Fairy Tail: Eien no bōken o kakinaosu
Chapter 12: Moon Drip
Natsu wants to catch up with Erza and Laxus, so he and Happy steal an S-Class request and take Lucy, Aspen, Setsuko, and Shiro with them. The request was on the cursed island of Galuna, where its villagers are cursed to turn into demons when the moon is out. I turn up to ensure they do not get killed, only to learn we must destroy the moon to lift the curse. Wanting to prevent that idea, we investigated the island's move until a giant rat chased us and fell into a cavern where a demon called Deliora was sealed. but why is it here? And Gray, I have never seen you this angry before, what happened to you?
"You'll have hell to pay if you try to tarnish Ur's name!" he gritted angrily.
It was the first time the girls had ever seen Gray this furious. It is like seeing this demon brought out a different side of him. Sure, they all do not know him well, even Lisanna does not, so it is clear this demon brings back memories.
"Gray…" Lisanna said worried for him.
Gray kept his eyes on the iced demon, again uttering the name.
"Deliora…"
"This is the demon your master sealed away?" asked Natsu and Lisanna.
"Yes. No question about it." Gray replied, his back still facing his friends and his gaze still on Deliora, his teeth still clenched with anger.
"You're saying this was brought here from the northern content?" asked Happy.
"Could this demon be the cause of the island's curse?!" Lucy wondered.
"It's possible." Gray added, "This demon is still alive and all…" but was interrupted by Natsu excitedly winding his arms up.
"All right! "In that case, I'll give it a beat down of my own!"
Lucy whispered into Lisanna's ear, asking, "Why does brute force have to be the only solution with him?"
Lisanna shrugged; she could not answer that question if she tried. Natsu added, still winding his right arm.
"Just watch!"
In one instance, Gray turned, his arms still narrowed in anger as he punched Natsu. Natsu crashed to the ground, landing on his back.
"Natsu!" Lisanna cried out.
The white-haired Takeover wizard ran to Natsu and saw it, the dark stare Gray had. His bangs covered his eyes, giving the Ice wizard a darker tone to his appearance. His teeth were still clenched, anger boiling inside him as Lucy gasped, clapping a hand in her mouth in shock. Happy exclaimed in shock, "Gray hit him! But there was not a fight and Natsu did not provoke him!"
"Why did he do it?" Lucy asked, still shocked and worried about Gray's odd behavior.
Lisanna picks the pink-haired Dragon Slayer off the ground, nursing his busied cheek.
"Hey, you…! What was that?!" Natsu shouted.
"I like to know too, Gray. What did you attack him?" Lisanna demanded.
But it took a second for Natsu to realize the same stare Lisanna was witnessing herself. He had never seen Gray like this before, this was a whole contrasting character for him. He finally spoke, addressing not just Natsu, but Lisanna too.
"Stay away from this ice, Fire wizards!"
'Fire wizards… plural… me as well?' Lisanna thought, seeing the anger in the Ice wizard's eyes.
"If the ice melts and Deliora wakes up, no one will be able to stop him!" he added.
"What?! You think it would be that easy to melt?!" Natsu retorted still on Lisanna's shoulders.
"I am with Natsu on this one. No way his or Lisanna's fire could melt this ice," Setsuko admitted.
"Besides, Gray, you think they really could anyway?" Aspen asked.
Gray looked at Natsu and Lisanna, as Happy and Lucy stared wide-eyed at what was going on. Gray added hoarsely.
"No…"
Lucy ran up to the raven-haired Ice wizard, placing a solemn hand on his back to comfort him while Natsu straightened himself after Lisanna released him.
"Are you okay?" Lucy asked concerned.
"Gray, that was uncalled for hitting Natsu for nothing. You are more violent than you are normally. So, tell us, what is the problem?" Lisanna asked, trying to calm Natsu down before he got mad at him. The group took their gaze to Deliora while Gray continued speaking.
"My master Ur cast a spell called Iced Shell on this demon." Gray explained, "It's unmelting ice. Not even the most powerful explosive flame spells can melt it. So why would they carry this off if they knew that?" he asked.
"Maybe they don't know," Lucy answered, "Maybe they're trying to melt it somehow."
But Gray snapped, making the Celestial wizard look scared, "For what, though?!"
"I-I don't know…" she replied nervously.
"This is too much." Gray sighed, "Who would bring Deliora here, and why?"
"It's simple, let's go after those guys." Natsu requested, "They seem bent to releasing it, they might know something about what they're trying to do."
"Yeah," Lucy and Lisanna agreed but Gray declined.
"No." The Five Wizards look at Gray, wondering why he chose no. He added still facing Deliora, "We'll wait here."
"For what?" asked Happy curiously.
"For the moon to come out." He responded to the blue cat's question.
"The moon? But it's the middle of the day." Lisanna said arms folded, "We have to wait that long?"
"Yes," Gray replied.
Natsu grumbled, crossing his arms. "We do?"
Both nodded, the Fire Dragon Slayer staring crossly at them.
"What is this about, Gray?" Lucy asked.
