Warning: bits of gore. Get ready on a feels trip.
Disclaimer: Fairy Tail is not mine.
Recap: Gray lets go of Erza after their three-year long relationship. To make things easy for her, he puts the blame on himself. Jellal comes back, Erza is asserting her feelings towards the man along with the mission that put her and Gray out of contact in the next years. But the mission proved out to be of a larger-scale than they thought would be. Gray breaks free from capture and attempts to warn everyone else.
But will he make it? Or was it better he doesn't?
Chapter 13: Fated Meeting
It started off as some normal day in Magnolia until it happened- and fast. In a second, buildings were attacked by a large warship floating towards the gates. People had no time to stare in awe as they ran for their lives. The next moment, civilians struggled for escape against the onslaught while all mages defended.
War raged without warning. And it took a blink of an eye to see Magnolia crumbling down against unforeseen enemies.
The next thing that happened, Fairy Tail was targeted- bombarded. "It's happening." Makarov watched as the city was overrun by dark guild mages. Eyes flaring at the sight, it took everything of him not to burst his anger on the pink-haired medical advisor of Fairy Tail.
"Makarov, explain." an icy tone managed to break the old man's thought train.
No answer. "Why isn't the kingdom doing anything?!" she hissed.
"They can't. They won't. I've already warned them of this. But it's either they refused to listen, or they can't listen because there's someone manipulating the strings from the inside." Makarov tried as he could to contain his temper.
"I've always known those fools aren't one to be trusted." Polyusca tightened fists in disgust.
"That doesn't matter now. The Council might be of help, but I doubt it right now. We will defend this guild with the city." his resolve was there, blazing and engraved in the depths of wrinkled old eyes, "Magnolia has nothing to do with this. Fairy Tail is their last target before their plans could take place."
Polyusca wasn't one to question such resolve, she wasn't one to ask too many questions anyway. Sagely nodding, "Then defend we will be doing." she turned her back from the shorter man and faced the rest of the members of the guild. "You heard what he city of humans does not really concern me, but I know all of you do. Now don't go hold back until the last ounce of magic you have!" she yelled.
They all roared in return, Natsu was out of the door that instant as well as the rest of the crew. Polyusca watched them go, then glanced as another explosion shook the earth on a distance. The warship was awfully large to cover the entire land of Magnolia from the Central town.
That's when she heard him say, "I'll go." and really, Polyusca would have wanted to berate this man as much as she wanted, but she can't. She won't.
Makarov was worried where his resident spy and ice mage has been to all this time. He hadn't come back after days.. The thought of him and the danger of the mission would've let himself reconsider.. But the nagging feeling won't stop. And now that Fairy Tail's been attacked, he doesn't know if he would choose to believe that Gray might be late.. Or maybe he didn't make it.
No. He had to have trust.
"Gramps.." the resident fire mage came up from behind, mature in ways more than one, and the fire inside green orbs made the old man hesitate.
"He will be back." That was what Natsu said. Simple words and yet it had a heavy meaning to it. Of course, Gray will be back. He will.
"Yes, I know." Makarov replied, hopes raised as he clenched his fists to sweep down the whole street of enemy forces. But the ship is what he's planning to meet.
Natsu nodded in return, grinning and reverting to his childish self. Fire licked the ground in an instant, blazing trail as he charged. Lucy was there behind him, over the years learning close combat other than expanding her celestial powers.
Erza.. Erza was supposed to be there.. Three years ago, she could've been here fighting with the team. But now, he's worried.. They just left the guild a few hours before and yet, it's still not enough to get out of the city.
They must be still here, he thought. They should be fine. I mean, Erza alone can beat these bastards singlehandedly.
And that ice princess, he hissed. Of course, I'm the only one that could rival him. No one else. He better come back or else, he'd kill him.
There was a blast somewhere above, and the dragonslayer was forced on his back stumbling on dirt. The sound deafened him, but the heat comforted him. Then came the next. And then another. And then red was everywhere.
"..rza.. Come on. Wake up.. Wake up."
It was the voice Erza heard when she came to after being hit by an explosion. Everything around her covered in smoke, debris, and destruction.
What happened?
Her neck stung a bit when she looked around her finding no one.
No one except the familiar sight of a blue-haired male in front of her and kneeling. "Jellal!."
"Erza, thank God you're awake. Magnolia's being attacked by the full force of the Alliance, they're heading for Fairy Tail!"
The quick recount of events, and the heavy punch it gave her made her thoughts fuzzy. Jellal stood up, holding out his hand while he kept the other one on the back, hidden, to help her stand, his voice was soothing and reassuring. Erza figured, she always sought comfort in his words.
