Fairy Tail: Falling Towards the Chaos

Chapter 52

"Why, hello there," a deep voice chuckled softly, "I apologize for the rude awakening."

Lucy blearily opened her eyes, her vision fading before clearing, settling on the figure standing over her. It felt like her heart stopped; Mavis had described him enough that Lucy could recognize him from a mile away. He was the Dark Wizard. The darkest mage recorded in the history of magic.

Zeref.

"He had asked me not to involve you in this, but oh well," the man shrugged slightly, so nonchalantly as if this war hadn't cost them everything, "he'll have to forgive me. I've grown tired of waiting."

"W-what?" Lucy's voice cracked, wincing at the pain she felt as she sat up. Her body was littered with cuts and bruises, she could hardly care that she was naked. She didn't have the energy nor the time to feel ashamed.

"There's a special someone I want to see before I destroy this universe," he stated simply, "I'm still a little sentimental after all."

Lucy didn't understand what was going on. Her head was hurting and her body ached. She had passed out sometime after Dimaria had smashed her head against the wall the fourth time, she was surprised she could even comprehend words.

"My, where are my manners?" Zeref chuckled again, waving his wrist leisurely, magic engulfing her body where clothes generated, a simple pair of shorts and a shirt, "you won't need much anyway, just a quick chat before the end of the world I suppose."

"What do you want with me?" Lucy drawled, head still spinning as she tried to collect herself.

"I want to get to know my brother's girlfriend, that's all," he stated, settling on one of the benches across from her, "I wish we could've met under better circumstances."

"What are you talking about? What do you want with me?" Lucy repeated herself, putting more base in her voice as she clenched her fists. Her keys were gone, she was low on magic energy, and she couldn't summon a Star Dress. She was defenceless.

"My, how hard did Dimaria hit your head? No matter, she got what she deserved," Zeref mumbled, gesturing over to the far left corner of the guild hall. Lucy turned, finding a body laying in a heap, almost unrecognizable with all the blood and body parts thrown about. She twisted her head away just as quickly. She didn't have the stomach to take in the sight.

"So, tell me about yourself," Zeref smiled politely, his demeanour completely unreadable, "you're an heiress to an incredibly wealthy and well-known family. That's about all I could find on you. Natsu did a great job of hiding you. I'm impressed. I believe I know an ancestor of yours, I was quite fond of her, actually."

"How do you know Natsu? And what do you mean he's been hiding me?"

"Wow, you really don't know, do you?" Zeref said, almost in bewilderment, as he shook his head slightly, "it's alright. I'll show you exactly what I mean."

Lucy gasped as the scenery around them changed, the guild hall faded into black and Zeref blended into the darkness. She felt green beneath her bare feet, birds chirping as she took in the gravel and stone built houses in front of her. People muddled around, women and men wearing a simple piece of cloth as clothing. Men carried spears and swords, while women carried baskets on their hips with small children nipping at their feet. This was a simple village from long ago, she presumed. It was only when a little pink-haired boy rushed past her did she understand.

This was Natsu's life.

Without hesitation, she ran after him, despite the pain she felt from the gravel pricking her feet. The child was nimble as he made his way through the crowds with ease, heading towards a secluded hut on the far right side of the village. Next to the house was a river where Lucy could see men fishing as women chopped their catches on the shore.

"Mama!" Natsu cried, rushing towards one of the women on the shoreline.

Lucy watched from the side as young Natsu embraced an older woman with black hair that was tied into a neat bun. Even from afar, Lucy could see the woman laugh with her son as she propped him up on her hip. The surrounding ladies chopping fish giggled as well, waving them goodbye as they headed towards the hut near the river.

The blonde felt compelled to follow, and so she did.

She watched as an older pink-haired man walked in, hoisting two large fishes over his shoulders, grinning in a familiar way that reminded her of Natsu.

She watched as a dark-haired boy, a few years older than Natsu, run in after him, scrolls clutched to his chest as he chatted animatedly to his family who received him with smiles and laughter.

She watched as they sat and ate dinner, sharing stories of their day, living such medieval lives but being happy despite it all.

She watched a young Natsu with his family; innocent, bright, and filled with such joy. She watched as he snuck a piece of some type of fruit from his older brother's plate, Zeref, who had already noticed but chose not to comment or point it out.

Natsu had a normal, happy family.

He lived happily.

With his older brother, Zeref.

He lived a long time ago, but Lucy knew good things never lasted long. She was barely even fazed when a roar echoed above her head, before the house she stood in was engulfed in an enormous explosion. It felt like what she was watching wasn't real, but she doubted Zeref had conjured this up from his deep twisted mind. It was too detailed to be a lie. It felt too emotional to be a farce.

"Why did you show me this?" Lucy spoke softly, voice breaking as she hugged herself. She picked the faces of Natsu, his mother, and father from the calamity as screams from the village filled her ears. Dragons flew overhead, the familiar flap of wings and the large shadows overcasting the sky proved that much.

"To show you who Natsu truly is," Zeref's voice echoed from the depths, "don't you want to know more about the man you love?"

"I know enough," Lucy scowled as young Zeref, covered in soot and blood, cried amongst the dead bodies of his family.

"I was ten," he said simply, before the area changed again.

She watched as Zeref obsessed over their deaths; never fully moving on. She watched as he discovered magic and the power it had to tamper with life.

She watched as Natsu was brought back from the dead as something else—something inhuman.

-----

"Natsu, I'm sure she's fine,"

"No, no, no, you don't understand! He took her, I know he did," Natsu insisted, climbing down the mountainside as he rushed to the guildhall. The damn prick. Of course, he had to play dirty.

"Why would Zeref take Lucy? That doesn't make any sense,"

Natsu didn't respond, cutting the connection with a scowl, not even wanting to waste time to explain the situation. He moved quickly and fast, he didn't know what state Lucy was in or what fucked up shit Zeref was saying or doing to her.

Such a fucking opportunist, Natsu should've known he would never leave her alone.

He had the key to destroying Natsu in his hands. He had to play this smart.

The fire raged within him dangerously, aching and yearning to come out. Natsu tried to stifle it, but instead he felt his hackles rise.

Time after time, Lucy gets put in danger, but this would be the last time.

Natsu would make sure of it.

To be continued...