Chapter 18
Worst Vaction Ever
"Speech"
'Thoughts'
"Magic"
Flashback
Location / Date / Time Change
Akane Resort
Natsu and his team ran on the beach of Akane Resort, the most popular vacation spot in all of Fiore. What where they doing there? Enjoying the tickets Loke gave them. Turns out he was actually Leo the lion, a Celestial Spirit.
Three years ago, his abusive key keeper, the Blue Pegasus wizard, Karen Lilica, died on a job when she tried to summon another spirit when she knew she couldn't. Having broken a cardinal rule of Celestial Spirits, letting their wizard die, the Celestial Spirit King banished Leo from their realm.
He would have faded away, had Lucy not moved the king with her devotion and love for her spirits. The King then decreed that Leo was allowed to return to the realm, on the sole condition that Lucy was Leo's wizard.
As thanks for saving his life, Loke gave his friends tickets to the resort they were currently staying at.
"Give me back my bathing suit!" Gray shouted at Natsu as he held Happy up to cover himself.
"Then you shouldn't have taken it off!" Laki said back.
"I don't think Happy likes being used as a cover." Lucy giggled.
"My beloved Gray..." Juvia whispered from behind a tree. "What a hunk!"
Sunset
Erza Scarlet's Hotel Room
Erza sat on her balcony in her bikini, deep in thought. 'I really had a lot of fun today.' She thought to herself. "It was exquisite.' Her mind traveled to long forgotten memories. Masked men, hideous creatures, shackles, torture, cells, and a single sentence. "In this world, freedom is nothing but a lie."
Her eyes snapped open and she lurched forward in shock. "Just a dream..." She muttered looking at her hands. "I must have fallen asleep..." She stood up and walked into her room. She modeled herself in front of the large mirror in her room before Requipping into her standard armor.
"I'm always more comfortable in my armor..." She told herself. "Guess it's not the most feminine though."
Her door opened and she turned to see Lucy in a red dress. "Get out of the room and let's have some fun!" The blonde said. "Natsu, Gray and Laki are downstairs. Wanna join them and play some games?"
"That's right. There's a casino here, isn't there?" The red head asked before Requipping into a purple dress. "So, how do I look?"
"A little flashy if you ask me..." Lucy mumbled. "Come on, let's have some fun!"
Erza nodded before looking back at the mirror. 'I guess I can relax and enjoy myself today.'
Casino
The lights shined brightly in the casino and ride section of the resort. Families and friends played the games and rode the rides, enjoying themselves. Natsu pressed a button that said 17 and the magic roulette game started as Happy hovered near him. "Come on, seventeen!"
The balls inside swirled around the big sphere before they slowed down. Three had seventeen on them, but then the one in the middle suddenly changed to sixteen. "What's the big idea!?" Natsu shouted.
"Sir, please don't hit the machine." An employee requested.
"But it acted like it was gonna give me my number!" Natsu cried. "It's not fair!"
"Crying won't help." The man said.
"They are such sore losers." Gray whispered from a blackjack table.
"My darling Gray..." The boy looked up to see Juvia in a blue dress and a gold Fairy Tail necklace. "Do you remember me?"
"Yeah, you're that crazy chick from Phantom!" Gray shouted.
Laki giggled at her crush before picking up the dice from the craps table. "Come on, mama needs a new pair of glasses." She shook the dice and threw them. They rolled on the table and landed on 6 and 4. "Oh yeah!"
"Come on, seventeen! Come back!" Natsu shouted. "I'll do anything!"
"Calm yourself, boy." The humans and cat looked over to see a literal block head looking at them. "You can't play nice like the rest of the grownups, so hit the bricks."
"Square!?" Happy asked.
"Blockhead!" Natsu shouted.
"A little friendly advise, pal." The man said. "In life, you got two paths to take." His body started to glow before Natsu found himself trapped by blocks.
"What's your damage?" Natsu asked the man, now floating over his chair.
"You can either live a dandy life..." The man pointed his finger at Natsu and it turned into a block rifle. Natsu panicked as the scopes light came between his eyes. "Or you can die a jealous poser. Take your pick."
