I do not own anything nor do I make any money from this story. All rights apply.
AU - Set before Tenrou Island. Manga verse – I haven't seen the anime.
YOU ARE FAIRY TAIL
Three years later…
"What about this one?" asked Lucy.
Natsu glanced at it.
"You know we can take S-level missions now, right?"
"I know but this one is in Seven, close to Iceberg…" said Lucy. "I've always wanted to go there."
Natsu knew that Lucy had never wanted to go to Iceberg. It was the name of the country that drew her. It had been three years since Gray disappeared - there had been no word, no sighting, nothing. It was as if he had ceased to exist. They had spent a year actively looking for him, following up on every rumour of an ice mage, not matter how vague or bizarre. All had lead to nothing. At first, he and Lucy had only taken missions that allowed them to travel so that they could search while they worked. They had trained and worked to become S-level mages so they could go further afield. While neither wanted to admit it, hope of ever finding Gray was starting to fade as life forced its way into their lives. It had been so long…
But now the anniversary of Gray's disappearance was looming, and hope was stirring again.
"Sure," said Natsu. He didn't like the sadness that cloaked Lucy. She still laughed and smiled, threw out her ridiculous comments about herself but sadness followed her – it was her shadow. Natsu knew he had changed as well. He wasn't as rash as before. He kind of felt that maybe if they had perhaps had a plan of attack, things might have gone differently, Gray might have still been with them.
Juvia felt his loss the most. News of his disappearance had brought the rain. She had gone looking for him and returned six months later with nothing but an empty expression. It hadn't changed since, and it rained on the anniversary so she tended to stay away for a few weeks.
The truth was, all of Fairy Tail had been affected. There'd been a rash of guild related fights, unprovoked attacks on suspected dark guilds – it had been messy until Makarov stepped in. Even though the guild appeared to have returned to normal on the outside, the shadow of sadness was always there waiting to cast down eyes, tighten lips, pause breath.
"I want to walk," said Natsu.
"No way," said Lucy. "I want to get there before the end of the year."
"Fine," said Natsu with unnecessary drama. "Train station, tomorrow, seven o'clock – no, eight o'clock, wait… I think nine would be better."
"Eight," said Lucy and turned to leave.
"I'm good with eight," said Natsu after her.
XxX
Natsu stood outside the village of Biscoe. He always had a moment of hope before starting a mission that this time round they would find Gray. They had searched for years, eventually they would find him – that had to. The job was relatively simple, a mage was terrorising the village. He called himself the White Knight and demanded tribute from the villagers in exchange for their lives. He had already injured two people and the villagers were desperate so the major had sent out a request for help. The reward was also quite good for the job.
"It's really quiet," said Lucy as they started making their way into the village.
"It's too quiet," added Natsu. "Where is everyone?"
"Town square," chirped in Happy from the air.
"Something must be happening," said Natsu and set off at a run.
"Wait," called Lucy but followed anyway – she had a bad feeling about the situation.
And she was right – in the middle of the square stood the White Knight, his sword raised high above a kneeling man. The villagers were staring in disbelief but were unmoving. While Natsu charged the White Knight, Lucy noticed the villagers were frozen to the ground. The White Knight was an ice mage!
"Natsu~! He's an ice mage."
The White Knight turned to Natsu but his helmet hid his face, however, Natsu didn't need to see his face to know it was Gray – he could smell it. The White Knight turned his attack from the man on the ground to Natsu. Natsu easily dodged but couldn't help feeling he knew the armour the White Knight was wearing.
"Gray!" yelled Natsu.
"Grey?" asked the Knight. "I am the White Knight."
"I know it's you," continued Natsu. "Stop being annoying and come home."
The White Knight swung his sword at Natsu again – Natsu knew that Gray could wield a sword but he hadn't ever fought Gray with a weapon. They mainly fought with their fists and magic. Natsu had to acknowledge the White Knight was good with the sword, obviously not as good as Erza, but he was making Natsu work to keep out of range.
