A/N: This is the one you've all been waiting for...

Ps. Long chapter- enjoy!


"You mean to tell us that..."

"WE'VE BEEN STUCK IN THE CELESTIAL SPIRIT WORLD FOR 3 MONTHS!?"

"Hey what took you so long!" Jett and Droy ran over to the team

"There's only five days left until the Grand Magic Games! Hope you got lots of training done while you were gone!" Droy shouted as the tenrou team were dead silent

They stood stiff as a board

"I-It's all over..." Natsu, Vyra, Gray and Erza whispered as they fell face first into the sand

Wendy dropped to her knees crying as Lucy screamed

"NO WAY! GET US OUR TIME BACK STASH FACE!"


"We only got five days left until the games. How are we supposed to win?" Droy mumbled as he scarfed down some watermelon

"Well were not going to win by stuffing your face-" Jett shot back

"I guess we'll be sitting in the side lines while everyone else competes in the games..." Levy moped

"How am I supposed to catch up with Lily when he has a three month lead..." Happy cried

"I didn't know you cared about that!" Carla shouted

"It's not too late! We still have five days to train! It'll be hell on earth so prepare yourselves you may not survive- " Erza proclaimed as a red aura surround her

"I didn't live this long to die from a workout!" Gray spazzed

"Sounds good to me! Do your worst Erza I'm ready to feel the burn!" Natsu shouted glowing orange

"That's the spirit Natsu, we'll start with some running-Uhh?" Erza began as she narrowed her eyes upward to see a pigeon dancing on her head

"Huh? A bird?" Lucy questioned

"Hey it has something on it's little foot!" Vyra pointed out

"It's a note-" Natsu pulled it off as the Tenrou team began to crowd around

"Here we go-" Happy grabbed the note and began reading it

"Hey Fairy Tail, you better come to the broken suspension bridge by the Western Hill..."

"Dumb notes not the boss of us" Natsu ranted

"No kiddin' I don't care for they're tone one bit" Gray commented

"A threat?" Vyra jumped in

"So what do we do?" Wendy questioned

"Ignore it of course!" Carla proclaimed

"I think we should go there-" Erza crossed her arms

"Sounds like a trap to me..." Levy interjected

"I'm with Levy on this one, this has traps written all over it!" Lucy said to the redhead

"We'll just have to see-" Erza looked up

"Sweet! I was really hoping she would say that" The dragon slayer smiled

"Well let's go!" Vyra shouted as the team began to make their way to the destination


Western Hill

"This must've been the broken suspension bridge..." Erza commented as they approached the hill

"Okay so now what?" Vyra put a hand on her hip

"Whoaa what the heck?!" Lucy gasped as the bridge began to fix itself

"Forward march!" Erza proclaimed as she rose her arm up

"Forward? That thing could collapse on us!" Gray and Vyra ranted together

"Maybe we should test it first?" Lucy sweat dropped as Wendy nodded in agreement hiding behind the blonde

"Who ever were dealing with is on the other side- let's get going" Natsu smacked his fists together

"Is he volunteering?" Lucy questioned as Gray smacked the dragons layer on the back pushing him forward

"Sure is, see ya-"

"Woah woa woa woahh!" Natsu shakily walked through the bridge

"Gray!" Vyra yelled at the ice mage

"Don't shove a guy when he's not ready! I could've fallen!" He grabbed the ropes before he turned green

"Are you really getting sick from a fricking bridge?" Gray taunted as Natsu covered his mouth

"You stupid bridge your not beating me that easily!" The dragon slayer mumbled as it took everything he had to dash to the other side

"What a know, I thought for sure it would collapse when someone stepped on it" Lucy commented

"We all thought that..." Wendy said out loud

"YOU USED ME AS A LAB RAT!"

Now we know that it's safe, let's cross and stop wasting time" Erza proclaimed

.

.

.

"I hope they attack us soon" Natsu flamed up his right palm

"Indeed. A tough opponent will make for great training" Erza replied

"You know you're the only ones obsessed with that right?" Gray said as Erza put a hand up in defense stopping the group from moving forward seeing three mysterious silhouettes in the distance

Natsu's eyes were the first ones to widen noticing the distinct scent in the air

"Wait, that smell-" He shouted stepping in front of the bluenette

"Huh?" Vyra uttered as she walked into Natsu's back

'What the-why did he?'

"You came..."

"Thank you-"

Revealing themselves, Jellal, Meredy and Ultear stood in front of the Tenrou team.

