A/N Fast update, folks! Hihih, since my graduation will be two days from now and my mom's starting to pressure me to look for a job (it's not like I don't plan to, but I think, after 16 years of studying, I deserve a break and my mom just won't listen), I shouldn't keep you waiting longer. Thanks to those who listed this story on their fav's and alerts, to the silent readers, to those who PM-ed me, and to those who reviewed. Really, you all inspire me to write a lot of chapters in one day… *bows* Arigatou, ne? Oh, as usual, all responses were placed at the end of the chapter. And special thanks to Bareerah123 for this beta'd chapter. I hope you enjoy this chapter. ^_^
Notice: All review responses are removed from this chapter. :)
Chapter 4: FAIRY TAIL'S RESOLVE
"Your spirits are smart, eh?" Sting grinned, "It's not like I want you here anyway…"
Lucy was baffled, "W-w-what does he mean by 'lives bonded together'?" she stuttered, her hand still covering the bite mark.
"Fairy-san, you've been marked by a dragon slayer… So, you have to stay close to your marker until it disappears." Lector chirped in, paws crossed against his fury chest.
Even before Lucy could utter another question, an old lady ran past her, charging straight at Sting, who was too shock to move. "Sting, you bastard!" the lady shouted, hitting the white dragon slayer with a cooking pan against his head.
Sting animatedly flinched, too overwhelmed from the old lady's attack, throwing all defensive moves he could pull out. "L-let me explain, m-master!" the boy stammered, as he dodge the swaying cooking pan with all his might.
The lady halted, took in a deep breath and closed her eyes, she had a long purple hair braided down to her waist, she was wearing a long robe, Lucy could tell she was the same age as Polyushka, but gives a friendlier aura than the latter. The lady snapped her eyes open and hit Sting straight in the face again, then directed her gaze to the stunned Fairy Tail Mage. "Oh, so here's our fairy, hnn?" the lady smiled gently, "Allow me to introduce myself, my name is Mai… I am the Sabertooth guild master." She hosted, now walking towards the blonde girl.
"G-g-guild master?" was all Lucy was able to say, come to think of it, she hadn't seen the Sabertooth guild master during the Grand Magic Games. Lucy straightened her back and bowed, "I am pleased to meet you, Mai-san."
Mai drew out a fond smile on her face, "I never knew Fairy Tail will ever get their selves a polite member, hnn?" she touched her face with one hand. "Oh, I remember the old days."
Lucy's eyebrow twitched, "U-uh?"
"Ah. Don't mind me." The old lady waved her hand, which was apparently holding the cooking pan, up and down, "I am just being emotional. Are you one of those mages who were trapped in Tenrou Island as rumors said?" she asked.
Lucy nodded, "Yes…" she lowered her eyes to the floor.
"Master, what the hell did you do that for?" Sting suddenly blurted out, annoyed. "After remaining on the top spot in the Games, you ungrateful old ha–"
"I've heard… And don't you dare…" the lady shot the white dragon slayer a threatening glare, "…call me old hag if you don't want to die." Sting pursed his mouth in defeat, the guild master redirected her sight to Lucy. "It seems to me that one of my best mage had taken himself into trouble again." Mai shifted her sight towards the white dragon slayer again, releasing a dark aura that could rival Makarov's fury every time Team Natsu would come back from a mission they over did.
Sting shivered.
Oh, so the arrogant bastard still knows what fear is like, huh? Lucy mused inwardly. "Mai-san," Lucy called out, landing on all fours, "Please allow me to go back to my guild." She had to do this, the master seemed like the kind of person who would understand her situation.
"I'm afraid that's not possible for now, Miss…?"
"Lucy. Lucy Heartfilia." She endowed.
"Miss Lucy," the lady master sighed, "You had been marked by this bastard last night, and technically, you are not allowed to go anywhere without him by your side. Or maybe this bastard could accompany you towards your guild?" she smirked evilly, "but I doubt he'll comply."
"I won't. So, don't bother asking me." Sting rolled his eyes.
