" ": You talking

' ': You thinking

* *: Narrator/Voice-off

Your POV:

Lucy: Business ? With me ?

Yukino: Yes. I have important business with you, lady Lucy.

Natsu: ... What is Saber trying to pull ?

"I... Really don't think this has anything to do with Saber. Please, go straight to the point."

Yukino: This may be a bold request, but... These... The key of the paired fish and the key of the heavenly scales... I'd like for you to have the two of these, lady Lucy.

Lucy: EH ?! That's... Impossible. I-I can't take them...

Yukino: When I saw you on the first day, I decided that after the games had ended, I would give you these keys.

"They... Haven't ended yet, have they ?"

Yukino: My games have ended. Lady Minerva will probably be added in my place. With this, the "Strongest 5" that changed Sabertooth have been gathered.

Mew: But, so then... You mean you weren't a part of them ?

Yukino: I had just entered... I was nothing more than a substitute for lady Minerva, who was in the middle of a job.

Wendy: But why ? These are your precious stellar spirits, aren't they ?

Yukino: precisely for that reason... These stellar spirits will be happier, as well, if they're entrusted to lady Lucy, who's a far more outstanding stellar spirit mage than me.

Lucy: T- That's quite a happy request, but... I mean, for me...

Yukino: You've already gathered 10 of the 12 golden keys of the zodiac. With these two added... The 10 keys will have all been gathered. The gateway that changes the world will open.

Lucy: the gateway that changes the world ?

Yukino: It's just an old legend. I don't understand the meaning of it, either. You might have noticed this already, but... Over the past several years, the number of stellar spirits mages has dropped precipitously. There was that Zentopia incident some time ago, as well. We might be the only stellar spirit mages left, now.

'Any idea what this means ?'

Mew: 'Not a clue. Just pretend like you know and don't say anything.'

Yukino: You're one that loves and is loved by stellar spirits. You should carry the 12 keys and walk together with the spirits.

Lucy: ... I can't accept them, after all. Stellar spirit magic is a magic of bonds and trust... There's no way that owners can be switched quite so easily.

Yukino: This wasn't... An easy resolution to come by. No... I figured you would say that. When the time comes, the 12 keys will naturally be reunited again. It'd be nice if we could meet again.

Natsu: Hey ! Wait up !

Happy: Wait !

Yukino: Natsu sir... Happy sir...

"2 out of 3. Not bad."

Natsu: Ah... Sorry, sorry. You're not a bad person.

Yukino: ... Eh ?

Happy: You see, Natsu had made up his mind that you were a bad person just because you were in Sabertooth... That's why he came like this to apologize.

Yukino: Apologize ?

Natsu: My bad.

Happy: So lightly !!

"Well, it looks like even with this, Natsu's grown up a little bit."

Natsu: hey, what's that supposed to mean ?!

Yukino: You went to all the trouble of chasing after me for that... ?

"Well, that's not everything... I also wanted to ask something... What happened ?"

Yukino: H- Huh... ?

"Don't try to hide it. You're looking so gloomy, it's obvious you're not doing it entirely out of free will."

Natsu: ... is it about what I said... ?

Yukino: No... i'm sorry...

Natsu: No no no no... You're putting me on the spot if you're going to apologize...

Natsu: It's even worse if you're going to cry... !

"... It's like all the pride you were exuding this morning has disappeared in a second..."

Yukino: I can't... I can't take it anymore. I... No one's ever treated me like this before. I... Always looked up to Sabertooth. Last year, I finally got in, but... I'm not allowed to go back anymore.

Natsu: ... Huh ?

Jiemma: So pitiful... I can't even bother with tears. You trash ! Think carefully about why we're at the top of the magic guilds. Don't look at the insects around you. Don't speak to them, simply trample over them. What we're looking at is something greater...

*Sabertooth master: Jiemma*

Jiemma: To make the skies roar... To make the Earth boil... To make the seas silent. THAT is Sabertooth. Sting.

Sting: Yes.

Jiemma: because of your pathetic performance, we are now tied with the weakest guild in Fiore. Do you realize what it means ?

Sting: ... Yes.

Jiemma: i'm only going to give you one more chance. Don't make such a pathetic scene a second time.

Sting: thank you. I'll definitely meet your expectations.

Jiemma: Yukino. There are no excuses left for you. You know this, right ?

Yukino: yes... I lost to someone from another guild... I've stained the name of Sabertooth.

Jiemma: THAT'S NOT IT !! YOU WAGERED YOUR "LIFE" AND LOST ! NOT ONLY THAT, BUT YOU WERE PITIED BY THE ENEMY ! WE'RE SABERTOOTH !!

Yukino: yes... I will gladly accept any punishment.

Jiemma: Strip off your clothes.

Yukino: ... Yes. As you say.

Frosch: Yukino...

Lector: Please be quiet, Frosch.

Jiemma: Your guild stamp... Erase it.

Yukino: ... yes. It was only for a short while, but... Thank you for everything.

Jiemma: Get out of my sight. Trash.

Yukino: Just from that one loss... I was forced out. I was forced to be naked in front of a lot of people... And I had to erase the guild stamp with my own hand... It was so bitter and humiliating... My self-respect and my memories of the guild were completely destroyed... AND DESPITE ALL OF THAT, I DON'T HAVE A PLACE TO RETURN TO... !!

"... So this is how they do things in Sabertooth..."

Yukino: yes... i'm sorry... I... Just...

