Chapter 1: Dawn
"This is it." The raven haired S class Mage spoke, standing before a plethora of familiar faces. A small smile of content, sprinkled with pride and happiness dawned his features as he addressed his familiars. Together, they all stood around him in a tightened circle, all holding positive or determined expressions of their own. Removing his hands from his pockets, Reve Volver of White Eclipse would continue on. "After all we've been through, this is it. We made a deal, a promise, that today would mark the day we decide who is king. After this, there's no more back and forth between Fairy Tail and White Eclipse.. After all we've been through. This rivalry has escalated beyond anything I could ever imagine, and it's been an exhilarating ride the entire time."
He scanned the circle, noticing that the looks upon his guild mates faces have yet to change; a good sign. With their attention still fully in his grasp, Reve's speech took a turn no one was used to, but this time, it was expected. "When we became known, everyone looked down upon us because our entire existence as a guild was being held up by the foundation of competition. They said you couldn't form a guild with such a foundation, but we proved them wrong! They said that you can't form a family if all you care about it being the best, but we proved that wrong too! We're nothing but a family with the same burning desire to be the greatest mages in Earthland! We've ran beside each other since day one, all while trying to outrun the competition in this race to become the greats!" The more the charismatic, influential gunslinger spoke, the more anxious and excited the crowd of Eclipse Mages became. Grins and smiles continued to widen with each passing second, ready to go. "But, and as I hate to admit it, Fairy Tail has been running with us the entire time as well. We've been neck and neck since the day we met...From the Grand Magic Games.." Takeru, the Shadow Dragon Slayer began to quietly seethe just from the mention of the games; the place where he failed to defeat Natsu when he and The Salamander were the last two remaining. His demeanor change only caused grins of relation from the others around him. It was the reason they were here today. "...To the battle against Tartaros, and even the Spriggan — to Zeref and Acnologia himself...and even the huge war between the other countries. It's true that we started this rivalry between ourselves and Fairy Tail, but today, we'll also end it with us on top!"
Immediately everyone began cheering, getting pumped for the upcoming event between the two guilds. Smiling, Reve then held up his arms to regain attention as he continued on. "I just want to finish by saying...you guys truly are family, so don't let anyone from any other guild try to take that away from you. We've done it all together, good or bad. Human, demon, or dragon...we all share the same symbol that connects us together. People have come and gone at this guild, but those in front of me, are truly the family that I couldn't have asked for. And though some are missing...they'll always be in our hearts. We do this for them! We do this for the guild you're standing in right now! We do this for the old man! Most importantly, we do this for each other! Now one more time! Let me hear you at the top of your lungs everyone! IT'S WHITE ECLIPSE..."
In unison, even those you usually don't participate in shouting the motto belched it out, causing a rumbling in the guild as they all cheered their loudest, screaming "...OR SECOND PLACE!" As Calium stood to the side with a smile on his face, he watched his children prepare for their final fights. The rambling with each other out the guild master at ease as he continued observing. "Good luck, my children. This is the path you've chosen, and it seems you've picked the right one. Like Reve said, you and Fairy Tail have been beside each other since the beginning. But now..it's time for one of you to pull away from the other. I wish you all the best of luck, but it'll be your will and determination that'll decide who'll be the last one standing. Oi...to think me, a man who just wanted to be alone until he died, would become a guild master of one of Earthland's strongest guilds..." He chuckled to himself. "Fate has one crazy sense of humor."
"Master!" Selene, the dark turquoise haired Diamond Dragon Slayer grabbed Calium's attention. The guild master then turned his sights back to a bunch of smiling mages. "It's time! You ready?!"
Staring for a bit longer, Calium then nodded. "I am. Let's go end this once and for all. White Eclipse, you have my permission...
..to go all out."
White Eclipse: LETS GO!
