I'm in a very good mood right now, just got done watching Hercules starring Dwayne Johnson and once again he does his part perfectly. Especially since he was playing the part of the Son of Zeus, the Demi-God. I loved every moment and it got my blood pumping for combat.

So here ya go, good old fashioned combat, adventure and all around chaos created by yours truly. I even made this my longest chapter ever in my short time as an author so enjoy the length!

Reviews and criticism is very much appreciated, especially for this chapter's major length!

Hope you enjoy!

"You enslave these innocent people, to serve you and work tirelessly for the rest of their life's. Pillaging their homes, killing and slaying whatever is in your path and ripping these people from their villages. To these children, you lot seem like monsters, but I'll be glad to show them and you what a true monster is capable of!" ~Natsu Dragneel

The Legend of E.N.D.

Chapter 1: Loss of Innocence and To be a Monster

Coal black eyes scanned the darkening horizon, watching, waiting, scoping out the terrain of where his task was to take place. Short spiky pink hair rustled in the breeze as the scent of sea water carried through his nostrils causing him to release a sigh. One Natsu Dragneel watched from his small boat the happenings of where the Tower of Heaven was being built. His boat rocked back and forth be kept it steady and hiding it inside some forestry from one of the nearby islands. The young time traveler sat watching from his position, with his heightened sense''s he was able to see clearly the guard's stationed all around the island and atop the tower's foundations.

He took note of them, stayed in his position for the past couple of hours watching their guard positions and how they switched at every hour. And with each passing hour he had to suppress himself from blindly charging in and taking out everyone, because every hour he knew Erza was suffering along with her friends. Each hour felt like an eternity to him and he wanted nothing more than to charge in, fire blazing and save her from the clutches of these bastards.

But he couldn't do it that way, he needed to think, and plan a way to maximize full efficiency of his abilities and save as many as he could with the least amount of casualties. He'd never been one to do this, this was usually for people like Erza or Old man Makarov. He was usually the one to charge in, being the full front assault type of guy, charging in without a moments hesitation. No plan, not taking the time to think, just going in fists ablaze.

'But that's exactly how I ended up killing everyone the first time. I made a choice without no thought put into it and they paid the price for it.' the young Dragneel thought morbidly, his childish face formed into a scowl as he remembered the not so long ago incident that had happened in a future that no longer existed. He shut his eyes and shook his head to try and shake away those thoughts, but they insisted to stay and haunt him. Since he found himself waking up in this time just a week prior, the memories of what happened were still fresh in his mind. They haunted him when he was awake, and when he was asleep. Every waking moment he saw the consequences of his choice of trying to sacrifice himself to kill E.N.D. Only for his choice to cause the eradication of Fairy Tail and the death of his loved ones.

He hadn't had any sleep because of this, but he found that his body was able to keep going, something he supposed was due to what he was now. If he had been what he was prior to his merge he would have dropped dead where he stood. But his body seemed to not need sleep, one of the things he felt was because of his unique status now. However being plagued of what he had done every moment he so much as closed his eyes or drifted away in memory was probably worse than the lack of sleep.

He was disgusted with himself, sick and spiteful towards what he had done, he loathed himself for what he had done and the result of his choice. If he could have switched himself with his friends he would have done so in half the time it took a heart to beat. Just that they could survive and it that meant he would die, than so be it.

He was unworthy to be a Fairy Tail mage, he was unworthy of the friendship they gave him. He didn't deserve them, they didn't need a monster like him, they would be fine without him.

'But that doesn't mean I won't protect them, even if I was the one to cause their death's I have the chance to protect them and this time I can do it without endangering them in the process.' he thought adamantly, the young time traveler had thought about it long and hard and ultimately came to this choice. He simply refused to ever return to Fairy Tail, but that didn't mean he would not protect his former guild and the family that he grew up with. He just chose to do it in his own way and without endangering their life's as well.

He would deal with his own problems and leave them out of it, but Fairy Tail's enemies were his enemies and he would crush all of them before he lets harm come to them.

''But before I can do that I need to find my friends and point them in the right direction.'' he resolved to himself before he turned his gaze back to where the Tower of Heaven was being built. Narrowing his eyes, as black as the abyss itself Natsu let out a small growl of anger since he could smell the faint scent of one of his most precious loved ones inside that damnable place. He could smell her scent, something he doubted would ever change about her. But every moment he waited he knew she was suffering inside that place with her other friends.

He had to stop it...now!

''Don't worry Erza I'm coming...'' with that said Natsu left his boat hidden and dove into the water, among the changes he'd found within him, he no longer suffered from motion sickness which he praised whatever deity that watched over him for. Having felt blessed that he no longer suffered from a glaring weakness all Dragonslayers went through he was able to 'borrow' a boat for himself. He didn't want to take it too the island and risk alerting himself too early and so he used it as a way to stake out the island from afar before swimming to the island afterwards.

Being stealthy never was his forte, but this situation called for it...

And so he swam, it a good distance away and coupled with the fact he was a child again he would have normally be too exhausted. But due to the fact he was no longer mortal, he wasn't bound by those limitations. Which allowed him to reach the island without much effort, but once he reached the island he took to the surrounding tree's that still stood and had yet to be cut down for resource to build the Tower.

He jumped from branch to branch being mindful of alerting the guards, keeping his senses sharp and alert he until he stopped on a branch. He looked down and narrowed his eyes to see one of the guards, he kept himself still and waited for the guard rotation that should happened in the minute. Hours of watching this rotation allowed his prediction to be pretty accurate as another guard came up behind the other one watching from the cliffside.

''Oi, time to switch.'' the guard muttered and the one watching turned and gave a grunt. ''Meh right right, by the way has our latest batch of workers become accustomed to their new homes?'' he spoke with a grin which was matched by the other guard who let out a laugh.

''Oh they sure have, of course we got a few rebellious ones, especially this little brat of a redhead, but they learned real quick when the boss got a hold of them.'' he said making the other guard flinch a tad before letting out a chuckle.

''I almost feel bad for them then if the boss had to put them in their place.'' he said causing the guard to let out another laugh before speaking. ''True, but they should feel honored, after all they are all working as one to help bring back Lord Zeref.''

The guard nodded in turn, ''True true, I guess some just need a little convincing to realize the honorable task that they've been granted.''

The guard just laughed, both of them completely oblivious to what awaited them as a pair of orbs that were once black as night were now smoldering crimson. Orbs of the darkest red pierced through the shadows of the forest, eyes that belonged to one Natsu Dragneel who clenched his hands and grinded his teeth. The way they spoke about people they were enslaving without so much as a sign of sympathy was pushing Natsu's rage past it's boiling point. The way they talked about them, as if they were nothing more than tools to be used made his hair spike up more than it usually was.

But when they spoke of a rebellious redhead he tried to control himself at this point but it was proving to be nearly impossible. There was only one redhead he knew of that resided in Tower of Heaven, a girl he grew up with alongside his rival and best friend Gray. A girl he had swore an oath to always protect and never let her cry again. The very same he fight tooth and nail, shed blood and risked death to save from her troubled past.

The very same girl he killed...

