Aaaaaaaaand we're back! Hope everyone enjoys the chapter :)
Chapter title taken from the song of the same name by Darkness Before Dawn
KEEPING SECRETS CHAPTER 38: UNDESERVED HATRED
Conversation and ice cream finished, Brandish led Lucy back through the winding corridors of the palace, chatting idly as she helped her new friend find her room.
That was, until they rounded a corner- and found themselves face to face with someone who regarded them- specifically Lucy- with a very frigid gaze.
"Well," came Invel's clipped tone as he adjusted his glasses. "Taking the time to fraternize with us 'evil henchmen' of the Black Wizard? How very generous of you, Miss Heartfilia."
Lucy flinched. The sarcasm in his voice hit like a slap, shame flaring hot in her chest.
Brandish, however, just smirked and gave Lucy a light tap on the shoulder. "Yeah, I'm outta here before he starts lecturing me too. Later." With that, she turned on her heel and disappeared down the hallway, leaving Lucy blinking in surprise- stunned, and a little betrayed.
Exhaling slowly, Lucy turned back to the Winter General, hesitating only a moment before forcing herself to meet his eyes.
"I was wrong to say those things." She admitted, voice quiet but steady. "And... I'm sorry."
Invel remained impassive. "I see. I assume you lashed out at His Highness after the confrontation on the bridge- and are now feeling the consequences of your outburst."
Lucy bit her lip, feeling her eyes sting. Invel's words were harsh and she wanted to argue back, but she didn't feel like she had a right to at the moment. Not after what she had said to Natsu. The image of his face, wounded and shocked, when she'd told him he 'wasn't the Natsu she knew' surfaced in her mind, the memory feeling like lead in her stomach.
Invel crossed his arms, unmoved. "I still find Fairy Tail's hypocrisy... fascinating. A guild that preaches the value of bond… and yet would condemn His Highness for rekindling the most fundamental bond of all, in my opinion."
Lucy almost fired back that the bond he had 'rekindled' was with the black wizard Zeref... but she caught herself.
"Zeref isn't evil, Luce. He's hurt. Tortured by that damn curse."
Natsu's words from earlier echoed in her head. and she reminded herself the bond Natsu had rekindled wasn't with some larger than life, evil, legendary figure. It was with his older brother.
His family.
Swallowing the lump in her throat, Lucy nodded slowly. "I see your point."
Invel didn't say anything for a moment. She could still feel his eyes on her, and just as Lucy was about to look back at him, he finally sighed, and spoke again- still cold, but with less venom in his voice.
"I suppose I cannot blame you entirely. You did not choose to grow up in a world that demonized His Majesty at every turn."
Taking that as an opening rather than a rebuke, Lucy shook her head. "It's more than that. I just…I could never have imagined Natsu Dragneel of Fairy Tail could be Zeref's little brother."
Invel studied her for a moment, expression unreadable. Eventually, he asked, "Do you have siblings, Miss Heartfilia?"
She blinked at the unexpected question before shaking her head. "Uh, no. I don't."
"I see." Invel said, gaze softening as he sighed again. "It may be difficult to explain, then. But having siblings..."
He paused, as if weighing his words, before continuing in a tone that was almost wistful.
"My own siblings have chosen quite different walks of life than I have. I'm sure, to an outsider, it might seem impossible we'd have any sort of relationship. And yet- whenever I see them, it's as though no time has passed. We get along splendidly. A bond with a sibling is not so easily broken."
When Invel's gaze met Lucy's again, it was no longer icy, but cool with distant understanding. "I witnessed that same bond reawaken between His Majesty and His Highness, when the prince regained his memories."
Lucy's expression softened. "I think... I understand. As much as I can." A small smile tugged at her lips. "At this point, I think it's more jarring hearing Natsu called 'His Highness' than it is wrapping my head around who his brother is."
If Lucy didn't know any better, she'd swear Invel actually had a tiny, amused smile on his face.
"When he first arrived here, I wasn't sure what to make of him." The Winter General confessed. "I assumed he'd merely be a headache I would have to endure for His Majesty's sake."
He gave Lucy a knowing look- calculated, like he knew what he was about to say would knock her off balance. And it did.
"But to my great surprise... he was fairly well behaved."
Lucy rapidly shook her head. "Natsu? Well-behaved?!"
Invel nodded, looking almost smug. "He reined in his destructive tendencies, realizing the chaos would hinder his search for a cure for His Majesty. He even attempted to involve himself with government affairs to move things along. As such, I took it upon myself to tutor him- politics, world affairs, economics, philosophy- the essentials."
Lucy stared at him like he'd sprouted a second head. "You must think pretty highly of your sense of humor if you expect me to believe that."
Invel simply smirked. "It's all true. Is it so hard to believe in your friend's hidden potential? I merely had to frame it in a way he could relate to. It may not have resembled a traditional education, but the results speak for themselves. Natsu was influential in forging Alvarez's alliance with Caelum."
Lucy listened in stunned silence. "No way... we are still talking about Natsu, right?"
