Projection of the Heart
Chapter 2: One Jellal, two Jellal, no Jellal
Well, here we go. I'm not really sure how I feel about this entire plot/idea but it won't go away and I figured I may as well finish it. It's not my best work but Oh well. WARNING: This is going to get a little dark and emotional at times so be warned!
Edit: Rewritten! I hope it is better now!
Chapter 2:
Jellal's POV
I slowly made my way up the tower. I could feel my magic or, at least his magic pulling me forward. Leading me to wherever he was. I wondered what I would find? I knew our personalities must be vastly different by now. But was this Jellal going to be like the child from before or more like Seigrain? Maybe a mix? I was wary yet I knew I had to keep going.
I quickly reached the door that led to what used to be the throne room. At this point I could actively feel my magic being drained. My tattoo was burning once more and I felt weak. The original me had to be there. I pushed open the door not sure what I was expecting, but it wasn't this. I gasped in shock and sat down on the floor as the room spun. "What the heck does this mean!?"
In front of me, encased in solid lacrima was the original Jellal, my creator. I could see that the injuries from the battle at the Tower had healed into scars. Webs of lacrima magic raced over his skin creating a rune pattern. His eyes were closed and he showed no sign of being awake. What shocked me however, was that nothing had changed. HE hadn't changed. It was like looking into a mirror, if that mirror showed the past. The Jellal in front of me had not aged at all. He still looked 19. "How is this possible?" I wondered aloud.
I shook my head and inspected the crystal, trying to determine how to best free him. The second I placed my hand on the lacrima, my creator's eyes snapped open and the lacrima shattered. Acting quickly, I was able to catch my copy as he collapsed in my arms, unconscious once more. The second we came into contact though I felt my magic being pulled harshly from me and I jumped back. The sudden drain of magic left me dizzy and I sat down again. I opened my eyes when I heard movement. He had sat up.
Erza's POV
I was scared for Jellal, both of them. I feared what would become of the Jellal I had learned to know and love, and for the original. I trusted my Jellal though, and if he said he needed to do this alone, I would put my faith in him.
"Erza." Lucy placed a hand on my shoulder to stop my pacing. "He will be ok." She told me firmly. I looked at her in shock at the strength of her tone. Everyone was nodding their heads.
"Jellal won't let this destroy him. He promised me he'd never be the reason for your tears ever again." Natsu stated smiling. I felt myself returning his grin. "You're right."
Even if I had calmed down for a time, I quickly grew anxious once more Suddenly the entire tower seemed to begin pulsing with magic. "What is going on?" Wendy questioned. I steeled my nerves and began to climb up the tower. "We need to make sure they're ok." I stated as Lucy tried to stop me. She nodded and we began to ascend together.
Original Jellal's POV
I slowly opened my eyes and looked around in confusion. Sitting up I rubbed my aching head. How long was I out? How am I alive? I looked up and my eyes locked with an identical pair. I felt shock run through me. "You. What are you doing here? You shouldn't even remember I exist." I asked my creation. He was looking at me with just as much shock. "I didn't. Until you started pulling your magic back, making me collapse in the middle of the guild hall. Fairy Tail's healer was able to figure out what was going on and released the seal on my memories." He explained. I was even more confused. "Fairy Tail?" He smiled at me then. "Yes. My guild was visiting." He then explained the events of the past few years. I told him that I had not even been aware that I was pulling my magic back, and that it must have just been a subconscious part of me waking up.
Still I couldn't believe what I was hearing. I was a part of an independent guild, friends with Erza once more, and she had forgiven me. No. She had forgiven and accepted HIM. I felt a pang of sadness run though me.
"It seems I no longer belong in her life." I concluded sadly.
Jellal's POV
I looked at him in shock. I had expected the confusion, but not this. "What do you mean? You're the original. You're the real Jellal. I'm just a copy." I questioned. "How could you not belong? Plus, you are closer to her in age then I am." I added. He shook his head sadly.
"No. You are a part of her life now. You love her and she loves YOU. We are different people now. I would have made many different choices then you did. You carry my desire to protect and repent. You don't carry my darkness, the part of me that still feels rage. You are the untainted version of me. You make her happy, not me. And as such you are the one that she needs by her side." He declared. I sighed. I could tell the physical pain it was causing him to even say this. We may be different people but we have one thing we share that will never change. We both were in love with Erza Scarlet. Before any of this, if she had decided to be with another man, it would have broken me, but I would have accepted it if it was what made her happy. And now I was watching a version of me go through it.
"I'm sorry." I stated putting my hand on his shoulder. He smirked at me and chuckled. "Funny thing is I made you, what do I have to be jealous of?" He then frowned. "There is one last thing I need to do then." He stated firmly. It was then that I noticed the magical circle surrounding us. When did that appear?
Original Jellal's POV
This would be my final act as a part of Erza's life. To make the man she loves, real. My creation gasped as he realized my intentions. "NO. What will this even do to you?" He questioned. I shrugged. "What happens to me doesn't matter. You will be cut from me, becoming your own soul entirely. We will be completely different people even if we are genetically the same. Twins I guess." I laughed without humor. "Maybe I should start going by Seigrain again." I joked and he looked at me incredulously.
