This chapter will include all of the flashbacks centering on Zeref. Natsu, Mavis, his parents and Acnologia might be included.
FLASHBACK 1: Connections, chapter 15
Over 400 years before…
"Mamma, I can't reach it." A young boy with pink hair and dark green eyes pouted as he attempted to reach a snow globe that was kept on the top shelf of their living room.
"Use your magic, Natsu." Another boy with black hair and eyes suggested. The younger boy attempted to use his magic, but it was no use. He was still too young.
"Here, baby, you can have it." A woman with long black hair walked into the room. As a bubble of water surrounded the snow globe, it was lifted up and then carried towards the small child.
"Thanks, mamma." He said before he started playing with the object. The older boy watched with interest before going towards his mother.
"Mamma, when is daddy coming back?" He asked the woman and she gave him a sad smile.
"I don't know, sweetheart." She walked towards the couch and sat down, him following her. He wasted no time sitting on her lap and she wrapped her arms around him and gently kissed his forehead.
"Can we visit Igneel tomorrow, mamma? I miss him." The 5 years old child said as he approached them while holding the snow globe.
"Of course, baby. I'm sure he'll be happy to see you two, your father says he's been anxious to teach you dragon slayer magic, Natsu." Their mother replied and the young child's eyes were shining with excitement.
"Really? He thinks I could learn dragon slayer magic?" The woman smiled before pulling him on her lap as well.
"I have no doubt you'd master it even faster than your father. Don't tell him I said that, though." Natsu laughed while his 8 years old sibling watched them, a frown on his face.
"What about me? Doesn't he want to teach me dragon slayer magic?" He asked while pouting and his mother laughed.
"He knows that you're meant to learn water magic from me." She used her magic to make a few water bubbles appear and the two boys had their fun trying to catch them. As she watched her two children play, she couldn't be happier. If only her husband was there with them, then this moment would truly be perfect.
FLASHBACK 2: Connections, chapter 16 (not really a flashback)
Master Mavis followed a trail into the woods surrounding Magnolia. It seemed to be never ending, but before she knew it, she saw him. He had his back to her, but she was sure a satisfied smile would be on his face.
"I sensed your presence at the Grand Magic Games, Zeref. Did you watch?" She knew that he could hear her despite the fact that she was a ghost.
"I knew you would come to meet me eventually, my dear Mavis." Zeref replied and she could sense genuine happiness in his voice. It was unsettling how such a dark person could phantom such an emotion. "I can sense that you're looking down on me with those big disdainful eyes." He added without turning around.
"It's been seven years now, since the two of us have been this close to each other." Mavis said and he laughed before repeating her words.
"Why do you remain here? Searching for a place to die?" She asked, well aware of Zeref's ultimate plan to find peace in death.
"The place of my death has been decided." He stated before finally turning around, looking at her with surprisingly sad dark eyes. "I've been around for a few centuries now, Mavis, been witness to the rise and fall of many kingdoms."
"So have I. It's been 100 years since my death, I've had the opportunity to see many kingdoms rise and fall." She reminded him and he laughed bitterly.
"That is precisely why I fail to understand your reluctance to agree with me." For a moment, his eyes flashed red before returning to normal. "Human conflict, hatred, wickedness. With the dawn of each new era I've always hoped those would pass, until I realized that no matter what changes, the depravity of men is a constant."
"Why do you insist on being such a pessimist? We both know that there are always those who fight for something better." She attempted, but Zeref was a determined man and he had spent too long making up his mind.
"Those idealists are the worst, lying to themselves and to each other with every breath they take." He said simply, stubbornly. "
"And you won't wait any longer." Mavis said shakily, this was worse than she could have expected. There was no way she would be able to convince him to let go of his anger.
"Yes, that's correct. I've long since decided that humanity should be erradicated, it was only a matter of waiting for my most precious weapon to be ready. It won't be long now." Zeref said with a sad smile, she could see his decision pained him even if he tried to hide it.
"What weapon do you mean?" Mavis curiously asked and he shook his head.
"We both know that I can't reveal that detail to you." He told her before his smile softened. "But you shall not worry, Mavis. I will make sure their deaths are as painless as possible." While she glanced at him, unconvinced, she decided one last try.
"Fairy Tail accepts this world for all its flaws." Mavis knew that even he had a soft spot for Fairy Tail. Mentioning them was her last resort.
"They shall be my gift to no one, Mavis." Zeref made clear as he stood up and faced her, determined.
"So I guess there's no way to stop this war you're planning." She said after sighing.
