7 Years and Counting

by Maximillian Havisham

The sequel to "The Knight & Her Guardian Dragon". Things have changed in Fiore since the return of Fairy Tail's strongest from Tenrou Island. Still picking up the pieces and finding their place, Fairy Tail encounters new rivals and enemies; but Natsu and Erza have a different dilemma on their hands as they try to make up for 7 years of lost time with their daughter. Cancelled.

20. GMG: The Grand Finale

FIRE DRAGON IRON FIST

Natsu lunged forward, his burning fist aimed at Orga, but the massive man jumped into the air, evading the dragon slayer's attack. Damn, he's fast for a big guy.

As Orga floated in the air he held out his palm, black lightning charging in the center.

BLACK LIGHTNING SPHERE

The ball of black lightning was aimed squarely at Natsu, the cackling and static serving to make the pinkette's hair stand on end. Laxus moved to intercept.

"Move!" he grabbed Natsu by his scarf, throwing the dragon slayer behind him.

Natsu hit the ground as he flew back. "Hey! What's the big idea you-"suddenly a huge rock in the shape of a hand appeared over Natsu. He quickly stood up and dashed backwards as the hand collided with where he was previously standing.

"You're a quick thinker when it comes to battle." Jura praised with an eager grin. The rock attack had belonged to him.

Laxus held out his hands, sending forth a stream of lighting towards Orga's sphere. As the two sets of lightning collided, Laxus slowly closed his hands into fists. The action caused his lighting to slowly encircle the black and yellow sphere and compress it. Soon the sphere imploded, creating a bright flash that momentarily blinded all of the other fighters.

The five men reset themselves, all standing in a sizable circle.

Natsu glared at Laxus. "Why did you push me you jerk?!"

"Be grateful that I didn't let him electrocute you to a crisp, idiot."

"I could have handled it."

Orga smirked at Laxus. "That was a pretty cool move there. Using your magic to cancel out mine."

"It was easy since you have so little control over your own power."

"What?" Orga glared, easily falling for the S-Class wizard's taunt.

Natsu pointed everyone's attention towards Alexei. "What's with him? He hasn't moved the whole time."

Orga's cocky smirk returned to his face. "He's probably scared. All that big talk. He's probably shaking under his mask."

Alexei turned his head towards Orga. "My apologies. I was simply waiting for an opportunity to make my move." Suddenly he disappeared.

"Where the hell did he-?" Orga received a hard punch in the face that knocked him over.

Natsu, Laxus, and Jura quickly got on their guards, but they too were felled by the armored wizard. Natsu was kicked into a nearby building while Jura received a swift backhand that sent him flying through a tree. Laxus was the final one to be attacked, doubling over from a hard hit to the gut before being forced to his knees by a crushing kick to the back of his leg.

"Wow!" Lola shouted. "After being immobile, Alexei has suddenly gotten the better of his four opponents. Just how strong is the leader of Team Raven Tail?"

"Laxus!" Evergreen shouted at the screen.

"Get up, Natsu!" Lisanna called out.

Obaba fumed at the display on the screen. "Jura! You better get your sorry butt up right now before I spin ya!" What the old woman didn't know was that she was already in the process of spinning one of her guild members. Not that she would care even if she was aware of her actions.

Makarov glared over to his son, who stood near one of the stadium seating exits with an evil smirk on his lips.

Aura, confused by the old man's anger, looked up to him and asked. "What are you looking at, Grandpa Makarov?"

"The Master of Raven Tail." Makarov answered. "My son, Ivan." He pointed to where Ivan was standing. "He's a very bad man."

Aura looked over to where Makarov pointed, she then looked back at him with a confused stare. "But, there's no one there."

Makarov raised an eyebrow before chuckling at what he thought was a child's innocent statement. "What do you mean? He's right over there, you see? He's the evil man standing next to the exit with the long black beard."

Aura looked over again. "I don't see. Are you ok, Grandpa?"

Makarov began to laugh. "I see. I see. You're playing a joke on me. It's very funny."

"She is right, Master Makarov." Shizuka voiced. "I do not see anyone over there either."

"Ok, this joke has gone on long enough." Makarov's tone started to grow serious.

Alexei stood behind the now kneeling Laxus, his gauntlet's sharpened fingers pointed toward the lightning wizard's neck. Laxus looked back at him, his face wrought with both pain and anger. "I told you, Laxus. You are going to be the first to fall." He pulled back his hand before aiming for Laxus' neck. Before Alexei's gauntlet pierced Laxus' neck, a row of rock pillars emerged between the two. Alexei slid back as one hit his arm. "Damn."

120MM BLACK LIGHTNING CANNON

A concentrated beam of black yellow lightning zoomed towards the Raven Tail wizard. He jumped into the air to dodge it, seeing both Jura and Orga on their feet. Those attacks should have knocked them out.

"Hey!" a voice shouted from above.

Alexei looked upward, seeing a grinning Natsu.

"This is payback for earlier." Natsu's right foot became covered in flames.

FIRE DRAGON TALON

He turned his body and kicked Alexei in the head, sending the armored wizard crashing back down to the ground with a loud crash.

Natsu landed next to Laxus, who was now standing upright. He smiled cockily at his guild mate. "Now we're even."

"Don't get ahead of yourself."

Orga walked over to the crater, cranking his neck to get the soreness caused from Alexei's punch out. "That guy, he caught us off guard."

"Indeed he did." Jura agreed with a nod. "I wasn't expecting him to be that powerful."

Natsu looked down in the crater, squinting to get a better view. "Think he's out?"

Laxus shook his head. "Not a chance. It'll take more than that to take that guy down."

The four wizards looked into the crater and watched as Alexei slowly rose to his feet. "Damn you." He huffed. His mask now sported a huge diagonal crack, with a piece missing that revealed the eye of whoever was underneath it. Soon the mask fell apart, showing Alexei's true face to all in attendance.

"What the?" Natsu questioned in surprise.

Laxus gritted his teeth. "I should have expected this."

Makarov looked back over to Ivan who, much to the old man's shock, was beginning to fade away. "What's going on? Ivan's-" Just then Levy's voice broke his train of thought.

"Master, look!"

Makarov's eyes widened in disbelief as he looked back at the lacrima screen. "It can't be…"

"What's this?!" Lola shouted in shock. The screens had suddenly shifted from Natsu and Laxus' five-way match to Mirajane and Alana's battle with Kurohebi and Obra. To the surprise of the crowd, but most of all Fairy Tail, all four wizards were down with Sting standing over them.

"When did he get there?" Jet asked.

"Oh no, Mira." Lisanna gasped.

"He got Alana too." Cana said, trying to hold in her frustration.

"Did he take out all four of them?" Alzack asked.

"Mama Mira." Aura whimpered as she saw her second mother lie in the rubble unconscious.

"Ladies and Gentleman," Lola began over the mic. "I have just been informed that Mirajane and Alana defeated both Kurohebi and Obra before Sting arrived. I have also been informed that Sting defeated the two women just before our cameras could catch it. So as it stands, Fairy Tail B and Sabertooth both earn 2 points, but Mirajane Strauss, Alana Engel, Kurohebi, and Obra have all been eliminated!"

"What happened?" Droy asked.

30 Minutes Earlier

Mirajane and Alana continued their battle against Kurohebi and Obra. Seeing how Alana could somewhat handle herself without the use of her magic, Mirajane let her handle Obra while she took on the stronger Kurohebi.

SAND REBELLION

The torrent of sand raced towards Mirajane but she swatted away the whirlwind with her Satan Soul tail. She flapped her wings, using the force to propel herself towards Kurohebi. She assaulted him with a bevy of fast kicks and punches, but the snake-like mimic wizard dodged all of them with little effort. Mirajane began to grow irritated as each of her strikes went unanswered.

She swung her arm over her chest, seemingly connecting with a right hook that knocked Kurohebi down. However that assumption soon fell apart when Kurohebi's leg come around from opposite his body. The back of Kurohebi's heel struck Mirajane's shoulder, knocking her off balance long enough for him to reset himself and follow up with a back hand, this one knocking her from the building they were standing on. Alana watched the sequence from the street below.

"Mirajane!" She tried to catch her like she did before, but she thought better of it when Mirajane used her wings to stop her fall herself.

"Don't worry about me! Focus on your own battle!" Mirajane flew towards Kurohebi.

"Easier said than done." Alana mumbled before dodging another strike from Obra. The fight was already hard enough with magic, fighting without proved nearly impossible. It forced the young heiress to think on her feet, watch for openings that allowed her to counter with whatever minute melee skill she could muster.

Clumsy as she could be, Alana Engel was actually a somewhat competent fighter thanks to her family's lead butler, Edgar; A former knight in the council guard. Whenever he had the spare time to train she would watch him from her room window, taking the utmost care not to be found out by her overbearing parents. By the time she was 12 Alana could pull off a few moves on her own, although she didn't possess nearly as much grace and flair as her "master".

Obra raised his massive arm and chopped downward. Alana stepped back to evade, but instead tripped over a rock behind her. Luckily for the dirty-blonde her blunder achieved the result she was looking for. Obra stomped towards her but she scooted back on her bottom before rolling backward. She pushed off her feet, head-butting Obra in the abdomen. The massive man stumbled backward, the creature on his shoulder showing its frustration at the strike.

He's off balance! Thinking quickly, Alana clasped her hands together, a bright light shining in her palm.

LIGHT MAKE FIST

A bright yellow fist fell from the air, slamming Obra on the ground. "Got him!"

Alana stood up and walked towards her fallen opponent. "Ah!" she squealed upon seeing what remained of her enemy. He was in pieces, his head barely attached to his neck with his chest ripped open and his right arm missing. "I-I killed him." Her face turning pale. "I didn't mean to. I didn't-"she fell to her knees in her grief, landing on something soft. She looked down and her face grew paler. "It's his insides. I really…wait." She picked up more of the wizard's guts. Upon closer inspection she realized it wasn't entrails of a corpse, but fluff. "What is this?" She looked at Obra's supposed body, reaching her hand out to feel inside his open rib cage. She felt more fluff. "Was this guy a doll or something? And where is his pet thing?"

Alana continued to ponder this weird turn of events as the creature that was previously on "Obra's" shoulder watched her from a nearby alley. It snickered mischievously before running off into the darkness of the alley.

Mirajane once again found herself on the defense against Kurohebi. He's not letting up. I have to end this quickly. She floated into the air, looking down at Kurohebi from above. She then began to gather her magical energy. I can only do this once with the amount of magic I have. I was hoping to save this for a fight against Erza or maybe that Sabertooth woman.

Kurohebi once again summoned a torrent a sand to attack Mirajane. It surrounded her, but the eldest Strauss sibling was far from concerned. She fell from the sky like a rock, landing a small distance away from Alana. The blonde covered her eyes from the dust.

"That's one down." Kurohebi smirked before turning his attention to Alana.

Suddenly Kurohebi's sand was blown away in a burst of flame, surprising both he and Alana. They both looked back seeing a being with long white hair that flowed down a high collar that was attached to a large overcoat. Two yellow horns jutted out from either side of the woman's head, her arm's covered with silver gauntlets.

"Mirajane?" Alana nearly choked on her fear.

"This is my strongest form, Sitri." Mirajane explained to Kurohebi, her voice having been deepened by her form's effects. "You should count yourself lucky. The only people who have seen this form are my siblings, my guild master, and Erza."

Lucky was one feeling that Kurohebi wasn't experiencing. Overwhelming fear would have been a more accurate description.

In a flash, Mirajane zoomed passed Kurohebi. She seemingly did no damage to the wizard, but in a matter of seconds Kurohebi felt a pain across his chest and he fell onto his stomach unconscious. Seeing her opponent immobile, Mirajane jumped down to the still frightened Alana.

"I-is that you, Mirajane?"

The now demon barmaid walked towards Alana, breathing in and out like a ravenous beast.

"M-Mirajane?" Alana whimpered as she began to walk backwards, her quaking legs soon giving way. Mirajane stood over Alana, her shadow all but encompassing the frightened girl. "Don't you remember? It's me, Alana."

Mirajane gave no reply.

Alana covered her face with her arms as she closed her eyes. "Please don't hurt me."

Mirajane glared at Alana for a few more seconds before flashing the girl her trademark smile.

Alana looked back at Mirajane, seeing the warm smile on her still demonic face; her clawed hand outstretched towards her.

"Don't worry, I'm still here." Mirajane reassured, although her deepened voice still made Alana feel uneasy.

Alana reached for Mirajane's hand, grabbing it as the barmaid helped her to her feet.

"I scared you didn't I?" Mirajane teased as she released her Sitri form, her slim yet curvaceous figure returning to view.

"Yeah, you really did." Alana sighed with a smile, relieved that Mirajane hadn't actually become a monster.

"You did a good job." Mirajane congratulated. "But it seems you went a little overboard." She pointed towards the mangled Obra.

"I don't know what happened. I think the person we thought was Obra was a puppet or something. Maybe that little rat-thing on his shoulder was the real Obra?"

"Maybe." Mirajane replied. "We can talk to the others about it once we meet up with them."

"I hope they're all doing alright."

"I'm sure they are. They are the strongest wizard's in Fairy Tail after all."

"You are too." Alana smiled.

"Oh stop, you're going to embarrass me." Mirajane denied with a wave. "Besides, I'm still not as strong as I used to be. I-"Mirajane stopped her statement cold when she felt something powerful approach. "Get down!" Changing into her Satan Soul form she quickly grabbed Alana. Before the dirty-blonde could ask any questions she saw a bright flash of light that caused everything to go white.

Awakened by a ringing in her ears a minute later, Alana slowly titled her head upward to see that she and Mirajane were a good few meters from where they were previously standing. "What…happened?" Alana grumbled. She looked to her left, seeing an unconscious Mirajane, once again back to her original self. "Mirajane?"

As he vision began to fade, Alana saw someone approaching them. A man with spiky blonde hair stood over the both of them, his body engulfed in a white aura. "Saber…tooth." Alana mumbled through gritted teeth before passing out.

…

"With Alana and Mirajane eliminated only Laxus, Gajeel, and Juvia are left from Fairy Tail B." Lola announced. "Raven Tail on the other hand only have Alexei and Nullpudding to continue on. Speaking of which lets peek in on Alexei's battle, which has seemed to reach a fever pitch."

"Good idea. Punkin!"

Yajima nodded in agreement. "I've been curious as to who was behind that mask."

The lacrima screens switched back to the previous battle, which showed Natsu and the others still standing around the small crater that Alexei's crash had created. "Look, the dust is starting to clear away." Lola commentated, showing his anticipation for the revelation of Alexei's true visage in his voice.

The now helmetless figure came into view for all to see. To the surprise of the crowd, "Alexei" was revealed to be Ivan, Raven Tail's guild master.

"Master Ivan?" Levy's astonishment was mirrored by the entire Fairy Tail guild.

"But he was-"Max pointed to where Ivan was thought to be standing, only to see a vacant space.

"Has he been posing as Alexei this entire time?" Mavis asked, narrowing her eyes.

Makarov looked over to Shizuka and Aura, his surprise covering his entire face. They were right. He wasn't there, but how did-

Warren could no longer hold in his anger. "That's against the rules!"

The crowd began to talk amongst themselves. Each of them just as confused and shocked as the Fairy Tail wizards.

"Isn't that Raven Tail's master?"

"It's against the rules for a guild master to participate in the games, right?"

"Isn't the committee going to do something about this?"

"That is indeed against rules." Lola nodded, overhearing the crowd's conversations and protests on the matter. "Don't worry folks, we will have this matter resolved right away."

"That's cheating!" Mato shouted, his normally happy attitude giving way to anger.

Yajima sat in his seat, his hardened glare focused on the Raven Tail master. What are you planning, Ivan?

After about a minute or so a voice rang out from above, echoing over the city for all to hear. "Attention all contestants! Raven Tail is hereby disqualified for violating the rules of the Grand Magic Games. Repeat. Team Raven Tail has been disqualified from the Grand Magic Games for a violation of the rules. All Raven Tail members please make your way back to the stadium."

Ivan looked at the wizards surrounding him and smirked as the announcement repeated overhead. "What do I care about some idiotic tournament? What I seek is much more valuable then a meaningless title and bragging rights."

Laxus glared at his father. "What are you blabbing about, old man?"

"No need to play innocent, my son. You know full well what I seek. Where is the Lumen Histoire?"

"Never heard of it."

Natsu scratched the top of his head with his index finger in his confusion. "The what?"

"Lumen Histoire?" Lisanna asked aloud.

Warren turned to Macao "What is he talking about?"

"Beats me. I'm just as lost as you." The former master shrugged. He turned to Makarov. "Do you know master?"

Master Makarov stood on the balcony, his fists clenched as he grinded his teeth in anger. "Ivan, you-"

"How does he know of that?" Mavis asked. She was doing a better job of holding in her anger than her successor.

"Don't play dumb with me, boy." Ivan said to his son, his patience wearing thin. "I know Makarov revealed its location to you."

