Chapter 20

" You're amazing, Lucy-nee! Do it again! Do it again please!" Zen clapped his hands simultaneously as he watched Lucy practice her Dark Arts under Zeref. Only a few months, and she was already at advanced level, a proof that the black blood inside her was actively flowing, and her power was slowly getting stronger. There were times when the power inside her was triggered with emotions that it just went haywire. In order not to hurt anyone again, she agreed to be trained under Midnight for the basics. Zeref soon continued when it came to the complex parts like today's lesson which is dark elemental training. For this, she was tasked to change weather with her quick change of elements using Dark Arts, of course accompanied by levitation to have a better stepping stone to change the sky.

" What's so amazing about that? It's not like it's so hard to do." Lilith sneered.

" Says the person who failed being Lord Zeref's knight!" Zen spat, annoyed at Lilith for underestimating Lucy's work. Though it was a misunderstanding on his part because that was the highest praise that Lilith would say to anyone outloud.

" Why you punk?! You looking for a fight?" Lilith retaliated.

" Hell yeah. Bring it on witch."

" Waaah~ I thought I was gonna die for a moment there." Lucy stretched her arms as she slowly lowered to the ground.

" As if I'd let you." Zeref murmured, immediately wrapped his arms around her and snuggled closer to her, burying his face to the nape of her neck affectionately.

" T-Thats true..." Lucy blushed in response, standing stiffly in embarassment. She can't help but be frozen stiff everytime they would commit PDA in front of anyone who ends up being around them. Zeref never really cared who could see them nor what they're comment was. He was only too happy to be able to snuggle Lucy.

It was good that the couple were too absorbed in their world for a few moments. It gave Zen and Lilith enough time to look presentable in front of their leaders. Everyone in Darkness knew that the two had the most rotten relationship in Earthland, all because Zen took the position that everyone including Lilith was meant for her, that was as their Lord's knight. Lilith was bent on revenge, and Zen was quick to flaunt his position, to her anger.

" Zen, Lilith, Midnight."

" Y-Yes?" the previously bickering duo said in unison, much to their disgust. Lucy could almost see a bolt of lightning between their glares. She sighed. The two were always so competitive. On the other hand, her eyes fell upon the sleeping man behind them, Midnight was on his typical sleep-but-not-totally-asleep mode.

" I think Lucy wants to tour around before returning to the palace. You two, " he pointed to the duo " take care of her. Midnight, there's something we need to do at the palace. You will be coming with me."

" But!"

Zeref raised a daring eyebrow while giving them the cold glance, enough to freeze hell over. He was silently daring them to make a complain about their incompatibility in front of him. Everyone knew how much Lucy hated fighting, and they were sharp enough to understand that it might as well be good as a law to Zeref who dotes the blonde mage unconditionally.

At an instant, the Lilith and Zen were sharing the same jolly buddy-buddy smiles while stiffly replying, " Nothing!"

" I love this midget!" Lilith said joyfully patting the little boy's head.

" Well, I have been taught by my brother to respect the elderly people. Even if she is an old hag. " Zen reciprocated her underlying words.

The dark aura Lucy mastered during her past few months training skillfully accumulated around her giving a threatening feeling to those who opposed her. She became quite powerful thanks to Zeref and Midnight who trained her well. Too well that Lilith and Zen regretted their act at once. They were going to be killed!

..or so they thought. The dark thoughts came rushing out the window when the rivals clung onto each other for their lives. It reminded her of how Natsu and Gray were everytime Erza scolds them.

She let out a giggle. " You two look so much like them. It's too familiar that I can't help but laugh."

" Them?" Lilith curiously asked.

" Gray and Natsu, my teammates from Fairy Tail." The word Fairy Tail brought nostalgia to her expression. She fondly gazed at the setting sun, the same sight she saw before they took different paths. " I kind of miss them, even their brawls. I miss Fairy Tail. I haven't seen them since Tenroujima though. I was half-expecting them to save me when I was treated as a prisoner, but they never came so maybe they thought...or they knew that I would be happy in my decision." She turned and game Zeref a smile before continuing. " Still, I'm curious to what happened after, and how are they now. Since this place is calm now and the Dark Council won't be able to cause any trouble, can we go visit? Just a few minutes is enough. I can also use the teleportation magic to bring us there!"

" About that... you might want to sit down for a long while. My Lord, you can return to the palace. I'll tell Lucy what she needs to know." Zen said, at which Zeref reluctantly agreed.

" The truth is... " Zen sucked in a deep breath and steadied himself for Lucy's possible outburst in hearing the news. " Everyone with us during the Tenroujima S-Class Exams, they're dead."

"What?! N-No...That's not true. You're lying!" Lucy screamed. Tears began to well in her eyes. She wanted to deny the truth that they stated at all costs. But the evidence were all there, by evidence—she meant her memories.

