Ok so as I finish Vampire's Promise, I'm beginning a new short multi-chapter based on a weird idea that popped into my head. So, tell me what you guys think. Not sure when this takes place, borderline AU. Post Ultear's death, Fairytail is not disbanded. Slight OOCness. This should be 2-3 chapters long total.

Summary: A secret about Jellal is revealed. He is not who he appears to be. He is merely a shard of the original. A soul projection, created from forbidden magic. But if this is the truth, where is the Jellal from the tower?

Projection of the Soul: Chapter 1: Shattered seal

3rd person POV

Jellal sat next to Laxus as the two discussed the troubles of being guild masters over a bottle of rum. Crime Sorciere was visiting FairyTail as a break from hunting dark guilds.

Jellal's POV

"So how is Meredy getting along with the newbies?" Laxus asked. "I know Ultear's death hit her hard." I sighed. Ultear's passing had been hard on us both. I felt like I had lost a sister. "She is doing the best she can. Surprisingly Macbeth and she get along well. He hardly ever speaks but apparently, he is good with comforting someone." I stated. Laxus looked up surprised. "Really? I never would have seen that one coming." He stated and I nodded in response. "Erik has helped too. He purposefully annoys her to distract her." Laxus nodded. "That's good."

I felt a slight pang in my tattoo. I rubbed it slightly. "Headache?" Laxus guessed. I nodded unsure. "I'm going to get some rest. See you tomorrow." I called.

Erza's POV

I watched Jellal and Laxus laugh together. It was good to see him relax. I watched him as he walked out, hopefully tomorrow we can spend some more time together.

Jellal's POV

My tattoo was burning, and my chest constricted, making it hard to breath. I didn't know what was happening. A curse, some kind of long distance attack? The pain became unbearable and I lost conciseness.

The next morning I woke up on the floor. The pain seemed to disappear, but I was worried. I figured I'd have Wendy take a look at me later. I quickly got ready and headed to FairyTail. My guild was already there. We had all stayed at different hotels for safety reasons. I walked in and sat at the bar, rubbing my head. The pain was beginning to come back.

Erza's POV

Jellal looked exhausted. I was worried and began to walk towards him when he suddenly collapsed to the floor, holding his head.

"Jellal?!" I called out worriedly. He was unconscious. I placed my hand on his forehead as Wendy and Meredy rushed over. His forehead was burning.

"What happened?" Meredy asked. I shook my head. "He seems to have a fever but, something seems off." I stated. Wendy placed her hands on his head and gasped. "What on earth?" She questioned, eyes wide and panicked. Everyone froze and waited for her to explain.

"I don't understand. It's like he is slowing having the magic in him sucked out, but from where? And how? There is some kind of seal? Someone get Porlyusica. "She ordered and Jet ran out to race towards her home. Laxus picked Jellal up and carried him to the infirmary with Wendy following. Meredy and I looked at each other panicked and followed.

Erza's POV

A few hours later and Porlyusica arrived. She quickly set to work and placed her hands on Jellal. Her eyebrows furrowed. "There is a seal. It is connecting him to someone or something. Regardless, it appears to be pulling his magic out of him. It might even be sealing pieces of his memory." She stated grimly.

"How is that possible?" Makarov asked quietly.

"Forbidden magic. Deeply forbidden and dangerous magic." She replied. "I can probably remove the seal but I'm not sure what damage that would do." She confessed. Jellal began to stir slightly. After quickly explaining the situation to him he turned to Porlyusica. "Remove the seal, please? I need to know why it's there." He asked. I looked at him worriedly. "Are you sure?" He took my hand and squeezed it for a second before letting go. "Yes." He stated, sitting up.

Porlyusica sighed and placed her hands on Jellal's head. "Take a deep breath. This will most likely hurt." He nodded and she began the counter spell. Almost immediately he started screaming in pain. The dragon slayers moved quickly to hold him in place so she could work.

Jellal's POV

Something in my head was breaking. Flashes of my past came to me. My memories over ran my mind and each piece brought agony as they began to fill in gaps I didn't realize were there. All I could see after was one simple truth that had been sealed away. The truth of it shocked me to my core and I collapsed.

Erza's POV

Jellal collapsed suddenly and I pushed him back on to the bed. "Is he going to be ok?" I questioned. Porlyusica sighed. "We won't know until he wakes and we can tell if it worked or not."

