Hey everyone! I have been on the fence about if I am ending this here or exploring the inevitable encounters with the victims after. I am always open to suggestion, but I also already have two other things in the works and can start posting chapters in the next few days. As always I appreciate the notes and follows and I love hearing from you guys, even the person who found me on twitter lol.
Laxus had just arrived to Levy and Gajeel's home from his earlier meeting and felt anxious to see Juvia, when Levy opened the door she paled. "You're already here? I thought you were Juvia."
"What?! She isn't here?" he yelled.
"No, it's just me and the baby, I figured she had slept in but I haven't made it out, I was waiting for Gajeel to return with the last ingredient for the potion." She explained. This was the last element they needed for the plan they made to contain the demon they feared controlled Grey. The sky darkened slightly drawing his gaze off to the horizon to see the clouds rolling in, heavy with rain.
"I'm heading to find her, by the way those clouds are moving I am thinking she's at her place for some stupid reason and she no doubt needs help," he grabbed the needed items, shoving them into his coat pockets and pulled together a makeshift plan to buy time, "I will go there, get Jet over here and once the potion is ready send it to us as fast as he can go."
"I will." She reached for her communication lacrima, not wanting to draw anyone else into the fray but knowing they needed speed on their side. "Gajeel should be back any moment."
Laxus ran off toward Juvia's apartment afraid of what he would find when he got there. As he reached the top of the hill closest to her place he saw rain and heavy clouds wrapping the building like a hurricane and Gray standing just at the edge of her storm. He had to hand it to her for using her storm as defense, but he had to get closer to assess the situation better. A moment of pure worry flashed through his head, questioning what Gray would do when he advanced at him, fear gripped his heart for a second as he pictured the ice mage attacking Juvia and his lightning unleashed.
A loud crack of lightning drew Juvia's attention past the silhouette she had been staring at, just beyond that she saw someone that could only be Laxus moving down the hill. She watched as he approached Gray and there was no movement, looking into Gray's eyes Laxus saw nothing but vacant blackness, he was unsure if Gray even knew he was there.
Feeling encouraged by the presence of Laxus she peeked down at Lucy and released her storm, the only barrier between them and Gray. As the swirling clouds slowed the massive amounts of rain that had been pulled into the gale fell in a massive wave flooding walkways and roads in the nearby areas. Lucy moved closer to her, holding onto Juvia's arm for support, "Why did you do that?"
"Laxus is here," she whispered, "I think we are going to need to get to him to finish this. Lucy, stay close ad be strong, you can do this." Juvia opened her door and moved outside seeing Laxus standing directly next to Gray.
"I don't think he can even see anything, his eyes are blacked out," Laxus shouted as the girls approached, "I can't be sure if he is in control of anything right now
Just then disembodied voice snarled from somewhere in Gray, "He has been pushed to his limits, the weakling has broken, he has no will left and his magic is mine." The group stared in disbelief as Gray wavered ever so slightly from side to side. Suddenly Gray's body lunged at Juvia and Lucy causing them to shriek and jump back as Juvia performed her water lock on Gray the instant Laxus used his lightning, electrocuting Gray and leaving his body soaking and charred on the ground." Laxus pulled a heavy set of cuffs equipped with seal stones to keep Gray from using magic attacks and clamped them over his wrists.
Laxus gave a frown, "didn't mean to do that, it worked though."
"Why would he tell us that," Lucy asked, sounding shaky at best.
Laxus had a hardened expression as he said, "no one reveals a plan without knowing their next move." Just then Gray began convulsing and darkness slipped from his mouth and eyes before being pulled back inside.
"Release me, I can not be bound," the demonic voice shrieked, "I must move to power."
"Yeah sorry, that's a no." Laxus smirked, "If you can not be bound, I don't see your issue, unless those seal stones are doing a number on you." Plucking metal and crystalline pieces from his coat he placed them around Gray's body on the ground, as an approaching figure moved swiftly toward them. "There's our guy," he smiled at Juvia, "Let's get this over with."
Jet quickly approached and stopped just beside Laxus staring at Gray on the wet ground with darkness attempting to seep from his body. "should I ask what you guys are doing out here?" he asked as he handed a vial to Laxus, "Levy just told me to bring this to you but didn't mention any of this."