"It's nice to see you again..." Jellal spoke

"It's really you-" Erza whispered

"You haven't changed Erza" The man smirked

"It's J-Jellal-" Vyra stuttered as she began to sweat

Gray looked over to the bluenette and stepped forward next to Natsu taking the left side as the dragon slayer was on the right

"I take it word of my prison break reached you sometime ago-"

"Yes." The redhead sweat dropped

'Prison break?'

"Please know I never intended to escape-"

"Meredy and I never gave him much of a choice in the matter" Ultear said

"That was all you Ultear, don't put me into your criminal behavior-" The pinkette nudged the woman

"Meredy..." Juvia whispered grabbing the girls attention

"Oh hey! Long time no see Juvia!" She smiled with a toothy grin

"Jellal broke out of prison?" Lucy questioned

Vyra watched standing in the back of the pack losing all touch of reality.

Voices of her guild mates next to her began to drown out as old memories began flooding in.

"Relax, they aren't our enemies anymore- Isn't that right Ultear?" Gray said relaxing questioning the older woman

The bluenette probably would've retaliated hearing that Gray knows the voluptuous woman somehow without letting her know, but she just stood there not moving a muscle.

"Yes, I committed many sins being a member of Grimoire Heart- so many I doubt I could ever atone for all of them..." Ultear began

"So I dedicated myself to bring some measure of peace to the people that I hurt, till the day I die"

"You risked so much to rescue him from prison-" Wendy whispered shell shocked

"Jellal was one of them."

"You don't owe me anything Ultear, we were both possessed by darkness" Jellal sighed

"It's in the past now..."

"Jellal-" Erza reached out

"Has your memory returned?" She asked

"Every bit of it. Including my sins" He responded as she gasped

"Six whole years, i've been living with all the guilt of all the things I have done..."

"Erza- I'm sorry, but words can't erase your pain-"

"I was the one controlling Jellal during the tower of heaven incident. The blame was mine so don't punish him I think he's been through enough as it is..." Ultear proclaimed

"I could either spend the rest of my life in prison, or lose my life and be done with it."

"Now that you're free you can finally find a positive purpose in your life" Wendy said

"Wendy, there's no easy way for me to explain this- but the Jellal you knew was someone else entirely" The man spoke up

"Oh y-yeah! Don't worry! We cleared that up awhile back!" The girl spazzed as Jellal's gaze now focused on another specific blunette

"Vyra." He said calmly as he locked eyes with her unwavering ones

She didn't say a word but just watched.

"Vyra I-" He pleaded taking a step forward before almost losing his balance due to the crystal trail halting him in his path

"Y-You-" The bluenette stuttered lifting up a shakily arm pointing at the man

"S-Stay away f-from ME!" She growled as her lip quivered furrowing her eyebrows in rage

"Woah Vy!" Natsu jumped almost getting one of his legs stuck in her crystals (It's kinda like Gray's ice floor but with crystals)

Erza whipped around to face the hot headed girl. This was not good.

"Vyra hey-" Erza said softly trying to calm her down but the girl was too much in a pit of emotion she couldn't think straight

The bluenette stumbled slightly backwards feeling the strong steady gaze of Jellal's eyes connecting to hers.

She grinned her teeth and turned back towards the suspension bridge.

Erza immediately looked over to Gray knowing he's the only person who would be able to calm her down. He then nodded and proceeded to chase after her.

"She's never going to forgive me..." Jellal narrowed his eyes downward in melancholy

Erza was silent as she watched the man she once loved.

"I have found a purpose, but I don't think it is completely positive." He started again

"The three of us have formed a guild of our own" Ultear said

"It's an independent guild, it's not officially linked with any other guilds. It's name is Crime Sorciere"

"An independent guild?"

"What does that mean?"

"Crime Sorciere... I've heard of you before!" Droy shouted

"Yeah- me too. You guys have taken down a bunch of dark guilds over the years huh?" Jett spoke

"Unfortunately our one true goal eludes us..." Ultear began

"Zeref." Jellal said as everyone gasped

"Dark guilds and any evil force in the world that seeks to destroy the lives of innocence... we'll purge everyone of them so no wizard will ever fall under Zeref's darkness again"

"That's a seriously righteous cause!" Lucy cheered as Natsu gasped

"If we were to become official, we wouldn't be able to go after dark guilds anymore-"

"That and Ultear and I used to be apart of Grimoire Heart" Meredy sweat dropped scratching her head

"Anyway, as much as we love catching up-" Ultear said sarcastically

"Is it true you're entering the Grand Magic Games this year?" She questioned

"Yeah! Why!?" Natsu snapped

"We can't get near the coliseum without trouble, if all of you are willing we'd like you to do something while you're there..."

