Disclaimer: I am not the owner of Fairy Tail
Returning back to the room, Lahar and Zeref came in with boxes of donuts in tow. With their limited knowledge of town, the best they had managed to find was a bakery just down the street, carrying pastries and sweets of all kinds. Based on the fact that he had little knowledge of what everyone wanted, Zeref decided to go with a bit of variety. Luckily, money from Fiore was still valid here in some form, and was accepted at the bakery. However, he had to keep in mind that funds were limited in this world. Perhaps he should find a way to earn some money while they were here, so that they could survive a little while longer without aid from others in this world.
Placing the box on the couch, Zeref sat on the floor and turned to see Mystogan getting up. The shower in the bathroom was running, and based on the sight of the absent dragon slayer, Natsu was the one using it. Pulling the lid off, Zeref held the box out towards Mystogan silently. There were a few bagels mixed within the donuts, in case Mystogan or Natsu wished for a healthier option for their meal. Glancing at the options, Mystogan selected a blueberry bagel, carefully tearing off a piece and taking a bite.
After swallowing, he glanced towards Zeref with a scowl. "Where did you two go?"
Turning towards Lahar, Zeref shrugged. Without really looking at what he was grabbing, Zeref pulled something out of the box to snack on himself. "To grab food. I assumed we'd need to eat while we were here." Zeref's calm response only seemed to agitate Mystogan further.
"I told you, you can't go around walking like normal! This isn't Earthland, Zeref!" he shouted, rising to his feet. The man paced for a moment, his bagel looking somewhat crushed in his grip. "People saw you today, so we can't stay here for long. Word will get to her that you've been spotted…and then we'll be in real trouble."
Taking a glazed donut, Lahar began to take a bite and eat himself. Glancing blandly towards Mystogan, he didn't seem to be nearly as concerned as before. "If you simply explained the situation, perhaps we would see the reason for being so cautious. As it stands, I went out to ensure that he remained safe in town, and nothing occurred that seems to be out of the ordinary." Unless you considered a rather revealing conversation between the two of them, Zeref thought.
"I told you, the queen would have him arrested!" Mystogan paused, frowning for a moment before shaking his head. "Well, perhaps that isn't entirely the right word, but it is close enough. She is searching for him, and once she gets her hands on the man she believes to be her Zeref, she will never let him leave her sight again."
"Her Zeref?" Zeref questioned, the phrasing throwing him off. The idea of anyone having ownership of him like that just seemed strange, to say the least.
The rune knight captain's gaze narrowed as well, before slowly gazing between Zeref and Mystogan. "How much of your past does your guild know of?" Lahar questioned, sounding somewhat suspicious.
Before Zeref could reply, the water shut off in the bathroom and the door burst open. Walking out was Natsu, wrapped in a towel with his scarf slung over his shoulder. "Yo, what'd I miss? Smells like food, did you guys save me some?"
Silently, Zeref handed him the box and let the dragon slayer choose his breakfast. As he had expected, the dragon slayer grabbed three donuts in one hand, picking a chocolate glazed one first to start eating. "Welcome back Zeref. I was wondering what was up with you two. Glad to see he wasn't stupid and trying to kill you or anything while we slept." This was emphasized with a pointed look at Lahar.
Shaking his head, Lahar sighed. "I had no intention of harming him in this world. Based on what little knowledge we have, he is likely our best method of getting out of this place. If anyone can determine how to use magic in a world without such a power, it would be the black wizard." He didn't mention Zeref's attempts at resurrection either, but it was an unspoken message between them. Zeref still found this odd connection between them mildly disturbing, but he didn't comment on it yet.
"You do realize that your suggestion is impossible, right?" Mystogan questioned, sounding a bit baffled.
Smiling, Lahar shook his head. "Impossible isn't the word I was looking for. More accurately, such an action would be quite contradictory, wouldn't you agree?" His gaze turned towards Zeref who couldn't help but chuckle in response. As disturbing as this was, it was more pleasant than feeling as if the man might kill him at any moment.
Natsu watched the two of them, frowning as he paused in eating. He had already downed the first two donuts, but he was still working on the third. "What the hell happened with you two? If I didn't know any better, I'd say you were friends or something."
"We came to an understanding, of sorts, while we were out." Zeref stated after a few moments. "For now, we will not be debating what will happen when we return. Our entire focus is on escaping this realm…and for that, we need to know where we are looking to break into."
Nodding, Mystogan stopped pacing and turned to face them. "No, before that, we need to find someplace else to stay. Since you went out in public, there will be guards searching for your face in town." Mystogan insisted.
"As I stated before, we were discrete while we were out. No one questioned his presence, nor did we attract any unusual amount of attention." Lahar insisted.
