Encounter with Death/Sailing with sickness

400 years ago….

A loud roar shakes the battlefield in victory. Acnologia walks slowly on the desolate land he created. He breathes out his mouth causing smoke to leave out from it. His tail swings behind him. His wings bounce every step he takes.

He sniffs the air, only smelling ash and the slowly burning corpses of the dragons he slain. Their bodies are spread out on the battlefield in a way that there is no way to differentiate who they were. Mostly because they are covered by dirt and ash. Which is easily mistaken from real dirt.

Acnologia's feet crushes a rib cage without noticing. He continues to walk like it was some ordinary day. The difference from a normal day was that the sky was covered with a thick layer of smoke that not anyone can breaths so easily in.

There is a reason why Acnologia walks aimlessly. His hunger for blood lingers within him. Every muscle in his body wants to fight. It could be his dragon instinct finally taking control over his mind or could be that his revenge for his loved ones isn't finished. These thoughts confused Acnologia.

Acnologia stops walking after noticing that he couldn't hear anything. It surprised him since, a dragon's hearing is a hundred times stronger than a human. He stretches his neck out and inhales. Other than the smell of death, there was no new scent yet feels uneasy.

He exhales and turns his head to the right, wondering what is making him feel like this. He turns his head to the other direction and see's nothing. He opens his mouth and roars that roar that can put fear into someone's very soul and paralyze them where they stand. His roar echoes throughout the empty battlefield.

Suddenly, smoke started to form in front of Acnologia who roars his signature dragon roar right through the torso of a figure, dispersing the smoke.

However, that didn't stop it from recollecting itself. It slowly starts forming again and this time, Acnologia growls and exhales through his nose. His instincts is going wild more now than fighting an entire army of dragons. This time, he feels scared and he hasn't felt that in some time. His nails slowly drag against the ground.

"Who are you?" Acnologia asked with a deep and nerve racking tone.

A hand is seen finishing forming within the smoke which is part of the figure made up of smoke. The figure didn't look human. Its legs were long and thin. Its feet and hands were bony and thin. Its chest is buffed and had wings with huge holes. Its head had horns with one of them split in half. The most unsettling part about this figure is its face being just a oval shape circle filled with darkness swirling in it.

"I'm...God Ankhseram…" the figure spoke in a calm and eery tone.

"Impossible...he's just a legend" Acnologia responds with disbelief.

"Yet im here, standing before you...Acnologia" Ankhseram said, levitating off the ground.

"grrrr...I dont believe!" Acnologia said angrily with a roar vibrating around him.

"...You will believe me one day...and on that day, you will help me-" Ankhseram gets interrupted.

"I help no one but myself!" Acnologia yells, crouching down, about to attack.

"listen to me….When I'm talking" Ankhseram said with a tone that caused Acnologia to tremble with fear.

It felt like a force pushing him down, restraining his movements in place. He had his head against the ground with his mouth slightly open and had his arms trying to push against the force.

"Urgh!" Acnologia said in pain, feeling his head pulse violently.

"...Understand this...my strength is far superior to yours, you can't hurt or kill a god of death" Ankhseram spoke and releases Acnologia from his words causing him to fall flat on the ground.

"Grrrugh.." Acnologia breaths heavily.

"You just tasted the power...of my cursed words" Ankhseram said.

"...Why have you come to me then?" Acnologia asked, slowly rising not completely believing him.

"because of what you created…" Ankhseram answers, swaying his hand to the desolate area. "This place reeks of death and blood...I had no choice but to rise from the depths of the darkness to comfort who caused such chaos"

"...There's more to it than that" Acnologia said with suspicion. "say what you want or dont say anything at all"

"Alright…" Ankhseram spoke slightly lowering its head them brought it back up. "...there has been people in the living playing with magic that should not be cast...these people get cursed by me..however this isnt a problem, what is a problem is what this individual cursed by me will do...Zeref Dragneel"

"Zeref.." Acnologia said, growls at the name he recognized.

"he is cursed with immortality...living a life with no end...but I have underestimated him...and his power" Ankhseram states.

