The Father

. . .

"You again?" she said with a coy smile.

The man winked at her as he placed his baked goods on the counter before flashing a smile. "Good morning, Emilia."

She laughed, swinging her bright blonde hair over her shoulders as she began to ring up his purchases. Ivan Dreyar came to this bakery every morning since Emilia began working here. It didn't matter that there was another coffee shop just steps from his apartment, and another directly on his walk to the Guild. As soon as he had seen Emilia Kinsmen, he knew she was the one.

Ivan ran a hand through his own blond locks. "So you ready to finally give in and go on that date with me?"

It had become somewhat of a joke between the pair now. When they had first met, Ivan had barely been able to speak two words to the woman, so entranced by her beauty. And she was beautiful; slightly curvy with a heart shaped face and bright blue eyes to match her sunkissed hair, she caught the attention of many men around Magnolia. She had laughed gently at Ivan's nerves around her and joked that eventually, he would work up the courage to ask her out.

He had done just that about a week of visiting the shop later and while she had agreed, they couldn't seem to get their schedules to line up. Now it seemed like more of a joke than anything else, despite not having actually gotten together.

"That depends. Will you finally be free on an evening?" she quipped back.

The trouble was, Emilia worked mornings whereas Ivan's responsibilities to the Guild were often in the evening. However, after a week of not being able to coordinate things, he had put a plan in motion.

Winking to the store owner, he jumped over the countertop and lifted the woman off the floor. "Not necessary," he laughed as she gasped in shock. "Because you're taking the day off."

"Ivan!" she protested as he carefully jumped back over the counter.

"Everything's good here, sweetie," the elderly shopkeeper said, taking Emilia's spot at the register. "You two have fun." The old woman smiled at the would-be couple as Ivan walked them through the door.

. . .

"Okay, hold it still," he directed as Emilia held out the rock she had selected.

"Wow! That's really incredible!" Emilia exclaimed as Ivan transformed the rock into one of his shikigami and directed it to fly around her gently. She laughed as she tried to catch it. The two loved playing this game. Emilia was always careful to pick new objects for him to transform. Never anything living though. Even something like a flower or tree had life in it and transforming such a thing into shikigami was forbidden in Ivan's magic. He had explained this to Emilia the first time he showed her his magic and she had become a great training partner, always pushing him to try new and bigger objects.

The day was perfect. They had decided to take a stroll through the park and Ivan was proud to show her just how far his magic had come since they started dating six months ago.

The pure white cut out returned to him on command. "Now watch this," he said with a small smile as he held the little paper in his hand. Emilia's eyes opened wider as the paper started to first transform into more of an origami figure before finally transforming into an almost life-like looking bird. It fluttered around the blonde woman, flapping its paper wings and she laughed as she reached out for it. It fluttered down onto her finger and when she turned around to show Ivan, she gasped to find him in front of her, on one knee.

"Emilia. I know we haven't known each other for that long, but already you've made me a better man. I fell in love with you the day I met you. Please say you'll marry me." Ivan held his breath. He was so nervous; he never truly thought he would ever find someone like Emilia.

Her blue eyes lit up and she breathed out a yes before Ivan swooped her up to kiss her deeply. When they finally parted, he pushed a simple ring onto her finger and told her again how much he loved her.

. . .

"There must be something else you can do!" Ivan nearly screamed at the doctor.

"I'm sorry, Sir. The strain on her system was too great. We were fortunate to save the child as it was. If she were a mage, she likely would have been able to handle it. There's really nothing more we can do at this point. I'll let you say your goodbyes."

The doctor left their living room as tears poured down Ivan's cheeks. He startled as he felt Emilia's hand touch his gently. Turning around, he saw a ghost of the woman he once knew. Her blonde hair had turned almost white and had thinned and the sparkle in her eye had dimmed. "Ivan, my love," she barely whispered. Ivan sat down in the chair next to her and held her hand close to his face.

"This is my fault. I should have been more careful about where you went while you were carrying," he nearly sobbed. "I can't lose you."

"My love. Please don't cry. Be happy for the life we lived and created together. She tried to get him to raise his head. He followed her direction and he looked into her eyes. "Name the child Laxus, won't you? I've always loved that name," she sighed.

Ivan nodded his head. "I love you, Emilia. I will not let you die."

The woman gave a small chuckle. "Oh Ivan. I've accepted my fate. If I was forced to give my life for the life of the child's, I would have done so anyways. We will be with each other again soon." Her words faded as she began to slip into a deep sleep.

