"Tadaima!" I yelled as I opened the front door.

"Jeanne-nee!" a voice called out. Aubin, my fifteen-year-old brother, ran up to me, waving a flyer wildly in the air. "Check this out!"

I stared at his beaming face a moment, before I raised a fist, and knocked his head. "The proper way to greet someone's arrival is, 'Okaeri!'" Come on, this was my brother; there was no way I was going to accept his rudeness.

"Ouch! Come on, Jeanne-nee, really?" he whined. "You're going to make me do the Japanese thing? Especially when I'm so excited to show you something? That's a bit cruel..."

Okay, maybe for now I could let it slide. After all, he is my brother, and - attends une minute.

"Aubin! Keep your Silver Tongue behind your teeth!" I started chasing him around the apartment. Bellamy, my brother of sixteen, looked up from his sketching to watch us with amusement.

Bellamy and Aubin had moved in with Rita and me only last week. I don't know if it was because our parents finally kicked them out, or if they were embarrassed that their little sister was making her own way at thirteen. Probably more so the latter. Either way, it was extremely helpful, since a four way split on the apartment payments was easier on our wallets than halving.

Bellamy was dark, tall, thin, and quiet. He never spoke if he could help it; he thought the world was loud enough. And when he did speak without being prompted, it was usually to give news, or advice. He was great listener, though. He was among the first to learn about my Montage View, and consequently, a few secrets as well. However, I'd be willing to bet that he had forgotten most of what I had told him. It had been years, after all, since I had confided in him. He never learned any magic. Instead, he studied arts. Which is why he was amazing at drawing and painting. His current passion was sculpting, though he was still in the learning stages. However, he was becoming a bit scary with the small knife he used to chip clay away. He sold some of his paintings and sketches in the morning markets, and already had at least one commission.

Aubin, though, was his older brother's opposite. He was a little short for his age, and rather burly, though not muscular at all. And he was pale, the kind of skin tone that burned easily, with hair that matched my own light brown. And while Bellamy was mostly silent, Aubin never shut up. He had such a way with other people, too. He was the kind of guy who could strike up a conversation with nearly anyone. I bet if he really tried, he could get Gajeel to tell him his life story. So, it's really no surprise that he learned the powers of Silver Tongue. It's not a battle magic; it was more for entertainment. He could often be found in the library, reading aloud to kids. When he spoke, he could bring feelings into people. Like a love story that would give you the courage to confess to your crush; or a horror that would send you running for the church; or maybe a battle saga to get you all revved up for a fight. And little feelings of guilt to get you to feel sorry for him.

Hence the reason I was chasing him.

"Ça va, ça va! Pardon!" he cried, but if that grin on his face meant anything, he wasn't. "But seriously, Jeanne-nee, check it out!"

I quickly glanced at the flyer he held out. "It's a flyer for Fairy Tail's beauty pageant, so what?" I narrowed my eyes at him. "I still don't think Maman will be okay with you-"

"Did you see the reward?" Aubin interrupted.

"...Oh mes dieux, that's a lot!"

"Isn't it? You should totally sign up!"

At that, I stared at him in disbelief. "Aubin. From everything you know about me, what makes you think I'd be okay with that?!"

"Um, the part of you that insists on going to red-tag sales and glares at Bella-nii every time he gets new charcoal sticks?"

"Hey, I've a legitimate reason to worry about it. If he keeps splurging, he's gonna be short on dues day. Sorry, Bay, but it's true," I added, looking towards him.

He rolled his eyes with a shrug, and waved my apology away.

"Come on, Jeanne-nee, it's five hundred thousand Jewels! This could set us up for months!" Aubin insisted.

"Not gonna happen! Do you even know who I'd be up against? Mira, Erza, Cana, and oh my gosh, probably Lucy, too...! Non, absolument pas," I finished, handing him the paper back.

"Oh, come on, you're just as pretty as the rest of them," my brother said.

"Watch your tongue," I warned.

"I am, Jeanne-nee. I'm serious, in looks, you're pretty decent."

