Chapter 6: Generations
{Flashback}
"Ice Make:..." Pressing a fist into her open palm, she slowly removed one hand from the other. Now, in that same open hand, a small rose appeared, gathering collective murmurs of amazement from the small crowd of Council Members before her. "You see, my magic has the ability to create objects out of ice. Of course I can create anything, from animals to weaponry, to ordinary objects, making me your top pick for Wizard Saint...if I wanted the position that is."
Gran Doma nodded. "It's a shame you're only here because this was mandatory, Ur. Your magic seems one of a kind, and you're quite the powerful mage as well. With someone like you as a Saint—"
"Oh wow!" Sarcasm rung heavily as the two giant doors that led to the present room flung open. A woman with short, reddish-orange gradient hair appeared, slow clapping in faux amusement as she reached the already huffing Ur Milcovich. "Mary Crane. What could you want?"
The woman now identified made her way next to Ur with the most smug look, belittling Ur's magic with her comments. "Just wanted to be amazed at how you can take a solid matter, Ice, and make objects out of them! That must be so hard!" Again, the sarcasm ran like a faucet, causing Ur's eyebrow to twitch. Doma then raised up the papers from his desk, clearing his throat to break up the tension. "Ahem! Mary, you were next, but since you couldn't wait..."
"My apologies, Gran Doma." She bowed. "I just figured Ur wouldn't have much to show since it was really a basic magic, is all."
"What did you say!?" She threatened through her teeth.
"Now if you'll excuse me, I'll show you real maker magic. You see, anyone can make solid objects, out of a well...solid object! But what takes real strength..." As she spoke, Mary pressed both hands together, slowly releasing it as a bright red light formed in the space between them. Gradually, a rose made completely out of fire formed, Mary holding it in her open palm as she showed the now wowed Councilmen. "What takes real strength, is creating a solid object, out of the intangible. This is why, fire is stronger than ice. You're lucky I have other things to do besides be a Wizard Saint." She winked at her long time rival. Clearly, Mary had won this petty battle between them.
Ur: She was the only one to ever make me doubt my magic...myself. I would always bounce back, and hit her just as hard, but Fire and Ice really don't get along. They can, in terms of destruction, but to coexist..it's impossible. Mary and I proved that. Our back and forths were always even, but there was one time where I truly believed that Fire was stronger than Ice thanks to her...
{End Flashback}
Gray: It's strange..
Kuro: As I stand here before him... For the final time...
Gray And Kuro: It feels like I've known this rival of mine my entire life..
Calium: And...Begin!
"Fire Make: Javelin!" A Red magic seal formed before the Fire Maker, and from it, a plethora of javelins made from flames roared towards Gray at an immense speed.
"Ice Make: Freeze Lancer!" A blue magic seal formed before the Ice Maker, and just as the javelins, the lances came in abundance, roaring towards and slamming into the incoming flames of javelins. Fire and Ice colliding, creating a beautiful array of glacial sparks that fell to nothing as they drifted towards the ground. Through that array however, Kuro was seen speeding towards Gray in a blur. Connected to his feet, were small wings of fire at his heels. The surprising speed was too much for Gray, and the Fairy Tail mage caught a heavy right punch to the gut, causing him to hunch over as Kuro's fist sent him flying backwards through its followthrough.
"Gwah!" Gray's estranged sound coming from the reaction of taking Kuro's punch full force, the Ice Mage went tumbling through the ground before finally rolling to a stop — hands grazing the ground to stop his momentum. The moment he looked up...Kuro was right before him with another right fist reared back.
"Kuro got the jump on him by dropping the incantations to his magic." Reve noted. Luke nodded. "Kuro is amazing when he wants to be. They both started off with incantations, but Kuro jumped Gray by conjuring his Fire Make: Hermès spell without announcing it. Even the little things have shown everyone's growth."
Gray's eyes widened as Kuro appeared before him. With the redhead swinging his right fist for Gray's jaw, Fullbuster placed both arms before his own face to brace for impact. Within that same second however..
"A feint!" Cygnus shouted excitedly, causing Gray to relieve his positioning only to see that Kuro retracted his punch — hands now pressed together as he recited. "Fire Make: Tornado!"
