Another notice before we start…

I guess that I am doing a daily upload when I get around to the next main arc, but I won't do it until this mini arc is over which may take some time as Ice trials is quite long. That is all well and good. But, since I am doing that we may be seeing the end of TRIVIA TIME!

It had a good run, but if I do the scheduled updates (which are pretty much necessary at this point) then I am not going to waste time going back and throwing in questions each and every day. I might think of some other little mini game you guys can play with or answer.

I guess I better start finding a stupid name then… XD

Well… That is officially out of the way…

LET'S READ!

:::-((x))-:::

(Three days later)

Crunch…

Crunch…

Crunch…

That was the sound his ears continuously picked up. One after another, one foot steps down into the thick snow, the other repeats the others action as the young boy, no older than eight or nine trudged slowly through the forest he found himself in.

The boy could be seen wearing mostly black clothing, with the only 'non-black' thing he was wearing being a dark grey tight t-shirt that showed off the young boys tone and muscle, it was that tight. His hands were both gloved, the left one had a ring on it that shimmered with magic. Around his head was an eye-patch that covered his left eye, the patch blended in with his raven black hair with the ridge where the patch was tight being barely visible to the untrained eye.

Suddenly, his stomach rumbled loudly, he instantly clutched at his gut, wincing as the sharp, stabbing subsided before continuing to walk further.

The boy had no direction in mind, well, he didn't mind as long as he was going west. The powerful mages were there, the mages that could help him get stronger were in the west and that was where he would go, like a moth drawn to a flame.

After another twenty minutes of hiking through the forest, the boy stopped in his tracks and let out a half tired and half pained sigh. "Damn..." He muttered, his voice raspy, like he hadn't had a drop of water for a whole day. He looked around, irritation clear on his features. "Where the hell am I?"

His stomach let out another growl, his growled at it back and resisted the urge to punch himself in the gut. "Will you shut up already…?" 'Dammit, i'm hungry!' His mind was completely overtaken by that one thought, it was as if it was stuck on repeat, only annoying him further.

Even his own body was taking the piss out of him…

But he didn't have time to react any further to it, as soon as he was about to yell at himself he was completely engulfed it snow, he heard a little "Oof" and the pressure suddenly flattened him against the snow on the ground.

Today was just not his day…

:::-((x))-:::

"Oww..." Whined the girl on the top of the snow pile. Rubbing her head as she took a calming breath before looking around, she looked below and saw the snow under her, it was much more thicker and softer than the thinner layer of snow beneath her. She let out a little nervous giggle. "It was a good thing I was saved by the snow."

The girl got up and began to move away when she heard muffle shouts and the sound of snow being violently thrown around everywhere. Startled, she looked back to see the pile of snow she was previously sitting on moving, as if something was trying to break out.

Then all of a sudden, the snow pile burst and a boy around her age burst out with an irritated yell. He was clearly not happy, the girl had a sneaking suspicion as to why that was.

"WHAT'S SO GOOD ABOUT IT!?" He yelled, outrage plastered on his face as he waggled his arms around, brushing off the snow and adding emphasis to his annoyance.

"Sorry, sorry!" Was her reply, shaking her head up and down rapidly as she spoke. However, when she looked up she was greeted with the sight of the boys chest, his bare chest was out for the whole world to see and what shocked her most was that the boy didn't seem to notice. Her face changed from one of embarrassment to one of complete and utter shock. "More importantly, why are you naked!?"

The boy re-adjusted his eye-patch (which she had just noticed) and gave her a frown. "Oh well I am just a drunk teen who got lost after a greeeeaaaattttt night out with my buds." Was his sarcastic reply, after a second of silence he continued."It's an annoying habit if you need to know. Trust me, I don't do it on purpose..."

She looked at him in disbelief, shaking her head, as if trying to make sense of what she just heard. "Eh? How do you just get a stripping habit?"

"I don't know!" The boy shouted. "I am just as confused as you!" Just when she was about to ask him another question when he quickly changed his act. "Actually, it's good I ran into you…" Her look made him sweat drop. "Ahhh, it's a good thing you actually fell on me, I don't have a bloody clue where the town is, do you know? I need to get something to eat, maybe a drink too." he added as an afterthought, rubbing his throat when he said that.

The town!

She needed to get going! Him too if he didn't want to get taken away! "That's right!" She jumped, turning around. "I gotta run!"

"well, well, well." She froze, they found her already?! "That was a close one wasn't it?..."

:::-((x))-:::

The boy looked behind him and found himself staring at two men. One wearing a white and red striped shirt with slacks and the other one looking slightly rounded, wearing a waist coat as well as some tight head gear that sported a fake ponytail at the top. The two looked at the girl behind him with a grin that didn't look to welcoming.

