Secret Disease (Laxus x Freed)

Chapter 9

"No Natsu absolutely not!" Laxus screamed "Freed would kill us if he found out you sacrificed your life just to save his!"

"But it's the only way! And we dragon slayers have a long life span so me giving up half my life force would just make me live for a shorter amount of time!" Screamed Natsu.

"What about the other dragon slayers do they have consequences as well?!" Asked Master.

"No we don't only the royal leading the ritual experiences consequences" said Wendy.

Before anything else could be said Freed appeared and said "Absolutely not Natsu, I refuse to let you give up your life for me." He burst into a coughing fit and then continued, "I'm dying anyways, and I'll die in the future so I see no reason for you to give up your life just for a few more years."

"BUT FREED!!! What makes you think you'll only get a few more years?!?!" Screamed Natsu.

Freed sighed then said, "Because it's my curse, when I was younger before I joined the guild I was cursed by a dark wizard to only live till the age of 23 and I'm 21 right now. So anything you do will be worthless."

The guild gasps in shock not knowing this new piece of information. Freed continues by saying "at least this way I won't die by the hands of my father only disease and the pain will finally go away..."

Erza steps forward and asks "Wait father? Freed are you meaning to say your own father cursed you?" The guild erupts into chaos all screaming and shouting until Freed yells "ENOUGH!!! Yes it was my father and for your information this curse was uttered in his final breath before I killed him in self-defense."

The guildhall descended into a heavy silence as Freed's words echoed through the room. The revelation weighed on everyone, their shock rendering them momentarily speechless. No one could fathom the pain their friend had endured, or the truth behind his tragic fate.

Freed's sharp green eyes scanned the faces of his guildmates—his family. Guilt sat heavily in his chest, knowing that his curse was now pulling them into his suffering.
Laxus was the first to step forward. His voice was low, filled with restrained emotion. "Freed... Why didn't you ever tell me?"

Freed's expression softened. "Because you would have done something foolish. You always try to carry my burdens."
"I still will!" Laxus shouted, his voice cracking as lightning flared faintly around him. "You think I'll just let you give up? Let you die?!"

Freed smiled faintly, the sadness behind it cutting deeper than any words. "Laxus... it's already been decided."
"No, it hasn't!" Natsu suddenly roared, flames bursting to life around his fists. "I won't let you go, Freed! You hear me? You're one of us. We'll save you!"

Freed turned to Natsu, his gaze both grateful and resigned. "You don't understand, Natsu. You've already given too much. I won't let anyone else suffer for my sake. This curse is mine to bear. It always has been."

"Nonsense!" Erza declared, stepping forward with an authoritative air, though her voice trembled with emotion. "We don't abandon family. No one has to carry this alone."
The guild erupted into protests, but Freed remained unmoving, unyielding.

Later that Night
The guild hall was eerily quiet as the moon hung high in the sky. Everyone had dispersed—whether to prepare, grieve, or sleep—though no one truly rested.
Freed stood alone on the hill outside of Magnolia, the wind whipping through his cloak. The cursed mark on his chest pulsed faintly, a reminder that time was slipping away faster than he could hope to grasp.
"It's almost time," he murmured to himself, his breath fogging in the cold air.

"Freed!"

The voice startled him, but he wasn't surprised to see Laxus walking toward him, anger and desperation written on his face.
"What the hell are you doing out here?" Laxus demanded, his fists clenched at his sides.
Freed turned toward his closest friend, a serene expression on his face. "I'm putting an end to this."

Laxus froze. "What do you mean?"
"I'm going to transfer the curse back to the void."
Laxus's eyes widened, realization dawning. "Freed, no! If you do that, you—"
"I'll die," Freed finished calmly. "Yes."
"NO!" Laxus roared, lightning crackling violently around him. "You're not doing this! We'll find another way—I'll find another way!"

"There is no other way," Freed said gently. "You heard what Natsu said. The Mourning Dragon spell can't heal the curse—it only bought me time. This ends tonight, and it ends with me."
Laxus grabbed him roughly by the shoulders, his face contorted with grief and rage. "Damn it, Freed! You don't get to make that choice for us! You don't get to just leave us!"
Freed's hands came up, resting lightly on Laxus's arms. "I'm sorry," he whispered. "But this is the only way to protect you all."
Laxus's grip loosened, his shoulders shaking. "Freed... Please don't do this. I can't lose you."
Freed smiled sadly. "I always loved you, Laxus. Thank you... for everything."
Before Laxus could react, Freed whispered a quiet incantation under his breath. A circle of glowing runes formed beneath him, growing brighter with every word. The wind picked up, swirling wildly around them as the magic pulsed through the earth.
"FREED! STOP!" Laxus shouted, but it was too late.
Freed closed his eyes, his body beginning to glow with an ethereal light as the curse mark on his chest flared. "Return to the void from which you came..."
The ground shook violently as the magic reached its peak. A pulse of dark energy erupted from Freed's chest, twisting like smoke into the sky. The cursed magic screamed as it was torn free, shattering under the force of Freed's life energy.
Laxus fell to his knees, shielding his face from the blinding light. "FREED!!!"
When the light finally faded, the world grew still. Freed stood silently in the center of the ruined circle, his cloak billowing weakly in the fading wind. For a moment, it seemed as though he had survived.
Then, his knees buckled.
"Freed!" Laxus lunged forward, catching him before he hit the ground. He cradled Freed in his arms, his voice trembling. "You idiot... You didn't have to do this..."
Freed's eyes fluttered open, the faintest of smiles on his lips. "Laxus... Tell everyone... I'm sorry... I couldn't stay."
Tears slid down Laxus's face as he held his friend closer. "Freed, don't you dare—don't you dare leave us!"
But Freed's breathing slowed, his body growing still. His smile remained, peaceful and free of pain for the first time in years.
"Freed...?" Laxus whispered, his voice breaking.
But there was no answer.
The Prince of Thunder sat alone on the hill, holding his fallen friend as the stars above bore silent witness to their grief.

The Next Morning
The guild was silent. No one spoke as Laxus carried Freed's body back to the hall, his face expressionless and his steps heavy.
Master Makarov looked on from the entrance, his face lined with tears as he whispered, "Rest well, my child."
No one blamed Freed for his choice. They all knew he had done it out of love—to protect the family that had given him everything. But that didn't make the pain any easier to bear.
Natsu stood in the back of the room, fists clenched so tightly his knuckles turned white. "Damn it, Freed..." he whispered hoarsely. "Why couldn't you let us save you?"
As the sun rose over Magnolia, its light fell softly across the guildhall, where Fairy Tail mourned the loss of their friend, their brother, their family.
Freed Justine was gone. But his sacrifice, and his love for his guild, would remain with them forever.