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azuchifairy · 4 years
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The Corpse Bride
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13672392/1/The-Corpse-Bride
Long ago in a small provincial town in the forest, a girl with the dream to be married to her soulmate met a terrible fate. When only her true love could set her free from the awful curse, it turns into a twisted story of life and death.
Chapter One: According to Plan 
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Gray finished his sketch just as a butterfly perched on the window sill. He noticed its impeccable colors, a stunning sapphire and deep violet hues to compliment it. Nature rarely made things blue, but that exceptional little butterfly seemed to be rather lucky. It fluttered up through his room and out the window again as his eyes followed it up into the cloudy skies.
He sighed in memory of the day before him. His father, Silver Fullbuster, was in an insufferable state of disarray that his heir had not yet taken a wife. He had been rather unpleasant over it being that his father was growing old and he wished to see the new generation of his family. Gray was his only full blooded son and would inherit their grand estate and family business.
His mother, Mika Fullbuster, had passed on when he was still a child. Yet Gray always remembered her fondly. She adored the beauty of the world around them and explored nature and its majesty. Although he missed her terribly from time to time, Gray tried to be positive about his mother watching over him in the afterlife. His father however never truly healed, but felt that in his remarriage to a wonderful woman named Ur filled the hole in his chest even if only by half.
Ur, like his mother, was a magic user who specialized in healing. She taught Gray, his stepbrother Lyon, and stepsister Ultear how to use their magic. Gray always thought of her as his second mother because of her courageous heart in teaching, yet brutal temper when any of the children misbehaved. Silver frowned upon the children’s use of magic saying that it wouldn't help them in the progressing world, for magic at that time was seen by some as dark and a bad omen. Many who were known to use magic kept it hidden out of fear that those who opposed them would strike back.
Gray never thought of it that way, he was always fascinated by it like both of his mothers had been. Throughout his childhood and into his adult life Gray had become so wrapped into the family business that he rarely had time to do as he pleased. He spent his days living in his father’s shadow, something Silver believed made his son happy.
As Gray became of marital age his father was set on having him be wed, and the sooner the better. Unfortunately his son almost loathed the idea of an arranged marriage. He knew he would wed eventually but he didn’t want to be pushed into it. But marrying him to a suitable maiden to carry on the Fullbuster name was all his father desired. He had tried introducing Gray to countless women, after all his wealth needed to be passed on to someone of equal status. His father wanted him to be happy, but he was willing to only believe that he was. Silver meant well but remained blinded by his own personal wants instead of Gray’s needs.
It took many trials to find Gray a match but when Silver came across the Heartfilia family, another wealthy family like theirs, he found out that their daughter, Lucy, was of age. She was known to be intelligent, beautiful, and blonde. Many other men had sought after her, but she still had yet to be married. Silver had met her on a trip to the Heartfilia estate to have a business meeting with her father, Jude. Silver was struck by her beauty and kindness that he forgot about the business proposal and instead offered his son to Jude and his wife Layla. They agreed to have their children meet and further discuss marriage plans, although it really meant that they wanted it sealed in stone.
Gray had heard of Lucy before around the town and there was nothing wrong with her, she just wasn’t his type. He was entirely unenthusiastic to go to their estate that day. The only reason he didn’t put up an attitude is because his father was at his wits end after Gray had come back from many meetings without a bride. Gray was confident that Lucy wouldn’t like him either, the rumor was a man had already won her heart.
“Gray! You better be ready up there, my boy!” His father called from the hallway.
Gray let out a sigh as he got up from his comfortable spot. He set his book down on his desk and stood in front of the mirror to see the ridiculous suit his servant had helped him put on. It was a deep navy colored suit with a black dress shirt and an overly sized scarf-like tie in silver. It was too tight and extremely uncomfortable that in the instant the servant left the room he tugged at the sleeves and collar to let him breathe again. He wanted to pull the tie off entirely eventually giving up on the undoable knot. They had also slicked his unruly spiked hair back to make him appear ‘proper’. He didn’t quite care if he looked greasy, perhaps it would make him less attractive.
His father opened the door with a smile that turned into a frown as he took a look at his son.
“What did you do this time?” he asked , although knowing his son despised formal wear.
“Dad, I look like a circus monkey, and I couldn’t even breathe. What did you expect?” Gray responded in annoyance as his father crossed the room to him. He fixed his collar and rolled his sleeve cuffs up again making him look presentable again. He tightened the tie and tucked it in so he looked tidy all around.
“Everything must be perfect, you have to make a good impression. As long as everything goes according to plan I’ll be satisfied.” Silver said. It seemed his son wasn’t paying attention with his sour expression so in turn Silver clapped his hands on his son’s shoulders making him jump, “C’mon, lose the attitude.”
Gray winced, “Fine. But it’s not my fault if this doesn’t work out.”
Silver narrowed his eyes, “That’s because you’re going to be kind to her and put your best foot forward so it does work out.”
Gray rolled his eyes, “Sure, whatever you say.” His tone was unconvincing but his father ignored it wrapping his arm around his son’s shoulder.
“Are you two done yet?! This carriage isn’t going to wait forever! We can’t be even a moment late!” Ur shouted from downstairs causing both men to wear looks of fear.
“Of course, honey!” Silver called before turning back to his son with a sheepish smile, “Let’s go now son, before she eats us alive. We’re coming!”
***
In the carriage Gray sulked, staring out the window while they passed by the shopping district. It clunked across the cobblestone as it ventured and soon they were off onto the back road towards their destination. The Heartfilias lived just outside of the town in the countryside so they could farm off the lands. Gray’s suit pulled as he slouched with his arms crossed over his chest, making him twice as uncomfortable.
“Gray, sit up.” Ur snipped, “You’ll wrinkle your clothes.”
“You're right, let me sit up because I care so much about how I look right now..” He snorted sarcastically. It was very rare for him to behave that way towards his stepmother, but given the circumstances of the day in his mind he had every reason to be a bit rebellious.
“Now don’t be that way, this could be the best day of your life!” Silver piped before Ur could scold Gray. He was smiling as optimistically as ever, a classic trait of his father.
Gray rolled his eyes feeling his stomach churn, “Tch, try the worst.”
Ur snapped her fan shut, “Now Gray, your father is right. It's a beautiful day outside-” she glanced up at the ominously dark skies, “well, it's a rather nice day. Anything can happen, you might find yourself smitten with the Heartfilia girl.”
Gray’s eyes went wide, “You can’t be serious. If I didn’t like the others what would make her any different?”
“She’s a Heartfilia! She’s been educated since she was a child on proper etiquette and she’s of remarkable status! Smart, elegant, beautiful,” his father held up three fingers, “those are the three you look for in a wife.”
Ur, who had been calmly fanning herself, gasped and whacked Silver across the head with her fan, “There’s much more to a woman than that!”
Silver chuckled, “O-Of course my dear, I’m just trying to make it easy for him!” He rubbed the growing lump on his head biting his lip in pain.
Gray wiped his face with exhaustion and he shook his head, “You should hear yourselves.”
As Ur was about to hit Silver again, she instead looked to Gray with a touch of sympathy in her eyes, “All we’re asking is that you meet her. If it had been up to your father he would’ve sold you off. Just, please, do your best and try not to embarrass us with something unexpected. That attitude of yours only gets you into trouble. Everything must go according to plan.”
Gray glanced at her a little less coldly before looking out the window again, “I know, okay. You keep reminding me.”
A peculiar estate struck his interest as they approached. There were high black gates that vines had started to twist up with a long gravel pathway to the front. It was an old looking mansion in a deep blue color, including pillars on the porch of the front door.  It looked as if it had been abandoned yet it was still very unique in design that had a tower in the middle that connected both sides of the estate. He couldn’t describe the way he felt looking at it but it was almost as if he had never noticed it before. They had taken the same road many times to go on business trips to the neighboring towns or to visit other families, such as the Dragneels.
“Dad, whose estate is that?” Gray asked before they completely passed the area. Silver peered out the window with Ur and they were both silent.
“I’m not quite sure, has it always been there?” Ur asked, looking at Silver. He appeared to be in deep thought as he gazed at it.
“I’m afraid I don’t know either. That’s very strange.” Silver noted as he knew all the wealthy families within the town’s range. They carried on down the road and both of his parents seemed to shrug it off easily.
Gray’s overwhelming curiosity of the mansion didn’t fade and for a moment he could have sworn that he saw a shadow by the gates. However, he did get distracted by their carriage making a sharp turn. He realized that they had arrived at their destination.
***
The Heartfilia estate was magnificent on the outside and the inside. The landscaping was to perfection as was the decor on the outside of the mansion. It was bigger than the Fullbuster’s and it seemed much flashier. It was fitted with tall windows and grand staircases, warm colors of gold and red, and on the outside four high columns in front of the door. The estate extended into two wings on either side that had doorways to the garden in the back. The Heartfilia’s were renowned for their magnificent gardens that had been in the family since the first line. Jude, the master of the home, was a very ridgid man who had lived in noble status for his whole life. He knew nothing of commonplace life, nor did he want to. He was very difficult to befriend and even harder to impress. His wife Layla, the matriarch of the Heartfilia’s, was known to be the most gentle and elegant woman of the family. She cared for her daughter Lucy more than the sun and stars, and she was also a very skilled magic user. In turn she taught her daughter everything she knew and many said Lucy was much like a reflection of her. In that area of the country, the Heartfilia’s were the closest to royalty.
Lucy was in her room preparing to meet the Fullbuster family. Her closest friend, Levy Mcgarden, was assisting her with her  hair as Lucy let out the biggest sigh.
“Lu-chan, I’m sorry.” Her blue haired friend said sadly as she brushed through her blonde locks.
“It’s okay, Levy-san. I wish he would just give up already! I knew when I made that arrangement with my father it was an awful idea. But I suppose I just wanted something to believe in..” Lucy grew quiet as she placed down her powder puff.
“I could’ve told you that he wouldn’t let it go either. Especially since he promised that you could be with Natsu if you couldn’t find a suitor. That’s why he’s bringing every eligible man possible.” Levy responded.
Lucy slammed her fist down on the vanity making Levy jump,“But why! I don’t understand why he has to hold onto this silly feud between the Dragneel’s and us. Natsu’s father doesn’t even care about it! If something happened centuries ago, why dwell on it?! Natsu told me that his father wants him to be happy and choose his own path, why is that so hard for me?”
Levy’s heart ached at the passion in Lucy’s voice. For as long as she had known her, Lucy was a force of nature. Perhaps that’s why no man could handle her, except for Natsu. Lucy came off as the perfect lady in front of her parents, but she revealed her true identity to every suitor and it drove them away one after the other. She could be rather headstrong and opinionated, she spoke up for what she believed in and most men wanted a quiet and complacent wife. That was truly the opposite of Lucy, which is why Natsu fell for her. When they met it was the first time Lucy felt shy around a man, because he liked her passion and her stubbornness, he fell in love with her.
The Dragneel family was very successful in coal mining and shipping, something that usually did not generate much income. Yet the coming times were growing dependent on it for their new means of transportation, trains. Natsu’s father’s business had shot from the ground up and although they were still small compared to the Heartfilia’s, they were growing rapidly. Her father said that new money was nothing compared to old money and continued to look down on the Dragneel’s every chance they got. In Lucy’s eyes he probably felt threatened by how likeable they were becoming with the other families.
“I swear Levy, I won’t go through with this. This Gray Fullbuster will be just like all the others, and I’ll get him to leave twice as fast. If my father wants to keep messing with me I’ll throw it right back at him.” Lucy said with her fist still clenched. Levy secured her hair into its braid and placed delicate golden flower pins in the top section.
“I believe in you, Lu-chan. That’s why as soon as you're done getting dressed, I arranged a bit of a surprise.” Levy grinned watching Lucy’s face light up.
“What is it?!!” The blonde giggled with excitement as Levy put her shoes on her delicate feet.
“Do you listen?” Levy laughed and went around behind Lucy to finish lacing up her dress. She pulled the pink threads tightly and wrapped it in a bow at the bottom of her back.
Lucy stepped over to the full length mirror and gasped twirling the dress around, “Wow, it’s so gorgeous! You did a fantastic job with this one, Levy-chan!”
“Well you know it’s easy to get it done so fast with magic.” Levy smiled admiring the beautiful light pink dress she had made and how beautiful it looked on Lucy. She always handmade all of Lucy’s gowns, an artisan skill she had learned over years of practice and perfected with the assistance of magic.
“Alright, as promised I’ll get your surprise. But you have to close your eyes, and keep them closed until I say. No peeks!” Levy teased.
The giddy blonde covered her eyes with her gloved hands and waited impatiently for Levy to reveal her surprise. The blue haired maid looked back to Lucy as she neared the balcony doors and opened them quietly. Natsu was perched in the large oak tree that connected to Lucy’s room and swiftly jumped down upon seeing Levy wave him in.
