She longed to learn who she was and only he had the answer. Problem? He was in Sabertooth and she was in Fairy Tail, two rival guilds. On the road to get answers, she finds herself falling for his partner. [StingxOC] [RoYu] [NaLu] Other pairings inside.
The Shadow's Light
Sting X Nina (OC)
The Past Wounds!
Walking with her brother and the rest of Sabertooth, Nina used her nose to try and find Natsu. From the beginning of this chaos, she had made a promise to Natsu to always have his back. She rubbed the back of her neck, annoyed at her nose playing around. "It's probably me, but I can't get any whiff of Natsu's scent. Must be because of all… this." She motioned to the scene around them.
Yukino frowned. "Sorry."
She shook her head. "Not your fault, Yuki. Don't forget the noses of us Dragon Slayers is much more sensitive than yours… And it'll take a little bit to find it." Her hand brushed the bang out of her eye as she looked to her boyfriend and brother. "Any luck on your side?"
"We're in the same situation, Lita." Rogue said, shaking his head.
She huffed in irritation right before her nose caught Erza's scent. "Finally, someone familiar. Erza-chan…" She was about to take off, but she froze at the other scent, her body beginning to tremble as it remembered whose scent this was: Minerva's. Her shaking legs would not support her as her breathing sped up, both hands shooting to her head as she continued shaking.
"Nina?!" Rogue immediately knelt, worry on his face and tone as he placed a hand softly on his sister's shoulder, making her flinch and shoot her eyes to him. "Wha…" He was shocked to see how dilated they were. "Hey, snap out of it."
Sting was on her left, his own concern on his face. "Talk to us, Nina."
"M-M-M..." Her voice wouldn't speak the name as she locked a fearful gaze with them, trying to send the name to them somehow.
Rogue, thankfully, hugged her tight before looking to his partner. "Minerva..." He said, seeing the registration and the immediate anger enter his eyes as well. "Breathe, Lita. We swear she won't harm you again."
Nina slowly calmed down before bursting into tears and clinging to her brother, the memories of her time in Minerva's world swarming back. With her mate and brother beside her, though, she relaxed before drying her tears. "Er-Erza needs us..." Standing up slowly, she looked to the other three. "W-We'll be back."
Yukino, however, voiced their concern. "But what about... her?"
She shook her head. "Erza-chan comes first... But..." She inhaled. "She is my family now, too... I'll try to forget what happened to me to save her. Everyone deserves a second chance, after all... Even... Her." She and Rogue then used their shadow-magic to take Sting with them in time for Sting to grab Minerva from getting killed. "Phew..." She sighed.
"Just in the nick of time." Rogue agreed.
"That was cutting it close, huh?" Sting added before the dust cleared, revealing them to Erza. "We're gonna take ya back home."
Lector, Froche and Shina agreed as Rogue stared at the opponent. "Your guild is Sabertooth, after all."
"Yeah. We can't let this go." Nina glanced back at Erza. "Are you alright, Erza-chan?"
"N-Nina?! Sting? Rogue?" Erza asked. "Why are you all here?"
Nina smiled brightly at Erza. "Because I still consider you family, remember? No matter my guild mark, my heart will always beat with those in Fairy Tail." She then saw Minerva was crying. "By the way, hi. We've got it from here. You just rest up, okay?" She then watched Sting place Minerva against a wall. She looked at the tears still falling from Minerva's eyes before she took out the ribbon Erza gave her before she left, fixing her hair up into a ponytail, tucking the flower behind her ear. Her slate-blue tank top was underneath the gray kimono top. The top was tucked neatly into her red skirt that flared out until her knees. Blue leggings led to her silver platform heels. "By the way, if it weren't for me, they wouldn't be here in time." She giggled. "Try to work on your writing, Erza... Say, let's go back to the guild... Together, okay?"
"Go back to your guild? This world of magic is about to end. A guild is as good a place fro you as any. I will not stop you." The man that had attacked Minerva said.
