Gray smoothed his hand over the checkered wall in front of them, finally done with its revolution. Natsu fidgeted behind him.
"Can't believe we just got cut off like that," he said. "Who the heck designed this, anyway?"
"Someone that wanted to do this, probably," Gray said.
"Well they ain't gonna keep us separate for long!" Natsu exclaimed.
Gray rolled his eyes and stepped to the side. No bother telling Natsu to calm down, or to not just…
"Fire Dragon Iron Fist!"
Natsu blasted a hole straight through the wall, revealing not the other side of the wall where the girls were, but instead a brand new part of the maze. Gray stepped through the hole in the wall and started down the labyrinth.
"Come on, let's hurry up and keep going," Gray said.
"Why are you so relaxed?" Natsu asked. "You know something I don't?"
"Does that surprise you?"
"Oh shut up."
Gray jogged forward and Natsu kept up. Gray kept his eyes fixed momentarily to the walls around them. They brimmed with overgrowth, like they'd just come out of a maze in someone's backyard. Gray sighed.
"This is going to be a pain to get around," he muttered. "With how much these walls are changing it may take us a few hours to find the girls."
"No it won't," Natsu said.
Natsu stepped around Gray, walking with his head and neck craned forward, his nose wriggling. Gray grinned.
"I almost forgot you had a good sense of smell," Gray said.
"The best," Natsu said.
"Who you sniffing out, Lucy?"
"No, Cana."
"Cana?"
"I'm surprised you can't smell all the ale she drinks. She's practically coated in it. I think I have a trail, and we'll just have to blast our way through."
"Good enough for me," Gray said, reaching into his pocket. He removed a small orb, a frosty looking thing, but replicating its original shape perfectly. He jogged behind Natsu, who picked up speed the more they made their way through the maze.
The stone walls turned to actual hedges that shook and quivered. Gray gazed up and saw not the sky above him, but the city of Crocus. Some sort of gravity magic, likely the same kind that Tartaros had used when they fought on their floating island, was keeping them not only anchored to the maze, but also prevented the serious vertigo that would come with it.
No, that couldn't be it. Perhaps the magic wasn't as potent on the fringes; they'd need to be careful it they strayed too far from the core of the maze; this, though, was likely something they'd need to do for their plan to work.
Natsu stopped dead in his tracks and also looked above him, then below him. He frowned and snarled.
"What is it?" Gray asked. It was like he talked to a dog, but Gray didn't want to disrespect a canine's intelligence.
"There's someone right above us," Natsu said. "But I'm not sure if it's above us or below us, considering that we're, like, upside-down."
"This is why you stopped walking?"
A low rumbling chuckle emanated from the hedges around them. Gray braced himself and slid the orb back into his pocket. The hedges quivered and shook more, and the vines around them started to snap and coalesce together. Natsu ignited his fists.
"Natsu Dragneel and Gray Fullbuster I presume," the voice said.
The hedges stopped shivering for a moment before they ceded back a bit, leaving three humanoid shapes, created from the vines and leaves of the maze. They stood about ten feet tall and were pretty thick, and Gray sensed heavy doses of magic from them, though it seemed to him like it wasn't magic power, but just life magic.
"What do you want?" Gray asked.
"Gray let me roast these things so we can keep moving," Natsu said. "They're blocking my scent."
"I ain't telling you no."
"Forge your paths with flames and fail," the voice said. "And find not your friends with the cold of hearts. Seek the truth of mine words to you, and the task before shall steer you false."
"That last part didn't make any sense," Gray said. He raised his hand in front of Natsu, signaling him to cool it. "Repeat that last sentence. If there's more, tell us."
One hedge stepped forward among the rest. "Seek the truth of mine words to you, and the task before shall steer you false." It paused, then said, "Three spirits of yore do yet stand, but three pieces of lore you must comprehend. Of balance, shape, and most holy light do thine fairies find themselves aflight."
"And you're sure we can't punch these things?" Natsu asked.
