Fairy 11: Vs Gary Fullbuster

Fairy 11: Vs Gary Fullbuster (Re-Edited)

At the training grounds of Fairy Tail's guild, Zack looked at the topless boy. As he makes a greatsword made of ice and throw it at him. Zack catches it with his right hand, and lean it against his shoulders, feeling the chilling ice against his topless skin.

That is right, Zack loves to be fair, and only wearing his pants and leather shoes.

"You ready?" Gray said as he made himself ice gauntlets.

"You're going hand to hand huh." Zack said, thinking about throwing his sword away, and matching with Gray with his bare hands. However, Gray saw through that.

"Do not think about throwing it away, and I know these gauntlets are useless with your magic. But, in the future I may or not face people stronger than me in this kind of situation, that why no holding back, okay?" Gray said as he smashed his gauntlets together.

Gray knows the guy before him has more talent than he has. However, in the last few months of him knowing this. Gray did try to change Zack's mind. But no matter how much he tired to change this carefree dense guy. He wouldn't change.

That is why, since he cannot change Zack's mindset that way. Gray and the others, began to change their plans of becoming stronger themselves, after all, if they become stronger, Zack has no choice to become stronger as well.

It not like Gray doesn't understand why Zack is holding himself back. He happened to overheard Zack and Natsu not long ago, how Zack himself didn't want to go too far away from them.

And this made Gray, and the others feel shamed of themselves. Of course, they did told Zack not to mind it. And yet again… Zack is also very stubborn when it comes to his brotherly instincts… and refused to listen about it.

"You know, it is surprising. Just a year ago. A clueless guy that doesn't know anything had join the guild. However, that guy's knowledge about magic is amazing. Yet, Zack, that very guy, who doesn't know anything. Changed so much within such a year. I wonder what made him change that much, no what I want to know, what made you change so much, to the point, you feel like a whole different person, compared when you just join our guild." Gray said.

Gray Fullbuster is a laid-back guy, who may seems lazy, but he is the kind of guy that when he gets serious, he gets serious. But another thing to note about Gray, he has more talent as a detective than a wizard, with his perception skills of his.

Hearing Gray said that. Zack only could show a wryly smile and said: "Honestly… I don't really understand it myself. But I know I still have much to learn. I mean, I still don't fully understand this harem thing. I know it has something to do with lovers and females, right?"

"You… Because of you, I was denied by Natsu to join his harem… the moment he said that I felt chills down my back, thank you very much! When I thought he sees me like that… I felt I need to run away from Fairy Tail, no from Fiore itself! Well… thankfully, that guy soon forget about it. Well, a lot change this year, least you don't get naked anymore." Gray went with a sigh recalling the last year.

"Hahaha, if you want, I can get naked, I don't mind being seen." Zack said with a grin.

"No one wants to see you naked!!" Gray yelled.

"You're no fun… anyway, Gray, your clothes." When Zack said that, out of habit, Gray looked down. Thinking he must had removed his clothing to until his boxers again. However, as Gray looked down, seeing he still wearing his pants, a sigh left Gray mouth. Only to look back at Zach, who was about to smash the greatsword's handle into Gray's face!

"Don't look away or be fooled in middle of a battle, Gray!" Zack roared, as he smashes the greatsword's handle towards Gray, which bounced backwards, as Gray guarded with his gauntlets. However, Zack used the movement of being forcedly sent backwards, span around, only to slash his sword at Gray's side.

Seeing the second incoming attack. Gray leaped to the side, and sent a kick towards Zack, who stabbed the greatsword into the ground. To stop his own movements, and reraised his icy greatsword to block Gray's kick.

Seeing his kick attack failed. Gray then throw jabs with his gauntlets at Zack. Seeing the multi attacks thrown by Gray's punches. Almost like he can see every movement of his. Zack dodges all of Gray's jabs, and leaped into the air, which Gray sees that, and also ran after him, trying not to get any distance between them.

Of course, Gray could use range attacks with his Ice Maker magic. However, that wasn't the point of this spar. The point was close combat and used to a fighting style that Gray can used when he runs out of magical power.

This is Zack's idea, which Gray agreed to. In truth, it always been Zack giving advice lately when it comes to magic, martial arts. Even when he first arrived at the guild, he wasn't suited of giving any advice… and yet, in just a year, that also felt ten years for some reason, Zack begun giving advice to Gray and the others.