"Nope. I have no idea what you're talking about. And even if I did, there's no way in hell I would tell you."

"You must not be aware of the situation you're in."

"Oh I know just what kind of situation I'm in, Dad. Seems like you've forgotten how to count in your old age."

Ivan's face began to turn as he slowly began to take notice of Natsu, Jura, and Orga. Each of them less than pleased by the Raven Tail master's tactics.

"I don't what this Lumen whatever is, but if you want to go to war with Fairy Tail I'm all for it." Natsu cracked his knuckles.

Jura held out his hand, extended his glowing index and middle finger. "I'm not too fond of cheaters. Whether they be guild master or not."

Orga cranked his neck again, black lightning crackling around his body. "You really pulled a fast one, old man. I gotta get you back for that punch from earlier."

Ivan grimaced at his current predicament. This was not the ideal situation he imagined himself being in. Dammit, I let myself get trapped. He looked around, searching for any route he could use to escape his entrapment. "You know, Laxus, you of all people should know how strong I am." Ivan raised his hand into the air, his palm open to the sun above. The wind began to kick up and crinkling and scrunching could be heard as a swarm of paper dolls gathered in the guild master's hand.

SHIKIGAMI TORRENT

Ivan thrust his arm down, the dolls in his palm creating a kick up of dust and debris that blinded the wizards surrounding him.

"Dammit!" Laxus cursed.

Once the dolls dispersed, Ivan was seen running towards the nearest backstreet. Natsu was the first to notice him.

"There he is!"

"I see him." Jura clasped his hands together, causing two massive rock walls to rise up and block Ivan's exit. Soon every back street and alley was closed off, once again trapping Ivan with the others.

His path blocked, Ivan turned around to face his opponents. "If that's how you want to play it." He held up his arms again, this time summoning millions of shikigami dolls that began to converge around him in mini tornados before shooting into the air above. The collected paper dolls began to wrap and circle around each other, forming into a giant ball that nearly blocked out the sun over the five wizards. The ball then began to glow purple, brandishing the mark of the shikigami used to form its massive structure. Ivan held out his palms in front of himself, causing the ball to move towards the others. "Let's see if you survive this!"

SHIKIGAMI DARK BOMB

Natsu quickly moved in front of his temporary allies, puffing out his cheeks.

FIRE DRAGON ROAR

The fire flowed fiercely from the dragon slayer's mouth, incinerating Ivan's bomb before it could hit pay dirt.

Ivan's eyes widened in disbelief. "I-impossible!"

Natsu wiped the lingering fire from his smirking mouth before exhaling smoke. "You should know not to use paper against a Fire Dragon Slayer."

"Damn you!" Ivan sent forth more shikigami to attack the others in his anger.

They all dodged the streams of shikigami, each of them converging on Ivan from different directions.

"Stay away from me!" he yelled but it was too late.

Orga struck first. Jumping into the air, the Sabertooth wizard clutched both of his massive hands together, swinging them downward as he landed in front of Ivan. He hit the Raven Tail master on the top of the head, knocking him for a loop and causing him to stumble back. Next was Jura. The wizard saint's fist collided with Ivan's stomach. Ivan doubled over as he spat up a small hint of blood, sliding along the ground with only his right hand and legs to support himself. His left arm was covering his now injured ribs. His momentum slowly stopped and he looked forward, seeing Natsu using his fire ignite his legs and propel himself forward. Natsu kneed Ivan under his chin, the force and angle of the attack serving to knock the Raven Tail master into the air. Finally came Laxus.

"Wait, Laxus! Don't do this. I'm your father! Are you really going to strike down your own flesh and blood?!"

Laxus gave no reply as he dealt the final blow to Ivan, delivering a hard punch to the face that knocked the Raven Tail master down to the ground with a loud boom, the rock cracking beneath him. Laxus stood over his fallen father. "My family is Fairy Tail, and it's my job to crush my family's enemies. Even if it's you…dad." Laxus' face showed a vague hint of sorrow as he spoke. No matter how evil he was, Ivan was still Laxus' father and knowing that he was still out to destroy everything his grandfather, Ivan's father, had built after seven years was never going to be an easy pill to swallow.

"Laxus…" Ivan said through shallow breaths. "If you believe nothing else I tell you…remember I said this. Lumen Historie…"

"I told you I don't know what that is."

"But I do. It is…Fairy Tail's darkness."

Laxus' eyes widened as he listened to his father's words.

"One day you will see it for yourself, and you will know the truth behind…Fairy Tail." Ivan's voice faded as he passed out, a smirk on his lips.

"Alexei, I mean Ivan has been defeated." Lola announced. "Unfortunately, since Raven Tail was disqualified before his defeat, Fairy Tail B doesn't receive any points."

"Actually, they can." Mato corrected. "While Raven Tail did cheat, they are still part of the games until they escorted out by the royal guard. Therefore any points scored from their defeat until they are taken away is legal."

"Well there you have it folks. Fairy Tail B scores 5 points." Lola corrected himself, although he didn't really see a point in this decision.

"How much do you think he knows?" Mavis asked Makarov.

"I'm not certain. It could be nothing, it could be everything. I'm more troubled by the fact that he knows it exists at all. It should only be known to those who receive the title of Guild Master." Makarov's brow furrowed even further. "If Ivan knows, who knows how many other dark wizard's know of its secret?"

Natsu pouted as he looked at the downed Ivan. "Aw, man I wanted to beat him."

"You just didn't hit hard enough." Laxus smirked, trying his best to hide the guilt he was feeling.

"Can we get back to beating each other senseless now?" Orga said. "I still have a game to win."

"You really think so?" Laxus looked squarely at the god slayer. "Then let's see how much fight you got left."

"Ready for round two?" Natsu asked Jura.

"Anytime."

…

"Raven Tail cheated?" Chelia asked aloud as the announcement continued to ring out. "Oh well, I still got one point. But wait…does it get taken away since they cheated?" Her eyes widened in disbelief. "Lyon will get mad at me if that happens."

As the god slayer mumbled to herself Wendy and Lucy stood across from her, their scars visible on their bodies. They managed to hold off Chelia's attacks to the best of their abilities, but they were thankful for the reprieve that the committee's announcement of Raven Tail's disqualification gave them. They needed to formulate a better plan of attack.

Lucy briefly looked over to the still unconscious Flare, who she had earlier placed inside a nearby alley for her safety, before refocusing on Chelia.

"What am I doing?" Chelia asked herself, shaking the distractions out of her head. "I have to focus on this fight first." She looked back at Wendy and Lucy. "Sorry, let's resume shall we?" she puffed out her cheeks, sucking in the air around her.

Realizing what was happening, Wendy did the same while Lucy summoned Scorpio.

SKY GOD'S BELLOW

SAND BUSTER

SKY DRAGON ROAR

Scorpio and Wendy's attacks combined into a unison raid before colliding with Chelia's black breath. The Fairy Tail wizard's combined techniques served to overpower Chelia's, pushing the god slayer back. Chelia crossed her arms in front of her face in order to shield herself from the kicked up debris while her body healed her outside injuries.

When the wild winds dissipated, a newly summoned Sagittarius stood in front of Wendy and Lucy. Three of his arrows were nocked and aimed at Chelia.

O STREGTHEN OF ARM TO CLEAVE THE HEAVENS: ARMS

O SWIFT WIND THAT DASHES THROUGH THE HEAVENS: VERNIER

Wendy's support spells enhanced both Sagittarius' strength as well as his speed, allowing him to shoot nine arrows in rapid succession. Due to his enhanced strength the arrows flew harder and faster, barely allowing Chelia enough time to react.

She held out her hands, summoning a wall of black wind that deflected 7 of the 9 arrows, the two that passed her defenses grazing the left side of her abdomen as well as her right shoulder. She rotated backwards landing on her feet. Before she could properly stand again, her eyes widened when she noticed a tenth arrow zooming straight for her head. Chelia quickly moved her head out of the way, the arrow grazing her cheek as she watched it fly by. She looked back at her opponents, astonishment burning in her eyes. They work really well together. Her wounds once again healed themselves.

"You can return now, Sagittarius." Lucy said to the cosplaying archer. "Thanks for your help."

Sagittarius turned around and saluted the two girls. "It was my pleasure, my lady. I'm sorry I could not be of more assistance." With that he faded back to the celestial world.

"Man, I thought for sure that would get her." Lucy complained. Her breathing was labored.

"Are you ok, Lucy?"

"Of course." Lucy gave a weak smile as she flexed her arm. "You know me. I could keep going for days." Lucy was of course lying, her rapid summoning of spirits was starting to get to her, but she wanted to keep going. She needed to. She didn't want to hold her team back anymore then she thought she already had. She looked down at her jingling celestial keys. She had already used Cancer, Taurus, Scorpio, and now Sagittarius during the course of her and Wendy's battle with Chelia. Thanks to some persuasion from Loke, Lucy's spirits agreed to break their contracts for one day, allowing Lucy full access to all of them just for today. This agreement let her summon the aforementioned Scorpio and Cancer despite it not being an agreed upon day for the spirits. I probably have about two more summons left until I'm completely out of magic energy. Lucy then looked over to Wendy who was fairing no better than she was. Constantly healing, enhancing, as well as attacking was taking a toll on the young dragon slayer. Lucy couldn't help but notice it when they used their unison raid.

Luckily for the pair, Chelia was also exhausted. Despite showing no external damage, the Lamia Scale wizard's stamina was severely drained. All three of them knew that the next couple of moves would end the battle.

Seeing no other option, Chelia resorted to her trump card. She held out her arms, black wind gathering around them before raised them above her head. The wind followed Chelia's movements as it gathered above her body. Wendy and Lucy felt a chill run up their spines.

Wendy's mind instantly flashed back to her one on one battle with Chelia her eyes widening. "This attack is-"

Both Wendy and Lucy recognized it as Chelia's ultimate technique, Heaven Gathering of Clouds.

"You guys did well." Chelia praised as the winds began to form into wings. "But this is it." She whipped her arms around, preparing to send her wind at the two weakened Fairy Tail wizard's, but just then…

"I told you to stay away from me!" a shrill, frightened voice screamed in the distance.

"Just wait!" another voice shouted after the first, this one belonging to a man. "Let me show you how deep my love is for you!"

"I said I'm not interested! My heart only belongs to Gray!"

"What does he possess that I don't?!"

As the voices drew closer, Wendy and Lucy didn't need to think hard to know that their surprise guest was Juvia, and it took even less investigation to know that the man chasing her was Lyon.

"L-Lyon?!" Chelia exclaimed with a blush as she watched the object of her affection run towards her.

Juvia ran passed Chelia in a fright. "Stay away!"

"Juvia, wait please I-" Lyon's pleas were cut short when he bumped into Chelia, the girl's sudden fall dissipating her magic winds into the air. "Chelia? What are you doing here?" The two were on the ground, Lyon on top as he gave Chelia a confused stare. Chelia's face turned bright red as she looked into the Ice Make wizard's piercing black eyes.

"I-I was going to ask that." she managed to stutter out.

Lyon stood up, taking Chelia's hand into his as he helped the still blushing god slayer to her feet. "I was searching for an opponent until I ran into my darling Juvia by the fountain. I tried to talk to her but she ran away. She must have thought I would attack her. What happened here?"

"I was fighting Wendy and Lucy until you showed up." She looked over to Juvia, who was now hiding behind Lucy and Wendy. She glared at the water wizard, jealousy over Lyon taking over her mind. Juvia looked back with confusion.

"I see. Have you found Jura?"

Chelia shook her head "No. Last time I saw him he was fighting four other men."

"Are you alright, Juvia?" Lucy asked.

"I'm better now. I was following Master Mavis' plan until I ran into Lyon. I tried to get away but he started chasing me. He really does not know how to take no for an answer." Juvia was of course oblivious to the irony in her statement.

"Well since we've met here like this, we should join forces to take down our opponents." Lyon suggested. "Then we will find Jura."

"Right." Chelia nodded, her energy seemingly returned.

"It looks they want to fight us together." Wendy said, noticing the determined looks on the Lamia Scale wizard's faces.

Juvia held out her arm, a swirl of water gathering in her palm. "It's three on two. We have the advantage. We should finish this quickly so I can find my darling Gray."

"Well I feel a bit better about our chances now that, Juvia's showed up." Lucy smiled as he took out one of her gold keys.

…

Back in the stadium, things had become somewhat more focused since Ivan's revelation. The lacrima screens were back to showing multiple battles as opposed to one at a time.

"Natsu and Laxus are holding their own." Makarov commented as he watched the two do battle with Orga and Jura.

"Yes." Mavis nodded. "It also seems that Juvia has joined with Lucy and Wendy. The three of them should be able to take down Lyon and Chelia without much problem."

"How long are they gonna keep standing there?" a random onlooker complained.

"Did they fall asleep or something?" another person commented.

The Fairy Tail wizards looked to where the clamoring spectators directed. They were shown a screen on the furthest right. This one featuring the three way battle in the library. Just as the spectators said, Gray, Rufus, and Nullpudding were not moving.

"They look like statues." Carla said.

"Maybe they fell asleep." Happy commented.

"Don't be absurd."

Cana yawned. "I know I'm going to fall asleep if someone doesn't make a move soon."

"You probably drank too much." Levy commented.

Rufus, Nullpudding, and Gray all stood opposite one another in the library center. Each of them waiting to see just who would make the first move. Taking the initiative Gray slammed the bottom of his fist into his palm.

"Guess I'll start if you guys are too scared."

ICE MAKE LANCE

Gray's frozen spears shot forth from his hands, crisscrossing, arching, and bounding off the ground as they aimed for Nullpudding and Rufus. "Memorized." Rufus smirked as he jumped back to evade. Nullpudding on the other hand weaved through the spears, his forearm bulging as he jumped towards Gray.

NEEDLE ARM

He swung his spiked arm at Gray, who dodged each punch with little difficulty. Gray slid back, gaining some distance before once again slamming his fist into his open palm.

ICE MAKE IMPACT

He summoned a giant, intricately designed ice hammer with a spiral head. It swung downward towards Nullpudding. The Raven Tail wizard strafed left, dodging the hammer that pierced the ground before he resumed his attack on Gray.

"Dammit." Gray cursed.

"Memorized." Rufus repeated as he watched his two opponents from a safe distance.

Nullpudding and Gray clashed, the latter having summoned an ice sword to counter the former's arm. "What are you…mumbling about?" Gray asked Rufus through his grunts as he pushed Nullpudding back.

Nullpudding landed a few meters away from the ice wizard. "You saying a prayer before I take you out?"

Rufus' superior smirk was still prominent on his features. "Memory itself can be a very powerful weapon." He pointed at his temple.

Gray's irritation at Rufus' grew. "What are you talking about?"

"I'm able to memorize any magic I see. If I use those memories as a base, I can also create new magic."

"Get to the point, pretty boy." Nullpudding demanded.

"The weakest ones are always the most impatient." Rufus sighed as he held out his hands. "In short by mixing together my memories of the Fairy Tail wizard's ice magic with Orga's thunder magic…" Rufus' gaze suddenly turned malicious as he raised his arm into the air.

MEMORY MAKE: SWORD OF FROZEN BLACK LIGHTNING

Gray and Nullpudding's eyes widened as they watch bolts of black lighting fall from above, freezing whatever ground they touched upon. Nullpudding jumped to the second level of the library while Gray quickly dived to his right to avoid a bolt coming down upon him.

"So he can just make things up?!" Jet yelped.

"That's cheating." Droy mumbled, his mouth full of food.

As Gray slid across the ground he noticed Rufus preparing for another attack.

MEMORY MAKE: SHRINE OF TURBULENT FANG

Rufus thrust out his arm, the gesture summoning a horde of tornadoes that raged through the wizard's fighting area.

Gray looked at the oncoming whirlwinds. I can't get away in time. He stood up and held out his arm, his magic gathering.

ICE MAKE SHIELD

Rufus looked on at Gray's solution for his magic and continued to grin. "A shield, huh?" Rufus held his index and middle finger against his forehead. "Memorized and forgotten."

Suddenly Gray's shield disappeared. "What the hell?!" His protection gone, Gray was swept up in one of the tornadoes. He howled in pain before he landed on the ground with a thud.

Nullpudding smirked as he watched the action from above. "That was interesting."

"How did you do that?" Gray asked Rufus as he regained his legs.

"If I can memorize something, it only makes sense that I can forget it as well."

"He can really do that?" Warren asked Yukino, who was sitting next to Aura.

"Yes." Yukino nodded. "Rufus' Forget technique is a form of magic cancellation. Whatever spell he 'forgets' becomes ineffective against him. Meaning that whoever he battles can't use the spell again until they beat him."

"How is Gray supposed to fight against that?" Max groaned.

"Gray's a real man." Elfman nodded. "He'll find a way."

"Don't forget that he also has that Raven Tail wizard to deal with." Evergreen pointed out.

"You left yourself open!" Nullpudding rapidly descended from the upper level, thrusting his needled arm at Rufus' back. To Gray's surprise and Nullpudding's frustration, the Raven Tail wizard went right through Rufus, who faded away into the air.

