Mama Mirajane-11
Era, the main hall of the Magic Council. Said wizards were holding an emergency meeting.
"Are you saying it still exists?" One of them asked. "But that's impossible."
"About a decade ago, construction began on the R-System. A structure designed by a cult of Black Magic users."
"But we had all seven of those towers destroyed. There shouldn't be any ruins left."
"Evidently there was an eighth tower we missed in the waters of Ka Elm."
"How did we miss it? Is the structure close to completion?" One of the members asked.
"I'm afraid I don't know. Our team mysteriously went missing after sending these images."
"Well it looks finished to me."
"But why would they revive the R-System after all this time?"
"The tower of Heaven. It's not the R-System, it's the Tower of Heaven. To be clear."
"It makes no difference what it's called. It utilizes forbidden magic. There would be chaos if word got out it even existed."
"We'll have to find a way to subdue them. I suggest we dispatch the military."
"That's not an option."
"What do you mean?"
"We'd be putting our soldiers in danger because we don't know who we're dealing with here."
"According to our latest intelligence, the black magic cult thought to be responsible for the R-System is no longer occupying the tower."
"They're not? Just who is then?"
"It's a group of wizards, apparently led by a man named Jellal." Everyone looked over to Siegran.
"Jellal?"
"But that's the name of your twin brother. Right Siegran?"
"Yes, unfortunately. That would be him."
~Meanwhile~
On a small boat sailing through the water, sat the four wizards of our two kidnapped hero and heroine. One of which was using his fire to sail them gracefully along with water.
"Wahoo, I love not being motion sick." Natsu cheered as he continued to use his fire to propel the boat along.
"Good thing Scythe's spell for preventing motion sickness is still active." Grey stated. "Natsu, we're almost there right? Slow us down."
"I'm worried about all those people that had been trapped in those cards you think they're okay?" Lucy stated as Natsu stopped using his flames, allowing the water current to push them along.
"Ren and Nora alerted the military, before we left, so I'm sure they're fine, and released from the cards." Grey stated.
"I hope so." Lucy sighed.
"Wait a minute, where the heck are we?" Grey asked.
"I don't know, we've been following Salamander's lead." Juvia stated.
"Natsu, are you sure we've been going in the right direction?" Lucy questioned.
Unfortunately the fire breather couldn't talk, as he was too busy hurling his cookies to give a proper response.
"Man, we're relying on you sense of smell. This is the absolute worst time for Scythe's spell to wear off." Grey complained.
"How dare you disappoint my love with your childish actions." Juvia glared.
"Geez, I can't believe how easily they were able to take us out and kidnap Erza, Happy and Scythe." Grey growled. "We're pathetic."
"Scythe wouldn't see it that way." Lucy sighed. "Scythe would just call it a successful surprise attack. He believes in all of us, but he doesn't believe in himself, all because of what happened to him. He blames himself for that."
"What exactly does he blame himself for?" Juvia questioned.
"The destruction and slaughter of his entire village." Lucy stated. "He had found an injured unconscious man, in the fields, but he was just a decoy, a red herring. He was one of Grimoire Heart's elite fighters, and led them right to Scythe's village."
"I can see how he blames himself then." Grey stated. "He allowed his sense of doing what's right, and caring for others, to take charge and help the man, even as a child, he probably wouldn't have been able to spot the trouble that man would bring."
"But it's not his fault he…"
"I'm not saying it's his fault." Grey stated, interrupting Juvia's argument. "All I'm saying is, he's blaming the wrong person. He did what was right, he followed his instincts, and he stayed true to who he is, even as a toddler, Scythe knew what the right thing to do was. The fault falls solely Grimoire Heart's."
"What the… I just got a weird feeling." Natsu said, recovering a bit.
Everyone looked up to where Natsu was looking and saw the birds flying through the air begin to fall to the ocean below, as if suddenly dying midflight.
"The birds." Lucy gasped in horror.
"What's happening to them?" Grey questioned.
The boat suddenly rocked as if bumping into something in the water. They all looked down to see ship parts and dead fish floating about in the water.
"Not the fish too." Grey gasped.
"I've never seen anything like it." Juvia exclaimed.
"That's wreckage from a Fiore Naval Ship." Grey stated, recognizing the flag hanging onto one of the floating pieces of driftwood.
"Okay I'm creeped out." Lucy stated.
"Hey, what's that?" Natsu asked, something in the distance catching his eye.
The others looked over, and saw what Natsu was looking at, with a creeping vibe coming from it. A large structure that reached into the sky twisted around like some sort of snake.
"It must be the Tower of Heaven." Lucy exclaimed, remembering how the people who took their friends were talking about it.
"I'll protect us." Juvia said as a bubble of water began to form around them.
"Whoa." Natsu exclaimed.
"My water dome will keep us from being seen." Juvia explained.
