Fiore Academy
Chapter Twelve – The Gates
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail in any shape or form. I am a mere FF writer paying tribute to the world of Hiro Mashima, the rightful owner of Fairy Tail.
Authors' Note – Hey guys, been a while… I'm sorry for the super long wait, I've just been… well I would be lying If I said I was doing work or something of that equality. What I have been doing is watching anime, lazy bastard that I am. Anyway, point is, I'm sorry, but hey, here's the chapters you've waited about a month for, so enjoy… if you can enjoy my gibberish.
Ten years ago, Dragneel Estate Woods
"Where are we going Zeref-chan?" Natsu asked his older brother Zeref as they walked up a narrow dirt path in the woods surrounding the Dragneel Estate.
Zeref was quiet for a moment before he answered, "You remember the shrine father told us to never enter under any circumstances?"
Natsu nodded and Zeref continued, "Well, that is where we are going".
Natsu blinked at that, "But… Zeref-chan… you just said it yourself, we're not allowed in there".
Zeref sighed, "Listen Natsu, you'll have to keep this between us, is that understood?"
Natsu gaped at his older brother, "But… we're not allowed!" Natsu said again, more insistently.
Zeref shook his head and stopped, kneeling down to his younger brothers' height to see him eye to eye.
"Listen to me Natsu… what I am asking you to do is something I shouldn't… something I should not burden you with… but it will be all for the best. Do you trust me?"
Natsu looked into his brother's eyes silently for a moment, before he nodded, "I do Zeref-chan".
Zeref nods, "Very well, then follow me".
After that, Natsu followed his brother in silence.
…..
Mirajane, Hisui and Erza watched in silence as they stared at the black sphere that Zeref Dragneel had erected around their beloved Natsu and the enemy mage.
It had been fifteen minutes since he had done so, and Zeref appeared to sweat from the strain of maintaining the sphere; and looked sick from what he, and he alone, could see within the sphere.
Finally, Zeref made a cutting gesture, and the sphere exploded into black wisps of smoke, laying the air thick with its black fog.
The black wisps dissipated, and revealed Natsu Dragneel, standing alone in silence, and appearing to be a little dazed.
As the four of them watched, the platinum streaks in Natsu's hair receded back to pink, as did the black streaks across his scaly skin, which too was turning back to normal.
Seconds passed in silence, before Natsu passed out into the pavement.
"NATSU!" the three girls immediately screamed, running simultaneously to his side.
Zeref however, walked calmly to his brother's unconscious body.
"Natsu… Natsu wake up!" Mirajane cried as she held his head. Hisui was checking his pulse whilst Erza stood by his side, eyes full of worry.
"He's still alive! I think he's just exhausted" Hisui said a little breathless, due to her own worry.
"Hisui is correct" Zeref said calmly in a monotone. The three girls whipped their heads into Zeref's direction.
"Is he going to be okay?" Erza asks him, and he nods.
"What happened? Why did he pass out?" Mirajane asked him.
Zeref sighed, "That can all wait… right now, we need to get Natsu back to his dorm so he can rest properly".
As much as the girls wanted answers, they knew Zeref was right, and the four of them together proceeded in carrying Natsu back to the trams, and back to his dorm.
…..
Ten Years ago, Dragneel Hidden Shrine, Dragneel Estate Grounds
"This place is scaring me Zeref-chan" Natsu muttered as the pair of them walked up to the shrine they had been forbidden to enter.
It was no wonder this shrine would scare a six-year-old boy. It showed its age of centuries in its worn wood and paint. A haughty breeze blew, rattling old shrine bells and loose wood, making the shrine creak in its gust.
"Zeref-chan, let's go back… this place gives me a bad feeling" Natsu muttered.
Zeref sighs at his little brother, "I thought you said you trusted me Natsu; do not worry, if any danger comes, I'll deal with it".
Natsu nods; his brother was a mage, a first year at the Fiore Academy of Magic… he knew how to scare the meanies away.
A little calmer from his brother's words, Natsu walked hand in hand up the steps of the shrine.
Zeref laid his hand on the shrine's door, and said to his little brother, "Listen Natsu… it's not too late for you to say you don't trust me… you can turn back now if it is your wish… this is your last chance to choose the path that gives you a normal life".
Natsu looked up at his brother, and saw the eyes of one who was scared… but scared of what?
Natsu nodded and the fear fled from Zeref's eyes.
