Hey, fairy tail fans, and welcome back to a fairy tail re-told. The battle may be over, but it's a mere footnote to the troubles that fairy tail must face as Lucy plans to leave the team; her fellow members must find a way to see what goes on with her. However, the question she asks remains, does this world still need fairies?

The journey continues.


"right," Mira said, "you're still going through with it."

"through with what," Erza asked.

"I'm leaving," Lucy said.

"what, why," Gray asked. "Come on; I know I said some things back at Avatar."

"it has nothing to do with Avatar," Lucy said. "It's just everything," she said. "Tartaros, the magic council, my father," she sighed. "I need to get away from it."

"Lucy," Erza said.

"No," Lucy said, "my mind is made up," Lucy said as she turned away. "With what's happened in the past year, I just want to be a normal girl again, not me," she said. "Keep in touch, but I just won't be in Magnolia for I don't know how long." Lucy "For all I know, I might not come back."

"Lucy, do you hear yourself," Erza asked. "It's not you to just give up like this."

"I'm not giving up," Lucy said. "I'm just accepting that it's over," Lucy said. "Where are we going to go after this," she said. "There are no more dark guilds, no more demons, and Natsu wants to fight Acnologia by himself," she said. "We need to ask ourselves," she sighed,

"Does this world need fairies anymore?"


Avatar arc: A world without fairies


"I hate to say it," Lucy said, "but we need to start thinking about the end," she said, "and her hand went to the Aquarius key again" Lucy sighed. "I don't think I can do this anymore."

"Lucy, we're family," Erza said. "Please."

"We are," Lucy said. "Just because I'm leaving doesn't mean we're not friends," Lucy said. "But I think this is where my adventure ends," she said. "It has been fun, really," she said. "But it's time for me to move on." she turned. "If you need me, I'll stay with Michelle and Katja for now," she sighed. "Don't be afraid to visit," she said as she walked away.

"Lucy," Erza started as Mira stopped her.

"let her go," Mira said. "She needs time, "come on, let's go home."

"so what? Lucy is leaving," Laxus asked.

"She wanted to go," Mira said. "She just seems so hurt right now."

"what are we going to do," Gray asked.

"We wait, give her time, then talk to her when she's less emotional," Mira said. "Erza."

"yeah," Erza said, "I'll be sure to check in on her," she said. "I have free time since, well," she looked at Riana, who had walked up to the group. "Oh, Riana, have you been in contact with Millianna:

"Millianna is away on a job right now," Riana said, "but I will inform her when she returns," she said, "I'll be sure we are alone."

"is something wrong, Erza," Mira asked.

"Jellals condition worsened," Erza said. "So," Erza looked to the ground. "I," she sighed as tears started to form before letting out a calming breath. "I had to make a choice," she said as Mira realized what she did "I just don't know what I'm going to tell Meredy when she comes back," Mira said nothing as she brought the girl in for a hug "that even considering if she comes back" Erza cried.

"you've been through a lot," Mira said. "I'm so sorry."

"I'll be fine. I just," Erza sighed.

"I'll be with you," Mira said. "I promise"

"thank you."

Flashback

"So, your name is Jellal Fernandez," Wally asked; they were in their cell and were starting to introduce themselves to each other "That's a tuff one, so don't feel sore if I forget it."

"It's fine," Jellal told him. "I won't have a problem with yours," he told him. "Wally Buchanan, right," he told him, to which the boy nodded, "Kinda boring, huh."

"Alright, read, what's yours," he asked.

"Erza," she replied.

"What," Wally asked. "No last name."

Erza shook her head, "Nope, just plain old Erza."

"you have to have a last name," Jellal said as he looked at Erza's hair. He grabbed it as the girl took it away from him.

"what's the big idea," Erza asked.

"Nothing," Jellal defended, "just your hair is pretty, is all," he told her. "I got it, scarlet," he said, "that could be your last time."

"you just can't make up the last name," Wally told him.

"I like it," Erza said. "Yeah, from now on, I'll be Erza scarlet," she said, a slight blush forming on her cheeks, playing with her hair as Wally nodded to her choice. "Sounds nice, don't you think," she asked.

"awesome," Jellal said, "now I can never forget your name," he said, "cause all I have to do is look at your pretty red hair," he told Erza, who smiled right along with him.

End Flashback

Erza sighed as another memory played in her head, from when she finally got him back to their last normal conversation with Jellal on the beach before fairy tail went to the Grand magic games.

Flashback


[## guild memories ost##]


"I wanted to thank you," Erza said, "we couldn't have done this without you."

"Erza," Jellal said, "no, you didn't," he told her. "I did nothing worthy of such praise."

"so, what will you do now," Erza asked him.

"I wish I knew," he told her.

