|It was horrible. What happened during the competition for the fourth day was horrible. There were no other words to describe it. If only someone saw it coming; then the administration might have been able to prevent it. But as it stands, there was nothing that anyone could do.|
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"It's the beginning of the fourth day, and our competition for today is titled Naval Battle! The rules are simple! Anyone who leaves the sphere of water is out! The last person to remain in the sphere is the winner! However, when it comes down to the final two, a special rule will come into effect. This is the five-minute rule! Whoever leaves the sphere during those five minutes will be ranked dead last!"
"So it's basically a sumo match underwater."
"Allow me to introduce our guest for today! This is Madoka Kaname, the guild master of Magia!"
"It's great to be here! I hope we get to see some fun battles today as well!"
"Our competitors are entering the water! We have Cheria from Lamia Scale, Jenny from Blue Pegasus, Risley from Mermaid Heel, Juvia from Fairy Tail B, Sayaka from Magia, Minerva from Sabertooth, and Lucy from Fairy Tail A!"
"Who do you think will win, Miss Madoka?" Yajima asked.
"Mm, well I'm definitely rooting for Sayaka-chan! Even so, you can't count out the Fairy Tail and Sabertooth contenders! Despite what happened to Lucy in her debut, I can tell she's strong!"
"And now, let the Naval Battle BEGIN!"
"Sorry, everyone!" Lucy called. "Open! Gate of the Water Bearer, Aquarius!"
"Water is my domain!" she declared as a torrent of water blasted out of her jug. Many of the competitors were swept away, but Sayaka managed to dodge at the last second.
"I may not know a lot of water magic, but it will do!" Sayaka smirked as she whooshed away.
"Juvia won't let you! Water Cyclone!" Juvia cried and a torrent of her own came out to meet Aquarius's.
Kyoko whistled. "Looks like we've got a highlight already!"
"As long as she doesn't try to cut in, she should be fine," Mami sighed. "I know we told her not to be as stubborn or stand out, but…"
"I can't help but worry," Nagisa finished. "But she's Sayaka-san! We should trust her."
Sayaka grinned at the water battle in front of her. "Oh wow, they're strong! Too bad I can't join in… But I'll make do with this!" She launched herself at Jenny and swung her leg.
"You're asking for it!" Jenny called as she dodged.
"Come at me with everything you've got!" she yelled as she swirled her hands together and sent a sphere of water at her.
"And it looks as though another battle is starting between Jenny and Sayaka!"
"Don't forget about me!" Cheria called as she sent blasts of air at them. Sayaka and Jenny both dodged and countered with their own attacks, magic or otherwise.
"Virgo! Aries!" she heard and a fluffy pink cloud bloomed in the water.
"And Lucy's just called out two more of her spirits!" Madoka commented. "I don't really approve of Aquarius leaving… but I'm sure it's because she believed that Lucy could handle herself!"
"Juvia is going to knock you all out at once!" She thrust her hand upward as water swirled around it. "Juvia learned this move when her Second Origin was released… this new special technique! Go forth, wings of love!" She thrust her cyclone at the other competitors. "My darling Gray, love!"
"What's with this girl?!" Sayaka hissed as she created a wall of water. She heard the screams of three people as Jenny, Cheria, and Risley were dumped out of the sphere and onto the ground.
"Would you look at that? Juvia has just knocked three people out of the water!" Chapati called. "In a water battle, Juvia is undefeatable!"
Suddenly, Juvia found herself out of the water sphere and flopped to the ground.
"She may have been outstanding, but now she's out with fourth place!"
"Eh?" Sayaka blinked. It was almost like someone had teleported her out. She looked at Minerva and saw a faint glow of magic fade away. It seems as though the real battle is only just beginning.
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Homura gritted her teeth as she watched the face-off between the three competitors. I'm getting a bad feeling about this… Is this why Madoka decided to commentate? So she'll be able to call any foul plays?
Kyoko looked over at her. "Homura?" she whispered.
She shook her head. "It's not the X Event, but something's going to happen in this battle." Kyoko's gaze grew dark as they watched the battle. "Sayaka, be careful. I'm sensing that something bad is going to happen."
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Lucy narrowly dodged the torpedo that was Sayaka. I have to get a Spirit out here! Lucy thought as she glanced at Minerva and Sayaka.
"Lucy-san, listen to me."
She nearly gave a start but still managed to dodge the incoming kick. As Sayaka rushed up to her she heard the low voice again.
"Something bad is going to happen."
"W-what?" Lucy whispered as she attempted to punch her.
"Homura's got a bad feeling about this match, and you don't ever ignore her warnings," Sayaka said as she ducked under and uppercutted. She spun into a kick as she added, "She telepathed it to me."
