𝙏𝙃𝙐𝙉𝘿𝙀𝙍 // 𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙪𝙚 𝙭 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧

𝙖 𝙨𝙚𝙧𝙞𝙚𝙨 𝙤𝙛 𝙪𝙣𝙛𝙤𝙧𝙩𝙪𝙣𝙖𝙩𝙚 𝙚𝙫𝙚𝙣𝙩𝙨

// 1st P.O.V //

I stopped to do a double take.

"What?" I said.
"You heard me..." Edolas me refused to meet my eyes.

"That's real funny... now, tell me what you're gonna say? Seriously, this time," I tried for a smile.
"No, um... that's what I was going to say," she spoke quietly, "I don't know... there are two possibilities. Him, and..."

I felt a lump in my throat as I realised she was serious.
"If you say who I think you're gonna say..." I lowered my voice.

"Sting," she said, barely audible, but with my enhanced hearing, I heard her. I stood immediately.

"W-wait, where are you going?" her [E/C] eyes widened. I now hated that they were the exact same colour as mine.
"I'm telling your fiancé that you slept with his friend," I growled. She scrambled to her feet and grabbed my wrist.

"No, no, please don't," she begged, "I-I don't want him to know, why did I even tell you?!"
I whipped around on the spot and slapped her. She stumbled back, acquiescing her grasp on my wrist. The pool area fell silent at the hall - me standing in front of her whilst she, on the brink of tears, held her cheek was not a good look.

"Hey!" her Edolas fiancé, Ryos, moved from where he was and started to approach. I ignored him and continued on my way out. He grabbed my forearm and I swung around and punched him in the nose, infused with my magic. He hissed and raised one hand to hold his face.

"If you still want a hand for your little wench to put a wedding ring on, you'd better move it," I growled. With no other choice and the knowledge I could easily overpower him, he let go and I walked out, despite being in a swimsuit.

It was raining outside, heavily, and I immediately regretted walking out, but returning inside, shivering, would make me look like a loon. Instead, I scurried to the nearest bench undercover and sat there, hugging my arms.

"Oh... you stupid..." I growled of my Edolas counterpart, "how could she do that? I can't... oh, she's right. I'm nothing like her."

I continued to growl to myself until I felt - and smelt - a presence standing over me. I looked up and saw a brown-haired woman with blue eyes, dressed in something akin to a black bikini. Her hair fell over on of her eyes and then down her back. She wore a dark trench coat over her clothes. Whenever she shifted her position, an overabundance of gold jewellery rattled. In her hand she held a green umbrella and on the sleeve of her coat was the Lamia Scale guild mark.

"That's a face I've not seen in a while," she grinned.
"Aarya?" I asked.
"The one and only," the woman confirmed.

I remembered Aarya well — Aarya Anehei, the Fire Devil Slayer I'd met six months ago on a job in the town of Girasole.

"What are you doing here?" I questioned, standing up.
"I could ask you the same question. It's pourin' and you're out here in some skimpy get-up," she said, slightly irked. I didn't mention that she wore practically the same thing.

"C'mon, I'll explain everything in a second. Let's get back to your guildhall," Aarya spoke, putting an arm around me and pulling me under the umbrella. This wasn't unwelcome to me.

She walked with me back into Sabertooth, where she kicked the doors wide as if she was returning to her own home. I followed suit.

Ryos was still standing where I'd left him, apparently too shocked to move.

"What're you staring at, punk?" Aarya stepped over to get into his face.
"Now, c'mon, let's not get violent," I said, pulling her away. Ryos narrowed his eyes and broke away to go back to his [Y/N], presumably.

Rogue spotted me and strode over.
"Hey, are you alright? What was that all about?" he said, briefly acknowledging Aarya and deciding she was non-hostile.

"Nothing. Just the other [Y/N] and I had an argument," I shook my head.
"Hey, you're that chick!" Aarya pointed at Rogue, despite him standing a mere few feet from her, "the one with the other blonde - you're a man?!"

"Did you forget or something?" I turned to her, "it was the magic that switched our genders around. He's not a girl."
"Oh! So the other blonde's not a girl either?" she nodded.
"Yeah, his name's Sting. Oh, yeah, and that's Rogue. You two were never introduced, right?" I said.

"Didn't really have time for that," she shrugged off her coat as if it wasn't freezing cold and dropped it at her feet. Rogue watched her do it and the corners of his lips twitched slightly.

"Oi, oi! Who's this, then?" Sting finally strode over, "oh, hey! You're that chick!"
"That's literally what she just said," Rogue blinked.

"No, I remember! From that job we did six months or so ago!" Sting grinned.
"Yeah! See, he gets it," Aarya nodded, "oi, [Y/N]? Weren't you in Fairy Tail?"

"Well, yeah, but— hold on, I was in Sabertooth when I met you the first time too!" I said.
"Oh, yeah," the Fire Devil Slayer rubbed the back of her neck, slightly abashed, "I forgot. The first time I heard of you, you were some small fry squirt in Fairy Tail, working alongside Natsu and the Phantom Lord guy!"

"He's not in Phantom Lord," I said with the narrowing of my eyes, "and don't call me squirt. Ohh, just thinking about that brings me back..."
"Huh?" Sting blinked.

"It's what Gajeel calls me," I explained, indisposed, "I still hear him in my mind... 'geehee, squirt, I'm Gajeel, I'm soo kissy-kissy with Levy and I make up crappy songs about how much I love her, shoo-be-doo-ba! Blah, blah, where's my cat? Salamander, get the lightning boy! We're going Cheney-hunting!' Oh, the pain!"