Gray looked to Crocus above—below—him. Time was ticking. He half-turned to Natsu. "Can you smell anyone else, or just not Cana and the others?"
Natsu sniffed around. "I can smell Carla, Rogue, and I think Cobra. They're not anywhere near here, and they're still moving."
"In the maze?"
"In the maze."
"Then maybe they got slowed by these things, too." Gray raised his hand to his chin. The task before shall steer you false? Gray looked to the hedges; stoic, unwavering, powerful. Their voices seemed oddly familiar, but Gray couldn't quite put a finger on it.
"Is there anything else?" Gray asked. "We just need to answer your riddle?"
"Only a fairy's heart can pass this test," the spirit said. "And thus seek the path forward unto glory."
"So getting by these guys doesn't guarantee us a way out, but it does put us on the right path," Gray said. "But, the path before?"
"It's making my head hurt!" Natsu exclaimed. "I'm sure Lucy could figure this out."
"I'm sure she could," Gray said, and pulled out his small frost orb. "If we could just talk to her, that'd be real great."
Natsu snarled then stepped away from Gray. Gray opened his mouth to ask what he was doing, but instead Natsu sucked in a breath, then bellowed—probably louder than anything Gray had ever heard before, "LUCY!"
Her name echoed through the entire maze. Gray rolled his eyes. "Nice going you idiot, now everyone's gonna know—"
A light shone from the orb, and through the frosty glass, Erza's face appeared. Lucy's face was scrunched up next to her.
"Holy crap, it worked!" Gray exclaimed. "Hey, flame-brain, get over here."
"What, did you find Lucy?" Natsu asked.
"Gray? Gray, can you hear us?" Erza asked.
"You bet, guess Ice-Make magic is even more handy than we ever knew," Gray said. "I'll have to teach this trick to Lyon once we're done here."
"Where are you two?" Erza asked. "Lucy heard Natsu call her name. We thought it was close, but, judging by your surroundings that wouldn't seem to be the case."
"Yeah, Natsu tried blasting through the walls to find you but the maze must have shifted you guys away already," Gray said. "Have you moved?"
"Not at all," Erza said.
Gray glanced up to the three hedges. "Well, listen, Erza, we've got a bit of a situation here. These guys aren't letting us through; they've given us some sort of a riddle we have to solve."
"A riddle?" Lucy asked, butting Erza out of the way. "Tell me!"
Lucy rested her chin on her fist and thought the riddle over out loud: "Seek the truth of mine words to you, and the task before shall steer you false. Three spirits of yore do yet stand, but three pieces of lore you must comprehend. Of balance, shape, and most holy light do thine fairies find themselves aflight. Only a fairy's heart can pass this test, and thus seek the path unto glory."
"Gray, stay on your guard and don't move from your position," Erza said. "We'll try and find you."
"How the heck you gonna do that?" Natsu barked.
Cana grinned and stepped forward. She flicked her hand and a card with a rather sexy image of Gray appeared on it.
"Whipped up a few of these bad boys for Juvia so she could know where Gray was," Cana said. "Not one of my finer moments."
"One of your drunker moments?" Lucy asked, snickering.
"But," Cana said, pointedly. "It'll help us track you down so long as you two don't move."
"Sounds good," Gray said. "I'll have Natsu try and keep his smells up for everyone else, maybe we can keep an eye—or, nose—on where the competition is."
"Very well, see you soon," Erza said. She squeezed her hand around the communication lacrima. She'd explainedafter Lucy heard Natsu's voice, that she and Gray planned for this eventuality and had Gray attempt to recreate the lacrima. Turned out that worked quite well.
"Well, let's get moving, then," Erza said.
Lucy nodded. "So far so good, then?"
"Indeed," Erza said. "Our plan is going well so far, although I didn't anticipate any riddles this time around."
Cana flicked her wrist and activated the card and jogged ahead. "Well we aren't going to get anywhere by just walking, are we? Come on, ladies!"
