(New Chapter)

I do not own Fairy Tail Hiro Mashima does.

The Grimoire Invasion

***POTD***

Standing upon the southern shores of Tenrou Island, Makarov could feel the numerous battles flaring up between his children, and those who dared invade Tenrou Island. The old man blocked those battles out, however, his sole focus on the airship that was approaching from the direction of Fiore.

"I can only speculate as to why you have all chosen to invade Tenrou Island and attack Fairy Tail," Makarov began, clenching his fists as he began releasing his Magical Power. "In the end, it does not matter, for you have broken an ironclad rule that forces my hand!"

Makarov's entire body became coated in a colossal pillar of golden light, as he tore off his Wizard Saint coat, tossing it aside as the muscles in his small body doubled, then tripled inside. His veins began to pop as he grit his teeth, eyes glowing bright gold as his entire form began to slowly expand.

"Attacking Tenrou Island … Attacking my children … Shedding blood upon this most sacred ground …"

Makarov's form continued to increase in size, quickly surpassing fifty feet, as he now loomed over the island like a Titan, his biceps alone thicker than the Tenrou Tree behind him, as he continued to grow in size.

"Such crimes … ARE BEYOND UNFORGIVABLE!"

Makarov Dreyar (Giant Magic, Second Origin Opened, Full Power) – 1.64 Million MPI

The airship slowed its advance, but did not stop entirely, as Makarov stood defensively before Tenrou Island itself, barring the occupants of the airship entrance.

"You will NOT advance further, Grimoire Heart, not whilst I still draw breath!"

The airship finally stopped, now hovering a good fifty meters away from Makarov's position. The Wizard Saint watched as the top hatch to the ship opened, with an elderly looking man emerging moments after.

He wore a long, black cloak that partially covered his maroon undershirt and cream-colored pants that possessed a flame pattern across them. He wore a pair of stained silver gauntlets, and a helmet that had a prominent bronze coloured metal plate that protected his forehead and cheek areas, with two notable horns protruding from the top of it.

"You…"

"Well now, I must say, you've certainly grown strong, just as I always predicted… boy."

Makarov seemed momentarily confused, before shaking his head, and clenching his fists once more.

"There is no place here for you or your Dark Guild," Makarov's voice boomed. "Leave this place at once, or I won't be responsible for the catastrophe that follows!"

"A catastrophe, eh? Very well, I'm game," the elderly man smirked, as Makarov cupped his massive hands together, with bright golden rays of light beginning to escape through his fingers. "Ah…"

"I will give you until the count of three to call off this attack and leave," Makarov snarled, as his hands opened up slightly to reveal he now held a giant golden sphere of light, the Fairy Tail emblem at its heart.

"Heh… Fairy Law," the elderly man smirked. "Indeed, a most effective threat against those the caster deems their enemy. But…"

Makarov froze, as the elderly man performed the exact same motions, only the attack he held was comprised of pure, black light. His hands slowly expanded outward, revealing the Grimoire Heart emblem at its core.

"Impossible…"

"You've definitely become stronger than even I could have imagined boy, but you still have much to learn," the old man smirked in reply. "Spells such as these should not be used so lightly you know? And now … now we are at a crossroads, you and I. Do we deploy our respective Law Spells, bringing about the worst possible outcome for both our Guilds? Or, will we agree to dispel them?"

Makarov grit his teeth, realizing that he had absolutely no choice in the matter, and begrudgingly dispelled Fairy Law. The elderly man smirked, dispelling his own Law Spell, as he stepped further out onto the upper deck of the airship.

"There's a good boy," the elderly man smirked, as Makarov got a closer look at him.

"T-This can't be-!?"

"Hello Makarov, how many decades has it been?"

Guild Master Of Grimoire Heart

One Of The Three Great Dark Lords

One Of The Founders Of The Bharam Alliance

SSSS Rank Dark Mage

Precht Gaebolg

Makarov was complete stunned into silence, unable to even retort, as he felt his entire worldview completely shatter.

Smirking, Precht immediately vanished, appearing inches before Makarov, as the Saint suddenly found himself smashed into the earth, his form rapidly shrinking as a chain unwrapped itself from his body.

Bursting out of the crater he was in, Makarov landed at its edge, with Precht slowly floating to the ground before him, an amused smirk on his face.

