Chapter 22

Steel and Wood

"Speech"

'Thoughts'

"Magic"

Flashback

Location / Date / Time Skip

"Such a critical decision to make, and while the chairman is gone due to his health. It falls to us nine to maintain order." Org said as the workers readied the Etherion.

"There's no need to worry, Org." Michello said. "Yes, we're violating international protocol, but we're protected under article 27 of the national security act."

"Legality be damned." Org said, turning around. "We're talking about firing Etherion."

"That Zeref is pure evil." Michello said. "We cannot allow him to be resurrected. Sadly, an evil force of that magnitude can only be countered with something like this."

Siegrain looked out at the workers as Ultear walked over to him. "It is almost time master Siegrain. After these eight years, your dream shall be made real."

"Let me ask you a question." He spoke up. "Are you even a little scared?"

"Not in the slightest." She shook her head. "I completely trust you and have faith in your judgement."

"I'm not surprised, it's not your life on the line." He said back. "I on the other hand am extremely nervous. If my plan fails, I will cease to exist."

Both were unaware of the fact that Yajima had used his Flattening Magic and was leaning against the wall, listening into them. 'What is he talking about?'

"Even so, I consider the risk to my life a small price to pay." Siegrain continued. "My destiny awaits!"

"Yes..." Ultear mumbled.

Tower of Heaven

Throne Room

"Twenty five minutes left..." Jellal mumbled as he moved the remaining pieces. "The time has come for us to say our fairwells, Siegrain..."

With Lucy

'I'm totally wiped out...' Lucy thought as she opened her eyes. 'I can't even use a muscle. I guess I over did it fighting that faceless freak.' She looked over at Juvia who was still unconscious. 'Looks like she's down for the count too.'

"Meow... They really went all out on this place..." Lucy shook in fear as Millianna and Wally walked into the room.

"You see what I see, doll?" Wally asked asked as they stood over the two girls.

'Not good...' Lucy thought in a panic. 'I can't even tell these guys that were not enemies anymore!'

With Sho

"You lied to me, Jellal! You lied to all of us!" Sho shouted as he ran down the hall. "I won't let you get away with this!"

"Sho, wait up!" Laki shouted as she tried to keep up. She paused to catch her breathe before looking up. "I'm still... Weak from... Keeping Natsu... From throwing up..."

"Let me go!" Erza demanded. "You'll need both of our help to fight him!"

"No way!" He responded. "I can protect you, sister."

"Don't be stupid!" The red head responded.

Sho ignored her and ran into a room straight out of a Japanese movie, complete with Shinto gates, Komainu statues, and cherry blossom petals. He stopped in his tracks as the third assassin, now holding a sheathed red and gold sword, walked forward. "Konichiwa. I am called Ikaruga. Who might you be?"

"Move it lady." Sho said, holding cards between his fingers. "I'll hurt you if I have to."

"Such a borish man. Why must I waste my time on him?" Ikaruga asked.

"I warned you!" He threw his cards at her as she drew her katana. With blinding speed, she swung her sword and returned to sheathe it. As it clicked back into place, the cards peeled in half. "How did...?"

"My katana can cut through anything under this sun." She explained as the cards dissolved away.

"Well it's not scaring me!" He drew more card before an X was sliced into the bridge. "I can't move." His cards shattered as he fell t the ground.

"I just severed your nerves without putting a scratch on you or your clothing." Ikaruga explained. "Such is the power of my Mugetsu style." She walked foward, ready to kill the boy.

"Wood-Make: Violent Approach!" Three large spiked balls launched forward, forcing her back as she sliced the closest one in tiny cubes.

"Green Woman!" Sho shouted as Laki ran into the room.

"It's Laki." The glasses wearing girl said. "Let me handle this!"

"Oh, a real challenge perhaps?" Ikaruga asked. "Let's see if your wood can match my steel."

"Not a problem." Laki entered her maker stance. "Wood-Make: Jaws of a Submerged Monster!" A seal appeared and a dozen shark jaws launched forward. Ikaruga calmly drew her blade and sliced all the jaws in half as she sprinted forward.

"Try again." The samurai said.

"Wood-Make: Distance Between The Two is Forever!" Laki slammed her hand into the bridge as giant wooden feet popped out. They flew down ready to stomp the sword wielder, only to be turned into kindling.

"Not much of a threat, are you?" Ikaruga asked as she slammed her sheathe into Laki's gut before sending her bouncing off of Sho as a card floating in the air. "I expected more from the legendary Green Woman of Fairy Tail. Oh, what's this?"

"Let me out of here!" Erza demanded.

"You still haven't let her go?" Laki asked as she looked up from behind.

"No, and I won't!" Sho shouted.

"You hid Erza in a place like that?" Ikaruga asked. "Not that clever."

"You have to let her out, Sho!" Laki shouted. "Erza is the only one who can beat her!"

"I won't do it!" He shouted. "I'm keeping her safe. I used a protection spell on that card. No one can get to her from the outside!"

"Interesting theory." Ikaruga gripped her sword. "Let's put it to the test, shall we?"

"Sho, you have to listen to us!" Erza shouted. "That's not a normal sword! It's magical!"

"You'll be fine..." Sho said. "I promise." Ikaruga swung her sword quickly before sheathing it. "I told y-" Sho started before he saw Erza blocking the swing. "She can cut across the dimensional rift!?"

"We're in trouble." Laki said as Ikaruga unleashed a furry of swings, sending Sho into a statue and Laki crashing into the water.

