I am really sorry for the short chappy I updated last time. I am not in the mood for an update. To make up for my brothers' stupidity, I'll make this update long. So, here it is!

Disclaimer: Fairy Tail will never be mine.

"Next battle will be between Fairy Tail's Natsu Dragneel and Sabertooth's Golden Rose, Lucialinne Eucliffe!"

Natsu's head bolted up as he heard his name, but furthermore, her name. He never expected this. He will fight the famous Golden Rose? That's cool!

"Good luck, Natsu-san!" Wendy chirped, her face full of encouragement and enthusiasm. "And after the fight, can you introduce me and Carla to her? I kinda feel something good in her."

Natsu nodded his approval and gave his infamous toothy smile, the same smile that made Lucy fell in love with him.

"Make sure you'll win, flamebrain. Or I'll be the one to skin you alive," Gray smirked, making Natsu flame up with enthusiasm.

"What ya say, pantsman?"

"Shut the hell up, both of you!" Erza growled, her aura deeply emanating and successfully shotting the fighting duo. The rest of the guild let out a nervous laugh as the referee called Natsu again.

Natsu straightened up and regain composure. Erza nodded at him and so thus Master Makarov and the First Master, who came just to witness the game. Natsu nodded in return, and whispered a small promise. "I will win. For Lucy."

His scarf glowed in approval as he made his way towards the stadium.

This is his fight.

Levy bit her lower lip nervously, letting out a small "ouch" when she injured it. Watching Natsu go to the stadium makes her proud that Natsu is her comrade. But watching him and her fighting is not as exciting as it can get. She tried to mad an eye contact with Golden Rose, who returned the eye contact. Levy was quite relieved when she raised a thumbs up, quickly putting it down when Natsu stepped in the arena. Levy looked at the two, saddened by the fact that the two of them will fight, without Natsu knowing that the girl he has been looking for is the one in front of him. The one who is currently called Golden Rose.

But Lucy made a promise, Levy told herself in an attempt to calm herself down, and she will keep it, right?

Levy looked at Lucy the last time before going back to last night's stunning events.

"So, how is Natsu?"

Levy looked up at Lucy's face, her eyes still red from crying. Lucy stared back, waiting for an answer from her best friend. Levy sighed and answered her, "They broke up."

Lucy's brown eyes widened as she stammered her protest. "B-but, why? Th-they shouldn't do that. The-they should go back t-to being-g lov-lovers!"

"But they don't, and they won't."

Lucy felt her emotions swirling inside her. How did she feel about that? Joy? Resentment? Guilt? Anger? Relief? Lucy can't tell which is which. But all she knew is, they made everything harder for her.

Levy looked at her friend in worry and guilt. She knew everything was hard for her. She knew that the reason why Lucy left is because she wants the couple to be happy. And all they need to be happy is to throw the remnants of their bitter past. And for Lucy, the remnant is she herself.

Lucy's sobs still echoed in the bookworm's house. She doesn't know what to do with her. Heck, she doesn't even know if this Lucy is still the same Lu-chan of Fairy Tail before. And speaking of that…

"Umm, Lucy? What guild are you?"

Lucy looked up from her folded arms, her tears still flowing freely in her porcelain face. Levy gulped, unsure of what to do next. Good timing, Sherlock.

"Sabertooth."

Lucy never fails to surprise the script mage. Her eyes grew as wide as the plate that has been holding her tea since Lucy arrived. And if it is humanely possible, her jaw might end up falling on the floor. But instead, her mouth fell open, and all the words left the script mage's mouth.

"NANI?!"

Lucy automatically covered her ears with her hands as Levy ranted about this and that and whatever. Lucy strained and tried to listen, but how can she listen if Levy is speaking too damn fast?

"What do you mean, NANI?!" Lucy replied in defense. Hey, the guild is not as bad as it can get.

"Lucy, you are from that guild. And didn't you know that we are fighting you in the Grand-" Levy stopped when she noticed the serenity and knowing look in the celestial mage's face. And she expected the worse. "Don't you dare tell me that you are one of the representatives of the guild."

"I am."

Levy looked at her friend in disbelief. She just shook her head, her soul sullen. Their guild will fight the girl they have been searching for a long time, far and wide. They are fighting their favorite celestial mage, their princess. And the biggest problem is, Natsu might fight her, and he'll never knew it.

"But what about Natsu?" Levy whispered, her voice heavy with sadness and worry, "What if you will fight him?"

"This is what I came about Levy," Lucy replied as she tried to stand. She finally let go of the cloak she has been holding for the past few minutes, and let Levy looked at her with curiosity and worry.

"Levy, have you heard of the Golden Rose?" she asked, her tone soothing. Levy nodded, but she is just like that, stunned and unmoving. Maybe she knew what's coming.

"I am Golden Rose."

Cheers from the arena exploded as the prominent fire dragon slayer of Fairy Tail stepped from behind the shadows of the arena. Lucy stood there, unmoving, as her opponent send a determined face in her side. For a while, Lucy thought Natsu knew who she was, but she rejected the fact. She prepared well for this event. She improved her combat skills for the past seven years. She made her hair long enough that it reached her ankles. She made Minerva braid them into a French braid, and secured it tightly with pins. Her clothing also changed. Not same with before, she now wears decent clothes. Long red skirt with golden roses embroidered carefully. She also wears a long sleeved blouse that has the same color of her blood. And the most important of all, is the golden mask she has been wearing inside the arena for her previous participation in the Grand Tournament. She completed her look with a light yellow pair of gloves, red combat shoes, and a spray of perfume Natsu never smelled before. She was prepared.

Lucy looked up at Levy, her eyes straining in the sun's shine. Levy looked at her with that same face she gave Lucy the night before after she promised. A promise she will faithfully fulfill.

She will win, but she will never hurt Natsu in the process.