Warning: Uhm, I'm sorry but in this chapter there will be a lot of blood. So consider yourself warned ^^
Disclaimer: Fairy Tail belongs to Hiro Mashima
ACT II: Celestial Guidance – New Beginnings
Approximately X777
Chapter 6: Lonely night
Zeref kept to himself after the seal had been made on his brother, trying his best to regain his strength. Of course it wasn't like it had taken as much effort as it had, when he removed END's powers 400 years ago, but it was enough to leave him slightly fatigued. That was why he vanished from the scene, because he didn't want Layla to see him, when he was weak. It didn't take long for him to regain his strength and when he did, he went to see Layla, to make sure she was alright. After that Zeref would return once in a while to the blonde, just to exchange a few pleasant words, since the bond between was stronger, than any of them had imagined.
As for the celestial mage, another two years passed before it was her time once more, to take her role in the events that regarded the dragons.
All though Layla wouldn't admit it out loud, she was still rather fatigued after everything she had been through, over the last couple of years. So it was with a tiny hint of scepticism she heard the requests from the dragon's, that regarded another sealing spell.
Essentially they wanted her to perform her magic on the Dragon Slayer's, so the dragon's could be sealed away inside of them. The dragon's truly hoped it was possible, since they knew that they didn't have much time left in this world. After all they were spirits and their time was running out. Just like her former spirits couldn't stay in this world, before they would eventually have to go to the spirit world, the dragon's needed to go to the afterlife. But it was the dragon's hope that if the seal was successful, that it would prolong their stay a bit longer, even if it was merely for a few more years.
Layla knew that doing this would take a lot of effort on her part, but after consulting with Zeref they decided that if she wanted to use the spell, then it was vital she did it on 7/7 777, since the constellations and spiritual energies on this day would be high. This essentially meant it would raise her magical powers and hopefully it would be enough for the celestial mage, to perform the sealing spell on the dragons, without causing harm to herself.
Time seemed to fly by and the promised date was approaching at a fast rate.
Layla had hoped she would have regained more of her magic, before she needed to make the seals but unfortunately it didn't. With that in mind Layla knew that what she was about to do, could be a gamble, where the outcome in the worst case scenario would mean her losing her life.
None of the dragon's knew that of course, but of course she couldn't hide it from Zeref...
~ o ~ O ~ o ~
"No!" the dark mage roared and threw his arm to the side dismissively "I won't allow it!"
"I'm doing it whether you want me to or not" Layla sighed and crossed her arms above her stomach "This is the only solution we have, to seal the dragons inside the Dragon Slayer"
"But you've already used too much of your magic!" Zeref snarled in anger "It's too soon! You need to restore more of your own magic. If not... you might die when you perform the spell!"
"I know that" the woman said in a calm and patient tone.
"And yet you persist on doing it?"
"I do"
"But..." Zeref growled as he grasped his head with both hands and started shaking it in anger "... we should at least search for another solution"
"You know there isn't one" Layla said "There's only a week until we reach the date..."
"7/7 777..."
"Yes..." she nodded "... and we can't find another one who can perform the ritual before that. Not when we know how rare it is to find a celestial mage"
"I don't care!" Zeref growled and used his hand to smash a table, to demonstrate his anger "You're not performing this ritual and that's final!"
"I am" she closed her eyes and ignored how the dark mage went on a rampage and started smashing a lot of furniture. It took a few minutes but eventually he stopped.
"You're not!" panting from his sudden efforts Zeref walked over to her and stopped when he was only a few inches away "And that's final!"
"I am" Layla repeated and opened her eyes, not surprised that he was so close to her "And you'll allow it to happen"
"No!"
"Yes you will" she smiled wholeheartedly towards him "Because this is the only solution we have, to ensure the future. You said it yourself, we need to perform the sealing on that day, since my celestial magic will be so much greater"
"I know but... I... can't let you take that risk. Not if it might result in..."
"My death?"
"Don't... " his voice lowered and was barely above a whisper "... don't say it like that... like it's something casual" he exhaled a shaking breath and covered his face with both hands.
