"Of course. I'll see you soon." Zeref said as he ended the phone call he was on. Today was a special day, and one of the hardest in the Dragneel Family. As Zeref walked into his office, he saw Invel standing by the window. He walked over and stood with him as they both stared at Natsu, sitting in front of a memorial grave that was built for both of their parents. Today marked the anniversary when they lost them.
"Sir, given what today is, don't you think it's time you told Natsu the truth about what you're doing?" Invel questioned.
"I don't know if I can. He might not understand." Zeref said.
"The longer you keep this from him, the more painful it will be when he does learn the truth." Invel said. "They're his parents as well. He deserves to learn the truth." Invel did what he did because he cared. Perhaps it was time for Zeref to tell the truth. Zeref stepped outside and went and joined his brother as he sat with him in front of the grave.
"Natsu, there's something I should tell you." Zeref said as he might actually do it.
"What is it?" Natsu questioned.
"As you know, today marks the day of when we lost our parents." Zeref said. "First it was our mother, and our father soon followed. I tried to think of how to tell you this, but... I..." Zeref wasn't sure if he could tell his brother the truth. Would he even be able to trust him, forgive him for what he's done? Natsu might not know what he wants to say, but he can see his brother was struggling to say it.
"It's okay, Zeref. You don't have to tell me anything." Natsu said with Zeref surprised he would say that. "You're clearly not ready to tell me. You can when you are." That was actually a relief for him.
"Get yourself ready. We have guests coming." Zeref said as he stood up and went back inside. Today is going to be a hard day, but Zeref will not let today stop him from doing what he has to.
...
Gajeel's Boat
"Today is a hard day for Natsu. We have to be there for him and support him." Lucy said. She and her classmates met up on Gajeel's houseboat. Those who couldn't make it were on a tablet. That even included Taylor, Yukino, and Teresa. They're all coming together because they all care about Natsu and want to support him through today. "Today marks when Natsu lost both of his parents. We have to do something for him."
"Agreed, but what should we do?" Levy questioned.
"We need to do something that shows that we support him and we're here for him." Gray said.
"We could right him a song." Gajeel said.
"Good, but I think we can do better than that." Erza said as they all tried to think of something.
"What if we all send him a video, letting him know how we all feel and that we're there for him." Lucy said.
"That's a great idea!" Lisanna said.
"We could put them all together and it be like one big montage of love and support." Juvia said.
"Great idea, Lucy. You start." Erza said as she aimed the tablet right at her and started recording. This might be Lucy's idea, but she really has no idea what to even say.
"I... I can't! I need a moment to figure out what to say." Lucy said and backed away from there. She might have came up with this idea, but she wants to make sure her message is perfect.
"Okay... Gray, you're Natsu's best friend. You do it." Erza said as she started recording him.
"Hey, man." Gray started. All of them love Natsu a lot and they all want to do what they can to make his day better.
...
Zeref's Repository
"Mother... Father... I had hoped by now that you two would have been brought back to us, but the time hasn't come yet." Zeref said as he stood in front of both of them. "No matter what happens, I promise that I shall bring you back. Until then, I shall continue to hold on to these." He took two priceless silver rings out, gave them a good polish, and placed one upon his finger. "This was yours, Father. I will take good care of it. Mother, I will take good care of yours until the time comes." He placed the other one away in a safe box so it will feel like his parents are still with him. Once he was done down there, he made his way back up and waited at the bottom of the stairs with Natsu joining him.
"So, who is coming over? You hardly let anyone over?" Natsu asked.
"You'll see. They should be arriving now." Zeref said, but Natsu still didn't get it. Just then, the doors opened up and Natsu was surprised at what he saw. The man standing there looked a lot like their father in a fancy suit. He looked so much like him that Natsu thought it was him.
"Dad...?" He whispered.
"Natsu! Zeref!" The man said as he walked right in. "Look at the two of you! You both have really grown!"