"But then shouldn't you-?"
"Lucy-san, do you trust me?"
Lucy stared deep into her eyes as she covered her action with a punch. "...I do. You seem like a nice enough person and you helped Yukino when you could've ignored her."
Sayaka's bangs hovered over her eyes. "Then I hope you understand. Storm Sinfonia!" she cried as she swished her hand in a circle and thrust it out. A large jet of water tore through and slammed into Lucy, who cried out. She found herself knocked out of the water and on the ground.
"Aaand Lucy's out! Even so, she managed to score her team six points!"
...Sayaka…? she thought as she stared up at the two figures in the sphere.
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"Our lady is a mischievous one, isn't she? With her magic, she should have been able to get them all out of the sphere in an instant," Sting stated.
"She's already won this," Lector agreed.
Rogue frowned as he recalled the words of the blue-haired girl from two nights before.
"You toy with a girl's feelings and then condemn her?! You aren't even human; you're a monster!" she screamed as her eyes blazed with fury. This wasn't someone who was just saying the words, this was someone who experienced it firsthand.
But how will you stand up to the might of Minerva, Sayaka Miki? he wondered.
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"The person who leaves the sphere in the next five minutes will be in last place!"
Sayaka smirked uneasily as she stared at Minerva. She's undoubtedly the most dangerous one here. The final boss, in a sense.
"With my magic, I could have you outside of here in a flash," Minerva stated. "But that would spoil the fun." She raised a hand and held it with her palm facing Sayaka. "Try to withstand this, Magia."
A shimmering light grew brighter and brighter until it completely overtook her. Sayaka screamed as her limbs contracted out of her control.
It BURNS!
She screamed once again as the light stopped and pressed a hand to her head. That time it was heavy… like a pounding ache in my head… She narrowed her eyes at Minerva and summoned a cutlass in hand. "Allegro!" she cried as she held her sword out in front of her and a magical aura surrounded her.
Minerva smirked and held out her hand but Sayaka brandished her sword and shot forward, dodging the various blasts of magic she sent.
"Taaake this!" she said as she swung her sword. Minerva merely sent a blast of magic that flung her back to the edge of the sphere.
Increasing my speed allows me to dodge… but it doesn't help with taking the attacks, Sayaka winced. She circled around Minerva warily. If I can just hold on until the five minutes are up…!
The timer read 4:02.
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Fairy Tail watched as a chain reaction of blasts rang out, but Sayaka zipped through all of them and attempted to strike Minerva. The black-haired woman simply flicked her hand and sent her flying.
"I wonder what kind of magic this is…" Erza thought out loud. "Not only can it burn underwater, but it can also manipulate objects… I suppose this is how Juvia was knocked out."
Sayaka flung her sword at her but it was teleported behind her target.
"Sayaka…" Lucy muttered.
"Hm? Lucy what's wrong?" Juvia asked.
"She said that something bad was going to happen… I'm worried," she admitted.
Sayaka screamed as another blast of magic hit her but she righted herself immediately and charged once again.
"She really is something!" Natsu exclaimed. "She's just shrugging off all of those attacks! When she stormed the guild with me, I got to see some of her power, but I never expected something like this!"
Multiple swords were flung at Minerva, but all of them were deflected in an instant. Sayaka was sent to the very edge, but with a torrent of magic she managed to send herself away.
The clock now read 2:45.
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Sayaka huffed as she glared at Minerva, who was floating above her with a smug grin. Bruises littered her body. That bastard… she hasn't moved an inch! She's just toying with me! Her fists clenched and she gritted her teeth.
"You…" she growled. "First you toy with your own guildmate's feelings, then you toy with me?! In a goddamn match?!" She summoned an array of swords behind her. "You're gonna get it handed to you, lady!" She rushed at her with her swords following behind her.
Minerva's expression finally shifted into one of slight irritation as she stretched her hand back and thrust it at Sayaka. A blast of magic careened into her and sent her tumbling to the edge.
Sayaka grunted with pain and just barely managed to stop herself from falling out. She raised her hand and commanded her swords to let loose.
Minerva simply smacked them all away and sent them flying back at Sayaka. "You're starting to irritate me. Why don't you stay down?" she asked, but her voice was laced with venom.
Sayaka dodged the projectiles, which buried themselves in the arena floor below. "Because an ally of justice will never lose to someone like you!" she retorted as she sent a torrent of water at her.
Something in Minerva's gaze shifted. "Never, you say?" She raised her hand and fired again and again at Sayaka. "What do you know? We are the world's number one guild! Insects like you should be rotting at the bottom!"
