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A Holy War
~The Boy that She Loved~
Hi everyone! Welcome back to another chapter of A Holy War! Gomenasai for the long wait...I am really sorry that I took such a long time to update. But for some reason, I ABSOLUTELY FRIGGIN HATED writing this chapter. Like, I spent two months avoiding this chapter like it was some damn arduously long homework! I will guess that this is because this chapter was too important to the plot of the story, and that I keep thinking that what I wrote wasn't as good as I imagined... As a result, I took a moment and finished writing something like Chapter 99 before devoting my attention back to this one, Chapter 45. By the way, you guys will love that other chapter I wrote, though I'm afriad you will have to wait a bit more for that. So, easily enough, I wrote this chapter 3 different times from scratch trying to pair the conversations and reaction between Erza and the Immortals with perfection. I remodeled Erza's personality and reaction so many times it's unbelievable. So I'm very sorry if she seems a little off or OOC, because by golly, her emotions are hard to grasp! Probably not her fault...but more of my own, since I got some pretty big plot buildup in this chapter. Still sorry for the delays, and I hope all of you had a good summer so far. I knew I did, lol. Anyway, let's roll the credits, shall we?
A big thank you to all of you who reviewed, faved, followed, read, and put up with my fickle minds and delays. Thank you, Frwt, showjumperxc22, TheBeatOfWar, xBlueMuffin, TigerofFire116, Eveangela, MagicWarriorDragon, RosellaGrover, lightningstrikestheworld, vampirehime92, Sushichan99, NoctisRae, twistedlittledoll, Celestialdraco6, DarkTitania56, chocolatebackground, nonni88, BlackCatNeko999, crimson sana, Rippofubdertim, The Snake (The Silver Tongued Alpha) cakeloverDK, Godeater1, anon, krazyme98, NeoNavy, AzureFraust, NightLocker, Cornelia Hale8, Louise24Zoldyck, Guest, Sovereign64, KayGe08, Moeset, and Guest. Whew, that was quite a list, but I appreciate all the support each and every one of you has generously shown. Like, the goal I established on the last chapter was around 505, and I got 519 instead! I am at lost of words...just, just, thank you! Thank you, everyone! I love all of yah! :'D
Song Suggestions:
Stand by You by Rachel Platten (Thanks to chocolatebackground for the suggestion; I think this song suits the end of this chapter.) And that's all I got on my mind for now, please forgive me but I can think of anything at the moment. Please let me know if you got something on your mind. :)
Alrighty, that's all. Now shoo! Go read and have fun! ;)
"They call me Erik of Peace and Harmony, and I am here to change your life and the world that you thought you knew."
Wh...what?
Immediately, surprise and confusion swirled into her widening amber eyes as Erza gazed into the solemn black orbs of the mysterious stranger before her.
Although his quiet voice had long vanished into the eerie silence of the vacant dimension, those confounding words continued to echo within her bewildered mind. A moment of ominous silence reigned the murky air before her voice finally returned to her.
"Erik...Erik of Peace and Harmony, you say?" Shock almost radiated from her startled amber orbs as a small whisper escaped her trembling lips. "How is this...Wait, are you telling me that you are Erik? That Erik? The worshiped Lord of Peace from Heaven that reigns over the balance of peace and chaos in this world?
As her hesitant whisper faded into the dark atmosphere, the stranger revealed an amused grin as his eyes narrowed with what seemed to be interest. "Indeed, Scarlet. I suppose I shall congratulate you for your sagacious deduction. I am indeed known to the souls of this world by many names. Peace, Harmony, Tranquility, and even Balance."
Although his voice was soft within the dark dimension, she still caught the formidable wave of authority and majesty that vibrated beneath his seemingly innocuous words.
With slightly narrowed amber eyes, Erza lowered her head as she contemplated his words.
Could...could he really be the God of Peace, as he claimed to be?
Was this stranger before her really one of the immortal and omnipotent rulers of the Three Worlds?
Her confounded demeanor did not go unnoticed by him, for his lips rippled into a sly smile. "But regardless of what sobriquets you yourself might have once referred to me as, it matters not. As of now, you may simply refer to me as Erik."
A moment of silence ensued as Erza pensively digested the situation, before dipping her head into a slow nod. "I see. But for what important reason has the honorable God of Peace deemed it necessary to appear before me? I am but a lowly mortal."
"You needn't be so formal, Scarlet." A small chuckle escaped from the deity's lips as his black eyes grew slender with amusement. "You may not know it, but we ancient Gods and Goddesses of the Heaven consider you, Erza Scarlet, as an equal to ourselves."
