Disclaimer: I am not the owner of ROTG or Fairy Tail
Jack's idea of magic training wasn't all that different from his idea of having fun. The winter spirit was with Zeref at the very end of the night. Everyone in town was asleep, making this the perfect time to at least attempt to learn something. However, there was an issue with Jack's teaching methods.
"Alright, so, you don't like getting hit by snowballs, right?" Jack questioned, making Zeref scowl. He didn't know what had made him get so invested in that snowball fight earlier, but now, he was back to normal and held an even stronger dislike for games involving snow and ice.
The winter spirit took Zeref's scowl as an answer. "So, I'm going to make you want to stop my attacks. After all, that's how my magic works, so it'd make sense that you'd eventually block one of them, right?"
Thusly, Zeref found himself getting continuously pelted with snowballs, waiting for some magical solution to stop them. The restless energy in his body did not seem to be reacting in any form. While his irritation did grow, his power did not. Jack would reprimand him when he attempted to dodge through normal means, and as a result, Zeref ended up soaking wet before the winter spirit gave up on this method of training.
Frowning, Jack inspected Zeref a bit closer. "Alright, I'll admit it…that wasn't the best of plans," he stated.
"I am beginning to regret agreeing to this, Frost," Zeref stated icily. "If you cannot do this right, I shall—" he began, but his voice was cut off by a strange sight coming closer to them.
A man was walking through the streets, with the strangest appearance Zeref had seen. Gray skin covered his body, almost sickly in appearance. Spiky black hair sat atop of his head, where golden eyes burned outward into the night. His dark black robes covered him entirely, and he seemed to be smiling as he glanced upward. In the sky, Zeref noted, was the familiar sight of golden sand. He had debated following the sand to its source at one point, but determined that it would be a waste of his energy, without an efficient method of traveling.
The strange man seemed pleased to see the sand, reading into the sky and pulling a handful of it down into his own grasp. "Ah, Sandman, always so helpfully on time." the man mused with a grin. The sand seemed to morph within his hands, changing color and turning almost as black as his robes. "Now, time to get to work. Let's just see if these children can help me produce what I need."
"Who is that?" Jack questioned, turning towards Zeref. "I mean, I love the dream sand too, but I've never seen an adult notice its presence."
Moving after the man, Zeref kept his black eyes focused on the stranger. "Based on what I've gathered, you are correct. That man, whoever he is, is someone like us." Zeref determined. There was no other possibility, considering the man's actions. The alteration of the sand from one form to another was interesting, but Zeref had a feeling that he could do so much more.
The winter spirit followed just behind Zeref, trailing after the man as he stopped at one of the homes in town. Inside, was a rather small family. Grandeeney lived alone, ever since her husband left town in search of more wealth than Burgess could offer. Her only daughter, Wendy, was merely eleven years old. Sleeping in her bed, the girl was unaware of the creepy man staring over at her.
Entering the home, Zeref stood behind the man and watched. "Another sweet child, so innocent and filled with hope and wonder…there's one thing missing, however. In fact, it's missing within every single living being in this town, from what I've seen. That's all going to change, though, that I promise you," the man insisted, the dark sand dancing around in his palms. Zeref watched him hold it out over Wendy, sprinkling it like dust over the child's face.
Wendy wrinkled her nose, grimacing in her sleep as she rolled over and mumbled to herself. The golden sand dancing above her head seemed to grow darker, tinged slightly towards the darkness the other man had wielded. It lasted only for a moment, though, before returning to the image of a flying cat soaring through the sky.
"Damn you! Another failure, why do you always refuse to accept your fears?" the stranger shouted, kneeling down before the child. He moved to grip her shoulders, but Zeref watched as his hands slipped through her body. The man's scowl deepened, before turned around as if to leave, spotting both Jack and Zeref standing at the doorway of the room.
Jack jumped slightly, before giving the man an awkward grin and spinning his staff around. "Oh, hey there. Didn't want to interrupt your…whatever that was. Honestly, I didn't think there'd be another guy like us around, though."
His light hearted tone told Zeref that Jack didn't quite grasp what the man was doing. From what he had observed, the golden sand helped children sleep peacefully. The darkness this man put into it had appeared to have a negative affect on Wendy, even if it was only briefly. As a result, Zeref remained tense, warily eyeing the man who smiled brightly at the two of them.
