I do not own Fairy Tail. Credit goes to Hiro Mashima

Gray has always been content with his life. Although his family did not have much, he was never one to complain. His mother tended to their garden and housework. His father was a proud blacksmith. They got along well with their neighbors. Their town just the right size. He didn't have to go far to see a familiar face, but they respected their space. Even back then he was not the best with being too personal. He preferred his space. Not a big fan of large displays of emotion. Nevertheless, he would smile whenever the older ladies pinched his cheeks and called him cute in an effort to be polite.

His father, Silver, as well known in the area for his skills. He forged everything with a great pride no matter the object. They were all crafted with care that was evident in their strength. From the simple farm tools to the weapons the soldiers carried. Gray would often follow him into the shop. Always curious and determined to learn. His father would turn him away saying he was still too young. It was not a job for the light hearted.

Truth was it filled Silver with great pride that his son wanted to follow in his footsteps. But his wife had made him promise to wait until he was older. The shop with its giant burning furnaces, boiling metal, and sharp objects was not a place for his small untrained hands. Gray would return home with his head down but was never truly discouraged. He held unto the promise his father made to pass on his knowledge.


He started to help in the shop with small tasks under of the watchful eye of his father when he was 10. While he was eager to do more, he knew better than to push it with his father. He was just trying to keep his son safe. His mother, Mika, would scold them both if they misbehaved or acted rashly.

Each day he grew more confident until the day came when he got to forge his first item. A small dagger. His father would still help but it was his first time doing everything with his own hands. Silver close by to make sure he followed the steps properly. The process was going smoothly. But he got over confident. He miscalculated. A piece broke off and his eyes missed its movement. He suddenly felt a hot sticky substance flow into his left eye. Before he could fully process his thoughts, his father was over him. Worry evident on his features.

The rest of the events blur together in his memories. The panic on his mom's face. Some rough scrubbing and bandaging. His excitement over his first scar. The disappointment in himself for the slip. Having to beg and convince his mother to let him return. A promise to be more careful. To which is mother finally conceded, albeit reluctantly.


With time he greatly refined his skills. Becoming a valuable asset to his father. Looking back, he would enjoy these memories the most. Those of him working with his father hand and hand. The feel of the finished product. The weight of the tools. His father's hearty laugh. He rarely ever saw him in a foul mood. Despite his father's warnings he felt himself drawn to the weapons the most. He saw a beauty in them that he couldn't quite explain.

It shouldn't come as a surprise that later he would take easily to creation magic.

Magic itself was something that Gray was vaguely aware of. He knew of its existence. Yet mages were uncommon. In his quiet town no one was a mage. Their exposure to magic limited to a couple magical items. They were mainly a simple populace that made due with what they had. Until the day his whole world fell apart.

He had heard tales of monsters and demons. But they seemed like parts of stories that always happened in far off lands. Not to people like him. Definitely not him. At least that was what he told himself.

When that demon appeared, he was powerless. All his creations did nothing to halt its path of destruction. They along with some of the men from the town now lay scattered on the floor among the rubble of the buildings. He couldn't see a motive to this madness other than it was evil.

The town was situated in the north so the cold and snow were a common sight but this was different. The monster's whole body seem to emanate a coldness that chilled him to the bone. It was not natural. Leaving trails of ice wherever it stepped. The demon was gone just as quickly as it had appeared.

At the end he was not sure if he was lucky or if his lone survival was just some cruel joke from faith. He buried everyone. He looked and dug through the snow in a comatose state. Determined to find all the members of the town. His didn't bother to count though. He was sure that would make him sick. He continued until his hands were raw and red. Focusing on the pain in his hands to help ignore the pain he was feeling everywhere else. His vision blurred from the tears streaming down his face.

Why?

Why had it left him alive? He had gone out to face the demon with his father. But he was brushed aside with little effort. The sight of his father's broad back as he shielded him from an attack will forever be engraved in his memory. It was also his last sight before he lost conscious.

When he awoke, he was rigid and partly frozen. He didn't understand how he was alive. He remembers yelling until his lost his voice calling out the names of those dear to him. His mom's body was what finally broke him. She had gone in search in them. She was laying next to his father with their hands intertwined. They didn't deserve this. No one but especially no them.

Standing over their make shift graves he felt his heart slowly freeze over. His tears stopped and felt numb.

"I swear I'll defeat that monster. I'll avenge all of you." He clenches his hands into fists at his side. "By any means necessary."

Gray is not sure where to go. Or who to turn to. Almost everything and everyone he knew was now gone. All he can do is try to move forward. His few belongings are in a small backpack. He lifts it up and swings it over his shoulder. He turns and makes a promise to return once he is strong enough.


Gray has learned much on his now 3-year journey.

The demon who destroyed his village was named Deliora. He was a demon created by the black mage Zeref. Defeating him was not going to be an easy feat.

He began with training every day. Pushing his body to its absolute limits. But he came to a dire realization early on. That it just wouldn't be enough. Not against an immortal demon. He was going to need more than just physical strength. Even with the addition of weapons he sincerely doubted they would be on a level playing ground. His wits would not be able to make of the difference in strength.

Magic. It was the only solution. He doesn't seek a mentor. In part because whenever he brings up the topic most deem him crazy. A fool's mission that can only lead to his death. The other as a consequence of the events from that day he finds it difficult to build connections with people. Afraid that he will lose them or they will lose him. Part of him acknowledges that no matter what he does he might not be strong enough. But he doesn't dwell on that thought much. But he would also like to not worry others.

He learns his magic from some scrolls and books. Creation magic. Ice creation magic. Swapping metal for ice he molds it into his creations. Large replicas of the weapons he used to make with his father. As well as some other additions. He supposes it is a little ironic that he has such an aptitude with ice. He'll occasionally let out a small bitter laugh. The element had taken so much from him, yet here he was wielding it.