"Nice work Juvia." Lucy smiled.
~At the Docks of the Tower~
"The Tower of Heaven, it's been completed?" Erza gasped.
"I don't know why you're so surprised. We've been working on it since you left almost ten years ago." Sho exclaimed.
"Has it been that long?" Erza questioned. "It's amazing how much you've all changed." She stated, feeling Scythe's card prison moving around in her stomach as he continued to try and pound away at its barriers.
~Back in the boat~
"I can't take it." Natsu moaned.
"Chill out we're almost there." Lucy stated.
"That's it, next time we go somewhere, we're knocking him out first." Grey stated.
~Inside the tower's prison~
(Que Song… Believer: Imagine Dragons)
"The ceremony will take place later tonight. You'll be staying here until then." Sho explained.
'Ceremony? They're going to activate the R-System?' Erza mentally gasped before she felt something pop inside her stomach.
"I'm sorry, but this is the price of betrayal, and although you've hurt him, Jellal's given you a special honor. He's chosen you to be the sacrifice for the ceremony. Of course if you don't work, there's always your friend, nestled inside your stomach." Sho exclaimed. "I'm sad I won't ever get to see you again, but you're going to help us get to heaven. Oh, you're trembling. Are you afraid of being sacrificed? Or does this cell, bring back memories? Remember our escape attempt? You were the one who ended up being punished, even though I came up with the plan, but I was too scared to say anything. I'm sorry, it was my fault."
"That's in the past Sho. Right now I'm worried none of you realize how dangerous it is to resurrect someone using the R-System." Erza said, trying to keep what was pushing against the top of her stomach down until the moment was right.
"Wow. I didn't expect you to know what its purpose was. That's quite a surprise." Sho exclaimed.
"The 'Revive System.' In exchange for countless sacrifices, it brings a single person back from the dead. It is inhumane, forbidden, black magic." Erza stated.
"Sure it's forbidden, but whoever said magic had to be humane? I happen to believe magic wears away at ones humanity." Sho stated.
"That's a black magic philosophy. Are you one of them now?" Erza questioned.
"Are you seriously comparing us to those idiots? They thought this tower was only good for resurrection magic. We know better because we've been enlightened. Jellal told us that he can use the tower to get us into heaven." Sho exclaimed.
"To heaven?" Erza asked.
"You see, once we use the R-System to revive him, the world will be reborn, and we will become its rulers." Sho stated, turning his back to her, missing the large glowing bulge that was traveling up Erza's throat. "The cult members who kept us prisoner all those years. The loved ones of the sister who betrayed us. The citizens who live their entire lives blissfully ignorant. Those fools on the magic council. We're going to put fear and sorrow in the hearts of every last one of them. They'll be stripped of their freedom and denied any rights once we're in control. They'll have no choice but to bow down before us." Sho shouted as he began laughing manically.
"Really, that's Heaven? Because that sounds an awful lot like Slavery and Genocide to me."
Sho turned around just as a knee slammed him in the gut, before an armored elbow knocked him upside the chin, knocking the back of his head against the bars of the cell, knocking him out cold as he fell to the ground.
"Man he's annoying. How could you be friends with him?" Scythe asked breaking Erza's bindings.
"He's just mislead." Erza sighed rubbing her wrists.
"C'mon, let's get out of here, and find Jellal. Knowing you, you're gonna want a little payback for what he's done." Scythe chuckled retrieving his falchions from the Celestial Armory.
"Sorry about holding you down, I was trying to wait until the time was right." Erza exclaimed reequipping into her armor.
(End Song…)
"It's fine. But word of the wise, eat something other than strawberry shortcake, you'll get diabetes from what I saw in that stomach of yours." Scythe cringed. "It was not pleasant."
"U-understood." Erza said, her bangs overshadowing her eyes before she looked at her fallen friend, an image of his younger self flashing over her eyes. "Sho… What could've possibly caused you to change so drastically? Jellal, what has he done to them?"
~Elsewhere~
"Ugh!" Happy gasped as he woke up. "I'm totally surrounded by kitty cats. Whoa where am I? Creepy."
"Meow." Millianna smiled, her eyes seeming bigger than before.
"A creepy cat girl." Happy shouted jumping in surprise.
"So how are you feeling?" Millianna asked, motioning her hand like a paw.
"Well, I've been better." Happy stated.
"Wow! I've got a talking kitty." Millianna cheered hugging him instantly.
"I'm not one of your dolls, you're going to hug me to death." Happy shouted.
"Milli, doll. Better let go before you knock off that cat." Wally exclaimed.
"Meow."
"It's you." Happy shouted.
"Sure a talking cat is dandy. Know what's dandier? A cat that can talk." Wally said making an awful pun.
"But that's the same thing." Happy shouted as Millianna swiped her hands in excitement.
