Alright, so I suppose I was evil enough for one week. Let's get on to the next installment.

This one probably would have been done sooner if my friend hadn't dragged me down into the world of Blade and Soul. So blame her for your continued suffering!

The Orb Of Hastaka: Sacrafice

Chapter Six: All I Have To Give

Natsu had been in plenty of fights in his life, had taken many blows. He had known pain more often and in more ways then most. The concept and feeling were not foreign to him. However at Happy's sobbed words he felt a pain explode in his chest that was worse than any punch he'd gotten from Laxus or Gildarts. It felt like his heart had stopped beating. The organ just sat in his chest like a frozen block numbing him from the inside out.

Gray was…Gray was dead?

It couldn't be true. He wouldn't believe it. His hands curled into fists as both sadness and fury raged within him. Gray, the perpetual pain in his ass. Yet still, his guild mate, his best friend, hell his fucking brother! There was no way he could think of a life without that icy bastard in it. Who would continue to challenge him on his level? Force him to grow, to learn, to become stronger? Who else could he rely on to always have his back when things got rough? Because they always did. If there was one thing Natsu had learned it was that life would always be rough but as long as you had your friends beside you, you could beat anything.

How was he supposed to beat anything now? They still had so much they had to do together. They had to find Zeref, beat him and defeat E.N.D. It was a promise both of them had made to their fathers before they died in the same battle. Whether or not he had ever wanted to admit it before, he and Gray were tied so closely together that it almost seemed like fate that they not only ended up in the same guild, but on the same team.

He didn't know when they had started, but tears were now pouring from eyes that stared vacantly forward. They did not see Happy struggling out of his arms as his body heat began to rise. He did not see Lucy scramble forward to save the frightened and distraught feline. Nor did he see the celestial spirit reach out for him, only to snatch his hand back with a short hiss as it was burned by just getting near him.

All he saw was the last moments he had had with Gray alone. The night before, in the hot springs. He saw the despair in those blue eyes as they overflowed with tears, and heard the soul deep sadness in the voice when it spoke. Guilt flushed through him like a molten wave. Gray had been upset and Natsu had let him run off because he figured it was just easier that way. Sure, he had had tried to talk to the ice mage earlier, but he hadn't tried as hard of he could of.

And now Gray was gone and the last moments Natsu had of him were of depression and fists. For some reason that shook something deep inside of him hard enough to unleash an overwhelming wave of pure remorse.

He threw his head back and roared. The sound tore out of his throat at volumes louder than he normally produced. So loud that the other three near him were forced to cover their ears and duck down. All the sorrow, all the hurt that was assaulting his soul flowed into the call. Fire burst out around him, melting the snow and blackening the grass at his feet before whipping upward with his cry, funneling into the sky like a flaming tornado. Anyone in miles would be able to see this beacon of mourning.

And yet, it only lasted a few moments. As soon as it had started it was gone, flickering out. And it took the user with it. Natsu's lids fluttered in pure exhaustion before his eyes rolled back in his head. As he began to collapse backwards, Loke darted forward and caught the unconscious dragon slayer. His hazel eyes turned towards Lucy with a tangible grief in them.

"I do believe Natsu is starting to figure it out." He whispered. His gaze then swept to Happy who was now curled up in Lucy's arms. Loke shifted his weight, supporting the weakened dragon slayer against his side. "Happy, why don't you tell us what happened. Did they take you with Gray?"

"No." Happy shook his head slowly as he moved to sit in Lucy's lap. He drew in a deep and shaky breath before starting his story. "That crazy power knocked me into a tree, and when I woke up I heard people talking. I snuck back over just in time to see some guy with green hair knock Gray out and carry him off with two other people. I followed them cause I though I could help Gray escape or at least lead you guys to him. But by the time I found him…it was horrible…"

*H*A*S*T*A*K*A*

Gray's entire body was arched off the wall that he was collared to, screams that spoke of the worst kind of pain tearing his throat raw. He was almost sure he could taste blood on his tongue from shredding vocal chords. At this point he was amazed he even had a voice left to scream with. But he could not stop it. The pain was like nothing he had felt before. Every muscle felt like it was bulging and ripping apart, every bone like it was splintering into tiny fragments.