"Thank you Natsu… thank you" Zeref thanked his little brother, and opened the door to the innards of the shrine.
The brothers walked in, and the voice that bellowed it's rage at them, sent shivers down their spines.
"Who dares to enter my shrine! Who dares to disturb me! Name yourselves! Or perish…"
…..
Zeref closed the door to Natsu's bedroom behind him as he entered the main living area of Natsu's Dorm.
Immediately, the three girls stood up in earnest, ready to charge into Natsu's room to be by his side. However, Zeref had other ideas as he barred their way with his arm.
"Let us through!" Erza growled at the older man.
Zeref shook his head, "I'm sorry Miss Scarlet, but Natsu requires undisturbed rest" he said, laying emphasis on undisturbed.
The three girls frown but inwardly admit that Zeref was right… as much as they hated it.
Turning around, the girls take back their seats at the large sofa next to one another, and Zeref takes the single seat opposite to them.
"So are you going to tell us what happened today?" Mirajane asks Zeref a little crossly.
Zeref sighs as he rubs his left temple, "I exerted a little too much magic maintaining that sphere for Natsu… I swear, he pushes me too hard".
"Zeref-chan!" Hisui growls at him, making him jump.
Laughing good-heartedly, Zeref replies, "I see you are still as snappy mouthed as ever Hisui… I wish I could say it's good to see that again".
Hisui pouts a little, while Erza says calmly, "Listen Zeref-san, I know that you wish to avoid the topic for as long as possible, but I am afraid you cannot avoid it any longer… tell us what we want and deserve to know".
Zeref sighs, "First I have a question for you".
Erza raises an eyebrow, "Oh? And what would that be?"
Zeref smiles, "Apologies… make it two questions… first is as to why you think you deserve to know".
"That's obvious isn't it!?" Mirajane starts at him, "Because we all love him, that's why".
Zeref raises his hands placatingly, "Okay, I understand… and second… what are you three to my brother; is one of you his girlfriend?" He looks intensely at Mirajane, thinking she being the more likely suspect.
In reply, the girls simultaneously bring out their golden dragon necklaces, which were hidden by their blouses.
Zeref looks at the necklaces in a little disinterest, before his eyes widen in realisation.
"Wait… you're not telling me… all of you?" Zeref asks, a little in disbelief as the three nod their heads. The girls did not know how Zeref would react, nor would they care… but the laughter that came from him was not what they were expecting.
Chuckling a little madly, Zeref says with humour, "Who'd have thought it? My little brother, Natsu… has three girlfriends! What's more… they don't hate each other!"
The girls frown at the laughing man before them as he continued to laugh uproariously.
"Zeref-chan" Hisui says with a disappointed tone and frown.
"Zeref-san" Erza says in the same tone as Hisui.
Mirajane just rolled her eyes and muttered something about 'men other than Natsu'.
Zeref wipes a tear of laughter from his eye, and says a little more normally, "My apologies… you three may be used to it by now, but it's hard for me to imagine that someone who was once a boy that asked me 'where do babies come from Zeref-chan?' To have multiple girlfriends! It is difficult to imagine for me".
Erza frowns at him, "You're avoiding the topic again Zeref-san".
Zeref nods, "Indeed… very well, now that I know that all of you are my brother's partners" he stifled a giggle at that, "I guess I can tell you the Dragneel family's greatest secret".
Hisui's eyes open wide, "Wait… you don't mean… an Origin Secret?"
Zeref nods and Hisui gasps while Mirajane and Erza frown in confusion.
"Origin Secret?" Erza asks and Hisui nods and answers.
"The five Royal Clans of the Magical World… Dragneel, Fiore, Lockster, Arias and Neekis… all five have something called an Origin Secret… a secret above secrets… it is the very definition of the families' origin!"
Zeref smiles, "Indeed… and I do believe the four of you will wind up being the only ones in history to know two of the five Origin Secrets".
Erza frowns, "Two?"
Hisui nods, "Indeed; when there is a chance for my father to meet all of you, you will also be allowed to learn my family's Origin Secret".
Mirajane was frowning, "The first? Haven't the five Royal Clans ever had a marriage between one another?"
Zeref shakes his head, "The only way that is to happen, is if it were between members of the family who did not know the secret… that way the family could keep it to themselves… as a matter of fact, Natsu was initially not allowed to know, since he and Hisui were promised for marriage when they were young… but when he found out, the arrangement was called off".
