Epilogue: And Death Can Go Hang

Earthland-1, Fairy Tail Guild Hall, X793: Erza

"Requip!" Erza chanted.

Her mother and Mirajane were the only ones who weren't staring. "You kept it?" Lucy blurted.

"You had a wedding dress...in your Requip space?" Levy joined in.

Juvia stared at the flower-adorned saber. "With a sword? Juvin?"

Mira laughed. "Of course. She's Erza!" Her nakama laughed and nodded.

Irene circled around behind Erza, checking her hair and the veil. She summoned a brush from her own Requip space and fixed the bride's hairdo. "Not bad," she said, looking her daughter over. "It's a touch low-cut for my taste–"

"Mom!" Erza blurted. Several of the other women laughed.

"–but otherwise, it is elegant and stylish, with clean, classic lines." She smiled and patted Erza on the shoulder. "Jellal won't be able to take his eyes off you."

"That was the idea," Erza admitted, adjusting the blossom on her veil. Well, the others did warn me that having a mother for my wedding day would be more intense than just having one at all.

Mira brushed her hands away from it. "Gods, Erza, that man would be smitten with you if you wore a box," the She-Demon pointed out. "Will you relax?"

"I am relaxed," Erza insisted. Every woman in the room glared at her. She sighed. "Very well. I am a little nervous. That is normal for a bride!"

Ultear chuckled as she walked in, Cana and Meredy beside her. Erza shoved away a moment's sorrow at how she still leaned on her eye staff, months after the war's end. "No one's questioning that, Erza, but Jellal's one suit wrinkle away from turning into a wreck. Are you really that calm?"

Erza took in a breath, held it, let it go. "No," she admitted, "but I can pretend to be for one ceremony." She fiddled with her saber's handle. "I just don't want anything to go wrong. Not now."

"Well," Cana chuckled, "let your Aunt Cana reassure you. Ultear, Shou and I did some pretty intense readings for you two, and do you know what's going to happen next?" Erza shook her head. "You're going to have one hell of a honeymoon, go on an epic adventure for the 100 Year Quest together, come home to family and having twins and more adventure, then grandkids, great-grand kids, and live to be over a hundred." She shrugged. "I can't tell if you die in your sleep or go out in one last battle with an evil dragon, though."

Erza stared for a moment. "That – that can't be certain."

"Nothing is certain, Erza," Ultear replied, "but that future is nearly so. Zeref's been redeemed, Acnologia's functionally dead – I don't think Adam's memory is ever coming back at this point – and you've got all of Fairy Tail rooting for you." She smirked. "Even Ichiya's been dealt with."

They all laughed at that. "Honestly," Lisanna sighed, hugging Lucy closer, "I can't believe he was stupd enough to challenge Jellal to a duel. At least it wasn't what Jellal-nii thought it was." Erza nodded. He just wanted to impress me. Going down in one punch was not impressive, even against Jellal. Watching Lisanna and Lucy hold hands piqued her curiosity again. She stomped it down with unrelenting will. Even if it were my business, which it is not, Erza decided, this is not the time.

Mischief lit Ultear's face as she grinned. "Anyone want to see how the boys are doing?" she asked, swapping her eye staff for the one with the crystal ball. That's right, they made that for her in place of the skull staff, Erza remembered. Then the crystal projected an image of a pacing Jellal between them.

"Ultear! That's invasion of privacy!" Lucy objected. Erza swallowed and nodded.

"Oh, don't worry so much," Irene assured her, waving for Ultear to continue.

"–Earthland-2 projectors are working," Jellal worried, "but the Edolas ones are cutting out."

Master Makarov laughed. "You worry too much, my boy."

"Yeah," Gray joined in, "you're gonna get wrinkles before you even reach the altar."

"That's not funny!" Jellal blurted, and the entire group of ladies laughed, even Erza. "I'm almost thirty! And Erza's – she's – gods," he trailed off, rubbing his forehead.

"Yeah, thirty," Gildarts retorted, "that's positively ancient." Irene snorted a laugh, then smirked at the Fairy Tail ace. It reminded Erza of how she sometimes looked at Jellal. I do not want to know, Erza decided.

"Stop worryin', boss," Cobra said, throwing an arm around Jellal and holding up his own hand. The former Prayer's wedding band gleamed. "Marriage ain't so bad. Besides, Erza's nuts about you. You've got about half our world and most of two other worlds making sure this goes off with exactly one hitch – you two, getting hitched."

"I – I just – I know," Jellal stammered, "that she loves me. I'm a telepath. She's asked me to enter her mind. I have literally seen how much Erza cares for me. It's, just, all those doubts I had are coming back like an invasion. 'I'm not worthy of her. I'll only hurt her. I'm no good for her.' It's driving me crazy." Erza's smile vanished. Meredy facepalmed.

"Oi." Laxus stood in front of Jellal, arms crossed. "You're an S-Class wizard of Fairy Tail. You know how this works. 'Just because we overcome our sorrow today, that doesn't mean it won't be there tomorrow.' You're strong enough to face it."

"And we're here to face it with you," Gray added, patting Jellal on the arm. "That's why Fairy Tail's here."

Jellal nodded, unnecessarily straightening the jacket's collar. "Yes. Of course. Thank you. I'm all right now." He nodded again.

"Well then." Makarov cleared his throat. "You boys should head out. I'll go get Erza."

Erza giggled, the nerves escaping her. "That's enough, Ultear," she reassured her, and Ultear cut off the image. "Huh. Where's Natsu?"

"Don't ask," Lisanna and Lucy sighed as one. "He'll be there when we are," Lisanna added, sharing a look with a suddenly-diabolic Mirajane, "and on his best behavior."

...I do NOT want to know, Erza thought. She let her friends – her sisters – fuss over her, while her mother – my mother, alive and sane, another blessing thanks to him – headed out to oversee the final proceedings.

Then Master Makarov knocked at the door. "I still don't see why you need anyone to 'give you away,' Erza," Meredy muttered.

"I wish Uncle Rob could be here," Erza admitted, "but Master Makarov has been my father since I...joined Fairy Tail. Knowing he approves, accepts, is happy for us – this is what I want, Meredy," The pink-haired prodigy sighed and nodded.

The rest was a slow-motion blur. Her bridesmaids trailed out, Mirajane just ahead of her as Maid of Honor, and then Master Makarov was leading her toward the altar. Jellal looked almost terrified, until their eyes met. The fear and worry melted from his face, and all Erza could see was love, joy, peace – and that smile, the one that had saved her from a Grim nightmare. It shone like a beacon, leading her to a future of love and joy. And to be honest, I don't want too much peace, she admitted. We're going to have more adventures, see more wonders, fight and laugh and live, for the rest of our days. "I do," Erza whispered, not realizing she'd responded to her cue until the words came forth.

"You may kiss," the Archbishop said, his smile gentle, "to seal your union."

They did. Oh Jellal. My world-sister was right. Hope is blue.

It was the color of your hair.

THE END

A Fairy Tail