Part 44
Freed's head was pounding and he was panting hard to get enough oxygen to his lungs. He hadn't expected the fight to take this turn. He had thought they would have to combine all their powers to destroy her. But instead it turned out all they needed was Bickslow's magic and his own. He had to smile at that. He'd always known Bickslow was more powerful than anyone thought. And smart too. He had thought quickly when he realized Freed, Gray and Lyon were in danger. Just like Freed knew he would if they ever needed him.
The strategy they had used against Skadi was the one she had taught them to use against Acnologia. Her own plans became the start of her downfall. She wasn't beaten yet and Freed knew that. But he was going to keep it to himself… at least for a bit. Because right now he could feel someone shaking him lightly by the shoulders, but it was a bit hard to see through the fog in front of his eyes. His gaze was a bit unfocused after the near death experience he'd just had. He could hear faint sounds as well, voices. Then he could hear words and everything regained its focus.
"Freed snap out of it damn it!" it was Laxus shaking him. A little too roughly but that was just because he was scared. He always got rough when he got scared.
"Stop shaking him or he might get hurt even worse!" Evergreen scolded.
"Shaken not stirred!" a happy voice shouted and Freed found himself smiling. Bickslow. Of course. Freed saw someone hold out their hand to him. It was Gajeel. He was grinning. Freed took his hand and was pulled to his feet.
"Ya know for a bookworm you are kinda strong", Gajeel remarked.
"Are you talking to me or to Levy?" Freed asked dryly. Gajeel sniggered and patted him on the shoulder. Freed felt a heavy silence land over all of them. He blushed a little. It felt a little embarrassing that they were all just staring at him. Even the people who'd been in Cristina came out and kept looking at them, some with worry and some with mistrust in their eyes. Freed didn't blame them. He didn't trust himself at the moment so why should they? But suddenly the heavy silence was broken by a loud scream.
"GRAAAAAAAAAAAAAY!" Natsu shouted happily and flung himself at the ice mage, hugging him tightly. Gray stared at him.
"Nats-"
He didn't get any further before they were both rolling over the ground, the former hugging the later tightly. Freed reacted faster than anyone else and grabbed a hold of Lyon's shoulder before the other ice-mage decided to turn Natsu into a popsicle. Freed's hand on his shoulder calmed Lyon down… somewhat. He was still angry. Gray was just trying to get the world to stop spinning. When it finally did he got aware of the weight on him as Natsu tried to hug the living daylights out of him… well maybe that wasn't his goal but it felt like it was. Gray groaned a little.
"I'm sorry", Natsu whispered into his shoulder and Gray tensed up. This time he was actually aware of his surroundings when Natsu said those words. "I'm so sorry Gray. For all of it! For saying those things! For getting you suspended from the guild! For forgetting to tell anyone about seeing Freed! About Skadi getting her claws into you! For everything! Gray I'm sorry!"
Gray just blinked in confusion. He was speechless. Did Natsu really mean that? After all the things he said? He couldn't mean that… could he? Gray didn't know what to do and Freed could see that on his face. He smiled a little.
"Natsu", he said calmly. "I suggest you move off of Gray before Lyon decides to turn you into a permanent ice sculpture… or to make his Snow Dragon eat you."
Natsu looked at Freed and then hurriedly moved off of Gray when he could feel the cold creep up on him from Lyon's wrath. Oh boy there was still some Tundra left in him… but he had the right to be angry at the moment.
"How dare you", Lyon growled and glared hatefully at Natsu. "After everything you and Lucy and lots of you did to Gray!? How dare you just ask for forgiveness like that!? Why I oughta-"
"Lyon calm down", Gray told him gently and got up. "They're not worth your rage. Cool your head okay?"
"You aren't forgiving them right?"
"In time maybe, but not right now. However… we still owe them our lives."
"No we owe Bickslow and Wendy our lives."
"You are both wrong", Freed stated calmly and all eyes turned to him. "We don't owe them anything. What Fairy Tail and Lamia Scale did to all three of us was bad. But they made up for it by helping in our rescue. If we owe anyone it's Sabertooth, Mermaid Heel, Blue Pegasus, Crime Sorciére and Quatro Cerberus. We have only caused them pain but they still helped bringing us back by fighting us. We need to make it up to them."
"No you do not", Makarov said and walked up to the three young men. "We are all guilty in this destruction and in all pain caused. No one owns anyone anything. We all saw that something was wrong with the Winter Solstice during the Grand Magic Games but we did nothing to help."
"Okay can we stop playing the blame game and start the party!?" Bickslow asked with big grin and pulled the three mages from Winter Solstice into his arms. "We got our boys back and Skadi is gone!"