~Huntsmen and Huntress MMA Academy~
Yang was in the middle of punching her scale machine, happy to be able to do her own workouts and get paid for it again, until a chill ran down her spine.
"Sis, what's wrong?" Ruby asked, as she saw the chill, walking by with a box of decorations.
"My pun senses are tingling." Yang stated. "Someone made a good pun and I didn't write it down."
'That's one less bad pun for her to plagiarize.' Ruby mentally smiled as she sighed in relief.
~Back at Millianna's room~
"How'd I end up in this place, and what happened to Natsu?" Happy shouted.
"Don't get mouthy, or you'll end up six feet under just like your little pink friend." Wally stated pointing at Happy.
"There's no way this guy could have taken down Natsu." Happy stated as two guards came running up to the room.
"We got bad news." One of them said.
"Erza Scarlet, and her accomplice have escaped their cell." The other one said.
"They did. I don't know about her friend, but that's Erzie for you." Millianna smiled.
"Well, ain't no way the broad's busting out of this tower again. Same for her friend, they may be powerful, but it would take nothing short of a Wizard Saint to escape here." Wally stated.
"You two are in for it now." Happy smiled deviously.
"What's that kitty?" Millianna meowed.
"Scythe is one of the strongest Sorcerers in Fairy Tail. He's an Etherion Godslayer, has reequip magic similar to Erza's. Not only that, but he was knighted by the Celestial Spirit King, giving him immense strength and speed, not to mention he can stop a blast from a Jupiter Cannon, and he was able to do that long before he was Knighted by a celestial being." Happy smirked. "If you really think about it, he's five of the Ten Wizard Saints, in one." He chuckled, his scare tactic working a bit well, given the looks of fear on both Millianna's and Wally's faces.
~Meanwhile, back at the Tower's docks~
Three of our four heroes were at the steps, waiting for any news on Juvia's search in the ocean as they were scouting the steps above.
"They got a ton of lookouts." Grey stated.
"Let's charge 'em." Natsu smirked.
"Don't even think about it." Lucy growled. "Remember they have Erza, Happy, and Scythe. If we screw this up, we could be putting them in danger, as well as risking Mira's wrath on our heads."
"Man this is going to be tricky." Grey exclaimed.
"I found an underwater passageway into the tower." Juvia said remerging from the ocean.
"Seriously? Way to go." Grey praised.
"You hear that Lucy? I was just praised by Grey, not you." Juvia mocked.
"Yeah, yeah." Lucy sighed in annoyance.
"We can swim there in ten minutes." Juvia stated.
"We can hold our breath that long right?" Natsu questioned.
"Probably. Though Scythe told me he grows gills and webbed hands and feet, when he uses Water Godslayer Magic." Grey stated.
"Holding your breath for ten minutes is not humanly possible you dopes!" Lucy screamed.
"In that case, I suggest you wear these." Juvia said holding a giant bubble of water in her hand. "It's a water shell containing oxygen. This way you can breathe while underwater."
"Wow, you're awesome, and who are you again?" Natsu questioned causing Juvia to feel depressed.
A while later, the group of four began swimming through the ocean, entering a whole new world of underwater reefs, machinery, and skeletons. Eventually they made it to the entrance of the tower under the ocean's surface, climbing up one of the rocky walls where they proceeded to remove their breathing masks.
"So we're beneath the tower now huh?" Grey questioned.
"I wonder where they're keeping our friends." Natsu exclaimed.
"They may look silly, but they sure do work." Lucy chuckled admiring the skill of Juvia's magic with the water shells.
"I'm impressed you made it here because I purposely made your shell smaller so you'd have trouble breathing." Juvia said evil stars in her eyes.
"Gee thanks." Lucy stated in concern and sarcasm.
"Intruders." A man shouted riding on a monstrous beast spotting them.
"Uh, oh." Lucy gasped.
Dozens upon dozens of guards made their way out, cornering the four intruders instantly while trying to intimidate them.
"Identify yourselves." One of the guards shouted.
"Guess we don't have a choice, we're gonna have to fight them." Grey exclaimed.
"Yes." Juvia agreed.
"You losers want to know who we are?" Natsu asked as the magic energy began to flow around him. "We're the wizards who're going to pound your faces in." he shouted, using Fire-Dragon-Iron-Fist, to create a smoke screen using both water and dust from the small island they stood on.
"What the?" The guard on the creature questioned.
"We're from Fairy Tail." Natsu shouts, as the four of them jump up through the smoke, taking him by surprise.
"Ow so hot." The guards shout getting hit with Natsu's breath attack.
"Okay, Ice Make: Lance." Grey shouted sending the pointed ice projectiles at them.
"So cold." The guards shouted getting hit with the attacks.
Lucy landed on one of the platforms where the men began to swoon over her figure.
"Oh wow. She's fighting in her bikini." One of the guards awed.
