Wings & Mages (Version 2)

Chapter 28: Settlement of Everything

(A/N: This will be a Gruvia chapter. I know you, readers are wanting to read this. It's confirmed already. Also, there will be an experimental pairing called 'ErDai'. I'll spoil that for you. ^-^ )

Recap:

Just one feet before they clash and let go of their punched, a lighting wave strike pass in between them, hurling them both backwards.

"There's another one?!" Daisuke shrieked.

"Possibly not an ally of this ice guy," Dark commented.

"Laxus is here?" Gray wondered and to confirm it, he whipped his head to where the lightning came from and saw clearly who it was.

It was a girl with red hair, wearing a Lightning Empress armor. Her spear was still charged on the ground and her face was covered with her tresses. Nonetheless, she was recognized by Gray.

He barely uttered her name with tense, "Erza..."

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"E-Erza?!" Gray repeated in shock and a tinge of fear. "You're here?!"

Erza sighed, placing her hand on her hip and flashing a weary smile. "You didn't notice that I was tailing you, didn't you?"

Gray shook his head. He never figured it out and he never even suspected anyone behind him because he knew that he was the only one sent, or rather, the only one who volunteered to be sent. No one told him that Erza tagged along.

"Why did you come just now?!" Gray demanded, partly annoyed and disappointed. "If you just came a little bit earlier, you could have lent me a hand!"

"Is that so?" Erza laughed, throwing the man she was carrying behind to her front.

Gray blinked several times. "Who is that?" he asked, looking back up at Erza. Gray stood up and approached her.

"This is the real suspect," Erza replied, "His name is Dark Gryder. He is the leader and only survivor of Grim Lore."

Gray froze, after having figured that he made a wrong accusation. But still, he didn't know who knocked Juvia unconscious. Nonetheless, he decided to deal with the matter that was currently at hand.

"How did you find us, Erza?" he asked, rather calm now.

"This guy has made an ally here and I came in search of that ally," Erza replied just as calm as Gray when he asked. Staring with sharp eyes on Gray, she continued, "You just happened to be on my way."

Gray gulped, his eyes brows twitching in mild fury. "Then, you used lightning to stop me from fighting..."

Erza broke a little laugh. "That just happened to be the easiest way."

"What if it hit me?"

"You wouldn't die."

Gray pouted. "You really don't hold back... even at your own comrades," he muttered.

"Well, then. If you excuse me," Erza dismissed as he walked forward, pushing Gray aside. "I still have to look for his ally."

"He's gone," Dark Mousy answered all of a sudden. All eyes darted to him.

Gray remembered about his wrong accusations and dashed in front of the thief, who was still sitting down on the ground. "I'm so sorry about earlier," Gray begged his pardon, bowing his head down in front of the thief, "I mistook you as an enemy."

It was silent, utterly silent until the thief finally spoke. "It's nothing," he said with a bright smile on his face. Gray was somewhat relieved by his expression and decided to sit next to him. He's waiting for him to ask anything in return as punishment, but nothing came out.