I'm very excited about this chapter, as it will reveal a massive plot twist that changes the fate of this story. At the end, if you didn't realize what the plot twist was, I will summarize it. Enjoy!
Songs
Silver's Question: Saika (Naruto Shippuden OST)
"I am the purest of Ice mages. I do not simply make toys out of ice. I use the very essence of ice itself to freeze all." Invel told Gray, after refreezing one of his strongest attacks and shattering it with no effort. "Your derivative flailings could never hold a candle to me. I will break them as easily as I would a child's playthings."
"Then how about this stuff? I inherited this power from my old man. The power to slay devils."
'Those marks are Silver's-!'
"A power for defeating END itself. Ice Devil's Zeroth Long Sword!"
"Wh- GUAH!" Invel was definitely damaged this time.
"Th...This power...Devil Slayer Magic?!"
'How can he have the same magic as Silver? He uses this power to mold ice weapons?! But...This power eats away at the soul. Those who hunt devils cannot retain their sanity. Although I suppose Layla is an exception...In any case, you have my attention.' He smiled.
Gray created another blast of ice that he swung at Invel. The Winter Mage simply blocked it one-handed this time though. Invel created a blizzard that swept through the whole landscape.
'It's cold! Cold enough to freeze! But…'
"You have what it takes to stand alongside me as a comrade."
"!"
"I fear you yourself are unaware of it, but...your heart is slowly being tainted by darkness."
"Eh? What are you blathering on about?"
"The powers of darkness are the seeds of black magic itself. Proof of the reality of the powers of the emperor himself."
"What the? So you're basically telling me you know that you're the bad guys?"
"Darkness is neither good nor evil. Darkness is a fearsome power that resides in the hearts of all. Your darkness is on the brink of releasing itself into the world."
"You're starting to make my ears bleed...I'm not trying to play Mr. Superhero over here either, you know. But if its my family on the line, I'll be as dark and black a villain as I need to in order to protect them!"
"Atta boy, Gray! A Fairy Tail mage through and through!" Natsu said, breaking out of the ice. The others broke out as well.
'He actually melted my ice...I see. This one called Natsu, he truly is…"
"The tables have turned mister! If we all gang up on y-KYAAAA!" Lucy was grabbed by a giant Brandish. She picked up Natsu and Happy with her other hand.
"Brandish!"
"I shall be taking these three."
"Wha-?! Natsu! Lucy! Happy!"
"What's the big idea?! Let go of me!" Natsu yelled.
"Brandish! Stop this! We…"
"Silence." She tightened her grip, making Lucy cry out.
"Hold it right there!"
"Gray-sama!" The two tried to stop Brandish.
Invel stopped them by creating a neck shackle on both Gray and Juvia, and iinked them with a chain.
"Juvia!"
"Gray-sama!"
"What the...my head...everything's going dark…"
"My body...won't do what I tell it…"
"Ice Lock. A magic that seals a person's heart and makes them my willing puppets. You two will now fight to the death. You have zero say in the matter."
"What'd you just say?!" Gray yelled angrily.
"This chain cannot be removed until one of you lies lifeless."
"There's no way this crap could ever...Guh...my head…"
'As I see it, the boy will come out victorious. The moment he kills his friend and ally, his darkness will fully awaken.'
"Juvia…"
"Gray…"
'The one meant to defeat END is not his majesty. It is you, Gray.'
'Not gonna happen! If it means harming a single hair on Gray-sama...Juvia would much rather take her own life...while she still has her wits about her!'
X
"Things have taken an interesting turn now, haven't they?" a deep male voice said.
"What, about the boy? Why do you care about him, he's only your choice's son." This was the voice of a woman this time.
"That doesn't mean I can't take an interest in him. He is Silver's primary target. Aren't you interested in Erza? She's Eileen's primary target, after all."
"Well, I suppose a little…"
"There's nothing wrong with being interested in the mages of this world, Gaia. I myself take interest in Natsu as well as Zeref." a third, malefic sounding voice said.
