**I don't own Fairy Tail or the characters. They belong to Mashima

So this is just a little idea I had. I may or may not continue it depending on if anyone wants it to continue. The pairing here is NatsuxMavis, definite AU, where Natsu was the one who survived the attack and Zeref was resurrected as an Etherious...**

—x791—

—Tenroujima Island—

"Heh…" Zeref Dragneel dusted himself off as he headed back toward the meeting place. He'd just finished testing Gajeel Redfox and his chosen partner, Levy McGarden, in the annual S-class trials. The iron dragon slayer had done well, but in the end Zeref had decided to fail him. Without Levy's assistance, he'd never figure out the second part of the exam, and in Zeref's estimation there was a lot that the man was lacking despite his skill in battle.

But as he came out of the caves a faint sound reached his ears. The sound of a woman, or a young teenage girl. She was far enough away that he couldn't make out any words, but the voice was coming from off to the right.

But to his right was nothing but dense foliage and more rock. At least, that's what it appeared. But his dragon slayer senses didn't lie to him. The voice definitely came from that area. Leaning forward, he sniffed at the foliage and the rock beyond. There was definitely something else there. A passage, or a tunnel, and a clearing beyond.

He pushed through the thick foliage, not caring as branches slapped against his face and neck. After a few moments he broke through into a long, narrow tunnel. His head knocked against the ceiling of the tunnel, causing him to crouch a little to continue on.

Master Makarov's voice echoed in his mind. There is a place on Tenroujima that is forbidden. Should you ever stumble across a hidden passage, turn back and do not continue down. This rule has been passed down through all masters before me.

Zeref knew he should heed the warning, but he was drawn to the voice beyond the passage. Childish, yet mature it sounded. Like a girl who was still in her early teens, yet lived a life longer and more full than many of the ancient wizards. The soft melodic tones did not yet form coherent words to him, but as he drew closer he could tell she was talking to someone.

The darkness of the tunnel gave way again to light ahead. Not wanting to be discovered, Zeref took each step with care. Every step was a potential hazard. Rocks that looked loose here. Pebbles waited to be displaced by a careless step and clatter across the hard stone. Even the ceiling threatened to betray his presence, looming low with the promise that a slight straightening of his body would result in a painful reminder of why he had to crouch.

After an eternity filled with careful steps, low, labored breathing, and legs growing slightly stiff from maintaining the semi-crouched position, Zeref emerged from the tunnel. Never had straightening to his full height felt so good! The narrow canyon he'd entered offered no low ceiling. Only streaming sunlight cascading over his body and warming his soul. Further down the canyon the voice was getting louder. Its tones stirred his core. So sweet, melodic, with a hint of sadness coloring it. Now a few words were forming themselves from the girl's voice.

"You should see Fairy Tail now, Natsu-kun… It's grown so much since I started it all those years before. Some of their newest generation of wizards is on the island right now, taking the S-class exams. And I've got great news for you, Natsu-kun! Even your brother joined Fairy Tail! He's a really strong wizard too. Igneel taught him well, and he's been S class for 3 years already."

Natsu? Why did that name sound familiar? It wasn't in the guild lore, that was certain, but perhaps in other books somewhere. Zeref tried to place the name as he came around another bend, still masking his magic presence to avoid detection. He came to a quick stop, backpedaling a couple steps and crouching behind a rocky outcrop as he took in the sight before him.

The canyon opened out into a wide, peaceful space, seeming separated from the rest of the world. A small spring bubbled up to his right, and in the middle was a girl who looked to be in her early teens. Her long, blonde hair cascaded down past her waist, stopping almost at her knees. From the side profile he could see her brilliant vermillion eyes, sparkling in the bright afternoon sun as droplets formed at their edges.

"I'm so close, Natsu-kun. I just know I am. Soon I'll be able to have you back, and everything will be alright again. You should see them, Natsu-kun. Everything you've created… I've spent all my time repurposing them to find a way for you to be with me…."

