A/N: Finally finished this today after getting stuck for days on end about how to start it out! I am so excited about how this turned out that I can't wait a day longer to post it! So, here it is. (: ...By the way, I was listening to Requiem for a Dream while proofing this... OH MAN. I don't know, it just fits some how. O.o

Ch. Notes: Years are approximate because they really don't matter until the last one. For that one, well, the wikia is wrong. It has to be. I did the math myself and used what I got, so... Not much Gray in this one, sorry, because we take a step back in time. (: Lots of small sections but they all fit together... And I had to make up the name of a town.

Language Notes: Uh, just 'hai' again and '-sama' which is essentially using 'Mr.' in English, I do believe.

DID YOU KNOW? Just a little tid-bit for the chapter: Even though Zeref calls her magic weak, he still uses Loriel's fortunetelling magic. (:

Special Thanks: For Reviewing: Kairaita, Rewinsan, sereneskydragonslayer, leoslady4ever, ElodieKumari94, and a guest known only as 'someone.' For faves/alerts: The Awesome God Apollo and jazzmonkey. Seriously, guys; I do a little happy dance when I see emails for this stuff in my inbox! :D

Disclaimer: I only own three things in this chapter: The plot, and two OC's which, for the moment, will remain nameless so if anyone is actually reading this it won't give anything away. (:

Chapter Three – The Black Mage
Approx. Year X410

Zeref was never one to be superstitious or to just buy into the empty threats of others. That was why he didn't give a second thought to the threat his sister had given right before he had killed her – it was empty, after all; her magic couldn't possibly ever defeat him! She may have been the more powerful of the two of them, but the magic she had created was weak. He would rule the world one day, and there wasn't anything – or anyone – who could possibly do a thing about it!

Or so he thought.

"You're sure you can't tell me how this demise comes about?"

"I am sorry, Zeref-sama, but my cards only tell me what is going to happen, not how it happens. I can only tell you that if you're not careful, you'll be done-in before you are able to rule the nations."

Zeref turned away from the man he, himself, had so meticulously trained in magic. Was it possible that the threat she had left thirty years before hadn't been empty? Then it dawned on him. His eyes widened slightly as he remembered something she had said to him only once – the very reason, as a child, he had refused to ever play strategy games with her. "All your planning is futile, you know," she had said. "I can see what you're planning before you even plan it!" That was right; she had the ability to see into the future, and, to a certain extent, control time. Why had he not realized this before? It meant her threat was not empty; she had already seen what would happen to him! Without turning around to face the man, Zeref addressed him. "Send the general of my armed forces to me immediately. Dismissed."

The fortuneteller bowed low before exiting. Less than twenty minutes later, a knock sounded on the door followed by it being opened and then closed behind the man who had knocked. "You wished to see me, Zeref-sama?"

"Hai. I have a special job for you, General," he ordered the man without even bothering to turn around. "I have the names of a few people who need to be carefully done away with – them and their families, all of their children, grandchildren, everyone. Understood?"

"Aye, Sir. I will send out the best of my men right away."

"I'm afraid it may not be so simple. I haven't any idea where any of them are at the current time. That is your task: To locate them. I will personally take care of the rest."

"Aye, Sir. I will still be sending my best. I will report to you the instant anyone knows any location for any of the people. Will that be all, Sir?"

"Hai. The list is on my desk, there. You are dismissed."

The general strode forward, picked up the list and folded it once before stowing it in the inside pocket of his coat, and quickly bowed before taking his leave.

Zeref sighed as he stared out the window in front him, a displeased frown etched on his face. This was her fault, he was certain of it; she had set it up, and now he was being told that there was truth to her words. Even in death, she would be his downfall. But he wouldn't let that happen now that he knew it was true. Now that he knew the truth, he could put an end to it once and for all. He smiled. She had always been good at strategy anyway, even without the help of seeing the future, but this was one game she would not be winning.

Approx. Year X500

"What do you mean demise is still in my future?" Zeref growled, eyes narrowed menacingly at the poor fortuneteller.

The man gulped. "Someone must have slipped under the radar," he suggested timidly.

"Impossible! It's impossible! Every woman I ever seduced and every child and every grandchild of hers is dead!"

"I don't know what to tell you," the man quietly stated, confused as to what the last sentence had to do with anything. "Maybe it will be someone you don't suspect…"

"No!" Zeref countered. "I know who it has to be! …But how could someone have slipped away without my knowing? Tell the general to continue searching and to kill anyone with the same last names as those I have already sought out! Go! Be off with you!"

