A/N: So, for this chapter, I'm trying out a new style of how I write it. To me, if feels easier to read and neater, but let me know how you feel about it! Thanks!

Update: I just realized that I forgot about Hell's core (whoops), but everything's fixed now.

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or it's characters!

Chapter 26

Goodbye

"Let's dump these two off the ship." Silver said, looking at the demon with disgust and something that seemed akin to pity.

"...Right." Erza said, moving to grab, the frozen, Jackal.

Silver froze Mard Geer's hands together, his feet as well, making the demon let out an undignified yelp.

Wendy looked away as they threw them off the ship. Even though they were demons and probably still did horrible things, it still seemed cruel.

"Let's go." Silver said.

The rest of the group nodded warily, looking at one another. However, Gray focused solely on the man he thought to be dead.

"How are you still alive?!" Gray demanded angrily, clutching the book of E.N.D. tightly. "What are you doing?! Being with those demons?!"

Zeref swore as though he felt a tightness around him, but couldn't figure out why. It was as strange as the sudden, painful chill he had felt earlier.

Silver looked at Gray, indecipherable emotions flashing in his eyes, as tears started to form.

"I'm sorry Gray…" Silver said, shakily. "I…"

"Y-You're my dad...you have to be!" Gray shouted. "But how?!"

Suddenly much of the group felt as though they were intruding on something not meant for them to hear.

"I don't have the right to be called that anymore." Silver said, his voice thick with regret. "I've done too much to hurt this world...parading around with demons, hell, I'm not even human anymore."

"What…?" Gray asked, his voice barely a whisper.

"I've been dead for 10 years. I'm just a corpse."

Gray's eyes widened in pure shock.

Silver began to wipe the tears out of his eyes. "Up there on the cube, there is a necromancer, who has a curse that allows him to control the dead. I'm just one of experiments…"

"Experiments...?!" Gray echoed, horror and disbelief plastered on his face.

Silver continued, "One to see how closely he could make the existence of a corpse resemble its

former self. I was only one among hundreds, but I have lived- no, existed this long...and it was all for revenge, revenge against the demons who stole my family away from me."

Silver slumped to ground. "I've learned a magic to kill demons and have been killing them in secret. I was going to kill Natsu too, after all he created those damn monsters, but...just now, now that I know you're alive...I realize that my hands are too stained to fight for either you, or Mika.

"That's why I gave the book to you, Gray. That's the book of E.N.D., the strongest, most vile demon of them all. It's up to you now."

Gray looked down at the book in his hands and then back at his father, not knowing how to respond.

Silver spoke up again. "...If you don't want to do anything, that's fine too. You're probably better off forgetting about me...I won't be around much longer anyways."

"What?!" Gray asked, worry filling his voice.

"Keyes, the necromancer, will surely realize what I've done and dispose of me sooner or later. So, before then I want to pass on my magic; one that is made to destroy demons, Ice Devil Slayer Magic."

"You're going to die…?"

"...I really have been a horrible father, leaving you all on your own."

"You didn't-!"

"Gray stop." Silver said. "I've wanted to leave this world for a while now...Though, I'm glad my last act was keeping you safe."

"It doesn't have to be your last!" Gray insisted.

"I just want to rest...with Mika…"

"Dad, please! I don't want to see you die again!" Gray begged, trembling.

Silver stood up, shuffling over to Gray; he enveloped him in a hug.

"It probably won't be much longer...so, for a little...for a little while longer, let me hold you…"

Gray started sobbing.

"You've always been our pride and joy." Silver said, a heavy-hearted smile on his face.

As Gray cried in his father's arms, the rest of the group was transfixed on the scene, watching in sorrow.

Lucy whispered into Natsu's ear. "We should leave them alone."

Natsu turned to her, being snapped out of his trance. "Y-Yeah…"

He tapped Zeref on the shoulder, signaling him to come, while Lucy got the other's attention. They all, then, went inside.

Zeref slid down against the wall, in the hallway. Everyone else was silent as Natsu thought.

I hope Gray doesn't do anything to the book. Even though it might be inappropriate right now, Zeref's life is more important.

