Chapter 5: Farewell My Friends

"When are they coming back?" Lucy asked, laying on her back while reading a book on air battle tactics that Virgo suggested.

"They should be back tomorrow." Natsu replied, digging the dirt from his finger nails with his pocket knife he always had on him.

"It's always boring on rainy days without 'em." Gajeel droned while aiming a throwing knife at a wooden target he had pinned to the wall. Other knives were stuck in the board from previous attempts at getting a perfect score.

True to the teen's words, it was pouring behind the curtain of the library window. The sky was dark and showed no signs of stopping the storm any time soon. If the three's short yet creative friend, Levy, were there she would've already had a billion ideas for the four to do during the gloomy day. Unfortunately, she was off on her mission to make peace with Pelgia. Silver, Gray's father, went along with the group. He even brought Gray with him much to Freed's worry. While Gray was usually a follower of her plans of mischief, he still was fun to have a good time with. That left them alone in the library waiting for the rain to let up.

Lucy closed her book and set it aside, finished reading for the third time that day. She stretched and sat up with a yawn. Her blonde hair was braided into a fancy bun and her usual riding outfit was swapped out in favor of a nice brown, white, and black dress that reached her ankles. A very simple and nice dress of a young lady it was.

The princess turned to Natsu and asked "Do you want to play a game of chess?" The boy looked and and shrugged. Lucy and Natsu cleared off the table nearest to the reading chairs and brought out the chess set. Gajeel continued his game of knife throwing, thinking hard about hitting the center.

"Hurry back shrimp. It's boring without you."

With Levy and Gray

The rain fell hard on a small group of downcast Ylissean.

The dreary party was made up of the Thunder Tribe, Leo of the Northern Sky, and Aries the Gentle Lamb. All were on horseback, including Levy.

Well, all but three.

Freed sat slumped in a cart with Bixlow driving the team of two horses. Laying in front of Freed was a large sheet covering a fairly large body from head to feet. Gray was sitting next to the form, gripping onto a meaty hand that poked out of the cover. The boy was crying, his tears mixing with the rain in between his sobs.

The tactician closed his eyes and tried his best to keep Gray shielded from the rain, but there was nothing he could do about the boys broken heart.

Evergreen rode close to Aeris, whispering comforting words as she tried to hide her tears in her pink cloak. "It's all my fault! I'm worthless!" she cried while clutching her staff to her chest with one hand. Aeris's husband, Leo, came alongside her and reached out to take the reins of her horse. The pinkette let them go as she held her sobbing form. Leo's clouded gaze met her tear stained face.

"There was nothing any of us could do. It's not your fault..."

She simply cried harder while berating herself silently. Evergreen left the two along, dropping back to the cart. Bixlow looked over at her. His helmet was removed out of respect for their fallen comrade. His tattoo contrasted his face greatly, his spiky hair was patted down and matted.

"Doing okay?" Ever asked, trying to muster a fake smile. He shook his head though, not ready to put on a happy facade. She dropped her smile and fell into step with the cart for the rest of the trip.

Levy heard everyone and their sorrow. Even so, she had to remain strong.

You could've saved him...

Gray wouldn't be crying...

Freed wouldn't be paralyzed from the waist down...

Aeris could be smiling...

And yet here you are...

Alive when you should be dead!

"Go away." Levy hissed into the rain. The voice has always been in her head. She couldn't remember when it first started, but it has always been apart of her, and it wasn't going away. The problem was, it came at all the wrong times.

"Now's not the time..."

Tears began to fall steadily down her face. Her eyes started to blur as she continued.

"Now's not the time to be sad. I'm not the one that's suffering..."

Even though she told herself that she wasn't the one in pain, the one who wasn't in agony, she cried. No one could see her due to her being at the head of the group. Levy didn't want anyone to see her crumble. Not when everyone had holes in their hearts that they would need filled with someone to lean on.

1 day later, Palace Ylisse

Lucy, Natsu, and Gajeel all stood before Lady Aquarius. Each of them had black cloaks covering them and their clothes. The Exalt wore her white with gold patterned attire to go outside. All three children held candles in their hands.

"Remember, no one speaks a word to the squad unless they want to." the woman warned. Lucy nodded while wiping away a stray tear. Natsu and Gajeel just stared at their ruler with solemn understanding.

