I'm coming to the end of S2. Initially I had doubt over this setting at the end till an image appeared affirming my decision. It's funny as whenever I have doubts with my setting, some official images will show up giving me the green light.

Have anyone noticed all the scenes from Natsu's dream in chapter 10 had finally come together.

Please read & review. Reviews serve a motivation to writers after all ;)

The next chapter is a special chapter featuring the mask mage, Mystogan. Until next time.

Chapter 20: The Determined Future

X786

Erza travelled alone in twilight somewhere. She was off from her mission that day. Hence she could spare the time. She climbed to the top of the mountain where she could clearly see the sunset. The scenery in front of her was the same. If only the people around her remained the same.

*Flashback*

"That's a promise. We will come here again once I return from my mission."

Erza offered her hand to Jellal who took it despite his fear of height.

"That is a promise!"

*End Flashback*

"Jellal!" She shouted up from the mountain. Her voice echoes in the air.

It had been six months since the incident at the Tower of Heaven. There was no news of his body being found. Deep in her heart, she still held some hope that her Jellal was still alive somewhere.

She sat curling up in front of a huge rock where both of them often sat while watching the sunset. Tears flowed down her cheek as she covered her mouth. She was crying really hard. She realised how much she missed him. Her scarlet hair waved along with the wind

Gray watched her from a distance. He could not believe that a Wizard Saint like Jellal was gone. All he could do was to watch over her for him.

"Damn Jellal. I'm going to challenge you if you ever return like Tsuna did before the incident."Come to think of it, Tsuna had stopped talking about challenging him since the incident. One important point Gray was aware of. He knew that even if Jellal was alive, he was not able to show himself in public for he was now a wanted fugitive.

S Class healing mage, Wendy Marvell had recently joined Fairy Tail together with her Exceed friend, Charles.

Six months ago, during the Battle in the Tower of Heaven, she traveled in search of Brain and Cobra. On her way, she was unwittingly captured by the rune knights dispatched by the Magic Council and was subsequently charged of the crime for conspiring with Natsu Dragion to break the prisoner, Brain out of the Prison which she pleaded guilty for. However, for some reason, she was deemed to be not guilty. The Magic Council decided to press all the charges against Natsu Dragion and had issued a warrant of arrest to apprehend him. Wendy was said to have no involvement at all.

Wendy tried to file an appeal but she was rejected. She was aware that it was her healing ability which saved her. This was when Wendy realised how corrupted the Council really was and she decided to leave. She joined Fairy Tail which Natsu was originally from.

Everyone in Fairy Tail welcomed them in open arms. They were excited and honoured to have the youngest S Class mage to join them. Wendy was overwhelmed by the warm loving guild. That was something which did not exist in the Magic Council which advocated discipline.

"This guild is just like Natsu-san had described. Full of warmth and laughter. " Wendy beamed in delight.

Happy who happened to return from a mission with Tsuna noticed the presence of the white exceed. He fell in love with Charles at first sight.

Wendy believed that Jellal was still alive somewhere. She joined Fairy Tail in hope that she would meet him one day. A masked man passed by and noticed the newbie from the top. He turned away and disappeared into the thin air.

Makarov was seen sitting at the roof of the guild watching the sunset. He had since recovered and had heard about everything which had happened from the masked mage, Mystogan. He was worried for what was going to happen next as everything had connected. He recalled what Tsuna's mother had told him nine years ago. Can the world escape from destruction?

"I'm sorry for not able to take care of your sons." He sighed at the thought of the smile of Natsu who had perished in the Tower of Heaven.

Yajima had also left the Magic Council, fully focusing on his restaurant business. Looking up at the evening sky, he recalled the short time he had with Natsu. He was shocked to hear that he gave his life to save Erza and Tsuna. Was this the purpose of giving him a second chance in life?

As for Lucy, she had been depressed over Natsu's death. Not just Jellal's, his body had not been found. Lucy often found herself crying in her room. Perhaps everything was destined and they were not meant to be. Lucy had promised Natsu that she would seek for her happiness and she would do it. At the very least, there was no regret as they had been honest with their feelings to the end.

Tsuna had matured after the incident but he was still reckless some times. He had paid a huge price after all. He had been very active in taking on missions. As Fireball, Tsuna he would always complete his mission fast and swift if not Ciel would get angry at him for getting home late.

That day was different. Leaving Happy who was trying to please Charles at the moment to inform Ciel on his movement, Tsuna went alone on a journey.

Nine years since the catastrophic event that changed his and Natsu's lives. He returned to his deserted homeland, Drago Village. The village had been snowing all year round and had not stopped since the incident.

Nine years ago, he had a quarrel with Natsu and left in a huff and he escaped the massacre when the Dark Mage Zeref awakened.

*Flashback*

He was horrified by the time he returned to the village which was bathed in blood. His village was under attack. Not a single person from the village was spared. Tsuna's legs were shaking in fear when he reached home. He could never forget the scene where he found almost everyone in the clan lying in pool of blood.

His eyes were scanning everywhere for survivors and widened in horror when he saw his dying mother who struggled to use the remaining of her power to preserve the life of Natsu who had his throat slit lying in the pool of blood before collapsing from her injuries.

"Mother… " He managed to get his words out when he crawled to her side shakily. The mother was glad to see him before she leave this world, and was relieved that at least he was safe from harm. She placed her bloody hands on his face urging him to listen to her final words carefully.

"Tsuna, listen to me." She begged the boy with her weak voice. "This is really important. I had sealed Zeref. However, if he ever awaken, Tsuna, you must destroy him. If not, the world will plunge into darkness. You must do it!"

