The Tale of the Two Brothers Arc

Cursed

"I'M FREE!" Natsu announced as he ran down the stairs of the boat.
"Aye!" cried Happy, "I needed to stretch my wings."
Lucy took a deep breath, "The air is so fresh..."
"I couldn't agree more." Erza added.
The name of the town this little dock belonged to is known as Vashi, which translates to "air" in Sinian. The air here is so pure that it is rumored to cleanse everything of all evil.
"Welcome to Vashi, I believe you are members of Fairy Tail?"
Everyone turned around to find a little, pudgy, old man with a funny mustache wearing a tag saying Tour Guide.
"My name is Navak and I received a message from the Wizard Saint Warrod, requesting a guide to lead five members of Fairy Tail around the country of Sin." he rambled. The man had a peculiar accent, as if he was swallowing his C's.
"Thank you sir, we are hoping you can lead us-"
"I would love to give a tour of Vashi, did you know that Vashi translates to-"
"ENOUGH!" Carla demanded as she transformed into her human form, "Take us to the Mildian Magic Academy! I want to get over this as quickly as possible."
"What's her problem?" Natsu whispered to Wendy, the girl shrugged.
Navak shook, sweat trickled down his forehead.
"I think Carla scared him." shuddered Happy.
"Well, answer me." marching up to the man, Carla thrust her forefinger in his face..
"Madame..." The tiny man removed a handkerchief from his pocket to wipe off his sweaty forehead, "I can't go there, it's cursed!"
"Cursed?!" Lucy, Gray, Natsu, and Wendy jaw dropped.
"Explain yourself." demanded Erza.
"Well...there is a legend...that over 400 years ago, a student in that school angered a god, killing off students, teachers, everyone."
No one spoke for a long minute. One question hung in the air, the student that angered a god, was that...Zeref?
"Take us there any way, I'm sure that it is just a legend." Erza brushed off whatever concerns they had.
"I'm sorry but...I cannot..." Navak continued to shake.
"Very well, why don't you guide us around town, then tell us the location of the school and we'll go there ourselves." offered the requipt mage.
Perking up, Navak smiled in relief.
"Old man," Natsu poked the guide in the shoulder, "Can you show us where we can find food? I'm starved."
"You got to be kidding Natsu," Lucy sweat-dropped, "You just ate, and Gray, you're clothes."
"AHHH, where did they go!" Looking down, Gray realized he was in his underwear, his pants and shirt no where to be found.

xxxxxxx
Team Natsu spent the rest of the day touring the tiny town. They saw the famous Sun Bell Tower, the town square, and even the market place (curtacy to Natsu). For the night, Navak led them to a nice inn called The Bone. To Lucy's dismay, The Bone only had only one room open.
"We're so sorry madame, but all the other rooms are full." The Manager said.
Sighing, Lucy took out 10,000 Jewel and handed it to the tall lady, "We'll take that room."
"It has two twin size beds, if that helps." the Manager added.
"Thank you for all your help." grinning, Lucy signaled her friends to follow the woman. Gray took the brown victorian couch as soon as they entered. Wendy decided to sleep next to Erza, putting Lucy and Natsu together in one bed.
"We do this every night Luce, the only difference is the bed." yawned Natsu.
"WITHOUT MY CONSENT!" Lucy glared.
"Can't you guys pipe down, your lover's quarrel is keeping everyone in this room awake." Gray looked over at the pair.
"WE AREN'T LOVERS!" Lucy shrilled.
"What are lovers?" asked Natsu.
Lucy's face reddened "It's nothing you should worry about!"
"Jeez, no need to wake up everyone in this town, I was just teasing."
"Luce, ignore the stripper." Natsu flopped onto the bed, "It's sleepy time."
"Aye," somewhere, Happy agreed.
"What did you just call me flame for brains!?"
"Pervy Popsicle!"
"Human Dryer!"
"Ice Perv!"
"Crazy Flame Spewer!"
"Droopy Eyes!"
"Are you two fighting?"
Natsu and Gray froze to Erza's voice, they turned to see a very pissed off Titania.
"Nope! We are totally getting along!"
Raising an eyebrow, Erza requipted into her pajamas along with a sword.
"I swore I heard fighting..."
"IT WASN'T US, WE WERE, URM, BEING BROS!" They chorused.
"Good, now sleep."
"AYE!"

