Chapter 33: Crawl Out Of The Dark

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Protector Of The Fairies

Crawl Out Of The Dark

Erza dodged the strike as it came at her, the liquid earth flying straight over her head. Without hesitating, she rushed towards Hoteye, the man disappearing down into the ground at the last second.

Erza scowled as she looked around, her eyes watching the ground for any signs of weakness.

It was a giant game of cat and mouse currently. She had the greater offensive power, even with her missing arm, and had deadly speed, but Hoteye had strong defences and could simply vanish into the ground. It made him… tricky to predict.

There was a pattern. His Magic made the earth soft, turning it into a liquid that he could control. That was her advantage for predicting him. It was obvious if she focused and watched the ground. Whenever he reappeared, the ground had to soften first of all so that his tunnel would be connected. That was when she could make her move.

It had yet to work yet though, but she was getting closer and closer with each attempt. She had to react just a bit faster and she could catch him.

What would be best against this man? She had debated trying out her Lightning Empress Armour but she wasn't sure if it would conduct well. It was never good against earth, and she doubted the liquid form of Magic that Hoteye used would allow her to send her Magic through it.

She would have to settle this with her Purgatory Armour it seemed. Very few others were good choices right now since they all relied on a second arm, and she needed more time to adjust before using them. Fighting with an awkward weapon or armour would just get her killed.

She felt a slight tremor and struck out, he mace smashing into the ground from where Hoteye had been about to jump out from. Her mace came back up but there was no blood. She sighed. It seemed that Hoteye had escaped at the last second, likely knowing a surprise attack wouldn't have been very successful and thus not overextending himself during it.

How long had their fight been going on? A voice appeared in her ears, almost causing her to lose focus for a second.

"We need to move faster. Erza? Do you need assistance? Jura is prepared to head out to the field too now."

"Don't bother," she muttered, knowing Hibiki would still be able to hear her. "Tell Jura to keep conserving his Magic. I should be able to deal with this guy here and then continue onwards. If I find Wendy, I'll rush straight back and won't try and fight. Jura should be prepared for that eventuality."

There was quiet from Hibiki, a faint sound being heard on his side. It sounded like Jura and Hibiki were discussing something. Finally Hibiki returned, though it was unfortunately just as Hoteye popped out and send a wave of earth at her.

She rolled to the side, using her mace to propel herself over the second blast that followed quickly behind the first. The third blast was smashed apart by her mace as she ran at Hoteye. "Can you wait a second?"

Her mace swung through the air but earth around Hoteye shot upwards, wrapping round her and her weapon. She scowled before the spikes on the armour extending out in all directions, piercing the earth and forcing it away. It was too late to catch Hoteye though as he jumped once more back into the earth.

"Sorry about that," Erza said, keeping her guard up. "What did you say Hibiki?"

"Jura said he'll give you an hour at most. After that, he's heading in."

"Why? Are Natsu and Ichigo okay?"

"Let's just say it is better to not take any chances here. Both have maybe a few hours max, and we don't know how long it will take Wendy to heal them."

"I'll hurry up here then and head towards where Wendy is. I'm close, but I've just got to get past this troublesome pest."

"Good luck. You'll their best hope right now."

The line to Hibiki cut off and Erza found herself in silence once more. The situation was getting worse, and she couldn't even deal with one member of Oración Seis? Unforgivable.

She had to deal with this man. He could see her wherever she tried to hide, despite being underground. He saw all her movements easily, and acted accordingly. His eyesight was good, especially with that Eye Magic he had.

But how fast could he react?

As Hoteye jumped out of a new hole, Erza was ready. She stabbed her mace into the ground and used it to spring over the latest wave of earth that was flying toward her. With her hand now free, a sword was summoned to her hand before she threw it, channelling Magic into the blade as she did.

The result was better than she had expected. The speed it shot forward was enough that it almost hit Hoteye, and only missed because she had underestimated the man's current position. She had assumed he had stayed stationary.