Black bled into a sinister crimson from the way they talked about her. Although, it sounded she had arrived at the tower not too long ago which he was grateful for. What they said about there supposed "Boss" made his skin crawl. If this bastard so much as laid a hand on her...

Kill him! Show no mercy! Make these little ingrates bleed! MAKE THEM SCREAM!

A voice so similar to his own only more rough and deeper roared from within the depths of his scarred soul and Natsu's instincts seemed to agree, within his crimson orbs his irises flickered into sharp demonic slits before canines lengthened into fangs. He had an inkling feeling of knowing who that voice was, but right now that was the least o his worries, right here, right now he was worried about Erza and all those that were suffering along with her.

'Dead...they will die...' such thoughts were unbecoming of a Fairy Tail mage, it was a law amongst all Fiore that killing was strictly forbidden unless it was absolutely called for. Master Makarov had always told him and the guild that to kill as a Fairy Tail mage meant complete and total excommunication, that was the only true iron clad rule Fairy Tail truly had. And as he readied his hands Natsu gave a silent sigh as he made mentally made his choice.

'I am no longer a Fairy Tail mage and I've swore to never to return to them. I am...a monster, a devil, undeserving of that type of friendship. No...now I'll kill to make sure the friends I remember in my heart can never be hurt again. This I swear!'

Calming his breathing Natsu narrowed his eyes, coiled his muscles and sprung downwards upon the two unsuspecting guards.

They never saw it coming...

''AGH!''

''Oh god! What-what the hell wait...wait NO!''

Splurch!

A clawed hand pierced through the guard's chest blood dripping from his claws while bone and flesh coated his hands. Natsu did his best to ignore the disgust he felt build up within himself as he ripped his hand out, splashing blood against the ground and onto the tree's. He let the corpse of the guard fall onto his fellow dead companion who also had a equally sized hole through his heart. Seeing the sight the young 7 year old in body scowled in both disgust and anger before he turned away leaving his bloody hand unclean.

It would be getting dirty again anyway...

'I can't use my magic not only because it would alert the others of my presence far too early, but I'm not sure how much it's changed after what I've become. Which means I'll need to rely on my hand-to-hand, not a problem with that.' he thought as he crawled through the forestry, inching closer and closer to the tower. Among other things, he learned his already impressive strength, speed, endurance and senses had seemed to sky rocket to levels that surpassed what he was originally capable of doing.

He never truly tested how strong he was, but he could impale, pierce and shatter boulders and even a mountain side with his fists and claws. And since he was more of a close combat type of guy, this suited him very well. But the downside proved to be very costly because should another person combat him they would be literally ripped to shreds due to the sharpness of his claws and titan-like strength.

It both scared him and, to his shame, excited him.

That was his mindset as Natsu skulked around the forests around the foundations of where the Tower of Heaven was being built and along the way he killed every guard he came across. Not a single one escaped his eyes, killing them all in a similar manner as the first two. Quick and quiet, so he didn't alert the others in the tower. By the time he was done the sun was beginning to set and once he came out of the forests and before the entrance of the Tower he was for the lack of a better word.

Unclean...

His whole body was stained crimson, his clothes that was barely hanging onto his body were soaking wet in the sticky blood red substance of the life giving liquid that was blood. His hands dripped with the blood of his victim's, his long sharp claws stained red with the flesh and bone dug underneath his nails. All the while, his piercing red orbs tore through the darkness which soon narrowed upon the tower, no fear, no hesitation was in his eyes as Natsu stalked towards the tower.

What innocence in Natsu he had left had died he moment he killed those cultists, an innocence that he knew didn't exist in the memories of his old life and an innocence his foster father Igneel and Master Makarov tried so desperately to keep intact. It no longer existed in the boy and he didn't want it, a monster like himself had no need for such a thing His eyes were stained by the deaths of his family and his soul was scarred beyond repair.

Hearing the cries and moans of the slavers and slaves inside made the draconic pride with Natsu roar in anger, but his demonic blood whispered sweet words for him to go inside. Both his pride and blood urged him forth, making him take each step into the dark abyss that help his dear friend against her will. His blood boiled, his instincts screamed at him to wreak as much havoc as possible and...

Kill them! Show them what a true monster is capable of! Send their souls to me! DO IT! DO IT! DO IT! KILL KILL KILL KILL THEM ALL!

That very same voice yelled within his mind, encouraging him, pushing him forward and with each step his eyes glowed brighter and brighter until finally he closed the gates behind him. And as it did, Natsu's body was engulfed in darkness, completely hiding himself from the rest of eyes of the giant prison that was the Tower of Heaven.

The only thing you could see where Natsu stood was glowing red eyes with demonic slits that seemed to pierce the very soul.

''I'm coming for you, Erza...'' the boy whispered in the darkness before he made his way forward, since he found himself inside he no longer needed to keep himself hidden. Now that the threat of lock down was gone since he was inside, he could wreak as much havoc as he so desperately wanted. As he made his way inside his eyes caught onto the many cells that kept the slaves inside and he saw many were asleep, but some were wide awake and some even saw him..

''Who is that kid?''

''Did he somehow get out of his cell?''

''Wait...something's not right...he's covered in blood...and his eyes...they're red!''

Natsu heard their comments, he could see the apprehension in their eyes and it shook him. He could sense it, he could smell their fear of him and of this tower, he bit his lip at that. But he need he'd have to get used to that type of reaction from people now, especially considering what he was now. However he masked his expression as he heard a couple of guards come near his location. Turning his head he saw them turn a corner and stop once they saw him just standing there, just looking at them.

''Oi oi~ How the hell did this brat get in the tower?'' one of the guards said, it was a squad of 5 each armored with a spear, sword, staff, a mace and another wielded a large battleaxe. But they all wore the most outlandish of clothing with bright colors, but they all shared one thing and that was a oval shaped crystal covering their eyes and nose as a mask of sorts.

Natsu simply kept staring at them with his glowing red eyes before the biggest of them all chuckled and swaggered his way towards the motionless boy. Lazily swinging his axe in a attempt to scare the child. It worked most of the time to scare rebellious children who would get back to work, and at times he'd used it to punish those that didn't do their job.

''Who cares how he got in, we just got ourselves a new worker. Now cmon kid, let's find you a nice warm-'' he reached toward Natsu who felt a bile of disgust as he saw the big meaty hand come near him. Just the thought of this bastard, this piece of shit, this disgusting sack of flesh; touching him made him feel filthy. The urge to wipe out this bastard from the face of existence became far too hard for him to ignore any longer. His thoughts became tainted, emotions of a darker persona swirled around in his head, cementing into him a feeling of nostalgia as a deathly edge flickered across his eyes and then he simply acted.

''Priso-Crash!'' the guard didn't even know it until a bare foot contacted with his head, and faster than the trained eye could follow Natsu swung his foot down bringing the guard down with him before slamming his head into the ground. The strength of it alone shook the prison as the stone floor cracked and cratered underneath Natsu's crushing power.

''Woah!'' the other guards let out a shout of surprise as the area shook violently as the place Natsu's slammed the guard formed a crater. The guard himself no longer had a head due to it having been crushed like a melon beneath Natsu's foot. Ignoring the death of the guard and the blood that was on his foot, Natsu turned his murderous gaze on the other guards before he reached out with his hand.

