Disclaimer: I am not the owner of Fairy Tail

Returning to the village was a rather calm affair. Lyon spent his time talking to Ur, likely trying to catch up a bit more. Gray would have liked to do the same, but he was still tense and on edge with everything going on. So, instead, he got to spend his walk back listening to Zeref's rambling inside of his head.

Did you know there's the spirit of someone I killed on Tenrou Island? She's…not exactly dead and she can't respond, but she is someone to talk to.

I'm rather irritated with the predators in this place. None of them seem to understand my warnings to stay away. The longer I remain here, the more I remember how fond I am of this island…and of course, that never ends well.

Have you ever realized how people tend to ramble when they have nothing to do? I often speak out loud to myself to pass the time, musing on magic or whatever I happen to see at the time. Does it irritate you to listen to it? I can't exactly turn off the spell, you know, and when I speak, it likely amplifies my thoughts, making them audible to you. Speaking with you is almost like speaking to Mavis…except I can actually hear a response from your thoughts, if I listen close enough. Which, admittedly, I do. Do you listen to me as well? I imagine you've heard some dark thoughts if you do…

On and on it went…an endless stream of chatter. Gray didn't know if he wanted to listen in or not, considering what might end up on the black wizard's mind. Not many people could claim to know his mind, though if he took this kind of a risk, Gray imagined he had some kind of protections against what thoughts Gray would hear. It'd be just like the telepathy from before where it was just a block of silence.

Hmm…not quite. As I explained before, I have a massive amount of control over my thoughts. Years of practice, I suppose, creates such a thing. Meditation usually allows me to almost completely empty my mind, so if you truly tried digging for information I'd rather keep to myself, I could merely begin meditating instead. This is not the same as blocking you from hearing anything, however, as it requires my intentional focus on meditating to empty my mind. Have you tried meditation yourself? It is a calming hobby. For wizards, it often lets you grow your strength without even realizing it. I'd recommend it, for someone with your potential. It might make work easier for you in the future. Afterwords, you may look into studying other forms of ice magic. There's a wizard I know who has mastered nearly every form of ice and snow magic…it was from him that I learned how to at least manage something with your magic earlier…

After seeing how quiet Zeref was in person, it was a bit surprising to have him ramble so much in his head. Was it because it was thoughts and not words he was hearing? Gray didn't know. Oh, I'm simply more comfortable like this. Being near others always puts me on edge. Even during our brief telepathic communication before, we were still in the same room and thusly triggering that same discomfort. I feel as if I can never relax if I am visibly close to people. That discomfort keeps me quiet, I suspect. Without seeing you, it is almost like talking to the air.

Having answers to his thoughts was vaguely disturbing too. Sorry. I have nothing else to do right now other than talk…not that I have much to discuss with you, I suppose. So, he was just rambling out of boredom then? The man's mood could flip way too suddenly for Gray to keep track. How has Natsu been? Not since I saw him in the village, of course, but since…well, since you've known him, I suppose.

Oh, he wasn't going to let Zeref get his answers so easily, not after what the black wizard was doing to him. While he couldn't help but think about Natsu briefly at the mention of the dragon slayer, he quickly tried turning his attention to…all of the questions Zeref never answered. Why would he answer Zeref's questions if Zeref wouldn't explain anything about himself? His curse was a problem that would be solved far easier if Zeref actually said something about it. Plus, the random details about his demons were just pointless pieces of information that did nothing to move them forward.

I did not plan on speaking about my demons, you know. This time, the man's thoughts seemed to actually pause. Gray frowned, looking up and seeing the village in front of him. So, the guy actually had secrets about his demons then? It didn't seem like it was just on the process of making them, if he was guarded about even mentioning them in his head.

This time, Zeref did not reply. An odd calmness seemed to be seeping into Gray from the place that had seemed like a persistent pursuer, watching his every move. Zeref's observations didn't seem to be very prominent anymore and it almost seemed to try and push Gray to relax with him. He scowled in irritation, sighing and stomping his way through the village towards where he'd been forcibly taken away from Erza, Lucy, and Natsu.

