Here's it is, the finale! Enjoy!

Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail

A week had passed since the battle with Tartarus and a lot had happened. For starts, Fairy Tail had disbanded. Disbanded. Gray had been dragged out of bed last night by a distraught Lucy and panicked Erza stating that the flame-brained idiot Natsu had left Magnolia to train for a year. The trio spent most of the night running around the wreckage that was once their hometown looking for even the slightest of clues as to where he and his Exceed companion had run off to. They'd called off the search early the next morning and Gray had finally slumped down on his bed. Unfortunately for him his relaxation had to wait as Makarov had called an impromptu guild meeting at sunrise. It surprised everyone that the guild was disbanding so suddenly. Sure, Tartarus hit them hard, but it was nothing they couldn't recover from. Guild members tried to protest but any and all attempts were futile, and it surprised them even more when Makarov just up and disappeared without so much as a goodbye. Why did people keep doing that? So now Gray was packing anything of value into a small rucksack. Without the guild, there would be no way he could maintain living with no income. Where he was planning to go, Gray had absolutely no idea. He'd very briefly considered Lamia Scale, but quickly dismissed it upon picturing having to put up with Lyon every day, however fun it may be to brag about his now clear advantage over the Ice-Make Wizard. He'd also considered going back to Isvan, but again, it was dismissed. He'd left that life behind years ago; there was nothing left for him in Isvan bar a few bad memories.

Just the thought of having to leave his friends brought tears to his eyes. There would be no more guild brawls to engage in! While most of the girls saw the spectacle as senseless violence, the fights brought them closer together. The guild wizards would always be challenging each others' strength and testing them to the limit; it was one of the key factors that helped them all become as strong as they are now – the other of course being the job requests. Not only did it improve their skills, but it added a thrill ride to their lives and brought people together as team mates. Gray couldn't stomach the thought of never doing a job with his team again. No more Natsu to argue with. No more Erza to get yelled at by. No more Lucy to sneak into her house at all hours. No more Happy with his witty comments. And it wasn't just his team. How could Gray get by without his nights of drinking with Cana and Loke? Sure they weren't exactly a team anymore, but he probably spent most of his time in the guild with them. Of course there was also Juvia whom had stood by his side ever since they'd met. Defended him when no one else would. He wasn't ready to say goodbye to ten years of his life that had actually gone right. Zeref's Demons had torn apart his first and second family, and now they had done the same again with his third.

He was just about packed and ready to meet his friends for their final goodbyes when he turned to find an old geezer positioned casually on his couch drinking a pint of beer.

"So I heard you tried to use Ice Shell again," Makarov stated, plonking his mug down on the miniature coffee table.

"Gramps!" Gray recoiled. "What are you doing here? You disappeared after the announcement... And how the hell did you even get in?!"

"A Guild Master has his ways..." the elderly man waved precariously. "And you didn't really think I was just going to take off without addressing the elephant in the room did you?"

The raven's form instantly tensed as he backed off slightly. His gaze fell to the floor and his hands met his pockets. "I... I don't know what you're talking about."

"Don't lie to me Gray," Makarov sighed, stubborn to the bitter end I see. "Natsu told me everything before he left."

"That damned bastard!" Gray erupted. "He promised he wouldn't say anything."

"Can you blame a guy for being worried about his best friend?" Makarov pointed out. "Sit down Gray."

The Ice Wizard had about a million questions swirling around his mind like a whirlpool, but the strong look on his father-figure's face told him that all questions would have to wait. He rolled his eyes before dumping his bag down on his now empty bed and slumped onto the couch.

"It's hard for us when we see our friends getting hurt, but it's even harder when our friends are hurting themselves," Makarov explained with wary eyes. "Gray this isn't the first time you've tried to use Iced Shell, knowing full well the consequences of that magic. As a parent, I can't help but see this recurring event as a cry for help."

Said raven refused to look into the concerned eyes of his now former Guild Master and kept his gaze locked on the floor. It was the only thing he could do to prevent himself from breaking down into an emotional wreck.

