Daughter

[Gildarts]

The teleporters had worked. Gildarts was in the Nexus, he prefered to walk, rather than let technology’s eerie magic transport him to Ambrosia. So he and Dust would take the long way, as that was what was fun about adventure. The journey.

Gildarts arrived not at the fountain where he had expected, not anywhere near where he had been resummoned by Omni before. Instead he was amid a more desolate part of the white room, some people walking by, other movements that of ghosts, wisps of people in passing. Faceless, forever nameless, gone before they’d even gotten there. The wayward prime could relate.

The Fairy Tail wizard sighed and tried to figure out which portal was his destination, he also didn’t see Dust around. Curious. They’d teleported at the same time, yet another reason he didn’t like to play with the magic of technology, it wasn’t even waterproof! Which basically made it obsolete underwater! Gil's magic never seemed to care if it got a little wet. But magic verses technology was hardly an original rivalry for mages across the realms.

The warmage looked around, flexed his digits (both metal and flesh) and stood there waiting patiently for Dust, or until he got a good idea of which portal was the one that lead to the Tangled Green and by extension, Ambrosia. Gildarts was excited to introduce the newblood to this friends, Molly included.

Tearen had cured him, or well, had given him the tools to cure himself and Gildarts felt whole again. He was still missing his arm and leg, but c’est la vie, those were the sacrifices heroes like him often made. Now, Gildarts felt more empowered than ever before, for the room was full of people and nothingness on his mind no longer scared the prime. In fact, he was eager to run up to new people and have the deep conversations he’d been lacking for his entire life.

He’d only ever had fluent, enlightening conversations with his fists, his magic, and again with his foes’ fists. Now, Gildarts was a completely new man. He still had no desire to lead, not in the traditional sense of the word, but he enjoyed uniting people with faith and heart. The Prime smiled. He no longer feared being the strongest. He accepted it. He accepted himself. This was a big step forward and no earthquakes had happened when he took it.

Yes, Gil was a new man. Except… He heard a voice. A muffled gasp. Then the sound of his name come from behind.

“Gildarts…” Cana spoke in a choking whisper.

The Fairy Tail wizard spun around, to see their matching insignias mirror one another. Gildarts was overjoyed to see his fellow Fairy Tail member, he waved and smiled, beginning to walk over. Cana however, had frozen in shock… Or some other emotion.

“Oi! Cana! Great to see ya!” Gil called over to his fellow wizard. A phantom female was watching from just out of sight of the both of them. Cassandra was Cana’s partner, there for support if Cana needed, but it was likely, the grown woman could do this alone.

“Gildarts…” Cana muffled again, pain stifling her voice. “It’s great to see you too.”

They embraced in a quick, friendly hug. Cana took a few steps away, truth plaguing her thoughts in a million different buzzing frequencies. How could she say this without looking like a fool? Oh hey, by the way, all this time you were my dad but I never told you. You always left but I was okay with it because it’s who we both were. The guild raised me, I have made the best memories of my life and I wouldn’t have it any other way? Tch. Dreadful. But the truth had to be free, no matter what happened.

“Is.. Something wrong?” Gildarts said, his tone becoming low and sincere. His compassion flooded her. It was deep and rich, coming straight from his heart and corroding her defenses.

“I… I have struggled so long, so hard to tell you this… And I was never able because of… What happened at Tenrou Island but… Gildarts, this is the truth, are you ready to hear it?” Cana sniffled, holding back tears from her melting chocolate eyes.

The ultimate test of a woman was when she asked two things, one: If those jeans made her look fat. And two: If you were ready to hear the truth. He’d never felt physical attraction for the little girl he’d watch grow up in his guild, even if she’d grown up to be a well-endowed woman. She was still just a kid to Gildarts, and Gildarts was free of his purely surface-deep attraction to women. He could pursue something with someone that was more now that he was free.

The truth, Was he ready?

“Yes.” he spoke boldly, his confidence shrouding the youthful woman, protecting her from any hurt that could've been caused by a pregnant silence.

“Gildarts… I’ve… You’re my… I’m your... Daughter,” the young brunette struggled to get the words out, but now, they hung there, like dirty laundry, skeletons he never knew existed had sprung from the closet covered in the cobwebs of time.

Her father's once composed face fell into one of complete and utter shock. Awe warped into pain, pain warped into regret. “Whose…?” the womanizer was forced to ask.

