Ch 12: Crocus
DISCLAIMER: YEAH, YEAH, YOU KNOW THE DRILL.
AN: I have discovered the woes of writing a fanfiction based on plot…SO MUCH RESEARCH!
Alright guys, I have a word for you to guess! It starts with 's', ends in 'l', and is the bane of my fanfiction's existence (if that even makes sense). Yup, it's school. I swear, Common Core is trying to drown me in projects and papers; I'm going insane! And that was before I remembered I have a bunch of loyal readers waiting patiently for my next chapter-I finished typing everything this morning ^3^;
So! In this chapter, we have a grand total of EIGHT POV SWITCHES! I hope you don't get whiplash… Also, many things will be explained, and the plot thickens! Hee hee, I swear I'm not trying to mentally kill you with feels…yet. XP
Recap:
Reluctantly, everyone followed me out of the meadow towards RiverClan, and the pained howling rang in my ears.
Hikari's POV
"REMUS! SNAP OUT OF IT!" I screamed, panicked. Since we were in the Wolvian Realms, his werewolf properties and senses would be multiplied off the charts! I didn't want to hurt him either...
"Sirius! Try and keep Remus occupied, I'll try and bind him!" I shouted, pulling out my violin.
He looked at me funny, but the pained howl from Remus snapped his attention back. "Alright Hikari, but I don't know how you'll subdue him..." He stated seriously before springing on top of the fully transformed Remus, morphing into Padfoot as they crashed into the ground, snarling.
I frantically tried to remember how to play Ensnaring Melody; I rarely used it in battle, since I finished my opponents quickly without having to restrain them conscious. Now, it was working against me, and I was panicking desperately.
Let's see, it starts in melodic C Minor, and the tempo is slow―
That's it!
Readying my bow, I shouted "Ensnaring Melody!" And began to play. The slow, minor key snake charmer song flowed from my instrument, and with the music came the music staffs and notes, blood-red, slowly winding its way towards Padfoot and Moony, who were locked in a ferocious battle. Well, not exactly a battle, as Padfoot seemed to only be keeping Moony occupied rather than trying to knock him out or subdue him. I could tell Moony was trying not to hurt Padfoot; the Wolvian Realms may sharpen his attributes and senses, but it also brought out his human mind.
Kami, go faster, go faster―CRAP!
"Padfoot! OUT OF THE WAY!"
The melody looped around Moony, tying him up and leaving him helpless on the floor like a Christmas turkey where Padfoot was just seconds ago.
"Thanks, Hikari," Sirius panted, and I could see major damage done to his abdomen and arms, the crimson blood dripping onto the grass. I immediately played a Healing Sonata, and we both looked at the werewolf on the ground.
I sighed. I guess we'll have to wait for morning to come...
"Thank you, Hikari," Remus said, one of my spare cloaks draped over his shoulders. He winced as his joints popped as he rolled his shoulders. Wordlessly, I passed him some joint medicine, which was very gladly appreciated.
"Don't thank me, thank Sirius. Without him, you'd probably be chasing me around the meadow! It took me a while to remember how to play the song, too."
"Exactly! Appreciate my efforts, Moony," Sirius preened, but I could tell that he was still worried.
"I thought that the gratitude would be redundant, Sirius. You've done this many times at Hogwarts already,"
Sirius sighed. "Yeah, I know, but don't go scaring me like that again, alright Moony?
Remus flashed Sirius a small smile. "I can try, but even so, you guys should be cautious around me. I almost killed you, Sirius," he ended glumly.
"Oi, I thought that Tonks pulled him out of this self-hate club?" I leveled a glare at Sirius.
"She did!" Sirius protested. Turning to face Remus, he said "You're not dangerous, Moony. Especially when you've taken Wolfsbane―you look like an overgrown mangy puppy!" At Remus' disbelieving look, he said "It's true! I even have the pictures! Anyways, that's not the point. The point is, you've got a furry little problem that makes you embrace your wild side every month. So what? I'm an escaped criminal from Azkaban of all places―" "Was," I interjected. "Right. Was. And Hikari here carries around four weapons at all times, and is prone to lopping people's heads off when you wake her up before she wants to―" "I'm really paranoid in the morning! You don't know how many times someone has sneaked up on me while sleeping! Besides, I haven't lopped off anyone's head...right?" I ended, unsure. I was pretty sure I didn't, but it never hurt to get assurance. Sirius simply grinned, and brushed off my question. "So you see, Moony, we all should be locked up―" "Sirius! Get to the point!" I ordered, laughing. How did he say all that with a straight face?
Sirius' impromptu speech did its job, though, as Remus chuckled. "I get it, I get it. Sorry about that, Hikari."
I smiled. "It's fine, Remmy! Let's just get to everyone else before I find that they started a Clan War; now that would be bad." Opening my trunk, I grabbed my Firebolt and gave it to Sirius. "You ride this, I'll carry Remus," I said, clipping my trunk chant back on my bracelet and transforming into my Form Three. Remus climbed on top of me, sitting comfortably, and we raced each other towards RiverClan.
