HellOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO Minna! I don't even know how long it has been since I posted and might I say, I am terribly sorry for falling off the face of the earth during my absence. See, I had a bit of trouble with some writers' block and then one thing led to another and life took over from there. I had finished school a few weeks ago and was trying to get up the courage to start writing again, but I didn't know where to start. I was going through some of my old files in this websites folder for me and saw that I had actually finished this chapter but never posted it.
Anyway, DISCLAIMER! I do NOT own Fairy Tail! All those rights go to Master Hiro Mashima! I only own the plot! Enjoy!
Chapter 24
"I'm the witch who is the reason why you and Natsu fell in love."
I gaped at her, completely stunned. The witch who what? A thousands thoughts whirled inside my mind as what she said was sinking in. I attempted to say something, anything, that sounded semi-intelligent. However the more I struggled, the wider her grin became.
"I know this is sudden but." She turned and damped a cloth in a bucket of water that seemed to appear out of nowhere and dabbed it on my forehead. "Something needs to be done. You two have been dancing around each other for decades, getting nowhere in your journey to be together. I thought that I should step in one last time, to ensure that this time it works out."
"W-w-wha…I… you…..we…" Yea, because that makes sense. I mentally slapped myself, but she continued before I could put my thoughts together to form something remotely coherent.
"I know you probably don't know what is going on, or even who I am, but I do have a mission to fulfill, and by God will I do it. So come here and I will show you." And without a seconds thought she dropped the cloth in the water causing it to disappear and placed her fingers on my temples. Before I could jerk back, my mind blanked and my body began to feel weightless. The room around me blurred away, including Misaki, and in its place, a town began to appear. I recognized it from the one from my dreams. It was slowly coming back to me: the chase, the pain…then running off to find someone.
Something, or rather someone, flew passed me when the town had completely formed. A force pulled me forward in pursuit of the man in question. It was when I was next to him that I recognized him. It was the guy from my dream, the one who was thrown in prison. I stared at him in shock, now that I got a better look at him. He resembled me very closely, dark hair sticking up in several directions, deep blue eyes drooping down, shining with determination. He was a bit taller than me, and better fed, but otherwise…he could be my twin.
"This is you, in the very beginning."
I screamed and spun around, seeing Misaki directly behind me. She smiled mischievously.
"Sorry, my bad," she apologized. "Anyway, this is you, or at least, a version of you. Or maybe you're a version of him since he's the first…" I gave her confused look as she pondered this. A version of me?
"Anyway, this is the very beginning of your and Natsu's love story… it's amazing how alike you are compared to the others. Though that's probably why this needs to end…..Anyway, very romantic, if I do say to myself. You right now are on your way to see me, from that time. I remember the day very clearly. But, you'll get to see that right…about…now." The world spun and suddenly we were in front of a cottage. The man-me? I?-stood in front of it, a large grin on his face. He strode up to the front door and knocked on it three times.
"WITCH! I know you're in there! I have payment this time!" After a few moments the door creaked open slowly and he barged in.
"You have exactly what I asked for?" a voice asked from inside. Misaki spun her finger in a circle and then we were brought inside the house. Another Misaki stood in front of a wooden table with an assortment of…ingredients? Some berries, insects, different plants and herbs and a lizard, from the looks of it. She stared at the man who entered, frowning.
The man set a small sack on the table across from her and stepped back. Misaki-the one from this time apparently-reached for it and opened it up, frown quickly changing into a grin. She twirled around and sashayed to the pot that had been burning in the corner. She dumped the contents in there, took a large wooden spoon and stirred slowly.
"Very well. Is there anything in mind you want me to do exactly? You were very vague on what you asked for you and this lover of yours."
He sighed. "Like I said last time, I want a spell that guarantees that he and I will be together, no matter what happens. I want him and I to be in a world where us being Bistro and Mortu doesn't matter. Please." I glanced over to the Misaki next to me. Her eyes were sparkling as she stared at the scene displayed. I crinkled my eyebrows together. What was she, a fan girl?
"I see," the old Misaki answered. "I think I can whip up something by tonight. Come back here with your lover at dusk. Then I will give you something that'll grant your wish."
The man smiled and sighed in relief. "Thank you."
"But are you sure," she continued, "that this is what you want? What your lover wants? To bind your love with unbreakable magic. What if his soul diminishes and your love with it? Believe it or not this is not the first time I have been asked for this favor. Couples have come to me, pleading that they be together forever or unloved people to make unrequited love requited. Some have ended in happiness, others in disaster. Will you risk your love and taint it with magic? Are you and your love prepared for the consequences? Does he even know you're relying on magic?" By now, the man's smile had disappeared. He averted his gaze to the floor and crossed his arms, looking guilty.