Freed smiled but then his eyes widened and he twirled around towards Jellal and Cobra. He threw his hand out and everyone gasped as the duo disappeared. Erza was about to question his intentions when runes surrounded all of them. The gathered mages gasped when they realized that the council, the Rune Knights and the king and Hisui appeared. The king looked murderous as did most of the council. The Rune Knights did something and separate runes appeared and encircled the Winter Solstice. The trio stood back to back as their cage got smaller and smaller.
"What's the meaning of this", Makarov demanded.
"We are arresting the most wanted mages in all of Fiore Makarov", Wolfheim said. "They are to be executed for their crimes."
"But it wasn't their fault!" Laxus yelled furiously.
"They chose to join the Winter Solstice Mr. Dreyar", Hyberion explained calmly. "They gladly accepted Aurora's powers and they are to be blamed for the results that followed."
"Her real name is Skadi and she tricked them", Mars screamed angrily. "Let them go!"
"Not happening", the king said. "Either they come with us to be executed or we will do it right here."
"Do it right here", Freed said and everyone but his two guild mates stared at him. "Do it right here and we will prove that we are innocent."
"And how do you intend to do that?" Wolfheim asked and then gasped as Feed's eyes turned black and purple. His whole body started glowing black and purple.
"Upon my magic", Freed said. "Let it be known that I am not responsible for the crimes of Bifrost of the Winter Solstice. May the killing blow leave me unharmed if I am innocent."
"Upon my magic", Lyon said as he started glowing mint green. "Let it be known that I Lyon Vastia am not responsible for the crimes of Tundra of the Winter Solstice. May the killing blow leave me unharmed if I am innocent."
"Upon my magic", Gray growled as he started glowing blue and dark pink. "Let it be known that I Lyon Vastia am not responsible for the crimes of King Booré of the Winter Solstice. May the killing blow leave me unharmed if I am innocent."
Makarov had never seen anyone do this before. He had read about it and he had heard about it before but he had never seen it. People putting their magic to the ultimate test by making it protect them from harm. The boys were willing to let the council execute them to prove their innocence. Their magic would prove it if they truly believed in their hearts that they were innocent. Just as much as Fairy Law looked within the heart of its caster so would their magic do now. If there was even one small part of doubt within them they would all be killed! But before Makarov could voice his opinion the council nodded and three Rune Knights stepped forward.
"NO!" Bickslow shouted and tried to get through the rune wall around him. He pounded at it and kept slamming his shoulder into it. Laxus kept attacking it with all his might. The whole guild did, no one as furiously as Mars though. She was screaming and throwing every type of attack she could at it. Levy were doing her best to rewrite the enchantment keeping them captive. Lucy had brought out Virgo to dig them underneath the wall but the wall kept going on and on. Evergreen tried to turn the Rune Knights to stone but they kept their eyes closed, which was why Bickslow couldn't do anything either. Makarov was also furiously trying to force his way through. Lily and Lector tried to help Mars but it soon became clear that it was to no avail. Freed looked around at his friends.
"Don't worry", he said and then faced the council. "It will be okay."
"Freed!" Makarov yelled. "Don't sacrifice yourself again! Don't give your life away! What you are doing is foolish!"
"It needs to be done", Freed replied. "I promise everything will be okay. But since we are to be killed… do we get a last request?" He turned his gaze at the council and Hyberion nodded.
"What would that be", he asked.
"Aim the killing blows… at our guild marks."
Say what? Mars stopped what she was doing and stared in confusion. What was he going on about now? Why on Earthland would he want them to hit their guild marks? That didn't make any sense! Would they die faster? Feel less pain? What was he plotting now? Wait… he was plotting! Freed always had a plan! There was something he wasn't telling anyone! Except the duo beside him! Bickslow had come to the same conclusion and used his powers to look at the trio in front of them. He could see something very strange. There was one small shining white area on Freed's face and a black one on Gray and Lyon's faces. Right where their guild marks were! His eyes widened when he realized what that was!
Hyberion nodded and then looked at the Rune Knights in front of the Winter Solstice. The trio nodded and took aim with their spears. Hisui took Arcadios' hand tightly. She was scared. She had thought they'd put the young men in prison for the rest of their lives. She didn't know if she could handle watching them die like this. She noticed how Gray and Lyon took each other's hand. They were frightened. She could tell. Their eyes were rather wide and there was panic in them. The other man, Freed, he looked calm. But there was something else about him. Something very familiar. She remember thinking the same thing once before.
