This is her part and mine. This is the only chapter you will read today. Good night
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The following morning Haru was sitting on his bed watching the critics of the Grand Magic make their judgements on fellow participants. Haru ordered room service, a full bowl of ice cream made from milk of butterfly cows and strawberries from an island far away from Fiore.
"Hello, this is Newt and Farina. Today we are going to talk to you about mages who have showed us a great game. Coming at number three is Jellal and Meredy. You got to love the way they fight and their hair; you've got to love bright colours! They beat Ren and Eve from Blue Pegasus and will be facing Millianna and Kagura from Team Mermaid Heel. Number two goes to Sting and Rouge from Team Twin Dragons. Their magic and fighting is beyond recognition. They beat a team from Twilight Ogre and it was amazing to see. None of them got a scratch and the opposing team was sent to the hospital ward. We all feel sorry for them, but that battle was amazing. Team Armor Scarf will be facing Team Twin Dragon today. And, speaking of Team Armour Scarf, they come in first!"
Haru stopped eating his ice cream, dropping the spoon in his hand in shock; causing it to land all over his bed. Turning up the volume on the screen, Haru blinks in surprise. "Cooro come in here!" Cooro was taking a shower but walked out when he heard Haru calling for him. Cooro only had a wet towel wrapped around his legs and wasn't wearing his scarf. "They're talking about us."
"What?" Cooro gasped in surprise, as he brushes his bangs away and rushes over to the television, listening in. "What are you talking about?"
"Just come over here and watch," was all Haru said with haste in his voice. The screen was paused until Cooro sat down next to him.
"I don't know what I like more about Team Armor Scarf: the way they fight or how they remind me of my nephews," said Farina. "Haru the protégé of Erza Scarlet fights with the heart of a lion. And Cooro always amazes me with his magic."
"That's us!" Haru exclaims.
"I for one was happy when Haru and Cooro came first in the Seeker. Those two just couldn't stay away from each other, and Haru fought almost every team to find Cooro. But what really makes this team number one was that last match where Cooro transformed his cannon into a sword and whispered something to Bones. We are all speculating what Cooro said to Bones and we will ask him when the tournament is over." Newt says, making Cooro blush and look away from the screen, only to have Haru's hand forcefully turn his head to watch once again.
"Do you think Team Armor Scarf stands a chance against Team Twin Dragons, Newt?"
"Absolutely not. They may have amazed us in the games but this sure isn't some storybook with a happy ending. Sting and Rouge have won the Magic Games two times already. Every year they get stronger. They can try all the magic they want but none of it will work on them. Especially since the creators of this year's games have a special surprise for them this morning."
'They do have a point, Cooro,' Kanellos spoke to Cooro. 'Without my help there's no way you can win.'
'Most friends would say we still have a chance,' Cooro talked back.
'I thought you said I wasn't your friend even though I treat you like a friend. If you really want to stop this team you'll need all the help you can get.'
'Whatever you are offering I don't want it.'
'You don't want my help because I don't fight with honor. Your friend has honor, but that honor didn't help you win that battle. Cheat and be honorable; that's how you win.'
"A surprise, huh?" Haru says looking towards Cooro, who stares at the screen blankly. "I wonder what they mean."
"I guess we'll find out, now won't we?" Cooro mutters getting up from the couch and walking back to the bathroom, stopping to pick up his scarf on his bed.
XXXX
Cooro and Haru were on the biggest field of the Grand Magic Games. It took Cooro two cups of something stronger than coffee to keep him awake. Haru was use to staying up late because he had Erza Scarlet as a teacher. Cooro didn't know if they were ready for Sting Eucliffe and Rouge Cheney. For the first time his head hurt thinking about what to do.
"These are our opponents?" Rouge said unemotionally disturbed. "They don't look like mages. They look like new Fairy Tail recruits."
"I wouldn't count them out just yet," Sting told Rouge. "I heard they beat Lucy Heartfilia and Gray Fullbuster. And remember when we were young? We beat everyone's expectation of a mage."
"Yes, but we are dragon slayers."