One of Kuro's more powerful Fire Make spells, Gray's eyes slowly widened to their peak as Kuro pressed his hands to the ground directly before him. Just beneath the dark haired male, a flaming Tornado was born, rising from the earth and now traveling back towards the Fairy Tail side with an agonized Gray inside, screaming his lungs out in pain. "Gray-sama!" Juvia shouted in worry from the sidelines as the tornado dispersed, leaving a charred Gray Fullbuster lying on the ground only momentarily. "S...shit! I let him get the jump on me like that!" He cursed himself as he made his way up to a knee, and then slowly back to his feet.
"Oi...what the hell, Gray!?" Natsu shouted at the staggering Fairy Tail member. "You just started!"
"S-shut up!" He shouted back, embarrassed. Huffing once, he refocused as Kuro waited for him on the opposite side, his Hermes technique still viable.
"But he's right...Kuro got the jump on me and now I'm paying for it. Which means the only strategy here now, is to pay him back, or I'll be in deep trouble.." Wiping his mouth from any extra blood, Gray slowly raised to his feet, standing once again with confidence brimming. Kuro returned the grin, a rare sight from the ironically kind hearted Fire Maker. "I'm glad you didn't quit after that!" He stated. "Because I want to absolutely defeat you!"
"Tch! When have I ever shown quit, Kuro? Don't take shots at me like that. Besides... I've felt way hotter flames than that before, so that last attack was nothing to me. Now, let's get started for real this time!" "If you insist!" Kuro shouted, rushing towards Gray with that immense speed once again thanks to the Fire Make: Hermès. Gray quickly took his maker's stance once again, pressing hands to the ground as he shouted. "Ice Make: Floor!" "A weak trick!" Kuro shouted during his pursuit of his ice counterpart. Before the floor of ice could completely cover the area, Kuro lunged towards him, cocking another fist back for a powerful blow. That's when Gray gave off a sly grin. "The floor isn't to trip you up." He murmured. "It's to help me keep up with your borrowed speed!" The second he shouted that, Gray simply spun, turning his entire frame to the left, just enough for Kuro Crane to miss his target, momentum carrying him a bit too far as Gray crouched into his maker's stance once again.
"Ice Make: Knuckles!" Slamming his hands down once more, from a magic seal a group of fists made from pure ice appeared, rocketing upwards as they slammed into Kuro's abdomen, causing him to cough out in pain with widened eyes. Launched back as well, the fire maker landed hard on the newly icy surface, his Hermès dying out as icing on the cake for Gray. He struggled to his feet, but as he tried, Gray lunged for him, sliding at a surprisingly quickened pace as ice extended to a sharp point from his left elbow and right hand. "You're done! Ice Blade: Seven Slice Dance!"
"Kuro! Move!" Waiston yelled, but it was too late. Instead of evading, the second he looked up, the fire haired male was met with a spinning Gray Fullbuster, each spinning slice connecting with direct hits until he finally stopped on his seventh spin, and Kuro fell backwards, destroyed shirt and jacket; completely ripped to shreds. "Heh.."
"Way to go Gray-Sama!" Juvia shouted, swooning in front of everyone as they cheered. White Eclipse was completely silent. "Well that was anticlimactic." Laxus noted. Mirajane nodded with a smile. "Yes, but Gray is still fresh for the next round and now we've tied the score again!"
At this time, Gray held out a hand for Kuro with a small smile. "It looks like ice wins, Kuro. Good try though." His brimming confidence remained even as Kuro refused to move, but it was not even a second later that Kuro's body would suddenly disappear in a mess of flames that quickly fizzled out.
"Huh!?" Gray questioned, looking around as Reve and the others regained their vigor, grinning at Kuro's trick. "You didn't really think it was that simple against Kuro, did you?" The gunslinger asked.
"Tch." Gray sucked his teeth, but as his eyes continued to wander, searching for Kuro, small, red glowing orbs began to manifest around him. "I remember this technique." He said, sliding into his own maker's stance to ready himself. "They explode if I touch them, so if I just stay away from them..."
