Me: Hi, sorry for the late update! School's been taking a toll on me. Hopefully, I'll be able to update faster as soon as I fix my studies and get everything back in gear. So now, we're almost at the end of Beyond the Stars! Thank you so much for the constant support and the many reviews, alerts and favourites that you have given me. After this story is done, I'll start writing about everybody's favourite White Dragonslayer and the others. By the way, I do not own Fairy Tail! I only own Katherine, her powers and her capabilities along with this story's plotline!
Chapter 26 - Tears from the Abyss
Eve's P.O.V.
I am finally free.
I glanced at my body's fingers as I found myself staring at the crystal clear pools before me. I traced the features of my face before running my fingers through my brown hair. She truly cared for her body well. Katherine definitely despite her rough upbringing at least had some sense of hygiene. A frown marred my features however as I cast my eyes towards some injuries that she had sustained over the time she had used this body.
"Eve, my love," I swivelled my head towards a dark haired man who walked towards me. "Have you finally returned to your senses?"
I smiled lovingly at him before walking towards him and extending my hands out. "Forgive me, Adam, Katherine put up quite a fight. Among my spirits, she definitely is the most stubborn one."
Adam let his fingers trace my features as a shiver ran down my spine; his touch was so warm. His smile radiated beautifully off his handsome young face as he guided my own hand to touch his face. A sudden sensation of warmth filled my heart as we both knelt down in front of the pool of water. Everything seemed so perfect - the rainbow glimmered under the pinkish orange skies while the sun gently touched the forests and birds fluttered around. Canaries tweeted and sung cheerfully and the Hummingbirds zoomed to and fro, alerting the other animals. Horses danced and galloped across the meadow and flower petals started floating with the spring breeze. The flowers bloomed beautifully and the wind seemingly began to sing a soothing melody as everything settled my mind at ease. Katherine is gone now; I am finally reunited with Adam.
"I never knew that this day would come so soon," Adam nuzzled my nose gently before he adorned my hair with a wreathe filled with flowers. "My dear queen - today, we are at peace."
As his lips touched mine, a sudden streak of euphoria rushed through me as I could feel his arms clinging tightly to me. Without further ado, I deepened the kiss as passion guided my hands to his bare chest. He growled a bit as his hands explored my whole body with a smooth gliding touch. I finally regained what I lost after so long. It felt amazing. His body pressed itself against mine and his heartbeat pounded lightly against my body. The birds, the trees, and the whole world – everything was perfect.
All of a sudden, my arm rose up and punched Adam straight in the gut as he fell down to the ground. I stared in horror as my arm started moving on its own.
"Eve," Adam stared in astonishment as he tried coming closer. "Your eye...!"
What was happening to me? Adam suddenly froze in his steps and shivered before falling onto the ground. I staggered back fearfully as my hands began to tremble. Suddenly, blood splotches started appearing all over my hands as terror seized me. My heart pounded wildly against my chest as everything began to swirl and my head began to throb with a terrible migraine.
Get the fuck out of my body or I'll kick your fucking ass!
I stared in horror as the voice howled in my mind. Every fibre screamed and howled at me as my blood began to boil. Where was this voice coming from? This power - Katherine couldn't have possibly...!
Get out of our body, mongrel! How dare you taint our body...!
You have overstayed your welcome. I shall reclaim our body whether by peace or by force.
"Our," I winced at the throbbing pain flashing back and forth in my mind. "Be silent, spirit!"
Suddenly, my skin started coating itself with reptilian scales as the world around me suddenly started to diminish. The greenery faded into a fatal brown as the skies became bright crimson and animals reverted into nothing but skeletons. Flames spewed from the ground as the leaves disintegrated into nothing but ash as the bushes blazed into a huge inferno. I rushed towards the pond as I saw my left eye staring back at me with a horrid red oroburos circle with black crescents and ten black swords. Where, what is this madness?!
"No," I could feel my whole body shuddering in fear. "No...!"