"Indeed." Invel said with pride. " Although... I suppose I should also mention that after presenting his case to our Parliament, he punched the representative leading the opposition through a wall for insulting His Majesty, the Twelve, and Fairy Tail. Which admittedly, triggered a revolt."
Lucy burst out laughing. "Now that sounds more like him. You should have led with that!"
Invel gave a rare smile. "Natsu told me the last thing he wanted was to come here and live the high life. He wanted to prove to the entire empire he was someone they could count on. Does that sound like your friend?"
Lucy's laughter softened into a fond smile. "Yeah... it does. I guess I underestimated how far he'd go. I always thought fighting was all he knew, but, like I was thinking about his magic power earlier, if Zeref really is his brother... that could make his potential, even outside of battle, even greater than I ever realized."
"You're more perceptive than I initially gave you credit for, Miss Heartfilia. At least when you're not floored by world-altering revelations."
Lucy chuckled, but her expression quickly sobered with her next words. "I meant it when I said I was wrong to call all of you 'evil minions' earlier... but still, I'd like to know. Why do you follow Zeref?"
The slight warmth vanished from Invel's features, replaced by deep conviction. "Because His Majesty saved not only me, but my entire family and hometown from decades of oppression by greedy nobles."
Invel's gaze was distant as he continued, focused on his childhood memories. "A corrupt lord ruled over my home. To summarize, he exploited the people he was charged with protecting, and crushed any who dared to oppose him. So, as a child, I submitted a formal report to the Imperial Department of Justice on the matter. Perhaps, a matter like that may seem trivial for me now, but as the poor, youngest child of an ice fisherman... it was."
Lucy's breath caught. Quite similar to when August had told her of Zeref's origin earlier, she hadn't suspected such a humble beginning for a man like Invel.
"The Justice Department passed the report on to His Majesty, who looked into the matter personally. He came to my hometown, confronted the corrupt lord... and removed him."
Lucy listened intently, surprised by Invel's candor.
"Perhaps, from his perspective, it was probably a strategic move, to continue earning the support of the everyday people of his empire. I am well aware that this is all a game to him, and that we are his pawns. However, he plays this game well, and treats his pawns better than most monarchs ever would. Besides, game or not, my family, my hometown- and likely countless others- would be much worse off if not for him."
Lucy had grown up hearing Zeref's name whispered like a curse. The Black Wizard of legend, a monster who brought ruin to wherever he set foot.
But now, Natsu's love for his brother echoed louder than any myth. Invel's quieter admiration for the man who rescued his home and family… only added to the growing crack in what Lucy thought she had known about him.
As if sensing her thoughts, Invel continued, "His Majesty's curse has caused many... unfortunate accidents. Accidents that became tragedies." His lips pressed together tightly. "And those cases are what led Ishgar to label him as the 'black wizard'."
He paused for a moment before he said, "My wish is that people would look past the myths, and see him for who he truly is." His voice grew softer, but somehow lost none of its intensity. "A good man, fighting against a terrible fate."
Lucy swallowed hard.
Would it really be possible to start seeing Zeref that way?
If Natsu still loved him, still believed in him…and someone as cold as Invel could see the humanity in him... couldn't she?
Invel studied her for another moment before asking, "Do you still plan to return to Ishgar?"
Lucy nodded. "Well, I was planning to... but..."
Invel gave her a knowing look. "You now hesitate to leave His Highness behind."
She lowered her gaze. "Yeah... after what I said, I definitely want to make things right with him before I leave, but also... after a year apart and now, seeing him here, trying to bear the weight of everything seemingly on his own... I thought…maybe...I could help him shoulder it."
Invel considered her words for a moment. Then, in a voice free of mockery, he offered, "Prince Natsu believes it is still possible to achieve an understanding between Ishgar and Alakitasia. If you agree, then perhaps... since we in the Empire have long accepted the fact that Natsu is both our prince and a mage of Fairy Tail... you can be the first in your guild to accept he is both your friend and the prince of Alvarez."
With that, Invel departed, leaving Lucy alone in the hallway- silent, thoughtful, and more uncertain of how to proceed than ever.
Lucy wandered the palace corridors, mind churning over everything she'd experienced since being kidnapped by Jackal. The chaos of it all, the earth shattering revelations, the people themselves here- to say it hadn't been what she'd expected was an understatement. Invel's words in particular lingered in her mind. When she had been taken, she expected nothing but enemies, villains reveling in her despair, but instead... She found a situation more complicated than she could have ever imagined.
She came to the end of a hallway, where two tall doors stood beneath a sign that read 'Infirmary'. A spark of curiosity lit in Lucy, and she entered.
Nobody paid her any attention as she made her way through the pristine white halls. Her eyes swept across the nameplates beside each room, until she found the one she was searching for.
Mavis Vermillion
Lucy pushed the door open. The room was dim- the light lacrimas were off, and the sun had long since set, leaving the only illumination from the soft glow of the medical machines monitoring the small figure resting in the hospital bed.
