Chapter 6

A lonely dark night. The moon was hidden behind the smoke and clouds. The town was on fire. Tattered banners fluttered in the cold dusty winds. Burning debris piled on the streets, and the townspeople were nowhere to be seen. It looked as if the end times had come. The week-long battle had robbed the town of its life and spirit.

A woman dashed through the dark alleys, at times turning her head to look at her pursuers. They were dark and crooked beasts, their faces shadowy even when the light fell on them. Their eyes were dark holes seeping blood down their cheeks, and their convoluted and crooked arms looked wasted and thin, but she knew they'd rip her to shreds should they catch her. She clutched her newborn tighter to her chest as she ran.

She entered a small house, dark and dreary. She dashed into a dark corner of it and crouched facing the entrance, hoping to all gods that she had hidden well.

She realised that she hadn't, when the beasts entered the house and looked straight at her. She had a lingering suspicion that they could see well through the darkness. She screamed through her sobs and coiled tighter against the wall. Her end was near. She knew it. But was there a way her newborn daughter could be saved?

The three monsters stood around her in a circle. One was tall, with a thin and broken body, masculine silhouette and his eyes glowing red in the darkness. The second was feminine, as known from the curves and contours of her body. The third was another man. At least she thought that they were. Did these monsters even have genders?

Tears blurred her vision, and she knew that death awaited both her and her child. She looked away and shut her eyes, screaming one last time. She heard one of the monsters move, and before his claw could come down at her and rip her apart, she heard a voice from outside the house.

The monsters got startled and turned around, growling angrily, yet seeming as if they were frightened. She opened her eyes again and looked at the doorway. A masculine silhouette stood against the dark bluish sky. He slowly entered, the wooden floor creaking under his feet.

He raised one of his hands to his chest, and a fire ignited in his palm. The woman could finally get a good look at him. He was a youthful and handsome man, dark long hair flowing in the soft cool winds. Slender and muscular, dressed in a black flowing robe.

Who was he? She didn't know what was going on.

He walked forward, and the demons almost seemed to be afraid of him. They growled and groaned in a heavy hoarse voice.

"I told you. No civilians."

There was silence. One of the monsters, the tall male, then bellowed loud in the air and dashed at the newcomer. Before he could swing his claw at the man, the man snapped his fingers on the other hand and the monster vanished into a pile of dust right before the woman.

The woman could only stare. What was she looking at? She knew some magic tricks too. Every human did a little, but what she was looking at was some kind of dark sorcery. She knew these monsters were a part of Zeref's invading forces. Does that mean… this black haired man… was he…

Zeref looked at the remaining two of the demons. "You'd dare attack me? I have created you, and I can instantly destroy you by undoing the spell that makes you. If I hear or sense another civilian killed… you will be banished immediately. Is that understood?"

The monsters emanated a low growl and stood down.

"Out." Zeref ordered.

The two slowly shuffled outside, and started to howl under the dark sky, before slowly vanishing into a distance.

Zeref stood watching the empty doorway, before turning to face the woman. The woman tried shuffling away from him, but she was already against the wall.

Zeref smiled benignly. "Don't be afraid. I won't harm you. I am Zeref. You must have heard of me. I am sorry about what this all has come to. Harming civilians has never been one of my goals. You're free to go."

"Z-Zeref…" The woman trembled.

Zeref stared at her sadly. The image of him that rumours and stories had created in the minds of the people was greatly exaggerated. He wasn't a merciless monster hellbent on destroying the world and slaughtering the innocents. He was a product of consequences. He had something to prove. A lesson of his that he wanted the world to learn.

"Why are you still here?" He asked. "I had warned Fiorre to clear out its non-combatant forces before the war. This was the reason. These demons came from my book… but I am not their true master. They only listen to me sometimes."

He sighed. "Nevermind that. Leave now. I have ordered them to not hurt you."

The woman still sat frozen in horror. This man was unlike the monsters. He was human looking. But his name alone scared her more than his demons ever could.

She quickly stood up and dashed past him, into the silent night outside.

Zeref stood still and glared into the darkness. This all had… gotten out of hand. This wasn't what he had planned. His entire war… it all only looked glorious in his dreams. Reality was far from it.

He turned around and walked outside.