Natsu risked a glance at Lucy. She was herding the villages out of the square. Sure that there were innocent bystanders Natsu send a flaming punch forward. The White Knight moved to the quickly and evaded Natsu's fist. Natsu spun on his heel and used his momentum launch a second attack. He timed it so Happy, who had entered the fray, could distract the White Knight long enough for Natsu to land a blow.
However, without looking, the White Knight threw back his hand and froze Happy. He didn't pause his attack on Natsu at all.
"Happy!" yelled Natsu redoubled his effort to hit the White Knight. He couldn't see what happened to Happy through the relentless attacks. Enraged Natsu roared with angry fiery breath. The White Knight made no effort to duck. He simply raised an ice shield and blocked the flames.
As the ice shield fell, the Knight had to block an unexpected attack from Loke. With Loke in the fight, they had a better chance of subduing the White Knight without harming him. Natsu was also pleased to see Lucy had picked up the frozen Happy and was attempting to get him free.
"Natsu – are you sure this is Gray?" asked the Celestial Spirit feeling the strength of the White Knight's attack – they were serious.
"It is," growled Natsu. "He's just forgotten it."
"His armour does remind me of Erza's Fairy Tail armour," mused Loke as he continued to trade blows with the White Knight.
"Ha!" yelled Natsu. "See, you might not remember it but Fairy Tail's in your heart."
"I have no interest in children's stories," said the White Knight. He was being hard pressed to ward off both Natsu and Loke, and he knew they knew it.
His last comment angered Natsu – Fairy Tail was his home. And it was Gray's.
Without thinking he let lose Fire Dragon's Claw which sent the White Knight flying backwards into one of the houses.
"Natsu," said Loke surveying the damage. "Don't we want him back in one piece?"
"That won't hurt Gray," said Natsu.
They both watched as the White Knight picked himself out of the rabble. He took off his helmet and threw it on the ground; Natsu grinned when he saw the White Knight's face. His grin widened as the White Knight proceeded to strip off the rest of his armour.
"Ha ha – you may have forgotten us but you're still Gray," laughed Natsu.
The White Knight had abandoned his steel sword and opted for two ice blades. Natsu was slightly taken aback by the expression on the White Knight's face – he had seen it before but it had never been directed at him. For the first time, Natsu felt that Gray might actually be lost to them – the White Knight that stood before him wanted to kill him. Loke sensed it as well.
"No time for past sentiment," he said. "We have to get serious if we want to stop him."
"Yeah," said Natsu making a fist.
As one Natsu and Loke leapt forward to attack from the left and right. The White Knight managed to block their double attack but before he could react, they attacked again. The onslaught was enough to prevent the White Knight from attacking, all he could do was defend.
Suddenly the White Knight stamped his left foot sending up a shield of ice that blocked Loke's attack long enough for the White Knight to attack Natsu with both his blades. Natsu ducked under the first blade but caught the second. Using mage without the proper hand seal had used a lot of magic and was only a temporary measure as the shield was unstable and quickly fell. With the ice shield down, Loke jumped forward and grabbed hold of the White Knight. However, the White Knight dropped his first sword and struck out at Loke with spikes of ice from his back.
Loke grunted in pain as the spikes pieced his body but held on long enough for Natsu to land a solid blow – Fire Dragon's Iron Fist. The White Knight stumbled as Loke disappeared and the full force of Natsu's fist collided with his face. Having finally gained an opportunity to attack, Natsu continued going. It took the White Knight a moment to orientate himself before he started defending and managing to add the occasional attack.
Natsu, however, had had enough. He had been searching for Gray for years, often refusing to believe he was dead despite the lack of evidence to suggest he was alive. Now he had finally found him and he wasn't acting as himself. The frustration that had unknowingly built up over the years finally had an outlet.
