Alright, folks, the end is here at last. At least the end of the Dragneel flashback which also marks the turning point of the whole story. Including this chapter, there are only two left before we return to the present and it's time to start wrapping everything up that I've implemented so far. I hope you look forward to that just as much as I do! But before that, it's time to see where the story of the Dragneels goes after Zeref and Natsu were rescued by their parents from the large sea monster. Hope you will enjoy the following rollercoaster of emotions! Also, an additional warning for this chapter because there will be a small scene of domestic violence. No worries though! That will be solved directly after it appears.

Now then! enough of me and happy reading to you all.

XXXXXXXXX

Heavy clouds darkened the vast sky as far as the eye could see. The storm had long been brewing in the giant pot of natural elements and now it was ready to be unleashed upon the world. However, an overpowering presence denied such desires and instead magical leashes had been put on the storm. Therefore, it was forced to obey every order of its masters. Angered at first, it soon realised that obedience was the better choice. Everything else could result in complete annihilation within a second's notice.

So the colossal gale forces remained inside the cloudy borderlines, thunder growled like a feral beast but not a single lightning flashed across the sky. Still, the contained powers rose the tension in the air and thus the storm became even more frightening. It could break loose at any given moment, the blink of an eye would be more than enough. The one and only thing required was the permission of its masters, an action impossible to predict and therefore so much more frightening. One wrong move could end in a devastating catastrophe, one that could shake the entire world in its foundation.

However, may that be as it was, the two people who could give the final order were busy elsewhere. It was the one and only shackle stopping them from performing the deed. So the forces remained where they were, high in the heavens, bound and locked away, waiting until freedom would be granted to them.

XXX

His bare toes wiggled in the cold sand covering his feet. Burning hot during the day but the night had already cast its magic and all warmth was lost and replaced by freezing cold. It was a weird feeling for Zeref to be back on dry land because not long ago, he had been drenched from head to toe, located deep inside the eerie lake. He had hugged Natsu as close as possible at that moment when the giant lake monster had been about to swallow them both in one gulp. His young life had flashed in front of his eyes as death was already embracing his body in its ghostly but chilling grasp.

But the fate awaiting all living beings was unable to pull them along for the ride because out of nowhere, their parents had rushed in and saved them from their destined end. What happened afterwards, Zeref could not remember. A thick fog was weighing down on his memories. The only memory, that stuck to him was, how happy he had been when the arms of Luna and Natherious were embracing Natsu and him.

Zeref always felt safe and secure in their immediate presence. But it paled when compared to the countless sensations of manifested love invading his delicate heart and fragile soul when he was tightly hugged by one of them. If both of his parents closed their arms the already all-encompassing feeling multiplied countless times and turned into a piece that had fallen straight from heaven. And if Natsu were to join in as well, Zeref's personal garden of Eden was perfected.

So even in the dire situation they had been in, the young black mage was overjoyed by pure happiness and knew, that everything would be alright. But it only lasted for so long because once the situation had been calmed down and the monster was nowhere to be seen anymore, slowly but surely realisation settled in his mind. He understood, that he was in deep trouble for what he had done or rather, what he hadn't done when the opportunity was within his reach.

Zeref should have stopped them before they entered the forest. He knew, that he was overstepping his boundaries and that Natsu shouldn't even be there to begin with. Yet, he still gave in as he saw the excitement in Natsu's eyes. His brother's face was simply not made to be tainted by disappointment. Instead, only joy should be allowed to reign supreme over it.

So against his better judgement, he said nothing as they crossed the border of no return, always on the hunt for Natsu's smile hiding behind every trunk and every root. The raven-haired boy should have known, that it wouldn't end well but he had this little hope inside his heart, a faint whisper of a silent voice leading both of them deeper and deeper into what Zeref now knew was a lion's den. So obvious, yet he didn't see the danger circling around Natsu and him until it had been far too late.

Realisation sank deep into his consciousness and when their parents had pulled them back to the shore only shame remained inside his heart and soul. Zeref was ashamed of himself. He had vowed hours ago to protect Natsu no matter what and the first thing he did, was endanger him by leading the ball of walking love directly into a life-threatening situation. The young black mage cursed inwardly at himself and shame reacted in response to his feelings.