Zeref could also see who she was talking to. The body of a boy who also looked to be in his early teens lay on a large stone slab in front of her. He was clothed in simple black pants and a black vest, with red markings running across it. A shock of pink hair topped his head, and a faint yellow-green light surrounded the body, which had not moved during the entire time Zeref was watching.

But Zeref's mind was still racing from the conversation. This girl said she 'started' Fairy Tail. But according to everything he'd heard, the first master of Fairy Tail disappeared almost a hundred years ago. Furthermore, his mind finally placed the name "Natsu." That was the name of the infamous dark mage who was responsible for creating those 'atrocities' that became known as demons! What was he doing on Tenrou? And why was the first talking to him? And who was this 'brother' that he had in Fairy Tail?!

Wait… She said 'Igneel' taught him will. There was only one Fairy Tail wizard taught by Igneel! But no! That was impossible! He didn't care what the first said. There was no way that Zeref Dragneel was the brother of the most infamous dark mage in history!

"They call them 'demons' now, Natsu-kun…" the first master was saying quietly. "I know you wouldn't like it, but I had to change some of their restrictions so they could perform their mission better. Please don't be angry with me when you come back. It's all so we can be together again…"

Then, as Zeref watched, the tears began to increase in frequency as Fairy Tail's lost first master continued her one-sided conversation. "I've been so lonely all these years without you, Natsu-kun. So many times I wanted to give up… But the thought of being with you again keeps me going. You have no idea how lonely it's been…" Her tears were flowing freely now, sparkling like rain drops as they descended on the pink-haired boy and the ground.

Zeref stayed absolutely still, unable to believe his eyes. The first master of Fairy Tail talking to the infamous dark mage like a former lover? Calling Zeref his brother? According to legends, Natsu had lived as much as 400 years ago, possibly even earlier. No way could he be related to that dark mage! He'd been found as a child by Igneel only 14 years ago!

"Natsu…" But the name sounded somehow familiar. Safe, even. Like a friend he'd long since forgotten. Yet at the same time there was a desire. A compulsion, even. A certainty that Natsu must die. Yes. That sounded right. Natsu, the darkest mage ever to live, was the one mage that Zeref could end and feel no guilt. It just felt right. There was no other way to explain it.

"It's time for me to say goodbye again Natsu-kun," Zeref suddenly realized the first master was done crying and was speaking gently to the boy suspended in front of her. "If all goes well, the next time I see you it will be to bring you back to me. Until that day, remember me, my Natsu-kun…" The girl leaned down and planted a gentle kiss on the boy's lips before pulling back again. Then, without another word, she vanished from the canyon.

Zeref stood there, looking at the space where the girl just was. Should he go forward to investigate further? If this was Natsu, the legendary black wizard, what was he doing on the guild's sacred ground? And why was the guild's first master, who disappeared a hundred years ago, speaking so fondly to his body?

Then another thought crossed his mind. Did master Makarov know about this? He'd warned the guild of the forbidden ground on the island. Was he aware of what was happening there? Or was he just following the rules of the guild without knowing why it was forbidden?

The form of the pink haired man, now identified as Natsu, called to him tantalizingly. A mystery needing to be investigated. He moved forward into the clearing slowly, glancing furtively around to make sure the girl wasn't about to return.

Suddenly his progress was stopped, and the air around him tingled and glowed. Curious, he pushed a hand forward. An invisible force pushed back against his hand, causing the air around them to pules and glow, like ripples on the surface of the water. A shield lay between him and the pink haired man, and a powerful one at that. If the shield was the first master's doing, he had no chance of breaking through.

Just then a yellow flare shot up from the meeting area. Yellow… Meant they were waiting for one of the s-class mages who was helping with the trials. Who would they be waiting for?

"Oh shit!" Zeref said aloud as he realized the flare must be meant for him. The other S-class wizards who had helped out must be at the meeting place already. Quickly he sprinted from the place, the strange opening and the pink-haired man all but forgotten.

