Author's Note

Welcome back for another chapter.

You know I realized something the other day. I'm not really the biggest fan of reading OC-centered stories, yet I chose to do one for my first fic. But this one is different for me because I can picture all the fight scenes and dialogue in my head, so I enjoy not just writing it but even re-reading it over for fun. Just thought that was kind of interesting.

Anyway, I hope you enjoy it.


The Greyhound Chapter 7

Oshibana Station

"Gray?" Kinzo asked in bewilderment, unsure if his eyes were playing tricks on him. But looking a moment longer was all he needed. Other than being taller and having a guild mark on his chest, the boy he knew looked exactly the same.

The ice mage took a moment to respond, surprised his plea for mercy had worked. Was this actually Kinzo, the boy he'd known from his youth? He looked like him but couldn't be sure. Crying out like that had been a Hail Mary in all honesty.

Even so, the man had responded, but why was he here of all places after 6 years? And for some reason fighting Erza, scratch that beating Erza. His fashion sense hadn't changed much but the golden eye was new.

"...Ya, it's me." The raven-haired, and unsurprisingly shirtless boy said in relief. "What are you doing here man... and what the hell did you do to Erza?"

Looking between his childhood friend and most recent opponent he responded "I take it Erza's the easily angered redhead?" he asked.

"...Heh, ya that's her." He chuckled, that comment was spot on.

"You mind letting her go?" Uncertainty slipping into the question. Not entirely sure how to act around this new Kinzo.

Letting her go would be foolish, tricking her once was pushing it. If he unchained her the odds of winning a second time were tiny. But, this was a request from Gray, his 'little brother'. Maybe that was clouding his judgment.

"She's someone important to you?" he asked just to confirm.

A quick nod and smile was his response "She is." That was all he needed to hear.

Releasing his weapon and taking a step forward, he stared the girl down. "If I take those restraints off, you aren't gonna try to attack me again, right?"

The conflict playing out inside her mind was also taking form in her quickly changing expressions until she seemed to realize there was only one answer that would get her out of these chains.

"Very well I will hold off on your punishment for now." She said in a matter-of-fact tone.

He almost sweatdropped at hearing that, almost. "How oblivious is this girl?" Gray was thinking the same thing.

Choosing to take the two at their word he released her and marched toward his childhood friend.

"What happened in here?" Gray asked. Looking over the room filled with unconscious bodies and countless craters.

"We had a disagreement." Was all he said.

"ABOUT WHAT!? You know, actually, I don't care." He said in irritation "Where the hell have you been for the last 6 years, man? Haven't seen you since your time on the mountain." His voice growing more restrained as he spoke, ending on a somber note.

"Traveling. Keeping tabs on dark guilds and underworld developments across Ishgar."

"Traveling? I thought your mother refused to leave the country under any circumstances?" Thinking back to what they'd told each other as kids.

"She's dead… those people who were looking for us found her."

The shirtless teen recoiled at hearing that, not just the news itself but the way he'd said it. There was no emotion, just a flat response. As if he didn't actually care.

Or he was used to hiding that he did.

"Enough about that. What about you? Where are Lyon and Ur?" At that, the ice mage grew more restrained.

"Lyon, I don't know he could be anywhere, but Ur… She's gone too."

Gray saw the reaction that brought about. Kinzo's eyes widened at the revelation before they quickly closed, and his face scrunched together. But after, a long sigh he was back to his stoic self.

"I don't know what I was expecting." He said, defeat permeating his words.

The Shirtless boy wanted to respond but he was stopped by the reappearance of his teammates.

Erza (now in her standard Heart Kreuz armor and skirt) along with the blonde from earlier were standing right next to him, and the feisty redhead was determined to speak her mind. "I don't mean to crash this little reunion, but we still need to discuss your possession of Lullaby. I don't feel comfortable with a dark mage holding it."

"Wait, you have Lullaby?" The ice wizard asked.