"Not that trick again." Wakaba groaned in frustration.

"Let's play a little game." Rufus suggested, his voice echoing throughout the library. "A sort of reenactment of the Hidden event. Let's see if one of you will be able to find me."

Gray was less than enthused about the idea. "Stop messing with me and come out!"

"I'm in." Nullpudding slyly grinned as he ducked into one of the many book shelf aisles. "But I can't promise it'll be fun when I find you."

"Dammit." Gray sighed as he followed behind the others. He stepped over the overturned books tossed about by Rufus' tornadoes as he approached the shelf that was closest to his left. His senses tuned to their highest, Gray carefully navigated every book shelf that hadn't been knocked over from the previous skirmish. Damn that guy. Is he taking this fight seriously at all? A ruffling of pages caused Gray to quickly turn his head, his nerves settling when he saw a couple of books that had fallen from their place on the shelf.

Macao's eyes widened as he saw a shadow run across the screen. "Look out, Gray!"

A voice echoed from beneath the black haired wizard. "Found you."

Gray looked down, seeing Nullpudding standing in front of him. The Raven wizard swung upward with an uppercut, but Gray managed to step back just enough to only feel the wind passing his face. The Fairy Tail wizard clasped his hands together, aiming to freeze his opponent, but missed his chance when Nullpudding quickly jumped over him and escaped. "Crap."

"Having trouble finding me?" Rufus taunted from his unknown location. "Maybe this will help you."

Gray felt the ground rumble beneath his feet. What's going on? Why is the ground getting hot?

Suddenly two molten rock spires appeared next to Gray, the heated ground now beginning to crack, with a red glow being seen in the openings. Steam began to rise from the cracks, and Gray's eyes widened in realization. "That's magma!"

MEMORY MAKE: KARMA OF THE BURNING LAND

Gray dove from the shelves he was standing between as the magma rose from the ground, engulfing and melting the shelves, as well as the few that were next to them. As he slid along the ground, he saw Nullpudding a small distance away from him. He narrowly evaded the magma himself.

"You both did pretty well to evade that move." Rufus congratulated.

"Are you gonna hide all day or are you going to fight us?!" Gray shouted.

"The battle wouldn't be entertaining if I ended it so quickly now would it?"

"You're really starting to piss me off." Nullpudding spat.

"Forgive me. Maybe this will help you feel better."

A magic circle appeared over Nullpudding, restricting this movement. "What is this?"

MEMORY MAKE: SHOWERING ANCIENT WISDOM

Nullpudding fell to his knees, the magic circle creating a pressure similar to a gravity shift.

He must have learned that from watching Kagura. Gray deduced as he watched Nullpudding struggle. This guy really is something else. Gray mentally kicked himself for praising Rufus.

"I can't…move." Nullpudding grunted. Every time he tried to stand the circle glowed brighter and the gravity increased.

"Next is this."

MEMORY MAKE: COLORFUL SLASHING ATTACK FLAMES

Gray and Nullpudding watched as a wave of flames headed towards them. The flames were enhanced by lightning, cracklling inside the inferno. Gray was reminded of Natsu's Lightning Flame Dragon mode. Nullpudding's eyes widened in fear of the oncoming assault before seeing something completely unexpected.

Gray stood in front of Nullpudding, clasping his hands together before jutting them out to his sides.

ICE MAKE RAMPART

A massive ice wall appeared in front of Gray, blocking Rufus' attack. He then summoned his Cold Excalibur, using it to destroy the magic circle above Nullpudding. The Raven Tail wizard looked up in confusion before standing upright again, the gravity holding him down now gone.

"That was a stupid thing to do." Nullpudding said as he rubbed his forearms.

Gray smirked. "It probably was, but I need your help to flush this guy out."

"How do you know I won't just turn on you?"

"I don't. But what I do know is that you're just as tired of this guy as I am. So help me take him out and then we can get back to pummeling each other."

Nullpudding thought about betraying Gray then and there, but he thought better of it seeing as how the Fairy Tail wizard's plan did make sense. Neither one of them would have peace as long as Rufus was around. "You're on, ice boy." His evil grin returned. "But when we're done with him, you're next."

"Fine by me." Gray clasped his hands together while Nullpudding's forearms bulged out again. The two rival wizards stood back to back.

ICE MAKE ARROW

NEEDLE SHOT

A barrage of ice arrows and needles shot from Gray and Nullpudding respectively, destroying everything in their path. Makarov began to sweat, internally hoping that Fairy Tail would not be held accountable for any damages to the library.

A shadow quickly moved from one of the overturned bookshelves. "Found you!" Gray shouted, aiming his massive bow to his upper right. Just as he deduced, Rufus emerged from the dust. The arrows shot forth, piercing through the Sabertooth wizard like he was a ghost. He had once again used an afterimage.

Rufus, emerged from the dust, slowly clapping as he walked towards the pair. "That was quite impressive. It seems that you can manage to surprise me after all, Fairy Tail. But alas we come to the end of our song." hepressed his fingers against his temple. "Memorize these words. You will never be able to defeat me."

Gray ripped off his shirt. "Oh yeah?"

Shizuka tilted her head in confusion. "Is there a certain reason why he removed his shirt? Is he hot?"

Lisanna giggled. "No, not really."

"Uncle Gray's a pervert." Aura innocently interjected.

Asuka looked at her friend with curious eyes. "What's that?"

Aura looked up to the sky, her little finger pressed against her chin in a thinking pose. "I don't know. Aunt Lucy said it before."

Gray pointed his thumb at the Fairy Tail emblem on his left pectoral. His gaze narrowing at Rufus. "You see this mark on my chest? It means that as a member of the Fairy Tail guild, I never lose to the same opponent twice."

"Bold words." Rufus smirked. "You have some sort of plan I assume?"

Gray slammed his hand into his palm, his ice magic once again gathering.

ICE MAKE UNLIMITED: ONE SIDED CHAOTIC DANCE

Rufus held his finger against his temple. "It doesn't matter what you try. I'll just memorize it and…" the masked wizard's confidence slowly unraveled as Gray's spell began to take shape. "W-what's this?"

Hundreds of ice made weapons, each of varying sizes and designs swirled around Gray, their numbers only increasing as the seconds passed.

"My memory…it can't keep track of all of them."

Gray whipped his arms around, the weapons spinning outward and slashing both Rufus and Nullpudding and trapping them in ice. Nullpudding's eyes glossed over in defeat. However, Rufus was still conscious despite his injuries.

"That was a good move, but unfortunately for you I've already memorized magic that can defeat ice." Rufus pressed his fingers against his temples one last time, the ice that encased him melting as he once again used his Karma of the Burning Land spell.

The flames engulfed Gray, but the ice wizard was unharmed as he dashed towards Rufus. "Is this all you got?" Gray taunted as his head poked out of the flames. "I've felt fire way hotter than this." He held out his arms, summoning twin ice blades.

ICE BRINGER

He swung the swords across his body as he ran past Rufus, slashing the masked wizard and sending him flying into the air. As Rufus fell back to the cracked library floor, Gray grabbed his hat that floated in the air. He placed it on his head, an added exclamation point of his victory. He then looked at the still frozen Nullpudding, as well as the downed Rufus before walking towards the library exit, a smirk on his lips as he titled his new hat down over his eyes.

"He did it!" Max exclaimed.

Cana grinned. "He really does know how to show off." Cana grinned.

Jet and Droy high-fived one another. "That's two wins for us!"

"I knew he'd pull it off."

"Excellently done." Mavis praised.

"Gray has done it!" Lola shouted. "He has defeated both Nullpudding and Rufus in rapid succession. Fairy Tail A earns 2 points."

Yajima gave an approving nod. "An impressive victory."

"But Rufus has never lost!" Mato exclaimed in shock.

"Well it seems like today is full of surprises."

"The stripper actually managed to win." Gajeel smirked as he looked at the results of Gray's battle on a floating lacrima screen. "I can't let him and Salamander get ahead of me." He resumed walking along his path, his face twisting in boredom. "Where the hell is everybody?!"

"So Rufus lost after all." Rogue muttered to himself as he watched Gajeel from behind one of the pillars of a covered walkway. "Fairy Tail really is a strong guild, but that doesn't matter to me as long as I can defeat you…Gajeel." Rogue stepped out from the pillar, following behind Gajeel for a few seconds before holding out his hand in front of himself.

Gajeel felt an unfamiliar presence and instantly side stepped into the walkway, seeing a shadow pass him by. "What the?"

"It seems you finally noticed me…Gajeel." Rogue stepped into view, revealing himself to the Iron Dragon.

Gajeel grinned. "I've been itching to fight you again. " He held out his hand, changing it into his Iron Dragon sword. "This time won't end in a draw."

…

Natsu leapt from a rock wall as he kneed Jura in the collar bone, throwing off the wizard saint's balance. "I got you." Natsu smirked as he landed on his feet behind Jura, his fist engulfed in flames. He lunged forward, but Jura summoned another rock wall. Natsu punched through it, but when the rocks fell all Natsu saw was Jura pointing at him with the index and middle fingers of his right hand.

ROCK AVALANCHE

The boulders created by Natsu's destruction of Jura's Rock Walls all converged on the dragon slayer. Natsu held out his arms to block as the rocks sent him flying backwards and into Orga, who was currently fighting Laxus. They both fell to the ground.

"Get off me!" Orga yelled as Natsu's back lay across his chest.

Natsu groaned in pain as he looked up. His eyes widened when he saw a lightning bolt coming straight for him. He leapt off of Orga, who managed to roll away just in time, as the lightning struck. Natsu quickly made his way towards the man responsible for the weather shift, Laxus. Orga followed him.

"Get back here!"

Natsu complied, quickly turning around and stopping. He inhaled, his cheeks puffing out.

FIRE DRAGON ROAR

Natsu killed two birds with this spell. He had an offensive counter for Orga, while also closing the gap between himself and Laxus.

As Orga dodged the fire spell, while Natsu turned his body to strike Laxus. He lunged forward with a kick but the thunder wizard was prepared, turning his body into lightning just before Natsu's strike landed. Natsu slid on his foot a small distance before coming to a stop.

"Crap." Natsu grimaced as he watched Laxus solidify.

"Close." Laxus smirked.

"Not close enough." Natsu smirked back.

"This is starting to get annoying." Orga complained as he looked at his three opponents.

The four wizards had been battling non-stop since Ivan's defeat. None having the clear advantage over the others. Their battle was the longest of any other in the games so far. Any normal wizard would have passed out at the pace these four were going, but these were no normal wizards standing opposed to one another. One was a dragon slayer, taught by the same creature his magic was created to kill. Another was a legacy, the descendant of great wizards as well as a dragon slayer in his own right. The third, belonged to the strongest guild in the land and was given magic meant to slay gods. While the oldest among them was the fifth strongest wizard saint, being herald as the strongest human wizard in all of the kingdom of Fiore. Only in the Grand Magic Games would forces of this magnitude collide.

"At this rate we'll all be in our graves before we decide on a clear victor." Jura said with a light chuckle as he looked at his three opponents.

"They finally stopped." Lisanna sighed relieved as she watched the screen on which the battle was being viewed.

Cana sipped ftom her tenth mug of beer. "They've been going at it nearly all day."

"What do you expect when you put four monsters together?" Macao said.

"Natsu's really gotten stronger over those three months." Alzack said astonished.

"Yeah." Bisca nodded. "I remember when he used to lose to Erza all the time. I wouldn't have ever expected he would be able to go toe to toe with Jura of all people."

"Well Natsu and Erza live together, right?" Droy rhetorically asked. "They probably train like crazy every day."

"Don't forget about how strong Laxus has gotten." Evergreen reminded with a prideful smile.

"Your dad's really cool, Aura." Asuka smiled.

"He is." Aura replied with a wide smile of her own.

"I see his training really paid off." Pantherlily said of Natsu.

"Of course it did." Happy replied. The blue exceed stood up straight, a cocky grin on his face as he crossed his arms and lifted his chin for dramatic effect. "Natsu is the strongest dragon slayer in the whole world."

"I'm sure Gajeel would disagree with that." Lily challenged with a grin of his own.

"Natsu already beat him once. He can do it again."

"Things are different now." Lily defended. "Gajeel's gotten much stronger since their last fight. There is no doubt he would win in a rematch." He stepped towards Happy.

"No way. Natsu's still stronger." Happy answered Lily's challenge by pressing his forehead against his.

"Gajeel's stronger."

"No, Natsu's stronger."

"Gajeel."

"Natsu."

"Gajeel!"

"Natsu!"

Carla gave an exasperated sigh as she watched her fellow exceeds argue. "I'm thankful Wendy isn't as troublesome as those two."

"The course of this battle is about to change." Mavis stated as she intently watched the screen.

"What do you mean, Master Mavis?" Levy asked.

"You'll see." The blonde ghost smiled. "Four will soon become two."

"I'm going to end this now!" Natsu leapt high into the air. He held out his hands, his right becoming engulfed in flames while his leftt generated a huge amount of electricity. Laxus' eyes widened at the sight. Natsu slammed his hands together, creating a large fireball laced with lightning.

LIGHTNING FLAME DRAGON BRILLIANT FLAME

Natsu threw the fireball downward towards his three opponents. The explosion it generated was massive, alerting everyone in the city.

Lucy fell onto her butt as the ground shook. "What was that?!"

Gajeel smirked. "That must have been Salamander."

Rogue looked over to the explosion with quiet surprise.

Gray sighed. "That guy has no restraint."

"Who could have done that?" Kagura asked aloud.

Erza grinned.

"Whoa!" Romeo shouted. "There's no way they survived that. Natsu won!"

Evergreen eyes widened in shock before she succumbed to anger. "That idiot! Did he forget that he and Laxus are in the same guild?!" She began to beat on Elfman's arm.

"Ok, you're angry at Natsu. So why are you hitting me?!" Elfman asked.

"Did I get them?" Natsu asked aloud as he floated back down to the ground. The dust settled and to Natsu's surprise there were group of rock pillars where his opponents were. "What the-"

IRON ROCK POWDER EXPLOSION

Natsu's eyes widened when he saw spiked four rock pillars shoot up from the ground. He dodged them by turning his body, the pillars only managing to tear a small hole in his vest. "Whew. That was close." Natsu exhaled when the onslaught stopped. "If that hit me I would been done for." He looked down, failing to notice one more pillar heading towards him. This one flat. It struck the dragon slayer in the abdomen, causing him to spit up a small amount of blood before he broke through it with another flame fist. He dove down, seeing a silhouettes in the dust caused by the earlier explosion. He drew back his hand, an evil smirk on his lips.

"I got you!" He thrust his arm down through the silhouette, hitting Orga square in the face and knocking him out. The crowd gasped in disbelief. Natsu stood over Orga, an irritated look on his face. "Man, I meant to hit the old guy. Where did he g-" Natsu was suddenly struck in the side with another rock pillar, this one sending him flying across the city.

Makarov face palmed. "He may have gotten stronger, but the boy still has a lot of work ahead of him."

"You have to admit that it was amusing." Mavis giggled. "At least he managed to take out one of his opponents."

The rock pillars lowered back into the ground, revealing Jura and Laxus. Jura had only meant to protect himself, but Laxus was close enough for the spell to protect him as well. Orga lessened the damage to himself with his god slayer magic, but unfortunately he wasn't prepared for Natsu's dive.

Laxus gave an amused smirk. "Damn, I didn't know he could do that on his own. I thought that was only a one time deal."

"If I hadn't shielded us, we most likely wouldn't have survived that attack." Jura said.

"Too bad for the Sabertooth guy." Laxus commented as he and Jura looked over to the unconscious and bleeding Orga.

"Despite an amazing showing, Natsu has been knocked out of the battle by Jura." Lola commentated. "Since he flew so far we're going to have to switch cameras to find out where he lands. Although after that hit, I'm sure he has been eliminated."

"Don't forget that he managed to receive one point for his team before being ejected from the battle." Yajima added.

Yukino looked at the screen with concern. "Is he going to be alright?"

Aura smiled at the celestial wizard. "Papa's fine."

Wakaba grinned, lightly jabbing Macao with his elbow. "He'll be more pissed off than hurt when he lands."

"You got that right." Macao agreed with a laugh.

"I told you this would happen." Mavis tried her best not to sound smug, it wasn't working in her favor. "Now we will see if Laxus will be able to handle Jura on his own."

"Were you holding back earlier?" Laxus asked. "That attack on Natsu had more force behind it than your earlier ones."

"Maybe at the start." Jura answered. "But Natsu Dragneel ended up surprising me enough to the point where eliminating him from the battle was my top priority."

Laxus smirked. "He's gonna be pissed when he gets back here."

"Then I'll be sure to let him air out all of his grievances once you and I are finished here. You are also someone I've wanted to battle, seeing as how you are Master Makarov's-"

"Hold it." Laxus interrupted. "Don't finish that sentence. This isn't about a spoiled grandkid or some saint titles." He clenched his fist, lightning crackling around it. "This is just about two guys facing off to see who's the strongest."

