Previously...

"Possibility number three?" Lucy asked, puzzled.

"Ethernano."

#

"Gihihi. So 'ya all think that Sprinkler's just goin' down without a fight?" Gajeel snickered as he strode towards the other mages, hands in his pockets, sporting in Lucy's opinion, a very annoying facade. A few feet away from her he stopped, cocked his head to his left and smirked. "Ye ain't doin' 'yer homework good enough, shrimp."

"It's not my fault. And besides, if you had agree to employ Lucy like I suggested, we would've manage in time, don't you think?" From behind Bisca emerged a scowling Levy, glass askew with bags in her tired eyes. "Did you had a hard time with the runes? I specifically told Freed that you'll come."

"It was fine. Also, I'm still a member of Fairy Tail, technically," Jellal shrugged from under his hood, clearly not at ease with the attention he was getting.

"T'che, we're too much a crowd, and 'ye already have stripper's sissy," Gajeel snorted, scratching his chin lamely, a look of disinterest evident in his studded face.

"She has eyes around her in the council, you idiot!" Levy exasperatedly said, resting her hand in her hip while the other pinched the bridge of her nose where her magical glasses rests. She then looked around her, and after finding that all eyes were glued to her and the dragon slayer, her face heated up. "It's...it's not what you all think!" She bent her head low and walked back to her previous place, sinking behind Bisca while muttering multitudes of 'stupid' and 'iron brain.'

"I won't be asking again why you are here, as I can clearly see that you are well aware of the situation we are in right now, Jellal," Erza started, slightly catching the latter's attention who was strangely drawn to the bantering pair. "And I believe that as I am not aware of your 'participation' perhaps you could fill us in, Laxus? First?" There was a slight edge in her voice, possibly due to her effort in trying to contain her annoyance from being set aside from the other plan by the two, cunning blonde.

"And I believe you did mention Ultear," Gray coldly said, heaving a sigh while running a hand in his hair which immediately got caught in knots. Dang! I really need to take a proper shower.

"Wa...wait, hold a second. What's going on? What other plans? Erza? Laxus? First?" Lucy asked, confused at the sudden turn of events. She the looked to Gajeel who was then picking his ear lazily. "Gajeel? And Jellal?"

An eternity of silence. A millenium of tranquility. An eon of secrets. Never ending magic. The mystery of a friend's death. And no one really understands. Not a soul could comprehend. The beginning of life itself and what awaits at its end of the road.

"The offer still stands, right?" With a dark look Gray suddenly asked, looking at Mavis straight in the eye, an unwritten challenge etched. "Ask. About everything I need to know."

A thin smile graced the late guild master's lips as she pulled her gaze from the ice mage and looked around where the whole guild was standing, breath as if on hold for the unfolding events to come. "It seems I got checked mate at my own game. And I'm not even sad about it."

"Oi, First..."

"Enough, Laxus," Mavis cut him, looking at him with brave, yet teary eyes. "I won't cry, so there's nothing to worry." But as she sniffed, Gray knew that the guild wouldn't let him live with it. He, Gray Fullbuster, resident ice mage and the bastard of the fairies, just made their first guild master cry. Lame.

"Let me tell you a story told to me a hundred years ago, told to me by a boy who lived hundreds of years ago, about a story of thousands of years ago. A story about the beginning of magic: Ethernano."

Again, silence.

Where Mavis was expecting a barricade of gasps, murmurings, inquisitive stares and break outs, she was met by an eerie silence, and Fairy Tail was known to be a lively guild. Her eyes searched for the ice mage, and found a pair of dark orbs looking intently at her, not with malice but undivided interest. Moving her eyes away from his, she sought for the other members of the guild, and found theirs the same with the previous. "You're all quiet."

"Nope, we're just listening." She was still edgy, and though the thought of delving into the sectrets of magic made her nervous, Erza decided to lend her ears to the reason of the two masters' secrets. "We will listen, First, Master [Laxus], but know that the decision to act upon such," she then stole a glance at Gray, "will be solely on each and everyone's beliefs and resolution."