The dark emotion trashed around like a feral animal, roaring in beastly wrath as it began to twist and morphed into something far more sinister than before. One became two and from shame, self-loathe and self-hatred were born. Even though both were mere seconds old, their powerful reign was unbroken inside Zeref's mind as they ruled in synchronized unison over the young child.

Zeref bit his lip with suddenly sharpened canines, piercing his tender flesh and drawing blood. His teeth had become the very same as his father's, whom he showed of with every hearty laugh that left the tall man's mouth. His hands and fingers clenched into iron-tight fists, trembling in pain from the increasing amount of strength he was applying. It already surpassed by far what a kid of his age should be able to summon but a new force taking root inside his entire body enabled Zeref to do so. The power numbed away all sensations of hurt so Zeref did not notice, how he was breaking apart his frame unwillingly, nor did he perceive, how his black pools once more turned into scarlet crimson, adored by a second iris.

Luna Heartfilia and Natherious Dragneel were both powerful mages that had yet to show the true extent of their skills to the world. Being their son, Zeref Dragneel was the same as them. Ethernano, the source of all sorcery, flowed strongly within his veins and due to the events of this very day, his latent talent was awakened. He may be but a child, but Zeref was born into a deep layer of the bottomless abyss of magic. His gift easily surpassed the learnings of countless mages, who studied for their entire life. All of their effort looked in comparison like worthless trash on the side of the road, not even suitable to be feasted on by street dogs. Zeref was granted powers beyond common imagination as to what a young boy should be capable of but he lacked the control, experience and understanding to control his surfacing, magical abilities.

The tension in the atmosphere became thicker and thicker the more Zeref lost himself into the spiral of negative emotions, pulling him deeper into the abyss, where only darkness could be found as it was the one aspect of reality able to survive in such an environment. Soon enough the world around the future black mage ceased to exist entirely and Zeref was left alone to dwell inside his dark emotions. They reached into the depths of his soul with ravenous desire until they banged against an enormous fortress of ethereal crafting.

It stood sturdy, created from unknown, stone material adored by countless plants and blocked the savage crusade at its gates without fail. Self-loath and self-hatred screeched in anger as they could not pass any further. Their claws slashed against the walls and were shattered effortlessly, the beasts of darkness howling in agonizing pain over their broken weapons. No matter what they would do, the citadel resting at the deepest point of Zeref Dragneel would not budge under the pressure. Only in times of absolute need, it would do as such, much like it had been the case when Zeref required the means to save his beloved younger brother from the bottom of the lake.

A mere droplet was released from its insides and it had been enough to complete the deed without fail until Luna and Natherious took over. It was not more than a weak sparkle, invisible to the bare eye, yet it had been enough to boost all of Zeref's abilities and seemingly affected the boy even now.

But even when it was Zeref's power to hold, it could not be allowed to be set free entirely – not yet. Too dangerous was, what was laying dormant inside the unbreakable walls of the citadel, sleeping and waiting for the day until Zeref was ready and could pass through the gates, opening them with his bare hands and receive what was his to use ever since he had first seen the light of the world.

At the innermost core of the fortress, behind another large gate, a vast pond was located, separated from the world of realism and physical laws. Only its own legislations worked in the mythical so it came, that the sky above was clad in the cloak of the universe. The riverbanks were adored by lush plants and flowers of all different kinds. They were too many to count but their out-worldly beauty was undeniable. Inside the pond, ghostly fishes of ethereal light swam in calm motions through the crystal-clear waters. They danced around each other in gracile movements, following a silent beat of music only they could hear. Some of them jumped and broke the surface but no water rippled from the motion. Behind them, a trail of stardust followed them until they dove back from where they had emerged. For outsiders, it was an action they could never hope to understand but for the spiritual fishes, it was a ritual they would perform forever, as long as this Evergarden existed. A ritual that transmitted their prayers to the divine beings residing in the middle of the small cosmos they called their home.

A small island broke through the even surface of the gem-like water before it collected and fell into the limitless vastness of the universe surrounding it, never meant to return to this place ever again. But before it would leave, the water was kissed goodbye by falling petals of the lushest pink that could be found. Each petal swam happily inside the magical bath before each of them was swallowed by one of the gentle sea creatures, sent back by their prayers to the place they rightfully belonged.