"Hello, Uncle Atlas." Zeref said.
"Uncle Atlas?!" Natsu said. Atlas Dragneel, their father's twin brother. It's been so long since Natsu actually saw his uncle.
"It's great to see you both again." Atlas said as he hugged Natsu. "Natsu, I heard you've become quite a model. All the girls must want you."
"It's great to see you, Uncle Atlas. It has been a long time." Natsu said. "I haven't seen you since we lived with you, just before Zeref was able to take over Mom's company."
"It has been too long." Atlas said. "With what today is, I thought you boys shouldn't be alone. In fact, I brought one more along with me." They all looked to the door and saw a boy that looked a lot like Natsu, but he was wearing fancy clothes and his bangs were combed off to the side. "Come say hello to your cousins, Alexander."
"Alex?!" Natsu said as he couldn't believe it. "It's so great to see you!" He said as he hugged his cousin, but Alexander didn't really react.
"You two still look so much alike. I remember when you were little, you switched places and none of us knew for a week." Atlas joked.
"Yes, but I won't be fooled as easily I was back then." Zeref claimed. "Regardless, it is nice to see you again, Alexander." Alexander attempted to be formal as he held out his hand for Zeref, but Zeref didn't take it.
"You never were for physical contact, were you, Zeref?" Atlas joked. Atlas took a look at Zeref and noticed he was wearing his father's ring. "Zeref, I see you're wearing your father's ring. The matching set has been in the Dragneel family for many generations. Your father used those rings as his wedding bands when he married your mother. You wouldn't happen to have the other one on you, would you?"
"You must understand that both rings mean a lot to me. Father was planning to entrust them to me or Natsu when the time came." Zeref said as he was stern on keeping those rings. "Natsu, why don't you take Alexander up to your room? You two can get reacquainted."
"Sure. Come on, Alex." Natsu said as he showed Alexander to his room, but Alexander had his eyes set on Zeref as he followed Natsu.
...
The Boat
Everyone has recorded a message and sent it all to the tablet. There was only one left now.
"Okay, Lucy. You're the only one left." Erza said, but Lucy still wasn't sure what to say. "No more stalling. Go for it." She said as she started recording, but Lucy was still rather nervous.
"Wait. Let me do this alone. I need some privacy." Lucy said as she took the tablet and went somewhere private for her own message. She wants to make sure she says the right words. "What do I say, Stella? What do you say to someone about the loss of their parents?"
"You're asking the wrong being since kwamis live forever and don't have parents." Stella claimed. "Just speak from the heart, Lucy. You can't go wrong if you do that." Lucy wanted this to be right. She took a deep breath and started recording.
"Natsu, I just want you to know that I'm here for you. I love you." Lucy said. She spoke from the heart, but she started regretting it when she realized what she just said. "What did I just say?! He can't hear that?! I'm not ready! It's not time!" She was going to delete it, but Stella flew in the way.
"There might never be a better time to tell him." Stella said. "Lucy, your message could turn Natsu's worst day into one of the best."
"Lucy! Are you done?!" Erza called as she came up with Stella quickly hiding. "There you are. Are you done with your message?" Lucy was rather scared, but this could end up being her chance.
"Here. Just don't let anyone see mine." Lucy said as she handed over the table. "I don't want anyone else to know about what I told Natsu." It didn't really take long for Erza to figure out what she just said in her video.
"No! You did it! It's in the video, isn't it?!" Erza said as she was so happy for her friend.
"Promise me!" Lucy said as she was afraid of being embarrassed.
"No worries, but nice work!" Erza said as she took the tablet and did some final editing. Lucy can only hope her message really does help Natsu.
...
Natsu
Natsu was up in his room with his cousin, trying to reconnect with him since it's been a long time since they last saw each other.