She got to relish the shock on Hoteye's face however as he quickly sank into the ground. This was an ability gained from her Purgatory Armour. It increased all her physical skills tremendously, and it was suited for one unique style. Recklessness. When trapped, the technique with the armour's spikes could be used. The mace helped provide an overwhelming strength to her attacks, and simply throwing a sword sent it flying at quicker speeds. She knew a fair few would be able to dodge it, but it wasn't bad in her opinion for an idea she had though up on the spot. It would be something to consider later on perhaps.

She had a plan however. She couldn't afford to let her guard down until it worked. When Hoteye was beaten, then she could celebrate.

As Hoteye came up once more, she got to work. A first sword came to her hand which she immediately threw before he could stop her. It missed him by a hair's width. The next sword was intercepted by a wall of earth, this one denser than the previous one and drained it of a lot of its momentum. The third didn't even get past the wall, instead getting lodged in it.

Hoteye was adapting to her new plan. He wasn't one of the six generals of Oración Seis for nothing it seemed.

"You can't win, yes! But you're determination is truly wonderful. Brain would relish people like you on his side."

"No thank you. I'm quite happy where I stand."

Hoteye sighed. "A pity. You won't ever know the joys of money, yes!"

The earth slowly rose in front of Hoteye, Erza quickly reacting and sending a wave of blades at Hoteye, grapping one after the other as they fell around her. A massive wall of earth shot out to protect Hoteye, stopping the majority of the swords while the rest were diverted to the sides.

Erza didn't give up, rapidly summoning more blades and sending them straight at the man. She wasn't going to be beaten so easily.

As he last sword hit the earth wall, it came down, the earth that had previously risen in front of Hoteye now in a new form. It was packed densely into a sphere of liquid earth, parts of the sphere dripping onto the ground below.

Hoteye raised two fingers to his eyes as they shot open as wide as they could. "You are finished, yes!"

His hand lunged in her direction, the two fingers used to touch his eyelids now aimed at her. The sphere of earth exploded towards her, the liquid being blasted like a beam. Erza's eyes widened as the mass amount of earth rocketed towards her, knowing she didn't have time to dodge.

And so her arm flashed, half of a massive shield appearing attached to her lone arm. She brought up the shield and hid her body behind it as best as she could, her feet digging into the ground.

It was good that she had done that. As the earth crashed against her shield, she felt like it was trying to send her flying. If she had been hit by that, she could have died.

A loud crack sounded. She recognised that sound. No sooner had the attack finally ended did the shield shatter into pieces. That was going to be expensive to replace.

"Such a shame, yes! You survived. But for how long?"

Hoteye moved, rushing towards her on a wave of earth that threatened to swallow her whole. Her hand reached to the side and grabbed her mace, swiping it at the wave of earth. It threatened to break for a moment, and Hoteye looked worried, but it held. And what was Hoteye's happiness was her grief.

The wave of earth crashed into her, her mace helping to take the brunt of some of the damage and to part the liquid slightly. She found herself flying backwards, away from her scattered weapons.

Hoteye slowly approached her, a confident smile on his face that grew with every passing second. It quickly shrunk as Erza forced herself to her feet. "Give up. You can't win against someone who has embraced the love of money. There is no force stronger in this world."

Erza laughed. "I told you. I'd do anything for my friends. You say money is the strongest driving force in the world? I think I know a lot of people that would disagree with you."

Erza brought up her mace and aimed it at Hoteye. "I'm not going to fall. Not until I've done what I need to do. And that won't be till I know everyone is safe."

For a brief moment, she saw something. It was in the eyes. Hoteye's eyes had widened, and looked almost shocked but more from recognition. Had he once been in the same situation, and was this like he was looking back on his old self.

There was no time to pity the enemy however. She could do that when he was locked away in a jail cell.

Hoteye charged at her, a fist extended as the ground shot out as whips and tried to grab her. Spikes extended from her armour when the earth got to close but she could dodge most of them. As she took a step back, a massive wave of earth shot up from behind her, causing her to fall backwards towards it.