He already didn't like them…

"This time, we'll get you for sure." The slacks man (as the boy dubbed him) spoke with confidence, he looked ready to knock her out but as he moved towards her the boy instantly shielded her at seeing her frightened expression. Slacks man seemed to be aware of him now, he looked at him with a deep frown. "Hmm, who's this little brat you found?" he asked of the girl, who stood still behind the guarded boy.

"Haaa." The boy's stomach growled once again, but not loud for the first time that day. He looked at the two men with a dark smirk growing more and more present. "Too bad." He drawled to the two. "But from the looks of you two, you aren't townsfolk."He growled, making the fatter one step back slightly from the suddenness. The boy looked at slacks man. "So why don't you and your friend here bugger off before I turn you into an ice sculpture?"

He heard the girl behind him gasp at his sudden change in tone, he felt his magic leak slightly, he grinned, hopefully he could scare them away. But no such luck.

The threat seemed to almost work on the fat guy, but slacks man seemed unfazed…

"first off, you don't seem like an ordinary boy." Slacks man smirked. 'He's naked to start' He scratched the back of his head as the boy quickly looked down and yelped, he quickly put his trousers and coat back on before getting in front of the girl again. "And secondly; You will be coming with us." The boy's angry yet confused stare made him elaborate. "We can't have you ratting us out after all..."

Suddenly, the fat guy, dashed and scooped the two children up. The girl began to smash her fists on the guy's back as she screamed at him to let them go. He didn't listen began to walk off, slacks man's word falling on deaf ears.

Suddenly, the boy grabbed the girl before kicking violently against the fat guy's chest, making him stumble whilst he flipped and landed with practised grace, dropping the girl to her feet as he did so, he gave her a reassuring nod of the head to calm her down before he turned back to the fat guy.

"You just made a mistake buddy..." The boy growled angrily. "Ice-Devil:-" He stopped suddenly, his eyes widened as his stomach suddenly lurched and growled. "uuurrrrgggghhhh" A wave of sharp pains overtook him before he fell down to the floor unconscious.

The girl looked at him, shock and panic evident on her face. "Really? You had to lose it now!?" She shouted, running over to the fallen boy and shaking him, hopelessly trying to wake him up.

Then the looming shadow of slacks man blocked out the light, making her look up with fear. He gave the boy a harsh kick in the gut, making the boy quickly throw up. Their eyes widened slightly at the sight of blood but the two men didn't do much other than pick the girl and boy up. The girl once again struggling in his grasp.

"C'mon Radish." He spoke to the fat guy. 'Radish' nodded, rubbing his tummy, wincing as he did before catching up to slacks man.

:::-((x))-:::

The boy had no idea where he was when he awoke, all he could see was an endless void of steel grey, it took him a second to realise that they were walls though which meant one thing to him. He was trapped.

His un-patched eye widened as the thought struck him. He wasn't able to fight, he was starving, he was tired and he now had no clue where he was!

He shot up, scrunching his face in pain when his stomach stabbed itself again. He looked around after a second to see the young girl he was with fast asleep.

He didn't manage to get a good look at her in the forest, things happened real fast and he was taking a beat down from his tired body. But now he could clearly see the girl almost shiny and healthy white hair, thicker than the forest they were in and just as obvious as her dark red scarf that was wrapped around her neck.

Her dress wasn't too much to look at, it was an even darker shade of red, almost brown and it came down to her knees like a summer dress. Her boots were a stained white in colour with fur around the top, which was also whit, but clear instead.

The boy almost didn't want to wake her, but he needed answers! He had been flattened by this girl, questioned instantly on his habit and not a few seconds later was he being carted off to a destination he knew nothing about!

He thought that was enough to warrant some form of questioning…

"hey, wake up." He muttered, shaking the sleeping girl gently as not to startle her. Unfortunately it didn't work out as planned, as soon as he shook her he was batted straight in the face by her fist. It wasn't painful, but it did make him yelp and fall on his back. He pushed himself back up and glared at the girl who was now looking at him with surprise and apprehension. "What was that for!?"

"Y-You shook me, it was your fault. Sorry though." She quickly added, bowing her head and missing his embarrassed blush.

"Whatever." He groaned after a few seconds. His stomach rumbled again, loud and proud. He clutched at his stomach and growled in pain and anger. "Im so goddamn hungry!" he yelled finally, he had finally had enough of his body taking the piss. "I could eat a fu- oooooohhhh"

He was cut off half way when his eye was drawn to the girl, now holding what looked to be some sort of bento. She smiled and opened it and to his delight he saw the best thing in the world.

