A/N : To make up for the late update, here's two chapters in one go.
Enjoy !
Sharing a glance, Gray and Kalen knew they had to check it out. "Guess that's where we're going," Kalen slowly stated.
"Yeah, that doesn't seem like a very friendly place, but no choice," confirmed Gray.
"Hey... Have you noticed?" Kalen asked, pointing his finger to the sky. "There's no sun, nor moon. The sky is completely gray, but we can still see as if it were midday."
Gray looked up, his eyes narrowing. "You're right. It's like the light is coming from everywhere and nowhere at the same time. Something's definitely off."
They started their journey towards the temple, sticking close to each other, their guards up. The air grew colder and heavier as they moved through the thick vegetation. Every step felt like they were being watched, the oppressive silence only broken by the sound of their footsteps and the rustling leaves.
When they finally emerged from the dense foliage, they were met with an insanely big door, flanked by two towering statues that looked like some kind of golems.
"This is nuts. How can a building this big just appear out of nowhere?" Gray grimaced, his eyes wide with disbelief.
"No idea, but we have to find out what's inside," Kalen said, stepping closer to the door. Brushing his fingers over it, he felt the cold, smooth stone beneath them. "If we manage to pass the door..." he added, his voice trailing off as he examined the carvings.
"Gotta be a way in," Gray noted, thinking aloud. But that was a second before he got smashed into a nearby tree with a thunderous crash.
"Gray!" Kalen yelled, turning around to see the two statues awakening. The golden and purple golems were detaching themselves from the walls, their stone bodies cracking and shifting as they came straight for them.
The golden golem, glowing with a radiant light, moved with a grace that belied its massive size. The purple golem, shrouded in dark, swirling shadows, exuded an aura of menacing power. They moved in perfect unison, their eyes locked onto them with an intensity that sent chills down Kalen's spine.
"Get up, Gray!" Kalen shouted, "We've got company!"
Gray groaned as he pushed himself up from the ground, his eyes narrowing as he summoned his ice magic. "These guys are not going to let us in without a fight."
Kalen summoned Ray, noticing the blade feeling weird. It was faintly vibrating in his hands, as if wanting to say something. "Ray?" he whispered, before hearing Gray's voice.
"Move, Kalen, keep focused!"
Kalen widened his eyes, barely dodging an incoming purple stone fist. Skidding to a stop, he eyed Gray. "Let's take them one after the other," he suggested, receiving an understanding nod from the Ice Mage.
Gray launched himself at the golden golem, his ice magic forming sharp, crystalline shards that he hurled with precision. The shards shattered on impact, leaving barely a scratch on the golem's surface. Undeterred, Gray created a massive ice spear, thrusting it towards the golem's chest. The golden guardian swatted it aside with ease, retaliating with a blinding beam of light that Gray barely dodged.
Raising Ray to parry a strike from the purple golem, the blade hummed in Kalen's hands, resonating with the dark energy of the golem. He slashed at its arm, but the blade glanced off, leaving no mark. The purple golem's shadowy tendrils lashed out, forcing Kalen to backflip out of range.
"These things are tough!" Gray called out, forming an ice barrier to block another beam from the golden golem.
Gray and Kalen circled around the golems, attempting to separate them and attack from different angles. Gray formed a ring of ice spikes around the golden golem, trying to trap it. The golem simply stepped through, crushing the ice underfoot and sending shards flying in all directions.
The purple golem lunged at Kalen, its fists pounding the ground with enough force to create shockwaves. Kalen leapt into the air, summoning an arc of sunlight and hurling it at the golem's head. "Flare Slash!" The light exploded on contact, but the golem emerged unscathed.
"We're not making any progress!" Gray shouted, dodging another strike from the golden golem. His ice magic seemed ineffective against the radiant power of the now living statue.
Kalen dodged another swing from the purple golem, feeling the frustration build. "There has to be a way to hurt them!" he yelled back, parrying another blow with Ray. The sword vibrated violently once more, and then it hit him. "Gray! I think we're not supposed to hurt them!" Kalen yelled. "Just trust me!"
