C.1 Reminiscentia
How long it has been?...
Years?...
.
.
No, centuries? Probably more?... I can't really remember the exact time of that day-
"Ah! It's the mister black wizard from before!"
"No way... Ma..vis?..."
Yet I still vividly remember your beautiful face, your innocence, your passion. One who chased her dream like a kid like none other who dreamed to live inside of a fairy tale.
"You remember!?"
The founder and first master of the Fairy tail who would be known as the most lively, the strongest, and the brightest Guild... No matter how much time has passed, Mavis Vermillion.
"It's really you!"
"No wait Mavis! Don't co-!"
The name always rings clear in my mind.
I couldn't remember how much I had shown that much of emotions back before I met you, even go so far to made me realize...
"Yaaay!"
"No wait! I'm serious! I am cursed re-!?"
*Brug!*
"-!? What-?..."
That I'm not alone.
"..."
"It's okay..."
"...H-how?..."
"... We won against them because of you..."
"..."
My mind went blank, yet how warm and Gentle her hands is as she pushed her body and wrap her arms around me, burst all sort of raw emotions deep within my heart, unclear on how I must react and had forgotten, about this simple gentle affections.
Means to me.
"... How could you be... H-How?..."
"We had so many things to talk about..."
...
...
"Zeref!? You're that black wizard Zeref!?"
"I don't look much like that Aren't I?..."
"Yeah! You're really kind and nice!"
"We… Well... "
.
.
In that short moment, we exchanged everything about the two of us, how you're definitely one of the most talented human could ever be, with how you missed me after our last parting, but when I revealed myself to you, you're never treated me any different than before…
.
.
But...
"Wait!? You used Law-!?"
"Y-yeah... I kinda sli-"
*Tuk!*
"!? Wha-!? hEY! What was that for-!?"
...
...
.
"How... How Could've you... say such things?..."
... No mavis... You just haven't experienced it... That's all… The more I described it, the more obvious the curse haven't began. Yet...
"Because that's the truth..."
.
It's cruel and unforgiving, reality isn't kind for people like us who defy their rules and fought it until the world cursed us till the bitter end.
"No... Why?... And I thought... I thought You're..."
"Now you understand?... I'm not as kind or upstanding as you thought I am to be..."
…
.
.
I watched how you ran, denying it all. Escaping from the cold reality that washed you over like some sort of stupid joke that had gone too far in application.
That's my reaction before I accept it wholeheartedly. About things unforgiving results called Fate. Mine who already decided to suffer for eternity as long the world continue to exist...
Until my whole life was turned upside down because of this curse... This Insignia.
I would've probably become as kind you had think me to be... That's probably one of the reason why I had created so many deadly magic and theory…
….
.
.
But...
My whole being keep crying in agony, to taste sweet fruit called death. The punishment I received for angering the world because they took my precious one away.
The same loved one equivalently of your guild, a family. Those people you never wished to be seperated from.
You soon will understand what it feels like to take those happiness and joy away from them if you had the same curse as me. One who destroys other fortune and hope…
….
A monster...
.
.
Ankhseram.
The Curse of contradictions.
A cruel punishment for those who bear this ugly insignia, the more you loved, the more you treasure and cherish them. It will take it away from you in the cruelest way possible. Regardless if you're conscious or not when approaching them.
Whether it was the nature around you... Or one who you loved the most. The perfect target for the curse to release itself full force to further the bearers agony.
...
...
I had seen enough...
For a lifetime... For this 400 years of wandering all alone searching redemption yet spread chaos in that path, being the one who watches from the sidelines… Every single time.
The pendulum that shown the repeated cycle of humanity actions. It's Karma.
I don't want to be near people, I loved them. Yet I will destroy them if I had such thought near dense human population. But the more I saw them, the more my mind became corrupted over time.
In a single instance.
I never had thought I would become this malicious... No, the true terror as In the 'Evil' mankind had to admit and must be purged before I finally fell deeper because I just don't want to lose my family, yet taking happiness from others anyway.
….
...
Was the beginning that simple?...
Because I don't want to be all alone?... Wanted to have someone to love genuinely and sought a way so I can stop and finally stay at place I can belong?...
Searching for an answer of life and death itself by searching for a way around it so my parents and little brother would be there for me?... Defying the law of the living and even gone so far to mess with it?... Just to feel a small sense of belonging and have someone close to lean upon?
Seeing my little brother to be alive and grow to be he is today with the promise I made with Igneel and Anna?... Did I really wanted to destroy the whole world in the first place?...
Was a single wish of young boy not to be alone because he doesn't want to lose anything again...
Must cost him an eternity to suffer because of his search to bear the result he hoped it would gave him?... Even send his remaining one he wished to stay at his side to fight the worst legacy my age had failed to contain and lived in the present? Spreading even more evil and unending calamity everywhere, planned or on whim alone?...
...
...
Sometimes...
I do wonder...
Was this curse contradict me?...
Or…
.
.
Did I already broken before I already bear this ugly sign to begin with?...
All I know right now is... That my mind… Had finally lose it.
"..."
Soft breeze follow soon with scent of grass filled the air.
The warm air created from sun ray filled the space with tranquility and can only be described as calming.
"Uhhm…." A nap he soon woke up because of bittersweet dream, small tear creep to his eye with his finger touched it to realize what he had dreamed of. Wiped it off with his finger as his face feel what his heart just feel.
A distant memory from the past.
"... yaaaaaawn~..." Soon, he ruffled his messy spiky black bed hair while broke into a long yawn from a good nap that he must admit, was one of the best one he had so far in the last 100 year cycle after his trip from certain kingdom.
