Chapter 2 Stepping On Butterflies
Howls of pain screeched throughout Magnolia as the dark guild came unprepared for a powerful assault of magic, leagues of lightning strikes incinerated the bands of dark guild members. But nothing beats the howls of pure agony Mavis mustered in her illusion of Magnolia burning. Zeref watched the horror on the dark guild master's face, but his gaze fell on the blank cruel mask Mavis mustered upon herself. Zeref narrowed his eyes, there's the Mavis I despised. Mavis's true face – the one with disregard of life that merely looked at everything in the world as something to study – to dissect. There was really no wonder why her curse took years for it to trigger, only once he had pointed it out to her that she lacked the appreciation of life.
Zeref's interest perked up as Mavis demanded the whereabouts of Zera to the guild master as the illusion ended once the cage trapped him.
The masked man sneered at her, "She's as good as dead like the lot of you for ever going against Blue Skull."
Mavis glared at the man with all the hate she can muster, "She better not be for your sake."
"Tell me, dear Mavis, what do you intend to do with him?" Zeref asked walking in view of the girl and master.
Mavis blushed slightly before she hid behind a confused look, "W—what?"
Zeref smirked, "You'd heard me. You have the means and the power. If you want results you must do what is needed."
Mavis hesitated, "There isn't any evidence yet of Zera being taken."
Zeref peered at the master, "Tell me, what do you have in your coat pocket?"
Fumingly the master reached through his pockets, pulling out a red ribbon. Zeref's eyes twinkled red as Mavis quivered in emotion.
Mavis stepped closer to the cage, her hands shook and she glared at the man with tears in her eyes, "Zera was the last person I had from my island, the one that your guild slaughtered my people – and now she was taken from me from the same people…"
Zeref silenced the man's attempts to speak, Mavis didn't notice the magic binding the man's voice since her emotions drove her too far away from reality.
Mavis screams, glaring at the man with such hate, "You shall have the same fate as my people." The man gasped as his body was engulfed by flames, the pain sheered his insides, his voice was returned to only bellow a tortured howl as his body succumbed to the pain. Zeref smirked slightly as the fire illusion faded – the power her illusion held to create a subconscious trigger of the pain receptors was marvelous.
Zeref patted Mavis's back, grabbing the red ribbon from the air as the wind carried it. Mavis cried turning around embracing Zeref for comfort. "Now, now my dear Mavis. Your heart can now rest easy for your nightmare has finally ended."
"I j—just wish it c—could have ended sooner." Mavis sobbed into his chest.
Zeref stroked her hair leaning his chin on top of her head, "Nevertheless, your future looks much brighter."
"You really think so?" Mavis whispered.
Zeref's eyes grew blood red staring at the corpse before them, "Oh yes, a brighter future for everyone. Now come along, there is a city we need to liberate."
Mavis nodded as she let go of her embrace and followed him towards Magnolia. Mavis gazed at the city, a sense of longing consumed her – maybe she can start her life over within the city… make it her new home. Mavis froze hearing a vicious roar erupting from the city just as the Cathedral came crumbling down as the skeleton of Blue Skull's dragon became alive.
"What's happening?" Mavis gasped running down the hills to reach the city.
"It appears dark magic brought life to the skeleton. I am uncertain on what can create such a massive take over." Zeref responded.
"Take over…" Mavis mused; her eyes widen as they came into the clearing seeing Precht unconscious. "Precht!" Mavis slid on the ground putting her arms underneath Precht's head to elevate him in attempts to wake him.
Zeref hummed transporting himself away from them to study the changes of events, disregarding the panicked expression of Mavis. This is where she was cursed, and he decided Mavis deserved to live a long life of misery rather being fortunate to escape an immortal life. Come now Mavis sacrifice your future for your friend. Zeref watched intrigued, seeing her small figure jump on the back of the skeleton dragon. The roar of the creature drowned all other sounds as it rampaged through the city. All the townspeople watched frozen as the little blonde girl was launched through the air drawing near the creature's sharp teeth. Mavis glowed in a bright gold color as she cast her Fairy Law spell, illuminating everything into a pure gold. There were a few moments of complete deafening silence as the gold color devoured everything.
Colors reverted back to their norm as everyone's eyes readjusted to the absence of the golden light, the skeleton dragon was gone, leaving the city a silent ruin. Zeref smirked slightly reverting in the shadows, allowing history to repeat itself. He was already successful in showing her what she truly was, a person that would do anything to gain comfort through a world that is full of hardships. She cannot hide behind that fake innocence and he hopes she can finally be true to herself. He despised the hypocrisy Mavis had bestowed on herself, how she cared more about life then he did – but that was far from the truth. He was the one that killed everything, for he appreciates life, Mavis had the curse for years without incident. Even in the old world she disregarded August as her child and more as an advantage over Zeref. Zeref didn't think of August that way and he was relieved that the curse didn't take over him during that moment.
Zeref pushed away the images of August's demise, he didn't want to think of the old world – with this new history August would surely live the life he was supposed to. Zeref was just counting down the days until the moment he can conceive August within Mavis. The Black Wizard gazed towards the city You will appreciate our son's life Mavis, I will make sure of it.
Zeref's eyes gleamed red at the thought of Mavis enduring the truth of the old world. What should I do with you Mavis? Should I torture you with the knowledge of the old world? Or should I take advantage of your ignorance and take everything that resembles you until you cannot even recognize yourself?
He gazed up at the sky, allowing the malice feelings wash over him, he had years to manipulate until August's scheduled conceiving. And what better way to pass the time than molding a world that worshiped him?
Zeref can't decide which fate he considers to be the most appropriate form of punishment – maybe you lovely readers can decide on which fate you think will be more interesting to read. Mavis learns about the old world? Or Zeref manipulates her to become something that takes away her very being? You decide in a poll in the reviews below!
Plus, I would love to thank all the people who favorited and followed this story so far:
Rileyty, desropter, and cxmgamingKR2.
As always thank you for the reviews cxmgamingKR2 and Guest8383839 I hope this chapter also was to your expectations and you enjoyed it just as much as the first chapter!