Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail.

A/N: Just a heads up guys almost done with the events before we jump into the main story-line, basically where Natsu would meet Lucy and all. I won't be showing everything right away, as there actually are certain things that I may change depending on who wins the poll set up.

Enjoy!

Seeds of Woe

"Can you see them?"

A young looking male asked softly. Unruly hair, as dark as the night sky around them looked back up, towards the twinkling blanket of stars that spanned across the sky. Beside him a small child sat, his hair a pale blonde, looking up with wonder and excitement up above.

"M-hm!"He chirped, face beaming. "They're so pretty. Father, how many are up there?"

The older of the two let out a soft laugh. Resting a gentle hand on the small child's head running his fingers through the soft locks of hair affectionately. "I'm afraid no one knows the answer to that, Rahkeid."

This tidbit of information seemed to sadden the boy, blinking as he saw the genuine smile that lit up on his father's face for a moment. "But...why?" Rather than get exasperated as some would, Zeref only continued smiling. He eventually lifted little Rahkeid up onto his lap, laying back on the grass.

"Life is a wonderful thing Rahkeid, however, it is truly frightening how quickly it goes by sometimes."

Rahkeid tilted his head, not at all understanding what it was his father was trying to say.

"Are you...talking about mother?" Rahkeid whispered softly. His father rarely spoke of his mother, if at all. And when the subject was breached, Rahkeid was especially careful not to ask too many questions. No matter how his heart ached to understand the one who ultimately gave birth to him. "Or Aunt Natsumi?"He whispered again, only this time a bit more quieter, with just the smallest amount of something new in his voice.

"Rahkeid."

When the boy didn't immediately turn to his father, Zeref knew something was wrong. The way the smaller boy hung his head, and the way his tiny shoulders trembled. Yes, Zeref could tell something was not right.

"Father, do you...regret me being born?"

Something akin to honest shock flitted across the usually stoic mage's expression. Zeref all but shot upright, his hand holding onto his son. He fought down the urge to scowl at such a question: Why would Zeref regret his own child's birth!

"Rahkeid. Look at me."He tried again, this time Rahkeid did indeed look up at him.

Only his expression was not at all one Zeref wanted to see. The usually bright, optimistic dark eyes were glittering with tears. He was biting his lip, no doubt to keep it from trembling. And his tiny fists were balled, clutching the ends of his shirt until the knuckles began turning white.

"It's...it's okay..."Rahkeid managed to say between barely restrained sobs. Even though things were clearly not okay. Not at all. "I...*sniffle*I just want*sob* I want you to be happy Father..."

"Rahkeid, I am happy. I am truly glad that you were born."Zeref tried to assure. His voice cracked, however, and it just sounded so weak. Nevermind the fact his eyes flared blood red for a moment. He was forced to withdraw his hands from Rahkeid, only solidifying the mentality that he didn't care.

Zeref groaned. His magic pulsing within him, shooting a worried glance towards his son seeing him only a few feet away. "Ngh!...August!"He yelled, not bothering to notice the devastated look that came on to his poor son's features, thinking perhaps he had crossed some sort of line, and now his father was mad at him.

"Get...him...away!"He struggled to say, barely holding back the wave of death magic. "NOW!"

"Rah...keid...*huff,huff!*...n-no, don't-...don't come any closer," Zeref tossed and turned in bed. Too caught up in a nightmare to be aware of the two presences watching over him, one frowning while the other looked on with concern laced into her features. "Stay...stay away.."He rasped, fisting the covers.

"He has been like this all night long."Anthea commented. Her gaze flicked from the dark-haired wizard writhing in bed to the red-haired female standing beside her. "What shall we do, Keira-san?"

Keira stepped just a little closer, resting a hand over where Anthea had placed a damp washcloth on Zeref's forehead, hoping the cool water would help alleviate some of the pain he was feeling.

"It's probably just another side-effect from his latest 'treatment'."Keira commented. Zeref stopped thrashing. He still looked like he was having difficulty breathing though, and it worried Anthea still. "Still, it would be problematic should he somehow inflict injury upon himself." The redhead added, her eyes narrowing recalling the words that spilled from the Zeref's mouth.

"Come to think of it..."

Anthea was a bit caught off guard when Keira suddenly straightened, looking over her shoulder and directly at the pink-haired girl. Her violet eyes unnaturally cold. "Where is Rahkeid Dragneel?"

"W-what?"Anthea whispered. Had no one bothered to inform her then?