"Who we watch doesn't matter at all. We've all essentially given our powers to one family each throughout history. Fullbuster, Belserion, Dragneel, Dreyar, and Heartfilia." This voice was from a somewhat brighter, but still stern male.
"Although you know that she is an exception. The Heartfilia's have more than one deity in their bloodline." A calm, radiant female voice said."
"Once, that happened. You've been behind that family since the beginning, Nyx. One person with a different god doesn't change the fate of that entire family." The brighter voice, who is Aether, told her.
"On the contrary. When the god is the first and most powerful, their fate does change." A sixth voice said. This one was calm and elegant, with an air of sophistication around it.
"Welcome back." Nyx looked at the sixth person who entered the room. They wore a black and purple gown, a black cape, had long blonde hair and purple heels.
"You four, leave us. I want to discuss something with Nyx in private." The other four gods obeyed and left the room. The room seemed to be part of a large throne room in a castle, connected to a long hallway with dark red carpet. The room itself was pretty big, but also comfortable. There was a large red semi-circle couch on the floor, where the five gods had just sat. There was a table in front of it. Past that was a staircase up to an elegant throne. The sixth figure walked up the steps and sat at the top.
"So? What's bothering you?"
"It's not that it bothers me, but I have a feeling about something."
"And? What's it about?"
"I don't think those five are going to go along with the task like we want."
"Which five? The chosen or the targets?"
"The targets. You've seen them. Being related to the chosen, they'll simply try to bring them back to their side rather than defeat them and pass my test."
"So what do you want to do about it?"
"We may have to take matters into our own hands."
"Heh. I see." Nyx stood up and turned towards the hallway.
"What do you think?"
"I think that's fine! It's not as if I have a choice, right? You are our master after all. When you do take action, try not to obliterate them so that nothing's left, Isabella."
"Need I remind you who I am? The personification of Chaos. I was chosen by the primordial void itself. My powers are limitless. I think I can handle not destroying them too quickly."
"As long as you're sure." Nyx said, leaving.
Isabella created two monitors, now watching both Gray and Juvia's situation on one, and the inside of Fairy Tail on the other.
"Now then. What will you do next, Layla? My dear daughter..." she smirked.
X
"Now then, whenever you're ready...you may not rest until one of you lays dead."
'My consciousness is...fading…'
'No...I refuse to harm Gray-sama...anything but that! I could never bring myself to harm a single hair on his body, and yet…'
'It's no use…! I can't even think of any other thing!' The two created ice and water on their hands and blasted them at each other. They were blown back, but continued fighting against their wills. They continued to punch and kick and throw each other to the grounds, but it was clear that Gray had the advantage.
'Indeed, it is just as I calculated. Gray shall emerge victorious.' Juvia was overwhelmed by Gray's barrage of punches. The unbearable sin of taking the life of a dear comrade with your own hands...It shall dye your heart in pitch black darkness. And give birth to the ultimate warrior to defeat END! His Majesty shall be the one to defeat Acnologia, and grasp the entire world in his noble hands! All that stands in the way of his great ambition is that accursed END!'
Both mages were panting, severely weakened.
'Why is Juvia bringing harm to Gray-sama like this...It cannot be! These actions are unforgivable! The very thought of Juvia hurting Gray-sama...Juvia would rather simply meet her end at Gray-sama's hands...But that too is unacceptable! Because Gray-sama would surely blame himself...If that is the case...then the choice is obvious. Yes...Juvia shall end her own life, here and now! Before my consciousness fades away completely Juvia will...You have nothing to fear. Muster your courage and fortitude, Juvia!'
"Any and all resistance is utterly futile. 'Ice Lock' is a magic which completely imprisons one's heart. The two of you have long lost your ability to reason, and until one of you drops dead, the chain cannot be severed!"
"Juvia's body is far too small for these overflowing feelings to ever be imprisoned within it!" she cried out, forming a blade of water on her hand.
"Words cannot express the joy Juvia has felt getting to know you, Gray-sama." she smiled. And then she did it. She impaled herself. Gray's eyes widened in shock.
"Inconceivable! She took her life of her own accord?!"
