Zeref

After the guild was settled down from the commotion of Lucy's announcement of what price she had to pay for using E.N.D, Natsu was looking at the bulletin board . 

The Exceed looked with him as Happy said, "There is a lot of quests happening today. It would be hard to choose one. " 

The Fairy Wizard said, "I know, but I want something for all of us to do, since this is officially Zeref's new status as a Fairy Tail Wizard." 

Lucy said, "I know that we'll think of something. Huh, this really brings me back memories. Of course , I was stunned of that you were a Fairy Tail Wizard and didn't mention it to me back then." 

I raised an eyebrow of hearing it. "You know, Natsu, you never told me of how you and Lucy met, I'm quite curious ." 

Mavis concur with me, "Yeah, I am curious as well. You really know each other so well, and your magic are incredible together. 

Lucy and Natsu exchanged looks at one other, considering of how it should be told. 

"It seems like only yesterday. " Lucy said. 

Natsu chuckles at the memory of their first encounter, "Yeah, but I have to admit, I apologize of not telling you right on the get-go I was a member of Fairy Tail in the first place. " 

Lucy

Telling Zeref and Mavis about our first encounter, was a slight bit embarrassing. Although, thinking back memories really seems like it was just a thing in the past, considering of everything we had been through , and in top of that, I'm truly amazed of how inturing Zeref is now, of being in Fairy Tail , and also wanted to know more about his little brother that he never met. 

"Well, let's see. It was way back before you and Natsu discovered you two were siblings and Natsu ended up being E.N.D. 

I was all alone, trying to find the Fairy Tail Guild, and also trying to find a Zodiac Key because I was a Celestial Wizard. 

And it so happens that Natsu and Happy were just in the neighborhood, and saved me from a imposter who doesn't do well with Fire magic. 

To be totally honest, I was in total shock of that he had Dragon Slayer Magic and being a Fairy Tail Guild member . 

Ever since then, it's been quite an adventure after another. " I explained to them as both wizards listened to our story of how we first met. 

Zeref looks at his little brother with a total sweat on his face, "He went overboard with his magic didn't he? 

I wished that he would calm down ." 

Mavis and I exchanged looks at one other, but then we laughed at the comment. 

Both boys ask in the same time, "What?"

"Well, you couldn't help either way, considering of how Natsu is, apparently. " I replied. 

The brothers sighed of that I was right. 

Natsu

I sat down in chair sighing as Zeref said, "You really didn't find any quests today?"

"No, I wanted to find a great quest for us to do together, but no luck. Happy was so over the moon with Tiger lily for a brawl. " 

Zeref chuckled at me, as I looked at my older brother with a scowl expression, "That really doesn't make me feel happy, Onii-chan. " 

"Sorry, sorry! I couldn't help it. It's just I'm actually quite amazed at you. Even though we've been apart after all this time, you seemed to be totally at ease with the other Fairy Tail members."  He said. 

"Well, we had some hiccups along the way, but we had each other's back, no matter what life throws at us. " I replied. 

Zeref was silent , as he was lost in total thought, as to being the Dark Wizard, the most fearest enemy , not that everything seems to be nice for him. 

I said, trying to reassuring him, "Listen. I know that having the Curse of Condraction wasn't the life you wanted, and I get it. 

If I was having it, and unable to love , it would've been like hell to me. But thanks to Lucy, you have a second chance to start over with Fairy Tail, and having me and Mavis helping you by your side . " 

His eyes were in compete shock that I was actually providing him with brotherly advice. 

"Wait a sec. Since when you start giving me advice? I am the older brother, aren't I?" He said, as he grabs me by the shoulder as I tried to escape from him. 

"Zeref! C'mon, let go of me!" I laughed . 

Zeref

It seems completely weird of having Natsu with me, that having bad memories of being apart from one other seems like a bad dream. 

Although, I was thinking about what Natsu said, was he right? Can I really be absolutely happy living with him and the rest of Fairy Tail Guild?

I couldn't sleep as I looked at the night sky alone, thinking about our parents. 

I rubbed my head in the morning as Natsu was already awaken. "Morning. Whoa, what happened to you?"

"Stayed up late. I was thinking about something." I replied as the Dragon Slayer looked at me with pure curiosity. 

"Really, about what exactly? Was it about Mavis?" Natsu asked, but I shook my head. "No, not exactly. I was actually thinking about.. 

Our parents." 

Natsu was silent for a moment, then said, "Oh." 

I bit my lip, as if that subject was unsettling. According to Happy, Natsu was raised by a dragon named, "Igneel" and taught him everything about Dragon Magic, being the father he knew. 

Apparently, he was killed in front of his eyes, unable to save his only parent. 

"Happy told me about Igneel. Sorry." I apologized as Natsu said, "It's fine. I got over that, besides, we're Fairy Tail Wizards now. We are the Dragneel brothers. C'mon, I think there is a mission that I have requested." 