"I'm taking you home," yelled Natsu as he released a barrage of attacks. The finished the combo with Crimson Lotus: Fire Dragon's Fist.
The White Knight swayed for a second in the aftermath of the attack before falling backward and landing heavily on the ground. Natsu stood panting, waiting for the White Knight to get up, but he didn't. Seeing the White Knight's defeat Lucy ran over to check on him, Happy following her.
Natsu didn't want to admit it but it had taken that much effort bringing the White Knight down. He was fast and skilled with his blades, but he knew Gray to be better than this. Gray had things to fight for and would push himself but this White Knight was another story. With no reason to fight, he had fallen easily. Well fairly easily.
"Let's tied him up and get him on the tr… train." Natsu chocked a bit on the word but nothing could bring him down at that moment.
XxX
The White Knight woke on the train. His arms were bound to his sides, his hands secured so he couldn't bring them together. So they knew how he did his magic, he thought but immediately dismissed the importance of them knowing about his magic. Natsu sat opposite him, head against the back of the seat groaning. The White Knight sneered his distaste before glancing at Lucy. He remembered her from the village – he couldn't remember what her magic was. He wasn't sure he had seen her perform any. She looked like she wanted to say something but he turned away, not wanting to see her hopeful face.
And found himself looking at a blue cat.
"Gray," said Happy with his arms in the air, almost like a cheer.
Without pause, the White Knight head butted the Exceed causing him to fall to the floor. He may be bound but he wasn't defenceless.
"Happy!" cried Lucy half rising from her seat.
Natsu opened his eyes at the commotion and saw Happy out cold on the floor.
"Happy?" he mumbled.
Pulling together some order in himself he reached down for Happy and got the White Knight's boot in his face.
"Natsu!" cried Lucy as Natsu collapsed in misery.
She rounded on the White Knight.
"Why did you do that?"
Instead of answering the White Knight stood to attack Lucy. However, Loke stepped between the White Knight and Lucy. It as times like this that Lucy as pleased that Loke could open his own gate. She also figured Loke would be ready and waiting to help – Gray was his friend as well.
The White Knight stepped back, eyeing Loke up and down.
"You are not wounded," he said. "How? You should be dead."
Lucy and Loke shared a glance at the White Knight's comment but Loke shook his head. All mysteries would wait until they reached the guild.
"Sit down," ordered Loke.
It looked like he might refuse but he sat, still eyeing Loke with suspicion. Loke took a seat next to the White Knight much to his distaste.
"Where are you taking me?" asked the White Knight after a moment.
"Home," said Lucy holding a dazed Happy on her lamp. Her expression was hard, the hopefulness from before gone.
"Okay," said the White Knight with a patronising tone. "Where is home?"
"Magnolia," ground out Lucy.
"Hmph," snorted the White Knight as he slouched back against the corner. "Sounds like a shitty town."
"It's not!" yelled Lucy. "It's home to Fairy Tail."
"Lucy," warned Loke. "He's trying to make you angry."
The White Knight shot a glare in Loke's direction before turning to look out the window, ignoring all of them.
The rest of the ride was in uncomfortable silence.
XxX
When Natsu, Loke and Lucy walked into Fairy Tail with the White Knight there had been a collective intake of breath for joyous exclamations. However, the trios expressions and the White Knight's bound arms coupled with the annoyance on his face left a void in the room. Everyone was looking in their direction unsure of what to think.
Mirajane came round from behind the bar.
"Gray?"
The White Knight turned his anger toward her but before he could say anything Gajeel stepped up to him.
"That's definitely Gray," he said.
The White Knight looked Gajeel up and down before kicking him in the side, much to everyone's surprise. They were further surprised when the White Knight staggered back with a yell of pain.
"What the hell are you wearing?" he yelled, trying to sooth the pain in his shin.
"Clothes," said Gajeel lifting his top so the White Knight could see his metal skin. "Iron Dragon Slayer remember?"
