Disclaimer: I am not the owner of Fairy Tail

Levy woke up, finding herself staring up at a ceiling, and not in the streets of Vistarion as she remembered being. She frowned for a moment, gazing at it. Had she passed out? She'd been out with August and then she'd found him. Her eyes shut again, squeezing tightly as she wrapped her arms around her waist. After a moment, she rolled to her side, curling and taking in a deep breath. When her eyes opened again, she could at least tell that she was back in her room. August must have brought her back, but had he seen what she'd found?

Either way, everything seemed far more real than it had before. Before there'd been a chance of having hope. There had been the possibility that Zeref had recovered, just as she and August had. Yet now that was not the case. Now, she'd seen his body. No matter how much she wanted to insist she was wrong, that somehow, that had been Edolas' Zeref, she had to face and accept reality. Her heart pounded, and her chest ached with the thought. There was a pressure building up in her throat, choking her as she felt tears start falling again.

As much as she knew she needed to, Levy didn't want to get up. Getting up would mean facing Invel, and likely being forced to accelerate everything she'd been learning. It would mean facing August, and asking him if he had come to the same answer as her. It would mean likely seeing Brandish, who'd been away yesterday, and having to explain everything all over again. She just didn't want to face all of that, not now. So, she remained, just crying silently to herself, curled into a ball on the bed.

A faint knock came, after a while. Levy sniffled, rubbing at her eyes and sitting up. Her gaze locked on the door, seeing it open slowly after the warning. "Levy?" August stood there, dressed in the same robes as yesterday. His usual calm demeanor seemed…off, somehow. There was a frown on his face, which wasn't that unusual, but he also didn't seem to be carrying himself quite the same. Rather than standing tall and commanding the room, he just seemed to lack energy. His eyes were dim, and he had a redness in his eyes that was not typical of the elderly man.

Swallowing, Levy nodded and stared down at her lap. "Did you see him too?" Maybe it had been a dream. That was possible, right?

Slowly, August nodded. "I did." He paused, staring at her. "He…I did not know, if you were serious in mentioning it before. Insisting on him coming back…" He trailed off, running a hand through his hair. "Perhaps I misinterpreted, but I was of the impression that you'd…wish to learn as he had." Even he wouldn't quite speak of what it meant. Levy knew that black magic was a dangerous subject in general. There were good reasons for it being banned, and likely, it would be practically impossible to pull off. Yet recalling that drive from before, it felt a little bit easier to breath. It wasn't exactly impossible, just challenging to manage. "He has been preserved, in the vault. Most magical artifacts that are considered dangerous to the public are stored there…" He trailed off, shaking his head.

Reaching over, Levy patted the bed next to her. August moved, sitting down by her side and hanging his head. "I don't know how long it'll take me to learn." The man didn't respond, but Levy took a deep breath. "There'll be so much more to take care of for me right now too…Alvarez…you were right. We needed a plan for his replacement in mind, and I need to be prepared to work as he did." But she couldn't just let go of him, either. Now that August had brought it up, Levy could easily see the appeal. Zeref had never spoken to her of living magic, though she'd also never asked. Beyond instructing her on the activation of the R-System, she knew nothing. Likely, the constructs to other forms of resurrection were similar, but the rune work of the activation alone was complicated and far beyond the level of instruction Zeref had given her thus far. She'd had to deal with being ignorant of some of how the spell worked when casting it, though she'd been capable of managing even with her ignorance at the time.

"I see." August's shoulders had slumped further. "Then…we should start planning…a memoir. Or…a public ceremony, honoring his work. The burial…the people would wish to be present. To see it. Or perhaps a cremation is more typical…" He trailed off, his head falling into his hands. August was trying to speak logically about it. Yet, his voice kept breaking with each theory.

"No." August turned towards her, and Levy took a deep breath. "Just because I'll be busy doesn't mean I'm giving up." She met his gaze, sitting up taller. "No one has seen him but us, August. Just like when we returned from Edolas…no one but us knows." Something seemed to flicker in his dark gaze. His eyes, they were so much like Zeref's. It was likely the one trait that reminded her that this was indeed Zeref's son. "Let's keep it that way. The two of us, we will find his old research, somewhere. It has to exist, right? People don't just make up entire branches of magic without notes and research." She inhaled, taking a deep breath. "I won't lose him, not when he was finally experiencing the life he wanted. No matter what it takes, I will bring him back."

