Nalu Story: E.N.D and E.L.H

Zeke

Lucy's POV
To say that you could hear a pin drop on the island would be an understatement. I could literally hear the heartbeats inside of all of my guild mates. Although, something confused me. They're heartbeats weren't picking up like they would when someone gets angry or scared. Instead, they were slowing down from the previous shock of seeing Zeref.

When I heard magic deactivating, I looked up from where I had been staring at the forest floor in shock. What I saw wasn't angry and betrayed faces like I had expected. Instead, looks of sorrow, sympathy, and pity were they expressions they were. Behind that, there was something more as well. Love... I thought. Unconditional love you would feel for a member of your family.

The first to do anything, to my surprise, was Wendy. She wrapped her arms around me and almost knocked me off of the rock I had been sitting on during the story. I relaxed in her small arms and slowly hugged her back, resting my chin on her head.

I looked up when I heard shuffling to see Mira walk over the me and sit beside me on the rock, wrapping me in a side armed hug as well. Erza moved over the Natsu who hadn't been sitting far off and placed a comforting hand on his shoulder. Seeing as she wasn't going to attack him, he relaxed under her touch.

When Wendy and Mira finally let me go I slowly began to get my voice back. "Why?" I asked quietly, afraid they would hear the stifled sobs of happiness in my voice. "Why aren't you angry with us? We kept this from you for at least a month."

Master looked at me with a small smile and said, "I know my children. I know when they are lying to me and when they are telling the truth. Everything you and Natsu just told us, it's all true. Everyone here can tell. Isn't that right?" He asked everyone.

Big, bright smiles broke out onto all of their faces. "Aye, sir!" They shouted.

Slowly, I let my tears fall. Sensing that I was crying, Natsu walked over to me and sat next to me, pulling me into his chest. I felt tears of his own soaking through my shirt, but I didn't care. I looked up at Nashi and Lucas to see they were crying as well. Mavis and Zeref walked over to them and wrapped them in their arms, knowing they didn't like to let others see them cry, even if it is from happiness.

Once we were calm and we'd stopped crying, Natsu asked the question that was on each of our family member's minds. "Wait... what about Zeref?"

Everyone's attention shifted to him. Noticing this, he moved slightly behind Mavis. Her smile grew and a teasing look crossed her face. She won't be forgetting about that any time soon. I thought as I couldn't help but let out a quiet giggle.

Master watched him with a thinking expression on his face. When his eyed each of our pleading looks he sighed. "Do you have the ability to use transformation magic, Zeref?" Zeref looked slightly confused but noded. "How about you use your magic and then come to the guild?" Shocked, yet relieved, looks crossed everyone's faces. "Afterall, the family of my children is my family as well."

Zeref smiled the brightest smile I'd seen him give in years. "Thankyou. This means a lot to me." Mavis, not being able to take it any longer, let out a sob and jumped into his arms. He chuckled a bit but nobody missed the tears falling down his cheeks. "It's alright Mavis. We can all be together again." He said, a sob catching in his throat. He gave Natsu and I a grateful look and mouthed a thankyou.

Back at Camp
Once we got to the camp, Master decided to host the S-Class exams later on. When we asked him what we would tell the guild for why he cancelled them, he simply said he would make something up, leaving us in a tent with our family.

I looked over at Zeref again and smiled. "So... are you going to show us the form you've decided to take for when we get back to Magnolia?"

He just chuckled at me. "Fine." With that he stood up from where he was holding Mavis, unwrapping his arms from around her waste. Slowly his power seeped out of him and a black cloud blocked our view of him. When it cleared, in his place stood a blonde haired man with blue eyes. If it weren't for the fact that we knew it was Zeref, you might think we were blood related.

When he was done, he looked over to us and gave us a perfect smile full of snow white teeth. I couldn't help but giggle along with Mavis at him. "So what are we supposed to call you?" Natsu asked. "We can't exactly go around calling you Zeref."

We all nodded, knowing that might cause a problem. Finally, Nashi spoke up. "What about Zeke?"

"Zeke? Why did you pick that name?" Mavis asked curiously.

"I don't know. I just thought it sounded nice and it fit his looks."

"I like it." Luke stated. "Its close enough to his real name that we won't forget it but far enough off that nobody will be suspicious."

I nodded, liking his reasoning. Natsu jumped up with a mischievous grin on his face, grabbed "Zeke's" hand and said, "Well Zeke, cousin of Lucy, welcome to the family."

We all laughed at him, except Zeref anyway. He just sighed and gave a bright smile. "I'm happy to be here, and I hope to stay for a very long time."