Chapter 12 Dragon Festival
It's been years since the two immortals went their separate ways. Mages learned from the immortals of spells and techniques to strengthen their abilities – however, the Black Wizard had knowledge of multiple types of magic that could benefit different types of mages. The Fairy Technician only had knowledge of magic that he taught her; others were mere speculation that she read from books. Zeref smirked as he watched his special unit train among themselves. The possibilities were endless on the conquering they can do once Acnologia was dealt with. Zeref wanted to take away everything Mavis had left, her guild and country after everything she tried to take from him. He will be rid of her once and for all, even if he couldn't kill her, he would find any means to never see her ever again.
"Still fantasizing on killing her?" A sarcastic voice drew his gaze towards the owner.
Zeref frowns as the teenager leaned onto the wall next to him, he felt unnerved by how his son seemed to grow so fast. August had lost his mother's bright blonde hair as it grew slightly darker to a dirty blonde. Zeref felt pain within him noticing his son was slightly taller than him and August's features were matching his own, devastating him even more with the reminder that immortality still plagued him. August was fourteen years old, turning into a man and yet Zeref was bothered by how little time he had left before August would surpass him in appearance age.
"Of course." Zeref remarked noticing August sigh, pushing off from the wall.
"Why couldn't you love her, all of this wouldn't be happening if you gave her what she wanted." August responded.
Zeref narrowed his eyes, "You know very well why I do not love her. And if I had, what's to say anything would change? You know that fate, and if things did change you would be an orphan and the world would be destroyed by Acnologia, is that what you want? Be alone while you face the apocalypse?"
August rolled his eyes, "Why do you always look at everything so negatively." August knew why, he understood Zeref's concerns especially since the world had always been against him. But he wished his father would start looking at the positive and wonderful things he was given to him despite the darkness that followed.
"What do you expect from a man that had seen greatness become nothing but rubble just from time?" Zeref mused, but he understood what he was saying and sighed, "Only positive thing that happened to me was having you."
August smiled sadly, "I'm sorry."
Zeref frowns, "What is there to be sorry about?"
"I see the way you look at me, I'm sorry I'm growing up." August responded.
Zeref sighs knowing his son's keen senses within him, "Please, I like my privacy."
August smirked, "Sorry I can't help it."
"Once Acnologia is dealt with, my search will continue." Zeref responded gripping onto his son's shoulder reassuringly.
"You think she would want to be mortal?" August asked staring at his father's unit.
Zeref studied his son, not surprised by his question, "Perhaps." He knew Mavis despised the curse, but power changes people. He seen how her eyes gazed at him when she attempted to snuff him out – the excitement as if she relished the hold she had on him.
August stared off, "I'm going to end this war."
"I never meant for a war. It was supposed to be a one-sided assault against Acnologia, Mavis is unpredictable on motives for the world's future." Zeref remarked.
August shook his head, "You think too negatively of her… I'm sure she wouldn't allow the world to be destroyed."
Zeref narrowed his eyes in thought I won't allow her to make that choice if it comes to it.
"Any chance you know where Acnologia is?" August asked noticing the scowl on his father's face.
"I know where his favorite hiding places are." Zeref remarked sarcastically, over the centuries he had the arrogance to taunt the dragon of his inability to kill him, but after seeing the destruction Acnologia was capable of, he didn't want to risk being the sole living creature with that beast.
"I'm nervous…" August mumbled, gazing away from Zeref's eyes seeing the way his father seemed to glare off into his mind.
Zeref's eyes soften, the scared little boy was still underneath his son's façade of being fearless. Zeref clutched his shoulder, gazing at him in the eyes, "As am I, but we'd been preparing for years – I will not allow this world to die."
August's face faltered into a sad smile, "I'm worried you are going to be all alone again… I don't want you to go back to that state." The memory of the depression and self-loathing reminded August that his father cannot endure that again, Zeref's mind was clearer than it had been in centuries and he can't allow his father to fall into that. August was desperate to find a cure for his father, so he will not have to be alone in his immortality – he can't imagine what his father's state of mind would be if August grew old – but he can see it, deep within his father's eyes the sorrow even when he looks at him now as a teen. The reality of immortality taking everything a person cares about was becoming too real as Zeref watched others grow around him.
Zeref smirked slightly, "I've endured this before, I can again."
August wanted to argue, to make him aware that he was different now, that he found something to live for…but he knew Zeref was stubborn and didn't want to show him his vulnerable side – his father was determined to protect him from his mistakes.
Zeref smirked slightly patting his son's back, "Come along, back to your training we have a big day approaching."
It's been nine long years… Mavis's blank green eyes stared down at the boosting Fairy Tail guild, the younger generation was eager to fight to determine their power amongst new mages. Her eyes fell on a teenage Makarov. Ironically in this world his name was the same, for Yuri thought to remember her by a fairy book that they found back on Tenrou Island that was worn for overuse.
