Hello my darling Minna! It's been a while hasn't it! (angry mob slowly comes toward me) oh, you're mad? I can't say I blame you, but please hear me out. I love you my darlings, and I intend to finish this story! It will take time, so I only hope you have the patience to wait. This story is beginning to near its end and I already have that planned out. Now it's just a matter of time of getting their and completing the ideas I have! So I hope you enjoy this next chapter!

Anyway, DISCLAIMER! I do NOT own Fairy Tail! All those rights go to Master Hiro Mashima! I only own the plot! Enjoy!

Chapter 25

Gray's POV

I stared at the so called witch with wide eyes, trying to comprehend what just happened. Misaki continued to explain the different ingredients she used and how they may have affected the outcome, but I was still stuck on the vision I just had. I've heard plenty of crazy things in my life but this takes the cake.

I thought over the quickly fading vision. It just didn't make any sense. Past lives, witches… I'm half tempted to call BS if she didn't just did that freaky transformation thing before this whole thing happened. Dear God, this has really screwed me over…

"Well, I can see that you have zoned out on me. Look, I know it's a lot to take in, but it's the truth and it had to come out some time. I was really tired of waiting on you guys making so many mistakes. I tried to talk to Natsu first, but after some investigating, I found out that he was going to get the information from his father very soon. So now all that was left was letting you know."

"….." I felt something rise within me.

"Gray? You look a little red. Are you feverish?" She reached out to touch my forehead but I quickly slapped her hand away.

"Shut up," I mumbled.

"Huh?"

"I said shut up! Shut up shut up shut up! What the hell are you talking about?! What kind of crap drug did you infect me with?!"

"Gray, calm down-"

"Shut up! Oh my God! What the hell are you trying to tell me!? I'm a freaking Bistro, a slave, a freaking nobody! I was a nobody before all this and my life…even though it sucked, it was simple! I never asked for this! Get out! Take your crap and just get out!"

She looked taken aback. She frowned at me but didn't move from her spot. This only managed to enrage me even more. I felt as if I was going to burst. I trembled. I wanted to punch her so much. I balled my fists and squeezed my eyes shut. A ringing sounded in my ears.

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Suddenly I was staring at her on the ground holding her cheek. I breathed heavily barely able to contain myself. Some blood dribbled from her mouth, to which she spat out. My breathing slowed as I realized that I did just what I thought. I punched her. I would feel bad if what she said wasn't complete insanity. She coughed. Blood splattered on the red rug in front of her.

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I felt the weight leave my chest, melting away with all the anger and rage. I bent down on my knee and helped her up. Tears streamed down her cheeks. She covered her mouth with her hand to stop the blood flow. I held her elbow and brought her to the bathroom to clean her up.

A half hour later, I applied basic first aid on her. She held an ice pack against her cheek, glaring at me. Can't say I blame her, I punched her. But when you spout crap like that, what else could you expect?…Now that I think about it though, I prooooobably could've lightened up…..If I did it consciously that is….

"Got that outch of yaw shyshtem?" she slurred. I grinned. She rolled her eyes.

"I guess," I replied.

"I know whach yaw schinking," she slurred again. I almost felt bad that her tongue was swelling up like this…but not really. "Crayshy, bu ish true. I know ish hard to believe, bu it'll take time." I huffed a laugh. She sighed.

"I guesh you need a shecon opinion. Not to worry dough. Dere meeting will be over shoon."

"And who will be able to provide that? Your magic crow?" she narrowed her eyes.

"Igneel Dragneel."

…..

Natsu POV

I followed dad down the corridor, deep beneath the Plantation mansion. After the big confession, he barely gave me another word before whisking me down here. It was dark, damp, and moldy with only torches to light the way. I had never been to this part of the manor before, let alone knew it existed at all. I stared at dad's back, trying to figure him out. He's kept so many secrets, I can't seem to tell if there's anything else he's hiding.

Finally, a few minutes later, we came across an iron door. Dad released my wrist and settled his palm against the metal. He leaned close to it and whispered a few words, his breath coming out in wisps of white air against the door. I tried to listen to what he was saying, but he finished the chant before I could even make sense of one syllable he uttered. A creaking noise came from behind the door, as if an old rusty lock was unhinging.

With a booming noise, the door finished unlocking and slowly opened, musty air whooshing out. I held my nose, nearly gaging from the smell. Dad stood tall, completely unfazed, waiting patiently for the door to push open completely. When it did, he strode in, more or less leaving me here ready to hurl. I suppressed my gag reflex and went after him.

A few minutes later we finally entered a large, domed room. In it resided a cluster of other people, who I recognized as other Plantation owners. In the center was a podium with a book lying on top. I cocked my head to the side, trying to figure out what was happening. I looked around the room some more, putting names to faces when I recognized a very familiar pair of black eyes.

"Dad, what is Zeref Black doing here and where are we?"

He turned to me. "This is the group of aristocrats that know your past history. Now it is time that you become part of it as well. The only times that this group gathers is when we see a shift in society. This has been happening for years, every time your past lives appear. It was fortunate enough that you were born into a knowledgeable family. I was not completely sure it was you, but it is. So now, today we are gathered to begin the start of the final shift. We don't know why you two are tied to the rebellion acts, but the trend is too great not to notice."

"What exactly are we supposed to do?" I asked. I frowned as everyone was gathering in a circle around the podium.

"For now, speculate. But we seem to be missing a few important people. The Heartfilias and the Wintergreens. For now, let me introduce to you the others involved. Many of these families have had some sort of contact with your past lives."