"Emilia!" Ivan yelled in a panic but she didn't respond. "No! Emilia!" Ivan felt his throat closing as the fear took him. On instinct, he activated his magic. "I promised to keep you safe and that is what I will do," he vowed before directing his magic at Emilia. Just before she let out her last breath, a mist rose around her and she began to transform. Shrouded by the mist, Ivan couldn't see what was happening but he could feel her spirit being wrenched from her body but he held on tight to it, directing it into one of his creations.

When the mist had cleared, he clutched a tiny paper doll to his chest and his wife's body was gone. Catching a look at himself in the mirror across the room, he noticed his hair had begun to fade into first a light gray, then darker. He wept for the loss of his wife and the betrayal of his oath but he couldn't face a life without her.

On the other side of the room, a newborn boy began to cry in his crib.

. . .

"Ivan," his father said with worried eyes. "Wouldn't you like to spend time with your son? He's walking around my office now like he owns the place!"

Ivan shifted in bed to look at his father. Makarov had taken Laxus after Emilia passed on. Ivan had fallen into a deep depression and could not be trusted to care for the child. Somehow, Ivan had hoped that the doll with Emilia's spirit would speak to him but it continued to remain lifeless in the careful bottle he made for it and the more he thought of that, the more he fell into despair.

Makarov let out a sigh. His son didn't even look like himself anymore. His hair had turned completely black and his eyes had darked. He had stopped shaving, allowing a thick beard to grow around his face. The once beautiful, bright and blond man had became a shadow of himself. It had been a year since his wife had passed and while his son seemed to be improving, it was slow.

"Laxus is walking?" Ivan seemed to perk up at that news and Makarov jumped on it.

"Sure is! Cutest sight in the world. You're missing out on some proud father moments, Ivan!"

Ivan nodded his head slightly before pushing the covers back to haul himself out of bed. "Okay. I think I would like to see him."

"That's my boy!" Makarov encouraged. "I'll meet you outside!"

Ivan slowly let his feet touch the ground and winced at the touch. He couldn't remember the last time he had left the bed to do more than use the bathroom. Standing up he walked over to his prized possession. "Emilia. I'm going to see our son. He's walking now," he said to the little doll. He held his breath, hoping maybe that news would make it finally come to life. But it just stayed lifeless in the bottle and Ivan nearly got back into bed but his father's encouraging voice through the door got him to put on clothing.

Maybe I need to go see the boy. Maybe then Emilia will wake up.

The next two years saw continued improvement for Ivan. Monthly visits turned into weekly visits before finally Ivan was getting up each day to visit his son. "Father!" Laxus yelled as he launched himself at his father's legs. "You came to see me!"

"Of course my boy!" Ivan said as he lifted his son into the air. Laxus laughed as his dad swirled him around. The two played for an hour before Laxus went downstairs to play with the other children.

Makarov came into the office and Ivan stood. "I think it's time I take Laxus back," Ivan said with conviction.

"You think you're ready?" Makarov said with slightly narrowed eyes. His son had improved but he could sense that he still hadn't fully recovered.

"I am. Thank you for watching him all this time, Dad." Makarov fixed him with a heavy stare, sizing him up. He saw the desire in his son's eyes, the desire to become a great Dad and make up for lost time. He heaved a sigh of relief and smiled.

"I think you are too."

. . .

It was Laxus' fifth birthday and the entire Guild was celebrating. The young boy had been living with his father for an entire year now and the two had been quite happy together. Ivan was anxiously awaiting the time for Laxus to begin manifesting his magic. With him turning five, he was already late in showing signs but Ivan was sure it would turn up eventually. He encouraged his son to continue training and preparing in other ways so he would be ready.

Ivan smiled as he watched the children playing from the corner of the room. His own father approached and took a seat next to him. "Ivan, I've got something to tell you."

Makarov sounded serious, which was rare. Ivan furrowed his dark brow. Despite it having been five years since Emilia passed, his hair never returned to its blond color. "What is it, dad?"

Makarov sighed. He didn't know how to tell his son this but it needed to be said. "I had Porlyusica evaluate the child. He will never be a mage."

The words hit Ivan like a freight train. "What? That can't be right! He should have inherited my magic!"