"Want to play a little ball?" Natsu said as he pulled out a basketball. "We shot hoops lots of times before." He passed the ball to Alexander, but Alexander just tossed the ball into the hoop Natsu had in his room. It seemed like Alexander wasn't pleased with him. "I'm sorry I didn't go to your mother's funeral. My brother... My brother is complicated."
"Do you always do what your brother says?" Alexander said as he spoke for the first time.
"Well, he's just trying his best to take care of me since we only have each other." Natsu said.
"Not anymore." Alexander said as he acted friendlier towards him. Alex walked over and hugged his cousin with Natsu hugging back. What he didn't notice was that Alexander swiped his phone from his pocket. "Why don't you go and grab some games for us?" Natsu went and did just that as he went looking for some games. While Natsu was searching, Alexander was snooping around Natsu's stuff with Igneel noticing.
"Hey, do you still take karate and do magic tricks?" Natsu questioned.
"Yeah. I might show you some tricks I've learned." Alexander said as he found some spare clothes Natsu had. "I'm going to take a quick shower first. Is it okay if I borrow some clothes?"
"Sure." Natsu said. Alex took the clothes and went inside the bathroom.
"Natsu!" Igneel called as he flew up to him. "Something is up with that cousin of yours? He was just snooping around your stuff."
"You sure?" Natsu questioned.
"Yeah. I'm not sure you should be too trusting towards him, even if he is your cousin." Igneel warned. "It seems like he's up to something."
"Look, Igneel, Alexander lost his mother and that might be why he's acting out." Natsu said.
"Sometimes, you're too nice for your own good." Igneel said as he's worried this is becoming a problem of Natsu. Alexander ran the water to make it sound like he was taking a shower, but he was really in Natsu's phone and meddling inside of it.
"Figures that moron would have a crush on a superhero." Alexander insulted as he found all the photos of Celestria. He soon got all the videos that his friends sent him.
"Hey, Natsu. I know you're going through a hard time, but we're here for you." Gray's video.
"You always felt like a caged bird, but you're free with us. Anything you need or want, we'll help you with." Lisanna's video.
"I get how hard it is. My mother was away and... Yeah, she did come back, but I do know what it's like not having one around. I can't imagine what it's like not seeing both of your parents, so I'm here for you." Taylor's video. A rare moment where she was actually sincere.
"Natsu, I want you to know that I'm here for you. I love you." Lucy's video.
"How pathetic." Alexander as he just deleted every great video. Once he got that done, he put the next steps of his plan into action as he changed into the clothes Natsu gave him and put what he was planning into action.
...
Gajeel's Boat
Everyone was waiting to hear from Natsu about what he thought of the videos. Soon, the tablet was going off.
"It's Natsu!" Erza said.
"It is?!" Lucy said as she was really nervous about what he thought of her video. "Uh... You guys go on ahead." She said and just ran off with everyone thinking she was acting weird. "What do I do? What do I do?" She thought out loud as she was panicking on this subject. "I'm not sure if I'm ready for this? Why did I have to say what I felt in that video? What if he actually hated it?" Lucy kept rambling with her thoughts in a different part of the boat until she heard the sound of a guitar and saw Sting was there.
"Problems, Lucy?" Sting said. Lucy felt so embarrassed that Sting heard all that. She didn't know what to do except just sit down with Sting sitting with her. "You know Natsu's a great guy. I'm sure things between you two will be great. If things don't work out, well... I'm here." He claimed with Lucy feeling better. Gathering the courage she needed, she opened the video that Natsu sent.
"Hey, guys. I just want to say thanks. Thanks for making me feel even worse on the worst day of my life! All your rotten videos did was remind me of how sad and awful I feel about not having my parents around anymore." None of this is what any of them expected and it had them all baffled. "My brother was right. Why would I bother hanging out with any of you in the first place?"
...
Taylor
"Ha! I knew it. I knew Natsu would never want to be friends with any of those losers." Taylor said.
"Taylor, you're still the same spoiled and rotten brat you've ever been. I don't know why I had anything to do with you in the first place." That part really shocked Taylor.