Quickly thinking, she planted her mace against the ground and pressed her feet against it before kicking off. She lost sight of her weapon as she flew backwards in the air, the ground swallowing it up, so she improvised. Another sword appeared in her hands and she threw it, Hoteye quickly swiping with his hand to summon a wall to defend himself from her attacks. A few more swords followed after the first, landing close enough to one another to help break down the barrier. Hoteye was gone though and, as she landed, a fist smashed against her.

She rolled, pushing herself off the ground and stared back at Hoteye, the man already working on another attack. As she struggled to get up, earth shot up and wrapped around her limbs, careful to avoid the spikes of the armour.

Hoteye smirked at her trapped form before he began forming the same sphere of earth he had formed before. "This will be your end this time. You can't block it again, yes!"

Just as the Spell was almost finished, Erza smirked. Hoteye didn't have time to wonder why before her hand twitched. He saw nothing for a moment, and then a burst of pain was felt throughout his body.

His Spell collapsed to the ground and he fell to his knees, his head slowly turning to see a variety of swords stabbed into his back. "How…"

"My first Magic," said Erza. "I'm not the best at it, and normally it works best when I'm in Heaven's Wheel Armour, but I can still use it without it. Telekinesis."

"The swords…" Hoteye's jaw dropped. "You threw them on purpose, even knowing they wouldn't hit."

Erza shook her head as the man slowly collapsed to the ground. "No. I hoped they would hit you. But I wasn't afraid if they didn't since I knew I could adapt to use them later. Your eyes can see a lot of things, but only if it is within your field of vision. You don't have eyes in the back of your head."

"I see… Even with one arm, you are too strong."

"I'm the most adaptable Mage in Fairy Tail," Erza said as she turned her back to her opponent and walked away. "Goodbye Hoteye of Oración Seis. You were strong."

Hoteye collapsed completely to the ground, his head tilting to the side as he glanced up to the sky. "Are you out there Wally?" he whispered. "My brother… My prayer… Was it wrong of me… to want to see your face… just one more time?"

Erza kept walking forward, her head turning back to make sure Hoteye wasn't having some sudden second wind. It always paid to be careful.

The man should be thankful somewhat at least. She had left him alive. Jura said they could choose if they killed their opponent or not, and she didn't feel the need. He could suffer in jail where he couldn't hurt anyone else.

For now, she had to get to Wendy. With that distraction out of the way, she was so close. She just had a bit further to go. Just a bit longer.

Protector Of The Fairies

Brain froze from his pacing, a hand coming up to his face. This was the second time he had done this that day, and it wasn't a good thing. Twice now he had felt the Magic of two of his Guild Members fade, the markings on his face fading in correspondence with their lack of Magic. They could no longer sustain the Spell.

It wasn't too much hassle, just so long as one of them kept standing, but it meant a third of the pillars had fallen. If all six fell, it would end up badly.

He turned towards Wendy in annoyance. "How much longer?"

Wendy ignored him. He felt like going over there to teach her a lesson but he didn't dare at the current moment in time. She was useful, her healing powers reversing the damage Jellal had suffered with unnatural ease. Sky Magic Users truly were extraordinary beings, what with their Healing Magic and that other gift they had.

The damage Jellal had taken should have been irreversible. It was pure luck that he had survived in one piece, and the coma he had fallen into was better than death. With Wendy working on him his Magical Power had returned to safe boundaries, and the amount of Eternano he had been bathed in had vanished, dispersing back into the air around them. A bit longer and Jellal would awake. And with that man, Nirvana's location would become clear.

The energy around Wendy slowly dropped and Brain rushed over, roughly pushing her out of the way in his hurry. Wendy held back a cry of pain as she was knocked against the wall, glancing carefully at Jellal instead.

Jellal's eyes slowly flickered. Then his hands did the same. One hand slowly started stretching outwards, gripping the ground and forcing his arms to bend and push himself up. He reached a sitting position as he glanced around the cave in confusion.

"Jellal?"

Wendy looked at the man softly, hope in her heart that this was the same man she remembered. Jellal turned his head to her and looked at her blankly. "Do I know you?"

