Welcome back for the next update of TAOE :)
Before you start reading just a small piece of information regarding the rewriting process of the earlier chapters.
Chapter 6 is now fully done as well and chapters 11 and 12 got small expansions already as well. Now you won't be thrown so suddenly into the Dragneel flashback.
That's all on my part so I wish you happy reading ️
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Far, far away at the borderline of the world itself, the blazing sun was kissing the horizon. Most of its strength was lost, its fuel depleted from all the beams of light it had sent during the day and now the burning orb was in dire need to recharge its supply for the next day. However, there was one final task at hand that needed to be done before the sun's break could begin.
Its all-seeing eye narrowed and focused on a mere speck on Earthland's surface. Not even the silent complaints of the already rising moon could offer any form of distraction. All attention was solely invested in two boys, siblings of black and pink. Hand in hand they wandered through an eerie forest in their search for their mother's most favoured dish. Young as they were, they didn't realise the fraud in their actions and the countless events that could possibly follow.
The intent was admirable but the action itself was the purest foolishness. Yet hope was not completely lost as there was still enough energy to shine a little longer. But it was not much and with every second lost and with every millimetre closer to the curve of the world it dwindled and became smaller and smaller.
The two boys had not much time left for their planned endeavour. The light of the world had used up all the tricks up its sleeve. Everything was pulled and now it could only believe and have faith that it would be enough. If not and the resulting consequences? It did not dare to follow this line of thought. Too devastating was, what lurked within the bottomless darkness waiting at the end of this particular path.
XXX
Within the depths of endless green, where every place looked similar, Zeref made sure every second, that Natsu's smaller hand was safely secured within his own. To secure this safety, Zeref had even interlocked their fingers so nothing could separate them from each other, no matter what might happen.
The physical contact with his younger brother also served as his personal anchor in this world. Otherwise, he might have lost it a long time ago and had freaked out a second later. But luckily he didn't and it was only because Natsu was at his side.
It was funny and if the circumstances would be any different, Zeref most likely would have laughed out loud about all of this. Right now, with their dad still at home, he was the man in charge and it was his responsibility to keep Natsu safe and secure. But in truth, it was the other way around.
Luckily, Natsu hadn't noticed yet anything about the countless insecurities, that were coursing through Zeref. Every rustle of the leaves, shaken by the softest brush of wind or any dancing shadow suddenly jumping at them from the green thicket around, startled Zeref.
He has been inside this very forest countless times already but never did he feel so frightened. It was almost as if the entire woods had transformed into a sinister shadow of their former self and only now did Zeref realise, how safe he always felt when he was in the presence of his dad. And it was not only him.
Their mother Luna and Natsu were sitting in the same boat as the ebony-haired boy did. Natherious was the centre all three of them were circling around, one way or another. They loved the tall man with all their hearts and Zeref knew, that Natherious did the same. This truth made the absence of said man even more painfully obvious than it had been before.
Even before Natsu and Zeref had entered the forest waiting for them, Zeref was met with the first resistance originating from deep within himself. He was aware of the fact, that their mother had not given them permission to get this far away from home. She had been against any of them leaving on their own from the very beginning, after all. Only after some persuading from their dad's side, did she give in to Natherious's argumentation and Zeref was free to go from there on out. He had only to tell them, that he was heading out.
However, this solely applied to himself, effectively excluding Natsu in the process and only for the wide grasslands upon the hills hiding their home village from any curious eyes. Zeref had never gotten any permission to enter the impassable thicket bordering the green plains like a tall wall of leaves and wood. On contrary, Natherious was adamant about the grassland being the maximum of what Zeref could go so that was, as far as Zeref's allowance reached.
Zeref once asked if he could venture into the woods as well. He would never admit it out loud but he had grown fond of his swimming lessons together with Natherious and wanted to continue them as often as possible even if it meant he had to go alone to the lake in the depths of the jungle consisting solely of deciduous trees and conifers.
He carefully crafted a plan in order to cover up his true aim and when everything was set and prepared, Zeref struck. He knew it would be futile to ask his mother about this matter. She would shut him down immediately because she would worry way too much about him. But Zeref was confident that he could take care of himself. The only hindrance he had to overcome was convincing his dad and letting him do the same with Luna.
Zeref snickered as he remembered this. Natherious always had a way to speak with their mother. Zeref' didn't understand what he was doing differently but in the end, Natherious always won over Luna's heart and she agreed to whatever it was. The raven-haired boy wished, he would have the same ability but sadly he didn't. That only left him with one option if he wished to do anything, which required his parent's permission.
It was vital for Zeref, to get his father on his side. Every other attempt nor plan would be futile from the very beginning, shredded into countless ribbons within a fraction of a mere second by Luna. With that truth in mind, he had ventured straight into the work chamber of Natherious, not knowing and only realising that it was a lion's den on that day when it was already way too late.
