Last chapter is here :)

for those who reviewed/followed/fav this story, thank you for reading it and bearing up with the mistakes. Yeah I read the story again and theeere was many errors. But I'm really happy with one thing, my English really improved! and it's all because of you guys :D ! Thanks again.

I really enjoy writing it and I hope that you too enjoyed it.

Reviewers:

Viperhat: lol he suffered enough? no, not yet ! your Sadist-viper will be blessed once again xD + good! glad to hear that :D

PokeTail: Who knows XD and the update is here, enjoy the last chapter :D

Guestie: Thanks! finally everything will be explained in this chapter

AncientAlliance: I was worried about previous chapter, I felt I didn't do well but your review made wrong. Super happy that you liked the fight and everything else.

CAUTION: Super emotional chapter, prepare yourself.

Final Hope

Chapter 15 – Part 2

Gray flew in a void. He felt, hear and saw nothing.

The only thing was playing in his mind was the memories.

He had encountered Noah many times, failed many times and has been reversing the time in order to stop Noah at any cost.

-1-

The first time Gray met Noah was when Dan stabbed him, upon returning to the guild he told his teammates about Noah and that he was the one who killed Dan.

Soon, they heard shocking news, villagers were attacked and killed. He didn't spare anyone, not even the children. Fairy Tail swore that whoever did this will pay.

Searching for the perpetrator didn't come with good result. They never found him, or had any hints about his whereabouts.

The searching was halted, everyone started to go picking other missions. Gray went to a solo mission, he finished it easily. On his way return, he met with a strong member of a dark guild.

He wasn't much of opponent but Gray slipped, causing the enemy to take advantage of it. Gray thought he was goner when the enemy suddenly dropped dead.

That's was his second time he meet Noah. Noah gave him a portion of his power because in his opinion, Gray was weak and it would be a problem if he died.

Gray returned to the guild and didn't tell anyone about what Noah did to him. He didn't want to worry his guild mates for something no one can explain not even Porlyusica.

A few months passed before Noah regained his full power. He came at Fairy Tail saying that he will dispose of those who are the strongest first.

In the fight, Gray was knocked out and fell unconscious. When he woke up, his eyes grew wide opened. A scene he never thought he will see.

Everyone was on the ground.

In front of him was Natsu body, he reached him, trying to wake him up "H-hey, flame brain wake up." He shook him multiple times, there was no response "Stop joking around Natsu."

Warm tears rolled down on his face "Don't do this… Don't …leave me."

He covered his face and screamed in sorrow.

His friends along with Magnolia townspeople were dead.

XX

Gray was devastated, his spirit was dead.

Whenever he reaches a town, all he saw was destruction. There was none alive. The last town he passed by found Noah.

Yes, the man whom he killed his family was in front of him.

He no longer can feel anger or sad. Gray ignored the man and turned to leave the town when he heard a boy sound.

"Oh someone is alive." Noah fixed his gaze on the boy, raised his hand, attempting to finish him.

Gray rushed and covered the boy underneath him; He was begging Noah and crying "Please, I beg of you. Leave him. I'll do anything for you. PLEASE"

Noah looked at him, slowly lowered his hand, he didn't say anything and left. Did he felt sympathy toward Gray?

No one knows what was in Noah mind.

Gray carried the boy; he left the city and went to a house he saw in a farm. Last time he checked, there wasn't anyone living in it.

The boy had minor injuries; he did his best to tend them.

Gray wondered why he saved him. In the end, the boy will die soon.

In the past weeks Gray lived, he learned that he can't die from hunger or sickness. Plus, he can't kill himself.

When the boy woke up, they looked at each other briefly. Not saying anything to each other. They were both broken.

They continued living in the farm, for a whole week. They didn't talk. In one day, Gray was staying on a chair outside, with his magic he created Fairy Tail symbol.

In a blink of eyes, the boy was in front of him. His eyes were sparkling, he said in excitement "Wow, this is...this is…MAGIC"

For the first time, Gray heard the boy talking.

"Now, you finally decided to talk."

The boy frowned at Gray's comment "You didn't talk either."

"You love magic?"

"You must be kidding me, who doesn't?"

"What's your name kiddo?"

"Hiroshi."

"I'm Gray, now Hiroshi, would like to learn magic?"

"Don't tell me! YES YES YES YES." He said quickly "My wish was to become a mage!"