"No," he muttered.
"Hm?"
"No he doesn't know!" he exclaimed. "But he and I had tried to elope several times. He told me he was prepared to give up even his family's name to change it to mine. I'm positive he's on my side with this."
Misaki laughed. "Alright. But I bid you good luck on getting him to come here. I'll be waiting at dusk at the Ember Tree."
"Well," the Misaki next to me stated. "Why don't we fast forward a bit. After this you just mull your decision on your way back to town. It's when you get into the estate that it starts to get more interesting." She raised her hand and circled her finger once again. The world spun and this time we were in an unfamiliar room. Everything in it screamed expensive from the canopy bed to the intricate wooden vanity to the balcony leading out to a view of a colorful garden. After surveying the room, a young male dressed in a red robe came out of the doorway that led to the bathroom. The minute I saw him, my heart almost stopped. My mouth dropped open. He looked almost exactly like Natsu, only older, and hair slightly longer.
"Hey sweetie," a voice came from the outside. I turned around and saw my version of this time climb onto the balcony. I glanced back to the Natsu, who gave a similar expression to mine. His eyes widened and his mouth fell.
"What are you doing here? Someone could've seen you!" the pinkette exclaimed. He ran to the entrance and pulled me, the other me, inside and quickly closed the doors. "How'd you get in?"
The other me grinned. "Like I usually do. The rose garden is always left unguarded. You should really fix that when we leave."
"You need to leave," the Natsu insisted. "I can probably smuggle you out through the servant's entrance then you need to leave town."
"I'm not leaving without you," the other me replied sternly. "We can try again, but use a different route. We were so close-"
"I'm not doing that again anytime soon, Grayson." So that was my name. "My father already has ten men watching my every move throughout the day. It amazes me that you got in here at all. Now go. Go home, pack your bags and leave for the southern borders. I will find you in a few months when my father believes that you have given up-"
"I already have a plan, Nathan," Grayson interrupted. And that was Natsu's name.
Nathan gave him a disbelieving look. "Your plans haven't been working lately. We need a new tactic, a new way around the system. The southern area is less prejudice, we can start over-"
"No! That'll take too long and the wife might get too attached. We need to leave tonight," Grayson insisted. Nathan gave him a stunned look, which changed to a clearly pissed one.
"I told you there are guards watching me! I can't-"
"I went to the witch, okay? She can and will help us!" Grayson exclaimed. Nathan paled.
"YOU WHAT!?"
"Nathan?" a more feminine voice called from the hall. "Nathan, honey, is everything alright? Who are you talking to?" The knob jiggled. Locked. "Nathan let me in, I have to talk to you."
Nathan sighed and palmed his face before whispering, "Get in the closet."
"No! We should go now-"
By now, Nathan had clearly lost his patience, as since with speed only a Mortu can have, he had Grayson in his arms then into the closet within three seconds. "Be quiet, or else I'm not listening to this plan of yours." Grayson seemed to only manage a stunned nod before the door was closed. Nathan sighed again before readjusting his robe and opening the door. There stood the most beautiful woman I have ever seen. Long blonde hair, accentuated by sky blue eyes and high cheekbones. She wore a robe similar to Nathan's, but with a flower design around the hem.
"What do you want, Mia?" Nathan asked, clearly annoyed. The woman, Mia, pouted and walked around him into the room.
"I want to talk. About the man," she stated. She stood right in front of me. Though, with the distant look in her eyes, I could see that she wasn't looking at me but at the view of the garden. She walked right through me, leaving me shivering, to go and open the doors leading to the balcony.
"You really shouldn't keep these doors shut. The view is too nice," she said offhandedly.
"What do you want?" Nathan repeated, crossing his arms.
"Do you really love him?" she asked, several moments later. The question clearly took him by surprise.
"Who?" he asked.
"The man. The one you tried to escape with hours before we were wed," she explained. "Do you love him?" He hesitated, shifting his gaze to the bookshelf across the room. Mia looked like she was ready to cry.
"Please just tell me," she pleaded. "Are you sure you love him?" She walked up to him and took his hand. "He can't give you what I can. Your father approves of me; I can give you a family. We can go places and have fun without people giving us strange looks. I can give you a normal life. I know you are planning to find him again. Please don't do this." He gave her a cold stare before jerking his hand away.