"Open, gate of the maiden, Virgo." Lucy shouted summoning the pink haired spirit maid.
"Did you summon me, princess?" The maid asked.
"It's a maid." One of the guards shouted as they all went crazy over the sight of both gorgeous bombshells.
"She's way hotter than bikini girl." Another shouted.
"These pervs need to be punished." Lucy said pointing at them.
"As you wish." Virgo stated, her irises and pupils becoming outlined in red.
All the guards screamed as Virgo plowed her way through towards them, with a determined, and creepy smile on her face, enjoying she was given an order that involved punishments.
Meanwhile, Juvia was down on the ground level, standing in the middle of several guards as they one attack after another through her without yielding any results.
"It's like she's made of water." One of the guards stated.
"Careful men, blades won't affect her." Another shouted.
"But I bet our guns will." A third guard responded as they began to open fire, proving it to be futile.
"Whoa, what's with this chick?"
"Drip-drip-drop." Juvia stated before sending off her attack. "Water Slicer."
They all continued their barrage of attacks, their opponents standing no chance against them as they all broke through their defenses with determination in stride.
"That seems to have done the job." Juvia said as the last man fell.
"Good work team." Grey exclaimed.
"I hope we're not calling attention to… aw who am I kidding?" Lucy groaned knowing there was still some perverted gazes on her and Virgo, even when unconscious.
"I'm afraid so miss." Virgo confirmed.
"So where's the blockhead, buddy?" Natsu question the barely conscious man.
Without anyone saying a word, the stone face on the wall opened and created a ramp for them to climb up onto.
"What's that?" Natsu questioned.
"I think it's their way of saying, come on in. Be on your guard." Grey exclaimed as Natsu started climbing first.
~Twenty minutes later~
"Hey blockhead." Natsu shouted.
"Geez, would you keep it down?" Lucy scolded.
"I don't see the point in sneaking around anymore. Not after all that ruckus that went on downstairs." Grey exclaimed as the three of them were sitting at a large table eating.
"What the heck are you guys eating?" Lucy questioned.
"I suggest you join them before there's nothing left." Virgo exclaimed.
"No thanks." Lucy sweat dropped.
"The door that welcomed us in was controlled by a magic user." Juvia exclaimed.
"Then they are well aware of our presence." Virgo confirmed.
"Why would they let us in?" Lucy questioned.
"You think they're trying to provoke us?" Grey asked.
"I don't know." Lucy said in thought.
"Not to be rude, but your bikini leaves little to the imagination." Virgo stated.
"Should I change?" Lucy asked covering up her chest with her arms.
"Yes. I'll help you." Virgo said, in anticipation.
"Wait you mean, right here?" Lucy questioned as Virgo removed her top.
"Holy…" Grey stated the food in his mouth dropping to the ground, as his face reddened and his pupils widened to where his iris wasn't visible.
"Please stop looking at her Grey." Juvia begged.
"I brought this over for you from the celestial world." Virgo explained.
"So boys, what do you think? Do I look super cute in this outfit or what?" Lucy questioned doing a pose, wearing a big dress with a floral celestial design and a bandana.
"Oh yeah. You look great." Grey exclaimed.
"Don't compliment her." Juvia cried.
"He loves her." Virgo mocked.
"Don't you start doing that to." Lucy sighed in annoyance as the three of them went black and white like old cartoons.
"And just when were you hanging out with Happy, Birdo?" Natsu questioned.
~Millianna's Room~
Achoo… "I think I'm going to go crazy if I have to stay in this place much longer." Happy complained.
~Back with the gang~
"I wish you luck, princess." Virgo explained.
"Thanks for the help Virgo." Lucy smiled as her celestial spirit vanished in rays of light. "Oh, did you guys want me to ask her to bring you a dry change of clothes too?" Lucy questioned turning to the two men.
"Nah, this does the trick just fine." Grey said drying his pants to the heat of Natsu's flames.
"He's not a dryer you know." Lucy shouted.
"The intruders." A guard shouted as five of them came storming in.
"We found them." Another shouted.
Before the four of them could do anything, four rays of light sliced through the air, knocking the five guards to the ground as the duo sword wielders knocked them back.
"Erza, Scythe." Natsu and Grey shouted in unison.
"Thank goodness you're both okay." Lucy smiled.
"Wow, I knew Scythe was cool, but she is so cool as well." Juvia exclaimed.
Erza and Scythe turned to them, their expressions turning from one of determination to fight, to complete shock at seeing their friends there.
"It's you. What are you doing here inside the tower?" Erza questioned.
"Looking for the two of you." Lucy stated.
"We haven't met, Ms. Erza, my name is Juvia and…"
"Go home." Scythe stated interrupting Juvia. "This place is far too dangerous."
"You're not going to scare me into leaving. I ain't going anywhere till that blockhead gets a good taste of my fist. I'm gonna make him pay for shooting me in the mouth." Natsu argued.
