E is for Existence

E is for Existence
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A life without purpose is a meaningless existence.

Gray sat in a chair, waiting by the bedside of Juvia Lockser. She was lying in the infirmary. Her beautiful blue eyes were closed. Bandages covered her from head to toe. She was attached to machines which helped her breathe and monitored her heartbeat.

Beside her, Wendy Marvell, the Sky Dragon Slayer, was using her magic to check up on Juvia. Her eyes were sad. Next to her was her constant companion, the female Exceed Carla. She tried her hardest to keep a straight face.

"I'm sorry, Gray-san." Wendy told him, tears welling in her eyes. "There's no change in Juvia-san. I'm trying everything I know but she's not responding."

Wendy started to cry. "I tried my very best but she still hasn't woken up."

Carla looked away, not wanting to show her own tears. As much as she wanted to, the white Exceed knew that it was Gray who was suffering the most. She had to be strong for all of them.

Gray got up off the chair and hugged Wendy. "I know you did. Thank you."

Wendy cried harder as Gray embraced her. "I'm sorry." She sobbed.

The ice mage rubbed her back gently, trying to calm her down. "You did your very best. I am grateful. And I know that Juvia is as well."

"Come on, Wendy." Carla spoke up for the first time since coming into the infirmary.

Wendy wanted to object but knew that Gray needed to be alone with his girlfriend. "I'll come by tomorrow and check on Juvia-san."

Gray nodded. "Thank you for all your hard work, Wendy."

Wendy left the infirmary, watching as Gray returned to his place beside Juvia's bed. More tears started to well up in her eyes.

Carla flew to pat her friend on the shoulder. "You are doing everything you can, Wendy." She spoke softly. However, it did little to reassure the young Dragon Slayer.

The two returned to the main hall of the guild where everyone was currently sitting. In fact, it looked like no one has moved since she did her daily check-up on the water mage.

The air in the guild was truly oppressive, quiet and somber, quite the opposite of what it usually is, loud, boisterous and jovial. It has been for the last five days.

Five days.

It's been five days since it happened.

The young girl looked around the guild. Natsu was currently embracing Lucy, who was sitting on his lap. She could smell from here that the Stellar Spirit mage had been crying. And Natsu, who was the loudest of all the guild members, was unusually quiet. They were there when it happened and saw the horror first hand. Happy was sitting next to them on the table. He was also oddly silent, not in the mood to live up to his name.

Erza was sitting across from the couple, trying to remain as strong as possible. But she felt guilty. The Knight was on another mission when it happened. If only I hadn't taken that solo mission, she thought.

Cana was sitting at her usual spot in the guild, the bar. Not a drop of alcohol has passed her lips in the past five days, which was almost a record for her. She wasn't in the mood to drink.

Levy was reading a medical book, trying her best to find something, anything, that would help Juvia out. Currently she was sitting against Gajeel, needing the extra comfort. The Iron Dragon Slayer said nothing, allowing her to take whatever comfort she needed from him.

Mirajane, Fairy Tail's bartender and moodmaker, was currently wiping the bar for the third time. She was cleaning so hard that the rag was ripping apart. She noticed Wendy had come back from the infirmary. The look on her face said it all. Juvia's condition hadn't improved.

Voices were barely above a whisper. Very few people took missions. Even fewer left the guild at all. Everyone was doing their best to occupy themselves: cards, dominos, food. But none of it worked for long. In fact, the only joyful sounds that could be heard was from Asuka, Alzack and Bisca's child. The reason for that was that she didn't know what was happening. Their parents, and the rest of the guild, didn't want her to worry.

Wendy broke down in tears again. "I'm sorry, everyone." She sobbed.

The Sky Dragon Slayer felt a comforting hand on her shoulder. She turned around to see Master Makarov was the body attached to the hand. His gentle gaze calmed her a bit. "I know you did your best, Wendy. We all do." He said softly. "That's why you have to believe in Juvia, my child."

Wendy wiped her tears.

The master continued. "Gray knows that Juvia is going to wake up." The old man smiled. "Juvia would never leave him because she loves Gray and Fairy Tail so much. That's why we also have to believe in Juvia. Fairy Tail will never give up on one of its own."

As if on instinct, the entire guild extended their index and thumb in the air in a show of solidarity.

Wendy felt so much better after that.
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Gray continued his vigil at Juvia's bedside. He took one of her hands and rubbed his thumb against her palm. He said nothing as he did this.

As for the ice mage himself, he looked like hell. His hair was disheveled and unwashed. His eyes had heavy bags around it from lack of sleep. His clothes were rumpled and smelled of sweat and grime. (One would find it ironic that his clothes was still on his body given his penchant for unconsciously stripping. However, since the day Juvia was in the infirmary, not a single article of clothing was removed.) Gray's overall demeanor was stoic. He just waited patiently by her side. He refused to believe that Juvia wasn't going to wake up.

He kept going back to that day... that day five days ago.
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It was a simple A-class mission. There were reports of zombies attacking the town of Fendel in the north. The request was sent to Fairy Tail. The details was simple. Find the cause of the zombies and stop it. The reward, 40 million jewels.

The reward money should have set off the warning bells in their head. That kind of reward was usually S-class based.

Natsu was the one who picked it up.