Sayaka dodged the projectiles, her eyes shadowed over. Some of the blasts hit her, but she merely grimaced slightly and kept moving. "...You called me an insect?" she whispered quietly. "Bitches like you… shouldn't even DARE TO LOOK DOWN ON OTHERS!" she screeched as she burst forth and slammed her sword into Minerva. The bubbles cleared to reveal Minerva blocking the sword with a single hand, multi-colored aura shimmering around it.
"So the pest talks back?" she sneered. Sayaka glared at her and tightened her grip. "You're getting a little too arrogant, Magia. Remember who you are talking to. Do you know what it means to diss Sabertooth?"
Sayaka's eyes widened as white light shone from below. She screamed as she was thrust upward, the light overtaking her body as it torched her.
She hadn't realized she shut off her sense of pain until she stopped screaming but the light still shone around her. She drew back her fist and sent it straight at Minerva, socking her in the face.
"Do you know what it means to trample on another girl's feelings?" she stated coldly. "To crush their hopes in an instant?"
This time Minerva flat out growled at her as she clenched her hand around Sayaka's neck. "You dare to hit me?!"
Sayaka let out a surprised gasp as her hands flew to her throat. "C-can't…" She's going to kill me! She's going to… fucking… kill me!
She heard shocked murmurs from around her, but they seemed faint; distant. There were various other noises mixed in, but they all started to blur, making her unable to make out most of the words. However, she could still hear distinct voices piercing through the haze.
"Stop the match; she's going to DIE!"
"SAYAKA-CHAN!"
"Sayaka!"
Sayaka gasped as her struggles became weaker and weaker. I don't… I don't…!
I DON'T WANT TO DIE LIKE THIS!
With that, the world exploded into darkness.
The timer read 0:00.
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"Stop the match; she's going to DIE!" Kyoko roared. However, the pumpkin referee seemed frozen in place.
"SAYAKA-CHAN!" Madoka screeched, her amplified voice echoing painfully loud. Still, most of the people seemed frozen.
"Oh my god, oh my god…" Nagisa was muttering as she buried her head in her hands. Even Homura was staring at the scene with furious eyes and clenched teeth.
Then Sayaka's body seemed to collapse within itself and explode into darkness.
Plumes of black rose within the water and expanded to form the vague outline of a fish monster. It pulsated until it fully formed and hardened, the black slipping away to reveal the beast underneath.
Homura's eyes widened as her mouth hung agape. A palpable sense of dread started to form in the air as the audience erupted into harsh clamoring. Bronze metal glinted from within the sphere, and the creature's bony arms gleamed as water rushed over it. Her jewel flashed crazily as she stared right at the form… of Oktavia von Seckendorff.
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Erza stared in horror at the eldritch abomination in front of her. This magic… this signature…
Is this the true power of a Witch Soul?
She could practically taste the despair that seemed to radiate from the monster in waves. The monster itself was shaped like a mermaid donned with a knight's armor, complete with a facial mask, green 'fins', and a billowing blue cape.
Beside her, Wendy trembled as she clung to Natsu. "I'm scared…!"
"The hell is that thing?!" Gray growled.
"Whatever it is… it ain't natural," Natsu hissed. "It just can't be."
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Down at the arena floor, the competitors were trembling as they stared at the witch.
"W-what is that thing?" Risley muttered. "It looks like a mermaid, but…"
"L-Lucy?" Juvia stammered. "Juvia is scared… Do you know what that is?" She turned and looked at the shellshocked girl. "Lucy?"
"Sayaka…" she was murmuring. "What happened to you?" What in the world did you turn to? Her mind then turned to something else. She knew that something bad was going to happen… If she didn't knock me out, then I would be on the receiving end of Minerva's wrath… Is this all my fault?
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To say that Milliana was startled was an understatement.
"S-she seemed nice enough when we battled…" she stuttered. "But she… she could turn into this thing?! W-w-what…?"
The other guild members weren't much better. "A mermaid monster…" Beth gasped.
"It's not… this isn't right," Arania said. "This… isn't right. What's going on?"
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Minerva froze at the sight of a giant monster looming over her. She quickly regained her bearings and clenched her fists.
Who… Just who does this girl think she is?! First she mocks me, then she berates me… now she's somehow escaped me without my permission! Her pupils dilated as she glared at the monster. I am Minerva Orlando! Daughter of the guild master of Sabertooth, the strongest guild in Fiore! WHO DOES SHE THINK SHE IS?!
She raised a hand and encompassed the entire beast with her magic before detonating it. White light burned bright but the beast raised a spindly arm and charged at her with a sword in hand. She narrowly dodged before sending another explosion at the monster, moving around the sphere for the first time.
The beast howled and charged once again, sending a flurry of slashes mixed with rotating spheres of water. She evaded all of the sword strikes and sent the projectiles flying back at it.
