Fire and Ice

Fallen Brother

"Yeah, I can't tell you." He said, looking away from me awkwardly.

"What? Is there like a law against you saying you own mother's name?" I grumbled in an annoyed yet sarcastic tone, placing my hands on hips.

"I guess you could say that." He said going back to gently brushing Iona's side.

Now I was really confused. There is no way that it wasn't aloud to say his Mother's name.

But why did I wasn't to know so badly?

"I'm confused. Why can't you tell me your Mother's name? Was she close to my Mother? Maybe they got the song from the same source."

"Yeah. . . I bet she did." Nash hummed, still not making eye contact, putting the horse brush away.

"What? How would you know that? Just tell me her name. Why can't you tell me?" I barked, getting a little annoyed.

"Because. . ." He began to say, starting to walk out of the stables. I step out and looked out at him from a few feet away.

"Because?" I asked impatiently.

"Because they're the same person!" He called out, turning to face me.

"Wha-" I said in a shocked whisper.

"Oh no, now I've done it." He said with a large sigh as he lifted his head towards the sky, closing his eyes.

"I haven't told me my full name now have I Nashi." He started to say looking me in the eye with a weak smile.

"My name is Jude Nash Dragneel, first born child of Natsu and Lucy Dragneel."

". . . Jude?" I said as tears filled my eyes.

~

Let me further explain....

I, Nashi Heartfilia Dragneel, am not the first
born child of the Dragneel Family.

I had. . . a brother. . .Jude. Jude Nash Dragneel, named after my grandfather Jude Heartfilia, was the first born child in our family.

He, being only two years older than me, was my gentle kind older brother.

When I was about ten years old my gentle kind older brother passed away from an illness. I was a sad time for me, loosing the only sibling I had.

I didn't mention it before because it kinda hard to talk about.

Also back when I mentioned that Norman and I would play together when we were little, it was also with my brother, Jude.

But then because of Jude's passing I became the air to the throne. I would become the next ruler of the Fire realm.

~

"You're lying." I said through tears.
"My brother died years ago, from an illness. You're not my Jude."

"But I am! I can prove it to you!" Nash said stepping closer.

"No. . . stop talking. . . "

"No Nashi, I'm Jude. I had to become Nash for your safety." Then he explained.

"When I turned twelve, I over heard Mother and Father talking about having to send you to the Ice Realm because of some law. They said that because I was to take the throne, you had to go live in the Ice Kingdom as a early sign of peace in the war that might happen. They were going to give you to the Ice King to be arranged to marry his son."

There was a pause and then he continued.

"I didn't want you to be sent away from your home, away from our little family so soon.
Long story short, I made the decision to fake my death so you would become first in line to take the throne."

"Lies. . . " I muttered, I couldn't believe what he was telling me.

"No it's true. After my funeral I was sent out to go live on a farm on the out-skirts of the city. As the years went on I finally made my way back to the castle, going by my middle name, and getting a job as a simple soldier."

I shook my head in disbelief, it wasn't true. It couldn't be true.

"Nashi please, you have to believe me." He pleaded, coming closer to me.

"No. . . no." I stuttered out, trying to stop my flood of tears.

"I'm sorry Nashi, I would have stayed but like I said, I didn't want you to go while I stayed home."

"I . . . no. . . you can't be."

I didn't know what to say. My brain was mix with memories of my past and the realization of the events now.

"It doesn't. . . It doesn't matter who you are. . ." I began to say. "Just. . . just leave me alone." I said in a sad-gentle voice.

I wrapped my arms around me and turned to walk away.

"Nashi. . ." Nash he said taking another step forwards.

I didn't want to talk to him anymore. I didn't really understand anything anymore. After I saw him come closer I just ran back to the castle.

(Picture by: KKumri)