Bread…

"You can have that if you like." Chirped the girl.

"You sure?" The boy asked. "Don't you need it?"

"No, I ate a while ago." Was the reply he got.

That was all the encouragement he needed. He reached out toward the bread and grabbed before chomping down on it. He almost passed out from the sensation. He felt his stomach calm, his body relax and he felt over the moon! He looked at the girl, sweat dropping. He looked down and saw that half of the bread was gone already. The boy cursed mentally, why was food so temporary?!

"Wow, that's impressive." Laughed the girl, giggling even more when he replied by shouting. "I haven't eaten in three days okay!" She didn't stop laughing for a minute whilst he finished the bread off, looking like he was spotted ballet dancing in the middle of the street.

"Ok, thanks." the boy started, the girl flashed him a smile. "But where the hell are we?..."

The girls expression dropped, the boy got wary again. "This is..." Se breathed in, readying herself. "The chrono noise guild..."

That made him raise a brow. This place was a guild? Didn't seem like one, if it was then why was there a prison cell? And judging by the girls expression, it didn't seem like a nice place.

"This is a guild huh?" He asked, his tone suggesting suspicion. "Then are you a part of it?"

"No..." The girl looked down again, her face sad. "I'm..."

"Doesn't matter." The boy interrupted, shocking her. "I don't think guilds have holding cells. They have a cellar or a basement sure, but never a cell." He clarified at seeing her looking at him with confusion.

"H-How would you know?"

"My old master explained it to me once..." His voice suggested no more room for questioning, the girl shivered, moving on.

She only just realised that because of her, he was in this with her now. He had nothing to do with this and yet he had been dragged into this because she was seen with him. She bowed her head once more, confusing the boy.

"Uh, i'm sorry for getting you caught up in this, if y-"

"Hey, don't worry about it." He reassuringly. "I'm fine, and I haven't had a single bite to eat in three days. So cheers for that pick me up." He gave her a rare grin. "So why are you here to begin with?" He questioned, leaning against the wall as he put his arms behind his head.

"O-Oh! Well, you see because-" The girl caught herself before she could say anymore, looking at the nonchalant boy. "Wait a minute, why were YOU down there?!" The girl saw the boy look at her, completely flummoxed for a second before he realised what she ad just asked.

"Hmm, how do I put this?" The boy mumbled… "I am trying to get to Magnolia, I heard of a guild from some townsfolk three days back about their being a strong guild in Magnolia, in the west." The girls eyes widened.

"The west?" She asked, surprised he was willing to travel that far a distance just to join a guild. "That's kinda far right?"

The boy nodded, careful not to hit his head, it still ached from the incident. "That is why I intend to take a train there."

That seemed to satisfy the girl.

'been a fair bit of time since I sat down and actually talked with another human being…' The boy thought, the girl was easy to get along with and she seemed to be easily excitable, if not also easy to scare… he found that he rather enjoyed the company.

"In a way, it is kind of a breed between a journey and intense training..." he smirked. "I want to get stronger, I want to protect those come to see as family, friends and so on and so forth." He put his right fist into his left palm and felt his magic awaken as he began to craft something between his hands. "I want to join that guild, and grow strong. Then again that is every mages dream isn't it?" He grinned and removed his hands from eachother and revealed a beautiful and detailed rose.

The girl looked at it in awe, his magic was so nice, so free! It reminded her of how limited her magic really was. She looked back at the boy and saw him doing something else. He was standing, his hands at his side and his magic flaring up again. But instead of putting his hands together, he just stood as a pinkish ice began to spread over the floor. She almost took a step back when the ice began to form on his arms. Creating deadly looking ice shards.

"i also plan to destroy any demon that shows up." he looked up. His grin replaced with a frown. "No demon can possibly be nice and caring, all they do is kill and ruin lives… So I plan to do the same to them." His voice came out rough and angry.

The girl looked at him for a second with wide eyes, the boy's magic felt completely different to his previous creation, which she held still! The magic felt much more stronger and deadlier whilst keeping the same freedom as his last magic did! He also held a strong hatred for demons though, that made her wonder just how he managed to end up with such animosity towards the beings.

This boy was both sweet and scary…

The ice around the boy dissipated and he looked at her with sadness in his eyes. But before the girl could say anything he shook his head and went back to leaning against the wall. Her eyes once again drifted to the flower in her hands and she couldn't help but admire the craftsmanship. She was stunned to say the least.

"This is amazing!" She finally exclaimed. He looked at her with a smug grin. "A flower made of ice! I love it!"

