Chapter 14

"Hello, Makarov Dreyar. My name is White, and I've been dying to meet you."

Makarov built up his magic power as he looked at the boy in front of him. Of course, he knew who this boy was, but that was exactly what had the anger inside him at a boiling point. This was the monster who had tortured his son to death. Even if they hadn't gotten along, that was still his son. Makarov had to restrain himself from attacking the boy outright, he needed answers first.

"Grimoire Heart," He spits out the name with disgust. "What do you think you are doing here? This island is for the children of Fairy Tail only."

Until now, he hadn't even noticed anyone else on the island. If this boy was here, did that mean there were others? Makarov's first priority was to ensure the safety of his children. He had to put his anger and hatred aside and get as much information here as possible. His body began to grow until he was a 10-foot-tall hulking giant. The oppressive aura he released put the boy on edge and caused him to sink into a fighting stance. Makarov was surprised to see his ankles and feet morphing their shape.

"Easy now," The boy cautioned. "There's no need for that. I'm on your side. Otherwise, why would I show myself? I could have just killed you while you were getting drunk. Besides, I'm your only hope to protect your guild members."

The boy's voice was dripping in confidence. He was completely certain that Makarov wouldn't attack him, despite his ready posture. Unfortunately, he was right. While Makarov wasn't foolish enough to trust him or completely believe his words, he had no choice but to listen to them. The mere fact that the boy was here meant that there could be others harming his children at this very moment.

"Child of Grimoire Heart, I don't know what you're plotting, but I will hear you out for now." Makarov starts to shrink back to his original size. "Why are you here? Are my children in danger?"

"I am here to suggest an alliance with you." The boy relaxes slightly when Makarov stops emitting so much pressure. "Grimoire Heart's entire guild will attack this island today, and you Fairies have no chance of winning. Without my help, you will be slaughtered and thrown away. Your mages are too soft to fight against a real dark guild. I will offer my aid to make sure that doesn't happen."

"Why would Grimoire Heart attack us?" Makarov wasn't convinced. "I don't believe that they would attack us for no reason, but there is nothing that they should want on this island."

"Oh, but that's where you're wrong Makarov Dreyar. This island has exactly what they want." The boy gives him an eerie smile. "The black wizard! Zeref is here at this very moment!"

Impossible. Makarov's first instinct is rejection. He was aware that Zeref was not dead, after all, all masters of Fairy Tail knew about the history behind Lumen Histoire. However, Zeref should still be sealed in a slumber. He couldn't be on Tenrou Island right now, and nobody else should even know that he was alive. But, if it's not true, why else would Grimoire Heart be here?

"Zeref is dead." Makarov finally manages to speak. "What is the real reason for the attack?"

"Believe what you want," The boy shrugs. "It doesn't change the fact that they will attack. Zeref isn't important anyway, Hades can't obtain him because he is also working with false information. What is important is that I want Grimoire Heart destroyed, and you need them destroyed. Cooperation can only benefit us."

Makarov was shocked. Zeref isn't important? How could that be possible?! Who in the world could say something like that, even as a joke? Still, the boy was right about one thing, they had to prepare for the attack either way. He would not allow anyone to harm his children. Still…

"I will believe you for now," The boy smirks at Makarov's words. "But I know who you are. White, the Balam Executioner. Did you truly believe that Fairy Tail would ally with a villain like you? We will protect our own, but I can't trust you to do the same. You only look out for yourself."

White's smile drops and a hint of outrage appears in his eyes. Just as Makarov prepares for a fight to break out, the rage disappears without a trace and he looks to the sky. Makarov follows his gaze but only sees a speck in the clouds, likely some type of bird. White slowly draws his sword and a purple eye opens on it.

"Excuse me for a moment, a wonderful opportunity to prove my good faith has appeared." With those words, the boy disappears and Makarov is left alone.

He can't help but think about that sword he just saw. There were four eyes on it and Makarov could feel that all four of them were trapping a human soul within. They were still alive. Does someone using such an evil weapon want to be trusted?

It was repulsive.

Before he had the chance to think about it any further, White appeared before him once again. The boy wasn't alone. Two strange-looking men had their throats pierced through by his sword. One looked like a goat and the other a chicken, both bore the mark of Grimoire Heart. They collapsed in a heap when White retracted his sword. Even in death, they had malicious sneers on their faces. They had likely not even realized that they were killed.

"These two were the only other members of the vanguard group with me," The boy nonchalantly sheathes his sword. "The rest won't arrive until later with the airship. Consider this an advance payment for our alliance."

Makarov was speechless. This boy had just killed his own allies in an attempt to make new ones. How could Makarov be expected to trust someone like that? White was much stronger than these two, so there was no need to kill them. He would have been perfectly capable of merely incapacitating them.

"You want me to trust someone who would kill his comrades so casually?" Makarov exclaims. "Light mages always attempt to win without killing. You just proved that you don't have any intentions of changing for the better. You're a monster through and through. A villain who enjoys murder and torture. Fairy Tail will not ally ourselves with your kind."

