White Heart

Too Early For Celebration

The crowd is in an uproar. Their screams of joy are overwhelming. And honestly kinda painful. I glance over to Sting. His scrunched face shows everything. My arm wrapped around Sting's and my head resting on his shoulders we begin to stroll across the pavement. As I walk over to my teammates, I pick up some of the conversation.

"Man that sound is incredible," Gray pipes up, "We can hear it all the way from here." Incredible?! Are you kidding me? Do my bleeding eardrums seem incredible to you?  Pfft, having normal hearing must have its perks.

"They don't have to be so goddamn loud, ya know" Gajeel growls.

"Now don't be like that," Erza taunts, "Their cheers of celebration." Not that I disagree with Gajeel, but Erza's right. These were their way of showing their affection and respect for us, for Fairy Tail. Erza moves her head to face Laxas.  "I imagine the Master's beside himself with excitement."  The blonde seemed to be taken aback by her comment, but soon composed himself to the stiff, proud Laxas we know and love. 

"Never mind the old geezer," the lightening dragon slayer huffs, "This makes up for seven years of humiliation our guild mates endured." Laxas is right, the pretentious bastard, and he knew it too. Winning would mean everything to everyone who stuck around just watching Fairy Tail fall apart. This doesn't fix the heartbreak but it helps.

"Just listen to this crowd roaring its approval," the announcer broadcasts throughout the streets, "The mightiest guild in Fiore, Fairy Tail, is back with a vengeance." His words sparked more cheers to emerge from the already rambunctious crowd. 

"Oh wow," a small voice squeals, "They finished without losing a member and even without Natsu Dragneel." Okay, not going to lie, that one hurt. Yeah Natsu's great -and has the ego to show it- but he doesn't make or break this team, or Fairy Tail for that matter. Not that I'd want to be in the guild without him. I hear Gajeel scoff, snapping me out of my own thoughts.

"I guess it's over," the metal dragon groans.

"Huh, oh yeah," I sigh," All that's left is the celebration." It was supposed to be this grand ball thing. Very royal-like. 

"I can't believe I'm saying this," Laxas starts, "But it's strange not having You-Know-Who around hollering and making noise." Regardless of the abrupt topic change, Laxas is right.  I do miss having Flame Brain around. He'd probably never let Sting live it down if he was here....aaaand suddenly I'm thankful he's not.

"I don't mind it," Gray snarks next to me. I scoff at elbow him. He heels over in pain. Oops.

"Yeah he'd be extra annoying after all that," Gajeel scoffs. I can't help but look over at Sting. His head hung low and heavy. I knew his pride took a hit, but he'd be okay. That doesn't make it any easier to see him like this.

"Ha," Erza laughs, "Sounds about right." The rest of the group chuckles along with her. After the small laughter subsided, Erza spoke up again. "By the way," she inquires, "Did anyone see their signal flare?" Oh right! The signal flare. It's what Natsu and the team were supposed to use when the found Lucy. I hadn't seen it all day. Plus it's dark now, it should have been more visible.

"Nope and I've been keeping an eye out this entire time," Laxas replies, "Well except for when Jura knocked me flat." 

"He did what?!" I blurt before I realize what I had said. "I-I mean of course 'c-cause he's like one of the top ten Wizard Saints..." okay not helping.

"Well I did beat him, you know," Laxas scoffs. Normally I would have totally taken him up on that challenge but I kinda felt bad for insulting him like that. So I let him have this one.

"I didn't see one either," Gray pipes up. I could tell he was trying to make the situation less awkward. Gray caught my eyes, giving him a grateful smile. But then I felt Sting's hand grab mine rather frantically. I jerk my head over to look at him, but he pays me no attention. What is he doing? Not that I mind, but now I'm concerned.

"I ain't worried," Gajeel explains, "Knowin' our Salamander he probably just forgot to shoot the thing."  I don't know...

"I know Natsu is irresponsible," I begin, "But would he forget something of that magnitude, knowing everyone is worried sick?" I don't receive any verbal answer, though there were some nods within the group.

"No matter," Erza chimes, "We'd better head back to the arena and catch up with everyone." She begins limping in the direction of the coliseum. Poor girl.  I bet once Natsu and the rest get back, Wendy could help her out some.

"Everyone! Quickly grab your possession and move out of the city!" I jerk my head up to see soldiers escorting a large crowd of people through the streets of the city. "Quickly!" Their shouts could be heard all the way from where we were a few blocks over.

"What's going on?" Laxas asks concerned, as if any of us actually knew the answer. 

"Why are they evacuating?" Gray inquires. No one knew how to answer. I mean who would?

"I don't know,"Gajeel voices, "But we need to keep moving, especially if they're going to need our help." We continued walking towards the soldiers and scattering people, but this time at a more hurried pace. Finally one of the men saw us.

"Hey, you wizards!" one of the soldiers shouts at us, "The king awaits your arrival in the center of the city!" What the king?! Sting took a tighter grasp on my hand. Shit. It must be bad if the king want to see us. Laxas, Gajeel, and Gray all begin sprinting through the crowd of people. I-I can't move. I-I c-can't m-move. What is go-

"Hey," Sting whispers, "Everything's going to be fine." His hand reaches up to caress my check. I can't even respond. "Hey," Sting whispers again, his voice more stern this time, "I'm right here with you." His words cause me to look at at him this time. Those ocean sapphire eyes of his stare directly into mine. Damn. I want to fall into them. His face cracks into a smile. "Don't look at me like that," Sting sighs, "or we'll never  get out of here." Wait, what? I was looking at him in a way? "Come on Princess," Sting laughs, "Let's catch up." Sting sprints towards the rest of the group, pulling me forward. I can't help but laugh at him. It's like life in slow motion. His head turns around to look at me. Those blond locks bouncing against his head. The smile shining in his blue eyes. I want this moment to last for a lifetime. 

If only we had stopped right there, then maybe things might have turned out differently. Maybe everything would have worked out. Maybe I could have still held on to that same hope in that moment.

But now...I guess we'll never know.