A/N: 4,266 words guys! Wow took me like all day! And warning I almost cried while writing this! You have been warned! ENJOY!
Zeref holds out his hands above me and starts to say an ancient spell. Everything goes black and all I can feel is excruciating pain.
Natsu's POV
Lucy begins to scream so I grab her hand in both of mine. She continues to scream and her face contorts into one of pain while her back starts to arch. She starts to come up off the bed. WHAT ON EARTH IS THIS GUY DOING TO HER?!
"How is this supposed to help her?!" I yell at Yuudai, who is standing there with a somewhat sad expression on his face. "Do you see how much pain she is in?!"
He nods "I see it Natsu, just as I saw it on my son's face when I had to heal him during the last outbreak of Zeamace. Right now an ancient magic is entering her body it will cleanse the body of the disease, but it is unstable so it turns dark or light based on the persons emotions when they wake up. It will then somewhat control them if it turns dark, if it turns light then they have complete control over their will. So when she wakes up unless you want to lose her do something to make sure she doesn't feel any dark emotions."
"o-okay." I get out. This has taken me off guard. I mean Yuudai was just supposed to come in and heal Luce not this. This is just too much, not only is Luce in more pain but if her emotions aren't right when she wakes up she could become a dark mage?! Like a girl version of Zeref! Wait Zeref.. "So does that mean Zeref wasn't always like this?"
Yuudai nods yet again. "It started when the woman he loved caught the disease..."
Lucy's POV
The pain is excruciating, what on earthland is happening?! I feel as if every cell in my body is on fire but at the same time frozen over!
"Hold on, it won't last for that long" says a voice.
"Who is that?!" I think.
"It is Zeref. We are speaking directly into each other's minds. Trust me I know what you feel right now." Zeref says in reply.
"Oh right. You are the mage that survived the last epidemic. So this is how you became the 'Greatest Dark Mage Ever Known'?" I ask.
"Yes. You've done your homework,huh?" He says. Oddly enough the pain is less noticeable when we are talking.
"Well being a celestial spirit mage does have it's perks. Crux is very helpful." I reply. Just before they asked if I was ready Crux had explained to me the process of healing from this disease.
"I see, Crux." He says thoughtfully.
"So why did the magic turn dark in you?" I ask.
"I think it would be easier if I show you rather than tell you. I am going to send you a movie type thing of my memorie of that time in my life, okay?" He says before an image opens up in my mind and I see him tending to the young version of him.
~Flashback~
"Father, I am going to head to the guild and see if anyone would like to help tend to the sick at the church!" Zeref yells to a much younger Yuudai.
"Alright, be careful, Zeref." Says Yuudai.
"Of course!" and he heads out the door, onto a street in... Magnolia?! As he continues to walk down the street I see a very small bar with the Fairy Tail symbol on the sign. Zeref walks in and yells "MINNA! Anyone who wants to help tend to the sick please come to the church! Mages seem to be resistant so i would be a great help!"
"We would be happy to help!" Says a sweet voice from over by the bar. Mavis.
"Thanks." Zeref makes his way over to Mavis. "Wow when we were kids i now you said you would start a guild but wow you actually did!"
"That's right! and We are the best! RIGHT?!" the entire guild yells back 'RIGHT!' "Why won't you join Zeref?! You said when we were kids that if I started a guild you would join!"
"I don't know. I mean my magic isn't all that great..." Zeref says unsure.
"You're kidding me! Your magic is awesome! Come over here, Michi!" A white haired mage comes over from cleaning out beer mugs behind the counter.
"Yes Master?" He asks
"Give this man a guild stamp!" While saying this she pulls Zeref's shirt down so his shoulder is exposed and Michi immediately puts the stamp right where she indicates. When the stamper {You get it} is removed a golden Fairytail mark is left. "There you go Zeref! You are now a guild member and part of our family! Michi put him down in the records!" Mavis says loudly.
"Thanks." Zeref says fixing his shirt. "Well I guess that I should get back to the church and help out."
