Hello there!

I'm back for another chapter!

I think I missed last week, but I'm here with a new one. Life has been hectic. Please forgive me. Love you all.

Bren, thank you! I think that was one of the most badass lines I have ever written.

Giggly, you're welcome!

Dommie, luv u baby

I hope you like it :)

Disclaimer: I do not own the rights to Fairy Tail. I do, however, own the rights to this story and OC characters that might appear in the future.

Chapter XX: The Magic Ink

X—X

"And then, Natsu just told me he wouldn't mind it!" Lucy shrieked. "Me! And him!"

Levy, Mira, and Ivy laughed. "Ah, you can always count on Natsu to be completely shameless."

"Not only that but now he insists on me wearing low cuts!"

"So that everyone can see your mating mark." Levy motioned to the vibrant half-moon sided with a curved line of fire.

"I mean… it is beautiful." She brushed her fingers over the bright red mark. "But I have so many high-neck shirts! And what about winter?!"

"I'm sure he'll see reason then." Mira smiled, wiping a glass.

"Yours is so interesting, Mira." Levy smiled, pointing at the yellow tribal eye with a lightning bolt as a pupil.

"Thank you, Levy." The Take Over mage blushed. "How are you liking yours, Ivy?"

"I love it." She squirmed in her chair.

"Yeah, yours is…"

"You can say weird, it's fine."

"It's not weird, it's beautiful!" Levy complained, eyeing the thick sparkle sided with echo lines. "But I swear it changed colors three times already! I've seen white, blue, and lilac!"

"It's our magic." Ivy sighed. "Since they had no other choice but to find a homeostasis balance… hence the changing of colors, they apparently are taking turns."

"How does that happen?"

"Well, according to what I've read, the more powerful the magic of the mated, the more times its color will show. Mine usually turns orange when I'm doing particularly powerful runes, but it's mostly gray. I've seen Mira's flash red once or twice, and yours flashed golden in that last job when you had Aquarius, Cancer, and Leo out. But Ivy's… it's constant color fluctuation."

"Your magic is strong." Lucy gasped.

"Well, Sting says my magic is as stubborn and tenacious as me." She giggled. "I kind of-ugh. Kind of agree."

"You okay there, Ivy? You've been complaining a lot." Mirajane smirked. "Are you… sore?"

"N-no, it's not…" She sighed and stood up. "Excuse me, I'll be right back."

The three watched her go with mild concerned looks but eventually fell back into conversation. A few minutes passed and no sign of Ivy, but Sting came along in search of his mate. He waited for her next to the girls, indulging them in some private details and the three days the two had spent in his cottage.

Sting's head suddenly snapped up. His eyes widened in alarm as he sniffed the air. A threatening rumble grew in his chest, and Levy leaned back and away. She immediately recognized the signs of aggressiveness, but could not fathom why they were showing.

Ivy walked down the stairs a little shakily, and Sting was by her side in a flash. She looked up at him, surprised.

"Sting?" She frowned. "What's wrong?"

"Are you okay? What happened?"

"I'm fine… why?"

"Sylvia, don't lie to me. Are you hurt?"

"I'm not lying, I'm fine. What is going on?" she placed a hand on his chest, where she could feel the vibrations of his rumble.

"I smell blood. Your blood." He frowned.

"Mhm, yeah." She turned pink. "You do."

"Well?! What happened?"

"…something that happens every month?" Sting turned pink, and she giggled. "Don't worry. Just help me get to the bar."

"Ivy, you look a little pale." Lucy frowned.

"Ah, my blood sugar always drops immensely during this time." She groaned as Sting helped her sit up on the stool and leaned her head against his shoulder. "Mira? Give me the most sugary milkshake you can whip up, please. No chocolate."

"One Rainbow Vanilla Super coming up." She turned to start preparing her order. "Chocolate would do you great, though."

"Don't like chocolate milkshake." She smiled shakily. "Sting?"

"Yes?"

"Can we please go home after this?" she whispered. "I'm sorry, girls, but I am not a good company in these times. I promise I'll come back though."

"Don't worry about it, Ivy, just get home safe. Sting, let us know when she is home, safe and sound."

The Dragon Slayer nodded, watching carefully as Ivy slurped down the colorful and sugary drink. After a few hearted goodbyes, Sting was quick to gather their possessions and hoist Ivy up in his arms. She complained at first, but the gentle purring next to her ear was just enough to lull her to sleep.

–X–

Ivy opened her eyes with a groan. She was staring at the ceiling of her room, back in the guild. She took sound breaths, checking the feeling of her body under blankets she had never seen before. There was a glass of water on her bedside table, Fennex was resting on the pillow next to her, and the window offered the orange tones of the setting sun. She sat up with difficulty and grabbed the glass.

The water had been sweetened, she mused as she took a sip. There was an extra pillow propped up against the wall, the chair in her room had been moved to rest against the foot of her bed, and the small lamp was set to minimal yellow lighting.

"Hm. I don't even remember getting here." She groaned and plopped back down on the bed after a jolt of pain ran up her back. "Ah, freaking aches."

The door of her bedroom opened and she looked up to see Sting. He tried to balance a pile of documents, a mouthful of a paper bag, and a big furry object. He closed the door with his foot and placed the documents on her desk, grabbing the bag with his now free arm and turning to Ivy.

"You're up!" He grinned, and Ivy allowed herself a smile. "How are you feeling?"