Natsu sat down beside Zeref. "Hey…"

Zeref looked over, at Natsu. "...What?"

"The book...um could you make sure he doesn't do anything to it?"

While Natsu didn't remember that he, himself, used to have enhanced hearing, as well, he did know that Zeref had it.

Zeref recognized the letters on the book, earlier. It read E.N.D., which, he recalled that being what Natsu had called him, when he was talking to Invel. However, he had, somehow, failed to connect Natsu screaming "Please don't kill him!" to that.

"I already listened to their conversation enough." Zeref said, wanting to respect his best friend. He'd also had enough of eavesdropping.

"But-!" Natsu tried to protest.

"I get that it's important Natsu, but I have a feeling Gray won't do anything to it right away. Especially not after how much opposition you showed towards it."

Natsu looked at the floor, restlessly. But, I don't think you understand how important it is.

"Why is it important?" Lucy asked.

"Uh…" Natsu didn't know what to say, after all, this wasn't his secret to tell.

Zeref didn't speak either and Lucy looked nervously at the ground.

"S-Sorry." She mumbled. Natsu sighed and moment of silence swept over the group.

Suddenly, Erza broke the silence. "I'm going to go ask Invel if everything is working fine with the ship."

"Um…I'll come with you." Wendy said, trying to escape the heavy atmosphere.

"Same." Carla agreed.

"Happy let's go to my room." Lucy suggested.

"Wha- Why?" Happy whined, half-heartedly.

"Because." Lucy said, picking up Happy.

In reality it was because she felt that Natsu was itching to talk to Zeref, but that it was private. So, she and Happy headed off to the girls room. Silence swept over Natsu and Zeref, before Natsu finally spoke up.

"Zeref, the book-"

Zeref cut him short, ticked off. "What did I say?!"

Natsu tried to explain, "I-I know! But that book is very important! You know you are E.N.D. right?!"

"Yeah I know." Zeref huffed.

"Well that book is linked to you. It's like body link magic."

"What?" Zeref asked, confused and, now, slightly concerned.

"If I recall correctly, you should be able to feel whatever happens to the book; you'll also die if it's destroyed…That's why I was so adamant about the book!"

Zeref's eyes widened as he made the connection to earlier and he shivered.

"So...I could have died…?"

"So, can you please make sure the book is okay?"

Zeref looked as if he was debating with himself before, he said "No. I'm still not going to do it."

Natsu looked at him in dismay, but caved. "Fine...But, can you at least promise me if you feel anything wrong you'll go get the book?"

"I promise." Zeref said, sighing. "It's not like I want to die, anyway."

Natsu accidentally flinched, but waved it off, after Zeref gave him a concerned look. Natsu, instinctively pulled on the scarf again and looked down at in surprise.

"Oh yeah." Natsu mumbled, as he unwrapped the scarf from his neck; he handed it to Zeref.

"My turn?" Zeref asked, a little surprised by Natsu's willingness to hand it over.

"What? No- Oh...right. Yeah...I can recall us doing that."

Zeref gave him an apprehensive look. Natsu assumed Zeref wasn't sure if he wanted to know what came next. However, Zeref still asked.

"...Is everything okay?"

Natsu let out a deep sigh. "No."

"Do you want to tell me?"

Natsu contemplated his offer. "Maybe. I'm kind of sick of Lucy seeing all my meltdowns…"

"It's that bad?" Zeref asked, worriedly.

Suddenly, what Lucy had said to him yesterday came flooding back and Zeref said, "Oh my god! Igneel!"

"Did Lucy tell you?" Natsu asked, blinking in confusion.

"Yeah, she did. It was when you ran off, to your room, last night." Zeref explained, sheepishly. "So...anyway, did you actually forget him?"

"Yeah...well I have some memories of him, when you were really little." Natsu said, a little fondness in his voice.

"It's weird how calm you are about this." Zeref commented.

Natsu sighed. "Lucy said the same thing and I don't really know why I am. Truth be told, I guess it's not forgetting Igneel, in specific, that bothers me, it's losing my memories, in general. So I guess I'm not actually calm…I'm just not super upset about this? Jeez, I don't know. This is confusing."

