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Now that Natsu's situation was taken care of, Gray and Ur stood from across the other. It was a long overdue conversation that started with Gray getting on his hands and knees.
"I'm sorry! I forced you into that position and if it wasn't because of me than you wouldn't have died!" Gray apologized to Ur.
He wasn't wrong necessarily but Ur thought he was being too hard on himself.
"Gray...I told you that it wasn't your fault...Deliora killed your parents and took away your entire hometown. I also should have tried a bit harder to get through to your head." Ur tried to explain.
"It doesn't matter because to me I caused your death. If I hadn't ran off, you wouldn't have fought Deliora and you wouldn't have been forced into limbo." Gray said.
Honestly, stubborn as before but in the opposite direction. It was a good kind of stubborn that she could get behind. Which meant if she wanted him to drop this entire thing. She would have to take his apology.
"I forgive you Gray, I mean it." Ur said.
Gray looked at her with surprise while she replied with a nod of assurance. Gray slowly got to his feet. He rubbed the back of his head.
"I didn't think things would go that smoothly." Gray admitted.
"Because I don't hold you at fault for what happened besides you didn't become a Lyon. I just wished he..."
Ur wished he didn't go down that dark road.
"He just needed a good kick in the head and he got one from your backhand. He'll come around I'm sure." Gray said.
"It might not be the end for him. He was quite remorseful before leaving that morning." Ur commented.
Yes, there was some hope for him.
"Speaking of old disciple's, I want you to start training me again." Gray said.
Ur raised a brow.
"Why?" Ur asked.
Gray looked ashamed.
"I told you that I had lost against Lyon...if it wasn't for Natsu, I wouldn't have been able to complete that job. Hell, I was a burden and it opened my eyes that I still have a lot to learn. You may have taught me everything but you haven't taught me everything you know, I want to prove to you that I deserve to know it. Which means I have to get smarter and stronger." Gray said.
Ur seemed to dwell on it for a moment. She had just gotten back and even she was hesitant to start training again. One of her students went off the deep end for a long time trying to make her sacrifice meaningless. However, one look in Gray's eyes seemed to chase away those insecurities.
"Alright, Gray. Let's start with a friendly spar to see how far you have come." Ur spoke.
"We can head to Magnolia's Forest. It would be best for any long term spar." Gray offered.
Ur hummed in agreement as both went to the forest. The two reach a clearing before squaring off against one another. Gray made the first move.
"Ice Make: Hammer!" He yelled.
Ur put the palm of her hand up into the air to stop the hammer made out of ice from coming down on top of her. She noticed Gray's hands together with his stance. His basics were solid. It seemed he did his best to continue her training. Ur threw the hammer back at Gray. He dodge his own hammer before rushing at Ur. His hands together.
"Ice Make: Excalibur!"
Ur simply conjured a block of ice that would move to intercept the swing of Gray's sword. Gray tried getting her to move in some way shape or form but Ur remained just the same. Gray jump back to gain distance between him and his teacher.
"Let's see how you do..."
Just like that, Ur ate the distance between the pair. Gray's eyes widen as he had to cancel his next attack before having to barely dodge an attack. Ur was hardly using ice make magic but he felt like even after training for ten years. He still couldn't keep up with the woman.
"What's wrong Gray?" Ur asked.
Normally, someone's Gray's age would go flying in but Gray had some relative control over his emotions. He lost to Lyon because he was too emotional. He also lost Ur because he acted on his emotions. Gray had to formulate an actual battle plan if he wanted to win against Ur. Even if she was holding back.
'They give you a way to win...' Gray thought.
When Gray analyzed the situation rather than fly right into the fight. Ur was impressed that he didn't fall for the taunt. However, she wasn't going to sit there and do nothing. Ur went after Gray as she tried delivering a kick to his mid section. She had moved faster this time as she forced Gray to block the attack. Gray winced in pain at the blow to his arm. Ur sent Gray flying away from her. Gray recovered as he made his hands come back to one another.
"Ice Make: Cannon!" He shouted.
