What's this? Why, it's a new fanfic for your enjoyment. This one is set just after the Sun Village arc. Are you sitting comfortably? Good, let's begin! :p

Disclaimer: I don't own FT.

The Fairy Tail guild hall was rather peaceful on this fine afternoon which is why Lucy began getting concerned. Strutting over to the bar, she took a seat next to her loyal team mate and his trusted companion. Natsu was slouched over on the table top, resting his head on his arms whilst Happy chewed down on some fish.

"What's up with you?" Lucy questioned.

The pinkette took a deep sigh before responding. "Gray's out on a solo job and Gajeel went out on a mission with Levy. There's no one to fight with."

"What're you talking about?" Lucy rolled her eyes, chuckling slightly. "There's tons of people to fight. There's Elfman..."

"Already beat the crap outta him this morning."

"Well... What about Max, or Warren, or Macao and Wakaba?"

"You're joking right? They're not even a challenge."

Macao and Wakaba sighed from a nearby table. "Glad to know what he thinks of us..."

"If you wanted to get out and do something you should have just said so and we could have gone out on a job together."

"Well, it's too late for that now. Gray better be having a piss poor day too," Natsu grumbled before pushing his head up. "Lucy, fight me!"

"NO WAY!"

Gray sneezed as he walked alongside a carriage. To say he was having a piss poor day would be an understatement. The raven had been tasked with escorting the mayor of... Gray couldn't even remember where the guy was from. All he knew was that he was supposed to be acting as a bodyguard for this high and mighty figure which Gray highly doubted the man even needed. Nothing had happened and to top it all off, the mayor was making Gray walk the distance instead of ridding the carriage. If the ice wizard hadn't have been desperate for food money, he wouldn't have taken this job in the first place. The raven was quickly brought out of his thoughts when the prestigious old man popped his head out of the carriage window.

"Boy, I heard something amongst the trees," he stated, aggressively.

"It'll be the Forest Vulcans, Sir," Gray responded through gritted teeth. "This place is full of them."

Just as the words left his mouth, a Vulcan walked across the path ahead, baring no interest in the humans on their journey.

"There's one!" The mayor howled. "Go and kill it, Boy!"

"It's not even hostile!" The ice wizard retorted. "Why would I attack it when we're the ones intruding its home?"

"Do you want the reward money?"

Groaning at his employer, Gray sluggishly made his way deeper into the forest to find the Vulcan the mayor was so set on killing.

"What is human doing in Vulcan home?" The green Gorian roared.

"Look, my client is trying to get back to his village and he's a bit anxious with you and your buddies walking around the place. Could you just keep off the path way while I'm escorting him home?" Gray grumbled.

"Human dare keep me and family away from home," the Vulcans huge fist swung down and made contact with Gray's chest. The creature then stormed off in a grump.

Gray sighed before pulling himself back onto his feet. At least the slight scratches on his abdomen and torso made his story of killing the beast more convincing. He returned to his client and nodded before ushering the carriage to continue down the path. Jeez, Gray thought, going on a job with Natsu would have been better than this.

A few days earlier, in the snowy continent of Isvan, the dark guild Five Bridge Familia were going about their usual business. It has only been a week since the devoted members had broken their guild master, Drum Bee, out of prison. The man had called a meeting together to deliver a speech to his trusted companions.

"Loyal members, it is thanks to you that I have been given the gift of freedom. It's been seventeen long years since Gildarts of the West and that stupid boy bested us, but we shall not let such a feat occur a second time. We are going to show this continent, no, this whole world the fear of Five Bridge Familiar. We are going to…" He came to an abrupt halt when the door to the building creaked open.

A skinny figure strode through the double doors. They were wearing a black cloak which hid their face from the guild member's. This figure carried a staff in one of his bony hands and chimed with the slightest of movements. They spoke with a deep voice which was only just audible for everyone's ears. "Drum Bee," the figure addressed the murderer. "Do you know of a boy by the name of Gray Fullbuster?"

A flush of memories spread through the master's and guild members' minds. Drum nodded and let the figure continue.

"I want you to find him, kill him and deliver his corpse to me."

"And how do you plan on me doing that when I am unfamiliar with you?"

"My name is Keyes of the Nine Demon Gates. Deliver him to my guild hall and you will be rewarded your weight in gold."

A raven haired male, clad in armour, had been pacing through the streets of a small village in Isvan with a bouquet of flowers. Another mournful year had gone by without his beloved wife and son, but this time was different. Now when he visited the grave, the man scratched out the name of his only child. Silver still couldn't believe it. His son had been alive all this time. It wasn't possible; he had to be dreaming. Tears of joy and sadness flowed down his face like a river. Sure, it was all well and good that the boy was alive, but if only Silver had known about it sooner, maybe the pair wouldn't have to be apart and fighting on different sides of the spectrum. He wanted to rush into the arms of his son so badly, but doing so would only put his life at risk. His child had already suffered so much, he didn't want any more physical or mental wounds inflicted on him again. After neatly placing the flowers in front of his wife's grave and saying a silent prayer, Silver made his way back to the port in order to depart back to Ishgal. The man came to a shuddering stop when he heard the clinking of a staff that he despised with all of his might. He turned around to find the man, no, the demon he loathed making his way further and further into the continent. His demeanour was so suspicious that there was no way Silver could just brush the event by. Keeping his distance, the raven sidled along buildings, praying that his 'master' wouldn't catch him in the act. He followed the necromancer to a dark guild building and watched the skeleton walk inside.

