One of my favourite chapter I managed to play with the various setting. Zancrow was the reason why the big bad from S1 with his past foreshadowed in S2 and S3 done what he did.

Thanks for reading. Reviews are appreciated as always.

Chapter 14: The Magic which surpassed himself

Zancrow and Natsu clashed their head against one another.

"You are saying you want to kill Master Hades? Hehehe… Your brain must be growing weeds. I'll knock off all your teeth and regretted saying this even if you meant as a joke." Zancrow said to Natsu in an eerie tone.

They broke into a fight. Natsu came to Zancrow at his full strength with his former magic of fire.

Makarov kept watch. He realized that the black flame Zancrow was using was of another level. He was a Fire God Slayer. What Makarov was worried was Natsu. At his usual level, could he even land a scratch on Zancrow? He was afraid Natsu would use that cursed power of his should he be forced into a corner even if he was to use it unconsciously. His identity would be exposed to the enemy with that.

"No, stop fighting and leave at once." Makarov attempted to call for Natsu. No matter how he tried, his voice could not reach him. Natsu was too absorbed in his fury. He had to defeat Zancrow. He knew exactly who Zancrow was.

"I know you. You faked your death making your father and your elder brother think you were dead to get your hands on the Lost Magic. Was it because of that woman?" Natsu demanded as he continued to spar with Zancrow. Natsu smirked sarcastically to himself. Tsuna was right, his hands were filled with blood. It was okay to kill another. He was distracted from his own thought as Zancrow landed a punch right onto his stomach sending him to the air. Natsu coughed.

*Flashback*

He was lying paralysed on the airship of Grimoire Hearts after his body was recovered from the vortex of Etherion. Even if he was unable to move, he could still hear and he could still feel if anyone was to touch him. Zancrow was the one who took him to the ship.

"My mission is accomplished. Damn you, old man for trying to thwart our plan by helping him to recover his magic power. We're lucky things are still moving along according to our plan.

Zancrow was the second son of Brain. He wished to obtain magic which was much more powerful than his elder brother. He was jealous of the fact that his brother could even memorise all the magic enchantment even while asleep and that his father was proud of that son of us. No matter how hard Zancrow tried, he could never surpass his elder brother, Midnight. Because of that, he participated in the experiment to obtain the Lost Magic despite his father's objection.

Zancrow slapped Natsu who was unable to move.

"The world is really small. Who would have thought that the "tool" he captured just to vent his frustration "my death" had left him ended up as our lab rat. Hehehe… I wish I can show off to him and tell him I'm now a member of the Seven Kin of Purgatory!" Zancrow scoffed feeling proud of himself.

Natsu could hear his confession. He could never forgive how Brain ruined his life but he could not stop his tears from falling down the corner of his eye recalling Brain talking about his son in sorrow.

Natsu managed to get his message across to Brain when he found him later on. Natsu in his Zeref-activated form was physically and mentally unstable. He came in search for Brain to get him to kill him. Natsu wanted to die but he was unable to kill himself due to a curse Grimoire Hearts had placed on him.

"It's you. Long time no see. I can sense your evil aura from far away. Have you fallen? Are you here to take my life, Dark Mage, Zeref or should I address you as Natsu Dragion?" That was the first time Brain saw him as a human and calling him by his name.

"Your son and the rest were defeated by the mages from the Light Guild. I'm afraid, you're the only one left. Can you help me to end my resentment against you by dying?" Natsu said in a cold and unfeeling tone. It was his way to provoke the man to kill him. However, his plan backfired as his power of death gone out of control once more.

Brain's blood curling scream could be heard in the air. Natsu could not believe his eyes after the scream died down as he saw Brain fell in front of him. He did not intend to hurt anyone. Natsu shook his head in fear. There was nothing he could do now except to tell him the truth.

"Your younger son is still alive. Believe it or not he had become a member of Seven Kin of Purgatory…" Natsu could never forget Brain's eyes as he learnt the truth at his last moment. Was it regret? Was it horror? Natsu could never find out.

*End Flashback*

Zancrow continued his attack on Natsu. Their difference of power were obvious. Natsu was overwhelmed.

"Do you know that God likes to eat fire mage? Flame God's Supper!" Zancrow clapped his hands creating a mouth-shaped black flames as he trapped Natsu within it.

"You are finished. All there was left of you would be ash!"

"Na…" Makarov almost cried out his name.

"I'm going to eat and absorb this kind of flame." Natsu declared as he attempted to eat but failed. He screamed in pain.

"How many times must I say? You can't eat my flame. Are you an idiot? I really wonder how you passed your S Class exam?" Zancrow mocked at Natsu. He was caught by surprise when a giant hand grabbed his body. It was Makarov's magic.

"I'll not allow you to continue hurting my kids before me. I will crush you." Makarove was enraged.

Zancrow engulfed his body in flame burning Makarov's hand in order to get Makarov release him but instead the grip on him just tightened.

"I didn't know you still have this much power. If you don't release me now, your hand will turn into ash."

"Let go of him, Grandpa. I'm fine. I'm not worth for you to do that besides… " Natsu was the one who killed his father. It was okay if he could be killed here. That was his wish anyway.

"I'm not letting go. Never underestimate the power of family!" Makarov declared. He was going to save Natsu no matter what. Makarov recalled how he took Natsu to the guild after he recovered from that life changing incident nine years ago.

"Natsu, is guild fun?"

"Very fun. Everybody is like family to me. I love everyone…"

His line of thought was cut by Zancrow's voice.

"Interesting. I wonder who will be the first to fall. Will it be me, Makarov or Fireball?"

At that moment, Natsu recalled Yajima and Jellal's words.

"Natsu, you're the only one who can overcome your own fear, only then you can surpass yourself."

"If you wished it from your heart, with unwavering belief, magic will respond to your thought…"

Natsu's flame expanded within the sphere of black flame for one moment and it disappeared much to Makarov's horror.

"Oh ya, Fireball had fallen first." Zancrow commented with a glee. That was not something to happy about Makarov realized.

"No, Natsu's magic power had vanished. Is he going to awaken his other power? Is Zeref going to activate here?"

Natsu did not awaken the magic of Zeref instead he started swallowing the black flame catching both Makarov and Zancrow by surprise.

"That's impossible. How can he eat the flame of God? " Zancrow questioned. Makarov who was experience in magic understood what Natsu had done. He had create a vessel to eat fire which could nto be eaten by emptying his own magic power.

Natsu came to a understanding of what Yajima and Jellal was trying to tell him back then. Sometimes, it took a special technique.

"A special technique with your level of magic ability? Are you courting death, idiot?" Makarov sent Zancrow flying as he started reprimanding Natsu for his foolishness.

"I had changed my mind. I don't want to die. My death won't solve any problem and I won't let anybody die here." Natsu suddenly said as he moved on to land Zancrow a finishing blow.

"You should reflect on yourself, Zancrow. Your father cares about you. I'll show you my power which had surpassed myself, Dragon God's Brilliant Flame!" with that Zancrow was completely defeated.

That was Natsu's first true victory since the Kingdom Empire incident.

Makarov watched the battle in gaped mouth. Jellal was right about Natsu and he himself had underestimated Natsu's potential. This was his new power after coming back from death. Natsu Dragion of the past was dead.

The one who was standing before him was the young man Yajima and Jellal had high hope for. His name was Natsu Dragneel!