These Blood-Soaked Pages (Fairy Tail) [Book 1 of Reaper's Scythe]

V - Master's Theory

"NATSU'S BEEN KIDNAPPED!"

Lucy, Erza, Gray, and Happy had spent the afternoon and most of the night looking for Natsu after he mysteriously vanished. Zeref had yelled how dare you hurt my little brother! and then both he and Natsu were gone. By the time Lucy thought of asking Wendy to track them by scent (Gajeel was on a job with Levy,) the trail had faded.

So the next morning the five made this startling announcement in the guildhall. "If anyone finds any clues on his location, please let us know," Erza says, standing on a table to draw attention.

"As if things weren't bad enough," Makarov mutters. "The Book of E.N.D. was stolen, and if that wasn't bad enough, Zeref kidnapped Natsu! And someone drew a mustache on a picture of Mirajane!" Everyone sweat-drops at the last one.

Mirajane sighs. "Master, it's just a picture. We need to find Natsu and the Book of E.N.D. as soon as possible."

Erza jumps off the table- loudly, thanks to her armor- and walks over to Makarov. "Master, may I have a private word with you? There's something else, but if it means what I think..."

When Makarov nods, Erza follows him to his office. She closes the door behind her, and when she faces forwards she can see Mavis looking at a Sorcerer Weekly magazine open on Makarov's desk.

"Sixth Master- oh right, you're Eighth Master now- why do you have a magazine with Mirajane in a bikini with a mustache and a beard drawn on her?" Erza probably would do a spit-take at the First's words if she had anything to drink.

Makarov snatches the magazine away from the desk. "The drawings aren't my fault! They were suddenly there after the Book of E.N.D. vanished!"

"It vanished?" Erza asks, startled. "That's what happened with Natsu and Zeref, one second they were there, the next they were gone!"

"I probably should have warned you, Zeref can use a certain type of immobilization magic. Don't get me wrong, it's not your typical paralysis spell, but rather it's a type of black magic that freezes time for all but who the caster deems fit." Mavis says, sitting on Makarov's desk. "It's extremely powerful, but it drains magic rapidly. Even Zeref probably can't use it for more than ten minutes at once."

"I suppose that's why it seems like Natsu, Zeref, and the Book of E.N.D. just vanished." Makarov sits back in his chair, sighing. "Erza, what did you want to tell me? You could have said that much back in the hall, there's something else, right?"

Erza nods. "Just before Natsu and Zeref disappeared, Gray hit Natsu with his devil-slayer magic activated. Natsu was knocked out, even though Gray said he didn't hit him harder than normal. Then Zeref yelled 'how dare you hurt my little brother!' I can't be sure, but do you think..."

The chair creaks as Makarov shifts his weight. "I've suspected something like this ever since the Tartaros incident, actually. E.N.D.... nobody knows what it stands for, but the 'E' is probably for 'Etherious.' N.D. are Natsu's initials... Apparently Zeref seemed to know Natsu... He was easily hurt by devil-slayer magic... it all fits. Furthermore, when I concentrated I discovered that Natsu has a strange aura similar to the Future Lucy and Future Rogue from the Eclipse Gate, which was dark magic. This is just a theory of course, but it would be a good thing for us if Natsu really is E.N.D."

"Why is that?"

"Because that would mean one less demon to worry about!" Makarov laughs. "Even though we can't prove it one way or another, please don't tell anyone, least of all Gray. Who knows how he'd react."

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Zeref looks out the cave entrance, brushing aside the moss with the back of his hand. "Looks like the coast is clear. Natsu, can you walk?" He looks back to see the dragonslayer with an ashen face and blood dripping from his nose. I thought he just got a concussion! This is bad...

"I'm fine," Natsu mutters when Zeref goes to check on him. "Just a little... dizzy... is all..."

"You're obviously not fine. I need to get you to a doctor." But where? Surely Fairy Tail would have informed the other magical guilds that Natsu was kidnapped, and if Zeref's suspicions are correct then only a mage with either healing magic or the ability to create potions will be able to save Natsu's life.

The dark wizard thinks that being hit with devil-slayer magic while not completely a demon may have triggered some sort of a reaction between Natsu's human and demon halves. Having Natsu fully transform into E.N.D. might fix it, but Zeref doesn't want to risk the chance that it will become worse. If the problem is left alone for more than a month, Natsu might literally split in half. Zeref knew creating a demon with a human body might cause some unintended problems, but he never imagined anything like this...

If the chance of finding a skilled mage in Fiore that wouldn't bring Natsu back to Fairy Tail is low, Zeref will just have to look elsewhere. He rummages through his pack until he finds a communication lacrima. It's shaped like a sphere with a metal base. The lacrima itself has a slight yellow tint. He walks over to the entrance of the cave, away from Natsu, and sits down.

Zeref presses something on the base of the lacrima and a man's face appears in the crystal. "Your Majesty! We've been worried about you, you haven't called for a few days!"

"Hello, Invel. I'm sorry, but can you please send one of our fast but small airships? I know you can see the lacrima's location. The matter is urgent."

Invel's face pales. "Has something happened?"

"Not to me, but..." Zeref lowers his voice to ensure Natsu won't hear. "I told you about my brother, didn't I? Well, I found him, but he's in a bad state and is in dire need of treatment."

"I'll send a ship to bring you both back right away, Your Majesty."