I...am equal...to the Gods and Goddesses?
Shock instantly erupted within her widening amber eyes as Erik's lip tugged into a nonchalant smirk, "Thus, you do not need to ever condescend yourself, even if you were to speak face to face with Guran Doma-sama himself."
"W-wait." A stunned whisper escaped from her quivering lips as the young General suddenly felt overwhelmed by the implication and gravity that resonated within the God's soft words. "What do you mean by...an equal? To what do I owe such privilege, as to even harbor a possibility to speak to the Holy Sovereign Guran Doma-sama?"
"What an absolutely interesting question, Scarlet." A sly smirk appeared on his lips as the deity crossed his arms, "While it would cost me absolutely nothing to assuage your query, what you have asked does not fall within the range of my responsibilities. I carry no obligations to answer that question of yours."
A moment of awkward silence trailed after his words as Erza's amber orbs slowly widened with both shock and confusion. The blunt words of the God had stunned her, and for a moment, she could do nothing else but stare at his complacent features.
"P-pardon?"
"Do not misunderstand, Scarlet." His deep voice again weaved into her ears as he cocked his head to one side, his tone becoming increasingly more impatient and derisive. "You asked a good question. It shall be humored one day, I assure you of that. But as of the moment, you have no need of access to that information. Only when the optimum time has arrived shall I tell you what made you so special."
As his condescending words faded into the suddenly oppressive air, the General's amber eyes narrowed with agitation as a frown fell over her once gentle features. "So while I have been eternally graced and honored by the presence of a God, I am denied the knowledge as to why he came before me?"
"Correct. For the time being, at least." Erik nodded slowly as an amused grin unraveled at his lips. "I have appeared before you because I have been ordered to dispel certain obscurities that you may have. But I shall not speak beyond what I am required to divulge."
His patronizing words ignited a spark of dark irritation and deadly rage within her heart as Erza realized that the God of Peace was apparently teasing her already intrigued mind and deliberately keeping her in the dark.
Erik had obvious materialized before her with important information to divulge. But rather than satisfying her thirst for knowledge, he was indulging himself by dangling the answers she so desperately sought before her nose.
Well then.
"I beg for your forgiveness to my insolence, Lord of Peace."
Rage swirled within her heart as her frozen amber eyes reopened and met his lazy blacks. Another moment of silence lapsed before a terrifyingly low growl escaped from her lips. "But please do understand that I consider myself, with pride, as a woman who is more candid and straightforward than others. Unfortunately, while I do find it an honor to be enlightened by your presence, I also find it agitating–despicable, even–for a God to drawl out the imparting of an important piece of news."
As soon as the scorching words left her tongue, the lighthearted amusement and lordly smugness that once flickered within Erik's black orbs faded into paralyzing shock and speechless disbelief. It was apparent that the God of Peace had never come across a mere mortal who had dared to speak so directly to him.
But the young General wasn't done yet.
Fiery ire flickered within her narrowed eyes as Erza stared at the once complacent God before her with unveiled distaste. "I also believe that an honorable deity such as yourself have dozens of more important responsibilities that demand your attention than teasing an undistinguished mortal girl. So in the interest of both time and clarity, will you please divulge to the reason as to why you have appeared before me?"
If ever possible, the already oppressive atmosphere of the dark world intensified as an eerie silence followed her accusatory outburst. As her audacious words faded, Erza glared unflinchingly and unrelentingly into the darkening visage of the God before her.
Humorless annoyance, faint rage, and trace of thinly veiled admiration had appeared within Erik's dark orbs as he glowered at her, a dangerous whisper seeping from his tongue. "You..."
"Well said, Erza-san!"
Surprise instantly erupted within her heart as a new voice suddenly cheerily sounded in the gloomy air of the otherwise empty world. And for a moment, even the esteemed God of Peace appeared confused as a brilliant flash of white light suddenly swirled into existence merely inches by his side.
As the white light dissipated, Erza couldn't help but stare with speechless awe as a beautiful and mysterious woman returned her puzzled expression with a kind smile.
Although Erza could aver honestly that she had never seen this woman before in her life, for some reason, she seemed quizzically familiar.
Wary suspicion flooded into her narrowed amber orbs as Erza silently studied the newcomer.
Once, even her own king would wither under the intense glare of her scrutinizing amber orbs. But the woman before her seemed imperturbable to her cautious demeanor and even revealed an amicable grin when their eyes met.