"We'll talk to them and then you can go get your friends, alright, Lyon?" Gray said. The other ice-make wizard nodded, pulling away from Ur. "Black's spell is gonna be a pain to deal with. He won't stop rambling on about the most random of things."

"And your complaining about it is going to be a pain for me to deal with. Remind me again why I agreed to help you?"

"Because the two of you should get along better. You did grow up like brothers." Ur seemed to be doing better, after her encounter with her daughter. However, there was still a bit of a strain to her smile, likely with Ultear still on her mind. "Besides, you still need to figure out what you're doing next, Lyon. Last I heard, your goal was to kill a dead demon. Since that isn't possible, I imagine you need something to do to occupy your time."

"I have plenty of ways to figure that out on my own."

"Oh really? Because I just finished being a block of ice for nearly a decade. Sorry, but I don't think my knowledge of magic is all that applicable anymore." Ur grinned. "I'm probably taking a break from the whole teaching thing as a result. Maybe I'll follow Gray and find a guild, or just find a nice countryside home to retire in for a change."

"And not reunite with your daughter? I thought you cared for her more than that, Ur."

Ur's mouth twitched, but she did her best to hide it. "Be careful what you say, Lyon. We want to keep the mood light, since we're going to be meeting with Gray's friends now."

Lyon grew quiet and Gray sighed, pushing the door open again. Yet, inside the building was empty. "Doesn't seem like anyone's here." Had they left already? Gray frowned before blinking and thinking back to exactly what had happened.

"Damn it. They're probably off looking for me. Z-er, Black sorta teleported me away with him without much warning." Gray turned around, preparing to leave before hesitating by the door. "One of them is a dragon slayer. As a result, they're probably tracking my scent. That means they'll realize I've returned soon and join us here." He turned around, sighing. "For now, I want to talk to the people here. Black claimed to have a bit of an unusual connection to them and I want to see if they know anything about him in return."

"I suppose that's at least better than nothing." Lyon glanced over between them. "Since this entire trip was a waste of time, I guess I'll be returning to gather my companions."

"I'll help Gray ask around. I may not be that familiar with curses, but I do at least know a few unusual things about magic."

"That won't be necessary." Gray glanced over at her, grimacing. He wanted to work with her, and trust his former master. Yet, Zeref obviously wouldn't let that happen. "This guy is secretive. He's already given me a few threats already about revealing things to others. I'd rather not involve you if something were to get out that he wants hidden."

"And you think I'm going to let you deal with it alone?"

"Trust me." Gray met her gaze. "I know you are used to protecting me, but I'm not a child anymore. I've grown up and I'm not so quick to rush into action when there are other options. The wizard we're dealing with will act on his threats and he's more than capable of making our lives miserable if he wants to."

"I still don't know what makes you think he's so powerful. Clever, maybe, but not strong," Lyon said.

"Did you not see what he just did to Gray?" Ur glared over at Lyon. "I may have been…distracted, but that doesn't mean I was blind. He was able to turn Gray into nothing more than his puppet, Lyon. From there, he was able to use Gray's magic as if it were his own."

Swallowing, Gray took a slow breath and turned down to stare at the ground. Learning that Ur had a daughter, dealing with the rapid shift in plans…all of it weighed heavily on him. Yet, the nature of this spell itself was something unsettling if he focused on it too much. "That's just the beginning of what he's capable of, I imagine." Gray's voice was quiet, yet steady. He took another slow breath, trying to ignore the growing acknowledgement of exactly what had happened.

Do you plan to put yourself into dangerous situations often then? I do not enjoy participating in conflicts, after all. So long as your actions don't put my own goals at risk, you can rest assured that I will treat this spell as little more than a low-cost, long-distance telepathic connection with some added benefits, should I choose to use them.

Gray closed his hands into fists, scowling. Yet, his focus was interrupted by the continuing conversation around him. "Hmph." Lyon shook his head. "I suppose you do make some valid points. However, if it does come down to a fight, I'll surely be able to handle him, now that I'm prepared for his little enchantment tricks."

