Note: This chapter jumps around a bit, focused on moments of Zeref and Mavis on Tenrou Island.


YEAR X784

She was resting in the woods, the wind causing her hair to dance with the breeze, just like she often found herself doing. Relaxing in the forest was what she spent most of her time doing, as it was a refuge to the cursed girl. A sigh passed through her lips as she stared up at the wide, blue sky, her long blond hair acting like a pillow.

"Such a pitiful sky, this is…" She murmured as she stood to her feet, and slowly began to walk to who knows where. Usually, she had to worry about running into a town or people, but on this island, Tenrou, to be exact, she wouldn't run into anybody. To someone such as Mavis, this was all she could ask for.

The sun was beginning to fall, closing the curtain of the day's performance, but night or day, it didn't make a difference to the blond girl. Her mouth felt dry, and Mavis made her way towards a small stream, as the night sky made itself present. She reached the small path of water, and kneeling down on her knees, she cupped her hands and dipped them into the cool liquid, before bringing them to her lips. It soothed her thirst refreshingly, and she once more sighed as she leaned back, unfolding her legs. Sighing seemed to be a constant activity, as well.

It didn't really matter whether or not she drank water, or she ate, or starved, or did anything, for that matter, because her life would never end. But when it came down to it, if Mavis was forced to live forever, she didn't want to be thirsty all the while. Or, at least, when she was alone and by herself. She was always in this state, unless accompanied by dead bodies, or people shivering in fear. Of course, there was that time, with him… but that was beside the point.

Snarls and growls pulled the girl out of her thoughts, and her eyes widened as she scrambled to her feet, and met the red eyes of a large amount of hungry, giant wolves. They encircled her, and she began to tremble in fear, although, not at the thought of being eaten alive by a pack of animals.

"Please, get away. Don't come near." She whispered, raising a hand, and turning in circles to meet every single wolf's gaze. She licked her lips, raising the volume of her voice. "I'm not your enemy!"

Alas, the beasts did not answer, and one lying on the other side of the stream leapt forward, foaming at the mouth. It was at least triple her size and its mouth was wide, nearly an inch from biting off the girl's head. However, a force seemed to cause the wolf to halt mid-air, before slamming to the ground, like it was hit with a fly-swatter.

"You can't get close to me…" Mavis murmured as all of the others began to collapse, as well, and soon enough, the grass and trees started to wilt. Birds dropped from the sky, plopping to the ground next to the girl, who clutched her pink dress of a robe tighter. 'I'm so, so sorry. I truly don't want to take lives away anymore, but the world has rejected me."

She gave a forlorn stare to the river, seeing her own pitiful reflection in the crystal-like water. Lips pursed into a thin line, she held back a sigh as behind her, more creatures fell to the ground, the wave of death pushing its borders farther and farther.

"I hope more than anything that I can see you soon… Natsu."


As she watched the scene before her, despair began to fill Mavis' heart and mind. A large man who looked similar to a gorilla, with a scar running across his eye and white hair, and a skimpily dressed woman with glasses both were bickering with each other, what they were saying, unknown to the blond, as she wasn't truly listening. They were not animals, (Despite the huge guy's appearance) but instead, human beings. People.

"There's someone… On this island?" She murmured to no one in particular, and effectively gained the attention of the two, who fell silent. "I thought that there was no one here, anymore…"

"A little girl?" The deep voice of the man grumbled, his thick eyebrows furrowing in confusion.

"How did she get here?" The woman next to him followed up, folding her arms under her chest. "Only members of the guild are supposed to be on the island."

"Guild?" Her eyes widened just a tad, before returning to normal. "So this island is administered by the guild, then.

"Hey, little girl, come here." The man stepped forward, towards Mavis, and she gasped and raised a hand, gesturing for him to stop.

"No, don't come near me!" She yelled, giving the two a concerned glance, before shifting it to the ground.

"What do you mean? We're just trying to help."

"No! I'll leave, and go away. Just don't come near me… okay? "She gulped, backing up a couple steps.

"What's up with this girl?"

"We shouldn't just let her go out, on her own...:"

"N-No… It's coming!" Her blond hair swished against the back of her legs as she shook her head, hands flying up to her temples. "The death preying… It's coming…."

The man and woman's eyes widened as suddenly, a black aura erupted from the girl, swirling around her, and growing steadily. The air turned to ice, completely frigid, and the grass and flowers under Mavis began to shrivel up and turn a deep grey. The blast of dark energy neared the two people, who like the atmosphere, were frozen, and utterly bewildered. Suddenly, though, a shout ripped through the silence, and Mavis' eyes widened to the size of saucers.

"Get down!"

