Voici ma participation pour le AUpril 2026 pour le prompt : Amis d’enfance.
J’espère que mon texte vous plaira.
Résumé : Erza et Jellal ont grandi ensemble, unis depuis leurs jeux d’enfants. Mais lorsque Jellal part étudier aux États‑Unis, leurs chemins se séparent.
Disclaimer : Fairy Tail appartient à Hiro Mashima.
@au-pril-blog
AO3 / FF.NET
Erza grimpa à une branche et tendit le bras. La pomme ne se trouvait qu’à quelques centimètres. Elle se hissa sur la pointe des pieds. Elle y était presque. Du haut de ses sept ans, elle aimait l’aventure et, quand elle voulait quelque chose, elle faisait tout pour l’avoir.
« Tu vas tomber si tu continues. »
Erza leva les yeux au ciel. Il fallait toujours que Jellal soit là pour la surveiller. Et aussi pour l’empêcher de se blesser gravement lorsque sa soif d’aventure était trop forte. Mais franchement, grimper dans un pommier n’avait rien de dangereux.
« Ça va aller, dit-elle.
-Tu n’as pas de pommes chez toi ?
-Si, mais c’est plus amusant comme ça. »
Jellal soupira. Que pouvait-il répondre à une logique pareille ? Il sursauta lorsqu’une pomme tomba près de lui.
« Hé ! S’exclama-t-il. Fais attention !
-Désolée »
Elle tira malicieusement la langue, étant tout sauf désolée. Elle descendit du pommier et atterrit devant lui. Elle sortit des grandes poches de sa veste deux pommes qu’elle venait de cueillir.
« Cadeau ! Lança-t-elle avec un immense sourire. »
La dent de devant qu’elle avait perdue deux jours plus tôt lui donnait un air encore plus innocent. Jellal prit la pomme qu’elle lui tendait et croqua dedans. Il ne lui avouerait jamais, mais c’était bien meilleur que les pommes de la maison.
******
Les années passèrent. Jellal et Erza étaient inséparables. Ils étaient désormais dans leur dernière année de lycée. Erza était devenue une sportive accomplie. Elle était capitaine du club de kendo et leur équipe avait été qualifiée pour le championnat national. Jellal, lui, était devenu président des élèves. Il rêvait d’une carrière politique et, malgré son âge, il voulait se donner tous les moyens pour y parvenir.
Erza sortit du gymnase, tenant fermement la lanière de son sac sur son épaule. Elle venait de sortir d’une séance d’entraînement intensive. Elle était épuisée, mais tous ces efforts en valaient la peine si, au final, leur équipe devenait championne nationale.
Elle aperçut Jellal au loin, en pleine discussion avec leur professeur principal. Ces derniers temps, il était très occupé par la préparation de la remise des diplômes. Le professeur s’éloigna et un immense sourire illumina le visage de Jellal lorsqu’il la vit approcher.
« Tu es en retard, dit-il.
-Je ne suis jamais en retard. Ce sont les autres qui sont en avance. »
Jellal éclata de rire.
« Qu’est-ce qu’il te voulait ? Demanda Erza en faisant un signe de tête vers le professeur.
-Il m’a demandé de faire un discours pour la remise des diplômes.
-Tu n’as pas l’air ravi. »
Jellal grimaça.
« C’est juste que je n’ai encore jamais fait ça. En plus, pour la remise des diplômes. Je crois que c’est le discours le plus important de notre scolarité.
-Tu n’as pas à t’inquiéter. Je sais que tout se passera bien. Après tout, tu trouves toujours les mots pour m’inspirer. »
Erza baissa la tête, espérant que sa chevelure rouge cache ses joues devenues de la même couleur. Jellal sourit. Elle avait toujours les mots pour l’encourager et lui redonner confiance.
« On y va, dit-il »
Elle acquiesça et ils se dirigèrent vers la sortie.
« Tu sais que tu es en première page du journal du lycée, l’informa Jellal.
-Je ne suis pas toute seule. Toute l’équipe est avec moi.
-Peut-être, mais c’est toi la capitaine. Si vous êtes arrivés au championnat national, c’est grâce à toi. »
Erza ne put s’empêcher de sourire. C’était toujours pareil quand on lui parlait du championnat. Même si elle était nerveuse, elle avait vraiment hâte d’y être. Qu’elle perde ou qu’elle gagne, sa plus grande fierté était d’avoir mené leur équipe jusque-là.
« Tu sais que je serai au premier rang pour t’encourager.
-Tu as intérêt. »
Parce qu’il y avait une chose dont elle était certaine : s’il était là, elle décrocherait une médaille.
******
Erza contempla sa médaille avec fierté. Ils avaient réussi. Ils étaient champions nationaux. Les élèves de l’école avaient rejoint leur équipe pour les féliciter. Elle balaya la foule du regard. Jellal n’était pas là. Où avait-il pu aller, pensa-t-elle. Elle l’avait pourtant aperçu dans les gradins.
Elle réussit à se frayer un chemin parmi ceux qui voulaient lui serrer la main, la prendre dans leurs bras ou simplement la féliciter. Elle sortit du gymnase. Elle le vit au loin, adossé à un mur. Elle courut vers lui. Il lui souriait, mais elle avait l’impression que quelque chose n’allait pas.
« Toutes mes félicitations, dit-il. Je suis fier de toi. »
Elle rougit. Peu importe les trophées ou les médailles, ces simples petits mots que venait de lui dire Jellal la rendaient heureuse.
« Il faut que je te parle, continua-t-il. »
Le ton sérieux de sa voix lui noua l’estomac. Comme si quelque chose d’important allait se passer. Quelque chose qui allait changer sa vie, mais pas dans le bon sens.
« Je t’écoute.
-J’ai été accepté dans une université aux États-Unis. C’est une chance unique qui m’est offerte.
-C’est formidable ! Je suis heureuse pour toi ! »
Elle sourit en espérant que Jellal ne voie pas à quel point cette nouvelle lui faisait un coup de poignard dans le cœur. Elle ne se serait jamais attendue à ce genre de nouvelle. Il n’avait jamais mentionné son intention d’aller étudier à l’étranger. Mais elle comprenait son envie de partir et d’évoluer. Ça allait être la plus grande aventure de sa vie. Et peu importe ce qu’elle pensait, elle devait le soutenir dans ses choix.
« Quand est-ce que tu dois partir ?
-Deux jours après la remise des diplômes. »
Erza écarquilla les yeux. Deux semaines. C’était tout ce qu’il leur restait. Sans prévenir, Jellal la prit dans ses bras. Elle passa ses bras autour de lui et se laissa aller à son étreinte.
Plus que deux semaines, pensa-t-elle avec tristesse.
******
Les semaines devinrent des mois et les mois des années. Au fil du temps, les coups de téléphone, les appels vidéo devinrent de plus en plus rares, jusqu’à s’arrêter complètement.
Cela faisait maintenant sept ans que Jellal et Erza ne s’étaient pas parlé. Erza s’était fait une raison. Ils étaient devenus comme ces personnes que le temps et la distance avaient fini par éloigner, jusqu’à ce qu’ils ne connaissent plus rien l’un de l’autre. À chaque fois qu’elle y pensait, cela lui faisait un pincement au cœur.
Erza sortit du dojo où elle pratiquait toujours le kendo. Elle n’était pas devenue professionnelle, mais c’était un sport qu’elle aimait toujours pratiquer. La discipline de ce sport l’aidait dans sa vie quotidienne. Elle s’arrêta devant le parc dans lequel se trouvait le pommier dans lequel elle aimait grimper quand elle était enfant. Quand elle y repensait, elle avait l’impression que c’était dans une autre vie, où tout lui semblait plus facile.
« Ça rappelle des souvenirs. »
Elle se figea. Elle connaissait cette voix. Elle ne l’avait pas entendue depuis sept ans et elle était devenue plus grave, plus adulte. Peu importe le temps qui passait, elle le reconnaîtrait toujours.
« Jella, dit-elle dans un souffle. »
Elle se retourna. Il était là, devant elle. Elle se demanda un instant s’il ne s’agissait pas d’un mirage.
« Qu’est-ce que… »
Elle bafouillait. Les mots se bloquèrent dans sa gorge.
« Qu’est-ce que je fais là ? Compléta-t-il avec un sourire timide. »
Elle acquiesça.
« J’ai été engagé comme assistant au ministère des Affaires étrangères. »
Elle n’était pas surprise. Il avait toujours rêvé de faire de la politique et entrer dans un ministère faisait partie du plan de carrière qu’il avait établi quand il était au collège.
« Tu ne dis rien ?
-C’est juste que je n’ai pas eu de nouvelles depuis sept ans et tout à coup, tu débarques sans prévenir. »
Jellal se passa nerveusement la main dans les cheveux.
« Je suis désolé. Après tout ce temps, je ne savais pas comment reprendre contact. C’est… »
Il inspira profondément.
« C’est la plus grosse erreur que j’aie jamais faite. M’être éloigné de toi. C’est mon plus grand regret. »
Erza lut la sincérité dans ses yeux. Elle aurait voulu que ces sept années sans lui n’aient jamais existé. Mais c’était impossible. Ils étaient devenus deux étrangers.
« Est-ce qu’on peut prendre un nouveau départ ? Demanda-t-il. »
Elle hésita. Mais peut-être que c’était ce qu’il leur fallait. Tout recommencer à zéro, réapprendre à se connaître. Elle lui tendit la main.
« Enchantée. Je m’appelle Erza. »
Jellal sourit et serra sa main.
« Jellal. »
Erza répondit à son sourire. Une nouvelle chance s’offrait à eux. Une nouvelle vie qu’ils partageraient tous les deux.
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My AUpril 2026 contribution for the prompt : Childhood Friends.
I’m sorry for the mistakes, English is not my native language. I hope you like it.
Summary : Erza and Jellal grew up together, bound since their childhood games. But when Jellal leaves to study in the United States, their paths part.
Disclaimer : Fairy Tail belongs to Hiro Mashima.
@au-pril-blog
AO3 / FF.NET
Erza climbed onto a branch and stretched out her arm. The apple was only a few centimeters away. She rose onto the tips of her toes. She was almost there. At seven years old, she loved adventure, and when she wanted something, she did everything she could to get it.
“You’re going to fall if you keep going.”