Natsu let out a dry laugh, but Zeref just looked at him warily.

"No, but...honestly," Natsu said, wrapping his arms around his knees. "I'm fucking terrified."

Zeref listened in silence as Natsu continued on.

"I can tell I'm different from how I used to be, that the old me is slowly, but surely, being replaced. There are these big holes in my life when I think back. My time in the guild is absolutely riddled with them, presumably the friends I've forgotten.

"But...I still remember some things. Even if they have holes, I can still recall so many of the fun times. Though, I think that's one of the things that scares me the most: The fact that I eventually won't remember those times,

"also, that this huge chunk of myself, that I've lost, is slowly being filled in with other memories. At first, I remember that I fought it; I insisted something that I can't remember, now, but I'm sure it was something that grounded me…After all, I don't feel like I have that, anymore. I-"

Zeref cut him off. "Natsu. You have plenty of things you can use to ground you. You have so many friends back at the guild, and here. I'm sure of that; after all, I can remember them and if I really did take your place, I know that they care very deeply about you. Use the time you've spent together and keep a tight grip on each and everyone of them."

Natsu was silent for a minute, before he spoke. "I don't want to take them away from you…"

Anger flashed in Zeref's eyes. "This isn't about me! You need to stop making me a part of you! Stop holding onto me! Let me go! You accepting me is breaking you!"

Natsu curled in on himself, remembering his talk with Mavis, knowing they were both right.

Zeref looked at him sullenly. "...and I don't think you can do that by yourself...So, I'm going to try. We'll no longer be friends like we have been. This will be our last talk together. You need to rely on 'your' old friends. Whether they're actually mine or yours, I'm sure they'll support you."

Natsu's breath hitched, but he didn't speak. He didn't want this to be the last time they were close. Unbeknownst to Natsu, Zeref was the one filling the hole, left behind by forgetting Gray, and he couldn't take having it punched through again.

Zeref stood up, looking down at Natsu who was curled into a ball. "We can be friends again, once everything is sorted out, if you want...but, for now, there are no more connections between us. We're just traveling in the same group."

Zeref proceeded to walk down the hallway to his room, leaving Natsu curled in a ball, on the floor.

Natsu didn't want to let him go. He was fighting against everything he shouldn't be. He knew he needed to let Zeref go. He knew that he needed to rely on his other friends, but even though he didn't want to forget them, Zeref was one of his friends too.

"Do think you could have come to love him without those memories?"

Natsu recalled Mavis's words and he quietly wailed, "Yes!"

But he knew he was wrong. Natsu had been bitter and frustrated with Zeref until emotions were forced on him. After all, Natsu wasn't one to stay angry at people he cared about.

"I would have eventually!" Natsu protested, quietly, "These are my feelings, too!"

Though, it hurt that he couldn't be sure.

.

.

.

Earlier…

Kyouka ran into the throne room, in which Mard Geer usually sat.

"Mard Geer?!" She shouted.

However, Mard Geer was not there, only Keyes.

"Keyes!" Kyouka bellowed. "Did you sense Mard Geer's presence vanish?!"

"Y-Yes," Keyes replied, frowning. He seemed disconcerted. "Silver has finally betrayed us."

"Your stupid puppet killed Mard Geer?!" Kyouka snarled.

"Unfortunately-" Keyes was unable to finish speaking, because Kyouka immediately struck him down.

Her piercing glare viciously tearing into Keyes, as he began to disintegrate. "Mard Geer had the book of E.N.D. you fool!"

Although Keyes would be sure to regenerate, along with Mard Geer, at least all of his puppets would be gone. She then immediately headed out to tell the others, certain they would not succeed in killing Natsu without E.N.D.'s help.

.

.

.

"Dad…" Gray sobbed, as he stood next were his father had been.

"I leave the rest to you. I sought out Ice Devil Slayer Magic, because E.N.D. is a fire demon. I don't know if you'll use it for that purpose, but please, at least use it to protect yourself from Tartaros."

"I will…I promise!" Gray swore, as he held the book tightly, to his chest. A tattoo appearing on his right arm.