"Life hasn't been kind to you Gray and I've seen over the years just how much you're past has affected you," he continued. "You have a very reckless nature and often disregard your own safety for the sake of the task at hand. When someone you care about it put in harm's way, it's your natural instinct to do whatever necessary to save them which then often leads to you coming close to death. While this is considered a noble act of heroism, it can also be considered foolish and a means to escape which begs the question, what are your trying to escape from?"

"I dunno..." Gray mumbled, twisting his fingers around one another.

Makarov sighed again. Gray was a bright young man, but when it came to his own feelings, he was more clueless than Natsu. "Where do you plan on going now?"

"I dunno..." He repeated.

Makarov really wasn't getting anywhere with this conversation. "Well then Gray if you don't know then I can't help you." The small man took a final drink from his mug and hopped down from the couch. He made his way to the door ever so slowly, waiting for a reaction.

"It's always my fault," Gray finally admitted after an extensive internal debate.

The Titan Wizard's lips creased upwards for a very brief moment before he back-tracked and returned to his position next to the teen. "What's your fault Gray?"

Gray pulled his knees up to his chest and curled up on the end of the couch. "I dunno... Everything. Something always happens that winds up putting one of the others in danger and it almost always leads back to me... My Dad, the whole thing with Ultear, Lyon, Ur, Deliora... I've already got too many lives weighing on my shoulders; I don't want to add any more to that list."

"I understand how you fee-"

"None of you get it!" The Ice Wizard finally blurted, not even remotely listening to Makarov. "You and so many others have told me to keep living to honour the people that sacrificed their lives for me, but so many people have been lost trying to save me... It's just getting too hard."

"Well that's a simple fix."

"Are you trying to make me feel better 'coz you're doing a really shitty job."

"Don't live for the people who are gone from this world. Live for the ones that still remain."

"What?"

"Think about it Gray. Live so that you can continue to be amongst those your care about and fight alongside them. Sacrificing your life would only lead your loved ones to feel the same way you currently do. Would you be happy knowing that your friends would feel this way? You still have Lyon and your family at Fairy Tail to stand by you through thick and thin."

"Well what am I supposed to do now the guild is disbanded? Who am I living for now?"

"If there's anything I've taught you Gray," Makarov moved his finger and thumb upwards in their guilds iconic symbol, "is that even if we can't see one another, no matter how far away we may be, we will always be watching out for each other. C'mon Gray you've been a member of the guild for ten years, surely you know this by now."

The Ice Wizard couldn't help but smile at the words. He still remembered when Gramps had first recited them to him. It was the one year anniversary of his beloved parents' death and he'd spent the majority of the day cooped up in his tiny house. Cana must have expressed her concerns to Makarov because that same evening, he found the man persistently knocking on the door and refusing to leave until he was one hundred percent certain that Gray wasn't going to shatter into pieces.

"I know I know," Gray leaned his head back and let his eyelids drop. "It's just a lot to take in all at once."

Makarov bowed his head. Out of all of his beloved brats, Gray was definitely one of the more severe cases. The small man had known from the get go that accepting young children into his guild would come with its struggles. He was prepared for the baggage that they would bring with them and was ready to offer as much support to help them adjust. It had worked with Cana. When she had joined the guild she was a quiet, shy little girl looking for a new home after her mother died of illness. Makarov had been right there by her side whenever the 'bad' days came around. However, he was not prepared for the sheer amount of weight the raven haired eight year old carried with him, and the circumstances in which the two met were already insane enough. But despite all the crap the world had put him through, no matter how many times he'd thought that it was over for him, Gray had still picked himself up and pulled himself back together. Makarov couldn't help but admire him for that strength... However, the raven was insistent on mending the broken pieces alone; it was a major issue with quite a few of the guild brats. They let their stubbornness get in the way of their relationships with one another and it pained Makarov to watch them try to pull through their issues alone.