Seeming to ignore his former conversation, Kinzo instead focused on the woman. "Erza was it?" he asked expectantly.

Catching on she continued, "Yes, I am Erza Scarlet of Fairy Tail, the girl behind me is Lucy, and the flying cat is Happy." The blonde from earlier started to awkwardly wave while hiding behind Erza, a blue cat hovering just above her. Said cat decided to greet him at that moment as well.

"Aye, sir! Nice to meet you." … "That cat just talked."

"Charmed" He replied before turning back to Erza. "Let's get one thing straight, I am not a dark mage, and as for Lullaby I'll be taking it."

The twitch in her eye was his first clue that things wouldn't be so easy. "I cannot allow such a thing, that artifact is dangerous and must be given to the proper authorities."

"Oh, and I'm sure you see yourself as the proper authority?" Again, he knew this woman had a short fuse, so why he chose to argue instead of just bolting outta there I don't know.

That was all it took. Soon the conversation devolved into Gray and Erza shouting that he couldn't keep it and him planning his exit strategy while pretending to listen.

Finally, he cut them off "Gray, now that I know where to find you, I'll be in touch."

He drew his revolver aiming it at the floor. Scarlet and the blonde (was it Lucy? Eh probably doesn't matter) having experienced it once already quickly covered their eyes, but Gray was completely unprepared. Fortunately for him, it never came.

As Kinzo was about to pull the trigger and make his escape, he felt a tugging on his jacket. Looking to his right pocket, he found it completely missing having been cut off.

"The hell, my clothes? Wait that's where I had-"

"Alright you disgusting fairies, this is where we part ways." Came the call of Erigor. The fallen ace of Eisenwald floating in the air above them. Having regained consciousness, and clutching Lullaby in his hand.

As he took in the small group, the dark mage saw something that caught his eye. Eye, a golden eye "where have I heard of that befo-"

"Oh hohoho, never thought I'd get the chance to meet the Greyhound in person. Hahaha, I happen to really appreciate your work assassin. But I don't have time to chat right now." With that, he flew out of the station toward Lord knows where with the flute in tow.

Time seemed to slow as his onlookers started to register what was said.

"Greyhound?"

"Assassin?"

Gray was the first to really voice his thoughts "You're the Greyhound!?"

"A madman just flew off on his scythe with a murder flute, can we focus on that please?" was his quick reply, but it seemed he once again wouldn't be getting off so easily.

Gray took a grip on his collar and started to shout. "Like hell, I'm just gonna let it go! The Greyhound is an international assassin. Are you tryin to tell me that you go around killing people in your free time!"

"The hell does it matter to you?" he said back, unable to keep the bite out of his voice. Gray knew nothing; he had no right to comment.

"What do you mean, of course, it matters to me!" stomping down on the paved floor, and pulling him closer.

"What happened to the kid that I used to train with? What the hell could have happened to turn you into some thug who kills people for money! Huh, you hear me? What the fuck happen-"

"YOU LEFT ME!" He cried back.

If it were anyone else, he wouldn't care what they called him. They could jump to assumptions about why he did what he did without knowing his reasons and it would be no skin off his back. But this was Gray, his 'brother'; someone he'd lived with, trained with, laughed with. A friend. He was supposed to be on his side, have his back. So why, why was he of all people assuming the worst of him?

"After they took her, I ran. I ran straight to you, to Ur. But you weren't there!" Breaking the other boy's grip on his collar.

"I whimpered on the floor of that damn cabin for weeks begging for someone, anyone to come for me. But no one did!"

"You abandoned me, my own 'family'. So I really don't give a damn, what you think about the choices I've made!"

Gray took a half step back. Not expecting the pained, hateful speech. Even so, he couldn't let this go. If his old friend really had gone down this kind of path, he had to do something.

"I'm sorry I wasn't there when you needed me, but don't pretend that excuses what you've done. Murder is murder even if you are someone I care about."

