I'm super pumped to be writing again, and especially on this idea. This was inspired in part by a similar idea in a one-shot in a story called Shorts of the Seis and also by indraaas' lovely Memento Mori. It'll be drabble-esque, might play around with longer chapters towards the end of this thing. Enjoy!
i.
It burned.
She knew there would be a cost–a great cost–but the pain still overtook her almost immediately. A horrible fire spread throughout her body, like she was being consumed by a blaze from within. The pain truly unbearable.
One minute.
That was all the time she had stolen back. A single minute. Had she the strength she would have howled in frustration. A mere minute. Not enough time to change anyone's fate but her own. Dragons still roared above her, screams of allies and enemies alike could still be heard throughout Crocus. She had failed, and her fate was now sealed.
The fire that had pulsed throughout her veins just moments before now seemed to be satisfied with her meager offering and began retreating, going from burning to freezing in an instant. Strangely, along with the lack of heat, she could feel a shift inside herself, as if her body was getting…smaller. Ultear hardly had time to ponder this before she collapsed. Alone. Ashamed. Afraid.
She stayed there, motionless, as the battle for the Eclipse Gate roared and thundered above her, the extra minute she gained back ticking forward once again, as her own body grew smaller, and smaller, and smaller. Until it finally stopped.
"Jellal! I can't find her! Jellal!" A nearly hysterical Meredy screams at the man, who winces out of pain and frustration. They had been searching since the battle ended with not even a glimpse of the time mage anywhere.
"She must be around here somewhere, keep calm-" but she's already looking away. Something's caught her eye. A small child sits on the broken stone, the cloth draped around it far too big for its toddler body, the dark blue fabric uncomfortably familiar looking. In (her?) hand is a bright white ribbon wrapped carefully around. The child glances over at them.
She's running towards her. He doesn't understand until she cries, "Ultear!"
Dark hair, red eyes widen as Meredy embraces her, sobbing. Jellal can hardly believe it, even as he gets closer, hands trembling. He can see now that she's wrapped in her cloak–Ultear's cloak. It can't be, it can't be.
There's no recognition in her eyes, no glimmer of understanding as she stares at him; but there's no fear either, like she's been waiting this whole time for them without knowing why.
"Where's mama?" Her voice is so quiet. There's no hint of the steadfast, calculating woman he knew, only a child that wished for her mother again. He drops to his knees. Meredy pulls her in closer, the sobs from before showing no signs of stopping.
"Ultear, what did you do?" Jellal's voice is barely a whisper, and despite himself, he can feel a tear begin to flow.
The little girl looks at the man on his knees and then the woman crying and holding her before looking at the pale morning sky. It smells of a new day. She wonders when she'll get to see her mama again.