"I get the strange feeling that the island's curse and Deliora have something to do with the moon." Gray replied, his hands still balled into fists, "They said something about "moonlight being fully gathered soon", too."
"Oh, right." Lucy remembered thinking back to the ones called Toby, Yuka, and Sherry and the conversation they had, "I am curious to know what's happening and what they're up to…" but was interrupted by Natsu, his patience starting to wear thin.
"I can't sit here! Let us go after them!" he roared.
"As much I want to kick butt, let's wait until nightfall," Setsuko suggested, "If we waste time looking for them, we won't be at our full strength."
Natsu looked to Setsuko and groaned, finally sitting down to the cave group and crossing her legs in a sitting position, "fine, I don't like it, but I'll go along with it," before laying spread out ready to seep, "Just... I am going to sleep then,"
"Good to see you can relax for a second," Aspen commented to him.
"Oh ha-ha," Natsu replied mockingly.
It felt only an hour since they arrived in this cavern, and Natsu was fast asleep, snoring loudly with Lisanna sitting next to him, a soft smile on her face eyeing the sleeping Dragon Slayer. Aspen sat with Lucy, Shiro sat with them while Setsuko sat polishing her katana sitting with Natsu and Lisanna.
"That was fast," Lucy commented.
"Aye," Happy agreed.
Lucy sat on the cave floor, watching the sleeping Dragon Slayer with Happy and Lisanna, a hand to her chin and her Star-Make book plopped on her knees.
" He acts purely on instinct, doesn't he?" Lucy sighed.
"Pretty much, but you'll get used to it." Lisanna replied, "So how's that book I gave you treating you?"
"It's really interesting, thanks for giving it to me," Lucy replied.
"You're welcome but let me give you friendly advice. Maker magic or molding magic is tough to master. But remember to be careful with it. It takes a lot of practice to master maker magic, so be careful."
"Gotcha," Lucy nodded understandingly. She pulled her eyes from Lisanna and to Natsu sighing, "In a way I'm jealous... I wish I had his energy sometimes." After hearing Natsu snoring for a while, she set eyes on Gray, who sat alone on a rock. He is deep in thought; it was not like him to not be sitting with them. What was on the raven-haired wizard's mind?
'Ur…' Gray thought as his thought changed to his memories, thinking about the one called Ur.
(Cue Fairy Tail main them-Piano Version—Fairy Tail Volume two Soundtrack)
It was snowing from what Gray remembered, as he was just around eight years old. He stood in the snow, freezing, and shivering, and another boy standing behind him as he faced the back of Ur. Ur was a woman of average height with a slim, curvaceous figure. She had short dark purple hair that was kept shoulder length. Her clothes were light despite being in the snow, consisting of a grey jacket, jeans, and a red tank top.
"Can you keep up, Gray" Ur asked, hearing the shivering coming from the young boy, before turning with a smile, "My training is tough, you know."
Gray, dressed in a tan coat with a blue shirt underneath, breathed heavily, his body feeling cold. But he looks up at her with determination in his eyes, "Yeah! I will do whatever I have to!"
Gray had his hands curled together near his face, still thinking about the past as Lucy sat bored, putting her book down and sighing loudly.
"I know I agreed to wait, but this boring…" Lucy whined,
"Aye!" agreed Lisanna and Happy.
"I know!" the Celestial wizard responded, clapping her two hands together with delight. Happy and Lisanna looked confused at her as she pulled out one of her silver keys, one of them having a harp as a picture. Lucy then announced, "Open! Gate of the Harp Constellation! Lyra!" a blue magic circle appeared from the key, as both pink smoke and yellow stars appeared revealing another spirit in Lucy's possession who looked excited to see her, her left hand waving fast.
She was a young girl with strawberry blond length hair that curled at the end and wore a pink bonnet on top of her head. Her cheeks had round blush marks, and she wore a long dress with heart prints on her waist and leather shoes as well. She has small white wings and a large harp on her back.
"Long time, no see, Lucy!" she greeted her happily.
"Hi, Lyra!" Lucy greeted Lyra back smiling as the Harp spirit stood up to Lucy and pouted on her face, "Sheesh! You hardly ever call me!" she turned sideways from Lucy, still smiling, "I want to help lots more! You are such a meanie!"
"Meanie?" Lucy repeated eyes crossed, "I'm only allowed to call you like three times a month."
Lyra turned quickly to her while Happy's eyes were closed while sitting in Lisanna's arms, "Huh? Really?!"
"Another weirdo…" Happy commented as Gray still sat where he was and Natsu snored loudly.
"So, what should I sing for you today?!" Lyra asked excitedly with Lucy replying with, "Anything. I will let you decide!"
"Okay! Then I will just sing whatever! Yay!" Lyra responded happily, holding a thumbs up with Lucy explaining to Happy, Setsuko, Aspen, Shiro, and Lisanna, "Lyra's a really good singer!"
"My sister is a really good singer too." Lisanna pointed out with a smile.
