"Deliora." Gray growled as he walked up to the ice that held the demon.
Vivi watched him carefully as he moved. His movements were tense as if he was waiting for the monster to break free and attack. It also looked as if he was trying to control his body to lessen his shaking. He was afraid. Gray was never afraid, which had Vivi concerned. She looked towards the demon. Just how powerful was this thing?
"Are you sure this is the same demon your master sealed away?" Natsu asked.
"There's no doubt about it." Gray said.
"I wonder why he was transported all the way from the Northern Continent to Galuna Island." Happy said.
Vivi didn't know, but she really wanted to find out, so they could figure out a way to stop it all.
"You don't think this demon could have anything to do with this island's curse, do you?" Lucy asked.
"I wouldn't be surprised if it did." Gray said. "It might be enclosed in ice, but that thing's still alive."
"Sweet!" Natsu said. "Give me a go at it! I'm not afraid of stupid demon!"
He wound up his arm with an eager grin on his face. Vivi, who stood on the other side of Gray, wondered how much magic it'd take to defeat the demon. Chris was better at demon battling, but he wasn't here. Vivi and her friends were, so they'd have to work this out on their own.
"You know, brute force isn't the only way to solve a problem, Natsu." Lucy said.
No, but it usually gets things done quicker than without brute force does. Beside brute force is much more fun because then breaking things is involved, and Vivi liked breaking things. Though despite that, she knew they had to take care of this delicately. This wasn't a normal job request. S-Class were a whole new level.
"A little fire ought to do the trick." Natsu said.
A millisecond later Gray viciously punched Natsu across the face to send the pink-haired wizard to the ground. Vivi, Lucy, and Happy gasped in shock as Gray glared down at Natsu darkly. Vivi was so surprised by the sudden attack that she couldn't even move to Natsu's defense.
"What's the deal?" Natsu asked. "What'd you hit me for, Gray?!"
"I don't want you and your flames anywhere near it." Gray growled out. "If that ice melts and Deliora is revived, there's no way we'd be able to stop it."
Natsu groaned in aggravation as he got back onto his feet while glaring at Gray.
"Come on," he complained. "Do you think a chunk of ice like that would be easy to melt?"
Gray seemed surprised by Natsu's question, but he then composed his features.
"No." Gray said.
Lucy frowned in concern then went up to Gray to place her hand on his back.
"Hey, are you okay?" Lucy asked as Vivi finally moved to check on Natsu.
"I'm the one who got hit for no good reason!" Natsu pointed out. "Watch your temper, Man!"
"You're one to talk." Happy said.
Vivi pat Natsu on top of his head as he continued to glare at Gray heatedly.
"Many years ago my master, Ur, cast a spell called Iced Shell on this demon." Gray explained. "Enclosing it in a form of ice that can't be melted. It's so strong that even the most powerful flame spells have no effect on it. If they knew the ice couldn't be melted, why'd they bring it here?"
Vivi, who left Natsu's side, walked up to the ice, ran her finger down it, and when she pulled back water dripped off of her finger.
"They must have found some way to melt it, Gray." Vivi said. "It's slick with fresh water."
Gray's eyes widened when he heard that and he stepped up himself to touch the ice. He pulled his hand back to see it was indeed wet.
"What the hell?!" He growled.
Lucy jumped back in fright as Vivi even leaned away from the glare that Gray sent her way. It wasn't like she's the one who did this.
"Who could be doing this?" Gray asked. "And why?"
"I don't know, but glaring at me isn't going to change things." Vivi said, frowning.
Gray almost flinched back as he realized what he was doing. He looked away from Vivi while apologizing, which had her brows shooting up. He was apologizing. She then sighed since she knew this couldn't be easy for him.
"We need answers." Natsu said. "Let's go find those guys."
"Yeah." Lucy agreed.
"No." Gray said firmly. "We're going to stay here and wait."
Vivi and the others looked at him in confusion as he continued to glare up at Deliora.
"Wait here for what?" Happy asked.
"For the moon to come out." Gray replied.
Vivi blinked wondering if she had heard him correctly. They were going to wait that long?
"The moon?!" Natsu demanded. "But it's the middle of the afternoon. Forget that! If I have to hang out here all day, I'll die of boredom."
"Why does the moon matter?" Lucy asked while ignoring Natsu.
Natsu frowned at being ignored as he crossed in arms of his chest in annoyance.
"I have a feeling the curse on this island and Deliora are connected to it." Gray said. "And I heard those guys we saw earlier say something about collecting moonlight."
Vivi sighed guessing that meant they really didn't have a choice in the matter.
"I heard that too." Lucy said.
"Yep." Vivi said, sighing. "I guess we have no choice but to wait."
"I'm not waiting!" Natsu snapped. "We've got work to do!"
He then fell backwards snoring, which had Vivi chuckling in amusement. Lucy just sweat-dropped.
"Well, that was fast." Lucy said.
