Geez… this is late. Enjoy! Also I saw the inconsistencies in my last chapter and I must apologize. I relied mostly on the manga so I didn't know how far I was off. I might go back and edit it later.
Adelene900: Haha, thank you! I hope you enjoy this chapter and continue following! X)
"You're lying."
"I am not. Is it so hard to recognize me?"
"Natsu killed you… We saw him do it!"
"He only knocked me unconscious. You should know that demons can't be killed so easily."
Lucy grit her teeth in frustration, the thumping within her chest getting faster with fear. Pale hands snapped and held her head, blonde locks clutched between shaking fingers.
"Shut up! There's no way you're real! I… I-I refuse to accept it!"
The young man looked at her coldly,disgust evident in his dark irises.
"Only the weak close their eyes when something disagrees with them."
The blonde mage looked back at him with eyes of fury. Her trembling hands tore away from her hair and launched at his shirt collar. Wrenching the injured mass to a sitting position, her became a mask of despair and her hand lashed out striking his pale cheek. Knuckle connect with skin over and over before Lucy screeched.
"Don't you dare call me weak! I've been through hell and back because of you and you're stupid lackeys. If you hadn't cast Algeria-"
"So you do believe I am Mard Geer," he interrupted, flashing a smirk at her now frozen features. The grieving woman's hands loosened slightly, her composure slowly regained. Her hands clasped together on her lap; her last attempt to hold onto her sanity.
"Show me proof." Her brown orbs flashed furiously, determination radiating from her.
"So fierce. I'm sure that friend would be proud of you. The Water Bearer, correct? Ah, her sacrifice was glorious, wasn't it? Having her friend destroy her only pathway to this realm. And to save some pathetic bugs, nonetheless. That pathetic hope is quite amusing." This "proof" that he presented was quickly followed by a laugh. A hysterical, deranged laugh that brought a chill to the blonde mage's spine.
"So you are the Demon King…" Lucy felt a boiling rage settle in her stomach once again. Every fiber of her being restrained her violent urges.
"If you really are him," she said, suspicion still lingering in her voice. "Why haven't you tried to kill me yet? Or destroy this town?" His arrogant, and somewhat unstable facade washed away before her eyes, shame and hatred replacing it.
"After the Dragneel child defeated me, I was discovered by Lord Zeref. He took away my curse… and my hair," Mard explained, a hand reaching up to the back of his head. "And you know the rest."
Lucy's eyes widened, shock eliciting a gasp from her. "Zeref can take away magic?" Mard Geer shook his head.
"He can only take away what we have. The demon's curse power is different from your magic." A sigh of relief was uttered from the girl's mouth.
"Why would Zeref take away your powers?"
The king hesitated. Moments of silence passed like an eternity before he spoke again. "Lord Zeref has no use for tools that cannot perform their duty. Why he didn't simply return me to the Book of Demons, I have no idea."
Reality suddenly stabbed Lucy in the heart. Her eyes narrowed, her voice lowered. "What am I going to do with you?"
His irrational grin returned upon hearing this. "Well, I suppose you have several options," he stated, a small chuckle following it. "You can kill me now and save yourself from any threat that I pose in the future. In my current state, it shouldn't be too difficult of a deed. However," he paused with some malice.
"You can allow me to live if you so choose. It's not ideal, but it will preserve those morals you precious humans treasure so much."
"So what will it be girl? Life or death? Vengeance or justice? My future is in your hands!" He said, chuckling deeply.
Sweat dripped from her forehead, her mouth dry. Brief flashes of long blue hair and sharp eyes appeared in her vision. A mermaid tail at the end of the woman and a small crown continued to plague her mind.
"I...I-I…"
"Come on fairy," he yelled maniacally, laughing in between phrases. "Make your choice!"
"I… I WON'T KILL YOU!"
"... What?"
"I'll spare your life, for my sake. Death will only give you what you want. Live and face your punishment. That's how it works in this world."
Large hands gripped her light pink shirt, wrenching her towards him, much like what the blonde had done earlier. "You ignorant woman! Don't you care about your friends? How will they feel about you hiding an enemy in your home! And what about your dear friend who sacrificed herself for your sake? Don't you want to aven-"
Lucy pushed the screaming man back into the wall, his head knocking against the brick surface. Sprinting into the bathroom and locking the door behind her, she slid to the floor, exhausted. Hot tears made trails down her cheeks and silent sobs shook her body.
"Forgive me, Aquarius."
Huh, this one was a lot shorter than normal, but I think it was still okay… So I decided to turn this one in earlier than I scheduled just to make up for the late turn-ins last time. Again I'm really sorry about that and the inconsistencies with the canon plot. Just to clarify, this is just a different situation if Zeref didn't put Mard back in the Book of Demons. Also, don't forget to check out my other stories, Tainting Innocence and Pillar! Hope you guys enjoyed!