Disclaimer: I am not the owner of Fairy Tail or Rise of the Guardians
The issue with Zeref's goal was in locating Pitch Black. True, he understood that the man had been attempting to alter dream sand, but Zeref had never really focused on actually observing how the sand worked. Golden streams trailed into every house in Burgess, not really helping him to eliminate options of where Pitch could be.
Basing his actions off of Natsu's stories, Zeref realized that Pitch would likely be with the younger children. At this point, Wendy would likely be an adult, however. It seemed odd that she was affected, considering how much Natsu had aged, but it wasn't entirely impossible. Magic did strange things, and nothing said it could not affect adults as well as children. His own power could do the same, after all. He had learned that when his magic stole the life away from Jellal's mother. Zeref had not stuck around to see the aftermath of his deadly magic that time.
His own forced isolation was what led to the challenge, Zeref realized. He no longer knew where children lived in town. Romeo would be about Wendy's age, and those two were the youngest children he recalled seeing in town. Anyone else would be a new child, one he had not yet met. Not wishing to fail Natsu, Zeref began walking quietly through town, gazing into windows to see the dreams growing in each house. He was used to variety from these creations, seeing animals, princesses, food, and other random objects dancing around in the sky. Seeing them in homes was no different, as they created images above the heads of sleeping people.
Smiling, Zeref reached up towards a stream flowing lower to the ground. He rarely toyed with Sandy's power, but he had always wished to test out what kind of dreams his own mind would create. Dream sand was meant to mold to one's own thoughts, after all. However, as his hand dipped into the stream, the golden sand seemed to shudder at his touch. A ripple went through the surface, the color slowly losing some of its luster before Zeref dropped his hand, startled by the sudden change. Returning to its usual golden glow, the sand traveled on. The only sign of Zeref's interaction was a small handful of sand in his palm, no longer alive and taking form. Instead, it was dark, even the orange fading away into black in the palm of his hand.
Scowling, Zeref let the sand fall to the ground. Maybe his mind simply wasn't meant for dreams. After all, Zeref couldn't deny that his thoughts of the future left him feeling cold and hollow inside. One day, he knew Jack Frost would realize just how dark he truly was. When that happened, he would lose his only friend and be completely alone. Then, only death would be his companion…and the more he thought about that, the more he realized he didn't want that life. Zeref wanted nothing more than to return to normal, if this was his fate. At least then, he could always escape his life by fleeing into the grasp of death.
Flinching at his own dark thoughts, Zeref shook his head and took a deep breath. He knew it was wrong, but lately, he had been contemplating his own death more and more often. Meditation kept him calm, but thoughts of being alone for all of eternity tormented his mind. Not being able to sleep didn't help, and realizing that even his dreams were nonexistent sent an odd chill through his chest. Even amongst magical beings, he had to be set apart by this dark curse.
Peering inside another window, Zeref sighed as he realized he was back at Natsu's house. He really didn't want to bother the boy with this again, not so soon after being given this task. However, as he glanced inside, Zeref paused for a moment. There was a young girl within, dreaming in her bed. Glancing around to ensure that no one was around, Zeref slowly reached out towards his magic. After experimenting with his power over the years, he discovered he did have the capability of teleportation, to some degree. While he had yet to perfect the art, he could manage so long as he could easily picture his destination in mind.
Finding himself standing in the room he had been watching, Zeref approached the bedside of the young girl. Messy, snarled pink hair seemed to scatter across the pillow her head rested on. A slight snoring could be heard from her, though the girl seemed to move and pull her pillow closer to her. Above her head, a dragon seemed to be flying around in the sky. With a sudden motion, the girl punched upward, mumbling something about getting him next time before rolling over in her sleep.
Smiling at the sight, Zeref realized that this young girl must be Natsu's daughter. No one else would have inherited such an odd desire for fighting, one that was prominent even in sleep. Reaching out, Zeref went to pull her covers further up on her shoulders. However, he stopped, his hand hovering above her shoulder. Zeref's smile faded away, his hand closing into a fist over her arm before he pulled back. Taking a step backward, he felt moisture in his eyes. Coming here was a mistake. He had missed so much in Natsu's life by hiding away, but it was still better than stealing more away from the man.
Turning around to flee, Zeref ran face first into a person in the room. Slender arms seemed to grasp his shoulders, gently pushing him back. Glancing up, Zeref stared into the gleaming yellow eyes of Pitch Black. The man wore a small smile and even now, his figure seemed to tower over Zeref. "Grim…it has been a while, has it not?"
Saying nothing, Zeref remained still. After a few moments, Pitch seemed to vanish from sight, entering the shadows of the room. His voice echoed around Zeref, speaking calmly while hidden away safely in the dark. "I have to say, I had hoped to see you sooner. Tell me, have you come to see the reality of your situation? Or are you still…trapped, thinking that there is a way out of this life?"
