Chapter 10
Ur
"Speech"
'Thoughts'
"Magic"
Flashback
Location / Date / Time Change
Galuna Village Storage Area
Gray groaned as he awoke from is injury induced sleep. He found himself in a small room filled with crates of supplies. He willed himself to his feet before walking out the tent door.
"Thank goodness, you're awake." Gray looked over to see a girl with a horribly mutated leg walk over to him.
"Where am I?" Gray asked her.
"This is a storage facility, just a bit from the village." Lulu told him. "We had to move here, since the village was destroyed last night."
"The whole village?" Gray asked, before remembering that Lyon had ordered its eradication. 'I don't believe it... They went and did it.' He grunted as he grabbed his shoulder in pain.
"I'm just glad Natsu and the others were here when they attacked." Lulu muttered to herself. "Without them, I'm not sure everyone would have made it."
"Wait, they're here too?" Gray asked.
"Yes." Lulu nodded. "In fact, they wanted me to show you to their tent once I'd woken you up."
"Which tent?" Gray asked.
"It's that big one over there." Lulu pointed behind him and Gray walked over to it. Moving the flaps out of the way, he came face to face with a sight that had him crapping his pants. Erza was sitting on a stool with an evil look in her eyes. Next to her were Happy and Lucy, tied up on the ground.
"You made me wait." Erza spoke. "Not smart."
"Erza!" Gray shouted shocked. "Why are they tied up?"
"So they can't escape." Erza explained. "Lucy told me the whole story. Weren't you and Laki sent here to stop them? Instead, the two of you end up joining them. This is very disappointing."
"Wait, where is Laki anyway?" Gray asked. "And Natsu?"
"That's what I want to know." Erza told him.
"Last time I saw them, they were supposed to be fighting the Cold Emperors minions." Lucy spoke up for the first time. "When we got back, it was completely empty and we couldn't find either of them. Since we couldn't find them, Erza demanded I take her to you but I had no clue where you were either."
"So she made me search from the sky, and that's how I spotted this storage space." Happy added.
"Meaning, those two are still out there wandering like chickens with their heads cut off." Erza said as she walked over to Gray. "You and I are going to look for those two. The second we find them, we're heading back to the guild."
"We can't leave the island just yet!" Gray responded to Erza. "If you heard the story, then you know what's going on here, right? What these villagers have been through?"
"And your point is?" Erza asked as she looked to Gray.
Moon Temple
"Aw man." Natsu yawns as he walked through the forest. "We finally made it to the temple. If only we hadn't fallen asleep."
"Actually, Natsu, you're the one who fell asleep first." Laki reminded him from behind. "I wanted to get here as fast as possible, but you insisted on taking a nap."
"I said I was sorry." Natsu said as they reached the entrance of the temple. "You remember the plan?"
"Of course." Laki smirked at her crush. "Plan D won't fail us."
"Alright." Natsu raised his fist in confidence. "Let's do this." Both wizards sprinted into the temple.
Galuna Village Storage Area
"The only reason I came here was to bring back the fools who broke the guilds rules." Erza told Gray without looking at him. "Natsu and Laki are the only ones left. I have absolutely no interest in anything else."
"Haven't you seen what's happened to the people on this island?" Gray asked the redhead.
"I have." Erza told him matter of factly.
"And you're totally fine just leaving them like that?" Gray asked again.
"This request is posted in every guild hall." Erza reminded him. "Isn't it more logical to leave this matter to a mage from a guild that qualifies for this kind of job?"
"How can you be so heartless!?" Gray snapped at the armored girl. "I'm disappointed in you, Erza..."
"What was that?" Erza finally locked eyes with Gray, giving him a death glare.
"You can't talk to the great Erza like that!" Happy shouted, sweating nervously.
"Suck up..." Lucy muttered under her breath.
"So, you're going to defy the guilds rules too?" Erza asked as she requipped a sword and pointed it a Grays neck. "You and Laki will face the same punishment as the rest." Her eyes went wide as Gray gripped the blade and pointed it to the emblem on his chest.