"How… WHY!? What could have possibly driven you to create such a despicable Dark Guild, Second Master!?"

"An interesting question, isn't it," the elderly man chuckled, stroking his long, thin beard, as if in thought. "Unfortunately, there are things in this world that find themselves given these labels of good and evil. Over the centuries, what was once defined as good, has been twisted into evil. Often times, what was considered evil is often reversed for the greater good, as it were. In reality, such labels are meaningless, you see. You consider Grimoire Heart, and my work, to be evil. Yet, in reality, it is neither good, nor evil…"

"What are you talking about," Makarov snapped irritably. "All Black Magic is inherently evil-!"

"From your point of view, yes. A narrow-minded Light Mage would never understand the truth of Magic … and THAT is why Fairy Tail shall fall here this day."

"I don't know what kind of nonsense you've convinced yourself of that allows you to justify the use of Dark Magic… but I won't allow you to harm any of my children," Makarov snapped back in response, as his right finger became coated in a small golden sphere of light.

"You can try and fight, but I'll show you the truth," Precht replied, clearly amused, as he raised both his arms outward, whilst making several swift hand signs. "Let's see just what you're made of, Makarov! Amaterasu Formula: One Hundred Seals – Saigai!"

In an instant, Makarov was surrounded by one hundred Magical Seals, all of them brimming with power. In the time it took for him to blink, all one hundred seals exploded, shaking the entirety of Tenrou Island to its core.

Hades smirk only widened, as bright golden light emerged through the dust and smoke, all of it instantly being blasted away to reveal Makarov, a sphere of pure golden light protecting his form that began to rapidly expand.

"True Heavenly Body Magic – Vega!"

"Excellent," Hades smirked, as he began rapidly casting more seals at Makarov's position. "It would be disappointing if you just keeled over at the first strike! But to think, you actually managed to learn the True Heavenly Body Magics!"

Makarov didn't respond, knowing full well that Vega's defensive properties wouldn't last against someone like Precht for very long. Holding his right and left arms at forty-five-degree angles, he slowly rotated them until they met at the center of his body, the tips of his index fingers glowing an even brighter gold.

"True Heavenly Body Magic – Leo Kyma!"

In an instant, Hades had prepared a solid defense, right as Makarov fired out a colossal beam of raw golden light. The mere firing of it cracked all of Tenrou Island behind him, its arc almost as large as the entire beach itself.

"Amaterasu Formula: One Thousand Seals – Shin'nyu Dekinai!"

The attack blew away everything before it, the entire island and everyone on it being blinded by its golden radiance. The sea was split clean in two as far as the eye could see, and the immediate vicinity where the attack was deployed, found itself utterly erased in its entirety.

Once the attack ceased, Makarov lowered himself to the ground, panting heavily, not having used such an attack in many years. All he could see before him was black smoke

"Well now, that was certainly impressive… I didn't think you had that kind of strength or resolve Makarov."

The aged Guild Master's eyes widened, as the immediate smoke before him was blown away, revealing that Precht had actually tanked his attack, not so much as a scratch on him. It was obvious that whatever Formula he'd used, it was durable beyond belief.

"I'm afraid that this is the part where I end this little scuffle," Precht smirked, raising his right hand, his thumb, index, and middle finger taking on the shape of a finger pistol. "Bullet Magic – Piercing Bullet!"

From the tip of his index finger, a thin, yet powerful blast of purple Magic, was fired at Makarov, instantly piercing his chest, causing the old man to collapse on the spot. Having exhausted a lot of his Magic using Leo Kyma, he didn't even have the ability to defend himself.

"Sleep now boy, for your time as the Master of Fairy Tail has drawn to a close," Precht muttered quietly, as he held out his right hand to summon a flagpole, planting it on the beach. "This is Grimoire's victory…"

Turning around, Precht walked away, the flag of Grimoire Heart flying tall, as Makarov lay unconscious at the bottom of the flagpole.

***POTD***

As Precht walked away from Makarov's body, he paused. Turning back around, his eye narrowed upon seeing an all too familiar foe of the Bharam Alliance, who had seemingly appeared out of thin air.

Natsu.

The Slayer had arrived right as Makarov was struck down, knowing full well he had to play his next move carefully if he wanted to save the old man. He waited until Precht was a considerable distance away, before using his enhanced speed and appearing next to the downed Mage.