"Hey Luce." He shouted to his girlfriend of almost two months. "I got one."

Lucy looked at the request and then the reward. Her eyes nearly came out of their sockets. "40 million jewels?" She shrieked. "Are you sure that's right?"

"Of course it's right. It's on the board." There goes Natsu's logic again.

"But it could be a misprint or it could have come from the S-class board." Lucy tried to argue. "Remember the last time we did an S-class mission?"

Natsu remembered. Galuna Island. He remembered the request to destroy the moon, the demon Deliora, Gray's past and Erza's punishment.

Lucy chided him. "At the very least, check with Mira-san first to make sure it's legit."

Natsu huffed indignantly. "Fine."

He went over to the barmaid who was happily cleaning cups at the bar. "Hello, Natsu." She smiled. "What can I do for you?"

"Me and Luce want this mission." Natsu handed her the sheet of paper.

Mirajane studied the request for some time. "Well, it's labeled as an A-class mission but the reward is an S-class."

"That's what I've been trying to tell you." Lucy shot at her fire-eating boyfriend.

Mira looked at the couple gravely. "I'll allow you to take the mission but don't go by yourselves. Take at least three people with you."

"Huh?" Was Natsu's clever response.

"There's something about this mission that's making me uneasy." The barmaid told them. "I'd feel better if you have backup."

"Fine." The Fire Dragon Slayer sighed, defeated.

He looked around the guild to see who'd he take with him. Erza was currently on a mission to destroy a dark guild. Gajeel was on a mission to hunt down the stragglers of Raven Tail. Gray was playing cards with his girlfriend Juvia while unconsciously shedding his shirt in the process.

"Gray!" Natsu shouted. "Get your shirt on. We're going on a mission."

"Dammit." Gray shouted and looked around for his shirt. When he found it, the ice mage made his way to Natsu and Lucy. "What's the mission?"

Natsu handed Gray the request form. He scanned the paper. "I'm in."

Juvia got up and was next to him in an instant. "Juvia wishes to come. She hasn't been on a group mission in a while."

Gray wrapped his arm around her waist. "Alright."

"Aww, it's like a couples retreat." Mira teased, causing all four to blush. "But you should take someone else on this."

As they were speaking, Wendy and Carla walked into the guild.

"Ahh, perfect timing." Mira smiled. "You should go on a mission with Natsu, Lucy, Gray and Juvia."

Carla was apprehensive. "I'm not sure. I don't want Wendy to be corrupted."

More blushing from the couples.

"Oh I'm sure that they'll behave themselves." Mira beamed, but there was a deadly aura coming from the S-class mage. That got everyone in line. "Besides, Wendy can heal anyone's wounds just in case."

"I will do my best to help." Wendy said softly, bowing to the group.

"Alright, let meet at the station tomorrow." Natsu yelled. "I'm all fired up."

Carla still wasn't sold on the idea. It wasn't that she was against Wendy being with the two couples. There was just this feeling in the back of her mind. It was like something was telling her that this wouldn't end well. The white Exceed only hoped it was just her fears instead of a vision.
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The day of the mission, Natsu, Lucy and Happy met up with Juvia, Gray, Wendy and Carla at Magnolia Station.

"Sorry we're late." Lucy greeted. "Natsu's acting like his old self again."

The Fire Dragon Slayer looked green. "I don't wanna go on the train."

"Don't worry, Natsu-san." Wendy comforted. "I'll cast Troia on you."

Natsu perked up instantly. "Awesome." He grinned. "I'm all fired up."

"Don't waste your magic on this flame-brain, Wendy." Gray taunted, who somehow lost his shirt. "Let him suffer for being late."

"What did you say, ice queen?" Natsu challenged.

"You want to go, slanty-eyes?" The ice mage roared.

"Anytime, droopy-eyes." The fire-breathed shot back.

Before the fight escalated any further, the two men were stopped by their respective girlfriends. The train arrived soon after.

It was a very quiet ride. Natsu, who had Troia cast on him, was happily riding the train and able to converse with Lucy without losing his breakfast. Lucy was reading a book while talking with her boyfriend. Gray and Juvia had fallen asleep together. Gray's arm was around Juvia's waist while she was resting her head on his shoulder. Wendy was staring out the window, looking at the sights in wonder. Happy was trying to make nice to Carla by offering her fish.

And Carla? Well she couldn't help but feel withdrawn. Last night, she wasn't sure if she had a bad dream or a prophecy. She didn't want to talk about it with anymore for fear of getting them unnecessarily worried. It wasn't as though she was traveling with weak mages. Every one on this trip was capable of taking on any challenge. There was just that traitorous thought in her head saying that someone was going get hurt.

"Carla, is something wrong?" Happy asked, concerned.

Carla was shot out of her thoughts. "Huh, what?" She answered. "Oh, it's nothing. Nothing at all." But she wasn't even convincing herself.

"Really?" The blue Exceed was now worried.

"Just a bad dream." She told him. Carla refused to believe that her visions was that of the future. It was a dream, just a dream.

"If you say so." Happy didn't want to push so he left her alone.
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The team entered Fendel and saw that it was already under attack by zombies. The Fairy Tail mages didn't waste any time by attacking the creatures.