He trudged down a lonely street, watching the scenes of destruction unfold around him. Houses on fire, shops destroyed and aflame, weapons and clothings scattered on the pavement… bodies…

He walked past all of it. Looking at it all would paint an ugly picture in his mind. He didn't want to revel in the realisation of what he had done. Was this all a big mistake? A blunder? The more wars he won against the world in his mindless campaign, the lesser his enthusiasm about this ordeal got. He had never envisioned this. This… ugly, contorting, painful feeling inside his chest. His heart beating against a blade. His lungs were not filling up properly, as if there was a massive stone obstructing their expansion. Was this what humans called… guilt? How come? Was Zeref even a human in the first place to be able to feel it? He had always thought that through the 700 years of his existence, he had left humanity far behind. So what was this very humane experience catching up with him? Was his humanity still somewhere within him, buried deep under a pile of rotting and unmade debris of sorrow? Was he still sane enough to feel guilty? Empathy? Grief?

He came across a burning horse cart on the road. He halted, only his robes fluttering in the winds. He stared into the brightness and warmth of the hypnotic dancing flames… the crackling of wood… the warm winds from the fire mixed in with the cool winds from the hills. The battle against Fiorre was different from the battle he had waged against the other continents. Well, it was similar in the way that his combined armies of demons and his own military–The Zerefian Guard–had taken the country by a storm, like all the other countries before this. Destroying the Mage Alliance's checkpoints and strongholds like houses made of cards. His armies were far too numerous to be beaten in a straight confrontation… or even from a defensive position. He hadn't really strategized much. All he needed was a brute force approach to plunge his armada into the streets and roads of the town and city, and he would gain victory in a matter of days. There was also the fact that he had a huge reserve of soldiers left back home.

August and Irene had fallen in battle… but they had already served their purpose. His road was clear. But… was it worth it?

He heard beeping from inside his robes. He looked down at his chest and pulled out a lacrima ball from within his robes. He turned that around in his hand to find a red blinking dot on it. Wherever that lacrima pointed the red dot to be, it was close. He looked up and gazed at the road ahead. Another mile, and he would be at his destination.

This was the reason that the battle against Fiorre was different. Because in Fiorre… lived he.

"Natsu…" Zeref muttered. "Wait for me."

Before he could restart walking, he heard shuffling behind him. He turned his head around, and found a horde of his demons trailing right behind him. The demons at the very front of the line got startled when he turned, and took a few steps back. Zeref sighed. This was coming too.

He knew that Tartaros could sense Natsu closeby. They knew from their innate connection with their master that he was closeby. As much as Zeref knew from that Lacrima. But… he couldn't blame them. They needed to see their master too. Just like he wanted to see his brother after so long.

He turned back around and started to walk again, leading the horde of demons behind him. Some more up ahead that were busy destroying buildings and putting fire to the debris, left what they were doing and joined in with the march.

Walking for a while, Zeref came across a tall building on the outskirts of Magnolia. He halted before it, and looked up at its tallest towers. He then looked down at his lacrima ball. He looked back up. This was the place. Natsu was within.

He looked at the banner over the gateway. He recognised the insignia on it.

"Fairy Tail…" he muttered, as old and ancient memories of a time long past gripped him. A chunk of that recollection included Mavis Vermillion.

He grunted as he shook his head and pushed those memories back down. He didn't need to remember Mavis right now. He had a lost brother to find and confront.

He turned around and barked orders to his demons in Zerefian. He ordered them to stay outside and not enter. He knew that they wouldn't like it, but he couldn't enter the building with them and startle the mages that were resting inside after the battle. Zeref had called for a ceasefire after completely annihilating the resistance's fighting ability. He couldn't make it appear that the ceasefire had been broken and the struggle had resumed. What he wanted couldn't be achieved with fighting more. Walking in with a horde of his demons would do exactly that.

Sighing one last time, he turned around and entered the guild building through a collapsed wall. He walked through a number of dark hallways, lit up by the moonlight creeping in through the windows. Natsu was here. He had been in Fairy Tail for years. Finally, Zeref was right at their doorstep.

He turned around a corner and entered the main hall through a doorway. The hall was well lit with torches and lamps. It was massive, and was currently home to the rest of the guild alliance fighters, both from Fairy Tail and the other guilds of Fiorre.

Everyone in the hall had congregated to the opposite side of the hall from where he had entered. He sighed. He had wanted to enter subtly, without alerting everyone, but he had ended up putting everyone on their guards anyway. Maybe he shouldn't have led his demons here.