Gray was brought back alive by Hiroshi grin, reminded him of Natsu with his silly grin. For the first time, Gray laughed.

Together, they shared the burden of living, in a world no longer alive.

XX

After a long five years, Hiroshi was in bed; fighting the disease he caught somewhere. Gray was sitting next to him, looking sad.

"Come one Gray-nii, I hate this look on you."

"What do you want me to do?"

"Smile."

Gray sighed, Hiroshi was asking for the impossible. Smiling when he knows that one of the people he cares for is dying?

Yes, Hiroshi was dying. Gray doesn't know what happening to him. Every day he kept getting worse.

He doesn't know if Noah succeeded on wiping out the humanity or not but searched for a doctor many times and he can't find anyone. They could be dead or hiding.

Gray formed a false smile "Do you want anything?"

"No. Just stay with me."

There was awkward silence between them when Hiroshi said "What are you going to do?"

Gray got the meaning behind his question "I don't know."

"Find a purpose and continue living."

"A purpose huh?" Gray never had one and can't think of one.

"Promise me." Hiroshi face was serious and in the same time worried.

"I promise…I promise, now have some sleep."

A few days later, Hiroshi died. Gray again felt this dead, this emptiness.

He wanted to die, living alone was difficult. But then, he recalled his promise with Hiroshi.

Was there really a purpose of living in a dead world?

Gray packed his things. The house brought him more misery; every part of it reminded him of Hiroshi. He decided to leave, where? He doesn't know. Any place is more than enough.

After wandering around aimlessly, Gray remembered the Grand Magic Games events; if future Lucy and Rogue managed to jump to the past maybe he too can do it.

He went to the magic council place; he always suspected those geezers had this kind of items. That's when he found it, a rare magical item that can reverse the time.

He was trembling, between his hands rest the item that can save anyone. He closed his eyes and used it.

-2-

Exactly the same events happened again.

After Hiroshi death, Gray remembered, he once lived this. In frustration, he hit the wall with his fist. "Damn, what's the point if I reversed the time but I can't remember what will happen?"

He held his chin, thinking "I need to find a way to remember."

He set foot on a journey, he need to learn more about the item. He admitted that he was overwhelmed by the idea that he will save his friends and used the item without knowing anything about it.

He didn't find much information other than some people will keep their memories and others are not. He also learned that the item will affect only their world.

In this journey, Gray knew that Noah didn't kill everyone, he spared few people. They were hiding in the underground.

One day, by accident, Gray used Noah magic that rest within him.

That's when he thought of a brilliant idea, he would use his magic in his favor. He continued his journey but this time to find more information on Noah.

He found a book in a very far small village, telling a tale of a brave ice mage that sealed the humanity enemy decades ago.

He learned that Noah's magic the power of the word, anything he says will come true. He also knew that Noah is not a human; He was someone who can't live without magic unlike mages. Gray hope returned, such power will help him to achieve his purpose.

He then remembered Hiroshi, thanks to him, he found a new purpose.

Gray decided he would create an isolate place, outside this world with no magic, where he will tell himself all about Noah and in the same time, he will seal Noah in that place.

The problem that he can't use his power that easily, it takes a big amount of magic from him, so creating that place would be impossible right now.

A great journey begins, where he lasted 10 years in training. He felt confident, he took a breath, preparing himself and imagined the place he wanted.

He used his magic, he groaned in pain. Even after training, it stills not enough, but that's not something going to stop Gray.

With his determination Gray managed to create that place. It didn't come without a cost, Gray no longer feels his legs, and he can't move them. He no longer can see the light, he lost his eyesight.

It wasn't a problem; Gray would reverse the time anyway.

-3-

The same events happened once more. After losing Hiroshi, he remembered and decided to visit the place he created.

It was a small gloomy island; Gray wondered why it looked so despaired? Was it based on his emotions? There wasn't a much in it, just a small shack. In there he placed the journal, the one who will keep a record on how to deal with Noah.

The first line he wrote was about the villager's death. He hoped that his past self will come up with an idea to prevent their death.

-4-

The plan seems to work, he – when he was in the past – visited the island and read about the villagers fate. He called Fairy Tail to aid them but Noah was much stronger. He killed team Natsu with a few other members along with the villagers.

-5-

Gray called Sabertooth to help them, still it's not enough to stop Noah.