Lyra placed her hands on her blue harp and began to strum at the strings, calming them when Happy and Lisanna were relaxed. Natsu slept soundly now, a smile on his face and his snoring stopped. Lucy fell asleep, a smile on her face as everyone could hear Lyra's song.
(Cue Lyra's Song—Fairy Tail Soundtrack)
Some words are born…
Some words fade away...
Some words live inside you…
When it seems, you are about to come to a stop…
…they transform into courage…
Gray remained still as Lyra sang, the anger he was feeling starting to soften a bit. He was startled to stifle, tears starting to form in his eyes as these thoughts returned to Ur.
Now, walk forth…
Because you have grown stronger since then…
Do not feel lost anymore…
Have faith in those words from then…
Gray stood in the snow somewhere close to the mountains, his master Ur's back he was facing. A serious look was on her face as she crossed her arms, a light blue magic circle forming in front of her. She conjured an Ice Make: Shield demonstrating it to the wizard. Gray followed suit, forming a light blue magic circle in front of him trying to perform Ice-Make: Shield, but the magic backfired and the young Gray fell backward to the snow, his master watching with her hands on her hips. She smiled at the young Ice wizard in training as Gray frowned in disappointment. He placed a hand to his head, rubbing it from hitting the ground. He decided to try again, getting up to perform his magic, finally conjuring an Ice shield his size in front of him. He panted slightly but turned to Ur with a serious look, the dark purple-haired master smiling. She nodded kindly as Gray's memory ended.
Gray started to cry, a tear shedding from his eyes. This caught everyone's attention as the music stopped.
"Wha…? Gray?" The girls asked concerned.
"Yeah? What?" he replied rudely.
"You were crying…" Happy pointed out,
"Lyra is good at singing about what people are feeling, but…" Lucy said as Happy added, "You were crying…"
Gray's face was back to the dark angry expression it was before, his teeth clenched once more.
"I was not!" Gray spats darkly.
Lucy looked at Lyra, deciding to break the tension with, "Sing something happier, Lyra!"
"Huh?!" the harp spirit questioned, "You should have said so!"
"Now that I think about it, be quiet!" he retorted harshly, "What is someone showing up?!"
"Fine, buzzkill!" they replied irritably.
Everyone (unfortunately) decided to sleep, Lucy, Lisanna, and Happy slept close to one another, Natsu still sleeping, Setsuko sleeping with Shiro in her arms, Aspen sleeping near Lucy, Lisanna, and Happy, and Gray sleeping/sitting in thought as the sound of rumbling was coming from above. Lucy and Lisanna yawned, rubbing their eyes.
"What's that sound?" Lucy asked.
"Is it night?!" Natsu screamed, getting bolted up from the ground.
Gray opened his eyes too as a purple magic circle appeared from the ceiling shining light into the cave as it started to grow bigger, making Natsu, Lisanna, Setsuko, Aspen, and Lucy speak in unison.
"There's light…" were the girls' words.
"…coming from the ceiling!" Natsu
"Purple light… Is it the moonlight?!" Gray asked while Happy stood near him mouth open wide.
"What is this?! What is going on?!" Happy demanded terrified.
"Your guess is as good as mine!" Shiro exclaimed.
Light started to pour over the ice on Deliora, making even the ice glow purple from just the light the magic circle emitted.
"It's shining on Deliora!" Gray realized.
"This is no coincidence!" Natsu admitted.
"Let's go! Find the source of the light!" Gray ordered the group.
"Aye!" Happy agreed as the dive wizards took off the other way to leave the cave and Deliora. Light still shined over the ice as Gray led the way, followed by Natsu, Happy, Setsuko, Shiro, and Aspen behind them, with Lisanna and Lucy bringing up the rear. They climbed some steps which they hoped would lead them out of the cave as purple light hinted at their freedom. They were back on the temple's top floor to find a large magic circle in the temple shining light to the ceiling.
"There was a magic circle in the middle of the ruins?!" Gray commented.
"Higher up!" Natsu said as he and his friends took off to get to the top of the temple to see what was going on. Hurrying up more stairs, the group finally exited the temple and was now outside. They gasped to find a group of hooded people all formed in a circle chanting as the moonlight shined down to the ground. The eight got closer to see them.
"What is that?!" Natsu asked.
"Shh!" ordered the girls to Natsu so they listened in properly.
From their viewpoint, they were chanting, and they were concentrating the moonlight on the two magic circles they found. What was their angle, what was their involvement with the light found in the cave? As they chanted on, more magic circles appeared over one another like layers as they reached to the sky channeling the moon like into the ground.
"The moon…" Gray realized.
"These guys are collecting the moon's light?" Natsu asked.
"And they're shining it on Deliora…" Lisanna added.
"But what for?!" Lucy asked.
"It's Moon Drip, belianese spell?" a girl's voice answered from beside them. Lucy panicked looking at her right but found Lyra kneeling with them.
"You're still here?!" Lucy asked, surprised the harp spirit had not returned to the Celestial spirit world already. Lyra had her eyes fixated on the ceremony that was taking place.
"Ah. So that's what's going on." Lyra said.
"What? What do you mean?" Lucy asked wide-eyed.
