A Dragon to Light the Way
Chapter 10
Sting kept pace with Lucy as she dashed through the town of Magnolia, Fairy Tail already in their field of vision, and he couldn't keep his gaze off of her. He knew that she must be nervous, having to face the man that had been abusing her, and wondered if she was ready to face him after just a few days. Hell, they haven't even trained what they should have, and he didn't like the thought that she would have to be fighting in her condition.
"Lucy. Are you ready to face this person, whoever he may be?" He asked, watching as she smiled over her shoulder but didn't slow her pace.
"No worries Sting. I'll be able to handle this, especially since I'm more pissed than scared now." She stated, causing him to shiver slightly in fear at how calm she was. There was no doubt in his mind that she was, indeed, pissed at whoever this man may be. He just hoped that this didn't change her mind about being his mate, especially should she finally find the real Natsu and agree that everything was fine between them.
He gave her a smile, and then fell into silence as he pushed his thoughts to the side, and focused on what needed to be focused on. Making sure that he had her back every step of the way, and that nothing bad happened to her. He picked up his pace so he was running beside her as they reached the direct path to the guild, and stopped as they reached the guild doors. He glanced over at her as he grabbed the handles, and then pulled them open when she gave a firm nod. He glared as everyone glanced toward them, and then narrowed his gaze to the dark haired man tied down in the middle of the guild.
"Lucy! Thank goodness that you are alright." Lisanna stated, rushing forward and embracing his mate. He remained to the side, allowing Lucy to take the lead, but the moment she followed the youngest Strauss sibling he was right behind her.
"Have you been able to get anything from him?" Lucy asked, stopping at the edge of the circle the other guild members had formed around him. He looked down at the man, scowling when the man looked at Lucy with a cruel looking smile. How he wanted nothing more than to wipe that smile off with a good punch, but he wouldn't do that around Lucy...At least not yet.
"Nothing. He's taken all of our punches, and then started to morph into others in the guild. He's quick on learning who we will and wont hit." Gray stated, moving to stand on the other side of Lucy and glared down at the man.
"It's easy to defeat a group of people that have a strong bond with one another." The man growled, morphing back into Natsu, and Sting quickly looked to Lucy. Stepping back slightly when a dangerous look entered her eyes instead of the fear he had first expected.
"Shall I tell them some of the things, that I did to you. Lucy?" The man stated, and even Sting wondered how his magic allowed him to not only transform into Natsu, but sound like him as well.
"Who the hell are you?" Lucy whispered, stepping closer to the man and crouching down. He blinked at the action, but stayed where he was. Pride filling him as he watched his mate show the man that she was no longer afraid since she now knew that the man wasn't truly Natsu.
"Lets see, where should I start with your torture? How about the day I first made you scream?" He gloated, and Sting shifted as she stood as a sigh escaped her lips.
"Guess there is no helping it." She muttered, causing him to blink when she suddenly swung her foot and allowed it to connect with the man's jaw. The entire guild went silent as the man skidded sideways a few feet, and then shifted back into a sitting position with a shocked look on his face.
"I'll admit. I was deathly afraid of you at first. But, the moment I realized that you weren't my friend, wasn't him from the beginning. Nothing but anger filled me, and I knew that I had to help my friend redeem the name that you tarnished. I know now, that Natsu would never had done what you did, and I feel like a fool for falling for such an act, but it ends now. Where is Natsu and Happy?" Lucy shouted, clenching her hand into a fist and marched toward him. The rest of the guild watching but Sting followed closely behind.
"You think you can get me to talk? Fat chance." The man growled, morphing again. Even Sting paused this time, as Wendy was staring up from the floor with large pleading eyes. He glanced at Lucy, watching as she stopped unsure as to what to do, and realized that it was fine should the man be himself or Natsu, but she wasn't comfortable hitting one of her other friends.
"Roar...Of the Wind Dragon." Wendy shouted, causing a large burst of wind to spin past them and hit the man. Knocking him back even farther as she stalked forward.
