Hello! This is my first time writing a fanfic, so please let me know what you think! All comments and constructive criticism welcome! Have fun reading!
Disclaimer: I do not own the world of Fairy Tail or any of the characters besides my OCs and the story plot line. Fairy Tail belongs to Hiro Mashima!
Chapter 1: The Beginning of the End
She screamed, running as fast as her little legs could take her. Then, all at once, she tripped over a stone and went flying, head over heels, into the arms of the very person she was trying so desperately to escape. Shrieking with laughter, she giggled uncontrollably as her father swung her in circles, hanging on to his neck for dear life. "Jamie! Jude! Lucy! Come inside, it's time for dinner!" Called her mother, Layla. Jude, her father, yelled back his agreement and swept Jamie's twin, Lucy, into his arms and ran inside.
After dinner, Jamie and Lucy sat curled up in their mother's arms, sighing contentedly as she read them yet another story. They were enthralled as Layla's smooth voice entranced them, sucking them into a world of fantasy where anything is possible. Their father stood in the doorway to the library, smiling warmly at the scene. "Mommy, why can't the princess escape by herself? Why does she need the prince to save her?" An inquisitive Jamie asked, her eyes wide and eager. Lucy huffed in response, saying that she thought it was "a very romantic way to escape if you ask me," and that it was "more exciting that way". Their mother's melodic laughter filled the air as she interrupted the twins' latest argument. "Well, girls, you both are right. It is romantic to be saved by your true love, and can be exciting that way-" Lucy jumped up and yelled out her agreement, and then paused as her mother continued, "-but it is also true that you can't wait around your whole life for someone else to bring you happiness. You have to go out and find it for yourself, and you will often find it in the people around you. Never forget that; your friends and family will always be there for you, no matter what."
The next day, Jamie walked inside from her latest expedition in the forest surrounding the estate, bouncing in anticipation from her discovery. She couldn't wait to tell Lucy, she knew that her twin would be so incredibly jealous. After slamming open the huge elaborate front doors of the estate building, she froze upon being greeted by a roomful of solemn and crying faces. "W-what's going on?" She asked hesitantly, slowly creeping forwards into the main hall's entryway. "It's your mother, darling, I'm afraid she has fallen ill and won't be getting better," explained her father, walking up to greet his frightened daughter. She latched onto his leg, starting to cry. "What do you mean she won't get better?" She sobbed, clinging even tighter. Her father took a moment to answer, his voice thick with emotion, "It means that she will die in about a month, honey. I'm so sorry, there's nothing that the doctors can do to help her..." he trailed off quietly, starting to cry himself. The pair of them held each other closely, doing their best to ward off the broken emotions that threatened to swallow them whole.
Jamie sat with her back against her favorite tree, silently staring off into the distance. Lucy trotted over, oblivious to her mother's impending death. Her father had had a lapse in judgment upon seeing his elder daughter and ended up telling her what he had sworn he would not until he was sure it was too late for his beloved wife. Hence, Jamie began to lapse into a state of depression while her twin continued on as she had before. "Jamie! Do you wanna explore in the forest with me? You said you would find something cool to show me and mommy! This way, when mommy gets better, we can both show her!"
Jamie started to cry, unable to help herself. She tilted her head forwards, letting her hair cover her tear stained face. After a moment's pause, she managed to answer. "Maybe later, Lucy. I'm really tired right now." Lucy visibly drooped in dejection. "But Jamie, you said that last time! And the time before that, and the time before that, and-" her complaint was cut short when Jamie jumped up, her sister's cheerfulness too much for her to bear. "I'm so sorry, Lucy," she whispered as she sprinted off, unsure of where to seek refuge from the demons plaguing her. "Mommy, why do you have to die? We need you..." her chest heaved with heartbreaking sobs, drawing the concerned and pitying gazes of the mansion's staff as she ran past them.
Stopping in front of her mother's bedroom door, she paused, hesitating to open it because of the hushed voices she heard on the other side. "-It's not fair for Jamie to bear the burden of my death without the support of her sister. I know you didn't want either to know until later, but what's done is done. You can't change the past, and she needs her twin now more than ever." The sound of her mother's weak voice, ringing in Jamie's ears despite its low volume, shocked her into a still position, neither entering nor leaving.
"Besides, how will Lucy react when she finds out that Jamie found out a month before she did? It is too much to ask a child to instantly forgive her family for withholding information that holds that much weight to it, especially after the loss of her mother." Unsure of what to do and forced into action from the approaching footsteps behind the door, Jamie jogged further down the hallway and away from what certainly meant trouble.