"..." His eye soon gazed upon the lively town, very far away from where he sat and rest his hand on his knee, his back arched. To see from better position thousand of kilometers away with his magic amplified his eyesight to the point sharpening his very sense and hearing to utmost limit able to pull such superhuman feat with such ease.
His eyes darted left and right calmly following the sight.
Group of Young kids were having fun playing with each other.
Females group consist from young to old mother's who gossipped with the seller in the market Street, probably housewife conversation, a song so beautiful managed to enter his ear even being so far away because how peaceful the place he rest upon.
"…"
Reminding him about her, the innocence of her smile, the love of knowledge and her ideal gave him a scorching feeling, that is both hate and love at the same time that can't be extinguished, the mellow song only made that emotions burned more stronger.
He only let small thin smile escaped on his expression, while enjoying the weather with the faint song keep playing in far horizon, he soon made up his mind and stand up on his feet before wiping the dirt from his back and butt.
His spot soon turned black. Like a dead lands, yet it was mere fraction. It didn't crumbled down and took life farther than what he had rest his body upon. Almost like a rock equivalent of his height just been lifted from where he sleep with gray soil turned dark.
He doesn't destroyed all of the green plain and the living on where he rest, a happy face creep to his expression like with his thin smile, a Joy perhaps. A respectable treatment he gave to a place who had gave him a really nice rest after years of hardship.
He soon found a thing called achievement in his book for not ruining one of his might soon be favorite napping spot in the far future. For his name is Zeref, and now he marched to his enemy who had irked him more than ever after his afternoon break.
"Huh... Well look at that. I don't believed that you'd actually agree of our meeting, even more surprising you actually waiting patiently for me." I spoke in mirth sound, almost taunting him to send me away with his glare if I had provoke him more than that in a sense.
"..."
"Well?... So how's your left arm?... And if I must be honest, this is a honor seeing you like this, your normal form is rather... a sight to behold for common people after all."
"Hump, what do you want?... Black wizard?" The wild blue mane man growled at my direction, discerning what I had mentioned.
"It's nothing, just a mere wish for destruction if you must force me to answer. It's a rather small ambition though."
"... Humph. Cut the sweet word away from me, I don't want to hear it. Get to the point already."
"Hoh?... But you agree for this small meeting aren't you?" Again, I had sent another word which could've speak death for a normal person to voice against him.
The strongest Dragon slayer, the remain of the age where they're the strongest and most powerful being who conquered the entirety of Fiore.
Acnologia.
"Infact, I'm the one who doesn't understand…. With the power you possess, the might you have from any living bring, could rule all of people in fear if you felt like it. No one is able to stop you. However, that would made it rather boring if I must be honest. So I don't recommend it if you actually care about conquering everything." I'm answering my own question… huh, guess I can crack a joke when I felt like it.
"So?..."
"I just can't wrap my head around it... The true reason of your actions."
….
There's a small silence before he close his eyes after hearing my frank sarcasm. Before letting out a small chuckle at it.
"Looks who's talking, aren't you also the same?..." He slowly opened his eye in this bleak cavern, consisting lumps of black rocks, his aura penetrates the air, filled this whole area with passive animosity.
His "neutral" state of mind able to make small fries faint and cower in fear.
"Hah, I've been at lost on my whole life. That's is why I've been watching from the sidelines…It's a rather fun if I must blunt if you actually didn't bother to step in and watch till the end. Though I couldn't decide one thing... Work together with you, or against you..."
I raised my right hand.
The conflict I had seen throughout the whole premise of mankind evolution, the way society shaped, how much blood had been spilled In Its wake and path. Blaming countless of Innocence and good people to the greed of those who took advantage of their integrity and pure intentions
The day I seen when the dragons took my parents away.
How much Natsu had meant to me, still waiting for his word and the hidden goal I had sent him to after me after hundreds of years finally come.
And….
The festival I myself been waiting for more than anyone. Like a child waiting to go to the amusement park I able to gaze at least once in a small land with the name I couldn't remember.
"But either way, I don't have to choose..." I shrugged my shoulder again before sent my taunting gaze right to his face for the second time.
"I would destroy mankind with you in it, that's my mission." The being who sat in front of me only maintaining his neutral gaze, with a little more push, he would take the bait. However...
"... Let me help with you with that, you've been waiting forever right?... For someone you could fought with everything you got, so I'll be that someone. Perhaps I should be the one who took one of your foot, just tell me which one you want me to take away."
Even I was hooked by my own trap.
"What arrogance..."
"Probably, but still..."
My bait finally work. Both ways.
"It's a Good thing you waited all of this time right?... For the last battle... Between immortal, humanity, and the last Dragon kind in this whole land. How about it? Would you join this small party of mine?" The man in front of my only let out his silent chuckle with a smile.
Before his growl of the mighty beast once ruling the skies broke his demeanor he had, a smirk he himself cannot control soon found its way to his mouth. His hair soon stand at my word like the scale of the dragons that was angered before releasing its breath.
"Interesting... Then, don't you dare disappoint ME. Zeref."
"Glad you accept the invitation. Acnologia."
With this, the die has been casted. Only fate would let it play from now on.
After this damned curse itched to me, I finally learned something. The more I think things are unnecessary, the curse won't work effectively or activated at all.
So I created a massive board as in setting my reputation all over the places, land, country, and around the globe.
Creating pawns that are soldiers and minions who I don't see as a living being.
When I play a game. I conquered land and take it as mine. When I stopped, that is peace. All of it are nothing more but to pass time that clearly I had too much on my plate to spend on. I found other hobby, but not many of them able to beat this game I created.
I tried to find other thing that might've been a better activity, eating like my little brother does indeed sound nice on ear. But unfortunately, I can't find a place where I can feast without creating clear destruction on where I had been. So I always come back to the thing I had created.