"It won't be a war, at least not like the others. One-sided annihilation is a more correct definition." His words made the uneasiness she felt since the beginning of the conversation grow, Mavis knew he had the means to end this world if he so desired. There was no stopping him.
"Very well. I suppose we'll see each other on the battlefield then." With one last sorrowful look at him, she walked away. Zeref watched her go with a mixture of sadness and regret, but he couldn't focus on that. Once making sure Mavis was gone, he made the same book he always carried with him appear.
"It's almost time to retrieve Juvia Lockser." He whispered as he stared at Juvia and Gray's reencounter with Silver. "I can only hope she will be able to handle it, even if she wasn't my first choice." Zeref closed the book and stared at the cover while tracing his fingers on the single word written in clear blue.
"I'm sure you would have done wonderfully, but your death changed many things." Memories overcame him and he was silent for a few moments.
"I find it ironic how you died to save your daughter, only for her horrible fate to be designed because you were gone." He mused, the same sad smile present on his face. "After all, you were the one I wanted, Juliet." At the last word he removed his hands from the book and admired the cover. There was a drawing of a few light blue raindrops and a cloud on the top of the cover. In clear, dark blue and silver letters, her name was written. The one the book was originally meant for. Juliet.
FLASHBACK 3: Connections, chapter 18
He was just a child back then, no more than 4 years old. They lay on the couch of their home, him on her lap as she entertained him by using her water magic to create bubbles.
"Mamma, what is love?" He asked, catching her off guard.
"Why do you ask, sweetheart?" She was curious about where he had heard the word.
"I heard daddy and Igneel talking last night. He said that some things are worth more than love." The young boy replied and she frowned.
"Did he?" A pensive look came across her face before she answered. "Well, I disagree. Love is the best thing that can happen to any of us."
"But what is it?" Zeref questioned, sitting up.
"Love is something you feel in your heart." She explained, a hand touching her heart. "It brings you joy and makes you believe that anything's possible." His eyes widened.
"That sounds great! I want that!" The woman laughed.
"You already have it, baby." When he gave her a puzzled look, she smiled. "For example, when I make you the chocolate pancakes you adore, it's I love you. And it makes you happy, doesn't it?" He nodded.
"Why does daddy think there's something better than love?" He asked after a few moments and she grew silent. The answer was unclear as of yet, but soon he would learn exactly how much his father actually valued love.
FLASHBACK 4: Connections, chapter 23 (again, not really a flashback)
A few hours later, on Tenrou Island...
"I had a feeling that I'd find you here." Zeref told the blue haired man who was sitting on the sand, his back turned.
"I was waiting for you." The man replied, not looking at him. The dark wizard followed the stone path until the middle of the beach.
"I saw what you did." The other man shrugged.
"I meant for you to see it." The dark wizard raised a brow.
"So you're taunting me." He paused, looking at the grave not far from where they were. "First you stopped Kyoka from killing Silver, now you've returned Juvia Lockser's memories."
"I'm sure you're wondering what I'm trying to achieve." The other man told him, smirking.
"I don't have to." Zeref calmly stated before crossing his arms. "I know you're hoping to stop me even though you're aware that fate can't be changed."
"Of course it can." The man replied, standing up. "And I will do everything I can to change hers."
"Why go after Juvia, I wonder? Couldn't you have found someone else?" He shrugged.
"I have my reasons for choosing her, just as you have yours." Zeref nodded to his response before sighing.
"I was hoping you'd stay back during the war. It doesn't concern you, after all." The other man laughed.
"Did you really expect me to stand by and watch you destroy this world?" He raised a brow and Zeref shrugged.
"Not really. I know that when it come to wars you just can't stay away." The words caused the other man's smirk to falter.
"I will stop you, no matter the cost." The dark wizard didn't even blink.
"You may try, but I should warn you that you'll only manage to exhaust yourself even further." There was a pause as a sincere look came upon his face. "You should stop fighting and just accept that this is the end, for both of us." The blue haired man shook his head.
"On the contrary, this is only the beginning." With one last threatening look, he turned around and began walking away, towards the grave where a bouquet of red roses had been placed earlier. "Goodbye, Zeref." He whispered, but the dark wizard heard him clearly.
"Goodbye, Acnologia." Shaking his head, Zeref watched him walk towards the tombstone where many secrets were buried.
FLASHBACK 5: Demons, chapter 1
June of X681…
"Lord Zeref?" The dark wizard barely moved.
"Something's not right." Mard Geer, leader of Tartarus, told Seilah, the first of the nine demon gates.
"What should we do?" She asked in return, eyeing the unconscious mage who lay in the middle of the forest.
