Chapter 8

A part of Natsu's story was over, and with the dawn of the next day, the next part came to be due. Zeref took note of the sun rising behind the mountains through the window. It was an indication that time was passing, and worked as a push forward for him to finish the story faster.

Turning away from the window, and facing the mages again, not looking at anyone in particular, he spoke. "In the beginning days of Alvarez, I didn't have many members. Apart from me and Natsu, and a few associates of mine, our chambers mostly remained empty. I… I refrained from creating more demons like Etherious at first. The reanimation magic wasn't perfect, and using it terrified me to some extent. The more demons I would create, the farther I fell from sanity. The pain, the nightmares, the visions. It was unbearable. I didn't create demons blindly. Only as and when I needed them. In our formative years, we barely had enough members to attack a town and establish control, let alone wage a war against the entire human race. But, as time passed, proponents and professors of darkness from all over the world started to flock to our side. We were different people, different species, but all had one common desire–to exact chaos upon the world. Soon, Alvarez became what it is today, and we were that much closer to our ultimate goal."

The mages felt awed at the implication that Alvarez, the unstoppable and unmatched force of evil, the true representation of everything dark in the world, was a measly group of a handful of members in the beginning. It really gave perspective to the fact that the world had changed a lot in 700 years.

A gust of wind ruffled Zeref's hair, but he seemed unbothered by it. His long hair danced in front of his face, and mingled with his now downtrodden expression, gave his figure a somber and defeated look. This look was reminiscent of when he was speaking about Natsu's death. "Things seemed to be going well for us. But something unprecedented was right around the corner–Magna Carta."

The eyes of the onlookers widened as Magna Carta sounded all too familiar to them.

It was one thing when Zeref talked about things that they didn't know, but when he referred to real world events that were highly popular in culture, it set the idea even firmer in stone that what he was talking about had happened in reality.

Zeref continued. "Magna Carta was when dragons and humans came to a mutual understanding. Years of quarrel and conflicts aside, they were then allied together." Zeref's expression morphed into that of half-subdued anger. "This was a hurdle I wasn't desiring, nor expecting. It complicated things. After the signing of Magna Carta, if I advanced with my plan of waging a war on humanity, dragons would have joined the fray against Alvarez. Not to mention the unforeseen power that dragons were giving rise to in the form of dragon slayers that they were training selected humans to be. So, my next plan was a quick and unexpected attack on dragonkind. But for that, I needed my strongest warrior to lead the campaign. I decided that it was time that Natsu finally landed on the battlefield."

The mages felt slightly shocked to know that Zeref decided that he would use Natsu as a weapon. It was already clear from the story how important and dear Natsu was to Zeref, so the fact that he would expose his own brother to the frontline was dissociating. Is that how desperate Zeref was to advance his plans?

Levy immediately remembered the old documents by Zeref that she had read that referred to this exact event–Etherious fighting a war against dragons. She looked at Erza, who looked back at her, as the two reminisced that they had a whole conversation about it.

"Read my old documents, have you?" Zeref smiled slightly. "Well, they served their purpose. From those documents, you must already know how Etherious' war against dragons went. He was fierce and merciless, hunting them down one after the next. He was a behemoth force, a power to be reckoned with. Nearly having driven dragons and dragon slayers to extinction, he finally even managed to subdue Acnologia. But the black dragon fled. By the end, one of the few surviving dragons that Etherious went after…was Igneel."

The listeners exchanged astonished glances as this was news to them. Zeref's old documents had mentioned Etherious' battle against Acnologia, but not Igneel. They wondered why. Soon, they slowly started to come around to the realization that this was where Natsu must have met Igneel. But if the two met as enemies, as Zeref claimed, how come Natsu had become a child that Igneel raised?