Gray looked at Erza with the same determination in his eyes as she had in hers. "Do whatever you want." Gray growled out. "I can't walk away from what I know is right. This is what I choose to do." He let go of the blade and walked past Erza. "This is something I have to see through to the end." He stated as he moved the curtain door out of the way. "Cut me down if you want."
He left for the temple, unaware that Erza was shacking in rage. She turned around to a terrified Lucy and Happy and started walking over.
"Please don't kill us, Erza!" Lucy begged. "We can't control what he does!"
"Yeah!" Happy added. "Gray lost a fight to an old friend, and now he's not thinking straight!"
There were two slashes and the ropes holding them were cut. "This state of events won't do." Erza let out. "We'll deal with the immediate problem first." The blonde and the cat gained happy smiles on their faces. "Don't misunderstand. You're still in big trouble when we get back to the guild."
"Yes, ma'am..." Both sweat dropped as the three ran after Gray.
Moon Temple Throne Room
"Let me get this straight." Lyon said in front of his stone throne. "You're the only one who made it back here, Toby?" He sat down and looked at his lone subordinate. "Those Fairy Tail wizards are pretty good."
"Umm..." Toby nervously spoke up. "Can we keep the whole 'shocking myself' thing a secret?"
"This is an unfortunate turn of events." Both looked over to see a man with long green hair, a red tribal mask, and a dirty cloak walking over to them. "Deliora's revival could be much more difficult."
"Zalty, you're as stealthy as ever." Lyon said to the now named man.
"If all goes to plan, then the moons magical power will be maximized tonight and the demon will be revived by tonight." Zalty explained. "But we must be cautious of those wizards. If anyone of them manages to get in the way of the Moon Drip, Deliora will forever remain frozen. Salamander and the Green woman won't be easy to beat, and I've heard Titania has joined them."
"As always, you're as knowledgeable as you are stealthy." Lyon told the man as an icy mist escaped his hand. "But it doesn't matter. They can't beat my power."
"That's very reassuring." Zalty watched the mist roll of Lyon's hand. "But still, may I have the honor of joining you in this battle for old times sake?"
"Back up, you're a wizard too?" Toby asked in shock.
"Yes..." Zalty confessed. "It's been awhile but, I've dabbled in a brand of Lost Magic."
"So be it." Lyon said. "We could use another wizard." He looked around when he noticed the temple shaking.
"It's an earthquake!" Toby shouted.
Many floors below them, Natsu and Laki where destroying the pillars that held the temple up right. "Oh right, they're above us." Natsu remembered as he looked to the ceiling.
"Let's get 'em." Laki entered her maker stance before slamming her hands to the temple floor. "Wood-Make: To Know What The Heart Holds!" From the seal emerged a wooden pencil, pen and paint brush shot up as Natsu unleashed his breath attack. The spells combined and forced their way through floor after floor until they broke thought the floor Lyon and his men were standing on.
"What is the meaning of this!?" Lyon asked as Toby whimpered in fear.
"Figures these two would be the first to make a move." Zalty said as he looked down the hole. "Seems we have visitors." Lyon and Toby walked over to see Natsu and Laki staring up at them.
"Ha ha." Natsu chuckled a little. "Hey, Laki. Is it me, or is it a lot easier to break things when you're not aware you're doing it?"
"You know, you're right Natsu." Laki smiled at the irony pointed out.
"Insolent fools!" Lyon looked down in anger. "What do you think you two are doing!?"
"We're knocking this temple over!" Natsu shouted back up. "That way, you ain't gonna be able to shine any moon light on that underground demon."
"Who do you think you two are!?" Lyon asked in anger. "You dare challenge me!?"
"Okay, can one of you two explain this to me, because I'm lost." Toby confessed.
"It seems these two have tilted the temple." Zalty told the dog man. "They destroyed the columns on one side of the ruins, making it tilt in that direction. As a result, moonlight won't directly reach Deliora. It's a petty smart plan. It had to be the Green woman who thought this up."