-6-

It was Lamia scale turn; Gray thought Jura and Lyon magic are needed. He though the more he call mages – strong mages – they will overpower him. However, this wasn't the case.

Gray -after killing all the mages- heard Noah muttering something about needing magic.

-7-

The ice mage had a vision, that Noah said something about needing a magic; it was weird, he had a feeling that this is necessary and need to be done.

So, he hired the dark guild to gather magic. This time he went to Noah alone. He gave it to him, it didn't stop Noah from attacking but he saved them!

He told Fairy Tail about what he did, the master got angry of course. He banned Gray from taking any missions or going out. He respected the old man decision; after all, Gray hurt other mages.

Erza was on her way out to an urgent mission when she met the dark guild master, who his power had boosted it up. A fearsome fight occurred, Erza was overwhelmed by his power, and she was defeated.

Out of hatred toward Fairy Tail, he killed the Titania, brought her body at the guild doors and declared a war against them.

Gray was shocked, he couldn't shed a tear. He was feeling guilty. Erza was killed because of him, because of his stupid feeling.

It didn't take a while before a war broke between Fairy Tail and the dark guild only to be stopped by Noah. He killed them all, leaving Gray, the only one alive in the guild.

-8-

This time Gray didn't tell the master about his doing and kept it to himself, he had a feeling that if he told him something bad will happen. He went with Erza on a mission to gather info about the dark guild he hired.

Their master died because of Noah but Erza survived. Later, Gray was discovered that he was the client who hired the dark guild. The master detained Gray for his actions.

It didn't take time before announcing that another member died, Wendy. She was killed by none other than Noah. Soon, the others followed her fate.

-9-

Gray ran from Fairy Tail and saved Wendy, but was tortured to the point he was unconscious for more than a month. While he was sleep, Fairy Tail had a big fight with Noah and lost.

-10-

Gray was saved from the tortured by a weird boy, a boy he never met. He lost conscious due to his tiredness. He woke up a few days later from the rackets outside the guild.

He went outside to see his friends on the ground, defeated. He tried to use iced shell but was cancelled because of Noah curse.

Noah started to cast the deadly spell, before the circle reach out Gray. Natsu leapt at Gray and carried him. He was running in high speed so the circle won't reach them out.

Moments before the circle reach them, Natsu throw Gray away with his full power, making the ice mage escaping the circle.

Natsu was standing looking at Gray with his usual grin, and then he fell down on the ground, dead.

-Unknown-

Gray lost count of how many he reversed the time.

In those many times, he would reach a point where no longer can think of a way to stop Noah.

He was about to give up, every method he try ended up wrongly. Was it fate? Something he can't change no matter what?

No, he still can't break Hiroshi promise. If he gave up, he wouldn't have a purpose or the courage to live on.

His last attempt was that he will seal his current memories in the island. He still can use his knowledge of Noah magic to change the outcome.

XX

Hiroshi started explaining his part of the story. He was one of those people where he kept his memories. Someone was reversing the time and he didn't know who.

When Gray reversed the time for the first attempt, Hiroshi remembered everything. In the future, his town will be destroyed. His friends will be dead. He will meet Gray and live with him. Eventually, he would end up dead after five years.

He didn't believe it and considered as a bad dream, until it happened, again.

The more it happened the more Hiroshi was confused; someone is reversing the time, probably to stop Noah. He suspected to be Gray, and asked him once, but the ice mage tilted his head in confusion and said he know nothing. Hiroshi thought that maybe after his death, Gray would use it. But how come he doesn't remember?

Hiroshi wanted to help Gray, but he didn't know where to start from.

In all those attempts, he tried to pull information from Gray so he can use them whenever he reversed the time. However, Gray wasn't someone would talk; he only told him a few.

He told him about Erza and his regrets of being responsible of killing her. Hiroshi was determined that he was going to help her.

After reversing the time, Hiroshi didn't know that Gray was already with her. He found Natsu, Lucy and Wendy in the town next to them. He told them about a fight happened. The three mages rushed to the town.

Later, he saw Erza in the guild, he was happy. He thought that he was the one who changed the course of events.

Yet, the time reversed, he repeated what he done last time, only to discover that Gray was with Erza. That's when he realized that something changes.

When Gray told him about his regrets, he said Erza was alone. Now he is with her. He is certain now that Gray is the one who reverse the time.

