Keeping Secrets

We Got The Empire

Welcome back! This chapter's a bit more lighthearted than the last one. Lots of exposition and a few character introductions. Hope you enjoy!

Also, full disclosure, it has been several years since I watched Fairy Tail, and what was cannon and what is head cannon has blurred. I'm pretty sure a lot of Zeref's views on magic and the Magic Council mentioned in this chapter came from Crimson Starbird originally, specifically from her works 'The Scars That Make You Whole' and 'State of Independence'. Highly recommend reading both of those and really anything she's written.

Apologies if I missed any other non-cannon compliant ideas.

KEEPING SECRETS CHP. 5- WE GOT THE EMPIRE

"Your Highness, I really must protest. You've only been here a few hours, and you received several third-degree burns. There's no way you are well enough to-" the doctor stared in shock as Natsu undid several of the bandages around his arm, showing normal looking, perfectly healthy skin.

"See doc, I told ya I was fine! I'll be better walking off most of this instead of laying around anyway." He flashed his toothy grin at the balding middle-aged man who was head doctor in the palace infirmary.

"Well... please, Your Majesty. Ensure he comes back the next few days so we can ensure he's continuing to heal properly." The doctor had turned to Zeref now, bowing.

Zeref smiled. "Don't worry about it Dr. Williams. I'll ensure he finds his way back here."

That seemed to be enough to satisfy the nervous doctor for now, and Natsu and Zeref joined Invel in the infirmary's hallway and began to walk towards what looked to be the exit. "Stubbornness runs in the family, I see." Invel said, side eyeing Zeref.

Natsu ignored him as they walked through the double doors and into one of the palace hallways, where the white walls of the infirmary gave way to ancient looking black stone. "Gotta say though Zeref, I was a bit relieved to hear you were actually an emperor after Invel called you 'Your Majesty'. I thought your delusions of grandeur had finally gone to your head and you were making all your minions call you fancy names now." Natsu flashed his toothy grin.

Zeref chuckled. "I'm honestly shocked you know words like 'delusion' and 'grandeur'."

Natsu's smile vanished into a look of offense. "Hey, I'm not as dumb as you think! I know all sorts of words! You were just a bad teacher!"

"Excuse me, Your Highness." Invel interrupted. "I must object to you calling the people of Alvarez your brother's 'minions'." Natsu turned to look at Invel, eyes widening slightly. "Emperor Spriggan, as your brother is known here, united many warring nations and guilds, turning a largely backwater continent into the world's leading superpower. His Majesty's policies have led to advancements in magic, technology, medicine, and many other aspects of our citizens' lives. And everyone has a fair chance to prove themselves, which, coming from a common background, means a lot to me. Especially since many nobles still resent the fact that he chose me, a commoner, to be his chief of staff instead of one of their overly pampered and lazy children, if I may be frank. So, like me, the vast majority of the populace admires the emperor for how he's improved the quality of their lives. We serve willingly, not forced as minions."

Natsu listened to Invel intently, sensing the sincerity behind his words. "I honestly didn't know. But I believe you. Even though I've only remembered that Zeref is my brother for a day now, my brain has been trying hard to reconcile that the nice, soft-spoken kid who I grew up with is the same as the 'pure evil black mage' I've heard all sorts of awful stories about." Natsu turned to Zeref, smile re- appearing. "So listening to your friend talk about all the good you've done here helps me see that despite what your curse has taken away from you... deep down, you're still the brother I always looked up to back then. That you're still you through it all."