''Burn you bastards...''

Than fire erupted from his hand, but this was no ordinary fire, it was darker having a mixed shade of crimson, orange with streaks of blue and white flames. It erupted from Natsu's arm in a violent turbulence. Forming into a pillar of fiery destruction which carved its way towards the guards, such was it's heat it melted the cobblestone walls and flooring into puddles of lava as it reached the guards.

They didn't even have time to scream as the fire slammed into them with the force of a cannon, it incinerated them on the spot and blackened their skeletons on the spot.

''AHHHH!''

''What was that!''

''Oh my god!''

''I'm scared...''

These were among a few of the prisoners that were watching in awe and fright at what he'd done, but Natsu didn't care as his ears perked up and he sensed the rushed steps of more guards coming his way. He merely shifted his attention towards them as they came within his sight.

''An intruder! Kill the brat!'' one of them shouted in urgency, some began to channel their magic to hurl at the Dragneel.

But Natsu was much faster...

He vanished faster than it took the time to blink before he was upon the guards, fists ablaze and eyes glowing crimson with murderous intent clear as day.

None were escaping him, all those that caused Erza pained died tonight!

For a moment he sensed something try to probe his mind, but he gave an internal snarl at whatever it was as he continued his rampage.

Brown eyes snapped wide open in shock and terror before a small girl around the age of 7 or 8 took a few quick steps back. Her eyes began to dilate in fright as she wrapped her small arms around herself as she kept her eyes solely on the black orb before her. It was a moderated sized orb that sat on a pedestal. It was a basic communication lacrima crystal in every way, but for her it was a conduit for her unique powers.

The young girl however kept stepping away from the crystal though, frightened chills ran up and down her spine as the image of what she just saw painfully flashed within her mind. Small whimpers began to leave her as shameful tears began to leak out from her eyes, caused by the horrifying image of what she had just seen. Her shoulder length purple length fell over her face as she slid down onto the cobblestone floor.

''W-what in the name of Zeref was that?'' a young Ultear Milkovich cried out in fright, she sat alone in one of the top floors of the Tower and none dared to enter her room without fear of consequence. Usually consequence dealt by her hand or by the hand of her master, Hades. She felt the tower shake and rumble and let out another pitiful whimper when she heard it, thought it was long from her location it was there.

''ROOOOAAARRR!'' a roar thundered up throughout the tower, thunderous and ferocious as a dragon, it ripped across the tower and echoed off it's walls. The sound ran along the sound waves and ran through her ears, to remind her of the intruder that was attacking the tower alone. To painfully remind her of the beast of a boy that had just arrived inside the tower, to make her relive that horrible experience of being under his glare.

''W-what is that... boy?'' Ultear muttered to herself, she had been warned beforehand by her master, Hades, of a disturbance closing in on the Tower and made her aware of it. So she had kept a close eye on whatever it was and she noted that whatever it was had reached the island. Than it started killing off the guards one by one until all the outer guards had been killed and once it came inside the tower.

All hell broke loose...

She used her memory projection on of the guards that were in the first levels and saw what he saw, the boy had closed the gates leading outside behind him. It was then she saw the boy attack without a moments hesitation, first killing the guard that tried to touch him by crushing his skull and cratering the cobblestone floor with just a reverse roundhouse kick and a stomp to add force. The strength of it alone shocked her since it was coming from a boy that didn't look much older than herself, but afterwards she saw him prove to do even more incredible, if not downright terrifying feats. He weaved and jumped high into the air, weaving fire at his fingertips and incinerating his enemies into ash or breaking his opponents with bone crushing force.

She got a good description of him, a boy of 7 year's of age with rosy pink spiky hair with a light tanned complexion. Crimson glowing eyes that still sent a shiver of fear down her spine, and sharp fangs and claws that didn't look anything that a human should have. His clothes barely hung from his body and he was bare foot. But blood coated every part of his body, and the way he seemed to kill all the guards without a shred of mercy.

It scared her there was no doubting that, the almost animalistic way he butchered them and incinerated them made her feel queasy. But the fierce determined expression on his face and the glare of his demonic red eyes also sent another feeling she couldn't describe down her spine.

It's why she found herself curious as to who this boy was so she tried to project herself into his mind when he attacked another squad of guards. She had thought with himself preoccupied she could use her magic to try and project his memories to her so she could find out who this boy was.

And that had been a horrible mistake on her part...

The very first thing she saw when she tried to enter his mind was darkness. A realm of jet black was what she saw, it was worse than staring at the abyss, it was just a void of darkness which threatened to snuff out all the light in existence and it actually seemed to come alive the moment she tried to add just a bit of force into probing his mind. Than the fire came, it appeared, erupting with the force of a galactic supernova and it's heat had been so agonizing she truly felt as if her flesh was being melted and her bones were turning to ash. The fire came in so many colors that it was literally impossible for her to remember them all besides the color a rick and dark crimson.

But than, in the firestorm she saw it, the fire began to morph into a face and soon the darkness began to swirl into the flames creating a superstorm of red and black that threatened to consume her body and soul. And a second later the face formed completely and what she saw was something that made the stories Master Hades told her about the Demons of Zeref seem like mere playthings.

She saw the face of a true demonic being, the face of a most unholy creature, what Ultear saw...was the face of a Devil.

''Begone little Witch!'' it simply roared and she remembered being consumed in flames, the agonizing pain of those searing flames scorching her flesh, boiling her blood and turning her bones to dust in half the second for her to even scream. She wasn't sure if that was the boy or something else, but whatever it was it scared the living hell out of her.

Literally...

She wasn't prideful enough to admit she wasn't scared of that thing, not even Lord Hades could give off such a terrifying aura of pain and death as to what she just experienced. Whatever that was inside that boy's head utterly and literally terrified her to the point she was sure to have nightmares for year's on end because of it.

And yet...that boy...

The boy piqued her interest, she wished for nothing more than the revival of Zeref, to awaken the greatest Dark Mage known in all of ancient history. The one who enveloped the entire world in eternal darkness and drowned mankind in a sea of demons. For she felt he was the only one who could help ease her troubles of the soul. At one point she remembered Lord Hades,when she was very young, introduced her to a mere sample of Lord Zeref's power by one of his Book's that held one of his Demonic creations.

She felt that very essence of Zeref's dark power again, it made her body tremble and shiver in anxiety and also in anticipation. Even now she could feel the Tower resonate with that dark power of Zeref bursting forth from one single entity.

That boy...

A ruthless smile, not suited for a girl her age, formed on the young girls face as her interest peaked, ''Although you terrify me...you also deeply interest me, I wonder what your name is.''

''RAAAGGHHH!'' another roar escaped the young boy and she could feel he had got up a few levels prior to a few minutes ago. His voice was strong as ever, his power boomed throughout the tower and made goosebumps appear on her skin as it made the tower tremble. Although the danger of the tower being destroyed was present, Lord Hades had stressed that the tower was merely a means to an end and could be salvageable given enough time. And it seemed it would with the way the Tower was starting to shake and crack, faintly she could hear one of it's support pillars begin to break and tumble down.