"You have to go." Erza repeated.
"But why?" Lucy asked.
"Your friends kidnapped Happy. I can't leave here without him." Natsu exclaimed.
"They got him to? It must have been Millianna." Erza exclaimed.
"He'll be fine Natsu. From what Erza has told me about her childhood friends, Millianna is a cat lover, she wouldn't do anything to hurt him, and she would even fight her own friends to protect a cat she loves, especially a talking one like Happy." Scythe explained.
"Where can I find him?" Natsu questioned.
"I'm not sure." Erza answered.
"This means war." Natsu glared swiping his thumb against his nose.
"Who are you declaring war against?" Grey questioned.
"The jerks that kidnapped my little buddy." Natsu shouted running off with a trail of smoke in his wake.
"Wait. Natsu." Erza began.
"He'll be fine Erza, remember, he's stronger than he looks, especially when it comes to his friend's safety." Scythe exclaimed.
"What a moron." Grey sighed.
"Poor Natsu." Juvia exclaimed.
"Let's go and help him." Lucy shouted.
"No." Erza stated raising her blade, pointing it to the wall, while crossing with Scythe's, pointing to the ceiling.
"We promise we'll being them both back to the guild with us, but you three need to leave immediately." Scythe exclaimed as they lowered their blades.
"Don't be ridiculous. We can help you." Lucy complained.
"We don't need or want your help." Scythe stated.
"This is our problem, it doesn't involve you." Erza added.
"How can you say that? You saw Natsu. I'd say we're plenty involved." Grey stated.
"Erza, Scythe, what's up with this tower, and who is this Jellal guy?" Lucy questioned, her expression softening. "I can understand if you don't want to tell us. You said the creeps who kidnapped you used to be friends of yours, right Erza? Well, we're your friends now and we're here to help you, and no matter what happens, we're always going to have your back."
"Yeah, she's right." Grey exclaimed.
"Leave." Erza said, almost on the verge of begging.
"Come on." Lucy complained.
"Please just go, this is personal to the both of us." Scythe exclaimed.
"You're freaking me out 'cause this isn't like you at all." Grey exclaimed. "What happened to the woman who'd tell us to shut up, and come along whether we wanted to or not? Or the young man who'd force us to continue working on a job that required us to pay for property damage we caused because we couldn't afford to pay the jewel?"
"Grey please." Scythe began. "Talk some sense into him, please big-sis-Juvia."
"We wanna stay here and help you out." Grey continued. "Master taught us, that even the strongest warriors need a little backup every once in a while."
Erza slumped her shoulders, and Scythe sighed in defeat as he sent his swords back to their place in the Celestial Armory, before they turned around, revealing the saddened look of desperation on Erza's face.
Grey flinched and put his hand to his chest as he had never seen Erza like this, and Lucy gasped a bit in shock, with Juvia looking a bit confused and concerned at the same time.
"I'm sorry, but you can't help us now." Erza stated.
"The odds are stacked against us. Win or lose this battle, we're staring death in the face." Scythe added with a soft sigh. "I doubt even I can come out of this one unscathed."
"What do you mean by that?" Grey questioned.
"There's no point in fighting what's inevitable. I can't. But what I can do is share my story with you…" Erza stated. "While I'm still here."
Lucy, Grey, and Juvia looked at the duo with anticipation etched into their expressions.
"This building is the Tower of Heaven. It's also called the R-System. Over a decade ago, a cult dedicated to black magic began its construction. It would be used to cast a forbidden spell that brings the dead back to life. The spell required multiple human sacrifices. So the cult abducted citizens of the surrounding areas, and forced them to build the tower as their slaves. The only reason I know this, is because I was once one of those people, forced to build this monstrosity of a tower." Erza explained receiving a gasp from the three teammates. "Anyone who dared to resist the cult or tried to escape the tower, would mysteriously disappear. We never had any peace of mind. We lived in constant fear. But we bonded and made friends, we could trust despite that, even though we knew we couldn't be together long. One of my friends in the tower was a boy named Jellal."
"My past and Erza's were the same, but it turns out they were connected from the beginning." Scythe sighed as he began to tell his part. "The reason why this is personal to me, is because Jellal, was the one who put a target on my village for Grimoire Heart to attack."
"While we were attempting to find where Jellal is through the guards, one of them slipped and mentioned Scythe's village being on the list of villages targeted for more workers and sacrifices." Erza explained before she continued explaining her part. "I was in punishment for something I was guiltless of. After I returned everything changed. So we took a stand for our freedom. We hoped to save our dear friend Jellal, losing Grandpa Rob in the process. But when I freed Jellal, he was corrupted by the spirit of Zeref. He told me I could leave, and threatened to kill all our friends, if I ever returned on my own accord. But now he's gone too far. He's corrupted our friends. Don't you see? We have to fight Jellal, we have no choice; we have to do it."
