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

XIV - Gildarts Returns

"Heeeey, Zeref!" Lucy knocks on the door several times. He's renting an apartment in the same building as hers so she can keep an eye on him (Natsu and Happy wanted him to stay with them, but their house is too small.) "You up?"

It's been a few days since returning from the Lilac job. The team has done a few small jobs in the area, but nothing that lasted for more than a day. Gray returned last night from his solo mission. Actually, it was a request for him and Mirajane; but she was sure Gray could handle it on his own.

"Yeah, I'm up." Zeref walks out of his apartment, yawning. "What is it? I thought we weren't going to the guild for another hour."

"Well, normally, but Gildarts is coming back today so Natsu's most likely there already."

"Who's Gildarts?" Over the last few days, the dark wizard had meet many of the Fairy Tail members, although few were informed of his true identity. The only ones who know other than the Masters and Natsu's team are Evergreen, Elfman, Mirajane and Lisanna. (Master didn't even want Evergreen, Elfman, and Lisanna to know, but the first two met Zeref on Tenrou and he couldn't really expect Elfman and Mirajane to keep it a secret from their little sister.)

"Oh, right. Gildarts is the most powerful wizard in Fairy Tail! Now let's go before the Shift!" Lucy runs out, Zeref on her heels.

"The what?"

"You'll see!"

They barely make it to the guild hall before the ringing of bells fills the air. The ground trembles under their feet as sections of the city lower and others rise and move to form a large passageway leading straight to the guild. Zeref's eyes widen. "I take it this is the Shift you mentioned?"

"Yep, the Gildarts Shift. Weird, isn't it? Gildarts destroys everything he touches if he isn't paying attention, so this prevents the city from-"

"From going KABOOM!" Natsu runs out of the open door and tackles Lucy. She shrieks and tries to push him off.

"Get off of me, Natsu!"

"Fine." He flips backwards, landing on his feet. Happy flies out of the guild hall.

"You probably shouldn't tackle Lushee."

Natsu ignores the Exceed and waves at a figure down the road. "HEEEEY! WELCOME BACK, GILDARTS!"

More people exit the guild hall at the sound of Natsu's yell. Everyone seems happy except Cana, who's sulking, and Zeref, who has no idea what's going on.

Gildarts makes his way up to the group, and greets Makarov who is standing in front. "Hey, Master."

"I know you just got back, but can you meet me in my office?" Master grins and adds, "Once you catch up with your daughter, of course."

------------------------------------

Makarov, Erza, Mirajane, Natsu, and Zeref are waiting for Gildarts in the Master's office. Natsu taps his foot impatiently. "When's that old geezer going to get here?"

"Gildarts? Old?" Zeref looks surprised. "If he's old, then Makarov's really old, and I'm practically ancient."

"You are practically ancient!"

"Then you are too."

"I've been meaning to ask, how-" Erza is begins to ask about that when Gildarts walks in.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. I would have been here sooner, but I had to deal with an angry Cana first." He grins sheepishly.

"That's fine," Makarov assures him. "Before we tell you anything, just promise you won't tell anyone outside the this room about it, okay?"

"All right, I won't tell anyone. But who's this guy?" Gildarts squints at Zeref. "Never seen him before."

"Well, that's the first thing. This man is Zeref-"

"Zeref?! And you're just standing there like he's any random person?!" Gildarts stares at the dark wizard, his jaw dropped nearly to the floor.

Mirajane stifles a laugh at Gildarts' expression.

"Let me finish!" Makarov clears his throat and continues. "Yes, he is the Dark Wizard Zeref, but I can assure you he means no harm to Fairy Tail in this state."

Meaning that if the curse comes back, he doesn't know what will happen, Zeref assumes.

"Still, why'd you let him in the guild hall?!"

"That's where Natsu comes in-" Master begins, but Gildarts cuts him off again.

"Oh, I was wondering what he was doing in a meeting that seemed like it was for S-Class. No offense, kid."

"WILL YOU STOP INTERRUPTING ME!!" Master yells.

"Sorry, Master."

"ANYWAY. As I was saying before someone so rudely interrupted, that's where Natsu comes in." It seems that Makarov is enjoying leaving Gildarts in suspense. "You see, Zeref is Natsu's older brother."

Gildarts' jaw drops insanely far again.

"Oh, and remember how during the Tartaros incident I sent you a letter asking if you knew anything about Tartaros and E.N.D.?" Yep, Master is definitely enjoying this.

"Yeah..."

"Well, we don't need to worry about E.N.D. either, since it turns out E.N.D. is actually Natsu!"

Zeref didn't think it was possible for Gildarts' jaw to drop any longer, but lo and behold, it does.

"Alright, so that just about covers it; just make sure not to tell anyone."

"Wait, so if Zeref is- and Natsu- then how?" Gildarts stammers.

"Huh?"

"How are you two brothers if he-" the confused mages points to Zeref- "is over four hundred years old?!"

Natsu looks from Zeref to Gildarts. "Actually, now that you mention it, I don't know either." The S-Class wizards facepalm.

"Well, that's a question that involves more than just Natsu and I." Zeref turns to Makarov. "I know Wendy Marvell and Gajeel Redfox are in your guild, but do you have any idea where the other two dragonslayers are? My answer to that question involves all five of them."

Frowning, Natsu counts on his fingers. "Five? You only said four."

Erza rolls her eyes at him. "He's obviously including you."

"Oooooh."

"The other two are in the guild called Sabertooth; Fiore's second strongest guild," Master tells Zeref, ignoring Natsu.

"Never heard of it. Then again, I don't know much about Ishgar guilds."

"You're not from Ishgar?" Gildarts asks.

"Originally, yes; but now I live in Alvarez."

"He doesn't just live there!" Natsu slings an arm around his brother's shoulders. "He's the freaking emperor!"

Gildarts' jaw drops again, leaving Zeref to wonder how that doesn't hurt.

"And since I'm his brother, I'm a prince! Pretty cool, huh?"

This time Gildarts falls to the floor in a heap. Mirajane rushes over to his side. "I think you startled him so much he fainted," she says, and everyone laughs.