?" Gray said.
"A lot" she answered, with a certain look that neither mage couldn't decipher.
"Okay…that brings me to another point." Erza turned to Gray. "What happened to that Element Four mage?"
"Juvia?" Gray raised an eyebrow. "Oh, she left already. She said she wanted to join Fairy Tail as soon as possible, so she ran off to find Gramps."
"I see..." Erza sighed. "She helped us out a lot, so I would have liked to be there to back her up."
Gray frowned. "Shouldn't you be resting as well, Erza?"
"I can't say I've taken enough damage to be a cause for concern." Erza smirked. "I'm just happy to be alive is all."
"Yeah, that's true, you're not nearly as bad as flame brain who went off and practically used up all their magic while having a hole in their stomach and multiple broken bones" Gray scoffed.
"I'm still alive and breathing, aren't I Fullbuster?" Lucy whispered pulling his face to hers.
Gray's jaw dropped. "Sorry!"
The group exchanged glances, before bursting into loud laughter.
Wally rubbed his head sheepishly. "Um, yeah... sorry about all the trouble we caused, Erza."
"Meow!" Milliana nodded. "Sorry, Er-chan."
Erza shook her head. "I'm the one who should apologize to you guys. I didn't do anything to help you for eight years..."
"You were threatened by Jellal!" Sho protested. "You had to stay away from us in order to keep us safe from him!"
"I can't use excuses like that." Erza frowned.
*Whack*
The room went silent as everyone stared at the annoyed looking demon slayer, who was holding her injured hand she had just used to slap Erza.
"Already told you Erza, you did what you needed to do to keep your kin safe, so stop blubbering about it" Lucy mumbles walking back to the couch she was laying on, Natsu on her heels after coming back in from the window he was thrown out of.
"I always believed in you, Erza." Simon observed. "And I never stopped trying to protect you from him... because I lo-"
"Listen up metal jaw giant, I thought I already told you she was my mate, so back off" Lucy said having practically teleported to where Simon and Erza were.
Simon looked to Erza for confirmation, only to receive an apologetic shrug.
"Simon, I know" Erza replied after kicking Lucy out the hotel room window. "I know exactly how you feel about me, Simon. And it hurts to say it, but I can't return those feelings."
Simon looked down, disappointed, having expected that.
"Was it Jellal?" he asked.
While Erza had kicked Lucy far out the hotel window, thanks to her excellent hearing she was still in distance to hear Erza say yes, slightly hurting the blonde's feelings.
That is until she remembered the words Erza told her before she went to fight Jellal causing a smile to erupt on her face and cause any feelings of jealousy to disappear.
"I kinda figured..." Simon gave a small smile. "But what about Lucy?"
Erza simply sighs waving her hand in the air, "It's a work in progress." Wally burst into loud laughter.
"Really Erza, cause I coulda swore you were crying for Lucy when the tower was about to explode and even said she promised to find her way back to you" Happy said snickering.
"I have no idea what you're talk- "
"What's this about Erza crying for me" Lucy said throwing an arm around Erza and pulling her close to her.
"I said nothing of the sort!" Erza yelled before slamming the blonde on the ground.
"I love you too mate" Lucy said.
"Uh, yes well, the fact remains that we have no place to go now." Simon turned to the others.
"Why don't you all join Fairy Tail?" Erza suggested.
Sho, Wally, Milliana and Simon exchanged uncertain looks.
"It may not be the freedom you were searching for, but there is more than enough of it in Fairy Tail." Erza grinned.
"Salamander said the same thing!" Wally remembered, warming up to the idea.
"Besides, I'd love to have you guys around." Erza added.
"Lucy!" Erza barged into the blonde's room where she was asleep. "Have you seen Simon, Sho, Wally, and Milliana?"
"Leave me alone mate, I'm asleep."
"Lucy please, my friends are gone, and I can't find them..." Erza sighed.
Lucy hearing the sadness in her mates' voice merely sniffed the air before pointing to the beach.
"So that's what they've decided."
Wally sighed and leaned against their boat. "Do you really think we'll be fine in the outside world?"
"We don't have a choice." Sho told him. "We have to. We can't cause any more trouble for sister."
The two boys slowly pushed the boat into the sea.
"Now let's go." Simon ordered. "Before they notice we're gone!"
The group turned to face Erza who had just called out to them. "Too late."
"Don't bother trying to stop us!" Sho commanded. "We lived our whole lives in that tower, now we're trying to go out and see the outside world!" He clenched his fists. "We want to live our lives for ourselves... to seek out the things we really want to do! That's the freedom we've been looking for!"