Jura grinned before nodding in acceptance. "Agreed. Come."

Laxus dashed off, lightning covering his body as he drew back for a punch. Jura cut him off at the pass, stepping forward and chopping the blonde on the head with enough force that he fell to the ground with a crash.

Everyone looked at the screen in shock.

Lola was unable to contain his surpise. "Jura has taken out both Natsu and Laxus in one fell swoop."

"There is a reason why he is the fifth strongest wizard saint." Obaba stated with a prideful nod.

"You fought well." Jura told the downed Laxus. "But don't forget that there will always be someone higher than you."

"I know that better than anybody." Laxus mumbled. He thought back on his fight with Natsu seven years ago. "But sometimes it pays to look down." Laxus sprung up, striking Jura with a thunderous uppercut. "You never know who might be at your feet!"

The crowd once again gasped as Jura staggered back. The wizard saint stepped forward to balance himself, summoning a barrage of pillars from the ground to attack Laxus.

Laxus once again covered his body in lightning as he jumped into the air, weaving through the pillars with his enhanced speed. Once he was clear of his obstacles, he drew back his hand, a ball of lightning gathering in his palm.

LIGHTNING DRAGON'S HEAVENWARD HALBERD

Laxus hurled the lightning ball at Jura, it forming into a halberd spear.

Jura waved his hand in front of his face.

TALUS

More pillars sprung from the ground, these ones protecting Jura just as they had when Natsu attacked. Laxus' spell obliterated Jura's allowing him to dart to the wizard saint's side and draw back for another punch. Jura blocked the strike with his tensed forearm before summoning more pillars that Laxus dodged again. He once again rushed Jura, but this time the earth wizard took the offensive by stepping forward and slapping Laxus with enough force to divert his course. Laxus answered with a punch of his own to Jura's cheek. The two men then began to trade earth shattering blows. At the end of the exchange Laxus gathered power before slinging another giant lighting ball at Jura, the explosion kicking up debris in its wake. The dust settled, revealing Jura smirking with more than a few bruises and scratches on his body.

"I'm at a loss for words. You have so much strength left after our earlier battles. I haven't felt this excited in years."

"I could say the same about you." Laxus smirked. "You really are a monster. What's Natsu say at times like this? Oh yeah…" Laxus looked at Jura with a confident grin as lightning crackled around his body. "I'm all fired up."

Jura's expression was equally as eager as Laxus'. "This last move will end it."

"I was thinking the same thing."

Laxus and Jura drew back their fists, their respective magic powers gathering.

IRON ROCK FIST

DRAGON SLAYER SECRET ART: ROARING THUNDER

The two wizard's fists collided, sending a shockwave through the area they were fighting in. When the dust cleared they both stood there, smirks on both of their faces.

"Well…done." Jura congratulated with a weak smile before falling over.

"You…too." Laxus said before he too fell over.

"They're both out!" Lola shouted. "Both Laxus and Jura are down!"

"So who gets the points?" a spectator asked before others started to pose the same question.

"I believe in this instance, they both receive points." Mato answered. "That was too an amazing battle for no one to win."

Yajima nodded "I agree."

"Well its decided folks, both Lamia Scale and Fairy Tail B receive 5 points!" Lola said. The crowd cheered, seemingly agreeing with the decision.

Makarov smiled, his eyes beginning to mist. "Good job, Laxus."

"Are you crying, Master?" Cana teased.

"What?!" the old man his eyes and nose. "I am doing no such thing."

"It's ok to cry, Makarov." Mavis smiled.

"I said I'm not crying!" Makarov angrily denied. Evergreen on the other hand was crying happily, blowing her nose on a handkerchief Elfman gave her.

Laxus groaned as pain echoed throughout his body. "Damn. I can't move at all." He and Jura looked up at the orange sky above.

"Neither can I." Jura said. "I suppose we were both more injured from earlier than we let on." Things turned silent for a few moments before either of them spoke again. "Laxus, I'm curious."

"About what?"

"Have you ever thought of becoming a wizard saint? It wouldn't be hard with your ability."

Laxus' smirk grew wider as he closed his eyes. "Yeah, I bet the old man would have a heart attack if that happened."

…

Erza, Kagura, and Minerva all faced one another, each one feeling the other out mentally.

"It seems I am two teammates short." Minerva announced, breaking the silence. She was referring to Rufus and Orga. "I should have expected both of them to fall, but not this easily. It's quite disappointing." Despite her words the look on the Sabertooth woman's face didn't appear to be what she said. In fact she looked more amused than anything else. She looked over to Erza. "You seem to be down a teammate as well, Titania. I can't imagine Natsu's fall was a pleasant one."

"You should be more concerned with your own well-being." Erza's voice didn't hide her malice towards the Sabertooth wizard.

Minerva gave an amused huff before turning her attention to Kagura. "You also seem to be down a few allies. Would it not be best for you and I to join forces against our biggest threat?"

"I require no help to fight. Least of all from you." Kagura replied curtly. She then looked over to Erza, remembering the reason she sought her out in the first place. Why do you choose to protect Jellal? You suffered the same horrors as Millianna, so why would you…?

Minerva shrugged, unfazed by the pairs harsh words. "No matter. The people have begun to lose faith in Sabertooth over the course of this year's games. It goes without saying that your two guilds are at fault for this offense. Erza…Kagura…I will prove once and for all that Sabertooth is the strongest, by crushing both of you ants under my feet."

"You're quite sure of yourself." Erza replied.

"I've grown weary of all this talk. Come." Kagura demanded.

The three women stood in silence again. The entire crowd was on pins and needles as they waited for one of the most anticipated battles of the games to start. In an instant all three women darted towards the center of where they were standing, Minerva summoning more green orbs as Kagura and Erza brandished their blades. Their initial clash blew a fierce wind through the surrounding area before they backed off to try again.

Erza struck first, swinging her twin swords in different directions. Her left sword swung back towards Kagura, who blocked her slashes. Erza's right sword was aimed at Minerva. The leader of Team Sabertooth blocked Erza's strike with her left hand before pushing her back with her right. Without missing a beat Kagura ran passed Erza to Minerva's left, kicking her in the face as Erza rolled along the ground.

To Kagura's surprise, Erza caught herself and used one of her swords as a vault to propel herself, kicking Kagura just as the Mermaid wizard had Minerva. Kagura flew back into the stone barricade, the force of Erza's strike causing her break through it and fall to a lower level. Erza followed close behind.

Kagura flipped back onto her hands, catching herself as she landed on one knee. She looked up at Erza, the redhead's eyes widening. Kagura slashed her as she was coming down, causing Erza to collide into the stone pillar behind her. The mermaid looked up, surprised to see Minerva's hand in her face. The smirking Minerva covered Kagura with a huge green orb, pushing her back with enough force to destroy a portion the platform they were standing on. Kagura crossed her arms in front of her upper body to lessen some of the damage.

Recovered from her fall, Erza descended from the sky towards Minerva, her sword at the ready.

Minerva anticipated Titania. "I see you." she whipped her body around, preparing for a counter until she felt a sudden dull pain in her side. Kagura had reappeared, thrusting the point of her sheathed blade into Minerva's ribs.

Seeing her original target gone, Erza adjusted by stomping Kagura on her way down. As Minerva slid along the ground on her back she pointed the index and middle finger of right hand at the palm of her left hand, opened her finger of said right hand into a v.

IH RAGDO

Two orbs encompassed up Kagura and Erza, causing them to hover in the air.

Mavis' eyes widened as she took another look at Minerva's magic. "It can't be! That's one of the magics of the Yakuma Eighteen War Gods!"

Minerva swirled her arms around, green-blue energy waves gathering as she began to chant in an unknown language. "Niel Wielg Mion! Derse Elcantaeus!"

YAGDO RIGORA

A huge god-like man appeared above the three women, intricate designs on his body and grin on his lips. Erza, Minerva, and Kagura were then enveloped in a bright light that shot into the sky above. The structure the three women were standing on was nearly destroyed.

The light could be seen from the stadium. It was so bright it blocked the screens.

"Her power is amazing." Makarov said as he covered his eyes from the light.

"Mama!" Aura shouted before being grabbed by Yukino.

"Cover your eyes!"

…

"That was a cheap shot." Natsu groaned as he crawled out the rubble of what he believed was one of Crocus' magic stores. He landed pretty far from his original location and with his poor sense of direction it would be a while before he returned there. "When I find those jerks I'll-"Suddenly a bright light shined, causing Natsu to cover his eyes. "What is that? Is that Laxus?" He squinted as the strong wind kicked up by the explosion passed him by. "No, that's someone else. Someone else really strong." He sniffed the air, his eyes widening when he noted the smell. "It's that Saber woman…and Erza!" Without hesitation Natsu took off, a new destination in mind.

Sting also noticed the light, but he was far less phased by it. "I guess the princess has gotten serious." He lifted his head in the air, his nostrils flaring as he sniffed the air around himself. "He's back on the move." Sting jumped from the alley he was sitting in and took off down the broken streets. "Finally we'll get to battle…Natsu."

…

Minerva smirked amused as the dust kicked up by her spell started to dissipate. To her satisfaction, both Erza and Kagura survived. Although their clothes had seen better days.

"T-they're all fine?!" Lola exclaimed.

"How is that possible?" Yajima asked in utter shock.

Mato was speechless as his mouth hung open.

Ren observed the battle along with his fellow Tri-Mens. They had returned to their guild's balcony along with all the others who had been defeated, save for Raven Tail who were being held by the castle guard for their breaking of the rules. "All of their magic balanced out."

Hibiki nodded in agreement. "That seems to be the case for now."

"It's anyone's guess as to who will prevail, men." Ichiya mumbled as he hobbled forward. His entire body was now in a cast after his defeat by Natsu. "Be sure to watch carefully."

"You should really be resting, sir." Eve nervously laughed.

"Atta girl, Kagura!" Beth cheered.

"If she keeps this up we can win." Arana said.

"That's what happens when you underestimate Kagura." Risley nodded with a grin.

"I must say you have both done well in order to last this long against me." Minerva smugly praised.

Erza and Kagura gave no reply.

"As things are now, this battle could go on for days before we reach a climax." Green energy once again gathered around Minerva's hand as she waved her arm. "It seems that I may have to change my strategy some." A large green orb appeared behind Minerva, this one containing a person. Someone that both Kagura and Erza knew very well.

"Millianna!" they both shouted in shock.

The cat girl was trapped, tentacles wrapped around her wrists and ankles as she struggled to free herself. Her body was covered in cuts and bruises, blood dripping from her head. It was obvious that she had been tortured before appearing.

"This is another kitten I captured during the course of the games. It seems they're attracted to me for one reason or another." Minerva said.

Happy shuddered at Minerva's words, recalling his own capture by her.

"As you can see, the poor child is suffering terribly. The space that I have placed her in is stealing away her magic little by little."

"That's a dirty trick!" Arana spat.

"Millianna." Beth fretted.

Risley fumed. "Why that…"

"You think this will make us concede?" Erza interrogated.

"You needn't be so hostile, Titania. I have no intention of using her as a hostage to force a surrender out of you two. But I did mention that I was making a change to my strategy."

Kagura and Erza's calm demeanors gave way to rage as they both glared at Minerva through clenched teeth.

A sadistic tone of satisfaction entered Minerva's voice. "That's the look I have been wanting to see."

"Release Millianna now!" Kagura demanded.

"Not just yet. I want you two to show me how strong you are when you battle each other."

Kagura took a step back, clutching her sword under her arm, her muscles tensing. "I will not repeat myself. Release my guild mate while you still breathe."

Minerva's sick grin widened. "Come take her from me."

Kagura instantly closed the gap between herself and Minerva.

Erza watched with astonishment. She's fast!

"I gave you your chance." Kagura stated as she swung her sword.

"It seems that's where you were failed." Minerva replied as she disappeared, Erza reappearing in her place.

The two looked swordswomen looked at one another in surprise before Erza moved her sword to block Kagura's strike. Both of the swordswomen were dumbstruck by the situation.

How did she do that?

She switched places with me?

"You two sort this out amongst yourselves." Minerva teleported Millianna away with a wave of her hand. "I'll face the winner."

"You're quick to run for someone who interrupted our battle. How unbecoming of a 'noble'." Erza taunted as she continued to hold Kagura back.

"You misunderstand." Minerva answered, her back was still facing the two. "A 'noble' moves pieces on the board according to their will alone. You should consider it an honor that I have chosen to 'run'. I admit I made an error when I elected to take on the both of you. No matter the tactics, it is a noble's duty to win." Minerva began to walk away as she waved her hand to signify a goodbye.

"Let Millianna go!" Erza shouted after her.

"You dare…" Kagura snarled, catching Erza off guard. "Say her name as if she were a comrade?!" Kagura forcefully pushed forward, head-butting Erza and staggering her back.

"It seems you two have a personal matter to discuss. I'll let you get to it then."

"Only if you release Millianna!" Kagura said. She turned her head to confirm, but Minerva was already gone.

Erza wiped the blood from her lip. "That was a bald escape plan."

"Be quiet!" Kagura snapped, she turned back to Erza, her eyes darkened. "I will cut both her and you down."

…

Crime Sorciere stood on their mountain hideout overlooking the stadium. Even though they had seen no sign of their enemies from the other night, they still felt uneasy.

"Who do you think they were?" Meldy asked Ultear.

"I'm not sure, but if I'm not mistaken the language they were speaking…it comes from the Pergrande Kingdom."

"What would wizards from that far up north want in Fiore?"

"I can only assume that it has something to do with Zeref. That girl had the same dark energy we had been sensing before. Although, hers was much weaker."

"Maybe…" Jellal began.

"What are you thinking, Jellal?" Ultear inquired.

"Maybe it has something to do with that girl. Shizuka."

"You mean the one Fairy Tail found?" Meldy questioned.

Jellal nodded.

"That is possible. Whatever this presence is, it was never this bold until that girl showed up. Couple that with the incident at the castle and there is definitely something connecting her to the others we fought." Ultear deduced.

"Yeah, but what is it?" Meldy asked.

"I'm not sure yet." Jellal said as he stood. "But I have a feeling that whatever is going on will come to a head sooner rather than later."

…

The crowd watched as Erza and Kagura stared one another down, their battle was about to resume in earnest.

"Minerva has left, putting us right back where we started with Erza and Kagura." Lola commentated. "Which one of these mighty women will prevail?"

"Come on, Erza. You can do it." Levy said.

Romeo cheered with the others before noticing Aura sitting below him. She was now standing against the balcony, her head rested on the railing, and an uneasy look on her face.

"Don't worry, Aura." Romeo said with smile, trying to cheer up his "little sister". "Erza's gonna win and beat up the Sabertooth lady." Aura's answer caught the young wizard offguard.

"What about Ms. Kagura?"

"What?"

"Will Ms. Kagura be ok?"

Romeo could hear the concern in Aura's voice. He honestly didn't know what to say. He sighed, putting his hand on Aura's head. "Yeah, she will too."

"You're lying." Aura replied curtly still looking intently at the screen showing Kagura and her mother.

"It seems it's time for us to resume our battle from earlier." Erza said.

"Good." Kagura took her stance before swinging her sword. "I won't be holding back this time!"

"Neither will I!" Erza moved to block with her own sword, but she misjudged the force of Kagura's swing, causing her to be overpowered.

Erza backflipped as she flew backward, requipping into her Heaven's Wheel armor. She used her wings to slow her momentum before dashing forward with her twin swords.

PENTAGRAM SWORD

Erza crossed her swords and slashed out a pentagram pattern. Kagura evaded each strike effortlessly as she jumped into the air, aiming her sword downward.

ARCHENEMY: STRONG FORM

Kagura fell on top of Erza, the impact causing the ground underneath them to give way. Erza gasped in pain as she and Kagura entered freefall. Kagura repositioned her sword in mid-air.

SLASHING FORM

Erza's eyes widened as she watched Kagura fall towards her. She held up arms in front of her body, requipping in her Adamantine armor. To her shock, Kagura slashed through her shield, inflicting some cuts on Erza in the process.

"That's impossible!" Max shouted. "She stopped the Jupiter cannon with that armor!"

"She didn't even draw her sword." Warren gasped.

Erza clutched her teeth to block out the pain as Kagura fell passed her.

Kagura looked up at Erza. "That's not enough."

Erza looked down at Kagura in anger before her body glowed again.

SONIC CLAW

Erza zoomed past Kagura in her flight armor, slashing at her with her twin knives. Despite the wounds inflicted on her, Kagura's face showed no signs of pain or distress as she clutched her sword to her chest.

Erza felt an odd sensation throughout her body before suddenly being covered in cuts. She howled out in pain once more as she hit the ground below.

"She…" Jet began.

"Attacked while being attacked?!" Droy finished.

"How did she manage to do that?" Levy asked.

Erza lightly shook, her body littered with cuts and bruises, as she laid on the ground level of the structure she and Kagura had been fighting on. It looked like the inside of a cathedral. All around were intricately designed pillars with murals on the vaunted ceilings. Kagura landed on her feet during her descent.