Despite the two buns at the top of her head, those long silky salmon colored locks of hers were still long enough to cascade freely down the skin of her flawless neck, which was adorn by a black buckled strap. Two identical beauty marks rested just beneath her soft green eyes, and the young General couldn't help but feel that she had seen them before...even if she was just meeting this woman for the first time.
Although her loose, white kimono was more than capable of distinguishing her from the surrounding darkness, her presence was further enhanced by a soft pink glow, just as Erik's was by a dim white hue. And like the God of Peace beside them, this strange woman radiated considerable power, authority, and a sense of holiness.
There was no mistaking it. Erza had seen her before...but only in the countless arts and statues adorning temple walls and worship shrines.
Ika...Ikaruga of Life and Birth, if I am not mistaken.
"I-Ikaruga-san!" Almost instantly, her theory was confirmed as a sharp and anxious chirp suddenly escaped from the lips of the God of Peace.
Surprised and slightly amused by the sudden squeal, Erza turned to Erik only to find that he had changed drastically from his former majestic and imperturbable self.
Gone were the male deity's impregnable facade and solemnity. Rather, his sunburned face had grown dark with what seemed to be...a blush as he adorably gawked at his new companion with shock. Upon seeing his furiously warm and embarrassed cheeks, Erza couldn't help but reveal a small smile.
Ah, so he is in...
"Greetings, Cobra-san." The Life Goddess smiled calmly as she dipped her head in acknowledgment of the other deity's presence. Her sparkling emerald eyes then shifted over to Erza before her grin widened. "And you, my dear, must be the legendary Erza Scarlet we have spoken so much about."
The turn of events was getting way to absurd. Incomprehensible, even.
"Le...legendary?" A confounded murmur escaped from her lips as Erza slowly tilted her head to one side, surprise glittering from her eyes. "My apologies, but I really don't understand what all of this is about."
"Ah, of course. Our apologies, Erza-san." The woman released a slightly embarrassed giggle, which was not unlike that of a teenage girl. "It must be a lot for you to process at the moment. But no worries, take all the time you need, for I will explain slowly."
"Forgive me for questioning," A hesitant and respectful whisper escaped from her lips as she slowly approached the powerful duo before her. "But you are Ikaruga...Ikaruga of Birth and Life, yes?"
The dazzling woman dipped her head into a slow, affirmative nod. "Indeed I am. I am the Goddess sought by millions of lovebirds all over Earthland whose greatest desires are to have a scion, an offspring, a child. And only to the most fervent of those do I realize their wishes."
The ability to give life...to only those that she deems worthy. A gleam of awe seeped into her awed amber eyes as Erza carefully appraised the Goddess once more. It's no wonder that she is radiating with power.
"In that case, please do forgive me for my insolence." A gleam of desperation suddenly appeared within her amber eyes as Erza released a cautious but entreating whisper, "But if you wouldn't mind, please explain to me what is happening, and why exactly has my presence been honored by two of the benevolent rulers from the world above."
As her sincere, candid words faded into the dark atmosphere of the dark world, the Life Goddess and the Peace God exchanged a solemn glance before their attention returned to the distressed young warrior before them.
"Very well."
Hope immediately superseded the gnawing anxiety within her heart as the soft words of the Life Goddess faded away. As Erza gazed into the soft, encouraging smile that appeared at the lips of the Goddess, joy flickered into her widening amber orbs.
"As per her words, we shall tell you all that we are aware of, Scarlet." The soft growl that escaped Erik's throat was tainted with reluctance, but the young General ignored it as happiness tap-danced within her heart. "Do listen carefully, for what we will tell you is of significant importance."
"Of course." A delighted smile rippled along her lips as Erza dipped her head in acknowledgment.
"Very well, Erza-san." A grave solemnity had replaced the lightheartedness and warmth within her brilliant green eyes as the Ikaruga released a deep breath, "While we will do our best to explain slowly and carefully, please do feel free to interrupt us should you encounter any bemusement. It is of great importance that you fully understand the severity behind our words, for the information that Cobra-san and I shall now divulge to you is intrinsically associated with the survival of the Three Worlds."
T-the survival of the worlds?
As soon as Erza registered the gravity of the Goddess's portentous words, shock immediately sparked within her widening amber orbs as her lips slipped apart. But...but why would they tell me?
"Why you, you wonder?"
Another wave of bewilderment pummeled her mind as Erza realized the deity had just read her mind. As she gazed at the Life Goddess in surprise, Ikaruga revealed a soft understanding smile before her melancholy green eyes turned away.