Natsu: Though it may be another guild, if you say that "We're both mages", then I understand... I understand the bitterness of being humiliated and having your guild stamp erased. A guild that would make its member cry... That's not a guild at all.

"I hope you're not planning on giving them a piece on your mind... You know that'd get us disqualified from the Games ?"

Natsu: Sorry. I fail to see why I should give a fuck.

"Figured. Thought you'd need someone to clean up once you're done."

Gray: What is it, Erza ? What are you doing in a place like this ?

Erza: Gray.

Millianna: I hate Jellal as well... Unforgivable... Unforgivable.

Erza: ... It's nothing. What about you ? You're all by yourself, what happened ?

Gray: I was caught up in Lyon and Juvia's nonsensical ramblings up until now...

Erza: Nonsensical, you say ? Even though I wasn't there, I can guess what they were talking about...

Gray: ... ... ... ...

Erza: C'mon... You've noticed Juvia's feelings, right ? Why don't you make everything clear ?

Gray: ... ... ...

Erza: Well... Be it love or hate... maybe what I speak of is too heavy of a burden to bear...

Gray: Did something happen ?

Erza: No... It's late already, let's go back.

*BOOOOOM*

Sting: What is it ?!

Lector: Ohh...

Rogue: Intruders ! Wake up !!

Sting: Intruders ?! But this is the lodging where every member of Sabertooth is ! Who is it ?!

Rogue: Beats me... But they must have no intention of returning alive. Over there !

"This is the last time we're asking nicely ! Any more and we'll start getting violent !"

Natsu: WHERE'S YOUR MASTER ?!!

Jiemma: Do you have some business with me, brats ?

"So I take it you're the master, huh ? Kicked out just because of one loss ?"

Natsu: i'm all fired up... If that's how you do your shit... If you lose here, you quit the guild too, then.

Rufus: F- Fairy Tail... ?

Sting: Natsu... And...

Orga: They came to start a fight with master... ?

Lector: That's suicide.

Frosch: fro thinks the same way !

Jiemma: Are you serious ? Brats.

Natsu: people who take their friends for granted... Unforgivable.

Rogue: 'Is he talking about Yukino ?'

Sting: 'That has nothing to do with you ! Would people normally come barging in over something like that ?!'

Jiemma: I don't know what you're talking about, but... You're acting out of your own sense of justice, huh ?

"You don't know... Looks to me like... We've got to remind a senile old man of a few things."

Jiemma: Hmph. Dobengal... Be a reasonable opponent for them.

Dobengal: Yes.

"Hiding behind your men now, are you ?"

Jiemma: It's 100 years to early for the likes of some common guild soldiers like you. If you want to fight with those on top, show me that you're qualified to do so.

Natsu: Fight with me !!

Dobengal: I won't let you get near master.

"... Don't look at the insects around you. Don't speak to them, simply trample over them... if that really is your guild's motto, then... Please tell me..."

Dobengal: H- Huh ?

"Why the hell... SHOULD I GIVE A DAMN ABOUT SOMEONE LIKE YOU ?!! OUT OF THE WAY !!"

Mage: No way... Dobengal got...

Lector: That kind of strength would place him within the top 10 of our guild...

Frosch: Wahhh !!

"Top 10 ? Then maybe next time, I'll actually start trying. 'To make the skies roar... To make the Earth boil... To make the seas silent...' Bitch, the very fabric of reality bows down to me. 'Or at least it used to, before...'..."

Sting: Gh. Master... Let me...

Jiemma: Stay back. We don't have any brats like this here... Amusing.

"Natsu, you can deal with that. If whatever was back there was enough to get into the top 10 of their guild, it shouldn't pose too much problem."

Jiemma: Just this level... HUH ?

Natsu: Ugh... Guh...

Natsu: Dragon's lighting flame... IRON STRIKE !!

"... So that's how it is. Felt like your master was in danger, and went for the rescue ? can't really blame you for that one. Given the level of power... Lady Minerva, I presume ?"

Minerva: Ufufu... You are well-informed indeed.

Jiemma: Minerva ?!!

Sting: the young lady...

Minerva: have tonight's festivities extended to this vicinity as well ?

Natsu: Huh ?

Jiemma: Minerva, you... Who told you to...

Minerva: of course, even if the present state of affairs were to continue, father would surely triumph... But there is such a thing as "Maintaining appearances" after all. Putting aside the fact that you were the ones to attack us... If our master were to eliminate participants in the Grand Magic Games... That would put us in a bind, as well. Father got fired up in front of his subordinates, so it was challenging for him to back down, as well... How about it ? Will you allow me to save some face here ? If so, then I can return this kitten to you, unharmed.

Happy: Sorry, guys... !

Natsu: HAPPY !! Damn it...

Minerva: What I am saying is.. Even though you did in so many of our subordinates, we'll simply overlook this incident. i'm asking you to act in a mature fashion.

"The simple fact you're calling them 'Subordinates', disgusts me to the highest degree. But please, do try to 'Eliminate' us. I'll be waiting for this. The moment I can crush you and show you where trash like you truly belongs. Meditate on this."

Natsu: ... ...

Happy: I... Got caught at the entrance... Sorry...

Natsu: It's fine, Happy. It's my fault for leaving you like that. Let's go back.

Happy: A- Aye.

Jiemma: These brats have some backbone in them...

Minerva: We'll settle this in the Grand Magic Games. To our heart's content.

Natsu: ... We won't lose to the likes of you guys. And you won't surpass us. If you're a guild, take care of your comrades. That's all I have to say. And before you ask anything... As strong as I might be... I couldn't hold a candle against him...