"I don't know, maybe it's just me, but for some reason the name Zeref sounds familiar." Grey exclaimed.
"I'm sure, he was a legendary black wizard." Erza stated.
"Wait a minute, I remember someone saying the monster that came out of the Lullaby flute we destroyed in Clover, was one of Zeref's demons." Lucy exclaimed.
"The demons are known as the books of Zeref. According to what I've heard Hades talk about, they all come Zeref's magic lab, which is known as the Library of Zeref because all the demons he has asleep, are in book form." Scythe explained. "Hades plans on finding that lab, bringing Zeref back, and concurring the world with him, in 'purification plans'." Scythe explained.
"I never mentioned it, in case it opened up some old wounds. But I suspect Deliora was a book from the Library of Zeref as well." Erza explained causing Grey to gasp in shock.
"If this sorcerer is as evil as you say, then why would Jellal want to resurrect him?" Juvia questioned.
"I don't understand his motives either. However, my old friend Sho said something to me about Zeref getting them to heaven." Erza stated.
"Yeah, right before she let me out of her stomach." Scythe shivered.
"What?" Juvia asked.
"Sho has stuffed his card prison down my throat, he broke free, but I had to keep Scythe down until the opportune moment." Erza explained with a blush.
"It wasn't a pleasant experience." Scythe added.
"Back to what Sho said. He said that when they resurrect Zeref, the world will be reborn, and they'll become its rulers." Erza explained.
"Okay, there's one thing that confuses me about these people who claim to be old friends of yours Erza." Lucy stated. "Why are they accusing you of betraying them? Don't they realize Jellal's the bad guy here?"
"It's not their fault. I'm sure he fed them all sorts of lies about me once I left. That doesn't change the fact that I abandoned them so long ago." Erza exclaimed. "In the end, I guess you could say I did betray them."
"Don't say stuff like that Erza. You didn't have a choice. If you returned Jellal would have killed them all." Scythe sighed.
"None of that matters anymore." Erza stated. "If I can defeat Jellal it'll all be over. Leave it to us okay?"
'Why do I get the feeling they're hiding something?' Grey mentally questioned as their conversation a few minutes ago played back in his mind. 'Why would they say those things? What do they even mean?'
"Sister, that's not true."
The group of five turned to see a bruised Sho standing there, a hurt and angered look on his face.
"Why? Why are you lying to them?" Sho questioned.
"Sho." Erza sighed.
"You think by making yourself the martyr you're going to get sympathy from your friends?" Sho questioned before Scythe grabbed him by the front of the shirt.
"Would you shut your mouth and open your eyes man?" Scythe shouted. "Jellal has been playing you all for saps, he's been manipulating you from the very beginning, starting with the lie he told you all."
"That's not true." Sho shouted directing his attention to Erza. "Tell them the truth. That's not how it happened and you know it. You blew up the boats we were going to use to escape, and then you left on your own. We would have ended up at the bottom of the sea if it hadn't been for Jellal. He saved us. He warned us not to trust sorcerers and sorceresses like you, who haven't learned to use their magic properly. He said that you had become drunk with magical power and you didn't want anything to do with your past or the people you left behind."
"Dumbass. Did you ever think he might be lying, trying to turn you against Erza, make her out to be the bad guy? If you truly knew Erza, then you'd know she'd never do something so horrible." Scythe exclaimed, his grip on Sho's shirt tightening.
"You only think you know her. You weren't there back then, you don't know anything about us." Sho stated. "After you left big-sis, Jellal's words were my only salvation, and that's why I've spent all these years working to finish the tower for him. I did it for his sake. Now you're trying to tell me that it was all a lie? You really expect me to believe you're telling the truth and Jellal's been lying to us this whole time?"
"I KNOW MORE THAN YOU THINK DUMBASS." Scythe shouted his arm shaking. "My home, the village of Metalica, was destroyed eight months ago by Grimoire Heart. I spent a month in their prison, and six as their slave. I'm the only person in this room who understands at least a shred of what you and Erza went through."
"That's right." A familiar voice rang out.
A dark shadowy form appeared from nowhere behind Juvia, revealing himself as Simon.
"Why you…"
"Wait." Juvia said, holding her arm out, blocking Grey's path. "He doesn't pose a threat my dear. He never meant you any harm. At the resort, he knew he was attacking your ice decoy."
"But how?" Grey questioned.
"Since it was him who cast the darkness spell, it would only make sense that he would be the only one to see through it as if it were never cast at all." Scythe exclaimed letting Sho go.
"I came along in the hopes of discovering why he'd chosen to spare you." Juvia exclaimed.
"I'd expect no less from one of the Element4 of Phantom Lord and the God of War from Fairy Tail." Simon exclaimed.
"I don't understand." Sho said in disbelief.