Pressing a hand to his forehead, Mystogan seemed to look troubled by his insistence. "I don't care. It is better to be safe than sorry. We've all had a long trip to the Royal City, but if we hurry, we can make it to Lerstal before nighttime today." Seeing the frowns on the faces of the others, Mystogan sighed. "The landscape here is not friendly for travel. Most people choose a city and remain there for quite some time, rather than moving from place to place."
Zeref tried to consider just who could hate him so much, even in this alternate world. Considering that people here were copies of their counterparts from Earthland gave him a long list of names. If Zeref Dragion was anything like he was in Earthland, he had many enemies. "Who is she…who is the queen?" Zeref demanded, this time not taking no for an answer.
"It would not help any of us if you knew, Zeref." Mystogan stated. "For now, just forget about it. The sooner we move, the better."
Glaring at him, Natsu crossed his arms over his chest. "What's your problem? So what if he knows this chick's name? It isn't like he's gonna run off and join her or anything. We've got a goal in mind already, and from what I know of Zeref, it's that he doesn't let go of his goals. I mean, he sets his sights on some impossible things, so I doubt this will really be that hard for him to accomplish."
The dragon slayer glanced towards Zeref, who nodded slightly in agreement. "Our mission remains unchanged, regardless of her identity. Knowing who our enemy is, however, allows us to look for signs of her presence." It was a safe assumption that they looked similar to their Earthland counterpart, after all.
Even Lahar looked curious. "Zeref, he may be correct. The lives of the people here are likely vastly different from our own. For all we know, this queen could be Natsu's counterpart in this world." It was an odd suggestion, making Zeref turn towards the dragon slayer for a moment. As unlikely as it seemed, they didn't know enough about the world to say it wasn't true, though. If Natsu was this queen…things would definitely become quite uncomfortable, to say the least.
Mystogan did not confirm or deny Lahar's suggestion, while Natsu frowned and scratched his head. "I dunno. I don't really think I'd make a good queen. It's not like I have the brains to do it…and from what Mystogan was saying, this queen is a genius at creating plans to capture wizards and stuff."
"People in this world are normally quite different than their counterparts, actually. From what I understand, the Elfman of this world is actually quite weak, while Cana here is far more refined and lady-like in attitude. She is more concerned about being proper, and refuses to drink even a sip of alcohol." Turning towards Natsu, Mystogan shrugged. "Your counterpart could be quite brilliant as a result."
"Huh. I wonder what else changed about me over here." Natsu frowned and seemed to think about it for a moment, but Zeref found himself wondering the same thing. If people were so different over here, why did it sound as if he fell into the same role? No matter what world it was, he became the wanted criminal. Fate was just cruel to those with his name, perhaps. The memory of the realm they passed through flashed in his mind, making him shudder. No, perhaps it was more than that. Ankhseram disliked him, and had intervened to punish his other self as well. It wasn't entirely impossible, though in a world without magic, Zeref wondered just how the god could create such a punishment.
Closing his eyes, he realized he had to know for sure if that place had been a dream, or if they had really passed through that place when coming here. "Mystogan…on our way to Edolas, I felt as if I was somewhere else for a brief moment. There was nothing…just an empty world filled with a gray landscape…." The Fairy Tail wizard was nodding, sitting down on the side of the bed with a sigh.
"Yes, that is quite common. In order to get to Edolas, there is a different realm that must be passed through. For some reason, the only realm directly connected with both Edolas and Earthland is that in-between place. You can rest assured, however. Nothing lives in that place. I've seen it countless times, during my attempts at destroying the anima. Getting dragged in isn't pleasant, but there isn't danger either."
Shaking his head, Zeref narrowed his gaze. "You are the one who is incorrect, Mystogan. That realm is far more dangerous than you could imagine…and it is likely connected to all realms." Pausing, Zeref glanced towards the others with a sigh. "I fear we have no choice but to pass through again, though. Be wary, for that is the place where gods reside, Mystogan. I've been there before, many years ago."
Both Lahar and Natsu stared at him, while Zeref avoided all of their gazes. Instead, he focused on the window, watching the streets below. "If you wish to leave, we will, however, I will not be the reason we fail in this mission. Should this queen find and capture me…do not come to rescue me. I will manage on my own. Our top priority is ensuring that Natsu returns to Earthland, before the enchantment keeping Igneel within him wears off."
His sudden topic change startled them all, but Zeref was not willing to speak about the very moment he gained his curse. Even if he was opening up further to these people, there were some things that were too disturbing to describe or think about for long. Rising to his feet, Zeref began to move towards the door. He didn't even check to see if the others had followed. Hearing their footsteps was enough to reassure him that they were there, as they began moving on once more to avoid capture.
The streets of the royal city were far more crowded now than they were before. It was almost impossible to push their way through the crowd, making it difficult for them to make any progress in their travels. Zeref kept losing sight of his companions, especially with how well Mystogan was used to hiding within the shadows of places like this. His cloak would vanish from sight for a few moments, before Zeref managed to find it again around another corner, or further down in the street.
