Chapter Eleven – Grand Magic Games
"Oi!"
Natsu groaned, blindly reaching for a pillow and stuffed it in his ears, rolling onto his side.
"Oi, get up, flame-brain!"
He snored.
"Alright, you asked for it—Ice Make: Water!"
The atmosphere chilled (which didn't bother the sleeping dragon at all, considering that his own abnormal body heat dispelled all frosty sensations) and without delay, the snickering dark-haired mage dumped a bucketful of freezing water down the previously dead-to-the-world Dragon Slayer.
Although the ice immediately warmed upon contact with his feverish skin, the shock of having a liter of liquid poured down his shirt effectively woke the pink-haired mage.
Natsu spluttered, clothes and futon soaked, as he glared angrily at a smirking Gray.
"Oh good, you're both up," Erza poked her head into the room the two males shared (albeit with much reluctance), only to find one furious (not to mention drenched) Dragon Slayer glowering at the resident Ice mage, who was wearing a shit-eating grin.
The scarlet-haired woman seemed unbothered by her teammates' silent controversy, merely telling them to hurry as the first section of the tournament would begin in fifteen minutes, before disappearing again.
"Thanks a lot, asshole," Natsu scowled, bursting into flames (quite literally). Though the fire did not harm him physically, it did succeed in drying his shirt and hair (which spiked up in all directions with a poof!), as well as his makeshift ("traditional," Erza had declared. The Dragon Slayer sorely missed the heavenly malleable material of Lucy's bed, as well as his mate's scent—something he needed daily, and ever since she … left, sleeping in her bed was the only way to inhale his daily dose of Lucy; her scent was quickly becoming a drug, and he was definitely addicted) bed on the hotel floor.
"Anytime," Gray smirked.
"Stupid stripper," Natsu muttered, clambering to his feet and changing into the purple Fairy Tail uniform.
"What was that, squinty-eyes?!" he shouted.
"You heard me, exhibitionist!" Natsu retorted, pointing out his usual lack of clothing.
Gray looked down and cursed before rushing towards his own futon and scrounging for his missing shirt.
"Idiot," the Dragon Slayer rolled his eyes, re-wrapping his precious scarf made of dragon scales around his neck.
Gray shot him a fuming look.
… That, of course, only encouraged Natsu to continue shouting snarky insults to the already-enraged Ice mage, which then led to one of their universal (and destructive) fights.
XXXXX
When the two males finally re-emerged from their room (fully clothed this time), calm and presentable, and met up with the rest of their teammates (Erza glared at them, noiselessly mouthing, "I'll deal with the two of you later." They gulped in dread.), the games have already begun.
"Welcome to the annual Grand Magic Games!" Yajima, a former member of the Magic Council, announced.
Cheers rose from the massive number of spectators in the stands that looped the giant stadium.
From somewhere to his right, Natsu swore he heard a faint whisper of, "I heard the Dragon Princess is attending this year!" and (in a tenor full of admiration and surprise) a response of, "no way! Seriously? She's supposed to be insanely powerful!"
But as the commentators continued to call out the participating teams and their members, even with the keen sense of hearing he had as an esteemed Dragon Slayer, Natsu could no longer make out what they were saying above the roar of the crowds.
He pushed this new piece of information to the back of his mind, mentally jolting down a note to ask Erza what the mysterious people were referring to later on.
Natsu grinned and strode towards the center of the arena with his companions as Yajima called each member of their team.
"And here comes Fairy Tail A! Natsu Dragneel, Gray Fullbuster, Erza Scarlet and Elfman Strauss!"
"With their strongest members back on the field, will Fairy Tail finally regain their lost title as the Number One Guild in Fiore?!" Chapati, the second official announcer of the games, remarked.
"Of course!" Natsu shouted, earning hoots from the (surprisingly small) audience, who still supported their guild, even after their mysterious seven-year disappearance.
As Fairy Tail B arrived, the two united teams watched in silence as the remaining guilds were publicized.
Finally, the last group was called out to stand—
"Now give it up for Fiore's Current Strongest Guild: Sabertooth! This year, their team will consist of; Rufus Lohr, Yukino Aguria, Orga Nanagear, and last but certainly not least, the Infamous Twin Dragons—Sting Eucliff and Rogue Cheney!"
As soon as their names were announced, the crowd exploded into cheers (while the 60% population of women swooned in their seats) as the said Dragon Slayers (well, mostly just Sting) waved and smirked when they noticed Gajeel's irritated sneer.
Though wanting to be composed, Natsu's calm façade cracked slightly at the blonde Slayer's taunting scoff that was directed to both him and his fellow nakama.
He was relieved when Mirajane spoke to Gajeel in lowered tones, causing the proud male to relax, though Natsu noticed his shoulders were still stiff.
After enduring the same torturously arrogant attitude from the sly members (read: Sting) of the opposing team for another three minutes while the commentators finished their introductions, Natsu quickly caught up to the Iron Dragon Slayer as he marched towards Fairy Tail's place in the stands, scowling heavily.
"Frikin' conceited bastards," Gajeel muttered when the pink-haired male reached him.
Before Natsu could offer a reassuring, "we'll-beat-those-stupid-grins-off-their-face" prep talk, his furry blue Exceed partner flew up to him.
"Come on, Natsu! The first event is starting!" Happy said excitedly, folding his wings and choosing to plonk comfortably onto his shoulder as said Dragon Slayer grinned enthusiastically and rushed ahead to join his teammates as Mato (an odd creature with a pumpkin for a head, who wore a striped jacket, boots, pants, white gloves, and a green witch hat) relayed the primary ground rules for the episode.
Natsu felt Happy shiver when Mato announced (with quite a large smile, the Salamander might add) that the sponsors would not be taking responsibility for any deaths during the procedures.
"Don't worry," Natsu told his neko companion, eyes focused and burning with determination, "we'll be fine."
Pausing as Erza began organizing tactic plans, Natsu murmured absentmindedly, "I wonder if she's watching?"
Happy simply patted his muffler with a paw. The Dragon Slayer managed a small smile at his friend's attempt at comfort.
"Come on, slowpoke! What're you doing, waiting there like some dumbass?" Gray called.
Natsu was jolted out of his musings as he yelled back cheerfully, "who're you calling a dumbass, you perverted asshole?!"
The Dragon Slayer laughed when Erza slapped the disgruntled Ice mage on the back, his sharp ears picking up the sounds of the scarlet-haired female's chiding tone.
Happy didn't miss the tiny tear that slid down his best friend's cheek silently as Natsu stepped towards his raucous and amiable family.
Lucy … come home soon, the azure Exceed prayed mutely, watching as his foster father continued to quarrel playfully with Gray, but the melancholy lingered in his onyx-coloured orbs.
