Disclaimer: I am not the owner of Fairy Tail

Edo-Natsu's house was rather small, not any larger than the average apartment would be. Zeref walked inside, smiling faintly at the place. Little to no decorating had been done, leaving the place with a rather plain feel. Common white walls stared back at him, with natural lightwood trim running along the base of them. Grey carpets lined the floors, and beyond the basic furnishings, the house held nothing. A simple couch, a lamp, and a table were all that greeted him in the first room. There was a door at the opposite end of the room, and a hallway towards his left.

Smiling nervously, Edo-Natsu moved towards the couch. "Sorry it isn't much…" He rubbed the back of his head. "Lucy keeps saying I should get a bigger place since it is always cramped when she stops by to visit. Though…she's always kinda scary when she visits and I usually end up trying to hide away in my room when she's here."

Nodding, Zeref simply gazed around, walking towards the door. Curious as to what was behind it, he pulled it open and smiled faintly. It was a simple kitchen area, with a fireplace for cooking and a table with a single chair to eat at. "Oh! I forgot…I'll need to get another chair for you. I tried keeping it in storage…but with the issues with the lack of magic, I kinda was low on funds for a while. Sorry…you can have the one if you like when we eat…"

"There is no need to constantly apologize, Natsu. If my other self truly is dead, there was no reason for you to expect for any form of your brother to return." It wasn't as if this Natsu sounded like he had aims to resurrect the dead, after all.

Looking away, Edo-Natsu nervously rubbed his arm. "But…I always hoped it was all a lie. I saw it…I watched them…" He broke off, biting his lip. "But you could't die. You were always with me, so somehow…I knew that if I just kept driving, I'd find a place where you were at. I'd find you again…I knew I had to."

Driving? Zeref wasn't certain what kind of vehicle this Natsu enjoyed, but he found it was rather unimportant. Instead of replying, he walked towards this other Natsu, brushing aside his hair with a faint smile. "And it is that hope in your heart which has always fascinated me, Natsu." He tilted his head, chuckling slightly. "Unfortunately, I do not think you will convince me to agree with you on such matters. I've seen far too much of reality to dissuade myself into believing in a fantasy."

Edo-Natsu frowned, staring at the ground. "But…that isn't what you normally say. You're the one always telling me to have hope—well, the other you was." He closed his eyes, bowing and looking so insecure yet again. "I'm sorry! I can't seem to stop myself…from seeing you as my Zeref. I know you're not him…but I just wish—"

"That he were still by your side." Zeref ruffled his hair, crouching down so he could meet Edo-Natsu's gaze. "In that sense, we are alike, Natsu. Why do you think I agreed to this arrangement? My own Natsu has no desire to be near me. He despises my very existence…so it means more to me than you can imagine to hear that you desire my presence in some form. See me as whichever person you wish…I know how despicable I truly am, and will not mind playing the part of the brother you desire to have."

Was it wrong that he was willing to manipulate this Natsu in such a form? Perhaps it was, but Zeref had to cling to something. Whatever it took to keep his family by his side, he would do it. He had been with Mavis long enough to understand how to give pointless speeches about hope and friendship. He could fake that light for as long as Natsu desired, and keep his precious brother by his side. "Stop saying that!" Edo-Natsu spoke loudly, before cringing at his own words. "I mean…I didn't mean to yell, but…I don't like you calling yourself horrible. Anyone…anyone willing to sacrifice their entire home for another person has to be good, right?"

Chuckling, Zeref shook his head and moved to sit on the couch. "Perhaps they are to you…but consider my motives for just one moment." Edo-Natsu frowned, while Zeref smiled darkly at him. "Much like you, I am motivated solely by self-interest. I have lost my family, and seek to have it returned to me in some form. By playing the role of your brother…by deceiving you into thinking you have your family, am I not doing something despicable to you as well? Self-sacrifice has little to do with my decisions. There is little in my own world that I wish to return to, after all."

"But I asked you to do that." Edo-Natsu clenched his hands into fists. "I'm sorry. I'm the one making you feel this way…because I asked you to be my brother, you feel like you're doing something wrong. Please don't be mad at me…"

The more this Natsu talked, the more Zeref realized exactly how he saw himself. The constant apologizing was odd, yet the way he cowered made Zeref frown and study him for a moment. "If I ever am angered…I assure you, you will know it. Now please, cease this pointless apologizing. I find it rather irritating, as I cannot seem to decipher exactly what it is you are feeling sorry for."