"Dragon slayer?" asked the White Knight. What were they talking about? He was about to attack Gajeel again but Loke slid into view. The White Knight paused, he still hadn't figured out how the spiky blond was alive and unharmed.
"He doesn't remember us," interrupted Natsu. "But it's him."
The White Knight glanced at the door – he was about two meters from it. With Loke now in front of him, he could make a dash for freedom.
"Dark Écriture: Avast."
The White Knight suddenly stopped his struggle and stood calmly with his glaze lowered.
"Fried!" exclaimed Lucy. "What have you done?"
"I just calmed him down – we have to figure out what to do now and having him ready to attack all the time is distracting," explained Fried.
"Where is the master?" asked Erza looking round.
"Here," said Makarov coming in from the back door.
The guild members were quiet and Makarov made his way over to the White Knight. He stood in front of the White Knight for a moment before smiling briefly.
"Welcome back, Gray."
A collective grin ran through the guild though the White Knight did nothing.
"Before we celebrate, let's get to the bottom of this," said Makarov. "Fried?"
"Yes?"
"Turn the spare store room into a secure room – no magic allow," order Makarov.
"Done," said Fried and followed Mirajane.
While they waited, Makarov heard the details from Natsu and Lucy. Everyone was perturbed not only by his loss of memory but also by his lack of magic knowledge. Gray was an ice mage but he knew about many other forms of magic, especially Celestial Spirits and Dragon Slayers.
Once Fried had completed the room, Natsu easily lead the White Knight to it and sat him down on a chair placed in the middle.
"Wait outside," said Makarov.
Natsu opened his mouth to protest but Erza stopped him. Makarov glanced at Fried indicating he should enter with him. Fried nodded and stepped through the door with Makarov.
"Release the spell," said Makarov after Fried had closed the door.
Fried nodded and dispelled his magic.
The White Knight blinked a couple of times as the spell lifted. His gaze immediately settled on Fried.
"I'm going to kill you first," he said slamming his fist into his palm.
To his horror the White Knight discovered that he couldn't use any magic. With a snarl, the White Knight leapt forward to attack Fried but his hands grasped empty air where his sword should be. He stopped and looked down at himself – when had he lost his armour?
"Don't make me stop you again," said Fried his sword draw and pointing at the White Knight. "Please sit."
Fried could see the White Knight trying to cast, but when it failed again. He slowly returned to his seat. For the moment he chose to ignore Fried and turned his attention to the small old man.
"Do you know you I am?" asked Makarov.
"No," answered the White Knight.
"I'm Makarov."
The White Knight leaned forward slightly.
"You? You're Makarov?"
"So you've heard of me," said Makarov.
"Yeah," said the White Knight coldly, "I've heard of you."
"Not good things from your tone," said Makarov. He was disturbed to hear the cold tone from Gray – he was an ice mage but he was kind and compassionate, caring deeply for his friends and fellow guild members.
The White Knight shrugged but didn't say anything further.
"What is your name?" asked Makarov.
"I'm called the White Knight."
"That is what you are called, but what is your name?" clarified Makarov.
The White Knight said nothing.
"You are one of my children – a mage of Fairy Tail," said Makarov.
"So I've been told," said the White Knight.
"All your friends are concerned about you," tried Makarov.
"I have no friends here," said the White Knight.
"You are a mage of Fairy Tail – you bear our guild mark," said Makarov
"I don't," said the White Knight with a shake of his head.
"It's on your chest."
The White Knight lifted his shirt to reveal the right side of his chest – with a different expression and a Fairy Tail mark, it could have been Gray sitting on the chair.
"See? I don't."
Makarov and Fried shared a glance – the White Knight looked like Gray, sounded like Gray, used ice magic like Gray. Apart from the Dragon Slayers' noses, they had no other real evidence.
Fried suddenly pointed his sword at the White Knight again, his eyes narrowed.
"Dark Écriture: Reveal."
