A/N: This chapter will have bits and pieces of Episode 201, but only for Zeref and Mavis's talk (for obvious reasons). Other than that, it'll be completely original.

Enjoy!

CHAPTER FIFTY-FOUR: HOMECOMING

Roseview...

A train stopped at Roseview's train station, where numerous townspeople were waiting, waving flags with Twilight Phoenix's emblem on it.

"Here they are! They're back!"

Akame steps onto the platform, with Dusk right behind him followed by Zack, Julian, and Ezekiel. What they didn't expect was the townspeople of Roseview to cheer loudly for them as they departed from the train.

"Welcome home, Twilight Phoenix!"

"Wow, what a homecoming..." Julian blinked in amazement.

Ezekiel chuckled. "Well, we did win the whole tournament, after all." He reminded.

The Twilight Phoenix members walked through the crowd towards their guild hall, hearing shouts of congratulations coming at them.

"Ezekiel-san! Your battle with Bacchus was amazing!"

"No, his battle with Erza had me on the edge of my seat!"

"When he fought Minerva!"

"How embarrassing..." Ezekiel muttered as Atlas let out a laugh next to him.

"It seems like everyone back home was watching us." Atlas stated.

"Wait, hold on a sec. You guys are gonna love this!" Akame claimed, setting his bag down and opening it. He then raised the king's crown above his head. "Ta-daaa!"

"The king's crown!" Nero said.

"You took it home?!" Hana questioned.

"I should've known!" Zack exclaimed.

"Whoops... Not that..." Akame places the king's crown back in his bag.

"You took it...?" Julian muttered.

Akame raised the trophy in the air. "Proof of our victory! The King's Cup!" He announced.

"I don't believe it!" Loji cried out.

"I still feel like this is some sort of dream." Atugia admitted.

"After our humiliating defeat last year..." Ajar added.

A small creature was watching the celebration from a building before scampering away.

Everyone eventually settled back into the guild hall, and within a few days, the normal routine started kicking back in for everyone. Akame was currently on the second floor of the guild, his head resting on one of the tables with Chii right next to him.

"I'm so bored." Akame sighed out.

"Wanna head out on a job?"

Akame looked up, seeing Zack and Jim had joined them. "With Dusk, Julian, Bruno, and Aly accompanying us, of course." Zack added.

"Don't you and Jim usually go on jobs with Zeke?" Akame questioned.

"Yeah, but him and Atlas are accompanying Erza, Gray, Wendy, and Carla on their job." Zack explained.

"I suppose getting out of the guild hall would be nice." Akame agreed. "What's the job?"

Zack held the flier up. "It's just a simple job. Take out some cargo thieves." He replied.

Akame grinned. "So you mean I can wreck havoc?" He asked, making Zack sigh.

"Come on, Dusk and Julian are waiting for us downstairs."

In a forest, near Magnolia...

The small creature continued running down a path, leaping on someone's shoulder. Mavis was levitating above them. "So you were observing the Grand Magic Games, Zeref." Mavis spoke.

"I can't hear your voice or see your form. But I can tell. You're right there, Mavis." Zeref claimed as wind blew through his hair.

"You were near me seven years ago."

"Seven years ago, you were near me."

Mavis landed on the ground. "Are you still looking for a place to die?" She asked.

"I've already decided where I'm going to die. Over the course of several hundred years, I've seen many ages end. Conflict between people, hatred, wicked hearts... I always have hope that the new age will purify all of that. How many times has it happened? People repeat themselves. They commit the same mistakes, over and over." Zeref responded.

"Even so, they survive." Mavis argued.

"They haven't survived. Not in the true sense... The precious race called people has become extinct." Zeref stated as he turned around to face her.

"Are you done waiting?" Mavis questioned.

"I believe so. After thinking about it for seven years, I've reached a conclusion. If the world continues to reject me, I shall reject this world." Zeref replied, standing up.

"I'm sure Fairy Tail will defend this world."

"These shall be my two gifts. World harmony and regeneration." Zeref said as the trees died around him.

"Will there be a war?"

"No. Just one-sided annihilation. I won't let a single human live."

"Fairy Tail and Zack will stop you. You're the one who'll be destroyed." Mavis claimed.

"I often wonder about that. Will Zack be able to strike me down?" Zeref countered, his tone cold.

"After all, I am his father."

"Natsu, Zack. The final battle is approaching." Zeref thinks to himself.

A/N: Sorry for such a short chapter!

Thanks for reading!

~ Kaleb.