"Excuse me? Miss? Are you alright?" Erza raised her head and looked up at the elderly man crouched in front of her, eyebrows knitted in concern. She reached towards him. "P-Please, you have to help them," she wheezed, cracked lips ripping painfully.
"Who? Did you come from the desert?" the older man asked. Erza nodded. "My friends...they're still out there...a bit behind me...please...they're dying...help them," she breathed before her world went spiraling into darkness.
When she woke up again, it was to Happy drifting over her face. He grinned. "You're awake!" She sat up, feeling a bit thirsty. Looking to her right, everyone else was laid up in a row of beds, still out cold.
"ERZA'S AWAKE!" Happy yelled. Laxus was actually the first one to sidle in. "About time." Erza was still eyeing her comrades. "How are they?" Laxus shrugged. "We won't know until they wake up."
Suddenly, Juvia stuck her head in. "I just heard, are you-?" she broke off as her eyes found the person laying in the end bed. She slowly walked in, a hand reaching out to him without thinking.
As soon as her fingertips brushed his temple, travelling down his cheek and on his jaw, her eyes began to water.
"Gray?" she whispered. Silence hung in the room. Juvia sat down on the edge of the bed, content with just looking at him as she began to cry. Footsteps sounded down the hall and fast approaching.
Laxus stuck his head out before leaving and whispering something to the person outside. The person was suddenly running. "Gray!" Lyon exclaimed, catching himself on the doorframe as he skidded to a stop.
His gaze was glued on his childhood friend and he approached much like Juvia had, slow and cautious, as though Gray would disappear if he wasn't careful.
"Oh my God, you're alive."
Gray was still asleep and no one wanted to disturb him. Natsu and Happy, Lucy, and Erza sat in the guild hall, the other members surrounding them in the promise that they would tell them everything that happened.
As they explained the story: their capture, Gray, the system of the camp they were in, even the bracelets and the burns on their wrists that would probably scar, the anger on everyone's faces built and built.
"And that's when I woke up," Erza finished. Lyon gritted his teeth. Mirajane covered her mouth with her hands. "Oh, that's terrible!"
Makarov fumed dangerously. "They hurt my children...it should be burned to the ground!" he growled. Natsu looked delighted by the prospect, and Lucy had an air of determination around her.
"Believe me, I would take great joy in doing so, but I don't think any of even remember how find it again. It's not like we were awake for the trip there," Erza said, much to everyone's dismay.
"I was," a voice said quietly. Everyone turned in unison to see Gray leaned against the doorway, face drawn with weariness. "Gray!" Juvia cried, running to him with the intention of a full-body tackle. Lyon quickly swept her off her feet (literally) and set her down when she calmed.
"I don't think he's quite up for hugs yet Juvia," he said in amusement. Lucy quickly stood while the guild members erupted in chatter and excited shouts. "Gray, are you alright?"
Gray swallowed and ignored her question, too occupied in looking around the guild hall like it was a dream. "I'm finally home," was all he said. Several guild members burst into tears, Juvia included.
"You shouldn't be up, Gray," Makarov warned. Gray nodded slowly. "I just wanted to see it," he replied. Suddenly he was coughing, loud and hard, so he was doubling over and standing on shaky legs that seemed ready to give out at any moment.
Lyon was by his side in a flash. "Gray, are you okay?" He stopped, and his eyes widened. Gray's hand was covered in drops of blood, and there was trail of it coming from the corner of Gray's mouth. "What the hell?"
Natsu was on his feet instantly. "What? How are you still sick? Your bracelet is off and your magic isn't being drained!" Makarov studied Gray for a moment, eyes sad. "I'm afraid the damage is done," he rasped.
Gray blinked a few times, like he couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Oh," he murmured, tone resigned. Both Lyon and Natsu raged. "There's gotta be something," Natsu argued. "Don't accept it, Gray," Lyon snapped.
Mirajane snapped her fingers before turning her gaze on Makarov. "You said something new had appeared on the black market from an unknown source." The Matser nodded. "No one knows what it is or what it does."
Lucy turned on Gray. "The dark guild was making something with the essence. What was it?" Gray shook his head as Juvia sat him down in a chair. "I don't know."
"That's gotta be it!" Natsu exclaimed. Erza looked over at Gray, who was wiping the blood from his mouth. "Could you show us the way back?" Gray nodded. Juvia frowned. "I don't think he should be going on that kind of journey with how sick he is. It might make him worse!"
Gray looked up at her. "Juvia," he began. Juvia heart skipped a beat, chest swelling with a passion she hadn't felt in years. "I'm pretty I'm dying. And even if the plant back there can't see me, I want to be there to see that place fall to the ground."
She swallowed.