Since the day she had arrived she had been busy analyzing the different magic users within the guild that may give herself advantage over anything Zeref may throw her way. If he had similar magic wielders as he did back in the other world's war than she may have an advantage with the batch of wizards within this Fairy Tail opposed to the other.
Precht watched Mavis intently, seeing how her eyes calculated over the members below them like they had all those years ago in the Trade Wars… it unsettled him how she viewed his members as strategic plays then actual people. He didn't want to justify her view with her experience with Zeref for she had this detached view of the world ever since her imaginary friend, Zera, disappeared.
The three founders gazed at each other, Mavis had told Warrod and Yuri of her experience and much to Precht's surprise he noticed the way she described the Black Wizard was intensely visual to strike horror with the other two men. Yuri especially was fuming of the injustice she had endured and was working extra hard with his son to be the first one to sucker punch their former teacher.
However, like Precht, Warrod noticed Mavis's detachment from the world and he wasn't sure if it was the abuse she had endured with Zeref or if her experiences with the Black Wizard morphed her into something that was alien to them.
Deep within her she could sense something separate but also connected to her, it was faint but strong with emotion that slightly brushed her, it was a bright presence. Mavis wasn't completely sure what is was, but a part of her felt it was her son checking up on her. Mavis focused on that presence sensing how it pulsed happily at her opening up her defenses.
Mavis evaluated the scrambled emotions, the worry and nervousness with an image of a black dragon… "He's going to Acnologia…" Mavis remarked staring off blankly.
"The dragon?" Precht asked in shocked, but Mavis didn't notice the nervousness of her comrades, she was too engrossed in her own mind. It seems like dealing with Acnologia is one of his main desires. Mavis mused frowning, she had hoped Zeref would be focusing on their reunion but instead he has been spending years of his time to prepare for Acnologia instead.
"We should counter him before he reaches the dragon." Precht responded, fearing the Black Wizard was attempting an alliance with the Black Dragon.
Mavis's snapped out of her daze smiling, "I agree with Precht. Facing both of them at the same time would be devastating."
"What do you suggest?" Yuri asked gazing at his friends hiding the fear for this man had taught them powerful magic and they are going against him and a dragon.
Mavis hums, "Zeref might not align himself with Acnologia, like humans, he fears him and may want to strike him down before he moves onto the rest of the world."
Precht gazed at her, "Are you sure?"
Mavis smiled remembered the underlining fear in his voice when he spoke of the dragon, "Zeref wants to be seen as the most powerful thing, he doesn't like to be seen as vulnerable, Acnologia rivals him."
"Mavis, I don't think we should just go on a limb and go in search for Zeref." Precht caught up to her as she was descending to the guild's basement.
"Why not? The world would be a better place if we get rid of both apocalypses." Mavis responded causally gazing between the different books on the shelves.
Precht watched her carefully, "I understand that. But years of training isn't going to be enough. The guild isn't ready for your vendetta –."
Mavis's blank gaze pierced his, "I thought you were on my side."
"Of course, I am, but I'm not putting this guild at risk. You understand that don't you?" Precht stared at her, he jumped back as a flicker of movement went straight towards him. "What are you doing?!"
Mavis smirked behind an illusion of Precht, "If I can't rely on you, I will have to rely on myself."
Zeref's red eyes scan the dark cave, bones crunch underneath his boots from the ignorant mortals that had fantasies to slay dragons. Zeref smirked as he heard a menacing hiss as he neared, "Ah Acnologia, still hiding in the shadows?"
The black dragon raised his head higher glaring down at the immortal, "Here to mock me again Black Wizard?"
Zeref smirked further, "I never intend for that, I just wanted to see how the world was treating my oldest acquaintance."
The dragon hissed a laugh, "Acquaintance you say?"
Zeref shrugs, "What can I say? My village was burned down by dragons, and you beat me to slaughtering the rest of the dragons."
The dragon's chest rumbled as he mulled over the immortal's words. "What do you want?"
Zeref sneers at the dragon, he was appeased that Acnologia from the past wasn't keen on risking his life on challenging who's more powerful. The dragon would only show his face if he felt Zeref's own magic urge through the atmosphere spiking his interest. Zeref could think of handful occasions when his magic urged or faltered drawing Acnologia to Tenrou Island, Tartaros, and the final war back in the old world.
"Salvation, we are one of the oldest creatures on this land and we are rendered to mere myths. The horrid deeds we had done had become stories; mere mortals are rebelling against me. They are too arrogant for their own good."
Acnologia exhaled smoke fumed onto the cave's roof, "I don't see the means of being involved with insects."