"Hey, stay, I need a witness that isn't a victim," Laxus said as Jet turned to flee, "this is going to be a mess later I know it." Jet reluctantly turned to face the group and stared at the faces of Juvia and Lucy who wore similar expressions of fear and worry.
Laxus unfolded a sheet of parchment and knelt next to Gray, "Juvia, take Lucy and step back a bit," dumping the vial of iridescent silver potion onto Gray's face and chest he began to read from the parchment to perform the separation spell.
Gray convulsed as the demon made horrific noises, black smoke and darkness pulled from Gray's body and shaped a frightening form just above the lifeless body it left behind. Attempting to flee the darkness banged and slammed against the barrier formed by the metal and crystalline relics on the ground, unable to escape as Laxus shifted to the containment spell the demon called out, "you cannot hold me, I am more powerful than all of you and I will finish the mission I set out on," disappearing into the largest of the crystal pieces causing it to glow with an eerie purple hue.
Jet was the first to speak as he looked around, "what the hell did I just watch?"
Laxus answered gruffly, "we just removed a demon from our friend here, and his slayer magic along with it."
Gray awoke in the infirmary, Makarov sitting beside his bed. "Good to see you awake, Gray."
His body ached and felt too heavy to move, his head pounded and his mouth was dry as he croaked, "Why.."
"Seems a group of our own mages took it upon themselves to rid you of a demon that had attached itself to your slayer magic," Makarov said slowly. Gray struggled to comprehend what the master had just said but was cut short as the explanation continued, "Furthermore I find myself in a predicament as actions you performed during your time possessed turned out to be true after two victims came forth with matching stories and stories. I am unsure of how to deal with the atrocities performed upon the victims since they took place while you were not fully in control of your actions."
Gray paled, feeling bile rise he managed to ask, "what did I do? Is everyone okay?"
Makarov took a long pause before responding, "your relations during possession were abusive, despite your ability to remember we still have to deal with the fact that these young ladies endured physical and emotional damage, and that is something you yourself will likely find it hard to come to terms with as well."
Gray pulled his body to an upright position despite his body screaming in pain, "who? Who did I hurt?"
Makarov took a breath before responding, "Miss Lockser and Miss Heartfilia," and Gray's head fell into his hands as he let out a muffled cry. "They were also part of the group that engaged in the removing and capturing of the demon and the removal of your slayer magic before bringing you here. The entirety of that group has been ordered to complete a magical ethics course with the council before being allowed to practice magic or continue guild work."
The room grew still, "Now as for you," Makarov continued, "Meredy from Crime Sorciere performed a sensory link with you during your time unconscious and from her search of your memories and mind she found no indication that you knew of the atrocities you committed." Grey let out the breath he had been holding, "but the council and I came to the conclusion that despite that you should complete an in-depth counselling program and volunteer work for the next six months while you recover from the physical and mental effects of your possession. The volunteer work is put in place for the victims to feel vindicated, but they did talk the council down from magic probation."
Gray sank back against the cot once more, "I can't believe all of this," Makarov sighed, I too must complete an ethics course as I was the one that did not believe Miss Lockser's initial claim as it did not come directly from her, but from Gajeel instead, she had completely refused to speak and I made the incorrect assumption that it was exaggerated and I was ultimately wrong."
"As a guild master I would suggest you do what you can to atone for your actions with the victims over time-" he broke off looking fiercely into Gray's eyes before adding, "but as a grandfather I must insist you give Laxus and Juvia a wide berth as he has much to settle with you. He does not fully believe that you were completely unaware of your actions."
"Laxus and Juvia?" Gray said in disbelief resting his hands on his head.
"I too was surprised but they are good for one another and it was his concern for her that inspired Freed, Gajeel, and Levy to research how to remedy your possession, they however needed to include the guild and council in the process not knowing if they were correct or how it would hurt you in the process, it was all extremely short sighted." At that point Makarov excused himself, knowing the vigilante group would be returning from the council any moment, and wanting to fill them in.
Gray closed his eyes, breathing deeply and letting the master's words sink in, he could recall nothing from his own memories and could do nothing but replay the conversation in his head.