A/N: Hello everyone, this is my first story so please be kind, I'm doing the best I can. This doesn't take place in any specific arc. Enjoy and please review!
Never Too Late (Chapter 1)
The battle had been raging for hours by now, and nearly all of Fairy Tail's sources were depleted. Natsu, Erza, Gray, Lucy and all the others were bloodied and battered, barely able to keep standing and fighting, and the demon they were facing had barely even slowed down. The town had sustained massive amounts of damage but thankfully the citizens had already been evacuated. Natsu threw himself at the demon again, only to be met with a harsh backhand that sent him flying backwards. He slammed into the ground and skid backwards a solid ten feet before slamming into a large piece of what once was part of a wall.
"Natsu!" Happy screamed, flying towards him. The cat helped him back to his feet, "We're not going to win this one are we?" Happy asked with big eyes filled with tears.
Natsu shook him off and said firmly, "Of course we will, We're Fairy Tail!" Knowing that his flying friend wanted to help he added, "Why don't you go see if everyone else is doing alright, and make sure Grey doesn't do anything stupid." 'Like try to use Ice Shell.' He thought bitterly. Truth be told he was just as worried as Happy. There weren't that many wizards left and the monstrous 30 foot tall demon was still fighting. Come to think of it, Natsu hadn't seen the other members of his team, save Happy, in a while. Fear twisted his stomach at the thought of them being hurt or worse. He didn't have to wait long however, as he was steadying himself on the rubble behind him Gray came flying through the air and crashed at his feet. Natsu's eyes widened at the sight of his bloodied friend as he bent down to help him up. Gray leaned heavily on Natsu's shoulder, and Natsu, looking down, saw why. One of Gray's legs was twisting at an odd angle and he could barely put pressure on it. As his eyes flicked back up Natsu took note of his rival's other injuries. Gray's shirtless torso had a long slash carved in it that stretched from his left collarbone to his right hip. He had additional cuts littering his face and arms and visible bruising showed across his whole body.
"You look like crap." Gray mumbled.
If the situation wasn't so dire Natsu would have laughed, "Yeah, says you." Natsu shot back, "You're definitely one to talk." Natus was fairly sure he wasn't wrong though, he could feel blood dripping from his temple and was well aware of the various injuries all over his body from his brushes with the demon. Natsu helped Gray sit down on a boulder and he tilted his head back against the ruble to rest his eyes for a moment. They sat like that for a minute or so in silence,the only sounds coming from the fighting behind them and the burst of magic energy, though even that was coming at less frequent intervals. Natsu closed his own eyes and leaned back, savoring the moment of rest, but he was quickly pulled out of it by Gray's cry of pain. Natsu's eyes shot open and he lept off the wall.
"I'm fine." Gray groaned. Natsu looked at his leg, which was now facing the right direction.
"Well what'd you go and do that for?" Natsu snapped.
Gray shrugged and though he tried to keep it level Natsu could hear how it was laced with pain. "Can't fight on a broken leg." Gray said simply. Natsu watched, dumbfounded, as Gray held a hand over his knee and used ice to wrap it and hold it in place. Gray pushed himself off the rock and took a shaky shep forward, attempting to hide the grimace of pain.
Natsu shook his head in disbelief and said, "You can't seriously think you can fight like that?"
"Don't need to." Grey replied, "I've got a plan."
Natsu shot forward and grabbed Gray by the shoulders, turning him so that they were looking at each other. "You are NOT using Ice Shell." Natsu yelled, and as he said it he was reminded of their trip to Galuna Island where he had to watch his rival try to use the Ice Shell and was forced to knock him out to keep him from further hurting himself; and Natsu was seriously considering doing it again.
Gray pushed Natsu off him and snapped, "I'm not using that, you dumb Pyro."
"Well how was I supposed to know that?" Natsu shouted, throwing his hands up.
Gray sighed and shook his head, "Just stay back, alright?" He turned back away but Natsu grabbed his arm and stopped him.
"And what makes you think that I'm going to let you do something that might get you killed?" Natsu asked.
"I just said I wasn't using Ice Shell!" Gray yelled in exasperation. He wrenched his arm away.
