Chapter 17 - The Power Of Sacrifice...

To Recap:

Lucy and Juvia both fight Vidaldus, of whom takes over Juvia. Juvia does manage to turn back over towards Lucy's side and the two unleash a Unison Raid to defeat Vidaldus. The fight with Nic and Natsu against Fukuro takes an unpleasant turn when Natsu is swallowed and Fukuro uses his Magic to fight. Gray shows up and he and Nic team up to free Natsu and defeat the creepy owl man, with Nic unlocking the Icicle Plate in the process. Sho encounters Ikaruga and is effortlessly defeated. Erza then escapes from the card and fights Ikaruga, though her armor never worked. She resorts to fighting without armor and wins. Sho and the others were then told to leave before the Etherion hits, leaving Erza to confront Jellal, and Simon, Natsu, and Nic all race up the tower to help her take him down before the Etherion does.

Chapter 17 – The Power of Sacrifice...

Erza was pining Jellal against the floor with herself on top and using her free hand to clench his arm. She had her sword against his throat. Her gaze meant she was gonna show no mercy.

"Tell me what your goal is Jellal!" Erza demanded in a harsh tone. Jellal frowned and remained silent, unsatisfying her demand. "Talk! I know the R-System has yet to have been completed."

Jellal let a slight "Hmph." And having a sneer across his face.

Erza continued to press on. "Jellal, I wasn't just sitting around doing nothing all these years, I was relentlessly researching this place. Blueprints and everything. You're still forgetting something, something that's vital, yet so obvious."

Jellal then smiled. "Not at all, because your sacrifice will be a fine replacement."

"No." She said, making him frown. "It's far more basic then that…Magic energy." There was a small pause before she continued. "One flaw with your plan, the Magic energy you need is so massive, that all of the Wizards on the continent combined wouldn't be enough. This tower cannot handle that much energy to begin with. I found it to be a mystery that you haven't left yet before the Etherion hits."

Jellal slowly maintained his calm and collective self and grinned. "Three more minutes." He reminded.

Erza's eyes sharpen with fury. "Answer! Why are you risking your own life when you know your own dream won't come true?! Do you want to die?!" She then gripped his arm tighter, making him grunt in pain. "Is so, I'll hold you down and won't let go until the bitter end!"

Jellal then smiled. "That sounds wonderful." He said, making Erza feel rather surprised. She loosened her grip and froze. "I do not control myself. I have been possessed by Zeref himself. I am simply a tool for him to use."

"You were possessed by him?" Erza asked.

"I was unable to save myself, and none of my friends could have come to my rescue." Jellal continued, looking straight up. Erza's eyes felt shaken remembering the guilt. "I then realized there was no Heaven nor freedom. Everything was designed before it even began."

Meanwhile, in Era…

The Etherion was finished storing up power and the servants were announcing that the Magic energy was accumulated to full power. They were adjusting the satellite square to pinpoint the Tower of Heaven.

As the countdown began, all of the Magic Council members closed their eyes and looked down.

"Let us pray." Org said. Everyone then there started repeating 'let us pray'. It was clear this was the right thing to do, but it still could not make up for the countless lives they were about to annihilate. They all prayed that they would rest in peace amongst the stars.

The only one who didn't pray was Yajima, who stared monstrously at Seigrain. A glare that was so dark that you could shiver at his discontent.

The large lacrima in the center of Era then glow white and the light expanded into a small dome that covered the other four lacrima around it.

With Happy and co.

The dark skies were brightened up by a light that was directly over the tower. The waves were starting to pick up as the guys were looking back up into the sky.

"W-What is that?" Lucy asked.

"It's gotta be the Etherion." Wally said.

Happy turned and looked back with teary eyes. "Oh no. Hurry up guys. Get out of there right now." He muttered.

With Erza

The structure was starting to quake as the two anticipated the Etherion to strike any moment now.

"I knew the R-System couldn't be completed." Jellal admitted. "Zeref kept on pressuring me to make it happen. He forced me to continue." Small bits of debris was beginning to fall, and the center lacrima was shaking as well. Jellal then kept his smile. "I wanted to stop, but I didn't have a choice."

Era gritted her teeth, but her dark gaze turned less menacing, feeling a hint of pity swelling up.

"I give up." Jellal said. "Finish me." Erza reeled her head back a few inches and widened her eyes in shock. "Isn't that why you came here in the first place?" Jellal said with his mocking smile.

Erza's eyes were all shaken up again. Her breaths were uneven as she could only remain frozen in place with her shivering look. Images of Jellal back all those years ago reemerged and she could only she the boy she truly admired and not some heartless villain. She could only stay frozen and just think of him.

She could not do it. She retracted her sword, much to Jellal's surprised look.

Her gaze softened. "There is no point in killing you." She said, reeling up. "The Etherion will fire any moment and take us both out." Jellal went wide eyed and Erza dropped her sword and it disappeared and got up from him and turned around. "This is the end for the two of us."

Jellal sat up and slightly frowned. "It is a grim fate we share." He pitied himself and her. He got up and turned the opposite direction, now both her looking past the other.

"So you were Zeref's victim the entire time." Erza said.

"It's my own fault." Jellal said, looking down. "I allowed my own weakness get the best of me. Reality was too complicated for me to understand."

Erza then turned her head to look at Jellal with sorrowful eyes and frown. "The only people who were truly capable of saving you from your flaws…are those who you call your friends." She said.

"True." Jellal said.

"I'm sorry I couldn't save you." Erza said. "Please forgive me." The Tower of Heaven then began to quake even more now.

Jellal then turned towards Erza. "Erza…" The rumbling then began to increase. Now they were holding the other. "You've already saved me." They were both on their knees now and the two hugged as the roof was brightened up by the Etherion

In the skies above, a golden rectangle was sandwiched between a smaller ring above, and a larger ring on the bottom. Four small rings were around the rectangular part as a large sphere engulfed the center.

The Etherion flashed and finally fired.

The entire area was shaking and those on the small boat watched as the Etherion brightened up everything. Jellal had a menacing grin as the beam came crashing down, with his eye showing his façade.

'Goodbye Fairy Tail…goodbye everyone…farewell Nic.' Erza thought

With Happy and co.

"No!" Gray shouted.

"Natsu!" Happy and Lucy shouted.

The blast finally engulfed the entire tower and the water around the tower splashed into waves that crashed the boat and everyone fell out.

The waves kept coming, becoming more of a torrent. They were all surprised that they weren't drowning. They all gasped when they were in a sphere of water. Juvia was able to save them in time so that they wouldn't drown.

In Era…

Everyone there were getting reports of the massive energy fired.

"Target was hit." "Ethernano levels at high capacity." "Extreme weather conditions at once!"

Org rubbed his face, still shocked it happened. Belno had her eyes closed and frowned, along with everyone else there as well.

Org sighed. "Who knows how many lives were inside that tower." He said with a hand over his mouth.

"They were there to resurrect Zeref." Michello said, with frogs behind him and all sad it happened. "Their sacrifice had to be for the sake of others."

"I know Michello." Org said. "But I doubt their families will be taking this well."

With Happy and co.

Inside the dome, they all saw the huge tower of smoke rising up that covered the tower. Everyone there had watery eyes and gape mouths at what just happened.

"W-what happened out there?" Lucy asked with teary eyes, thinking she lost so many friends at once. Juvia and the others weren't taking it all that well.

"W-Were they killed?" Happy asked.

As the smoke cleared, they all felt their hearts skip several beats. The structure was slowly revealing itself to have not been destroyed. It was entirely different now. The structure was all light blue and crystal-like.

"What the heck is that?" Sho wondered.

"…no, that ain't crystal." Gray said. "That has to be lacrima."

Still, everyone was worried sick, they all looked sorrowful and hoped for the best.

"I hope they're still okay." Lucy said with a frown. "Maybe they survived."

"Yeah…wait." Wally said. "I know what that is! It's the R-System itself!" Everyone turned in shock that the actual lacrima was the R-System.

"So that tower was the R-System itself?" Gray asked.

Wally eased himself. "Yeah, but it's the first time I've seen it activated. That must have been what Jellal was talking about."

Lucy then turned towards them. "What's that suppose to mean? That Zeref will be resurrected like you said?"

"We don't know." Sho said. "We helped Jellal make it, but not once has it activated."

Gray then turned towards the direction of the tower. "And now Erza, Natsu, and Nic are trapped inside. Great, just great."

"Yeah." Sho said. "Along with Simon…and Jellal."

With Erza

Erza heard rocks crumbling when she should be hearing nothing but silence. She had expected herself to be dead, along with Jellal, only they were still in the other's arms. She soon let go and pulled away, looking around at what had just happened.

She couldn't believe what she was seeing; not only was she still alive and unharmed, but the tower itself was some large crystal-like lacrima.

"We're still alive?" Erza asked as Jellal got to his feet while she was looking at her own hands. She looked up in question, but her questioned look was replaced by a look of shock when she saw a dark grin plastered on Jellal's face.

Jellal couldn't be anymore satisfied with what had just happened. The Etherion had finally hit its mark. He was chuckling with his mouth closed at the success.

"What have you done?" Erza asked, like the unthinkable had just happened, of which it did.

Jellal stepped back and laughed heinously as he was satisfied with the lacrima al around. "It's finally here!" He shouted. "At long last, my hour of glory has arrived!"

Erza's eyes widened at this scene. Jellal was plucking at her heart strings this whole time. She was fooled.

"This is the true Tower of Heaven Erza." Jellal explained. "A giant lacrima crystal. Thanks to the Council and their Etherion blast, it's finally ready to be activated. The Etherion blast was the only missing piece. And so, the R-System is complete!"

Erza got back to her feet in drowned hope. She had failed to stop the R-System from activating.

Meanwhile, in Era…

"Ethernano neutralizers detected!" "Impossible!" "Drop in fusion density detected!" "High levels of Magic energy detected!"

