Countdown begins!

So that's Erzas story. I see, no wonder you are the way you are. Marco thought to himself as Erza regaled the group of her life story.

" I don't know, maybe it's just me, but the name Zeref sounds familiar." Gray said

" It should, it's the name of the legendary black wizard. Zeref!" Marco said

" Wait a minute, I remember the monster that came out of the lullaby flute was one of zerefs demons." Lucy said

" I never mentioned it, but I have a feeling that deliora was also a demon from the book of zeref." Erza said

" I don't like how Zerefs name is coming up so much recently." Marco said

" If the man is as evil as you, then why would jellal want to revive him?" Juvia asked

" I don't understand his motives either, however my old friend sho said something about Zeref getting them to heaven, and when that happens the world will be reborn, and they will become its rulers." Erza said

" Well, they're right about one thing Zeref certainly will send them to heaven." Marco stated

" Ok, there's one thing that confuses me about these people claiming to be old friends of yours. Why are they accusing you of betraying them, don't they realize jellal is the bad guy here?" Lucy asked

" It's not their fault I'm sure he fed them all sorts of lies about me once I left. That doesn't change the fact that I abandoned them so long ago. I guess you could say I did betray them." Erza said solemnly.

" Because he threatened to kill them if you came back." Lucy yelled

" None of that matters anymore. If I can defeat jellal it will all be over. Leave it to me ok.

She's hiding something, but If I confront her on it, she'll definitely deny it. Marco thought to himself. Huh! Looks like grays figured it out too. Marco thought as he tapped gray on his back getting his attention. The two wizards meet eyes and nod at each other realizing somethings not right with Erza.

" Sister, that's not true. Why are you lying to them?" Sho asked as he walked in

Damn it! I got to start paying more attention in the field. Marco thought. Kicking himself in the ass for dropping his guard in an enemy's tower

" Sho!" Erza said

" You think by making yourself the martyr, you'll get sympathy from your friends. Tell them the truth. That's not how it happened, and you know it. You were the one who blew up the boats we were going to use to escape." Sho said

Huh! Oh, great now we've got another one coming. Marco thought as he disappeared in fire. I recognize this presence, It's the big guy from the park. I doubt erza will attack either of them as she is right now. Guess I'll have to count on gray to handle the other one. He's here! Marco thought as the man appeared behind gray. " Now!" Marco shouted as he appeared behind the man and slammed him into the ground.

" I told you the next time I saw you I'd tear you apart."

" Wait marco, he doesn't pose a threat. He never meant us any harm." Juvia said

" What?" marco asked

" At the resort he knew he was attacking Gray's ice clone."

" But how?" Gray asked

" It was he who cast the Darkness spell, that means the darkness had no effect on him. I came along hoping to find out why he chose to spare you." Juvia said

" I'd expect no less from a member of phantoms element 4." Simon said

" And you didn't think it would be a good idea to let us in on that crucial detail why? You know what I don't wanna know. Just next time let us know that ahead of time. If I hadn't needed information from him, I would have killed him just then." marco said shocking everyone.

" Thank you, for not killing me." Simon said as he got up

" Whatever!"

" I don't understand, Simon what's going on?" Sho asked

" I had to fool you and the others into thinking I killed him. But I hoped our attack would lure them here" Simon said

" So, you were lying too? How could you do that to me?" asked with tears in his eyes

What kind of messed up family is this? Marco asked himself

" You guys patch up whatever you need here. I'm gonna go find natsu and maybe we can regroup." Marco said before disappearing in his flames. " Oh man I'm so glad to be out of that scenario, and here I thought I was awkward. Whatever doesn't matter anymore, gotta find natsu." Marco said as he rushed down the hallway. " Damn it natsu where are you?"

Gunshot

" That was a gunshot! Damn it, guess I know where he is now. Good a time as now to try this out." Marco said as his body emitted lightning increasing his speed as he raced down the hall; Arriving just in time to see natsu beat wall-e and Milliana. " Yo natsu seems you didn't need my help after all! Huh?" Marco said as he saw natsu with a giant cat head on.

" Marco, That you?"

" Hahahaha!" Marco laughed at natsus expense

" Hey, it's not funny help me out of this!" Natsu pleaded

" Alright! Alright! Hold still.' Marco said as he and happy both began pulling on the cat head. " This thing just doesn't want to come off. Hold still natsu." Marco said to natsu

" I'm trying, but this hurts." Natsu yelled

" Then next time think before you put something small on your head idiot."

" Ahh! it feels like you're going to rip my head off." Natsu cried

" Ahhhh! Got it."

" Sweet freedom!"

" There ya go natsu. You're welcome." Marco said

Plop. The cat head landed on wall-e's head

" Hey look, now it's stuck on old boxy." Natsu laughed

" I'm amazed that mask was able to fit over his giant square head." Happy said

" Yeah! That's weird. Anyway, listen natsu, I've got something to tell you. This whole situation just got a lot more complicated." Marco said to natsu

" What do you mean?" Natsu asked

" This dance ain't over yet salamander." wall-e said

" I already got my payback and since erza and happy are safe, i got no reason to keep wasting my time with you pal." Natsu said

" Aye! you tell him natsu."

Crash! Marco slammed Wall-e back down into the floor cracking the ground below them.

" Whoa arco what was that for?" natsu asked

" Sorry Natsu. Had to be sure he was out. Like I said the whole situation has gotten worse."

" What do you mean?"