Upon reaching the library, she immediately went straight to her hiding spot that she had turned into her very own fort, impossible to find unless you knew exactly where to look. After snuggling into the pile of blankets and pillows, Jamie thought hard about what she had heard. That her parents were talking about her and Lucy was troubling to say the least, especially when you put it into context. Her mother thought that she needed Lucy? She felt tears well up in her eyes; yes, she does need Lucy. It hurts her too much to watch her cheerful obliviousness, unaware of what she thought was certain impending doom. "Mommy, I don't know how I'll be able to live without you," Jamie whimpered tearfully, "Without you, everything feels so broken. Please, please don't leave us…" She trailed off at the end of her sentence, unable to speak through the keening sobs ripping from her chest.
She laid there for hours, letting her sorrows and fears overcome her. Servants passing by shook their heads mournfully, sympathy for the young heiress prominent on their faces. However, they all knew that there was nothing that they could do to make a difference, so with heavy feet and laden hearts, they continued on past the library doors that gaped open like the hungry maw of a beast best left alone. On the other side of the mansion, Lucy sat alone and worried. She knew that something was horribly wrong, and her twin wouldn't talk to her, let alone look at her anymore. She racked her brain, trying to think of what she possibly could have done wrong. Her father was always busy now, either working or spending time with their sick mother. Suddenly, her breath stopped short as a petrifying thought seized her. What if something is really wrong with Mommy? Does everyone else know something that I don't?
Lucy shook her head, trying to rid herself of the heavy thoughts that plagued her. If it was really important, then someone would have told her already. There was no point in dwelling on things that would only make her feel worse. So, with that, she stood and went to go find her hiding twin, determined to get her to play with her. Jamie was being stubborn, and Lucy had had enough. It was time to either get over it or tell her just what was bothering her sister so much. She opened the door to the room that she shared with her twin, and skipped down the empty hallway, starting her quest to go find Jamie. Unknowing of the pain that would soon befall her and the rest of the mansion's household.
Jamie sat in her father's office, eyes focused on the trim of the rug that lay on the floor beneath her feet. Jude sat in front of her, sorrow lining every crease on his face and showed in the slump of his shoulders. "Jamie, I know that this hurts. But, Lucy is hurting too, albeit for different reasons. She thinks that she did something to make you mad because you won't play with her anymore. You won't even look her in the eye, and even though I know that it hurts to have to hold the knowledge of- to have to know what she doesn't, you can't just cut Lucy out of your life completely." Tears crept their way back into Jamie's eyes and made their way down her puffy cheeks. Hesitantly, she attempted to answer, "Daddy, I know that. But, it's so hard. It's so hard to watch her run around and laugh like nothing's happening. I can't, I just can't. I can't pretend to be happy and fine when it feels like everything is crumbling to dust around me." She glanced up at her father, startled to see tears in his eyes as well. After hastily looking back down, she continued, "I know that you're hurting too. All of us who know are. It's probably hurting you even more than it's hurting me, so I guess I'll have to try. I will be strong for Lucy, and I'll be strong for you and Mommy. I promise that I won't let you hurt by yourself and that Lucy will never have to know what it feels like to hurt this much alone. I will protect her, because Mommy-" She broke off, trying to not completely dissolve into tears, and took a deep breath before finishing, "Soon Mommy won't be able to do that herself."
Jamie flinched when she heard her father's chair clatter to the floor as he stood up suddenly, and was surprised when he swept her up into his arms, hugging her tightly. She became even more rattled when she felt her father's tears soak into the shoulder of her dress because, in the past two weeks, she had seen him cry more than she had in her entire life; he simply didn't cry. Then, as she relaxed into his embrace, she began to cry in earnest as well. They both stood there, breaking, but somehow still holding each other up, despite the pain that threatened to devour them. After a few minutes passed by, Jude relaxed his grip on his daughter a little. He kissed the top of her head lovingly, and spoke softly, his voice still thick with emotion. "Grace Jameson Heartfilia-" he paused, squeezing her slightly, "You are amazing. I could never have asked for a better daughter or a better family. You are stronger than I will ever be, and you never cease to impress me with your bravery and courage. Your determination to take on everything that is thrown at you is inspiring, and I love you will all my heart."
