It Doesn't Matter || Sting Eucliffe Love Story (Book 1)

~ Chapter 44: The Dragons ~

Akiko returned to her body to see that Orga was carrying her. She asks in a 'I don't really care' tone "What are you doing?"

"No time to explain, all we know is we got to destroy those things over there," Yukino said, pointing over to the large, weirdly shaped, pillars that stood in random places of the city.

"I see," Akiko said, jumping off of Orga's back.

Rufus said "What are you doing, Akiko?"

"You guys take care of these ones, I'll start on the ones on the other side of town."

"Understood!"

She jumped into the sky, creating an ice path underneath her as she began running towards the other side of town. Her hands on the hilts of her swords, ready to be drawn. However, before she could even land a scratch on one of the Faces, they were enveloped in light.

No, don't tell me... Akiko jumped down to the ground, clenching and unclenching her fist.

Out of nowhere, a flying creature came through and destroyed the Faces in the vicinity in one sweep.

"Take care of Sting, human."

Akiko snapped her head up to see a shining white dragon flying over her head towards the next batch of Faces. "Weiss... Logia?" She muttered in disbelief, before smiling softly. "Yeah, I'll do that. Just get your asses to Magnolia, a few dragon slayers are waiting for you."

"You should fix up your language human."

"Tell Sting that. He's the one cussing."

"What?"

Akiko could say no more as Weisslogia had already flown off to the next town. Her face turned serious laced with worry. Be careful. All of you.

---

Sting and Rogue were in shock as they saw Zeref disappear into the wind, gone to who knows where with his precious book, E.N.D.

Up above, a battle of dragons raged on between Acnologia and Igneel. Unfortunately, Igneel the fire king, was losing. Before they knew it, Igneel's right torso was ripped out by the black dragon, the only thing he managed to accomplish was ripping off Acnologia's arm. Unluckily, he wasn't going to be able to do more than that.

---

Four dragons stood in front of the humans.

"Grandeena, you're back," Wendy said happily, tears in her eyes.

"Yes, child. We have returned at last," Grandeena said. "And Acnologia has been repelled... I'm proud of you for destroying that face."

Wendy wiped away the tears, saying "Thanks, but Carla did the hard part."

Gajeel and Metalicana were having a stare down, not saying a word. "So that's him," Pantherlily said. "That's Metalicana."

"He's your dad?" Levy asks.

"You still look like you just swallowed rice," Metalicana commented.

Gajeel shouted, comically pissed "So do you!"

Sting and Rogue looked at the two dragons in front of them in confusion. Sting said "I don't get it. I remember killing you. So how can you be here?"

"I need to ask you the same questions, Skiadrum," Rogue stated. "How are you still alive?"

Weisslogia explained "We altered your memories, in order to help you to grow strong."

"It was an experiment of ours," Skiadrum continued. "One that Igneel was against."

"And he should be," a voice said.

Everyone glanced over to see a white snake, it was Shiro, but at the same time not. Recognising the style of talking, Sting questions "Akiko?"

"Ooh, good guess, Sting. So smart," Akiko hissed playfully. "Now continue on with the explanation, dragons. I don't have all day," Shiro was once more, in control.

Skiadrum didn't question it and continued "We both raised you as dragon slayers, and to complete your upbringing. We gave you the experience of slaying dragons."

"However," Weisslogia began. "It's incorrect to say that we're still alive."

"In the true sense, we have been dead for quite some time," Grandeena began. "Many years ago, Acnologia used his dragon slayer magic to tear our spirits from our bodies. So we had three reasons for residing within you. Please understand. We did it to defeat Acnologia, and to prevent you from transforming, but it was also the only that we could survive."

"You mean?"

"Now that we have left your bodies," Skiadrum said. "There's no way for us to return. The demonstration of power we just gave, will also be our last. We hope you can understand why we had to remain in hiding until the time was right."

Metalicana pointed out "Even the mighty Igneel was unable to defeat Acnologia. However, it must be said that Igneel fought from the very brink of death. When you tell tales of this day, do not let that sully the Fire Dragon King's name."

"None among us had his courage. Or felt the depths of his compassion for humanity."

Grandeena lifted up her head slightly. "We've only been able to told a fraction of what we would've told you if there was time, but I'm afraid there's not. This is goodbye Wendy."

Weisslogia looked at Sting, and said "Take care of that mate of yours, she's a hard one to come by. Protect her with your life."

"You don't need to tell me twice," Sting said with a grin, though he was sad.

"He serious needs to learn to shut his trap," Akiko muttered under her breath. "About time I left."

Her soul left Shiro's body.

"Don't break her heart either, you might not get to live through it," Weisslogia joked, though he was serious at the same time.

"I know."

The dragons began to flap their large wings, getting ready to soar into the sky. "Farewell Humans. Once, very long ago, there was a terrible strife between our kind and your," Grandeena said. "It warms my heart to know that in the end, we parted in friendship."

"The era of dragons have ended," Weisslogia continued. "We leave this world for you to protect."

"The power of man should pave the future. For that, we are thankful."

With that, the dragons left with their last goodbyes to the humans. Sting said with a smile "Weisslogia, thanks for everything."

"Rest well," Rogue said.

Then, the dragons were gone.

---

Akiko smiled to herself as she packs the lacrima away. Dragons are such interesting creatures. Mah, I wish I could've talked to one properly.

Even once.