In The Times Of Fairy Tails

Ander's pov:



... He reached his master. Ander was the only one alive.
For some reason he felt better being back at the tower, but he had no idea why.
It was almost like a healing wind hand lit the place up.
He walked to the top floor of the tower.
Ander then told his master what happened:
Master:
“You are alive” There was a hint of disappointment.
Take this you most always were it to remind you of your frailer on the mission.
In his master’s hand was a key, it looked the same as the black on his master’s desk, but it was green.
Ander saw that the black key was no longer on his master desk.
Ander: “what does it do?”
Master: “it is said to open any door.
Leave and never return Ander
The key is the Answer to all of your questions.
Then there was a voice "you let everyone die."
This voice seemed so like he herd it before, but not like he herd it before all at the same time.
....
Ander stood by were Ezekiel had fallen there was no recognition in his eyes like he was not even there.
Everyone dead.. why was it so...


Sara's pov:



She opened her eyes not remembering anything that happened.
There one the floor lay what was Ezekiel.
Moments before she felt a healing feeling that circled the group.
She felt like... What was she doing she came here for one reason, but found herself doing another.
Her head hurt and she was not sure what to do anymore.
The S class members had came up saying what a good job they have done. A good job doing what? What did they do?
She had a hard time remembering. Things had what ended well.
One thing left to do was to see what would happened now.
She looked around the S class members so far seemed like the only one that were happy about what they had did that and the dark haired girl.
The S class members seemed to be confused about something. What were they confused about?
The Answer may come in time.
The darkness that was in the air seemed to be gone or at least in a lesser effect.
What would happen to Ezekiel? She stood by waiting to see what was next.
Then her eyes drifted to the ground. Her bow lay on the ground.
Then she saw a vision of her shooting the man that was on the ground Ezekiel.
She had hurt another, but why was it in a vision?
She did not remember even using her bow, but somehow her did.
She slightly wondered if she killed him.

 

~One Total BS KO Later~
​

Veilen's body was in pain as he eventually sat up. The first thing that he noticed was Ezekiel's human and now dead body laying on the ground. That was both a good thing and it kinda sucked. It suck since despite him being human, Veilen still wasn't going to be able to punch him in the face. If he was just unconscious then he could literally kick him while he was down. Ah whatever, he would just have to find something or someone else to punch. He then decided to worry about that later and he stood up, using his sword to assist in the task. Evanora's healing spell help mitigate the lingering pain that he was feeling and he choose to ignore how they'd basically appeared out of nowhere, congratulating them. Just were the hell had they been while they were fighting.

​

 

Ra rose to his feet, looking down at his brother. The man lay injured on the stone, defeated at the hands of his guild mates. It had been a trying fight, but in the end they had won. They had defeated power incarnate. Ra was injured. His face was bruised and scraped, his hair dirty and stained in parts with his blood, and his armor was broken apart, only the fabric and pieces of metal here and there remained, and what did was caked with the dried blood of its owner. Yet, even in his weathered state, Ra wore a look of pride. Pride in his guild. Pride in his friends. They had achieved their goal, and truly defeated Ezekiel. He walked over to the man who he once called family, and stood above him. Ezekiel didn't move as Ra approached. He only stared blankly into the sky after his defeat.

"Ra...Indulge me a question." The man nodded, indicating to go ahead and ask. "What was it? The power that you all had?" Why was I defeated?" Ra stood silent for a moment, as though trying to find the right words. "We nearly broke under your might. Only together were we able to overcome you. Evanora, Team King, The entire guild. It took everything we had, and you still nearly won." Ezekiel gave a slight chuckle. "Flattery? I didn't think you the type." "But it was because of this that you lost." Ezekiel looked at Ra, confused. "That is what a guild is. In the face of adversity, we pick eachother back up off the ground, and are lifted in return. We face hardships together, and emerge stronger for it. That is the power which defeated you. You took the shortcut to power. You attained the strength you called yours recklessly, rather than how it should be aquired."

