Wow!

This one was really long. Guess that's good, right?

Anyway if you would review and stuff that would be great.

Thanks! DQA out.

Chapter 19: You Promised

"Where have you been? Are you alright? You're not hurt are you? Are you hungry? Thirsty-?"

"Griffin, I'm perfectly fine. No need for all the questions."

"I know. I'm just glad you found help when I couldn't help you myself. But, why are you here?"

"Why am I here? I do live her don't I?"

"Yes of course...but, I heard from the sky dragons that Grandine wasn't there so I figured you went to that Porlyusica woman and stayed to visit with your friends."

"Oh, yeah. I stayed there a week after I woke but, something came up and everyone had to leave."

"I don't want you there! I don't know what's on that island and I know I can't protect you there."

"I won't need your protection! I can handle myself!"

"And you handling yourself got you poisoned and beaten up. You can't go."

"Who are you to tell me what to do?"

"You don't have to tell me what happened between you two."

"Huh-?"

"I can hear it in your voice. I can see tears forming in your eyes. I am no fool, Arion."

"I-" Grrrg~. My stomach was growling. I guess I was hungry.

"No matter. Lets go and see if Helena has lunch ready."

"Sure."

~3 Months Later~

I was to be coronated soon and trust me I'd much rather be going on missions with the fairies. Because of this I made a call to the guild over lacima. This time Macao answered. Truthfully I was hoping to speak with Gray buI, I knew that the test was still going...

"Hey Macao. What's up?"

"Oh hey, Arion. Nothing much really. How are you?"

"I'm good actually. What about you? Your'e not getting old on me are you?"

"Of course not. I'm as young as ever. I think it's you whose getting old. What are you? 400?"

"Ha ha very funny. Anyway I just called to see if you need me for anything."

"No not today maybe later though. Looks like rain so we may need help patching the roof.

"No problem, I'll take care of it when I can."

"Thanks so much, Arion."

This conversation probably happened once every week for a while.

~2 Years Later~

"Arion. Arion you there?"

"Yeah. Macao I'm right here. What is it?"

"Well this is hard for me to tell you-"

"Do you need me to help you with lifting something heavy again?" I tease. "Y'know it's okay to ask me even if I am a girl, right?"

"No it's not that it's-."

"-Another strange thing fall into the backyard?"

"No just listen to me, alright. I didn't want to have to tell you this over a lacrima transcription but, as a member of Fairy Tail, you deserve to know."

"Know what?"

"The group that left for the island haven't come back. We've heard word that the island disappeared along with everyone else. I just thought you would-." Click. I hung was lying to me. It couldn't be true. They wouldn't die. They ALWAYS live no matter what happens to them. Shock turned to sadness and then rage. I ran into my room and started tearing every thing up. I flipped over the bed and broke the dresser in half. On top of that I reached into the wardrobe and began ferociously tearing up everything i touch. Every dress and every shirt. I just about charred the walls charred the walls and destroyed anything I could get my hands on. Everything and crying hysterically all the while. Well, everything except his jacket. I just couldn't do it.

"Arion-?" I guess he was caught off guard by the sight. I don't blame him. Any sane person would be. "What happened here?!"

"Macao called me just now. He said he died on Tenrou."

"He? Who is he?"

I fell to my knees still clutching onto the jacket. "G-Gray..." I struggled to get his name out.

"Oh my. Come here, sweetheart. I'll-"

"NO! No. Just-just don't try. Leave me here." I commanded.

"As you wish, dear." He walked out of the room and closed the door behind him. I continued to sob into the jacket until I had cried myself to sleep.

You were a dragon but today you are a fairy so you gotta act like it. Just think of it as a new set of wings. His past words were so clear as they echoed in to my sleepy mind. The next day I had it in my mind that I would no longer be a princess. I would no longer be tied to Griffin. I couldn't be at least not with the heartache I felt.

I would simply be a fairy.

~7 Years Later~

I've changed so much since them. After I decided to leave my throne, The Tribunal hesitantly stripped me of my fire, earth and sky magics. Along with that power, my blue hair turn back black, though my eyes stayed green and my scales stayed vibrantly turquoise. They said it was because I was still bound by blood to those things or something... I don't know, it didn't really make sense to me either. Whatever... Anyway, I now wore my hair like Freed wears his but, with a braid trailing down the middle and my bangs didn't cover half my face like his. Instead of my usual out fit, I now wore a similar shirt, high-necked with white trim, though navy instead of yellow. Black skinny jeans and black ankle high boots. I also wore the jacket Gray had given me seven years ago.

Things in Fairy Tail are different now, too. So small.

Macao is running things with Wakaba as his assistant. Reedus is thin, Droy is big. Bisca and Alzac got married and had a child. A lot has changed. Out of everything though, the major difference is that no one is ever happy anymore. Everyone sits around sulking and wondering about what ifs. I was no exception.

"I'm going!"

"No you're not!"

"I am!"

"Stop being so stubborn!"

"You stop being stubborn!"

I can't believe I was so stupid. That fight could've been avoided. I could've apologized. I should've. Now he's...he's...

Gray...

"What giving up already?"

