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

XXII - Revival

Meanwhile, in Alvarez...

???'s PoV

I sit up, rubbing my head. I feel really strange. And why am I sitting on the ground in a dark room?

Strike that, how am I even alive?

A door opens with a loud creak, and I squint against the bright light that shines through. Standing in the doorway is a man whom I vaguely recognize, but I can't recall his name.

"You're awake, huh? I wasn't quite sure this method would work on you."

The person walks in. It is a man wearing light colored clothing. He has blond hair and a cross on his forehead.

"What's going on? I thought... I thought I died." I stare at my hands.

"We were able to bring you back. You, and the other eight. They were all back first, actually."

"'We...?'"

"Oto-sama and I. Although for you, we did need a bit of help from one of your master's friends. It's lucky she absorbed a bit of your power during the incident, or resurrecting you would have been nigh impossible."

My eyes widen. "You said 'one of your master's friends.' What do you mean? Master END has been sealed away for more than four hundred years!"

The person sighs. "His power and memories of being END were sealed, yes, but he himself was not. Ever since the summer of 777, he has been living as a human wizard with no idea of his true identity. Until recently, at least." He turns to look piercingly at me. "Have you really forgotten what your master looks like when he's not in his Etherious form? Well, it has been four hundred years, and he was rather small back then..."

"What are you trying to say?"

He smirks. "That in this day and age, your master is known by two different names. Master END of Tartaros, of course... but also the Salamander, Natsu Dragneel of Fairy Tail."

"Fairy Tail?!"

"Honestly, how did you fail to realize? Oto-sama says you actually fought him." The person turns to leave, calling back- "If you wish to make amends, I shall take you to him."

That pink-haired boy... was really Master END all along?!

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Back with the rescue team...

Lucy's PoV

Erza tilts her head. "I thought you already undid the seal? You said that back in Alvarez, didn't you?"

"I only released the part of the seal that held his power, and very slightly so it would return gradually over time." The dark wizard looks more nervous than I have ever seen him. "Having the seal completely released means all of Natsu's power, and his memories, will return at once. That holds the potential to drive him berserk..."

"What do you mean, berserk?" Happy asks. I'm not entirely sure if I want to know.

"He might go wild and destroy everything in his path until someone can restrain him." Zeref swears under his breath. "Really, what were these people thinking?"

Erza looks up at the tower. "It doesn't seem like anyone's coming out-" she begins to say, when suddenly the ground begins to tremble. Poor Wendy's face turns a sickly color.

And then the tower bursts into flames.

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A bit earlier