"So, you mean to tell me that it was because of my ascension...that you were able to beat me?" Fate hasn't lost her sense of irony it seems." What happened next caused even Ezekiel to look upon Ra with a look of surprise. The man clad in tattered armor, who had just fought fiercely against Ezekiel...was offering his hand to him. "Evanora has not taken anything from you Ezekiel. She has given you something precious. She has given you a second chance. A clean slate to start anew, and become the man you should have been all along. You were driven mad with the need for power, yet now you have the opportunity to regain it. This time, the way it's meant to be obtained." Ezekiel could only look at his brother in shock. After all he had done...He offered him a hand in friendship? Perhaps...This was what he meant. He had fallen into darkness so deep along his road to power, he'd failed to see the path right in front of him, and the man who walked it side by side with him. Yet here he was, reaching out his hand to pull him out of it. Raising his arm, he grabbed onto his brother's wrist and was pulled to his feet.

"As my life has ended...life begins anew."
"As it should be."
"I suppose...That's okay." ​

 

The tough battle was over, and Ezekiel was defeated. However, Skadi wasn't smiling, in fact much of the paranoia that had made its way into her body after Yana's death still remained. She made her way over to Silvia and sat down next to the girl. Skadi herself looked stressed out and a little sad, which was an understatement, but she was doing her best to keep it together. "Silvia, if it wasn't for you many of us wouldn't be standing here. You played an important part, you shouldn't be saying sorry. None of us should be saying sorry, the only words that we should be saying to each other right now is thank you. Thank you Silvia, for keeping us alive and trying your hardest" the ice mage said, trying her best to sound reassuring and encouraging as she spoke, but damn it was hard.


Wearily, Caleb got up. The healing magic from Evanora had helped, but it wasn't enough to get him back on his feet in a hurry. He walked over to Skadi and knelt down next to her. "Are you alright?" he asked, to which he got a slow nod. He could tell right away that she wasn't alright, but she didn't want the others to know. They'd all been through so much, but he knew the girl well enough to know that she'd been through more than most, and yet she continued acting as though everything was okay. She was much stronger than he gave her credit for. At Thomas' suggestion, he turned to look towards Ezekiel. "I agree. He shouldn't be allowed to go, but taking him as a hostage would be dangerous. He might work with the girl we captured and escape, and that would cause more trouble for all of us. I don't know what should be done about it, but that's not it" he stated, giving his opinion.


Gaius could remain silent no longer. He'd been knocked out twice recently, and had been injured countless times, so he was pretty fed up. Somehow, they had defeated Ezekiel, and that was awesome, but the way things were going now were not the way he had thought they should. "Ra, I don't see why you're holdin' this guy's hand. He's your brother, but that doesn't mean he deserves anything. This guy beat up Caleb and sent him with a declaration of war" damn, he'd used a big word, he was impressing himself already. "He tried to destroy our guild, he hurt our friends," he continued, determined to make his point, "he tried to kill all of us, and he did kill one of us" the red headed fire mage said. He remembered the look of the guild member he'd never gotten to meet, vaporised in an instant with no hesitation whatsoever from Ezekiel, remembered the feelings of rage, of hatred flowing through him; feelings he had once forgotten and wished he hadn't remembered.

"Takin' him as a hostage is a stupid idea. Thomas is right, he'll just come after us again. He took the life of one of our friends" Gaius said, flames appearing around his hands as he spoke. He took a step forward and glared at Ezekiel. "I say he pays for it with his own" the fire mage said, his tone colder and more serious than anything he had ever said.​

 

Scarlett launched into a coughing fit as she came to. She sputtered multiple times before catching her breath. As Scarlett stood up slowly, she noticed only whiteness as stretched directly above her and on all sides. It shimmered with purity and the only sound to be heard was the silent ringing in her ears. Am I... Dead? Is this really it? Am I really just.... Gone? No. It can't end like that. Scarlett fell to her knees and banged her fists on the ground. No, no, NO. NO. Please, no. It can't end like that. I have... I can't just... Please. The only sound to be heard was the gentle sob of the mighty, fearless, fierce Scarlett as a single tear slid down her cheek.

Thunk.

