Chapter title: Of Black Wizards, Pasts, and Anything but Truth or Dare
When Zeref awoke he was on Natsu's back and Natsu was complaining about how heavy he was.
"Natsu, you think everybody's heavy." Lucy said. "I mean, you think I'm heavy, and I'm the lightest person in the world!"
"… Zeref could gain another 200lb and he'd still be lighter than you Lucy." Apparently, that was the wrong thing to say because Lucy pounced on him. Zeref couldn't find it in ice-cold heart to even find pity for the fire dragon slayer… as he had used all his pity on himself. Zeref pushed himself off Natsu's back right before Lucy tackled him to the floor. The two-hour trip back to Magnolia had already taken a full day's worth. If things were going to keep happening like this then it would take a full week for them to reach the outskirts of Magnolia, and probably another day to reach the center. Zeref considered knocking them all out, but then he'd have to carry them all. Also, he doubted Lucy had enough money for a weeks' worth of hotels, meals, etc. Zeref growled in annoyance at the two.
"WOULD YOU JUST KNOCK IT OFF AND CONTINUE ON WITHOUT ARGUMENT, AND BE SILENT FOR ONCE IN YOUR SHORT, SHORT LIVES, THAT ARE ABOUT TO BECOME EVEN SHORTER IF YOU CONTINUE TO ARGUE!" Zeref roared, eyes glowing red. Natsu and Lucy looked at him, positively petrified.
"W-w-we're s-sorry." Natsu whimpered, trying to hide behind Lucy. Zeref continued to glare sharply at them.
"JUST HURRY UP!" He growled. Natsu and Lucy nodded quickly and started to run in the direction of Magnolia. Zeref's gaze burning holes through their back. Natsu and Lucy shivered.
"H-he's scary… let's not make him mad again." Lucy whispered. Natsu nodded his head enthusiastically, thinking his brother had been about as terrifying as Erza back there. Natsu supposed that was his brother's inner black mage shining through. He seemed to be a little bit of Mira and Erza. Happy and adorable one moment, that was Mira's side, and a raging demon the next for what Natsu deemed ridiculous reasons. He had Mira's calmness until he was angered and then became like Erza, who was even more terrifying than Mira… and the two of them together made a monster, no, a demon, no, there were not words strong enough to describe what terrifying being they made together… although, Natsu supposed that terrifying being had to be Zeref, as he was the two of them put together… if Natsu really thought about it. Everything he'd just thought didn't really make any sense.
"I-I agree." Natsu whimpered quietly, as the two kept a brisk pace. Zeref and Mavis were walking side-by-side, although Mavis distanced herself from him, which was probably smart, because he was literally radiating death. Lucy and Natsu could still feel him glaring daggers at them. His posture was ridged and ready to destroy all that walked in his way. Neither Lucy nor Natsu ever wanted to see an enraged Zeref again and couldn't wait till he went back to being shy and timid and agreeable. Because right now he looked nothing less than a crazy, murderous psycho… just like his girlfriend could be. Natsu was starting to see why those two were compatible.
They arrived in Magnolia just an hour later after they departed from their lovely hotel. Zeref was very pleased they had made it to the guild without further incident.
"Now remember, some members of the guild won't be as…wonderfully nice as we are." Natsu said.
"If you people are nice, then I fear to see what mean is… after all, in the course of two days, I have been triad, nearly killed, threatened, nearly kissed by my own brother, been beaten within an inch of my life, been terrified for my life, just so you know I didn't think that was possible, I have been called ugly, and looked at as if I were stupid, I have been called heavy, which translates to fat, and I HAVE HAD MY ARM RIPPED OUT OF IT'S SOCKET! What I'm trying to say, is I think I can handle these people… unless they are all as horrible as you, then I might take Mavis up on her offer to punch me to death." Zeref said looking horribly unamused. Natsu laughed nervously and Lucy looked utterly guilty. Mavis gave him an apologetic smile as if that would make up for RIPPING HIS ARM OUT OF IT'S SOCKET!
"S-sorry."
"That only makes things worse." Zeref said, glaring at the trio. Tears stung the corners of Lucy's eyes.
"Yeah, I'm really sorry." She said.
"If you think tears work then you're out of luck."
"Darn it!" Lucy said, while pouting. Mavis wrapped her arms around his torso and tilted her head to kiss his cheek. Zeref glared at her.
"You missed." He said plainly. Mavis giggled and kissed his lips.
"I'm sorry." She said. Did she really think kissing him was going to make up for RIPPING HIS ARM OUT OF IT'S SOCKET?... well, if she did, then she was right. Zeref finally smiled at her.
"No fair!" Natsu cried. "She's got girlfriend privileges! It's not like we can kiss him and make it better!" Natsu complained. Zeref's eyes twinkled brightly.
"Says who?" Zeref asked. the two sighed. Lucy quickly snapped out of her depression. She practically bounced up to him and gave him a light kiss on the cheek.
"I'm sorry Zeref." Lucy said in the same fashion that Mavis had.
"Apology excepted!" Zeref said enthusiastically. Natsu groaned and walked sluggishly up to Zeref.
"I am not kissing you." Natsu growled. Zeref just smiled and opened his arms and Natsu rolled his eyes and wrapped his arms around his brother.
"My bad." Natsu said nonchalantly.
"That is not a formal apology!" Lucy yelled. Zeref just patted the ball of pink hair on Natsu's head and said,
"I accept all your apologies and am happy that you finally admit that you were not very nice at all." Zeref said. "Also, I want that kiss Natsu, you're not getting out of it." Natsu whimpered and laid a quick kiss on Zeref's cheek. "Brother!" Zeref cried out in happiness and wrapped his arms around him. Natsu cried out and struggled Zeref's grip. "Natsu! Is hugging me really so terrible?" Zeref asked, pouting. Natsu sighed and looked Zeref in the face.
"I guess not, but I'm going to tell you something and I need you not to freak out."
"… Okay."
