Omake for the Twins
"Normal Dialogue"
'Inner thoughts'
[Year X788]
--- With Shisui ---
Macao stared at the mission flyer like it had personally insulted him. The paper crinkled in his grip as he read it again and again, hoping the words might rearrange themselves into something that made more sense.
"They what?" He asked incredulously, looking up at Shisui who stood across from him with that same calm expression he always wore.
The mission request was classified as A-rank, which should have meant danger, complex magic, or at least some kind of serious threat. Instead, it was a training request from Sabertooth. Specifically from their twin Dragon Slayers, Sting Eucliffe and Rogue Cheney, and they wanted Shisui by name.
"This has to be some kind of joke," Macao muttered, but the official seal at the bottom of the flyer said otherwise. "Why would two of Sabertooth's strongest request training from you?"
Before Shisui could answer, Warren's voice cut through the guild hall.
"What if this is a ploy?" The telepathic mage had obviously been listening in, and now he stood up from his table, eyes wide with concern. "What if their mission is to convince you to leave us and join them instead!"
The suggestion spread through the guild hall like wildfire as other members started murmuring, some nodding along with Warren's theory. It made sense in a way. Sabertooth had been aggressively recruiting strong mages, and everyone knew how powerful Shisui was despite his relatively recent arrival at Fairy Tail.
"They're trying to poach him," someone said.
"Sabertooth always did play dirty," another added.
"We can't let them take Shisui!"
The voices grew louder and more agitated. Shisui just chuckled, raising a hand to calm them down. "Even if that was the case, I'm a Fairy Tail mage, not a Sabertooth prospect. You guys worry too much."
His words helped, but Macao could see the tension hadn't completely left the room. People settled back into their seats, but they kept glancing over, waiting to see what their acting guild master would decide.
Macao set the flyer down on the bar, drumming his fingers against the wood. "It still doesn't make sense. Why request you specifically? And why make it an official mission instead of just asking for help?"
Shisui was quiet for a moment, then shrugged. "I met twin Dragons before. We travelled together for a while before I joined Fairy Tail."
That got everyone's attention. Even Warren stopped his conspiracy theorizing to listen.
"They probably want to test themselves against me," Shisui continued. "Or maybe they really do just want training. Either way, it's a legitimate mission request, and the payment is good."
Macao picked up the guild stamp, hefting its weight in his hand. Part of him wanted to reject the mission outright, but he knew that wasn't how Fairy Tail operated. They didn't turn down legitimate requests without good reason, and his personal discomfort with Sabertooth wasn't good enough.
"Fine," he said finally, bringing the stamp down on the flyer with a decisive thunk. "But if you're going to train their Dragon Slayers, then when you come back, you're training our team twice as hard."
A chorus of groans erupted from the table where the Old Team Fairy Tail sat. Romeo looked particularly dismayed, while Jet and Droy exchanged worried glances. Shisui smiled at them, and somehow that made it worse.
"Well, you heard the master. Expect harder work when I get back," Shisui said cheerfully, then grabbed the stamped flyer and headed for the door.
Three days later, Shisui arrived at the secluded training ground specified in the mission request. It was a good spot, far enough from any towns that they wouldn't cause problems, with plenty of open space and natural obstacles to work with.
Sting and Rogue were already there, along with their exceed companions. They looked like they'd been waiting a while.
"See, I told you he'd come." Sting said to Rogue, puffing out his chest with pride.
Lector immediately deflated his partner's ego. "You also said he'd come on the day itself, but nooo. You made us wait four days for him in this place with nothing to do but watch you pace around."
"I wasn't pacing," Sting protested.
"You made that track in the dirt." Rogue pointed out quietly.
Shisui chuckled as he approached them. "Sorry about that. Had to wrap up a few things first."
They exchanged greetings, and Shisui got straight to the point. "So what exactly do you want from me?"
"Training," Rogue said before Sting could launch into what was probably going to be a dramatic speech. "Three days, just like the request said."
"Right, but why make it an A-rank mission?" Shisui asked. "Training requests are usually C or B rank at most."
Rogue sighed while Sting laughed embarrassedly, rubbing the back of his head. "Sting thought that if the request was anything lower than A-rank, you wouldn't accept it."
"I wanted to make sure you'd take it seriously!" Sting defended himself.
Shisui laughed at that. "Even if this wasn't a mission request, I would've helped train you guys."
Lector's ears perked up at that.
"Wait, so you'd do it for free?" The exceed's eyes sparkled with hope. "That means our fish budget can go back to normal!"
"Fro thinks so too!" Frosch added excitedly, already imagining all the fish they could buy with the saved money.
"Sorry," Shisui said, watching their expressions fall. "I already accepted the mission officially. The payment's been processed."
Both exceeds deflated like punctured balloons, and Shisui shook his head at their dramatic reactions before focusing on the Dragon Slayers. "So, shall we begin?"
.
.
.
The next three days were hell for Sting and Rogue, though Shisui, Lector, and Frosch seemed to be having a great time. Shisui put them through training exercises he'd learned in his previous life. More specifically, ANBU conditioning that pushed the body and mind to their limits.