"Has no one informed you yet, M'lady? Sir Rahkeid is-"

"I know what happened in Alvarez, I was there!" Came Keira's waspish reply, making Anthea wince. "I am asking why he is still not present!"

"I-I do not know M'lady, but surely-"

"W-why...?"

The weak voice drew both girls attention away from the potential argument they were having. Looking down at the tired, flickering eyes of Zeref, the docile black bleeding into a familiar blood crimson color with each breath he took. His breaths were labored and extremely weak. His skin more paler than usual, with the skin of his wrists chafing underneath cold, compressed steel of a set of magic-sealing bracelets.

"Pardon? Couldn't quite catch that."Taunted Keira.

She purposely stood the closest to Zeref out of the two, nothing but wicked amusement shone in her eyes, moving to let the back of her fingers brush along the underside of Zeref's jaw, trailing down his neck and along his collarbone area. He flinched, gasping as though burned by her touch.

"You know I must say I am growing rather fond of having you like this."Keira commented, locking her fingers against his jaw twisting it back around leaning down a bit, her other hand sliding to rest on the other side of him. "Helpless as you are. It's not everyday someone of your status becomes little more than a kicked puppy with no real means of fighting back, hm?"

Zeref glowered at her. His cheeks tinged a feverish red.

Keira's smile only grew. A rather wicked idea popping into her head before turning towards Anthea. "Go lock the door. "

"What? But, the queen said-"

"Just do it."

The two held one another's gaze before finally Anthea sighed in resignation, turning and walking off to lock the door as Keira requested."Wait..."The redhead called out, holding Zeref's gaze. "Give me some of the SIQ before you leave." Zeref's eyes widened, gaining a fresh look of horror.

Reluctantly Anthea brought a small capsule filled with a light greenish looking fluid, handing it and a syringe, to Keira before leaving.

"Why are you...doing this?"Zeref whispered, feeling her forcefully turn his head, exposing more of his neck to her. Tears began leaking from the corners of his eyes, hearing her pop the top of the capsule off, filling the syringe. "Why?"He whispered, his voice cracking.

Without answering She jammed the needle into his neck, relishing the ear-splitting scream that tore itself from his throat. Fresh tears spilled over onto his cheeks.

"Welcome to hell, lord Zeref."Keira spat, vehemence dripping in her voice.

XxX

Gildarts blinked, his face reddened from the intake of alcohol. His senses somewhat of a befuddled mess, pushing the haze aside whilst looking at Rahkeid from the corner of his eye, noting the way the younger had turned rigid. Gildarts frowned, knowing it wasn't because he was drunk or such. The kid claimed he wasn't old enough to drink-what a downer!he had yelled rather boisterous-and from what Gildarts could tell, he rarely lost his cool.

Rahkeid's expression was still calm. The slight stiffening of his shoulders only lasting a split second before the tension dissipated completely, and Rahkeid returned to sipping on a glass of water.

"So, you say this Natsumi is your niece then?"Gildarts said, picking up the conversation where it was left off. The idea of someone as cold and socially withdrawn as Natsumi being related to someone of such high status as one of the spriggan twelve seemed unlikely at best. Gildarts realized nothing was quite impossible, however the ones from the north were all a very reclusive bunch, rarely setting foot outside their home turf. "And that...she was abducted quite some time ago?" Gildarts brows furrowed into deep slopes, repeating the story he was fed once more, as if to confirm it to himself.

Rahkeid's eyes slid close, gently placing the now empty glass on the counter and giving an ever so subtle polite smile. "Yes, that's right. As I said, she is-rather, was-my father's younger sister. Her disappearance caused him quite a lot of grief." There was only the faintest hint of something less than pleasant in Rahkeid's tone when he spoke of how much his father missed his sister.

"And your mother?"

"She died bringing me into this world,I'm afraid." Was Rahkeid's simple reply. One that came just a little too easily in Gildarts mind.

"No siblings?" Gildarts pressed. He wasn't getting much info on this guy at all, and truth be told, it was worrisome. "No other cousins? Aunts? Uncles?"

Each time Rahkeid only shook his head. "Our family has a history of some medical issues, that and there was a minor series of skirmishes between guilds the family participated in that wiped out quite a few members you see." Rahkeid opened his eyes looking right at Gildarts. "To be quite honest I am amazed she survived on her own as long as she did." Rahkeid commented.

"What makes you think she was on her own for that long?" Gildarts asked, suspicious.