She could also hear the faint sound of cheering, more than likely the boy was freeing every single slave cell he saw as he made his way upwards. Usually the gates were locked all by a single lacrima system, but seeing his brute strength, he more than likely tore off the gates bare handed.

''That boy...although his goal seems somewhat clear, he definitely plans to bring this tower down with his own two hands. Hm, I may be able to work with this, let's see if my little pet is ready to move.'' Ultear spoke and her expression was just a mask of cold ruthlessness. A cruel smirk befitting a demon appeared on her childlike face as she stood up and walked towards the orb, repairing the cracks resulting from the backlash of trying to enter that boys mind. She soon switched to another boy tied up in another chamber who was practically screaming bloody murder.

''Now why don't you meet our new guest, Jellal?''

As the chaos ensued, on the mid-tier floors of the currently in-construction tower, was another floor of prison cells. Each packed with prisoners, slaves taken from their homes and villages. Life's ruined by cultists and forced into slavery, there was no diversity in age groups. Each cell as men, women, children and even the elderly. Children having made to watch as their parents were brutally murdered and ripped away from their homes. Elders that could barely put much effort without hurting themselves in the process, it was a sickening and vile sight to see.

And it was among these prison cells, amongst the shaking of the tower, that one such prison cell housed the very person the intruder had come to save.

The sound of children crying resonated in the cell, but it was mostly blocked out by the sound of battle, the screams of dying men and cries of fear from other slaves on the lower levels. Inside the cell was a total of 6 prisoners 5 being children and the other being a much older man named Rob.

Being the oldest of his inmates, Rob showed a great deal of pity for the children he was imprisoned with, he had lived a long life and had no regrets about dying. He'd already paid his respect to his old teammates at Fairy Tail and he knew he'd die either by old age or by slavery. Either one, it was inevitable for him, but for children? That was a whole other matter altogether. They weren't even of the ripe age of 10 and they were forced into this hellish life.

'These poor kids should be living and experiencing the freedom that they were born with, not locked up and forced into slavery like this. It's not right...if I only had a bit more magical power than this.' the old man frowned in frustration as he looked down at his shackled wrists, if these were normal shackles he would have been able to break out of them easily. However these were made with a certain magic absorbing lacrima that sucked any and all magic in his body. Leaving him with only a bare minimum to even feel let alone use.

He felt another rumble in his prison cell and the increased cries of a child made him close his eyes, and as if things couldn't get any worse. Someone or something had busted into the tower and was currently battling the guards and from the blood curdling screams he guessed whatever it was, was winning. He wasn't sure if it was human at this point since it's battle was starting to disturb the tower in such a way that it was literally falling apart.

''It's okay Sho, don''t worry it's gonna be fine.'' Rob heard this and turned to see among the children was a girl who couldn't have been at least 5 year's old. He flinched from the wounds inflicted on her from the "Boss" of this tower, a punishment for trying to rebel only to end up being punished by the Taskmaster of the Tower and Head Cultist. She was barely wearing rags as clothing and had chocolate brown eyes and shoulder-length scarlet hair.

Her young body was covered in bandages, a couple of gashes and cuts from her punishment were still fresh, but they at least gave the girl some type of medical treatment before throwing her into the cell. That had been about a month ago, a month since she and the rest of those kids were brought to the tower and since than she had been trying to keep the other kids calm.

She was strong, Rob would give her that although pitied that other child that had been taken the moment he was brought into the tower, Jellal, if his memory served him correctly was the name of the kid. He had been too rebellious, always trying to break out of his cell and getting into fights with the guards. It got the point he tried to plot an escape attempt only to end up failing and being taken away.

Where he wasn't sure, but they hadn't seen the kid since and that had been a week ago.

Feeling another rumble Rob closed his eyes and let out a sigh...

'If there truly is a God, perhaps you can show some bit of mercy for these children?' he didn't really think his prayer would be answered. His religious faith wasn't really existent in his soul, only his love for his old nakama and guild.

So imagine his surprise when his prayer was answered only it wasn't a God that answered...

Crash!

''AGH!'' Rob's eyes widened and sat up as multiple amount of guards were literally flung from left to right before slamming into the cobblestone wall. The prison cell doors buckled as another guard was mysteriously flung into it causing them to creak.

''Ahh!'' Sho screamed in fright and hid behind the scarlet haired girl as the other children huddled up at her side whilst the girl herself was shaking, but tried to keep a steady hold of herself. She knew deep down that she needed to keep up a strong front, even if she herself was afraid of what was happening, she couldn't let the other kids see this.

But that strong front shattered as another guard was crawling towards their cell, heaving and vomiting as blood poured from where his legs used to be. His oval shaped mask was shattered revealing his completely terrified eyes to the kids and Rob. He reached out to them, weakly, whimpering, pleading in a gesture that screamed for aid.

''H-help...me...''

And suddenly a growl echoed from within the darkness and the legless guard's eyes widened in horror before a hand grabbed hold of his armor before he was dragged back into the darkness. ''No no no! Wait wait...wait I'm sorry I'm so sorry, please don't NOOO-''

Splurch!

And the screams went silent...

'That's always a bad sign...' Rob thought, narrowing his eyes, his wrinkled face scrunching up into an expression of frustration. His old eyes peered into the darkness and suddenly he felt a cold chill go down his spine once he saw the blood beginning to pool and dribble down the cracks of the cobblestone, escaping from the darkness and allowing it to be seen by the children.

''Oh god...we're going to die...we're going to die...'' Sho whimpered in the corner as another girl his age, Millianna hugged into the red haired girls leg and turned her face away from the carnage. Two other children by the name of Wally and Simon were watching fearful eyes. All of them were waiting form something, anything to happen, because they all knew, on a instinctual level, that there was something in that dark corner and they knew whatever it was, was the very same thing that was attacking and killing these guards.

''Is it...the boogeyman?'' Millianna said, as ridiculous as it sounded, none of them could fault her for saying it because right now it truly felt like something akin to a child's worst nightmare come to life.

Only they weren't expecting what came out of the darkness...

Bloody bare feet walked along the cracked and bloody cobblestone, stepping over the corpses of the dead guards. Clothes equally tattered as their own hung from the body of a single boy of only 7 year's of age, all of their eye's widened, shock was evident in their faces as a boy with rosy pink spiky hair and ruby red eyes walked out from the darkness. Blood saturated every part of his body and was splattered among his face and hair. His hands were dripping in blood which seemed to only add more of a fear factor to his appearance.

''A-a kid?'' Wally sputtered in shock, his eyes like the rest were wide in shock when they saw the boy infront of their cell, seemingly unaffected with the all the blood that was on him. But when Sho saw him he broke into a trembling mess and began to cry from the almost devilish look in his eyes.

''H-he's scary...'' the poor boy whimpered

But among them the red haired girl stood defiantly before the boy who slowly turned to face them and it was as his eyes landed on her that the reddish glow in his eyes slowly began to vanish revealing a pair of onyx orbs. And it seemed as if realization dawned upon his face once he saw her, it was strange, at least to Rob who the most unnerved about to boy. It was almost like the boy knew the girl.