Juvia launched a Water Slicer from afar. Gray used Ice Make Lance. Lucy summoned Sagittarius who fired a barrage of arrows. Natsu used his Fire Dragon's Roar. Wendy stayed behind to provide support with Arms, Armor and Vernier. With their combined might, the zombies were cleaned up.

"Okay. That seems too easy." Gray noted.

"Juvia thinks that we should be on guard." The water mage voiced her opinion.

The others agreed.

Suddenly, the team could hear the sound of clapping echoing.

"Well, well. So there's another group of mages who think they can stop me." A voice cackled snidely.

The team looked around for the source of the voice. From one of the building, a slim build man with long purple hair walked out calmly, a smile on his face.

"Lamia Scale, Blue Pegasus, Quatro Ceberus, Twilight Ogre, Mermaid Heel. Members of these guilds have challenged me. All have failed." He boasted.

Everyone got themselves into a battle formation.

"I am Dynos the Necromancer." He greeted. "So what is the name of the foolish guild that is challenging me?"

Natsu growled. "You'll regret calling us foolish."

Gray's eyes narrowed. "We're Fairy Tail."

"Ahh Fairy Tail." Dynos clucked his tongue. "The once great guild which now is a shadow of its former self."

Everyone's blood started to boil as the Necromancer spoke bad about their guild.

"Well, I suppose we are going to do the fighting thing now." Dynos mocked. "Let's see. Today's opponents are a fire mage, an ice mage, a water mage, a Stellar Spirit mage, a support magic mage and two cats. How amusing."

Natsu and Gray couldn't take it anymore. They charged at the enemy.

FIRE DRAGON'S IRON FIST

ICE MAKE KNUCKLE

Dynos dodged each of the blows. However, the two didn't let up.

Eventually, they both connected, throwing the Necromancer back.

"Good, good." Dynos laughed dangerously. "It looks like you'll give me a good fight."

WATER CANE

Juvia's Water Cane hit Dynos square in the chest, throwing him to the ground. However, the best part of Juvia's attack was that it left a thin stream of water on the ground. Gray took advantage of that and froze the stream. The freezing stream led to Dynos, solidifying him to the ground. Natsu jumped in the air so that he was square with Dynos.

FIRE DRAGON'S ROAR

Natsu's attack engulfed the Necromancer.

"That takes care of that." Natsu slammed his fists together. "No one talks bad about Fairy Tail and gets away with it."

"Did you think that it would end that quickly?" Dynos asked.

The fires were dissipated. Dynos stood up without difficulty. His clothes was singed but otherwise, he was fine.

"Nice, nice." The Necromancer cheered. "I am so glad that I have the chance to fight such strong mages. When I kill you all, you'll make fine undeads."

"You won't kill us." Lucy shouted. "We'll defeat you here."

Dynos raised his hands and used gestures as he chanted.

Those who are born in sin, come forth in the name of the Necromancer.

RISE OF THE UNDEAD

From the ground, zombies crawled out of the ground to stand against the Fairy Tail mages.

Lucy shivered involuntarily. "Creepy."

Wendy was a bit hesitant as well. "Like out of a horror story."

"Don't be afraid of them. Just crush them." Gray snapped.

Dynos laughed malevolently. "I have made contracts with the Lords of the Underworld and now I have zombies at my beck and call."

"It doesn't matter to me." Gray told the Necromancer. "We'll crush them all."

The team prepared themselves and attacked the zombies, destroying them in a flash.

"Not bad. Perhaps, I need help from stronger monsters." Dynos said snidely.

Those who sleep beyond the maelstrom, come forth in the name of the Necromancer.

UNHOLY COVENANT

Darkness settled around the battlefield. It took shape in the form of demons the size and shape of humans.

Dynos cackled. "Do you see? These are demons from the age of Zeref. He was the greatest dark wizard of his age. And I plan on becoming the greatest dark wizard of this age."

Natsu snarled. "Such bullshit. We'll beat you here and now."

The team worked to defeat the demons. The demons were tougher than the zombies but they were able to overcome them. However, they were getting exhausted.

"We're getting nowhere." Lucy told the team. "If we are only defeating the summons, we'll run out of magic."

"We need to defeat that guy." Wendy yelled.

"Defeat me?" Dynos asked in a mocking tone. "Do you believe yourself to be that strong? Perhaps the Fairy Tail of old could have defeated me. But this shadow of a guild is way too weak."

Dynos pointed to the team with his left hand.

Behold the annihilating darkness

VOID INFINITY

A sphere of darkness appeared from Dynos hand. It grew larger and larger.

Gray moved in front his nakama and held his hands in the Ice Make position.

ICE MAKE SHIELD

Using much of his magic, Gray created a sphere of ice to protect his comrades. It enveloped the area around them.

When Void Infinity dissipated, the Ice Make mage withdrew the shield. Gray collapsed to the ground, exhausted. His breath coming in shallow pants.

"Gray-sama." Juvia shouted. "Hang in there."

"Juvia." Gray told her. "I need you to come here."

Juvia obeyed and ran to her boyfriend's side. "Gray-sama is hurt. He needs to rest." Juvia pleaded.

"We don't have the time to rest." Gray growled. He looked at his other nakama. "Natsu, Lucy, Wendy, me and Juvia are going to do Unison Raid."

Juvia's eyes widened. "But Gray-sama used too much magic."

