In this story, Anna's plan to trap Acnologia was successful. Acnologia was trapped in the space between time forever and Natsu and Zeref's duel reached the same conclusion. When Lucy finished rewriting the Book Of E.N.D. part of Zeref's power mixed in with the new scriptures Lucy was adding. This ended up making Natsu's body dissapear and reconstitute itself into something new, taking on a few physical traits of Zeref and now being completely human with both the dragon seed and demon seeds destroyed. Natsu now has black hair and a slightly slimmer body and now produces black flames that aren't meant for chaos and destruction, but can burn away another persons magic completely combiining Natsu's flame magic and Zeref's death magic. Natsu regains consciousness three years after Acnologia and Zeref's defeat and must decided if he should try and get back his old life or if Natsu Dragneel is dead and someone new has been born. How will he interact with his friends who think he has been dead for three years? Will his friends know its him? Should he keep his past a secret and start over? How will he view a future relationship with Lucy? Guess we will have to see won't we?

Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or its characters.

Chapter 1:

A New Face of Despair

The forest was calm in the early morning, but a strange feeling crept over Jellal as he explored the dense woods northwest of Clover Town. He was following whispers about strange black flames cascading the trees, almost like an aura following the wind. Nothing burned from its touch, it simply levitated in the air as if waiting for the right time to strike. He had been searching for days for a sign of the phenomenon, the mere mention of the color black worrying him to his core.

It had been three years since the defeat of the Black Wizard and the Dragon King, and he would be doing the Kingdom of Fiore a disservice if he did not investigate even the slightest hint of Zeref's return. This was the sixth day of his investigation, and he was sure the elderly couple letting him stay in their isolated cabin nearby were looking forward to resuming their quiet lives in peace. Jellal decided this would be the last day he would search these woods as his fiancé was paitently waiting for him back in Magnolia. Erza had offered to go with him in case there was danger, but Jellal simply said there was no need to venture on what might be a "wild goose chase." In reality, Jellal wanted Erza no where near danger, simply looking at this as his responsibility and part of earning his pardon from the Fiore royal family. He was used to being like this, alone and efficient. His struggle accepting Erza into every aspect of his life had been difficult, but his love for her is worth more than him sacrificing his introverted life-style.

An hour had passed and the sun rose shining through the thousands of leaves above him. Oddly enough though, the early morning sun seemed to be slightly dimming above his eyes. He looked closely, and noticed what almost looked like a thin smog lingering in the air. A black trail seemed to be leading him to his left and he followed. The trail seemed to slice the sun rays in two as it grew thicker and more vibrant. Jellal began to see a purple hue dance along the thin darkness and realized it seemed to be a lingering flame. The flame seemed to come to life more and more as he followed the trail, until he could see a strong current of black fire winding through the trees. The leaves reflected its light, but nothing seemed to recognize it was surrounded by fire.

There was no burning, no heat, no signs of danger. It was like the black fire simply wanted to be seen but not intrude. Jellal was mesmorized by what he was seeing and continued down the path to find the source of the fire. It led him to a clearing where he saw multpile trails converge on what looked like a young man lying in the grass. The man was bare with black hair that spiked from his crown and bangs that covered his forehead. He seemed to be asleep and as Jellal approached, his suspicions grew. This man slightly ressembled Zeref but looked much older than the immortal dark wizard Jellal remembered so vividly. Could this be an aged Zeref? Back from the other world where Mavis took him?

Suddenly, the trails of flames converged and swirled into a sharp black ring that spun in the sky centered around the man in the grass. It lowered itself and tightned around its center until it landed on the man's chest and seemed to seep into his skin. The young man's eyes shot open and he gasped for breath, as if he had just emereged from being underwater. Black onyx eyes darted around him as he resgistered his surroundings. They landed on Jellal. The eyes widened in what looked like recognition and what came out of his mouth froze Jellal to his core.

"J-Jellal?"

Jellal stilled, staring at this black haired man and couldn't speak. His shock too apparent as he gulped and tried to ask the question he was dreading, but eventually succeeded.

"Is that really you... Zeref?"

ZEREF. That name brought nothing but pain to the young man. ZEREF. Why would Jellal think he was ZEREF?! The older brother he never wanted, the one who almost took his family from him! His family...

The young man stood up looking dumbfounded at Jellal.

"What did you call me? You know who I am! It's me Na-"

He stopped short of what he was about to say. The syllable rolling of his tongue like an instinct, but one he couldn't recognize. What was his name? He knew who he was, a great mage part of the greatest guild in Fiore! The guild... the guild... What was going on? Why can't he remember these names? They were everything to him! They were his the whole existence.

He turned to Jellal.

"Where am I? What am I doing here? Where's the guild, where is everyone?! Did we win the war, is everyone alright?!"

Jellal could only stare as he processed what was coming out of the young man's mouth.

"You're... you're in a guild?" Jellal asked, trying to control the twisting feeling in his gut.

"Why don't you recognize me?! Why?!" The young man ran towards a small pond nearby to see his own reflection, to see what he was missing. When he saw the face that looked back at him, he was just as confused as Jellal. His pink locks were jet black, his scars were no where to be found, his canines not protuding out of his lip, the only thjng remaining from what he remembered of himself were his onyx eyes. He was in shock, and then he noticed the worst of all. The guild mark of the guild he couldn't name, the source of his pride and the symbol of his family, was gone. His right shoulder completely bare, just like the rest of him. It was here that tears began to leak from his eyes, and an anguished cry roarded from him. The black flames returned from his body engulfing him.

Jellal watched in confusion and awe, as the young man fell to his knees as the flames wrapped around him and cloaked his figure. After only seconds they dissapeared again and the young man turned to Jellal. The look on his face could only be described as pure defeat, and his quivering lips struggled to form his request.

"Jellal, please. Take me back to Magnolia, I know my guild is there! I need to see them! I need to see her!"

Jellal approached cautiously and attempted to put a hand on the young man's shoulder. No reaction occurred except for a sobbing figure leaning into his arm. Jellal could only ask a simple question:

"Who are you looking for?"

The young man thanked whatever god was out there that this name hadn't abondoned him. The partner he cherished more than anything, the one who stuck by him through thick and thin. The one he would do anything to protect. The one he loved with all his heart.

"Lucy."