Hello, dearest readers!
It's been quite a while...
I'm sorry I haven't posted in so long, but I've been so uninspired lately. It's been hard, specially giving my personal life is also quite messy as I prepare to move next week.
Anyways, I am (finally) back with a one-shot I planned for my friend, ship-ambrosia's birthday. I decided to write about Sting x Yukino's relationship because they are her favourite FT couple.
(SPOILER ALERT!) As the summary makes clear, this story is tied to my Royal AU/Between Lies and therefore contains spoiler for chapters 16-17.
I hope you'll enjoy this piece!
October 18th, X792
Sting was rushing through the castle with Macbeth and Erik, who had saved him after he was trapped in the dungeons by Zeref. They were supposed to be making a grand escape, but upon feeling Yukino's presence and sensing that she was in danger, Sting knew he had to go to her.
He stopped suddenly, surprising the other two, and removed the concealing spell which Macbeth had placed on him.
"What the hell, man?" Erik whisper-yelled.
"You weren't supposed to undo the spell." Macbeth muttered, annoyed.
"Yukino's that way." Sting pointed before giving them a firm look. "I need to see her."
"You can see her when we get to the ship." Erik told him.
"I am not..." He was interrupted by a yell that made his blood run cold.
"Yukino!" It was Juvia's voice and the moment Sting heard it, he knew that he had to get to that room. Now.
They rushed through the corridor until reaching a wooden door. Sting could hear voices coming from inside, but didn't pay much attention.
His heart racing in his chest, he broke down the door effortlessly, only for his heart to drop into his stomach at the heart-wrenching sight before him.
Yukino lay helplessly on the floor, skin pale and her sky blue dress was quickly being tainted with blood coming from a wound on her stomach. So much blood. "Yukino!" He screamed her name, desperate.
"Sting..." She called him weakly, but her relief was clear.
"Shit!" Erik and Macbeth yelled, bringing Sting's attention to the other occupants of the room. He spotted Dimaria, who stood with her back to them, holding onto a bloody sword.
"What now?" She turned around to face them, looking bored.
"Of course it had to be you!" Sting yelled, filled with anger. Then his eyes widened once he finally noticed Juvia, who was crawling towards Yukino.
Realizing that the water mage's wedding dress was also being stained with blood, he became worried for his friend too. I hope she'll be alright…
He watched as Juvia took Yukino's hand and squeezed it gently. "Yukino…I'm so sorry."
The celestial mage coughed, clearly struggling to breathe. "Juvia..."
Overwhelmed by fear and sorrow, Sting found himself frozen in his spot, watching everything unfold, and suddenly the room started to spin.
He tried taking in deep breaths to calm himself, but it was no use. Seeing Yukino injured like that brought up a distressing memory of another time when he had failed to protect her.
One year before
"Seriously? That didn't do anything?" Sting said, frustrated.
Him, Rogue and Yukino had found themselves going against the most powerful member of Tartaros: Mard Geer, the underworld king. The trio had been unlucky enough to encounter him after they were freed from the Allegria Curse and a difficult, seemingly endless fight ensued.
"This is getting exhausting." Yukino breathlessly noted. After having summoned 2 celestial spirits simultaneously, she had fallen to her knees, drained. To make matters worse, neither Pisces nor Libra's attack seemed to have any effect on the demon.
"Maybe we should call for help." Rogue suggested while trying to regain his breathing.
After sending another ineffective attack, Sting frowned. "I'm sure everyone's busy fighting against the other demons."
"Even if you had help, it would still not be enough to defeat me." Mard Geer affirmed, smiling smugly. He stood in the same spot a few meters away from them from which he had not moved since the beginning of the fight.
In his arm he held a book which they assumed belonged to one of the nine demon gates. Yukino had tried to retrieve it while Sting and Rogue fought him, but none were successful.
"Won't this guy ever shut up?" Sting complained, rolling his eyes.
"We just need to work together." Rogue said.
After sending another attack, Sting turned to his best friend in frustration. "We've been doing that for the past hour. It's not working!"
Rogue gave him a stern look. "No, you've been distracted, Sting. That's why we're failing to strike him."
"Are you kidding me?" Mard Geer watched them argue in clear amusement, not bothering to attack, but Yukino decided to intervene. "Guys, this isn't the time."
Glancing at her, Sting became concerned at how tired and pale she seemed. "Are you okay?"
She heaved. "I'm okay, but I don't have much magic power left."
He decided to approach her and extended a hand. "Don't worry, I'll make sure he doesn't hurt you."
Yukino smiled and accepted his help. "Thank you."
They turned to Rogue, who watched them in frustration. "Why won't you two admit it?"
The celestial mage seemed confused. "Admit what?"
He gave her an obvious look. "That you love each other. I'm so tired of watching you ignore your feelings as if it will do any good."
"What the hell, man? Did you have to do this now?" Sting yelled in annoyance.
Yukino blushed as she stepped away from him. "This isn't… the best time."
"There is no right time." Rogue sighed. "If you wait any longer, you might never get the chance to tell the truth."
Sting knew he was referring to the possibility that they might not all make it out alive. A very real possibility considering they had been fighting Mard Geer for so long yet hadn't even managed to scratch him.
Though Sting still refused to believe that they could die, he realised this might be his last opportunity to tell Yukino how he felt.
Glancing at the celestial mage who looked at him with equal determination, he began. "Yukino, I..."
Suddenly there were vines everywhere, trapping him. He struggled against their hold, frustrated at the interruption. "What the hell?"
