Firefall || Fairy Tail

67: g r a y ' s . p l a n

Zeref didn't respond to the Ice-Make wizard's words. "You put yourself in a situation that will cause dear Natsu the most grief."

That sense of amusement didn't leave him as he stood to his feet, positioning himself more centrally in the hall. "Your name's Gray. And you are one of Natsu's closest friends in this guild. Your parents were killed by Deliora, a demon that I myself created, and then several years later, your master fell to him as well. I'm sure you must have a burning hatred for me."

"Shocking." Gray kept himself from growling, "You know about people who mean absolutely nothing to you."

"It's basic strategy. Knowing one's enemy is crucial. There's Lucy Heartfilia, the descendent of an old friend of mine named Anna. She's bright, optimistic, and she's been a major influence in Natsu's growth and development. And of course, Natsu's partner, Happy. The bond of trust they share is nigh unbreakable. I can't leave out Erza...Wendy...and Gajeel. I've done my best to learn all I can about every key player."

Gray pushed himself up from the wall, walking further into the room, "And for some reason, finding any real information on you has been practically impossible for us."

"I'd imagine that's the case."

"Why don't you start by telling me what you're really after?"

"Surely you should know that much by now." Zeref set his eyes with Gray's, "I want to have Mavis' power for myself. And you and your guild want to protect her. Therein lies our conflict."

But that answer did nothing for Gray, "If you have an army at your command, not to mention immortality, why would you go through all this trouble to take her power as well?"

"Because I need it to defeat Acnologia."

There was no hesitation in the Black Wizard's words. It made Gray tense, an ache running through his body from his wounds, but he didn't show it.

"Wouldn't you agree that's a cause worth assisting?"

The Fairy Tail mage clenched his fists, "That's nothing but a load of crap!"

"You're wrong." Zeref did not feel like dealing with an overdramatic outraged Fairy Tail mage at the moment as he spoke to cut the potential tantrum off. He also wasn't that keen on being called a liar. "I have told you no lies."

He raised a hand at his side like he was displaying the idea, "It was the original reason I got the Spriggan 13 together."

The way he had said those words reminded Gray of something else that was said that last time he appeared in their guild hall. Kia's voice echoed in his head along with Zeref's.

"I may not know for certain, but that doesn't mean I don't have a few theories."

"Oh," he was amused now, "do tell. Which one are you hoping for?"

"None." She answered matter-of-factly, "Though you using it for the original reason you gathered your Spriggan would be the lesser of the evils."

Gray didn't want to believe what he was hearing, because it almost made Zeref not sound entirely like the bad guy, but the Black Wizard wasn't done yet.

"I'm resolute in my goal to take down Acnologia once and for all. However," he paused as a smile danced on his lip, "My ultimate ambition is to achieve something far more significant than that."

||~x~||

Verani and Amber were not expecting to see Magnolia appear around them, but they were grateful that was all that happened when everything had started glowing again. Currently they were helping each other toward the loudest of the struggles around them, hoping to reconvene with the majority of the guild. Without having to really think about their decision, the pair were heading in the general direction of the newly collapsed Kardia Cathedral.