A Dragon to Light the Way

Chapter 13

"What the hell were you thinking when you thought of this plan?" Sting yelled, and Lucy bit her bottom lip as she turned to the Light Dragon Slayer. He didn't look at all pleased at the plan that Master Makarov had just told them about. Even she had to admit it was risky, but there was nothing else that they could do since they were short on time.

"I understand your concern Sting Eucliff, but if we don't act now Natsu's life will be in even greater danger. From the information I received from Tyrin, Merida is planning to drain him of all of his power, including his life force. We need to get him out of there, today." Makarov stated, and Lucy it her thumbnail as Sting let out a growl. She knew that he wasn't just going to allow this plan to happen without her convincing him. Although, even she wasn't sure if it was a safe bet.

The moment they had entered the guild, Makarov had gained everyone's attention and started to tell them the plan. Rogue, Yukino, and Lucy were suppose to go to Angel Feather and have a 'meeting' with Merida. They were to try and ease the woman's ideas and see if she would give any clues as to why she wanted to hurt Lucy. While they distracted her, Levy, Gajeel, Sting, and Tyrin were to head to the first floor through the tunnel Tyrin had told them about. If everything was to go south, Lucy was to use herself as bait, then wait for the moment to flee. It was that specific part that had Sting all worked up for the moment, and Lucy sighed as she stepped closer to him.

"I don't care if she is your guild member, she is my mate. I wont allow you to put her in such a risky position." Sting yelled, and she placed a hand on his shoulder. Giving a small smile as he turned with a confused look and blinked at her.

"Sting. I know that it is risky, but we have to do something and this is the only chance we have. Makarov has already set up the meeting, we should just go along with it and hope for the best." She stated, watching as his eyes widened and he turned toward her.

"Are you crazy? There is too much at stake! There is no way I'm going to allow you to face that woman without me. We don't even know what her magic is Lucy." He stated, and she smiled at him as she cupped his face in her hands.

"I wont be alone, Sting. Yukino and Rogue will be there as well, it's three against one. Even if she does manage to get me, I'm sure those two will help get me out of there. You have nothing to worry about, I'll be fine." She stated, watching as he narrowed his eyes and shook his head. She frowned and slumped her shoulders when he pulled away slightly.

"There is no reason for you to be sticking your neck out like this." Sting stated, and she glared at him as she straightened and poked him in the chest.

"Yes there is. Natsu is apart of my family, and I'm not just about to let him die because some woman hates me. He's saved me plenty of times, this is the least that I owe him." She stated, blinking and backing away slightly when Sting narrowed his gaze on her and gave a faint growl.

"Then he shouldn't have been so weak as to allow himself to get caught. This is his and his guilds problem, not a problem my mate should be handling." He stated, causing her to glare in return and shove her right hand in his face.

"I'm a member of Fairy Tail as well, remember? One of my guild mates is in trouble, and I'm going to help in any way that I can, rather you like it or not. This is the best, and only, plan we have. I'm going." She shouted, watching as he stared at her for a moment, and then relaxed, his eyes becoming unreadable and worry shot through her.

"Is this how it will be then? Will you always listen to your guild, and put them before me? Will you always choose your precious Fairy Tail over me?" He stated, and shiver ran through her at his words. They were so cold, and had such a finality to them. Surely he wasn't doing what she thought he was?

"Sting?" Her voice cracked, and she cleared her throat before continuing."What are you trying to say?" She watched him as he looked at her for a while, and bit her bottom lip when he ran his hand through his hair.

"I'm telling you that you have to make a choice. Rather me, or Fairy Tail." He stated, and everything around her stopped. He was asking her the impossible. There was no way that she could choose between her family, and her one true love. She shook her head and blinked back her tears.

"Sting. Please, don't make me choose." She plead, only to cover her mouth as he shook his head.

"No. This has been on my mind for quite some time now. I was always wondering how I would be able to make you happy by allowing you to see your friends, but now I see that it wouldn't work. So now comes your choice, me or your guild." He stated, and she started to tremble. This couldn't be happening, this shouldn't be the way everything turned out. Why couldn't she have both? Why did she always have to make a choice when it came to the people she loved?