...
Gajeel's Houseboat
"Something isn't right. There's no way that's Natsu!" Lucy said as she didn't believe any of that video. There's no way the Natsu she knows would ever say such things about anyone.
...
Zeref
"Sir, Teresa just sent us this." Invel said as he interrupted Zeref in the middle of his work. "This came from Natsu's phone." He showed the video to Zeref. Just like Lucy, Zeref wasn't fooled by it.
"Alexander." Zeref claimed.
"If Natsu's friends are seeing this, they all must feel pretty hurt." Invel implied that Zeref can use this to rid himself of some people. Zeref agreed as he made his way into his secret hideout. When he got up there, he instantly turned into Black Wizard.
"I warned you that I wouldn't be fooled so easily, Alexander." Black Wizard claimed as he took an etherious in his hands and filled it with his dark power. "Fly, my evil etherious. Evillize those poor souls!" He said as he unleashed it into Paris.
...
The Houseboat
"This can't be real." Gray said as they were all baffled by the video thinking it was really Natsu.
"I don't know man. We haven't really known him as long as we've known each other." Gajeel claimed.
"But Natsu seemed so nice before." Levy said.
"But he was friends with Taylor before." Erza said as they were all starting to doubt how much they really knew Natsu with Juvia and Lisanna grabbing Erza's tablet.
"Don't believe that video!" Lucy called when she showed up. "This has to be some sort of trick! There's no way Natsu would ever say anything like that!" She believed that, but the others weren't so sure. That was right when she noticed the etherious merging with the tablet with all three of her friends affected by it. Seeing this as trouble, Lucy took off.
"Team Punishers., I'm Black Wizard You tried to do a nice thing and someone ruined it. He should be punished for what he did. In exchange, you three must bring me the miraculous of Celestria and Salamondra."
"He's going to be sorry." All three said as all three changed into their villain forms: Knightwalker, Miserain, and Animal Soul. Lucy hurry and ran for cover so she could transform.
"They're going to take it all out on Natsu! I've got to do something fast!" Lucy told Stella. "Stella, Twinkle!" Now that her love is in danger, she quickly transformed and moved fast.
"Erza, just try to calm down. You're not really going to attack Natsu, are you?" Levy questioned. Rather than answering, Miserain and Knightwalker attacked as some of them became miserable from Miserain's power and Knightwalker launched webbing from her staff to tie them up.
"Let's go." Knightwalker said as she took charge.
"I don't think so!" Celestria called as she jumped on the top of a boat. "You three aren't going anywhere." She jumped at them to try and attack, but Animal Soul jumped in her way as she turned into an octopus and squirted ink right in her face. It temporarily blinded her, but the three of them were already gone when she could see again. "Go on and run. I know where you're heading."
...
Dragneel Manor
"Invel, my villains are on the way. Make sure Natsu is safe." Black Wizard over Invel's phone. Invel followed through with his orders as he made his was up to Natsu's room.
"Natsu, a last minute photoshoot just came up. We must leave at once." Invel said.
"Really? Now?" Natsu questioned.
"You really have to go?" Alexander said as he came out. With how he looks just like Natsu, even Invel was a little confused as to who was who.
"Alex, would you come with?" Natsu asked.
"Actually, there's something I need to talk to Zeref about." Alexander said. That was just about when Team Punishers smashed right through Natsu's window and entered his room. Invel acted quickly and stood between them and Natsu to protect him.
"We have you now you rotten little...boys?" Knightwalker said as they noticed there were two Natsus.
"There are two of them?" Miserain said.
"That explains the video. It was rather weird how Natsu acted in it." Animal Soul claimed.
"Video? What video?" Natsu said.
"One of you sent a video to all of Natsu's friends to make him look like a creep after we sent him some to try and support him on today of all days." Knightwalker claimed. "Fess up. Which one of you was it?"
