A/N This is a rough estimate of when Zeref was born and when he died. Sorry! Also, I'm alive!
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairytail.
Summary: Zeref remembers a day long ago, and reflects on how things are so much different then they were back then, and yet somehow still the same.
Year: X377
It was Tuesday, in the middle of April, and Zeref was, for lack of a better word, studying. The word researching would be incorrect because he wasn't looking at anything in particular, he was merely scrolling through thousands of sights and clicking on one that seemed interesting. Zeref thought that perhaps he should be truly studying. After all, tomorrow was Wednesday, and they had a big math test that would affect their grades enormously. Zeref didn't mean for it to sound cocky, but he knew very well that he would get 100%.
Sighing he pushed away from his desk and rubbed his eyes. The computer clock said it was past midnight. He should definitely get to bed otherwise he would be too tired to get up in the morning. He closed his eyes, resting his cheek on the palm of his hand. The glare of the screen had been bright and Zeref felt the need to cringe when he looked at it again. the hard pounding of rain and thunder sounded outside. If he was really lucky the power would go out. Then he'd have to go to bed without any distractions. A flash of light lit up the night sky for an instant before falling back into complete darkness. At that moment the lights flickered off and his computer. Zeref sighed and stared blankly at the black screen for several moments. A small creak behind him made Zeref jump. He whirled around in his chair. Large onyx eyes stared back at him, salmon hair sticking up around his head. Natsu sniffed, "Zeref, the big noises are scary!" he cried. Zeref felt his heart rate slow. It was only Natsu.
"Natsu, don't scare me like that." Zeref scolded lightly, not really angry.
"I'm sorry, but-." Natsu was cut off by a loud boom. A shrill scream escaped Natsu and the 5-year-old leapt into his arms. "There's loud noises and lights, and what are they."
"That's just thunder and lightening. They may seem scary, but they can't hurt you while you're in your bed." Zeref whispered quietly.
"But how are you supposed to sleep if they keep on yelling!" Natsu cried. Zeref paused for a few moments.
"You just have to deal with them. I can't make them stop."
"Please don't make me go back to my room. It's dark in there! My light went out all of a sudden and I don't know why!"
"That's normal, my computer and lights went out too. The people will fix the lights tomorrow. We just have to get through the night and everything will be better in the morning." Natsu gave a choked sob when another loud BOOM and CRASH resounded throughout the room. Zeref shifted Natsu into a better position and patted his back. "You'll be okay. It's just noises."
"But they're scary!" Natsu sobbed, clinging to him. the thunder struck again causing Natsu wrap his arms around Zeref's neck and squeeze rather tightly. Natsu buried his face in Zeref's shoulder. "Can I please sleep with you tonight!" Natsu cried. Zeref was apprehensive.
"Natsu… you know my bed can barely fit you and I anymore. You're getting rather big…" Zeref had prepared a speech about how he had a test and needed really good sleep. But the speech died on his tongue as Natsu looked at him with those big soulful puppy-dog eyes, glazed over with tears. Instead of the speech he replied, "Oh, alright." He said with a rather large sigh to let Natsu know he had agreed reluctantly. A huge smile crossed Natsu's face and he bounded into Zeref's bed. Zeref slid in too and wrapped his arms around the little boy. Natsu's footy-pajama legs snaked around Zeref's slowly, as if because he went slow Zeref wouldn't notice. Zeref didn't mind either. Natsu wrapped his arms around Zeref's middle, cried out when there was a loud crash of thunder and promptly started snoring. Zeref stayed awake for a while longer, stroking Natsu's one of a kind pink hair. "I love you, Natsu." Zeref whispered and kissed Natsu's forehead before letting the thunder and lightening do it's worse, knowing it didn't matter because he was here with his little brother. Slowly he closed his eyes and let the all-consuming darkness take him into the depths of that is known as sleep.