"I was engaged to Natsu!" Hisui cried out in shock.
Zeref laughs, "Yes, but no longer… that is why you don't know your Clan's Origin Secret".
Mirajane and Erza start up at that, "You don't your Clan's Origin Secret Hisui?"
Hisui shakes her head, "I always did wonder why".
Zeref nods, "Indeed".
Erza shakes her head, "I can't believe this; we're avoiding the real topic here".
Zeref sighs, "Indeed, now It must fall to me to be the ones to tell you the Dragneel Clan's Origin Secret".
Zeref takes a more comfortable position on the sofa he was sitting on, before continuing.
"Very well… this will be a story, so listen well" Zeref warns them and they all nod.
"Around one thousand years ago, there was a woman by the name of Gertrud Dragneel" Zeref began, "She was said to be a beauty, attracting suitors from all across the country, despite the clan being small at the time. She was so beautiful in fact… that she attracted the attention of a Demon".
"A Demon!?" Mirajane questioned in exclamation.
Zeref nodded, "Yes, a Demon… an etherious one at that".
"An etherious Demon? They're the most malicious and powerful of the Demon race, aren't they?" Erza asked, and Zeref nodded.
"As you know, Demons are prideful, and value purity of blood, never or rather, rarely, would they ever mix their blood with that of a mortal… and it's taboo as well" Zeref continued, "You also know that Demons are categorised into three different categories; the weak Ortherious, the average Aitherious and the powerful Etherious. This demon was powerful even among the etherious… and it desired Gertrud Dragneel, and Demons will do just about anything to have their desire realised. So, he spied on her in the human world, and saw that she had a lover. After killing the poor man, he took his face and made it his own, so that he could sneak in the chambers of our dear Gertrud. Thinking it to be her lover, she made love to him through the night".
"If it weren't for the fact that this was basically a rape story, I would think it romantic" Hisui said.
Zeref and the other girls nod at that and Zeref continued.
"The next morning, her lover's body was discovered, with his face torn off… many witnesses swore they saw the murderer, but nobody believed them… for they say he tore off the man's face and made it his own. However, Gertrud felt uneasy in her grief; the body of her lover had been different the night before… it had been bigger, stronger and more dominant… she believed in the witnesses, and after telling her father, the clan head…. The clan believed as well. One month later, it was discovered that Gertrud, was with child".
The girls looked shocked at this.
"I didn't realise Demons could have children with humans" Erza said.
Zeref shook his head, "Yes and no; Demons can impregnate humans, but the baby always dies at birth".
The girls looked a little sad at that.
"But not this time" Zeref sighed.
The girls look up at this.
"You mean… it survived?" Mirajane asked and Zeref nodded.
"Indeed… once it was born healthy and strong, the Clan Head tried to kill it by decapitation… but it broke the thousand-fold steel of the sword in two" Zeref said, and Erza gasped.
"Erza? Does that mean something?" Hisui asked.
Erza nods, "Even a normal sword is unbelievable… but a thousand-folds? That can't be true… it can't! A thousand-fold sword can cut through five layers of brick like butter without even losing a little of its edge!"
Zeref nods as the other two girls gasp.
"Indeed… and after that, the clan head tried burning the child to death in the flames of a forge… and the baby soaked up the flames until the coals turned cold as ice a minute after placing the baby in… after that, he tried suffocating it, but it never seemed to need air… buried, dropped from a cliff, a swarm of arrows… nothing worked… the baby just kept on living".
The girls shake their heads. They could not believe even a demon could survive that.
"Finally, the Clan Head decided to build a shrine, and keep and imprison the Demon child inside of it forever, and the baby grew, and grew, and its body died and turned to dust… but the essence of the half-demon baby lived on inside the shrine… and never left… nor did it seek vengeance against Its family… it just remained in the shrine… until ten years ago".
"Ten years ago?" Hisui asked.
Zeref nodded, 'Yes… that is when it happened… when I took Natsu to the shrine… where Natsu and the Demon, became one… with no separation between the two".
Mirajane gaped at that, "But… how… how did that happen in the first place?"
Zeref shook his head, "I do not wish to answer you on that… I do not wish to be the one to tell you what happened in that shrine… that is up to Natsu".
The girls sigh at that.
"Any questions?" Zeref asked them.