He stood at the far end, looking at the massive crowd of fighters on the other side. Junior mages, senior mages, and priests of Ankhseram dressed in black robes, pointing their spears at him and muttering prayers.

He raised his hands up.

"I am not here for any more violence. Please, be at ease—"

He quickly moved his hand and deflected a magic attack thrown at him. Steam rose up from his hand. He tried to pinpoint where it had come from, but took care not to take offence.

"Please. I have called for a ceasefire for a reason—"

"Shut up!"

A mage cried. Zeref looked at him. Soon, other joined in.

"You think you can talk your way out of this? After everything you have done? Look at what you've done to Fiorre!"

"You're not leaving Fiorre alive, Zeref!"

"The other countries will soon send us reinforcements. The war is not over yet!"

Zeref felt his own voice lost amongst the many angered and irate voices of his enemies. He dropped his hands down by his sides, and just took in their vocal abuses and outrage thrown at him.

"Silence, everyone." An elderly calm voice said.

Zeref looked at the small old man that walked up from behind some of the fiery angry mages. He looked like he was ready to reason.

Makarov continued. "His armies are standing right outside, numbering in thousands. As much as we don't like it, he is in power here. We have no choice but to humour him."

His voice was followed by silence. Everyone seemed to see reason in his statements.

Makarov looked at Zeref. "But don't think for even a second that we have dropped our guard."

Zeref smiled slightly. "Thank you, Makarov-sama. But I assure you, I have not come here with any intent to continue this battle. I have come across what I wanted. I promise that my armies will leave Fiorre and the other nations alone. Let me just speak to you all."

Makarov stared at him. "Fair enough. What have you come here for then, son?"

Zeref took a deep breath. The moment was here. He looked around the room, but couldn't find who he was looking for. He only found angry and alerted strangers.

"I have come looking for… Natsu Dragneel."

His voice shook with anticipation.

Silence befell the crowds. They all looked at each other, confused, and then turned their heads around looking for Natsu. Why would Zeref want Natsu? They were expecting him to want to talk to someone senior amongst their ranks.

Makarov shut his eyes and turned around. "Natsu."

The mages before Natsu started to disperse as he walked up. They all turned their heads slowly to look at him as he passed by them. Erza quickly ran up behind him and joined his tail. She was just as confused as others. Why did Zeref want to talk to Natsu? And on top of that confusion, she was filled with an unmatched concern. What was happening? Zeref and… Natsu? What did the spriggan prince want with her lover? What was going on? He wouldn't harm Natsu, would he?

Natsu walked up to Makarov. He narrowed his eyes as he stared at Zeref standing a distance from him. He couldn't make out the finer details of his face, but he was finally face to face with this man.

This man… his brother. Was Zeref really Natsu's brother? Was the demon within Natsu correct? Was he truthful? Is that why Zeref wanted to see Natsu?

Makarov turned again to face Zeref. "Here he is."

Zeref took a small step forward, squinting his eyes to look at his brother. His brother that was taken from him ages ago. His brother that was forcibly removed from his vicinity, and was sent away by fate to live a completely different life. Zeref couldn't help but smile gleefully. This pink haired man before him… Natsu had changed since the last time Zeref had seen him. But… This was him. Zeref knew in his heart that this was his brother. He could feel it.

"Natsu… is that you?"

"I am Natsu Dragneel." Natsu replied.

Zeref smiled wider, shock and glee apparent on his face. "So… it is you. It has been ages."

Erza furrowed her brows. What the hell were these two talking about? Why did it sound like Zeref knew Natsu already?

"Natsu… What's going on? Do… Do you know him?" She asked.

Natsu just stared at his brother, confusing and directionless emotions brewing up within him. He had a brother. A family member. He never could have imagined that. He had known for a while that Zeref was his brother—ever since Etherious had told him that, but to see him with his own eyes hit differently. And that brother happened to be a villainous dark mage. The greatest dark mage of all time.

"Why don't you go ahead and answer her question, Natsu? Tell her. Do you know me?" Zeref prompted.

Natsu couldn't reply. He couldn't speak. How the hell would he tell Erza the truth? How could he tell her that Zeref was his brother and that Natsu was Etherious? What face would he need to put on before he told her that? What voice?

He looked at her. In Erza's eyes, he saw concern and confusion. That only deterred him further from telling her the truth. "Erza… after that demon had possessed me, I… I talked with him in my dreams. He told me some things. That demon hadn't possessed me at all. That was my true form. I… I am a shell for that demon. It's… it's still within me. I am that demon."