"Are you joking?!" White exclaims. He's obviously losing his patience. "I thought I made it clear that they aren't my comrades anymore. Besides, if I left them alive, there would be a chance that they could kill someone else later. That naivety is why you will lose to Grimoire Heart! You can't afford to refuse my offer. Otherwise, you will die, along with your precious children!"

At first, Makarov was enraged by this. 'He thinks he can threaten my children? I'll crush him. However, when he looked at the boy's face, that anger faded away. The boy genuinely saw nothing wrong with killing them. He honestly believed that it was the best choice in this situation. Makarov thought of what kind of upbringing could result in such a severe lack of compassion and he was struck with a certain realization.

He could feel nothing but overwhelming pity for the poor child in front of him.

"Boy," He starts in an odd tone. "Are you even still among the living?"

"What the hell are you talking about now, you stupid old man." White's face looks like he's staring at a crazy person. "You're old, but you're not seeing ghosts yet. I'm perfectly alive, and I plan to stay that way. That's why you need to accept my offer!"

Makarov merely shakes his head at the boy's heated response.

"You are alive, but you've stopped living a long time ago, haven't you?"

"Listen," White exasperates. "I don't have time for stupid riddles. If you aren't going to help me, I need to think of something else. So, if you have something to say, just say it."

"Boy, you're nothing more than a ghost right now. You've struggled and fought to survive, life wasn't kind to you, and you had no choice. However, what you are doing now isn't living." The pity in Makarov's voice causes anger to flare up once again in White's eyes.

"I am living just fine old man." White hisses out through clenched teeth. "Everything that I have done has been so I can keep living. What do you know about me?"

"What do you know of yourself?" Makarov calmly retorts. "You fight to survive, but to what end? What are your dreams? What is it that matters to you? What are you living for?"

"..."

White's face is contorted in anger, but he doesn't say anything. His mouth opens and closes several times, but he has no answer to give. Seeing this, Makarov continues.

"There's nothing like that for you, is there? You're empty."

The fire in the child's eyes sputters out and for a moment he is just that. A child. A lost child who has had his innocence stolen away from him. The moment doesn't last, however, and the fire returns with many times the intensity it had before.

"All you light mages act like you know everything like you can do no wrong, but what do you know?! You, who have lived sheltered lives with a silver spoon! You know nothing of pain and suffering! Nothing of the struggle to stay alive! Nothing!" White screams at the guild master of Fairy Tail and is left huffing heavy breaths. Eventually, he collects himself and talks in an even tone once again. "Fine, that's enough. If you are too stupid to accept my help, I will just do this on my own. I hope you can look back at this moment without regrets when your children start dying."

Makarov is filled with sorrow when the boy turns to leave. Why couldn't they have saved this child sooner? Why was life so cruel to him? It was too late now for him to be redeemed, he was too twisted by cruelty to learn of compassion. Even if other dark mages could find their way to the light, this child could never be one of them. He held nothing sacred, there was no line he wouldn't cross to save himself. He was simply too far gone.

Before the boy disappeared into the forest, Makarov realized that there was one more thing he must tell him. One request he must make as master of Fairy Tail. Even if it hurt his heart to say it, it still must be said.

"White," He called out and stopped the boy at the edge of the tree line. He continued once the boy had looked back over his shoulder. "So long as you do not hurt my children, we will not fight you. However, I have one request that I would ask of you."

White didn't respond, but he gestured for Makarov to continue.

"Please, do not show yourself to your siblings. You would bring them nothing but pain."

The 13-year-old child's face goes through a variety of emotions, none of them pleasant. For a moment, he looks like he might break down, but in the end, it is anger that wins out once again. His face is a scene of barely contained rage before he whirls around and continues walking.

Makarov felt horrible for causing such turmoil in a child who had already endured so much, but he had to look out for his own children first. The Strauss family had gone through too much tragedy. If they had to fight their own little sibling, possibly to the death, Makarov didn't know if they would ever be able to smile again. Cyrus Strauss was dead. No good could come from them meeting with the monster named White, who had taken his place.

"The leader of Grimoire Heart is Precht Gaebolg, the second master of Fairy Tail." White's voice carried over to the old man, right before he disappeared.

Makarov Dreyar was overcome with shock and inner turmoil, but he could not ask for any further information. White was nowhere to be found and he had to warn his children and prepare them for the upcoming battle.

.....

I still couldn't believe it.

How could someone be so pigheaded?! That old fool would get his precious children killed for what? His pride? His values? I still can't figure out exactly why he rejected me. It doesn't make any sense. They need every advantage they can get in this war.

Still, my course is unchanged. This is my best chance for freedom. Even if Fairy Tail won't outright ally themselves with me, they still will be fighting the same enemy. I can still win. Zeref will probably kill Hades either way, so staying on his side would be foolish. I'll only survive if I can break away from him here.

"You're empty."

Makarov's words echo in my head, causing my mood to plummet.