I smiled. "Well, thanks for saying so, but compared to most, if not all, I'm nothing. Besides," I added, "there would still be a matter of me getting up on stage. Think about it, Aubin. If Erza and Mira are going to be there, so are hundreds of pervs. I don't really wanna be stared at. And... what would I do for the talent show? Show off my lack of skill with my bow?"

Aubin thought a bit. "You could sing! You're good enough at that."

"Haha, and what do you think Mirajane is going to do? Face it, frérot, I can't do anything that would get us this reward. And even if you do end up thinking of something," I quickly added as he opened his mouth, "you would still be very hard-pressed to actually get me onstage."

"But..."

Sigh.

We both looked at Bellamy, who gave Aubin a look that clearly said, 'Laisse tomber, she's not budging.'

"Thank you, Bay," I said to my quiet brother. "Now that that is settled, what's for dinner?"

"Rita's bringing something," Aubin grumbled, looking thoroughly put out.

I smiled at my little brother, and gave him a quick one-armed hug. "Come on, Aubin, we're not that desperate for money now that you and Bellamy are here. It's more of a force of habit that I do the whole penny-pinching thing, anyway. So, I'll treat you, Bay, and Rita to a whole bunch of booths after the parade, ça va?"

"Which you're still gonna watch with us, right?" Rita asked, entering the room with some large paper bags.

"Okaeri, Rita!" I said.

"No, Jeanne-nee," she said flatly. "Just 'cause your guild does it, doesn't mean you can force us to."

I shrugged. "D'accord."

"Quoi?!" Aubin yelled.

WWW

The day of the festival was crazy! So many people from all around the continent were swarming within Magnolia, going from booth to booth, eating our food, playing our games. And the guild itself was filled to the point of bursting at the seams! People came in early to get really good seats for the Miss Fairy Tail contest.

Les pervertis.

I was just outside the guild, trying to get some last minute adjustments made on various floats and carts. There was no way I was going to let anything go wrong with this parade, not when I had some quality family time riding on it.

Clickclickclickclick.

I turned around just in time to see Lucy running past.

"My rent, my rent, my rent!" she was chanting. The pageant must have been starting soon. She quickly dashed inside the guild.

I made my own way inside, and moved towards the stage. Not super close, nor so near the front. I just wanted to be able to see them all, so I just leaned on a pillar to the left, outside the crowd.

"I knew you couldn't stay away," a familiar voice said in my ear. Using my peripheral vision, I saw Aubin looking up at the stage in anticipation. I frowned in slight disapproval.

"It's in my guild, of course I'll support it. Besides, I'll admit, I'm curious as to who, besides Lucy, would be so desperate for money they'll let drunkards ogle them. Does Maman know you're here?"

"Papa said it'd be fine."

"That's not what I asked…"

Suddenly, something bright green caught my eye. I whipped my head to the side, and saw Evergreen sneaking backstage.

"The Raijinshuu are back?"

"The what now?" asked my brother.

"Laxus's personal guard. Like he needs it... More like his useful fan-club. I just saw Evergreen head backstage."

Aubin frowned. "If she's part of Laxus's guard, she's gotta be crazy strong, right? Why would she need the money?"

I shrugged. "It's possible that she's really only doing it for the title. She's kind of obsessed with fairies and-"

"Shh! It's starting!" Aubin interrupted.

"People of Magnolia, people of nearby towns, and especially people from the underworld, be sure to head back to your graves when this is over!"

'Max, the sand wizard, is commentating? Well, I guess that makes sense.'

First up was Cana, who appealed to the crowd by concealing her body with cards, then reappearing in a swimsuit.

"I'll take that beer money, thanks," she said, seductively.

I glanced at Aubin, who was suddenly very red and seemed intent in finding anything but Cana very interesting. 'Aw, I knew my innocent brother was still there.'

"Come on, frérot, what were you expecting? Have you seen what these girls wear? This is why I said Maman wouldn't want you here."

"Tais-toi, I'm only here for one person, anyways."

I peered at him from the corner of my eye. 'Who could it be?'

Juvia was next, and she transformed her body into a huge tidal wave, before returning to normalcy... in a swimsuit.

"Gray-sama! Were you watching?" she cried.

"Aw, mignonne," I smiled.

