Chapter 16: Unhappy Reunion

Akane Resort Hotel
Evening
Erza was laying down on a beach bench in her hotel room's balcony as she was enjoying their vacation.
"It was such a fun day today."
Erza smiled in her rest as she never felt so relaxed before.
She then dozes off a bit as she laid down on the seat.
"Erza…"
A familiar old voice spoke in her mind as Erza's dark past memories returned.
"There is no such thing as freedom in this world…"
Erza then woke up with a startle as she tried to calm herself down.
"When did I fell asleep?"
She asked herself while standing up from her seat.
Erza then made her way into her room as she looks at herself in the mirror as she did a pose to herself.
She squinted her eyes as she remembered her past.
Erza then re-quips her Heart Kreuz Armor on as her body relaxed while wearing it
"Wearing my armor feels a lot better."
She said before hearing the door to her room getting knocked from the other side as it opens to reveal Lucy who was wearing a dress with Milo riding on her shoulder.
"Erza?" Lucy called out to her while coming in the room.
"Wanna go down to the casino? Natsu and Gray are already there."
"Oh yeah, there's one here."
Erza then re-equipped a purple dress as she posed a bit with it.
"How do I look?"
"A bit over the top, maybe?" Lucy replied with Milo meowing as well.
"Oh well…"
"Come on, Erza." Lucy said as she walks outside.
Erza was about to go after seeing her reflection in the mirror
""maybe it's not bad, being myself sometimes""
Erza then walks outside the room as she catches up with Lucy
In the casino
Slot machines, Drink Bars, and games of all sort are in the grand casino as people were playing, drinking, and betting.
Gray who was playing a game with some people met up with Juvia who was wearing a blue dress, the two then started chatting with Juvia saying that she wants to join Fairy Tail.
We now see Natsu at a slot game machine as he pulled down the lever and the slot stopped spinning at the number 777.
"JACKPOT!"
The machine alarmed out as dozens of jewels falls down the machine.
The nearby audience clapped and wowed Natsu for his incredible luck.
"So easy" Natsu said with a smirk as he did the same thing once again.
He then stopped the game as he asked a nearby staff to change the jewels into a check.
Natsu then stopped by the bar to get a drink.
"Fire whisky." He said to the bar manager who nodded and went to make his order
Natsu turns to see the whole casino as he let out a relaxed sigh.
"Now this is a vacation."
"Your order, sir." The bar manager placed Natsu's drink on the table as Natsu gives him his payment.
"Thanks."
Natsu took his drink and went to look around for anything fun while taking a sip of his drink.
"Enjoying the night?"
A familiar feminine voice spoke out as Natsu turns to see a woman wearing a bird like mask while wearing a purple dress.
"Why are you here?" Natsu asked the woman as he finished his drink and looks to her with a bored face.
"Oh my? Am I not allowed to relax once in a while, Natsu?" The woman asked as she took off her mask and revealed her face as Ultear.
"Knowing you, it ain't relaxation." Natsu said as he turns to look away.
"How cruel." Ultear said as she walks towards Natsu as she places her arms around his neck.
"Can't I have some skinship with my favorite little lizard?" Ultear whispered into Natsu's ears while nibbling on it
Natsu sighs in annoyance as he pulls away her arms and looks at her.
"What reason do you have for being here?" Natsu asked her as she replied by taking out a letter from between her cleavage.
Natsu took the letter without hesitation and opens it.
He reads the letter and his eyes widen in shock.
"Are those people serious?!" He exclaimed as he looks to Ultear.
"It is the Council, you're talking about Natsu. They would do anything to maintain the Magic World." Ultear said to him as she puts on her mask and started to leave the casino.
"See you again, Natsu." Ultear said while blowing a kiss to him.
Natsu looks back to the letter as he crumples it and burns it away.
"Got to take a breather." Natsu said as he walks out of the casino and he was about to get out before hearing an explosion happening from the casino.
"wha!?" Natsu turns to look and saw a drink bar getting demolished
He then went to look and to see what happened
Natsu sees Gray all beaten up with a familiar looking blue hair woman beside him
"Gray?" Natsu said in surprise before everything went black
"This is.." Natsu muttered out as he looks around to see only darkness
"You must be Red Salamander." A voice spoke behind Natsu as he turns to see a big man with an eye patch and a lower iron jaw on him as he looks at Natsu.
