Chapter 29

Reunion

"Zeref?" Wendy asked, as her older brother made to go out of the castle. "Where are you headed?"

"I'm going for a ride," Zeref replied indifferently. "I need to clear my head."

"I see," Wendy said. "Say, did you see Natsu and Lucy anywhere? I can't find them."

"If I'm not mistaken, I saw them heading of the castle grounds," Zeref replied shortly. "Well, I'll be off, Wendy."

"Stay safe."

"I will."

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOOXO

"Going for a walk, Mavis?" Levy asked her friend cheerfully as Mavis got up to leave the tavern.

Mavis nodded. "Yes, Levy. I'll meet you later at your house, shall I?"

"Right."

Mavis inclined her head slightly towards Levy before leaving.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOOXO

"I've gone quite far, haven't I?" Zeref commented aloud as he looked around him. He had reached the coastal areas on the borders of Magnolia. Before he knew it, he had directed Midnight to take a turn that led to the cliffs.

This place…. Zeref pondered with a slight pang in his heart. I remember now…didn't Mavis show us this place once?

Zeref found his thoughts drifting away from the cliffs and onto Mavis.

Is this what it's like to be in love all the time? Zeref wondered silently. To know so much pain? Then…..I should've never fallen in love….

Zeref swung himself out of his saddle. Stroking Midnight's raven mane absently, he told her, "Stay here. I won't be long."

Midnight whinnied softly and nuzzled Zeref's shoulder. The Crown Prince smiled slightly and moved away from the horse.

Venturing to the edge of the cliffs, Zeref drew in his breath slowly at the beauty of the view in front of him. The sea, a beautiful shade of cornflower, seemed perfectly serene. The boats belonging to the fishermen in the harbor were empty. There wasn't a single person on the sandy beach. The silence of the coast was almost deafening.

Midnight snorted. Zeref turned to her, raising an eyebrow. "What's-"

He cut off abruptly as the ground beneath his feet crumbled. Zeref let out a yell as he fell headlong towards the mass of cruel rocks waiting below.

"Zeref!"

The terrified voice that cried his name was familiar. A hand reached out and gripped his own. A few minutes later and he wouldn't have been reached.

Zeref looked up at his savior. "Mavis! What are you doing here?!"

Mavis seemed too afraid for his safety to answer. She closed her eyes.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOOXO

"This brings back memories," Mavis murmured as she walked along the cliffs. "It's been so long since I came here. Not since-"

Mavis cut off abruptly, not allowing herself to finish.

Her jade eyes spotted a familiar horse. She ran forward to it.

"Midnight!" Mavis exclaimed as she reached it. "It's been far too long. Hold on, if you're here, that must mean Zeref is…!"

Midnight whinnied. She trotted forward, stopped, and looked back at Mavis.

Mavis blinked. "Are you trying to get me to follow you? Is that it?"

Midnight jerked her head towards forward. Mavis followed her action and gasped. "The ground! That part has crumbled away!"

Mavis went over cautiously and peered over. Her eyes widened when she saw a familiar figure falling down to the depths below.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOOXO

Zeref reached out with his other hand and gripped a ledge that was jutting out from the cliff. "Mavis, do you think you're strong enough to pull me up?"

"No," Mavis replied, trying to stay calm. "I'll have to run for help."

"Where?! There isn't a house in miles!"

"The boats," Mavis' eyes flashed determinedly. "There's sure to be some ropes in the boats at the harbor. I'll go get them."

She looked down at Zeref, concern entering her eyes. "Will you be able to hold on until I get back?"

Zeref nodded. "Yes, but you have to hurry. This ledge won't hold for much longer."

"Right." Mavis let go of his hand, which fell limply to his side and sprang to her feet and took off at top speed.

Her heart thudded against her chest as she ran down the path leading up the cliffs. She had to make it in time, she had to…..

The beach came into sight. Taking a swift turn, Mavis headed straight for the harbor. She reached it in due time.