"Natsu!" Laki cried out. Before she could run over, she tripped over something. Suddenly, her hands were fixed behind her head as a tube wrapped around her body. "What is this?"
"Ah, ah, ah..." Laki looked up as a girl with pig tails, a yellow jacket, and a pink skirt walked over from the other side of the table and kneeled down over the Maker mage. "Can't have you helping Salamander, can I, Green Woman?"
"Who are you?" Laki groaned out.
"I'll be asking the questions." The girl said.
Bar
"So, I heard Phantom was forced to disband." Gray said. "Sorry that happened to you."
"Don't be." Juvia shock her head. "It's not all bad. I'm an independent wizard now. I can join any guild I want."
"I see, so I'm guessing you wanna join Fairy Tail?" He asked, looking at her necklace.
"Very much so." She answered.
"I don't know..." Gray turned from her. "After the stunt you guys just pulled... Personally, I don't have a problem with you, but it's up to the master."
"I'll do anything!" Juvia declared.
"I'd be careful making promises like that." He joked.
"Mister Fullbuster?" Both turned to see a man with an iron jaw, eyepatch, and a turban behind them. A magic seal appeared from his eye and the bar exploded.
With Erza and Lucy
"What was that?" Erza asked, looking away from the cards in her hand.
"Sounds like the parade is gonna start soon." A man in a costume said.
"Make sense." Lucy said as the girls turned back to the table.
Bar
"Juvia!" Gray cried before turning to the man who destroyed the bar. "What do you want pal?"
"Where is Erza?" The man asked.
"Erza?" Gray asked confused.
With Erza and Lucy
"You got a straight!" Lucy cheered as Erza played her hand.
"Looks like I'm pretty lucky today." Erza said.
"Dealer change." A new dealer stepped up and shuffled the cards.
"I have a feeling I'm just getting started." Erza grinned.
"Really?" Lucy asked.
"in that case, I've got a special game for you." The dealer threw five cards on the table, the cards spelling the word 'death'. "And while we're at it, what don't we raise the stakes, sister?"
Erza looked up at the dealer and saw a dark skinned man with blonde hair, making her shake in fear. "Sho..." She whispered. "Is that you?"
"So you do remember..." He said back.
"You know him?" Lucy asked. "You.. Okay..." Erza mumbled.
"Why wouldn't I be?" Sho asked.
"No, I just... Meant..." She tried to explain, but her brain would give her any words.
Bar
"Now, where is she?" The man asked again.
"What makes you think I'd tell you?" Gray asked back.
Water swirled in between them before in manifested into Juvia. "I won't let you hurt him. You'll have to go through me first."
"Juvia..." Gray started to object.
"You need to get to Erza." She interrupted. "I fear she maybe in trouble."
The man raised two fingers to his head and pressed them against his temple. "So, you've located her." He said, shocking the other two. "I see. So I should clean things up on my end? Understood." A dark mist covered the room, blinding anyone still in it.
"What's going on!?" Gray shouted.
"It's magic born from darkness." The man said from behind the two. "Dark Moment!"
With Natsu
"Hey, who turned off the lights?" Natsu asked annoyed.
"Natsu, where are you?" Happy called out.
"I'm here, where ever here is." Natsu answered.
"Good bye boy." The man said.
"Not gonna happen!" Natsu roared before the man firing the gun.
"Natsu!" Laki cried out.
With Erza and Lucy
"A gunshot?" Lucy asked.
"What's going on!?" Erza asked. The lights turned back on, showing Sho had moved from behind the card table. "Where'd he go!?"
"I'm right here, sister." Both girls turned to see Sho behind them as cards fell from his hands.
"He put the people in the cards?" Lucy asked.
"Neat trick, huh?" Sho asked, holding the last card.
"You used magic?" Erza asked.
"That's right." Sho answered. "You're not the only one with powers anymore."
"Who taught you that?" Erza demanded.
"Meow." A magic seal appeared beneath Lucy and an orange tube wrapped around the blonde like it did with Laki.