“She’s in there, just be quick. They’ll be coming to get her soon since she’s ready.” Levy whispered.
Natsu could see her blonde hair from the corner of his eye, “Thank you, Levy. I really owe you one for helping me do this during the day.”
Levy shook her head, “Don’t mention it, if it’s for Lucy I’d do anything.”
They entered the room and Levy went to the door of the upstairs hallway, “Alright Lu-chan, you can open your eyes!” She slipped out the door to give them privacy and as she felt the door click shut she heard the overjoyed squeals of her friend from inside the room.
“Natsu!!” Lucy cried, throwing her arms around him. He was the last thing she expected to see since most of their meetings happened at night when the rest of the estate was asleep. They would lay in her bed for hours talking, or sit on the balcony and watch the stars. Natsu was just as elated to see her admiring the dress she had on. He lifted her up and gave her a spin, “You look great Lucy, look at you!”
She giggled in overwhelming happiness when he put her down and felt her nose touch his before he pulled her closer for a kiss. Her face grew hot when she pulled away and Natsu was staring down at her with his eyes full of adoration.
“Maybe you look too good.” Natsu said while scrunching his eyebrows. He knew what was going on that day, it happened many times before. Natsu was not a very jealous man however, and he knew Lucy’s heart belonged to him. He did like to tease her often.
“I’m so happy to see you, even if this is a terrible day you’ve made it much better.” She said bashfully, having a struggle to maintain eye contact.
“It’s okay Luce, you know I promised you no matter what that we’re going to be together. I don't care what anyone says, if I get to spend forever with you it would all be worth it.” He was smiling the whole time, as he always was, as he had been during everything.
“Natsu..I-”
“Better yet, I could just steal you away.” He smirked with an evil glint in his eye, “I’m sure they wouldn’t miss you that much!’
Lucy gasped into a laugh, “Natsu! That’s awful!”
“What? We’ll send them letters,” he paused debating his words, “occasionally.” He joked laughing with her like they always did.
“I wish it was that easy..” she whispered with her hand on his chest. Her eyes grew sad with the underlying frustration apparent.
He shrugged, “I mean, it could be.”
Lucy’s eyes widened, “You mean..?”
“If he doesn’t want to give you up the easy way, he can give you up the hard way.” Natsu said nonchalantly. The words resonated with her and helped her to realize that with Natsu she had the chance to control her own fate, and she would take it.
Lucy grinned, taking him into a hug again, “You’re right. He doesn’t own me. This is the last time I’m going to be introduced, after today I’ll leave with you if he won’t give up.”
Natsu stroked her back and pulled her braid over her shoulder, “Go get em, don’t let whoever this bastard is fall in love with you or I’ll have to kill him.”
“I hate to see you go..” Lucy frowned as they walked towards the balcony together, “yet it seems soon enough I won’t have to see that.”
Natsu kissed her again briefly and jumped up onto the tree branch that led him there. “Keep holding onto that. I’ll be back before you know it. Maybe I’ll bring Happy next time, he’s been dying to see you!”
Lucy leaned against the doorframe keeping her smile as she thought of the cat, “I miss him too, I’ll be with you both.”
“I’ll see you, Lucy.” Natsu said with his cheeky smile and classic wave. Lucy’s heart swelled as she watched him disappear into the forest. But just as it was brought up, it sank down when he was no longer in sight. She placed her hands over her chest and looked up to the endless blue sky. If she had more courage she would’ve skipped this whole day and escaped with Natsu. She realized within that moment that it wasn’t about her amount of courage, it was about timing. Lucy knew that if the timing was right her heart would not fail to guide her onto her own path. She turned around reluctantly and closed the doors behind her crossing the room with her dress flowing. Her chest began to feel even heavier as the door to her room opened.
“Lady Lucy, the guests have arrived. Your parents request your presence at once.” Her head maid said standing sideways to keep the door propped open.
Lucy took a deep breath and tried to bite back her sadness with Natsu in her mind, “Let’s go then.”
***************************************
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bonneyq · 4 years
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Bonney..Bonney.. BONNEY. First of all I’m like over the moon that YOURE BACCCKKK but also like girl i cannot rn i am SOBBING THAT WAS BEAUTIFULLLLLLL 🥺😭🥺 i think you did it exactly like how it would happen if gray were to ask her to dance and I LOVED every second 😭😭 please bless us with more glorious gruvia content *bows down*
Awwwwwwwwwwwwww!
I’m so happy you liked it! I was feeling SOOOOOO rusty and receive such a nice feedback is always great! Thank you, my dear!
And hopefully I’ll soon bring some new content, yeah. HAHAH I’m working on it!
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unvalley · 4 years
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Daycare Love
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___
Chapter two | The butterflies
Remember when Juvia wouldn’t let anything nor anyone get in the way to ruin her day? Well that just backfired.
Juvia was still frozen on the spot, not knowing what the hell to do or say. She couldn’t just be rude towards him, especially not in front of the kids. She had to be a good example. Besides, she really didn’t have a good reason to be angry with him. In fact, she didn’t have any reason at all. She was hurt, but she wasn't angry nor could she be. Nonetheless she was going to have to face him right then and there so she took a deep breath before facing him.
‘’Gray? Hi, what are you doing here?’’ Juvia looked at him and  she had to try her very best not to stutter because she was a nervous wreck. Even after all those years of not seeing him, he still somehow managed to have that affect on her.
‘’Really, Juvia? I don’t see you for almost six years and you’re asking me? You know, I could ask you the exact same question, right?’’ Gray raised his brows and folded his arms.
‘’Well, yes but...I asked you first? ’’ She told him and let out an awkward laugh.
Gray rolled his eyes and then looked at her with the ‘are you kidding me’ look.
‘’Aster goes to daycare here’’
‘’Aster?’’
‘’Yeah, my son’’
Did Juvia just hear him right or did she have to get her hearing checked? The Gray Fullbuster;  Was a father? Juvia was more or less shocked. He always did say that he would first and foremost focus on school and his career before making big commitments like that. Juvia wondered who the mother was. Was it who she thought it was?  
Juvia couldn’t help but to feel disappointed but at the same time she was really happy for him. That’s the one thing she always wanted for him and her closed ones; For them to be happy. For Gray to be happy because he deserved truly deserved the world.
Juvia had been so much in thought she didn’t realize Gray had been calling her name a few times.
‘’Juvia?’’ Gray put his hand on her shoulder and looked a bit worried. ‘’Are you okay?’’
‘’Oh, yes! S-sorry’’ Juvia said, stuttering this time as she had to hide her red face. ‘’So, uhm… I’m guessing Aster’s the one with the Olaf boxers?’’
‘’How did you know?’’ He said sarcastically.
‘’Oh, you know. He reminds me a lot like someone I know very well’’
Gray and Juvia burst into laughter and it made her recall the good old days. Ever since they started school together, they never had a dull moment. Now that Juvia thought about it, they never even fought. They were best friends; They got on really well, they always hung out, they were always there for each other, they could talk about anything and none of them would be uncomfortable about it. Okay, maybe Gray would be a little uneasy about the whole period talk but he still didn’t mind it. And lastly, they could tell each other everything. Well, almost everything. Juvia never told Gray how she really felt about him but she saw that he clearly didn’t feel the same way so she thought it’d be best if he never found out.
‘’Aster, this is Juvia. We know each other for many years’’ Gray introduced her to his three year old.
‘’Hi Juvia! It’s nice to meet you!’’ Aster held out his tiny hand for Juvia to shake. He had the brightest smile on his face, which made his big and adorable cheeks visible. Juvia thought he was so cute that she wanted to hug him and pinch his adorable big cheeks.
‘’Oh, I see your dad taught you some manners’’ She crouched down to his level and she couldn’t help but to smile back at the cute three year old as she took his tiny hand to shake it. ‘’It’s nice to meet you too, Aster’’
If only Juvia would have looked up to her childhood friend, at that time to witness his tomato cheeks.
‘’Alright, Aster. I have to go to work now’’ Gray informed and had to interrupt their little moment.
‘’Okay, dad!’’ Aster attacked his dad with a big bear hug.
‘’I hope you have a good daycare day. I’ll come pick you up a little later’’
‘’Okay!’’
‘’And be be nice to Juvia, got it?’’ Gray told Aster and then he whispered something in his son’s ear, that she couldn’t hear.
‘’Got it!’’
‘’Good. That’s my boy’’ Gray ruffled his son’s hair as they then said their goodbyes and Aster went to play with his friends. Gray was about to head out of the room when he spoke to Juvia.
‘’It was nice seeing you again, Juvia’’ He started.
‘’Yeah, you-’’ She didn’t get to finish her sentence because Gray had wrapped his arms around her in an embrace which got Juvia to jump a little in surprise, but in a good way. It’s like there was an automatic button because Juvia hugged him back with no second thought. It was their first hug in almost six years and it felt so nice. He was so warm, too, which also made Juvia’s body warm up. She missed this feeling. She had missed him.
‘’See you later, Juvia’’
‘’Yeah, you too’’
And with that Gray walked outside and Juvia eyed him until he was nowhere in sight. Juvia could feel butterflies inside of her. The ones she hadn’t felt for years. Butterflies that only he had ever given her.  
Perhaps her day nor her year wasn’t ruined after all, because she was looking forward to seeing him everyday.
___
A/N: Hi! first of all, sorry this chapter is a bit short!
Second, i wanted thank everyone who liked the first chapter, reblogged and left a lovely comment, it really means a lot to me!  🥰 💓
Let me know if u guys have any questions or if u want to be tagged in future chapters. Stay tuned! 😊
tags: @eme-eleff @jetblackrevival @anaviarts @juvsbby @be-dazzled @azuchifairy@greenapplegrass @fbflame94
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azuchifairy · 4 years
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Dead of Night
Jerza Vampire! AU One-shot 
Inspired by the suggestion from @jasnoor-kaur​ I realized Jerza needs love an attention bc their ship is so pure so this is my attempt at it! I’ve never written about Jerza before and this turned into something kinda long but I hope you enjoy it and maybe I'll make a little one shot series or something !!
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Erza stood at the tree line with the moon as her only light. The forest behind her was teeming with the sounds of the night eventually erupting into a symphony as she waited. In front of her was an open field with tall grass with a path that led to the main road. It usually didn’t take that long for him to show up, but she couldn’t worry, Jellal was quite good at taking care of himself. She didn’t jump when the trees above rustled and force impacted the ground behind her.
“You’re late, did something hold you up?” She asked casually, turning around to see the blue haired vampire behind her. He glowed under the moonlight as he stood, his red eyes looking at her with hesitation.
“My apologies,” He brushed off his coat, “something did keep me.” He said, his tone harder than normal. Something was off and Erza sensed it immediately as she approached him.
“Did something happen? Are Natsu and Juvia okay?” She asked regarding their friends that had been a part of Jellal’s undercover mission for some time now.
Jellal looked away, his eyes distant, “They’re safe. I thought you’d already know. You should’ve known when you killed her.”
Erza understood suddenly and her eyes widened. She took in a breath before responding, “I see, so what’s the Order’s next move?”
Jellal directed his eyes to her incredulously, “That’s your response? How can you be so casual?” His fists clenched, “They want you dead Erza, they want the life to drain from your eyes. Not only that, but they’ve ordered me to do it.”
She shouldn’t have been surprised by his words, but his reaction surprised her all the same. Before that moment things had been going fine and on schedule, but now there was a complication in their plan. Erza was a hunter, not to any specific degree, although recently those of the Order were calling her Titania, the vampire hunter. She was a member of the most dangerous hunting guild across Fiore, Fairy Tail. With the help of her comrades they took on countless different creatures that threatened the lives of humanity and doing so put an obvious target on their heads. Erza had been trained to deal with different types of creatures and climbed up to S class when she was only 14.
Humans had an ongoing fight for centuries with the vampires, unfortunately there were vampire nobles who thought they were above all other beings. An Order was created as a place for those nobles to share their ideas to conquer humans. They were known as the Blood Order and almost every human alive feared their reign. The Order had many powerful vampires that possessed incredible gifts and their ranks grew everyday.
That being said, there were plenty of vampires that wanted to live with humans, even admired them so much that they became vegetarians and only consumed animal blood. Even Natsu Dragneel, one of Erza’s closest friends since she was a child, had been turned into a vampire. Yet he still remained on the side of humanity and a part of the Fairy Tail guild. Jellal was also one of those vampires. He had come up with the idea to infiltrate and gather intel from the Blood Order with both Natsu and one of Fairy Tail’s other members, Juvia Lockser, insisted on joining since they too were vampires. Even while they were supposed to be enemies it didn’t change how Erza cared for Jellal.
Wherever she went he was always watching. When she was visiting the bars downtown, going shopping at the marketplace, or walking the trail home through the forest. He knew she was capable of taking care of herself, but there was a fear he felt inside of the day that she needed help and he was too late. He, over everyone, knew the dangers that lurked in the shadows of the forests. With the Order being so widespread and the target on her head so coveted, he felt compelled to protect her.