"You can keep it if you want, but it will melt eventually." he warned, but he then got tackled into a hug from the girl.

"Thank you! This looks so nice!"

"That's because my magic is the embodiment of freedom, and defence" He remarked, adding the last bit on as an afterthought…

The girl released him after a minute. He took a second to catch his breath, the girl had one hell of a tight hug!

"What's your name?" He asked.

The girl smiled. "My name is Nano, Nano Leaf. And you are?" 'Nano' asked.

"I'm-"

"Alright girl, time for you to work, get out..." Grunted slacks man, who was now on the other side of the cell bars. "Now!"

Wordlessly, Nano walked out, leaving the boy glaring angrily at the man, who just smirked darkly at him.

"I wouldn't be looking so defiant little boy..." he taunted, only making the boy growl. "Soon, you will be one of us." Slacks man said before shoving Nano forward harshly with a thump.

"Wanker..." The boy growled. He didn't have to shove Nano like that. "But never show your keys to me, I may just do something really stupid." He stated quietly with a grin. Before clasping his hands together and letting his magic do the rest.

Time to do a little exploring…

:::-((x))-:::

"I brought her Nez-san..." Slacks man stated politely. When nano laid her eyes upon him again she almost passed out from fear.

Nez Booms was a very short guy, but he walked skilfully on a pair of stilts. His face was a frightening combination of black and white, one side of his face sported a black eye whilst the other was completely whit, same for the eyebrows and the fringe that spilt from his training dummy like costume was black too. All in all, he was very surreal to look at.

"Six seconds..." He drawled, his high pitch tone making him sound like a clown.

"Huh?" Slacks man asked, his face going white as a sheet. "What do you mean Nez-san?"

The short man grinned. "That is how late you are in brining me little Nano there." He clarified with a snarl, he suddenly looked murderous clearly enjoying watching his subordinates fear grow. "Didn't I say you had three minutes?"

Slacks man shook where he stood, his fear becoming more and more present to those around him. He could hear the more experienced members of the guild talk about his upcoming punishment and he felt like running.

But then it would be worse…

"I HATE people who aren't one time." Spat Nez, suddenly waving his tiny arms in front of him, a sadistic grin plastered onto his face.

Suddenly, there was a 'ka-chank' and everyone looked at slacks man. A magical ball was locked around his head, his face showing the pure terror as he screamed, his hands began clawing at the ball, desperately trying to get it off as the ominous 'tik' jerked him every second. Finally, he stopped struggling and his eyes watered, he couldn't do a single thing about it, he just excepted his fate with a single tear before the ball exploded. His screams of pain echoed through out the room and down the hallways.

Nano shielded her eyes from the sight before her, she hated it when Nez did this and she hoped that she could go home soon, she wanted to leave but Nez would hurt her.

And she didn't to leave that boy on his own…

Then Nez turned to her, his grin never leaving his face as he spoke. "Now Nano, let's begin..." He paused, taking pleasure in he fear. "We don't want to be late for work now right? So no more running away, or I might end up punishing you."

:::-((x))-:::

The boy grinned to himself, that idiot in slacks should never had showed him the keys. Now he was wondering around the guild halls, trying to find Nano before leaving.

He wasn't having much luck…

"How can these people know where they are fucking going?..." He ground out. "This place is a bloody maze."

Suddenly, he saw a streak of light, curious he snuck nearer to it, that was when he heard the mumbling. He raised his brow, he didn't have a good feeling about this. "This seems… Ominous."

He was about to turn back, but realised that Nano could be in there. "Dammit..." He couldn't turn back now, if he left her here with these assholes he would never forgive himself, he has already hurt enough people, no need to hurt another.

With that in mind, he readied himself before bounding into the room, he was surprised to see a gigantic black egg just sitting in the middle, he ignored it and looked around, spotting Nano on her knees with some demented clown looking guy behind her.

"Nano? What the hell is this!?" He exclaimed, just as Nano shouted 'Egg knock'.

He was shocked before, then he looked at the egg and saw a beam of light striking it, the thing what surprised him though was that the egg began forming lumps. The lumps spiked up for a second before smoothing out again, it looked as if something was trying to get out of the egg.

But what?

"How'd you get out here you stupid kid!?" He heard someone shout behind him. But before he could look he was grabbed from behind by someone large. He instantly used his enhanced strength to throw the man over him and onto the floor in front of him.

The big man landed with the grace of a drunk troll, he face smashing against the ground with a 'thud'. He looked up and saw the dark look on the kids face, shock at how the kid could even lift him he got up and tried hitting him, only for the boy deflect his blow and strike him so hard hard in the stomach that he was sent barrelling into some of the members on the far side of the room.