"Wait a second, you mean you have no plan whatsoever? All of this is just a bunch of people with past knowledge but not idea what to do about this rebellion?"

"We didn't know this was going to happen so soon. In fact, it wasn't until you declared you were together with Gray that we began to have any idea that you were the one," another man answered. I recognized the gruff voice as being Jude Heartfilia. Behind him, I saw a short blonde haired girl I identified as being Lucy. I gave a small smile when she saw me. Her heels clicked against the cobblestoned floor as she approached me. She wrapped her arms around my neck for a hug, which I returned whole-heartedly. I inhaled her strawberry scented shampoo. It helped against the smell of this dungeon like room.

"Hello Natsu. Long time no see," she said, her sweet voice ringing like a bell above the chatter of the others.

"I know, it's been what? Not even a day?" She laughed.

"Yes I suppose so. How is your Gray?"

"He's well, he's waiting for me in my room. After whatever this is, I'm going straight to him to make wild love to him." Her face heated up in a deep blush very quickly and I grinned. She waved a hand in front of her face as if to wave away the thought.

"Ahaha, well anyway," she said nervously, "Crux called me back. He analyzed the poison. Some of the ingredients are from our greenhouse, however, there were some parts that are unknown. He doesn't recognize the poison, but he suspects there's a mole in the organization. The poison is far too complex to have been handmade and some of the ingredients are only found from his specific labs." I frowned.

"Who would want to poison slaves?" I asked.

She paused before answering. "I don't know. The Pro Slavery activists have been getting out of hand, but I wouldn't think they had the means to getting poison, or even using poison as a technique for their attacks."

"But the question is," a new voice added in. We turned and saw Zeref approaching us. "How did they get on your Plantation without being spotted as easily?" Lucy furrowed her eyebrows.

"That has me stumped too, but investigations are still underway, we just have to wait for more evidence to be found until we can make any claims. If you have any ideas though, Mister…."

"Black. Zeref Black of Grimoire Enterprises. I'm a new member of the Circle, but my mother, Ur Black, was a member before me."

"Oh," she said. "Right, well, if you have any ideas as to who the culprit is, please let my father or I know."

"Well, I have a few ideas that I would like to discuss over dinner. Tonight maybe?" he asked, leaning closer, smiling

"Ahahaha, that's ok Mr. Black. I can make an appointment for you with my father to discuss those ideas. Thank you for the offer though." She grabbed my arm. "But I think the meeting is about to begin. I think we should go to our respective places. Excuse us." She pulled me to the opposite side of the room, leaving a confused Zeref behind.

"We should have a double date sometime, you and Gray, Loke and I. He and I are going to the circus tonight. We have front row tickets. I easily get some for you two next to us. Then we can get dinner together," she said cheerily.

"Sure that would be great!" We stood between our father's as everyone around gathered in a circle. "How long do you think this meeting will last?"

"A few hours," my dad answered. "But hush now Natsu. The leader is here."

A small figure-a woman from the looks of it-walked in wearing a black cloak, hood covering her head and face. She approached the center podium slowly, removing her hood, releasing long blonde curls.

"Good evening everyone," she said, looking around the entire circle. "Welcome to the Inner Circle. It has been a while since we have gathered together. Who here is new to the group?" A few of us raised our hands. "Welcome. My name is Mia Wintergreen. I'm the Head of the Circle and the spiritual guide. Igneel, you said you knew who the next generation is?"

Dad stepped forward taking me with him. "Yes Mia. My son Natsu Dragneel and his boyfriend Gray are the next ones in line. I believe this is also the final incarnation." She nodded, her eyes boring into my face. Frankly, it was slightly unsettling. Something about the look she gave me was strange yet oddly familiar.

"Hello Natsu," she greeted. "Are you caught up on the history of the lovers?"

….

Zeref's POV

I watched Mia explain to the rest of the new recruits the story. Natsu seemed nervous but I could tell Igneel had already told him the truth. I switched my gaze to the Heartfilia girl, concern growing. It was true that I knew some of the details of what happened on her Plantation and that similar plans were going to happen on the Dragneel plantation as well. I had to get her, Natsu and Gray away from here.

From what I know of the attackers, if either Natsu or Gray are killed by the poison, the cycle will be broken and the lovers' souls will be lost in eternity.

SOoooooooooo, good, bad, eh? Let me know in a review! Not gonna lie, they really boost my self esteem! OH! And as for in the beginning when Gray punched Misaki, for those of you folks whose English is not your first language, that was just Misaki with her tongue swollen up! The translations are at the end of this A/N. And, if it gets a laugh out of you, in order to make that as realistic as possible, I stuffed wads of tissue in my cheeks and started rehearsing the dialogue. Luckily my roommates weren't around to witness that.

So! without further ado, if I didn't answer one of your reviews from the last chapter, and I hope I did not (I would feel so awful if I did), please let me know via review or PM! I know it's a lot to ask of you to review for me since my updates haven't been inconsistent, but I welcome any sort of review, be it a regular comment, constructive criticism, suggestions, a joke, a riddle, a quote from your favorite astronaut, or just you starting a conversation with me. Honestly, I don't bite! Everything is welcome! Except flames, but luckily I haven't had any problems with that and hopefully I can keep that trend going.

Anyway, until next time, Scarlet out! Love y'all!

Translations (as promised) in order:

Got that out of your system?

I know what you're thinking

Crazy, but it's true

I know it's hard to believe but it'll take time

I guess you need a second opinion. Not to worry though. Their meeting will be over soon