Slowly, the hint of a smile seemed to flicker on August's face. "You are serious about this?" She nodded, and the smile widened. He let out a long breath, reaching out towards her and patting her shoulder. "This…I will not forget this, Levy. Going to such lengths…your care for him is admirable, and your loyalty even more so. I will do everything in my power to help. My father was not yet done, living his life, and he had found his reason to live. Without him…without him, my own existence seems meaningless as well, but now, I indeed have a purpose." He squeezed her shoulder, and Levy smiled. Her cheeks were wet again. Had she started crying again already? Yet, August made no comment. "Though, perhaps there is one spell already prepared that could be of use." She frowned, seeing him tilt his head. "His majesty's plans for Neo Eclipse. They exist within Vistarion, and are easy to locate. Granted, it is not resurrection—"

"I have no intentions of stealing from my old guild, August." The man nodded, not pushing the matter. Levy sighed, pressing a hand to her head and closing her eyes. "We can start near Mildia, where we hatched the egg. There has to be something there. Zeref mentioned a school nearby, and he even brought me there to grab some of his old notes on the R-System"

"Then we have a place to begin our search for the notes on living magic, it seems." She nodded. Taking a deep breath, she pulled back and closed her eyes. "And in the meantime…I'd suggest preparing yourself for the announcement. I've informed Invel of your decision, and he wishes to speak with you further on what this will fully entail. Brandish has returned, and he has informed her on at least the basics of what has happened recently. She seemed upset, to cancel your shopping plans. Apparently, she had recently hired two assistants that she was going to test along with you during the trip."

"Somehow, that doesn't surprise me." Levy found herself actually managing to smile, shaking her head. "She didn't really seem like the sort to want to work much herself if she could avoid it. Do the assistants realize what they're getting into already?"

"I'm not entirely certain. She had returned while we were out, and as such, they were not with her when we spoke this morning." What time even was it? Levy supposed it should matter, but she figured she'd find out eventually. Instead of worrying, she got up, realizing she was still in her white shirt and shorts from yesterday. Since she had no plans of leaving the castle this time, she figured it wouldn't matter to the others if she just stayed in it for now. She was hungry, and had likely stayed hidden away in her room long enough. It was time to start moving forward; she had a plan in mind, and Zeref would not be gone for long, not if she had anything to say about it.

"Are they staying here then?" Invel had mentioned maintenance at some point. She had been curious and asked about it, seeing how none of the books in the library ever developed dust from lack of use. The servants apparently had their own living quarters, and had minimal permissions to enter rooms throughout the castle. For ones that were recently hired, they were probably only allowed to go to their rooms and the dining area.

August nodded. "We may even run into them as we eat." He paused, tilting his head. "In fact, I think it would be best to do so. Brandish means well, but she rarely realizes the potential risks of hiring an untrustworthy individual. She'd rather impulsively hire someone and punish them later for refusing to obey orders, rather than take the appropriate measures before hand to ensure they have no ill intentions towards others here."

She nodded. Honestly, she was curious who it was too. They likely thought it was an honor, working for one of the Spriggan Twelve. Brandish probably didn't even have to search hard to find someone willing to take the job. The poor people they found would be in for a surprise, when they learned just how much she'd have them deal with for her.

They walked into the dining area together, sitting down at the table. She looked up, and blinked in surprise at who was there. "Jellal?"

The blue haired man stilled, his eyes widening at her. By her side, August frowned, gazing at the man. "Are…I thought you had left Alvarez, after the peace talks. Were you unsatisfied with the terms we had agreed upon?"

Jellal set his silverware down, shaking his head. "I…sorry, I did not expect to run into anyone familiar here, except perhaps Zer— I mean, Emperor Spriggan." Levy frowned, watching as he smiled. "To avoid confusion, it may be best to call me Mystogan again for a while. I don't know how easy it will be to find a way back, without the Animas constantly connecting our worlds at uneven intervals."

Mystogan? But he was supposed to be in Edolas. Levy stared at him, before slowly sitting down across from the man at the table. "How did you even get here?"

August was quiet, his brow furrowed as he glanced between them. Yet, Mystogan was frowning, leaning forward. "I'm not entirely certain. Mavis had escaped from her imprisonment, and we were attempting to recapture her. I had tracked her to an abandoned guild hall near Extalia, but then she seemed to just vanish in thin air. There was no warning, or sign of magic being used; it was almost as if a wizard from your world had cast a spell to teleport her away. I followed, to try and determine what had happened, asking my companions to stay back, only to find myself torn away as well."

Something like that happened in Edolas? Levy frowned, glancing towards August. Yet, the elderly man raised his eyebrows at her. "Unlike you, I haven't the faintest idea of the meaning of the name Mystogan. I do not believe I have met this man before, if he is not the Jellal we spoke to earlier. I had not realized that Jellal had a twin, actually."

