Note: Time for the competition. How are things heating up? You will soon find out. *evil laugh* Also, to the Guest who reviewed about why I ask for ten reviews, well, ten reviews honestly isn't much to ask for when you have 89 followers on this story alone, not including guests like you who do not have an account. I really like hearing from my readers because sometimes your reviews help me to write better and even give me inspiration for upcoming chapters. I take every review to heart. I only update one chapter a week, and I like to know people enjoy my story. Sometimes I only get three reviews on a chapter I spent hours on and I start to think maybe people don't like it. It's just a thought, but ten reviews really isn't a lot. I know people who ask for more reviews, closer to 25 or higher, on their stories. I find it a little ridiculous. Besides, reviews are like FanMail and if you enjoy something you want to tell the author right? I always try to review when I enjoy a story or a chapter. I know how it makes the author feel.
Chapter 7
Couples Challenge
"This challenge is going to involve couples! Each guild will send out their cutest couple, hopefully one that knows each other best, for this challenge."
"Jess, Kanagi." Lucy said turning to the two teens who were staring with wide eyes.
"Master, we were thinking you and Haru should go." Kotoha whispered.
"What?" Lucy looked shocked as she glanced, red faced at Haru who was just as red.
"We thought you two would be the best." Jess nodded vigorously.
"Fine, I've been outvoted." Lucy mumbled grabbing Haru's hand and pulling him down towards the arena.
"Levy-san, you're really the only eligible girl in the group." Wendy said looking up at the other bluenette.
"But, but-" Levy was looking quite scared and the boys were slightly tense.
"Come on Levy-san, you can do it with Gejeel-san."
"Don't go volunteering me for this!" Gajeel exclaimed whirling around, his cheeks completely red.
"You are practically a couple though." Laxus pointed out making the pair turn even redder.
"Please Levy-san?" Wendy looked so cute Levy couldn't refuse her.
"Only if Gajeel agrees." Levy whispered.
"Gajeel-san?" Wendy looked up hopefully, Natsu was roaring with laughter.
"Fine," Gajeel grumped, no one could face down Wendy.
Jellal stared at his collection. Juvia could tell she wanted him to pick her and Gray, but he didn't know if Gray knew her well enough. Sighing Jellal turned to find Erza staring him down. He took a step back, as anyone would faced with her glare, but a smile crept on her face.
"We're going." She grabbed his hand and began to pull him towards the stairs.
"I'm the team captain here." Jellal said pulling his wrist back bravely.
"What?"
"I'm team captain so I choose what couple goes, and technically we're not a couple."
"Who are you going to send Gray and Juvia? They're not a couple either." Erza snarled.
"I could send out you and Gray, both of you know each other well." Jellal argued; Erza ducked her head slightly her hands balling at her sides.
"Fine, do it." Erza whispered; Jellal sighed and placed a hand under Erza's chin and lifted it slightly.
"Erza, I would never put you with Gray."
"Oh, so you're going with Juvia?" She gave him a small grin.
"Like you said earlier, let's go." It was Jellal's turn to pull Erza towards the arena. She let off a small smile as they passed through the dark hallway, Jellal's hand, warm and firm around hers.
"From Blue Pegasus we have Eve and Jenny! We've also allowed Mermaid Heel and Quatro Cerberus to band together for this competition, so they have two teams. First team Rocker and Milliana, second team Bacchus and Arania. Sabertooth has given us Minerva and Rogue. Lamia Scale has sent out Lyon Vastia and Sherry Blendy, what a shock! Fairy Tail Team A is dropping a ruffian and a bookworm with Gajeel Redfox and Levy McGarden. What has Lucifer given us? The guild master herself, Lucy Heartfilia and apparent lover Haru Bernein!" Natsu growled at this arrangement as both Lucy and Haru colored slightly. Wendy patted his arm gently. "Fairy Tail Team B has given us another surprising couple, Jellal Fernandes and Erza Scarlet!
"The rules of the game are simple; you will be asked questions about your partner. We've done some background checks on you all so we can have the best questions possible. For every correct answer you will earn one point for your guild!"
Benches for each couple appeared in a circle, the guild mark for placement was painted on each backing. The Fairy Tail Teams had an A or B after their mark, while the Mermaid Heel/Quatro Cerberus guild had both intermingled with a one or two. Each couple took their seats and Lucy even dared to drop a small wink at Levy who was watching her with curiosity once again. Levy blushed a bright red, glancing up at the dragon slayer before dropping her eyes to her clasped hands.
"Question 1: What magic does your partner use?"
"Eve uses Snow Magic."
"Jenny favors transformation magic."
"Rocker uses Drill n' Rock."
