『Fairy Tail』 X Reader One Shots

Zeref ◆ Field of Green

Field of Green
Zeref x Reader (fem!)

Behind my village was a large open field that stretched for miles. As a child I always went there to explore and see the world of other living things. There was a slope at one part of the field that formed a hill and it was the best place to feel the breeze and see my village small enough to fit on the top of my thumb.

It was there where I met him.

At the top of the hill was a young man in black robes who stood silently crying. As a child I was hesitant to go towards a stranger, but seeing him cry was unsettling. So I picked one of my favorite flowers on the hill, and walked up to him. I gently tugged at his sleeve and handed him the flower with a smile.

He turned towards me and took the flower. He twirled it in his hand then kneeled down to my level. He tucked it in my hair and thanked me, but it looked much prettier on me.

I ended up asking him, "Why are you crying? Are you hurt?"

He shook his head, "No. Life is just a precious thing. It's saddening."

"But life is pretty!" I twirled around, causing dandelion seeds to scatter in the air. "If life makes you sad. I'll help you smile."

And somehow my child version of me convinced him to visit and I'll show him the pretty things in life. So we made a promise: because he traveled, we would meet at that exact spot once a year and there I would make him smile. It was an odd promise from a child, but it happened. For years after that I continued to meet him on the hill and share my happy experiences with him.

"Whew," I huffed, plopping down on the grass, "I think I'm out of shape."

I heard a chuckle behind me and tilted my head to see Zeref pop into view. He sat down next to me and looked off into the distance.

"Where did you go this time?" I asked.

He shrugged, "I don't know. Everything is the same to me."

"But don't things change? Some places may seem the same, but there will always be changes somewhere."

I sat up and pointed to a section of the hill that had a little bump on the side, "Look there."

At that bump was a little hole big enough for a head to fit. From that hole emerged a rabbit. It popped out and hopped away towards a greener patch by the base of the hill.

"That wasn't there last year," Zeref said.

I nodded,"During the past year that rabbit made a burrow there."

I gave him a light punch, "See. Things do change even if they are small."

"Just like you."

It's true. I grew older and now I'm on my way to adulthood. But Zeref hasn't changed. He's still the same as when I met him. But I didn't dare to bring it up. As a child I casually pointed out how I was growing taller and he seemed the same as last time. When that happened he went silent and just patted my head and nodded.

I needed to change the subject.

"Oh. Hey Zeref," I shot up to look at him eye to eye, "Do you know any good guilds? Since you know, you travel around.

"I've been getting interested in joining one and maybe learning magic. It's also a good way to take some time away from the village. Do you know magic? I like the kind of magic that creates."

"..."

"Zeref?"

He stood up and walked up the hill silently.

"Zeref?" I turned and watched him walk away, "W-wait. Where are you going?"

He turned his head, but kept his back to me, "This is the last time we'll meet. If you're looking for guilds there's plenty around."

"Zeref!" I scrambled to my feet and grabbed his hand.

He knocked it down and took larger steps away.  I couldn't say anything and he walked down the hill and out of view. I felt broken and alone.

To fill that loneliness I visited our spot daily, hoping he'd come back. I didn't know if I did something wrong, but I should've apologized instead of staying silent. Maybe he would've turned around and stayed.

I wrapped my arms around my legs, pulling myself into a ball. What is this feeling I have. My chest hurts and going to the field makes it hurt even more.

Tears rolled down my cheeks and I quickly wiped the away, but they kept falling.

"Zeref, where are you? I miss you."

I forgotten how long it's been and how many times I visited the field alone. I dragged myself there, feeling less tired that I was the last time I saw Zeref. Perhaps I was getting back in shape because I kept walking this path.

When I got to the hill my heart sank. It was no longer green and lush with life. It was black, broken, and dead. I ran up to the top and found Zeref standing there. We locked eyes, but he turned away.

"Zeref.." I breathed.

I was so happy to see him again, even under these circumstances.

"(Y/n).."

"What happened?" I walked towards him, but he walked backwards, keeping a distance between us.

"Don't come near me."

"Why not?"

He looked at the dead ground, "Don't you see? I'm too dangerous."

"No you aren't."

"I caused this. Death is everywhere I go and it followed me here."

"And that's why you said we should stop seeing each other?"

"You'll eventually be killed just like this field."

I looked at the ground and saw the dead grass, the dead flowers, everything around me was dead, but it wasn't all like that.

"No. The field will grow again and thrive like it was before. Probably much better that before and become even greener and more beautiful."

I walked towards him, "Just because this happened, doesn't mean it will give up."

At that point I stood directly in front of him, the closest we had been in a long time, "I won't either. Not on either of us."

I took hold of his hand, "We can make it work because life is precious."

I smiled, "Plus I don't die that easily. I'm stubborn after all."

I felt his grip tighten and I took a breath, "I love you."

"Me too."