He knew forced magic drain was painful. He had seen what had happened to Gramps when his magic had been drained by Phantom Lord, and he had heard the effects when the kingdom of Edolas had drained Natsu and Wendy. But knowing did not preparing for actually feeling it.

It was like his body was on fire and nothing could quench the flames. They seared at his nerves, leaving them raw and exposed for when the waves of magic energy rubbed viciously against them on its desperate claw out of his body. His very soul was being torn asunder and in the process it was crashing his body along for the ride. He wanted to pass out, hell, at one point he was even begging for the death they promised him. Anything had to be better than this overwhelming pit of torment. Yet there was one thought that kept him going, one tiny kernel in his mind that allowed him to continue to endure.

Better him than Natsu.

His entire body was writhing, heels kicking desperately at the ground as if he could somehow get away from the pain. Of course it didn't work. Gray twisted his whole frame, somehow managing to find his way to his knees. The collar around his neck tugged back against his torn throat, but he did not care. His back arched again with another bellow of agony. The collar bit viciously into flesh, tearing at the pale skin and opening up welts that oozed crimson from beneath the iron. The blood trickled down his neck, flowing in thin streams that continued down over his heaving chest. His heart was thumping wildly as he tried to pull in air past the screams. The organ would give out soon, he was sure of that. Whether or not the mind and soul were willing, the body could only take so much before it simply stopped. He knew that he must be reaching that point for even the sporadic beats of his heart caused a sharp pain to twist through his chest.

'Just let it end!' His mind was roaring over the torrent of his own vocals. 'This had to be enough. Let this be over.'

He felt weak having such thoughts, but he couldn't help it. His mind was unfocused due to the strain and it was beginning to break down. It would not be much longer now until he simply ceased to exist. All his muscles seized, body going completely taunt as one last soul deep scream poured out of him.

And then it was over. The case dropped back down over the glowing orb, cutting off the magical syphon from his body. There was still some left, but barely enough to keep him functioning. His entire body went limp, as if his bones had melted and he collapsed into a shuddering, panting heap on the ground. His lids hung heavy over blank, hazy eyes as he took in nothing of his surroundings.

Strangely enough, the only thing he did notice was that he was cold. With so little magic left, Gray was unable to regulate his body temperature to match it and he could finally feel the icy touch of his own maker magic. He would have smiled at the irony if he even had the strength left to do that. But he had nothing. He was nothing more than a spent, empty vessel. His eyes started to drift shut as a sigh left him, even that action causing him to cringe as the breath of air passed through his mutilated throat.

So this was his end? A shuddering, pain wracked mess on the floor? Gray had to figure it was what he deserved. His existence had brought so much death and pain to this world that it was only fair that when he went it would be an ugly and agonizing affair. But at least it would do some good. Natsu would be far from here by now and safe. The dragon slayer would live a full life because of his sacrifice and that was all that mattered to him. As he had told Breckon, it was not in vain.

He must have lost consciousness because suddenly something was trying to jar him from a darkness he had not even seen creep up on him. Something soft was battering at his cheek, causing his whole head to shake in slow, pain filled throbs. His brows pinched together in a flinch and he tried to pull away from the discomfort until a voice reached past the low ringing that filled his ears.

"-ay! Gray! You gotta wake up! Please! We gotta get you out of here quick!"

That voice, it was familiar. It filled him with hope and despair at the same time. They weren't supposed to be here. It would ruin everything. He had promised not to fight back, not to try and escape. If he went back on that they would use Natsu as their next feeding toy and his death would be for nothing. It wasn't like he wanted to have some grand martyr death that people spoke of for years to come. But he did not want to die without being able to protect those that he cared for. Giving your life to save someone was pointless if they ended up dying anyway.

Pale blue eyes cracked open, but remained unfocused. Through a hazy film they saw the strange blue blur that stood before him. The creature had its paws on his cheek and was pushing down in a desperate attempt to roused the downed wizard. It was a sight that touched him deeply, but that he had to put a stop to.

"Ha-" Gray choked on his own voice as it burned painfully in his throat, coming out as nothing more than a croak. He swallowed hard and tried to manage speech again. "Happy…what are you doing here?"

