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

Ok... This is the last story I'll be starting for a while. Just wanted to get it out there because it keeps eating at me begging to be posted. o.O

This story will eventually pair Natsu with Irene, and depending on where canon goes with Irene's identity, it may also totally ignore canon Irene (shocking I know). So there's your fair warning.

I'll probably rate it M, just in case. Tends to give me a little more leeway with what I write and how it's written.**

—x780—

It was early in the morning as Gildarts Clive made his way through the forest surrounding the famous guild known as Fairy Tail. The sounds of creatures waking up rose all around him. Birds chirping. Squirrels chittering. Various other noises from woodland creatures that he would expect on such a still day.

But suddenly the noises stopped. Then came a familiar noise, but one that didn't belong to the woodlands normally. An explosion.

Without hesitating, Gildarts started running toward the sound. It wasn't coming from the guild, but it was close to another place that was important to him. Close to a place where a boy he saw as a son lived.

As he closed in, he saw flames. Lots of flames. Whatever was happening, Natsu was fighting seriously. But from the sound of it, his power wasn't enough.

"You had a lot of fight in you for a kid," a deep voice said. "But this ends now. Die!"

Gildarts burst from the trees just in time to send a counter spell toward the powerful greenish light that was shooting toward Natsu, who was on the ground looking badly beaten. His attacker was a tall man with long, reddish colored hair. He wore a black and crimson shirt, slightly baggy red pants, and a black cloak that hovered just above his ankles at the hem. Behind him, another mage, this one a female with purple hair streaked with black, was struggling to rise, obviously injured from the battle.

Gildarts spared a glance toward Natsu, and saw Happy on the ground behind him, unmoving. His anger boiled within him as he turned to the mages who would attack a child like this.

"I don't know who you are or why you're doing this, but you can explain when you wake up." He growled. The man threw another spell that looked pretty powerful at him, but he cancelled it easily, closing the distance between them and then striking the man hard. He instantly fell, unconscious. Gildarts then turned to the female, who held up her hands in surrender.

"GILDARTS!" Natsu yelled as he got up. "I could've taken 'em!"

"Of course you could have kid," Gildarts said with a grin. "But it's faster this way, and you don't have to destroy any more of your home."

Natsu looked around at the blackened and destroyed walls. Then looked back at Gildarts. "Fight me!" He said, charging him.

Gildarts sighed, defeating the kid with a single punch as usual. Then he bound the female and male mages who had attacked Natsu and checked Happy to see if he was still breathing. Upon confirming that the blue cat was alive, he slung the two attackers on one shoulder, Natsu and Happy on the other, and headed to the guild.

"Gildarts, you're back." Makarov greeted him first without looking up. Then, when his eyes did find their target, his jaw immediately hardened. "I assume you're about to explain this."

Gildarts just shrugged, offering his widest "I don't have a clue" grin. "Can't explain anything yet. Caught these two attacking Natsu in his home this morning, and from what I could tell they were trying to kill him."

The whole guild suddenly went quiet, and Gildarts realized that may not have been the best time to say that. Makarov sighed, shaking his head at him. "Get Natsu and Happy to the infirmary. We'll discuss this more in my office."

Gildarts just nodded, carrying Natsu and Happy into the infirmary and laying them on beds before heading to the guildmaster's office with his prisoners. Once inside, he threw them unceremoniously to the floor. The man didn't wake up, but the female struggled to sit up, her hands still bound behind her back.

"Well," Gildarts said to her. "I suggest you start explaining."

The woman just shrugged. "Sure, why not? Your little dragon slayer there's as good as dead anyway. You may have stopped us, but can you stop every dark mage in Fiore?" She said with a smirk.

This caught Gildarts' attention. "What are you talking about."

"Simple," the woman said, the smirk never leaving her face. "Your friend there has a huge bounty on his head. My advice to you is just let us kill him. Try to protect him and more people will die in the process."

"Who would put a bounty on a child?" Gildarts asked quietly, his fist clenched in anger.

"The bounty's in my bag," she motioned toward the bag on her back with her head. "See for yourself."

Makarov slowly made his way over to the bag, checking it for traps. Gildarts kept his focus on the woman. "If you're lying to us, you'll find us much less merciful than the council."

Makarov stood, his face grave as he looked at the paper. "I think that's more true than you know," he said, motioning for Gildarts to join him.

Gildarts frowned, coming over to look at the paper that Makarov had in his hand. "Those were distributed to every dark guild in Fiore," the woman said as he looked at the flyer.

The flyer was pretty simple, but what caught his attention was the script and the ink that was used. Even without testing it, he knew this couldn't be faked. The bounty was written on official council paper, using ink and a seal that could only come from the council. It was simple, but abundantly clear in its message, which he read aloud.

