Chapter 23
Laki's Sacrifice
"Speech"
'Thoughts'
"Magic"
Flashback
Location / Date / Time Skip
With Simon and Natsu
"Ugh... Where am I?" Natsu groaned as he woke up on Simon's shoulders.
"I was wonder when you were gonna wake up." Simon said.
"Last thing I remember was some loud bang and a super cold feeling." Natsu said before sneezing.
"Cover your mouth!" Simon shouted. "Well, you were frozen solid by a spell. After that, Gray managed to defeat the assassin."
"Gray!?" Natsu asked.
"But he took a good amount of damage himself." Simon continued. "Your cat is taking him somewhere safe."
"So I lost to that tattooed freak but Gray won!?" Natsu shouted as he got off Simon's shoulder.
"Lost, no. It's more like you were frozen solid." Simon said.
"It doesn't matter! He's still gonna hold this over my head for at least a month!" The pinkette shouted. "I demand a rematch!"
Simon grabbed him by the scarf and dragged him up the stairs. "We don't have time for that right now."
"Hey, who are you again?" Natsu asked.
"I'm Simon, one of Erza's old friends." He answered before leaning against the tower.
"You okay?" Natsu asked.
"I'm fine, just got a transmission from Wally and Millianna." Simon said. "They found Lucy and Juvia, but they're in bad shape. It looks like they took down one of the assassins by themselves. They were confused at first because, they hadn't heard we're not enemies anymore."
With Wally and Millianna
"Guess they called off the hit on these ladies..." Wally said as he carried Juvia out.
"Don't know about that, but Simon said we're friends now." Millianna added as she dragged Lucy after them.
'If were such good friends, why am I tied up?' Lucy thought.
With Simon and Natsu
"Natsu!" Both looked over as Laki ran around a corner and just stared at her.
"What are you wearing?" Natsu asked as he looked at her new look; A purple cheongsam with lilac boots and armsleeves.
"My old clothes got destroyed by an assassin." She explained with a blush. "Erza gave these to me after she beat her."
"I didn't get to do anything!" Natsu complained.
"Calm down, Natsu." Laki said. "I'm sure you can take care of Jellal on your own."
"Actually that's what I wanted to talk about." Simon said. "Erza's gone to fight him by herself. I don't know if you've been informed, Salamander, but those two have quite the history. They have a score to settle and she wants to do it on her own, but Jellal is stronger than she knows. I'm begging both of you, help her fight him."
"Not gonna happen." Natsu and Laki said at the same time.
Throne Room
"It seems the game is over already." Jellal complained as Erza entered the room.
"You find that much pleasure in toying with other people's lives?" She asked as Jellal stood up.
"Between our birth and our death, there is only that game of emotions we play." Jellal explained. "What's more boring than a normal life?" He turned and looked over his shoulder. "It's been a long time, hasn't it?"
"It has." Erza nodded. "Sho and the others are free from your influence."
"Fine with me." Jellal said back. "What good are tools if you finished the construction?"
"Aren't you afraid it will be destroyed?" Erza asked as she raised her sword.
"What, you mean Etherion?" Jellal chuckled.
"So you were bluffing all along..." Erza surmised.
"Not at all." Jellal said as he took his hood off. "Etherion will rain down on us."
"I'm relieved to hear it." Erza said as she held her blade vertically. "All I have to do is keep you occupied for ten minutes, and then this nightmare will end at long last."
"No!" Jellal shouted as black mist rolled off his hand. "When the beam hits, your life will be sacrificed to Zeref. You cannot escape your fate, Erza." His right eye changed into a tribal look. "This is your destiny!"
With The Others
"Take me back, right now." Gray demanded as their boat cast off.
"Not a chance, bub, so close your mouth!" Wally shouted.
"Erzy said to get as far away from the tower as we can." Millianna added.
"But now, she, Natsu and Laki have no way to leave!" Lucy said back. "They're trapped."
"Don't worry, they'll be fine." Sho said. "I know it."
"They can't do it alone..." Gray panted. "Natsu and Laki need me to help them."
"You can't even help yourself right now." Wally said. "Simon's with the two, so I'm sure it'll be dandy."
"Not if they end up dead!" Lucy shouted.
"We shouldn't be fighting amongst ourselves!" Sho shouted.
"Then turn this boat around and take me to shore!" Gray shouted.
