Yay! I'm updating on time! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: If only...


It had been almost an hour since the group had witnessed the ordeal with Deliora. Porlyusica had since returned to her secluded home in the forest and Makarov had left to deliver the unfortunate news to the rest of the guild. This left Fairy Tail's strongest team to watch over their comrade. Gray looked practically lifeless. He was no longer being tormented by nightmares, he just lay there, unmoving. It was almost as if he was completely frozen. The raven's pale complexion was devoid of life and if it weren't for the occasional rise and fall of his chest, the team would have considered him dead. The room was so silent, you could hear a pin drop… that was until a very concerned water wizard began booming on the door.

"Everyone," her voice was shaking. "It's Juvia. May she come in?"

"Of course," Erza got up from the armchair she was occupying to greet Juvia at the door. The blunette's eyes were puffed up as tears flooded down her face. She held both hands to her heart and gripped her chest tightly. The red-head couldn't blame her. She had been living with the ice wizard for six months after the guild disbanded until Erza had robbed his focus. They'd only reunited not so long ago and now the raven was in this predicament. It had surely made an impact on the girl.

"How's Gray-sama?" she choked, trying to look over Erza shoulder to get a glimpse of her beloved.

The requip wizard just bowed her head and moved over to the side to let Juvia pass. The girl raced up to Gray's bedside and took his hand in hers. "Is it true, what Master said? Is Gray-sama really possessed by Deliora?"

"I'm afraid so, Juvia," Lucy frowned, not wanting to make eye contact with the heartbroken teen.

"Wendy-san, is there nothing you can do?" more tears began falling.

"I'm sorry, Juvia-san…" Wendy muttered, holding her head in her hands.

The room returned to silence, each individual still trying to come to terms with the recent events. One question filled their minds. Was there anything they could do? Not even Lucy had a single indication of how to resolve the issue and she's the smartest on the team. Natsu was stood, leaning against the wall, opposite Gray's bed. His onyx eyes never once left his rival. Though he didn't show it, Natsu was in full on panic mode. From the moment he'd realised Gray was possessed the thought of losing his team mate kept swimming around in his mind. This was a very familiar feeling to him. The Salamander thought back to their run in with the Avatar cult, back to when Gray was acting as the enemy. He hated to compliment the guy, but damn, he could act. Natsu had really thought that he'd lost his friend… and yes, Natsu considered Gray his friend. The fear that shook his form was almost overwhelming. Of course, the pair were used to fighting each other, but in a serious fight? Natsu constantly boasts about his strength, but he isn't exactly sure that he can beat Gray. They've been evenly matched ever since they were young, their fights ending in a stalemate every time. Plus, Gray received a huge power-up last year during the fight with Tartarus. He was a frigging Devil Slayer now! During the pyro's year of training, whenever he felt too exhausted to go on, his thoughts would always go to the idiots he always spars with. Knowing that Gray, Gajeel, Laxus, heck, even Elfman were constantly getting stronger were the sole things to keep the dragon slayer going. Now seeing his friend, no, his brother in such a hopeless and life threatening state scared him more than any battled he had to overcome. He couldn't take it anymore. He had to do something. Pushing himself off the wall, he addressed the rest of the room. "So is this it then? Is this what we're gonna do until Deliora takes hold of him again? Sit around surrounded by our own concern. No way! We need to get out there and do something about this."

The girls all looked towards him, some in shock, and some with pride. Lucy still didn't see the hope Natsu was trying to deliver. "What are we supposed to do though?" she sulked.

"I dunno. Just something. Anything's better that sitting here and watching him go through torture."

The four girls shared a smile between each other, nodding in agreement. Natsu was right. Happy chuckled slightly from the raven's bedside. "See Natsu," he grinned. "You really do care about Gray."

"Wha… Shut up!"

The room erupted in chuckles. Of course, those two would be the people to raise everyone's spirits. They always do. The remainder of their time spent in the room was taken up with light hearted (all be it awkward) conversation, until Makarov reappeared through the door and beckoned them all into his office. Outside waiting for the team were Gajeel, Cana and Loke. Lucy would have been confused if it weren't for the fact that Loke showed up at the guild quite often; considering one of his friends, no, his best friend was in danger, there was no surprise the spirit and made an unannounced visit. The group of eight (eleven if you include the guild's Exceeds) gathered around their tiny master.

"The reason I have called you all here is – as you already know – one of our own is in a life threatening situation and unless we take action against this, he will not be saved. Therefore I have decided that I will split you up into teams. Erza, Lucy, Wendy, Gajeel and the Exceeds with travel to Galuna Island to where Deliora was last seen. I want you to scour the island until you find any information that could help. Talk to the villagers, examine the temple, do whatever you can. Natsu, Loke, Cana and Juvia, I want you all to remain here and don't let Gray out of your sight. If Deliora manages to take control of him again, I'm certain that you four will be able to snap him out of it. If he insists on leaving the guild hall, follow him and I don't care how stubborn he's being, do NOT leave him alone. Erza, if you learn anything, use this Communication Lacrima to inform me of your findings."

"Understood," the red-head replied, taking the Lacrima.

"We don't have much time. There's no telling how close Deliora is to completing the full possession on Gray but it must be escalating fast. No slacking off, you hear?" This was directed towards the two male dragon slayers.

"We won't!" they both rolled their eyes.