What does he think he knows about me? If I don't stay alive first, nothing else matters. Dreams, values, purpose: none of them mean a thing to a dead person! I've lived all this time for freedom, and now I almost have it.

Did he reject me for a stupid reason like that?

Whatever, it doesn't matter. Right now, there are more pressing matters to deal with. If I had gotten Fairy Tail's backing, they could have held off the council for me, but that option is out the window now. That means that I need to deal with them myself. The council mages won't care that I've switched sides if I let them get here.

I morph my body into the optimal fighting shape and teleport high above Tenrou Island to get a view of the sea. A red signal flare is fired from my previous position with Makarov, but I ignore it. Instead, my sight narrows in on a battleship a few miles off the island's coast. Its sails bear the symbol of the council.

I appear on the ship's deck without warning, drawing my sword and attacking in the same instant. The black-haired man in front of me loses his head before he even recognizes the danger. I recognize him as Lahar of the council, but the information doesn't faze me. He's unimportant.

The other council mages onboard only notice something amiss when their superior's head hits the floorboards. Panic ensues. With their leader dead, the mages are in total disarray. Some run and scream, others send weak attack spells at me. All of them are saturated in the scent of despair when they recognize me.

I, on the other hand, don't care about their actions. The only thing I was worried about was now in my hands. The communication lacrima that was being held onto by Lahar was promptly tossed into the ocean by my hand. As long as they cannot contact the council, they are of no threat to me. That said, they cannot help me either. Their presence on the island would be nothing more than a hindrance.

I unsheathe my sword and point it in the direction of the council mages. I needed to relieve some stress and there was still a technique that I had never used before that would do just perfectly.

"White Sword Art: Bloody Branches"

The sword extended out and broke off in several directions, forming new points on every branch that broke off. Each branch separated and extended at a speed too fast for the average human eye to follow. Slithering through the crowd like snakes, they pierced the hearts of every mage and strung them up in the air as the tips continued to pierce more and more people.

In just a couple of seconds, Every council mage on the deck of the ship was hanging in the air with a needle-thin white bone entering their heart from one side and exiting the other. Naturally, such a small piercing cannot cause instant death. Thus, the men and women of the council writhe and cry out their pain, but it's no use. Even needle-thin, my sword isn't something they can break.

I watch them struggle in pain to drown out my own, even as more branches head below deck and pierce the remaining mages. Watching the weak desperately cling to life and seeing the moment where that desperate desire for life switches to a longing for death has always served to improve my mood. It has always confirmed my belief that controlling my own life is more important than anything else. The suffering cries and pitiful deaths of others have always made me feel that anything I do is justified, so long as it means I don't end up like them.

Yet, this time it's different. Seeing these pitiful weaklings draw their last breaths brings me no joy, none of the usual intoxicating euphoria. Instead, I feel nothing. I don't feel bad for them, nor do I feel regret for having been cruel to them. In the face of their suffering, I feel nothing.

It's almost like I feel devoid of emotions, empty.

I retract my sword to its original form with a bitter taste in my mouth. I return to the island with two quick teleports, leaving behind a scene of death. A ghost ship drifts across the ocean sea, and the only crew to guide it lies as a pile of corpses across its floorboards.

....

Zeref Dragneel was depressed.

He had finally met Natsu once again. After so many hundreds of years enduring, forced to live a cursed existence, he finally met the one who was supposed to end it. He had shed tears of joy at the sight, but Natsu hadn't recognized him. That wasn't what made him sad. No, it was expected that Natsu wouldn't remember him.

What had hurt was when Natsu attacked him. The attack itself hadn't hurt. In fact, Zeref was excited when he saw Natsu's fist coming his way. No, it was the exact opposite. The fact that it hadn't hurt was what caused this sorrow.

Etherious Natsu Dragneel was Zeref's greatest creation, born with the likeness and soul of his deceased younger brother in defiance of the god of death, Ankhserum. He was supposed to be the one to end Zeref's cursed life. Zeref had waited for so long for that and tolerated so much pain. When he saw Natsu, his heart was filled with hope for the first time in centuries.

That hope was shattered by Natsu's pitiful attack. He wasn't ready yet. Natsu did not yet have the power necessary to kill him. Natsu still couldn't break him.

Even so, all that the black wizard could do was continue to wait. He had withstood it until now, he could continue to do so. That was what he had told himself, but now things had changed. War was coming to this island.

He had felt it when two people were killed in the skies above him, but that was only two. As sad as he was for the loss of life, it was nothing overly unusual. However, just now, he felt dozens of lives being snuffed out off the coast. There was someone on this island who was spreading death and destruction, and Zeref knew that it was a precursor to war.

He looked out at the skies and saw an airship approaching the Island. Blocking its way was a massive titan of a man. A single tear fell down his cheek. Zeref had no wish to witness another war. He didn't want to see anyone else die. He had seen enough death in his life. He tried to escape it all by living on this island, but it would appear that death truly does follow him wherever he goes.

Why were humans so drawn to conflict?