"Same here! Turn around now!" Lucy added.
"That ain't gonna happen!" Wally repeated.
"SHUT UP!" Happy shouted, scaring them all. "Just try to get along! I wanna go back for them too, but we can't because Etherion is gonna blast that place any minute! Natsu and Laki are gonna save her, and then they're gonna make it out of there alive! Simon said so! He said once Natsu's true power awakens, Jellal won't stand a chance..."
With Simon, Natsu, and Laki
"I thought you two were her friends!?" Simon shouted as he held Natsu against the tower wall. "How can you just abandon her!?"
"This is her fight, she'd never forgive us if we got involved." Natsu explained. Simon let go and Laki held him.
"Are you saying she can't win?" Laki asked.
"Not at all." Simon shook his head. "It's just that Jellal is extremely cunning. He'll use Erza's feelings for him against her, because she still believes he can be saved. But more importantly, the Etherion will fire in ten minutes. Once the beam fires, anyone inside will be obliterated."
"What!?" Natsu and Laki shouted.
"She ordered the others off the island, because she's giving up her life." He continued. "When the blast hits, it will take them both down."
"You should have started with that!" Laki shouted as Natsu burst into flames.
"Where are they!?" He demanded.
Throne Room
"Only seven minutes left..." Jellal mumbled. "And when that blast strikes this tower, we'll take our final breaths. What say you? Shall we enjoy these last moments together?"
"I have nothing to fear." Erza said back. "Even if Etherion does fire, all that matters is that I take you with me."
"Is that so..." Jellal asked as a large mass of magic floated above his hands. "Let's see about that!" The mass turned into tentacles and launched towards Erza, who calmly sliced through them. She launched forward and Jellal caught her hand before sending a blast of magic from his finger, destroying the wall and sending Erza out of the tower.
She jumped from rubble to rubble before landing back inside. "I thought this tower was your goal. Why are you working so hard to destroy it?!" She launched forward and swung her sword, slicing through the game board.
"Who cares about a pillar or two?" He chuckled back. "Nothing more than mere decorations."
"Sho and the others wasted eight years of their lives for mere decorations!?" Erza growled in anger.
"Don't play your little word games with me..." Jellal said as a ball of magic floated over his hand. "I never forced them to work here, they choose to. They knew how important the tower was to me." He slammed his fist shut and destroyed the orb. "And now it is complete!"
Tendrils grabbed Erza's feet and worked their way up her body, immobilizing her in an orb of magic. "No matter how strong you think you are, you are nowhere near my level." He chuckled before the orb was sliced into four pieces. She launched forward and swung her sword, catching him in the chest. He landed on his back as Erza trapped him underneath her and pointed her sword at his throat.
"Why don't you tell me what your real goal is, Jellal?" Erza demanded. "We both know the R-system isn't anywhere near complete. Do you know what I've been doing for the last eight years? Researching it relentlessly. The tower might be built perfectly according to the blueprints, but your still missing one key thing."
"I already told you, your sacrifice will complete it." He said back.
"No, it's something much more basic than that." Erza said. "Pure magic energy. To activate the R-system requires so much magic, that even if all the mages on the continent were gathered, it would only be a fraction of what you need. And you sure can't fill it all on your own. I find it intriguing that you haven't fled despite knowing the council's plans to attack. Just what are you up to?"
"Only three minutes left..." He mumbled.
"Answer me!" She shouted. "Your dream died before it could ever live, so why are you willing to risk your life? Do you really want to die so badly?!" Jellal clenched his fist and Erza squeezed his arm tighter. "If that's so, I'll hold you down right here until the last moment!"
"Honestly, that doesn't sound so bad..." He said as he relaxed his arm. "I've had no control over my own body. Zeref possessed me to be made flesh again. I'm nothing more than a puppet."
"Possessed?" Erza asked back.
"I couldn't save myself, let alone my friends." Jellal said. "And then it hit me. Heaven doesn't exist, and neither does true freedom. All of creation was finished before it even began."
Era
The Etherion cannon had entered its final stage. All the council members were gathered to see it go off. "Thus we pray." Org said as others followed his lead.
"Thus we pray." Ultear said.
"Thus we pray." Siegrain added as Yajima stared at him from behind.