The fortuneteller quickly bowed before scurrying off to find the head of the black mage's armed forces.

Zeref slammed his fist into the wall next him. No! She would not get the better of him! It didn't matter how long the search would take; he would exterminate every last person of his lineage. Almost a hundred years had passed already; what was a few more of searching, when, in the end, he would get what he wanted? The thought made him smile.

He was immortal, after all; he had all the time in the world to make his plans succeed!

Approx. Year X630

"And you took care of the matter fully this time?"

"Aye, Sir. Well, not exactly, Sir. You see, Sir, the reason we couldn't find her in the first place was because the child was a girl. When she married, her last name obviously changed. Unfortunately, she's already been dead for two years. She had a son, but he is nowhere to be found. We will keep looking, Sir."

Zeref gave a low growl. "Two hundred years, we have been at this. How is it that every time we are down to one, he or she somehow gives us the slip?"

"I don't know, Zeref-sama." The general sighed. "But I promise you, I have my eyes everywhere; he won't remain hidden for thirty years like that girl."

"He had better not," Zeref spat. "Or I'll be having your head next, General Milkovich!"

Recognizing the informal dismissal, the general bowed low before exiting the chamber, the fortuneteller close behind him.

"Don't his threats scare you, Yukio? Maybe it's time you end your crusade; eventually he'll either find out about your treachery or find that descendant himself, you know, when he tires of waiting on you," the fortuneteller spoke softly.

General Milkovich scoffed lightly. "What reason do I have to fear that man? I fear more for what will happen to this world if he can get his claws further into it than he already has. No, I will not give up, not when my grandmother risked her life to keep those magic books safe; I will not give up when I did not know Zeref's true intentions upon joining his service. He promised to teach me weapons magic, give me immortality, just like everyone else here; that was the only reason I agreed. No, I will not turn from my mission when I do not agree with his." He glanced at his friend. "You are not thinking of betraying me, are you, Dragan Clive?"

Dragan only stared straight ahead as they continued walking. "My cards will not reveal what our futures hold. This troubles me greatly, Yukio." He forced a smile as he glanced at his friend. "But I will not dessert you nor betray you. I only fear for your life; when I deliver bad news, I have no control over what I have to say. You, on the other hand…"

Yukio Milkovich nodded once. "I know. I do not fear death, so you need not worry. I knew my life was forfeit the instant I decided to protect the Coming One. I thank you for that, Dragan; without your help, I wouldn't know whom I need to protect."

"We can only hope to grant the Coming One enough time before we, ourselves, are discovered by Zeref."

Year X774

"I grow tired of this cat-and-mouse game we are playing," Zeref stated calmly, his hands clasped behind his back as he stared out the window. "I am beginning to think that Colonel Tearm could do better than you are right now. I do not wish to replace you after all of your years of service, but I am starting to see that perhaps someone could do better. Do we understand each other, General?"

General Milkovich swallowed visibly. He was running out of time; but even he had to wonder how much more time it would be until the Coming One came. He had passed well over three hundred years of service to the black mage; how much longer could the One foretold to them need? Unless, of course, he truly was just a legend. Yukio quickly pushed that thought away; he would not believe his life-long mission to be futile, not after all of this time. "I understand, Zeref-sama."

"I do hope so. I would hate to rid the world of such a powerful mage as you have proven to be. Find me that woman by the end of the month, General, and you just may redeem yourself."

Yukio bowed low before quickly exiting the chamber. One month. He had only one month to ensure the Coming One's safety. Without a second thought, he turned down the corridor, away from his own chambers, to those of his friend. Without bothering to knock, he shoved open the door. "We have a problem, Dragan."

The fortuneteller looked up in surprise at Yukio's sudden entrance. "What?"

"I have only one more month to 'find' the woman. Please tell me that is enough time."

"As a matter of fact, it is. The cards tell me that this 'Aria Trayner-Fullbuster' has a son. Why it would not tell me earlier than today, I do not know, because the child is certainly not a new-born baby. Give it a week and a few days, and then tell Zeref you have found her. I will send out my messenger to retrieve the boy as soon as I can find a reason to send him to Borra in Isvan." He sighed. "With any luck, Ogami will have no trouble, though that has certainly never been the case…"

The general sighed with relief. "Thank all that is good."