A board game. My very own Empire.
It's so enjoyable when you think as those who see calamity and despair as a fun way to kill boredom to throw this thing called negative emotions away.
Oh don't get me wrong... I hate war.
But a skirmish against one another is always a welcome for me to kill time if I was bored.
More than anyone alive out there. It was awful and waste of manpower when all it did just create hate and fear to those I involve because of its stupidity, with no clear reason to show your side who others don't want to see or experience because one selfish reasons, with a clear spread of conflict and future potential of never ending hatred to dealt with coming at you for your failure for starting it.
Even those who always pushed the decision to make it happens, is always from those who only care for themselves.
But again, I don't really care… I only see how it turned out while I watched them from the sidelines, if they're lose its their own fault. If they're win... Then it's only matter of time before that decision who made them win the first place bite them back from behind later in the far future if they don't learn and think twice, even became a twisted lunatic like me.
….
.
.
... Hm? A mere vague activity you say?
Fun?... Why do you think of that?
I hate war. Although seeing soldiers in action from far is a marvel sight on its own, I don't do it for mere kicks in shin either because I must be serious with this particular game I created to pass time when I'm not working on my research.
….
….
Huh? Enjoyable? Did I said that?... No it's not... Why do you think of that?
It was awful to see many of them die for you when you see them nothing more than nothing more than disposable object. Especially when they fought for you and you think them nothing more than a trash is a little… disheartening….
If they were just a doll made to fight and look cool alone, then I probably would enjoy it more.
….
Huh?
I'm contradicting myself? My tone didn't match my word?
Of course I am... Afterall, this curse messed with my head to the point I can't stop it and let it take over from time to time, so it's obvious I can say you're unimportant to me and everyone else.
….
...
Hn?
Of course not, why I would say you're a mere garbage?
Life important, so do what you can do and lived your life. Every single thing you meet or saw is precious, you like it or not. That is the joy of living. You always learned something no matter what. Good or bad.
Precisely why I would destroy it.
...
...
Hm? Love you say? Of course...
I felt it, it was a small fleeting emotions I had experience once before. It was... Enjoyable, I suppose. Uhn… Every human being at some point must've at least encounter or in that state because that's the part of life cycle...
The more reason I hated and like my own curse.
It took away what matters to me, yet opening my eyes to realize what I should've brought to this place who denied me, to the point I would even destroy it with my own bare hands if I lose my very thin sense of self I had left.
"Now then..." The black mage soon moved his feet again at a leisure pace, after he left the rocky terrain and arrived at the open plain of grass rich of wildlife again.
*Set…*
"Slowly..." He sat down and marveled at the sight in front of him.
The massive sight of tall of mountains formations, land full of short green grass, flowers blooming to its full glory with the smell of the follows being so mellow and kind it made him sleepy, when it mixed with the grass and tweets of twin birds resting on the most shadiest branch.
He can't help himself but to feel calm and tranquil, pushing him to not care about anything around him everytime he finally let his guard down.
No matter how hard or long he had live.
"Aaah…"
He always found taking a small nap after he found a nice place to lay down, was a rather hard habit to broke. A sense of self he had created whenever he find a potential spot to enjoy before he resume his plan.
Indeed.
And 'hard' was no means an understatement. He found sleeping would clear all his unnecessary thoughts for short period of time, regardless of what Happened around him or how much his thoughts are killing him from inside, it was some sort of ritual to keep him sane. If you said people are total rascal or plain wild tyke that irked you to no end.
This is one of those things who calmed him down the most.
He close his eye and rest his hand under his head. With swaying leaves on the tree's branches rustle against each other before his mind drove away from his consciousness.
"Yawn~... I wonder what would happened from now?..."
Deliora, Nemesis, Mard geer, the Tartarus... Monsters that represent the deadly sins, the Etherious and my own Brother... What else do I need to finally able to achieve it?... The solution for my whole agony to get it?... Why Mavis who passed away? and not me?...
…
….
"Ah…"
This can be happened too huh?...
Seeing myself together with Mavis and happily talk with one another with everyone inside are having fun together, with Natsu being a naughty rascal like he always is and pick a fight with everyone who give me a headache to no end, those little slayers who also travelled to this time period with him helped that blonde who always with him and that cat tried to stop my brother before it turned into a full blown fist fight with each other and destroy one of the building in fiore, before she stepped in and reprimand everyone with teary face as I placate her to not cry because of them. A very warm and dreamy imagination…
….
….
"Indeed… That kind of thing is…. Very warm…" his expression soon match his imagination. Sun above him warm the place where he lay down, his breath is calm before another thought passed in his head yet again.
The things I couldn't never reach, things like companion and fun… Do I deserve it?... I had bloodied my hands way too much. Can even I able to listen his voice calling me his brother sincerely?... Those memories he had never know about... our parents?
He was too young to remember them, Igneel is his only father figure he know beside Makarov, so suffice to say that he's my old man in theory as well. Although both of that Old timer would get chills If call them that out from nowhere…. I should do that if I had a chance to do it. I still couldn't thanked Igneel properly for taking care of Natsu after all this time now that I had remember.
He soon broke into a smug smirk, a really same smug expression with the Salamander of Fairy tail have. Before slowly turned into a small frown when he remembered about Igneel, switched his mind back to one fella who definitely give him the same Headache, and nonetheless, pick a fight several hours ago.
"Sigh… I just don't know what I should do anymore… I Know I'm the one who provoked him, but now that I had think Carefully again, making him destroy anything all over this continent with me as the only one left standing did feel rather boring… He'll probably destroy one of my favorite places as well along the way too... Which is unfortunate, if He did being that one guy who find pissing others is fun."
