Ice-Cold (Gruvia Fairy Tail Fanfic)

Chapter 28: Forgive Yourself

Guess who's baaaack!!!! How's it going, guys? I've returned to writing this book! I wish I could be a bit more excited but sadly, I can't shake off the fact that FT is ending in like four chapters and THERE ARE STILL SHIPS YET TO HAVE SAILED!!!! I NEED MY NALU TO HAPPEN, MASHIMA!!!

Well, that's beside the point. It's good to be back! I apologize in advance if my writing is rusty from going a whole month AFK, you'll have to bear with me cause I'm already having trouble typing.

Disclaimer: Fairy Tail belongs to Hiro Mashima. I simply own this fanfiction.

"Gray..."

Hm?

"Gray!"

What the-

"Oh, mother, you need to be rougher with him."

Mother?

"EY! OPEN THOSE DROOPY EYES, FULLBUSTER!!"

Now, look here lady- OW!! FOR THE LOVE OF-

"Ultear! Don't smack the poor idiot!"

Gray found himself escaping the dark abyss of his unconsciousness as his tired eyes shot open from pain. He groaned as he put a palm to his burning cheek.

As his vision cleared up slowly, he could make out two figures standing above him, looking down on him. One with a face full of concern, and the other's expression etched with skepticism. 

"Who-who is you..." he asked, his voice almost unrecognizable, and not the most pleasant to the ears.

Ultear grimaced. "Oh, God! You sound like a rooster getting a voice crack! And fix that grammar! Or even better, never speak again!"

The figure to her left sighed. "You're not making this easier for him, Ultear. Let him come to his senses."

"Ul..tear?" Gray questioned, not sounding any better. Only this time, the woman in question kept her discomfort to herself and leaned towards him, looking deeply into his eyes. "Yes, Gray. It's me. Pull yourself together."

"B-but...Ulteee...impossible...she die..." Gray could barely form coherent sentences. The other woman leaned closer to his range of vision, her appearance becoming a bit clearer. "Gray...relax. Don't speak yet."

At the sound of that voice, Gray felt his heart stop beating. There was no way. Absolutely no way. It wasn't her. It couldn't be. 

"Just listen, Gray. It's me, Ur. Do you remember me?"

Does he remember?! Of course, he does! There's not a day that goes by where she doesn't cross his mind. And the sacrifice she made for him... But as the blurriness of her face faded away, there was no mistaking it. It was his master. She smiled warmly at him. "You recognize me, don't you?" she asked softly.

Gray, not trusting himself to say the right words at the moment, simply nodded, completely speechless. Once he convinced himself it really was her, tears brimmed in his eyes. "But-how?"

"Don't misunderstand, my boy. I'm Ur, but not in the flesh. I'm only a remnant of your consciousness," she told him. She turned to her daughter standing beside her. "And so is she."

"And that's where we are right now," Ultear elaborated. "In your consciousness."

His heart sank at that revelation. 

They're not real.

Of course not. It was too good to be true. He clumsily raised his arm and placed a hand over his eyes, embarrassed about crying in front of them. Honestly, just how many tears was he gonna shed? He thought he was more macho than this.