"Why...did you go and do...something stupid like that…" Gray muttered, shoving his own ice sword through his body.
"Wha-?!"
'Both of them?! Simultaneously?!'
"Why...How could...you…"
"Gray-sama...This cannot be…"
"I could never...hurt a comrade...no...the thought of hurting you any further, I...That's why I...and yet…"
"Aah…"
"I wanted to...protect you...no matter what the cost...but...I couldn't…"
"No...Your words bring Juvia such joy...Gray-sama…"
'Wha...Have these imbeciles lost their minds?! This cannot be…'
'Damn it...It shouldn't have even come to this…Natsu...I'm begging you...avenge us…' The two fell over, bleeding out.
'Rather than killing one another, they voluntarily took their own lives…? How...How could any rational being do such a thing?! I've made a gross miscalculation. Now that it's come to this, it seems the duty of eliminating END falls unto my own two hands…' He walked away, and the blizzard disappeared.
'What the…? I'm...still alive?! That can't be...I made certain I was...this sensation...Juvia's blood is...flowing inside me?!' Gray sat up.
'Water Make Blood. In preparation for the absolute worst-case scenario, should something catastrophic befall Gray-sama..Juvia secretly perfected this blood transfusion magic...Juvia...will live on within you, Gray-sama. That is why...there is no reason to be sad.' Her final thoughts reached Gray.
"This isn't happening...Juvia…" Gray sobbed, holding her body.
'Because Juvia's life...will forever and always belong only to you, Gray-sama.'
"Juvia...I promise...I'll take your feelings more seriously, so...Please...just open your eyes…! I'm begging you...Juvia…" Gray screamed out as he held her lifeless body.
"Brandish was headed in this direction, as I recall…" Invel stopped, feeling an overwhelming magic power surging near him. He turned around to see a sight he didn't expect: Gray. And he was PISSED.
X
"!" Silver looked up suddenly, dropping his mug, making it shatter on the floor.
"What's wrong?!" Layla asked. He was silent for a moment before calming down.
"...I just remembered, I forgot something at the palace, that's all…" he lied. He walked towards the guild's exit. Zeref watched silently.
"Who's gonna clean up the mug?!" Layla called after him.
"Why don't you do it, you're the one drinking it all anyway." Eileen said. Layla sighed and stood up before hiccuping.
X
"Ah, welcome home Silver!"
"Thanks Dad."
"Congratulations on becoming S-Class."
"Thanks."
"What's wrong? You seem a little down."
"Yeah...I had my first job as an S-Class for the guild."
"And how was it?"
"Completed, but something happened. The job was to take out some dark mages terrorizing a nearby town. Which I did, but as soon as I arrived, two people: a boyfriend and girlfriend, were taken hostage. They told me only one would survive, and to choose which one. I said I couldn't do that, and as I was about to freeze all of them, the two lovers killed themselves to go to the afterlife together."
"...On your first job? That must have been harsh…"
"You were a mage too, once. Why do people sacrifice themselves for the sake of others?"
"...Some people do it out of love. Others do it out of fear. But most of the time, I think our bodies just act on their own, without thinking. Without reason. We just do things."
Silver stood over Juvia's lifeless body.
"...You'd better lose to Gray, Invel. If you don't, you'll have me to deal with. And I am not merciful to people who hurt my family." he said angrily.
X
Brandish dropped Natsu, Lucy, and Happy at a remote location.
"What the hell are you trying to do?!" Natsu yelled, shaking his fist.
"Brandish, please! I don't want to fight you, no matter what!" She shrunk down to normal size.
"I feel the same way. I am in your debt, after all. As a special exception, I have chosen to turn a blind eye to you three."
"Special exception…?" Happy asked.
"As I made clear previously, I am a loyal citizen of Alvarez. I have no intention of betraying my homeland. So from this moment forward, I shall be returning to the battlefield and will annihilate every single one of your comrades. However...I will overlook the three of you, and return your kindness by sparing you."
"What?"
"You...do you even realize what that sounds like to us?"