Jellal had walked the road of darkness for decades and he had accepted it. He committed heinous crimes against humanity, immoral acts for the Blood Order, and fed on those of innocent blood and youth. There was a time where his loneliness and cost of his sins drove him to want to be evil, to enjoy killing and succumb to the darkness creatures like him were inevitably enshrouded in. But somewhere along the way, someone changed that. In the time he felt the most lost, he was found.
He could still remember the first time that he saw her in front of him. He was giving in to his thirst that night and almost devoured a young man in the forest when he sensed the scent of even more delectable human blood. His fangs were bared and as he turned around to change his prey he was stopped.
In the moonlight, so delicate yet so brave, the woman with red hair stood gripping her arm in pain. She was shaking so hard that it seemed she was about to drop the knife coated in her blood, yet even in agony she pointed at him with a stern glare. He swallowed hard, nothing but the wind made a sound. Her scarlet hair flowed underneath the light and touched his tainted black soul. After spending years trying to atone for his sins, dying by her hand didn’t seem so bad. He was ready to accept that fate over all others and stayed still in place on the ground where he knelt.
Something must’ve changed her mind, because within seconds she cast the knife down to the side and approached him. He was so struck with shock that he didn’t even feel the burning sensation of thirst anymore. She took her bloodied hand off of her wound and standing above him she cupped his face. Her eyes appeared to be soft, full of sorrow, yet she was still smiling.
“It really is you..”
That was all she said, and all she needed to say. He was so captivated that he would follow her to the ends of the earth. She had grown into such a beautiful young woman that if he could blush, he would’ve.
“You.. know me?” He asked skeptically trying to remember where a gorgeous being such as her would’ve seen him.
She chuckled brushing her red hair from her face, “Of course I do. I knew from the moment I saw you I would never forget.”
He stood abruptly and pulled her hand off of him, “What are you..” he remembered the blood on his hands and mouth, “Don’t look at me, I didn’t want you to see-”
“You don’t think I know?” She interrupted with her tone remaining soft. “You saved me then, and got me to safety.”
Then he realized that it was her, the infamous Erza Scarlet, but the moment she was talking about was before that. It was the night that the Blood Order had decided to choose a small village on the outskirts of the country for their ceremonial feeding. The vampire nobles had come up with a sick way of getting the specially chosen vampires fed by holding a cultist ceremony before purging a village of innocent people. In their minds they were rewarding their strongest members who benefitted the Order by gathering recruits, slaves, or intel and Jellal almost always got chosen. It was sick and immoral but it fed the hungry demon inside of every vampire, including him. To prepare for the ceremony, the chosen vampires were to go as long as possible without feeding to induce the ultimate level of thirst. This ensured that the entire village would be destroyed, and every drop of blood shed.
Fires had broken out and soon enough the whole village was aflame as vampires attacked the people trying to flee. Erza was one of those people but still a child at the time which made her significantly slower than the others. She ran as fast as she could but she wasn’t quick enough to outrun the vampires. Her body smacked into one of the higher ranks and she was thrown to the ground on impact. The vampire before her was called Zero and he was a ruthless killer amongst the Order. He held no care for human life, like animals to the slaughter.
Erza cowered in the ground trying to crawl backwards away from his figure looming over her. The moment he went to grab her and end her life Jellal threw himself in front of her. He grabbed onto Zero’s hands and growled against his strength.
Zero was surprised by this, since it was against the Law of the Order. No vampire had ever protected a human, “Jellal?! What the hell are you doing?!”
He couldn’t speak, Jellal was working against the will of his thirst and if he lost focus he might end up hurting Erza. This berserk mode was the most dangerous state of a vampire, but also their strongest. Their desire to consume blood takes over their minds and bodies becoming something truly worse than just a vampire. Erza watched the scene unfold before her knowing that the blue haired man was also a vampire, but not knowing why he was protecting her.
Zero had claws much like a beast as part of his gift and he was strong enough to tear through human bodies. Jellal was carefully dodging his moves using his immense strength to throw and smash him to the ground repeatedly. Nearby there was a strong scent of blood that smelled so good it distracted both Jellal and Zero.
Both tried to resist the thirst to focus on their fight and Jellal paid the price for letting his guard down. He had turned around to check that it wasn’t the girl who was bleeding and Zero lunged himself towards with his claws. Erza yelped suddenly, “Look out!!”
Jellal was able to send himself backwards just in time to not take the full brunt of Zero’s attack but he was still slashed by the five claws. Jellal cried out in pain and fell to the ground holding his abdomen.
“TRAITOR! I’ll kill you for protecting a scum human!!” Zero bellowed continuing his attack.
Unfortunately for Zero, those were the last words he ever spoke.
In the dead of night he snapped Zero’s head off. Jellal had no choice but to kill his own kind and burn the body, or else he would tell the Order of his treason. It was only until after Zero’s body was burning did he pick up Erza and bring her into the woods all while his mind was swimming. He wanted to drain her of blood, he wanted to save her, the contradicting thoughts and intense pain he felt were probably the only thing keeping her alive. When she was far enough away Jellal set her down and stumbled as he started to lose focus.
“Um..-“
“Get out of here!” He pleaded, “Hurry, run and don’t look back! Don’t trust anyone!” During that whole time he had barely looked at her but for a second he caught a glimpse of her scarlet hair.
“No, you need help! You were hurt badly because of me.. I have to help you!!” She protested coming closer.
Jellal didn’t have time to be shocked that not only a human, but a little girl wanted to help him, “NO, please, I’ll be fine just g-go.. I’ll heal on my own. R-Run..before they find you..”
Erza had tears in her eyes and stayed there for a moment longer on her knees, “T-Thank you..”
Once she said that she got up and immediately started running away wiping her eyes as she did. He looked up to the night sky and thought of the trouble he would be in, and he couldn’t find it in him to care. He stayed there through the night remembering her gratitude and the way she looked at him, like he wasn’t a monster.
After that night, Jellal wanted to be better than what he was so that he could start atoning for all the sins he had committed. He began freeing blood slaves of the Order and killing vampires of the lower ranks to shave off numbers. No one ever suspected that he was working against them, they even thought he was responsible for organizing new recruits. He tried feeding off animals instead and the transition was sickening at first, but became bearable over time. However, from time to time his thirst woke again for human blood and he would either fight or give in. That’s how they were able to meet again. She stood before him a true warrior, fearless, selfless, and stunning.
“I’m a monster Erza, you shouldn’t be here. We were never supposed to meet again.” He said shamefully, turning his head away.
“But that’s a lie. We were supposed to meet again because you never stopped looking after me. I know you were there, even if you thought I didn’t.” She said, pulling him back to her.
Jellal gulped having never been backed into a corner, “I-I was just making sure you were alright.”
Erza raised her brow, “Why would you do that? Why wouldn’t you come out?”
“I didn’t think it mattered to you.. I’m not someone you should be associated with. I’m with the Blood Order, I’m much more of a monstrosity than you think.” He cringed thinking of how he must have looked when she first saw him.
“That’s another lie. You saved me that night, you took me somewhere I could be safe, you’ve watched over me, that has nothing to do with being in the Order or being a vampire.” Her eyes were hard, unwavering, “If you were truly evil you would’ve just killed me. Instead you controlled yourself and rescued me from certain death. On top of that I know you’ve been working against the Order. I know you feel the same way I feel, so you have to think of what you want to be instead of what you think you are.”
He couldn’t say anything, all he could do was stare at her while her words captivated him. Erza looked to the blood on her hand, “Look at you now. I’m standing in front of you dripping in blood and you haven’t done a thing. I know there is goodness in you, Jellal. Stop making yourself believe that you're something you’re not.”
“I..can’t walk in the light like you do, Erza. That just comes with being who I am.” He paused and noticed her glare deepening, “But, maybe I’ll try to..become something better. Especially if I have your support.”
The smile in her eyes did more than just lift his spirit. It truly motivated him to become someone she could walk with, someone she might care for. Maybe that was when he fell in love.
From that night on Erza and Jellal met in the town at least once a week, sometimes more often, to get him used to being around humans. It was easy for him from the start, whenever he was with her he could care less about anything else around him. She even introduced him to all of her friends she had met through Fairy Tail and even they accepted him almost as quickly as she did. When he felt hungry Erza, and the other vampires from Fairy Tail, would help him hunt. It amazed him that Erza had become stronger than he ever imagined she would.
It started to concern Jellal how much time he spent with Erza. His feelings only grew for her the more time they shared. He tried forcing himself to stay away, to leave and hunt for longer periods of time. But none of that created a solution for his love of her. Someone as dark as him, could never be with someone so pure. That was why he came up with the plan in the first place. Infiltrating the Blood Order alongside Fairy Tail helped Erza towards her goal. His mission with Natsu and Juvia continuously fed the guild with information so Erza was always able to position their forces in the ideal places for attacking.
For a while it went unnoticed and Erza’s bounty would rise from time to time. She had triggered the Blood Order the moment she killed Kyoyka, one of the highest ranking vampires. They met unexpectedly while Erza was trying to evacuate the next village to be used for a ceremonial feeding. When Jellal saw Kyoyka’s head burning on the ground he knew there was no turning back. Now that Erza had killed one of the higher ups, her bounty turned into an assassination plot.
“They want you to kill me..” Erza finally answered.
“I won’t do it! I would never hurt you, you have to believe me Erza,” he took her hands in his chilling ones, “please, you must kill me instead.”
Erza stepped back in shock throwing his hands down, “Are you insane?! What good is it going to do if I kill you?! The Order is going to come after me regardless, let them send someone else.”
“I wish it was that easy, but I think they’ve been suspecting me for a while. If I don’t do this the infiltration mission is over and we’ll be caught. You have to do this Erza.” Jellal insisted as he stared into her eyes.
She raged on, “No! I won’t. I refuse to have you throw your existence away for some Order. That would be pointless!”
Jellal clenched his fist, “I’m just trying to protect you! If that means giving up this meaningless immortality then I couldn’t care less.”
“You shouldn’t want to give up your life if you're trying to protect something, you should live to be there! Killing you isn’t the solution here, besides how dare you ever think that’s something I could ever do!” Erza retaliated with a voice full of passion.
“Erza, I.. I just don’t want anything to happen to you. I’d rather go in your place.” Jellal said, casting his eyes down. He felt defeated and utterly useless. Everything he tried to build was about to fall and this was the breaking point.
“Coward! Instead of dying for me why don’t you fight with me?! This world won’t be able to change without you, my world will never last if you aren’t in it! Stop talking about things out of sorrow and let’s both look up for our future!” She threw her hands up, “Forget about the infiltration, we have all the intel we need. Now I need you, I need you to be by my side and come be where you belong. This is the time to turn the tide Jellal, not the time to give up.”
Jellal’s eyes went wide listening to how her voice never wavered, she held no hesitations, no reservations. She wanted to fight with him, she said she needed him. The future, he never truly thought about the future. He was always dwelling on the past, focused on molding the present, that he never stopped to think about what comes after. In every place he could recall the one common thing pushing him forward towards the future without him even knowing it, was Erza. Her light, the radiance in her heart was able to act as a beacon for him to follow, to move forward to. It was clear to him at that moment why he felt the need to protect her, why he relied on her very existence. She was the one pulling him towards the path those like her walked, the path of light. She was the one he fell in love with.
For as long as he had existed he didn’t believe it was possible to escape the darkness of the shadows, the evil he was programmed to have, but she showed him it was attainable. She believed in him and was willing to fight at his side for a future where they could be together, so he would too.
“Erza..” he said picking up her hands while his undead heart felt like it could catapult from his chest, “I want to ask you something.” He watched her blush and her whole demeanor switched.
“W-What?”
“If we fight together, will you stay by my side and let me protect you?” He asked while his mind swirled in an endless whirlpool of thoughts.
She nodded, “Of course. Until my last breath, I want to be by your side.”
Jellal felt a tingle in his chest and cleared his throat trying to regain his coolness, “Erza, what I really need to say is.. I-I can’t have a future without you. I have to have you with me, I want to live in a world where I can make you smile everyday. If that's the future we can both fight for together, then I want it more than anything.”
Erza’s hands trembled in his, “Jellal.. Are you..”
“Yes.” He started firmly, “I need you to know why I would give it all for you. I couldn’t help falling in love with you. I tried to stay away, just to help you in whatever ways I could from the shadows. But you have made me want to be in the light because without you, I’d have nothing.”
Before he even finished speaking Erza had thrown herself into his arms,“J-Jellal.. Why would you do that?” She asked quietly.
If he could blush, he would be red like her hair. “I thought I didn’t deserve you.. Vampires are meant to be predators..killers. I wanted to become better, maybe you could see me as something more. But regardless, I’ll still be here whether or not you feel the same.” He responded, cracking a smile at her.