"EH?! Remus is a werewolf?!" Lucy exclaimed, shocked.
"That is so cool!" Sting bounced up and down in childish excitement. Everyone else was too busy staring at Remus. Sirius shot a triumphant look at Remus, who smiled with embarrassment.
He ducked his head, rubbing the back of his neck. "I am...I can only transform on the day of the full moon, which was yesterday. I have a potion that can stop me from killing anyone―I forgot to take it yesterday." He said sheepishly.
He was promptly bombarded with questions, from so many different people that my ears started to ring. "Er, guys? Our ears?"
Everyone sit back, embarrassed.
Sirius barked out his laughter. "See, Moony―you are so popular! Besides, everyone here can defend themselves―loosen up and live a little!"
Remus turned pink.
I cleared my throat. "That's exactly what we're going to do, Siri. Now, when we get back to Montrain, I'll need everyone to train for the next few days before the GMG. Lucy and Yukino especially―you guys have new Spirits that take up much more magic than your usual ones. You need to expand your magic container to the limits―we'll show Fairy Tail and the rest of Fiore not to mess with the Sabers!" Everyone cheered, and Orga stood to sing―he was quickly dragged down by a panicked Minerva. "I will not be participating in training for two days―I need to show Remus and Sirius around Fiore, make up a new magic to explain why they use sticks to cast, and fill them in on everything―that includes the Fairy Fiasco. Is that alright with you, Luce?" She nodded, and my blue-green eyes met her chocolate ones. I blinked in surprise when all that filled their depths was vengeful hatred. "It's fine with me, nee-chan,"
"Alright!" Sirius whooped. "Time to go and see the sights! This is SO much better than being stuck in Grimmauld Place!"
After sending everyone else back to Montrain City, Padfoot, Moony, and I traveled around all of Fiore with the express help of my trusty Firebolt and my wolf transformation. I had shown them everywhere I had gone―Hargeon Port, Magnolia City, Clover Town, Council Hall, the likes. I had also shown them the more 'interesting places'―Tenroujima Island (it had been a pain to discover that I had to Portal us in; I had no idea that without a Fairy Tail guild mark that the island constituted as a separate dimension, but it was completely worth it), the place where the Tower of Heaven once stood, Heartfilia Mansion (it was fun to watch Remmy and Paddy gawk openly, especially at the fact that I had been saving up my Jewels simply to repurchase the entire property), and even Crocus, though I only had them look at the city for a second before promptly turning the other way and telling them that they had to wait a few more days to explore. That had earned me a week-long prank of FLUFFY PINK CAT EARS AND A TAIL (Of all things, why a CAT? I'm a wolf, for Kami's sake!) not to mention that I couldn't even remove it myself, but it was worth it. We had also agreed to keep the fact that Remus and Sirius were from another dimension secret, and came up with Enchantment Magic to explain the need for wands and the extensive repertoire of magic they had.
True to my word, I told them about Lucy's 'fallout' with Team Natsu. I guess it was a good thing that we were in a forest, and not somewhere populated, as Sirius destroyed everything in sight for 2 miles. Remus was too tired after his transformation to do anything destructive, but he let his opinion be known through words that would make a Dark Guild Master flinch in fear.
When we got back, only a few days before the GMG started, everyone had apparently assigned themselves a 'Seven Day Training Camp of Hell' and pushed themselves so hard they were a limp pile of limbs on the ground.
I giggled, and flopped on the ground. "Hey, I had no idea that the ground was so comfortable! You guys are geniuses!" I flashed them a cheeky grin as they glared at me.
"Yeah, yeah," Sting grumbled, picking himself off the ground and immediately crumpling back, "I'm too tired. Wake me up...when the GMG starts.
"I agree with Sting for once," yawned Rogue. Sting shot him a playful glare.
"Don't bother waking us up, even Sabers have to sleep," Orga mumbled, looking like he could crash on a rock and it would all be the same to him. Yukino, Lucy, Min-chan, and Rufus were already asleep.
Of course, they hadn't known Sirius for 5 years, and they didn't know that if someone―or more than one―complained about something or ordered someone not to do something or other―Sirius would go out of his way to do it.
Grinning evilly, Sirius conjured a foghorn, and Remus and I immediately cast silencing spells around us.
He conjured some earmuffs, snapped them on, and blew the horn.
Sting, Yukino, and Min-chan, who had been at the top of the pile of people, were thrown bodily and send tumbling a few feet away as everyone else scrambled to their feet, their respective weapons out and wildly looking for danger. Lucy was rubbing her ears and glaring at Sirius, who was decidedly NOT looking innocent. He was too busy rolling on the ground laughing at the bewildered and bleary expressions on everyone else's faces to realize that he had given himself away. "Y-You guys s-should s-s-see your f-faces!"