They were trying to restore the monitor, but it was all fuzzy. In a matter of moments, it revealed the giant lacrima version of the Tower of Heaven.

Everyone there was too shocked for words.

"Target is still standing!" "It's a giant lacrima!" The assistance shouted.

The Council members all had shocked expressions. Everyone there could not believe that the Etherion didn't work.

"The tower must have absorbed the Magic energy from the Etherion!" Leiji said.

Org stepped forward with his one open eye that was shaking all about. "Impossible!" He exclaimed in shock.

Seigrain shifted his feet and turned towards the monitor with a grin on his face.

Yajima was behind him and stepped forward, knowing his suspicions were true. "Seigrain, explain yourself!" Yajima demanded. When Seigrain turned his head, he started to fade away, shocking Yajima as he was now gone.

"H-He disappeared." Yajima murmured.

Just then, the railing in front of him began to break. Suddenly, the place was starting to break down and shake.

Everyone in the Council were turning their heads in confusion as the alarm was going off.

"What's happening to this place?!" Leiji shouted, seeing it crack up. "I-It's like it's beginning to age and collapse!" Dust began to pour from the cracks above and everyone was panicking. The only one who wasn't moved by this was Ultear herself.

"It must be the Arc of Time Magic!" Org shouted. "That Magic is said to be lost!"

Everyone there was evacuating as fast as they could without getting bombarded with falling rock and statue. Yajima was slowly proceeding when he saw that Ultear had a small Magic circle in her palms, seeing her stay still.

"No, Ultear!" Yajima shouted. "How could you?!" Ultear was still continuing to break down and she looked up.

"It's all for Master Seigrain." She said. "Or should I say Jellal." She then turned her head towards him. "His hard work finally paid off and his dream shall become a reality."

With nothing that could be done, the Council members all evacuated as the place fell.

With Erza

She was standing there, nothing but baffled as Jellal looked back at her.

She clenched her fists. "So I was being used." She said. "You used my feelings to your advantage." She narrowed her eyes. "You're so low."

"What can I say?" Jellal said. "I love your priceless expressions." He then shifted his gaze and Erza turned to see what he saw looking at. She gasped when she saw Seigrain approaching with a smile on his face.

"Glad to see me?" Seigrain said, putting a hand on his side. "It must be hard to see two of me after manipulating you. You must be seeing me all over the place."

Erza turned her body towards him. "Seigrain!" Seigrain then proceeded to walk past Erza and towards Jellal's side. "I don't get it, what are you doing here?"

He stopped when he was in front of her. "Remember when we first met?" Seigrain asked. He then walked towards Jellal's side and turned towards her. "You accompanied Makarov to the Magic Council, and you attacked me out of the blue."

"She must have mistaken you for me, but who could've guessed?" Jellal said.

"Indeed." Seigrain said. "You didn't let up until I said I was Jellal's twin brother; nevertheless, you were always hostile."

"You expect anything else?" Erza exclaimed. "If you truly cared about your brother, you would've tried to save him. I had a feeling you were spying on me, reporting me whenever you could back to him!"

"Is that so?" Jellal asked.

"A mistake, I assure you." Seigrain said. "Thinking back, I should've said something about finding and killing Jellal. My biggest mistake was encountering you of all people to begin with, especially with all of the trouble I went through to become a member of the Magic Council."

"Improvising isn't all that beneficial in the end." Jellal commented.

Erza lowered her head with a fighting face. "So, you were conspiring from the very start." She stated.

"Conspiring? Not so precise, but we'll give you a point for catching on." Seigrain said.

Jellal shifted closer towards Seigrain. "It's more muddling than you would expect it to be."

Erza gasped when she saw Seigrain slowly fading into a ghostly image, like a projection.

"We're not twins, but two faces of a single person." The two said in unison. "It's been that way from the very beginning." Seigrain then walked over and finally fused with Jellal himself. As he did, he was covered in a rainbow aura that soon faded. He flashed open his eyes to reveal Jellal merged with his thought projection.

Erza stepped back with shocked eyes. "But how?" she asked. "He was a projection this entire time?"

A small circle of dust rippled at Jellal's feet, feeling energy flow through him. "You never expected us to be the same."

"Then you're responsible for firing the Etherion!" Erza exclaimed. "Did you weasel your way just for that one trick?!"

The air around Jellal was vibrating with waves of energy that he had. "I hope you enjoyed the freedom you had all of those years, meeting people, getting enhance Magic. That was all part of my plan."

Erza had a fist clenched harder and her teeth were gritting like crazy. "How could you live knowing your life was nothing but a lie?!"

A purple aura outlined Jellal's body as he clenched a fist. Erza got her answer with a swift punch that she was hit with. She flew back and grunted as she tumbled backwards with her guard with, keeping as soon as she had the opportunity and regained her footing.

"Hmph, seems as though someone wasn't prepared." Jellal said with a grin.

Erza let out a growl and she had an insanely mad look in her eyes. She slammed her hand on the ground and a Magic circle appeared. She pulled out a huge and very wide sword that curved outwards at the ends. The length was far longer than the previous ones she's been utilizing.

"Jellal!" Erza shouted madly. "You're through!" She then slashed, but Jellal pivoted and stepped back as Erza's swing missed. She turned and summoned a second sword in her free hand that was of equal width and length and was black. She swung with both blades and Jellal reeled back to avoid the two blades and Erza followed it up with a side kick, of which Jellal ducked and pivoted as Erza was spiraling down with her two blades again. Jellal zoomed to his left and evaded the double swing that crashed into the ground. He was faster than what Erza expected him to be.

"As we speak." Jellal said. "The Magic Council's headquarters is destroyed thanks to Ultear. I couldn't have done this without her. She said she would give her life away if it meant having my dream become a reality." He then jumped onto a piece of lacrima. "Oh yeah, I should thank her for being stupid enough follow through with my plan."

Erza lunged forward and had both swords over her head. "Curse you!" She then brought them both down and Jellal dodged as the lacrima ledge he was on was shattered. He jumped onto a higher piece of lacrima.

Erza looked up in anger. "I'm avenging those who were blinded by your ideals!" She then lunged at him again. "Jellal, I'll kill you!"

Jellal narrowed his eyes and Erza felt something crawling up her arms from her left shoulder blade. Her blades dropped in midair and she saw the dark red bind expand. "What?! What's going on with my arm?!" She shouted as she went to the ground and feeling the snake pattern expand lower until her whole upper body was starting to get coiled up.

Jellal pulled off a confident smile. "I simply placed a Bind Snake on you when we were emotionally embracing earlier." Jellal said. Erza felt the snake tattoo then tighten, she let out a scream as she was being confined to being immobile. She yelped a lot as she was unable to break free, which only made it worse for her, which led to her yelping some more. Jellal then walked forward towards her. "Now that I have the Magic energy required, I still need one more piece of the puzzle."

Erza's mouth was open as the pain continued to escalate. Now she was like a helpless frozen doll. Jellal stopped in front of her. "This is where you come in, Erza." Jellal said. "The Magic energy within the lacrima itself must be fused with the very body of my sacrifice. When that happens, your flesh will break down and reconstruct itself to become Zeref!" He then held up a hand and a big lacrima piece arose from behind Erza that was flat on one side, which was where she would be going in by. With a devilish smile and creepy gaze, he shoved her in.

"GAH!" Erza screamed even more now as her body was being consumed by the lacrima. Her head, parts of her legs, and her right arm were still sticking out.

"You know." Jellal said towards a helpless Erza. "I did love you, but love is nothing but a fool's bliss."

Erza was very slowly being sucked in. "No! Stop!" She shouted with whatever breath she had. Jellal turned around and raised his arms, not hearing a word she said, nor paying any heed.

"Oh great and powerful Zeref!" Jellal shouted with closed eyes. "I call upon you and offer you this woman's body!"

Erza was going even deeper now, only having the front part of her head out. "Don't!" She pleaded, but Jellal ignored her. She had a tear swell up in her left eye as she begged for Jellal to stop. "Please, JELLAL!"

Jellal was still unmoved, but then he felt something come at him. He flashed open his eyes and turned around as Natsu was trying to swat at him with a flaming fist. Jellal leaped away and saw Nic pulling Erza out of the huge lacrima.

Erza opened her eyes and found that Nic was pulling her out with him doing so by hugging her upper body. Erza was wide eyed when she found Natsu keeping Jellal away while Nic got her out and to safety.

"Erza's coming with us!" Natsu said with a grin.

"You won't even lay a finger on her!" Nic stated with a less happy expression, rather more serious. Jellal watched emotionlessly as Natsu reared back towards Erza, who Nic gently put her head on his lap.

Erza looked up over her head and saw Nic with a small grin on his face. "Nic." She said.

Nic kept his grin and leaned down towards her. "Everything's okay now Erza." Nic assured. "We're here for you."

As Nic and Natsu were racing up the tower, they saw a strong light come down. Nic was speeding to get to Erza as fast as he could with Natsu following just behind. The two

"Erza!" Nic roared, desperately wanting to get to her in time so that she wouldn't be hit with the Etherion. If Erza were to be destroyed by either the Etherion or Jellal, lord knows what Nic would do; whatever it is, it would probably mean everyone around was gonna pay the price.

"We're coming Erza!" Natsu shouted from behind as the light got brighter. Everything then flashed and Nic and Natsu both stopped where they were as they were blinded and they were feeling everything around them morph.

They both dropped to the floor, feeling everything was spinning for a bit before regaining their thoughts. When they both used their hands to get up, they noticed that the ground was smoother and felt like crystal rather than fabric or rock.

The two had a hand on their heads, feeling as though they were hit hard by a freight train.

"Man, what the heck just happened?" Natsu murmured. He slowly looked around and found that the place had changed.

Nic was the first one up, with him gripping onto a lacrima piece to get up. "I don't know what this is." Nic stated. "But my guess is that this tower must have absorbed the blast or something and became a huge crystal lacrima or something." He said.

