Hey! It's another chapter - this one is super jam-packed! I really hope you enjoy! Now a few things to get to:
1) After I posted the last chapter, I re-watched the battle between Lucy and Flared, and realized my version was a little off. Of course, I won't take the blame, and I'll blame the Wiki for not being clear... Just kidding! It's completely my fault for not taking the time before typing it, to re-watch that episode.
2) Although it is different, it kinda fits better with my story line - as you saw earlier in the story. When was that? Well, Minerva wasn't in the games because she was away on a mission for a few days, but for the sake of the story, I brought her back early. Or I believe she was on a mission - I had to use the Wiki, I haven't finished this part of the series yet (I know, I kinda spoiled the who series for myself).
3) I know I'm making Sting a little too Out Of Character, but I'm trying to get it to fit with the story. I want it to show that there's a side of him (Sting) that he only shows to people he truly cares about - like Lector, Rogue, and Frosch (and Lucy in this story).
After all that stuff, I have to tell you guys something: I'm adding side pairings in this story - and one of those pairings will be introduced/foreshadowed in this chapter. That pairing is...
You gotta read the chapter to see!
Well, this is getting kinda long, so I now present:
Stars Were Meant For Light; Chapter 04: Time Alone
Sting's P.O.V
I was watching the battle intensely. Blondie had definitely improved since the last I saw. I was full focused on the match – from when Blondie was winning, to when it became one-sided, to now – to what I predict is the finishing move.
She started chanting, and the whole arena changed into space. It was truly breath taking. She had that weird red-head in complete fear. She finished the chant and the spell was cast. But then, it stopped, and Blondie fell.
"What happened? Was she not strong enough to cast the spell?" I asked, to nobody in particular.
But I still got a reply, "No," Rufus replied, "She was completely capable of it."
"But it didn't work." Orga said.
"No, I suppose it didn't." Rufus spoke, once again.
"Why?" Yukino asked bluntly.
"Isn't it obvious?" He asked, we all shook our heads. He continued, "A member of Raven Tail's team negated its effects – not to add, sapped the magic power out of the Fairy." Rufus said it, as if that was the most obvious thing ever.
I couldn't believe it. Blondie was winning – fair and square. She put her heart and soul into that battle, to prove Fairy Tail wasn't a joke (Yes, I heard that). And have all her hard work crushed in the end. I was pissed.
"I'm leaving." I said, very bluntly.
"Why, Sting?" Yukino asked me.
"I can't stand being in an area filled with low-lives who cheat." I lied. What I really wanted to do was see how Blondie took all this. She obviously felt worse – physically and emotionally.
I was making my way through the corridors, trying to find Blondie, when I sensed something.
I came to a halt and said, "Come out, Rouge, I know you're here."
Lucy's P.O.V
My vision was blurry – I was crying. I know it wasn't my fault that I lost, but I couldn't help but feel that I let Fairy Tail down. And, to add to that, everybody was laughing at me.
Someone came out to the arena and helped me up. "Its okay, Luce." It was Natsu. "It's not your fault, Raven Tail cheated – these people are just too blind to see that."
Even though I was crying, I smiled. Natsu always knew what to say. "Thanks, Natsu!" I said.
Afterwards, Natsu helped me get to the infirmary – I was still out of magic power. I wasn't the only one in there; there was also Wendy and Carla, still.
"Lucy," Erza spoke, "I still need to speak to you. Natsu, Elfman – this is private, please leave the room. If I catch you two eavesdropping, it will surely not bode well for you two."
I wonder what Erza wants to talk about.
Sting's P.O.V
"Come out, Rouge. I know you're here." I said. And I was right – he was hiding in the shadows. "What do you want?" I questioned, with slight irritation in my voice.
"I came to see what was wrong." He answered bluntly.
"Nothing's wrong." I lied. I tried leaving before he could speak again, but it didn't quite work.
"I can't say I understand what you're going through, Sting," he said, "But I understand you are upset. You just witnessed someone, who was very close to you, being cheated out. But there's nothing we can do about it. I do feel bad for her – she was just humiliated in front of thousands of people."
"I'll be leaving now." I said. I started walking away; I thought we were done. But I was wrong.
"Those Tenrou members are something, aren't they?" Rouge said.
"What do you mean?"
"You just witnessed it." He paused, and then continued, "That battle – the girl from Raven Tail had seven years on Lucy, yet she still couldn't win without cheating. Now, I'm not trying to insult her, but the other members, who were trapped along with her, seem to be stronger. It seems that they were all seven years ahead of the game." He didn't stop there, though, "She was quite impressive, too. She summoned a spirit without the use of a Key – not even Yukino can do that."
He was right – I hadn't thought of that. She was probably the strongest Celestial mage, to this date. Just like she said she would be. The thought made me smile.
"I'm going to go see her – don't tell anyone." I said and walked off.
When I reached the Fairy Tail infirmary, I heard noises coming from the inside. Two voices that I recognized – Blondie and Titania.
Erza's P.O.V
"Lucy," I said, "I still need to speak to you. Natsu, Elfman – this is private, please leave the room. If I catch you two eavesdropping, it will surely not bode well for you two." I threatened. They left the room, and I waited a few moments, to make sure they weren't eavesdropping.