The blue cat jolted as he heard Gray's voice, apparently not realizing he had managed to wake the ice mage. He crouched down in front of him, paws now moving towards the collar that was secured around Gray's throat. He tugged at it, only managing to jar it about and reopen the wounds on his throat to leak out a fresh streaking of blood. Gray flinched but found he still lacked the strength to pull away from the unpleasant sensation.

"I followed them when they ran off with you." Happy answered, still trying to find a way to get the iron ring off of Gray. "I left Natsu and Lucy back there. I didn't want to, but I know you needed help more. I'm sure Loke will come back to help them out. So come on, Gray, we have to get out of here. Help me out!"

Gray blinked slowly as he registered the words. So Lucy and Natsu weren't here? That put him at ease a bit. His stiff muscles started to relax, causing him to sag into the floor. There was no way he was moving anywhere any time soon. He didn't have the magic power left to break the collar and chain and there was no way that Happy could do it. Besides the fact that he couldn't leave. Not unless he wanted to forfeit Natsu's life.

"Gray?" Happy whispered, pushing on his cheek again. "Come on, get up. "

A groan left him as Happy's motions caused one last spike of pain to drill through his skull. After that things started to fade. His body went numb and his fuzzy vision began to go dark. The sounds that reached Gray's ears sounded like the we're coming through a layer of cotton. He could hear Happy still pleading with him to move but he knew he was far beyond that. At least death had the final sympathy of being painless.

"Happy…" He managed to choke out. "Listen to me."

The small feline stopped abruptly sensing the seriousness in the ice mage's broken voice. He withdrew his paws from their spot on Gray's cheek and sat down near his face. Those large eyes were filled with tears as he looked down at the tattered frame of one of his oldest friends. He knew he was not going to like what the other had to say but he knew that he had to hear it. After all, there was no one else around to listen.

"Happy, you have to leave." Gray continued on, the halting manner of his speech betraying the damage his own screams had done to his voice. "These people, they are powerful and they are insane. You have to go back to Natsu and Lucy and tell them to leave. Do whatever you have to do but get them out of this area. You tell them that I am dead and then you run, and run fast. Because after I'm gone they are going to go after Natsu and you cannot let this happen to him too."

Gray was not even aware that at some point tears had begun to leak from his hazed eyes. He knew what this was. His death speech. He could feel that cold numbness spreading and forming words and a proper train of thought was becoming more difficult. His voice sounded distorted to his own ears and he wasn't even sure he was speaking clearly enough that Happy could understand him.

"Gray, we can't just leave you here." Happy sniffled. "I won't let that happen! And you know that Natsu won't either. He'll save you!"

Gray had to smile at that. Or at least he thought he did. Happy was right, and the thought could not help but warm his heart a bit. Natsu would move heaven and earth to try and save him. The idea made him feel special even though he knew that the dragon slayer would do the same for any of his friends. But for now, he would allow himself to believe that it was because he was special to that pink haired freak. That Natsu would burn down the entire forest just because it was Gray that was missing. But still…

"He would die trying." Gray murmured. "And you cannot let that happen. Please Happy, just do this one last thing I'm asking you. There isn't much time left."

"Is it because you love him?"

Gray still had the energy to be startled by the cat's question. Was he just being his childish self, or did Happy somehow figure out the truth? Damn, two people in two days. He was loosing his cool and calm persona quick.

"I heard that guy talking to you before." Happy continued. "He said that you gave yourself up to save Natsu. Which means that you can't die! Natsu would never forgive himself if he found out that you died to save him!"

"Which is why you won't tell him any of this." Gray cut the cat off as sharply as he could manage. "He must never know. Happy, its already too late. They drained all my magic power. I'm barely holding it together here. Find them, tell them that I am dead and then get the hell out of here! Tell them that I am sorry I wasn't stronger.

"Tell Lucy to try to push Juvia towards Lyon. They are both going to need each other after this. Even if he's an asshole, he'll be good to her and treat her right. And tell Erza I'm sorry I never got to be S Class with her. It would have been fun.

"And tell Natsu…" Gray trailed off at his, a faint smile tugging at his lips. "Tell him nothing but he still has flames for brains."