"Yes" Erza spoke up, "Before Natsu went crazy, you made a chant… something about the Gates of E.N.D?"
Zeref nods, "Yes, and I quote 'Open the Gates of the END… open the first… trap the rest… let the power shine in the light… may the fires burn his foes… may his flame be that of salvation, not of disaster… release'" Zeref looks down at his hands, "That is the chant to open the first gate".
"But what are the gates?" Erza asks.
Zeref frowns, "I've never been sure if they're mental or physical… as far as I know, they're just the word that was used in the chant… but essentially, there are three gates, and the more gates you open, the more power is let out".
"So why didn't you just open the third gate?" Hisui asks.
Zeref chuckles, "I think you three would hate me for that… each gate has its own aftermath repercussions; opening the first one leaves you exhausted and in need of some serious sleep and the second will leave you in a coma for maybe a month".
"And the third?" Mirajane asks.
Zeref looks into their eyes a little sadly, "Death".
The word hung heavy in the room, the contemplation of Natsu dying from releasing the third gate terrified the girls.
"But I will say this" Zeref adds and the girls look up.
"If I ever open the third gate, it will be for the salvation of our world, nothing less than that" Zeref says, "Because if the third gate is opened, not even all the mages in the world would be able to defeat Natsu… gods and demons alike would tremble… just the pressure of his magical power would reduce all within a hundred metres of him to bloody masses on the ground".
Silence followed his words, which were spoken with a little of both awe and fear. The girls, were terrified at the thought of such power.
"Is there anything else?" Zeref asked the girls.
They all shake their heads, and Erza says, "I think that'll be all for now".
Zeref nods, "Then I suggest you leave for your rooms… you can come see Natsu in the morning when he has recovered".
The girls nod and leave, while Zeref laid back on the couch, thinking of that one fateful day ten years ago.
…..
Ten Years ago, Dragneel Hidden Shrine, Dragneel Estate Grounds
"Speak up!" the voice growled loudly, "I am becoming impatient!"
Zeref steps forward, "I am Zeref Dragneel, son and heir to the head of the Dragneel Clan, and this is my younger brother Natsu".
The voice laughs, "Dragneel? Been a while since a member of my family has seen me… how long has it been son of Dragneel?"
Zeref gulps, "It has been just over a thousand years since you were born".
"A thousand years?" the voice asks, questioning Zeref's answer, "Feels like it's been longer than that… why have you come Children of the Dragon?"
Zeref frowns, "Children… of the Dragon?"
The voice laughs, "What? Do they no longer give you that title? A shame… I liked the idea of being called a Child of a Dragon… but no matter… at least I can say I am the Child of a Demon".
"Zeref-chan" Natsu pulls at Zeref's sleeve, "I'm afraid".
Zeref places a hand atop Natsu's smaller one, "It's okay" Zeref turns back to the front, "I have come to fulfil the prophecy of your mother".
The voice was silent, "My mother? Her prophecy you say… do you believe you are the one to sacrifice?"
Zeref shakes his head, "No… I believe I am the restrictor… I believe it to be Natsu, who will do the sacrifice".
"Sacrifice?" Natsu asks softly.
The voice laughs, "Yes young one… the sacrifice… I will tell you my mother's prophecy, but only if you decide to try hosting me".
Zeref nods, "Natsu… you said you trust me… do it".
Natsu was silent for a moment before he nodded, "Okay Zeref-chan".
Immediately, Natsu screamed in shock and agony as the half demon entered him, and all the while, words echoed inside his head;
When Summer comes, Darkness Falls,
The World A-Tremble, Shaking Earth,
Light Dimmed, Shadow Thickened,
The World Shall Fall,
Summer Power, too great to Holster,
Restrictor Born, A Brother Told,
To Leash Wrath of Summer,
Summer Sacrifice, Mourners All,
A Dozen Women, tears shed by All,
Salvation Comes… within the Tears of Summer
Authors' Note – Well, that was the first time I've ever done anything like a prophecy, I hope that it was okay… If not, well… I am not going to do much better than that I reckon, because I think I suck at them. Anyway, tell us what you thought, and if you have any questions, be sure to PM me or something and I'll get right to you. For now, I plan to upload two or three chapters, so read on if I did so. Also… try and discern the prophecy, because I already have a pretty solid idea for fulfilling it, despite being a gardener and not an Architect (George RR. Martin reference).