Hisui E. Fiore stared in confusion at the scene on the broadcasting lacrima. She'd seen Lily, Happy and the Winter Solstice exceed rip the hoods off Bifrost, Booré and Tundra. Bifrost had fallen onto his knees when Lily ripped his hood off the coat and Booré had fallen onto his stomach. Only Tundra was left standing it seemed. He'd been spun around a few turns and was now trying to gain his bearings. Hisui thought he looked familiar and then he turned around. The lacrima zoomed in on his face and she could recognize Lyon Vastia. She gasped in surprise because she knew he had been killed by a dragon! So how was he here? He was supposed to have died months ago! But here he was! His gaze was alive but confused. Around his right eye was the guild mark of the Winter Solstice.
That's when the lacrima turned to Booré as the young man got up and turned around. She gasped again because she recognized the dark hair and the dark eyes. He looked almost the same as last she saw him. But he now had the guild mark of Winter Solstice between his eyes. She watched as the members of Fairy Tail started talking to their supposedly dead member. T
hen Bifrost got up and the lacrima zoomed in on him. Hisui didn't remember getting up but she moved closer to the balcony she was watching from, to get closer to the screen showing the young man. He had blue eyes. Under the left eye there was a small birthmark while the right eye was covered by green bangs. The green hair was long, reaching the figure's feet. The hair was braided together in a rope braid and from each of the now visible ears hung a sharp fang. He had the Winter Solstice guild mark around his left eye. But there was something about him. Something very familiar. Something… something she should've known. No someone. She didn't take her eyes off of the young man when the vision now showed all three and their interactions with the other guilds. What was being said wasn't broadcasted but she could still she the confusion when the Seith Mage of Fairy Tail took his hand and started talking to him.
Why? Why was he so familiar and yet she couldn't place him? It felt as if she was in a dream or within a dream within a dream. Everything felt so… strange and slow. Then something happened down in the arena. Whatever the stranger was talking about died on his lips and his eyes widened. He gripped his shirt above his heart and started panting as if he wasn't getting enough air. Gray gripped his throat so tightly his knuckles got white. He was shaking and his eyes were very wide. Lyon gripped his head tightly, arching his back in pain before screaming. They started glowing blue and all three of them screamed in agony. She could hear the screams all the way to her balcony at the arena.
Arcadios appeared at her side just as the ground started shaking. There was a bright flash of blue, so bright no one could look into the arena. She felt the man hold her close, protectively. She felt a strange feeling come over her as if someone else had done that to her a long time ago. Someone she should remember. The ground stopped shaking and the light faded. Then the members of the Winter Solstice started changing, right in front of them.
Gray's hair was standing upright, it was dark blue and sparkled as if it was frozen. Lyon's hair stayed the same in shape but was now snow white, sparkling like frozen as well. The stranger's long hair sparkled as if it was frozen. Their eyes got a cat-like shape and turned icy blue. Their skin got a lot paler. Their nails turned into claws. Their canines got sharper and there was a strange glow all around them. When the transformation stopped that blue glow looked more like blue flames and the trio looked up at them and smirked evilly.
Gray raised his hands to look at them, then he spoke, she couldn't hear the words but whatever was said angered Master Makarov. The Winter Solstice talked to Makarov and the others for a bit and then the sky got dark as the dragon appeared. Hisui could feel the fear spring up inside of her and she gripped Arcadios' protective arm tightly.
She watched the dragon circle the arena before the stranger jumped up and landed on its back. Lyon followed and Gray tried to but Laxus Dreyar grabbed his hand. They talked for a little bit before Laxus got blasted through the arena. Master Makarov grew in size and tried to catch Gray, but he missed. The dragon flew off while roaring loudly. The mages on its back started attacking the town as it flew over it. Hisui felt scared, but not only of the dragon but for the fate of the man that she was supposed to know but somehow didn't.
She was awakened from her musing when Makarov started screaming angrily. She looked up just in time to see the members of Winter Solstice collapse onto the ground. The shots had hit them dead on, right at their guild marks. She felt sick and covered her mouth with one hand. She saw Evergreen collapse onto her knees and scream in grief as did Erza and Cana. Juvia stood stock still but the rain clouds were already gathering above. Sherry and Chelia were crying their hearts out and Laxus looked ready to kill someone. Then something very weird happened and Hisui grabbed onto Arcadios' arm tightly.
From the three mages on the ground something rose towards the sky. Two black specters taking the shapes of dragons as well as a white doing the same rose towards the sky. They shrieked like banshees before they shattered into a million tiny little pieces. The council gaped in awe as did everyone else. Hisui stared at the spot where the dragon specters had been and then lowered her eyes to the bodies on the ground. She gasped as the trio groaned and slowly sat up.