Ur simply held out her hand as she used a spell that summoned a sphere of ice. She would send the sphere of ice at the incoming projectile from Gray's shoulder mounted cannon. The projectiles canceled one another. Ur chase after Gray her body closing on him like a rocket. Gray waited for her to get close before slamming his hands onto the ground. She sat one foot down at knowing what was going to come and skidded to a stop while Gray unleashed his spell.
"Ice Make: Geyser!" Gray shouted.
Ur jump back as she avoided the incoming spell. Ur pressed her hands together as she would unlessh a attack of her own at Gray.
"Ice Make: Javelin!"
Ur sent out a Javelin directed for Gray. The male knew the attack was coming but because of the Geyser of Ice in the way. He couldn't know how fast it was coming towards him. Therefore, Gray acted immediately by summoning a shield made out of ice. Ur's attack easily broke through the geyser along with Gray's shield. The javelin hit Gray as he was sent crashing through a tree.
'That should be enough.' Ur thought.
"Alright, Gray I think that's enough." Ur said.
Gray got up from the ground. The Male feeling sore all over again from just that one attack. Ur met Gray as he got to his feet.
"You have the basics down and your technique is good. I might be able to advance your training regime this time around." Ur said.
Which sounded just fine for Gray.
Natsu had felt living with Gray and Ur wasn't all that bad. However, he hated it because it was against everything his mother had taught him. Therefore, he was out job hunting within Magnolia.
"Natsu can we talk for a moment?" Lucy asked.
Natsu turn his head to see Lucy standing in front of him. Her face lowered as she gripped her arm with one hand while biting her lower lip. Normally, people would confuse this for a confession but there's two big indicators that made that notion dismissed. The first were the guilt in her eyes while the second was there was no blush on her cheeks. She wasn't being shy, she was ashamed and guilty.
"I got time, go for it." Natsu said.
"...you were...you were...right..." Lucy got out.
Natsu raised a brow before realizing what she was talking about and that's when he got on the same page.
"Thanks for that but what actually matters is, what are you going to do about it now?" Natsu asked.
"That's why I came to you today...I want you to train me." Lucy stated.
Training? Natsu didn't know how to feel about it because on one hand the only way he knew how to train someone is from what his mother did. Yet, that was pure torture.
"I'll be beating you up, like full on black eyes, constant physical exercises despite you on the verge of being exhausted and me reminding you how weak you are. I'll scoff half the time even if you do a good thing. It isn't meant for the weak that don't have the willpower to make it through, it will be psychology intensive." Natsu warned her.
"That's precisely why...it's my dream of having all of the golden keys...but I want to earn them through merit. That mission had taught me that I was too weak. My injuries dictated my actions. I wasn't strong enough to win on my own. You were right and you were upfront about it, if I'm going to get stronger. If I want to win more spirits in the future. I need to get stronger." Lucy said.
Natsu grew a smile.
"Alright Lucy, the training starts right now. I'll be putting you through the ringer." Natsu stated.
Lucy found her head jerking back at taking a punch from Natsu. Her eye swelled up with pain. He was only holding back not to take her head clean off! Lucy stumbled back.
"One of your greatest weaknesses as a support mage is direct combat! If you can't even buy yourself some time to survive or gain a advantage than you're done for!" Natsu yelled at her.
Lucy tried forming a guard but it was sloppy with Natsu having no problem breaking through it, his fist slamming into her face.
"What was that suppose to be!? Come on you mongrel, try again!" Natsu shouted at her.
Lucy stumbled into the Guild Hall after one of their numerous training sessions. Everyone instantly surrounded her aside from Gray.
'Damn, Natsu wasn't lying when he said he that he'll toughen her up.' Gray thought.
He almost felt sorry for Lucy, at least until he remembered Natsu warned her. She knew what exactly she was getting into and Gray didn't need to worry. She might be covered in bruises but Natsu just stopped at bruising as he held back.
"Lucy what happened!?" Wakaba asked.
"Mirajane! We need the medical kit!" Happy cried.
"Wha- oh my gosh Lucy!" Mirajane shouted.
Lucy took a seat with Mirajane instantly rushing over with a medical kit.
"I'm okay, I'm okay, it's nothing short of bruises." Lucy said.