Pushing open the door he immediately found his dad sitting at the table, located on the opposite wall of the entry. No matter how many times Zeref came here, he was always awestruck. Countless shelves and cupboards lined the high walls and best of all, they were stuffed to the brim with books. Being a bookworm such as he was, this was a wonderland come true for him.
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When he first came into this room he did not waste any second. Zeref stormed faster than the speed of light to one of the many wooden constructs housing the price he was aiming for. He grabbed the first one he could his hands on and ripped it open but only found disappointment laying in front of him.
The book was not empty. But instead of words, Zeref was familiar with, each page was filled with foreign signs he had never seen until now. He couldn't even describe what he was seeing. They could be drawings, an abstract kind of art of a new area or maybe they were hieroglyphs from an ancient civilisation. But no matter what they were, Zeref couldn't read them. He groaned at this cruel reveal.
Seconds later though, the young boy was already swept up by a pair of strong arms. Lost in thought as Zeref had been, he didn't hear how a wooden chair rubbed across the floor nor did he take any notice of the approaching form of his father. Thus the young black mage yelped quite loud as his bare feet lost contact with the ground out of a sudden.
His attention was drawn to the culprit for the surprising action but the only thing, he could see with his eyes was the large smile and joyous expression plastered on Natherious's face. The man eagerly moved to another shelf, almost too much so they would end up crashing into the towering piece of crafted wood. Apparently, the eldest member of the Dragneel household was more than happy, that one of his sons showed interest in what he had in store.
Zeref only had the bad luck to race towards the wrong shelf, one that contained countless notes and diagrams the man had written by himself. That's why the tall man intercepted before disappointment could take roots within the boy's heart and brought him to a correct shelf. With well-honed precision his fingers danced across every cover, deciding within a second's notice whether the raven-haired boy would like any of them.
Zeref was still processing, what had happened to him in the blink of an eye but before he could proceed any further, another book was already shoved in his face. His dad smiled fondly at him, encouraging Zeref to open the thick tome.
He was enraptured the moment his deep pools of black had barely scanned the first paragraph. He looked up to his dad and smiled the large grin he had inherited from the man holding him in his strong arms. It was only then, that Zeref noticed something was amiss. Another shock stroke his body like lightning and the resulting waves rippled all over his skin in ferocious motions. His surprise was so big, that he even forgot about the waiting story in his grasp about a princess and a demon falling in love with each other.
Zeref came many times to this room from there on out, yet the shock never ended whenever he saw his dad, while he was in his working chamber – even now. A foreign object was partly hiding some facial features of Natherious's and Zeref knew that there was absolutely no need.
Black, thick-framed glasses were sitting on top of his dad's nose and ears. Other than that, he wore his normal attire consisting of white robes and his pink hair was as unruly as always. In Zeref's eyes, this absolutely looked ridiculous because Natherious could not change the fact, that he was looking like the boss of some unruly thugs, no matter how hard he tried.
"It makes me look intellectual," Natherious once had told him. Zeref hadn't even asked this question but somehow, his dad knew that he was wondering about this and gave the response, the black-haired boy secretly desired. It wasn't the first time, the tall man answered a question, that had barely begun to form in Zeref's head.
Some may call it creepy but Zeref viewed it differently. He considered his dad's amazing perception of his surrounding as something admirable and tried his best to become as good as his father – with questionable success.
He had thought, his father would always be on his side, so when he ventured once more to the workshop of his father, Zeref considered his will was almost as good as granted but this time things went differently for the younger Dragneel.
Just as Zeref had anticipated, Natherious answered his inquiry without fail as he had done countless times in the past already. However, this time it was not the response Zeref wished to hear because it was a dry sounding no that echoed through the room.
Zeref could basically see how his well-planned scheme was crumbling to dust and was on a one-way trip of turning into nothingness, set ablaze by but a single word of his father. He couldn't understand why his father would refuse to help him but he got his answer seconds later, because Natherious Dragneel, was not a man of keeping words only to himself.
"At least not yet, Zeref," Natherious explained his denial further. "You gotta grow a bit more before your mom and I can let you wander off on your own without worrying ourselves sick."
Hearing this explanation, there was little to nothing Zeref could argue against it and he didn't want to. He felt even ashamed of himself for plotting his plan without taking into consideration of his parents' feelings. But a large palm ruffling through his hair caressed all worries away as his dad looked lovingly at him with the purest expression he could muster with his thug-like face.
Seconds ago, dark emotions had been swirling inside his soul. They had danced around like destructive hurricanes, always ready and prepared to pull him off his feet and never letting him go again. They would imprison the poor boy inside the blackest black without any chance of escape for the young black mage but his father would not allow it. All it took to prevent such an outcome was a big smile on his part, united with the love he always held for his son.
