"I swear I'll get them back for this." A furious Gray said while making a big crack on the wall, of the hallway, with his punch.

"Let's take a look at the battle part's system…" Announced Mato. "Each team will be paired up just like a tournament. The matchups were decided by the organizers. The first match of day one! Fairy Tail A's Lucy Heartfilia vs. Raven Tail's Flare Corona"

The members of her team cheered the blonde mage and Natsu pulled her into a quick hug trying to calm her nerves and whispered something in her ear. This action didn't pass unnoticed by the cameras and soon Jenny Realight was discussing with Yajima-san about the act of love from Natsu. Lucy pull off the hug and said "Leave it to me, I'll definitely win" with the most determined look she could give and then head off to the hallway were she found a devastated and angry Gray sitting alone with his back on the wall and his arms crossed over his chest . When she went close to him, he said:

"Lucy, please, be careful. I don't want you to get hurt. You know I think of you as my little sister, so please be extremely careful against that red head when kicking her ass." As soon as he finished he hugged her and placed a kiss on the top of her head. Lucy hugged him back placing her head on his chest. Two minutes passed and then Lucy heard her name being announced and headed to the stadium.

While heading in the middle of the tournament ground Flare looked at her and with a sadistic smile planted on her face greeted Lucy as "Blondie". Lucy looked at her comrades and saw Natsu giving her thumps up. Erza had a reassuring look and Elfman was saying something about Lucy being a man earning a scold from Titania that she is a girl.

The battle starts, and Lucy immediately summons Taurus to attack Flare. The latter dodges, but Lucy then summons Scorpio, and the two Spirits combine their attacks and sent the other mage flying. While in midair, Flare uses Hair Shower: Wolf Fang, sending a wolf to attack Lucy, but she summons Cancer, who effortlessly cuts it down. Flare then sends her hair underground and makes it appear right under Lucy, grabbing her feet and pulling her into the air and burns her boots.

"Lucy!" A worried Natsu yelled as he saw the Blonde mage being crushed on the floor.

Immediately the said person grabbed her Fleuve d' Etoiles and with a single move Flares hand was trapped at the whip. The two then pulled and send each other spinning in the air, and then fall. In the middle of the tournament ground Lucy saw her destroyed boots and burned legs. She felt acute pain shot threw her knee which was burnt more but continued. In front of her a very pissed of Flare pierced deep into the ground making Lucy wonder where she will attack from but the red head mage points at the audience. A lock of her hair has sneaked behind Asuka and is about to attack her. As soon as Lucy saw it, she called Asukas name but Flare attacked her and prevented her from talking anymore. Nobody could hear what the blonde mage said except from a specific Fire Dragon Slayer who started running towards Asuka. Meanwhile Flare has begun torturing her opponent and Lucy attempts to give up, but the Raven Tail mage once again stops her. Then she decides to burn Raven Tail's mark to the exact same spot that Lucy's Fairy Tail mark is located.

Natsu run faster when he heard what the Raven Tail wizard was planning to do. Instantly he jumps at his guild balcony and grabs the lock of hair and burns it. Everybody shocked realized why Lucy could not fight back. Taking advantage of the chance Natsu gave her, Lucy quickly summoned Gemini.

"Gemini." The Celestial mage screamed and the two little spirits appeared hitting Flare and cutting her hair.

"Ahh..." The other mage screamed while hitting the floor.

"'That' we're going to do it!" Lucy said, while getting up from the floor only to meet an acute pain on her left knee. She gritted her teeth and look at her spirits.

"We still haven't practiced enough." Said Gemi

"We don't know whether we can do it." Said Mini

"In any case change into me!" Commanded the blonde mage her spirits

"Understood!" They answer and transformed into their master.

"Why are you dressed like that?" A shocked blonde mage questioned when she saw that her spirit was just cover with a towel.

"We can't help it. This is how you were dressed when we copied you." Answered Gemini

"That doesn't matter now… Come let's start." The mage said. Gemini nodded in agreement. Lucy and her spirit began summoning Magic Power around them. Somewhere in the guilds balcony you could see a salmon haired mage filled with rage at the looks the other males gave her.