“Idiot. You’re an idiot.” She said with her face in his chest. His eyes went wide when she looked up at him with tears in her eyes, “I thought I was going to die before you told me that.”
Jellal was in utter shock. He had never seen her cry like this, and she was crying because of him. “Erza..I..”
Her fingers curled into his coat putting her head back down, “You might live forever, but I don’t have that time. I’ve waited.. for you to realize that I’m the one who fell in love with you first.”
He shook his head in disbelief but she continued anyways, “I didn’t want to push you, I didn’t want you to not be ready. But then I started to worry that you would never be ready, that I would die and never get to share my love with you.. I’m just glad, you feel like you can finally love others and even, me.”
The moonlight lit up her face the next time she looked up, and she smiled. Her hands lifted and she cupped his face admiring the realization in his eyes. Jellal’s hand slid against her cheek and she didn’t react to the chill. She nuzzled into it and pulled him down to her slowly with all the stars in the sky to watch.
He let her draw him in and fell slave to the way her lips parted in the darkness. In seconds, he received more bliss than over a hundred years of living. He felt her soft lips send him into nirvana, a feeling that even drinking blood couldn’t give him. Each of them couldn’t help but want more of the other. There was nothing else on his mind, not blood, not the Order, not himself, just her. His hand slipped behind her head cradling her in their kiss all while he was able to touch her smooth red hair holding in his grip. He was gentle with her, but his passion was stirring his supernatural strength.
Her hands were on his chest when he pulled back from her. She was breathless, and so blushed before him. He had never seen a woman like this before him. If he were alive he would be feeling those same sensations.
“I-I’m sorry.. I-” She kissed him again, just for another moment to cut him off from useless apologies.
She rested her nose against his like she was going to kiss him again, but remained still with their foreheads touching, “I love you Jellal, I always have.”
Fireflies began to glow around them, never in his life had he been able to feel so much happiness. “I promise you won’t have to wait for me any longer. You alone..have given me the strength to conquer anything.”
In that moment, everything was perfect. It didn’t take long for that moment to end.
Taggies: @unvalley
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azuchifairy · 4 years
Text
The Corpse Bride
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13672392/4/The-Corpse-Bride
“What is hidden, what is unseen, what is behind your eyes?”
Chapter 4: Concealed
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Dust flew across the room as Gray brushed a curtain out of his way with his arm. He coughed waving his hand viciously trying to clear the air. The attic was slightly organized but because of everything just sitting up there it tended to get very dusty. Gray had gone up there many times throughout his life to hide during the times his father brought guests over, or whenever he was missing his mother.
He saw her vanity in the corner and approached it carefully through the other boxes surrounding it. In the first drawer of it were all her photos of Gray when he was a child and their old family portraits. But his favorite picture was at the bottom, he pulled it out carefully and looked down at his mother’s face. She was a beautiful woman with silky black hair that she always kept very long. Most of her hairstyles included barrettes and pins with butterflies since she rarely wore all her hair up.
In the portrait the younger version of himself sat in her lap looking up at her dressed in the finest clothes for a toddler. Mika was dressed in an elegant dark blue gown with a black lace corset. The bell sleeves also had black lace trim and ribbons just before the fabric met her forearm. His mother was smiling at him in adoration hugging him around his waist against her.
Staring at the picture intently Gray cracked a smile at the fond memories he could recall, like he could hear her laughter in his mind. His eyes narrowed in curiosity and he could see that his mother was wearing the ring in that picture. He thought of Juvia again with the ring on her finger and how it would be possible that she had it.
It was something Silver had specially made for Mika when they got married and his mother absolutely never took it off. His memory failed him however when he tried to recall what they had done with the ring when his mother died.
“What is going on..?” he asked himself in a low voice. He directed his vision to the boxes of books on the ground and set the picture on the vanity. As his search began and dust flew up in clouds again, he had the feeling that his mother was trying to lead him to something. Whatever it was had something to do with Juvia, whether he knew her or not. He was finally able to think clearly after his fright in the woods and the startling meeting with Juvia so things were starting to piece together in his mind.
Gray was good at puzzles, good with looking at things from a different perspective and it occurred to him that he would need those talents for a mystery like this. While going through the books of nature spells, he came across something unexpected. It was one of his mother’s butterfly hair clips, only it looked still new and barely any dust was on it.
“This would look nice on Juvia..” He thought about examining the colors and design. Then it was like he suddenly flashed back into reality, as if his thought was completely involuntary. He held his head incredulously, “What on earth am I thinking? I have no idea who she is!”
Regardless of his contradicting thoughts, he pocketed the hair clip and would think about what to do with it later. With the remaining books not containing anything useful he sighed thinking it was the end of the road. He felt drawn however, to a strange box behind the one with the majority of his mom’s magic books.
He had gone through them hundreds of times on his own in secret, but he had never come across this particular box before. He slid it out and by turning it around he saw the lock on the front and puffed out a breath in frustration.
Gray let his fingertip run over the keyhole and jogged his brain to think of where a key would be. Again he went to his mother’s vanity remembering that it was made by a famous maker of puzzle boxes from the neighboring country. If Gray didn’t want someone to find a key he would hide it somewhere no one would think of. Usually the drawers would consist of numbers that each click was associated with, meaning there was a code. Gray stepped back analyzing the piece and immediately thought of years as the code. It could be his parents wedding year, or either of their birth years.
He tried all three with no luck and saw the picture staring back at him. As if someone else was moving his body he picked up the picture and turned it over. On the back of it in the top left corner was a four digit number, the year the photo was taken.
His eyes widened and he tucked the photo away in his jacket and got to work. He opened each draw until he heard the correct clicks and on the fourth drawer a compartment opened under the vanity. When he stuck his hand inside he could feel the cold metal of a key tied to a string and smirked at his victory.
Then he was finally able to twist it in the lock of the box to reveal a black book with white markings on the front that seemed different from her collection. When he turned it from it’s side he could see the skull on the cover clearly and the thick leather was somehow torn and worn at the edges.
He knew instantly that if he could find something about what was happening, it seemed like the right book. To keep it hidden Gray waved his hand over the cover, a simple spell used to make books smaller and easier to carry. He placed the now small book in his jacket pocket with the photo and concealed the books back up to cover his tracks.
Outside the window of the attic the moon had begun rising higher in the sky with clouds littering the view. Gray had already predicted that he wouldn’t be getting any sleep that night.
***
Juvia’s infectious giggle filled the room, “These must be Gray-sama’s, he sure does do a lot of sketching.” She flipped through the book she found on Gray’s nightstand thoughtfully. She was careful with every page, noticing his delicate hand in every line. There looked like there were many other books on his desk across the room. It made her wonder what her fiancee was interested in, if he was an author or more of an artist.
“You must be so curious,” Lyon inquired watching the strange blue haired girl as she gazed upon every page like it was a masterpiece, “since I’m Gray’s stepbrother, I could tell you anything you’d like to know about him.
“Unfortunately I just met him so I won’t be of any help with Gray.” Meredy chuckled as she remembered his attitude. She had shrugged it off easily because both Lyon and Ultear had warned her that it’s a natural thing for Gray.
Juvia took in a small gasp, “That’s right! Please, tell Juvia everything! There isn’t anything Juvia wouldn’t like to know about my darling.”
Lyon was charmed by the blue haired girl sitting up in Gray’s bed as was Meredy. She was sweet and innocent, yet something was different about her. She had woken just as they entered Gray’s room and their meeting seemed to be fated. After a quick introductory moment they seemed to all talk normally, like old friends.
“You see my mother, Ur, married his father, Silver, years ago when Gray lost his mother. Her name was Mika and she was actually a very skilled magic user.” Lyon explained piquing Juvia’s interest. “He was very young when she passed away, but Ur has been very kind and we’ve lived as a family since then. Gray’s the only heir of the Fullbuster family so it’s his responsibility to take over as head of the household.”
“Oh, how interesting..what does he do?” Juvia asked, “It does seem he likes to do art.”
Lyon nodded, “The Fullbuster family specializes in business trade, something Gray has been learning all his life. Silver owns many different companies and oversees their trading partnerships and investments. Gray is passionate about very few things, but art is one of them. He has plenty of sketchbooks and he’s quite good. I suppose he just likes to keep that side of himself hidden. I couldn’t tell you why, but Gray has always been a rather cold person.”
Juvia was silent, yet still smiling glancing back down to the sketchbook.
“He’s never brought a woman here,” Lyon said with a grin, “The only women who have ever been in this room, by invitation should I say,” he sheepishly looked at Meredy, “was Mom, and our sister Ultear.”
“Ultear?” Juvia questioned, “That’s a beautiful name.”
“She’s my best friend, and the reason I met Lyon.” Meredy said as she gazed at him lovingly. “She’s married now but she lives pretty close by if we want to visit!”
“What about you, Juvia-chan? Tell us about yourself, we’re rather interested to know.” Lyon said with his signature charm as Juvia looked down at her ring.
“Juvia was having a hard time remembering at first, maybe because of meeting Gray-sama. But now it’s starting to come back..” she said slowly fading her last words out.
“That’s understandable, sometimes after you faint you need a second to recall everything.” Meredy noted in her friendly tone. “Plus you’re in a new environment, it’s a lot to adjust to.”
Gray burst through the door and quickly turned around so he could close it with his back. Upon looking up he noticed the two intruders.
“What are you two doing here?!” He raged taking his voice from low to loud. Gray clenched his fists knowing Lyon was the mastermind behind the intrusion.
“Oh Gray-sama! Juvia is so happy to see you!” She cheered from her place in his bed. Her legs were criss crossed with the book in her lap covered by the sheet still with Meredy beside her. Lyon was the only one, apart from Juvia, who didn’t seem concerned with his brother’s anger at all. He strolled over to him noticing his brother’s hostile stance.
“Meredy and I took it upon ourselves to meet this lovely lady, who just happens to be your fiance? I thought you were me-” Gray smacked his hand over Lyon’s mouth knowing exactly what trouble he was trying to stir up.
“Lyon, I need to talk to you for a moment. Outside.” Gray said in a deadly tone. Lyon put his hands up and Gray slowly backed down. Lyon wore a smirk, “Alright, have it your way. Meredy, I’ll be right back. Please do keep Juvia-chan company while her fiance and I are gone.”
Gray gritted his teeth at his brother, “She’s not my fiancée.” He said following him out of the room as Meredy settled again next to Juvia. Lyon shut the door behind him and Gray let out an exasperated sigh.
“You always do this to me when I make a mess of something. What’s it going to take to get you off of my back with this one and not tell wardens?” Gray asked, addressing their parents.
“Please Gray, stop being so ornery with me. I want to help, don’t you see? I was making her feel comfortable so I could find out who she was. Unless you know already?” Lyon replied looking smug. He loved being able to catch his brother like that.
Gray stayed silent for a moment, “What do you think I was doing? Look, something happened..it has to be magic. You saw the ring on her hand right? It’s my mom’s. I picked it up in the forest, it started shining and then suddenly she was there. I have no explanation as to how it's possible other than magic, and not only that but as you can see, she thinks she’s going to marry me!”
“Well trust me, if I didn’t have Meredy already I would take her from you. She’s a beauty and she’s rather sweet. I don’t sense any malicious energy from her at all. Maybe it’s a sign that she’s the girl you’ve been waiting for. After all, you could’ve left her in the forest once she fainted, but you didn’t.” Lyon pointed out.
Gray felt a faint blush on his cheeks from his words and tried to push away the thought. Although it made him slightly jealous to think of her with Lyon, that didn’t mean anything. He needed to find out why she appeared and how she wore the ring related to his mother, that was it.
“I-I couldn’t just leave a lady out in the forest, father would kill me. I was just being a gentleman, that’s all.” Gray explained stubbornly, his attitude showing its face again.
Lyon shook his head, tutting at his brother, “Oh Gray. You never learn when to just admit you’re lying. You can deny that you don’t feel anything all you want, but you wouldn’t have laid her in your bed and scrambled to the attic to find answers if she wasn’t a little important to you. Taking her out of the woods, fine that could be considered something a gentleman would do. But going as far as you have already just to ‘help her’ says something completely different. My gut tells me you’re about to go even farther for this girl.”
Gray opened his mouth to protest but was interrupted by Lyon holding his hand up, “I won’t tell them, but don’t do anything I can’t cover up. I may be able to fool father, but mother is a different being altogether.”
He let out another sigh, “Alright, fine it’s a deal. Also, don’t mention the Heartfilia’s to her. I’d rather avoid having to explain it to her..”
“Just so you know, Father is coming back from their estate. I'm sure there’s going to be a whole other fight if he sees Juvia. Especially since you ran out after making a scene.” Lyon warned.
Gray cringed, “Uhg, how did you know about that already?!”
Lyon laughed placing a hand on his brother’s shoulder, “Word travels fast in a small town, apparently it's all anyone can talk about. Dad has people looking high and low for you.”