"Then let's get to work!" Loke yelled, which was returned with an "Aye" from the rest of the group.


As Erza and co said their goodbyes, Natsu and Juvia directed Loke and Cana towards the room their icy companion was occupying. As the door slowly creaked open, gasps flooded the room. The bed sheets had been thrown aside and the raven was nowhere in sight. A window had been wafted open causing the curtains to flail around in the breeze.

"Where the hell did that bastard go?!" Natsu roared, though not loud enough for the lower floor to hear.

"D'ya think Deliora took control of him again?" Cana questioned.

"If that were true, wouldn't Deliora try to attack the guild?" Juvia pointed out.

"I know I haven't known Gray as long as you guys," Loke spoke up, gesturing to Natsu and Cana, "but doesn't this seem like a very Gray thing to do? He's panicking about Deliora hurting his family again so he's run away to be alone therefore preventing any risk of hurting us."

Cana sighed. "He's got a point. That idiots been tryin' to isolate himself from others ever since he joined the guild. Pretty lousy attempt if you ask me."

"Okay… So where do you guy's think he's gone?" Natsu asked, pacing around the perimeter of the room, hoping to find some sort of clue.

"Juvia has an idea," the timid girl mumbled.

"We're all ears."

"Gray-sama… may have gone to Isvan; to where his parents' grave is located."

"Kinda taking the term 'return to the scene of the crime' literal, huh?" Cana rolled her eyes.

"Juvia!" Natsu cried, shocking the water wizard. "You've been to Isvan with Gray before, you know how to get there?"

"Juvia's sorry. She cannot remember the exact way to get to Isvan… but she knows someone who might!"


Team Erza were already setting sail from Hargeon and towards their destination. The two dragon slayers were already vomiting over the side of the boat, leaving Lucy, Erza and the Exceeds alone in their thoughts.

"It seems like forever since we last came here," Lucy murmured, smiling slightly.

"And if I recall, you were never properly punished for your previous actions," Erza pointed out.

"C'mon Erza," a serious look adorned Happy's features. "Is now really the time to be dishing out punishment? We've got bigger things to worry about."

"Would someone mind filling us in," Lily spoke up, confusion covered his and Carla's face.

"Aye. Shortly after Lucy joined the guild, Natsu and I took an S-Class job from the second floor."

"That…idiot," Gajeel chuckled before gagging some more.

"We convinced Lucy to come along with us and we all set off for Hargeon. But when the guild found out, Master sent Gray to come and bring us home."

"And I'm sure that went well," Carla added, sarcastically.

"We ended up dragging him along."

"Of course," the Exceeds sighed.

"Anyways… we started exploring the island and eventually made our way into a temple. Natsu broke the floor and we all went crashing into a cave. Then we found this huge demon frozen in ice and Gray started freaking out. He told us that the demon was Deliora and that his master sealed away the demon ten years… well technically now it was eighteen years ago. His old friend Lyon was trying to melt the ice around Deliora so he could kill it and surpass their master. He managed to succeed, however when the ice melted, Deliora's body crumpled away and he was dead."

"Then maybe it was only his physical body that died," Erza muttered, frowning.


"You want me to what?" Lyon Vastia, one of Lamia Scales' strongest wizards and Gray's childhood friend, asked.

"Show us the way to Gray's old home town, what about this aren't you understanding," Natsu snarled.

"Can't you just ask Gray? Not that he'd want to show you anyway. The place was never rebuilt out of respect for the people who were killed. There's probably still bones scattered around the place."

"I highly doubt that," Cana mumbled to herself, recalling Juvia's story about the necromancer.

"Lyon stop making things difficult and just show us the way," Loke was growing impatient. From hearing Gray's stories about the silver haired wizard, he'd grown to hate the man.

"Calm down kitty. Look, I'm not gonna show you anywhere without an explanation first."

It was at this point that Juvia finally spoke up. "Lyon-sama, please. Gray-sama has run off and we think he may have gone back to Isvan. We need to find Gray-sama before it's too late."

"Woah, woah, woah, what do you mean too late?"

The Fairies went silent. How could they tell him? How were they supposed to explain to Lyon that his younger brother figure was possessed by the demon that tormented them through childhood?

"Natsu," the ice wizard glared towards him.

"Gray is… well he's…" Natsu couldn't find the words. He left it to Cana to finish his sentence.

"Gray's possessed by Deliora, Lyon."

Lyon could have sworn that he heart had stopped the second the brunette had delivered the information across. It wasn't possible. Deliora was dead; he and Gray, heck even Natsu had witnessed the demon crumble away into nothing on Galuna Island eight years ago. There was no way it was still alive. The man suddenly found himself short of breath, when was the last time he took in oxygen? He honestly couldn't remember. Lyon's mind was racing at light speed. He rapidly took one forceful breath, causing him to choke himself back to his senses. The four Fairies were all staring at him in concern. This had to be a lot to take in for him. Lyon finally found his voice after what felt like a century.

"O-okay. I'll take you to Isvan."


I just HAD to involve Lyon in this fic! But jee, I wonder what's going to happen to Gray? *Sniggers*

We've also passed the halfway point with this fic now. Time flies so fast. I gotta say, I really love how this fic is going but I really can't wait to get started on something knew, I've already got two other Gray fics I wanna start working on. :p

Hope you all enjoying this fic so far! Don't forget to leave a review... I like reviews... :p

Adios!