** Notice ** Hey Readers! First off... Thank you all so much for the support! Second to those who have asked, I haven't actually decided on who Tara will end up with, there are certain Characters that she is closer with but no romance is set right now but I do want your input so please don't shy if there is an idea you wanted to add in! Third, the tag for 'Mystogan and Gray' are only there for search reasons.

Once again I thank you all so much, I do this because I know what it's like. I want to make sure my readers are happy :)

P.S. Yes I have updated the story because I bringing out the newest chapter but I need to incorporate another oc, an exceed!

*** Disclaimer - I do NOT own the Fairy Tail characters or storyline ***

Chapter 3

Thought's

"Talking"

Memory

Past Thoughts

Re- cap


Tara panted very lightly, she had managed to confuse and lose her followers but it had taken some time. She had to admit, after everything she has seen so far, Tara was beginning to worry about Gray and the new turn of events forming on this Island. She remembered Gray as child, she didn't spend much time at the Guild back then either but she always saw Gray every time she had returned from a job. His actions always confuse me but he always wore a warm smile every time he greeted me. He always asks about my health first but welcomes me home every single time... I can't deny I care and worry about his safety. This Cold Emperor is what worries me the most how ever, if it's who I think it is then this could get ugly. When Tara had absorbed the water from the melting ice crystal she had witnessed Ur's memories, her emotions even pieces of her thoughts and final words. She had decided she would grant the Ice Wizards wish and reveal them to Gray, but he wasn't the only one she had to show...

"There you are, Ta-chan!"

"Stephan!" Tara was very happy to see him, the exceed floated down to her as his wings disappeared and she caught him.

Stephan held onto her shoulder and whispered into her ear as Tara stayed out of sight, "Did you find anything out?"

"Yes, From the looks of it, There's five in the main group including the leader. There's also a large group of supporters plus, we have four members from the guild here, well only three right now but you know Erza..." Stephan informed her with a small shiver at the end. Ever since he witnessed Erza's rage he tended to avoid running into her while she's angry.

Tara gave him an approving look, "Well done, Stevie-chan. You always have been good at stealth missions."

Tara started to trail the three followers of the Cold Emperor, They will have to report to him at some point in time, if I follow them long enough they will lead me straight to him... She had no doubt that when the moon appeared that Natsu, Lucy, Happy and Gray would be going the same direction as her...


Memory

"Tara!"

Laxus was calling her to accompany him on a quest but never actually went about asking her, When he called out an adolescent Tara turned around with flowing waves of blue hair mimicking her body movements. She wore a heated glare in his direction and merely turned around to walk towards the request board on the main floor. Not far away Gray, at the same age, was watching her flawless movements and gestures. He had talked to her a few times but never really had the chance to speak with her on his own.

"Tara!"

Laxus tried calling her again, an irk mark was obvious on the back of her head but she still chose to ignore him. He smirked knowing her better than Gray did, I don't understand why she talks to him at all. Why share your secrets with a man who doesn't care about your feelings, Tara... why him and not... Gray stopped his train of thoughts watching her closely.

"Tar-!"

"Shut up Laxus! I'm going on my own request!" She finally snapped at him. Her voice did raise but maybe it was that reason that made it sound so much more venomous.

That didn't slow Laxus down at all though, "Let's go. You need to stop working alone." Is that his way of worrying about her safety? The Ice Wizard couldn't deny that he too worried about her safety while she was out on a job.

"I'm not going alone!" She blurted out without thinking first, her eyes wandering until they found Gray's, her eyes almost seemed to be pleading for his help. Gray looked at Laxus, Does she really-? This could be it... this could be my chance to speak with her... "I'm going with her on this job."

"Seriously?" Lauxs started laughing, "Come on Tara!"

"I'm serious Laxus. I'm going with Gray for this job."

Gray turned his attention to Tara, Her eyes... So determined, So beautiful... They caught my attention first, I feel like I could lose myself staring at them. Laxus interrupted his thoughts, "He's not going to be able to protect you on the jobs you take."

"I will always protect her!" he hadn't thought about his words but they still came out strong.