"Well, we tried," Cooro said already giving up, turning around to walk away, when Haru hits him over the head and drags him back.
"What do you mean we tried?! The game hasn't even started!" Haru yelled.
"Thank you for being here today," the announcer roared over the stadium. "The second round will be Team Armor Scarf against Team Twin Dragons. As said in this morning's news, we have a special surprise for these teams!"
"Oh joy," Cooro mutters, rubbing his eyes, trying to keep them open.
"You don't seem very happy," Sting laughs at Cooro. "Live a little, kid."
"You're the second person in a day to tell me that." Cooro sighs, looking up at the elder mages.
"It's true, though," Sting shrugs, looking down at Cooro; mostly focusing on his scarf. "Do you look up to Natsu?" he questions, making Cooro scrunch up his eyebrows in confusion. "It's just, you're wearing a scarf in summer, it's a little weird; don't you think?"
"I guess," Cooro shrugs, holding onto his scarf. "But, this means too much to me to take off."
Before they can continue their conversation, the announcer speaks up once more. "We have a special treat for you today," he laughs. "Something, or someone, has been taken from one person on each team. We had scouts secretly observe you four last night and, during the night, we had them take something of importance. Not only will you have to battle each other, but the team who wins must get their people or items back by going through an obstacle course. Do your best, teams. Let the battle begin!"
"What?" Cooro blinks when a gong sounds and two brilliant flashes of light blind the four mages. Opening his eyes once again, Cooro gapes at the obstacle course hiding behind Sting and Rouge, a small dot of a person behind it all.
"We have to get back a person?" Haru blinks in surprise.
"Yukino!" Sting shouts, trying to rush past the two boys, only to be held back by Rogue.
"Sting!" a feminine voice shouts. "I'm okay! Focus on the games right now!"
"Bastard!" Sting shouts up to the sky, cheers filling the area.
"Hi Cooro!" a voice shouts, causing the boy to freeze; his mouth splitting open and his knees going weak. "Do your best, okay?! You too Haru!"
"April," Haru mutters. "They took April?!"
"Another thing, contestants." The announcer speaks up once more. "You have fifteen minutes to battle and get your girls back."
"There's a time limit?!" Haru gapes.
Sting, his eyes raging, turns to look at the two boys. "I'm going to win." He declares, stalking towards them. "I'm going to save Yukino."
"I don't need saving!" Yukino cries.
"White Dragon's," Sting pauses, planting his feet on the ground, and bending backwards, breathing in the air around him. "Roar!"
Jumping out of the way, Cooro slides to a stop, looking up at Sting under his bangs. Watching him prepare and fire again, this time directed at Haru, the teen changes into a type of armour with a large shield.
Hearing footsteps approach him, Cooro gets to his feet just in time to jump over the leg sweep Rogue was trying to use on him. "You're quick," Rogue says, getting to his feet as he stares at Cooro. "For a boy."
"You're fast," Cooro smirks, crouching down. "For an old man."
"Let's see how fast I can be," Rogue smiles, charging towards Cooro. "Shadow Dragon's Slash!" Rogue shouts, as a black mist appears around his arms. Punching Cooro is the stomach, he sends the boy flying; making him land on the ground harshly.
Pulling himself up to his feet, Cooro wipes his mouth. "Too fast," he laughs, dodging another punch from Rogue. Trying his luck, Cooro finds and opening and aims a punch at Rogue, who catches his hand with ease.
Breathing in, Cooro's eyes widen when black mist appears to be going into Rogue's mouth. "Shadow Dragon's Roar!" Rogue chants, letting go of Cooro and using a breath attack at point blank.
Cooro, sent flying, faces Rouge. Using his left hand to dig into the ground, making him come to a stop, Cooro breathes heavily, shaking his head. Taking in a shaky breath, Cooro nods to himself. "I can do this," he mutters, rolling out of the way when Rogue aims another Shadow Dragon's Slash to Cooro's body; this time only getting the ground. "I can do this," Cooro repeats.
