"I'd like to thank all the guilds that have entered the Grand Magic Games. But of course there are too many so we have a quick challenge for all the teams. The first eight teams to arrive at the goal shall head to the arena where the real games will be held tomorrow. The remaining guilds that do not make it, are immediately eliminated.
Without further a do, I introduce you to our newest attraction! Sky Labyrinth 2.0!"
The projection of the Princess Hisui wearing the pumpkin mascot outfit disappears and a large maze takes the stage.
"3...2...1...Go!" Hisui's voice rings out the commencement of the race.
Fairy Tail Team B make their way to the finish line, the path was very similar and they found the end in no time after slaying the hundreds of monsters in their way.
"We've got to be first!" Natsu jumps joyfully. Hisui waits at the door and congratulates them on their victory.
"Fairy Tail, eighth place...again like last year." She laughs lightly. "You guys barely made it."
The crowd roars as the official opening of the Grand Magic Games commences.
"Hello everyone! I am your host, Chapati Rola. I am also joined by former council member, Yajime-san! Thank you for also being here at this years games." Chapati says with enthusiasm.
"No thank you for having me again." Yajime says politely back.
"We are also joined by our guest speaker today, Jenny Rearlight!" As soon as Chapati says the model's name, the men of the audience squeal for their second favourite model, I mean no one can beat Mirajane, right?
"I'm sure everyone is excited for our teams to enter the battlefield. Jenny who do you think will win?" The host got a shout in the ear from the famous model.
"Definitely Blue Pegasus!"
Rubbing his almost left deaf ear, he manages to start announcing the guild that successfully made it out of the labyrinth.
"In last place like last year, Fairy Tail! Can they win for the second time in a row?!" Everyone applauds for their team,
"Fairy Tail! Fairy Tail! Fairy Tail!"
"In seventh place it seems they dropped to the bottom of the ranks! Fairy Tail team A, originally named Team B. Fairy Tail have managed to secure two spots for their teams again...but barely."
The spectators roar in cheers as the team members arrive on field. Both Fairy Tail teams glared at each other.
"This is a battle of pride between the teams! But let's not forget the others. Sixth place goes to the goddess of love and war, the holy destroyer, Lamia Scale!" Lamia Scale's master was fuming out of frustration.
"You were slacking off again weren't you! Come here I'll spin you!" Chelia rushes onto the field, away from her Master's anger and manages to trip once again. Wendy attempts to help her up but falls over as well.
"Fifth place is given to the wild guild! Quartro Cerberus!"
"Cana! I challenge you to a drinking battle after this!" Bacchus shouts over the crowd.
"Fourth place is rewarded to the bright blue wings in the pitch dark, Blue Pegasus! And it seems Nichiya is here this year too." The three playboys wink at the female crowds, the fangirls are struck in the hearts while the rest cringe at the Ichiya and his cat twin Nichiya.
''Put that bunny costume back on!''
"Now moving to the top three ranks. Third place has been given to the famous all female guild, the dancing girls of the great deep, Mermaid Heel!" The stadium was flooding with blood from the noses of the male spectators and their wives were scolding husbands for their disgusting lust.
"In second place are one of the favourites to retake their glory of the games from two years ago. One of the strongest, invincible, incomputable champions, Sabertooth!" Everyone cheered and applaused for the reborn guild.
"And Minerva has joined is this games too." Everyone is has their jaw dropped and were freaking out, instead of that predator smirk, Minerva genuinely smiles and waves to the crowd.
"It seems no new guilds can defeat these major seven. Wait! This year it seems an independent guild has joined us. The creature that rises from it's mystical flames, it's immortality and stamina, Phoenix!"
Silence covers the arena for a moment but it doesn't last long. The team members of Phoenix emerge from the fierce flames set up for them. Their epic entrance makes the crowd cheer at the top of their lungs and their claps made them welcome.
Each member of the team had a black Phoenix insignia draped on their body (refer to cover if it's there). Just their presence made everyone on field shudder, they could feel their high level of magical power.
Kagura, the female swords woman of Mermaid Heel speaks up and complains to the hosts. "When did independent guilds receive an invitation to join us?" She tries to stare down the new team but fails as they do not flinch or move.
"Ah yes about that, we've made an agreement with them after they exterminated Real Nightmare, defeated Oración Seis Reborn and rescued thousands of people. They are by law allowed to participate." Yajime, one of the hosts replies to the questioning Kagura. The arena is filled with quiet mumbling and some people start admiring the mysterious Phoenix members as heroes.