"What's 'Cheney-hunting'?" Sting had some form of terror in his eyes while Rogue just put his head in his hands.
"To make it short, Natsu got really drunk off of the champagne at the celebration after the Grand Magic Games, remembered the interaction between Future Rogue and I, and then Gajeel heard, and then his exact words were 'Salamander, get the lightning boy. We're going Cheney-hunting.'"

"I remember," Rogue shuddered.
"Oh," Sting said.

"I went onto the balcony 'cause I didn't wanna get caught and the cat girl from Mermaid Heel saved Kuschel and gave her back to me, which actually made me cry a bit, and then I went back in to see Natsu trying to get Rogue from across a table. Oh, and you were laughing, Sting," I explained.
"Aw, I was just having a good time," he said.

"You mistook Gajeel for Natsu, and when you realised he wasn't Natsu, you said that 'he'd do'," Rogue said.
"And then Lector said it's 'cause you had no experience in making friends," I tacked on.

Aarya laughed.
"You guys are quite the bunch," she grinned, "so, did you and the black-haired guy become a thing or what?"
"I never even told you about that?!" I gaped, "well, yeah, but still!"

"It was pretty obvious actually, when you got us out of there with your master plan and then he choke-slammed you into a wall," she shrugged.
"I still feel quite bad for that," he commented.

"Oh, yeah. [Y/N], how did you get out of there? Surely they would've had some way to stop you from using magic?" Sting asked.

"Oh, they did, they had these handcuffs that, for eight years, I thought were magic-nullifying, but then the smart little squirt [Y/N] came in and realised that I was breathing out steam, and another one of us who's an Ice-Make Magic user was breathing ice particles, which meant that our magic was just being severely dampened," Aarya explained, "so she convinced the Ice-Make Mage, Lilith, to just hold onto the bars of her cell and, sure enough, they eventually froze over and she kicked them in. And next, she froze off [Y/N]'s cuffs and then [Y/N] vibrated her sound waves at such a frequency that all of our cuffs just fell off when she touched them. And then we could all use our magic, and escape."

"Honestly? I think it's the smartest idea that's ever come from my head," I grinned.
"It's pretty genius," Sting agreed, "I didn't think you had it in you."
"Ouch," I scoffed.

"It is genius. I find it impressive, in all seriousness," Rogue said.
"Thanks, Rogue," I swayed on the spot, suddenly feeling bashful, and twiddled my hair.

"Squirt's embarrassed," Aarya snorted, slapping a hand on my back. I coughed and turned to look at her.

"I-I am not," I defended myself.
"Right," Sting nodded, "come on, it's been, like, a year since you two became a thing."
"It absolutely hasn't," Rogue blinked, "it was six months ago."

"It feels like it's been ages," I admitted.
"I'm pretty surprised Sting doesn't remember shoving me," Rogue glanced at his companion, eye twitching.

"Like I said, I just couldn't handle the tension," Sting said with a cheeky green and a gallic shrug, "sorry for that, by the way, [Y/N]. That was your first kiss, right?"

"Well, technically, no. But in my mind? Yeah, absolutely," I nodded.
"Who was your first kiss with, then? Technically?" Rogue asked.
"Well, again, technically, still you," I said, "but, like, future you."

"Ohh," Sting nodded.
"That makes me feel horrible. I'm sorry," Rogue frowned.

"I'm confused?" Aarya blinked.

"Don't apologise! It wasn't you, remember!" I waved my arms apologetically.

"Why are we talking about the future?" the Fire Devil Slayer blinked.
"Long story," Sting sighed, "right! Why'd you come to Sabertooth, are you joining us?"

"I'm fine at my own guild, thanks," she gestured to the Lamia Scale mark on her left forearm, "I came here for [Y/N], mostly, but the more people I can gather the better."

"I'm listening," I leant forwards.
"You remember Novalee, right?" Aarya said, to which you nodded, "it's her birthday today, but, uh... she's gone. She's been under Vivienne's care since your guild came to rescue us, but I dropped by to visit this mornin' and they weren't there."

"Are you sure they weren't just on a walk?" Rogue suggested.

Aarya shook her head.
"There was this scrap on the floor," she produced a black cloth material, "I couldn't track the scent, but I definitely recognised it."

I leant in to have a sniff when she held it out, but as soon as the stench hit my nose I stumbled back.
"It can't be," I said.
"You smell him too, right?" she replied, "yeah."

"Who?" Sting leant in curiously.
"Slothe," Aarya hissed, "Kai Slothe."

"Why didn't you say that first?" Rogue said, "we've wasted valuable time standing and having idle chitchat!"

She shook her head.
"Lilith - who [Y/N] might remember - is meeting me at the train station in Balsam Village. Y'know, the spa town," she said, "if you guys wanna help stop these guys from plotting another scheme, be there by six-o-clock tomorrow evening - that's when our train leaves to Girasole."

"If [Y/N] agrees, then we're in," Sting said, after he and Rogue had exchanged a look.
"Like hell I'd say no," I replied, "we'll see you in Balsam at six, Aarya."

"That's good to hear. Novalee does miss you," Aarya dipped her head, "she talks about you a lot. Doesn't remember your name though."
"How lovely," I said, "uh, Aarya. It's nice to see you again. I hope you're doing better back at your guild."

"I am. Everyone was so glad to see me. Lyon cried, you know Lyon, right?" she asked.
"I do. Fought at the Grand Magic Games," I confirmed, "he's a really great guy, which surprised me. I think the only reason Gray and I beat him then was because Gray slapped me."