The first exercise had them balancing on one foot at the tip of a tree for hours. Every time they wobbled or had to put their other foot down, they had to start over. Sting fell twelve times in the first hour alone.
The second day brought the blindfold training. Shisui had them dodge rocks while unable to see, forcing them to rely on their other senses. Lector and Frosch had volunteered enthusiastically to throw the rocks, taking perhaps too much joy in pelting their partners.
"This is for making us wait three days!" Lector shouted, winding up for another throw.
"Fro thinks so too!" Frosch added, though his throws were considerably gentler than Lector's.
The exceeds' fun ended when Shisui made them join the training too. Suddenly they weren't so eager to throw rocks anymore. Between exercises, Shisui would heal their bruises and exhaustion with what looked like healing magic but was actually medical ninjutsu.
On the final day, Shisui let them rest through the morning. They needed it after what he'd put them through. But as midday approached, he gathered them for one last test.
"The Bell Test." he announced, holding up a single silver bell. "The rules are simple. To pass individually, you need to get this bell from me."
Rogue's eyes narrowed as he processed the words. "You said 'individually' but you're only holding one bell."
"That's right," Shisui confirmed.
"So only one of us can pass?"
"Exactly. Whoever doesn't get the bell fails, and the loser won't receive any advice from me after the training is over."
The weight of that statement hit both Dragon Slayers hard. The training had been brutal, but they could feel the results. They were faster, more aware, and their reactions were sharper. Whatever advice Shisui had to offer would be invaluable.
"You have one hour," Shisui continued. "I'll give you ten minutes to prepare. Oh, and one more thing."
His expression grew serious. "If you want to take this bell from me, come at me with the intention to kill."
He vanished in a burst of speed, leaving the four of them standing in stunned silence. Sting's face twisted in anger, his fist clenching hard enough to make his knuckles crack.
"Don't underestimate me!" he shouted at the empty air where Shisui had been standing.
.
.
.
Fifteen minutes had passed since Shisui left them to prepare, and he stood motionless in a small clearing, waiting. He'd picked this spot deliberately since it was open enough for combat but with trees on all sides where either Dragon Slayer might try to hide and plan.
He hoped they'd work together. The whole point of the bell test was teamwork, after all. But judging by the look on Sting's face earlier, that angry determination mixed with pride, Shisui doubted they'd figure it out right away. Pride had a way of making people stupid, especially young Dragon Slayers who thought they had something to prove.
He didn't have to wait long. The attack came from his left as a bright blast of holy light tore through the trees.
White Dragon's Roar!
Shisui stepped forward, letting the attack pass behind him. The magical energy scorched the ground where he'd been standing, but he was already turning to face Sting, who emerged from the forest with confidence written all over his face.
"That certainly was a unique plan." Shisui commented mildly. "Coming straight out with an attack like that instead of waiting for the right moment."
Sting strode into the clearing, squaring up against Shisui. "Subtlety isn't my specialty."
"I noticed. Where's Rogue?"
The question hit a nerve. Sting's jaw tightened, taking it exactly as Shisui intended, like he was saying Sting alone wasn't enough. Instead of answering, Sting lunged forward, his fist glowing with white light.
White Dragon's Fist!
Shisui leaned back, letting the attack whistle past his face. Sting followed up with a kick, then another punch, then a sweeping strike with his light-covered arm. Each attack was powerful and would have dropped most mages instantly, but Shisui moved around them almost too easily.
For ten minutes they danced this same dance. Sting attacking with increasing desperation, Shisui evading without even seeming to try very hard. The White Dragon Slayer's breathing grew heavier as his attack got sloppier.
"Stop moving!" Sting finally shouted in frustration.
Shisui actually laughed at that. "Oh sure, because telling your opponent to stop moving always works. I'll just stand still and let you hit me."
As if to prove his point, Shisui stopped moving and stood still. The taunt pushed Sting over the edge. He jumped back, gathering magical energy for something bigger. "Fine! Let's see you dodge this!"
White Dragon's Holy Nova!
Sting darted swiftly toward Shisui to unleash the full force of his magic attack. Luckily for him, his fist made contact as an explosion of light covered the area. When it cleared, Sting's fist rested on Shisui's chest as Shisui stood standing, unharmed by the attack at all. Shisui smirked, knowing that it would irritate Sting even more after knowing that even a direct hit would amount to nothing.
"Well, I'll go look for Rogue now." And just like that, Shisui was gone.
"Damn it," Sting muttered, scanning the area. He'd lost sight of his target completely.
Meanwhile, Shisui had reappeared silently behind a thick cluster of bushes several hundred feet away, where Rogue crouched in the shadows. The Shadow Dragon Slayer was so focused on trying to formulate a plan that he didn't notice Shisui's presence until the older mage spoke.
"So, are you going to help him or are you just going to squat behind this bush and watch?"
Rogue nearly jumped out of his skin, spinning around to face Shisui. He'd been completely unaware anyone was there.
"Sting decided that if we couldn't get the bell ourselves, then we weren't worthy of receiving advice from you," Rogue said, regaining his composure.
"And you agreed to this?" Shisui asked curiously.