"Pouting is too good a look for you… don't do it. It makes you look like a kid." Zeref pouted again. "Don't look at me like that!" Zeref's eyes got big and innocent. "N-no…" Natsu said
"I like to look like a kid believe it or not… it helps me get out of jail." Natsu face looked strained. Then he gripped Zeref from behind. "What are you doing?" Zeref asked. Natsu grinned and shouted with a maniacal look.
"Hug of love! With tickles!" he shouted, and Zeref started to scream when Natsu started to tickle him, while he had been in trapped in his arms and was completely helpless. "This is what you get for trying to play cute with me!" Mavis and Lucy looked at them, unamused and decided to go in the guild hall to be greeted. Natsu tickled Zeref until he felt him go limp, panting from exhaustion. Natsu went limp too and grinned wildly.
"You are not my brother!" Zeref panted. "You are simply too wild." Zeref grinned at him. Natsu smiled back with a mischievous grin.
"Are you thinking what I'm thinking?" Natsu asked. Zeref sighed and looked toward the blue sky.
"I almost wish I wasn't." Zeref said. "But I'm your brother. Of course, I know what you're thinking… I was this close to winning that war and-."
"Don't you dare go on about that." Natsu warned. "… Also, that was not what I was thinking." Zeref smiled sheepishly at Natsu and shrugged.
"I know." Zeref said. "… it's just-."
"Here we go again."
"-I really think I could've won that with just a little more planning."
"You talk about it as if it's a chess game."
"It kind of was. It kind of is." Natsu scowled.
"Playing with people's lives is not a chess game." Natsu growled. Zeref looked at his hands.
"… It kind of is… when you live for eternity." Zeref whispered. Natsu hesitated.
"… Well, you don't think like that anymore, do you?" Zeref looked uncomfortable.
"…Well…" Natsu glared and clenched his fists. He seriously thought about punching Zeref. Natsu had never had great impulse control so, he punched Zeref.
"Don't you dare start talking like that again!" Natsu still couldn't get over the fact of what he felt when Zeref started talking about people as if they were pawns in a game he played.
(flashback)
"Zeref! This is the end!" Natsu shouted.
"How ironic, E.N.D." Zeref said. Natsu glared at him. he shook his head. He didn't understand. This was his brother. How could Natsu be so good and Zeref be so bad, when they both had the same blood coursing through their veins. It only proved that blood was not always thicker than water. Because now, it hardly seemed like they were brothers and Natsu couldn't bring himself to fathom it.
"I'm gonna take you down, and you are never going to hurt my friends again!"
"And what if I hurt one of your friends before you take me down? Then what'll you do?" Zeref asked, eyes red, lips tugged into a triumphant smirk. Natsu glared at him and clenched his fists. Natsu looked Zeref straight in the eye and said.
"Then I will never forgive you."
"Hah! I don't need your forgiveness when I have an eternity of solitude ahead of me. What's one human's opinion against all the rest? Not that it will be against all the other opinions. What I meant to say was, what's one human's opinion worth when they side with all the other people in the world for the exact same reason! The reason is they realize I'm a being of which they cannot fathom! They fear what they cannot control and-."
"No! they fear those who destroy them!"
"So, what? Who cares about the reason?"
"I do! I don't side with them because I think you're some powerful being! I don't side with them because I'm scared of you either! I side with them because they're right to think you're just as bad as all the history books say you are! But that's not all! I side with them because you're hurting my friends! And that is a hard thing for me to forgive!" Zeref scoffed.
"Don't you mean impossible?"
"No! I mean hard! Because they're tons of people that've hurt my friends. And now, some of them are my friends! I'm sure you could be my friend too… if you stopped." Zeref glared viciously at Natsu. Death started to surround him in his fury.
"YOU THINK I WANT YOU AS A FRIEND! I DON'T WANT FRIENDS!" Zeref screamed.
"Everyone wants friends."
"You are only going off experience. You only say everyone wants friends because you've never met someone who doesn't. and now that you've met that person you refuse to acknowledge it!"
"I don't believe that for a second." Natsu says. "You want friends! I can see it in your eyes that you're lonely."
"I don't want friends… just because I'm lonely doesn't mean I want friends… it only means I don't have them."
"And are sad because of it! That's what lonely means!"
"WELL I'D RATHER BE LONELY THEN DESTROY THESE IMAGINARY FRIENDS YOU SPEAK OF!" Zeref shouts. Natsu looks Zeref in the eye and says,
"It's okay to love someone." He says quietly.
"NO, IT'S NOT!" Zeref cried. "Not for me." He added quietly. "And it wouldn't matter. I would still destroy you… I WILL DESTROY YOU!" There was a flash of red.
"If you were an ordinary wizard, would you want friends?"
"Of course… but if I were an ordinary wizard… then I wouldn't be me now, would I? and of course, you wouldn't be you, because you would be dead."
"YOU THINK I WANTED TO BE SOME UGLY DEMON THAT HURT MY FRIENDS?" Natsu roared. "WELL I DON'T! YOU SHOULD'VE LEFT ME FOR DEAD, BECAUSE I DID NOT WANT THIS!" this seemed to break Zeref out of his mode to destroy.
"You didn't… want it? You didn't… want the life I gave you?"