"Wrong again." Kuro said confidently, appearing a ways behind Gray with his right arm extended, his hand an open palm. With that confidence brewing within a small smirk, the fire maker squeezed his hand shut, causing the fireflies to not only move, but fly around Gray at an immense speed. "The hell is this!?" Gray asked, demanding an answer — one that he would receive as a single "firefly" removed itself from the spinning vortex of its own hive and flew towards the Ice Maker. Once it was in range of the befuddled Fairy Tail member, the glowing bug exploded, causing a chain reaction of explosion all around him. No one could see inside the spinning vortex of flaming fireflies, even as hey exploded. All they could do, was listen as Gray himself let out an agonizing scream that was just barely audible over the loud explosions themselves.
"GRAY-SAMA!" Juvia shouted in fear, worrisome to what the results would be once the smoke cleared from Kuro's technique. Kuro himself waited as well, cautious as he crouched in waiting. Seconds later, Kuro's eyes quickly cut to his peripherals, turning his entire frame about face to avoid the incoming saucers. "I knew you were just fine!" Kuro said as he leapt away from the saucers making another trip around. As the smoke finally cleared, Gray's "body" could be seen falling forward as if he was defeated, only to turn completely into ice, revealing it to be simply a clone of the ice maker before shattering against the earth it once stood upon. Kuro remained vigilante, looking for his opponent with his hands already shifting into his maker's position.
"They're feeling each other out, but at the same time..." Erza began.
"...They're trying to dominate one another." Reve finished. Kuro's eyes to the right as Gray re-emerged, glaring towards Kuro with a plethora of bruises upon his body. That's when the Fire Maker smirked. "So some of those still got you after all. Heh...I thought you would have come more prepared than this, Gray!"
Frowning, Gray slowly shifted into a stance, spitting to the side once before turning to face his opponent once more. "Just shut up and get ready to lose."
"Say no more! Fire Make:..." Gray grinned the second Kuro went into motion. Black markings began crawling up his skin, quickly reaching up to his right eye as his hair stood up on its own. "Kuro!" Waiston shouted, but it was too late. "...Battle Axe!" Simultaneously to his creation, Kuro charged Gray, tightening his grip around the large flaming axe as he kept tunnel vision towards his target. Rearing back, Kuro then swung his axe downward, aiming for the top of Gray's skull. At that moment, Gray simply swayed his right arm from left to right — palm extended outward. From that simple swaying motion, everything in the vicinity just froze! Kuro was frozen solid along with his flaming axe, unable to move in the coated ice he was placed in.
"Shit! Kuro!" Takeru and the others showed their worry as the Fire Maker remained still, encased in his opposing element. Gray simply stared before him as Makarov raised a hand. "Kuro is—"
"Master!" Gray yelled, halting Makarov's call. Gray's eyes never left his Maker rival, only breathing slowly, heavily with a grin on his face as he then called out. "This isn't over.." He said and just as he did, cracks began to form across the ice casing that sealed Kuro. "In fact. It's only the halfway point."
Not even a second later, the ice around Kuro shattered, creating an undaunted light of crystals as they fell to the ground harmlessly. Kuro was free once again, but just as Gray was now, with his fiery red hair standing at attention and white markings appearing around his arms, Kuro Crane himself now stood as the Fire Devil Slayer.
The two stood face to face, both elemental auras mixing together from the close proximity and backlashing from the mixture. Kuro and Gray continued glaring until the Fairy Tail Mage cracked a smirk. "I thought I finally had something to put down the flames. Something that would put me above both you and Natsu. Being above my own friend wasn't a goal, but for some reason, I wanted to never let you ahead of me, and I could tell deep down, that it had nothing to do with our guilds disliking each other. It was something else, but I couldn't quite put my finger on it.."
Kuro nodded. "I felt the exact same way. So when I gained this gift without knowing you had it too, I felt like I've reached that peak. But here you are, in my way once again. So I'm glad this is happening. This will decided..."
Gray finished, "...which is stronger. Fire or Ice."