"Randi...I put my faith in you...I believed in you, and yet…!" Dimaria said from up at the top of the coliseum, watching them.
"This battle...No matter how you look at it, we will be the victors. That has long been set in stone. The sheer numbers of our forces, and their individual skill levels. The Spriggan 12. August...Eileen. And on top of all that, the fact that the Emperor, at this very moment, is in the middle of obtaining Fairy Heart...it can mean only one thing. Whatever sliver of hope your side had of winning has now been reduced to zero."
"Those are just words...We ain't gonna know until we try."
"You may not know...but I do. Let me make this clear...all of your friends will die today."
"You really think I'll just sit here and watch them all die?"
"I'll have you know we've survived and overcome countless fierce battles in the past!"
"You know not the strength and terror of the twelve."
"You don't know our true strength either, do you?"
"Get it through your heads! You can't win!" she cried. Natsu and Lucy stepped back, startled.
"It's not just the twelve...but those five as well! I heard you fought Silver while he was in Tartaros, and you were frozen instantly! Did you even know that he wasn't even at half of his full strength then as compared to now?! And he's still the weakest of all of them! Lord Silver, Lady Eileen, Lord Zeref, Lord Yury, and especially Lady Layla. They're the last people in this world that you want to fight."
X
"This is...unprecedented! I cannot believe you still breathe! But one thing is crystal, clear, you will not be able to fight at full strength with such grievous woun-" His sentence was cut short by a devastating full power punch from Gray right into his face. The force from the blow knocked him to the ground, where Gray slammed his foot onto Invel's stomach. He readied another punch.
'This man...This man is…!' Gray sent him flying through a wall. He recovered by placing his hand on the ground and slowed his speed.
'He seems intent on forcing me to unleash "that"...' Invel encased his whole body in a special kind of ice, creating a powerful knight's armor around himself.
"Ice-Rending Divine Raiment!" Gray charged up his fist with more power.
"This is ice from the depths of the underworld itself...all things unlucky enough to graze it shall freeze instantly.
"Even the likes of you...and your body's immunity to to ice...it matters not! This unholy armor freezes anything and everything without fail!" The two clashed. Gray's arm started freezing.
"Be frozen in time...and shatter to pieces!"
"...RAHHHHHHHHHHHH!" Gray screamed out, his fist overpowering Invel and smashing through his armor.
"Wha…"
"You wanna play that game, then fine...You all have no clue just how terrifying Fairy Tail can be." Natsu told Brandish.
"This cannot be!"
'He's utilizing ice of the same property as my Divine Raiment...and molding it?!'
"You stole away Juvia's future! Right from under her! And that's unforgivable! You're the one who's going to shatter to pieces, you son of a bitch! ICE DEVIL'S ZEROTH DESTRUCTION FIST!"
X
"Recall the events that transpired on Caracolle Island. If we so desired, the twelve, myself included, could crush you all in mere seconds."
"Go ahead and try."
"Natsu!" Lucy complained.
"I never asked you to spare us...There's no need to overlook nothing'...When we decided to come here, we knew what we were getting ourselves into...we knew what was on the line!" Just then, Neinhart started walking towards them.
"Where is Lady Erza...Lady Erza…"
"Neinhart! Those eyes...you've been…"
"Kukuku...Indeed, you're bearing witness to Lady Eileen's formidable enchantment techniques. This unrivaled power exceeds even the limits of my own magic! Step aside, Brandish...those pitiful mages are comrades of Lady Erza. In other words...our enemies."
"Lady Erza…?"
"Fall back. I am in the middle of negotiations with them."
"Negotiations? Am I to interpret that as 'betrayal'? Betrayal to Lady Eileen?!" He screamed, creating a giant whirlwind that sliced Brandish's body up.
'Magic is having no effect?! He's been enhanced that much?!'
"You bastard!" Natsu yelled, running towards him.
"Stop, you mustn't! He's not an opponent whose strength you can hope to match!"
"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"
"It ain't about whether I can match him or not! It's either 'move forward' or 'pull back'! And I don't know the meaning of the second one!" Natsu slammed his fist into Neinhart, sending him flying.
