The Cold Truth (Sting x OC)

Chapter 18

Crystal's POV
I cover my mouth as my eyes begin to water, I watch as Gray sets the small black exceed down, I get on my knees and open my arms as she runs and hugs me tightly. I immediately hug her back, gently holding her head to my chest.

"Crystal!!" She yells as she cries.

"Aurora...I'm so sorry!" I cry out.

I feel everyone's eyes on us, but I don't care. I just keep hugging her, I don't know how long we stayed like that but I felt Sting place his hand on my shoulder.

"Let's get going, we still have to celebrate!" Sting says happily.

I nod and slowly stand up with Aurora in my arms. Sting puts an arm around my waist to keep me balanced as we walk to the bar. I look down at Aurora, "How did you get here? I...I thought you died..." I ask.

Aurora looks up at me and wipes her tears. "I don't know, I just woke up and was in the crowd at the games when I felt this weird sensation. I looked around and saw you on the battle field fighting."

"Master Makarov found her and bought her to the inn." Wendy smiles.

I smile as Aurora climbs to the top of my head and lays down. I stop walking and grab my stomach in pain, the rest of the group stops and I feel them all look at me. Sting stops walking and picks me up, putting me on his back.

"You guys keep going, we'll catch up." He says.

Everyone nods, and the group, besides Lector, continue walking. Sting sets me down on a bench and sits next to me, Lector sits on Stings lap, and Aurora mine.

"Soooo~ are you two dating yet?" Aurora asks.

My face turns red. "Not yet, but Sting-kun did kiss Crystal-san!" Lector says.

"Why not ask her to be your girlfriend" Aurora whines.

I look to see Sting blushing. I giggle and gently pet Aurora.
"Let him do it when he wants to guys."

"A-actually..." Sting says as he looks at her. "I was going to ask you...if you wanted to be my girlfriend..." He says.

Lector and Aurora both squeal, "what are you going to say?!" They ask in unison.

"I want too but...." I simply frown

"But what?" Sting asks.

"What if I get you killed...like what happened to Aurora before...." I frown again

Sting hugs me tightly "Crystal, I love you, and I'd do anything for you. To be with you..." He gently strokes her hair. "Crystal...please."

Crystal sighs happily, "Alright then, I'll gladly date you." She hugs him back.

Lector and Aurora jump down and begin to cheer happily. "Yes!!!" The two say happily.

I giggle as the two break their hug, I then hug the small exceed when something flashes in my mind. My eyes widen. "Minerva!" I yell as I look at Aurora.

"What about her?" Sting asks.

I shake my head and quickly stand up, ignoring the seering pain in my stomach as I run to the bar. Sting and the others follow behind. I burst into the bar doors, drawing everyone's attention towards me before I run to Minerva and hug her tightly beginning to cry. She looks down at me shocked as I speak, "Arigato! Thank you Minerva-san!" I cry out.

"You figured it out?" Minerva questions.

I nod as she hugs back, I hear Sting and our exceeds burst into the bar, Sting not sounding the happiest.

"Wait, it was you?" Gray asks.

"Yes...I didn't think you guys would figure it out..." Minerva giggles quietly as she strokes my hair.

"Y-you bought her back to me!!!" I cry.

General POV
Everyone stands around shocked about what they just heard.

"How.... how did you?" Erza asks.

"I had a little help, but know that there was no life shortening or anything like that." Minerva smiles as she strokes Crystal's hair.

"Crystal dear, I need to speak with your brother ok?" Minerva smiles.

Crystal nods and grabs Aurora. Her, Sting, Rogue, Lector, and Frosch head over to the counter top and sit down.

~with Minerva and the others~

"Wait, so why did you do it?" Lucy asks.

"Well, believe it or not I'm actually mentally around Erza's age. Well, I'm 23, but mentally I'm as old as Erza. But when Crystal joined our guild, I took a liking to her. She's a lot like me, well the kinder me. So naturally, I took her in as my own almost. I see her as my daughter, so when Aurora died. I started working on a way to bring her back. So I started doing research. I found something called Snow Jewel, much like the ice crystals, but better. Stronger if you will. So overtime, I learned how to make what's called a reversal spell with it. Lost spell, but very useful. To shorten it, I had Ultear help me, and we reversed her life to before the day she died. She won't die again either, unless she gets killed again, or my bloodline runs out." Minerva says with a smile.

"You really care about her, don't you?" Erza asks more as a statement.

"Yes." Minerva smiles. "She's the reason why I joined the guild again, why I decided to change. Because I wanted her to be happy again." Minerva smiles.

"You're guild, I was hesitant to let her join because I knew you guys were a certain way. But after the first year there, you guys changed. You all became kind." Gray smiles.

"She does have that effect on people." Minerva smiles as she looks over to Crystal and the others laughing and having fun.

"That she does." Erza smiles.

~a few hours later~

Makarov jumps onto a table in the center of the bar, only Fairy Tail and Sabertooth are there right now.

"Listen up Brats!" He yells, getting everyone's attention.  "Over the years, we have had many adventures together, we've laughed, cried, loved, lost, and won. We've known the word 'heartbreak' many times, but even through all of that, we have come out on top. Today, what Crystal did, just proves how strong our bonds are. Weaklings will always be weak if they are scared to go through the hard ache that is required in order for them to grow, it's the hard times that allow us to grow! It's thanks to the loss, and pain we've all been through the strengthens us. Today, we have gained back one of our own. Thanks to Minerva, Aurora is now back with our family, and even though they are not a part of Fairy Tail, they are family. Our guilds may be separated, but we are together by heart! We are all tied together by our unbreakable bonds, it is thanks to these bonds that we are who we are, so my children, continue to grow!" Makarov yells as he raises his hand to make the Fairy Tail symbol (👆)

Everyone follows in his lead and does the same. They cheer happily as Crystal hugs Aurora tightly. The rest of the night everyone parties and drinks and enjoys each other's company.

It's around 4 when everyone begins to go home, Crystal, Sting, Rogue, and the exceeds head back to the inn, Crystal decides to stay with Rogue and Sting. She sleeps next to Sting, while Lector and Aurora sleep on the couch near Stings bed, Frosch sleeps with Rogue.