"Zeref..." Layla called in a gentle voice.
"I can't..." for some reason his legs gave up underneath him, making him fall down on his knees.
It didn't take more than a second before Layla kneeled down in front of Zeref, and the next she gently wrapped her arms around him, trying to comfort him.
"Shh, it's okay" she stroked his back "I'll be fine, I promise"
"Such a foolish thing to say" the dark mage chuckled, but inwardly couldn't help but feel a tiny bit of confidence in her statement, as he wrapped his arms around her waist and gently nudged his head against her shoulder.
"Perhaps" the blonde chuckled "But it'll all turn out fine I promise you. After all who'll take care of you if I'm around?"
"No one..."
"Exactly, and we can't have that, now can we? So cheer up, we still have a lot to do together don't we?"
"You're only saying this to comfort me" he said in a dark tone "However I suppose you're right, so don't you dare die on me"
"I won't" she gently squeezed his body with her arms "It's a promise"
"Yes... yes it is" Zeref gently gave her body a squeeze in return, feeling confident in her promise but insecure about the future.
~ o ~ O ~ o ~
Layla could feel the magic in her veins almost overflowing and radiating, as she started chanting the old formula. All of the dragon's was gathered around her and in front of them was the Dragon Slayer's peacefully sleeping. They didn't have to be like that, but she wanted to spare the poor kids of having to see this ritual so she made sure, that the dragon's put a sleeping spell on them. Layla couldn't know for sure if the kids knew about what was going to happen or how the dragon's had prepared them, but she dearly wished that it wouldn't leave too much of a scar on their fragile souls. If that happened she would never be apple to live with herself.
She felt the power inside of her pulsating, making her skin prickle almost as if an electric current was buzzing though every fibre of her body.
It was time...
Zeref watched from the sidelines as Layla's body glowed from top to bottom. It all looked perfectly normal, but he knew better than to make assumptions. He wanted to believe, no he HAD to believe that everything would turn out right... if not...
No he wouldn't go there... it was too devastating...
Layla stopped chanting and walked up to Weisslogia
"Are you prepared?" she asked in a caring tone and gently stroked Sting's cheek in affection.
"I am" the dragon answered.
"Very well, I hope you'll have a safe journey"
"Thank you" Weisslogia nodded, clearly ready for what was to come.
"You're welcome" the woman smiled and placed her hands on the blonde kid's stomach. After making a few more chants the dragon's form started to flicker and vanish, turning into tiny droplets of gold, that entered a weird pattern that was forming underneath her hands, on the kids stomach. The pattern was there for a second, but when the seal finished it vanished.
It had been hard and Layla wouldn't deny that. She wiped her forehead to remove some sweat and turned to the next dragon. This time it was the dragon Skiadrum and his kid Rogue.
"Thank you for doing this, human child" the sky dragon nodded.
"I'm not a child, but you're welcome"
The ritual went just as the first one had and soon she turned to Metallicana who was smirking teasingly at her.
"You make sure you do this correct, ya hear? I don't want the shrimp to be all whiny and shit, when you're done" he chuckled but there was a hint of seriousness in his voice, making it obvious that the dragon cared about the boy.
"Don't worry I'll make sure, he'll be fine" Layla smiled in spite of the pain she was feeling. The ritual was starting to affect her body and for her it felt like there was a lot of tiny whiplashes constantly hitting each of her cells, trying to rip her muscles apart.
But Layla could endure it! She had to!
After performing the ritual and leaving a seal on Gajeel, she felt how her entire body was covered in sweat and for some reason it was becoming harder for her to breath evenly.
"Are you sure you're well, Layla?" Grandeeney asked and narrowed her eyes as she watched the woman "You look quite unwell all of a sudden"
"Yes... I'm okay..." the woman nodded ".. I'll take a small break after this, so rest assured I'll be fine"
"If you say so" the female dragon narrowed her eyes and felt suspicious about her condition, but she trusted the woman's evaluation of her own condition "Thank you once again for doing this"
"You're welcome" Layla smiled warmly towards her, before performing the seal on Wendy.
