The King of Crocus decided to throw a wizard's ball to show his appreciation for our help in defeating the dragons. All participating guilds were invited. This gave everyone a chance to expand their friendships across the wizard community.

"(Y/n) my dear, you look stunning!" your grandfather greeted you as you entered with Cana. "Your brother cleans up well too. Must run in your blood."

"I'm sure it does grandpa." you giggle back to him.

"My turn!" Cana said with a twirl. "I'm ready to hear how beautiful I am!"

"You sure are my dear." gramps now complimented her. "I wish your father was here to see it."

"Who needs him?" she smirks and walks off, tugging you behind her. She waste no time in grabbing a drink for the both of you. Well, a drink for you and an entire bottle for herself.

"Well if it isn't my two favorite beauties. Ready to celebrate?" you hear Hibiki say as he wraps a hand around you.

"Hi Hibs!" you say, turning around and taking him in for a quick hug. "You look extra spiffy tonight."

"Yeah, who you preying on tonight Hibs?" Cana ask, putting an arm around him.

"It could be you two, if you'd like." he slyly suggests.

"Not falling for your schemes Hib." you reply, unfazed at his flirting.

"Yeah, not enough drinks in me yet." Cana jokes, chugging some of her bottle.

"One day ladies, one day.." Hibiki laughs back. The three of you share a quick drink and cheers it to 'Hibiki's lucky victim of the night' before he heads off to flirt his heart out. The King must have been feeling very generous because the party was stocked with all the finest of alcohols. Cana wasted no time in double fisting the first wine bottles she laid her eyes on. Naturally, you grab one and join in her fun.

"Hey!" you hear Macao's voice suddenly scolding you two. "We're in the royal palace so you two better behave!" At that time, his worst nightmare walked up. Bacchus.

"Wanna go another round?" Bacchus ask Cana as she grabs the two of them beer mugs now.

"You're on!" She accepts the challenge, with a slight blush on her face. "I'm playing to win this time." As you watch this begin, a few of your other guild mates have now joined your presence. Gajeel and Gray are both next to you, complaining about Natsu's absence. Juvia joins, proclaiming her new and improved self. Unfortunately this leads to Gray's 'new and improved' self as well, turning Juvia down colder than ever.

"You need to show her more respect Gray!" Lyon now walks up with his male guild mates. "This means respecting her feelings. I may love her but it is clear she does not feel the same."

"This party is starting to get real annoying. Why does Natsu get to skip it?" Gray groans.

"Natsu isn't here?" you hear a familiar voice behind you ask.

"Nah, Salamander ain't here." Gajeel replies as you turn to meet Sting's eyes.

"Wow." Sting whispered under his breath.
"Hey Sting." You smiles at him, but he didn't respond. "Hey Rogue."

"Hello (Y/n)." Rogue said, glancing at his speechless friend. "You look great."

"Thanks!" You blush and Sting speaks up.

"Yeah, you really do." he say to you, before turning to address your guildmates. Guess we'll start our drinks with you all then." Sting says to them with a massive grin as he hands out glasses. "To friendships!"

Everyone begins to converse about the games but Rogue is even more quiet than normal. Without realizing it, you stare at him trying to figure out whats wrong. He notices.

"I know you know." Rogue says quietly looking at the ground. He almost looks ashamed. "About what I did to Sting."

"I do." you reply quietly, deep in thought about it all. "Is that why you're acting weird? Rogue, I know that isn't you. All your friends know that." he attempts a smile for a moment, but it falters before it can fully come to light. "You won't hurt him. We'll protect him, but more importantly, we'll protect you, Rogue. None of that will come to pass. I promise."

He doesn't reply verbally. He takes a moment to think, then motions a silent cheers of your drinks to each other, causing you to smile in return. The two of you join back into the groups conversation until something catches your eye.

"Excuse me just a moment." you say flashing a grin as you walk off just a few feet towards the Thunder Legion. "Girls, get your hands off him!" Freed demands of the fan girls flocked onto Laxus arms.

"What he said." you add, pointing to Freed. "Or ..." you extend an arm and slowly trace your nail your arm, just as you had done in the games when you needed the extra boost of blood to beat an opponent. The girls gasp and take their hands off of your brother, staring at you in bewilderment.