Up next was Mira, who, judging by the roar she was received with, was the crowd favorite. But not Aubin's, apparently, because he didn't react any differently.

She might've botched it, though, with her head-only transformations. 'I mean, honestly, why did she think Happy and Gajeel were good choices?!'

"Look, Jeanne-nee, she didn't sing," Aubin pointed out.

I sent him a sidelong glance. "Still wouldn't have gone up there, frérot."

After Mira, Erza came flipping onto the stage, and requipped into a Goth Lolita outfit.

'...quoi?'

"That's, um, different," I said, trying really hard not to crack up.

After her, little Levy came skipping onstage. She was so adorable. It was no wonder Max called her the little fairy. She produced a bunch of pretty and cute words in thin air. Jet and Droy were going ballistic!

For some reason, though, I glanced at Gajeel. And he was looking really intently at her. And turning the tiniest, slightest shade of pink.

"Oh, I totally ship that," I said, not even bothering to cover up my grin.

Aubin snapped his head to look at where I was staring. "Really? Him? I don't think so, he doesn't seem her type."

I stared at him. "Really? And how would you know Levy's type?"

"She's a book-lover, right? Someone who thrives on stories. She... just might go for a guy who happens to like telling 'em."

"Oh, mes, dieux. You've been crushing on Levy?" I nearly squealed.

"Tais-toi," he growled.

Bisca was next, and she sashayed up in just a bikini. Probably why Max introduced her as the sexy sniper. I gotta admit, though, her skills were amazing. She shot four coins with one bullet. 'Maybe I should convince her to teach me. Magic guns can't be that different from magic crossbows.'

"Aren't you gonna say anything?" Aubin suddenly asked.

"Huh?" I turned to look at him.

He thumbed toward Alzack, who was very pink, and practically had hearts in his eye.

"Oh please, everyone knows that they like each other, except those two. They just have to confess to each other and be done with it."

"This upcoming star will sparkle with the guide of her Celestial Spirits! Lucy Heart-"

"Don't say my last name!" Lucy shrieked, running onstage with a look of fear.

"Wow, she's hot," Aubin whispered. I smacked his arm.

"She's a lady, and you will remember that."

"Why doesn't she want her name to be said?"

"She's a Heartphilia."

Aubin's eyes grew really wide. "Wow, you weren't kidding. That's freakin' elite! Why's she in this contest, then?"

"She ran away from home. She doesn't have a cent to her name anymore."

"Why on earth would you run away from that life?!"

I chuckled mirthlessly. "What life?"

He looked at me for a few seconds. "Oh. It was pretty bad, huh?"

I nodded silently. He understood.

"Entry number eight," a female voice announced. Lucy looked peeved that her...cheer? was interrupted. Max seemed upset that someone was stealing his announcing thunder.

"If you want a fairy, you want me. If you want beauty, you want me." Evergreen stepped out. "Yes, I am all you need. The winner is obviously me, Evergreen! This boring contest is now over!"

'Okay, wow. That's taking her fairy obsession a bit far. That was just rude. She could've at least let Lucy finish.'

"Hey, don't get in my way!" Lucy whispered maliciously, however, over the silence of the crowd, she was clearly heard. "My rent is riding on this, you know?"

"Lucy!" Gray called out. "Don't look into her eyes!"

I facepalmed. 'You never yell out "don't do something!" That person will do it!'

Evergreen lifted her glasses up. "What is with this brat?" she asked, looking straight at Lucy.

Lucy's face turned to shock as her body turned into stone.

Everyone started muttering.

"This is bad," Max muttered into the mic. "Everyone! Get out, quickly!"

Then, chaos. Everyone started screaming and racing to the door, trampling over everyone to escape.

"Jeanne-nee, let's go!" Aubin yelled.

I grabbed his arm. "Wait for the crowd to thin. You'll only get steamrolled if you go now."

"Aren't you coming?" he asked incredulously.

I shook my head. "This is Fairy Tail business. I'm staying. Besides, I gotta make sure that Fantasia will go off without a hitch. I'm sure we'll get this sorted out." After ensuring that he wouldn't be harmed, I released him, and he sprinted away.