"Well…"
"You didn't want all the sacrifices I made? Do you mean… all I've gone through to try to give you happiness till now was… wasted. YOU MEAN I SOLD MY SOUL FOR NOTHING? YOU MEAN I KILLED THE WOMAN I LOVED FOR NOTHING! YOU MEAN I ACCEPTED A CURSE TO DESTROY LIFE WHEN I DARE LOVE IT BECAUSE I WANTED TO RESSURECT SOMEONE WHO DIDN'T WANT THE LIFE THAT I DIED FOR?" Zeref screeched. "You mean… my entire life was… was…" Zeref couldn't bring himself to say it. "… nothing. My entire life was nothing." Zeref started to say it in a statement and then started to laugh hysterically. "Oh, they must've planned this… I was condemned before eternity even began, wasn't I? because there's no way my entire life could be nothing for… nothing." And then he started to cry. "I suppose this is a fitting end for someone like me… I suppose I deserve this, although I really should've considered this possibility ages ago. That my life could really be so meaningless…" there had always been one question floating around inside his twisted mind. One question that no book he dissected could answer. That question was why? And that why was a lot of things, but the most frequented why question of them all was, why was I born? Why was I born into this world where only my oblivious family had loved me, unknowing that they were loving a parasite. That was really all he saw himself as. A parasite that sucked the life from object after object, and really never understanding why. Because now he knew it was more than just the world was rejecting him. it was as if reality itself thought him a disease of what was otherwise a perfect world with a balance of good and evil. The world didn't deserve him. It was often thought by Zeref that the world was cruel, but now he wasn't kidding himself anymore. He was the cruel one. The horrid one. The one that not even death wanted, and life hated from the moment he was born. And yet the world smiled down on his opposite. On his little brother. The world had always loved him, and he loved the world in return. Natsu thought he knew of evil, but Zeref knew that this was merely a skewed visage of the real thing. He knew this, because you could never fully understand what evil was until you were it. And Zeref had been it for the longest time. It couldn't be helped. Zeref knew it couldn't be helped. It was all meaningless. He even knew of what meaningless meant though even that meant nothing to him.
Natsu watched as the man before him, his enemy, his brother, seemed to wilt from the knowledge of this. Natsu felt a pang in his heart and he quickly waved his hands back and forth. "Don't get me wrong, I love living… but I just… don't want to be a demon. Truly, I love the life you've given me, no one has ever or will ever give me a greater gift." Natsu said quickly. "But if you had given me the choice to live again I would've denied it."
Zeref sniffed. "Why?" he asked. Natsu smiled softly, for the first time in what he thought was a very long time.
"Well, because of you, silly. I love this life, but if I had ever known that you would become like this, I would've instantly declined your offer."
"How do you know I wasn't always like this?" Zeref asked.
"I can just feel it. Okay, you don't have to fight us anymore. I can help you."
"Help me? You mean, you can finally end my existence in this world?" Zeref asked ecstatically, although he masked that happiness. Natsu grimaced.
"Well, of course not." Natsu said. "I can help you find friends. All you have to do is stop." Natsu added. Zeref hesitated.
"I don't want friends." Zeref said.
"Oh, shut up." Natsu said. "Yes, you do, you're just afraid you'll hurt them, and I promise you don't have to be anymore." Zeref narrowed his eyes at Natsu, a thoughtful look, full of scrutiny on his face.
"… How are you going to do that?" Zeref asked.
"By lifting the curse of course! I don't know how to do it yet, but I promise you I'll find a way… we'll find away."
"… I'm going to destroy you." Zeref said and glared. Natsu sighed he looked pleadingly at Zeref.
"Please tell me it doesn't have to go that way." Zeref just stared at his younger brother, although secretly he was surprised. Natsu and don't want to fight didn't exactly fit together in the same sentence… unless it was, I don't want to fight because Natsu challenged me. But Natsu genuinely looked as if he didn't want to fight. Zeref glared at him.
"There is no way I'm just going to hand over my victory." Natsu sighed.
"Fine, I guess I'll fight you. Although, I'm warning you you'll lose, and you might never walk again, and you certainly will never cross me."
"No, I won't. cause hopefully, after this battle I will be dead." Zeref said. Natsu frowned at him and lit his fists of flames. Lucy ran into the castle where the brothers were fighting and watched in horror as brutal punches and kicks were thrown. Neither was holding back which made for quite the spectacle. Although, Lucy and no one else thought of it that way. In the end Natsu defeated Zeref, looking very ill, and stood over him.
"You see? I won." Natsu said smugly. Zeref just looked to the sky, tears streaming down his face.
"I didn't die? I didn't die!" his last resort had failed. Zeref's fingers twitched. He knew he was going to be even more insane now, and the worst part was he didn't care. Zeref started to sob as Natsu collapsed beside him
"Hey, don't cry." Natsu said.
"And why ever not?" Zeref sobbed. "Everything is ruined. You won… and I'm not dead."
"You know, most people would be happy about that."
"But I'm not! I'm not most people, I am Zeref, the black wizard. I am Spriggan the king of Alverez. I am the cursed man who wanders the earth." He sobbed.
"… Well, what ever happened to plain old Zeref Dragneel?" Natsu asked. Zeref stared at him, waterworks still working.
"I-I don't understand."
"What's there to understand?"
"He died." Zeref said simply. "Zeref Dragneel died a long time ago." Zeref said bitterly and didn't look Natsu in the eye. He couldn't bear it. Lucy and all Natsu's friends walked towards the two and all were surprised when Natsu enveloped Zeref in a hug. Zeref was the most surprised of them all. Natsu gave Zeref one of his signature goofy grin and said.
"Well, that shouldn't matter. After all, you've proved that anyone can be resurrected." Natsu said as he wiped Zeref's tears away.
"Yeah, as a demon." Zeref replied coldly.
"Do I look like a demon to you?" Natsu asked innocently.
"Yes."
"Don't lie."
"… Kind of…" Natsu gave him a look.
"… Okay no! you are the cutest little boy I've ever seen!" Zeref exclaimed. Natsu giggled like the child he was and rested his head on Zeref's shoulder.
"The sky's nice, huh." Natsu said quietly.
"Yeah, I suppose."
"And it looks even nicer when you join Fairytail and have a family to love and admire it with you." Zeref snorted.
"When cats fly." Natsu just smiled softly at the sky.
"Then I think you'll be joining Fairytail a lot sooner than you think." Zeref stared at his brother and felt his heart beat. It was pumping blood. Zeref hadn't felt his heartbeat in the longest time. But this. The moment he felt his heart beat he smiled. He always needed the reminder that he was still human. Unlike other people the heart didn't remind him he was alive, it reminded him he was human. He knew all to well that he was alive, but the fact that he was human always amazed him. Zeref always expected his heart to be gone. Not replaced by anything, just simply gone. The familiar action came to him. he should feel his heart. Just to remind him that he was human. However, Zeref didn't need to do that when he was right here. Right now. With his brother, and his friends closing in. he didn't need to feel his heartbeat to remind him. it was strange, but when he was close to Natsu and the people that cared about him he knew he was human. Natsu reminded him that he was human. Because without even realizing Natsu had been his very heart for so long. "Zeref I want you to meet my everything." Natsu said. "These are the people I would die for." Natsu said grinning. "Who would you die for?"
