Chapter 84

Dead Flames

"Speaking"

'Thoughts'

"Flashback"

"Magic"

Location/Date/Time Change

"Did he say Zeref?" One soldier asked from behind the glaring pair.

"That's his majesty's name in Ishgar." Invel declared, walking up from the rear. "They call him 'The Black Wizard, Zeref'. Perhaps that is his true name."

"Sorry, but you better give him some space." The emperor said, never taking his eyes off Natsu. "In fact, you should all retreat several kilometers to the west."

"You should get back, Happy." Natsu told the flying cat, who nodded and flew backwards. Invel nodded as the army ran away on his order, leaving only the pair. "You're not gonna get Mavis."

"The only reason we've got to this point is because you failed to kill me before." Zeref declared.

"I can hear you talking, but I don't have a clue what the hell you're saying." The pyromancer replied as the wraps fell to the ground, revealing a large red tattoo on his arm.

'What is this magical power… this blistering heat…' Zeref had no time to ponder it further as Natsu rushed forward and punched him in the face. Tumbling over the ground, Zeref rolled to his feet and pointed his fingers forward, launching a sphere of black magic at his creation. Salamander raised his arm, burning in deep red flames and destroyed the orb. "He burned my magic away!"

The pink-haired man was suddenly in his face and unleashed a burning punch to the stomach, making him gasp in pain. A giant inferno shot out and blasted Zeref backwards, much to his surprise. A flurry of fists hit him repeatedly before a palm strike pushed Natsu back, carving a scar into his face. Anger filled his eyes before Zeref met an attack, white energy and fire battling each other. "How very surprising. You've developed a new skill."

"My father Igneel gave it to me." Natsu declared, confusing Zeref. "This is the last of his power. I've been holding on to it for ten months, learning how to use it, waiting for this moment."

"The last of his power?" Zeref repeated in shock.

"I have to make it count." Natsu declared, crimson flames swirling around his body. "Once it's gone, it'll never come back."

'Power from the dying…' The Black Wizard was wide eyed at the statement. 'That's what I needed, to finally end the pain of someone cursed to never die!'

"Fire Dragon King Mode!" Zeref looked around as the entire land was set ablaze, the stone melting to magma. "This is the end, Zeref!"

He launched the attack forward as Zeref just stared in shock. 'After 400 years, my wish shall finally be granted… Thank you Igneel, Anna, Layla, Mavis… And you… My dear little brother, Natsu.'

The blast hit and everyone stared in shock as Natsu panted in exhaustion. The smoke cleared as Natsu dropped to a knee, his large tattoo starting to fade. Quickly looking up, he found a smoking Zeref still standing, a small smirk on his face. "Igneel, lend me your strength for one last attack."

"You've become a lot stronger, Natsu…" Zeref smiled back. "Maybe you'll be the one who finally stops me, but you're too late. I've choosen to destroy the world over destroying myself. Seeing you now though, maybe your next attack will prove that I'm not actually immortal. It's really up to you. But there's something I'd like to tell you while I'm still alive."

"Huh?"

"My name is Zeref Dragneel, and I am your brother." The Black Wizard declared, shocking Natsu and Happy. "It was about four hundred years ago, both you and our parents were killed. I did all I could to bring you back, and created something called the Etherious in the process. And that was you, Natsu. Etherious Natsu Dragneel, E.N.D.."

"You expect me to buy that crap!?" Natsu shoutee back, igniting his right arm. "E.N.D. is the monster that created Tartaros!"

"Mard Geer created Tartaros. He just happend to pick this up…" Zeref held up his hand and the Book of E.N.D. appeared. "and used it as a figure head for the guild." He dropped the book and fired a magic beam clean through it, causing Natsu to grip his chest in pain. "Maybe now you'll listen to me. It was Igneel,s idea to send you into the future with the Eclipse Gate to send you forward after using Dragon Soul Magic.

"All of this to defeat Acnologia. Six children were choosen for the mission. Gajeel, Wendy, Sting, Rogue, Nicholas, and you, Natsu. I didn't care at all, the onky thing that mattered was wether or not you could kill me."

