Chapter 13: Secret of all Secrets

"Welcome back, Arion. How was your mission?" Mira greeted me as I sat down at the bar.

"My what? I didn't go on any-. OH! Right.. It was uneventful. It was the easiest thing, really." I stammered.

"Well I'm glad you made it back alright." she gave me my usual chocolate milkshake and a cheerful smile before she went to chat with Macao and Wakaba about who knows what. We never had milkshakes where I'm from. The closest I ever got to it was when the rebel villagers would steal cows from the humans and shake them to stir, literally shaking milk. The different flavors of ice cream being mixed together for something this delicious. Genius.

I just sat there slurping up the drink happily until I felt a light tap on my shoulder. I turn to see Gray standing behind me with a lazy smirk on his face. He grabs my wrist and begins dragging me from the guild. "Come on."

"But-! My milkshake! GRAY!"

"It'll be fun."

"But-? Where are you-?"

"Have fun you too!" Mira waved with a smile. Damn her cheerful, unhelpful, good for nothing-

Gray continued to drag me for what seemed like forever. It had gotten to the point where I just forced him to give me a piggy back ride just because I had grown tired of being pulled. "Will you PLEASE tell me where we are going?"

"It's a surprise." he said smirking at me.

A slight blush spread on my cheeks. To this I quickly turn my gaze elsewhere so he couldn't see it. "Ugh! Why are humans so difficult?"

He just chucked at me.

This was the exact reason I liked Gray. When I say things that are obviously offensive, he just brushes it off like I never said it. He knew why I was the way I am. Why I was filled with such anger. Why I couldn't even trust the slayers though I claimed them as my family. He didn't care about my past he just wanted me to believe in the possibility of a great future. I wanted a future with him...a-and Fairy tail.

Ooooh, Ari~!I saw my self standing before me, glowing yellow. She had a goofy grin on her (my) face. Her hair had rainbow flowers all over its large braid and she wore a pink shirt like mine with baggy purple pants and white combat boots. She was just soooo happy looking!

Shut up! I-it's not like that.

Why are you so fickle? My cheerful inner mind asks. First it's 'Oh my gosh I like him' now it's 'him... and the fairies'. Make up your mind!

Maybe it's because I'm a woman. People usually say that's the reason.

I'm a woman and I'm not fickle.

But you're me-! Y'know what? This isn't getting me anywhere at all. Why do I bother talking to my self about these things? It's not helpful. Before I (she?) could respond to her (me?), Gray's voice interrupted my thoughts.

"We're here." I jumped down off of his back swiftly as I look around.

My eyes widened in awe. "Woah!" I gasp. "This is amazing!" I gaze at the small clearing. It was still covered in snow and had icy creations all around. everything sparkled like rainbows in the winter sun that hung overhead. They ranged from birds to pegasi and even to fairies. Everything so beautiful. It was as if the most talented artist in the world painted a mural of all your hopes and dreams and then, brought them to life just by willing it to happen.

The one thing that particularly caught my eye however, was a set golden ice sculptures. I mean they were all nice but, this one was... Breathtaking. The was the somehow golden ice shimmered in the sun's glow. It was of a dragon with outstretched wings that I recognized as myself. On the right wing , my guild mark and on the left, my sun marking. The dragon looked dangerous, like it could come alive and eat me though it's eyes were soft and full of pain and happiness at the same time.

The second part of this sculpture was directly across from the dragon. it was yet another beautifully golden ice statue but, it was of a boy this time. The boy in the statue wasn't doing anything. He just stared at the dragon like he wanted to understand it but couldn't. I recognized him as Gray.

"Gray! T-this is amazing!"

"I'm glad you like it. It took forever to finish it." He runs his had through his hair nervously, refusing to meet my gaze. "I did it for you."

He whispered that last part but I still heard it and it caught me off guard. "For me? You didn't have to do that. Honestly."

"But, I wanted too." He says finally looking at me, a slight blush fanning out across his face. "I even askedLyonforhelp." mumbling that last bit.

"Gray." I could hear his heart beating out of his chest. It made me smile. I hugged him tightly around his neck and quickly pecked him on the cheek.

"Arion. I-I have been wanting to tell you this for a long time."

(-Gray's PoV-)

I shook where I stood. "I have been wanting to tell you this for a long time."

"What is it, Gray?" she says looking at me with her bright emerald eyes.

There was nothing harder that this. Defeating dark guilds who try to destroy mankind, child's play, I do it almost everyday. Telling a dragon princess that you, a human, is in love with her, never actually did that one before.

"I... I just wanted to say that-. It would be great if-. What I'm trying to say is-." okay so I'm a little bit more than nervous. You would be too if you felt the way I did.

"Spit it out, Gray."

I nod and take a deep breath. "I think I love you." Her eyes widen at my words. "Thats why I did all this for you. I wanted you to see that even though you've been hurt, love can be power. Then I used that power to form this golden ice to remind you of your golden home."

"Thats the nicest thing anyone has done for me. It's so beautiful I can hardly bear it. But..."

"No matter what you feel for me" she quickly turns her back to me. "We can not be." she said this in her best proper voice like she usually does when trying to sound serious.

"Why?"

"I have a secret to tell you, also."

"What is it?"

"I-I'm... I'm engaged." She said sadly. "...to Griffin" If I didn't feel it before, I did now. Griffin? Really!? That prick? My heart broke into more piece than I can count.

I'm engaged...

The words echoed through my head and stung each time.

I'm engaged...

I turn away from her abruptly and start to walk away. "Gray, wait! Please." she calls to me.

"I hope you two have a happy life together,"

"But, Gray-"

"Leave me alone."

"I'm so sorry, Gray."