He lunged forward, making Ray disappear. He stopped right in front of the golems. "Hey, this is what you wanna check, right?" Kalen shouted, taking his ring off and thrusting it into the air. As he did, an intense mix of purple and gold erupted from the ring, making the golems literally stop in motion.
Silence fell on the island. Gray watched with wide eyes as Kalen held the ring high in the air. After a few seconds, the golems straightened up, before slowly walking back to their respective spots. With a last glow in their eyes, the door slowly opened.
"Mavis, Kalen, are you crazy or what? If that didn't work you would be straight dead," Gray said, his face pale.
Kalen let out a shaky laugh, lowering the ring. "Yeah, maybe. But I just... trusted what I thought would work to be fair."
They stepped cautiously through the now-open door, as they were met with a long dark corridor. Once inside, the door immediately shut closed, making them jump.
"Well, we'll have to find another way out," Gray sighed, looking over his shoulder. As he spoke, the torches on the walls lit up one by one, illuminating the path ahead. They shared a look. "Let's go," Kalen said, determination driving him forward.
Gray nodded, his resolve unwavering. "Right behind you, Kal. Let's finish this."
They moved down the corridor, the flickering torchlight casting eerie shadows on the ancient stone walls. The air was thick, each step echoing in the silence. The corridor seemed to stretch endlessly, but finally, they emerged into a vast chamber.
"Now I understand why this temple is so massive," Gray gasped, his eyes scanning every corner of the room. It was immense, the walls barely visible in the dim light, and the ceiling was towering above them, seemingly miles high.
The room was dominated by a massive pedestal similar to the one outside, but larger and more intricate. A few meters from it, two small stone pillars stood, each carved with the symbols of the sun and the moon.
As they stepped further into the chamber, the air felt charged with magic, and Kalen could feel the pulse of energy resonating with the ring on his finger. Reaching the pedestal, he noticed something. "This looks like the same one we found outside. With the same space for the ring..."
"Go for it," nodded Gray. Kalen placed the ring into the slot and took a few steps back, expecting a similar reaction as earlier. But nothing happened.
"Now that's weird," Gray raised an eyebrow.
"Maybe it needs activation or something..." Kalen thought out loud, his eyes falling on the two stone pillars. "And that's why we needed two mages!" he beamed, rushing to one of them. Simply putting his open palm on the moon symbol, the pattern faintly reacted. "That's it, Gray, do the Sun one, I'll take this one. Simply use your magic to activate it," he explained.
Nodding, Gray swiftly followed up, placing his open hand on the sun symbol. "Ready when you are," he declared.
Kalen began channeling his magic into the pillar, feeling the intricate patterns react beneath his hand. Glancing over at Gray, his eyes widened as the sun symbol on his pillar also began to glow.
The lines etched into the floor started to light up, their magic flowing through them towards the central pedestal. The patterns grew brighter, converging into a complex web of energy. The entire room seemed to hum with power, the air vibrating with intense energy.
As each line finally connected, the pillars erupted with beams of purple and gold, representing the moon and sun respectively. The blinding light forced them to take several steps back, shielding their eyes with their hands.
The very stones around them began to vibrate, making it feel like the world was ending. The ground beneath their feet trembled, and an intense, almost deafening hum filled the air. Kalen could feel the magic resonating through every fiber of his being, as if the temple itself was coming to life.
Suddenly, the beams of light morphed into giant figures, towering over them with an imposing presence. "What the..." Kalen gasped, taking several more steps back, quickly followed by Gray. They regrouped in the middle, prepared for anything.
"Kalen Ryker? Is that really you?" A soft, ethereal voice reached Kalen's ears, sending a shiver down his spine.
"Y-Yes? I'm Kalen Ryker, and this is my friend Gray. Who are you?" he stammered, his voice trembling.
But before Kalen could get any answers, the beams finally faded away, leaving in their place two massive presences, levitating above the ground. A golden one on the left, and a purple-blue one on the right. A man and a woman, respectively.