"Survey the Heavens,

Open the Heavens...

All the stars, far and wide...

Show me thy appearance...

With such shine.

Oh Tetrabiblos...

I am the ruler of the stars...

Aspect becomes complete...

Open thy malevolent gate.

Oh 88 Stars of the heaven...

Shine! Urano Metria!"

The stadium was filled with stars; it was like they were floating in space. Colorful planets and lights all began attacking Flare but suddenly every think disappear and went back to normal. Lucy fell on the ground crying. The spectators started mocking her and Mato announced Flares win.

Lucy's POV

I lost. How? Every think was fine. I practiced so many times. Why can't I stop my tears? Am I so weak? My feet hurt. Where is my family? I saw Natsu standing in front of me and gave me a hug.

"Don't cry Luce." He told me reassuringly

"But I can't accept it." I managed to say between sobs.

"Save the tears for when we win the games. You were terrific! Thanks to you we realized that we could fight in this world. Zero points? That makes things interesting right? We'll turn the tube now." He said while giving me his signature toothy grin.

"Yeah! I'm all fired up!" I said while trying to smile. Natsu then picked me up bridal style. I could feel my cheeks getting redder and then I looked at him, he saw me and turned and gave me his characteristic smile. Then for the second time that day all the cameras were turned to me and Natsu. I felt embarrassed and put my head on his chest trying to cover my blush. Then Natsu told me that he was going to take me to the infirmary for a check-up.

When we arrived at the infirmary he laid me down on the bed and then Porlyusica came for a checkup. I had one first degree burn at my right ankle and one second degree at my left knee because it wasn't covered from the boot like the other.

"I suggest you take a bath and then I will apply some ointments that will provide some relief and also drink this it will help with the pain." The healer told me while handing me a little bottle with a pinkish fluid in it. I drank it and immediately the pain became better. "Also, I believe that you can leave. I will take care of her and she should be fine afterwards." She instructed Natsu who eyed me worriedly and then bombarded me with questions.

"Do you want me to leave? Are you in pain? How do you feel? Can I do something for you?"

"Natsu don't worry I'm fine I will take a bath and then head back to the hotel. Go at the balcony and enjoy the games. I'm sure that the others are worried for me as well." I told him and gave him a reassuring smile but on the inside I wanted him to leave so I could finally cry without worrying him.

"I will leave but if you need anything tell me, ok? In the afternoon Erza said that we will go at a bar Cana is right now. Rest and then pay a visit. If you don't come I will come and drag you out of the hotel, ok?" He told me and kissed me on the lips. When he left I went to the bathroom and started crying not caring if Porlyusica had something else to tell me.

Nobody's POV

The fire mage arrived at his team's balcony. His friends asked him about Lucy's condition and he said that she was fine and that she would take a bath and also that he might go and take a look again, but Elfman told him that he can't go now. He thought for a moment why and then an image of Lucy and him taking a shower together popped in his mind. He told himself that it was a bad idea because he knew Lucy wanted to be alone at the moment but nevertheless he turned to go back at his mate but he was held by Erza who suggested watching the others games as well. The games continued. Ren from Blue Pegasus won against Arianna from Mermaid Heel and Orga Nanagear from Sabertooth won against Warcry from Quatro Cerberus. The last match was Jellal dressed as Mystogun against Jura from Lamia Scale. This was an intense battle and Jellal chose to use his Heavenly Body magic. Jura realizes that if the spell is activated he will be badly beaten that's why he surrenders. Fairy Tail exploded in cheers for the first ten points they earned. The two opponents went back to their teams and then a big screen with the rankings of the teams was displayed.

Sabertooth 20 points

Raven Tail 18 points

Blue Pegasus 14 points

Fairy Tail B 11 points

Lamia Scale 6 points

Mermaid Heel 3 points

Quatro Cerberus 2 points

Fairy Tail A 0 points

People started leaving the stadium and the Fairy Tail members went at a bar they found the other day. Cana was scolding her nakama. Makarov suggested celebrating and everyone was determined to beat their opponents tomorrow. Levy then pointed out that Lucy and Gray were absent and Macao and Wakaba said that they might feel ashamed because they lost in a bad way. Back at the hotel Gray and Lucy were on their teams room both upset about their battles. Gray turned to leave saying that they should also go at the bar. He then felt a tug on his shirt and Lucy told him not to leave.