"But I'm a burden to everyone! That's why…because that's what everyone always told me." Edo-Natsu curried his head into his legs, hugging them close as he sat next to Zeref. "My parents…my uncles…they called us both burdens on the world. We struggled to get by, but you…you always just smiled and ignored it. I couldn't understand how…and when I got really upset about it, you'd take me outside and we'd hide away in our family's carriage. You told me that in that place, no one would be able to hurt me and that I could be whoever I wanted to be without fear. That's why I loved carriages so much…why they made me so relaxed…"

Without dragon slaying magic, it made sense that Edo-Natsu would be just fine with such a location. However, Zeref realized what must have happened to them as children as well, scowling in irritation. "They abused us, didn't they?" Edo-Natsu frowned, looking confused as to what that meant. Sighing, Zeref closed his eyes and shook his head. "Never mind, it isn't important. However…I also cannot say their words are false. Every living creature is a burden to this world, stealing away its nutrients for itself simply for the sake of survival. However, that makes you no different than any other living creature, Natsu. We all live as burdens to this world, and we all simply hope that one day, it will cease to reject our existence and accept us for what we are."

When Edo-Natsu began to cry, Zeref was once again reminded of how terrible he was at offering comfort. However, the boy threw his arms around Zeref, snuggling in close to his side as he sobbed. For a moment, Zeref sat stiffly, just letting Natsu be for the moment. Then, the other boy slowly relaxed and his tears began to slow. "Zeref…I'm glad we're burdens to this world. I'm glad…because it means that despite the fact that you come from some other world, we're still connected. So, I want…I want us to be burdens to this world forever, even if it means we are always rejected by everything…even if it means we're hated…I want it, so we can stay together like this, always."

Those words struck an odd chord within Zeref. Wasn't he always fighting against that rejection? This Natsu seemed to not care in the slightest, so long as Zeref was here. Smiling faintly to himself, Zeref lowered his head and felt warmth growing in his chest. He had rejected the entire world on Natsu's behalf, and now, Natsu was asking to be rejected just to stay with him. Maybe, unlike the Natsu he knew, this one would accept his actions no matter how despicable if it kept them together. "If it keeps my brother by my side…I will reject this entire world myself, just as I did before. As one who knows far more rejection than any other…having you accept me is more than enough, my dear Natsu."

Neither of them moved for a moment, simply remaining close as both of them desperately needed each other to fill the hole left behind by those they had lost. Zeref could not see much of the Natsu he knew currently in this boy, but he could easily see the child Zeref once knew in him. The younger Natsu had always been a bit shier before learning dragon slaying magic. He was less impulsive, and while he still wanted to start fights to defend his family and friends, he was afraid of losing and felt too weak to succeed. It took the training Igneel gave him for Natsu to gain that confidence he now had, yet this Natsu was the one Zeref remembered best. It was the Natsu that he had fought so hard to bring back, and the one he could hardly see in his brother today.

They were still sitting side by side on the couch with Natsu clinging to Zeref's waist when the door burst open with a loud thud. "Oi, Natsu! You back home yet?" A familiar female voice called out, making Zeref frown and look towards the door. There, he saw a girl with light blue hair, dressed in a far more revealing outfit than the more conservative dress he had somewhat grown used to from the person who traveled here with him. "King Jellal sent me ahead with another mission! He's got suspicions about another connection to the Alvarez Group and he wanted—" She broke off, her eyes locking on Zeref on the couch, still awkwardly staring at her with Edo-Natsu refusing to move away.

No one spoke for a moment. Silence filled the room as the door began to shut on its own behind Levy, pulled shut by the slight hill the house rested on. It shut with a bit of a louder slamming noise due to no one slowing down its path. That noise seemed to startle the girl, making her jump and take a step forward. "Zeref…you can't possibly be alive. Natsu told us that—"

"He's the Zeref from Earthland, Levy. Don't you remember those wizards we met before Edolas lost its magic?" Edo-Natsu spoke, biting his lip nervously. "But…he says he's staying here. Zeref says he'll be my brother again…so I'm certain he'd be happy to be our Master again too." Master? Frowning, Zeref recalled Natsu's odd comment from before about founding Fairy Tail. How much truly was different in this world about himself?

Looking towards him, Edo-Levy seemed to smile at those words. "I see. In that case…welcome back, Master." Why did those words make him feel so warm and welcome? This world was the place he needed all along. Not even Alvarez made him feel this way. Then again, Alvarez was a place of pawns for his games, and nothing more.

Thinking about Alvarez made his mind go back to Levy's initial comment. What was Alvarez here? "You mentioned a task for Natsu…" He slightly hinted at the idea, making the girl blink and shaker he head out of her daze.