"Putting our heads down...and marching forward...one step at a time! That's what we do! THAT IS THE ONE AND ONLY PATH TO OUR GUILD!" Natsu punched Neinhart a second time, seemingly knocking him out.
'Did I miscalculate...was he truly...this strong…?!'
"'Attaboy, Natsu!"
"Just what did he mean by all that 'Lady Erza' talk…?"
X
"Uuh…"
"No, you must lie still. Please do not try and get up just yet."
"Wendy…"
"If she had found you even a moment later, your life really would have been in danger."
"Well, to be more precise, it was thanks to Carla's precognition abilities that we were able to locate you."
"Juvia is...still alive? Juvia owes you her life, Wendy and Carla...Juvia thanks you from the bottom of her heart."
"Not at all! Healing is my forte, after all! I'm going to protect everyone! But I'm not just doing my own part...I've got Sherria's portion to do as well!"
"Just as Juvia was losing consciousness, she felt the sensation of being kissed by Gray-Sama!"
I can assure you...that was 100% definitely all in your imagination." Carla reassured.
"That's right! What has become of Gray-Sama?! Is he safe?!"
"He wasn't here when we arrived…"
X
"I can stand here...and pound away at you all day and night...it won't bring Juvia back. She's...never coming back."
"The same could be said...for your mother...and master...as well. I suppose your father is fine…"
"How the hell do you know about them?"
"It is all predetermined by fate. As long as END remains undefeated, you are doomed to suffer through never ending misfortune and heartache."
"What do you mean by that?"
"Come on." he chuckled weakly. "Your parents were killed tragically by a demon. Your master by the same one. And when you see your father again, he is nothing but a reanimated corpse that you had to fight and kill. And now he's fighting you a second time, only for real and much stronger...It's all because of 'their' obsession to revive END."
"You don't need to tell me twice. I'm going to be the one defeat END."
"It would be more accurate to say you are the only one who can defeat END. However, you still are blissfully unaware...of its true identity. The mightiest of all demons from the Books of Zeref, and your true mortal enemy, is none other than a man you know all too well...Etherious Natsu Dragneel."
X
'So she's alive…And he's down…' Silver looked up for a moment as he was walking back to the guild.
"Lord Silver! Hold it there for a moment!" Around 20 guards surrounded him. He stopped.
"What do you guys want?" he said somewhat impatiently.
'So it might be true then...he doesn't seem his normal relaxed self…'
"One of the guards informed us that he overheard you talking about killing Lord Invel! Is this true? If it is, I'm sure you're aware, but you'll be considered a traitor to the Empire."
"...Yeah, it's true." he said nonchalantly.
"Wh-What…?"
"He almost killed my son and future daughter-in-law. But both of them survived and took him out, so I didn't have to do anything."
"L-Lord Silver, you know that won't go unpunished! We'll have to report this to the Emperor!"
"So what?" he laughed. "Layla gives me a free pass for everything, I've been her best friend since childhood! You really think you guys are gonna make a difference? Besides, not one of you is leaving here alive." he said darkly. They quickly readied their weapons, terrified.
"Heaven God's Renditional Gust." He swiped his hand to the side, creating a pink surge of wind that instantly sliced all of the guards in half instantly, leaving their corpses in a pile. Silver left them, as his cape blew in the wind, continuing back to the guild.
End.
Okay, so here it is if you couldn't guess the big plot twist. Layla is not the final villain this time! Her mother, Isabella, is the representation of Chaos, the eternal and endless void, and also the most powerful primordial deity that everything originated from, in Greek Mythology. Secondly, when Silver talked about being merciless to people who hurt his family, he meant Juvia, not Fairy Tail. While he used to be a member of Fairy Tail (at least according to this story), remember that he talked to Juvia during the Tartaros Arc, assuming that she was his love interest/girlfriend. He keeps that thought in his mind here, as he told the soldiers that he considers her his future daughter-in-law, and would become angry if one of the twelve did anything to his family. Hope you enjoyed! What do you think about Isabella?