Over 400 years ago...I was cursed by the gods for toying with life and death.

My Curse killed everyone in the academy, that was the fourth time I've witnessed death, and I was merely 12. Seven years prior, Natsu died in my arms before he could finish his last sentence. "How did he die?" You may ask. Ask all you want, but I can never tell you. That memory is hidden away in my subconscious mind. It's too painful...

~ Zeref

The group continued their journey in silence. They only stopped for water. Hours went by slowly as the sun began its decent into the horizons.

"How much longer?" Lucy whined.

Erza whipped out a map, "According to this map, we should be approaching the school in a few minutes." She looked up worriedly, "How are you feeling Natsu?"

Natsu looked up, his face was green but his eyes held the same determination as before,

"I'm fine. Ice Princess, where are your clothes?"

Gray looked down, "AH! WHERE DID THEY GO!"

Lucy rolled her eyes as Wendy broke the silence,

"Guys, what's this fog?"

Everyone looked forward. Indeed, a cloud of white and grey floated towards them ominously.

"I think this trip just became a lot creepier." Lucy and Wendy shivered.

"The school should be right ahead..." Erza grabbed the reins of her horse and charged into the fog.

"Do we have to go?" Wendy begged.

"Yeah, we do," Gray answered as he too followed suit.

Lucy scrunched up her eye lids "I can't see anything…"

"Aye!" Happy concurred.

Erza suddenly stopped, everyone followed her lead. The fog, previously so thick that one couldn't see three feet in ahead, dissipated.

"No way…" Gray's eyes widened.

Huge old buildings loomed overhead. It's clearly seen better days. The statue that once stood proudly was all but rubble. Parts of the roof of the building were caved in. The intricate designs that were once carved in the pure white marble were washed out. Vines overtook the structures. Trees made their home in most broken parts of the buildings.

"It actually looks pretty good for something that is over 400 years old." Lucy commented earning a nod from Carla and Wendy.

Getting of her horse, Erza signaled Team Natsu, "Let's go, we have a job to do."

"Are you sure it's safe?" Questioned Lucy and Wendy.

"I highly doubt it, it looks like it's going to collapse any minute." Gray agreed.

A dark aura surrounded Erza, "Is that a problem?"

"NO MA'AM!"

Erza marched into the building, the rest of the team followed her lead.

"Natsu, we need light."

With a flick of a hand, a ball of fire erupted in Natsu's palm. Even with the flame, the entrance barely lit up as if the darkness was swallowing the light. Regardless, Erza continued, her leather boots clicked on the rigid stone floor. Suddenly, her left foot stumbled on something sending her flying forward.

"ERZA!" Gray, Natsu, Lucy, Carla, Wendy and Happy ran over to help their friend.

"Ow," Rubbing her head, Erza tried to pick up the object she tripped over, "What did I trip ov-" Suddenly, Natsu enlarged the fire, everyone screamed. Skeletons, skeletons of children and adults alike littered the floors. The aura in the room darkened as fear pulsated through everyone's veins.

"What happened here?" Lucy trembled.

Natsu's black eyes flared as he took in the hideous sight, "Zeref…he happened, he did this! WHY!" Natsu slammed his fist into a column, crushing the stone into bits. The infrastructure shook.

"What are you doing!" hissed Gray as he slapped Nastu over his head, "You want the ceiling to collapse?!"

Natsu growled but didn't spit back an insult.

Wendy whimpered, "I'm scared."

"Me too." Happy huddled close to Lucy.

Brushing off her fear, Erza stood up, "We don't have time to contemplate this, we have to split up."

Carla's eyes widened in surprise.

"Lucy, Happy, and Natsu, you are one group. Everyone else come with me."

"But Erza, I thought that-" Carla started.

Erza nodded, "That's why Lucy and Happy are going. Who ever is after Natsu won't attack if there is a chance that one of them will call for help, hopefully. Anyways, we're right here."

Carla narrowed her eyes, Erza's frowned as if she understood her concern. Then, an idea popped into her head,

"I have a solution, REQUIP!" Five magic flare guns materialized in her metal hands.

"Each of us gets one. If any of you are in trouble, don't hesitate to shoot."

Nodding, all the human members grabbed a gun.

"Okay, before we separate, you all need a copy of this." Lucy handed out sheets of paper, "Each sheet has the Sinian alphabet plus Zeref's name so that it would be easier to find any information on him."

Erza hugged Lucy (or more like squished Lucy's face into her armor), "Excellent job Lucy. I want your group to take this floor. We will take the upper floor. Good luck." The group separated.

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"Again, there's nothing here…" Lucy plopped back the empty and ruined book, "I'm not surprised though, paper doesn't survive for 400 years. but what I find strange is how did that sheet of paper Levy found managed to still be intact?"

Natsu shrugged as he heaved another boulder out of their way as they continued down a dreary hallway.

"Maybe it was fake?" offered Happy.

Lucy's eyes widened in horror, her mind working a mile a minute, "Wait, if this is true… then who ever tried to kill Natsu could have been the one to place the clue. If this is the case…"

Lucy grabbed Natsu's arm, pulling him back, "WE HAVE TO LEAVE NOW, THIS IS A TRAP!"

The ground beneath Lucy and Natsu shook, cracks quickly formed on the stone floor.

"KYAAAAAA!" They shrieked as the ground collapsed beneath them.

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Zeref looked up into the dark night sky, it was foggy, very foggy. That's not much of a surprise since it was the mountain range.

"I wonder if Natsu has already arrived?"

The chilly air bit at his exposed skin, Zeref swore he couldn't feel his toes. Maybe he should have worn something warmer.

"I guess being immortal doesn't grant me immunity to the elements." he smiled, at least he hasn't completely lost his senses.

Suddenly, something red shot into the air far away, lighting up the sky in a beautiful scarlet light. Zeref's eyes widened – the school – something was wrong!