A/N: Episode 165.

Enjoy!

edited on july 5th, 2024 @ 5:35pm

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𝓒𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝚃𝚆𝙴𝙻𝚅𝙴,
𝓖𝚁𝚄𝙳𝙶𝙴𝚂 𝙰𝚁𝙴 𝚆𝚁𝙰𝙿𝙿𝙴𝙳 𝙸𝙽 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝚂𝙸𝙻𝙴𝙽𝙲𝙴 𝙾𝙵 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙽𝙸𝙶𝙷𝚃!

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𝗥𝗘𝗔𝗖𝗛𝗜𝗡𝗚 𝗨𝗣 𝗧𝗢 𝗛𝗘𝗥 𝗡𝗘𝗖𝗞, Yukino undid the clasp of her white cape, letting it fall to the ground and removed the rest of her clothing.

"Yukino..." Frosch muttered.

"Please be quiet, Frosch." Lector said.

Yukino's blue Sabertooth emblem was located on her left waist. "Erase your guild emblem." Jiemma ordered.

"Yes, sir." Yukino spoke quietly, trying to keep herself from sobbing. "I wasn't here long, but thank you for everything."

"Get out of my sight, trash." Jiemma demanded, dismissing her thank you.

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Sting, Rogue, Lector, and Frosch were walking in the hallways. "Our master sure does go to extremes, y'know?" Sting said.

"It couldn't be helped. This is why we're the strongest guild." Lector reminded.

"Fro is sad..." Frosch mumbled.

Hearing his Exceed's words, Rogue stopped in his tracks. "Is this what a 'guild' is?" He questioned, making Sting turn around. "Yukino was a comrade."

"She's gone 'cause she's weak. The strongest guild didn't need her, right?" Sting claimed before he continued walking.

"Come to think of it, I hear the lady is replacing Yukino-san." Lector informed.

"Oh! Now that's what I call the strongest five members!" Sting exclaimed.

"Rogue..." Frosch's voice brings the attention of Rogue. "Fro is weak. Is Fro gonna disappear too?"

"You're not going to disappear, Frosch." Rogue promised as he smiled. "Because I'm with you."

Frosch nodded. "Right! Fro's not gonna disappear!"

Sting stopped walking, realizing something. "By the way, Rogue." He called out as Rogue looked at him. "Do you think Lector can stay with you tonight?"

"I don't mind, but why?"

"My boyfriend's dropping in."

Rogue narrowed his eyes. Him nor Lector knew who Sting was dating, or if they were in a guild. All Sting said was that he was a Mage, and that he was 'shy' and didn't want to meet Sting's friends whenever Rogue asked.

But after seeing his reaction to that Samuel boy's battle, Rogue had a pretty good idea why Sting was keeping it a secret.

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A tap on his room window got Sting's attention. He shuts the door behind him and walks over, opening the window to reveal Samuel. "Didn't think you would manage to sneak off." Sting said.

Samuel steps into the room, closing the window behind him. "I was at Bar Sun with Natsu-san and the others. I managed to escape then. Laxus-san, Gajeel-san, and Juvia-nee were already at the inn." He explained.

"Lector's staying with Rogue and Frosch." Sting stated. "Nice job with your battle today."

"It was nothing. I'm not nearly as strong as Lyon-nii." Samuel then smirked. "But what was that during the competition? Was I supposed to be impressed by your motion sickness?"

Sting pushed Samuel down on the bed, hovering over him. "Don't even mention that. I'm lucky that my Master gave me another chance."

Samuel chuckled before connecting his lips against Sting's.

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Erza was leaning on the balcony, looking down into the buildings below as she thought about her conversation with Millianna. "I never thought a day like this would come... Not true. I don't know what Jellal's thinking... but between that time..." Her thoughts trailed off, remembering Millianna's words.

"I hate Jellal, too..."

"... And that Kagura..." Erza muttered.

"That sword is meant to kill Jellal."

"... how long will it go on?" Erza asked herself.

"What are you doing out here, Erza?"

Erza turned her head to see Gray had joined her. "Gray..." She said before turning back around. "Nothing... Nothing important. Why are you out here alone?"

"Until now, I was in the middle of some tug-of-war between Lyon and Juvia, and I have no idea what it was about." Gray replied.

"You have no idea what it was about? I wasn't there, but even I have a pretty good idea of what the deal was." Erza claimed as Gray just gave her a look. "You must realize by now how Juvia feels about you. Why not give her a clear-cut response?"

Gray didn't respond as he rested his head on the palm of his hand. "Never mind me. When it comes to love and hate, I've got too much baggage of my own to be giving out advice." Erza said.

"Did something happen?" Gray asked, turning to her.

"No." Erza responded. "Besides, that's not all that's on your mind, is there?"

Gray recalls seeing Samuel and Lyon hug after their battle.

"It's about Sam. He struggled a lot during the seven years we were gone. And throughout that time, Lyon became more of an older brother to him than me— his actual older brother." Gray sighs. "I just have to keep reminding myself that he's not the same twelve year old kid that would follow me around everywhere I went, and was always the first one to welcome us back from jobs. He's grown now, and he's an amazing wizard."

Erza smiles at him. "If you're worried that you're being replaced, I don't think you have anything to fear. Samuel still admires you as he did seven years ago. I can tell." She told him.

"It's late. Let's go back to the inn."

In a lit room, Arcadios was in front of a desk. "One girl has ten keys, another girl has two keys... I'll get all 12 keys! Eclipse will work perfectly!" He said to himself.

"Zeref! Zeref! Zeref! Zeref!"

His laugh then echoed throughout the darkened hallway.

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Crocus Garden . . .

Two consecutive blasts were heard, causing Sting to jolt up, moving Samuel's head off his chest in the process, causing him to whine in complaint.

"What the...?!" Sting said before he heard footsteps coming toward his room. Acting quickly, he shoves Samuel off the bed just in time as Rogue barged into his room.

"Intruder!" He announced.

"Sting-kun!" Lector flew in beside Rogue as did Frosch.

"Wait for me, I'll be quick!" Sting told him as Rogue nodded, closing the door.

Samuel groaned as he sat up from the floor. "'No one will walk in on us.', 'Most of the Sabertooth members keep to themselves.' You know, you're so full of shit, Sting." Samuel said.

"Sorry, Sam. About shoving you off the bed. Couldn't risk Rogue seeing you." Sting apologized as he quickly got dressed.

"What was he saying about an intruder?" Samuel questioned.

"Who knows? Stay here, I'll be back." Sting responded as he finished getting dressed. He pecks Samuel on the lips before opening the door, immeditely shutting the door soon after as him and Rogue rushed down the hallway.

"Who the hell is it?!" Sting asked.

"I don't know... but they must not be expecting to leave here alive!" Rogue answered as a member flew into the hallway before crashing in front of them.

More members got thrown back by flames as the intruder was revealed to be Natsu. "Where's..." He started to say.

"... your master?!" He finished, kicking a member in the stomach with his flames and shocking Sting and Rogue.

"Where is he?!"

"You have business with me, kid?" Jiemma questioned, appearing behind a guild member who quickly moved out of the way.

"Are you the master here? I hear you kicked someone out for losin' once?" Natsu chuckled. "That gets me all fired up!"

"Huh?"

"In that case," Natsu punches his fists together, causing flames to appear. "if you lose to me, you're outta this guild!"

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A/N: Another chapter is completed! Thanks for reading!

Word Count: 1263 words.