Disclaimer: I am not the owner of Fairy Tail
So, she hadn't been lying. Zeref watched Levy leave, feeling uncertain and confused. He wanted to prove to his future self that he wasn't the same, that he wouldn't become so soft-hearted and allow others to order around his generals. Yet, his cruelty seemed unwarranted. That girl tormented herself with her own thoughts. When she found herself lost to it, she found distractions. In terms of handling mental conflicts, she was like him.
It was strange, too…having Fairy Heart so close, and not even feeling the slightest desire to take it for himself. He blamed it on knowing the rift was no longer usable, but really, would he have taken it even if it was? For some reason, it just wasn't the same. Which then led to the question…why was he so invested in this war? He'd thought it was for his spell, to grant Natsu the family of his past. Yet, that was not the case. At least, it wasn't entirely the situation.
"Levy…" Master Makarov sighed, closing his hands into fists and lowering his gaze. "She's always been so cheerful, smiling and quiet, but cheerful nonetheless. This…I cannot say I know what has changed, but she is not the same anymore."
"She has come to learn more deeply of suffering and despair." He frowned, thinking of her phrasing and what his future self had stated. "It…she is strong, but everyone does have a point at which they can take such suffering no more."
The guild master glanced at him, raising his eyebrows. "You speak as if you know her."
He didn't, but despite how he'd labeled his interest, he knew he had been just…trying to protect her. The more he cared, the more danger she was in. That would never change, at least not with him. Yet, there would be one way for it to change. The question was, could she do it instead? "I've known such despair myself, for quite some time. It becomes easier to see in others, as you experience it yourself."
Makarov nodded, sighing. "You also speak as if you know what she has done. Why she has stolen from her guild."
Zeref tilted his head at the man. Could he speak of this with him? Perhaps…perhaps he'd have insight that was missing. As someone like him, separate from the time travel, it would be…easier, he thought, to handle. "I do." He glanced behind him at the others, sighing. "Let's…speak of this elsewhere. I'd like your advice on a particular matter, and I would prefer not to concern my generals about such a thing at the moment."
"Your majesty? Are you certain? We may be assisting with the time rift dilemma, but that in no way means we are not here to serve you as well." August spoke, watching him.
He'd always been so close, so willing to listen. That was why August was so valued, amongst them all. Zeref gave the man a small smile…his first smile in months, he thought, that wasn't based off of some dark amusement. "Do not worry, August. I'm just…conflicted right now, and I think it would be best to speak with one who…does not remember that which I cannot."
Meeting with the man that was supposed to be an enemy, however, might not be the best choice. Yet, he wasn't feeling particularly logical right now. He'd spent the greater part of the day arguing with his future self on how to handle the Spriggan Twelve, and then later trying to convince him to just finish the spell. His future self had made some valid points as to why he couldn't, but Zeref currently wished he could. If he could get someone else to assist, though…perhaps then he'd be freed of this torment of two lives in one.
He wasn't quite certain where he was walking, but it didn't really matter particularly, so long as it was away from the generals here. They had been speaking into a lacrima as well, which meant there were even more people from the future now in the past. Just how many had that girl brought with her? It wasn't surprising, of a Fairy Tail wizard, but he'd thought it might be possible to overwhelm the spell. He hadn't exactly been capable of experimenting with Fairy Heart to see if it was truly unlimited magic power, or simply an excessive amount.
"So, are you going to speak to me about what is troubling my wizard, or are we just going to walk in silence?"
Hearing Makarov made Zeref glance back at the elderly man, slowly nodding. "Yes…we are." He didn't quite know what to say. "To put it simply…Levy has completed what I was set out to do. The reason I sought Fairy Heart was to use the spell she has since used…a spell that allows for one to travel into the past and rewrite history."
Makarov stopped walking. He stared Zeref, blinking in surprise. "She's traveled back in time?" Zeref nodded. "And her first action was to come here? What could that girl possibly be thinking?"