Erza swiftly turned towards the rest of my team to privately speak with them. "I believe the one with masquerade mask is their team leader."
They turned their heads slightly to get a glimpse of the Phoenix team. Only one of them was wearing a facial disguise while the other four weren't. The person was wearing a mask made of delicate looking gold lace. The leader's gender could not be confirmed, their hair was covered by a black cloak that just reached the ground.
"Now a new tradition is going to be implemented today. In the spirit of the games, one member from the first placed team gets to face a member from the last placed team. The two names will be randomly picked from boxes and they then battle each other until the victor is announced!" Excited shouts echoes around and everyone's eyes were on the independent guild and Fairy Team B.
"Yajime-san if you would. Two plain black and white boxes were placed in front of the ex-council member. He reaches his hands into both boxes and pulls out two pieces of paper.
"Natsu Dragneel
.
.
.
And Micaela Aira!"
All eyes were now on the Fire Dragon Slayer and a Phoenix member with pale blue hair.
"I'm all fired up!" Natsu shouts and Erza grabs onto his shoulder.
"Be careful of them, none of us know their abilities. Think before you act."
On the other side of the stadium, the Phoenix team wishes Mica luck.
The Moon Phoenix Slayer Yuna pats him on the back. "Lucky~ you're part of the first battle. Break a leg!" She turns to the hooded figure. "Isn't that your old guild?"
"Mica, go easy on him." The hooded person ignores Yuna.
"Yuna don't upset her." Alice smacks her sister on the head. "But I can't wait till they find out who you are."
The guild members rushed to the side lines awaiting the battle. Before running onto the field, 'good lucks' flooded the ears of the pyromaniac. Everyone was surprised by the Phoenix member, Mica was calm and collected, not fazed by the sudden battle.
"Dragneel and Aira, please step forward." Jenny says this full of energy.
Now about ten metres between each other Natsu could see the stranger more closer. Fairy Tail saw the fire dragon slayer's eyes widen for a second. The fire in the eyes of Micaela reminded Natsu of a beast.
"Good Luck, Dragneel." With a fierce look in his eyes, Natsu nods at the figure.
"You may start... Now!" Everyone is already cheering. Fairy Tail shouts for Natsu and everyone looks confident about their bets.
Natsu instantly rushes forward but stops abruptly. His opponent had disappeared into thin air. Looking confusingly around, he doesn't know what's coming.
"Natsu behind you!" Erza shouts but the warning was one second too late. From behind, Micaela tackles the pink haired man to the ground. Natsu trying to fight back, gets up on his feet and the temperature suddenly becomes increasingly hot from his rise in magic. Then the Phoenix Mage presses a pressure point near his neck. He drops dead on the dusty ground and area becomes a bearable temperature.
The Phoenix member walks back to his guild mates slowly. The arena is quiet for a while trying to comprehend what happened. A clap is heard from someone who snapped out of the trance, shortly after everyone clapped and rejoiced for the victor.
The two Fairy Tail teams run to Natsu's side and check to see if his still alive.
Yoriko checks his pulse and suddenly Natsu begins to cough. Opening his eyes slowly everyone is relieved.
"Okay thank you for that...quick battle. The victor of the opening match is Mica Aira. Everyone will receive a ten minute break to devise their targets." Chapati dismisses himself and the other hosts.
Every guild was assigned a place to rest where security was tight so no one could be assassinated or kidnapped. Specially made for each guild was their emblem on a banner that was hung in their chamber. The room consisted of four white couches in a square with a table in the centre and some paper and pens for writing down game plans. The wall was a beautiful aqua colour as it reached the ground it fades to ivory. The floor was a soft cream coloured carpet. A mini fridge and bar was on the second floor of the quaters with glass stairs leading to it.
"That Micaela...he's strong, perhaps he uses speed magic like Jet." Gray says. "Poor ash for brains couldn't do anything after getting a poke."
Before they could begin insulting each other Erza sits them both down on the couch with much force.
"Micaela doesn't have speed magic, as a matter of fact he didn't even use magic during the match. I didn't feel any magic being expelled from him." Erza's statement made her other team mates eyes go wide. "This puts every other guild at a disadvantage... If any of you face him. Do. Not. Panic." She looks at Natsu and stares him down. The dragon slayer sinks lower into the couch.