Natsu was the one doing the best at keeping up with Mystogan, though that was likely due to his senses. The boy could track down the other wizard through scent if necessary, but Lahar and Zeref didn't have that capability. Thus, they were stuck forcing Mystogan to stop every few moments to allow them to catch up. Even though Zeref had started out leading them, this had been the pattern that emerged once they got out into the streets.
Behind them, the castle loomed over the entire town. In a way, the sight somewhat reminded Zeref of Vistarion. The city was set up in a similar manner, with a circular outer ring of residents surrounding the central castle within. Buildings lined the streets, with little to no room for yards between them. It was built with conservation in mind, optimizing the space and maximizing security for the castle. Anyone attempting to break in would first have to sneak past all of these homes. Then, there was the massive wall surrounding the castle to deal with. Gates were closed on the wall, with guards posted at each entrance. Even from this distance, Zeref knew that no one would gain entry without permission from the queen.
Considering their situation, it might prove useful for him to use his identity to their advantage. He could get captured and end up inside those walls, to locate the spell they needed. Granted, that would only work if the spell was near the castle. Mystogan hadn't revealed its location yet. It felt odd, being the one unaware of all the facts. Zeref was used to being the one in control of the leaking of information to others, but this time, his underling had taken on that role. For now, it put him in the strange situation of needing to rely on Mystogan, when he felt like he should be taking charge in some way.
Moving past another person on the street, Zeref felt a hand grab his wrist. He turned towards them, seeing a man eyeing him with narrowed eyes. "Hey, you're—" the man began, but Zeref jerked his arm away and hurried on.
Perhaps he was well known here, Zeref noted. Now that he glance around the street, he no longer felt as anonymous as he expected himself to be. That man was not the only one who noticed him. Others were avoiding his gaze, whispering amongst each other. Right next to him, he could hear others. "That's him…Zeref Dragion…"
It was a female speaking, and her friend by her side. Both appeared to be quite young, maybe teenagers if he had to guess. "He must be crazy coming here…the queen is going to find him."
"Well, let's hope he does." there was a slight giggle as she lowered her voice again, though Zeref could still hear it. He had lost sight of Mystogan and had to stop to search for his group once more. "After all, it will be so exciting if the wedding finally arrives!"
"Yes, just imagine our queen in her beautiful gown…" This made Zeref grow still, stopping his search for his companions. Wedding? He was under the impression he was wanted for crimes, but their gossip was making him think quite differently. Considering his role back home, perhaps it was not too strange. He was an emperor, so maybe an arranged marriage had been made for him in this world, to bind two nations together.
The people moved on, and left him incapable of hearing more. However, that didn't stop his troubles. A child this time, grabbed his arm with a grin. "I'm taking you to the queen! Zeref is wanted by her right away, and she says she'll reward us for bringing you in." There was a slight light in the child's eyes that made Zeref think of Natsu, but he made no comment. This boy had black hair and a strange cowboy hat on. With his appearance, he looked nothing like the dragon slayer and was unlikely to be his counterpart.
It was easy to pull away from the child and move on, but now, he didn't even know what direction to look in for Mystogan. He had gotten turned around while listening to rumors, and now, he couldn't even spot Lahar or Natsu. This had been a bad choice, Zeref noted. This place was too crowded for them to travel properly, and keep track of each other.
With no other option, Zeref simply began moving forward. Staying in one place would make one of the normal citizens capable of capturing him. Being wanted here was far different than being wanted in Fiore, he noted. Citizens in Fiore didn't attempt to grab him in the streets. They either failed to recognize him, or they were too afraid to even speak of who he was. As a result, he could walk safely through any town, so long as he didn't fear killing those around him.
The longer he walked, the more people began to notice him. More hands grabbed at his arms, making it a struggle to keep moving forward, He kept having to jerk his body free from the grips of strangers. Sometimes, he would have to try and shove them back. This was truly showing him how weak he had gotten physically over the years. Since he couldn't contact anything living, Zeref had never had any issue with this before. Never once had Zeref needed to be physically powerful, because anyone who got too close would fall over dead.
The sensation of being touched was enough to make him startled, but it grew old quickly. Now, Zeref was partially wishing his curse was back, simply so he could have some peace as he attempted to walk. Another hand grabbed his shoulder, making Zeref grimace and shove it off. The next one got a bit more creative. His entire body was thrown to the ground as someone tackled him.
His face smacked against the sidewalk, making him grimace and glance over his shoulder to see who had tackled him. The crowd seemed to disperse suddenly at the sight of this one, and it gave Zeref enough curiosity to stop attempting to resist for just a moment. On his back was someone keeping him pinned to the ground. He could feel the pressure of her legs surrounding his sides. Her knees dug into his hips, while hands pressed tightly down on the center of his back. The pressure of her weight was centered on his lower back, but Zeref made no move to try and break free. The second he saw her, he couldn't even remember to breath for a moment.