Looking up, he saw Precht eyeing him, though the older man didn't seem inclined to show any form of hostility toward him. Rather, the older man smirked, as if finding Natsu amusing in some way.

"Well now, if it isn't Fairy Tail's other resident Wizard Saint. Props for the glare, but I'm afraid it isn't quite having the effect you think it is," Precht smirked, fully turning around to face him as Natsu gently scooped up Makarov into his arms. "I hear that the moniker of Salamander has gone out of style when it comes to you Natsu? What was it they were calling you now… Ah, that's right…"

"It doesn't matter what the public calls me," Natsu spat back. "Just like your moniker of Hades doesn't matter!"

"Touche. I take it you know who I really am?"

"The Second Master of Fairy Tail, Precht Gaebolg," Natsu replied through grit teeth. "And by the looks of it, a traitor to everything it ever stood for!"

"From your point of view perhaps," Precht replied easily. "I don't expect a youngster like you to ever understand the complexities of Magic like I do. Perhaps in eighty years or so, you might come to understand a fraction of it."

"Well, aren't you just full of yourself…"

"When one has danced with Magic as I have, one feels almost entitled to be a little bit full of themselves," Precht smirked. "Take Makarov, he's all but beaten anyway. The rest of you shall fall in line soon enough."

Precht turned on his heel and began strolling toward the water's edge, before looking over his shoulder at Natsu, a smirk on his face.

"You have five minutes before I allow Bluenote to run wild," Precht muttered, as he jumped over fifty feet in the air, landing on top of his airship next to the form of Bluenote, who glared down at Natsu's position.

Natsu immediately took off toward the camp, knowing full well that he couldn't fight someone like Bluenote whilst trying to keep Makarov safe. He could only hope that he could keep Bluenote away from the others, and that Precht himself wouldn't decide to involve himself in matters.

Otherwise, they were assuredly screwed.

***POTD***

Elsewhere across the island, an entire platoon of troops found themselves frozen solid, as another found themselves hacked to pieces, as Ur and Elise appeared on the other side of the massacre unscathed.

"Do you think that's the last of them," Elise huffed, eliciting a shrug from the Ice Make Mage.

"I don't think so. There are powerful Magical Signatures all over the island, but I can't sense Natsu, Gildarts or Makarov's. We'd better try to get to the base camp, though even there may not be safe from what's going on…"

"I think I can sense Natsu's spiking and dimming every now and then," Elise replied, as the duo started making their way in the direction of the camp. "Maybe he's trying to find the others?"

"Speaking of the others, I hope Wendy is alright," Ur muttered, her eyes narrowing suspiciously. "Something about that Mest guy just doesn't add up to me… Call me crazy, but do you recall anything about him before two weeks ago?"

"Come to think of it, no," Elise replied with a frown. "Though it feels like he's always been there, doesn't it?"

"I think we should go find Wendy. Something about Mest just isn't adding up," Ur said, with Elise in full agreement. "I know she's strong, but she's still young."

"Alright let's go," Elise replied sharply, as the pair started to sprint down the winding path, only for a solid wall of black fire to erupt before them, followed by an amused cackle.

"Aww, how disgustingly adorable! A shame neither of you will be going to help anyone!? Kehahahahaha!"

"It's you," Elise snarled as she looked up to see Zancrow crouching down atop a nearby cliff. "Back for another beating Zancrow!?"

"Hah! Hardly," the God Slayer spat back. "The only one getting beaten here is you, Faulkner! Last time, I had Bluenote telling me I couldn't rend the fucking place to ashes… But now I've got Master Hades telling me I can kill everyone I want! Kehahahahahaha!"

"You aren't good enough to kill me Zancrow," Elise scoffed in reply. "I kicked your ass last time, and I've grown way stronger since then!"

"Maybe so, but you aren't the only one who can train! Once you feel my undying flames, you'll realise just how pathetic you really are against the mighty Zancrow!"

"Ur, you go on ahead and find Wendy," Elise muttered, not taking her eyes off of Zancrow for a moment. "Though it sounds like he's talking himself up, this guy actually is a God Slayer who wields powerful Fire Magic."

"Are you sure you don't want my help; my Magic can hold its own against Natsu's? I'm sure I'd be able to-?"