Especially when there's a possibility where the fairy tail lose and wiped first before I can get all of my troops to this land. Oh, Mavis probably should able to make them stand a chance at me if she also go all out as well... I never thought Natsu and those people he share connection with are weak. In fact, they might able to weaken Acnologia first so I can defeat him along the way...
"But that dragon… He's always acting arrogant even when he don't meant to, should I sent several members of the spriggans first to weaken him and let the Fairy tail deal with him? I mean this is one of the reason I send Natsu with the slayer with Eclipse gate... Should I really leave that man to them and ready the finishing blow in the background?... Gonna keep that one in mind after I arrived to Alvarez later…"
The cycle of imagination in his mind keep goes on and on. With bird chirping away in skies and the sunshine keep his body warm with the shades keep his eyes comfortable.
.
.
The thoughts has go on and on for last 20 minutes in tranquility before his face scrunched up in annoyance.
"Bah… This isn't good… Why I always back to why I shouldn't pick a fight with that guy?... If I can get rid of this stupid curse in the first place, then I won't have to be this very roundabout to found a way of getting killed for good… No wait, I still need to stop him either way..."
Soon his head back to square one, that is finding the right way to get rid of his curse who made his life complicated more than it should be.
It was so simple in pronunciation. But more than 400 years of experience hardship still won't bear him a fruit of result, even the Etherious demon are the failed products who messed him up big time because they not even able to fulfill their original purpose and ran amok anyways.
"Sigh… I should've found the way before it come to this… I really screw up didn't I?…"
His tone finally shown a clear and a striking resemblance to his younger brother, the way they sigh and annoyed at something are totally the same, there's a slight difference when he laugh however. Why Zeref never have a clear or vocal way of getting his point across to others, is either they already understand but won't accept it yet never wanted to incur his wrath.
And he just never found getting mad and doing the same vocal threat like his rascal of a brother would do when he was mad will bore a fruit right of the bat except a small joy of seeing others when proving he was right frowned in annoyance.
He could never found a way or had someone to have a friendly banter with. And with never ending wandering all alone, that side of his never clearly shown with the curse always overrode him in the end before what make the two of them really are brothers.
"Can I even go to a place where I'm not me with this insignia and start over?... That sounds so easy if I can do that…I did get all time I want to study all kinds of magic with this curse… Yet what I really needed here?..."
Almost 90% of them failed after Fourth or dozen retrials.
Having reincarnation did sound promising… But it won't work if I don't dead in the first place, and I can't cheat of having it regardless because way of getting reincarnated is I must on the point of dying, hence it was useless…
Etherios energy are too unstable if did force my way with that method… Transferring my head to another body did go wrong around 2- No...
"300 years ago?..."
And If I remember correctly… Didn't I obliterate a small island because of it?... Good thing I actually can swim… Drinking sea water while being immortal sucks…
Ow wait, I should've transport myself away. Why I panicked when that tube exploded?...
"Uuugh…."
Good thing no one see it with I become more careful and cautious with my experiment...
"Well… That's the reason I declared the war against this land to go back to the beginning, with Fairy heart which was more powerful than Etherios. Although... If I had a chance for second life without this curse... I'll definitely take it." Once again, he smiled with the bird chirped above him finally drove him sleepy yet again.
Ignorant at the secret work unraveling behind him he would never possibly noticed because of his word about having his dream came true, one way or another. Coming at him full force without him knowing any it. Many surprises would come to him in a way, he wasn't expected.
After all… World is a big place.
….
HA….
…..
Hahahaha!…. Amazing…
It really is!… Things called comrade… No… Natsu and his friends is...They really are… This is Fairy tail...
We were winning, we pushed all of our enemy with undisputable unmatchable power and superior advantage, weapon and magic alike…. Yet Fairy tail just won't back down…
No, I won't back down against them… This fun is!… Too much to let passed by!…
"Stand down already… Zeref!..."
….
Ha… I swear…
Does this is how it feels for a older brother to feel weak and hopeless compared to his younger ones he should've protect instead?... Even beat the living shit out of you and give you a lesson that should've been answered like, more than four hundred years ago? That is nothing more than appreciating what I had left and live by it?... By moving on and not fixated too much of the past?...
Making my own family and stopped weeping about losing you and everyone I hold dear?... No… Losing in general?...
…..
Shoot...
What an unpleasant and annoying emotions it is…Guess the two of us hate about losing.
"Fuu… It's my lost… Natsu..."
God damn it…
Saying for me to treasure everything I called nothing more than a pawn, protect those I called no more than people who gladly working for me as grunt to be those I should be protect.
Even saying one I just killed when we duke it out as my own child?... Sigh… I wonder what it feels like to be a proper brother and father at the same time?
No… I don't deserve to be one, I'm an ass till the very end… Can I even raise and give them the proper love they needed when I myself was clueless about what that kind of specific emotions are when I had create many monster and calamity for selfish reason?
….
"Cough!..."
But… I have magic and power from Neo eclipse you know?... That is Fairy heart and unlimited Energy…. And I'm still losing to him…. He just burned it, literally.
I maybe wanted to achieve Death by any means or straight up go to past and live my day as normal human… But knowing all your hardwork has crashed and even still get beaten down in a fist fight with your younger brother is really frustrating…
"This is the first time… I can't moved my body at all… I can't believe it…"
….
….No….
"No… There's no way I can actually die, I'll probably ended up healing to top condition again anyway…" It's rather frustrating knowing I can't actually lose either…
Curse this stupid curse…. I almost succeeded there… Natsu almost finally finished his goal and reason why I revive him. He just stand in my way, precisely why I'm so proud of him...
"Nah… I don't think so."
"Huh?"
"Guess I can leave that to you right, first?..."