"The council is offering a reward of 1 million jewel and full immunity to anyone who can kill one of the following mages and bring us proof of their deaths:

Natsu Dragneel
Sting Eucliffe
Rogue Cheney
Gajeel Redfox
Wendy Marvell

Natsu Dragneel is known to be a wizard of the Fairy Tail guild. Gajeel Redfox is known to be a mage with Phantom Lord. Wendy Marvell is reported to be a wizard with the guild Caitshelter. Sting Eucliffe and Rogue Cheney are currently unknown.

To claim your reward, bring proof that you have killed one of these individuals to the nearest council outpost. You will be granted full immunity from arrest for any prior crimes and given 1 million jewels. Remember that this immunity does not extend to future crimes that may be committed."

Gildarts looked at Makarov, surprised. "The council?! Why would the council order the deaths of wizards? Especially those who belong to legitimate guilds?"

Makarov was staring at the paper, his jaw clenched. "I don't know," he said quietly. "But I think it's time to have a conversation with Yajima."

~~~~~~In the infirmary~~~~~~

Natsu woke up from the punch Gildarts delivered with a groan. "Man, if I hadn't already been injured I would've got him that time!" He said to nobody in particular.

He was about to go on, when his sensitive ears picked up a woman's voice from the direction of Makarov's office. He went over to the infirmary wall that was closer to the office, listening closely to see what was going on.

"Try to protect him, and more people will die in the process," somebody was saying. It sounded like the woman that attacked him at his hut earlier.

After following the rest of the conversation that ensued, Natsu didn't understand much. But he did understand two things. First, that for some reason this council that gramps was always harping about wanted people to kill him. Second, that if he stuck around, his friends would die. He also heard a bunch of other names, but only two with locations.

Making his decision quickly, Natsu went as quietly as he could to Happy. He then picked up the still-unconscious cat and hurried out of the back of the infirmary as quietly as he could. His next move would be to find the two people on the council hit list that had known locations and warn them. Perhaps they would even come with him.

~~~~~~Makarov's office, half an hour later~~~~~~

"I don't know why the bounty was issued Makarov," Yajima responded. "If I did, I'd tell you. The order came from the chairman, though. And I must assume that he had a reason for it."

"Reason or not," Makarov replied angrily, "Natsu is still a child. A child who hasn't done anything wrong. How many of the others on this list are children?"

"All of them," Yajima replied simply. "I probably shouldn't tell you this, but I will. There's one other thing that all of those wizards have in common. They all use a lost magic. That is to say, more specifically, they're all dragon slayers."

"Dragon slayers?" Makarov hissed, lowering his voice a little instinctively. "Then why wasn't Laxus targeted?"

"Because Laxus' dragon slayer abilities are a result of a lacrima." Yajima replied. "The 5 on that list all learned their dragon slayer abilities, they claim from a dragon. As for why they were targeted, I don't know. I only know that it has something to do with Zeref."

Makarov was about to ask more questions, but the councilman cut him off. "I have to get to the council meeting, or people will become suspicious. Before I go, I warn you not to speak a word of this to anyone. If the council suspects that anyone outside knows of this, they won't hesitate to retaliate against you themselves. So for once, Makarov, please listen to my advice and don't get involved any further. If not for your own sake, for the sake of your guild. Goodbye Makarov, Gildarts." With that the communication cut off and he was gone.

"So what now?" Makarov turned to Gildarts when the question was asked. He knew the question held much more than it seemed to on the surface. Gildarts was asking if they were ready to do what it took to protect Natsu. To go head to head with the council if that was necessary.

"We tell the guild," Makarov said after a few minutes of hesitation. "I don't want to see anyone hurt, but nobody's laying a finger on one of our family without good reason."

Gildarts nodded, and together they headed out of the guild master's office. The guild was unusually quiet, as though they could sense that there was a problem. Makarov moved slowly to a position at the bar.

"Hey brats," he said. "Listen up. There's something that you all need to hear."

The murmurings and small conversations ceased. Erza and Mirajane even stopped butting heads to turn and listen to what the guild master had to say. Makarov looked over all of them, a serious expression on his face.

"One of our own is in grave danger," he said. "We don't know all the details, but the council has put out a bounty to all the dark guilds in Fiore. A bounty for the deaths of 5 people." He took a deep breath before continuing. "One of those 5 people is Natsu Dragneel."

Surprised shouts, gasps, and expressions of disbelief followed his statement. He waited a few moments for the commotion to die down before continuing. "The council officially denies any connection to this bounty, so you can't tell anybody about this or it will put us in even more danger. However, we need to keep tabs on Natsu at all times. Even when he's sleeping. I want our strongest mages to team up and figure out a plan to protect Natsu."