Shrugging, Zeref stopped as well. "Likely, she is wishing to prevent the war from starting. I cannot say how far we are before the war would have begun myself right now…but likely, she gave herself enough time to try and convince me out of it…" He frowned, considering what she might do. She'd had Invel advising her, likely, which meant she'd take a logical approach. "I'd estimate two months, minimum, at least. She was working with my own generals on this, it seems…which means she had individuals who knew of my mindset in planning this war, and who knew how difficult it would be to convince me of another option."
"Do you think she did this to stop you from using the spell? Because, as reckless as it may be, I could see some of my wizards working together to accomplish that."
"But my generals would not." Makarov frowned, and Zeref sighed. "They…followed her, because I believe that I was dead in this future, as impossible as it may seem. As a result, Alvarez had a new ruler…and that ruler was her."
"Her…Levy? How on earth would that girl end up as your replacement?"
This would be getting into…knowledge he should not have, it seemed. "That is…complicated." He glanced at Makarov, frowning. "I don't know why I wish to ask for your advice on this at all, really. However, my generals seem to have mixed loyalties, and it isn't as if my demons provide decent advice on problems of this nature." He paused, gazing at the old man. "Since we have no reason to become enemies anymore…I saw an opportunity, I suppose, to approach one in a similar situation to my own. One of your wizards has swayed loyalty…and you remember none of the events that led to this conflict. Just as I should not…if not for the actions of my future self, however."
"Are you saying you used the same spell too?"
Shaking his head, Zeref closed his eyes. "Not quite. It was…a spell made hastily, out of desperation. The intent was similar, and used because I was already dying. Typically, I wouldn't have utilized it because without Fairy Heart, such a spell would cause magic deficiency and my…immortality, would not only prevent the spell from completion but also prevent my death." That much wasn't uncommon knowledge, at least. "Yet, he utilized it…depleting the last of his energy in an effort to travel back in time. Likely, he planned to arrive as the war was starting, but I know my own recollection of specific events is vague enough to cause more of a potential to scatter the arrival point."
"So, you come from this future as well? Then why are you not helping them? Why are you still…confused as to what has happened?" Makarov glared at him. "Honestly, I'd expected you to at least be willing to help your own generals, even if you cared little for Levy."
Zeref paused. "Actually…I do care about your wizard. She's…not that unlike someone I once loved, and what makes her different is…more intriguing than I'd like to admit to even myself." Makarov stilled, staring at him. "And…I am not my future self. Rather, his consciousness currently resides in my mind. Consider it…akin to telepathy, from the future, if you like. He speaks, and attempts to advise me on the proper course of action yet…he is more unlike me than I expected to see."
"Has he explained why she replaced you?"
Zeref nodded. "They were…together, it seems. Romantically." Makarov blinked at him, and Zeref shook his head. "I cannot fathom why…this is a future in which the war happened, and we were enemies. Yet, I also cannot deny what he has shown me either. We were close…and part of me thinks she was hoping to reach that closeness to me now. Yet…" He sighed, shaking his head. "I am not him. I do not think I will become him, either…not without great conflict before hand." The memory of that image…of himself on the brink of death…it still lingered. If he truly cared for her…he would not risk putting her through it again.
"That's unexpected." Makarov paused, glancing towards him. "Yet, it at least explains some of what has happened. Levy would not turn against her guild lightly, which makes me believe she felt she had no other options. Perhaps, in part, she was swayed by the desire to see you again."
"That is…not unlike some of my own goals, with the spell."
Makarov nodded. "For that reason, and for the fact that now, it is as if none of it has happened…I cannot blame her for what she has done. I will have some form of punishment, but her heart is in the right place, and I can see she's already suffered through enough to arrive here."
"I…want to make things easier on her…yet I question if it will make her suffer more, asking this of her." Makarov raised his eyebrows at him. "Currently, you know her better than I…and I do know what my future self says on the matter…but I do not think I wish to listen to him. I find him irritating, and…unnerving, to say the least." Makarov didn't comment, just letting him continue. "You are…aware of my immortality, correct?"