"Mavis, help us..." Gray muttered, his voice tinged with fear.
The golden figure laughed heartily. He radiated a warm and radiant light, his eyes glowing like molten gold. His appearance was striking, with fiery orange hair and a robe that seemed to shimmer with the brightness of the sun itself.
The purple-blue figure moved gracefully. She was bathed in a serene, ethereal light, her long, white flowing hair glowing under the moonlight. Her dress, adorned with intricate nocturne patterns, fluttered gently as if caught in a perpetual breeze. Her eyes, deep and mysterious, locked onto Kalen's.
"I can't believe you made it here, kiddo!" laughed the golden figure once more.
"Ray, keep it down. Look at him, he has no clue what's even going on here," said the purple figure. "I'm sorry, Kalen. We were not supposed to scare you. We're so glad to see you again," she said softly, smiling.
"A-again?" Kalen stammered, completely overwhelmed by the ongoing events.
"Indeed, but it seems like you don't remember much, do you?" she added. "My name is Nyx, and this is Ray," she said, gracefully gesturing towards the golden figure. "We are the sun and moon guardians, also known as the guardians of Solona."
"Ray... and Nyx? Like my weapons?" Kalen asked, sweat dripping from his forehead.
"Yeah, kid! But to be more fair, those would be OUR weapons," grinned Ray, crossing his arms. His eyes locked onto Gray. "And thanks to you too. Without you, Kalen wouldn't have been able to get here!"
Gray flinched, "It-It's a pleasure, sir," he whispered back, earning another hearty laugh from Ray.
"What's... going on here?" Kalen finally asked, his mind racing.
"It's a long story, little Kalen. I'll try to do my best," Nyx began, her voice gentle and soothing. "To answer the questions you've mainly been asking yourself, yes, this is where you were born. This is your childhood home and village. This island was destined to be the protector of the sun and the moon, and that has always been the case. I'm sure you knew that," she continued. "However, one day, a strange phenomenon occurred. During a total eclipse, something we usually loved, it being the perfect harmony between us, turned into a complete disaster."
"Yeah, it was utter chaos," Ray interjected. "Explosions, burning, shadows—it was like the proper celestial bodies were attacking us. Everything got completely destroyed, including the village and most of the island. That night was..." Ray sighed. "Horrible."
"The temple was menaced, us included. But thanks to one unique man, the island, or what was left of it, could be saved against future eclipses. And that man, Kalen, was your father."
Silence fell within the room as Kalen tried to take her words in. His mind raced, piecing together fragments of memories and emotions. "My... father?" he whispered, the revelation hitting him like a tidal wave.
Nyx nodded, her eyes full of sympathy. "Yes, your father was a great man, a hero, and also a powerful mage. He created a seal for us, burying the temple deep underground, making it completely disappear from the surface. To avoid future dangers, he added a veil around the island when setting up the seal, making it completely invisible to anyone passing by or even trying to look for it. The only way a human could locate this island was with the key."
Kalen's face grew paler with each passing second. "The key being... the ring?" he asked, earning a nod from Nyx.
"Wait a sec," Gray interjected, regaining his composure. "Why would I see it then? Didn't look that invisible to me."
Ray simply pointed to his own chest, where Gray had his Fairy Tail emblem. "You mean..." Gray gasped, understanding dawning on him.
"Yeah, that man had planned everything. He knew Kalen would be given the key and taken into Fairy Tail. So he created the key to share its properties with everyone wearing the same emblem," explained Ray.
"That's utter madness," Gray exclaimed bluntly. "What about his father? Or mother? What... happened?" he asked, his voice softening.
Their faces slowly hardened. "Unfortunately, he had to use every single drop of magic inside him. He didn't survive. And your mother died during that horrible night.. I'm sorry, Kalen," Nyx said softly.
"It's okay," Kalen simply said, receiving a surprised look from Gray. "At least, I got to see him one last time, right?"
Ray and Nyx shared a glance before faintly smiling. "Indeed, I didn't think you would understand that easily, Kalen. But yes, that was him."
Gray turned towards Kalen, his face paling. "You mean... that old man?"
