Meilin: Hello again! It's been a long time, hasn't it?
Before anyone bites my head off, I want to apologize for not actively uploading. It has been an extremely rough two to three years, and even that is an understatement. To be honest, I'm probably lucky to still be alive right now. I think my brain is in "selective memory" mode because I'm practically missing an entire year's worth of memories.

It's going to be hard for me to get back into the swing of things, but I hope this story isn't too choppy as I try to remember the flow.

Thanks for sticking with me! Enjoy~

BROKEN BIRTHDAY BONDS: Episode 8

-Lucy's POV-

I sat in Sting's room waiting for his return from his "meeting". Lector was telling me embarrassing things about Sting while he was out, but Frosch needed some help so Lector got up to follow him.

I don't know what came over me or why I was so anxious for him to get back. My heart was pounding. I hate to admit it, but it was a bit lonely without the White Dragon Twin here.

"Why did I even agree to help get them together in the first place?" I heard said man grumble, slamming his bedroom door.

"Help who get together?" I questioned?

"Ack, Lucy! What are you doing in my room?"

"Lector let me in. I was waiting for you to come back."

He seemed to be "off", but I didn't pay much attention to it. Neither one of us said a word for quite some time.

"So, um, I heard you had a meeting?" I said fidgeting with my celestial keys.

"Yeah." He simply replied while scratching the back of his head.

Silence again.

"So, you head back to Fairy Tail tomorrow…"

Oh, right. I'd forgotten that tomorrow would be the seventh day.

"Yeah." I replied. Jeez! What was up with the one worded answers?

Sting strode over to his bed and sat down on the ledge. He patted the spot next to him and motioned for me to sit down. I got up from the floor and complied with his wish.

"Lucy, I want to tell you something. No, I need to tell you something. It's about the Sabertooth ad I put up on the Fairy Tail job board. I-"

"Sting! We've got trouble!" Lector yelled interrupting our conversation. The dragon slayer quickly jolted to his feet as if preparing for battle.

"What is it Lector?"

"The guild is under attack!" Lector ran off towards the chaos to aid Frosch and Rogue, not waiting for Sting. He knew that his companion would follow suit.

"Wait!" I desperately yelped. "What were you going to say to me, Sting?" What am I doing? This is not the time to be asking such a thing! "Please, I need to know!" I grabbed his arm as if my life depended on it and just like that his lips were on mine. In an instant, he was gone, but the warmth from his kiss still resonated. Lost in my own thoughts, I'd forgotten that Sabertooth was under attack.

The entire guild shook at the blast of a single breath. "Karyu no Hoko!"

"Natsu?" There was no mistaking it. That was Natsu's voice. I immediately ran to the front of the guild, avoiding all the falling debris. I had to get to where the fighting was. I needed to verify it with my own eyes.

"Holy Ray!" Sting belted as he threw a blinding punch towards the intruder's direction. One strike after the other at lightning speed, Natsu was hit mercilessly.

"Natsu?" I stood there stunned. Why was Natsu here and why was he attacking Sabertooth? The Fire Dragon Slayer returned many punches and kicks without hesitation, not taking into consideration his surroundings.

Most of the Sabertooth guild gathered around to watch the fight between Dragon Slayers.

"Natsu-san, I must admit it was brave of you to walk through the front doors of the Sabertooth's den, but you're outnumbered. I've got Rogue by my side. There's no way you can walk out of here unscathed after demolishing part of our guild."

"Oh-ho. Two against one? I'm all fired up!" Punching his firey fists together, the hot-headed fire dragon slayer launched another attack at Sting and Rogue. Easily, the two dodged the wild attack, but that didn't stop Natsu from bouncing back.

"Slash of the Shadow Dragon!" Rogue countered. Sting replicated the Shadow Dragon's movements with his own blazing punch. The two were in sync, arranged to strike at Natsu from both sides.

"Wingbeat of the Fire Dragon!" Natsu yelled breaking their rhythm and sending both flying in opposite directions.

The Twin Dragons wiped the sweat off their brows and got back on their feet, ready for another round.

"Stop fighting, all of you!" I screamed over their roars. Did that make them stop? Of course, not. They continued to fight this meaningless battle merely to prove who the strongest mage was.

"Don't worry, Luce. I'll win and bring you back to Fairy Tail where you belong."

Where I belong? Flashes of the guild members popped into my head and was filled with their smiling faces and countless battles together. Fairy Tail… I looked at the pink insignia on the back of my hand and tried to remember the happiness I felt when I first received Fairy Tail's mark. But the feeling soon faded away when Lisanna's return crept its way into my thoughts.

"I'm taking Lucy back!"

"She's my slave until she's done with her job."

I flinched a little bit although I hoped no one noticed. Slave? That's right. My purpose is to fulfil my mission so I can ultimately pay my rent. A slave – that's all I'm good for here.

"She's not a slave. She's my nakama!" Another blast of fire, another ray of light, and another path being swallowed by the shadows made their way across the guild hall. "Anyone who doesn't treat their comrades as comrades is a piece of scum!"

No one seemed to notice the expression on Rogue's and Sting's face change. It was only slight and for a mere second, anyway. "Comrade" was a foreign word to the Sabertooth guild after all.

The pink haired male screamed one last thing, but not before sending a fireball their way. "I'm taking Lucy back!"

