Chapter 18: Day 1
Tatsuki's POV
Today's the first day of the x794 Grand Magic Games. Izzy, Ros, and I would be filling in for Marguerrite, Seamus-san, and Dominic. The two brothers still weak from the poison, and Marg is under Joanne's strict supervison. Adriel and Rogue are perfectly fine after they fully recovered their magic twelve hours ago. Right now, we're under the grandstand. The guy with the weird hairdo will announce the participants soon. I've heard that this year there are only six teams that qualified.
"Welcome, everyone, to Day one of the x794 Dai Matou Enbu! I'll be announcing the guilds that succeeded in our elimination round. May I present to you the 6th team Blue Pegasus! Representing the guilds are Hibiki Laytis, Ren Akatsuki, Eve Tearm, Ichiya Vandalay Kotobuki, and Nichiya. Unfortunately, they're all resting in the infirmary except Eve Tearm so others will replace them for the day. Give it up for Miss Fiore x791 Jenny Realight, DeZille Horae, Riko Applico, Miss Fiore x792 Elena Graymark, and Eve Tearm!" Five people stepped out, four hot girls and a guy. Okay, personally, those girls are sexy but ain't my type. No one could ever beat her in my heart... Geez, I sound like a fourteen year-old who fell in love with for the first time.
The guest announcer, Doranbolt, said the next team. "5th place goes to Mermaid Heel! Participants are Kagura Mikazuchi, Arania Webb, Beth Vanderwood, Millianna, and Risley Law. Looks like they've gotten the long end of the stick in the Elimination Round, folks. None of the members are scathed while Blue Pegasus are wiped out." Ummm... Did he just said that? That's totaly OOC. "4th team to qualify is Lamia Scale. Represnting the guild are Jura Neekis, Fiore's Best Couple of the year Lyon Vastia and Juvia Lockser, the adorable Sky Godslayer Chelia Blendy, and Yuka Suzuki. They're all battered but they survived and is able to compete today."
"Now this is where it gets exciting. With the three yearly participatng guilds down, who goes in third, second, and first? We all know that two of these three teams left to announce are Sabertooth, and Fairy Tail; what is the last guild? Could it be Quatro Cerberus? A Team B?" That took a few minutes to build suspense. He should cut to the chase. Does he not know that this uniform I'm wearing is really hot?! (Okay, he probably doesn't).
"3rd team goes to Sabertooth! What a shocker folks! Participants are Orga Nanagear, Dobengal, the water twins Adele and Mark Dela Rosa, and Sebastian Gayns." Shit. Sebastian's here. Who's Sebastian? Well, let's say he's a backstabbing bitch-liar-brother-in-one. He fucking killed our parents for dragons' sake! No, not the dragons. I mean our biological ones. Yes, I grew up with my real parents and my dragon. Sebastian killed our parents because he felt 'under-aprreciated'. The last time I checked, Sebastian, Mother always cooked you your favorite meal and Father would tuck you in every night while I lay alone in my cold dark room with only my spirits to comfort me! You call that 'under-appreciated'! The only time they've praised me was when the councilmen took me home as a way of thanking me for rendering service to them.
"Oh my! 2nd team to pass the Skyscraper is Fairy Tail! Representing the guild are Titania Erza Fernandez, Gajeel Redfox, Demon Mirajane Strauss, Gray Fullbuster, and Salamander Natsu Dragneel! In place of Gajeel-san and Mr. Fullbuster who are still resting after our preliminary , is the cutest couple of the year! Let's give a round of applause to Romeo Conbolt and Wendy Marvel!" Woah! Isn't that the Salamander guy who Marguerrite owned? He's a Fairy Tail mage? "Wait! If Fairy Tail and Sabertooth down, whose in-"
"Cut the crap will you! Just announce the guild!" Yep. Marg being the ever impatient lady she is just yelled at the announcer, who is by the way 65 meters away, to 'cut the crap'.
"First place goes to Dracorde!" Finally! Yeah, bitches, we're first! We all came out of the corridor and into the arena, all of us wearing dragon-themed uniforms. "Participants are the Five Travelling Dragons! Looks like they've settled down and formed a guild. In place of the Star, Lightning, and Moon Dragon, are Rosette Nakamizuki, Tatsuki Gayns, and Izuyi Frost."
