A Second Chance

Now on to the disclaimer

Irene: Another thing before we go, Grassfire101 doesn't have any rights over Fairy tail or its characters

Erza: All rights belong to Hiro Mashima

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Erza: Now get ready to sit back and read

A young infant was crying as a scarlet haired woman gazed at her child. The woman was struggling in a decision that could change both of their lives. It was strangely nostalgic, the woman thought as she stared at the basket, which protected her daughter.

This was the same forest that she hid from civilization for the last 400 years, in her self-proclaimed exile from humanity. This was also the same place that she was turned at least partially back to human, from the Black Wizard Zeref, who somehow gave her memories of another life. She spent the last year, returning to civilization believing that she was human only to find that the effect of dragonification still existed within her. She couldn't taste anything when she ate, and she no longer had the desire to sleep. She was beginning to lose her mind, as a result of the whole ordeal that occurred.

Irene laid exhausted next to an isolated lake with her crying child, both wrapped in nothing but simple cloth. Her scarlet hair had become a mess of red straggling across her back from the chaotic few minutes, or had it been hours? She couldn't tell, only that it had been a grueling task. But however long it had been, it was nothing compared to the hell she had been put through from the kingdom she ruled. The kingdom that she inherited from her heroic parents and the kingdom that she saved various times, in the time that she was the ruler. It was finally over….

Three years tortured and abused by her own kingdom, her own husband. The utter betrayal that she dealt with, from her own kingdom, after she developed signs of dragonification. Another four hundred stuck as a dragon, detached from the world, attempting to cure her cursed body, only for someone to miraculously change her back. She finally thought she had found a way to appear as she once was, but it was nothing but a lie. Her body wasn't a replacement, but a mere disguise that could hide the truth to others, but only reflected how fake they were to the one wearing it. Her senses were wrong, things that should be natural felt impossible. But she finally had the key to her agony, and it had been along with her this entire journey. She swept back her hair, finally getting a look at the life she held in her hands and seeing a small tuft of crimson color mirrored on its head. On her head.

"It's a girl… I'm so glad…" The sorceress huffed. After all this planning, it would be awkward if it were a boy, or worse, looked like the father, but beggars couldn't be choosers. Not that it would matter in time. She would shape her in time, to be just like herself, a little copy. This was a chance to put all the heartache behind her. A chance at a real life.

"She will be my new body. My new life."

"Once I Enchant myself into her, I can bid farewell to this cursed body forever!"

"I have waited four hundred years for this moment. Now, you will be my vessel!"

Everything was quiet now. The baby had ceased her cry, finally recognizing the one holding her as her mother. She simply sat there staring up at Irene with a simple smile, oblivious to the dark thought's clouding the one cradling her. Irene couldn't help but stare back, just as mesmerized. But just as quick as it began, the moment was over, as the newborn's face contorted and grimaced, beginning to wail again.

Something seized in Irene's heart, and she acted without thinking. She quickly but gently began rocking her arms, bringing the bundle closer towards her,

"no no no, it's okay, everything's fine." She began speaking softly, completely distinct from the almost manic muttering that had recently overcome her.

What am I Doing? She couldn't believe she had acted like that. What does it matter how she feels? She's not going to be anything after I'm done. But after the baby had calmed down and began smiling again, she couldn't help but return the gesture.

That's right, the reason I waited all this time, tried to go back to being human for so long. It was because of her. This baby wasn't her property to do with as she pleased, but her sole reason for living through this hell. So that her child wouldn't have to do the same. She couldn't understand why, but she looked at the baby and began to imagine a life in which she was a mother. She imagined, teaching her daughter all about magic and about the ancient history of Dragnof that was most likely lost. She could picture a time, in which she would embarrass her daughter and tease her about a boy that she liked.

She didn't want to abandon her daughter and spend a lifetime, wishing that she were able to raise her. She didn't want to one day reunite with her daughter, on a battlefield with the two being sworn enemies. It was almost as if seeing her child had strengthened her heart. That she would be able to handle any problems that came her way if it meant protecting her child. That's right, we are different…

"I am not you, and you are not me." And the first difference will be her name… She began to think back to an ancient Dragnof name that reminded Irene of a happier time in her life. The name that meant happiness but also meant great knight. The name that she thought, would best fit her child was…

"Your name shall be Erza Belserion," Irene declared as she held on to her sweet child. She would honor her God-Dragon who her parents left her to be raised from. She would no longer, keep the Knightwalker last name, but instead move on from the name that her family was born into. She would no longer allow her past to continue to haunt her, because she decided that she would finally move on from being Irene Knightwalker to finally becoming Irene Belserion. This child was her future, and this time she won't run away from being a mother.

Next Chapter: One word to thaw a frozen heart