I do not own the rights to Fairy Tail.

Black and White: The Tale of Zeref's Beginnings

Chapter One

"These woods must end at some point." Zeref said to himself.

His black robe blended in with the green background as he carried a small knapsack tied with a rope over his shoulder. All around him, the trees never seemed to end as he continued to walk the straight path he had taken nearly four hours ago. Several flowers were scattered throughout the ground and several twigs lie around the tree's trunks. Several birds could be heard in the distance as well as a few wolves.

"I better not have been walking in a huge circle for the past two hours." He said as he walked with his upper body bent down.

His stomach soon began to growl as he put his hand against it to calm it down. Opening his sack, all he found were a small blanket, a book with a golden spine and a small pouch of money with very few coins inside. Zeref sighed at the lack of provisions in his bag.

"There has to be something to eat here."

Looking around, he searched for any signs of food. From the ground to the tree tops, it seemed hopeless to find any food until he found a single apple in the trees. It was hanging on the highest branch on the tree and was close to the edge that if it were knocked off it would splat when it hit the ground. Zeref wrapped his arms and legs around the tree as he started to scurry slowly up the trunk. Ahead of him was a squirrel that had been resting on top of the tree, as it looked down on Zeref, it saw the apple and headed towards it.

"Oh no you don't." Zeref said as he inched his way up the tree.

Reaching the top of the tree, he could see the squirrel had beaten him to the apple and was examining it. The squirrel soon looked at Zeref as he looked back. The two were in a stare down. Zeref's stomach soon growled and the squirrel looked at the apple again.

"Don't do it." Zeref said as the squirrel inched closer to the apple.

The squirrel knocked the apple of the branch just as Zeref started to work his way towards it, causing the apple to splat on the ground. Zeref looked at the squirrel annoyed, until he began to vision the squirrel as various food items such as soup or on a stick. Just as he was about to grab the squirrel, it ran away, causing Zeref to fall on the ground flat on his face.

"I hate that squirrel." Zeref said.

"Are you okay?" A girl's voice asked.

Looking up, a young girl with blonde hair and green eyes stood before him, she looked worry as she saw Zeref lying on the ground.

"Yeah, I'm fine." The young wizard said. "Just a mishap with a squirrel."

"A what?" The girl asked.

"Never mind. Anyway, who are you?" Zeref asked.

"I'm Mavis." She replied. "I just came from the village just outside these woods."

"Really?" Zeref asked excitedly.

"Yes, I can lead you to…" Mavis said before she was cut off.

Zeref had grabbed her arm and quickly ran towards the direction she had pointed leaving a trail of smoke behind. As the two left, a large tree branch fell on the spot the two were just standing. Above in the trees was the same squirrel from before who looked angry that he didn't get Zeref.

"Welcome to Silverkeep Village." Mavis said. "It's a small fishing village but the people here are friendly."

The village was small and had a large lake near it with its own small port for the fishermen. All around, children were playing as their mothers would chat or be cleaning something. The men over by the port were laughing and chatting as they loaded up their boats or were taking barrels full of fish towards the small trading post that was positioned near the port.

"Is there someplace to eat?" Zeref asked.

Mavis smile and nodded as she grabbed Zeref's arm and led him to a large wooden building. Its sign had been faded but it could still be read. Four windows, two on either side, had a clear view of the inside, showing tables with many people eating and having a good time.

Entering inside the restaurant, Zeref could smell everything that was being cooked in the back as it made his mouth water and stomach growl louder.

"Welcome to Fiore's Aquatic Food." A waiter greeted. "Would you two like a table?"

"Yes, please." Mavis said.

The waiter led them to a table near one of the windows. As the two sat down, the waiter gave them each a small piece of paper with a list of items available to order. Looking over the menu, Zeref's mouth began to water until he saw the prices.

"This all looks so good, but I barely have enough to get just the plate." He said gloomily.

"Don't worry," Mavis said, "I'll pay for you."

Zeref looked at Mavis as she smiled while pulling at a large stack of money. Zeref's mouth dropped wide open.

"Are we ready to order?" The waiter asked.

"Yes, I'll have the fish, cooked well, with a glass of water." Mavis said.

"I'll have the trout, rainbow fish, bear meat, rum and two omelets."

"You're going to eat all of that?" Mavis shrieked.

Before she could tell the waiter not to write it all down, he had already left to the kitchen.

"Yep." Zeref smiled.

Mavis put her head on the table with a sad expression across her face.

"I won't have enough to buy any food on the way back."

"Thanks for the meal, Mavis." Zeref said.

"My money." Mavis cried.

"Are you okay?"

Mavis soon opened her eyes and stood up from the floor. Her face was red from embarrassment as she scratched the back of her head while grinning.

"Yes, everything is all right." She said.

"Well see ya." Zeref said as he walked away.

Mavis sighed. "There goes my pay."

Just outside the town was an open grass plain with a dirt road leading towards the next village. To the right of Zeref, the lake as it sparkled in the sunlight. Out in the distance, the mountains could be seen as they touched the clouds and several had snow at their peaks.

"Wait!" A voice yelled behind him as he began walking.

Looking behind him, Mavis was running towards him. Her hand was stretched out in hoping she'd be able to catch him. Zeref stood there as she finally caught up to him and tried to catch her breath.

"I," Mavis said breathing heavy, "never got you name."

"I'm Zeref." He replied.

"How would you like to join the guild I'm in?" She asked.

Zeref had a questioning look on his face as he tried to figure out how she knew he could use magic.

"That book." Mavis pointed.

Zeref looked at his bag to see a hole near the bottom with part of the golden spine sticking out of the hole.

"Only rare magic books have a golden spine on them." Mavis stated. "No other book has it and only wizards are capable of reading them."

"So that's how you knew." Zeref finally said.

"Listen, my guild is always accepting members and it looks as though you could be in one or else you won't make it out here much longer."

Zeref took some time to think about her offer.

"Can I trust someone I just met?" He thought to himself. "She did check on me when I fell and even offered to pay my meal."

After sometime of not speaking, Mavis began to walk away in disappointment.

"Okay." Zeref said.

Mavis stopped and turned around.

"I'll join your guild. It probably beats having to live like this."

Mavis smiled and grabbed his arm as she quickly sprinted back in the opposite direction towards the woods again.

"Great, I can't wait to introduce you to everyone!"

"Wait, don't tell me we're going back through the woods again?"

"Yes we are!" Mavis said happily.

"No!" Zeref screamed in horror as the two entered the woods.