Suddenly, a mysterious dread erupted within her heart as Erza suddenly and unexpectedly caught the sadness and what seemed to be...fear within the vivid green orbs of the omnipotent Life Goddess. Stunned, her desperate amber eyes immediately flickered to Erik, only to find that the once majestic God of Peace was also quivering from an insuperable terror as his teeth gnashed together in a mixture of fear and anger.
What... Speechlessly stunned, Erza attempted almost desperately to discern the possible causes that could elicit such a vulnerable and fearful reaction from the honored God of Peace and the supreme Goddess of Life. What is it that could make such powerful deities tremble in fright like abandoned children?
"Is...is something the matter?" A dazed murmur escaped from her quivering lips as Erza gazed worriedly at the two trembling deities before her, "Are you alright, Ikaruga-san? Erik-san?"
As her soft words slowly faded into the inky darkness, Ikaruga gradually ceased her trembling before her saddened lips flashed the moody warrior an appreciative smile. "We...we are fine. Thank you, Erza-san. Please do allow me to apologize on behalf of both Cobra-san and myself for distressing you."
"It's totally fine." She smiled in a vain attempt to pacify the discomfited Goddess, "But what in the name of the Three Worlds is going on?"
Although the petrifying dread had vanished, the remorseful sadness remained within those otherwise beautiful green orbs as Ikaruga languidly lowered her head. "Before I answer that question, Erza-san, allow me to ask you a question in turn. Are you aware of World Creator Org-sama's unparalleled aptitude for divination and prophesying?"
"O-of course." Unexpected by the sudden turn of topic, Erza released a dazed whisper as her amber eyes blinked in confusion. "So many legends and myths have exulted Org-sama's talent in envisaging the future. Why do you ask?"
A tinge of fear suddenly swirled into her forlorn green eyes as a despaired smile unraveled at Ikaruga's lips. "Then you must also know that each and every single one of his many prophecies has always occurred with flawless accuracy, yes?"
"Y-yes, I am aware of it." A stunned whisper seeped from her lips as Erza tilted her head to one side from overwhelming confusion, not understanding what the Goddess was trying to emphasize. "And what of it? Is this somehow relevant to the reason as to why both of you honorable deities have appeared before me?"
"Everything that we broach during the duration of this conversation is relevant, Scarlet!" Anger suddenly flashed within Erik's darkening eyes as the truculent God of Peace hissed with unveiled irritation, causing the cautious General to warily take a step back. "Now, since you do understand Org-sama's power to dependably foresee the future, you must also be capable of recognizing what disastrous future awaits when the late Org-sama saw an inexorable darkness engulfing the Three Worlds, in the year of X791?"
As soon as Erza registered the significance of the God's ominous words, a mixture of dread and surprise immediately flared within her widening amber eyes. "What, what do you mean? X...X791? That is the year merely after the upcoming one... Today is September 18, X789...so it's less than two years from now."
"Precisely, Scarlet." The agitated God of Peace hissed dangerously before the fiery anger at his eyes suddenly waned with fear and sadness. Slowly, his troubled dark eyes turned away from her questioning orbs as his voice diluted into a whisper. "In less than two years, the Three Worlds that you knew them as will vanish. An inexorable darkness will rise and fall over the Worlds. The Balance of the Three Worlds for which we Immortals sacrificed so much to preserve will pulverize. The Earthland that you called home for the past 19 years will become a dreary dimension worse than the most notorious lands found in Hell."
His melancholy dark eyes turned back to her stunned amber eyes, and for once, Erza saw no hint of animosity or condescension. Just sadness, raw and pure. "Sorrow, fear, hate, and death will virulently plague the lands, sea, and sky. And all that you cherish in this world will be destroyed, Scarlet. Your friends will die. Your family will die. And your loved ones will die. Darkness will corrupt everything you hold dear, and demons–rather than humans–will stride across the earth. In the face of this imminent diabolical evil, everything will perish."
Stupefying shock and fear swarmed into her bewildered amber orbs as a suffocating dread spiral up her spine. A small tremble possessed her body as Erza stood there, unblinking as she contemplated on what the Immortals had just revealed to her.
After all, what could she say when the deities that had ruled over her world for millenniums suddenly portended that the entire world will end in less than 700 days?
It was only after a long time that her voice gradually returned to her, "E-everything?"
"Indeed."