"Trust me on this Ur, that's a special kind of fire, the flames of a God. He may not have been taught by an actual God like I was, but his Magic is still as dangerous as mine. Your normal weakness to fire is increased tenfold if you are up against Flame God fire."

"I see. Then I'll leave him to you," Ur replied after several moments, as she began to sprint off into the forest.

Almost immediately, Zancrow zipped after her, giving chase, as he called out after her tauntingly.

"Didn't you hear me earlier, no one escapes from Zancrow! Not even the mother of Ultear," the God Slayer smirked, as he watched Ur skid to a stop, turning around, eyes wide.

"W-What did you just say!?"

"Kehahahaha! Guess I struck a nerve somewhere with that one, didn't I!? Or maybe you didn't actually know? The leader of the Seven Kin of Purgatory, and the third strongest Mage in Grimoire Heart, is a woman named …. Ultear Milkovich," Zancrow crowed, before bursting into uproarious laughter.

"My Ultear … It can't be, she was … I-I don't …!?"

Elise had reached Ur's side, and began to shake her, trying to bring her out of her shocked stupor.

"Ur, snap out of it! I know that this might have been a big shock to you, but we're in the middle of a large battle against Dark Mages, there's no time to falter!"

"But my Daughter … she's dead … the Bureau of Magical Development said that she was dead… that her power had killed her!?"

"Another of the great plans formed by Master Hades! Paying the Bureau off in order to keep Ultear, and conduct brutal experiments on her, they told you that she was dead, but we knew different! One night though, on her twelfth birthday, she escaped and went back home, only to find you training two new brats! Heartbroken, our tragic heroine returned to the Bureau and allowed them to continue experimenting on her!"

"She what," Ur gasped in shock, as Zancrow continued to laugh at her mockingly.

"Then, like the oh so kind old man Master Hades is, he swooped in and saved our young heroine! This was right after she massacred the entire place too, isn't that the greatest thing you've heard or what!?"

"Ur…," Elise muttered, as the Ice Make Mage clenched her fists, teeth grit firmly as she rose to her full height.

"I'm going to find her Elise. My Daughter is alive, and she's on this island somewhere right now! I've failed her as a Mother, but, if there's one last thing I can do for her, it's save her from living like this," Ur replied firmly, before vanishing with speed that shocked Elise, not having thought her capable of it.

"Such speed… That's almost at Natsu's level!? Just how strong is Ur," Elise wondered, as Zancrow began to laugh again.

"Absolutely pathetic! Ultear should have a fun time picking her apart, whilst I," Zancrow began, surrounding his fists in black flames as he completely opened his reserves. "Will have fun picking this God Slayer apart!"

Zancrow – 355,907 MPI

"I'm stopping you here Zancrow," Elise growled, opening up her own reserves as their respective black Auras smashed together. "There's only one way this fight is going to end… and its with your death!"

Elise Faulkner (No God's Aura Active, God's Regenerative Adaption) – 312,442 MPI

The two God Slayers roared as they charged one another, their fists smashing together as the landscape was ripped apart.

Elise was grateful that her body had adapted from her fight with Natsu, because Zancrow wasn't bluffing when he said he'd improved since their last bout. She could only hope that she had the strength necessary to come out on top.

***POTD***

Inside the Grimoire Heart airship, Precht slowly made his way toward his throne, signs of multiple battles visible through the windows as he sat down.

"Bluenote?"

"Sir," the Grand Wizard murmured, instantly appearing before the Guild Master. "Is it time?"

"In one-minute Bluenote, have patience," Precht chuckled darkly. "Let them have their fun first before you mop up all resistance…"

"I have personal objectives here, Lord Hades. First, I must completely and utterly eradicate Natsu Dragneel. Then, I must destroy Gildarts Clive-."

"Patience Bluenote, you will get what you seek," Precht smirked. "Have I steered you wrong?"

"No."

"Exactly. Now, I want you to target Natsu Dragneel first, and kill Makarov if possible. I'm not taking any chances with that one…"

"You…"

"I do not fear the boy, but there is something about him that feels…"

"Strange?"

Both Mages looked ahead, as a projection of their mutual benefactor appeared from the Lacrima Projector situated above Precht's throne.