"These guys are trying to use Moon Drip to revive that underground demon!" Lyra explained.
"What?!" Natsu gasped.
"That's impossible! Iced Shell is unmeltable!" Gray responded; his dark guys flared with anger
"Moon Drip can melt it," the harp spirit replied with Lucy looking at her, "Focused moon energy can break any spell at all."
"You can't be serious…" Happy stood shocked, his mouth wide open.
"They have no idea how horrific Deliora is!" Gray gritted his teeth in anger
"I think the Moon Drip is the cause of the phenomenon the islanders believe is a curse." Lucy suggested, "Concentrated moon energy can contaminate people's bodies too. That's how powerful this magic is."
"That explains why the villagers were turned into demons after prolonged exposure, but that means two things: Why the moon is purple and who's causing it," Setsuko said.
"Those bastards…!" Natsu spat.
"Hold it!" Lucy called, her elbow hitting Natsu squarely in the jaw causing him to fall to the ground, "Someone's here!"
Stepping into the area was an unknown young man of average height with a muscular and toned body that was covered in the clothes he wore. He sported a large white cape, with a wide collar, golden edges, and fur trimmings over the shoulders, held closed by a belt, adorned by a stylized snake with rectangular coils, and its corresponding buckle, with more belts and buckles, placed a few centimeters away from one another and below the first, being left untied. Below this cape, he wore a blue, high-collared tunic with golden edges, reaching down below his knees, with the part coming down from below the simple belt tied around his waist having an opening in the front. The tunic sported a large, dark cross-like design on the back, and is worn over a dark shirt. His outfit also included baggy dark pants tucked inside armored greaves, composed of different plates and sporting kneecaps, and an ornamental helmet obscuring most of his face. Bearing resemblance to a skull, this helmet sported a front part that covered his upper face, revealing his mouth and nose, with a line of sharp teeth beneath it, his eyes not being visible from the eye slits of the mask, which was adorned by a spiraling motif. The helmet also came equipped with striped horns pointing frontwards and with a large crest made of spiky fur falling on his back. And along with this unknown man were Toby, Sherry, and Yuka. Gray stared at the unknown man, taking into the accent this was the person that spoke of.
The four individuals started to walk to the ceremony of moonlight being gathered directly under Deliora, the young man in front's metal boots clanging as he stepped, his subordinates following suit.
"Damn. I'm sleepy because we woke up during the day." Yuka groaned hands in his pockets while Toby was trying to walk and sleep at the same time, "We didn't even find the intruders."
"Were there even any?!" Toby snapped waking up to yell at the short young man. The unknown man and Sherry stopped to face the ceremony.
"It's sad, Cold Emperor." Sherry said, at which the Cold Emperor looked, "It appeared that there were intruders during the day, but they got away. I am unfit to speak of love."
"Intruders…" repeated Gray.
"So, he's the Cold Emperor?!" Aspen exclaimed softly.
"Looks like it, but I wonder why he's called that?" Lisanna asked curiously.
"He sure looks high and mighty, especially with that weird mask!" Lucy observed, eyeing the unknown man's appearance.
"Weird, I'd say it's showy if you ask me," Lisanna commented eyeing his appearance too, "But if he's the one causing the curse with the Moon Drip, then he's our target to stop it."
"The Cold Emperor spoke, a tone fitting his appearance. "Is Deliora's revival still incomplete?" he asked Sherry.
From the look of it, it will be today or tomorrow…" Sherry replied, but Toby interrupted with a yell, "Which one?!" getting Sherry's attention to stare at the impatient young man.
"At long last…" said the Cold Emperor, causing Gray to gasp in shock at the sound of that voice, "As for the intruders… I've come too far to be interfered with for now. "
"Yes. The only people on this island are in the village on the outskirts." Sherry replied to him.
"Go eradicate the village," the emperor ordered Yuka, Toby, and Sherry.
"Yes, sir," replied Yuka eyes closed and Sherry as well.
"Understood!" barked Toby.
"What?!" gasped Natsu while both girls shared the same looks of panic and worry for the village.
"The villagers have nothing to do with this!" Lucy exclaimed.
"He's going to kill innocent people, he is a "Cold Emperor"," Lisanna commented hands balled into fists, 'There is no way I'm letting that happen…' and looked to Natsu who had the same idea.
"Got no choice, then…!" Natsu decided.
"I'm not fond of blood, but…" the emperor smiled to which Gray started to realize who this voice was, his face full of shock,
"That voice… No… It cannot be…!"
But Gray was interrupted by Natsu who roared, making everyone except Lisanna look shocked, "All right! I am sick of sneaking around!"
Natsu took in an immense fire from inside, shooting a stream of flames into the air.
"We're the ones who came to interfere!" He roared.
The four turned to see what the commotion was and whose voice they yelled out as they found a grinning boy wearing a white muffler and another individual with a disapproving scowl on her face wearing a yukata and on her back were red, yellow, and orange wings and red covered arms.
"Urgh! I understand Natsu seeing what happens, but Lisanna too!" Lucy spat in annoyance.