Palpable sorrow seemed to radiate from Ikaruga's lowered, lamenting green eyes as she feebly whispered. "In less than two years, the Worlds will crumble within the bloodstained hands of a soulless demon that even we Gods and Goddesses have no hopes of destroying. Even as we speak, he is out there somewhere growing and empowering himself by feasting on the sorrow, hate, dread and other negative emotions found abundant on Earthland."
Terror, as dark as the impenetrable ocean depths, seemed to churn within her heart as Erza's gleaming amber eyes grew wide with shock and dread from Ikaruga's sinister words. "You... You mean, it is by the wretched doing of...of a single creature...that will destroy all of Three Worlds?"
If the Goddess of Life had heard her, she didn't bother to acknowledge it as she somberly gazed at the ground. Beside her, Erik slowly lifted his head so that it faced the zenith before he released a weary sigh as his unreadable eyes mournfully drifted close.
Silence reigned the murky atmosphere as Erza desperately searched the visages of the deities for the fainest signs that could quench the flaring fear within her heart. But then, a voice in her own mind laughed at her as she realized how far-fetched her own question was. Of...of course not, Erza...what is wrong with you? How can this rising evil be a single organism? Nothing is ever powerful enough by itself to destroy the Three Worlds... Stars have mercy! It's three freaking worlds we are talking about!
For a moment, this thought soothed her thunderous heart.
Then.
Suddenly.
"As you have correctly postulated...the End is brought about by the catastrophic desires of a sole demon."
W-what?
The shattering gravity of the otherwise innocuous words that escaped from Ikaruga's lips erased all coherent thoughts from her mind. Spellbound, Erza could do nothing else but stare into the despondent emerald orbs of the Life Goddess. "In merely another dozen months or so, this one demon will be strong enough to singlehandedly turn all Three Worlds into bloodcurdling dimensions worse than Hell. The Earthland that you call home...will be no more. Heaven and all the deities that rule over Earthland...including Cobra-san and myself...will be no more. Skies will fall, oceans will evaporate, and all life will terminate."
"So...nothing. Nothing can be done to alter such a dreadful future?" Desperation seemed to boil within her blood vessels as Erza released an agitated hiss overridden with dread. "We can do nothing but wait for the inevitable? Since when, even, has such a monster shadowed over us? Over the Worlds and all their millions of inhabitants?"
As her passionate eyes gazed desperately into those lifeless green and black eyes, Ikaruga suddenly revealed a broken smile. Sighing, the once vibrant Goddess of Life suddenly looked helplessly tired, worn, and defeated as she mournfully murmured. "I... I guess it has been approximately 20 years, Erza-san. The year that I introduced you to the world, is also the year that... that certain demon reborned... And in truth, everything...from the imminent End of the Worlds to the rise of this monster...is all because of an irrevocable mistake on my behalf."
Choking silence suddenly enveloped the vacant atmosphere of the dark dimension as Erza gawked at the Goddess before her in absolute disbelief and horror.
W-what did she say? It is her fault...It is the fault of the Goddess of Life, that the Three Worlds will soon end?
With eyes round as the moon, the young General hesitantly took a step back. "What...what do you mean? How is it your fault...that the Worlds will end?"
Another surge of paralyzing shock assaulted Erza's mind as she suddenly caught a glimmer of white light fleeting down from the Goddess's remorseful eyes. Realization suddenly hit her mind like a struck of lightning as her amber eyes widened.
The powerful and respectful Goddess of Life was crying.
B-but why?
What exactly had happened?
"Scarlet." Somehow, the soft sigh that escaped from the Lord of Peace immediately arrested her attention, and slowly, she tore her eyes away from the weeping Goddess and toward Erik's disheartened dark eyes. "Before we can satisfy that query of yours, you must also oblige in answering one of ours."
A moment of silence lapsed as the warrior contemplated on his words, before she managed a small nod.
"Please ask away."
"In that case, you must swear upon the great name of Org-sama to deliver to us the absolute truth. Not only is lying to the Gods and Goddesses one of the most inexcusable atrocity a mortal could perpetrate in all of Three Worlds, but any mendacious words that escape from your tongue could also exacerbate the already irremediable circumstances and further endanger the Three Worlds." Erik released a light growl as his eyes met hers with unrelenting ferocity. "I beseech you to recite, Scarlet, for the survival of the Worlds."
A small sigh left her lips, but the young woman complied.
"I, Erza Scarlet, do swear upon the honorable name of the World Creator Org-sama that I will faithfully and honestly impart to the great deities before me with no words other than what is the absolute truth, to the best of my knowledge, capability, and belief."
A moment paused as Erik and Ikaruga exchanged a quick glance, before redirecting their attention to her resolute features.