Jutsu Shiki enchantments aren't usually the sort of thing one can prepare for. Unless he's suddenly gained a skill in script based magic, he'll be just as hopeless as before. Jutsu Shiki? That was Freed's magic. Well, that would explain why Lyon got so irritated at least. Interesting. I suppose it is somewhat more common now than it used to be. Most people cannot effectively use it, given the time it takes to set it up. That style is best used within a team, while others serve as a distraction and then lure enemies into the trap built by the user. Guilds make it rather easy to gain such a team, I suppose.

"Regardless, how strong he is as a wizard doesn't matter. If anything, it only makes me more motivated to try and help while I'm still figuring out what to do about Ultear," Ur insisted.

If they are aware of what will happen should they reveal it to others…I suppose there is no harm in them hearing of who I am. Gray paused, blinking in surprise. I have a feeling you won't back down from this little quest of yours, regardless of how futile it is. And, I'd rather not be forced to kill you after I've put forth all this effort to get you ready to kill me. So, a compromise solves both of our issues. Your team can know the truth, so long as they are aware that I will hunt them down for revealing to others that I am alive.

"Great." It didn't come out that enthusiastically, given the fact that it was just more threats coming from the guy. Gray sighed, running a hand through his hair. "Congratulations. You've convinced him to let you join in on the threat to your life, if you reveal a thing about who he is to others."

"Well, I'm glad I could convince him to trust me so much," Lyon commented dryly.

"More like he thinks you'll take his threats seriously." Gray glanced over, seeing Lyon frowning in confusion. "I'll be honest, I haven't exactly seen a lot of evidence to prove this, but it would explain a lot of what he can do." Taking a slow breath, Gray crossed his arms over his chest. "The wizard we're dealing with is supposedly a legend. He claims to be Zeref."

"Zeref?" Lyon frowned. "I cannot say I've heard of such a wizard. Well, Black mentioned him once, but I didn't care to hear the details."

Ur went pale, however, her eyes wide. "That can't be. Zeref shouldn't be alive anymore."

"Part of the curse. He claims it makes him immortal. I actually do believe that." Gray turned towards Lyon. "I injured him, when we were fighting. His wounds healed before I could even see they were actually wounds in the first place. The guy's got some insane healing going on, at the very least."

The more unnatural the power used against me, the slower I heal. That, at least, is something I've gradually come to learn. My demons worked well in proving that much to me. It was why I was— His thoughts cut off abruptly. Zeref's mind went blank, and Gray realized that this was why he didn't want to speak about his demons before. It related to something he had planned. Was he hiding the very reason he made the demons in the first place or something? Were they a part of the plan that involved Igneel somehow? The other end of the connection remained silent, leaving Gray with no answers.

"And I still have no idea who this is. What is so bad about this Zeref person?"

"You really haven't heard of him?" Gray kept staring at Lyon, who scowled and shook his head. "He's the wizard who made Deliora. Who made all demons, really." Gray saw Lyon stare at him, his eyes wide. "You dragged him into your plan, not even realizing who he was? All he cared about was figuring out how his demon died so he could replicate the spell on himself."

"He wants someone to use iced shell on him?" Lyon looked between Ur and Gray. "So that is what has you so tense. You intend to actually use it, don't you?"

"If I don't, he plans to kill Ur. Sorry, but I'm not just gonna let that happen, especially not when there's actually a way to reverse the spell now." Not that anyone really knew it. Gray almost wished he'd been more involved in creating the reversal spell. Maybe then he could make a back-up plan and teach someone how to return him from that state.

Oh, I very much doubt you'll be able to devise the methods I used to reverse it. Creating spells requires an understanding of the foundations of magic, of its core principles. With most academies now shut down and unavailable for study, I suspect you have had no formal training in such matters.