At the border to the unending cosmos, a tall Cherry Blossom Tree stood proudly. From every leaf a soft shine emitted, forming a halo around the tree that could only be called divine. Ever-blooming for the rest of time itself, this Cherry Blossom was a god, a second Yggdrasil no one knew about aside from one person, bearer of two forbidden fruits, two seeds of the blackest ebony that should remain untouched for the rest of eternity as the continued to grow with every passing second.

Both of them were engraved with an emblem. Their individual lines formed horns, wings and tails alike, yet each canvas showed another being. The right one had a resemblance with a mighty beast soaring through the skies, whilst the left seed looked more like a demonized human. Yet, even despite their differences, they were two sides of the same coin, bound together forever and never to be separated.

They were the sacred treasury of this world, a domain only four people were able to enter if they wished so and had the means to find the exact location of this holy place. Nobody else was allowed to enter, so the invaders at the castle gates were fended off by the complex defence mechanisms and destroyed over and over again. However, Zeref's dark emotions did not yield and admitted defeat. Instead, they continued their attempts of storming the bastion and by doing so, threw Zeref into a hole of utter despair from which he could not escape. Inside waited a forbidden thought he had almost forgotten about, but now it returned stronger than ever and tore his mental defences asunder. It wouldn't be long until Zeref lost himself and proclaimed this one absurdity aloud.

XXX

As Zeref was lost in his thoughts, he didn't take any notice of the events occurring around him anymore. If he had been able to, it might would have been enough to pull him out of the spiral he was currently riding on.

At his side, Natsu was fidgeting from the overall pressure he sensed in the atmosphere around him. The sky above was so dark, that the normal, bright stars couldn't be seen anymore and even in the case they were visible, they would be unable to bring him any solace right now.

He was still shaken by the events that had unfolded not long ago. He had been so happy when Zeref would let him do the fishing but it changed the moment he had been pulled down under, away from the safety his older brother always offered. The moment, he had submerged completely, the pink-haired boy immediately saw the reason for his crisis. How could he not, with how large the monster taking in all of his view was.

Natsu was so scared that he couldn't release his hold on the rod, which only caused his problem to become worse and worse. Most likely it would have been his end, but by a streak of fate, the fishing line snapped and hope returned to Natsu's heart – but only for a single moment.

Somehow, the beastly fish had noticed that its prey had escaped and thus, turned its colossal frame around. The youngest member of the Dragneel household came face to face with a nemesis incarnated as a pair of gargantuan yellow eyes were staring at him in carnal hunger.

The monster fish accelerated and Natsu's mouth opened in utter fright but instead of a scream, only bubbles came out, formed from the last precious amount of air he had inside his body. At that very moment, Natsu Dragneel realised he was about to die. To emphasize his belief, the giant maw opened, sharp and pointy teeth flashing with the shimmer of death. Seconds of his life remained but suddenly a protective arm slung around his body and he was pulled upwards. Only a moment later and he could breathe again and without looking, he knew that his big brother had saved him for the moment. He clung to the warmth emitting from Zeref as close as possible, warning him about the danger lurking right beneath their feet.

What happened next, Natsu can't remember properly and he had no desire to do so. Only fuzzy fragments remained and they were more than enough to haunt him forever. The rotten stench that assaulted his sensitive nose, the large, slimy tongue sliding over his body, the safety of his parents' arms around him. Snippets of horror and love at the same time.

Natsu thought, everything would be good again but he was false. Once all of them were back on the sandy shore, a terrible silence fell over the Dragneel family. It had never happened before and none of them knew, how they should work with this new experience. They were supposed to be a family of happiness and joy and not... this!

And Natsu gave himself the fault for this, knew, that it was his fault.

By a mere coincidence, he had once overheard, how Zeref was talking to their dad or rather tried so. Natsu only arrived, when the talk had already started, but it was still enough for the young Dragon Slayer to decipher the content. The topic was about Zeref getting permission to go into the forest by himself or not. He could already go to the wide grasslands but not beyond - a decision Natsu didn't like much. Not because he didn't wish the best for his brother but because he felt left out.

He had yet to say it aloud, but Natsu felt hurt by the different treatment, but then he heard his father's reply to the request and felt like a complete, egotistical fool.

"You gotta grow a bit more before your mom and I can let you wander off on your own without worrying ourselves sick," Natherious said in hushed manners. It was supposed to be an answer for Zeref, but it was also one for Natsu. Seconds later, the small pinkette felt bad for every thought he had in this matter. He only saw what he wanted to and never considered, how the rest of his family would feel about this. Of course, he desired to play more with Zeref and be treated equally, but he also wanted to see the smiles on his parents' faces as often as possible.