Once she finished the seal it started to hurt really much. It was like each and every fibre of her being was being smashed from the insides, like small bubbles popping and exploding underneath her skin.
Air... she needed air... why couldn't she breath?
Unconsciously she started coughing and placed her hands above her lips, as she felt her knees buckle underneath her, making her fall to the ground.
"Layla!" Zeref roared and a second later he was next to her, gently stroking her back "Are you okay, what happened?"
When she stopped coughing she took a deep shaking breath before answering "I'm... fine... there's nothing to worry about..."
"No!" he grabbed her hands and stared at the blood that was suddenly covering them "You're not fine! Not when you're coughing up blood!"
"It's okay..." she smiled warmly at him "... I only need one more seal..."
"I don't care!" Zeref spat and turned his head to look at Igneel "Don't make her do this!"
"I won't" the fire dragon answered.
"You won't?" the dark mage answered in a bewildered tone.
"No" the dragon shook his head "Even if this might be helpful for Natsu later on, then I wouldn't demand her to do it... I mean I would never..."
Igneel didn't get the chance to finish that sentence, because suddenly he felt himself starting to vanish, as he was being dragged into the seal on the pink haired kid's chest.
Unbeknownst to the two, Layla had used their short exchange to perform the ritual and before any of them had a time to respond the dragon was gone, leaving nothing but thin air.
When the ritual was done, Layla could feel her body shaking from fatigue. Her vision was blurry and it was becoming harder to do even the most basic things such as move or think.
"Layla!"
She heard him calling in the distance but couldn't respond. He kept calling as she felt a lot of liquid spouting out of her mouth, which she knew was blood, since it had that distinctive metallic taste to it.
I'm sorry Zeref... I'm so.. so sorry...
And with that her vision vanished leaving nothing but darkness.
~ o ~ O ~ o ~
"No Layla please..." Zeref gritted his teeth as he hugged the blonde woman, who had collapsed from her efforts.
Help, he needed help... a healer... anything... so much blood...
His heart was pumping fiercely in his chest, making the adrenaline and panic he felt, escalate like a wildfire through his veins.
Feeling really desperate and on the brink of panic he quickly scooped the woman into his arms and started running.
A doctor something, anything...
He didn't know for how long he had run, when he felt a hand gently tucking his clothes.
"Zeref..." her voice was raspy and low "... please stop..."
"No, we need to get you to a healer"
"It's too late..."
"What do you mean too late?!" he growled but stopped running.
"There aren't any cities nearby..." she started coughing into her hand, but soon it turned into a fit "... please..."
He understood her hint and placed her gently on the ground, where she eventually finished coughing.
"Thank you..." Layla whispered and laid down on the ground with blood slowly trailing down her chin ".. I'm sorry..."
"Don't..."
"... I couldn't..." she exhaled and gently placed a hand on his chin " … I couldn't keep my promise... and I... I..." tears was now freely streaming down her face "... not only that but I'm leaving my daughter behind..."
"Layla..."
"I didn't think this would happen... I knew it was possible, but still... " her voice cracked painfully "... I don't want to die... Lucy... what will happen to her?"
A sigh of frustration left Zeref's lips. He had to get a hold of himself and keep his own emotions in check. Especially because it would be selfish if he caused the woman more pain in her final moments.
He could fall apart later... now he had to be there for her and do whatever it took, to make her feel better...
"I'm sure she'll be fine" the dark mage whispered and gently removed some hair that was stuck in the blood, that was covering her chin "You did well in raising her"
"I did didn't I?" she chuckled weakly.
"Besides this isn't the end, is it? Didn't you tell me once, that when you die, you'll go to the heavens and turn into a star, so that you may shine down on the people you left behind?"
"Yes I did say that ages ago" her smile widened a bit "I'm surprised you remember that, I was just a young girl"
"Of course" his eyes narrowed as he watched a trail of blood streaming out of her nose "I remember everything you told me"
"You're a romantic idiot... always was even if... if..." she coughed sending droplets of blood flying.
Not sure what else to do Zeref gently wrapped his arms around the girl and helped her into a sitting position, so it was easier for the woman to remove the blood that was blocking for her air supply.
