~*****~

We stay in the air for a while, not venturing to the stop of the entire island, but the overlooking areas that were ahead of us. "Miss, that place looks totally dead." Ballad says lightly. "Maybe that pig was warning us about that."

I hum in response before we swoop down. I sniff the air and immediately recoil. "Something's doesn't smell right here..." I mention as we venture into the dead forest.

"I don't like this..." Ballad whimpers delicately.

I clutch my fingers over my nose and wince. "Man, all the dying trees and plants, it's enough to make my stomach turn." I comment.

"I smell something familiar, too," Ballad hums. "Should we go towards it?"

I nod. "Yeah, maybe it's one of the others with a clue as to why all this is dead."

Ballad nods and flies off ahead, keeping just in sight. "Oh, miss! It's Happy, Natsu, Elfman, and Evergreen!" She chirps before halting in her spot. "And-- And someone different... I thought only guild members were allowed on this island." She stammered as she flew into my arms.

I pick up the pace and call out. "Guys! What's going on?"

"This guy did all this damage!" Happy exclaims as I approach the group.

"He's no ordinary wizard," Evergreen stated.

"No kidding," I grimace as I once again plug my nose.

"What's with the sissy tears?" Elfman asked.

"Look pal, this island is off-limits to anyone who's not in the Fairy Tail guild!" Natsu shouted. "Keep your freaky death cloud out of our trial!"

The strange new man just stares at the ground. "You've grown so much." My brow quirks in response. "I've missed you, Natsu."

Natsu just growls and leaps into the air to slug him across the face. "Tell me who you are, or I'll hit harder!" Natsu bellows.

"Cheap shot--" Evergreen mentioned.

"Yeah, he cold-clocked him!" Elfman agreed.

I pinch at the bridge of my nose. "It's always hit first questions later, isn't it?"

"That's how he does things," Happy sighs.

Although, the man doesn't land in a heap as I expect. He gracefully lands. "You still can't break me." He simply says in a quivering tone.

"You'd better tell me who you are, bub! I won't ask again!" Natsu growled.

The man lifts his head slowly, and more tears are burning down his face. "Why's he crying?" Happy asks nervously.

"His creep factor's sky-high." Evergreen hums.

The hairs on my neck stand on end as a dark, foul-smelling cloud surrounds the man's body. "Run!" The crybaby warns. "Now!"

"What the heck?!" Happy cries as the cloud expands.

"It's the same black wave we saw earlier!" Elfman yelped.

"It instantly drains the life force of everything it touches!" Evergreen exclaimed.

"Natsu!" Happy cried.

"Get out of here, right now!" Natsu shouted at us.

"Natsu, no!" Happy cried again. I turned my head and tried to go back for him, but Elfman grasped my waist and tugged me against his chest with Happy.

"Don't be stupid! If you go back you'll get yourself killed!" Elfman shouted at us.

"No, let go!" I shout at him. "Natsu!" I shout louder.

We duck behind a boulder as the cloud passes overhead and peer out once it's gone. "That sucked," I hear Natsu murmur.

I sag in relief against the boulder. "You're alive!" Happy cried.

"What about him?" Natsu asked. "It looked like he lost control.

I grimace and clutch my nose again. "He's gone, but the stench of death is everywhere..." I mention.

"No kidding," Ballad agrees. "It must be awful to have that magic. And not being able to control it seems even worse, too..."

I peered over at Natsu and my skin prickled at the sight of his scarf. "Natsu, your scarf--" I gasp. "It's black!"

Natsu stared down at it and began to growl. "He'll pay for this--" He says through his teeth, his hand clutching the scarf tightly. "Next time I see that punk, he's getting a fiery fist to the face!"

I step closer to Natsu and tug an end of his scarf out to examine it. It still felt the same, but I could feel that awful magic inside of it. I hum again and turn it over. "I can try to wash it if you want me to..." I mention softly.

"It doesn't matter now--" Natsu said urgently. "Where did he go? He has no idea how bad he's going to get pounded when I get my hands on him."

"Sorry." Happy whimpered.

"I mean, how does he expect me to go out in public wearing a black scarf with a black vest?!" Natsu complains.

"Never pegged you to be concerned about fashion," I hum impishly. I stop him by slapping my hands on his cheeks and holding him still, my hands squishing against his face. "Focus. What are we going to do? We certainly cannot continue this trial knowing there's an intruder on the island."

"No way! I ain't ditchin' the trial!" Natsu complained through his squished cheeks.

"A REAL MAN WOULD CONQUER BOTH AT THE SAME TIME!" Elfman roared.