Like a mirror, they both raised their right hand to their faces, fingers extended straight up as the aura around them began to pick up. That's when the final round of this fight began.
"Fire Make..."
"Ice Make..."
"Gold!"
"Silver!"
From their stances, the aura resonating around them each exploded in their respective elements — clashing once more in a chaotic dance of fire and ice.
"Maker techniques while in their Slayer forms. Geez! I don't know if I'm hot or cold right now." Jaxon stated looking on uncomfortably. "Both of course." Takeru added in the obvious answer. All eyes were on the two Devil Slayers, yet not another word was spoken from the audience as Gray was the first to leap back.
"Tch." He sucked his teeth, looking down upon his right arm which now had somewhat of a burn mark up it's limb. Pressing his left hand to it, he applied his own ice magic to cool the burning, but as he looked up, he could see Kuro walking towards him with brimming confidence.
"Fire's always held more of an explosive trait." Natsu said, arms folded over his chest. Lucy then turned to him, confused, then worried. "Are you saying Kuro's Fire is stronger than Gray's Ice Magic?" Natsu shook his head, keeping sights on the fight. "Not at all, but I ain't saying Gray is stronger either. Just like the others, we'll just have to wait and see what happens." Lucy blinked, then turned back to the fight as well, murmuring to herself. "For Natsu to not just shout out how Gray was going to win...it says a lot about how these guys have always been our biggest rivals. It's scary to know such a thing when I stop to think about it.. Come on Gray! Even the score!"
"Ice Devil's Zeroth Destruction Fist!" Gaining an iced armor plating over his hands and forearms, Gray quickly slid towards the incoming Kuro, deciding not to wait for his opponent to approach him. The distance was covered instantly, yet not fast enough as Kuro too had the same idea against his opponent.
"Fire Devil's Chaotic Fist!" Just like Gray, Kuro appeared with armor plating around his limbs, wrapped in his own element. Two right fists then collided, creating a stalemate of fire and ice once more. The shockwave creating sparkling crystals of frozen flames that fell to the ground harmlessly. This happened again and again as the two continued to exchange blows only to slam fist to fist with each collision. It took some time and energy, but finally an opening was found by Gray Fullbuster, slamming an uppercut to Kuro's jawline. Blood spewing from his mouth, Kuro stumbled backwards from the powerful blow, causing everyone to flinch as everyone cringed from the strike. Gray refused to let up, lunging towards the groggy Kuro with his right fist reared back. Swinging the heavy punch forward, he missed — Kuro ducking underneath out of pure desperation as he attempted to regain himself in such a small window of time allowed. With an opening of his own, the redhead slammed a half hearted right punch of his own into Gray's abdomen, causing him to hunch over with a pained expression. Kuro tried to follow up, swinging a left haymaker for Gray's jaw but the Ice Maker leaned away, causing yet another opening of his own. With that opening, he slammed a powerful hammer-fist to the top of Kuro's skull, slamming him into the ground from the impact.
Gray attempted a follow up, aiming a right fist for the back of Kuro's head, only for the Fire-Maker to just roll out the way. Hands planted on the ground as he rolled up to a crouching position, Kuro pressed down, creating a large heated area just beneath Gray. His eyes widened in shock. "Flame Devil's —" Gray quickly retaliated by pressing his hands to the ground as well, basically mimicking Kuro's actions. "Ice Devil's—"
Kuro and Gray together: "Tower!"
Simultaneously to their actions, a tower of scorching hot flames rose to the sky, Gray caught in the middle at its base as the same happened to Kuro; a tower of ice rising to the sky with the Eclipse member caught within its frozen stature.
"Okay, now it's cold!" Jaxon yelled as he and a few of the White Eclipse mages began shivering thanks to the ice tower. "Woo!" Natsu shouted as he grinned towards Kuro's tower that caused some of his guild mates to sweat from the unbearable heat. "Oi! Even Gray should be burning inside that!"
"Hey, who's side are you on?" Lucy asked, fanning herself while trying to step away from the tower's burning heat. "It's burning hot! I can feel it from here!" Levy shouted. "How can Gray handle that? I hope he's okay..."