"You gonna fight us or what!?" Natsu shouted as flames erupted from his feet.
"Flames shoot from his feet?" Lyon asked.
"Be careful." Toby warned his leader. "When Yuka and I fought him, he could shot flames from all over his body."
Natsu grabbed Laki's hand and the two flew upwards and crashed into Lyon. Toby looked in horror as Lyon cracked and shattered into green ice. "A decoy!?"
"Behind us!" Laki shouted as Natsu turned to see Lyon gathering his magic.
"Ice-Make: Eagles!" Lyon crafted a flock of the ice birds and they flew towards the two. "Can you two dodge in midair?"
Natsu threw Laki to the ground and then breathed fire upwards, forcing himself down. The eagles flew over them as Natsu stood up on one hand and fired flames from his feet. Lyon ducked as the flames charred the wall behind him. "What kind of weird magic is this?"
"Wood-Make: Violent Approach!" He turned around to see Laki crafting her own magic and send multiple Morningstar balls flying at him.
"Ice-Make: Ape!" Lyon crafted his own spell that took the brunt of the the damage before shattering. "Another maker mage, this should be interesting." He commented, missing the smirk on Laki's face.
"Fire Dragon Roar!" Lyon turned around and saw Natsu unleash a torrent of flames at him. Just before they could reach him, Zalty raised his hand and the ground beneath Natsu eroded, causing him to fall and the flames to shot straight up.
"Natsu!" Laki shouted before the same thing happened to her.
"How fortunate for you, Cold Emperor." Zalty said, trying to play it off. "It seems luck is on your side."
"Can we keep the 'Toby got charred thing' a secret too?" Toby, now black from the flames asked.
"What did you do?" Lyon angrily asked Zalty.
"I beg your pardon?" Zalty asked back.
"Don't act so naive." Lyon said back. "It was your magic that crumbled the floor, wasn't it?"
"Well, seems you saw right through it." Zalty smirked behind the mask. "But please understand. You're the only one who can defeat Deliora. We can't risk you getting hurt before its revival."
"Are you suggesting that those splinters and coals can beat me?" Lyon asked offended as his magic froze the entire room. "Leave me at once. I'll deal with the Salamander myself." He looked down as Natsu climbing out of the hole in the ground. "I'm the only one that can defeat Deliora. And once I do, everyone will worship me, Cold Emperor Lyon. I've worked too hard to let a brat and a bimbo tarnish my name."
"What did you just say?" Natsu growled out.
"As you wish." Zalty bowed as Toby left the room. "But please, allow me to make amends by dealing with that bimbo." He jumped down the hole Laki fell as it sealed behind him.
"So, you wanna beat Deliora?" Natsu asked as he climbed out of the hole and stand up.
Galuna Jungle
"Let me get this straight." Lucy said as she, Erza, Gray and Happy ran through the jungle. "He wants to fight that demon?"
Gray said nothing as he ran, focused on stopping his fellow pupil.
Demon's Chamber
"Ow, that hurt." Laki groaned as she stood up from her fall. "Natsu, where are you?" She shouted before turning around, finding herself face to face with Deliora. "I fell all the way down here?"
Emperors Throneroom
"The thing looks half dead." Natsu said. "You're really melting all that ice just because you wanna fight that demon? That's really weird, man."
"Anything to surpass Ur..." Lyon said as he crafted a new flock of ice eagles. "You will not get in the way of my dream!"
Natsu dodged bird after bird by jumping around. "So why go to all this trouble? Can't you just challenge her yourself and be done with it!?"
"I would, if she was still alive." Lyon told him. "Ur has been dead for years."
Natsu thought back to what Gray said. That his master sacrificed everything to seal away Deliora. "So that's what he meant. I didn't realize she ended up dying when she sealed it."
"Yes, and if it wasn't for Gray, she'd still be alive!" Lyon brought his hand forward and crafted an ice eagle behind Natsu, who didn't have time to dodge. The strike created an explosion of icy mist that soon faded, revealing Natsu had gotten his arm up and blocked any real damage.