Scarlett jerked upwards from her laying position. In less than a second, pain filled every place in her body. She ignored it though, as she was too busy letting out a sigh of relief. The guild members stood before her, alive and real. She let out a calm breath. I'm okay. I'm not dead. It's okay. As Scarlett eased herself into a sitting position, she examined her surroundings. Her shirt was torn up, shredded almost, revealing a lot of her exposed stomach. Of course, she had nothing there to hide or be shamed of, she that didn't bug her. Her hair was still pulled up in a ponytail, but her bangs and other stray hair fell down and framed her hardened face.

First, she saw Dale. She was relieved to see he was okay. He was the closest thing to a friend that she had here, or even ever really. She hoped that girl that he liked so much was okay too. He deserved to be happy.

The next thing she noticed was the small clusters of guild members huddling together, healing and comforting one another. She looked from group to group, watching each one interact so easily, so effortlessly. Then, she looked down at herself. Alone, as usual. She continued to sit alone in this spot, just watching the others. It was hard to watch so many people like that. For as long as she could remember, Scarlett had been on her own. She didn't really know how else to live. She didn't really know if she could ever be like them. All she knew was that, yet again, she was alone.

It only took a few moments of misery to propel Scarlett into action. She stood up slowly, shaking off the dust. As she brought her hand up to her face, she winced as she felt the long scar that cut sharply along her right cheekbone. There was another, above her left eyebrow. Both were deep, but not fatal. Now was not the time for healing. It was the time for action.

"Gaius is right." She announced loudly, stepping up beside him, but slightly behind him at the same time. "No one should be able to commit crimes like that and be excused from the penalty they deserve. It's guys like him that are the reason for so much pain, so much misery, in this world. It's guys like him, that once defeated, they prey on our mercy and eventually use it against us. If you let him leave from this battleground, you are a disgrace. A disgrace to everyone here that nearly gave their lives to end him. One even payed the ultimate price for it. Don't you dare think about giving this disgusting, worthless, thing, any mercy or so help me I will beat you senseless personally."

And with that, Scarlett remained at Gaius's side, bow gripped tight, with a deadly look on her face.

 

​

Ren watched the wounds on his hand fade away as Evanora's light passed over them. His mind was on other things, however. Not too far away were Ezekiel, his brother, and a few guild members who wanted blood. This is what Ren was really focused on, and with the appearance of Scarlett, he'd decided that things had gone far enough. "Animals," he growled to himself, pacing towards them.
He barged in and placed himself right in between Ezekiel and the three that wanted revenge, planting his staff firmly on the ground with a thud. He stared icily at the three, examining their faces for a moment.
"You would kill this man in cold blood. How is that any better than what he has done?" he posed to them. "He is evil. We know that. But an evil man can do some good. Give him the opportunity to do so. And what about you? Are you truly good? Or are you evil, and only just now revealing you true colors. Perhaps you don't know yourself."
"I for one have to give this man another chance. I have to believe he can redeem himself. If he truly deserves to die, then so do I. You'll have to kill me first."
It all hinged on this really. Not only did Ezekiel's fate hang on the balance, but unbeknownst to everyone else here, their decision would make it clear to Ren whether he deserved to live as well. Whether he could truly redeem himself.
It was kind of selfish really. Ren was only defending Ezekiel because, in a way, Ren and Ezekiel were the same. Ren was being attacked just as much as Ezekiel. At least, that's how Ren saw it. He'd base his next few decisions on theirs.

 

Scarlett was feeling some sort of satisfaction that she had said what needed to be said, until that foolish Ren guy came along. Her jaw locked askew in disbelief, betrayal almost. She looked at Gaius, hoping he shared the same anger she felt.

"You can't honestly be serious. You've got to be delirious." She looked at Gaius again. "He's lost his mind!"

Turning to Ren, she shot her arm up to the burning scar on her face. "You think this should get a second chance? That think that--" she pointed to the injured guild members "-- should get another chance? Did you not see what this man did to us? Did you not see the look of pure evil as he ended one of our own without even a single breath of hesitation?!?" She was almost yelling now. "People like him don't redeem themselves. HE IS A MONSTER, why can't you see that?! All it takes is one moment of trust, one moment of mercy, one opportunity and he will kill every last one of us! Don't you see that?! We can't take that chance!" She had reach a point of so much anger that she was almost pleading with Ren to come to his senses. "You say an evil man can do good?" Her voice was full of a fire now, reaching dangerous levels. "Look around you. Do you see any good here? Well, do you?!? Because I sure as hell don't."