Everything from before was forgotten and lost to the carnal desire of time to eat away at any event it could sink its teeth into. Afterwards, when Zeref's purpose for coming to Natherious's workshop, son and father indulged in one of the many books the room had to offer. Zeref sat in his dad's lap, eyes fallen shut and snuggled as close to the tall man as possible – not that the older Dragneel minded Zeref's actions in any imaginable way. On contrary, he loved every second he could spend with his son such as this.
His deep, raspy but soft voice echoed from the walls of the chamber, as Natherious put the story into words. It was without a doubt Zeref's favourite book. No matter how many they could choose from, it ended always with this one and Natherious had to wonder, whether this was a mere coincidence or not. A story about a princess and a demon falling in love. A tale of drama and sadness but also of love and trust. It had many facets to it such as life itself did. Maybe it was because of this, that Zeref liked the epos so much. Or maybe Zeref was more attentive than Natherious thought he would be. Either way, both Dragneels lost themselves in the book and in the presence of each other as the day melted away. Soon enough, the sky was clad in its nightly gown and the time was due, to call it a day and start, where they had left off, at another time.
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However, the decision from that day still lingered like a ghostly omen above Zeref's head and had never left his consciousness. Denial of his father was not to be taken lightly and when Natsu and he stood in front of the vast forest. Doubts rapidly raced through his mind and soul, a warning to not disobey his father#s words from before. He feared once they took a single step into the woods, their father would jump on them from the shadow of one of the many trees, setting them up for a lengthy lecture.
It was a fourth and back of the two parts of his brain, One wanted them to go inside whilst the other opposed and was against such lunacy. Ultimately, the side refusing to venture any further won the inner struggle. It was heart-shattering when Zeref thought, about what they were in for once they arrived home but it was for the best this way.
Having made his decision, Zeref turned to Natsu in order to transmit the bad news but when his back pools found onyx ones, all thought left Zeref Dragneel. Natsu looked with utmost trust and excitement at his older brother, totally giddy and happy that he was about to go on an adventure with one of the people he admired most.
How could Zeref possibly deny his little brother this experience? The pure joy and pleasure that were waiting for them? He couldn't. It was utterly impossible for the raven-haired boy. He would be unable to bear the disappointment, that would certainly appear on Natsu's face so instead, he intertwined their hands and fingers as tightly as possible without hurting the youngest Dragneel and the two brothers took their first steps into uncertainty.
They walked further and further into the seemingly endless thicket of wood and leaves and soon enough, Zeref had lost his sense of orientation and had no longer the slightest clue, where they currently were. Every tree, every bush looked the same and it was extremely hard for Zeref to not only navigate himself through the greenish hell but also to keep a constant eye on his beloved younger brother.
The future black mage knew all too well, that Natsu was a magnet for trouble. He had always been ever since his birth and it would probably stay like this for the rest of the young boy's entire life. Just earlier this day, they had promised each other, that they would always have their backs no matter the circumstances, that they would protect each other no matter what will happen in the future. Indeed an impactful promise but Zeref had no intention of not letting his words follow actions.
Every crack of a branch beneath their sandalled feet and he was ready and prepared to throw Natsu over his shoulder and dash away. Each sound from the last remaining birds and Zeref was already in front of his younger brother, prepared to scare away anyone, who would be daring enough to assault them. Zeref had no idea how he would manage this but he was certain, that he would find a way to protect his family. They were the only people who counted in his life and this would never stop.
Zeref had no idea how long they walked through the forest aimlessly and without their goal in sight. Throughout the walk, Zeref did his best to not show any signs of his fright or of the countless heart attacks he had suffered from since they entered the woods. He tried to distract Natsu and at least luck was on his side in this regard. At times it could be difficult to read the youngest Dragneel's emotions, just as it was the case with their father. However, this time around it was easier than ever before.
Natsu's eyes sparkled with joyous excitement about every little detail he discovered, no matter how tiny it may be. For him, this was a completely new world he had only visited within his dreams, crafted by his lively, limitless imagination fuelled by the tales of his brother, father and mother. Behind every sturdy trunk of a large tree and behind every lush bush, something new awaited him with open arms, more than happy to share their secrets with the young pink-haired boy.
His pure innocence worked like a charm on the world. No wild, furious animal nor poisonous plant dared to show their faces in front of the excited boy and his brother. They were too afraid to disappoint Natsu in any way, so they remained inside the shadows, lurking for the moment when the time was ripe and they could show their glorious forms to the young Dragon Slayer. They also feared, what would happen to themselves because they knew who the parents of these two were. In order to not enrage them, the primordial instinct of any plant and animal warned them to not take any action that would cause harm to the easy prey, which basically screamed to be pounced on.
Even when neither Zeref nor Natsu were aware of this fact, the mere presence of their parents was more than enough to scare off any hideous assailant of feral nature. It worked like a protective barrier even though it was nothing else but a play with instincts that all living beings possess. It was a silent secret that only Luna Heartfilia, Natherious Dragneel and Mother Nature herself knew about. Thus, these two, even when they lacked the permission to be at their current location, could walk onwards without worry.