"Look, I don't know what happened in your past, and I don't care." Natsu spoke with a fire in his eyes. "What matters is what you're doing now. And what you're doing is hurting a lot of innocent people. And since you don't seem to give a damn about that..." He dropped his hand and ignited it. "I'll just have to beat it into you!"
Galuna Jungle
"Even when we were kids, Lyon has only wanted to surpass Ur." Gray explained to the stopped group. "But since she's gone, he can't fight her directly. So instead, he's decided to surpass her by killing Deliora, the one thing she couldn't do."
"I guess that makes sense. It's the only real way to challenge the dead..." Lucy said.
"No... He just doesn't know." Gray mumbled. "Listen, there's something I never got to tell him." He turned around to face his friends. "Ur made me promise to keep it a secret. But I have to tell him. Ur did disappear, but she's still alive."
His words shocked everyone, even Erza was curious. "What do you mean?"
"It's been ten years..." Gray said as the memories flooded back to him. "Deliora attacked the town my home town. It took less than a day for the whole town to be wiped out. I was saved by Ur and Lyon, who happened to be passing by..."
10 Years Ago
Isvan remains
A woman with purple hair walked through the ruins of a town with a boy with silver hair following her. "Deliora..." The woman stopped and looked out at the still smoldering ruins of the town. "I knew of its destructive powers, but I didn't imagine that it be this bad." She turned around when she heard a small groan, and saw a boy trapped under the rubble. "Lyon, get over here!" She called to the silver haired boy. "We've got a survivor."
"Hey, are you okay!?" The young Lyon ran over and started pulling debris off the other kid, who could barely open his eyes.
After pulling the kid out, they exited the town. The other boy stopped and picked some flowers before leaving them at the destroyed gate wall. "Deliora..." The boy whispered as tears flooded his face. "You'll pay for this... I swear it..." Ur looked at the child and felt pity.
One Week Later
Unknown Snowy Plain (I don't like leaving things unnamed, but they didn't give a name.)
"First, you must learn the basics of ice magic." Ur turned to her pupils, Lyon and the boy they found amongst the ruins. "Can you handle it, Gray?" She asked her newest student. "I warned you, my training is hard."
Gray stopped panting and looked up at the woman. "Yeah... But I'll do whatever it takes. I have to become stronger than Deliora so I can beat him!"
"Well then, let's get started." Ur said.
"Fine." Gray huffed out before gasping in shock. His teacher was stripping in front of him, leaving only her underwear on. "Wha- What the heck are you doing!?"
"The first step is to strip." Ur said with a straight face.
"Are you insane!?" Gray asked the woman. "If you think I'm taking off my clothes in the snow, you're crazy! Back me up, Lyon!" He looked over to his fellow student, only to see him in his underwear. "You're naked, too!?"
"Just do it and get it over with." Lyon smirked. "You wanna learn magic, right?"
"I swear, if this is some kinda trick..." Gray mumbled as he removed his clothing.
"That a boy, Gray." Ur grinned at her newest student. "If you wanna control the cold, you have become one with it. You'll get used to it."
"I already have." Lyon bragged to the underwear clad Gray.
"Shut up. You're shaking just as much as I am." Gray pointed out.
"Let's go, boys." Ur said before she sprinted away.
"Hey, you said you were gonna teach me magic!" Gray shouted as he and Lyon ran after her.
"Shut up and run." Lyon told him. "I'm doing the basics along with you, so you can't complain."
The three of them past a herd of green caribou creatures and a melting lake on their run. "I practice maker magic." Ur explained as gray copied her movements and stance while Lyon watched some Vulcans. "Among the thousands of magic, I feel it gives you the most creative freedom." Lyon walked over and crafted a snow ape with one hand, scaring Gray. Lyon smirked before Ur scolded him for ignoring her teachings.