 

"She's right, he'll kill us the moment he can. He..he tried to end us, all of us. He's probably just pretending to have a heart, pretending like he's some human. Did you see the look in his eyes? He was ready to murder us, and he wouldn't have even looked back! Why the hell would you defend someone like him? Are you wanting us all to die too?" Gaius asked, the flames around his hands getting more intense. He pointed at the marks on the ground; the only remnants of Levi. "What about him? Are you that stupid that you're going to just let him get away with that? You're talking about second chances, but how 'bout him? WHERE WAS HIS SECOND CHANCE HUH? IT WAS DESTROYED, TAKEN FROM HIM BY THAT FUCKING BASTARD RIGHT THERE! AND HE SAYS SORRY AND THATS FINE? MAYBE YOU SHOULD GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE TOO, YOU WANNA GO AND MURDER SOME OF OUR FRIENDS WITH HIM?" Gaius roared, getting more and more worked up by the second.

Skadi stood up now, deciding to speak. She gave a quick glance towards Silvia, doing her best to fake a smile. "Stop it! Please! Are we really arguing this right now? This man has done some terrible things, and believe me when I say I hate him. I hate him so much, and I will never forgive him" Skadi said, now glaring at Ezekiel. "But is killing him the answer? We fought to stop a man who was trying to play God, and now we're trying to do exactly what he was trying to. Look at him, do you see the eyes of a murderer? If you'd asked me a few minutes ago, I would have said yes, but now? Now he's just a man that's been given too much power. Don't kill him, give him a second chance. Please, there's been too much suffering as it is" Skadi said, physically unable to say any more. Her voice was breaking, emotion was getting to her, and she didn't trust herself to talk anymore.​

 

Scarlett was enraged on how stupidly these people were acting. She had spent all her live being around evil people and never once did she see anyone change. Not in this life, not in this world. She burst into a furious rant.

"Do you even hear what you're saying?! Are you listening to yourselves?!" She turned rapidly towards Skadi. "You think... You think he's just a man?? Are you blind?? He's the EXACT same person he was two minutes ago when he nearly killed us all! Or has his human form just seduced you so such that you forgot that he murdered one of us without so much as a single thought??" Enough arguing. If no one was going to act, then hell, she would be the first.

Finally bringing her bow up from her side, she grabbed an arrow with such fury that it nearly snapped it half. She nocked it in a matter of seconds, not forgetting her skills in the midst of this situation.

"You say there's too much suffering as it is? Well who do you think caused all of it?! It's people like him! Things like him, that are responsible for the destruction and the fear that comes with it. He CANNOT be trusted! The minute you turn your back he'll have you dead before you hit the ground. Don't you get it? He's preying on you, on your emotions, just waiting to strike."

Her bow was aimed at the ground now, but could be flicked up in a matter of seconds if needed.

"Skadi, you think he gets a second chance? How's this for a second chance? How about you give him a second chance, and then he goes behind your back and murders your buddy Silvia over there. He'll tear her into shreds before your very eyes and laugh at your horrified screams. And it will be your fault that she died. All. Your. Fault."

Scarlett glared at the girl, her narrow eyes burning deeply into Skadi's vision.

"I intend to finish what I--what we-- started whether you're with me or not."

