Back at last, after a long, long time.

I'm…not even going to bother explaining myself; it's not like that matters anyway. Life is a beautiful behemoth.

New chapter!

"I'm glad. We'll really appreciate your help at the Grand Magic Games." Jellal said gratefully to Natsu and Erza.

"Not a problem. Good to see that we could all be allies and unite against a greater evil." Erza responded.

"Yeah, I still owe that bastard for what he did to my scarf. As soon as we find Zeref at the tournament, I'll kick his ass for you. You can count on that!" Natsu said, grinning excitedly.

Jellal smiled. "As energetic and optimistic as always, aren't you, son of Igneel?"

Upon hearing the name, Natsu's mood immediately fell somber.

The pink-haired Dragon Slayer chuckled softly, in a pathetic attempt to hide the wave of depression that had suddenly crashed over him. "Heh, yeah, I guess." Jellal and Erza quickly picked up the change of tone in Natsu's voice.

"I'll start gathering firewood, Erza." Natsu said, turning his back to them, obviously eager to get away.

"Wait, I'm sorry! I didn't mean-" Jellal called out, but it was too late, as Natsu had disappeared into the trees.

Erza looked solemnly toward the woods which had now hid Natsu's form from their sight.

"Oh man," Jellal said, rubbing his hand on the back of his head. "I didn't mean anything by that…poor choice of words, really." He said, feeling a bit ashamed of himself.

"No, it's fine. This subject had to come up eventually. Seven years…the more time passes the more painful the separation from Igneel becomes for Natsu." Erza said. She turned to Jellal.

"He's much like I am in that regard. The type of person who prefers to deal with his problems on his own, despite all of his talk for relying on friends," Jellal said. "Nevertheless..." He began.

"Natsu still needs someone to help smooth his ruffled feathers. I'll be there for him." Erza said, smiling warmly.

Jellal felt his insides grow warm and fuzzy, and felt the heat flush to his cheeks at seeing Erza's gentle and caring side. He suddenly felt insanely jealous of Natsu.

"W-well, that's good to hear." Jellal said, stammering. "Anyways, I have to get going now. Reconnaissance duty. Give Natsu my regards." He said, turning.

"Hold on!" Erza said, moving towards him.

"Wha-" Jellal began, but was cut off by the feeling of a soft peck on his cheek. He looked at Erza.

"Erza..." he began, stunned.

"For good luck. Take care of yourself and your comrades." Erza beamed, with a hint of pink tinting her cheeks.

"...th-thanks." Jellal said, trying to reel his mind from his overdrive imagination of a wife kissing her husband right before he departs for work. "I-I'll manage just fine. I've handled seven years quite well. Dark guilds fear the name of Crime Sorciere."

The two shared a final nod before Jellal leapt into the trees and disappeared from sight.

"Always wanting to look cool...just like in our childhood days." Erza said softly, a huge grin on her face.

-A Few Days Later-

Gray dropped onto all fours, feeling his knees and pale hands sink into several inches of snow. He was at his limit. There's only so much a man who hadn't moved an inch in a domain frozen in time for seven years could do, right?

Unfortunately for him, a certain fugitive mage didn't seem to agree.

"I can't believe you, Gray Fullbuster." Ultear sighed.

"Wh-what was th-that?" Gray wheezed, looking up at her. As part of their training, Ultear decided for the two of them to train in their undergarments to better adjust themselves. As such, she had worn a simple pair of matching green bra and panties – Ur's choice color for her own undergarments, Gray remembered.

Like mother, like daughter, he thought amusedly.

"What are you smirking at?" Ultear said crossly, with her hands on her hips and she bent over slightly.

"N-nothing," Gray panted, looking away from her.

Ultear straightened up, sighing and shaking her head.

"A four hour sprint. That's all the beginning of this regimen entailed. And you barely managed two hours."

"I can't...Ul never...made me run...like this..." Gray breathed in between pants.

"Aww, does poor Gray miss being treated like little boy?" Ultear smirked.

"Sh-shut up!" Gray retorted, feeling annoyed, while Ultear laughed.

After a few moments in which Gray continued to gasp, Ultear found herself taking pity on the boy. Slinging one of his arms over her shoulders and holding his waist with the arm wrapped around his body, she walked him over to a nearby rock and sat him down in front of it.

The two were quiet for a few minutes as Gray's breathing evened out and he relaxed.

"It's a nice view, isn't it?" Ultear asked.

"Hm-what?" Gray asked, distracted. He had been looking up at the clouds. He turned to look at Ultear, and saw her overlooking the snowy meadow, upon which thousands upon thousands of snowflakes drifted slowly into. Ul's house was visible from here. He could see Juvia and Meredy chatting animatedly on the steps of the house while the chimney puffed out smoke.

"Yeah...brings back lots of memories." Gray said, remembering the times Ul had brought him and Lyon up the hill for some training exercises. He looked off into the distance at the foot of the hill, and saw the nearby town which the three of them used to go for breaks and grocery shopping. Those days felt like they happened more than a thousand lifetimes ago, as if the memory belonged to someone else.

"I've always wanted to know," Ultear began after a while, breaking Gray out of his thoughts. She looked deathly hesitant.

"Know what?"

"What was…she like?" Ultear inquired, almost whispering.