Gray swallowed hard thinking about the awful trouble he had gotten himself into. It made shudders run down his back as he imagined what his parents were going to do to him. But he didn’t have time to think about that, if he had to he would sneak out with Juvia and hide out until he could figure out what to do. In the back of his mind he had already started forming a plan.
“Let me find out who she is, I’ll come to you if I need advice. But remember, that’s only if.” Gray said, opening the door to his room once again.
Meredy and Juvia looked up and saw Lyon and Gray enter again. “Come Meredy, we’ve got something to do for now,” he bowed to Juvia from beside Gray, “I’m sure we’ll be seeing you again Juvia-chan. Thank you for keeping us company.”
Meredy gave Juvia a hug, “It was lovely to meet you, I’m sure we’ll be great friends. Ultear will be so excited to meet you too!”
Juvia smiled very big, “Thank you, Meredy. Juvia does hope we can be great friends. And thank you Lyon-san, for the information and your kindness.” She bowed her head in gratitude and Gray felt a small pang of jealousy.
Lyon sauntered towards her making it a grand gesture to take her hand, “The pleasure was all ours, please do come see me if you ever need anything else. And I truly mean, anything.” He bowed just head and kissed the back of Juvia’s hand briefly, making Gray’s skin crawl.
“Alright, she definitely gets it. Now take your leave before I throw you out.” Gray growled in a protective manner making Lyon snicker.
“Ahh, you always have such a way with words brother, I’m sure you have no trouble charming Juvia with your poetic genius.” Lyon teased as Meredy stepped through the doorway.
“Get out.” Gray said flatly with a glare making even Meredy stifle her giggle.
The couple left the room and Gray made sure the door was shut before crossing back to the bed. Juvia smiled brightly at him which was rather distracting, “Lyon-san is quite the character, he seems to be the complete opposite of you Gray-sama!”
“You could say that again. Lyon is my least favorite subject.” He saw the window had been cracked open, feeling the cool draft of wind coming in. “You must be freezing in that dress.”
Juvia shook her head, “Oh no, Juvia quite enjoys the cold.”
Gray pulled up the chair where Lyon sat closer to the bed looking down at his sketchbook in her lap, “You know you shouldn’t snoop in things that aren’t yours.”
Juvia’s eyes went a little wide, “Oh! Juvia is very sorry Gray-sama, but they are very lovely. Juvia likes all of them. Juvia can remember..drawings like this and playing the piano.”
Gray’s cold demeanor was cracked, “You play? I do too.”
Her eyes lit up, “You do? Juvia would’ve never guessed!”
Gray almost chuckled, “Yes, I do. Not much anymore. I used to be quite good.” He held out his hand and Juvia slowly placed the sketchbook in it to which he closed. Once he set it aside he looked at her, deeply. He tried to find something wrong with her, something dark. Yet all he could see was the light of innocence in her blue eyes. Juvia was silent gazing back at him as well and for a moment, he was okay with it.
“Tell me. What happened to you? Why did you appear from that ring?” He asked, trying to keep things simple at first. He was testing her to see if she knew anything about his mother or not.
Juvia looked down, “The memories are still a bit hazy but Juvia remembers being told only her true love would set her free. After that it felt like a long sleep, alone and full of darkness.” She pulled her knees into her chest and wrapped her arms around them. Clearly it wasn’t a good memory for her, but Gray tried to understand the darkness that she had already mentioned once before. It was beginning to sound like she was trapped in that ring.
“When did this happen?” He questioned pulling the book from his jacket trying to ignore the talk of love.
Juvia shrugged her shoulders, “Juvia only remembers, good things before the darkness. Pretty dresses, and butterflies. It’s scattered, Juvia is sorry she can’t tell you more. Juvia will try her hardest to remember anything.”
Gray shook his head noticing how much she wanted to please him, “No it’s fine. Your memory might come back if you try harder to jog it, so we’ll work with what we’ve got for now.”
He dug into his pocket pulling out the butterfly clip, “You said butterflies right? That’s all I’ve been seeing today.”
Juvia’s eyes sparkled at the clip, “Pretty…”
He held it out to her trying not to blush, “Well here, it’s yours then. Maybe it’ll help you remember something.”
A sudden squeal from her startled him, “An early wedding present from Gray-sama?! Juvia couldn’t be happier, it’s so lovely!”
She slid the clip into her periwinkle locks and fixed her hair since it had gotten a little messy after their run in. Once she smoothed it down she looked to him again, “What do you think?”
Gray nodded, “It suits you.”
As he looked over the book again it dawned on him that something that was only meant to be read about could be in its pages. From the events in the forest, Gray could tell it had something to do with the deceased. He could recall what his mother said even then, so long into the future.
*
“Magic is made up of our essence, Gray. Good people produce good magic.” His mother said as the young Gray sat in her lap looking through old photo albums of their relatives. She pointed down at the family portrait of her and her parents smiling, “Those are your grandparents, see?”
Gray looked to his mother innocently, “Where are they now?”
“They’ve passed on now, but trust me dear they’re in a much happier place.”
Gray pouted, “But I want to meet them! Can’t you call them with your magic?”
His mother’s face fell, “No, that’s one thing a mage must never do. It’s a rule that magic should never be used to manipulate the dead. It’s disrespectful to their resting and brings about malicious energy. We only use the good kind of magic.” She smiled as she finished her sentence.
“Like the magic that makes it snow!” Gray exclaimed looking up at his mother’s face. She let out a gentle laugh, “Yes, like this.”
She held out her cupped hands and had Gray do the same. She took a deep breath and suddenly there was snow falling from the ceiling inside. Gray’s eyes lit up as he felt it fall onto his hands. “Whoa! Look at it all!”
The snow glittered around them and Mika smiled at her child, “See? I can make snow because I feel my love for you.”
Gray was mesmerized by how gorgeous it looked that when it suddenly disappeared he looked back at his mother, “That’s so cool!”
She nodded, “Yes it is. But you must be careful Gray, there are people who would use magic to fulfill bad wishes. Hatred, anger, and jealousy should never be mixed with magic. Remember that magic is meant to be pure and come from a place of love. You must never use magic to hurt others to benefit yourself. There will always be a consequence.”
Gray nodded and smiled as his mother created a small ice sculpture in the palm of his hand. The butterfly flew upwards leaving behind a snowy trail until it disappeared.
*
Even after he was told those words from his mother, Ur said the same thing. Using dark magic came with cost and he wondered for a moment if Juvia had performed the dark magic, or if she had been on the other end of someone’s hatred. The ring was the key to this mystery however, since it had been enchanted. That would mean it wasn’t Juvia who used the dark magic.
“Juvia,” he stared down at the skull on its cover with the other macabre designs, “I think somehow, you’ve been cursed.”
Juvia gasped suddenly, “A c-curse? But how?”
Gray opened the book and began skimming the pages, “I’m not sure, this isn’t really my specialty. Some of this seems to be in another script.” There were different runes he couldn’t recognize on every page and he had no idea if anyone would be able to read it. There were notes in it written in the margins that could’ve been from his mother but there were different shades of ink.
Juvia looked down her lap, “So this was the work of someone else,” she looked at her hand where the ring was, “Juvia doesn’t know who would do such a thing..”
Gray read something that caught his attention and zeroed in on the paragraph, “From what I understand it says here, ‘Whoever should curse another out of hatred, anger, or jealousy, must prepare to offer the ultimate price.’ So whoever this was, really didn’t like you because no one would offer ‘the ultimate price’  over someone they didn’t loathe.”
Juvia tilted her head, “By ‘ultimate price’ you mean…”
Gray nodded solemnly, “It means someone offered up their life. Also meaning if the curse would break or undone it should result in that person dying.”
Juvia covered her face, “B-But Juvia can’t remember, Juvia is trying so hard.. Who..?” Gray noticed that she seemed truly frightened by this and in his rare moment of sympathy he rubbed her back in comfort. It felt awkward, but also like he was supposed to be doing it.
Juvia raised her head with a surprised grin like her panic melted away, “Oh Gray-sama, you’ll be such a wonderful husband for Juvia.”
Gray froze lifting his hand with a look slightly less than irritated on his face, “There you go with all the husband talk again. Have you forgotten we’ve never met before this? And that you came out of my mom’s ring?”
Juvia gasped ignoring the first part, “This ring was your mother’s? Juvia had no idea.. it must’ve been very special for you to give it to Juvia.”
Gray tried his best to explain, “You see, I don’t have any memory of giving it to you.”
“But you must have, why else would Juvia have it?” She asked innocently and she had a point. That was the entire mystery that he was trying to figure out, why did this woman have it?
While he was lost in thought Juvia stared at him with eyes of adoration. She touched her heart and extended her other hand to his chest to touch his. He stiffened feeling the iciness of her fingers even through his clothes.
“Juvia’s soul recognized you. When Juvia saw you, it was like she was seeing you again for the first time. Like a bride on her wedding day.” She giggled very softly and somehow it set his heart fluttering in soft beats like bumble bee wings. Part of him couldn’t deny that it felt like that for him in a way, yet the other part wanted nothing more than to figure this whole situation out.
He cleared his throat and stood up, “I think I have an idea of where we can go. We need someone that can decipher what's in this book.” He held it up before setting it on his desk. “Lucky enough, there is someone close by that might be able to help.”
“A mage, yes that makes perfect sense!” Juvia cheered, “You know one, Gray-sama?”
He headed over to his closet as he finally got his tie loose enough to pull off, “Yeah I know of her, her name is Erza Scarlet. She’s very famous among magic-users, she has a shop to the west of town before you hit the woods. It’s near where one of my family’s acquaintances lives. I’ve never met her though, didn’t need to.”
He unbuttoned his shirt quickly after he tore off the tight suit jacket and Juvia gasped quietly with her eyes stuck to him. She was certain she would faint again and suddenly he was shirtless in front of her pulling clothes out of his closet. His arms had strong definition around the biceps and he had rather broad shoulders that connected to the rippling muscles of his back. Gray was heavily built no doubt, and it only made Juvia feel even more overwhelmed that he was her husband to be. They were to be married of course but clearly, in Juvia’s mind, he wasn’t trying to take things slowly by so confidently showing off his body. He turned around and Juvia almost squealed at the sight of the front. He laid his new clothes on the bed and looked to Juvia casually.
“I’ll have to find something for you to wear. You can’t go around town like that.” He said unbuttoning his pants. It was then that Juvia squealed covering her face but peeking through the cracks. Maybe he couldn’t wait to be married and just wanted her from then, but there were traditions to uphold!
“G-G-G-Gray-sama!! J-Juvia hopes you don’t do this in front of other women!” She said after noting how normally he undressed. “Of course, we’re to be married but shouldn’t we save something like this for the wedding night?” She gushed, shaking with delight.
“That’s not-!” he was going to scold her for having her head in the gutter, but given the circumstances he would’ve assumed the same thing. He always had the habit of stripping down, in front of people or not.
Gray pulled up his fresh pair of pants while blushing slightly, “Actually no I don’t, we’re just in a rush, okay? I also have no shame.” He had never minded being semi-naked or naked before, but her comments couldn’t help but make him think vulgarly.
Juvia swooned, “Or it’s because you’re marrying Juvia..that’s just a sneak peek..Juvia could too!”
“W-Would you stop that!” He scolded bashfully doing his best to not let her see his red face. Juvia continued to lightly giggle to herself, a sound he didn’t mind hearing. He finished buttoning up his clean dress shirt and put on his long dark coat and boots. After he flipped up the coat collar and adjusted the cuffs he went to the door.
“Let me see what I can find for you to wear, I’ll be right back.” He said as he exited the room.
In moments he returned with a dress that seemed suitable enough for where they were going. He had also gotten a cloak and gloves for her since the weather was starting to turn cold. Regardless if she said she didn’t mind cold weather, he thought it would benefit her to have them.
“These should do fine, I’ll give you a moment to change but try to hurry,” he looked over to the grandfather clock and predicted his parents wouldn’t be gone for much longer, “we’re on a tight schedule.”
Juvia got up from the bed and although she had been sitting for long she didn’t need to stretch her body. “Juvia will be fast, she would hate to leave you waiting.”
Gray nodded and went out of the room again standing outside the door to make sure no one else went in. He tapped his foot feeling a bit of anxiety which was unusual. He was usually cool and level headed, something about this situation made him feel flustered and nervous.
Juvia smiled at the pretty blue of the fabric and thought surely Gray had picked it just for her. Maybe it was his sister’s, or mother’s? Regardless when Juvia slipped it on it fit nicely along with the gloves and boots. It felt strange to have so much clothing on but after taking a twirl in the mirror, Juvia adored it. All she had left was the cloak, a beautiful dark grey color.
The sound of the front doors opening startled Gray and he realized that he was out of time. His parents were arriving and they still hadn’t gotten out of the estate. In a panic he opened the door to his room abruptly and in his scramble he remembered to grab the book from his desk. He looked to Juvia and saw she was fiddling with the clasp of the cloak instead of having put it on yet. Gray huffed taking it from her, draping it around her shoulders, and quickly fastening the clasp.