Seeing the usual chipper and bright first master like this- so still, so fragile-looking- sent an unexpected wave of emotion over Lucy. She reached out hesitantly, touching Mavis's hand.
It was warm. Real.
Despite the turmoil this day had put her through- the confusion, the captivity, the emotional whiplash... she could at least be glad the first master was really here in the flesh, no longer just a thought projection.
"What are you going to think about all of this when you wake up, First Master?" Lucy mumbled. "Did you predict any of this?"
Lucy exhaled as she slowly lowered herself into the chair next to Mavis's bed. To her surprise, it was warm. Someone had been sitting here not long ago.
Natsu?
Maybe he had come to visit the First Master before he sent Lucy off.
Or maybe...Zeref?
Given his and Mavis's history, it would make sense. Mavis's story had hinted at complicated feelings, and Lucy remembered the way Zeref's gaze had lingered on the first master back at the Tower of Heaven. Clearly, his feelings were unresolved as well.
As if answering her thoughts, the door to the room opened. Lucy sat up sharply, momentarily blinded by the sudden light spilling in from the hallway, obscuring the figure in the doorway. Given their hesitation, whoever it was seemed just as startled to find her in the room.
When her eyes finally adjusted, Lucy stiffened.
Standing in the doorway was August, the Wizard King.
Neither one of them spoke right away. The air between them hung heavy, laced with unspoken tension.
Finally, August broke the silence. "I didn't realize anyone else was here." His voice was quiet, the commanding tone Lucy had heard earlier absent.
Lucy's heart rate picked up. Something about him felt different now. Earlier, his aura had felt massive, crushing... but now, his presence had diminished to the point that he could be likened to a small child, cowering in one of their parent's shadows.
Attempting to keep her voice cool and even, Lucy asked, "So... why are you here?"
August's gaze drifted to Mavis. There was a softness in his eyes, almost mournful. "His Majesty asked me to watch over her. He feared being around her for too long, lest he risk his curse spiraling out of control."
Lucy nodded. That made sense. She followed his gaze back to Mavis, unsure of what to say next.
August exhaled slowly, and then sneered slightly. "I assume you've come to ensure we're not performing any evil experiments on her? Since we are, after all, the dreaded minions of the black wizard?"
Lucy sighed, shaking her head. Ugh…How many more times am I going to have to apologize for that?
"No," she admitted. "I was wrong to call all of you that. I was wrong about a lot of things, it seems. I've gotten to talk to Natsu some, and a few others, Brandish, Ajeel, Rustyrose...and I'm... beginning to see things differently. I think... I'm even starting to understand why Natsu's proud to be part of the empire."
August's eyes widened slightly in surprise. His gaze sharpened, as though seeing her for the first time. After a moment, his expression softened and he quietly said, "Yes, well, Natsu... can be quite convincing."
He actually seems a lot less harsh than Invel... Lucy managed a small smile. "Yeah, he can be."
Regarding her with quiet curiosity for another moment, August finally asked, "Have you forgiven him?"
Lucy hesitated. The truth was... she wasn't sure.
"To be honest, I'm still hurt," she admitted. "It still stings- putting it lightly- that he kept us in the dark on where he was and what he was doing. That he chose to stay away when maybe, if he'd come and talked to us, we could've worked something out. Something better than being on opposite sides of a war. But... I don't hate him. I refuse to resent him. I feel awful for how I acted when I first found out the truth, so now... I'm trying to understand."
August's gaze fell from hers, his expression unreadable. When he spoke again, his voice carried a quiet weight. "I understand... though I don't think you can truly comprehend how much of a difference he's made by being here."
"I think I can."
August looked back at her, brow raised.
Lucy's fingers tightened around her arm. "I think I can because of how much of a difference he's made in my life. And because of how much I've missed him this past year." She exhaled, eyes drifting back to Mavis's sleeping form. Quieter, she added, "His absence has been felt."
August's expression visibly softened, and he gave a slow nod. "You care for him."
Lucy blushed, but her reply came surprisingly easy. "Yeah... I do."
Another long silence settled between them. Until something flickered across August's face that looked quite close to guilt.
"If you need to blame someone for Natsu staying away from Fairy Tail... please don't blame him. Don't even blame His Majesty. Blame me."
Lucy's eyes widened. She tilted her head. "…You?"
Taking her confusion as permission to continue, August nodded. "After His Majesty's confrontation with your guild master, it should be no surprise to you that Natsu was quite distraught. He was torn- caught between two halves of himself pulling in opposing directions. And to be honest..." His voice dropped, thick with emotion. "I was afraid of losing him."
Lucy's breath caught at the unexpected admission. Someone like August- a man who was practically a force of nature- had feared losing Natsu?
She looked at him closely, and began to see him not just a mage of overwhelming power, but a man- who, despite his seemingly composed demeanor, had real vulnerabilities of his own.
"I suppose that might sound strange," August continued, "but in truth, Natsu has become... like family to me. I've known His Majesty since I was a small child, and I know how much he loves his brother, how much of himself he's given for Natsu's sake. If he had left us, even temporarily, even with the intention to return... it would have destroyed His Majesty. Any chance of saving him would have been lost."