Time ticked by and the sun was about to lose the fight for domination of the sky. Its counterpart and eternal rival was sending more and more of its invisible armies against the descending orb of fire and victory was about to be proclaimed.
It was in the fading light of this never-ending battle, that Natsu spied the most intriguing thing he had discovered on that day so far. The moment his onyx eyes found the large object, his brain immediately jumped into high motion and combed through his memories. It didn't take him long, to find the particular reminiscence he was searching for. In fact, there were quite a lot of them so it was an easy feat to accomplish.
"Zeref! Look over there," Natsu screamed with his boisterous voice out of a sudden while he pointed into the distance. His older brother almost screamed as well of the shock that invaded his already weakened heart. There was only so much, Zeref could take in one day after all. With great worry coursing through his soul, the boy in question turned towards the direction, Natsu was showing.
All anxiety left his body, when Zeref saw, what Natsu had found. Soft waves kissed the sandy shore in gentle motions whilst a warm breeze was blowing through the many holes of the forest. The gales were heated up by the warmth the sand was still giving off. The sun might be about to set but its effects would need a lot longer to completely vanish from the face of the world.
The raven-haired black mage released a breath of relief as he took in the familiar scenery. By a lucky coincidence, they have ended up exactly where Zeref wanted to go from the very beginning. So he was aware of his surroundings once again and they could set out on their original mission. It was time to catch a fish in order to appease their parents, especially their mom.
Since their hands were still linked united, Zeref was able to lead Natsu, who was about to burst from pure excitement to a nearby shack without much trouble. It barely deserved this term though because it was nothing more than some wooden planks below a large bush at the borderline of the jungle of green. Despite its sorry state, the poorly crafted construct of wood did an astonishingly good job of protecting the equipment entrusted to it.
Zeref had no clue, how his dad managed this but ultimately he didn't care that much about this fact. Any further investigation could be postponed to a later date because he could barely keep his own excitement in check anymore. Natsu added his fair share to the pile but the prospect to fish again did most of the work.
Crouching down in front of the shack, the elder Dragneel brother opened the small door to the vault. With trained fingers, he searched the inside for the object he was looking for and with the accumulated experience of the past, he had a grip on the desired equipment in less than five seconds. It was a simple fishing rod, yet it caused him an excessive amount of happiness. It was funny, how sometimes the most basic aspects of life could create such strong emotions in one's heart.
Zeref righted his posture and turned around. He had known, that his baby brother was curious about what he was searching for in the small shack so he couldn't himself as a smug smirk appeared on his face as he revealed, what was now in his hands. Immediately Natsu's eyes shone brighter than ever before and Zeref could almost catch the sparkles flying off in every direction. It was a contagious sight and soon enough, both brothers were in a contest of who could sparkle more – not that they even realised this. Both were simply too indulged in the prospect of fishing, that Zeref didn't even question, how Natsu was aware, of what fishing was in the first place.
"Let's go to the shore already," Zeref exclaimed happily and in response, Natsu simply jumped up and down in afluttered manners. Rash movements followed as Zeref lead the way towards the spot, where he normally fished together with their father. It was a slightly elevated spot from where they could oversee the entire lake in all its massive size. It was so vast, that it was impossible to see the other end of it.
When the Dragneel brothers arrived at the desired location, Zeref was the first one to plop on his behind. He crossed his legs and patted his lap twice, smiling widely. An invitation Natsu accepted eagerly while he continuously giggled. Zeref sniggered at their current position because it was quite familiar to him.
Not long ago, the roles were reversed and it was him sitting in a lap. Of course, it had not been Natsu's lap but their father's as the tall man showed Zeref the art of fishing. Though, unlike Natsu, Zeref had not been that excited at the beginning. It changed the moment the first fish had swallowed the hook The black-haired boy didn't dare to say it aloud but he was extremely proud that it was now his turn to teach his skills to someone else. Even more so because it was his little brother.
Zeref closed his eyes as he recalled the memories from that day. Every action his dad had performed, every word he had spoken as an explanation for his doings, they were all still vividly inside Zeref's mind, saved and secured for the time he needed them again. Now the moment had come and the young black mage did his best in order to convey the wisdom he had received from Natherious.
He lifted the rod over his head and pointed the tip to his right. Then he circled it counterclockwise in a fluid motion above his head and when the first round was finished, he did the next one. This time he added more strength into the rotation and when this round came to an end as well, Zeref started the third and final circulation.
Unlike before, he added no more strength this time around and simply let the centrifugal forces do their wonder of physical laws and only when the end was near, did Zeref act. Like lightning itself, he poured all of his right arm's power into the throw. With trained expertise, he allowed the fishing rod to slide through his fingers and only applied pressure again when it was about to slip out of his hold just as his dad had shown him.