"Do I sense fear from the god himself from a human?" Acnologia mocks with a chuckle.

"The opposite…I fear nothing" Ankhseram exclaims. "In this time, Zeref is making a plan to defeat you...as well as ending the curse I put him in...yet there is more to his plan than that...what he thinks will free him, will end up...turning this world upside down"

"What are you telling me and how does this involve me other than my death" Acnologia asked with interest.

"Your a primary factor..in the distant future, a hole will open...something will enter this world and bring something new to the order of this world...and will try to conquer it"

"Ha, are you serious?...i'm the strongest being on this world…" Acnologia said, pausing and growls softly. "Next to you"

"..What I say is the truth..since, I've seen the potential future...I don't want any other ruler to enter my world besides myself" Ankhseram said, raising his hand to him. "That is why I ask, for you to join me to end the possible threat to this world and probably to your own plans on revenge...Acnologia, for your family-"

Acnologia slashes Ankhseram, splitting him in half. He walks through his smokey body and flaps his wings. He growls loudly.

"I've listen to what you have to say...now leave me alone" Acnologia said in a deep tone.

"Runaway as much as you like from me...but you should remember" Ankhseram said, forming once again. "You have used one of my magic...Acnologia the dragon king is cursed with..becoming the thing he hates the most…"

Acnologia keeps walking with his teeth clenched and exhaling through them.

"A dragon" Ankhseram finishes then a red flame appears over his hand. "The day that the hole will open...is when the sky turns blood red, and when the crimson slayer becomes active.."

"Crimson Slayer…" Acnologia said, with his ears twitching from the words. "I already killed the crimson dragon emperor-"

Acnologia stops walking and puts his head down. He takes a few seconds until he raises his head up and opens his mouth. A mighty roar comes from him, shaking the ground. He jumps into the air and spreads his wings.

"Crimson Slayer...I heard that somewhere before.." Acnologia said with a evil grin and flies away with speed.

Ankhseram watches him leave then looks at the death on the ground. He puts his hands forward. Slowly black energy comes from the dead corpses and into Ankhseram.

"You can rest...you dont need this anymore" he said, absorbing the last magical energy the bodies hold. "Zeref, you are an incredible human...but you dont know what powers your dealing with"

OOO

A bright flash of orange slowly enters the young pink haired dragon slayer, named Natsu. He faints, falling forward. Zeref catches him before he falls.

"Its done...Igneel will now protect one of your transformations into a dragon" Zeref tells Natsu softly. "Anna, have the others finished?"

"Yes, everything is ready...all the dragons entered their students" Anna heartfillia answers, standing behind him.

"Good..time to begin...gather your keys" Zeref said, slowly placing Natsu down on a patch of grass.

Zeref stares in front of him and brings his left hand forward. His white sash sways with the wind moving intensely. White sparkles appears slowly with the wind twirling them.

"Break" Zeref spoke, causing the celestial gate to appear with a force of wind right after.

"Your illusions are impressive...would never think that the gate would be right here" Anna said with a smile.

"There arent many that know of the time gate….was easy to hide" Zeref states.

"Well then...time to open the gate isnt it" Anna said, closing her eyes and smiling.

A bright flash of golden light circles around Anna. The glow came from each of the 16 celestial keys she contains. She opens her eyes that glows brightly golden. Her magically energy spills out from her.

Zeref can feel the light within Anna's magic. The total opposite from his magic that only brings death. He's envious of her magic yet is glad that he met her.

Each of the keys point directly at the key holes in the gate. They launch toward the holes and clicks.

Anna's magic comes to a halt but her eyes still shines. There is also a golden outline around Anna.

"There might not be alot of magic in this time...but your magical power is...amazing" Zeref states, impressed.

"Thank you...I've trained alot to become who I am today….I wanted to surpass my limits" Anna said with a smile. "Sadly, I won't know my true potential in this time because of the shortage in magical energy"

"...In the future, there will be much more than this time...and that's the best time to bring the end to Acnologia" Zeref said.

"Well right now..lets focus, in the present" Anna said, slowly moving all the keys in the key sockets.