Lucy's eyes welled up in tears, what had she done in her past life to be punished like this. "C-can you explain to me what's happening, please?" she said, voice crackling in dismay.
"In the past, dragons lived with humans out in the open… But since both belonged to different races, they never intentionally interact with each other. Yet, some dragons were kind enough to adopt abandoned humans left in their turfs, and some eat them. That explains why we have dragon slayers…" Mai explained.
"And the bite? What's that got to do with the bite, Mai-san?" Lucy asked impatiently. What she was really worried about was the bite, her spirits not only defied her order, but also left her alone. "My spirit just now told me that the mark had bonded our lives together… I'm sorry but I don't understand, and I want to know… No, that's not right, I needed to know…"
And so Mai continued, "Before mating season begins, dragons mark their possible mates by biting the she-dragon in the neck, but that doesn't guarantee that on the mating season itself, the male dragon would be able to claim the marked she-dragon. However, the dragon who marked and the she-dragon who was marked got their lives bonded together… you're spirit speaks the truth. If any of you die, the other would die as well. That peculiarity was adapted by the dragon slayers, and with the magical power vested upon them by their dragon parents, mating is almost alike."
"M-m-m-mating? EEEEH?" Lucy's eyes widened in shock, how did it come to mating? Of course she knew what mating means, she's old enough for that? But isn't that some animal instincts? And to be passed down to a human? Her knees wobbled.
"You see, Lucy-chan, my great dragon slayer here had marked you by biting you in the neck. You may not have noticed it, but your body did. While biting you, his tusks had injected dragon saps into your body, which in seconds, would consolidate with the blood flowing in your bloodstream. And if I'm not mistaken, he kissed you, right?"
"Oi! MASTER!" Sting glared at the old lady, embarrassed to hear his foolishness.
Lucy, however, felt all the blood from her body rushed up to her face.
"That sealed the mark," she exclaimed, hinting seriousness on her tone, "Always bear this in mind, Lucy-san, while having the mark, always stay by his side. Your scent will attract strange creatures, so be very careful."
Back at Crocus...
"Master, how could you give them Lucy?" Erza yelled angrily, some of the Fairy Tail members standing behind the infuriated Titania.
This morning, she found herself sleeping on top of the table, reeking of alcohol. Hangover, you say? She's not someone as weak to that kind of situation. Hangover doesn't stand a chance against the mighty Titania… though alcohol does. As soon as she stood up, she saw how messy the hall was, where lots of other mages were also sleeping, not only from her guild but from other guilds as well. Just then, she found the sulking Makarov being scolded by Mira and the others, who seemed to be dealing with hangover as well and First Master Mavis glaring daggers at the present master. Just then, she realized what was happening. Fairy Tail lost last night, and Lucy's nowhere to find.
"Believe me, I wasn't going to hand Lucy over… but First said…" Makarov tried to explain, he had expected this kind of scolding last night, after all it was really his fault. And he felt bad too. Guilty was the right word.
"No one's to blame here! This is an emergency! We just have to get Lucy back!" Gray barked, he was so disappointed with himself. He was so relaxed last night that their guild would win the last night's stupid competition, and he even participated himself.
Mavis let out a cough, her face blank. "Lucy's in good hands, though it could have been prevented in the first place." She pouted, glaring at Makarov, "But I can assure you, she's in good hands."
"How could you be sure, First?" Mira chirped in, her face full of worry, and her hands clasped across her chest, "We knew nothing about Sabertooth."
"That guild… was guided by a fairy." She retorted, making everyone's eyes widen. As if realizing she said something questionable, "…you'll find out soon enough what I mean." She added.
Erza, however, was worried, infuriated with herself, for being selfish last night. How could she be one of those who agreed to make Lucy the reward? "Darn it, I can't let this be. I have to retrieve Lucy."
"Count me in!" Gray yelled, followed by 'me too's' from the other Fairy tail members.
Just then, the bartender called out for the Fairy Tail guild master's attention, "Makarov-san? A lacrima orb call from the Sabertooth guild…"
Everyone's ears perked up, as Makarov, as if waking up from a nightmare, jumped towards the lacrima orb.