"He slapped you?" I practically heard one of Rogue's nerves pop and chuckled nervously.
"He had to. I used up a lot of my magic power in that fight against Lyon and Chelia," I explained, "y'know, ears ringing and stuff. It was that, or... I don't even know what."

"Ears ringing?" Sting questioned, "no, we don't know. Why, is that a common thing?"
"I think someone said too much," Aarya chortled, "not that I know. All I know's from Lyon and Chelia. Speaking of, I'd better run. I'm supposed to be training with him right now!"

"See you tomorrow!" I grinned. She nodded and turned on her heel, running out the hall.

"See ya, Sabertooth!" she called over her shoulder.

Sting huffed to himself.
"I like her. She's cool," he said.
"Don't tell me you've got a crush on Lamia Scale's Hestia," I grinned.

"Oh- no. No way," he shook his head, "I, um... no. I don't."
"Alright, don't sweat it," I stepped back, "you started to get really anxious just then."
"I'm alright," he said.

"Continue on about the ear ringing?" Rogue piped up.
"Another time," I shook my head, "I've got someone to deal with."

"Huh? This isn't about Edolas you, is it?" Sting asked.
"Like hell it isn't," with that, I stormed back off to where she had previously been, by the pool.

// 2nd P.O.V //

"She won't be by the pool, [Y/N]," Sting said, "she said she was tired so I let her head off to the master's quarters for a nap."

"Ew," you shook your head.

"What? I don't sleep there, Rogue and I share a place," he said. You sighed and refocused on your initial mission, turning on your heel and marching into the master's quarters.

You threw the door open to something unsightly.

Your Edolas self was, just as Sting had said, asleep in a large queen-sized bed that had pristine, blue covers. They were virtually unused.

Though, standing right beside her, was Sting's Edolas counterpart, Sting Lux. One hand was held to his mouth, eyes closed as he whispered something you couldn't make out, and the other held a dagger raised above her chest. The blade was curved and resembled the talon of a bird of prey.

"Hey!" you immediately shouted. Without opening his eyes, he turned and threw the knife. You stepped aside, just for it to make itself apparent in the wall right where you had been about a heartbeat before. It then clattered to the floor, landing at your feet.

"The hell d'you think you're doing?" you growled.
"If I can't have her... then no-one can," he opened his eyes and you almost gasped. The usual blue was dried out and bloodshot, not in the beautiful way as if he had been crying, but in the ugly, terrifying way like someone had forced them open without letting him blink.

You threw yourself into action, pushing off of the mattress and leaping onto him. Your Edolas counterpart awoke to the thud of you landing on him.

"What the hell?!" she gasped. You forced Edolas Sting onto his front, pulling his arms behind him and placing one of your knees in the centre of his back.

"This prick was gonna kill you," you spared a glance her way, "you're lucky I had enough human in me to stop him."

Before she could respond, he suddenly threw you off with a sudden surge of strength. You scattered across the floor and he got to his feet, shoulders rising and falling with each manic breath he gave.

"Sting..." you said, "come on, man. Let's not fight. I don't wanna get violent with you."
"The possibility of not getting violent was thrown out of the window when my [Y/N] slept with me," he clenched his fists, "multiple times. And then wouldn't even acknowledge me."

"Listen, I'm sorry you feel that way, but there's nothing I can do about it. Just- just put the fists away, alright?" you said, sparing another glance at your Edolas counterpart. She was dumbly watching this exchange, holding the blue cover up over herself.

Edolas Sting took a slow breath in and then started to lower himself into a sitting position on the ground.

"Yeah. That's right, deep breaths... and then we'll all talk it out," you nodded, believing you had succeeded in calming down the raging man. You were proven wrong, however, when he skidded forwards and lunged for the dagger. You leapt away as he slashed, making an attempt to jab it through your leg.

You kicked him upside the chin and he shot back, smacking against the wall, though his hand never renounced its tight grip on the blade. He got up easily and launched at you again.

"Sound Dragon's Crushing Fang!" you shouted. Your hands ignited with your magic aura and you slashed at Edolas Sting. He jumped back, almost easily, and then suddenly appeared behind you. You spun around, sending a kick smashing into the side of his skull.

"You! Get outta here!" you shouted to Edolas you. She didn't think twice and, wrapping herself in the covers, ran from the room. The man you fought tried to follow but you wrestled him up against the wall, when he suddenly flipped you round with the knife to your throat.

"Move, and I will slit your throat," he said, "which would be quite the shame. It's just - now you know my secret. You know how deeply in love with [Y/N] I am, so you have to die."

"She'll get me help, and you'll regret ever laying a hand on me," you growled.
"Hmm... I'm sure I will," he traced the blade along your collar bone, "this is unfortunate - you're very pretty. But you just aren't the same as my [Y/N]. If you were more similar, I could just keep you, but..."

Your eyes flickered around for a solution to this sticky situation you were in, when you remembered every male's one weakness. With no more hesitation, you swung your knee up and right into his crotch. He squeaked and then collapsed, finally dropping the knife. As you picked it up, Rogue dashed in, followed shortly by Sting, the three Exceeds, and then the other two Edolas people.

"Oh. It seems you have it covered," Rogue said.
"Sure do," you pressed your foot onto Edolas Sting's chest. He coughed, but stopped squirming, instead looking up at you through hazy, half-lidded eyes.