Gray looked Juvia in her eyes. He had such a serious look on his face. "Please, Juvia. We can do this."

Juvia nodded. "Gray-sama shouldn't push himself."

Gray waved the water mage to him. "Help me stand, Juvia."

Juvia helped Gray get to his feet. He steadied himself in his girlfriend's embrace. They pooled their magic together. With one of his arms around Juvia's waist, her arm on Gray's shoulder. The couple intertwined their free hands. With a slight nod to each other, Gray and Juvia stared down Dynos.

"Let me guess. You are going to show me about the power of love?" He mocked. "Then come foolish mages.

Those who are born in sin, come forth in the name of the name of the Necromancer.

RISE OF THE UNDEAD

Dynos called for more zombies.

Gray and Juvia were prepared with their Unison Raid.

UNISON RAID - FRIGID COFFIN

Dynos felt a powerful magic collecting around him. Reacting, the Necromancer tried to move only to find himself frozen in an sphere of ice.

"What is this?" He questioned, struggling to get away.

Gray dropped to his knees as soon as the Unison Raid was complete.

"Gray-sama." Juvia shouted as she held Gray's weakened body in her arms.

"Damn. I'm all out." Gray thought to himself.

"What are you waiting for?" He yelled at Natsu, Lucy and Wendy. "Finish him."

The others nodded.

Lucy held a key towards the sky.

Open the gate to the Lamb, Aries

From the ether, the Spirit Aries appeared.

"I'm sorry." Aries whispered.

"Don't be sorry." Lucy chided softly. "Just help us stop the zombies long enough for Natsu and Wendy to finish off that guy."

"Okay." The lamb spirit said without an ounce of confidence.

WOOL WALL

Aries summoned a wave of wool to trap the zombies.

"I'm sorry." She apologized.

"No, you did great." Lucy told the lamb Spirit. "Natsu, Wendy. Do it now." She shouted.

Natsu and Wendy ran towards Dynos who was trying to free himself from the ice sphere.

"You're finished." Natsu yelled.

Wendy didn't say anything. She just devoured the air around her.

SECRET DRAGON TECHNIQUE - CRIMSON LOTUS EXPLODING BLADE

SECRET DRAGON TECHNIQUE - SHATTERING LIGHT, SKY DRILL

Natsu and Wendy waved their arms, summoning fire and wind respectively from their hands. Aiming at Dynos, they launched their strongest attacks at the Necromancer whose eyes widened in horror as they molded together in another unison raid.

UNISON RAID - FLARE DRAGON'S TORNADO

Dynos was consumed by Natsu and Wendy's magic.

Wendy fell exhausted. Carla flew to her. "Are you alright, Wendy?"

The young girl chuckled. "I think I might have overdid it."

"That's what he got for badmouthing Fairy Tail." Natsu yelled.

Lucy just chuckled. "I think I'm beat."

Aries's eyes widened. "You're exhausted because you summoned me. I'm sorry." She closed her own gate.

Juvia held on to Gray who was completely drained. "We did it, Gray-sama."

"Seems like it." The ice mage said weakly.

As they were congratulating themselves, the team heard an unearthly roar. They located the source of the roar coming from a mound of zombies. A hand shout out from the mound and pulled itself out.

"No way." Wendy lamented. "He was hit with Natsu-san and my strongest attack. How can he still fight?"

From the mound of zombies, Dynos the Necromancer pulled himself up. The mage had used the zombies to absorb the brunt of the attack but he was still hurt by it. He looked completely spent. His body had scorch marks on it. But his eyes radiated fury.

"All of you must die." He shouted.

O hellion whose roar chills the very soul, resound.

BLOODY HOWLING

He summoned a dark circular orb and shot it at Wendy, who was thrown back.

"Wendy." Carla shouted and flew to help.

Natsu looked pissed. "I'll make you pay for that." He growled.

FIRE DRAGON'S WING ATTACK

The Fire Dragon Slayer charged at the Necromancer, flames wrapping around his arm. But Dynos was prepared for him.

Trembling cage that bends empty space, drive the wedge of freedom into those who would be captured.

NEGATIVE BLADE

Dynos summoned a blade of dark energy. With a mighty swing, his blade met with Natsu's flames. The Dragon Slayer was overcome and thrown back by the blowback.

"You insects think you are better than me?" Dynos roared. "I'll make you pay."

O admonishing melody, arise in the name of the Necromancer.

MYSTIC CAGE

Black chains wrapped around the Fairy Tail mages and constricted them. Then the chains exploded, hurting the mages.

"Now know what true power is." Dynos sneered. "You fools will regret you ever met me."

Natsu, Lucy, Gray, Juvia and Wendy felt exhausted. Pain radiated from their bodies. But still they defiantly stared down the Necromancer.

"So you still look defiant." Dynos spat, walking towards the closest mage. It turned out to be Gray and Juvia. "You will be the first to die, ice mage."

Juvia struggled to her feet, putting herself in front of her beloved Gray-sama. "Juvia will not let Gray-sama die." She glared at the Necromancer. "Juvia will defeat you."

Answering Juvia's fury, the sky darkened. Rain began to fall on the battlefield.

"Juvia." Gray groaned. He tried to stand to his feet but his magic was totally drained after using his ice magic to absorb the Void Infinity spell. The black-haired mage collapsed.

