Chapter 9
Corona was not surprised that they just bet their lives on some fight. Corona was staring down at them as they fought. They both had a powerful start. Yukino had pulled out a celestial key and summoned Pisces and Libra.
Just when it seems like Yukino won, Kagura exposed her ability to use gravity-altering magic. It quickly took both of the spirits out. When Yukino opened the 13th gate, Kagura defeated it with her unsheathed sword.
"You made a cheap bet." Kagura said to Yukino, who was defeated, on the floor. "Sometimes, Mermaids eat Tigers."
Everyone was in shock. Especially the Sabertooth Members.
"Um… T-t-t-the match is over! The winner is Kagura Mikazuchi of Mermaid Heel! It's unbelievable, but… Sabertooth won no points as of today!"
"Your life…" Kagura stared daggers at Yukino. "...belongs to me now"
"Y-y-yes. As you wish." Yukino said. Yukino lay on the floor of the arena, in tears. "And thus ends the second day of the Grand Magic Games!"
To be honest Corona did feel bad for Yukino. Corona doesn't know what will happen to her, Sabertooth is a strict guild.
"Come on Corona." Corona nodded and walked away as she saw Yukino walk away.
_ That Night _
Corona was gathered at the bar where her guild was. It was a happy celebration. Elfman got 10 points for A team for defeating Bacchus and Mira got 10 points for B team. Things for finally looking up. However Lucy noticed Corona seemed quieter than normal.
"Hey, Corona. You okay? Are you still mad about the model stuff?" Lucy asked. Corona shook her head from side to side. "No. It's not that. I'm just thinking… Yukino right?"
"Oh yea!" Wendy said. "It's pretty amazing that she used the 13th gate, even though she lost." Corona agreed. Corona was about to tell her worries when one of the Quatro Puppy members yelled out, "They're in there!"
While pointing at Corona and her guild, he said. "You have visitors." he said. Gray turned white, like snow. (HAHAHA! No? No? Oka…)
"LYON?!"
"And Cheria! Why hello!" Corona greeted them. Then Lyon had sparkles in his eyes, "Why hello there, m'lady." Corona backed away. "Sorry. But no."
"This is going to be such a pain." Lucy said.
"Tell me about it." Corona said smiling and face palming.
_ Later that Night _
Corona wanted to stay with Lucy and Wendy to talk more, so Corona walked with them back to their inn. Corona laughed while Natsu went on and on about the good food.
"Man! What a meal!" Natsu said thinking about the food again.
"You eat too much." Nova said, perched on Corona's shoulder, "Is the inn around here?"
"Yep!" Lucy smiled. "We're almost here. Although, we all have to share one giant room, and it sucks! Natsu snores. Gray stripes the first chance he get and Erza crawls into my bed!" Lucy said complaining.
"Wait guys! There's someone standing in front of your guys' inn! Look!" Corona said pointing at a faint outline of a person. "Oh! Oh! I see the person too!" Nova said pointing. Corona smiled at her Exceed and then tried to see who it was. It was a female.
"Oh yea. You're right! Who is it?" Natsu asked.
"Wow! You guys have good eyesight." Lucy said, squinting and trying to see the female.
"Wait! It's Yukino?!" Corona thought that the Sabertooth's inn was pretty far from Lucy's. She looked at Corona with sad, empty eyes as Lucy invited her inn.
They sat at a small living room in an uncomfortable silence. "Are you hungry?" Happy asked. "Do you want fish?"
"She's not a cat!" Carla told Happy. But then Yukino spoke up. "Actually, I came to see you, Lucy. And maybe you Corona."
"What's so special about me. Just a guild member." Corona said. Lucy agreed, Natsu growled. "What does Saber want?"
"I know I have a lot of nerve approaching you." Yukino said looking away. "But I'm here." Corona frowned as Yukino put the three keys, the 3 zodiac keys she used during battle on the table.
"The Key of the Fish, the Key of the Scales, and the Key of the Serpent Bearer." She pushed them forward. "I want Lucy to take the two zodiac keys and I want Corona to take the 13th gate."
Corona blinked twice and pushed the 13th gate back to her. "I can't have this key," Corona pushed the remaining two keys back to her again. "And Lucy doesn't want it."
Lucy nodded. "I've made my decision to give these to you after the tournament is over." Yukino explained. "Yea but it's not over yet!" Nova said, sitting on the table.
"Well… It is for me." Yukino said sadness still in her voice. "I believe that Minerva is going to take my place. I was still new. They only allowed me to do it because Minerva was on a job."
"But why? You have special bonds with them. They're precious to you. Why give them away?" Wendy asked.
"It's better that Lucy takes them," Yukino said her head down. "She's far better Celestial Wizard than me. You, Corona. You are incredibly powerful. You could take better care of the Serpent Bearer."
"That's not true. I bet that you can defeat me in one hit with one of your spirits." Corona said. Lucy agreed. "We can't ju-"
"You already have 10 out of the 12 zodiac keys." Yukino cut Lucy off. "With these you'll have all 12 keys. A gate that will change the world will open."
"A gate that will change the world?" Nova asked.
"What the hell does that mean?" Natsu asked. He propped himself against the wall.