"Will someone tell me what's going on?" Ryos spoke up.
"Oh, I'll tell you what's going on alright," you felt the artery in your forehead pop, "he's fucking your fiancé."

The words tasted more bitter coming from you than you could ever imagine, and you felt like a knife was plunged through your chest when you saw the falter in Ryos's stance as he slowly turned to his fiancée.

Sting and Rogue - your Sting and Rogue - gaped, eyes flicking from you to the couple.

"Ryos..." she started.
"Outside. Let's talk outside," he spoke quietly, and the hurt in his voice really made you want to kill your Edolas counterpart. Go apeshit, as she would say. The two left in complete silence.

"What's happening?" Lector asked quietly, but no-one answered him. It was silent until you pulled Edolas Sting to his feet.

"Get up," you said, "now, come on."
He got to his feet, looking sorry for himself.

"Slap me," you ordered.
"I don't—" he started.
"Do it," you interrupted him. He hesitated and then hit you across the face, hard. You shuddered and sighed.

"Thank you," you said, before reeling back and then punching him in the face. He was out cold in seconds and hit the ground again. You winced, not at the sting on your own face or him hitting the ground, but at the words you could hear your Edolas counterpart and her fiancé throwing at each other.

"Why'd you get him to hit you?" Lector asked.
"So I'd feel less bad about messing up their relationship," you looked down at the man on the floor.

"You didn't mess anything up," your Sting spoke up, "it's her fault for, err, sleeping with him."
"I guess so... but still, I didn't have to say anything," you sighed.
"It was the right thing to do, [Y/N]," Sting frowned.

"Yeah... I guess," you nodded, sitting yourself down on the bed, "god, I hate that. Who would've taken my Edolas counterpart as some kinda scarlet lady, huh?"

"Well, it's not you," the White Dragon Slayer said, "she's a completely different person to you. From a whole other world, [Y/N]. Well, at least, we don't think you're a prostitute... or something."

"I can hear them arguing," you murmured, "they're being so mean to each other."
Your balled your hands over your ears.

"I can't hear them," Rogue spoke up - he hadn't talked since his Edolas counterpart and yours had walked out to 'talk.'
"Neither can I," Sting shook his head, "how come..."

"I can always hear. I hear everything," you stated, "it's one of the many perks of being the Sound Dragon Slayer - every sound, it's amplified tenfold, even through enhanced senses. I can never fully set my mind to rest 'cause I close my eyes to sleep and I can hear everything. I hear crime, on the streets, and I hear people on dates with their partners, and I hear random birds walking about on the roof. It's never been quiet in my life."

"Oh..." Sting frowned, "I'm sorry, uh..."
"Sympathy's the last thing I want," you said, "no offence, um. I-I'm gonna go check on those two. Make sure they haven't killed each other," you said.

"We'll go with you," Rogue added. You nodded and got back up again. Kuschel, in her Exceed form, jumped into your arms.
"Don't be upset," she said.
"I'm fine," you inhaled sharply, and then walked off. Sting, Rogue and their Exceeds followed.

You pushed the guild doors open to see both Edolas counterparts shouting at each other, rain plastering their hair and clothes to their bodies. Your Edolas self was still wrapped in the bedsheet, which made her look sort of goofy.

You raised your arm to shield your face from the rain spattering down harshly.

"Maybe if you'd been better at fucking me, I wouldn't have had to sleep with your best friend!" Edolas you accused.
"Or maybe you could have just kept your legs shut and we wouldn't be having this argument?!" Edolas Rogue shouted back.

"I should've listened to my mother when she said to leave you!" she hissed.
"Maybe I should have, too," he turned his head away, "since, you know, Sting's so much better than I am?"

You, Sting and Rogue watched, stunned. Rogue was covering Frosch's ears like you were covering Kuschel's, whilst Lector also watched, getting paler and paler with each insult thrown.

"Maybe if you were better, I could fuck you and give you a kid that's actually yours!" Edolas you yelled.

Sting winced at that, letting out a breath.

"Seriously? You're pulling that on me after you slept with my best friend?!" Ryos shouted.
"It's not my fault!" she exclaimed.
"How is that not your fault? In what situation is it not your fault?!" he yelled.

"It- it just happened, it was an accident! I promise it meant nothing," she tried to excuse herself.
"Shit like that's not an accident! Falling off your bike is an accident, you don't slip and fall into someone else's bed!" he shouted, "I can't believe this is the same woman I wanted to marry last week."

"It really didn't mean anything, please, Ryos," she had now switched from defending herself to begging for forgiveness.
"Save it," he said, "I don't want to hear that from you."

"Fine! Be that way," she sobbed, "I wish I never met you!"

With that, she took off her engagement ring and threw it at him. It hit him in the forehead and then bounced onto the floor. She stormed off into the guild, shoving past you.

You turned and watched her go before looking back at Ryos. He picked the ring up from the ground before walking over, looking extremely glum. You stepped back but he just held it out to you in his palm.

"You may as well have this, erm, I won't be needing it anymore," he said quietly.
"I can't take that," you furrowed your brow.
"I insist," he spoke, "it means nothing to me now."

He placed it into your palm.
"I'd like to go home. If you three know how I can do that," he said.

You all hesitated before Rogue spoke.
"We're not entirely sure," he said, "perhaps we could go to Fairy Tail? They've had experiences in Edolas before."

"Good idea," Sting nodded.
"I'll go and get the other two," you said.
"I'll get them," Sting shook his head, "I'd prefer it if you wouldn't go in there with them."

"Alright..." you nodded. He nodded back to you and then walked back in.
You turned back to Edolas Rogue.