"I'm coming too!" Mavis says hopping down from the counter. The two walk down to he church. Before they go inside Mavis whispers to Zeref "You think we could meet at that place after this? i have to talk to you."
Zeref nods and they go inside and much like today's Fairytail did they helped the victims of Zeamace.
~skip to their meeting~
Mavis waits under the Tenrou tree behind the drooping willow branches and the rocks. The grass is greener than green and the air is filled with little lightning bugs making it seem that there are fairies. {You know where Mavis's grave is? Except there isn't a grave yet. Got it? Good} Zeref comes running up.
"Sorry...I'm..l-late.." He says out of breath. Once he catches his breath he adds. "Gosh being able to walk on water must be useful. hm?"
At this Mavis giggles. "Yeah."
"So what did you want to talk about?" Zeref asks recalling why they were here.
"There are a few things that I wish to talk to you about. First, you know how we decided to make sure we were buried here when we died?" At this Zeref nods. "Well if I was wondering if it were okay if I made this the holy land for the guild. The Tenrou tree would be perfect for channeling all of the guilds feelings into magic power and I love this place so much."
"Of course, Mavis, as long as I can still be buried here with you." Zeref says cutting off her worried explanation.
"Yes! You definitely can, but not anytime soon! okay?" Zeref nods and smiles at her flustered expression.
"Wouldn't dream of it." He pats her head.
"Good. Second is, do you think that there is a cure to Zeamace?" her face is sad and worried.
"Well even if there isn't now leave it to me and dad to find one! We will cure everyone! I mean if my magic is good for noting else it should be good for this!" He smiles down at her and she smiles back up at him.
"Okay then I will leave it to you!" her smile turns into a sort of confused look like she can't decide if she should say the next thing. She proceeds to turn away from him. Zeref caught a glimpse of a slight blush on her face before she could turn around.
"Come on what's the last thing, Mavis?" He says poking at her and tickling her attempting to make her tell. "Teeeeellllll me. You know you can't keep anything from me. I know you better than anyone. So what is it?"
After awhile of this taunting Mavis spins around her face as red as a tomato. "FINE! I have been meaning to tell you for awhile but... "
"But?" Zeref pries.
"I...I..." Her face is an adorable mix of confusion and embarrassment and then... determination? "I love you, Zeref."
Before he has time to react she literally jumps on him and they roll along the ground until they come to a stop in the soft grass. Zeref is laying in the grass with Mavis sort of sitting on his stomach with one leg on each side of him, her hands on his chest. She leans in and kisses him quickly. She then gets up and starts to walk away scared of how he might react. They had grown up together and were best friends there was no way that he felt the same way as her, is what she thought until she felt something grab her wrist and spin her around. When she could finally take in what happened she was pressed against Zeref's chest and he was hugging her so close that it seemed he never wanted to let her go. "I love you too. I just didn't have the courage to tell you." He whispers into her hair.
~Skip to the next day~This time it seems to be from Zeref's perspective.
I am helping one of the patients when I fall and begin to cough up blood. Mavis is over by me within seconds and her worried face is the last thing I see before passing out.
I wake up too find myself in a bed in one of the church's rooms. Mavis is there beside me like always.
"I'm so sorry." I say. "I may not be able to keep that promise."
~Skip to a few days later~ Still in Zeref's perspective.
Mavis has been coming to see me everyday, I have told her to go home and stay away from the church so that she doesn't fall ill but she won't listen. She always says "We are always together! Why should this be any different?"
To this I am silent, but today I wish I hadn't stayed silent, because I have a new roommate, their name is Mavis. How could I let this happen?! I must be the worst newly deemed boyfriend ever!
Dad seems to be close to a cure, but Mavis and I seem to be deteriorating fast. It must have something to do with our being mages. He says that if he heals one mage then he can use that mages blood to heal everyone else.
I always insist that Mavis gets healed first but she insists that I be healed first since I got it first and she will be fine. I do not intend on letting that happen.