'You can't,' Kanellos' voice disagrees with him. 'You can't beat them, no matter how much you think you can. They're too powerful for you to beat, Cooro. Let me help.'
'No,' Cooro growls, dodging out of the way of another attack; only to trip and fall over. Flipping his legs over his head, Cooro lays on his stomach, looking up at Rogue, who smirks at him.
"Shadow Dragon's Claw," Rogue says calmly as a black mist appears in his heel as he digs his foot into the ground, causing it to crack apart, and the rocks to fly everywhere. Cooro, having moved out of the way just in time, stands behind Rogue, his hand gripping the cloak covering his body.
"Cannon." Cooro says seriously, watching as Rogue is sent flying; landing a few feet away from Cooro. Hearing the crowd cheer for him, Cooro laughs slightly.
Watching Rogue get to his feet and brush the front of his clothes, the older male looks behind him at Cooro; unhurt. "Ow," he smirks, cracking his knuckles. Disappearing into a black smoke, it charges towards Cooro, who can't get away in time.
Surrounded by the black smoke, he hears a deathly voice whisper "Shadow Dragon's Waxwing Flash."
Being thrown about in the shadow, Cooro scream in pain as some of the hits rip through his flesh; splattering blood on the ground. Watching Rogue materialize in front of him, Cooro falls to his knees, his bangs covering his eyes.
Out of the corner of his eye, Cooro looks at the timer, showing eight minutes left in the battle.
XXXX
Haru, using his speed armour, sneaks under Sting's outstretched arm using his sword to slice upwards. Then, spinning around, Haru lands a roundhouse kick on Sting's side, sending him flying.
"I know that power," Sting laughs, getting to his feet. "You're Erza's disciple, aren't you?"
"What of it?" Haru questions, not taking his concentration off the battle and going through the possibilities of Sting's next move.
"There's nothing of it," Sting laughs, turning to face Haru. "I'm saying that I recognize your power."
"I see," Haru says crouching down, lifting his sword so it's at eye level. With his body glowing a bright yellow, his outfit changes into white pants starting out his hips and fan out, touching the ground. With gold lightning trim lining the seams, and bandages going up his arms coming across the top of his chest, and up his neck, stopping at his chin, Haru holds a spear in his hands; lightning sparking around it. "Let's see if you recognize anything once I'm done with you."
"So serious," Sting laughs, running towards Haru. "White Dragon's Punch!" he chants, aiming a punch to Haru's face, but is thrown out of the way, when Haru hits him with his spear. Landing on the ground, Haru slams the spear into the earth, sending lightning travelling towards Sting, who jumps out of the way just in time.
"White Dragon's Roar!" Sting shouts, now high above Haru. Haru, his body glowing, disappears in the brilliant light of Sting's roar. When it dies down, Haru stands there, the shield placed in front of him. Sighing, Sting shakes his head. "That was supposed to hit you."
"Sorry to be a disappointment." Haru rolls his eyes.
Running towards Haru once again, his hands glowing a bright white colour, Sting ducks under Haru's spear and lands his palm right on Haru's stomach, causing a bright flash of light to blind everyone in the crowds; the only thing they can hear is "White Dragon's Claw!"
When the light dies down, Haru stands frozen, a white seal placed on his stomach, his spear now in Sting's hands, going right through his stomach. With blood dripping out of the corner of his mouth, Sting backs away, laughing.
"Did you think you actually had a chance to beat me?" Sting laughs, forming a white ball of light in his hands, throwing it up in the air a few times before throwing it at Haru, who takes the attack full-on; unable to move. "You know how these games work, those who survive pass on to the next day. And I think we're more suited to move on, rather than you and your friend." Sting points to Cooro.
His eyes widening in surprise at Cooro's defeated form, Haru shakes in rage.
Sting, turning away from Haru, begins to laugh. Rogue, looking over to Sting, smile slightly as well. Suddenly, hearing something shatter and feeling excruciating pain go through his shoulder, Sting looks to his left, his eyes widening in surprise when Haru stands behind Sting, his bangs covering his eyes and the spearhead going right through his shoulder.