It was only the knowledge that this wasn't her Jellal that kept her from crying at those words. It hurt, seeing someone with the same face and same voice saying such upsetting words. It was just as she thought though when she looked at him. This man had far too much Magic anyway to be her Jellal. And yet she couldn't stop herself from healing him when she had worked that out.

Jellal turned his head towards Brain and Racer, the puzzlement still there. Who were these people? Who was he? That girl, the kind one who's presence he had felt, had called him Jellal. Was that his name? Jellal?

Brain smirked as he looked down at Jellal before turning his attention to Wendy. "Well then Wendy. It seems you have almost outlived your usefulness to us. I have just one more task left for you."

Brain turned his head towards Racer. "Restrain her. Keep her from escaping."

"Got it." Racer rushed forward towards Wendy, preparing to grab her and move her elsewhere. He didn't expect what happened next. One second he had been about to grab Wendy and the next he had been thrown across the room by a blast of light.

Jellal moved quickly, grabbing Wendy in his arms before a golden aura enveloped them both. He sped out of the cave, the aura around him propelling him at a far greater speed than he thought he could achieve. He couldn't explain how he knew how to use this power. It was just instinct.

One thing he had known was that the girl, Wendy she had been called, was in danger. He had felt her presence as he had slowly awoken, and he couldn't let them harm her. No one would touch her while he was here.

He suddenly dodged to the left, avoiding a downwards kick from above. He glanced at the attacker to see it was the same person he had attacked before.

Racer snarled at Jellal. "What are you doing Jellal? Give us the girl, and then lead us to Nirvana."

Nirvana? What was that? It sounded familiar but what was it? Why couldn't he remember?

"I won't let you take her," he heard his voice saying, ignoring the gasp he heard from Wendy. Wendy looked up at him in shock, realising he wasn't actually kidnapping her. He was rescuing her.

Racer sighed before a Magic Seal appeared under him. It changed colours from green to red before vanishing once more. "Gear Change: Red Zone!"

Jellal tilted his head at the strange sight. "What did-"

He was cut off as Racer's leg soared over his head, another one of his instincts telling him to dodge at the last second. Racer didn't end there, rapidly punching forward at him. Jellal weaved himself through the barrage of attacks, deflecting the odd strike or two with his free hand. And then he was past the man, his hand swiping to the side.

Light blasted upwards from the ground beneath Racer, and the Mage started to fall downwards into the recently created hole. Jellal didn't stop to watch, flying upwards into the sky. He looked back at the strange aura around him. A word stuck in his head when he looked at it. "Meteor."

"Meteor?"

Jellal glanced at Wendy. "Do you know what it means?"

Wendy shook her head lightly. "No. I'm sorry."

Jellal gave her a soft smile, something that felt like it hadn't be used in a long time. "Don't worry. You saved me. I could feel nothing. And then you appeared, just on the edge of my senses, before you brought me here."

Jellal glanced upwards at the sky, his eyes widening in joy. "Is this a sky? Are those clouds? I know these words, but I've never seen them before. Or I don't remember at least. It's amazing."

Wendy found herself laughing at the man holding her. He was so funny, being happy at the simple things, just like a little kid like she was. And then her eyes glanced to the ground and her mouth started to open in warning.

It was too late. The slight noise she made caused Jellal to look towards her, and at the moment Racer appeared from above, just out of his line of sight. With a strong kick, Racer brought his foot down on Jellal's head and sent the two tumbling down to the ground.

Wendy screamed as the fell, Jellal grabbing her and holding her tightly. His body started rotating as he forced himself to move, determined not to let Wendy get harmed. His Meteor Spell shot to life with his will, pushing them upwards as the last second when they had been about to hit the ground.

Jellal brought a hand out to the side, a small Magic Seal appearing by it. With a swipe of his arm, arrows of light shot out of the seal and flew towards Racer at fast speeds. Racer took one glanced of them before scowling.

Within a few moments, Racer was appearing in and out of sight, jumping between areas with surprising amounts of speed. The arrows couldn't connect and instead sailed straight past the man, Racer rushing at them before they could do anything to stop him.