"He doesn't." Levy sighed, glancing over at Mystogan. She really didn't want to get into the whole confusing Siegrain/Jellal story, so this would be the simpler answer to give. "That's Edolas' Jellal."

"And we have met, once before actually. Though, you might not remember me." Mystogan smiled faintly. "I had come here to request permission to use magic in Alvarez without joining a guild. I believe you were present when I met with your emperor."

August blinked, before slowly nodding. "Ah, so that is why you seemed so…different, during the negotiations. I had been tempted to ask about what had changed, but decided it was best to leave it be."

"It can be quite confusing. Both previously and now again, I find myself in need of a name other than my own to avoid worsening the situation."

August nodded, still frowning. "And you arrived here, from a world with no magic, seemingly by magic from this world?"

"That is how it appeared, yes, though I am not certain. When…I'm sorry, but is it more proper to call him Emperor Spriggan or Zeref here? He introduced himself to me as Zeref, and habits of my world still have me referring to him as such."

"Either is fine." August still seemed to be waiting, though he did tense every time Zeref was mentioned. Levy couldn't help but react as well, feeling her chest ache when his name was mentioned. Still, she just had to focus on bringing him back. That would keep her capable of staying focused and avoiding distractions.

Nodding, Mystogan continued. "Well, when Zeref arrived in my world, he suggested that magic was returning to Edolas. I haven't the faintest idea of what gave him such an impression, but given his identity and reputation from this world…I am inclined to believe he was correct, somehow."

"The likelihood of his theory connecting to your appearance here is rather slim." August leaned back in his seat. "You would have had to located a point the size of the tip of a needle, and traveled directly to it, for it to even be remotely possible. Even if you had…" August frowned, his brow furrowing. "No, I do not believe you would have arrived here. Rather, you would have been lost entirely, to a world none of us know a thing about."

"A…you know what he believes is bringing magic into Edolas?" August nodded. Mystogan hesitated, glancing between them. "Would you consider determining a way to stop it? Our world has suffered enough from magic. While Alvarez - Alvarez in my world, that is - disagrees, I cannot say that it would not bring back old conflicts if the public heard of what was happening."

Turning towards Levy, August seemed to hesitate. He was quiet, and she slowly shook her head. As much as she wanted to help, she couldn't. From what little she knew of Neo Eclipse, it had required both the time rift and Fairy Heart. Levy had no intentions of using it; she'd lectured Zeref enough times, explaining why it was better to look towards the future, and forget about changing his past. It was how she planned to get through this herself. Yet, if she couldn't figure out resurrection, if she couldn't learn Zeref's living magic…would she be willing to completely disregard that chance? Right now, she…she just couldn't let go of it, not completely. Unlike Zeref, she wouldn't be unraveling centuries of time to fix this, right? So, it wouldn't be as bad. It'd just be a few weeks, a month at most.

Then, she shook her head again, glaring at the table. What was she even thinking? It was that sort of logic that likely led Zeref into thinking it wouldn't be so terrible. He'd gradually let himself be talked into using it, until he wasn't able to resist the temptation of his own knowledge. "I…" She should say to get rid of it, so Neo Eclipse wasn't an option. She should. She absolutely needed to do so. Yet…"I'm sorry. But, I don't think I can agree to that right now."

August watched her, letting out a slow breath. The elderly man nodded, giving her a small smile. Reaching over, he squeezed her arm, and she smiled back at him. Then, he turned back to Mystogan, who was watching the two of them with a frown. "Why not? Levy, you and I were once comrades, fighting for Fairy Tail, side by side. I'm asking you, as your friend, to please, consider helping me with this."

"We never spoke before, Mystogan." She was quiet, and he opened his mouth, likely to object. However, she only shook her head. "I never blamed you for it, nor was I angry…but every time you came to the guild, everyone was put to sleep. None of us saw your face until we ended up in Edolas, none of us other than Master Makarov. You were powerful, and you were a mystery, but that's all you ever were. I would have fought to protect you, sure, but I didn't know you well enough to ever consider you a friend."

"Levy…" The man sighed, rubbing the back of his head. "I suppose you do have a point." The door to the dining hall opened again, and someone else came to join them. Levy stiffened, seeing familiar blond hair flashing and taking a seat at the table. "Mavis. Didn't we agree to eat together at noon?"

The girl shrugged. "Sorry, but you're not my boss at all. That would happen to be Brandish at the moment." Her gaze flickered over, blinking at Levy. "Uh…hi?" She waved, before sitting down. "Who are you two? Friends of Jellal's?"

