Fairy Tail Zeref
Elisabetta Buendia
The Dragneel Family (ドラグニルかぞく Doraguniru Kazoku) was a family of individuals belonging to the human race. Tragedy struck them, when dragons attacked killing the parents and their youngest son. It wasn't until the eldest son and sole survivor of the Dragneel family, Zeref Dragneel, was cursed after he defied the rules of magic and revived his younger brother, Natsu Dragneel, as an Etherious. Zeref soon allowed the resurrected Natsu to be raised by Igneel, the King of the Fire Dragons, a close friend of his who along with, and the Celestial Spirit Mage, Anna Heartfilia, concocted a plan to send the Dragon Slayers - with their dragon foster parents sealed inside them - to a period of time that is rich in Ethernano so that their souls, which were maimed by Acnologia, could properly heal. This coincides with Zeref's initial plan to have his younger brother become powerful enough to destroy him.
While Natsu was sent to the future, Zeref lived out the four hundred years awaiting his brother's arrival and would meet young girl by the name of Mavis. A decade later, Zeref came in contact with Mavis again and their shared curse sired a son named August - who would never know love due to his parents never learning of his existence. August would die sacrificing himself to defeat his enemies and very soon his father, Zeref, would presumably share his fate. As of now, Natsu is the assumed last living member of the family.
400 years ago, Natsu was born as the younger brother of Zeref, and they lived peacefully in a small village with their parents. However, Natsu died at a young age alongside their parents, courtesy of a Dragon attack. This caused Zeref, the only survivor to become a student at the Mildian Magic Academy, where he researched the connections between life, death and Magic to revive his brother. When Zeref was cursed by Ankhseram and then killed everyone around him with his newfound, unwanted Curse of Contradiction, Zeref wished to die and wandered around, creating the Etherious in the hopes that they would kill him, but instead Zeref took care of Natsu but latter was too rambunctious for him to handle as no matter what Zeref did Natsu didn't want to learn to read or write. However one day, while collecting herbs Zeref stumbled across the Fire Dragon King Igneel who unlike most dragons had no problems associating with humans. After acquainting with one another, the two became friends and much later the Dragon offered to teach Natsu Dragon Slayer Magic and raise him himself something Natsu allowed. Zeref then became aware of the plan hatched by Igneel, Metalicana, Grandeeney, Weisslogia and Skiadrum to use the Dragon Soul Technique to seal their damaged souls inside young Dragon Slayers that they have raised and travel to the future, where the Ethernano-dense air would help them recover enough to kill Acnologia. Zeref helped them do so, and had the Celestial Spirit Mage Anna Heartfilia open the Eclipse Gate to the future, while also four hundred years later having Layla Heartfilia open another version of the Gate to connect the two time periods, allowing the Dragon Slayers chosen (Natsu, Gajeel, Wendy, Sting and Rogue) to arrive in the future on July 7, X777.{{Cturned to reviving his dead brother, having preserved his body, as an Etherious, thus fulfilling his goal of bringing his brother back and creating something that could kill him: E.N.D.; Etherious Natsu Dragneel.
Natsu and Zeref met on Tenrou Island while Zeref cried at seeing his younger brother, Natsu didn't recognize Zeref and even punched him. The Black mage was unfazed by this blow and cried as he realized that Natsu wasn't strong enough to kill him wondering how long he had to wait until Natsu was ready to kill him. Natsu was confused at Zeref's behavior and was shocked to find out that he was Zeref. After the conflict with Grimore Heart, Zeref left the island to deal with Hades. When Tenrou Island was "destroyed" due to the attack of Acnologia, Zeref shed tears as he believed Natsu to have been killed.
Seven years later, Zeref learned that Natsu survived Acnologia's attack having spied on the Grand Magic Games and regain a sense of hope that Natsu would kill him. While speaking to Mavis, Zeref thought of a future meeting with his brother now that the latter had gotten stronger.
When Natsu escaped and attacked the enemy guild soldiers, he was confronted by Zeref who stopped time and for the first time spoke with Natsu. Zeref told Natsu some information of E.N.D. and Natsu moved to attack Zeref with the Heat Blade after the latter told him Igneel failed to defeat the demon. The heat blade was unable to damage Zeref as he told natsu that he would be given a choice let E.N.D live or destroy it which left the boy confused. Zeref moved to leave despite Natsu's protests however, Zeref told him that Tartaros spent so much time searching for him to suddenly appear would be a kill joy with that the black mage disappeared.
In the ending stages of the Tartaros War, Natsu's foster father Igneel is revealed to have hidden himself inside Natsu's body and attacked an arriving Acnologia. Igneel entrusted a protesting Natsu with procuring the book of E.N.D. from Mard Geer Tartaros. With the help of Sting, Rogue and Gray Natsu was able to defeat the demon who had relinquished the book of E.N.D..