Tower of Heaven
Throne Room
The whole tower began to shake as Etherion grew closer to firing. "I wanted to stop it, but I couldn't. I was just a train without any brakes. Erza, I surrender. You won this fight, so go ahead and finish me."
"There's no need for me to spill your blood." She said as she removed her blade. "Etherion will fire any second now. That means this is the end, for both of us..."
"It's grim fate, but it is our fate..." Jellal added as he sat up.
"In the end, you were just another one of Zeref's victims..." She added.
"It's my own fault." He said. "I let my weakness get the best of me. I gave into my anger and Zeref took advantage."
"But don't you think that burying all of your weakness, the things you kept locked away, isn't that what friends are for?" She asked back.
"That's true..." He nodded.
"I'm at fault as well." She explained. "I wasn't able to save you back then."
The two embraced in a hug as the tower shook even more. "Erza, you have saved me."
Era
"We pray to the sacred light for forgiveness!" Org shouted. "Fire the Etherion!" The workers obeyed and fired, releasing a blast of magic that shot into the sky and bounced off the satellite square.
With Simon
"So, we're too late..." He huffed as he leaned against a wall
With Natsu and Laki
Both ran up the stairs as the light grew brighter and brighter. "Erza!"
Throne Room
The light enveloped both of them as a demonic smile came on Jellal's face. Huge chunks of the tower were blasted off, creating a giant tidal wave that rode out form the shore line. Lucy and they others were caught in the wave and their boat was violently thrown around. Gray pulled himself back into the boat to find the tower covered in smoke.
Era
"Etherion has successfully fired! A direct hit!" One of the workers reported.
"Has it been completely destroyed?" Another asked back. "We need conformation!"
"The ethernano density is increasing!" A third said. "Be prepared for extreme weather conditions."
"Just how many innocent people were inside the tower?" Org asked.
"The prevention of Zeref's revival was absolutely necessary." Michello reminded. "If a few were sacrificed, then it was for the greater good."
"We can try to justify it all we want, but that won't bring closure to all the families we just destroyed today." Org said.
In the Sea
Juvia used her Water Dome to create an orb of water and protected them from the blast. Smoke still covered the tower as everyone inside it stared at it. "We-we can't have lost them..." Happy sobbed.
Throne Room
Erza opened her eyes to find herself still alive and the tower now turned into a giant, twisted lacrima. "How are we... Alive?" Jellal stood up and chuckled before bursting into a maniacal laughter.
Era
"This can't be happening!" The second worker shouted. "Fusion density has gone into a rapid decline! We're getting high levels of magic energy of some kind. Our equipment can't keep up with it! Someone tell me what's going on!?"
"Restoring visuals now!" The third shouted as the projection cleared up.
In the Sea
"It's a... Big lacrima?" Happy asked.
"Just what the heck is going on?" Gray asked.
"Hey, they're all okay, right?" Lucy asked.
With Natsu and Laki
"What the hell is going on here?" Natsu asked.
"Something bad." Laki muttered. "Something really bad..."
With Simon
"The Etherion fired, so why am I still here?" He muttered to himself.
Throne Room
"Finally, my hour of glory has arrived!" He shouted as Erza stood wide eyed. "This is the towers true form, a giant lacrima crystal, charged by the foolish council's Etherion cannon. Its pure magic power provided all the energy I needed. Meaning the R-system is now complete!"
Era
"The target still stands!" A worker shouted. "Now it's a giant lacrima!"
"Wait, it absorbed the magic energy of the Etherion!?" Leiji asked shocked.
"It's not possible..." Org muttered in disbelief.
"Siegrain, I think you owe us all an explanation!" Yajima demanded, only to have the bluenette fade away. "He just... Disappeared..." Ultear stood behind him with a smirk on her face.
Throne Room
Erza stood up with pure rage in her eyes. "So, this whole time, I was nothing more than a pawn..."
"That expression of yours is priceless, Erza..." Both looked over and stared at Siegrain. "He can't use his full power, so he had to manipulate you to save himself."
"Siegrain!?" Erza shouted. "What are you doing here?!"
"Remember when we first met?" He asked as he walked over to his twin. "You and Makarov came in to present the council an apology for destruction of property. But when you saw me, you mistook me for Jellal."
"Can't say I blame her, after all we do have the same face." Jellal said.
"I only managed to calm you down when I told you we were twins." Siegrain continued. "But I doubt you ever lost your hostility to me."