Gray felt himself tense up. He didn't need any further prodding to know who Ultear was referring to. Her name had only been brought up between them in passing ever since she nearly killed him. Nevertheless, the ocean of nostalgia he currently felt himself engulfed in did enough in inspiring him to speak about his former master.

"Strict. Imposing. Bit moody at times, honestly." He began, chuckling at the last part. He glanced over to Ultear, and felt his smile leave him at the sight of her vacant expression. Which reminded him…

"Erm...what do you remember of Ul?" He asked cautiously, nervous about her answer.

"Almost nothing. My memory of my time with her was repressed entirely. I knew her only to be an enemy. Even now, all I know was that she loved me." Ultear said.

Gray felt slightly sick. He had known more about Ul more than her daughter ever had for the longest time. He felt as though he intruded on something private, like he was a dirty secret of sorts. The mental reminder that he'd also repressed memories of his biological parents along with Ultear's seemingly nonchalant tone unnerved him even further.

Desperate to play off the self-disgust he felt, he tried to change the direction of the topic.

"She was one tough teacher, I should tell you. She disciplined Lyon and I us like crazy. A couple times he and I joked about-"

"No. I know she was more than that to you." Ultear cut him off, the smallest hints of a sad smile tugging at her lips.

"I-what do you m-mean?" Gray stammered. Ultear turned her head towards him.

"She was like a mother to you." She said softly, her face lit up in a kind, warm glow. Gray felt his heart skip several beats.

Was it true? Sure, he had revered Ur for the longest time, and was incredibly loyal to her. He felt as though he carried a part of Ur everywhere he had gone, even after he had joined up Fairy Tail. Starting with his own sworn rival, Natsu, Gray took every challenge he had ever received from opponents as an opportunity to proudly honor her. He considered every instance of mockery from others of his Maker Magic, even in the heat of battle, as a direct insult to Ur.

When he and Natsu were both thirteen, they had gotten into a particularly serious fight that had started from a simple conversation about parents. Gray had told Natsu a bit about his training with Ur, and how she had him train half-naked in the cold. Natsu had made the unforgivable mistake in casually joking about how Ur must have been some creepy pedophile, and found a fist in his face a mere second later. The fight that ensued was among their worst and most violent ever, and only ended after Laxus and Mirajane physically forced the two apart, with Mirajane breaking her fingers in the process. Gray gave Natsu the silent treatment for a whole month afterwards.

Was that really how most sons honored their mothers after their passing? Surely not, Gray thought. But what about his time with Ur itself?

His mind reeled back to those memories that seemed beyond distant. He remembered Ur's touch. How, after each and every difficult training session from hell she put him and Lyon though, she'd softly tend to their wounds. How she'd travel to town alone, bearing the fierce storms that plagued the region, to buy the ingredients for Gray's and Lyon's favorite soups. How she'd remain a shoulder to cry on those nights he awoke from nightmares about Deliora slaughtering his friends and family.

God, he missed her so much.

Gray felt a wave of sorrow and regret engulf him. He hadn't felt this pathetic since the time seventeen years ago, when Ur sacrificed herself.

"I...I didn't mean to-" Ultear began, seeing the unshed tears in Gray's eyes.

"No, it's fine. I'm fine." Gray lied, wiping a thumb underneath his eyes. "In some respects, yeah, she was like a mom. One of the few crutches I had in my life."

"I understand. I was just curious, that's all." Ultear said quickly, nervous that she'd prodded too far.

Gray found himself quite thankful for the silence that followed. He was not the type to go for heart-to-heart talks.

After taking a silent swallow, Ultear reached for his hand, giving it slow circle rubs with her thumb.

Gray felt his heart skip a beat and subconsciously shut his eyes tightly, tears leaking out. "I'm fine," he urged while bowing his head, wondering who the hell he was trying to convince of that.

"I know you are." Ultear whispered, leaning her head against his.

The two stayed like that for another minute. Gray suddenly realized their near nakedness and flushed with embarrassment.

'I…uh…" he started, moving away and standing up.

"Hmm?" Ultear raised her head and turned to look at him, her eyes soft.

"Back to work?" Gray asked.

Ultear blinked. "Are you sure?"

Gray raised his eyebrows and nodded, trying to play it off as an obvious answer while not being rude. She contemplated him for a few moments, studying his features. Gray suddenly felt more naked than he ever did in his life. Ultear licked her lips, and Gray felt his face flush.

"Alright. Back to work." She called, reverting to her strict tone.

"Sweet." Gray said, raising his arm to cover his very obvious blush. 'Pervert,' Gray mentally scolded himself.

"Seeing as your conditioning is in need of some serious work, we won't be focusing on magic-based exercises for the time being. Every day for the next two weeks will consist of endurance regiments. Your physical endurance, as you know, is directly tied to-"

"Magical stamina." Gray finished for her, feeling the heat leave his face.

"Yeah. Luckily, the cold helps make such exercises much more efficient. I'm sure you're feeling the difference already." Ultear said.

"No. I feel like crap." Gray said with a half-pleading tone.

Ultear sighed, before mentally slapping herself. She was here to coach Gray, not to dote on him.

"Get up. We're going for another four hour sprint. You've rested enough." She ordered.

"You're freaking kidding me. Are you the devil?" Gray said while staring wide-eyed at her.

"You heard me!" Ultear called as she took off. "I'll make you go completely nude all day for the next two days if I see you slacking!"

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