"How did you even find him in the first place?" Ur asked, folding her arms over her chest. "Dark guilds would have been trying to track him down, if they thought he was alive. The two of you running into him out of luck just doesn't seem to fit."

"Well, I was attempting to free Deliora. As Gray said, Zeref did seem to have an interest in the demon."

"And I was tracking down some friends who were stupidly taking on a job to break a curse on this island." Gray rubbed the back of his head. "Speaking of which, I really should get back to focusing on that. We're not gonna get anywhere if we just stand around and debate about Zeref, in any sense. I'd rather keep trying to move forward at least."

Lyon nodded. "Very well. I think this situation just got all the more challenging…perhaps it is a good thing you came to me for help, Gray. Facing off against someone who can create demons is likely beyond a wizard of your ability."

Yet at least he understands how to ensure his magic is stable and sturdy…What? Gray didn't even want to consider Zeref defending him in some type of debate with Lyon. "I doubt he's anyone you could handle either, but for now, I'll take all the help I can get," Gray said. Lyon scowled, but still just shook his head and took off. Glancing over at Ur, Gray sighed. "You ready to start asking some of these villagers about Zeref? If the curse he placed on them has faded, their memories should be back to normal."

"Sounds like a place to start at least." She paused, frowning over at him. "Be careful, okay? Getting involved in something like this again isn't exactly what I had in mind for you when I tried to stop Deliora."

"I know." It wasn't like he'd planned for this either. Now, he was a bit trapped. Fairy Tail could probably try and help, but they'd be reckless about it and he had a feeling that being reckless around Zeref was a good way to get killed. So, rather than elaborating, Gray just walked outside, splitting up with Ur to ask villagers about Zeref.

The village itself was small, which helped make it easy to find the demons that were actually out and doing something. Even more lucky, he was seeing some of them with an appearance reminiscent of Bobo's in broad daylight. Sure, there were some still trapped in a normal form, but the ones in demon form had to have broken free from the curse.

Gray approached one of the demons, ignoring the more human-like figures due to his goals. "Uh, hey." The demon turned around in response to Gray's voice. "Sorry to interrupt, but I've been curious about something." The demon had been tending to some sort of garden when he approached, which just seemed like a strange hobby for a demon in general.

"Ah, you're one of the wizards that came to break the curse, right?" The person looked young, with light blond hair and an outfit made from island materials, much like Lulu's had been. His main article of clothing looked like a skirt made of leaves, which was just a bit strange, really. The coloring didn't really match well with his now-purple skin. "Thank you, by the way. It's strange, but it seems as if the curse has lifted at this point. Yesterday, I thought I was a cursed human, but waking up today…well, I can see things a bit more clearly, though it's a bit muddled still."

"Ah. We didn't really do much of anything." Gray rubbed the back of his head. So, Zeref hadn't lied about time erasing the curse either.

Of course I didn't. There is little to be gained from lies of any sort, Gray.

Well, Gray had yet to see anything that proved Zeref believed differently. "But you remember things properly now?" The demon nodded. "And you guys actually are demons? I ran into someone who said that was the case."

The man's shoulders sagged and he seemed to smile. "Oh, thank the gods. I was wondering how we'd keep that hidden with all of you wizards around town, now that things are going back to normal. Well, mostly normal." He rubbed the back of his head, awkwardly glancing down at his current form before meeting Gray's eyes again.. "Chief isn't quite sane yet, but he also lost Bobo rather tragically during all of this. I can't say I blame him."

Gray might have had more information on Bobo, but as much as he wanted to alleviate their grief, it wasn't his information to share. So, he focused on the task at hand instead. "This is going to sound strange, but do you remember anything from before you were a demon?"

Something went distant in the man's gaze, looking off towards the wall that surrounded the village. "Yes." He didn't elaborate, and didn't speak further.

"Did you know a wizard named Zeref?" Again, the demon nodded but said nothing. "Look, I'm in a bit of a concerning situation and I'm looking into him right now. If you know anything at all about why he might want to, er, die, I'd like to hear about it." He didn't know if they would be aware of the curse or not, but he needed to see if he could find answers.