"I had no idea that there was someone as strong as Erza." Ren commented in surprise.

"It goes against all of my calculations." Hibiki smirked.

"Kagura has quickly gained the upper hand in this fight!" Lola commentated. "It seems Erza is no match for her!"

"Come on, Erza, get up!" Happy shouted.

"This Kagura is something else." Carla said.

Lily nodded. "Indeed she is."

"I never expected, there was someone as strong as you here. I'm surprised." Erza huffed as she tried to stand. "Your strength…it draws from your grudge against…?"

Before Erza could finish her question, Kagura kicked her in the ribs, sending her rolling along the ground and into a pillar.

Fighting through the pain, Erza slowly sat up against the pillar. "I don't care…how much you hate…Jellal." She tried to catch her breath. "But Millianna…" Erza managed to make it to one knee. "She is trying to start over…don't drag her into your vendetta."

Kagura angrily glared at Erza. "You know nothing." She swung her sword, knocking Erza into another pillar. "She chose this of her own accord. Her will and mine are one and the same. I will end Jellal's life!"

Erza violently coughed before she spoke again. "What happened…to make you this way?" she looked up at Kagura with anger.

"You of all people should know what that man has done. Simon…" she let his name hang in the air.

"Simon?" Erza repeated with widened eyes as she remembered her friend, but more importantly she remembered his death.

"He was my brother, and Jellal killed him." The venom oozed from Kagura's words.

Erza gasped in disbelief. Simon's…little sister?

"We were never the wealthiest of families." Kagura began as she thought back to her childhood. A village that would be easy to miss if you weren't looking forward. A rundown home that smelled of aging wood. A kitchen no bigger than one's bedroom. A small table where she sat and smiled with her brother. "But we didn't care. We were happy as long as we had one another to rely on." Soon, those happy memories began to give way to horror, fire, and death. "Then seventeen years ago, during the 'child hunts' he was suddenly taken away from me. I was lost, endlessly searching for him as I grew older. Then I met Millianna. She told me of his death. How he sacrificed himself to save you and the others. Being enslaved for all those years, only to be murdered in cold blood by someone he considered a friend. Hearing that made me lose faith in everything. So, I made a vow to myself." She held up Archenemy, clutching tightly on it's sheathe. "Only when I came face to face with my brother's killer would I ever draw my sword."

"Millianna's wrong." Erza muttered.

Kagura's body tightened. "What?"

"She wasn't there when it happened." Erza continued. "The only ones there to witness it were myself, Natsu, Jellal, and Simon…" Erza tightened her fist, scrapping her fingernails against the ground. "Jellal's hand may have felled Simon…but the one who killed him, the one truly responsible for his death..." Erza looked up at Kagura, tears pooling in her eyes. "Was me."

Kagura's pupils dilated as her blood pressure rose and she shook with anger. "You…you would go so far to protect him?"

"It's the truth! If I wasn't so weak…" her tears began to run down her cheeks. "Then Simon would still be alive."

Kagura's body began to shake even more, tears of anger pooling her eyes as she gripped the handle of her sword. Her heart began to beat louder and faster, each thump a different memory of her brother. She clenched her teeth, her adrenaline spiking as began to unsheathe her blade.

"Kagura what are you doing?!" Arana shouted from the stands.

"Don't!" Beth pleaded.

"You can't draw that here!" Risley yelled. "You know what will happen!"

Unfortunately Kagura didn't hear her friend's pleas and warnings. She let out a primal scream, all of her rage, pain, sorrow, and grief coloring it as she fully drew Archenemy. She swung it towards Erza, whose head was bowed in shame.

Makarov and the rest of Fairy Tail looked on in shock. Is she willing to kill Erza for her revenge?

"Forgive me." Erza pleaded before everything went white.

…

Natsu turned down another back street as he followed the Erza's scent. I'm almost there. He felt a rumbling before seeing a flash of white light head towards him. He quickly jumped into a nearby alley as the light passed by. What is that? Once the light dissipated he looked back at the street, his eyes widening upon noticing that the city was nearly cut in two. That came from where Erza is. Natsu jumped out of the alley and continued his path. "I'm coming, Erza! Just hold on!"

…

Kagura looked down in shock as she saw Erza still kneeling, her own sword raised to block Kagura's attack.

"I'm not going to die here." Erza declared as she stood up, requipping into her sarashi and her hakama pants. She pointed her sword at Kagura. "Simon gave his life so I could live, Grandpa Rob gave his life so I could live. My friends give me the strength to live on. My family gives me the strength I need to live on. Dying here would be an insult to everyone that helped bring me to this point."

"Shut up!" Kagura shouted as she rushed towards Erza. "I'll kill you! You and Jellal will die for what you did to my brother!"

Erza tried to get into a blocking stance, but was suddenly halted. My left arm…it won't move!

Kagura swiped at Erza, who managed to block with one arm, but the force sent her flying back into another pillar. Kagura jumped into the air, slashing downward at Erza who managed to evade at the last second. The pillar behind her was obliterated by Kagura's blade.

The force from her strike must have paralyzed my arm. Erza surmised internally as she back peddled.

"You won't get away!" Kagura rushed Erza again. She slashed across her body, but once again Erza managed to block with one arm. Thinking quickly, Kagura kicked Erza in her exposed abdomen, causing her to slide back. Erza doubled over, falling to one knee as Kagura closed their distance. Erza slashed her sword across the ground, kicking up dust that blinded Kagura.

"Cheap tricks?" Kagura taunted as she wiped her eyes. "I thought you were better than that, Titania." Once Kagura could see again, Erza was nowhere to be found. "Hiding won't save you!" She began to walk through the structure. She swung her sword, destroying the pillar on her right with little effort.

Erza hid behind a pillar a few meters away from Kagura, peeking around just enough so the mermaid wizard couldn't see her. She ripped off a small length of her sarashi and began using it wrap her arm. She could hear the pillars falling in the background become louder. Kagura would soon find her. "Do you really think vengeance is what Simon would want?" Erza loudly asked.

"You have no right to speak his name." Kagura retorted as she destroyed another pillar. "You were supposed to be his friend, but you betrayed him just like Jellal. You and Jellal both will atone for your sin."

"Kagura, neither you nor Millianna have to go down this path. There are other things in this life other than vengeance and hate. That is not the only way to gain strength."

Kagura briefly thought of Erza's words before replying. "That may be true, but that is all I have left to drive me." Erza's words were starting to reach her, if only a little. "There is nothing else for me."

"I used to feel that way too." Erza said as she finished trying her makeshift sling. "Then I found Fairy Tail. I found him. I found a new purpose in my life. A reason to live. I can never repay what they did for me."

"Not everyone can find a light like you have. Some of us can only see the world in a sea of black."

"I don't believe that."

"Then you and I will never be able to see eye to eye. Goodbye, Erza." Kagura said with finality.

Erza's eyes widened as she looked to her left. Kagura had found her. Erza quickly dived out of the way as Kagura swung her blade, destroying the pillar she was standing behind.

Erza reset herself once she was a safe distance away, holding her sword to her side as it began to glow red. I don't have the use of both of my arms, so I have to make this strike count. Otherwise, she will kill me.

Kagura noticed Erza's stance and got into one of her own, her blade glowing white. "This will end it. I will take your head."

The two women dashed towards one another, their blades holding their conviction and beliefs.

YOTO BENIZAKURA

REPENTANCE

There was bright mix of red and white as the two women crossed swords that once again blocked out the screens in the stadium. Soon the light faded, showing the two women having passed each other, their swords at their sides. They stood as still as statues for a few seconds before Kagura staggered, frightening her teammates.

"Come on, Kagura!" Risley shouted. "Don't fall now!"

Erza turned her head to look at Kagura. The raven haired swordswoman stumbled some more before sticking her sword into the ground to brace herself. Kagura...she has to be...

"I…I won't lose." Kagura fought the pain shooting throughout her body. "Simon…I have to…"

Erza heard a rumble and looked up. Due to their battle destroying so many support pillars, the ceiling was starting to give way. Erza's eyes widened when she saw very sizable boulders fall towards Kagura.

"Look out!" Erza pushed Kagura out of the way, the boulders falling on top of her instead. The crowd gasped in shock.

The dust cleared, showing Kagura safe from harm, but Erza's leg was trapped. Her right ankle had been crushed by the weight of one of the falling rocks. She grimaced, trying to hold down the pain. Kagura sat in front of Erza, her face frozen in complete shock and confusion.

"Why? Why did you do that?"

"I…remember who you are now."

Kagura's eyes widened.

"Forgive me…I never knew your name before. I just knew you as Simon's little sister."

"What are you talking about? You're not making any sense."

Erza gave Kagura a weak smile. "I was born in Rosemary Village as well. Just like you…and Simon."

Kagura slowly shook her head. "No…y-you're lying." Kagura's mind began to drift again, this time back to when the followers of Zeref raided Rosemary village.

…

Everywhere one looked there was fire and blood, the village was full of it. Masked men gleefully killing anyone who dared oppose them. Some even killed for the sheer thrill. There was nothing anyone could do, every adult was killed, while every child was taken.

Kagura, a young girl at the tender age of six, frightfully wandered the streets. "Simon!" she called out in tears, her fear making her voice quake. "Simon, where are you?!" Suddenly someone grabbed her, pulling her along as they avoided the marauding cultists.

"What are you doing out here? If they see you they'll take you away!" Kagura couldn't see the face of her supposed savior, but she did see hair, as red and vibrant as the dawn as she was pulled along.

They ducked behind a house, the redheaded girl throwing Kagura into an empty crate. "Hide here!"

"Hey, I think I see some kids over there!" one of the cultists shouted, pointing at the house.

"What about you?" Kagura whimpered.

"Don't worry. I'll find someplace to hide, then I'll find Simon for you." The redheaded girl smiled.

"But-"

"Just live." The redhead smiled warmly. Her smile astonished Kagural, it was as if everything in the world was alright. For the briefest of moments everything felt right again. Then she closed the lid and the illusion broke.

Kagura clutched her hand over her mouth, fearful that any noise would alert the cultists.

"There she is!" one of the men shouted, having spotted Kagura's savior. "Get her!"

They advanced on her, forcing her down to the ground before tying her hands behind her back with a rope.

"Let me go!" she shouted, trying to break free. "Let me go!"

Kagura sat in silence, tears running down her face as the voices slowly faded away. Soon there was nothing. Nothing but the silence keeping her company.

…

Kagura clutched her hand over her mouth just as she did all those years ago, tears once again streaming down her face as she looked at the wounded Erza. She slowly shook her head as everything began to sink in. "No, it can't be you…I thought you were-"

"Simon told me a lot about you." Erza said. "I always hoped that you were doing ok. I hoped that you were living a happy life like he wanted." She smiled. "I still hope."

Kagura dropped her hands to her sides, gripping her arms and sobbing for a few more seconds as she thought of how her life changed after that moment in the village. She felt ashamed, saddened that she had wounded the person who had allowed her to live. She then stood up, removing the rubble that was atop Erza. "I…I still don't know what to feel." She stated calmly, but she was still very confused. "But I do know, that this battle is my…loss…?" Kagura felt her body go numb as something pierced her back.

Erza's eyes widened in horror as Kagura's blood splattered onto her face. Minerva had returned, stabbing Kagura from behind with Erza's sword. The Sabertooth wizard removed the blade, Kagura falling limply to the ground.

Her teammates watched in utter shock and fright.

Aura gasped, covering her mouth with her small hands. Mirajane arrived and grabbed the sobbing child.

"When did you get here, Mira?" Macao asked.

"Alana and I just arrived a little while ago after seeing Porlyusica about our injuries."

"Mama Mira." Aura whimpered as she nuzzled closer.

"Shh. It's ok, your mama will take care of the bad woman." Mirajane cooed as she stroked Aura's hair.

Minerva grinned maliciously at Erza, her eyes radiating with her own sense of superiority. "You may have won the battle, but I take the points." The score changed to reflect her statement as true. "Did I not say I would return once your issue was resolved? A noble always gets their pick of the most delicious specimens, and today I'm fortunate enough to eat a Mermaid's head, as well as a wingless Fairy." Minerva began to laugh maniacally as she threw Erza's sword to the side.

"Damn you…" Erza snarled, her rage building once again.

Kagura laid between the two women. She tightly clutched her side, attempting to prevent further blood loss. She shuddered, her body becoming cold.

Minerva ignored the downed Mermaid wizard. "You're next, Titania. Although with those injuries I doubt you'll put up much of a fight."

Erza clenched her teeth as she reached back and placed her still working hand on her bloodied ankle.

"Mi…lli…anna." Kagura said to Erza, her voice shaking. "Save…her."

Erza gave Kagura a firm nod. "I understand."

"Millianna?" Minerva questioned upon hearing their exchange. "Oh, you mean the kitten." she waved her glowing hand, producing an unconscious Millianna who fell to the ground like a rock. "I'm afraid she's unable to continue. I take that point as well."

The score once again changed. Mermaid Heel's team name was also crossed out, eliminating them from the games.

Erza crawled over to Millianna, the blood from her ankle trailing along the ground. "Millianna?"

Millianna slowly opened her eyes, smiling weakly upon seeing Erza. "E-Erzy?"

"Hang on." Erza pulled her up. "I'll get for you and Kagura soon. Just stay with me!" Feeling something wet on her hand, Erza slowly raised it. Her palm was completely covered in blood. "W-what's this?" Erza laid Millianna on her stomach before lifting the cat girl's cloak. To her horror she saw deep lacerations on Millianna's back.

"I grew bored of waiting for your battle to finish. So I decided to have some play time with my new 'pet'." Minerva deviously grinned.

Erza began to shudder as her rage built even more. She was reaching her breaking point, Minerva's' final words pushing her over the edge.

"Her scream was most pleasing."

The knight's pupils dilated, her teeth clenched tight enough to bend steel as she turned her gaze towards Minerva. Minerva's words played over and over in Erza's mind, her sole focus becoming the destruction of the Sabertooth wizard.

…

"Ok, this was much harder than I thought." Lucy strained as she stood behind Juvia and Wendy. "I'm completely out of magic."

"Then stay back. Wendy and I take care of them." Despite Juvia's less than accommodating tone, Lucy complied.

Wendy tried her best to remain optimistic, but she too was nearing her limit.

"We have to keep the pressure on them, Chelia." Lyon said. "You and I are the only ones left of our guild."

"Right." The god slayer agreed. "We have to win for Jura and the others."

"You guys look like you're in trouble." An amused voice called from behind the Fairy Tail girls. They turned around, Juvia's eyes lighting up.

"Gray!"

"When did you get here?" Lucy asked.

Lyon smirked. "Gray. You look a little worse for wear."

"I had two things to take care of."

"You came to rescue me, my love." Juvia swooned as she latched onto Gray's arm.

"What?!" Gray exclaimed, trying to shake the clingy rain woman off of him. "What are you talking about?!"

"Damn him." Lyon cursed as he watched the two. "He still has Juvia under his spell. I have to save her before it's too late."

"I think it might already be too late for you." Chelia sighed despondent.

"Things just keep getting crazier." Lucy said. Wendy nodding in agreement.

"You two stay back." Gray said to Lucy and Wendy. He was still trying to pry Juvia off of his arm. "Juvia and I will take care of them." He looked over to Lyon and Chelia. "How's that sound?"

"That's fine with me." Lyon accepted.

…

Rogue rested on his hands and knees, his breathing labored as he suffered another punishing assault from his opponent. Gajeel stood over him, his glare just as merciless as when they began.

"Just give it up, there's no way you were gonna the gap between us in one day."

Rogue mumbled under his breath. "I can't…lose."

"What are you going on about?" Gajeel irritably questioned as he walked closer to Rogue.

Suddenly Rogue shot up, knocking Gajeel away with a shadow uppercut. Gajeel flew back, crashing into a stack of barrels.

Levy gasped in fright as she watched the screen. "Gajeel!"

Cana sat next to Levy, her eyes and mouth opened in surprise. "Was he always that fast?"

"What a counter by Rogue!" Lola commentated. As he, Yajima and Mato watched the fight continue.

Yajima nodded in agreement. "It seems he has found his second wind."

Gajeel rose to one knee, wiping the blood from his mouth. "You…"

Rogue stood across from Gajeel, shadows oozing from body as he hunched over. He had activated his Dragon Force. "I have to defeat you, Gajeel. There is no other path."

"What the hell are you…?"

Gajeel's query was interrupted by Rogue kicking him hard in the face. Gajeel rolled along the ground again, this time colliding with a pillar. Gajeel once again rose to one knee, a hungry look in his eye as he smirked. "I don't know what your beef with me is, but if you want to take this to end. I'm all for it. Sounds like fun." Gajeel pulled back his arm before thrusting forward with his Iron Dragon Sword. Rogue's body turned into shadow, the sword going right through him.

He swirled around the sword until he reached Gajeel.

