Chapter 100

Darkness Settle In

"Speech"

'Thoughts'

"Magic"

Flashback

Location / Date / Time Skip

The deer leaned down and drank from the stream as Erza brushed the side of the animal. "Erza, Jellal is most likely a target as well…" Mirajane said.

"Good thing I came along." She chuckled, turning back to her friend. "Even I don't know where Jellal is. But even if I'm not there, he can take care of himself. We need to focus on protecting the ex-chairman."

"Agreed." The model nodded. "We should be getting close to his home now."

"I started growing these herbs after retirement." Crawford Seam explained as he poured a few cups of tea. "Forgive me for being rude, but how did you get this address?"

"This might sound rude, but we really don't have time for that." Mirajane said after a sip.

"So I've heard." He chuckled. "There's no time for secrets. With the fate of my former councilmen and the lack of a current council, we need a guild with a strong sense of justice to keep us safe."

"And in order to do that, we need to destroy Face first." Erza added. "Would it be possible for you to tell us where it's being kept?"

"Unfortunately, I don't know myself." He confessed, shocking the girls. "I'm not hiding anything from you, I promise. I might have been the former Chairman, but that doesn't mean I knew everything."

"Getting information that even an ex-chairman doesn't know… how is that possible?" Erza asked aloud.

"If you ask me, it's a good thing I don't know about it." Crawford said. "Face is an abandoned weapon, not even the public knows about it. It's such an extreme weapon that not even the councilors who are linked to it know. It's concealed to the highest level."

The women suddenly stood up and turned around, scaring the older man. "Looks like we have company." Mirajane mumbled.

"They've surrounded the house, 20 at most." Erza added. "Chairman, head to the back! They're here!"

The walls of the building suddenly exploded, letting dark armored soldiers charge in. Erza and Mira transformed into fighting mode and blasted them back, destroying a chunk of the house themselves. "You won't touch the ex chairman." Erza declared, only for the dark wizards to surround the two. "This is a first, being on a team with you."

"Let's show them the power of Fairy Tail." Mirajane chuckled before they charged.

With Elfman & Lisanna

"Stop it!" Elfman begged as Lisanna started passing out in his grasp. "Quit using my body like this!" Sayla said nothing as tears started forming. "I won't kill my sister again! I'm begging you, stop! Please!"

"Please?" Sayla repeated, stepping forward. "When a human asks a demon for something, they usually willing to sell their soul." She reached his side and looked him in the eye. "If it's for your family, are you willing to sell your soul to me?"

With Natsu's Group

Natsu suddenly pushed himself up with a gasp, scaring the others. "You shouldn't just get up like that!" Wendy chastised. "You have to lie down so I can heal you."

Ignoring her, Natsu pushed himself over to Michello and started shaking. "Where's the old chairmans house!? Tell me!"

"Ahh, er…" He mumbled before revealing everything.

"Happy, Rose, let's go!" The two Exceeds suddenly picked him up and took off for the destination.

"Natsu!" Laki shouted, only for her fiancé to ignore her. "What is he doing?"

"You wanna tell us what's wrong?" Rose asked.

"Why didn't I notice it sooner!?" Natsu roared. "For something that even the councilors weren't supposed to know, like homes and Face itself, how did Tartaros find out!? Someone must've leaked the info to Tartaros!"

"Somebody!?" Happy asked.

"I don't know who, but… It has to be someone that has information about the other councilors, someone high up…" Natsu continued. "I hope I'm wrong, but we have to hurry! Erza's group is in danger."

With Erza & Mirajane

Mira kicked a grunt in the face, sending him crashing into his allies. Erza zoomed past a dozen of them and slashed them all, knocking them out. "As expected of Erza…" The model chuckled as the two returned to their normal clothing.

"Somehow this is odd." The red head mumbled. "Sending troops with almost no magic power after someone as important as the ex-chairman. No matter how you look at it, they're just soldiers."

"Erza…" Mirajane mumbled.

"What is it…" Erza slurred out before both girls fell over.

Crawford walked into the field and smirked before picking the two teens up and dragging them into the house. "This is Crawford. Plans have changed, I've gotten us two subjects."

The communication lacrima on the table glowed before it turned into Kyouka's face. "As expected of the ex-chairman. Return to our guild at once."

Natsu stared down at the ground before a building came into view amongst the woods. "That's the place! Bring me down."

The Exceeds listened and placed him on the ground before they ran into the building. "No one's here." Happy mumbled.

"They haven't been gone long, though. I can still smell them." Natsu replied. "What could have happened to them?"

"This place stinks of burnt herbs." Rose said, holding her nose.

Natsu walked over to a teacup and sniffed it. "Laced with some drug." Igniting his fist, Natsu slammed it onto the ground, completely destroy the building.

"Calm down! The house didn't do it!" Happy shouted as he and Rose hid. "Besides, it belongs to the former chairman!"

"It's the former chairman that's working with Tartaros." Natsu growled in anger.

"So it's HIS fault we're in this mess?" Rose asked. "Does that mean he kidnapped Erza and Mirajane!?"