" H-How?" She remembered holding onto Zeref as tight as she can while a humongous creature shadowed over Tenroujima. The shadow reminded her of a dark yet majestic dragon, and its roar proved her guess was right. However, before she can do anything, she felt her consciousness seep away from her body and her vision went black.

She fainted.

The next thing she remembered was waking up in an elegant room, same as her bedroom in the Heartfilia mansion, but more grand. She fainted at the wrong moment, didn't she? She missed quite a lot.

" Lucy-nee..." Zen stroked her back soothingly. Seeing that it was the only comfort that he could give her.

" But, Fairy Tail is... I won't believe it. They're alive, I know it! There's nothing in this world that can stand up to Fairy Tail. Natsu, Erza, Gray, Wendy, Master...everyone..." Her held back tears finally cascaded down her face.

" When did this happen? How? Who did this?" the questions in her mind kept piling up, it was driving her insane.

Zeref cupped her face with both of his hands, somehow forcing her to look straight into his eyes while he wiped her tears gently. Lucy was absorbed by his pitch-black eyes which resembles a bottomless pit of sadness. It held deep emotions, but not much feelings can be seen, only the melancholy that he felt was evident.

At that, she understood what he must be feeling. It was obvious that he was blaming himself for the death of her teammates, and for the suffering of the endless number of people around the world.

" Don't cry..." she whispered. Without another thought, she rose from her position and engulfed him in a comforting hug. She ran her fingers through his silky black hair relaxingly while he leaned on her shoulder. " It's not your fault. I'm sorry for making you think like that, but I'm okay now. There's no need to feel bad." she sniffed.

Zeref felt her force a smile from the nape of his neck while she tightened her embrace. He grimaced. He wasn't used to touching moments like this. He didn't know anything when it comes to comforting people. But there was an emotion welling up inside him which encouraged him to hug her back. He might be slow and it might have been awkward - especially for a someone who experienced isolation for the past years - but it was surely tender.

He laughed bitterly, " I'm not crying, Lucy. You were the one who was crying for your lost nakama, right? It's fine to cry."

" lost..." she repeated with a sad smile on her face.

His words gave Lucy a sense of comfort. He said 'lost' on purpose. Right now, she can only hope that his words were true that Fairy Tail were only lost somehow, and they'll return with their idiotic grins plastered on their faces.

She couldn't understand why did such a thing happened on a time like this? Here she was, meeting the person she wanted to meet and thank for a long time, but then her nakama suddenly disappeared. She was saved by Zeref and Zen, but her family was...

" Do you miss them, Lucy-nee?" Zen asked from the sidelines. Although he knew what the answer would be.

" I do. Of course I miss them. How could I not?" Another wave of tears ran down her face as Zeref held her comfortingly. In his arms, she couldn't help but cry. Their happy memories, knowing that they might never happen again was saddening. " You see... Fairy Tail had been my family for a year and a half. We've been through happy and tough times, and when you're with them you can't help but to smile no matter how bad your day is. We have a lot of guild brawls everyday, but no one really have dark feelings for each other. Fairy Tail listen to no one. As long as you hurt our nakama, then we will hunt you down to the ends of Earthland. I'm proud to be one of them." she smiled at the memories.

There it was again. The feeling of doubt. Maybe he was better suited with the light yet he can't help but to selfishly claim her in the darkness. If he hadn't done anything, then she may still be with them. Zeref knew they weren't dead, but if she knew that they weren't 100% dead then she would only leave them; and it would prove to be quite difficult for both sides.

" ...family, huh?" Zen glared at the ground. " Our father was dead when Zeref-nii was two years old, I didn't even exist then. But when Mother tried to killed us when the village branded us as monsters, I was there. Not much knowledge about the world and no sins to pay for. It's like I was born and raised to be killed. What family?! Zeref-nii did the right thing. He burned the village and drove the woman to kill herself! She deserved it! The look on her face when she was about to be killed, and her last words were 'monsters' — a fitting name. " Zen laughed. The curse she placed on the both of them, the reason why they decided to pursue being monsters. It had happened 400 years ago, and he already accepted it. But why was tears running down his face?

Tears of sadness? For that demonic woman?

" Zen..." Lucy broke free from Zeref's embrace, and patted Zen on the head. " It's okay to cry, and it's fine to be sad. She's your mother after all. Even though her actions were something not of a mother...you still loved her. I'm sorry. I was ignorant of your feelings. I was talking about family when you two were..." Lucy pursed her lips. It wasn't the best thing to talk about at the moment, a little more and she was going to cry too. " Ah! Then," Lucy proposed, " would you two like to be a part of the family with me?"

" Family...aren't we already one? Could it be... you didn't consider us a family until now, Lucy-nee?" Zen said sadly. Although he was excited at the idea of a new...better family. He knew for a reason that she wasn't anything like that woman.