Erza rolled her eyes. Jellal always had to be there to watch over her. And also to stop her from seriously hurting herself whenever her thirst for adventure got too strong. But honestly, climbing an apple tree wasn’t dangerous at all.
“I’ll be fine,” she said.
“Don’t you have apples at home ?”
“Yes, but this is more fun.”
Jellal sighed. How was he supposed to argue with logic like that? He jumped when an apple fell near him.
“Hey !” He exclaimed. “Be careful !”
“Sorry.”
She stuck her tongue out mischievously, anything but sorry. She climbed down from the tree and landed in front of him. From the large pockets of her jacket, she pulled out two apples she had just picked.
“A present !” She said with a huge smile.
The front tooth she had lost two days earlier made her look even more innocent. Jellal took the apple she handed him and bit into it. He would never admit it, but it tasted much better than the apples at home.
******
The years passed. Jellal and Erza were inseparable. They were now in their last year of high school. Erza had become an accomplished athlete. She was captain of the kendo club, and their team had qualified for the national championship. Jellal, on the other hand, had become student council president. He dreamed of a political career and, despite his age, wanted to give himself every chance to succeed.
Erza walked out of the gym, gripping the strap of her bag on her shoulder. She had just finished an intense training session. She was exhausted, but all that effort would be worth it if, in the end, their team became national champions.
She spotted Jellal in the distance, deep in conversation with their homeroom teacher. Lately, he had been very busy preparing for the graduation ceremony. The teacher walked away, and a huge smile lit up Jellal’s face when he saw her approaching.
“You’re late,” he said.
“I’m never late. Everyone else is just early.”
Jellal burst out laughing.
“What did he want ?” Erza asked, nodding toward the teacher.
“He asked me to give a speech at graduation.”
“You don’t look thrilled.”
Jellal grimaced.
“It’s just… I’ve never done that before. And for graduation, of all things. I think it’s the most important speech of our entire school life.”
“You don’t need to worry. I know it’ll go well. After all, you always find the words to inspire me.”
Erza lowered her head, hoping her red hair would hide her cheeks, now the same color. Jellal smiled. She always knew how to encourage him and give him confidence.
“Let’s go,” he said.
She nodded, and they headed toward the exit.
“You know you’re on the front page of the school newspaper,” Jellal informed her.
“I’m not alone. The whole team is with me.”
“Maybe, but you’re the captain. If you made it to the national championship, it’s thanks to you.”
Erza could not help but smile. It was always the same when someone mentioned the championship. Even if she was nervous, she could not wait for it. Whether she won or lost, her greatest pride was leading her team that far.
“You know I’ll be in the front row cheering for you.”
“You’d better be.”
Because there was one thing she was certain of : if he was there, she would win a medal.
******
Erza looked at her medal with pride. They had done it. They were national champions. Students from the school had joined their team to congratulate them. She scanned the crowd. Jellal was not there. Where could he have gone, she wondered. She had seen him in the stands earlier.
She managed to make her way through the people who wanted to shake her hand, hug her, or simply congratulate her. She stepped out of the gym. She saw him in the distance, leaning against a wall. She ran toward him. He smiled at her, but she felt something was wrong.
“Congratulations,” he said. “I’m proud of you.”
She blushed. No matter the trophies or medals, those simple words from Jellal made her happy.
“I need to talk to you,” he continued.
The serious tone of his voice tightened her stomach. As if something important was about to happen. Something that would change her life, but not in a good way.
“I’m listening.”
“I’ve been accepted into a university in the United States. It’s a once‑in‑a‑lifetime opportunity.”
“That’s amazing ! I’m happy for you !”
She smiled, hoping Jellal would not see how much the news felt like a stab to the heart. She never would have expected this. He had never mentioned wanting to study abroad. But she understood his desire to grow and move forward. It would be the greatest adventure of his life. And no matter what she felt, she had to support him.
“When do you leave ?”
“Two days after graduation.”
Erza’s eyes widened. Two weeks. That was all they had left. Without warning, Jellal pulled her into his arms. She wrapped her arms around him and let herself sink into the embrace.
Only two weeks left, she thought sadly.
******
Weeks turned into months, and months into years. Over time, phone calls and video chats became rarer and rarer, until they stopped completely.
It had now been seven years since Jellal and Erza had spoken. Erza had accepted it. They had become like those people whom time and distance slowly pull apart, until they no longer know anything about each other. Every time she thought about it, it made her heart ache.
Erza stepped out of the dojo where she still practiced kendo. She had not become a professional, but it was a sport she still loved. Its discipline helped her in her daily life. She stopped in front of the park where the apple tree stood. The one she used to climb as a child. When she thought about it, it felt like another life, when everything seemed easier.
“Brings back memories.”
She froze. She knew that voice. She had not heard it in seven years, and it had grown deeper, more mature. No matter how much time passed, she would always recognize it.
“Jellal,” she breathed.
She turned around. He was there, standing in front of her. For a moment, she wondered if he was just a mirage.
“What are…”
She stammered. The words got stuck in her throat.
“What am I doing here ?” He finished with a timid smile.
She nodded.
“I was hired as an assistant at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs.”
She was not surprised. He had always dreamed of going into politics, and joining a ministry had been part of the career plan he’d made back in middle school.
“You’re not saying anything ?”
“It’s just… I haven’t heard from you in seven years, and suddenly you show up without warning.”
Jellal nervously ran a hand through his hair.
“I’m sorry. After all this time, I didn’t know how to reach out again. It’s…”
He took a deep breath.
“It’s the biggest mistake I’ve ever made. Letting myself drift away from you. It’s my greatest regret.”
Erza saw the sincerity in his eyes. She wished those seven years without him had never existed. But that was impossible. They had become strangers.
“Can we start over ?” He asked.
She hesitated. But maybe that was exactly what they needed. To start from scratch, to get to know each other again. She held out her hand.
“Nice to meet you. My name is Erza.”
Jellal smiled and shook her hand.
“Jellal.”
Erza returned his smile. A new chance was opening before them. A new life they would share together.
A new update! One that is super long... like over 12K words long. If you prefer to read it on AO3, find it here, or start from the beginning here.
---
“You cannot go to Magnolia.”
Jellal paused for a moment, in the middle of re-shelving his books. Yajima stood in the doorway, dwarfed by the wooden monstrosity. Had he not spoken, Jellal probably wouldn’t have even noticed him there – a testament to his distracted state of mind.
“I have no idea what you’re talking about,” Jellal replied after a long moment, keeping his voice carefully bland. “I’m here, aren’t I? And Magnolia is a world away.”
“Don’t try to play me for a fool, boy. It may work on the other members of the Council, but I know you far better.” Yajima moved into Jellal’s office and let the door close behind him. “I’ve seen you with them.”
“It’s been a long time since I’ve been with them.”
Over a year, since he joined the Council. Each month a painful reminder of what he had sacrificed to get to where he was, and Jellal was no longer certain it was worth it.
“We don’t forget our family, Boy, no matter how long we’re separated. Why do you think I still defend Maki, even though he’s too old by far to keep dealing with the dramatics of all you children.”
You children. Jellal shelved another book and closed his eyes, thinking of Makarov, who had always called him one of his children, even though Jellal had never worn the Guild Mark.
“They are your family, and I know you want to be with them, Jellal. But they need you more here. The aftermath of this will not be pretty.”
“The aftermath of this doesn’t matter if they’re dead, Master Yajima.”
Yajima looked as startled as Jellal felt when the title came out so easily. Jellal had ceased to call Yajima master as soon as he had joined the Council, enjoying that he was on level footing with the man that had been his teacher.
“What have you done?” Yajima asked, his voice heavy with a sigh.
“I have no idea what you mean,” Jellal replied quickly – too quickly – turning back to re-shelving his books. “It was a slip of the tongue.”
“Yes, it was. And you wouldn’t have made it if you hadn’t done something. It’s not the mark that makes a Fairy Tail mage, boy, and you’re as reckless as any of them.”
Jellal sighed and gave Yajima a rather sheepish grin.
“I don’t suppose you’d want to cover my absence? It’s just… this is using more of my power than I would like.”
Yajima let out a rather uncharacteristic curse. But Jellal had made him do that so many times over the course of their time as student and teacher – he had been brilliant, but with that brilliance had come some frustration and plenty of impatience – that it hardly even startled him anymore.
“Your projections are getting too good. I didn’t even notice.” Yajima rubbed his temples and shook his head. “You’ll regret this, Jellal.”
“Maybe,” Jellal agreed, his gaze going distant. “But I’d regret it more if I hid away.”
He knew that Yajima probably had more to say, but it was too late for regrets, or for turning back. So he let his projection in Era fade, and instead focused his attention on the scenery flying by the train window.
It had been like gossip to the other members of the Council, the news that Shadow Lord and Fairy Tail would be going to war. Ultear had even tried to make a wager with him, which he had been less than impressed by.
It had taken him exactly two hours, to set up the projection in Era and make the first train destined for Magnolia. He was risking his seat on the Council, of course.
And Jellal couldn’t bring himself to care.
What he did care about, was that he had heard it from the other Councillors and not from Fairy Tail itself.
Dammit, Levy had been one of his best friends as a teen, both of them fascinated by any writing that seemed the least bit old or arcane, and yet no one had thought to tell him that she and her team had been attacked?
It left a sour taste in his mouth, along with the realization that along with the year that had passed, there was also another distance that had been formed – one that separated him from the family that had made it possible for him to realize his ambitions.
He wanted to send another projection to Magnolia, but he knew that if he did, Makarov and Erza would try to convince him to return to Era, and they were perhaps the only souls in the world that could successfully do so. So instead he decided to conserve his energy for his arrival in Magnolia and the fight he would inevitably face.
Miles away from him, sitting in the Guild that was Jellal’s destination, Lucy Heartfilia was sitting at Levy’s side, worried sick for her friend.
She didn’t know why Phantom Lord was doing this. Sure, there were bound to be rivalries between Guilds, especially ones as popular as Fairy Tail and Phantom Lord. But this went beyond petty rivalries.
This was cruelty.
Levy, Jet, and Droy hadn’t deserved this sort of treatment. They were perfectly respectable mages, of course, but not one of them was anywhere close to the level of Erza and Laxus, or even Natsu and Gray. There was no way it had been a fair fight, and it made Lucy feel helpless rage that she couldn’t do anything but sit at Levy’s bedside and hope for the best.