"Yeah that's exactly what's happening right now." I respond sarcastically. He chuckles and takes off his jacket only to put it around me and take a seat in the snow. "Oh, I don't need this."

"I know. It's because of that whole dragon thing, right?"

"Yeah. But thanks anyway." I start to take the jacket off when he stops me.

"Keep it."

"You sure? You might need it for those days when you are actually fully clothed." I jeered at him while resting my head on his shoulder and watched the continuos snow fall.

He nods which initiates some sort of awkward silence. "Hey, Ari?"

"Yes."

"I just um-" he looks at me.

"What is it?" and I look at him. Our eyes meet, emerald staring into navy.

"I u-um..." he starts leaning forward

"Spit it out, Gray" I whisper. I could hear his heart beating out of his chest.

He continued leaning towards me while putting his hand under my chin to bring my face closer to his "Arion-." is this really about to happen?! Gray is going to kiss me!

Gray...

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

"What is it, Gray?" I say looking into his navy eyes.

He continued to look at me. He looked like he was almost sweating as he confessed to me that day.

"I... I just wanted to say that-. It would be great if-. What I'm trying to say is-."

"Spit it out, Gray."

He nodded and took a deep breath. "I think I love you."

Gray...

"He got away." said Gray when he finally returns to the room. "How is she?"

"She's-"

"I'm fine. Griffin let me down." He obeyed me and I slowly walked towards Gray. I held my sore body all the while. I stare into Gray's eyes and I watched his emotions dance. He's just staring at me with no emotion. Infuriated, I raise my and to him and slap him across the face.

"I guess I do deserve tha-" I interrupted him with a kiss. A kiss that I knew he was waiting for. I grab the collar of the navy shirt he wore and pulled him closer with the arm I had around his neck. I felt him giving into the kiss after he realized what was happening. It was a kiss full of passion. Passion that I knew I could never feel for Griffin, who stood there watching me quietly.

I pulled apart from Gray and release him and his now wrinkled shirt collar. "If only you knew how you made me feel. If only you could've seen the butterflies that danced in me when you told me that you loved me." I whispered to him. "If only..."

"Arion..."

Gray.

You promised me you'd come back. I know you didn't say it but, I know what you meant.

You promised me!

"Just as always, it's only noon and you already look so serious..." Damn, that Twilight Ogre goon is back. He had snapped me out of my sulking. "That's why you're a puny little guild."

"You don't have any ambition! Ambition!"

"Thibault! Get outta here!"

"Arion," Macao, the new guild master, called me back and sighed. "I thought I told you not to come here anymore."

"Hey, hey... Is it really okay for you to be talking to me like that? After all we are the guild that represents Magnolia."

"Master, please let me beat this sorry sucker's ass. I'm begging you." I am begging and pleading at this point.

"You better stay in your place girlie."

"Arion! Stop! Fighting them will not help."

"Fine." I say sitting down at the bar.

"There was a time when you were Fiore's strongest. but, now your era has come to an end. Compared to this dump, it's obvious which guild will be more beneficial to the advancement of Magnolia, right?"

"You may be a bigger guild but, we have spirit."

"You can't get by on just spirit alone."

"What did you come here for, Thibault?" asked Macao, nervously.

"This month's pay. You're late on the rent."

"You didn't pay again?!" Wakaba asked, frantic and disappointed.

"We haven't gotten any work this month!"

"We'll pay next month, just please wait."

"Come on now. When you were on the verge of collapse, who was it that came to the rescue. We were the ones who stepped in and loaned you the money, weren't we?"

"Why did you except their help when you knew they were this stupid..."

"Stop it, Jet!"

"But...!"

"Just wait until next month, Thibault. We'll pay up." Thibault had a snarky smile covering his face. Out of nowhere, he kicked Macao in the face.

"Macao!"

"You bastards!"

"How could you?!"

"How pathetic! So this is Fairy Tail? It's pitiful!" Thibault's underlings drank everything and they even hit on poor Laki. To add insult to injury, they left us with a trashed guild...again. If Macao would just let us fight back, we could... "Don't forget. It's next month."

"You okay, Master?" I ask him.

He just brushes me off. "I'm fine."

"Let me help you, Macao." He takes my hand and I pull him up. I hear a slight whimper come from Reedus.

"Yo, come look." We all walk over to him and notice some drawing sprawled out on the busted floor. They all pictures of... us. Everyone just stared at them with sorrowful eyes. Gajeel and Wendy with Carla and Lily. Then there was one with Shadow Gear and the Thunder Legion. Jet and Droy grew teary eyed and were weeping in seconds. Mira, Elfman, Lisanna and Cana then one Natsu, Lucy, Erza, Gray, Happy and Juvia. Warren wasn't far behind. The real tearjerker was the picture that had everyone in it, so full of youth and happiness. I didn't recognize the person in the final picture but, I assumed it was Laxus because of the descriptions I had heard from the others.

"Every moment they've been gone, we've become weaker." Max was right. I want to say something but, I know that if I try to speak I will end up crying too. And I've cried enough.

"Our time to close may be coming..."

"I DON'T WANNA HEAR THAT! My heart feels like its going to break."