The glares from everyone only served to make Sirius laugh harder. Remus let out a long-suffering sigh, and dragged Sirius away, his raucous laughter bouncing off the trees. I sweatdropped.
"Anyways, are you guys ready for the GMG? It's in two days!"
"E-Eh?! It's in two days?!" Yukino gasped.
I stifled my giggles with a cough. "Yeah, it is. You guys are so stupid!" I teased, poking Rogue, who was closest to me. "If we hadn't come back, you guys would've trained through the GMG!"
"Yeah...thanks." Rogue smiled.
My teasing face slowly morphed into into a smirk. "So, how about another training round? For old times' sake?"
"NANI?!"
Rogue's POV
"Urgh..."
Sting wobbled around, face green and puffed out like a chipmunk. He sat down dazedly, trying not to throw up.
I would've smirked if I was feeling any better. I wasn't. I simply kept my face stoic―but I had developed a slight sheen of sweat on my forehead, and I was decidedly several shades paler than normal. Fro patted me softly, and I managed to smile at her. Lector was over with Sting, fretting over him again.
Sirius was laughing hysterically a few seats over, and Remus gave us a sympathetic look before smacking Sirius upside the head and settling behind a book. I guess I should be glad that we had our own train car, since we were the GMG participants―if we didn't, we'd definitely be getting a fair share of weird looks. Rufus and Orga were simply looking out of the window―they were used to this happening. Hikari was looking through her jacket pockets―which were charmed to hold much more than it seemed, since she had reached in all the way up to her elbow. She smiled apologetically. "Gomen, Shadow, Nova, but could you guys wait a little longer? I need to find the Troia pills..."
"H-Hurry―up, Hikari," Sting managed to groan out. I started to nod emphatically, but stopped when an acrid taste filled the back of my throat.
Lucy giggled from where she was situated next to Sting. She took Sting's head gently and set his head on her...lap. Sting flushed a brilliant shade of vermillion. Sirius and Orga gawked at Lucy, and Rufus raised an eyebrow.
"What are you doing with Sting-kun?" Lector demanded.
"Natsu would also get motion sickness, and this seemed to help him...are you feeling better, Sting?" Lucy asked.
Sting managed to nod his head, actually looking a bit better than before.
"Gomenasai!" Hikari said sheepishly. She held up an empty container. "I ran out...I'll have to restock. For now though..." She reached out, and set my head on her lap. I think I turned the same shade of red as Sting.
I stayed like that the rest of the train ride. My head pillowed by Hikari's thighs, the movement of the train didn't bother me as much. Her scent was also calming, and I got closer than I had ever gotten to enjoying a train ride.
"Now entering Crocus." The automated female voice announced.
The train screeched to a stop, and the automatic doors opened. Sting immediately jumped up and ran outside. "This is SO much better!" he exclaimed, suddenly back in top shape. Lector flew out with him, admiring the city. The rest of us followed Sting out of the train car. "C'mon, let's go see which hotel is ours!" Lucy cheered.
"Yeah, you guys go on ahead, I have to check something..." Hikari mumbled dazedly. Without waiting for a reply, she ambled off.
"Eh?! Nee-chan! Where are you going?" Lucy called.
"Don't worry! I'll be back before midnight!" Hikari avoided the question. Lucy furrowed her eyebrows. "What...?"
"Let her be," Remus said, looking our from behind his book. "She does this a lot―she'll be back."
Lucy didn't look convinced, but she let it go.
"What does she mean, 'I'll be back before midnight'?" Rufus inquired.
"Here," Remus showed us the book he was reading. "Rules for the GMG:
1. Each Guild's Master cannot compete.
2. Anyone without the Guild's insignia cannot compete either, and must simply observe.
3. Each event will remain secret until right before they begin, at which point the rules will be explained.
*WARNING! All participants must return before 12:00."
"Oh!" We chorused in understanding. "Hey, if it's until midnight, let's explore!" Sting grabbed Lucy and my arms, and dragged us away to the nearest shop, Fro and Lector trailing behind us. This is going to be a long day...
Hikari's POV
Come.
'What?'
Involuntarily, my feet began to move. I slammed down on my Occlumency shields, and the voice faltered for a second before coming back stronger.
Closer.
'What do you want with me?'
How could it still talk? Every Wolf Slayer has natural Occlumency, and I had practiced until I could keep even Dumbledore out! It shouldn't be in my head!
Come closer.
'What are you talking about? Where are you?'
Through here.
I looked down a dark alleyway.
'What? Here? Who are you?'
Come.
Even though all of my rational thoughts screamed at me to stop, I walked forward. Kami, I think I permanently gained Harry's recklessness through that Polyjuice Potion I took when we had to transport him in the beginning of seventh year.
"Alright! Show yourself!"
A figure shifted in the dark, and I could only make out something red. The figure brought their hand up to their...face, maybe? And spoke.
