Ultear's explanation at the end was taken directly from the manga and therefore belongs to Mashima Hiro. And so does some of Jellal's last lines.
Makarov lightly leapt atop the bar Fairy Tail's poster girl in Sorcerer Magazine Mirajane was tending too. The gentle woman dressed in maroon glanced up from the glass she was hand drying.
"Good morning, Master," she greeted him brightly. "You're in a cheery mood this morning. Good news to share?"
"The best, Mira. The best. Alright, Fairy Tail! Listen up."
Makarov's voice easily cut through the chatter and din that was commonplace in his guild. He cleared his throat as the wizards that he considered to be part of his family all gave him their attention.
"Something happened this morning that I need to inform you of." He then paused dramatically. After a minute of silence, his shoulders drooped. "What, no guesses?"
"Get on with it, old man."
Makarov pouted, muttering under his breath about how un-cute his grandson had grown to be. Several half-hearted suggestions were offered up, all dealing with Sabertooth or the Magic Council in some form or wild speculation about Romeo's latest job and what he might have destroyed.
The young fire wielder admired Natsu too much for Makarov's own good. He had thought he'd get a break from the extensive paperwork that cluttered his deck because the Dragon Slayer couldn't complete a job without demolishing a building or twelve. Romeo had stepped right into his shoes, from lack of self-control to destructive capabilities to even dressing similarly to the pink haired man.
"Anyway, as I was saying, Natsu returned this morning."
A black haired man without a shirt stood from his seat and slammed his hands on the table. A cross necklace swung wildly from his neck and a plume of icy cloud rose from around his hands.
"Are you for real?" Gray shouted. "It took him long enough. Where is that flame eating bastard?"
Next to him, a busty blonde clapped her hands together and brought them close to her chest. Lucy's brown eyes sparkled. "We should tell Happy! Where is that annoying cat anyway?" She quickly scanned the mess hall, but there was no sight of the flying blue cat. Although she did catch Levy excitedly throwing her arms around Gajeel. Lucy thought it was too cute how those two like it each but pretended not to because they each wanted the other to make the first move.
Makarov allowed his children a moment to celebrate Natsu's return. Then his countenance became grave. Sensing his change in mood, the guild quieted.
"While the return of one of our own after so many years is a joyous occasion, Natsu's return also means that the war is finally here." The entire guild froze, stiffening as if someone has cast a spell to lock them in place. The cheers of joy were quickly replaced with somber, determined faces.
"Yesterday, Zeref appeared before Natsu, proclaiming that the time had come."
The Third Master's black eyes swept over his mages as they digested his announcement, which was essentially Zeref's declaration of war. Whatever the Black Wizard's plans were, he was prepared to enact them, going as far as to beg, to challenge Natsu to kill him.
"Do not look so discouraged," Makarov cried out. "We have prepared for this moment. Now," he continued strongly, "Zeref said that Natsu must prove himself strong enough. Therefore, I have entered Fairy Tail as a participant for this year's Grand Magic Games."
"Finally!" Gray shouted. The Ice Make user had been looking forward to beating certain members of Sabertooth publically. It couldn't get more public or official than the Games before an audience of thousands. "We'll show everyone who the top guild in Fiore is!"
Cana lurched to her feet with a hiccup. "We're number one! We are Fairy Tail!"
The resulting cheers and screams were deafening. Makarov's eyes gleamed with pride as Lucy thrust a hand into the air, curling all fingers but her thumb and forefinger. The rest of the guild was quick to follow up, and his heart swelled looking at them all, banding together, ready to fight the most feared wizard in the world.
He had never been prouder to be the master for this guild.
"Zeref won't know what hit him."
"I agree," Makarov concurred with the First Master, who hovered beside him, gazing fondly upon the current generation of Fairy Tail wizards. "I only hope this will be enough to draw him out."
"It will be. Do not worry Third Master. Zeref has sought out Natsu Dragneel once. He will continue to do so until he has achieved his goals," Mavis said levelly.
"That's what worries me."
The great thing about Fairy Tail, Natsu mused, was that one could be gone for years at a time, and aside from new faces, the guild would remain unchanged.
He fit seamlessly with Team Natsu, who had kept the name he had given them. His old team of himself, Erza, Lucy, Happy, and Gray had grown to include Wendy and her Exceed Carla (who Happy was head over tails in love with) and Gajeel. He had been very impressed to hear that Wendy had a major part in the defeat of Hades. Just looking at her, Natsu would have never pegged her for a fighter. He had actually done a double take when he saw her, because she had grown to look just like her Edolas counterpart, only she still wore cute dresses and her hair hung in two long ponytails in the side of her head.
Lucy had hugged him tearfully, voice trembling when she welcomed him back. Gray had molded an ice hammer which Natsu had ducked under.
"You'd have been better off with the bazooka," the pinkette had said, clasping Gray's right hand with his own and pulling Gray forward, slapping him on the back with his other hand.
He sat down with them, letting their voices wash over him as he dug into a plate of food Mira had provided. Natsu had enjoyed seven the last seven years with his father, don't get him wrong, but he had missed being home. After the novelty of Igneel's return had worn off, Natsu had wanted nothing more than to return to the guild.
With a bit of effort, Natsu pushed aside the dark thoughts of his eventual confrontation with the none too sane Black Wizard Zeref, and he enjoyed being surrounded by the pandemonium that was Fairy Tail. The issue of Zeref would still be there in the morning, so he chose to eat, drink and celebrate, and to sneak away to his cabin for some alone time with his mate, and slept with her tightly held in his arms.
