Epilogue time! I better see some tears!

E.N.D. Rises

Epilogue:

Old and New

...2 months later...

It rained. Lisanna looked down at the gravestone with sadness as the raindrops pitta-pattered on her umbrella. Around her neck was Natsu's treasured scarf that he gave to her as a last act. He'd restored all of Fiore using nothing but his own magic power and his wish for his brother to live had saved Zeref from the death sentence. Natsu really had been an amazing guy... that was now dead. Lisanna sniffed and dropped her umbrella as she collapsed onto her knees and cried into her hands. The rain soaked her hair, his scarf, her black jumper and the puddle she knelt in soaked her knees. But she didn't care how wet she was, she cried out as lightning stuck outside of town. The engraved letters of the gravestone mocked her:

Natsu Dragneel

June 21st, X346 - January 1st, X792

"On fairy wings, we fly for the heavens.

With a dragon's roar, we search for adventure.

And together with you, we shall never stand alone."

Natsu would probably have liked how they used his original birth date on his gravestone. Then people would see the days and be utterly confused by it. He always liked causing mischief. Lisanna fell forward and hit the ground. It wasn't fair. He shouldn't have had to die. Everything that had happened over the past 400 years was caused because he didn't get to live!

"Natsu... I hope your soul is finally at peace now..." Lisanna whispered, looking up at the already weathered gravestone "I love... loved you,"

With tears still falling, she dragged herself to her feet and slowly trudged away from her first love's grave. Maybe this was karma for making everyone think she was dead for two years or for not telling him her feelings when she had the chance. Either way, the universe was punishing her...

...Elsewhere...

Darkness... and then sound. Followed by touch and sight. Then consciousness... that was it. All of Project 001's memories. Everything was new. The feel of the air against his skin, the horrible smell of the room he was locked in and the heavy feeling of longing that sat in his stomach. He had no words to describe how things were.

"'Ey, further back," ordered a guard and he kicked the door.

The thud of the metal being hit against... that was new too. So was the guard's voice... and the words. He hadn't heard words before... He shuffled away from the door and felt the damp ground scrape against his skin. The cold was new. The room was new. Life was new! Disliking something was new and he disliked his situation. Sitting in a cold, dark cell wearing a hospital gown was unpleasant. But had things ever been pleasant? Had he ever experienced something that was new and good? Did he even know what that meant?

"Open the door," that voice was new.

"Yes, sir," two voices at once was new.

The door opening was new. The light that loomed in from outside was new. The shadow of the man was new. The man himself was new.

"Hello, Project 001," those words were new "I am the head of this facility. Can you speak?"

Questions were new. Unanswered ones were too...

"I suppose not... you must be very scared," being patronized was new "Get on those legs of yours and follow me,"

Walking was new. He put his hands against the slimy wall and pushed himself up. This was all very new. Moving his feet forward one at a time was new. But should he follow this man? Disobedience was new...

His jaw hovered up and down as words tried to be said but speech was new. Everything was too new. Was this really what life was about? Being terrified of the new and longing for the old? But what "old" was he longing for? How could he "long" for anything? Time was new and yet he did know he hadn't always been in this room. He hadn't always been here. There was something he was longing for, something that predated all of this newness and he'd find it. Determination was new too...

Desperately, he grabbed a brick from the floor and approached the man from behind. He felt something in him snap together and he swung with a roar. The man fell to the ground but the guards rushed in and pinned him down. Attacking was new... but it felt old.

"Take Project 001 to Laboratory B and have the researchers perform Experiment Beta-A, got it?" the man ordered.

"Yes, sir," the guards responded.

Struggling was new. Leaving the room was new. Suddenly the room felt old. The light was new and now the darkness was old. He looked around. Searching was new. He saw himself in a window... reflection was new. He had an appearance, that was new and his hair may have been dirty but it was pink. He looked into his own soot-black eyes and saw the haunted look of a past in them. He had a past and now he knew it. No more being afraid... he'd find it. There had to be a place where things were old to him. Somewhere where he was a person. A home...

Big announcement time! Drum roll please...

*drum roll*drum roll*drum roll*

I'm doing a sequel called "E.N.D. Rises: Natsu's Return" and its up now so check it out!