"Aye." Happy agreed.
Vivi shook her head then glanced back at Gray as he sat away from the group. She sighed knowing he was trying to be a tough guy. She walked over to him, and at the sound of her approach, Gray looked up at her. His eyes then widened when Vivi sat awfully closer to him. She hugged his arm then rested her head on his shoulder.
"Don't look so pathetic." Vivi said. "It doesn't suit you."
Gray blinked before he snorted with a tiny half grin on his face as Vivi's eyes closed. She planned to take a nap herself.
"We're here for you, Frosty." Vivi said. "Though don't expect this all the time. I still think you're stupid."
Gray rolled his eyes then looked down at the ground. He used his right hand to cover Vivi's hands as they held onto his left arm. He rested his head on top of hers while not noticing how Lucy was watching them with a smile. Lucy then looked to Natsu as he continued snoring, which had her sighing.
"Must be nice not worrying about anything besides eating, fighting, and sleeping." She said.
"Aye, that's Natsu for you." Happy said, nodding.
"I got to admit, I'm a little bit jealous." Lucy said then sighed once more. "I know I agreed to wait, but this is so boring."
"Aye." Happy agreed.
Vivi moved her head to look back at the pair with an amused grin on her face. They haven't even been waiting that long and they're already bored.
"Oh, I know!" Lucy said, clapping her hands together.
As Happy looked at her curiously, Lucy brought out one of her silver keys.
"Open: Gate of the Harp Constellation, Lyra!" Lucy summoned.
After the puff of pink smoke disappeared, Vivi blinked to look at the spirit. It looked like a little Bo Peep girl who was hyped on sugar as she waved rapidly at Lucy.
"Oh, wow, I haven't seen you in forever, Lucy!" Lyra said.
"Hey, Lyra." Lucy greeted.
Lyra got a serious look on her face as she moved to stand in front of her master.
"Say, how come you never call me anymore?" Lyra asked. "It's not fair! I would love to help you out, but you ignore me, Meanie."
This one also seems to like to talk really fast too.
"Meanie, huh?" Lucy asked. "You're the one who told me you're only available three days a month."
Lyra seemed shocked by this news as if she was hearing it for the first time. Vivi sweat-dropped All of Lucy's spirits were certainly unique.
"Are you sure about that?" Lyra asked.
"Great, another weirdo." Happy deadpanned.
Lyra ignored Happy as she continued to smile at Lucy.
"So, what would you like to hear me sing?" Lyra asked. "Any requests?"
"Nope, whatever you want." Lucy answered.
Vivi tilted her head as Happy tried to get Lyra to sing about fish. So Lyra was used for singing? That had to mean she wasn't a battle spirit. Vivi was intrigued by this as she slightly turned to watch Lyra prepare to sing. Lyra started strumming her harp to this beautiful melody, which had Vivi smiling. Lyra then opened her mouth to begin singing.
Words are into air
And quickly fade out in the wind
But they find their way inside you
Where they live on forevermore
When the skies are dark and full of rain
Look inside your heart
The light, so warm and all aglow
Shining just like the sun
Vivi felt Gray shaking beside her, which had her turning to look at him. His hands were now clenched tightly in front of him as he clenched his jaw tensely. Vivi was about to ask what was wrong when she saw a tear roll down his cheek, which had her eyes widening. And the longer Lyra played, the worse he shook.
You can see, just how much you've grown
How strong you are.
A love will open up to you
And it starts from the day that you, first heard those words...
Lyra continued to strop her harp and hum to the melody as Gray continued to shake. Vivi moved to hug him tightly. She didn't know all this meant to Gray, but seeing her guild mate in such a state made her own chest tighten in pain. Gray kept his face on her shoulder as he tried to muffle his tears. However, they were heard, which brought the music to a halt. Lucy and Happy looked at Gray worriedly as Vivi continued to hold him.
"Gray, what's wrong?" Lucy asked.
Gray quickly pulled back from Vivi to wipe the tears from his cheeks.
"Nothing, I'm fine." Gray said.
Vivi sighed. Typical boy.
"You seem upset." Happy said.
"Let's just leave him alone, everyone." Vivi said as she stood and placed her hand on Gray's head. "And how about no music? We are trying to remain hidden after all."
Lucy nodded her head as she and Happy laid down to try and take a nap like Natsu. In a few minutes both of them were out like their Dragon Slayer friend. Vivi moved away from Gray to look up at Deliora.
"We'll figure this all out, Frosty." Vivi said getting Gray to look at her. "We might not get along, but you are my guild mate. These people who were stupid enough to tamper with your master's last great act and stupid enough to make you cry… they'll pay . I'll make sure of it."
Gray looked at Vivi with wide eyes as she glared forward at the ice encased demon. He then looked to the side.
"Whatever, primadonna." Gray said. "Just don't get in my way."
Vivi chuckled at his weak attempt at taking a jab at her.