A/N: Episode 238.

Enjoy!

unedited

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𝓒𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝙵𝙸𝙵𝚃𝚈-𝙵𝙸𝚅𝙴,
𝓘𝙼𝙼𝙾𝚁𝙰𝙻𝙸𝚃𝚈 𝙰𝙽𝙳 𝚂𝙸𝙽𝙽𝙴𝚁𝚂.

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𝗘𝗥𝗭𝗔 𝗔𝗡𝗗 𝗠𝗜𝗥𝗔 𝗙𝗜𝗡𝗔𝗟𝗟𝗬 𝗦𝗧𝗢𝗣𝗣𝗘𝗗. "Erza, Jellal may be a target, too. Are you sure you're okay with guarding the former chairman instead?" Mira questioned.

Erza turned around. "Not even I know where Jellal is. Besides, he doesn't need me to protect him. It's more important to protect the former chairman." She answered.

"You're right. The fate of the entire Magic world is going to be on the line." Mira agreed.

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Erza and Mira were soon in the former chairman's house as he was pouring tea into a cup.

"I started cultivating herbs after my retirement. This is chamomile that I grew at home."

"Thank you." Mira smiled.

"It has a nice par... scent." Erza quickly corrected herself.

"It's known as the 'apple of the earth,' an apt expression. Now, I don't mean to be rude to my guests... but how did you get my address?"

MAGIC COUNCIL FORMER CHAIRMAN / CRAWFORD THEME.

"We're the ones who were rude, but it was an emergency, so we used our intelligence network." Mira explained.

"And that led you to my top secret address. Your network is formidable." Crawford said.

"I apologize." Erza apologized.

"Oh, no. I'm retired, so there shall be no retribution." Crawford reassured as he laughed. "I remember you."

Erza widened her eyes, recalling the time she got arrested for show after the Lullaby incident.

"The defendant, Erza Scarlet, is on the witness stand. This wizard in armor is the culprit."

Natsu soon barged through the door. "I'm Erza, you numbskulls!" He declared.

"Take them both to a cell." Crawford ordered.

"I.. I'm sorry..." Erza apologized.

"That was an embarrassing incident." Erza claimed.

"I feel nostalgic. And for the next seven years after that, you were all in suspended animation, weren't you?" Crawford questioned.

"Crawford-san, I hate to interrupt, but..." Mira started to say.

"Oh, that's right. You came about Face, didn't you?" Crawford asked. "My heart aches about the sad news regarding my former colleagues. With the Council currently not functioning, I'm touched that a guild with a strong sense of justice like yours is making a stand."

"In order to stop Tartaros, we want to destroy Face first." Erza informed.

"Will you tell us where it's being stored?" Mira questioned.

"Unfortunately, not even I know that." Crawford answered.

"Huh?"

"Chairman..."

"I'm not trying to keep it a secret. Even the former chairman isn't privy to that information." Crawford informed.

"Then how did they get information that even you don't have?" Erza asked.

"That is a mystery." Crawford replied.

"Then will you tell us the three former Council members who are protecting Face with Living Link Magic?" Mira questioned.

"We'll do everything in our power to protect them." Erza added.

"I don't have access to that information, either." Crawford responded.

"What?!"

"Face was scrapped. It's a forbidden weapon whose very existence cannot be made public. As such, even the Council members who serve as the sealing keys are unaware of their own function. That maintains the ultimate method of concealment." Crawford said.

"Not even they know?" Mira repeated.

"Then Tartaros really will just slaughter all of the former Council members..." Erza claimed as her and Mira were suddenly on high alert as they stood up from their seats.

"W-What is it?!" Crawford asked.

"It seems they're here." Mira replied.

"They're surrounding the house. The footsteps..." Erza mumbled. "There are 20 of them."

"Chairman, go to a back room!" Mira instructed.

"Is it Tartaros?!" Crawford questioned.

"Here they come, Mira!" Erza shouted.

The door bursted open. Erza requipped into her Black Wing Armor while Mira changed into her Satan Soul, the two of them throwing the Tartaros members back.

"We won't let you lay a finger on the chairman." Erza claimed as they were surrounded. "Is this our first time battling side by side?"

"Let's show them the power of Fairy Tail!" Mira exclaimed.

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The ruins of THE MAGIC COUNCIL, ERA . . .

Doranbolt was dressed in a different outfit as he was standing in Cobra's former cell with his eyes closed.

"Tartaros is after a weapon called Face. It's a magical pulse bomb. A weapon that would nullify the Magic of all wizards on the continent." Cobra's voice rang in his ears.

"There's no going back now." Doranbolt thinks to himself, opening his eyes. "I'll crush Tartaros."

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Cobra sighed to himself. "Air outside of the joint is so refreshing. Right?" He asked the former Oracion Seis members behind him.

"You get no points for slinging cliches." Angel replied.

"Freedom is a good thing." Racer commented.

"Yes!" Hoteye agreed. "Our love reached something, yes?"