Jellal raised a hand just as Racer vanished. His eyes already caught sight of the man moving but where to?

"BEHIND YOU!"

Apparently Wendy knew, and she warned him just in time. With not much time to do anything, he leaned forward, Racer sailing over his head. Using the chance, Jellal brought a knee up as he straightened himself, the enhanced power of Meteor sending it straight at Racer's chest before the Mage could dodge.

Racer rolled to the side as the knee started connecting, Jellal watching the man carefully. He hit, he knew that, yet Racer seems to not have suffered much damage from something he had been sure that would work.

"It's his Magic," Wendy whispered at him. "It's doing something to the area."

Jellal glanced at her discretely, his mind making a not that Magic was the name for what they were doing. "You're sure?"

Wendy nodded. "I see it. I don't know what he's doing, but things seem wrong. They're slower."

Jellal brought an arm up, beams of light firing from it. Racer made to dodge the strikes yet, instead of missing him, the attacks redirected themselves, some even changing directions to chase after Racer.

Instead of continuing to run, Racer changed his path, leading all the beams closer to him. As they finally neared him, he jumped up into the air, his body slowly rotating.

"Motor!"

And then his fists shot out, smashing each of the beams one at a time. It only took a second, but that was enough. The attacks were destroyed.

Jellal watched the man carefully. They were both fast, and he wasn't sure who would win. Racer had similar thoughts, actually holding up a hand for a moment.

"Hold on a minute. This is a misunderstanding. If the girl is that important to you then I'm sure Brain doesn't mind you keeping her. We won't harm her."

Jellal looked down at Wendy before back at Racer for confirmation. "She is safe? You aren't going to harm her?"

"Might have before but I'm not really interesting in fighting you over her. You're fast, perhaps faster than me if you focus more. Besides, Brain just wants your help anyway. You lead us to Nirvana, and he'll give you whatever you want."

Jellal took a step forward till he felt part of his clothes being pulled. His eyes dropped to Wendy and his heart almost sank as she looked at him like that. Pure worry and fear. Why was she looking at him like that? She was safe now.

"You can't do it," she muttered. "Please! Nirvana can't be released."

Jellal froze even more as he saw the tears threatening to fall from her eyes. "Please," she begged. "Don't do it."

He looked back at Racer, the man waiting expectantly for him to come over to him. Yet he couldn't. If this was going to upset Wendy, the girl who had brought him out from that darkness, then he couldn't do it.

"No," he said confidently, the look of Racer's face changing to one of disbelief. "I won't let you get your hands of Nirvana."

"You… Why are you trying to act like a hero? We aren't them. You aren't you of them. The things you've done… IT'S TOO LATE FOR YOU TO PRETEND TO BE WITH THE LIGHT!"

Racer shot forward at Jellal, his knife coming out of his coat which he grabbed immediately. This man had to be taken down now. They couldn't afford to be stopped here, and he'd kill Jellal before he finally decided to end that pathetic façade he was using.

Moving at his top speed, Racer sped around them, preparing to attack them from the side. He was almost at them when-

"LEFT!"

A blast of light shot out from the left side of Jellal, forcing him away from Racer just as the knife swiped at where his neck had been. How had the girl predicted where he had been about to attack from? It had to be a fluke.

But he needed proof.

Again, Racer shot round, lunging it and slicing at thin air. He would have hit Jellal if not for Wendy's constant cries of his location. It was always something basic, but the fact she could work out where he was that much was troublesome. How the hell was she doing this?

He had to deal with her first instead. He charged directly forward at them, ignoring Wendy's shout of "FRONT!" to close the gap as fast as possible. The cost was a sudden hit by Jellal's Magic but he powered through it, plunging the knife forward at Wendy.

That was the intention until Jellal saw the knife's path, his free arm coming up to block the deadly blade with his own body instead. The knife pierced the skin but he didn't cry out, instead directing a look of rage at Racer. "You've gone too far now."

