AN:hey guys! Happy holidays and happy new year! I rly shouldn't be starting another story but I found this piece in one of my old documents and I thought it was an interesting story. Depending on how it's received I might continue? Who knows lol. Pitaya Flower will be updated soon but until then, enjoy and have a wonderful holiday season!
Long ago, there were three lands divided between two groups of people. The Heavens, ruled and governed by the Celestials; the Hells, ruled and governed by the Demons; and the Earth, where humans resided, but unbeknownst to them was fought over between the Celestials and the Demons.
Tensions between the Celestials and Demons were high. Each thought they were the rightful owners of the Mortal Realm. The Celestials claimed that because the humans worshipped the gods, it was only right for them to be governed by the Heavens. The Demons claimed that because the cycle of life and death resides in the Underworld, only the Demons could have rightful claims of the Mortal Realm. The disputes over the territories on Earth eventually lead the Demons to declare war on the Celestials.
Among the Celestials was a fire god by the name of END. He was highly regarded among all the Celestials for his sense of loyalty, justice, and fierceness. His accomplishments and prestige earned him the respect of many in the Heavens, so much so that when he announced that he would be accepting disciples, hundreds flocked to his temple to gain a chance to become a disciple. However, hundreds were disappointed when he announced that he would only be accepting male disciples.
But, one goddess did not allow that to stop her from going to his temple anyways. This young goddess was the only daughter of the Celestial King and had often heard her father praise END and tell her of his conquests. The young goddess regarded the fire god as her idol and she would not allow for anything to miss this opportunity. She begged her father to learn under the fire god's tutelage by disguising her as a male. At first her father disagreed. There was no need for a princess such as herself to learn under a war god. However, the young goddess persisted until the Celestial King agreed and soon enough, she became END's 11th and last disciple.
Soon everyone in the Heavens learned of how much END adored his last disciple. He would never admit it, but even his own disciples knew that their master was more lenient towards their 11th brother. Several millennia passed peacefully, but then war broke out. The Demons led by Zeref finally declared war on the Heavens over the Mortal Realm. As expected, END didn't shrink away from his duty and called upon all of his disciples to join him in war. The war raged for several hundred years and the Celestials slowly overcame the Demons. In the final decisive battle, Zeref called upon the Etherion to drain the souls of all on the battlefield, friend or foe, to ensure a victory over END. The Etherion would only stop once it gained a sacrifice of a worthy soul. Looking at the destruction around him, END leapt up towards the Etherion, prepared to sacrifice himself but before he could reach the weapon, the Celestial Princess pushed him out of the way and sacrificed herself. The battlefield quieted as the weapon halted, gaining the sacrifice of a soul that was worthy to stop it.
"Did she really?" A young voice asked in amazement. Queen Layla looked up from the story book to her daughter who was tucked into bed.
"She's so brave! What about END? Did he feel sad after she died? Momma what happens next?" Lucy asked, one question after the other spilling from her lips.
Layla chuckled and brushed some blonde strands of hair out of her daughter's face. "Well, after the Princess died, END won the battle for the Celestials. Some say that his anger and anguish could not be contained until he destroyed the Demons that caused the death of his favored disciple. When the war ended, END personally carried the Princess' body back to the Heavens. He buried her body on his temple grounds and vowed to find her reincarnation, no matter how long it would take him."
Lucy blinked at her mom and pouted, unhappy with the story's ending. It wasn't fair that the Princess had to die over a problem that she didn't even cause.
"Did he love her, Momma?"
Layla laughed out loud, "As a master should love their disciple, Lucy. Nothing more and nothing less."
Lucy wrinkled her nose cutely, "I bet he did. He even vowed that he would still search for her."
Layla shook her head in amusement and patted the blankets.
"Perhaps he did, perhaps he did not. No one knows, my dear. However, if I had to take a guess, I'd say he only loved her as a master should love their disciple. It was frowned upon for master and disciple to have any feelings for each other."
Lucy harrumphed at that.
"When I grow up, I'm going to love who I wanna love," she declared sleepily.
Layla smiled at her innocent daughter and bent over to kiss her forehead.
"Yes you will, sweetheart. Now get some sleep, you have etiquette classes tomorrow after breakfast. Good night."