"I'm not sure." The underworld king replied, looking worried for his creator.
"Do you think he had an encounter with him?" There was no need for her to specify, Mard Geer knew exactly who she was referring to.
"Perhaps." He replied, lost in thought.
"It wasn't Acnologia." A whisper. Their eyes widened.
"Lord Zeref?" Seilah tried again.
"Yes." Slowly, dark eyes opened and a groan of pain left his lips.
"Are you injured, master?" Mard Geer asked, concerned.
"Not exactly." The dark wizard replied before attempting to sit up. He looked like he was dying, which made no sense. "I simply made the mistake of trusting the wrong person."
"Who?" Seilah asked, interested. Zeref wasn't exactly known for going around making friends and trusting people. How could he, when he was known as the infamous and hated dark wizard?
"No one important." He shrugged it off. "What is, though, is the fact that she tried to poison me."
"Poison you? Doesn't she know who you are?" The underworld king asked.
"She did. As it turns out, her family lived in one of the villages where I resided a few years ago." Understanding crossed their faces. Many villages had been wiped out because of Zeref's inability to control his deadly powers. It's not as if he aimed to kill so many people, but it happened anyways.
"So she wanted revenge, huh?" Mard Geer said, a smirk appearing upon his face."Let me give it to her."
"That won't be necessary." The dark wizard shook his head almost instantly. "I have no desire to have her blood in my hands." There was a pause before a small smile appeared on his face. "Besides, if she hadn't poisoned me, I wouldn't have found the solution to all my problems."
"What solution?" Seilah asked, confused. They were aware of Zeref's ultimate desire to die since they had been the first two demons he ever created and the ones he trusted most.
"Poison." He replied, confusing them. "It surprised me too, but it seems as if even I'm affected by it."
"Perhaps, but it's clearly not enough to break the curse." Mard Geer pointed out.
"Maybe not a regular poison." Zeref said, his smile growing. "However, if I can create a more potent one, I'm sure no curse will stop me from achieving my final goal."
"How do you plan on doing that, master?" Seilah asked and he stood up, groaning in the process.
"That's simple." He replied, looking at them intensely. "All I need to do is create an Etherion that can turn water into poison."
"It's a brilliant idea." Mard Greer praised, though he didn't look so impressed.
"It's better than waiting. I can't do that any longer." Zeref sighed, looking away for a moment as a faraway look came upon his face.
"I understand." Seilah told him, eyes just as cold as always.
"How may we help you, my lord?" The other man asked.
"Start looking for mages that use water magic. I need to find the most powerful one to be used." Their eyes widened.
"A human? Are you sure?" Mard Geer asked and he smiled.
"Yes. I have no doubt we'll find one strong enough to endure the transformation." It might've taken nearly 100 years, but he did.
FLASHBACK 6: Demons, chapter 3
November 15th, X374…
It was a warm, sunny day. Supposedly just another beautiful summer day, but not for him. He walked along the beautiful grass field, looking towards the blue sky with the saddest expression on his face. He hated it. From a very young age he had always preferred the rain, it brought him comfort and reminded him of the most important person in his life. Or at least she had been, so long ago.
"I wasn't expecting you to come." He turned around to face the man with blue hair and dark green eyes. His appearance was very different from the last time they had met and a new name accompanied him now: Acnologia.
"Neither was I." The other man replied, shrugging. A pale hand removed the large coat he wore, it was too hot for it. "But I knew that I had to see it for myself."
"Is that the only reason why you're here, Zeref?" Acnologia asked, looking curious.
"I want to know where she is." Zeref got right to the point.
"Of course you do." The other man sighed and shook his head.
"So?" The dark wizard raised a brow, waiting.
"It's none of your business." Anger crossed Zeref's face.
"You have no right to hide this from me! She is…" Acnologia didn't let him finish.
"You don't need to remind me." There was sadness in his tone, but it was hard to tell if it was true.
"Why did you hide her body for all these years?" Zeref finally asked the question that had plagued his mind for over a decade.
"I think you already know why." His eyes widened once he realized it and he shook his head.
"You're unbelievable." The other man looked away.
"I should be going. Have work to do." Zeref gave him another indignant look.
"Is that what you call it? Work?" Acnologia looked confused for a second. "I know that you're doing, Igneel has told me. I can't believe you'd stoop so low as to take innocent lives in your quest for vengeance."
"You give me that look all you want." Acnologia told him before his face turned firm. "But I have no doubt you would've done the same." Zeref shook his head once again.