"What are you doing, Evergreen?" Master yelled. "Are you trying to ruin the whole festival?"

Evergreen chuckled. "A festival needs entertainment, right?" she said as the curtain behind her rose. We all stared in horror as we saw all the the contestants frozen in stone.

I was shocked. There had to be something more here; even Evergreen wouldn't be so petty as to eliminate the competition just for a title, right?

"Evergreen-san," I cried out, "why would you do this?"

She looked at me over her fan. "Ara, did this little one not join the contest? Smart move," she chuckled, raising her glasses again. She lifted her fan, and sent a strong gust of wind my way. My bangs whipped around me, my feet stumbled, and my own glasses flew off my face.

"Jeanne-chan!" Master yelled, as well as others, but his voice was the loudest.

Regaining my balance, I glared back defiantly. If I was going to be stone, I wanted to look badass, not scared shitless like I was feeling. I stared straight at where her eyes would be, were my vision clearer, because otherwise, I'd lose myself in her aura of memories.

...If she had one.

The middle of her face glowed.

And nothing happened.

"What the hell?" I heard her mutter.

'My thoughts exactly… Where are your regrets?'

Before anything else occurred, though, a bolt of lightning came crashing onto the stage.

Once our sight returned, we saw Laxus sneering at us all. Well, I assumed that was what he was doing. I was busy looking for my glasses.

"Hello, Fairy Fails. This festival has only just begun!"

"Laxus?" Master gasped.

Gray made a noise of exclamation. "Freed? Bickslow?"

At that moment, I found my glasses near Gray and Elfman, and hastily put them on. I looked up.

The other two members of the Raijinshuu were staring at us from opposite ends of the balcony.

"Let's play a game, geezer!" Laxus said, with a crazed look in his eyes.

Master had a pissed off look in his. "Enough of this foolishness! We have to get ready for Fantasia! Return them to normal at once!"

"Fantasia is late at night," Laxus began. "If we hurry, people might get to see it."

Light began to glow above Lucy, and lightning crackled.

"Don't!" Master demanded.

At the same time, I cried, "Stop it!"

A bolt of electricity crashed mere feet away from Lucy. Everyone tensed. Was Laxus really willing to destroy them? Or was he bluffing?

"I'll take these girls as hostages," Laxus claimed, throwing an arm over Lucy's shoulders. "Violate the rules, and I'll destroy them, one by one."

I couldn't believe him. I didn't want to. He had to be bluffing! There was no way he'd kill his nakama! ...Right?

"I told you," he continued, "this is entertainment!"

'Entertainment, my ass. Innocent lives are not for anyone's entertainment!' What was he up to?

"There are things that can't be taken as a joke, Laxus!" Master yelled.

"Joke? I'm serious."

'Oh mes dieux. Really? He was truly willing to murder seven women?' I thought back to when he sent a bolt of lightning toward me and the Shadow Gear team a few days ago. At the time, I had thought he had only done it out of instinct, and anger. Was he actually fully aware of what he had done?

Freed jumped onto the stage. "Let's see who the strongest Fairy Tail member is," he said.

"It's time to play!" Bickslow laughed, landing next to Evergreen behind Laxus.

"Play! Play!" echoed his floating drums.

"The rules are simple," Laxus sneered. "The last one standing is the winner. The Battle of Fairy Tail starts now!"

Once again, I was shocked. I knew that Laxus had a thing for being the strongest guild. He made it no secret of his that anyone weaker than he was not worthy of his notice. But to have a competition where everyone battles it out against each other... This was ridiculous! Yes, we had brawls every now and then, but that was normal. Even in my family, we'd wrestle for the last piece of dinner. But this... this is…

"Fine by me!" a voice cried gleefully. I turned, as did many others, and saw Natsu standing up, looking at the group onstage with anticipation. "Easy to understand. I'm all fired up!"

"That spirit of yours is precisely what I'm looking for," Laxus chuckled.

"Natsu?" Master said.

"It's a festival, Gramps," Natsu replied, as if that explained everything. "Let's do this."

"Oi, have you forgotten how terribly Laxus beat you?" a voice said, nervously.