He closed his eyes briefly, steeling himself. "I told all of this to Natsu. I begged and pleaded with him to stay here. For His Majesty's sake." Even quieter, added, "And selfishly... for mine as well."
He opened his dark eyes, meeting Lucy's gaze. Voice still heavy with emotion, he added, "You don't know how much he missed all of you. I can see it now- how much you have missed him. I can only imagine how the rest of Fairy Tail feels."
He let out a deep sigh. "I wish I could offer you my apologies. To you, and to the rest of Fairy Tail. But honestly, I cannot."
Lucy was lost for words. She wasn't sure what she had expected when August stepped through the doorway. Perhaps something similar to how Invel had initially treated her. Condescension. A cold, logical dismissal of her presence
Definitely not the raw emotion of a man who had fought desperately to keep the people he clearly loved from falling apart.
Not someone who had feared losing Natsu as much as she, or the rest of Fairy Tail, had.
She had already come to realize the people of Alvarez weren't the villains she had believed.
But now, she was seeing something more: just how much Natsu meant to them.
August's gaze broke and he turned to leave- but paused in the doorway. Quietly, he said, "Though I have no right, I'd like to make one selfish request of you, Miss Heartfilia." He glanced back slightly. "Natsu clearly cares for you. So please… don't abandon him."
And with that, he was gone.
Lucy sat in silence, staring at the empty doorway, her heart thundering, her thoughts a whirlwind.
She had said earlier she didn't understand why Natsu didn't come home. And he had told her both Fairy Tail and Alvarez were his home.
In that moment, his words had stung. But not anymore.
Because after listening to August's words, she understood.
Lucy lost track of how long she stayed in Mavis's darkened hospital room, once again lost in thought. Eventually, she grew tired of sitting. Assured the first master was stable and being properly cared for, she stepped back into the hallway. She paused, however, as she noticed the nameplate on the room next to Mavis's.
RUTH DRAGNEEL
Lucy couldn't deny her curiosity. This was the woman who had given birth to the fire dragon slayer she had grown so close to—as well as the infamous black wizard who had reshaped history.
After a moment of hesitation, Lucy gently pushed the door open.
It became immediately apparent, unlike with Mavis's room, she was not alone.
A soft light glowed from a lamp on the bedside table, illuminating one corner of the room. Beside it sat a chair—and someone was in it. A man with black, messy hair, hunched forward slightly in a red… tracksuit?
He looked up as Lucy entered. She immediately noticed the blackened scarf around his neck.
Wait... is that-
"Zeref?"
He sighed, his shoulders tensing slightly, a faint flush creeping up his neck as if he were a child caught somewhere he wasn't supposed to be.
Ironic, considering they were in Alvarez's Imperial palace, and he was the emperor.
For a long moment neither of them spoke. Then, in a tentative attempt to break the silence, Lucy gestured to his clothes. "Uh... did you lose a bet or something?"
Zeref rolled his eyes. "It serves its purpose, I hate to admit. Evidently, people don't recognize me right away when I wear this..." He tugged at the fabric of the tracksuit, muttering under his breath, "I don't see how you people stand this modern clothing..."
Lucy couldn't help but let out a small chuckle at that, causing the black mage to huff and turn away slightly. It strikingly reminded her of Natsu, whenever he pouted.
"So uh,-" Lucy paused, uncertain. "Wait, is it 'Your Majesty', or 'Lord Zeref?'"
Zeref rolled his eyes, looking exasperated. He waved a hand in dismissal. "Please... just Zeref."
"Oh, uh, okay. So…Zeref. I guess I was wrong. You and Natsu... you look a lot more alike than I initially thought." Lucy said.
Zeref tilted his head, curious.
"Your expressions, your mannerisms, things like that- I've realized are actually very similar. Also, when Natsu's hair was wet earlier- I forget it's not naturally spiky- he looked like a pink haired version of you."
Zeref chuckled softly, a small smile tugging at his lips. "Salmon."
Lucy chuckled back. "Of course, salmon."
"Dad used to get so annoyed when someone said he had pink hair, something he evidently instilled into Natsu, too."
So Natsu got his hair color from their father? Well that makes sense, it had to come from somewhere… and from what I could see earlier, their mother had dark hair...
She looked down at the woman in question, watching her breathe softly. She could definitely see that Zeref had inherited a lot from her, the dark hair, pale skin, delicate features.
"She's beautiful." Lucy said quietly.
Zeref followed her gaze, smile falling slightly.
"I didn't expect her to be so young." Lucy continued. "She doesn't look much older than you or Natsu does now."
Zeref's fingers moved to Natsu's scarf, his expression clouding.
"When my family died... I was only eight. Natsu was four." His voice was soft, faraway. "When I brought Natsu back, he had no memory of an afterlife. It was like he had gone to sleep one day and woken up fifty years later. If the same thing happens with her... it'll have been over 500 years."