She read to her friend, a popular novel from a series they were both fans of, until she looked out the window and realized it was starting to get late.
She still needed to get groceries, too.
“I’ll be back tomorrow,” she promised Levy’s far too still form, resting her hand on the other girl’s for moment. “I promise.”
After getting her groceries, she found herself troubled and distracted, because she had dropped by the guild and been told by Mira that the others had gone to Phantom. Lucy would have thrown a fit, except that Mira had looked so worried, and that that left her with more worry than anger, too. She didn’t even notice the blue haired woman until they were almost on top of one another, and rain had begun to fall from a sky that had been clear just moments before.
“Drip-drip-drop.”
“Who are you?” Lucy demanded, a sinking feeling in her stomach. Maybe it hadn’t been the best time to go off alone.
“Juvia is the rain woman. It’s always with me. Drip-drip-drop.”
The woman – Juvia – pulled an umbrella from below her coat and continued to walk by Lucy, making her scowl after her.
“Well take the rain with you!” she shouted at her back.
“Nope, nope, nope!”
Juvia stopped walking as another voice came from behind Lucy, and she realized that now he was stuck on a narrow street between two strangers while her Guild was at war.
This couldn’t be good.
The man that appeared was every bit as odd as Juvia, with a heavy accent.
“Juvia, you must not shy away from the task at hand!”
He spoke solely to the blue haired woman, but his words made it clear that they were both here for Lucy, made even more clear when he introduced himself as a member of Phantom Lord’s Element Four – Sol.
Rain woman… Juvia had to be one as well.
Lucy liked to believe she had improved her magic in the time since joining Fairy Tail, but she wasn’t stupid. She knew she was majorly outclassed.
“We’re to take you back to the Guild at once.”
Lucy let her groceries fall, and dropped her hand to her keys.
“You’re the ones who attacked my friends!” she snarled, because even if she was outclassed, a Fairy Tail mage would always fight.
A water bubble began to form around Lucy, and she slammed at it as Sol claimed innocence, and said it was Gajeel who had attacked Shadow Gear.
“Meteor.”
What appeared to be a golden ball flew by Lucy, and sent both members of the Element Four flying. With Juvia’s concentration shot, the water around Lucy fell apart and she sprawled on the ground.
Another man stood in front of her, wearing a hooded cape. He looked back at her, and she recognized his face.
“Jellal?” she asked, completely incredulous. She knew his face all too well from the regular features on him in Sorcerer Weekly, but she felt like she knew him as well, because once the flood gates had opened on his relationship with Erza, the stories had begun to flow from all the guildmates, including Levy who, it turned out, was closer to him than everyone but Erza.
The councilman cocked his head at her curiously, and Lucy realized that while she had heard plenty about him, he probably had no idea who she was, and she had addressed him, a member of the Magic Council, with way too much familiarity.
She kind of wanted to turn back time and just let Juvia kidnap her.
Jellal’s gaze fell down to the keys at her side, and a warm smile curved his lip and lit his eyes, turning him from cool Wizard Saint to something far more approachable.
“You must be Lucy,” he said, and Lucy wondered how Erza managed to keep her cool around him, because she just felt like a hot, stuttering mess. She was actually relieved when he turned his attention once more to the Phantom Lord members.
“Is the Council interfering in Guild relations now?” Sol demanded stiffly as he and Juvia stumbled their way back to their feet.
“I’m not here as a member of the Magic Council,” Jellal replied coolly. He held his hands in front of him, and sent a blast of light at the two Shadow Lord mages. They managed to dodge, but Lucy could see the fear in their eyes, and she got to her feet, pulling out her keys as she did so.
“Open, Gate of the Golden Bull!” she shouted. “Taurus!”
“Moo! What can I do or yooou, Miss Luuucy?”
“Those two!” Lucy replied. “Get ‘em!”
She knew very well that it was likely Jellal’s presence rather than Taurus that made Juvia and Sol flee, but it still felt good. Almost as if she’d gotten a little revenge for Levy and the others.
“Impressive,” Jellal commented, looking at Taurus. “Erza tells me you have several of the Golden Keys.”
“Uh…yeah,” Lucy replied, suddenly feeling self-conscious as she sent the bull away once more. Now that the adrenaline and fear were draining from her, she suddenly felt rather embarrassed. She probably looked like a drowned rat. “I don’t mean to be rude, Councilor, and I’m very grateful that you saved me… but what are you doing here?”
“Fairy Tail is my home,” Jellal said after a long pause. “I… it’s one thing to sit back when there are fake trials and lectures. Makarov and Erza can handle them. It’s even better when they leave it to Mira. But this is an attack… and Fairy Tail is my home.” He rubbed his hand over his chest, as though it pained him, and looked down at Lucy with a tight smile. “I make you uncomfortable. I apologize for that.”
The polite words were so…different from the typical Fairy Tail mage, but there was something fierce in his expression; she had seen that on the other Guild members faces since this mess with Shadow Lord had begun.
The determination to protect their family.
“I… you don’t,” Lucy swore, waving her hands as though she could simply make the discomfort go away. “I promise! You’re just…you’re… well, you’re a member of the Magic Council.”
And didn’t that sound incredibly lame? But Jellal actually chuckled, and walked by Lucy, kneeling down to begin to gather up the groceries she had dropped. The bag was in better condition than Lucy would have thought, and managed to hold everything without tearing too badly.
“After this, I may very well not be a member of the Magic Council,” Jellal admitted. “I might as well grow accustomed to that now – call me, Jellal.”
“Oh…okay.” She still felt so lame as she clutched her hands in front of her. There was a Magic Saint and a member of the Magic Council holding her groceries. It was so bizarre.
She couldn’t stop herself from laughing.
“Did I say something funny?” Jellal asked, looking so genuinely confused that it almost set off another round of giggles.
“No,” she told him, between gasps for breath. “Not at all. It’s just… my life has become so very odd since I joined Fairy Tail.”
“Well,” Jellal gave her a slow grin, and Lucy could understand if Erza had fallen in love with him because of that smile alone. “Fairy Tail tends to have that effect. Should I carry these home for you? Do you live at Fairy Hills?”
“No, I have another apartment,” Lucy replied, her giggles ceasing as she began to frown faintly. “I was going back there, but Mira is all alone at the Guild Hall. If Shadow Lord is looking for another target, then maybe we should be together.”
“The Guild Hall, then,” Jellal replied, turning back the way Lucy had come. “I heard, that it was rather… ruined.”
“Gajeel,” Lucy hissed in anger. Yes, it was Shadow Lord as a whole who had declared war… but Gajeel in particular that had caused so much hurt.
“Gajeel is quite powerful,” Jellal agreed. “A Dragon Slayer, and a vicious one at that. Natsu is going to want to fight him.”
Jellal sounded almost resigned, and Lucy found that she desperately wanted to know his side of the stories Natsu had told her. He had made it seem like Jellal had been a partner in crime, but Lucy suspected it had rather been a case of Natsu taking off, and Jellal following to prevent too much damage.
The story of Natsu’s life, probably.
“He might get his chance,” Lucy said, hugging her arms around her middle, worry for her friends making her heart heavy. “That’s why Mira is alone – the others have gone to confront Shadow Lord.”
If Lucy hadn’t been paying attention, she would have missed the way Jellal stumbled, just slightly.
“Dammit,” he murmured, and Lucy thought it was more to himself than her. “I wanted to be here, to help them.”
“If they’re successful, then there’s no reason you’d be kicked off the council,” Lucy pointed out. “Just say helping me was your good deed for the day, and continue on as usual.”
Jellal let out a soft snort.
“Perhaps,” he said vaguely.
They reached the Guild Hall, and Mira greeted them as they entered.
“Lucy, you ca – Jellal.” For a moment, Mira froze, as though she had seen a ghost. Then she threw herself forward. Lucy just managed to retrieve her groceries from Jellal, before his arms were full of Mirajane.
“Hey,” he said, his arms wrapping around her. “This isn’t like you, Mira. What will you do if they return and see you’re worried about them? Natsu’s ego will never recover.”
“Natsu’s ego has recovered from far worse than my worry,” Mira replied, pulling out of Jellal’s arms and wiping tears from her eyes. “What are you doing here, Jellal?”
“It’s my home,” Jellal replied, the same answered he’d given Lucy. His gaze looked around the ruined hall, anger flaring bright.
“Jellal, the council couldn’t have approved of this-”
“Screw the council.”
It was a sentiment that was common in Fairy Tail, of course, because they were always on their case about damages accrued. But coming from an actual Councilor, it sounded far more harsh. Jellal’s expression was set in a stubborn line as he looked at Mira, who had crossed her arms and was glaring right back.
“Jellal Fernandes, we both know you don’t mean that. You worked for too hard to say screw the council and throw it all away.”
“Careful, Mira. You’re beginning to sound like Erza. I’ll think you don’t want me around.”
“Oh, don’t do that to me, Jellal. It might work on everyone else around the world, but we both know your charm is lost on Fairy Tail. And Erza will always want you around.” Mira’s glare softened, though it didn’t disappear all together. “We all do. But we also know how hard you worked.”
“None of the hard work means anything, Mira, if even one member of Fairy Tail is lost because I’m not there.”
Lucy kind of felt like an interloper in the moment between old friends. But at the same time, it was so… fascinating.
Fairy Tail, Lucy decided, had been the best choice she had ever made. No other Guild would inspire loyalty like this.
“We’re Fairy Tail, Jellal. Shadow Lord won’t take any of us out.”
Lucy would later think that those were famous last words. But in that moment, she agreed with Mira.
Nothing could ever get Fairy Tail down.
---
Natsu was enraged. So was Gray.
Well, they would have to deal with it. Erza was enraged, too. But she also felt completely sick with worry.
Master Makarov had fallen.
Retreat hadn’t just been their best option – it had been their only option. Master Jose was a Wizard Saint, and without the Master, they had no one that could compare to that.
They opened the doors to their ruined Guild, to see that three people awaited them within, ignoring that they were seated among rubble.
Erza felt her mind go blank, her body go numb, when she recognized the man sitting with Mirajane and Lucy.
“Master Makarov,” Jellal gasped, his eyes widening with horror when he saw the old man that Elfman carried. He continued to call Makarov master, even once he became a Councilor, and stopped doing the same with Yajima. It was somewhat of a point of pride to the Master, Erza knew.