“Cornelia’s. After she died I sought out to find you.. And waited… At first for you to come back. Then, I waited because of my own hesitation… Until so long had passed I’d already made a new home, you were there and I got to see you. That was enough for me, I’m so sorry, I stole all those years away from the both of us… It wasn’t intentional, I just… I was so afraid… Afraid to lose the glimpses I did have of you. Afraid you'd never come back.” Cana said as the tears began to fall. Afraid of rejection. Afraid the Gildarts could never have been the parent that she had needed him to be. Instead, she’d had Fairy Tail. That was likely the better choice for who he had been. Still.. Twenty some-odd years had passed and he’d never known. That lost time could never be replaced.

“Oh Cana,” he embraced her in a long, knowing hug. Tears flowed from his eyes, “You never have to be afraid again. Cornelia was the only woman I ever loved. You’re her spitting image, as her daughter -our daughter- I will always love you.”

Cana wept. Gildarts shed his tears too. They’d embraced each other with open arms, uniting in this world so very against them. Cana’s tears began to wash away some of the blood on Gildarts’ shoulder, Gil’s tears mixed and dampened with the floral scent of her hair. This moment could last an eternity. Sorrow throbbed in his heart for all the wasted years that he’d been such an oblivious fool, and horrible father. And yet an indescribably happiness caressed his soul and caused his heart to overflow with all the love the many women he'd slept with could have never made him feel.

“You... Always used to smile when you saw me. Like I was the most special girl in the room and even though you did that with everyone in Fairy Tail, it made…” Cana trailed off. A moment passed and she didn’t finish her sentence, Gildarts dared to open his eyes only to see a rainbow of sparkles disintegrating from her form. Upon her tear stained cheek was a smile while the very Omnillium she was made up of continued to disintegrate.

Gildarts felt his heart leap in fear, he was killing her and had no idea, “Oh Gods! Cana, come back! What's happening? Cana!"

His first and only daughter had been torn from his arms by the logic and law of the Omniverse. Secondaries who served their purpose often reverted back to OM. But Gildarts could’ve given a shit about Omnilium, he wanted his daughter back. Why, just why, was she being taken away?

“Cana…” The last particles of their shared hug passed through his arms. Helplessly passing through the empty space that had once been filled with love and his own living, breathing blood.

She was gone. He was hugging thin air, his arms went limp as the last swirls lifted into the infinite pearlized ceiling; despair befell the freshly freed prime, nothing broke, none of his surroundings were blown away, and nothing shattered, all but his heart.

He fell to his knees, crippled by Omni’s law. She’d come here, all this way from Fairy Tail and now she’d been ripped from his arms… His only daughter. Her smiling image and that of his deceased ex-wife Cornelia filled his mind behind the curtain of his closed eyelids.

The strongest prime had fallen helplessly to his knees and wept. Cana was gone. He was all alone again. A father living through the unimaginable. There was no word for a parent who has lost their child in the english language because to reduce that tormenting tragedy to a single word would be pure injustice. We have a word for parentless children, we have the word for wives who've lost their husbands, but we have no singular word to define the unending misery and tragedy that it is to lose your own child.

Especially when he had only just held her in his arms for the first time. The agony was like no wound he had ever felt before, he would've given an arm and a leg to have said goodbye.

For all in the world he had gained in his long and enduring life, he had just lost his one and only daughter. Perspective fell hard on the Prime who'd never gotten the chance to be a real father. For all the chances he could've done something different. If only he could've known...

“Whoa, Gildarts, are you like, okay man?” Gildarts had fallen into a weird, yoga-looking bow (child's pose) and Dust was looking down at him, his puppy face tilted half to the side, perplexed. “You took quite a beating during Dante’s Abyss, let’s get you on your feet again.”

Compassion. Oh, how it went a long way. Touching a man in his darkest moment, reminding him of the warmth of light. So easily, the Prime could've fallen, crossing the point of no return.

Gildarts allowed himself to be lifted by Dust and put on a fake smile, for courage to be a better man than he had ever been before now dared him to live on through his daughter’s passing. “Ah,” he sniffled, pretending his tears were sweat... somehow, “Yeah I’m okay, I feel like I have some internal bleeding. Mind if we take a detour before we go to Ambrosia?”

“Sure, where did you have in mind?” Dust said, the OP Prime still slung over his shoulder.

“The beach,” Gil said simply. After all this. He was in need of one Hell of a drink.

[Dust]

Nexus...

The endless void that was both haunting and and exciting. Dust had never had the need or want to think time and space over, but this place always made it cross the mind. His body was tired, his spirit was a little damp, and his mind was whirlling.

He found himself in front of the fountain, much like how he started. Except it wasnt a pool of cold water that Omni used to wake him up to the wonders of life. It was not a pool of tears, or sweat. And it was nothing compaired to the gorgeous wold that was Coasta Del Sol. He had no home, but that place would always be his spot.