Dynos held out his hand. "It's raining?" He mused. "How?"

"Juvia is angry." The water mage seethed. "You hurt Juvia's nakama. You hurt Gray-sama. Juvia will defeat you."

WATER NEBULA

Juvia summoned two waves of water which hit Dynos forcefully, throwing him to the ground.

"You bitch." Dynos snarled.

NEGATIVE BLADE

Dynos summoned his dark blade and slashed at Juvia. However, it passed right through Juvia.

"Juvia's body is made of water. Physical attacks do not work on Juvia." She told the Necromancer.

WATER SLICER

Juvia's water attack cut Dynos who groaned in pain. His mouth covered in blood, the Necromancer smirked.

"So your body is made of water." He grinned sadistically. "I see. Then, I suppose I'll attack your boyfriend."

Dynos ran towards Gray. The ice mage tried to stand up and defend himself but his body wouldn't respond

"Dammit. I can't move." He shouted.

Before he knew it, Dynos was standing over him.

"Die." Dynos snarled.

As his fist was about to connect with Gray, Juvia intervened, using her body to protect Gray. As expected, Dynos's fist went through her water body.

"I knew you'd protect him." He smiled maliciously.

THUNDER FLARE

Electricity passed from his fist through Juvia's body. The water mage let out a heart wrenching scream.

"Juvia!" Everyone shouted.

Gray was stunned. Right before his eyes, his girlfriend is suffering and his body wasn't responding. Tears started to collect in his eyes.

Dynos laughed. "As I figured. Since you have a water body, you act as a natural current for thunder based magic." The Necromancer cackled.

Gray couldn't take it anymore. Ignoring the pain in his body, he crawled over to his girlfriend. "Juvia! Juvia!" He shouted.

Juvia opened her eyes and smiled. It was a serene smile which was at contrast with the gravity of her situation. "Thank goodness Gray-sama is safe."

Gray now let the tears fall freely and hugged Juvia. "You idiot." He whispered. "You're injured."

"Juvia is happy she protected Gray-sama." She whispered back. "Juvia has no problem dying if it means that Gray-sama will live."

"No don't say that." He begged. "You are going to live."

"The last seven months have been a dream to Juvia." She said weakly. "She was so happy to receive Gray-sama's love. Juvia has no regrets." Juvia closed her eyes.

"Juvia loves Gray-sama." Those were the last words that she said to him.

There was a silence in the air that hung over everyone. The rain disappeared completely. Gray hugged Juvia and rocked her gently, wanting her to open her eyes.

The others watched in horror as Juvia's magic started to fade.

Then, something happened.

A torrent of ice exploded from Gray. He yelled out in anger. Letting go of Juvia, the enraged ice mage stood up. The pain in his body meant nothing. All he felt was rage... RAGE... RAGE directed at Dynos.

ICE MAGE GUNGNIR

The giant ice lance knocked the Necromancer back away from his girlfriend.

"Wendy!" Gray shouted.

The Sky Dragon Slayer jumped at the sound of her name. "Yes, Gray-san?" She squeaked. Her body hurt from the Mystic Cage spell but she powered through the pain and was by his and Juvia's side.

"Please heal Juvia." He begged. With that, he charged at Dynos who was still recovering from the hit.

COLD EXCALIBUR

NEGATIVE BLADE

The two powers collided however Gray easily overcame Dynos.

Wendy tried her best to heal Juvia but she was so drained of magic that she wasn't able to properly help her.

Carla flew to Wendy's side. "You're exhausted." Carla whispered.

"I need to help Juvia." The young girl cried. "I have to save her. Gray-san is counting on me."

"We need to head back to Fairy Tail." The white Exceed told her. "Happy, you need to take Juvia."

Happy, who was crying, wiped his tears. "Aye." He said with conviction.

"But I haven't started healing her." Wendy's tears flowed freely

"Take Juvia and go." Natsu yelled to them as he got up. "Me, Lucy and Gray will take care of this guy."

"Please take care of Juvia." Lucy pleaded.

Happy carried Juvia while Carla carried Wendy. They headed to Fairy Tail where Juvia could receive the care she needed. Gray watched them go. Although he wanted to be with her, the ice mage had to destroy the man who hurt his Juvia.

Dynos was beyond pissed. "How?" He snarled. "You shouldn't be able to cast magic, let alone stand against me."

Gray glared at the man. "The Master once said that when humans strive to protect the ones they love, that is when they generate the most power. In that moment, they truly become formidable beings."

He got into the ice make position and glared viciously at Dynos. "You hurt Juvia." He snarled. "I will spare no strength to bring you down."

Dynos stood up. "Then come. You can join your woman in death."

Those who are born in sin, come forth in the name of the Necromancer.

RISE OF THE UNDEAD

Dynos summoned his undead minions.

Gray ran towards the Necromancer, fighting the zombies along the way

"Gray, don't waste your strength." Lucy pleaded. "Natsu and I will take care of it."

Open the gate of the lion, Loke.

Loke appeared from the ether. "I'll rip through them, Lucy." He told his master seriously.

REGULUS BLAST

Loke's magic devoured the zombies. Gray ignored the zombies. Instead, he ran towards the Necromancer.

