Chapter 8 – Love or Rule: Imprisoned between Affection and Regulation
'Mystogan…?!'
His head perked up when he heard Laxus' voice, 'Laxus? Is that you?' He asked a wave of relief washing over him. The latter nodded sighing, 'Yeah, it's me,' Mystogan didn't waste any time in asking questions, 'Do you know where you are? Is something wrong?' He added questions to the fray shaking off the feeling of kissing Pantherlily. Pulling up his mask he dashed out of the dark corridor to find the lacrima. 'I'm in…some sort of blue thing...' Laxus thought and Mystogan could almost see his confused expression, 'Oh, I got a bad feeling earlier…what were you doing?' The blonde asked leaning back against his 'cage' and chipping off a small piece and bouncing it off of the walls. 'You're inside of a giant lacrima,' he explained, 'A-And…' The prince wasn't sure if he should tell his over-protective mate that he just kissed someone else. 'Wait a sec, I'm in a lacrima? Like the thing that's inside me?' Laxus asked randomly constructing a core of lightning to bounce off the walls. He basically ignored Mystogan's other comment. After a sigh of relief and stopping to catch his breath hidden behind one of the giant pillars in the Royal City he nodded, 'Yeah, you are…In fact all of Magnolia is inside that same one. You've been transported to my world, Edolas, through a portal called "anima"." He explained quickly. Laxus took this far better than Mystogan thought he would have and just lazily thought, 'Cool. So this is where you grew up and stuff?' He asked him while punching the lacrima wall causing it to crack. 'Ha! Bingo!' Mystogan got worried and continued his infiltration, 'Yeah—what did you do Laxus?'
'Nothing, just keep talkin',' He assured him as he continued to break the lacrima. 'Alright,' The bluenette finally made it to the kingdom and he was inside again, 'The King of Edolas is planning to ram the lacrima that you're inside into Extallia which is where the Exceeds live...um, like Happy and Carla. They are Exceeds…He thinks doing this will bring an overflowing amount of magic power to Edolas-' Laxus stops him to ask, 'Why do they need magic power? They can live without it, you know.' Mystogan nods and quickly hides from the guards, 'My father doesn't believe in that…' He answered sadly, 'Your father? As in the—' then the thoughts stopped.
On Laxus' side the lacrima had cracked open enough for him to get out. That's when he spotted Gajeel trying to breakdown the lacrima too. "Finally come civilization…" He mumbled and hopped down from his perch in the cage. Mystogan spotted the two and raced over climbing on the back of one of the many enormous beast that inhabit Edolas to fly up to the floating island, jumping off and landing safely. Gajeel and Laxus were working together to break the lacrima. "Laxus…Gajeel…!" He ran over to them and skidded to a stop he instantly put his focus on the first generation dragon slayer, "What did you find in the smaller lacrima?" He asked quickly. "Not much. It was only Gray and Erza." The pierced man said as they had to split apart rapidly from an attack caused none other than Pantherlily himself. The two met eyes and Mystogan gave him. Gajeel smirked and leaped off to fight the Exceed.
This is when Laxus and Mystogan got to say at least something to each other. The couple turned to each other hugging briefly, "I'm glad you're alright." Mystogan said as Laxus gave him a reassuring squeeze. He nods, "Yeah, me too," The prince was the first to pull back and he reached up and cupped his cheek, "I have to see my father…I will come back for you," He promised and left a kiss on Laxus' cheek. The latter nodded with a slight blush tinting his cheeks, "Be safe." This feds a smile on Mystogan's lips, "Yeah, you too," then the lovers departed again with Mystogan leaping off of the island and onto the beast that flew him up there. Laxus chuckled and then turned to help Gajeel defend the lacrima. "Just come back safely…" he mumbled.
After saving Extallia, fighting off the royal guards, everything was finally over… With King Faust defeated his son now had the heavy burden of ruling on to carry however that wasn't all that was on his mind….
"'King', huh?" The said man asked himself leaning over the railing of the palace while staring aimlessly out onto the land. His mate had finally found him and walked up behind him leaning in the doorway with his hands stuffed in his pockets. He smiled to himself, "You have an entire land to rule now…My Little Misty is growing up~!" He teased. Mystogan rolled his eyes and turned around to face the dragon slayer with a smile, "Whatever," He said and leaned against the railing backwards. He heaved a sigh his smile disappearing. "You don't seem too happy about it…" Laxus pursed his lips together. "Laxus…" his voice sounded pained and deep like he didn't want to admit this, "You….and the rest of Fairy Tail will have to return to Earthland…I-If I stay here…we'll never be able to see each other again…." He explained. Laxus stayed silent and bit the inside of his lip taking all of this in. To never see his mate again…? Never being able to hold him? Speak to him? Hear him? The Dreyar didn't know if that was something he could handle but before he could say anything Mystogan spoke again, "I…don't think I could live without you," He whispers so his voice wouldn't crack. His beautiful brown/golden eyes were welled up with tears. Laxus walks over and pulls him into a hug, "I feel the same way, but your wish is mine…I can't go against you, if you want to stay…you should." He said holding him close. Mystogan hugs him tightly.