 

Dale watched the argument between guild members with that same bored expression he always wore, with his arms folded standing tall and straight. They make good points, each of them. Ezekiel should die for what he has done. But... What would Johanna do? Johanna wouldn't kill him, would she? She'd let him go I think. Give him another chance. Maybe there's a compromise. If we can get what functions as the law around here to lock him up in a magical dead zone then maybe during that time he can reform, then go out into the world again a changed man, a better man. Maybe. But still the ****er killed one of us so what do we do? Goddammit Johanna! Why do you have to confuse me so, what do we do with him? Then something caught his eye. Scarlett drew her bow and nocked an arrow. Immediately, Dale knew to intervene. Whatever happens they can argue but they can't turn to violence like that. What does she think she's doing she could kill someone with that thing! He strode forwards quickly with his most stern look on and grabbed Scarlett's bow arm, keeping it pointed down while looking her straight in the eyes.
"Scarlett that's enough!" Dale shouted, he looked at the others and addressed them next. "I understand that you're all stressed and angry. I know, I understand and I respect it. To be honest, I could kill the ******* myself and not lose any sleep about it right now, but I'm not going to. Because let's face it, who are we to take the law into our own hands? Most of us aren't a day over twenty, not even twenty for that matter and only a handful are older than that! Who are we to meter out justice, especially when we all answer to someone else! We answer to Evanora! And she answers to the law!"

"If any of you struck him down, then what makes you any better than him? Because you did it out of revenge, out of some sense of justice? Please, don't kid yourselves into thinking you're so high and ****ing mighty that the laws and standards of human decency don't apply to you! Such arrogance to believe that between you, this group of people who've barely seen what this world has to offer, can decide the fate of a man! Now stand down, step back and cool off! And the next dumb ******* to draw a weapon faces me! Speaking of which, put yours down right now Scarlett!" Dale barked, breathing heavily and glaring at everyone around with his harshest gaze. As he looked at them all, and saw Silvia crying there at Scarlett's feet, he curled his fist into a ball and spoke again. "And look what you've all done! All you've done with your talk of killing is make an innocent girl cry! You'll bring everyone more sorrow before you bring anyone happiness on this present course! You all disgust me!" He released Scarlett's arm and stepped back a bit, challenging each and every person standing there with a few moments of eye contact, before moving on to the next. There Johanna, I've tried to stop the killing. I hope I made the right decision, the decision you would have wanted me to make. She would be right though... Killing him wouldn't achieve anything. And that was the most frustrating realisation Dale had made.

 

Scarlett wasn't stupid enough to fire her bow. It was an intimidation piece, that was all. The arrow wasnt even nocked back all the way. She probably would have just dropped the bow, if it weren't for a strong hand grasping her arm.she turned with a shudder to see a pissed off Dale staring her down. For a splitsecond, Scarlett took in a sharp, almost scared, breath. She recovered herself after a short moment and looked up at him. His eyes burned with an anger that, although was hard to match, didnt scare her. She met his glare with a hardened stare.

His sincere words stung, she'll give him that, but she couldn't shake the feeling that he was unsure of what to do with this whole situation himself. Well, she had to try to convince him how ridiculous it was to let this man go.

She would proceed to do just that, but not until after she took in the terrified look on Sylvia's face. Scarlett's mouth opened slightly, with a look of almost regret. "I..." She muttered, trying to find some words, any words. She didn't mean to upset her, Scarlett was just trying to make a point. Sylvia was too young to be out here anyway. She was just a girl. She couldn't handle the truth. Scarlett turned away from the crying girl, resuming her serious tone and image.

As Dale looked around at the group, his grip on her arm softened and Scarlett ripped her arm out of his hand fiercely, making sure to get a quick elbow shot to his ribs 'on accident'.

"So you expect us to just sit back and do nothing? To just watch while this man goes free? What about of they do let him free? Don't you know what will happen? He'll come after the guild. And I'm willing to bet that girl, Joanne? Johanna. That's it. I'm willing to be Johanna's going to be on the top of the hit list. Do you really want to be the one responsible for letting a murderer go free? What will Johanna think when she hears that you practically invited him in for tea when you let him go?"

She stopped now, knowing she was going to hit a nerve. Oh well, she was ready to pay the price if need be. She had to get this Ezekiel man gone, for good. Why couldn't others see how dangerous he was?!