"You said she came in alone, did you not?" Rahkeid raised a questioning brow. "If I recall, you also mentioned she didn't seem like she had been around people in an extended period of time." Gildarts nodded.

"Earlier you said you were a part of the Spriggan Twelve, was it?" Rahkeid blinked curiously, slowly nodding. "Well, uh, don't take this the wrong way, but...aren't you a bit young?" Rahkeid looked genuinely surprised by the question, taking a moment to contemplate his answer.

A sardonic smile found it's way across his lips turning so his attention was more focused on the back of the bar, not quite making proper eye contact with the older man. "I...was given the position more so through connections than anything else. When I was younger, my parents both had passed away, and I was found by the emperor." He said softly, the light in his black eyes dimming. "I was trained by what is now the rest of the twelve, however, truth be told I have been on my own for quite some time. Much like Natsumi has."

Gildarts stared at Rahkeid. His expression one of slight surprise.

"I see..."Gildarts finally said, feeling a tad guilty for being so suspicious. "I'm sorry to hear that."

The older crash mage missed the way Rahkeid's lips slid into a more questionable looking smile, just missing it when Rahkeid gave the previous polite one instead. The blonde shaking his head in minor apology, "it's fine. I apologize for any trouble I might have caused by simply turning up here."

"It's no trouble. More of a surprise than anything else."Gildarts said with a light chuckle. The crash mage frowned noticing something peeking out from the corner of the bar, seeing a tuft of familiar electric blonde hair and round looking eyes. It was Laxus. "Oh Laxus, I thought you were with the others in the infirmary?"

Rahkeid followed the other man's line of sight, letting his eyes settle on the small, frail looking boy ducking behind the wooden counter. Something in Rahkeid's expression softened in an oddly reminiscent sort of way. "Who might you be, young one?" Rahkeid asked in as gentle a voice as possible, silently slipping off his stool and walking over. Laxus flinched when he saw the unfamiliar mage kneel before him, offering a hand when he stumbled and tripped over his own two feet.

"Uh...I-I'm...L-Laxus..."The small boy whispered meekly.

Gildarts walked over. His tone light-hearted and full of well-meaning concern as he began to lecture the other for leaving Porylusica's side. Rahkeid watched the exchange with partially attentive eyes. In his mind he was recalling a slightly more different first meeting, that more or less started the same way.

"A...son?"

The words were whispered with such disbelief and raw emotion. Zeref looked from the aging face of August to the unfamiliar and yet painfully similar pale blonde hair poking out from just behind the wall of the doorway. His throat caved in on itself. Emotions he thought he had long since swept to the side coming back, full force, bearing down on him and making the world spin.

"I have...a son?"He repeated, shell-shocked beyond all sense of reason.

It was inconceivable. Impossible. That he could have a child-no, that he could have her child-the only woman whom he ever truly felt an inkling of love for besides that of his dear mother; Mavis. It did make sense though, didn't it? The boy has her hair, her blatant disregard for rules, if any of August's complaints were true. Still, the boy had his eyes. And the high level of magic coming from his small little body...

Zeref felt a whirlwind of emotions in that one instant; a large part of it was happiness. There was joy too. Above all, however, he mostly just felt fear. What if he can't control his curse?

What if he killed his own son, just as he had his mother?

"Rahkeid, come." August called.

Zeref watched with bated breath as the small, precious, bundle of life came trotting forward. Dressed in little more than a shirt and shorts. Mavis probably would have cooed at how adorable he looked, dressed in clothes just a little too big for his small, slender frame. He blinked, eyes full of curiosity and wonder, just like his mother's. Then he smiled at Zeref.

"Papa!"

Zeref gasped inhaling sharply, feeling the stabbing pain that lanced through his heart at the one word. A word he never thought someone would use when describing him. A word he never sought to be called by, until now. For what was probably longer than just a few minutes he simply sat there, staring down at his so-called son.

Then second by second ticked by, he fell off the chair and down onto his knees. His hands reaching forward, touching warm cheeks and soft pale blonde hair. August stepped back, turning and heading for the door. Leaving the two Dragneels alone for the moment.

"My son." Zeref whispered once more, still disbelieving of the miracle that was standing before him.

Then the moment was torn asunder, a familiar pressure overcoming Zeref that caused him to freeze. He gasped, reeling back and clutching his head. A swirl of black, ominous tendrils of death magic expanded from his feet, seconds before expanding outward; seconds from taking away the one good thing he had before his very eyes.

