"You're an idiot. You know that, right? A real idiot."

And I cannot help but to laugh.

"Yeah, I know...I know."

~•------------------------------•~

Crocus...the capital of Fiore, and a fitting place to host the Grand Magic Games. The ostentatious city's major feature, the grand edifice, is definitely a sight worth witnessing- it dwarfs the cute little city homes and shops, making even the biggest ones seem like hovels in comparison.

To me, what is even more impressive is the arena: it is a structure made of stone, with numerous statues (carved into its sides) that appear to be spectating the future games.

Even the town's buildings occupied by city-dwellers are lavish: they are decorated with bundles upon bundles of flowers; they appear clean and orderly, and even outclass the ones in the infamous town which Sabertooth is resides in.

The townspeople all appear to be longtime denizens of this grandiose city and are all certainly delighted to see visitors, as they will benefit from the increased flow of money. They all wave invitingly and seem to genuinely like to engage in friendly conversation (however, everyone but Yukino and I  seem set on scaring them all off, so I haven't even had a chance to actually carry on a decent conversation).

Most of all, the restaurants intrigue me, as they all offer unique dishes. Their hospitality entices me; however, I have restrained myself from gorging on the inviting food (somehow).

*Food...restaurants...wait, I know who'd-*

"(Y/N)," a gentle voice obtrudes into my thoughts, "Aren't you coming?"

I glance up at the snow-haired Celestial Mage and rush a few steps to catch up to her.

"Yeah, sorry, I was just...thinking," I smile apologetically while shaking my head. "Say, when do we have to meet back up with them again...? In....what, in about two more hours?"

Yukino cranes her neck and delicately raises herself on her tippy toes to see the clock over the crowd; a sea of travelers from all over Fiore have gathered to spectate on the GMG, and they apparently aren't going to miss out on the festivities, either.

"Yes, (Y/N)-chan, or so they said. As of now, we have exactly an hour and forty six minutes." Yukino informs me while she politely turns back to face me.

"Great," I respond, grumbling. "That leaves them with 106 more minutes to potentially cause conflict with other guilds...or just, y'know, the townspeople- who, mind them, so generously let us frolic around this gorgeous town."

"Conflict? With the townspeople?" Yukino inquires innocently yet curiously.

I wave my hand at her in a gesture of remembrance.

"Oh, right, you're new...so, basically, our entire team is highly arrogant and believes that they have the right to do anything they want because," I lift my hands to use air quotes, " 'Sabertooth's better than everyone because we're the most powerful.' "

"Oh..." she responds, then lets her gaze rest on the ground. She looks the slightest bit disappointed, as if she has been expecting someone to confirm her great expectations of Sabertooth, not worsen the reality of this mighty guild.

I give her a sympathetic yet bittersweet smile. Oh, I understand...all too well.

"Well, there's not much we can do to change them,"  I say, thinking of a way to improve the mood I just created. *Or at least for now.* "However...there are some very beautiful gardens by the castle. We could go there; they're absolutely amazing! Plus, last time I was there, I saw some GMG participants who're from other guilds..."

I trail off, repeating the words I had just uttered in my head. And then, and only then, do I realize how stupid I am. If other competitors are going to be there, then surely someone from Fairy Tail will also be there...*damn! Why don't I think before I say?!*

"I- I mean, i-it'll be nice to size up our competition, right?" *Oh golly diddily darn it, I'm just making things worse...this is why I need someone to duct tape my mouth...(and also stab my dirty mind)*

"Sure, (Y/N)-chan, that sounds great." Yukino replies blandly as she eyes me strangely. Thankfully, she doesn't comment on my...'unique' behavior.

*Oh gee, you sound sooo excited to roam around floral heaven with a anxiety-ridden, formal-Fairy teammate. (Oh, wait...)*

"C'mon, let's go!" I burst out (probably very awkwardly) as I try to recover from my 'moment'. "Let's have some fun before we have to be all composed and chronically stoic!"

I put on a brave smile (Yukino follows suit after slight hesitation) and start leading the way to those marvelous gardens I was talking about.

However, we never reach our intended destination. Or, rather, I don't.

About halfway, sounds of thumps and scuffling obtrude into our peaceful, friendly conversation. (Fun fact: During this tranquil period of time, I got to know that Yukino is actually extremely amiable- although also very reserved. How fun!)

For some reason unbeknownst to me, Yukino does not hear these sounds. My ears, somehow more perceptive, instantly recognize the sound...the sound of conflict.

And instantly, my muscles tense and I begin to feel my magic power begin to pulse through my body. My instinctual reaction displays my unfortunate familiarity with conflict...nevertheless, a certain unexpected apprehension accompanies my usual 'flight or flight mode'...why?

The rush of adrenaline persuades my body to walk at an increasingly rapid pace towards the noises- and, after twenty feet or so, I am running. I have never had a reaction such as strong as this; why do I feel this way?

