The World that Rejects Us

So some people might find this story extremely creepy but I find it beautiful and you'll soon know why, this will probably be a One-Shot with an epilogue and the characters may seem very OOC. DISCLAIMER: I do not own Fairy Tail or any of its characters they belong to Hiro Mashima!

'Ultear' she was all he ever thought about anymore, she was the one who had changed the way he thought of people, she was the one who made him doubt that all people consumed in darkness were the same. He'd seen it, the way she had tried to take him so she could gain power, the one who lead the attacks on so many villages and towns killing hundreds. Yet she was the one who had repaired the Tenrou Tree with her remaining magic so she could help to start repairing the damage she had caused. In all his 407 years he had never seen someone so consumed in darkness turn so easily to the light, it was new to him and made him question if there were more people like her that could help to save this Era. He never stopped thinking of her, his mind was clouded with her all the time, he hadn't seen her in seven years, why was she still in his mind though?

She walked slowly along the old dirt road that lead to no where in particular. Walking stick in hand she walked on for no reason at all, she had no purpose, no goal and no reason. She had finally been shown the beauty in life, she had finally been freed of her sins, she had finally had some peace on this Earth, but still she wondered why the gods above hadn't just taken her whole life - her whole time - from her. She had one final purpose she just didn't know what. She continued walking, and couldn't help but feel that she was being led somewhere.

She walked for days, only stopping at small towns for food, shelter, water and rest. But every morning she would get up, pay and leave to continue on her unknown path.

Her path took her further, further away from the cities and towns, further away from the magical guilds of the land, further away from Crime Sorciere, Meredy and Jellal.

She grew tired, she had been walking for weeks now - which was not good for now now old body - but finally she didn't know why but she just stopped. For some how she just knew she had reached her destination, it was beautiful. A pristine diamond pool lay in the middle surrounded by emerald willows, their hanging leaves lightly brushing the waters surface. The grass was green and lush, she could feel it relive her of all the pain her bare feet had felt from her journey. Just as she felt herself relax she saw something - or more accurately someone - lying on the side of the tallest willow tree, she tensed as she looked at him, she knew who he was, after all she had met him before and in seven years she wasn't surprised to see he hadn't changed a bit, not that she expected him to, even after 400 years he hadn't changed. He head was faced towards the ground, and even though she could tell his eyes were shut his was still awake, just... Relaxing.

He felt foot steps approach him and eyes bare into the back of his head. His eyes shot open, after seven years he hadn't seen anyone, no one had been able to find him and then now, out of the blue, someone approaches him? Without looking up he spoke. "Please, for the best for yourself, I calmly tell you to leave, please if you value your life."

"Z-Zeref"

The old voice croaked out his name in disbelief, he was a bit surprised, most don't recognise him by his seemingly harmless appearance. He looked up at the person, she was a woman - an old woman - maybe 90? She had light purple hair that was tied back in a bun and pale skin, her old skin was very wrinkled and though she held a walking stick she seemed quite strong. He couldn't help but feel something familiar about her, he felt like he knew her, and he didn't know why but his heart raced as he looked at this woman, his heart raced like he was excited to see her. The woman stood up as straight as her back would let her and spoke this time with confidence, "It's been a long seven years Zeref." His eyes widened and his stomach flipped, that voice, it was so familiar, it was comforting, and through the old rasp in it he recognised it. "Ul...Tear?" She smiled very softly before nodding.