"Papa?"Rahkeid asked, head tilted in confusion. Nothing but pure innocence in those eyes of his.

"Rahkeid...run!" Zeref struggled to say. Wanting his first words to be something worth so much more."Please." He begged when the small child didn't budge from his spot. Tears spilled from his eyes realizing he was about to kill his own child.

Rahkeid watched the death magic get closer and closer, not at understanding of the danger he was in.

In an instant the memory was gone and replaced with a far darker one.

"Father!" Rahkeid said, rushing forward, pushing past the red-haired girl that led him there. He stopped by the side of the table his father was on. His fingers trembled, never before had he seen his father look so pale and beaten.

"Now, now, no need to worry. We're taking excellent care of him, as you can see." The redhead, Keira if he heard the other address her correctly, scoffed at the concern in his eyes. Slowly he raised his head to glower at her, speaking through gritted teeth," what do you people want?"

Keira didn't answer him. Neither did any of the others standing in the room. They all just stared at him.

"Well?" He pressed. Even though no one was saying anything, the air suddenly felt like it had gotten colder, the pressure so thick it could be cut with a knife. Rahkeid wasn't entirely certain where it was coming from. "Why don't any of you answer me...?"He asked, voice cold and bordering on the edge of annoyance.

"Because they can't." A mischievous voice whispered. Cold, unfamiliar lips brushing along the outer shell. Hands gripping him by the biceps, holding him in place. His body felt frozen by some invisible force, not recalling sensing any incoming magical presence. "So you're the son of Zeref and Mavis? How interesting." They cooed, slowly circling to his front allowing Rahkeid a better look at them.

He saw brown hair that was kept in twintails. An unkempt wave of bangs hanging over the girls forehead, leading to cold olive-colored eyes. One set of fingers moved to underneath his chin, tilting his face more towards her. "Mavis? How do you...?"He began to say, confused as to how someone he had never met would know his mother AND his father both.

"How do I know her?" The girl questioned, never losing her evil smirk. "I grew up with her. I trained with her. I was there when she met your father."

She stepped back, arms held out as though inviting him for a hug.

"You see, I am a fairy of origin. My name is Zera."

Minutes turned into hours in which they stood Rahkeid it felt like an eternity listening to her soul-crushing words coming from her mouth, spoken with such a sickly sweet smile and nonchalant demeanor. Each one acting as a knife, twisting further and further into him.

Rahkeid had never known much about his mother. So after meeting Zera, he was left with more questions. More questions and concerns regarding both his parents.

"If I do as you ask, will you release my father and leave Alvarez alone?"

Zera smiled. Her eyes never leaving the son of Zeraf's face, noting the way his shoulders slumped into a forced state of submission. The light in his eyes dim and almost non-existent.

"Of course. Our queen values and respects the wishes of those who serve her above all else." Zera commented before her eyes fell to Zeref's unmoving form. His eyes still closed as if sleeping. Tears glittered in Rahkeid's eyes, letting his head drop, looking truly defeated.

Zera's cold hand slid against his shoulder, a feeble attempt at comfort perhaps. Still, it did little to soothe the other's rising sense of guilt.

XxX

Zeref sat on weak knees. He exhaled a shuddering breath, the bruises from last night as clear as day on the pale skin of his. Staring down at them with a rising sense of hopelessness;

He continued thrashing. His screams becoming louder and louder as more of the liquid was emptied into his bloodstream. Keira laughed, watching him eventually fall into a pattern of heavy, pained gasps. His pupils dilating, and heavy tremors of pain shook his shoulders, groaning as he let his head fall limply to the side staring at the wall.

"What do you think, Zeref?"Keira taunted, pocketing the now empty syringe. Her fingers re-wrapping around his jaw jerking his face towards her where she held his tear-filled gaze. "Give it another five minutes or so and your lungs will become as hard as rocks leaving you unable to even breathe." Zeref whimpered, feeling her plant a soft kiss just beneath his ear, trailing further down. "In ten minutes your arms and legs will lose 70% of mobility and your blood circulation will be reduced by more than half." He groaned as she kissed along his jaw going further down to his neck. "Were you any normal person, you'd be in for a painful death." Her fingers danced across exposed skin, playing with the silver pendant he kept hanging around his neck.

"But then you're not very normal, are you? Doesn't matter, you'll still feel the pain at the very least."Zeref watched her through pained eyes, seeing her lift the small pendant, examining it with cold, cruel eyes before sneering. "Is this your sister, I take it? Aw, she looks so human...it's adorable."