"Psychic Eyes."
I felt something slam against my Occlumency shields like a battering ram. An involuntary gasp slipped out of my mouth, and I grasped my head in an attempt to stop the pulsating pain.
"W-who are y-y-you?" I gasped out, tears beginning to form in my eyes.
"In due time, lovely. Now, sleep."
The last thing I saw were twin pools of molten fire and silver tornadoes.
I blacked out.
*Back at Fairy Tail*
Gray's POV
"YES! I LOVE YOU, GROUND! I'M NEVER GETTING ON A TRAIN EVER AGAIN!"
I sighed. "You say that every time, but you always get on one again, baka!"
"What did you say, Stripper?!"
"You heard me, Flame Brain!"
"Ice Princess!"
"Squinty Eyes!"
"Droopy Eyes!"
"You bas―"
"Are you guys fighting again?" Erza boomed, looking in our direction. We immediately shut our mouths and put an arm around the other's shoulders.
"N-No, Erza! S-See? W-We're best f-friends!"
"Aye!"
Erza nodded, appeased, and turned away. We immediately let go of each other, grimacing in disgust.
Yuki and Kaito sweatdropped. "Are they always like that?" Yuki asked Wendy. "Y-Yeah..."
A few other Guild members exited the train car. They were there to send us off, and to explore Crocus. "Juvia is so sore!"
I grimaced. After Second Origin, it had been a pain to walk anywhere. All of our joints were stiff from thrashing around, and our muscles were sore. Worse, we couldn't even feel the rush of magic from our newly opened Second Origin.
Wendy walked over to Juvia, hand out. "Do you need me to heal you, Juvia-san?"
"Juvia would be so thankful if you did, Wendy!"
As Wendy healed Juvia (again), Yuki and Kaito's heads snapped up. They looked at each other for a second, and then nodded. "Hey guys? We'll be going to explore the city!"
Mira, who had been squealing over the shops next to a grumbling Laxus, called "Alright! But be back before dark!"
"We will!"
Erza walked over. "We're going too!"
"O-Okay..." Wendy said, a bit breathless from the use of magic.
"Let's go!"
"Master!"
Master, Bisca, Alzack, Asuka, Droy, Jet, Lisanna, and Levy stood in front of us.
"I did all of the entry paperwork!" Master laughed. "So you'd better show me the power of Fairy Tail!"
"What? Did he say Fairy Tail?"
"Oh, you mean those perennial last-place losers?"
"Why are they even here? They should just give up!"
My head snapped around to look at the passerby, who were all laughing at us. I resisted the urge to send an Ice-Make Cannon at them, and sent them a hard glare.
"Who's laughing at us?" Natsu growled.
Lisanna put a calming hand on his chest. "It's okay, Natsu."
"I'm sure you'll be in last place like always, losers!" The crowd laughed.
Natsu snarled.
"Anyone who wants to laugh, let 'em," Master said calmly.
"Really?!" Happy cheered, and then laughed at Jet and Droy.
"Hey, don't laugh at us!"
Master coughed. "Listen, I've got 30 million Jewel―I mean do your best to aim for the number one Guild in Fiore! The way things are now, we can't face the First Master, who saved our lives!"
We all nodded.
"The competition starts tomorrow, but unfortunately, I don't know what it is!"
"Eh? Fairy Tail's been in this for a number of years though, right?"
Bisca shook her head. "The competition change every year. The year they had a sharpshooting competition, I didn't compete."
"And the year they had a race, I didn't compete." Added Jet.
"I looked at past records, but the events had no consistency." Sighed Levy.
I sighed mentally. What kind of bad luck streak do we have?
Natsu slammed his fist and open palm together. "Well, it seems like we'll just have to play it by ear, then! I hope it's a battle, though!"
"Erza!" Her head snapped up. Master passed her a book that read 'GMG rulebook'. "Finish this by the end of the day!"
"What? This?"
Levy snatched the book, a pair of red glasses perched atop her nose. "Leave it to me! I have Galeforce reading glasses!"
After skimming the book, Levy spoke. "Alright, to put it in a nutshell, these are the rules:
1. Each Guild's Master cannot compete.
2. Anyone without the Guild's insignia cannot compete either, and must simply observe.
3. Each event will remain secret until right before they begin, at which point the rules will be explained.
*WARNING! All participants must return before 12:00."
"Midnight, huh..." Erza mused.
"It must mean tonight," Charla deduced.
"So, it's like that story with the princess and the glass slipper, right?" I asked.
"If it's by midnight, we still have a lot of time! Let's go exploring!" Natsu yelled.
"Aye, sir!"
"Can I come?" Lisanna asked.
"Of course! Ikezou!"
Natsu, Lisanna, and Happy took off.
"Hey, you know which hotel we'll be staying at, right?" Erza called.
"Yeah, Honeybone!"
"Alright! But be back before midnight!"