Jellal probably didn’t. He should; Erza would have to remember to tell him.
“What happened?” Mira asked, horror covering her face as she rushed with Jellal to the Master’s side. Lucy stayed a step behind, but looked every bit as worried. She was pale, Erza noted, and didn’t look entirely well.
“One of Phantom Lord’s Element Four,” Erza said, surprised to find that she could force the words out, between her grief for Makarov, and her shock over seeing Jellal. “Elfman, you need to get him to Porlyusica.”
Silence filled the ruins of the hall, as everyone watched Elfman take Makarov away, accompanied by Bisca and Alzack. Porlyusica could help him – she had to.
“Erza.”
Erza jolted when she realized that Jellal had come to her side. Their arms brushed, and he felt incredibly warm.
“You didn’t pick the best time to visit, buddy,” Macao said in a weak attempt to lighten the heavy mood when Erza remained silent. “Not exactly at the height of our hospitality right now.”
“Don’t be stupid, Macao!” Natsu said loudly from somewhere behind Erza. “Jellal isn’t here to visit; he’s here to fight.”
Silence fell once more, but this time there was a ray of hope to it – Makarov was down, but Jellal was also a Wizard Saint, and Erza could practically feel her Guild Mates hopes rise.
“He can’t help us,” she said, her voice echoing like a shot across the broken hall. “Jellal is a Member of the Magic Council and…and he’s not a member of Fairy Tail.”
She clenched her fists, and felt like she was choking on the words. She wanted to fall into his arms and let him soothe her, and reassure her that they could still win this. He could convince her that she could do the most amazing of feats.
But she couldn’t. Not in front of the rest of Fairy Tail, who needed her to be strong right now.
They needed Titania, the Fairy Queen, not Erza, the terrified woman.
“When has that ever mattered?” Natsu demanded angrily. “He’s still one of us!”
Erza spun towards her friend angrily, prepared to tear into him until he stopped and –
“Natsu is right.”
Erza froze. She couldn’t move, couldn’t speak, and for a crazy second she thought she might be under some sort of spell.
Then Jellal’s hand tugged on hers softly, and she found herself looking at him again.
“We… I heard about what happened in Era,” he said to her, his hand a warm presence in hers. His jaw was tense, and his eyes hard with anger…and hurt. “I heard what they did to Levy.”
“I’m sorry,” Erza said, closing her eyes and mentally calling herself a fool. “I should have told you. You shouldn’t have found out that way.”
If she had found out secondhand, that someone had hurt Gray or Natsu, or Lucy like that… she would have been enraged.
“But you can’t interfere, Jellal,” Erza added, and wasn’t it a strange feeling, to be the one, for once, talking her lover down from anger induced recklessness? “You shouldn’t even be here.”
“Erza, he’s a Wizard Saint,” Gray hissed out angrily, coming to her side. He shot her a look, as though she were crazy, and grinned widely at Jellal, slapping a hand on her shoulder. “She’s being weird. I’m glad to see you, buddy.”
“That gives me joy I can’t even begin to describe,” Jellal replied dryly. “Gray Fullbuster is happy to see me. Who cares about the opinion of Erza Scarlet in the face of that?”
“Wow, the Council’s made you mean,” Gray grumbled. He ran a hand through his hair. “Even so, I’ll still accept your help – on everyone’s behalf.”
“Stop it, Gray,” Erza snapped out harshly. Gray took a startled step away from her, and everyone else pretended to look everywhere but at her. Everyone but Jellal, who watched her closely, and then stepped closer. His hands came up to frame her cheeks, his fingers surprisingly cool.
“This hasn’t been easy on you, has it?” he asked her softly. Erza opened her mouth to argue, but snapped it shut again when Jellal just raised his brow, in the way that said he knew her far too well. “Erza, this is my decision to make. Fairy Tail is my family.”
“You’ll lose your position on the Council,” Erza replied, her voice hoarse. “And then what was it all for?”
Meeting in secret, pretending to be nothing more than acquaintances in public… the near constant separation. What would it have all been for?
“And what will it have been for if someone I love dies?” Jellal replied, and this time it was his voice that was harsh. He scrubbed a hand up into his hair, leaving fly away blue strands even more wild than before. “To be perfectly honest, Erza, this decision isn’t about you. You’re not the only member of Fairy Tail that I care about.”
Erza felt her back stiffen, and she stepped away from Jellal, keeping her face carefully blank.
“Of course, Councillor, my apologies. I’ll be sure to keep my worry to myself in the future.”
She turned stiffly on her heel. She felt sore and tired, and really just wanted a shower. She heard Jellal say her name behind her, but she ignored it. If he wanted to toss it all away, then why should she argue anyway?
He was the one with ambitions beyond a mere Guild. Erza would have been far more happy if he had stayed by her side and joined Fairy Tail. Now she could have it, without having to ask him to choose her. Why should she argue against something she wanted?
Stupid man, she thought fiercely, as hot water streamed down her back. She scrubbed at her hair roughly. Stupid, idiot man.
Fine, if it wasn’t her business, then she’d simply stop worrying about him doing something he’d regret. He could deal with this fallout himself; Erza was dusting her hands of the whole matter.
Down with the others, Jellal rubbed a hand over his face and looked around at the Fairy Tail members.
“Is everyone else okay?” he asked Gray. No one appeared to be injured, but there were newer Guildmates Jellal didn’t know that well.
“Yeah. Erza made us retreat when they took Gramps out.” Gray didn’t exactly look pleased at that fact, and Natsu actually caught on fire a few feet away.
“We should go after them!” the Dragon Slayer snarled, his hands clenched into fists. “Take the fight back to them before they come for us again.”
“They already did,” Jellal said, running a finger along the tattoo on his face and trying very hard not to think of Erza, alone upstairs and so very, very angry with him.
He hadn’t handled that well.
But neither had she, and Jellal felt his own anger, too.
“What do you mean?” Cana demanded, for once entirely sober – probably the best indication of how serious the situation truly was.
“Two members of the Element Four tried to take Lucy,” Mira explained. She rested a hand on the Celestial Mage’s shoulder, while Lucy herself looked miserable. “Jellal prevented it.”
“What?” Natsu’s anger seemed to grow, but his fire dissipated, as though that anger were too cold for the flames. Jellal noted that with interest, and the way the Dragon Slayer grasped Lucy by her elbows and turned her so he could survey her closer. “Are you okay?”
“I’m fine,” Lucy assured him with a small smile. “Cold, and pretty miserable, but fine.”
“Why would they attack Lucy?” Gray demanded.
“I was on my own, it made me a pretty easy target.”
It was logical, of course, but Jellal couldn’t quite buy it. The Element Four were Shadow Lord’s elite. If Jose wanted to attack a member of Fairy Tail to send a message, why would he send them after a Celestial Mage who, while containing much potential, was still new to it all. Lucy had a long ways to go before she would be able to compete with the likes of Sol or Juvia, and taking her out wouldn’t make Shadow Lord look powerful, not like taking out Erza, or even Natsu, would.
It didn’t make sense.
“You should go to her.” Mira joined Jellal and they watched the Guild debate what they should do next. “To Erza.”
“She’s angry at me.”
“You know how to handle her anger.”
“I’m angry at her.”
Jellal very determinedly did not look at Mira, but he felt her gaze on him all the same.
“I suppose that is a little different,” Mira admitted. “It’s odd… I didn’t think you could get angry at Erza. I don’t think I’ve ever seen it before.”
“It’s happened,” Jellal replied. “I’ve just never shown it like she does. Erza always knew when I was mad at her.” He paused for a moment, then hesitantly continued. “Erza and Levy.”
“She’s in the infirmary,” Mira said, and Jellal finally looked down at her, when Mira rested a hand on his arm. “If you can’t go to Erza, then maybe you need to see Levy instead.”
“Yeah,” Jellal agreed. “Maybe.”
He didn’t go right away. Mira left his side, to try and calm down Natsu and Gray who were at each other’s throats. He remained, seated on rubble and thinking that nothing about the situation was right.
The Guildhall was ruined, Levy and Makarov were hurt, and he and Erza were at odds. Magnolia was his sanctuary, but there was no peace to be found there on this particular visit.
He finally slipped away, to the makeshift infirmary. Jet and Droy were who he saw first, and he stopped by both, to make sure they seemed peaceful. He couldn’t say he was particularly close to either, but he was relieved that they looked like they would recover.
And then he moved to the final bed.
Levy was small. On some level, Jellal had always been aware of that, of course. But she had always burst with life and personality that made her seem so much bigger than life. To see her in the bed… small and lifeless…
“I think if I saw Gajeel Redfox right now, I could kill him,” he admitted to his unconscious friend. He pulled out a chair and slumped into it, watching the slow rise and fall of Levy’s breathing - the proof that despite her stillness, she was still alive. “Makarov would hate to hear it, but it’s true.”
Levy, of course, didn’t respond, and Jellal leaned forward towards her, clasping his hands together.
“I need you to be okay, Levy. Who will send me terrible popular novels to read if you’re not around? Or debate with me about arcane magical theory? No one else will listen to me when I get going.”
He rested his head on the sheets of the bed, and felt hot tears form in his eyes. Makarov had looked tiny and helpless, too – just like Levy. And Erza had looked so defeated.
None of them should like that, but they had. Because Jellal hadn’t been there to protect them.
“What’s the point in any of it?” Jellal asked, tears streaking down his cheeks. “What does anything I’ve done matter, if I can’t use it to protect the people I love?”
“We’re tougher than you give us credit for, Jellal. It’s not your job to save us all.” Jellal straightened and scrubbed the tears from his face as Erza pulled another chair over to sit at his side. “Mira told me you would be in here.”
“Mira is interfering again.”
“Yes,well” – Erza shrugged a shoulder – “it’s what Mira does best.”
They sat in silence, close enough that their arms pressed together. Jellal didn’t know what to say; he was still so angry, that she would expect him to just… do nothing.
Her head dropped, landing on his shoulder, and Jellal looked down at her in surprise. Her hair was still damp, and he could feel water soaking into his shirt. Her eyes had dark circles beneath them, made even more obvious now that they were closed.
“I hate it when you’re angry with me,” Erza admitted, her voice weary. “It makes the whole world seem off balance.”