"Phantom Lord, Grimoire Heart, Sabertooth before they became our allies. These guilds combined still haven't given us as much trouble as who we're facing off with today." Makarov spoke, eyes closed as he stood upon one of the support beams just below the roof of the guild. Beneath him, every Fairy Tail Mage, and even one Jellal Fernandes stood, watching the guild master as he continued on. "At the same time, they were amazing allies when our backs were against the wall, though their help came from their own want of personal gain or survival. This, at first, put me in a conundrum. It made me think, maybe they just want to be the best guild, is that so bad? The answer is YES!" He shouted, clenching a right fist tightly. It caused Natsu and Gray to grin near maliciously. "Yes, because on their journey to become the best, they've spat on our names countlessly! They think they've made a noble climb, but not in our eyes! They've tried to drag the Fairy Tail name through the mud one too many times! And now...now they wanted this end all fight to see who is the best guild in Fiore?! I say, BRING IT ON!" As he shouted, Makarov threw his right hand into the air, holding up the Fairy Tail sign as the others below him cheered as loud as they could, raising the same hand for the same sign as their master. "Nothing will be the same after this fight. This fight, will take you to the very brink... everything will be on the line here! Erza, Mira, Laxus, Gray, Natsu! Everyone! There's no holding back here! This will be the first, and last time that we go all out against another guild that doesn't have one of our own kidnapped, or has hurt any of our nakama! This fight here, is to finally rid ourselves of the thorns in our sides! This is to defeat White Eclipse once and for all, and to prove, that Fairy Tail is the greatest guild, in all of Fiore!"
Natsu then shouted with clenched fists, head back to the ceiling. "THEN WHAT'RE WE WAITING FOR! LETS BURN THEM TO ASH! I'M ALL FIRED UP!"
His exclamation brighter than Makarov's own speech, the guild began cheering again, twice as loud as Makarov smiled on. He then spoke once more. "Alright then, Fairy Tail! Let's move out, and meet our opponents!"
A large space of land between Magnolia and Crocus. That's where they met for their final showdown. Everything has led up to this and as Fairy Tail and White Eclipse stood upon opposite sides of that's great open space, countless of people, not only their guilds, but mages of other guilds have gathered, watching from a safe distance.
"I can barely see a thing." Sting of Sabertooth said. "Is this really the distance we have to watch from."
"Relax." Rogue interjected. "There'll be lacrima screens once they begin. But to answer your question, yes, this is as close as we can get without being in any potential crossfire.
"Whew! They're ants from back here!" Bacchus noted as he looked on, gourd in his right hand. "Turn them lacrima screens on already! The pre-fight is just as WILD as the real thing! I want it all!"
"COOL COOL COOOOOOL!" Jason exclaimed repeatedly, pumping his fists over and over. "A COOL final showdown and I get to cover it for Sorcerer Magazine! The Battle for Top Guild! That'll be its headline! No events! Just fights! SO COOOOOOL!"
As everyone looked on from miles away, the two teams stood face to face with each other as two lacrima screens indeed did appear behind each respective team. Glares exchanged, mixed with cockiness, determination, anxiousness, anger, and outright malice thickened the air between them. Nobody understood how important this was to the two guilds, but those who had an idea had the closest seats miles away as they waited for the party to start.
Fairy Tail Roster:
Erza Scarlet
Wendy Marvell
Gray Fullbuster
Gildarts Clive
Cana Alberona
Juvia Lockser
Laxus Dreyar
Natsu Dragneel
Elfman Strauss
Mirajane Strauss
Lucy Heartfilia
Freed Justine
Gajeel Redfox
Bickslow
Evergreen
Jellal Fernandes
Levy Mcgarden
White Eclipse Roster:
Reve Volver
Waiston Tunundra
Kuro Crane
Sidney Castle
Jack Royal
Heather Viperosso
Jaxon Meteoro
Takeru Tenebrae
Cygnus Gwydion
Selene Marquise
Luke Cloud
Skye Ravenwood
Adamantine
Kairi Ayres
Arcturus
Aira Aeolus
El Rayo
"Seventeen each." Ichiya let out a low whistle. "This will be a long parfum. Long, but exciting. I don't see a single slouch over there."
"Yeah, but I see a huge disadvantage when it comes to raw power for Fairy Tail." Kagura said, making presence known. "I'm glad they retrieved most of their nakama, but Adamantine and Arcturus...the Dragon and the Demon are competing. It's bad enough that their ace Sidney is there, but Adam and Arc are on the same level he is. Meanwhile, all Fairy Tail has that high is Gildarts, and I don't think he can beat all three. I'm not sure if he can even beat one.."
