𝙏𝙃𝙐𝙉𝘿𝙀𝙍 // 𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙪𝙚 𝙭 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧

𝙘𝙤𝙢𝙚 𝙝𝙤𝙢𝙚

// 2nd P.O.V //

You had basically sprinted your way to Crocus when you had word your team would be leaving for Alakitasia.

Once you had appeared at the Sabertooth guildhall, Yukino had fallen into your arms and almost begun to cry at the sight of you alive and in one piece, whilst Kuschel greeted Lector and Frosch.

"[Y/N], hey!" Sting called, waving as he walked over beside Rogue, "you're back! Is Fairy Tail done with all it's reconstruction already?"

You rubbed the back of your neck.
"Ehh... not exactly," you sighed, "you remember how I said I felt like the whole thing with Avatar wasn't over yet? And about how I just needed my time with Fairy Tail?"

Sting nodded, before his face dropped.
"Don't tell me you're leaving Sabertooth," he said.

"No, no! Nothing like that!" you waved your arms, "erm... well, I've been invited on an expedition with Erza, Mest, Natsu, Gray, Lucy and Wendy."

"Mest?" Rogue spoke up, "who's Mest?"

"He's some guy that's been in Fairy Tail for ages, before me," you explained, going off of what you saw in the memory he had relayed to you, "he's the one who reorganised the Council. I don't know him very well, but I think he's pretty cool."

"I see," Rogue nodded, "so... what's this expedition? It's not too dangerous, is it?"

You made a face.
"If you don't approve of it being too dangerous, I don't think you're gonna like this one," you said, "I'm sure you guys know ten years ago when the Western Continent's Alvarez Empire made an attempt to invade Ishgar?"

"I don't like where this is going, [Y/N]," the Shadow Dragon Slayer commented.

"Gramps — sorry, Makarov — travelled to Alvarez to negotiate against invasions, 'cause Fairy Tail has something that the Alvarez Empire wants or something," you explained, "and it's been a year since Gra- Makarov was last seen here. So Erza organised a party too infiltrate the Western Continent and rescue him."

"Well, it's just a continent. So it's safe, right?" Sting tilted his head.
"Uhh... actually, you should really consider this the opposite of safe. From what Mest said, Alakitasia has, like, seven-hundred-and-thirty guilds within it, both official and dark. But they all banded together to form one massive guild-establishment-type-thing called the Alvarez Empire, all 'cause they wanna get their hands on something that Fairy Tail has. And Makarov could be stuck there, so... I'm going with Mest, Erza, Natsu, Gray, Lucy and Wendy to get him back," you replied.

"Are they making you go or something?!" Rogue said, seemingly outraged.
"No, no! Not at all! Erza gave me the choice and I, erm... I said yes," you said.

"[Y/N]..." Sting frowned.
"What if you die?" Rogue dug straight to the point.

"I don't think it's likely," you said in defence, "we've got two Dragon Slayers with us, not to mention Wendy's one of the only people in Fiore who can use Healing Magic. And Erza's coming with us, and you've seen her power. I'm not too sure about Mest, but... he has some sort of magic that can wipe your memories, so he must be powerful too."

"He can... wipe memories?" Rogue said, "I've never heard of a magic like it... [Y/N], are you sure he's safe to be around? He sounds... like a shady character, to me."

You stepped back in almost outrage.
"What?! Mest is an old guildmate of mine!" you exclaimed, "just 'cause I don't know who he is doesn't make him unreliable! He was one of Gramps's most trusted confidants! He literally infiltrated the Council for him!"

You paused and realised that last part was really something you should not have said.

"Alright, alright. Sorry for asking," Rogue said, waving his arms.
"Sorry, uh... I got kinda carried away," you sighed, taking his hand in yours.
"It's fine," he stroked the back of your hand with his thumb, "just... are you sure you want to do this?"

"Yeah. I'm positive," you confirmed.
"Even with the possibility that... you'll die?" Rogue asked.
"Then I'll die as someone you can be proud of," you said, "I'll die someone that our whole guild can be proud of, that even Fairy Tail would be proud of."

He averted his eyes for little more than a second before nodding.
"Alright," there was a slight wobble to his voice that you chose not to poke at.

You made a somewhat sympathetic expression and then leant in to kiss him gently. He instantly brought a hand up to your cheek, caressing your cheekbone with his thumb so delicately that you might have shattered like porcelain if were any less gentle.

"I love you, [Y/N]. You know that, right?" he murmured once the both of you had pulled away, pressing your forehead together.
"With all of my being," you replied, "I promise I'll come home. Hell, I'll come running once this is all over."

Fortunately, Sting had chosen not to interfere or make any inappropriate comments.

He stepped back from you and you squeezed his hand, which you were still holding.
"Good luck. I hope you find Makarov," he said gently, "and I hope you keep your promise. I... don't want to lose you."

"You won't," you nodded determinedly, "I promise I'll come home."

He gave you one last kiss before you turned on your heel to the guildhall doors.
"[Y/N]!" Sting shouted after you, "if anything goes too wrong, make sure to let Erza know that she can call on Sabertooth. We'll do anything to help, yeah?"

"Thanks for the offer, Sting, but I think we'll be fine. It's a sneaky mission!" you said, "now... don't you have a guild to run?"
"Don't you have an old man to save?" he replied with a teasing smirk.

"Yeah, yeah," you flapped your arm, "see ya! Bye Sting, Bye Rogue!"
"See you 'round, [Y/N]," Sting said.
"Make sure you stay safe!" Rogue added.

Kuschel said her tearful goodbyes to Lector and Frosch, both of which were trembling and crying as if it was her last day on Earthland, before she flew over to you and you both exited the guildhall.

You walked away and didn't look back.