Year: X784 (Ryo 17, Gray 13, Mira 16, Erza 15, Cana 15, Lisanna 11, Elfman 13, Natsu 12, Happy just hatched, Levy 14)
⸻
Part I – Makarov's Orders
The morning after his last brutal session with Makarov, Ryo stood before the guild board. His body was still sore, knuckles split, ribs aching, but the shadows inside him felt… quieter.
Makarov joined him, staff in hand. "You're ready for the next step."
Ryo's eyes narrowed. "What's that?"
"Control in the field. Control when lives are at stake. It's one thing to obey me in training, another to stand steady with comrades depending on you."
He tapped the board, where a modest request glowed. "Escort mission. A caravan of traders headed through wildlands crawling with beasts. You won't go alone."
Gray appeared behind Ryo, smirking, arms crossed over his bare chest. "Guess I'm your babysitter."
Ryo scowled. "Babysitter? You'll be the one crying."
"Please, you couldn't land a hit on me even if you—"
"Enough," Makarov cut them off. "You two will go together. Erza will oversee from a distance, but won't interfere unless it's dire."
Erza appeared as if summoned, arms folded, her gaze stern. "If either of you loses control, I will step in."
Ryo felt his stomach twist. He hated the idea of being watched. But a part of him… was relieved.
⸻
Part II – Caravan Tension
The caravan was small: three wagons, six merchants. Nervous men with calloused hands who jumped at every howl in the woods.
Gray walked ahead, ice magic forming a spear in his hand. Ryo trailed behind, shadows weaving along his arms.
"You're too tense," Gray muttered.
Ryo shot him a glare. "You're too cocky."
"Yeah, but at least I'm not scaring the clients."
The merchants were, indeed, whispering about the boy with the golden eyes and shadows licking at his heels. Ryo clenched his fists, willing the darkness down.
The curse laughed inside him: See? They fear you already. Why pretend otherwise?
Ryo ignored it. Barely.
Erza followed at a distance, silent, armored in simple leather so as not to stand out. She saw every twitch, every flicker of Ryo's aura. And she memorized it.
⸻
Part III – Beasts in the Wildlands
The first attack came at dusk.
The forest around them erupted with snarls as a pack of massive wolf-like beasts leapt from the shadows.
Gray moved instantly, ice spears flying. "Stay behind me!"
But Ryo's shadows surged forward, forming blades that slashed through fur and bone. One beast fell in two with a single strike.
The caravan gasped, horrified at the clean dismemberment.
Ryo froze. He hadn't even thought—his shadows had acted on their own. Cleave's hunger burned in his chest, begging to be unleashed.
"Ryo!" Gray shouted, breaking the haze. "Don't freeze—move!"
Another beast lunged, and Gray took the hit, rolling with the impact. Ryo's shadows impaled it midair.
Blood sprayed. The merchants screamed.
Erza tensed, hand on her sword, ready to step in—
But Ryo forced his shadows back. His chest heaved. His hands trembled.
"Stay… down," he growled at himself.
⸻
Part IV – Clash of Ice and Shadow
After the fight, the merchants muttered nervously, staring at Ryo as if he was more frightening than the beasts.
Gray rounded on him. "What the hell was that?! You almost let them get me!"
Ryo snapped back, "I saved you!"
"You froze up! You're lucky I was there!"
Shadows flared around Ryo, and the curse whispered gleefully: Yes… fight him. Spill his blood. Show them who's stronger.
Gray's ice spears shimmered to life, cold air frosting the ground.
They stood locked, dark vs. ice, until Erza dropped between them, sword drawn.
"That's enough."
Her voice was sharp steel, cutting through their rage.
"You're comrades, not enemies. Ryo, control yourself. Gray, temper your tongue. If you can't work together, you'll both fail."
Gray turned away, muttering. Ryo forced his shadows back into silence.
But both burned with unspoken anger.
⸻
Part V – Breaking Point
The second night, the caravan camped. Merchants huddled close, whispering about the shadow boy.
Ryo sat apart, shadows swirling faintly around his arms as he tried to suppress them. The curse's voice slithered in his ears:
You hesitate. You weaken yourself. Why not strike as you wish? You could end all threats in a heartbeat. You could be free.
Ryo's hands clenched. He saw Mira's smile, Cana's smirk, Lisanna's innocent eyes.
"No," he whispered.
The curse roared with laughter.
Gray approached quietly, tossing him a hunk of bread. "You'll starve if you keep brooding like that."
Ryo eyed it warily. "…Why?"
Gray shrugged. "Because I don't want to carry your corpse back to the guild. Don't get the wrong idea."
Ryo smirked faintly. "…Thanks."
For a moment, the tension eased. Just a little.
⸻
Part VI – The Final Trial
The last day, the caravan reached a narrow pass between cliffs. Perfect for an ambush.
And sure enough, monsters larger than before—twisted, half-mutated beasts—poured from the shadows.
Gray raised walls of ice. "I'll hold the line!"
Ryo's shadows surged. But this time, the curse pushed harder than ever. His vision blurred, golden eyes glowing brighter as Cleave's hunger ripped through him.
Yes… cut them all. Cut until nothing remains!
Ryo screamed, shadows lashing wildly. Merchants dove for cover. Erza tensed, ready to strike him down—
But Gray grabbed his arm, ice freezing against shadow.
"Snap out of it!" he yelled. "You're not the curse—you're you! We're Fairy Tail, damn it!"
The words cut through the haze. For one shattering moment, Ryo saw himself—towering shadow wolves, blades aimed at friend and foe alike.
And he forced it back.
With a guttural roar, he slammed his shadows into the beasts, carving a path without letting them devour everything. Gray's ice spears finished the rest.
The caravan was safe. Barely.
⸻
Part VII – Mutual Respect
When it was over, the ground was littered with frozen corpses and shadow-marked carcasses.
Ryo collapsed to one knee, panting, sweat dripping from his chin.
Gray extended a hand. "Not bad… for a curse-brat."
Ryo smirked, taking it. "Not bad for an ice-stripper."
Erza's lips twitched into the faintest smile.
For the first time, Ryo and Gray saw each other not as rivals—but as comrades.
⸻
Part VIII – Return to Fairy Tail
Back in Magnolia, the caravan praised Fairy Tail for their protection. The guild cheered the mission's success.
But in the shadows of the hall, Ryo leaned against the wall, exhausted. The curse whispered still, but softer.
Gray passed by, bumping his shoulder. "Don't get used to me saving your ass."
Ryo smirked. "Don't get used to me holding back."
And for once, it wasn't venom—it was rivalry. A bond born in fire and shadow.
Erza watched them both, quietly satisfied.
Makarov, from the balcony, puffed his pipe. "Good. They're learning."