Lucy followed after, mulling the puzzle over in her head. The first and last parts were easy, but, what kept her held up was the bit about the task before steering them false and the three bits of lore they had to understand. Balance, shapes, and most holy light? What could that possibly mean? Was it something to do with the lore of Crocus? She desperately wished Levy were with her; Lucy was good with words, but not with puzzles.
They rounded a corner back to another checkered part of the hallway, where light remained staggered. Erza held a hand out and stopped them.
"Wait, this is likely a trap," she said.
Lucy and Cana exchanged a look, then the air started to suck in around them. A familiar black-and-green glow almost took them over before they leapt through the shadows and were blasted through the wall.
Lucy swung her arms out and managed to catch Cana and Erza; Erza hung to the wall by her fingertips, but Lucy had Cana tight by the forearm. Erza hefted them both up, probably making some comment about their weight, and Lucy hauled Cana up as well.
"This was likely a trap set by Minerva and Rogue," Erza muttered. "We're fools, we should've been doing the same!"
"Still say we're a bit away from Natsu and Gray, too," Cana said.
"We need to be more wary of traps going forward," Erza said. "Cana, if you wouldn't mind?"
Cana nodded and flicked her wrist to make more cards appear in her hand. Erza turned to Lucy.
"It's a perplexing riddle, isn't it?" she asked as the hallway erupted in small, shadowy explosions.
"The path before shall steer you false?" Lucy muttered. "Like, obviously it did. It led them to the maze, I feel like there has to be more to it than that."
"Perhaps they meant that the hedge maze was specifically designed to turn them away," Erza said. "I'm honestly surprised that Natsu hasn't bothered to destroy them yet."
"That's probably Gray stopping him," Lucy said.
"Hey, we're all clear!" Cana called.
Erza and Lucy followed her, breaking into a trot once again. Lucy balled her fists, still holding her second key, awaiting its use. She could call one of her spirits to try and sort it out, but this sounded like a test for a living member of Fairy Tail.
Wait. Lore. Living member of Fairy Tail.
She moved to speak to Erza but Erza's arm suddenly swung out and caught Lucy. She had Cana by the bra-strap and yanked the brunette out of the way of a shifting wall once again, and once it subsided, four of the Fourth Generation Dragon Slayers that Zash Cain had once instilled stood on the other side.
"Those things?" Lucy asked. "I thought they belonged to that monster Zash!"
"Fiore must have reprogramed them following Acnologia's on Tartaros in case he ever decided to strike Crocus," Erza muttered. She unsheathed her sword. Cana stepped forward, handing Lucy the card with Gray on it.
"Lucy, you keep your focus on deciphering that riddle," Cana said. "And make sure Gray and Natsu don't go anywhere."
"We'll handle these two," Erza said. "Requip!"
The Fourth Generation Dragon Slayers braced and then advanced on them. There were five in total, probably meant to take on a full team of wizards. Lucy closed her eyes, placing her full faith in the two in front of her to take on the Dragon Slayers. She felt a blast of wind and saw Cana go soaring by before she caught herself and sprinted back into battle.
"Summoned Lightning!" she exclaimed.
Erza, already in her Lightning Empress Armor, absorbed the lightning and channeled it through her mace and blasted two of the Dragon Slayers away with ease. Lucy braced herself. Cana landed, dodging the fist of another and leaving them exposed for Erza to slam with her maze again.
Cana cast two cards forward and slammed her hands together. "Prayer's Fountain!"
Four streams of water blasted from the magic and blasted the two remaining Dragon Slayers in the back. Erza cast her lightning again, in an arc, and electrocuted the lacrima-laced beasts, disintegrating them practically on impact.
"And here I was thinking I might have to use Fairy Glitter on these assholes," Cana said. She and Erza high-fived, and Erza changed back to her standard outfit.
Something struck within Lucy. "Fairy Glitter?"