Natsu then arose, looking out and up. "Yeah…"

Nic then turned towards him. "Hold it!" Natsu turned his head back at him. "If we survived, then maybe Simon and Erza did as well!"

Natsu stepped in shock. "Yeah?!"

"We're coming Erza!" Nic shouted. "We'll save you, no matter what!"

Natsu knelt down towards her. "Man, why are you hanging with this jerk?" He asked, referring to Jellal. "If we don't hurry, Lucy ain't gonna pay her rent. You don't wanna frustrate her." He teased, although he also knew that Nic's frustration could be far more worse if not for him comforting Erza.

Erza head was on Nic's lap and she looked at Natsu. "Sorry guys, but I can't move." She said. Even though the Bind Snake wasn't on her anymore, she was still unable to get up, leaving her open for Natsu to get a little payback.

Natsu had a devilish grin on his face as he then started to tickle Erza, making Nic blink at his actions.

"Hehe! This is for bossing us and always hitting us from before!" He smirked as he continuously tickled her feet, under her arms, and the sides of her abdomen.

Erza was starting to break out in a laugh and she couldn't help but let loose her laughter as Natsu relentlessly tickle her. She was tearing up from laughter and couldn't do anything about it. Her laughter and her reactions to being tickled made Nic go wide eyed and made a slight blush. He then raised a brow with a sly grin.

'Hm, I'll keep a mental note to tickle her sometime.' Nic thought.

"T-thi-hisn't the-e- time! Quit it! Gahahaha! Stop stupid! Gahahaha!" Erza laughed with a smile. Natsu eventually stopped and Erza turned towards him, with her head still resting on Nic's lap. She then turned up towards Nic.

"Natsu, Nic." She said, getting serious. "You two have to leave."

Nic grabbed her head gently and placed it onto the ground, allowing himself to stand up next to Natsu.

"We ain't leaving you Erza." Nic said. "There is absolutely no way you're talking us out of this."

"I'm with him on this one." Natsu said with hands on his sides. "We didn't come all this way just to leave you. If you can't fight, then we'll do the fighting ourselves!"

"You two can't." She said. "He's far more powerful than I have thought. You two don't even know anything about him."

Natsu and Nic stepped forward towards Jellal, still looking with their bodies turned towards Erza. "Who says we have to know him to beat him?" Natsu asked.

"Yeah. I beat Jose, and the only thing I knew about him was that he was a douche." He then turned towards Jellal. "It's no different from this guy."

Erza started to tear up in her left eye again. "Please guys, do it for me."

Natsu then proceeded to reach down so that he could possibly knock her out, but Nic held an arm out to stop him. Natsu backed away and turned towards Jellal while Nic himself was crouching down towards her.

"Erza." Nic said. "Listen, this guy made you tear up. He made the very woman we care for cry. I ain't letting him get in away with what he did." He said it all so calmly and Erza was shocked to hear Nic saying that he will never let Jellal escape because he made her cry. Nic got back up and turned. "Erza. You did your part, now we're going to do ours. We're stopping Jellal for your sake."

"Nic, please don't-."

Nic turned towards her. "JUST SHUT UP AND LET US DO THIS!" He shot dark glares at her that almost instantly paralyzed her on the spot. Erza gasped and was wide eyed when Nic lashed out like that. She lost her breath as she didn't know what to do. It was clear that Nic desperately wanted to do this for her and her only. Erza had no more say, and all she could do was remain immobile.

"…alright…" She muttered with soft eyes. Nic grinned and turne his attention towards Jellal. "…just be careful Natsu and Nic." She then fell silent as she watched the two proceed.

Natsu and Nic both advanced a couple of paces and stopped, but clenching their fists so hard that their knuckles were cracking.

Jellal smirked. "Well, well, two-on-one? That seems a bit much, don't you think?" Jellal joked. Natsu remained still and Nic was doing the same.

"Look buddy." Nic said, spreading his legs slightly. "You did an unholy thing…you've made a goddess cry." Erza slightly blushed as Nic said this. Nic then shifted into his Flame Plate and his body was engulfed in flames. Natsu had flames in his fists.

"Look pal." Natsu said. "I look up to Erza. You're the one who was making her voice tremble in fear. That's not the Erza I know. I can say in place of Nic and all of Fairy Tail that Erza's a strong warrior." Veins then popped out around his eyes and the heat intensified around him as he looked angry.

"If you wanna get to her, you'll have to kill us first!" Nic snarled his sharp eyes of fury. "Time for payback."

Jellal held up a hand in readiness. "I see, the great Salamander and Luminous, this will be interesting." He smiled, hoping for one heck of a show down. "Let's see what a Dragon Slayer and a mystery can really do."

The ground underneath Natsu burned and smoke had arisen. He then lunged at Jellal first with Nic following behind. Natsu used his Fire Dragon's Iron Fist to strike, but Jellal used his hand to deflect as he side stepped and watched Natsu fall forward. He turned his gaze and Nic came at him with a Blaze Kick, of which he blocked with his left arm and deflected. Nic spiraled in the air and land on his two feet. Natsu turned around and was crouching just like Nic.

"Fire Dragon's Flame Elbow!" He shouted, having his right elbow light up and lunge at Jellal from his right side.

"Flame Charge!" Nic shouted, cloaking himself in flames. The two went at Jellal from both sides and Jellal jumped into the air to avoid them. Nic managed to use his reflexes and used Natsu's elbow as a springboard before it could hit. Nic lunged into the air and struck a shocked Jellal in the jaw, making him fall back. "Now!" Nic shouted.

Natsu turned his body towards a falling Jellal and sprung forward with his flaming feet. "Fire Dragon's Claw!" He then did a spiral flame kick on Jellal's back and he smashed into a lacrima piece behind him.

Both Nic and Natsu reeled back as Jellal was obscured by some dust from the blow. Two seconds later, he leaped from the spot and was in the air. "I hope you two can do better than that!" Jellal shouted in the air, which prompted Nic to lunge up with Flame Charge again and Natsu shooting up with his flaming feet propelling him. Natsu scored a clean punch towards Jellal's gut and Nic rammed his upper body, making Jellal gag slightly. He then sailed up even more into the air by an extra fifteen feet.

Nic grabbed Natsu's forearms and did a whole three-sixty spin in midair. "Let him have it!" Nic shouted as he threw Natsu towards him.

"With pleasure!" Natsu shouted, flaming his fists again. Jellal recovered from his momentary shock and was too late when he was struck by a fast punch to the face and he soared back downwards and crashed into another large lacrima.

In midair, Natsu inhaled a heap of air. "Fire Dragon's Roar!"

Nic landed on the ground and stepped forward and unleashed his flaming attack. "Flamethrower!" The two attacks combined and created a vast and rather large stream of intense fire that blasted Jellal as he was dislodging himself from the lacrima. He was engulfed in a burning explosion that covered everything in front of the two flaming contenders. There was also some dust in the process that flew about insanely.

The two waited to see if Jellal was going to make a counterattack, but they only saw the fire slowly burn away, only having Jellal's cloak destroyed. He lashed his arm, ridding the flames and his cloak, revealing him in a sleeveless shirt. He had a grin on his face and he didn't at all fazed by their onslaught of attacks.

"Is that the best you two can really do?" He sneered. "I had expected much more from you two, considering your reputations."

Natsu got into a more defensive stance while Nic shifted into his Zap Plate.

"This guy isn't joking." Nic muttered.

Jellal had a hand up and clenched it. "I was hoping to witness your destructive behaviors combined, but I guess I should start ripping you two apart if that's all you got."

Natsu then started running towards him. "I'll show you!"

Jellal's eye then had that strange dark pattern emerge again, and his body had a yellow aura outlining him. "You two shall be punished for disrupting the ceremony. My Heavenly Body Magic is unmatched." His eyes then flashed. "Meteor!" He shouted.

Just as Natsu lunged and fire a fist, Jellal jumped at high speed and sailed like a mach speed comet past Natsu. Natsu was surprise to see him moving so fast.

Nic was just as surprised. "This guy is faster than Jose." He said. "He might have Speed on par with a Swift Swim Floatzel or max Speed Ninjask." Nic then braced himself, able to see a glimpse of Jellal before being hit head on by Jellal's yellow aura body. Nic skid back a few feet before Jellal zoomed behind him and struck him there. Nic yelped as he fell forward, and then then Jellal reappeared in front of him and struck him with another blow into his abdomen.

Nic yelped, but he did manage to grab Jellal's hand in time, shocking him. He held on tight as he used Thunderbolt and shocked Jellal.

Jellal yelled as he was shocked harshly. Afterwards, Nic shoved Jellal away, watching him stumble back a few paces and then Nic lunged forward with a Thunder Punch. Jellal used Meteor again and evaded Nic's attack by zooming left and hitting him with his leg onto his side, making Nic fly towards his right and hit a lacrima piece.

"Nic!" Erza yelped.

Jellal then flew in the air, evading an incoming stream of fire from Natsu in a flash. Now Jellal used lightning quick moves and hit Natsu in the back first, making him fall forward, just like Nic. Jellal then did a changeup as he reappeared over Natsu and stomped him into the lacrima ground, making a small crater. Jellal then reappeared here and there, just waiting for the two to get back up.

Nic dislodged himself and began running towards Natsu to regroup. Natsu did the same and the two were shocked to see Jellal reappear in front of them both and smirking.

"Too slow." He teased as he elbowed Natsu, but his swinging arm missed Nic as he ducked and used an upwards Thunder Punch that was able to hit Jellal, but just barely. Jellal's chin was grazed by the upward attack and he stepped back as the two were coming at him, but then disappeared by leaping super fast and evaded a flaming fist and a Spark.

"Drats, he's faster than I imagined." Nic growled. They both saw Jellal just shifting about in the air and the two were running side by side as they were trying to keep up with Jellal, although Nic could possibly do that since his team was nothing but fast to begin with.