I forget all about the gardens and all their glory; even my own guild mate, Yukino, has escaped my mind at this point. My focus is completely absorbed by this foreboding feeling; this overwhelming surge of danger.

Maybe it's good that Yukino isn't following me; maybe it's good that she has lost me completely. I'm about to become somebody else...someone whom she has no experience with.

Yes, these people creating this conflict are about to witness something I never wanted to reveal...something cruel, something...painful.

Everything seems to be particularly vivid yet also alarmingly unreal. My heart beat resonates through my head clearly; it is rapid and unrelenting.

I try to ignore the panic of the moment, but simply am reminded by something so strongly that I cannot calm down.

*I'm...I'm so sorry, brother...*

Tears begin to form in my eyes; I quickly wipe them away. In a time such as this, emotions will only hinder me.

And then, I abruptly halt my pace. I hear a couple last thumps and a few steps of recession by the attackers. Upon hearing little movement, I leap into action, urgently entering the scene of question.

My eyes scans the expected sight: a band of people- mostly likely deemed weak by the opposers- are all lying on the ground, unconscious. The opposers themselves have smirks spread across their annoyingly attractive faces, and I am not surprised by their identities.

Yes, the Twin Dragons, Sting and Rogue, have been causing havoc in the capital of Fiore......smart.

"What the (f/i/b/t) are you guys-"

I stop abruptly. My eyes widen to the size of moons, and my brain cannot fathom the information that is being received by my eyes.

"Na-natsu......?" The ghost of a whisper is all that leaves my mouth.

The Fire Dragon Slayer, on his knees, looks up to face the Twin Dragon Slayers...he has not noticed me yet.

"Who the hell are these guys?" Natsu, naturally oblivious, asks.

   "Hey, haven't you heard of Sabertooth's Twin Dragons, Sting and Rogue?!" A spectator from the sidelines exclaims in disbelief.

"They're the cornerstone of Fiore's strongest guild!" Another spectator adds.

"Then these two are..." Lucy starts to say. I take note of the flowers that adorn her luscious hair and that she appears not to have aged within those 7 long years. Happy, of course, is also present...

*It's really them. They...they have come to participate, haven't they...? I'm so glad they're alive and well, but I also wish they hadn't come. Perhaps it's selfish; perhaps it's foolish; but it saddens me...the fact that I really cannot do anything to greet them. And, I have to...admit...that hideous secret of mine.*

"....Sabertooth, huh?" Natsu finishes for Lucy, which breaks into my steady stream of thoughts and evolving emotions.

  Without thinking, I rush forward to join my 'fellow teammates'. I can only hope that my face still doesn't hold the surprise I surely felt only moments ago.

I don't want to interact with Natsu or Lucy; I am afraid that everything will come out at once. I am in a public place where anyone could be watching; however, I am also deeply inclined to rush over and cling to them and laugh with them and cry in their arms, broken but able to heal. But, I can't. I have to stay at a safe distance and watch; I have to pretend to channel disgust and hatred into every word I direct at them.

"Why hello," I introduce myself, voice full of forced scorn. "Remember me, 'nakama'? "

I can already feel the unbearable feeling of guilt begin to haunt me as their eyes fill with confusion and disappointment. I squint my eyes and place a confident smirk on my face; I cannot give up just already.

"I didn't believe Macao when he told us what you'd done..." Natsu says, his voice dripping with contempt and dismay. "Leaving us when we needed the most support; going out and joining a guild like this?!"

Lucy doesn't say anything; she simply stares at me with repentant eyes, as if she feels that she could have done something to prevent this.

"You must not understand," Sting interjects, scoffing at the Fire Dragon Slayer. "(Y/N)'s a part of our guild. She understood that Fairy Tail became old news, and that your lousy guild is full of a bunch of weaklings who don't know how to discipline themselves."

I chuckle, but definitely not out of affirmation. *If only Sting knew...* However, something about Sting's words...about being a part of 'our guild'...it speaks to me; there is definitely an underlying meaning to what he just said.

"Sweet little Natsu, times have changed. Everybody has grown up and surpassed the mages of old. Why would I stay in a guild that would hold me down? Now that would be foolish." I pause to hold the suspense, and to look for the proper way to verbalize my ideas. "It was time to discover my true self...and what do you know? I have found it."

Natsu and Lucy look absolutely horrified, probably questioning how this happened; why did I turn out like this?

Sting steps forward to intimidate the salmon-haired dragon slayer.

"Rumor has it that you're gonna be in the Grand Magic Games. Is that true?" Sting inquires curiously.

"You know about me?" The confused Mage answers back, avoiding the question at hand.

"Acnologia..." Sting simply states, and leans forward until his face is merely a few inches away from Natsu's. "You're the Dragon Slayer who couldn't defeat a dragon, right? Are you sure you should keep calling yourself a Dragon Slayer?"