He stared at the mystical 'fountain' when his mind finally stopped on something. Shinmen Takezo had fallen in Dante's Abyss, he had to of because he hadn't been there when the game finished. He would have liked to be sad about this, but between ll the stuff he learned about primes, and the stuff he knew about Takezo, Dust could only laugh. The old bastard probably laughed in the face of whoever killed him while the blood left his wounds to deface whoever did it. Takezo was crazy like that.

He lifted his hand and wished he had a phone. One like his back home, but waterproof and cute so ladies like Tamsin would squeel in delight when he pulled it out. A phone he could collect cute straps for and every girl who saw it would want to add something to it.

It was a fantasy, until it was real. Dust felt the weight of a state-of-the-art phone in a case fall into his hand. He remembered that as a Prime he could materilize things and people. He smiled when he saw the case. It was an ombre color from white to... Well it looked like it could be blue to him. It had on it a cartoon shark sticker, grinning a cheeky grin. He smirked. And on the strap, a clay jellyfish with nylon tentcles. It was absolutely adorable and inviting.

He went to turn it on, expecting it needed a charge, aurprised to find it full functional and themed ocean just for him. His heart was lifted at the picture, he knew that beach well. He also saw everything was in Japanese. His mind cleared away.

He pocketed it with a laugh, the jellyfish dangling at his side like a lure, and he spoke out loud. "Now if I just had a cute Doll I'd be all set." What he didnt say was how he hoped it was as cute as Tamsin. These were just idle thoughts, but if a Prime asks for it, he recieves it.

Dust looked around for Gildarts, now that he had a phone he could get Tamsin's information! And Gildartds while he's at it!! He would have to find Takezo and Dawn too. Everyone he made friends with this DA. When he didnt see the red haired mage in this crowd he turned to check behind him.

And right into someone.

He looked down into a face that resembled Tamsins almost exactly. It brought his heart into his throat and he had to swallow it back down to keep from dying of fright and excitment. He grabs them by the shoulders and was about to exclaim in joy when he noticed a bit of blood trailing down her chin. She was missing a braid as well, her silver hair halved..

Then he started to look much closer. It was not immediate, but he realized the soft features while somewhat feminine were indeed male. His nose wasn't quite as small his lips not the same shade of pink, and his eyes were dulled and dead.

Blood bursts in the pockets behind his still bruised cheeks as he realized the kid under his hands was both enchanting like Tamsin, but most definately a Doll. He very cute, almost as cute as her. But his soul was gone. Dust realized he'd summoned just what he had wanted, and the guilt began to settle in..

Not only that but embarrassment. If anyone saw this kid that new about Tamsin and their kiss he would instantly be shamed!! Worse.. Labled a stalker..

The dead teal colored eyes drift up to him, and Dust heart beat a little more rapidly.. "Shit." Then he pushed the kid away. Like a zombie from the movies he just sorta took it and settled into his poor postured stance of just existing. Dust bit his lip as he felt guilt build up to words in his mouth. He felt bad. He would feel worse when it all came crashing around him, the absolute truth of what he's done.. For now he wondered if the boy could even talk.

His knowledge about them were limited to the common knowledge facts. He thought about leaving the kid, disband this all as a bad choice of phrasing. He even pushed past him before he had to stop. Responsibility had never been a thing that plagued him, but deep inside he knew if he left the single braided Doll he would just waste away..

His shoulder sank and he hung his head for a moment before he turned around and grabbed the guys wrist. The namless guy had on a hoodie, black and edgy. Like his Contractor companion he was bare cheasted under the opened hood. He was pretty thin, and the skinny jeans fit a little loose, a studded belt kept him decent.

Dust traveled a good 20 feet before he remembered what he was supposed to be doing, but when he looked up he was already closer to Gildarts. He saw the proud mage crumpled on the ground and frowned. He must not have realized how much the game had taken out of him. He tugged the kid to follow but let his hand go to go help his friend, and new teacher, off the ground.

Dust remebered his phone when the mage mentioned the beach, he pulled it out even and showed Gildarts the picture of his favorite spot. You could almost hear the waves crashing on the rock and the winds. Almost feel the hot sun blaket your body. "I know the perfect place. We can celebrate our victories, we can compare stories and scars." He gave a hardy laugh and began to head towards Vasty Deeps. "I got one hell of a story for you." He promised.

They would tell each other everything, sure. But after some sun and fun.

Behind them the silver haired secondary followed along, like a chained ball to Dust's ankle. He would dodge any question about it except to claim he Doll as his, but Gildarts might not even notice thier shadow it was so silent.