Chapter 18: Natsu vs Jellal

**At the Tower of Heaven**

"Huh?" Natsu opened his eye and could sense a massive amount of magic coming from above them.

He then stands up before wincing on his side after the attack Ikaruga landed on him.

"I hope Lucy and everyone got out safe." He chuckled as he tried to stand up but failed.

He was about to fall but was stopped as a pair of arms lifted him up.

"You?" Natsu said.

**with Gray and the others**

A bright flash of light enveloped the tower as everyone in the distance watched it get blasted by the Etherion.

"ERZAA!" Gray shouted.

"Gray-sama! Please stay inside!" Juvia hugged him from the back and kept him from jumping out of their shielded boat.

"No way..Natsu was left in there with her too." Lucy said as they were shocked. After the light vanished, they looked again and had shocked expressions.

"What..in the..hell?" Gray was speechless.

"The tower.." Wally began to say.

"Er-chan.." Millianna was equally shocked.

**Back with Erza**

"...Hm?" Erza realized she was still alive and was lying on the floor.

".Hehehheh..hahahaha..HAHAHAHA!" Jellal then began laughing evilly as Erza was shocked.

"What..?!" She was at lost for words. The tower was not blown to bits. But was now shown as a giant blue, jagged, tower of lacrima.

"At last! ITS FINALLY DONE! AFTER 8 LONG YEARS, MY LORD WILL FINALLY BE REBORN!"

"I don't understand.."

"You really fooled her." Erza then turned around and was shocked to see Siegrain.

"Is the council in shock?" Jellal asked his twin.

"They looked to be running for there lives. Ultear has begun destroying the council's chambers, as well as the ritual site."

"HAHAHA! This truly is a happy day." Jellal said as Siegrain stood beside him.

"So, you two were in this together!" Erza was now angry.

"Two you say?" Siegrain asked.

"Whatever are you talking about?" Jellal said as they got closer to each other.

"We are after all."

"The same person." They said in unison as they came together.

*"A thought projection!?"* Erza recognized the spell.

"And with this..my magic has returned." He then began emanating an evil aura of magic power as Erza was wide eyed.

"You..you tricked me?!" She hissed.

"You are so trusting Erza, it's almost criminal. The whole reason I waited behind was because I was waiting for those fools to fire the Etherion in the first place. I needed a massive amount of magic, and the answer to that, was the Etherion."

"You planned all this?" She asked coldly.

"Everything was for lord Zeref after all." He chuckled. "And I couldn't have done it without you, ERZA!" He wickedly smiled. Erza then summoned a huge sword and began attacking Jellal.

"I WILL KILL YOU JELLAL! FOR THE LIVES YOU'VE RUINED, AND MANIPULATED, I WILL KILL YOU!" She roared as she summoned another sword.

"Yes, I'm sure." Jellal said as he raised his finger.

"Wha-my body.." Erza suddenly was paralyzed.

"Binding Snake. I placed it on you during our little hug." He said as a tattoo of a snake crawled around her skin.

"It's time.." He then picked up Erza and placed her on a large piece of the lacrima.

"N-no!" She began to say, but the pain was hurting her too much to speak out.

"NOW ZEREF! THE TIME HAS FINALLY COME! TAKE THIS WOMAN'S BODY, AND BE REBORN INTO THIS WORLD!" He chanted as he shouted to the dark sky.

"AHhhhhHH!" Erza screamed in agony.

"I was really happy..to see you again Erza." He said the last part quietly as he smiled.

"No..not like this.." Erza began tearing up and was almost swallowed up by the crystal. Only a tiny bit of her fingers were left out as she cursed herself one last time before it was all over. But then all of a sudden

**FLASH!**

A red flash appeared on Erza's chest as a red orb came flying out

"What?!" Jellal exclaimed as the orb flashes and Enryuo no Yoroi appeared.

"Dragov?!" He exclaimed in surprise as the armor then punches the crystal Erza was in.

Erza then fell to the ground, unharmed, as the crystal was completely destroyed.

"hey, Jellal."

A voice spoke out of nowhere to Jellal.

"What?" Jellal looked back and his chest was met with a knee that was slammed right into it, as he coughed up saliva and was sent flying into a wall of lacrima away from Erza, hard. When the figure landed, Erza was shocked and was surprised to see him.

"Natsu.."

"I'll be taking Erza back now." Natsu said as he cracked his knuckle.

"..Erg. You." Jellal glared from the pile of crystal that he emerged from.

"Erza's life..is not something for you to play with." Natsu said in a cold tone.

"You're the pest that has been messing with my plans. Well that's fine." He then stood up and dusted off his long coat. "I'll get rid of you, then finish this ritual." Jellal said as he began building up magic pressure.

"I won't let you take Erza away from everything she cares about. She doesn't need to go through that..again."

"Natsu.." Erza began tearing up once more. Never had she had someone stand up for her like that. Natsu may have been a recent member, but he was ready to fight for her till the end.

"What she cares about? Don't make me laugh. She's the one responsible for this-"

"Shut up." Natsu said as he glared at him. "I don't know what happened between the two of you, and quite frankly I don't give a damn. But if you're going to kill her for some stupid ghost, then i'm gonna have to stop you." Natsu said as he snapped his fingers and then Enryuo no Yoroi purged and armored Natsu's body.

"You aren't going to stop me. I am on par with that of a Wizard Saint. I'll stamp you out." He then smirked.

"Let me make this absolutely clear.." He pointed his finger at Jellal.

"Erza is coming home with **me and I'll be sending you down with this tower**." He pointed his thumb down as his face plate close down and the visor glowed red as red eyes appeared