Hiroshi was clueless why he reversed time again; He waited for his meet with Gray and tried to figure out what happened, he only told him that he was weak, not be able to withstand the pain and help his friends.

Next step, save Gray from whatever happened to him, once the time reversed, He was following Gray around, after he saved the girl named Wendy, Noah tortured Gray. Hiroshi distracted Noah and took him away.

He decided to let Gray alone in the forest after he made sure Noah gone; after all, his friends were looking for him.

Hiroshi wanted to check on Gray health, so he stayed in Magnolia. Later, Noah attacked the city; he looked at the battle from afar and watched how Natsu saved his friend.

The time reversed again, again and again. Their fate didn't change, Natsu will always save Gray, and they will always die.

He bit his lips, he wanted to jump and help them but he was afraid and weak. Gray, who was his mentor, didn't had a chance with him. Obviously, Hiroshi will not be able to do anything at all.

He kept his eyes focused on Noah attacks; he would analyze them, he knew the range of his cancel spell.

He then recalled that Gray once mentioned two of their strongest mages, Laxus and Gildarts. In the next time, he would try and call them. Maybe they can do something.

XX

The guild members were stunned. They didn't believe what the boy just said.

"I don't know where Gray-nii is now. But he told me something before he went with you to fight Noah. That he knows a way and he will do it. He will seal Noah. He assured me that everything will be fine."

The boy was holding back his tears "I was fool to believe him. From the beginning he intended to sacrifice himself. Why didn't I notice it? Of all of those years I lived with him, I still can't know a single thing about him."

Hiroshi started to cry "I don't think…I'll be able to see him again."

"Don't say that."

"He is gone, forever."

"I told you not to say that!" Natsu yanked Hiroshi in anger, yelling "We have disappeared for seven years and we were back! He will return! Don't you just give up that easily!"

"Juvia believes that Gray-sama will return." Juvia was trembling and holding her back her tears. Lucy nodded at her "Yeah! Me too."

"He better return." Erza had a firm voice.

The others cheered as well; all agreed that the ice mage will return to them eventually.

XX

Gray found himself on the bed inside the shack, on the desk Noah sat on the chair.

"Finally, you are awake."

Gray was recalling what happened slowly, yes he teleported with Noah to the island. He was still very weak.

"It took you more than a year to wake up. Hmph, such a weakling."

Gray eyes widened, he spent a whole year in a coma? That's the price of using Noah magic?

Noah stood and left the shack, he sat on the beach. Soon Gray followed him and sat next to him. The one who really hated him and wanted to kill him all this time was sitting beside him.

Both of them can't use magic anymore.

"Tell me more about your plan." Noah asked him.

"Only if you told me about yourself." Gray answered calmly.

"Fair enough, what do you want to know?"

"Why...why do want to wipe out humanity? What is your reason?"

"I was created by a genius scientist in a different world. He ordered me to do a single thing, annihilated humanity in Earthland. I don't know the reason."

Gray froze from what Noah said, why would someone from another world want to destroy their world? Now that he failed, will he send another one?

"Why didn't you refuse the order?"

"Why would I? His order is absolute. Beside, I'm emotionless, empty. I can't…feel."

"I don't believe it."

"What do you mean?"

"You said it multiple times that you felt anger, annoyed, enjoy. You spared Hiroshi life; you even let some human alive in the future."

Noah didn't say anything and seemed to be thinking. Then he looked at Gray, waiting for him to explain the plan.

"Since you are almost unbeatable, I thought of using your own power to seal you here."

"You mean dispose of me."

Gray didn't answer, admitting, he created this world without magic and Noah can't live without it.

"So you created this island by my power?"

"Yes."

"You fainted for a year because of using a weak spells so how come you created this?"

"I've trained and then reversed the time."

"I see. Luck was on your side, if I was awakened by another person I'd have succeeded on my mission."

There was silence between the two; Gray noticed that Noah is fading. His time is up, for him to be holding for a complete year meant that he was truly a really strong mage.

"Thank you."

Gray didn't expect this, did he misheard Noah?

"For disposing me, not letting me live here alone, forever." There was a smile formed at his face "You too. You can't stay here."

Gray thought Noah was mocking of him before he heard Noah saying "Return."

Then Noah disappeared for good and Gray suddenly started to fade. His eyes went wide, if he managed to use his power here, why didn't he return to do his mission?

Why did he help Gray?