Lucy laughed. He might be near 400 or so, but in reality he was still a child. She shook her head at his misconception. " Zen, Zeref, Lilith, Midnight, everyone here have already became my family. I already consider this place as my home. I just want to make it more official, you know? Because it's a bit embarassing to think it's a one-sided familial relationship, and I want to make a more private family just for the three of us." she blushed while fiddling her fingers in order to distract herself.

" Only with Lucy-nee and Zeref-nii, okay? I refuse to be part of a family with those idiots left in Fairy Tail and that witch Lilith! or that crazy-creepy guy from Midnight." Zen pouted.

" Of course. We're the only ones here, right? Right now... you two are the only family I have left. I think I'm lucky that I still have one. "

" We would be your last family." Zeref vowed, " We won't let others get you. You're part of our family and only ours from now on. We won't let you feel sad, and we'll protect you."

" Yeah, so don't leave us Lucy-nee. Zeref-nii would be heart broken!"

" Zen!" Zeref's cheeks were tinged pink for a moment.

' Kawaii~' Lucy thought. Although she knew since that incident that Zeref wasn't evil, she stil didn't expect him to be this cute and...pure-looking.

" Ehem!" Zen cleared his throat. Rather than possible future partners, the two looked more like a mother and a child, and with their little make-shift family... he wondered how others see them?

The two looked at him. Good. He got their attention. Honestly, their touching scenes were icky, and he felt out of place whenever they go lovey-dovey without them knowing it.

" Not all Fairy Tail had been lost in Tenroujima..." he started, " There's still those who were left to take care of the guild. Wanna visit?" he suggested.

He saw the thought click in Lucy's head, and she looked like she was full of hope again. " Right, there are still the others! They don't know what happened to the rest so if we tell them...if we tell them... won't they get suspicious to how I got back safely?"

" Well..." Zen considered the thought. In case they asked, they would have to lie and Lucy-nee can't do that to her guildmates. Plus, they would only be full of fruitless hope once they sail to the place where Tenroujima's location, only to find it gone—sunk in the bottom of the ocean.

" I guess I can't go visit, huh..." Lucy sighed in disappointment.

" Well..." Zen fidgeted, playing with his finger while seeming like he wanted to say something important.

" Zen." Zeref gave him a dirty glance, inconspicuous to Lucy. He was forbidding him to say anything which would endanger them, especially her.

" ...But!" Zen pouted as he stared back at his brother eagerly. For some reason that Zeref was unsure of, Zen wanted to visit Fairy Tail so much that he was battling him in a staring contest for it. By this time, even Lucy had taken notice of their inner battle to which Zeref lost because of Lucy distracting him.

" Yay, I won! I won! I won! Hah! Take that, Onii-chan!" He took a few minutes for his goofy victory dance on the bed and his self-proclaimed cheer to which Zeref irritably groaned for, and buried his head to Lucy's shoulder. He was the elder brother, he wasn't used to getting beaten by his little brother even in small arguements, and Zen would never shut up about his win.

Lucy giggled at the siblings. Especially, at Zeref who was a real kid at heart. " Pat. Pat." she said as she patted his head gently to comfort him.

" Luccccyyyy!" He pouted at the lost battle with his brother, and nuzzled deeper into her shoulder.

" It's alright. He should be calming down right about...now." As if on cue, Zen got tired of his minute-long victory dance, and returned to sitting peacefully with them, a grin etched to his face, " Don't worry Zeref-nii, we can do it. We'll be fine! I'm sure of it." Zen perked up. " We could go in disguises again, right Lucy-nee? The last time I was there I used a disguising spell to hide my real identity. We could do that again! ... That is, if you want to? and brother allows it?"

A smile broke out of her face, " I want to, very much. Thank you Zen. How about you, Zeref?" she subconsciously looked at him with her puppy dog eyes, something which Zeref cannot refuse no matter what.

" Then we'll all go tomorrow?"

Zeref nodded. " You should tell me everything you've seen during your travels, Zen. The cities... I want to see how they look like now." he murmured the last part, there was a certain gleam in his eyes that made his two companions laugh in amusement.

" If you wanted to see the cities from the start, then you should have said so, Zeref-nii!" Zen chuckled. " We'll take you all around Magnolia, don't worry. "

" Then we'll visit those who were left in Fairy Tail, " Lucy continued excitedly but with a hint of sadness.

" And I can eat cake from the bakery nearby! We should get their largest cake. I heard that it was really delicious!"

The other two looked at Zen with confusion, he rarely showed this kind of behavior, but to think that cake would be the only thing to trigger it with ease. He is such a kid. Lucy then turned her gaze to Zeref, trying to see his reaction towards his brother's cute act. He held a small speckle of warmth when he gazed at Zen, Lucy felt drawn to it for some reason. Probably because not everyone can see The Dark Mage's warmth first-hand, especially if you're a prisoner. But then he also turned his head and met with her stare. It was then, the rarest of the rare happened— he snickered which turned into a laugh, eventually he was guffawing.

o.O.o.O.o

Rewritten (06/19/16)

Disclaimer!

-Vea O.o