Normal P.O.V
Okay when I said that claiming my body would be easy peasy - NO ONE MENTIONED WE HAD TO FIGHT A FUCKING SERPENT! COME TO THINK OF IT, NOBODY MENTIONED I HAD A PET SERPENT TRAPPED INSIDE MY STUPID HEAD!
I rolled out of the way as a snake lunged at me, crashing into the wall. The snake hissed venomously before lunging at me again while I changed into Maegara to summon a whole barrage of blades only to have the snake flick it away like it was a fucking toothpick. Damn it, how did that thing just take a whole barrage like it was nothing? I changed my armour into a white silver battle dress before swinging Excalibur towards the snake as it opened its jack and blocked my blade with its fang. I jumped into the air before kicking the creature's head as it slammed me against the wall with its tail. Damn walking leather bag, that fucking hurt! I crashed straight in the wall as debris fell next to me.
"Hahaha, did you really think you can stop me," Eve laughed in that annoying temptress-sounding laugh; blech, that's disgusting!
"Who the damn fuck put a serpent in my brain," I scowled as the tail rushed towards me, prompting me to leap over it.
I mean seriously - what the fuck gave Eve the idea to put a gaddamn snake in my freakin' brain!
I'm gonna need back up here! Someone, anyone – I don't care as long as they can beat the shit out of snakes! I get the whole Eve decided to go screwing with the rest of the dark side of the world but seriously, this doesn't give her the authority to leave a freakin' serpent in my brain! I leapt over another attempt for it to crush me as Eve just sat there doing diddly squat. The snake lunged towards me as I managed to leap to the side and slammed my leg into its head, sending it to the ground. Dust and debris flew into my face as I darted away to prevent the snake from lurching forward and chewing me for its next meal. How the hell am I gonna get rid of this thing if it's just gonna keep swinging and do squat there and Eve's fuelling it up with whatever shit she fed it? Suddenly, the snake roared and decided to rampage by ramming us against the wall until it suddenly stopped. I blinked in shock and found my finger completely stopping the huge growling leather sock puppet and it didn't hurt. How the fucking hell did I do that? When I was Hercules, I couldn't even stop Elfman when he decided to go bonkers about being a man and when Sabertooth's head honcho decided to punch me like a rampaging thirty tonne truck! What the hell happened here!?
"I won't go back to the darkness..."
I gaped in awe when I saw the familiar dirty rag dress; Holy Cow, Hercules was my past self?! How the hell did she manage to block that whole thing with just...? ONE FUCKING FINGER?! She was just standing there and being a cry-baby that got thrown down six feet under and she stopped a huge growling sock! Overlapping over my finger, the whole world suddenly swirled in darkness when I found my younger self just pushing the snake with the tip of her finger! Damn fuck, she was just using her pointer finger and that's the easiest finger to break! I just stared in astonishment as she smiled at me with my head suddenly throbbing in agony. Images began to flash through my mind as my arms started moving by itself. With one firm grip, the snake's jaw had been complete fractured and dislocated as the creature fell to the ground. The snake howled and began kicking up a tantrum but after that, I found my wolf-raised self smiling at me from behind the snake before completely vanishing. I narrowed my eyes before my arms covered with jet black skin and appendages before shredding the little shit hole into the wall! Damn, it reminds me of that movie that Lucy let Layla and I watch. I think it was Princess Mono-something but whatever it was about the earth getting screwed because they invented some crazy weapon. Damn, why am I seeing some similarities?
Boss, watch it!
My eyes widened as the snake coiled itself around me and slammed me against the wall. Ack, stupid fucking bastard - I'm gonna reduce this guy to tiny little ribbons!
The snake continued to coil tightly around me as he started tightening its grip. I tried wriggling myself free as the snake stared back at me with big yellow eyes with a slithering tongue. Damn, Eve could have least kept this damn creature clean instead of having his breath smell like a bathroom after the Rust Bucket or Pinky had a heyday with it! Trust me - it smells a lot worse than the canals along Crocus!