"No, I would never seek vengeance. I know better than that." A pause before a sad smile came upon his face. "After all, I promised her that I would always follow my heart and it's telling me that seeking revenge against those who wronged me isn't worth it." The man laughed.
"You're talking like a fool that doesn't know anything." He told Zeref before taking a few steps until they were face to face. "But let me tell you something that life will probably teach you. Promises always end up being broken, no matter who makes them."
"I don't believe you." Zeref stepped away from him, shaking his head. "Now will you tell me where she is or do I have to find out for myself?"
"You should let it go. Holding onto the past will get you no where." The other man warned.
"Like you're one to say." Zeref scoffed.
"I have moved on. You should too." With that said, Acnologia turned around and walked away silently. Zeref watched him while wondering if his own future would be as dark and empty.
FLASHBACK 7: Demons, chapter 6
A few centuries ago…
"Che l'oscurita tu possa lasciare,e nel mondo dei vivi ritornare!" Zeref stood over his young brother's dead body, a book in hand while he chanted the ancient spell that was supposed to return him to life. He'd be lying if he said the intense darkness he felt upon saying the words didn't bring chills down his spine.
After a few moments, the young man opened his eyes, only to be disappointed. Natsu's body remained unmoving, face still devoid of color and dark green eyes closed. "Am I casting it wrong?" Zeref wondered before taking another look at the book.
"No, your spell simply is incomplete." The voice was soft and melodic and the woman to whom it belonged absolutely beautiful.
Her hair was dark and long, almost to the back of her knees. The eyes that stared down at him almost pitifully were unlike anything he'd ever seen; one was bright green like the trees and the other pitch black. Her flawless creamy skin was covered in a long dress that, once again, mixed green and black; with the top mimicking dark feathers while the skirt was made of leaves and a few flowers.
"Who are you?" Zeref stared at the stranger, mesmerized.
"I've gone by many names." She replied before stepping away from him. "But these days, the most common one is Ankhseram."
"Ankhseram?" He repeated, eyes widening upon realization.
"So you know who I am. Good." She paused and stared at him, eyes piercing.
"What do you want from me?" He knew exactly why she was there; seeing as she was the goddess of life and death.
"I'm afraid I'm going to have to punish you." Ankhseram replied.
"Why?" He knew why; he'd been warned that messing with life and death would only serve to anger the gods.
"You see, this world relies on balance. Light and darkness; good and evil and, of course, life and death." With each word she took another step around him, surrounding him. "By using that spell, you have broken that balance."
"I'm sorry. I didn't mean to…All I wanted was to save my brother." He hoped she'd take pity on him once she saw that his intentions had been pure. But Zeref knew, deep inside, there was no forgiving what he'd done.
"I know. And although I admire the sacrifices that you were willing to make in order to bring him back, your mistake could set this whole world into chaos." He sighed.
"So what will you do?" He feared her answer; but knew there was no point avoiding it. Even as a powerful water mage, he was no match to a goddess.
"The punishment for using the Ritornare spell is an unbreakable curse. I wish you didn't have to fall to the same fate as the one who used it before, but what's done can't be undone." Besides fear, curiosity build inside him.
"What do you mean? Who used it before?" Ankhseram smiled sadly.
"Someone that used to be close to you. I'm certain you'll meet them soon enough." With a wave of her hand, a dark circle enveloped him and suddenly there was pain. It was intense and unbearable; but nothing compared to the heartache that would follow him in the centuries to come.
FLASHBACK 8: Demons, chapter 9
A few centuries before...
"What have you done?" Zeref yelled, staring in shock at the man with long blue hair. Acnologia sported a sad smile instead of the look of triumph you'd expect from someone whose revenge had worked out just perfectly.
"What needed to be done." The dragon slayer replied matter off factly, eyes not leaving his enemy's face while the dark wizard was focused on the large door not far from them. They were in the middle of a field close to the blooming village of Magnolia.
"It was certainly not necessary for you to thrown him into the gate. Do you even know where you sent him?" Zeref crossed his arms, glaring at the other man.
Only a few minutes before Acnologia had surprised him by pushing young Natsu Dragneel inside the large door known as the Eclipse Gate. The artifact had been created by Zeref many decades before, but the dark wizard never imagined his invention would someday be used against him in such a cruel manner.
"He was sent into the future, where he'll find others like him." The blue haired man said as if they were discussing the weather. Zeref shook his head.
"So you expect me to believe that you did this for him?" He gave Acnologia an incredulous look.
"I don't expect you to believe in anything." The other man replied, moving towards the Eclipse Gate. "But I do believe this was for the best."