"I'll watch his house at night," said both Erza and Mirajane simultaneously. Then they both glared at each other.

"No way, you bully him just to tell him how 'cute' it is when he cries," Erza shouted at Mirajane.

"Says the disciplinarian who's always 'punishing' him for doing what boys do," Mirajane retorted loudly.

Makarov couldn't help but chuckle. Despite their differences, Erza and Mira both had been quite close to the dragon slayer, though of course not as close as Lisanna. If she were counted among the strongest mages, there was no doubt she'd be the first in line to watch him while he slept. However, now was not the time for fighting.

"Enough," he said. "Erza, go to the infirmary and see if Natsu's awake yet. Mirajane, Laxus, and Gildarts need to come with me."

"Tch. What a pain." Huffed Laxus as he reluctantly came over with Mirajane, who scowled at him in response to his attitude. Makarov started to lead them into his office when a shout from the infirmary entrance stopped him cold.

"Natsu's gone!" Erza's voice was almost panicked, and Makarov felt the same sense of dread invading him as he turned to face her.

"Change of plans," he said grimly. "Everybody spread out now. We have to find him."

~~~~~~Phantom Lord, Guild Hall~~~~~~

"Tch, what a pain…" Jose scowled as he put the bounty down. He'd pulled it off a few dark mages who underestimated the guild's strongest up and coming wizard. Gajeel Redfox.

He then turned to the element 4 and Gajeel, who were alone with him on the top floor of the guild now.

"Yeah, it's only a matter of time before more of these losers show up," Gajeel growled. "But I don't care. I'll knock out every fucking dark mage in Fiore if I have to."

"I had such high hopes for you too…" Jose lamented as he turned to Gajeel. "But you have now become a burden. Begone!" He threw one of his most powerful spells at him.

He was shocked to see Juvia push Gajeel out of the way at the last moment, his spell slicing through her water body and not harming her at all. He ground his teeth.

"You would dare defy me?" He said to the water mage. "Then you can die with him!"

But before he could launch his next spell, Gajeel picked up Juvia and ran. The others from Element 4 did nothing to stop him.

"What are you doing?" Jose yelled as he started after Gajeel, who had just jumped out the window with Juvia. "After them!"

None of them moved, pissing him off further. "You're all going to defy me?! Don't you know I have the power to kill you all?!"

"Why does it matter?" Totamaru said sadly. "He won't come back to the guild. Just banish him and put word out that he is no longer associated with us, and there will be no more attacks."

Jose stopped. The fire mage did have a point. If he did it that way he would only lose Gajeel and Juvia. If they went after him, he might still escape, and that would make the guild look bad. Yes… banishment seemed like the best way to go.

~~~~~~Caitshelter~~~~~~

"Wendy, run!"

The old men in the guild were engaging the dark mages, but even with their combined strength they were being overcome.

"I can't leave you," Wendy sobbed. The young girl somehow knew that the dark mages wanted more than just a battle. And apparently the old men did too.

"You have to leave. We can't hold them off forever, but we can give you a good head start. Just run!" The old man repeated, turning to face her. "If these men catch you, they will kill you! I can see the intent in their hearts!"

Tears still in her eyes, Wendy took another step toward the fray. "I can't!"

But before she could advance any further, she felt a small pair of paws grasp her and she was pulled into the air, out of the fray and away from the guild.

"NO CARLA!" She yelled, struggling in the cat's grip. "We can't leave them to fight alone!"

"We can't defeat them child," the cat's voice sounded sorrowful. Something she'd never from her before. "The old men are right. The only way for you to live is to get out of here."

"But what about them?" Tears were still streaming from Wendy's eyes.

"Chances are they won't die," Carla said. "If the men were after you, as we were told, then there's no reason for them to kill anyone else."

Wendy slowly stopped struggling, realizing it was useless to argue and that Carla was right. "What are we going to do then, Carla?" She asked, feeling the tears begin to come as she no longer had anything else to focus on.