SHADOW DRAGON'S WAXWING FLASH

He circled around Gajeel, sending him flying into the air.

Frosch fretfully stared at the screen in the stadium, scared of the hardened look in his friend's eye. "Rogue."

Gajeel stood upright, noticing Rogue was nowhere in sight. "Where the hell did you go?!"

"Here." Rogue's voice echoed from behind Gajeel. He emerged from Gajeel's shadow, his black aura surrounding his hand.

SHADOW DRAGON SLASH

Gajeel howled in pain as Rogue's attack sliced into his arm.

Makarov watched Rogue completely outclass Gajeel. "What's happened to him?"

Mavis sat next to her successor, equally dumbfounded. "He's fighting like a completely different person."

Gajeel swung his arm, but once again Rogue became a shadow. He then quickly reappeared, assaulting Gajeel with right and left hooks. Gajeel staggered backwards as Rogue continued to taunt him. "As I said earlier, your attacks are weak."

Gajeel clenched his teeth. "You little…" He quickly jumped back, his cheeks puffing out as he gathered energy.

IRON DRAGON RO-

Gajeel's spell was quickly interrupted by Rogue. The shadow dragon closed the distance with his magic, grabbing Gajeel by the neck. Rogue tightened his grip on Gajeel's throat as he lifted him off the ground.

"I can't believe that I wanted to best someone so weak for all these years."

Levy looked on in shock as she watched Gajeel gasp for air. "Stop! You're killing him!"

Frosch left his spot on the balcony, making his way towards the city. "Fro has to go to him. Have to help Rogue."

Rogue dropped Gajeel, the Iron Dragon limply falling onto his back on the ground. Shadows began to leak out from under him. "This is the end, Gajeel. You will be swallowed into the darkness, alone. For all eternity."

As the shadows began to swallow him, Gajeel simply smirked in defiance. "I hate copying that punk, Salamander, but whatever he can do I can do better!"

Rogue's eyebrow twitched as he looked down at his adversary.

Gajeel clenched his fist tightly, sucking in as much air into his lungs as he could, surprisingly, the shadows began to flow into his mouth as well.

Rogue's eyes widened at the sight. "What are you doing?"

"He's eating the shadows?" Levy gasped.

Gajeel began to stand up. "I don't know what changed in you, and I don't care, but you sure have gotten stronger, Ryos."

Rogue's mouth opened in surprise after hearing his old name.

"I remember when you used to shake when I ever I came around." Gajeel's body was almost completely covered in shadows. His skin shimmering a dark silver color as his malicious grin began striking a familiar fear in Rogue. "Let me help you remember why you were so scared of me in the first place."

In his fear, Rogue asked. "You can use two elements?"

"He sucked in the shadows." Nab observed the amazing sight along with the others in Fairy Tail.

"He looks even scarier than usual." Warren commented.

Gajeel pushed off towards Rogue. "If you want to put a label on it. You can call me an Iron-Shadow Dragon."

Rogue swung his arm, but Gajeel disappeared.

"He vanished!" Bisca gasped.

Alzack shook his head, correcting his wife. "No, he turned into a shadow."

Gajeel appeared behind Rogue, striking him in the back with a newly created Iron Shadow Dragon Club. Rogue stumbled forward before merging with the ground as a shadow. I have to get away.

Gajeel continued to grin, as he too became a shadow. "Where are you going?"

The two raced along the ground in their shadow forms, the crowd trying to figure out just what was going on.

When the two shadows were next to one another, Gajeel's arm rose up, reaching and grabbing Rogue's shadow. The two slowly began to raise out of the ground, Gajeel clutching Rogue's collar.

He's pulling me out of shadows?!

Gajeel dragged Rogue threw the scattered debris of the archway before slinging him into the air. "Try this!" He sucked in air, puffing out his cheeks.

IRON SHADOW DRAGON ROAR

The enhanced breath attack enveloped Rogue, the Shadow Dragon howling in pain before he fell back down to the ground with a loud thud. Gajeel reverted to normal, his breathing ragged as he looked back at Rogue.

"Gajeel's won!" Lola shouted. "Fairy Tail B earns a point!"

The crowd cheered in excitement.

"Don't hurt Rogue anymore!" a small voice yelled, surprising Gajeel. He looked down, seeing Frosch standing at Rogue's feet. His little paws were extended out at his sides. He was trying his best to look brave, but Gajeel could see the tears in his eyes.

Gajeel glared at Frosch for a few more seconds before sighing. He sat down on the ground, an annoyed look on his face as he rested his head on his palm. "Relax, the fights over. I'm not gonna do anything."

Frosch ran over to Rogue's side, lightly shaking his upper body. "Rogue! Rogue!"

Rogue slowly opened his eyes as he heard his name. "Frosch? Why…are you here?"

Frosch face lit up upon seeing Rogue still alive. "Rogue!"

"I…lost."

"Of course ya did." He heard Gajeel retort. "There was no way you were gonna beat me."

Rogue smirked. "I guess you're right. After all this time I'm still lagging behind. I think I've finally realized why you joined Fairy Tail. It always eluded me before. I would always ask myself: 'Why? Why would you join the guild that caused Phantom Lord to disband? A place that you should have hated everything about. What could cause you to make such a decision?' But now I know. You joined, because of comradery, right?" Rogue's smirk turned into a small smile. "Sabertooth has nothing like that. We are all just soldiers. Endlessly marching to our Master's will. No matter how harsh his orders and punishments were. I thought that's how things were supposed to be in a guild, but after watching you and Ms. Juvia, after seeing how your guild has treated Yukino despite her being a former enemy, I finally realize where your strength comes from. It makes me question my own choices. Just what am I supposed to be fighting for? What is a guild supposed to be? What are comrades?"

An all knowing smirk crossed Gajeel's lips. "You really don't understand anything at all do ya?" He pointed at Frosch. "That frog over there is your comrade, right?"

"Frog? Frosch is a cat."

"Well he's actually an exceed, but that's not important. Right?"

Rogue closed his eyes as the gentle wind began sweep over him. "You're right. Frosch is my comrade, and my friend."

Frosch smiled, tearing up. "Rogue…"

"I really can't beat you after all."

Gajeel replied grinned again. "That's obvious. But I'm ready anytime you want to give it another shot."

Levy watched the monitor along with the others, a smile on her face as she listened to the two dragon's words. Pantherlily nodded in approval.

…

Wendy and Lucy watched from a safe distance as Juvia, Gray, Lyon, and Chelia waged their battle. Wendy offered to support her friends with her healing magic but Gray waved off the idea, stating that she should save what little strength she had left for later battles.

Lyon stepped forward as he thrust out his palm, summoning ice eagles to attack Gray. The Fairy Tail wizard jumped back, avoiding each creation his rival conjured.

"Juvia!"

"Ok!" the rain woman was in the water below the bridge that Gray was standing on, using it to replenish her spent energy. She whipped her arm, summoning a wave of water that moved in front of Gray. The ice make wizard put his hand inside the cool liquid.

ICE MAKE: SHOTGUN

The water froze over, ice spears shooting from it towards Lyon. Chelia jumped in front of her guild mate, swirling her arms around to summon her black wind.

SKY GOD'S DANCE

The wind deflected the spears, protecting Lyon and herself.

"Good work, Chelia." Lyon's praise lifted the girl's spirits, but his satisfaction soon gave way to anger however as he looked towards Gray. "He used Juvia's water for that technique. Bastard." He lifted his arm into the air, his magic swelling.

ICE MAKE: SNOW DRAGON

The creature rushed forward, knocking down Gray and sending him sliding a small distance across the bridge.

Although she was happy Lyon's attack hit its mark, Chelia pouted. "Focus, Lyon! You have to attack Juvia as well."

Lyon smirked. "I will leave that to you, just make sure not to hurt her when using your magic."

"How am I supposed to do that?!"

"They aren't on the same page at all." Lucy said with an uneasy smile.

Wendy shook her head. "They really aren't."

Juvia looked up at the bridge in awe. "I never knew Lyon was so strong."

Gray stood up, a smirk on his lips as he wiped the blood away from his mouth. "Yeah, but they aren't working together. We can use that against them."

Chelia rushed Gray, her hands out at her sides as she gathered more wind.

"Gray!" Juvia, emerged from the water to protect him but was soon stopped when Lyon froze her lower body.

"I'm sorry, Juvia, but I can't hold back. Even if it's for you."

Gray and Juvia's eyes widened in shock as Chelia stopped, slinging her right arm back as the black winds gathered into her open palm.

SKY GOD'S BOREAS

Chelia threw the concentrated air at Gray and Juvia, sweeping them into the air along with scattered detritus from the bridge. Lucy and Wendy shielded their eyes from the flotsam and jetsam being kicked up by Chelia's spell. Once the wind dissipated Gray and Juvia lay a couple millimeters from one another, their bodies covered in scratches and bruises. After a few seconds, Gray managed to gingerly rise to his feet, Juvia only being able to sit next to him.

Lyon and Chelia were breathing hard as well. The strain from the battle was beginning to take its toll on their bodies.

"We have to finish them, Lyon."

Lyon reluctantly sighed. "You're right, Chelia. I can't let my feelings get in the way of my duty as a member of Lamia Scale. I'm sorry, Juvia."

Juvia began to shake in fright, but all of that stopped when Gray placed his hand on her shoulder. She placed her hand on top of his, feeling his warmth radiate through her body as he spoke to her.

"They're strong, but they don't work like a team. They keep tripping one another up. So we have to show them how we work together, by combining our magic and hitting them with everything we've got!"

Juvia smiled and nodded at Gray's words as her pulled her to her feet, their fingers intertwined. They held up their arms, their held hands glowing in a swirl of blue and white. Lyon gritted his teeth in anger and jealousy at the sight.

"Gray, you cretin! How dare you force yourself on Juvia in front of me like that? Chelia!"

He looked over to his partner, but she was completely lost. Chelia looked at Gray and Juvia in awe, her body relaxing as a smile spread across her lips. Lyon began to panic.

"Chelia, what are you waiting for?! Heal us?!"

"It's so lovely."

Lyon grabbed the girl by the shoulders, shaking her to and fro. "Snap out of it!" Chelia came back to reality, but it was too late.

WATER NEBULA

ICE MAKE GEYSER

Juvia and Gray thrust their arms forward, summoning a huge spiral of water that held iced spikes within it. The force of the attack propelled Lyon and Chelia into the air and off into a different part of the city.

"This is all your fault, Chelia!"

"I'm sorryyyy!"

The pair soon faded from sight. Lucy and Wendy looked at their guild mates with elation.

"You won!" Lucy ran to the two, a huge smile on her face. Wendy wasn't far behind. Gray and Juvia smiled at one another a few seconds longer before Gray looked down. They were still holding hands.

"How long are you going hold on?"

"Forever." Juvia nuzzled into Gray, the ice wizard's eyes widening in fright.

"Get off me!"

Wendy looked around. She tried to feel on the wind if anyone else was coming, but ended up with nothing. "What do we do now?"

"I don't know. I think Lyon and Chelia were the last two wizards from Lamia Scale. That just leaves us, Juvia's team and Sabertooth."

Wendy turned her wide-eyed stare from Lucy to Juvia, whom Gray had finally managed to separate himself from. "Who's left on your team, Juvia?"

"If I remember correctly. It's Me, Gajeel, and Laxus."

"Laxus lost." Gray interjected. Lucy looked at him with disbelief.

"Laxus lost?!"

Gray nodded. "Yeah, he and Jura took each other out before I got here."

"Well that's surprising. So I guess it's just Gajeel and you, Juvia."

"It seems so."

"What are you going to do?" Gray asked. "You could fight us and earn three easy points, or you could give up." He smirked at his idea of a joke.

"Ok."

"Ok what?"

"I surrender."

"What?! Why?!"

"That's what you wanted isn't it, my love?"

"I was joking! I didn't really want you to quit."

"Oh, well what's done is done." Juvia smiled lovingly. Gray let out an exhausted sigh as Lucy and Wendy giggled.

…

Erza summoned a new sword, sticking it into the ground and using it as a cane as she slowly struggled to her feet. The pain surging through her shattered ankle was unimaginable, but she pushed through it. Her vow to Millianna and Kagura still burning in her mind.

Minerva, her smirk having never left her face, swirled her arms as green energy once again materialized. The orbs stretched, wrapping around and pulling Erza by her injured leg as they lifted off her feet and into the air. Minerva swiped her arm, using the constraint to sling Erza through a nearby pillar as if she were a ragdoll. Erza coughed up more blood as she soared through the air. Kagura and Millianna looked on in desperation and anger. They wanted to help the redhead, but their bodies no longer responded to their commands. They could only muster weak calls of concern.

"Er…za."

"Erzy."

Minerva continued to toss Erza around the debris laden battlefield, the redhead's body colliding with all manners of stone and metal. When she was satisfied, Minerva brought Erza back down to Earth. Minerva sauntered towards her weakened opponent, slightly surprised when she attempted to stand once more.

"You amuse me. I would have thought you long unable to stand with the state of that ankle."

"I…will stand as many times as it takes. As long as I have breath left in my body and there is a battle to fight, I will not fall. I will stand until the battle is won." Erza placed her good arm on her knee, pushing herself upright. "I told you before. You chose the wrong guild to anger."

"Bold words from a woman with only one good arm and leg. Besides anger is bad for one's looks."

Erza planted her feet flat, ignoring the rush of pain shooting through her body. "I will avenge what you did to Lucy! My friends! Kagura! Millianna! You will feel my anger."

"What of your daughter?"

Erza's eyes widened.

"Her name is Aura, right? A cute girl. Perhaps I'll take her with me after I dispose of you. I will properly show her just how much better it is to be raised by someone of nobility."

Erza clenched her teeth, her anger reaching its peak. "You…!"

"You let your guard down." Minerva pointed her index and middle fingers at Erza, creating two explosions next to the redhead's feet that disturbed her balance. "Anything within my field of vision is a slave to my magic." Minerva opened her arms, causing more explosions both in the ceiling and around Erza.

Millianna gasped. "Explosions?"

Minerva looked up into the air, her eyes closing as she reveled in the chaos her magic caused. "Territory is the greatest of magics. Suitable for only the greatest of guilds."

Erza tried to shield herself from the explosions around her, but she found no way to evade them. She closed her eyes awaiting the end, just then, she heard a familiar sound. She opened her eyes, her body shaking as she saw a familiar white scarf, wrapped around the familiar collar of a familiar black half vest, under a familiar head of pink hair.

"Natsu?"

The dragon slayer shielded Erza as he sucked up the fire from Minerva's explosions. When he finished, he burped, signifying the end of his 'meal'. "Thanks, I was running a little low on fuel."

Minerva's eyes widened in disbelief, along with Kagura and Millianna's. "How did he…?"

"Salamander."

"Where did he come from?"

Natsu turned around, smiling wide at Erza. "Looks like I made it just in time. I kinda got lost on the way."

Erza couldn't help but grin at him. "You fool."

Natsu looked down, noticing Erza's many injuries. His smile faded. "Sorry I didn't make it sooner."

Erza placed her hand Natsu's cheek, her warmth reassuring him. "It's not your place to apologize for my injuries. I'm just glad you aren't hurt too badly."

"Not anymore thanks to that fire." Natsu patted his stomach as he smiled again.

"Do you always think with your stomach?"

Minerva pointed her fingers at Natsu as her hand glowed green once more. "I will not be ignored!" The spot she pointed towards exploded, to her surprise Natsu emerged from the fires of the explosion. He drew his hand back.

He thrust forward with his punch, pushing Minerva back. He followed her, this time his foot lighting on fire as he jumped into the air. "This is for Lucy!"

FIRE DRAGON TALON

Minerva barely blocked with her territory magic as Natsu kicked downward. Frightened, she pushed him away and quickly back peddled. How is he this strong?!

"Running away?!" Natsu dashed towards Minerva, his arms becoming wrapped in flames. He soon closed the distance. "And this is for Erza!" Minerva closed her eyes in anticipation for the end to come.

FIRE DRAGON WING-

Suddenly a white wind blew towards Natsu. He redirected his wing attack, using it to block against the sudden weather shift, which sent him flying backwards.

"Natsu!" Erza shouted.

Natsu backflipped in midair, slowing his momentum as he landed on his feet and slid next to Erza. He smirked. "I was wondering when you would show up."

Minerva opened her eyes, seeing Sting standing in front of her.

"I'm sorry for being late, princess."

"I didn't need your help."

"My apologies."

"Well since you are here, you can deal with Salamander."

Sting grinned. "As you wish."

"Good." Minerva waved her hand, summoning green orbs that enveloped both dragon slayers.

Natsu flailed around in a panic. "Hey! What the hell is this?! I'm drowning!"

"Calm down!" Erza shouted. "It's not water. It's part of her magic."

Natsu stopped struggling. "Oh."

Sting remained calm as he floated in Minerva's orb.

"You know what will happen if you fail me, Sting."

Sting nodded. "I understand, Princess."

"See that you do." Minerva waved her hand again, causing the orbs to glow.