"I don't know what you're talking about. You're my wife. I want nothing else than to start a life as my father's heir," he told her, voice devoid of any emotion. "Now get out. I need to get ready for the day and my duties and you have yours. Don't bother trying to talk to me. I'm going to be busy all day." He stood by the door now, opening it for her to leave. Mia's jaw dropped and tears streamed down her face as she started at him, sadness filling her gaze. They stood like that for a good minute before Mia decided to bound passed Nathan and shut the door. She barely got it closed though, since Nathan got over his initial shock and stopped her, holding it open. After several attempts to closing it, Mia sighed and looked up to her new husband.
"I…am willing…" She took a deep breath. "To offer you a deal. Please don't leave. And…..I can offer him safety…..here….with you…and me…."
"You need to leave," Nathan growled, bangs shadowing the upper half of his face. "Now!" She gave him one final hurt look before ducking her head and leaving hurriedly. He shut the door after her and turned back to the closet. When he opened it, he was met with an irritated Grayson.
"Did you have to be so mean?" he asked, lifting himself from the ground. "I mean, she's just a girl. I heard that her mom is a shopaholic and her dad is a gangster behind his business. You could've been a little nicer."
"Don't worry about her, she's tough. Now you need to leave." He began rifling through the closet. "I'll go to the meeting room and make a distraction and you take your leave."
Grayson crossed his arms. "Hey, I was quiet, and if I remember right, you were going to listen to my plan." Nathan stopped, and looked over his shoulder to Grayson, annoyed, but then he turned around, giving him his full attention.
"I went to the witch and…don't give me that face, she's going to help us. I asked her for something that would guarantee that we would be together. She wanted us to meet her by the Ember tree at dusk so be there! And if all else fails, I will go to the southern borders and wait for you, like you wanted." Nathan's face softened.
.
.
.
"No. Go pack your bags. This discussion is over." Nathan turned back to the closet and pulled out a pair of trousers and a dress shirt. Grayson gave him a disappointed look; however that soon turned into a devious smirk.
"Sure. I'll pack after I go to the Ember tree," he said, heading out to the balcony.
"Very good….wait what?" He straightened and looked back to the Bistro. "Hey….Grayson give me back my ring…"
"Sure, after you meet me at the Ember tree," said raven replied. And then he jumped. Misaki and I were pulled along with him, hearing Nathan yell a final 'Grayson' as he hit the ground. Then the entire scenery blacked out.
"I'm sure you can figure out that Nathan ran after Grayson at the time he was told. I had a brew made for them that they drank and their souls were bound. I gave them the chance to be together, no matter how long it would take. Their bodies may die off, but their souls live on and recycle into another child, another life. They always find each other at one point and they try again at being together. However, they seem to be failing at it. Their vessels keep dying off at the age of seventeen. Although I would say society was to blame. But that's just me." She huffed in frustration. "I've been watching you all these years, and I've finally have had it. It was time I should step in. Plus you're resemblance to the originals was far too great to ignore. I assumed this was when the cycle needed to end and you and Natsu need to be together. I promised them a world where those being Mortu and Bistro wouldn't matter. With the rebellion shifting….this is not a coincidence. It's time for you to move forward with your love to end all this fighting and the slavery. The revolution has been going on for years, ever since the Wintergreens lost their son. I mean that's probably the farthest Grayson and Nathan have gotten with being together, so then the magic forced society to shift-."
"Wait a second. What does that have to do with anything? What" I asked, crossing our arms.
"Yea…." She replied hesitantly. "Let me just say that magic is a mystery. No one fully understands it. They can use it, but results vary. So here's my theory with this one. I said before that I created a brew that would guarantee Grayson and Nathan a relationship in a world without prejudice. I made the brew that would make their souls immortal until that day comes. However, from my observations, it seems that whenever you two come closer to being together, society seems to ….shift ….almost. Like your love affects what happens to the Slavery Act. And like I said, results from magic vary, so the brew might've affected not just your souls but the world around you as well."
SOooooooooooooo? I know, you're prob mad that I didn't get this up as soon as I finished, but the truth is, I don't remember why I didn't do that in the first place. But I'm sure you know, I DO have a life outside of fanfiction, which is truly a shocker, but yea. It may take a while, but I try to finish what I start, so just sit tight and let me figure my stories out. Hopefully they'll turn out alright in the end.
So, without further ado, if you see anything that I might be able to improve in (you know, constructive criticism) I am more than happy to hear it! Suggestions are openly welcome as well! Anyway, until next time, Scarlet out! Love y'all!
(OH! and P.S. I kinda lost track of who got what review answers since it's been a while. But that shouldn't stop you from reviewing! Please, anything is welcome, and I will answer them as soon as possible!)