Zeref swallowed hard. "I never thought we'd actually make it this far. And now that we have... I'm afraid." He looked down, his voice trembling slightly. "I... I don't know how to explain things to her. I'm afraid of what she'll think when she sees us. When she realizes how much time has passed. How much the world's changed... and what she'll think when she finds out what I've done. What I've become."
Despite everything Zeref was—his history, his power, the havoc he'd wrought—in this moment, Lucy's heart ached for him.
"Look... I'm sorry, for what I said, how I acted back on the airship." Lucy said softly. "I was in shock and I was hurt... But, I didn't realize how hurtful I was in return. I wasn't thinking about what you, or Natsu, had been through."
She tried offering a small, encouraging smile. "I think... Once she has time to process all of this, your mother will be happy. Happy both of her sons loved her enough to do what you did. Even after all this time."
Zeref looked down, silent for a moment. When he finally spoke, voice low, he said, "Natsu shouldn't have been caught up in this."
And then the dam broke.
Tears spilled freely down Zeref's face as he looked at her again. "From the second he regained his memories, I told him to stay away. I tried to tell him he'd only suffer with me in his life, to get him to leave me. To go back to Fairy Tail. But..." His voice cracked. "He wouldn't listen. I've ruined him. The life he built with you, with Fairy Tail... is destroyed because of me."
Lucy stood there, eyes wide lips parted, utterly at a loss for words.
Looking at the man in front of her, so openly racked with guilt- utterly unlike anything the legends surrounding him painted him as, or even like the confident emperor she had met on the airship earlier today- she found herself having to remind herself yet again that this was Natsu's actual older brother. While Natsu was (usually) pure energy, all fire and an unshakeable will, Zeref... Zeref carried the weight of the world like a man drowning under it.
However, more words from Natsu and August from earlier today echoed in her mind.
"Nobody can understand the hell my brother has been through. What he's had to endure, what he's had to endure just to keep surviving."
"His Majesty was originally a kind, gentle boy. The curse destroyed him."
She realized that behind the titles of 'black mage' and 'Emperor Spriggan' was a very real, very broken person.
A person who had given up everything- his innocence, his sanity, his humanity- he had sacrificed his very soul, just so his little brother could have a chance at life.
The realization that Lucy was now face to face with the true Zeref Dragneel left her breathless.
Finally, she managed. "No. You're wrong."
Zeref looked up, startled.
"You haven't ruined him. You gave him his life back." She said, "And when you did, you wanted him to be able to choose the life he wanted to live, right?"
She offered another faint, but genuine smile.
"You probably don't need me to tell you this but... once Natsu makes up his mind about something? God help anyone that tries to change it. So when you think about it, is it really THAT surprising he chose to help the person who gave him his life back in the first place? Especially when that person was his older brother?"
Zeref stared at her, stunned.
Then, after a long breath, he quietly said, "You truly are very kind, Lucy. Just like Anna... and Layla."
Lucy blinked, caught off guard by the mention of her mother.
Before she could respond, Zeref rose from his seat and slowly walked toward her, his expression unreadable... though there was something searching in his gaze. "You... mentioned your mother. Back on the airship."
Lucy barely had time to register how close he had suddenly gotten. And then, without warning, Zeref pressed his hand to her forehead, paying her now flustered expression no mind .
Wha- wait- is the concept of 'no personal space' actually just a Dragneel family trait?!
"If you'd humor me for just a moment..." Zeref said softly. "I'd like to show you what happened."
Before she could question him, the world shifted.
The sterile white walls of the palace infirmary dissolved, replaced by golden sunlight and the scent of fresh earth. A soft breeze rustled the trees around them, and in the distance, a grand estate stood tall and proud against the clear blue sky.
Lucy froze in disbelief.
She knew this place.
Zeref's voice, tinged with something hesitant, drifted through the space beside her.
"What you're seeing now... is my memory."
She turned, only to see another Zeref- this one NOT in a red tracksuit, but scholarly looking black and white robes- walking toward the gates of the estate.
It wasn't just any old estate though- it was a place Lucy recognized instantly.
The Heartfilia estate.
Her childhood home.
Zeref in the memory approached the tall, wrought iron gates, prompting the guards flanking them to stiffen instinctively.
"Excuse me sir," one of them said, "Lord and Lady Heartfilia are not accepting guests at the moment." His voice was firm, but there was no mistaking the underlying air of caution.
Zeref offered a pleasant, polite smile. "I understand. I don't wish to cause any trouble. But if you would be so kind…could you deliver a message to them for me? I promise, after you do, I'll depart without further question."
The guard furrowed his brow. "A message?"
Zeref nodded. "Please tell them… Anna sends her regards."
For a moment, the guard looked unimpressed, as if debating whether the message was worth relaying. But then, with a reluctant sigh, he turned and went through the gate, eventually disappearing through the door of the grand home.
Minutes passed in silence.
When the guard returned, his steps were brisk, his tone far more courteous than before. "Please, this way, sir. They'll see you now."
Memory Zeref followed him without hesitation, while Lucy and actual Zeref followed them into the estate.