Dynos snarled as his zombies were wiped out by the Fairy Tail mages. "Fine."

Those who sleep beyond the maelstrom, come forth in the name of the Necromancer.

UNHOLY COVENANT

Dynos summoned his demons. However, Natsu crushed them with his fire magic.

"Gray, go." Natsu yelled at him.

Gray was furious. He wanted to rip this man to pieces.

Dynos stared down his enemy. "So you persist?" He asked. "Fine. Then I'll use nothing less than my full strength to take you down."

Awaken those who sleep in the netherworld and feed. The time is ripe. Come forth and devour my foes, those that defy destiny.

DEATH IN THE DARK

Black magic enveloped Dynos's hands. "This is my strongest spell." He cackled madly. "As soon as it hits you, it'll sap the life from you and it won't stop until you die. Join the ranks of the fallen, ice mage."

He launched his spell at Gray. To his utter amazement, Gray ran at the spell head-on and punched it with his fist.

"You must have a death wish, ice mage." Dynos laughed.

With all of his anger, Gray poured all of his magic into freezing the spell. Slowly but surely, Dynos's Death in the Dark spell started to freeze solid.

"Impossible." Dynos gasped in horror. "He's freezing the spell and I can't stop it."

At the end, Gray froze the spell completely, leaving Dynos's hands trapped in the ice. He struggled to get away.

"No. This can't be." The Necromancer snarled. "I'm the mage who's suppose to become the next Zeref."

Gray ran at Dynos, hands in the ice make position.

ICE MAKE...

Gray put his hand over Dynos's face

LANCE

Needless to say, that was the end of Dynos the Necromancer.

Lucy covered her mouth with her hands at the brutal efficiency with which Gray took down Dynos. Natsu looked on, steel-eyed. He was glad that Dynos was gone now. The Fire Dragon Slayer would have done it himself but he understood that Gray wouldn't have forgiven him if he did. This was something Gray had to do himself.

After dispatching the Necromancer, Gray let out a terrifying yell causing magic to fly everywhere.

"Gray." Lucy whispered, unable to raise her voice.

"Gray, go back to Fairy Tail! Juvia needs you!" Natsu shouted.

That got the ice mage to stop. Taking a few deep breaths to center himself, Gray collected himself. "You're right, Natsu."

"Me and Luce will clean up here. Go to her." The Dragon Slayer ordered.

Gray needed no other prompting. He was on the next train to Magnolia.
______________________________________________________________________

Gray arrived at the guild in four hours. He was completely drained of magic and his body hurt. However, he was more concerned with Juvia so he pushed his body onward. Four hours. For four hours, many questions ran through his mind. How was Juvia? Was she hurt? Was she better? Did she...

"NO." He muttered to himself. "I refuse to believe she would die."

As he opened the door, Gray was met by Erza Scarlet. Her face said it all. She was worried.

"Gray." Erza whispered solemnly, unable to meet his onyx eyes.

"What?" He shouted. "What happened to Juvia?"

He looked around the guild. In one corner, the exhausted bodies of Happy and Carla were sitting on one of the tables, completely spent of magic. So they made it back to Fairy Tail, he thought. But he didn't see Wendy or his girlfriend.

"Where's Juvia, Erza?" He shouted. Gray was getting more hysterical by the moment.

"Wendy and Porlyusica are currently treating Juvia in the infirmary." Erza explained softly.

"I need to see her." Gray commanded.

"Not until they say it's okay." The red-haired woman told him.

Gray's eyes widened in anger. "Move, Erza!" He yelled.

"Let them do their job." She told him.

Gray, in his grief, tried to rush Erza but she held him firm. The ice mage struggled against Erza and nearly overcame her when Wendy and Porlyusica exited the infirmary. The Sky Dragon Slayer collapsed due to her exhaustion. Erza let go of Gray to grab Wendy.

"Wendy, are you alright?" Erza asked.

Wendy fell asleep in Erza's arms.

Gray looked at Porlyusica. "How is she?" He asked, not trusting his voice.

The medic looked at the ice mage with stony eyes. "The girl took a thunder spell in her water body. It's thrown off her natural pacemaker. She is also completely exhausted of magic."

"What does that mean?" Gray asked.

"It means that if she doesn't wake up in the next week, I don't think she'll wake up at all." Porlyusica told him in a cold, clinical voice.

Gray refused to believe it. Juvia couldn't be gone. Without a word, he ran towards the infirmary.

There, lying on one of the beds, was his beloved Juvia. She was hooked up to machines and bandaged from head to toe. It was a horrifying sight. In fact, Gray refused to believe that it was Juvia lying there. She looked so alien to him.

Taking one of the chairs in the room, Gray pulled it up next to Juvia's bed. And there he sat, keeping vigil over his beloved Juvia.
____________________________________________________________________________

He said nothing during the first day. Gray felt like this was just a bad dream. He would wake up and realize that none of this actually happened.

The next day, Gray was angry at everyone. He was angry at Natsu for choosing the mission that got Juvia hurt. He was angry at Mirajane for letting them go on a mission that was so obviously S-class. He was angry at Dynos for hurting Juvia. He was angry at Juvia for throwing away her life for his. But mostly, Gray was angry at himself. For all of his strength, he could do nothing to protect the most precious person in his life. What good was his power if he couldn't protect Juvia?