Settling back into his previous cold demeanor Kinzo answered "I won't try to defend my actions, but this talk is gonna have to wait. Erigor is putting more distance between us as we speak." Turning to leave he found his vision covered in a dull green. It was around the entire station. Wind Magic was coming, and it was something big.

As he neared the exit a strong breeze formed in front of him before it turned into hurricane-level gusts. "Wind Wall huh? That's kind of annoying."

His compatriots reacted with confusion at its appearance. "The hell is this thing? / Erigor must have set a trap, that fiend!"

He considered just using some of his metal to cancel out the spell, but he didn't get the chance. As a pink (He may argue salmon) haired boy came charging down the corridor with a barely conscious dark mage in tow. "Oh, the Salamander is with them?" he thought, recalling what he'd seen in Hargeon weeks prior.

"Natsu what happened?" asked a concerned Erza.

The boy stopped for a brief second to catch his breath before screeching at the top of his lungs some of the most disturbing news any of them had ever heard (well excluding Kinzo. Stuff in the criminal underworld can get pretty gruesome).

"They're planning on using the flute to kill all the guild masters! If we don't do something, Gramps might die!"

Hearing that got the others moving "Quickly everyone we must find a way through this barrier; Master's life depends on it!" Erza said successfully rallying her guildmates.

"It's pointless, no one can get through Erigor's Wind Wall once it's set up. We're trapped here." The one to speak was actually the dark mage Natsu had dragged back with him. A pale man with pineapple-like black hair.

It was weird though he didn't sound victorious or even happy about his boss's supposed trap working, he just seemed downcast by it. Strange.

"Like hell, I'm just gonna sit here, I'll burn through this thing!" The Pinkett claimed before charging in with a flame-covered fist cocked back.

"Natsu wait, that thing will tear you to shreds / Don't do it Flame brain!" came the concerned pleas of his team but to no avail. The Salamander was hard-set in his decision.

While all this drama was occurring Kinzo had devised a plan of his own. "If I let the fire mage attack it, I can throw some metal while the others aren't looking. He can take the credit and I can keep some of my arsenal under wraps." It was pretty straightforward, and the less they knew about his abilities the better.

"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist" a mighty cry and mass of red filled his ears and eye respectively. Talionis allowing him to see the inner workings of the spell.

So as Natsu ground his fist and held strong against the tempest, the blade expert 'discreetly' threw a knife at the barrier causing its magic to be absorbed. Slowly the wind settled, and the razor-sharp wall was no more.

As things settled down, he walked over to his thrown projectile. Retrieving it was important, if someone else got their hands on it they could release all that magic at once and cause some serious damage by mistake. Sheathing and Re-quipping the knife into his pocket dimension he thought things were fine, but quickly noticed Erza giving him a pointed look. "That might be bad."


Erza was just about to berate Natsu for being so reckless when she noticed Kinzo picking up a knife from the ground, a knife that wasn't there earlier.

It was obvious something was wrong here. Natsu was strong no doubt, but he wasn't strong enough to cancel out something like a Wind Wall on his own. Kinzo did something, and she had a sinking suspicion it was related to his weapons. First, he could cancel out her Telekinesis, then those chains stopped her from using magic at all, and now the Wind Wall was gone, something was definitely fishy here. Even so, Master's life was on the line so no more time could be given to ponder it.

"Oi oi, did you see that Erza, I'm crazy strong! Hahaha! / Aye Sir!" The Pinkett and air-borne feline celebrated his supposed accomplishment, as Lucy sighed at their antics.

"There is no time to waste, let's move everyone. The guild master meeting is being held in Clover Town. We must stop Erigor before he arrives."


Hearing Ezra's call and realizing she wasn't going to push the issue, was a much-needed relief. And soon he found himself standing outside a magic four-wheeler. Erza in the driver seat, Gray riding in the back with lucy… and that dark mage? Why though?

Noticing the Salamander hadn't entered yet he looked to the side and saw him… staring in fear?

