Erigor smirked as he and the rest of the Eisenwald Guild entered Oshibana Station. It was easy enough dealing with the Rune Knights, now they just had to wait for Kageyama to arrive with the Lullaby.
Then we'll deal with those flies at the meeting, and anyone else that gets in our way will hear the melody of death. Erigor thought, eager to eliminate the Guild Masters and then the Magic Council.
Though he frowned when they reached the tracks and saw a person wearing a cloak and mask sitting on top of a train.
"What's this, a lost little fly." Erigor said smirking, as the person stood up and grabbed their cloak.
"Not a fly…" Said Ruby, tossing her cloak into the air, distracting the Dark Mage long enough.
"…a dragon! Ice Dragon's Blizzard!" Ruby said while summoning a magic circle that unleashed a blast of freezing cold ice and wind at the Dark Mages.
They had no time to escape, with only Erigor managing to fly up high enough to avoid the attack, and yet he still felt the temperature plunge into the negatives. When the miniature blizzard vanished, Erigor was shocked to see all his guild mates on the ground with their skin now deathly blue, but what shocked him was that on some of them he saw… burns!
How, how could they be burned by ice?! Thought Erigor as he looked on in shock and horror at the corpses of his men.
"And now it's just you, me, and ice so cold it burns." Ruby said, jumping off the train as an icy aura surrounded her.
Gritting his teeth Erigor, began spinning his scythe, generating a wind tunnel.
"Storm Mail!" Erigor said, creating a magic circle as wind currents surrounded his body like armor.
He's using one of his trump cards right away, knowing this wasn't an opponent to take lightly.
"You think a little wind is going to save your worthless life?" Ruby asked, smirking.
"Laugh all you want, but with my Storm Mail, I'll show you what happens to those that cross the Death God. Storm Shred!" Said Erigor, launching several blades of wind at Ruby.
"I'm quaking in my boots. Ice Dragon's Ice Beam!" Said Ruby, jumping up over the wind blades while cupping her hands and creating a pale blue ball, before firing a beam of ice at Erigor.
Erigor didn't bother dodging, knowing that his Storm Mail would protect him, and smirked when it did just that. Though he frowned when he saw Ruby was still smirking.
"Expand." Ruby stated.
Immediately the end of her Ice Beam exploded into several ice spikes that shot straight through Erigor's Storm Mail much to his shock and pain as the spikes impaled him. Losing his concentration, Erigor's Storm Mail vanished and Ruby took her chance.
"Ice Dragon's… ROAR!" Ruby roared, unleashing a blast of icy wind.
Erigor raised his arms in an attempt to protect himself, but it was in vain as he was overcome by the cold and encased in a block of ice. The ice block fell to the ground where it shattered into thousands of pieces.
"Hmph, good riddance." Ruby muttered.
Going over to the bodies, Ruby searched through them to see if any of them had Lullaby on them. Though her attention was drawn to a train that pulled into the station with only one guy coming out.
"Erigor, I have the Lullaby, but we have Fai—" Kageyama said only to stop in his tracks, while looking on in horror and fear when he saw the frozen and dead bodies of his guildmates.
His fear only increased when he saw Ruby, stepping back when he recognized her.
"Ti-Crimson Rose!" Kageyama squeaked out, terrified at seeing the Dark Mage Slayer.
"So, my reputation precedes me." Ruby said as she stood up, taking notice of the flute he was holding.
"Give me the Lullaby and maybe I'll consider killing you quickly." Ruby said, with Kageyama stumbling back and holding the flute up.
"St-stay back! Come any closer and I swear that I'll use it!" Kageyama said, shaking in fear, as Ruby simply scoffed at his threat.
"Hate to tell you dumbass, but if you use that, you'll die too." Said Ruby as she rolled her eyes at how stupid these people were to not notice the writing on the wall.
"Wh-what?" Asked Kageyama.
"That's right, Lullaby kills anyone who hears it, including the user." Ruby answered, smirking.