"Aye!"
I stared at a fountain as the sun slowly began to set, tinging the sky with soft pinks, oranges, and reds. Everyone had gone off to explore except for Erza, who had gone off to the hotel in search for suspicious things.
"Gray-sama?"
My head snapped up at the familiar voice. "Juvia? What are you still doing here?"
She blushed. "The entire Guild is here to cheer you on!"
"Those bastards have way too much free time on their hands..." I grumbled.
Juvia seemed to blush even more, and then asked "D-Does Gray-sama want to h-have dinner with Juvia?"
I cocked my head in thought. "Now that you mention it, I am hungry..."
"In that case, I know of a good restaurant in town." Interjected someone. A white-haired, annoying someone.
"Lyon!"
He slipped his arm around Juvia's waist. "It's combined with an aquarium, too. A really fashionable restaurant."
"Eh? Wait...what is this?" Juvia asked, bewildered.
"Hey, don't just walk off with one of my members!" I yelled at Lyon's retreading back.
He stopped. "Gray, I hear that you are participating in this year's GMG. We, Lamia Scale, are going to win this year, though."
I laughed. "I heard you guys come in second every year."
Lyon butted his head against mine. "And you guys come in last every year. We may have come in second every year―but that was without me or Jura-san competing. You understand what I'm getting at, don't you?"
I was slightly bewildered. Lyon had toned down his competitiveness after what happened at Galuna Island, but...
My eyes fell on Juvia, who was watching us with distress. Ah.
I pushed back. "Are you forgetting? We have this monster called Erza on our side! We also have two new members, who could kick your ass to the moon and back!"
"I bet our new member could beat those two with his hands tied behind his back." What? They have a new member?
Lyon stepped back. "Let's make a wager. When Lamia Scale wins, Juvia will join our guild!"
"What the hell?!" Shouldn't he be asking Juvia about this first? "And if we win?"
"I will return Juvia to your guild!"
"She's ours to begin with!" I snapped.
Lyon seemed to not have heard me. "Remember this, Gray. This is a gentleman's agreement."
"Gimme a break! What kind of bet is that, anyways?"
"Are you afraid of losing?" Lyon mocked.
"What was that?!"
We glared at each other for a few seconds, before Juvia stepped between us, freaking out.
"Gray-sama! Please make up your mind! Do you want Juvia or Lyon-sama?"
I sweatdropped. "You weren't following the conversation at all, were you?"
Wendy's POV
"Charla, look at that!" I pointed up towards the castle, which was lit up in the night.
"Wow!"
I looked down at my visitor's pamphlet. "They say this is the Flower Light Palace, Mercurius!" I breathed in excitement. The air was filled with the fragrance of flowers and the crispness of a cold night. I sighed in content.
"I wonder what the King is like..." Charla mused.
"I wonder if he has a mustache..." I giggled.
"I bet he does!"
I heard something laugh, and turned my head towards the sound. I didn't see anything, so I turned back around.
It seems like I simply imagined it...
I suddenly felt faint, as if someone had sucked up all of my magic. I managed to call for Charla before I blacked out.
Sting's POV
Lucy, Rogue, Lector, Fro, and I spent most of the day walking around Crocus, merely ogling the sights and being dragged into shops by Lucy. I sighed. It was getting close to midnight...
Lucy suddenly stiffened, her nose in the air. "Natsu, Lisanna, and Happy, coming in," she said softly. I clenched a fist to stop myself from chasing after them, creating a blade of light, and then cleaving them in half. "Do you want us to leave?" I asked gently.
She sucked in a sharp breath. "No...let him come. Actually, lure him here."
We stared at her. "What?"
"I'd like to see him, under a disguise." She reached into one of her shopping bags and drew out a black cloak, embroidered with golden designs and a ruby clasp. She swung it around her shoulders, pulling the hood over her head and fastening the clasp. "I smell different, right?"
I nodded. She used to smell like vanilla and strawberries, but now she smelled like the forest and something calming and cold like the stars. I liked this scent better than her old one. This one described her perfectly.
"Good. Start a fight, that will catch his attention."
I hesitated. "Why do you want to see him?"
"I want to see if he had gotten over me; if I was really just a simple replacement, or if it was something else. I can't keep thinking about this; I'll go insane. A clean break."
Rogue nodded, and went to find some people to fight, Lector and Fro following him. I stayed behind with Lucy. "I didn't know you were still worrying over that."
Something bubbled in my chest, burning and twisting like some fire snake had gotten under my skin. Was this...jealousy?
She sighed, refusing to meet my eyes. I tentatively wrapped my arms around her. "You should say something next time, Lucy. We're your friends; we can help."
She nodded, relaxing into my hug, crystalline tears pouring down her face. I panicked. "Please don't cry!"
She shook her head. "No...I'm really happy, that's all."
We stayed like that, hugging in the middle of the path, until Rogue returned several minutes later.