Tara tried to hide the faint pink that reached her cheeks, she could tell he meant his words with all sincerity, "Huh. See if I care!" With that Laxus turned and walked out without a look over his shoulder. Tara ripped of a piece of paper from the board, she showed it to the Master who nodded his head watching Tara curiously. She walked up to Gray without hesitation, "Let's go!"


When he stated that to Laxus, something inside me changed. I had realized that there were some who noticed I was there in that large guild. It's true Laxus was there as was Mystogan but even they were never at the heart of the members in the guild. Tara thought about the past, her time with the guild members and those she had become close too. She had stayed this time to grow closer with them all but was it really okay to do so? Did she really belong there with all of them?

"Look Tara! Their finally close." Stephan caused her to get out of her memories.

Tara shook her head roughly as they followed the three mages that were now heading up to the top of the temple, the moon had set and an ominous purple glow of the moon drip had already started. She could tell that her fellow comrades had made it there but she was surprised to find that Lucy had one of her spirits out as well. There was a large mass of people doing the ritual which made Tara think, How did he manage... That's it! Deliora terrorized different cities and towns that are now lost. These must be the remaining citizens! I can only sense a very small handful of wizards like Stephan mentioned. Tara realized that there was more to this story than what they were seeing in plain sight, the question was, would her comrades?

Her attention was directed at someone else how ever, a man dressed with a unique sense of old fashioned style stepped into the scene, he wore a metal helmet to cover his face and a cape flowing down to his feet. That's him... The Cold Emperor. If I have the same hunch, then Gray must as well. Behind him were the three wizards that had been chasing Tara earlier.

"Damn, I'm sleepy because we woke up during the day." Yuka complained, "We haven't even found the intruders!"

Toby had started dozing off with a bubble out of his nose while he walked, "Were there even any?" He demanded suddenly waking up angrily.

"I saw that women with blue hair. We all did." Yuka replied calmly with a yawn.

Women with blue hair?! Natsu, Happy, Lucy and Gray all thought at the same time but were once again absorbed into the enemies before them.

Sherry looked at the Leader, "It's sad, Cold Emperor. It appeared there were intruders during the day. I am unfit to speak of love."

*Sweat Drop* "What is with the Love talk?" Tara muttered to Stephan.

Stephan had a sweat drop on his brow, "I have no idea..." He whispered back.

"Intruder...?"

It is him! Oh no... Gray... Tara couldn't stop the fear and worry that crept into her body but it wasn't for herself, "Is Deliora's revival still incomplete?"

"From the looks of it, it will be today or tomorrow..." Sherry answered slightly hesitant.

Toby overreacted once again, "Which is it!?" He demanded dramatically.

"At long last..." He whispered to himself with slight excitement, "As for the intruders, I've come to far to be interfered with now. Yes. The only people left is the village on the outskirts. Go eradicate the village!" he commanded with a thrust of his arm.

"Yes, Sir!"

"Understood!"

Lucy and Natsu put up a rather loud protest, Tara chose to stand back for now, she couldn't risk Natsu finding out right now. How ever she knew that she might end up exposing her secret to another member in the Guild.

"I'm not really fond of blood shed but..." The Cold Emperor muttered loud enough to be heard.

Gray had finally fully figured out who their current enemy was as Natsu revealed their hiding place, "All right! I'm sick of sneaking around!" He hollered from a top of a collapse brick wall. His cheeks puffed up and Tara knew what he aimed to do next, Natsu released his roar into the air gaining everyone's attention, "Were the ones who came to interfere!"

Idiot... Tara thought with a deep sigh and continued to watch the events unfolding, "That emblem... Their from Fairy Tail!" Sherry pointed out looking at Natsu's shoulder.

"I see, So the village asked the guilds for help." Yuka concluded.

How ever, Their leader didn't care, "What are you doing? Go and eradicate the village."

"Huh?"

"Why?"

Lucy and Natsu asked at the same timed completely confused, they revealed their identity and still he chose to kill the villagers.