Dragan cleared his throat. "There is one other thing you should know, Yukio…" His voice dropped to barely a whisper. "About the young boy…"

Zeref turned away from the door, seething anger evident in his countenance, as he silently stormed away. All of these years! All of these years he had trusted General Milkovich only to find out now that the man was a traitor! He had obviously known for some time about the whereabouts of the woman, yet had done nothing! But what was worse, they were helping the offspring to escape! It was no wonder to him now why it had taken nearly four hundred years to clear up this mess – not that he hadn't been suspicious of a mole for the last two hundred or so. But now he knew, at least, what would have to be done, where he would have to go. No. He had a better plan than going there himself; that would draw too much attention from the General and, probably, from the fortuneteller as well. No, he would simply make it look like an accident to the outside world, and he wouldn't even have to leave his chambers!

As he entered his chamber again, he slammed the door shut, bolting it closed. Taking up position in the middle of the floor, a black magic circle appeared under him. In a matter of moments, the spell – the 'directions' – were complete. Zeref smiled. Now all he had to do was sit back and wait.

"Please eat your peas, sweetheart; they're good for you."

The eight-year old boy simply continued to push the green vegetable around his plate, a frown planted on his face. "But they taste gross…"

"Put a little butter on them; that'll mask the taste a little."

"They still taste gross," he mumbled, still pushing the peas around his plate.

"Don't talk back to your mother," the boy's father spoke. "Just eat them."

Just as the boy was about to protest again, a fierce rumbling began to shake the ground, rattling the dishes and lamps. Above the rumbling, the small family could hear the terrible, loud roar of a creature.

The father's eyes grew wide. "No… I had hoped that demon wouldn't come here…" He stood abruptly, grabbing his jacket as he moved for the kitchen door. His wife tried to stop him by grabbing his arm. He turned back to face her. "You know I have to try to help. I won't let it take everything I hold so dear to me." She nodded once before he bent slightly to give her a light kiss on the lips. Then he turned to his only son. "Take care of your mother. I love you both." And then he was gone out the door.

In a matter of minutes, the boy's mother, too, was heading for the door as she threw her jacket on. "Mama, you can't!"

Kneeling down next to him, she embraced him. "I know your father doesn't want me out there, but, just like him, I won't let that thing take everything that I love from me." She pulled back only to see her son close to tears. "Stay here, okay? But if the battle finds its way here, I want you to run – to run faster and harder than you have ever run in your life. I love you so, so much!" Without another word, she rose from the floor and sprinted out the door.

The boy followed her out, but only as far as the back step. From there he watched as the few mages of the town worked their magic and as the monster swiftly defeated everything hurled its way. He couldn't see the mages as they fought, but he did see as the attacks became less and less frequent. And then – and then a blazing streak of fire flew through the city, buildings exploding, collapsing, catching on fire. The boy was frozen. He knew he should start running, try to get away from the town, but he couldn't seem to find his feet.

The monster turned towards him. Its mouth opened. Fire shot forth.

A blinding blue-white light.

Then: nothing but black.

General Milkovich knocked on the door and patiently waited until Zeref beckoned him inside. He bowed low as he stated his news. "Zeref-sama, we have located the woman. What action would you require of me?"

"Nothing at all," Zeref replied calmly. "It has been taken care of already."

Yukio paled significantly. "I'm sorry, Sir, but did I hear you correctly?"

"Hai. I already know what you've been up to these past three hundred years, Milkovich. I know how you and that damned fortuneteller have been protecting one person in my lineage – the very people I have sought to eliminate. I already know. I heard him telling you ten days ago. Well, your attempt all these long years has been futile; Deliora has finished the job for you. My lovely demon did much more damage than you would have, but it's a small price to pay in the end. The woman and the child are dead." Zeref stood from where he was seated behind his desk and slowly made his way around it. As he stopped in front of it, a black magic circle appeared under his feet. "And you are soon to follow."

"You're wrong."

Zeref turned to the fortuneteller who had been sitting off to the side for the entire exchange. "Excuse me?"

"I said that you're wrong, Zeref. My cards tell me that the boy is still alive." Dragan glanced down at the cards in his hand before meeting the black mage's gaze full-on. "He's still alive, Zeref. That just proves that not even you can kill the Coming One – for he is already here, and he is obviously being protected by some power greater than yours. You've lost, Zeref."

Milkovich smiled slightly. "In that case, kill me if you want, Zeref. I don't care anymore. I have done my duty. Go ahead. Unless you're afraid! I do not fear death, black mage, but perhaps you should! The One foretold to us is here!

"And you will not so easily defeat him!"