"Ore-sama never loses," – I grinned darkly as my form changed again when I found the spears glowing in my hands until I realized something; THAT SOUNDED SO FUCKING RETARDED! WHO THE HELL REFERS TO HIMSELF AS ORE-SAMA!?
Flashes of red and gold caused the snake to roar and slam me again to the floor before letting me go. Geez, I'd rather get hit by a two tonne truck than to get smashed by a walking belt reject! Gathering whatever wits or sanity, although I was never sane to begin with after this whole shit load of Zeref and his forever alone problems, I kicked off and I grabbed a sharp rock I found and jammed it into the snake's body. Damn it, when will this thing just fucking die?!
"I've had it," I hissed darkly as I could feel my body screaming angrily. "I'm gonna bury you alive!"
The snake roared as I felt power rushing back into my left eye. Blood was boiling and I could feel my heart pounding and racing as the snake lunged at me again As I dodged its ramming attempt, I sprung high into the air before bringing down Excalibur and driving a deep wound into it. While the snake whined and howled in agony, I immediately shifted into my black form before running towards its head and going slice and dice on this fucker. Without warning, my legs kicked off the ground and I found myself lunging towards the creature. The fuck with this - this is my mind, my body and my world you're gonna end up destroying! I'm gonna beat you fucking shitless until Cheongsam Lady decides to go big, fat and bald!
"Die, you bastard," I kicked the creature straight in the nose and one thing I know about snakes, they hate being hit there.
"Fool you dare strike at my head," the snake hissed at me with his tongue slithering out. "How dare you, woman!"
I balled my hand into a fist; geez, aren't there enough retarded creatures in this world?! "I don't give a flying shit who the damn hell you are," I raised my middle finger in its face, snarling venomously. "I don't give a flying fuck either whether or not you're the king of Fiore or you're Mary, Queen of Scots! Even a garbage can has better personality than you!"
The snake suddenly reappeared right in front of my face with its reptilian gold eyes staring at me beadily. "You cannot eliminate me! You are nothing more than a spirit drawn out from a wretched piece of wood! Evil will continue to exist; you can never destroy me!"
I clenched my hands into fists, seething furiously. As much as I hate to admit it, the snake's definitely got some brains to spare. Eve just breathed everything to life things just had to go wonky when she decided to go ding-a-ling with Voldybutt's best friend! I glanced at the other personalities as I stared straight back at the creature as he gave me some stupid pedo-grin. Yeah, I'm gonna wipe the floor with that grin of his and let's see who's gonna be sneering now!
"You should remember that you were nothing but a substitute, spirit," the snake sneered maliciously as he started slithering around me. "Eve wanted nothing but power and to become a woman perfect for the man she loved. All it took was one little bite... After that, the rest is history. You have no power, spirit!"
I bit my lower lip darkly as I tried to keep myself standing. Damn it, I can't come up with a snappy comeback! Damn it, I've exhausted every possible epic hero spirit that I had possessed and nothing was making a dent on this stupid guy. I mean, Excalibur managed to at least put a couple of scratches but it isn't enough to completely decimate the guy! Dust clouds fluttered and dissipated into nothing while the snake's rattling tail echoed its rattling sounds around the room. No way am I letting this overgrown talking leather belt yap at me! I'll chop him to sushi if I have to!
Katherine, wake up. Katherine - wherever you are, I'll be here...
I shivered slightly as a familiar musky scent filled my nose. How the heck did Loke get in here – in my mind of all places? I started looking around but saw nothing but somehow, my whole body seemed to relax and something warm started to fill my body. I glanced at my palm as a ghostly appearance of another hand appeared as I looked behind me and found a yellow light forming behind me only to find someone really familiar. I stared in astonishment as his hand gently held my face in his hands.
Katherine, it doesn't matter who you are. You're you regardless. You mentioned it yourself: the other two personalities are parts of you. Even though you could put Gajeel's foul mouth to shame, even if you're not as blessed as Cana and Lucy, Juvia may be pretty but beauty is in the eye of the beholder. The word "beautiful" in itself is subjective and to me, you're beautiful. You just don't know it.