"Those who stand in my way and those who concocted that scheme... Their all my enemy!" He voice was cold like the magic he wielded...

Natsu was angry as he charged head first but it was someone else that charged head first that confirmed Tara suspicions, "Why? Why, you...!" Gray cried and charged straight at... Lyon. His fellow classmate who studied under Ur's teaching and his personal rival.

"Stop your stupid ceremony or whatever this instant!" He cried as a magic circle formed in his hands. Ice formed in dangerous spiked layers towards all of them, the three underlings jumped back as did Lyon, how ever he also charged up his own counter attack. The similar attack only sharper was launched at Gray's magic in order to stop the attack before the ice shattered everywhere.

"He is uses Ice Magic too?" Happy called out surprised like the rest of his companions who wore wide eyes... That is except for Gray and Tara.

Gray is furious, I don't think I have ever seen him this angry before but considering his painful past... it only makes sense for him to react this way. Tara felt her heart swell ever so slightly as Gray muttered, "Lyon!"

Lucy and Natsu figure out that they had a past, they didn't know much about Gray's own past Tara only knew what she had seen from Ur's memories, "Damn you! Do you even realize what your doing?" Gray demanded.

"It's been awhile, Gray." Lyon commented back calmly.

Gray held his stance, "What is the meaning of this?"

"To think you were one of the wizards the villagers called here... Did you come here knowing or was it sheer coincidence?" The cold air was visible as it hung around the air by the two wizards, "Not that it makes any difference."

Yuka was curious, "An acquaintance of your Cold Emperor Lyon?"

"Get going. I can handle this myself." he replied with pure confidence.

"Yes sir!" With that they disappeared from sight.

Natsu wasn't about to let them get away but his nose should have smelt the danger, "Oh no you don't!"

"Natsu wait! Don't move!" Gray tried to warn his comrade but he didn't listen very well.

It was too late, the ice flowed around Natsu slowly turning him into a giant ice ball, He clearly didn't see that one coming... Though if he gets out of Lyon's Caster range he will be fine. Tara thought to herself, she had no doubt Gray would figure the same thing out.

"Idiot..." Stephan muttered to Tara who had also figured out what she had.

"Natsu!" Happy and Lucy called out with worry.

Gray was more concerned about them, "Happy, get Lucy out of here! NOW!"

"Aye!"

"Wait!"

Lucy tried to protest but it was better for her to protect the villagers... "Since Natsu is dense..." Stephan mumbled, Tara let out a quiet sigh but watched anyways. She had no doubt Gray could win in a fight against Lyon how ever right at the moment his emotions are clouding him and his magic. Lyon was about to attack Lucy but Gray sent a wave of ice at Lyon to distract him and let Happy escape with Lucy. He blocked the attack but Gray still managed to succeed at what he was aiming for, a distraction.

"Damn I can't move!" Natsu complained.

He was ignored... obviously, "So you created an opening for the girl and cat to escape, not that it will matter Sherry and the others will be able to handle her." Lyon stated rudely.

"i wouldn't underestimate Fairy Tail wizards if I were you!" Natsu called back in defense.

Just as he finished his sentence Gray used his foot to kick Natsu rolling down the hill, So he did know to get Natsu out of range... Tara thought with approval even if it was slightly uncalled for to kick Natsu. Tara tried to hold back a small giggle while Stephan didn't, as Natsu yelled and hollered all the way down the hill.

"I see your as reckless as ever. Wasn't he your friend?"

Sort of a Love/Hate relationship... Tara commented to herself, "That spell can destroy the ice and everything in it if you wanted!" Gray snapped back.

"Which is why you sent it outside of my range of magic? Your pretty clever, after all."

Gray was already angry, "Will you quit acting like your my superior, Lyon!? Your not Ur's student anymore!"

"Neither are you, Gray.", Lyon took off his helmet, "Because Ur is no longer of this world."

"She sacrificed herself to seal Deliora away! Your destroying her legacy!" Gray nearly screamed.