Knowing that his parents would be restless when he was not in the immediate surroundings, was a thought Natsu could not handle. So he would patiently wait until his turn came. The youngest member of the Dragneel household had the utmost trust in his parents and their decisions regarding their sons. He was more than happy to be born as Natsu Dragneel because he couldn't imagine a better life somewhere else. Besides, if Zeref was away, out of the house, his room would be empty, lonely, undefended...

Still, he tried at times to escape, not because Natsu had any intentions to run away for real but simply because he knew a set of arms would catch him in time and he would laugh hearty about the attention he received afterwards. So it was a great surprise for Natsu when he succeeded in leaving the house unnoticed. It had never happened before and thus, it was a situation he was unfamiliar with.

An inner struggle began inside of him. One side was pulling him back into his home, the other half towards freedom, where his brother was waiting for him. The inner discussion raged on and on with no side being able to dominate the other. Only when Natsu thought that Zeref was part of his home, did the favours turn and the future Dragon Slayer was on his way - even though he knew all too well, that it was wrong for him to do so. Yet, his excitement overpowered everything else, so Natsu said nothing when Zeref suggested the bribery of their mom with some tasty fish nor did he voice his concerns when they entered the dark forest.

He hid away his mild panic behind a facade of giddy joy. His excitement was not completely feigned because his heart wished to see, what Zeref already knew all too well from the trips with their dad. Natsu was simply worried that it could turn out to be too much for them to handle if anything should happen. He did not question Zeref's abilities to protect him but his own.

Hours ago, they had promised to look out for each other, no matter what would come their way, that they would always have each other's backs. But was he ready for this? A frightening thought with an even more terrible answer. Natsu had not been ready – not at all – and the world showed him most cruelly, how strong his misjudgement diverted from reality.

Without the sudden interference of their parents, the still fresh and raw vow between the brothers would have been broken before it could truly blossom to its full potential. And Natsu knew it was alone his fault.

His onyx eyes watered as tears slowly but surely formed and threatened to fall down his cheeks at any moment. His hands became fists, a fruitless attempt to hold in the dread, which spread throughout his entire soul and heart until Natsu couldn't hold it back anymore. The droplets of manifested grief and sadness were let loose and streamed down his face. Even clenching them shut did little to stop them, his emotions were too strong to be kept at bay. It only worked to hide the flickering in his eyes. The green colour of onyx became weaker and weaker with every passing second as an overwhelming foe had emerged from the depths of Natsu's innermost core. A war with only but a single battle and the victor had been decided from the very beginning.

Just like Zeref, Natsu Dragneel was also a son of Luna Heartfilia and Natherious Dragneel and thus, he was bestowed with the same gift as his older brother. Both siblings were heavily affected by the events of this day and in response, their talents as magicians were awakening. Onyx green became crimson red, the similarity between Natsu and his father stronger than ever before now.

However, this change did not plop up on the radars of the people present. Instead. only an unsettling silence prevailed until Natsu broke it apart with his meek voice, sounding so fragile as if he would shatter any moment. And maybe he would.

"It's my fault..." he admitted, taking the blame on himself, so Zeref would not get scolded. Ever since the moment, the sturdy ground was beneath his bare feet again, Natsu had not dared to look up once. He was too afraid of what kinds of expressions he would discover on his parents' faces. Surely there would be anger and disappointment over his behaviour, something Natsu would be able to endure. So the young fire mage simply continued to look down. Had he looked upwards though, Natsu would have found a scene entirely different from what he was imagining.

XXX

Luna and Natherious looked at their sons, not knowing how they should proceed from here on out. The blond maiden had her arms crossed in front of her body. She shifted her weight from one foot to the other only to repeat the same procedure over and over again. She did the same with her arms. One second her left hand was gripping her right arm and the next second it was the other way around.

Natherious faired slightly better, albeit the difference was not visible for the open eye. He had crouched down, his muscular body only balanced by the front of his feet. His hands were intertwined except for his thumbs. They played with each other, a clear sign of the nervousness causing havoc inside the tall man's chest. Normally, his wisdom was unparalleled but when he needed it most, it failed him greatly. His body was as still as an unmoving mountain but to compensate for this lack of physical motion, his brain was running one billion miles marathon after another without showing any sign, that he would stop anytime soon. He was also aware, that his wife was doing the same. The unbreakable connection they shared with one another told him as much.