Freed's head was pounding way more than before. But he knew it had to be done. Now they were truly free of her. Skadi's souls had been destroyed. She had placed them within their guild marks. She had soul marked them. But when the marks were hit they took all the magic force and damaging force in the attacks and they got destroyed. With no vessel to protect them… the soul parts were gone forever. There was no way Bifrost would ever take him over again. He groaned and rubbed his forehead. He then heard pounding feet and found himself slammed to the ground with Bickslow on top of him. But before Freed could say anything to the older man kissed him. Freed's eyes widened… but he didn't complain. Instead he relaxed into the touch and kissed him back.
Gray clutched Lyon's hand tightly. He hadn't been sure what Freed had planned but he had been certain that his best friend wouldn't lead him astray. Freed was brilliant but he never, ever, called him or Lyon stupid when they didn't understand his plans. He would explain them again and find ways to help them understand. He was calculating and calm. He'd never lead them into danger so when he had willingly stepped forward to get executed… Gray had followed his lead without a doubt. Freed would never lead them to harm. He was strong, maybe even stronger than Lyon and Gray but he never held that over their heads. He just praised them for being strong and smart. Freed was the brains of Winter Solstice while Gray, Mars and Lyon were the offensive power houses they worked well together. And they trusted each other with their lives. Gray hadn't hesitated in the slightest when Freed pulled off this stunt. Sure he had been scared as hell but he knew it was for the best to do what Freed did. But still… Gray turned his head and looked at the greenette that was being held tightly by Bickslow, kissing. He smiled.
"Freed", he said. "If you ever pull a stunt like this again… I will slaughter you myself and make sure you stay dead."
Freed just flipped him off and Gray laughed. But his laugh got cut off when he felt a pair of lips on his own. He grinned and started kissing Lyon back lovingly. They had gotten together not long after joining the Winter Solstice and Lyon's love filled Gray with strength and a strange warmth he never knew he could feel. Lyon felt the same way. Gray was his strength, his hope and his life. He would do anything to keep him safe. He had sworn that after the battles with the dragons two years ago, where Gray had died. Lyon had decided then and there that he would never feel the way he did that night again. Like someone had taken a huge part of him and destroyed it. Gray was his everything and he would make sure nothing and no one took that away from him without a fight. They parted after a little bit and sat up slowly. Bickslow had already pulled Freed to his feet and they were soon swarmed with members of the other guilds hugging them and thanking some power that they were all alive. The council watched in awe. The three young men were still alive!
"It means they spoke the truth", Warrod said and grinned. "These three are innocent."
"What!?" the king yelled.
"You heard them swear upon their magic", Jura stated calmly. "You can't lie to your magic. These three are cleared of all charges. Right Wolfheim? Hyberion?"
Wolfheim just huffed and turned his back on the scene. He was pissed that the green haired brat had pulled them by the nose… again! Oh how he hated the brat! But Wolfheim was still a man of honor. He huffed and walked off. Hyberion chuckled and followed. Yes they had nothing more to do here. Tundra, Bifrost and King Booré of the Winter Solstice had been executed and had thus paid for their crimes. Winter Solstice was no more.
"This is an outrage!" the king shouted. "They are still guilty! They are monsters!"
Freed looked at his feet. That's the exact same thing he had heard from this man once before. He felt an arm around his shoulders and he was pulled close to Bickslow's side. He had to smile a little. Bickslow would always be there for him. No matter what. He'd proven hat time and time again. Freed smiled up at him and then he smiled at Evergreen as she gripped his hand tightly. She glared daggers at the king who looked at him in disgust. It warmed Freed's heart to know she was there for him still. Then he felt a hand on top of his head and knew it had to be Laxus. Laxus smirked proudly. His best friend was both strong and cunning. He had fooled the council and had gotten rid of the last parts of Skadi at the same time! When they got home he was gonna make sure Freed got promoted to S-class and got some fucking medal or something. He was a genius after all! Lyon and Gray were hugging Mars between them as she cried into Gray's shoulder in relief. Team Natsu stood around them along with Cana and Juvia. Happy were hugging Gray's head happily an Juvia were hugging Lyon close, telling him to look after her beloved Gray for her. Everyone but the king seemed happy. He looked ready to explode.
"I will not stand for this!" he shouted and everyone looked at him. "These monsters cannot be allowed to live!" Freed growled and stepped forward.
"Stop being petty about this.", he yelled at the king and everyone else stared at him in confusion. "If you want to take your rage out on someone then do so on me alone. But leave my brothers out of this father."
TBC
