Chapter 20

**A few days later**

**at Akane Resort's Hotel room**

Natsu and the gang were at the hotel room with Natsu on the bed and he was snoring like an elephant.

Lucy and Gray was just looking at the man who was sprawled out of the bed like he was enjoying his sleep.

"Geez, for someone who is sleeping he snores like a god damn pig." Gray said annoyed from Natsu's snoring.

In an instant Natsu sat up all angry.

"YOU WANNA GO, STRIPPER BOY!?"

Natsu shouted out while glaring at Gray.

"Ah! He's awake." Lucy said

And in a second Natsu was knocked out again on the bed.

"ASLEEP AGAIN?!" Lucy exclaimed.

"IF YOU DON'T HAVE THE STRENGTH TO FIGHT THEN DON'T!" Gray shouted.

Everyone then started rambling for a bit before Erza came in.

"Oh Erza." Lucy said as she looks at the scarlet haired woman.

"Looks like I've dragged you all into a big mess, I'm sorry." Erza said with a sad smile.

"How many times are you going to say that?" Gray said as he looks to her.

"Whatever things that happened that time, doesn't matter to the fact that you're a Fairy Tail Mage and we are all family who stick up for each other."

Erza nodded to him with a smile.

"Erza, you mind waking Natsu up?" Lucy said as she points to the sleeping man.

"He's been asleep for three days straight." Gray said as he had an annoyed look at Natsu's snoring.

"In a few more hours, for now just let him sleep, he's tired from using too much of his magic." Erza said as he looks to the sleeping man.

"And for how long are we suppose to wait for that time to come?" Gray said with a sigh.

Erza then realizes that Juvia is not here.

"Where's that girl?" Erza asked to Gray.

"Oh! She headed back early to the guild before us." Gray replied to her.

"Saying that she wants to join the guild fast."

"I see." Erza said before realizing that Simon and the others were still here.

She then stands up and excused herself outside.

**Outside at the beach**

Erza met up with her old friends at the beach. Wally, Shô, and Milianna looked remorseful, which Simon was simply looking at Erza with a soft look. After a while, Wally was the one to break the silence.

"I apologize, Erza." Wally apologized as he bowed his head.

"Sorry, Er-chan." Milianna's ears dropped, showing how much sad she was. It was clear that they were hating themselves for their actions against Erza when all she tried to do was to save them.

"No. It was I was unable to do anything for you for eight long years." Erza bowed down, "I'm truly sorry."

"It's not your fault, nee-san!" Shô exclaimed defiantly.

"It isn't your fault. We were foolish enough to believe Jellal and follow him." Simon added. Although he didn't believe Jellal, he still followed his orders.

"If I had done something sooner, then you wouldn't have lost all those years." Erza explained as she bit her lower lip. "But we must continue on." She raised her head, the determination in her eyes, "If you don't have no other place to go, then come to Fairy Tail."

"Heh?! Us joining Fairy Tail?!" Wally sputtered in shock.

"It might be different than the 'freedom' you sought, but it's definitely a good start." Erza tried to reason further.

"They said something like that.." Wally remembered the others when they talked about their Guild.

"That it was a super spiffy guild!" Milianna exclaimed as she jumped up.

"And I'd like to stay together with you all." Erza admitted, smiling. "Come on, let's go back. I have to properly introduce you to Natsu and the others." She wrapped her arms around Shô's and Milianna's waist, as she took them in the Hotel.

**Night**

"Lucy!" Erza barged into the blonde's room, who was writing her usual letter to her mother. "Have you seen Shô or the others?!"

"No, I haven't." Lucy answered her.

"I see.." Erza muttered as she knew what was going on.

"What happened?!" Lucy asked.

"Tell Natsu and Gray to prepare the 'Fireworks'." Erza ordered as she turned around and exited the room.

"Hey, Wait!" Lucy exclaimed, but it was too late.

**Back at the beach**

"Do you really think we can make it on our own?!" Wally asked as they put their supplies in the small boat. The group consisted of Wally, Shô, and Milianna. "In the outside world?"

"We have to!" Shô replied, "We can't bother Nee-san anymore." His statement met with nods of agreement from both Wally and Milliana. As they finished, a familiar voice shouted from behind.

"Everyone!" Erza appeared before them. They stiffened slightly. They didn't expect her to find out this early. Erza frowned upon not seeing Simon in the group, "Where's Simon?"

"He already left. He said he had to find someone." Wally was the one to answer.

"I see." Erza muttered.

"Where are you guys going?"

"We were raised in the Tower our entire lives. There's a lot we don't understand, that we're uncertain of." Shô began as he clenched his hands into fists. "But we want to see the outside world for ourselves. We don't want to live relying on others any longer." He explained, with his companions nodding resolutely. "We've had enough of living for someone else! From now on, we'll live for ourselves! We want to find our own reason to live!"