"Fair enough, Titania," Laxus drawled. "Just don't make her cry. I'm sick of babysitting."

"Laxus!" Mavis pouted, that the previous just waved off.

"They're not going to wait for you forever, First, so spill it. Really, kids these days..."

"I'm no longer a child!" Mavis replied hotly, fresh tears pricking her eyes which she quickly dabbed with her sleeves, and after a few seconds, she raised her head for all of Fairy Tail to see a dignified, experienced mage, the founding master of their guild in all her pride. "You might want to ask why we are going back in time, but I believe that it is necessary that each of you undertand how grave our situation is...don't leave, Chelia, Rufus, as you also have the right to know and we need to explain ourselves."

Right foot planted on the landing, the memory-make user shrugged. "We don't really need it, actually. Sabertooth came as an ally, as Fairy Tail once did for us, and I am sure in any given situation, you will come for us. You owe us nothing, Mavis, so if you will excuse me." And with that, Rufus Lore went his way up.

"You will need help with the runes," Beside Laxus, Freed said, standing up and dusting his trousers. "I'll see you out."

"Yeah, definitely lots-a-hair," Cana muttered as her gaze followed the two long haired mage ascending the stairs. "I should do some background checking about those two one of these days."

"Uhmm..excuse me, but can I go too, now? I want to see Lyon."

It was half truth, Gray knew, but he cannot bring himself to argue with her. After all, who could blame her for not wanting to listen to all whatnots with the bottom line of 'Juvia?' The name of the mage who tried to kill her Lyon-sama?

"I could just relay to her everything." Wendy gingerly offered, clutching Chelia's hand tightly.

"No, Wendy. Actually, go with her, and Bisca." Erza said, looking at the mother, and as though coming to an understanding, Bisca's lips curled upwards and nodded.

"Okay Azuka, let's play outside with Wendy and Chelia?" Bisca then looked knowingly to her husband before heading upstairs, followed by Wendy and Chelia.

"Okay. Interrupt again and I'm gonna beat you as dead as a dead fish!" Lucy half screamed, looking around with slitted eyes. When no one moved, she sighed and turned to Mavis, who was still looking as serious as hell. "Uhm...I just...cleared the way?"

"Thank you Lucy. As Erza had said, we cannot impose and every decisions will be made not forced by any governing rules but as we individually see fit. Those who decided to stay, listen carefully, for this may be the only time that I will tell you all of these. The story was told to me by a boy who had lived eras after ears, decades after decades. A boy who had witnessed changes in our world, who saw how magic evolved. It was told to me by Zeref."

#

"Zeref, what happens when people die? I mean, my magic? Will they disappear?"

"Of course, if you die, that is. Truth is, Mavis, our magic is just borrowed magic."

Mavis eyes went wide. "Borrowed? How? But you were the one who taught me magic! Oh! It's yours, right?"

"Silly, Mavis," Zeref amusedly said, throwing a pebble at the middle of the lake and watching the ripples it made. "Magic is present everywhere. You just need to hone your skills and concentrate hard to be able to use them."

"But you never answered my question!" Mavis pouted, the thought of her magic returning to its rightful owner leaving a bitter taste in her tongue. "Who will it return to?"

"Ethernano."

"Ethernano?"

"Are you aware of the origination of all forms of magic? Like sound magic, time magic, black magic?"

She whispered a soft 'no.'

"Ethernano is so lonely a word to use, Mavis, for the word itself represents the four elements that is Ethernano's foundation."

"Fire. Air. Earth. Water." Mavis whispered, eyes kept on the grass as if suddenly finding out that the grass they were sitting on was much more interesting than her companion.

"Yes. The four foundations or attributes, together with the mage's will, defines what magic he or she will be wielding. For example, you, Mavis. Do you know your attribute?"

"My attribute? I don't know."

"You haven't given it a thought. Just try."

She creased her brow in concentration. "I use illusion magic. Definitely not Earth and Fire. Can be water, as it mirrors everything in its face. But air...air? Illusion is non existing, only to the eyes of the bewitched. It can be felt, is there, but is not really there. Air?"