A siren rings and signals for all teams to go back on field. They rise from their seats and try to compose themselves, Wendy looks slightly shaken and nervous. Natsu looks as stiff as a statue from Erza's death stare while Gray is hysterically laughing along with Cana.
Chapati takes his seat and finds his notes for the announcements. "Okay, welcome back everyone, I'll announce the events in a second." As he says those words, the same large stone tablet rises from the ground. Their already I are people trying to hold their excitement in, most people are shouting for the host to hurry up.
"Lets wipe the score of last years game and start of with..." As Chapati speaks, the stone tablet emits a bright light and two words are chiseled at the top of it as event number one.
"One Emperor!"
He reads it off of the tablet and the overexcited crowd roars. "There is an eight levelled pyramid and the first one to get to the top wins! Easy enough, right? Each level there is a condition set up, only until one person drops out on each level are the remaining people allowed to continue." The host smiles darkly and Yajime looks at him worriedly.
The stone tablet disappears and is replaced with a large square pyramid that rose to the sky. It cast a shadow on one side of the crowd that put them in almost total darkness. Lights suddenly flickered on and sighs of relief were heard.
"Everyone please choose one participant from each guild to represent your team." Jenny Rearlight said and winked to the audience.
"I'll go!"
Straight off the bat, Natsu volunteers for this event. "I'm getting revenge from that Miso soup!"
"Hey burnt brain, it's Micaela and for once use your tiny brain, ever wonder if he didn't participate, would your revenge not work without him?" Gray snickers and Erza turns swiftly to the duo.
"N-No Erza, we're best friends!" Just narrowly avoiding her death glare, they've gone back to the buddy-buddy facade.
Natsu is pushed forward by Erza and the team wishes him luck again.
"Don't mess up again!" Cana almost falls over, she was busy drinking in the middle of the games. Erza swipes the bottle out of her grasp.
The screen that the spectators watched lit up with faces of the participants and the Yajime announced the names.
"From Fairy Tail Team A, Gajeel Redfox
From Fairy Tail Team B, Natsu Dragneel,
From Mermaid Heel, Kagura Mikazuchi,
From Blue Pegasus, Ichiya Vandalay Kotobuki,
From Lamia Scale, Chelia Blendy,
From Sabertooth, Sting Eucliffe
From Phoenix, Yuna Aurora."
A midnight haired girl with bright ocean blue eyes at the ground trying to avoid everyone's gaze. "Why does everyone have to stare..." She grumbles. "It's like the carousel all over again."
"Everyone please make your way to the first tier of the pyramid." Jenny says and they all jog to the starting spot. "Simulator is firing...you may start...now!"
Nothing happened for a while until they all started scratching their itchy scalps. Chelia Blendy screamed in horror and looked at her hands. To the crowd it seemed like she was just stupidly screaming at nothing but to her and the others on the pyramid, she was holding the falling pieces of her hair. Soon after everyone on the pyramid started complaining of hair loss. Chelia had enough and surrendered, she was transported from the pyramid to where her team mates were standing. Her master was already spinning her around in endless circles. Chelia went to touch her hair while spinning and funnily enough the hair losing was just a hallucination.
"Level one has been completed. Make your way to level two please." Rushing to the next level, Sting and Natsu were already too eager while the Yuna girl of Phoenix was still hanging her head low.
Jenny once again announced the level start and soon everyone on the pyramid were kneeling .
"Pins and needles?!" Kagura was panicking, she couldn't lose to this. For a minute everyone endured the case of pins and needles. The swords woman gave up. Feeling pathetic and defeated, she ran to Erza for comfort and was almost smothered by the demon.
"Level two complete, everyone to level three please."
The third level was when things got serious, everyone was laughing uncontrollable and looked like they were going to die from it. Gajeel was choking form lack of air, his pride was on the line but he couldn't take it anymore and manages to scream a pretty high pitched surrender.
Pantherlily looked at the Metal Dragon Slayer with pity, something so... petty managed to knock Gajeel from the competition.
They were on level seven, it was one against one. The Yuna girl suddenly spoke to Natsu. "You know I think I prefer the Ferris wheel way better! Looking from up high, the view looks great of those ants down there."
Her crimson red eyed twin sister was sweat dropping at her sister's behaviour.
