The fight against the dragons was over, and everyone was okayć¼for the most part. The memories of what could have been was too close in their minds for comfort. But it was better than being dead.
Happy was also being uncharacteristically quiet.
It was still late at night, and Sting refused to leave Lucy's side. There was rubble everywhere, and smoking ruins from where there once may have been a building. Sting held on to Lucy everywhere they went. They didn't know where everyone else went, so they continued to wonder. For the amount of times Sting had been to Crocus, he couldn't recognize where he was.
"Are you okay still?" Sting asked.
"I've been better," Lucy replied, looking to the cut on her arm.
"I-" Sting hesitated. "I don't know what's going to happen after all this. Rogue, he... No, I know that wasn't the Rogue we know. It's just... Does he have the potential to become the same man who caused all of this? And I don't even want to think about Lector. Minerva said that he'd be killed if we didn't win the games, but I don't even know where she's gone."
Lucy stopped and turned to look in his eyes. "No matter what happens, we'll be alright, okay? We'll make everything work."
"Okay," he replied, then hugged her.
Hours of wondering and daybreak finally lead to Lucy and Sting finding all the other mages, who were talking amongst themselves and helping the injured. At first, Lucy's heart started to beat quickly. She couldn't see any of her guild members. What if they were dead?
She knew it was irrational the second she caught sight of some bright pink hair in the crowd.
"Sting, thank you for saving me. You should go look for Rogue and Minerva, okay? If I go with you, I think I'd only make it worse," Lucy said.
Sting nodded and went off in search of his own guildmates. He wasn't exactly overjoyed to see them, but it was a relief everyone was alive and well. Except for Minerva, who was nowhere in sight.
"Look who finally decided to show his face!" Orga all but yelled, causing everyone to stare at Sting.
Rogue turned around a smiled; a genuine smile that rarely graced Rogue's face. Sting was just happy that there wasn't a deranged quality to his face, and that there was no scars or wild hair.
"Thought I needed a break," Sting replied in good humour. He didn't really care what they thought anymore. Not after everything he'd been through.
Orga looked partly shocked before realizing Sting was joking. "I'm guessing jail treated you well?"
"I was only in there for a day," Sting said, before turning his back to Orga and looking at Rogue.
"It's nice to see you," Sting greeted. Probably not the best greeting after so much time apart.
Rogue hit Sting on the arm. "We didn't know where you went. We all thought you were dead," he admitted.
Sting was shocked as Rogue pulled him in for a hug. They had always been best friends, but they never really let it show what with the whole 'every Mage for themselves' attitude in Sabertooth.
"Also, this crazy cat lady came up to me earlier. She has a surprise for you," Rogue told him.
Sting let himself follow Rogue, purposely not guessing at the surprise lest he got his hopes up. Going through the crowd of mages, he was happy to see how everyone was overjoyed to be with their fellow guildmates again.
"Milliana," Rogue called.
A girl with a large cloak turned around and Sting's heart nearly stopped. At her feet, Lector was proudly telling everyone about Sting.
"Lector!" Sting exclaimed.
He couldn't believe it. He didn't even care where Minerva had gone, Lector was back and that was beyond describable.
He thought that he'd never see Lector again! So maybe everything would be alright after all.
The ball every guild had been invited to was grand. There was live music that was playing a classy yet lively tune. Among all the people dancing sat tables with loads of food. So much that Lucy thought that they'd never be able to finish the that much food (well maybe Natsu could). Above all the dancing people was a vaulted ceiling that was decorated so elaborately that it made Lucy wonder how many years it took to make.
Wondering around the people dancing in fancy dresses, Lucy searched for her guildmates. She was beyond proud of the stunning pink dress she'd picked out for the ball and with all the effort she'd gone through to get the perfect dress, she wanted to show if off to everyone. Especially Sting.
Speaking of Sting, she hadn't seen him for a day because he was so busy with guild issues. So maybe she'd go find Sting next.
"Lucy!" Gray exclaimed, beside him was Juvia who was tightly holding onto his out coat as if he was about to leave her and never return.
"Hey Gray, how's it going?"
"Great," Gray replied, motioning to all the drinks and snacks. "By the way, I think I saw Sting over with some of the Lamia Scale guild members."
"Thanks, Gray, but I want to go see everyone else first. Have you seen Levy?"
