Epilogue

A few weeks had gone by since Gray and the others returned to the guild after the entire emotion potion debacle on Galuna Island and things had become relatively normal again. Master Makarov was more or less amused with what transpired during the time before Gray's discovery of the potion whereupon he took on a more sympathetic look for the ice mage once he got down to the more difficult parts. The First Master looked rather normal if the ravenette had to give a word for what her reaction to all of this was, but they both had given him guiding words to help mend his strained heart. It had been a bit of a struggle for the ice mage to actually get over the fact that he chose to give up on forming any relationship with anybody, although he was glad he still had his friends around.

This was well and good but in the few weeks that followed since he recounted the story for the masters, Gray had begun to notice that he and his blonde team mate had been subconsciously keeping their distances. He fully knew that he'd try to sort out his own personal reserves of what happened with Lucy, but he noticed over time that the blonde had been growing closer with Natsu in the meantime. No, he wasn't calling her unfaithful or a contradictor to her own words as he gave her the freedom to do what she liked, but if this is what she wants then he wouldn't bother her. Though he tried not to let it bother him so much, he couldn't lie that a part of him wished that it were them like that instead. Still, he didn't pay so much attention to it as he worried over a certain white haired girl whose pain could be seen if you looked at her with a critical eye.

Lisanna herself still strived to get Natsu to notice her ever since the incident, but as she tried it seemed that it didn't have much of an effect. It didn't mean she was giving up, it's more of a standing point that she needed to try harder. Gray could no doubt tell that the effort the animal soul mage was giving would grow over time, but he also knew that she would slightly waver at the sight of the two. In the time that Lucy would hang around with Natsu and Happy, Gray would come over to speak with Lisanna to cheer her up and it left a warm spot within him to see her smile at his attempts. It was rather surprising for others to see him take an active enough role at making conversation with people since he made people come to him, so it was a refreshing sight to see.

The ice mage was more or less growing fond of Lisanna as he became closer friends with her when she was available to speak with and a part of him felt bad for their past. Gray would sometimes berate himself for not speaking with her when they were younger as there was an unlikely friendship the two could've shared. In any case, the ravenette would find himself cheering up the young Strauss from time to time when she was feeling blue and he'd give her a quick genuine smile when he knew that it was working. Speaking of blue, things between him and a certain water mage have slowly, but surely become much smoother since their rocky interaction back on Galuna.

It was awkward at first since many of their fellow guildmates heard Juvia call him by a new honorific, but nobody seemed to mind later on and accepted it. It was actually by the first week since he came back that he learned that those weird problems Natsu would get himself into stopped happening. Juvia had no idea what he was talking about when he asked her and Gray couldn't come to care much about what the pink haired slayer did to get himself in weird types of situations. Going back to the relationship he had with Juvia, Gray would be hanging out with her more so than before and the ice mage found that she was a rather fun person to be around. Even if he flat out said that a romantic relationship could not happen between them, the ravenette felt comfortable knowing that he was right when he believed they would be better off as friends. Even so, he had to give kudos to a one heck of a drinker that set him up with the right way to handle the final end of his problem.

Cana had been right when she advised him to speak to the others and fix the damage he had done, but their own relationship hadn't really changed much aside from the casual flirt she would try to squeeze in when they talked from time to time. The ice mage had to give credit to the card mage since he didn't expect her to be very quick on the up take to win him over, now that she was sure that she wanted to be with him. Even though Gray himself was still unsure of where he should stand on the subject between him and Cana. After all that had happened between them, the potion made it seem that they grew even closer together which, to Gray, was almost on the level of when he had asked the brunette to be his girlfriend. Alas, this wasn't the same case with a certain red haired armored woman that Gray knew very well.

To the public eye, there wasn't anything that would tell them that Erza and Gray's bond was any different since they acted normally with each other, but they were wrong. It was all an illusion that was in place for others to see as the ice mage was more than aware of this fortified feeling he'd get when he was around the armored woman, like a small barrier between them that he couldn't seem to pass. The requip mage did not regress to her old ways of sealing herself away from the guild, rather she created this unknown barrier which opened a rift between Gray and her. A part of Gray's heart clenched at the thought that she had learned to only guard herself from that which will hurt her and he had made the list, but wouldn't fall to its sadness and he saw it as a better form of her self preservation tactics advancing.