His arm moved, the knife tearing out of the skin clumsily and causing more damage, yet Jellal wasn't slowed. His hand reached forward and pressed itself against Racer's chest. A large blast of light shot at Racer from point blank range, and he knew he couldn't dodge it. The blast hit him dead on and, to his pride, he managed to stay standing for a moment.

That was until Jellal's fist smashed against his skull and sent him tumbling to the ground. Jellal wasn't done yet though, a large ball of light hovering above his hand before he smashed it down on Racer's body. A cough of blood escaped from Racer's throat as the pain began to become too much.

And those eyes. Those were the eyes he remembered of Jellal. The look the man was giving him was one of no mercy, and one who was not afraid to kill. And Jellal didn't look done yet either. Before Jellal could launch another attack though, Wendy grabbed on to him, the action stopping Jellal and causing him to look down at her under his arm.

"Wendy?"

"Leave him." She was scared. Jellal could hear it in her voice. She wasn't scared of Racer. He could see it. She was scared of him.

"Okay," he whispered. "Don't worry. I'll stop."

He turned on his heels, walking away from Racer. Racer smirked, jumping to his feet and charging at them. His hands worked at his coat and pulled it open, revealing a Lacrima that had been attacked to his chest, the orbs on it flashing brightly.

He knew what he was about to do. He had decided this himself years ago, and not even Brain knew about this last move of his. It was nothing short than a suicide run, but he would at least take out Jellal here. The man was too much of an unknown now, and they couldn't afford him interfering.

The last of the lights flashed as he lunged at the two. His only wished he could see the world that would be created from Brain's actions, but it was too late now. And as he reached the two, he could see the shock and fear on their faces.

"My prayer…" he muttered as Jellal tried to escape, Racer hurried after him and not letting the man escape. "To be faster… faster than ANYONE!"

The Lacrima detonated, the blast exploding all around him as he perished from the blast. It spun outwards, rushing towards Jellal and Wendy. Jellal tried to outrun it but he wasn't fast enough. The blast was too close.

But he couldn't stop trying. He forced himself to go faster and faster, and he didn't even notice when he outran the explosion. He kept going and going, Wendy's tugging on his clothes drawing him out of his thoughts.

"We made it."

Jellal looked around, seeing that she was true. They had made it. And he had travelled quite far too. They were far away from the area they had been in. Where were they?

A gasp from Wendy drew his eyes forward, and he couldn't believe what he was seeing. It was a flying ship it seemed, shaped like a horse his memory helped clarify. How was it flying? What was it?

"Christina!"

Apparently Wendy knew, and she was now looking at him hopefully.

"Quickly," she said. "Head over there. Some of the others could be on it."

Jellal nodded, flying at the ship and landing down on it, his Meteor Spell faded as he touched the floor of the ship. The ship seemed quiet. But it was flying? Where was everyone on it?

"You let her go!"

Jellal dodged the sudden blast of snow that had been directed at him, an instinctual blast of light being returned towards the attacker. Eve rolled to the side send more snow at, Jellal dodging to the left. As he did, he felt the air grow thinner. He glanced to the side, seeing a darker skinned individual holding his hand out them.

Jellal didn't wait around to lose all the oxygen available to him. He escaped and took a deep breath before he brought up an arm, light gathering around his palm to strike at the enemy with.

"WAIT!"

The call came from two people, Jellal looking at Wendy while Eve and Ren looked at Ichiya, the man stepping out of room near the front of the ship.

Ichiya glanced at Jellal before he wiped his eyes, as if he remembered Jellal from somewhere. His brain clicked into place before he pointed a finger at the man. "YOU!"

Jellal brought up a finger of his own and pointed it at himself. "Me?"

"YES YOU!"

"Do I know you?"

"You-"

"Um… Mister?"

Ichiya turned his attention towards Wendy, the girl managing to get out from Jellal's grip. "Wendy? I see. So this is why my apprentices were attacking Jellal here."

Ichiya turned his attention back to Jellal. "Let her go. Do that and we won't pursue you."