"I'm sorry for not being able to pay back for what they did." She said and tears started trickle down her cheeks.

"Lucy; don't worry. They cheated. You were going to win but they canceled your magic. I'm also really upset for not being able to win but we should stay strong for our nakama. This guild has targeted us and I'm sure they will make our life worse during the games. We just have to prove them that Fairy Tail is not a guild to mess up with." He said while hugging her and making soothing circles on her back with his hand and stroking her hair with the other. Her tears where breaking his heart because she was like his a little sister. He knew how she felt.

"Gray how do you feel?" The blonde mage asked between her sobs.

"Lucy to tell you the truth I feel awful for losing at a man like him. He only targeted me and then when I heard that you were fighting against one of his guild mates I wanted to keep you inside the stadium to prevent you from getting hurt. I told you that you are like my little sister and I couldn't sand seeing you in pain. When that redhead witch was torturing you I wanted to jump on the stadium and kill her but then Natsu saw that she was threatening Asuka and you stood up again and kept on fighting, I was relieved. Then you casted the spell and I felt excited that you will kick her ass. All this was replaced by anger when you were on the floor and she was smirking and making fun of you. But when Natsu came and told you that you should keep your tears for when we win, I thought that for once he was right. We should give our best and fight. When we win you can cry again ok? For now don't stain that beautiful face of yours with tears." He said. Lucy was calmer now and stopped crying. They stayed in each other's embrace for a little longer and then Lucy pulled away. She had a small smile on her face.

"You're right Gray. Thank you for comforting me. I also think of you as a brother. I think we should go to the bar now." She said calmly.

"That would be a great idea but first you should go and wash your face we don't want anybody to see that you were crying." He responded. Lucy nodded and went to the bathroom and washed her face. Then she and Gray went to the bar.

When they arrived they heard Juvia's suspicions of what they were possibly doing alone in the room. Lucy sighed defeated; this woman's imagination was always very vivid. After their friends made sure that both mage were ok with their battles, Makarov jumped on a table and said that today's failure will only be the mother of tomorrows victory and he encouraged his brats to give their best because there was no give up in their dictionary. Everybody was cheering and Natsu was holding Lucy close with an arm on her shoulders he then leaned and whispered seductively in her ear: "You know Lucy, I think I should punish you for being alone in a hotel room with another man especially with a striper like Gray." Lucy blushed and went to the bar with him to eat something while Happy was already munching a fish. Later that night the bar was full of sleeping or drunken members that hadn't passed out yet. Not everyone was there though; a blonde celestial mage and a pink haired Dragon slayer were missing.

At the hotel Natsu and Lucy were cuddling on her bed. She had her head on his chest and her left arm on top of his torso. He had his right arm on her waist holding her tight against him, with the other arm he hold the arm that was on top of his torso. Lucy's burnt knee rested on top of his carefully not to touch the burnt spot. They sat there quietly. Both of them longed for moments like this. Nobody would interrupt them. They hadn't to pretend that they weren't on a relationship. They liked cuddling like this. Happy had already fallen asleep on the pillow next to Lucy.

"Lucy, there is something I wanted to ask you before we were frozen on Tenrojima."

"Hmm?" She only responded because she was fully relaxed on his embrace.

"I want to tell our nakama about our relationship. I know that we weren't able to announce it because of all the things that happened but I want to shout it for the whole world to know. I don't want only your spirits and Happy to know."

"I also want that but why not telling them after the games it's not like their reaction will not be the same if we tell them now or next week."

"Then how about making a bet?" He said

"What kind of bet?"

"If I win at least two points at the next game we are going to the day after tomorrow. If I don't we are going to announce it next week." He suggested

"Okay, why not? But you will have to participate in whatever kind of game it is."

"Challenge accepted. I'm all fired up." Natsu yelled happily. "I can't wait to win tomorrow!" He said and then kissed her putting every emotion he held on that kiss. They parted and sleep soon enveloped them not worrying if anybody saw them.