Glancing at the ground, Zeref frowned and tried to stay calm. Taking a deep breath, he tried to imagine the first blizzard of winter. Jack would arrive, starting off his arrival with a snowball fight. If he held out until then, everything would be fine. "Pitch Black…I see you are still experimenting with the Sandman's powers." Granted, this time Zeref had not seen him doing such a thing, but he could make the assumption based on his presence near the child.
A dark chuckle echoed around him, sending shivers up his spine. "Well, I suppose I'm guilty as charged." The shadows seemed to dance along the walls, before spiraling and appearing on the other wall of the room. "Then again, I'm not the real criminal here, am I? That fear of yours…I can still taste it, Grim. It doesn't take a genius to determine exactly who it is you blame for the state of this town."
With that, the man appeared once more, standing directly in front of Zeref. His arms were folded behind his back, and he was still smiling towards the young spirit. "Perhaps I have made mistakes…however, there are others who trust me."
Lifting an eyebrow, Pitch leaned forward and began walking around Zeref. "Really? So, people believe in you. They trust you. If that is the case, well, then kudos to you. Normally, it takes a little while longer for someone new to gain belief…to be seen by the world." Frowning, Zeref kept his focus on the single window in the room. A full moon was out tonight, shining in and giving the room a dark glow. "Then again…does any of that really matter if you don't believe in yourself? How can something exist within you if even you cannot find it?"
Zeref's hands tightened into fists, his eyes flashing towards the dark man in the room. "Enough. I tire of your games…and I tire of being reminded of that which will never change. Fear always exists in life. I cannot fight against such a foolish notion. However, I can fight against you and protect the one person who believes in me." Walking forward, Zeref narrowed his eyes at the man and prepared to attack. However, Pitch vanished and reappeared just next to the child, smiling darkly as he knelt by the bed.
Waving a finger in the air at Zeref, he began to reprimand Zeref. "I'd be careful if I were you. You never know exactly who your magic will hit in such a small room." Dropping his raised hand, Zeref glared at Pitch. The other man stroked the girl's cheek, almost caressing it gently with a smile. "Look at her precious face…it would be such a shame to destroy it with a fight here, now wouldn't it?"
Glancing away, Zeref felt his jaw tighten with a scowl. "What do you want?"
"What do I want?" Pitch rose to stand tall, lifting an eyebrow at Zeref. "You've come all this way…to ask about my desires?" He began laughing, his shoulders shaking as he spread his arms wide. "Why, I thought you'd never ask, Grim. You see, the answer is quite simple. All I want, all I've ever truly wanted, is what those precious Guardians stole away from me years ago. I want what they have…to be seen again, to be believed in."
Recalling the anger in his voice from before, Zeref realized that it went deeper than he ever realized. Even the Sandman identified Pitch as his own enemy. "I see. In that manner, I suppose you and I differ."
Tilting his head slightly, Pitch began frowning. "And that is what makes you so…interesting." He said the word with a slight sneer, as if even he couldn't believe he felt that way. "Most spirits…well, they're boring, acting just like that pesky winter spirit you were so fond of before. Always seeking attention and belief, pleading to know why they are here and why they can't be seen. You…well, that is the strange piece. You are afraid of being seen…afraid of gaining belief. In fact, you almost fear it as much as you fear yourself."
His yellow eyes seemed to burn in the darkness of the room, staring into Zeref's black gaze. This time, there was no Jack Frost to keep his thoughts grounded. It was only himself and his fears. When he didn't reply, Pitch seemed to smile even further. "Actually, that isn't even the most interesting fear of all. More importantly…you are afraid of life itself. I don't think I've ever encountered someone who was…afraid of living. For that reason…well, I find myself drawn towards your fear, Grim."
"No." Zeref tried to deny it, taking a step back.
"Deny it all you want, you cannot hide your fears from me, Grim Reaper."
Pressing a hand to his head, Zeref avoided his gaze and focused on the ground. "Don't call me that. My name is Zeref." He hunched over slightly, feeling a throbbing in his veins. It hurt this time, pounding heavily as Pitch began speaking again.
"You cannot deny what you are, Reaper!" Pitch's shout made Zeref flinch. He stepped closer, and with each step, Zeref tried to stumble back. "I…I tried to do the same, once." His voice became softer, though slowly his expression turned into a sneer. "However, what else can darkness bring, but fear itself? How else should a child react to the one that hides under their bed, or jumps out from their closet at night?" Narrowing his gaze at Zeref, Pitch let his hands drop to his side, stopping his gestures as Zeref backed into the wall. "I realized long ago there truly is nothing else for me…and I embraced it. Only by embracing the fear I caused…by seeing just how much more enjoyable life was without battling against it…only then did I begin to truly understand the depths of my ability. So, I advise you, Grim Reaper, to embrace who you truly are. Embrace your name, and everything it embodies. If you cannot, well…I suppose I will have to show you the truth. No one, not a single spirit, Guardian, or mortal, will understand you as well as I can."