"Ah, right! Sorry, I just didn't expect to see you back. I'll show you to the guild when we're done, since Natsu is going to be—"

"Zeref's coming with me." Edo-Natsu grabbed Zeref's arm, clinging to it tightly. "I'm not losing him again…"

Meeting his eyes, Levy looked ready to fight until she noticed the way Edo-Natsu's lower lip was trembling. Sighing, she shook her head and ran a hand through his hair. "Damn, you're troublesome. Don't blame me if he gets himself killed by them, then. After all, they are after the magic from his world in the end." Edo-Natsu didn't say anything, only clutching Zeref's arm even tighter. The black wizard wondered if he'd be cutting off circulation soon, but did not make a comment. "Anyway, Jellal is still trying to figure out who exactly is leading them. You remember the last ones you bought in, right? Well, that Invel guy seemed to break down and talk almost immediately. He had such a weak loyalty that he was almost begging to reveal info to us…but what he said wasn't much. Some other guy higher up than him supposedly knows their leader, and Jellal wants you to check it out."

Invel, lacking loyalty? Zeref could hardly imagine such a version of Alvarez. However, it amused him enough to have a faint smile on his expression. "Alvarez exists here as well. I see…and they are seeking out magical power?" Edo-Levy nodded, crossing her arms over her chest.

"Yup. Long story short, Alvarez is a group that arose after Edolas lost the last of its magic to the Demon Lord Dragneel." Demon Lord Dragneel? Natsu must have been placed into the role of a villain here then. "They first tried to steal the remains of the machine that made the Animas in the first place…but there was nothing to be salvaged from that machine. After that, they made it their goal to try and steal away the schematics for building it again. King Jellal knows their location, and he's placed Fairy Tail in charge of keeping it hidden. If Alvarez succeeds, they'll start the project back up again and try to return magic to Edolas. Since magic is what brought about so many of our problems in the first place…everyone is kinda tense with the idea. Some people want to support them and get it back, but most people are afraid of the terrorizing the army did with that power. If they keep growing, we might end up with a civil war on our hands, from people wishing for Alvarez to succeed and others trying to stop them."

How oddly similar to his own empire. Zeref couldn't help but widen his smile at the idea, thinking about the interesting game unfolding in this world as well. Of course, he'd side with keeping magic away from Edolas. After all, this world was becoming his safe haven from the curse. "Then I just may have information that could assist your efforts. In Earthland, Alvarez exists as an empire, currently at war with the Fairy Tail of my world." Perhaps it would be best to avoid stating he was leading said war for now.

Edo-Levy stared at him with wide eyes. "Are you serious? So, does that mean you know who is a part of the group? I mean…I know it won't be identical, but anything is better than what we've found. They're secretive, and most of the members are good at hiding."

Thinking about his own world, and about how he was the leader of Fairy Tail in this one, he realized he did have some ideas on who would have founded Alvarez here. "Invel was one of the most loyal in the empire in my world…I suspect some aspects of the individuals have changed, but the majority of their members should be the same." He couldn't be certain, but it was highly likely. "Would you like a list of names? I would be more than happy to—"

Why did the door always seem to burst open at random moments? Zeref broke off as someone barged in, angrily stomping inside without even knocking. "I knew following my other self was my best chance of finding you!" Levy, the one from Earthland, marched towards where Zeref and Natsu were on the couch. "What the hell are you thinking? I mean, I'm glad that this Natsu is actually at his home and doing fine…but I thought you'd kidnapped him, or worse, killed him!"

"Brother…why is Levy so angry with you?" Edo-Natsu tugged on his sleeve, shrinking back into the couch and trying to hide himself behind Zeref's form. It was a bit uncomfortable, but Zeref simply sighed and shook his head.

"Because, as I just explained, Fairy Tail and Alvarez are at war in my world." He smiled faintly at Levy, tilting his head slightly. "And as for your question, I was simply realizing that my motive for returning home was rather lacking. The more I consider it…the more I realize that perhaps this is the best place for me."

"And if he wants to stay, and you guys treat him like that, I can't blame the guy." Edo-Levy walked forward, glaring at her counterpart. "I don't know what you're thinking, shouting at your own guild master like that, but here, we treat Master Zeref with—"

"Guild master?" Levy blinked at her in shock, taking a step back.

"From what I've gathered, yes." Zeref smiled, chuckling slightly. "And as for Alvarez…while I cannot guarantee such a thing, I'm almost certain Mavis is their founder in this world. An odd role reversal, but fitting nonetheless."

Staring at him, Earthland Levy sucked in a sharp breath. "Alvarez…is here? But…there's no war. Fairy Tail isn't fighting anyone! They're just doing jobs for King Jellal, that's what Edo-Lucy told us!"

