Hi guys Azza here!

ChaosofTime – Basically the 400 years to 800 years thing came about because I decided that Age 0 would be the day Dragnof fell when Achnologia attacked with his Four Harbingers. As I mentioned in the Character Info and Q&A Natsu's chronological age in the story right now is 834 years old with Age 0 being 829 years prior to current events that puts Natsu at the tender age of 5 years old in line for when he was killed by Achnologia alongside his parents.

I thought I did a decent job explaining it but time is an annoying thing to try and keep in line so I don't blame you for the confusion I'm almost always having to go through my notes because it's so easy to forget haha.

Also I had planned Irene to be involved anyway since I wanted there to be a confrontation between her and Erza in this arc where Erza found out Irene was in fact her mother it just seemed like a good time to do it.

Etherious X – It isn't so much that Natsu can remove it rather he can ask Xicor to do it for him, the mating mark is a thing ingrained into Dragons and Dragon Slayers he doesn't have the right to remove it I suppose you could say.

Also I fixed that thing thanks for the heads up!

Alright on with the story!

I do not own Fairy Tail Hiro Mashima does.

The Shattered Child

/Panacea Village – Age 0/

Natsu was stunned beyond belief; his home was right before his eyes as it was just over 800 years ago. The home he never knew about yet always secretly desired to, the home with his real parents that he thought he never knew.

Suddenly he felt a pang of guilt since he withheld the same type of thing from Erza though he quickly suppressed it since he was with Zeref after all.

"Is this place the real thing or …?"

"No this comes from my own memories see look over there."

Natsu turned to where Zeref was pointing and saw a young Zeref no more than eight years old standing next to a man with long shaggy pink hair.

"That is our father Natsu, a kind man who worked as a farmer after retiring from the Dragnof Royal Army. Father seems to be where you got your looks from."

Natsu's eyes were glued to the two as they seemed to be bringing in a cart full of fruit and vegetables into the village with his father waving to everyone who he passed along the way.

"Come on son you could at least try to be a little more social you know," his father said ruffling the younger Zeref's hair as he tried to escape.

"You know I don't like that sort of stuff Dad!"

"Oh I see you're a big man now huh too big to talk to everyone else, such a shame I'm sure little Rosie down by the Celts house will be devastated at the news-."

"Shut up Dad your being all embarrassing!"

Natsu's father just laughed ruffling Zeref's hair some more as the environment began to shift some more and they were outside a house with it now being night time, walking over to the window Natsu saw his father and Zeref sitting at a table but his eyes were quickly drawn to the woman.

"That's mother Natsu," Zeref said softly. "Father told me once that he met mother at the palace as she was one of the Queen's servants and they hit it off quite quick. Supposedly after a year of courting they moved here into the country to settle down after father decided to retire and before long I was born."

Natsu felt a tear roll down his cheek, his actual mother was before him laughing and having a good time along with the rest of his family it brought feelings to him that he had never quite felt before.

"What do you feel Natsu?"

"I feel pain but I don't know what it is, my heart aches and my mind says it's unfair. I want to be with them but I can't and knowing that really … it really hurts."

"I have felt this every day since they died Natsu, mother and father were good people and loved us both very much and they proved that when they tried to save us."

The scene shifted once again to another day where young Natsu and Zeref were sitting outside with their mother who was hanging some clothes out to dry.

"Why can't Zeref and I go to the lake," young Natsu whined as his mother smiled which cut adult Natsu more than he thought it would.

"Because you don't know how to swim young man and your brother can't be expected to be responsible for you, when your father comes home we'll talk about teaching you how to swim though how does that sound?"

"Yeah I want to swim just like big bro Zeref!"

"So lame Natsu," Zeref scoffed as he flicked Natsu on the forehead.

"Hey I am not!"

"Are too."

"Am not!"

"Prove it," Zeref said smugly.

"Uh well uh I can do this," Natsu said with a grin as he held his hands together and a small flame appeared in his hand.