Makarov knew Ivan wasn't going to take this news well but he had hoped his son had moved on from the pain of losing his wife enough to be able to handle this blow. "And he did, to a point. He has magic circuits within his body. It's just that they are all laying dormant." Makarov heaved a heavy breath.

Ivan felt his throat close. The doctors had told him that Emilia had died from some sort of magical poisoning flooding into her body. Everyone had figured it was just a magically enhanced virus that she had picked up, but could it have actually been the child's magic escaping his own body, flooding hers, that killed her? Ivan shook his head, trying to swallow air. His father patted his shoulder. "This doesn't change anything, you hear me?"

Ivan looked up to meet hard eyes. "He is your son. He is not in any way to blame. She knew the risks of marrying a mage when you two said your vows. Do not dishonor her memory. Do you hear me?"

Ivan wiped away a stray tear and nodded his head. His father stood up. "I'll give you some time to process all this. Laxus can stay with me. You let me know when you're ready to have him back."

. . .

Ivan had completely lost his way on his walk back from the Guild. He had just started walking, becoming further and further lost in thought, until he found himself in a slightly less great area of Magnolia far into the evening.

Cigarette smoke filled the air as he took a breath and tried to get his bearings. Just as he recognized the way back to his house, a man came up behind him. "Hey man. Looking to buy? I got a lot of good things to sell."

"No, thank you," Ivan responded, turning to leave but the man put his hand on his shoulder.

"Awe, come on man. I got shit in here you can't get anywhere else. Potions, elixirs, hell even a magic-imbuing lacrima."

Ivan turned his head. "Did you say a magic-imbuing lacrima?"

"Oh, catch your interest, did it?" The man held up his finger before turning to open a trunk he pulled out of an alley. He held up a yellow orb that was sparking just a bit. "Thing's old as dirt. Bought it off some scientist."

"Lifted it, more like." The man chuckled and shrugged his shoulders. Ivan had heard the news: a scientist in the next town had uncovered a lacrima and begun doing tests on it. It was hypothesized that the orb contained the soul of an ancient magical creature and could be used to grant magic to those who lacked the ability. But it had been stolen by a group of thieves that remained at large.

"What's your price?" Ivan demanded.

"Seventy million jewel, and that's cutting you a bargain."

Ivan scoffed. "It's stolen. I could easily turn you into the police. They're looking everywhere for this item."

"Hence the high price," the man laughed. "Supply and demand. Everyone wants it, and there's only one."

"So is that your final offer?" Ivan said with a raised brow. The man laughed and nodded. Ivan shrugged and activated his magic. "I'm sorry," he said. A look of horror came across the man's face as Ivan watched in fascination as he twisted and shrunk down into a small paper doll. He caught the lacrima as the man dropped it and quickly hid it in his overcoat. Picking up the little paper shikigami from the floor, he sneered at it. It fluttered about in his hand, trying to escape. Rage filled him. He had only meant for this transformation to be temporary. Just long enough for him to steal the lacrima and get away but seeing the paper doll move about in his hand when his dear Emilia hadn't shown a single sign of life in five years made him furious.

His rage overflowed as the paper doll moved against his hand and without thinking, he held it between his fingers and ripped it in two. He walked out of the alley, leaving an open trunk and two torn pieces of paper behind.

. . .

It had taken Ivan a week of careful research to figure out how he might implant the stolen lacrima. He had to be cautious, since the police were on high alert, not to make himself a target with his research. But it was fairly easy to pull the scientist's white papers from the Guild library to see what he had been trying to do and by the end of the week, Ivan felt he could make it happen.

The scientist's work wasn't complete by any means, but the man had failed to actually try and implant the lacrima into a human yet. Ivan was sure that the method would work if this last critical step was attempted.

Ivan had the lacrima sitting on his desk and it glowed a deep yellow as he spoke to it. "You will help my son get stronger. He will not have to know the pain that I know after you are placed inside of him."

A knock sounded at his front door and Ivan startled. Quickly, he placed the lacrima back inside the cushion in his desk and turned the papers he had taken home with him over. As soon as he answered the door, Laxus came running through, grabbing his leg. "Father! I missed you!" Ivan laughed nervously and picked his son up. Makarov walked inside and closed the door behind him.

"You sure you are okay, son?" the grandfather said with a furrowed brow. Looking at his son, something seemed off and he couldn't place it.

"Of course. Why?" Ivan responded, trying to sound natural.

"Well," Makarov hesitated. "It's a lot to process. I could keep Laxus with me for a few more days."