'No...this is no boy...this isn't even a human, what is this creature?' the old man thought and he wasn't thinking this because of what the boy had done. There was no denying it that this was the sole reason the tower was in such a state of uproar. No, the reason he thought that was from the glow he saw in his eyes, he'd sensed something very familiar in the boy before in his younger days when he fought alongside his team as a Fairy Tail mage. That was no normal eternano he sensed in the boy, but of something far darker and dare he say... Demonic?

But to his immense confusion he saw the boy's tightened expression melted away, the cold, determined face of a killer all, but shattered when he seemingly saw the redhead in Rob's cell. And their mysterious savior finally spoke, coming up to their cell and seemingly staring at the girl and somehow reached for her.

'It's can't be...she looks so much younger than how she told me it went. Did I arrive earlier before the revolt occurred?'

''E-erza...is it you?'' he croaked, his voice was rough and was cracking with such a surprising amount of emotion that it surprised Rob. Especially when they saw tears begin to form at the corners of his eyes. The girl named Erza, no surname, as far as Rob knew looked shocked that this boy seemed to know her name and she even backed away from his hand. This seemed to make him frown and look away as if he was disgusted with himself before retracting his hand.

''...How-how do you know my name?'' Erza finally found the courage to speak, either through some deep seeded force of will or because she saw the immense amount of pain she saw flash in the boy's eyes when she stepped away from him. It was an instant, a single flash, but her eyes saw the pain was beyond excruciating, beyond whatever she had endured in her young 5 year's of life.

Natsu blinked, for a moment he tried to recollect himself, his mind was just in a state of turmoil now that he saw Erza again, although seeing her like this. Weak, timid and shy was nothing like the Erza he admired, cared for, loved. But he had to remind himself that his Erza no longer existed, murdered by his own hand and erased from existence. No, this Erza knew nothing about him nor did any of his other friends, he was a complete stranger to them.

And yet to see her alive again was enough to nearly make him drop to his knee's in relief, but he couldn't fall. Erza wasn't safe and by extension no one else was inside this damnable tower. His bloodlust was sated with the death of so many guards, he was pretty sure he killed the majority of them as he made his way up the tower. Along the way he freed every single slave in their prison cells and let the gates open for them on the first floor.

They were readying the boats now he just needed to free Erza and her friends and she could live her life without the pain she suffered in her first life. A life where she suffered and cried, a life where she lost her eye, was nearly killed by her old friend and was killed by his own hand. A life where she wouldn't have him endangering her life at every given moment.

''….Nevermind, forget about it, anyway step back I'll free you all from this cell.'' he said and they all looked confused by that, but they froze when he grabbed hold of the cell doors and began to pull.

Creeeeak!

'My god...' Rob thought in amazement as he saw the boy effortlessly began to pull the cell doors loose, breaking them from the cobblestone restrictions and bending them in the process as he ripped them off their hinges. It was a sight to see, truly, to see a 7 year old boy bend, break and rip off a prison cell door without much effort.

''….Woah...'' Millianna uttered from behind Erza's leg as she and the rest of the children watched in amazement as their freedom was, but a short few pulls away. Natsu kept pulling and pulling, yet for a moment he glanced to Erza and another flash of pain appear in his eyes. She caught this, but he paid more attention to her surroundings and it seemed to hasten his progress as he pulled harder and more fierce.

''You will be free...I swear it!'' he yelled with such ferocity it actually made a shiver run down their spines at how determined he was to free them from their slavery.

So preoccupied with his objective, coupled with the fact of his emotional turmoil of seeing Erza again made Natsu's own sense of awareness dumbed down. Which caused him to miss the shadow that was coming to his side. But the kids saw and Erza shouted, ''Watch out!''

''Huh?'' black eyes widened when he saw Erza yelling at him before he suddenly felt the presence coming up behind him and spun on his heels, and just outside the corner of his vision he saw a flash of blue hair.

Grooan!

The prison cell doors bent and groan in the opposite direction, exactly where Natsu once stood. He looked to see his attacker had his arm outstretched to try and pulverize him with whatever magic he was using. And when he saw his attacker he felt himself hesitate.

''...Jellal...'' the young time traveler spoke in shock as he gazed back into the crazed demented face of a boy around 6 year's old. There was no semblance of sanity in his eyes at this point, only a maddening gleam of pure insanity flashed in his eyes. Yet another strange occurrence presented itself before him, from what Erza had told him, Jellal hadn't been taken away until before the revolt happened. So why was it that he seemed to have already been through that torturous process.

'There has to be a word for this...what was it Levy called it, Cause and Effect? Did my arrival change how things went here?'

Gritting his teeth, Natsu observed Jellal for a moment, there was no doubt that he was put through whatever changed him due to the amount of deep gashes and lacerations on his small body. Along the red glyph-like marking over his right eye. Natsu didn't want to hurt Jellal though because although he held a deep grudge towards him for a great amount of time for hurting and nearly killing Erza, he'd forgiven him after he proved himself to him multiple times to have retained his sanity. He couldn't just-

''Why do you try and save these worthless maggots? They are nothing, but tools to be used and discarded. Plenty more can be found and useless ones can be discarded to make room for new ones.'' Jellal spoke in a voice that was his own and yet was unlike his own. And his words made Natsu's blood run cold. The way he spoke about these kids, about Erza, his Erza.

''Oi...'' Natsu gave him a simple warning, but Jellal gave a simple minded grin before he reached out with his hand and used the powers bestowed upon him by being possessed by "Zeref" and clenched his hand slightly.

''Ugh!''

Hearing the gasp of shock and fear, Natsu sun his gaze to see Erza being lifted into the air by an invisible force, her tiny little hands were trying and failing to reach for whatever it was that was gripping her small neck. Yet it was in vain, despite her attempts to claw at whatever it was proved to be futile, as the hold Jellal had on her was as strong as steel. The sight practically made Natsu's blood freeze up in his veins and the cries of fear and shock of Erza's friends were blocked out by his very own heartbeat.

Thump...thump...thump...thump..thump..thumpthumpthumpthumpthumpthumpTHUMPTHUMP!

Kill him!

The voice boomed within the depths of his mind and Natsu's head drooped, his mouth quivered before fangs began to take the place of his pearly whites. His bloody hands began to slowly transform back into claws. His body began to twitch uncontrollably as he saw his fear friend in such situation, her life hanged in balance and all because some twisted boy was beyond the point of saving!

Murder him!

'There...is no salvation for him...remember Natsu, he isn't the Jellal you used to know and doesn't seem to be known by Erza either...what's stopping me?'

Crush this little maggot! Rip out his entrails and feast on his mortal soul!

The voice within him boomed and commanded him to move, ordering him to attack, yelling at him to protect that which he deemed precious, lest he risk losing her again. His hands clenched causing his claws to pierce his flesh. His knuckles popped and beneath the bangs of his pink hair his black eyes smoldered crimson.

''Ugh...gah!'' hearing her whimpers and cries Natsu only had to take one look and when saw tears begin to form had done him in. The final straw been broken and Natsu gave a deep and rough growl.

''Get...your filthy hand off ERZAAAAAA!'' snapping upwards Natsu roared and flames erupted from his form before dashed towards Jellal in speeds that far exceeded what the boy could even perceive. So, he was shocked when he merely blinked before a clawed hand was grasping at his face and was holding him off his feet. He couldn't even so much as use his match as Natsu clenched his hand, his claws digging into Jellal's flesh and skull.

