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Epilogue

REBIRTH

The Kingdom of Fiore – 400 years after.

Gilded sunlight rained down the busy kingdom, as it has always been for the past centuries. The war between mages which greatly scarred the land has already been buried within the pages of history and the cities had long been rebuilt only that the layouts were altered. The spot where the magic council building once sat was turned into a graveyard of those who perished in the war – except for the enemies and of course, Zeref. No one knows where the legendary dark wizard was buried; rumors whispered he's resting on Fairy Tail's holy ground – Tenroujima – where a witness avowed he saw something like an apparition of a little girl took his body away. When asked to describe the 'apparition', it matched the description of Fairy Tail's first master whose remains were at Tenroujima. But since no proof was provided, it eventually faded into a myth – along with the unseen island.

The once most powerful guild, Fairy Tail, was also no more; though it was said that weeks after the end of war, a man about his 40s with reddish hair visited the remnants of the guild and after casting a powerful spell on the rubbles – as if he was burying something underneath – slowly walked away and that was the last they saw of him. Many believed he hid the guild's massive treasures considering they were once the strongest so it's only natural that they got more requests than any others. Because of that rumor, many tried to unearth the treasures but a very powerful protective spell was left behind by the man – so powerful that even the council was unable to dispel it, so they instead placed a magical fence around the ruins hoping that someday the spell may wear off and the mystery be uncovered.

The gigantic tree at Magnolia's South Gate Park, was not an exception when the war destroyed everything. The park itself was devastated that it was a miracle how the tree remained standing, though already dead. Wild grass and thick bushes grew around the tree's skeleton and no matter how many years passed, not a single bud or leaf would peek from the tree's branches that the people decided it best to look for a better spot for a park and so it was also forgotten. But after 400 years of 'death', it was a miracle that leaves were growing once again from the gigantic tree and the people believed something beautiful, something exciting, must be on the way. Somewhere, not far from the almost hidden South Gate Park, sweets vendors scattered around a large fountain where children and lovers gathered.

Amidst this usual picture, someone wearing a hooded cloak walked indifferently towards a cotton candy vendor. At first, the seller was surprised and a little scared with the hooded person for it was an unusual sight but after learning that the person only wanted to buy a cotton candy in exchange of a half golden-ring, he willingly agreed just so the suspicious customer may finally leave. Examining the half ring, the vendor was astounded to see that it was one of those kinds which can only be bought at what they commonly call "other world". Looking at the jewelry closer, he noticed there were letters engraved on it and those were: "F – LUC".

Removing the hood unceremoniously, long blonde hair flowed and danced with the gentle wind. It's been 400 years… everything has changed. Staring at the gigantic tree standing behind the thick wall of wild plants, the few leaves fluttered with the early afternoon wind. What was waiting for her there? She also doesn't know. Without letting go of the candy in her hand, she managed to squeeze through the wall and sat beneath the tree's stare. Gazing at the blue eternal sky where white fluffy clouds silently float by, she tightened her hold with the candy's stick as vague memories flowed inside her head. The memory was a picture of a blonde girl and a dark-haired man…

It's already been four centuries… and she can no longer remember exactly what the picture was about; nor why she bought that candy on her hand. Oddly, this place seemed so familiar, that right after being freed after 400 years, this was where her feet took her. Furrowing her brows, she once again asked the questions, 'why?' Why can't she remember anything other than that image of a dark-haired man? Why was she imprisoned for 400 years? Why was she freed? Why does she keep holding on to that half ring all those years? What is this place? Why was she not aging? Who is she? While submerged into the mysterious questions inside her head, the bushes behind her made a rustling sound. Jerking at the sudden interruption, she turned her head and her gaze was met by a young man.

She remembered now. Four hundred years… that's how long she's waited.

Staring at each other, time seemed to stop. Four hundred years were enough to confuse her between a memory and a dream; that she eventually ended up forgetting the nightmares. But four hundred years were also enough for him to be reborn again. Of course he can no longer remember her, but right now, she could remember him too well.

The young man, surprised with the intruder in his secret resting place, felt like he has fallen into a trance not because of the surreal beauty behind her fatigue appearance but because she seemed very, very familiar as if he has been waiting for this moment for such a long, long time.

"Are you… lost?"

The man asked innocently, for she did look like a vagabond, considering how she's walked for several days from the new magic council located in Crocus, towards this forgotten South Gate Park in Magnolia. It's absurd how she can still recall those were also the very first words he asked her back then. Was this how Gods show their regret or sympathy? Or was this just a mirthful repeat of history? No. This was merely a gift of second chance – an answer to a prayer…

Having received silence, the man reached out his hand to her and smiled warmly, "by the way, I'm Zeref." She wasn't really sure what to think given that Zeref was supposedly the dark wizard, the paragon of evil, yet there's still parents who named their son after him.

Suppressing the emotions that were flooding her, she touched the dark-haired man's hand and for the first time after four hundred years, she smiled. "Lucy."

For four hundred years I am lost… now I'm home.

.*.*. END .*.*.