The image he saw in the orb made his eyes widen in recognition, "MAI?"
"Makarov, it seems to me that fate was drawing us together again, hnn?" the lady from the other side of the orb said sweetly.
"Eh, who's that?" Lily asked, "How could master know anyone from that guild?"
"Who knows?" Gajeel answered, his face expressionless.
"Sabertooth had existed even before we were trapped in Tenrou Island, so maybe he knew her from back then…" Mira assumed, eyes focused on the orb.
"W-what? Ah. I thought the call was from Sabertooth." Makarov exclaimed, the confusion in his voice didn't go unnoticed by both Mai and the Fairy Tail guild members.
"Yep~" Mai winked, "I am Sabertooth's guild master, Makarov…" she smiled.
"EEEEEHH?" Makarov almost dropped the lacrima orb, "What?"
"I wasn't able to attend the Grand Magic Games this year, since my guild was really busy with all the jobs coming in from here and there… Anyway, I wanted to talk to you about what happened last night." She explained, her voice getting solemn, "About your kid here… I must apologize for my child's reckless behavior."
Makarov picked himself together, "S-since when… have you… this… shocking… can't…" the Fairy tail master uttered incomprehensible words.
Erza impatiently shoved Makarov off and faced the orb as she spoke, "Sorry for meddling, but we are all worried about Lucy… by any chance, can you tell your mage to hand her back? I think –"
"Oh, aren't you the infamous Titania?" she interrupted, "She's with me right now."
"Eh?" everyone's mouth fell agape.
"B-but aren't you at your base? Since you said you weren't able to come here this year?" Erza said, stepping out of shock.
"Yep~ she's at our guild right now… As I said, I do apologize in behalf of my mage's idiocy. But I'm afraid I couldn't let her go back… yet." She let out a deep sigh, and turned her head away from the orb, "Lucy, dear… Come forth."
Just as the lady's image disappeared, Lucy's face was in view, "Erza!" she cried, "I'm so sorry!"
Everyone gathered around the lacrima orb upon hearing Lucy's voice, "No Lucy, we should be the one to be sorry. And what does the Sabertooth guild master meant by couldn't let you go back yet?" Erza asked in confusion.
The others uttered their apologies as well, which made Erza release an evil aura. When she was satisfied by the silence, she looked back at the orb.
"Ah, yeah… about that… that's true. I can't go back yet, uhm…" Lucy was thinking what to say, she doesn't want to lie and get them worried, but the fact was too embarrassing to discuss out loud.
The image of the Sabertooth guild member appeared behind Lucy, "She had been marked by my dragon slayer…" she announced, loud enough for the Fairy Tail mages to hear from the other side of the orb.
Lucy drowned her face with her hands, cheeks all warmed up. "I'm so sorry."
Makarov immediately pushed Erza away, "W-who did? Why'd you let such thing to happen, Mai?"
"You never change, Makarov. Don't blame it on me! It was your fault for agreeing to make one of your fairy be the reward! I never get why Purehito had nominated you back then." Mai snapped, pushing Lucy off as she gritted her teeth.
"Is the mark a bad thing?" Gray cocked his head to the side, "And the two old jeezers act like they're too familiar with each other…" he whispered.
"She's a former member of Fairy Tail… though I could still feel the fairy aura on her." Mavis said, surprising Gray.
"A-ah. First!" was all the ice mage managed to say.
"Ah, Mai was her name, right? I thought that sounded kind of familiar." Mira chuckled lightly, "The dragon slayer's mark… is what we should be really worried about."
The two guild masters started to throw insults at each other, confusing even Erza…
"Master!" the titania hissed, and when the old man didn't pay her attention, she screeched, "MASTER!"
Makarov stopped instantly, also Mai from the other side of the orb. They could all hear Lucy's sobs. "What is with the mark you're talking about?" Erza said angrily.
"Tch~" a voice from the banquet hall spoke in which everyone had recognized as Gajeel, "Bunny girl's been marked, eh?"
"Ah. So, he's that iron dragon slayer, hnn?" Mai spoke out, her face close to the orb, "So you knew exactly why your comrade wouldn't be able to return for the time being, right?"