"Very good. Now tell me, Scarlet..."
Those stormy black eyes narrowed solemnly, but she remained unflinching even as a dangerous hiss rumbled from his throat. "Are you in love with anyone?"
His words were not greeted by her voice. But by silence.
What.
The.
Fuck?
Those gleaming amber orbs of hers gradually dilated to the size of moons as exasperation suddenly exploded from her heart. Her lips quivered as she appraised the God of Peace in petrifying shock. "W-what? What did you say?"
Why was a God asking her this? Asking her such a personal question when the survival of the Worlds hanged by a thread?
"In case you did not understand," Abruptly, annoyance reappeared within his eyes, tainting almost a murderous shade onto his face as Erik growled, "I said, are you in love with anyone? Do you have any male associates or acquaintances that you consider intimate to yourself? Any male mortals worthy to be called your boyfriend? Your lover? Your bedmate?"
T-the nerve that he has!
Her stunned amber orbs grew wide with incomprehensible horrors and she malevolently curled her hands into enraged balls of fist. "What the–"
"Quit making me reiterate my words, Scarlet! Do you have a man for whom you would happily die for? Who you cannot live without? A man whom you share your bed with? Are you in love at this very moment–"
"I know what you said!" A flustered scream suddenly erupted from her heated tongue as she furiously interrupted the God of Peace. "But what the absolute Hell are you asking me?"
An embarrassed shriek suddenly escaped from her lips as Erza wildly took a step back from the male deity, her cheeks reddening. "The...the freaking Worlds are ending! And we have not even the vaguest idea of what to do! And...and you, you ask me t-this...this thing! What utter crap have you made me recite Org-sama's name for, Erik? What the friggin Hell is wrong with you?"
"Just answer me, Scarlet, are you in love with anyone?" The sudden roar that Erik released caught her off guard. The mortification within her heart melted away into confusion as the God suddenly stopped himself, before taming his ferocious howl into a softer sigh. "Answer me, Scarlet. This is more important than you can imagine."
Silence quilted over the gloomy atmosphere of the dark world as they both grew quiet as Erza carefully considered his bewildering words for the first time. The strange words from the God of Peace had once again salvaged, from the deepest corners of her mind, an ancient question that Erza had attempted so long to escape from.
Am...am I in love with anyone?
The instant her mind delved into such thoughts, the image of a grinning male was immediately summoned from her most heartwarming memories.
She remembered vividly of how his silky blue locks once swayed in the wind, how she thought the laughter that rang from his soft, gentle lips was the most beautiful sound in the world. She remembered how every time when he turned to beheld her, those golden eyes softened and grew as passionate as the spring sun itself.
Just like how her heart would grow warm, fuzzy, and traitorously loud whenever he was nearby.
"You're not stupid. You are...beautiful."
But then, the perfect boy of her wildest dreams had a flaw, hadn't he? A devastating flaw that hurled her to one side of the world and him the other, separating them forever and until the end of time.
He was evil.
Once in a seemingly different lifetime, her dear Rob-ojisan had warned her of how dangerous this boy could be. Miliana, Wally, Sho, and the rest of what made up her little family during those humiliatingly and agonizingly dark days had heeded his warning and slowly and painfully...but eventually distanced themselves from him.
And she?
She had thrown caution to the wind, innocently thinking that her beloved grandpa was wrong for once, and that he was merely too protective, cynical, and inclusive to see the explosive good within the boy to whom she had given both her first kiss and heart.
After all, he had saved her more than once. He had arduously rescued her from her mental plummet into the darkest abyss of her mind. He had suffered such dehumanizing and scarring tortures just to save her from those animalistic slavers. He had cared for her, bled for her, cried for her, sacrificed for her, and eventually...killed for her.
Long ago, she had thought he was the purest soul in the world, and that there was no way his humanity could be devoured by a dark, internal demon that lusted for power.
But then Rob died and on the same night, he abandoned her, slashing apart the world that she had slowly grown accustomed to and soon survived upon. When he was gone, without a reason–or even so much as a word–she had almost killed herself, deeming that a world without him was a world not worthy of living.
And three years after he left her, he returned and reignited the hopeful flames within her soul–reignited in her heart the hope of eating a strawberry with him, reignited the hope of discovering the long fabled Happily Ever After with him.
But just moments after they met, he gruesomely massacred the soldiers that she considered her protective brothers and faithful sisters. He cruelly trampled upon the faint hope his presence had first given her, and laughed diabolically in her face when sadness carved permanent trails on both her face and heart.