“I’m used to you being angry,” Jellal replied wryly, and Erza’s eyes snapped open. He chuckled at her glare and adjusted his arm, so it wrapped around her, and head nestled into his chest. “I suppose I’m not as used to you being angry at me. I don’t like it either.”
“How do we fix this?”
They both looked at Levy, and Jellal’s hand found its way up, to tangle fingertips into the tips of her hair.
“I can’t sit in Era and hope that you all make it out alive, Erza,” Jellal said at last.
“But you’d be safe in Era,” Erza murmured, her words muffled by his shirt. Jellal looked down at her, blinking in surprise. “No one else is safe… but I thought you were.”
And it had given her comfort, Jellal realized, and wouldn’t he feel the same? To know that she was somewhere safe….it would be a comfort.
“We’re a mess, Erza,” he said, half a laugh in his voice. He buried his face in her hair and breathed in. Strawberriess. Of course Erza would use strawberry scented shampoo. Jellal wasn’t sure she knew other fruits existed. “Neither of us was made for safety.”
“No, I guess we weren’t. You didn’t kiss me.”
She pulled her head from his chest, making Jellal regretfully remove his face from her hair. He slid his hand down to her chin and tilted it up, sealing his lips over hers. She buried her hands in his hair, and deepened the kiss enthusiastically. Jellal could feel his world straighten again. The twisted, jagged edges inside of him didn’t heal completely – they couldn’t, while Makarov and Levy were still so injured – but they softened to something tolerable.
“Oh dear.”
They broke apart at the soft words, and looked at the door as Cana gave a loud whistle while Mira tried to push it out.
“Get it, Erza!” the brunette cheered, making Erza’s cheeks flush a few shades lighter than her hair.
“Can we help you?” Jellal asked with a sigh, though he knew it was probably for the best. Erza’s kisses had a way of making him forget everything, and an infirmary was no place for that to happen.
“Mira came up with a brilliant way to have our cake and eat it too!” Cana replied with a wide grin, pushing by the other woman. “Or rather… have our Wizard Saint and our Councillor.”
“I don’t understand,” Erza replied.
“Well, we looked… and Mystogan left behind some clothes, and they were left undamaged, and since we don’t know where he is and he and Jellal seem to be similar in size and - what’s so funny?”
All three women were looking a Jellal as though he had gone mad. But Jellal couldn’t stop his laughing. Cana was right of course - it was a brilliant plan.
Too bad none of the others knew how brilliant.
---
He was on the war path.
Never before, had Jellal felt as helpless, as when Erza had stood in front of the Guild and taken a direct hit from the Jupiter Cannon. When she had hit the ground, for a wild moment he had actually believed she might be dead, and he had felt as though his entire world had fallen apart.
Then she had managed to open her eyes, to give him the smallest of smiles, and Jellal had been able to breathe again.
And now, Jose would pay for having ever hurt her.
Mystogan’s outfit was uncomfortable, and the staves on his back clunked together in an ungainly fashion. But he would need them, in case he faced Jose in front of other members of Shadow Lord.
Jellal truly hoped he wouldn’t. He would be able to duplicate Mystogan’s magic, of course, but he would much rather unleash his Grand Chariot and watch it crush the other Wizard Saint.
It would be no less than he deserved, for hurting Erza, and for putting a sad look in Lucy’s eyes.
No child deserved to be betrayed by their parent, and Jose had taken a ruthless glee in unveiling the truth – that it had been Lucy’s own father who had paid for the destruction of Fairy Tail. Lucy would pull through, Fairy Tail would make sure of it, but the scars would never fully disappear.
“We’ll get the cannon!” Gray had shouted at him, when he had taken off after Natsu and Elfman. “You take care of Jose.”
As if Jellal would do anything else.
The guild hall shuddered for a moment - one of the other mages, hopefully a member of Fairy Tail, going on the offensive – and he braced himself, waiting for the movement to stop. Once it did, he continued onward.
His initial instinct was to be quiet in his search, but Jellal was accompanying a group that had no real grasp of “quiet” as a concept. Mystogan knew how to be subtle, of course, but just this once Jellal thought it would be understandable for the other man to drop that idea. He thought he understood Mystogan’s character well enough to be confident in his assumption.
Again, thinking of Mystogan brought him amusement.
Quickly, the memory of Erza, sprawled armourless and unconscious on the ground entered Jellal’s mind, and amusement was replaced with ruthless determination and rage.
“Jose!” he roared out. He would have used meteor to move around the hall more quickly, but he didn’t want to risk missing the Guild Master or infringing on the fight of one of the others accidentally. “Come out, Jose!”
Silence met him, before there was a crash and his surroundings shuddered again. They were running low on time for the Jupiter Cannon – Jellal was keeping a mental tally of the minutes that passed – but he thought that it was likely Natsu causing the hall to move like that. No one else had the rare skill of destruction that the Dragon Slayer held.
Scowling, Jellal looked around him, calculating where his best chance of finding Jose would be if the coward wouldn’t come to him.
“Well, well… Mystogan. I didn’t think you were bothering with this little spat.”
Well, perhaps coward hadn’t been accurate after all. Jellal turned to look at Jose, who watched him with the insidious smirk he’d always wanted to wipe off Jose’s face.
“You attacked my Guild,” Jellal retorted, loosening the strap that held the staves in place. “Did you really think I’d ignore that?”
“You can find a job board in any Guild,” Jose replied with an easy wave of his hand. “Makarov’s idea that you have to be a family is why Fairy Tail will lose this. They’ve become weak. Tell you what – stand down, and let me finish them off, and you can join Shadow Lord instead. Mystogan can become a name feared across all of Fiore.”
Exactly what Mystogan would want. Jellal gave a derisive snort at the mere thought. Clearly Jose hadn’t done much research into the man he looked to recruit; despite the mystery, Mystogan was loyal to his Guild.
“I think not,” Jellal replied, and Jose’s eyes narrowed to angry slits.
“A fool’s choice.”
Jellal gave a slow look around the Guild. Jose hadn’t brought all of it’s members with him, and any that he might have – The Element Four and Gajeel Redfox at the very least, he assumed – were obviously busy with Gray, Natsu, and Elfman.
“You see, in order to switch to Shadow Lord, I would have needed to be a member of Fairy Tail to begin with. I’m not.”
“What do you mea-” the rest of Jose’s question was cut off as Jellal activated Meteor and flew at the other man, sending him flying before he could activate his own magic.
“Jellal,” Jose spat, as she struggled into a sitting position. Jellal just watched him from behind the protection of Mystogan’s bandana. “I should have known Makarov’s pet Councillor would show up. The rest of them may have forgotten the trash you sprung from, but I remember. You’ll lose your seat over this.”
“Only if you win,” Jellal replied. “And if I hadn’t been here… I would have killed you, if that had happened.”
He meant it. Because Jose had hurt Makarov, and Levy, and Erza, and he wouldn’t be happy with just hurting any of them.
Jose wouldn’t stop until every mage of Fairy Tail was dead.
And if that had happened, Jellal wouldn’t have cared about a Council seat, or being a Wizard Saint. He would have killed the other man, and regretted nothing but that he hadn’t done it quicker.
“You think you can stop me? You’re a boy, one who is weak by association to Makarov. And the Jupiter Cannon will launch again any second.”
In twenty-eight… twenty-seven seconds to be exact. The numbers still counted down in Jellal’s head, and Natsu was supposed to have prevented this by now.
All the destruction he had caused, and he chose now to not be good at it?!
Ten… nine…
He almost turned to find the Jupiter Cannon himself. But it was too late, and then he hit one, and zero and –
Absolutely nothing happened.
“I do believe it should have launched by now,” Jellal mused, turning a cruel and wicked smile on Jose that the other man couldn’t see with Jellal’s mouth covered. “You were calling Fairy Tail weak?”
“You think you’ve won?” Jose spat. “This hasn’t even started yet! The Jupiter Cannon was just a warning shot.”
Jellal didn’t respond, instead using his energy to call forth his Jiu Leixing, and send the blades of light at the other man. They hit their target, and Jellal blocked his face as stone was sent flying.
When the light faded, there was no one where Jose had stood. Not foolish enough to believe his attack had defeated a fellow Wizard Saint, Jellal looked around wildly.
Then Jose’s voice echoed around him.
“Sending your little Wizard Saint after me was clever, but it won’t work. You have ten minutes to surrender, or my next attack isn’t as kind as the Jupiter Cannon was.”
Jellal rushed to a window to look outside, and watched as a magic circle began form in the air. He recognized it all too well.
“What the hell, Jellal” – he looked up, to see Gray, Elfman and Natsu looking down at him. Gray was the one that had spoken – “I thought you were takin’ Jose out!”
It took Jellal a moment of silence to remember how Jose hadn’t once attacked him, and he cursed.
“He can make solid Projections.” Of course he could; Jose was good enough. “I’m on it, but you need to stop whatever… that is.”
“What’s it drawing?” Natsu asked, rubbing his jaw.
“Abyss Break,” Jellal cut them off before the argument could take off. The words made the other three blanch.
“Abyss Break, isn’t that the spell-”
“I used to become a Wizard Saint?” Jellal finished Elfman’s question for him. “Yes, it is. And that circle probably contains ten times the power I was able to summon.”
Nothing would be left, if that magic circle was allowed to be finished. Jose wouldn’t have to report Jellal to the Council, because he’d be dead with the rest of them.
“Find its power source!” he barked to the others. “I’ll find Jose.”
He retreated back inside, and headed for the staircase. If Jose wouldn’t show up, then Jellal would find him - probably right at the top of the Hall. Villains always seemed to feel taller if they were at the top. Jellal never quite understood that.
As he rushed to find Jose, in the infirmary, Erza’s eyes flashed open.
Her family was in danger, she could feel it in the air.
Jellal was in danger.
Erza levered herself out of bed, and looked around in surprise when Mira didn’t appear to lecture her. The other woman’s absence made her stomach sink. If Mira had joined the fight, then the situation was desperate.
Her entire body felt as though she had been hit by a train as she maneuvered her way out of bed. She could remember donning her Adamantine Armour, and the world being lit up. She thought she could remember hearing the roar of her name. Had it been Jellal?
He would be worried sick.
He would be enraged.