Three pieces of lore. One of balance, of shape, and most holy light. Only a fairy's heart…
How could she have been so stupid! No, but this still didn't explain what the first bit meant. The path before you being false? What did hat mean? Were they just supposed to turn around and rely on those spells? No, they were meant to find those spirits, meant to find that riddle. But why hadn't Natsu attacked.
"Erza, call Gray again," Lucy said, and flicked the card back to Cana. They nodded to each other and started running, but Lucy moved a little fast to give them a solid sense of urgency.
Gray's bored expression reappeared on the orb. "Figure it out?"
"I think so," Lucy said, taking the lacrima from Erza. "Why haven't you guys attacked it yet?"
"Because it said something about attacking with fire and ice and failing," Gray said. "It doesn't want us to attack."
The task before shall steer you false.
Lucy grinned. "I've got it! We're on our way, and then we'll get the hell out of here!"
"Lucy, you really know what to do?" Erza asked.
Lucy nodded and tossed the lacrima back to Erza. "Yup. Get ready to get the plan back in action, Erza, because we'll be outta here super quick!"
Cana took point again, reinvigorated by Lucy's words. The women sprinted through the maze, leaping over crevices and sliding under low-hanging walls. Lucy squeezed her key tight in her hand.
They rounded one final corner and were in part of the hedge-maze. Cana picked up speed.
"This way!" she exclaimed.
"Cana!" Lucy exclaimed. "Once we find Natsu and Gray, you need to use Fairy Glitter. Hit it with everything you've got!" She turned to Erza. "Once she does that, we need to grab Natsu and Gray and move. I have a feeling those things aren't attacking yet for a reason."
"Lucy, you never cease to surprise me!" Erza exclaimed.
Cana howled with laughter. "We're really gonna show them what Fairy Tail is all about!"
Lucy and Erza shouted in agreement. Erza shredded through part of the maze with her sword and revealed Natsu and Gray before them. Cana leapt through, her right hand braced over her left arm and light shone from her body.
"Boys you better move or this is gonna hurt real bad!" she exclaimed. "You want the light of Fairy Tail? Here it is! Fairy Glitter!"
Erza braced herself behind Cana and caught the girl as she let loose the stream of magic that obliterated and brightened up the entire maze before them. The three standing shrubs were disintegrated, and in their place was a golden walkway that led not just further into the maze, but visibly closer to the stadium.
"Let's move!" Erza exclaimed.
Natsu and Gray waited for the girls to dash by and then caught up. Natsu reached out and clasped Lucy on the shoulder.
"I knew you'd figure it out!" he exclaimed.
"Thanks!" she said, blushing a bit more than she expected.
Erza led them across the near-invisible pathway that seemed to vanish the closer to the other side they got. She leapt across, spotting another set of wizards in front of them. They all turned and Lucy saw, instead, that they were Fiore Knights, armed to the teeth with anti-magic weapons. Natsu roared and followed right behind her.
The knights spread out and allowed Fairy Tail to land there. Natsu and Gray's fire-ice auras collided and formed a bit of steam around them. Lucy could still hear Erza's words in her mind from the planning,
"Should we enter combat, Natsu and Gray shall provide us ample cover to prepare our attacks. Lucy, that will be when you come in."
"Open, Gate of the Twins!"
From the mist appeared Lucy, in much more scandalous clothing, but also leading with a patented Lucy kick. The knights dodged it but their attention was taken, immediately, and allowed Cana to make her attack.
"Wind Edge!" she yelled, raising a blue-purple card and a green card. A gust of wind knocked the mist away and also slammed all of the knights away as well.
Gemini's gate closed when Lucy sprinted by. Lucy gate the twins a high-five as the group continued.
"Natsu, anything new on the others?" Gray asked.
"Yeah, I can smell a whole lot of normal people!" Natsu exclaimed. "We're coming up on our exit point!"
"Then it's time we conclude our plan!" Erza exclaimed.
Cana sprinted close to Natsu. "Alright, Natsu, mind giving a girl a lift?"
