My Light and My Darkness

Zeref & Mavis

Sting, Rogue, and I are all fighting with the rest of the members of Fairy Tail in the streets of Magnolia. All of the members of the Spriggan 12, aside from August, have been defeated by now. All that remains are these annoying weak soldiers. I’m near Kardia Cathedral, where Cana and Gildarts are facing off against August. Cana uses the Fairy Glitter spell on August, but it doesn’t even make a single mark on him. August turns to Cana, suddenly speaking, “Tell me, do you care about your father?” Cana looks embarrassed, and looks down, glancing at Gildarts nervously. “Uh, well, he’s not my favorite person, to be honest.” Gildarts looks completely bewildered, and slightly hurt. “How can you say that sweetie?” Cana grows annoyed, “WE CAN TALK ABOUT OUR ISSUES LATER!! BUT NOT RIGHT NOW!!” I hear Gildarts chuckle nervously, and he faces August, “Haha! Kids, am I right?” August doesn’t seem fazed as he faces Gildarts. “What about you? Do you love your child?” Gildarts looks at him like it’s a stupid question, “Damn right I do!” “I’ve traveled the world, and I’ve mastered every form of magic it has to offer. But there’s one thing I’ve yet to understand. The love shared between a parent, and their child.” August’s words make me freeze in place, looking up at the place he’s perched on above the rubble of the church. I know where his confusion stems from. He’s referring to how being Zeref’s child, he’s never been loved by him. Gildarts is confused about his words, “What? There’s really nothing too complicated about it.” August smirks, “If that’s true, answer this. It’s a simple question. If your child were to perish before your eyes, tell me, what exactly would you feel?” My heart drops at his question, and I can see from the look on his face, Gildarts is petrified in fear at what that question implies. Is he really threatening Cana?! Cana looks over at Gildarts worriedly, who hasn’t moved a single muscle at all. Gildarts has a dark and confused glare on his face, wondering exactly what August is implying. He’s trying to figure out how to process that thought, something he could never even dream of. Parents aren’t supposed to outlive their children….ever! I could never even imagine something happening to Lily-Rose. Gildarts suddenly tightens his fist, and glares at August. “You bastard! If you even dare lay a finger on my Cana, I’ll hurt you so bad, you’ll be begging to die!!” Cana glares annoyed at him, “Stop! Don’t be dumb, he’s trying to provoke you!” Gildarts doesn’t listen, and charges at August. The two engage in a one on one battle.