"Then why'd you tell me to stay back?" Natsu asked, "'Cus I'm thinking it's because you don't want me to stop you."
Gray sighed and ran a hand through his hair before turning away slightly. Then, with his magic adding to his strength, he threw a lightning fast punch at Natsu, hitting him squarely in the face. Gray winced, hating himself for what he'd done, as he watched Natsu fall to the ground.
Natsu struggled for a moment as he tried to push himself back up, the punch adding to his previous injuries. "Gray...no." He whispered before his eyes rolled back in his head and he collapsed back to the ground, unconscious.
Gray sighed and turned away, "I'm sorry Natsu." he whispered. 'I have to find Loke.' he thought. Ignoring the pain in his leg, he limped forward into the battle, thinking solely on how he was going to find the celestial that was the missing part of his plan. As it turned out it wasn't too incredibly difficult to locate the man. He was in the heat of battle, fighting alongside Erza. "Loke!" Gray shouted, "I need your help!"
Loke risked a glance over his shoulder to shout, "I'm a bit busy at the moment!"
"I think I know how to beat this thing!' Gray yelled back, "But I need your help!"
Erza, overhearing the conversation, shouted, "How?"
"I'll explain later!" Gray replied, "But it's a bit time sensitive so I need your help now!"
Loke turned to Erza, "You got this?"
Erza nodded, "Go help him."
Loke nodded and pulled back, running towards Gray and following him as he was lead behind a mountain of rubble. They crouched down and Loke asked, "What's the plan?"
"We're going to send it to the spirit world." Gray stated.
Loke's eyes widened and he asked, "We're going to do WHAT?"
"We're going to send it to the spirit world." Gray repeated, "You're going to focus your magic on creating a bubble of energy that will work as a portal to the spirit world, and I'll distract the demon as well as create a shield around the others so they aren't transported as well." Loke stared at him, mouth hanging slightly open. "What, you don't think it will work?" Gray snapped.
Loke shook his head and ran a hand through his hair, "No, I mean it's a great plan in theory but there's a lot that could go wrong."
Gray nodded, "I know. Could you maybe try to aim for somewhere unpopulated?"
A small smile played on the corners of Loke's mouth, "It doesn't matter, demons can't survive in the spirit world, my main concern is you."
"Me?" Gray asked.
"Yeah, you." Loke replied, "Humans can't survive in the spirit world for long either, and if we get pulled through I doubt I'll be able to bring us back."
"It's a risk we'll have to take." Gray said firmly, "I don't hear anyone else offering up a better plan."
Loke nodded, "First we have to draw everyone away from the demon though."
"Leave that to me." Gray said, "You focus on getting the spell ready."
"Are you sure you're going to be able to do this?" Loke asked, "I mean, you kinda look like crap."
Gray sighed, "Everyone's a critic." With that as their parting words the broke off, Loke heading for high ground to prepare the spell while Gray headed back to the battlefield to draw everyone off. 'I have to find the master.' Gray thought, 'He can order a retreat.' It was just as easy to locate Makarov as it was to locate Loke.
"Master!" Gray yelled, drawing him away from his attack.
Makarov whipped around, "What is it, I'm busy!"
"I need you to order a retreat!" Gray called.
"What?!" Makarov snapped, "We don't retreat!"
"I know how to beat this thing!" Gray assured, 'But I need everyone to clear out!"
Makarov peered suspiciously at him, "You're not planning on using that bloody Ice Shell are you?"
Gray sighed, "No master, Loke and I are going to send it to the spirit world, it won't be able to survive there."
"Will it work?" Makarov asked, "Without further casualties?"
Gray thought back to Loke's warning but brushed it off, "Yes." He assured.
If Makarov noticed his hesitation he didn't mention it, "Very well, I'll order a retreat." He said, "Go get ready."
Gray nodded once, "Get as far away as you can." he said before walking away without waiting for a reply.
"Good luck." Makarov whispered to his retreating back, "Be safe." He turned back to the demon, and using magic to amplify his voice yelled, "Retreat!"