"For the longest time Natsu Dragneel it was you, but not anymore." Zeref said. "You aren't the person I would die for, because now I would die for anyone. No, you are not the person I would die for… you're the person I would live for… because you're the only reminder I have left that I am still human. My heart beats only while yours does." Zeref said.
"… you might think that's sweet, but honestly it's a little creepy. It sounds very unhealthy… I think you should see someone."
"I only mean that I love you very dearly." Zeref said.
"Well, then why didn't you say so?" Natsu asked. Zeref looked up at him very nervously. Zeref bit his lip.
"Because I'm afraid." He said. Natsu looked very confused at this. He hummed a little.
"How come?"
"Because… I'm afraid you won't love me back…"
"That's never happened before… has it?"
"…" Zeref was deathly silent. Natsu looked at him sadly and Zeref narrowed his eyes. "I do not need nor; do I want your pity." Zeref growled. Natsu grinned.
"No, it's not that. Just tell me that you love me." Natsu said. "You'll never be able to get over this fear if you never face it." Natsu added. Zeref frowned and took a deep breath. He didn't express any emotions well. Zeref was deathly afraid of how this could end.
"I… I love you." Zeref said and cringed at the awful monotone that droned in his voice like a parasite on a parasite. Natsu just grinned and hugged him tight as he could.
"I love you too!" Natsu said ecstatically. "See! It's not so hard!" He said with a triumphant grin. Zeref smiled shyly at him and asked one of the stupidest question he had ever asked.
"Y-you do?" he wondered, not quite believing how quickly it had all changed.
"Of course." Not long ago Zeref had been threatening him. Zeref wanted to be sure. People had betrayed Zeref before. He didn't want to feel that kind of heartache ever again. "Yeah, I do." Natsu again. "Of course, I do. we're brothers. We have to love each other, it's practically law! But I also love you because I just do… you're very lovable." Natsu said and leaned his head down as his friends drew even closer and were starting to call his name. Zeref thought they were really slow walkers. "I'll introduce you to them." Natsu said.
"I don't know."
"Well, I do! you want to join Fairytail right?" Natsu asked. Zeref looked at him uncertainly.
"I-I…"
"Of course, you do!" Natsu cried.
"I never actually said that!"
"Well do you?" Zeref slowly nodded. Natsu gave another of his grins and he grabbed Zeref's hand firmly in his own as if giving the silent promise that he would never let go. "Well, you want to join Fairytail. So, come on!"
(End of flashback)
Zeref flew back and held the side of his face that Natsu had punched. He looked back up, tears threatening to fall. Natsu gave a giant sigh. "Sorry." He said. "It's just, I get mad when you start talking about winning the war, because I know winning the war doesn't mean… beating us. To you, winning that war was dying, and I don't want that." Natsu said and walked towards his brother. "We promised never to talk about the war again."
"Why? So, we can pretend it didn't happen?" Zeref asked, looking hysterical. "So, we can pretend I didn't kill all those people?"
"No."
"THEN WHY!" Zeref shouted.
"So, we can pretend we were always brothers."
"BUT WE WEREN'T!" Zeref cried. "WE WEREN'T ALWAYS BROTHERS. I KNOW YOU DON'T BELIEVE IT. BUT ONCE UPON A TIME I WAS NORMAL! I WAS HAPPY! AND YOU WERE… YOU WERE… NATSU DRAGNEEL… you were plain old Natsu Dragneel. But like plain old Zeref Dragneel he died a long time ago. And now you're Natsu Dragneel, Salamander of Fairytail. And Salamander of Fairytail made a life without a brother named Zeref Dragneel." Zeref said. "You don't need me here… I don't belong here, in this new life you've made without me."
"I don't know what you're talking about. I've never needed you. But I want you to be here. And that's what makes it special. It's so much more powerful to want someone rather than need them. I don't need you Zeref. I want you here, as my brother, as my friend, as my family. And I don't want you to ever talk about dying again, therefore the war. Not to pretend it didn't happen. Not to pretend you didn't do horrible things. Not even to pretend we were always brothers. To know that you don't want to die anymore. It's almost sad that you don't remember what love feels like."
"Yes, I do! how could I forget what love feels like when I kill everything when I feel it!"
"No, I don't mean that you don't remember what it feels like to love other people. I mean I'm sure you've forgotten what it feels like for other people to love you." Natsu said and Zeref couldn't deny it. That was the worst part. He couldn't deny it. He couldn't deny that's how he felt. Zeref didn't know when people did or did not love him. "Don't dwell on everything so much, okay?" Zeref glanced at Natsu.
"Okay." He whispered quietly. Natsu grinned and quickly embraced Zeref.
"Good to know you're trying." Natsu said. Zeref nodded and wiped his tears away. "Sorry again, for punching you. It wasn't the right thing to do just then."
"No, it's… it's okay." Zeref whispered. "I deserved that."
"Hah! You sure did!" Natsu cried. Zeref pouted.
"Don't push it!" Zeref cried. Natsu chuckled.
"Yeah, I know. Now, let's go inside. Last time they saw you they didn't react very well, so, let's hope it's better this time. Also, try to lay low and be very nice, and agreeable." Zeref nodded as if mentally noting everything. Natsu paused and a look of realization crossed his face. "You know what, you do that anyway, so I guess what I'm saying is, be yourself." Natsu smiled. Zeref pouted again.
"I am not like that all the time! I am the evil black wizard. I am mean and argumentative and-."
"Zeref, you are stupid." Zeref grimaced.
"Really? How do I stop being stupid?"
"You see!"
"See what?"
"Any normal person would've said, I'm not stupid, you stupid fool! But you asked me if I really thought that, and how you could improve on not being stupid. I mean seriously, who on Earth does something like that?" Zeref sighed.
"I guess… I agreed again, didn't I?"
"Yes." He groaned and looked at the guild hall.
"Okay, I'm ready."
