Natsu couldn't stand it something inside of him made his blood boil. Those people didn't care what they were doing to him. They were causing major damage to his mental stat. You don't just force someone to sing to the still beating heart of the mother figure someone had for most of their life. That's just sick, twisted, and wrong in all kinds of ways.
Gray stared at the heart and tears running down his face. But the sound of sizzling and clanking metal broke him from his memory trance. His eyes turned in front of him and he saw the pink haired male of the group. His sharp forest green eyes. He backed up a bit but flinched at the pain in his arms from playing the harp.
Natsu held his hand out the way someone would hold their hand to a cage to let an animal smell their scent. He spoke in a calm and soft voice very out of character for him.
"Hey it's okay. We'll get you out of here. They won't hurt you again. You won't have to look at it anymore. Just come with us."
Gray sniffed and smelled the outstretched hand. The smell of fire wood burning on a cool summer night filled his nose making him calm. It was the same smell from his dreams. The comforting heat of a body at night keeping you safe. Gray didn't know if this guy knew that they were mates or if he didn't. Dragonborns always had dreams about their mates past to understand them easier and help them find each other.
But he was broken. Isis told him to never sing for anyone but his mate. His voice was just for his mate's ears. But when they brought in the heart and hooked it up to the pipes in the ceiling to make the heart beat the steady rhythm he fell asleep to as a child. They said they would destroy it if he didn't sing. He didn't want the last part of his mother to be destroyed. And especially these monsters.
They all call people with his abilities monsters. Being able to have the power to kill an immortal being. And not just kill but absorb a dragon's soul. A being holding this much power to them was a monster. But that's not why he was still alive. These people said that dragons coming back meant the end of times so they were going to kill anything related to dragons. Even the people in the town below who Isis protected during the the extremely harsh winters.
As Natsu drew closer he could make out the barest of tan lines on the snow white skin of Gray. It looked like the scale necklace. Natsu crouched down onto his knees and twisted his body to look at Happy.
"Hey Happy can I see the necklace."
"Aye sir."
At the word necklace Gray slightly perked up. He hasn't seen his scale necklace for weeks. Not having it around his neck has left him insecure for the weeks he's been here. As he looked at the pink haired male before him he started to move towards him. This was his mate that one that he was meant to have children with and to comfort. Ice dragons are sought after if they're mated or not as the best mothers for hatchlings. Some dragons took them as secondary mates with their true mates to be killed so the real mate doesn't die.
Isis told him ice dragons are the saddest of all dragons used for nothing but canon fodder unless they were their true mates. Ice dragons were known as the dragons of one thousand frozen tears. Legends say that the ice dragon queen's tears are the stars filling the night sky and she's the moon. He guessed that that legend came true the moment she was killed.
The sound of jingling filled his ears and he looked ahead. The scale necklace was swaying in front of his face. The necklace full of his mother's scales that she gave to him as a child when they first went to Skyrim her home land. Where she met her mate. And where a fire dragon killed her mate and destroyed her eggs. Shaking his head he slowly reached for the necklace. His fingers brushed the cool scales with his fingers just barely before it was pulled away.
Natsu saw Gray space out as more tears fell from his eyes till he shook the necklace making the scales clink. Gray's eyes moved to the necklace and he reached out for it but he pulled it away. He was going to get Gray out of here. Something in his mind was screaming at him to take and protect Gray at all cost. He couldn't explain how or why this going through his head but he had to comply to it.
"This is yours right a gift from your mother Isis right Gray?"
Gray nodded and reached for the necklace again while holding Eclipse like a baby. But he never moved out of the cage like he was still lock to that one spot even with his chains not connected to anything. So Natsu reach the necklace out and when Gray reached to touch it he grabbed Gray's arm and pulled him out of the cage. Gray growled his teeth bared to show the sharp canines the signified a dragonslayer. But once on the floor in front of the cage body curled around Eclipse. The chains rattled on the cold brick floor. Natsu leaned down over Gray heating his fingers to remove the cuffs on the chains and cutting them off. With the chains off Gray looked at his wrists and ankles. Getting off of Gray he sat in front of him and held the necklace out. When Gray reached out to take it Natsu didn't pull it away and let him take it. With the scales in his hand he held it to his nose and smelled the last remnants of his mother on it. He's been through so much. So much. He just wanted to rest after today. He now had something to remember his mother and not just her heart above him. The heart. Her body. He needed to get out of here to do something so then he'd always have a piece of her with him that wasn't material.
Gray gently put Eclipse on the ground as he secured the necklace around his neck. Well it was more of a choker now that he was full grown. He picked Eclipse up again and handed her to the blond woman of they team. His eyes met her's and he had a feeling he could trust her.
Lucy took the exceed offered to her as she watched Gray turn and look to the heart. He brought his hand to his mouth then blew out towards the heart making stairs. He walked up them slowly towards the heart. He touched the glass fondly before it froze over. Tapping it the glass shattered and fell in a powder on the pedestal he sat on before. His eyes looked on the beating heart as he reached out his hand. Once he touched it he softly stroked the tender muscle be it froze as well.