"Oh I get it- you want someone's autograph!" Natsu came to conclusion

"I'll pretend you didn't say that-" Ultear shook angrily

"Every year we sense an unusual amount of magic power during the games. We want you to find out what's behind it."

"Are you guys for real?" Natsu took a step back

"Guilds gather from all around Fiore for the games the place is gonna be full of magic" Lucy retaliated

"Don't you think you might be a little paranoid?" Levy chuckled

"We wouldn't be asking you unless we were absolutely certain" Jellal came forth

"What's more, the power that we are sensing is not only evil but reminiscent of Zeref-"

"Zeref? Are you sure that it's related?" Erza crossed her arms

"We believe our prior involvements with him have given us the ability to perceive any trace of his powers."

"I don't know about that-" Natsu whispered

"If you can track down the source of the mysterious energy, it may help us locate him"

"-and you'll be paid just like any other job" Meredy said

"Discretion is important. We don't want the culprit to know that we're on to them, so we'll be rooting for you behind the scenes."

Erza whirled the idea around in her head for a while before she came up with a conclusion

"Sounds like a wild goose chase but we'll do it."

"You sure about this Erza?" Lucy questioned timidly

"We don't have much choice. Guilds from all over Fiore will be gathering around this part. It could be trouble for us too." She responded

"Did we mention we will be paying up front?" Ultear smirked

"RENT MONEY!" Natsu, Happy and Lucy cried tears of joy

"Yeah no, nothing so material..." She scoffed unveiling her orb

"I had years to improve on my arc of time magic and I can use it to enhance your abilities"

They all gawked at the orb

"A power up, or at least that's one way to put it-"


With Gray and Vyra

Running back through the path, Gray was frantically searching for the bluenette

"Vyra hey VY!" He shouted calling out to the girl

Not getting a response, he began to move forward until a he heard a muffle nearby some trees that caught his attention

When he found the girl she was on her hands and knees heaving on the ground

One hand held her stomach and the other was close to ripping the grass out of the ground

Gray instinctively slid on his knees over to the girl wrapping one arm around her back in support and crouched over to her face

"Vy, look it's me. I'm here-" He whispered in her ear as he studied her expression

She wasn't listening to a single word he was saying too transfixed in her own thoughts

"Why isn't he locked up?'

'Did he come here to find me?'

'Why?'

"Vyra..." The ice mage whispered again

'Gray...' The girl thought as his hand was now visible in her line of sight

"I-I can't- breathe-" She gasped out as the ice mages eyes widened

She was having a panic attack.

"Vyra hey- look at me-" He lifted a hand to her chin trying to slightly move her jaw

Her body responded as she turned to the right letting tears fall from her cheeks to the ground

He slowly crawled behind her, laying her back into him as he cradled her in his arms

His face, his body, his embrace, it soothed the bluenette tremendously.

"It's okay, I got you-" He hugged her from behind as his long arms wrapped around her body

She reached a hand up and held his arm

"T-Thank you."

.

.

.

"This is nice" The bluenette whispered in his grasp leaning her head against his chest

"Yeah." Gray responded relaxing his tense muscles

Now that she calmed down, he felt better himself.

"Can we just stay like this?" She questioned

"As long as you want-" He whispered nuzzling his cheek to hers

"Really?"

"Mmm" He nodded kissing her neck

The bluenette snuggled deeper into his arms as she smiled

She liked this side of Gray, ever since they came back from Tenrou island they never really had anytime to themselves. It made her heart flutter even more than usual.

Wanting to enjoy this moment, her thoughts shifted to Jellal.

"Sorry Gray-" She sat up out of his grasp as he sat on the ground dumbfounded

She stood quiet for a moment before she turned around

"Come on-" She offered him a hand up as he took it

"You know, I owe you one" She winked as he smirked wrapping an arm around her shoulder

"That looks intense-" Lucy gasped as herself and Wendy watched a painful Natsu roll on the ground agonized in pain

"I'm scared" Wendy sniffled

"Sign me up next-"

"Vyra!" Lucy and Wendy jumped as they turned around to see Vyra and Gray approach them

"No pain no game, come on let's go-" She pointed at Ultear standing next to Natsu who was reaching out to the sky

"Vy hold on-" Gray retaliated watching what unleashing your second origin does to a person

"That doesn't even frighten her?!" Wendy spazzed

'She's acting different-' Gray thought watching the moonlight mage

"And I need to speak with you later-" She eyed the woman as she rose her Arc of Time orb

"That's weird why don't I feel anyth-" The bluenette questioned before she dropped to the ground and screamed out in agony

