The entire city was silent, save for Sting's mournful sobs. Natsu's heart wrenched – he had never heard anyone cry like this. It was a primal, aching sound that made him clutch Gray even closer.
Letting go of Lucy's hand, Natsu stumbled forward, pulling Gray with him, looking up every so often to make sure the ice mage was still breathing. He knew Gray was badly injured, but at least he was still alive.
Natsu collapsed next to Sting, reaching out to touch the grieving boy's shoulder. Sting jerked away from him and looked up, eyes wide and red, tears streaming down his face. He clutched Rogue's body – his body, it was his body and not Rogue himself – and shied away from Natsu's hand.
"DON'T TOUCH ME!" He screamed wildly, attempting to scramble backward but failing, falling hard and letting out a loud sob. Natsu could see that Rogue's head wound had been deep, and something must have fallen on him – his tunic was soaked in so much blood. The smell assaulted Natsu's nose and he suppressed a gag.
"Sting," he whispered, reaching out again only to have his hand batted away.
"Leave me ALONE!" Trembling hands clutched at Rogue's clothing, touched Rogue's face reverently. Sting ran a hand down the side of the dark-haired boy's face, then leaned down and pressed his forehead to Rogue's cold one. "Please," he begged, pressing kisses desperately against the dark hair. "Please don't leave me." He sobbed between words, body jerking with each heavy breath. "I need you."
Natsu squeezed Gray's hands tightly and the ice mage nodded to him. His side was on fire, aching and oozing blood even through the makeshift bandage Natsu had tied around him, but he knew Sting needed Natsu more than he did right now.
"Sting, come here." Natsu's voice was firm but kind, and he grabbed Sting's hands away from Rogue's body. Sting fought him fiercely, but his grief allowed Natsu to overpower him, pulling the holy dragon slayer into his chest. Sting buried his face in Natsu's neck and let out a long, heart-wrenching wail.
"WHY?" He sobbed, grasping at the fabric of Natsu's shirt. "Why him?"
"I don't know," Natsu answered honestly, rubbing circles on Sting's back. "I'm sorry, Sting. I'm so sorry." Natsu pressed his face into Sting's hair, trying to hide his own tears.
"I love him," Sting wept, voice breaking. Natsu's heart felt like it was going to shatter. He turned to Gray and pulled him closer, kissing the ice mage's head.
"I know," Natsu whispered, holding Sting tightly and pressing a hand to the back of his neck. "I know you do."
"He's my whole world," Sting gasped, and Gray wrapped an arm around the sobbing boy, pressing his forehead to the back of Sting's head. He felt Sting lean into him in response, then turn and reach out his hand for Rogue's again. "I need him."
"We're here for you," Natsu said softly, grasping Sting's hand and squeezing it tightly. He saw Wendy, crying softly nearby, and motioned for her to come over. She collapsed next to him, then pressed her hand to Sting's back. "We're here for you."
"We're all here." Erza's voice was soft as she dropped to the ground beside them, followed by Jellal. Lucy wasn't far behind, and then Gajeel was there with Levy, and Laxus with Freed, and the Raijinshu, the Trimen, Lyon and Juvia, and the crowd kept getting bigger and bigger. Sting remained huddled in Natsu's arms, one hand holding Rogue's, the other clasped in Gray's. Natsu rocked him back and forth gently, whispering in his ear and rubbing his back softly. Sting's sobs echoed through the group, and Natsu could see the grief moving through everyone.
Laxus had his face pressed into Freed's hair, tears trailing down his face and onto the unconscious man. Master Makarov was weeping openly, hands folded in front of him. Nastu was surprised to see tears in Gajeel's eyes as he looked almost reverently at Rogue's body. The whole guild grieved together, holding each other and comforting each other as Sting continued to sob.
Rogue…
"Sting?" Rogue mumbled, feeling around him for the familiar shape of his friend. He was lying on something hard and warm. The last thing he remembered was Motherglare speeding toward the ground, and then…pain. But there was no pain now. He felt warm, and comfortable, and…safe.
Rogue…wake up.
The voice was familiar, but it wasn't Sting. It was much deeper, but at the same time soft and gentle. It brought back memories of his childhood, of learning shadow magic with –
"Skiadrum?" His eyes flew open again and he raised his hand to guard them against the light. After a moment, he could begin to see a blurry shadow wrapped around him.
I'm here, my child.
The enormous, dark-scaled form of Rogue's foster father began to come into focus in front of him, and Rogue's chest clenched tightly. The shadow dragon was curled around him, just as he had done when Rogue was a child and had been afraid of the dark.
"What…what happened?" He sat up slowly, running a hand over Skiadrum's scales reverently. "Where am I? Where's Sting?"