"We're just talking with him about the games." one of them snaps with an attitude.

"Conversation doesn't require your filthy hands all over him." you begin to smirk as you continue. "I can tell he doesn't like it, and neither will his girlfriend. I'm rather fond of her so if you don't get lost, I won't hesitate to make you."

"What is she doing?!" Sting and Rogue ask in unison. "Don't piss him off already!"

"Relax." Evergreen says calmly to them. "She does this all the time."

"I think he finds it amusing to be honest." Bixslow chimes in as well.

"You two didn't think he was the only over-protective one did you?" Ever ask them with a smirk and they just stand with their mouths slightly agape.

The girls stomp off looking for someone else to throw themselves at. Freed puts a hand to your shoulder as Laxus begins to laugh. "My turn?" he asks with a smirk and glances over towards Sting.

"Shut up and go find Mira already." you direct while walking back to your group of friends. "She's smokin hot tonight Lax." Looking over your shoulder, you notice he's blushing profusely.

"Don't provoke him." Sting grumbles at you, taking your hand in his. "For my sake."

"Relax. He's not mad." you assure him.

"Good because I have something to show you." he says as he puts down his drink. "Come with me."

Sting led you through crowds and you could hear hushed whispers from every one of your friends that you passed, as the speculated about what exactly is going on between the two of you. He led you down the grand staircase, turning down a dark, empty corridor from there. At the end of the corridor, he turned onto another one, and led you all the way down it. At the end, you made another turn and discovered two double doors about halfway down it.

"Where are we going?" you asked him looking behind you, getting worried now about getting lost in the dark of the castle.

"We're almost there." he whispered, pulling you a little faster now. Once the doors open, you feel a welcoming fresh air. The two of you stand at the entrance to a beautiful garden area. The pathways are lined with the prettiest of lights. That is the only light in this area, besides a giant found you can spot way at the end, and a small patch that is illuminated slightly from the balcony of the Grand Ball Room above. Due to the lack of prominent lights, you can still see the stars visible above the palace.

"Sting, this is gorgeous! How did you know how to access it?" you ask, looking around in amazement.

"Sabertooth has been the favorite in these games for years. I get special privileges from time to time." he responds slyly.

"So how many other girls have you brought here?" you ask, annoyed at his cockiness and your overactive imagination.

"None! I swear!" he answers immediately, realizing what you're thinking. "I just asked one of the guards to help me find somewhere nice to spend some quality time with you for a bit at the ball. This is my first time down here too."

Taking a moment to decide if you think he's telling the truth, you look at him intensely. He takes a small gulp worried, and you realize you don't have a reason to distrust him yet.

"Good." you smirk at him, taking his hand again, now leading him down the path, turning to look at anything and everything that caught your eye. "Thanks for this, Sting. I've never seen something so beautiful. This is what you imagine when you're a child listening to fairy tails."

"I'm glad you like it." he said, smiling at you. "I had a feeling it was your first time at a castle. Thought you should get to enjoy it like a princess."

"When I was little I was obsessed with princesses." you let out a small chuckle thinking back on it. "It drove Laxus crazy."

"Please tell me you made him play dress up with you." Sting jokes.

"What sort of a sister would I be if I didn't?" you laugh back.

"Please tell me someone has pictures, videos, anything." he says now hysterical at the thought.

"Gramps does. He cherishes them dearly."

"I bet." Sting replies, finally calming down his laughter. By now you two have reached the fountain at the end of the garden. Sting moves to hug you from behind and neither of you say anything as you stare into the beautiful water cascading down it. His chin is resting into the crook of your neck, and you relax so easily into his embrace. After a few moments of comfortable silence, Sting is the first to speak. "I know I already told you, but I can't get over how gorgeous you look tonight."

"Thank you." you blush profusely. "You should be used to it by now though. I'm gorgeous every day, Sting." you fire back sarcastically.

"You really are." he whispers as he turns you to face him now, his forehead resting against yours. "Especially when you blush like this."

