A/N: Hello, readers! Another chapter is here!

Enjoy!

CHAPTER TWENTY-ONE: HATRED AT NIGHTFALL

Yukino soon removed her clothing. "Yukino..." Frosch muttered.

"Please be quiet, Frosch." Lector said.

Yukino's Sabertooth emblem was on her left waist. "Erase your guild emblem." Jiemma demanded.

"Yes, sir." Yukino said. "I wasn't here for long, but thank you for everything."

"Get out of my sight, trash." Jiemma ordered.

Later, Sting and Rogue were walking with their Exceeds in front of them. "Our master sure does go to extremes, y'know?" Sting said.

"It couldn't be helped. This is why we're the strongest guild." Lector reminded him.

"Fro is sad..." Frosch said.

Rogue stopped in his tracks. "Is this what a "guild" is?" He asked, making Sting look back at him. "Yukino was a comrade."

"She's gone 'cause she's weak. The strongest guild didn't need her, right?" Sting countered before he continued walking.

"Come to think of it, I hear the lady is replacing Yukino-san." Lector said.

"Oh! Now that's what I call the strongest five members!" Sting cheered.

All of the Assembly of Ash members had gathered for a meeting with their Master. "You want us to what now?" Sebastian questioned.

"I know I said none of you guys are allowed to participate during the competitions, but considering we're entering the third day of the tournament, I believe we should start doing so." Souta repeated. "Orion, I want you to participate for A Team. Maxim, I want you to go for B Team."

Maxim nods in response while Orion replies, "Understood, Master."

Sebastian was walking back to the inn with Raden at his side when Natsu ran towards them. "Hey, Nat-" Sebastian began to say but Natsu just ignored him, quickly rushing by without saying a greeting.

"What was that all about?" Raden asked.

Sebastian shrugged. "I'm gonna go see." He replied, taking off in the direction Natsu was going.

Raden widened his eyes upon realizing that the direction was towards Crocus Garden - Sabertooth's inn. Raden sighed, knowing that the two Dragon Slayers would most likely get in trouble.

"Natsu! Wait!"

Natsu stopped and turned. "What is it?" He asked.

"What's got you in a rush?"

"Yukino got kicked out of Sabertooth because of one lost. I'm gonna go make 'em pay." Natsu explained.

Sebastian sighed. "Yeah, I kinda figured that was the case. Sabertooth's inhumane rules really piss me off." He said before grinning. "What do you say we unleash some hell on them, cousin?"

Natsu grinned back. "Let's do it." He agreed.

Crocus Garden...

Two consecutive blasts were heard, waking up Sting and Lector. "What the...?!" Sting questioned as Rogue barged in.

"Intruders!" He announced.

"Lector, wake up!" Frosch said, flying in next to Rogue.

"More than one?!" Sting quoted. "All of the members of Sabertooth are stayin' at this inn! Who the hell is it?!"

"I don't know... but they must not be expecting to leave here alive!" Rogue claimed.

One of their members soon crashed in front of them while other members got blasted with flames, causing them to go flying in the air. The intruders were revealed to be Natsu and Sebastian.

"Where's... your master?!" Natsu shouted, kicking a member up in the air and causing him to crash. Sting and Rogue could only stare in shock.

"Where is he?!" Natsu asked again as Jiemma stepped forward.

"You have business with me, kid?" Jiemma questioned.

"Are you the master here?" Natsu asked. "I hear you kicked someone out for losin' once?" He then chuckled. "That gets me fired up!"

"In that case," Sebastian added on before pausing as he pounded his fists together, orange-red flames coming out as he did so. "if you lose to us, you're outta this guild!"

A/N: Sorry for the short chapter!

Thanks for reading!

~ Kaleb.