Both tried to find a solution to put an end to the misery right in front of their eyes, but seeing both of their sons in the petrified conditions they were in, stopped every accurate thought from forming. Luna and Natherious had already silently agreed, that they would not scold them. The events that took place were more than enough of a punishment for their reckless actions after all. There was no need for any further warnings on why Zeref and Natsu should not overstep the boundaries set up for them. Ironically the same applied to their parents as well and they were the ones, who should be scolded.

Willingly, they had allowed Natsu to wander off and thus, undermined the rules they had set up by themselves. One time wouldn't do any harm they had thought, a fatal flaw in their thinking that had almost cost them the lives of their precious sons, the greatest treasure they ever had. For a moment, the oldest member of the Dragneel household was blaming solely himself for what had happened. After all, Luna gave only in to his advances due to his persistence in having some alone time with his beloved wife.

But just when that thought crossed his mind, he felt a seething glare from his better half on the back of his head. It lasted not for even a second, but it told him everything he needed to know.

'We are in this together so don't you dare think like that! I'll beat you up!' The burning stare said and despite the dire circumstances they were in, Natherious couldn't himself but smile softly for the shortest of moments.

Luna Heartfilia. Perfection through and through. The tall man had no idea, what he had done to deserve such a woman. He would do everything in the vast array of possibilities at his disposal, to keep her close just as he had proclaimed when they confessed their love to each other or rather when he had rejected her love with his love, no matter how much it shattered his heart and soul.

XXX

A memory of the past he adored and despised at the same time. Of course, Luna didn't take the denial well. Hot tears immediately streamed down her face. Each droplet was either a physical manifestation of sadness, hurt or anger. It pained Natherious to see the woman he loved in a state like that, but it would be better this way because loving him was equal to ruining her life.

He had destined himself to watch over her from far away, where no curious eyes could see the demon he was. He wanted to stay at her side but knew what that would cause her. Luna would be tainted forever if anyone should spy him at her side. Therefore, the tall man had decided as he did, but he had not calculated that Luna would march through his impenetrable defences effortlessly and assault his already broken heart with words sharper than even the sharpest blade.

The blond maiden spat wild accusations at the demon and every word she screamed at him in a fury of her rejected love was more destructive than the one before, but no matter how much it hurt, he held firm and suffered through the waves of agony. Until Luna tore down every barricade standing between her and the man's soul.

"You have never loved me!" Of course, it was a claim she shouted due to her own pain but the brief sentence did terrific damage. There was only so much, Natherious could endure and at that, he snapped.

A mere second later, the sound of a meaty slap echoed through the clearing future wife and husband were. Luna dropped to the ground, holding the cheek where she had been slapped by the man she loved hovering above her body now. He had encaged her with his own body, his arms trembling from the anger of her words coursing through him.

Luna was shocked, about what he had done, but also what she had said to him. Her face hurt like hell but it paled and became insignificant compared to the emotional turmoil growing inside her. And it only became larger after Natherious's next words.

"Don't you fucking dare say this, Luna!" her man seethed enraged. "I want to do nothing else but love you all day long, shower you in it until you drown in my love and nothing else! So don't you fucking dare to say, that I don't love you!"

Every syllable he roared carried the hurt from his heart directly into hers and Luna almost shattered beneath the weight. Man and demon he may be, but he still had a soul and emotions, emotions which she had hurt greatly. Of course, she had not done this intentionally but the reaction she received, revealed that the reason for his behaviour was hidden beneath thick and complex veils she had to unravel first. It also proved that her claim was false. Natherious did love her, just as she loved him but sometimes this could create a paradox of madness, which caused undesired confusion on both sides. Many times it showed its grotesque face to the world by horrendous action, just as it was the case between Natherious and her.

The more Luna thought about this, the clearer her mind got and an idea began to form what the reason for his actions could be, and her man did not disappoint her in that regard. Suddenly she felt how heated fingers caressed her assaulted cheek and she automatically leaned into the touch. The atmosphere surrounding them had changed entirely from what it had been before. Both had calmed down, emotionally exhausted with their hearts and souls bare in front of each other.

"I love you Luna, so freaking much," Natherious murmured in the softest voice he could muster. "I want to stay with you forever and beyond, but loving me comes at a costly price," he cooed and Luna knew, that her assumption had been correct at that moment.