Zeref seemed to catch on to their question, and spoke as an answer. "Igneel was powerful. Almost as strong as Acnologia. But it wasn't his power that was troublesome. It was his deep knowledge on old civilizations and their magic, something that even Acnologia and I didn't possess, and still don't. Igneel had knowledge of a powerful ancient binding spell that he unleashed on Etherious, sealing him inside a cave for the next 500 years. Igneel guarded that cave for the entire duration, making sure that none of the dark power sealed within escaped…" Zeref seemed downtrodden again. "That was the second time I lost Natsu in one lifetime."

The mages watched his weakened frame as somewhat of an empathy for Zeref started to brush their minds. They couldn't forgive him for everything he had done, but when it really came down to it, his story undoubtedly was one of tragedy and loss. He sounded like someone that luck had just played a really bad hand on.

Zeref sighed and let the bubbling of his emotions subside again. 700 years of dealing with grief and suffering had made him an expert in that art. The early morning sun rays now fell directly on him, and he raised a hand over his face to block them. He slowly shuffled to a position where he wouldn't be bothered by the light.

Taking out a black crystal ball from within his robes, the same one that he had used to track Natsu, he continued. "But… Etherious wasn't gone yet. He was still alive. Although, badly broken and dissipated. I used this crystal here to keep tabs on him. Igneel's constant presence around the cave that he had sealed Natsu in dwindled my attempts at recovering my brother. But I knew that Natsu was alive somewhere. And that knowledge to me was solace enough."

He stared into the black crystal ball, and launched it in the air. The ball vanished halfway on its route back into his palm. Erza narrowed her eyes as she could sense that Zeref had used a dimensional magic much similar to the one she used.

Zeref dusted his hands, and continued. "About 24 years ago, by some miracle Natsu was released from the binding spell. But as a day old infant, stripped of most of his powers and all of his memories. Igneel knew that the child was Etherious, but also knew the fact that the dark magic had been sealed away inside of him so deeply that there was no chance of it re-emerging by itself. In that sense, Natsu had turned into a newborn human. And if Igneel was known for something, it was his undying love and selfless care for the human race. So, Igneel raised my brother anew. Taught him culture, language and magic. From Etherious, carved out the man you see before you."

Zeref ended with a hand gently pointed towards Natsu. The mages followed his hand and looked at Natsu, as if they were looking at the dragon slayer for the first time. They might as well be, as the story of his past had almost changed who that man was to them. He didn't seem like Natsu anymore. He seemed like everything but Natsu. This heavily contrasting image of him now pitted against his image from before was a harrowing comparision to make.

Erza looked at Natsu, the man that she loved deeply. But was he the same man she had loved? Or was he Etherious now? Zeref's brother? Who was he?

Makarov cleared his throat, and brought Erza out of her train of thoughts. He was standing in front of the group of mages, closest to Zeref. Now, he turned to face the mages, and even though his eyes were shut, he appeared guilty of something.

"I wish to come clean meself." He spoke. The listeners looked at him. "It was exactly 20 years ago when I had been called to the citadel of guilds for a status debriefing. That's unimportant. What's important is, I had been riding for a day and a half on my way back to Magnolia. When I decided to rest under a tree in a forest, a great and hair-raising vision of a graceful and mighty dragon was witnessed by me. But it wasn't a vision, it was Igneel. In the flesh. At first I didn't believe me old eyes. The great Igneel had presented himself to an old fart like me. I was beyond myself with exhilaration and excitement. It was an experience that few in the world would experience. Almost none. Igneel, on that day, came to me with a request. He told me of a four year old that he had been raising in a forest. Told me how a demon of Tartaros had engaged him in combat, and how he had used a binding spell on the fiend, turning him into an innocent boy. Igneel told me that to keep the darkness locked away forever, the boy needed a family. A home to call his own, surrounded by people just like him. And so, Igneel flew off, and I found Natsu where he had told me I would find him. Thus, I brought Natsu back home with me."

Natsu, with his mouth agape and eyes narrowed, stared down the old man. He had never been made aware of this before. He remembered the day Makarov had found him in the forest just like it was yesterday. How could he forget that day? It was the day Igneel had abandoned him, but it was also the day he had found his new home–Fairy Tail.