Zeref's voice had accompanied every motion he had just done, mimicking the words, his father had used perfectly. So when he opened his eyes again, a satisfying smirk took over his lips as he could see, how the hook was sailing through the air just as it was supposed to be. The echo of the small piece of metal breaking through the watery barrier in the distance was merely the cherry on top.
The next cherry followed the moment when Zeref looked back down at Natsu. His little brother's jaw had dropped almost all the way to the ground as he had an awestricken expression all over his face. Zeref mused that he had probably sprouted something similar when Natherious first did his masterful performance.
Second after second ticked by, as the two brothers waited patiently for any fish to swallow the bait. Luckily they would not have to be picky because all fishes living in this lake were eatable. However, as seconds had morphed into minutes without a significant change, Zeref noticed how Natsu grew restless. Looking back at the smaller, pink-haired boy, the change in his expression was as clear as day.
Gone was the excitement and in its place confusion had settled down instead. Natsu sensed his older brother's gaze on him and responded by looking back at him. At first, he had been amazed by the amazing skills of Zeref but soon after realisation had invaded his mind and he wondered about one thing. They were fishing but without a bait. How was this supposed to work?
Natsu could not find an answer to this question and thus he asked Zeref since he seemed so confident about what he was doing. "Zeref, are you sure this is gonna work? Don't we need something like, uh, a worm?" Simple and straightforward. There was no need to hide his desire for knowledge in long sentences. Natsu knew about the basics of fishing but never had he heard about anyone using no bait.
His brother's response was a loud snort with mouth and nose included. Natsu was about to frown but Zeref placed his free hand gently on top of his head, browsing through his unruly spikes that were an almost identical copy of their dad's hairstyle.
"Don't worry Natsu," Zeref coed, "I'm not laughing about you. If anything, I'm laughing about myself, because believe it or not, I did ask the very same question when dad taught me first about how to catch a fish."
"You did?!" Natsu asked slightly shocked. His disbelief was evident inside his voice because he looked up to Zeref almost as much as he did to their mom and dad.
Zeref only nodded once to confirm, what he had just said before he continued, more than eager to tell Natsu the same words Natherious shared with him. He closed his black pools of ebony once more, remembering that particular day so vividly, that it could have been the day before.
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How he mumbled the same letters as Natsu had done seconds ago and how in the next moment the boisterous laugh of their dad filled the air around them.
After the tall man had calmed down enough so he could speak properly again, he explained why he didn't use any bait and Zeref mirrored every syllable on their own accord without him doing anything.
Humour still laced Natherious's verbal tune as he shared his wisdom and knowledge with Zeref. "I'm not using any bait because I'm not dumb enough to do so."
Whatever Zeref had expected, it was certainly not this. What was dumb about using bait in order to catch fish? All books he had read stated it was vital for success. If not used, it was more than likely, that the hunter would return with an empty stomach and an empty basket. So why would his dad willingly act against cannon knowledge and keep being so confident? Zeref was confused beyond imagination but at the same time, he was even more intrigued. They lived under the same roof but Natherious was always ready and prepared, to turn Zeref's world upside down.
The oldest member of the Dragneel household smirked at Zeref's fuzzy expression. He had expected as much because for many his way of doing things was lunacy incarnated. However, only because many people were doing one activity similar, it didn't necessarily mean, that they were correct. It was time to enlighten his son, that doing things differently is not equal to falsehood.
"Just like humans, fishes grow and collect many different experiences throughout their lives. They learn from the errors they make themselves or from the mistakes of others they witness. Therefore, over time, they became aware of the threat that emanated from any sudden appearing food from above and avoided it ever since. Only those who are at the brink of starvation or simply too young, take the risk and are ultimately caught in the process."
Natherious dared to look downwards from the corner of his eyes and snorted again. The question marks above Zeref's head were about to materialise any second. It was a hilarious sight to behold, and Natherious could not deny, that he was interested in what would happen next. But it was probably best to not test this one out. So he nudged his head sideways, a silent demand for Zeref to shift his attention towards the pointed direction.
The future emperor did as he was told to. He expected to find something, anything that seemed out of place but there was absolutely nothing aside from his dad's twitching hand. It only did small movements, sudden and unexpected and powerful before it returned to a calm state. Zeref could not make out a steady rhythm at all and he asked himself, whether this was actually, what his father wanted from him.
It was honestly a disappointment. Zeref figured Natherious would unravel his innermost secret fishing art and an out of control hand surely couldn't be all, right? Right!? To the raven-haired boy's utter shock, it was indeed what his father was referring to as his father's voice filled the void around them.
"See what I'm doing with my right hand? Looks dumb but this is actually the trick to get a stuffed belly. Your books most likely told you, that you needed a lot of time but I think otherwise. Just watch and see yourself."