I climb up the rubble and go to stand next to Cana, prepared to protect her in case August gets any ideas. “Candy? What are you doing here?” Cana asks, shocked. I place my hand on her arm, as if I’m ready to drag her away from here. “August is unpredictable. We have no way of knowing if he will make good of those words. I’m here in case Gildarts is caught off guard.” Cana nods, understanding my worry. August glares at Gildarts, “Are parents supposed to love their children? Is that the way things are meant to be in this world?” Gildarts looks enraged, “Yeah! What kind of question is that?!” August lands an attack on Gildarts, “If that is true, then why? Why was His Majesty’s child never shown love from his own father?” Cana and Gildarts widen their eyes in shock, and I feel a pang of sadness for August. That’s so sad. Cana suddenly jumps into the fight before I can stop her, ignoring Gildarts’ protests. She shoots an attack at August, but he dodges it easily. She lands next to Gildarts and looks embarrassed, “Let it go already.” Gildarts smiles at her embarrassment of coming to save him, “No can do. You’re my little girl, and I love you.” August shakes his head, “Yet still, His Majesty’s child was never shown love.” I sigh, knowing he has no idea why parents love their children. August hasn’t noticed my presence here yet, or if he has, he’s been ignoring me. I decide to speak up, “August.” He looks up at me, and raises an eyebrow. “Queen of the Dragons, Candy Bane. Rumor has it that you have a child of your own, so what would you have to say to my previous question?” Gildarts and Cana look up at me worried, and I close my eyes, trying to contain my anger and fear that question brings me. As I’m trying to calm down, Gildarts glares up at August, “What’s your deal, old man? How can you be so lost in thought in the middle of a fight? You can’t just go around asking those kinds of questions to parents. You’re a cocky old geezer, aren’t ya? I’m gonna grab that beard, and tear it off your face!” He jumps at August, going back into the fight. Cana joins in, the two attacking him at the same time, but none of it works on him. August sends a magical blade at Cana, but Gildarts steps in front of the attack, the magical blade piercing through his chest. August watches this curiously as the magic starts to surround Gildarts painfully. Cana watches in worry, “Gildarts!! You don’t have to do this!!” He smiles, “I’ll do whatever I have to do, because I’m your father.” August widens his eyes in shock at this, and Gildarts continues, “It’s kinda funny. Back in my younger days, I pretty much cared about my own damn self. But from the moment she came into my life, my child was the only thing that mattered to me.” Cana gives him a confused look, “If that were really true, then why did you run away?” “I just thought it would be awkward for you to have your old man around. But daddy’s happy to stay with you forever and ever if that’s what you want sweetie!” His voice goes all mushy at the end there, and I have to cover my mouth to keep from laughing. Cana and Gildarts continue to bicker, “That sounds freakin’ annoying!” “I was right. Thing is, when my kid needs help, I’ll do whatever I gotta do! And that means now I’m gonna have to take you to the grave with me!!” He shouts at August, shocking him. Cana and I both watch in horror as he grabs August’ staff, ready to kill August with himself. Cana starts tearing up, yelling for him to stop. August glares at Gildarts, “You fool!” “No, you’re wrong! I’m a loving father! Well, you ready?” “No matter what type of magic you try, there is nothing you can do to defeat me!” Gildarts smirks up at him, “Afraid you’re wrong you old geezer! There’s just a trick to it!” August wides his eyes in bewilderment, “What?!” Cana is now fully crying, and I rush over and hug her as she shouts for Gildarts to once again stop what he’s doing in the hopes that he’ll live. “I think you’re just copying spells! That’s how you’re able to neutralize them so quickly!” He’s copying magic?! That’s all?! The magic that’s surrounding Gildarts suddenly disappears, and he grabs August’s staff, breaking it in half. Now August is defenseless against magic that uses tools. Cana smirks, and sends an attack at August, which actually lands on him this time. I smile at the two, and turn to August, who has a look of complete bewilderment on his face. “August, parents love their children in every way possible. Zeref’s child was never shown love, because he was physically incapable of loving him.” August remains silent as he listens, and I continue, “I’m sure you’re aware of his curse. If Zeref loves anyone, they will die. In a way, him not showing love to his child was him loving his child, because he saved the child’s life. We all live our lives differently, all of us making different choices and mistakes along the way. But the moment we have a child, enter our lives. Something so precious and….innocent of our wrongdoings….we have to do whatever it takes to protect them. Because they’re all that matters now. You said yourself that Zeref’s goal is to destroy Acnologia for the sake of humanity. Personally, I don’t see a man looking to save the world that hated him. I see a man looking to save a child that loved him when he couldn’t love them.” August gasps and Gildarts lands a huge attack on him, taking him off guard. “THE KID’S RIGHT!! WE HAVE TO PROTECT OUR CHILDREN, AND YOU THREATENED MINE!!” August is now laying on the ground, unmoving. Gildarts and Cana hug each other, glad that they’re both okay. August turns to face me, “His Majesty never knew he had a child. His son was never loved for that reason. Not because he was trying to protect him.” I sigh, shaking my head, “Yes, that may be true. But you’ve been with him ever since he started making Alikitasia something great, and I have no doubt that you reminded him of the woman he once loved. You’re a gift that fate gave him, one that he didn’t deserve. He knew that, and always viewed you as a man he could trust.” August closes his eyes, looking up at the sky. “Perhaps. Tell me, what would you do if you saw your child perish before your eyes? As a mother, what would you do?” Gildarts and Cana are both watching closely as I have a grim expression on my face, “There are no words to describe the pain…..of watching those you love being killed before your very eyes. Acnologia made sure I would never forget what that pain felt like, and I’m going to make sure he feels it too.” August smiles, chuckling, “You certainly have more confidence than His Majesty when it comes to the Black Dragon. It’s clear why you’re considered a Queen. However, I made a promise to His Majesty, and I intend to keep it.” August suddenly starts glowing, and he raises into the sky as the glow starts to surround all of us. All of Magnolia is glowing now, and his magic power is INSANE! He starts to cast some kind of dark spell that strikes terror into my very core. The ground starts to rumble, and everything starts shaking as he casts the spell that seems to be taking a huge toll on his body. However, right as he’s about to fully cast the spell, he suddenly stops, his body disintegrating as he looks at someone in the distance. I look where he was looking, and see the first master Mavis. His mother. That was enough to stop him from killing all of us…..it’s amazing.