Kageyama was horrified by this realization, they had all been under the belief that the user was protected from Lullaby's curse. But that means their plan to kill the Guild Masters wouldn't have mattered, as they would have died as well!
Though his moment of hesitation was all Ruby needed.
"Ice Dragon's Ice Claws!" Ruby said as her hands were covered in large claws of ice.
Kageyama had no time to react before Ruby stabbed her claws into his chest, before viciously ripping his body in half.
Dismissing the Ice Claws, Ruby picked up Lullaby and smirked.
"Now to find out what you know about Zeref." Ruby said before preparing to leave.
But before she could leave, the doors burst open showing three people and a… flying cat?
Ruby looked at the people, two boys and a girl. One of the boys had pink hair and from what Ruby could smell, he reeked of fire and dragons, the other boy wasn't wearing a shirt for some reason and smelled like ice.
But it was the girl that made Ruby's eyes widen in shock.
It was like looking in a mirror, the only difference being their eyes and clothes, but Ruby knew who it was.
"Erza." Ruby whispered, shocked at seeing her sister again and overjoyed to see she was alive.
"You?! Are you the one who did this?!" Erza demanded as she glared at Ruby; while Gray, Natsu, and Happy looked at the bodies of the deceased Dark Mages in a mix of shock and horror. Gray especially, given they were killed by Ice Magic and it made him swallow his vomit at seeing the more lethal side of Ice Magic
Ruby didn't respond, still in shock at seeing her sister.
"I won't ask again! Are you the one who killed these people?!" Said Erza, while summoning one of her swords.
Ruby looked at the Dark Mages she'd just killed and went back to her sister, before laughing bitterly.
"I had… always dreamed of seeing you again, now here you are after all these years. But I had hoped it would be under better conditions… Erza." Said Ruby as she reached up and removed her mask.
Now it was Erza's turn to be stunned into silence when she saw the woman's face, one identical to her own.
"Na-Ruby? Is that you?" Erza asked, not wanting to believe that it was her lost sister.
"Yeah, it's me. Hey sis." Ruby said with a shaky smile.
Looking from her sister to the frozen corpses, a feeling of dread washed over her.
"You're… you're Crimson Rose, aren't you?" Erza asked, hoping that the answer was no.
"Yes." Ruby confirmed.
Erza lost her grip on her sword, looking at her sister with tears falling from her left eye, as she was no longer able to cry from her right one, thanks to it being artificial.
She was happy to have finally found her sister again, but to see that she is in fact Crimson Rose and surrounded by dead bodies. It hurt worse than Jellal's betrayal.
Erza wanted to deny it, that it was all lies, but the proof was staring her right in the face.
Her sister was a Dark Mage.
Natsu and Gray saw the pain on Erza's face, before glaring at the Dark Mage. The two stepped forward with fire and ice encased in their hands, respectively. They may not know what's going on, but what they did know was this girl was a Dark Mage and that she was hurting Erza emotionally, and they aren't going to let anyone hurt their friend. But before they could attack her, they were stopped by Erza blocking them with her arms.
"Natsu, Gray, don't. I need to… ask my sister some questions." Erza said before stepping forward, while Natsu and Gray looked at her in shock.
"Your sister?!" Natsu exclaimed, while looking between Erza and Ruby.
"Oh man, I didn't know Erza had an evil twin!" Said Happy with a stunned and confused expression.
Ruby looked at Natsu with a raised eyebrow, before looking at her sister.
"I'm surprised that you have a Dragon Slayer as a comrade. Much less that one is still alive in this era." Ruby said, given the fact she'd have thought all Dragon Slayers were dead.
This got Natsu's attention as he remembered that Crimson Rose, or rather Ruby, is also a Dragon Slayer.
"Who's your dragon parent? Where are they now? Do you know where Igneel is?" Natsu questioned.
While he didn't want to ask a Dark Mage for help, he also wanted to find Igneel.
"Igneel? The Fire Dragon King? I'm surprised he's still alive after all this time." Ruby stated, feeling a bit surprised at this bit of information.
