"Fairy Tail!" His voice screamed through the microphone! The small little pumpkin danced about upon the stage, small children pointed to him.
The stadium lit up with voices and balloons wandered through the air.
When they first entered into the colossal structure, people screamed and booed their name.
"Seriously?!"
"They're pathetic!" a few women cackled and clapped their hands while they laughed. A tin was thrown and hit the side of Gray's head. He twitched and looked as though he wanted to go strangle the man whom had thrown it! Debris was thrown in disgust by the audience. The Fairy Tail name was discarded, and thrown away like the trash that was thrown at them. They were a disgrace. But they would prove them wrong. Fairy Tail was the best guild around to them.
Mata, the little pumpkin mascot, paraded around with his microphone, shouting over the audience.
"ONE HUNDRED AND THIRTEEN GUILDS HAVE ENTERED THE GAMES BUT AFTER THE PRELIMINARY EVENT ONLY EIGHT REMAIN- Kabooo" The crowd went wild. Team after team was introduced, and Sabertooth received the greatest love from the thousands of voices in the stadium.
"Today for announcers Chapati, Jenny Realight, and Yajima, will keep you filled in as the games progress!" The three announcers nodded their heads and raised their hands. Brief applause was awarded to them. Jenny tossed her hair, while Chapati adjusted his wig. Yajima glanced down toward Fairy Tail.
Something was different about them this year. They had surpassed his expectations in the first round. And he was expecting perhaps they would pass in the next and in the future, even replace Sabertooth, but he kept his thoughts to himself and silently watched.
"Today the event will be Hidden!" The crowd remained silent and waited for Mata to explain. He nodded his head, and waved his gloved hand to the screen.
"Eight Candidates will enter into a maze, they will have to find the other candidates and attack them. They will receive one point for each attack! You have Thirty minutes!"
Candidates were selected and the game became OPEN.
Illusions of guild members began to scatter around the little city mirage. And the eight members dispersed themselves and began to fight.
After the first couple of points began to line up on the board, Lucy's nerves got the best of her. Her blonde hair had fallen out of it's ponytail and she rushed to put it back into place. It was too loud. Too stressful. So she slowly stepped away from the group. The lacrima lighting up with images of the battle. Another picture of Gray getting electrocuted, sent her moving quickly out into the hall. It was quieter in there.
"Just calm down Lucy. .' She whispered to herself. Why was she so worried for Gray? Maybe she was just worried for the team.
The roar of the audience was still loud, but it was dulled.
There was a pulsing, throbbing feeling that circulated her head and she rubbed her fingers against it.
Lucy started to walk forwards, away from her guild.
In the hallway, it was dark, illuminated by magical torches upon the walls. The floors were clean but partially dirty as though it was only swept once a month. The echo of her footsteps surrounded her and she mumbled to herself quietly to keep her sanity.
Everything was fine-
Until she turned the corner and ran into someone with a thud noise.
Lucy stumbled back, and shook her head. Her eyes rested upon the person before her as her eyes adjusted to the darkness.
A smirk.
He had not stumbled back at all, but stood tall. Looking down at her like she was an interesting object to him.
The heavy scent of something sweet but dangerous littered the air around him, and his blue eyes glared into her brown ones.
"Oi, who do you think you are? Watch where you're going, girl!" He snapped, brushing off his shirt with just one hand. His eyes flickered down to her guild mark, before he glanced back at her again. Lucy narrowed her eyes.
"Fairy Tail Hmmm.. .?" His devious grin twisted upwards and he leaned forwards toward her and tilted his head. "What is your name, little fairy?" His light clothing revealed his muscular build. His shadow flickered over her, awaiting her answer. He seemed to be studying her too thoroughly. Had she seen him before?
"Lucy. . " She whispered, managing a response. She was uncomfortable with how close he was to her. His breath was warm on her face.
"Lucy Heartfilia?" He questioned, tilting his head. The sarcasm had fled from his voice for just a few moments, as though he was thinking over something.
"That's right, and who are you?" She questioned, her fingers reaching for her keys, her eyes never leaving his. Her eyes flickering to the Sabertooth insignia upon his shoulder. Sabertooth. .. danger.
I wrote about him. He's so familiar. . handsome. . who is this person?
"Sabertooth.. " She whispered, stepping back.
"Lucy! I've met you . . .before!" He whispered as though he was remembering something.
"Where. . ." He muttered and reached out to her.
She squeaked and yanked her keys from her belt and pointed one straight to his forehead. He stopped dead in his tracks.
"I don't know who you are. . But don't come near me!" She demanded, she looked scared. She had met him before. Just where? She was frightened of him. . .
"Lucy . ..you know who I am don't you?" The boy in the golden mist. Her heart stopped for a moment. Then the boy in the shadows with the reddened eyes. One and the same!