/CRACK!/

A strangled noise, similar to a gasp, tumbled from Zeref's lips. His body jerking to try and make a grab for the pendant, only for her to crush it in an instant. He shivered feeling something inside of him, that last small shred of hope he kept, slip away and out of his grasp.

Zeref swallowed the heavy lump that settled in his throat. His fingers brushing over the expanse of skin where his pendant once hung, only now there was nothing. His last memento of his sister, of his old life where he knew peace, it was gone.

He stared with dull eyes at his hands, his wrists while unscathed by the passage of time, had developed red looking burn marks from the tight-fitting pair of magic-nulling cuffs he was made to wear frequently. The previously unmarred skin was now covered in bruises and, much to his revulsion, numerous kiss marks. His throat was hoarse from being forced to scream for so long.

"I'm...so tired..."He rasped, sounding weak and defeated.

Just as the words left his mouth, what little strength he had mustered drained out of him. He pitched forward, about to fall off the bed and onto the floor when a pair of soft arms caught him. Zeref blinked, taking in the swirl of colors that blurred in and out of focus in his weakened state. His fingers found their way up and curled loosely against someone's shirt, he wasn't even sure who anymore. Only that they smelled like Mavis back when they first met, the sweet scent of berries and cinnamon and...something that wasn't there before, that he couldn't quite put his finger on.

"Ma...vis..."He whispered.

Cold olive eyes looked down at him. The person's arms neither tightening nor loosening their hold on him while gently helping him back onto the bed and throwing the covers on him. Then they sighed.

"Keira went overboard it seems." Was all she said, looking over her shoulder and at Anthea standing in the doorway. "No treatment today. He's far too weak." Anthea nodded.

Zera's fingers brushed along a lock of dark hair, carefully tucking it back behind Zeref's ear.

"No one else is allowed in this room for today, understand?"Zera said. "I'll have the labs make some kind of medicine to help with the pain now that we've administered the antidote. You will bring it to him and make sure he takes it, no one else, and if you suspect someone tampered with it then bring it to me."

"Yes. I understand." Anthea said quietly.

"Good."

XxX

"Do fairies exist or don't they?"

Natsumi stared up overhead at the Fairy Tail guild sign. There was a noticeable look of disdain on her features as she did so before reluctantly turning back towards the tiny guild master, mumbling under her breath, "fairies?" She repeated, some small little fraction of a memory stirring within her. She brushed it aside, having no time for a trip down memory lane.

"Yes, you see because no one knows for sure what the answer is, it's an endless adventure." Makarov enlightened. Natsumi's scowl deepened, if at all possible.

"That sounds stupid." She said bluntly.

Makarov did a face-fall on the pavement.

"S-stupid? Young girl, I'll have you know this is the foundation upon which our guild was built, in fact it was the wish of Fairy Tail's first master, Mavis Vermillion that-HEY! LISTEN TO ME WHEN I AM TALKING, YOU BRAT!"

Natsumi wandered back inside, expecting nothing but the same weaklings she saw before, well maybe one less she thought with a snicker recalling what happened to Gray. Only she was a tad surprised when she took in the state of the guild and it's members, sure there was the damage she caused when she attacked Gray, but there was something else that caught her attention. That was the young looking male standing near the bar, conversing with that guy from before, the one who knocked her to the ground with such ease-she made a mental note to get back at him for that someday-he looked, well, divinish.

'He looks...kinda familiar somehow.'She thought, frowning.

Unfortunately for Natsumi, the exact moment she set foot back in the guild was also when the rest of the kids came rushing out of the infirmary. Namely Erza, whose eyes zeroed on her, and all but lunged like an animal. "You!" The redhead yelled, brandishing a sword.

The rest of the guild watched with bated breath. The sword cut through the air, about to make contact with the other girls skin when a pair of fingers caught the sharp edge halting Erza's assault.

Makarov stepped inside just in time to see who it was that got in Erza's way. The rest of the guild was in awe, and a small amount of fear, seeing Rahkeid halt Erza's advance with ease. Kid or not, there weren't many who could stop a sword with their bare hands, but Rahkeid did it just now.

"Who-"Erza started to say. Natsumi looking just as confused by the unexpected assistance.

"You're..."Makarov says, drawing all attention for a moment. His eyes focused on the symbol showing proudly on Rahkeid's left shoulder, widening in horror. "Alvarez!"

Review.

Question: Who should 'Team Natsumi' consist of?