 

Dale didn't reply for a couple of seconds. He just glared at her. No emotion registered in his eyes. No sign of anything appeared on his face. He was a statue, rendered in flesh and blood, but as silent and still as a stone. Then he walked forwards. Step by step, drawing closer to Scarlett, eyes still making contact, still that cold glare drilling into her very soul. Then, he was in arm's reach. He drew his arm back and slapped her as hard as he could across the face, then he let the anger show and released it.
"How dare you speak to me like that!" Dale snapped. "How dare you so casually speak her name to try and manipulate me to your pathetic, ignorant and immature agenda! No, I won't have that, not from you and not from anyone in this guild! Especially not from some trumped up arrogant girl that thinks because she's got good looks and a bow she can claim the world for herself, take justice into her own hands and make everyone else thinks she's the ****ing queen of everything! I Will-Not-Stand-for this! Impudent girl! Let me tell you what happens. We let someone who has far more experience than anyone decide! We have a guild master, she will be the one to decide here, not you, not Gaius, not Silvia nor anyone save her! And not me! I'm not a paragon of justice and frankly, I almost want to see him die but I know, unlike you, that I have a place! And that place isn't to deliver judgement to the accused!"

"Normally I might show a guild member more respect, but you eschewed all rights to that respect when you talked back to me in such a way! Now I'll treat you the same way you seem to believe I should be!" Dale continued. He realised suddenly, that he had made a mistake. Johanna will not be happy with me for this. Bloody hell I'm trying to get her to forgive me but it really isn't working out very well now is it? It's never going to work if I keep getting provoked like this! I need to calm this situation immediately, before it's too late. He tried to relax his body language and control his breathing, reducing his voice to a more reasonable level. "Now back down. This need not continue any further."

 

He just kind of stood there. To be honest, Scarlett was expecting some type of tackle slam and brutal fists to the face type of deal. She wasn't surprised through when he began towards her slowly. She didn't break eye contact, although an eerie shiver crossed through her.

And then, she felt skin on skin. Her head spun to the side and she had to take a step back to balance herself from the sheer force of the slap. Her eyes had slammed shut on impact and opened now as she brought her hand up to feel the steady trickle of new blood streaming from the reopened gash on her cheekbone. Scarlett wiped it off with the back of her hand. Pissed beyond anything else, but still under some control, she reminded herself that she probably had the coming. Okay, she really had that coming.

With her heart pumping and her mind racing, she focused on her breathing until Dale was finished. She finally broke eye contact as she glanced down at the layers of smeared blood on her hand, but quickly regained her position. "I wasn't manipulating anyone. And I am not trying to be better then anyone. And I'm sure as hell not pathetic." Her voice changed quickly from a loud, strong voice to almost a whisper. "I'm trying to protect these people, from a murderer. This Ezekiel guy isn't going to stay in this state for long, you and I both know that."

She looked at him once again. Not a glare or a stare, but just a look. Not out of fear or anger. She just wanted him to know that she wasnt playing games here. She looked down again at the blood, then at Dale, and she just shook her head gently.

 

"And I'm trying to make sure we make the right decision here, and that isn't going to happen if we kill a man on impulse. I agree to some extent, we'd definitely be safer, but would it be the right thing to do? Should one murder permit another?" Speak the words you need to speak Dale. You don't have to believe in them, they just have to be the right ones. I don't believe in this. Ideally I'd do as Scarlett and the others seem to think but... But maybe that's not right. Johanna wouldn't do that. Evanora wouldn't do that. I wish Evanora would just intervene and make her mind up. I can't let a murder happen right now. I have to control this situation. I've managed to stop Scarlett... Maybe that'll be enough. We can talk this through rationally now. Say the right words Dale, even if you don't believe, but you'd better make it sound like you do! "And if we kill Ezekiel what then? One of his guild members comes to kill us in return? We kill him in self defence? Then when does it stop? When do we stop being a true Guild, and become a Dark Guild?" I will not let Sapphire Eclipse become a Dark Guild! Just because I'm cold hearted and could kill a man doesn't mean I should let our guild become that too! I've got to make sure that never happens... Even if I could kill him... I can't allow anyone else to do that. Nobody else should have to carry that guilt... I believe in that. That I do believe in!