Rogue hesitated for a moment before replying. "Sting can take care of himself."
The disappointment that flashed across Shisui's face was unmistakable. It made Rogue feel small somehow, like he'd failed a test he didn't know he was taking. Before he could say anything else, Shisui's eyes changed. The black becoming red with strange spinning patterns.
Rogue didn't understand what was happening. One moment he was looking at those strange eyes, the next Shisui's foot connected with his chest, sending him flying backward through the bushes. He hit the ground hard, rolling several times before coming to a stop in what looked like the same clearing where Sting had been fighting.
As he pushed himself to his feet, his blood ran cold. Sting was lying on the ground, unconscious and covered in bruises. Blood trickled from a split lip, one eye was swollen shut, and his arm bent at an angle that didn't look natural.
"No," Rogue breathed, his eyes going pale. "This can't be happening."
Sting was strong, stronger than almost anyone Rogue knew. How could he be beaten this badly?
Shisui walked into the clearing, his footsteps casual and unhurried. "You said Sting could take care of himself. Is this what you meant?"
Rogue couldn't answer. He was frozen, staring at his best friend's broken form. Tears started forming in his eyes without him realizing it.
Back in reality, Sting had heard the commotion and came running. He found Rogue standing still in the clearing, tears streaming down his face while Shisui stood nearby. Something was clearly wrong.
"Get away from him!" Sting roared, charging at Shisui once again with everything he had.
Shisui jumped back, creating distance between them. Sting grabbed Rogue by the shoulders, shaking him slightly. "Hey! Rogue! What's wrong?"
The physical contact and shaking snapped Rogue out of the illusion. He blinked, confused, looking at Sting who was very much not unconscious and beaten. "But... I saw... you were unconscious. Beaten. There was blood and..."
"What are you even saying?" Sting asked confusedly.
Rogue's mind raced, putting the pieces together. The strange eyes, the sudden shift in reality, the impossible defeat.
"Illusions..." he breathed, understanding dawning on him.
Shisui clapped slowly, mockingly. "Very good, you figured it out. None of it was real."
"You bastard," Sting started, but Shisui cut him off.
"Are you two going to stop playing around and actually get serious? Or should I just take my bell and leave?"
Something in his tone, that dismissive confidence, sparked something in both Dragon Slayers. But it was Sting who surprised everyone by speaking first.
"Rogue," he said quietly, not taking his eyes off Shisui. "I think... I might need your help."
Rogue's eyes widened. Sting never asked for help and never admitted he couldn't handle something alone. But here he was, swallowing his pride for the sake of the mission.
A small smile crossed Rogue's face. "If we're going to lose anyway, we might as well lose together."
"Who said anything about losing?" Sting grinned back, and for the first time since the test started, they moved as one.
The next thirty minutes were completely different from the previous fight. Where Sting had been reckless and aggressive alone, with Rogue he became focused and strategic. They coordinated their attacks as Sting's light created openings that Rogue's shadows exploited, and Rogue's shadow movement setting up Sting's power strikes.
Twin Dragon's Roar!
They shouted in unison, light and shadow spiralling together in a devastating combined attack.
Shisui had to actually put some effort into defending that one.
But thirty minutes wasn't enough to overcome the gap in their abilities. When the hour ended, both Dragon Slayers were on the ground, exhausted and defeated. They'd given everything they had, pushed themselves beyond their limits, and still hadn't managed to get the bell.
Shisui stood over them, not even breathing hard. There wasn't a scratch on him and his clothes weren't even dusty.
"That's an hour gone." He stated simply.
Sting and Rogue exchanged glances. They'd failed, but somehow it didn't feel as bad as they'd expected. They'd fought together, given their all together, and if they had to fail, at least they'd done it as partners.
Which is why they were completely shocked when Shisui suddenly said, "You both pass."
"What?" They said in unison, struggling to sit up.
"The point of the test wasn't to get the bell," Shisui explained, offering them each a hand up. "It was to work together to try to get it. One person can fight to become stronger. There's nothing wrong with that and there is no shame in it. But your power is amplified when you have others who can stand beside you and fight with you."
He helped them to their feet, then continued. "Never forget that there are others around you who can help you, but who also need help from you. And never let the greed for power overshadow the bonds you share with others. Because standing alone at the top?"
He shook his head. "It's lonely."
Lector and Frosch, who had been watching from a safe distance, came running over. They'd understood the lesson too, in their own way.
"That's my advice to all of you," Shisui said, including the exceeds in his words. "Remember it."
With that, he turned to leave. The training mission was complete, but as he walked away, Sting's voice rang out across the clearing.
"Shisui-san! Someday, we will stand at the top with you! So wait for us!"
Shisui paused mid-step. The declaration was earnest, full of the determination that would one day make Sting and Rogue two of Fiore's strongest mages. He didn't turn around, but they could hear the smile in his voice when he answered.
"I'll be waiting."
Then he was gone, leaving two tired but determined mages and two exceeds behind. They had a long way to go, but at least now they knew they'd walk that path together.
~ End of Omake Chapter 2 ~
A/N: That's why we now have a very different Sting in this story! Hope you guys enjoyed the influence Shisui's been having so far