"Eight minutes." Haru mutters, looking up at Sting; his eyes furious. "That's how long it will take to destroy you."
XXXX
'Cooro,' Kanellos says. 'Cooro let me help you.'
'No.' Cooro mutters. 'I'm going to do this by myself.'
'Idiot,' Kanellos scoffs. 'With what power?'
'With my own.' Cooro answers before hearing Haru speak to Sting. 'I'm not going to be defeated this early on. I'm going to win.'
'You can't win, Cooro!' Kanellos shouts. 'You can't win! And I'm sorry I have to break this to you, but without me, you're weak. Without my help, or my power, or my ability to help you survive, you would be dead because you. Are. Weak. Your power does nothing. It helps with nothing! So give up! You can't beat them!'
'Yes. I. Can!' Cooro shouts, his eyes opening wide.
Rogue, sensing something, turns to look at Cooro. Watching him get to his feet, Rogue gapes in as his body begins to glow and his magic aura rises drastically. "Sting," Rogue calls out to him, catching the wounded mage's attention. "Sting…" Rogue trails off, stepping away from Cooro.
"Holy shit…" Sting whispers, his, along with everyone else's, knees buckle under Cooro's magic pressure.
Cooro, beginning to change, now wears the armour from yesterday; but more extravagant. With a red cape hanging from his shoulders, a large sword slung over his shoulder as if it were as light as a feather, and a black crown with black mist surrounding it rests on his head.
With his eyes blank, Cooro points the large sword at Rogue. Without even moving from his spot, Rogue screams in pain; slashes and wounds appearing on his skin, colouring the battlefield with his blood.
"Cooro! No!" Haru shouts, trying to run towards the boy, but skid to a stop when Cooro looks over to him, his eyes calculating. "Cooro, I know you can hear me…" Haru trails off, changing back into his regular armour and putting up his hands in surrender. "I'm not going to hurt you, okay? But I know you can hear me." Haru searches Cooro's face for any sign of the teenage boy he knows and remembers. "Don't give in," Haru whispers.
Cooro, looking behind Haru at Sting, points his swords at the blond mage, watching him back away in fear. Tilting his head in confusion, Cooro's about to attack when the crown on his head cracks in half and Cooro's blank eyes fill with emotion again, this time showing pain. With the cape disappearing, and the sword and armour disappearing, Cooro falls to his knees, screaming in pain.
"Cooro!" Haru shouts worriedly, running to his side.
April, watching from her spot at the end of the obstacle course, tries to run towards Cooro; only to run into an invisible wall. "Cooro!" she shouts, banging on the wall. "Cooro!"
The blond boy, looking up at Haru, mutters something before going unconscious; something that Haru can't hear or understand.
Sting, helping Rogue up, back away from the two teenage boys in shock. "What the hell was that?!" Sting cries, eyeing Cooro wearily.
"He – Cooro got angry," Haru answers, getting to his feet. Turning his head, Cooro looks at the timer, sighing when two minutes remain. Breathing out harshly, Haru closes his eyes as he changes his armour into a reequip he's only had to use once or twice. When the light dies down, Haru stands in regular clothes. With black and white sneakers mostly covered up with blue jeans which lead up to a white t-shirt and a black leather jacket. In his hands, instead of a sword, a gun rests in it; black with colour, but every once in a while, it would flicker a purple colour.
Lifting up the gun, Haru points it at Sting's head. 'I can't win,' Haru thinks to himself. 'I'm not strong enough to win against these two. So, I have two options: we tie, or I fight hard enough to make them forfeit.'
Closing his eyes, Haru begins to hear Sting's laughter. "There's barely two minutes left and that's the reequip of your choice?"
Not answering him, Haru brings the gun to his other hand; cocking it. Bring it up to Sting's head once again, Haru lets out all of his magic power, watching as Sting and Rogue back away as Haru's eyes begin to glow red and his hair begins to flutter in the wind.
"You have three seconds to prepare yourself," Haru says quietly. "One," he begins.
"You're joking," Sting blinks in surprise.
"Two," Haru now points the gun at Rogue, keeping an eye on the time; ten seconds remaining.