"Now now Kagura, let's not doubt Fairy Tail so quickly." Said Lyon, who was now seen standing with the rest of Lamia Scale. "They've had their back against the wall against greater deals."
"But who was always there to help them when they did?" A rhetorical question by Hibiki. He then continued, justifying his words. "I'm not rooting against anyone, because if it wasn't for White Eclipse as much as Fairy Tail, we wouldn't exist anymore. Despite whether they fought along side us for personal gain or not, it doesn't matter. They've saved us just as much as Fairy Tail, so I'm sure at least most of us can cheer this final fight on neutrally, yes?"
"Sounds like an idea." Bacchus added. "Hibiki's gotta point, so I'm gonna do the same! Them brats have saved our hides and been through it all, just like Fairy Tail, so I'm gonna watch like it's my first time meeting them both! That'll make it even more wild!" "Four!" Quatro Cerberus yelled in unison. Nearly everyone else nodded in agreement as the debate quickly subsided. Right on time too..
"Just for you slow in head Fairies, we'll go over the format and rules once more." Reve said, arms folded as he stood across from Erza, of course. He wasn't alone in that department however, a lot of the mages were already standing across from who they truly wanted to destroy whether Fairy Tail or White Eclipse initiating.
"A series of one on ones. No random drawings, and none of those Grand Magic Game events needed here. You step up to the plate when you want to, and judging by how everyone is standing, it seems most of you know who you want your opponent to be. The fight will go on until your opponent is unconscious, unable to continue, or forfeits. This will continue until one team is completely beaten, making the team still standing the winner. Any questions?"
Erza then raised her hand with a smug look. "When do I get to destroy you? Are you waiting for the end, or do you want to be embarrassed now?"
Reve immediately clenched his jaw. A surprising comment from Erza, but for what was at stake today, and against who it was, no one was surprised by it, giving what these two have been through against each other. Quickly regaining himself however, Reve chuckled as he ran his right hand through his black hair. "Have you been sniffing your boyfriend Ichiya's perfumes again? It seems you're hallucinating again, Erza. What you lovers do behind closed doors should be kept there, got it?"
It was now Erza with a glare, comical though as the dig on her featuring Ichiya was brought upon the Requip Mage. Her own hair shadowing over her eyes, she remained quiet for a bit as the others continued.
"So..." Calium spoke, breaking the silence with a smirk.
"Which two are up first?" No one moved, not from nervousness or fear, but from the anxiousness of wanting their opponent to step up first. Each side had the same idea, wanting their opponent to step forward so they could meet them in the middle to let them know that they were their opponent, and that they were going to dominate them. Luke and Lucy exchanged glares, fists tightening and loosening. Gray and Kuro did the same, matching grins as they waited for each other to make a move. Takeru and Natsu both bared their teeth in smirking fashion towards each other. Soon, the tension between the thirty four turned into an influx of rising magic, slowly shaking the area around them.
"And that's just from a standoff." Minerva chimed in to the quaking ground, grinning. "This will really be one for the ages."
The rumbling standoff continued until finally..
She stepped forward. The brunette took to the middle of the standoff, waiting for whoever would oppose her. Her golden hues looked down the row of Fairy Tail mages until one finally made a move. Green hair marched forward, hand held onto his sheathed blade as she did the same. The others then began backing away an incredible distance to give them room as Makarov then spoke.
"So starting us off, its Skye Ravenwood versus Freed Justine! Good luck to you both! You two can begin once we clear the area."
As the two teams gradually disappear from sight, Skye and Freed continued to glare towards one another.
"Our rivalry doesn't really go anywhere past our guilds dislike for each other." Freed stated. Skye, the usual happy-go-lucky swordsman, nodded with a stern visage as she gripped her standard sword tighter; the clanging causing Freed to become on guard and clenching his own blade just the same. "That's the only reason I need to not hesitate." She replied. With her right hand tightly wrapped around the hilt of her sword, her left hand dangled to the ground. As it hung, blue lightning began to surge from her fingertips. Freed furrowed his brows as his left fingertips began to glow a purple hue, ready to write his runes at a moment's notice.
It was dawn. It was time. The battle between Fairy Tail and White Eclipse began as one anxious gunslinger roared at the top of his lungs.
"LEEEEETS GET IT OOOOOON!"