There were no fishermen in the boats that were tied there. Mavis stepped nimbly into one and pushed the fishing tackle away until she spotted a coil of rope. Grabbing it, she ran back the way she came.

As she headed up the cliffs, Mavis' bad luck caught up to her as her foot caught on a stone. She crashed to the ground, the rope falling from her hands.

"Ugh…." Mavis struggled to get up. She glanced at her ankle.

Damn. I think I've sprained it.

She glanced at the rope. "If I continue now…" Her ankle would definitely get worse and if she had another fall, she'd break it or something. Still….

Mavis staggered to her feet, biting her lip.

I can't give up. I won't. I won't let Zeref die. If he dies, I won't be able to live.

"This is not going to stop me….." Mavis picked up the rope. "I'll keep going!"

As she ran, Mavis knew she was straining and damaging her foot by doing so. As long as she saved Zeref…..it'd be fine.

After what seemed like hours, but was merely minutes, Mavis finally reached the brink where Zeref had fallen over. Relief flooded her heart when she saw that he was still holding on.

"Thank God," Mavis whispered hoarsely. She swiftly knotted the rope around a rock and tossed the rest over.

XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOOXO

"It's been a few hours now," Lucy said exasperatedly. Natsu, Lucy and Wendy were searching the town for Zeref on horseback. "Where can he be?"

Wendy bit her lip as she thought. "Well…we didn't search the coast yet, did we? You and Mavis once took us there."

"Let's go then!" Natsu said impatiently.

They reached the coast in due time. Lucy directed them onto the cliffs and they rode behind her.

Wendy gave an exclamation. "Look, isn't that Midnight up ahead?"

It was. Mavis was very close, on her knees at the very brink of the cliffs. Her face was the picture of anxiety.

"Mavis!" Lucy cried, jumping off her horse. The young woman didn't seem to notice her and stared down instead.

Wendy let out a little shriek when she saw Zeref climb up and swing himself onto solid ground next to Mavis. "Brother!" She called, running over to him. "What have you been doing?!"

Zeref smiled a little sheepishly. "I fell of the cliff. Mavis saved me, though."

Before he could turn to Mavis and thank her, Wendy flung herself at him.

"You could've been killed!" Wendy sobbed into his shoulder. "Don't be so careless!"

"I'm sorry." Zeref said gently, patting her on the back.

Natsu stepped forward, looking rather pale. "That was really stupid." Was all he was able to say.

Mavis stared at Zeref as the prince dislodged himself from Wendy. On one hand-she was really glad that she had managed to save Zeref from what could've very well been his death. On the other hand-the old pain had reared its ugly head once more when she laid eyes on Zeref. Seeing him once more was something that both delighted and pained her.

Zeref stepped over to her. Mavis, unable to meet his gaze, looked down. The Crown Prince knelt down beside her and spoke gently. "How are you feeling? That must have been quite the run."

"I'm fine," Mavis muttered, still not meeting his gaze.

Lucy, Natsu and Wendy, quite forgotten now, watched them worriedly.

Zeref's next action was quite unexpected. He gripped Mavis by the shoulders and drew her into an embrace.

Mavis' eyes widened, but she did nothing to resist, reveling once more in the feeling of his arms around her. She simply rested her golden head against his chest.

"I'm so happy," Zeref whispered into her hair. "I'm so happy that I got to see you again…."

"Zeref…." Mavis murmured.

Zeref drew away and tilted her chin upwards before letting his lips descend upon hers. Mavis' eyes widened for a minute before she closed them and allowed tears to trickle down her cheeks.

Pulling away, Zeref drew her into a tight embrace once more.

"I can't let you go, Mavis," He said, resting his chin on her head. "I can't let you go. Not anymore."

"Nor can I, Zeref," Mavis replied in a whisper. "Nor can I….."

(A/N): Sorry for not responding to the reviews this time. I'm really tired, so I'll have to go.