"Uh... I'm sorry for ruining your relationship with your [Y/N]," you said.
"It's alright. I'd rather have known how she really was than married a liar," he sighed, "even if you could have said in a more couth way."

He gave a despondent chuckle.
"I find it really hard to believe, actually. If she was going to sleep around, I'd rather it be anyone but Sting."

"I can't imagine how you feel," you frowned, "I hope it gets better for you."
"I appreciate that," he nodded.

Not long after, Sting came out with Edolas you and his Edolas self in tow. Your counterpart's eyes were red and before, and you felt glad that she had cried. Sting Lux, however, looked fine. His eyes were no longer ugly and bloodshot and you still held his knife.

"Both of you are coming with us," Sting turned and jostled them forwards. Edolas you sobbed while Edolas Sting stayed silent.

"We'll lead the way," Rogue said. You nodded and started to walk alongside him. Sting walked along at the back to make sure none of the Edolas people tried to escape. You could hear Ryos and Edolas Sting behind you.

"I can't believe you," Ryos said, "of all the things you could have taken."
"It's not my fault, Rogue—" the blond started.
"Please don't call me that," he shook his head.

"She came onto me, I-I couldn't say no. You have to believe me," Edolas Sting tried to explain.
"I don't care anymore, Sting," Ryos said, "you just have to take everything, don't you? I can't keep one thing. Of all the things you could have taken, you take her."

"I'm sorry," Sting sniffled, "I-I'm just— I'm so jealous of what you two have. And I have no-one, I feel like I'm the odd one out — Orga and Rufus hang out, Minnie and Yukino, and you and [Y/N]. And then me. I just want someone to myself."
"And you had to sleep with my fiancé to do so?" Ryos said, "don't cry about it now, you've already done it. Just like you take everything else from me."

"You know I don't mean to," Edolas Sting frowned.
"So you're saying you didn't mean to fuck my girlfriend," Ryos repeated, before laughing, "you're absolutely pathetic. You're lucky I don't cut you in two right now."

Both of them fell silent after that, and you soon arrived at the Fairy Tail guildhall. You took it upon yourself to kick open the doors, and you felt home.

"Hey, it's Sabertooth," Gajeel said.
"Gajeel!" you exclaimed, taking off and flying at him. He raised his arm to block your bearhug and you deflected away, bouncing right into Natsu.

"Oi, you lookin' for a fight?" he grinned.
"Natsu!" you gasped, sitting upright.
"How've you been holdin' up?" he said.
"Oh, really great!" you replied, "actually, we came here for something. Remember Edolas?"

The Fire Dragon Slayer nodded.
"Alright, well... don't freak out, but we've got our Edolas counterparts here," you said, "Sting, Rogue and I."

You gestured over. Rogue was making chat with Gajeel while Sting watched over the Edolas people.

"Really?" Natsu gaped.
"Yup," you nodded, "we came here 'cause we wondered if you knew how to send 'em back to where they came from. Since, y'know, you've been before."

"Oh, uh," Natsu blinked, "fight me and I'll tell you the answer!"
"Oh, it's on!" you grinned, immediately throwing a punch at Natsu. He dodged under it and then grabbed your arm, before swinging and throwing you. You flew across the guildhall, into Gajeel.

"Watch it, you squirt!" Gajeel roared, shoving you off.
"Huh? Wanna go?! I'll take both of you at once!" you grinned.

"We're not here to fight, [Y/N]," Rogue reminded.
"Who're you to tell us what to do, huh?" Gajeel's eye twitched.
"No-one, no-one," the Shadow Dragon Slayer waved his arms.

"Yeah! That's what I thought!" Gajeel nodded.
"Haha, c'mon, Gajeel!" you balled your fists, barging him with your elbow.
"Fire Dragon Sword Horn!" Natsu suddenly flew at you. You jumped aside and he head-butted into Gajeel instead.

"Watch it, fire-breath!" Gajeel yelled.
"Wanna go, bucket-face?" Natsu shouted back.
"You bet I wanna go!" the Iron Dragon Slayer hissed.

Natsu grabbed you by the ankle and then used you to smack Gajeel. He grabbed you and threw you onto Natsu.
"Sound Dragon's Jaw!" you linked your fingers and brought your joined hands down onto Natsu's forehead.

"All of you!" Erza shouted, grabbing Natsu and Gajeel by the hair, "stop this at once! Sabertooth has come to visit and you're acting like fools."

"Y-yes, Erza," Natsu stammered. You slithered away, back to Sting and Rogue.

"Oh? Hi, [Y/N]," Cana waved.
"Hey Cana! How's Wendy?" you asked.
"Oh, she's fine. Same old - she's been spending a lotta time with Lamia Scale, apparently their Sky God Slayer drank up every last ounce of her magic power against one of the Twelve!" the Card Mage exclaimed.

"Really? That's terrible!" you said, "what about Mest? How's he doing?"
"Oh, I'm fine, actually," aforementioned man appeared right in front of you. You shrieked.

"Holy crap, you scared me!" you hissed, whacking him in the chest, "how've you been?"
"Quite good," he nodded, "wow, it's been since we rescued the master that I've spoken to you. How are you?"

"Better than ever!" you pumped your fist, "considering we just had an all-out war, the guild's thriving - both mine and yours!"
"Ah, yeah. I forget you joined Sabertooth," he nodded, looking over Sting and Rogue, "and it seems you made some friends, too."