The kingdom had received news of Freed's downfall and Sir Silver Fullbuster's death the day before by hawk. The whole castle town was preparing for the fallen team's return to put Silver to rest. Everyone was waiting to leave a path leading them to the castle. Outside, he will be burned in front of the grand fountain that welcomed guests to Ylisse Palace.

Capricorn stepped into the room that they were in, wearing his old armour out of respect for Silver. "My lady, they have arrived at the edge of the city."

Aquarius nodded and led the teens out of the room and out to the fountain burning ceremony. Lucy through over and over in her head "This can't be happening again..."

Edge Of Town

"Everyone! Let the light guide Sir Fullbuster's path!" yelled one of the soldiers keeping the crowd back from the group entering the town with their heads bowed. Levy swayed with her horse's movements, leading her group to the fountain in front of the palace.

The same place they burned Exalt Layla.

The sky wasn't raining, but it was dark with low hanging clouds. She could see no difference between night and day, even with the candles being lit for the fallen hero. Aeris rode beside Leo right behind the tiny girl. Then the two were followed by the cart with Bixlow, Freed, Gray, and Silver's body. Evergreen brought up at the rear, watching over the riders in the cart.

Freed swept his gaze over at the candles. He thought of how one day he would be guided by the same lights back to the castle. On that day, Levy would take up role of tactician and lead the forces with a sure hand.

What a foolish dreamer he had been.

Gray sat close to Freed, staring at the uncovered body that was once a warm and strong father. Now, it was just a shell that house nothing but bad memories of a horrible raid on their camp.

They were almost to the fountain, it just being in sight. Levy kept her eyes glued to the cobblestone below her. How she wished to feel it's steadiness and cool bumps that always were a joy on her bare feet in the summer. But it was fall now, and her shoes prevented any warm feeling from reaching her toes.

The group arrived at the fountain, the Exalt standing tall in her white cape. Her eyes were far from prue as the color of her clothes.

Some soldiers came forward and moved Silver's body onto the altar that was set up with tinder and wood. Gray climbed out of the back and some other men came to assist Freed to a seat provided for him. Evergreen dismounted and stood by her beast while Bixlow went to stand his wife who he wrapped an arm around.

Aeris and Leo let some soldiers lead their horses away so they could stand by the twelve Zodiac Generals.

Levy struggled to dismount and ended up falling to the ground with a small cry of surprise. She rubbed her head and stood up on her own. Her horse was lead away by a servant. She found her spot next to the Thunder Tribe, head bowed and spirit broken.

Aquarius stepped forward, hold a torch over Silver's stiff corpse. Her eyes never left him as she spoke for all to hear.

"Today, we say goodbye to a great man. Silver was a man of great talent, humble, and above all, a symbol of this great kingdom."

A sob from Gray made the Exalt pause and reach out to him. He took her hand and continued to cry silently into his free hand.

"He was a knight of the people, a husband full of love and devotion, and a father to a strong son with a kind heart."

She lower the torch to burn the wood under the wood pile. The fire spread and engulfed the man in seconds. Gray cried harder and fell to the ground, cursing heaven for taking his light in the darkness.

"May Naga light his path."

Everyone repeated with hushed tones.

Lot's of people left to mourn in their homes. Some guards left to continue their duties, leaving the Exalt with Pantherlily. The twelve generals also stayed close by, waiting for Aquarius. Gajeel, Natsu, and Lucy stood vigil with their ruler and mentors.

Levy couldn't stop herself anymore. She stepped forward to the burning body. Gray looked up through his tears and Aquarius stepped back to let her speak.

"I promise...I will fulfill your final wish..."

She then raised her voice, throwing her cloak's hood back to reveal a scar running down her neck.

"YOU HEAR ME! I PROMISE TO BE THE BEST DAMN TACTICIAN IN THIS WORLD! JUST YOU WAIT!" she cried to Silver. Her knees gave out on her as she dropped down and let out all of her pent up emotions.

All the pain of watching her mentor lose his ability to walk. Having to watch Silver risk his life for Gray and her to live. And especially being able to do nothing as he whispered his final wish to both of the young warriors.

"Be the best...surpass us old timers..."

Another cloak draped over her shivering form, but she still kept her head down in her own world of sorrow. Gajeel kneeled beside his friend, throwing his arm over her shoulders in a show of comfort. Lucy and Natsu pressed close to Gray, trying to coax him to sleep.

And for the first time that day, rain started to fall on the cobblestone.