"Your love for me is honest, my heart tells me as much, so I won't run away from it any longer. But you have yet to see, who... what you are really loving." People called him a demon, but so far Luna Heartfilia had only seen a man who understood way too well how to be a teasing little shit. On top, he had rescued her countless times already and for Luna, this man was her personal hero. But the time had come for the blond maiden to see his true colours, the true nature of the demon that was lurking inside the shadows at his feet.

"Demon Force."

Upon his command, Natherious's magic activated. It was already an all-encompassing power but now it went beyond Luna's imagination. His body shifted to house the strength that quelled from deep inside of his soul. Luna realised, that for one to contain the powers of a demon, they must become a demon themselves. Only then, they would be able to unleash the full potential of the different form.

When the transformation was over, Natherious's body was now adored by two horns growing from his head. A pair of vast wings stretched wide behind his back and he had even a tail now. There were other differences she could name but the most defining part of his was still the same as it had been before.

His eyes, even when now hugged by a second iris, were still the same. The crimson red pools of beauty that always looked at her and only her when he thought she wouldn't notice. They were the eyes she had fallen in love with and wished to see, whenever she woke up from her sleep in his embrace.

"This is your last chance, Luna," the pink-haired demon said to her and closed his eyes. It was the final ultimatum she would get and Luna Heartfilia had no reason to think about her answer. Screw the world! Screw the universe! Screw everything! The blond maiden only needed the demon right in front of her because he alone embodied the world she was wishing for. When Natherious reopened his eyes after what felt like several eternities, Luna's fate was sealed.

"Be mine, forever."

The next second, searing lips were devouring her and she responded in kind. It was the first kiss of many to follow and they came out stronger than they were before.

A memory he adored and despised indeed for obvious reasons. But the tall man wondered, why of all times he was remembering this particular scene from so long ago right now. He had enough problems to deal with already and had no time to deal with another emotional turmoil at the moment. But this time, the brain worked against its master's wishes, shoving him further and further down the line of happenings of that day, because there was, what he was searching for. Natherious still remembered every event vividly, almost as if it had happened yesterday.

After the emotions from their love confession had calmed down, the realisation came and settled down and he cursed himself for what he had done. He had raised his hand countless times and only this once did he regret the action. There was no connection to Luna being a woman. He knew, that women were considered to be weak in human society, that they were less worth than men and he had seen on countless occasions where this could lead to in the vile civilisation of vermin humanity was. The blond maiden had her own experiences in this regard.

He looked down at his right hand, and flexed the accursed thing as the moment of impact revisited his mind like a broken record. Looking at the offending object, the thought of ripping it off suddenly seemed very appealing but before he could develop this fascinating idea any further, a pair of soft hands took a grip of his taller one.

Of course, they belonged to Luna, but the woman was not looking at him. He followed her gaze and ended up, where he had been before her gentle touch. Her fingers played with his own as she applied soft pressure, a silent request to give control to her and so he did.

She raised the hand back to her cheek, where it had slapped her not long ago. A terrifying thought for her but at the same time, it was also the same hand, that had held hers many times in the past as well. Intensity skyrocketed and Natherious gulped as he was overwhelmed by the sight.

Luna looked like she was in a daze, maybe remembering the atrocity he had committed. Shame overcame Natherious as he wetted his lips with a fast swing of his tongue. It did little to return moisture to the borderlines of his mouth but it had to suffice. No longer could he bare the view in front of him as a certain desire in him became suffocating.

"Luna, I'm so-" the tall man tried but lightning-fast a delicate finger was placed on his lips and put a halt to him. The fog had disappeared entirely from Luna's hazelnut-brown eyes and was instead replaced by a stern seriousness. Uncertainty and insecurity had been long forgotten by him, but ever since he had met the blond maiden they had returned stronger than ever before.

"Don't apologize for what you have done, Natherious. Not like this," Luna warned him, her gaze never leaving his for a moment, not even for a blink since she had synchronised her blinks with his by unknown measures. In response, he could only look quizzical at her because what she said made no sense to his ears. He had slapped her and wished to apologise for the horrendous deed but she denied it.

It would make sense to him, had she run away from him a moment later but she had decided to stay with him willingly. Natherious Dragneel was a wise man but Luna Heartfilia was a mystery he could only unravel if she allowed so. His confusion must have shown on his face because he was graced again by her sweet-sounding tune.