''I will kill you for making her cry, I will DESTROY you for hurting her, Jellal! AAGGH!'' and with a mighty roar Natsu let go of Jellal before he jumped and spun. Than he lashed out with his foot, coated in flames before delivering a crushing roundhouse kick to the side of his head. But before he could let the boy fly out he grabbed hold of his leg and dragged his back down, slamming him onto the cold unforgiving cobblestone floor.

''Ugh!'' Jellal spurt blood from his mouth, but Natsu didn't stop and he swung him into another wall causing it crack before it collapsed. Than he jumped and threw Jellal back down into the floor causing him let out a scream before Natsu came back down, his whole body aflame before he hit Jellal with the full force of his flaming body.

And he came down hard!

''RAAAAAGGHH!'' Natsu let out another beastly roar as he dug his fiery fists into Jellal's abdomen causing him puke blood, but Natsu just didn't stop. He just kept punching him before grabbing him by his hair and before hurling him against the wall before grabbing hold of his throat. Slamming him into the wall with even more force the wall began to crack and break in places, but Natsu seemed to not notice as he glared deep into Jellal's own terrified orbs.

''M-m-monster...monster...monster...monster.'' spoke the severely damaged and burned boy who could only keep repeating this mantra as he stared deep into those burning hot crimson orbs that smoldered with rage and fury unlike anything the boy had ever witnessed. He could see his death happening hundreds of times over and in so many different ways that he felt like puking if he actually had anything to puke up. So instead the boy began to hyperventilate and dry heave.

''Monster huh? Yes I suppose I am one. Now I'm going to make you suffer, just as you made her suffer. Get ready to scream!'' Natsu yelled, his voice now no longer his own as he channeled his power into his hand causing to burst aflame. But just before he could reach the boy.

Fate seemed to have other plans...

Pushing with just a tiny bit of force the wall behind Jellal gave way causing Natsu to stumble before he let go of the boy. And he watched with a growl as the boy fell, helplessly into the ocean.

'You should have finished him...'

'Shut up! Whoever the hell you are I do not take orders from you!'

'And yet you followed my words, you cannot simply ignore my presence.'

Natsu's eyes narrowed in fury before he slammed his against the wall causing it too shatter as well, but he paid no heed even as the prisoners on the otherside of the wall shouted in surprise. He paid them no heed as he mentally blocked out the voice speaking to him in his head. It was one thing to know he wasn't human, but if he began to talk to himself than he knew for sure he was bat shit insane.

Despite this, watching from their prison cells Erza, Rob and the other children could only stare in shock, awe and a tad bit of fear. It was understandable though since it wasn't everyday you saw a 7 year old boy take siege on a base full of Zeref Cultists, taking them all out single handedly, begin freeing every single slave by ripping off their prison doors and afterwards begin to maul a 6 year old boy that seemed to be possessed by some evil spiritual entity.

''Woah...'' Sho uttered from behind Erza

''Yeah...wow...'' Wally could only agree with his cry baby of a friend.

Simon looked from Natsu to Erza and back to him again before shaking his head. ''Erza...do you know this guy?''

But before Erza could reply Millianna pulled on the hem of Erza's shirt and looked up at her with a completely innocent face. ''He really seem to know you, are you two uh...what was it mommy called uh...together like uh...boyfriend and girlfriend?'' This was a innocent enough question by the girl as it got curious looks from the other children and Rob simply chuckled. Erza on the other hand was just old enough to understand what the young girl was trying to get across to her and her face in a second resembled the very same shade as her scarlet red hair.

"NO we're not! I don't even know his name...'' the young redhead looked away with her cheeks flushed red and to her added embarrassment Millianna seemed to tilt her head, humming as she looked from her and to Natsu who simply stood at the hole in the wall. But Erza did glance in Natsu's direction and she soaked up his appearance for a moment memorizing his spiky pink hair and black eyes that had by now returned to normal.

And suddenly her cheeks darkened...

'But papa always told me that when a boy wishes to protect a girl that's important to him than he really really likes them. And this guys seems to know me somehow, but I've never met him at the village, at least I don't think I did.'

''Hm that boy appears to be a mage...'' Rob mumbled in self-thought reminded her of that fact which made her eyes widen. That's right she remembered seeing him summon up flames when he attacked Jellal and even used them to empower his attacks. It was the first time she actually saw someone use magic that Rob spoke so much of and in such a destructive force as this. A force that allowed her to see freedom from this dark place where freedom went to die in the darkness of slavery.

''His flames...they were beautiful.'' she commented, speaking the truth without much thought put into words. She simply spoke her mind and meant every word. Hearing this Rob simply smiled and shook his head while the other kids simply stared at her and then to the boy and back at her with befuddled expressions.

But unknown to them all Natsu's sensitive hearing caught her words and he had to suppress his own embarrassment at what Erza said. No one really commented on his flames besides how destructive they were, never truly recognizing the beauty of what fire could do and could be done with it. But it confused him also since he only used his flames out of his ownanger and fury, wielding them to only bring about destruction the death of the one who pushed him off the edge.

Where was the beauty in that?

Shaking his head Natsu turned his eyes making sure his other features had returned to normal before he went back to their prison cell. ''Now let's get you guys out of here, I doubt anyone else will come back after that.'' he commented making Rob raise an eyebrow in question.

''And what of the taskmaster?'' he asked, questioning on the status of sick, twisted and demented man.

Natsu merely looked his way and for a moment burned his image into the back of head, 'This must be Rob that Erza respected so much.'

''….Dead...'' it was much more complicated than that, the old man knew it and so did Natsu, he'd actually found the man and took his time tearing him apart for hurting Erza. He tore off all of his limbs, and let him bleed out until he was nearly unconscious before igniting him on fire.

Rob seemed to frown at this, but accepted it all the same. ''I see...''

Seeing that the questions were done Natsu gave a hmph before he ripped off the cell doors allowing for them to walk out freely before he pointed downstairs. ''The other freed prisoners are getting the boats ready. They'll be ready to go by the time I get done freeing the others, Old man lead them through will, ya?'' he asked and Rob simply nodded.

''Good, get going the others will be out shortly.'' he said and he turned his back, doing his best to ignore the burning stare he got from Erza's eyes. He couldn't look at her without fearing for his own emotions to get out of control. The scars were still fresh and deep of what he'd done and to see her alive and well was enough as it was, but the fact that she didn't recognize him hurt pretty deep.

But he had to accept that fact, she nor did anyone know who he was, nor of their time together growing up as kids.

'That's probably for the best anyway...'

Suddenly, Natsu felt a tug on his shirt and he looked down to see a little girl around 4 year's old looking up at him shyly. He looked at her for a moment before it dawned on him once he recognized her face.

'Millianna...' he hadn't had much talk with her, but she was one of Erza's old frineds from the tower and such deserved his own friendship back then but now...

''Uhm...thank you.'' the girl thanked him, implausible, impossible! He didn't deserve such thanks for what he'd done to save them.

