Ch. 3

Party at the Palace

A week after the dragons came, the King of Foire invites every guild to his palace for a party. To thank them for their efforts to protect the citizens of Foire. Also to bestow something on the dragon slayer who actually slayed a dragon. He only has the party after so long since a certain dragon slayer wasn't conscious at the time.

Not everyone is at the party yet. Sabortooth is getting ready, yet one member or ex-member isn't doing well at all. He is conscious, but he could barely move.

Lector and Frosch did what they could for Rogue, while Sting gets in a presentable outfit for the party at the palace. But he doesn't want to leave Rogue alone in the guild hall infirmary. Rufus comes in the room a few moments later, "we have a visitor, Sting."

"Huh? Who?" Sting asks, placing a cold rag on Rogue's forehead. Rufus just steps aside to let the visitor through. His spiky pink hair is hard to miss. "Natsu?"

"Hey, Sting," Natsu smiles coming in farther. "How's Rogue doing?"

"Well," Sting began. He sadly looks at the dragon slayer in the bed. "Rogue finally regained consciousness yesterday. The whole guild, including me, literally begged him to stay with us. We even got on our hands and knees as well. Rogue didn't give us an answer yet. Only that he said he'd think about it. He said something about Yukino and believe me, I want to make it up to her too."

"I was walking with Rogue down the hallway towards the exit when he suddenly fell over," Rufus continues. "He's been like this for almost a full day now."

"I see," Natsu observes. "Well, I need to speak with him alone."

"Hm. Alright," Sting agrees. "Don't' leave Rogue alone, got it?"

"Got it. Come back in… in about a half hour," Natsu nods. Once Sting, Rufus and both Exceeds leave the room, Natsu starts talking.

"Hey Rogue. Can you hear me?" he asks softly. Rogue groans lightly, basically telling Natsu 'yes'. Natsu explains to him what Future Rogue had said. Just, not everything.

"So, I'm understanding that if you stay with Sabortooth or join a different guild, they can help protect you. Especially from those hunters you told me about before."

"Hm… I see your point, but," Rogue weakly says, opening his eyes half way. Slightly turning his gaze towards him, "In my condition… I consider myself a burden… to anyone me. Whenever it strikes."

"Rogue, from what Sting told me before he left, Sabortooth doesn't care what condition you're in. They want you back. They want to help you in any way they can. The old Sabortooth is history, right?"

"I guess. From the way they all begged yesterday…" Rogue sighs softly. "Alright. I'll stay with… Sabortooth."

"Good choice," Natsu smiles. "So, what is this illness anyway?"

"Only shadow dragons catch this illness. According to Skiadram… finding a cure for it is… impossible. I tried before he… made me put him out… of his misery."

"Fairy Tail will hunt down that cure for you Rogue!"

"Huh? There's… no need. It's… incurable."

"There's always a cure. Keep fighting through it and we'll fine one!"

"So, you say in three months… training will be useless?" Rogue sighs.

"Yeah. That's what future you told me. By the way, I'd love to learn that technique."

"Shadow Dragon Killing Blade? Its name is different if a different dragon slayer uses it. I'm not a teacher, Natsu," Rogue tells him weakly. He falls asleep a few seconds later.

"Rogue," Natsu says softly, as Sting comes back in the room with the Exceeds. "Okay, let's go pal," he says coming over to the bed. "The king is letting me bring Rogue there. Even though he's still ill right now. He requested all of us there, Natsu and there's no way I'm leaving Rogue alone."

"Good," Natsu says standing up. "And I convinced him to stay in Sabortooth. You guys will do everything you can to keep him safe. Right?"

"Of course we will. Since I'm the new guild master, things will definitely be different," Sting answers, wrapping a fresh blanket around Rogue before picking him up, bridal style.

"You know, that dragon killing technique may just be the way to take down Acnologia," Natsu says, walking beside Sting to the palace.

"I'd have to agree with you there. Only, we won't learn it overnight. I saw it first hand and I have no idea where to start with learning that," Sting admits.

Natsu holds the door open to the palace for Sting. "I'll be in later."

"Okay. Thanks, Natsu," Sting says, entering the ball room. He walks through the guilds to his own guild awaiting by a comfy couch. Gently, he places Rogue on it. Making sure the blanket isn't going to fall off him.

"I'm glad you guys could make it," Erza smiles, coming over to Sabortooth.

"We couldn't refuse a request from the king," Sting says, cleaning some sweat from Rogue's face. I don't know what else to do to get this fever down. Come to think of it, Yukino was always with him when this happened. Where are you Yukino? I want to invite you back to Sabortooth. Frosch climbs on the couch before falling asleep on the dragon slayer's shoulder.

"Frosch has been worried sick about Rogue. Worrying himself exhausted," Lector says softly, placing a small blanket over him.

"Hm… I see," Erza says, her smile fades as she looks down at the sleeping dragon slayer.

That's around the time Yukino shows up to the party with two other girls. She spots Sting getting drink. "Uh-oh. I have to go," Yukino slightly panics, turning around to leave.

"Yukino, please wait!" Sting hollers once he spots her. She did stop and listens to what Sting began to say. "Jienma and Lady Minerva are long gone. We're starting Sabortooth over from ground zero. Making it a guild that'll protect their friends and treat other members with respect." He tells her what the guild did to Rogue after their defeat. "Sabortooth wouldn't be the same without you, Yukino. I'll even beg you. In front of everyone here!" He gets down on his hands and knees. Also lowering his head to the floor like he begged to Rogue.

