Disclaimer: I am not the owner of Fairy Tail
When the communication lacrima in the guild it up, Zeref was expecting to speak with Dimaria about how to get to Acnologia wherever the dragon was hiding. However, it appeared as if their group had other ideas in mind. Gildarts' face appeared instead, making Zeref frown in confusion. He knew they had taken the lacrima with them to call back when they were ready for the attack to begin. However, he expected his own generals to keep it with them.
The middle aged man stared at Zeref, his face pale and his breathing hard. "Gildarts…I take it you've located Acnologia?"
He met Zeref's eyes, his eyes wild and shaky. "Yeah…I guess. More like he found us."
Stiffening, Zeref blinked at him. "Excuse me? Then…how are you contacting me?"
"Because Invel is insane…he's trying to take that monster on by himself." Gildarts took a deep breath, shaking his head. "Look, the more time we spend talking about this, the less likely it is he'll survive. Get your ass over here, along with whatever forces you think can stop this guy…and then we'll talk."
Right now, none of them were ready. August was updating Brandish on what would be happening, and Natsu was trying to explain the situation to Wendy. However, Morow seemed to overhear, gazing into his eyes levelly and offering a hand. "Looks like it's just us again, huh? Sounds like your allies need help, after all."
Nodding, Zeref closed his eyes. "Keep your distance, Morow. You know well that I have difficulty controlling the curse around you."
The boy nodded, smiling faintly. "Sure do. But to be honest…I've lived a long life. You have a family now…other than ending your curse, I really don't see any point to keep this up. Really, my promise is the only reason I haven't tried to do something crazy…I can kinda see why you got tired of immortality, Zeref, but it still feels wrong to want to die. I mean…this was what I wanted, right? Yet…there just gets to be a point where there's nothing new to do. It all just feels…old, like I've lived more than a full life and am just sick of it."
In agreement, Zeref wished he could speak more on the matter. However, all he could do was sigh and begin to teleport them away. "Then I promise you…should you die again, Morow, I will leave things be this time. I will let you be at peace…and not drag you back to a life you do not desire."
The lightning mage nodded, running a hand through his hair as they suddenly appeared in a forest far away from the guild hall. Gildarts stood next to them, blinking in shock at the two-man team. "Is…is this it? Where's the army you kept mentioning?"
"Overseas in Alvarez. There was no time to find more efficient means of bringing them to this continent when Acnologia was attacking now." Glancing around, he frowned. "Where is Dimaria? I thought you said Invel was holding him off."
"Dead." Gildarts spoke gravely, looking grim as he glanced towards the forest. "And that's what you're gonna have to go through to see your own proof if you don't believe me." He pointed towards the trees, where Zeref's eyes widened in shock. There, it looked like a wall of snow had formed in the forest. Nothing but white could be seen from that point on, and somewhere within, Zeref knew Invel still fought on. "He started it the moment Acnologia tricked her. She thought she had him…froze time and what not…but he apparently found a way around it. And he took full advantage of that shock…"
The one person who could live as long as he could was now gone. Zeref felt oddly numb at the idea. He had avoided thinking of her as a friend, just as he had avoided thinking of Igneel as a father. Why? What purpose did keeping them alive yet near serve if they were simply going to die anyway? He should have done something differently. Always, he should have changed something. Clenching his hands into fists, he glared at the magic keeping him away. "We cannot break through his storm."
"Sure looks like it." Morow sighed, shaking his head. "Do you have something in mind for when Acnologia gets out of that? To be honest, I was never all that successful against dragons in the war, you know."
Nodding, Zeref frowned. "Prolonged exposure to my death predation should eventually penetrate through the scales protecting him from such power…but it would risk both of your lives in return."
"You know I'm—" Morow broke off, blinking at the snowstorm with wide eyes. "Damn…that was quick."
Zeref could only nod in agreement, standing tensely in preparation for a battle. However, as he sensed for the approaching magical aura of Acnologia, he was surprised to feel something quite different in its place. It was weaker, a wizard's aura not a dragon's. So, Zeref began to walk forward slowly, eventually wading into knee deep snow that had somehow managed to accumulate in a matter of minutes due to the storm Invel had created. The energy it must have required had to be immense, Zeref realized. Most wizards could not even create snowstorms with magic. One of this caliber and duration had to have been difficult.
As if proving his thoughts, Zeref found Invel. He was collapsed in the snow, his back creating an odd indent in his own magic. By his side, snow seemed to have been brushed aside, or not fallen at all, where someone else lay. Red stained the snow around her, pooling and creating odd shapes as it attempted to flow into the rest of the snow on the ground. Invel gazed at her with tear-stained eyes, almost looking as if he were the one that died rather than her.