Red encryptions spiraled around her body as her and Natsu gasped out in pain

"Crap I can't watch this-" Gray turned around still able to hear her ear piercing screeches

"Stay strong you two, you still have a long way to go-" Ultear watched the cotton candy duo

"Do we really have to go through that too?" Levy gasped hugging Wendy

"I think i'm gunna cry" Wendy shook

"You already are child" Carla sweat dropped

"Actually we don't need the extra training so we'll just be on our way-" Jett and Droy tipped toed away

"Stay strong." Happy said watching the two

"By any chance do you know where Erza went?" Carla asked the blue furred cat

"She went with Jellal to be alone for a bit-"

"Alone?!" Juvia repeated as her cheeks began to heat up

"Erza..." Lucy whispered in worry


With Erza and Jellal

"You remember everything that happened..."

"Yeah I do."

"Does that include what happened to Simon..."

"He died by my hand-"

"What about the Nirvana incident?"

"Everything. I remember being in a trap of fog. Hearing her scream..."

Jellal's eyes widened hearing the same faint screams pierce through his ear drums as he covered them with his hands furrowing his eyes shut

Erza gasped looking over to the state of the man

"Just give her some time, she'll come around-"

"We never gave up on you, I know Vyra has a hard time of showing it but deep down she cares-"

"Yeah. Sure-" Jellal sighed turning to face the sea

She then reminisced back to the Nirvana incident. Something that the Moonlight Mage said clicked into her brain

"How can the magic council be so absent minded?" Vyra snapped from the back of the pack slowly walking forward to the front where the council and Jellal were

"You guys don't know anything do you?" she questioned as she narrowed her eyes in disgust

"Magic council or not, it doesn't matter to me..." she whispered as her transformation circle went wide

"I WON'T LET YOU TAKE MY FAMILY AWAY!" She screamed as a beam of moonlight cascaded around the girl

"Is it accurate to say I'm speaking to the Jellal I knew as a child?" She questioned skeptically

"I'd be happy if you thought about it that way... but with my crimes, I wouldn't blame you if you kept your distance..."

"And if you try to avenge Simon I won't try to stop you-" He went on

"I forfeited my life long ago..."

"You honestly think Simon would want you to die?" Erza said calmly

"What about your new guild and all the good you've done for it? Why can't dedicating your life to fighting the darkness be your atonement?" She went on

"Because I don't think it can-" Jellal simply responded

He hurt too many people. Flashes of Vyra, Simon, members of the Oracion Seis, and others connected to the tower clouded his mind.

"Well why not!?" The red head snapped

"Don't get me wrong, when I first created Crime Sorciere I hoped it would bring me peace- but the things I did at the Tower of Heaven couldn't be made right that easily..."

"Is there really a point to what I'm doing? Will these horrible thoughts ever go away... maybe I'll just get out of Vyra's life so she could smile again."

Erza was at a loss for words. Was he serious? She was shocked yet outraged.

"Perhaps it's best if I did die..."

The redhead wasn't taking his crap anymore and slapped him hard across his face

"YOU'D BE SATISFIED WITH THE COWARDS WAY OUT?!"

"YOU THINK YOU NEED TO BE STRONG IN ORDER TO LIVE? YOUR WRONG! LIFE ITSELF IS WHAT GIVES US STRENGTH!"

She gripped onto his shoulders "I don't see the old Jellal before me, that man was full of light- he would never give up without a fight!"

"Maybe he's dead then." He ignored her making her eyes widen

"SNAP OUT OF IT!" She shouted losing her balance as they came hurling down the hill

Jellal stared at her as he landed on top of her body

"You- you always know what to say don't you?" Jellal questioned as his eyes softened

She gasped "That's not true at all-"

"I just stumble through life one day at a time, that's all"

"Erza-" He eyed the girl

The redhead lifted an arm to cover her eyes "I-I thought I'd never see you again..."

She gasped once again as she cupped the sides of his face "Jellal..."

A tear shed past her chin

Jellal caressed her cheek, sliding his thumb to erase her tear as he inched closer

Their lips were centimeters apart before he forcefully pushed her away

...

"I can't... I have a fiancé..." Jellal said bashfully

Electricity surged through Erza's body

"Oh! N-no! I-I didn't-uh- mean for y-you t-to-uhh" She began to spazz

"No- I'm the one who should- I'm sorry." He looked down

"Well, I have to say that's a surprise! Congratulations! T-that's great!" She squawked in utter humiliation

"Mhm! I'm uh- really happy for you-" She looked over to his uneasy expression and softly smiled

"Do you love her? She asked

"Yes."

"Then live for her sake, that's your purpose." Erza proclaimed as he slightly nodded

"I...I can do that."


