[86.1] Welcome Back, Great Fairy

Darkness... 

Darkness and... 

The smell of flowers?

Is someone spraying perfume?

Am I having a stroke?

Wait… 

Why does my stomach hurt so much?

I forced my eyes to open, wincing from the snowflakes gently landing in my eyes. Confused, I sat up and realized I was in a crater.

The snow melted around me in a large circle as if I were a meteorite that burned all the way to the ground. As the sun peeked in through the snow, it illuminated a group of mysterious flowers surrounding me.

I stared at those flowers I had never seen before and gently reached for them. As I held it, the beautiful iridescent blue petals reflected in the sun like glass. The dazzling colors greatly contrasted my disgusting charred skin.

"How did I…"

My eyes slowly lowered and saw the rip in my clothes. In the place where a holy weapon had once been embedded, flowers grew over the wound and pieced it back together. Despite the appearance of flowers, it felt just like skin with a tattoo covering it.

My hand slowly rubbed it as I stared at it in a stupor.

I thought I was dead…

I thought….

Wait, if the Great Fairy never died, then does that mean I actually CAN change the future!?

I quickly crawled out of the crater. When I saw what stood in the distance, my heart sank.

The Odalis Kingdom…

Has already been destroyed…

By the past me.

I felt as if the world stopped spinning.

So then…

Atta…

Rose…

"...Moni?" My voice cracked as I twisted around in a rush, "Moni?"

I forced aside the snow as I searched all around me.

He's not here with me!?

Then…

Where is he?

I don't understand.

I collapsed onto my knees as I stared into space.

The day I came to the future… What happened to him?

It was so long ago I barely remember…

He just disappeared…

I looked at my hands which were now completely charred, "Did I send him somewhere that day? What… What happened to him…"

My eyes slowly drifted up to look at the distant kingdom.

"...What happened while I was gone?"

I clenched my fists and summoned my ice chunk. Surprisingly, it was even easier to control than when I was in the past. I jumped on top and soared back to the Kingdom, my speed much greater than before. As I approached the capital, I realized it looked even worse than it had before. My snow chunk slowed to a stop as I stared at the barrier that was starting to crack. 

Bodies were piled up in front of it, with victims from both sides of the war. I covered my mouth as flashes of memories resurfaced.

They are…

Still fighting?

I landed softly on the ground, ignoring the bodies, and stepped over to the barrier. I slowly reached my hand out.

Who made this?

I gulped and stepped inside, relieved I hadn't been thrown out.

I need to find someone who can explain to me what is going on.

To my surprise, the streets were so quiet it was unnerving. As I made my way to the palace, there were far more people, but they were all dressed for war. Out of habit, I anxiously hid from them, too ashamed of my current appearance.

I pulled at my ripped dress, "I should replace this first…"

But what about-

My hand gently touched my face.

Since I'm back in my timeline, someone should recognize me now…

Right?

As I wavered on this, I noticed someone walking in front of me, carrying a box of alcohol. The jars clinking together were no longer for drinking but for medicine instead. 

My heart lifted as I called out to her in excitement, "Rebecca! Rebecca!"

Oh thank the gods!

I'm not too far forward in time!

She looked over at me in confusion then shock, "Holy sh*t. That's one big fairy."

My steps suddenly slowed and my heart twisted in my chest, "N-No… It's me… It's &€!$@."

I watched her eyes dulled over.

"Do you… Not recognize me?"

"Eh? Should I?"

Ah…

I see…

Existing yet not existing…

That's the kind of fate this means…

Unable to endure that foreign reaction on her face, I quickly sprinted away making sure to hide my face. I could feel a burning in my chest as I forced down my sobs. As I ran down the halls, I heard two voices echoing off the wall.

"...You have to calm down-"

"-Shut up."

I jumped behind a corner and held my breath as I heard the two people come closer. Their familiar voices brought tears to my eyes as I listened.

Zephyr's voice held a trace of anxiety, "Your curse is going to go out of control again. Just take a deep breath-" 

"-I am taking a deep breath!"

"No! You're holding your breath! It's different!"

As they came closer, my heart lightened.

Cyrus…

He's still alive.

And so is Zephyr.

Just as I was about to step out, I heard Cyrus speak.

"If you want me to stop going out of control, just bring me to Reika. Haven't you made any progress!?"

"I-I'm trying my best! But what can I do if you don't tell me anything!? You can't just tell me to work with Astra and think I can figure it out!"

"It's been six months!"

My footsteps stopped.

Six…

Months…

My eyes lowered to my trembling hands. 

What if Cyrus doesn't recognize me?

What if he does, but finds me hideous?

What if he reacts the same as Rebecca?

I…

I can't handle that.

And Zephyr…

He WOULD recognize me…

But is that any better?

The last time I saw him was the day I was stabbed in front of his eyes.

Then I abandoned him for over a thousand years and made him think I was dead…

Disgust filled my heart as I sneered.

I don't deserve to appear before him now… Not after all the pain I've caused.

I turned around and ran down the hall, leaving the two behind before they ever saw me.

Zephyr stopped walking at the spot, "..."

Cyrus noticed something off, "What is it?"

"For a moment… I thought I smelled…" He shook his head, "No, never mind."