Before Gray could answer, Juvia piped in. "I saw her on the other side of the room with Gajeel!" Well somebody wanted to get rid of Lucy. (ITALICSHSHS) either way, at least she got her answer.
"Thanks guys," Lucy waved before making her way through the crowds of chatting people to get to Levy.
So far, even though it had been only minutes, Lucy was feeling better than she had in a very, very long time. It more than likely had to do with the whole star-crossed lovers problem being out of the way and the fact that Fairy Tail had just won the games. Not to mention, she no longer felt that aching loneliness in herself anymore. Sting would never fill the hole that her father had left, but he did help the feeling of being lost. Not to mention, Lucy didn't feel distant from her guildmates either. Almost all was well but one thing, but that one thing could wait until the ball was over. She at least deserved a moment of bliss.
"Levy!" Lucy called, trying to get the blue headed girl's attention off of Gajeel.
Levy looked away from Gajeel and began to smile the moment she set her eyes on Lucy's dress. "Oh Lu-chan, you look beautiful! Have you gone to see Sting yet? I saw him around here somewhere, I bet he'd appreciate it."
Lucy blushed. "Yeah, I'll go see him in a bit. I just wanted to spend a bit of time with you guys because I kept running and hiding from you all. I think that I should at least make it up in some way."
"Lucy that's ridiculous. You know we all forgave you for that! Go have a good time!"
"He was asking about you too, you know," Gajeel added in.
Lucy willed her face not to heat up further. "Thanks, guys, I guess I'll go find him then."
So Lucy continued to maneuver through the ballroom enjoying the sights of people laughing, drinking and dancing. Not to mention the beautiful music playing in the back that gave the place and overall classy feeling. It was kinda ironic considering so many of the people in attendance were rowdy, but at least she enjoyed it and it seemed they other were too.
Finally, Lucy spotted Sting grinning ear to ear and laughing at a joke Rogue had just made. Beside him was Lector; it seemed as though Sting had reverted to a happier and more care-free version of the man she had met in the bar in what seemed like forever ago. And for that, she was glad.
"Sting!" Lucy joyfully said.
Sting turned around with a smile and hugged her tightly in greeting. "You look beautiful," he commented.
"Thank you," Lucy replied sincerely. She was glad everyone loved her pink dress because she loved it too.
"Wanna catch some air?" Sting asked her, slipping away from Rogue and Lector.
"Yeah, sure."
Out on the balcony was a beautiful view of Crocus in the evening moonlight. It was a bit chilly, but that was okay because Sting handed Lucy his coat. Lucy had protested, but Sting insisted she wear it.
"So how are you?" Sting asked.
Lucy immediately cracked up. After all, they'd been through, that was what he first said to her?
"What?!" Sting questioned, clearly confused.
"Nothing, nothing. I'm just glad everything is done I guess."
"Yeah, so am I."
For a little while, they allowed a comfortable silence to hang between them, fine with just listening to the music coming from inside and observing the city in front of them. It was then Sting realized something very pivotal to their lives. In fact, it was something they'd brought up before, but back then they were in a different circumstance.
"Lucy, what are we going to do once we go back to our guilds?"
Lucy stiffened, realizing the problem still existed before relaxing again. "Come stay at Fairy Tail."
"What?!" Sting exclaimed at her straightforward answer. Then he began to consider it further; he didn't want to stay at Sabertooth for obvious reasons, and yet, he did want to stay. Leaving Sabertooth would mean leaving a portion of his life behind, and then there was the matter of Rogue. He couldn't just up and abandon his best friend - they weren't called the twin dragons of Sabertooth for nothing!
"I-I don't know what to say, Lucy."
"You don't have to give me an answer now, you can think about it, you know."
Sting gave a nervous laugh until it full on became a laughing feast for the both of them. To say they were beyond joyful was an understatement.
"You seriously didn't think that you had to answer me right then, did you?" Lucy asked, still giggling.
"Yes..." Sting replied, causing her to laugh more.
So maybe their relationship had been off to a rocky start. (Okay, a lot more than rocky). But at least they had the time and peace to figure things out between themselves. Not only that but they had the opportunity to finally and wholly be themselves, because how could they before when their friends, who were practically their family, were left out of their lives?
It was time to mend and repair all the damage that had been done.
AN: One more chapter left, I'm so happy!
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