'Wait, when did Warren return?!' He has telepathy magic, so I always avoided him whenever I can. Nothing personal, I just didn't want him poking around in my head. I scooted a little bit further away from him.

"I was a kid back then," Natsu countered, still walking toward the stage.

'It was last year, tu imbécile! There is no way you can handle him yet!'

"It was last year!" Warren yelled, voicing my thoughts. I scooted even farther away.

"Last year I was a kid!" Natsu charged, fists flaming.

"But your lack of talent really annoys me," the Lightning Mage said, smirk never leaving his face. "So cool down." And he struck Natsu in midair. The dragon slayer fell to the ground in a crisp.

'"Cool down." Funny guy.'

"Aw, and he had only just recovered," Happy whined, flying over to his best friend.

"If you want these girls returned to normal," Evergreen said, "you must defeat us!"

"There's only four of us, and like a hundred of you, right? It's almost unfair!" Bickslow taunted.

"No fair! No fair!"

'Would Laxus think I was cheating if I shot those annoying things, now?'

"You've only three hours," Ever declared. "After that, I'm afraid they turn to dust."

"The battlefield is all of Magnolia," Laxus explained. "The battle begins once you find us."

'What is happening? Three hours to find and defeat four people? All of us against them? It's too simple. Laxus, what are you up to?'

"Laxus," Master growled. The he roared, "Stop this foolishness!" He began to tower over everyone in his anger, reaching the high ceiling.

"Hey, hey, I said cool down," Laxus said, in a condescending tone. The area around him and the Raijinshuu glowed and crackled with electricity. "It's entertainment for the festival. Let's have some fun." He began laughing as the stage grew so bright, we all had to look away. "Battle of Fairy Tail… begin!"

With a final flash, the stage only held the seven statues. Voices began floating over everyone in the guild.

"He disappeared."

'Bah oui, Capitaine Évident.'

"So we have to play hide-and-seek in Magnolia?"

'Well, that's one way of putting it.'

"Dammit!" Elfman cried. "We have to save Nee-chan and the others!" He bolted for the doors.

And that started a chain reaction. Everyone shook out of their stupor, and followed the manly mage, all shouting things like, "Get Laxus."

'Vous crétins. You're all gonna get creamed.'

I stayed put. For one thing, I never ran into fights I knew I couldn't win. Also, this required more thought.

Laxus wanted us to find him and his personal guard and fight them? And he was willing to have every single one of us come after him? No, even he would tire out after over a hundred people, no matter their strength, came to fight him. Of course, he might have the Raijinshuu thin the crowd a bit, but even then, that wouldn't quite get the job done. There was catch here, I just knew it.

"That fool…" a voice growled, shaking me out of my reverie. I looked up and saw that the guild was practically empty. Reedus was trembling behind a pillar, Natsu was still on the floor with Happy near his head, and Master was standing in front of the stage, fists shaking. Suddenly, he turned, his face a mask of rage. "I will stop those bastards!"

He ran at the entrance, his speed, as always, defying his age and size. And suddenly, he stopped. He just seemed to crash into something just before he could exit the building.

"Gramps!" Gray called, turning to check on our master.

"An invisible wall?" Master asked, straining against nothing.

"Don't be silly, there's nothing there!" Gray insisted. He lifted the Master, and tried pulling him through.

"Stop, stop!" I cried, racing to the pair. "You're gonna break something!" I reached them, and started pulling Gray's wrists away. I noticed that I, too, could exit the building, but I still felt a resistance from Master.

"What's going on?!" Gray demanded of me.

"How should I know?!" I yelled back. 'Oups. No, you're quiet, remember? You don't talk back, much less yell at your nakama.'

"What the-?" Gray looked up, near the top of the entrance. "What's this? Floating characters?"

I looked too, and saw purple words, in Runes, spelling something out. I could never understand those things. My little sister, Yvette, loved trying to translate them, and Aubin could read them very well, but I personally just saw scribbles.

"Freed's Runes?" Master gasped.

"Runes?" Gray asked, confused.

I had to hold back rolling my eyes. I had thought everyone knew about Runes! "It's an Establishment Magic. They're a type of barrier," I explained. "When someone steps within the boundaries of a Rune, they're bound to its rules. You can't get out unless you follow them to the letter."