"Like me? Oh, I doubt that," the man mused, inspecting Jack closely. His golden gaze scanned over the boy's body, leaving Jack leaning back as the other man came closer to get a better look. "Indeed, not an ounce of fear in your expression, and you are clearly hopeless in bringing such a feeling to others."
When the man stepped away, Jack stood straighter and frowned at the man. "Is that a bad thing? Sure, I'm not terrifying monster, but from what I can see, you aren't exactly terrifying to see either. Just relax with us, I've got a ton of questions to ask. I mean, do you know what is going on with any of us?" he began.
Zeref remained silent, seeing the man's golden eyes burning into his own now. There was still a strange smile on the man's face, white teeth somehow making his features even darker than before. "You, however, seem to be different," he mused quietly. Zeref's back remained stiff, watching as the man seemed to vanish before their eyes. He felt the hairs on the back of his neck rise, a presence appearing behind him and whispering in his ear. "There is a darkness in you, a fear that is so much lovelier than your friend's. Tell me, who are you?"
Glancing at the ground, Zeref simply frowned before replying quietly, his voice barely louder than a whisper. "Zeref." Jack looked surprised, rolling his eyes at the expression on Zeref's face.
"Calm down, Zeref, he's harmless. Sure, he's got a creepy robe, but it's not like he's evil or anything," the winter spirit insisted.
Something told Zeref that Jack was wrong about this man, though he did not know what. He felt the man shove him forward, however, interrupting his musings on why he felt such a strange desire to get away from him. "Foolish boy, that is not what I meant!" he shouted, his smile now gone with his gaze narrowed. "Here, allow me to demonstrate. My name is Pitch Black, and I am the Boogeyman. Now, what is your name, gifted to you by your precious Man in the Moon?"
There was a sneer in his voice when he spoke of Manny, one that Zeref did not let slip past him. Some old hatred remained in Pitch for the moon, but his words left a chill within Zeref that he could not describe. That whisper he heard that night, there was power in that name. He did not want to reveal it to others, but perhaps it was why he could not determine what had happened to him. "I…I do not hold anyone in that regard, but I suppose I do know of the name you are looking for. In that case, I am Grim Reaper."
The yellow eyed man stood taller, clasping his hands together behind his back. Pitch came closer to Zeref once more, tilting his head slightly. "Grim, you say? Well, what an interesting name. I can't say I've heard of you, either. Are you a new spirit by chance? Someone who has not yet even heard of my name?" the man questioned.
Gazing calmly back at Pitch, Zeref remained still. "I suppose that depends on your definition of 'new'. My age is older than I appear, however, I assume that is the case with all of us…spirits." The word was unfamiliar to Zeref, but somehow fitting considering their invisibility. "Regardless, I have my own questions for you. This sand, I've seen it before. It represents the dreams of children, yes?"
Chuckling, Pitch nodded and leaned back, giving Zeref some space. "Indeed, did you see what I was doing with it? Dream sand is a marvelous creation. At least, it could be if the Sandman knew how to use it properly. That is why I am here, to see just how useful this tool can really be."
Frowning, Zeref stepped closer to Wendy. She was still sleeping peacefully, unaware of the three people gathered in her room. Jack watched quietly, shaking his head and tapping his staff against the floor. Frost seemed to spread at his feet, boredom showing on his face. "Look…I get that you two are having a conversation and all, but seriously? Why are you so interested in sand? It's not a big deal, Pitch can play around with it if he wants. We've got more training to do, you still haven't—"
Zeref turned his head back sharply, glaring at Jack. "Enough, Jack," he ordered. The winter spirit blinked in surprise, not expecting the sharpness to Zeref's tone. "The sand…he was changing it, making it darker. Based on his previous comments…I'd say he was adding fear into Wendy's dreams," Zeref stated calmly. "In what way does that aid the world? Fearing things does not mean they will not occur. It only adds in hesitation and a reluctance to fight for oneself."