"Face has been destroyed." Erza said.
"One of them, yes."
"'Face'? Could those be the creepy statues we saw on our way here?" Nina guessed, looking to her mate in confusion.
"If they are 'Faces', then there are all over the land in incredible numbers." Rogue confirmed.
"One hour. In one hour, all those Faces will go off. That's nearly three thousand magic pulse bombs. Enough to wipe out all the magic on the entire continent."
Nina paled. "That's impossible!"
"What's that mean?" Sting glared and stood protectively in front of Nina.
"All the magic will be lost?" Lector asked.
"From this entire continent?" Shina looked as shocked as Nina.
"Froche won't be able to fly anymore?" Froche asked as Minerva laughed.
"It's a bluff.. A Face bomb can only be controlled at the source. It would be impossible to set off three thousand of them simultaneously." She explained, getting Nina to relax and stand beside Sting.
"As I recall, the chairman had the ability to control them from a distance."
"He is dead." Minerva said, shocking Erza.
"Fortunately, our guild has a necromaster. He can use the dead chairman... to activate the Face bombs from the control room."
"You can't..."
Nina growled. "Erza-chan... Go. We'll handle this guy... You go stop those bombs." She cracked her knuckles like Laxus does to get ready.
"Can you look after Minerva, Lector, Froche and Shina? We'll know they're safe with you, Erza." Sting asked.
"We'll take him down." Rogue added.
"He can't stand against three of us." Nina reminded.
"You humans must have a sense of humor. Humans? Defeat the Underworld King?"
"You got it!" Sting said as the three shot off.
"Oh for pity's sake." He dodged Sting's punch, unaware of the two coming from the side until Rogue and Nina both aimed a claw attack, blocking those as well as the attack from Sting.
"Erza! GO!" Nina ordered, her eyes not once moving away.
"He's going to be tough! Be careful!" Erza said, picking up and supporting Minerva.
"Pfft." Nina giggled slightly. "Natsu hits harder than this guy!"
"He's not as tough as him, anyhow." Sting smirked.
"Don't let those bombs go off!" Rogue reminded.
"Sting... Rogue... Nina..." Minerva whispered.
"Froche will fight, too!" Froche said, pretending to fight as Shina took his tail.
"Not today, bud." She said.
"We're going with Erza." Lector said. "I trust that Sting and Nina will take care of things here."
"Froche thinks so too!"
The man then sent the three away with wind, all three skidding to a stop.
"White Dragon's... ROAR!" Sting shot off his breath attack to have it blocked and knocked away into a ruin behind him.
Rogue attacked from the side. "Shadow Dragon's Slicing Attack!" He was blocked and knocked away into the ground.
When the man held two fingers up, Nina appeared. "Shadow Dragon's Talon!" She was stunned when her ankle was grabbed before she was flung the same way towards her brother, shocked when he resumed the attack as if she hadn't even attacked.
"You offend me. Humans should not be allowed dragon slayer magic."
"Yeah. I gotta say, we don't like you either." Nina said before she glared. "You hurt our friends!" The glares they held would have scared anyone else as she enveloped both of her arms in shadow, attacking in unison with the other two as he dodged each of their attacks before they each landed a blow to him.
"I see... I have come to understand... why Kyoka so enjoys toying with humans."
Nina growled. "Stop toying and come at us for real, ass." She knew he wasn't really even trying, while she, Sting and Rogue were going all-out.
"They do not see their impending deaths. The ideals that fuel their actions are shaped by their emotions. And they lack knowledge of their own weaknesses. Such infinite ignorance. I, Mard Geer, can't help but love it."