"Leave her alone!" Erza demanded, turning around to see he girl who tied up Laki. "Millianna? You can use magic too?"
"It's been a while, Erzy." Millianna teased.
"Let Lucy go." Erza demanded. "She's done nothing wrong! She's my friend!"
"Friend, huh?" The new girl asked.
"We use to be friends too, remember?" Sho asked.
'These creeps were her friends?' Lucy asked herself.
"I - I do." Erza nervously answered.
"We were very close, until you decided to betray us." Sho said, making Erza shake.
"Cut her some slack, Sho." A new voice spoke up as the man who shot Natsu appeared. "Keep all that baggage in check and everything will be just dandy."
"Blockhead!?" Lucy asked shocked at the new man.
"Very nice, the outside world's been good to you." The man said, looking at Erza.
"That voice, Wally?" Erza asked.
"As you can see, I've gone through some changes." The man said. "Old Mad Dog Wally is a lot smoother now then he was back in the old days."
"You use magic as well?" Erza asked.
"Don't be so surprised." A voice said from behind her as the man who took out Gray and Juvia appeared. "Its not that hard once you get a hold of it. Right Erza?"
"Simon?" Erza asked, turning around as Millianna pushed Lucy to the ground.
"Erza! Who are these people!?" Lucy asked. "Why does he keep calling you sister?"
"He's not actually my brother.. Erza confessed with a sigh. "We all grew up together."
"Wait, I thought you said you joined Fairy Tail as a little girl?" Lucy asked confused.
"This... Was before that." The red head continued. "Why have you found me? What do you want?"
"We're here to take you back with us." Wally answered. "But if you wanna be difficult, babe..." He turned his arm into the gun and pointed it at Lucy as a red dot appeared between her eyes.
"No, don't hurt her!" Erza begged before a shot hit her in the back.
"Erza!" Lucy cried as Simon picked Erza up.
"You sure she's alive?" Sho asked.
"Just a sleep bullet." Wally said. "She'll be fine."
"Wait! Where are you jerks taking her!?" Lucy shouted. "You know you're not gonna get away with this! The others will find you, and they're gonna make you pay!"
"I'd forget about your friends if I were you." Wally said. "We already took care of them."
"They were nothing but talk." Simon added.
"No... You can't have beaten them!" Lucy shouted before the tube squeezed harder.
"In a few minutes, you be just like a yummy pretzel." Millianna teased. "Just like the Green Woman."
"Hey Millianna. I scored something for ya." Wally said as Happy appeared in his hands.
"A kitty!" The girl cheered. "Can I keep him?! Can I!? Can I!?"
"Happy!" Lucy shouted.
"Calm down, and tie Erza up." Simon ordered.
"Sister, you're finally coming home..." Sho said with tears in his eyes. "To the Tower of Heaven... I bet Jellal will be smiling from ear to ear to see you..."
'The Tower of Heaven...' Erza thought with what little conscious she had left. 'Did he really succeed?'
"Where are you taking her!" Lucy shouted as the group walked away. A magic seal appeared above them and they vanished from her sight. "When I get out of this thing..." She threatened rolling around, until her key ring fell off. "Yes!" She rolled over to it and grabbed a key.
"Open, Gate of the Giant Crab - Cancer!" She shouted, but the spirit never came. "Come on, Cancer! Taurus! Leo! Anyone! Please help me!" She groaned in pain as the tube tightened. "Is this thing blocking my magic or something?" She gasped when something sharp touched her back. "What the heck was that?"
"Sorry about that." The mascot said from inside his card underneath Lucy?
"Was that you?" She asked rolling over.
"Yeah." He nodded. "I just happened to have this letter opener in my pocket, so I figured I might be able to cut my way out of the thing."
"Even though his knife is in the card, it touched me?" She pondered before getting an idea. "Look, I don't know how, but I get the felling objects in the cards might be able to break through them."
"You think so?" He asked.
"I do." She answered before rolling onto her back. "Please, try to cut through this rope."
"I'll do my best." He said before starting to cut.