"I had to fool you and the others into thinking I'd killed him, but I'd hoped our attack would lure them here." Simon explained. "I was also the one, who warned the village leader of Metalica of Grimoire Heart's attack, but by then it was too late and their Red Herring was already in."
"So you were lying too? How could you do that to me?" Sho questioned as Simon stepped closer.
"I'm sorry." Simon exclaimed putting a hand on Sho's shoulder. "Jellal had you under his spell and I couldn't convince you otherwise. So I played along until the time was right."
"So you knew all along." Erza stated.
"I've always believed in you, Erza, and there's nothing that could change that." Simon said turning to her, a clear image of his undamaged face shinning behind him. "I mean those words from the bottom of my heart."
"Simon." Erza exasperated as said man pulled her into a hug.
"I never knew. I can't believe I blindly followed him all those years." Sho exclaimed as he began sobbing. "I doubted you. 'Cause you left me all alone. You have no idea how much that hurt. I don't know what to do. I don't even know which one of you I should believe anymore."
"I know it must be difficult, to take all of this in at once. But Sho, there's something that you should know. Though it's been many years, I have never once forgotten about any of you." Erza said as he hugged her. "I'm sorry I couldn't stand up to him. I was so weak back then. Please forgive me."
"Now you're stronger and ready to face him, with the full wrath of a deity behind you." Simon exclaimed. "Isn't that right?"
Erza gave a silent response, with a slight nod of her head, as Scythe gave the same head motion, with a determined look in his eyes.
"I've waited all these years for this very moment. When a group of powerful sorcerers and sorceresses would gather here." Simon exclaimed.
"So what do you have planned?" Lucy asked.
"We're going to take down Jellal. We can do it if we work together." Simon exclaimed. "But first, we must keep Salamander and Wally from clashing."
"Good luck with that. Getting Natsu to calm down after someone's kidnapped Happy, would be the equivalent of walking a non-magical snowball across a tightrope strung across the top of a volcano with only a foot between the rope and lava." Scythe sighed. "But I'll track him down, and try to get him to calm down." With that, Scythe entered Satan soul and flew through the halls.
~Millianna's room~
"Geez, what's up with this room?" Natsu asked. "There're cats all over the place." He stated before gasping in awe. "Oh, I like that giant green kitty head."
Natsu picked it up and examined it in awe.
"Oh wow it's some kind of helmet or mask." Natsu smiled putting it on. "All right, let's go Happy. Aye sir." Natsu cheered after performing a cat noise. "Oh I'd make a good cat." He stated as he began to try and remove the kitty mask. "Man it's stuck on my giant noggin. What am I going to do? Ah, well, it looks cool, so who cares right?"
"Ain't that dandy." Wally smiled, leaning against the door frame with his hand turned into a gun.
"Oh man, Happy's going to freak out when he sees me!" Natsu cheered. "Oh, maybe I can scare Erza while I'm at it. Wait. I know Lucy's totally going to jump out of her skin, it'll be hilarious!" Natsu stated with an evil smile under the mask.
"End of the road for you, boy." Wally said aiming his gun at the back of Natsu's head.
ACHOO… "Ugh! I can't wipe my face! Gross!" Natsu exclaimed scratching at the front of it. "I should probably take this off for a sec." He stated tugging at the mask. "Come on, you stupid mask!"
"Let me give ya a hand, pal." Wally said taking aim firing, only to miss as Millianna pushing his gun out of range.
"What the?" Natsu asked as the shot went whizzing past him.
"Hey, cut it out, would ya, Millianna?" Wally shouted.
"It's the blockhead." Natsu shouted.
"What's the big idea?" Wally shouted as Millianna glared at him.
"You big ol' meanie!" Millianna stated sounding angered. "You were trying to hurt the itty-bitty-kitty-witty!"
"Wait a sec, that's not even a real cat you crazy broad!" Wally exclaimed.
Millianna looked to Natsu and waited for a response, only for one thing to be said.
"Meow." Natsu smirked.
"He is just the cutest wittle kitty ever!" Millianna cheered.
"A wise guy eh?" Wally asked pushing Millianna to the side. "I'm tellin' ya doll, this cat is a rat, see?"
Wally used his magic to make his body explode into different blocks, sending them after Natsu.
"Cat Make Barrier." Natsu shouted holding up a cat stuffy.
"No, don't hurt the poor kitty." Millianna shouted.
"For crying out loud, dollface, this dirty rat, is our enemy." Wally shouted.
"Meow." Natsu said maneuvering around.
"Dirty rat? It looks like a kitty to me." Millianna stated.
"It's a guy in a cat costume, you dimwit." Wally shouted.
"Meow." Natsu exclaimed before dropping the stuffy and jumping out of the way. "Cat Fire." Natsu shouted slamming his flame covered fists into the block.