"What do you expect!?" She shouted back. "If you actually cared about your brother, you would have tried to stop him. Instead you spent your time spying on me!"
"A mistake on my part..." Siegrain confessed. "In hindsight, I should have said something to make you think I was going to track down Jellal and kill him. But the real mistake was running into you in the first place, and after all that trouble I went through to become a council member. Nothing is worse than coming up with an excuse on the spot."
"I knew it..." She growled. "The two of you were in on this together."
"'In on this together'?" Jellal repeated.
"You still don't get it, do you Erza?" Siegrain asked as he started to flicker. "The two of us are one in the same, we always were." Jellal's body glowed as Siegrain faded into him.
"A Thought Projection!?" She asked in shock.
"You had no idea, did you Erza?" Jellal asked back.
"Then you're the one responsible for all of this!?" She asked in a rage. "You wormed your way on to the council just so you could fire Etherion, didn't you?"
"I do hope you enjoyed the freedom I granted you all those years ago." He said. "Your release, Etherion, it was all apart of my plan to resurrect Zeref."
"Just how many lives do you plan to destroy!?" She shouted.
"My magic..." Jellal muttered. "My magic has returned to me."
Era
"A huge amount of magic energy is building up in the tower!" A worker reported.
"With that much power in one space, it's going to explode!" Another added.
"We've been had." Yajima said, leaning against the edge before it crumbled away. The whole building began to shake as stone turned to dust and it began to collapse.
"This is the Arc of Time..." Org mumbled. "But that's supposed lost magic..."
Workers fled in a panic as the statue crumbled into giant pieces. Yajima looked around until he locked eyes on Ultear, a magic seal above her hands. "Not you too, Ultear..."
"This is all for master Siegrain. No, master Jellal." She said as she looked over. "Now his dream can come true."
In The Sea
"That thing is the R-System?" Gray asked.
"It's true form, anyway." Wally answered. "I ain't seen it myself, but I think this is what Jellal was talking about."
"It's been activated." Millianna whispered.
"Wait, does that mean Zeref is gonna be resurrected?" Lucy asked.
"I don't know..." Sho whispered. "We helped Jellal build it, but we've never seen it activated."
"And now, Natsu, Laki and Erza are inside that thing." Gray said.
"Yeah, and so are Simon, and Jellal." Sho nodded.
Throne Room
Erza skipped along the floor as Jellal pulled back his fist. "Well you're certainly worse for ware." He teased. "Don't tell me you used up all your magic fighting Ikaruga."
Erza forced herself to stop before summoning a large sword. "Jellal! You're dead!" She charged forward and swung her sword before summoning another one. He dodged every swing before jumping onto a platform.
"The council is most likely in ruins now, thanks to Ultear." He said. "I can't tell you what a blessing Ultear has been. I couldn't have done it without her. She has no fear of death, because she believes all of mankind will become one in heaven. In fact, she said she'd be more than happy to give her own life. It's true what they say, ignorance is bliss."
"Damn you!" She shouted as she sliced the platform. "I'm taking revenge for everyone you've ever abused! This is the end, Jellal!" She launched forward only to notice a snake like tattoo wrapping around her body. "What's wrong with my arm!?" She asked as she was forced to drop her sword.
"It's just a Bind Snake." Jellal snickered. "I slipped it on you during that heart pulling embrace we had. The snake coiled all around Erza and immobilized her. "Now that I have the power and the sacrifice, I can begin the ceremony." He walked over and cupped Erza's chin in his hand. "This is your que, my dear."
"The magic energy in this crystal must be fused with the body of my sacrifice. Once that happens, it will deconstruct your body and take the shape of Zeref." A large crystal shot up from behind Erza before Jellal pushed her into it. "The sad thing is, I truly did love you, Erza."
"No, you can't do this!" She shouted.
"Oh, exalted Zeref! I am here before you!" Jellal chanted. "I offer you this woman's flesh, so you may be made whole again!"
Erza screamed in pain before Natsu and Laki grabbed her and pulled her out. "Erza is part of our family, so I'm not gonna let you touch her." He said.
"You guys..." She whispered.
"What are you doing?" Laki asked. "If we don't get back and take some jobs, Lucy won't be able to make rent."
"Sorry, but I can't move..." The redhead confessed.
"Seriously?" Laki asked, before looking at Natsu. "What's with the glimmer in your eyes?"
