Chapter 21: If I See You Again

"I will see you again." I knew she was lying right through her teeth. She had never planned on coming back. But maybe...

"Kim, Spark, please take Gray with you to find the others."

"Yes, ma' lady."

After leaving the hall, we found all of the others. Natsu and Gajeel both put up a fight but, that was to be expected.

"Wait, where's Arion?" I ask while looking through the small crowd of guild members.

"She isn't going back with you…" the girl, Spark, said.

"N-no—. S-she can't-" I've known this but the fact that it was true hurt.

"She is sacrificing her self to Acnologia" the other woman said.

"The portal is open now. Please go home. It is not safe for you here now."

"But what about Arion?! We can't just leave her here-" THWACK! I could feel Erza's hand slap me right across the face, thoroughly shutting me up.

"Gray, you have to calm down. Arion is doing this to protect you and all of the rest of us. Now, all of you, through the portal" I know she wants to protect us but, we could have fought together.

"But-"

"Gray!"

I sigh in defeat at the scarlet haired woman "Goodbye, my Arion." I whispered as I stepped into the portal going back to Fiore.

(~Arion's PoV~)

I watch them leave the hall. Roen decided to stay behind and accompany me to my next destination. I didn't have very long until Acnologia would reawaken so I had to make this quick. I pull the golden key out of my pocket and insert it into the air, unlocking an invisible door accessible anywhere. I step through the door quickly with Roen right behind me.

"Arion?" I heard him say.

"I need you to go fetch Griffin for me, Shy."

"Yes, m'lady" he backs off from the door and disappears instantly. I step through the door and am faced three dragons, the Tribunal.

"Arion, why have you returned to us?" Eldin asks me furiously. "And why did you go through that door? It's for emergencies only-"

"I came to save your ass, Uncle." I interrupt him. "I'm tired of Acnologia pushing me around and taking important people from me. I plan to take him out today however, in order to do that I need my power back. Will you grant my request?"

The three dragons look at each other briefly and then Lanayru spoke up. "We will. Under the condition that you promise to live."

"I won't make a promise I don't know if I can keep."

"Heh heh. I suppose you wouldn't would you."

"We are glad to have been able to serve you during this journey of yours. You turned out strong and wise...for a hatchling." Faron says. I can hear it in her voice. She's fighting back sobs.

"Let's get on with this."

"Acnologia! I know you can hear me!"

"What took you? I was beginning to think you had forgotten me." As I enter the golden throne room I see the giant black and blue spiraled dragon sitting on the throne, a smirk playing across his scaly lips.

"How could I forget someone who almost took my friends from me. It wasn't a coincidence you smelled them and attacked. You knew exactly who they were, didn't you?"

"That I did. Just the thought of your face when you heard the news excites me."

"But why?"

"I am what they call Darkness. My name strikes fear into the hearts of all and I relish in the knowledge that someone has fallen by my hand."

"But why? Why my family?"

"Your friends were weak, you are weak, and your mother was weak. However your mother had power that I wanted and-"

"Shut up."

"Pardon?"

"Shut up! Do not speak of my mother that way! Don't speak of my friends that way!" The fury built inside of me and I was pushed to my limit. "Second Release: Water Dragon's Roar!" A stream of water shot out of me and at the giant dragon.

"Is that the best you can do?" He lifted himself from the golden throne and slams his giant black talon slammed onto my body.

"Gahh-!" The fire built in my lungs. "Don't underestimate me. Fire dragon: Wing Attack!"

"You're wasting your energy. "

"Earth dragon: Quake!" I slam my fist onto the golden tile floor causing the ground to ripple and break underneath us. in the chaos, I squirmed free of his talons.

"Arion! I'm here for you now. Don't worry." Griffin and Shy ran into the room and to my side.

"I wasn't worried. I just..."

"M'lady, What'll you have us do?" Shy asked.

"We need a Unison raid. Full Power."

"A unison raid, m'lady? But our magics aren't compatible. We should just transform."

"We have no choice. If we all transform, we will eventually be caught in another's blasts. Just grab my hands. Both of you." They grab my hands, Griffin to my right and Shy to my left, and charge up their magic power.

"Gold Dragon's Limitation!" With his other hand, Griffin summons giant golden restraints around Acnologia's limbs.

Shy build up the fire and let out a heated roar of his blue flames. "Blue Fire Dragon's Roar!"

"Flood of the Water Dragon" Summoning a flood of water from my body, I shoot it toward Acnologia as my spell collides with that of Griffin and Shy's.

"You think you could harm me with your puny power? Pathetic." He just slaps our power of with his had. He broke out of Griffin's restraints so easily. "You do not compare to me, wench!"