Yukino could tell just by Sting's behavior that's he's serious. She, and with everyone else in the space gasps lightly when Sting got down on the floor. "Please Yukino. Come back to us," Sting begs.

"Sting. Please get up," Yukino tells him softly, water begins to fall from her eyes. Sting lifts his head to see her walking towards him. Standing up with a small smile as Yukino stops in front of him. She falls into Sting's arms, crying in his chest.

"Yukino?" Sting wonders, wrapping his arms around her gently.

"I-I accept," Yukino cries happily. "I accept Sting."

"Thank you, Yukino," Sting softly smiles.

The two head over to Sabortooth. Sting informs Yukino about Rogue killing a dragon single-handedly and that right now he's ill. Also that he has no clue how to help him other than keeping a cold rag on his forehead.

"Don't worry. I'll watch over Rogue's recovery. Can't have anything bad happen to our true dragon slayer, can we?" Yukino teases a little.

"Right," Sting wasn't offended by her remark. He knows Rogue is the only true dragon slayer in the room. The other dragon slayers knew that too and all wanted to learn that technique once Rogue is better.

"By the way, has anyone seen Natsu?" Erza asks.

"He said he'd be in later," Sting answers.

"That worries me. He's planning something," Erza sighs. The party goes on, the guilds socializing with each other.

"Sting, we need some ice. The cold rag isn't helping right now and Rogue's burning up," Yukino informs the white dragon slayer, moving Rogue's hair out of his eye. Revealing his entire face and not just half.

"On it," Sting nods, walking off into the crowd. He notices Rufus talking with someone from a different guild, so he went to find Fairy Tail's ice magic user. It takes him a minute, but he finally spots Gray by the refreshment table with Juvia and Lyon.

"Hey, uh… Gray," Sting hollers softly, coming closer to him.

"Hm?" Gray turns around to see the dragon slayer walking towards him. "What's up?"

"I need a favor," Sting tells him the situation with the shadow dragon slayer.

"Okay. So you just need some ice for his fever? I can do something better for him. Lead the way," Gray smiles.

"Really? Thank you," Sting nearly breaks down crying. He leads the way back to the couch he left Yukino at.

Gray examines Rogue's sweaty face before using his magic. He makes an ice mask and places it on the young slayer's face. "That should do it. Come get me again if it melts too quickly," Gray smiles to Sting.

"Thank you very much," Sting bows to him a bit.

"Hey now. There's no need for that. Seriously," Gray tells him.

"A-alright," Sting stands up straight, slightly blushing.

"Thank you, Gray," Yukino smiles, seeing a small smile appear on Rogue's face.

Gray-sama is so kind Juvia thinks, blushing a bit.

After a while, the doors on the balcony level opens up. Natsu comes out wearing the king's crown and cape. The king is beside him trying to get his crown back while two guards just walk behind them, watching.

"Hey there everybody! I have an announcement to make!" Natsu grins. Everyone looks up to see the fire dragon slayer on the balcony. Once Fairy Tail saw him up there with that grin of his, their mouths hang open. "First off! How's our dragon slayer, Sting?!"

"Uh…" Sting blinks in confusion as he looks over at Yukino.

"He's awake," Yukino tells him with a smile. "But I wouldn't recommend him getting up just yet."

"Okay. Then uh…" Natsu thinks for a quick minute. "I need to see all the dragon slayers up here! Rogue, you stay there and rest!"

The dragon slayers were confused, but went up on the balcony anyway. They went into the hallway to talk about something before Natsu actually did it.

"Heh. He'll decline. I know that much," Sting tells the pink haired dragon slayer. "But yeah. Rogue is well deserving of that."

"Yeah. Definitely," Wendy agrees.

"Heh," Gajeel smiles or smirks.

"Agreed," Laxus nods.

"Alright! Let's go!" Natsu declares, going back out to the balcony with the others. "I declare Rogue, the King of all Dragon Slayers!" he spreads his arms out with his matching grin.

"What?!" Rogue shouts, sitting up sharply.

"You heard him, pal," Sting nervously chuckles as he walks over to him. "You are the only dragon slayer to slay a dragon. It was Natsu's idea, but that title is one you deserve, Rogue."

"I think so too," Frosch cries, getting on his shoulder.

"Probably," Rogue says softly, looking down. He lightly smiles, petting Frosch saying, "but I'd rather decline that title." Natsu's jaw nearly hits the floor in disbelief.

"Well, Sting called it," Laxus sighs.

"Then please take this," the king comes over to Rogue with a jewel on a pillow. "I was told to give it to the dragon slayer who slayed a dragon. I don't know if it does anything, but please accept it."

Rogue looks at the blackish red jewel, then around at everyone else. They all nod to him as he nods back with a smile. Reaching for the jewel, "I'll accept it, sire," he says, touching it. The jewel suddenly lit up, making Rogue and everyone else gasp in shock. The light encases Rogue for a good ten minutes before disappearing. Revealing the young dragon slayer in tears, wearing the jewel around his neck and smiling happily.

"You alright, Rogue?" Sting asks, concerned.

"Skiadram," Rogue says happily. "I saw Skiadram."

…..

Chapter 4 is going to take a while. I hope you enjoy this little story so far

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