The rest of experience. He was quick to learn from those he fought. The stronger the opponent the better he felt. Just when he was on the verge of defeat is when he felt his power grow the most. Others might say that he was self-destructive but he didn't care. Not as long as he kept his promise. But even then, it didn't feel like enough. He needed more. More power.

Gray felt himself leveling out. His power no longer growing like before. He couldn't believe it. He could not have already reached his limit. Although he could increase his magic power, he was not getting the results he wanted.

Thus, he looked for answers elsewhere. He refined his fighting style. Increased his resistance and endurance. He trained in the cold wilderness and fought the monsters that inhabited the area. He developed a weird quirk of removing his clothes. He felt less restricted and it helped condition his body to the cold. It became subconscious. He would only realize it when in public due to the screams of the alarmed bystanders. He paid them no mind.


One day while training he felt an unnatural cold. It raised all the hair on his skin and for a moment he thought it was that demon. But he didn't sense the same malice. It was magic but unlike anything he had dealt with previously. Against his better judgement he decided to track it. It lead him to a cave.

There he found a man name Yuki. The man appeared like he could be his grandfather. A demon slayer. An ice one to be more precise. It seemed like he had gotten lucky. With an opponent like him he would be able to learn a lot. But that other man refused to fight. The whole reason he was even there was to avoid people. Gray couldn't understand. But when he pressed for answers Yuki would simply get up and leave annoyed. Only to return when he had calmed down.

It was those moments that Gray would sense a different energy from the man. One that would put him on edge. Gray himself was growing impatient after a couple months. Could he force him to fight? Was he willingly to cross that line? He wouldn't call him a friend but they also weren't strangers.

After one of their stand offs Gray decided to follow Yuki. He notices that the weather seems to have taken a turn for the worse. The wind is picking up and the temperature dropping. He quickens his pace to find the older man. After a couple of minutes, he slips on a sheet of ice and slides down a couple of meters.

When he rises to his feet, he is unsure of what to make of the scene before him. The landscape is completely coated in ice. At the center is a figure that he cannot make out. Part of him wants to run but the other part prompts him to take a step forward. The figure unmoving as he approaches.

To his surprise it's Yuki. Gray is at a loss for words. His body is covered in what looks like a black stain. It takes up the majority of his body. Only the left side of his face is untouched. His expression is pained and Gray is unsure of what to do.

"Gray!? You need to get away!" Yuki's voice snaps Gray from his thoughts.

"Yuki? What is happening to you?"

"You wanted to know about demon slayer magic. Well, here is your lesson."

"I don't understand."

"More of a curse really. Get out of here kid."

"Can I help?"

"No. It's just my time. I'm old and losing control of this magic. You have to leave while I still have some control."

"I have to know about your power. I need it!"

"Oh kid. I was hoping you would let that go. All your hate and hurt wouldn't go well with this power. It feels off those type of emotions."

"Even more reason to. With that power it might just be enough."

"It won't." Yuki's legs crumple and he falls on to his knees. "But I guess you're too stubborn to listen. Honestly, I have no right to stop you. I was like you when I was younger." There is long silence. Ice had started to form around Yuki's legs. It is beginning to travel up. Gray feels his hope begin to slip. He lunges forward and grabs him by the shoulders.

"Please Yuki! I'll do anything!" He feels the man shaking beneath his hands. A laugh reaches his ears.

"Kill me."

"What!?" Gray jumps back as if he has been burned.

"I can transfer some of my power. But if you want it complete you will need to kill me." Gray is still. At a loss for what to do. Can he really end someone's life? "Better hurry kid. Whether you do it or not I don't have much time left."

Gray's heart is in turmoil. He tries to reason that this man before him is already dying. He can get his power. It's right within his grasp. So why he is hesitating? He promised he would do anything. His eyes focus on Yuki's and he knows he doesn't have much time left. The ice has traveled up to his torso.

Gray extends his left hand and grabs Yuki's hand. He lets his head fall and his hair covers his eyes.

"I'm sorry," his voice is barely above a whisper.

"I'm glad you couldn't do it kid. I really hope one day you're able to free yourself from those feelings you harbor. Until then I hope this will help."

Gray feels a burning sensation on his arm. It shines with a blinding light. Once he can see again there is a black design wrapped around his forearm. Yuki is completely encased in ice.

"Damn! I wasn't strong enough again." He falls to the ground on his knees and slams his fist onto the floor. "I have to get stronger. I can't hesitate again."

With new resolve he gets up. He has some training to do. But first he needed to make what would hopefully be one last grave.


It had been a couple months since the incident with Yuki. Since than Gray had gained control of his new demon slayer magic. He felt his power grow massively. While the mark would spread during his training, he could always make it recede. Alas Yuki had been right. Even with this new strength he didn't feel it was enough.

While at the market gathering supplies to travel again, he overhears the merchants discussing some new rumors. He doesn't pay them much mind until his ears pick up magic rain. He finds the topic interesting. He continues his shopping listening in on other conservations. It appears to be a popular topic among those in the market.

A witch whose magic is so great it has created a never-ending rain storm. Gray smiles for the first time in a while.

"Rain woman...you might just be my answer."


Author's Note:

Thank you for anyone and everyone that has made it this far. I hope you are staying safe! If you want to read my crazy thoughts at 130am YAY! I'll take all feedback. Good and bad. I have mixed feelings about writing this. There will be at least a part two, maybe three. This was not supposed to happen. I had an idea for a one shot and felt like it needed some background first. Then BOOM it was 2000 + words and yeah I had to split it. I'll try my best to be timely but no promises.