"You sure?"
"Am I?"
"Yes, yes you are." Natsu said.
"Oh, okay… I did it again, DARN IT!"
"Not only that, but you asked my permission."
"I'm sorry!" Natsu just gave Zeref a blank look.
"And now you've apologized for asking permission. To be honest, your kind of creeping me out." Zeref opened his mouth to apologize but closed it and slapped himself before he could apologize. "And now you're literally beating yourself up about it." Natsu said incredulously. In fact, it seemed that Zeref was being agreeable just because Natsu said he was… which was on a whole new level of agreeable. A level of which was freaky. And then they entered the guild hall.
The first thing Natsu saw was a foot flying towards his face. This was the normal greeting Natsu got whenever he entered the guild hall, so it didn't hit him. he ducked, and the foot hit Zeref instead who had been coming in behind Natsu. "Oops." Gray said looking at Zeref who held his bloody face in his hands. "Sorry, that was meant for him." Gray jutted a thumb out at Natsu. Natsu glared at Gray a balled his hands into fists.
"Just you wait ice princess! I'm gonna beat your face in!"
"Not before I beat yours in flame brain!" they both glared at each other and slammed their foreheads together. "You'll be sorry! Just you wait!" Gray cried.
"Oh yeah? I'd like to see you try!" then fists of ice and flames were thrown, and Zeref ended up in the middle of it.
"They never change." Lucy said with a sigh. Mavis frowned worriedly.
"Do you think Zeref will be okay, I mean… this is his first fight with Fairytail. He doesn't know how rough it can get."
"I'm sure he'll be fine." Lucy answered.
"Yeah, probably, I just hope they don't hit his face to much. I don't know about you, but I'd rather kiss lips that aren't split… also, bruises aren't exactly a fashion choice." Lucy shrugged.
"It shouldn't be too long before it gets too rowdy and Erza beats them up for causing destruction to the guild hall."
"… That's exactly what I'm worried about." Mavis said to Lucy. Lucy suddenly looked worried for Zeref's safety too. All they could do was look on helplessly as the strict red-head marched toward them. Erza grabbed Natsu and Gray's heads and slammed them together mercilessly. Then she turned her glare on Zeref who smiled nervously at her.
"And why are you here?" Erza asked. "And how did you end up rough-housing with these two buffoons?"
"Uh… I'm really sorry Miss Erza…" Zeref said. Erza raised an eyebrow.
"Miss Erza?" she seemed to be day-dreaming about something.
"Um… Miss Erza, are you alright?"
"Yes!" I'm fine Erza said, snapping back to reality. "And um… just Erza will do…" Erza said. She smiled and seemed to forget her earlier rage. Zeref wondered what he had said to stop her from beating him up further. "And I'm sure, that the reason you were caught up in the fight was entirely Natsu and Gray's fault, am I right?"
"Well… I don't want to make it seem that way…" Zeref said slowly. "… But um, they did throw the first punch." Zeref added. Natsu gave Zeref a look that said, "how could you?" Zeref just shrugged in a non-committal way.
"W-what? It's not my fault! It was Gray's!" Natsu exclaimed at the same time Gray did. They both glared at each other. Erza sighed and bent lower to glower in their faces.
"Let me make this one thing very clear. If I ever see you fighting with an innocent bystander in the middle, then I promise you will never see the light of day again. do you understand?" Erza asked so calmly it was scary. Natsu and Gray nodded their heads rapidly and Erza stood up to her full height again. "Good, now it's time for punishment." Erza said glaring.
"NO!" Natsu and Gray cried but had enough sense to not run away from the inevitable.
"Now, hold still. I want to see how far I can bend you!" Erza growled and balled her hands into fists. Natsu and Gray let out one last whimper before they were sent into a spiral of nothing but pain. Lucy and Mavis watched, sweat-dropping and Zeref snuck away from the grotesque scene. He walked over to the only other familiar faces in the room, which was Lucy and Mavis.
"I'm so glad you didn't get beat up!" Mavis said with a smile. "After all, if Erza beat you up then I'd be out of a job now, wouldn't I?" Mavis said. Zeref chuckled nervously and nodded. Mirajane smiled at the trio and asked,
"Would you like anything?" all three shook their heads. However, Mira didn't just leave it at that. She rested a finger on her chin and looked thoughtful. She was looking right at Zeref. "Forgive me, but I think I've seen you somewhere before. I just don't quite remember your name." Mirajane said with a slight frown. Mavis and Lucy looked at each other, wondering if they should remind Mirajane of who she was currently talking to. They both looked at Zeref who was looking at his hands and twiddling his thumbs.
"Um… Mira if we tell you, you cannot freak out. Okay?" Mira looked at them strangely but nodded.
"Okay." She said, smiling.
"Mirajane, you remember Zeref, right?" Lucy said. Mira nodded "Well… this is him." Lucy added, pointing not-so-subtly at the boy next to her and Mavis. Mira looked astonished, and apparently the rest of the guild heard her because everyone, even Gray and Erza turned to look at the three. It seemed none of them had recognized Zeref even though they fought against his army just a month before… probably because they were all forgetful idiots.
"Wasn't he supposed to be locked up by now?" Gray asked, glaring. He too, hadn't remembered Zeref. Because he was the most forgetful idiot of them all… besides Natsu, that is.
"Well, yeah… but you see, we went to the trial and made so much trouble, that the council let him go because they never wanted to see any of us again." Mavis said, smiling apologetically. Gray and every other member of Fairytail glared at Zeref. Zeref flinched under their gaze and finally turned to look at all of them. His breath hitched in his throat and he felt the need to clear it. He wondered how he could possibly apologize for all the things he'd done to these people. He wasn't sure he could.
"Um…" Zeref paused for several seconds. Their gaze was so intense that Zeref wasn't sure if he could handle it. "I… I'm sorry." He managed to get out. "I'm so, so, sorry." He chocked as tears started to form in his eyes. He stared with glassy eyes at all the people that may or may not hate him. as he'd said, he'd never been able to tell. Although, he was pretty sure these people hated him.
"You think that will make everything you've done okay?" Gray asked, glaring. Zeref shook his head.