"I said my name is Zeref!" His shout was louder, his hands digging into his hair as he gasped. A throb rushed through his legs, making his muscles cramp. His knees bent, and his weight seemed to collapse on the ground. Watching over him was Pitch, scowling at the sight of him on the ground.
"How pitiful." His voice sounded less sympathetic now, almost disgusted with Zeref's state. "And here I had thought that a boy with such fear would have potential. Perhaps I was wrong. I think I'll—" Before he could finish, Zeref's headache seemed to explode outward. The restless energy within him released itself on the world outside. Darkness of a new kind filled the room, sending Pitch flying back with an unseen force. The spirit gasped in surprise, his yellow eyes the only thing illuminating the room in the swirling black vortex of magic.
The spell expanded even further as Zeref clutched his sides tightly, keeping his arms wrapped around his waist. He couldn't even see the edges of the spell. Pitch remained trapped against the wall, breathing heavily within. With tears in his eyes, Zeref tried to peer through the darkness to spot the child that had been in the room. Not even the golden dream above her head could be seen, however. Shakily, Zeref tried to breath and calm himself. However, there was no calming himself after this. He could not see the end of this spell, and the energy within his body seemed almost endless. Likely, everyone on this street was already dead. Glancing out the window, he wondered if all of Burgess was suffering because of him right now.
Feeling moisture on his cheeks, Zeref tried to determine something new to solve this issue. Clearly, meditation was not the key like he had believed. Remaining calm only delayed his outbursts, it did not stop them. However, Pitch had proposed a different solution…one he had feared taking ever since he discovered this dark gift. If he wished to have control, he would need to embrace the darkness that lurked within him. He would need to tap into the anger he pushed deep within his heart, the anger and resentment he felt towards this world for stealing away any chance he had at living a normal, peaceful life. He would need to embrace the fact that all living things would perish, and forget that life itself held any value. If he could do that, then maybe, he would gain control over this curse.
Staring down at his hands, Zeref inhaled deeply, trying to shake his head and fight against that path. If he did that, he would never be the same person again. He would kill, willingly this time. Jack would not understand, and he would lose his only friend. Glancing around the room, however, Zeref realized that perhaps he would lose his friend anyway if he didn't learn control. This magic, it was dangerous. He didn't know if it could kill someone like Jack Frost, but it wasn't a theory he wished to test.
With the tears slowing, Zeref took a deep breath, this time thinking back to a different spirit. The Sandman stood before him, explaining that in the depths of his heart, he was nothing but dreams. In his own odd way, he had asked Zeref a question that had haunted him ever since then. Who are you? Closing his eyes, Zeref felt the energy slowly come into his grasp. It was alive, and this time, it answered his call as he tried to take back his spell. I am Grim Reaper. I am Death itself…and just as this world rejects me, I shall reject the world.
Rising to his feet, Zeref lifted his gaze to see Pitch breathing heavily, crouching on the ground. Thinking back to the man's former words, Zeref scowled in irritation. "How pitiful." The repeated phrase made Pitch freeze, his eyes widening as he gazed up at Zeref. "Perhaps if you trained under me, you would understand how to succeed in your goals. As a thank you for showing me how to control this power…I suppose I could lend you my aid against these Guardians of yours." Reaching out, Zeref offered the man a hand. Slowly, Pitch took it and rose to his feet, his yellow eyes narrowing at him.
"I don't understand…you were so afraid before…yet in an instant, it is all just…gone." There was an odd tone in his voice, and Pitch seemed to be keeping his distance. Glancing over at the still body of the dead child, Zeref couldn't blame him. Even outside the window, the deadened yard and fallen bodies were enough to make anyone, even Pitch Black, afraid. "Why?"
Turning towards Pitch, Zeref felt a cold wall building in his heart. Nothing could touch him, not in this world ever again. Perhaps at one point in time, he had longed to be accepted and to protect life. Now, he saw that such things truly were impossible for him. "I've seen the truth. In the end, there truly is only one path for me to take. If I can do nothing but kill this world, then there is only one role am destined to play. I shall become the greatest villain this world has ever seen…and with you by my side, this world will know that everyone's greatest fear is death itself."
And now we've established the alliance between Zeref and Pitch! This chapter here was why I realized I really needed that content warning earlier. Still, it was a rather important moment in pushing Zeref to this point. For a little while now, the focus of this story will shift to Jack instead of Zeref for purposes of plot, now that Zeref has established himself as a villain of sorts. Feel free to review and tell me what you think!