"He's not holding me hostage." Ichiya stared at Wendy in disbelief. "He's not. I healed him when I found him, and he saved my life and got me away from Brain."

"Wendy!" A white cat stuck its head out of the open door Ichiya had come from before wings sprouted from its back and it flew straight towards Wendy.

"Carla…" Wendy looked at Carla awkwardly, awaiting the oncoming lecture from her friend.

"Are you okay? You didn't overuse your Magic did you?"

She hadn't expected that, her expressions showing confusion.

"Please," Carla scoffed. "You think I'm worried about who you heal? It's your power, so it's your choice. I just don't want you risking your life for strangers you don't even know."

Wendy raised her arms and the cat flew into them willingly, Wendy hugging the cat fondly. "I'm okay Carla, don't worry."

"I'm here too," said Happy, slowly following out of the door like Carla had.

"Happy? Why are you all here on Christina?"

"We went to get her back," said Ichiya gravely. "We wanted to try and get a more secure base for us all. Unfortunately we haven't been able to bring Natsu and Ichigo here due to their current conditions when we left. We're flying as fast as we can towards them now."

"Condition?" Previous events ran through her brain before she remembered what had happened before she had left. Most of the Mages had been weakened but she had been sure they all had survived.

"They were poisoned," said Eve, glancing off the edge of Christina in case anything was incoming towards them. "Sensei's Magic couldn't help them. You're currently their best hope."

Wendy opened her mouth slightly, finding it hard to find works. "I'm… their best hope?"

"Possibly their only hope actually," said Ichiya, not realising the pressure the girl was feeling that he had added too. "If we don't get you to them soon, they will die."

"Where are they?"

It wasn't Wendy who had asked that, and Ichiya glanced at Jellal suspiciously.

"I can get her to them if you need me to. I seem to be fast, and should be fast enough to make it to them before it is too late."

"And what motivation would you have to help us?"

"He saved me," supplied Wendy, looking between the two. "I'm sure he'll help us." Ichiya frowned for a moment, looking at Jellal for any signs that Wendy could be wrong. As far as he could see, he couldn't see any, but was that worth risking?

Jellal held out a hand towards Wendy, though his gaze was still on Ichiya. "You said we were running out of time didn't you? If time is such an issue, then let me help. I can make it."

Ichiya took a look between Wendy and Jellal before sighing and stepping back. "Go. Go now. Before I change my mind."

"Thank you."

Protector Of The Fairies

Now how many of you saw that coming. Jellal didn't go searching for Nirvana. He's ended up helping them out a lot earlier, and yet he seems to be different from his canon appearance in my opinion. When in battle and serious situations, he's like normal, but you saw that almost childlike excitement when he started looking at things when he got the chance too. He has no real memories he can remember, so everything is new and wonderful to him. But that ruthless Jellal is still there, and Racer experienced it firsthand. Magic remains as instinct though he only uses the core Magic Spells that made up his Magic, nothing very advance.

What about Erza's fight? Did you like it? I gave my take on the Purgatory Armour because it was never explained what it exactly did expect random rumours before it got broken instantly. I made those spikes into something more than decoration because of that. I felt slightly sorry for Hoteye in the end however. Writing his 'Prayer' was a sad moment for him.

Now onto Bleach and Fairy Tail quickly. So many hints on the relationship between Gray and Silver, though only one this chapter. So close to revealing it though. As for who that guy turned into, I had a Hades feeling. Maybe it was the Magic around him making him seem to have crazy wild hair like Hades had at one point. Bleach meanwhile was awesome. Yachiru rocked with her cool Shikai, and how cute is it that her heart skipped a beat so she knows she has to chop the person who caused it into pieces. I wonder what will happen if she ever falls in love, taking away Kenpachi killing them if they upset her. Also, I think the Silence invaded Bleach. How else does that guy have a similar version of their power?

I've kept you long enough anyway. Hope you liked it all and let me know what you think in a review if you want. I'm not done yet with my end plan here for Jellal. You'll have to wait and see what I do with him.

Anyway, till the next time. I've been Takei. Thanks for reading.