"N-no! but… nothing I ever say will make what I did okay, but I'm sorry I did it! I should never have done any of it… I'm sorry if what I did hurt you, but for my own reasons I will never regret it!" Zeref cried, tears started to stream down his face. "I'm sorry…" he whispered softly. His entire body shook with grief. Mavis embraced him, and Lucy put a hand on his shoulder. Natsu stood up and literally threw himself on top of Zeref, holding on to him tightly. Mirajane dried the dish more slowly with a smile still on her face. Gray still glared, though not as intensely as before. Erza crossed her arms and had a stern expression on her face.
"Why did you do it? Why did you make all those demons? And what made you decide to kill people?" Gray snarled.
"He didn't decide to do it, popsicle!"
"Well, I didn't know that, ash for brains!" They both glared at each other. Then, they stopped when Erza glared at them.
"Let Zeref explain!" Erza growled. They all looked at Zeref expectantly.
"I made those demons because I thought they might be able to kill me. I wanted to die because everything I love dies. Everything I love dies, because I was cursed. I was cursed because I brought my baby brother back to life. I brought my baby brother back to life because only he could kill me… and because I loved him. and that's basically my life story… I didn't think anyone would use the tower of heaven. And I never meant to release Deliora. I'm so sorry… I had no say in what tartarous did. I didn't… I…" Zeref started to cry harder. "I didn't want this to happen." He cried. Natsu held onto him tighter and Mavis frowned at him.
"How can you stay mad at him? he's just like a baby!" Natsu cried.
"I am not!" Zeref cried and buried his face in Natsu's shirt. Gray raised an eyebrow.
"Are you sure about that?" Gray asked. Zeref was silent for a few moments before they all heard a faint,
"Stop bullying me." Natsu laughed and Gray looked scared when Erza gave him a death glare.
"Apologize!" she growled.
"S-sorry." Gray said quickly and waved his hands dismissively. "I didn't mean it." Zeref nodded and mumbled.
"Apology accepted." Zeref said.
They all looked thoughtful, wondering if they should accept Zeref's apology own apology. Mavis, Lucy, and Natsu seemed to forgive him and they were some of the people who were most hurt by Zeref. Of course, Gray and Erza were very hurt by Zeref's actions, but even they looked to be considering it.
"I accept your apology because you seem truly sorry." Erza said, smiling. "… Also, because I like being called Miss Erza." She added. Natsu rolled his eyes and Erza glared at him. the Fairytail members all looked at each other with questioning gazes. "Now, Gray, isn't there something you wanted to say?" Erza asked.
"Mm… I guess I can forgive you… but that doesn't mean we're best buddies."
"Yeah… I understand." Zeref said.
"But, I also have one more question… who's your um… baby brother?" Gray asked.
"Don't you dare tell him." Natsu said glaring. Natsu had said it quickly, but not quick enough.
"Natsu." Zeref blurted then gave an apologetic look towards Natsu. Natsu sighed as Gray started to laugh.
"Yeah, I guess you were always the baby brother type!"
"You take that back!"
"NO!"
"TAKE IT BACK BEFORE I MAKE YOU!"
"NO!" Gray cried, and they slammed their foreheads together. Before Erza glared at them and asked,
"What did I just say!" she roared. Natsu and Gray slowly backed away from her and started to pretend to be best friends. Zeref wiped his tears away and apologized for getting so emotional… again. Mavis patted his arm and said he didn't need to apologize.
"You're adorable." Mavis said, ruffling Zeref's hair.
"Gah! Don't do that!" Zeref cried and pouted.
"So cute!" Mavis said with a cheeky grin. Natsu laughed.
"Hah! Being babied by his girlfriend." Zeref glared at Natsu for making that comment.
"You better shut up before you start to get babied by your older brother." Zeref growled. Natsu pouted and considered punching Zeref in the face.
"You're so mean!"
"I know it!" Zeref said. Mavis giggled and Lucy rolled her eyes as the two started to bicker.
"Seriously, we can't leave you two alone for a minute without you biting each other's heads off!" Lucy said, exasperated.
"In our defense, you didn't leave us alone." Natsu said dryly.
"Don't get smart with me!" Lucy shouted and grabbed Natsu's hair and pulled him out of the room.
"Please don't do that to me." Zeref pleaded.
"Oh no, of course not honey, I like your hair." Mavis said with a sweet smile. "I can't say the same for your ear…" she added and started to drag him away. Zeref cried out in pain and struggled in Mavis's grip. It didn't help him get free though.
"Ow, ow, ow, ow!" Zeref whined. "It hurts. Somebody help me!" Zeref cried… yeah, everyone ignored him completely and let Mavis drag him away. "Please let go." Mavis considered it.
"Only if you stop fighting with Natsu." Mavis said.
"Okay! Okay!" Zeref cried, struggling. Mavis finally let go of him and grabbed his hand instead. Lucy was not as kind as this and kept dragging Natsu by the hair.
"BUT LUSHEE!" Zeref heard Natsu cry.
"DON'T YOU LUSHEE ME!" Lucy screamed at him. Zeref chuckled nervously.
"I'm glad she's not my girlfriend." Zeref shivered. Mavis smiled at him.
"AND DON'T YOU DARE TRY TO LOOK CUTE!" Lucy cried as Natsu pulled out his, "you can't possibly stay mad at me," face. Lucy sighed and let go of his hair. "Huh… I can never stay mad at you." Lucy said. Natsu grinned at her and cheered childishly. Lucy tried to maintain her scary face, but it was impossible with Natsu grinning at her like that.
"Can we go back to your house? I'm tired!" Natsu whined. Lucy glared again.
"As if! You're going to go to your house with Zeref, 'cause there is no way you're both sleeping at my house."
Yeah, Lucy was wrong about that. Natsu whined and threw such a fit that Zeref made his scary face again and said,
"Shut up before I make you!" Lucy and Natsu shivered and said,
"Aye sir!" they ended up going to Lucy's house and Mavis joined because she didn't want to, "miss out on all the fun." Mavis cheered and said it was like a slumber party, Natsu… started eating Lucy's food, Lucy glared at him, and Zeref offered a coy smile.