He said it slightly distastefully, which made you frown.
"Well, you could say that," you resumed your optimism and grabbed Rogue's hand - the Shadow Dragon Slayer seemed surprised at the gesture, "Mest, Rogue! And Rogue, Mest."

"No, you don't need to introduce me. I watched the Grand Magic Games, I know who he is," Mest said in the same repugnant, almost loathsome tone.
"Well, last year's Grand Magic Games isn't really the best example. I mean, it was everyone competing for the title of Fiore's strongest guild," you tried to salvage the situation.

"It's fine, [Y/N]," Rogue shook his head, "well, Mest. It's a pleasure."
He stuck a hand out through his cloak. Mest gritted his teeth and shook it.
"Aha... it's good that you two are getting along!" you grinned nervously.

"Yes. I think we'll get along swell. Don't you think, Rogue?" Mest said. Rogue's grip on his hand visibly tightened.
"Of course," he also gritted his teeth.

"Rogue, stop causing trouble!" Sting exclaimed.
"I'm not doing anything! He looked at me funny!" Rogue shouted back.
"I have a name," Mest rolled his eyes. You pushed him away.

"Alright, let's not get too aggressive. Mest, run along and talk to Wendy..." you said nervously.
"I'm no child, I don't need to 'run along'," he huffed, "you know what Sabertooth are like."

"What do you mean by that?" you folded your arms.
"Well- you remember them at the Games," he said, "that speaks for itself."
"That was a year ago!" you threw your arms up, "everyone was feeling a little cocky back then."

"Not me," Mest puffed.
"That's 'cause you were busy with the Council, running around doing who-knows-what, who-knows-where!" you replied.

"I saw what their guild was like back then, though. And so did you," he narrowed his blue eyes.
"That's because they were serving under Jiemma, Mest. It's different now that Sting's the master," you reasoned.

"Is it so, [Y/N]? Is it?" he leant forwards, "with my judgement, as a former member of the Magic Council... they're bad news."
"You're saying that while I'm clearly part of the guild," you stepped forwards on him, yet he stood his ground.

"For a reason," he agreed, "you know I want what's best for Fairy Tail, be you part of the guild or not."
"Mest, I have a question," you ignored him.
"Go on?" he folded his arms.
"Have you ever been punched in the face?" you said.
"Not by you, no," he replied.

"Oh, okay. Hold on," you nodded, turning away from him for a split second before spinning back and clocking him straight in the nose. He fell back, taken by surprise.

"Kick his ass!" Natsu yelled.
"Don't encourage her, flame-for-brains!" Gajeel shouted.

You crouched down beside Mest.
"Heh, yeah. Next time you try 'n' talk shit about my guild, I'll make it hurt tenfold," you grinned.
"Alright, alright," he nodded. You patted his cheek and then jumped back up, turning to face your guild mates again. Sting was in conversation with Erza, Lucy and Levy, the Edolas gang were avoiding each other's stares and Rogue was looking right at you.

"Yeah?" you said.
"Oh- nothing," he shook his head, "you didn't have to punch him..."
"Well, I'm not gonna have anyone saying bad things about our guild," you put your hands on your hips and he nodded.
"Yeah..." he said.

"Okay, guys," Sting put his hands on both your and Rogue's shoulders, "I get that you're madly in love, but we've gotta focus on these Edolas guys right now. Quit flirting, and get your heads in the game."
"I wasn't flirting?!" you exclaimed.

"Erza said that when they were in Edolas, they were just pulled back out of the world," the blond shrugged, "so, maybe we've just got to wait for that to happen."
"But how long will it take? Like [Y/N]'s friend said, we've got until six-o-clock tomorrow for these guys to be gone," Rogue said, brow furrowing.

There was a light thud and you turned.
"Uh, I don't think we'll have to wait very long," you pointed out. Both men turned to see Edolas Sting engulfed in a yellow glow, stuck against the ceiling. His white cloak flowed around him. Suddenly, the ceiling started piecing away to make way for him.

"Oh! Bye everybody!" he exclaimed as he began to float away, shortly followed by Ryos and then your Edolas self.
"I sure won't miss those guys," you commented.

"Thanks for ruining my life, jackass!" she shouted at you.

And then, with that, they were gone.

"Our guildhall!" Jet and Droy gasped.
"Ehe," you grinned, "oops?"

"That's our good old [Y/N] for ya, always making a mess wherever she treads!" Cana hiccupped, stumbling over to sling her arm around you but instead falling onto her face. You crouched to help her up.

"Hey, have you two ever seen [Y/N] lose her marbles?" Natsu grinned in the meantime.
"No," Sting shook his head, "not really."
"Do you wanna?" the Fire Dragon Slayer encouraged.
"Kind of," Sting exchanged a glance with Rogue.

You whipped around to watch the exchange, only to see your Exceed partner getting tossed around between Gajeel, Natsu and Gray like a beachball.

"Hey! Stop that!" you exclaimed, getting to your feet and jumping for her. Each time you went to grab her, the men just bobbed her higher in the air between one another.

Natsu cackled, tossing her over your head and to Gray. Gray caught her but didn't pass her on, instead looking at her and holding her at arm's length.

"Oi, ice-bucket! It's my turn with the cat," Gajeel said gruffly.
"She's not a cat, she's an Exceed!" you exclaimed, "give her back to me, she's not yours!"

"Oh, but, [Y/N]," Gray pouted like a kid, "her cute wittle face..."
"Give her!" you lunged forwards at Gray and he shrieked and threw her to Gajeel.