With the heart frozen Gray started taking it off of the pipes. With it off he climbed down the stairs and looked at the group. He clenched his eyes and scrunched up his face trying to remember how to say the words. Once he found them he spoke slowly and with unease having barely used the English words. But with Eclipse completely drained and passed out he had to speak so they would understand.
"Take . . me to. . . her. . . please."
Natsu nodded and the six quietly left the room. They didn't question why Gray took the heart even though Lucy was disgusted and horrified that he even so much as touched it. They walked the halls their shoes thumping against the old rugs that lined the floor that were now thread bare and tore with each step they took. Then the sound of Carli and Marquees coming down the hall. To avoid any confrontation Erza pushed everyone into the closest room.
The room was large and had what use to be an exquisite dining table. The old table cloth was a royal blue with gold trim. The silver and gold was tarnished. And a large window with the curtains full of holes. Frost decorated the outside of them. They couldn't see outside of it with the storm but Gray knew what it pointed at in clear weather.
It was his home. He could barely make out the mountain but his eyes were suited for this type of weather. He remembered sitting at the mouth of his mother's cave looking at the warm lights of the village below. When he was old enough and knew enough about his magic Isis let him walk to the village to help the people there. She always told him that dragons were meant to help guide people and protect them. Even if they seem like they didn't deserve it.
They stayed in the dining hall till the footsteps passed and they waited for Natsu to confirm that they were down the hall a ways. With the hall clear they left walking the halls till they got to the front door and Erza pushed it open. They traversed the old bridge and clumsily made it to Isis' cave. They rested in the main entrance and Natsu lite a fire. The sight of the cave bathed in the fire light made Gray frown but he stayed quiet.
The next morning Lucy woke first and she say everyone asleep. Natsu facing the fire. Erza facing the ceiling. And the two exceeds curled together to keep warm. But them she heard echoing from deeper in the cave. Quickly she woke the rest and they all headed for the room housing Isis' body. When they reached the room they stayed quiet and watched.
Gray was siting on his knees before Isis' body. Her heart back in place and now nearly defrosted. It pumped weakly and glowed. Gray was speaking in dragon again talking to the corpse petting her face while touching the scales on his necklace. Once the heart stopped beating forever he took in a deep breath and started to sing. And the sound of the harp he played rang out even though it was nowhere in sight.
(The song is The Dragonborn Comes extended version on YouTube)
Our hero, our hero claims a warrior's heart
I tell you, I tell you the Dragonborn comes
With a Voice wielding power of the ancient Nord arts
Believe, believe the Dragonborn comes
It's an end to the evil of all Skyrim's foes
Beware, beware the Dragonborn comes
For the darkness has passed and the legend yet grows
You'll know, you'll know the Dragonborn's come
(vocalize)
Dovahkiin, Dovahkiin naal ok zin los vahriin
Wah dein vokul mahfaeraak ahst vaal
Ahrk fin norok paal graan fod nust hon zindro zaan
Dovahkiin fah hin kogaan mu draal
(Dragonborn, Dragonborn by his honor is sworn
To keep evil forever at bay
And the fierce foe rout when they hear triumph's shout
Dragonborn for your blessing we pray)
Our hero, our hero claims a warrior's heart
I tell you, I tell you the Dragonborn comes
With a Voice wielding power of the ancient Nord arts
Believe, believe the Dragonborn comes
It's an end to the evil of all Skyrim's foes
Beware, beware the Dragonborn comes
For the darkness has passed and the legend yet grows
You'll know, you'll know the Dragonborn's come
(vocalize)
Dovahkiin, Dovahkiin naal ok zin los vahriin
Wah dein vokul mahfaeraak ahst vaal
Ahrk fin norok paal graan fod nust hon zindro zaan
Dovahkiin fah hin kogaan mu draal
(Dragonborn, Dragonborn by his honor is sworn
To keep evil forever at bay
And the fierce foe rout when they hear triumph's shout
Dragonborn for your blessing we pray)
I tell you, I tell you the Dragonborn comes
Gray had tears running down his cheeks as he finished the song. But when it was finished he turned towards the group watching him. He sighed and motioned them forward. Eclipse was the first one to him. She flew to his neck and rapped her little furry arms around it. He patted her back as tears ran down his cheeks and into her fur. Natsu and Happy came next. Natsu wrapped an arm around Gray and squeezed him. His nose in Gray's hair smelling the sadness and grief running though his body. And also that feminine scent again. So it was Gray's scent on the necklace. But why was it feminine? He'd have to ask at a better time.
Erza and Lucy then came up and rubbed their fingers through Gray's hair and said comforting words. For some reason Natsu didn't like them touching Gray in such a tender way.
'Only I'm suppose to touch him that way. Back off!'
With that thought he shook his head and let go of Gray not wanting to crowd him. Unknown to him Gray wanted his touch even more and almost leaned into him but stopped himself.
'He either doesn't know or doesn't want me. I'll just have to live with it for now.'