Natsu looked around the glowing orb, his fear returning. "What's going on?! Er-"In a flash he and Sting were gone, returning things to how they were before they arrived.

Erza glared at Minerva. "Where did you send them?"

"Somewhere they won't be able to bother us."

…

"Za!" Natsu reappeared in a brand new venue. "I'm getting tired of people throwing me places." He looked around, taking in his new surroundings. To his surprise he was in front of the Mercurius palace. The courtyard was still covered in the various wines and flowers that Lisanna and Happy claimed were created by Shizuka during the prelims. If not for the palace in the background, Natsu would have assumed Minerva had teleported him into a forest, because in essence she had. He heard leaves rustle and got on guard, seeing Sting emerge from the gathered vines.

"Natsu." An eager grin appeared on Sting's lips. "This is it. This is the fight I've been waiting seven years for." He pointed at Natsu, his grin becoming more and more psychotic. "I'm going to defeat you, and then Lecter will return to me."

"I have no idea what you're talking about, but I've wanted to fight you as well." Natsu held up his hand, the back of his palm facing Sting. He matched Sting's grin and opened his fingers. Fire rose from Natsu's fingertips, forming the words "Come On".

…

Minerva gathered energy into her palms, summoning more explosions that surrounded Erza, but just like Natsu before her Erza rushed through them, holding two swords. One in her right arm, and one clenched between her teeth. She slashed at Minerva's arms, cutting the Sabertooth wizard.

"Damn you!" Minerva swung at Erza, but the knight dodged slashing diagonally across Minerva's body with the sword in her mouth before slashing again with the sword in her hand. Minerva slid backward, her smug façade replaced with anger and bitterness. She rushed Erza again, but the redhead stood her ground.

"I warned you that you would feel the full force of my anger!" She stomped into the ground, her magic swelling as her body began to glow.

SECOND ORIGIN RELEASE: NAKAGAMI ARMOR

When the light faded, Erza stood clad in a brand new armor. It was elegant in design. A short blue robe adorned with gold trimming. It opened in the middle, revealing amount of Erza's chest. The robe was tied at the waist with a simple red ribbon that itself was held together by a gold bead. Two large blue gloves with gold trims flaring out in the ends could be seen on her hands, the gloves having red ribbons tied around the wrist. Two large golden pauldrons were worn over each shoulder, bearing the image of a lion with an open mouth. Her blue and gold leggings, which matched her gloves in both pattern and design, were covered by a pair of gold greaves; the greaves themselves matched the pattern of her robe. Atop her head sat a tiara consisting of two blue rhombus shaped pieces to each side and a center blue triangular shaped piece. Two strands of hair from the sides of her head were tied together by a golden bead with an intricate swirling pattern. Finally, a large white sash looped above her head, its ends hanging out towards the ground with a bead on each end. Erza held onto a large halberd with a golden circular hand guard in the center.

Fairy Tail looked on in shock with the rest of the crowd. Jet and Droy chief among them.

"She wasn't even using her second origin?!"

"How long was she holding that back?"

Minerva held out her hands, preparing for another attack. "Do you think some new clothing is going to frighten me?! Ro hwaset (trash)! Ro hwasetya (You're nothing but trash)!"

Erza watched as Minerva rushed her. "This is the end."

"I ragd (perish)!" Minerva thrust her arms forward. A pillar of light enveloped Erza, but the Fairy Tail wizard stood in its center unfazed.

Erza gripped the pole of her halberd and swung it around, dispelling Minerva's spell. The Sabertooth wizard was speechless as she began to feel fear trickle up her spine. "H-how?! How is it possible that you have so much power left? I-It's impossible."

Erza glared at her once more. "You have caused too much pain and suffering to people I care about. You've assaulted them. Tortured them. Mocked their pain time and again."

Minerva began to walk backwards, her legs shaking as Erza encroached on her. "N-no…stop…!"

"However your gravest offense, was threatening my daughter. It's time for you to receive retribution in kind!"

"Don't! You can't! I'm noble! I'm…I'm stronger! I'm-"

NAKAGAMI STARLIGHT

Erza dashed past Minerva, her halberd striking through her opponent. The force caused Minerva to spin around, the side of her body colliding hard with the ground beneath her. Erza tapped the bottom of her staff against the ground, her attire reverting back to her sarashi and hakama. Millianna and Kagura looked on, smiles on their faces as they silently praised Erza's victory.

"Minerva is down!" Lola shouted to the crowd's pleasure. "Fairy Tail A is now tied with Sabertooth for the number one position!"

The crowd began to mumble as the gravity of the situation began to set in.

"Fairy Tail might win the whole thing."

"Yeah, there's no way Fairy Tail can lose now!"

The crowd began to chant Fairy Tail's name. The wizard's in the guild sat speechless at the sudden turn of events.

"This will be the final fight." Mavis stated as she looked at the screen. "Either we will claim the victory, or Sabertooth will remain champion."

Lisanna looked at the First Master with confusion. "What do you mean, First Master? None of Natsu's team has been eliminated."

Makarov stood on the balcony next to where Mavis sat. "Master Mavis is right, this will be the last battle."

Lisanna was still lost. "But I don't-"

Cana placed her hand on Lisanna's shoulder before pointing up at the other screens. "Look."

Lisanna looked up, her eyes slowly widening in realization. Gray, Lucy, Wendy, and Juvia walked towards an unknown destination, their wounds still prominent on their bodies. Laxus was still lying on his back along with Jura. Gajeel continued sitting with Rogue and Frosch, but everyone doubted whether he could stand with his own power. Finally, Erza was using a stick she had found as a cane as she limped through the city on her quest to find where Natsu had been teleported to. Lisanna looked over to Master Makarov who nodded.

"Lucy has exhausted her magic completely and Wendy isn't far behind, Laxus is immobile after his fight with Jura, Juvia surrendered, Alana and Mirajane have long since been eliminated, and it is taking everything Erza has to keep upright. The only ones who could possibly oppose Sting aside from Natsu are Gajeel and Gray, and even then those battles would not last long with the condition those two are in."

Everyone began to weigh Makarov's words. They knew Natsu was strong, he had proven it over and over that day by going toe to toe with four of the strongest wizard's in the kingdom, but that was the problem. While he looked ok for the moment, but everyone knew that he was still affected from that fight while Sting was perfectly healthy. Frowns slowly began to creep on their faces, until a small voice cried out.

"You do it, Papa! Win for Fairy Tail!"

Everyone looked at Aura in astonishment, no matter what was going on she never lost faith in Natsu or anyone else in the guild. They thought it was due to childhood innocence, but they knew better. It was because of her spirit, her belief in Fairy Tail that protected her faith. Everyone else began to smile, determined and fierce looks appearing in their eyes.

"She's right! Natsu's never let us down before, right? Why would this be any different?!"

Warren looked at the screen with a smirk. "So we have to place our faith in Natsu, huh?"

Max grinned as he patted his friend on the back. "Just like old times."

Elfman threw his fist into the air. "Show that guy what it's like to be a real man, Natsu!"

Mirajane patted Aura's head, the child looking up at her confused. "Good job, Aura."

"What did I do?"

"Everyone was beginning to doubt themselves, but you raised their spirits and made them feel better. Just like your mama and papa."

"I did?"

Mirajane nodded. "You did."

Yukino looked at the two, a warm smile appearing on her face before she began to cheer for Natsu along with the rest of Fairy Tail. She couldn't rightfully describe what she was feeling. It was warm…comforting. Even though she had only recently gotten to know the Fairy Tail guild better, she felt more at ease around them then she had in a long time.

Natsu and Sting stood across from one another, the tension between them only building as the seconds passed. Without saying a word Sting pushed off towards Natsu, his fist drawn back. He lunged forward with a punch but Natsu moved his head to the side. Sting threw another punch but Natsu dodged again. Natsu stepped back allowing Sting to proceed forward before he punched him in the face, sending him flying through a bush.

"Yeah! He got him!" Jet shouted.

"Way to go, Natsu!" Droy cheered.

Sting emerged from behind the bush, wiping the blood dripping from his mouth. He looked at it for a few seconds, before spitting out more. Natsu stared at him perplexed.

"You're different. You're way sloppier than when you fought Gajeel and Laxus. What happened to you?"

Sting clenched his teeth activated his White Drive before pushing off again. "That's none of your business!" He lunged forward with another punch, but again Natsu dodged by shifting his head to the side; Sting's fist zooming right past him. Learning from his earlier mistake Sting opened the palm of his hand, grabbing Natsu by the back of his head and driving his face into his lifted knee. Natsu staggered back, but Sting continued his assault by lifting his leg and pushing Natsu onto the ground, his foot on his chest. He tilted his head down towards Natsu, his mouth opening as a white light began to glow inside it. Natsu's eyes widened as he covered his face with his arms.

WHITE DRAGON ROAR

The white light enveloped the two men, the shockwave blowing away nearly all of the greenery around them. It would have blown away the castle as well if not for the barrier erected around it to protect from damage during the event.

"Natsu!" Lisanna shouted.

When the dust settled, Sting looked down at the deep crater his attack had created. He smirked, satisfied by his handiwork. "I know it'll take way more than that to keep you down, Natsu." He scanned the hole. Hearing a faint voice, he turned his ear towards the hole, his eyes widening when he made out the words.

FIRE DRAGON SWORD HORN

Natsu emerged from the hole like a rocket, his body covered in flames as he head-butted Sting in the stomach and took him into the air. Sting coughed up blood as the upward velocity affected his body. Struggling to break free, he managed to grab Natsu's shoulders. Sting pushed away, kicking Natsu in the chest and knocking him off course. The two fell back down to terra firma, landing on their feet. They shot each other a look before puffing out their cheeks.

WHITE DRAGON ROAR

FIRE DRAGON ROAR

Their breaths collided, creating another immense explosion that could be seen all the way from the stadium. Erza saw the light and tried to quicken her pace. Losing her balance she dropped her cane and fell over, but she was caught before she hit the ground.

"Take it easy."

Erza turned to where the voice came from, surprised to see Gray, Lucy, Wendy, and Juvia standing behind her; Gray being the one who caught her. Juvia pouted as she watched Gray pull Erza to her feet.

"I'm glad all of you are ok." Erza smiled.

"I wish we could say the same about you." Wendy rushed passed Gray, placing her hands against Erza as she began healing with what little magic she had left.

"Let me."

Erza tried to protest. "No, Wendy. You should save your strength for someone who really needs it."

Lucy smiled. "Right now that's you. Kagura and Millianna told us where to find you."

Erza's eyes widened. "Are they-?"

Lucy nodded. "They're fine, thanks to Wendy. She managed to get them out of serious danger at least."

When Wendy finished healing Erza she backed away, wiping the sweat off her brow. "I completely healed your arm. I ran out of power before I could finish your leg, but you should still be able to walk on it."

Erza smiled softly. "Thank you, Wendy."

Gray smirked. "Go find Natsu. We're going to find Laxus and Gajeel."

Erza nodded, before taking off again. Her confidence renewed.

Natsu and Sting once again stood opposite one another after another violent exhancge. Both of their bodies were bruised and marked with various cuts, but neither dragon showed signs of backing down. Sting smirked at Natsu before cranking his neck.

"We done warming up yet?"

Natsu returned Sting's smirk with one of his own. "I was just going to ask you that."

Nearly everyone's jaws in the crowd dropped.

"That was just a warm up?"

"They nearly blew up the castle."

"Dragon slayers are the real deal."

Fairy Tail sat on the edge of their seat. It was Mavis who broke their silence.

"The true battle is about to begin."

Makarov nodded in agreement. "Yes, it is."

Sting clenched his fist tightly as he turned to face Natsu head on. His clothes and hair began to wave as if wind was blowing through them before his body began to glow. Suddenly he was surrounded by a white aura, white markings appearing on his face and arms. The aura faded. Sting has activated Dragon Force.

Natsu could feel the pressure from Sting's power. It was immense, almost suffocating. Despite this Natsu felt a grin creep onto his lips as he looked at his fellow Dragon Slayer. He's way stronger than before. This is gonna be fun.

Sting noticed Natsu's grin and couldn't help smiling himself. He was finally fighting Natsu and he was every bit as powerful as he imagined, but Sting felt, know he knew that he was the stronger one of the two. "How about we make a bet? Seems like it'll be a waste if we do all this fighting for nothing."

Natsu gave Sting an amused grin. "Ok, what are we betting?"

"When I win, you have to be my servant until the next Grand Magic Games, and you will admit that I'm the strongest Dragon Slayer of all time."

Macao clenched his teeth. "That cocky son of a…"

Wakaba shared his friend's frustration. "Who does he think he is?"

"Kick his ass, Natsu!" Romeo shouted. Normally Macao would have scolded his twelve year old son for using such vulgar language, especially in front of Aura and Asuka, but he decided to let it slide for today.

Natsu cracked his knuckles. "Ok. Then when I win, you have to make your Master apologize for what he did to Yukino and let her back into Sabertooth."

Sting's eyes widened in surprise. Yukino's did the same.

"W-what?" Yukino muttered. "But why would he-?"

Sting's lip quivered into a smile before he laughed uproariously. "You're as crazy as the papers used to say. Ok, you're on. I accept."

Natsu slammed his fist into his palm. "Alright then. Come at me."

Sting complied, quickly disappearing from Natsu's sight. The fire dragon slayer's eyes widened in surprise when Sting suddenly appeared behind him. The white dragon kicked Natsu into the air, jumping after him and knocking him back to the ground with another hard kick; his one to the abdomen. Sting dove down, his fist headed for Natsu's chest. The fire dragon place his hands by his head, pushing off into a backflip to evade Sting's attack.

Natsu gritted his teeth as Sting quickly closed their distance, hitting Natsu with a right hook that sent him flying through a nearby building. Natsu groaned as he climbed out of the rubble. Is this what it's like to fight against dragon force? He's gotten way faster and stronger.

"Had enough yet?" Sting smirked smugly as he walked towards Natsu.

"Not if that's all you got."

"Oh I'm just getting started." Sting raced towards Natsu, he thrust his forearm forward but Natsu moved to counter with his own. Unfortunately for the fire dragon Sting packed just a bit more power, as their clash caused Natsu's arm to tingle. Natsu grimaced as Sting pushed him back.

Natsu widened his stance keep from falling over before dashing towards Sting. He drew back his arm.

FIRE DRAGON IRON FIST

Instead of evading Sting caught Natsu's punch, irritating the pinkette. Sting pulled Natsu's arm, and by extension his body, forward as he buried a knee into his adversary's abdomen. Natsu spit up blood as Sting grabbed him by the back of his head and threw him into another building. Sting held back his hand, white light gathering in it. He then threw it at the building Natsu was in. The ball shrunk briefly before exploding, destroying the entire building.

"He's way stronger than when he fought the other day." Alana fretted.

Sting looked at the rubble for a few seconds before Natsu emerged from it. Natsu leapt into the air, his fist engulfed in flames that took the shape of claws.

FIRE DRAGON CLAW

Natsu swiped his flame claw downward, but Sting side stepped and grabbed his wrist. He pulled back his free arm, lunging forward with a punch surrounded in white energy. Natsu managed to block, but the force of the blow sent him flying once again. Sting followed him, unleashing a barrage of punches before kicking Natsu back down to the ground, the impact creating another sizable crater. Sting walked over it, seeing Natsu stagger to his feet. His amusement began to fade.

"You're starting to get annoying."

Natsu grinned through his heavy breaths. "Back…at ya."

Sting grabbed Natsu by throat, holding him aloft before throwing him into the air. As Natsu soared, Sting crouched and pressed his palms together. A white light began to grow between his palms as he slowly formed his hands into a pyramid.

HOLY RAY

Hundreds of streams of light emerged from his hands, all of them hitting Natsu as he fell to the ground. Natsu roared in pain as the light struck him from all sides. He fell to the ground with a loud, reverberating crash.

The crowd was stunned into silence as they watched the battle on the screen.

"N-Natsu's not moving." Lola commentated. "Has Sting won the battle and possibly the games for Sabertooth?"

All of Fairy Tail looked at lacrima screens in shock, they didn't know what to say. Aura however, was still looking at the screen just as resolute as when the fight started.

"Get up, Natsu." Happy whimpered.

Sting lifted his arm into the air in victory as he smiled in relief. I did it, Lecter. I won. Now we can see each other again. I kept my promise. Sting looked back towards Natsu, his smile turning sullen as he watched his fallen idol. "You were as strong as everyone said you were, Natsu."

"Don't…count me out yet." Natsu placed his hands on the ground and pushed himself to his feet, much to the surprise of everyone. Despite the bruises and cuts on his body, his face made it seem like he was more inconvenienced than hurt. "You're really good. I haven't been this amped up during a fight all day. I really wasn't expecting you to be this strong." Natsu's gaze narrowed as he confidently grinned at Sting. "Time for me to stop messing around."

Sting looked at him dumbfounded. "You're bluffing. There's no way you were holding back against me. I was using Dragon Force on you!"