"Gray-Sama.." Juvia whined quietly, hands balled against her chest as she ignored the heat the best she could, still keeping a front row seat to the fight.
"I don't think anyone is okay right now. And that goes double for Kuro and Gray." Laxus added.
As everyone continued to watch, the two towers refused to let up, neither one releasing their spells despite being caught inside the other. Reve then yelled out to his comrade. "Kuro! Don't you give up! Fire is more destructive! This is your win!"
"He's right Kuro!" Waiston added. "Even I know! You got this!"
Kuro was frozen solid. Gray was unmoving inside a tower of flames, but suddenly, both towers began to waver. Kuro's Tower was slowly consumed by ice that climbed its counterpart, while Gray's Tower quickly began melting into nothing but a large puddle of water. Now standing knee deep in that water, Kuro panted heavily as he tried to regain himself. That's when Selene called out to him. "K-Kuro! Kuro get up!" She yelled, but all he could do was slowly look up as Gray was seen in the same condition as him, except now as he stood atop that frozen tower once made of fire, Fullbuster held back a large bow made of ice.
"This is it. Good try, Kuro, but I never lose to the same opponent twice. Ice Devil's Zeroth Destruction Bow!" Upon his exclamation, Gray fired a giant Ice arrow with all of his might, even recoiling from his own strength behind it, plus the lack of balance he now had thanks to the long battle with Kuro. The arrow was coming in fast — almost too fast to see. "This is it!" Natsu shouted, everyone on the edge as that arrow neared a Kuro incapable of evasion.
Ur: ...but there was one time where I truly believed that Fire was stronger than Ice thanks to her...
{Flashback}
Ur was on her knees, holding her right arm in pain as she panted heavily. Before her, was Mary Crane, bruised as well, but grinning as she stood next to one of her own techniques. "The Fire Maker's Jar. You jumped right at it because it was made of flames. Just like I knew you would. You thought you'd just freeze this bad boy with your ice, because you're so prideful, but in reality, my Maker's Jar can absorb any element..." Just then the Jar began glowing, and Mary began to bulk up a bit, along with gaining a fiery aura. "...And use that magical power behind it to aid me in strength. This is only the surface of why Fire is better than Ice, Ur."
Ur could only grimace, flinch in pain. No matter what she threw, the Jar would absorb it and amplify Mary's strength. She lowered her head, hair covering her eyes as Mary took steps forward. "Well then, you ready to admit which element is superior?" Mary asked, forming a broad sword in her hand. That's when Ur struggled to her feet. "Some messy trick you got there, Mary." "Huh?" The Fire Maker frowned, arching a brow. Ur spat once before grinning. "You caught me for a bit, but if I can't throw Ice techniques at you..."
{End Flashback}
"Fire Make..." Kuro began, and then finished just in time, slamming his hands to the ground. "...Maker's Jar!" As he yelled, a large jar made of flames appeared, and just before the arrow could hit, it was absorbed by the jar, sucked inside and dissipated into nothing but raw magic.
"What the hell!?" Gray shouted, stuck in a state of disbelief. His panting was only accompanied by his shaking visage, along with everyone else who thought this bout was over. Slowly, as he began glowing and bulking up in muscle, Kuro rose to his feet, creating a long sword in his right hand, strictly of flames. At the same time, Gray dropped down from the ice geyser he created, glaring towards Kuro while bracing himself against that geyser to stay on his feet. "...Kch! Dammit!" He cursed aloud, though Kuro didn't move nor did he change expression from his serious glare. "I wanted to avoid this. I haven't thought of a real counter to that blasted thing. It just eats everything I throw at it...!" Suddenly, Gray's eyes lit up, thanks to the sword in Kuro's hand. Following, a grin appeared on his banged up features. "So It's come to that, huh? I can do that." Kuro raised a brow, but Gray slid into his maker's stance once more. "Ice Bringer!" He shouted, creating a large sword in his hands. Slowly, the devil markings that covered Kuro and Gray began disappearing, leaving them in their normal state.