"Everyone who practices maker magic has their own unique style and shapes." Ur explained over dinner. "If you work hard enough, then one day, you'll create your own shape."
One Month Later
Town to the West of Ur's home
"Who's the dark haired boy?" The female owner of JoVE Fruit asked Ur. "You pick up another student?"
"Him? His name is Gray." Ur told her friend. "He's bit of a rebel and doesn't like to listen."
"The other ones Lyon, right?" Her friend asked her. "I bet the both of them are gonna be quite the lookers when they grow up."
"You really think so?" Ur asked with a mouth full of apple.
"I know it." The owner chuckled as she put Ur's food into a paper bag. "Hey, when they grow up, mind giving me one of them?"
"If you want those headaches, I'll give you both of them." Ur said as she took another bite of her fruit.
"You know, if the men her think you have kids, you're not gonna have much luck." Her friend told her.
"You're the last person who should be giving me romantic advice." Ur chuckled as she paid the woman.
"Ur, you're not getting any younger. You need to start thinking about your own happiness. Promise you'll give it a little thought?" The owner asked as she handed Ur her bag.
"Okay." Ur half heartedly agreed and started walking over to Lyon and Gray.
"Hey, Gray, how long do you think it will take for us to be stronger than Ur?" Lyon asked.
"Don't know, don't care." Gray answered back.
"She's the best wizard around." Lyon said as he looked to the sky. "But my dream is to one day be better than her."
"I know, that's all you ever talk about." Gray responded, completely uninterested. "Master this, Ur that. It's really annoying."
"You know, she told me why she took you in." Lyon looked at his fellow student. "She sees some darkness inside you."
"After everything I've been through, I bet she's right." Gray said back.
"Well, she wants to help you get rid of it." Lyon finished repeating what Ur told him.
"I'll do that on my own." Gray said as he clenched his fist. "All I care about is getting revenge on Deliora. Once I get strong enough, I'll bid that ice witch good bye." He had missed how close Ur was to them and she heard everything.
"Who's an ice witch!?" She asked before punching Gray on the head. "You keep talking about me like that and your dead meat, kid."
Gray apologized and the three began walking down the street. "So, when are you gonna teach us some real magic?" Gray asked the back of Ur's head.
"I already am." Ur stated simply.
"No, not that maker magic crap." Gray said. "As far as I can tell, that stuff couldn't break me out of a paper bag."
Ur stopped dead in her tracks. She turned around and looked a Gray, who tried to avoid eye contact. "Gray, look me in the eyes." Gray reluctantly obeyed. "I told you, maker magic gives you creative freedom. Once you find your own style, you can make it as strong as you want."
"Yeah, yeah..." Gray rolled his eyes as he unconsciously stripped himself. "You've said this before, ya know?"
"Gray, your clothes! We're in public!" Ur shouted to the boy in his underwear.
Gray looked down and realized that he was down to his underwear. "It's all your fault! I've got this weird habit cause of you!" He shouted at Ur.
"Don't you dare blame this on me!" Ur shouted back as she punched Gray into the ground. Lyon and everyone around them started laughing at the sight. Ur looked around and embarrassingly picked Gray off the ground. "Let's get out of here."
"Okay..." Gray whimpered out as the three left town.
"Well, that was embarrassing." Ur said once the three where a mile out of town.
"But funny." Lyon chuckled.
"Shut up, brown noser." Gray said as a carriage headed into town.
"You shut up, streaker." Lyon said back.
"Have you heard anything about Deliora's whereabouts?" One of the men inside the carriage asked.
"Yeah." A second voice said back. "I've heard it's made its way to the norther continent, somewhere around Brago..."
"I hope they don't end up like the people of Isvan." The first voice said as they past Gray, who heard the entire conversation. He dropped his bag of groceries, making Ur and Lyon turn to him.
"What's wrong?" Ur asked.
"Brago..." Gray mumbled to himself. "That's where it is..."
Later That Night
Ur's House
"Are you insane!?" Ur asked as Gray walked away from her house in a blizzard. "Deliora is out of your league, Gray! It'll kill you! You're not ready yet!"