"What the hell is that supposed to mean?!" Demanded Natsu, both confused and worried about what that could mean for his foster father.
It was then Ruby decided to drop the bomb on them for just who she was.
"Simple, my father is the Black Dragon of the Apocalypse, Acnologia." Ruby revealed, shocking the three mages to hear she was trained by the Black Dragon himself.
"But don't get the wrong idea, I only call him my father out of courtesy for raising and teaching me. I don't see him as a father and he didn't see me as a daughter; in fact, he told me straight to my face that he'd kill me if I didn't meet his expectations." Ruby said, while shrugging nonchalantly.
She was never really bothered by that as Acnologia was only training her so he could fight her in the future, plus she was glad to have the strength to kill Zeref. There was no familial love between them, she only called him "father" out of respect for his strength.
"As for your question, it's surprising if Igneel is still alive, considering Acnologia was the one responsible for the extinction of the Dragons and Dragon Slayers because you see, amongst all the different forms of Dragon Slayer Magic, Acnologia's was by far the most dangerous. The reason being he didn't just kill Dragons, he took their very souls, meaning even if by some chance they managed to escape him, they'd soon die without their soul." Ruby said, much to their horror at learning of a type of magic that can take away souls.
"Th-then that means… that Igneel… he's…" Natsu said unable to finish, while Ruby nodded.
"Igneel, at full strength, was one of the few Dragons that could rival and kill Acnologia, so of course he was one of the first to lose his soul." Ruby said, feeling sorry for the pink-haired Dragon Slayer, whose head was hung low, as she knew what it was like to lose a loved one.
"That's why it's surprising to learn that Igneel was still alive for the past four hundred years, even more so that he was able to hide from Acnologia and train a Dragon Slayer. But by now, there's no doubt he's dead." Said Ruby as she felt a certain amount of respect for the Fire Dragon King.
Not many can say they survived battling Acnologia and managed to avoid him for four hundred years. A shame he's already dead, as she would have liked to slay him personally as a way to prepare for fighting Acnologia.
"You said Acnologia was the reason why Dragons and Dragon Slayers became extinct four hundred years ago. Then why would he bother training you?" Gray asked, not seeing the logic of wiping out Dragon Slayers only to then make one himself.
"That's the kicker, isn't it?" Ruby said rhetorically, before looking at her sister.
"Apparently one of our parents was a Dragon Slayer themselves, giving us a strong affinity for Dragon Slayer Magic. Acnologia sensed this in me and decided to train me in the hope that I would provide him the challenge he's desired for so long, thanks to our own draconian heritage." Ruby revealed, shocking them once again.
"One of our parents… was a Dragon Slayer?" Erza asked in complete and total shock, given this is the first thing she's learned anything about their parents.
Though Erza quickly shook off her shock at all the revelations that she had learned in less than an hour, knowing she needed to get back to the matter at hand. The dead Dark Mages and Ruby, currently holding Lullaby.
"Ruby, why did you kill these people? And what are you going to do with Lullaby?" Erza questioned, while hoping that Ruby didn't plan to use the flute herself.
Looking back at the frozen corpses, Ruby scoffed.
"If you mean the trash, then they had it coming. As far as I'm concerned, the only good Dark Mage is a dead one, especially those that worship Zeref. They all deserve to be wiped out and that's exactly what I'm doing, all Dark Mages and anything related to Zeref will be destroyed until not even the memory of the Black Wizard remains." Ruby said.
"But, they're human beings! You could have turned them in, and they would have been sent to jail! Killing people isn't right!" Erza argued.
"They stopped being people the moment they became Dark Mages and planned to use Lullaby to kill dozens of innocents! And don't think I can't tell what those Zeref Worshipers did to you, I can sense that artificial eye in your head. And if they aren't already dead, trust me, once I get my hands on them, I'll have them begging for something as sweet as death! In fact, you should be right here next to me, helping me wipe out these bastards!" Ruby said enraged.
