July 5, X784

He woke up with a groggy expression to his face, a dry hoarse feeling in his mouth; as if hadn't drank anything for the past week. He blinked a few times as he surveyed the room he was in, it looked like- Who the fuck is that? His mind suddenly questioned- Though he wassomewhat glad he hadn't said it out loud. Still, he eyed the purple-haired stranger with mild interest. She certainly looks like a character that pervert would draw... Still he failed to recognise her. She was currently sat on a chair on the other side of the room, a book evidently more interesting then him in her hands. Though for some odd reason, his magic seemed to react to it, how? He wasn't sure. After he got a good enough look at the rest of the room, he found it was rather bland, though he did raise an eyebrow at the plate of food beside his bed.

He coughed to get the woman's attention.

"Awake I see," The stranger questioned as she closed the book in her hand, raising her gaze.

He repressed the shudder he felt coming as the woman seemed to appraise him...

"Uhh-" Smooth, "Where am I?"

"People usually ask me who I am first," The woman chuckled.

"Do you make a habit of sneaking into peoples rooms at night?" He questioned on instinct, suppressing a sigh in the process.

The stranger shrugged good naturally, "I found you collapsed outside, near the harbour, and you're in a hostel I rented,"

Embarrassment filled him up at the words as he turned his gaze, "Ah... How long have I been out?"

"Three days I believe," The woman answered, before snorting when she heard the boy swear in response, barely a whisper though she heard it all the same.

"Umm, sorry I don't really have any money to pay you back with..." He admitted sheepishly.

"Hmm, I noticed, there's food to your left if you're hungry,"

Without even getting the chance to respond, his stomach decided to rumble. Amusing the woman even more. "Thank you," He stated as he reached for it.

"Do you remember anything?"

Taking in a mouthful, he made an effort to remember what had- Salamander, the fake one at any rate, had... Died... He blinked a few times before placing the plate back on it's counter, a sigh escaping.

"It's a little blurry..." He answered with another sigh, a moment passing before he realised he still had no idea who this woman was. "Umm, who are you?"

"People usually introduce themselves first," The woman replied, a mirthful look to her face, almost if she'd been waiting for the chance...

Unfortunately, he failed to notice any of that as his mind was rather preoccupied trying to figure out what the hell he was going to call himself. He felt 'amnesia' wasn't going to cut it anymore, still he couldn't really think of one on the spot... After another moment of thought he figured he should just ask the woman.

"I don't know what to tell you, I don't really have one," He answered passively. That time he noticed the spark in her eyes.

"How curious..."

It really isn't. Other then his rather broken magic, there wasn't much else interesting. Besides maybe his knowledge of the future...

In hindsight he really ought to be a little more careful. Staring at the woman in front of him, he found her waiting for a response.

"What is?"

"It's not every day one meets a mage without a name... So, what do you plan to do?"

"Join Fairy Tail," WAs his immediate response. He blinked the moment he heard the words himself. When he heard the woman start laughing at his choice, he twitched. He didn't really see the funny side.

"You're going to need a name for that,"

"Any suggestions?"

"How about..." She drew the moment out, causing him to roll his eye- "Zeref?"

His body tensed up as he felt his magic flare up, his eyes narrowing in the process. That wasn't a name people just threw about... He took a longer look over the woman.

"Oh, so you do recognise it..."

"Who-" He'd been about to question the woman again on who she was, his guard up. He briefly considered the window until he realised they were likely too high up.

"Can you imagine the look on their faces when 'Zeref' decides to join Fairy Tail?"

Every thought regarding escape vanished as the he turned back to stare at the amused woman.

Crap... He thought to himself, somewhat exasperated. He was actually considering it.

"Well, Zeref," The woman suddenly started as she stood up, "I have business to get to, it was nice meeting you," She finished about to leave through the door.

"What's your name?" He blurted out once again.

She briefly turned back to look at him, a glint in her eye as she answered. "Ultear Milkovich,"

Holy shit! He froze at the words, his eyes widened as he watched the woman disappear.

After a few moments passed, he felt himself grow more uncomfortable by the second- He suddenly released the breath he hadn't known he'd been holding, hurried gasps as he felt himself sag back into the bed. He couldn't believe he'd just had a meeting with one of the most dangerous people in Fairy Tail!

He'd actually considered trying to run away from the woman who could control time! The idea was as amusing as it was impossible. He couldn't believe he'd fallen under her radar! He couldn't imagine what would've happened if she'd found out he knew the future. The crazy woman was a part of-

He blinked as he stared at the small cluster of jewels underneath Ultear's chair, he hadn't been able to see it earlier.

"... Maybe she wasn't that bad after all..." He muttered to himself.

...

As he made to pocket (Throw everything into his portable pocket dimension) He suddenly remembered (Found it in his inventory) the reward he'd gotten from accepting the... E.N.D quest? He was fairly certain it was called that (He opened up the Quest tab, though the quest itself showed nothing but the name).

At the cost of Gamers Mind...

He was screwed... He was actually screwed! He realised with daunting terror, his eyes widening in the process. He seriously doubted there was anything remotely worth losing such a powerful ability...

He examined his so called 'reward' Expecting complete disappointment-

'T.A.N.S.O.M Crystal' -Once activated, for the next five minutes user will experience the following effects. Level and stats are temporarily raised to match the highest in the party. User is capable of retraining his stats, resetting once the effect has finished. Any Skills created/and-or levelled during the duration are retained once the effect has ended.-

He read through the effects over and over, if only to make sure he wasn't hallucinating... He'd received ten of them. Ten!

"... Worth it," He knew he was going to regret those words, when? He wasn't sure. But it was going to happen at some point.

After he'd made sure the Jewels, all one hundred thousand, were in his inventory. He quickly made his way downstairs, checking out of the room and making his way outside. He figured it was probably time he made his way to Fairy Tail.

"..." He had absolutely no idea where the guild was...

...

After spending far too long trying to figure out the directions (He'd gotten lost seventeen times trying to use a map) he'd finally decided to ask someone for directions.

He'd missed it by two corners.

Still, the annoyance in finding the place aside, he'd found it rather... Pleasant... In a way. Odd word to use for sure, but something about the place just screamed welcoming at him. As he was about to go inside he heard someone speak up behind him. Recognising the voice instantly.

"Who are you?" Natrsu questioned bemusedly.

He grinned as he turned, idly wondering if the dragonslayer even knew who Zeref was.

"I wanted to join the guild, my name is Zere...s?" He'd stuttered the name, not on a mistake on his part, but rather what he'd seen...

He ignored the way Natsu's face suddenly lit up at having found another member, so soon after Lucy as well. His eyes instead locked onto the two mages beside him, particularly the one Natsu was helping stand. He had short, slicked back dark blue hair. He recognised the man, though the name escaped him...

"Zeres huh? We've got another one already!" Natsu cheered easily.

"Aye..." Happy replied passively, somewhat withdrawn.

He himself however couldn't tear his eyes away from the one struggling to stand... He was missing an arm...

...

A/N: Next chapter will include an Edolas interlude, the alternate world being a few days behind the Earthland will play a hand into the story, later on. Once the Edolas one reaches July 2, X784, what occurred while Zeres was 'asleep' will be revealed.

As always any feedback is welcomed, though I particularly want some on the writing itself, I want to make sure that it's easy to understand, if any part of it is confusing in anyway please do mention it.

Gamers Mind: User's mind is constantly kept in a calm state.

Examine: Examine the stats, in the case of living beings, and properties, in the case of items, of anything magical in nature.