"Not a problem," he said, and Cana leapt up and hopped atop Natsu's back, wrapping her arms tight around his neck and still holding two cards out.
They moved through a tunnel and into another corridor. Gray flicked his wrist and purple ice filled the entire place, allowing them to easily slide through it.
"Remember, everyone, the key to reading these rules is the wording," Erza had said. Lucy grinned, now only need to rely on the speed of her legs to get her through to the end.
Erza changed into her Amadura Fairy guise and Gray made an ice-ramp to allow them to easily take the turn. Lucy squatted down and skated with her shoes across it, then pushed herself forward to catch up with Erza.
"Once we're in a break-away, Lucy and I can form an arrow-head, with Natsu as our propulsion," she said. "There won't be anything that will stop us."
Gray froze the ground in front of them again. They swept right past another guild—was that Mermaid Heel?—and Erza held her arm out, grasping a sword in one hand and slicing a line along the way. Lucy extracted one of her Celestial keys and pointed it at her chest.
"Star Dress!" she exclaimed. "Virgo!"
Her maid's outfit flashed onto her. She and Erza exchanged a look once again and then nodded.
"Gray, here we go!" she exclaimed and punched the ground. She ripped a hole straight through the ground.
Cana, instantly behind them, flicked a card up and created an illusory wall there, in case anyone thought there was solid ground.
"We can't have anyone following our idea, so we'll have Cana lay traps during our escape," Erza said. "But in the likely even that this does not work…well, Natsu has quite the habit for destruction, doesn't he?"
Erza and Natsu switched places and Lucy got out of her Star Dress. Cana flicked a card to Natsu, and it ignited instantly. Natsu took a great chomp out of. Gray froze the floor they plummeted toward and Erza used her power to surge them forward to give them a boost. They slid along the ground once again and headed straight for a wall, but just below them, Lucy, saw was the stadium.
"Fire Dragon!" Natsu roared.
"After all," Erza said. "Hisui said we only need to get to the stadium from the maze. She didn't mention that we needed to find an exit…or that we can't make our own."
"Iron Fist!"
Natsu's flaming fist destroyed the wall in front of them, melting whatever was left of it, and leaving Team Fairy Tail exposed to the high-altitude of the maze. They surged forward, though, from Gray's ramp. Lucy flipped in the air, using the last of her magic to activate her Aries Star Dress.
She cast a cloud down far below them. Everyone's eyes in the stadium immediately turned to them. Natsu roared in excitement while Erza, Gray, and Cana just chuckled their lives away.
The puffy magic cloud caught them and softened their arrival into the stadium. Lucy made sure to tuck her legs in, then rolled forward as she reached the ground, sliding onto her feet and maintaining her balance. Cana bumped her from behind and Gray caught them all with ice around their legs.
Nobody in the stadium moved an inch or made a sound. Then, from somewhere in the crowd, Happy's familiar voice exclaimed, "YEAH!"
All of Fairy Tail then joined in, followed by the rest of the crowd. Gray melted the ice and Lucy turned to face the rest of her team, who each grinned to one another. They huddled up, put the guild's hand sign in, and then flung their hands into the air, cheering themselves on just like the rest of the crowd.
"Incredible!" commentator and announcer Chapati Lola exclaimed. "Team Fairy Tail comes from out of nowhere and manages to blast their way through the Sky Labyrinth and arrive at the heart of the stadium in grand fashion!"
"I'm surprised they all managed to stick the landing," Mister Yajima said. "That might've been the most impressive part of all!"
"Honestly, I think he might be right," Cana said. "Agh, jeez, almost threw out my back there."
Lucy chuckled and clapped Cana on the butt. "Ah, you're fine, just get a few drinks in you and you won't even feel it!"
"You ain't wrong, sister!" Cana exclaimed, then wrapped Lucy into a headlock. "Hell yeah, Fairy Tail's gonna stay number one, baby!"