The elderly man nodded. Zeref sighed, shaking his head. "My aim has always been to find a way to eliminate that and die. I want peace…yet, contrary to that, it appears as if my future self wishes to live." The guild master was good at listening. It felt odd, being able to vent without interruption. August would ask questions, and Invel would constantly poke holes in whatever theory he was saying. "Ideally, I'd say I wish for him to complete his spell. In other words…seek out a way to have his conscience overpower mine, and let me cease to exist. Yet, given the circumstances, he cannot plan such a spell out…and while perhaps I could attempt it, I fear that by utilizing the spell myself, I will do the reverse and eliminate him."
"How does Levy play into all of this?"
"I questioned if I should inform her of my dilemma, and ask her to construct and perform the spell for me." Makarov's brow furrowed, staying silent. "It…likely would not be easy on her, I realize that. Yet…would it not make all of them happy? She would have the Zeref back that she knew, as would the Twelve. And myself…" He trailed off, frowning. "I seemed happy…in that future. It…it is not something I think I am keen on throwing away, if it can somehow be preserved. Right now, I have little beyond painful memories so if that is able to change, and in a way that would offer her some form of comfort…really, would it be so harmful?"
"What you are asking for is to have her kill some version of you." Zeref closed his eyes, leaning his head back. "For one who loves you, who loved you at any point in time, do you not think that is a cruel request to make?"
He'd done it before, though. Even Mavis had done the same. "It is not so unusual." Makarov didn't respond, so he looked back down. "Mavis asked it of me, in the past. And…I loved her, in a way." Yet, that care…it had just vanished, hadn't it? "And there is one that I've expected to do the same for me, though I do not think he recalls anything of the bond we once shared."
"Then let me ask you this. Do you think it might be possible for you to return her feelings one day?"
Zeref gazed down at his hands, the curse overwhelmingly swarming his thoughts. Could he disregard it and let himself care again? It wasn't as if he hadn't done so in the past. But it was never quite so recklessly as this would be. "Not…no, I don't think I'd be able to…let go of old habits and fears." He'd care for her, in some form. Yet, Zeref knew he'd stop himself. He'd stop himself from letting it get further than that, especially because they were in Alvarez. Instead, he'd force himself to see her as a pawn, a logical move to have her by his side, to avoid further dissension amongst the Twelve.
The guild master sighed. "Yet you care for her, in a way." He nodded, closing his hands into fists. Makarov looked away, gazing off towards the wall. "Then let's make a deal, a truce of sorts between Alvarez and Fairy Tail." Zeref frowned, turning towards the elderly man. "You will leave Fairy Heart be, and let my guild move on in peace. And in return, I will research this spell for you, and find a way to give you what you want. Levy need not realize what has occurred. So long as I manage it before the point she returned from, it will simply appear as if it was successful in the first place."
"You…you know nothing of this magic, though…"
"And can that not be changed? Do you want someone to help you or not?" Zeref swallowed, staring at the old man who seemed irritated now. "I'm offering you what you asked for, but refusing to let you put that girl through any further suffering. Take my offer, if you want to be rid of yourself, or don't, if you are content to live as you are now."
It was not the offer he'd expected, when he'd gotten Makarov to discuss ending the war before it even began. Zeref had planned to just end it, with no requirements at all. After all, it wasn't as if any damage had been done. The master had disbanded them of his own free will. Yet, it was better than he'd expected. He turned towards the man, nodding once. "Then it appears as if we have a deal. Follow me. I shall get you the notes you will need, to understand what should have been done…and what was likely done as an alternative."
Master Makarov followed behind Zeref as the emperor led the guild master to his office. Notes on Neo Eclipse were relatively harmless, after all. It wasn't anywhere near as dangerous as the journals he'd just carelessly handed off to Levy. Yet, it was still an oddly trusting act, for him. He was tired, tired of considering if he was being trusting due to his own change of heart or if it was influence from his future self. With instructions on which variant it appeared his future self had used, and information on the functionality of the true spell, Zeref let the guild master leave. Thinking about it, he realized it was probably the first time in history he could recall willingly letting someone just leave his side with any knowledge of magic he had created. This merging with his future self really was bothersome, after all.
Sorry for such a late second update today. I got a bit busy. However, feel free to review and tell me what you think!