Pain was an evident thing he felt when Erza would come around or if it was just them two, whether left alone with each other or the others were too distracted to get them out of speaking was all the same to garner silence. The red head seemed to be fine with what happened in the end and his apology back at the docks of Galuna, but Gray knew that Erza was someone who needed time to heal; just like he did. It was a pain he was willing to bear for her sake and did everything in his power to let her know that he understood what she was doing.

Gray nor anyone else may have realized it then, but things would only grow darker in time as the life of the guild they knew was going to experience the eclipse of their bright sun, the flames of Hell raining down upon them and a war that will strain them to their very limit.

~Two months after Galuna~

The situation between Lucy and her spirits was quite worrisome as the familiarity they all shared with them had been perverted by the residue of the Eclipse Gate. No one had expected for her spirits to rebel and though the damage was minimal, it still caused a strain on the blonde who feared for her spirits to no end.A fight to save the friends she cared about was on for the celestial mage and Gray, along with their guild mates, were willing to help bring them back. The ice mage was tasked with sealing away Cancer and he couldn't lie that he was a bit glad he wasn't in charge of searching for Loke ,even though his "fight" had him do something so embarrassing as dancing. In any case, he and the lion spirit had fallen on bad terms since he declined becoming an item with Lucy and knew that if it was coming down to blows to save Loke's life, then they'd both end up bloody heaps before the day was done. Luckily for him or so he guesses, Natsu had been tasked with bringing Loke back, for what reason aside from hurting Lucy was unclear to Gray, although it was only natural for the hot head to be a hero these days in the ice mage's opinion.

Through a long series of battles and a final boss battle with the Eclipse King, Fairy Tail had come out victorious and brought Lucy's spirits back from the brink of their deaths, although he expected the few looks of disdain when they were all together with Lucy. Many of them claim to have no memory of the events that had transpired, but Loke had braved himself to speak with Gray in private to say that they had lied. The lion spirit explained that the eclipse revealed the complete opposite of who they truly were and the forms they had taken were permanent, but had control over which form they wanted to take. Gray was of course skeptical at first as to why he told him this rather than Lucy as she was his master and Loke admitted that the ice mage was a trusted friend he could go to for help.

The ice mage was actually surprised by that claim as he never thought that Loke still considered him much of a trusted friend, so he only thought himself as just a friend on a low pedestal. It took time for Gray to actually find the words he wanted to say to Loke, mainly struggling with the fact that they could've gone back to talking to each other some time ago if they weren't so stubborn.

A long conversation soon followed with the gist of it being that Loke was regretful for acting so brash against Gray and that the other spirits would like to apologize for their behavior. Not Aquarious of course as she held too much pride to apologize to a stripper like him, Loke had repeated the mermaid's words to show he had no say in what she believed. In the end Gray gave his honest opinion of the matter and informed Loke that Lucy had a right to know what really happened. It was by the thanks he received from the blonde in the days following that he knew that the strawberry blonde finally spoke to Lucy, but their conversation at the time and the others down the line were short and continued to be so for the next few months.

Nothing really changed for them and would go on like so until the next major threat to their family would arise from the shadows.

~Four months after Galuna~

Sealed away fears and memories of a life long since dead began to haunt Gray as a threat to the magical world itself reared its ugly head in Earth Land. Fairy Tail was a magnet for trouble, but on the scale in which it was life or death for not only the guild, but Fiore wizards was a taller order than they've ever faced. During this time, Gray was exposed to a variant of ice magic the likes of which he had never seen before, but he'd also been exposed to the fact that the very demons he feared in secret were out there and making their move. It was a dark time for the ice mage and the guild as lives upon lives were being lost and a betrayal so unforeseen had left them nearly crippled at the hands of the enemy. Hardships were laid abound for many of Fairy Tail, but the weight of loss was far greater for the ice mage and Natsu. The latter never discovering the true origin of the unbelievable power his best friend would later on acquire, but gaining it was what tore Gray at his heart.