Year: X801
Now it was nearly 400 years later that the same boy opened his eyes. Again, it was pouring buckets, lightening and thunder crashed and boomed off on the horizon. His face was wet from tears as well as the rain. A dream perhaps? No, more like a memory. A very distant one. For so much had changed since the day Natsu had curled up beside him in the dead of night. For instance, neither boy was a boy anymore. Nor did they love each other so unconditionally. Neither was innocent any longer. No, now one stood, the other fallen. Natsu, slowly kneeled beside his fallen brother. Zeref ready to fall into the darkness of sleep for good. Zeref had nothing left to do in this world. His little brother was a man now. He could take care of himself. He didn't need a night light, he didn't need Zeref to comfort him from the raging storm… he didn't need Zeref. So much had changed. Slowly, the shaking hand of his older brother reached toward him and took the steady hand of the other. Zeref took a deep breath. Natsu's smile was still wide and perfect yet tinged with a sadness that had never been there before. he still liked to cuddle and be around other people. Zeref opened his mouth his tone laced with an all-consuming grief. "I love you." He whispered. His hand went limp and his eyes closed letting the eternal sleep come. Even though he was dead he still loved Natsu. He loved him now, he would love him billions of years later. Time was funny that way. Hmph, maybe things hadn't changed so much after all.
So, you were probably all worried about me, weren't you...… No? Okay, well, I survived and that's why I'm updating. Right now, I have a poll going and you can find it on my profile page. I'm going to update a new story because face it, oneshots get tiring after a while. I'm not abandoning this story, but I will probably only update it when I'm out of ideas or just plain bored. I have four ideas for this new story that I'm updating and the poll is your chance to tell me which of them you like better. Here are the choices,
1. Alverez war has ended, Zeref's curse has been lifted, and now he's standing on trial for all his crimes (Genre's for this would be humor and romance. Rating would be T.)
2. Zeref is the Demon lord of hell and Mavis is the Angel empress of heaven. They are bitter enemies and will not rest until the other is dead. All of their friends and family think they hate each other simply because of the ancient war between Demons and Angels. But both Zeref and Mavis know that their hatred for the other runs much deeper. (Genres, for this are angst, and romance. Rating, T)
3. Natsu and Zeref are everyday brothers who have one big secret. They both helped murder a person and are living with the psychological trauma of commiting such an act. Together they're on the run, enemies of the world. Now, they only have each other. Unfortunately for the both of them, they can't stand each other. Will they be able to overcome their differences and move forward together? (Genre's, hurt/comfort and family. Rating T)
4. Before the Alverez war Zeref comes to Fairytail, looking for Natsu. Fairytail, of course, refuses to tell him where Natsu is. Zeref, angry decides to go find Natsu himself. When he does both Zeref and Natsu start to fight, even if Zeref claims that's not why he's here. Natsu wins and decides to take Zeref along for the ride in going back to Fairytail. Leaving him there would cause more problems than it soved. Only, what's Natsu supposed to do with the evilest wizard on Earthland laying next to him as he sleeps and at night? (Genre's humor and family. Rating, T)
Keep in mind that I will do all of these ideas, so no one be disappointed if I don't choose the story you voted for, or were secretly hoping that I would do. I just want to know which one you think I should do first. So, with that said, please vote now!
*Zeref walks in room* Zeref: There you are.
Me: Ah... Please don't kill me!
Zeref: I'm not here to kill you, I'm here to support you. I think it's great that you want to write more stories about me. Even if you are totally useless and generally boring.
Me: Awwww, that was really sweet... until the end.
Zeref: Please vote so that the author can write more stories about my pain and misery!
Me: I forgot how pessimistic you were.
Zeref: And proud of it!
Thanks for reading, please vote, reviews and constructive criticism appreciated. Also, I apologize for the long author's note!
Zeref: Wait a minute, why am I even talking to you, or better, how are you even here?
Me: -_- you're the one who's a fictional character!
Zeref: You're supposed to be dead.
Me: ... *Author runs away before Zeref can figure out why I'm still alive and how he should try to kill me next.*