Lucy stepped back a few more steps.. her heart thudding in her chest.
Somewhere in a dream. ..
I dreamt of you. .
Who are you?
"what's your name?" She whispered, keeping her key pointed at him. Her blood had gone cold within her veins.
"Sting. . ." He whispered.
His blue eyes met hers and he attempted to smile.
"I know you." She whispered slowly, her out-turned hand lowered to her side.
"I know you, Lucy." All sweetness had vanished from his voice and a menacing smirk twirled past his pointed fangs. "You would make a good plaything." He chorused to himself and reached out to touch her.
She yelped, and tore from his approaching grasp. Her feet tripped over each other and her heart thudded in her ears.
Don't look back. Don't look back. You don't know what he's capable of!
She told herself over and over again. He called her name and followed behind her.
His footsteps ringing on the concrete.
"Lucy! Wait Lucy!" He called out loud, his voice shouted behind her. Perhaps he had been too harsh.
Lucy ran and turned the corner, pushing open the door to the outside. The sunlight of the arena washed across her face, and she squinted her eyes. The applause of the audience ringing loud as the match ended.
Gray stared at the camera, the crowd booing him and cheering Sabertooth. He looked worn and abused, bruised. Scratches littered his body, his eyes tired and downcast.
Natsu slammed his fist against the stone and turned to look at Lucy. He looked angered but worried for both Gray, the guild, and her.
She looked to all her guild mates who were looking away and booing Sabertooth and slowly glanced behind her.
Sting was standing there, watching her with a blank look.
"Sabertooth!"
Natsu growled and stepped protectively in front of Lucy. His eyes narrowed and he held up a hand as though he was guarding her from Sting's sight.
All the emotion that had currently flown from Sting's face, suddenly vanished. That long cruel smile twisted across his lips, and he leaned casually up against the wall. He continued to watch Natsu, as the fire lizard continued to panic over his appearance.
"Hm?" Sting questioned, pulling a loose toothpick from his pocket and place it between his teeth.
"I've been waiting to meet you, Natsu Dragoneel." He tilted his head and moved the wooden stick about in his mouth with his tongue.
The other Fairy Tail members seemed disturbed at the arrival of a Sabertooth. The guild that had crushed them so far in the tournament, leaving them with zero points.
Levy clicked her tongue and began conversing with the people around her, but her eyes remained peeled upon the mysterious member of Sabertooth that had decided to visit them. It was strange how this person had followed Lucy back here.
Natsu would not have that for an answer.
"What are you tryin' to say?" He growled, obviously angered at the fact that a member of Sabertooth had just seriously injured Gray.
They're family.
"You were always my idol. . .my inspiration. . .I'd always hoped that one day I would fight you with my own two hands, and surpass you." Sting mumbled, almost to himself, as though he was deep in thought.
His eyes glanced over to Lucy, who remained standing behind Natsu. She seemed confused as to why he continued to stick around. Who was this Sting? This dragon slayer?
His blue eyes never left her brown ones, until Natsu commanded his attention. The rest of the guild seemed interesting in the event that was occurring and were all now watching Sting's every move.
"Stop looking at Lucy like that." Natsu hissed, his scarf tossed gently by the wind, his hair never distracting him as it moved about his face.
"I can look all I want." Sting snapped, and stood straight from the wall. His smile gently tilted into a frown.
Natsu continued to glare.
"What are you going to do? Fight me if I don't?" Sting taunted, holding his hand in front of his face with a fang-like grin.
A small burst of metallic-silver light rotated in his palm and illuminated his face and the wicked curves of his cheekbones.
"what'dda say, Natsu Dragoneel?" Sting snickered.
Natsu's cheeks reddened in anger at the response, his own hand lighting up with a brilliant red flame.
"Stop!" Lucy shouted, pushing in front of Natsu and glaring at Sting.
"Get out of here Sting." She said slowly, her eyes flickering disappointment, but also worry and fear.
"We don't want any trouble.. ."
Sting sighed and leaned forwards, scooping Lucy's chin upwards with just one of his long fingers. Lucy narrowed her eyes, and looked up toward Sting with a frown.
He bent his head downwards slowly to gently whisper into her ear:
"Sooner or later Lucy, I will find out what's going on between you and me. . whether you like it or not. . .Then I'll determine wether or not you make a suitable play thing." He chuckled, deep and rich against her ear. His breath warm.
With that, Sting straightened up his back and turned about to exit back into the hallway. His shadow of footsteps disappearing soon after that.
Leaving Lucy behind. Her face flushed and eyes directed to the ground.
Natsu came to her side, his breath warm on her face as he grabbed her shoulders.
"What did you say to you?" He questioned, clearly worried.
"Nothing Important. . ." Lucy whispered, glancing toward the darkened hallway.
"Nothing at all."