On day three, everyone stopped trying to convince him to go home. Wendy came to check up on Juvia every day. Mirajane brought Gray food and a washcloth. People from the guild would visit her and try to comfort the ice mage.

By day five, Gray got concerned. Juvia had made no progress. Even though Wendy and Porlyusica had tried their best, his girlfriend didn't respond. She just continued to lie there.

A full week went by and Juvia still hadn't woken up. Gray became worried. He didn't want to believe that Juvia wouldn't recover. It hurt to think about a life without Juvia.

It was then that Gray remembered Juvia's last words to him. She told him that she had no problem giving up her life for him. And then Juvia said that she loved him. That's what hurt him the most. Once again, a woman close to Gray's heart was sacrificing themselves so he would live.

Gray had one regret in his relationship with Juvia. It had to do with the three words he never said to her. Three words, eight letters, 1.2 seconds to say. Those words carried a lot of weight with him. But in the seven months that they were together, he couldn't say it to her. It wasn't as if he didn't feel the same way that she did. He was just scared.

Gray had known love before. He loved his parents. He loved Ur. But every time he said those words, the people he loved died. He wanted to write it off as a horrible coincidence but deep down, in his heart of hearts, Gray always felt that his love is what killed them. So he vowed never to let anyone get that close to him again.

But he would break that promise because of Juvia. This woman, without cessation or dissuasion, found her way into his heart. The love that he refused to feel again burst out when Juvia entered his life.

However, Gray still didn't say those words. Part of him knew he was being childish. Gray was a rational person. He knew that there was no correlation between his love and people dying. But still, he was afraid. If the best thing in his life just disappeared, Gray felt like he would be lost forever.

Now, he cursed himself. Sure Gray showed Juvia that he loved her through his actions. But he never said those words. It wasn't as if he didn't try. Every time he wanted to say it, the words died on his lips. Gray felt that as long as he didn't say the words, Juvia would live. He realized now how foolish that kind of thinking was.

Gray was terrified. If Juvia were to die without knowing that he loved her, it would break him.

And so, as Gray stroked Juvia's arm gently with his fingers, his heart opened up.

"Juvia." He whispered. "Baby, you need to get up. You've been sleeping for so long. Everyone is waiting for you to get up."

He felt his eyes water. "Juvia, there's something I need to tell you but I refuse to say it while you are sleeping. That's why you need to get up."

His breaths started coming in short pants. "Juvia, I'm scared. I'm scared to imagine a life without you. I mean, who's going to call me Gray-sama? Who's going to on missions with me? Who's going to hang out with me? Who's going to get jealous of every girl that looks at me? Who's going to tell me that she loves me? That's why you can't die. That's why you have to live."

Gray grabbed Juvia's hand. "Juvia, every person who ever got close to me has died. Mom, dad, Ur... It took me a long time to get to a place where the weight of their deaths didn't shackle me. It took me a long time to love again. That's why I am scared. You could die without knowing how much..." Even now, he couldn't say those words. "Juvia, if you were to die, I think that would be the end of me. So please wake up. Please."

He was so focused on Juvia that he didn't hear the clatter outside of the infirmary.

Mirajane was bringing Gray some food when she overheard his speech. When she heard those heart wrenching words, she dropped the tray she was carrying. The barmaid ran from the door of the infirmary in tears, tears that she shed for Gray and Juvia.
__________________________________________________________________________

Ten days had passed, ten days since that horrible incident. Gray was asleep next to Juvia's bed, his head on her arm when he felt something stir. Sleepily, Gray lifted his head and put it down again to find that her arm was gone. It registered immediately. Quick as a whip, he looked up to see Juvia sitting up on the bed, looking at him.

"Gray-sama?" She whispered hesitantly.

"Juvia?" He responded in the same voice. "Is this a dream?"

Juvia shook her head. "Juvia doesn't think so."

All at once, Gray got up. He was a bit uncertain but as he wrapped his arms around her, he was convinced. This was real. Juvia was real.

"I thought I lost you." Gray whispered in her ear.

Juvia wrapped her arms around Gray. "Juvia is sorry she caused Gray-sama to worry."

Gray then let go of Juvia to look her straight in the eyes. "Don't you ever do that again, Juvia!" He yelled forcefully.

Juvia's sapphire eyes looked on in bewilderment. "Juvia doesn't understand."

"You said that you don't mind dying for my sake." Gray told her.

"That's right, Gray-sama." Juvia sighed. "Every life needs a purpose, a reason for their existence. Without that, they're better off dead. For Juvia, her purpose is protect Gray-sama, even if it means her life."

Gray's eyes widened. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. "Then you must think of me a fool, Juvia." He said as some tears fell down his face.

Juvia was shocked. "Gray-sama..." She pleaded.

"You must think of me a fool for loving that which you'd throw away so easily." He bit out.

A lone tear fell from her eye. "Gray-sama." She cried.

"You have no idea how worried I was... we were... while you were in this coma, Juvia." He answered. "We had no idea whether you were going to live or die and now you are telling me that you don't mind dying for me?" He growled.

Gray knew he was being harsh on Juvia, especially when she just got up but she needed to understand.