"What?" He muttered. "You… never told me you met Igneel. I thought you had just found me in the forest by chance. Why… why didn't you tell me?"

Mirajane slowly grabbed Natsu's arm in a bid to calm him down from the anger and disappointment that his tone had taken. She didn't blame him. She couldn't even come close to imagining what he was going through at the moment. But anger wasn't going to solve the turmoil he was in at the moment. It would only worsen it.

Natsu looked at her as he felt her hand coil around his arm, and saw her mouth the words 'It's okay' to him, which promptly calmed Natsu down a lot.

Makarov shook his head, eyes still closed and head faced down in guilt. "Aye child. I hid this fact from you. But I couldn't go back on my promise to the great Igneel. He had asked me to keep it a secret, and so I did. It was far beyond my place to question his whims. He was wiser than me a thousand folds over. Also, it was his wish that I and Polyurischia keep your true identity a secret from you or anyone, lest the many enemies of Zeref come after you. But Igneel never told me that you were Etherious, only that you were a demon of Tartaros that Zeref had sent after him. Finding out that you were Etherious was news to me as well. A shocking news."

Natsu watched the old man as his memories went back to Igneel. His parent. His only parent. The dragon that cared for him when he thought that no one else wanted to. The dragon that gave a damn when he was all alone. The dragon that fed him, nurtured him, protected him. The great Igneel. The merciful Igneel. The champion of humanity. The dragon that stood up to Acnologia to fight for the sake of justice and virtue, and laid down his life for the sake of humanity. Realization came slowly to Natsu that Igneel had only his best interests at heart. And so did Makarov. And so did Mirajane who was holding his arm, and other friends that surrounded him. So did Erza.

Natsu hung his head in shame for having talked to Makarov the way he did. Sure, the old man had kept secrets from him, secrets that could have changed his life, but maybe that's why they were secrets in the first place.

Silence befell the crowd inside the hall, as everyone thought that Makarov was done speaking. But that wasn't the case. He cleared his throat again, and said the next words with great emphasis, as if each next word he uttered held great importance. "I remember when I first met Natsu. He was but a wee 4 year old, barely aware of how the world worked. At first, I couldn't believe me old eyes and ears. This little one was a demon created by Zeref? It sounded absurd. But what I did understand was Igneel's trust in the boy. I sensed in Natsu… a will to live. A will to fight. A will to defend justice and honor till his very last breath. That little kid was no coward, let me tell you. He was every bit Igneel's son as you'd expect. The young one thought I had taken Igneel away from him and decided he would battle me. I still sometimes laugh at the energy he exuded even when he was but a mere child. I brought him home with me, glad that our guild was now fuller than before. Natsu… completes our family. He completes Fairy Tail."

Makarov opened his eyes after a long while of having kept them shut, and pointed a finger at Zeref, determination ringing in his face. "And if you think we would abandon Natsu just because we now know that he is Etherious, you have another thing coming, son."

Makarov's words hit deep. The mages that were hanging within the border of whether they still accepted Natsu as one of their own were given a very well needed push towards accepting him as one of their own again. No eyes were focused on Natsu anymore, all eyes were on Makarov and his finger strongly and bravely pointed at Zeref. That image imprinted deep in their minds, and somehow fanned the flames of hope and resolve. A very important lesson was learnt at that time.

The war wasn't lost yet. As long as they were alive, justice, honor and virtue still had a chance of winning. As long as they were still alive, every innocent life lost at the hands of the great evil they were facing had a chance. As long as they were alive, and had even the slightest bit of an ounce of strength and might left in their weary bodies, the future still had a chance.

"You cannot take Natsu away from us." Levy spoke up, leaving her timidness behind. She would stand up for Natsu within a moment's notice, just like he had done for her so many times before. "Natsu is ours, Zeref. And we stand by him till the very end."