"I'm gonna have to use all of my senses." Natsu said, closing his eyes. He was using his nose, smell, hearing, and feeling to indicate as to Jellal's next move. Nic was keeping his mind as calm as it can be so that he can feel Jellal's next attack. The two then had an indication and Natsu ignited a fist and pivoted.

"Gotcha!" Natsu shouted, turning around and Nic doing the same. Nic readied his own Thunder Punch, but the two missed Jellal, but barely. Though they did get a lock on him, they were still unable to match his Meteor speed.

'Is he getting faster?!' Natsu thought, regaining his footing in front of him.

Nic turned around the next second to see Jellal reappear in front of him, with Natsu turning around as well. Jellal was smiling with glee on his face. "Glad you got your hits in?" He sneered. "Enjoy them while you still can!"Jellal then started punching at high speed with his fists and relentlessly delivering blow on a defenseless duo. Natsu yelped and Nic felt every blow. The two were continuously being pummeled with no end.

'Gah! Gotta hit the brakes on this guy!' Nic thought between punches. Even though it was a risky move, Nic did manage to use Spark and cover up his body in electricity. Jellal then punched Nic in the chest and was dealt with a shock to the body. Jellal yelped and reeled back to see Nic still standing and Natsu on one knee. Nic turned towards his flaming pal. "Hey, Natsu!" Nic shouted.

"I'm alright." Natsu grumbled.

Jellal got his smile back and floated into the air above with his yellow aura shining ever so brighter than before. "Now." Jellal said. "I'll show you the true force that I wield." He then soared into the air and conjured up seven seals from having both his arms overlap, with his top one only having two fingers while the bottom had all five. The seals then created a constellation of sorts. "Let's go! Grand Chariot!" The seals then unleashed a powerful light blast that went straight at them.

"Oh crud! Natsu!" Nic shouted, but Natsu had clenching his gut from that continuous onslaught earlier. "Damn. Fine, I'll have to weaken the impact somehow." He muttered, seeing them zoom in faster than he expected. "I hope this works! Fiery Dance!" Nic then summoned waves of fire all around him and he spun about a few times, having the flames scatter about with sheer force behind the flames themselves. The flames scattered and collided with the Grand Chariot that was sailing down towards the two and hits of explosions happened on the spot. The small explosions were a mixture of light and fire. Even after that, the spell continued to rain down, but the blasts were much smaller than from before and struck the ground in the same shape as the constellation. Nic and Natsu both screamed as they were caught up in the blasts and a massive explosion of light engulfed them.

"Nic! Natsu!" Erza shouted, still unable to do anything but watch. Seeing the two getting themselves hurt was too much for her to handle, especially since Nic was being outspeeded by Jellal. She was wide eyed and grunted when a large dust cloud obscured her vision for three seconds before seeing them both again in the air. The two had indeed taken the hit and the result was them being blown into the sky and fell down. Natsu and Nic both yelped as they fell and the two crashed into the ground. "No!"

Natsu was lying down on the ground and Nic was on a knee, heaving heavily. "He's…tougher than Jose." Nic heaved, He looked over and Natsu was twitching, meaning he was still god to go.

Jellal looked on, rather surprised to see them still in one piece. "Well now, that spell is as destructive as a meteor itself." Jellal informed. "Surprised you were able to weaken and still survive the blast Nic and Natsu."

Nic wasn't feeling much after that big hit, but at least he felt pain, meaning he was still alive.

"I suppose I overdid it." Jellal said, now turning towards the ground. "The R-System can't take anymore damage. The Magic is beginning to leak out."

Nic then gasped, now sprouting forth a plan from what he had just heard. 'Wait! If he needs the tower to be intact, then…' He slowly turned towards Natsu, how was trying to push up.

Jellal had turned towards Erza, which meant they were in the clear for this next move. "Natsu, you still kicking?" Nic whispered.

Natsu rolled his head and turned slowly towards Nic. "Yeah." He muttered, now on a knee like Nic.

Both were panting, but were getting their breaths back gradually. "Listen." Nic said with a grin. "Let's do what Fairy Tail does best. Break stuff."

Natsu let out a grin and the two saw Jellal move towards Erza. "Now, let's make you a sacrifice Erza." Jellal said. Erza grunted and a small tear was beginning to come from her left eye.

"No." She muttered. Jellal then was getting closer and then he stood frozen when he heard a large crash from behind. He quickly turned to see Natsu punching the ground hard and cracking it. Nic then had some crystal lacrima fly about when he made his own crater with a Thunder Punch to the ground, making it crack up as well.

"What are you doing?!" Jellal demanded.

Nic and Natsu both looked up and grinned. "What's it look like pal?" Nic sneered. "We're breaking this thing!"

"Come on." Natsu said, now proceeding up to his feet. "Us Fairy Tail Wizards just love to destroy stuff!" He then ignited his fist and glared. "I'm really fired up now!"

Nic rose to his feet and he smirked, shifting into his new Icicle Plate. "Let's but this bozo on ice." He now had an icy aura emanating, ready to freeze the pants off of Jellal.

Jellal was looking very mad as he engulfed himself in his yellow aura. "DO NOT INTERFERE!" He demanded. He made a large Magic seal in front of him and he blasted forth at them with light spears. Nic and Natsu began darting at him, dodging the spears and the two leaped.

"Ice Beam!" Nic shouted. He then opened his mouth and shot forth a light blue beam at Jellal. Jellal jumped back from the beam that was beginning to make ice in the way and leaped into the air, which left him open for Natsu to deliver a fast and powerful blow to his face with a flaming fist. Jelled grunted and crashed into the ground. Nic and Natsu both landed on the ground and both readied for whatever Jellal might throw at them. Jellal did the same spell again, but it would prove ineffective.

"Blizzard!" Nic yelled. A huge blast of wind and snow then shot at the spears of light with such a wide range and collided with them, ultimately freezing them and shattering them as the Blizzard passed through.

"You annoying fool!" Jellal shouted, now unleashing a huge ball of light at the attack. The massive attack then collided with the Blizzard. The ball of light and the Blizzard was creating massive and cold winds spreading about uncontrollably as the two attacks failed to push back the other.

"Nic!" Erza shouted, worried about him.

Finally, the two attacks gave in and they both dispersed, leaving no one damaged. Jellal grunted as his attack was actually cancelled out.

"Haha! What's the matter, afraid to break your precious tower?!" Natsu taunted as he dashed towards Jellal.

Jellal yelled as he used another giant ball of light and shot it at Natsu. Natsu was soaring back in the air and Nic leaped to put his hands out and shove Natsu forward.

"Fire Dragon's Brilliant Flame!" Natsu shouted. He brought two massive flames from both hands together and made a huge fireball that he hammered into the ground. Natsu roared as he smashed the ground and shattered lacrima all around in powerful fire.

"Icicle Crash!" Nic exhaled a strong icy wind from his mouth into the air and in midair the wind froze and a dozen heavy and sharp icicles smashed into the ground along with the flames, shattering the ground even more and puncturing large amounts of lacrima around.

Erza looked to see what they were doing as she was now beginning to move again. She got to her knees and watched them continue. "Wait…they're aiming for the tower." She said, realizing just now what they were up to.

The fire dispersed and the icicles were dispelled. The two then crashed and left large craters in the ground in accomplishment. Natsu grin heavily, satisfied to see the shocked look on Jellal's face.

"We're not done yet pal!" Nic said, lunging forward with Jellal having his guard cut off from that sudden combined attack. Nic was in front of him and created a few light blue balls of energy that crystalized into ice. He then launched his Ice Shard at such a close range that each shard crashed into Jellal with perfect accuracy. Jellal yelled as he soared back and tumbled into the ground with a thud.

Nic jumped back to Natsu's side and the two grinned, but Nic grinned less heavily. "You give up pal?" Natsu said.

Jellal slowly got up, now over his previous shock and clenched his fists. He growled, infuriated that the tower was becoming useless at this point, and after all of his hard work. "Now you two have really made me angry!" Jellal announced, clenching even tighter than before. "I didn't spend all these years building this lace just so some punks would tear it down! Zeref will be resurrected and you all won't stop me!"

"Oh yeah, well it looks like we're proving you wrong pal." Nic said with crossed arms.

Natsu was catching his breath, still a little more exhausted than Nic. "Heh, can't say we didn't warn ya." He said.

Erza watched with shaken eyes as the two were still standing. 'Natsu, you can barely stand. And Nic, I can't believe you're doing this all for me.'

Jellal wasn't gonna take this anymore. "YOU'LL PAY!" He shouted. He crossed both of his hands in the shape of an X and a large yellow seal was made. From that seal, a super strong wind was conjured up, forcing Erza to cover up while Nic and Natsu both tried to stand their ground.

They all then saw their shadows going towards the lights, much to their shock.

Erza gasped. "What's going on?"

"Gah! What's with this guys Magic?!" Natsu shouted. "It's making me sick!"

Nic felt weird too. He still looked down and saw his shadow being swallowed up. "Just what is he-?!" He looked up and was wide eyed when he saw a black hole over Jellal. "…oh crud."

"PREPARE FOR THE END DRAGON SLAYER AND NIC!" Jellal yelled. The wind itself was now being sucked in and massive Magic energy was being made from within.

"That spell! It'll kill them both!" Erza shouted. With whatever instincts she had, she raced up towards them. "NO!" She then got in front of Nic and Natsu, much to Natsu and Nic's shock. Nic's heart almost stopped when Erza spread her arms out. "Don't Jellal! Unless you want to kill me too!"

"Erza!" Nic shouted.

Her eyes were still shaking, but she remained still. She wouldn't budge as Jellal gasped. He needed his sacrifice, so he eased the spell, now having everyone's shadow behind them again.

"You don't wanna lose your sacrifice, do you?" Erza taunted.