She breathes heavily feeling her magic slowly draining from her. Sweat slides off her forward but she continues. The reason she puts herself in danger of losing her magic or her life is that she believes in Zeref's plan. Acnologia is a threat, she knows very well what he is capable of. She isn't strong enough to take him on alone.

The keys click again and the gate slowly opens revealing a white light, blinding the two for a few seconds then showing them a portal looking like the galaxy itself.

Anna falls to her knees and breaths heavily. She can faint any second but there is still things she must do.

"Can you continue?" Zeref asked in a worried expression.

"Yes.." Anna answered, slowly standing up. "It's not easy being the gatekeeper, you know"

"Hmm" Zeref said with a slight smile. "Bring the children"

Anna waves her hands to her side causing sparkles to fall out. Then, appears the dragon slayers sleeping silently in their baskets. Anna smiles seeing how cute they are.

"Zehm" Natsu said slowly opening his eyes.

"Uh?" Zeref said confused then looks down noticing Natsu slowly waking. "Natsu-"

His eyes widen after feeling a surge of power blast in his face from Natsu. Anna is shocked wondering what's happening to Natsu.

A dark ora covers Natsu who slowly stands. Growls can be heard that soon became screams.

"Ahhh!..it burns!" Natsu yells, hugging himself.

"Natsu calm down-" Zeref said feeling nervous.

"Aaahh!" Natsu screams once more and the energy around him grows intensely that the eclipse gate is being affected too.

"Zeref the gate!" Anna said, staring at the gate that starts absorbing magical energy.

The sleeping dragons slayers are slowly being dragged into the gate. Zeref couldn't believe whats occuring. He feels something stinging his chest. He reaches in with his hand and pulls out the book written with three letters

"E.N.D" Zeref said surprised seeing the book glow.

"Zeref!...the children are about to enter the gate" Anna yells at him with worry.

Zeref turns his head to the children already seeing them enter it. He looks at Natsu again. He now understands whats happening. He feared this when Igneel told him that without him inside Natsu, he will turn into a dragon. There was doubt in his mind about it working since, there is already another transformation Natsu is hiding. His etherious form.

"There was a high chance of this happening….but im glad i prepared for such events…" Zeref states. "Let the children enter through the gate….you should follow behind them"

"What!?...what about Natsu?" Anna ask not knowing whats he thinking.

"He will stay….I will find another celestial mage to open the gate once again...but for now" Zeref said, slowly turning to her with a small smile. "Give me….the gift"

Anna can see something different in his smile. She always as her guard up around him ever since they met. It wasn't his power that made her skin crawl but was that smile because it wasn't a real one.

Within her clothing she pulls out, a white scaled scarf she knitted when one of Igneel's scales fell. She gives it too Zeref who walks closer to Natsu.

In a swift motion, he wraps the scarf around Natsu's neck which stopped his etherious power from coming out. Natsu faints and Zeref catches him again.

The gate swallows up the last of the dragon slayers named Wendy. Anna stares at the gate feeling the power decrease.

"Its time for me to go" Anna tells Zeref, walking toward the gate.

He watches her who stops right in front of the gate and turns her head to him.

"Take care of yourself" she tells him.

"We will meet again...friend" he responds to her.

She smiles and nods. She goes through the gate causing the doors to shut. They keys locks the gate and flies out of their holes, going in random directions.

"Seems like we are going to spend more time...little brother" Zeref said, looking down at Natsu.

OOO

Present

Natsu stares at the handcuffs that disables his magic. He can feel his stomach ache and growl from hunger. He leans his back against the wall and sighs. He looks at the door in front of him which has a window with bars. Some light comes through the window which is his only light in the room.

The room shakes a bit causing Natsu to turn green. He can feel his vomit shoot out from his stomach to his throat but swallowed it before it can go through his mouth. He hated doing that whenever he has motion sickness. Its worse now since he's on a ship.

"Urgh! Get me off this stinkin ship!" Natsu spoke feeling nauseous.

