flash backs will not take up the whole story just here and there to explain the Dragneel's past. Well, I hope you liked chapter two and if you have any ideas for this story let me know.
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"Zeref! Do you want to play a game with me!" a young Natsu asked while jumping up and down in front of his older brother who was lying on the green grass with books and papers scattered around him.
"Natsu, not right now." Zeref stated, not lifting his eyes to meet Natsu's pouting face.
"But I'm boorred!" Natsu wined. "What are you doing anyway?" he asked curiously as he bent down to see what his brother was working on. It had been two weeks since the incident at their village, and since then the two Dragneel brothers have not gone back to their home village. They both didn't really talk about their parents anymore, but Zeref still caught Natsu crying himself to sleep sometimes.
"I am working on magic theories." Zeref replied, still not looking at his brother.
"Why?" Natsu innocently asked. Zeref sighed and looked up into Natsu's big black eyes and an innocent smile that always made Zeref feel warm inside.
"OK, Natsu, you want to play? Let's play hide and seek." Zeref said as he got up and gathered up all his papers and books.
"Yay!" cheered Natsu as he jumped up and down like a hyperactive bunny.
"Ok, Natsu, you run, I hide. I am going to count to 10." Zeref smiled, closing his eyes and turning to a tree to rest his arm and head on. "1, 2, 3, 4," he started counting. Natsu took in a deep breath and ran deeper into the forest that they temporarily called home. "10! Alright, here I come!" Zeref called and ran into the forest in the direction he thought his little brother had gone. Unknown to Zeref of how much danger his little brother was in at this moment.
Natsu could not hear his brother counting anymore and was now frantically looking for a hiding spot, completely unaware of evil eyes watching his every move.
"Must hide must hide where he won't find me!" Natsu spoke frantically to himself. Then his eyes locked onto a small cave partly hidden by a blueberry bush. "That's it!" he shouted, running to it and squeezing himself inside. But at that moment, he suddenly noticed how four men who were hiding from him slowly walked out into the open. Each of them were wearing masks and dark green cloaks, and each of them also had large burlap sacks with a black symbol on them that Natsu could not really make out from his hiding spot. Natsu tried to hide deeper into the cave but it was pointless as the four men had already spotted him.
"Come on out, little kid, we won't hurt you… Much." one of the men ordered, stepping closer to Natsu. The other three were blocking any escape routes.
"Go away!" Natsu called out, only for the men to laugh and step closer. One of them reached out and grabbed Natsu's arm and pulled him out of the small cave. Natsu kicked and screamed, punching the one holding him in the nose which made him let go of his arm.
"You little brat, come back here!" the man hissed, holding his nose. Natsu tried to run back to find his brother but found himself surrounded. He went into a flimsy fighting stance and the men chuckled. Then, something hit Natsu in the head and his world went black.
Natsu opened his eyes to the bright sunlight and sat up holding his head. "Another memory." Natsu sighed to himself. It had now been one week since he had left Fairy Tail and four days since he had opened the book of the END, and now, every time he went to sleep he had flashes of memories from his past. And most of them weren't good ones. They were filled with destruction and screams; it was just him and his brother against the cruel world.
Natsu had accepted the fact that he was Zeref's younger brother and also his most powerful demon. But out of all the memories he had seen so far, he was not a demon. So why was he a demon now? What had happened for him and his brother to be separated - how could he have forgotten? If he had left his brother alone… how had he become one of Zeref's demons? None of this was making any sense. He was getting a little frustrated; and that was why he needed to find his brother, and soon.
He hadn't known, until much later, that a part of himself - his subconsciousness - was protecting him and thus prevented himself from remembering the horrible incident in his short time under that cruel man's mercy.
"STOP! When my brother finds you-" Natsu was cut off by a punch to the stomach. Natsu's vision blurred but he did not black out.
"He's a strong one, the boss will be pleased." one of the men who kidnapped him said. Then a metal door opened up and there stood a large man wearing a large dark green cloak but no mask; his face was set in a permanent scowl. He also had dark brown hair and a scar that ran down his cheek.
"Is this the boy you told me so much about?" The man spoke in a deep empty voice.
"Sure is, boss!"
'So this was the leader of these idiots…' thought Natsu as his little mind tried to find a way out of this situation. The leader walked up to the little boy with an evil grin on his face.