"It's an old legend." Yukino started to explain. "I'm not even sure what it means, but the Celestial Spirits love you, Lucy! And you love them. You should have all 12."
"I can't just do that." Lucy said smiling. "Celestial magic is all about the bonds and trust. Don't forget love. You can't just switch owners."
"It's not that easy!" Corona said. "Besides I'm no celestial mage." Corona said to Yukino. "I know the spirits would be much more happier with you, than me. Even the Serpent Bearer."
"It wasn't an easy decision." Yukino started. "Well, I thought that you would say something like that. But, When the time is right, I'm sure you will have all the 12 keys." Yukino smiled at the group.
"I hope that we can meet again." Yukino picked up her suitcase and with that she was out the door. After about 5 minutes after she left, Natsu and Happy ran out the door, along with Corona after them. Natsu and Happy looked for Yukino.
"There she is!" Natsu said. "HEY! WAIT!" He yelled after her. Corona ran with them to Yukino. "Natsu, Happy! Oh! Corona…"
"I'm so sorry about before." Natsu grinned. "You're not so bad after all." Corona chimed in. "Yea. Sorry about Natsu's behavior. Also, sorry for thinking you were like Sting…" Corona sneered at his name and then smiled at Yukino again.
"You're… … … sorry?" Yukino asked, weakly. "You… you ran after me just for that?"
"You looked really down. So I thought maybe I put you in a bad mood…" Natsu trailed off his hands behind his head.
"You didn't. I'm sorry." Yukino said, tears spilling out over her cheeks.
"WOAH THERE! WHY'RE YOU CRYIN'?! I FEEL EVEN WORSE NOW!" Natsu shouted in panic. Yukino collapsed on the floor, sobbing as Corona patted her back to comfort her.
"I… I… I can't hold back anymore! No one's ever been nice to me like this before…" She cried. Corona's eyes widened.
"I...I always wanted to be a member of Sabertooth." Yukino continued to cry, "And I finally got in last year… but now they won't let me go back!"
Corona's jaw dropped.
"I lost just one time… and they kicked me out."
Kicked me out. Kicked me out. That sounds familiar…
"I was humiliated in front of everyone, and made me erase my own guild mark with my own power. It was just so frustrating and embarrassing! My pride. My memories… they were gone! They were destroyed right then and there. But now… I have nowhere to go."
Corona's eyes filled with tears. She felt empathy. She had once been in her position. And that stupid guild! I understand Sting, but his guild?! Corona could tell Natsu was angry too. He was doing his best to keep his temper. He grit his teeth as he spoke.
"Sorry, but I don't know how it goes in other guilds. I'm from another guild. But as a fellow wizard, I understand." he clenched his fist as he continued. "Being humiliated. Having to erase your own guild mark. I know it's frustrating."
Corona nodded agreed, trying to contain her anger.
"A guild that makes it's family cry… is no guild at all." Corona said, calmly.
Corona has decided. She and Natsu ran like lightning to the inn where Sabertooth was staying at.
Later that night, at Sabertooth's inn, two giant explosions were heard. Fire shot out from the windows, broken glass flying in all directions. Black and white soared through the inn, the combined attacks causing mass destruction.
"What the hell?!" Sting jolted awake as he heard the explosions.
"There's an intruder!" Rogue burst into his partner's room. "An intruder?! All the members of Sabertooth are staying at this inn!" Sting exclaimed.
"Who the hell is it?!"
The two dragon slayers ran down the hallway to the main lobby together.
"I don't know who it is, but they must not be expecting to leave here alive. They must be dead." Rogue growled.
Just then, another explosion was heard at the end of the hallway they were running down. A black smoke came up to their feet, As the debris cleared they saw that two of their members were dying cause the smoke wrapped around them.
Another explosion was heard downstairs. Fire burst through the doors, blowing several Sabertooth members into the opposite walls. The smoke cleared revealing Natsu. And Corona. Corona somehow activated her "King Drive" causing her to have pitch black dragon wings and a tail.
Natsu's and Corona's clothes were tattered as Corona relentlessly plowed through Sabertooth members. Natsu's body erupted in flames as a black aura surrounded Corona. Corona stared daggers at the members of Sabertooth.
"Where. Is your. MASTER?!" Corona roared as she grabbed a member's head and slammed it to the ground, cracking it. The place where he fell unconscious was covered in black.
Sting and Rogue ran into the room, pure shock plastered on their faces. Corona looked over her shoulder. Her hair wasn't blue, it was black with purple. Her eyes were like a dragons. She wanted to do her roar at them, but she knew that it would hurt Sting.
She turned back.
"Where is he?" Natsu growled lowly. A crushing footstep was heard from the back of the room. "You have business with me, kids?" He spat at Corona and Natsu.
"You the master of the (pathetic) guild?" Corona asked, her voice low and sinful.
"I heard you kicked someone out for losin' once." Natsu glared at the master while Sting and Rogue stared at the two in awe and shock.
Natsu chuckled. "That. Gets me fired up."
"And that makes the night roar." Corona stared at the master as he glared at them in surprise. Corona delivered an dark aura that made even Rufus and Orga take a few steps back.
"In that case." Corona drew her fist back as black smoke surrounded it.
"IF YOU LOSE TO US, YOU'RE OUT OF THIS GUILD!"