~A week from when they caught the disease~
Yuudai has the cure and it would seem that Zeref is no longer awake at any point in time and Mavis is still just barely clinging to consciousness. When Yuudai goes over to attempt to start the healing she points towards Zeref. "He needs it first. I don't care what he says." Yuudai nods, he knows there is no arguing with this girl. "Give this to Purehito for me. Please" She says holding out an envelope. Yuudai nods.
He then goes over to Zeref and puts his hand in the same position Zeref did earlier over Lucy and it starts.
After he finishes he takes some of Zeref's blood and goes to the table and starts on the antidote for everyone else.
~Skip to when Zeref wakes up~
He literally jumps out of bed perfectly healed, like he was never sick at all. He goes over to Mavis, " I thought you would do this if I were asleep or something. You're next, okay?" He says.
Silence.
"Mavis?!" He nudges her arm and she doesn't respond. "Maaaavis? Come on, get up!"
Zeref's POV
Why isn't Mavis waking up?! I know! This always wakes her up! I poke her in the sides and I see her eyes flutter open.
"You're better." She whispers smiling.
"Yeah! You're next! You were supposed to be first you know." I say
"You were about to die. You had to go first." Why is she talking so quietly? It isn't like her.
"Are you okay, Mavis?" I ask her, I am starting to get worried, like reeeeaaallllly worried.
"I... think it..is t-too late... for ...me." She says with trouble and starts to cough and blood dribbles down her chin. I go to wipe it off with my sleeve.
"What are you talking about? Dad will have the antidote any minute, right Dad?" I say turning to my Dad.
"It has to sit for 2 days and you were asleep for one day, it needs another day or it will certainly kill whoever it is used on." He says with a sadness lacing his words. I look back to Mavis she is a lot paler than I have ever seen her and her mouth seems to be filled with blood making it hard to breath. She looks me in the eyes and I notice that they don't have the sheen that they normally have.
"You will be fine for another day right, Mavis?" Her head is tilting to the side and her eyes were starting to flutter closed like she was about to sleep. My voice makes her head snap up and she cradles my cheek in one of her tiny hands and says with blood dripping from her lips.
"The meadow beyond the rocks is greener than green and the tree grows taller than the clouds, fairy dust floats in the air. Here I will wait for you."
Her hand slips from my cheek and her eye lose the light that they had just a second before. No.
"Mavis?! Come on please wake up!" I feel the tears streaming down my face. I feel something heavy start around my chest and spread throughout my body. I look at my hands and I see that I am glowing black. I turn to my father. "Why didn't you heal Mavis first?! She was more important! How could you?!"
"She told me to heal you first and you know how you can't argue with her." I see that he is also crying.
"That's it! You have to deal with this for as long as I do! I know that this magic won't let me die! I heard you researching!" As I say this I bring my hands into some weird position and I see shadows go towards my father and they wrap around his legs and arms. After this I pass out.
~Mavis's Funeral~
The guild is no doubt having her viewing now. Meanwhile I am here at our special place creating her grave. With one movement of my hand there is a hole big enough for her coffin. Oh did I forget I became a dark mage, because of my emotions when I woke up the first time. With another flick of my hands stones are shaped into a large flat rectangle with two rectangles on top of it, each one smaller that the last. On either side of the smaller flat rectangles there are two rectangular prisms laying down on the larger stone. There are four rectangular prisms standing straight up on the two rectangular prisms like they are the corners of the square. In the middle of the entire thing there is a rectangle standing straight up. I cut the two top corners out and I cut down the middle of the rectangle leaving an gap and then I cut a circle along the gap. {You get it. If you don't, why are you reading? GO watch the anime. NO BUTS!}
I start to walk away to go to the viewing, when a golden flame lights up in the circle. I walk over to it and I don't feel it give off any warmth, cold flame?
"It's Fairy glitter. One of the three Fairy spells." Says a voice behind me. A voice I would know anywhere. Mavis. I spin around to see a transparent Mavis.
