Fairy Tail: Threads of Infinity

The morning sun filtered weakly through the broken canopy of trees surrounding Akane Resort. The battle scars from the previous night remained etched in the earth, but in the quiet dawn air, something had changed. It wasn't peace—but purpose.

Simon sat cross-legged on a bench near the edge of the resort gardens, bandages across his chest and shoulder. His normally cold expression was softer, contemplative. The others stood around him in a half-circle: Erza at the center, Shinra beside her, Gray leaning against a railing with crossed arms, and Lucy and Happy sitting on the grass. Mirajane stood back near the door, arms folded, silently watching Erza.

Sho, Wally, and Millianna were still unconscious—heavily restrained and resting in magically sealed rooms for safety. Simon had surrendered without a fight after their fall, telling Erza, "It's time you knew everything."

And now he spoke.

"Jellal plans to resurrect Zeref."

The words dropped into the silence like iron into still water.

Lucy blinked, her breath catching. "W-What…?"

Simon's eyes hardened. "He's reconstructed the Tower of Heaven—our prison. But this time, it's not for slaves. It's a massive magic amplifier. The R-System. Using it, he intends to bring back Zeref. That's what all of this has been leading to."

Erza's knuckles tightened, nails digging into her palms. Her eyes were stormy.

"I never believed in him," Simon continued. "Not really. After you escaped, Erza, he changed. Not just his ideals, but his soul. Jellal became obsessed. He said he'd spoken to Zeref himself—that it was destiny. But it wasn't faith that kept me following him."

He looked up, meeting her eyes.

"It was fear. Not of Jellal… but for the others. Millianna. Sho. Even Wally. I thought if I stayed close, I could protect them. Maybe buy time. Maybe change something from within."

Gray narrowed his eyes. "And now?"

Simon's voice was firm. "Now I see I was wrong. Jellal's too far gone. But you…" He looked to Erza, then around at the others. "You're strong. Stronger than I ever imagined. You stood against us without hate. Without killing us. You still have your hearts."

He lowered his head. "I want to help stop him. Before it's too late."

The group fell silent for a moment. The weight of Simon's words anchored their thoughts.

Then Erza stepped forward. Her face, once wracked with doubt, was steadier now. She raised her head, scarlet hair fluttering in the sea breeze.

"Thank you, Simon," she said quietly. "For protecting them. For telling us the truth."

She turned to face her teammates—her family.

"Jellal was… someone I once believed in. But now… I see clearly. He must be stopped."

She looked to Shinra, her voice steady. "I need your help. All of you. This isn't just about the Tower or about me anymore. If he succeeds, the entire world could fall into chaos. We can't let that happen."

Shinra gave her a calm nod, his expression unreadable. "Then we take him down. Though we will have to be more careful as he's not a brute—he's a strategist. Which means we need to play smarter."

Mirajane stepped forward then, her voice gentle but firm. "Count me in. I'm not letting some lunatic rewrite the world just because he got lost in a dream."

Gray cracked his knuckles. "Let's freeze this bastard before he even gets to chant a spell."

Lucy looked nervous, but resolute. "We'll figure it out. Together."

Happy flapped up with a determined tone, "Aye! No bad guys bringing back Zeref on *my* watch!"

Simon looked between them, visibly surprised by their unity. "He'll be expecting you, Erza. But maybe not all of you. He's arrogant. That could be our advantage."

Shinra stepped forward, taking the lead beside Erza. "Then we need to split our roles. Scout the Tower. Identify weak points. Find out how many of his supporters are still inside."

He looked at Simon. "Can you draw us a layout of the Tower? Anything you remember."

Simon nodded instantly. "I memorized every corridor, every energy conduit. I can recreate a map."

"Good," Shinra said, crossing his arms. "We'll also need to determine the ritual's time and power source. If we can sever the flow before it completes—everything will fall apart."

He turned to Lucy. "Your celestial spirits might help us bypass security gates if we split into infiltration teams."

"On it," she nodded.

Erza couldn't help the flicker of pride in her chest. Shinra had taken command with quiet efficiency—not pushing anyone, not barking orders, but guiding. It was… natural.

"We'll leave at sunset," Shinra continued. "Simon, you and I will begin mapping out the approach. Gray, Mira—prepare any offensive and defensive gear we'll need."

Erza exhaled. "And I'll speak to Sho and the others… once they wake. If they're willing to fight against Jellal, they deserve the chance."

Mira raised a brow. "And if they're not?"

Erza's face hardened. "Then we'll go without them."

As everyone began to split off, heading to prepare, Shinra lingered at Erza's side.

"Are you alright?" he asked softly.

Erza looked toward the horizon, toward the Tower that loomed far beyond their sight but ever-present in her mind.

"…No," she said honestly. "But I will be."

Then she looked at him, eyes resolute. "This time… I'm not facing him alone."