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

XX - Death

Natsu's PoV

It's almost as dark as night, as if the sun was suddenly dimmed like you would a lamp. And that noise...

When I look up, it's as clear as the nose on my face what's going on. Flying overhead is a dragon.

My eyes widen. I stand there, paralyzed, for a moment before I run inside the house as fast as I can.

"KAA-SAN!" I scream. "THERE'S A DRAGON OUTSIDE! A DRAGON!" I don't know whether I'm scared or amazed, but I do know that something serious is going on.

"A dragon? Are you sure?!" My mother rushes over to me. I nod, trembling. She looks out the window to confirm, and takes a step back.

"Natsu. Go hide in the basement. I'll go get your father and join you. It'll probably pass over us, but it's better to be safe than sorry." Her hands are visibly shaking.

"What about nii-san?"

"I'm sure some of our friends in the village will help him if things get bad. Go, Natsu! Now!"

I nod, run over to the hatch the basement, and lower myself down the ladder. Although I try not to cry, I can't help it. I'm not very scared, since kaa-san and oto-san will protect me, but Zeref-nii is out there all by himself.

Loud noises come from overhead as I huddle in the basement for what feels like hours. Kaa-san and oto-san should be here by now. Maybe they went to look for nii-san? I won't let myself imagine the worst.

But eventually, alone in the darkness, my thoughts do stray there. I've overheard kaa-san and oto-san talking about dragon attacks before, so I know what could happen. And I hope the dragon's just passing by with all my heart.

Time flows onwards. I almost fall asleep, but fear keeps me awake. Nobody's joined me yet. Where is everyone?

Suddenly, I hear a loud crack and the room begins to tremble around me. Dirt falls from the ceiling. I shriek and cover my head with my hands.

The shaking intensifies, and one of the large wooden beams crossing the caked dirt ceiling snaps and falls. It lands only a foot away from me, causing me to scream loudly.

I'm so paralyzed with fear that I don't notice the ceiling shifting and coming apart. With a horrible sound, the ceiling is ripped apart and light shines through.

The dragon pokes its head through the gaping hole. I try to scramble away, but there isn't enough room to escape. Is it going to eat me?!

The dragon lunges forwards, sticking a claw straight through my chest. The pain is like nothing I have ever felt before, like I am being torn apart cell by cell. I fall to the ground, coughing up blood.

"Freeze, foul beast!" Through the gap, I see a person facing the dragon - a woman with red hair. They're giving off so much magical energy, even I can feel it. Behind her crouches a small figure - nii-san?! "For killing innocents, I shall have my vengeance!" She nudges Zeref with her foot. "That's your brother, right? He was just attacked by a powerful fire dragon. Chances are he doesn't have much time left. Go to him!"

With tears in his eyes, Zeref jumps down in front of me. The flames are dying out, so he rushes over and holds my hand.

"Natsu! Hang on, you'll be okay once we get you to a healer!" Tears stream down his face. "I can't loose you too!" So the dragon did get kaa-san and oto-san...

I can feel my own heartbeat slowing, and tears form at the corners of my eyes. "Sorry... nii-san. I don't want to... to leave you alone. Gomennasai."

"No! You'll be fine! Don't say such things!" Zeref hugs me, sobbing. His tunic is stained dark red with blood- my blood.

"Nii-san, don't cry. Everything has to die eventually. You told me that once, remember?"

"It's too soon for you! Don't go!"

Everything starts to go black, but before it does, I manage to say one last thing:

"I love you, Zeref-nii."

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What's going on? I feel really weird...

My eyes flutter open. Zeref is sitting next to me, but he's much older than before. It looks like he was crying.

"Nii-san? What's going on?"

"Natsu!" Zeref smiles and bursts into tears. "Finally, you're back!"

"I feel funny..." Everything seems louder than normal, and I can see and smell better; not to mention the strange burning feeling in my gut.

"How much do you remember?" Suddenly Zeref is serious again.

"Um... There was a dragon. And a woman... and you were there too! Then everything hurt. And I don't know what happened. I thought I was gonna die!"

Zeref looks down, biting his lip. "Natsu, I don't know how to tell you this... You did die."

I gape at him. "Whaaaat? You're joking, right, nii-san? I feel a little weird, but I'm really not dead!"

"I'm not joking. You died. But I was able to bring you back, eventually. That day... it was around half a century ago."

"But that's..! How long is that? I know it's a long time..."

"Fifty years."

"That is a long time!"

"Natsu, I have to warn you about something. Don't touch me. And don't try to use magic, either."

I tilt my head. "Huh? Why?"

Zeref sighs. "That'll take a long time to explain... and I don't think you'd want to know either..."