"Alexander, is that true?" Natsu questioned. When his cousin didn't say anything, it told him all that he needed. "It's him! He's the fake! My cousin just looks like me!"
"The real Natsu wouldn't sell out his cousin." Animal Soul claimed as they thought it was him.
"Unless that is the real Natsu." Miserain said. "Which one of them is the real fake?"
"What do you think? Hahaha!" Natsu laughed as he tried to make it look like it was him and ran out of his room.
"Get him!" Knightwalker ordered as the three of them tried to go after him.
"Don't touch him!" Invel said as he intervened. He stood in the way of the three of them and actually fought them off. The three of them tried to fight Invel, but he used martial arts to fend them off. He was able to hold his own against all three, but Animal Soul acted quickly as she turned herself into a lioness and stalked him to try and keep him from moving. Knightwalker used the chance to fire more webbing at him and caused him to stick to the wall.
"No, you fools!" Black Wizard called as he stopped them. "Natsu is trying to sacrifice himself to save his cousin! The one you want is with you!"
"That means..." Knightwalker said as all three of them turned to him.
"I guess I can't keep up this act." Alexander said as he didn't seem scared to fight him.
"You should have tried to run." Animal Soul warned him.
"Or maybe you should have." Alexander said as he dared them to come at him.
...
Natsu
Natsu ran out of his room and out of his house. He had hoped the three of them would take the bait, but he saw they didn't. At least it gave him the opportunity to transform.
"I told you something was off about your cousin." Igneel said.
"Even so, I've got to do something and get him out of there." Natsu said. Despite what his cousin did, he's still willing to try and save him. "Igneel, Fire Up!" He had Igneel be pulled into the ring and allowed him to become Salamondra.
...
Alexander
Alexander was actually able to hold his own against the villains himself as he used his karate and fought them off.
"Come on. Is that really the best supervillains can really do?" Alexander taunted. He was ready to go another round with them, but that was when something shot through the broken window, lassoed him, and pulled him straight out of the room. Celestria arrived and carried Alexander out of there as she believed that was Natsu she was saving.
"Sorry I showed up a little late." Celestria said as she carried him out of there and placed him upon a rooftop's lounge chair. "You should be safe here."
"Wait, Celestria." Alexander said as he grabbed her by the arm and stopped her from leaving. He still continued on with him being Natsu. "I have something to tell you. I always had special feelings for you."
"I... Really?" Celestria questioned.
"Yes." Alexander said as he stood up and had them back up until he had her cornered. "Allow me to give you a little luck." He leaned in and was about to kiss her, but Celestria saw something was wrong.
"Hey! No!" Celestria said as she moved around and got free. "Back off, pal!" She said as she actually decked the guy and knocked him down. "Gross! I don't know who you are, but the real Natsu would never be so direct!"
"That's because that's not Natsu!" Salamondra said as he arrived. "That's Alexander, his cousin that looks like him. I got the real Natsu somewhere safe and he told me everything. Sure looks like you were trying to make a lot of enemies in one day, pal." Alexander was cornered himself now as the two heroes weren't falling for his little act. That was just when Knightwalker landed down and got between them.
"We're not done just yet." Knightwalker claimed. Miserain and Animal Soul showed up and had the heroes surrounded.
"I think it's time you all learned a thing or two about punishment." Animal Soul taunted as all three of them were ready to attack.
"We'll see about that. Open the Celestial Gate!" Celestria called on her powers and ended up getting a metal can with the Pieces sign on it. She's not really sure what to do with something like that.
"Any ideas?" Salamondra questioned.
"I know the etherious is in the tablet that Knightwalker is holding, but I'm still figuring out how to get it." Celestria claimed. While she was trying to come up with her own little plan, Alexander put his own into action. He leaped right at Knightwalker and grabbed it from her with him flipping backwards. "Smash it and this whole thing will be over!"