"What you did was false without question. Slapping me can never be the answer to anything. Not now, not ever. You know that as much as I do."

Her words were no big surprise for Natherious as he had thought of them as well. Yet he felt, as if Luna had yet more to say, so he denied his own wishes to speak their freedom and continued to listen.

"But you are not the only one at fault. I'm just as guilty as you are," Luna stated with shame overtaking her features. She broke the eye contact but Natherious wouldn't have it.

"Luna, don't try to blame yo-"

"So it was okay on my part to ignore your feelings for me?"

"No," Natherious calmly responded without thinking. The reply came directly from his sore soul and was nothing but the bitter truth, as harsh as it was sounding.

"Indeed. In my anguish over your rejection, I spouted nonsense without considering your emotions for a fucking second. I trampled over your feelings like an egoist. Not a physical slap but an emotional one and for that, I'm sorry, Natherious. Forgive me," Luna admitted as she crashed into his wide chest, her arms winding around his body in a death grip. Her head rested directly on his heart, so he was certain she could hear the rapid tempo.

He simply raised his own arms and enclosed the woman he loved more than anything in a gentle and tight hug, having no intention of letting her ever go.

"I'm sorry for hitting you, Luna," he murmured as he nuzzled her hair with his face, taking in as much of her alluring scent as he possibly could. They remained in their loving embrace long after, relishing in the solace they offered to each other after what had happened. Both had mistakes and they couldn't just let them disappear for they were a part of their shared past but they could walk forwards in unison with the newly acquired knowledge from this day and so they did.

Eventually, they broke apart and their lips found each again. Everything was forgiven and it had only caused them to grow together even closer. The day was close to an end by then and the time was more than due for them to find shelter for the night. Natherious knew of a suitable location nearby but they had to hurry. Seeing as Luna was not as mobile as he was yet, the man took matters into his own hands – literally.

Without giving Luna much of a warning beforehand, he gripped her hips and heaved her over his shoulder like a sack of potatoes. The blond maiden was beyond furious but the demon merely laughed about her attitude. Once she had told him a rather interesting story and it was time to make the best use of it.

"You are not a dolly princess wishing for a shiny knight. You are the wild princess, the black sheep of the family, seeking the adventure only the impish demon lurking in the shadows offers. That's what you want and that's what you shall get, my sweet princess." he said cheekily to her while his teeth formed his signature smile. Luna's face was on fire and steamed like a volcano at his bold statement. He took this as his clue to leave with boisterous laughter thundering from his throat. Much to Luna's dread, it wasn't the last time Natherious would transport her in such manners but no matter how often it happened, she never really was angry at him for that. More than she cared to admit, his addicting laughter freed her own laughter and thus they filled the air around them together with their joy.

XXX

Looking back at it, maybe he adored this memory more than he dreaded it because of how it ended for their relationship. But more importantly for him was the lesson it carried. He had thought his wisdom was failing him but he had been false. It merely took a bit longer than normal to find the answer to the dilemma in front of his eyes.

'Good grief, outsmarted by my own brain, am I?' he silently thought to himself. It was a funny idea and had the circumstances been different, he would have laughed over his own stupidity. But he had more pressing matters to tend to, especially since he had finally stumbled over the answer to how they should proceed from here on out. Not only Luna and he but also Zeref and Natsu.

"It's my fault..."

His mind was shortly interrupted by the sudden voice of his youngest son ringing in the air. Even though the message the words transmitted to the rest of his family was pure dread, Natherious couldn't help himself but smile softly at his son. He was the youngest among them but his heart was already so big and so righteous at all times. Without a doubt, Natsu would become much-loved in his future with this attitude. Always looking out for the people around him could only make him likeable and Natherious was proud that he was allowed to be this boy's father. He would ensure, that he grew into a fine young man at any costs.

The tall man looked to his side and found his wife greatly unsettled. No wonder, considering Natsu's words from moments ago. So he smiled reassuring at Luna, signalling that everything would be alright. Her mood did not improve as much as he had hoped for, but it was not as worse as it had been before, so Natherious could consider it as his victory.

Turning his attention back to his sons standing in front of him at the shore, he closed his eyes for a single moment, taking his time to collect his thoughts but not before taking the burden off Natsu's shoulders.