" Listen!" Marco started before being cut off by a voice overhead

" I welcome you to the tower of heaven. My name is jellal and I am the ruler of this tower. And it seems the players have been arranged." Jellal said

" Speak of the devil, I suppose." Marco said as he and natsu ran out of the room towards a glowing red statue.

" Whoa Marco what's going on?" Natsu asked

" Quiet Natsu!" Marco said quieting the boy.

" I'm delighted you've come all this way to see me. Shall we play a round of heavens game?" Jellal asked

" I don't wanna play your games!" Natsu yelled

" What do you mean Jellal?" Milliana asked

" Damn the girls up." Marco said

" The rules are really quite simple. I wish to use erza as a sacrifice in my ceremony to resurrect lord Zeref." Jellal said angering the fairy tail wizards

" Like hell you will." Marco yelled

" If I succeed the gates of heaven will open Crowning my victory. However, if you manage to find a way to stop me you will be the winners of the game. To make things a little more interesting, I've enlisted 3 knights to battle on my behalf."

" This guy is pissing me off." Marco said

" The only way you'll be able to get to me is through them, in other words a 3 on 9 battle royale. And there's one more surprise, the magic council has the satellite square focused on this tower. And It's highly likely they will attack. At this very moment they are voting on whether they will fire an etherion blast."

" Hey that wasn't in the deal you hooded freak. If that thing hits us, we'll all be going to hell." Vidaldus said

" Now, Now Vidaldus. You wouldn't be having second thoughts, would you?" Ikagura said

" Not on your life boss, finally this is the rush I've been waiting for. A real dangerous thrill-ride to get my blood pumping." Vidaldus said

" There's no telling how much time is left. Should the etherion strike complete Annihilation is imminent. No players left to win. Game over." Jellal said

" That doesn't add up at all! If he was running on such a short timetable, why not try and take erza directly by himself?" Marco said

" Now then, let the games begin." jellal said

" natsu, somethings wrong I'm going back towards Erzas group. Can you handle yourself?"

" Yeah, you bet." Natsu said slamming his fists together

" Alright! Kick some ass Natsu!" Marco said before taking back off down the hall in his lightning armor.

" Whoa Happy?"

" Yeah natsu?"

" Was that lightning?"

" Aye!

" Coooool!" Natsu yelled with stars in his eyes.

" Erza! Gray! Lucy! Juvia! I'm coming.' Marco said as he raced down the hall. Huh! That's Sho who's he fighting?" Marco asked as sho suddenly dropped. " What the hell did you do to him?" Marco yelled as he appeared behind sho catching the falling boy.

" I cut his nerves." Ikagura said

" You cut his nerves!" Marco said. She did that without cutting his clothes or his flesh. This woman is going to be a pain in my ass. Marco thought to himself

" Let me out of here!" Erza yelled trapped in the card

" The hell? What did you do boy?" Marco asked sho

" I put her in my cards to keep her safe."

" You have to let me out sho she's too powerful for you.'

" I can't!"

" Marco get him out of here hurry."

" No can do. Sorry erza, but it looks like it's finally my turn to fight." Marco said looking at the woman in front of him

" You want to challenge my mugestu style, after seeing what I did to that boy over there?" Ikagura asked

" Sorry to break it to you lady, but I don't break as easy." Marco said holding up his flames

" We'll see about that." Ikagura said as she placed her hand on the hilt of her blade, sending a barrage of invisible slashes towards marco, hitting the man, and creating an explosion. " My, my it would seem you break quite easily after all." Ikagura said before the smoke cleared and revealed Marco standing there with his arm out, the sleeves of his suit destroyed. His body covered in fire where the slashes had hit him. " Impossible!"

" I told ya lady, I don't break easy." Marco said with a grin on his face.

" Arghhhh!" Erza yelled as she began breaking out of shos prison.

" Sister! No way." Sho yelled As Erza broke free

" Glad to see you join the party erza." Marco said

" Thank you for protecting sho Marco."

" No problem."

" Now, you said your name was ikagura. Well i didn't come all this way for you. Begone." Erza said

" My apologies, but i think I'll stay." Ikagura said

" Erza watch out!" Marco yelled as Erzas armor shattered

" Sister no!"

" Damn, She's fast." Marco said

" You seem surprised. A skilled warrior like you should have seen that coming." Ikagura taunted. " Your single-minded focus on Jellal has rendered you a fledgling novice. Completely unaware of my katana flashing about you." Ikagura said getting a glare from erza. " Yes, there's the look I've been waiting for. You maybe skilled, but you don't stand a chance against me."

" You are my enemy and i will defeat you. I always do." Erza said as she requipped into her heavens wheel armor.

" I'd like to see you try." Ikagura said

However, before Erza could attack Marco appeared in front of her

" Erza, you go on ahead. I'll handle this one." Marco said

" Move, marco she's mine to fight."

" No, she's not. Grab sho and go on ahead. Someone has to take Jellal down. If you can convince him to stop that's fine, but if you have to fight him, I at least know you can hold him off until I arrive."

" But I'm the one he's after Wouldn't it make more sense for you to go after him instead?" Erza asked a smart question

" Normally I'd agree with you, but I have a feeling there's more to this scenario than we know. Why wouldn't he have just come to capture you immediately himself? Why send these guys to do it? Why isn't he worried about etherion hitting the tower of heaven? Things don't add up." If I left, you to this woman, you'd be too injured to assist me in the battle against Jellal." Marco said. " I know it seems wrong, but I need you to trust me on this one." Marco said as he ignited his arms into fire. " NOW GO!" Marco yelled as He and Ikagura lunged at each other.