He fought a figure that loved him, that cared for him, that wanted nothing more than to make sure he lived a peaceful life before it was all taken away from him in a single night. Gray fought the one man he shed tears for as he stared at his lifeless body in front of him, merely moments after his mother's sacrifice to save him when he was just a little boy. Fate had a disgusting sense of humor and no matter how hard the ice mage fought, no matter how much he proved that he had a reason to live, he could not bring himself to kill his own father. Though this feeling was not only felt by him as other people were made aware of his pain.

Juvia could feel the danger Gray was in and although the two weren't going to be romantically involved anymore, she still created a special bond with the ice mage that wavered with danger. It was only when she received a telepathic message from an unknown individual to defeat Keyes did she discover the greatest act of betrayal she would ever do to Gray. Although Juvia was not aware of the fact that she wasn't the first to receive this message as one had been sent out to Erza, the requip mage only regarding it as a voice of encouragement in her mind to defeat her opponent, Kyoka, and do her best to move on and protect the people she cared about. In that instance she could have sworn an image of Gray had popped up in her mind, followed by a soft chuckle before it disappeared into the ether of her mind as she fought against her foe.

Across from these battles where a majority of Fairy Tail was fighting, Cana breathed in some air as she was becoming exhausted with all the magic expenditure she was doing fighting off Tartaros' forces. Until a voice rang out in her head amongst all the chaos to thank her, she immediately questioned who it was and was only responded with a light hearted chuckle before it spoke again. The voice had explained that he was grateful to her for saving his son from the darkest depths of his inner demons and showing him the love he had been robbed of when he was younger. The brunette tried her best to understand what he was talking about, mainly who it was even talking to her through telepathy, until the next couple of words gave it away.

The voice thanked her one more time before it began to fade and asked her one last favor; to watch over Gray for him and his mother. It dawned on the card mage that she received words from the ice mage's father and knew that wherever he was now was taking its toll on him and she worried for what would happen next. Her love for him wouldn't allow her to fall to the enemy, but she herself knew that her strength wouldn't be able to save Gray. In the end she could only rely on her family and any of their friends who were closer to him to save him on her behalf.

Those had been their thoughts as Gray solemnly watched his father disappear before his very eyes into particles, his tears slowly falling to the destroyed rubble at his feet. Though it was the moment in which his father had left him his power that the ravenette walked with purpose to eliminate the one being causing his family pain. Even the likes of Tempester, the Etherious giving even Gajeel a hard time, was no match for his new power and determination as Gray cut him down with a single attack. Nothing was going to hold the newly christened devil slayer back as every step he took brought him closer to ending the pain for everyone.

After a gruelling battle against Mard Geer with Natsu at his side, Gray couldn't come to find the peace he was searching for once the Tartaros leader had been defeated. It didn't help anything once Zeref had arrived to take the book of E.N.D. away from his hands, the demon his father had entrusted him to destroy. Though the end result of all their fighting was not met with any happy ending as Master Makarov had decided to disband the guild and Gray was not one to oppose the idea outwardly. That same night, he had packed some of his belongings and headed out for Isvan well before anyone knew what he was doing.

Except for Juvia who had intercepted him on his way towards the train station and allowed her to tag along with him in the end. A decision he would never come to regret as she was the saving grace he needed to show him that his nightmares, his fears, his doubts were finally put to rest. That the young boy who was trapped behind his ice with his guilt and sadness was allowed to be free, was allowed to know some of his pain was over.

Gray didn't know if Juvia was aware that the ice mage she knew was a facade shielding an eight year old boy that wanted to shun the world for what it has done to him, but was thankful to have her with him at his parents' grave. Just by her being there, like a symbol that he was no longer alone in the world, brought him peace that had eluded him so many times over with the exception of his time with Cana.