Gajeel smirked, "Who's the stupid one to mark Bunny girl?"
"Shut up, Gajeel!" Lucy yelled from behind Mai. "I could hear you, you know!"
"Aww, this feels so nostalgic? Seeing the old wrinkled face of Makarov…" Mai teased as she stifled a laugh.
Makarov however sweat dropped, "Like your face is not old and wrinkled yourself!" she charged back.
"Hnn?" Mai's eyebrow twitched, "Hey, old man… you get why we can't return Lucy-chan here for the meantime, right? I'd assure you I'll take care of your comrade, Titania… so don't worry. Someone like the iron dragon slayer could explain you all why… See ya all!" she turned and looked at the crying fairy tail mage beside her, "Lucy,"
Lucy stood up, showing her face in the lacrima orb, "I'll be back soon. Please take care of yourselves."
Then the lacrima orb blacked out.
Silence enveloped the area, and then heads all spun at Makarov's direction. "Care to explain, Master?" and then to the iron dragon, "Gajeel?"
After some time of discussing about the Dragon Slayer's mark, everyone was astonished to say anything… Everyone except Erza.
"Aren't there ways to take that mark off? Is that permanent?" the titania asked, voice husky.
"I remember there are only three ways to get rid of the mark… First, an ancient magical potion that'll nullify any markings," Mavis sighed, as if reading the other members' mind, she continued, "Yes, dragons weren't the only creatures who mark their mates. There are others as well." Mavis lowered her gaze to the floor, feeling sorry all of a sudden, "But I'm afraid, it was ancient because it was once used a long time ago… And even when I was still alive, I've never heard of anyone being capable of making one all through my life."
Erza shook her head, "It's okay, First, you said there were three ways… so let's cross the first one out. And the other two ways?"
The spirit shot her an apologetic smile, "Second, wait until it disappears… Yes, eventually it will. Sometimes, it only takes a week, some even days, others months and if unlucky, could also take years… And I'm afraid doing this will require the marked creature or human to stay by the marker's side… And third, ask another dragon slayer to bite her…"
Erza's eyes brightened upon hearing the third way, sure enough, the Sabertooth guild master had chosen the second option. But having three first generation dragon slayers in their guild and one second generation, that sounds to be the easiest way. "Then, we should get her back and consider the third option."
Mavis and Makarov let out a heavy sigh, both looking at each other in hesitation if they should say it or not… but the iron dragon slayer beat them into it.
"If you don't mind risking Bunny girl's life, Titania… that would be the best option." Gajeel said coldly, as everyone's eyes diverted from the two masters to the dragon slayer. "Two dragon saps dwelling in one body can either nullify the mark… or kill Bunny girl." He said as bluntly as he could.
Everyone trembled in horror. There's no way they'd take a big risk like that… especially if Lucy's life was at stake.
Erza's face dimmed, "No one shall tell Natsu about this…" she ordered in full authority. She then turned to Makarov and Mavis, "Please allow me to take care of this. Natsu can be quite reckless sometimes, please understand."
Thinking of Natsu's impulsive behavior, Gray's pretty sure the fire mage would really do something reckless if he learns about Lucy being marked by one of the Sabertooth's dragon slayers… He clenched his fist, ice slowly building up on his fingers, "I agree…"
Makarov and Mavis nodded understandingly, both faced the other members, "No one speaks of this matter from now on… Lucy will be safe. Mai is a good friend of mine after all." Makarov declared.
At Fairy Tail's designated room...
"Where are they?" Natsu yelled as he flipped all beds in the room, "Where the hell are they?" he sighed, scratching his head in confusion.
"Natsu-san, they might still be at the banquet hall until now." Wendy remarked, as she held a vial of pink fluid and hand it to the salamander. "Drink this, you'll feel better."
"Thanks Wendy… Damn, I'm hungry!" Natsu grabbed the vial from the little girl and drank it straight, as his stomach grumbled loudly.
Wendy smiled, "Let's head to the hall, maybe they're already taking lunch. You woke up pretty late."
.
to be continued...