"No! I want to stay home!" Laxus yelled from across the room before sticking his tongue out at his Grandfather. Makarov sighed and Ivan chuckled.

"Can't blame the boy for wanting to stay home. We'll be okay, Dad. Don't worry." Does he suspect something?

Makarov shot him one last evaluative glance. I must just be overthinking things, the older man thought to himself. "Well alright then. Call if you need anything. Goodbye Laxus."

"Goodbye Grandpa," the little boy shouted as Makarov turned and left the two alone.

Later that night, Ivan knocked on Laxus' door. "Hey, Laxus! I want to show you something really cool. Think you can keep a secret?"

"Something cool?" he could hear his son's excitement through the door before he scrambled off his bed to swing the door open for his father. "Yeah! I wanna see."

Ivan took a seat at the little work desk and pulled the lacrima out from his pocket. It glowed yellow in the dim light of the evening, casting shadows all over the walls. "Can I touch it?" Laxus asked with wide eyes.

"Sure!" Ivan said, directing his son to sit on the floor so he could place it in front of him. "Now be careful."

Laxus picked the little orb up with fascination and laughed as the colors shifted with his movements. "What's it do."

"Coolest thing ever!" Ivan feigned excitement. "It will make someone super strong!"

"Really?" Laxus exclaimed. "How? Can it work for me?"

"It sure can!" Ivan said as he took the orb back. This was going better than Ivan had expected.

"Dad, can I have it? Please?" Laxus said with pleading eyes.

"You sure you want this, Laxus? It's a big responsibility."

Laxus jumped up and down in excitement. "I can handle it. I promise Dad! I'm strong! Like you!"

Ivan looked at his son with sad eyes before saying, "I know, son." Shaking his head, he began to direct Laxus. "Alright. Well, you'll have to sit right here in front of me and stay very still. Can you do that?"

Laxus sat in front of his father, facing his bed. He tried his best to sit as still as possible but he was still squirming with excitement. Ivan placed his hands on Laxus' shoulders to try and calm him before lifting Laxus' t-shirt off him. Finally picking up the lacrima with one hand, Ivan placed it in front of his chest. "Now hold still," Ivan said as he activated the magic in the lacrima.

Lightning began to shoot out across the room as Ivan began to force the little orb into his son's chest. "Dad, I'm scared," Laxus said in a hushed voice but Ivan kept his left hand firmly on his shoulders, not letting him move. He began to push the lacrima into him further and Laxus yelled out in pain as the orb began to melt into him. The lightning became more intense throughout the room but Ivan couldn't be concerned with the destruction, too intent on making his son stronger the only way he knew how.

"Dad!" Laxus began to cry as the lightning began attacking him. With one final push with his magic, the orb seated fully into Laxus' chest. A particularly large bolt of lightning shot out, striking Laxus clean across the eye before the electricity stopped. Ivan was about to tell his son what a good job he had done but Laxus was completely unresponsive and had started seizing.

Ivan tried to touch him but as soon as he got near, electricity arced out from his skin and burned Ivan before he could make contact. "Laxus! Laxus!" he yelled in panic as he watched his son begin to foam at the mouth. "God, no! Laxus!" Ivan panicked. Suddenly the realization of what he had just done became clear and he knew he needed help.

He ran for his phone and called his father. "Hello, Ivan," Makarov greeted him but Ivan yelled at him in panic. "There's no time. You've got to get Porlyusica over here, now!"

Makarov cursed as he hung up the phone. He knew something hadn't seemed right when he left the two earlier in the day. He should have at the very least stayed with him but things had been on such an upward turn. He made the quick call to the healing woman and within minutes, the pair were at Ivan's house. They rushed into the room to find Ivan basically sobbing on the floor next to a convulsing Laxus.

Porlyusica wasted no time in rushing to the child's side and Makarov pulled Ivan aside. Shaking his son's shoulders, he screamed in his face. "What did you do?"

Ivan just continued to sob, curling further into himself. "I thought it would make him stronger."

"Tell me!" Makarov said, letting his magic fill him and growing in stature to grab his son's attention. "What did you do?"

Ivan's eyes widened. His father had never turned his magic on him before. "The lacrima. The one that's missing. It's inside him now. I thought it might grant him magic."

Makarov shrank down at the news, completely shocked. "How did you…?" his words trailed off. "It doesn't matter now. We will deal with this when we know he is okay."