"Three," Haru whispers, pulling the trigger as soon as the gong sounds. Sting and Rogue, having closed their eyes, awaiting the impact, open them, gaping in surprise when all that greets them is a sign escaping from the gun. Reading the sign, in big block letters, 'bang!' is written on it.
Beginning to laugh loudly, Sting has to bend over to stabilize himself. "You were so serious!" Sting laughs. "You scared me a little!"
"Well, since we didn't plan on having a tie," the announcer sighs over the laughter of the crowds. "I guess the first person to reach their person wins."
"We win," Cooro smiles, walking out of the obstacle course, holding onto April's hand. "I left as soon as the gong went. We win."
"Ladies and Gentleman!" The announcer says surprised. "Team Armour Scarf has beaten the Twin Dragons of Sabertooth! Give them a hand everyone!"
"Cooro!" Haru laughs, running over to him and April. "We won!"
"Yeah!" Cooro laughs, high-fiving Haru.
During his laughter, Haru punches Cooro across the face. "What the hell were you thinking?!" Haru shouts. "That was stupid and reckless! Idiot! What the hell kind of power was that?!"
"I – I don't know," Cooro squeaks, hiding behind April.
"Ladies and Gentleman, the boy I'm in love with," April mutters as she rolls her eyes and walks away. "See you guys at dinner!" she waves, running to find and see Komatsu. "Don't fight too much!"
"You don't know?" Haru blinks. "How do you not know?"
"I'm not sure. What did I look like anyways?" Cooro questions.
"You looked like a Prince or King of some sort. There was a crown on your head, and you had a huge sword. You looked possessed, Cooro."
"Do you think it's possible that I have reequip powers?" Cooro asks as they walk out of the stadium.
"It's unlikely, but not impossible. Do you think that's what it was?" Haru asks, looking at Cooro.
"Not sure," Cooro shrugs.
"Hey!" Sting shouts, as he and Rogue run up to the teens. "Good fight," he laughs, holding out his hand.
Cooro and Haru, looking from Sting's hand to his face, look at the two of them unimpressed. "You tried to kill us," Cooro says annoyed.
"Yes, but, that's how these things work," Rogue points out. "It's survive and move on. Not make friends and sing songs around a campfire."
"Oh," Cooro mutters, looking away. "Then yeah, good fight."
Both turning away, Cooro and Haru walk down the hallway. "Hey, kid!" Sting shouts, running up to Cooro. "I'm glad I got to fight you," he laughs, putting his hand on the teen's hair, ruffling it slightly. "You're pretty powerful, kid. Put it to good use, okay?"
"What do you mean?" Cooro blinks, not understanding.
"I mean, don't let the power go to your head, okay? Power isn't everything. Sure, it's important in the world of mages and guilds, but it won't get you anywhere in life; take this from someone who got put in his place by Fairy Tail."
"Okay, I get what you mean," Cooro nods.
"Alright, go hang out with your friends. See you around, kid." Sting smiles, turning around and walking back to Rogue, who looks at him in worry.
The two Dragon Slayers, walking towards their hotel, turn their heads one last time to see Cooro and Haru talking and laughing.
"Are you sure?" Sting stresses.
"I wouldn't lie about something like this," Rogue shakes his head. "Will you tell him?"
Sting, his eyes lingering on Cooro for a moment, laughs slightly. "Maybe." He says, turning around. "If we meet again, outside the Grand Magic Games, I'll tell him."
"He does have the right to know, Sting." Rogue sighs. "It's his life."
"And that's exactly the reason why I won't tell him." Sting rubs his forehead. "It's his life, and he deserves to live it how he wishes. I won't interfere."
"You're such an idiot," Rogue scoffs, walking away from Sting.
"But I'm your idiot." Sting laughs as Rogue makes a very uncomfortable face and disappears into the shadows. "Rogue, you know Yukino is the only one for me." Sting rolls his eyes.
Appearing beside Sting once again, Rogue rolls his eyes at the blond Dragon Slayer. "Again, you're such and idiot."