Jellal still had his position still, and he didn't undo it. "Yes, that you be a problem. The body needs to be strong, much like a Wizard Saint…however…I can find another! You're not the only one!"

Erza was shocked to hear that she could be replaced, and was even more stunned when the spell reactivated, making everyone's shadow and the wind all around getting sucked into the black hole that was made again.

"I'll find a replacement after your death!" Jellal shouted. The black hole was continuously expanding, gradually gaining even more power.

"What are you doing?!" Natsu shouted.

Erza kept facing the black hole and smiled. "It's my fault you two are in this mess. The least I can do is save your lives!"

"ERZA! GET OUT OF THERE!" Nic shouted. "WE CAN'T LOSE YOU!"

"Die! Altairis!" The black hole then became an orb that was heavily dense and he shot it at them. As he did, the orb's gravity practically crushed the ground beneath it, making a path as it was sailing at them.

"ERZA!" Natsu and Nic shouted. Nic raced towards Erza and she covered herself up, preparing for her demise. Nic was just by her side when the orb was about to touch her.

Then the blast didn't touch them. A large white seal was in front of them, and Simon stood tall with his arms out, taking the blast himself to save Erza.

Everyone there gasped in shock that it was Simon who was taking the hit. Erza was wide eyed and Nic's mouth gaped.

"Simon!" Nic screamed. Simon grunted continuously as he was being engulfed by the large assault. After a few moments, there was a massive explosion that rippled about that destroyed a large piee of the top they were on, scattering dust everywhere.

Nic, Natsu, and Erza were frozen in deep shock that Simon was still standing after that devastating hit. Part of his scarf was heavily torn up and his body had suffered extreme damage, showing endless bruises.

"It's you." Natsu murmured.

Erza was so still that she was like a statue. She saw only the images of Rob that she flashed back to. The same stance from when he risked his life to save her that time, now it was happening again. Erza's eyes were all swollen with water as she saw Simon now taking a possibly final hit.

"Simon." Erza said. Simon grunted and looked up.

"I-I did it…to save you…" He muttered before falling onto his back.

"Simon!" Erza shouted, racing past Nic's side and towards her fallen friend. Erza grabbed Simon and knelt down to him.

Jellal took a few steps forward. "Hmph, didn't know you were still around. It seems that there was a worm still squirming about after all." He said with disgust.

Nic and Natsu then both raced towards Erza's side and looked over Simon. They were both kneeling down.

"What the hell Simon?!" Erza shouted with eyes still the same from when she saw Simon take the hit. "Why didn't you leave?!"

Simon was breathing heavily, looking rather hazy in the eyes. "P-Please…don't cry." He muttered under his breath. "I would…happily give my life…for…you." He then coughed tremendously.

"Simon!" Nic shouted. "What were you thinking?!"

"Simon!" Erza had a tear in her eye that was swelling up immensely. "Stay with me, don't talk."

Simon didn't listen as he continued to talk. "You were…the only person…to make me…smile."

"Don't talk." Erza shouted. "Please…" Simon rested his head back and his breathing was starting to slow down.

"Don't you dare die on us." Nic said, now getting a bit of tears in his eyes as well. "Simon, you made it this far, we can't lose a friend like you."

Simon breathing was getting slower and he coughed, now turning towards Nic slowly. "N-Nic." He muttered. Nic leaned in and had some tears in his eyes that were just as bad as Erza's. "Nic…I know...just how you feel…about Erza." He said, shocking Nic. "I knew…when you left…to find Natsu…she was worried…"

"Simon!" Nic and Erza consecutively said.

"Stay with us buddy!" Ntsu said. "Don't you dare leave us!"

"Nic…promise me…you'll protect her…no matter what…" Simon muttered. Nic was gritting his teeth, now holding in whatever gasps that might possibly come out.

Nic was all shaken up and couldn't find anything to say. Erza knelt closer and she was tearing up terribly.

"…I…I promise." Nic muttered under his breath. Simon then slowly shifted his gaze towards Erza, now seeing the girl who he loved from all those years ago up to today. He saw the sweet eleven-year-old that he could never hurt.

"Simon!" Erza shouted. Simon then had closed his eyes very slowly.

"Erza…I've always…loved you…" he muttered before finally closing his eye and having a tear fall down. With a small smile, he started falling out of Erza's arms. Erza was wide eyed and was breaking down as Simon fell slowly and onto the ground. Simon had died.

Erza was tearing up insanely and was mentally breaking down. She lost a dear friend right in her arms. He was gasping insanely and she was crying so hard. Nic and Natsu both reeled back up to their feet, with Nic finally composed and having tears fall before his expression became that of Natsu's - frozen.

"NOOOOOOO!" She shouted into the sky at the top of her lungs. She then cried on her dead friend's body and was unable to do anything else.

Jellal was chuckling at the site. He then started to escalate into a laughter. He face palmed himself. "Just how stupid was he?!" He laughed. "What a fool! His death isn't going to change a thing! Simon died, but he should've known that none of you would've lived to begin with-!"

"SHUT UP!" Natsu roared, suddenly swatting Jellal out of the blue with extreme fury. Jellal crashed into a huge lacrima and yelled as he felt the pain.

Then he saw another attack coming from Nic. "YOU!" Nic monstrously roared as he rammed into Jellal with an insanely massive Wild Charge, catered by him shifting into his Zap Plate again, cloaking his body in harsh electricity. He crashed into Jellal with far more force than what Natsu's punch did. Jellal smashed through the huge lacrima and crashed and created a massive crater in the ground. He gagged even more and yelled.

Nic had sparks around him, taking recoil, but no pain, for he only felt enraged. "You monster!" He roared as he unleashed an Electro Ball at high speed and threw it at Jellal. Jellal was wide eyed and he quickly recovered and rolled towards his right and leaped away, avoiding the explosive electricity.

Jellal regained his footing and grunted from the momentary pain. "Drats, what the-?!" He, along with everyone else, saw Nic storming electricity all throughout the air. His eyes were light blue, and he bared his fangs as he screamed. As he screamed, even more electricity surged, rippling about through the Ethernano and cracking up the ground. Jellal stepped back in shock to this. "What is he doing?!"

Natsu reared back as he was dropping the Ethernano he was about to eat. This much force was never seen before. Natsu was still very mad, but he only saw the destructive force that Nic was unleashing. "What the?" Natsu murmered.

Erza looked up from her sorrow and saw Nic storming up power. They felt the ground quake as he was glowing with electricity was now giving off huge amounts of heat. "Nic!" Erza shouted.

Nic screamed to the heavens. "YOU'VE DONE IT NOW! YOU KILLED OUR FRIEND! GRAHHHHH!" Nic shouted. Now the heated up air was beginning to expand and now Nic was emanating swirling fire around him, signifying his rage. Nic continued to push on as the ground was now beginning to freeze, and then waved of ice spiraled around Nic as he kept screaming. The three types then began to go crazy and ice, fire, and electricity was engulfing the entire area. In the center, Nic was now in a glowing white dome that the three types surged from.

"Nic! Just what the hell are you doing man?!" Natsu shouted.

"PROTECTING EVERYONE!" Nic shouted. He gave one final and long shout as the light enveloped him, blinding everyone and the elements all turned into huge waves of light.

There was nothing but white and empty silence for a moment.

Nic felt his body in his normal state, he didn't feel any of his power surging and he flashed open his eyes with a loud gasp, much like he was coming up for air. He gasped harshly as he was composing himself.

Nic got to his knees and looked up at the black sky and heaved. He was regaining his breathing and he slowly began to turn his head down, revealing a scenery change.

"Wha…what the…" He said. He turned his head and slowly got to his feet. "Where am I?"

He was on a crystal ice floor that was layered with a very thin mist that only went up to his abdomen, but it was so thin that you could see through it no problem. Everywhere he turned, there were primarily ice crystals jagging up everywhere, and they were very large, much like the lacrima from inside the tower. There were hints of blue shining ice crystals here and there and he was in the center of a very large circle that had nothing but the mist and large spikes of ice here and there was flat ice for flooring all around. The sky was nothing but pure black.

The only thing he heard was just the silence. He turned, now composed, again, and looked about one last time. "Okay." He said with hands on his hips. "I'll bite, what just happened?"

"At ease Nic Pularis." A voice announced from nowhere. Nic stayed still as the mist cloud began to thicken and slowly form three huge mist clouds that he couldn't see through. The huge mist clouds were towards his sides and in front of him and then he heard large footsteps through the three mist clouds.

"We are not your enemy." Another voice announced. "We have come in service."

From Nic's right, a tall bipedal black dragon emerged from the mist cloud, creating a slight shake in the ground as it stepped out of the mist. It had red scleras and white irises and black pupils. The head was a thundercloud tip and it had a cone-like turbine for its tail that was lined with light blue.

"We came to help support your ideals." The black dragon said.

"We have come to help in the truth of your goals." Said another creature that emerged from the mist on Nic's left. This time, it was white dragon with blue scleras and black pupils. Its wispy mane reached all the way out that could resemble much like ears. Its tail was like a turbine as well, only it was covered in white and on the inside was heated orange and red.

Nic turned to both of them and they looked down at him. Nic was rather intrigued, knowing he went through something like this before.

Unlike last time, he kept a straight face. "Who are you?" He said.

"I am Zekrom." The black dragon said.

"And I am Reshiram." The white dragon said. "We have come to help you."

Nic was confused. "Help me? I don't even know where we are!"

Nic froze when he heard a third voice. "We are in your subconscious, here in this frozen landscape to enforce what must be done." The voice said. The ground thudded as Nic reeled back when he saw a less friendly creature come forth from the mist in front of him. It slowly crept out of the mist, revealing itself to be a dragon as well. Much like the other two, it was bipedal, but hunched forward. It had a blue head and snout and yellow eyes with no pupils. The covered up jaw had three teeth on both ends, and had two short arms that connected two its very bizarre wings that had two spikes each, though the right side looked damaged somewhat. Its conical tail had three spikes, though to Nic it looked like a damaged turbine.