"If he did, we're gonna find them." Natsu said before sniffing the ground. "Nothing stops a Dragon Slayer's nose."

Tartaros

Erza groaned as she slowly opened her eyes. "You've awoken. Good." Kyouka chuckled as Erza looked around.

She was chained to the wall by her ankles and wrists, completely naked. "What is this?"

"You're a captive of Tartaros now." The demoness replied, shocking Erza.

"What'd you do with Mira? And the ex-chairman!? You took them too?" Erza demanded, making Kyouka smirk.

"Crawford is ours, but no one took him." She replied. "He's our comrade, and a surprisingly useful one at that for a human. It's thanks to him that secured a specimen as fine as you."

"Liar! He would never betray us!" Erza shouted, trying to break free.

"He would, and did." Kyouka chuckled back. "Struggle all you want, your shackles are infused with Bane particles. So good luck using magic right now."

"Why isn't Mira here!? What have you done with her!?" The redhead roared.

"I've kept her alive." The masked woman answered. "And I'm about to improve her. She'll make a fine slave with a little work." Instantly, she reached out and grabbed Erza's face before stepping in. "Listen closely. I need you to answer a simple question. Where is Jellal?" Erza gasped at the question as Kyouka pulled her closer. "The chairman tells me you two are very close."

"And? What do you care?" Erza asked back before a green glow caught her attention.

"Because I need to find him." Kyouka answered as she pulled her hand away. "I have this special Curse I only use for these kinds of situations. It takes your pain receptors and sets them to overdrive. Speak."

"Even if I knew… I wouldn't tell." Erza replied, bearing the pain.

Kyouka let her finger extend into a glowing whip before she swung. Instantly, Erza screamed in pain as tears formed in her eyes. "Originally, our plan was to hunt down every council member one by one. Now there's no need. We found the names of the three keeping Face sealed away."

She gripped her talon like hand and pushed Erza's head upwards. "Naturally, we've disposed of two of them already, but the last alludes us."

"You mean-?" Erza asked in horror.

"The last seal is Jellal. Once he dies, Face will be unleashed." Kyouka chuckled, making Erza go wide eye. "Oh, dear. Seems I've said too much. Chances are you'll never tell me where he is now, even if you do know where he is. But if you tell me where he is, and I'll let your comrade go free."

Erza seemed shocked at the offer before another strike hit her. "But if you don't then both of you will die."

"How dare they vandalize the home of their chairman!?" Crawford complained as he walked next to Franmalth. "I spent my whole pension on it before they destroyed it!"

"Pension?" The demon repeated. "You're about to have more Jewels than even you could spend."

"I could always say Tartaros destroyed it." Crawford mumbled. "Really make them think I've been kidnapped. Speaking of, how are my two prisoners?"

"Lady Kyouka's begun her torture process." Franmalth answered. "It'll have a gruesome end, no that."

"They need to die." He ordered. "If they somehow escape, I'd lose my shot at becoming chairman again."

"Rest easy, they aren't going anywhere." The demon chuckled. "Besides, no one's ever gonna find this place."

Crawford stared out a window and went wide eyed at an ever increasing dot. "That thing is headed right for us! You just said no one would find us here!"

"Well, no one's found us before!" Franmalth replied before the object hit.

"Where the hell are my friends!?" Natsu shouted as he punched a hole into the wall, knocking Crawford out.

"An intruder!?" Franmalth shouted in anger. "An intruder in Tartaros!? How much is it going to cost to repair that broken ceiling!?"

With Kyouka

The roof of the cell shook violently, catching the torturer's attention. "How noisy…" She mumbled as Erza hung her head in pain and exhaustion. "Yakudoriga…"

A strange frog/octopus hybrid slunk down from the ceiling and waved its tentacles at Erza. "Keep watch over this woman. I'm going to check on that noise." The creature held up a tendril and electricity sparked off it. "Don't touch her." The beast flinched in fear and pulled back. "I don't want to lose the fun of torturing her."

With Natsu

"Give me back Erza and Mira!" Natsu growled out, standing up.

"So you're a friend of the humans we caught." Franmalth growled out. "Are you from Fairy Tail? How'd you find this place? You some kind of stalker, following Crawford? Do you know how much that huge mistake has cost?"

"JUST SHUT UP!" Natsu launched himself forward and just punched the yellow being square in the eye. He bounced back and hit the ground, shattering his armor.

"You just hit me…" Franmalth mumbled as he pushed himself up. "Do you know how big your offense is?" He spread his arms wide and spikes emerged over his body. "1000 of your souls!" His clawed hand shot forward, his arm growing like rubber-hose.

"What the hell is he made of?" Rose asked as Natsu dodged the arm.

The flesh suddenly shot out from the arm and hit Natsu before it glowed, making the human cry out in pain. "What the-? I'm losing my power…"

Happy flew towards the arm and bit down, making Franmalth cry in pain. "That hurt, you flee-bag!" Franmath pulled his arm free and swing Happy around, forcing him to let go.

Rose caught him in mid air as Natsu rushed forward, avoiding the rubber arms. "Fire Dragon-" He held his hand up and pushed into the demons head. "Grip Strike!" An explosion of fire blasted Franmalth in the face, only to anger him even more.