"Yeah, that was him," Kalen confirmed. "Listening to all this, only he could have known so much about the island, known about the map in the wreck, and been completely gone by the time we came back. That man simply wasn't alive. He was a vision created by the ring," Kalen said with a sad smile.
"What about the mission?" Kalen asked. "Where did it come from?"
Nyx smiled. "Once again, your father had planned everything. He created that mission that night, and made it appear years later, as an official guild mission, asking for Fairy Tail's help. That's why your name was included in the details."
Ray laughed "Your dad was incredible Kalen, you can be proud being his son!"
"This is... a lot to process," Kalen whispered. "But what now? What's going to happen? I mean, okay, we made the temple reappear, but what did my dad want me to do with it?"
Nyx's smile faded. "That's the other problem we'll be facing now. You unlocked the seal, but not just for us. For everything. The veil around the island is now gone, and people will become aware of it again..."
"And they'll be here for the next eclipse," stated Gray.
"That's some quick thinking, kiddo!" beamed Ray. "But indeed, we still don't know why this is happening. If we can't find out why, then it will create new disasters. And we might not get through it this time."
Kalen felt a heavy weight settle on his shoulders. "So, this isn't only about unlocking the seal? He wants me to fix this and save the island?"
Nyx nodded. "Indeed, Even though what he really wants you to do Kalen, is protect us, and protect the people from this Eclipse. Only you have the keys in hand for this."
"When is the next eclipse?" asked Gray.
"Approximately two years," answered Nyx. "We have two years to find out what's going on and make it change."
Kalen's mind raced, trying to process each piece of information he had just received. "Why can't you just move?" he asked, seeing both figures' expressions turn surprised.
"Well... we live here, and we protect Solona," answered Nyx, unsure.
"Yeah, I mean to be fair I didn't even think about that," said Ray thoughtfully.
"Then come with me," Kalen announced, Gray gasping at his side.
"What do you mean come with me?" Gray yelled. "Kal', how could they... come?" he added, gesturing towards them, showing they were way too big.
"Come with me, I'll bring you to Fairy Tail. We'll find a solution together and figure out what's really going on here. Please, I need you to help me become stronger, to protect my friends, to protect you. I need you with me. I can't explain why, but I just know it," Kalen whispered, taking his first steps forward.
Nyx finally chuckled. "Well, I wasn't expecting that, to be fair. You definitely are his son. Kalen, I, Nyx, accept joining you," she smiled.
Ray laughed, his voice echoing against the chamber's walls. "Guess I'm in too, kid! I think you'll be needing this," he grinned, before tossing the ring Kalen's way. Kalen caught it and slipped it back onto his finger.
"They're really coming with us?" Gray paled, but before Kalen could answer, the beams erupted once again. The light made the figures disappear, only for them to rush Kalen's way, engulfing him in a tornado of golden and silvery-purple magic.
The magic swirled around Kalen, intense and overwhelming. He could feel their energy merging with his, a powerful surge that made every nerve in his body tingle. As the light began to fade, Kalen found himself standing in the now quiet chamber. "What..."
"Kalen!" shouted Gray, rushing towards him. "You good? What happened?" he asked, as two little figures popped onto Kalen's shoulders.
"Hey, Kalen," smiled a small, purple, hand-sized Nyx. On the other side, Ray, also the same size, grinned broadly. "We're in for a wild ride!"
Gray's eyes widened in disbelief. "They really are coming with us," he whispered, staring at the tiny guardians.
Nyx chuckled, her voice like a gentle breeze. "We thought this form would be more convenient for traveling with you."
Ray laughed heartily. "Yeah, kid! This way, we can stick around without causing too much of a scene. Plus, it's kinda fun being this small!"
Kalen couldn't help but smile at the sight of his newfound companions. "So you can just... appear and disappear like that?" he asked.
"Yeah! And we can still communicate even if we're not here! But that would be inside your head!" explained Ray. "Oh yeah, and we can fly, sort of," he added with a grin, taking off from Kalen's shoulder, flying over and swirling around Gray, who finally managed a smile.