"Drat. I guess Jellal wasn't pulling my leg when he told me this cats got some real claws. All right toots. It's go time." Wally stated.
"Meow. Pretending to be a cat when you're really just a person is a lousy thing to do." Millianna stated in anger.
"Oh yeah? You're one to talk." Natsu shouted pointing out her hypocrisy.
"Bad kitty restraint tube." Millianna shouted, her orange rope wrapping around his wrist.
"That's giving him the bracelets there doll." Wally smirked.
"It's time to put the bad little kitty to sleep." Millianna growled.
"Meow?"
Millianna's eyes widened turning to the cat themed couch, seeing a kitten sitting on it while looking no bigger than a three month old kitten.
"Oh, what a cute and precious little kitty." Millianna cooed rushing to it, and gently petting it.
"Get it together doll." Wally shouted.
"Please stop fighting, I have something to say." The kitten smiled.
"Oh, he can talk to." Millianna cooed. "What do you have to say pretty kitty?"
"We must work together, because Jellal is evil, and he's lied to you for ten years. Manipulating your minds, and lying to you about what Erza really did. She left to protect you, because Jellal threatened to kill you all if she didn't leave, and stay gone." The kitty stated.
"But why would he do that?" Millianna asked sounding upset.
"Because he was possessed by Zeref's essence, and he became evil." The kitty sighed. "Please, we have to work together to defeat him. Simon can tell you if you need to hear it from someone you trust ~POOF: Scythe is in the kitty's place~ instead of a mouth from one of your prisoners."
"Scythe." Natsu cheered.
"I'm sorry that I tricked you like that Millianna, but I thought it'd be the only way I'd get you to listen to me." Scythe apologized.
"Well Wally? What should we do?" Millianna asked after backing up from Scythe.
Wally was silent, until he gave out a sigh.
"I guess we don't really have a choice. I mean with what the talking cat said, Scythe could wipe us out with just the snap of his fingers." Wally exclaimed.
'What did Happy tell them about me?' Scythe mentally groaned as his eye was twitching.
"Natsu, Scythe, you're both here, and you're okay." Happy stated.
"All right. Since we're working together, the two of you, go find the others, and help them." Scythe exclaimed. "I'll try and find Jellal."
As if on que, Jellal's voice resonated from the overhead speakers within the tower.
"I welcome you to the Tower of Heaven. My name is Jellal, and I am the ruler of this tower. I see the players have been arranged. I'm delighted you've come all this way to see me. Shall we play a round of Heaven's game? The rules are really quite simple. I wish to use Erza as a sacrifice in my ceremony to resurrect Lord Zeref. If I succeed, the gates of heaven will open, crowning my victory. However, if you can manage to find a way to stop me, you'll be the winners of the game. To make things a little more interesting, I've enlisted three knights to battle on my behalf.
~In the top of the Tower~
The only way you'll be able to get to me is if you can defeat them. In other words, a three on nine battle royale, and there's one more surprise. The magic council has the satellite square focused directly on this tower, and it's highly likely they will attack. At this very moment, they're in the midst of voting on whether they should fire an Etherion blast."
"Hey, that wasn't in the deal you hooded freak." A blue haired, Death Metal vibe man stated looking to Jellal. "If that thing hits us, we'll all be going to hell."
"Now, now Vidaldus." A pink haired woman exclaimed. "You wouldn't be having second thoughts?"
"Not on your life, boss." Vidaldus exclaimed holding up his hand with the index, pinkie, and thumb up the ring and middle fingers clenched. "Finally. Ha. This is the rush I've been looking for. A real dangerous thrill ride, to get my blood pumping."
"There's no telling how much time is left. Should the Etherion strike, complete annihilation is imminent, not even the Etherion Godslayer will survive. No players left to win. Game over."
~BOOM~
Jellal, and the Trinity Raven group looked up, seeing a pissed off Scythe standing where the door once was.
"What? But how'd you get up here so fast?" The owl man asked before noticing the black lightning and fire emitting around his person.
"He used his Godslayer lightning and flames to race up here, faster than the human or animal eye could perceive. Clever boy, utilizing your magic in that sort of manner." Jellal smiled.
"You toy with the lives of your friends, you toy with the lives of other villages surrounding you." Scythe growled as he stepped forward. "People like you make me sick. I will make you pay for putting a target on my village, for leading Grimoire Heart straight to my home. IT'S BECAUSE OF YOU MY PARENTS ARE DEAD." Scythe shouted, his hand wrapping around Jellal's throat.
"Sorry, but this where we say goodbye." Jellal smiled before he disappeared in a wave of rose pedals.
"What the?" Scythe questioned as the rose pedals began to dance around him, closing his eyes before opening them again, finding himself in the center of a very familiar town square, that had been burning last time he saw it, staring in surprise as he looked around at the seemingly untouched structures, and the living people walking past him.
"Metalica?"