He looked up at the cube, not too far away; it had begun following them, again. If he was going to protect the ship he couldn't deal with the book right now.

He recalled how Natsu had begged for that book not to be destroyed and he sighed.

As much as it would, probably, be a good idea to break it now there has to be a reason for that. I'll talk it out later...

Gray ran inside the ship and saw Natsu curled against the wall. He paused for a second, but continued on, to the boys room. He felt kinda bad for not doing anything, but there wasn't time right now.

He entered into the room and saw Zeref laying down in one of the hammocks.

"Zeref." Gray said, not all that surprised.

Zeref jolted in surprise and he fell out of the hammock.

"What the hell Gray?!"

Gray looked down at the dragon slayer, his eyes were red and his face was wet. Gray's eyes widened and Zeref noticed, he quickly looked away in shame.

Courteously, Gray decided to spare him the embarrassment, for now. There wasn't enough time anyway.

"The book of E.N.D.." Gray said. "I can't think of anyone else I'd trust this with right now."

Zeref glanced up at him, now realizing he could feel that his book was clutched to Gray's chest. Then, Gray extended the hand holding the tome.

"Take it, for now." Gray said. "Tartaros is heading for us again, but I've gained the magic to protect us from demons."

Zeref noted the tattoos on Gray's extended hand as he, shakily, reached out his own hands to take his book.

"Thanks." Gray continued. "We'll figure out what to do with it later. For now, I have some demons to slay."

Gray hurried out of the room.

Idiot. Zeref thought. Like I'll let you fight by yourself.

Zeref stood up, holding his book tightly. He looked around the room and spotted a drawer.

Not the safest place, but it'll have to do for now.

Zeref hastily headed out to Gray, passing Natsu in the hallway.

"Hey!" Zeref greeted Gray, making sure to wipe any leftover tears off his face.

"What are you doing?!" Gray squaked, in surprise and annoyance.

"I'm not letting you take all the glory for yourself!" Zeref remarked, a smirk on his face.

"What about the book?!" Gray asked, peeved.

"It's in a safe place." Zeref said, waving him off. "Well safe enough."

Gray grumbled, but let it go. The cube was steadily catching up to them.

.

.

.

Inside the ship, Natsu was still a mess. However, he had managed to stand up. His friends were going to be fighting and while he couldn't remember the magic he, once, had used, Natsu didn't back down from fights. He shakily headed over to Gray and Zeref.

"I'll do what I can to help, too." Natsu said, surprising the two mages.

Zeref eyed him warily, but then turned back, to face the cube. "Alright."

"They'll probably come straight for you, with full force." Gray commented. "So, now that I think about it, let's get off the ship."

"What?" Zeref asked, confused.

"Watch." Gray went to the side of the ship and proceeded to use his Devil Slayer Magic to freeze a large portion of water, making sure not to ensnare the vessel that they were riding on.

"Let's go."

"Right!" Zeref said.

Natsu nodded and they group jumped off the ship onto the ice.

"Damn! This is slippery!" Zeref remarked, almost falling over.

"I didn't notice." Gray said, teasingly. Though, in truth, he was worried this would end up being trouble for them, but what could he do?

"You know, won't my fire melt your ice?" Zeref asked.

Gray scoffed. "I think my ice can handle your fire."

"I hope so." Natsu commented dryly.

As the ship began to move on without them, demon started falling from the cube, in the sky.

"They're here!" Gray shouted.

Six demons had descended, landing on the ice; Kyouka, who the group recognized from before, had spotted him. When the other demons did as well, they seemed to tense up.

"Halt!" Kyouka commanded, waving her arm to the side.

The demons didn't relax, but they didn't move either.

Kyouka looked at three, also tense, mages. "Where is the book of E.N.D.?"

"Why the hell would we tell you?!" Gray spat.

"Because," Kyouka said, smiling. "We'll hold off our assault until later, if you give it to us."

"Yeah, right!" Zeref dismissed.

Kyouka scowled. "...Very well."

A/N: Hope you enjoyed the chapter! :) Let me know what you think and if you have any questions, remember that I'm always willing to answer!