"Payback for all the times you beat me up." He said before tickling Erza, making her giggle.
"Natsu, this is serious." Laki said. She looked down at Erza's foot and quickly did the same.
"Listen, both of you." Erza said. "Please, you have to leave now."
"No way." Laki shook her head.
"If you can't do any kind of fighting, we'll fight for you." Natsu added.
"But Laki is injured..." Erza said. "And he's too strong. Besides you don't know anything about him."
"Who says I need to know the guy to beat him?" Natsu asked.
"Please, will you both just listen to me for once?" She asked as tears formed in her eye.
Natsu looked over at Laki and they shared a nod. Natsu picked Erza up as Laki stood behind her. "I guess we don't know you all that well either. But I can still win!" He pulled his fist back and slammed it into Erza's gut, knocking her out. Laki caught her and gently guided her to the ground. "Keep her safe, Laki."
"You're even crazier than I heard about." Jellal said. "Is there some kinda sick joy you get from taking out a defenseless friend?"
"I didn't have a choice..." Natsu said as he clenched his fist. "She was crying. Her voice was trembling with fear. No one wants to see her like that. Erza is meant to be as strong warrior. And when she wakes up from this nightmare, I want her to be like herself again." His eyes snapped open and he turned around. "If you wanna get to her, you'll have to go through us!"
"Is that a challenge?" Jellal asked. "Then show me the true power of a Dragon Slayer."
Natsu launched forward and punched Jellal in the face before slamming his fists into his gut. He screamed with rage and let loose a fury of punches. "Fire Dragon Wing Attack! Fire Dragon Talon!" He launched Jellal back into a crystal before expanding his mouth. "Fire Dragon Roar!" His roar roasted the crystal as he slid back.
"Did you get him?" Laki asked. The flames soon faded as Jellal threw his cloak off.
"Is that all you have to offer?" Jellal mocked. "I expected so much more from you, son of Igneel. I was hoping to get the taste of a dragon's destructive power before I tore you apart with my bare hands, but I won't waste my time of your like this."
"Say that again!" Natsu shouted as he charged forward.
"You will pay for disrupting my ceremony." Jellal said. "I will obliterate you with my Heavenly Body Magic. Meteor!" Natsu jumped and threw a punch that missed as Jellal reappeared behind him and kicked him. Natsu turned around and was assaulted by super fast kicks and punches.
"Man, he's fast. Looks like I'll have to rely on all my senses to get this guy." Natsu mumbled as he sprinted forward. "Sound, scent, touch... All I have to do is focus... There!" He turned and ignited his fist only to miss Jellal.
"Did he increase his speed!?" Laki asked from the sidelines.
"Be glad you got your hits in, because it won't happen again." Jellal said as he delivered a series of cross jabs to Natsu, knocking him into the air. "It's time I give you a true taste of power." He floated into the air and slammed his hands together. "May the seven stars rain judgement upon you. Seven Star Sword - Grand Chariot!"
An outline of the Big Dipper appeared beneath Natsu before it exploded, sending Natsu flying into the ceiling before he crashed to the floor as Jellal landed. "That spell packs the same punch as being hit by a meteor. The fact that your body is still in one piece is impressive. On the other hand, I might have gone too far. The tower can't take any more damage, or else it I'll become useless."
He turned towards Laki who summoned two of her scythes. "The magic energy has begun to leak out, so I'll make this as quick as I can." He started to walk towards them as a pebble landed near him. The bluenette turned around to see Natsu tossing stones at him.
"Natsu..." Laki mumbled, her eyes full of joyful tears.
"Feel that?..." Natsu panted as he hit Jellal with one. "That was my sneak attack." He pushed himself up onto one knee. "So now that the tower is a giant crystal, that makes it easier to shatter. And that'll screw up your plans!" He slammed his fist into the floor, making it crack even more.
"What are you going!?" Jellal shouted.
"This is not your day." Natsu said as he stood up. "Me and Laki specialize in destroying important stuff. And I'm still all fired up for a fight. Let's go, buddy."
"I will kill you..." Jellal growled. "I will send you both to hell!"
"Sorry, guy, but we're pretty tough." Natsu said back. "If you think you can take us both on, then come and get it."
"Oort!" Jellal summoned a seal that launched beams at Natsu.
