Part 11
While the members of Fairy Tail were going back to the inn that served as their "Guild Hall" at the moment Team Exceed were going to spy. They were going to follow Winter Solstice and find out what they looked like underneath those hoods… and to meet that new exceed.
They'd just left the arena when Frosch and Lector joined them. They were on the same kind of mission, but from "My lady". She had asked them to spy on Winter Solstice or at least find out where the three of them lived. She was worried that they were planning something bad against her guild. True Tundra had acted like a gentleman in that match against Orga. But Bifrost's actions at the competition was appalling. He'd deliberately ruined everyone else's chances for points. He didn't even look ashamed. And what of Booré? He was the only one they hadn't seen the power of yet. They also didn't know what more Bifrost could do, after all… they had just seen him put up a basic enchantment.
"But what puzzles me most about what we saw today is the fact that neither of them spoke", Carla said and looked at the male exceeds around her.
"What do you mean", Happy asked.
"Tundra pulled of some massive and strong spells but he never spoke a word."
"Rufus mentioned that too", Lector remembered. "He'd tried to memorize Tundra's spells but he said he couldn't because there was nothing said about them. He need the names of the spells to be able to replicate them fully… don't mention that to your guild!"
"We promise", Lily said. "As long as you two promise not to mention any secrets we let slip."
"Fro thinks so too", Frosch said happily.
The others looked at him a little confused. But since they all did that Frosch was the only one seeing what was in their way. He stopped in midair while the others continued… and then hit something hard and were thrown down to the street. Frosch just stared at his friends and then at the obstacle in front of him. He looked at the massive wings, the armor, the shield and the sword. He tried to look at the face but it was hidden in a hood. But he saw the Winter Solstice sign on the armor. The person pointed their sword at him and then disappeared. Frosch hurried down to the others.
"What happened?" Carla asked while rubbing her head. Frosch helped her up. "Were we attacked?"
"Fro thinks so too", was the reply she got.
"By who?" Lector asked while rubbing his head.
"Big cat!" Frosch said with a big smile.
"A big cat?" Lily asked and Frosch nodded. "The Winter Solstice exceed?"
"Fro thinks so too."
"He can transform in the same manner as Lily and Samuel?" Carla asked and they all looked around for the red exceed and they soon spotted him walking around in the crowd. They five exceeds flew straight against him. The blood red exceed turned and glared at them with black eyes.
"What do you want?" he snapped angrily.
"Why did you attack us?" Lily asked calmly. Happy was angry but was held back by Carla's intense stare. Lector and Frosch were too much in awe of Lily to interrupt. Ever since they saw him transform into his bigger form and spar off with Erza they had been in awe of him. Lector was trying to learn that transforming magic but he couldn't. Lector looked at the blood red exceed and saw him narrow his eyes angrily.
"You were spying on my family", he said. "I was only protecting them."
"We meant no harm", Carla said. "We just wanted-"
"To find out where we are staying and figure out their weaknesses", the red exceed interrupted. "Don't try to deny it. Just go away and leave my family alone!"
"Look", Lector began but then had to jump back when the red exceed pulled out his sword and aimed it at him. Lily hurriedly pulled his own sword and swiped at the red exceed. They started fencing and Happy was sure Lily would win. But the red exceed was easily holding his own against Lily. It was an even match and no one was dominating it. But Lily was in awe of the other exceeds talent.
"Mars!" a voice suddenly called and the blood red exceed stopped an attack that would've cut Lily's ear off. He turned around and looked up at the man in a cloak with a black sweater, white pants, black thigh high boots, black elbow long gloves and around the wrists of the glove there were thick silver bracelets. He held his arms crossed.
"Tundra", the blood red exceed, Mars, said and lowered his sword.
"Don't waste your energy on them… they're not our enemy after all", Tundra said calmly.
"But… but they were spying on you and-"
"I'm sure they meant no harm. Now come. The others are waiting for us."
"But they were going to make you get hurt!" Mars objected with tears in his eyes. Tundra kneeled and held his arms open. Mars jumped into them and Tundra hugged him close. He got up slowly.
"No one will hurt me", he said. "Or you." Behind him appeared Bifrost and Booré. The trio stood there looking at the exceed. Carla watched them and her eyes widened when she got a vision. She saw the three of them in somewhat torn clothes, injured and facing off with a massive monster in the middle of the arena. She could barely make out a few figures laying unconscious on the ground. But as fast as it came the vision was gone. She blinked and noticed that Winter Solstice was gone and that the other exceeds were trying to get her attention. But she told them there was nothing to worry about before turning around and heading for their guild. Lector and Frosch said their goodbyes as well and headed back to Sabertooth.
In a room on the third floor of a small tavern the three members of the Winter Solstice along with Mars the exceed sat around a table, relaxing. In a corner of the room there were shadows so dark no light could penetrate them and in that shadow was a great power hidden.
"The first day went by without any trouble", Bifrost told that power. "There was nothing the other guilds could do to us today."
"But we can't get too cocky", Booré added. "It's just the first day. Who knows what awaits around the corner."
"You have all grown strong my sweets", a voice said from the shadows. "But the real test is about to begin I believe."
"Remind me, why are we doing this?" Tundra asked and lowered his hood, running a hand through his spiky hair.
"It is an opportunity for us to practice and to strengthen our new powers", Bifrost replied. "Before we start with our real plans."
"Besides… it's a lot of fun", Booré answered and smiled at them. Mars sat on the table and looked between all three of them.
"I know you'll win", the exceed stated.
"Of course. Our girl is cheering for us."
Mars smiled proudly and ran a paw through her short black hair-like fur. Her guild really was the best. She had no doubt they would win the whole game. The people of Fiore and those other guilds had only seen a few things Winter Solstice could do. Not all their secret arts had been revealed and she knew that her guild would shock everyone… over and over again. She smirked. Oh they'd be surprised alright, very surprised.
TBC No I didn't mix up. Mars is a queen (term for female cat ;) ) but when the story is of the Faory Tail POV or someone else I will write he because they all think Mars is a tom.