Brain smirked. "You did well, Cobra. I never suspected you of having a talent for negotiation." He raised an arm up. "This is the resurrection of Oracion Seis..."

Cobra suddenly struck Brain with his Magic, causing him to collapse on the ground. "Midnight. You have no complaints, do you?" He questioned. "He's not our father. He just thought of us as pawns. I can hear it."

"Yeah. If you heard it, then it's true." Midnight responded, stopping in front of Brain. "Father. It's time for you to sleep. We shall go forth."

"So, what should we do first?" Racer asked.

"I wanna take a shower!" Angel replied.

"I want to search for my little brother." Hoteye said.

"Wait." Cobra suddenly spoke. "Our first job."

Midnight's eyes narrowed as Jellal and Meredy stood in front of them with their hoods up.

Doranbolt stood in front of some headstones of the deceased Council members, Lahar's broken glasses were in front of his grave as the wind blew through Doranbolt's hair and clothing.

"I'm counting on you, Jellal."

"I'll repay my debt. Leave them to me." Jellal claimed.

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Natsu suddenly gasped out loud, grabbing Lucy, Kali, and Wendy's attention. "What's wrong, Natsu? All of a sudden..." Lucy started to say.

"You still need more rest!" Wendy informed.

Natsu walked forward towards Michello. "Where's the former chairman's house?!" He suddenly asked.

Natsu and Happy soon took off in the sky. "Hurry, Happy!" Natsu ordered.

"A-Aye!"

"Hey! Natsu!" Lucy called out.

"Natsu-san!"

"Sheesh. Why did he take off in such a rush?" Kali wondered.

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Mira and Erza were still sending attacks towards the Tartaros members. "Is that all of them?" Erza asked.

"Thanks to you, Erza." Mira replied as her and Erza changed back into their normal attire.

"Still, it's strange." Erza commented.

"You think so, too?" Mira questioned, glancing at the redhead.

"For targeting a VIP like the former chairman, they weren't so tough. They're obviously just regular soldiers." Erza responded.

"What's wrong, Natsu?" Happy asked as they were flying through the air.

"Dammit! Why didn't I realize it?!" Natsu scolded himself. "Nobody, not even current Council members, knew the address of the former Chairman. The same thing with Face! So how does Tartaros know?!"

"Erza..." Mira muttered as she was swaying back and forth. Erza turned to look at her.

"What's wrong, Mira?"

"I..."

Mira soon collapsed to the ground. "Mira!" Erza shouted in worry before collapsing to the ground as well.

"Somebody's passin' on the members' info to Tartaros!" Natsu informed.

"Somebody?!" Happy quoted.

"I don't know for sure... but a bigwig who's got info on all the Council members... I hope I'm wrong." Natsu said.

"Get a move on! Erza and Mira are in danger!"

Crawford carried an unconscious Erza and Mira in his arms. "Crawford here. I have two of them. Change of plans." He said.

Kyoka soon appeared on the communication Lacrima. "I knew we could count on you, former Council chairman. Please return to the guild." She instructed.

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"Happy! Over there!" Natsu exclaimed.

"Aye!"

Happy drops him as Natsu lands on the ground. He looked over, seeing the defeated Tartaros soldiers. "The aftermath of a battle." Natsu noticed.

"Erza!"

"Mira!"

Natsu and Happy called out their names. "They're not here." Happy informed.

"No, I can still faintly pick up their scents." Natsu stated. "What happened here?"

Happy covered his nose. "The smell of herbs is strong here." He answered.

Natsu sniffed the air, spotting a fallen cup of tea on the ground. "This smell..." He trailed off.

Natsu walked over to the fallen tea cup, kneeling down on the ground and sniffing the contents. "I think it's a sleeping drug." He realized.

"Then maybe someone made Erza and Mira fall asleep..." Happy pointed out.

Natsu lit his fist on fire, slamming it to the ground. "Dammit!" He shouted, the house lighting up in flames as debris began to fall down.

"Natsu! Control yourself! You'll destroy the former chairman's house!" Happy warned.

"The former chairman is in league with Tartaros!" Natsu exclaimed.

Happy appeared from the debris. "That's how Tartaros found out about Face and the former members' addresses! I wonder if Erza and Mira were captured." He said.

"I'll definitely find 'em!" Natsu claimed as he began sniffing.

"Is that why herbs were burned throughout the house?" Happy wondered.

"Don't underestimate a dragon's nose!" Natsu yelled.

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TARTAROS . . .

In the Tartaros dungeons, Erza opened her eyes, coming face to face with Kyoka. "Are you awake?" She asked.

Erza grunted, trying to move her hands and feet but soon realized she was chained up. "Where am I?" She questioned.

"Welcome to Tartaros."

"Tartaros?! Where's Mira?! And the former chairman?!"

"The former chairman is one of us. After the plan succeeds, I'm sure he'll go back to being the Council chairman. You two fell into his trap and became our prisoners." Kyoka informed.

"Ridiculous! The former chairman wouldn't betray us!" Erza argued as she struggled against her restraints.

