Hello, everyone. I don't really have much to say. I was going through old docs and found this third chapter that I never finished. I didn't finish it, I just fixed the grammar and gave it a title. I figured I might as well share what would have happened next with anyone who still cares. Although it also kind of seems rude considering I know I am not going to continue, but oh well.

I'm sorry for everyone who did enjoy reading this, but things change, and I just don't have the time and the passion for fanfictions anymore.

Anyway, enjoy what little left there is.

Chapter Three: Standoff

April X791

Sting remained motionless, remained at a loss for words as the small, blonde-haired figure retreated, continuously growing even smaller in the distance. He still could not comprehend what had just happened, could not believe what she—Lucy—had just done to him. The event seemed to transpire out of nowhere to him; he saw no reason for her outburst. Sure, he had poked fun at her guild (though, honestly, he meant every word he said and every thought he thought about the Fairy Tail guild), but he hadn't really gone over the line, or he felt so, at least.

As Lucy continued her leave, the Sabertooth mage suddenly seemed to snap back into reality—and reality seemed to snap him back hard. His temper rose, yet his demeanor remained calm. In seconds, his body began to move; he began to run towards the celestial spirit wielder.
"Hey, you!" He shouted as he neared his target.

Lucy heard the voice over her shoulder and tried to ignore it. She focused her attention on the ground in front of her, the trail that she hoped would lead her away from this situation, hide her from all of the hassle. Unfortunately, despite all her efforts, she couldn't help but notice Sting's rapid approach.

There was nothing more that Lucy wanted in that moment than for the Sabertooth mage to disappear, or for her to be able to just continue her departure without his ever catching up. However much she yearned for that, though, she began to reason that, in her current state, it probably was best to give in.

Her body protested her stopping, but, alas, she halted and turned to face the other blond. In seconds, Sting caught up to her. He approached her, towering over her; she barely reached his shoulders.

There was a moment of silence, and then, "What the hell was that?" The words echoed throughout the darkening sky which signaled the coming of night.

The Fairy Tail mage responded with more silence as she considered the question and considered all her possible answers. Truthfully, she didn't really have an answer, she had just acted on a whim; however, seeing Sting standing there in front of her, waiting for an answer while most likely becoming impatient with her, she decided to come up with a response.

"It's what you deserved." The petite mage responded after what seemed a standoff that could endure for an eternity.

Hearing that response, Sting became even more flabbergasted than before, more outraged than he had anticipated that he would become.

"What I deserved?" He echoed, a look of disbelief plastered across his face.

"Yes." Lucy replied. "That's what I said."

Lucy stood there, still exhausted from her fight earlier. Her body called out for her to take her leave and find a place to rest, even more so than before due to night's approaching. She knew there was bound to be a town nearby. Her body ached for a nice, cozy bed in a quaint little hotel to rest in, as she had been spending her past few nights away in a tent against the cold, unforgiving ground.

As the blonde lost herself in her thoughts, the other blond took whatever time he could to observe her. Of course, she was shorter—much shorter—than him. She was quite busty (What? Of course Sting would take note of that), and she sure seemed like she didn't mind showing it off (much to his pleasure).

He continued his examination, and then stopped once he reached her eyes. Her spirit seemed so alive and feisty, yet, looking into those eyes, he saw that they were quite empty, void—as if someone had robbed them of their life, perhaps even their joy.

Both blonds had lost themselves in their minds—quite frankly, to passerbys, if there were any, they would have appeared as a pair of idiots, worthy of the blond stereotype.

Minutes passed, and the first to rekindle the conversation was Sting. "So," he began, "what did I do to deserve it, then?"

Lucy, jolted back to reality by her interlocutor, continued to stare at him—this time, however, aware of her surroundings. And then,

"Sorry, what did you say?" The spirit mage asked.

Sting sighed. "I said, 'what did I do to deserve it?'"

"Isn't it obvious?"

"No."

Lucy became irritated. Then, glaring at her interrogator, she began, "You insulted my guild. That's what you did. And, unless you're going to apologize, there's no point for me to stay here."

The White Dragon was taken aback. At first, he thought she was joking, yet the look on her face told him that she was far from that. Part of him told him that he should just apologize and get it over with; his pride, however, would never give in to his rationality.

"Why would I apologize for saying something based on the truth?"

"And what exactly is 'the truth'?" Lucy demanded, her temper rising even more.

"You know what I'm talking about." Sting replied, growing slightly more irritated, just as Lucy did. "Your guild—it's a joke." He spat out at the end .

Just as he had earlier, it seemed like Sting had drawn the last straw, and the Fairy Tail mage exploded.

"A joke?" She questioned, her tone making it seem more like a demand. "A joke?" She repeated, outraged at what he had said to her. "What exactly makes it a joke? Tell me." She demanded, taking a step forward, pointing at Sting. "Please, tell me; I'm just dying to know what's so funny. I could use a good laugh."

After seeing her reaction, Sting decided there was no reason for him to remain calm or to even attempt to—his temperament also began to escalate.

The Sabertooth mage raised his hand and grabbed the Fairy Tail mage's, the one she had been pointing with. "You better watch your attitude, Blondie." He seathed, "You don't know what you're messing with."

The blonde tried to jerk her hand away and out of his grip but could not find release from it. His physical strength trumped hers tenfold—or that's how she felt—and she had already learned earlier that she couldn't, especially in her current state, match him in magical prowess. Her demeanor began to change as she began to realize her mistake; her aggression began to retreat as feelings of anxiety and worry entered her.

Sting, his hand still locked in place on Lucy's, noticed the changes in Lucy, noticed her loss of fire and gain of fear. How Sting felt next certainly surprised him.

Normally, the White Dragon slayer grew excited when he was able to spark fear in his prey. To him, it reminded him of his power, the power he had been working to attain his whole life. Not only so, it also distracted him from the things missing from his life, things of which he himself was still unaware.

However, in contrast to his normal excitedness, he felt nothing at all. He knew he had practically terrified the girl, and yet he felt no pride in his show of power. In fact, though he had a more neutral feeling of the situation, a small, very tiny part of him felt ashamed with what he had done.

He brushed that very small part of him aside, and then let go of her hand, letting it fall. Now it was his turn to part in silence; he turned and walked back towards the thief, taking slow steps.

Well, it's over I think. Who knows. Let me know what you guys think, still! I'd love to know. It still means a lot to me.

Thank you all for everything, past and present.

Until maybe (but probably unlikely) next time.

~AGuyOnAComputer a.k.a Peter