Chapter One- Tenrou Island
Natsu's POV
I bolt up off the ground, going in for the attack. "FIRE DRAGON IRON-" I look around, stunned. We are on Tenrou Island. 'What happened? We were just at the guild hall.' I look through the bushes and see Zeref lounging around under some trees. I start to step out, but a hand goes over my mouth. I tilt my head back to see Zeref looking through the bushes at himself, then at me, then back. I look through the bushes again, confused. The Other Zeref looks this way but decides it was nothing, goes back to sleep. I turn around and look at this Zeref, who has one finger over his mouth, to keep me quiet. He points in the opposite direction, toward a small clearing. I nod and follow my related enemy.
Once we are out of the Other Zeref's earshot, I start to whisper yell at this Zeref. "What in Mavis' name did you do?! Where are we? I mean when are we, because there is obviously another you over there!" I wave with both hands frantically toward the spot where the Other Zeref is sleeping, not believing what I'm seeing. "Are you even the Zeref I know from X792? Or are you the doppelganger? Plus, this isn't the guild, this is Tenrou Island! I haven't been here since the S class missions!" I huffed. "Where is everyone? And where is the Book? You better tell me or I'm going to beat the living shit out of yah!" I say angrily.
Zeref, who stared blankly at me this whole time while waiting for me to finish my rant, slowly shakes his head, eyeing me like I'm the one that is going insane.
"No I am not a doppelganger and neither is he," Zeref nods towards the Other Zeref. "That is me from the past. Also, I did not do this; I think Acnologia did. We are in the year X784 since I am still here-" He says, looking back to where Other Zeref is, as if he went back in time every day. He points to Other Zeref, out of view, back behind the bushes. "- and not in the Alvarez Empire. Everyone else is probably wherever their previous selves are. And since you are also here further means it is the year X784 because, like you said, the last time you were on this island was during the S-class trials. And following the same guidelines, the book is probably wherever I had it then."
Now it was Natsu's turn to stare. Before he could ask where the book was, they heard a crash.
"Ow that hurt." They hear Elfman say.
Natsu and Zeref run for cover, a little to the south. Elfman and Evergreen lay on the ground, hugging each other.
"HEY! WHAT DO YOU THINK YOU'RE DOING?!" yelled Evergreen, who is pushing Elfman away. "Don't you dare start thinking I'm interested in you just because of what I said to Mira. I was only trying to throw her off her game, not expressing any real desire to hook up with you, bonehead!" Evergreen fumed at Elfman.
Elfman stared at her confused for a second. "Where's this coming from?" He smiled at her "Gotta hand it to you though, that was pretty smooth. It's hard to believe a nice girl like you came up with such a naughty trick."
"You make it sound so dirty." Evergreen scoffed.
'What are they talking about?' I stare at this scene through a cloud of falling autumn leaves, in confusion. I was about to get them, when we hear the bushes crackle. Other Zeref comes out looking surprised.
"People?" Other Zeref said. "I'm confused, why did you come to such a desolate place. I was under the impression that this place was uninhabited."
Elfman and Evergreen took a step closer. "Well you were wrong pall!" Elfman said.
"You are trespassing. Only members of our guild are allowed here!" Evergreen states.
"I'm trespassing? Forgive me, I didn't know this island was controlled by a guild." Other Zeref says quietly.
"It is, ours!" Elfman roars back.
I turn toward this Zeref and frown. 'What was he doing on this island back then anyway?' I think as I watch his facial expressions. He's not showing much, just staring. Zeref then turns and walks back to where we were just standing, still out of sight.
"No! Stay back!" Screams Other Zeref, regaining my attention. "If you value your life don't come any closer to me." He said this with his right hand stretched out in a stop gesture, as if his willpower could stop them from coming closer.
"That kinda sounds like a challenge." Elfman says.
"No, it's not, I don't want to fight you. I'll leave the Island peacefully," He puts down his hand, "Please just don't come near me."
"What's wrong with him?" says Evergreen.
"I don't know but he shouldn't be here." Elfman takes a step back toward the giant rock behind Evergreen and him.
Other Zeref's expression turns fearful and he clenches his teeth. Shaking, he grabs his head.
Already knowing the next part, since I came to the rescue back then, I wondered if I should keep watching to see if we were really in a different time, or follow my brother back to the clearing. Hearing the next sentence, I choose to stay.
"No. Here it comes." He gasps "Predatory death. I can't stop it!" The leaves begin to decay as they fall off the trees, shriveling and popping to tiny pieces as they come down. A black swirling mist surrounds him. The black mist expands out, killing everything in its wake. I watch as it heads straight toward Evergreen and Elfman.
"GET DOWN!" my past counterpart yells pushing Elfman and Evergreen down, just in time as the mist passes overhead. The black mist disappears, leaving the three Other fairies safe but leaving a lot of dead foliage behind. The forest they are in is no more.
Zeref starts to cry and whispers "You…Natsu?"
Now that I know we are related this scene makes a whole lot more sense. I wonder 'Has Zeref always been a crybaby, or is he crying just because he's seen me again after so many years?' Kinda wish I remembered our past right now so I can know whether this is something I can tease him about sometime.
"Who are you? You better answer me or else!" Other Natsu growls.
'Yup, this proves it we're in the past.' I finally realize.
Rewritten: 5/23/17