"You would be wise to think that way, because, Dragneel could very easily grow far too powerful to stop. As it stands, he could already obliterate all Seven Kin of Purgatory by himself-."

"Nonsense," Bluenote scoffed. "I could believe him defeating a few at once, but all Seven is just absurd. He is a raging fool, as unstable as the flames he wields."

"If you think that, you'll also die Bluenote Stinger," the figure chuckled, as they lit a cigarette, taking a drag. "Approach him however you like, but don't say you weren't warned. After all, his lineage is one to be rightly feared…"

"What are you talking about," Bluenote replied firmly, only for the figure in the projection to chuckle in response.

"It is not relevant. What matters, is that neither of you underestimate him, or he will surpass you both. This is not conjecture, just mere fact."

"Bluenote will face him now," Precht replied easily, his lone eye shifting to the Grand Wizard. "Go on Bluenote… Kill."

The Grand Wizard vanished on the spot, the figure on the Lacrima Projection shaking their head as they took another drag.

"That one has potential, a shame he can't ignore those baser impulses."

"What did you mean by Dragneel's lineage," Precht asked curiously. "What do you lot know about him that we don't?"

"Aside from the fact that he is the blood adopted Son of the Fire Dragon Monarch Igneel, his true lineage is fully known to us. The truth, however, is not something that need concern you for now, Precht," the figure replied with an amused smirk, as some of their face became visible on the projection. "Focus on your objective. Do not fail like the Oracion Seis did."

"You've already told me this."

"I will keep reiterating the point, because we do not want to have to personally intervene in Fiore, should you fail. Do not fail… You will not like the consequences should you fail us."

The transmission abruptly cut out, leaving Precht alone to his thoughts, as he gazed down upon Tenrou Island from his seat. Stroking his beard lightly, he pondered his latest interaction with that man, and the curious information he'd been drip fed.

"Just who are you really, Natsu Dragneel?"

***POTD***

Arriving at the camp Natsu was greeted by Mira, who could only gasp as she saw the state of Makarov in his arms.

"Oh my goodness, what happened!?"

"Its Grimoire Heart, Mira," Natsu replied with a scowl as he looked around the camp, noticing Levy was unconscious. "Is she alright?"

"I put her to sleep because she'd suffered a severe concussion from whoever attacked her. She should wake soon."

"Right. Gajeel killed the two who attacked them, and now he's fighting one of the Seven Kin."

"The Seven Kin… So, they're really here on Tenrou," Mira muttered darkly as she met his gaze. "Do we know what they're after?"

"Not really. Their Guild Master spoke in riddles, though what concerns me more is the fact that Bluenote Stinger will be coming for me in about thirty seconds."

"What!?"

"Yeah. I'm going to have to start heading back the way I came, because he could easily kill anyone else except for maybe Elise, and that's only if Eliza saves her."

"What do you want me to do?"

"… Can I talk to Hecate for a minute?"

Mira nodded, as her eyes shifted color, her soft expression hardening as the Demoness took control.

"What is it?"

"I want Mira to remain here to protect the injured," Natsu replied, as he turned to look out at the numerous explosions going off around the island. "But I want you to rip apart any non-Fairy Tail members who come here. I don't care how ruthless you are, protect them at all costs."

"You did not have a good experience at Easthearth, did you?"

"These Dark Mages think they can do as they please, harm my family… But Fairy Tail has its own monsters lurking under its shadow. I think its about time the Bharam Alliance learned that."

"There's something… I can't quite put my finger on it, but there's something off about you right now," Hecate mused. "Its strange but… I feel like I'm compelled to do as you say? Of course, I completely agree with you anyway, but, well…"

"I get what you mean," Natsu replied with a small smile, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Though I don't know exactly what it is that's compelling you to listen to what I say, I'm glad to know I can count on you."

"My old family abandoned me years ago Natsu, but Fairy Tail has treated me far kinder than Tartaros ever did. I know it might sound strange coming from a Demon, but I won't let you down-."

Both Natsu and Hecate's heads snapped in the direction of the Grimoire Heart airship, as a monstrous Magical Signature descended upon the island. Hecate was actually shaken by how dense it was, but found herself even more shocked that Natsu didn't seem overly bothered by it.

"That will be Bluenote… I've got to go."

"Direct any others here," Hecate called out. "I will protect them."