"I ran into Sting Eucliffe earlier. He was holding you and you were unconscious. He told me that he and you knew each other, before you joined Fairy Tail. Is this true?" I had cut straight to the point, needing to know if I must retaliate against Sabertooth or not.
She seemed uncomfortable at that question, but soon replied, "Yes; it's true."
Before we could continue our talk, I sensed a presence. I stood up, unsheathed my sword, and pointed it at the door. "Whose there?" I interrogated.
And the person, who stepped in through the door, was none other than Sabertooth's White Dragon Slayer: Sting Eucliffe.
"What is your business here?" I questioned once again.
"I came to see how Blondie was doing." He replied.
"I'm fine, Sting." Lucy replied. She seemed to be having a mixture of emotions – sadness, joy, confusion. Why she was feeling all of those, I couldn't say.
"It doesn't seem like it." Sting replied.
"Well," I started, "You've seen how she is, so I advise you return to your team. You might be competing in today's battles." Though what he said earlier was true, Lucy seemed very uncomfortable in his presence at the moment. So I continued to try to make him leave. Normally I would use force, but that would mean disqualification for Fairy Tail, and I wasn't willing to take the risk.
"I'm not participating in any of the battles today – I've made sure of it." He said. "So, if you wouldn't mind, I'd like to talk to Lucy in private." He sounded quite serious.
I sent a glance at Lucy, and she nodded. While walking past Sting, I sent him a glance as well. That glance said: Do anything to hurt her, and you will not enjoy the consequences. I also sent one more glance at Lucy, just as I was exiting. That one saying: If anything happens – yell.
Lucy's P.O.V
I was nervous, to say the least. I was here, one on one, with Sting, again, not knowing what he wanted to talk about. In all honesty, I really didn't want to talk to anyone right now – not even my teammates. I was just cheated, on one of the most important days of my life.
Of course, nobody in Fairy Tail knows what day it is – well, except maybe Levy. I think I've told her before, when we were beginning to know each other. Anyway, I never got to tell them, because we were stuck on Tenrou Island.
I never told them about this day. About July 1st.
"So, Sting, what did you want?" There were some emotions in my voice – sadness being the most dominant one.
"I came to say good job," He answered. I was about to remind him that I lost, but he added something that completely shocked me, "I know that they cheated to win."
"How… How did you know?" I couldn't understand how he would've figured it out.
"My teammate, Rufus, pointed it out. According to him it was 'obvious.'" He added quotation marks around the word 'obvious.'
I didn't know how to reply. I didn't know what to do, but I just ended up crying – for no reason. And then I felt something warm wrap around me. Warm and strong. I felt it earlier too. I looked up to see what it was, and it was Sting.
I don't know why, but I felt safe in his arms. I started calming down.
Sting's P.O.V
She started crying – and I didn't like that. I also didn't like how I didn't know what to do. So I did what I thought was right: I hugged her.
And when I hugged her, it felt… right. Just like earlier. That's when I was one hundred percent sure that I harbored emotions for her.
It seemed like she was starting to calm down. So I decided to speak.
"Hey, Lucy, if it's okay with you, I'd like to spend time with you. Take time to catch up."
She sniffed and wiped away her tears with her hands, before responding, "Yeah, that sounds great." She smiled a sad smile. Even though it was a sad smile, it was still a smile.
She tried getting up, but she couldn't. It seems that that battle did a lot more than I thought. I didn't want her to hurt herself, so I did the only thing I could think of: I picked her up – bridal style.
She gave a little yelp, out of surprise, before speaking, "Sting, put me down!" She blushed, and I thought it was adorable.
"No can do," I replied, "I don't want you hurting yourself." I continued to carry her out of the room. And when we were out of the room, I ran into a problem: Titania.
"Where are you taking her?" She asked me.
Instead of me replying, Lucy actually did, "He's taking me to catch up on lost time. Please, let us catch up." She mumbled the last part, but Titania still heard it.
She smiled softly, "Okay, Lucy, if you wish." She turned to me, "I'm trusting you – don't let me down." And, for once, it seemed like she really did trust me.
"Don't worry." I won't let anyone or anything touch her, I added in my mind.
And with that, I walked away, with the love of my life in my arms. One of the few people I'd be willing to risk everything for.
Rouge's P.O.V
I was walking back to Sabertooth's balcony. It seems that this girl is more important to Sting than I thought. Along the way, I started to think about the girl I met all those years ago. Before I joined Sabertooth, before I met Sting or Lector or even Frosch.
I smiled inwardly. My story was similar to Sting's story. Just like him I would never forget the girl that cared for me. And just like Sting's, she was a part of Fairy Tail and disappeared on Tenrou Island, as well. Meaning she was back now.
I was so caught up in my thoughts, that I didn't see a person in front of me. It seems they didn't see me either, for we ended up bumping into each other. I got up and looked down.
I couldn't see her face, but she had blue hair, just like her.
"Sorry," she said.
"It's okay. I should've paid more attention." I put my hand out to help her get up. She took it.
And that's when she looked up and I saw her face.
"Levy?"