AN: Yeah, it took me longer to get started on this than I thought it would, but whatever. I don't have some sort of explanation or anything; I just started writing now and not later/earlier. So… anyway, about the story ideas I mentioned in the first chapter, I've so far got one vote for the successful rebellion idea. If you want to let me know what you think, go ahead, but be warned that I won't be writing any new stories (except maybe one-shots) until I've finished one of my DRRR stories. Anyhow, enjoy~
Story the Sixth: Visitors
In all honesty, after the stunt Sorano and Macbeth had pulled with Saber Tooth, it wasn't surprising that Sting and Rogue (or, as Erik liked to think of them, "Salamander 2.0" and "Sorano's future brother-in-law") eventually showed up to visit, along with Yukino, who was visiting her sister, and Minerva, who apparently felt that she needed to apologize to Jellal (which turned into something that resembled an apology contest). Sting and Rogue, despite being fairly interested in the group of fugitives they were now hanging out with, were as close to the entrance of the hideout as possible, either because they wanted to be able to make a quick escape if necessary, or because Sorano and Macbeth were at the other side of the hideout (it was quite possible that both were true).
What was surprising, however, was the day that the Twin Dragons came to visit with a former member of Fairy Tail tagging along (and three cats instead of two). Yukino and Minerva were also there, but they had decided to, respectively, talk to Sorano and giggle with Merudy (somehow, the Lady of Saber Tooth's friendship with Crime Sorciére's resident empath came as no surprise to anyone, possibly because of their shared love of penguins). Erik had – quite literally – heard the group coming from a mile away, and was waiting for them outside, which was probably for the best, as Richard had developed a tendency to hug anyone who entered their hideout, even if he didn't know who they were.
"So, what're you runts doing here?" Erik asked, grinning manically. He liked grinning maniacally – it scared people, and that was funny.
"We want to fight you." Sting told him bluntly. Even with his Sound Magic telling him otherwise, Erik could not bring himself to believe that the boy was being serious. He doubled over laughing.
"You want to fight me?" He repeated, gasping for breath. "You want to fight me? Seriously?" Managing to choke down his laughter, Erik stood up and looked directly at them. "Kid, the two of you got your collective rear ends handed to you by Dragneel. You can do a fucking Unison Raid and you still lost. To. Natsu. Did you develop a masochistic streak, or do you just think that getting the shit beaten out of you will make you stronger?"
"Natsu beat you too," Rogue pointed out. Erik rolled his eyes.
"Yeah – eight years ago." He sneered. "The last time I fought a member of Fairy Tail, it was Titania, and I only lost because I got distracted. I fought a dragon too, you know, and I came a hell of a lot closer to winning than you two."
"I'm here too," Wendy noted, glad that he hadn't made fun of her, but a little sad that he seemed to have completely missed her. Erik glanced down at her.
"I realized that," he said dryly. "Since, you know, I heard you. If you're asking why I ain't makin' fun of you, it's 'cause you're twelve." Wendy frowned.
"I'm almost thirteen," she mumbled. "And that didn't stop you from trying to kill me before."
"It wouldn't stop me from trying to kill you now, either," Erik assured her (she didn't look too assured, but he didn't really care). "But you beat the shit out of a member of Tartarus, by yourself, at age twelve. That is worthy of a little respect."
"I had Carla with me," Wendy told him, blushing. "But thanks." Erik shrugged.
"Look, kids, if you wanna spar then that's fine, but I gotta ask why all three of you came." Sting and Rogue exchanged looks, but Wendy spoke up.
"I wanted to get stronger too," she said. "Fairy Tail… since Fairy Tail disbanded, I've been thinking about joining Lamia Scale, but I want to get stronger first. I thought about it, and I realized that I'm the only Dragon Slayer who's never fought against another Dragon Slayer before."
"That's true," Sting realized. He glanced at Erik. "I think, anyway."
"Let me get this straight: You want to get stronger by fighting another Dragon Slayer, so, rather than fight against the two in your age group, the four in your guild, or one of those God Slayers I've been hearing about, you picked me."