Even though, Natherious admitted himself, that the twitching looked ridiculous, every word which left his lips was dripping from overconfidence. It sparked Zeref's awe and admiration and his wish to become as aspiring as his father increased tenfold. The books had indeed told him, that he would need a lot of time in order to get a catch and being the bookworm he was, he believed in every word they said.
So when his father suddenly pulled at the rod with an excessively amount of strength, Zeref's jaw dropped to the ground as he witnessed what happened next. The hook had been only beneath the watery surface for two minutes at best but his dad had already made his first catch. And what a catch it was!
The fish that had fallen for the pink-haired man's cunningness was taller than the hunter himself. Catapulted out of the depths of the lake by the relentless strength of Natherious, the fish rapidly came closer and closer to them. As he watched how the distance rapidly turned towards zero the ever-running cogwheels inside Zeref's went into high drive and calculated the possible location of impact.
When the result came out and lay in front of his inner eyes raw and bare, the future black mage wanted to do nothing else but scream in pure horror because the giant fish was heading directly at them. He knew it was far too late to dodge the flying water creature, so Zeref had only one choice left. He closed his eyes, too afraid to watch how demise would hit him at any moment.
First, droplets of water splashed across his face and Zeref's fright of getting flattened doubled several times. But after that nothing else came. He waited and waited but still nothing, absolutely nothing. Therefore he dared to take a careful peek through the slits of his fingers, afraid of what he might find there. To his surprise, there was no fish in sight, only the calm lake greeted him. Had everything just now been nothing more than an illusion the young boy wondered?
"What are you hiding your face for, Zeref?" Natherious asked curiously from above, immediately catching his son's attention. When the boy in question had turned around his head completely, he gasped aloud at what he discovered.
The fish had not simply vanished from the face of the world but instead was caught by Natherious – with only one arm. Zeref was utterly awestruck at how easily his dad had absorbed the force of the impact and lifted the heavy sea creature as if it was nothing. It was impossible to single out the exact weight but at the very least it must be three digits. Despite this reality, the oldest Dragneel showed no signs of overexertion from the task literally in his hands. Instead, it seemed like the tall man could balance even more without any problems, his unending supply of strength providing the energy to do so.
And Zeref admired every second of it, his wish to become just as great as his dad intensified tenfold.
XXX
That last part he did not share with Natsu though, as he told his brother about his first fishing experience and their dad's unique way of doing things. It was a silent promise to himself, a vow for the future and today he would lay the first stone of its foundation.
But the raven-haired boy was not a fool. He could never catch a big fish as his father had done. It would be more like the fish would catch him and Zeref was not keen on getting all wet today, especially because he would never hear the end of it – Natsu would make sure of that. So a small one had to do the trick today.
Natherious had already shown Zeref, how slight divergences in the motions would lure in different kinds of fishes. A difficult deed and so far Zeref could not proclaim many successes for him, but he was certain today it would work. The encouragement of the pink-haired tyke's presence in his lap would assure a satisfying result.
Together with Natsu's overjoyed giggles, Zeref resumed his prior actions and his right hand started to twitch ever so slightly. More minutes passed by but despite his best efforts, no prey swallowed the bait and Zeref slowly grew frustrated. The sun was about to set any moment and they still had to go all the way home. However, before Zeref could immerse himself any deeper into his thoughts, Natsu pulled him straight back into the here and now.
"Zeref, Zeref! Can I try to catch a fish? It looks so cool!" the younger member of the Dragneel brothers exclaimed super excited. Zeref was surprised by the sudden loud desire of his brother, especially the vibrant happiness riding on top of every tune. And here he thought, his frustrations had dampened the mood but probably it's better this way. As long as Natsu is giddy from joy, so will he as well.
Without giving a vocal answer, Zeref merely offered the rod to Natsu. The said boy accepted as fast as his youthful body could allow and he took the long piece of crafted wood into his hands. His body was about to burst from all the emotions coursing through his veins. If he did not real them back, it might even happen.
Zeref, now that his hands were free, moved them in order to secure his little brother against his body with a tight hug. Natsu most likely lacked the physical strength to pull any fish out of the water, that might fall for the evil plot. So it would be best if Zeref could interfere at any given moment without wasting precious time.
The amount of time in which Natsu was not safely secured was insignificant. At most, it would take Zeref only two seconds before the younger Dragneel brother would be within the space of his arms. Not enough time for anything to happen. At least so did he believe.
Suddenly the tension of the fishing line skyrocketed and Natsu was catapulted out of his seated position. The boy's feelings went faster than light from blissful happiness to frightening despair and he let out a bloodcurdling scream of pure terror as he was pulled away from the shore into the watery depths of unknown territory.
Zeref had yet to progress on what had just happened even though he had seen everything. His arms closed but there was nothing else but thin air in the now empty, lifeless space directly in front of him. A moment later he heard the sound of someone breaking through the surface of the lake as the person was swallowed whole. Zeref's brain went into hyper action as every detail was identified and analyzed. And then he screamed as well – no... he roared like no child could possibly do, a roar of his brother's name that shook the world, a roar worthy of the title of a dragon.