"Too slow!" Natsu said as he avoided the blasts. "You're mine!" He jumped up and launched himself at Jellal.
"Kuiper!" Jellal swung his arm and sent a blast that forced Natsu back. He dug his feet into the ground and slowed his push back as Erza slowly woke up.
"Natsu!" Both girls shouted as he forced the blast away.
Natsu chuckled as he sprinted forward. "You're so worried about your precious tower that you won't fight me full on? Cause I get the feeling you're holding back and that won't work on me or Laki!"
"Just shut up! Sirius!" Jellal held his palm out and fired a blast from it, sending Natsu back even more.
"Fire Dragon Brilliant Flame!" Natsu summoned a ball of fire and slammed it into the floor, shaking the tower and sending chunks of it to the floor.
"He's attacking the tower!" Erza shouted. She looked over as Laki threw her scythes, slicing some pillars and crystals.
"Now I'm angry..." Jellal growled. "I didn't spend eight years building this tower, just so a lizard and his air head friend could destroy it. You will pay!"
"Tough break pal..." Natsu panted. "But I did warn you..."
'He barely has the strength to stand...' Erza thought to herself.
"I'll make you both pay!" He raised his hands and wind kicked up, sending Laki crashing into Natsu.
"Why is my shadow bending towards the light?" Erza asked. "That spell could kill them!"
"And now you both will fall into infinite darkness!" Jellal shouted as the wind swirls above him.
"Don't do it!" Erza shouted as she stood in front of the two. "Unless you want to lose your sacrifice to Zeref."
"That would be a setback." Jellal confessed. "The ceremony requires a wizard comparable to one of the ten Wizard Saints. However, I can find a suitable replacement. You aren't the only person who fits that description." Erza gasped as the wind picked up again. "But I'll worry about that after I kill you both!"
"Erza, move!" Laki shouted.
"This is my mess that you're in." Erza said back. "The least I can do is keep you both safe."
"Move!" Both shouted from behind her.
"Heavenly Body Magic: Altairis!" Jellal threw the ball of dark magic at the group, only to have an unknown figure step in front of Erza. The smoke faded, showing Simon with his arms wide.
"Simon... Why?" Erza asked with tears as he fell over.
"I had no idea this tower had a bug problem." Jellal said.
"What the hell were you thinking!?" Erza asked as he knelt by his side. "Why didn't you leave!?"
"I had... To save... You..." Simon gasped. "It's okay... I'd be glad... To give my... Life to you..."
"Save your energy." She ordered. "Just try to stay with me."
"You were... The only one... Who could... Make me smile..." He coughed up.
"Don't die on me." Erza begged.
'I've always... loved you...' He thought as he closed his eyes for good. Erza screamed and fell crying on his chest as Natsu stared in silence and Laki dropped to her knees.
Jellal chuckled before bursting into a mad laugh. "How pathetically cliché! He tried to play the valiant hero, but he couldn't save a fly! Simon gave his life to save you, but I'm not letting any of you leave."
"SHUT UP!" Natsu shouted as he punched Jellal into a pillar. All eyes were on the pinkette as he picked up a chunk of lacrima and took a bite out of it.
'I can't believe it..." Jellal thought in shock. 'He's eating the ethernano from the Etherion.' Natsu swallowed and roared as the ethernano left the lacrima and entered Natsu's body.
Natsu slammed his fists into the floor and sent a shockwave that Jellal barely dodged. Blue liquid came out of Natsu's mouth as he rolled on the ground in pain. "How could you do something like that?" Erza shouted. "Ethernano is made up of all kinds of elemental magic! It'll kill you."
Natsu screamed im pain as he grabbed his throat. "What an idiot." Jellal chuckled. "Did he really think he could power up by eating elements other than his own? It will certainly make my job easier if he kills himself."
Flames erupted around Natsu and took the form of a dragon. Scales took the place of skin over his eyes as all three stared at him. "Dragon Force..." Laki whispered. "I thought he was making it up, but it really does exist."
Natsu launched forward and slammed his knee into Jellal's gut before jumping off a pillar. "You made Erza cry!" He grabbed Jellal and slammed through layers of the tower. "I won't let you get away with it! Me and Laki made a promise and I'm not gonna break it!"
'Listen you two, if anything happens to me, promise you'll save Erza.' Simon's request echoed in their heads.
"Hurt her again and I'll kill you!" Natsu shouted.