With one final curt nod, Natsu vanished, leaving the Demoness to look back at the Grimoire Heart airship, as Mira's voice chimed into her head.

"I'm glad you think that way Hecate, I know it isn't easy for you to say something like that."

"Its time I stopped pretending like I don't care, Mirajane," the Demoness replied firmly, as she held out what were still Mira's hands. "I am not Human, and yet, the Mages of Fairy Tail long celebrated my strength, something no one in Tartaros ever did. I … belong here."

Mira didn't respond, content to just let her feelings be known through their shared senses, as they refocused their efforts on assisting Makarov, and hoping others made it to their position soon.

***POTD***

As the rest of Tenrou was engulfed in battle, Wendy ran, hoping she would run into someone she recognized.

Having been abandoned by the Mage she had come to Tenrou with, a man by the name of Mest, Wendy had been fending for herself when the attack on Tenrou began. Had she not been trained by Natsu in how to survive in such situations alone, she probably would have died by now.

"I hope I find that camp the Master mentioned soon," the young Dragon Slayer sighed, as she stopped near a small stream and crouched down. "There are so many strong Magical Signatures around…"

Crawling toward the stream, she quickly drank several handfuls of water, before immediately moving back toward the nearby bushes. She could smell someone was nearby, and her instincts were telling her to run.

Deciding it was probably best to move on, Wendy slowly made her way out of her hiding place, and quickly cleared several hundred meters, before stopping again and sniffing the air.

"I can smell Natsu's scent…"

The young Dragon Slayer immediate took off in the direction of the scent, hoping that she would find him and everything would be alright. Sprinting down the path at full speed, she was suddenly knocked back as she ran into something solid.

Scrambling backward, her heart dropped as an unfamiliar man turned around to face her, his expression stern. From behind him, various vines began to rise up, quickly signifying that this was most definitely not someone friendly.

"Another Dragon Slayer," the man hummed, as the vines shot toward her, only to be sliced apart by powerful blasts of wind generated by Wendy. "Resistance? Very well…"

Wendy leapt right back as all the trees around the man began reshaping themselves, as more vines emerged from the ground, the entire forest quickly turning hostile to her very presence.

"Let us see just how long a child can last … against Azuma of the Seven Kin?"

***POTD***

Natsu picked up a familiar scent as he dashed through the forest. It was a scent that he'd been constantly picking up on, even as far back as his first trip to the Magic Council. Skidding to a stop, he noticed a strange crystal ball that was hovering over a nearby tree branch.

"It's you," Natsu sighed with a shake of his head. "Every time we run into one another, you're always doing terrible things, aren't you? You really ought to find a nicer job to do than being evil?"

"I assure you; this is me doing my real job for once. No disguises, no false pretenses, just the truth. I'm the leader of the Seven Kin of Purgatory," the amused voice of an all too familiar foe purred as Ultear manifested from the crystal ball. "Or, if you want to get technical, one of the hands of Lord Hades…"

"That checks out I suppose, considering all the damage you've done to Fiore," Natsu replied with a shake of his head. "There's something else though that I've come to realize about you, ever since we met on Galuna Island?"

"Oh? And pray tell, what is it that you think you've learned about me," Ultear smirked in response.

"You've been a bit of an enigma to most, but I can at least make one solid connection regarding you," Natsu continued. "You can't hide the fact that your scent is similar to that of Ur's. You're her Daughter, aren't you?"

Ultear's almost playful expression quickly darkened, as she vanished, reappearing right up in his face. Neither of the pair blinked, even as Ultear began releasing a surprising amount of Magical Power.

"How dare you speak of my Mother aloud Natsu," Ultear hissed. "I can barely stomach to even refer to her as such after what she did to me!"

"The fact that you're alive and clearly her Daughter raises several red flags," Natsu replied bluntly, eliciting a visible snarl from the beautiful woman before him. "Ur believes you are dead; did you know that?"

"Dead? That's a lie, she abandoned me-!"

"No, she didn't," Natsu replied easily. "She most certainly did not abandon you, though I'm starting to figure out what happened…"

"What would you even know anyway," Ultear hissed. "She abandoned me for Gray and Lyon! She didn't want me, so she dumped me at the Bureau of Magical Development-!"