"It just went up to 2000 souls, you idiot!" He shouted as footsteps came up from behind.

"Franmalth, that's enough." The yellow demon turned to the side and smirked. "Let me handle this. Take the ex-chairman away."

"L-lord Silver…" He mumbled before following the order. "I'll leave this to you, then. We still need the chairman to find the last seal."

The armored man stared down Natsu, who could feel the temperature drop. "So you're the one who melted the ice around Sun Village?" Silver questioned.

"Then that means you're the one who froze it?" Natsu asked back.

"Yeah, thanks for that." The armored man chuckled back. "It's kind of an embarrassing mistake. It looks like I froze it due to a misunderstanding."

"You… You smell like someone I know." Natsu declared, confusing the three around him. "Gray Fullbus-"

Silver waved his arm and instantly, the teen was covered in a layer of lite purple ice. "Don't say that disgusting name." He said as Happy and Rose fled from his sight.

Natsu crashed to the ground of his cell and the last of the ice fell off his hair. "Bastards! Gimme back my clothes!" He shouted as he banged against the door. "My scarf! You better give it back to me now!"

"Last time I check, animals don't need scarfs." The guard chuckled before walking away.

"You took two of my friends! Where are they!?" Natsu shouted at the fading guard. "Answer my question!"

A groan caught his attention and he turned around to Lisanna pushing herself up. "Natsu? Why are you here?"

"Uh…" Natsu turned beet red and turned around, making Lisanna look down. The same red hue covered her face before the two sat back to back. "So, did they get you and Elfman too?"

"I hope not." She mumbled back. "I don't remember anything after…" She trailed off, trying to think back to what brought her to the cell.

"Erza and Mira have gotta be here." Natsu declared. "Once we get out of here, we'll find them."

"They got my sister and Erza?" Lisanna asked in shock. "I can't believe it. Then they must have my brother after all. Are we sure we can actually beat these guys?"

"We can and we will." Natsu stated. "But first, we gotta get out of here."

"But how?" The snowette asked, pulling on her chains. "We can't even use magic because of these cuffs. How are we gonna get out?"

"We'll find a way. Trust me."

With Sayla

The horned demon walked over to Kyouka whom was sat on a couch. "I've heard you identified the man Body Linked to Face."

"That and more." The torturer chuckled. "The chairman's magic was most helpful, even if it did come from a lowly human."

Sayla had her curiosity peaked. "What do you mean by that and more?"

"The councilmen identified are already dead." Kyouka explained. "We killed them before we even knew who they were."

"And the last one?" The puppeteer questioned.

"Jellal Fernandez." Kyouka answered. "His pulse is the only thing standing between us and Face."

"Face… the humans were fools to create it." Sayla said.

"That they were, but mistakes are meant to be exploited." The bird demon chuckled. "Erza is quite the stubborn one, keeping Jellal's location a secret. We could use your Macro curse and turn her into a mindless slave. But I do so enjoy my art." She leaned down and crushed the wine glass she was drinking from. "It's time to bring Fairy Tails disruptions to an end."

"That has already been arranged." Sayla said with a smirk. "I've taken the liberty of preparing a poetic conclusion to their sad fable."

"Come, Sayla. I think you've earned yourself a treat." Kyouka chuckled, making Sayla blush.

Fairy Tail

"We went after Natsu to the former chairman's house, but all we found was rubble and signs of a battle." Carla explained as the guild surrounded the four girls.

"Wendy and I did try to track them down, but there were too many herbs in the air." Laki added, much to Wendy's shame.

"Do you think they were caught?" Gray asked in concern.

"If they were, we don't even know where to look for them." Levy said.

"Gajeel, should we go back to the chairman's place?" Lily suggested. "Maybe you could sniff them out."

"No, if these two couldn't do it, than neither could I." His partner replied. "Not to mention with all the time that's past, his scent is probably gone."

"We haven't heard anything from Elfman or Lisanna either." Cana chimed in.

"There has to be some way of locating their base of operations." Makarov mumbled.

"We found it…" All looked up to see Happy and Rose flying in from a window before their wings gave out, making them fall to the ground. "Erza and Mira! Former chairman! Flying cube! Ice! He!" Rose slapped him in the back of the head, ending the mad mumbling. "Thanks, I needed that."

After quickly explaining everything, Levy stood up. "I got it. Happy, tell me wheee you came, and I can plot their course."

"Everyone else, prepare for the fight of your life!" Makarov ordered, making the guild cheer. Heavy footsteps caught their attention and they saw Elfman burst into the guild. Hidden to all were the dead eyes on his face.

A hundred chapters… Gotta be honest, I did not think this story would so popular for so long. Laki was barely a side character in the original story, so I didn't think this pairing would pick up any momentum. Thank you all for proving me wrong.

If you're wonder why this seems so different from the source material, two reasons. One, the Jellal section of this I'm saving for another story (you know the one). Two, I'm following the source material. I still can't get over that double cross and what's next. Really not much to say, so see ya next time.

Beta read by General Feng Xiang