Erza gawked at him. His words made no sense to her. "What? But... You were raised by Igneel. How could you be a demon created by Zeref? What are you saying?"

Natsu nodded. "Yes, Erza. That's all true. But… How did I come to be with Igneel? Why was a human baby with a dragon in the first place? My life before meeting Igneel had always been a mystery to me. I… I am a demon created by Zeref. That was my past before Igneel found me. I still don't know the details, and I don't know how. My memories of it aren't with me. I don't remember anything. After I fought those demons off that had stolen those guild documents, they released a part of that demon within me. That demon that everyone thought had only possessed me… that was my true self."

Erza's face showed concern for the first time, as the slightest possibility that Natsu could be telling the truth brushed her. She took a step back.

Natsu was a demon? From Tartaros? Why? How? How was that even possible? Natsu wasn't evil. Natsu wasn't monstrous and frightening as the demons of Tartaros were rumoured to be. He wasn't a demon.

Zeref looked back at Natsu. "You still aren't being completely truthful, Natsu. But it's alright. I know this is difficult for you."

Zeref looked at Erza. "The daughter of Irene, right? Looks like Natsu isn't the only one with a convoluted past. Whatever Natsu has said is the truth. Including the fact that he doesn't remember anything before meeting Igneel. But that's not his fault. Those memories are locked deep within him. And they are impossible to relive now. All you can do now is trust me, his creator. Natsu… is a demon from Tartaros. But he isn't just any ordinary demon. He is the first one that I ever created. My strongest creation. Someone that even gods are afraid of… hence my curse. Natsu is… Etherious. My brother."

Erza's lips trembled as she just stared at Zeref. What was she listening to? Was she dreaming right now? Or was she awake? Was this all a joke? Her entire knowledge of Natsu crumbled before her eyes. The man she had loved... The man who she knew since years. That was all changing. She forgot the fact that what Zeref was claiming was wholly impossible. Or maybe, it just sounded like that to her. Natsu was correct. His past before Igneel was a mystery. She slowly looked at Natsu, but found him staring directly at the ground.

"No… that's… that's impossible." She muttered.

Gasps were heard from the crowd of mages standing behind. A million voices spoke together–murmuring, muttering, whispering. Natsu was… Etherious?

"Natsu? What… What is he talking about?" Mirajane asked.

"Natsu. Speak up." Gray ordered.

"Oi, flamebrain. What the hell?" Gajeel growled.

"No… Juvia doesn't believe this…"

Many more talked amongst themselves. Natsu was Etherious. The enemy that they had been afraid to face since so long. The rumoured leader of the demon horde of Tartaros. The infamous beast from the depths of hell that had the entire world terrified of even his name. The one who had killed millions of innocent men, women and children in his dark campaigns for Zeref. The third and the strongest member of Zeref's personal guard, beside August and Irene. The master of demons. The ruler of hell. The one that defeated even Acnologia. Natsu was… Etherious? Etherious was beside them this entire time? All those long hours put into researching more about this cryptic monster, researching his identity, his life, his powers and his weaknesses… It was Natsu the entire time?

Erza shook her head. "No. You're lying. You're trying to turn us against each other. This is a trick! Isn't it!?"

Zeref replied calmly. "I know it's tough to believe. I am sorry for that. But I have no reason to trick any of you. I would have had a reason to lie had I not won the war and would need to retire to tricks to gain an edge. But that isn't the case."

"Erza…" Natsu muttered. "He is… he is telling the truth."

Erza turned to face Natsu. Shock and horror were written on her face wide and clear. Along with abject and stark disbelief. That possession of Natsu… it was his real self?

"You… knew about this ever since you first talked to the demon within you. But… you didn't tell me?"

Natsu sighed uneasily. He knew this question was coming. "I… wasn't sure. I couldn't believe the words of a demon. But… now, after Zeref tells me the same thing… I somehow believe it."

Zeref intervened. "Natsu is not to be blamed for his actions as Etherious. I can vouch and say that he isn't responsible for them. Igneel… gave him a new life. New memories. New teachings. After Igneel took Natsu in, he was no longer Etherious. He was only a host for Etherious. I have to be honest, when I created my demons, I had never expected that such a thing was possible. But that's beside the point. I am here. To tell you all and Natsu how this all… how all of this, came to be."