When the creature fully stepped out, it glared at Nic, who gulped and got defensive.

"You may seek the path of light, young Pularis." The dragon said. "But you cannot rely on strength alone. I am Kyurem, and I am here alongside Reshiram and Zekrom."

Nic wasn't sure what to do. Was this a good thing, or a bad thing? If these dragons wished to help, then how can they be of any help at all if they were in his conscience? Nic was still processing what they were to begin with.

"Wait…" Nic then remembered an old tale he heard some time ago back in his world, about this place called Unova. He heard of some tale about these three Legendary Pokémon, about black and white, and one of ice. "…you're Legendary Pokémon, like Dialga and Palkia." He said calmly.

"Yes." Kyurem said. "We have come to grant you your wish, Nic Pularis."

"My wish?"

"The fact that you care so deeply about this Erza girl and the death of a friend, we had come to aid you in this time to seek justice as it shall be sought." Zekrom said.

"We shall not partake necessarily." Reshiram stated. "We shall give you our strength, so that you may further protect the universe."

"You already have the three Plates that make up for parts of our typing; that shall be an exception." Kyurem stated.

Nic turned in curiosity. "So what you're saying is that I'm getting new powers?" Nic asked, hopeful that they would comply.

The three stared down at him, all eyes on Nic.

"…tell us the truth." Reshiram said.

"And the ideals behind your truth." Zekrom added.

"Nic Pularis." Kyurem said. "You were chosen to be one with the Plates. What would you wish to do with this power?"

Nic stood frozen, thinking back towards his angry reactions. Nic stayed quiet as he wondered, looking down. He thought back through this entire experience.

"…What I would do?...I-I don't know." Nic said. "I wanted to avenge Simon and Erza…but looking back…I wasn't the big picture. I was caught up in my anger…I lost it as I saw her weep…Simon was a good man…he loved her, and without love, there would be no humanity." He then looked up at the three dragons and spoke. "I was too blind. I cannot only protect one person. I must save everyone I cherish my bonds with. I must do this for my pokémon, my family of Fairy Tail, for Simon, for Erza, for everyone. I won't tolerate humanity falling with such destruction. I will risk my life to protect those with my powers. I understand I cannot protect every single person I love and care for, but I will go down proving I would risk my life for family…that is what I shall-no! What I must do with this power bestowed to me. That is my answer."

Kyurem, Zekrom, and Reshiram all remained still, hearing out what Nic had just said. There was a long pause, with the dragons bearing down at Nic's determined face, now free of anger.

He awaited for them to respond. It took only thirty seconds, but after that, Kyurem lifted his head. "…Nic Pularis." He said. "You wish to save everyone and those who you consider family. Fairy Tail has changed you to be open…you shall be granted."

Nic gasped as he actually passed. He was given a chance to save everyone. "For real?"

"Yes." Kyurem announced. Kyurem and Zekrom, and Reshiram's bodies then slowly began to glow, with Kyurem glowing light blue, Zekrom glowing yellow, and Reshiram glowing red. The lights got brighter and brighter. Nic then heard Kyurem say something. "Good luck, Nic Pularis." And then the lights fused and enveloped everything.

Meanwhile, in reality…

"Gah, what is this light?!" Jelal shouted. Erza gasped as her eyes widened even more, not knowing what had happened to the guy who promised to Simon.

"Nic!" Natsu shouted at the light. The light soon began to slowly fade away. They all saw a faint image in the center that was giving off sparks of electricity and freezing the ground around him, creating stalagmites of ice.

They all unshielded their eyes as the light was finally gone. Jellal unshielded his eyes, only to find something that made him gasp in shock. Natsu and Erza both were at a loss for words for what they were seeing.

"What could that be?!" Erza said.

They were all seeing a figure that took Nic's place. He was a few inches taller and it had yellow eyes with sharp black irises and light blue pupils. Its face was bare and left alone. It had two wings that were put between its shoulders. The right wing was black and the base of the wing was similar to the ends of Kyurem's wings. The left wing was shaped like the right wing, but was colored like Kyurem's wings with the same base. It had the same humanoid structure, but the face was bearing short and sharp teeth that were visible as the large mouth was open. It had a yellow horn over the headpiece and the right half was black while the left piece was ice. It had black scales traveling down along the neckline and left the front part of the neck bare as the black scales converged on the chest. Its abdomen was bear with flesh, revealing a fairly toned body. The pants were a pure black with ice spikes on the knees. Slips of ice were seen traveling down the pants on both sides of the shin and stopped above the ankles, where the pants end. The shoes were now gone, revealing human feet that had black scales all over and had claws on the ends, with the middle toes crystal ice and seemingly larger than the others.

The right arm had black scales running along the top and leaving the flesh alone under the arm. The hands on that part was covered with black scales. The left arm was covered in a thick crystal ice that made the entire arm look like an ice gauntlet. The shoulder was frozen and the skin under the arm was left alone, but the entire and forearm was nothing but ice.

The now sleeveless coat was frozen with ice on the sides with crystal ice and jagged ice running down along the middle. The coat itself was black, with the underside being gray. At the base of the outer part of the coat, there were two circles, each separated by the ice that ran along the middle. One circle was crystal ice, and the other was an even darker shade of black. There was also a tail that reached from behind from under the coat. It was attached to the tailbone and reached out and was conical and had crystal ice as spikes that kept the long, black tail inside that curved up a bit and out. The tail itself was almost five feet long.

The creature stood still as the air was literally electrified and ice continued to rise from the ground as stalagmites. It let out a huge roar that unleashed even more blue electricity and the ice shattered all around, and a rippling shockwave engulfed the surroundings. Everyone covered up as ice and electricity and wind surged everywhere.

"Legendary Force – Black Kyurem!" Nic yelled, revealing himself to be the beast. He then glared at Jellal, of whom was stunned.

Jellal stepped back. "I can't believe this." He said. "He's transformed."

Nic roared much like Black Kyurem and shot an Ice Beam from his mouth. The blast of ice shattered and froze the ground as it was traveling towards Jellal, leaving a scattered trail of destructive ice. Jellal jumped in the air and Nic lunged at him whit his wings and soared into Jellal. His right arm's claws extended and glowed, via Slash. Jellal was wide eyed, seeing how much faster Nic was than before. He was then struck by Slash and Jellal crashed into a large piece of lacrima crystal that shattered. Nic then landed on the ground with a big tremor.

"H-He transformed." Erza said in deep shock that Nic actually powered up. She watched with surprised eyes as Nic was enveloped in blue electricity.

Nic turned towards his comrades. "Natsu." Nic said as the electricity expanded slightly. Natsu jerked up, stunned Nic called out to him. "Keep Erza safe. This is going to get ugly."

Nic was clearly the in control here, and Natsu could see it. He was mad that Jellal killed Simon and made Erza cry, and he did wanna help. He clenched a fist and held it up.

"If you think I'm letting you fight this one alone, you're mistaken pal!" Natsu shouted. Nic stared at Natsu, as did the latter.

"…very well then." Nic said. "We shall fight this together." Nic did not want to keep Natsu out of this fight, because he knew that Natsu would weasel his way eventually. Besides, he could use all of the help he could get. Natsu leaped to Nic's side and enflamed his fists.

"We're coming for you Jellal!" Natsu shouted as he propelled towards Jellal with fire.

"Natsu! Nic! Be careful!" Erza shouted. She was especially worried about Nic. She had absolutely no idea what would happen to Nic. She's never seem him like this before. Who knows what this will do to him afterwards.

'Just what is this guy?!' Jellal shouted in his mind. 'His strength has surpassed dangerous levels!' His thoughts of Nic's power were interrupted when Natsu was coming at him to a flaming kick. Jellal gasped and he pivoted right, letting the attack pass and he gave Natsu a downwards elbow strike into the ground.

His momentary smirk was short-lived when the corner of his eye caught a glimpse of Nic and saw a round of loops began circling him and fired a massive blue beam, via Dragon Breath. Jellal was hit by the side and he flew back. Nic's tail shined light blue and electricity twisted and turned as he flew towards Jellal and grabbed his shirt collar and threw him overhead, back to where Natsu was on his knee and saw Jellal open in the air.

"You made Erza cry!" Nic and Natsu both roared as they unleashed a combination of Dragon Breath and Fire Dragon's Roar. Jellal was hit head on and was enveloped in a blue and red explosion that send him upwards at an angle. Nic appeared in front of him as he looked and punched straight downwards. Jellal soared straight through the floor, shattering parts of it and huge bits of crystal lacrima falling. Nic soared downwards at high speed with his turbine tail.

He caught up towards a falling Jellal and used Slash and swiped at him and latched onto him, sending him crashing through even more floors and Jellal yelled insanely hard.

"You killed our friend!" Nic shouted. "You're not going to see the light of day after what you just did! I promised to look after Erza, and if you touch her, you're dead!"

Jellal opened his eyes and made a Magic seal. "Ask me if I care. Meteor!" Jellal then coated himself in light and raced past Nic and sailed up back towards the top. "Haha! Try and catch me now!"

Nic turned upwards and changed his trajectory. He lit up his tail again and he raced back up at a speed faster than Meteor. In a flash, Jellal hit in the guy by Nic, who was using Slash.

"Go down!" Nic roared as he ploughed Jellal straight through to the top again. Jellal yelled as hard as he could at the force behind Nic's abdomen-tearing Slash.

Nic and Jellal crashed straight through the floor that Natsu and Erza were on at the moment. Nic's surprise made lacrima fly everywhere, along with extreme and cold wind and electricity.

Natsu covered up and stepped back from the attack that sailed through the floor. Erza covered up and looked up to see Nic actually demolishing Jellal in shock. This power was like nothing she's ever seen.