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A tear dripped down from Zeref's cheek, this is where it all began. The Mildian Magic Academy, his old home. Tomorrow, Natsu will come here, it is highly unlikely he would remember this place. Closing his eyes, Zeref's mind brought a memory from his childhood, before everything had gone wrong.

"Oniichan!"
A five year old Zeref smiled in delight as a familiar pink blob appeared at the door way.
"Momma ish callin' you." Natsu smiled his famous toothy grin.
"Momma? What's wrong?" Zeref called as he followed his little brother into the house.
A pink haired woman hugged him"Honey, you got in!".
"Yay! Zewef-nii got in!" Cheered Natsu as he rammed himself into his older brother for hug.
"Can I tell Pappa?"
His mother beamed, "Yes my dear, now take Natsu with you."
"Aye!" Zeref grinned as he took Natsu's hand and rushed out of the house, heading towards a Sakura tree.
"Pappa, I got in!" Announced Zeref to a grave stone.
"Aye, I saw it with my own two eyes!" agreed Natsu
Giggling, Zeref lunged at Natsu and started tickling his tummy.
"AHAHAHAHAH, STOP IT NIICHAN, AHAHAHAHAHA."
"Nope! I won't!"
Natsu's black eyes widened, "A Dragon!" he shouted.
"WHAT! WHERE!"
The sky was clear, not a single dragon.
"LAST ONE HOME IS A WOTTEN BANANA!" Natsu ran towards the house as fast as his little fat legs could take him.
"CHEATER!" Zeref got back onto his feet and ran after his mischievous brother.
Natsu won and Zeref was forced to do his biddings for the
rest of the afternoon... .

The black wizard gasped, he hadn't realized he was crying.
"Why Natsu," he grieved, "Why am I feeling all this pain, all these memories bring me only sadness. They were supposed to be happy memories. Momma left this world two days later, she was ill with whatever dad had for a long time already. Yet, she didn't tell us. I then had only you. But, the gods must have hated me, they took you away three months afterwards."
Zeref inhaled sharply, holding back his tears "I guess it is time for a visit, Natsu."
Picking himself up, Zeref walked through the shrubs and dead trees. Soon, he came across a familiar Sakura tree. Even after hundreds of years, it was still blooming the same, soft, pink blossoms. Pushing away the branches, Zeref uncovered three graves.
Alexsandre Dragneel,
Suzuki Dragneel,
and finally,
Natsu Dragneel.
Zeref's knees buckled and he collapsed next to graves. Unable to hold back, tears poured out like fountains with never ending water sources, and bile rose up his throat, making it difficult to breathe.
"I'm sorry," wailed the wizard, "Momma, Pappa, I didn't want things to end this way. I JUST WANTED NASTU-NII BACK!" Zeref cried as loud as he could muster. "THE GODS, THEY TOOK AWAY EVERYTHING; THEY TOOK PAPPA, THEY TOOK MAMMA, AND THEY TOOK AWAY LITTLE INNOCENT NATSU-NII, WHO HAS DONE NOTHING WRONG.
I HATE THEM, I HATE THEM ALL!!!!!!!!!!"
His voice echoed through the mountains bouncing off each peak, then everything stilled.
Zeref's voice shook, "I worked, I worked everyday...to find a way to bring Natsu back. And I did it! He's alive and well. He has friends and everything. But...the gods, they cursed me. Everything around me dies."
The wind blew slightly and a small pink flower landed on Zeref's lap, it wilted when he touched it.
"Natsu," His voice lowered, thick with emotion, "Please hurry, put an end to this sad story."
To Zeref's horror, the entire tree sagged.