"Hah that's kiddie stuff watch this," Zeref said as he held out his arm and a black cloud began to envelop it.

"Whoa what's that!"

"Dad said it's called Darkness Magic apparently our Grandpa could use it."

"Wow that's so cool can you do any tricks with it?"

"Magic isn't something you should fool around with young man," his mother said as she flicked Natsu on the forehead.

"But Mooom what do we do with it then?"

"Well there's only one thing you can do with magic of course," she said cheerfully as her smile seemed to radiate happiness though it seemed to hurt the adult Natsu and surprisingly adult Zeref.

"Really and what's that," kid Natsu asked as kid Zeref nodded in support of the question.

"You should use your magic for the betterment of human kind of course after all if you have a gift that could help people then it's your job to make sure that they receive that help because one day you might find yourself needing help and it will be then that your choices in life will come back to judge you."

"Did you use your magic for good Mom?"

"Of course I did sweetie."

"What type of magic do you have?"

"Oh my magic isn't anything special," she replied as Zeref shook his head.

"Come on Mom we won't tell anybody."

"Oh alright then but remember you both promised not to tell not even the Queen knows I can do this after all it requires a really strong mage to use this magic."

Holding out her hand a Diamond Key appeared in her hand as Natsu and Zeref looked on curiously.

"What's that Mom?"

"This is called a Celestial Spirit Gate Key but mine is special compared to all the others, you remember Aunt Anna?"

"Yeah Aunt Anna with the blonde hair," Zeref asked with a raised eyebrow as his mother nodded.

"She has twelve Golden Celestial Spirit Keys known as the Zodiac Spirit Keys which can be used to summon the aid of a Celestial Spirit of the Zodiac from the stars!"

"Wow," kid Natsu said with his own eyes sparkling in awe.

"So what does that key summon?"

"Well this key is used to summon the only being higher than them known as the Celestial Spirit King the leader of the Zodiacs and all other Celestial Spirits in a realm known as the Celestial Spirit World!"

"And you managed to keep that a secret the whole time, why?"

Even at a young age Zeref was far too smart for his own good as his mother sighed patting him on the head.

"Magic is a funny thing kids, the strong are free from control yet they are also the most susceptible to it. If anyone ever found out I had this wars would be fought just to acquire it since it summons a being of immense power and that is why he chose me to be the guardian of his key."

"Because you won't abuse it I take it," young Zeref concluded as his mother nodded.

"We all have to use our magic for good not evil or else humanity is doomed to fail always remember that you two."

"And I did always remember mothers words Natsu every single day, use my magic for the betterment of mankind to make sure humanity can survive what Achnologia will bring."

"Do you have the memory of that day, the day Achnologia attacked?"

"Are you sure you want to see it Natsu it isn't pleasant after all both our parents and you died that day?"

"I think I really should I don't think it'd be right if I never knew," he said softly as Zeref nodded slowly and the scene changed once again and the duo were standing near their house.

"It was a peaceful day just like any other in Panacea village and life was good as it had always been, you and I were inside the house while Mother and Father were outside. At first no one took note of what was coming and dismissed it since nothing ever happened around here until suddenly …"

The peace was suddenly shattered as a powerful breath attack plowed through a nearby mountain with Achnologia at the end of it roaring, Natsu was stunned seeing Achnologia being pushed back by something when he suddenly realized what this was.

"Indeed this is the very same attack Belserion used to push Achnologia away from the capital right before he died, the capital is about half of Ishgar away yet he managed to push Achnologia that far. Of course I don't blame Belserion for what is about to come next but it hurts knowing that had this happened before Achnologia hit the mountain our village would have been spared and neither of us would be here today."

The attack was pushing the Apocalypse Dragon back as he dug his claws into the ground trying to slow himself down, opening his mouth he began to eat the attack only for it to suddenly blow up in his face setting off a massive earthquake destroying almost all the houses in the village and setting fire to the rest.

"So I died in there because of that right?"