"I would rather die than see our guild turn to something twisted like that. We're a good guild, we're here to do good things, help people. I know what you're saying but... Just look. Look at how much sorrow killing causes, just the idea of it. Silvia has cried and begged you on her knees not to. Surely you can see the sadness it'll cause. And more..." Dale explained all this calmly now, trying not to intimidate and master the situation with a flame greater than the rest, but now trying to return reason to the situation. "Could you bear the guilt of being a killer on your soul? Could you? Could you really murder someone, take away all their chances at life and starting again and not feel guilty? Not regret it? Not let that guilt consume you? Would that be right?" I can hardly believe I'm saying this but... The more I speak the more I almost believe what I'm saying... Maybe that makes it more believable. I just hope you listen Scarlett! I won't beg you, I'll never bend the knee, but I'll try and make you see sense! If I have to... I won't give you any other choice! Just like I never gave that girl any choice. Maybe she'd rather have been there with Ezekiel but I took her away. Was that right? Of course it was. He was a bad man, but I saved her from him. She probably didn't know anything else. But still... I stand by my choices to the last!

 

Ander's pov:



...He reached the bottom of the tower. The rain from the storm had made the stairs wet and slippery.
The he feel. He the rain how could he let so many die?....

Ander body went from standing to on the ground. he herd voices but had not idea were they were coming from.
Then one Stood out. You would kill this man in cold blood. How is that any better than what he has done?"
He is evil. We know that. But an evil man can do some good.
Give him the opportunity to do so. And what about you? Are you truly good? Or are you evil, and only just now revealing you true colors. Perhaps you don't know yourself."
"I for one have to give this man another chance. I have to believe he can redeem himself. If he truly deserves to die, then so do I. You'll have to kill me first."
There was a faint recantation to this voice. It could not be.

Sara's pov:



She stood there not really believing what she was hearing. She looked around and Ez got up relief filled her she could not live with herself if she killed another.
The guild mates were saying Things. "We should take another hostage. Yeah that is a great idea!" Thomas had said. no bad idea. People were fighting about Ez.
Weather he should stay, go, die or live. Well she thought and keeping him here was not a good idea that was for sure.
You would kill this man in cold blood. How is that any better than what he has done?" He is evil. We know that. But an evil man can do some good. Give him the opportunity to do so.
And what about you? Are you truly good? Or are you evil, and only just now revealing you true colors. Perhaps you don't know yourself."
"I for one have to give this man another chance. I have to believe he can redeem himself. If he truly deserves to die, then so do I. You'll have to kill me first."
Forgetting about her bow problem for the moment.
Interesting she thought and walked towards the man. Ez did he deserve to die? it was not up to them to decide that.
She stood by Ren slightly. Scarlett, Skadi, Gaius, and Dale had a long conversation about it.
She stood there with her arms crossed.
Anger creeping on her. Her eyes having a fire looking light to them.

 

​

Ren took the barrage of insults and accusations coming from Scarlett and Gaius calmly, but he felt more and more depressed the further they spoke. The hated Ezekiel and he could understand that, he did too, but they weren't prepared to keep it in check or even consider a solution other than murder... Would they be the same if they found out about me? Am I as vile and wretched in their eyes as Ezekiel is?

"MAYBE YOU SHOULD GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE TOO, YOU WANNA GO AND MURDER SOME OF OUR FRIENDS WITH HIM?"

It seems this one thinks so.
Ren focused on Gaius, his words hitting hardest, creating turmoil inside. Dale had arrived and was berating Scarlett, so he could ignore her. He probably would have anyway.
"You stand here," Ren said lowly, doing his best to stay calm, "ready to murder someone in cold blood, and you accuse me of wanting to kill. You act like you are the first to ever feel hatred, and tell me that I am the one that will hurt this guild. Who are you helping with this? You want to kill this man, and drive me away. Will that bring Leviathan back? Will that make him happy? Will it make you happy? Will it make this guild any stronger if you get what you want? Let me put it to you simply: It won't. It'll create division. It's already started actually; some of us wanting to kill this man, others not. You want me gone, that's not something I'll forget any time soon. And your Team King, well, how long do you think that will last now? You want to kill the brother of its leader. You think that won't create some sort of tension, eh?"
Ren shook his head, feeling a little sick in his stomach. "I didn't say we should let him go free," he added. "He should be made to stand trial, and atone for his crimes. Someone impartial to this whole thing, who's judgement isn't clouded by emotions, should decide his fate."
A trial... It was something that had occurred to Ren just before he mentioned it. Was it the best way for someone to atone for their deeds, the best way to redeem themselves? Maybe I should try it. Can't be any worse than being singled out as a killer by a fellow guild member.