"I'm sure you'll fit right into our crazy guild," Gray smirked.
Finally exiting the temple, Gray and Kalen looked at the sky, realizing the veil was indeed gone, letting the sun glow over the island. "Looks like you guys were right. First time seeing the sun since we arrived here," stated Gray, using his hand to shield his eyes.
The sunlight bathed the island in a warm, golden glow, illuminating everything with a renewed sense of clarity and purpose. It was a stark contrast to the perpetual twilight they had become accustomed to since their arrival.
Ray, perched on Kalen's shoulder, grinned. "Feels good, doesn't it? The island hasn't seen sunlight in years." He turned towards the golems they had encountered earlier. "Hey Bob! Rob! Keep the temple safe, will ya? Uncle Ray is going out for a while," he grinned.
"Bob and Rob?" Gray and Kalen yelled in unison, their faces paling. "You know your friends nearly killed us!" Gray shouted, only to be met with another of Ray's hearty laughs.
Nyx was flying around Kalen, her small form radiating a gentle light. "This is the beginning of a new era for Solona. But it also means we have much work to do, Kalen."
Kalen nodded. "I know, but all of this also means a new start. With you two by my side, I'll finally be able to develop my magic as I should."
Nyx landed softly on Kalen's shoulder, her presence calming. "We'll do our best, but remember, you're the only one controlling your magic."
They walked back to their boat, readying themselves for the trip back.
Fairy Tail
Amy was tapping her foot on the ground, leaning on the bar counter.
"Amy, you should relax. Isn't Wendy around? You could maybe spend the day with her?" Mira asked, evident concern in her voice.
"She's on a mission... In fact, nearly everyone is," Amy grumbled. "Mira, it's been three months and we still have no news! Apart from that magic outburst or whatever, we've got nothing! I'm this close to paying a visit to the magic council myself," she groaned, showing a very short spacing between her fingers.
Mira sighed, pouring a drink and sliding it over to Amy. "I know you're worried, we all are actually... Just look at Juvia, she hasn't come out of her room for a week, Erza had to burst the door open to get her out."
Amy took the drink, staring into the glass. "I know... I just can't shake this feeling that something's wrong."
Just as Mira was about to respond, the doors of the guild burst open. Natsu and Lucy, fresh from their mission, strode in, their usual energy filling the room.
"Hey, everyone! We're back!" Natsu announced, grinning widely.
"Hey guys," Mira greeted with a smile. "How did the mission go?"
"Perfect!" began Lucy, sitting down with a satisfied sigh. "In fact, we weren't that far from Hargeon, and we heard a few interesting rumors." She smirked, leaning in conspiratorially. "To start with, people said they saw two boys enter the port in an ice rowboat, spending the entire night trying weird magic rituals. Others were complaining about two 'bastards' doing everything they could to get information about a specific island. And lastly, a guy talked about how two mages literally stole his boat, leaving him alone at the port."
Natsu laughed heartily. "That's Gray and Kalen for sure! They rocked Hargeon!"
Amy's eyes lit up with hope. "That's awesome news! Thanks, guys!" she exclaimed, rushing to embrace Natsu and Lucy tightly.
Mira chuckled, shaking her head. "It sounds like they're leaving quite an impression wherever they go. That's Fairy Tail for ya."
Magnolia
Less than two weeks later, Gray and Kalen were finally stepping onto Magnolia's train station platform. Stretching out, Kalen exclaimed, "Feels good to be home, man! I don't even know how long we were gone."
Gray stepped forward, squinting at the sun. "No idea. Considering the time it took us to get here, I'd say a month or two, maybe slightly more. Can't wait to take a good shower," he smirked. "Heads up, Kalen, we're nearly there!"
Kalen grinned before swiftly following him. Nyx appeared on his shoulder, her tiny form glowing softly. "So this is Magnolia? This place looks beautiful," she said, her eyes darting everywhere.
"Have you never moved from that temple before?" Kalen asked, raising an eyebrow. Nyx nodded.