“Juvia, it’s time to go. Right now.” He said sternly, going to open his bedroom window after securing the book in his coat.
Silver entered the estate as a man on a mission, pounding through the halls. “Gray!” His father’s voice bellowed from the hall. The sound of it seemed just as angry as he had been before, maybe even a little more so.
Juvia perked, “Who’s that?” Her tone was rather excited despite the growing tension.
Gray swallowed hard as his panic began to increase, “My dad, and if he comes in here it’s not going to be pretty.”
“Oh, but Juvia would love to meet him!” She said, turning towards the door.
“Gray! You get down here this instant!” Ur shouted with the trot of her heels on the wood floor.
Gray grabbed Juvia by the shoulders to focused to notice how close they were, “They cannot see you-”
Juvia piped, “But why-“
“Yet.” He hissed quickly trying to get her to comply with him as he stepped up to the window sill. His window was tall enough for them to stand in and hold onto the wall above for stability. The height to the ground below was the same as always, he used to sneak out as a child so it was nothing to him.
Juvia gasped in realization, “Oh right! Because we aren’t married, being seen together.. alone.. by your parents..!”
Gray had no time to deny her while trying to coax her into following him, now hearing the footsteps close in, “Exactly, so come on then!”
“Mother, Father! It’s so good to see you back! Meredy and I were missing your company. I already have them preparing dinner downstairs.” Lyon said loudly, clearly trying to let Gray know he was stalling. For once in his life he mentally reminded himself to thank Lyon later.
He took her hand and helped her step up to which she stumbled after seeing the height. She started shaking her head, “Gray-sama..it’s so high!”
“Enough of this nonsense, where is your brother?!” Silver bellowed just outside his door.
Gray was so exasperated by this escape attempt that to avoid further distractions he simply picked her up in his arms like a bride and jumped down from the window into the bushes below. Juvia held on tightly and felt safe in his arms. Luckily the brush was soft enough that it didn’t scratch Gray when he took the brunt of the fall.
Juvia even felt him squeeze her a bit tighter for a second as they rolled over and waited in the bushes. Voices could be heard overhead as Gray remained still and looked down at her briefly putting his finger to his lips. Juvia knew to be quiet for another moment or two as the wind rustled the leaves of the bushes.
“Gone again?!” Silver raged, “That does it, I’m sick of these games! Find my son immediately! Bring him back here or there will be hell to pay.”
Gray could tell he was talking to the guard and only seconds after the window closed did he take off into a sprint with Juvia in his arms. He went around the estate to the back stables and quickly mounted one of the horses and pulled Juvia up behind him.
“Hold on tight, and keep your hood up. It might be bumpy on the road.” He explained gripping the reins. Soon enough the rain began to fall again and Juvia’s arms hugged his waist for security. She nuzzled his back with her face and got comfortable as he led the horse out of the estate stables and onto the cobblestone streets. She kept her eyes closed the whole time until they disappeared into the coming fog where the trees broke.
A woman stepped out from the shadows after watching the ordeal her tainted red eyes glaring at the ghost of their figures. She extended her hand in a calm anger, “How unfortunate,” she clicked her tongue, “tch, no matter.”
Shadows dripped from her fingertips like black blood and once they hit the ground they rose up into phantom-like apparitions, awaiting commands from their master. They were constantly giving off a shrill cry of pain.
“Get the girl.” She ordered her voice slick with a sinister tone , “Leave the boy.”
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azuchifairy · 4 years
Text
The Corpse Bride
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13672392/3/The-Corpse-Bride
“Big blue eyes, captivating, enticing, yet strange..” 
this chapter is dedicated to @unvalley​ 
Chapter 3: His Mother’s Ring
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Gray was steaming with anger, “I can’t believe his nerve. Why can’t he ask me what I want?!”
He kicked the ground watching the stones roll over and the leaves rustle. Shoving his hands down into his pockets he continued into the forest. He tried to clear his head but it was inevitable that when he went back he was going to meet a potentially worse fate. It had finally dawned on him, how he was supposed to live his own life when he was just playing along with his father’s wishes? Gray wasn’t looking for a wife, he just wanted her to come along when it was supposed to happen. What he really wanted to pursue was his immense talent in magic, like his mother. When Ur tried to show his father Gray’s skills, he waved it off regardless of her opinion.
His fit of rage had him distracted until he noticed something about his surroundings. With nothing but the sound of the rain in his ears he looked through the trees. There was a sensation that someone was watching him, and it was completely undeniable. His shoulders tensed and he tried to look through the trees and the rain. There was nothing to catch the rain above so it was hard to make out exactly what he was seeing, but it looked like a dark shadow floating above the ground only a few feet away. It took him by surprise when it’s red eyes glowed in the coming darkness that he jumped back. When his foot landed, it crunched something instantly.
He looked down to his foot and saw a bone cracked in half that looked too large to be that of an animal. Taking his foot off and rotating to his left he saw where the bone had originated and thought for a moment that he was dreaming. Only inches away sticking out of the ground was a human skeleton with many of the bones cracked and eroding away. Gray gasped in horror and stepped back quickly, almost losing his balance.
“No way..that can’t be..” He said in disbelief. Intertwined with the sound of the rain were the cawing of crows that landed on the thicker branches of the bare trees. Their black eyes bore down into him as lightning flashed overhead. Gray shook his head vigorously, still convinced he could be dreaming, but when he looked back down to check if the skeleton was still there more had appeared.
“Gah!” He shouted with his whole body now on high alert for escaping. Being amongst the dead was not a good omen, it was one of the number one rules amongst magic users. Do not tamper with the dead. Chills ran down his spine from the rain drenching his suit and the temperature dropping. He never felt bothered by the cold, but this was different from cold.
He spun around trying to remember which way he had entered the forest, yet received no sign of where it was. All he could think of is trying to get out before he ended up like one of the skeletons in the ground. Then out of nowhere he felt a pressure on his shoulder that felt like someone had their hand there, however from his peripheral vision he saw no such thing. An eerie laugh could be heard resonating through the forest, definitely from a woman. His heart was beating loudly in his ears and his throat felt so dry. The only thing he could think of was breaking into a sprint.
He hoped that the forest would break and he could get the hell out. Of course he didn’t want to be around his parents, but he preferred them to skeletons and shadows. The rain seemed to let up slightly and Gray heaved out another breath from how hard he was running. The suit was clinging to his body making it even harder to move in that he needed to take a breather before continuing. He leaned against a tree trunk and turned around to make sure he wasn’t being followed.
Then it appeared again, the butterfly from the entrance. It floated around him leaving a trail of frost in its wake giving him the instant fact that it had to be his mother. He lifted his finger out watching its wings flap through the air towards him. The butterfly landed on him, twitching its antenna slightly when it perched comfortably.
Gray whispered to it as he panted, “C’mon mom, help me out a little, just here. Whatever it is, I’m sure it’ll get me out of this place.” He always believed that his mother was listening and watching for when he needed help.
Just as he was going to turn around again to check he saw something curious on the forest floor. The butterfly flew off his finger in that moment and dipped down towards the object before it fluttered away. As he bent down to get a closer look he noticed it was a ring. It had a brilliant blue gemstone and a silver band that looked very familiar. It was gorgeous and his curiosity got the better of him when he realized it looked similar to his mother’s wedding ring. Gray picked up the ring and held it up to see it better. The rain washed off any dirt that was on it, but it was in perfect condition, like time hadn’t touched it. All fear left his mind from the notion that something was connected to his mom.
Suddenly the gem on the ring began to glow and shine beams of blue light through the trees and rain. Gray cried out and dropped the ring while trying to cover his eyes from the blinding light. As he backed away he tripped over a tree root and fell backwards into the dirt. He groaned in the mudd shaking his head from the residual light that had bothered his eyes. Oddly enough the rain subsided as if someone turned it off and the clouds lifted to reveal the full moon overhead. The feeling that someone was watching him had left as well and it was replaced with a gentle presence. Gray lay there gazing up at the moon when he heard a soft sound and pressure over his heart. As he sat up further, there was a woman slowly lifting her head off his chest with groggy eyes.
She held her head for a moment, as if she was in pain and then raised her head slowly to see Gray and her eyes grew wide instantly. She took in a small gasp and looked around as Gray stared at her gazing downwards to her hands on his chest and her body placed between his legs. She appeared strange, her skin was slightly grey in color and her hair was a delicate periwinkle shade with deep blue eyes to match. She was in a white dress as well that looked a bit tattered at the end but seemed to resemble a night gown.
When she looked back to him and their eyes connected, he felt a blush on his cheeks. Not only could it have been from her chest touching his and the pressure of her body on him, but she was beautiful despite her strange appearance. She was probably the most beautiful girl he had ever seen, he couldn’t pin why he felt so breathless. Her eyes were so big and curious as she looked at him yet also bashful as if she didn’t know what to say. He was frozen in his place only holding up his body from his elbows.
“Who are you..? Where did you come from?” He asked finally.
“Juvia is...” She glanced down shyly, “you are.. Juvia’s fiancee.” She picked up her ghostly pale hand to show him the blue gemmed ring on her finger. He was certain it was his mother’s, but he had absolutely not a clue what it was doing on her.
“Fiancée?! What? Wait, I don’t even know you?” Gray exclaimed in fear noticing her inch closer. She stopped abruptly, “But our souls connected, so now we are to be connected through marriage as well.”
“But I don’t-!“
“Oh! Your ring fell off!” She said and suddenly she reached behind him to pick up his ring in her fingertips. He watched her take his hand with a sweet smile, not even knowing he had dropped the ring. Gray didn’t stop her as she slid the ring on his finger and an ethereal blue glow radiated around both their rings.
“With this ring, Juvia makes you hers..” she said in a soft tone. At first it sounded like she was joking and he was just stunned in place.
Suddenly the glowing got brighter and then stopped all together. The silver band felt like it was glued to his finger and before the panic settled in he tried to pull it off. No luck, it really was stuck on him. Gray thought he was losing his mind. He thought he was dreaming, like his father caught up to him and knocked him over the head. That’s what he was seeing, she wasn’t really there, neither were those skeletons earlier. She couldn’t be. It just had to be some kind of dream. He tried to keep himself calm, if she really was there it had to be the work of magic so magic could make it right again.
“Oh..” she said breaking him from his thoughts. She was gazing down at him thoughtfully, “Juvia spent so long in the dark.. that Juvia forgot how beautiful the moonlight is.”
The soft light on his face captured all his features, including a small scar above his brow. His dark eyes reflected the glow of the moon and doing so captured her heart entirely. She felt like all that time she had missed him so much.
“In the dark..? Hold on just wait one second. What are you talking about?! Who are you? And why is this stuck on me?!” He persisted in frustration.
She laughed and his heart skipped a beat, “Juvia told you already, silly. Oh! But what should she call you?”
“G-Gray.. just Gray is fine.” He said bashfully looking away even though she didn’t answer his other questions.
“Well, of course. ” She gushed in a dreamy voice. She noticed that he couldn’t get up because of her, “Oof, sorry, couldn’t help myself..”
As she sat up and she rested her hands on her knees and watched him get up onto his feet and brush off his now muddy suit.
“Gray-sama, you already look dressed for a wedding! So you did come for Juvia after all!” She cheered holding her face. “How soon can we get married?”
He tried his hardest not to groan while he wiped his face in exasperation. It seemed like the topic of marriage just continued to follow him everywhere and his day just got even harder. In his foul mood he would've been faster to show attitude, but he already knew he would feel bad if he snapped at her. The only thing truly protecting her was her connection to his mother. With a sigh Gray ruffled his damp hair back into its normal style, “Keep dreaming, come on get up.” He said holding his hand out to her, “You’ve got some explaining to do.”
Her eyes twinkled at him as she took his hand and he helped lift her up from the ground. She stumbled forward like a fawn however, and he caught her against his chest making him blush.
“Juvia’s sorry, Gray-sama. My legs, they hurt a little..” She said with her eyes lulling slightly. Leaning her head into his chest Juvia was instantly calmed by his warmth and scent alone.
“Juvia?” He asked as she tried to push herself up. He heard her wince softly and before he could take another breath he was catching her in his arms. Her body was limp and she was excessively cold, in a way he had never felt before.
“Juvia!” Gray shouted, “Damnit, she fainted..!” Now he had an entirely other problem on his hands as he lifted her up in his arms like a bride. It was then he realized she didn’t appear to be breathing. Gray swallowed hard fearing there was much more to this than meets the eye. The entrance of the forest was suddenly visible again and the trail of the butterfly was seen leaving the trees.
***
After Gray went through the painful stealth mission of getting Juvia into his estate without anyone seeing him, he laid her in his bed. She looked so peaceful, like she was dreaming. He moved the blanket up over her and paused for a moment noticing the ring on her finger looked different from before. The gemstone no longer shimmered like it did when he first picked it up, it was still pretty nonetheless but it lacked the brilliance he remembered.
