Chapter 28

Cheers erupted throughout Crocus they had won. They survived the crisis and the 7 dragons have been defeated. The kingdom had decided to hold a celebration for the guilds who helped stop this crisis. Everyone was enjoying themselves in the ball, each guild happily converses with one another.

Even Fairy Tail was trying their best to enjoy themselves despite all the drama that happened. The members just socialized with others trying to keep their minds but what whenever Natsu, Gajeel, or Wendy come up in conversation. They quickly change the topic of conversation.

During the party due to Jellal, Ultear, and Meredy's help, the king had decided to absolve them of their crimes and let them continue their mission as free mages. With this Erza tried her best to have things settled peacefully between Jellal, Millianna and Kagura, though they are not ready to forgive him, they'll give him a chance to change much to Erza's delight.

Erza smiled as she watched everyone enjoy themselves, it was then Gray walked up to her with a smile.

"Yo Erza" Gray smiled.

Erza smiled "Hey Gray, where's Juvia"

Gray smirked "Oh she's over there talking with Lyon"

"Oh I see" Erza smiled softly.

Gray took notice of how down she is, "I missed them to"

Erza smiled seeing Gray knew what she was thinking "I know they're alive, but it doesn't feel right."

Gray nodded "Yeah I know, but despite how they are now that doesn't change they're a part of our family"

"Gray is right" Lucy walked in. "No matter what I will always consider those three are my friends"

Erza looked at her teammates "Gray, Lucy" she then smiled and nodded "Right, Natsu, Gajeel, Wendy. We're going to bring you guys home no matter what"

...

Elsewhere

Natsu and the other members of the Akatsuki were walking through the forest. Natsu turned his head towards the sky, feeling that someone said his name.

"Are you alright Natsu?" Nagato asked as he turned to him.

Natsu just nodded "I'm fine to let's just go"

"So what do you plan on doing now," Itachi asked him. "Are you still planning on destroying Fairy Tail"

Gajeel and Wendy gave no answer not knowing what to say.

"I don't care about that anymore," Natsu said, this surprised both Gajeel and Wendy. "Gajeel, Wendy I can tell you two are hesitant on destroying them"

"Salamander," Gajeel said.

"Natsu-Niisan," Wendy said.

"Gajeel," Natsu said, Gajeel looked up at his fellow dragon slayer "Its Levy isn't, you love her don't you". Gajeel blushed and looked away. "If you want to go back to her if you desire"

Gajeel was surprised at this, Natsu was offering him a chance to go back to Levy. "No, I can't not the way I am now"

Natsu was silent not answering back but nodded in understanding "If you want to leave, you can, I won't stop you, the path I am going down is not one to be followed"

"Natsu-niisan I'll support you no matter what," Wendy told him and Gajeel nodded agreement.

Nagato smiled at the two and looked at Natsu "It seems that they will continue to follow you"

"Hmm" Natsu responded.

"So what do you plan on doing now," Itachi asked "Do you still intend to destroy Fairy Tail"

Natsu, Gajeel, and Wendy were silent at first until Natsu spoke up "I no longer care what happens to them my only goal is Erza to have her suffer defeat at my hands"

"Is that your goal now?" Obito asked.

Natsu nodded "Ever since I met Erza, I always felt it was my destiny to fight her and that's what I will do no matter the cost"

"So you no longer want to destroy Fairy Tail?" Nagato asked.

Natsu just shrugged "What happens to them is no longer my concern, if I did wipe them out they will always come back. So all I want now is the power to prove I am the strongest"

Itachi just looked at Natsu and sees a glimpse of his younger brother, he just smirked "If you want that, you need to fully understand the power of your eyes to help match the power of a Bijuu"

"Sharingan's true power?" Natsu said.

Obito nodded "The Mangekyou is powerful, but is a double-edged sword. The more you use it the more you hurt yourself"

"In the end, it will lead to death," Itachi finished.

"So what can I do to avoid such a fate?" Natsu asked.

Unlocking those new eyes won't make you stronger, it will only help you avoid death by your own hands. Itachi told him "It's called the Eternal Mangekyou".

...

Elsewhere

In the forest, there was a young man with black hair in black clothing sitting alone in the forest. The young man just smiled "I may not be able to see you, but I can sense you looking down on me with those eyes of disdain Mavis"

As he said Mavis Fairy Tail' First Master was right behind him floating above him "So you were watching this whole time Zeref"

"It's been 7 years since we both been this close" Mavis said, with Zeref repeating her.

"Why are you here? Did you find your place to die" Mavis asked?

"The place of my death has already been decided," Zeref answered. "I've been around for a few centuries Mavis, witnessing the rise and fall of many kingdoms, I've seen the evil of humanity, I'd always hope this evil will pass but I realized no matter what changes the depravity of man is a constant"

"There will always be those who fight for something better," Mavis told him.

Zeref signed "Those idealists are the worst of them, always lying to themselves and others with every breath"

"So you will no longer wait," Mavis said.

Zeref smiled "Yes I have made my decision since the world rejected me, I chose to reject the world"

Mavis stared at Zeref "Fairy Tail accepts this world's flaws, nothing is perfect but chose to move forward"

"Really what about Natsu and them, they believed in those ideals and look how they turned out," Zeref said making Mavis glare, he then stood up the forest around them began to die "This will be my gift to no one, Mavis, I learned of a way to create a brand new world, pure and sweet"

"I assume there would be fighting" Mavis had a sad look.

"No," Zeref said, he then glared at Mavis with red eyes with Tomoe pattern, this made Mavis go wide-eyed in shock. "More like a one-sided annihilation no one will be spared"

"Those eyes they're like his, as I thought," Mavis thought, she then glared back at Zeref "I swear Fairy Tail will stop you they will wipe your stain from this land"

The two glared at each other down, and Mavis then vanished. After she vanished Zeref just smiled and looked at the sky.

"Natsu, you have achieved the same eyes like mine. You have seen how cruel the world is. The time of our meeting comes near."

A.N. Here is a short epilogue chapter to the arc and what will come next to the story, For next arc its most likely going to be Phoenix Priestess. So what do you guys think of the twist at the end? Be sure to review, Thank you and I will try to update soon.

This Shelter in place may have given me more time to write out chapters, but I am still in school, so I was focusing on writing two term papers, an art project, and a group project. So those took most of my time but I am still writing, so see you guys soon.