"What should I do? Sing?" Lyra asked excitedly.
"You can go back," Lucy replied, veins throbbing on her head.
"Aww, you're no fun!" Lyra said still smiling happy as she disappeared by a poof of pink smoke.
Back with the four, they eyed the emblem on Natsu's shoulders and the little they could see of Lisanna's from her left thigh.
"Those emblems! They are from Fairy Tail!" Sherry realized with a shock.
"I see, so the villagers asked the guild for help," Yuka said.
"What are you doing?" the emperor asked, his subordinates still here. "Go and eradicate the village," he ordered once more. They looked back at him quickly.
"Huh?" Lucy questioned
"Why?!" the two fire wizards asked
The Cold Emperor continued speaking, his left hand rising into a fist, "Those who stand in the way, and those who concocted said scheme… They're the enemy."
"Why?!" shouted Natsu and Lisanna his teeth bared and an angry look on her face, "Why, you…!" they exclaimed running to the emperor, but Gray ran past them his sights on the masked man too. With his hand charged with ice magic,
, "Stop your stupid ceremony or whatever this instant!" Gray demanded furiously and slammed his hands to the ground, as a geyser of ice appeared that sent the three subordinates back, but the masked emperor jumped into the air. The masked Emperor then formed a light blue magic circle in his hand as many ice spikes appeared on the ground to form an even bigger geyser of ice. As the ice shattered, Lucy gasped as Happy, Setsuko, and Shiro realized.
"He uses ice too?!"
Gray stared at the masked emperor's teeth clenched in anger as the emperor stared at him, the aftermath of his last attack blowing away. Gray stepped back and growled in anger.
"Lyon!"
Natsu and Lisanna gasped. How did Gray know who he was? The girls and Happy were shocked too.
"Lyon?" she repeated.
"Damn you… you realized what you're doing?" Gray growled in anger.
The Cold Emperor or Lyon as Gray called him chuckled, "It's been a while, Gray."
Happy, Shiro, Aspen, Setsuko, and Lucy gasped in shock too. Does this Cold Emperor or Lyon know Gray too? What is going on?
"What is the meaning of this?!" Gray demanded.
"To think that you were one of the wizards the villagers called here…" Lyon replied coolly, "Did you come here knowingly? Or was it sheer coincidence?" He added before continuing, "Not that it makes any difference…"
"An acquaintance of yours, Cold Emperor Lyon?" asked Yuka. Toby growled.
"Get going. I can handle this myself." Lyon ordered.
"Yes, sir!" said the three subordinates as they took to the deed Lyon requested them to do.
"Oh, no, you don't!" Natsu yelled as he and Lisanna as Gray kept his teeth bared at Lyon. The two wizards ran to stop Sherry, Toby, and Yuka from harming the village.
"Stop, Natsu and Lisanna! Do not move!" Gray called.
Lyon held out his right, emitting a mist that stopped Natsu in his tracks the same with Lisanna as the wizards were stunned. Suddenly, ice began to crystallize on their bodies, and the two screamed.
"Natsu! Lisanna!" Lucy called but Gray interrupted ordering to his friends.
"Happy, Shiro, Aspen! Take Lucy and Setsuko out of here!"
"Aye!" Happy understood his white angel wings out as he took hold of Lucy's blouse as they took out into the air. Shiro activated her wings and grabbed Setsuko before acting. Taking her Staff she quickly gave Gray a quick look of concern and used the wind of her weather magic to float away.
"Wait…!" Lucy and Setsuko called to the cats.
Back on the ground, Lyon held his left hand out as Gray sent out ice shards at Lyon. Lyon held his right hand out, conjuring a shield in front of him. Unlike the one Gray makes, it was different, more like how a shield should look like. The shield stops Gray's attack, much to The Fairy Tail Ice wizard's dislike.
"Damn! We cannot move!" both his comrades grunted as the ice formed into diamonds covering their bodies.
Up in the air as they were headed back to the village.
"Happy! Shiro! You are going abandon Natsu and Lisanna?!"
"They're surrounded by a magic that chills empty spaces!" Happy explained, "We would've turned into ice next if we had stayed there!"
"You heard Gray, if we didn't get you out of here, you be dead!" Shiro exclaimed.
"But if we don't help Natsu and Lisanna, they'll…" Setsuko replied fearing the worst outcome for the two wizards.
"Who'll save the village if all get beaten?!" Aspen, Shiro, and Happy called out.
Lucy and Setsuko gasped, understanding the words Happy was saying. If they lost to Lyon, then no one would stop his subordinates from harming the village. It was up to them to protect everyone in the village.
"I'm sorry. I did not realize you were fighting back the urge to help them…" Lucy replied.
"We were thinking, we are the only ones who can help the villagers right? We get beaten, no one is going to stop them." Shiro said.
"We promised the villagers we would lift the curse; we can't lift the curse if we die!" Aspen exclaimed.
She looks up to the blue cat and blue and white cat with an encouraging smile now on her face.
"I'm sure Natsu and Lisanna will be fine. Ice is nothing to a Salamander and a Phoenix!"