"Found a group of people who are beating up challengers left and right," Rogue relayed. "There's even a crowd." I nodded. "Ikezou."
Lucy walked on ahead of us, and Rogue snickered as soon as she was out of the hearing range, which was far, even subconsciously. "How long were you two standing there like that?" He jibed. "Oh, urasai," I grumbled. "At least I'm making progress; how are you and Hikari?"
He bowed his head in embarrassment. "I...don't really know how to approach her without sounding awkward," he admitted.
I clapped him on the back. "Don't worry, you've got me to help!"
Rogue smiled. "Yeah, you're right."
I laughed. "See, that's more like it! Now, let's catch up to Lucy. Last one there is a rotten Dragon Egg!"
I took off, catching Rogue's mumbled statement of "He's so childish" before he was hot on my heels.
I spun around, executing a perfect roundhouse kick into my opponent's face, and crouched down to sweep the legs out from under another person just as Rogue landed a series of blows, his kick soaring over my head. We were in perfect sync, and the numbers were dropping fast without us even having to use any magic. Training had really paid off.
I punched the last person in the solar plexus, and watched him drop like a stone. I placed my boot on top of his head, looking out at the crowd challengingly. In reality, I was looking for a certain someone―and found the cotton candy head running towards us, dragging his white-haired partner with his Exceed trailing behind. I smirked. This was an excellent chance to verbally beat down that pathetic excuse for a Dragon Slayer. I looked over at Lucy, her face shadowed by her cloak hood. She had stood off to the side, simply watching the battle.
Admittedly, the battle had started over her, and the person who had suggested that now sported a broken nose, a concussion, a couple of bruised ribs, and a multitude of injuries where the sun doesn't shine. No one messed with Lucy in front of me.
I jerked my head in the direction of the pink-haired Dragon Slayer, and she inclined her head in acknowledgement. Good. She had sensed them too.
"Anybody else?" My eyes swept the crowd again.
"These guys are literally beneath us, oh yeah!" Lector crowed.
"Fro thinks so too!"
I watched as Dragneel crawled under the crowd, and glared when his head poked out.
"You!" I snarled.
"Natsu Dragneel." Rogue glared, his face hard.
"Gah!" His Exceed, Happy, exclaimed. "Cats!" I mentally facepalmed. How stupid could you get? He didn't even recognize his own species!
"What's up with this stupid looking cat?" Lector asked.
"Stupid!" Fro sang.
The Exceed began panicking. "They talk!"
Natsu cocked his head. "Who are you guys?"
One of the people in the crowd called out. "Hey, haven't you heard of Sabertooth's Twin Dragons, Sting and Rogue?"
"They're the cornerstone of Fiore's strongest Guild!" Said another.
Lucy chose that time to cough. I glared playfully at her.
Lisanna finally pushed through the crowd. "Then these two are..."
"...Sabertooth, huh?" Natsu finished.
I walked over to Natsu. "Rumor has it that you're going to be participating in the GMG. Is that true?" I wanted any excuse I could get to pound this guy into the dirt.
"You know about me?"
I smirked. "Acnologia..." Natsu's eyes sharpened in a glare. My smirk widened. I leaned in. "You're the Dragon Slayer who couldn't slay a Dragon, right?" I mocked. "Are you sure you should still be calling yourself a Dragon Slayer?" I drew myself up. "You know, I used to look up to you." I barely kept myself from spitting that out. I jerked a thumb at Rogue. "Incidentally, that guy was into Gajeel-san." He still is, I added mentally. According to Lucy, he had talked to her those three months, so I had nothing against him.
Rogue bowed his head slightly. "I was just interested in a fellow Dragon Slayer."
"Dragon Slayers? Both of you?!" Natsu demanded.
"I guess you should call us true Dragon Slayers..." I drawled. "We could've beaten Acnologia."
"That's easy for you to say! You've never even laid eyes on Acnologia!" Lisanna frowned.
"That's right!" Happy yelled at Lector and Fro.
"You don't seem too bright, cat." Lector smirked.
"Lector is smart, right?" Smiled Fro.
I shook my head. "It doesn't matter whether or not we've seen Acnologia. The point here is the difference between our aptitudes as Dragon Slayers."
Lector walked forward. "I'll explain. Natsu-kun and the rest learned Dragon Slaying Magic from Dragons. They're the so-called 'First Generation'. Your Laxus-kun and Oracion Seis' Cobra-kun are known as the 'Second Generation'. They can use Dragon Slaying Magic through a Dragon Lacrima embedded in their body. As for Sting-kun and Rogue-kun, like you, they were raised by Dragons, but also have a Dragon Lacrima implanted inside their body...the hybrid 'Third Generation'!"
"'Third Generation'?!" Natsu gasped.
"In other words, they're the strongest Dragon Slayers!" Lector declared.
"Strongest Dragon Slayers, you say?" Natsu repeated.