It was several hours before Porlyusica finally emerged from the bedroom. "He's finally stable. But there's no way that device can be removed without killing him. It blasted his magic circuits wide open. He will have some serious training ahead of him on how to control this new magic." Everyone looked very relieved before she added, "and he will bear that scar across his eye for the rest of his life."

. . .

"How's he doing?" Ivan asked tentatively as his father walked into the room. It had been a week since the incident. Makarov had taken Laxus back to live with him and Porlyusica had been staying with them to monitor the boy's progress. Ivan had stayed confined to his home, not sure how to handle the aftermath.

The trio swore to keep the fact that Laxus now contained the missing lacrima a secret. If it were discovered, Ivan would most certainly be arrested for the theft along with child endangerment. That wasn't Makarov's main concern. He was more concerned about the scientific community, or even the Magic Counsel, coming and taking Laxus away. The poor boy would become a research subject and he wouldn't allow that to happen.

Makarov sighed and sat down on the couch across from his son. "He's okay. But his training will have to begin as soon as his strength is back up. Leaving such a power unchecked is very risky. It will be a miracle if he ever learns to fully control it. It was not meant for him."

Ivan kept his head down. "Well, I could help him train, you know."

Makarov shook his head. "I don't think that's a good idea, considering. Actually," the old man drew a heavy breath. This next act would prove to be one of the hardest of his life. "For the time being, you will not be allowed to see the boy."

"What?" Ivan exclaimed, looking earnestly at his father. "You can't do that. At least let me see him when I'm at the Guild."

"You won't be at the Guild anymore, Ivan. I'm sorry, but, you're being expelled."

The words hit Ivan like a freight train. He lost his wife and now his son and his livelihood were being taken from him as well? "You can't be serious?" he said in a defeated tone.

Makarov struggled to keep his composure, silently wiping a tear away from his right eye. "I'm sorry, son. I have no other choice."

The two sat in oppressive silence for a few minutes before Ivan finally spoke. "What will I do to support myself?"

Makarov cleared his throat. "I don't know, but I'm sure you'll figure something out." Ivan simply nodded his head in understanding.

Makarov stood and embraced his son. "Come to the Guild before you leave. I'll let you say goodbye to the boy."

Ivan began to cry but managed to say, "thank you," before his father left him alone.

. . .

The next two weeks were a complete blur for Ivan. Instead of facing the heavy feeling of loss and pain, he decided to bury it in booze, broads and brawls. He's packed up a few of his belongings, taking special care to put an enchantment around Emilia's bottle, and hit the road on a full out bender.

The girl next to him was saying something but he was having a hard time understanding her with all the alcohol in his system. Despite his darkened appearance, he still carried the Dreyar good looks and found it easy to attract a distraction. "Tell you what, sweetheart. Come back to the hotel with me and I promise we'll do more than just talk."

This woman was a bit different than the others. A mage herself, she had beautiful silver hair and a wicked glint in her eye. Looking for a good time herself, she agreed and the two quickly found themselves entertainment for the remainder of the evening.

. . .

"Can you believe it, Emilia?" Ivan paced around the room frantically. Having finally come down from his bender, his rage at the situation had come to a boiling point. "I was just trying to help the boy. Why can't they see that? I know you see it!" The paper doll stayed lifeless in its glass prison and Ivan continued to pace as his anger grew.

"I bet this isn't about the boy at all. Laxus was able to handle it. He had dormant circuits after all. This is about Makarov. He wants to keep the power of the Guild all to himself." Ivan got up close to the glass bottle and lowered his voice. "Dearest dad doesn't think I know but I do. I know the power he's got hidden in the Guild basement and I know he wants to keep it all for himself. He just doesn't want to retire and pass it on to me. That's what this is really about."

Ivan moved across the room again to continue his frantic pacing, wringing his hands in the process. "I've got to figure out some what to get to that power. It should be mine. I won't let him keep it."

He paused for a minute before a wicked grin spread across his face. "I'll start my own Guild. Only those strong enough will be worthy to join." He began to laugh at the thought. "And what could be better at hunting fairies than ravens."

END CHAPTER 1

. . .

Hello beautiful readers!

This story will be a bit different than my others. It will not be relationship focused but rather, I'm diving into and creating the backstory for the Dreyar family! Ivan and his relationship with Laxus was never fully fleshed out so I'm seizing the opportunity to do so.

I hope you all enjoy this new world I'm creating and enjoy getting lost with me in it!

Musicera