"Beg all you want. It's not gonna stop me." Gray said as he looked back over his shoulder. "That thing killed my parents! It has to pay! I have to get revenge!"
"If you leave, you're no longer my student." Ur threatened as Lyon watched.
"Fine with me." Gray said as he turned around and walked deeper into the blizzard. "If I die, it's because you didn't teach me any real magic, just this maker crap!"
"Geez.." Ur muttered as she and Lyon stared at the shrinking outline of Gray.
Present Day
Galuna Jungle
"Uh..." Lucy stared at the temple with a tilted head. "Guys, is it just me or does the temple look a little, crooked?"
"What happened?" Happy asked while copying Lucy.
"Natsu and Laki, if I had to guess." Gray stated as Erza agreed. "This has to be a Natsu plan. Laki would never come up with anything this reckless. Still, it's a good idea. Now the moonlight can't reach Deliora."
"So you're saying their habit of destroying stuff actually helped us?" Lucy asked as she corrected her head.
Erza glanced over before noticing something flying towards the group. "Move!" She shoved Lucy and Happy out of the way before she and Gray dodged the crescent like shurikens. "Who's there!?"
"We've found you, Fairy Tail!" A voice said as a mob of cultists moved into view. "We won't let you interfere."
"Great. These guys." Gray complained.
"Lyon's minions?" Erza asked.
"We're completely surrounded." Lucy said as more cultists appeared before her.
"I'll handle this." Erza said as she requipped a sword.
"Are you sure?" Gray asked, concerned due to the numbers Erza was facing.
"Don't worry about me." Erza said back. "Go settle things with Lyon." Gray looked at her before nodding in agreement.
"We'll help her." Lucy said as she unhooked her whip. "You do what you have to do."
"Aye!" Happy added, brandishing a fish skeleton like a sword.
"Thanks you guys." Gray smirked before sprinting to the temple. 'I have to tell Lyon the truth. Ur is still alive. The only who can stop him is me.'
10 Years Ago
Brago
Deliora was charging energy in its mouth before it prepared to fire at Ur, whose left leg was now ice. "Ice-Make: Rose Garden!" She crafted a field of ice that trapped the demon, but it still fired its energy beam, tearing up the ground before it erupted in flames.
Ur had crafted a shell of ice around her, letting her survive the attack before dropping to a knee. "I can't keep doing this..." She panted. "I've used too much magic energy..." She looked over her shoulder at Gray and Lyon, both of whom were unconscious.
Gray groaned as he woke up in and panicked when he remembered where he was. He looked over in fear as Deliora walked away before a soothing voice and familiar face picked him off the ground into a hug. "It's okay. You're safe now."
"Ur...?" He looked at the woman with a mix of confusion and joy. "Why are you here?"
"Listen to me carefully." Ur said as she stood up. "I want you to grab Lyon and get out of here. It's too hard for me to fight if I have to worry about protecting you two." Gray looked around and panicked when he saw Lyon's body. "He's fine, just out cold."
Gray did as he was told and ran over to Lyon while Ur glared a hole into Deliora's skull. "Get going." She told Gray as she walked towards the demon.
"Wait!" Gray shouted making her stop. "Why'd you come? You said I wasn't your student anymore."
"Something a friend of mine said." Ur told him. "She said I need to think about my own happiness. Which shocked me because I never thought of myself as unhappy. She doesn't understand." She looked back at Gray with happiness in her eyes. "I have two adorable little students that I spend each day with watching them grow into men. I'm happy enough. I can't think of anything else in the world that could make me happier."
Gray looked at her in shame before noticing her leg. "Ur... your leg..."
"You noticed." Ur chuckled. "The real one's gone, but this will do for now. My maker magic came in handy, don't you think?" Gray had tears rolling down his face as Ur continued. "I vowed to free from your darkness. If this monster is your darkness, than I have more than enough reason to fight it. Now go. I'll take care of this."