Jellal had a moral code, of course, and it was one he stuck by without fail. But it wasn’t the same moral code that Makarov insisted the members of the Guild stood by, and Erza knew that he would kill Jose without her or the Master there to stop him.
Her Heart Kreuz armour felt heavy as she requipped into it. It weighed on her sore body, and she felt as though she moved at a ridiculously slow pace. But now that Erza was up, she could hear the battle raging outside. A glance through the boards in the window proved what she feared was true.
Fairy Tail was struggling.
The Giant that was Shadow Lord’s Guild Hall still stood above everything, only now a magic circle was being drawn ever so slowly, but steadily, before it.
Abyss Break. She could draw that circle in her sleep, though she couldn’t actually use it. But Jellal had been determined to master it, and Erza had been determined to take whatever moments of his time she could, so she had helped him study.
That spell would kill them all.
Perhaps she wouldn’t stop Jellal from killing Jose, after all.
Erza requipped again, this time into her Flight Armour. She exited the Hall at an enormous pace, already on target for Shadow Lord’s base. The fight outside wouldn’t matter if that circle was completed. She couldn’t let that happen.
“Erza?!” Cana’s voice was completely incredulous, but Erza didn’t stop to explain to her what she was doing, or assure her that she was in fighting condition. She didn’t have time for the first, and the second would be a lie.
As soon as she made it through the wraiths and into the Giant, she requipped back into her Heart Kreuz armor, determined to save her magical energy until she met her next battle.
The screams sent her running.
Natsu never screamed – not like that.
It was rage that filled her, when she recognized the power emanating from the man who had Natsu in his magical grasp. It was the same power that had debilitated the Master. Erza gritted her teeth and ignored the pain in her ribs as she ran towards the two.
This… this beast was not allowed to take another member of Fairy Tail!
It hurt, but the sound the man made when she buried her feet into him in a vicious kick made it worth it.
“Erza!” Happy cheered.
“You’re here? Are you sure it’s okay? You’re hurt.”
Erza didn’t bother to look at her Guild Mates, not when she knew the man wasn’t gone yet. She let her glare focus on the empty air to Natsu’s side, and sure enough the man reappeared.
“So you’re the one who harmed our Master.”
Aria, she remembered. The man had to be Aria.
“The great Erza Scarlet. How unfortunate. It seems the great Titania will lose her head alongside her friend, Salamander.”
“Our Master suffered greatly at your hands.” Erza felt her fists clench, and she adjusted her stance in preparation for the fight. “I will avenge him!”
“You can’t!” Natsu said, worry in his voice.
But Aria let out a chuckle, and said something about a worthy opponent and reached up to remove the bandage around his eyes. The pupils appeared… off, and the air around him began to writhe.
“Now, Titania, step into zero, air space of death! It consumes the lives of all who dare enter.”
She heard Happy squeal, but she couldn’t worry about him and Natsu right now, not when the air was moving with Aria’s lethal power. Instead, she summoned a blade and set herself to focusing his attention on her.
“A spell that consumes life? Tell me – how can you do that, you Scoundrel?”
And…she meant the question. Because Erza couldn’t understand it. She couldn’t understand why they wanted to destroy Fairy Tail so badly, not when her Guild was so full of life and love and potential.
Not when they had done nothing to deserve these attacks.
Was it for the Heartfilia money? Or was Jose just so jealous that he would have done it regardless?
Rage filled her at the questions with no answers, and she ran for Aria. Outside, the world began to light up – a sure sign Abyss Break was near ready to be cast – and all that could stop it was stopping Aria.
If she didn’t, everyone would die. Her brave, and loyal friends.
Jellal.
He was here, somewhere, fighting for them. Erza would play her part too.
She cut through Aria’s air magic, and, as she reached him, requipped into her Heaven’s Wheel Armor. Her rage and determination to protect those she loved made cutting Aria down almost easy, and she sent her swords flying at him, landing on the other side as Aria fell to the ground.
“Someone like you could never hold a candle to our Master,” she told him fiercely, turning to look at him over her shoulder. She didn’t know if he heard her words; didn’t particularly care. “You’ll be remembered only as a sobbing coward who fell by my hand.”
“That’s… so… sad…” Aria choked out.
The giant shuttered around them, and Erza tried to catch her footing, only to find that her energy was drained. She lost her requip and wavered for a moment, before she finally felt herself fall.
“Erza!” Natsu shouted, and it didn’t surprise her in the least when he caught her. Despite his tempestuous nature, Natsu could always be relied on to catch his Guild Mates.
“The others?” she asked, her whole body aching, her limbs feeling heavy.
“We split up to stop the Abyss Break. Aria was the last, so Grey and Elfman are okay.” Natsu cradled her, and seemed uncharacteristically hesitant for a moment. “Jellal is searchcing for Jose.”
“Of course he is,” Erza replied weakly, but nerves made her pulse jump. Jose was powerful. There was no guarantee Jellal would win.
He will, that core in the heart of her, the one that believed Jellal could do anything, swore.
“He’ll stop him,” Natsu said, unknowingly echoing that blind faith. “Jellal doesn’t let us down, Erza.”
“Attention you pathetic Fairy Tail worms, because I’ll only say this once!” Jose’s voice echoed around them, and terror filled Erza, the fear that he was about to announce that he had defeated Jellal.
Then they heard a bone chilling scream, and terror for Jellal was replaced by terror for Lucy.
One look at Natsu’s face showed that he had jumped past terror, right to rage.
“We have captured your precious Lucy Heartfilia. Which means our first order of business is out of the way. Which leaves us with just one thing. Wiping you brats off the face of the earth.”
“No way,” Natsu growled, shaking with the force of his anger.
“Natsu!”
Jellal leapt down from the second floor, and froze when he saw Erza. His inaction lasted only a second, before he was at her side, falling to his knees.
“You were injured,” he said, his hands hovering over her, as though afraid to touch.
“I’ll be fine,” Erza promised. “I always am. But they have Lucy.” Erza looked up at Natsu, whose touch managed to be gentle despite his anger. “Use your strength. It lies dormant, deep down – inside of you. Fine it, find your strength, and awaken it. For Lucy. For our Guild. Do it now.”
Natsu set her down, almost gently, and got to his feet, fire erupting around him.
And then he was gone, and she could turn to Jellal instead.
“I almost hate to ask you,” she began weakly.
“You want me to go after him.”
“Just like old times.” Erza gave him a weak smile, and he clutched her hand, twining their fingers together.
“I don’t want to leave you here,” Jellal admitted.
“You’ll keep Jose so busy he won’t even think of me. Please, Jellal. Lucy… she’s one of us too.”
Jellal closed his eyes, and pressed his lips to her knuckle. Then he carefully, oh so carefully, set her hand down again.
“Don’t go anywhere.”
“I don’t think I could.”
Looking pained, Jellal turned his back to her, and ran in the direction Natsu had gone. Erza let her eyes drift shut. They would do it – Natsu and Jellal… they would stop Jose and save them all. She knew they would.
“Erza?”
She thought she’d only closed her eyes for a moment, but when she opened her eyes at the voice, it was to see that time had passed and she was joined by Mira, Elfman, and Gray.
“She okay?”
“Man, it looks like something big went down.”
“It’s you,” Erza said, relieved to see them all, particularly Gray, despite Natsu’s assurance they were fine.
“You shouldn’t be here,” Gray replied. “You’re injured.”
“Yeah, you’re not looking so good,” Mira agreed.
It was Elfmann who noticed the other person in the room, and gaped at the form in surprise for a moment.
“Woah.”
“It’s Aria!”
“You got shot by that cannon and fought that guy?” Elfmann asked, and if Erza weren’t in so much pain, she may have been insulted by his incredulousness.
“What were you thinking?” Gray added.
Erza wanted to make a smart comment about not wanting to be seen as she was, but then the magic in the room changed, and any jokes were forgotten.
It was death.
A mocking clapping drew their gaze to a dark haired man who had joined them.
“Bravo. You’re very keen, you Fairies. I knew this would be fun, but never in my dreams did I imagine it would be this entertaining.”
“Master Jose,” Erza hissed.
Gray and Elfmann went on the attack before Erza could warn them, and she felt sick at the ease with which he tossed them away, the glee he seemed to take in their pain.
She forced herself upright, wondering if she even had enough magical energy to requip again.
“You’ve led me on a goose chase, Jose.” She almost collapsed with relief at the voice. “I would almost think you’re avoiding me.”
Jellal had lost Mystogan’s hat somewhere, and had pulled down the handkerchief. As he stood between her and Jose, he let the staves fall as well.
“Natsu-” Erza began.
“Saving Lucy and dealing with Gajeel, I imagine.” Jellal told her, never turning away from Jose. “We decided that I needed to find Jose.”
“Councillor to the rescue?” Jose asked mockingly. “Except, even if you survive, that won’t happen anymore, will it?”
“Perhaps,” Jellal replied with an easy shrug. “But it wasn’t a Council seat that made me stronger than you.”
“Insolent welp!”
Erza winced as Jose directed an attack at Jellal, but it never made contact. Not when he could use Meteor, and hit the Shadow Lord Master with his own spell instead.
Jose kept his feet, however, and laughed in a way that made Erza shiver.
“Like I told you before – Makarov has made you weak.”
Somehow, Jose managed to stop Jellal’s Meteor, and send him flying into a wall.
“Jellal!” Erza shouted, clutching a pillar to stay upright. Jose turned his attention to her.
“Titania… the two of you were found together, weren’t you? I had forgotten that.” He looked at Jellal with a grin that could only be called evil. “If I kill her, what will you do? Should we find out?”
He sent his insidious spell toward Erza, and she prepared to requip, only to freeze when Jellal was suddenly there instead, taking the brunt of the attack, unable to create a counter spell in time.
“No!” she called, her breath catching in her throat. Jose just laughed more, as though he couldn’t imagine anything more entertaining.
“You could have cut me down, if you had just been willing to sacrifice her. Is this love? Does the Council know?”
Jellal managed to force himself to his feet, using one of Mystogan’s discarded staves to push himself up.
“You don’t know what real strength is at all,” he snarled at Jose. “You’ll never know real strength!”
Erza stepped up next to him, requipping into Black Wing Armor as she did so. He glanced at her out of the corner of his eye, and opened his mouth, but Erza gave her head a hard shake.