"Best for whom?" The dark wizard questioned and the dragon slayer turned around.
"If you need to ask, there's no point in answering." Annoyed, Zeref crossed his arms.
"I didn't deserve this." He firmly stated and the blue haired man gave him an almost symphatetic look.
"Maybe you didn't. But Natsu didn't deserve to be trapped here with you either." Before the former could protest, Acnologia spoke again. "Don't attempt to argue when you know I'm right." He paused for a moment before letting out a sigh. "We're monsters who don't deserve their love."
"I'm not a monster. I haven't done any of the terrible things you did." Zeref protested nonetheless.
"Should I remind you of the nine demon gates of Tartarus?" Acnologia raised a brow.
"I didn't create them to hurt others." He nodded.
"That doesn't mean they won't. After all, you can't control them forever." The dark wizard went back to angry.
"Why am I even talking to you? You just ruined my entire plan to finally break this curse." Another symphatetic smile was sent his way.
"The words of a hopeful man who's only going to drive himself insane." Zeref shook his head.
"No, I know that I can break it. All I have to do is reach Natsu so that he can try again." It was Acnologia's turn to shake his head.
"Don't bother. The curse doesn't allow us to cross the gate. Your only choice is to wait until you reach his new timeline." With no other choice in sight, Zeref decided to wait. Centuries passed and he began losing his mind, but the hope of finding Natsu and having him breaking this curse of immortality was enough to keep him going.
FLASHBACK 9: Demons, chapter 10
Centuries ago...
"I didn't think I'd see you again so soon, Zeref." Acnologia said, staring mockingly at the dark wizard who stood before him.
They were once again in the outskirts of Magnolia, although this time the beautiful field was stained with the blood of ten dragons who had been mercilessly murdered by him before the Zeref's arrival.
Their giant corpses cast a shadow on the two man, blocking the sunlight from reaching them. It was a good methaphor for the darkness that constantly surrounded both.
"Neither had I, but I couldn't stand watching it anymore." Zeref replied, trying not to look at the dragons.
"So you've finally decided to take part in this war?" The blue haired man looked amused.
"No. I've decided to end it." When he only raised a brow, Zeref continued. "There's been too much bloodshed, too many unnecessary deaths. It's time for it to stop."
"So you think that you can stop me?" Acnologia was amused.
"I know that I can't." The dark wizard admitted. "Which is why I brought someone who does have the power to stop you."
Before the former could ask, the earth around them began shaking and suddenly there was a familiar figure standing a feet feet away from them, propped on one of the dragons' giant paw. Her hair was dark and long, eyes mixed green and black and the dress she wore was now almost completely black.
"It's been a while, hasn't it, Alaric?" She fixed the dragon slayer with a firm gaze.
"Not long enough." He whispered, frowning.
"Do you see what you've done?" Ankhseram asked while standing up, making the dark feathers on her dress move.
"Why is it black? It wasn't that way the last time I encountered you." Zeref asked, staring at it curiously.
"The dress is magical. It represents the balance between life and death and, as you can see, it has been broken." She replied, glancing pointedly towards Acnologia.
"Well, I don't care. I won't allow even you to stop me from achieving revenge." He stubbornly replied, crossing his arms. "If you didn't want me to do this, you shouldn't have cursed me."
"It appears as if the curse has taught you nothing about the value of life." The goddess said, taking a few steps, her skirt flowing in the wind.
"So are you going to end it?" Zeref asked and she shook her head.
"No, the rules of the curse remain clear; it can't be broken." She glanced around the field, frowning at the sight of the corpses. "However, I cannot allow you to keep destroying so many lives and throwing this world into chaos."
"So what'll you do? I doubt it could be worse than what you've already done to me." Acnologia dared, staring at her unafraid.
"I'm afraid I'll have to take away the only thing you have left." While both glanced at her in confusion, she closed her eyes and sighed. "Your freedom." Then she started glowing bright green and even Zeref couldn't deny his fear at the feeling of her unimaginable power. It was proof that no matter how strong they were, they couldn't compare to an actual god.
Soon enough, the same bright light enveloped the arms of the two man and they stared in shock at the black bracelet that appeared. "What is this?" The dragon slayer asked.
"A link. It will tie the two of you; your fates will now become one." Ankhseram finally opened her eyes.
"You didn't say that you were going to punish me when I asked for your help." Zeref accused angrily.
"This isn't punishment. In fact, you may consider it a second chance." Both men scoffed, but she kept smiling. "Now the only way either of you may die, is if the other goes first. I wonder if you'll ever find a way to make that happen." It took 400 years, but eventually, Zeref did.