Her words did their job. More voices joined the fray, and the hall was alight with voices in favor of Natsu. As the morning sun dawned on the world in full force, so did the dormant energy in the mages. The fight wasn't over just yet.

Mirajane grabbed Natsu's arm tighter, and spoke. "I don't care what Natsu did before he met Igneel. I only care about what he did after. Etherious isn't the true Natsu. The boy that Igneel raised as his own son, and taught him kindness, care and compassion is the true Natsu. Your evil wasn't strong enough to taint him. He is a hero."

Gray joined in, punching his open palm. "It will be fun to watch Natsu beat the crap out of you. Maybe I'll get a few kicks in."

Laxus smirked. "Natsu may be an idiot, but he is the kind of idiot that doesn't know his limits and pushes them further and further everytime he tries. I have tasted his power, and I speak from experience."

More voices chimed in, and soon Zeref's lone voice was overpowered. Natsu looked around, smiling to himself. Ever since it had been revealed to his friends that he was Etherious, he had been hanging in anticipation of what their final decision on the matter was. But it seemed like he had nothing to worry about. He was a fool to have doubted his friends for even a moment.

He slowly raised his gazes to look at Erza, who stood silent, a bit away from him. Her head was faced down, and her hair obscured her expressions from Natsu. A pang of anxiety grabbed Natsu again as he wondered what she was thinking at the moment. He held her decision in great regard, much greater than the others.

Erza listened to the loud voices that recited in Natsu's favor all around her. A deep emotion was bubbling within her. What was that emotion? Was it happiness? Glee? Relief? Satisfaction? Was it all of them? It must have been. Because she had forgiven Natsu the moment it had been revealed who he actually was. She had been more worried about the others. She could never hold anything against Natsu. She could never be mad at him for anything he did. Natsu was her weakness. But he was also her greatest strength. He was her soft spot, but he also was the string that held her together. He must be Etherious, but he was also the man that barged into the tower of heaven ready to lay down his life for her sake. He was the man that was ready to go beyond any perceivable limit in a bid to protect those close to him. To protect the innocent. He must have been Zeref's brother–Etherious, but more than that, he was a part of Fairy Tail. He was Igneel's son. He was Natsu Dragneel.

Heavy with determination, Erza looked up and met Natsu's gaze straight, confidence shining in her eyes. There was no way that she would ever abandon Natsu. For every inch of darkness that must reside in him, there was a tenfold array of brilliance and virtue. She knew that well.

"I am with you." She stated firmly.

Natsu watched her with amazement, the last remaining shred of doubt within him that his friends would abandon him getting destroyed. He smiled wide, and nodded. He knew that she may have not completely forgiven him for having kept his true identity secret from her, but for everything else, he knew that Erza was the first one to have forgiven him.

"Thank you." He muttered. Nothing much else was said between the two.

Zeref watched his brother break a genuine smile, and himself shut his eyes, smiling as well. Natsu had finally found people that accepted him, no matter who or what he was. Beneath some pain stemming from the fact that his prediction that Natsu's friends would abandon him had come false, he felt a subtle sense of happiness for his brother. Natsu had finally found a true home. Something that even his own people–the Dragneels and the Vermillions, couldn't provide him with.

Zeref clapped thrice, engaging everyone's attention again. The gleeful atmosphere was replaced with anger and disdain towards Zeref once again as him clapping felt like he was mocking the situation. But this time, the mages weren't afraid of Zeref anymore. This time, they were ready to face him head on.

"Beautiful indeed. Natsu has finally found friends that accept him for who he is. I couldn't be happier." As his last clap ended, he unbuttoned his long cloak that fell to the floor, revealing a thin black leather armor that he had been wearing beneath. He swung his arm around, as if stretching. "Then all that's left is for Natsu to join me in a duel. A duel that will decide the final outcome of this war."

Natsu bared his teeth angrily. If that is what Zeref wanted, that is what he'd get.

Earlier, this and the next chapter were going to be one, but that was getting too long. I have cut the two into two chapters now.