Chapter 6: Memories Resurfaced

Natsu held his bearings trying to comprehend the madness. As he walked with the man, it almost grasped that he was familiar. The shadows cast in his vision began to clear up as his body uncontrollably shifted against his will. He no longer walked in a forest with the man, but the walls and floors described a well lain stone fortress of some sort.

"My Lord, it might not be any of my business, but if you leave us who will lead?" the black haired man questioned.

"How was he supposed to answer?" Natsu thought. Soon his inner question was answered when he heard his own voice echo from within him.

"Who would best serve Zeref?" his own voice asked.

"Me my Lord." he responded with ignorance.

Though clearly unable to protest, Natsu swarmed his mind with questions and endless thoughts. Firstly, "My Lord was rather annoying" and second, "Where am I?"

Still, his body pressed on, and it was silent. He felt he should ask where he was going, and who he was but everything moved against his command leaving him feel impatient and lost. Soon the two of them reached a room, it was vast and had the feeling of a command center, of what, Natsu could only guess.

It was torn and looked like it had seen battle in its prime and held a presence that was very familiar.

Zeref..

Natsu felt his body shift once more toward the man, but the shadow that loomed over him before was gone and he could clearly see the mess he had unwilling strolled into.

"Mard Geer, find yourself a seat." ordered a voice from the shadows. The new voice walked closer to reveal none other than Zeref, still the same as he had always been, however much more firm. Power radiated outward even in his words that beckoned Mard Geer to do away quickly.

The form that revealed to be Mard Geer all too late scurried to sit with a group Natsu hadn't realized was there. There was too much to handle. From what he understood, he was in very very deep.

Taking the place of Mard Geer, Zeref walked casually toward Natsu and it was only then that he felt the warmth on his head. He couldn't reach to touch it but he could feel it radiate through him like a pulse.

In waves of pulsing heat, Natsu attempted to focus on what was being said, but quickly found himself not aware at all of what was happening. Narrowing his eyes he attempted to reopen his eyes. It was a small amount light suddenly becoming brighter. It relieved the pain from his head and for a second he felt. Energized? Actually for a second the view of the light turned shapes and blew away. It felt irrational and pleasant at the same time.

"It seems you have failed in your purpose, E.N.D" the voice rang as it brought Natsu back to the familiarity of the scene. Zeref spoke to him directly and with a stern tone of disappointment.

For the moment, Natsu felt like a scolded puppy though that seemed more irrational that the feeling he had moments ago. He felt his mouth seal shut and continued to listen.

"You are not strong enough, and will continue to be useless here." he stated. Not one muscle moved out of place on his sorrowed face.

"You have failed to fill the spot, and were defeated by the slightest of our enemy. Not even that of a worthy opponent."he continued.

This seemed like a far worse scolding than Lucy's.

Zeref stopped his sentence for fear his anger would burst in sudden dismay. There was a hint of concern, but it was hidden deep behind the thundering sound before a volcano eruption. Zeref motioned great intensity with both his eyes and his hands that something would no longer be of this world, and it was most certainly and unavoidably, Natsu.

What was there to protest? Was it even necessary? It felt strangely right, and calming.

Natsu missed everything, from the moment he had entered the room to the point of being somewhere else in the building entirely, he couldn't recall a single conversation that would help him understand the point of being blasted into oblivion and enjoying it. Enjoy?

"One day you will be of use yet again and you will remove me from this world." Zeref spoke. His hands raising above his head, carrying great aura and darkness into his palm. His eyes glowed red from the magic aura and he spoke to Natsu.

"I will see you again, little brother."

"Your brother isn't coming back!... You can't bring him back!"

"All these projects of yours, The R system, Eclipse, All of it was to bring back your brother, wasn't it?"

"How many times must I tell you, Zeref, It is taboo to bring back the dead…"

A slow echo drew Natsu further deep, it called to him. Something grew…

Was it hatred? Was it pride?

Fear?

A/N

Well, I think that went well. Beginning the path down memory lane are we? Don't know when the next chapter will be out, school has been rather uneventful so I've had luck on my side.

The respective quotes come directly from the manga itself and are not mine.

Thanks for reading!

~icesekki