"He appears to prefer Mystogan at the moment." August spoke, glancing between them with narrowed eyes. "And I suggest you find a similar alias, Mavis."

"Oh, so he told you." The girl sighed, shaking her head. "Well, that makes things easier then." Her smile vanished, and she settled for glaring at Levy. "I don't have to pretend like this idiot and her boyfriend didn't go and destroy all of my work, now."

Levy closed her hands into fists. "We destroyed nothing."

"You did try to steal the magic that I worked so hard to conserve. Do you have any idea how difficult it is to resist the pull of an anima?" Levy shook her head, and Mavis snorted. "Well, either way, it's all in the past now. I'm not giving up yet, but sadly, this whole situation is sorta putting a delay on things."

"August." Levy spoke, sitting stiffly at the table. "Mystogan can be trusted to some extent, but she cannot be." The elderly man looked towards her, nodding.

"Oh? You think this old man is going to do something to stop me?"

Meeting her gaze, Levy nodded. "You'll let him, too."

"And why would I do that?"

"What name did I just call him?" She blinked at Levy, before slowly turning to gaze at the man by her side. Her eyes were wide, not looking away for a moment, and filled with uncertainty and disbelief. "This world is not like yours. You know what fate your other self currently faces and you should know that you have no power to stand in our way, not here. Alvarez isn't under your leadership in this world."

"It's under Zeref's." She met Levy's gaze, smiling slightly and taking a deep breath. "And that August, he isn't the August I know, so…you've got nothing on me at all, really. No power, no authority, no real backing to any sort of threat you have to give."

"And that is where you are wrong." Another voice spoke, and Levy looked up to see Invel entering as well. "Good afternoon, your majesty. I thought it may be best to leave you to your rest, after August spoke with me concerning your exhaustion." His gaze flickered towards the girl, who stared at him with wide eyes. Meanwhile, Levy stiffened, hearing the title already being used to address her.

"Invel?"

He nodded, adjusting his glasses. "Indeed. And you appear to have been giving a threat to our empress. Such actions are not tolerated, regardless of who you are." With a wave of his hand, a collar of ice seemed to appear around her neck. Mavis' hands lifted towards it immediately, before something changed. Her eyes glazed over, and her hands dropped obediently to her sides. "That should keep her compliant and easy to deal with."

Mystogan stared between them, his eyes widening in shock. "Empress? But you mentioned war, and you're from Fairy Tail too…"

She nodded. "It's a long story." She didn't have time to get into it right now. Turning towards Invel, she inhaled deeply. "Take her to the holding cells in town. She is likely to make an attempt to escape, so I want her well-secured as well. This girl comes from a world without magic, so her attempts will be unique, to say the least."

"I will pass your warning along to those who will hold her." He paused, glancing around the room. "When I return, we will need to discuss the details of announcing your coronation, and how to make such an announcement without inciting unwarranted unrest, due to fear of his majesty's condition."

She nodded, and Invel took off, bringing Mavis with him. Already, she was having to sentence people to prison and punish them for crimes, and she hadn't even begun the job itself. "Did you end up marrying Zeref?" Mystogan was at least familiar enough with his reputation in this world to be shocked with that.

"That isn't something to talk about right now." There was no telling what story Invel would want to spin, so she needed to keep options open. After all, the way to keep people calm about her coronation would be to claim she'd become family to the emperor, and gained the title through that.

Mystogan watched her, his gaze flickering towards August on occasion as well. "I…I'm sorry, but I'm still having difficulty following everything that is going on. Have I missed something that large since you left Edolas? Last I heard, Alvarez and Fairy Tail were at war. You were still a member of the guild, and for the most part, the guild itself remained unchanged, though Natsu and Lucy did mention disbanding for a year."

"I'm leaving Fairy Tail and staying here." She shrugged. "There isn't much more to explain, really. The war ended, and the guild is back to normal"

"And August? I'd questioned his age in Edolas before, but was unable to find answers."

"My parents had attained a form of immortality, through magic." August looked away, closing his eyes. "The price of such a thing is not worth it, however."

"And Mavis in this world? Where is she? Where is Zeref even? I had hoped that he might be able to return us swiftly, given were we arrived."

"If you wish to return, I would be capable of such a thing…"

"Not now." Levy frowned, staring at the table. Mavis was here and the Legions in town were too. But, the marking hadn't been there. Considering everything that had happened, Levy found herself piecing together something of what may have happened to her Zeref. Mavis was angry, very angry for what had happened in Edolas concerning Edo-Zeref. She likely knew that they had switched places once more, and that Zeref's agreement with her had been broken yet again. "If we return him, we have to return Mavis and I…" She trailed off. She wanted to do what? Get revenge? Seek justice? She didn't even know. As angry as she knew she should be with the girl, Levy still just felt tired. She just wanted him back, nothing more. Maybe she had her own research Levy could look at. She could play this game, just like Zeref did. Offer to return both Zerefs to life, in return for her knowledge.