"Shut up." you mumble, your face turning even more red. Letting out a small laugh while biting his lip, he tilts your chin up towards him and leans in for a kiss. Unlike his usual flirty and thirsty-for-more type kisses, this one is short, soft, and slow. When he pulls away, he still has his eyes closed for a second, opening them slowly to look at you with a shy smile. "So about our date.."

"Are you backing out of it?" you ask hesitantly.

"Noooo. I was going to say, how about the night after tomorrow?" his signature grin plastered all over his face now.

"Sounds good to me." you excitedly accept. "What will we be doing?"

"Falling in love." Sting replies back without missing a beat.

"There's that cockiness." you roll your eyes slightly. "I was starting to wonder where the real Sting Eucliffe ran off to."

"That part of me is never.. too..far...away." he said, inching closer to you, almost connecting your lips again. Before either of you could complete the kiss, a lightning streak flashes across the sky out of nowhere.

"Damnit, I thought the weather was supposed to be nice tonight." Sting remarked looking up disappointed.

"It is." you mutter through clenched teeth, turning to face the direction of the Ball Room's balcony. "Clear skies, with a 100% chance of Laxus." Sure enough, you saw your brother and Freed staring you down, smirking. "Damnit, come on."

"Yeah, I guess we should head back anyways.." Sting agrees and follows you back into the castle.

"LAXUS DREYAR!" you yelled stomping over to your giant of a brother. 

"It's about time you came back." he laughed taking a sip from his mug. 

"You're right." you said, getting an idea in your head. "There's something I have been wanting to do all night. Come on Sting." you smirk as you pull him to the dance floor. Pressing your body firmly to his, you begin to move against him to the music. Sting is in a shocked state at first, but quickly begins to enjoy it. 

"(Y/n)," he began speaking, although sucking in air as he did. "Are you.. are you sure you want to be doing this in front of him?"

"Yes. Are you not enjoying it?" you ask, stopping your movements briefly.

"I am!" he admits.

"Then shut up and dance." you say, as you press into him provocatively again. You press into every sensitive part of his body that you can, and occasionally pressing a subtle kiss to his jawline. This continues as you see your brother seething from the side of the room. Once the song is over, you pull Sting off the dance floor and grab drinks. 

As you two start to turn back to find your friends, Sting catches eyes with someone. Yukino. 

"Hey! Wait!" he yell to her as she runs away. "Please! Stick around for a little bit at least. The master and m'lady are gone for good. They won't be here." She stops to listens to him, clearly feeling awkward. "I'm really sorry for the way we treated you. We're starting everything over from scratch. The way we ran things was wrong. The old Sabertooth guild is history now. From here on out, we'll be the kind of guild that treats it's members like family." he says, walking up to her slightly.

"Well, I wish you all the luck with that." She says quietly, trying to turn away again. 

"I know the wounds are still fresh, but I would love it if you joined us again." he pleas with her. Just as he finishes, Kagura steps in, demanding that Yukino join her guild instead, since she won the bet between them earlier in the games.

"Shut up, you're completely wasted!" Sting growls as Rogue and Orga walk up with him.

"It doesn't matter! She belongs with us!" Kagura growls back, and they begin to get in each others faces, both their fist balling up.

"Sting Eucliffe! You are not fighting here! This is a royal engagement!" you snap at him, but he dismisses your warning.

"He can fight whoever he wants." Erz jumps in, earning a gasp and glare from you.

"Excuse me?!" you yell at her.

"it won't matter what he does, because she is joining FAIRY TAIL!"

"Are you serious right now?" you ask her. Before you know it, your comrades are backing Erza up, fighting for Yukino as well. Then, Lamia Scale & Quatro Puppy jump in.

"WHAT?!?!!?" Half the crowd yells. 

"This is getting ridiculous." you mutter under your breath. Everyone begins fighting, so it goes unnoticed when you grab Yukino and walk off with her. "They're all great. Really. I think you will be happy wherever you choose."

"That's right, look at how much everyone loves you!" Mira adds, joining you two away from the chaos.

Before this moment could ensue much longer, the king's arrival is announced. By the king, I mean Natsu. After his stunt he pulled, pretending to be the king in front of everyone WITHOUT the king's permission, the party really began to pick up. You danced and talked with everyone you could for the rest of the night. This ball was a blast, and only the start of something great between you and Sting.