"Unlike you, I don't make idle threats!" Jellal shouted back. "Meteor!" He activated his spell and rushed behind Natsu. Natsu jumped from crystal to crystal back up towards him. He threw a punch at Jellal, only to have the bluenette dodge. "You can't match my speed! Halley!" He slammed his fist into Natsu and sent him crashing to the side.
Laki stared at Jellal as he rushed around Natsu, delivering crushing blows whenever he wanted. 'Even in Dragon Force, he's not strong enough...' Looking over at Simon's body, she clenched her fists in anger. 'That's right, I made a promise... No, I made two... One to Simon, and one to Natsu... This is it... No more hiding what I really am!'
She stood up and took a deep breath, summoning a seal that matched Natsu's in a light brown. "Wood Dragon Roar!" A torrent of sawdust and splinters shot out, surprising Jellal and forcing him to block the shards. Natsu reappeared in front of him and amd kicked him, sending him flying upwards.
Erza stared in shock at what had just happened as she looked up at her guild mate. "Laki, you're a-"
"I'll explain later." She cut off as both her and Natsu followed the bluenette.
'Another Dragon Slayer... Who would have thought?' Erza chuckled to herself.
Both Slayers looked up as Jellal launched off a crystal and kicked them both. "One slayer or a hundred, I won't lose to anyone! I am destined to create a land of freedom! In my darkest hour, I could hear lord Zeref call me! He said I am the chosen one! Once he's resurrected, we'll work together to create a land that's truly free!"
"And you're gonna do that, by taking away the rights of everyone else in the world!?" Natsu shouted.
"If that's what has to be done to change the world, then so be it! Corvi!" Jellal shouted as he launched blasts of magic at the two. Natsu jumped and latched onto a crystal sticking out of the roof. "I have no use for close minded fools!" He waved his hands and summoned a large magical seal.
"He's casting Abyss Break!?" Erza shouted. "Why!? You'll destroy the tower so many died to create!"
"This tower means nothing to me." Jellal said with a wicked smile. "Now that I've built one, I can build another in half the time! Lord Zeref, wait just a little longer."
"Wood Dragon Whip!" A long flexible wooden limb wrapped around his waist and slammed him around before raising him in the air. "Natsu!"
"You'll never know what it means to be free!" Natsu shouted as he launched upwards with flames at Jellal. "Not as long as you're tied down to a stupid ghost!" The flames took the shape of a dragon in flight. "Quit being a puppet! Free yourself!" Natsu slammed his fist into Jellal's face as Laki pulled down. Both actions sent him slamming down into the tower, creating a large explosion.
With the Others
"What was that?" Sho asked as the dome bounced on the waves.
"Was that another explosion?" Wally asked.
"No, that had to be Natsu and Laki!" Happy shouted.
"Yeah, has to be..." Lucy nodded. "They must be up there fighting."
"Do you think they're gonna be okay?" Millianna asked.
"I hope so..." Gray said. "But it's to early to tell, cause they're going on a serious rampage."
Throne Room
Natsu and Laki stood over the body of Jellal, imbedded into the floor. 'One Dragon Slayer is already powerful, but two? I don't think anyone can stop them now...' Erza thought as Jellal's Wizard Saint medal bounced next to him. 'So this is the power of Dragon Slayer magic... The nightmare is over... Now everyone can know true freedom.'
"So, no more hiding, huh?" Natsu asked.
"Yeah, no more hiding." Laki nodded.
"Good, I was beginning to think you'd forgotten our promise..." Natsu said as he collapsed to his knees.
"Natsu!" Erza shouted as she caught and hugged him. "You two truly are incredible. But Laki, you have a lot of questions to answer."
"I know." She nodded as the scales faded from Natsu's eyes. "And I'll answer them all-" The tower started to shake and glow, interrupting her.
With the Others
"Oh, pretty..." Millianna said as the tower shined a blue tint.
"That can't be good." Wall mumbled.
"There's an incredible amount of magic energy coming from that light." Juvia said.
"That's a bad thing." Gray said. "The ethernano inside the tower must be going wild."
"What does that mean?" Lucy asked.
"The magic energy from the Etherion can't all be kept in one place for so long because the energy will become unstable." Happy explained.
"And with nowhere to go, the ethernano will keep growing until it bursts, causing a massive explosion." Juvia added.