"Aye!" Happy and Shiro agreed, and Aspen nodded with a cheerful smile as they continued onwards as Lyon faced the three wizards who stood ready to continue the fight.
"So, you created an opening for those other girls and cats to escape…" Lyon confirmed, "No matter. I doubt those two can stop Sherry and the others."
"I wouldn't underestimate Fairy Tail wizards if I were you!" Lisanna retorted to both her and Natsu glaring at him.
Gray immediately turned his attention to his two comrades, taking his foot and kicking Natsu's Ice-covered body which hit Lisanna's as the two were sent tumbling and screaming off the temple and into the forest.
"I'll kill you for this, Fullbuster!" Lisanna's voice screamed. and they were gone.
'Sorry you two, but I don't want you involved… Lisanna, forgive me for that.' Gray thought, now facing Lyon all alone.
"I see you're still as reckless as ever," Lyon said, "Aren't those two your friends?"
"That spell can destroy ice and everything inside it if you feel like it." Gray replied, but Lyon added, "Which is why you sent it outside the range of my magic?" he smiled adding, "You're pretty clever, after all."
"Could you quit acting like you're my superior, Lyon?!" Gray retorted, stepping one foot forward, "You're not Ur's student anymore!"
"Neither are you, Gray," Lyon replied, arms in his cloak before reaching for his mask to remove it, revealing his face. He had bluish silver hair, most of which were spiky strands that jut upwards on top of his head, except for some which kept pointing down and partially covering the upper left part of his face. Lyon's eyes were slanted, with dark round pupils and surrounded by similarly dark lines. He has small, linear, dark eyebrows. On his ear, he donned a small, light-colored earring on his left earlobe, which takes the shape of a stylized snowflake, "Because Ur is no longer of this world."
"She sacrificed her life to seal Deliora away!" Gray yelled to the former pupil of Ur, "You're trying to destroy her legacy!"
"Don't delude yourself," Lyon replied coldly, "You killed Ur."
Gray was shocked by Lyon's harsh words. He thinks… he killed Ur? No, that was not true, he never killed her. Lyon continued, his eyes slanted, "I'm amazed you've had the nerve to live, Gray."
At the same time with Natsu and Lisanna, the two wizards were upside down after being kicked away from the temple. They struggled and grunted to get back on their feet until finally, they let out a jet of fire to launch them from off the ground into the air. They then landed firmly on the ground, still covered in the ice Lyon traps them in. Natsu turned hotly back to the temple where the moon trip ceremony was taking place and the battle between the two ice wizards.
"Gray, you jerk! I will get you for this!"
"Of all the times he tries to get rid of you and he drags me involved in the pain?" Lisanna groaned, wishing full well she could place her hands to her face right now, "That bastard, I could have helped him."
"Hey Lisanna, can you melt the ice around you?" Natsu asked, still pissed that Gray would do this without warning. His left hand was wrapped in flames, but he could not melt the ice that Lyon trapped them in.
"It must have something to do with that Ice spell Lyon traps the two of us in. He's truly a master of Ice Make, on par with Gray." Lisanna replied.
"Then we'll have to worry about the ice later. The village is in danger and Lucy, Aspen, Shiro, Setsuko, and Happy will need our help." Natsu replied looking the other way.
"Right, let's move." Lisanna agreed as the two set off back to the village to assist Happy and Lucy in stopping the subordinates from harming the villagers. But unfortunately...
"Crap! It is hard to run like this!"
Out at sea, while everything was going on Galuna Island, a certain someone was making her way there like Lisanna her way. On a pirate ship out in the sea, many of the crew on board were defeated and all around the deck as one of the remaining pirates, the captain looked to the person who singled-handed defeated his crew.
"Wh-Why do you want to go to that horrible island?!" he asked nervously to the unknown person. He panicked looking into the angry stare he was given, "I-If you don't mind my asking…"
"Just steer." A young woman's voice asked sternly causing the pirate captain to jump in shock.
"R-Right…!" He stammered, turning back around to face the ocean and steer the boat.
Several of the pirates got up from the wood deck to face Erza who had her arms to her sides and looked as serious as ever.
"Come on, lady! I mean ma'am! I beg you!" the pirate captain pleaded before correcting himself, "Galuna Island is cursed! They say people turn into demons there!"
"I am not interested in that," she responded darkly.
"Y-Yes ma'am…!" the captain stammered, seeing the dark look in her eyes.
Her windblown scarlet hair was blown so slightly in the starlight as she said sternly, "I'm simply on my way to punish some rule-breakers and help my comrade. That's all."
The pirate crew all gathered around their captain, showing love and admiration to the scarlet-haired armored wizard as the captain sweat in embarrassment of his crew. Calls of 'So Cool!', 'You're wonderful!', 'Let's go, Big Sis!', and 'We'll follow you anywhere you!' was heard from the members as Erza said calmly, "Good. Then please hurry."
"Aye, sir!" rang the members of the crew as the captain said nervously, "L-Let me join in too, Big Sis!"