Erza smiled. "With determination like that, I don't doubt you'll accomplish whatever you set your minds to. However," She requipped into a more impressive suit of armor. "There are three rules every leaving member of Fairy Tail needs to hear, so listen up!"
Their jaws dropped.
"One!" Erza shouted. "You must never reveal any sensitive information about Fairy Tail to outsiders, not as long as you live!"
"Two!" She plunged a large flag into the sand. "You must never use clients you met during your service to the guild for personal gain!"
"What's a 'client'?"
"Three!" Erza grit her teeth. "Though are paths will differ from here on out, you must always live out your lives to the fullest!" She announced. "Never consider your life to be insignificant! Never in your lives can you forget the friends you held dear!"
She raised her sword to the sky. "Let the Fairy Tail send-off... begin!"
"See you guys again sometime!" Natsu cheered. He then spat out several fireballs that exploded, brightly visible against the night sky.
"Don't forget the ice!" Gray smirked, creating a hail of ice crystals that was in sharp contrast with the fire.
Lucy simply shrugged from where she lay on the ground shooting golden sparks from her fist, being too injured to do much else.
"Honestly, I would like to stay with you guys forever..." Erza whispered as they observed the lights. "However, if it would mean I was holding you back... then I just want to wish you well on your journey. No matter what, I will never forget any of you. Besides... those painful memories are what helps us make it to tomorrow and grow stronger."
Lucy noticed how her mate was too occupied whispering to herself to really notice anything else and with that an idea came to mind.
"Don't do it brat" Aquarius warned, already knowing what Lucy was going to do.
"Do it, princess!" Loke yelled.
"I'm gonna do it" Lucy grinned, as she snuck behind Erza who was still in the middle of her speech.
"Walk tall." She boomed. "And I too shall walk tall, always looking ahe-mmph" Erza's eyes widened as she felt someone grab her face to kiss her, stopping her from continuing to speak.
When she finally got her wits together Erza saw that it was the bane of her existence, who had grabbed hold of her cheeks to kiss her and was still at it. Surprising both Lucy and she however, she had deepened the kiss, enjoying the warmness emitting from Lucy's body.
"Go Lucy!" Gray whistled.
"Lucy! Lucy!" Natsu cheered, happy for his friend to have finally gotten a kiss from Erza, unknown to him she had stolen it from Erza.
Lucy had decided that the best course of action to speed up her and Erza's courting ritual was to sneak up on her mate to steal the kiss she had deprived her of before the fight with Jellal. So far from what she was experiencing Erza was enjoying it since she hadn't been punched yet and her mate deepened the kiss.
That is until Erza realized what she was doing and who she was doing it with and sent Lucy flying with an armored fist to the gut.
"Worth it" Lucy yells, as Natsu and Happy hurry after their friend, all three missing Erza touch her lips and smile.
"Dumb demon" she whispers walking off, a small smile on her face.
"Whoa" Lucy grinned, looking up at the huge building with an arm thrown over Erza, who didn't even try to toss Lucy off since she was still slightly injured. Or at least that was the excuse she was giving Gray and Natsu.
"They finished it already. The new Fairy Tail building!"
Gray blinked. "We have an open-air cafe now?"
"And a souvenir shop by the entrance." Erza observed. "Hello, Max."
"Take a look!" The sand user waved them over. "We have Fairy Tail shirts, wristbands, mugs and towels, even special lacrima crystals! But the best items we have are these mage figures!" He pulled out a Makarov figure and a Natsu one.
"Hey, look!" Happy held out a figure of Lucy. "They even have a Lucy figure!"
Lucy watched as Max pressed a button on the figure and a golden shield sprung out of her hands.
"Awesome! I'm an action figure, this will go great with the one I have of me from Alakitasia" She observed.
"Wait, you have another action figure?" Gray asked.
"Yeah, Alakitasia really liked me" Lucy said smiling, her eyes widening when she saw her mate's action figure.
"I'll take that one!" Lucy yelled grabbing Erza's figure then showing it off to Erza who blushed at the fact Lucy had bought her own action figure.
"And look I bought you my action figure that way when you miss me you can just look at this and be reminded of me!" Lucy said with a goofy grin that struck Erza's heart.
Looking away, Erza grabbed the action figure, mumbling a thanks for the gift.
"Hey, you guys!" Cana cheered, running up to them. "Come on, you gotta check out the inside!"
Natsu crossed his arms angrily. "It's not like before."
"Hey there." A waitress approached them. "Welcome to Fairy Tail."