Several minutes later he arrived at the agreed upon place, a flat, open area spread out between the caves from which they emerged for the test and the central area of the island beyond.

It appeared that this year's contenders for S-class were Gray, Cana, and Elfman, though the latter would not reveal how he and his partner, Evergreen, managed to get past demon Mirajane. That meant that besides Gajeel, Mest and Juvia were knocked out.

"What kept you so long Zeref?" Makarov's voice cut into his thoughts.

"Oh. I found something odd, and decided to investigate." Zeref said before he thought about it. Well, there he went again, saying something he meant to keep to himself for a while in case it got him into trouble. It almost cost him the S-class trials last year. Almost.

"What did you find?" Makarov looked at him intently.

Zeref sighed, knowing that now there would be no getting out of telling the master what happened. "I found a hidden passage on the way out from the caves. I went down, and there was a girl there with long, blonde hair and bright green eyes… She looked like a young girl, but then she was talking about creating Fairy Tail."

"You saw Mavis?!" Makarov said, his eyes turning to saucers.

"Yeah, and she was talking to this guy in pink hair. I think he was dead or asleep or something, because he never moved the whole time. She called him 'Natsu.' And she was talking to him like they were lovers or something," he said the last part with a frown. The first master of Fairy Tail and the most evil wizard in history lovers? It just didn't make sense.

"Natsu?" Makarov's brow furrowed. "But why would she have him here on the island?"

"I don't know," Zeref shrugged. "I didn't even know who he was till just recently."

Makarov stayed silent for several minutes, staring out into space thoughtfully. Zeref waited impatiently to hear what the old man was thinking.

Finally he could bear the waiting no more. "Master, did you know first master Mavis was still alive, and keeping Natsu here on Tenrojima?"

"What? Of course not," Makarov said. "The place that you entered was declared forbidden ground by the first master, and all of us have respected her order since then. You are the first one other than her to see it."

"Then why do you think she would do that? Why would she be talking to the most evil wizard in history like they were lovers or something?"

Makarov sighed. "Natsu is a lot more complicated than that," he said with a frown. "He's the most feared mage in history, certainly, but whether or not he was actually an evil mage… Well, that's been debated."

"But what about all those demons from his books? Didn't he create those?"

Makarov nodded. "He did, but that's all part of the mystery. For all their power, the demons he created never did anything to harm humans. For over 300 years they existed as our friends, even helping Fiore in various wars in the past."

"But almost 100 years ago Natsu vanished. All reports of his presence stopped coming in. About 15 years after that was when the demons began to turn vicious. They no longer accepted us as their equals and partners, but closed themselves off in their own secret pursuits. Some even engaged in killing humans for sport."

Zeref looked up, surprised. "But if all this is known…"

"The council is doing their best to suppress this," Makarov looked away, off toward the mountains in the distance. "They can't admit to the people that they don't know what's going on, so over the last 70 years they've recreated the story so that the demons were always the enemies of humans, and Natsu himself also."

Zeref thought about all this information, which came as quite a shock to him. There was a chance that the black mage wasn't the evil person he was made out to be? And demons used to be friends with the humans? How much more was there that they were never told? How many people had died in places like the tower of heaven pursuing something that wasn't even real? And had Natsu been here on Tenroujima, safely hidden by the first master, for nearly 100 years?

Then another thought struck him. "Didn't first master disappear nearly 100 years ago?"

"Very perceptive, as always Zeref," Makarov said approvingly. "There were many who wondered if it was a mere coincidence that she disappeared shortly after the black wizard. But she announced her departure. She left the guild in master Purehito's hands, gave us the instructions about Tenroujima, and then we never heard from her again."

Then the guild master turned. "But I must oversee the rest of these trials. We may need to talk more of this later."

With that he was gone, leaving Zeref with a lot of new information to think about.

So there it is. As I said, I may or may not continue it depending on the interest.