"You hate to see others get hurt but you don't mind getting hurt yourself." Gray's voice got higher. "You don't even understand how much you hurt the ones you hold dear when we see you being hurt."

"Gray-sama." More tears started to fall. "Juvia just..."

He silenced her. "No, you need to listen. You need to hear this, Juvia."

Gray took a deep breath. "Juvia, I told you right after the battle of Fairy Tail that you must never consider your life insignificant. You must fight with all of your strength to protect your precious people."

"But Gray-sama, sometimes a sacrifice needs to be made." Juvia told him. "Fairy Tail and Gray-sama make Juvia so happy. So she doesn't mind having to die to protect them. They are that important to her."

Gray was furious. Did she understand what she was saying? "Juvia, you listen to me." He grounded out. "You can't protect anyone when you're dead!" He yelled at the top of his voice.

Juvia gasped, her hands covering her mouth. "Gray-sama." She breathed.

Gray looked away from Juvia's eyes. "You can't protect anyone when you're dead so don't choose death to protect the ones you love. If you want to protect them, you have to live." He told her.

Juvia's eyes widened. The tears in her eyes stopped falling.

"Juvia" He firmly told her. "I don't want you to die for my sake. I want you to live for me."

Juvia couldn't believe what she was hearing. Those words pierced her heart.

"Juvia, when you were out these last ten days, I was worried, worried that you'd leave me. I got scared when I thought about a world without you. I thought about your smile, your voice, the way you talked, everything." Gray felt tears stinging his eyes. "Juvia, if you were to die, the pain would kill me too. So please don't die for my sake."

Juvia felt the tears again. This time it was for her boyfriend. She grabbed Gray's hand. "Gray-sama, Juvia is sorry. She will never sacrifice her life ever again."

"Do you promise, Juvia?" He asked childishly. He needed that extra reassurance. "If you promise, then you have to keep it."

"Juvia promises."

With that, Gray quickly leaned into Juvia and kissed her, pouring all of his worry, anger, and love into it. She needed to know how much she meant to him.

When they parted, Gray put his hand on her cheek and caressed it. Juvia leaned into the touch.

"There's something else, Juvia." He told her.

"What is it, Gray-sama?" She whispered.

He sighed. "While you were sleeping, I was here, thinking about our relationship. I had one regret."

Juvia didn't expect him to say that. "Gray-sama has a regret?" She asked hesitantly.

"Yes. In the seven months that we've been dating, there was something I never said to you. The reason was that I was scared."

"Gray-sama was scared?" She repeated.

"I thought that as long as I didn't say those words to you, you wouldn't die. Every time I said those words to people, they would die. So I figured that if I didn't say them to you, you would live. But as you laid here on the verge of life and death, I was mad at myself for not telling you."

"Gray-sama, Juvia doesn't understand." She whispered.

"But I'm not afraid anymore." He said with a small smile. "So I want to say... Juvia Lockser, I love you."

Juvia couldn't believe was she was hearing. Sure she knew that Gray cared about her. She knew that he liked her. But love? Gray loved her?

"Juvia, I love you. That's why you have to live." He told her.

She smiled. "Juvia loves Gray-sama too."

Gray, after unloading his heart, moved again to kiss Juvia. This time, it was a slow and purposeful kiss, one that carved out his wish for her.

When he was done, Gray smiled at Juvia, who was in the middle of stifling a yawn. "You must be tired." He told her.

"Juvia is sick of sleeping." She answered with another cute yawn.

"Don't fight it. Just go to sleep." Gray caressed her cheek.

"Will Gray-sama be here when Juvia wakes up?" She asked, her eyes fluttering.

"Even better."

With that, Gray quickly undressed to his boxers and slid into the bed with her.

"Gray-sama." She blushed.

"I'm exhausted too." He shrugged. "That's why I'm going to sleep in this bed with you."

Normally, Juvia would have fought a little harder. But she was too tired to fight. Instead, she curled up next to him, putting her hand on the Fairy Tail stamp on his chest. He responded by wrapping his arm around her waist. The two of them fell asleep in each other's arms.
______________________________________________________________

Mirajane Strauss had prepared another meal for Gray, whose vigil still hadn't stop. When she entered the infirmary, she saw quite the sight. Gray was no longer on the chair next to Juvia's bed. In fact, he was in Juvia's bed, sleeping with her.

She was somewhat curious so she ambled closer and saw that both Gray and Juvia were intertwined on the bed. Each had the same smile on their faces.

Mira had to be sure so she placed her index and middle finger on Juvia's neck to feel for a pulse. But she didn't need to when she heard Juvia whisper Gray's name.

Mira smiled and left the tray on the chair, giving them their privacy.

She made her way to the main hall of the guild where everyone was still feeling down. Mira got on top of the bar, grabbing the attention of everyone in the guild.

"Juvia is going to be okay." She told them in a loud voice.

In an instant, the oppressive air that had hung over Fairy Tail was lifted. People cheered and celebrated their comrade's recovery. They partied and laughed, releasing all of their sorrows and replacing it with joy.

Juvia never sacrificed her life for Gray's again. Gray never wasted a day without telling Juvia how much he loved her.

Every life needs a purpose for their existence. That much is true. For Gray and Juvia, their purpose was to live for each other's sake, to love each other through thick and thin. That is the purpose for their existence.