"Yeah, and it was a real challenge to get around, but I've got it down now." Natsu's smirk faded, his face turning serious. "You won't hit me again."

"I won't…hit you? What the hell are you talking about?" Sting clenched his fists tightly as he re-entered dragon force. "This is the same power used by dragons! There's no way it can lose!" Sting drew back his fist and punched, but to his surprise Natsu caught it.

The fire dragon slayer smirked as he clenched Sting's fist tighter and placed his free hand on the outside of his elbow for support. "Did you get slower?"

FIRE DRAGON GRIP STRIKE

A sudden burst of fire exploded outward from Natsu's hand, engulfing Sting and burning him. Natsu kicked him the abdomen, causing Sting to slide back. The blonde gripped his stomach to assess the damage before charging at Natsu.

"I'm not going to lose!" He swiped at Natsu, but the pinkette bended backward before returning with a headbutt. Natsu then followed up with a left hook.

The crowd began to return to life as they saw the tide of the battle turn in Natsu's favor. Each of Sting's strikes went unanswered while all of Natsu's found their marks. It was a complete reversal of how things had started during the match.

As Sting's hits continued to miss his anger rose, his thoughts returning to Lecter. The promise he made all those years ago. The vow he had made with Minerva. Sting wasn't fighting for himself anymore, he was fighting for a friend. For Lecter. He hoped that had made him as strong as Fairy Tail.

Natsu wasn't fighting for himself either. He never really did. He fought for his guild, all of the friends that had been ridiculed and laughed at for the past seven years. The comrades that were mocked and insulted during the games. The new friends that had no place to go. He was fighting for his family. For the redhead who opened her heart to him despite knowing so much pain. Who showed him love when had no idea what it was, but more importantly he fought for a pink haired child who would soon be seven. To see her smile, to hear her laugh, to watch her grow. That is what he was fighting for. To him there was no other option but to win. He knew these reasons made him stronger.

The two men's hopes, dreams, and ideals clashed over and over. The sounds of conviction reverberating throughout the city of Crocus. How hard they were fighting, coupled with the passion in their eyes split the crowd down the middle. Some vehemently supported the fire dragon, while others put just as much faith in the white dragon.

Erza closed in on Natsu's location, her strength not wavering as she looked up with a determined stare. Natsu.

Natsu's punch collided with Sting's rib.

Lisanna closed her eyes, clasping her hands as if she were praying. Natsu.

Another punch struck Sting's face.

Gray and the girls reached Laxus, pulling the lightning dragon to his feet before they looked toward the source of the impacts. Natsu.

A hard kick struck the back of Sting's knee, causing him to fall over.

Gajeel looked up to the sky, an eager grin on his lips. Salamander.

Natsu aimed his foot at Sting's abdomen, but the white dragon blocked it.

Rogue looked up into the sky along with Gajeel. Sting.

Sting swiped away punch to the face, countering with a strike to Natsu's chest.

Rufus lay on his back in the library. He was still hurt from his fight with Gray, but he still managed to smirk. Sting.

Sting grabbed Natsu by the leg and threw him into a building before jumping after him.

Minerva turned over onto her stomach, crawling towards the edge of the structure where she had fought Erza. She could see the dust rising from where Sting and Natsu were fighting. Sting.

Sting came down atop Natsu with a knee, but the Fairy Tail wizard blocked it, pushing Sting back. Natsu jumped out after him, the two landing on their feet on the ground just a few meters from each other.

The entire Fairy Tail guild watched the screen, all of their hopes laid bare in the form of a pink haired dragon slayer. Natsu.

Sting looked ahead at Natsu, a vision of Lecter appearing in his head as he heard his voice one last time. Sting.

Sting puffed out his cheeks. Natsu responded in kind by holding out his hands. One was engulfed in flames. The other charged with lightning.

Aura leaned over the balcony railing just enough for her little feet to swing in the air. She lifted herself up higher and sucked in as much air as her little lungs could hold before screaming as loud as she possibly could. "Papa!"

WHITE DRAGON HOLY BREATH

DRAGON SLAYER SECRET ART: CRIMSON LOTUS EXPLODING LIGHTNING BLADE

The two attacks collided, creating a massive explosion that caused everyone looking to cover their eyes for fear of going blind. In the commentary booth, Lola was busy trying to keep his toupee on.

"What power! These two could destroy the entire city!"

"Forget that, they could destroy the country! Punkin!"

The light faded, revealing a cloud of dust that was soon blown away by the wind. Lola pointed at the screen, mic in his hand. "The dust is settling folks! Who is the last man standing?!" To everyone's surprise, both Natsu and Sting were on their feet. Slowly Sting staggered before his body went limp. He seemed to fall in slow motion.

I'm sorry…Lecter. I couldn't keep my promise. He was too…strong. Sting hit the ground with a definitive thud.

Natsu grinned as his vision became blurry. I guess that move took more out of me than I thought. He began to tumble over, but hit something just before the ground. Natsu opened his eyes, seeing beautiful, long red hair. "Erza?"

Erza looked up at him, a grin on her face as she positioned his arm around her shoulder before wrapping her arm around his waist to support him. She pulled Natsu to his feet, tightening her grip on his waist to reassure him that she was still there with a grin on her lips. "You can't fall yet."

Gajeel looked up at the screen hovering near him, his smirk widening. "It would be no fun to beat him when looks like crap. I give up."

Lola's mouth widened in shock, before a smile appeared on his face. "T-they did it! The winner of this year's Grand Magic Games…is Fairy Tail A! Fairy Tail has won the Grand Magic Games!"

The crowd roared at the announcement as confetti fell from the air.

"That was awesome!"

"Best games ever!"

"I knew Fairy Tail would win."

"Know you didn't. Stop lying."

The Fairy Tail guild were the most excited out of everyone, and for the right reason. After years of being humiliated and ridiculed, they could finally hold their heads up high again. The reality of the situation made some of them cry. Shizuka looked around at all the others, even though she still had little idea of what was going on, something inside her told her to smile, so she happily complied. Aura looked at her parents on the screen, tears of joy streaming down her face as she smiled wide like her father. Alana reached for a hug, but fell over on her face when she was intercepted by Mirajane. Yukino looked at the screen in amazement as her body began to shake from joy. She smiled, covering her mouth as she began to cry tears of happiness.

Natsu looked at Erza. He opened his mouth to speak, his voice weak. "Did I win?"

Erza nodded happily. "Yes, you did."

"Natsu!" a voice rang out from behind the pair. Natsu and Erza turned around, happy to see their teammates were the ones that were calling them. Erza helped Natsu walk over to them. Once they met up, he gave Gray a fist bump before smiling.

"Took you long enough." Laxus smirked.

"Shoulda been me, but I'll let you have this one." Gajeel said as he looked away with a grin.

Wendy clasped her hands as she looked at Natsu. "Are you ok?"

He gave her a thumbs up. "Never better."

Lucy raised an eyebrow. "Says the guy who can't even stand without help."

Natsu scratched the back of his head while his friends laughed. Their mood was broken by a loud bang. They all turned around to see Sting on all fours, tears streaming down his face and cracks on the spot his right fist was on. Everyone deduced that the bang was due to him slamming his fist on that spot. He clenched his teeth harder as he slammed his fist again, creating larger cracks.

"Dammit! Dammit! Dammit! Dammit!"

Gajeel began to move but Natsu held up his arm, stopping him. They watched as Sting continued to slam the ground his strikes growing weaker and weaker the more tears flowed from his eyes.

"I failed. I lost…now Lecter…Lecter will be...I got stronger. I followed the princess' orders, and it still wasn't enough. Now…" Sting clenched his fist tight enough to draw a small amount of blood that trickled from his palm to the dirt. "I'll never be able to see him again."

Erza looked over to Natsu. "Are you able to stand on your own?"

"Yeah I think so, why?"

Erza slowly released Natsu. Just as he said he could stand on his own without her assistance. Once he was set she walked over to Sting. "You don't have to worry, Sting. You still can see him." Just then Millianna appeared, looking much better than she had before thanks to Wendy.

"Erzy! I found him!" she waved.

Sting's eyes widened in shock, his mouth slowly opening as he looked in cat girl's arms. Cradled in her embrace was Lecter. He was struck speechless by his surprise.

Lecter slowly opened his eyes, hearing rapid footsteps. He looked over, his eyes widening when he saw Sting running, almost falling over to get to him. Millianna bent down, allowing the exceed to leave her arms.

"Lecter!"

"Sting!"

Sting grabbed Lecter when they met halfway, hugging his best friend close to his chest. Lecter smiled warmly. Tears streamed down both of their faces. The Fairy Tail wizards all smiled warmly at the moment, even Laxus and Gajeel weren't immune to it. Lucy then looked over to Millianna.

"How did you find him, anyway?"

"I found the little kitty after Minerva caught me. I guess where ever she sent me, was the same place she sent him to." She then gave a sullen sigh. "I was hoping I could keep him for myself though.

Lucy sweat dropped. "Of course."

Natsu walked over to Sting, who was still holding on to Lecter. Sting and Lecter looked up at the fire dragon slayer. Natsu flashed them his trademark smile, all of his teeth in plain view. "You were great. We should fight again sometime."

Sting returned Natsu's smiled before nodding. "You got it. I'll be even stronger then."

"Me too."

The other teams began to converge in the capital to collect whichever of their teammates were still in the city. In Fairy Tail's case the entire guild came running. They all circled Natsu and the others, praising them for a job well done.

Happy, Carla and Pantherlily flew to their respective dragon slayers.

"Natsu!" Happy tackled his best friend, causing him to take a couple steps back. "You won!"

"Did you ever doubt me?"

Happy shook his head before smiling. "Not even for a second."

"Goodness, child you're a mess." Carla tried to pat some of the dirt off of Wendy, the young dragon smiling.

"I'm sorry, Carla."

"Nonsense. What are you apologizing for? You did wonderful today." She smiled. "You have grown a lot." Wendy returned Carla's smile with a hug, the tabby embracing her as well.

"You did well today, Gajeel." Pantherlily nodded.

"I still got some training to do. Wanna tag along?"

Lily smirked. "Try and stop me."

Levy walked up to the two, a nervous blush on her cheeks. "G-good job, Gajeel."

Gajeel placed his hand on her head before smiling. "Thanks, shrimp."

Levy blushed even harder. "You're welcome." She nodded. Jet and Droy tried to hold back their jealousy.

Makarov pushed to the head of the crowd, looking up at his "children" with pride.

"You all did well today. You really showed just what the Fairy Tail guild is capable of. I couldn't be more proud of you all."

Laxus smirked. "Don't get all mushy on us, old man. You're gonna start embarrassing yourself."

Makarov glared at his grandson. "Why you ungrateful little..." He jumped at Laxus, but the others held him back. "I should kick you out of the guild again, you spoiled brat!" He ranted and raved, everyone laughing at the display.

Sting looked at Fairy Tail, a small smile on his face as he looked at Yukino, who was standing in the back of the crowd with Lucy. He felt a hand on his shoulder and looked up, seeing Rogue and Frosch. Rogue reached his hand towards his friend.

"Need help?"

"Nah, I got it."

Sting stood up and faced Rogue before they both looked back Fairy Tail. Rogue was the first one to break their silence.

"Looks we both failed to surpass them."

"Yeah, but for some reason I don't really mind." Sting grinned. "Kinda cool knowing that there is someone stronger out there. Makes me want to work harder." He looked down at Lecter. "Right?"

Lecter nodded in agreement, a smile on his face. "Right."

The twin dragons heard footsteps approaching and turned around.

"Rufus?"

"I heard you lost." Sting teased.

"Only due to an error in judgment." He grinned at the two. "I'll make sure to correct it for the next time we face them."

"Where are the others?" Rogue asked.

"Orga was taken away by the medical team. It seems he's still out cold after Natsu's punch."

"What about the princess?" Sting questioned.

"I'm not certain. I can't seem to sense her anywhere within the city. She must have gone out of my range using her Territory magic."

Rogue tilted his head down, resting his hand on his chin as he thought aloud. "Where could she have possibly gone?"

"We'll find her." Sting reassured. "We need to apologize for losing after all."

The rest of Mermaid Heel approached Millianna. Kagura was still gripping her side, using Arana's shoulder for support to keep her upright. Risley put her hands on her hips as she grinned at the Fairy Tail wizard's.

"Should have seen this one coming."

Kagura managed to summon a small smile through her pain. "Yes…we were no match for them this time."

Lyon and Chelia were picked Jura up from his spot on the ground as they watched the others on the floating lacrima screen. Lyon smirked.

"It seems that Gray won our bet. They really gave us all they had."

Chelia nodded. "They did."

Jura draped his arm over Lyon's shoulder, one of his eyes closed as he smirked at the screen. "They all did very well."

The tri-men's and Ichiya remained in the stadium. Eve was the first to speak.

"I guess this completes Fairy Tail's 'homecoming'."

Hibiki nodded. "Quite the welcome home present."

"Congratulations, Fairy Tail." Ren praised.

Inside one of the holding cells within the Palace guard headquarters sat Flare Corona. She had come to after being taken away from the city in light of Raven Tail's rule breaking. She put up no fight when she was placed in her cell, surprising the guards. She sat there for hours, her mind wandering about as she thought of what would happen to her. After a while a guard came to her cell, unlocking the rusted metal gate before sliding it open. He walked over to the rough bed upon which she sat.

"Hands."

Flare complied, holding up her hands to him. Around her wrists were set of hand cuffs that contained a lacrima which cancelled out the magic of whoever wore them. The guard fumbled through his enormous key ring before stopping at a small, dull, gold key that was a little less worn than the longer cell door keys around it. He grabbed the middle of Flare's shackles as he unlocked them. They clicked open, Flare lifting her slender wrists out before rubbing the soreness out of them with her hair. The guard cringed at the display.

"You're free to go. The rest of your friends were released just a little while ago. Except for that Obra guy, we can't seem to find him anywhere. I'm sure they told you this when they were interrogating you but I'll just tell ya again anyway. You and your friends are banned from participating in the Grand Magic Games for three years."

Flare looked towards the outside of her cell, the guard's words entering one ear and out of the other. She could honestly care less about the games, she was only there under orders. Ones she was quickly realizing were less than altruistic. She stood up from the bed, trudging passed the guard and out of the cell. However, something stopped her as she began to pass by the iron bars. "Are the Grand Magic Games over?"

The guard's eyes opened in slight surprise at the question. "Yeah. Fairy Tail won if you can believe it. It was a great series of fights, too bad they cost me 5000 jewel." The guard began to laugh.

"I see. Thank you." Flare walked out of the building; a small, but genuine smile on her lips.

"Mama!" Aura exclaimed happily as she ran to her mother, who was walking to where she, Mirajane, and Alana were. Erza knelt down to hug her daughter before kissing her forehead. She then grabbed her hand and stood up to face the others.

"How are you two feeling?"

Alana and Mirajane smiled, the barmaid answering first. "We're doing fine."

"Yep. Just fine." Alana then gave a sullen smile. "I just wish that I hadn't caused Mirajane to get eliminated."

"I already told you it was fine." Mirajane smiled at Alana, reassuring the dirty-blonde. "You did as best as you could despite being Cana's replacement." Mirajane didn't mean for her words to sound so harsh, but the barmaid was anything if not straightforward.

Erza nodded. "I agree, you did very well today. I see a lot of potential in you."

Alana's smile turned bright. "Thank you."

Aura tugged on Erza's pants. "I wanna see Papa. I got to tell him something important."

Erza smiled warmly. "Ok. Let's go get him."

Natsu continued to talk and laugh with his friends, but all of that stopped when Aura broke thorough to the center with Erza and her side. Everyone backed away some to give the three their space. Natsu smiled at his daughter. "There you are."

Erza let go of Aura's hand, watching as she walked to her father. "She has something to tell you."

"Really? What is it?"

"Come down here." Aura waved her hand towards herself. Natsu, struck curious by his daughter's secrecy, squatted down to her eye level.

"What is it? What do you have to tell me?"

Little arms wrapped tightly around the back of dragon slayer's neck. He then felt a warm sensation on his cheek. Natsu put his hand on his face and blushed. Aura had given him a kiss. The entire guild, along with Yukino and Shizuka, smiled warmly at the sight. Natsu faced his daughter, her wide smile reminiscent of his own.

"Congratulations, Papa."

Natsu returned Aura's smile with his own.

…

---

Alright! This is officially the longest chapter I have ever written (Sorry about that. Won't be many more like these, i promise), but I finally finshed the GMG (somewhat I need to write the epilogue for the arc.) This maybe the last chapter for a little while (life gets in the way, I'm also a bit burnt out at the moment) so I wanted to end the GMG in a nice way. Hopefully the fights were up to par, I'm still not that confident in my fight scenes and with so many characters to shuffle around I had to remind myself of things like certain characters fighting styles and techniques.

Anyways things will cool down for a couple chapters before I start the "Fenrir's Fang" arc. Which I think will be a doozy. Lots of fights, new characters, revelations, and tragedies going on in that one. As always let me know what you think and Thanks for Reading! :)