"You're not so sure yourself," the black mage laughed.

"Sorry for that. It just happens to be my first time!" Mavis indignantly said, crossing her arms in her chest and feigning annoyance. "But did I get it right?"

A small smile on his thin lips was all Mavis needed as confirmation. "So, Air it is. And what's yours?"

"Me? Hmm...it's kind'a complicated. But let's not talk about me. So, going back to your question as to where magic goes when it's weilder dies. It breaks into pieces and returns respectively to the attribute it belongs too."

"So, the attributes are not pure?"

"No, they are pure. I told you before that another factor to determine the magic a person will be wielding is his will, right? As we go on, we are surrounded by the four attributes. No one is just exposed to one, for all four are co-existing. As we call for magic, it seeps to us, all four of them, and by our will, among the four, a dominant attribute will rise, shaping ourselves and creating out our own magic."

"Huh?" A look of utter confusion almost made Zeref laughed, but upon seeing her seriousness, he opted not to and went for a different route.

"It's like this way: there are many beautiful flowers around you, but only one will be your favorite."

"Oh, I get it now!" Mavis exclaimed, nodding vigoriously. "And then?"

"And then, what?"

"When all attributes returned to their respective element, what happens?"

"Those from the attributes merge to their origination by nature."

"Meaning aside from the attributes, there are others, right?" Mavis deduced, all childishness gone.

"That was just a slip of the tongue and you're too quick. Yes, there's still the elemental."

"Elemental? How does it differ with the attributes?"

Zeref sighed and closed his eyes. "An elemental is one whose magic is one of the four foundations, like a fire mage, air mage, earth mage and water mage. They are also called as the 'purest of the attributes.' And when they die, their magic don't scatter, and as a whole tends to also return to their origination. But with an exemption."

"Isn't that being unfair? We all fought to be able to use magic."

"The world itself is unfair, Mavis." Eyes still closed, he continued. "When a large amount of magic is released and returned to its respective attributes, of course, magic will overflow the land. And in this case, in order to balance magic, Ethernano will release magic that would seep directly to all alive and same elementals, for they are the people who are pure element users."

"Which draws the line between them and the attributes." Mavis concluded. She felt a pang of jelousy that she could be nothing but an attributed. "So when a fire mage dies, his magic will return directly to its original element."

"Yes, and if that mage so happens to be a strong mage, the fire foundation of Ethernano will become imbalance, and to avoid such, it will release an equivalent amount of magic intended to be absorbed by magic weilders of the same element."

"Elementals are lucky," Mavis mumbled, staring at the open lake. "I wish I'm one of them."

"I never dreamed about being one, Mavis."

#

"So, Zeref's an attribute?!"

"Hah! So, he's just also second by nature!"

"Is it just me, or doesn't 'elemental' rings a bell? Anyone?" Lucy asked, racking her brains as if the answer would just pop out.

"The Element Four." From beside the iron dragon slayer Jellal said, looking at nowhere but Mavis. "Crime Sorciere did an investigation about Phantom Lord, and Ultear discovered Jose Porla's hidden journal stashed in his abandoned office when he was still a Wizard Saint, containing secret magic arts, dark runes and several prints and cross out pages on how to convert pure Ethernano as an armament. Among those was the Magical Convergent Cannon: Jupiter."

"Oh, that's the one Erza stopped alone, right?" Natsu asked. "I doesn't look that powerful to me."

"It knocked down Erza, dumbass, so it's powerful." Gray deadpanned, ignoring the latter's insults and name callings.

"Because it really hasn't been used to its true potential."

"True potential, you say?" Erza repeated, in her mind a replay of the Jupiter's blast breaking her Adamantine Armour into pieces taking place. "Is it that powerful?"

"Yes," Jellal answered smoothly. "Ultear said that Jose was just wating for the right timing when his four elemental mages gathers immense power to feed Jupiter."

"That's...you don't mean...no!" Lucy clamped her tattooed hand in her mouth, not wanting to say what she doesn't want to admit.