There was a chuckle echoing from the shadows as Pitch vanished from sight once more. He reappeared on the opposite side of Wendy's bed, smiling gleefully down at the child. "You sound so much like them, like those precious Guardians of Childhood," he stated, before his smile turned into a dark scowl. Glaring at Zeref, Pitch continued on. "I despise them, you know. Always gaining so many believers, with their hope and wonder…it makes me sick, seeing how they revel in being known throughout the world while I…I am stuck in the shadows, never seen, never believed in. People go on, telling their children 'oh, there's nothing to be afraid of, there's no such thing as the boogeyman'"
A coldness filled Zeref, as he realized what this man was saying. There were others out there, people like them that knew how to be seen. Jack's blue eyes widened, apparently catching this fact as well. "Wait…are you saying…that we don't have to be invisible? There's a way to make…to get people to…see us?" he demanded, breathing heavily.
Unlike his companion, Zeref remained calm about the realization. It wasn't as if he needed to be seen all of these years. In a way, it had been a relief. No one looked at him with hatred or fear, and no one ignored him solely because of what he had done. Now, if he was not seen, there was a reason behind it. His isolation made sense, and while he may wish to talk to someone, he did not need it to keep going on.
Pitch's eyes burned in the dark room, lifting his gaze towards Jack. "Oh yes, that there is. Then again, I'm not all that interested in you. Your fears bore me, to be honest. Just like everyone else, the poor little, well, whatever your name is, afraid of being alone," he mused, shaking his head.
Jack glared at him, his grip tightening on his staff. "The name's Jack, Jack Frost, and I'm not afraid," he insisted.
Laughter seemed to echo around the room, Pitch's voice being thrown around the place they stood. "Ah, such denial. Very well, I'll let that remain for now. After all, we have so much time to grow that fear, to enhance it within you," Pitch stated gleefully. "Your friend however…Grim's fear is quite unusual, unique in a way. I can't say I've met another spirit who is so afraid…"
There was a slight pause, one which Zeref could tell was being used for dramatic affect. Whoever this man was, he knew how to create fear. Zeref could tell, from the way he spoke to the way he carried himself. Pitch was used to slipping in and out of darkness, jumping out and startling anyone who walked passed him. "My fears are my own. I've grown past them, and learned to continue—"
"Oh, have you?" Pitch interrupted, much like Zeref had just done. "You fear something no one should ever come to be afraid of, my boy. Your greatest fear…is of yourself. Tell me, why is that? Just what makes you afraid of the power within you?" The man walked around Zeref, circling the boy as he remained still. "Perhaps it isn't your power that you fear…no, I think it is your own personality. What makes you different, your own ability to so coldly calculate your actions…I see it in your eyes, the way you analyze everything before even speaking a word, young spirit."
With hands shaking slightly, Zeref closed his eyes. He needed to control himself, to remember that what happened in the past would never happen again. "Leave us be, and we shall do the same for you, Pitch Black. I was intrigued with your power, I admit, but now I see there is no use in discussing things with you. Give these children fear if you wish, for I will still be here to show them how to accept those fears."
Despite his words, Zeref could feel something shaken within him. Jack stepped closer, touching Zeref's shoulder gently and pulling him back. "Hey, are you okay? You seem kind of…well, you almost look as pale as me, and that's saying something," he commented.
"He is just fine, Frost," Pitch insisted, taking a step backwards. Within the shadows, he vanished from sight, his silhouette dancing along the walls. "It is simply the look of a man who accepts their fears, and has fallen into despair. It won't be long before you realize, Grim Reaper, that fearing yourself leads to a far worse outcome than accepting who you are. I wish you luck in your endeavors. Do try and figure out how to be seen. It will be interesting to see what you have in mind to gain such a thing."
Even the man's shadow vanished from sight after his words. Zeref stood still, watching Wendy in the dark room as Jack seemed to shrug. "Hey, don't let him get to you. I've got a blizzard with your name on it, Zeref, we can go outside and have some—" Jack began, tugging on Zeref's arm. The black haired boy refused to move, his gaze distant as he focused on the window of the room. The moon shown brightly outside, but Zeref did not feel any comfort. Instead, he remained focused on Pitch's words, wondering if perhaps the man was correct. If he continued to fear himself, he would destroy himself and likely take the world down with him, if his magic was anything like what he'd witnessed in others.
So, I've still be incredibly busy...and have not updated this in months. Sorry for the delay, once again. I hope you enjoyed! Feel free to review and tell me what you think!