"I don't know, child…" Carla sighed. "I don't know…"

~~~~~~Council Chambers~~~~~~

Yajima sat anxiously as he waited for the chairman to arrive. The meeting was supposed to start an hour ago, but from the time that he cut his communication with Makarov, the entire council had just been sitting, waiting for the chairman, who had been using his archive to monitor the situation in Fiore.

When he finally did come in, his face was grave. It was apparent that whatever the current status was he was very unhappy with the way things turned out. Yajima had to hold back a smile as he thought Fairy Tail was a good portion of the reason for that.

"Members of the council," he said quietly. "The situation is graver than we realized. It is as though fate herself stands against our plans. Of the 5 dragon slayers, only 2 were successfully hunted down. Their heads were brought to me by Brain of the Oracion Seis and Zancrow of Grimoire Heart. These two mages were Sting Eucliffe and Rogue Cheney."

He then paused before continuing. "The other wizards, whose locations were already known, were failed quests. An attack against Natsu Dragneel of Fairy Tail failed early this morning. Gajeel Redfox fended off his attackers, and word has just been released that he was banished after fleeing his guild with one of his guild mates. Our agents received a report that Wendy Marvell also escaped the attempt on her life, aided by her guild who held off the large number of attackers long enough for her to disappear with a flying cat."

His eyes scanned the room. "Many of you have questioned why we were targeting children. I didn't want to reveal this to you because this information is potentially dangerous, but I feel that to get everyone on the right path I need to tell you why we are targeting dragon slayers. We have received a reliable report that one of these dragon slayers, the ones who learned their magic from actual dragons, contains something evil. In fact, Zeref himself used one of them to hide the most powerful and most evil of his creations right under our noses."

Yajima stood at this, his eyes widening in shock. "Are you saying that E.N.D. is hidden in one of those children that we put bounties out on?"

"That's exactly what I'm saying," the chairman replied. "In fact, there's a very good chance that one of those children is E.N.D."

"Who is your source?" Yajima demanded. "Information like that isn't easily obtained or verified. What makes you think he's even telling the truth?!"

"The source's name is insignificant," the chairman replied. "What's important is that he gave us information that was verifiable. We know for certain he was telling the truth."

"If his information's so good, why didn't he just tell you who E.N.D. is?" Yajima countered.

"He didn't know. He only knew it was one of the first generation dragon slayers. Those who didn't get their powers from a lacrima."

"How did he know that?" Yajima asked. "This informant seems to have a lot of vague information."

The councilman sighed. "Alright. I will explain everything to you. When I'm done, you'll see how it all fits together."

"First, what do we know about E.N.D.? Not much, right? He's a fire demon. He's Zeref's most powerful demon. But nobody's ever seen him. They've only heard of him."

"The assumption is that E.N.D. is sealed with a powerful spell, and that's why he hasn't been heard from. But in 400 years of history since the dragon wars, not one account exists where E.N.D. is actually seen or known. It's almost like he doesn't even exist, or, perhaps, like he didn't exist for those 400 years."

The council man then looked directly at Yajima. "And this is where we found our verification. The first generation dragon slayers come from a time when dragons still lived and roamed earthland. They were transported through time and space by Zeref's magic to arrive in our time, 3 years ago. July 7, x777, when every dragon slayer says their dragon 'disappeared.' That is the day they arrived from the past. All this information has been verified."

"Even so," Yajima said, "How can you be certain that E.N.D. was among those dragon slayers? All this proves is that these children were transported to an age in which they don't belong."

"It is also proven that they were transported by Zeref's magic. Which means that Zeref must have had an active role in selecting them. What better way to ensure the survival of his most powerful demon through the dragon wars than to make him a dragon slayer and transport him to the future? Everything else that our source has said has been verified. Once we have killed all the dragon slayers, E.N.D. will emerge from one of them, and verify that as well."

Yajima scoffed. "So we're going to kill a bunch of children just based on this one man's word?"

The chairman looked gravely at him. "Believe me, councilman, this pains me as well. But E.N.D. is an evil beyond all our imaginations. If he is unleashed, far more will die than these 5. Better to destroy four innocent children than for all the children in Fiore to die because we failed to act."

"We could wait until E.N.D. reveals himself," Yajima countered, hearing the anger in his voice but not caring. "This is something we should have discussed before putting out a bounty on those dragon slayers!"

"There's no time!" The chairman slammed his fist down on the table. "If we wait for Zeref's creations to be ready to move, we can be sure that we will suffer defeat at their hands. You will not defy the will of the council on this, Yajima! It is far too important."

Yajima scowled, but slowly sat back down. He could see from the faces of the other members that this was a battle he would lose. Better to save the fight for important matters at a later time.

"Now that that's settled," the chairman said, folding his hands in front of him, "We need to track down the three that remain. They won't be easy to find. Chances are that they took to the wilderness, staying away from towns or cities. But children will have difficulty surviving in the wilderness. Sooner or later they will have to come close to a town, and when they do, we'll be waiting for them."

Yajima just sat quietly as the murmuring continued around the table. Perhaps the council would be waiting, but he would make sure that there was a network of underground wizards waiting too. Waiting to help the dragon slayers escape the council's watchful eye. Because no matter how dangerous the obstacle they faced, killing innocents should never be an option, even to try to save lives.

So there's chapter 1. Read and review - preferably in that order xD