He pulled away from her just enough to stare into her cool brown eyes with their grey-green tint. "Never, ever, forget that. No matter what happens, promise me that you won't forget that I love you." Sniffing, Jamie smiled at her father gently and responded, "I promise, Daddy. As long as you can promise me the same, I will never forget." He hugged his daughter close once more, and whispered; "I promise." Jamie pulled away first, eyes glimmering with tears and conviction. "Daddy, I'm going to help you. Whatever you want me to do, I'll do it. I can help you with work and whatever else comes up. It's going to get harder without Mommy here, and I already promised you that you won't be alone. So, rely on me. I want to help." A warm smile filled Jude's tear-streaked face, and he placed his hand on his beautiful daughter's head, his voice now steady. "Okay, Jamie, help me then."
Jamie threw herself into her studies and made sure to make time for her twin. Although it took a while, Jamie had finally been able to convince Lucy that she was "fine" and that she wasn't mad at her at all. Lucy had been confused at Jamie's sudden change in attitude, but let it go because she was just so happy to have her sister back after two very painful weeks of being alone. Jamie still was hurting desperately on the inside, but she somehow managed to hide it better from the people around her. She would smile and giggle in front of the servants and her sister, but as soon as she was alone, her face became blank and her eyes filled with tears and devastating pain. She would cry quietly as she studied, doing her best to focus on the business and complicated pragmatics that she was determined to learn. After all, how could she possibly help her father if she didn't know anything?
In her spare time, she would write, either journaling or poetry. While her twin enjoyed writing and reading novels endlessly, Jamie preferred to just read, and when she did write, it was a poem. She just couldn't bring herself to pretend to be someone she was not when alone, because that was what she did constantly in every other situation. She couldn't keep pretending forever. So, she wrote. When she wasn't writing, she was playing the piano. Her mother had taught both her and Lucy how to play, but Lucy was more interested in books than music. Jamie, however, instantly connected to it. Music was a part of her very soul, and the piano called to her in ways that she didn't entirely understand. She continued to practice after Lucy grew bored, and begged her mother to teach her more. She played and she played, and soon, started to sing as well. It seemed to come naturally, but with her mother so sick, she could only bring herself to do so when she was completely alone.
Besides music and writing, Jamie found herself drawing. She didn't draw or paint very often, though, because between studies, Lucy, and what little time to herself she had, there just simply wasn't enough time to truly throw herself into art, no matter how much she enjoyed it. So, art stayed on the sidelines for quite a while. Meanwhile, it had been just over two weeks since she found out her mother would die, and it had only been three days since she spoke with her father. She hadn't seen much of him since then, after all, he was incredibly busy. At the present moment, Jude was in a meeting with several other people, doing whatever he could to further his business. Jamie and Lucy were playing outside in the garden while this went on, giggling as they chased each other around. After all, they were both only 9 years old, going on ten. Their birthday was in thirteen days, making Jamie very uneasy about the timing, after all, it was too close to the general time her mother was supposed to die for her to be comfortable. Would her mother even live to see her beloved daughters turn ten?
Heavy thoughts such as these weighed on Jamie's mind as she forced herself to appear cheerful, and caused her to lose her focus as she was running. Unaware of the wooden ledge right in front of her, Jamie tripped and hit her head on the metal figurine of a fairy and dragon dancing together. She screamed as she fell, and was knocked unconscious after the two figurines hit her face with a sickening squelch. Lucy heard her sister's scream and turned around just in time to see her hit the ground. An inhuman screech bubbled up in her throat as she stumbled over to where Jamie lay. She reached out to her twin with shaking hands, pulling her off of the twisted metal and rolling her onto her back. The scream finally escaped from her lips upon seeing the bloody gash across Jamie's face, pulpy mashed flesh twisted in a long line from next to her right eye all the way down to beneath her mouth. Blood was everywhere, gushing seemingly unceasingly from Lucy's injured twins body, coating them both.
A gardener hurried over as fast as he could upon hearing both of the girls scream, one after the other, and was terrified of what awaited him. He finally reached them, and felt his stomach heave after taking in the gory scene before him, bile creeping up his throat. The poor man quickly scooped Jamie up out of her sister's arms and ran as fast as he could to the mansion while bellowing for help. Frightened maids and servants bustled around in a flurry of action, one running to notify Jude, another to call for an emergency medic, someone else leading Lucy away from her sister and towards the bathroom to get the blood off of her and keep her from having to observe what was going on any longer...It was pure chaos. They all felt themselves crumpling under the weight of everything going on, what with Layla's sickness and Jamie's injury, it was too much to bear. It was all too much…