It was the best night's sleep he had gotten in seven years.
Natsu had arrived at the guild hall just after the sun rose. He had complained about being up so early, but Erza had insisted, since Crime Sorcière was supposed to be stopping by.
And despite knowing what to expecting, knowing that Jellal would be counted amongst their number, Natsu reflexively tightened his grip on Erza, tugging the scarlet haired wizard flush against his body to stake his claim.
Now truly half-human and half-dragon, he felt very territorial where Erza was concerned. At least regarding other men in her life. The other wizards of Fairy Tail didn't count. Natsu knew them; trusted them. But Jellal Fernandes was a serious threat because of their shared history.
Erza gave him one of her stern looks for the possessive reaction, but she didn't pull away. Natsu knew he didn't have anything to worry about. He wasn't going to let the blue haired man come between him and his mate a second time and Erza had chosen him.
But that didn't mean he was going to let Jellal cozy up to her.
A pale skinned woman with dark purple hair and brown eyes stepped forward, introducing herself as Ultear. Her outfit consisted of little more than a tabard-like garment which accentuated her rather voluptuous figure and a deep blue cloak.
Natsu's gaze didn't linger on Ultear's figure, but Makarov's most certainly did. "Ultear, lovely to see you again, my dear." Erza hit him over the head with one of her special punches that she used to use on him and Gray when she caught them fighting.
Nobody batted an eye as the old man hit the ground with reasonable force, only to spring up like the floorboards had been a trampoline.
The group of six made their way to the master's office with Natsu and Erza hand in hand, the pink haired woman he learned was called Meredy walking beside Ultear, and Jellal bringing up the rear by himself.
"Now," Makarov began critically, "I have asked you to come here for two reasons. The first you already know." He tilted his balding head at the Dragon Slayer. "To see if Ultear can evolve Natsu's Second Origin."
"And the other reason?" Jellal requested.
Makarov sighed tiredly, an aged look settling over his face. "Zeref approached Natsu not three days past." He skillfully ignored the sounds of outrage and surprise that came from Crime Sorcière. "He claimed to have met Natsu once before. A rendezvous Natsu has no recollection of. What I wish to know, is if your Time Magic is capable rewinding time itself, and not people or objects. Can you send someone back in time with your magic?"
"No. Absolutely not," Ultear immediately answered. "I don't know of any magic capable of such a tremendous feat."
"Just as I already told you, Master," Erza said pointedly.
Makarov was not affected by her bluntness. "Now we know for certain. How it happened will have to remain a mystery."
Erza rolled her eyes when Ultear offered to look into the matter, saying that just because such magic was not known did not mean it did not exist. Time travel was impossible, and the master was foolish for still considering it. It was more likely some kind of memory magic had been used on Natsu. Or that, after more than 400 years, Zeref had lost his grip on reality and was confusing Natsu with a pink haired person he had previously met.
"Well, now that that's settled, Ultear. If you would be so kind."
The female wizard stepped forward at Makarov's permission. She raised her right hand, palm facing the ground, and her crystal orb hovered over the back of her hand. "Every mage has something like a container inside them that determines the limits of their magical power. In the case that the container becomes emptied, the Ethernano comes from the atmosphere and enters the body. . . after a while, the container is returned to normal.
"But . . . recent studies have identified a part of the container inside each mage that isn't normally used. A dormant potential power inside of everyone . . . Second Origin. My Arc of Time can evolve your container so that it's capable of using Second Origin. In other words, it will give a giant boost to your magical power, even more than any training you've done until now.
"But . . . you're going to have to endure pain greater than your wildest imagination," Ultear finished with an evil smile and slanted eyes, as if she was enjoying the imagine of Natsu writhing in pain.
Natsu chuckled lowly. "I find that difficult to imagine. I've landed myself in some pretty painful situations. Destroyed my magical core seven years ago."
"I didn't know that was possible," Meredy whispered.
"How can you still use magic?" Ultear pressed. "I can't evolve you're Second Origin if you don't have magic anymore."
"Grandeeney fixed that no problem. She's a dragon. It actually hurt worse to have the coils repaired than it did to destroy them," he said detachedly.
"Right," mumbled Ultear, moving forward to stand before Natsu with the orb floating between her outstretched hands. "Brace yourself."
Warning given, she pushed her magic into the orb, mind focused on connecting with Natsu's magical container. It should have taken only seconds to locate, but Ultear could not find it. Frustrated, she grabbed the crystal orb out of the air so it wouldn't drop and shatter, and took a step back.
"It didn't work. You don't have a Second Origin," she said to him.
Natsu blinked, a little surprised but not unconcerned. Erza had an expectant look on her face, as if she had been anticipating the lack of results from Ultear's magic. Which, the pinkette thought, made sense because, ever since he ate a tiny amount of Ethernano from the Tower of Heaven, his magic had been nearly limitless.
"Perhaps you unexpectedly evolved your Second Origin during the Tower of Heaven incident," Erza suggested, clearly thinking along the same lines as he was. Jellal and Ultear flinched at the unintentional reminder of their past sins.
Makarov smiled congenially as he thanked Crime Sorcière coming. "I have one more favor I'd like to ask of you," he said as the other three wizards made to leave his office.
The turned around just before the door. "Yes?" Jellal asked.
"Help us fight Zeref."
Jellal's eyes became shadowed. "Of course. Our guild was created to fight that monster. To drive away all of the evil brought into this world by Dark Guilds and Zeref . . . so that never again will Dark mages like us be born."