"No, I won't go!" Gray shouted back. "It's my fault this happened!"
"No one's at fault." Ur said as she walked towards the demon. "It's just a trail. Something we have to do to be happy again."
"Ur..." Lyon stood up off of Gray's shoulder.
"I thought you were unconscious." Ur turned to her senior student. "I want you and Gray to-"
"Why are you talking like that, Ur?" Lyon interrupted her. "You're gonna defeat that thing, right? You're talking like you're not gonna make it back."
"Please, let her-" Gray started.
"Shut up!" Lyon shouted. "You're the strongest wizard alive. That demon is no match for you, you can beat it no problem."
"Lyon..." Ur shook her head as she turned away. "How many times do I have to tell you? There is always someone better."
"No, that has to be a lie..." Lyon whispered out.
"In the western countries, there are lots of wizards who are more powerful than me." Ur smirked.
"You're the strongest, Ur..." Lyon's eyes twitched in anger. "If you aren't, then why I have I been training with you?"
"One day, you will surpass me." Ur told him, knowing his dream. "When that time comes, I hope you move on to a loftier goal."
"I studied under you because I thought you were the best..." Lyon was shaking in rage. "If you lose to that monster... Ur, don't betray me!"
"Lyon..." Ur started before Lyon sprinted towards Deliora.
"If you won't fight seriously, then I'll do it myself!" He skidded to a halt with his feet wide. His arms formed an X with the right arm palm down, the left one palm up. Ur was shocked as she recognized the stance.
"Lyon, that stance! Where did you learn that spell!?" Ur shouted.
"Where, you ask?" Lyon chuckled as a magic seal appeared beneath him. "You wouldn't reach me any strong magic, so I went ahead and studied the magic books in the storehouse. You hid spells like the Iced Shell because you were scared I would master it when you couldn't!"
"Did you even read that book all the way!?" Ur shouted as blue lightning crackled from the seal. "Do you know what happens to the casters body!?"
"Is he gonna be okay?" Gray asked. Deliora turned in confusion as the spell reached a new stage.
"Crap! It noticed us." Ur shouted as Gray covered his eyes from the light.
"No other spells work on Deliora..." Lyon said as he stared at the demons eyes. "So I'll seal it in ice for all eternity with this spell."
Ur acted quickly and froze Lyon in an ice rose. "I won't let you do that."
"Ur, why's it bad?" Gray asked.
"When that spell is use, the casters body becomes the Iced Shell itself." Ur confessed as she walked towards the demon. "He's right, though. That's the only way to stop Deliora. I never imagined he would have thought of the same plan I did... He's my pupil alright." Her body erupted in a glow of magic power.
"Ur!" Gray shouted. "You don't mean..."
"Stay back." Ur looked at Deliora before crossing her arms the same way Lyon had as magic seals began to appear around the confused demon. "I will never let you hurt my students again! This is it, you monster! Iced Shell!" She swung her arms open and unleashed the spell, coating the demons body with ice.
"Ur! Please don't do this!" Gray cried as her face started to crack like ice.
"It's a sacrifice I'm willing to make." Ur told him as the ice began layering upon Deliora's body. "My body will become the ice that will seal Deliora away forever. Gray, promise me this one thing." She looked over at him running to her. "Tell Lyon I died. If he found out the truth, he'd waste his life away trying to undo the spell. Then it'd be a waste of my sacrifice."
"Stop, please!" Gray was now begging her.
"I want Lyon to discover the world, live a full life." Ur continued as Gray was forced back by the magic pressure. "And of course, I want the same for you, Gray."
"I'm begging you, don't do this!" Gray cried on his hands and knees. "I'll listen to you, whatever you want me to do!"
"You don't have to cry." Ur smiled at him as the spell neared its end. "I'll live on. Please don't cry." Her body began dissipating into the final layer of ice on the demon. "I might not be with you, but I will protect you from Deliora. Step into the future. Make me proud." Her body finally faded away, leaving nothing but a frozen Deliora. "I've freed you from the darkness. I've sealed away forever."