"I-I WON'T LOSE!" Jellal shouted, still having enough energy after that attack. Nic stopped in midair and watched Jellal sail even higher, his abdomen envelope in bruises and cuts.

"To take an attack like that, you've got Natsu stamina!" Nic praised as Jellal grunted. 'He's more powerful than I have even thought! He must be an even greater Wizard Saint than Jose! His Defense is enormous!'

Natsu charged at the high-sailing Jellal with his propelled flaming feet. Jellal saw Natsu and heaved a huge amount of air as he turned in midair and kicked him in the face. Natsu sailed downwards, but managed to land on his feet. Nic remained still into air as Jellal jumped off of a lacrima and even higher into the skies.

"I am destined to win and create a world for Zeref to rule!" Jellal shouted, showing signs of wincing. "He said I was the chosen one!"

"Who cares?!" Nic shouted. "Your dark ambitions will be your downfall!"

"SHUT UP!" Jellal shouted, unleashing spears of light at Nic and Natsu. Natsu dodged by leaping towards his left and leaping onto and off a lacrima.

"Dragon Breath!" Nic yelled as he was bounded by wind rings and shot forth an ongoing blue blast that effortlessly destroyed the oncoming assaults.

"You'll pay for your interference!" He was high in the air and created a golden seal that was very familiar. Natsu was wide eyed and so was Erza, as to where Nic narrowed his eyes.

"Why Jellal, why are you using the Abyss Break?! You'll destroy the tower that so many died for!" Erza yelled.

"I don't care! I can make another one in half the-!"

"Dragon Pulse!" Nic yelled from where he was flying. Nic opened his mouth and fire a multicolored dragon-shape beam that shot forth at the seal. The dragon end opened its mouth and smashed into the seal, ultimately making it explode.

Jellal screamed as the explosion made him soar ever higher and he had no balance in the air. "NO!" He shouted, then the pain came back to his abdomen and then clenched it, leaving him incapable as he started to fall. He looked and saw Nic flying insanely fast at him and right over him.

"You'll never learn what it means to be free!" Nic shouted. The ice spikes at the base of the wings then stretched back towards his tail, connecting it. Natsu and Erza both saw this as the blue chords attached began to generate extreme amounts of electricity and ice.

"With that spirit, you'll never live in the light like we do in Fairy Tail!" Nic roared. He put his claws together. In between the claws, a light blue-white ball surrounded by electricity became larger. "I won't let you hurt Erza ever again!" He separated his claws and aimed at a screaming Jellal. "Maxus Legendary Arts – Freeze Shock!" He then roared like an actual dragon. He then blasted the sphere with maximum force, rippling ice and electricity behind it as it crashed into Jellal. Jellal screamed at the top of his lungs. He was hit head on with the sphere from an upward angle. The Freeze Shock enveloped Jellal and it send him smashing and almost obliterating the top of the tower. The entire top's floor was electrified with air and the air actually froze when it was touched by the electricity. Jellal was send crashing down, and the floors of the tower exploded with ice and electricity, shattering everything that was touched after being shocked and frozen in half a second's time. Jellal reached the bottom in less than ten seconds, where the sphere exploded and the entire bottom of the tower had exploded in lightning and ice, making thunderous sounds that rippled about through the remains of the tower. There was electricity, ice, and smoke everywhere throughout the entire tower, and add the fact the tower quaked heavily.

When everything cleared very soon after, Jellal's body was seen with his mouth open in a deep crater at the bottom. His body, mainly his abdomen and parts of his face, was frozen. His left hand was frozen, and the rest of his body was in blue sparks that froze wherever and everywhere possible. It was hard to tell if he was dead, but nevertheless defeated.

Nic crashed onto the ground of the top and the top rippled with thunder sounds, and the air was rippling with a chill in it. Natsu and Erza looked in shock and amazement of what had just happened.

Erza's hair flew in the cold wind. She was too amazed for words as she cracked a smile. 'So.' She thought, seeing the wind die down and Nic standing affirm. 'This is Nic's power. This is the true power of Pokémon.'

"Whoa…that's insane." Natsu murmured, still in shock. Nic's power was beyond comprehension.

Erza was smiling happily and she felt some butterflies in the stomach when Nic turned around and grinned. 'They beat Jellal. At long last, this eight year nightmare is finally over. Now Sho and the others can finally be free.' She thought happily looking down.

Sge was brought out of her happy thoughts when Natsu got to a knee from exhaustion and Nic dropped to his knees. When Nic dropped to his knees, his body shined a rainbow glow, and he transformed into himself again.

Erza saw Nic falling forward and she raced towards him. "Nic!" She shouted. She caught him just in time and found he was unconscious. That amount of power he used was tremendous, it exhausted his body. He was in Erza's arms and he held him with all of the care in the world. She felt her heart beat and her smile expanded into a loving embrace as she felt his heart beat. She held him and didn't dare let go.

"I never knew you had so much will to go this far for me and Fairy Tail, Nic." She said, resting her neck on his shoulder. "You're so amazing." She then snuggled a bit and Natsu grinned at the site. She then felt a slight blush engulfing her face.

"That Nic." Natsu grinned, amazed he had so much strength and never gave up to protect Erza.

Just moments later, the entire tower was beginning to quake and the ground was shining. Blasts of light then shot up from behind Natsu and around the others. Erza looked around, seeing that everything was breaking apart.

"The tower…" Natsu said. "…it's shattering."

"The Ethernano is becoming unstable!" Erza exclaimed, breaking apart from her embrace with an unconscious Nic. "We have to get out of here!" She turned towards Natsu. "Can you stand?"

Natsu arose to his feet, feeling wobbly. "Y-yeah. I can manage." Natsu said. He then went over as lacrima was falling and Erza had Nic's arm over her shoulder and Natsu was on the other side. They got to their feet and started to make their way into a direction out of the tower.

Erza turned and saw that Simon's body was starting to go into the tower, over a cracked edge. She was upset to see him go, but there was nothing that could be done. "Goodbye." She murmured before turning away as Simon fell into the darkness below. "Let's go." She shouted, trying to hold back tears. Natsu remained silent and did as told. Although there really was nothing that could be done, he still felt terrible watching Simon fall. They then started making their way, carrying Nic along with them.

They began speeding their way as fast as they possible could as the ground began to break. They were hurrying as fast as they could without getting hit by some Ethernano blast or falling debris. A blast from underneath came up from in front and Erza shoved the two others out of the way and she narrowly evaded. The three tumbled and hit the ground and Ntsu was havin trouble standing. He couldn't find his feet and he was in no condition to keep going.

Erza got to her knees and looked around, seeing the condition getting worse by the minute. "This isn't good." She said. "Nic's out, and Natsu can't stand. The Ethernano is becoming even more unstable than it has been. We'll be caught in the explosion." She gritted her teeth and looked down, desperately trying to find a solution out of this mess. Unfortunately, not a thing came to her mind. She pounded the ground. "No! I can't find a way! We're finished!" She then looked over and saw an unconscious Nic with a distasteful face. Erza took it as a sign. 'Wait, what would Nic want me to do?...I know. He would want me to keep going.' She then grinned at Nic. 'It won't be easy guys, but I'll find a way out somehow.'

She then got to her feet. "I can't believe I was doubting myself. I can't quit. I have to save Nic and Natsu's lives!" She turned and saw Natsu now breathing heavily and tired. 'Natsu, Nic, now I'll save you!' She then began to think of a way, and she remembered what Jellal said. He said that her body would be one with the tower and infuse with the Magic energy. She gasped, knowing a way to stop the blast. 'I know now!' She shouted in her head. She turned towards a big piece of lacrima. 'If I fuse my body with the Magic inside, I'll be able to redirect the blast!' She hesitated for a minute, thinking of Nic.

'Nic…I'll save you.' She then slowly extended her hand inside the lacrima piece and she felt pain searing through her arm. She winced in pain, but she continued to slowly go in.

Natsu was finally catching his breath and Nic was regaining consciousness. Nic winced as he was beginning to open his eyes. He heard crumbling and shattering all about. He turned his head and saw Natsu on his knees.

"Natsu." Nic said. Natsu turned his head and saw Nic come around.

Natsu was now back to speed. "Nic. Glad you're still in one piece."

"Same…wait." Nic then went wide eyed and jerked back up. "Where's Erza?!" They both turned in shock as Erza was putting herself inside of the lacrima.

"Erza?" Nic asked.

Erza gasped and turned around. She went wide eyed when she saw Nic and Natsu up already. "Guys!"

The two stepped forward. "What are you doing?" Nic asked, rather looking unhappy with Erza, thinking she was doing something she would regret. "Are you? No! Don't go back inside that thing!" Nic demanded.

Erza didn't move. "I don't have a choice Nic. It's the only way you guys will live." She insisted.

"Erza, we can stop the Ethernano! There has to be another way!" Natsu shouted before the tower shook even harder.

Era grinned and stuck her arm in a little further. "It's the only option we have guys." She said. "If I fuse my body with the Magic energy, the tower won't explode." She then yelled in pain as her leg was being sucked in now.

"There's absolutely no way I'm gonna lose you again!" Nic shouted. Nic and Natsu both raced to her, but Natsu kept tumbling and Nic was army crawling at a fast pace. His body hasn't recovered from his Legendary Force.

"Don't worry guys!" Erza winced.

"NO!" Nic yelled as Erza's body was beginning to get sucked in. She yelled in even more pain as her whole body was off the ground.

"Don't do it!" Natsu shouted. The two then stuttered with everything they had and up towards Erza. They both slammed to the ground in front of her, with both heads looking up. Nic's heart raced and started to break when he saw Erza making such a sacrifice. His legs jerked him up and we stared wide eyed at Erza.

"Erza…please don't." Not pleaded.