“Don’t even think about it. I’ve never been good a sitting on the side lines.”
Jellal closed his mouth again, and then a smile curved his lips.
“I’d never dream of making such a suggestion.”
“Oh, isn’t this sweet? Do you mean to fight me together, then? Love conquers all, and other nonsense?”
“I was thinking more that we’re just too powerful for you,” Jellal replied coldly. “But if you want to believe love conquers all, then who are we to disappoint?”
Even though it had been years since they’d actually gone on a mission together, fighting with Jellal was incredibly easy. They had known each other for so long, that they knew what the other would do next without speaking.
Despite that, they couldn’t land nearly the blows on Jose that they needed to beat him.
“There is a spell,” Jellal murmured when they took a leap back for a brief respite. “It’s… it’s powerful.”
It could kill was left unspoken between them.
Jellal’s expression said he would willingly pay the price, but he wouldn’t force it, not onto her.
Gray’s prone form lay behind them, a reminder of Jose’s cruelty. The Giant shook, as, somewhere, Natsu fought with Gajeel.
Lucy’s agonized scream still echoed in Erza’s ears.
“Do it,” she said, her voice echoing with certainty. “I’ll distract him.”
She went after Jose, to give Jellal the time he would need.
“Protecting him?” Jose asked mockingly. “Is our Councilor not used to getting his pretty hands dirty? I’m surprised he deined to wear the clothes of a mere Guild Member… but maybe he’s preparing for his future?”
“He doesn’t need my protection,” Erza replied. “But I give it anyway. We protect each other. That’s what love is.”
It was what they had always done.
“You know, if Makarov hadn’t ruined you both, you might have been powerful enough to take me down. But he’s ruined you all – your whole damn Guild, and somehow – somehow – he’s convinced the whole world that you can hold a candle to mine!”
Erza just managed to avoid an attack, and agony lit up her knee, making her clench her teeth.
“So all of this is about jealousy?” she shot back swinging her sword, and biting back a curse when Jose seemed to disappear, only to reappear at her side and strike her with his powers. “And you call yourself a Guild Master?”
“I’ll send your corpse back to your Guild, as a message to anyone that would dare try and put themselves on the same level as Shadow Lord. And then I’ll kill the rest of the Fairies as well, and leave Makarov with nothing.”
Erza was thrown to the floor, and she thought she might have heard something crack. Jellal needed to finish his spell soon, but she didn’t dare look at him, lest she remind Jose that there was an even bigger threat in the room.
“Or maybe, I’ll let your love kill you and use his corpse as my message instead. Then maybe even the Magic Council will know to fear me.”
One of the wraithlike shadows that Jose used in his attacks wrapped around Erza, and she struggled helplessly as Jose turned them both to face Jellal. He held a sphere of darkness, filled with tiny pinpricks of stars, above his head. There was a darkness in it, one as dark as Jose’s magic, and it was a spell that Erza didn’t recognize, not even from the books Jellal used to leave scattered everywhere..
“I wonder if Makarov and Yajima know the dark places you’ve taken your magic,” Jose observed. . “Heavenly Body Magic meant to kill… doesn’t that go against everything Makarov stands for? Perhaps he hasn’t ruined you, Councillor.”
“Release her Jose,” Jellal ordered, holding the dark, swirling magic steady. It seemed too big for him, yet Erza could see no strain in his expression as he held the spell, incomplete.
“And if I do? What will you give me?” Jose leaned over Erza’s shoulder, his face next to hers, and she recoiled from him. “Will you walk away and let me destroy Fairy Tail? Or even better… why don’t you destroy Fairy Tail? And then I’ll let Titania go.”
Jellal would have killed him. Erza read that clearly in his expression; if he could have released that sphere and known it wouldn’t hit her, he would have and not felt an ounce of regret.
Instead, he dropped his arms, the spell disappearing.
“Idiot!” Jose mocked. “You should have killed us both!”
His powers blasted ahead, and Erza cried out as they ripped through Jellal, who must have put more power than she had realized into that spell, only for it to come to nothing in the end. She could feel that Jose had put incredible power into the attack – it was one meant to kill, not simply maim as those directed at her had been. She began to struggle harder against the power holding her in place as Jose walked towards Jellal’s prone form. He smirked down at him, and then back at Erza.
“Pathetic,” he said to them both. “And to think, they made you a Wizard Saint.”
He pulled his boot back to kick Jellal’s body, and Erza snarled incoherently, straining against her bonds.
Jose’s foot stopped it’s movement suddenly, and he was flung away from Jellal. At the same time, the bonds around Erza let loose, and she fell to the ground.
“You have spilled the blood of our children, and that is unforgivable.” The words, spoken by a familiar voice made Erza slump with relief. “They have been made to suffer because of the incompetence of their parents. We are both to blame, Jose. This war between us has gone on long enough. Let’s end this – here and now!”
Across the floor, Jellal groaned and stirred, and Erza scampered across the floor, so she could help pull him into a sitting position.
“Master Makarov,” he murmured, leaning into Erza’s side. She had to wipe away tears, before the could fall.
He looked so alive – and a world that had been off kilter since his fall was righted.
Power thrummed in the air, as Jose summoned the magic Makarov had dispersed once more.
“If we fight, it could create a catastrophe,” he said, and his expression made it clear he wanted that – needed it, even. Makarov’s answering growl was more troubled, but it was clear he wouldn’t shy away from Jose’s challenge.
“In order to save my guild, I will gladly take that risk!” Power gathered around him, and Erza felt certain that there was no way Jose’s darkness could withstand her Master’s light.
Jose went on the offensive, and Makarov protected Erza and Jellal, settling down to the floor.
“You kids need to get out while you can,” he stated, but he seemed to speaking to someone beyond her. Erza was confused for a moment, but then Gray was at her side, helping her to support Jellal, and a quick look showed her that Elfmann and Mirajane were up as well.
“We can’t leave him,” Gray argued.
“We have to do as he says,” Erza argued, urging Jellal forward, making Gray move as well. “We’ll only get in the way. He can handle this. I have faith.”
“Erza is right,” Jellal agreed, wincing at the pain moving caused. “Makarov knows Jose’s tricks now, and he has conviction on his side. For his children – for all of you – he’ll win.”
For you too, Erza thought, because when Makarov had first appeared, when Erza had first looked at him, there had been rage at the idea off Jellal being hurt.
She just squeezed his wrist, however, and she and Gray helped him retreat after Mira and Elfmann. The Giant shuddered under the pressure of the battle behind them, but they continued on, determined to reach safety.
“Has anyone seen Natsu?” Jellal asked, when they finally helped him to sit.
“He’ll be with Lucy,” Gray replied, his gaze focused on the hall they had retreated from. “And Happy. They’ll have each other’s back. We gotta have Gramps’.”
Erza prepared to talk him down from going back, when the world around them lit with light.
It warmed her from within.
“This is Fairy Law,” Erza said in wonder.
“What is that?” Gray replied.
“It’s a spell that vanquishes darkness with sacred light. It only harms those the caster sees as their enemy,” Jellal replied. He had managed to get to his feet, and stumbled to Erza’s side. She supported his weight and they both looked at the rays of ligh.
“It’s one of the most legendary spells in existence,” Erza added. “Incredible, isn’t it?”
“It is,” Jellal murmured, and then he suddenly went slack, losing his battle with consciousness at last.
When he awoke, it was in the makeshift infirmary, and a soothing voice was reading to him. It took him a moment to recognize both words and voice, but when he did, he groaned.
“I hate those books.”
“How can you hate these books? They have everything – it is impossible to not find something you like in these books!”
“I like coherent plots, thanks.” Jellal turned his head to the side and grinned at the blue haired girl that sat there. “Hi, Levy.”
“I heard that you came to defend my lost pride.” Levy grinned back at him. “That was sweet of you.”
“I didn’t do much in the end,” Jellal replied ruefully. All that effort… almost casting Altairis, and in the end, it had been for nought. “Except almost die. I think I may have done that.”
“You did,” Levy replied, and she reached out to flick his ear, making Jellal yelp in pain and clutch it. “Erza was distraught, you jerk.”
“Jerk? I almost died, Levy, and all to save your lost pride. You could thank me, y’know.”
“Thank-you,” Levy replied, her voice suddenly serious, and Jellal blinked at the sudden change. She reached out to squeeze his hand. “It means a lot, you know, to all of us. That you came here. You may not feel like you did anything, but Lucy said you gave them hope that they could win, when almost losing Makarov nearly destroyed that hope. It was important.”
“How is she?” Jellal asked. “Lucy?”
“I’m okay.”
Jellal and Levy looked to the door, where Lucy hovered, looking nervous. Jellal surveyed her closer, and decided that she seemed happier than she had before the battle, though still not entirely recovered.
“Lu!” Levy leapt to her feet and all but skipped to the blonde, looping their arms together. “Come and tell Jellal how wrong he is to not like this series. Lucy is an author” – she looked back a Jellal with a smug expression – “so you have to listen to her.”
“I’m hardly an author,” Lucy argued, letting Levy drag her back to Jellal’s bed. She hesitated above him, as Levy plopped into her chair again.”I’m really sorry.”
“For what?” Jellal replied, struggling to sit up. Lucy came to his side and helped, giving Jellal the chance to scrutinize her once more.
“If I hadn’t run away then-”
“You wanted a better life,” Jellal cut her off gently, awkwardly patting her hand. “I get that.”
Gods, but he got that. Hadn’t he fled the Tower of Heaven on a dead man’s promise that there was something better out there?
“It’s Jose’s fault,” he added after a moment, when Lucy just looked down at her hand silently. “And your father’s, for wanting to control you. But none of this was your fault. Surely no one is blaming you?”
That didn’t sound at all like Fairy Tail. Makarov’s door was always open to the lost and the forgotten. All you needed was the courage to walk through the door and a belief in a better future, and Makarov would welcome you.
“No,” Lucy replied, her voice wavering, and a warm tear fell onto the back of Jellal’s hand. He felt somewhat alarmed as he realized Lucy was crying, and looked at Levy wide-eyed. She just grinned and muffled a chuckle in her palm. “No, everyone has been wonderful about the whole thing. But you almost died, and Erza was so upset, and she still came after me when she thought I left and.. and…”
Her words were lost in tears and she covered her face, while Jellal just patted her back awkwardly, because he kind of sucked with dealing with tears, particularly when there wasn’t any physical cause that he could fix.