"Ugh! Why is it always my house." Lucy complained. They all shrugged. She sighed. "What are we even going to do?" Lucy asked. Mavis perked up.
"Let's play a game!" she cheered.
"Fine, as long as it's not truth or dare." Lucy said. Mavis pouted and stuck her tongue out at Lucy.
"You're no fun!" Mavis said.
"Yeah, yeah." Lucy said, rolling her eyes. Mavis started smirking evilly.
"Well… you said anything as long as it's not truth or dare." She said. Lucy slowly nodded, not sure what else to say. "Well then, what do you say having a little competition." She asked.
"W-what kind of competition?" Lucy asked.
"The couple kind. Who's a better couple. You and Natsu, or me and Zeref." Mavis said smirking. She slung an arm around Zeref who looked alarmed at what she was suggesting.
"What?" Lucy shrieked.
"Let's do it!" Natsu cheered. Lucy sighed and blushed heavily.
"Well, what kinds of things are we doing."
"You know, like cute couple stuff." Mavis said. "Hugging, kissing, cuddling. The usual."
"I-I can't…" Lucy paused.
"What's the matter. You scared Zeref and I are going to beat you?"
"No!"
"Then play with us."
"No! Ugh, you are so frustrating!" Lucy whined. Mavis shrugged and smirked.
"So, you in?" Mavis asked. Lucy slowly nodded and clenched her hands into fists.
"… Okay." She said. "Let's do this! But just know that Natsu and I are going to wipe the floor with you!" Lucy cheered.
"Yeah!" Natsu cried.
"Just you wait, it's Zeref and I that will be doing the wiping!" Mavis expected Zeref to cheer like Natsu did but he just twiddled his thumbs and looked anywhere but at Mavis.
"How many rounds are there going to be anyway?" Lucy asked.
"Hmm… 10, I guess that's standard." Mavis said.
"Okay, let's get started then." Lucy said.
"Alright, round 1, holding hands! I figure we should start out simple so we can go bigger." Mavis said. Lucy and Natsu easily slid their hands into one another's and Mavis and Zeref did the same.
"Okay, round 2, hugging!" Lucy cried hugging Natsu tightly. Mavis did the same to Zeref and glared at Lucy. Lucy returned the glare. Zeref and Natsu looked at each other with looks of horror as if to ask, "what have I gotten myself into?"
"Round 3, the cheek kiss." Mavis said. They did the task without complaint, though Zeref's face felt as if it were going to fall off and Natsu blushed.
"Round 4, flirting!"
"No fair, you know I can't flirt!" Mavis wailed and Lucy smirked.
"Is that a cry of defeat I hear?"
"NO!" Mavis cried and turned to Zeref. "Um… I can't flirt, you flirt!" Mavis cried blushing furiously.
"What? I can't flirt either!"
"Natsu, you've got such beautiful hair." Lucy giggled girlishly running her hands through Natsu's hair. Natsu just looked a bit wierded out. Mavis bit her lip. What was she supposed to do? she was hopeless when it came to the flirt department. "And those lips are so kissable." Lucy whispered and ran her thumb along Natsu lips. Mavis couldn't do that!
"Zeref your so um… evil? No, that's not right." Mavis pouted then snapped her fingers and tried to smile at least somewhat like Lucy did. "Drop-dead gorgeous, is what I meant to say." Mavis said, remembering his quote from a few days ago. Lucy pouted.
"I was sure I had that one!" Mavis smiled smugly.
"Well, you thought wrong." she said.
"Round 5, cuddling!"
Lucy sighed, they were only half way through. She and Natsu cuddled on the couch together. Lucy rested her head on Natsu's shoulder and Natsu had his arms wrapped around her waist.
"Natsu…" Lucy whispered.
"Hmm?" Natsu asked.
"You don't smell very good." Lucy said. "Take a bath!" Natsu whined and held Lucy tighter, shaking his head. Lucy groaned and tried to shove Natsu off her.
Mavis and Zeref snuggled together too. Mavis had her arms wrapped around his neck, blushing, and wondering why she had said cuddle.
"Round 6, make your crush laugh!" Lucy said.
"No fair, you know Zeref's emo, so it's practically in the emo handbook not to laugh!" Mavis whined. Lucy stuck out her tongue.
"Don't care!" she said.
"I feel insulted." Zeref said. Natsu put on his "there's no way your gonna make me laugh," face. And Zeref tried to look somewhat happy.
"Okay," Lucy started. "Knock, knock."
"Who's there?" Natsu asked.
"Beats."
"Beats who?"
"Beats me." Lucy said with a shrug and Natsu laughed, of course, even though the joke sucked. Mavis sighed. she had to think of a really funny jo- oh, who was she kidding. She started to tickle Zeref, which by the way, was the only way to make him laugh. He did exactly what she wanted, and Lucy sighed.
"Round 7, forehead kiss!" Mavis said. Lucy and Mavis did this.
"Round 8, come up with a pet name for your crush!" Lucy said. Mavis tapped her chin. "Oh, and you have to make it unique to the person. So, no sweeties, kay?" Mavis nodded and Lucy smirked.
"I've decided to call you Pinky." Lucy said.
"Please no!" Natsu groaned, slouching to the ground in agony. Mavis tapped her chin while staring at Zeref.
"How about… Spriggan."
"Really?" Lucy asked, unconvinced. Mavis shrugged.
"If you can call Natsu Pinky then by all means can I call Zeref Spriggan." Lucy sighed.
"Okay, round 9, lip kiss." Mavis said, smirking. Lucy groaned, her cheeks a deep shade of red. Lucy kissed Natsu, uncertainly. Natsu's lips were hot, as expected by a fire mage, and rough. Lucy wrapped her arms around his neck and Natsu surprisingly seemed to be okay with kissing her.
Mavis crossed her arms and pouted. Her face was burning even though she was the one who'd originally wanted them to kiss. She pressed her lips to Zeref's, which were the opposite of his brother's. they were soft and cool. Mavis closed her eyes and enjoyed it. But, it didn't last long because Zeref was freaking out with his hands flailing around, he was unsure of where to put them. Slowly both girls pulled apart and Zeref looked like he would faint whereas Natsu grinned his boyish grin.