"No actually you didn't you survived the initial part what followed is what killed you," Zeref replied as Zeref barrel rolled out the window with Natsu under his arm as the roof collapsed as their mother and father ran towards them.

"Natsu, Zeref are you two unharmed," their father asked frantically as the two nodded.

"You two need to start running as far away from that thing as possible," their mother added hurriedly as Natsu tried to argue only for their father to knock him out.

"Sorry son but you know how your brother is but I know I can count on you to keep him safe right?"

"O-of course father!"

"Good that's my son now go!"

Zeref nodded quickly and began running towards the nearby hills as his parents turned to face the Dragon.

"You know this is where we'll probably meet our ends right?"

"To save our children I wouldn't have it any other way and you know it dear, as long as they live a full life for us I couldn't care less."

"Spoken like a true Dragneel … Reiju."

"I love you Ardyn," she said softly as he took her hand in his.

"Summon the King Reiju our magic combined should be enough to bring him here."

"I know I hope he can defeat this monster," Reiju replied as she summoned the Diamond Key into her hands and began to channel their magic into it.

"Open: Gate Of The Constellations – Come Forth Celestial Spirit King!"

A massive tear in the sky opened as a massive being began to emerge, he was dressed like a knight wielding a massive long sword easily the size of a mountain and had a signature moustache.

The King descended hovering just in front of Reiju and Ardyn with a grim expression.

"It pains me to see you both in such a state the price of calling forth my power is high, however there is no greater honour than to fight for a desire as pure and noble as yours Reiju."

"Please stop that beast O great King it has the power to topple the very mountains itself I only desire peace for my children!"

"And peace they shall have, smile knowing that you have saved their lives through your noble sacrifice. My faith in you was never misplaced Reiju Dragneel I daresay I won't find another holder for my key for generations to come."

The King turned to face the Dragon that emerged from the smoke unscathed and looking intrigued at the being that had emerged from thin air.

"I know exactly what you are and I am grateful for the opportunity to try my hand at avenging the innocents you have slain, you are a beast who has lost all reason and humanity I doubt you have anything to say in your defence anyway am I right Achnologia!"

The Dragon looked at the King for several moments before a horrifying smile broke out on its face that made Reiju and Ardyn shudder.

"I sense great power coming from you so I deem you worthy to be my opponent, you want me to say something in my defence well I shall. I killed all the Dragons in Draconia and I'll kill all the ones here and anywhere else in the word and why will I do this, BECAUSE ITS FUN TO TEST MYSELF AGAINST THEM WATCHING AS THEY BREAK AGAINST THESE IMPENETRABLE SCALES!"

"You truly are an irredeemable monster," the King growled as the toothy grin only extended which began to disgust even the King at just how much pleasure Achnologia was getting from all this.

"I slaughtered the males because naturally they came first, as I was gutting the last one the females arrived enraged at what I had done so naturally I slaughtered them too! And once I was done with them I tracked their scents back to their nests and found the elderly Dragons and had my fun torturing them by ripping the limbs off their very Grandchildren but ensuring they were alive to watch for THAT is their just reward!"

Achnologia turned to face the King now as he let loose a strange roar/laugh combo that shook the very ground.

"Once I'd brutalized the young hatchlings and the elderly I made sure to kill the young still inside the eggs in such a way that they would actually feel the pain before even being born, imagine not even being born into existence and feeling such agony how would one even describe such an experience!"

Reiju and Ardyn wanted to be sick as the King shook with rage at the filth before him, to enjoy such actions is a crime against existence itself.

"I don't plan to stop there though once the Dragons are gone I shall move onto the humans, I shall practice maiming them in just the right way to inflict maximum pain without killing them starting with the adult males moving to the adult females then the children! And the best part is there are billions of them to practice my craft for when I go after the ones who deserve it the most, higher beings like you who hide away in your realms don't deserve to live as you please and I shall be sure to perfect my art by the time I come for you all and claim your power as my own!"