"How dare you try to trick Lucy by disguising yourself like me!" The young Dragon Slayer growled, stalking forward with her fist raised. Once again the man morphed, this time into Levy.
"Please don't! Gajeel." The man cried, only to give a cry of pain as a large iron word appeared above him and smashed into his head.
"I have nothing against harming someone who looks like me, especially when you've hurt Lu-Lu." Levy stated, readying her pen again but once again the man morphed. This time into Sting.
"You wouldn't hurt your own mate? Would you, bitch?" The man growled, and Sting stepped forward when Lucy tensed.
"I'm right behind you Lucy. Don't let him fool you." He stated, watching as she looked over her shoulder at him in concern. He pressed a gentle kiss to her forehead and then took a step back.
"Don't hold anything back." He stated, watching as she smiled and stepped forward.
"If that is the case, then I'm going to hit where it's going to hurt." She stated, raising her foot again. This time instead of kicking him in the jaw as she had, she aimed right between his legs and connected with his groin hard. The man gave a screech, and all the men winced at the hit. Sting winced as well, but was thankful that it wasn't the real him or else he and Lucy would never have children.
"Want another hit like that? Or are you going to tell us what we want to know?" Lucy asked, and Sting watched as the man morphed back into the person he had been when they had entered.
"Alright, alright. My name is Tyrin...Natsu and that stupid cat is being held at my guild, Angel Feather. My guild master planned all of this to get revenge on Lucy Heartfilia." He cried, and Sting tensed. Angel Feather? That was the guild...
"Why the hell would the guild that ask for our help do something like this. Fairy Tail is one of the backings of that guild now." Sting growled, moving beside Lucy who had went quiet.
"Besides. Why would Merida want revenge on Lucy? They never met until the day she helped us make that dark guild back off." Rogue added, stepping forward with Yukino beside him.
"Actually, when I introduced myself, she seemed surprise. The only problem is that I've never seen her before." Lucy stated, looking up at him as she bit her bottom lip. He sighed and then turned to Makarov.
"We know where we have to go, and we know what we have to do. How do we proceed?" He asked, wanting to get to Natsu quickly, because the moment Merida heard that her plan was blown there was a good chance she would take her anger out on the Flame Dragon Slayer. Everyone watched as Makarov closed his eyes and thought a moment.
"We can't just attack, even thought the Magic Council is a bit more lenient with everything, we can't just declare war on another guild. We have to go about this with brains, not brawn." Makarov stated, opening his eyes and looked down at them all from his perch, and then looked to Tyrin.
"You will assist us in what needs to be done. Maybe if you do, we will take it easier on you when we turn you into the council." He growled, and everyone watched as the man paled and nodded quickly.
"I will help." He stated, and Sting crouched down to his level.
"Not to mention. Try anything funny, you wont have to worry about Lucy kicking you there again. I will end you right here and now, especially if you aim for her again." He stated, tugging on the rope and allowing him to be free. He watched him closely and stepped back when the man gave another nod and then looked up at Fairy Tail's Master.
"What do I need to do?" He asked, and Sting smiled when Makarov hopped down and approached the man.
"You are going to help us get Natsu out. Meaning you are going to tell us the entire layout of your guild and the quickest and easiest way in and out of there without being seen." Makarov stated, and Sting watched as the man sighed and gave another nod. Then accepted the pen that Mira handed him and started sketching through the air.
"The guild is made up of three floors. When you enter, you're actually on the second floor, and then the floor above is all the rooms we stay in. The first floor, is nothing but a large space filled with holding cells and rooms. Natsu is down there, in the farthest cell back. He's being held back with special reinforced chains meant to withstand Dragon Slayer Magic, but only that kind of magic. Any other kind will destroy them." He stated, and Sting stepped forward with a scowl.
"How are we suppose to get there, considering it is underground?" He asked, watching as the man started to sketch something a little away from the image he had created.
"About one mile south of the guild, there is a hidden passage in the river that leads to the first room. It is about six feet wide and eight feet high. It is meant to be an escape route should anyone attack our guild, and is only known to guild members. It is so unknown to others, that we don't even have to keep a guard there." He stated, connecting the passage to one side of the underground room. Sting studied a moment, and then looked toward him with a raised eyebrow.