She had been able to see the difference between Erza's artificial eye and her real one. It wasn't hard for Ruby to figure out how she lost it, those Zeref Worshippers took her eye! Ruby will take a special kind of pleasure in torturing the bastards that hurt her sister.
This made a cold realization wash over Erza as she realized why Ruby was like this. Rosemary Village was destroyed by Zeref Worshipers, Erza and Simon had both been captured, while Ruby was able to escape, but was completely alone. Erza also doubted that being raised by Acnologia, someone who no-doubtfully encouraged Ruby's vendetta to make her stronger, helped matters. Losing her home, her friends and sister, and then being taken in and raised by someone like Acnologia, Erza really isn't surprised that this was the path Ruby went down.
And that could have been me as well. Erza thought, while realizing she could have turned out just like Ruby had, if things had been even slightly different.
If it hadn't been for Rob and her friends in the tower, Erza was sure that she would have gone down the same path as Ruby. It made Erza all the more thankful for her friends and comrades keeping her out of the darkness, and now she had to do the same for her sister.
"Ruby, this won't change what happened to us. Killing Dark Mages, it won't bring back our village or our friends." Erza said, with Ruby nodding in agreement.
"You're right, it won't change what happened. But at least this way I'm making sure it never happens again and besides, you can't deny that you haven't thought about it." Ruby said while looking at Erza with a knowing stare. A stare that Erza couldn't bring herself to meet out of shame, since what Ruby said was true. There were indeed moments, especially early on, where she was tempted to kill Dark Mages, especially slavers and Zeref worshippers.
It was at that moment Natsu made his presence known and jumped into the air with a flame-covered fist.
"I have heard enough out of you! Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" Natsu roared, while Ruby jumped out of the way as Natsu slammed his fist into the ground, leaving a crater.
"If you wanna take out Dark Mages, then fine! But I'm not going to listen to your crap about going down to their level!" Natsu said with a fiery expression as he ran at Ruby, who scoffed at his words.
"Then you're a fool. Look at what that kind of thinking has accomplished, nothing! The Magic Council doesn't give a damn about the world, as long as they can keep their illusion of power over the Legal Guilds, those same guilds that do nothing to take care of the problem. What you think, just because you beat up some Dark Mages and ship them off to prison, they'll suddenly reform and become good?" Ruby demanded while dodging all of Natsu's attacks.
Normally she would have just killed anyone that attacks her, but considering the brat's her sister's comrade, she'll let just him tire himself out, not wanting to hurt her sister any more than she already has, even if unintentionally. Besides, she didn't have Acnologia's hatred of Dragons and Dragon Slayers; her anger was strictly reserved for Dark Mages, Etherious, Zeref, and anyone who hurts her sister.
Though as she continued avoiding Natsu's attacks, Ruby started noticing… something about him. Narrowing her eyes, Ruby looked at Natsu closely and focused her senses. Getting a feeling for his Ethernano, Ruby looked more deeply inside him.
After a moment, Ruby's eyes widened in anger at what she sensed.
"Fire Dragon's Wi—GAH!" Natsu said, preparing another attack when suddenly Ruby wrapped her right hand around his throat and started choking him.
"Demon!" Ruby hissed in complete and total rage.
That's what she sensed about Natsu, his Ethernano, it felt the same as all the Etherious she's encountered, and Lullaby's as well. He was one of Zeref's demons, and he dared to be around her sister!
"Inferno Dragon's Breakdown Fist!" Ruby exclaimed, while gathering a large amount of blue fire around her fist and smashed it into Natsu's chest, sending him flying into the wall.
"Natsu!" Happy cried out in worry for his friend and adoptive father.
Erza and Gray were also shocked at the sudden assault and quickly got between Ruby and Natsu.
"What're you doing?!" Erza demanded, wanting to know why her sister suddenly attacked Natsu like that.
"I'm killing another of Zeref's demons!" Ruby roared with her arms being coated in flames.
"What the hell are you talking about?! Sure, Natsu's an idiot and a flame brain, but he's not a demon!" Gray said.
"Screw… you… stripper…" Natsu groaned, while pulling himself out of the wall.
