Hey guys! Welcome to my first fanfiction. I know usually the Author's Note goes before a chapter, but I wanted to get that little preview up as kind of a prologue, and it got 24 views in two days, so I'm really excited about this! Anyways guys, this fic is going to be in two parts, the first being told in flashbacks and mostly containing deaths and plot bits, and the second part being (hopefully) a fitting ending to the fic. Any reviews, and I mean ANY, would be greatly appreciated. Let me know what you guys think! Hope you guys enjoy! Storm Out!
Erin Noctem gazed around the small camp near the peak of Mount Hakobe. After Natsu's daring rescue the night before, they had flown through the night to reach the imposing mountain and find a spot to set up a camp that would be well hidden from the dark guilds that were relentlessly pursuing them, finally, they found a small cave opening that, upon further investigation, opened up into a cavern large enough for three dragons to lay down comfortably together. Now, the tall storm wizard looked around at what was left of his once-thriving guild, his ice-blue eyes saddened as he thought of the members that weren't here, including his best friend.
A massive explosion sounded throughout the forest, and seconds later a tall mage flashed through a small clearing, a raven-haired mage just seconds behind. "Erin, how long do you think that will hold them?" The black-haired man sounded worried as he glanced behind him, and subsequently sped up so that he was running stride for stride with his teammate and friend.
"Not long, Gray. I only gave it enough power to help us escape." Erin said, a spark of electricity flashing at his hands. Spinning around, Erin put his hand out in a claw-like gesture. "Hurricane Volley!" He shouted, loosing a massive blast of electricity into the trees behind the pair, and setting off a huge explosion. "That might hold them a little longer, but I wouldn't count on it. We need to get back to Magnolia as fast as possible, so that we can warn the guild. Now, c'mon!"
"Wow, daydreaming already, Erin?" A voice from behind him snapped him out of the flashback, and as he turned around, he was greeted by the sight of a gorgeous redhead, hands on hips and a rare smile gracing her face. "Just remembering, Erza. Guess I just got stuck in the past."
"You were thinking about Gray, weren't you?" Erza asked, the smile fading into a look of concern.
"Yeah," Erin said, a touch of sadness creeping into his voice. "It's been almost two years, and I still can't believe that he's dead. And it doesn't help that I was responsible for it. If I had just been a second quicker, I could've-"
"Stop, Erin," Erza said, knowing where her boyfriend's thoughts were turning. "There was nothing you could have done for Gray, and his sacrifice helped us to realize the threat that we were up against and gave us time to get out of Magnolia before the enemy got there." "But-""But nothing. Stop beating yourself up over something you had no control over."
Erin bowed his head, not entirely convinced, and felt a pair of arms rap around him as the dam broke, and the sobs tore through him.
"Damn, those bastards hit hard!" Gray shouted, ducking another bolt of magic, and running through the trees after Erin. "If this keeps up, we won't make it back to Magnolia to warn the guild!" "I know, but at this point, we've got no other option. If we turn and fight, we'll get overrun, and they'll hit Fairy Tail with no warning. We have to get to the guild and warn them." Erin ducked as a bolt of red magic flew over his head, causing an explosion to tear through the forest.
"I know, I know. Ice Make: Lance!" A hundred lances of ice flew out of Gray's hand, pinning four of their pursuers to trees and slowing the rest as they tried to dodge. Seeing his opportunity, Erin spun around and pointed. "Shadow's Seal!" He shouted, using his secondary magic to pin the rest of their pursuers in place with their shadows. "That should buy us some more ti-Gray!" Erin looked on in horror as a blade of black magic pierced through Gray's stomach, leaving a look of shock on the face of the ice mage. "Gray, stay with me, we're almost to the guild, just hang on!" Even as he said it, he knew that his friend wasn't going to make it. Blood poured from the jagged wound in his belly, and his breath came out in ragged gasps as he fought for air. "Erin…get going. Just leave me behind." "Ain't happening, stripper, now stay awake!" Erin shouted, trying desperately to hold back tears as his best friend lay in his arms, struggling to stay conscious. "Tell Juvia…tell her that I hope she would have said yes." With that, Gray grabbed Erin's hand, leaving a small, black box in his grasp as the Ice Make wizard passed beyond the veil.
Erza held her lover as sobs racked his body, knowing that he was reliving one of the worst days of his life. The guild had been shocked to hear of Gray's death, and even more shocked to learn that an army of dark guilds was closing in on them, but Erin had been devastated by the death of his best friend. He had refused to eat for days, and still wouldn't talk about what happened after the fatal blow had been struck. The only person who he had imparted Gray's final words to had been Juvia, Gray's long-time girlfriend, saying that that had been his last wish.
"Hurricane's Final Destruction!" Erin yelled, bringing his full magical might to bear on the people who had killed his friend. The enemies could only look on in horror as clouds blacker than midnight gathered above them, as they been rendered immobile by Erin's Shadow's Seal. Suddenly, in a bright white flash of lightning, they were all turned to ashes, and an earsplitting peal of thunder added a sense of finality to their deaths. Sobbing openly, Erin gathered up Gray's lifeless body in his arms, taking off at a dead sprint towards the city of Magnolia, and towards his guild.
"GRAY!" "What happened?!" "Why is he not moving?!" "Oh my god, his stomach!" The members of Fairy Tail were clamoring to find out what had happened to their brother, but Erin wouldn't speak, only telling Makarov that Gray had died while assisting in Erin's escape from The Nocturnal Alliance. As Makarov gathered the guild together and told them that they were leaving, he couldn't help but feel pity for the tall storm mage. It certainly wasn't easy to watch your best friend die in your arms, but he knew from the look on Erin's face that he blamed himself for Gray's death. "Stay strong, Cyclone," Makarov whispered, using the title given to him by the people of Fiore. "We'll need all hands on deck if Fairy Tail is to live on."
That physically hurt to right. And I'm sorry to anyone who was hoping to see Gray in this story. But when I came up with the idea for this story, I wanted to make it emotional. Anyways guys, see you whenever I update next! Storm Out!