XX

"Natsu… do you think that Gray will return to us? It's been a year since he was gone." The blue cat asked the dragon slayer.

"He will come back, I'm sure of it."

Natsu headed to the place they battled Noah for the last time; he had visited many times, believing that the ice mage will show up there.

He sniffed a familiar scent. His eyes widened of realization on whom this scent belong to.

He start running toward the smell, Happy flied and followed Natsu.

That's when they saw him, he was laying down the grass, and he was sleeping peacefully.

It was him, Gray.

Natsu and Happy couldn't believe it, he actually returned.

The dragon slayer went to his rival and shook him "Wake up Gray!"

The ice mage opened his eyes slowly "Nat…su?" a few moments ago, he was on the island.

Natsu helped him sitting, Gray looked at his surroundings. A dream? He pinched himself, it hurt so no.

"What are you doing?"

"Are you real?"

"What a dump question, are you still sleeping ice princess?"

Gray smiled, he is real. He came back. He really came back.

Both mages stood up, Natsu held his fist and landed a punch on the ice mage stomach.

"What was that for Natsu?" Gray got angry, is this what he get for coming back?

"This is for worrying us you stupid."

"I'm sorry."

"Don't do it again or I'll beat up the hell out of you!"

"Fine…fine, I understand."

"And…Welcome back Gray." Gray smiled at him and nodded.

XX

When he showed up with Natsu, the members were speechless. Then they become angry, they scolded Gray on how reckless he was.

Wendy and Lucy hugged him, Gray felt awkward. They were both crying. He doesn't know how to handle these kind of situation.

Erza came closer to him, he gulped. He was afraid of her; she will probably kill him. The other members stepped back. They still value their life.

Unexpectedly, she smiled at him. There were tears on the edge of her eyes, she welcomed him back. Somehow, she understands Gray actions.

Juvia flooded the place with tears, the guild members begged Gray to calm her down and he did. She finally handed back his necklace and he took it. He thanked her for keeping it up safe for whole year. She said that anything that belongs to her Gray-sama will be treasured forever.

Gray learned that Hiroshi returned to his town and never came back to Magnolia. He decided to give him a visit.

He had a conversation with Hiroshi before Noah fight. He told him that he can't forget once Gray reverse the time and explained to him exactly what he said to Fairy Tail later.

Gray apologized to him, Hiroshi said it's nothing. But Gray still feel guilty, the boy died several time and each time he felt it!

He arrived to the town; he asked his friends, they told him that he was depressed and they are worried about him.

Gray found him at the river, hugging his knees. He sat next to him, the boy eyes grow very wide "What are doing here all depressed? It doesn't suit you. You were always cheerful."

Suddenly the boy burst in crying "H-Hey, c-calm down."

"AAAh, Gray-nii is back."

"Yeah I'm back."

The boy cried more, the people around them whispered, Hiroshi was making a scene "S-stop crying will ya."

"I…can't" Gray sighed; he will never know how to handle situations like this. Suddenly, he embraced Gray "I...never...thought…you…will come back."

The boy started to calm and stopped crying, Gray had the chance to ask him "Say, do you want to join Fairy Tail?"

"Nah"

"Why? Didn't you like the guild?"

"It's a wonderful guild, but I don't want to be your partner. I want to get stronger and suppress you."

Gray giggled "I see. So what guild you are going to join?"

"Sabertooth, they are awesome."

"They are a good guild."

"Come on Gray-nii! My friends are dying to meet you." He grabbed his hands and dragged him "Let's meet them."

Gray smiled and nodded at him. Finally the nightmare is over.

A/N:

So, the whole thing was prepared by Gray! desperately wanting to help everyone. Did you expect this? and he is back! I couldn't give him a tragic ending, it's too much for him :(

and who is that scientist? a sequel ? could be.

For better experience of this story, after finishing this go back to the beginning. You will understand more and get the hints that I dropped almost in every chapter.

Newcomers to this story, even if this story labeled as complete for a long time. Review, I'm still around :D

As I said before, Next story is called "End of despair" here is the initial summery :

Due to a simple mistake, Gray loses his memory and find himself in a town terrorized by demons. He must live under their rule or he will face death. Feeling anger, Gray wishes for a power to eliminate the demons, not knowing that there is one that rest within him. Will he be able to discover this power soon enough and save the town?

Until next time :D ~