Once the coughing was done she was left panting, her lungs wheezing making it painfully clear that she was having big difficulties in breathing.
"If... you..." she tried talking again, but it was clear it took a lot of effort.
"Hush woman" the dark mage muttered and stroked her back.
"... can't see it... yourself" she moaned and placed her head against his shoulder.
They just sat like that for a while, saying nothing.
"... Zeref?" her voice was so low it was almost inaudible.
"Yes?"
"Thank you..."
"Layla?" he felt how her body was starting to become more limp in his arms.
"... for everything..." she exhaled and as she did he could feel how the last essence of life seemed to vanish from her body, making it fall heavily against him.
He didn't need to check her pulse to know, that she no longer was with him. It was all too clear from the lack of breathing coming from her.
Feeling utterly shocked Zeref didn't know what to do at first. He just sat there until it suddenly hit him like a title wave, almost knocking away all of his rationality.
No... no, no, no, no, no NO NO! Why did this happen?! Why?
Clenching his teeth in frustration, he could feel how his mind seemed to explode in a turmoil of emotions.
Desperation, pain, frustration, anger, sadness... It was all too much and too sudden.
Why?
He tightened his grip on the now dead woman in his arms.
Why?
Tears was flowing down his chins, falling down and landing with low thuds on Layla's skin.
"No..." he whispered in a low and fragile voice, as he started rocking back and forth "... please..."
She couldn't be dead, no! Not now! Not when he never got the chance to tell her... to say... to... say...
Biting his lips, he shook his head in denial. Soon there was blood trailing down his chin, from where his teeth had punctuated the skin.
It couldn't be... no... someone... anyone... wake him from this nightmare... it was too cruel to be reality... please...
"You idiotic woman..." Zeref said as he gently kissed her hair and took a deep shaking breath "... I wanted to tell you... how I feel... ever since I saw you that day at the lake... that I... I..."
Zeref couldn't say it out loud. No... his wounds was wide open and it would be like rubbing salt in it on purpose. Besides she was dead, so was rather pointless to confess his feelings.
Yeah go on and admit your feelings to a corpse. That wouldn't be morbid or anything...
The thought made him chuckle, because the situation was just so painful and fucking weird.
It was too much...
For the first time since he was a child, he had found a companion who didn't die whenever the person was around him. Of course Mavis and her group didn't die when he was around them, but he was only with them for a short amount of time. So really it couldn't be compared to what Layla was to him. After all she was his friend, companion and partner...
And now she was dead, leaving him all alone to roam the world in solitude again.
His chuckle turned into a menacing and hysterical laugh.
Forever alone... maybe he deserved it...
The laughter eventually died down and once it did, an unpleasant shiver ran down his spine. As it did his body started to shake uncontrollably, because he was overwhelmed with sadness.
No... why did this have to happen? Why?
He couldn't keep it in... the ache in his chest... clenching and scratching his insides, making him feel nauseous.
A painful scream filled the air, as his inner emotions was transmitted to whoever might be close enough to listen. As he screamed Zeref didn't notice how his dark magic was summoned and all of a sudden as a huge wave of death and destruction was sent pulsating from his frame, killing everything it touched.
Not that it mattered... nothing did... if it stood to him, then the entire world could crash and burn.
There was nothing left... nothing...
Nobody heard how the lonely mage kept screaming and crying for hours, because whatever had been close enough was dead. Which was almost weird since it was how he felt, when the crying stopped.
He was dead... dead and gone to the world... but soon he would watch it burn...
A/N: Layla you... you! Argh! You never kept your promise to Natsu and brought him more candy! You can't die, not doing that...
… baka...
And before you ask, Zeref managed to run far enough away from the Dragon Slayer's so they weren't affected. Now that would be morbid :)
Yoooosh! Are you guys ready for a huge time skip for the next arc/act? Well the thing is I actually need to do some typing and major editing for that part, but I have confidence that I'll get it done and finished next week. Aye sir!
Bye-byy~yye for now kitty cats! :3