"Do you know of a boy by the name of Gray Fullbuster?" Keyes questioned the dark guild master.

That was all Silver needed to hear. He took off running far away from the building. Keyes was trying to hurt Gray, his son. A thousand thoughts muddled through Silver's mind, desperate to help his child, but what could he do? Even with a single suspicious act and his master could un-animate him for a period of time. Maybe he could warn Gray? No. It was bad enough that the man went on trips to Isvan behind Tartarus' back, trying to show up at a legal guild would only get him into even more trouble. There was no guarantee that Gray would even believe him. All Silver could do was run home and pray for his son's safety.

After possibly one of the most annoying jobs of his wizarding career, Gray was trudging along the Eastern Forest back to his guild hall. His posture was very sluggish and the raven was more than ready to drink his problems away followed by his usual brawl with his rival. He yawned and continued down the path until…

His body froze.

Not literally of course, but figuratively. No longer having any control over his body, the raven fell to his knees as an immense amount of pressure was felt around his neck. His lungs screamed as he gasped for air. What the hell is happening? He thought and the invisible force grew stronger. A choked cry escaped his lips and he willed his arms to move up to his neck. That didn't work for obvious reasons and the limps remained firmly by his sides.

"Struggling is futile, Brat," a voice resonated throughout the forest and a giant-like figure along with five subordinates came into view.

Black spots began darting around the ice wizard's vision, though he could still just about make out who was looming over him. "Y-your," he croaked, breathlessly.

Drum Bee smiled at his subordinate's handy work as one of the five continued strangling the Fairy Tail wizard with his telekinesis. "Didn't think I'd stay locked up forever did you?"

Natsu was partaking in a heated argument with Happy about the tastiest kind of fish. The rest of his team were sat by their side, laughing at the pair whilst eating their own meals.

"Happy I'm telling you, the best kind of fish is…" Natsu rapidly brought himself to a stop. He could have sworn he'd heard something.

"Everything okay, Natsu?" Lucy asked, noticing the puzzled expression on his face.

The Salamander closed his eyes and focused only on his hearing. He could hear nothing besides the usual sounds of the guild hall. He was about to call it quits when he heard it; a choked cry coming from a voice that he recognised too well.

Gray

The Salamander darted out of his seat and made a mad dash towards the door.

"Natsu, where are you going?" Erza called, sharing a confused look with her friends.

"Just wait here!" He yelled back before running off into the Eastern Forest.

"Now we can do this the easy way or the hard way," one of the dark guild members stated.

"Agree to come with us and there will be no consequences," another insisted.

"I-I ai-n't goin' no-wh-where with y-you," Gray stuttered in barely more than a whisper. His ears had started ringing and his vision had fogged up due to lack of oxygen. If he didn't do something soon, well, let's just say that it wouldn't end well for Gray.

"Very well, if you're not will to obey, we shall take matters into our own hands," Drum Bee grinned, menacingly. He raised his arm and ordered the wizard to strangle Gray further. Gray cried out in pain as he felt his eye lids beginning to fall shut.

"GRAY!" A specific fire wizard roared, igniting his fists.

Drum Bee nodded to one of his guild members who then raised his arm and locked Natsu in the same death grip that took hold of Gray.

"Well then, would you be willing to negotiate now that your comrade's life is on the line?"

Gray didn't respond, he couldn't. However, the look in his eyes was all that was needed. There was no way he'd agree to go with them; he wouldn't bring himself to disgrace the guild like that.

Drum Bee sighed. "Why must we do things the hard way?" He muttered to himself before raising his hand.

A bright glint went off in front of Gray, causing him to force his eyes shut. What happened next came as a shock. Drum Bee set off an explosion right by the raven's torso causing several lacerations to spurt blood from his chest and arms. Gray cried out in pure agony as his now limp form flew back into the trees and bushes. Green turned to red as blood poured out of his open wounds... And all Natsu could do was watch.

"Bast-ard... You... Won't... Get away... With th...is," he stuttered though his lack of oxygen.

"You fool, we already have," Drum Bee chuckled before ordering one of his subordinates to dispose of the fire wizard.

The last thing Natsu saw before darkness took over was the sight of Gray, his rival, his friend, his brother, being dragged away by the enemy. I'm pathetic, he thought before falling into a forced sleep.

Woohoo! Chapter one is done! This fic won't have a specific update schedule and I'll just update whenever I have a new chapter ready. Hope you liked it so far and don't forget to follow so you know when I update again.

See ya next time! ;)