But still, the question remained, withstanding the torturous trial of time and age.
Did she love him? Even after he had become such a remorseless and bloodthirsty demon? Was he even worthy of being loved, after all the scars and blood he had lacerated upon her mind and body? After he virulently wanted to destroy everything that he laid his corrupted eyes on?
Slowly, her amber eyes slipped close as the familiar surge of warmness and wetness bubbled within her. In love...with him? Am I...should I?
"Well, Scarlet?"
A faint trace of impatience brushing Erik's voice suddenly shattered her trance, and slowly she reopened those boiling amber orbs of hers as she slowly and melancholy turned to the two deities, who remained expectant of a response.
The image of the boy's face remained within her mind, as though it had been scorched into her soul, along with the many beautiful and cherished memories that she shared with him. How she missed him, missed his smile, missed his voice...
"What is your answer?"
Far, far away, a soft and affectionate voice seemed to murmur into her ears, carried by a nonexistent gale of warm wind in the otherwise unbearably cold and dark world, and Erza slowly lowered her head as her heart again churned in a vibrant mixture of sadness and pain as his velvety words weaved into her ears.
You're not stupid. You are...beautiful.
"Do you love anyone, Erza-san?"
I may have as well stayed in Hell for giving a damn about what everyone in these corrupted worlds has ever done to me!
"Yes." A soft whisper suddenly seeped from her lips as she dipped her head.
Had…Had I known that the most scarring blade I must face is the one who I loved so much…
Loved, did he say? So it was in the past after all.
"Yes, I do love someone."
Surprise seemed to swirl into the emerald eyes of the Life Goddess and the dark orbs of the Peace God as a ghost of a whisper escaped from her lips. Their eyes widened ever so slightly as unshakable resolution glimmered from within her softened amber orbs. Gradually, a small smile rippled along her lips, even as a sparkling, iridescent dew rained from the corner of one of her despondent, agonized amber eyes.
"The answer to that question is yes." The smile at her lips quivered as the glistening trail of the gleaming tear streaked down her cheek, leaving in its wake both warmth and pain as she remembered the heartwarming face of the radiant boy she loved. "I do love a boy with the entirety of my being. I love him...I love him even after what disastrous past and harrowing complication we suffered through."
Sadness glowed from her molten amber orbs as she slowly revealed a bittersweet smile, recalling how luxuriously soft his lips had tasted, how kind his golden eyes had been. "He is my sun, my moon, my stars...my everything. A long time ago, under one dazzling starry night, I gave him my heart and soul. I love him with all my heart. On that night...I swore to protect him with everything I have...until the very end of time itself."
The Life Goddess murmured as her once vibrant green orbs dimmed with sorrow. "And he? Did he return your feelings?"
She did not turn to meet the Goddess's mournful green eyes as she simply gazed into the impenetrably dark distance. Finally, another gleaming tear spiraled down her heated cheeks as she slowly and weakly shook her head. "No, he didn't. Maybe he did once...but not anymore. Not anymore."
Silence, and then.
"In that case, why do you continue to sacrifice for him, Scarlet?"
For once, even the truculent God of Peace gazed at her with what seemed to be sadness and concern in his dark eyes. "Why do you persist? Why do you continue to mutilate what remains of your pride and heart for an unseeing bastard who ignored your love?"
Upon hearing his soft words, Erza slowly turned her lamenting amber orbs to his anxious dark ones. A tattered smile rippled along her trembling lips as she struggled to breathe from the sudden pain that jabbed into her broken heart. "I don't know, Erik..."
As his eyes widened ever so slightly, she allowed her beloved fiery locks to fall over her broken, weeping eyes. "That's a question I ask myself...over and over and over again every single night. Why do I love him? Why do I continuously torture myself when he has already turned away from me? Honestly, I have no idea."
Gradually, one of her hand rose to her chest as she savored the pain thumping behind her heart. "He was heartless...he was cruel...he was blind, and he was evil. And yet...sometimes, I wonder if I am the fool, the unseeing one...because even after all that happened, after all that he did to me...I still love him. I continue to think of him, even if he has forgotten all that exists between us. What seemed to be an eternity ago, he promised to stay by my side...but then he abandoned me the very next day. And yet, it seems that I am the fool in question, because even so...I continue to trust him. Forever and always."
Silence consumed the crushing atmosphere of the dark world as the deities before her remained respectfully quiet, observing her trembling figure with pitiful eyes.