Erza blocked all the swings ment for her before the card exploded, freeing Erza. "Thanks to you, there was enough distortions in the cards dimension, allowing me to slice my way to freedom."

'A sword that can cut through dimensions is amazing enough.' Sho thought to himself. 'But she used that power to her advantage, that's what makes her truly incredible.'

"So your name is Ikaruga?" Erza asked. "I was going to give you the chance to walk away from this, but after what you did to my friends, I think I'll just forget about that."

"Thanks Erza..." Laki said as she pulled herself onto the bridge.

"Is that so?" The assassin asked as Erza's armor shattered. "Good, because I was planing on stay here a lot longer." Erza covered herself in fear as Laki tried to stand. "Surprised? A skilled warrior such as yourself should have seen that coming. ~As I stood and stared, through the shadows of the mist, stood a spectre there~. This single minded focus for Jellal has rendered you a fledgling novice, completely unaware of my katana slashing about you." Erza glared at the assassin after being called a novice. "See, that's the look I want."

"Oh, boy. She's serious." Laki said to Sho.

"You might be skilled, but you don't stand a chance against me." Ikaruga teased.

"You're my enemy and I shall defeat you." Erza said as she donned her Heaven's Wheel Armor. "I always do."

"I'd like to see you try." The assassin said as she gripped her katana.

Erza charged forward and the two blocked swings before the read head jumped into the air. "Heaven's Wheel: Circle Sword!" She summoned a circle of blades and sent them flying at the assassin.

"Mugetsu Style..." Ikaruga opened her eyes and cut through the swords with blinding speed, sending the shards to the bridge. "That was my Yasha's Empty Flash..."

"She just cut through the swords!" Sho shouted. He turned to look at Laki, only to find air.

Erza landed and Ikaruga sliced thought the armor before flames gathered around her blade. "Mugetsu style: Garuda Flames!" She swung in a circle and let loose a wave of explosions. The smoke faded and Erza stood fast in her Flame Empress Armor. "Oh, the Flame Empress Armor. It's extremely resistant to flame attacks, is it not? I'm impressed that you could Requip it so easily."

The armor shattered, leaving her in her top and boots as she dropped to her knee. "Do you really think it's best to be so inappropriately clothed in front of a boy like that?"

"Like you have room to talk!" The assassin turned and blocked a strike from Laki's scythe. The two locked eyes before the assassin spun and sliced the weapon in half and slammed her sheathe into Laki's face, breaking her glasses and sending her flying back into a pillar.

"Good bye, Green Woman." Ikaruga pointed her blade tip at Laki's throat and raised it as Erza looked up.

"Laki!" Erza shouted as she charged forward and her body glowed, putting on her Purgatory Armor and its mace. She slammed it down and created a shockwave that tore a hole in the bridge, forcing the assassin back as Laki was buried under a destroyed gate.

"Could you not kill me wth that armor, Erza!?" The maker mage requested.

"I see you're getting serious, Erza." Ikaruga said. "Let us begin, shall we?"

Erza charged forward and slammed her weapon down, creating a shockwave that crashed into the wall behind them. She swung again, foring the assassin back before she swung her own blade, destroying most of the bridge. Erza charged again and Ikaruga forced her way up the mace before landing behind Erza as her armor and weapon shattered.

"A valiant effort but all for not." Ikaruga mocked as the shards faded. "Just surrender and maybe I'll spare your friends."

Erza stared at her hands in disbelief. 'I can't beat her...'

"Snap out of it!" Laki shouted from her buried spot. "You're Titania Erza! The strongest woman in Fairy Tail! You can beat this girl! You're stronger than her!"

"No... I'm not strong..." Erza stood up and Requiped into a new outfit; a sarashi around her breasts, her hair in a straight ponytail, two katanas and red paints with flame designs at the legs. "I've never been strong..."

"What are you thinking!?" Laki shouted. "Black Wing Armor, Adamantine Armor, even Giants Armor! Anything but that! It's just cloth!"

"I've hid behind armor for too long." Erza said, readying to sprint forward. "I'm going to end this with my own power."

"Armor or not, it makes no difference to me." Ikaruga said. "I'll strike you down where you stand." Both readied their blades and charged each other, swinging as they passed by. The sword in Erza's right hand shattered like everything else thus far.

"Our battle... Is over..." Ikaruga mumbled as her own sword shattered and she fell to the ground.

"How long are you going to keep up this ruse, Laki?" Erza asked. Laki smiled as she sank into the wood and reappeared, now with tore clothing.

"I knew you could do it Erza." Laki said.

"Defeat is quite the bitter taste..." Ikaruga mumbled. "Since the day my guild was created, I've only know the sweet taste of victory... But in the end, it doesn't matter who beat me. You and Jellal are both finished..."

"What are you talking about?" Laki asked.

"In fifteen minutes..." Ikaruga started as she reached for the ceiling. "~Justice's bright light... Will come raining from the sky, it will kill us all... A beastly haiku." She collapsed and fell unconscious.

"The Etherion blast..." Erza mumbled. "Laki, you and Sho go meet up with the others and get off this island."

"Right." Laki nodded.

"But what about you, Erza?" Sho asked.

Erza turned and headed across the bridge. "I'm going to settle things, once and for all..."

Laki looked up at the red head before a draft blew off the lower part of her shirt. She covered herself as a blush took over her face. "Hey, Erza, got any spare clothes for me? And maybe some glasses?"

We're nearing the moment. So, any suggestions for what I have Laki wear? If so, leave them in the reviews.

Beta red by Natsu is Awesome.