"Now isn't the time to be joking!" He grabbed me by the shoulders and shook me. "Stop this spell!" I shrugged him off and stood. "I won't." He chased after me. "You don't need to do this!" He tried again. I sighed. "But I do." I then started activating the final piece of the spell. Suddenly the doors burst open.
Erza's POV
We burst into the throne room and I stopped short. Two Jellals in front of me. One older, one younger. One casting a spell, the other trying to prevent it. The older Jellal looked up at me in relief.
"Erza! Stop him!" He yelled desperately. I was in shock, as was my team. No one knew what to do. Suddenly the younger laughed sadly. "Too late." Suddenly the magic circle between the two, started glowing and vanished. Both screamed and collapsed to the ground as the light disappeared. I raced over to them and checked their pulses. The older Jellal was fine, just unconscious. Then I turned to the younger, the one we came here for. "Oh god. Wendy!" I called out to her. His pulse was weak, too weak. There was blood flowing out of his mouth. He was dying. She raced over and gasped but set to work.
"Why hasn't he aged?" Lucy questioned. Gray shook his head. "Must have been a side effect of fusing with the lacrima." Natsu was about the respond when the older Jellal, our Jellal started coughing.
"That idiot. I can't believe he just did that." He grumbled, sitting up. I glanced at him in relief but froze. Something was different. I couldn't place it. Natsu was glancing between the two. "Your scents are different. They weren't a second ago but now they are." He questioned.
"Your nose must be broken." Gray said off handedly and Natsu was about to punch him before Jellal intervened.
"Stop." He stated. His voice was even different, just a little deeper. What was going on? Everyone was watching him confused. Wendy suddenly stopped healing the younger. "He should be ok now." She stated wiping her brow. The older Jellal walked over and sat down. He flicked the other Jellal's forehead. "Wake up." He demanded yet there was a layer of affection in his voice that surprised me. The younger opened his eyes. He noticed everyone starring at him but he was only watching his copy. "It worked?" He asked and received a nod in response. He instantly relaxed. "Thank God. For a second there I thought I'd killed us both." My Jellal started laughing. "You gave it your best shot, I'll give you that." The younger sat up and rolled his eyes. He then glanced at me, but quickly looked away. He didn't seem to know what to say to me. I glanced at my team. They were as confused a me.
"Jellal?" I asked him quietly. He looked at me shyly. "Yes…?" He questioned. "What was that?" I asked him, referring to the spell he had just cast. He looked away sheepishly and neither Jellal would meet my eyes. "You got yourself into this mess. You explain." The elder finally said. The younger tsked but nodded. "Fine. I just made this Jellal here, the one you have known, into his own person." He stated simply.
"EEEHHHH?" Natsu and Gray yelled.
"How?" Lucy questioned.
"I may have used an incredibly forbidden technique to separate our souls so now we are separate people." He explained.
Natsu was pointing between the two. "So, you're different people now? How the heck is that going to work? Are one of you going to start going by a different name?" He asked. The younger shrugged. "I guess I could always go as Seigrain." He stated only to be smacked in the back of the head. "NO." The elder responded. "or Jay." He finished glaring at Jellal who nodded.
"So, Crime Sorciere Jellal is Jellal and newly awakened younger Jellal is Jay." Happy stated.
I was still in shock. Two Jellals. Two separate Jellals. One from my past, one from the present. I had loved both at different times in my life. My emotions were a mess. Jay looked at me worriedly. "Erza...? Are you ok?" He questioned and he looked and acted so much like the Jellal from my childhood that I felt my chest constrict. And then there was the current Jellal putting his hand on my shoulder and looking at me with such concern, such care, I was frozen. The two glanced at each other and seemed to share a look. Jay began to back off but I grabbed him to stop him. Suddenly overcome with emotion I pulled them both into a hug. Both froze but at the same time relaxed and returned my embrace. My team was watching smiling.
"Let's go home." I stated pulling back and after glancing at each other, they both nodded.
3rd person POV
After a week of introductions and rest for the two, Jay decided it was time. Jellal knew what he was planning, he only hopped the man he now considered his younger twin brother would find his place in the world, and hopefully find peace.
Erza's POV
Jay had become more of a brother to me, as opposed to the romantic love I felt for Jellal. I was glad my emotions had sorted out. I couldn't even imagine the mess it would be if I loved them in the same way. I was eating a slice of cake when Jay approached me where I sat with my team. He seemed nervous.
"Erza." He started.
"Yes Jay?" I questioned worried. He scratched the back of his head.
"I'm leaving." He stated after a pause.
"WHY?" Natsu demanded. Jay sighed. "Jellal belongs here. With Crime Sorciere and Fairy Tail. I want to find where I belong. I want to see the world." He explained. Natsu quieted down. I pulled Jay into a hug. "I know. Just promise you'll visit." I asked of him. He nodded. After goodbyes from the rest of the guild, Jellal pulled Jay into a hug. "Stay safe brother." He said quietly but I was close enough to hear. Jay nodded and left. I put my arm around Jellal and he placed his head on mine and we watched as he disappeared into the crowd.
Done
I was initially thinking of having Jay transfer his soul to Jellal instead, resulting in Jay's death but then I figured Jellal deserves family and he would feel guilty over his death so I went with this. Final thoughts? Edit: Do the changes make it easier to read?