What an exciting chapter! I am really concerned about the well-being of our partner! Erza is badly hurt and Gray too! I hope that together they can recover (maybe another night sleeping together is the cure hahahaha, I'm sorry I want more love between them hee hee)
Regards!

Oh, my God! This is what I had waited for so long! Gray succumbing to the charms of Erza and Erza fighting their feelings! The approaches between them are really adorable, I am excited to read them! I really want to get into the story and put their heads together and say "kiss now!" LOL
Thank you for giving us this beautiful story and for not abandoning it, I have been here for a long time waiting for its chapters and you have not disappointed me, keep it up!

I adored this chapter, I could imagine the whole scene and it was great.
The approach between Gray and Erza was subtle and that made him adorable, it is really exciting to see how the feelings between them are gradually taking place. The break between Gray and Juvia was very well done, that is, there was no unnecessary drama, that was very good! I'm your fan!
Sorry if my English is bad, but I am using the translator so I can give you my support.

Well, the second half of the battle didn't disappoint! Erza being smart (and fighting through incredible pain), Natsu being Natsu, and Charle and Happy both being able to contribute to their victory through teamwork - I really like the effort you put in to make it feel so much like an authentic Fairy Tail battle, plus with real danger. If I had to say something negative, it would be that I find the constant shifts in perspective to be quite dizzying, but then it's supposed to be chaotic, so it makes perfect sense really.
Also, I am loving the mystery. To be honest, you could get rid of all the romance and the drama and I would still be reading this story just for the pure intriguing adventure. (Though you may have to put up a warning note when you get close to the big reveal/finale so that I can go back and re-read the entire thing, because I can't remember much from more than about three chapters ago and I don't think I'd be able to fully appreciate it...)
The scene with Erza and Gray was well done. "He wanted to talk business. She was good at business." What a great way of referencing the new (slight) awkwardness in their relationship without having one or the other acting out of character.
Also, you are absolutely correct, it cannot be fanfiction of an anime without a beach chapter, so I am totally looking forward to the next chapter!

Ha ha ha. I like Erza’s confidence.

Gray- "So you aren't going to look for answers?"

Erza- "I am going to find answers."

I’m gonna have to use that in real life. Now I’m al curious about Zitel. I’m sure she’s gonna show up again, but what does she know? And the fact that no one seems to have records? It’s like only FT has ever sent questers. That scene with the wooden swords was pretty original. Very smart using the ox’s powers like that. Now I’m dying to know what was up with her?! I feel like I should be taking notes, cuz now there’s even a mysterious third (fourth? Fifth?) party involved. I love a good mystery.

Will review properly when you post the other half of the chapter but just wanted to say that I love how you can spend a few chapters writing emotional and dramatic and angsty relationship drama, and then turn around and produce such a tense fight scene. It is not fair that you are so good at writing everything!

I hope you didn’t forget Gray still has his Demon-Slaying Magic. Still probably would have been useless but going all out, constitutes using everything.

I've got to admit, the NaLu was the highlight of this chapter for me! Natsu's anguish when he couldn't find her, and then when he did... it was so sweet to see her acting goofy over him! I am so glad they're together now, since it means adorable moments like this!
It did edge out the Grayza for me, but that's just because I'm not a fan of the trope (sorry, personal thing!). That being said, it's such an *Erza* thing to have happen that I'm surprised it took you 19 chapters to get it into the story haha. And I LOVED Erza's inner monologue. 'Just one night where I can pretend that this can be real'. Beautiful... and so painful. Misunderstandings, pining and angst indeed. I did have to laugh at the awkwardness when they woke up, though. Looking forward to see how things are going to escalate, because Erza's insistence on 'just one night' is not fooling anyone...
Though, of course, the character who stole this chapter was Happy.

Huh. I’ve been reading FT fics since I first started watching way back in 2014 or 15, and I do t think I’ve seen one scene where they get caught in a avalanche. You’d think with all the potential possibilities with Gray’s magic, there’d be more of these. Oh well, guess you’re the first one to think of doing one. I had a story idea of them getting caught in one that separated Gray and Lucy from the rest of the team. Not a romance fic. Just two friends trying to survive for each other. Maybe I’ll get around to writing that someday. So I loved how Gray took charge during this expedition. Who better to lead a team through the snow than the guy who grew up in it? I liked the shuttle details you threw in, such as wearing dark goggles and taking water breaks. Lot of people forget to drink water in the winter months. Erza was so cute thinking she contributed to their survival. Way to build her up, Gray.