"Yup." Wendy said simply. Carla facepawed.
"If it's any comfort, I did tell her it was a bad idea," the white Exceed hissed, glaring untrustingly at their old enemy. "Heaven forbid she listens to me, though."
"And, since Rogue and I wanted to spar with you anyway, we figured it could be two-on-two," Sting finished, grinning.
"Three-on-one," Erik said flatly. Sting's smile fell.
"What?" he asked.
"I said, if you wanna fight me, it's gonna have to be three-on-one." Erik grinned. "Otherwise, I'd just get bored. Actually, maybe we should go get a couple more Dragon Slayers for your side. Even it out a bit." The other three Dragon Slayers stared at him for a moment until they realized they'd just been insulted.
"You know what?" Rogue said, his eye twitching. "I think I'm good with a three-on-one set-up."
"Same," Sting growled, not even trying to hide his irritation.
"That's a good idea!" Wendy chirped, realizing that, despite being a bit of an ass about it, Erik had a point. "If we find Natsu-san and Gajeel-san, they could join our team, and we can ask Laxus-san to join Cobra-san's team! Generation 1 and 3 against Generation 2!" The other three stared at her.
"Child, he wasn't being serious," Carla snapped.
"Carla-san is right!" Lector, who had been staring at the female cat instead of paying attention to what was going on, piped up.
"Fro thinks so too!" Frosch agreed.
"I have a headache," Jellal told them. Erik jumped, wondering how the hell Jellal managed to sneak up on him (Jellal seemed to be able to block Erik from hearing his thoughts, though he wouldn't reveal how, and it had been driving the maroon-haired man insane). "Why are Wendy and the Saber Tooth guys here?"
"They want to spar with Erik," Macbeth, who may or may not have been awake the entire time, said. His eyes were still closed.
"Is… is he even awake?" Sting wondered. Erik shrugged.
"It's kinda hard to tell," he admitted. "There's not much of a difference one way or the other." Macbeth threw a rock at him.
"I think he's awake." Wendy said helpfully.
"It could just be a subconscious reflex, though," Jellal thought out loud. He saw the others staring at him with puzzled expressions. "Ah, it's kind of hard to explain… you know how some people kick when they're asleep? It's like that, I guess." Macbeth threw a rock at him too. "Okay, he's probably awake."
"I know!" Sawyer popped his head out of the hideout, grinning. "What about all four of you fighting Jellal?" Jellal groaned.
"Please don't drag me into this," he begged.
"That wouldn't be fair," Merudy pointed out. "Jellal could probably take on all of us at once." There was an awkward silence as the former members of the Oración Seis remembered their 'fight' against Jellal.
"Let's do that, then!" Lector said, still not really paying attention. "I'm sure Sting-kun will win!" Sting looked at him.
"I'm pretty sure I'd get my ass handed to me," he retorted flatly. Jellal sighed.
"Look, there's some open space a bit west of here, and you guys can have your sparring match there. Erik, please don't do any permanent damage, physical or otherwise." Erik rolled his eyes.
"Yeah, yeah, I know," he grumbled. Jellal went back inside the hideout, followed by Merudy, who had had too much candy and was now singing a song about a hedgehog at the top of her lungs. The other members of the crime-fighting guild (as well as Yukino and Minerva) glanced at one another.
"I think we should go watch the fight," Macbeth said. The others agreed, and followed the Dragon Slayers off to the open area Jellal had mentioned, leaving the blue-haired man alone with the pink-haired girl and praying that he wouldn't kill them for it later. Listening carefully, Erik realized that Macbeth was still asleep.
AN: So, this chapter comes in two parts, because screw it. If anyone's wondering why Wendy decided to talk to Sting and Rogue about getting stronger, just assume it was because she realized that they were technically the same age (which they are – remember, if not for the time skip, Wendy would be nineteen). Oh, and just so you know, Minerva and Jellal once spent so long apologizing that they fell asleep in their seats. Macbeth still teases them about it. Well, I can't say when the next part/chapter will come out, but… hey, do you guys think I should start posting Acnologia is Not Your Father on AO3?