The Black Wizard Takes Notice

(Jason's POV)

"They were attacked, huh?" I said as I sat in the carriage, "By Grimoire Heart at that....they're still active?"

I was making my way to the location where Lucy, a village between Magnolia and Hargeon. I was in a carriage pulled by a horse that was manned by an old man. I wasn't too far from the village, about an hour from what the old man told me.

Apparently, shit must've gone down if they needed me.

Fairy Tail can handle themselves, they don't need help from some guy that they don't know. I mean, it is true that I did help out a lot and all, but that was for my own personal benefit.

"Hm..." I said

What's odd is that Mirajane and Juvia didn't mention any attack. I wonder if they found out about it. It must've happened during the time they were away. I mean, it had to.

I leaned back and sighed, "Why would Grimoire Heart attack them?" I said aloud, "Last I heard, they were about to be dismantled. I know Oracion Seis were disbanded because their leader was killed or something like that."

I rubbed my temples, "And what does any of that have to do with me?" I said, "Why am I needed?"

Well, Lucy did ask for me. This is basically a request to help them out. And I can't really refuse to help her, can I?

I let out another sigh, "I hope nothing bad happened." I said, "If it's just to beat up someone, I guess I could do it."

I really had other things to worry about, but I had no choice but to meet up with Lucy and hear her out.

"Man..." I said,

"Better be worth the time."

****************************

"Young man." the old man said, "We're here."

"Oh?" I said looking out the carriage, "Whoa."

The majority of the village was left in ruins, buildings were destroyed, and smoke was still coming out of burning debris, it was nothing but destruction.

"What the hell?" I said

"Hell." the old man said, "That's what these folks are probably going through."

I got off the carriage and walked towards the front, tossing the old man a small coin purse.

"Thanks." I said, "Have a safe trip back."

The old man nodded, "Of course." He said, "Eneri sends her regards."

"Huh?" I looked at him

He was already turning the carriage around and taking off.

What the hell? What did he mean by that? Eneri? He knew her?

"What the...." I muttered under my breath

"Jason!" I heard a voice call

I turned around to see Lucy running up to me. She had bandages on her arm and legs. She looked pretty beat up. Who the fuck did this to her?

"Lucy!" I said, "You okay? What happened?"

She reached me and stopped in front of me, panting a bit.

"Forget me..." She said, "Listen, Jason..."

"Jason!!!" I looked past Lucy and saw Erza walk up to me with a scowl

I raised an eyebrow, "Yea?"

She walked up to me and in an instant, her hand had slapped me across the face.

"Erza!" Lucy exclaimed

I rubbed my cheek, completely flabbergasted at what had just happened.

I looked at Erza who gave an angry glare.

"What was that for?" I asked her

She gritted her teeth, "You know what you did." She said, "If it weren't for you...."

"Erza, please calm down, he didn't know!" Lucy said

"Know what?" I asked

Erza looked at me,

"Kagura."

******************************

(3rd Person POV)

To the west, on the continent of Arikitashi, inside a palace, a man sat on a chair next to a window.

He had black hair and eyes as he wore royal garments, reading a book on his chair with a calm expression.

Suddenly, the doors to the room he was in opened and an elderly man wearing robes akin to a wizard walked in. He carried a staff in his hand as he walked over to the man.

He looked at him, "Your Majesty." He merely said

The black haired man looked up at him, "Yes?" He said, "What is it August?"

August looked at him with a serious look, "Sire." He said, "You must be aware of what is transpiring in Ishgar?"

The black-haired man closed his book and then gestured over to a shelf on a wall next to him. August looked at the shelf and saw that there were books on it. He recognized them, them being the Books of Zeref. The shelf had the etherious in their book form.

"You tell me, August." He said while smiling slyly, "Tartaros is no more. Mard Geer is dead. I managed to salvage what I could from Silver."

This man was Emperor Spriggan, also known as Zeref, the Black Wizard.

August looked at him, "Sire." He said, "You let Silver live? Why? Need I remind you that he wields a power capable of slaying the Etherious you worked so hard to perfect? Not the failures from Tartaros, but the ones under our banner."

Zeref chuckled, "But can't you agree, August?" He said, "Isn't it peculiar that a walking corpse like him was capable of obtaining that kind of power? Mard Geer really screwed up there. Not only that, he broke his link with Keyes, he should be gone by now. Dust on the floor. But he isn't...."

August slightly narrowed his eyes, "Sire..." He said, "You don't mean..."

Zeref looked at him, "He was able to completely resurrect himself, somehow." He said, "I'll let him be, for now...."

August nodded, "If that is your wish." He said

"But August..." Zeref said, "About our spy over there...."

"Yes." August said, "It appears they made contact with the man that has piqued your interest, sire."

Zeref chuckled as he looked out the window, "It is peculiar....Silver.....and that one..." He said, "He was capable to completely rewrite two of my demons as if it was nothing. I must know how he did it...."

"That Jason."