A knock on the door startled him, “Is that you young master?” the voice of a servant said.
“U-Uh, yes it’s me. I’m just about to change!” He yelled over his shoulder running towards the door before it could open. He cracked it slightly and smiled awkwardly at the servant.
“I’ll let your father know you’ve arrived safely once he returns, is there anything I can do for you?” The servant asked looking rather skeptically at Gray. He had to have noticed that he was full of mud and soaked.
He swallowed hard, “Just make sure no one comes in here for the moment. I need to be alone. That’s all.”
The servant nodded, “Whatever you wish.”
Gray closed the door as the servant walked away and sighed in relief. Leaning up against the door he checked on Juvia again to see her curled up on the bed still fast asleep. 
He knew he needed to consult his mother’s journals and some books she kept that might help him understand what Juvia was before she woke up. They were up in the attic where many of his mother’s possessions were stored. As he left his room closing the door very carefully he was greeted by the person he wanted to see the least at the moment.
“Going somewhere, Gray?” they asked with a smirk in his tone. Gray sighed heavily and turned around to see his step brother, Lyon Vastia.
“None of your business. I’m in the middle of something that I have to fix.” Gray said pointedly and noticed a pink haired girl next to Lyon who stood innocently by.
“Oh come now Gray. I bring my fiancée here for you to meet and you can’t spare a second? This is Meredy, and this is the Gray I’ve told you about.” Lyon said.
“It’s nice to finally meet you, Lyon always has a lot to say about you.” Meredy giggled.
“Whatever he says isn't true. Sorry, I’m just caught up at the moment. Nice to meet you but I really have to go.” Gray responded curtly.
He pushed past both of them and headed up the stairs to the third floor of the house. It was rarely visited by anyone unless they were adding to it so Gray would be able to privately search.
Lyon and Meredy watched as he rushed off and shrugged to each other, “Gray usually likes to get himself mixed up in impossible situations.”
As they were about to pass his door they heard a soft yawn and the pair looked at each other curiously.
***
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azuchifairy · 4 years
Text
im bursting with ideas here 😭
you GUYS I have so many freaking ideas for the next stories I wanna put out but of course I'm still working on corpse bride in the meantime ! I have this urge to create like a really long story like something that can go on an have different things happening and what not so my question to you is:
where would you like to see Gruvia, Nalu, Jerza, and Gajevy the most ?
Pirates and mermaids AU
or vampires and other mythical creatures AU 
I have some other ideas but these are the two most prominent ones that just won't leave my brain !!! let me know what you think my gruvia stans you guys are always so helpful 😭😭
26 notes · View notes
azuchifairy · 4 years
Text
The Corpse Bride
https://www.fanfiction.net/s/13672392/2/The-Corpse-Bride
“If you seek happiness, your heart knows what your mind can’t understand.”
 Chapter Two: True to Yourself
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Levy’s heart felt warm and she strolled down the hall with a spring in her step knowing Lucy was happy with her surprise. Levy McGarden was one of the Heartfilia's magic advisors. She had been studying magic and scripts since she was a child and grew up to be a very successful mage. When she moved to town she made friends with Lucy in the village and since then the two had become very close. Lucy invited her personally to meet her parents who were very impressed by her resume. She came around often to spend time with Lucy, and also Layla who was a magic user.
The time that she wasn’t at the Heartfilia estate she was working with the infamous Erza Scarlet, the town’s well renowned mage known for dealing with the dark magic as well as other forms. To keep her shop hidden from mage rebels it was disguised as an armory, that being Erza’s other passion, and placed at the edge of the forest. Levy worked with her to continue her studies and lived above the shop in it’s cozy loft while Erza and her husband Jellal lived in the house connected.
Levy was an admirable asset to Erza as the mage was slightly blind to things up close giving her a difficulty in reading. Levy, who adored reading more than anyone, was the perfect match to read the books to Erza and she could decipher ancient magic scripts. Jellal was a great teacher when it came to learning of ancient scripts, but even a great mage like him had trouble from time to time. When they weren’t experimenting with spells or taking care of their magical clientele, Levy worked in the armory for the human travellers that stopped by to have their weapons looked at or purchase new ones.
She knew that the day ahead of Lucy was going to be difficult so she made the journey across town on foot to be with her, despite feeling bad about leaving Erza. It was hard to see her going through so much with little Levy could do to help, so even the least bit of happiness she could bring would lift her conscience.
As she walked she was met by Layla, who looked as stunning as ever. She wore a fuschia gown with roses of lighter hues in the pattern. It had lace frills and her hair was pulled into an elegant high bun as always with a frilled headband and choker to match.  Lucy’s mother dripped in the essence of elegance that it was enough to take someone’s breath away, and Levy was no exception.
“L-Layla-sama!” Levy curtseyed in front of her, “That’s such a beautiful dress.”
The blonde woman grinned at her with her hands resting together at her waist, “Why, thank you. Where are you off to, Levy-chan?”
“I was about to go home for the day. I figured since it was a formal meeting it would be best I leave.” Levy said with a soft chuckle scratching the back of her head.
“Nonsense, I actually had a favor to ask if you didn’t mind staying.”
“Of course Layla-sama, what did you need?” Levy responded eagerly.
***
When they entered the Heartfilia foyer they were met with all kinds of grand decor and artwork from the finest painters. There were vases and wall hangers filled with flowers wherever you looked. Gray stood next to his parents as they waited when he felt his dad nudge him with his elbow. He looked to him and saw he held his hang out containing a silver banded ring. “Forgot to give that to you, in case you need it.” His dad winked at him and dropped it in Gray’s hand.
His son glared at him, “And why would I want this?”
Silver nudged him again but this time it was to quiet him as the servants opened the doors for Jude and Layla. Gray rolled his eyes heavily but stuck the ring in his pocket knowing that he definitely wouldn’t need it. The Heartfilia couple entered the large foyer with Layla outshining Jude from the moment they stepped in. It looked like she had floated while she walked and radiated glamour.
“Mr. and Mrs. Fullbuster, it’s so lovely to have you here in our home.” Layla smiled, a true woman of elegance.
Silver bowed to both her and Jude, “Thank you for having us as your guests, we are truly honored.”
Ur curtseyed lifting her pale blue dress, “It is my pleasure to meet you both.”
Jude looked to both of them yet all he said was, “Likewise.”
This was Gray’s least favorite part of meeting any wealthy family, the smiling, the acting like he cared while he watched his parents take part in the bowing formalities. The couple came to Gray and he bowed trying not to wince from the tightness in his jacket, “Mr. and Mrs. Heartfilia, thank you for having us and giving me the chance to meet your daughter.”
Layla was smiling at him while Jude remained the same and they both turned back to Gray’s parents.
“What a handsome young man. I’m sure Lucy will be delighted to meet him.” Layla said and she seemed to mean her words. Gray noticed that Jude was giving him a glare almost as icy as his father’s. He knew he was trying to be intimidating, trying to see if Gray could handle it. He tried not to roll his eyes, how childish.
“Oh, Lucy, my dearest.” Layla said looking at the doorway, “Please come in, meet the Fullbusters. Silver, Ur, and their son Gray.”
The girl who came through the door looked just like her mother, a spitting image. Her blonde hair was over her shoulder in a long braid and her dress was the color of cherry blossoms. Gray didn’t deny she was pretty, but pink happened to be his least favorite color.
She curtseyed to his parents, “It’s my pleasure to meet you, thank you for visiting our home.”
Then she turned to him and gave a less enthusiastic curtsey compared to the bright smile she gave his parents, “Pleased to make your acquaintance.” Gray tried his best not to laugh at how he could clearly see how much she didn’t want to be there. Instead he bowed and cleared his throat before he spoke, “Pleased to make your acquaintance.”
Clearly both sets of parents could sense the awkwardness between them, even if they tried to keep it hidden. Layla piped up, “Shall we go be seated in the parlor for tea?”
“Yes, of course. Please lead the way.” Silver replied.
Layla turned to her daughter, “Why don’t you show Gray around the estate and come meet us a bit later on? Levy has agreed to accompany you. How does that sound?”
Levy approached behind them with a smile on her face winking to Lucy. She left a respectable distance between them.
“Lovely. We can start in the gardens.” Lucy said and began walking as soon as she finished her sentence. Gray picked up his feet to follow feeling like a child for a moment wanting to stay with his parents. He wasn’t good with social interactions with people he didn’t know, and most people who knew him labeled him as awkward.
As soon as they got outside there was a vast garden divided into different sections. There were white fences and arches with vines of flowers wrapped around them. In the middle of the trimmed hedges and rose bushes was a magnificent marble fountain that extended into a pond through a waterfall. There were so many different flowers in an array of colors including, violets, peonies, lilies, hydrangeas, and chrysanthemums. Marble benches were spread throughout the garden and the path was made with a white type of gravel that crunched underneath their shoes. Gray was amazed at how fantastic the garden looked and it definitely matched the estate itself. He noticed how Lucy still hadn’t spoken to him even though they were away from their parents and took it as a good sign that she didn’t want to be there.
Levy granted them space as they walked just keeping an eye on their surroundings and whatnot. She didn’t think that this Fullbuster boy was a match for Lucy at all and she thought it was easy to see from the beginning. They were both tense, like they’d rather be anywhere else, and that energy filled the air.
Gray tried at least to break the ice a bit, “Um, this is a nice estate. Did your family design it?”
“Really? That’s how you’re going to start a conversation?” She scoffed, rolling her eyes. Gray was taken aback by her unpleasant tone and in turn fired back with an attitude without thinking.
“Well it’s not like you were going to start the conversation, I tried to make an effort.” He said irritatedly.
“Your effort was insufficient.” She fired back in a snotty voice.
“I’m really not trying to impress you anyways.”
“Like that matters to me! You’re so not my type.” She said crossing her arms over her chest. While Gray was irritated he wanted to laugh at how immature this girl was.
“Yeah well I don’t see how you could be anyone’s type with bratty behavior like that.” Gray said, trying to entertain himself with her reaction.
Her eyes opened wide as she turned around with her fists clenched, “Bratty?! I’ll have you know I already have a man that considers me his type, a man that isn’t so brainless!”
Gray stifled his laughter, “Actually wouldn’t he be the brainless one to be interested in you?”
Lucy gasped in offense, “That’s it! You’re really trying to screw this up aren’t you?! Because congratulations, you succeeded!”
Gray chuckled, “This was already screwed up before it started.”
Lucy grimaced, “Well at least you are right about one thing. Just leave me alone.”
Levy thought she was going to have to stop them during their disagreement but left it to Lucy since she had seen her do it countless times before. It was best to stay out of the way and let things settle the way they were supposed to. So far it had started going like all the other times her friend had talked about, Lucy would insult them and usually the man would try to make up for it by being excessively polite. Gray had thrown it all back at her from his own frustrations and gave her a bit of a run for her money.
She observed as he followed her still even though she had stomped off down the center path. It didn’t seem like he was trying to hurt her feelings, but at the same time Levy was already positive their match in a romantic sense did not exist. She did however, think Lucy may find a friend in him.
Once they reached the fountain Lucy stopped and sat on one of the marble benches to which Gray sat next to her on the edge. The sky was dark and there were no birds singing, only the gentle breeze rustling the bushes. Gray could tell she felt bad and decided that apologizing may be his best bet to potentially get them on the same side.
“Look I’m sorry, okay? I really don’t want to get married. I’m sure you’re a very nice person but this is all being forced on me by my dad.” Gray explained slouching over a bit since his parents weren’t around to scold him. “Now that you both know where I stand can we stop arguing? It’s immature.”
She thought to herself for a moment about how infuriating he had been only minutes ago and realized he had no reason to lie, that he had to be telling the truth. Lucy sighed, “You're right, I’m sorry too,” she turned to him and explained, “You see, I’m already in love with someone. I wish to marry him but..my father doesn’t approve.”
Gray watched her clench her fists and even someone with an icy heart like his, felt sympathy for her. “That’s pretty awful. I’m sorry to hear that. Did he give him a chance?”
“No! He didn’t even give him a chance before he rejected him! So I made this stupid arragement with him, I promised I would meet anyone he brought to me and only if I rejected all of them could I be with Natsu. Somehow he just won’t stop! I thought he would give up, I thought he would know by now that I don’t want anyone else.” Lucy sniffled looking to Gray, “So I’m rather glad you didn’t have plans of marrying me.”
Gray shook his head, “Natsu? Natsu Dragneel? I know him, he’s a close friend of my family. We visit them every so often. He’s a complete idiot sometimes, but he is my friend.” He paused for a moment, “There’s definitely no way I could ever do that to him.” Now he knew he needed to come up with a plan so they wouldn't have to go any further into making arrangements.