Tears returned to Gray's face as he looked to the sky. "Uuurrrrrr!"
The next morning
Lyon slowly opened his eyes as the sun shined on the destroyed city. "What did she do to me?" He looked up at the frozen demon in amazement. "That's Deliora!" He quickly ran over to Gray who was sitting against some rubble. "What happened?! Did Ur cast the spell!? Where is she!? Answer me!"
"Ur..." Gray whimpered out. "She... She's dead."
"No..." Lyon's eyes stared at Gray in disbelief. "You're lying. You're lying!" He tackled Gray to the ground with his hands around the boy's throat. "How will I accomplish my dream now!? How will I surpass Ur now that she's dead!? My dream is dead because of you!"
"I'm... I'm sorry..." Gray let out.
"Sorry won't bring her back to life!" Lyon shouted back. "If you hadn't challenged Deliora, she'd still be alive!" He got off Gray and looked at him with evil in his eyes. "It's all your fault, Gray. You're the one who killed master Ur."
Present Day
Galuna Temple Throneroom
Lyon stared at Natsu in annoyance. No fire wizard had ever matched him before, but this one was holding his own against him.
"This could go on forever." Natsu told him, knowing that fire and ice counter each other. "And I still gotta find Laki and that mask wearing troll. So do yourself a favor, and surrender."
"I would never give you the satisfaction." Lyon told the fire wizard.
"Then you're asking for a barbecue." Natsu said as he ignited his fist.
"Big talk. Let's see if you can back it up." Lyon said back as an icy mist formed around him. Before either of them could make a move, the ice on the wall between them cracked open, revealing a bandaged Gray.
"Leave him to me." Gray told Natsu as he walked into the room. "I'm gonna settle things with him once and for all."
"Not a chance. You already lost to him." Natsu said back.
"And it won't happen again." Gray said as he stopped walking. "This time I'm ready to end this now."
"Such confidence." Lyon said unimpressed.
"Look, Lyon. You were right." Gray started. "It is my fault that master Ur died ten years ago... But you're no better. You threaten my comrades, hurt the villagers on this island, and you're trying to destroy what our master created. It's time we accept our punishment, Lyon."
Lyon's eyes went wide as Gray dropped into a familiar stance. "That stance... Not the Iced Shell."
"Iced Shell?" Natsu asked before he put the pieces together.
"Have you gone mad!?" Lyon shouted. "You wouldn't dare!"
"If you wanna live, turn the villagers back to normal." Gray demanded. "Then leave the island and never come back." A magic seal appeared beneath Gray. "This is your last chance."
"Is that so?" Lyon asked. "I know that spell is just a threat. You're bluffing."
Icy wind whipped around the seal as Gray channeled more magic into the spell. "I'm dead serious."
"You'll die!" Lyon tried to use a spell, but was blasted back by the wind.
"You can't do this!" Natsu shouted.
"The fact is Ur died because of me." Gray said. "That's something that will never change. I didn't want to admit it, but it's true. And now it's time I take responsibility one way or another. So I will here and now. I'm prepared to die if that's what it takes!"
"Stop this now!" Lyon shouted.
"What's it gonna be, Lyon!?" Gray asked. "Are we gonna die, or are we gonna live? The choice is yours!"
"You wouldn't!" Lyon told him. "You don't have the guts to die! You're nothing but a coward!"
"Just watch me." Gray started channeling more magic into the spell.
"Don't do it!" Natsu shouted.
'Natsu, Laki, Erza, all my friends at Fairy Tail...' Gray thought to himself as ice cracks formed on his skin. 'I leave the rest to you. I don't wanna die, but it seems it's my time.'
The more I learn about Lyon, the more I'm convinced he has an inferiority complex. Seriously, who'd go to all this trouble if they weren't trying to prove themselves to themself. Well, that's it for now. Here's a little hint about the next chapter; 'Zalty' is gonna get a bit of practice fighting a certain maker mage.
Beta read by digemsmack.
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