Nina shuddered in disgust as they began attacking once again, getting blocked each time. 'This feeling... Juvia? She can't be gone. I refuse to believe it. She would never leave Gray's side willingly! Just as I will never leave their side.' She looked at Sting and Rogue as she thought that. 'Finding Rogue was the hardest part, but I swear I'll never lose my brother again! And, even though we started out on the wrong foot, Sting is my love and the one I will sacrifice anything to stay with! I know of Juvia's feelings towards Gray. I feel them towards Sting.' Her attacks grew stronger and stronger at her thoughts.
"I suppose anyone with dragon slayer magic would be a bit of a challenge." Mard Geer said.
"We're taking Minerva back with us!" Nina said.
"And we'll take you down to do it!" Rogue added as they kept the attacks coming.
"You three are the first humans to last this long against Mard Geer. It makes my heart pound ever so slightly." He commented as they kept up the attacks until Nina stopped and dropped in place, a blank stare on her face.
"Nina?" Rogue went to her side at the same time Sting did as a sound echoed.
"How unexpected." Mard Geer sighed.
"What is it?" Sting asked.
"A voice?" Rogue commented.
"I-It's..." Nina whimpered and began crying in fear.
"Who is it, Nina?" Sting asked, grasping her hand.
"Acnologia..." She whimpered. "He sent Tenrou Island into the sea for seven years... He nearly killed us without even using his entire strength!" She explained. "Not even me, Wendy, Gajeel and Natsu combined couldn't even scratch him. I wasn't even old enough to understand my powers back then." She looked to her brother and mate, seeing their confusion. "He's strong. Like, really strong... I.. I can't believe... We have to deal with him AND this stuff at once..." That was before she grabbed her heart, her body pulsing with the loud heartbeat, in sync with the other two.
"What is this?" Mard Geer asked, clearly confused. "What does this mean? Not even Mard Geer can predict what will happen!"
'Lita! The time has come, my daughter! I shall find someway to defeat Acnologia.' A familiar voice said.
'Papa?!' She sighed and relaxed the hold over her heart.
"Love, you alright?" Sting asked.
"Mhm..." She nodded. "Where'd that guy go?" She looked around for Mard Geer before glancing up. "LOOK! Is... That..." She saw another dragon, but this one was fighting for them. "I-Igneel... Natsu's dad?!" Standing up, she blinked before smirking. "Ahh. Thought I smelt him. Let's lend Natsu a hand, shall we?" The two nodded and they made their way towards where Natsu was, her and Rogue coming from his shadow while Sting took another bramble.
"Nina! Sting! Rogue!" He said happily.
"Long time no see, Salamander." Nina teased as they landed together.
"So it was you three!" He continued. "I knew you three were here, but how?"
"Well, you see..." Nina started.
"Aww, forget it! Whatever. There's no time for catching up anyway... Where're Shina, Froche and Lector?" Natsu asked.
"With Erza-chan." Nina stated. "Say, Salamander. Let's team up. The four of us can easily deal with this loser."
"That's a good idea, Nina... But no can do."
"What?!" Nina was stunned.
"This is an official request from Igneel. I gotta do it alone." He said.
"WHAT?! Who gives a crap about jobs at a time like..." Sting and Rogue said in unison as Nina held both of them back.
"I see... How bout this? We'll have a contest to see who can take him down first... You or us."
"What?! You ain't gettin him before I do, Rosie!" He snarled, shooting off. "He's mine!"
"Now we can help. Gotta ask in 'Natsu'." Nina winked.
"Good lord..." Rogue sighed as they all took turns to attack him, getting deflected immediately, another taking over. Soon, they each managed to land hits, Sting sending him flying with a kick.
"Two dragons in the sky. And three dragons' sons and a daughter before my eyes. Perhaps there are yet more of you as well. You swoop and scuttle about my castle with no regard... You have reawakened a long-forgotten sensation in Mard Geer. RAGE."
"Congratulations. You finally caught up to us humans." Nina snorted with a smile.
"Emotion impedes the thought process. Therefore, I have suppressed mine for quite some time. Until now, it seems." He walked to put the thing he had been holding for awhile on a flat surface. "Master END, you must abide a while longer. Rage is especially destructive. At times, it can make one lose oneself." He continued his rant as he sat on a throne that had appeared at his word.