"Please hurry!" Lucy begged.
"Don't rush me, I'm going as fast as I can." The man said. The rope snapped before fading away.
Lucy picked up the card and looked at the man. "I really owe you one."
"You think you could help us now?" The mascot asked.
Lucy kissed the carb before running out the door. "I promise I'll come back with help!" She ran though the casino, looking for her friends. 'Please let that guy be lying to me!'
She arrived at the ruins of the bar and found Grsy unconscious against it. "Snap out of this, Gray!" Lucy shouted as she ran over. "Talk to me!" She put her hand on his shoulder and shook him, only to have him shatter into ice. "I'm so sorry! You're gonna be okay!" She shouted trying to put him back together.
"You don't have to worry." Lucy looked over as a puddle of water grew and turned into Juvia.
"I remember you." Lucy said reaching for her keys. "You're with Phantom!"
"Wait Lucy!" Juvia lifted herself off the ground and revealed Gray. "There is no Phantom anymore. She's on our side!"
"That's right." Juvia added. "I pulled my beloved inside of me to keep him safe."
"Say what?" Lucy asked confused.
"Hey watch the pervy talk!" All three looked over to see Laki in the same tube as Lucy.
"Laki!" Gray and Lucy shouted.
"Someone please, get me out of this!" Laki shouted before groaning in pain. "Okay, I'm gonna have to start doing yoga!"
"Hang on, I got it." Gray grabbed the tube and froze it before it shattered with a punch.
"Thanks." Laki said, brushing herself off. "So, what happened?"
"This dude cast a darkness spell that knocked out all the lights." Gray said, taking off his wet top. "So I created an ice clone to distract him so I could figure out what to do next."
"I wanted to keep the real Gray safe, so I pulled him inside my Water Lock until it was safe." Juvia added.
"And thanks to that, he got away." Gray said, making Juvia's jaw drop. "What now? Where's Erza? She was supposed to be with you." He turned to Lucy.
"No, I don't." Lucy answered. "This is bad, they took Erza and Happy."
A roar of fire drew their attention the roulette machines remains. All four turned to see Natsu standing, as Laki ran over. "You okay, Natsu?"
"No, I'm not okay!" Natsu shouted in pain. "I got shot in the mouth! That really hurts!"
"I'm pretty sure that would kill anyone who isn't a freak." Lucy said.
"I have to agree." Juvia added.
"Block head!" Natsu shouted as he ran out the casino, with Laki in tow.
"Follow them!" Gray ordered.
"Does he even know where he's going?" Lucy asked.
"If there's one thing flame brain is good at, it's tracking prey." Gray answered.
Tower Of Heaven
Jutting out of the sea like an ugly zit was a crooked and mangled tower, guarded by soldiers and demonic dogs. At the top of this monstrosity was a dome throne room.
A hooded man walked forward, the sound of chains scraping with every step, to a throne. "Master Jellal, we've received confirmation that Erza has been successfully captured." He reported. "They are returning as we speak." The man on the throne gave a soft smile. "But I do have a question. Why do we even need her? Can't you just have one of those fools kill her, or just do it yourself?"
"A rather simplistic way to look at the problem." Jellal chuckled. "But with the Tower of Heaven now complete, to let her live would indeed turn into a thorny issue. So the time has come. Erza Scarlet is the perfect sacrifice to make my dreams a reality."
Ship
Erza slowly woke up and found herself bound against a beam of wood. "Where am I?"
"On a ship at sea." Sho said, walking forward.
"A ship?" Erza asked.
"That's right." Sho nodded. "And our course is set for the Tower of Heaven."
"I see..." Erza sighed. "I should have figured. Would you please untie me? I won't cause any trouble."
"That's not going to happen." Sho shook his head. "You've proven yourself untrustworthy." Erza tried to wiggle free. "It's no use. Millianna's bindings conceal magic power, so you're struggling in vain. You won't have any luck breaking free from them."
"Fine, I won't resist." Erza said. "But please, let me Requip into my armor. The Tower... I'm scared to go back... I just wanna have it on... So I can feel safe."
