Fairy Tail - Twilight Empire

Chapter 45 - Light

Gray found a somewhat suitable piece of rubble to sit on, watching Lyon the entire time while he did so. Juvia also kept her eyes on him. Her pose was more defensive—crossed arms, a furrowed brow, and legs split just enough to move in the event of a quick attack. Kip remained in the shadows, maintaining the hold the earth had on Lyon.

"Alright," Gray said, meeting his old friend in the eyes. "Let's talk."

"Ice-Make: Snow Dragon!"

Gray didn't flinch. Juvia braced herself. But as Lyon, suddenly awake and alert, tried to move, the rocks around him clenched up. Even Lyon, with his one-handed Ice-Make magic, was helpless. Gray sighed.

"So what gives, man?" Gray asked. He rubbed his head. "The Twilight Empire, really?"

"The greatest military force the world has ever known, that's what," Lyon said. He snarled. This was even worse than the Moon Drip incident on Galena Island. At that time, the insanity in Lyon's expression was fairly evident. Here?

He was totally lucid.

"Greatest bunch of murderers and psychos is what you mean," Gray said. "But I guess you can't really help it, can you?" Gray leered at Lyon. "After all, you're just another one of their experiments. A Broken Wizard."

"Don't banter that about as if it's an insult, Gray,' Lyon said. "You went away for a long time. Don't presume to know anything about the modern world."

"That's what this is all about?" Gray asked.

"Of course not," Lyon said. "But you Fairy Tail wizards have always thought yourselves so superior to the rest of us." Lyon glowered at Juvia. "Even you. Joining with them, following in their ways. What could I have ever seen in you besides frailty?"

Juvia stood tall. "We're not morally superior, but we do seek to do justice in the world where it's demanded."

"Most of us," Gray said. "I'd like to just kick the Empire's ass up and down the continent." He jabbed a finger at Lyon. "So don't presume as if I care about what you have to say, you brainwashed idiot." He curled his hand up, and let it fall to the side. "Besides, we'll get you healed up."

"Healed?" Lyon asked. "You can't heal me."

"Yeah, we'll see about that," Gray said. He approached Lyon, keeping that fist balled up tightly. "By the way. I know you're not in full control, but I don't think Ur would mind if I did this to you."

Before Lyon could make a snarky remark, or say anything poorly about their former master, Gray slugged Lyon across the chin. Lyon's lights went out immediately. Kip sprang into action. He dropped the rocks about Lyon, and Juvia knelt to catch him.

"Out cold," she muttered.

"We do need to help him," Gray said. "Another Maker wizard on our side is a huge plus, trust me."

Plus, thinking of Ur...she'd never let Gray just have Lyon go helpless. Ur's legacy lay in the two of them, given Ultear's passing. She was stalwart against forces of darkness, against the things that tortured the free people of the world. To see Lyon under their control would devastate her, and Gray couldn't ignore that gnawing feeling in his heart that ached similarly. They had to get him out of the city with everyone else.

And yet...

Not too far, an explosion echoed. There was probably only one wizard capable of that. And given the bouncing streak of light headed in the direction of the stadium....

"Juvia," Gray said, watching Sting move along. "Take Lyon out of the city. Natus's in trouble."

"Natsu in trouble?" Kip asked.