"Yeah… Leave him to me…"
….
...Mavis?
"I'm Tired as hell… I want to see Happy and the rest, see you later… Big bro…"
….
….
"sigh…." Man... You know…
You could've say that in more cuter tone… I know I hurt you more than I can count, but even then, I want to hear you say that line properly...
"Yo…."
"..."
"Natsu is really amazing… Isn't he?... But… He's also foolish-" Like his stupid Brother "-I would be healed no matter how many injury I sustained, It'll close itself in couple of minutes… Though I will pass for round 3… He's definitely pissed and don't want to see me anyway for the time being…"
Her face soon close the gap between me and her, her beautiful eyes and hair still won't leave my head even at this moment…
"Zeref…" She looked sad when calling my name…
"You've hurt my friends and Family, as the first master of Fairy tail and and someone who believed in-" Bond thickers than blood and status? I know that much. "Because of it… I want you to be erased from this world."
….
Well look at that, guess I still am Human to have this stupid thoughts at time like this...
"Death by your hand doesn't sound bad at all… But… I-"
"No… Just rest already…"
.
.
I wanted to…
"If… You really ca-"
"If-"
"?..."
"If only… If only I had believed more in you… If I only had fall more for you…."
….
….
"Huh?..."
"You loved me…"
….
Yup… Indeed… I am… Even until now, I loved you so much, so what of it?
"Because the curse… My life was stolen from you… But, despite the fact you under the same curse as me, I wasn't able to stole your life."
….
"Because… A part of me… Must have not believed in you, I didn't have enough love... I don't have the strength to love for you…If just… Then It won't end up like this at all..."
….
….
What's with that?... Aren't you just being selfish just like me?... It's alright... You lose your family and loved ones, even your life because of me, I deserve this much…
"No need to worry about all of that, I never been loved properly by anyone anyway, your emotions to me were not love, but more passion-"
"No It's not! IT'S NOT PASSION BUT CONTRADICTION!"
"..."
"No it's not! Because of you I learned how to use magic! Because of you I able to save those who were important to me! Because of you! I able to save Magnolia!"
….
…
"Because of you!-"
Damn it… Why my chest are so tight?...
"FAIRY TAIL WAS FOUNDED!"
….
But that's not all right?... I saw her eyes, she remembered it, every single memory of that day and what I had done to her.
"... You brought death… You take my life and feelings away… You hurt my friend… Even-"
Use you to destroy what you loved so much. I may be foolish, but I'm not that stupid to not realize how you feel and suffer because of me.
….
"..."
"..."
"I love you…"
…
...?
"I hate you so much, but I also love you too, I am the only one who that can empathize with your loneliness… I'm the only one who could…"
….
…..
"My thoughts are a mess… I can't calculate what should I do…"
….
…
"If I loved you, I should've been able to kill you… If only I thoughts you as something dear and precious as my family and friends, i'd able to kill you…"
…
…..
"That was… My plan…"
….
"Yet… Yet… I can't..."
"Mavis…."
"I… I don't want you to die…. I want to be with you! I want us to stay together forever!"
….
….
humph… So… This is what I've been looking for for this past 400 years?… It was so obvious that it slipped my mind… No… Was I that ignorant?... Or just don't want to feel it again because it'll hurt me and I got scared of it?...
"The dearer you hold someone life…. The more you would steal from them…"
Yeah… I should've seen it a long time ago… When I finally met her again…
"So the answer is… Was to be loved…"
Thank you…
"Wuuuuaaaaaaahh-!"
"Sorry… Thank you… Mavis-"
"YOU CAN'T DIE!"
*buak!*
"Bufk-!?"
"YOU CAN'T! *Buak!* I HATE YOU! *DuK! x4* YOU HURTED MY FRIENDS! *Buak!* YOU KILLED MAKAROV! YOU DESTROYED MY GUILD! *Buak! x3* I HATE YOU!"
….
….
She continued to hit me and bawl like a little kid, looks like the river dam inside her eyes just broke, and now I must deal with her fury, how much I hurt her to the point it was clear it wasn't because of the curse why her words is so illogical… But because how much I actually meant to her…
"So… Please…."
"..."
"..."
"Please…."
Don't die….
…..
….
…. Ah….
Thank you… Mavis….
Before I can even register what had happened…
…..
She kissed me…
I finally understand why I always think of her again. One simple reason why I can't get it out from my mind… Why I loved her… Why I can finally see the end I searching for, with the light so warm finally slowly envelope my body from the floor below… Her hair is glistering and turned into a glowing pure wisp of white energy that flies to the skies…
So warm… So this is what it feels like... To be loved… I can't give this to anyone alright...
...
...With this… I'm finally able to rest for good…
"Thank you… I'm sorry… I wish we could've talked more… I wish I can made things right with Natsu after all of my failures… I wish… I can redeem myself from everything I had done…To you, and everyone I hurt."
"Please….Take me with you…"
….
"I can't… You have to live on… You deserved to be with them..."
"Do you truly feel that?..."
….
….
Damn it… Of course not… I wanted to be with you….Stupid curse…
"No… I want to be with you…"
"Let's go together… Okay?"
'Hmn…"
ah… Thank you… for everything…
With the light envelope the two of us… I can feel its warmth…
….
So… This is what being a part… Of Fairy tail…. The thing being Immortal cannot win against…
Love...
…..
….
…
Ugh… W-wait…
…
…
Where am I?... Wait a second…
Didn't I just passed away inside Fairy tail building?...
…
….
No… No… Mavis?...
….
….
Where are you?...
…..
Mavis…
….
MAVIS! CAN YOU HEAR ME!? I'M OVER HERE!
….
…..
Hey! I'm over here!
….
….