He can feel the boat move left, right, up and down. Its causing his stomach fluids to spin inside along with his head. Its an endless cycle of spinning with no end. Natsu couldn't take the torture. Any second now, he will vomit and the smell from that will force him to do it again and again. Thinking about it is making him want to vomit.

Suddenly, Natsu hears footsteps coming from outside. The door opens revealing a man with glasses.

"Don't worry we're almost there" Lahar tells Natsu.

"..you should know, you got the wrong guy" Natsu said, narrowing his eyes at him.

"Your the closest thing that matches the killer"

"And, so what...its coincidence that the killer uses fire magic and apparently he's a dragon slayer too!...but im not him!" Natsu said loudly.

"Even so…" Lahar said looking down at him. "We cant turn a blind eye to the possibility that you are...the crimson slayer"

The door shuts leaving Natsu gritting his teeth. He hated being ignored. He is being accused for something he didn't do. News spread about the disasters that follow the crimson slayer. Villages were burnt, lives we're taken and a witness said he saw a glimpse of the killer. Since, Natsu is the only fire dragon slayer, he was pinned being the killer.

However, during the time of the attacks, Natsu was at the mountains where Igneel disappeared but because no one can prove that, he is being accused as the killer.

The only thing Natsu can do now is, wait for his friends to clear his name somehow. Even though he's impatient, what can he do behind bars. Simply, nothing.

OOO

In Magnolia, the rumors about Natsu spread like bugs and everyone started hating Natsu except his guild, Fairy tail. However, the thoughts of that guild changed after hearing that Natsu is the crimson slayer.

In Fairy tail, everyone we're in the dining area waiting for Master Makarov to discuss what they will do for Natsu. Some were angry and enraged from the false lies about Natsu. Others were worried about him since the news about him being captured by Lahar, the captain of the custody enforcement unit.

"Poor Natsu, wonder what they will do to him" Elfman said, sitting on a bench with a frown.

"He will be ok, he's tough" Mira said to him, trying to ease his feelings.

"Crimson slayer...why would they call Natsu that?" Gajeel asked to no one specifically.

"Some say, because his flames turn blood red after killing a large amount of people" Levy answered next to him.

"Natsu is no killer!" Gajeel states with an angry look.

"N-no, I didnt mean Natsu flames but the crimson slayer!" Levy said nervously, trying to not make Gajeel take it the wrong way.

"Oh." Gajeel said, calming down. "Well, Natsu doesn't reeks of blood so he has that going for him"

"Ya" Levy said softly.

"What's taking the master so long?" Gray asked shirtless.

"Well, he's with Erza.." Lucy answers, already use to his randomly stripping habits. "They must be having a serious conversation with one another"

"Probably..knowing Erza, she would want to rush to Natsu and clear his name soon as possible" Gray exclaims.

Suddenly, the room went quiet after hearing a door creak open. They all look up at the balcony and sees Master Makarov with a serious expression and Erza right next to him.

"All of you already know...one of our family members has be captured and accused and right now is heading to the magic council...I know all of you care for Natsu and want him to free him but its not easy...this isnt simply fighting off bandits but the magic council...a group made up of important people that govern the entire magic world...fighting isnt the answer in this case..which is why.." Makarov pauses. "We wont take action until the day Natsu will be judge whether he is guilty or not"

Many of the guild members were shocked and surprised at what Master decided. He's basically asking them to do nothing and just wait. Some understands his decision and others didn't. That being, Lucy.

"Wait!..hold on, Natsu is innocent...he doesn't need to be judge!" Lucy said raising her voice. "Why can't we go to the magical council and tell them that!?"

"Its not simple Lucy...without prove of Natsu's whereabouts on the night of the attacks, we cant simply knock on their doors and ask for Natsu to be set free" Makarov replies.

"But-" Lucy started until getting interrupted.

"Lucy...I know how much Natsu means to you...we all feel the same way but….if we go there and if we force our way to free Natsu...that will just prove Natsu being guilty even more…" Erza exclaims with a small frown. "We just have to wait.."

"Until when?." Lucy asked softly, with a frown.

"His judgement day which is in five days" Makarov answered.

"Five days..where is Natsu going to be before his judgement day?" Gray asked.