"Mavis! but you died..." I am so shocked by this I don't even know what to do.
"Yes but since this is where i spent my childhood with you and this is the sacred ground of Fairytail I can return here. This image is mostly a magical imprint that is left on this world but using that imprint I can come back, like this." She smiles brightly at me.
"I am so sorry, Mavis. That I couldn't save you." I say. She comes over to me and embraces me.
"It isn't your fault, Zeref. You made my life worth every second and that is enough. I am glad to see that you are okay." She whispers into my shoulder. "I told you 'The meadow beyond the rocks is greener than green and the tree grows taller than the clouds, fairy dust floats in the air. Here I will wait for you.' I will always be here for you."
"Okay." The tears fall down my cheeks. I don't even care, I'm allowed to cry right?
"Thank you for the grave stone, I love it. I think there will be room for two under it when you come to join me. No rush though, got it?"
"Yeah. This magic isn't going to let that happen. It will keep me alive for itself especially since it turned dark, I am going to be taken over by this magic. I already can't find my original magic amongst the torrent of magic inside my body."
"Don't worry. One day a fire dragonslayer will come to you and bring you your peace, but you are soon to lose yourself. Goodbye, come see me the next time you find yourself, ne?" She kisses my cheek before pain overcomes me and I watch my life go by and see myself do terrible things but I'M not doing them.
I can finally move of my own free will again. I make my way to Mavis's grave. When I get there I see her waiting for me with a huge smile.
"Hey" she says.
"Hey. I hear that there is going to be a competition for S-class mages here soon?" I say.
"Yeah. It is now a yearly thing for the guild to have a competition to decide which of the members will be an S-class. This year it is here." She says sitting on he steps of her grave patting the seat next to her. I go to sit down.
"And I also hear that a dark guild is going to come and try and collect me." I say, when you're the strongest dark mage in history you hear things.
"It would seem so, but I am glad that you came to see me!" she snuggles into my arm, I miss how she would do that when there wasn't a grave here and we would lie here in the grass and talk.
"I am too, I have missed you so much, Mavis." I kiss her forehead. "Hey! You're more solid than you were when you first came in that form!"
"Yeah I figured out how to condense the magic imprint a little more so that there is more of a substance." She smiles shyly. "But only those with the guild mark can see me. I guess that means you still have yours?" she asks hopefully.
"Of course, you gave it to me. I would never get rid of it." I pull down my sleeve to show her that it really is still there.
"You did keep it!" She tackles me in a hug and we end up laying on the ground like we were when she confessed her feelings for me. I grab the back of her head and bring my lips to hers and kiss her. When I finally let go I say.
"I wish you had been alive to go all over Fiore with me and keep this magic in check. You don't know how hard it is to sit there and watch yourself do the worst things yet not being doing them yourself." She snuggles into my chest.
"I know. All of the stuff that people say isn't because of you but that magic that decided to go black." We lay like this for a long time, I stroke her hair and listen to her breath. Who would have thought I would get to have moments like this after all I have done and her dying.
~Skip to when Grimoire Heart and Fairytail are battling~
I am awakened by explosions, wait when did I fall asleep? Oh snap, someone is coming! I grab Mavis and hide us behind us behind a large rock and I see the drunkard from the guild walk up to Mavis's grave. Mavis starts to speak to her and ends up giving her Fairy Glitter for the usage in this fight.
"Whew, that was close. If she had seen us she would probably have died of surprise." Mavis says.
"Yeah.. I suppose so." I hear a huge explosion as we talk and then a cracking noise. I look to see the Tenrou tree falling. Who dares to harm our special place?! How dare they?!
Then I feel it. One of the great monsters I have created is coming.
"Mavis prepare yourself Agnologia is on it's way. I am going to go deal with the people who dare to harm Tenroujima." She nods and I kiss her on the head before leaving.