"Yes, he is! I can sense it; my Dragon Slayer Magic lets me sense Ethernano. And I've encountered enough Etherious to be able to sense one and he reeks of being an Etherious! Just like Lullaby!" Ruby retorted while glaring at Natsu.
"Well how do you know it isn't the Lullaby you're sensing?! You've had it with you this entire time!" Said Erza, as she wasn't willing to believe that Natsu of all people is a demon.
"My senses are never wrong. I know a demon when I sense it, and that is a demon!" Ruby growled while jabbing a finger at Natsu.
"Maybe he doesn't remember, maybe his powers are sealed; but he was created by Zeref and he'll die like all the rest." Said Ruby.
"That… that… no… that doesn't… I can't be…" Natsu said with his eyes wide open and holding his head.
It wasn't possible that he was a demon created by Zeref, he was raised by Igneel, he's grown up and aged like a human, he's not a demon, he's not!
But… but… but what if Ruby was right? What if he was a demon, but his memories and powers are sealed? He doesn't remember anything from his life before meeting Igneel, does that mean he's been a demon this entire time?
Then if it was true… then who even was he anymore?!
"Even if that's true, then Natsu shouldn't be judged for anything he might have done before having his memories sealed. He's a Fairy Tail Wizard and deserves a chance to find out who he is, himself." Erza said, not willing to turn her back on Natsu and allow him to be killed because of who he might have been.
"This is your last warning Erza, move or I'll move you." Ruby said in a tone that made it clear that she won't argue on this matter.
"Ruby please, if there's any part of you that still cares about me as your sister, then please don't kill Natsu." Erza pleaded, not wanting to be forced to have to choose between her comrade and her sister.
She just found her; she didn't want to lose her again.
Looking at her sister's pleading eyes made Ruby clench her fists, contemplating just jumping over her and quickly killing Natsu. But, Ruby didn't want to hurt her twin.
"Fine, he gets to live." Ruby said while extinguishing her flames, causing Erza to sigh in relief.
"Thank—"
"On the condition that if he relapses back into his true nature and becomes like the rest of the Etherious, then you will be the one to kill him." Ruby added, with Erza looking at her in both shock and hurt that she'd force an ultimatum like that on her.
"I-I-I, I can't kill my comrade." Erza said.
"Swear it now, Erza! Swear on your pride and honor as a swordswoman that should he ever become like the rest of his brethren, you will kill him. Because if you don't agree right now, I will kill him, and believe me, I've made sure that every Etherious I've gotten my hands on has died screaming in pain. The choice is yours Erza, a swift and painless death by your hands or a slow and painful one by mine." Ruby said, though her heart did clench at how hurt and betrayed Erza looked right now.
She didn't want to force this choice on Erza, but Ruby wasn't going to risk her sister's safety just because they were comrades. He may look human, act human, but on the inside, he is a demon.
"I… I… I swear it." Erza said in resignation.
Nodding once, Ruby went to leave, picking up her mask and cloak along the way, but stopped and looked at Erza.
"For what it's worth, I'm sorry that it had to come to this Erza. But I already had to deal with the pain of losing you once, I won't go through it again, even if you end up hating me." Ruby said, before leaving the station as tears began leaking out of her eyes.
She'd rather have Erza alive and hate her, than dead. Even if the idea of Erza hating her made Ruby feel like her heart was being torn to shreds.
Once she was gone, the three Fairy Tail Mages left as well, none of them saying anything or even knowing what to say.
Erza was silent over the fact that she just reunited with her sister, but not in the way that she wanted, and that she was Crimson Rose. Natsu's head was hung low, his mind filled with thoughts of who or what he was, did Igneel know and was that why he left, and did he always know. And Gray, he was walking away from Natsu, looking at him like he was the plague, finding it hard to accept that for years he's been around and associating with one of Zeref's demons, the same creature as Deliora, the monster that destroyed his home.
"So uh, Erza has a sister!" Happy declared, trying to cheer the others up and keep his own mood high, only to see he failed.