Crossing the threshold of her childhood home, Lucy felt the air grow heavier with each step. The marble floors gleamed just as she remembered. The high, arching ceilings, the ornate chandeliers, the antique paintings lining the hallways- everywhere she looked brought a wave of memories crashing down over her.
She had spent countless hours running and playing in these halls as a child, laughing, happy... at least before her mother's death. Before her father's warmth had frozen over into something cold and detached.
And then, as they turned a corner, Lucy froze. Sitting there on the ground was a small girl with golden hair, humming softly to herself, arranging her dolls in a perfect row. That's... me?!
Memory Lucy looked up, as the guard walked by with memory Zeref. Her big brown eyes met his dark ones, and she smiled and waved. Memory Zeref smiled back and returned the gesture.
The Lucy observing the memory felt her knees weaken. She could actually remember this. Zeref had just been another man, dressed in strange clothes, who had come to visit her parents. She had waved at him politely like all the other guests. She had no way of knowing who he was or what he was there to do. It was surreal.
"Huh." Zeref beside her muttered. "I had forgotten about that..."
Memory Zeref and the guard continued down the hall, past little Lucy, until they reached a large, familiar door. Lucy's breath caught. She knew it well—it led to her parents' study.
The guard knocked twice before Lucy heard her father's voice from within the room say, "Enter."
The door swung open and Lucy's heart clenched.
It was them. Her parents. Alive, at least in this memory.
Her father stood on one side of the room, near the fireplace, his eyes studying Zeref the moment he entered. To anyone else, he might have appeared calm and composed, but Lucy could recognize the tension in his shoulders, the stiffness in his stance. Her father was most certainly not at ease with the black wizard Zeref in front of him, in his home.
However, her mother was another story.
She sat behind a grand mahogany desk, bathed in sunlight coming from the window behind her, Layla Heartfilia smiled with genuine warmth. Like she was greeting an old friend.
"Welcome, Zeref."
Zeref inclined his head respectfully. "Thank you for seeing me. I know my arrival was on short notice."
Jude remained stiff, his arms folded across his chest, his gaze sharp and scrutinizing. "You're truly the Zeref? The legendary black wizard?" He narrowed his eyes in suspicion. "You don't look anything like I would expect."
Zeref let out a dry chuckle. "No, I suppose not. If you'd like, I can give you a demonstration." A sphere of dark, writhing energy bloomed in his palm, and Jude's face crumbled into absolute fear. However, Zeref sent the magic away as quickly as he had summoned it.
"Kidding." Zeref said with a sheepish smile, his tone unfittingly light.
To Lucy's surprise, her mother let out a soft laugh. "Anna did say you had a mischievous streak... I think I see what she meant."
Zeref turned to Layla, curiosity flickering in his gaze. "Anna said?"
Layla nodded. "In a manner of speaking." She opened a drawer in her desk, from which she retrieved a worn, leather-bound notebook.
Zeref immediately recognized it as Anna's old notebook.
"Anna left quite detailed notes on you- our families have known each other for a long time, it seems. But also, the dragons, the dragon slayers... and of course, the Eclipse Gate. Based on her calculations of ethernano fluctuations in the atmosphere, she even predicted-within 50 years- the moment when you would most likely approach one of her descendants."
Memory Zeref had something that almost looked like embarrassment flash across his face when Layla had revealed the extent of Anna's notes. Jude- and now, Lucy- looked surprised at his reaction, but upon Layla mentioning Anna's theories, he composed himself again.
"I see. Anna truly was indeed brilliant. I really shouldn't be surprised. I take it that's why you're not shocked to see me?"
Layla smiled gently. "We knew it was only a matter of time. Which brings us to the reason you're here. When would you like the Gate opened? The next solar eclipse is in three months."
Zeref raised an eyebrow. "You can gather all 12 keys that soon? I'm impressed. You are certainly driven."
Layla smiled again. "I simply want to see the world become a better place. I want my daughter to live her life free of this responsibility our family has been tasked with... and of course, without fear of Acnologia as well. As far as the keys go, I already have two of them with me at the estate, and I have the whereabouts of the other ten accounted for. Three months will be plenty of time."
Zeref smiled. "I really am quite impressed. You certainly take after Anna in more ways than one... yes, you've most certainly inherited her determined spirit. Very well, I'll return in three months, on the day of the eclipse. Thank you, for your hospitality, and your cooperation"
Layla bowed her head. "And thank you, Zeref. Together, we will finish what you and my ancestor Anna started, and rid the world of Acnologia."
Zeref gave one last nod and with a ripple of dark energy, vanished from Lucy's parents' study.
The scene shifted again, and Lucy and Zeref found themselves under a canopy of green. Pale sunlight filtered through the dense leaves, which had an uncanny, silvery quality, almost dreamlike. It was, Lucy realized, the beginnings of an eclipse.
Ahead, Jude and Layla walked side by side, flanked by Loke, Capricorn, and Sagittarius. Memory Zeref followed shortly behind them.