"What makes you think I want it to be over?" Alexander questioned as he had his own objectives. "You can hear me, Black Wizard! I'll smash this thing to pieces unless we make a deal!" He wants to make a deal with Black Wizard? None of them expected that.
"What could I have that you want?" Knightwalker said as Black Wizard spoke through her.
"There's a couple jewels I'm looking for myself." Alexander said. While they were talking, Celestria was formulating her own plan. She took a look at Miserain and Animal Soul, Salamondra's staff, Knightwalker's foot, the can, and the tablet. She was soon able to put the pieces together. She acted quickly as Alexander was going to hand over the tablet back to Knightwalker.
"Salamondra, take care of Alexander!" Celestria said. She tossed her whip as it wrapped around Miserain's arm and she tossed her into Animal Soul. Salamondra acted quickly as got between the two and knocked the tablet in the air with him grabbing Alexander. Knightwalker hurried after the tablet and grabbed it, but Celestria rolled the can towards her. Kngihtwalker stepped on it and lost her balance with her dropping the tablet over the edge and it smashed to pieces upon contact with the ground and the etherious flying out. "No more evildoing for you, little etherious." She said as she activated her whip and twirled it around. "Time to de-evillize!" She threw the whip and caught it. "Gotcha! Bye-Bye, little guy." She said once she released it after purifying it. "Miraculous Starlight!" She tossed the metal can in the air and unleashed the magic stars with them healing everyone and fixing everything that was broken.
"Pound it!" The heroes bumped fists.
...
Black Wizard
"Well, this certainly didn't go the way I thought." Black Wizard claimed, but he was more curious about something else. "Alexander... What is it you're really after?"
...
Dragneel Manor
"What you did to my friends and me was unforgivable, Alexander." Natsu said as he and his brother were speaking with their cousin and uncle before they leave. "Why would you do something like that in the first place?"
"I'm afraid Alexander hasn't been himself since the loss of his mother." Atlas claimed.
"No. It was unforgivable." Alexander claimed. "Natsu, I'm very sorry. I guess... I guess I was just jealous that so many people cared for you. No one went and did such things like that for me when my mother passed. You're lucky to have so many people in your life that care for you. I hope I can be that lucky." He showed a fortune of good faith as he hugged his cousin in hopes to make amends. "Zeref, I hope to see you as well." He said as he held out his hand. This time, Zeref took it.
"Goodbye, Alexander." Zeref said as they parted ways with his relatives. Alexander was right. Natsu is lucky to have so many people care so much for him. That's why he decided to go up to his room and make his own video.
"Hey, guys. I'm sorry about that other video. That was the work of my cousin trying to cause some trouble. I never saw the videos, but the fact that you guys went and did that for me means so much. I love you guys for this." He sent out that video to all his classmates. Lucy just kept replaying the last part over and over.
...
The Train
As for Alex and his father, they caught the train that would take them back to their home in London. Now they were away from Zeref, Alexander had something to show his father.
"Father, look what I managed to get." Alexander said. He pulled a little magic trick and showed that he actually snagged the ring from Zeref.
"How did you manage to get that?!" Atlas questioned.
"I have my ways. It seemed rather important to you that you get this back. However, I couldn't get the other one." Alexander claimed.
"That's fine because I wanted to give it to you." Atlas said as he ruffled his son's hair. "You always seem so fascinated by the stories of the rings, so I thought I try to give it to you. However, my brother got married before me and that's why he had them. I'm glad you managed to get it now." Alexander is glad that his father is glad. He clearly cares for his father so much that he deceived his own cousins to get it. As Alexander looks out the window, he can only imagine his cousin's reaction when he realizes the truth, and he's not finished yet. Back home, when Zeref was working, he soon realized that his ring was gone. That ring meant so much to Zeref and Alexander stole it. He had no choice but to take the one that belonged to his mother, but he promises he'll get the one Alexander stole back and make Alexander pay for ever crossing him. Things with Alexander are far from over.