"And you are?" Natsu said while crossing his arms on his chest.
"Simon, Simon Mikazuchi." He introduced himself to him.
"We need to talk…."
Natsu looks to him while raising an eyebrow.
At the other end of the casino
Erza, Lucy who was being bind down with a strange looking orange rope, and Milo who was out cold and who was being carried away by a feline looking woman, was facing against a man with a tan and blonde hair, and a guy who looks blocky.
"Sho, Wally, Milliana." Erza said as she looks to be familiar with these people
"it's been a long time, Nee-san." The man with the tan and the blonde hair said with a nostalgic tone to Erza.
"How have you been?"
"Why are you here? You all were alright after all these years?" Erza said in a stuttering voice.
"Well of course, Erza." Wally said while holding his hat.
"How could you, Nee-san?" Sho said as his face darkens.
"How could you abandon us those years ago?"
Erza had a guilty look on her as she holds her arms.
"No need to be so awe-struck." Someone said as a large vortex of darkness magic appeared in the center of the casino hall. "Once that guy gets his mitts on you, anyone would be able to use magic… right, Erza?" Simon said as he appeared from the vortex.
"Simon!?"
"Ugh!" Lucy yelped as Millianna pushed her on the floor.
"I've already notified Jellal that we found Erza and soon we'll bring her to him," The large guy informed the others.
"Erza, what is going on?! Who are these guys?!" Lucy asked, "Why does he call you 'nee-san'?!"
"He's not really my brother." Erza answered. "They're my former friends…"
"friends… but I thought you'd been at Fairy Tail since you were a little kid!" Lucy exclaimed.
"This… this was before that…" Erza replied. "What are you guys doing here, anyway?" She asked Wally.
"We came to bring you back." He replied.
"Meow." Millianna meowed joyfully.
"Jellal needs you, Erza." Simon said.
"Let's go back, nee-san." Shô smiled, shedding tears of joy. "Finally, nee-san, you're going back."
"I bet Jellal is smiling ear to ear right now." Wally said.
"I can-"
"If you insist on being stubborn..." Wally said, pulling a new revolver out of his coat pocket. Lucy squeaked in shock when Wally pulled back the hammer, "I'll kill your little blonde friend here."
"Stop it!" Erza screamed, the fear and worry in her voice surprising her old Nakama. "I'm begging you! Don't hurt Lucy!" Before Erza could say anymore a loud bang rang out and she suddenly felt a sharp pain in her back.
Wally's gun had warped behind her. "gah..." As soon as the words left Erza's mouth she collapsed into Simon's arms.
"ERZA!" Lucy yelled in a mix worry and anger.
"Don't worry, it's one of my sleeping bullets." Wally said, putting the revolver back into his coat pocket.
"We got our target." Simon said as he hoisted Erza over his shoulder. "Let's head back now."
"Hey! Where the hell do you think you're going! You can't just take Erza like that!" Lucy yelled, her face red in anger as she fiercely struggled against her bindings. "Give her back now!"
"Meow. Keep your mouth shut." Millianna said as she snapped her fingers. Suddenly the ropes binding Lucy began to tighten even further, making it harder for her to breath. Lucy screamed in pain as her body was stretched even further.
"When Natsu and Gray get here, you guys are in big trouble!" Lucy screamed at him.
"They won't be coming." Simon said to her.
"they are down and out cold, they were weak." Simon turned around to walk away with the others
"No way!? Even Natsu!?"
"Nee-san..." Shô said as tears built up in his eyes. "You're finally coming back home...to the Tower of Heaven. I bet Jellal will be smiling ear to ear when he sees you."
'T-Tower of H-Heaven?!' Erza thought, memories of her cursed past began to invade her mind before she felt consciousness slipping from her. "They actually finished it?!"
They then were teleported away in a bluish white magic circle.
"Dammit!" Lucy struggled in her bind before hearing a slashing sound as the rope binding her down was cut off.
"You okay?" A voice spoke out as Lucy turns to see Natsu with Gray and Juvia behind him.
"Natsu!?" Lucy exclaimed as she stands up.