The firebreather then took a step back and called out to his companion "Hey Happy let's fly, we can catch up to Erigor faster that way!" he practically pleaded, and the little cat complied.

"Aye Natsu, let's fly!" wrapping his tail around the mage and taking off before the rest of the party could even voice their dissent.

"Natsu get back here! / Dang it ya pyro!" were Gray and Erza's replies.

Seeing the boy getting closer to his target while he was stuck here caused the assassin to hop in the back seat next to Lucy and call out "Drive Scarlet!"

At that their wheels tore through the gravel.


40 minutes had passed in absolute, anxiety-driven, silence. They could already tell from here Natsu had caught up to Erigor, if the constant fireballs in the distance were anything to go by. And that made it all the worse. For his teammates it was worry for the boy's safety, for Kinzo it was worry he'd get the flute before him.

He decided to break the silence before they arrived, voicing the question he'd had since the start of their little off-road trip. "So, why exactly did we bring a dark mage with us?"

Gray responded, "Natsu said this guy's guild turned on him for some reason and wanted us to take him to Clover Town for medical treatment."

"Keep one of the fools who threatened to commit genocide around, brilliant." Came his sarcastic comment, while staring out the window. Looking at the sharp drop off on either side of the train tracks as they drove.

Gray bore his teeth at that "You're not really one to talk right now, there's still plenty you have to explain for yourself! … Besides, Fairy Tail doesn't just leave people to die. That's not how Master raised us… That's not how Ur raised us."

Deciding to think on the topic Kinzo remained silent.

He understood what Gray was saying even if it wasn't worded well. Basically, he was claiming Fairy Tail valued human life. Even the life of a murderer.

"That's not smart Gray. Even if the idea is virtuous, you're bound to get burned eventually. And you have to know your enemy wouldn't do the same for you. They don't deserve your help."

Silence filled the cab until a new voice chimed in "He's right you know… none of us would have helped you." The dark mage finally spoke. Eyes glued to the floor as he held a hand against his bandaged torso. "We're not good people."

With narrowed eyes and a strict tone, Gray responded "Obviously, but I can't just turn my back on someone who's dying. I was taught that everyone deserves a chance to prove themselves, to atone, repent. Whatever the hell kinda language you wanna put on it… Kinzo's right, you don't deserve our help, but I'm offering. How you respond is on you, but you'll live knowing you had a choice."

At that, both the dark mage and international criminal sat back in silence. One in contemplation at the kindness being shown to him, and the other in annoyance at his friend's 'blind' optimism. "Everyone has the right to atone huh? How childish. That kind of philosophy is bound to get you stabbed in the back."

The car suddenly jerked forward on the train tracks accompanied by Erza's labored breathing.

"Erza you good?" Gray asked through the wall.

She'd driven this thing for multiple hours today at top speed, fought an entire dark guild almost single-handedly, and tangoed with the Greyhound. Ya, she was understandably tired, and it showed in their reduced speed.

"I will be once we reach Natsu." She replied through deep breaths, as she pumped more magic into the engine.

She was borderline exhausted, that was good. If she and the Salamander were both tired from their fights it would be that much easier to escape, artifact in hand. The blonde had done nothing to help Erza in their previous altercation, so it was unlikely that she'd be a problem. And Gray, well when they were kids Gray rarely if ever beat him.

He was pulled from his plan by the appearance of a massive pillar of fire less than a quarter-mile from their position.


As the car reached its destination the sight before him was, absolutely perfect.

Erigor, unconscious.

Natsu, exhausted.

Fairy Tail mages, checking for wounds and congratulating each other.

Lullaby, resting on the ground, unattended.

He almost chuckled to himself as he reached to pick it up for the second time that day. Until a hand intercepted his.

Gray was gripping his forearm, and glaring daggers at him. "Erza already told you, you're not walkin out a here with that flute."

Meeting his glare with an emotionless stare he said "Gray, get the hell off me."