Nina gulped. "There's something seriously creepy about that guy." 'And I thought that lord from when I was seven was creepy. Mard Geer must be related to him...'
"Here it comes!" Sting said as thorns appeared, attacking them all.
Nina found it almost hilarious that these wounds weren't as painful as the wounds she had gotten from Minerva. Not that it didn't hurt. It tore at her like the others, she just felt less pain as she saw Natsu go flying from a weird barrier that Mard Geer conjured. "Natsu!" She was about to head to him when a rose appeared and exploded, sending her backwards some more. "No way..."
"He's..." Sting started.
"Strong..." Rogue finished.
"FIRE DRAGON SWORD HORN!" Natsu said.
"Ineffective."
"And ROAR!" He sent him into the sky. "NINA! STING!"
"Am I hearing him needing help?" Nina said, taking her place beside Sting.
"Could be he knows how strong this person is, eh?" Sting smirked as they summoned their magic, palms together. "Let's do it, Nina!"
"Right!" She and Sting held their hands up as the magic swirled around them.
"HOLY SHADOW DRAGON FLASH FANG!" The said in unison, firing off their Unison Raid towards Mard Geer.
"Light and dark... How beautiful... However... It will vanish within me."
"No way!" Nina said, stunned.
"He sucked it in?!" Sting was equally stunned.
"Then... Lightning Fire Dragon's Firing Hammer!" Natsu landed a hit, but was sent flying by the flower decal again into the ruins again.
Mard Geer took his spot on the throne again. "If this is best you can do, I suggest you surrender. Mard Geer has yet to present his Etherious form."
"WHAT?!" Nina was shocked. He had another form that he wasn't even using? How much stronger was he? Could they even beat this guy? Was this the end for her and Sting?
'It's too early to give up.'
She looked around before blinking, wondering if she was hearing things before seeing Rogue look at her confused. "I thought... I heard Gramps, that's all..."
'We still have an ace up our sleeve. Fairy Tail's ultimate weapon... Lumen Histoire!'
This made her smile against the wave of fear. "Why do you want to get rid of all magic, anyway?" She asked, standing tall. "What's the point?"
"Oh? Did I never say? With the magic gone, the seal on END will vanish as well."
"That book?" Natsu asked.
"Despite its current appearance, END is the master of Tartaros and the most powerful demon in the Book of Zeref. Once END has been revived, we will return to Zeref." He explained.
"Why not go now? What do you need some other demon for?" Rogue asked.
"Have you ever given a moment of thought... to the question of why Zeref created us?"
Nina clenched her fist as she heard the tale of how Zeref wanted to die, but couldn't due to his curse so he created the books to kill him. In other words, she was disgusted to think these things were just used in his suicide idea. "Why drag humans into this plan?" She asked, standing beside her brother.
"As you walk the path to your goal... do you go out of your way to avoid any weeds that may be underfoot?" He grew two plants with his magic.
"You creep." Sting spat right as the three of them were slapped aside with the very weed.
"Sting! Rogue! Nina!" He said before getting slapped aside as well. "What is that!?"
"A cage-flower, from the underworld." Mard Geer said as it was about to attack Natsu, but it was frozen.
"Ice?" Nina asked before her nose caught who it was. "Well. This is gonna be interesting." She got to a knee as she smiled. "Gray, long time no see..."
"If that scarf is so important to you, don't let it get away." He said, not even acknowledging Nina's greeting.
Nina tilted her head as Mard Geer's arm was encased in ice, but that it was different than Gray's normal ice magic, which made her frown. This wasn't like Gray at all. He would've normally said hi to her or something. It was like something happened to him and changed him from the Gray she knew.
"When did you...?" Natsu was stunned.
"What are you?!" Mard Geer asked.
