There was a moment where it was as if time stood still and then Natsu caught a momentary break, quickly getting out of the headlock and rounding up to stare at the familiar-yet-unfamiliar face.

"You're not Gray…" Natsu said in a sharp tone. He noticed the slight shift in the other's expression at the mention of the name. "Who are you?"

A familiar expression of snarkiness appeared before Natsu.

"Why… I'm his brother."

Natsu's eyes widened.

"Bu-but Gray never said anything about a brother…" Natsu muttered confusedly.

"Oh, I take it he didn't say anything about me, huh?" The other snorted. "Wouldn't surprise me but," he pointed at his own face, "we've the same face… we're twins."

"I see." Natsu crossed his arms. "And what do you want with Gray?" The fire mage asked, suspicious.

"I want to see my brother." The other repeated, now in an earnest tone. "We got separated when Deliora destroyed our village and killed our parents."

"Why weren't you with him?" Natsu's seemingly innocuous question provoked a slight twitch in the other's eye.

"I was in a different part of the village. When I got back home," his voice became strangled, face scrunching up into a painful grimace. "When I got back home it was no more. But I d-did notice portions of my p-p-parents," he stuttered, tilting his head forward so that his expression got masked. "I thought… I thought Gray was with them."

"How have you known Gray was alive, then?" Natsu questioned.

"By chance. I think that we crossed paths a while ago. But I only realized it was him when it was too late."

"Mmmm. Okay…" Natsu uncrossed his arms. "I'll take you to Gray. But first we need to make a quick stop." He turned on his heel and headed back to the main street.


Natsu caught sight of Lucy, quickly heading to where the celestial mage was looking to the entrance of yet another store – this one with precious and semi-precious jewels – with a bunch of bags on the floor circling her.

Her foot was tapping on the floor impatiently.

"Lucy." Natsu began, attracting the other's attention to himself.

"Ah, Natsu. Finally you arrive and…" she paused, tilting her head to the side. "Hey. What's Gray doing here? I thought he was…"

Natsu raised his hands, making her stop her train of thought.

"This isn't Gray, Lucy. It's his twin brother, huh…" He turned towards the other. "Oi, what's your name again?"

"I didn't tell you in the first place." Was the prim answer. "But my name's Shiro. Shiro Fullbuster, nice meeting you." He extended his hand towards Lucy and kissed her hand.

The celestial mage let out a choked giggle.

"Now that was different." She blushed a little. "That settles it, then. Let's go back to the guild."

Natsu shrugged.

"Did you find your dress, at least?" he asked.

Lucy only grinned at him.


The doors of the guild opened and Lucy strode inside, confidently. Natsu was coming after her and with Shiro walking behind. Still, the fire mage could understand her confidence and happiness, she was looking great in the dress.

There was an expectant silence, the further they got into the guild.

Then, there was a bright flash and a wave of noise that came from the guild members coming forward and yelling "happy birthday!" at Lucy.

Everything got kind of confusing for a little while, with people congratulating and complimenting her, and then, among the commotion, Lucy turned to Natsu and many eyes followed her.

That was when the guild members noticed Gray. Questions started flying, the noise rose.

And then Gray entered the main hall from the opposite end from where Lucy, Natsu and his look-alike were. Before long, a heavy silence fell on the guild, permeating the whole space.

Gray stood confused, looking for the reason for the unusual silence.

Until the moment when his eyes fell on that person.

"You?" was the surprised question.


Unbetaed. Written late at night. My apologies.