"No Ultear, she never abandoned you. The Bureau told her you died when she came to see you. From what Ur told me, the only reason she took you to the Bureau in the first place was because you were born with a vast amount of Magical Power, far more than a child could handle. You were dying, Ultear, and she gave the Bureau every last thing she had just to get you in there."

"N-No… No, you're lying, aren't you!? Why would she even speak of me to someone like you!?"

"Well, I like to think that Ur and I are good friends, we get along quite well actually. She and I have quite a few secrets between one another, and she's told me about you. The pain she felt when she thought she'd lost you drove her to the brink until she found Gray and Lyon…"

Ultear stood there, completely shocked and in disbelief. She was currently trying to deny all the evidence being put forward, even as Natsu continued to tell her more and more about what Ur had told him.

"You know, I bet you don't even know the origin of your name, do you? To be honest, if you even knew that, you'd think twice about how you feel about her, at least, that's what I think?"

"My name…"

"That's right," Natsu replied calmly. "Ultear… You were named after-."

"-Ur's Tear."

Ultear froze as Ur suddenly appeared beside them, her expression stern. The leader of the Seven Kin gasped, stepping away from the woman as Natsu stepped away, allowing the pair their space.

"Mother," Ultear muttered, shocked at the appearance of the woman in the flesh. "Y-You're lying…"

"No Ultear, I'm not. Your birth was the greatest thing to happen in my life, and I loved you more than anything. You were born with far too much power, so much that it was tearing you apart. You were dying, and I did what I had to do to make sure you survived…"

"This can't be…"

"One day, when I tried to come see you, I was told that you had died," Ur continued, tears welling in her eyes. "They told me that your Magical Core had exploded, despite their best efforts, and that there wasn't even a body left to examine…"

"What!?"

"I now know the truth though," Ur continued, a scowl etching its way onto her features. "That God Slayer, Zancrow, he taunted me about the truth of what happened!"

"Zancrow!?"

"He told me that the Guild Master of Grimoire Heart, Hades, was the one who set all that in motion! He wanted you because you were abnormally powerful, knew that you could be used as a weapon against his enemies!"

"The secret investor," Ultear whispered, as the pieces slowly started coming together. "So, if I only had approached you that day when I escaped…?"

"We would have been reunited," Ur sniffed, as both girls began to cry.

Natsu took this as his cue to move on, sensing Bluenote rampaging toward their position. He vanished silently, the pair not even noticing he was gone, as they slowly stepped toward one another.

"Y-You really didn't abandon me," Ultear whispered, almost cautiously, as Ur pulled her in for a hug.

"My Daughter… all grown up," the Ice Make Mage sniffed as she squeezed Ur tightly. "I still can't believe you're actually alive Ultear…"

"I still can't believe that you didn't abandon me Mother," Ultear sniffed as they separated. "Lord Hades… I can't believe he did something like this…"

"Why are you working for Grimoire Heart Ultear? What do you gain by doing all of this," Ur questioned, as the leader of the Seven Kin avoided her gaze momentarily before sighing.

"There is a specific reason Lord Hades, and Grimoire Heart, have come to Tenrou Island. We didn't just come to attack Fairy Tail you know?"

"What reason are you here for then?"

"We came … for Lord Zeref."

"Zeref? As in, the Black Wizard Zeref," Ur questioned, clearly confused. "Why would Zeref be located here? Wait… Is Zeref buried here!?"

Buried… I can only imagine the possibility of being dead and buried…

Both Ur and Ultear were startled as a young man literally popped into existence several meters ahead of them. He had fair skin, long, shaggy black hair that reached half way down his back, with his fringe styled in a way that it covered his left eye. His sole right eye was black in coloration, and he wore a tattered black robe with numerous strange golden markings across its surface.

The man had clearly not seen civilization in a long time, though curiously, he appeared to not have suffered any skin damage despite this fact, nor did he possess any facial hair whatsoever. It was almost like looking at an anomaly.

"Who… Who is this man," Ur muttered quietly, as she looked toward Ultear, who was gaping in shock. "Ultear?"

"No … this man … I don't believe it!?"

"I'm quite disappointed," the man sighed, shaking his head as he looked around the area. "I had not thought Precht to be quite so gullible, considering all that Mavis had shown him? Still, I suppose the Black Arts aren't quite so easy to master without handing over part of yourself, are they?"