But deciding to keep up what appearance he had he sighed and pat the young girl on the head, careful that he didn't stain her hair with the blood of his own victims. ''You're welcome, now go!'' he gave a gruff command and she nodded timidly before running back to her friends who soon began to leave, all the while staring at his retreating back. But the most intense stare was Erza's own.

''Who is he I wonder...''

The sound of cheering echoed amongst the island as all of the former prisons and slaves that had been slaving away in the construction of the Tower began to shout in joy. Tears of happiness left the eyes of many, men and women embraced in joy at escaping their nightmare as children cried in the arms of the elderly, each having suffered a scarring from this event in their life's. Some more than others.

They were rallying at the docks of the island taking boats stolen from the Cultist's shipyard which had a vast number of boats to ferry the forces in case of an emergency evacuation. Over half of the original number of slaves had already left the island and were making their way to the mainland of Fiore. The rest were beginning to make their way onto the boats, the late newcomers having been the last their little savior had freed.

Speaking of their mysterious savior, many were chatting about it talking about the boy who infiltrated the tower in the dead of night and from there on started slaughtering every single guard in his path. All the while freeing every slave he came across. To others it seemed like the boy was the representation of a vindictive god that had sent the boy down as a blessing to save them from their own personal hell hole and a demon to the cultists within. Others just couldn't stop talking about the mysterious boy and some others were silent, quiet, still shaken from how the boy brutally murdered their captors without a shred of mercy. It was unnerving to say the least...

But were they any different, if they had the chance would they have done the same?

Hell yes...

So, it was because of this talking that Natsu kept himself hidden after he freed the last of the slaves he took to taking the backdoor, by jumping from the top floor and landing in the forests. He didn't want the publicity nor the scorn for what he'd done, he only saved them because it was the right thing to do and to let them suffer any longer would be yet another sin that would haunt him until the end of his days.

It's why he kept himself hidden, hoping that he wasn't seen as he began to take the same route he came onto the island with, but just as he reached the bank of the island. He sighed and stopped a familiar scent of strawberries carried through the airwaves.

''You can come out now, I promise I won't bite.'' he assured his stalker and he wasn't shocked to see, after a few seconds of hesitation, Erza come out from behind a tree. Looking at him with her big brown eyes that were still filled with an innocence that he so wished to stay. An innocence that he was able to keep intact for just a little longer, something she wouldn't lose to at least the savagery of those bastard cultists.

''What do you need? Shouldn't you be with your friends right now, getting ready to depart?'' he asked her and he noticed her flinch from his tone of voice and truly Natsu felt like stabbing his heart a hundred times for talking to Erza like this. But he had too, there was no other choice, but to distance himself from her, to save her, he couldn't befriend her. No matter how much his heart wished too.

He was unworthy of her friendship and affection...a devil such as he was unworthy to be in the presence of Fairy Tail's Queen after all.

But the redhead simply shattered those thoughts as he summoned up her courage and strode up to him in timid, but strong steps. And the boys eyes widened when she was, but a few inches from him and black eyes stared back into chocolate brown before the girl sucked in her lips and puffed out her cheeks.

''I...wanted to say thank you for saving us...but I also wanted to thank you for saving me from Jellal. He almost...killed me had you not stopped him so I just want to thank you for that personally.'' she said in a pout that was just too cute, but Natsu didn't dare say a word. Even though he found her pouting expression to be absolutely adorable and completely unlike the Erza he once admired and fought alongside with.

''...You're welcome...now you best be going before your boat departs.'' he said trying to push her away, but she remained strong, as strong as her future Titania self as she summed up her courage again and spoke.

''Rob-san has it staying to give me enough time to speak with you. You see there was something else I wanted to talk about, how...how do you know my name? How do you know me? Why...why did you become like that when Jellal tried to kill me...'' she mumbled out the last part, but Natsu heard her clearly. He scratched the back of his head as he tried to think up a way to explain as he certainly couldn't tell her the heartfelt truth.

'Think Natsu! Think! You were always good at improvising so think...hm'

'If you're so worried about it make a deal with her...'

Natsu suddenly felt a twitch in his brow as the voice spoke up again.

'Oh great didn't I tell you to go away, mystery voice?!'

He heard the voice give a deep rumbling chuckle before it responded in kind, 'You should know by now I will never go away until the day we perish from existence. You can act dumb all you want, but you know who I am just as I know what you are. Now you can either listen to me and actually do something that will benefit you and your...vixen for the future or act like a dumbass and mess up...again.'

It took a moment for Natsu to realize what the voice was saying and he inwardly blushed blood red, but he before he could deny such an accusation the voice interrupted him.

'Now before you even start your pitiful denial, I know you better than you know yourself and I've seen the emotions you held for her, among others, and I can tell that you held her in very very high regard. More than you ever did for that Celestial mage of yours.'

And promptly Natsu's mouth clicked shut as the truth was spoken to him in such a way that he was left speechless.

'Now, as to what I said before, instead of worrying about telling her now make a deal with her. We as demons can never lie, despite popular belief, we can bend the truth, but we never tell lies. So make a deal with her, be creative!'

And like that the voice went silent as Natsu seethed in both embarrassment and rage at the voice in his head. He gave a not so subtle growl in his mind before thinking on his words. Be creative eh?

''Uhm...are you okay?'' Erza spoke to him, her worried expression somehow put him at ease before he let out a sigh. Ultimately he came to a choice and he just hoped it would work. Turning to her he gave a small smile revealing part of his sharp canines and pearly whites.

''Hmmm, wellll I could tell you, but I have better idea. Let's make a wager, I'll tell you anything you want to know. How I know you, how I know your name, how I even know your favorite food is strawberry cheesecake.'' he said making her eyes widen in shock before he raised his finger stopping from her speaking. ''IF...you do me a favor.'' here he leaned forward staring down at her with his intense black eyes looking deep into brown orbs.

''A-and that is...?'' she stuttered shyly, timid as she had never been in such close contact with a boy in a way like that. But Natsu paid it no mind as he raised his hand and cupped her chin in hand and leaned to her ear.

''Become strong, join the mage guild known as Fairy Tail and learn what it means to be strong. And when you've reached the pinnacle of your power seek me out and force the answers from me. I know you can become strong, I see such a massive amount of potential in you just waiting to be pulled out. So come, stand before me when you master your own power and I may just tell you how I know you Erza Scarlet.''

'….You're a god damn natural...' the voice in his head sounded stunned even dumbfounded with the way he handled that and Natsu himself was a bit perplexed the way he handled that just came to him as easy as breathing, it felt natural to him in a sense, but he mentally shrugged it wasn't something to be worried about.

Right?

He pulled away and he found a great amount of amusement when he saw how red faced Erza, literally she looked like she was gonna pop like a balloon. But as he turned away and kneeled down into the water. He began to wash himself scrubbing off what blood he could and digging out the gore and bone underneath his fingernails. Because of this he missed Erza begin to calm down before a confused expression formed on her face.

''Okay...I accept but let me ask you something. Why did you add Scarlet to my first name?'' she was too young to remember her true surname and just went with her first name Erza.

To her confusion Natsu stopped cleaning his face before he looked up at her, blinking multiple times in a dumbly fashion before slapping his forehead. ''Oh right, I forgot...'' he mumbled too low for her to hear before he stood up. This time he surprised her by leaning forward before he took a strand of her scarlet red hair and spoke to her, eye to eye as he held a strand of her hair between them.