The White Knight immediately tensed expecting some kind of attack but nothing happened. Only… why did the rune mage have a smirk on his face? The White Knight looked down at this chest and saw a blue Fairy Tail mark.
"Putting a mark on my chest isn't going to convince me," said the White Knight.
"I didn't put it there – I revealed what was always there," said Fried. "Though I was also hoping it would dispel what other magic influence you're under."
"I'm not under any other magic!" yelled the White Knight. "I'm not a member of Fairy Tail!"
Suddenly the door flew open and Lucy stood there. Tears of loss falling down her cheeks. Without saying anything she stalked forward making a fist with her right hand punched the White Knight solidly in the chest, on his fairy mark. She held her fist there while she got control of herself.
"You have not forgotten us," she said looking the White Knight straight in the eye.
There was a long moment of silence. Makarov and Fried waited, watched as the White Knight's eyes began to tear and his expression softened.
"Lucy…"
Lucy lowered her fist and immediately wrapped her arms around the White Knight.
"You're okay," she whispered.
Makarov stepped back as Erza and Natsu came into the room. There would be time for a debriefing after they had welcomed their friend back.
The rest of Fairy Tail began to disperse from outside the room. Makarov made his way to his office, what a troubling episode, but he was glad it had turned out okay in the end. He could hear the calls for booze and food as celebrations started.
"You can drop the magic field," Makarov told Fried as he passed. Fried nodded and did so. There was a sense of relief in the air, as if Fairy Tail had been waiting these past three years.
Back in the room, Erza had also flung herself around the White Knight. Natsu stood close by with Happy, a huge grin on his face. The grin faltered though, when he caught the White Knight's eye.
There was a sudden drop in temperature, it made Natsu shiver involuntarily. He started forward but his muscles didn't respond – they were so cold. Natsu watched as Lucy slipped unconscious to the floor. Erza, her armour frozen, followed shortly after. Natsu felt incredibly tired and couldn't focus his thoughts, he wanted to sleep, he was… freezing to death. The last thing he saw was the White Knight leaving the room.
The White Knight took a moment to lock and freeze the door behind him. He had only taken a couple of steps before Juvia appeared.
"Gray," she whispered. "I knew you wouldn't leave me." She had rushed over as soon as she heard word of his return.
The White Knight stood for a moment before coming forward with his arms spread as if to hug Juvia. Joy overrode any caution she had and she happily fell into the White Knight's arms. She had been expecting a warm embrace but it was cold, so cold. And getting colder. She was quickly freezing, soon unable to move. Was her love really killing her…?
The White Knight didn't even look back as Juvia fell hard to the floor. He did take a moment of care to avoid other guild members as he made his way to Makarov's office. It was easier than he thought, they were all down stairs celebrating Gray's return. With the feelings of joy and happiness mingled with the mages' magic, they hadn't noticed what was going on. It was perfect for his next, and final, step.
The White Knight knocked briefly on the door to Makarov's office before stepping side.
"Gray, glad to see you're okay," said Makarov as the Knight closed the door behind him. "You don't need to-" But he stopped as the White Knight turned to face him, cold indifference on his face.
"Gray…"
"I am the White Knight. And I have come to kill Makarov."
The White Knight took two steps forward and planted his feet evenly on the ground.
"Why?" asked Makarov. "Why would you do this?"
"I am the White Knight. I must kill Makarov. "
"Your name is Gray Fullbuster," corrected Makarov. "I don't know what you have been told, but you are one of my children."
The White Knight threw his arms out and levelled a blank stare at Makarov. Makarov looked back, he knew this to be Gray – he knew it. He watched as the White Knight crossed his arms at the wrist, he knew this spell as well. He knew he was going to die but he couldn't attack one of his children. Even if they had lost their way, he couldn't attack them.
A blast of chilled air rolled off the White Knight. Makarov bowed his head slightly.
"Iced Shell"