I watched her final moments, her body may be gone but her memories still exist... Tara thought sadly, her worry for Gray grew more and mroe as she watched them face off against each other. There were things they needed to know, things they needed to hear but how could Tara simply explain without revealing to much?

"Don't delude yourself! YOU killed UR!" Lyon stated with pure venom, his blame and hatred for Gray hadn't died down what so ever, "I'm amazed you've had the nerve to live, Gray."

"Your wrong..." Tara whispered as Gray began to sweat and his eyes went wide, he too blamed himself.

Stephan looked at his best friend, "You can't Ta-chan..."

Lyon was calm but there was deep venom in his tone, "I'll say it again. You killed Ur. It is presumptuous for you to even speak her name!" Lyon cried out and lunched an attack at Gray knocking him back into a broken stone wall, "L-Lyon."

"What's the matter? Feeling too guilty to fight back? In that case, stay out of my way! I'm going to revive Deliora."

Gray was standing once more, "I won't let you!"

"That's more like it, let's play! For old times sake!" Lyon stated charging up magic as he dropped his helmet.

*Ice make: Eagle*

Ice shaped eagles went straight at Gray just like the previous attack, Gray was prepared slightly this time.

*Ice Make: Shield*

How ever Gray's ice created shield was useless due to Lyon's type of magic, the eagles went up and above the shield and attacking Gray, "Static Ice Making, Creating objects, was always your specialty. While Dynamic Ice Making, creating animals, has always been my specialty." Lyon stated, "Have you forgotten my ice can move around?"

Gray tried to dodge up in the and land an attack on Lyon from above.

*Ice Make: Hammer*

*Ice Make: Ape*

Each spell Gray sent towards Lyon was countered, "What a joke! You still use two hands for your maker magic?"

"That's because it's what Ur taught us! Single hand make magic is incomplete and unbalanced."

Lyon wasn't fazed by the memory, "I'm an exception. I surpassed Ur's level long ago."

"Don't act so cocky!

"I say the same to you. Tell me, did you ever once hit me with an attack?"

Gray primed up his next attack, "Don't mistake those times with now!"

*Ice Make Geyser*

Ice spiked all around Lyon concealing him from sight, how ever Tara could still sense his magic was at the same level, He dodged Gray's attack? While other's began to flee, Tara took the chance to get closer to Gray, a subtle feeling hit her gut making her panic. Just as she got closer to Gray the Geyser shattered and Lyon started to walk towards Gray slowly, "Nothing has changed since then."

He stopped facing Gray and that's when Tara knew she had to save him, "I was the elder student and I was stronger then you. I learned to use single hand magic but you never could. Nothing has changed. Our paths are different but our time remains frozen and unchanged."

Lyon primed his own attack at Gray but Tara interrupted, "YOUR WRONG!" Tara couldn't hold back anymore as she screamed at Lyon and appearing before Gray as she quickly primed her own attack.

"NO TARA!" Stephan yelled out as he followed close behind her.

*Water Dragon Pounding Fist*

The blast of water shot right through the ice shaped dragon that was about to attack Gray from below and shattered it, Lyon was surprised but it was Gray that was stunned, so many thoughts ran through his mind as her stared in amazement at her face and long blue hair that had been revealed when she saved him, "Your wrong." She said quietly as she faced Lyon.

Tara is a... Dragon Slayer? A Water Dragon Slayer! His mouth was wide just his eyes were as he stared, Why did she hide this? Doe this make her the same as Natsu!? I can't believe I finally know what magic she wields! Gray thought in astonishment! His thoughts were scrambled as he tried to figure out everything that was going on.

"So your the blue haired intruder... and... another flying cat?" Lyon the glared at her, "You know nothing. How can you claim I am wrong?"

Tara looked at Gray for a moment to see the stress and attacks was starting to take its toll on him, "I know both your pasts. I also know when Gray is focused, he can defeat any enemy he has."

"T-Tara..." He wasn't sure how to word everything he wanted to say to her, she had just complimented him... Just like before... but the promise she made me... But what does she mean? How does she know our past?