"How are we suppose to know that you are telling the truth?" He asked, watching as the man scowled and clenched his hands into fists.
"Between your threat on my life, Makarov there, and then that bitch threatening my manhood." He growled, only to give a yelp as three fists suddenly connected with his head. Sting glance up and saw that it had been Gray and Gajeel that had helped him punish the man for calling Lucy such a name. He straightened and then looked back at Makarov, completely ignoring the unconscious man on the ground.
"When do we put the plan into action?" He asked, watching as the older guild master studied the diagram and then gave a soft sigh.
"We'll start tomorrow. I need enough time to think of a proper plan. Everyone should just go ahead and turn in for the night. As for you, Mister Tyrin, Laxus and his group will be keeping an eye on you. So nothing funny." Makarov growled, turning to the man and motioned for Laxus and the others to take him away. Sting watched and then turned to Lucy, wondering where she would be staying the night at.
"No worries Sting. Even though I was staying with that impostor, I still kept paying rent on my apartment. Just in case things didn't work out." She stated, and looked around at all the people who were staring at her with worry in her gaze.
"Lucy. We are sorry that we didn't realize it sooner. If we had been more vigilant about the fake Natsu. I understand if you want to punch me." Erza stated, causing Sting to blink and glance at Lucy who merely smiled.
"No need for that Erza. As a matter of fact, I'm kinda glad that things turned out the way that they did." She stated, moving beside him and wrapping her hand into his, causing him to smile down at her.
"Actually, about that Lucy. If you are Sting's mate, will you be leaving Fairy Tail?" Wendy asked, and Sting felt his chest tighten as he sensed Lucy's pain at the question.
"I haven't really thought about that far ahead." She stated, looking up at him with curious eyes and he looked away. Even he wasn't sure about it. Sure, he wanted Lucy to remain by his side, but he didn't want to take her from her friends either.
"No worries. I'm sure that whatever happens will happen. Just so long as Sting never hurts you that is." Gray stated, causing Sting to look at him as he detected the challenge in the ice mage's voice.
"I would never harm Lucy." He stated, meeting his gaze head on, and relaxed when Gray smiled.
"Alright, enough of all of this. I'm tired and ready to call it a day. Sting? My apartment is kinda small, but it should hold the five of you easily." She stated, and he looked over to Rogue and Yukino who shook their heads.
"We already agreed to stay the night with Levy and Gajeel." Yukino stated, causing Lucy to smile and nod. With that she tightened her hold on his hand and then smiled at everyone else.
"Guess I'll see everyone in the morning then?" She asked, and he was thankful when they all nodded and gave her brief hugs. He knew that while she hadn't been gone long, it had still been a long time since she had seen any of them. Meaning that it would take some slight adjusting on her part to get used to everything again.
"To your place then?" He asked, once they were back outside of the guild and started walking away from it. She merely nodded and lead the way, but he made sure to keep a firm hold on her hand. He figured she had a lot on her mind, especially since the last few weeks had been rough for her, but was still proud that she was still holding herself together. Although, he kinda wished that she would allow him to comfort her as well, believing that she truly needed someone to lean on for the moment.
The moment they got to her apartment Sting took the opportunity to look around while Lucy hunted down some clothes that he could wear while they stayed there. He had to admit, her apartment was small and cozy, and even though she hadn't been there in a while, it still held a homey feel to it.
"Here you are Sting. All I could fine was some old joggers that I usually wore around winter time. I'm afraid none of my shirts that I left here would fit you though." She stated, and he smiled while taking the clothing.
"This is fine. Go ahead and shower first. You must be tired and want to turn in early after an eventful day like today." He stated, watching as she sighed and smiled up at him. He was about to make himself comfortable on the sofa as she headed for the bathroom, but blinked when she looked over her shoulder at him. A blush staining her cheeks.
"You know, I'm not above sharing a bath with my mate." She whispered, causing him to freeze to the spot as his eyes narrowed.