Isolation

Chapter 17: Part 1: The History Of Dracen

"Lucy! Lucy...!" 

I awoke to a faint voice calling my name, groaning at the bright light in distaste. Staring down at me was Wendy, eyes desperate and worried, whereas Lisanna and Levy stood over my bed protectively.

"Why did you faint? What did Natsu say to you?"

The collective questions caused me to put my hands on my ears in protest, as I remembered the one word that Natsu had whispered, that was so small yet had such a great meaning.

"He knows about Dracen," I said, as a tense atmosphere filled the room.

"But, how? His name is lost to all in this realm!" 

Lucy shook her head, images of the past flying into her head as she recounted her past life, before realisation dawned on her and her magic was released.

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Around five hundred years ago, Earthland was not alone in the universe, accompanied by another planet named Tesria, which was full of powerful beings who had created this universe, their planet an Eden. On their planet was a princess, famed for her beauty and her wondrous rainbow eyes, but her personality had been extremely stubborn and quick-tempered, often allowing the planet to descend into chaos. Standing by her side was Dracen, plagued by his unrequited love for her and his duty to save the people from an unfit ruler. 

One day, the princess had been walking through the gardens, surrounded by beauty and unaware of the disastrous chaos her planet had erupted into because of her. Looking down at her hands she had seen that they had begun to glow, terrifying her as she wished for her secret to never be revealed. 

"Your highness?"

The princess whipped around, hands clasped behind her back as she wished to hide herself, but relaxing as she saw only Dracen.

"Yes, Dracen?"

"I have come to talk to you, about the state of the citizens. Some feel... Uncared for, should I say?

Feeling her anger rising, she attempted to suppress it, as the glow of her hands begun to glow brighter and brighter. 

"Shut up, Dracen! Leave me alone, can't you see you are not wanted here?"

Survival, this was all for survival, the princess assured herself.

Dracen looked at her, oppressed fury in his eyes, watching as the ignorant girl before him who so easily switched moods and opinions. Images of poverty, bodies surrounded by crismon on the floor and the eyes of the hungry who so desperately wanted the better life that they deserved.

He snapped.

Shocking the princess, he grabbed her by the throat, flames licking at her neck as he slammed her against a tree, not noticing the fright that passed so quickly through them. 

"Dracen! Put me down this instance! You know that I have not gained my powers, as of yet!"

Sneering, he snarled at her, "Who knows? Maybe you're one of those pathetic children not given the common gift, and instead flaunt your birthright in front of others, when you have done nothing to deserve these rights!"

Instantly, her eyes became downcast, because she knew it was true, but she had no other choice! Her magic was lethal, it drew upon the happiness of others, sucking out their life force until there was nothing left, so to protect them she must only be happy herself, even if it meant that her citizens had to suffer.

The princess knew that her antics were impossible to understand from another perspective, and incredibly selfish, but in return for saving a formally dying population, they now flourished in numbers whilst miserable.

It didn't matter anyway, she only had another three days left.

Dracen observed the girl, watching her eyes steel with a resolution he had never seen before, as her bangs fell in front of her face and he gazed into her famed eyes. They were an assortment of colours, each part representing a different part of the rainbow. He remembered their childhood, when the kingdom was still under the control of her parents, and how her eyes had flashed gold in the warm summer.

He shook with realisation.

Gold.

He looked quickly into her eyes, to find them pure gold like a cats, and black tears falling innocently from them. It was impossible! Not yet, he wouldn't let it happen, she couldn't be the one from the prophecy, no wonder the kingdom had...

"Princess! Look at me, I understand why you made the kingdom like this, just please don't..." His voice cracked,  as the princess let out a small laugh, happy to know that in her final moments the ferocious warrior had understood her.

The princess smiled softly, never breaking his gaze, and she allowed herself to willingly fall limply into his arms,  realising that she had miscalculated, and her final day was today.

Dracen sobbed as he felt her life force drain away, and as all gods did when they perished, she became one with nature, fuelling the world with her essence.

Grasping at nothing but air, he cursed, wishing he had noticed sooner, as they never wanted to lose her, despite her faults. This planet could not survive without a legitimate ruler, only the one with the golden powers able to rule and sustain the facade that was their Eden. He once again cursed, but not the world this time, but the colour gold this time, for now he would have to retrieve her Earthland counterpart, but little did he know he was dealing with the woman he loved, and not a cheap imitation.

For gold meant death.

Gold meant destruction.

Gold meant her power was the curse.