''Well I sure don't know your surname so I figured to give you one of my own. Scarlet, taken from the color of your red hair matches well with your first name, Erza. Strong and Beautiful, yet durable and gentle. I quite like the name, Erza Scarlet, that's why I call you that.'' he hummed before he went back to cleaning himself.

At this point Erza had to turn away to hide her monumental blush that was reaching her hairline. Such heartfelt compliments were making her feel funny and embarrassed, the way this boy said it without an ounce of shame was both impressive yet envious. Still she sunk her head and twiddled her fingers together before coming to a choice herself.

''Mmmmhm! Okay...I like it...Erza...Erza Scarlet...I'll keep it! As a reminder for the boy who saved my life, but maybe you can do something for me in turn.'' she asked making Natsu look up at her with a raised eyebrow.

''And that is?''

Here she hesitated, stuttering like a school girl, returning to her shy and timid shell when faced with him. ''May...may I know your name, the name of the boy who saved me?''

Natsu could only stare at her for a moment before sighing, taking a moment to think this through he had to take multiple factors into the equation if he told her his name. No doubt, what he did here this day was going to spread far and wide and he was leaning more on how his grim actions and the abilities he showed would be the most talked about. He knew for a fact the Magic Council would instantly become wary of his presence, but as far as he knew they didn't know his name. Only a very rough description of him which was good since they wouldn't be able to send out their Rune Knights or Agents like Doranbolt without a solid description and a name to base it off of.

That wasn't even counting the fact when other guilds found out about what happened and began searching for him, despite his grim actions to have a boy with his abilities in their guild would be like a blessing to them. It would usurp the balance of power between the guilds and he'd rather not become the reason of a mass guild war.

There was also the matter of Dark Guilds and other groups of Zeref cultists out there, when they caught word of his actions they would certainyl be hunting him down. Bleeding out what information they could from any and all sources that were in contact with him. It was an inevitable consequence that he couldn't stop which was why he planned to destroy any dark guilds he came across.

If he told Erza his name he would be risking this to come to pass, but he couldn't completely say no either so he decided to compromise.

Smiling walked around her and flicked her nose causing to take a step back and look at him with wide eyes before simple speaking. ''Well I can't tell you my full name, but I can at least tell you my first, the names Natsu. Promise not to tell anybody my name, okay?''

Erza simply nodded and Natsu nodded in return, ''Good, well I need to go. Now get to your boat and remember our deal, become strong, find Fairy Tail and when you've reached the pinnacle of your power. Come and find me, only then will I tell you how I know you, till then Erza-chan!'' he ended with a cheeky grin before he dove into the water.

Erza could only watch him swim away out of sight of the former slaves, but as she watched him go she reached to her mouth and tested the name of her savior letting it ride off the tip of her tongue. ''N-nat...Natsu..? Natsu-kun? Hehehe.'' at that moment if Natsu had been there for a second longer he would have figured the apocalypse was coming due to the fact that Erza Scarlet was blushing and giggling with a lovestruck expression on her face.

So he remained oblivious as Erza watched him go with admiration in her brown eyes, ''I'll do it...Natsu, I'll get stronger, I'll learn my magic and someday I will find you again someday, till then Natsu-kun.''

And with that said Erza turned away, for once in what felt like a very long time, a smile filled with happiness stretched across her face she walked back to the docks with a slight spring in her step. Whatever came in her path now was now just a temporary obstacle in her path to become strong, to become powerful so she can seek out the one who pulled her out of the darkness with his own blood stained hands. To give him the appreciation he deserved, even when others would and will spite him and the path he walked. She wouldn't know it, but she would soon begin to walk a path that would stand side by side with him and support him completely, even when the world itself would go against him.

Although the young redhead wouldn't know that she would have competition in that matter.

OwO

''Ugh! I swear you're way too heavy to be a kid!'' Ultear grunted as she pulled a heavily damaged and burnt Jellal from the ocean. She had fallen into the ocean when the tower had become too unstable and began to fall apart so she fell into the ocean. However had been able to recover her crystal ball and was able to record the experiment between her pet project and the intruder that ultimately brought the Tower of Heaven into rubble.

She ceremoniously dropped the blue haired boy and fell flat on her ass ans released a sigh of frustration. Letting her gaze drift forward she watched as the Tower of Heaven began to tumble and fall apart from the destruction that boy let loose inside. To see a single boy caused so much destruction single-handedly was worthy enough to be noted and sent directly to Lord Hades himself.

Plus...

She eyed the boy beside her and shook her head, 'I overestimated that small sample of Lord Zeref's power Lord Hades gave me. I figured it would be enough to awaken this boy's potential and make him a good test subject to see how far Lord Zeref's power could go in a young host. But that boy...he simply crushed him without any effort at all. Good thing I recorded it all on my crystal ball.' Ultear thought to herself as she held her beloved lacrima crystal sphere in hand before deciding to get in contact with her guild.

''Ultear to Grimoire heart, Ultear to Grimoire Heart, I request a immediate pick up and direct me a lacrima feed to Lord Hades, quickly!''

''Bzzzzt...Roger, We're on route to your position. Directing you to Master Hades now.''

It took a moment before the face of her master appeared on her crystal ball and she smiled at her old guild master.

''Hello master!''

''Greetings Ultear, how goes your mission?''

She hesitated for a moment before finally finding the courage to speak. ''There has been a unfortunate incident, the Tower of Heaven project has been lost, but I think I may have just found something a bit more interesting than that throughout this mishap.''

She could easily tell her master wasn't pleased by the slight narrowing of his eyes, but she'd always been loyal to him without a fault so he gave her the benefit of the doubt. ''Hm, alright, we're on route to your position, you can show me what happened exactly and what you've found that could be worth something in this mess. And it better be worth losing the Tower of Heaven project Ultear.'' he let the lingering threat hang there and she simply smiled.

''Oh it is master. It truly is very...interesting.''

Done!

(Falls dead on laptop, dead and drained with my soul beginning to leave my corpse)

Hope you enjoyed...I feel...so drained. I couldn't stop typing no matter what so I continued. I couldn't find a suitable ending spot so I just pushed through, hope you liked it!

As you can see I am diverging from canon greatly from this moment forward, such changes are like Erza and Jellal were never close enough to have become friends. Erza never lost her eye and Natsu arrived early so he saved her and her friends before any serious harm could be done.

But it comes down to a cost as you've seen...

Cause and Effect people Cause and Effect!

Anyway I've decided to make this a harem story, but I'll be making it my way and in a believable fashion that won't destroy the story's plot.

Also yes, I know Natsu seemed very out of character for killing those people, but let me try to explain if you didn't understand by now, Natsu knows he is no longer a human, he is in a state of emotional turmoil and mental trauma. He feels unworthy to be a Fairy Tail mage, he feels like a monster and therefore should become a monster so he could safeguard his once upon a time family from the shadows.

I feel this was needed for Natsu to grow up, but if you have criticism's please share I will take it all into consideration, but flames will be ignored entirely.

Now I desperately need some sleep, Read, like and please review I need those criticism's people. FEED ME!