 

"I just don't understand how you, how anyone, thinks he can changed? I mean, just look at him." Her face burned from the open cut, and she knew getting mad would only make it worse. Maybe it she could somehow talk Dale into realizing how big of a mistake it would be to even give Ezekiel a glimpse of a second life, hopefully this time without being slapped.

"He's no different than he was before. He can you even stand the thought of him being alive, getting a second chance, when Levi never got his. It's not fair. You have to believe me when I say people like Ezekiel don't change. They never do. I've been around people like him my entire life and I've suffered endlessly because of the second chances I gave them. We can't afford to make that mistake with him! You say that these people have had too much sorrow, think of all the fear they'll get from knowing every second that he could be behind every closed door."

When he went on his short rant about killing, A few memories played themselves in Scarlett's mind.

It was late. A young Scarlett had just finished her evening raid on the dumpster behind the town bar. She had scored big tonight, stashing a half-knawed turkey breast and a small sip of leftover iced tea. She was just leaving when the back door burst open and out piled two or three drunk men. She couldn't remember exactly. All she could remember was how they pounced on her in a minute, beating her and brushing her without any hesitation. It was only when they men heard the door open again that she was able to slid her now out from underneath her and take aim. She had dropped two of them in a matter of seconds. It was the first time she had ever killed someone. And weirdly enough, she felt nothing but hatred towards these men. Hatred towards those who were like them. She gathered herself and fled the scene, limping as quickly as she could.

Scarlett had absentmindedly ran her hand up to her neck and held it there for a moment, remembering how bruised and bloody it had been that night. The thought of even one more man being able to do that to someone enraged her.

"You think I'm just some weak girl who's washed up from the streets. You think I haven't seen death, or given it to someone before. Well you're wrong. I don't care what it takes but I refuse to let this monster roam free."

Her voice was low, so that most likely only Dale could hear.

 

She looked at Ren desperately. "We can't do a trial, the Magic Council won't let him go!" She exclaimed.

"Please just stop it!" Calxiyn cried. "Stop it, stop it this is enough! Scarlett! Gaius! Stop!" She held her Keyblade her in hand, running over to Ezekiel, stood directly in front of him. "If you want to kill him, you're going to have to go through me first! How can I condemn this man to death, when I feel his agony? I can't conceal myself now, I pretend I'm not who I am. How can I face any of you, or myself if you kill Ezekiel?! I refuse to let him die!" She was shaking uncontrollably. Her words were filled with passion and sorrow, they were strong.

"If you want to talk about a murder, then you don't have to look too far. The only true murder here, is me." She spat. "You hardly understand, but if anyone should be put on death row, it shouldn't be him, it should be me! I killed a city of 100,000, men, women, and children, burned, torturer, and destroyed with this Key." She looked deadly serious now, and a tear ran down her face. "My own parents, died at the hand of my Keyblade. And I will never be able to get the guilt of that off my soul. You might say that you've killed before, but none of you have killed like me. You won't be able to forget this, it will haunt you until the day you die!" She cried in distress.

"You want to kill this man for the death of your Guild Member, but he wants to repent, he wants to go back into the world and take the path of light! What else is darkness but hate and rage? You're all is feeding the dark fires within each other—making you fight, making you want to kill. You'll all astray as Ezekiel did. Tell me—how does that honor our Levi's memory? How does that honor the memory of anyone in Sapphire Eclipse, of anyone that made you a Wizard!?"

"If you want to kill him, then I dare you to try. You'll have to go through me first, and the dark power that I've been holding back. Even...if it changes me forever." She readied her Keyblade, and from under the bad of her head, she took out a mask. She held it with her, ready to put it on at moments notice.