"L-Loke," I wanted to cry; why does he always appear at times like this, that stupid idiot?
I could feel my body trembling in shock at how he got here but no time for sentimental crying soap opera crap! Eve's out there going romping with some stupid llama who doesn't know what clothes are and no I don't mean Gray! And for all I know, everyone's fucking each other out there and the Daimatou Enbu's gonna end up as crap because nobody knows how to deal with Zeref and his hormones! If I just stay here, what will the others think? I never run away from a fight and I ain't starting now! As the warmth continued to spread, I could also feel my own powers spiking up and Loke's hand seemed to guide me. I staggered forward as I could feel some weird thing rushing through my body as my left eye started to throb with power. I could feel it spinning and whirling around into a mass hypnosis because the overgrown leather sock decided to back down! Yeah bitch, be scared of me!
"I don't give a flying fuck..."
The snake stared back at me until its eyes widened with fear. I could feel my body throbbing with power as all my other images started appearing all around me. Each epic hero I've taken the form of – this whole battle for my brain ends now! I'm gonna beat the living crap out of Eve after I kick her ass out of my body!
"I don't give a flying fuck to who the hell you are," I glared angrily while giving the snake the finger. "I'm gonna beat you shitless and go home! I joined this war because everything else is gonna die if I don't! Normally, I don't give a rat's ass to who gets themselves involved into trouble when they threw themselves in it the first place but if this is going to involve many innocents – someone's gonna have to do something… I'll start off by claiming back what's MINE!"
A huge enchantment circle appeared beneath my feet as I found at each point of the circle – my other selves along with the epic heroes. Diarmuid Úa Duibhne stood next to my aristocratic self with his proud smirk before brandishing both of his signature weapons. Hercules folded his arms and stood behind the youngest version of myself as she had that dead stare in her eyes before showing a couple of shackles that were locked on her arms. Scathach stood behind my wolf-raised self before showing off the many appendages and blades locked on her body. Odysseus stepped forward with my other self that had dealt with jello-boy while taking their place in the circle. Iolanthe or Arturia or whatever her name is stood in the white spot that was nearest to me on my left side while on my right side Maegara had that cocky dark grin on her face that looked like she was ready to shred people. In front of me, a black and red rune circle started to appear in front of me before the other personalities once again started swirling around like some freaky merry-go-round. The circle grew brighter and brighter until I saw nothing but a bright red light and my clothes had completely changed.
"Hold up," I looked at the red robes with white strips lining them. "This looks different…"
Heck, I remember the crazy horny psychopathic bitch that tried to chop me into pieces but her dress was more like a froufrou puffy cupcake not some bad-ass red mage robe with white vines and white cuffs on the long sleeves. At least I was wearing a pair of black pants and white combat boots but beside the point – if this is a combination of me and the other souls, it makes no sense. I don't see how I'm gonna kick the ass of some useless snake standing in my way.
"Argh, what the hell did I do to myself," I threw my hand forward and heard a loud crash. "Holy cow…"
Well, it wasn't as good as blades but it's good enough. The moment I looked behind me, several red magic circles flashed some freaky chains that just shot out from nowhere and decided to wrap up the snake before dangling him off the floor.
"Oh yeah, payback's a bitch," I grinned as a huge red scythe materialized in my hand. "Time to die!"
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Loke's P.O.V
I couldn't believe it; who was this guy and how did he get so damn fast?
I vaulted over his head and tried desperately to lead him away from Katherine. Good thing I hid her in some crevice behind the crystal so he wouldn't see her. So, if this isn't Adam and that Easley guy said that Zeref was Adam in human form – who the hell is this? I launched a bright yellow orb before throwing another Regulus impact straight at him, sliding out of the way when he threw another attack in my face. I bent over before sweeping him off his feet before he finally launched a huge black blast at me which ate a huge portion of the cave rocks. My eyes widened as the rocks completely disappeared before I rolled out of the way as another blast flew towards me before I hurled another Regulus Impact punch in his face which he caught with his bare hand. My eyes widened as his jet black eyes seemingly widened with his psychotic grin before revealing a dark red demonic glow and something spectral forming behind him.