A series of shouts rose up in response but they followed his orders. Within a few minutes all members of Fairy Tail, save Loke and Gray, were out of the danger zone. Gray looked to Loke and nodded before raising his hands and beginning to create a wall around the battlefield to contain the magic energy. As the two wizards began their spell Natsu was struggling to his feet.
"Oh no." He whispered, seeing the blue magic of his rival rise up. "What are you planning?" He slowly got to his feet, ignoring the pulsing pain in his head. Suddenly Erza and Lucy were at his side, helping him balance.
"Natsu, are you alright?" Lucy cried, taking in his damaged appearance.
He shrugged her and Erza off, "I'm fine." He grumbled, "We have to get to Gray."
"Gray?" Erza asked, "I haven't seen him."
Natsu motioned behind them, towards where the wall of ice was growing increasingly taller, "He's right there."
As they turned around Lucy's eyes widened, "That's Gray?"
Natsu nodded, "He told me he had a plan, right before he knocked me out so I wouldn't stop him."
"You don't thinkā¦" Erza trailed off but Natsu knew what she meant.
"He said he wouldn't use it." Natsu assured, "But I have no idea what he's planning."
"Master ordered a retreat." Erza said, "He must know what's going on."
"We have to go back." Lucy cried, "What if he needs help?"
Erza placed a comforting hand on her shoulder, "We won't leave him alone." she promised. Lucy and Natsu nodded in agreement, and they began their walk back to the battlefield.
Gray's breath was coming out in pants by now. His injuries had begun taking a toll on him and the amount of energy he was expending was starting to reach his limit. The shield was almost finished, it would have been done by now but Gray kept having to stop in order to deflect the demon's attacks on him and to send some of his own in return. The demon's fist came down once again as it tried to crush Gray but he swiftly avoided it by rolling to the side. As he staggered back to his feet he heard Natsu yell his name. There was a single opening in the wall where Gray planned on getting out so Loke could send the demon back without sending him as well, but he was now on the opposite side of it. Natsu and the others noticed the opening as well and headed straight towards it, intent on coming in to help Gray. 'No!' Gray shouted mentally, 'If they get in here, they'll be send back as well!'
"Gray!" Loke yelled, "You gotta get out of there, the spell's almost done!" Gray looked up at the magic energy crackling above him, he knew he didn't have long before it zapped everything through the portal. The demon was lumbering towards him, and he knew he would never make it to the opening before Natsu, Lucy, and Erza did. The demon roared as it advanced, intent on killing the ice mage. Gray made his choice. He raised his hands and fired a bolt of ice directly at the opening to seal it just as Natsu reached it. He hit the wall and bounced off, slamming into the ground.
"Gray!" He screamed. Still laying on the ground he fired off a spell, hitting the wall with an onslaught of fire. Erza reached the wall next and pulled out her sword, beginning to attack the wall. Neither of them made a dent.
Inside the arena Gray climbed to his feet and prepared himself for the demon's attack. His back was to the wall, and he had nowhere to run. 'Oh well.' He thought, 'At least the other's are safe.' He closed his eyes and leaned back against the wall, thinking of his life. He wanted his last image to be of his friends and family in Fairy Tail.
Suddenly there was someone above him, "Gray!" Loke screamed, "Grab my hand!"
Gray gasped and looked up, seeing Loke's outstretched hand. He grabbed on and Loke began to pull him up just as the demon reached him. The demon grabbed Gray's legs and pulled him backwards. Gray screamed in pain as his already broken leg was crushed but he still tried to let go of Loke's hand, not wanting to pull him down with him. Unfortunately, Loke held fast. The demon whipped both of them around and sent them flying into the opposite wall of the arena. They slammed into the ice and slid down to the ground, directly in front of Natsu, Erza, and Lucy. Loke lay on the ground, unmoving, but Gray managed to pick his head up and lock eyes with Natsu. "I'm sorry." He whispered.
Tears cascaded down Lucy's face as she screamed and pounded her bare fists against the ice, causing them to bleed. Gray's hand slid down the ice wall as he fell unconscious, and light from Loke's spell lit up the arena.
