The arrival upon Tenrou was loud and boisterous. The examinees were waiting at the beach, prepared to run in and face whatever came their way while the examiners waited on the paths leading toward Mavis' grave.
Yin knew it had started when the forest and sea caves started shaking. It was funny, because she was fairly certain Natsu was taking the path that led to her. So she sat on a sturdy enough branch and watched the magic beasts flee from Natsu's direction.
"He's as subtle as a punch to the nuts, as always. I guess I can test him before finding Zeref. It's faint.. but I feel him nearby. Probably at Mavis' grave huh?" Yin looked over to the large tree.
"Just one hour, Zeref. Then I'll come free you." Yin said to herself, extending her senses across the Island.
"Well said, perfect aura.. No complaints here." Shade said, standing in a branch next to her, arms folded and body positioned perfectly so that the sun rays peeking through the leaves left his face obscure.
Yin did her best to ignore him, locking onto the other examiners while Shade went quiet and waited for more opportunities to farm aura.
Irene was managing the Island's reconstruction and waiting for Gajeel. Yang, funnily enough had Elfman. Ultear had Juvia, Erza had Gray, Laxus had Cana, Yin had Natsu. Lucy and Levy had really lucked out the first round, it seemed.
But then she felt something coming closer to Tenrou and clicked her tongue in annoyance.
"Hades? Really? Now you decide to show up and try to suck Zeref's dick? Fuck it. I'll have to beat up Natsu fast and head over to where he's napping soon.."
No sooner after she said that did she pick up the loud, boisterous Dragonslayer himself. Flying down the path with Happy, flames shooting out of his feet like a certain other protagonist that used fire. Yin was about to leap down when Shade threw salmon on the ground in front of the tree. Of course, Happy immediately dove for it, getting in Natsu's way and tripping them both right in front of the tree, where Shade leapt down and landed on Natsu's head.
"How naive.. if you can't resist the allure of fish, how can you support your partner into becoming an S class wizard? Hmph.." Shade shook his head in disappointment, using them both as stairs, arms folded even still.
'Damn.. he mogged them both.' Yin thought in amusement as Natsu stood up quickly.
"Hey, you! Where's-" Natsu tried to ask but his face was driven into the ground when Yin landed feet first on top of his head after hopping off the branch she was on earlier.
"Up here, kid. We'll have to do this quick."
Natsu pulled his head up and sprung back onto his feet, kicking out at Yin's head.
"Fire Dragon's Claw!"
Yin ducked, then stepped off to the right as the flaming kick soared behind her. Natsu didn't pause in his assault though, using a burst of flames to move right back to Yin. He came in with a spinning elbow, only to have it caught by her palm.
"Fire Dragon's wing attack!" He grinned, sweeping his arms toward Yin and bathing her in a sea of orange flames.
"You know when it comes to two Fire Dragons, whoever has the hottest flames wins. So why're you throwing these lukewarm flames at me, Natsu?" Yin asked, stepping out of the flames in time to catch a flame propelled axe kick that cratered the ground underneath her.
"Aw crap-" Natsu felt Yin's grip lock around his ankle before she swung him down and he was forced to block a knee aimed at his chest with both arms.
THUD!
'OW! My arms are freaking numb!' Natsu complained internally as he was launched back.
His eyes suddenly widened as Yin gave chase, feet kicking off the magic platforms she made as she engaged in an aerial fight with Natsu. Her right cross was hurriedly dodged, then countered with Natsu's attempted uppercut. Her palm diverted his fist to the side before her leg snapped out and kicked the pinkette in the chest.
CRAAASH!
Natsu groaned as his body shot through several trees and ended up in a thicket. His instincts screaming at him as he propelled himself back. Just in time too, as the area behind him exploded in a brilliant flash of blue flames. Unfortunately, he had no time to try and eat said flames, as Yin had dropped out of the sky and landed another solid punch to his guard, pushing him back yet keeping pace with where his body flew.
"Gaaah!!" Natsu yelled as his body was repeatedly battered with Yin's high speed punches and kicks.
Even as durable a brawler as he was, Yin had outclassed him. Desperate to give himself breathing room, he kicked out and propelled himself up before inhaling and unleashing his roar.
"FIRE DRAGON'S ROAR!!"
Natsu knew it likely wouldn't work, that in terms of fire magic and martial prowess, he wasn't Yin's equal. But he wasn't going to give up. He ignited his entire body and shot flames from his feet, diving straight down at the figure emerging from the flames.
"Fire Dragon's Sword Horn!"
"Ruin Dragon's Metal Fist."
THWACK!
As soon as he heard that, his eyes widened. His headbutt had met with a fist covered in shiny black metal scales.. and lost. The sound of metal against flesh rung out as Natsu flew back against the ground, head ringing as blood flowed down his forehead where Yin's fist struck.
"Ugh... thaa... hid hard..." Natsu mumbled, staggering as he tried to stand.
"You'll recover. But you're reckless, Natsu. You're durable, yes. But against someone who outstrips you in how hard they hit, going for a fucking headbutt is stupid." Yin chastised, expression hardening as Natsu stood up and grinned.
"I know. I was dumb there, Sis. I was just too fired up." He wiped the blood off his head and charged again.