"What are you," I coughed out as I tried to push the Regulus Impact forward, watching him barely wince in difficulty. "What do you want with Katherine?"
"I'm sure you're quite aware of my mother's ability to instill life into anything," he chuckled in amusement, landing a kick in my stomach before sending me flying. "That's exactly what I'm looking for! I need that power to...!"
"To reunite with paradise. I'm surprised you're still walking around, Cain."
My eyes widened when I found the rest of the Fairy Tail guild standing behind Mavis Vermillion who looked like she was going to bring in his funerals. Mavis's eyes glittered with power as her bare feet stepped on the damp rocks as she calmly walked forward. Wait, if this guy is Cain – where is Adam?
"Easley was sent in to throw us off now wasn't he," Mavis bit her lower lip, glancing at the crystal. "The whole romantic story with Adam – I realized when I was listening to him speak, there was some degree of truth in it. His slip up however was that you as Zeref was him in his human form while Acnologia manifested his grief and rage towards the darkness that had tainted his family. Adam had already had been corrupted by his grief – his soul and body are linked there is no humanly possible way for him to retain what was left if his grief had consumed him. While his body decayed, his soul wandered into the body of the Dragonslayer who had become the Chaos Dragon – Acnologia. That would explain why Acnologia had become so brutal with everything that was of draconian descent. With this, he sought revenge towards the serpent. However, he was still a key component to the plan; Eve will never return without Adam so, you had to preserve his body via lacrima burial while Acnologia continued destroying the world. The emotions of people then fuelled their desire for a saviour and their desire for protection then gave a loophole for Eve's soul to respond and lo and behold, Eve's body did exist but her soul had already moved on and thus, you made Katherine respond to the call. You simply wanted everything back despite the death of Abel by your hands. Your younger brother had long moved on, Cain. Time to let go."
Cain bristled angrily at her; I don't think he knows who he's dealing with. "MY BROTHER WILL COME BACK NO MATTER WHAT HAPPENS! I AM MY BROTHER'S KEEPER!"
"You lost that title the moment you slew him out of jealousy," Mavis narrowed her eyes as her hands began to glow with power. "I was wondering why I could no longer phase through walls. That only meant one thing – something was interfering with my existence or vice-versa. It happened to be the first; Katherine's arrival into Fairy Tail, her reunion with the Dumas family – her life has been completely played in order to give Eve the strength to resurface from her consciousness. This whole elaborate plan was to make Eve come out even if for a moment. After all, Eve is the primordial woman. Every human is born from her line. However, that is why the inheritors of her level of magic are known as Aeons. Not all humans and wizards are granted with her level of power."
"YOU...! WHO ARE YOU," Cain started charging up a power surrounding his fists. "SPEAK, WOMAN!"
Mavis Vermillion sighed deeply as her eyes narrowed darkly, summoning several magical circles. "Eve's ability had passed down to her son and when you slew him, everything had broken into many seeds that had planted themselves into the many people who had survived as the primordial wizards. Abel continued to live due to grace of He who had granted us all the magic and power to even the laws of nature. My name is Mavis Vermillion, the inheritor of Abel's soul – Fairy Essence."
My eyes widened; the first herself was an Aeon? That would explain why she was so powerful and for her to retain a soul form like that – it all made sense now! But why would Cain try to resurrect someone he killed? I really can't think of anything or any reason as to why he would resurrect his younger brother. However, things got cut short when we heard a loud howl from the lacrima behind us. I swivelled my head around to find the lacrima cracking loudly and light streams began to spew out. That really spells out bad timing. From the broken crystal shards, footsteps echoed throughout the dimmed room. I could feel my heart pumping wildly as the man emerged from the crystal staring in confusion.
"Where... Where am I?"
/\/\/\/\/\/\/\/\
Uh oh, looks like Adam woke up. Who knew Cain was gonna be so screwed up? Oh well, please don't forget to review!