"Never. To be fair, we never thought it would even be worth it. And here we are," she smiled.
As they approached the guild hall, Gray turned to Kalen with a mischievous grin. "Hey Kal, let's do a Natsu entrance."
Kalen chuckled, knowing exactly what he meant. Gray took a few steps back, then rushed forward, kicking the doors open. "We're back, losers!" he yelled, entering the guild hall.
The usual ruckus of the guild hall came to an abrupt halt as everyone turned to look at them. For a moment, there was stunned silence, and then the room erupted in cheers and laughter.
"Kalen! Gray!" shouted Natsu, bounding over with a wide grin. "About time you guys showed up!"
Amy pushed her way through the crowd, her eyes shining with joy. "You guys made it back!" She threw herself at them, making them both fall back.
From afar, Makarov opened his eyes before letting out a sigh of relief, standing up. "Welcome back, you two," he called out. "I'm glad you both are safe and in one piece."
Natsu helped them get up, Amy still glued to Kalen.
"Yeah long story Gramps, we'll need to have a chat," said Gray. "But for now, we've got a few rookies you should check out," he smirked, looking Kalen's way.
Kalen stepped forward. "Master, you knew that Solona Island was the guardian Isle of the Sun and the Moon, and that has been the case for decades," he said, watching him nod. "Well, we might have two new members." He grinned, scratching the back of his head as Nyx and Ray appeared on his shoulders. "This is Nyx, and this is Ray, the guardians of Solona," Kalen stated, before noticing the pale expression Makarov was holding.
"Those... Those are the guardians? You took them with you?" he stammered, nearly fainting.
Nyx floated gracefully, giving a small bow. "My pleasure, sir. My name is Nyx, and I'm the moon guardian."
Ray, perched on Kalen's other shoulder, gave a cheeky grin. "My name is Ray, old man! Nice to meet you."
Makarov blinked a few times, steadying himself. "This is... beyond anything I expected."
Gray stepped next to Kalen, smirking. "I told you we needed to have a chat. But please, let me take a shower first."
After a slight cough, Makarov continued. "Indeed, take your time. Nyx, Ray, welcome to Fairy Tail. It's an honor having you with us."
Nyx and Kalen shared a happy glance before she and Ray flew off, exploring the hall.
The guild members watched in awe as the tiny guardians flitted around, their ethereal forms adding an air of magic to the already lively atmosphere.
Gray patted Kalen's shoulder. "Let's get cleaned up and then we can fill everyone in. We've got a lot to talk about."
"Sure thing, and Gray, I will never thank you enough for everything you did for me," Kalen answered, receiving a friendly pat on the shoulder, before watching him exit the guild. "See you later, I think I need to check on a water mage..." Gray said, before disappearing from Kalen's sight.
Kalen smiled, his eyes meeting Amy's. "Hey, Amy," he said, approaching her. "Sorry if we took our time. All of this was... kinda weird?" he tried explaining.
She simply leaned into his chest, smiling happily. "It's okay, Kalen. You're back now, and I can't wait for you to explain everything. But first," she said, slowly pulling back, taking his hands before dropping a towel and some shampoo into them, "Shower. You stink," she smirked, the people around them erupting in laughter, as Kalen caught the hint behind her words. But she swiftly dropped a kiss on his cheek. "I'm so happy you're back safe Kalen. Really, you can't imagine," she added, hugging him one last time.
A/N : And we're done with Solona ! I hope this wasn't too short, I didn't want it to last too long either.
About the visuals, for people reading this on Wattpad or Quotev : Creating visuals is EXTREMELY time consuming. If I want to keep up with the update rate, I'll need to make choices. For now I have some until chapter 20, something like that. I wanted to know your thoughts about the visuals, if they really bring something to the story or if it's purely bonus. If you don't consider it being extremely important for the story, please let me know if you'd like a special place where I can post visuals for the story, maybe not linked to a specific chapters. That would leave me way more time for my writing. If not, I'll continue like this, but the update rate will be reduced. Let me know !
Until then, see ya !
.Ney.