No… It can't be… But… How?... Didn't we-
"I… I don't want you to die…. I want to be with you! I want us to stay together forever!"
…..
"So the answer is… Was to be loved…"
…..
Sigh….
"I can't… You have to live on… You deserve to be with them..."
….
It was clear…
'Don't Die'
…..
...
She didn't go with me… She loved me, but looks like the situation reversed. Back then… I loved her so much as one who can understand my agony, she is still now. But even after all of it and how much my messed up my mind becomes…
I doubt if the feelings was mutual now…
Of course… The answer is clear… I don't love her enough… Because I want to make sure she lives with her family she already have… The curse failed to fire it at her and ended up killing me instead.
.
.
I should be glad… She can live and made memories with one she treasure instead of one who messed her life over and over. And prevent me to spread even more death than what I already been doing. Even I destroy her guild and home she loved so much, guess I should put that to my tab if I ever met them agai- No wait… I'm already died… So perhaps it's unnecessary…
….
So…
Is this the end of time?... Or simply the after life created for me?...
….
Guess it's probably both… Even after all of it, I'm reverted to talking with myself again...
Sigh… I had made many mistakes… Too much to count and it will took eternity to clean them and apologize one by one… Gladly I would do it… But would it be that simple?
…..
….
Shoot… Being lonely all the time should be a daily occurence. Why now it hurts so much right now?... Because there's literally nothing around this space?
Was the punishment for me that is to suffer again for eternity that is inside this black void of nothingness?... Sounds just right...
….
Haah… Just my luck… No wait, I deserve this… After all, I'm no Human...
Like all those creation I had created.
[Correction, Zeref Dragneel is a human being based from his biological reading and magic reading, the only made him considered as non human race due to his Hex curse named Ankhseram.]
-!?
What in the-!? Who's is there!?
Who the hell-!?
[Answer…]
!?
[...The voice individual currently hear is skill, Voice of the world. The system created as the 'voice' of reasons that announces every events occurring in the world and what happened during the evolution to govern and keep the world stability when an irregularity occurred before it goes out of control.]
….
…..
…..
What the actual….
….
So you're saying that…. You're a massive system created from time start to tic to make sure things are in harmony and in total control?...
[Yes, simply put. Governing the event happened all over the world are one of the function Voice of the world capable to control, with individual progress of growth and decision making are within the range of the keeping balance of the world.]
….
…
Dear lord…
Why I never know anything about this extraordinary system!?...
Control?... Does this means she already know all sort of events and actions outcome and manipulate it the way she wanted it be?... No wait, it says outcome and decision making of specific individual right? Governing and stability functions?...
Does all of my actions is also been controlled to certain extent as well!?...
….
Can it be?... It sound way too vast and powerful to be left alone if this kind of system didn't have some type of malfunction down the line… Does it have auto reset command too?… no I'm jumping to conclusion...
Yet I must confirm something…
So you're saying that… I become… Like this, becoming... This, is because of you?...
….
…..
[No.]
…..
….
Huh?
[Correction, individual Zeref Dragneel didn't became the renowned Earthland Black wizard forcefully due to Voice of world intervention, it was due to his own volition. He had given the choice to live peacefully in one of possibilities, yet he had chooses a path to spread calamity by creating many magic that defied the law the world had created. Hence the curse are the consequence individual actions to not let go of the past.]
…..
….
What?...
….
…..
…..
Ha….Hahaha…
[...]
Hahaha…
hahaha...HAHAHAHA!
Are you mocking me!? All of the actions and Sins I committed! The atrocity! The meaningless life loss because of me! All of those suffering all alone can be prevented if I just let go my grief!?
[Yes]
…..
….
So all of the answer is always back to that?...
What Bluntness, even Natsu and Mavis would be Dumbstruck…
….
…
What the hell I've been doing for the past 400 years then?...
….
…
I do wonder though…
Can it?... Can it be?...
All of my suffering… All of my actions… Does it…
Is my choice… My actions and creations… Is it meaningless?...
[No]
-!?
[All of Zeref actions was not meaningless, although many innocents died and blood spilled in his wandering, there's life and goodness created because of people who were born and raised the way the chaos he spread made many individual life come to life and meaningful because of it.]
…
Becau...se of… me?
"BECAUSE OF YOU! FAIRY TAIL IS FOUNDED!"
-!?
"Later… Big bro."
…
….
She's…. She is right…. Because of me…
Natsu able to life.
He became a Dragon Slayer with the rest because of Anna. Those slayer also have a chance to experience to grow up with people they care and love, saving many along the way because of their occupations and changed how world around them revolve because I had made Natsu and Fairy tail alone… He corrected many of my mistake and give life to others.
Deliora who I created also made the man called Grey become one of Fairy tail strongest wizard, even almost freeze the shit out of me if Natsu was a second late.
Just how many of them had found their purpose because of my actions?
.
.
Still…
What will happened to me? There's a reason why I'm here right?
[Yes, Individual Zeref Dragneel would undergo a reincarnations process to stabilize soul corridor state and magic reading in overall state because of random chance, with individual state of soul is unstable after leaving the world, reincarnation utility to stabilize that state of inconsistencies before able to walk freely in world of living again.]
….
….
Excuse me?
[Yes?]
You mean I already Died.
[Yes.]
… And because of some small chance with small miscalculations when my soul leave my body, I ended up here because of that small mistake you just said.
[Correct.]
And this reincarnation you mean?...
[Due to the circumstances. You would be reincarnated with different state of body and magic reading from your last life, with blessing named skill given to you depends on your wish. The curse would be also automatically be dispel from individual soul.]
….
….
….
This is sound so goods to be true…
I'm at lost of words… And I presume this isn't a big elaborate set up to prank me?
[No.]
….