"Ah so you do remember, as you see I've changed a lot since then." She was right, she definitely had, but he was confused, last time he'd seen her she looked around 18 and now she looked about 90, and he was certain it had only been seven years. She seemed to have read his thoughts because she grimaced before talking, "I used a spell that reverses time in exchange for your own time, apparently my life is only worth one minute, hah. I guess the world will never relive me of my sins." He nodded, he felt it was all he could do, it was odd to know the world rejects someone else other than him, he thought he was alone. "So are you going to hand me in?" She seemed to ponder this for a second, would she hand him in? Or would she not? Suddenly to his slight surprise she shook her head, "I don't feel it is the time or purpose of my now short life, I don't feel that this is the time the great Zeref loses." He once again just nodded, she was definitely different, most would scream, cry or run at the sight of him, or hand him over without hesitation, but she, she did neither and standing in front of him she was as cool, calm and collected as ever. She then feeling her legs start to ache - to his surprise - sat down of the grass in front of him, she smiled softly, "So this world truly rejects us doesn't it?" At her comment Zeref couldn't help but give a small smile back,

"Yes, I guess it truly does." She seemed to approve of his answer for her smile broadened. As Zeref looked at her her no longer saw an old woman, but the young woman he met seven years ago, he couldn't help but broadened his smile as well.

The day's turned into weeks which turned into months for the rejected two, but they didn't seem to notice, they only seemed to notice the comfort they gave each other, the feeling that they weren't alone in this world. Zeref also noted how he felt calmer around her, at first he'd been scared he would kill her with one of his sudden power outbursts but around her they never happened, it seemed as though she relaxed him so much that he was able to contain the outbursts, and admittedly he loved the feeling that he was finally in control of himself.

He found himself on so many occasions aching for her to once again be that young beautiful girl with the personality of the Ultear he knew now. He ached to take the young her into his arms and never let her go, he wanted it more than anything. But he didn't care, he still had her and that was enough for him.

She wished she could be her younger self again, she wished more than anything to be that young beautiful her she was with Crime Sorciere, she wanted to be young and beautiful again for him, because it hurt, she felt young and beautiful yet she truly wasn't.

"How can you still see the beauty and wonder of this world even after it has so badly rejected you?" He asked her after she had told him of how she had become what she was now and how she saw the world through her new eyes. "Well, I don't know, I just have come to a new look over the world, even though it has rejected me as far to take my life as but a mere minute."

He knew it was coming and he was blessed that she had lasted this long but it didn't ease the pain at all. "Please, Ultear, please stay with me for at least a year longer?"

She gave him the most beautiful soft smile.

"I wish I could Zeref, but the gods seemed to have deemed my missions on Earth complete, hah. I'm surprised I even lived til I was 99." He smiled, she was beautiful, no matter how old her appearance may be. Tears streamed down his cheeks as he held her in the string arms, he could feel how weak she was and it killed him. She was so beautiful and perfect. Could the gods not give her some more time? She smiled at him wiping the running tear streams from his face. He looked at her and sniffed,"Ultear you've finally showed me the beauty of life, you can't leave me now, please don't go." She stroked his cheek softly and looked at him with a loving smile. "I'm sorry my sweet Zeref, but the world no longer needs me,"She paused and looked away before looking back up at him with teary eyes,"This may sound weird coming from a 99 year old woman but I love you Zeref." At her words he felt more tears run from his eyes, but he forced himself to make a soft smile and said "Well this may sound weird coming from a 416 year old man but I love you too Ultear, may you forever be beautiful." She started to sob and smile at the same time, as her body started to limp, "I'll miss you Zeref my love," he started to sob as well before smiling softly and saying, "I'll miss you too, the true beauty in my life." Her smile get larger and she whispered a small "thank you" before going limp and passing in his arms. He started to sob uncontrollably, he refused to let his magic get out of him though because he refused to ruin the place where he had found true beauty. Laying there with her limp body in his arms he continued to cry. "I love you Ultear. Thank you for showing me the beauty in a world that rejects me - no us."

Okay! Wow! Done that, sorry if it's a bit to weird for you because he still looks 20 and she looks 90 but in age terms he's actually a lot older. I really really had to write this though because it was clinging to my mind and I thought this could really end up being a beautiful story. And yes I'm almost certainly making an epilogue which I may post a week later or straight after and if I never make the epilogue sorry! But the epilogue may help clear a lot of the age weirdness. Anyway please read and review! And I loved this story! Hehehe I had heaps of fun writing it at 11:20pm :)

~TRose