“C’mon, Lu,” Levy finally said, taking pity on Jellal. “Let’s go wash those tears away, and let Erza know Jellal is awake. She’ll probably be mad we waited this long to do it.”
She tossed a wink over her shoulder, and Jellal smiled after them in return. Alone once more, he looked out the window and contemplated what he would do next. He hadn’t awoken to Rune Knights handing him his resignation papers, which was nice, but he had also directly interfered in Guild business.
That wouldn’t go unpunished, particularly not when Org and Michello were entirely too eager to see Fairy Tail disbanded, and while Yajima was more openly vocal in his defence of the Guild, it was Jellal who worked behind the scenes who charmed and cajoled the other members to view things his way.
“You’re a long way from Era, my boy.”
Jellal’s spine stiffened, and he straightened his posture as Makarov entered the room. He stood just inside the door and eyed Jellal critically. After a moment, he gave a sharp nod and hopped onto Levy’s vacated chair.
“I’ve been speaking with Yajima.”
“I thought you would,” Jellal replied, gazing towards the window again. The sky was blue. A good day to be alive. “I don’t suppose you’d have room in your Guild for a disgraced Council Member?”
“I always have room in my Guild for a talented Mage and Wizard Saint,” Makarov replied. “As it is, I’ve no idea who would be disgraced. I’m here to offer my deepest apologies, for inadvertently causing a member of the Magic Council harm in my quarrel with another Guild. You were sent to investigate the situation, and we just made it worse.”
Jellal gaped at the top of Makarov’s head.
“But I-”
“Yajima told us you were nominated to come here.” Makarov met Jellal’s shocked gaze with a steely one here. “I imagine it was a bit irritating.”
“Jose-”
“Is a blathering idiot. He just doesn’t want to admit that Erza and Mystogan managed to stop him long enough for me to recover. Everyone – Fairy Tail Members, the people of Magnolia, even several of Shadow Lord’s members – saw Mystogan in the Giant, despite what Jose is howling. It’s his last attempt to harm Fairy Tail, of couse, and a particularly foolish one.”
Mirajane and Cana’s plot, it seemed, had served its purpose. Only…
“Yajima knows otherwise.”
“Yaj blames himself for sending his protégé into danger. Also figures you’re an idiot for not avoiding that danger, but that’s just Yaj.”
Jellal didn’t know what to say. Instead he stared down at his hands, and realized he didn’t feel nearly as happy as he should.
Nothing about his life would change, yet Jellal just felt…
“Someday, m’boy, you’ll come home to us.” Jellal looked up sharply at Makarov’s words, and the old man smiled back at him. “Until then, no matter the distance, we protect each other. As it’s always been.”
Rattling echoed in the hall – a sound that could only herald Erza’s arrival – and Makarov slid off of his scene.
“Take a break, Jellal. Then you can accompany to Era and my trial. It should be fun.”
“You’ll fall asleep. You always do,” Jellal replied, his lips quirking at the corners. Makarov chuckled as Erza appeared in the door.
“Like I said, fun.” He turned away, as Jellal looked at Erza, who was frozen in the doorway. “And you – if you’re going to hug him, lose the armour. We don’t need him injured anymore.”
Then he was gone, and Erza requipped into the white blouse she favored and joined him on the bed, curling into his side.
“Master Makarov and Master Yajima came up with a cover up story,” she told him, nuzzling her face into his neck while his arm curled around her waist. “You’ll keep your job.”
“I heard,” Jellal replied, staring inscrutably up at the roof. Makarov’s words continued echoing in his mind, and turned his head toward Erza’s, pressing a kiss into her hair.
“You don’t sound happy,” Erza pointed out, frowning up at him.
“I’m… not unhappy?” That was also true. He was simply… conflicted. Being with Fairy Tail, fighting with Fairy Tail - it had reminded him how much he missed it. “I miss you. I miss everyone.”
Erza didn’t say anything, but she felt almost rigid, and he looked down, to see tears glistening at the corners of her closed eyes.
“Erza?”
“I want to ask you to stay,” she admitted, burying her head against his chest. “Because I miss you too, and if I asked right now, you would. So I can’t.”
“What if I want you to?” Jellal replied.
“I still can’t. You’re not done yet, Jellal. Whatever drove you to…everything. You’re not done yet.”
And there was the rub – Jellal wasn’t sure anymore why he had wanted the Magic Council. He stared hard at the roof.
Changing the world.
That’s what he had wanted, after spending more of his life in slavery than he had free, he had wanted to change the world. To make it safe, so there never had to be another Jellal or another Erza, meeting in the horrors of another Tower of Heaven.
Yet the council was filled with so much bureaucratic nonsense that making anything change seemed impossible.
But Erza could.
He looked down at her, and realized she had fallen asleep against him. He smiled and buried his face in her hair, letting his body relax around her.
Erza could change the world. And Natsu, Gray, Levy… even Lucy with her determination to make her own way. Fairy Tail could make the world a better place.
And Jellal could make sure they had the room to make that diference.
For now… for now that would be his drive. He would make sure the Guild he called home could stretch their wings and make the world a better place.
And some day, when the Council stopped reaching for reasons to stop them and instead realized what Fairy Tail could give the world… Jellal would come home.
there's not enough gruvia fanfiction in the world. honestly. so i'm writing this fic called colour and it's based off a prompt I've seen where everyone sees the world in black and white until they meet their soul mate. 'in which he brought colour into her black and white world' it's not only gruvia. it's a nalu, gajevy, jerza and fraxus one as well. there will be the occasional ship cameo, though. I'm making this post on my tablet so I can't make it all pretty but here's the link: http://my.w.tt/UiNb/uE3H1xlpyx so PLEASE go check it out. the only chapter that's out is the first one but I'll try my best to update it as often as possible. ALSO please note that this is only on wattpad for the time being and if you do not have wattpad or would prefer to read it somewhere else, you need only send me an ask or a message and I'll gladly post it on fanfiction or AO3. :))
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So I’m literally posting every single request on tumblr since I’ve been so late on updating
Summary: She trusts him even though they've only just met. Jerza request.
Note: Also another WIP Threeshot. I will post part 2 later
Part 1
She studies the man she's supposed to call "partner."
He's beautiful, in a rugged and mysterious way. Thick, blue hair, the color of the azure sky, hangs over brooding green eyes. They seem haunted, those eyes, which makes them all the more alluring.
She continues to study him, her eyes roving over his angular cheekbones, the masculine jawline, the full lips. Once she's finished studying his face, her eyes drop to his body, following the muscular curve of his throat to the outline of his collarbone. He has a broad, well defined chest, strong looking arms, and sturdy legs. He's well fit, and the way he holds himself tells her that he is well trained in the art of stealth: balancing lightly on his feet, prepared for the slightest move; eyes constantly checking surroundings, looking for signs of danger; arms held against his sides loosely, yet taut enough to land a full force blow to an opponent if the occasion arises. She likes her new "partner."
He studies her too, and she inwardly smirks. Not to be vain, but she knows she's beautiful, and that men usually can't deny her beauty. She's a seductress, and she knows it. But it's also a good part of the job.
She runs her fingers through her thick red locks and continues to watch him through narrowed brown eyes. Neither of them speak, but continue to feel each other out, strip them down to the core with their eyes.
Finally, he moves. It's a quick gesture, full of a hidden power that any mundane person would not have noticed. He reaches out a hand, and she can feel the power in his muscles as she takes it and shakes it firmly. If she were the target, he'd have no problems breaking her hand if need be.
"Jellal," he says, brief and quiet, even her sharp ears have the slightest amount of trouble hearing it. His mouth barely moves as he says it, a talent need for the job. He's been well trained.
She nods curtly. "Erza," she replies, dropping his hand. "It's a pleasure to meet you."
He smirks, his green eyes smoldering. "The pleasure's all mine."
So, she thinks, reflecting on the quietness of their conversation. Testing my skills now, are we?
Two can play that game.
She walks around him, eyeing him up and down carefully. His eyes follow her as she circles him like like a bird of prey. He's careful, and keeps a close watch on her every move.
Suddenly, as fast as a viper, she whips a gun out of her boot, pointing the muzzle in his direction. But he, too, is quick, and has already swerved to the side, a gun manifesting in his own hand. He's smiling, enjoying their contest of strengths, skills and talents.
He throws himself to the side as she lunges at him, barely avoiding the appearance of a blade as she swings it at his side. Grunting, he slips behind her, trying to penetrate her defenses and catch her off guard. But she's fast, so unbelievably fast.
She whirls, the her gun suddenly pressing this forehead. At the same time, he feels her knife clang against his gun-wielding hand, forcing him to drop it and focus on the one held to his face. The metal is cool against his skin, and it takes all of his willpower to not flinch from the death holder in her hand.
She looks at to him, a cold light in her eyes. She's almost convinced that her previous instincts about him were false, and that he's just another incompetent, useless, rookie, but then he grins.
She feels the cold sharpness pierce her stomach. She looks down, seeing that he'd conjured a knife out of nowhere and now has it pressed against her belly. Her shirt has been torn, and the blade is biting into her skin, nicking it and drawing a pale red line of blood.
She looks at him. They're locked in a silent battle of wills, of whom would surrender first. But she can see it in his eyes: he won't.
She smiles and pulls the gun away from from his forehead, and he concedes, holding his hand out and pulling the knife away from her.
They nod silently at each other. Testing is over.
She nods and turns. "You passed," she said over her shoulder. "Get ready to leave. We depart in one hour."
I’m a monster that looks really scary and people run away when they see me even though I only want friends, but you stayed.” -au
“I got lost in the woods and found this mansion where you live alone and it seems so lonely so I’ll come again even if you tell me to stay away, wait are those fangs?” -au
I need inspiration for a novel and I just found the perfect material so please stop running away I only want to touch your fangs I swear *cough*” -au
I sort of turned you into a vampire and now I feel kinda bad so I’ll make it up to you, somehow.” -au
“You just saw me in my true form and it turns out you’re the really well known journalist please keep this a secret I swear I’ll do anything!“ -au
If I’m seen by a human I’ll disappear but I once passed your room and heard you crying, so I tried talking to you and the more we talk the more I realize I’m falling in love with you.” -au
Not sure when I'll post these, but I shall so bear with me