"Round 10…" said Lucy breathlessly. "… say, I love you." She said, blushing. She took deep breaths and looked Natsu right in the eye. She took his tanned, rough hands into her pale, smooth ones. "I love you." Lucy said, smiling softly. Meanwhile Mavis stared at Zeref's big black eyes. They stared nervously into hers even though she was the one admitting it.
"I love you too, Lucy." Natsu said, a grin stretching across his face. Mavis stood on tip toe and cupped Zeref's cheek in her hand. She rubbed her thumb lovingly on his face. She smiled softly and whispered admiringly,
"I love you." Zeref stared at her longer before his eyes glassed over with tears.
"I love you too." He managed to choke out and Mavis hugged him tightly. Lucy and Natsu smiled at Zeref and Mavis. And Mavis smiled back at them, but Zeref was too busy wailing like a baby to smile. In the end it hadn't been a game. It had been a confession. And that was better than any competition.
"It's okay, you can stop crying now." Mavis said, patting Zeref's back.
"B-but it's just, I haven't heard it since Natsu said it on the battlefield. And you've never told me that before, so, it's special!" Zeref whimpered, crying harder. Mavis frowned. How could she have been so careless as to never tell him something so important? Mavis gently stroked his hair and said,
"Well, I do." Mavis said. Lucy cooed at them and Natsu whispered,
"Kiss, kiss," under his breath. Mavis gave Natsu a withering glare and he sprung behind Lucy, who rolled her eyes in annoyance. Mavis sighed,
"It's not late, what other games should we play?" Mavis asked.
"Eh, another game?" Lucy asked. Mavis shrugged and said,
"Why not?" Lucy sighed and asked what they should play. Mavis shrugged. Since Lucy didn't want to play truth or dare, she was out of ideas. Natsu lit up with a smirk on his face,
"Let's play, would you rather." Natsu said triumphantly. The girls didn't think much of it, and Zeref was still sobbing, so he didn't get a say.
"Fine. What could be the harm in it?" Lucy said with a shrug. Natsu and Mavis just grinned mischievously at each other. Lucy didn't know just how bad things could get.
"Okay." Mavis said in a sing-song voice. "How do we want to play this?" Mavis asked.
"Let's do it where the person has to do what they say they would rather do, so nothing like suicide." Natsu said, smirking. "How about Mavis starts."
"Okay," Mavis said, "Zeref, would you rather read all your poems, or would you rather kiss Natsu?" Natsu looked at her as if she was the spawn of the devil, and was covering his mouth. Zeref looked like he was going to cry again. and Lucy was very amused. Zeref's eyes searched hers for a hint of sympathy, but there was none.
"Kiss Natsu." Zeref said finally after a long while.
"NO!" Natsu screeched. Zeref got up and kissed Natsu's forehead. Mavis scowled.
"What was that!" she cried. Zeref smirked in a way that made him look like HE was the spawn of the devil… or perhaps it just made him look like Erza… god help them.
"Next time I suggest you make your would you rather clearer. You never said where I had to kiss Natsu, just that I had to kiss him." Mavis growled things under her breath and glared at Zeref. "And now it's my turn." Zeref said. "Lucy, would you rather read us the book you're currently writing, or tell us your most embarrassing moment in vivid detail." Zeref asked. Lucy looked horrified.
"NO!" she cried, looking for some sort of escape. Zeref merely smirked. She sighed, "Fine, my most embarrassing moment was when Natsu found out I had a crush on him while I was talking to Mavis." Zeref sighed because it wasn't juicy gossip of any kind. How disappointing. "Okay, my turn! Natsu, would you rather profess love to Gray or Gajeel?" Natsu looked like he was going to have a heart attack.
"What?" He asked.
"You heard me." Lucy said without a hint of sympathy.
"Um… can't you ask me if I would rather profess love to them or commit suicide?" Lucy glared.
"Nope." She said.
"Fine… can I text Gray?" Lucy shrugged and nodded. Natsu sent a quick text and Lucy looked at it. It said,
Hey, we're playing would you rather, and Lucy asked whether I would rather confess love to you or Gajeel, so I chose you because you understand how evil Lucy is better than Gajeel does. So, I love you ice princess, and I hope you reject me because this is just a would you rather game. Gray responded very quickly.
I get it, Lucy's evil. Now, I reject you flame brain. I hope she tortures you till you scream, :)
Lucy groaned at how little Natsu was affected. "My turn!" Natsu cried. "Mavis, would you rather tell us how you first met Zeref in vivid detail, or would you rather sing your favorite song?" Mavis blushed bright red at the thought of singing a song to them. She blushed furiously and started singing. She was pretty bad, but no one dared tell her that. They decided they'd dealt with enough drama from would you rather. And none of them wanted to play another round. So, they all sat in silence for the longest time until Zeref broke the ice with a question that made everyone but Natsu laugh.
"So… is there a love triangle between you, Lucy, and Gray?" Zeref asked. Natsu just looked at him in shock, and Mavis and Lucy dropped to the floor, laughing so hard Lucy's neighbors came to complain about all the noise they were making. All the while Zeref was asking, "What? What did I say?"
A/N So, here's another chapter because I've gotten a few people who would like to see more. Now, this is all I have written and the two I posted were actually just one SUPER long manuscript but I broke it up into two parts. So, since this is all I have and I have no ideas for the future, if you want more tell me, give me suggestions, otherwise this is probably it. Also, I'm sorry for the angsty flashback, but it ended fluffy, right? So anyway, if you have suggestions or want this continued review or PM me about it. The ideas can basically be anything. Requirements are that they have to be funny/fluffy, and if they have angst it needs to end fluffy. No tragedies (not for this one). It also (of course) needs to be rated K+ or below. So, thanks for reading reviews/follows/favorites are always welcome. I hope maybe I can continue this sometime in the future and ideas and feedback sure help as it is inspirational. But for now, goodbye!