"If I quit, I'd be breakin' my promise to Gildarts!" Natsu stated firmly as he tugged my hands away from his face.

"As Mirajane's brother, it's my duty to win!" Elfman exclaimed. "I'll beat down anyone who gets in my way!"

"We can't just ignore that guy, either." I snap. "Weren't you two paying close attention. The guy was obviously bothered that he couldn't control his magic." I start tapping my finger against my head.

"Stop making friends with psycho's, Natsu, you're hurting Aria's brain." Ballad hummed.

"That freak ain't no friend of mine!" Natsu barked at her.

I shrug off my overcoat and wave at my face. "He wasn't even being hostile!"

"He could've fooled me." Evergreen huffed.

"He couldn't control it." I snap.

"ENOUGH! WE'VE GOT A TRIAL TO CONQUER!" Natsu bellowed.

"Aye, sir!" Happy chimed.

I groaned loudly. "All right, all right! Then the first one who finds the grave, alert the master of the situation!" I shout as I grasp onto Ballad's outreached paws and soar into the air. "Good luck!"

~*****~

A familiar scent hits my nose. I hum delicately and peer up at Ballad. "I think I smell the master's scent."

Ballad takes a deep breath and hums. "Yeah, that's him. It smells like ale and old man." Ballad chirps.

"What does old man smell like?" I murmur to myself. We land in a small, forested area that feels really serene. I sniff the air again and start pushing through the brush. "Master? You there?" I coo delicately as I scramble through the bush in front of me.

"Well, well. Didn't expect someone to find me so quickly!" Makarov beamed. "That means you win! I'm curious as to how you found me."

I hum as I prop my hands on my hips. "Cause you smell like ale. I was surprised to find your scent to be honest, what with all those animals down there. So, this is the grave of the first master of Fairy Tail?" I ask curiously. Makarov nods as I sit besides him. "It's a very peaceful place to be laid to rest." I peer at the grave a moment longer before gasping. "Master, someone else is on the island!" I exclaim.

"Someone else?" Makarov raises a brow.

I nod urgently. "Yes! I don't think he can control his magic very well, but it's destructive-- it sucks the life out of everything that it hits!" I explain. "It destroyed a part of the forest. Everything rotted beyond recognition, Master!"

Master hums thoughtfully and stands up. "Show me where this destroyed forest is." Makarov orders.

I nod urgently. "Yes sir--" Our gazes fly up to the red flare suddenly popping out in the sky.

"What? An enemy attack?" Makarov gasped. "Who dares invade our sacred ground?"

My brows furrow. "So that must mean they found him..." I murmur.

"Seeing as how you've successfully found me, that means you've won the right to become an S-Class wizard--" I cut him off.

"The trial has been put on hold, we'll deal with that later. Master, I don't think that the enemy is the man I spoke of," I explain. "The man we saw didn't seem to be hostile. He just couldn't control his magic." I start poking at my forehead. "How would anyone else find this island, Master?"

Makarov hums delicately. "It should be impossible to find this island, yet someone has managed to invade Tenrou Island. Go. Meet with the others at the rendezvous point."

"Yes sir!" I nod and run off. "Ballad, go up high and try to find the others! If they're damaged, assist with medical help!"

"Yes ma'am!" Ballad chirped.

~*****~

I sense the magic power welling up inside of Makarov when I left him in the grove. I gaze up through the trees, gaping in shock as Makarov grows to gigantic stature. "Whoa-- I feel bad for whoever had the balls to invade." I retort loudly. I follow my nose, trying to find the stupid base camp. "Who the hell decided to put base camp in the middle of the forest where there are too many smells to even think clearly--" I skid to a halt as someone steps out from the tree line. "Hey, you're--" I gasp. "Crybaby guy!"

Crybaby slinks back behind the tree a bit more. "Please don't come near. I don't want you to die." He mutters tiredly.

"I won't," I hum softly. "Hey, there are some people on the island that aren't supposed to be here, you included." I explain softly. "I can lead you to the port, so you can get off the island safely."

"Why are you being kind?" He asks softly. "You've seen what my magic does..." Crybaby whimpers.

I smile softly. "You can't control it." I shrug. "There's nothing wrong with that. I'll keep a safe distance away, but I'd feel better if you weren't caught in the fight. I'm sure you'd feel bad if anyone got hurt." I explain.

Crybaby stepped out after a moment. "Please... just stay away. I'll follow you..." I smile and nod my head towards the tree line.

"C'mon, we don't have time." I mention as I stare off into the distance. "I can hear the battle starting." I smile again and start walking. "Let's go, Crybaby. Hey, you okay with being called that?"