"NATSU!"
There was no hesitation in his following movements, no delay nor any waste. Two long steps were everything he needed to do in order to reduce the distance to almost zero between him and the lake. Zeref crouched down slightly and then he jumped and dived headfirst into the waves in his pursuit of his brother.
With one drawn-out inhale he had taken in as much oxygen as he possibly could. It had to suffice because he would not return to the surface without his Natsu. Like an eel, Zeref slipped into the lake and he thanked his father's teachings. The water felt like his element even though he preferred a warm and cosy place more than anything. Even more so when this meant, that he could snuggle up to his family.
His limps worked in synchronised tandem as Zeref dashed through the waters but he could barely see a thing anymore. This lake has always been shady but now, bathed in the fading light of the day, it was even worse. Only darkness greeted Zeref's sight and instantly fear for the most gruesome outcome invaded his heart and soul.
How was he supposed to find Natsu under such circumstances? He could be everywhere and it was difficult to navigate inside the confines of the lake. They should have never come here, to begin with, Zeref thought to himself as his desperation grew rapidly. If something happened to Natsu it would be his fault and his alone. Zeref would never forgive himself for this atrocity.
With this thought in mind, more and more negative emotions blew the horns of war. They had found a new victim to sink their teeth of incarnated despair into and they would delight in every tortured cry they could drag out of the young boy. But at the same time, Zeref did remember the fresh vow from that very day. Natsu and he had promised to protect each other no matter what and Zeref strived to complete it to complete perfection.
New resolve sparkled from within the depths of his soul and brought forth a change in him. Armies of ominous sinisterness had barely begun their march of doom before they were intercepted by the defenders. Flames, dyed in the blackest of all blacks, washed over the invaders and burned every last one of them to smithereens. The remaining ash was set ablaze and banished from the plains of Zeref's innermost realm but the inferno of darkness had only started its descent. However, it was too soon to break free but the after-effects of their awakening were not as patient as the flames themselves.
Zeref had yet to notice but his appearance had become different from before. Whether it was only temporary or constant was a question for the future to answer but for the moment, his black pools had gone away and were replaced by a set of scarlet crimson eyes, the very same as his dad possessed as well.
Also, two irises viewed now at the surroundings and with them, the world around Zeref changed, shifted and morphed into a new one accompanied by an unseen reality. He had been on the brink of his oxygen supply, the fright coursing through his body had only drastically hastened the depletion but suddenly all pressure on his lungs vanished from the face of the world and he felt like he could stay underwater for eternity.
Further, where murky veils of darkness had blocked his sight so far was now nothing else but clearance. Zeref could see everything, almost as if the shadows of the impending night did not affect him any longer. The future black mage had no clue, how this was possible and what the reason for this occurrence was. The one and only thing that mattered was that he was able to see again.
And finally, he was able to spy Natsu in the distance. He was so far away from Zeref's current location but he could still see, how Natsu desperately flailed his limbs around. It was futile and only wasted the last remaining droplets of air left inside Natsu's body. Zeref had only seconds before Natsu would overstep a critical of no return.
Even then his newfound calmness did not shake in the slightest and he reached out to his brother with his right hand. It felt like he was in a trance as he did so. Yet, he still perceived how the distance between them melted away like ice inside a volcano until Zeref could sling one of his arms around Natsu's torso.
Never before had he experienced anything as he did at that moment. The circumstances were so dire, yet he felt so free as if he could do everything without having to worry about the aftermath of possible failure.
It felt so magical.
And it was the same as they returned to the surface. The mysterious force levitated both of them, eager to offer a helping hand in their quest for survival. Thus the Dragneel brothers broke free from the watery chains. At the exact same moment, the hypnosis-like state from Zeref ended and he was thrown into an emotional rollercoaster. The poor boy, however, was too preoccupied to cough alongside Natsu to take much notice of the brewing turmoil inside of him.
Both yapped for new air as both of them had been at their very limit of how much they could endure, their bodies in desperate need of a new supply with the life-saving element. Both of them looked like wet dogs with water still dripping from their faces. The fluid essence had managed to smooth out Natsu's spikes and it looked ridiculous, how long his soft hair actually was. Zeref couldn't say the same about himself though. His raven hair may be utterly drenched but his antenna ever-defying gravity still stood proudly skywards without fail.
Normally, he was annoyed by his stubborn tuft of hair sticking out but right now, it brought him a strange feeling of relief because, despite the terrible situation they were in, it would end soon enough and then they could return to normality. It was the anchor Zeref needed in order to keep his wits together.
"Are you with me, Natsu?" Zeref eventually managed to force out between their united coughs. At first, he wanted to ask, if Natsu was okay but it would have been a silly question because the answer was more than obvious. Neither of them were okay at the moment so instead, he settled for something else. Zeref only desired to hear Natsu's quirky voice to make sure he was not in any life-threatening condition anymore.