My child could not follow you here.
Another familiar voice boomed around him, and Rogue looked up in amazement to see another dragon, pure white in color with a majestic beard and yellow eyes.
"Weisslogia?" He asked, and the dragon nodded. As Rogue's vision continued to clear, he saw that they were, in fact, surrounded by dragons of various colours and shapes. An enormous, red-skinned dragon towered over the others, and Rogue thought it must be Igneel. "What – where – what –"
We don't have much time, Skiadrum said, and Rogue could feel the vibrations of his voice through his body. You…are no longer. Rogue frowned.
What he means to say is that you are dying, Weisslogia added, and Rogue gaped at him. Or rather, you are already dead.
"Then, Sting…" Rogue looked around frantically, and Weisslogia shook his enormous head.
Sting survived. A cloud of fog floated in front of Rogue and then cleared as Skiadum blew on it, gently. It coalesced into a small, clear pool of liquid that resolved into a scene of chaos. Rogue could see Sting, tears streaking his cheeks, slumped on his knees beside Rogue's body. Seeing himself as a corpse felt like someone had punched him.
"Is this…when did…"
We wanted you to be able to say goodbye, Skiadrum said gently. Rogue attempted to stand, but fell to his knees and stared at the view of Sting.
"I'm not saying goodbye, I – I'm not ready, I'm not…"
No-one is ever ready for death, Weisslogia responded impassively. Rogue ignored him, watching the pool as Natsu came to comfort Sting, then Gray, then the rest of the guild. His heart ached, and he reached out as if to touch his friend through the image, but when his fingers brushed the liquid it dissolved and re-formed.
"Did we beat him? Me, I mean?" Rogue's voice was small, but Skiadrum nodded, eliciting a sigh of relief from the dark-haired boy.
You have died a hero instead of living as a villain. Weisslogia sounded righteous, but Rogue choked out a sob and buried his face in his hands. You kept your loved ones safe, and you made your father proud. Skiadrum rumbled beneath Rogue, providing solid comfort as he wept.
"Let me through." An authoritative voice broke through the crowd and Natsu looked up in surprise to see Ultear making her way towards them. Natsu growled deep in his throat and bared his teeth at her.
"What are you doing here?" He snarled, gripping Sting tightly against him. "You wanted this to happen."
Sting didn't react, but Ultear bowed her head, looking distraught.
"I never wanted this," she whispered, kneeling down beside Rogue's body. "I never wanted this. I just wanted to fix things." Natsu rumbled protectively as she reached out and touched Rogue's chest, and Sting turned toward her, lip curled in a fierce snarl. "Please let me help," Ultear begged. "I might be able to save him."
Sting froze for a moment, then let out a shaky breath.
"You can't fix it," he whispered, voice hoarse from shouting. "He's g-gone." Sting's voice broke on the last word and Gray squeezed his hand tightly.
"But you were connected," Ultear argued. "The spell, the dragon's soul. I might be able to turn his timeline back long enough to… change the outcome." Sting's eyes widened, and Ultear raised her hands. "It wouldn't turn back actual time, just his body's reaction to what happened. But the damage he sustained would have to go…somewhere else." She dropped her gaze.
"To me, you mean," Sting whispered, moving out of Natsu's arms and kneeling next to Rogue. "I could take it instead."
"But then you would be dead," Natsu argued hotly, "and Rogue would be grieving, and nothing would be different." He glared suspiciously at Ultear.
"Not if I can…share it," she said, running her hands over Rogue's body. A faint aura of magic shimmered underneath her hands. She shuddered, drawing her hands back. "There's…so much. It might kill you both." Sting hung his head and moaned, grasping at Rogue's arms.
"I was connected too." Gajeel dropped to his knees beside Ultear, reaching out a hand and placing it on Rogue's shoulder. "Splitting it by three would help, right?" Sting looked up at the iron dragon slayer in amazement.
"You would do that?" He whispered.
"He's family," Gajeel replied gruffly, looking up at Ultear. "So would it work, or not?" She hesitated before responding.
"It should," she conceded. "I don't see why it wou-"
"Four is better than three." Laxus pushed his way through the crowd, standing next to Gajeel.
"And five is better than four," Wendy said softly, joining the group.
"Count me in," Natsu added, squeezing Gray's hand and giving him an apologetic look. "I have to," he whispered. Gray nodded and leaned into Natsu, kissing him gently.
"I know," he replied. Lucy put an arm around Gray's shoulders and nodded to Natsu.
"I'll make sure he's okay," she whispered, wiping tears from her eyes.
Sting's eyes filled with tears of a different kind as he looked up at the other dragon slayers standing around him. Their faces were all set with determination, and he had that feeling in his chest again – a feeling of belonging, of love, of family.