The last of his energy spent, Gray sagged down against the floor, body going limp. His eyes began to drift shut but at least he had gotten the last of his message out. The others would leave and be safe, they would go on living normal lives and Gray Fullbuster would become nothing more than a cherished memory.

He gave one last smile before a tremendous buzzing filled his ears. It droned on and wiped everything else from the world around him away. All that was left was an opening abyss, beckoning him towards its darkness. It promised no more pain, no more despair. It whispered to him of a final everlasting peace. A place where he could stay forever and never again worry about the agony that life brought him.

Facing it, Gray opened his arms and with a faint smile plummeted into the never ending darkness.

*H*A*S*T*A*K*A*

Lucy pressed one hand to her lips as Happy told his story. Tears tracked heavily down her cheeks as she felt a true despair boiling up from the pit of her stomach. Not only was Gray dead, but his death had been agonizing and lonely. He had died in tremendous pain with no one by his side but Happy. None of his other friends had been there to save him or at the very least send him to the next world in a kind embrace. No, his last moments had been so tragically like the rest of his life. Nothing but demons, fear, pain, and trauma.

"Oh Gray…" She whispered against her fingers, voice thick with tears and cracking slightly.

Happy looked up at the blonde wizard with large, sad eyes. He had left some of his story out as promised. The parts he had overheard that scary man speaking about, how Gray loved Natsu. How all of this was because he was trying to save the dragon slayer from the same fate he had fallen too. The blue feline sniffed, wondering if he should share it anyway. It did not seem fair that Natsu would never know something so huge.

He turned towards his long time friend. Natsu was still resting against Loke's side, eyes pinched closed in unconscious frustrations. Wouldn't it be better if the other knew that this whole thing was inevitable? That Gray had not died in vain, that there had been some purpose to all of this? Happy started to open his mouth before Lucy placed a hand on his head, stilling him. The feline looked up at her to find her shaking her head.

"It would make it hurt worse." She whispered. Happy blinked slowly. So they knew the big secret? For a moment he pouted, feeling like a child that had been left out of the big family secret. He was stopped though as the blonde pulled him close, hugging him tightly even as she still shook with tears of her own.

"Lucy?" He nearly whimpered.

"Loosing someone important is no where near as bad as learning that someone who loved you gave their life for you." She murmured into the cat's fur. "Gray knows that more than anyone which is why he asked you not to say anything to Natsu. Let this secret follow him to the grave or Natsu will spend the rest of his life seeking revenge for something that he cannot ever get back. It will take away the rest of his life."

The celestial wizard stood slowly, pulling Happy close as she did. Her legs still shook in grief but she managed to tap into some inner wealth of strength and used it to lock her knees. It was time once again to prove that she was a Fairy Tail wizard and that she was made of stronger stuff. Her brows lowered, face set in a steely mask of anger and determination. Brown eyes snapped over to Loke who seemed to read her mind. The lion spirit smiled and with a nod, rose to his own feet. He pulled Natsu up with him, letting the still unconcious man rest heavily on his shoulder.

"W-what do we do now?" Happy asked softly.

"We go back to the village and heal up." She murmured before that same steely gaze passed over her features, hands clenching into fists against Happy's back. "There, we call for reinforcements and go after this guild and get Gray back. No matter what, we never leave family behind!"

Loke was beaming with pride at his wizard's strength, and shifted Natsu's weight to better hold him. He knew that at this moment, they could only hope to rescue Gray's body before the guild tossed it out and that by bringing down their guild they would get revenge for his death. Tilting his head towards her, he lifted his hand to offer her a thumbs up.

Happy looked between the two Fairy Tail members, feeling a spark of hope in his chest. Of course, of course his family would make things alright. He could always depend on them. There was no way they would leave any part of Gray behind. His eyes filled with tears once more and spilled over his blue cheeks. He nodded slowly.

"Aye!"

So it seems I decided to remain evil for one more chapter! Guess it's the angst loving witch inside me. Though I do promise some real answers and maybe even some reveals in the next chapter. I plan on it being a longer one again. These shorter plot building ones have been too short for my liking, lol.

Anywho, read, enjoy, and remember…reviews let me know what you like and motivate me to churn out more faster!