Template:The Earth Land Chronicles/August 2012

 ''Welcome to another issue of The Earth Land Chronicles. This article will be the discussion of related things in the Fairy Tail series, which will be presented in chronological order. This could include main villains, Dragon Slayers, Celestial Spirits, all in the order they were revealed. Our first series will be the story arcs of Fairy Tail, with an arc being done each month (though once in a while two). So let's continue with the Loke arc. ''  The Tower of Heaven arc is next! (One of my favourites!). It's packed with action, drama, and has a gripping conclusion! So the arc begins with the gang going to a casino. Already Erza is feeling uneasy about herself, and worse nightmares come true when her former prison friends return and attack Team Natsu. Erza & Happy are kidnapped and it's up to everyone else (plus Juvia) to save them. The addition of Juvia was awesome! She was definitely a standout character in the Phantom Lord arc, and seeing the Gray-obsessed girl again was a treat (especially since she can kick ass). And she brings comedy too. (making Lucy's water bubble smaller than everyone else).

So after the gang gets into the tower, Erza reveals her very tragic past. Mashima usually blows at flashbacks, but for once her did a full, well-thought-out story for this one. Erza's rough past defintely makes her character even cooler. So the gang spreads out after teaming up with Erza's former prison friends to take down Jellal, one of the main characters/villains in the series. He sends assassins after the gang, and we get some awesome battles out of it. We see the epic Unison Raid used for the first time, Natsu being saved by Gray, and a battle to the death against Erza and Ikaruga. Erza is able to beat Ikaruga in a rather thrilling battle. Downside is that this battle is severely toned down in the anime. Curse this bloodless anime!!!

Anyways the final battle between Erza and Jellal takes place. The tension at this point is high, and some of the most dramatic and best battling takes place here. Erza faces Jellal with no armour believing she is stronger in this way, but is not able to overcome his Magic. She is able to pin him down, but being the sneaky man he is, Jellal tricks Erza into believing he was only a tool used by the ghost of Zeref. The beyond idiotic Magic Council decides to use the Etherion to destroy Jellal's tower, but instead it adds to his plan of resurrecting Zeref. All hope seems lost until... Natsu arrives!

Natsu saves Erza from being a sacrifice really quickly, and then goes to battle Jellal solo. He is also no match until he goes into Dragon Force for the first time by eating. Now as a semi-Natsu hater myself I hate seeing Natsu win like this, but somebody tell me it wasn't awesome watching Natsu whoops Jellal's ass in Dragon Force :)! After Jellal's defeat though, there seems to be no time before the tower explodes. Erza decides to sacrifice herself to the tower, knowing it would make Natsu see another day. After she does we are led to believe our favourite heroin is dead...

She lives though and is saved by Natsu (and possibly Jellal). The Tower of Heaven arc follows a very linear and classic path. Defeat baddies, face final boss, dramatic conclusion. But due to the likeability of (most) of these characters, the arc turns out to be one of the best in the series in my opinion, and definitely makes Erza more popular than she already was. Now I go re-read it!!

Oh yeah, and Happy was saved... but who cares.

 Best Quote of the Arc: "I cannot live without Fairy Tail. I cannot even imagine a world without my nakama. That;s how much all of you mean to me. If doing this can save all of you I have no regrets. This one measly body... Take it!" Best Magic of the Arc: Re-eqiup Best Moment of the Arc: Magic Council dying!!! Oh wait... that didn't happen. Best Chapter of the Arc: To Tomorrow Best Episode of the Arc: A Prayer Under the Holy Light