"SHUT UP!" Natsu shouted as he launched forward. "There's no way I believe anything you say!"

"You are a demon from the Book of Zeref." The bookmaker declared to the oncoming attack. "If I die, you die too!"

"So be it!" The pyromancer shouted. "I've made uo my mind! I came all this way to defeat you!" Happy suddenly pulled Natsu back into the air, shocking the two brothers. "What are you doing!? Let me go!"

"I don't wanna…" The cat declared, his paws burning from the heat. "I don't want to see my family die! Don't you understand!?" Happy pulled Natsu away as he flew back towards the guild, leaving a distraught Zeref behind.

Invel walked forward with his hands behind his back. "Your majesty?"

Zeref just stared at the ground as he clenched his fist in frustration. "No on this world is left to defeat me." The Black Wizard declared. "The last remaining bit of hesitation within me is gone. Continue the army's advance, our target is Fairy Tail. We will conquer the guild and obtain Fairy Heart, the absolute power."

"Yes sir!"

"I have one more request of you, Invel. Would you please procure me a new outfit?" Zeref asked. "Garments more befitting of an emperor, to be precise."

In a small portion of the forest, Happy stuck his paws into the cold water of a stream. "Your paws okay, Happy?" Natsu asked.

"Yeah, just fine." He replied, the thoughts of what Zeref told them lingering in their mind. "Natsu… we'll always be friends forever, no matter what!" The Dragon Slayer nodded before the Exceed suddenly rushed over, tackling him in a hug. "There has to be another way, Natsu. I don't wanna lose my dad!"

Shocked by the deceleration, Natsu could only smile as he started petting his back, causing the feline to cry.

Hargeon

"It's a nice port town, I gotta say." Dimira whistled as she looked around, armored troops surrounding the blonde. "Pretty wise of you not to wipe ir off the face of the world."

"Well, I was aiming for Magnolia, ya know." Wald chuckled from the top of a house.

"In the end, Magnolia was better off left intact." Dimira said, stepping on a defeat wizard. "Randi is being held prisoner there, after all. I have to see what kinda face she's making as soon as possible."

"You humans don't make a damn bit of sense to me." The humanoid machine declared. "And where is Neinhart!?"

"He's still on the ship." Dimira replied in annoyance. "So now I'm babysitting both gears-for-brains and a brat who isn't a team player. Oh, I wish I could see the look on your face, Randi."

Wald hopped down onto the ground and landed next to her. "Looks like we got some idiots who don't know their place in the world outside the city."

"Shall we burn the power of the Spriggain 12 into their little minds?" Dimira asked, drawing a sword from her hip. "Charge."

The armored troops rushed forward and meet the natives head on. Spells and blades met outside the town as missiles from Wall blasted the guild wizards. More flew at the army before they were sliced in half by Kagura.

Landing on the ground, she turned to the side and blocked the sword of Dimira, the two women glaring at each other. "Impressive reaction speed..." The blonde confessed before pushing Kagura backwards. "I love that kimono… It's very pretty, but I'm afraid your blood is going to stain it." Instantly, the cloth was ripped apart by an unseen force, shocking everyone who could see it.

Magnolia

Brandish laid on her side trying to sleep, still chained at her hands and ankles. "Brandish, my lady." The vernette opened her eyes and found Marin standing over her with a smile. "So glad I was able to find you."

"Me too." She cheered as she pushed herself up. "I knew you would come for me. That's what pets like you are for, right? Now take off these shackles. I can hardly wait to start destroying this crappy guild-" Marin suddenly wrapped his hands around her throat, forcing her to her back. "What do you think you're- let me go!"

"You've had your way and played with me up until now…" He replied with sick grin as he started choking Brandish. "And for that, you get a failing grade! Time to pay!"

Northern Fiore

Blue Pegasus and Sabertooth battled the armored invaders before Yukino noticed dozens of wizards running for their lives, screaming about a 'grim reaper' before blood shot out of his mouth, killing him.