Shoving the man and woman to the ground, a pink-haired teenager appeared from nowhere, surprising all in the clearing. The aura seemed to brush right past them, and suddenly, everything seemed to return back to normal. Time sped up once more, and to Mavis, it was like a dream, seeing someone in front of her that she had only dreamed of gazing upon. Dust rose off the ground and swarmed the air, but it wasn't getting the dirt in her eyes to cause the emerald orbs to water.

"Natsu…" She whispered in shock, tears dripping down her cheeks.

"Who the hell are you, little girl?" Natsu roared, still atop the man and the woman.

The two gave a few words to the pink-haired teen, and a blue cat flew through the air, calling out to him, but Mavis could care less.

"All of the trees are withered…" The woman murmured, and all of the assumed guild members gulped.

"Did her magic do this?" Natsu muttered, and Mavis looked at the ground in shame. He clenched his fists, anger swelling in his chest. "I don't know who you are, and I don't care that you're a little girl, either! For all I care, you could be an old geezer! This is our guild's island! Don't get in the way of our exam!"

"You've really grown, haven't you…" She whispered, but because of his intense hearing, the pink-haired teen heard loud and clear. "I've been waiting to see you for a while now, Natsu."

Natsu rushed forward, glaring at the girl the entire time, and once he reached her, he tackled the blond to the ground.

"Just who the hell are you!?" Natsu roared, and he slammed the girl square in the chest, the breath leaving her lungs. If they were in any other scenario, the boy would be smacked by every onlooker, for hitting such a small girl.

"He tackled her!"

"All of a sudden!"

Mavis was shot quite a ways back from the hit, and a bitter, mirthless smile slipped onto her lips, as she floated to the ground, lightless as she was.

He tackled me… Hit me right in the chest… Natsu still can't do it…

"I don't know you! Who the hell are you? What's your name!?"

I don't want to take lives anymore. But I created Natsu to be the best… Better than Zeira, even! He's the only one who can stop me, but… Are you still not capable?

Tears began to streak down her pale cheeks, and she slowly stood to her feet, before cradling her head in her arms, trying to form words, but only forming incoherent phrases. Seeing the one person who could grant her only wish, and realizing he didn't have the ability to do so, hurt more than anything.

"She's crying?"

"Natsu, why the hell did you go and hit her? You must have hurt her!"

"Please, run!" She screamed, and the man and woman, the cat, and Natsu's' eyes widened, as she hunched over, crying harder.

"That black wave thing?"

"Magic that takes away life!"

"Everyone get away from here!"

The man and woman stumbled away from Mavis, adrenaline pumping through their veins, and the blue cat flew higher into the air. However, time was not on Natsu's side, as the flying creature yelled out to the boy, who got caught in the black aura. The wave lasted a shorter amount of time than previously, and was smaller in size, as well. It disappeared soon, along with the young girl. She had gotten away, and slumped against a tree, completely defeated.

The world is still rejecting me… Will even you be able to kill me, Natsu? I wonder if I'm just getting my hopes up for nothing...


Three others of interest were aboard the airship with her. Two she was not aware of; she knew them, though. The type of people they were, and the things they believed in. There was the other one, though, that stuck her with a blast of familiarity. As her bare feet padded against the ship's smooth tile floor, she seemed to gain attention of the very people of which had "awakened" her.

"Who's there?" A voice echoed through the airship, but Mavis was unfazed.

"Wait… This is…" Another man murmured, and the girl could imagine the shocked expression adorning his face. Mavis stepped out of the shadows, and was met with three men, two members and a master of a dark guild, undoubtedly in search of her. (She believed the name had to do with a book of magic or spells, a grimoire).

"It's the people like you who have carved me into existence." Mavis murmured, her eyes dull and dark. There was a huge man, if that was even right to call him that, and another male who had silver-like hair that was pulled upwards towards the sky. And lastly, the old, bearded, man covered in bandages, who sat in front of her on a throne. "It's wicked thoughts such as yours that summoned Acnologia. Heralding the end of this age. No one can stop it now. The world will be finished here."

"Mavis…" The old man gasped, his eyes growing as large as humanly possible. The two others kneeled down, bowing their heads to the small girl. "Mavis… That Mavis… In front of my eyes… Is this reality, or just a dream?" A wild grin adorned his face, and he brought his eyes to his two minions. "The keys! Bring me the keys!"

"But… We can't move…" The large man sputtered out, a lock of messy black hair falling down to stick to his forehead.

"That's not necessary. I am awake now. I'm not exactly one to talk on the matter, but how many lives are equal to that key?" She stated, and her emerald orbs began to change, shining with fury, and glaring at the bearded man. He gulped, recoiling back in equal amounts fear and shock. "How miserable… Even though it's just a falsity; a pretense, if you will. Those who obsess over myself and my works always believe in the wrong things, including the 'Key of Mavis' Revival'. I believe that's what it's called. Are you telling me that you actually believe in such a child's story? The Black Mage Mavis who stands before you never slept to begin with."