Letting out a sigh Erza smiled" You're not alone in that regard," she told him. "In our line of work, who knows what tomorrow will bring," she said, smiling more and more. That warm feeling in her chest had returned.

"I'm afraid," he told her," of my memory returning," he said.

To this, Erza smiled. "Don't be," she told him, "even if we were to become enemies again, it wouldn't change the fact that I care about you," she told him, "and no matter what, I know deep down you'll always feel the same."


"So," Erza asked. She and Jellal were sitting near a cliff far from their friends. "You remember everything," she asked, "even what happened to Simone," she asked.

"Yes," Jellal said, "everything," he said, "he dies by hands in the tower of heaven."

"And the Nirvana incident," Erza asked.

"I remember being in a fog," he said, "it's an odd feeling."

"Is it safe to say the Jellal I knew as a child is back," Erza asked. He could hear the hope in her voice, but Jellal couldn't do that to her not anymore.

"I wish I could tell you that," Jellal said, "but I still have to wear the weight of all the sins I've caused."

"Jellal"

"I won't blame you if you want to seek your vengeance," Jellal said. "I won't try to stop you."

"You believe Simone would want you to die," Erza said.

"My life was forfeited long ago," Jellal said.

"What about your new purpose" Erza "Why can't that be your atonement."

"At first," Jellal started, "I thought it would bring me peace, but the more I go on, the more I don't think it can," he said, much to Erza's shock, "the things I did in the tower of heaven haunt me," he choked on his words the mere mention of that place made him fearful "I feel so lost perhaps it's best that I did die," he said before receiving a good slap form Erza he looked at her seeing the tears in her eyes.

"So, you'd be satisfied with the coward's way out!" she screamed. "That's not the old Jellal I know. He wouldn't let that stop him," she cried.

"Then perhaps he is dead," he screamed as Erza picked him up.

"Snap out of it," she called, pushing him forward as they stumbled over the ground. He ended up on top of her, a smile coming across his face as he looked at her.

"You always know what to say," he whispered, "don't you," he said.

"not really," Erza laughed. "Honestly, I'm just stumbling through life," she laughed as a set, and Jellal started to get closer. "Every day, I expect it to be my last," she said as they neared each other to the point where they could feel each other's breath, "I thought I'd never see you again," she whispered, only for Jellal to push her away at the last second.

End Flashback

Erza looked down. "I saw in his notes that he was investigating Avatar," Erza explained," she sighed, "and I figured that I would at least finish his last mission," she said.

"you are a truly dedicated friend," Riana said. "I will see to it that Avatar is taken down."

"thank you," Erza said as she wiped away her tears. "right now, I just want to get home." she sighed. "Lucy, Jellal, Natsu, it's just, do you think she has a point."

"hey, Lucy didn't know," Gray said, "and as Mira said, we just need to give her time," Gray said. "But she might have a point; where are we going after everything is settled?

"let's not worry about that right now," Mira said. "Let's just get home.


[##return to the guild ost##]


"feel like forever since I've been in Magnolia," Gray said though the group had returned home heavy. Being back in Magnolia with so many familiar faces was still good.

"I'm just glad to be back," Juvia said.

"Hey, look, it's fairy tail," someone said

"Welcome home, guys."

"so, no word from Natsu, huh," Erza asked.

"Nope," Mira said. "All we got was a letter telling us to save the day."

"That sounds like him," Erza said. "How long do you think it will take them to return."

"Who knows at this point," Gray said as they approached the newly finished fairy pub. It was very similar to the previous one but had some slight changes. For example, this one doesn't have a bell in the central tower. The fence around the building with the big gate and the "open-air cafe" is also missing. The new facility has some little towers on both sides of the central tower. The banner with the team's insignia has been replaced with a large wooden sign bearing the guild's name that resembles the one previously at the fence gate. On top of the central tower is a flag with Fairy Tail's symbol.

"Welcome back, guys," Elfman said. "Long time no see."

"yeah, feels good to be back," Gray said.

"It's good to see you kids again," a voice called as they turned to see Mavis sitting at the counter. "I hope your little errand was successful."

"workout more like it, "Erza laughed, "but master, you should know that Lucy left the team."

"I see," Mavis said. "Poor girl has been through a lot," she said. "But it's good you found success on your mission," Mavis said, "but I'd be lying if I said I was hoping you'd come through those doors with Natsu and the other in tow."

"I asked Sting and Rogue to see if they could track their scents," Mira said, "but just like the last letter, they managed to cover their tracks."

"you can probably thank Meredy for that," Gray said.

"I know, but we have to have faith that they'll return to us," Mavis told them. "Lucy, too," she said. "In times like these, keeping your heart glowing is hard."

"I understand," Mira said, "but master when it's all said and done, will the world need us anymore."

