When the E.N.D Comes

Chapter 3: Zeref

"Master..." Gray said aloud, swallowing hard, "I think...I think we have a new problem."

The other mages and Igneel were in similar states of shock and horror as they realized what, or rather, who they were staring at.

He was a young man, with short black hair that drifted in the breeze as did the white toga and red and brown robes that covered his body. He had a small but relieved smile on his face.

"Hello E.N.D..." he spoke, "or should I say; Natsu?"

E.N.D, who still held Lucy close, unwrapped his wings from her and slowly turned to face the newcomer who had spoken his name. Lucy did the same and she gasped in shock.

"It's been a while hasn't it?" The newcomer said.

Slowly, E.N.D raised his arm to shield Lucy as he uttered the name that instantly came from the back of his mind. Together with Natsu's, the Other's, and his voice combined, a single name was uttered.

"Zeref."

Zeref, the dark mage who had created the demons that had tormented the Fairy Tail mages-the one who had created E.N.D-had finally appeared. Zeref inclined his head towards his most powerful creation, that small smile of his still on his face.

"Yes E.N.D," Zeref said, "We meet at last. It seems you have found your host body."

Zeref then frowned slightly, however.

"It would also seem that Natsu wasn't as strong as I thought he was in resisting you."

E.N.D didn't respond. He merely stared at his creator, a tense silence filling the air between the two.

"Y-you." Lucy stuttered out, "What are you doing here?"

"Zeref," Igneel hissed, "I should have known you'd turn up eventually."

"The presence of my demons drew me here. I knew they were up to something that involved trying to awaken E.N.D...so I decided to see what they were up to this time. It seems they've made quite a mess haven't they?"

No one answered but the dark mage wasn't concerned in the least.

"But none of that matters now," Zeref said, "E.N.D has awoken...which mean the endgame can begin."

"What are you talking about?" Gray said but Zeref ignored him.

"E.N.D...Natsu," Zeref said, "Do you remember, last we met, what I asked you?"

E.N.D slowly raised his hand to his temple as he felt a sudden ache fill his head.

"Life or death?" Zeref said, "Which will it be? Will one of you prevail over the other...will one of you be the one to finally kill me?"

E.N.D froze as his hand fell back to his side, a blank look in his glowing eyes.

"Natsu?" Lucy said, "What's wrong...Natsu what's wrong?"

E.N.D didn't respond but his hand began to subconsciously push Lucy back as if sensing an impending danger.

"Stay...back...Lucy." E.N.D said, still in a daze.

"Natsu?" Lucy said in both confusion and fear.

"Not...safe." E.N.D replied.

"So you do remember." Zeref said, "Well now...what will your choice be? Who will it be E.N.D; you or Natsu?"

E.N.D still did not answer, not when his mind was in disarray with Zeref's arrival.

XXXX

At long last, the Other said, my master has returned.