"It's not your fault Natsu, so please stop thinking like that," the pink-haired man said in soft manners. Immediately Natsu looked at his father for the first time after they had left the watery confines of the lake. He was surprised to find none of the emotions his mind had conjured. There was only a gentle smile spreading across his dad's face, and warm compassion emitted from it in strong waves. They washed over Natsu and eradicated every dark feeling the young fire mage had inside him at that moment. Only the admiration, and love he had for his dad remained.

Natsu nodded once, briefly showing that he had heard the words directed at him. For a short moment, Natsu would be okay as he waited for his father to say more so Natherious used the time he had and laid out the problem inside his head. The main question was, how Zeref and Natsu had ended up at the lake.

Was it Zeref's fault? No.

Was it Natsu's fault? No.

Was it Luna's fault? No.

Was it his fault? No.

Was it their united fault? Yes.

Just like it had been the case with Luna and himself all these years ago, nobody was to be blamed alone. All of them had done mistakes which had accumulated into a worst-case scenario. Natherious should have not been so persistent, Luna should have resisted the advances of her husband and Zeref and Natsu should have not overstepped the boundaries set up for them.

Each of them could claim the guilt for themselves, or argue who should take it, but ultimately they were in this together. Only when they were united and shared the blame with each other could they move forward. The burden may be heavy, but as the team of four they were and always would be, the weight would be bearable. Each step forward would be a victory for them as a family, tightening their bonds beyond imagination.

Why Natherious did not see this immediately, the tall man couldn't say. The thought just flew into his brain out of a sudden without a care in the world. He would have preferred it sooner than later but what counted most was that the solution had finally arrived which would save all of them without a doubt. Natherious opened his mouth again, so he could declare their salvation, but despair stroked faster than he did.

Natsu still looked expectingly at him and Luna was probably just as eager to listen to what he was about to say, but before the tall man could utter a single word, Zeref suddenly started to cry. Hot tears and snot streamed down his face and formed rivers of pure agony. He desperately tried to wipe them away but it was futile. Whatever dark emotion was the cause for this, was simply too overpowering to be pushed away.

He started to hiccup as his cries of manifested horror filled the air. Zeref was no longer able to perceive anything outside of his mind, too lost in the maelstrom of negativity. With his ears numb, the young black mage didn't hear the panicked shouts of his family calling his name desperately after bearing witness to his emotional breakdown. Unfortunately, their attempts were utterly futile for Zeref was lost within a dark whirlwind of his greatest fear.

It had been two years since he had last thought about his worst nightmare before his dad banished it from his mind. Not once did the fabric of his mind surface again and showed its nasty face, but today's events had completely shattered the cage keeping it in check.

Thus, the monster of darkness was freed and it had already sunken its teeth into his heart and soul and ripped them apart in a bloody feast of carnal rage. It showed no mercy to Zeref as he sank deeper and deeper into the pool of despair. When he arrived at the bottom, he was unable to contain the hideous beast any longer and the forbidden words spilt, from his lips at last.

"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I'm sorry," the young black mage repeated again and again with his broken voice. His tears intensified as the pain inside his heart grew with every passing second.

"Everything is my fault and I'm so useless!" he cried next, shocking the rest of his family so much that they were forced to stop any movement. They had not expected something like this to come from Zeref's mouth and to their dread, it was far from over.

"I'm such a failure because I couldn't protect Natsu at all when he needed me most. And no matter how much I want to, I will never be able to be his big brother, I can't be his big brother!" Zeref continued to cry before he revealed what lurked inside the darkest and most hidden corner of his young heart.

"Because I'm not your real son!"

It was a declaration of a nightmare come true. No matter what kind of family, nobody would ever wish to hear such dreading words spilling from a person beloved and the same counted for the Dragneel family. Luna, Natsu and Natherious, all three of them were shocked beyond words about what Zeref had just screamed. To them, it sounded like lunacy, nothing they could have ever linked to the fourth member of their happy family. Yet, just now, they had been proven otherwise.

Zeref's tortured cries and sobs echoed across the silent shore after he had admitted what had lurked in the depths of his soul for so long already. He had always found it strange that he was the only one in the family who had black hair and eyes. Some similarities couldn't be denied, but they were minor at best. And today had shown him that his doubts which had grown their roots slowly throughout his whole body, were correct all this time.

He was Alone In This World.