….
Sigh…
Well… Now I had many things to think about here… What is this sense of voicing my reply for such comical reply? I believe this is what people call banter?... No, probably not...
Mavis isn't clearly here, and truth to be told, I don't feel any sort of headache I always have when walking around… And while it's rather bizarre… I don't have many other choices in my hand, talking with 'Voice of the world' might able to give me some clue or what this place deal all about, but again. I don't have much choices than to play along…
And if she said if my wishes could be granted…
Then maybe, just maybe….
...
You said everything I wish or wanted right?
[Correct, as long the demand is able to be completed in the reincarnation process.]
I see… Then. Can a girl named Mavis Vermillion able to be reincarnated with me?
Please...
[Impossible, the girl soul is still lived in land named Fiore, the world had the lack of authority to take a girl from certain part of the world unless she was called by a Summoner, then she can be called by the summoner with the same process as a reincarnator.]
Is that so?...
I will keep an open mind for that chance…
…
...
No, I should limit myself from being the same old me who would toy with other life, Mavis and Natsu deserve to be happy after all I had done to them….
I understand… Then… Can I seal the magic I had been use and created till I die?... At least inaccessible for most dangerous one to most people, talented or not with Magic, especially for those who wanted to use it with ill intent.
All I need is another Me running around after I left to wreak more havoc to their need with all of my past creation gone wrong at some point, I already brace myself to die because I know I would only spread fear and destruction when I lose it. So the little the chance that happens, the better.
[Understood, Individual stats and power won't be much or different to normal average human with normal magic capacity. Is this acceptable?]
Yes.
Living a normal life did… Sound…. Really nice…
[Granted, Zeref Dragneel would have the stats and prowess as a normal human being, capability with magic and affinity with elemancy is also would be settled to be average, warning. Skill [Mana manipulation], [Elemancy mastery basic], [Advance calculation], [original magic mastery] would be given to individuals due to the natural talents for magic Zeref have. Success.]
….
Hm? Wait, what do you mean on the last one? Natural talents?...
[Yes, all living beings had their own special ability referred as talents, in other words. Basic uniqueness different to each living being regardless whether they have a similarity to certain extent, because of that specific traits. Certain process of reincarnating did gave a skill to improve that specific uniqueness to be fully used to its limits. Each skill had their own tier and effect with each skill vary to one another]
….
I see… So you're implying If a person have a talent or so called a uniqueness that make him or her different to another, is like fingerprints or plain trait what they have like hair color or simple abilities? Or just abilities to craft able to give them a skill related to crafting specific item… Is that what you mean?
[In oversimplified explanation, yes.]
Huh look at that… Even after years of hardship and disgusted by human in general, I'm still learning something new… Although… My hate against them is pretty justified too when I didn't look at my situation for bringing death and all done it watching from afar.
….
….
Hu, guess I can ask…
Can I also be other race other than human?
Welp, if I hate them so much, I better don't be one anymore, Mavis and rest of spriggan 12 won't berate me because they don't even know what I am doing now. But as I feared it might be impo-
[Understood, then. Please choose a race Individual desire. There's more than 3000 of race in the world including Dragon kind to smallest microorganism like insect or spirits elementals, please choose wisely.]
…
…..
….
Ha!?
WAIT A SINGL- BUGS!? WHY I WOULD CHOOSE THAT RAC- WAIT, BUGS AND OTHER KINDS OF INSECTS SPECIES ARE CONSIDERED AS RACE!? YOU MEAN I CAN BE ANYTHING!?
[Yes.]
…..
…..
I'm speechless… This isn't the first time but…. Really?
I can be an exceed if I really wanted to be a flying cat, or one of the biggest golem or Dragon like Acnologia if I so wanted to be one?... Turning myself into another race altogether to dispel the curse… Why I never thought a potential possibilities?...
…
….
No No no no, calm down you getting agitated…
…..
Why I'm so expressive all of the sudden? With the loss of curse finally let me think freely without constraint? Or this is my personality I don't know I had?... No wonder Natsu is all about doing and think later...
….
Still…
...
Race huh?... Then, if I hate humanity, then I already a Demon at heart, humph... Being a devil I had created did sound so weird and rather interesting field to be researched…
Although I better do-
[Accepted, individual Zeref Dragneel would become a Demon race, transforming commence…]
Hm!? WH- WAI- GURHK-!?
[Changing body readings, stabilizing magicules composition, maintaining old circuit and capabilities. Error, Mana needed for transformation is insufficient. Using larger capacity is recommended, All normal stats would be boosted to match demon rank system. Individual ranked as Viscount rank. Processing...]
Wha…. what?... Vis...count?... I can't!- It's burning from the inside!...
[Maximizing the result, fixing the proportion of basic biology and soul reading…]
Guaaakh-!?
[Fixing damage of transformation, dulling pain receptor, boosting normal motoric and body reactions, adding Demon trait…]
AAaaarggh!?
[Warning, basic demon evil nature is too strong for normal human to contain, cancelling etching demon race nature personification alterations, completing all possible error to be terminated… Complete.]
Gaakh!?- Gaah*wheeze…* Hagk-!... What in the!?
[Wish is completed, Zeref Dragneel now is a fully fledged viscount rank demon race, all normal status is balanced and upped to match viscount rank in overall capabilities, human state is fully terminated, all skill from previous wish are carried over.]
Just what in the- Complete?...
…
...
-!?
What… Is this power?...
This almost feel like my black mag- No. Ankhseram?... No way, but…. It's more weaker, yet much more controllable… As if it's… Moving like I had wanted it to be?...
[All of Zeref past magic creations and dangerous spell are sealed away, but due to nature of demon and affinity with dark elements, the potency of magic formulas is much stronger and controllable than the curse individual formerly possess.]