"Steady as she goes!" was heard from more members as they set their sails to Galuna Island, where Natsu and his group were unknown to the latter except Lisanna, she was coming, and she was to punish them for taking the request. Erza stood still and seriously determined to get there soon. She couldn't believe what the master told her the other day, that Natsu took an S-Class request and took Happy and Lucy along with him Also it was brought to her attention that Gray was supposed to bring them back, but it seems the Ice wizard didn't, and now he's a guilty party like the rest. And Lisanna, the young white-haired wizard was permitted to go to Galuna Island and meet up with her, so she was not to be punished. Erza knows that while certain traits Lisanna gained from Natsu were the minority, Lisanna was more responsible and only wanted to keep Natsu safe. She remained where she stood as another young woman's voice spoke to her, breaking her concentration.
"You seem to have things covered, right Miss Scarlet?" the girl asked
Erza turned her attention to a young girl around 17-18 years old of small stature with pale skin, short silvery hair, with bangs covering her forehead, and indigo-colored eyes. Her clothes consist of a short dress made up of white feathers with two bird-like wings that hang from her back. The dress splits just above her navel, becoming more reminiscent of a vest. While the sides of her torso are covered, much of her chest is not. The deep, revealing v-cut is lined by a row of long feathers on either side, thus continuing up her torso and wrapping around her shoulders to form a sort of collar. Two wing-like tattoos could be found on her collarbone. Her skirt is also partially split down the middle. The girl wore a dark blue ribbon around her head, with four bows hanging from it, two on each side, which covered her ears. Her hair is cut in a short bob, with two tresses reaching over her hair ribbon to frame her face and a piece of hair at the top curls into a halo that rises conspicuously from her head. She also wore long, dark blue gloves that covered her arms, and passed her elbows, and knee-length, dark blue stockings with light blue, feathered boots.
"Yes, and you can drop the formalities, call me Erza…" The scarlet-haired wizard replied, "I'm sorry what was your name again"
"Sorano, but my codename is Angel," the young girl replied. (A/N 3)
"With the Dark guild, Oracions Seis, correct?" Erza asked calmly.
She replied to Erza looking into the sky.
"Well, that's a surprise for a dark wizard to change sides so easily, what's the sudden change?" asked Erza curiously.
Sorano paused, looking down at her blue-gloved hands, "Have you ever regretted something after so long that it started to eat you up inside?"
"Yes, I can agree with you. There are these events in my past that I wish I could have tried harder to prevent." Erza responded, "So why the sudden empathy?"
Sorano paused again, her indigo eyes staring into the sea, "My little sister and how I'd be a terrible person if she found out who I was." She took her spot near the bow and spoke again to Erza, "When I was young, around seven years old, I was taken away from my little sister, and our parents were killed. After that, I was taken to this faraway place until one year later I was freed by my Guild master." She looks at her gloved hands feeling as if something contaminated them, "I did horrible things in his wake and three years ago, I killed someone who was nearly clinging to life. It took some time for me to understand that what I was doing wasn't the answer."
"That shows you aren't completely evil if you still cling to the light, Sorano." Erza replied giving the young girl a solemn smile and pat on the back, "The fact remains you choose to want to redeem yourself for your sister, that's true courage."
Sorano smiled, looking at the dark eyes of Titania, "Thanks, that makes me feel a lot better."
"So, you must know what that dark guild is up to right?" Erza asked.
"They're planning something really big so I'm not sure what it is yet." She looked to the scarlet-haired wizard and requested, "If you let me into your guild, I can be your spy for you. Find out what they're up to."
"That'll be great, although you might want to change your image. You might cause trouble if people know who you are." Erza smiled.
"Don't worry, I got it covered." Sorano replied taking out a bag full of clothes, "People know Angel, but not who she is. Be right back." she added to Titania and made her way to a vacant room in the Pirate ship to change. A few minutes later, Sorano emerged to the deck in a whole latest look. Her silvery hair was covered by a short light blue wig with white highlights. She was now dressed in a white and blue top with a plain white skirt with several keys attached to her belt in a style that made Erza think of Lucy. On her feet were white boots that reached to her thighs. The angel motif still showed on Sorano, as her top was decorated with little angel wings on the back.
"So, how do I look?" Sorano asked nervously.
"A new you…" Erza stated arms folded as the two continued staring at the sea as their destination was coming soon.
As the Moon Drip ceremony was still underway, the onlookers who were chanting took their gaze from the Moon Drip and to the battle of Gray and Lyon as the two were ready to square off.
"I'll say it again," Lyon repeated coolly, "You killed Ur." As Gray's eyes twitch with anger, his teeth are still borne. While his eyes remained slanted, he added his hand charging with magic as he bellowed, "It is presumptuous of you to speak her name!" as a ball of ice hit Gray squarely in the chest causing him to fly back and crash into a piece of the ruins. Gray sat after the impact of the attack, his lowered as he said to the former pupil of Ur,
"L-Lyon…" and Gray struggled to get back on his feet, his head still lowered.
"What's the matter? Feeling too guilty to fight back." he taunted, "In that case, please stay out of my way. I'm going to revive Deliora."