"Gajeel!" you whined, "quit it!"
"Come and get her, squirt," he grinned. You glared.

"Fine, so we're playing like that?" you looked around you and then grabbed Panther Lily, who had previously been snacking on a small bag of kiwis.

"Oi, let go of my cat!" Gajeel yelled.
"No!" you replied, turning your head away.

"Who knew she could be so petty..." Sting mumbled.

Suddenly, Panther Lily transformed into his Battle Mode and you were immediately crushed beneath him.

"What? No fair, I wanna do that!" Lector gaped.

"Lily, can't breathe..." you wheezed and he got off, plucking you by the scruff like you were a naughty dog.

"You're rather small," he said.
"Please put me down," you smiled sweetly. He dropped you onto your feet and you scrambled forward, snatching Kuschel back and hugging her into your chest.

"You should've seen your face when we started throwing her!" Natsu guffawed.
"You wouldn't like it if I did that to Happy! What's so funny?!" you hissed.

"I honestly don't think Happy would mind..." Lucy commented. Said Exceed was sat upon her head, eating a raw fish and dropping juices onto her hair.

"Uh... gimme a break. They know I don't like it when you play rough with Kuschel," you said.
"They have the maturity of toddlers, I would not expect them to listen," Erza tutted.
"Ah. Men," Laki sighed.

"Some men are okay!" Jet squeaked.
"Yeah, some. Not you though," Laki pushed her glasses up and shook her head. Jet let out an indignant cry and grabbed onto his companion, Droy.

"Are we done here?" Rogue asked - he was still eying Mest in a more than abhorrent manner. The Teleportation Mage had left the floor and instead gone to speak with Makarov and Porlyusica.

"Uh, yeah. I just need to ask Gajeel something," you said, "I'll be quick."
"Alright," Rogue nodded. With Kuschel tucked safely into your arms, you made your back to Gajeel, who had gone off to chat with Levy.

"Hey, Gajeel?" you poked his bicep and he and Levy turned to you.
"Oh, hey squirt," he said in a surprisingly soft tone.
"Hello, [Y/N]," Levy smiled brightly.

"Hi Levy!" you grinned, "uh, Gajeel. I gotta ask something."
"Ask away," he fully turned his body to you.
"Promise not to laugh at me," you fiddled your fingers.

"I'll probably laugh, but go on," he nodded.
"Uh... do Dragons have some uber-specific way of courting one another that they would've passed down to us?" you asked. He stared at you for a few seconds, as if to check if you were serious, and then broke into hearty laughter.

"You promised you wouldn't laugh!" you clenched your fists.
"Nah, I'm sorry," he snorted, "uh, yeah. There is."
Your jaw dropped open.
"Seriously?!" you gasped.

"Yeah," he nodded, "there is. I remember Metalicana goin' over all the birds 'n' the bees with me."
"This can't be real! My Edolas self brought it up because Rogue just went out and bought me a bunch of expensive rings, all 'cause I asked," you clasped your cheeks with your hands, "and she said that she thought that Dragon Slayers would have this really specific way of, like, courting and pursuing and other stuff!"

"I thought you'd know," he shrugged.
"Well, I don't! Please tell me!" you begged.
"Nah," he grinned.
"Gajeel, please! This is really important to me!" you said.

"I'll tell ya... if you can beat me in an arm wrestle," he leant forwards.
"That's not fair, 'cause you'll win!" you frowned.
"Fine, fine. Hmm..." he paused to think for a moment, before seemingly coming up with a suitable exchange, "alright. If I tell you what you need to know, you've gotta get Ryos over here and convince him to arm wrestle me. Oh, and he's gotta win."

"You've got yourself a deal," you spat on your hand and stuck it out. Without hesitation, he shook it, and then realised what you'd done and gave a yell of annoyance.
"You disgusting lil' squirt!" he growled, while you just laughed.

You then quickly turned on your heel and scurried over to Rogue, stopping in front of him and staring at him in your most innocent, sweetest manner.

"What do you want from me?" he looked you up and down.
"What d'you mean by that?" you blinked.
"The way you're looking at me. You want something," he said.

"How do you see right through me instantly?" you gaped.
"I know, it's terrifying," Sting agreed.
"Well? I was right, so," Rogue said.

"Uh - I really need to know something, but nails-for-brains over there says he won't tell me unless you beat him in an arm wrestle," you flicked your wrist. Rogue seemed to shrink in on himself.

"I'm not arm wrestling with Gajeel," he shook his head.
"Why not?" you asked.
"He'll beat me," he said blatantly.
"Well, you don't know that," you tried to reason.
"I absolutely do," he nodded and you started to shake your head as if it would combat him.

"Please, I really need to know this one thing and it's the only way I get to know," you frowned. He hesitated before sighing.
"Fine. But I'm only doing it once," he gave in to your pleas, "don't be disappointed when I lose."
"Ohh, thank you!" you grinned, "I'm sure you won't lose."

"He just sucks at saying no to you, huh?" Sting grinned as Rogue made his way over to Gajeel. The Iron Dragon Slayer gave him a good thump on the back in greeting and you could already tell that Rogue's chances of winning were quite slim.

You and Sting followed him over as Natsu threw them a table. One of the legs broke off when Gajeel caught it, but he created a nail with his magic and hammered it back into place. Despite it now being wobbly, it still functioned as a table.

"Alright, shrimp, count us in," Gajeel put his arm up as he spoke to Levy.
"Don't call me that," Levy folded her arms.
"Just count us in, dammit," he said.
"Not with that attitude," the Solid Script Mage shook her head.