The remaining five guilds all trickled in with due time. When the final one, Blue Pegasus surprisingly, arrived, Hisui issued all of the teams to their own respective bleachers scattered about the stadium, telling the teams that they would have their balconies all set up accordingly for the games proper to start.
"And now to announce your teams for this year's Dragon Festival!" she exclaimed. Erza gave Mirajane a warm smile and approached the edge of their bleachers, where Master Makarov was standing. Asuka rushed up and gave Erza's leg a big hug; in response, Erza hefted Asuka up and let her sit atop her shoulders.
"Arriving first in the race was Lamia Scale," Hisui said. Erza raised her eyebrows and gave Gray a surprised look. He saw him mouth Lyon to Juvia, then looked back to where Lamia Scale sat. Their old lady guild master, Ooba, had one of their guild members spinning wildly in excitement. "Competing for Lamia Scale were Sherry Blendy, Yuka Suzaki, Toby Horhota, and Carla the Exceed, led by Lyon Vastia!
"In second place came Sabertooth, surprising few fans. Led by Minerva Orland, Sabertooth this year is competing with Rogue Cheney, Rufus Lore, Orga Nanagear, and Dobengal…no last name listed! Sorry!"
A few chuckles from the crowd. Erza glanced to Minerva, who waved to the Sabertooth fans. Frosch, atop Rogue's shoulders, mirrored her exactly. Adorable.
"In third place was Fairy Tail!" Hisui took a moment to allow the crowd to get done roaring their name. Erza's heart swelled. Asuka screamed loudly in praise. "Led by Erza Scarlet, Fairy Tail competes with Lucy Heartfilia, Natsu Dragneel, Gray Fullbuster, and Cana Alberona-Clive!"
A sudden cry came from Gildarts, who bear-hugged Cana and exclaimed, "You're using my name, too!"
"Ugh, dad! Hisui said I had to use my real name, and since you're my real dad it wouldn't be right, otherwise, lay off!"
"In fourth place came Quatro Cerberus, led by Rocker and followed by Warcry, Jager, Nobarly, and Semmes! And, again, no last names given!"
"Wow, Crime Sorciere didn't even place in the top half," muttered Laxus, who'd appeared suddenly on the other side of Master Makarov.
"Likely so it wouldn't anger anyone who still bears resentment in the crowd," Master said.
"Yeah, but, they could've easily come in first place," Laxus said. "They were holding back."
"I can assure that won't happen anymore," Erza said. "That bunch only wants to make sure they lull everyone into a false sense of security."
"Best be on your guard, then," Master said.
"In fifth place comes the ladies of Mermaid Heel! Led by Kagura Mikazuchi and competing with Arana Webb, Beth Vanderwood, Risly Law, and Milliana…the cat!"
Erza chuckled. Oh, Milliana. You'll certainly keep these games entertaining.
"In sixth places comes a new entry to these games, Sorciere, led by Erik Solidus." Hisui hesitated, then continued, "Who competed alongside Sorano Agria, Richard Buchanan, Sawyer Thompson, and Macbeth Zero!"
"Hmm, interesting," Erza muttered. "Macbeth retained Zero's name."
"That guild is all about redeeming oneself from their dark past," Master said. "It's likely he wishes to make a statement to the public that he can bear this past and still move forward into the light."
"Well said, Master," Erza said, and grinned a little wider.
"In seventh place came another newcomer to the games, Orochi's Twilight, led by Thibault!" Hisui exclaimed. "Competing alongside him were Bluenote Stinger, Mattan Ginger, Chrisack, and Obra!"
"All former enemies," Laxus said.
"All looking to get revenge on Fairy Tail," Makarov said. A little smile tugged at his lips, now. "This should make things very interesting."
"And our final guild to qualify for the Dragon Festival this year is Blue Pegasus!" Hisui exclaimed, and they received the most cheers behind Fairy Tail. "Led by Ichiya, he competed alongside Hibiki Lates, Eve Tearm, Ren Akatsuki, and Riko Applico!"