"A prison" Makarov replies.

Lucy eyes widen and can't help feeling her heart ache imagining Natsu in a prison cell all alone. Being trapped in a place where you feel powerless and can't do anything except just sit there counting the hours away. She shakes her head, trying to push the thought out.

"That is all...I will keep you updated but for now, pray for Natsu's freedom" Makarov said, turning and walking back to his office.

For the next five days, they will be playing the waiting game. Lucy doesn't know if she can handle it. Without her best friend by her side, making her laugh and entering her apartment without permission, it wouldn't feel right to her.

However, she isn't going to sit around doing nothing. Natsu didn't when she was kidnapped. Instead, he fought and rescued her and another time when she was on that ship. Without thinking of his motion sickness, he came and saved her. A smile appears on her face remembering those moments.

Now it's time for her, to save him. She may not be as strong as him but is smarter. She starts turning her head, looking for Wendy in the crowd of people. She finds her and runs to her.

"Wendy! Come with me" Lucy tells her, grabbing her by the hand and drags her away before she can respond.

"O-ok" Wendy stuttered confused.

OOO

Clothes starts flying in the air, with Wendy dodging every single one but with a fearful expression.

"Where is it?' Lucy said, on her knees throwing things she finds under Natsu's bed.

"W-what exactly are you finding?" Wendy asked.

"Before Natsu went to search for Igneel again..he bought a small detailed statue of Igneel-" Lucy answers then finding the statue. "Got it!"

Lucy stands and walks over to Wendy. She shows her the statue of Igneel. Wendy awed in how perfect it looks. Igneel was standing on all fours with his wings at his sides. His head stretched out with his teeth slightly showing.

"He said that there was a faint scent he smelled on this statue which he thought would lead to the one who created the statue.." Lucy said, showing the bottom. "Her name is here...Emilia"

"I see…" Wendy said.

"So, can you please smell this statue for me...it might lead us to where Natsu was" Lucy asked her.

"Sure" Wendy responds then sniffs the statue.

Lucy gulps watching her expression, hoping she smells the same scent Natsu said there was. Wendy stops sniffing it and looks straight into Lucy's eyes.

"I don't smell anything" Wendy tells her.

"You don't" Lucy said with a confused expression. "So what made Natsu obsessed with a scent that wasn't even there"

"I'm not sure Lucy…"

"Well, thank you for your help" Lucy said with a smile that only mask her disappointment.

OOO

It's dark out, with the full moon shining brightly. Lucy is in her apartment with her lamp light on. She sits on her bed, holding the dragon statue close.

"What made Natsu think you would lead to Igneel" she spoke to the statue.

She sighs, softly chuckling at herself for talking to an inanimate object. She lays the statue next to her while she turns her head to the window. She gazes at the moon. Her one hope to helping Natsu, ended with failure. Even if she wanted to fight, she didn't even have the strength along with the courage. She has doubt in her abilities which is why she is envious toward her friends since they can handle themselves. She on the other hand, always needs protecting.

She turns her body, causing her hand to hit the statue. She feels it and looks down at the slowly falling statue. Her eyes widen slowly seeing it get closer to the floor. Her mouth slowly opens. The statue hits the ground, splitting into two.

"Ahh!" Lucy screams, jumping to the floor. "No, no, no...this can't be!"

Lucy panics seeing Natsu's precious statue broken because of her. She shivers in fear what he will say to her once he sees it. She soon realise something within the broken pieces of the statue. She reaches down and pulls out a folded up paper. She unfolds it and is surprised that there is two sheets of paper with writing on it. Lucy sits on her floor and slowly mouth the first words that are written.

"Dear, Natsu…"

XXX

Author Note: Just to give the readers a little more detail on what I'm doing, each chapter will contain two things. The past and the present. Basically, two stories in one but focus on the present. Why I'm doing this, is for Natsu new past. Not all will be mention in this story but you will understand once we get further in the story. So there won't be too much confusion the more further you read, hopefully. :3

Hope this got your interested on this story.

One more thing...this is a continuation/sequel to internal flame but new plot all together so, you can read this without reading the first.