"Haah.. at least you admit it. I guess I was too soft." Yin muttered as Natsu got close and struck out.
"FIRE DRAGON'S IRON FIST!"
This time, his fist connected with her belly. But it felt like hitting a wall. Against her abs, he could see her aura flash. But he kept it up, eyes widening every time he landed a kick, punch, elbow and knee. Yin stood there, absorbing it all. Her hair slowly catching fire as Natsu gave it his all. By the twentieth hit, he took a step back and looked at her.
Yin's arms were folded, looking at him seriously with light purple glowing eyes. Her Semblance feeding off Natsu's attacks as he brought her aura to eighty percent.
"I'm going to teach you what Gildarts would have, if he were here."
"H-Huh..?" Natsu gaped before his legs sunk into the ground forcefully.
Looking at his big sister, he could see the unfathomably heavy and dense magic radiating from her body. The power had shook the ground and dispersed the animals as Natsu sunk to his knees. Watching Yin's figure disappear under the release of extremely dense Ethernano and seeing the chilling look in her eyes had made him scared.
And that was never something Natsu had felt to this extent before. Least of all from Yin.
Before he realized it, the pressure vanished and she pat his head, smiling slightly.
"I needed you to understand. What fights you should fight and what fights you shouldn't. Even beating you up didn't get the point across, so I showed you the potency of my magic."
Natsu took a deep breath and looked up at Yin. Not simply seeing the human version in front of him. There, right behind her, he saw the giant Dragon that she truly was. And he realized how far he still had to go.
"I'm gonna catch up to you, Big Sis. One day, you can count on it!" Natsu declared, getting back on his feet with a more subdued yet still spirited smile.
Yin stroked the top of his head and started walking away as Shade hopped onto her shoulder.
"Then work hard. I'm not done growing stronger myself, little Brother. Oh, and you passed. I'll head to the big tree. Keep walking that path and beat the shit out of anyone that isn't a Guild member." With those last words, Yin walked out of sight.
"ALRIGHT! Happy! Let's go! I still gotta beat up Gray!" Natsu cheered, dragging Happy along as he flew behind him and chewed on his tuna.
.
.
.
.
Yin felt the island shake as she walked along the path to Mavis' grave. In the original Fairy Tail Tenrou arc, Ultear was the one to find Zeref. Though she only fought a severely nerfed version.
Now? Yin knew dark wizards were coming to try and awaken Zeref's power and memories. She only remembered a few members. Hades himself, who wasn't going to take to the field at the start, Bluenote, who had a desire to fight the strong, the guy who took over Capricorn and the God Slayer fire mage, Zancrow.
Luckily, they were far enough away and encountering a far stronger Fairy Tail than they had in canon. So Yin focused on the presence in front of her. Resting against a tree was Zeref, peacefully basking in the sunlight. As he was asleep, his curse hadn't activated when she approached.
Gasp!
As soon as Yin got within two meters, Zeref's eyes shot open and he looked at her with a wary expression.
"No.. Get away! My curse will-!" A black aura radiated outward from him, killing the trees and animals around.
But still, Yin walked forward. Zeref backed away, even turning to run before anyone else died in front of him. But then he felt it, the curse wasn't killing her. The black energy that radiated outward was screaming, revolting against something it didn't understand.
Slowly, Zeref turned around and came face to face with Yin. Surrounded in the dark violet energy of Ruin, she walked through the curse of Condradiction and put her palm against Zeref's chest, where his heart lay.
"Aaah..... am I.. finally going to die now?" A grateful, even heartwarming smile blossomed on his face as he felt Ruin's energy sink into his body, touching his soul.
"No. I found a better way, old friend."
Zeref looked into her crimson eyes, feeling Ruin touch upon something he couldn't tamper with, no matter how hard he tried. Ankhseram's black magic, the miasma that killed the more he valued life. It tried to fight the invading energy, to stop it, to alter it, to kill it. But it came face to face with absolute annihilation.
The image of a spiral, forever spiraling inward to the origin of nothingness. And once it arrived there, at that nothingness, it ceased to be.
"What..." Zeref whispered in disbelief, feeling his chest as he felt something within him vanish.
"I told you I would, didn't I?"
Zeref looked up, eyes blurry from the build up of tears. And he recognized her. Her voice was the same but the human form had thrown him off. Wordlessly, he grabbed Yin's shoulders and hugged her harder than he had ever hugged anyone. His face buried in her shoulder to suppress his violent hiccups and sobs.
"You did it... You did it.." Zeref repeated ad nauseum, fingers clutching her coat as she hugged him back and allowed him to cry.
"I'll do it for Mavis too. Heh.. little gremlin thinks I can't feel her because she hasn't appeared in front of us." Yin looked off to the side, seeing a petite blonde girl that looked no older than fourteen appear, crying just as hard as Zeref.
"Zeref... it's over. It's actually.. finally over.."
Zeref looked over, though hadn't seen Mavis himself, due to not being part of the Guild. He felt her presence and wiped his tear-streaked face.
"Mavis... we can live together now, can't we?"
The lovers choked out something between a laugh and a sob. While Yin smiled at the scene, she looked at the calm energy of Ruin in her palm.
'This feels.. good. I guess destruction isn't all bad.'