Zeref shrugged, "I thought the same until they challenged my power, I wouldn't be surprised if they only saw you as an overgrown lizard."
The Black Dragon snarled by the comment. Zeref smirked at him, "Fiore boasts about their powerful mages, I would rather make the centuries interesting rather than let it pass me like a haze."
August followed Zeref to the dragon's lair, his feet stopped at the entrance of the menacing cave. The dragon's roar shook the ground underneath his feet. August shook away the old memories of Acnologia – the dark winged beast with blue symbols spiraling around his body. The teen can feel the raising magic seeping through the ground, its power was horrifying, and it made dread shiver down his spine. He wasn't ready for this, he knew he lacked the experience he once had, and he didn't want to dwell on his older self's experience. But his father was set on getting rid of everything that was ailing him before he could move on.
August cut off his parent's presence within him – he felt sick, his parent's magic was suffocating him if he dwelled too much within himself. August hoped there would be some light at the end of this, rather it resulting to chaos like the old world.
He wanted something better in life for himself and for his parents, to at least be given something to look forward to rather staggering along. His father stated this world was his own, yet Zeref seems to be taking risks to set in motion to his ideal world without anyone that would stand in his way.
"Are you ready for our little family reunion?!" A ghostly image of Mavis smiled up to him.
August narrowed his eyes, she always seems to pop up on him when he thought of his future, "Why would I? It won't be anything near remotely happy."
"Aw August, don't be so negative." Mavis pouted.
August glared at her, "I am sick and tired of all of your bullshit mother. Why can't you see that he hates you? Acting like you are better than him because you learned how to love doesn't make it so. You are trying so hard to look like the victim, but you have darkness within yourself. Yes, maybe he put that stain, but you allowed it to grow, you became something else entirely."
Mavis gasped staring down at her feet, tears in her eyes, "Why are you so mean?!" Mavis screamed angrily.
August jumped back as a bright chain swung at him, stood before him was his mother shaking with crazed eyes and a glaring tall Precht. August could sense the illusion, but his mother was able to make the presence feel real. August scowled at her, "I'm just trying to open your eyes on what you are doing! You are so determined to prove to him of your love that you would sacrifice this world's chance to be safe from Acnologia."
"I just want to make it up to him –."
"It doesn't matter, he made it clear he doesn't want to die." August narrowed his eyes, "So chill out." August opened his hand ice cold magic enveloped around Mavis's illusion.
Mavis's eyes widen seeing the illusion of Precht disappear, she felt her mind slowly become empty, her thoughts would slip from her like an ocean current. She couldn't move her physical or illusion body, it was like the ice magic was able to take over the connection.
August smirked slightly at the success of mastering the Ice Slave magic, "I've been practicing my magic over the years as well, I didn't want to sit back and watch my whole life be determined for me." Mavis stared at him; her thoughts slipped through her mind before she was able to conjure them. She was shocked her son was powerful enough to imprison her with ease.
August sighs, "This will be the best outcome. You will not hurt dad, and he will not bury you at sea. With the help of your guild the fight against Acnologia will be shorter."
Mavis stared at him, she miscalculated, she didn't anticipate August to be a devastating factor. August gazed into the cave hearing the dragon roar, "Bring your guild, the time has come to break this cycle of misery." Mavis felt her body move by his command, putting her hand in his deck of cards. She was in a game where she had no control of her pieces.
"I hope you can snap out of your crazed state, I wish to get to know you. Perhaps having you like this can draw you out from the craze and realize that dad doesn't see his curse as much as a burden as he used to." August spoke to her, he turned to her slightly, she noticed there were unshed tears in his eyes.
"I have to say, I am impressed." Zeref came out of the darkness of the cave his dark eyes smirked at the pair.
August scuffed gazing away. Zeref walked towards Mavis he put his hand underneath her chin to have her look up at him, "Your magic even linked her illusion to her body…" Zeref sneers at the girl, "It seems you miscalculated Mavis, you thought I was ignorant of your attempts to make yourself an army to destroy what I've built. I was aiming to destroy you with Acnologia, but it seems our son found a more touching approach for you."
Mavis couldn't move on her own, her illusion was forced to stare at Zeref – feeling his cold touch upon her, while her body assembled her guild to move out on August's command.
He grinned more, "The tide has changed. You thought you had control of my fate for your little surprise over me, but my dear Mavis, I always had control over your fate. And I need to remind you of that." His eyes grew red as the earth rumbled with a fierce roar; blue fire erupted from the cracks illuminating everything around them in an eerie deathly glow.
We are close to the conclusion... Let me know what you all think!
As always a huge thank you to Guest8383839 for sticking with this story from the beginning and leaving amazing reviews! Also thank you to everyone who has Favorite and Followed and reviewed in past chapters.