The crowd cheered for a good string of minutes. Erza clapped for her fellow competitors, prompting Asuka to do the same, as well as adding in a few hoots and hollers along the way. When the clapping stopped, Erza's eyes fell. She saw Master Makarov tense for a moment, then roll back his shoulders and crack his knuckles a bit. Laxus chuckled.
"So, you are going to go through with it after all, huh?" he asked.
"Go through with what?" Erza asked, but Hisui's booming voice captured the stadium.
The Queen herself appeared on a massive screen overhead, visible from within and without the stadium. She wore a dress similar to the one from the dinner, but one that was a bit more comfortable in the summer heat. She smiled down to all of her denizens.
"I could not be more thrilled for this year's events and I know the competition will be as healthy and entertaining as ever," Hisui said. "Competitors, arrive back in your team balconies tomorrow morning by nine for the first event." She bowed her head and the crowd clapped for that. Hisui raised her head and tried to hide a smile, but failed. "And now, I'm pleased to announce a bit of extracurricular entertainment for you all. I spoke with a select group of individuals about an extra event for the preliminary rounds, and we all decided that this would be the most interesting course to take. It shall not count toward the team's final score, but will rather be a show of good sport, and powerful magic. This year, for the first time, we shall host a pre-games Battle Royale!"
The crowd roared, but Hisui held a hand up before they could get too worked up. "Not of our competitors…but of Masters."
Erza's eyes widened and everyone in Fairy Tail immediately looked to Makarov, who was already gone. She looked down below and Asuka pointed ahead to the little old man making his way through the stadium. Six others strode forward as well.
"Representing Fairy Tail is Makarov Dreyar, the guild's most prominent master," Hisui said. "Representing Sorciere will be Jellal, a former Wizard Saint and Magic Council member."
Erza's heart seized. Natsu rushed up to the side of the balcony, roaring, "Wait, he gets to compete, too?"
"Representing Sabertooth is the youngest guild master in recent Fiore history, Sting Eucliffe, one of the seven who aided in Acnologia's demise," Hisui said. The crowd cheered for that. "Representing Blue Pegasus is a wizard of great mystery and charm, Bob. Representing his pups of Quatro Cerberus is the pack leader himself, Goldmine. Representing Orochi's Twilight is new master Banaboster."
"That foul monster," Erza said. Disgust filled her mouth. He'd been the one rallying against Fairy Tail during their seven years of stasis. "Destroy him, Master! Do it for Fairy Tail!"
"Mermaid Heel's master has decided, due to personal reasons, to forgo attendance once again this year, leaving just one more guild. Representing Lamia Scale shall not be their master Ooba, but will instead be another wizard of great prominence," Hisui said. "Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you current Magic Council Member and God of Ishgar, Jura Neekis!"
Erza's eyes widened and the stadium went absolutely silent for a moment before the greatest cheer of the day settled in. All of the Guild Masters—Sting, Makarov, Jellal, Bob, Goldmine, Banaboster, and Jura—ignited auras all around them.
"Welcome to the Dragon Festival of X793!" Hisui exclaimed. "Let the battle commence!"
YES! HERE WE GO!
I have been so SO excited to get to this preliminary showdown. This little event is one of the main things that pushed me to write this story. I have so many cool plans to show off the Masters' powers and what they can do. Anything goes in this fight: it's a free-for-all! This alone might take up three chapters of the story, so brace yourself for some serious action coming your way!
OH, and we got the rosters for all the teams! So now if you want to make any requests for what wizards you think would make for a good battle, send them to me and I'll see if we can make them happen! One vs. one or two vs. two only, please. I've already got two fun ones in mind, but I want to get feedback and input from you guys.
And don't forget, if you liked this please go check out Fairy Tail - New Era, my other fan-fic set 4 years after Acnologia's defeat, featuring a ton of new and old faces for Fairy Tail to deal with. Thank you so much for reading! See you for the Master's Battle Royale!