"if that time comes," Mavis said. "I would hope not," Mavis admitted. "You kids have poured your blood, sweat, and tears into protecting the world, and if anything, I'm sure that the guilds can handle a few cults," she smiled. "We are experiencing a unique time of peace," Mavis said, "but I pray for a day when you can all enjoy the fruits of your labor."

"Still, I don't want to imagine a world where we're not fairy tail anymore."

"me neither," Juvia said.

"but who knows? I could be wrong," Mavis said. "But give it time, and who knows where your adventure will bring you."

"Mavis," Laki said, walking up to her, "everything ready."

"you're going somewhere, master," Mira asked.

"yes," Mavis said. "With the defeat of Tartaros, something was set in motion," she said. "I'll need you, kids, to watch after everything while I'm gone."

"alright," Mira said.

"be careful, master," Elfman said.

"don't worry about me," Mavis said, "but you kids need to be on guard. There is something in the works; Natsu and the others left for a reason, and I need to find out why," she sighed if I'm not back in two years, I want to come after me okay."

"two years," Mira asked.

"That's a long time to be away," Elfman said.

"I just need to confirm something," Mavis said, "hopefully, my hunch is wrong, but with the destruction of FACE, the world might need fairies longer than we thought."


Miles away, Zeref smiled as he looked over a vast sea. "It would appear that the final pieces are coming into play," he said. "The end draws near, our dance of dark and light," he laughed. "Anna, Mavis, Natsu, Igneel," he smiled again. "Acnologia draws near," he said as he laid back down, looking over the book of E.N.D. "Seeing you again," Zeref muttered, "makes me think of how it all began."

Flashback

Zeref let out a breath of air as fire surrounded his village, tears streaming down his face as he looked at the bodies of his family. "Why," Zeref muttered, "Why did this happen."

'for as long as I can remember, I've held one question, why do people die.'

"It's almost unthinkable," a man said.

"These ideas," another said, "you wrote this yourself."

"I did, yes," Zeref said, beaming a bright smile as he showed his work to his teachers. Years after he survived that attack, dragons took everything from him, but if he could complete his research, it would all become complete.

"your age notwithstanding, we cannot condone this," another said. "Magic about life and death is dangerous," he said, "you must stop unless you want to anger the god of life and death, Ankhseram."

"I understand," Zeref said as he grabbed the papers and started to leave, passing by a carriage that held a casket. He stopped as he looked at graveyards filled with people dead people, and the war between dragons and humans continued all around him, yet he was left with one burning question "Why" he looked up. "Why did people like him live and die," he said," and if magic was so incredible, why can't it bring him back."

A year later, Zeref walked side by side with a girl. He shook his head. "You always have such crazy ideas, Zeref," she muttered. "Why are you so obsessed with these things," she asked.

"I could say the same about you, Anna," Zeref said, "but your work could help mine," he said. "In your research, you learned that time might5 pass differently in the celestial world."

"I mean, it should," Anna said, "why."

"Nothing, just an idea I've had," Zeref said.

"forget your research for once," she said, getting in his face and moving her hair to the side. "Let's just go and hang out for once," she smiled. "come on, there have to be tons of things we can do."

"maybe later, Anna," Zeref said as he walked past her. "There are some things I need to take care of," he smiled at her. "But I promise I'll catch up," he said.

In truth, I desired to bring him back my late baby brother. That was what got me this curse, and in the end, it allowed me to achieve my dream but also made me a monster in the eyes of many.

Zeref, how many times have you told you" A scholar shouted, "Give up this hopeless dream," he said. "Why would you make a gate that would go back in time," he said."

"think of the possibilities," Zeref said, "a door into the past. Think of what we could learn."

"Why would you want to go back," a scholar asked. "This is a ploy," he said. "All part of your desire to revive your younger brother," he said. "You're a brilliant student; why do you let such trivialities hamper your mind," he said. "Your brother is not coming back," he screamed as Zeref stopped. Then a dark wave surrounded him as the scholar fell to the ground.

'I killed everyone in the academy that day, but I could continue my research forever. I loathed it, but simultaneously, it brought me joy for I could create my masterpiece.'

End Flashback

"When I first delved into life and death magic," Zeref muttered, "I created the Etherious named as they were made from the building blocks of magic" he smiled, "but then there was you, my most powerful creation,"

"My E.N.D." Zeref laughed as he leaned back. "The end draws near, Natsu," he laughed. "in two years, the dragon king festival will reach its conclusion after four hundred years."

"I hope you're ready."


To be continued

The end comes as fairy tail tries to think of what that means for them and their future. Is a world with fairy tail coming, or will there always be a need for them to save the day? A battle four hundred years in the making is about to begin. Will our heroes stand united, or will they fall divided, find out in the thrilling final chapters of a fairy tail re-told.

Next time: the final chapters, part I: Beginning of the E.N.D