"That dress looks much better on you." Sho said. He kneeled down and wrapped her in a hug before tears fell from his eyes.. "I didn't want to do this... I've missed you so much... Tell me... Why did you betray us? Why did you betray Jellal!?" He shouted in her face.
'Jellal...' Erza thought as the memories came back to her.
Eight Years Ago
"Over here. Hurry up." A young Sho said, pointing to a hole in a cell.
"Try to be quite, ya dummy." A young Wally said.
"You're being even louder than he is." A little Millianna scolded.
"Sorry, Millianna..." Wally said with a blush.
"Come on Erza." A child Simon said. "We have to go, or the guards will catch us."
"I... I know..." Erza said. "I wanna go, but I'm scared. I know what happens to all the other kids. They're dead..."
"There's nothing to worry about." The group looked over a young boy with blue hair and a tattoo on his right face. "We're gonna be fine."
"Jellal..." Erza blushed.
"We're finally getting back our freedom." Jellal clenched his fist. "Our futures, our dreams. Let's go, Erza." He held out his hand and Erza took it.
Era
"You're serious!?" Org asked. "The R-system still exists!? But that's not possible!"
"About a decade ago, construction began on the R-system, a structure designed by a cult of black magic users." Michello said. "But I thought we had all seven destroyed!? There ruins shouldn't even exist!"
"Apparently, we missed one." Belno said as a visual of the tower appeared. "It was off the coast of Caelum."
"How did we miss it!?" Org asked. "It's not close to completion, is it?"
"We don't know." Belno answered. "Our investigation team went missing after they sent us these images."
"It looks complete to me." Ultear observed.
"Why would they revive the R-System after so long?" Michello asked.
"The Tower of Heaven." Siegrain said. "That's not an R-system. It's the Tower of Heaven."
"I don't give a damn what it's called!" Org shouted. "It is taboo magic. There would be chaos of word of its existence ever got out!"
"We'll have to find a way to subdue them." Belno said. "I suggest we dispatch the military."
"Not an option." Lej said back.
"Why the hell not!?" She asked back.
"We'd be putting our soldiers in danger because we don't know who we're dealing with." He explained. "According to our intelligence, the cult thought to be responsible for this is no longer controlling the tower."
"Well then, how is?" Michello asked.
"A group of wizards, led by a man named Jellal." Lej said, making everyone turn to Siegrain.
"Jellal?" Michello asked.
"Isn't that the name of your dead brother?" Org asked.
"I'm afraid so." He nodded. "That would be him."
With Team Natsu
Sea
"I'm worried about those people trapped in the cards..." Lucy mumbled as the group sailed the sea. "Think they're okay?"
"We let the military know about them before we left, so I'm sure they're fine." Gray said before looking around. "Wait, where are we?"
"I don't know." Juvia answered. "We were following Salamanders lead."
"You sure this is the right way, Natsu?" Lucy asked.
"Trust me Lucy!" Natsu shouted.
"How are you not blowing chunks?" Gray asked.
"You can thank Laki for that." Natsu said with a smile.
"Where is she, anyway?" Lucy asked, looking around the boat.
"Right here." Laki answered as a seal appeared on the floor of the boat before Laki's head popped out. "This is too important for Natsu to be sick, so I used my magic to sink into the wood. Since he doesn't see me as a vehicle, he's fine."
"I still can't believe how easy it was for them to take us out, and kidnap Erza and Happy." Gray huffed out. "It pisses me off."
"To be fair, they must be very powerful if they defeated someone as strong as Erza." Juvia spoke up.
"The hell?" Gray asked, glaring at the Water mage. "They didn't beat her! Quit talking like you know her because you don't!"
"I'm sorry!" Juvia shouted.
"Gray calm down." Lucy said. "Those creeps that attacked us said they were old friends of Erza. Face it, when it comes to Erza, we know as much about her as Juvia does."
All three stared in silence until Natsu spoke up. "I just got this weird feeling..." All around them, birds fell from the sky dead, and fish rose up from the sea belly up.
"This isn't natural..." Juvia mumbled.