"There's a world of difference between in ability between the 'First Generation' and the 'Third Generation'." Lector sighed. "It's not even worth talking about."
Apparently Natsu had only listened to the 'we are Dragon Slayers' part, because he asked "Did your Dragons disappear in the year 777 too?!"
"Well, in a manner of speaking..." I trailed off, discreetly looking at Lucy. She inclined her head in confusion, and I mouthed 'Please don't get mad; we'll explain,'". She nodded.
Rogue stepped forward. "I'll give it to you straight."The Dragons who taught us Dragon Slaying Magic were slain by our own hand, so we could become true Dragon Slayers..." Only Lucy, Lector, Fro, and I could hear the sadness behind the statement, but Natsu only heard the mockery.
"Y-You killed Dragons?!" Lisanna exclaimed in astonishment.
"Humans killed Dragons?!" Happy's mouth dropped open.
"You murdered YOUR OWN PARENTS?!" Natsu roared.
"So what if we did?" I taunted. "What would you know about that? Destroying a nakama? Oh right, you'd know a lot about that." Natsu's face went from enraged to bewildered. I heard Lucy suck in a sharp breath behind me.
"What?" He asked.
"Lucy Heartfilia." I drawled, enjoying his flinch. "I heard through the grapevine that you threw her out of your Team. Said she was a...replacement." I jerked my head towards Lisanna. "For her." I smirked at her flinch.
Natsu scrambled to his feet. "Do you know where she is?!" He demanded.
I snorted in disgust. "Well, even if I knew, why would I tell you? Besides, I'm sure she never wants to see your face again."
He grabbed my shoulders and shook me. "How is she?!"
I brushed his hands off me like it was an annoying bug...which it was. "The last time I saw her, she was a wreck. There was another blonde girl with her, and she was trying to stop Lucy's crying―to no avail. I distinctly remember her words―'I can't believe him. I actually thought he was my nakama. I actually thought any of them were my nakama! Should've guessed I was just a replacement...I never want to see them again.' Why would you want to know?"
He didn't say anything, he just slumped down into the floor. Lisanna had already started crying. When he looked back up at me, I got a good look at his eyes.
The only way to describe them was broken. As it someone had switched the usual obsidian eyes with flimsy black-stained glass, and I was the hammer that smashed them to pieces. Still, I couldn't really find it in me to care much.
Do you feel this, Natsu-san? Do you feel this pain? This is what you caused Lucy. You reap what you sow.
As he locked eyes with me, I saw those broken shards put themselves back together again and fog over. He stared at me blankly before the fog lifted, and his eyes were back to those defiant obsidian chips.
So he only felt it for a second, huh? I guess complete remorse was too much to ask.
Slowly, slowly, he picked himself back off the floor, and walked away without a word. Lisanna and Happy followed him, Lisanna still crying and Happy's ears and tail drooping.
"Well, if we get the chance to fight each other during the GMG..." I called after him. "...I'll show you the power that can slay a real Dragon!"
"Ikezou. I'm not interested in the older generation." Rogue muttered.
I nodded, gestured to Lucy, called for Lector and Fro, and we walked away from the crowd to our hotel.
When we walked into our room, we found Hikari and Sirius talking animatedly to Rufus about broomstick design. Remus was reading a pamphlet about Crocus.
"―the broom is made of ebony, and the birch twigs are carefully hand selected―" she broke off and smiled at us. "Great! Just in time, too!" She gestured at the clock mounted on the wall, which read 11:50. "So, how was your trip around Crocus? Ours was great! We even walked in the Royal Garden surrounding Mercurius!"
Remus nodded. "It was really beautiful. There were even flora I had never seen before!"
"―the iron is made by goblins! GOBLINS! They don't come cheap either, and their metal smithing skills are so good they can absorb poisons and magic! They are also practically indestructible―"
I sighed, and recounted our tale. By the end of it, even Sirius and Remus were listening intently, and Hikari looked ready to murder someone.
"That―That bastard! How―" she stopped talking and breathed in and out, deeply.
Rufus simply glared at the wall. "No use ranting about it, it's already done. I would suggest leaving that anger for the GMG, where you can take turns beating him. I would, admittedly, like to have a turn."
Sirius nodded emphatically, practically vibrating with suppressed rage. "You'd better give them a good beating," he stared seriously. "Otherwise, I will be forced to transfigure both you and them into flowers."
Rogue nodded, the corners of his mouth upturned in a wicked smile. "Of course. What kind of friends would we be then?"
Remus closed his pamphlet with a snap, and you could see the rage in his eyes. "Come on, Sirius, we have to go. It's almost midnight."
Standing up, both bid us farewell before leaving. I slumped against the wall.
"So, I owe you an explanation..." I said dejectedly. Lucy nodded and gestured for me to go on.