"Milliana's magic is a Nekosoku Tube."
"Bacchus has palm magic."
"Arania has charge over web magic."
"Minerva is a War God Mage."
"Shadow Dragon Slayer,"
"Ice Make!"
"Sherry just loves her Doll Play."
"Gajeel is an Iron Dragon Slayer."
"Shrimp is a Solid-Script Mage."
"Haru is part of a joint magic called Twin Flame."
"Lucy is a Celestial Spirit Mage."
"Jellal uses Heavenly Body and other odd sorts."
"Erza is fond of her Requip magic."
It was nearing the end of the competition; Fairy Tail A & B, Sabertooth, Lucifer, and Blue Pegasus were in the lead with points. Lucy was still smiling a sweet smile and Haru had long since placed an arm around her.
"The final two questions are here," everyone moved to the edge of their seats in anticipation. "We're going to separate you into male and female so your answers can't be based off one another. You will then be asked a question and if your answers are similar enough you will earn the point."
Lucy patted Haru's knee and made her way over the girl side. Haru stood and stretched slightly walking to join the boys who had grouped together. A large wall was suddenly between the two sides, and the girls looked slightly scared at being separated.
"The first question is: how did you meet each other? Lucy Heartfilia." Lucy stepped forward, her voice echoed through the stadium, only cut off from the boys by a magical sound barrier.
"I met Haru on a train. If you remember, last year I was a member of the guild Fairy Tail, because of my apparent weakness my team, Team Natsu, removed me from their rankings and replaced me with another. Heartbroken with nowhere else to turn I visited Master Makarov in his office where he removed my guild mark and set me free into the world. I boarded a train, not really planning on going anywhere. I was sitting alone nursing a broken heart when Jess, Kotoha, Kanagi, and Haru passed by my set of seats. They were complaining about not having a guild, I stood, suddenly struck with an idea of creating a guild with these four people. They accepted and there I was with my guild and Haru."
"Haru Bernein, it is your turn."
"I met Lucy when searching for a guild. I had met Kotoha and Jess while traveling with my twin Kanagi. We had somehow become traveling buddies when Lucy stood from her seat on the train. She had fixated us with such a determined look we had paused to listen. She was offering us a guild to call home, on a train going who knows where. We sat down on the empty seats and began to make a plan for our guild. It was the perfect moment to meet someone like her. When we asked her why she was creating her own guild she explained how her old guild had left her in the dust and she left to forge a new life."
"Thank you Haru, Lucy; Lucifer is awarded one point." The crowd cheered and Lucy placed a large smile on her face. "Erza Scarlet."
"When I was younger a purge came through many towns, they were searching for children to build a tower; easy slave labor. As they plundered the town I was in, I saved a small girl named Kagura Mikazuchi by hiding her in a wooden crate. I was taken to this tower where I met Kagura's older brother Simon, Milliana, Shô, Wally, and Jellal Fernandes. I didn't have a last name that I could remember, when Jellal asked me my name I only said Erza. As a substitute he gave me my last name, Scarlet, because it's the color of my hair. That way he'd never forget."
"Lovely, Jellal Fernandes, we wait on you."
"At one point in time people were searching to build a tower, The Tower of Heaven. Many men came and burned towns killing the adults and taking the children, forcing them to construct this prison of a tower. While waiting in one of the many cells we began to introduce ourselves, I met several children, and one of the most prominent was Erza. She kept herself in a corner of the room, curled up, knees to her chest and barely speaking a word. When I asked what her name was she only told me Erza, I pushed for a last name but she claimed to have none. I approached her and picked up a lock of her scarlet hair and told her, her last name would be Scarlet. The color of her hair, so I would never forget who she was; eventually Erza was taken by the master of the tower. She was tortured and her eye brutally removed. I found her and attempted to save her by trading myself in her place. I was corrupted with dark magic and forced to remove Erza from the island by scaring her, telling her she couldn't save the people she loved; forcing her away from me in the process. It was murder on me, but I pushed forward. Anything to protect the girl with the scarlet hair,"
"Fairy Tail B has received one point as well." Erza smiled at the dirt, feeling pleasure at Jellal's knowledge. "Levy McGarden from Fairy Tail A,"
"Oh, uh," Levy let out a nervous giggle catching the attention of the arena. "Gajeel used to be a member of Phantom Lord, at this time he was an unforgiving thug who loved to get in fights and injure the weak. While Team Natsu was off an S class quest they stole, Phantom Lord began a series of attacks against our guild which including destroying the guild hall. We were forced to meet in the basement and once Team Natsu returned they were ready to return the damage dealt tenfold. Master Makarov forbade us from retaliating since it's what Master José wanted at the time. I was walking with Team Shadowgear, which is Jet, Droy, and I when he attacked us. They were walking me home to Fairy Hills since I refused to stay in their apartment; Gajeel tracked us from the tops of buildings. I guess he got tired of waiting eventually, because there was a sudden thud behind us. I turned to see what it was to find Gajeel closing in on us. He proceeded to beat us till we were close to death and crucified us to the tree in South Gate Park. Master Makarov found us the next morning and after settling us safe and healing in the infirmary, he ordered an attack on Phantom Lord. I was scared of him for weeks, but eventually I forgave him and now here we are."