"What!?" Wally shouted. "Come on, let's make tracks or else we'll all be dead meat!"
"But what about the others!?" Sho asked.
"All we can do now is have faith that they'll make it out." Gray answered. "Because if that tower explodes, it will wipe us all out!"
Throne Room
Erza and Laki slung Natsu over their shoulders as pillars of light burst around them. "Simon..." Erza looked over at the body of her friend as it fell into the hole in the center of the room.
"Come on, Erza!" Laki shouted. The red head nodded and the two girls took off towards an opening in the wall. A beam of light blinded them and caused them to trip, knocking Laki out of sight.
Erza looked up as the crystal melted into a bubble like puddle in front of her. 'The tower is actually being deformed by all this power. I can't imagine how much destruction this will cause. Even if we found Laki and made it outside, the tower would still explode and we'd be caught in it.'
She slammed her fist down on the floor. 'It's over!' She glanced over at Natsu lying face down. 'No, I refuse to give up. It's my turn to save you, Natsu.' An explosion of gas went off, forcing her to cover her eyes. 'There's no way to contain the blast or escape it, so what can I do?'
Erza gasped as she remembered Jellal's plan. 'That's right, if I fuse my body with the lacrima, I might be able to keep the tower from exploding.' She placed her hand on a chunk of crystal and it sank in, making her cry in pain. 'Good, it still accepts me.'
"Erza..." The red head gasped as she looked behind at Natsu, now awake. "What are you doing? Are you trying to go back inside?"
"I don't have a choice." Erza said back. "It's the only way to stop the it."
"It? What are you talking about?" He asked as the tower shock again.
"The ethernano is unstable." She explained. "The tower can't contain it, the whole place is going to explode. But if I fuse my body with it, I keep that from happening."
"I won't let you do that!" Natsu shouted as Erza's legs sank in. "There has to be another way to stop it!"
"There is." Laki appeared and pulled Erza out, sending her crashing into Natsu. Magic seals appeared on the ground as rows of wooden knights blocked the other two off.
"Laki, what are you doing!?" Erza shouted.
"I've betrayed everyone at Fairy Tail." She said as she forced her hand into the crystal. "I've lied to them about who I am, what I am. I can't ever go back now. This is all I can do."
"No one cares about that!" Natsu shouted as he reached through a gap between the statues. "If you just explain things-"
"That still won't change what I've done!" Laki shouted as her torso sank into the blob. "Natsu, the time I spent with Fairy Tail has been the happiest of my life." Tears fell from both Dragon Slayers eyes. "I wouldn't change anything."
Natsu forced her way through the statues, with only her head out. "Sorry, Natsu. This is the end of my adventures." Her head sank in and her glasses fell to the ground.
Natsu stared at the eye ware as more tears fell from his eyes. "Lakiiiiii!" He shouted as the tower exploded.
The tower exploded and the force went upwards as The Guy and Knucklehead watched from the air and the others watched from the sea.
6 Years Ago
Porlyusica's House
"I'm sorry, Laki!" Natsu said on his hands and knees. "I didn't meant to break them again."
The older female sighed as she held the broken glasses in her hands. "Listen brat, go outside!" She shouted at Natsu. "From what you've told me, she's never had a physical in her life, and for a girl her age, it's embarrassing to be around a boy when that happens. So wait and she'll be out soon."
"Yes ma'am." Natsu nodded and quickly realized ran out the house.
"Thanks." Laki said as Porlyusica did a quick physical examination.
"I don't understand why you wear these things." Porlyusica said as she put the new lenses in the slots. "The results show you have perfect vision. So why wear these?"
"Because..." Laki mumbled, making the older girl glare at her. "He said I looked cute in them."
"Oh, for crying out-" Porlyusica shook her head. "Look, sooner or later, you will have to tell him that."
"I know." Laki nodded as she put her glasses back on. "Thanks again." She walked to the door and left the older woman.
With Laki
'Looks like I'll never get to tell him the truth...' Laki thought as she floated in a void. 'This is goodbye, Natsu...'
And she's out. If you don't know what she's wearing, think of what Sheele wears in Akame ga Kill. Well, up next is the festival, and yes, Laki will be apart of the Miss Fairy Tail contest. One question about her though, should Laki keep wearing glasses?
All of Jellal's spell names come from real astronomy.
Beta read by digemsmack.