Gray, Juvia, Wendy, Lucy and Levy one by one slowly joined Natsu and Vyra in their horror fest. It was a long night for sure.

As the surges of pain began to feel less and less, the bluenette was able to catch a glimpse of the lifeless dragon slayer

"N-Natsu-" She edged herself closer to the boy only able to use her left arm

"He's fine." Ultear reassured the girl

"He'll probably be asleep for a while though. Unleashing your second origin takes a lot out of the wizard depending on what kind of magic they wield." She said focusing her attention on the other guild members now that Natsu and Vyra have completed the transition

Her eye sight began to blur as she felt her body being hoisted up

'Why am I being carried?' She thought to herself as her eyes shuttered closed in pure exhaustion

.

.

.

It was night now and the cold sea breeze floated through the night sky. Vyra's eyes twitched open slowly as she awoke shivering due to the breeze. She felt something on top of her body and grabbed it, looking at the material.

It was his.

She pulled it off of her body and groaned. Her body still in pain, weeped.

Jellal sat a few feet away from the girl leaning his elbows on his knees

"Keep it on. It's cold."

Vyra watched the man not saying a word.

"It's too late to start acting like a brother now-" The bluenette scoffed rolling her eyes as Jellal sighed

"Six whole years, I've been in dread. Dreadful for what I have done to you."

"2,190 days Vyra... I've been hanging onto this-" He pulled out a shiny moon stone necklace from his pocket

His hand began to tremble

"I apologize I wasn't able to find the one you previously had-" He thought back to the time he ripped the golden chained necklace off of the girls neck at the Tower of Heaven

"But I was hoping one day I'll be able to give this you and if not, I would hold onto it knowing that my sins took away one of the only person I had-" He reached over placing it next to her

"You don't need to forgive me, I don't expect you too."

"If you want me to be gone forever, then just say the word and i'll erase myself from your existence." He spoke calmly as she just stared letting him speak

The bluenette picked up the moon stone necklace shakily placing it in the palms of her hands

She felt the softness of the stone as she touched it with her thumb.

Memories started to flood her mind as it reminded her of a similar encounter.


Flashback

"Wow! You could make ice sculptures?! That's wicked cool!"

"Pfft- it's called Ice-Make Magic ya see?" The shirtless boy boasted as he made a small ice-make cannon

"Wow super cool!" The small blue haired girl blushed

"I can only use my magic at night time, my daylight form needs some work" She said bashfully scratching the back of her head until a shiny object caught her attention

"Where'd ya get this from?" A little Vyra grabbed Gray's pendant from around his neck as she analyzed it

"H-hey!" The boy jumped back blushing at how close the girl was to him

"Pretty-" She whispered playing around with the pendent in her hand

The bluenette looked up to him hoping he would have an answer, but he didn't say a word.

"Sorry..." She backed away from him noticing his still, uncomfortable expression

"Tch-It's fine..." He clicked his tongue looking away

-Few days later-

"Hey! Hey Vy!" The small ice mage shouted running full course towards the bluenette as she was on the way home from the guild

"Oh hi Gray" The girl smiled turning around to see the gasping ice wizard

"Woah! Hey are you okay?" She questioned in concern as she put a hand on his shoulder

The ice mage instantly stood up as he outstretched his arm

"Here-" He mumbled shyly opening up his hand to reveal a golden pendant necklace similar to his own

"Oh woahh-" She took the necklace from his hand and held it in her own

"Thank you so much Gray!" She smiled giving him a bear hug

"It's nothin..." He blushed evading his gaze away from hers


Present

She loved it so much.

Because Gray gave it to her.

Tears of anger and sadness welled up in the girls tear ducts.

"D-don't say another word-" She whispered as she slowly stood up and wobbled closer over to Jellal before she collapsed again letting him catch her

"I-" She trembled on her words sitting on her knees gripping onto the necklace

"I-don't want y-you to g-go-" She gasped as tears were now flooding past her chin

Jellal was surprise to say the least watching the younger girl break down in front of him.

His hair shagged over his eyes as a small smile slowly appeared.

He wrapped his arms around the girl letting her lean and cry into his chest.

Whatever Vyra said to him today, he thought would dictate what life had in store for him. If she wanted him eradicated from her life and live in a world where he didn't exist, then he would do by any means necessary to fulfill that request. Actually, it was something he was waiting to hear. Jellal even wanted her to say it.

But one thing he didn't notice, she kept the jacket on.


A/N: Sorry for the delay! I hope you are all staying safe with the whole Corona pandemic. I'm home all week which means more writing for me!

-Julia