I sat next to Jellal for hours, holding his hand. It had killed me to see him in that much pain. His guild and my team along with Master Makarov visited him throughout the day but he gave no sign of waking up. Finally, as the sun began to set, he stirred.

"Jellal?" I called to him as I quickly motioned to Meredy who was there to get everyone. He groaned and opened his eyes. By then the entire guild was present. He put a hand on his head. "It worked." He stated simply but he seemed distraught.

"Well? What was it for?" I asked. He looked me in the eye and I was shocked at the distress there. "To hide the truth. I'm not Jellal Fernandez."

….

"WHAT?!" Everyone yelled as they came to their senses. I was shocked. How could he not be Jellal?

"I'm not Jellal Fernandez. At least, I'm only a piece of him."

"Are you saying you're a thought projection?" I asked quietly He shook his head

"I'm not a thought projection, either. He made me using a forbidden technique. I'm a shard of his soul given a physical form. I'm his soul projection." He explained.

Makarov gasped. "I've heard of this technique. It is deeply forbidden. The caster chooses an aspect of themselves they wish to cut out, and using a ritual, they remove it from their soul and give it physical form. However, the hole it leaves is eventually healed and the castor is fine, and retains themselves as they always were, however the projection may end up having the shard morph into their own soul, thus creating an individual. The two would eventually end up with different personalities and if the projection ever tried to return to the original, the clash of personalities may drive them mad. Tell me, what piece of himself did the original Jellal use to create you? And when did he do this?" He asked quietly.

Jellal, no, the projection tilted his head and seemed to be in deep thought. "I was made with his desire to protect, and his need to make things right." The projection looked at me sadly.

"He made me to protect you, Erza. You and the others, and to get redemption if possible." He stated smiling. I gasped and I felt tears in my eyes. Suddenly the projection's eyes widened as if he remembered something. "I was created soon after the original was defeated in the tower…Oh god. He never left the tower. He made me before he fused with the lacrima. Meaning, I was his final act… How am I even here?" He looked at Makarov confused. I was in shock. Even in his final moments, Jellal was there for me. By creating a replica to look out for me.

Makarov's voice responding the projection brought me back. "My boy, that must mean the original is alive somewhere, feeding your life force with his own magic. The pull of magic from you that made you faint may have been the original pulling his magic back if his ran out. "He stated. I was frozen. "So, the real Jellal is out there somewhere? What will happen to the fake?" Others gasped. I flinched when I saw the projection's response to my words. He looked like I had punched him in the gut. "Wait. I mean…I'm sorry." I finally said to him.

"Erza, it's ok. "He said in response. "No, it's not. You have been the only Jellal there since Nirvana. Everything we went through, it was you, not the original. You are not a fake. You are yourself." I told him firmly. He smiled at me gently. I decided I would keep calling him Jellal, not projection. He was himself, and he was the Jellal I knew. And if I were being honest with myself, he was the Jellal I loved.

Suddenly Levy gasped. "Wait. You said the original never left the tower since he fused with the lacrima. Makarov said he must be alive. Does that mean that the original is at the tower right now? Trapped in the lacrima?" Everyone froze. "Oh god…" I felt sick. "We left him there, to die…" I stated.

"We have to free him." Meredy announced. "Being trapped in lacrima, that much concentrated magic fusing with his body, for so many years...How is he even alive? Who knows how much damage that has done to him?" Wendy questioned.

"We need to leave immediately. Erza, Natsu, Gray, Happy, Wendy, Charlee, go to the island. The rest of us will stay here." Makarov stated.

Jellal's POV

"Wait. I need to go too." I stated.

"Are you sure? If you two get too close you may fuse." Levy stated. I nodded. Something told me that I needed to be there.

"Alright then. Head out." Laxus stated.

3rd person POV

Renting a boat, they soon began to approach the island. The tower still stood, encased in lacrima but it seemed to be flashing slightly.

Erza's POV

I was unprepared for the rush of memories that came with seeing the tower again. I looked towards Jellal, or his projection at least and he seemed to be struggling too. We came ashore and started towards the entrance.

"Wait, I need to go alone." Jellal stated suddenly.

"What? Why?" Natsu questioned. He shrugged in response.

"I'm not sure. A hunch I guess." Jellal stated quietly.

Jellal's POV

I couldn't explain why, but I felt I had to face this alone. Nodding towards the others I began to climb up the tower. I had no idea what I would find, but I knew that if my creator was truly alive my life was about to get a heck of a lot more complicated.