As the tension continued to build the other mages had picked up on the quarrel.

"Curses, I completely forgot to keep an eye on him once we got here," Erza said, the bags forming beneath her eyes becoming more prominent by the second.

"Luckily Gray was paying attention." Said Lucy with an equal amount of concern.

"… Wait who is that guy?" said Natsu in confusion, having skipped introductions after the Wind Wall incident.

"I think Gray said his name was Kinzo, they apparently know each other from childhood. But Erigor said he was a famous criminal called the Greyhound, so I'm not really sure what to think about him." Lucy said, attempting to fill in her friend.

Back with the boys, things continued to escalate.

"Kinzo, would you stop being an ass and just drop it!"

"Gray I'm happy to see you again, but don't act like you can order me around."

"That thing could indiscriminately kill hundreds of people at a time, you can't just take it!" he continued to shout.

"Of course I can, and no one here can stop me."

Seeming to realize words wouldn't solve this one Gray chose the next best option, magic. Quickly ice started to branch from his hand before encasing part of Kinzo's arm.

In an instant the older boy made distance. Starting to glare at his old friend, and breaking the small patch of ice that had formed over his jacket. Picking his weapon in a heartbeat "Metal Make: Shifting Blade." Forming the same sword & shield/ax hybrid he'd invented as a child. Molding the shield on his left hand he drew the blade and braced himself.

Gray took the hint and started to push. "Ice-Make: Lance!"

Dozens of frozen spears charged him.

Choosing to dodge rather than block he started to dance through them. Avoiding each with practiced ease, and cutting down those that got too close. Always paying close attention not to step off the narrow train tracks lest he fall from the cliff on either side.

As the last of the projectiles passed something felt wrong. "That was too easy to dodge, and some of those gaps were too big to be accidental." As if on cue "Ice-Make: Ice Cannon!"

Gray had positioned him with constant projectiles right where he intended to fire a massive chunk of ice. And as the frozen mass barreled towards him, all he could do was raise his shield.

Inhuman strength and Gray aiming a little high were what saved him.

After the initial contact, he'd managed to drop just under the boulder's center of gravity. By using his shield as a lever he sent it over his head. It could be heard crashing down the side of the cliff they were fighting on. Oh, if only there was magic his weapons could absorb in that thing, he'd send it back in a heartbeat. Unfortunately for him, Gray's constructs after being made didn't actually contain any magic in them. They were just ice for all intents and purposes.

"Well screw keeping distance now, I need to get closer and soon." As Gray readied another shot from his Ice cannon, a plan started to form in Kinzo's head "Ya that could work." And he started sprinting full speed towards the Ice mage.

"It's over Kinzo!" Gray cried as he released yet another crystallized stone from his bazooka-like weapon. The projectile displacing air as it passed.

Sheathing his weapon as he continued forward, seeming to ignore the danger flying towards him. Channeling magic into a hand and raising it up. As the boulder was about to crush him, he cried "Kinetic Decay!" The magic circle forming just in front of him and freezing the rock midair. Its energy stolen and used to lock it in place.

Using the surprise that stunt had no doubt bought him, he jumped up onto the bolder and formed another orange magic circle this time beneath his feet "Conversion Leap" and used it to rocket off towards his adversary.

Gray didn't even have time to drop his weapon before a sword was coming down upon him. The blade was inches from him, and he thought it was over. Until another blade covered him.

"Erza!" he shouted with joy. The scarlet mage had seen the exchange going south and was now back for round two.

In spite of the red head's involvement, Kinzo still thought it best to push his advantage now. Gray was still off balance and the woman was tired, he'd end it. Well… he was supposed to anyway.

He was definitely right, Erza was tired. Her strikes didn't carry half the force they had before. Even so, she had Gray now. Every time he would close in to take her out, the Icemaker would cover for her. And every time he'd tried to deal with Gray, who was the larger threat at the moment, she would take a pot shot. At some point, they started to coordinate their attacks more efficiently. It was all he could do just to dodge.