"Zeref," the pink-haired boy cried as he turned around in his brother's tight embrace and buried his face into the crook of Zeref's neck. His whole body was shaking from fright at what had happened. Never before had he suffered from something so terrible and he knew it was not over yet. He had seen it, after all, the thing that had swallowed the bait and pulled him underwater, the reason as to why no fish would bite into the hook.
"I'm so scared, Zeref. There's a big lake monster!"
The first part was understandable for Zeref. It would be for anyone. But the second section was unsettling to hear. They had had just escaped from a near-death situation and Zeref was not keen on either of them being thrown right into the next one. Too gruesome was such an implication but the brutal and cruel reality of the harsh world thought otherwise.
Mere metres away from them, something gargantuan broke through the calm surface of the lake. Zeref immediately turned in the direction and as he was met with nothing else but a large yellow eye staring at him and Natsu in feral, ravenous intent, the fractured picture became whole. The atmosphere had been laced with tension ever since they arrived at their fishing ground and Zeref only took notice now as it was already far too late. Further, he finally understood why his hunt had not been successful. All possible prey had been scared to leave their hideouts because they had sensed the presence of the top predator nearby – all except Natus and Zeref.
They had run straight into the lion's den and could only watch in pure horror with tears running down their cheeks, how the colossal monster of the lake showed more and more of its hideous form. It seemed unending in its length as it was taller than any tree in the entire forest surrounding the huge pool of water.
The beast was a swimming mountain of muscles and fins. Yet it had still a lean frame, perfectly suited to chase every possible victim until the feast of blood could begin. Most of its body was covered in greyish scales except its underside. Slightly red scales replaced the grey colour there and made it almost impossible to see the creature inside the murky waters until it was too late. Multiple pairs of short yet strong fins at its sides allowed for high speed and manoeuvrability and their sail-like counterparts on the monster's back and belly only added to this. The most frightening part of their hunter was the long maw with countless sets of razor-sharp teeth though. It fitted perfectly to the rest of its body since one would become a slaughtered massacre if caught by the pikes of death.
When gravity pulled the sea monster back, it came crashing done with a mighty roar that resonated within their very bones and threatened to crush their frames. Its enormous weight created large waves that swallowed both brothers whole as they clung desperately to each other. It was the only thing they could do as they faced the living threat to their lives.
Wave after wave, torrent after torrent embraced Zeref and Natsu in their violent hugs of agony. The elder brother had an iron-tight hold on his little brother so they wouldn't get separated in the chaos around them. He also tried to keep them as close to the surface as possible and somehow he managed quite well in this regard.
Every time, they were pulled underwater, Zeref was able to bring them right back. It was an exhausting activity and his entire body screamed in overexertion at him but the adrenaline pumping through his veins kept him going. And when the sudden storm finally ended, there was no end to the nightmare came true.
A deathly stillness reigned supreme across the lake as Natsu and Zeref shivered in each others' arms. They knew that the beast was still there, looking at them, thinking of them as its next meal. They sensed with their legs, how the gigantic body disturbed the currents inside the lake and it almost felt as if the slimy scales were brushing over their skin.
But suddenly all feelings vanished and the presence of the monster seemed like nothing more than a memory anymore, almost as if it had not happened at all. They saw how the sun in the far distance send one last ray of light upon the world before it admitted defeat to the night.
At the same moment there was another splash but this time their noses were invaded by the rotten stench of death and demise as well and Zeref realised instantly, what was about to happen and where they currently were. The large tongue exploring their bodies or the sudden darkness overwhelming their sight allowed no other conclusion.
They were inside the gargantuan creature's maw and were about to be swallowed whole and digested alive. Death would welcome them in form of an acid bath inside the innards of the large sea creature. A terrific thought Zeref was unable to progress completely so he closed his eyes and cried like Natsu did, waiting for their last second in this world to pass by.
Zeref heard how the snout closed shut with violent force, the snap powerful enough to almost pop his eardrums as an all-encompassing warmth hugged him and Natsu tightly. It felt comfortable and he wanted to do nothing else but drown within the gentleness it offered. The ebony-haired boy realised, that he was no longer inside the monster's mouth but somewhere else instead.
Still, he knew his new location all too well because there was only one single place, where this heat of love could be found by him. Natsu followed suit with the realisation as a familiar smell eradicated any stench lingering on their bodies without fail.
They sobbed together and cried together as they found the words, which came directly from their hearts and souls.
"Mom, Dad!"
XXXXXXXXX
We are getting closer and closer to the end. It won't be long anymore until the Dragneel flashback ends and we return to the present. I think in the next one or two chapters we will reach the conclusion of this arc so I hope you are ready for the end :D
Thank all of you for your continued support and we will see each other in the next update!
Stay tuned :D