"Nic." Erza said with a grin. "I have to…" With her free hand, she reached out and touched Nic's cheek. Nic stood frozen as he didn't know what to say nor do. Erza herself wasn't sure what she was doing, but this would be the only time she would ever get to say anything to him. "Natsu, Nic." Natsu looked up from the ground. "I can't imagine what my life would be like without Fairy Tail. It's an amazing place, full of heartwarming and happy people. If it wasn't for you or the others, I probably wouldn't be here. I hope you guys know how important you all are to me." She was almost beginning to stutter and she turned her attention towards Nic.

"Nic. I was so happy that I met you that day. I couldn't tell how happy I was to have gotten to know you. You're like a beacon of light that shines away all darkness. You've stuck your neck out for me. You protected me. I can't even begin to tell you how much that means to me." She began to tear up in her eye. "I'm gonna miss you."

Nic was frozen. He couldn't believe that Erza was actually saying goodbye. "…Erza." Nic muttered. She then let go of touching his cheek and she was pulled in further.

"I'm willing to make the ultimate sacrifice. I'll die saving you and everyone so that you all can live on." Her entire body was then engulfed in the lacrima, having Natsu and Nic go wide eyed even further.

'Thank you for letting me live.' She thought. Then she closed her eyes and allowed the lacrima to take her.

Nic's heart snapped.

The next thing anyone there saw, they saw Erza's body being thrown out of the lacrima and onto the floor next to Natsu. Erza landed with a big thud.

Natsu turned to her with teary eyes. "E-Erza!" Natsu shouted in shock she wasn't swallowed by the lacrima.

Erza rubbed her head and sat up. "What happened…?" She looked up and gasped deeply with wide eyes. Natsu then turned his head, and he too gasped in shock.

Nic was taking her place.

Nic yelped as he felt his legs and right wrist get pulled in. "Oh man! This does hurt!" She shouted. Erza gasped repeatedly as Nic was actually taking her place.

"No Nic, stop!" Erza shouted. "Let me do this!"

"No Erza!" Nic shouted. "Let me do this!" His left wrist was still free, but his arm was being sucked in. "I can't let you be sacrificed!"

Natsu was trying to stand, but had trouble. "N-No Nic!"

Nic's upper body was now being sucked in. "NO GUYS! DO THIS FOR ME!" He shouted. Natsu and Erza both froze in place, unable to comprehend Nic's motives. Nic let out a heap of air and grinned at them. "…You guys." Nic said. "You two are amazing. Natsu, you'll always get into fights. Battling alongside you was some of the highlights of my time with Fairy Tail. You're a strong warrior Natsu, and I know you'll find Igneel."

"Nic." Natsu said.

"Fairy Tail needs you both; without you two, Fairy Tail would never be the same." He said.

Erza then leaned forward. "But Fairy Tail won't be the same without you Nic!"

Nic nodded. "I know, and it breaks my heart leaving my rowdy and friendly family. You guys made me feel all welcome. Use me as an example. You don't die for your friends, you live for them." Nic said. "Erza, we would be shattered without you. We would never be happy again."

"Nic! Why are you doing this?!" Erza demanded to know.

Nic wanted to say something, but then he flashed back to Simon, and how he confessed before he died. Simon loved her and she was shattered when he died. Nic looked down. 'No.' He thought. 'There's no room for those words, it would hurt her too much.'

Nic then thought of something else to say. He smiled as he was beginning to tear up again. "Erza…I pulled you out so that you could live on. I'm keeping my promise to Simon to protect you, no matter what. Sure I might die, but I'll die saving my friends and saving the universe, knowing that you and the rest could live." Nic then extended his hand and he reached for Erza's.

Erza gasped when Nic held her hand. He was smiling ever so peacefully. Erza was tearing up even harder now.

"Nic." Erza said. She felt his hands with hers. His hands were so comforting, so serene. She could've held on forever, but that wasn't going to happen.

Nic let a tear drop. "Erza…I was glad I got to have met you. Your smiles and your undying spirit is one of the traits I will never forget."

"N-Nic.." Erza felt her hand slipping as Nic was pulled in a little more, now only having his face and wrist out.

"I will always cherish the time we had. You're amazing Erza…and remember, you'll always be sweeter than any strawberry cheesecake."

Erza felt her heart break, hearing Nic saying those things. She truly loved all of that time she spend with him. She remembered the numerous times he lashed out, their battle, the bonding, the smiles. She was missing those already.

"Natsu. Erza" Nic's wrist was finally slipping. "I'll miss you guys too."

His hand and face finally got engulfed by the lacrima. Erza gaped and widened her eyes as Nic's hand was taken by the lacrima. Natsu himself felt some tears fall. Nic was now being taken away fom within the lacrima.

"NO! NIC! NIC! WE NEED YOU!" Natsu shouted, unable to do anything but pound at the lacrima. "ERZA NEEDS YOU! FAIRY TAIL NEEDS YOU!"

Nic spread his arms as his body began to glow from deep inside.

Erza got to her knees and yelled loud. "NIC!"

The lacrima shined very bright and flashed.

With Happy and co.

They saw everything through Juvia's dome. They saw massive explosions and everything throughout the area.

"What the heck is that?!" Happy wondered.

"I don't know." Gray said. "But either Nic or Natsu is really ticked off." They all then saw the tower floors exploding with ice and electricity. They all then saw that the tower was beginning to shake and pieces of it were beginning to fall off.

"What the heck is going on?!" Lucy exclaimed.

"Oh man! That Ethernano is building up like crazy!" Wally exclaimed. "At this rate, it'll explode!"

"Explode?!" Happy shouted. "but what about the others inside?!"

Gray grunted and looked down. "There's no point going back." He said, though he really wished everyone inside did survive. Reluctantly, everyone did continue to a safe distance.

Everyone there was looking down and began to get all watery in the eyes. This was too much for them to take. They had to make sure everyone got out, they had to.

Lucy was beginning to sob in hopes and everyone was feeling just as upset.

They all then saw the tower glowing very bright. This was almost the end.

"Hold me!" Millianna shouted and squeezed Wally, much to his annoyance. The light then expanded and the Ethernano blast was shooting straight upwards.

"Hey guys, it's shooting into the sky!" Gray shouted and pointed out. Everyone looked to see that the blast was indeed shooting straight up into the sky!"

Lucy gasped heavily as she saw this. Then the tower unleashed a massive wave and wind all around. The entire dome then sailed away at high speed. Everyone yelped as the waves washed them away. Then the waves were dialing down, they all saw that the tower wasn't there anymore.

"W-Where the tower go?!" Happy shouted.

"NATSU! WHERE ARE YOU?!" Lucy shouted at the site of seeing the lacrima tower no more

Sometime later…

It was still night, with the moon shining bright. The beach sand was so soft that it was almost like a pillow. The waves washed up on the beach, where two people were lying down and started to come around.

Erza was the first one up, getting up to see that her feet was in the water and her upper body in the sand. She looked around, wondering what had happened.

Natsu then started opening his eyes and he jerked up, seeing that he too was on some beach.

He looked around. "Where are we?" He asked, seeing his lower body in the water like Erza.

"I don't know." Erza said. She looked around, trying to process the last thing that had happened. "What happened to begin with?"

Natsu stood frozen, thinking as to what happened. It didn't take that long before the memories came flooding back to them.

Erza jerked back to her feet, remembering what happened. She was wide eye and gasped to the remembrance of Nic sacrificing himself. Natsu gritted his teeth, but still didn't have the strength to stand. He growled, remembering exactly what Nic did.

"NIC!" Natsu shouted with fists. "YOU JERK! WHY DID YOU LEAVE US?!"

Erza then started breaking down, her knees into the water and she stared blindly outwards towards the sea. "No…Nic." She mumbled with shaken eyes. She was shaking up all too much, she had a tear falling from her face as she remembered Nic's words.

"I will always cherish the time we had. You're amazing Erza…and remember, you'll always be sweeter than any strawberry cheesecake."

Just then, from their right, the rest of the gang was running towards them. They all had big smiles on their faces and tears of joy in their eyes. They were all so glad to see them okay.

"Guys!" Lucy shouted. Natsu and Erza both jerked up, surprised that they were united yet again. She ran up and hugged Natsu tightly. Everyone around gathered towards the two.

"We're so glad you two are safe!" Lucy said, pulling away.

"You had us worried sick you flaming moron." Gray said.

"I gotta say, I was afraid you guys didn't…" Juvia stopped in mid-sentence and noticed that there was only two of them. She turned her head about looked, but no sign. "Hey, where did Nic go?"

Everyone else there noticed that Nic wasn't there. They all turned their heads, but no luck.

Gray turned towards Natsu. "Alright, spill it, where did Nic go?!" He demanded, holding Natsu by his shirt.

Natsu only gritted his teeth and he looked down. Gray raised a brow and noticed that Erza was tearing up again. Everyone was getting a bad feeling.

"Erzy?" Millianna asked. "Where's Simon?"

Erza then started getting back to her knees in the water and started breaking down again.

"…Nic…he…" Natsu started. "…he's not coming…"

Everyone around gasped and their happy expressions turned unhappy. What became joy became sorrow.

Happy had tears in his eyes. "No, what happened?" He asked Natsu.

Natsu clenched his fists and started shaking heavily. "That Simon guy died protecting us against Jellal. And Nic sacrificed himself to keep the tower from exploding." Natsu said with closed eyes. Everyone there was beginning to tear up even more.

Wally took off his hat. "Simon…"

Sho wasn't taking this well. He looked like we was making a waterfall from his eyes. "Simon…Simon!"

Millianna meowed sadly. Juvia looked down and began to tear up.

Lucy was sobbing and looked out to sea. "No way…he couldn't be…"

Erza screamed up into the sky. "Nic! You didn't have to do this for us! Not for me! Not for anybody!" She shouted. Afterwards, she started bawling again and weeped insanely hard, not taking his sacrifice all that well.

They all looked out to sea, eyeing the beyond that their two friends were in.

"Nic…" Erza muttered. "…I'll miss you."