This only happens when she's looking down on a lot of people...
Level six completed. It's our last level! Ten points go to the victor." Jenny, for the last time guides and announces start. Natsu and the overly cheerful Yuna make their way to the last level.
Back then Natsu thought that the Phoenix member would have quit at the start.
Right at that moment, the dragon slayer feels that sickly feeling like he was riding a train. Dragneel opens his eyes to see himself on a boat, then a train and finally a magic-runned car. But there was someone off in the distance, far enough that he couldn't reach. Tears formed in his eyes as he saw her blonde hair and brown eyes.
"Stop!" He shouts at the top of my lungs and falls onto his knees.
"Phew...I was about to cry, carousels kill me on the inside." Yuna sighs in relief.
Chapati announces Yuna as the winner of One Emperor. The white haired girl stands on the highest level and jumps in joy.
"Congrats Yuna!" Mica shouts and smiles as he sees his teammate come to the sidelines. The ocean eyed slayer ignores him and the male tries to strangle the girl, luckily for her the hooded figure was holding him back.
"Isn't it too easy Yuna?" The white haired Celeste spoke, she was a member of their guild and part of the team. She yawns tiredly.
"Yeah it is."
Natsu woke up to loud screeching, his hands travel to his ears and try blocking the sound but that doesn't help. Someone grabs him by the shoulders and slaps the mage across the face. He opens his eyes and sees Yoriko standing to the right side of the medical bed of Fairy Tail team B's room.
"Sorry about that but I can't have you be in a trance anymore." She says and he nods thankfully.
"So what happened up there...on the pyramid. Apparently that level was originally scrapped but they used it anyway. They called it Nightmare. By name you should have figured out that whatever you felt or saw was your nightmare."
"Trains, boats and the rest of those machines..." Chills run down his spine. And Lucy.
"Here, Master and Wendy said these pills will help you recover your strength." Yoriko hands over a glass of water and the medicine. "Erza will come get you later, rest up." The girl leaves and smiles at Natsu. Taking Yoriko's advice, he sleeps after taking the pills she handed to him.
The voice sounded so familiar...
Natsu slowly open his eyes and took in the surroundings. The sky was a fiery sunset with a bright sun overhead. The wind whistles and the ocean's waves crash in his ears.
He gets up from the lying position and stands up to see the full landscape.
"Natsu!" The voice shouts again and I hear a slight laugh.
Who was calling me?
The dragon slayer sees a figure in the distance, the person was waving.
The person started talking but the voice became muffled.
Sunlight became suddenly so bright that Natsu couldn't stand to look. The ground started to burn, his blood boiled and organs felt like exploding.
Natsu screams out in agony but the sound was blocked out the piercing cry of the wind.
Who was waving at me? Is that person still there?
Dragneel wakes up with a jolt and heavily breathes.
"It was a d-dream." He puts a hand to his heart.
A click and the room is suddenly engulfed in artificial light.
"Natsu! Do you want to watch the rest of the games?" Erza Scarlet entered the team's quarters.
"Sure."
They watched as Gray clashed with Lyon. Ice shattering into millions of pieces, it was snowing on the sunny day.
"The first match up was Alice Aurora from Phoenix and Jura, the Wizard Saint. The girl used the same technique as Aira, pressure points. We still haven't got a clue about their magic." Erza informed Natsu of what he missed out.
"Gray-sama! Juvia wants you to win!" From the side lines the rain lady cheered.
Lyon started spluttering. "What about me Juvia!?"
Gray used the distraction and successfully caught the other Ice Mage off guard.
"Five points to Fairy Tail Team B! We will be back soon with the point results!" Jenny Rearlight signs off.
"Phoenix...is mocking us. Seeing how many mages they can fool with the same trick." Erza looks amused. "I'm going to break their combo."
"We're back with the tally!" The stone tablet rises and shows the scores.
'Phoenix : 15 points
Fairy Tail Team B : 11 points
Sabertooth : 5 points
Blue Pegasus : 4 points
Quarto Cerberus : 3 points
Fairy Tail Team A : 2 points
Mermaid Heel : 1 point
Lamia scale : 0 points'
"It seems Phoenix and Fairy Tail have a big lead! That wraps it up for day one of the Grand Magic Games!" Chapati stands up and bows. Yajime also does the same.
"Thank you everyone" Jenny says enthusiastically. "See you tomorrow!"