Once Sting says this, I feel my blood begin to boil. Acnologia, perhaps one of the most powerful dragons ever in existence, attacked them, and they all survived. As if anyone, much less than these arrogant, so called 'Twins', could handle.

"You know, I used to look up to you," Sting continues, putting his arms up in an almost sarcastic 'it happens' type of motion. "Incidentally, this guy was into Gajeel-san."

Rogue blinks slowly and looks down slightly as he 'corrects' Sting, "I was just interested as a fellow Dragon Slayer."

*Huh...maybe the person whom he made that promise to is Rogue, after all. Perhaps they both swore to beat their idols...I guess they developed a sense of disenchantment for Natsu and Gajeel after they got all big-headed.*

"Dragon Slayers?! Both of you?!" Natsu exclaims, shocked at this information.

"Maybe you oughta call us true Dragon Slayers..." Sting declares slyly yet haughtily. I notice that Rogue has acquired a smirk from this declaration. "We could've beaten Acnologia."

"That's damn right," I add, tilting my head to mock the Fairies. "Play time would have finally ended...it's really a shame that we didn't have the chance. Tsk, maybe you should bring us with you the next time you try to prove that you're the strongest to the world...oh, wait! You're trying to do that by participating, aren't you? Well, you're in for a big surprise. Sabertooth towers over all others...including dragons of any sort!"

Ignoring my comments about the GMG, Lucy decides to defend Natsu, "That's easy for you to say when you've never laid eyes on Acnologia!"

"That's right!" Happy adds...although the flower located by his ear isn't exactly adding to his credibility.

"It doesn't matter if we've seen it or not," Sting retorts. "The point here is the difference in our aptitude as Dragon Slayers."

"I'll explain," Lector suggests. "Natsu-kun and the rest learned Dragon Slaying Magic from dragons. They're the so-called 'First Generation'. Your Laxus-kun and Oracion Seis's Cobra-kun are known as the 'Second Generation'- they can use Dragon Slaying Magic through a Dragon Lacrima embedded in their body. As for Sting-kun and Rogue-kun: like you, they were raised by Dragons, but also have a Dragon Lacrima implanted in their body... the hybrid 'Third Generation'!"

*...that's actually quite interesting. I wonder how much of an advantage is really gives them...*

"Third Generation?!" Natsu questions.

  "In other words, they're the strongest Dragon Slayers!" The biased, maroon cat claims.

"Strongest Dragon Slayers, you say?" Natsu asks.

  "There's a world of difference in ability between the First Generation and Third Generation." Lector explains in the tone of 'you really have no chance', shaking his head. "It's not even worth talking about."

   "Did your dragons disappear in the year 777, too?!" Natsu says, apparently going off on a tangent.

  "Well, in a manner of speaking..." Sting starts. *What...what does that mean?*

   "I'll give it to you straight," the ever-so reliable Rogue suggests. "The dragons who taught us Dragon Slayer Magic were slain by our own hand, so we could become true Dragon Slayers..."

     *They...killed their 'parents'...perhaps we're more similar than I anticipated. Perhaps we've all roamed down the darkest of paths.*

   I force myself not to look surprised; instead, I flash Natsu a knowing smile, to say, 'See? I told you they're out of your league.'

    "You killed dragons?!" Lucy exclaims in disbelief.

"You murdered your own parents?!" Natsu cries out, and his tone honestly terrifies me, but I laugh it off.

  "Awh, touché, touché." I 'reassure' him, sarcasm clearly evident in my voice. "But I'm quite sure we're out of time...more important things need to be attended to. Isn't that right?"

  I direct a glance at Sting, implying that he should wrap it up.

   "Well, if we get the chance to fight each other during the Games," Sting says. "I'll show you the power that can slay a real dragon!"

   "Let's go. I'm not interested in the older generations." Rogue states, turning his back on Natsu and Lucy.

   We start to walk away, leaving the Fairies dumbstruck. I halt, knowing I have to say one last thing.

  "Oh, and, Natsu?" I turn around to face the enraged Mage. "Remember that brother of mine? What was his name again...? Ah, Hisashi, was it?"

  I wave my hand to indicate that it's meaningless to me. Natsu's face is terrifyingly contorted; he looks as if he could rip my throat out. I stop smiling; my murderous expression causes chills to run down his spine. I am absolutely egregious.

   "He's dead. I killed him."

  And I say nothing more.

~•--------------------------------•~

(A/N): W-well...uhm, I guess I have a bunch of explaining to do???? ehehh...😅

Anyway 😂, I hoped you enjoyed this long-ass chapter. XD

Thank you so much for 50k reads!!! OMF ❤️❤️ like...that's honestly incredible, and I really appreciate all of the support ❤️

~Ari