Slowly, Erza summoned a hand up her face to wipe away the sweltering tears that flooded down her feverish cheeks. Those gleaming, soaked amber orbs reopened as she unflinchingly met the Immortals' somewhat perplexed eyes. "I don't expect you to understand...and in reality, I wish you will never understand... Be- because only those who had suffered through the excruciating agonies of shattering heart and unthinking mind can relate to the stubbornness that now resides in me."
"Are you really foolish and obstinate enough to walk through the blazing black fires of Hell barefooted, if it is for the sake of his life?" A thin trace of rage suddenly appeared within Erik's dark eyes as he growled. "Will you go through such lengths just for him? Even if he never return even a bloody second glance in your direction?"
She dipped her head in consent, and watched as both Ikaruga and Erik widened their shocked orbs in unfathomable puzzlement. "I still love him...and if it is for him, I will gladly die without so much as a murmur. I gave my heart to this boy from a long time ago, just as he gave me hope and a will to live on, regardless of what dark future awaits us."
"But there is no future, Erza-san!" A desperate cry escaped from the Goddess of Life as those pleading green orbs gazed into her serene amber ones. "What awaits all of us is not even a dark future...for we have no future. And yet even so, you will spend the remaining days waiting for him? Waiting in the false hope that he might understand your emotions and eventually return to you?"
"Yes."
The vivid emotions that swirled within the God and Goddess's eyes simply could no longer be described as confusion, for bewilderment and speechless disbelief had drenched through their souls from her inconceivable and inexplicable faith.
A melancholy smile slowly unraveled at her lips as another gleaming tear rained from her sparkling and pained amber eyes. "Even if the Worlds were to end in the very next second, I would leave this life behind with him in my mind and heart."
Slowly, she lifted her tearstained face so that those despondent amber eyes gazed into the hopelessly bleak zenith of the dark world. "If I were to die, my one last wish would be to see one of his smiles. And if he were to die...well, I would go to Hell's end and exchange all I have to make sure that never happens...And in the end, if I still can't save him...and if we all have to die, I beg the stars to let us die together. Then, in the next world...maybe...we can finally find our Happily Ever After..."
"And...and what if the omnipotent Fate itself deigns it unacceptable?" A low growl suddenly rumbled from Erik's throat as a dangerous gleam lit his dark eyes. "What if the coming darkness that shall destroy the Worlds coerce the two of you to spiral down different paths, never to reunite, Scarlet?"
Over my dead body!
Immediately, those tender amber orbs ferociously flashed to the God of Peace as a murderous hiss slithered from her tongue. "If that is the case, Erik, I will vanquish whatever rising darkness that is foolish enough to attempt to separate him from me."
Her soft growl suddenly turned into a distorted howl of fiery rage. "I will destroy anything and everything that seek to separate me from Jellal Fernandez!"
Oppressive silence suddenly muffled the dark world as Erza glowered dangerously into the cold eyes of the God of Peace, destructive fury rippling within her veins as his agitating words churned within her mind.
It was anywhere between a second and an eternity as the mortal warrior locked her venomous amber orbs with the deadly ones of the God, neither willing to back down. But then, suddenly.
Ikaruga narrowed those once affectionate green eyes as a sinister, mirthless smile suddenly appeared at her lips. "Forgive me for asking, Erza-san. But what will you do if the murderous darkness that shall soon rise and devour the Worlds...and simultaneously kill the boy that you like...is none other than your beloved Jellal Fernandez himself?"
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Thanks to everyone who waited long enough to see this story updated. You guys are the reason why I keep trying my best to update even when life is just...being life. Thanks a ton, everybody! Please stay awesome and wait while I begin on the next chapter. The reviews for last chapter blew my mind, and I would love to hear more of what you all think. Any suggestions, comments, and thoughts are all welcomed, whether you prefer to PM it or review it. :D I am turning 18 years old in less than a week, so please leave your present in the form of a review, and I'll be very happy to read them. So that being said, please aim for 540!
By the way, just to clarify, I am not a Ikaruga & Cobra shipper. Like what the fig is that? The two never even met!
I support Cobra & Kinana, but in the first chapter of this story (aka. Prologue I), I had Cobra crush on Ikaruga just for the fun of it. Still, back then he was a bachelor in 2012, and Kinana didn't even appear in the Fairyverse yet. So...I guess we're all now just stuck with this crack pairing. Gomenasai! But at least Jerza is so far unchallenged! They are meant to be, whether in manga, story, or anime.
Thank you once again, and I'll see you soon!
Lightmoon54.
Updated on July 28, 2016.