"Where's Erza and Milo?" Natsu asked as he looks around for them.
"Some people who Erza said were her friends came in and turned the people into cards and took her away with Milo."
Natsu looks down to see the cards sprawled out that had the casino people in it
SNAP!
Natsu snaps his fingers as the cards exploded and return back the casino people.
"I think that's everyone." Natsu said as he brushed his hands in satisfaction. "Even if I missed a couple people, the magic in the cards shouldn't last that long."
"Now to find Erza." He then began sniffing the air.
"You can find her by sniffing her scent?" Juvia said with a sweat drop.
"I think I got it." He began walking towards the door as the group followed him.
"..Oh you gotta be.." He then sighed.
"What is it? Did you lose it?" Lucy wondered.
"No, actually I'm picking it up from that a way." He pointed and they all looked over and were staring out towards the sea.
"Get on a boat you three." Natsu said as he walks towards the harbor where a couple of boats were docked there
Gray, Lucy and Juvia got on the boat and saw Natsu tying the rope to his waist and to end of the boat.
"Is he?!" Lucy exclaimed in fear.
"He is!" Gray exclaimed as he hugged Juvia and Lucy in fear.
"Gray-sama! So daring!"
"Hold on!" Natsu shouted as he jumped up and ignited his feet on fire as he rockets towards the direction of Erza's scent.
The Natsu Express' passengers all screamed as they dashed towards the ocean waters.
In a ship
"Ugh..." Erza groaned as she regained her consciousness. The scarlet haired knight was immediately aware that she couldn't use her magic and she was tied by Milliana's ropes. She struggled in her binding as she tried to take them off. "Tch!" She scoffed as her attempt was a failure. "Where am I anyway?"
"We're inside a ship nee-san." Shô said, slowly walking toward the scarlet haired Knight.
"Ship?"
"Yes. Inside a ship heading toward the Tower of Heaven." Shô explained to her as he stopped in front of her. Erza looked up at him as her eyes widened at his words.
"Oh...So that's it." Erza asked with a sad smile as she released a breath. "Could you please untie me? I promise I won't resist."
"I cannot do that, nee-san." Shô replied, his tone emotionless. When Erza heard this she immediately began to struggle against her bindings, feeling vulnerable in the dress, "You're a traitor nee-san, so you can't be trusted right now. And it's pointless, so don't bother trying to break out of those ropes. Milliana's tubes have the power of sealing someone's magic away. You can't do anything about them on your own. Not even a powerful mage like yourself could break free."
Erza just hung her head low, Red hair shadowing her face. "I-I know...then would you at least allow me to requip into my armor?" Erza said in a shaky voice as her body began to tremble as she missed the comfort her armor gave her. "...I'm so scared to return to that tower...Unless I'm wearing armor or near...him...The fear..." she trailed off as she remembered that awful place that caused her many years of suffering.
"But you look good in that dress, nee-san." Shô said, smiling a little sadly. He stared down at her before crouching down next in front of her. The scarlet haired knight's eyes widened when Shô suddenly hugged her, with tears in his eyes. She absently noted that he was shaking like a leaf. "I didn't want to do this you...nee-san."
"Shô..." Erza whispered.
"I missed you! Really! Sister...I really did, nee-san." Erza's eyes filled with guilt and sadness as she listened to Shô's small cries of anguish, "Why...why did you..." he suddenly lifted his head and shouted with tears streaming down his face. "...Betray us?! Why did you betray Jellal!?"
'Jellal...' Erza thought, as she remembered her time with him in the Tower of Heaven and his encouraging words.
"Don't worry, there's nothing to be afraid of."
"We're going to get our freedom! Our future, and our aspirations!"
"Let's go, Erza!"
Sho then stands up and leaves the cell.
Erza just looks down to her lap as she looks to be scared.
She then heard something in the room with her as she looks to the side and sees Enryuo no Yoroi standing beside her.
"Natsu…?!" Erza muttered in surprise and confusion as to the armor then glowed and disappeared into a red orb that flew to Erza and went into her body.
She then felt immense warmth flowing into her.
"Call upon me in your time of need."
A voice spoke to Erza as she smiled.
"Thank you, Natsu."
Erza thanked Natsu even though he wasn't here.