"You need Mavis? What for?" Mystogan asked.

Levy shook her head, staring at the table in silence. She couldn't say; it was vital that none of the Twelve learned that Zeref was definitely dead. Otherwise, they wouldn't be able to calmly deceive the public as they'd need to. It felt wrong and deceptive, but it was what was necessary, to avoid civil war given the history of this continent.

Seeing her reaction, August slowly nodded. "That matter is confidential, to say the least. For now, I'd advise asking about a different subject."

"You didn't respond to all of my previous questions yet anyway."

Nodding, Levy met his gaze with a deep breath. "In this world, Mavis was Fairy Tail's founder. You probably hadn't heard much about it yet, before you left. We didn't really start focusing a lot on her until the S-Class wizard trials, after you returned home. There, we sorta encountered someone from her past, and a huge disaster happened and, well, it's a long story, but Mavis is sorta only visible to members of Fairy Tail, and also sorta dead."

"I thought you said she was immortal, or is she not your mother in this world?"

August hesitated, but slowly nodded. "She is, on both accounts. However, she is unaware of that fact, as are the rest of the people here, beyond Levy." Mystogan nodded, turning towards Levy again. "Yet…that immortality still remains, which is why she is not entirely dead. It is a complex magic, one which could not truly be explained well, even to someone of this world."

"So, where does that leave us then? I need to return to Edolas, as their king. Yet you…you seem insistent on not letting that happen."

Levy closed her hands into fists, staring at the table. "Mystogan, I will return you, just not yet. I need something from Mavis, and I can't get that, if we're forced to send you two back to Edolas."

"Then perhaps Fairy Tail will help me where you will not." Levy looked up at him, watching as Mystogan rose to his feet. "I had thought that time would not erode away the bonds we once shared as comrades, even if we were never close. It seems as if perhaps I was wrong to feel that way. Perhaps I was wrong that you valued such bonds at all, like the rest of the guild." Something stabbed at her, harshly. She watched Mystogan leave in silence, before slowly hanging her head. He'd likely make his way to the guild just fine. It wasn't like he hadn't wandered this world before, after suddenly being thrown into it from Edolas. Yet, had she really abandoned her old friends entirely? She was staying to help Alvarez, but she was leaving so many others behind.

August reached over, giving her a brief hug before sighing and pulling away. "You do value your comrades Levy. This is simply because you were unable to explain why." She nodded, and he stared at the table. "Though, based on your other refusal…are you still contemplating Neo Eclipse?"

"I…I just…" She trailed off, her eyes burning again with the urge to cry. It seemed as if she just couldn't handle grief well, no matter what it was she lost. "Part of me couldn't give up the possibility of it. If I fail with resurrection, what then? I…I hate the idea of erasing history like that, of just feeling like I can comfortably fall back on the idea that I could redo everything…but what other choice do I have? I just…" She broke off again, inhaling sharply. "I don't want to be without him, not like this."

"You will bring him back, one way or another. The determination you have…that is something the two of you share, I think." She nodded, taking a deep breath. However, before she could recover fully, Dimaria entered the room, locking eyes with August.

"Hey, old man, we've got a problem." August raised his eyebrows at her, and she crossed her arms over her chest. "That princess you said was coming? She's here already. And she's insisting on meeting with the emperor now. Brandish can't talk her out of it, and it seems like she won't settle for anyone with any authority less than his." Her gaze flickered towards Levy, frowning for a moment. "Which means…it looks like you're up already, girlie. Time to pull yourself together, because you've got a royal entourage to greet at the front gates." With that, Dimaria spun around, waving and walking out. Yet, as harsh as she'd been, she had a strong point. No one else had been given the same authority as Zeref, not to Fiore's knowledge. So, that meant she had to step in. Rising to her feet, she took a deep breath and nodded. August followed her, both of them moving and preparing to meet with the country that just may lead to further war if Levy could not think of a way to calm their anger.

And here is the second chapter for today. Levy's got her own conflicts to deal with in Vistarion as well, so I do hope you enjoy. I still feel like I'm terrible with anything relating to politics and government, but this just seemed like something that would create a bit of a plot hole to ignore...so I'll be doing my best to approach the fallout of Alvarez' invasion of Fiore. Feel free to review and tell me what you think!