Murmers broke out before the guild took out weapons and readied their magic. The boy looked at them, before getting into his battle stance.

"GET HIM!" The entire guild roared as they charged straight for the boy. But just when they made it within 5 meters from the boy he waved his arm to the right and the entire group were blasted back to the other side of the room, frozen solid.

Nano watched with morbid fascination as the boy dusted himself off, as if he had been doing nothing other some troublesome job. She was shocked, he hadn't even moved yet the guilds members had been taken out instantly. Just how powerful was this boy!?

Nez looked at the boy with surprise for a second, before his face turned angry and malicious… "Don't interfere boy… Nano is busy with her work."

"Doesn't look like work to me..." Smirked the boy, taking a step closer as he spoke. "Seems more like slave labour to be honest." His expression turned angry before he broke out into a run, as did Nez.

"Ice Devil: Blizzard fist!"

"Bomb stamp!"

The boy simply avoided the stilts that were careening towards him and gave the shot bastard a might punch to the jaw, sending Nez flying back and in font of Nano, he looked up outraged, anger and the promise to kill emanated from him as he stared the boy down.

"You little brat!" Shouted Nez, his fists clenching as the anger coursing through him began to take over. "You better get running, or once I find you I will end you life!"

"So scary, coming from the tiny tim of the guild…" Snarled the boy, grinning as the little man lost his control.

"NANO YOU BETTER FINISH THAT EGG SOON OR YOU WILL BE PUNISHED BADLY! THAT DEMON NEEDS TO HATCH NOW!" He screamed at the girl, making her jump before running away. He was about to make chase, but was slammed to the floor by a massive icy hammer. He looked back and saw the boy, his face enraged and alarmed.

"A DEMON EGG!?" He yelled, but he didn't give the man the time to answer as he froze the floor in the entire room, Nez barely jumped out of the way in time and was instantly batted down to the ground by the boy who had jumped up to him from 30 feet away.

"Oof!" Nez got back up and looked at the angry boy.

The boy turned to face Nano, who had made it behind him and away from Nez. "Nano, is that abomination the reason you were dragged here?"

She nodded shamefully. She remembered the boy's comment about demons, she was afraid that he would be angry with her for her (unwilling) part in this. But instead of the attack or shouting aimed at her she got something she didn't expect.

The boy got her back onto her feet, and brushed her off before turning back to face Nez. "Nano, you said something about not being happy right?" The response he got was a little nod of the head. It was all he needed. "Well, if this is the obstacle you must overcome to gain that happiness then I will lend you my aid. I will help you as much as I can." he stated, his voice full with raw emotion and determination.

It was all too much for her to bare, this boy had only been in her life for a few minutes and already he was helping her more than anyone else (barring her parents) and was offering, no promising to help her even more! She felt something leak from her eye and she quickly realised that she was beginning to cry.

He then glared at Nez, who had been standing there watching with a dark frown. "I… Decided on something before I began my trek to the west." He stated before he took off running towards Nez again. "I promised myself that no matter how big and how strong my enemy is, I would never back down!" He threw his right arm back, as if to throw a punch, but stopped half way to Nez and point at his stilts.

"You know, I have a question. Do you like hurting people and kidnapping kids for your dirty work because you are stupidly small?" He asked, grinning at the reaction got, he swore that he could see some of the frozen members sweat drop from his comment and Nez definitely gave him the desirable reaction.

"AAARRRRGGGGHHHH! YOU LITTLE SHIT! I WILL KILL YOU!" He screamed, running towards the boy who stood there, glaring darkly at the raging midget.

"I am not called 'little shit'..." he drawled. "My name is Gray. Gray Fullbuster." with that he pushed his hand into Nez's belly and sent him flying back again. He readied his Ice-Make and stared at the furious guild master. "The student of the strongest ice mage and son of the most powerful Devil slayer to have ever lived, and I will take you down..."

With that, he charged at Nez, who did the same thing.

The battle finally began…

:::-((x))-:::

I hope that came out better than it looked…

Okay, so I hope you can see the difference in Gray's character here, still caring but more rude and much more scary than in canon. That is what I am going for.

Secondly, why is their like no fanfic's out there about Gray with the characters from ice trials? Nano, Pause and Mary are great characters so why do they get left out? I guess we better give them the love and attention they deserve…

Okay…

PHRASES OF AWESOME!

1: 'My friend once tried to film a porno movie, but there were too many holes in the plot…'

2: 'I was so excited about my theory on the law of inertia, but hasn't gained any momentum.'

3: 'DOY!'

Thanks for reading and stay cool,

-viperhat