"Oi! This isn't fair to her Sting! Can't you tell she cares for you just as much as all of us? Don't put her in such a tough spot!" Gray yelled, and she looked at him to see that he was glancing over to the man in question. When his gaze slid back to her, it seemed as if her heart stopped inside her chest. His gaze was apologetic, but also cold.

"He's right. I'm sorry to put you in this position. So, I'll make the decision for you. This is good-bye, Miss Lucy Heartfilia." He stated, walking past her and she blinked as she stared at the spot where he had been. Only to turn around and watch his back as he moved farther away.

"Sting!" It had been Rogue to shout at him, the man merely stopped moving but didn't turn around.

"If you two wish to help Fairy Tail then I wont stop you. Although, Sabertooth will expect a form of payment." He stated, and she felt her crushed heart shatter even more. He started moving again, when she finally found her voice.

"What about your mark? What about us being mates? Was it all lies?" She screamed, praying with everything within her that she didn't have to go through that again. That she didn't have to fear another man hurting her. She blinked when a form suddenly materialized beside her, and stared at Loke when he growled at the Dragon Slayer's back.

"Don't even think about it Sting Eucliff. You cannot just leave her like this." He shouted, and she faced Sting who had yet to move another inch. She felt her shattered heart blow away when he gave a sigh and rubbed at his forehead.

"Nothing that I have said to you was a lie. We are mates, but it is obvious that we are too different. No worries, so long as I don't hang around you, the mark will disappear on its own. If anything, it would be best for both of us to forget about each other here and now." He stated, another finality within his tone that had her shoulders dropping and had her lowering her head.

"I understand." She whispered, turning back around as everyone stared at her in shock. She did understand, this wasn't something that they could overcome, because he had a point. Whenever Fairy Tail needed her, she would always be there for them, regardless of the danger it put her in. Although...

"I understand that you truly aren't man enough to stay by my side as I would have yours. You think I don't know about yours and Rogue's night missions? If we had continued as being mates, there was no way I was going to let you face them alone anymore. But, if you aren't going to stand by me on an important mission, why should I stand by you?" She whispered, raising her head and glanced up at Makarov, even though she felt his gaze on her back. There was no way she was just going to let him leave, ego and pride in tact, oh no. She would make sure he felt some of the pain he was leaving her with.

"What the hell are you getting at woman?" He growled, and she closed her eyes as she gave a dry laugh.

"I'm getting that you still haven't learned the true meaning of being a member of a guild. Whenever your guild needs you, you help them regardless of the danger you put yourself in. It's just as what you would do with someone you love. You'd do anything for them, and would always be by there side. You, by making me choose, shows that you know nothing of either." She stated, glancing over her shoulder to see that he was staring at her in shock.

"How the hell does it prove that?" He yelled, and she sighed as she shook her head, finally facing him to say her last words.

"Simple. If you truly loved and cared for me, you would never had asked me to choose. Then you decided to make the choice for me, instead of staying by my side and hoping for the best, you chose to walk away, especially when I need you the most. Then, as a guild member yourself, you should know the feeling of when one of your own is in danger. Natsu is a guild member, and a friend. I can't just leave him and am willing to put my life on the line for him just as he would do the same for me. Just as you would do for any member of your guild! So, why is it that you are willing to protect me, but not the things that I care for?" She shouted, both of them staring at one another as he thought about it. When he looked down with wide eyes she huffed and turned away once more.

"Just as I thought. Good-bye Sting Eucliff." She stated, and then listened as he shuffled slightly. Only to hear him turn and walk away a moment later. She looked up when Makarov cleared his throat, and gave a tight smile when he asked if she was alright with his eyes. She knew that she was hurt at the moment, but would eventually get better over time. He cleared his throat once more, and looked over her shoulder toward Rogue and Yukino.

"No worries. We still wish to help." Rogue stated, his voice sounding as if he was tired and she resisted the urge to look over at him. When the old guild master nodded, he focused on the group again.

"Everyone knows what they need to do, so lets get started. Yukino, Rogue, Lucy. I have your tickets right here for your train ride, you should leave immediately. The others will be in position around and near the guild. Remember, we want this to happen without starting a war." Makarov stated, and then handed them their tickets. She gave a nod, turned and then started out of the guild. Ignoring the looks from the others as she walked past them. There was no way she was going to be able to talk to any of them at the moment, and just wanted to get this all over with so she could return to her apartment. Hopefully by then, she could act as if none of this had ever happened.