"If we were all connected then, we should all be connected now." Everyone turned to face Cobra with stunned expressions on their faces, and he sighed. "I know what it's like to lose your whole world."
"We have to hurry," Ultear said, looking at Sting. "We don't have much time." He nodded hesitantly, moving so that Rogue's head was in his lap. "You all have to be touching." The dragon slayers moved around Rogue so that they each had a hand on him, and Sting let out a sob.
"Thank you," he whispered, and Natsu gripped his hand tightly.
"Thank us when it works," Gajeel replied. Sting took a shaky breath and nodded.
Ultear stood, raising her hands above Rogue's body and letting her magic flow downward. It twisted around the dragon slayers, running over their hands and into Rogue's damaged body. Wendy looked up at Ultear.
"Is this going to hurt?" She asked shakily. Ultear looked at them sadly.
"Yes."
Rogue felt a sharp pain on the right side of his head, and he clapped a hand to his ear, wincing.
What are they doing? Skiadrum looked into the vision-pool and then let out a rumble that might have been a laugh. You humans are tenacious. Rogue groaned as the pain in his head got worse, radiating down his neck and into his arm.
"What…is happening?" He ground out through clenched teeth.
They aren't ready either, Weisslogia responded. They are attempting to bring you back. Rogue inhaled sharply, looking back at the vision-pool to see all of the dragon slayers sitting around his body, hands touching, with purplish magic flowing through them. Another jolt of pain shot up his left leg and he cried out, grasping it with both hands to find nothing wrong.
It will be painful, remarked Skiadrum. If they bring you back, you will never be who you were. The damage was too great. Rogue groaned in pain and frustration. You can choose to stay here, to move beyond without the pain.
The ache in his head worsened, and Rogue cried out, grabbing his head with both hands and trying to breathe deeply.
"Will…will it work?" He gasped, feeling tears running down his cheeks.
The future is uncertain, my son, Skiadrum replied, lowering his head and pressing it gently to Rogue's side.
But they are strong, another voice added, and Rogue glanced up to see Igneel speaking. His voice crackled and popped with each word, and the sound hurt Rogue's ears. And so are you. So what will your decision be?
Rogue gasped in pain and felt his vision begin to blur, but he could still see the pool, and Sting's tear-stained face, and the others sitting around him while the magic twisted and turned.
Will you stay here, my son? Skiadrum asked gently. Here where there is no pain? Or will you return to them and accept an uncertain fate? Rogue dug his fingernails into his palms, trying to keep the ringing in his ears at bay.
"I will never leave him," Rogue whispered, and he missed the fond look that passed between Skiadrum and Weisslogia. "He's my home." Then he closed his eyes and gave himself over to the pain.
Sting had never felt pain like this. Every nerve in his body felt like it was on fire, and the magical energy that had started off flowing gently around him now bit into his skin. Wendy was sobbing beside him, and even Gajeel and Laxus were gasping at the sensation. Natsu's hand was clutching his so tightly that he could barely feel his fingers, and still the magic flowed.
Sting forced his eyes open and watched the lines of purple and silver running from Rogue's body up into his arms. A strange wind was whipping around them, blowing strands of Rogue's hair away from his face.
Sting, a deep voice whispered. You have done well. Sting whipped his head around, looking for the source of the voice, but nobody appeared to be speaking. I am so proud of you. The deepness of the voice, the intonation, it sounded like…but it couldn't be. He has chosen to come home to you. You must take care of him.
"I will!" Sting shouted, still looking around in confusion, but knowing, somehow, that the voice belonged to Weisslogia. "I will, I promise." The pain crescendoed in his body and he threw his head back, letting out a scream, and then slumped forward as it suddenly ended.
The group of dragon slayers all collapsed, breathing heavily and staring at each other. Sting's hands were shaking so badly he could barely control them, but he managed to still them on Rogue's shoulders.
"Did it work?" He whispered, staring up at Ultear, who looked dazed. Wendy grasped Sting's knee with one hand, then reached over and ran her hand over Rogue's neck, feeling for a pulse. The entire square was silent for a moment, until she breathed a short, sharp sigh of relief.
"He's alive," she whispered, and promptly fainted. Gajeel caught her before she hit the ground, and someone else came running forward to help. Natsu managed to pull off a smile of relief before he collapsed as well.
"Rogue," Sting sobbed, leaning forward and pressing his cheek to his friend's. Then the ground began to spin, and everything went dark.
A/N: So this is the final chapter! I hope you enjoyed, but the story doesn't end here. I'll be posting a new story in a few days, titled "Aftermath" that will take place between this and the Tartaros arc. Please let me know what you thought, and what you'd like to see in the next story!