"Achy." She sighed. "What's all that?"

"Well," He crossed the room and sat down next to her. "I talked to Yukino, and I went out to buy a few things for you."

"Sting, you didn't have to!"

"She told me the… size? you normally wear, because you once borrowed one from Yuki, so I got those. I got you this chocolate because I know you don't like chocolate-flavored things, but I remember you devoured that salty caramel chocolate that Orga once bought. I got you this… heating lavender-scented thing. I didn't know whether to get cream or oil for that ankle massage you always do at night, so I kind of got both?"

"Sting-!" Ivy gasped.

"And a box of rainbow-sprinkled yogurt and sugar cookies that I promise I did not touch." He pulled the last item from the bag and smiled. "Did I forget anything?"

"You didn't have to-!" She whispered, sniffling.

He snapped his fingers. "I forgot tissues."

She giggled. "I have those. Second drawer."

Sting got up to fetch the box and placed it on her lap. "How's that?"

"You didn't have to."

"Of course I did." He pushed a lock of orange hair behind her ear. "You're my mate, Ivy. Part of that is my duty to take care of you and your needs."

"I don't want to be a chore."

"You're misunderstanding. It's not a chore." He smiled. "For dragons, taking care of a mate is not… an obligation. It's an honor. A… privilege. That… level of devotion is only shown towards two types of people in our lives."

"Which are they?"

"The one and only mate… and the dragon's offspring."

"Ch-children?" Ivy blushed.

"Try to think of it like this… you would go to the ends of the world for the ones you love. Kill for them, die for them."

"Yes."

"That's devotion. It's what a Dragon Slayer feels for their mate." He explained, moving his hand to her forehead. "Your skin feels a little heated."

"That's the blush, not the fever." She huffed a laugh. "Devotion?"

"Pure and unaltered."

"…what are those documents for?" she frowned.

"Well, I want to keep you company, but I have a lot to do. So… two birds, one stone?"

"You forgot something."

"What?" He gasped. "B-but Yukino said, pads, heater, sweets, warmth, cuddle, quiet. I'm sorry. What did I forget?"

"…am I supposed to just stare at you while you work? You're hot, but come on."

Sting raised an eyebrow at her. "That tongue of yours is getting sharp."

"This tongue of mine can do a lot of things." She smirked.

"You're lucky you're on your period." He got up and walked to her desk, pulling out a black leather-bound book. "Here."

"What is that?" She took it and gasped. "The Adventures of Ruthie the Rabbit?"

"With all the notes and drawings from the author." He sat down on his chair. "You told me that was the book you read to the children at the hospitals you worked in."

"And you remembered?"

"I remember you told me you learned to love the sounds of a mechanical boiler because that was the only way you could get a decent night's sleep." He leaned back.

"I-I don't even remember telling you that." She bit her lip.

"Hm… mid-summer, Lector was training with… Rufus. It was late, sundown. And we watched the sunset." He grabbed a pen. "Did I get the book right?"

"I love you." She whispered, eyes pooling with tears.

Sting smiled and moved to press a soft kiss to her mouth, against which he murmured his response.

The two sat in silence, only broken while Ivy read a few passages out loud, or Sring complained about the lack of common sense in the mission reports. The sun had long disappeared, giving way to bright sparkly stars. Ivy gradually settled deeper into the covers, until she jolted awake. She realized she had fallen asleep reading and placed the book on her bedside table.

"Sting…" She whispered.

"Yes, little phoenix?"

"I'm tired. Come to bed with me." She closed her eyes and snuggled into her pillow.

The dragon slayer smiled and placed the papers on her desk, stripping down to his boxers and getting in bed behind her, wrapping one arm around her torso. Ivy sighed and pulled him closer, molding her body to his curves. Sting let his hand fall to her lower abdomen, where he let the warmth of his magic glow, making Ivy sigh happily. It wasn't long before the two fell asleep in each other's arms, under the light of the bright stars.

–X–

Ivy threw her head back in laughter as Orga finished his story. A week had passed since they had returned, and the guild members were happy to see Ivy finally out of her room. Sting grinned; his arm over the back of the couch. He watched Dobengal, who watched Ivy with a sad look. Rufus showed Yukino a new spell he had created, whose hand was tight in Rogue's grip, and Sorano stood behind the counter, wiping glasses as Minerva took stock.

"You okay there, Sting?" Ivy looked up at her dragon, who twitched for the third time in the last minute.

"Yeah, it's... I'm hearing things." he chuckled.

"What things?"

"...fluttering?"

She jumped out of the couch in alarm and moved to the center of the hall, where she had more space. She grabbed her wrist and swiped upwards. The butterfly tattooed on her arm flew up and grew, becoming a massive opened hologram. She heard gasps from the guild and felt Sting come closer. She looked up and frowned.

"Are those... runes?"

"Yes." she declared, watching the upper left wing glow. "Master."

"Yes, Ivy."

"I'd like to request some time off. To take care of something personal."

"I'm going with you." Sting stood next to her. "When are we leaving?"

Ivy pulled the butterfly back to her arm. "As soon as you can."

"Meet me here in five minutes then."

A/N: Drama? Yes. It's me. It's called 'backstory'. Yes, more backstory. Enjoy!

Let me know your thoughts on this new story!

Lots of love from this weirdo,

LoneeWolf :)