"The wizard who's going to take you down. I am a demon slayer!" Gray said as a tattoo appeared on his forearm.
"A demon slayer, you say?"
"What's that?" Sting asked.
Nina walked over to his side. "If Dragon Slayer magic is to defeat dragons and God Slayer magic is to defeat gods... Then.." She turned thoughtful, trying to figure it out.
"It's the magic to take down demons." Gray said, attacking Mard Geer with his new magic before freezing the Thorn Brambles.
"He froze them?!" Rogue was shocked.
"Whoa." Sting was surprised.
"Fascinating?! Only to you. I ain't doing this for kicks. It was my dad's wish!"
"Your dad?" Nina was confused. Gray's dad? He had always said his dad died to Deliora when he was a kid and he knew nothing about him.
"He wanted to destroy all of you!" He attack Mard Geer again before charging off again. "Ice Devil's Zeroth Long Sword!" Suddenly, something shot out of the flower and blocked the hit before sending him flying backwards.
"Gray!" Nina panicked at the fact he was merely swatted away as if he were a fly.
"I see you've made it in time."
"There's another? Wait... This smell..." Natsu said.
Nina was confused as she saw her brother and Sting both freeze in their spot and she went to their side. "Hey, w-who is it? What's going on?"
"I-It's..." Sting couldn't form the words.
"You once stood at the top of human guilds. So it's only natural that you would be reborn into a useful demon. Jiemma!"
"M-Master..." Rogue looked terrified, as did Sting.
"Brother! Sting! Snap out of this!" Nina was scared that this thing had caused both Rogue and Sting to turn into single syllable words. She saw the fear in both of their eyes, unaware of the charging Jiemma towards them until she was sent flying to the side.
"A weak woman!" The demon known as Jiemma sneered, facing her. "And she wears the mark of Sabertooth?! How low has the guild fallen to let in a pathetic worm?" He then lifted her by her head, glaring at her. "Who are you, wench?!"
Nina coughed slightly before spitting in his face. "None of your business, asshole... Just know I don't care who you are!" She lit her foot up with shadows and tried to kick him, only to have her ankle grabbed and had to use her hand to keep the skirt up as she was upside down. "Let go, you old pervert!"
"Hmph. Embarrassment has no room in Sabertooth. I shall make an example of you, wench." He tightened the hand that held her ankle. The pain caused her to scream in agony, which angered Natsu.
"Don't freeze up now! Sting! That's your fuckin mate he's hurting and you're too scared!? Seriously!?" He shot off, flames engulfing his fist as he went to attack, shocked when Jiemma only blocked with his free hand before sending him flying.
"Ahhh... I see... I knew you were weak, Sting... Pathetic... You're that child from Fairy Tail... I never cared for your name then, but now I understand... You are Makarov's granddaughter... One of the weaklings, no doubt." He stared at her, easily flipping her to have his hand around her neck. "I wonder how long until your neck breaks... Or perhaps I shall strangle you... So many options..."
Rogue snapped out of his fear at those words. "Leave my sister alone!" He was grabbed and forced to headbutt his sister.
"Sister? Even worse. I have waited for the day I could end you with my hands, Rogue. You and Sting both."
Nina lit her foot up again and attacked in unison with Rogue, getting blocked as a part of her heart shattered at the fact her brother was the only one to come to her aid. Was this what she had to deal with for the rest of her life? Being with someone who was too scared to help her when she was in trouble? Her brother had come to her aid, but not Sting. While she was thinking this, she was slammed into the ground hard as she saw that Sting had taken over, rage coloring his face.
"Leave him to us, guys!" Sting shouted towards Gray and Natsu.
"We'll deal with him!" Rogue agreed.
"Then come at me, Twin Dragons." Jiemma said.
I figured to add this part of the manga, because it might have confused people to jump right into the beef of the battles... Sorry, I was just over-hyped with the Sting-Larcade fight!
~~Kiwi~~