"After Anna passed through the Gate with the dragon slayers," Zeref quietly told Lucy, "your ancestors hid the Eclipse Gate. They feared it might be seized by the cults that had begun forming in my name…or worse, destroyed by the fledgling Magic Council, who were banning any magic they found too dangerous."
The group approached a clearing that shimmered faintly in the air, like a mirage. As they passed through the clearing, reality seemed to bend slightly, and the illusion fell away, revealing a stone staircase descending into the earth.
The descent led them into a vast subterranean cavern. Overhead, a circular gap in the ceiling opened to the sky, providing a perfectly unobstructed view of the sun- which, at the moment, was nearly perfectly aligned in eclipse. At the heart of the chamber stood the Eclipse Gate itself, its immense intricate doors glowing in a soft, otherworldly light. The sheer scale and beauty of it took Lucy's breath away.
Even the memory version of Zeref seemed in awe, an impressed smile forming on his face. "Your family has done very well, Anna." He said quietly to himself, before letting out a deep exhale. "I suppose there's no reason to delay. Are you ready, Layla?"
Layla looked back at Zeref, and gave a firm nod. "I am." Her voice was steady, her expression calm, but Lucy could also notice a slight tightness in her mother's jaw.
Loke, Sagittarius, and Capricorn nodded and returned to the Celestial Spirit realm, in order for their keys to be used for the ritual. One by one, Layla placed the golden celestial keys into their designated slots. Each lock glowed faintly as it connected, pulsing with ethereal resonance. Each lock responded with a soft hum, the keys pulsing with ethereal resonance. Even as a memory, the air was thick with magic—enough that Lucy felt goosebumps rise on her arms.
Finally, Layla reached the final keyhole- the one for Aquarius. Lucy's breath caught in her throat.
She knew what was about to happen.
Memory Zeref, however, did not.
"Is there something wrong, Layla?" he asked, head tilted in confusion at her sudden hesitation.
Layla glanced back at him, offering a faint smile. "No. I was just preparing myself."
Before Zeref could question her further, Layla turned back to the final keyhole and raised her hands. A brilliant light flared from her palms, as her raw magic energy poured into the mechanism.
Memory Zeref's eyes suddenly widened, in alarm. "Wh- NO!" He turned to a startled Jude and yelled, "Stop her!"
Both men rushed toward the Celestial mage- but it was too late.
A blinding beam of energy erupted from the Eclipse Gate, shooting up through the gap in the ceiling just as the eclipse reached its peak. The cavern quaked violently as magic surged from the gate, throwing Zeref and Jude across the floor like ragdolls.
Before they could recover, the gate opened.
The massive doors creaked apart, and seven distinct pulses of radiant energy burst out…but instead of materializing, the lights veered, circling erratically around the chamber before escaping through the opening in the cavern's ceiling. Like stars escaping a constellation, one by one, they disappeared in different directions.
The magic around the Gate faded, its massive doors slammed shut.
Memory Zeref pushed himself up, pale and stunned. "Wh-what? Why were there seven? There should have only been six!"
His voice cracked. "Natsu, Anna... I don't understand! Why didn't they manifest? Where did they-"
"Layla!"
Memory Zeref turned, finding Jude on his knees beside his wife's collapsed form. He gently gathered her in his arms, frantically listening for a heartbeat. He relaxed when he felt it.
He looked up at Zeref, furious and confused. "What is this? What happened?"
Memory Zeref didn't answer. His expression was one of absolute horror.
Beside Lucy, the real Zeref sighed. "I still don't understand why things ended the way they did. Anna and the dragon slayers were supposed to emerge together, and be together. Who the seventh light was, where they came from... I still don't know, but that's undoubtedly what made the aftermath of the gate opening so chaotic, and why they found themselves separated."
His gaze drifted to where Layla lay unconscious in Jude's arms. "As for your mother... I already knew what was happening to her."
Lucy, eyes wide and hands over her mouth, numbly nodded as the scene began to change. "Magical deficiency syndrome..."
Now in her parents' bedroom, Jude glared at Memory Zeref, his face flushed with rage. "MAGICAL DEFICIENCY SYNDROME?! Layla never mentioned something like that happening in Anna's notes!"
Memory Zeref regarded Lucy's father with distant, glassy eyes. "She was missing a key." He muttered. "And in that case... it's possible for the celestial mage to substitute their life force as the required energy."
Jude's furious expression crumbled, the weight of Zeref's words sinking in. "...life force?" he breathed out.
Zeref hung his head. "I'm sorry."
"No," Jude growled, his voice cracking. "No... this... this can't be! I don't accept it!"
"It's alright, my love."
The voice was faint, so soft it could have been imagined. But Jude immediately spun, eyes wide, finding Layla awake in their bed.
Layla smiled weakly up at him. "I... wanted to do this. To give you- and Lucy- a safer world to live in. A world without the shadow of Acnologia... where Lucy could live freely, not bound to our family's duty to the Eclipse Gate. For the people I love… for my family... I would gladly give up my life."
Jude collapsed beside their bed, clutching her hand in both of his. "No... I don't want to do this without you." As he broke into sobs, he ground out, "I can't!"