After many times of being carried by different people I find the person responsible for the harm brought to this sacred place. I make him pay, but during my search I lost myself so it wasn't me making him pay.
~End Flashback~
Lucy's POV
"So your original magic was healing?" I ask Zeref in our minds.
"Yeah pretty much." he replies.
"And you are a member of our family?"
"Yes."
"And you love Mavis?"
"Ye-yeah."
"Well that is a lot different from the person everyone is so scared of, but I suppose that isn't you. It's the magic, right?"
"Yes That would be correct. After you have all the magic I will pass away as will my father I cast a spell on him pausing him in time until I die. I was never very good when I was angry." He says. "You must be sure to not get worked up in a bad way when you wake up okay? I don't want you to have to live the way I did."
"Okay" I reply.
"Goodbye then." And suddenly the pain stops and I feel just a lot more. Like there is a lot more inside of me, stuffed in to the breaking point. I let the darkness of a deep sleep overtake me.
Author's POV {that's right suckers!}
A similar story was told by Yuudai but it was a much simplified version excluding the parts where it was only Zeref. This version of the story was very much on the level that our dear fire dragonslayer could understand.
This is the junction that we intervene in their dull linear timeline. Before Lucy stops her screaming, Zeref would most likely be showing Lucy the Tenroujima part with Cana just about now. So let us see how the dear dragonslayer reacts to this wonderful story.
Natsu's POV
"Wait so you are going to die when this is finished?! How will you make the antidote then?!" I ask. This stuff is too much but this is the most important right now.
"Yoshirou has been trained for today, he knows exactly what to do." Yuudai says while putting his hand on the boys shoulder. He then rolls up his sleeves and you can see black marking fading away. "Zeref is almost done."
"Will Lucy be better after this then?"
"Yes, she will be fine. They did a better job with quarintine this time. No other mages caught it." His smile is sad, he must be thinking about how Mavis died. Just then I realize that it got really quiet, I look to Lucy and see that she is no longer screaming. Zeref opens his eyes.
Yuudai and Zeref both fall to the ground, but a transparent form of them both stays. A green Yuudai says,
"Ahhh, the magic imprint. Oh yeah Natsu, make sure she stays light okay?" I nod.
"Thank you, Natsu Dragneel you have set me free from this world."
"And finally brought him to me!" says a cheerful voice as Mavis appears and hugs Zeref. "Natsu under my gravestone, there should be room for one more make sure Makarov has Zeref buried there with me. We promised a long time ago." She smiles brightly at Zeref who smiles back.
"Sure, no problem." I reply. They remind me of some people I know. I look at Yuudai to see if he has any requests.
"Yoshirou has me covered." He says as he starts to fade. "I think it is time I go meet my wife, goodbye."
"And I should probably bring Zeref back to Tenroujima." Mavis says, pulling Zeref away. Zeref seems to start teasing her about something as they leave and I figure out who they remind me of... Me and Luce.
I look at Yoshirou, "So now we wait?"
"Now we wait." He says.
A/N: Soooo what did you think? Tell me in a fancy little review! C'mon! PLEEEEEASE?! I will give you Faygo!
Gamzee: WiCkEd ElIxIr MaN.
Me: No one called you Gamzee! Love you to death but wrong place man!
Gamzee: Oh, SoRrY mAn. DiDn'T mEaN tO gEt AlL iN yOuR fLoW oR aNyThInG.
Me: We chill man, we chill.
Gamzee: SwEeT, pIe?
Me: Maybe later.
Gamzee: SuIt YoUrSeLf. LaTeR.
Me: Later.
Wendy: Is it true that you are going to be somewhere with no internet for two weeks, Shizuka-san?
Me: Hai! So sadly this story is gonna be on a slight pause unless I find the magical internet access!
Wendy: Okay. I'll miss you!
Me: Same! oh and By the way guys. I DON'T OWN FAIRYTAIL OR GAMZEE!
Bye Bye! Review! see your pretty faces in two weeks! (well not really, but you get the point.)