"This is what it's come to. Where it all started." Gray tightened the grip of his Ice Bringer as Kuro did the same to his sword. "I feel like...I'm living in my own life, yet...someone else's. As if I'm repeating a certain event. I hope the outcome was in their favor if that's the case." His rambling didn't deter Gray's determination nor his own. Instead, the two students began walking towards each other. That walk would then pick up to a jog. "If I can't throw any ice techniques at you with that stupid jar in place...then..."
"The ultimate trap. The Maker's Jar." Kuro murmured, feeling confident as his speed began to pick up. "Thank you, Mary." He now spoke aloud. "Because of you, I'm feeling strong! I know I have more in me than Gray right now, and that's all that I need! Please, Mary.."
"Ur..." Gray murmured. They both then yelled out. "One last time! Push me forward!"
They were both a full speed now, on a collision course towards each other with their elemental weapons reared back behind their heads. Everyone glued to the final draw, Kuro let out a loud battle cry as the two swung simultaneously, a horizontal slash from both sides.
Ur and Gray: "...Then I'll allow you to feel the touch of Ice first hand..."
Clean slices, both mages passing each other in a classic showdown fashion. The second it ended, Gray could be seen with an enormous gash on his chest, burning against his exposed chest in an unbearable manner. He immediately fell to his hands and knees, left hand gripping his chest as he cried out in immense pain. Kuro on the other hand, had nothing on him but a simple scar. "Fire burns..." Kuro said as he stood up straight, turning to face Gray once more with his sword pointed towards him. "That effect...plus the ability to make solid objects...it's nearly unstoppable. Heh, our last fight, and it ended this way...I'm sorry, Mary."
As Gray was clutching his chest, crying in pain basically, Kuro simply stood with a smile. From the left corner of his curled lips however, blood began to fall as he tilted back.
"Kuro...!?" Reve shouted, unsure of what was happening. The truth became clear though however, as Kuro fell backwards, and half way down, from his open scar where Gray's Ice Bringer connected, ice shot out from his chest like stalagmites instantly created by Gray's hands. Kuro then fell to the ground, unconscious as Gray continued to scream in pain as he rose to his feet. With his head tilted back, that scream of pain turned to one of victory as he remained standing. Makarov then raised his hand with a huge smile on his face as he shouted, "THE WINNER! GRAY FULLBUSTER!"
"ALRIGHT GRAY!" Natsu shouted! "GRAY-SAMA!" Juvia joined in, running towards the beaten down ice maker as he fell to his knees with a weakened smile.
"Oi...they caught up just that fast." Jaxon pointed out.
"Kuro..." Kairi called out quietly, feeling down about the hard fought defeat he just took. "I was certain..."
"It's tied three a piece...can I go now?" Takeru asked. Reve looked around. "No. You're going to beat Natsu. I know that. So we need that victory when it matters the most. For either true despair for them, or for a light of hope for us."
Takeru sighed heavily, but remained quiet for he understood Reve's motives. "Well?" Selene asked. "We need someone. Or are we going to let them decide before we do?"
Reve didn't move. "Actually, thats a good idea. Look who's walking up right now."
"Hm?" Jaxon smirked, patting an unconscious Kuro on the head as he began walking forward. "Don't lose. It'd be sad if I made it to the next round and you didn't." Waiston said. Jaxon laughed. "Hey, don't worry about me. This is a mismatch. They really paired this guy up with me, just to fill a spot."
"With that attitude, this better be over quick." Sidney said, which Jaxon simply smirked before walking towards his opponent. That's when Makarov yelled out.
"It's time for the fourth fight! Jaxon Meteoro, vs..."
"Kyahahaha!" He laughed as he appeared before the green haired Weather Mage. Eyes glowing through his headwear with four totems floating around him, the Raijinshu Seith stood proudly, ready to represent the guild that was branded upon his tongue. "Bickslow! Are you both ready!?"
"Don't you dare look down on me! Me and my babies are going to give you a show before we put you down!" The Seith Mage shouted, his babies behind him repeating "put you down" multiple times. Jaxon simply stared before chuckling cockily. "Don't look down on you? That ship has already sailed, weirdo. So, get ready to join Freed in the loser's bracket!"
"Begin!"