"Very amazing." There was clapping from the crowd and Gajeel was wondering what she had told them. "Gajeel Redfox, it is time."
"I hate my past, I hate reliving it every single night once I'm sleeping. As a part of Phantom Lord I had thought it part of my duty to serve, even if I killed another." Gajeel looked as though he were in pain, his legs trembled only slightly. "I wasn't ordered to hurt her though. After destroying their guild hall I stayed around for a while searching for something which would sink them to the core. With no orders from José I followed her. She was the weakest of all the Fairy Tail members in my opinion at the time. Levy and her two body guards who were too concerned with their love for her than anything else; I stalked her greedily, waiting for a moment in which to hurt her. I can still feel her underneath my Iron pillars, screaming and pleading to keep her friends safe and just kill her in their stead. I didn't want- I didn't mean- I pummeled her and the cronies into oblivion and crucified them to a tree with my own Iron. When she forgave me I saw her true strength, she is a miracle really."
"How beautiful."
Laxus smiled placing the Lacrima in his pocket. He had caught the whole thing on camera to show them later. Oh how they would enjoy watching it. He could imagine their terrified looks and the red blush which might just strike the Iron Dragon Slayer's cheeks. Perhaps this would speed up the process of getting them together.
"A point to Fairy Tail A. Moving onto Minerva from Sabertooth."
Once everyone had shared their stories of how they met their designated partner it was time for the final question. Levy had long since struck up a quiet conversation with Lucy just like old times. Both girls were giggling a lot and even Erza cracked a smile at the girls. The boys watched the girls on their own set of Lacrima watching as Lucy got along with Fairy Tail. They weren't quite sure what to think but they seemed to be repentant as well.
"The final question," the girls stopped chatting to listen carefully. This would decide their points for the day. "What would be a perfect date? Again, Lucy Heartfilia,"
"I think it would be nice to just go on a walk, hold hands and talk, maybe buy some things we see in windows. Even eat an Ice-Cream cone." Lucy sighed, a smile gracing her face.
"Haru Bernein."
"A walk, we could do anything she wants. Just walk around and talk, see the sights of the city. It'd just be perfect."
"One point to Lucifer, Erza Scarlet,"
"A date?" Erza began to freak out a bit completely unsure of what to say in this kind of a situation. She would normally turn to Lucy for this kind of thing. "Dinner, I guess."
"Jellal Fernandes."
"Erza is a simple woman to please; I think she'd just like food, so probably dinner."
"A point to Fairy Tail B; Levy McGarden,"
"I'm glad Jellal knows me so well." Erza whispered and Lucy patted her shoulder lightly before remembering what she was doing. She blushed and quickly backed away.
"I'd like to just sit by him reading a book, curled up in his side." Levy practically whispered, but it was still picked up and sent around the arena. Jet and Droy sat with their mouths hanging open; this was their Levy after all.
"Sweet, now Mr. Gajeel Redfox."
"Levy likes reading, and-" Gajeel broke up looking at the ground and crossing his arms tightly to him. "I'd like to have her sit on my lap while she reads and I can just eat Iron or something."
If Jet and Droy were shocked by Levy's answer, they were even more surprised by Gajeel's. Both of them proceeded to faint up in the balcony, their hearts completely broken.
"How interesting, the Iron is really soft." One of the announcers joked.
"On to Minerva,"
Current Tally:
Fairy Tail B- 48 pts.
Lucifer- 45 pts.
Fairy Tail A- 41 pts.
Sabertooth- 33 pts.
Lamia Scale- 30 pts.
Mermaid Heel- 22 pts.
Blue Pegasus- 19 pts.
Quatro Cerberus- 16 pt.
Note: If anyone can tell me which Manga/Anime I got the names Kotoha, Kanagi, and Haru from I will give you a prize! Hint: Kotoha and Kanagi are from the same one, but Haru is from a different one. Hint 2: Kotoha's last name gives a clue to her origin. The prize will not be announced until there is a winner. This will be posted at the end of every chapter until there is a clear winner. You must get all of them to be eligible for the prize. I won't update next week unless I have 10 reviews! ~May