"That's our freedom!" Wally added.

Erza smiled proudly, even if it saddened her to separate from them, she was proud of them. "If you keep that strong will, you will accomplish anything. It reassures me." The Knight sighed as a serious look crossed her beautiful face. "However, there are three conditions for anyone who leaves Fairy Tail! Listen well." She finished as her body bathed in light.

"Leave? But we never joined..." Wally sputtered again. As he saw Erza wearing the Fairy Tail Departing Armor for the ceremony.

Erza exclaimed, getting everyone's attention, as she slammed a staff adorning Fairy Tail's flag into the ground. "One! You must never reveal sensitive information about Fairy Tail to others as long as you live! Two! You must not have unauthorized contact with past clients or profit personally from them!" Everyone's serious facade was broken when Erza momentarily stopped to choke back a sob. The scarlet-haired Knight took a shaky breath to calm herself, as tears streamed down her cheeks. "Three! Even if we walk different paths, we must always live on as strong as you are able! You must never treat your own life as something insignificant!" Tears streaming down Erza's eyes. "You must never forget the friends you love for as long as you live!" Briefly biting her lip to hold back another sob, Erza raised her staff high into the air. "Begin the Fairy Tail farewell ceremony!

"Yeah!" Lucy, Gray, and Natsu appeared behind her. All of them holding smiles.

Natsu made a gun gesture with both his hands as he shot into the sky several little fireballs towards the sky.

After the fireball reached the sky, they exploded and created fireworks as Natsu continued to do so with Gray and Lucy joining in.

"Let them blossom in your hearts!" Erza exclaimed in tears.

"I wish I could be with you forever." Erza said as she stared at t7he beautiful display filling the night sky, tears still pouring from her eyes, "But if that ends up holding you back, I wish to bless your newfound voyage."

"You've got it backward, Er-chan!" Milliana struggled to say through her tears. The boat was getting smaller and smaller as it sailed farther and farther in the water.

"With us around, you will be forced to remember all the bad things!" Wally exclaimed, trying and failing to stop his own tears from falling.

"I won't forget you, no matter where you may be." Erza said as she raised her staff into the air, "And it is those painful memories that become the seeds of tomorrow! They make us stronger! Humans have that power!" Natsu, Lucy, and Gray walked up next to Erza, joining her in seeing her old friends off.

Fairy Tail's flag waved proudly from atop Erza's staff, seeming to glow because of the fireworks that filled the night sky. "Go on, stronger and I will do same. If we never forget this day, we will meet again. Stay well, my friends!"

"You too nee-san! And Fairy Tail too!" Shô shouted as the boat began to drift farther and farther away.

"By-bye Er-chan!" Milliana exclaimed, smiling through her tears, as she energetically waved to the Fairy Tail members.

"We'll definitely meet again! That's a promise!" Wally yelled, hiding his face behind his hat.

"It's a promise." Erza whispered, as she tried to wipe away her tears, but they didn't seem to stop. Natsu placed his hand on top of her head and pulled her a little closer. The Knight put her head into his chest and quietly cried.

"You did the right thing. They need to find their own path in life." He whispered as he kissed the top of her head. "That wasn't a goodbye. It was a see you one day."

"Good work."

They then watch as the boat disappeared.

**Night**

Erza was resting her head to Natsu's chest as she found it to be quite comfortable laying her head on top of her boyfriend's warm and comfortable chest.

Natsu kisses the top of Erza's head as he caressed her back with his hands.

"Erza…." Natsu whispered out her name in a husky voice.

"Hmmm?" Erza hummed to him in reply.

Natsu raised his hand up as a red glowing orb appeared in his hands.

Erza saw the orb and stare at it before it disappeared.

She then saw a necklace with a scarlet colored gem in it as it was in the shape of a dragon appeared in Natsu's hand.

"here" Natsu said as he put the necklace around Erza's neck.

"I made this for you." He smiled to her as he saw how beautiful the necklace looks to her.

Erza blushed a bit before looking to the necklace.

"Thank you, Natsu." Erza said as she kisses his cheeks.

Natsu smiled as he then caressed her cheek before lifting her chin up.

"I love you." Natsu said before he gives a peck to her lips.

Erza smiled before returning the peck with a full on kiss to his lips.

After a minute, they separated and looks to each other eyes.

"I love you too." Erza said as she rested her self to his chest again.

Natsu then gently caresses her back before pulling her closer to him.

He leaned his face to her neck as he takes in her scent.

Both of them then fall asleep in each other arms as they slept in peace

Suddenly a red glow appeared on Erza's left back shoulder as a red line appeared and started to slither around her skin before it created a dragon shaped brand on her.

The dragon brand glowed red a bit before it fades away.