Gray grunted in anger as he yelled back, "I won't let you!"
As Lyon eyed the anger in Gray's eyes, his eyes remained cold in them. Lyon finally dropped the mask he was still carrying as now the former pupil held his arm up again to charge ice magic in his left arm, "That's more like it. Let us play again, for old times' sake." and a light blue Magic circle appeared and vanished as Lyon called, "Ice-Make: Eagle!" as Lyon creates several eagles out of ice that fly their way to Gray. The Fairy Tail mage stood his ground, standing in his usual pose.
"Ice-Make: Shield!" He announced and the wall of ice resembling petals to protect himself from Lyon's attack, but the ice eagles went past the ice shield, causing him to cry out in pain.
As Lyon held out his hand still channeling magic, the silver-haired mage said, "Static Ice Making, creating objects was always our specialty, while dynamic Ice Making, creating animals, is my specialty! Have you forgotten that my ice can move about?!" he asked as Gray jumped into the air, charging his hands together.
"Ice-Make: Hammer!" he exclaimed, and a large hammer-shaped from ice emerged from the magic circle and headed its way to Lyon, but the other Ice mage countered, his left hand out.
"Ice Make: Ape!" and creates a static version of a large ape from the ice as it shatters the hammer Gray made. Gray landed back to the ground to face Lyon again.
"What a joke!" Lyon laughed, "I see you still use both hands for your make magic."
"That's what Ur taught us!" Gray retorted, "Single-handed Make magic is incomplete and unbalanced!"
"I'm an exception." Lyon frowned, "I surpassed Ur's level years ago."
"Don't act so cocky…!" Gray growled in anger as Lyon retorted coldly, "I say the same to you. Tell me, did you ever once hit me with an attack?" he asked.
Gray growled in anger, teeth still clenched as he placed his two hands together one palm over the other another magic appeared for a second before placing his left fist over his right hand and growled.
"Don't mistake those times with now!" as he placed his back to this right before shouting out both hands covered with mist, "Ice Geyser!" and freezes the ground in front of Lyon as ice forms around him, creating a tower of ice spikes. While Gray's attack was being formed, the onlookers panicked and ran around, leaving the area for safety. But Gray's Ice Geyser shattered on its own, making the Ice mage shocked with revelation to what he was looking at. The mist and ice started to clear, revealing a perfectly fine Lyon.
"Nothing has changed." Lyon stated, with Gray still in shock he was unharmed, "I was the elder student, and I was stronger than you." Gray gritted his teeth even more as Lyon added, "I earned to use single-handed Make magic, but you never could." Gray's anger boiled even further as he repeated coldly, "Nothing has changed. Our paths may be different, but our time remains frozen and unchanged." With his left hand raised into the air, a magic circle appeared once more and the silvered-haired mage summoned a dragon made of ice and hit Gray, shooting him into the air as he slowly fell to earth Lyon added frowning, "That's why I'm going to melt the ice. To follow the path that was sealed off. Ur was my goal. Surpassing her was my dream," as a memory of a younger Lyon standing with a younger Gray as the two boys stood with Ur, "But you took that dream away from me. I thought I would never be able to surpass her now." As he stood in front of a kneeling Gray who gritted his teeth after that last attack, he continued, "But then I realized there was a way." If I can defeat Deliora, which not even Ur could vanquish… then I will surpass her." he smiled coolly, "I can have the rest of my dream."
Gray stood, flabbergasted unbelievable at what his old friend was trying to do and planning to do. So, is he going to let many innocent people along with his comrades either die or get hurt all for this 'Surpassing Ur' crap? Gray only had the right words to say about this reveal, "Are you insane?! What is your goal? Even you know how horrific Deliora is!"
Lyon still frowned, as Gray pleaded, "Stop this! You cannot do it!"
But Lyon's response was not words, but ice spikes he conjured to send the Fairy Tail Ice mage screaming in pain as Lyon finally spoke, in the tone of someone who has completely lost it and made up their minds.
"Stop? You cannot do it?" he repeated mockingly, as Gray was sent flying and landing on his back, "We said those same words to you then. Surely you have not forgotten!" his slanted eyes widening, "Ur died because you challenged Deliora!" and forms an iced punch that sky rocked Gray into the air helpless as Lyon was easily about to take advantage of him as he exclaimed, "You aren't fit to say Ur's name! Begone!" and conjures another snow dragon that hit Gray directly as Lyon bellowed once more.
"Disappear forever!" And the Snow Dragon curved back to hit Gray for the final time, the Fairy Tail Ice mage screaming in pain.
Meanwhile, Happy, Setsuko, Aspen, Shiro, and Lucy were still airborne as the two cats struggled to keep Lucy and Setsuko in the air as they tried their best to get back. Natsu and Lisanna continued their slow trek back to the village; ice still covered their bodies as their faces formed angry scowls. This was going to be to remember but stopping Lyon from unleashing Deliora and harming the villagers, was what The Fairy Tail wizards must do.
To be continued in chapter 13: Yuka of the Wave