"That's wreckage from Fiore naval ship." Gray said, looking at the floating wood.
"Well, this is creepy." Lucy said.
"Hey guys, what's that?" Erik asked, pointing to something sticking out of the sea.
"That must be the Tower of Heaven..." Lucy said.
"I'll protect us." Juvia declared, summoning a seal that rose water around them in a dome. "My water dome will make us undetectable."
"Nice work, Juvia." Lucy praised her.
"Can we get their any faster?" Laki asked. "I can't hold this forever."
"Then just come out." Natsu said. He instantly regretted it as Laki sat down and he puke off the side of the boat.
Tower of Heaven Shore
Erza stared in horror at the monstrosity before her. "The Tower of Heaven... You actually finished it?..."
"Don't act so surprised." Sho said. "We've been working on it since you left almost a decade ago."
"Has it really been that long?" Erza asked. "It's amazing how much you've all changed..."
"Move." Simon ordered. The group split after walking into the tower, with Simon and Sho brining Erza to her cell.
"The ceremony will take place later tonight." Sho told the bound Erza. "You'll be staying here until then."
'Ceremony?' Erza thought. 'They're going to activate the R-system?'
"Sorry, but this is what traitors like you get." Sho said as Simon walked away from the cell. "Jellal is still upset at you, but he's given you a special honor. He's chosen you to be the sacrifice for the ceremony. I'm sad I won't ever see you again, but you're going to help us reach heaven."
He looked at her bindings and noticed her hands shaking. "Are you frightened? Does the idea of being a sacrifice scare you? Or does this cell bring back some nostalgia?"
Eight Years Ago
"Did you brats honestly think you could escape so easily?!" A fat cult member said as they walked in with monstrous guard dogs. "You're all gonna be punished big time for trying to fool us!"
"No, no." A thin member said. "Normally I'd agree with you, but we're on a strict deadline with the R-system. We cannot afford any more delays. If you tell us who came up with this little stunt, well only take them, and leave the rest of you alone. That's pretty benevolent, don't you think?"
"Speak up!" The fat one shouted. "Who was it!?"
Erza glanced over at Sho, shaking in fear. Knowing it was his idea, she started to speak. "I-"
"It was me." Jellal interrupted. "I planned this whole thing."
"Is that so?" The thin one asked, looking at Erza. "But I know it wasn't you. It was the red head, wasn't it?"
"Take her away." The fat one ordered. Simon and Jellal tried to fight back, only to be zapped by the large ones rod.
"Don't worry about me..." Erza whispered from the arms of the man taking her away. "I'll be fine. It's just like you said, Jellal... It's not scary at all..."
"You won't get away with this!" He shouted.
"Even though it was my plan, you're the one who ended up getting punished." Sho said. "I was too scared to to say anything about it. I'm sorry... It was my fault."
"I don't care about that anymore." Erza said. "Right now I'm worried that none of you truly understand how dangerous it is to resurrect someone using the R-system."
"Wow, I didn't expect you to know what the R stood for." Sho confessed.
"The revive system. In exchange for countless sacrifices, it can bring a single person back to life. It is black magic completely devoid of humanity." Erza spat in disgust.
"Sure, it's forbidden. But whoever said magic had to be humane?" Sho asked. "I believe that all magic wears away at one's humanity."
"Spoken just like the member of a black magic cult." Erza said back. "Are you one of them now!?"
"Don't you dare compare me to those idiots!" Sho shouted. "They thought this tower was only good for restoration magic. We know better because we know the truth. Jellal told us he can use the tower to get us into heaven."
"Heaven?" Erza asked confused.
"See, once we bring that person back, the world will be reborn." He explained with a sick grin. "And we will be its rulers! The cultists who kept us here as slaves. The ones who loved a traitor like you, the citizens who lived their lives in ignorance, even the Magic Council. Well drill fear and sorrow into every one of their hearts! They'll be stripped of their freedom and denied any rights once we have the power! The only choice they'll have will be to bow before us!"