Erza gladly took it. And then it flashed right in front of her. A blade glimmering against sunlight, staining it red. Slicing through the blue-haired man with a sickening crunch.
Time passed by slowly, as if mocking her. Watched as Jellal's body slumped to ground and then motionless. Good painted the Earth so fast. The only thing she could do was watch in wide eyes as she saw who had killed him..
Erza's face darkened in horror and infinite anger and everything, equipped into her finest armor and didn't hesitate.
All the other did was defend. Erza blocked out every single noise out of her system. She failed to notice the familiarity of the chilling cold and piercing eyes that eyed her in return, she failed to notice the shimmer of the blade she effortlessly broke into two. She failed to notice the sight of blood blooming from all the cuts and bruises that covered the man which made him wince in pain added with her furious rage.
When she did notice, it was too late.
The corpse had changed in a gross ways: blue-hair turning white then thinning until it's only like a spider's web, flesh decaying into bits of ashes that clung, muscles vaporizing, eyeballs falling out of sockets and melting into liquid until the bones were only the things left on the ground soaked in blood. Thus revealing the dagger hidden underneath the corpse's body. Thinking back on it, this magical and cursed dagger could've been buried deep into her skull if he wasn't killed.
She looked back wide eyes and jaw gaping wide in horror. She looked back the man who she just tried to kill, who was trying to save her.
"Gray." said man never moved an inch. A frown visible across his face which had been painted in red from the forehead then down his left eye. The wind blew hard enough to cats down his hood and revealing the rest of his hidden form beneath the cloak. The dried crisps of blood, and the new blooming ones, the nasty bruises, the ragged cuts haplessly treated with bandages.
When she did realize, it was already too late.
"Tch. Is this the way you greet me, Erza? What a bother. Really." a smirk formed from bloody lips.
"G-Gray.."
"There's not enough time. I'll tell you the plan on taking down these bastards and ending this once and for all. I have to report to Master Makarov and tell him all about it, too." Gray scowled but continued talking, not sparing the redhead a chance to say something.
Hang on. You can do it. Ignore it. Just.. Ignore it.
He repeatedly chanted to himself. The look on her murderous face earlier that made him sure she wasn't hesitating on killing him on the spot; the look of hatred on her when their eyes met; the complete indifference and coldness staring down on his very soul that sure broke his heart into more shatters.
It almost looked like he was a hideous criminal whom she wanted to behead that instant. It was as if she didn't recognize him.
But now, she was just frozen over there and extreme guilt was on her expression.
You got to be kidding me.
He can't bear those eyes, he can't erase what has been done to his heart. He can't stop hurting over her just by the mere glance of her.
He continued in the most pokerfaced manner he could muster in the moment, and even after telling all he had to say, he continued putting an apathetic expression on his face to hide the pain.. Both physically and psychologically. "
When he disappeared from her and had escaped hiding from the nearest torn wall that kept their sights apart, he broke down on knees almost as if giving up. The shaking didn't stop, and he felt worse than ever. If it's because of his half-treated injuries, or his overwhelming feelings; he still didn't care.
Gray allowed himself to shed one lone tear as he decided one was enough to ease the pain. Clenched his fists, and then proceeding on his mission to get back at the guild as soon as possible.
When Gray was finished, he was gone in the wind. Leaving a stunned Titania whose knees bucked to the sand. Thoughts leaving her, feelings overriding her.
Wha-what have I done?
It was at that moment, Erza remembered, and wished she did sooner, that it was the second time around that she failed to say SORRY.
Girl with Life Full of Anime: Huehue. Sorry. I'm sooo sadistic that way. Sigh:)
DreamscomeTRUEE: Haha. I might have to work on Erza's side sooner or later. Because reslly, even if she's Titania and Queen of Fairies, she's still a woman who's struggling over her feelings. Don't worry, if I'm in the mood I'll end this pretty much like a fairytale would. Thank you for reviewing!
scarletmage: D'aww i wish, too sweetie. But of course! This is GrayZa to the core! So i hope you hang on for a bit, neh?
I reslly enjoyed the sight of reviews and reading them all over again xD to tell you the truth, i was losing hope for this fic but then you guys came along and dropped a review. I got so inspired, and for that THANK YOU. Very very much.
But i guess i hadn't updated for so long so it should be my fault anyway. Sigh. I wouldn't be surprised if this ends up with no reviews...
Just in case, i just want to tell you guys it was nice doing this story and entertain you with it :) this was my first longest fic, and I'm quite proud for it. Thank you for supporting me all this time. I'm sorry if i didn't make up to your expectations, but i still hope you had fun. *smiles* because for me, it was fun while it lasted.