"Oh my!" The other commentor commented. "Isn't that Rogue Cheney?" A bunch of murmurs were heard. "If he is, then the Light Dragon would Sting Eucliffe?" Wait what? I thought he was Adriel Dreyfus. Adriel or Sting, whatever, removed the white mask and took a dramatic bow.
"You're Sting Eucliffe?!" I asked. I'm honestly confused.
"Tatsuki, you've seen us without masks, and been living in the mansion for six months, yet you haven't got any clue of our identity?"
I was about to answer when Marg dropped in from the sky literally and hit her younger brother's head. "Baka Sting! Why'd ya tell them?!"
"But nee-chan they've figured out! Shouldn't you be in the infirmary?"
"Baka! My leg healed hours ago!"
Joanne came out of nowhere and dragged Marguerrite by the collar out of the arena. "I told you to stay at the infirmary while I buy us food."
"Seriously, Tatsuki, we call each other by our names everyday and you haven't notice? Nee-chan's got you good." Still confused. "How come Izzy figured it out and you didn't?"
"Beats me."
"In case you people haven't notice, we're in the middle of Domus Flau, being broadcasted country wide." Izuyi cut in.
"Ooops. Sorry." Me and Sting/Adriel mumbled.
After that, we all went back to our designated balconies. We had an opening ceremony in which we prayed to the gods of Ishmal. Okay, I faked it since I'm not really religious. Then we sang the national anthem and pledged the oath of sportsmanship. At the last phrase, the gong sounded. Let the games begin!
"For our first event, we'll have Icicles! Guilds, choose your participants!" Obviously, we chose Izuyi, cause you know she's an ice dragon slayer. As she went down to the arena, the names of the other participants flashed: Millianna, Mark Dela Rosa, Eve Tearm, Gray Fullbuster, and Lyon Vastia. Looks like this is gonna be a cool battle. Lol, get it? Cool battle 'cause you know the abundance of cold magic users. Why ain't ya laughing at mi joke? I give up at being funny.
Izuyi's POV
Chapati and Yajima-san, the official commentators of the games, and Doranbolt, the guest for the day, announced the list of participants. I took the opportunity to size up my opponents. A white hair dude seemed to be glaring at the cute guy from Fairy Tail who equally returned the glare. A blonde guy seemed to be trying to impress the cat woman. The last one, a guy with strawberry blonde hair and emerald green eyes, was amused at our other rivals.
The pumpkin guy appeared after a minute and began explaining our game, "Okay, the event, Icicles, is similar to the game Ice, Ice, Water. The one 'it' will have to tag another player. If the player gets tag, he or she will freeze literally and can only play again once another player tags the frozen player. Every time the 'it' person tags a player, he or she will gain a point and lose one if a player tags you before you tag them. The players will lose a point if they got tag and win one if they tag either the frozen players or the one 'it'. Magic is also allowed to help you but you have to tag the person manually." A town materialized before our very eyes. "This will your battle ground. We will draw lots to see who's it, kabo." The king in disguise brought up a pumpkin bowl filled with six sticks. We all got one stick, plain ones except for the cute, half-naked dude whose name happens to be Gray. He got the one that said 'it'. "The game will start in 10! 9! 8! 7! 6! 5! 4! 3! 2! 1!"
Gong!
Sparkles, glitters, and light engulfed us. When it faded, I was alone in some part of the town illusion. Not feeling the body temperatures of anyone nearby, I began to set up traps using the sensory and ice-make magic I learned years ago (though it's really weak). "Ice-make: rope. Ice-make: bell. Ice-make: cage." Using the rope, I tied a really low hurdle across the street I'm in. I tied the large cage directly above the said hurdle, high enough for someone to pass beneath it. I also connected the rope to the bell I made so that when someone trips, I can hear the trap being used even when I'm far. Using my sensory magic, I made the cage transparent and for it to drop when someone passes beneath it.
With the trap finished, I venture forth. I closed my eyes and sense body temperature nearby. Another one approached the first and it completely froze, then another. Oooh, triple score Izuyi! On the roof, I watched the scene. Millianna was the first body temperature I felt. Gray was trying to tag the white-haired dude, Lyon, both of them yelling out spells. "Ice-make: Hammer!" "Ice-make: Eagles!" Cool! Animated Ice? Is that possible? So the fairy's an ice-make mage...