"Well...in a way, we both did kill our Dragons. My Dragon, Weisslogia, willingly let me kill him in order for me to reach my full strength. I protested, and adamantly refused, but I killed him anyways..." My breath hitched in my throat. Lucy slid over to me and put her arms around me. I shifted closer, wanting her comforting warmth and her calming scent.
She inclined her head towards Rogue, who hesitantly began his story. "Like Sting, my killing my Dragon was a half-truth. My Dragon, Skiadrum, was slowly dying from a deadly disease. I simply...helped him pass on without pain."
Hikari put her hand softly over Rogue's, and leaned into him. We stayed like that until the clock struck twelve.
*Back with Fairy Tail*
Natsu's POV
Lisanna, Happy, and I slowly walked into the hotel room, where Gray was being chewed out by Erza, and Kaito was staring blankly at a wall.
Erza turned on us. "And where have you been...?" She trailed off after she saw our faces. Gray and Kai walked over to listen.
"Met up with Sabertooth...they saw Lucy." I mumbled. The meeting flashed through my head, and I couldn't even find it in myself to get angry at Sting or Rogue. Lucy...
And the scariest thing was, for a second, I really didn't care if Lucy didn't want to see us or not. I just...blanked out.
Erza's eyes widened. "They saw Lucy?! How is she?"
"Doesn't want to ever see us again."
Before Erza could say anything else, the door flew open to a panting Charla and an unconscious Wendy.
"What happened to her?!" Gray demanded.
"Ambushed...lost all her magic," puffed Charla.
"Bring her over here." Kai said, and he slipped off his right bracelet. All of a sudden, he was holding an electric guitar.
"Wha...?"
I was completely bewildered. Maybe this was the magic they were talking about...?
He strummed out a simple tune, and hummed "Healing Sonata."
The music washed over us like a warm blanket, and we all relaxed. I took the chance to lift my spirits up; reassure myself that Sting was merely taunting me; that Lucy would be back.
But then how did he know about Hikari?
Urasai, self. Let me be happy.
After a while, Wendy came to.
"W-What happened?"
"You were apparently ambushed. Dunno. But you're fine now." Kaito's guitar shrunk back into a spiked bracelet, and he slipped it back on his wrist.
Wendy bowed. "Arigato Kaito-san!"
He grunted. "No problem." Catching all of our weird looks, he sighed. "Alright, I'll tell you..."
We all sat in silence, turning over the new information in our heads. Kaito and Yuki were Wolf Slayers.
So, they were like me? Slayers? I couldn't wait to fight them!
Before we could say anything, the clock struck twelve.
Hikari's POV
"Everyone in the Guilds who have gathered for the GMG...ohayo gozaimasu!"
"It's coming from outside!" I exclaimed, springing up and dragging Rogue onto the balcony, the others hot on our heels.
"It's a hologram." Rufus noted, gesturing to the 3-D image of the GMG's mascot.
"Beginning now, we're going to take the 113 participating teams―"
"113?! Sting yelped. "That's more than all of Fiore's Guilds!"
"―and have an elimination round to pare them down to eight!"
"Only eight this year?" Rogue mused. "Last year it was 16..."
"An elimination round? Was there one last year?" Lucy asked.
Sting shook his head. "No, there wasn't. I guess this is why they wanted us to be back at our designated hotel at midnight."
"Every year, the number of participating Guilds increases, and it was pointed out to me that the events were getting stale. This year, there I'll only be eight teams participating in the official games. The elimination rules are simple!"
The hotel suddenly began to shake, and it rose off the ground. Sting fell to the floor, green, and Rogue tightened his grip around my hand. Frantically, I dug in my pocket for the new container of Troia pills I had purchased today, and handed them I the Dragon Slayers, who immediately gobbled them up. Feeling much better, they stared intently at a magically forming wooden walkway from our balcony to...nowhere yet.
"All of you are going to race each other! The goal is the Game's arena, Domus Flau. The first eight teams to get there will move on. You are few to use your magic. There are no restrictions. But remember, only the first eight teams to get to the goal will survive this round! However, all five members must arrive together or it doesn't count! And one more thing! We take no responsibility for any lives lost in the Labyrinth."
"Labyrinth?!" I exclaimed.
"There!" Lucy gasped.
Sure enough, an enormous magically generated Labyrinth floated in mid-air, connected to the flimsy wooden walkways.
"The Grand Magic Games elimination round! Sky Labyrinth...begin!"
AN: Who do you think the person who used Psychic Eyes on Hikari was? I'll give you guys a hint-reread the last few chapters (coughcough10coughcough…wha? I didn't say nuthin!) and write in the reviews who you think he/she/they are! Also, I think I rushed this chapter a bit…did you like the Sting/Natsu confrontation? I took most of the dialogue from the episode itself…oh, and one more thing! Just in case you don't understand why everyone was mad at Natsu (the Sabers), it's because they think he has a lot of nerve, kicking out Lucy with no remorse, and then demanding to know where she was and how she'd been.
Ja ne,
Kit Kat