This was Love or Rule. Mystogan would chose 'love' over 'rule' any day but…these people….his people, they needed someone to lead them. Taking an almost impossible chance, Mystogan pulled back wiping the tears from his eyes, "I must speak with my father," Laxus smiles and nods, "Go for it." The shorter man returned his smile and then dashed off to find the King. Once he found him the boy called out to him in such a way that the lonely king had not heard in an extremely long time, "…..Dad…!"
Stopping abruptly, Faust turned with wide eyes, "W-What? What did you just call…me?" He stuttered out almost tearing up. Mystogan panted from running so fast ending his run a few feet away from his father. "Dad…" A tear slipped down the old King's face, "It's been far too long since I've heard that phrase, Jellal. I only wish I was enough of a father to call you 'son'…" He smiles, "I will give you permission to do so if you promise my one thing…" Jellal closed the gap between him and his father and wraps his arms around his shoulders. Faust closed his eyes hugging back, "What is it?" The king asked. Jellal turned his face and snuggled his cheek into the crook of his father's neck, "Lead this world again." He whispered. The king sighed heavily, "They will no longer trust me, Jellal…After everything I've done-…" Mystogan silenced him by placing his index finger over his lips leaning back, "You just need to start over, they will forgive you….they have too, for I can't lead this land." He admitted. "Why can't you?" He asked his son noticing his slightly shy behavior. "Father….I have a lover in Earthland…and I am certain I can't leave that person. I would surely die without seeing him." Mystogan explains thinking only of Laxus.
The said blonde had followed Mystogan and was watching this beautiful scene unfold and then cursed when he was dragged into this, "Damn you, Mystogan….don't say that!" He grumbled in embarrassment. The older man smiled, "My son has grown up without me. Tell me, what is your lover's name?" He smiles widely, "Laxus...Dreyar." He admits the shyness from before finally seeping through. The king smiles kindly, "I understand your reasoning….I am prepared to rule this world again." He takes his son's hand, "I promise." Mystogan smiles blinking to hold back tears, "Thank you, father…!" The two embrace again and the bluenette tells his father something he learned from his many years on Earthland, "Father, understand this; as long as you have people you consider to be family, blood related or not, you have a home." A few tears slip from his eyes, "Thank you, for helping me realize that, my son." He smiles brightly and leans back kissing his forehead, "I love you father." Faust returns his smile, "I-I love you too," Keeping his smile, Mystogan turns and gazes over his shoulder, "Come on out, Laxus! I want you to meet my father!"
The said mage rolls his eyes, "Damn, thought I was inconspicuous~!" He whined but he came out from hiding anyways. Mystogan chuckles, "I can sense you," He reminded him holding out his free hand to him. He grumbled, "That ain't fair…" and took the hand walking up next to him. The King scanned over Laxus making him quite uncomfortable, but all he stated was; "You are extremely tall…." Mystogan chuckles and squeezes Laxus' hand, "Father, you're making him uncomfortable." He points out feeling the way wave of uneasiness Laxus was feeling. "Oh, pardon me. I'm Faust," The king held out the hand that wasn't holding Mystogan's. "Laxus," He reaches up and shook his hand. The blue-haired boy couldn't help but crack a smile at the scene. Then he remembered what he had to do. "Father," he let go of Laxus' hand to take his father's other hand, "I wish I could stay longer but I must return the lacrima to Eathland, please, promise me you'll be okay." Faust nods meeting his eyes, "I'll be fine. Don't worry about me," He says with a reassuring smile. They get one last hug and then father and son part with Mystogan dragging Laxus out of the castle by the hand.
"Where are we going…?" Laxus asked just taking long strides to keep up with Mystogan. "We're going home!" He replied and reserved the anima sending everything that contained magical powers into the sky glowing like fireflies back to Earthland. "Well… this is nice," Laxus stated floating in mid-air in a sitting position. Mystogan laughs and reaches out for him the two clasping hands and pulling each other close, "Right? We can fly now!" He said and Laxus looked behind him, "I'm pretty sure I don't have wings though…" He pursed his lips. "Yeah, me either." He says smiling tilting his head to the side to gaze back down at Edolas showing off his lightning dragon mark. Laxus smirked, "Nice mark you got there~!" he teased him. "Shut up!" Mystogan rolls his eyes. Suddenly everyone is swept up in the atmosphere and transported back to Earthland.