Title: Death
Author: CreateElements
Rating: T-rated for character death
Description: Gray looks back on his life.
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail.
Death
"What you leave behind is not what is engraved in stone monuments, but what is woven into the lives of others." - Pericles
He had done the impossible.
Gray Fullbuster lived past the age of nineteen. He mastered ice-make at a young age. He joined Fairy Tail. He won Fiore's Grand Magic Games three times. He saved the world twice and evaded death more times than even he could remember. He survived countless wars amongst dark guilds, dragons, demons and even invading countries. Gray Fullbuster had done so much and more. Yet here he was, dying.
He wasn't dying because of dragons or demons or even because of a mage. With everything he'd been through and seen, he never expected this.
Gray Fullbuster was dying of old age.
Gray adjusted himself in his bed and sighed. His old bones were not nearly as strong as they once were. For years now, they groaned when he moved. Although his mind was as sharp as ever, his body had become frail. His once handsome features had become withered and wrinkled with age. Over the years his once dark eyes had lightened with age. His jet black hair now silver in color.
Despite the betrayal from his body and time he couldn't complain. He was happy with the life he had lived. He had managed the impossible many times over.
Through time and the wars he mourned Fairy Tail's losses, but it was small compared to his fulfillment in life.
He was never happier than when he was with his family. His beautiful wife, Lucy, and his four children, and his grandchildren had become his whole world. Never before did Gray think his life could be great. His closest friends, Natsu, Erza, Lisanna, Lyon, Juvia and his true family, were the best things that could have happened to him.
He was proud of his life. But most of all he was proud of the life he had built with Lucy. His four children were his pride and joy. As they grew together Lucy and Gray encouraged them to become mages. When the time was right they each chose their paths: Two ice-makes, one celestial mage and one fire mage. Much to his dismay his youngest daughter had wanted to learn from Natsu. Putting his pride aside he of course had encouraged her, besides training Natsu's second son as an ice mage had been payback enough. The kid had been more reckless then Natsu himself.
But now, Gray was ninety-three years old. As his children grew they fell in love, more times than he could count, and started their own families giving him wonderful grandchildren. The eldest grandchild was preparing for his own child. He planned on naming his daughter after her great grandmother.
The thought of his wife made his heart ache. Somehow he had survived the loss of his best friend, twice. He'd lost her twice. Yet this time he knew she wouldn't be coming back.
Old age had claimed her.
Lucy had died two years ago. When Gray thought about it he found it funny, seeing as how he was older. He's youngest son and his girlfriend, at the time, moved back home to help him through the loneliness and sadness.
Erza was the next to follow, Lyon and Juvia followed suit one year later.
Many Fairy Tail, Blue Pegasus, Sabertooth and Lamia Scale members he had grew up and became friends with had died of old age. Looking back on it, Gray realized only a few remained from his generation. He would be buried alongside if fellow guild mates and Lucy.
Now, with almost everyone gone, Gray knew his time was nearly up. He could sense it. But rather than feel scared, like most, he simply felt indifferent. The world simply did not need him anymore. His duties as a mage were long finished. His children and his many grandchildren were grown. The job fell to them to protect this world now. He had no doubt in his mind they would live up to the legacy Fairy Tail and its allies held.
He smiled as a man he once knew entered the room. He has hardly aged in the forty years. It was a Dragon Slayer thing. Natsu smiled at him as he took a seat next to his bed.
"You know I will watch over them right? If I mess up Lisanna will kick my ass. If she doesn't Levy will." Gray smiled slightly. He saw the unshed tears in his old rivals' eyes as he looked at him. Natsu could smell the death creeping up on him. Around him he could hear his children shuffle. Gray watched as his eldest son, silently argued with his wife begging her to take the grandchildren and leave. She pressed her lips together and Daniel gave up. He had lost the argument. She looks so much like Erza. She's just as suborn. The scene made Gray chuckle. He hissed in pain as his bones protested.
Out of the corner of his eyes he saw a tear slip down Natsu's cheek.
Daniel placed his hand on his father's shoulder. He was as stubborn as Natsu and Gray combined. He wasn't going to leave. None of them would.
It is in that moment his chest tightened, but not in sadness. He realized his time is coming to an end.
A smile graced his wrinkled face. He was going to get to see Lucy again. She'd promised they would see one another again. He closed his eyes and a picture of a young Lucy flashed before his eyes.
A knowing smile crossed Natsu's face as he nodded his head, "See you again, old friend."
Gray smiled and feel into darkness. He saw a bright light, and a seventeen-year-old Lucy waiting for him. She wasn't the only one, behind her stood many of his lost family.
He saw Erza, Lyon, and Juvia in their late teens and early twenties. He saw Elfman, Cana, Mirajane, Alzack and Bisca, waiting for him as well with smiles. He glanced behind them, and recognized the faces of Makarov, Gildarts, Macao, Porlyusica, and Mavis. They smiled. Gildarts crossed his arms in away that made him feel nostalgic. Mavis waved madly with a bright smile on her face. Lucy reached out a hand and smiled to him.
Gray, grabbed her hand and pulled her close. Lucy always kept her promises. Without missing a beat he kissed her.
She let a tiny smile play at her lips as he assaulted her lips.
A/N: So I hope you all liked my last entry for Graylu Week 2013! It's been awhile since I have updated... opps. I know super late but o well. Well this one made me cry. This is by far my favorite chapter.
Thank you for sticking around and seeing this story through to the end!
Interesting fact: As you get older your eye color tends to lose its intensity and becomes lighter.
Special thanks to: Sesshome 4Ever, kjayanimefan, JcL107, Kyto Touche, Megacheer97, Tsuna97, GingerLily01, TaleWeaver, IceKeys121, Guest Reviewers, Jenaro Drakonite, Tonlor and anyone else who I may have forgotten!
Thank you to all of you for the follows, reviews and favorites. It means the world to me that I am not the only Graylu lover out there. I hope I did the paring justice!
Keep an eye out for my next story Forgotten Gates! (Currently being rewritten.)
Until Next Time -
CE