It was a mission to meet a close friend of Natsu. It was a family, and they have a daughter named  Asca. 

"Natsu!!!!" Asca said, as the teen rushes over as give him a hug . "Ah, Asca! You've grown a bit, have you?" 

"Yep. I've been training with everything I had, with Mom and Dad's help. " 

I was still amazed if that they would accept me as their guild mate. "Zeref, this is Alzack and Bisca and their daughter, Asca. 

We'll have a joint mission this time, so let's go!" Natsu said, happily as Happy sigh, "You never changed." 

I followed the group, but still felt unsettling to me. Having a former Dark Magic user like me around, is kind of a challenge. 

Asca sees how discomfort I was as she said, "Zeref, Natsu is a good brother to have. He literally risk his life multiply times for the people he loves. Besides, I was kind of jealous you have a brother if I'm completely honest with you." 

I looked at her, "You're jealous of me? Asca, you don't have to be jealous of me. I wouldn't -" 

"We're here." Natsu said, interrupted our conversation.

It was a dark cavern, as Mavis tapped her magic . "There is a group of people trapped within the cavern. " 

"Yeah, it was a distress mission, and I figured this would be a good mission for the Dragneel Brothers to handle." Bisca said. 

I gulped, "O-Ok." 

Lucy

Was Zeref being nervous? I couldn't tell if he was, considering that he did once had the Curse of Contradiction, and he did use it to rebirth his younger brother to becoming E.N.D. in the first place.

"Lu? You coming?" Natsu asked me, wondering if I was all right. "Coming! " I replied, as I followed the group as possible.

I touched my Zodiac purse, although I couldn't use it anymore, due to my sacrificing my arm to save my boyfriend, was it all worth it?

Was I really a bother to Natsu? As I was thinking, a rock was about to collapse, as that I couldn't see it, Zeref pushed me into his arms, as Natsu and the group were shocked . 

"Lucy, Zeref!" Natsu cried out to us, as we coughed out the dust. "Are you guys ok?" Mavis called out, being worried. 

"Lucy, you all right?" Zeref asked me as I nodded. Zeref walked towards the rocked wall, as he said, "Natsu, you on ahead and seek out the civilians. Lu and I will find another way out." 

"Anki, you sure you'll be fine without us? Lu couldn't summon spirits to help you guys." Natsu said, being worried.

"Would you just listen to your older brother for once? Natsu, we'll be fine!" Zeref exclaimed. But I knew that he was anxious . 

"Go with Asca. Like Zeref said, I would be fine. Besides, I have a very protective wizard by my side, what could go wrong?"

We hear Natsu sighing as that he had known how much I was being so stubborn. "Fine, you guys win. Asca, let's go . " 

As they leave, Zeref looks at me. His eyes have soften up, as if he was thinking about something . "Is something bothering you?"

"I was going to ask you the same question, Lucy. Are you feeling sad about what you've done? " 

I was surprised that he had suspected my doubts so quickly. "You kinda of knew, didn't you?"

"You're acting like I was when I had the Curse. Honestly, I was just thinking about how can I truly adapt of being a Fairy Tail Wizard, being a member of the Guild that I almost destroyed . 

Heck, I hurt a lot of the members of the guild, mostly to Mavis and Natsu. I don't know how the Guild would ever forgiven me for all the things I've put them through." 

Hearing his true feelings, was just simply made me felt guilt for the dark wizard. He just felt truly responsible for all the misdeeds he had done, like it was a burden weighing on his shoulders. 

"Zeref..." I said, as I try my best to comfort the wizard, as his gaze looked onward on the cavern that blocked our way. 

"You better stand behind me. I'll use my magic to destroy the other entrance. " 

I gaze at him with a serious, yet concern look. "Are you sure that'll work?"

"Hey, I promised my brother that I'll protect you, besides you owe me for rewriting the Book of E.N.D. " 

Natsu

I was worried about Lucy and Zeref being all alone in the cavern alone. I did suggest of doing a joint mission, but I never imagine something like this ever happen. 

Happy was concern about my well-being. "Natsu, are you worried about Lucy and Zeref being alone together?"

I looked at the Exceed, "Of course I am! I just got my older brother back, I don't want to lose him again, just like Igneel. " 

Thinking about my partenal guardian felt weird. I haven't thought of the dragon for a long time since he passed in front of my eyes. 

Although, I also thought of my birth parents. Zeref knew them personally while I don't have any recalled memories of them. 

I really wished that I could at least see them instead of not knowing them. Asca looked at my expression, "I never thought that you saying , 'Igneel' again. I know that he was your father, well your guardian. 

I know how much he meant to you. " 

"Thanks for the reminder. Asca, do you see anything?"

"Not for a long while. The cavern seems so deep and the air is getting thinner too." She replied. 

She was right. Something isn't right, and we need to find any suviors fast. 

I lit up my flames to get some light so we could see, to our surprise, something was coming. Or someone. 

"Who are you?" I asked.