...Amazing… So this is is what it feels like to have such natural and versatile abilities, I can mimic some of my old magic with a more long range approach with this more controllable tendrils and output efficiency… No, it… It did feel similar to the dragon slaying magic…
The only down side is that I can't eat nor amplify it the way they do, Rouge… If I remember, seems similar with this type of controlling darkness, but vastly different in applications. Law is also sealed, and I can't access my Living magic as freely as before, but the trade for those two are highly harnessed raw power, this skill called [Mana manipulations] is really easing the flow and the output the way I needed it…
Fascinating… And my body feel comfortable with the darkness… Because Demon is always labeled as evil and wicked? No, perhaps that's why they keep linked to darkness due to how they're having more advantage in dark places?... I must research this phenomenon when I had the chance.
[Then, the process is complete, individual wou-]
*DDrrzZZZzZZzzTT!*
-!?
'I have prepare a feast.'
Wh-Who-!? What's with this feeling?... It's like I just obtained Fairy heart!
'Come and serve me!'
G-Gurrkhh!?
*Phyaaaaaaarr!*
*Zhhuurrrr!~*
….
...
All of my life, I never seen such magic formulas. Nor how potent it is just by merely gaze upon it, and how alluring the smells and the energy surrounding the glowing sigil with the immense energy fueling the mark on earth.
The light soon died down after I opened my eyes, gazing upon the scene I had far known too well.
A scene of massacre.
Death everywhere, stench of blood which is so potent and dense despite there's not a single drop visible after thousand of meters away in the land where I was summoned, yet the smell had made me…. Hungry. This must be the effect of becoming a demon. The next thing I knew. I had realized I had been summoned. Understanding what the system had meant with how it works in rough quick assumption.
Brown land devoid of life, armour and blades with no owner, camp left untouched with small crater and water particles are in boiling point dancing in air. Like it just has hit the limit from firing magic. Yet the more I saw, the more wide my eyes become.
In my life, I learn to keep an open mind on whenever I go or what kind of possibility could happened as I wander through the land. Creating magic to make fun of gods, burned or destroy village unbeknowingly, create monsters terrorizing the land. Sending my brother to the future to slain a dragon. No normal people or human could immediately take in after digesting all of it with a definite mind blown.
So?...
I have the right to be bewildered on what blue substance hanging inside the mouth of a regal, black beast with lines resembling eyelashes. Which again, unbeknowingly to me at this point of time. Are the one, who I pledge my loyalty to. Like the 12 Spriggan did to me.
An: Hey guys, Sky is here.
Big thanks to user Wolfkingsword who shared his idea to me with his push to get me back on my feet. Also, happy birthday man, Guess I was late like... Couple of days ago?... hahaha. Sorry for being late posting this. Even dealing with my shenanigans when came up with the outline and stuffs with this recent thing with the virus made my mood getting worse each passing day.
This is totally really out of control when I made the draft, I mean boy this month alone is already hectic as it is, but to even think I can make this one in span of months is pretty incredible on my own end. t(-.-t);
Although this made me reread fairy tail from start of last arc again, eh it's worth it.
ANYway~!
If you all noticed, this is should be familiar, if you also fellas following slime story as in the manga. This might be rather obvious(I Forgot to tag spoiler alert but whatever). :P
Boy do I love seeing Rimuru being op is a thing, but creating a similar scene to be as epic like that is why I loved manga and every entertainment media ever, is a total chore.
Which was worth it. ಠ︵ಠ Yeah... It is... Big respect to all Creator out there. You guys deserve more than a simple McDonald's or take out for dinner. I'm also a pauper(kinda), so I understand what's like to get the short end of stick like a month non-stop. And don't stock toilet paper like a *$# , they're others who need em as well, just be clean and don't waste em unless you're in a big family. I missed the limited time sale like couple of days ago, so I must improvise bad, hence why This story come late.
And big respect and gratitude for you all who been in the front line when Corona has become a worldwide problem, you deserved every thank you and respect for your effort out there to make us safe.^_^/"
This is my way(and probably many writers either in this site or others who been working their creations for this last couple of months) to give that thanks for you who've been working non stop all this time, may we can finally put an end of this pandemic and continue our daily life again. And for those who were bored at home can't do nothing, I hoped my story is enjoyable for you to at least stay at home. ^_^
Disclaimer. I don't own slime or fairy tail. The idea was formerly own by user Wolfkingsword. I just took his word and voila here it is, this one out there to read, I'm also doing a collab with him, so this one aren't that close to my slime x sao story in term of structure of storyline. Typos are still everywhere, I know I know. I Really need beta readers. But I don't want to force someone to do it.
Man I owe him a big time on wolf making general outline and probably why there's more little things I hate here and there began to fade away when making this up here. If you guys liked this one, just wanted to say. Thank you so much for reading my story, I'll try my best to at make sure this year is an enjoyable one after so many things happened in such short time of this new decade. And if you think I'm carried away with how long it is, I apologize. But screw mediocre when I can do better.
Just stay healthy and I'll try to make sure y'all didn't down in dumps all the time. We can do this, just be there for those who need you and we can get through in this kind of times. I'll be here to make sure to write more so you can be happy if my work did cheer you up. Though... My exam IS postponed, not done. So don't blame me if I gone again like a month or so without a warning, I have life too(hate to sound arrogant) to live. Seriously, you guys take care of yourself, don't believe to hoax and stay positive, depressed would make things go downhill.
See ya later.
AN 2:Just fixing some obvious typos, urgh... Can I just wrote with no mistakes like every single sentence? It'll much more effective if I don't have to proof read every two minutes and the mistakes is still there. T_T I know English isn't my best language but come on...