Tickling the skin by his neck were strands of long blond hair, trailing down the sides of the face of the woman leaning over him. Her emerald green eyes locked with his, though she did look somewhat different than he recalled. Instead of wearing her hair down, she had pulled it up into twin pigtails. Both of them were curled at the ends, tied with black bows above her head. Resting between them was a crystalline tiara, sparkling in the sun.
Continuing his inspection of the girl, Zeref's black eyes drifted down from her face. She was dressed in a blood-red robe, fitted tightly to her youthful body. Unlike the Mavis Zeref knew in his world, this one had far more curves and was older in appearance. She appeared to be closer to seventeen years of age, rather than thirteen. Even so, he would have been able to recognize her. That robe was tied off at the waist, with a white bow keeping it wrapped tightly around her form. The neckline cut down far, revealing a faint black undershirt beneath it.
Whispers surrounded him, but Zeref's entire focus was on the girl before him. His lungs burned and after a moment, he took in a sharp, wheezing breath. Tears sprung into his eyes, as he found himself unable to do anything else before her. "Mavis…you're alive…" he whispered, in awe of the fact.
The girl scowled, tossing one of her pigtails over her shoulder and sitting up. Her arms crossed over her chest as she simply used her weight and legs to keep him immobile. "Of course I am. You of all people should know that, Zeref."
Smiling, Zeref let his eyes close and relaxed his neck. His muscles were already getting sore from turning to stare at her, but at the moment, her image was burned into the backs of his eyes. This was not his Mavis, but it was still her. He had never imagined meeting the other version of Mavis in this world, but now that he had, Zeref didn't know what to do.
When he didn't reply, he heard a snort from above him. "Is that all you have to say after all these years?" Mavis shook her head, sighing and getting up. "Well, maybe you'll be more talkative back home. You're coming with me now, and I'm not taking no for an answer."
Feeling her watchful eyes, Zeref slowly nodded and chuckled under his breath. "Who said I wanted to leave?" Rising to his feet, Zeref stepped closer to her side. "Though, there are likely a few things you should know…I do not think I am the Zeref you are searching for…"
Frowning, Mavis turned towards him. "You sure look like Zeref to me." she commented, slowly giving him a bright smile. "So, I say that's good enough! I didn't expect you to change your mind after all this time. Does that mean you've forgiven me?"
Unsure of what he had been upset with her for, Zeref nodded. To him, it didn't matter what Mavis had done. So long as she was alive and safe, he would forgive her for anything. The girl seemed to smile in response, reaching over and grabbing his hand. Just like in Earthland, it was small and childlike, one thing that didn't seem that different about her. Almost instinctively, Zeref wrapped his fingers around her own, intertwining them together. Unlike all of the others from before, this was far more pleasant of an experience.
It was warm and soft in his grip, and Zeref couldn't help but marvel at the feeling. This was the first time in a century that he had risked coming into contact with a person for any reason beyond necessity. As he was dragged through the streets, Zeref felt as if his mind was in a daze. People cleared away and gave them a path to move, though Zeref didn't really focus on why they did so. His gaze simply stared at the back of Mavis' head, seeing her pigtails bounce slightly with each step.
The girl leading him smiled and shook her head. "You know, you're a lot quieter than I remember you being. Did something happen, Zer?"
It was an odd nickname, but Zeref found that he didn't mind it coming from her. "I…as I stated, I am not the Zeref you think I am." he replied, still unable to explain much else.
Shrugging, Mavis kept moving along. Staring around them, Zeref finally figured out that he was forgetting something important. He was supposed to be looking for Mystogan and Natsu. However, he could no longer feel like that was an important task. Here, Mavis was alive. Here, Zeref was free from his curse. What reason did he have to return? What life did he have back in Earthland that was worth saving?
Staring at the girl in front of him, Zeref realized that there was none. The only reason he had to return was the girl that was right here. If this Mavis wished for him to stay, then that was the only reason he needed to abandon Earthland, and remain here for what remained of his life. With that in mind, Zeref smiled and continued following after her, even as she began leading him towards the one place he was supposed to avoid. The castle walls loomed over them before long, and without a care in the world, Zeref followed after Mavis inside of them, wishing for nothing other than to be by her side.
Okay, so maybe I made it a bit too obvious...either way, good job figuring it out everyone (Bonus points if anyone can figure out which Earthland character I used to base the child that grabbed Zeref off of. He won't really be here in the future...but, hey, why not?). Also, thank you to the guests that reviewed! Now everyone is separated...and Zeref doesn't want to leave anymore. Any new predictions or comments? Feel free to share them in a review!