"Ah, but the goal of Alvarez is to obtain magical power. Would the Fairy Tail of this world then remain the target of such a group?" Levy looked away, closing her eyes. "Now, I do believe I was trying to assist you in knowledge of who might be involved with Alvarez. The most prominent members would likely consist of twelve individuals. You are aware of Invel, but—"

"Hold on just one second!" Levy still didn't seem to be willing to let this drop. "We're going back home, remember? Getting involved in this issue here is only going to make that take longer."

Meeting her gaze, Zeref smiled without any emotion behind the action. "It is impossible to return, Levy. I've considered the idea since we arrived and I've continuously arrived at the same conclusion every time. Without magic, it is impossible to return. Even if it were…" Zeref glanced towards Edo-Natsu, pausing for a moment and rubbing the boy's head gently. "I find I much prefer my existence in this world than that of ours."

"But you're dead in this world!" Levy tried to counter him with logic, but Zeref smiled even wider at her words.

"And I still prefer such an existence to that of my own."

No one really had much to say in response to that at first. Levy looked stunned, flinching at his words with wide eyes. Edo-Levy opened her mouth to reply, but looked away and closed her hands into fists. Only Edo-Natsu seemed to be willing to speak out, shaking his head violently at his brother. "No! I'm not letting that happen. I won't—"

Zeref cut him off, ruffling his hair again with a sad smile. "Do not worry, Natsu. I did promise to stay by your side, did I not? Enduring this suffering is a small price to pay…if it keeps you smiling."

The Levy from Earthland seemed to move forward first, something darkening in her eyes. "You…you really care about him." It wasn't a question, so Zeref did not even reply. "I never really thought about it before. None of us probably did…but you…you've lost your entire family by now, haven't you?" Zeref's jaw clenched, but he did not reply. "I'm willing to bet you even had a brother like him…and that's why you—"

"Don't speak of things you cannot understand." Zeref turned his gaze towards her harshly, any hints of amusement vanishing. "No one can truly grasp what it is like to experience that loss. It is impossible for you to—"

"And you keep speaking of that, too! Of impossibilities, of things that can't be done." She focused on him, almost a pained expression growing on her face. "I know you're wrong, though. Fairy Tail makes the impossible possible. Did we not stand up to your Spriggan Twelve in the war? Were we not managing to overcome the difference in our strength?" That was just a weak example, given the fact that his own army wasn't taking the war seriously. "And even here…I've overcome impossibility in this world before, without even knowing it. The first time I arrived, I couldn't remember a thing. Everyone had to tell me what happened…that I was trapped in a massive lacrima, transformed into nothing but a piece of magical energy to be used by this world's king. Despite how impossible it was to get us back, despite being trapped in a world with strange limited magic…Fairy Tail fought and found a way to return! There is always a way back, Zeref! And maybe you've lost your real family in the past, but that doesn't mean you can't find other people around you to make yourself a new family."

He didn't want to hear this. He couldn't hear this. Clutching his head tightly, Zeref felt something wanting to snap inside of him. As hard as he tried to stay calm, it was not something he could manage with her constant reminders of what he had lost, of what he could never have. "You think…you think that I have not tried?" His voice was deadly quiet, almost monotone as he spoke. He chuckled, clutching his forehead. If he had his magic, he was certain his eyes would have been blood red from the curse controlling his mind. Oddly, the curse was gone yet it still had the same unstable feel as that magic. "I've done the impossible before, Levy. I speak as one who knows the cost of doing that which was never meant to be done…as one who did fight to recreate my own family. In the process, I lost absolutely everything. If you wish to understand me…then very well. I will help you join my suffering. Do not blame me when you end up falling into the same despair as myself…when you end up just like Mavis, trapped with a magic you thought was nothing but a fairy tale."

His dark promise lingered, with the others staying silent at his words. Zeref laughed again, not really certain why the idea was so amusing. Maybe it was just because he had to make some form of noise, or else he would go completely insane. Touching his head, memories swirled in his mind. He saw Natsu's face as a child, reaching out towards him for help after he had fallen. He saw Natsu's lifeless face in the ruins of his home, and felt the despair of knowing nothing would be the same. He saw Natsu again, alive yet not even knowing Zeref's name. Over and over, he saw Natsu in everything, yet the torment never ended. "Please…make it stop…" He let out the broken plea, not even sure what he was asking for. His old dream came to him once more, and tears started falling from his cheeks. "Natsu…why couldn't you manage to succeed? I gave you every chance…yet you seem to enjoy making me suffer like this. Natsu…" His voice trailed off, and darkness began to cloud his vision. With an overwhelming weight pushing him down, Zeref collapsed on the couch, not even caring that he was likely surrounded by people who now hated him after seeing the man he truly was.

Sorry for the delay, my classes have started back up again so I'm still adjusting to the new schedule. Please review and tell me what you think!