As silent as I could, I slid down to the street; the two boys too engrossed in their battle to notice me. I gently tapped the girl by the shoulder and got a '+1' above my head. The cat woman slowly started melting, but I won't let her. I froze her, not allowing her to move once again. "Sorry." I whispered to her, "I need to earn my guild some points. Don't worry, it will melt in a few minutes." I turn my head just in time as frost began to creep up at Lyon's pants. I sneakily tiptoed to the cute guy and tapped both of them. A '+2' appeared once again. I froze the guy from Lamia Scale again and faced the cutie. "I'm sorry, sweety. I think you're absolutely hot but unfortunately, that doesn't save yourself from this attack." Without giving him time to reply, I yelled from the top of my lungs, "ICE DRAGON'S ROAR!" I sent him flying across the town.
I walked down the streets to find my next victims. Suddenly, I can't feel my blood. I can't move. I feel like being controlled. I closed my eyes and did my best to concentrate on sensing someone nearby. And there was. He's hiding behind the barrel in front of the fake bar. My opponent showed himself, his arms raised as if he was making a puppet. Mark dela Rosa. His messy blonde hair shone like gold in the sunlight and his eyes were looking fierce like he's angry or something, but not at me. Still controlling me, he approached me and whispered next to my ear. His breath tickled my neck as he said, "I do not wish to hurt you, Miss. I'm just forced to be cruel to ensure my sister's safety."
I gasped when he suddenly became cold, as in literally ice cold. I felt my blood running in my veins again, I felt free but the freedom was shortly lived. Directly behind Mark, was Gray. His arm was outstretched since he just tapped the now frozen man. "Nice roar there, lady. May have to take tha- What the?!" It started snowing.
Taking advantage of the distraction, I tagged Gray. I earned a point. I tagged him again, another point. So there was no rules in tapping here. I was about to tap him again when he caught my hand. Oh no...
I lost my senses and felt like my soul just left my body. I can't move. I'm completely an ice statue but I was able to see the short battle unfold in front of me. Okay, it wasn't really a battle. Eve Tearm who seemed to be controlling the snow, sent tiny sized flurries in Gray's direction, in which the fairy expertly dodged as he came closer to the snow mage. In no time, the representative of Blue Pegasus was a statue like me.
Wait! Can't I just absorb the ice? After all, dragonslayers can eat their elements. Why not absorbed them? I willed my body to 'melt' the frost and enter my system. At first, I didn't feel anything but after a while I felt my magic become stronger and cooler, and I was able to move partially.
When the ice was fully absorbed, I struck Gray down to the floor by surprise. I was able to physically tag him so one point for me. I knocked him out without hurting his face so that he wouldn't be in my way. It was so quiet in the Domus Flau that you can hear a pin drop. The audience were really shocked since I absorbed the ice, but soon they started cheering for me. I proceeded to freeing the other players from the ice. Two points.
"Amazing, folks! Izuyi Frost of Dracorde just melted the ice and ruled the stadium!" Chapati Lola commented.
"Actually, Izzy is a previous solo mage and we send her in missions oversea. She's known as the Ice Queen in the other continents and in the northern regions of the country." Trust Doranbolt to reveal your nickname.
"Ahh... Izuyi. She's a really nice girl. She makes the best-tasting tea in Era whenever she returns from a mission." I don't really have a family except Lisanna and Tatsuki (and I guess the whole Dracorde, too) so I visit the old people and brew them some tea especially when I come home with complaint slips.
Gong! Time's up!
The town disappeared and we were transported to the center of the arena with the pumpkin man waiting for us."Congratulations, kabo! Now if you look on the score board," he poonted to the hologram with our names and points. "Ms. Frost earned 7 points, giving Dracorde 10 points. Mr. Fullbuster and Mr. Dela Rosa earned 4 points, giving Sabertooth and Fairy Tail 7 points. Lyon Vastia and Millianna earned 2 points, giving their guilds 4 points. Eve Tearm got 1 point, getting also 1 point for his guild, kabo."
"Congratulations, everyone. Let's now proceed to the battle portion of the first day. Our first battle, Elena Graymark versus Milliana!"
Gomene, minna~ I've been really busy with watching Hitman Reborn, morning and afternoon training, and writer's block. I wanted to put here the battle part but I don't want to keep you guys waiting... Anyway, thanks for your support :) God bless and Happy Palm Sunday to those who celebrate it!I'll probably update in the next ten days.
Brownie points for the Pinoy readers who know Ice, Ice, Water. Baka sa susunod Langit, Lupa o kaya Patintero. Pwede rin Pen, Pen, de sara Pen. Okay, joke lang! Bye!