"No, it's all right..." Crybaby says softly. "Thank you for your kindness... You've got such a good soul..." He murmurs.

"I don't know about that. I get mad like everyone else, and I get ugly feelings, too... I think that just means I'm human, I guess." I laugh as I rub at my head. "I can never stand it when someone cries though, so keep that to a minimum, okay?"

"I'll try..." Crybaby hums.

I gaze over my shoulder and hum delicately for a moment. He's staring at the ground as he follows after me, and I suspect he's in deep thought. The poor guy must be tortured with a magic power like that. I sigh deeply and throw my arms over my head, stretching languishly.

I stop in my tracks when I hear someone muttering lightly to themselves. "You hear that?" I murmur delicately. Crybaby hums and disappears from his spot. I flinch and whirl around. "Hey! Don't go runnin' off if you can't control your power!" I exclaim. "Crybaby!" I shout loudly as I run after him. I skid to a halt as I reach him. An unfamiliar woman is bowing on the ground, her eyes suddenly cold and ruthless as she stares at me.

"You should probably leave while you can, kind soul." Crybaby says in a deathly calm tone. I peer at him in confusion. "For these people who've caused all this destruction have made me quite angry. These people have come here for they desperately seek my power."

The woman lets her gaze slide back to Crybaby again. "It is your entire existence we seek, Lord Zeref." The woman coos in a suddenly warm tone.

My brain halts for a moment, my gaze slinging to the crybaby. "Z- Zeref?" I echo.

"I won't involve myself in mankind's affairs. Not for the remainder of this current era. I have no desire to see people wage war and die. I order you to stop your attack on this island and leave at once." Zeref ordered. A shiver ran up my spin as a strange pressure began to billow from him. It shook me to my very core. "Your presence has made me angry." My legs buckle under the intense pressure of his voice alone.

"H-Hey--" I stammer softly. "Let's get you out of here... onto a boat... There's no need-- no need to be so angry with her... I'm sure-- sure she'll run off."

Zeref turns to stare at me, and those teary dark eyes are gone. They're replaced with a dark red iris that feel like the very pits of hell. I can feel every fiber of my being screaming at me to turn tail and run. I suck in a shaky breath as I continue to stare. "No. I must demonstrate my anger." He retorts calmly as he holds up his palm. I duck down immediately, my body buckling against my will to cower. "Please, flee while you can, kind soul. You are a good piece of this world that I wish no ill will upon." A black orb appears in his palm and he slings it at the woman. She gives a sharp scream as she leaps out of the way.

"No--" I yelp. "You said you didn't want anymore death!" I say loudly. "Isn't that right? Please Zeref--"

"You dare speak his name, you filthy fairy!" The woman barks. "Lost Magic! Forward Arch of Time!" I leap to the side as I'm nearly pelted with shards of rocks from every corner. "Speeding forth the flow of time, I will trap you in its course!" She barks. I expect to be trapped, but she's used the opportunity of Zeref's attention being drawn away to trapped him in a large tree. "I've got you."

"It comes..." I hear Zeref murmur delicately. "The predatory death." In a haze of black magic, the tree disappears from around him. I leap into the river, swimming down low as I wait for the magic to disappear. I resurface to see Zeref on his haunch, panting wildly. "Please tell me who you are!" Zeref demands.

"Luminous minutes!" The woman shouts as she lobs the crystal ball in her hands at the sky above him.

"Look out!" I shout as I leap out of the water and throw myself over him. It's like a thousand steel bars shooting through my body when the spell activates. I fall to the ground, legs trembling in exhaustion. I'd never felt a spell like that before. That was-- that wasn't normal. My bones felt like were going to shatter if I moved the wrong way. I can vaguely hear the woman speaking, but as I manage to open an eye, all I can see is Zeref's body being dragged along the ground. "Stop--" I manage to bark. It's high pitched and shaky, but I manage to lift my head enough to glare at her. "He said-- he said he didn't wanna-- wanna hurt anyone--" I suck in a pained breath as my ribs shutter. "He's tryin'-- he's tryin' to be good! You have no-- no right to take that-- from him!" I try to stand, but my legs refuse to work.

The woman stares back at me and holds her hand up. A long, spear of ice appears in her grasp, causing me to gape in shock. I shout out in absolute pain as it lances through my shoulder, pinning me to the ground. I can't even move my head to eat it for a little bit of energy. "The next time you plan on using Lord Zeref's name informally, I shall wring the life from you with my very hands."

I manage to lug my head over, and latch my teeth onto the ice spire that's covered with the flavor of my own blood.