"I'm sorry." The man shook his head, closing his eyes. "I wish I could help, but without Zeref, none of us would have this second chance. We owe him." He glanced over at Gray, giving him a sad smile. "I wish you luck, however. I cannot say many will speak about his history here, but who knows? Maybe you will get lucky."

With that, the demon focused back on his garden, ignoring Gray. Was this why Zeref was so unconcerned about Gray going to question the demons? He frowned and shook his head, walking around to find another one to speak with. This one was female and didn't seem to make any moves to hide what she'd learned. "Oh, you wizards are still here? Well, I suggest you get out now." She crossed her arms over her chest. "Curse is gone and guess what? We were all demons the entire time. I bet you don't want to stick around much longer after knowing that."

"Oh, I knew that already." Gray crossed his arms as well, mimicking her posture. "What I don't know is why the hell Zeref wants me to kill him. Care to enlighten me a bit?"

"And piss him off enough to have him destroy me? No thanks. Sorry, but I don't think there's another wizard alive willing to make me into some form of living being again, after all of this is done with." She looked away, pursing her lips together. "They wouldn't think we're worth it."

Having been dismissed even quicker than before, Gray moved on again. However, the results kept repeating themselves. Each demon had memories of Zeref, some more clear than others. Yet, each of them also had an excuse to not speak about him. Most of them feared for their lives, which Gray couldn't blame. However, a very small few seemed to actually be angry with him.

"He can deal with his problems alone."

"He wants to die? Well, I hope he succeeds then."

"Damn bastard deserves to rot in his own misery."

"You think I'm happy about what he's done to me? Sorry, not helping him at all, even if it is indirectly through helping you."

Then, there was the greater majority, the voices that seemed almost defensive about the matter.

"Sorry, but it isn't any of your business."

"Zeref saved us all. He's learned his lesson and I'm not going to help others ruin that."

"Just leave the past alone. Who cares how he's changed?"

"It's been a long time since I heard that name. We were friends, I think, and I don't want to be the sort who'd betray a friend."

Those responses lingered in his mind, making him wonder if there were others that shared the earlier resentment. Zeref claimed they were his first victims, which meant he'd technically killed them all. What made some of them actually sympathetic towards the man then? Gray was almost certain that he'd hold a grudge against his killer if he'd somehow been brought back to life.

Gray turned down the path to hopefully find someone he hadn't spoken with yet. On the way, he stopped when he saw the girl from before, the one with the braids, watching him. "Hello." She walked towards him, tilting her head.

"Ah, hey." Gray began walking past her, not seeing any use discussing anything with her.

The girl grabbed his arm, stopping him. "You're interrogating everyone about Zeref." It wasn't a question. Had she been following him or something? I would consider it to be likely. She has reasons to be curious about me as well…perhaps I miscalculated when advising her to begin here for her goals. That didn't exactly help, though. "What information do you have on the black wizard? I am on an important mission regarding him."

"Mission? From who?"

The stranger only frowned, shaking her head. "I cannot say. Secrecy is important and I've seen no reason to trust you."

"Well, I could say the same about you." Gray crossed his arms over his chest. "Look, feel free to try your own luck asking around about him. I highly doubt our goals are the same though." Based on what he knew, this girl had been blocked from receiving a deal from Zeref. She wasn't being threatened and forced to kill the guy.

She studied him for a moment, an oddly blank expression on her face. Then, the girl released him and nodded. "I see. I will try the others first then and return to you if I do not find the answers I require." With that, she walked off towards the village herself, leaving Gray behind.

Gray tried just a few more times to get answers from the villagers after the brief encounter with the dark wizard. No one around here seemed to be willing to give Gray any answers. With nothing left to do, he decided to start heading back to the hut to think about what little he'd actually learned and see if Ur had better luck.

So, I almost didn't get the chance to update this week - family holiday plans delayed me quite a bit with this today. I hope you all enjoy your holidays though. Feel free to review and tell me what you think!