Sting blocked his attack and said, "Taking her back? Please, Natsu-san, Lucy came to us. You're the one who drove her away."

Gritting his teeth, Natsu seethed, "What did you say?"

"You don't know, Natsu-san? What a pity. You're the reason why Lucy doesn't want to go back to Fairy Tail!"

At this point, I had no idea what was going to come out of Sting's mouth. I didn't understand what was going on or how this all started. What was he talking about?

"She calls out your name in her sleep. She cries out her own name because in her dreams everyone seems to forget who she is. 'Lisanna, Lisanna, Lisanna!' Who is Lisanna, eh Natsu-san? Is she the reason why Lucy cries herself to sleep at night?!" He took in a deep breath and roared, "Holy Breath of the White Dragon!"

Why did his words hurt? Because they were true? Sting had an immense amount of emotion supporting his words which made his attack stronger than Natsu could defend.

Stop.

"Give it up, Natsu-san. There's no way you can beat me." Natsu was down on the ground, struggling to get back up, but he didn't stop trying.

Stop the fighting.

Natsu's body burned with rage. His eyes had lost his pupils along with the remaining ounce of his humanity. "I'm going to make you regret those words." Scales gradually formed on the upper corner of the Dragon Slayer's face. Igneel's spirit ignited his son's aura as flames devoured the scene.

A smirk formed on Sting's lips. Things are getting interesting. "Go ahead and try to take Lucy from me."

A vein protruded from the corner of Natsu's forehead. He clearly did not like the way my name rolled of Sting's tongue.

"Don't you ever say her name so formally again."

Sting and Rogue stood together as their powers concentrated around their hands. Each of their energy beams synced together to form a multicolored sphere. The three Dragon Slayers watched each other like a lion ready to pounce its prey.

Then they all struck their final blow.

"Holy Shadow Dragon Flash Fang!"
"Crimson Lotus: Fire Dragon's Fist!"

.

.

.

"Stop it!"

I had no idea what came over me. My body just moved on its own. I ran towards them, knowing that there was no way I could stop their attacks, but my legs carried me faster than my mind could process what was happening.

I could see the fear in Natsu's eyes. I could see the shock in Sting's. Rogue's eyes widened as well. They all knew they were going to crash into me. With the amount of momentum and adrenalin pumping through their veins – it was too late to pull back.

I remember a golden light enveloping the room as the attacks collided. I remember seeing Natsu and Sting yelling my name, but I couldn't hear them. And most of all, I remember seeing blood saturating my clothes and staining my fair skin. It took me a minute to register what was going on. My brain was unable to wrap around the scene that unfolded before me.

"L-Loke?" I managed with a shaky voice.

"Are you alright, my Princess?" He said with a weak smile. I wiggled out of the lion's arms, which wasn't hard at all, and removed the jacket I was wearing.

"Loke, we need to get you help!" I firmly applied pressure to his wound, but it was no use. The wound the multiple dragon slayers inflicted on him was much too large. Loke pushed up his sunglasses and chuckled.

"You didn't answer my question, Princess."

"I'm fine, but you're not fine! Please, we have to go find Wendy or Porlyus-"

"Lucy-sama, please clam down."

"I know! If you go back to the Celestial World, you'll heal so much faster." I pulled out the key of the Lion and-

"Princess," he said weakly. Loke grabbed my wrist and caressed the back of my hand to his cheek. "You need not worry about your celestial spirits. Our job is to protect you. I did my job and I'll gladly do it again. So why are you crying?"

"Y-you're hurt. Why wouldn't I be sad?" Tears pooled into my eyes and fell onto Loke's firmly pressed suit.

"Loke?" I questioned. His body started to glow a bright golden hue and soon his form scattered into shimmering light. "Loke!" Not much later, the Golden Key of the Lion broke into two pieces.

No one spoke for the few seconds that passed. Only an ear-deafening screech filled the room and I couldn't believe that sound came from me. It felt as if my whole world came crashing down.

"Lucy…" Natsu said slowly, unsure of how to help. "I'm sorry."

I couldn't hear him over my cries. I forgot that I was inside Sabertooth's guild. Nothing else mattered. Loke's key was broken and I wouldn't get another chance to see him.

After the guild members cleared the room, the only ones left were Natsu, Sting, myself and Loke's broken keys. I slowly got up without a sound. The shadows of my bangs covered my eyes as I began to walk out.

Sting grabbed my wrist and said, "Wait."

"Let go." I demanded without looking his way.

"Lucy, please? Don't go back with Natsu-san."

"Didn't you hear her? She said to let go of her." Natsu growled.

"But you still have one more day at Sabertooth!" the White Dragon reasoned.

"I quit." It was never in a Fairy's moral to stop before finishing a mission, but this was something I couldn't tolerate.

"Ha-ha! In your face, Sting. Lucy is coming home with me."

"No." I voiced.

Both looked at me with confused expressions and each opened their mouths to say their rebuttals. I, however, had nothing to say and left the guild.

Meilin: Sigh. Things are rough. I can't promise I will update regularly like I used to, but I can promise it won't take me 3 years to do so. I'll also put in some short stories here and there. Check those out when you get the chance. Until next time.

*This chapter has not been proof read and therefore will have mistakes. *