The former guild master ran a hand across his balding head and sighed. "Well if you're planning to leave Magnolia, have you considered leaving with a friend? Maybe you could go on a training journey of your own? We wouldn't want Natsu beating you when he returns now would we?"

"Hah! There's no way in hell that lizard brain could ever beat me. Definitely not now I'm a Devil Slayer."

"And what better way to spend your time that learning how to properly use that new magic of yours. I'm sure one of your fellow guild members would be happy to help. It's just a thought."

Gray frowned. That wasn't exactly part of his plan. He would never openly admit it, but one of the reasons as to why he was so eager to leave Magnolia was to avoid any offers from his friends. He didn't want them to realise how much Tartarus had broken him. Gray just needed a place alone where he could release any lingering aggression and despair without seeing those concerning and pitiful gazes he would receive from his guild mates.

Makarov could see the reluctance in his eyes and shook his head ever so slightly. Baby steps... He thought. "But that's entirely up to you," he patted a supportive hand on the teen's leg before slipping off the couch. "I should be off. You'd be surprised how busy I still am even without a guild full of brats to maintain." He made his way over to the door and was just about to make his exit, when he paused. "You take care of yourself. I don't want to be performing your eulogy, alright?"

"Well I can't make any promises," Gray sighed, followed by a not-so-subtle smirk.

"Bye Gray."

"See ya Gramps."

Just a few minutes later, Gray and the rest of his now former guild members had gathered by the crater where the guild once stood. The Ice Wizard decided to keep his little discussion with Makarov a private one. If the others knew that their Master had said a final goodbye to him and not the rest of them, they'd probably flip out just as Erza had done when Natsu had decided to leave a note with Lucy and not herself. Currently, everyone was swept up in hugs and tearful conversations of what the future held. Gray had just split from talking to his... Most of his team. The four of them had been so caught up in the whole Natsu fiasco that no one realised just how hard it would be to actually say goodbye... No wonder Natsu boycotted the whole thing. There was, however, the discussion of his note. The Salamander specifically stated that he would return in one year, but return to what exactly? With no way to contact him and his feline friend, the team just had to bet on him picking up the info in the news. Surely he'd have to make human contact at some point and there won't be a person alive who doesn't know about the disbandment. It was only yesterday that the announcement was made and it was already in the headlines. Either way, they were all bound to hear it when Natsu learns the truth.

Gray had managed to worm his way over to Cana. She was sat leaning against a rock, lathering herself in booze to hide how sorrowful she felt. Cana had been the first child of their generation of wizards to join Fairy Tail and had spent a full twelve years amongst its members. To say she was talking the sudden disbandment hard would be an understatement, but she'd never let anyone know that. Of course, Gray knew better, being the second child of their generation to join. He sat across from her with his legs crossed and reached over to her bag.

"Get your filthy demon slaying hands off my things jerk," she slurred, flinging an empty bottle at his head that he barely managed to dodge.

The raven pulled out her Tarot cards and smiled. "I thought you loved giving Tarot readings? I'm actually willing to have one so take the offer before I come to my senses."

Cana stared at Gray for a moment with a mixture of surprise and sadness. This really was the end of their guild. A solemn smile formed on her lips and she rolled her eyes. Gray handed her the deck of cards and waited for her to shuffle them as swiftly as ever. She placed several down in front of him and – just as always – took a moment to admire her handiwork before saying "Pick a card."

The raven prepared himself for the usual response. Gray would pick a card. Cana would flip it over to reveal The Fool. He would get annoyed whilst she laughed. But there was a tiny feeling in the back of his mind, something telling him that things had changed since his days as The Fool. "Third one from the left."

Excellent choice my friend," Cana grinned as she turned the card.

The brunette's face beamed at what she saw and even Gray was a little surprised... Though he didn't exactly know what it meant.

"This card is the Nine of Cups. It stands for comfort, happiness and satisfaction. It represents living for the moment and enjoying the good things life has to offer. It also represents stability and advancement. It signals delight and pleasure with what you have accomplished so far and forms a steady foundation for the future. It means that your worries are in the past and you can look forward to a bright future."