"Enough of your mad ravings monster I shall slay you here and now!"

"You will fall like all the rest!"

The King charged forward as Achnologia roared and charged forward as sword met claw cracking the ground for miles, the King punched Achnologia in the head as the Dragon took a swipe at the King's side only for him to swiftly dodge tearing up land as he did so.

"Constellar Art: Meteor Blade!"

Gripping his sword with both hands at the hilt the King swung the blade in a vertical arc generating a massive attack that was easily several kilometres in length, it reached Achnologia in seconds as the Dragon was forced to block the attack being pushed back rapidly by it.

"Apocalypse Dragon Monarch's Chaos Fang!"

Achnologia's mouth became surrounded in flames that were black, blue and green in colouration and bit the attack snapping it in half as it flew off wildly to either side of him tearing open the mountains behind him.

"Yes you are a worthy opponent indeed I shall relish the taste of your blood once I get your neck in my jaws!"

Charging forward Achnologia began to strike at the King with a speed no Dragon should be able to sustain with his claws barely visible, the King wasn't weak however and was blocking the attacks with well timed blocks however this is what Achnologia wanted.

"Apocalypse Dragon Monarch's Ultima Buster!"

The King was caught off guard as Achnologia had done a full front flip with the end of his tail now emitting a chaotic aura, immediately backing away the Dragon brought it down as a massive dome of darkness erupted with the King and Achnologia being caught within it.

Suddenly massive explosions began to go off inside the darkness as the King was battered around the area from each one, each explosion was easily as powerful as a one of his Meteor Blades so he was sustaining serious damage.

After a full minute the dome vanished and the King was down on one knee blocking a claw strike from Achnologia who gnashed his teeth at him.

"I won't allow the sacrifices of my good friends to be in vain," the King growled as he began to push back Achnologia much to the Dragons surprise.

"Resistance is meaningless you shall die like all the rest!"

"I beg to differ monster, Constellar Art: Ars Solum!"

The King's sword suddenly burst into flames, normally to Achnologia such a thing wouldn't matter but these flames actually burned him as he launched himself back roaring at the pain inflicted.

"WHAT TYPE OF MAGIC DO YOU POSSESS TO HARM ME!"

"You do indeed possess one of the most formidable defences I've ever seen I'll give you that however you are but a tiny speck to that of the greater universe, within my sword I channel the heat and energies of a sun something you clearly cannot handle!"

Achnologia just roared as the King charged him and began to dodge the powerful sword strikes that kept setting things on fire for miles with each consecutive swing, after a few minutes Achnologia formed a plan and began to channel power into his jaws.

Being knocked down by a powerful kick Achnologia looked up to see the King bringing the sword down in a sweeping motion as if to behead him as he decided to strike.

"Apocalypse Dragon's Chaos Fang!"

Catching the sword in his jaws the King was shocked to find the flames from the sun were doing nothing to him but what came next shocked him even more, Achnologia continued to bite down on the blade as cracks began to form in it until it finally shattered as massive shards of metal rained down on the fields below.

"Impossible you shattered my sword!"

"Chaos encompasses all things not even higher beings are immune, now that you are unarmed it's time to die!"

Moving in to try and bite the King on the neck he was knocked back by a blow to the head from the broken sword which still seemed to be emitting that same strange power.

"Although the sword may be broken it is far from unusable it is not like other swords monster, this sword embodies space itself you could never destroy it!"

"Are you really foolish enough to believe that when I already managed to break it, it will only be a matter of time before I destroy it completely and then you'll be finished!"

"I don't think so monster because this ends now, with this strike you will certainly perish! Constellar Art: Galaxia Blade!"

Achnologia initially found this action amusing until he saw the sword which was now being held up to the sky become reformed by a strange blue ethereal light, pointing the sword at Achnologia he charged towards the Dragon and stopped just before him as he made a horizontal slash which seemed to tear open the space in front of him.