She was able to let out a sigh of relief, “You know Natsu? I had no idea.” Levy noticed her whole demeanor changed the moment she started talking about him. “You know, there have been so many times that I snuck out with Natsu to spend time with him at his father’s bar. We had so many great times there drinking, telling stories, and that’s where I met the real Natsu.”
“Seriously?” Gray questioned, “How did you not get caught? The bar isn’t exactly close to your estate.”
Lucy shrugged, “Honestly I have no clue, but I was good at picking the right nights to go out. Most of the time Natsu would just sneak into my bedroom to spend time with me..” She blushed looking away bashfully, “Y-You know! We’d watch the stars, or he’d bring along his familiar Happy to play with!”
Gray decided not to tease her and chuckled thinking of the cat, “That silly thing? I forgot he had him. Gee, it’s been awhile since I visited him.”
Lucy nodded, “Now that I think about it I think he did mention your name maybe once, he usually referred to you as ‘ice brain’.”
Gray glared in exhaustion, “I’m going to kill him next time I see him. How did you not know it was me coming today then? I could’ve avoided that argument with you.”
“Sorry about that I didn’t know you were a Fullbuster, Natsu never mentioned that part. Like I said, I didn’t put it together that you were Gray. I just know about the families in the area, not exactly who is who, or who’s acquainted with who unless they partner in business. My father says it isn’t necessary to know because I won’t be inheriting the Heartfilia estate anyways.” Lucy explained.
“Consider yourself lucky, that's one thing you can forget about.” Gray pointed out.
Lucy sighed looking down, “Yes, you’re right about that. But, I think it would be harder if I had to forget about Natsu. I want to be with him more than anything, he’s the only person I’ve ever met that only wants me to be myself. On top of everything good about him and his heart of gold, he offers me the one thing my family has never given me.”
“What’s that?” Gray asked, although he had an idea of what she would say.
“Freedom,” she laughed, “as trivial as it is, it’s the one thing I truly want. That ability to be my own person and decide what I want to do with my life, it’s priceless.” Lucy looked up towards the sky as if deep in her mind she was in her own world leaving Gray to himself. He could see how Natsu could give her that. His family had no expectations, they lived happily compared to everyone else because they did what they wanted. It seemed to Gray that Lucy would fit right in.
The only thing he could think of was a bit outrageous. It was not his typical go to plan, but it might be enough to cause both of their parents to reconsider. Plus, if it worked it would result in a solution for both him and Lucy. At least they wouldn’t have to continue making plans for a wedding.
“So, what if we could create some chaos in front of our parents? One could start a fight with the other and draw it out. Essentially people like our folks hate dealing with chaos so they’ll have to stop us.” Gray concluded.
Lucy hesitated, “I mean it doesn’t sound like a bad idea, but we’d have to really sell it to them.”
Gray nodded, “So that’ll be up to you. With that bratty attitude I’m sure you’ll be able to convince them you hate me.”
Lucy started to chuckle, “You really don’t hold back,” she shook her head with a light grin, “How are you certain it’ll work?”
“Well, I’m sure they saw how much we dislike each other, they will have no choice but to call it off.” Gray explained, “I’m not sure it’ll guarantee that you and Natsu could be together but, it's a start.”
“You would go through the trouble to do all that? ” Lucy asked in surprise. Gray shrugged in response, “It benefits us both.”
“But you don’t even know me and I was rather rude to you..” Lucy said, “I’m sorry for that.”
“No need to be sorry, I think I was just as rude.” Gray chuckled, “I’m doing it for Natsu too. This way I know that he’ll be happy in the end too.”
Lucy’s smile widened as she thought of Natsu again and how it wouldn’t be too long until she was in his arms again.
Gray stuck his hand out, “Truce?”
Lucy smiled, taking his hand and giving it a small shake, “Truce.”
Levy grinned and thought that maybe the Fullbuster boy wasn’t so bad after all. She did doubt that their plan would work, but he even if he didn’t want to say it out loud, he empathized Lucy’s struggle. She was nervous at the same time, because there was about to be utter chaos at the Heartfilia household.
***
After carefully devising a plan Lucy and Gray went back to the estate ready to put their plan into action. Lucy stormed ahead in front of Gray and as the servants noticed her nearing the room they stepped aside to open the doors quickly.
“Father! Mother!” Lucy barked with her clenched fists at her sides. She cleared the doorway first and Gray stepped up his pace to follow.
Both couples looked up in worry as Lucy steamed, “There is no possible way I could ever marry this man!” She turned to Gray as he passed the threshold and put her hands on her hips, “He’s an absolute brute! He’s ill-mannered, full of attitude, and on top of that he doesn’t value me!”
Gray played his part to perfection addressing his parents, “I did nothing to her! She’s spoiled, arrogant and rude! I can’t get along with someone who’s so egotistical, it would be even worse to marry her!”
Layla stood up with urgency but still as graceful as a swan, “Now Lucy dear, I’m sure we can work this out-”
Lucy stomped her foot like a toddler much to her parent’s shock,“Absolutely not! I want nothing more to do with him!”
Gray admired her commitment to the act and decided to up his game. He crossed his arms over his chest and pointed his nose to the air as he turned away, “I want nothing less. The sooner I get to be free of her presence the better.”
Silver got up with a suppressed look of anger on his face, “Gray,” he hissed, “your manners. As Layla said, I’m sure there’s a solution to this problem.”
Ur stood next to him, “What happened between you two that caused this?”
Lucy looked to Gray again pointing her gloved finger at him, “He couldn’t say a single word of sincerity! I tried to show him some of our family’s prized flowers and he stood there with no emotion!”
Gray rolled his eyes, “It’s not my fault you came off a carriage straight out of brat town.”
Ur gasped at his behavior while Silver began to rage, “Gray! That's enough.”
Gray turned his attention to his father, “No. I won’t just bite my tongue. I’d rather marry any other girl than her and she feels the same. What’s so difficult about calling this off?”
Jude finally stood with his composure intact, like he wasn’t phased by anything they were saying. His calm demeanor was a red flag for Gray, something wasn’t getting through. Then, Jude finally spoke.
“I apologize for this foolishness on behalf of my daughter, Silver, Ur. You see, she’s trying to play a game.”
Lucy’s eyes widened as she tried to stay on her feet, “No I’m not! I meant every word I said-”
“You will be silent while your father speaks. Know your place, and step down.” Jude asserted glaring at her with his eyes full of a fiery rage. Lucy felt the fear in her at that moment, she saw the man she had been afriad of since she was a  child, and allowed herself to go silent.
Silver interjected, “I’m sorry I don’t know what you mean. What game?”
“My daughter has supposedly fallen in love with someone different. The son of the Dragneels, who I’m most certain you know. She thinks she will accept no other than him, yet I do not approve of the boy. But still she has made countless attempts to foil her mother and I into arranging her with someone else. This, I’m afraid, is one of her plots. Your son seemed to have gotten himself involved this time however, which is new.” Jude explained.
Gray was in a bit of shock that he had seen right through them. He was under the impression they could be persuasive enough to get the job done, but he didn’t know who they were playing against. Jude was not only a business tycoon, but a mastermind of whatever mental games his daughter had tried to play with him. Every strategy, every move, nothing could be hidden from his analysis.
Silver understood then, “I see.”
The fury building in her was enough to give her strength. Although Lucy had tears pricking in her eyes she spoke up again, “Why do you think I have to do this! You won’t just listen to what I have to say! You won’t even give Natsu a chance? So what if Gray wanted to help, at least someone in this damn house listened!”
Jude was growing irritated with her, “Silence this outburst at once. This is not how you were raised, you will do as I say. You have no choice!”
Lucy felt herself boil over with every pent up emotion she had tucked away, “I will not just stay silent! I’ve spent every day being quiet, and that ends today! All my life, I never got to choose what I wanted and I was fine with it. This is the first time I want something with all my heart and you just want to shatter it! Well I’m not just going to lay down and marry whoever you want. I have dreams, dreams that things like money and status could never buy. And Natsu..” she paused thinking of his smile in her mind, “He’s one of those dreams, whether you like it or not.”
“Your disrespect will not be tolerated any longer! You think you know what you want, when really you know nothing at all! You’re way out of line and it’s time you learned where it is you should be.” Jude said and got ready to approach Lucy when Gray stepped in his path.
“Gray-” Silver started.
“Look, you clearly don’t know what you’re talking about. Not only are you being completely unfair to your own daughter, but you’re not even willing to listen to reason. You’ve never even met Natsu before so you have no idea of his character. He may be eccentric, but he’s exceptionally loyal and honest. He’s one of the most genuine people I know and you can’t even consider him for your daughter over all the other fakes she’s met? If you ask me, all your doing is hurting Lucy. It’s true, I don’t want to marry your daughter and I have no intention to and regardless I’m a man of integrity. I won’t betray Natsu over something like status. You’ll have to find a different sucker to swindle into that.”
Jude set his glare at him pointedly, “Young man, I suggest you stop here if you want any future with the Heartfilia family.”
“Father, please, just listen to him. He’s the only one who’s supported-”
“Lucy!!” Jude bellowed, “Shut that ungrateful mouth! I’m tired of hearing your silly little sob stories and your even more idiotic fantasies with that Dragneel boy! I’m done hearing what either of you have to say, you’ve both brought shame on your families with this ploy!”
Gray stepped forward with his anger increasing by the second, “Now just you wait a second Mr. Footuphisass, don’t talk to her like that. This is the kind of thanks she gets for following every order, every wish, you’ve ever wanted? What kind of sick man are you? Parents are supposed to love their kids, not treat them like mindless pawns in their games.” Gray shouted with his fists clenched.
“Alright, that’s quite enough from you-” Silver began towards Gray, who hadn’t finished his rant yet.
“No, you know what Dad I’m also fed up with hearing all this marriage bullshit too. Lucy and I may be different but we’re a lot alike in the sense that I’ve done nothing but what you’ve asked since I was a child! This ‘marriage’ was your idea and I’m putting my foot down.”
Silver’s eyes were dark with rage, “You better remember who you’re speaking to, boy. You’re a Fullbuster, you’re my son. You have responsibilities, expectations, you can’t just revoke everything I’ve worked so hard to do because you don’t want to.”
Everyone could feel the iciness in the room as the father and son duo glared at each other.
“Actually, dad, I can. If being a ‘Fullbuster’ means I’m going to hate myself for the rest of my life, I’ll fucking pass.”
Everyone in the room gasped and before Silver could lunge at his son, Ur stepped forward in front of him, “Out of this room, this instant!” She turned back to the Heartfilia’s laughing in embarrassment, “If you’ll excuse us for just a moment, we’ll talk to-”
“No, mom. I’m done talking. I’ve said everything you needed to hear.” Gray said with his eyes never leaving his father’s death stare. He turned around abruptly and almost bumped into Levy in the hall as he passed. Gray mumbled an apology to her and bursted out the front door to see the downpour of rain. Everyone in the room was left speechless and immobilized, the only sound being the slam of the door. He steamed with anger while he went straight past the carriage and out to the road. He didn’t want a single thing to do with his parents at the moment, even if that included riding in their carriage.
Then from the corner of his eye he saw something quite peculiar. To see if it was just a trick of the rain he turned his head to see the butterfly from before, the same colors and all, perched on the branch next to an opening in the woods. Soon it lifted from its perch and fluttered into the woods, leaving him compelled to follow it.
“Gray!” His father’s angry voice echoed in the distance. Gray snorted and stepped through the entrance to the woods. It would delay him going home at least, to clear his head from all the unwanted excitement of the day. The dark skies only grew darker above as thunder rumbled and soon it would be night. Gray did not look back as he crossed the stone bridge deeper into the forest, but if he did he would’ve seen the entrance he had come in through was no longer there.
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azuchifairy · 4 years
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**I’ll tell ya a story, make your skeleton cry, of our own judiliciously lovely
Corpse Bride...**
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hehe.. i drew a little picture it’s very quick and rushed but it helps me stay in that creative mood 🥰 i can’t thank you guys enough for even just reading the first chapter and all the super sweet comments !! I’m absolutely thrilled and i can not wait for you guys to see what i have coming for this story !! BIG LOVE !!
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azuchifairy · 4 years
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coming this Saturday...
da da da daaaa !!!!! I couldn’t be more excited to announce that this Saturday I will be uploadddddding chapter one of the corpse bride au for the lovely gruvia fans out there !!! *initiate happy dance* 
I'm trying to put my best foot forward as I’ve never posted anything I've written before so I'm nervous but mostly just excited !! Its been so much fun so far and I hope everyone who reads it will enjoy what I've been working to put together. I’ve worked on staying true to everyone’s character so I would love feedback on how you guys think I've done!
I will be posting it here on this account and I've also made an account on fanfiction.net under azuchifairy and I also have an Instagram under the same name as well ! My Instagram is fairly new and its based around my art so chances are I might make a few drawings from the corpse bride series !!
Also I have no idea what to name this story so if anyone has suggestions (about anything really) I would love if you sent me a message !! 
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