Gray's jaw dropped. "The waitresses have new outfits!"
Lucy stared shamelessly at the waitresses too until she felt a smack on the back of her head from Erza.
"Sorry mate" Lucy said, "Hey I got an idea you should totally wear one of those outfits, so I don't ogle any of the waitresses anymore!" Lucy said, to Erza's annoyance.
"Or you could just not stare at them" Erza said.
Lucy nodded her head at Erza and shot a thumbs up, "Got it, only stare at you!", making Erza slap her forehead.
"No, you can stare at other peop-you know what fine, do what you want" she sighed.
"So, you're back." Makarov greeted them, approaching with a blue-haired girl in tow. "I'd like you to meet Juvia, our newest member!"
Gray smirked. "So, you did join, huh?"
"Yes!" The girl nodded enthusiastically. "Juvia is glad to see you all again!"
"We also have another new member." Makarov announced. "Come, introduce yourself."
The group's jaws dropped when Gajeel walked up to them. "Hmph..."
"What are you doing here?"
"Listen here Gajeel, you hurt my Levy-chan so I'm not exactly happy with you, but since you're my guild mate and you gave me some info about that fire demon, I'm gonna give you the benefit of the drought" garnering a confused glance form him and head shakes from the others.
She glanced at master who was watching her, "I see you step out of line once and your gone, know this I'm the most powerful wizard in all of Fairy Tail. The old man has nothing on me" she whispered, before letting go of the pale man.
"Got it."
"So, what's the deal?" Gajeel scowled. "Why'd you ask me to meet you out here? Make it fast, I have to get to work."
"Work?" Jet sneered. "This coming from the guy who wrecked our guild?"
"You can go do missions in any other guild!" Droy added. "Just get lost!"
"You guys sure can hold a grudge." Gajeel smirked. "Come on, guys, can't we get along?"
Levy peeked out from behind a tree. "Jet, Droy, don't... I'm over that. Really."
"I've had it." Jet glared at Gajeel. "You're ruining the guild's reputation."
"Hmph."
"You won't act so smug for long!" Jet's form blurred and he crossed the distance between them in half a second, going to kick Gajeel back before his leg was caught.
"What the hell!"
Jet looked to who had caught him, his face paling at the frowning blonde staring at both him and Droy.
"Why are you attacking another guild mate?" Lucy growled.
"Are you kidding me Lucy!" Jet yelled.
"He attacked us and hurt Levy! You of all people should hate this guy" Droy yelled.
"And I do, but we are guild mates now. Meaning we do not fight each other unless it is those lame guild fights" she said, releasing her magic she looked to the two mages,
"Apologize to Gajeel and go back inside."
"No way!" Jet and Droy yelled, "He needs to apologize to us.
"What did you say to me?" Lucy said her eyebrow quirked.
"Uh…he never apologized to Levy!"
Lucy clicked her tongue, then looked to Gajeel who was sweating at the appearance of her.
"You never apologized to my levy-chan?"
"Uh..."
"Fine, Gajeel apologize to Levy. Jet, Droy apologize to Gajeel."
Hey why don't we get an apology?"
"Because you were going to beat up Gajeel! Now apologize or I'll make you!"
"We're sorry!" the three men yelled.
Lucy looked to Levy to see if she accepted the apology and when she saw her roll her eyes and smile, she nodded, letting the three men leave.
"Thank you Lu-chan" Levy said with a smile.
"Of course, Levy anything for my lil book worm" Lucy said. The name call earning her a kick to the shin.
"Mother fu- "
Unknown to the mages a way off a burly man watched them argue, act weak, and overall make Fairy Tail look like a disgrace.
Useless! Laxus thought, Fairy Tail... this isn't the guild it should be. But that will change... once I make it mine!
ONWARDS TO THE NEXT ARC! Don't know when I'll update this one since I have other fics to do but worry not it won't be too long I just have other things. Also I found a job so that will be getting into my updating schedule too. But don't think I'm abandoning this.
People have asked for a description of Lucy: She wears a white cloak for reference think Crime Sorciere's design but in that color. she wears black jeans with combat boots and a plain sleeveless shirt, which allows you to see her fairy tail emblem on her right arm and the arm wrap on her left arm. The scar on her face is like yamcha's from dragonball, the x scar on his cheek. Her hair is held in one side ponytail as canon but that's about it when it comes to canon looks. And as of now she has a scar on her palm from grabbing the sword from Erza. Hope you guys don't hate this description of Lucy too much, but just a reminder this is a different Lucy not the one raised to like skirts and stuff.