Gray and even Zack himself thought this is strange. How can they not? After all, in just a year, Zack's personality has completely changed. It is like two different people compared when Zack just joins Fairy Tail, until now, after a year he had joined Fairy Tail.

'Does those feelings left from those dreams effecting me… or is it these people from Fairy Tail…?' Zack thought, as he slashed his greatsword at Gray, who dodged and counterattacked him.

There are three factors behind Zack's abnormal change, which two out of three is already guessed by Zack himself. It is true those emotions from those dreams he always seems to forget or unknowingly make himself forget them. Is one factor.

The second factor behind Zack's change of personality that is Faily Tail, and the people within the guild has influence Zack's change. However, the third, which the most important factor among his sudden change of personality and maturity, is the Zack's long-forgotten cheat. Growth Rate.

One may think this only replies to training only. But it also applies to studying, and even the developing of a person. It is a cheat that quickly evolves a person to their next level. Be it physical, magical, or even mentally. This is the power of Growth Rate. A cheat that strengthens both the mind and body.

While the two clashing their sword and gauntlets. A dark brown-haired girl looks over their fight, while drinking a bottle of wine that someone had gifted to her. Cana Alberona her name is, as she looked at the two fought with amusement, while sensing someone heading her way, which was Makarov the third master of the guild himself.

"Ho, Master! Want a drink? Zack has given me it, saying sorry he did not offer me to go with them for a feast the other day." Cana said, looking at Makarov with slightly redden cheeks, shame enough. She is not shy, just slightly drunk.

"Cana, how Zack and Gray doing?" Makarov went, as he looked at both of them.

"Fine, it seems like it impossible to hit Zack like always. Once he sees how you fight, it like he can see in the future. It scary, you know?" Cana said, as she did indeed fight with Zack once, and it not a nice feeling when your opponent knows every move you made.

"Hahaha, he truly has a talent in fighting like Natsu, speaking which… I wonder where is that brat?" Makarov asked himself.

"Hmm, I think he, Happy and Lisanna are playing together. Mirajane and Elfman are preparing for going out to their mission soon." Cana said taking another sip of her wine.

"Hmm, I see." Makarov said, still looking at the two boys that clashing into each other.

"I am going to invite Zack to the S-Rank trails this year… but I get a feeling he will not be interested in a higher rank. He has the talents but has no drive to used them. He has what it takes to become a S-Rank if he tried harder, he does now. But he liked this life, I do not blame him. I just… do not want him to blame himself in the future when anything happens. Life does not go the way we want it. And not to mention, it is a shame if such talent never gets to bloom." Makarov said.

"Yeah… but I get a feeling he be fine. I do not know why I know, but I do Master. Say, Master, I had heard him you know, when he sleeps." Cana said, still looking at Zack when she said that.

"You notice huh… well, you the one that normally makes him drink until he passes out anyway." Makarov said with a sighed, as he heard a laugh from Cana herself.

"Yeah… it scary you know. Seeing him frighten, but also… listening to him when he sleeps… it is strange. But the moment he wakes up, it like he sealed them inside him… one day, those emotion will trigger something. And I got a bad feeling when it does. Even my cards shown makes me feared that day." Cana went, as she remembers using hers tarot cards.

"What you mean?" Makarov asked, knowing if tarot cards are fully mastered, they can be a fearsome kind of magic that can see in the future.

"Death… the reversed fool… reversed hermit… upright tower and… reversed judgement… those are the cards I played when I want to see into his future." Cana said, knowing the meaning of these five cards.

Even if Makarov knows a little about that magic, least he knows each card meanings, or how they placed. Death of upright, can be not just mean a death of a person, but a project or something like that. But the reversed fool and hermit fits the current Zack.

Encounter with an unfinished self. Most likely the dreams he been having, is the reversed fool. And holding back from evolving, the reversed hermit. Since Zack is really holding back his talents.

But the upright tower, a disaster has been or about to hit him. And reversed judgment worries Makarov the most.

"Master, I may be wrong, I am new and still learning about tarot cards!" Cana said, seeing the guild Master's face becoming serious.

"Hahaha, you may be right… but it cannot hurt… it seems I need to find this Cult of God… and that Status person." Makarov felt even more rage towards the entity that does not even exist. However, shame no one can point that out.

But Makarov immediately thought those cult guys may be looking for Zack, that he needs to be ready for them, and destroy them once they appear.

Of course, due to the tarot card issue, Makarov forgot to informed Zack about the S-Rank trails…