When Zeref approached, the man's gaze lifted to meet his. "Your majesty." It was toneless, as if nothing mattered to the man. This was not what Zeref planned for, however. Glancing towards Dimaria, he hesitated. He could not use that magic again, not after everything it had done to the world. She was gone, and that was something he could not fix. "I've failed…I failed to preserve the life of your most loyal general…"
He closed his eyes, taking a shaky breath. Watching him, Zeref didn't know what to say. He knew grief well. However, he did not know comfort at all. So, he said the only thing that came to mind. "Perhaps, but that does not mean it was a failure. It appears as if I will be in need of a new general of such loyalty…once you've mourned, I believe you would be rather suited to such a position."
His shoulders shook, not replying. Invel did not seem to wish to speak at all, in fact. All he did was gaze at Dimaria's fallen form, staying still on the ground. "That which has frozen is easy to shatter…I suppose that was true of myself as well." He gave out a humorless chuckle, closing his eyes. "Would you call me an idiot, for crying like this? Or perhaps something else…foolish? I do not know. There was so much about you yet that I wished to learn…so many stories to hear. Now, I do not think I wish to hear such things from anyone else."
Meeting his gaze, Zeref nodded gravely. "Then I will not speak of such things to you. Can you manage to speak of business, Invel?"
The winter general stared at Dimaria, closing his eyes. He lifted a hand to his face, pinching his nose just in front of the bridge of his glasses. "I…I do not know. How can I know? Everything…it feels wrong now. What is missing? I remain calm, but there's something gone…I can't…Kyrie, tell me what I'm missing."
He reached towards Dimaria, taking her hand almost with a pleading look. His shoulder shook, and this time, he placed his forehead against hers. Watching them, Zeref suddenly had an odd image that sent chills through himself. He felt as if he were watching himself, holding Mavis if she had been the one to die so long ago. This would have been his grief, his confusion over losing the first person he loved since gaining this curse. For Invel, it was no different, despite not suffering nearly as much as Zeref had. He had not loved others easily. Losing the one which he cared for now cost him deeply.
A hand clapped on Invel's shoulder, making Zeref see Gildarts stepping closer. "Hey…she's already heard you, loud and clear. I bet you're glad you took my advice, aren't you? Made things a bit awkward…but she was happy, I could tell."
He blinked at Gildarts, his eyes still blank. "I…I was too. I…is that what is now missing? The joy…I know it is gone. But, this was not how it felt before I had found it."
"And that is what loss is like." Zeref looked over, meeting his gaze. "Nothing feels the same after losing that which you cherish. Strive as hard as you might to get it back…the price you pay is not worth it."
"Strive to get it back…" He trailed off, slowly sitting up and locking eyes with Zeref. "Your magic. You know how to bring her back…yet you refuse. She…she gave you everything! Sacrificed her ideals, her beliefs…and you are just going to sit there and let her…let her…" He broke off, looking away.
Next to Zeref, Morow looked over towards Invel, his gaze serious and sad. "I know what it feels like to be brought back to life, Invel. Zeref did that for me, long ago…and now? I don't think I want this life. I don't want to be here, when I'm meant to be gone. All I do is wander…wander and try to find a solution to an impossible problem."
"Dimaria…she wouldn't mind. She already for as long as he…she understood how to cope with such matters."
"And that is why she deserves to rest now…just like all those before…" Zeref trailed off, frowning for a moment. "Just like…copying." His gaze flickered towards Invel, almost taking on a blank look. Then, Zeref slowly began to chuckle. "Very well. I will not bring her back, Invel. No…if you truly wish so badly to see her again, you must be willing to pay the price. And if you wish for my assistance in the matter…you must be willing to do this exactly as I request, no matter how unusual it may seem."
"Zeref! You are not offering to teach him this, are you?" Morow gaped at him, his eyes wide.
Nodding, Zeref smiled. "I suppose I am. So, Invel Yura…will you sacrifice your mortal existence, your ability to be near a single living being you care for, in order to bring back one you loved? It will not be easy…and it will be painful and cause you more misery than you can imagine. However…Dimaria will live, so long as you do the same."
"Kid, she wouldn't want you to—" Invel lifted a hand, cutting off Gildarts' words.
Meeting Zeref's eyes, Invel narrowed hie gaze. "You promise me, you will not back out of this arrangement?" The man nodded, and Invel took a deep breath, rising to his feet. "Then you and I have a deal, your majesty. Teach me to bring her back to this world…and I will do more than simply follow your orders. So long as she lives…I will gladly be your most loyal servant for the rest of eternity, knowing you were the one that made it possible."
So, Zeref is now going to be teaching Invel how to bring back Dimaria. It may seem a bit random...but I assure you, he has a plan in mind. Feel free to review and tell me what you think!