Eastern Fiore

"Why do you lay waste to your own homeland, God Serena?" Hyberion asked the traitorous wizard.

"I have no love lose for this chunk of the world." He replied. "I side with whoever is strongest, plain and simple. And I'm not foolish enough to stand against the deadliest wizard in all of history."

"God Serena, and the one behind hims is the wizard who wields every single spell easily, and is lauded as the King of Magic, August…" Warrod mumbled, turning to the third man. "And that must be the master assassin, Jacob… We have work cut out for us, gentlemen."

Brandish slowly opened her eyes before sitting up in a bed. "Where am-"

"You're in the infirmary." She turned to the side to see Lucy, Cana, and some old lady sitting next to her, her cuffs still jingling on her wrists and ankles. "It probably sounds repetitive, but we still can't take them off you."

"Where's Marin?" The vernette questioned.

"The 'A-plus' guy?" Cana asked back. "He's in lockup, where he belongs. Though, it was pretty shocking to see him trying to kill you."

"You should be grateful that these two for saving your life." Porlyusica declared. "Why, I won't pretend to understand."

"…why would bother to help me?" Brandish asked.

"Well, that's because we've got so many questions for you!" Cana chuckled.

"I still won't tell you anything." The size changer declared.

"Maybe, but we don't want anymore lives to be lost." Lucy replied. "And that includes yours. Besides, we did take a bath together. I don't think you're all that bad."

Brandish stared at Lucy before lowering her head. "Your questions are about Layla, aren't they?" She asked, catching Lucy by surprise. "Take these off and let me talk to you alone. That's my condition."

"Don't you dare get cocky-"

"It'll be fine, Cana." The blonde cut her off as the other two women let out a reluctant sigh.

Porlyusica loosened the chains, but the cuffs stayed on before the two left the room. "My name is Brandish, and my mother's name is Grammy. She was one of your mother's servants." The cuffed woman explained, shocking Lucy. "When your mother gave up being a wizard, she split her keys between three of her servants. The one she gave my mother was Aquarius' key. My mother looked up to Layla, and polished the key every single day. But then… Layla betrayed her.

"The key was supposed to be left in my mother's care, how could it have ended up in yours, then? The answer is obvious…" She turned to Lucy and glared at the blonde. "Layla had my mother killed so she could get her key back."

"No!" Lucy shouted back. "My mother wouldn't have-"

"How naive…" Brandish declared. "A girl, living in her own little world…" She suddenly launched herself off the bed and trapped Lucy in chokehold. "You shouldn't trust others so easily… I have nothing against you, but I must avenge my mother. So please, just die…"

Water suddenly shot into the room and blasted Brandish off the blonde. Pushing herself up, Brandish was shocked to see a spirit holding Lucy. "What did you say about my key, again?"

"Aquarius…" Lucy mumbled in shock before bursting into tears, hugging the spirit. "You're back! You're finally back!"

"Not exactly…" The mermaid replied. "A new key of the Water Bearer is somewhere in the world. The king decided to temporally open the door with his own power. And that's why we have no time, we'll have to cut our reunion short." Aquarius turned to the side and stared at Brandish. "Long time no see, I suppose, Brandish."

The vernette just stared at her, pissing off the spirit. "Wake up, you damn squirt! After all this time, you can't even muster a hello!?"

"S-sorry, mistress!" The size changer squeaked out, shocking Lucy.

"Bet you never got a boyfriend with that shitty attitude, did ya?" Aquarius squeezed her face before slapping Brandish. "The hell were you thinking, trying to kill Lucy?"

"I needed to avenge my mother…" Brandish replied, bowing to the mermaid. "Layla killed her."

"No, she didn't." The spirit replied as the room started glowing. "Come with me, and I'll show you the truth." Aquarius' memories played before the two. By the end of it all Brandish started crying before Lucy hugged her. "Lucy, there's one last thing I have to tell you."

The door to the infrmary burst open as a crying Happy dragged Natsu along the floor. "Someone help me! Natsu just passed out all of a sudden!"