"You've done well, Master." Wakaba tried to reassure him, to no avail.

"Ever since then, Romeo hasn't once smiled."

"What is that? It's like a buzzing, hovering thing?" I say.

The buzzing sound goes off again. "There it goes again!"

When we get outside, I saw that there was a large shadow flying over head. "What the hell is that?" I ask while shielding my face from the wind that was kicking up.

"It's Blue Pegasus's Christina!"

"Christina?"

"It's their battleship." Max clarified.

Just then a strange voice was screaming about how it smelled of...sentimental perfume? I could literally hear him sniffing. And then he...JUMPED? What the hell is going on here?

The weird man fell on the ground directly in front of me. "You...fell?"

"I'm Ichiya-"

"We under stand how you feel, Ichiya-sama, but won't you settle down a bit" Three more men (who were obviously a lot smarter) lowered themselves onto the ground.

"Blue Pegasus? What the heck is going on-"

"You're as beautiful as ever Laki. Those glasses totally suit you. Do you mind if I call you 'baby'?" Those three, who I now know to be Hibiki, Ren, and Eve, were flirting up a storm over there. Laki is so popular today...

"Can't you do something other than flirt?"

Ichiya, now standing, called them off and continued to say how he wouldn't forget about how he fought alongside us or our friendship. That was most likely before I joined. The conversation continued on until Ichiya finally said, "Tenrou still exists."

"There's no way thats possible." I just couldn't believe something like that to be true.

"We have to send a search team." Max said.

"Bisca and I are going."

"Alright, Alzac. Jet, Droy, Warren and Max, you all go. Arion you go too."

"I'm not going."

"Why not? Don't you wanna see if its true?"

"No! Sorry I mean, I do but what if its not true. I-I just can't- What if it isn't true? What will you all do? Jet, Droy, what happens if Levy is actually dead? Or Natsu? Or-?"

"Or Gray?" Jet reasoned. "Its a chance they're but, there's also a chance there not. I will go if that means I might be able see Levy again. If there is even a slim possibility, I'll take it."

"Of course we are unsure but, we have to try." Great now Alzac is even lecturing me. "You have to have hope."

I turn to walk back into the guild. Just agreeing with the nonsense they spat. "Well, I send my hope with you. Good luck." These days, I had no hope.

"Gray."

"Arion."

"Don't misunderstand my being here as forgiving you. I'm here for the others."

"And don't misunderstand my calling Lucy's phone for a week to talk to you as me missing you."

Out of nowhere, he hugged me tightly for a second and let go just as fast. "Don't die. I will never forgive you if you do."

"Well, I wasn't forgiven in the first place so I have nothing to lose from you."

Two days later, Thibault and his goons came back. "There are a lot fewer people here today..." He said. "Rather than a guild, what is this? Some sort of friendship club?"

"Thibault! Payment's due next month, isn't it?" Wakaba clarified.

He instantly replied, "Our master. Well you see... he said that simply won't do. Its a problem if payments are not made on schedule. If master's said it, then it can't be helped."

"We don't have any money to pay you guys."

"Stop it Romeo." Macao commanded.

"Macao, I respect you as the guild master but, we can't just let them treat us like that-"

"What's up with that attitude, shitty brat, annoying girl?"

"Being tamed by these punks...has turned everyone into cowards. I'm going to fight to keep Fairy Tail's name from becoming worthless."

"That name became worthless long ago." Thibault pulled out his club but not after blowing out Romeo's flame. he begins to swing the club towards the boy.

"STOP!"

"ROMEO, NO!" I run over to shield him before Thibault could make contact.

"You will NEVER be above us, as long as you live!" We braced for impact but it never came. All there was, was a loud crash against the wall behind us. I opened my eyes and I saw a person in a post- kick stance. He smelled like...? He smell like Natsu- LOOKED liked Natsu. He even had Natsu's toothy smile. Then that means...

"Gray...?"

He was staring at me with those eyes of his like he didn't know who I was. Was he- was he really here? Was this really my Gray?

"Bye, Ice Boy."

"Bye, Dragon Girl." Gray. Were you really saying goodbye that day?

"Gray..." I fell to my knees and began crying. There is no way this is possible. He walked over to me slowly and held out his hand for me. He pulled me off of the floor and I quickly pull him into a hug.

"Hey."

"Gray... You're supposed to be dead. How can you be here?" I hugged him tighter than ever before and cried hysterically into his shirt. I was shaking. This just felt like a bad dream, like someone was making fun of me by sending me illusions of someone who wasn't supposed to exist anymore.

"Well I'm not dead so why are you crying?"

"I missed you so much, Gray. When you... died, I didn't know what to do."

"Stop crying. Arion. Arion, look at me." He pulls out of that hug to make me look at him. I'm sure my eyes were puffy and red right now. He just smiled at me and wiped the tears from my eyes. "I'm here now so you have no reason to cry anymore."

"Oh, Gray. I'm so happy you're back."

"OH, YEAH! WE'RE BACK!"

That night we partied harder than ever before to celebrate the return of the lost fairies. The music was loud, the food was good and the fights, more extreme than ever.

I guess I can have hope.

Just this once.