His gaze found Mard Geer, who smiled in satisfaction. "As amusing as watching you has been, I don't have all night."
"These vines are blocking my magic. I can't attack." Rogue noted in exasperation.
"Don't worry, I'll help you." Looking to his right, Sting was surprised to note that Yukino hadn't been caught.
"No, you won't." Mard Geer smirked in her direction.
"Damn it!" Sting kept struggling, to no avail.
"Humans always tend to fall prey to their emotions, while completely unaware of this weakness." Mard Geer finally moved from his spot and began approaching the trio.
"No, our emotions are what makes us stronger." Rogue said. "It might've taken awhile, but we understand that now."
""Is that so?" The demon raised a brow. "I suppose we'll see about that in a moment."
Sting's blood ran cold once Mard Geer briefly glanced at Yukino, who was trying to summon her spirits. "Let's see how strong you'll be after I kill your beloved."
"Don't you dare!" The dragon slayer yelled in anger, trying with all his strength to free himself. It was pointless.
A giant flower appeared out of nowhere and dived in her direction. Yukino tried to move in order to dodge it, but Mard Geer trapped her in place with more vines.
Sting and Rogue were powerless to save her, forced to watch as the flower moved towards her. Nothing could be heard aside from the latter's desperate scream of her name. "Yukino!"
They had been miraculously saved back then by the arrival of Gray Fullbuster, who froze the vines with ease then broke them. His intervention was the only reason why Yukino hadn't died that day.
Focusing back on the present situation, Sting prayed that someone would intervene again and save Yukino's life.
Thankfully, Juvia was one step ahead of him. "Water-make: blood." She whispered the spell which he recalled worked as a blood transfusion.
She's risking her life to save Yukino. Sting realised and knew that he must do the same. Turning to Dimaria in anger, he threatened. "You are going to pay for hurting them!"
She stared at him with disinterest, not impressed once he activated dragon force or when Erik and Macbeth turned into their most powerful forms.
"I don't have time for this." Dimaria rolled her eyes in annoyance and Sting barely felt once she used her magic to freeze time.
The next thing he knew, she was on the ground, unconscious, and Jellal Fernandes stood by the window. Though grateful that Jellal had saved them, the dragon slayer's attention solely was Yukino thus he rushed to her side.
Briefly apologising after nearly knocking Jellal down, he didn't stop until he had arrived in front of Yukino and Juvia. Kneeling down, he gently took his girlfriend into his arms. "Yukino, talk to me."
Realizing how cold she was, he panicked. "No, this isn't happening." Feeling his blood run cold at the thought that he might've lost her, he leaned against her chest, praying there would be a heartbeat.
It was faint, but unmistakable. She is still alive. "That's it, babe. That's it." Sting lifted his head before pressing a kiss against her forehead, closing his eyes. "Thank you."
"Is she..." Hearing Juvia's voice, he turned to her.
"She's still alive." Bringing Yukino deeper into his arms, Sting glanced at her wound. "But there's so much blood."
"I'm so sorry." The water mage told him, eyes filled with tears.
Sting assumed she was blaming herself for what happened, so he was quick to reassure. "It's not your fault."
Juvia nodded, giving a thankful look, before turning back to Jellal. "Jellal...She needs a healer."
"You both do." The latter concernedly noted.
"I'm fine." She attempted to reassure, but was disproved by a groan.
Sting noticed that she looked much paler than before and there was a wound on her stomach which was bleeding. Not good. She needs help too.
"We need to go. Now." Jellal firmly said before turning to Macbeth. "Do you have enough magic to use your invisibility spell on all of us?"
It took him a while to answer. "I do."
"Good." Jellal nodded before approaching Juvia and kneeling by her side. "If you allow me, your highness, I will carry you until we reach safety."
It took her a while to answer and Sting assumed she must have mixed feelings about abandoning this wedding. He was thankful, though, that she seemed to realise that leaving was the best option. "Okay"
Jellal carefully took her in his arms then glanced at Sting. The latter nodded before standing, holding Yukino protectively against his chest.
He was ready to do whatever it took to get her back to the ship safely, no matter the challenges they might have to face. He would fight even Zeref if that's what it took to ensure they managed to live the life they had been planning.
Throughout their escape, Sting tried keeping his thoughts positive and fixated on their plans for the future. Recalling how his proposal had been interrupted, he reminded himself to do it again.
Upon wondering about her possible response, he couldn't help but to smile. Then once he thought about their friends' reactions, happiness increased. Rogue and Minerva would be ecstatic, having encouraged him to propose months ago.
Sting convinced himself this was what awaited them; that Yukino would be alright and they would get to start their lives together back at Sabertooth, surrounded by their friends.
This hope gave him strength even as he began to feel weakened; tired after being trapped for days then having used too much magic. He was immensely relieved once they arrived at the ship and quickly sat down with Yukino still in his arms.
Ignoring as the others settled, Sting glanced at his girlfriend. Her face remained concernedly pale, her body was colder than normal and there was still so much blood. However, what mattered most is that she was alive and he would ensure she stayed this way. I won't fail you again, Yukino, I promise.
So, thoughts?
Did you enjoy this new take on the fight against Mard Geer?
Coming next: Since I failed to post anything for 3 weeks, I have this plan to post 3 stories this week. It's a bit ambitious and I'm not sure if I can manage, but I'll try. I do have an old Gruvia angsty one and an ElfEver one.
I also intend to finish Answers Ch 4 by next week, so let's hope I can do it :)
I hope everyone has a great day! ;)