"Don't bother trying to resist. Those bonds are made of Magic-sealing minerals. As long as you're chained up, none of your Magic will work." Kyoka claimed.

"What about Mira? Where's my comrade?!" Erza questioned.

"We haven't killed her. We're just going to make some physical alternations so she becomes our servant." Kyoka answered.

"Don't!" Erza screamed out as Kyoka grabbed onto her chin.

"Don't shout like that. There's something I want to ask you." Kyoka said.

"Where is Jellal?"

This caused Erza to widen her eyes.

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"Meredy, get back." Jellal ordered.

"There are five of them! I can..." Meredy began to protest.

"No. I don't need any help." Jellal claimed.

"He obviously doesn't think much of us." Racer said.

"That's not nice." Angel stated.

"I see. Doranbolt sent you, huh?" Cobra asked.

"Do you intend to put us back in our cells?" Midnight questioned.

"An escaped prisoner taking prisoners to jail? Ridiculous." Jellal responded.

"Nobody's going to take our freedom from us."

"We'll kill you, Jellal."

"I have sworn to live for love. I will not fight, no." Hoteye said.

"Hoteye! You're still under Nirvana's influence!" Angel exclaimed.

"Not so. This is me. I am love. I shall obey Jellal-san, yes!"

Cobra turned to face him. "Hoteye, you bastard..."

"I don't care." Midnight claimed.

"Midnight..." Racer muttered.

"We have our freedom. That includes Richard. We're all free to choose. My name is Macbeth. For the sake of freedom, I'll destroy anything in my way." Midnight stated.

"Come on." Jellal challenged.

Racer sped up behind him. "I'm already here. I got sick of waiting!" He said.

Jellal dodged his attacks. "Jellal!" Meredy shouted out.

"You are fast, Sawyer." Jellal claimed.

"Don't you say my name!" Racer said as Jellal kept avoiding his attacks.

Cobra got ready to attack Jellal, his fist covered in poison. "I can hear your movements!"

Jellal blocked his attack with one hand. "I can hear yours too, Erik." He said, throwing Cobra and sending him crashing into Racer.

Angel threw her hand up as a golden light appeared. "Angels! Devour Jellal!" She ordered. "Feel free to eat everything, skin and bones, too!"

"Have you learned new Magic, Sorano?" Jellal questioned, making Angel gasp as Jellal destroyed the angels.

"My angels!"

"This seems like it will be more fun than seven years ago." Midnight claimed.

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"I know you two are close." Kyoka said to Erza.

"H-How do you know about Jellal?" Erza asked.

"Tell me where he is." Kyoka said as a green glow appeared. "My Magic manipulates a person's sensations. Right now, you are extremely sensitive to pain. Tell me."

"I... don't know..."

Kyoka's finger glowed green once more as she whips Erza, causing her to let out a scream.

"We intend to murder all of the former Council members to break Face's seal. But we finally ascertained the identities of the three former members who are sealing it." Kyoka grabbed onto Erza's hair. "Two of them are already dead. The last one..."

"Don't... tell me..."

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More explosions soon appeared in the desert where Jellal was battling. Cobra struck Jellal with poison once more, sending him flying as Racer appeared behind him and kicked his back. An angel then attacked Jellal from the front.

"Jellal!" Meredy shouted as Jellal was hunched over.

"I'm finally warmed up." Angel claimed as Jellal gritted his teeth.

"If Jellal dies, Face's seal will be broken." Kyoka informed.

"No..."

"What's this? You blurted something out. At this rate, you won't be able to talk even if you do know something."

"I don't know! I really don't know where Jellal is!" Erza exclaimed.

"Let's do this. If you tell me where Jellal is, you can have Mirajane." Kyoka said, getting Erza's attention. "If you don't tell me..."

Erza screamed in agony once more.

"... you and Mirajane will both die." Kyoka finished.

"I really... don't know... Please... help... Mira..." Erza muttered weakly.

"I see. You want to play a little more." Kyoka said.

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Crawford and Franmalth were walking through the Tartaros hallways.

"He wrecked my house!"

"Okay, okay, calm down, former Council chairman."

"I even blew my own pension for the sake of this plan!"

"Still, imagine the amount of riches you'll get after it succeeds." Franmalth stuck his tongue out.

"I suppose I can sacrifice my house if it reinforces the scenario that I've been captured by Tartaros!" Crawford grinned. "How are Erza and Mirajane?"

"When Kyoka-sama tortures someone, you can be sure they'll meet a miserable end." Franmalth replied.

"Make sure you do kill them! If they survive and go home, it's possible I'll be suspected of having a hand in this." Crawford said.

"You can relax. Since no one will ever find this place." Franmalth informed.

"What is that?"

They saw someone flying in the distance.

"It's coming!" Crawford warned. "Franmalth-kun! You said..."

"... no one would ever find this place!" Franmalth finished.

Natsu crashed into the building, attacking Crawford.

"I found it!" Natsu exclaimed.

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A/N: Another chapter is completed! Thanks for reading!

Word Count: 2415 words.