"Die!" she snarled as she poured more power into her strikes. The beast screeched and brought its sword down, but she switched their positions and lashed out with her magic. She smiled wickedly as she continued to damage the beast again and again.
With a final crack, the monster's form shattered, leaving only the limp body of Sayaka. She ruthlessly slammed her leg into her stomach and sent the girl flying out of the sphere, where she crumbled on the ground, unconscious and wet.
The remaining four members of Magia instantly appeared next to her and picked her up, water streaming down from her limp body as she hung like deadweight from their arms. Homura sent a death glare at the referee filled with so much venom, fury, and hate that those who caught sight of it couldn't help but shiver at its intensity. In another instant, they disappeared.
The arena was dead silent.
"W-well, the competition is over! The winner is Minerva! Even with S-Sayaka's surprising form change, she still took the match!" The commentator glanced over at Madoka and squeaked. "M-miss Madoka…?"
Her once cheerful and serene face was completely and utterly gone, replaced with a tight frown and clenched fists. A frightening glare was in her eyes as a deadly aura surrounded her, trumping even Yajima's own death glare after the very first battle of the Games. If looks could kill, she would have slaughtered anyone who caught sight of her eyes, cold, harsh, golden eyes gleaming from where she sat.
"Minerva?" she remarked. "You may be a monster, but you have brought the wrath of a witch upon you."
The commentator stared at her before hesitantly clearing his throat. "E-erm, Miss Madoka, could you possibly tell us about Sayaka's strange form…?" He yelped when Madoka turned to him.
"It was a Witch Soul takeover," she replied, surprising many in the audience. "A much more powerful one than Nagisa's, if only because she can't control it as well. She absolutely hates using it and only ever does so as a last resort." Her glare tightened. "The only reason she used it was because she was about to die." She stood abruptly and turned. "Now if you'll excuse me, I have to check on Sayaka's condition," she said before she left.
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Madoka rushed to her guild's infirmary, her footsteps echoing in the lonely corridors. She burst into the room and cried, "Is Sayaka alright?"
Four heads turned to greet her. "She's alive for now," Kyoko grunted. "But there isn't much we can do to help her… We're lucky that Sayaka has crazy regenerative powers, but even then it's cutting it close." They moved out of the way as Madoka stepped forth and her hands glowed a light pink.
"...I'm cleansing her soul gem, but Sayaka-chan will have to do the healing on her own," Madoka sighed. "With my level of healing magic, healing her body directly would be too risky, to be quite frank. Especially if…" She let the words go unsaid.
"Still, for Sayaka-san to be forced to use her Witch form…" Mami muttered. "I really hope she'll be okay."
Madoka frowned. Sayaka hates using her Witch form. Now that she has, how will she deal with the repercussions? She refrained from sighing once again. Although I can heal her physical wounds, I can't fix her mental scars. I had hoped for these Games to be a fun excursion, and look how well that turned out.
She felt a hand on her shoulder. "Madoka, don't blame yourself," Homura murmured. "There was no way you could've known this would happen. Besides," she added. "We'll pull through. We always have. 'If someone tells me it's wrong to hope, I'll tell them they're wrong every time.' That's what you said, isn't it? And I believe in your words."
Madoka smiled. "Thanks for cheering me up." She blinked and stood up. "That's about all I can do. And don't be so down!" she added, though her upbeat tone seemed slightly strained. "We've still got the rest of the day to go through. Besides, I'm sure Sayaka will be fine! I have to go now; battles to comment," she hastily explained before hurrying out. However, instead of heading back outside she turned the other way.
Why do I still have this feeling of something going horribly wrong? she asked herself. And there's a strange tug pulling me somewhere, like I need to go there or else… But where could it be? Why? And just what is this 'X Event' that both Homura and I can sense?
A/N: I find it fitting that this happened on chapter 13 o3o
I'm pretty sure I went a biiit overboard with the characters this time o3o It's raining OOCness~ rip
Is pretty sure that I butchered Minerva's character
Explaining Minerva's action: Sayaka's determination pissed her off. Yeah, that's about all I can say. She didn't think an 'insect' would be able to fend off her attacks so well (and if you look in the original ep, the fact that Lucy said that she's never giving up pissed her off, so I figure that Sayaka insulting her on top of that would really make her blow her top
Explaining Sayaka's loss: By the time she went Oktavia, she was already badly bruised plus the fact that she was subconsciously rejecting her form even while she was already in it.
Anything else I need to explain (read: make an excuse for)?
Some of the things that happened here are a bit of a stretch, but I got the idea stuck in my head and I couldn't leave it alone the potential of it was 2 gud
At any rate, I hope I was able to do this battle justice! Next chapter: Aftermath!