With everyone done hugging they took a step back but Eclipse stayed in his lap and rubbed his forearm. Gray turned to Isis and closed his eyes, tilted his head towards the ceiling, and opened his mouth. The sound of burning the smell of fire and smoke filled the small room. Isis' corpse was burning and smoking. Erza, Lucy, and Happy were about to leave the room and Natsu about to eat the flames consuming the corpse. But Eclipse stopped him.
"Don't this is supposed to happen. Just watch."
Natsu stopped and watched. Ribbons of white, blue, and light orange flew from the corpse and into Gray's mouth. His body glowed as icy blue white scales across his cheeks and arms. Horns grew out of his head. Wings out of his back. And a tail covered in ice spikes out of his tailbone. With the last of the ribbons going in to his mouth all that was left of Isis' body was a skeleton and patches of scales.
The glow reseeded along with the dragon features vanished as well. He turned to the group with a somber face then turned back to the remaining body. Eclipse got up from Gray's lap and walked towards the group. Her voice was soft and sad.
"We should leave Gray for now. He has some things he needs to do. In the mean time lets go and get your names."
Eclipse's wings unfurled and flew back to the main room of the cave with the Fairy Tail group following her. In the main room and the outside was still storming the snowflakes blurry lines on the dark storm clouds. As they sat around the fire the cave sat in the eerie light. As the quiet settled Lucy started to break the ice.
"So what was that that Gray did?"
"He absorbed Isis' soul so he had a part of her with him for the rest of his life. It's one of the things only a Dragonborn can do."
"Is there anything else that uhh . . . "
"Dragonborns?"
"Yes. Dragonborns can do?"
Eclipse crossed her legs and looked to Lucy then she answer with something else.
"First could I know your names. You did save us from the Dragon Priests. They've put Gray through hell. Making him sing to Isis' heart day in and out just to create a storm to bury the village below."
"Well I'm Lucy. The pink hair idiot is Natsu. The scarlet haired beauty is Erza. And the blue cat is Happy."
At Happy's name Lucy glared and had shadows around her person. Happy slightly shrinked away from her. The group continued to talk about what Eclipse knew about Dragonborns and how they were closely related to Dragonslayers.
"You know I think they are one and the same just different names. Have you ever absorbed a dragon soul Natsu?"
Natsu looked wide eyed and slowly shook his head no.
"There hasn't been a dragon in Fiore since July 7th X777. That's when they all disappeared."
"Huh. That's strange. Gray always told me that whenever Isis always took him to Skyrim dragons were every where. But they mostly stayed away from civilians after the oldest was killed."
Natsu jumped at the mention of a place filled with dragons. The day dragged on with talk of Skyrim and all the dragons in the wilderness there. This went on into the night. As the next day dawned the storm still raged but slower then when the last time any of them saw. The fire went out and the cold breeze brushed them all wake. When Natsu opened his the first thing he was the mouth of the cave with Gray looking out into the snow storm.
They all stood up and walked to Gray. Eclipse was laying on his head asleep. When Natsu was by his side he spoke but it was slow and choppy. He still wasn't used to human speech.
"I'm going . . . to clear. . . the skies. . . then . . . thank you all."
"You don't have to. The best thing about being in a guild. You get to help people without expecting a reward."
Gray shook his head and looked to Natsu.
"No. I need . . . to. . . Isis. . . would want . . . me to."
Gray cleared his throat and started to look out to the snow storm. Natsu was wondering why Gray was staring out at it.
"Hey Gray."
Gray turned to Natsu giving him his full attention.
"How are you going to stop the storm?"
Gray smirks slightly but it vanished quickly.
"I'll show . . . you. Can you . . . handle . . . the . . . storm?"
Natsu snorted full of confidence.
"Of course I can."
Gray huffed and woke Eclipse. She looked down at Gray and read is eyes.
"You want to do that now?"
He nodded and Eclipse jumped off his head and she told everyone come outside. Lucy whined saying the wind was like razor blades and that her out didn't do anything to flatter her figure. Eclipse just rolled her eyes and picked Lucy up and took her outside with everyone at the edge of a cliff in front of the cave. Gray stood at the edge and everyone a few feet behind him.
Gray turned and looked over his shoulder. To Natsu it looked almost sultry but it couldn't be could it? Shaking his head he saw that Gray turned back towards the village down the mountain but looked to the sky. Gray closed his eyes and breathed in when he opened them dragon words left is mouth and they thundered across the sky.
"Lok Vah Koor!"
The snow slowed and the skies cleared slightly. He turned back to the Fairy Tail mages who stood awestruck at what Gray just showed them. Eclipse giggled and turned to the group in front of Gray.
"Well you all wondered what a Dragonborn could do this is one of the things they can."
Natsu couldn't believe his eyes. Gray was able to stop a storm by just shouting three words in the dragon language into the sky. The wind rushed around Gray and the sun shined behind him making him look radiant. But one thing ruined the picture of beauty before him. It was the tears running down Gray's face and the distressed look in his eyes.