Lucy woke up smiling happily. Her best friends were here, she had confessed her feelings to Zeref and he returned them, and it was a beautiful day outside. The only way she could be happier would be if she was in her apartment in Magnolia instead of on Tenrou Island far away from her guild and nakama. She shifted to find Zeref awake already and watching her with a matching grin on his face.
"You know," She teased. "You keep smiling like that and people might actually think you're a nice guy."
His grin widened, "Is that supposed to be a bad thing?"
She shook her head, "Only if you want to keep your reputation as the darkest wizard in history."
Zeref's face fell, "Is that what they are saying about me?"
She nodded.
He sat up, pulling her with him so he could continue holding her while he thought. After a few silent moments Lucy turned her head to look at him, concerned that he was upset. He smiled at her reassuringly before he haltingly began.
"Once - once I was very dark man. And I did evil things. I can't deny that for a moment, you've heard about it all, I'm sure."
Lucy nodded again, squeezing his hand reassuringly.
"I didn't start out that way, though. I was going to create an amazing guild and we were going to be more of a family rather than friends. I even took on disciples," He hung his head at that. "At least one of them turned out good anyway, but that is neither here nor there. I told them about my idea and they were so excited for it. I trained them hard and when I was ready I told them it was time, but then something happened. I was cursed with this Death Magic. I ran away, I couldn't hurt the most precious people in my world. I wouldn't stand for it, so I ran."
Lucy's eyes were wide with wonder. She'd always heard that Zeref had disciples, but she'd figured that they were like the followers of Zeref who wanted to bring him and his demons back. She'd never imagined that his disciples were from before he went evil.
"As my 'magic' grew in power, my respect for life diminished," Zeref continued. "Humans were already picking each other off like flies, what did it matter if I took the rest? Nothing mattered to me anymore so long as the ones I cared for were safe. Back then I didn't understand why they would matter to me if no one else did, but now I realize that it was my last shred of humanity - the thing that would save me in the end. I created demons to do my biding, awful monstrosities that could only be defeated by powerful mages. In the end though, Mavis caught up with me. I always knew that it would be her to save me - or kill me. Her soul is just as gentle as yours and she begged me to destroy my demons and turn myself in to the newly created Magic Council. I refused and she turned on me. My best and brightest student and she was fighting me. That was when I realized that somewhere along the way I'd gone wrong, so I locked my demons away with the help of some of the best mages of that time and allowed Mavis to seal me away here."
Zeref finished, hanging his head in shame, "When I awoke I didn't know who I was at first. Mavis explained everything to me and I ran. Then these kids came to the island and I was desperate to stay away from them, but some of them found me and my magic exploded from me. They should have died, but one was wearing a scarf, a very powerful, magical scarf that somehow absorbed all the magic. I ran again, trying to stay clear of them, but I had to help when that ship attacked, so I did."
Lucy looked at him in wonderment, "So you're the reason that Precht died."
"My biggest failure, I'm afraid. He turned dark, consumed with the need to find me and bring me back to the world of the living where I could reign destruction down on everyone if I so desired. He didn't understand that who I was isn't who I am anymore. I desire to be away from humanity so that I might not harm anyone ever again."
"Does that include me?" Lucy whispered, staring down at her hands.
He held her closer, squeezing her lightly, "Not you, never you. I want you to stay with me always."
Lucy smiled brightly at him, "Then I will."
He laughed softly and kissed her, "Good."
"Wait," Lucy stopped, his full story finally sinking in. "You trained Master Mavis?"
He nodded, "Someone had to train her, right?"
Lucy nodded, "I just never imagined that it would be you."
He laughed and kissed her forehead, "I am over four hundred years old after all, little one."
Lucy frowned at him, "Well, it's hard to remember that when you still look so young."
He grinned at her, then looked up in surprise, "You should probably get dressed unless you don't mind the others seeing you in your pajamas. They're going to be here soon after all."
Lucy stuck her tongue out at him but did as he said, finishing pulling back her hair just as the group walked in once more. She grinned at her friends as they settled into a circle. Today the talking was more normal, not the excited chatter of everyone trying to fill everyone else in on what had been happening the last few months, but the normal chatter of friends who are happy to see each other once more.
"Lucy, will you come home with us?" Erza finally asked, looking directly at the blonde mage.
Lucy shook her head, "I meant what I said yesterday. As long as Zeref is sealed on this island I will not leave him even if I can."
Erza nodded, "Very well. We'll just have to take Zeref back to the guild with us as well."