The ice mage felt her warmth, the warmth of someone that cared for him and understood that though platonic their relationship will be, Juvia would be there for him. This was once again a moment where he found that piece that had been missing from him, a time where he could truly be himself since his arrival to Fairy Tail, though it wouldn't last long for him. His life had later on become one of a spy amongst a cult wanting to bring about Zeref six months from that day and he would even later become a freedom fighter against the might of the Alvarez Empire. That war was a defining moment for the ice mage, forever engraved in his memory as the worst time of his life and the placeholder of his greatest regret.

~Three years after Galuna~

Gray put down the latest issue of Sorcerer's Magazine on the tree stump he was sitting next to as he had gone through most of the articles and news about the wizarding world. He was quite surprised to see the major headliner as "Fairy Tail's Cutest Couples" mainly centering around the ones he had foreseen like Gajeel and Levy, Elfman and Evergreen along with Mirajane and Laxus. What he hadn't expected were the shots centering on the biggest talk of them all of Lisanna and Natsu with a few suggested sprinkles of Wendy and Romeo. The ice mage had to give editors credit that they do have good hooks to get people to read, but in the end he was truly happy for both girls.

Fairy Tail had been through so much that it was great to see the happy smiles everyone wore greatly captured in photos and the blushing faces of those who noticed the cameras at the last second. There had been one article centered around Fairy Tail that really brought a warm smile on his face which focused on the guild's new S-Class mage; Cana Alberona. According to the past issues, she hadn't really focused on partaking in the trials until this year where she had succeeded with flying colors. A part of Gray was proud of her now that she had finally achieved her dream, even though Gildarts was well aware of her daughter status to him.

The guild was doing great, everyone was making a life of their own now that a new peace had come and their lives seemed great. Amongst all those thoughts, the ravenette's nostalgic smile faded away as he wasn't around to enjoy those moments with them. It was a surreal feeling he had knowing that it had been two years since the war with Alvarez and yet he was holding on to a past he wouldn't be able to go to again. This was his sin to carry and he couldn't complain about it to anyone as he brought this upon himself, but he'd be lying if he said that it didn't bother him a bit. He's got a few other sins that weigh heavily on him, so what's one more on his shoulders going to do? Or so he tells himself to deal with it when he's stuck thinking about his old friends from time to time.

"Master Gray, how long do I have to keep doing this!?" A young voice called out, her brunette hair swaying with the cold wind as she was still set up in her Ice Make stance.

"Until you can create a shield strong enough to withstand one of my snowballs, Yuki!" Gray called back as he made his way over towards his student, very much impressed with her progress since she first came.

"That's not fair, your snowballs can go through a wall." The little ice mage-in-training complained as her teacher stood next to her, removing his cloak and shirt as he took a similar stance like her.

"Guess I'll have to keep teaching you. Now mimic my movements alongside me and focus, I'll teach you the steps but you've got to put in your own power."

Yes this is where his life now resides, not in a guild filled with people he considered as his family after the loss of two prior ones, but on the outskirts of New Deliora. Living once again in his home country of Isvan with his brand new student who sought him out across the expanse of this cold country. His time in Fairy Tail was over, his time as a respected mage done with and the people he cared about none the wiser of who he is. He is a mere stranger to them; nothing more, nothing less.

What else could the ravenette expect after being branded a traitor to Fairy Tail and banished by order of Master Makarov and Mavis from the guild. Although he was considered a fallen fairy by Mavis herself, the ice mage knew this is where he now belonged.

Nonetheless, Gray will always care about the people he loves even if he no longer is one of them and hopes the best for them. This is the life he now leads, his life as the one who's isn't there walking alongside Fairy Tail; his family.

A/N: Better late than never for an epilogue, but here it is. To be honest my second fic can be a stand alone, but it first started out as my idea for a continuation of this fic although in that one there won't be a focus on romance. Yes TOWIT is like a sequel and not a sequel to this story, but I wanted things to tie together in the end like I originally planned on my "concept board" of how EPandAIM would flow. For that guest reviewer that caught those bits of info, yes I am saying that and to know somewhat more about it, I ask that you read my second fic. That goes for anyone else who wishes to see what lays in store for Fairy Tail, Gray and his student. Feels weird to push the complete button again, but I wanted to post this in the end. Hope you enjoyed it as this truly concludes Emotion Potion and an Ice Mage.