Zeref later returned during an argument between Gray and Natsu over the book of E.N.D., having come to reclaim the Book of E.N.D for himself before summoning it to his very hand claiming its very important to him. He congratulated Mard Geer for his efforts to "revive" E.N.D. but then dispelled Mard Geer of his living magic changing him back to a book before destroying it while commenting he no longer needed the demon, to natsu's disgust. Zeref remarked that he wanted to settled things with Natsu but Acnologia interfered but promises to bring Natsu more despair should he live through the Dragon King's onslaught. Having recovered the Book of E.N.D., Zeref left the area as Natsu angrily glared at him.
Natsu soon witnessed the death of his foster father Ign by Acnologia's hand and breaks down in tears. Natsu tells Igneel that he had been searching for him for years and now that he's found him the latter is dying. However, Igneel reminds Natsu of what he taught him and tells Natsu to stand which he does and promises to defeat Acnologia.
Elsewhere Zeref recounted his past at trying to revive his dead younger brother, the events which led to him becoming cursed and creating the demons of his books as well managing to successfully revive his brother as E.N.D (Etherious Natsu Dragneel) his last and most powerful demon. Zeref stopped talking to Natsu's book promising to speak with the real Natsu about Igneel and Mavis another day.
Zeref soon journeyed through a rocky area to meet with a mysterious individual where upon meeting that person he notes on the form they chose before taunting them on their lost arm. The person turns out to be Acnologia in his human form who question Zeref's reason for a meeting as both he and Zeref acknowledge their great power but not doing anything with it. However, Zeref tells Acnologia that he will eradicate him and humanity before noting on how Acnologia has been waiting for someone to truly challenge and tells he will make him truly fight. The Black Mage tells the Dragon King to keep waiting as the final battle between the Dragon, Humanity and the Immortal approaches causing Acnologia to smile.
When Zeref subdued Makarov Dreyar, he admitted he was grateful to the elderly mage and thanked him for raising Natsu. Zeref tried to kill Makarov hoping to enrage Natsu but Mest saved him. Natsu was angered to learn Zeref was the Emperor of the Alvarez Empire while Zeref was pleased that Natsu was on the island.
Prior to the invasion, when the fairy tail mages were wondering of how to defeat Zeref with Natsu stating he will take care of Zeref as he has a secret weapon in preparation for defeating him but could only use it once.
Natsu went to confront Zeref and after taking down many soldiers Zeref appeared. When Natsu remarked on how easy it was to get his attention, Zeref stated he wanted to see Natsu as soon as possible. Natsu then battled Zeref while using the power he inherited from Igneel managing to overwhelm Zeref. Pleased by this display, Zeref thanked those who made it possible for him to finally die with those being Igneel, Anna, Layla, Mavis and his dear younger brother Natsu who hits him with a powerful attack.
Zeref ultimately survived the attack as Natsu prepared to attack him once more but Zeref stopped him in order to finally reveal the truth. Zeref tells Natsu his full name is Zeref Dragneel and states he is Natsu's older brother. Zeref went on recounting that four hundred years ago their family was attacked by dragons and that Natsu was killed along with their parents. Zeref explained that he underwent research in order to revive Natsu and using the body of the original Natsu Dragneel and a combination of his magic he was able to resurrect Natsu as E.N.D (Etherious Natsu Dragneel), his last and most powerful demon.
Though shocked, Natsu denied this revelation by bringing up Igneel's failure to defeat E.N.D. and said demon leading Tartaros until Zeref reveals Tartaros was really created by Mard Geer who found Natsu's book and used it to control the other demons. Zeref also explained how Igneel chose not to kill Natsu because he loved him too much to harm him. Even with all this information, Natsu refused to believe it before Zeref proved his story by showing that damaging the Book of E.N.D. harms him as well.
An injured Natsu was forced to listen as Zeref explained everything: he and Igneel were friends, Zeref allowed Igneel to raise Natsu and Natsu was sent to the future through the Eclipse Gate along with Gajeel, Wendy, Sting and Rogue to help their dragon parents defeat Acnologia. Zeref states this was also a way for him to make Natsu stronger, so that one day he would be able to destroy Zeref. Zeref ended his tale by stating he lived out those four hundred years awaiting Natsu's arrival reflecting on how hard it was but Natsu soon lost his patience and charged at his brother, refusing to believe anything else Zeref is telling him. Making no attempt to defend himself, Zeref revealed one more thing if he dies then so will Natsu as he is his creation. The dragon slayer ignored this, accepting a suicidal destiny and tried to kill Zeref but a tearful Happy stopped him and flew away with the protesting Natsu who has lost his chance to kill his immortal brother. As he watches the two of them leave, Zeref tearfully states that Natsu is no longer capable of stopping him now that the last bit of Igneel's power has disappeared and bids his brother farewell.
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