"And I will leave Natsu to your care. Even though you are the younger brother, you must take care of him as long as he lives. He is fated to have a harsher life than you. I had sealed the power he had inherited. He will not suffer as long he does not recover his memory." His mother fell limp when she saw Tsuna nodding his head in tears.

He yelled in despair.

He was not sure how long had passed before the Master of Fairy Tail Makarov found him and his twin brother when he came in search of survivors. He took them to Porlyusica's place to heal up. It was a miracle for Natsu to have survived having his throat slit back then. That was a result from his mother's love for him. A scar was left on his throat. Natsu was scared stiff when he first awaken after the incident. He could not even recognize any of them not even Tsuna.

*End Flashback*

Makarov had invited the twins to join Fairy Tail but Tsuna had declined his offer. Their lives would be in danger should the enemies know they were both alive. For the same reason, the brothers changed their family names to from Dragneel to Dragion. This was a secret between him, Makarov and Porlyusica. He was relieved that he did not share this secret with his Teacher. He could not imagine what could have happened if the secret including the existence of Zeref was made known to his clone .

Tsuna had wanted to let go of the past and moved on with his life. A brand new life with a different side of himself. He thought it was best for Natsu to stay in Fairy Tail where he would be well taken care of and have him take up his responsibility as an elder brother. He truly regretted his decision after the incident with Kingdom Empire which landed his brother in coma. That was when he made up his mind to master magic and became an S Class mage so that he could have the power to protect those close to him.

Even so, he could not protect his brother. His mother was right that Natsu would have a harsher life than him. He felt really useless for not obeying his mother's dying wish to take good care of his brother when he was alive. He had overheard his mother's conversation with Makarov that his twin would die young. Tsuna believed that Natsu was finally liberated from all the suffering he had been enduring this far. He could not even locate his body. Let him be one with the ocean.

Tsuna laughing at himself. Why didn't he realize earlier that his twin brother was in love with his sister-in-law? He would have challenged him on-on-one if he want to win Lucy's hand. It was really ironic that the said guy Lucy was involved with was the innocent brother of his.

He had a new goal in life with "Jellal's"words echoed in his mind. Someone was trying to revive the Dark Mage Zeref and he was set to destroy him in the name of Dragneel. It was his duty as the successor of his mother, Elie Dragneel, who was also one of the former Wizard Saints. He was born with greater power than his twin having inherited most of the power his mother possessed except for one which was troubling him: the power to get a glimpse of future events: precognition .

On the other hand, the former lieutenant of Jellal, Pantherlily had left the Magic Council to investigate the dark guild involved in Jellal's disappearance and was injured from the ambush by the enemy. He was subsequently rescued by a man in mask who was known as Mystogan. He was a member of Fairy Tail.

The man removed his mask and revealed his face to Pantherlily. Pantherlily was shocked to realise his saviour was none other than Jellal who was missing all these while. Jellal needed his assistance for the upcoming missions.

Jellal who had the ""Magic Circle of Dissemination" drawn on him, was unable to move after the blast from the Etherion that day. He was found by his other self, Mystogan who had been searching for him since his disappearance. Jellal had been cautious in his action most of the time. Being a Wizard Saint had given him the license to create a double for himself just in case.

He sent his double to Fairy Tail as a cover to collect information which an official in the Magic Council like him would not be able to obtain. His double, Mystogan had zero magic power. Despite that Jellal was capable enough to enable his double to become an S Class mage with the use of just magic tools. That was what he had wanted to teach Natsu. He had not been a competent Teacher to Natsu. This was his greatest regret. He had since become one with Mystogan and he would be living as Mystogan from then on.

Jellal can no longer return to the Magic Council for what had happened. He had become a fugitive and he would not be able to defend himself even if he was to turn himself in. For now, he had more important things to take care of; to annihilate the dark guild, Grimiore Heart as well as to destroy Zeref who was resurrected and he would pay any price to do that.

Meanwhile, somewhere in the world, the airship of one of the most powerful dark guilds existed Grimoire Heart were heading somewhere above the dark stormy cloud. A man in shadow was having a discussion with one of the members who was looking out at the dark sky from the bridge

"You had done well, Ultear. The ritual to resurrect him is running well with the right vessel on hand." The voice of the man was heard. He was seen to be sitting on his throne having his drink.

"Thanks for the compliment. I was just lucky that the pawns just danced on my palm on the way I had want them to. Thanks to them, we are able to purge the kid of his magic power and obtain his body. In any case, the boy was in critical condition. His body was submerged in the Lacrima filled with Etherion for too long and the poison in his body is working. As a result, he can no longer wake up again for the rest of his life being condemned in vegetative state. Instead of that, he might as well become the vessel of our lord. " Ultear turned to face her Master.

"I'm really surprised that the boy will sacrifice himself to stop the leaking and explosion of the Etherion. He sure had some guts as I believe the news you had leaked was that you need a vessel with the power of a Wizard Saint to be able to stop it." The Master remarked taking a sip of his wine.

"Not quite. The boy was attracted to the Lacrima as it was a form of an antidote to ease his pain and in turn he saved those idiots." Ultear explained.

"That was not an issue. Nine years ago, thanks to the interference by Elie Dragneel, I was unable to obtain Zeref. But now, it is my dream is finally coming to fruition. It was said that she had a pair of twins but it seemed that they were killed on that fateful day. It will spell trouble if that pair of Dragneel twins was alive. We shall destroy the light guilds including Fairy Tail with his power." The man continued.

"Congratulation to you, Master Hades." Ultear smirked.

In a dark room of the airship, the ritual for the resurrection of the Dark Mage was completed. A boy in black with black hair was seen awakening from his slumber and he was in a daze.

The very first words that he managed to utter was, "Lucy…".