"Phantom Lord's Element Four: Sol. Aria. Totomaru. Juvia. The elite group was created to be a sacrifice for Jupiter." Mavis coldly said, a sad smile dancing in her lips. "He was aware of the origination of all magic, something the Council had forbidden to publicize to avoid discrimination and possible coups and war for powers by both sides."

'But I thought the Element Four was just the key to cast Abyss Break?" Gray asked, blood boiling with rage. Jose will pay.

"Casting Abyss Break was really the elite's feat, but that's only the top of the icing. Casting Abyss Break via Super Mage Giant Phantom MK II, unknown to the Element Four, was just practice to enhance their magic. Continious firing would burn an immense amount of magic, and if they could not successfully fire Abyss Break, then what is the success rate that they will be of use to Jose in using Jupiter?" Jellal explained.

"Fuck. I'm gonna stuff 'em iron balls in his ass when I see that bloody fucker," Gajeel cursed, cracking his knuckles as if his previous master would appear out of thin air just so he could have his way with him. "He lied to Sprinkler when she trusted him."

"Ultear's not letting him up anytime soon."

Laxus laughed. "Ultear's quite happy having Jose Porla by her side. You should see your sister. It's like she's turned herself into an animated banshee the moment she saw him. Poor old man."

Gray inwardly smiled. Make him regret everything, Ultear. Yes, Jose Porla, in all his crimes needed to pay.

"So, to simplify things, before we drift to much from our topic," Cana abruptly said, taking a swig then wiping her mouth with her bare arm, "Juvia is not an Etherious nor a necromancer puppet, as claimed by out resident Etherious, " she then blinked at Natsu as an apology, "but is now a mass of Ethernano?"

Shit! I fogot about Juvia! Damn Jose.

"Yeah, I'm also thinking about that," Lucy seconded."What do we make of Juvia? She's neither Zeref's creation nor revived via necromancy. And First, you said that in order to balance magic, Ethernano will release magic that would seep directly to all alive and same elementals, for they are the people who are pure element users. Juvia...she..."

"..."

"..."

"She died." Gray choked on his words. "I saw her die. I was there..." Again, the unwanted feelings started pricking his chest, like a knife slowly making its pointed tip against his skin. A metal knife and a cool skin; a combination that seemed to magnify his pain with each touch and prick and with every blood it drew.

"Really, kids these days should really let their elders finish talking," Laxus drawled again, lazily standing and stretching up. "It's bad manners when kids interrupt."

"You keep saying I'm old!" Mavis sniffed, making the present guild master cringed.

"Oi, don't cry! Bickslow, hug her!"

"Eh, why me? Ever, you do it!"

"Eh? I'm not good with kids! Laxus do something!"

"ENOUGH!"

Another silence engulfed the room as Erza bellowed. Shit, I'm dead tired, and these idiots are merciless. "I believe the first still has something to say, Gray."

Gray just looked at her with dead eyes and lowered his head. "I said I'd listen, right?"

"Well, 'ye looked like 'ye want 'er call it a night, 'an it's just freaking 12, stripper."

"Gajeel, you're not helping either," Levy, from a corner, hissed. "And stop chewing iron. The sound's sickening." She then covered both her ears as if the sound of his eating is the deadliest sound one might hear in Fiore.

"Can 'ye blame me, shrimp? We spendin' day 'an night to find clues 'an when we already find 'te answer stripper's ain't lis'nin. 'An he hasn't even heard option number three. Ye tryin' to fuck with me?"

"Not yet?" Gray asked, looking at Mavis so quick that Lucy swore he heard a little 'crick' around his neck. "Ouch," goes the ice mage, massaging the cricked part of his nape. "First?"

"It leaves us with possibility number three, and the last possibility."

He swallowed. Hard.

Wiping her tears, agin, Mavis looked at Gray and smiled. "According to Zeref, in order to balance magic, Ethernano will release magic that would seep directly to all alive and same elementals, for they are the people who are pure element users. But, when such an imbalanced Ethernano foundation fails to seep in other like elementals, they are bound to return to the elemental they came from. In this case, Juvia's life force is returning back to her."