Tara was still staring at him with concern written all over her face, "I'm sorry you had to find out like this Gray, Please understand why I must keep it a secret. How ever I couldn't watch this happen, I can explain everything to you afterwards... I'm also sorry... that I broke my promise." She then turned her attention to Lyon, her facial features hardened but not out of anger, "You want to surpass Ur isn't that it Lyon?"

He flinched but before he could retort she spoke again, "You wish to defeat Deliora because she couldn't, do you truly believe that reviving that monster will make you better?"

"How dare you! You don't know anything about me!" She was finally getting emotion from him.

How do you know all this Tara? He wanted to ask but Gray chose to listen as his energy slowly became zapped from all the events and shock soaking into his body.

*Ice Make: Snow Tiger*

The ice and snow made animal charged straight at Tara and Gray, He was about create a defense for her but she had already been ready to attack back.

*Water Dragon Roar*

The funnel of Water went right through the Tiger, shattering it. The path continued straight towards Lyon, he froze the water making it shatter, "You can't defeat me with those kind of attacks. DO you honestly think Water is better than ice?"

"No. How ever I learned thanks to Gray. He is far more talented than you can image." Tara smirked before she primed another attack, Stephan carried her up quickly high above Lyon before he let her drop to gain momentum.

*Water Dragon Wing Attack*

He wasn't worried, "I told you that won't work..." How ever when he tried to freeze the water it wouldn't work.

"The speed of her water is too fast to freeze!" Stephan explained for her.

Lyon did managed to create a shield that took majority of the blast, only his cape and his sleeves got slightly torn.

"Stop it! Don't do this Lyon! Ur tried to keep it sealed you know what a monster that beast is!" Gray tried to plead with him.

It only fueled to Lyon's rage but towards Gray instead, " 'Stop it, Please don't do this!' That's the exact same thing we said to you that day you Challenged Deliora! You have no right to speak her name! Begone!" He attacked Gray with more eagles followed by an iced fist each time hitting Gray.

"Stop it!" Tara screamed. It was the last thing Gray heard before he landed and passed out on the ground, I'm sorry Tara but he's telling the truth. Thank you for trying to protect me, I guess you do like me some what... The last thing he saw was Tara priming an attack Lyon as those two faced off against each other.


"How dare you butt into this!" Lyon cried at Tara as he dodged her water magic.

She was worried about Gray, she could sense his wounds weren't good but she had to deal with Lyon first. What if... I can tell him the truth? Gray is unconscious and i need to try to heal, I don't think I can heal them all but at least so his life isn't in danger...

Stephan was sitting by Gray watching over him but still looking out for Tara, "Your aware that Ur's body became the ice that holds Deliora?"

Lyon froze for a moment, "Are you a survivor of that battle? Is that how you know so much?"

"No." She took a breath as she lowered her head, "I am a Dragon Slayer of Water, I absorb water. When I absorbed the water from the huge chunk of ice, I saw her life... her memories... her final words..." Tara punched into her Dragon Force suddenly and managed to catch Lyon off guard, she stopped just before his face and touched her finger to his forehead.

On her fingertip was a small drop of water, she showed Lyon Ur's memories of when he first came to her. He became to shocked how ever and panicked, Lyon jumped away from Tara.

"W-What is this?" His eyes were wide and fearful, before she could answer his question. Lyon suddenly fled.

She shook her head, "Damn... He didn't finished the memories." She muttered before walking over to Gray's body.

"You can heal most of these injuries, it should regain most of his magical energy back as well." Stephan informed her.

Tara slowly rolled him over and knelt down beside him. She placed her hands on his chest, they suddenly began to glow a sapphire blue. His smaller wounds closed up but the larger once wouldn't. I didn't keep my promise... I'm sorry Gray... A smell invaded her nose as her body stiffened... Natsu?! He came back up this hill? Tara took one last look at Gray before she leaned down and gently placed a feather light kiss upon Gray's fore head. Stephan then picked her up and carried them both from sight as Natsu managed to make it to the top.


**** Sorry it took so long for an update, hope you guys like the new chapter! I will continue the memory in the next chapter and explain the promise they were referring too. R&R ******