"Ice-Make: Hammer!" He jumped back.

"Dance My Blades: Circle Sword!" Hit the deck.

"Ice-Make: Saucer!" He rolled to save his head, before jumping to his feet again.

"Re-Quip: Black Wing Armor!" Sidestepping a swing meant for his neck.

"Ice-Make: Wall." A frigid barrier appeared behind him.

"Crap he just cut off half my escape routes." He was in serious trouble. Both combatants were charging him at this point, and he had nowhere to go. A wall behind him, cliffs on either side, and a couple of pissed-off mages with magic to spare in front.

It was over, there was no escape at this point. Until his savior appeared, oh that beautiful idiot!

"I don't know who this guy is, but I definitely want a piece of him!" Natsu Dragneel was running full speed ahead and Talionis made it all too clear what he was planning to do.

Jumping high into the sky and taking in a deep breath he cried "Fire Dragon's Roar!" sending scorching flames from his mouth right towards him.

For the second time that day, he couldn't keep the smirk off his face. Gray and Natsu were clueless about what was coming, but Erza looked horrified. "Natsu don't!" She pleaded, but it was too late.

As the fire struck true, he raised the shield. The attack and all its elemental power being consumed by his metal. That magic was now his to use, and use it he would.

Slamming his sword into its sheath at the shield's peak, and activating the weapon's shifting ability. He was soon holding a savage battle-ax in his hands. Swinging it to the side before raising it above his head and dropping it to the ground.

Flooding the weapon with his own magic and forcing the supercharged fire back at its caster.

"Brace yourselves!" Erza warned as Natsu's flames ate up the ground heading back towards them. Gray grabbed her covering them both in a frozen dome, pumping a lot of magic into reinforcing it.

The rest of the constructs had already melted, and that pesky wall behind him was nothing but water vapor at this point.

As the fire passed and the temperature returned to normal, Gray exited his small bunker with Erza in tow "Oi were you actually trying to kill us!?" he shouted incredulously.

"I could ask you the same thing. Your little friend there almost took my head off twice." Kinzo quipped back, aiming a glare at Erza. She didn't flinch. "We're done here Gray. I'm leaving, with Lullaby." No room for negotiation.

"What the hell do I need to give you, for you to just stop?" Gray shouted.

At that Kinzo paused, debating whether or not to give away what he was chasing. "Eh, if I keep it broad enough, they won't catch on." Deciding to throw his old friend a bone he finally said, "Unless you have detailed information about the Balam Alliance, there's nothing you could give me."

At that Gray just bit his tongue and started to stand. Natsu not far behind him, still trying to understand what had happened with his fire.

"Are we really gonna do this again Fullbuster? All three of you are practically running on fumes, just give it up."

But there was no way the ice mage would listen.

"No way! I'm not leaving. I swear I'll take that thing and you back to Fairy Tail with me!"

Deciding it was a waste of breath to argue any further, Kinzo chose instead to turn and collect his prize. But as he did their magic four-wheeler flew over his head carried by… shadows? The dark mage with pineapple-like hair was driving and as he passed by, he sent a tendril of darkness out snatching the flute and driving off at high speeds.

Silence, total silence permeated the air; and he stood rigid, frozen like a statue. Until he turned to glare daggers at the boy behind him.

"You just had to bring the damn dark mage didn't you."


Author's note

There you have it another one down. And with that, the Lullaby Arc is halfway over.

I know a lot of other fics just kinda skim over this Arc but I can't. 1) because the opportunities for fight scenes are actually pretty good. And 2) because this is where our OC is interacting with a lot of new people for the first time. So even if I kept the fighting/story elements to a minimum it would still take time to flush out how these characters act around each other. So I hope I'm striking a good balance between Fight scenes, storytelling, and character interactions/philosophies at odds.

As always if there is anything you think would make the story better feel free to let me know. Have a good one, and I'll see you again in a few days.