"It really is him," Ultear muttered, as the man smirked in her direction. "The Black Wizard himself…"

The Most Powerful Dark Mage In History

The Progenitor Of Modern Magic

The Mysteriously Immortal Mage

Master Of The Black Arts

SSSSS Rank Dark Mage

The Black Wizard

Lord Zeref

"You can't be Zeref, he's been dead for centuries," Ur replied in disbelief, eliciting an amused chuckle from the immortal hermit.

"How does one kill the unkillable? Should you find an answer to that, please do seek me out once again…"

"But this makes no sense," Ultear muttered in disbelief. "What about the keys you left scattered throughout the world!? Those keys are supposed to bring you back, right!? They are in your own writings; they state they will bring about your revival!?"

"Ah yes," Zeref chuckled lightly. "My little scavenger hunt... I do so love playing tricks on foolish mortals who seek to gain greater power."

"What…?"

"Was I not clear enough," Zeref asked curiously, cocking his head to the side with an amused grin. "I scattered those keys you all searched for … purely for my own amusement."

"Y-You mean that all of those keys…"

"Are completely worthless," Zeref laughed, before his personality did a complete one eighty, and the man suddenly had both Mages pinned in place. "I will say though, I do despise those who seek out my revival in order to wield power akin to my own. Mortals seeking greater power without even understanding the consequences… A tragic tale as old as Time itself."

Neither Ur, nor Ultear, could do anything, as Zeref slowly approached them.

"I suppose the gathering of these keys is a sign of things to come though. I've spent the last decade doing as I fancied, waiting patiently. Perhaps it is time I make a move…"

"What … do you plan on doing," Ur asked shakily, the sheer proximity to the man generating a fear within her unlike anything she'd ever felt before, as a familiar voice answered her question for her.

"Zeref will do nothing here this day, Ur," Eliza's voice cut in sharply, as the War Goddess emerged through a Galaxy Blue portal, alongside several extremely tall entities.

"Ah, the ever vigilant Gods of the Plane of Terminus," Zeref smirked, as his black eye began to glow Crimson Red, which elicited a sneer of disgust from Eliza. "And how might I help you lovely lot?"

"You know why I'm here Zeref," Eliza growled in response. "Time flows predetermined, as it always has. You will not alter the predetermined fate of the mortals present here, the Council has made this quite clear!"

"You know fighting me will only lead to a stalemate Eliza, Goddess of War… Neither of us can truly die."

"You would still defy Creation and Destruction's edict, just to suit your own purposes? Even after seven hundred years of time to think on the matter? You already went too far by binding beings from the pits of the Underworld to those blasted books! Magic like that does not belong in this realm!"

"Does it frighten you, Eliza? The thought that I can wield that power, one that the Gods and Devils alike scorned. A power that allows me to mold thing in any which way a choose?"

"This realm is not yours to mold in any way Zeref! The edicts of Creation and Destruction must be upheld in all realms, without exception! Interfering with fixed points in Time like you were, is something we will not allow you to begin doing again! Your unique existence is not something that either we Gods, nor the Devils, will tolerate any longer-!"

"Then do something about it," Zeref smiled in response, not even remotely concerned. "Send the Gods of Creation and Destruction after me, send the Archons of Tartarus after me… Oh wait, that's right, you lot can't do that, can you?"

"They may not be able to come here, but, that doesn't mean we can't relocate you for the time being," Eliza replied with narrowed eyes, as she snapped her fingers, opening a portal behind Zeref.

The massive entities that accompanied Eliza moved forward, grabbing the amused Zeref by the arms and dragging him toward the portal.

"Relocation? Very well, I'll play along for now," Zeref smirked, putting up no resistance as he was dragged away.

With a sigh, Eliza turned to face the completely stunned Ur and Ultear.

"I'm sorry, but you cannot keep the knowledge of these events," she said, as she wiped their minds up to the moment they met Zeref. "It won't be a permanent solution, but it's the best we can do for now. The future to come is one that must play out, we cannot risk a branching timeline from this moment."

Ur and Ultear hit the ground unconscious, as Eliza walked toward her conjured portal, lamenting the fact Zeref had finally appeared once again after so long.

"Damnable Hybrid," the War Goddess muttered darkly, marching through her portal without so much as a second glance back at the events on Tenrou.