"Strap him in and we can get started." He ordered walking back through the door. Natsu was then thrown further into the room and strapped onto a table. Natsu struggled to the best of his ability but it was useless. Soon a table came in with tubes with green and blue colored liquids and long metal needles arranged by size. The next couple hours were filled with nothing but screams.
Zeref - Elsewhere
"Natsu! Natsu, where are you!" Zeref called out, looking for his little brother. He was getting worried as he had not found him yet. It had been an hour since Natsu went missing. The longer he wandered the forest while calling out Natsu's name, the more his worry and frustration grew. When he came up to a large open cave, Zeref felt a strong magical presence.
"Is someone here?" Zeref asked, walking to the mouth of the cave. A sound came from the cave, like something really big was moving around. Zeref fought the urge to run; he would not spare any corner of this forest if it would help him find his brother. "H-hello!" Zeref called again, a little louder. This time thick smoke came from the cave and a deep voice boomed through the tunnel.
"Who would wake me from my slumber?"
"M-My name is Zeref Dragneel and I am looking for my younger brother."
"And why have you come to me, human?" The voice growled. Then, a giant red reptilian head emerged from the shadows. Zeref stifled a scream. Dragons! Why did it have to be dragons?! But thinking of his brother gave him courage to reply back.
"Please, Mister Dragon. My brother is all I have left in this world. I will give you anything you desire if you can help me find him." he pleaded. Tears came to his eyes but he forced them down. He did not want to look weak in front of a dragon.
"My name is Igneel. Young human boy, what is your brother's name?" the dragon asked, fully coming out into the light where Zeref could see the full size of the red dragon.
"Natsu Dragneel." Zeref said. When the red dragon gestured backwards, Zeref got the hint and went onto the dragon's back.
"Natsu Dragneel. I like that name. Please tell me about your brother on our way to find him." Igneel's voice rumbled, spreading his massive wings; with one flap he took off to the sky.
Zeref sat up. He hadn't thought of that day in a long time, and in a dream no less… ever since he had this curse all his dreams were filled with nothing but tragedy. Of all the pain and suffering he had caused, but on rare occasions he would dream of his brother. He hoped that Natsu had opened the book instead of destroying it. Because, if he destroyed it, he would die. Zeref wasn't sure just what he would do if that happened. He had sacrificed so much just to bring him back the first time. If Natsu were to die again there would be no one to end his suffering, his immortal life. Then, there would be no stopping him from destroying the world.
Zeref went through the day like normal but his mind kept going back to his brother, wondering if it was a mistake to give him the book. He could only hope his brother just left it alone and just grew strong enough to kill him with his dragon slaying magic.
"Your Majesty?" Invel asked, trying to get Zeref's attention.
"Oh, what is it?" Zeref asked, looking up from his desk. He didn't even remember getting to his office.
"You seem distracted today. Is everything alright?"
"I am not sure yet, but I can assure you I am fine." Zeref spoke in his usual tone. Invel nodded, not wanting to push the dark mage. "Was there something you needed?" Zeref asked, thinking there was a reason why he was interrupted.
"No, Your Majesty… I will take my leave now." Invel bowed his head, and walked out of the room.
Later
When dusk started to settle over the Empire, Zeref became tired and was getting ready for bed. He walked over to his balcony looking out over his city, everyone turning out the lights as well. He turned to go back into his room, but a gust of wind and a familiar voice made him freeze.
"I found you."
He turned around to see his younger brother sitting on the balcony railing, staring at him with blank black eyes.
"Natsu. It is good to see you." He spoke softly, trying to hide his joy and urge to hug his brother so his curse wouldn't kill him.
Natsu just locked eyes with the other. "Is it true, Zeref, that you are my older brother?"
Zeref just dumbly nodded, and as if Natsu had read his mind Natsu got off the railing, walked towards him and then hugged him. Zeref froze. He did not know what to do as they stood there, but after a while he slowly wrapped his arms around his brother. He could feel how warm his younger brother had, and for the first time in a long time he felt alive and warm. He truly did feel happy. He knew, now that he had what he'd been missing for hundreds of years, that everything was going to be OK. As long as he had his brother Zeref's life was whole. And for this one moment of peace he wasn't worried about his curse. He wasn't afraid.