Gray and Master stared at me. I shrugged. "My six-year-old sister has been trying to study them."

"What's written here?" Gray asked.

I looked to the Master. Like I had said, I only saw shapes, not words.

"'Those over the age of eighty or stone statues may not pass,'" Master read out.

Gray scoffed. "A magic where the guy who sets the rules wins?"

"It takes time to write out Runes," Master said. "It's not suited for sudden battle, but for setting traps, there's nothing better."

A thought struck me. What other Runes had Freed set up?

"Can you break it down, Gramps?"

I laughed derisively. "The rules of Runes are absolute! You'd need to be a genius with the written word to find a loophole." I probably shouldn't have laughed. Just because my sister knew of them, didn't mean everybody did. But, come on; if Master could have, wouldn't you think that he would have?!

"Tch. They never intended to let the old man out from the start," Gray muttered. He turned away from us. "I guess we'll have to deal with it ourselves."

"Gray!" Master called.

"I don't care if he's your grandson," the ice mage declared. "I ain't holding back. I'll kill him."

'Um, hello? We're over here! Talk to our faces! Et, attends, did you say kill?'

He ran off, and Master started slowly walking back, face full of thought. I could guess what he was thinking… Probably wondering if anyone besides him could really defeat his grandson.

"Aren't you going to run off, too, Jeanne-chan?" he quietly asked.

"And do what, Master?" I replied. "I know my limits. There is no way I'd ever be able to defeat the Raijinshuu, or Laxus. Besides," I added, "there's something more to this… I just don't know what."

"What do you mean?"

I bit my lip in thought. "Is Laxus really willing to take on anyone who comes at him? Sure, he's one of the strongest mages, but even he'd get tired after fighting so many people, even if he lets the Raijinshuu thin out everyone."

"Hmm," Master sighed. All of a sudden, he shouted, "Who's there?"

Reedus gasped, and jumped.

"Reedus?"

"I'm scared of Laxus," he explained, sounding ashamed of himself.

'That's nothing to be ashamed of. Anyone who is not is either ten times stronger, or just stupid.'

"It's fine, it's fine," Master comforted. "Instead, I'd like you to pay a visit to Porlyusica in the East Forest. She might have a cure for petrification."

"Oui!" Reedus cried, eager to be of help.

"AAAAH!"

"He's up!"

The three of us turned to the ruckus. Natsu was sitting up, looking around wildly.

"Where's Laxus?! And, wait! Everyone's gone!" He sprang up and sprinted toward us. "Gramps! Where did everybody get to?"

Master looked at Natsu in a calculating way. I guess he thought that maybe, just maybe, Natsu might be able to defeat Laxus. I was inclined to disagree. Natsu was strong, no doubt, but he has proven time and time again that Laxus was stronger. Unless, through some miracle, Natsu had a breakthrough of some sort, it wasn't gonna happen.

"Natsu! The festival has begun!" Maser barked. "Laxus is somewhere in Magnolia. Get out there and beat him!" He pointed to the doors.

"All right!" Natsu crowed, running towards the city.

I sighed and shook my head.

"Just you wait, Lax-augh!" He smashed into an invisible wall.

"WHAT?!" Reedus, Happy, Master and I all yelled.

"What is this?" Natsu groaned.

"Natsu!" Master gasped. "Are you over eighty? Are you a stone statue?"

"As if!" Natsu retorted.

This didn't make sense. He clearly wasn't either of those. So why couldn't he get through?!

I noticed more characters appeared in the air, under the rules.

"Master," I said, "what do these say?"

"Hmm?" Master looked up. "'Fairy Tail's inside fight speed report. Jet vs. Droy vs. Alzack?' W-what the hell is this?"

"Why are they fighting each other?" Natsu asked, eyes wide.

"Oh, mes dieux," I cried. The others looked to me. "That's how he's doing it! That's how he's gonna thin the crowd. Wear us all down by fighting one another, and eventually there'll be no one left to actually fight them!"

More characters appeared.

"'Winner: Alzack. Jet and Droy out of action,'" Master translated.

Natsu was now pissed.

"The hell with this, Laxus!"