Erza heard enough. She jumped off the hook holding her up and kicked her former friend in the face, knocking him out. She then tore the bindings off her hands with her teeth. "Sho... What could have cause you to change so much?..." Her body glowed as she Requipped into her armor. "Jellal... I won't forgive you for this!"
With Happy
Happy slowly woke up before looking around the room, filled to the brim with cat paraphernalia. "There's kitty's everywhere! Where am I? Where's Natsu and Laki?"
"Meow." Millianna popped up next to him.
"A creepy cat lady!" Happy shouted scared.
"So, how are you feeling?" She asked.
"I've been better." Happy said.
"A talking kitty!" She grabbed Happy and almost suffocated him in a hug.
"Milli..." Wally said from the door way. "Better let go or you'll give that cat a ticket to the big litter box in the sky."
"Block head!" Happy shouted.
"Talking cats are cool and all, but you know what's dandier?" He asked. "A cat that can talk."
"That's the same thing!" Happy shouted. "What is this place, and where are Natsu and Laki?"
"Don't get mouthy." Wally warned. "As for your friends, he's probably kissing asphalt right about now."
"No way you were strong enough to take out Natsu or Laki." Happy denied.
"Wally! Millianna!" Two guards shouted as they reached the room. "Erza has escaped!"
"She did?" Millianna asked. "That's Erzy for ya."
"No way that chick is getting off the island." Wally said as the guards led them away.
"Erza is here too?" Happy asked himself. "They got her too."
Throne Room
"Ha hahahah!" Jellal laughed at the news Erza had escaped.
"Sir?" The man asked, confused.
"Young Erza has certainly grown into an amazing woman, as expected." Jellal said. "She's truly fascinating. I can't wait to see how this all plays out. Will I win, or will she? We'll have a game. One that weaves past and present, life and death."
"But what about the Council?" The boy asked. "Mobilizing their navy is cause for concern." He missed the little smirk on Jellal's face.
Era
"We have to stop Jellal!" Org shouted.
"We must gather information!" Leiji countered.
"Send the military!" Belno said.
"You ignorant fools!" Siegrain shouted, catching everyone off guard.
"What?" Org asked.
"Only fools would send the military and risk the lives of thousands." He explained. "I'm telling you, it's far too dangerous."
"So then, what's your idea?" Org asked.
"This is a precarious situation." He said. "If we want to stop him, we must completely destroy the Tower of Heaven. And there's only one sure way to do that. Etherion."
"Have you lost your mind!?" Org shouted.
"You're talking about using magic that destroys time and space!" Michello added.
"Absolutely not!" Belno protested.
"Do you have any idea how much devastation it would cause?!" Leiji shouted. "It was designed to wipe out an entire county!"
"Etherion is an absolute last resort!" Belno added. "It is more dangerous then the R-system itself!"
"Just listen to me!" Siegrain shouted. "Its satellite square can pinpoint a target anywhere in the region. If we focus it directly on the tower, we can cause as little collateral damage as possible, and destroy the structure."
"I vote to fire." Ultear said, raising her hand.
"Not you too!" Org said. "Has everyone here gone mad!"
"There's nine of us here." Siegrain said. "Three more in favor will give us the majority. I refuse to let deliberations delay us. Time is of the essence. I urge you to vote with me! We cannot allow him to activate the R-system!"
"But along with destroying the tower, Etherion's blast will also kill your brother." Org reminded him.
"My brother died a long time ago." Siegrain said with no regret. "All that's left is a monster."
It has begun. Now, please don't hate me for not having Laki use her real magic just yet. The moment has to be just right. And it will be, trust me.
For you pervs out there, Laki is wearing the suit she wears in the waterpark OVA.
Let me say this now. I DESPISE two/thirds of the Trinity Raven, the only one I like is Ikuraga. First of all, they're suppose to be assassins, and assassins are supposed to be scary. Instead we got a rock 'n' roll reject and a goddamn owl man. Then their fights sucked and their magic was just, just in this story. In this story, I'll be giving life to two mascots of two of my favorite bands, their description in the next chapter.
Beta read by digemsmack.