Suddenly Achnologia felt pain, pain that was worse than the pain he'd endured from the Dragons. Pain that felt like the atoms within his own body were being ripped apart so he did the one thing that always saved him from death, he began eating.

The King stood on the other side panting slightly as he knelt down to catch his breath, no one had ever survived the Galaxia Blade and usually the Gods flamed him for using it though this time he knew there wouldn't be such a thing.

As he began to catch his breath he was suddenly pushed to the ground with a claw lodged into the side of his face, looking up at Achnologia whose skin and scales had been completely ripped off the Dragon was oozing blood out of every possible opening.

Panting heavily the Apocalypse Dragon lodged more of his claw into the King's face before putting his exposed, blood covered one to his own.

"You almost killed me …"

The King wisely said nothing as the Dragon paused to gather the strength to speak.

"A good attack but it won't be enough to kill me."

The King was shocked to hear such a statement from a being that was clearly dying and it wasn't until he realized something on the Dragon that he truly understood just how dangerous the Dragon truly was.

The skin on the Dragon had begun to reform with the scales beginning to regrow after the skin in that area was fully healed, it was a slow process but Achnologia made the King watch every second of it until his whole body was back to how it was before with only a single scar along his belly remaining.

"You almost got rid of me you know, all that remained of me was my stomach hence the scar since my healing factor had to work overtime just to bring me back. I hope you enjoyed that little victory because this is the end I ate a lot of that attack and need to expel the energy!

Opening his mouth a bright blue light began to glow inside it as the King braced himself.

"I'm sorry Reiju, Ardyn I am a terrible friend …"

"Apocalypse Dragon Monarch's Roar!"

Putting his maw right in the King's face he let loose the attack which quickly enveloped the entire mountain range and quickly spread to cover several hundred miles in all directions.

Natsu who had watched the entire fight was visibly shaking at the power Achnologia displayed, how did Zeref expect him to fight that!

"Come its time you saw the last part," Zeref said the two moved within the same frame at frightening speed to where kid Natsu and kid Zeref were.

As the explosion reached them the two managed to take shelter just outside the blast radius inside a small cave, unfortunately they were in a cave in the middle of a massive shockwave.

Zeref was knocked around in the cave unable to see as things shook so violently he had no idea what way was up, after several minutes the shockwaves died down and Zeref could finally see straight again and sighed in relief.

His mind suddenly in a panic when he realized he wasn't holding onto Natsu he began frantically searching the cave, after several minutes of searching he realized he wasn't in the cave so he went outside and his heart sank.

In front of the cave where there had once been flat earth there was now a large ravine and at the bottom was Natsu, rushing down there as fast as he could ignoring his own safety he managed to get within ten feet before dropping to his knees with a pained cry.

Natsu's body was face down however his head was facing upward indicating that he had broken his neck at some point, his face had also been smashed in and was nearly unrecognizable if it wasn't for his pink hair.

Zeref crawled over to his brothers' body and clutched it tightly crying out in agony, his parents trusted him to take care of him and he couldn't even do that. The only family he really had left was now dead and it was his fault, he cried and cried for hours until he couldn't cry anymore and his voice was hoarse.

Slowly he stood up and leant back against the rock behind him not taking his eyes off his brothers corpse, his eyes were now lifeless and he probably would have killed himself too if it wasn't for what came next.

"I was going to kill myself to join you but I was stopped," Zeref said as a strange white wisp materialized in front of him.

"Why do you cry child?"

"Why do you think," Zeref said as the wisp hummed.

"You know death isn't forever there are alternatives?"

"What are you talking about?"

"Your brother might be dead right now but he doesn't need to be, there are ways in which he can be saved however you need power far beyond what you have now."

"Tell me how do I get this power!"

"I can give it to you for a price, my former body was destroyed and I am left as nothing more than a wandering spirit. Grant me asylum within your body and together we shall work to revive your dead brother and kill that disgusting abomination."

"What was that thing anyway?"

"It was what many folk call a Dragon however that one is a special case, Dragons aren't usually like that but this one was once human and has been twisted by all sorts of things to become what he is."