Pretty cool chapter, pun intended of course. ;)

Hmm, are my eyes deceiving me, or do i spot a Natsu experiencing doubt and weakness for the first time in his decade of existence? That was pretty nice to see, seeing the shonen nature crack a little. The little moment between him and Gray is short for sure, but definitely speaks far more about them than what what we can read. I appreciate that.

Then we have their little expedition going wrong almost immediately. Poor Gray, first time he leads one of these things and forces outside of his control mess everything up. He'll likely be hesitant to ever take point again after this disaster, regardless of the fact that it wasn't anything to do with him.

Eyyy, the last few scenes here. I can tell this was what you've been dying to write for a while. There's a fair amount of attention to detail here, and of course we can't forget about Erza's haphazard plan for surviving the night. The fact that she didn't outright deny reading what's likely the equivalent of Icha Icha would almost make me assume that she's a pervert if it wasn't for the fact that she isn't the type to act that way. Meh, that was humerus eitherway. XD

Oh and we get more signs of Erza slowly realising her own emotional predicament involving the icy boi she was snuggled up to like a teddy bear. I can sense more drama down the line given how awful these two are at communicating.

overall, very entertaining and a nice surprise.

-Viperhat

Erza is hilarious. You're brilliant at writing her, and it never fails to amaze me how you can make me laugh and cry and then back to laughter in the same chapter. That final farewell scene between Juvia and Gray was just so beautiful. Her words haunt me. I truly hope she does find her own sunshine!
Loved the wedding too. I'm always up for a good GaLe scene, but I like how it wasn't just a random fun tangent for everyone's favourite side-pairing, but a pivotal moment for all the relationships in the story. As Gajeel and Levy were affirming their future together, Gray and Juvia and Erza and Jellal were also making their final decisions about what to leave behind and what they were going to be going forward... I just thought it worked really well. (Also, 'remember you already married him' had me in hysterics. Don't give up your true passion for anyone, Gajeel...)
Still, now that Gray's finally made his decision about Juvia, and with literally everyone else getting together around them, I'm really hoping he and Erza might start to make some progress! Looking forward to seeing what's coming next!

"He was, for maybe the first time since he was a boy, unencumbered by the leaden weight of responsibility."

I think that line best encapsulates the entire chapter. Everyone here today learnt to let go, and that's a life lesson for all.

There were a lot of highs and lows here, and I think you did a great job weaving everything together. Especially the lows. Now, maybe it's light-hearted, but it's the kind I like. I wouldn't mind seeing more of it, but I won't mind more plot!

I think the highlight of this chapter, for me, was Erza and everything she does. They're all idiots, but she's especially an idiot and I cannot wait to see what she does next!

Love this story! Not really a Grayza fan, definitely a Jerza shipper but I can see a case being made for Grayza. My favorite couple is definitely NaLu, so I really love the scenes with them. Can’t wait for the next chapter!

YOU'RE BACK! I was so happy to see an update (well, two!) for this story! Though I will admit I wasn't expecting to come back to a chapter like the Juvia one, and 'enjoyable' might not be the right word for such a serious issue, but I did find it fascinating. I've never seen an interpretation of Juvia's character and her obsession with Gray done in quite that way before, but it works so well! I'm sure I've said this before, but I love the time you're investing into showing why the canon pairings haven't worked as well as building up the non-canon pairings. The Juvia chapter was proof that it can be every bit as interesting! Although I do worry that Juvia might now take it the opposite way, and come to associate dating Gray with relapsing into a depressive period... but hopefully with him supporting her through therapy, it won't end that way. I don't think I've ever wanted their friendship to survive as much as I do in this story haha.
And as for the second chapter you posted - well, it's everything I love about Fairy Tail, and you've managed to capture it perfectly as always. I was in hysterics throughout the worst-family bit. Absolutely brilliant. And poor, poor Lucy. I guess Natsu will always be Natsu, even if they are now dating... (though I'd be lying if I said I wasn't already looking forward to the NaLu moment promised in the next chapter...). Thank you so much for the update! Hoping for another one soon!

I cannot believe Natsu said "indeed." That is my takeaway from this chapter. But good use of Chekhov's gun again! I wouldn't have been surprised if they really had to wait 12 years, but I like this too xD

On another note, I'm grateful for Cana here. She gave Gray the WolFang treatment. Good shit as always. I half want to see Erza's date xD Alucarde is a very nice name for Draculon's son, as well. 10/10

I enjoyed this chapter, and am looking forward to the wedding! Oh, and now that the zine's out, you can go ahead and post the fics here.