"That's impossible! I-I-"

"Our talk will be quick... From that time… I saw numerous people dying in the fight 400 years ago. But, during that time, I came to learn the value of life. When I was cursed, I began to care about living, and took more lives helplessly. Because I no longer wish to take lives, I can't help but try to forget the most important things about life. I feel quite sad, in all honesty."

"Are you saying that you now fight for the importance of life?" The older fellow sputtered, (Although, he was nowhere near as old as the "young girl") gripping his throne with his bandaged hands tighter.

"That's right… That's why, as expected, I couldn't use magic… But it's a different matter if it's for the importance of life. The ones who pulled the trigger were you all, and Acnologia calls for another, new era… From your wicked thoughts, you have named it."

"Acnologia? What are you talking about?"

"I shall punish you."

"Wait! But I still have so many questions! I-" He attempted to speak, but was cut off by Mavis.

"One sin is called Acnologia, and the other is… The sin of making me forget the importance of life." Mavis murmured, closing her fists except for her middle and pointer finger on each hand, and touching wrist to wrist. Magic swirled around her, and the three men could only watch on in horror. "Repentance."

In a flash of light and burst of magic, a beam cut through the ship from the heavens themselves, and the bearded man was utterly defeated. The two followers cried out for their master, and Mavis only ignored them.

"Master Hades!"

"An insect who doesn't know any better… Fall into hell." Her eyes turned into pure insanity, as she glared down at the unconscious male as he plummeted into the sea below them, before whipping her head around as she sensed something from above. "It's here… Acnologia!"

As she watched Tenrou Island disappeared into utter nothingness, tears began to leak from Mavis' emerald orbs as she realized what had become of the pink-haired boy. Thoughts swirled through her mind, and she bit her lip, tilting her head up to face the sky.

It's over now, isn't it, Natsu? I shall go on a long walk, just like always, now. I thought you could really do it…

The tears ceased, and she gave the sun a bitter glare.

I was sorely mistaken, it seems.


YEAR X791

Zeref found himself, surprisingly, in a very cheery mood. As an ethereal body whose actual body was stuck in a lacrima, you'd think he'd be slightly depressed or in distress. And yet, as he stood on the surface of the water in front of a large ship of people, he couldn't hide the small smile on his face.

The people, his people, if that was appropriate, all gawked at him, at which, he didn't blame. After all, he was a human being, (Or at least, appeared to be) and was standing on top of the ocean, at the sight of where they had lost their comrades. Some shouted, and others questioned the sight among themselves, but their jaws all dropped to the floor when Zeref raised his hands, and Tenrou Island suddenly appeared, in its shining glory. They all shouted in fear, shock, and surprise, and as the black-haired boy began to glide on the crystal surface and towards the island, they followed on his heels.

After getting a good distance ahead, he stopped, and waited for them to reach him. When they arrived, Zeref watched them as they reached one of their comrades, a teenage boy, it seemed. Their eyes watered a bit, and they rushed forward, shaking him awake. His name was yelled over and over again, and Zeref's eyes softened as he recognized it as the same name of his brother. Not many people were named Natsu, and just to hear the word, not of his own voice, was somewhat comforting. They asked where their other comrades were, and the black-haired boy decided to make an appearance.

"Right here." He stated, and all heads swiveled around to look at him. "My name is Zeref. Fairy Tail's First Master."

If he had the ability to take a picture, he would surely do so, for the people's reactions were priceless. As their eyes practically popped out of their heads, Zeref turned on his heel, guiding them to their other comrades. Soon, they were all gathered together after tearful reunions, and he stood above them, explaining what had happened.

"Back then, when Acnologia attacked, I took the strength of everyone's bonds and faith, and converted it all into magical power. All of your thoughts allowed one of the three, great Fairy Magics, "Fairy Sphere" to be activated… It is a magic that will protect the guild from any evil. An absolute defensive magic. However, everyone was stuck in a frozen state. It has been released, but seven years have passed while you were stuck."

"So the First protected us, huh?" An older fellow who Zeref believed to be Makarov said, which was unbelievable, because it felt like just yesterday that he was at the man's birth.

"No, I'm just an ethereal body. Because I converted everyone's strength into magic, I had to give it my all. Unwavering faith and resilient bonds will bring even miracles to your side."

He sat down, and gave a wide smile to the old man.

"This guild has become wonderful… Third."


Our poor Zeref has yet to realize that this random guild member with the same name as his brother happens to be his actual little brother… Quite a shame, really.

I thought that this would be shorter, but it ended up being the length of a normal chapter, which I wasn't really expecting. Also, I find myself writing about forests a lot in this story. It's understandable, but at the start of this chapter, it just really hit me.

Anyways, thank you to all who read, favorite, follow, and review! It's basically what creates this story…

Until next time!

~K