"Why."
Lucy's parents turned at the sharp word. They found Zeref glaring at Layla, red eyes gleaming with fury. "You had no need to throw your life away like this! There would be other eclipses, we could have waited-"
"No, we couldn't have." Layla interrupted softly, her voice resolute.
Zeref froze, his anger flickering into confusion as he looked at her. Layla's sad smile deepened.
"Jude, sweetheart," she said gently, "could you reach into the cupboard beside me? There's an envelope in the back."
Jude, somewhat recomposed but also still slightly trembling, nodded. He opened the cupboard and rustled through its contents until he pulled out a manila envelope. As he unfolded the papers inside and scanned them, his breath hitched.
"What… what is this?" His voice hoarse.
Layla closed her eyes for a moment. "A little over a month ago, when I went in for a checkup... the doctor found something. When they ran some tests... Well, it turned out I had something even magic couldn't cure me of... stage four carcinoma. They think it started in my lungs, and it spread fast... too fast."
Jude went rigid and Memory Zeref went pale. Current Zeref hung his head, while Lucy covered her mouth with her hands, eyes wide with tears.
Layla reached up and weakly grasped her husband's hand. "They gave me a few months, at best. I've been using everything I had left to stay standing."
Jude shook as his tears fell again. "You should have told me."
Layla, still smiling, shook her head. "You wouldn't have let me do this."
He lowered his head, body wracked with silent sobs.
Layla looked at her husband tenderly before turning slightly to Zeref. "Anna sacrificed the time she had with her family to see this through... to ensure a better future for them, for us, for the world. I... wanted to use what time I had left to do the same. For my family." She paused for a moment, looking at Zeref. "You understand, don't you, Zeref?"
Zeref stared at her, stricken. "Wh-wha-"
Layla smiled again. "Anna really did leave me a lot of details. One of the dragon slayers that came through the gate... was actually your brother, wasn't he?"
Zeref's eyes widened. He couldn't find the words to reply.
"I know your story- your actual story- so I know you understand what it means to give everything for your family." Her smile grew, and her voice was full of warmth as she continued. "From my understanding, he's about Lucy's age. Wouldn't it be wonderful, in a world safe from Acnologia... if Natsu and Lucy could end up being friends?"
Zeref stumbled back into the wall as if struck. His hands flew to his head, clawing at his temples. Black mist began to seep from his body. With a cry that shook the room, he teleported away in a cloud of shadow, the memory collapsing into silence behind him.
Now back in Ruth's hospital room, Lucy stood motionless, tears streaking her cheeks. Across from her, Zeref stumbled back, letting out a shaky breath.
"I... promised Anna I would watch over your family…" He said, voice barely above a whisper. And I couldn't even do that right. Maybe if I hadn't been so selfish the past 400 years, wandering the earth and waiting to die..."
His gaze far away now- lost, hollow. "Maybe if I researched more into healing magic, like I once wanted... Maybe I could have done something more for your mother. But as it stands, she's just another name in a long list of people I've failed."
He drew in a deep, unsteady breath. "But I thought you should know the truth. And while you probably already knew... I wanted you to see how much your mother loved you."
Lucy stood frozen for a moment, overwhelmed. Then, suddenly she stepped forward and wrapped her arms around Zeref.
He stiffened, caught completely off guard- but within seconds, he melted into the embrace, clutching her like a lifetime.
Lucy's voice was soft but thick with emotion as she said, "It might be selfish to say this... but thank you. For everything. For watching over my family. For training Mavis and the other founders… for helping to create Fairy Tail. For everything you've done for Natsu... because I really can't imagine my life without him."
Zeref slowly pulled back, eyes wide with disbelief.
But Lucy wasn't done. "I know I don't know your whole story... but I know enough. I know... I can't look at you as evil incarnate any longer. Because your legacy… it isn't just darkness, Zeref. It's filled with love. With care. With sacrifice." She gave him a tearful smile. "And I'm sorry, that all the world has given you is suffering and apathy in return."
She chuckled softly through her tears. "And well... I know I made a pretty awful first impression, but... I think I'd really like to get to know the real Zeref Dragneel a bit better."
Zeref stared at her, speechless. His mouth parted slightly, as if to say something- only to be cut off by a bewildered, familiar voice from the doorway.
"Woah, woah, woah, what the heck are you two doing in here?"
Both Zeref and Lucy spun to find Natsu standing at the door, blinking at them in utter confusion.
Honestly, I don't remember if the details of what went down when Layla opened the Eclipse Gate were ever explored more than what Aquarius showed Brandish and Lucy. It's something I've often wondered about so I thought it would be fun to explore here!
Next time, Ruth will be waking up, so I hope everyone is ready for that feel trip lol
Thanks to all of you for reading, and I know I've said this before, but special thanks to everyone who leaves such kind comments, I'm happy y'all are enjoying the story so much! Your words really do wonders when I find myself stuck/ lacking motivation :)
Anyways, I'll see you next time for chapter 39, I Hear Her Breathe.