"Who is the fiend that did this to you!?" Erza roared.
Mirajane began to put some healing ointment on Lucy's bruised arm. She winced in pain before debating if she should tell Erza. However, the incident from last time would result in Lucy not telling Erza much.
"I was just training, I'm a celestial wizard and close quarters combat is where I suck. I'm just learning how to scrap to buy time or think of a plan." Lucy stated.
"Even so...these are bruises...they went too far." Erza said.
Lucy leveled a glare at Erza. It seemed like the scarlet haired wizard was still on Lucy's bad side. Erza quietly backed down. However, if Lucy wasn't telling her. Erza knew who it was as she marched onwards to hunt Natsu down.
Meanwhile.
Natsu and Laxus stood from across one another. They were in a back alley that was kept hidden from the moving world around them.
"You came back alive and you revived someone while also single handly carrying the mission. I have a spot for you on my team but we'll keep it on the down low. That old man only expels people that show potential of being stronger than him." Laxus stated.
Natsu became intrigued.
"I take it you're the survival of the fittest mindset?" Natsu asked.
"Exactly, only the strong can stand at the top. You're strong, not as strong as me but strong nonetheless and I see potential in you unlike that old man." Laxus spoke.
Natsu grew a smirk.
"Only the strong can dicate the path forward, why not Laxus your words have merit." Natsu said.
"We might get along after all, Natsu." Laxus stated.
Natsu wasn't so sure about that just yet but his earlier suspicions were confirmed about Laxus. They certainly had that only the strong could dictate the path forward but did they share the same methods? Natsu didn't know as he preferred to keep a arms length appoarch to Laxus.
"Natsu!" Erza shouted.
"Oh, what's red doing here?" Laxus asked.
Natsu shrugged but did face her.
"What do you want Erza?" Natsu asked.
"Firstly, you are not going to keep beating Lucy into the ground! Secondly, why are you with Laxus!?" Erza asked.
Natsu thought about it before growing a smirk.
"All I can say is that I'm free to do whatever I want and I'm not beholden to your rules or did you forget that you guys kicked me out?" Natsu asked.
Laxus began snickering.
"It's against rules even if you aren't a member." Erza growled.
"Now, now, we were just having a casual chat it's not anything bad. Come on Erza, maybe you need to learn to live a little." Natsu mocked.
"It's not that, she doesn't deserve to get beaten without warning her about it!" Erza sneered.
"I already warned her before training started that I was gonna give her a few black eyes with bruises. She knew before starting." Natsu stated.
The wind that were in Erza's sails would leave them as her anger disappeared at the statement.
"You did...?" She hesitantly asked.
"Obviously, I'm not that heartless." Natsu countered.
Erza wasn't sure anymore as she was stuck being angry and yet having the reason that Natsu had worn Lucy of the training. Despite this, Erza would not apologize to Natsu. She doubled down for the meantime.
"Next time, see to it, you don't litter her entire body with bruises." Erza said.
"Once she starts protecting herself better I might just give her less bruises."
"You...!"
Natsu interrupted her.
"You'd think the enemies of Fairy Tail will let her off with no bruises because we asked them too? Hell no, if she can't handle this than she's going to die when we aren't there to save her. I could do worse but I'm not, I'm just giving her a small taste of how cruel this world is and she will have to handle worse. That's what being wizard is about. The training will continue as ever." Natsu stated.
Erza anger retreated at the logic but her pride was smeared because of Laxus's presence. Erza settled for walking away.
The training did continue but wasn't meant to be easy. Natsu wasn't lying when he said he would be harsh with her. It went on like this for a few more days until Natsu ordered her to take the weekend off. Lucy was glad that he did because when she reached the Guild on that Monday morning. Her eyes widen at seeing multiple steel pillars being shoved into the Guild's Building. It was completely destroyed.
"Yo!" Natsu said.
Lucy looked to her right. Natsu walked up next to her.
"What are you doing here?" Lucy asked.
"Keeping an eye on my resident student, can't have her falling to pieces before she reaches the fruit of her labor." Natsu answered.
That was oddly sweet of him.
"Let's go find out what happened." Lucy said.
The pair walked into the building.