The Fire Within (#Wattys2014)

Chapter 17-Erza's POV- The Dark Tower of my Past

I couldn’t believe it. Jellal was alive.

“I can’t believe you’re alive Jellal and after all the tears I shed for you! How is this possible? Why didn’t you tell anyone?” I bellowed as tears rolled down my good eye and onto the floor.

I have never cried this much since I left the tower and I was crying in front of my enemy, Jellal. I felt so weak. I realized that I still loved him. He was the one who gave me the last name of Scarlet. He helped me escape the tower when we were kids, even when he was possessed. I may look tough on the outside but seeing him again brought terrible memories back.

 “Like I said before Erza, I never cared about you! I only used you when we were kids so that I could fulfill my mission. I will not let you or your friends mess up on my mission now and even though you are a girl, I will not hold back!” He snarled.

This man was not the same boy I knew and cared about. It was as if he was locked away somewhere inside himself. It was then that it hit me, he must be under another spell. Why would they do this to him again? Hadn’t Jellal been through enough in his life? Hadn’t we all?

“Jellal, I don’t care what you say, I am going to save you from whoever is controlling you so I won’t hold back either!” I shouted as I pulled out twin katanas.

I would save him and help my friends.

“You hurt my family and you know that is something I will never forgive!” I yelled as I ran towards Jellal, my friend ever since we were children in that dreaded tower long ago.

That was my past. Now I would fight for the ones I love, not cower in fear. I was strong now, my nakama made me that way. No matter what, I would return the favor to Jellal so that he could have the same bright future that I had, even if I would not be a part of it. That is the meaning of love that Fairy Tail taught me.