"And you have a way to kill it because not even that moustache guy could do it?"

"Indeed I have a way and your brother is key to doing it but like I said I wish for asylum within your body before I can do anything."

"I'll do whatever you want just help me bring my brother back!"

"You have my word child together we shall do great things, terrible but still very very great things …"

The wisp entered Zeref's chest as his eyes lit up Galaxy Blue and Crimson Red and a black aura began to surround him that flooded the canyon.

"Remember the name boy, Ahnkseram!"

Zeref felt the presence disappear from his mind and in its place was knowledge and abilities he had no comprehension of, waving a hand Natsu's body was preserved and with another wave the damage was repaired though he was still dead.

"I know what needs to be done, I shall never forget this Ahnkseram after the life you lead you granted me your power and I will carry out your will in honour of your sacrifice!"

The eight year old's clothes burned away and were replaced with a smaller version of Zeref's usual attire that he wears today as he looked down and picked up Natsu's body, opening a portal he disappeared along with Natsu's corpse and the world began to shift once more.

/Vistarion Current Age/

Natsu and Zeref had never moved from the spots they were in as Natsu dropped to one knee and Zeref rubbed his forehead deactivating his eyes.

"So now you know your origins Natsu, you know the origins of my powers and you know the power your enemy had long ago that has no doubt grown since then, what is your next move?"

"I-I don't know it's a lot to process," Natsu said still shocked at what he'd just seen.

"I know it's hard to believe but that is how things really happened; fate wasn't kind to either of us and still isn't being kind to this day. How you proceed is up to you Natsu but remember the time is drawing near when you will have to face Achnologia ready or not."

"I know I just hope I can regain all my abilities before then …"

"You have become a Hybrid like me which is a monumental leap in power that puts you one step closer to fighting him but you lack experience using it and you will continue to until you are able to use God's Aura."

"I've found that I unlock more of my magic when Life and Death start flicking marbles at my head do you have any idea why they do that?"

"You do know those marbles are planets right," Zeref asked as Natsu's jaw dropped. "You might not believe me but they told me themselves that it's a game they play with each other to pass the time."

"Can you give me enough time to handle one thing before throwing another onto me so suddenly, why are you telling me any of this anyway we're supposed to be enemies?"

"That may be true but we are brothers and that won't ever change Natsu, even if you fight and kill me I won't be mad because I probably deserve it as long as the world can be at peace I don't care."

"Then why bother with the Alvarez thing if you want to die?"

"Because united the world stands a much better chance than divided as it is now, as you know the other nations are full of corruption, greed and anarchy unable to be civilized about everything and that needs to change if they want any hope of surviving into the future."

"You've given me a lot to think about, no way in hell am I joining you but … you've given me a perspective I never fully considered."

"And that perspective being?"

"Your own, everyone including myself simply touted that the Alvarez Empire were war mongering bloodthirsty control freaks determined to have the world under their thumb yet you've not only been nice to me but even to gramps. Instead of executing him since he knew too much you chose to send him to a prison where he could do basically whatever he wanted."

"Well I'm glad I was able to enlighten you a little Natsu."

"I don't think we'll meet again until the invasion so … so long."

"Before you go here," Zeref said as his Hybrid's Aura activated again and Natsu felt a change within his Devil's Aura. "Don't know why they kept your full potential for Devil's Aura locked but you should be able to make portals and other stuff again."

"Thanks," Natsu said with a small smile as he opened a portal walking through it leaving Zeref alone.

"Continue to grow stronger Natsu I await your challenge …"

I'd like to think that was a really good chapter, I know someone will ask about what happened to their parents well let me ask you this do you honestly believe that when two beings that are throwing kilometre wide attacks that cause earthquakes casually and set fire to hectares worth of land fight that two humans will survive all that? To answer that question they were incinerated.

So all that morbid stuff aside I hope you all enjoyed and I'll see you in the next one!