With that he, Acnologia sends a large beam of light toward us. "Duck!" Griffin pulls me onto the ground and pulls me into his chest, shielding me from the blast.

"Griffin?" The dust soon cleared and I found myself gasping for air.

"Eh! I- uhm!"

"Its okay." I say standing up from the ground.

"I won't miss next time."

"I don't know how long I can keep dodging."

"M'lady allow me to distract him a while. I'm the fastest of us three so my oddsaid retreat are much better should the need arise."

"No Shy. I will not lose you like my mother or my friends. No one that I love will have thier life taken for my sake. I won't lose another."

"But, M'lady I-"

"Roen! I've decided! We will fight together at full strength. We will win together."

"Alright then, let's fight." Griffin says with a smirk.

"You weren't leaving us out of the party were you, Princess?" I shake my head as I hear Kim and Spark enter the busted up room.

"Good cuz I've been needin' me some exercise." Both of them threw their cloaks to the side revealing two identical smirks on the sister's faces. I couldn't help but be reminded of my own "sisters", Wendy and Lucy. Kim reminds me of Lucy for the reason that they dressed so similarly with their short exposing outfits. Spark and Wendy have the same air about them, uplifting kind of. "Lighting Dragon: Shot gun!" Spark called, shooting lightning bullets from her fingertips at the black dragon.

"Fire dragon: Flame Lasso! Knock him down a peg kid!" Kim called as she sent a burning lasso to Acnologia's neck

"Gotcha! Shy now!"

"Lighting Flame: Excelcious!" Shy and Spark clasped hands and performed their strongest tandem attack. Their power formed all large beam of light that blinded Acnologia. That light not only blinded him but, a separate beam thrust into his gut, pushing back into the castle walls. He sat there unconscious for about five minutes before someone spoke.

"We get 'em?" Spark asked.

"Looks like it"

"Even if we did get him, he's still here guys. Don't let your guard down." I commanded quickly.

"Like you just did?" I felt his talons grip onto my wings and throw me to the wall. His talon slammed into my back, nearly crushing my bones.

"How in the hell?"

"Arion!" Griffin yelled. "Let her down Acnologia!" His voice was angry and rough.

"Or what?"

A golden scaled bow appeared in his hands. "Let her down now!"

In a swift motion, the black dragon spun around, throwing me to the opposite wall and Griffin off his feet. "Such big orders for a small man." In the instant between being thrown and hitting the ground, I could feel Acnologia's body vibrate. He was charging his power and targeting...! No!

"Griffin dodge him!" The blast came to fast and I found myself scrambling to my feet to catch up to the blast. i was't fast enough.

"Are you alright? Speak to me please." I plead to him.

"I'm fine. Just some broken bones. It's nothing I can't- I can't handle."

"I've got you. It's okay. Its okay I got you. Stay with me Griffin. Please." I pull him up to my lap, brushing his hair frantically from his face.

"Griffin! No no no. Griffin you can't-"

He reaches his hand up and gently strokes my cheek. "Arion don't you cry."

"How can you say that? Of course I'm gonna cry for you! I- I loved you Griffin!"

"I'm sure you did. I would give my life a million times over if it meant you could live so don't cry for me now."

"Don't leave me, please.' I grabbed his nearly lifeless hand on my cheek, squeezing it gently. "Griff. Don't you dare leave me."

"Arion"

His eyes slowly shut but, I fought to keep them open as long as I could. He wasn't fighting with me. He... please come back to me. "Griffin! Griffin!" My blood boiled and I could feel my lungs filling with heat. "How dare you! You monster!" The ground cracked beneath us until I could feel myself sinking into it as ear shattering cries left my lips.

"Go! Kim, Spark! We have to go now!" Shy frantically orders.

"But what about Arion, Shy?"

"If we stay we might not be alive to worry for her." Shy softly nudges me out of the way so that he can lift up Griffin's body over his shoulder and begins to run in the opposite direction. "We have to get somewhere safe now." They retreated from the room at top speed and I was left there on my knees crying out.

If only I had been stronger. "Griffin!"

If only I had been faster. "Griffin!"

I could have saved you. Mom. Griffin. "GRIFFIN!"

"Ahh, things are finally getting interesting."

"FULL RELEASE!" And everything went black.

I hope I can see you again.

If I could I would dance with you on holy clouds.

If I see you again,

I would sing merry songs.

Never to feel the pain of love for my love would be there

With me forever,

And ever,

And ever

Until the spirits let me go.

If I see you again

I know I wouldn't regret time spent.

Griffin.