"Aw, c'mon, Lev'," you grinned, "not afraid that Gajeel's gonna lose, are you?"
She put her hands on the back of Gajeel's chair and leant forwards.
"In your dreams, [Y/N]," she said with a cheeky smile. You laughed and nodded.
"We'll see, then," you said.

Levy put her hand on Gajeel's shoulder, squeezing it slightly before counting them in.

Almost immediately, Gajeel slammed Rogue's hand down.
"Well, too bad, squirt. I'm not telling you jackshit," he grinned wickedly.

Rogue shook his head.
"Again," he said.

"Huh? You've got some kick today, huh, Ryos," Gajeel said, "never put you down as the type who likes a challenge."
"It's Rogue," he said, putting his arm back up.

Gajeel did the same and Levy counted them in again. Sting raised his fists in silent encouragement but, again, Gajeel won.

"Again," Rogue repeated.
"You're really getting into it, bud," Sting said, "why don't we go back to Sabertooth instead?"

"No," Rogue shook his head, "I-I want to do this until I beat Gajeel."
"Oh, great," Sting groaned, "I may as well set up camp outside, then."
"Have a little faith, Sting," you said.

"Fine then. If we're gonna keep doing this, then we may as well make it fun," Gajeel said, "loser has to drink a pint of beer each time the lose."
"That's fine with me. You're losing next time, anyway," Rogue shifted in his seat.
"It's a deal, then," Gajeel smirked.

// Time Skip //

"What's that now?" you groaned.

"That's match number fifty-three," Mirajane said helpfully, placing down a mug of beer beside Rogue, "I'm quite surprised at his alarming pace of progress through his drinks..."
"Fifty-three," you repeated, "brilliant."

This had initially been a fun bet between friends, but now, it was nearing midnight and you and Sting were still at Fairy Tail, and Rogue had nearly drank himself under the table. As of current he was slumped on his front against the rickety table, sloshing about the beer in the mug before drinking it down.

"You'd better hurry up and win soon, Ryos," Gajeel grumbled - he now had Levy sat in his lap, asleep with her face pressing into his chest, "shrimp's tired and I haven't had a drop of beer yet."
"Yeah, yeah," he slurred, putting the mug down and putting his arm up again.

"Are you sure fifty-three pints isn't too much beer?" Lisanna commented from beside you.
"Cana's done double that in half the time," Mirajane shook her head.
"Ah," her little sister nodded.

Gajeel and Rogue had gathered a small crowd by now, though most of them had gone home.

"I'm rather interested to see if Rogue will win," Erza said. Lucy was leaning on her, half-asleep, while Gray and Natsu bickered about something incoherently.

"[Y/N], I'm so tired," Sting complained as Rogue lost his fifty-fourth match and Mirajane served him another beer.
"Go home, then," you shrugged, "I wanna see what happens."

"No," Sting shook his head, "if I left you to walk back with Rogue on your own and something happened to you, I'd never forgive myself. Let's just convince Rogue to come back wi—"

There was a slam and then the sound of Rogue whooping.
"I did it!" he threw his arms above his head, "aww, man. Gajeel, you suck."

"Yeah, yeah. Go home, kid. Your friends look shattered," Gajeel snorted. Rogue got up from his seat, falling back into it before actually making his way over and stopping once he had thrown half of his weight onto Sting.

"I literally love you guys," he said.
"Yup. We love you too, buddy," Sting looped his arm under Rogue's shoulders, "let's get you home."

You looked at Gajeel, who was picking Levy and Panther Lily up and preparing to go.
"You let him win, didn't you?" you grinned. Gajeel nodded and hushed you.
"Yeah. You looked knackered," he said, "make sure ya get a good kip, 'kay squirt?"

"Yeah, yeah. You too, Gajeel," you replied, "hey, wait... don't act so soft as a distraction! Aren't you gonna tell me about... the stuff?"

"Another time," he shook his head, "it's too late, everyone's asleep."
"Ugh, fine," you sighed, "well, we've gotta get Rogue home now, so, night!"
"G'night, squirt," he said.

You turned back to Sting and the horribly drunken Rogue. Lector plodded alongside Sting whilst you carried both Frosch and Kuschel.

"See ya, Fairy Tail!" you waved over your shoulder.
"Huh? Oh! Bye [Y/N]!" Natsu called, "see you 'round, Sabertooth!"

With that, you walked off with your guild mates, sighing quietly at the warm summer breeze and holding Frosch and Kuschel tighter to you.

"You are very, very pretty," Rogue said. When you turned to look at him, he had this stupid grin on his face and he was hunched over, letting Sting do all the work of walking him home.

"I know," you nodded.
"You know?" he gaped.
"You're not the first person to compliment me," you blinked at him and he gasped, as if this was a world revelation.

"Rogue's never gotten smashed like this before," Sting snorted.
"I am not smashed," he hiccupped.
"Sure you aren't," you said.

"The sheer amount of alcohol he can put back is definitely something," the White Dragon Slayer commented.
"I did not have that much," Rogue protested, stumbling over his own ankle, "eleventy-two, or something."

"Eleventy-two's not a number," you snorted.
"I am so lonely," he sighed, changing the subject, "I swear, you guys are like... the only ones whom I can open up so much to. I love you guys, you're the best."

Sting coughed to stifle a laugh.
"Yeah, yeah, you said. We love you too," he said.

The Shadow Dragon Slayer was now muttering incoherent words to himself, that neither you nor Sting could make sense of.

"It's gonna be a long night."