Well that was... Different. Gray was so used to Cana reciting the meaning of The Fool that he'd practically memorised it. It was strange hearing something else come out of the reading. He took a moment to stare down at the happy man on the card before returning his gaze to his brunette friend. "Aren't you gonna ask me to pick another?"

"Nope."

Gray was slightly bewildered. "What so you're saying I'm not a "Fool" anymore?"

"I'm not saying anything," Cana rolled her eyes as she started collecting her cards. She left the Nine of Cups on the ground. "You can keep that one. Have it as a keepsake, so you'll remember me while we're gone."

"Cana please," he laughed. "I couldn't forget you if I tried." They shared a genuine smile for once, as opposed to their usual sly grins. "Plus won't your deck be incomplete now?"

"Eh," she shrugged. "I'm sure I can buy a new one somewhere." Cana tossed yet another bottle of alcohol to the side and sluggishly pulled herself to her feet. "Whelp... Have a nice life. I'm gonna say goodbye to everyone before I sober up and start crying."

The raven couldn't help but laugh. "See ya Cana."

Gray remained seated, staring down at his hands. He was never particularly good at goodbyes. It was far easier to say something along the lines of "see you later" rather than using something as final as "goodbye." He glanced up at his former guild members. Most of the girls were already in floods of tears whilst the guys did everything they could to appear normal... It didn't work of course. A particular blunette girl caught his attention. Juvia was saying a very tearful goodbye to her longest friend Gajeel and even he had dropped his steel personality. It didn't exactly surprise Gray; the duo had been close friends way before they joined Fairy Tail. It was definitely unusual to see Gajeel in such a state, but then again, no one was really acting like themselves at the moment. Eventually the pair broke off, Gajeel moving over to Levy and Shadow Gear, leaving Juvia alone with her thoughts. Gray watched as she started down at her hands intertwining her fingers and fumbling with her thumbs. It was clear she was trying to fight off the river of tears threatening to fall. And when the Ice Wizard noticed dark storm clouds beginning to form overhead, he decided to intervene, though he was almost positive he'd regret it later.

"Uhh... Hey Juvia," he mumbled, brushing a hand through his hair.

"Oh Gray-Sama," Juvia remarked, stunned by the raven's unexpected appearance. "Is Gray-Sama feeling better?"

Gray stared at her quizzically for a moment before it clicked. She was talking about his 'small' breakdown in Isvan. He frowned as an image of his parents' grave flashed through his mind and he turned away. "Oh uh... Yeah. Thanks for that... by the way. So uhh... I was thinking that... If you've not got any plans then maybe you'd want to... I could use some help training with my Devil Slayer magic and water magic is probably the best for the job so..."

"Is Gray-Sama asking Juvia to leave together?" The blunette interrupted, smiling slightly at his coyness.

"Something like that..."

It took all her will power just to prevent herself from leaping on top of him and squealing like a young girl, but she maintained a calmer demeanour nonetheless. "Yes, that would make Juvia very happy. Did Gray-Sama have a destination in mind?"

"Uhh... Not particularly."

Juvia smiled. Taking a step closer to Gray, she clasped one of his hands in her own. "Well, Juvia's sure that whatever destination we find ourselves at, it will be perfect."

Despite the awkwardness, Gray couldn't help but smile. He wouldn't lie, he wasn't exactly in the mood for company and probably wouldn't be for a while, but Juvia's presence had defiantly helped whilst he was out in Isvan and he owed a lot to her. Surely paying off that debt by training together would even out the score.

And with that, the former fairies rejoined the rest of their family for one last goodbye before they set out on their own paths into the future.

It's over! Took me long enough huh? :p

So I do have other things that I started writing and never finished *cough* Mystery Circle *cough* and I do plan on going back to them in the near future. It might be a while before I post anything again but as of now, I don't plan on quitting any time soon. Just gotta get my inspiration back!

Thanks to everyone who read, followed, favourited and reviewed this collection of nonsense!

Buh-Byeeeeee! ;)