"Now that we have our participants all chosen let's begin…" all six participants stood in their circles, Hibiki for Blue Pegues, Rufus for Sabertooth, Beth from Mermaid Heel, Yuka for Lamia scale, and it was hard to see the member of Dragon's Keep because of the purple robe that they wore which covered their face. Soon Levy could feel a magical presence around her, looking up she found the cause grimacing at the Large Lacrima that hung above her head. "The object of this challenge is very easy escape the rune trap you have been placed in you have half an hour… go!"
"How is this challenge?" Laxus asked as he watched Levy pull out one of her quills and reaching forward placed a hand right in front of her as the once invisible barrier was now visible as transparent runes filled the space around the solid scrip mage as she placed her Gale force reading glasses on quickly reading through the runes.
"Those," Jellal spoke as he pointed to the large lacrima above each contestant's head.
"What are they?" Makarov asked as he held on to Lexie as she gnawed on a raddle that was in her hand.
"The council's newest toys, they are lacrima that writes rune traps," the disguised wizard spoke as he watched as his sister quickly began scribbling in thin air.
"So the same basic principle exists," Jet said confidently as he watched Levy side step quickly pausing for a moment before returning to work.
"No not quite, those lacrima rewrite the runes often," Jellal said.
"So in other words, Levy must work against a ticking time bomb without being able to see the timer," Master spoke as his concern for the brat in the arena rose.
"Yeah or else," Jellal said as a loud pained scream filled the area as Yuka fell to the ground in a bolt of purple lighting.
"Ouch, looks like the participant from Lamia Scale broke a rule," the announcer chuckled as the rest of the competitors continued to work.
"Come on Shrimp," Gajeel muttered under his breath in worry as he tightly gripped the metal railing that surrounded their teams area.
Magical barriers wrapped around the holding area keeping all none participating mages away from the action, if they hadn't been there the iron slayer would have jumped in to the arena the moment he saw those cursed devices. But soon a familiar smirk appeared on the solid scrip mage's face as her movements began to quicken.
"She's got it!" Lucy cheered as the rest of her team watched as Levy made one final swish with her quill and the barrier surrounding her dropped stepping forward quickly as not long after the Lacrima above her head crashed to the ground exploding as the word wall appeared between the blue haired mage as the coming flames.
"I don't believe it Levy McGarden, the rookie of Fairy Tail, broke out in under seven minutes! And Fairy Tail Receives fifteen points!" the announcer screamed as the crowd stood on their feet cheering.
"I thought it was only ten," Natsu said as he scratched his head as he watched Levy wave to the crowd as she made her way back to their holding area, clearly agitated.
"Idiot were you even listening when Gramps explained the changes?" Grey shouted as he continued to tug on the still reliant clasps on his jacket.
"What?" the pink haired slayer asked as he looked over to his mate for an explanation.
"This year only the first five teams ranked in each challenge gets points," Lucy said as she watched as Gajeel bolted out of the box and towards Fairy Tail's private corridor.
"The first place gets fifteen second ten, third five, fourth three and fifth one, and if you come in sixth you get nothing," Erza spoke quietly as she continued to analyze the other guilds.
"And it looks like Dragon's Keep is in second," the announcer called as the participant wearing the purple robe stepped through the barrier but unlike Levy's their Lacrima didn't fall to the ground and explode.
"What do we know about that guild?" Juvia asked as she narrowed her eyes at the guild box across from them.
Every single member wore dark purple robe most obstructing their faces, occasionally you could see a flash of someone's hair color, most being blonde, but for the most part they remained covered. The only one that stood out was the one in the center who sat upon an ornate chair. Like the others they wore a dark purple robe but around their neck was an intricate necklace that rested along the shoulders and covering most of their chest made of gold that had clear, purple, and black stones that simmered in it, Juvia assuming that they were the master of the guild.
"Nothing much, they weren't talked about when I was at sorcerer's weekly, but according to Jason they have been around since the guilds were first organized," Lucy said as she looked over at the mysterious guild, when they heard who else was competing Lucy had gotten in contact with her old boss to see if he knew anything about the strange guild but even with the extensive files and resources the magazine had Jason could find much on them.
"So they have kept a low profile but why would they suddenly come out now?' Erza asked as quietly as she looked over at the master nodding her head in the direction of the new guild Makarov nodding his head in understanding.
Soon a loud explosion was heard as Rufus stepped out of the smoke signaling Sabertooth's place in third.
"I don't know, but did you guys see their crest?" Wendy asked sounding rather nervous.
"No why?" Grey asked as everyone looked over at the guild's banner blowing in the wind.
"Wait that's…." Lucy began but stopped in shear shock as she saw the emblem waving on their banner.
"That's our mate mark," Natsu finished as he growled angrily, the mark was all black just like the one on the book, then he remembered something form the last time they were in Diovan.
"About two days ago, some very strange people in purple robes came by. I could hear arguing through the wall, then a loud scream. I called the police and went over to check on them but when I got there Missy, the girl who worked there, just brushed everything off. But she looked really shaken up. The next day when I came to open up the shop I noticed that the door was left open, and when I went to check on them everything in the shop was gone," the florist's voice filled Natsu's head as a deeper voice followed the wayward thought. Must keep mate away, they'll hurt mate. The pink haired slayer growled as he pulled Lucy in to the corridor and placing her against the far wall with him in front of her, he heard the scuffling of feet, taking a quick sniff the scent of ink, old paper, and iron filled his nose signaling that it was Levy who was approaching.
"Alright times up." The commentator called as a loud buzzer sound filled the air. "So to recap we have Fairy Tail in first, Dragon's Keep in second, Sabertooth in third and a three way tie for fourth, so it looks like Mermaid heel, Lamia Scale, and Blue Pegasus are all getting three points," the announcer called as Lucy gently wrapped her arms around Natsu's neck and began running her finger's through his soft pink hair.
She didn't know why but she knew that Natsu was trying desperately to stay in control of his instincts, later she would asked what happened but for now she let Natsu pulled her to the floor and into his lap. Looking over his shoulder she spotted Levy gazing down at the ground with hallow eyes as she slumped against the opposite wall.
"Shrimp?" Gajeel's voice filled the echoing corridor as she could hear the crowd cheering.
"Gaj, I feel like I have just been used," Levy cried in despair as the small girl was picked up by the iron slayer, Lucy wiggle slight so that was she could face her friend.
Natsu kept a tight hold on his mate turned so that she was facing her friend but was still in the dragon's arms.
'Why?" Lucy asked as she caught a glimpse of blue hair around Gajeel's arms.
"The council wanted her to test those suckers out when they first invented 'em but Shrimp refused," Gajeel responded as he moved to sit against the wall, Levy stay curled up in his lap as she dried a few stray tears on his shirt.
"Why?" Natsu asked as he slowly began to cool his temper.
"Because they are planning on using them to torture prisoners, they will offer them a chance at pardon if the can get past the rune trap," Levy's speech was slightly muffled by the fact she was still curled into the iron slayer's shirt.
"How?" the celestial mage asked, from what she had heard about the council and based on Levy's reaction she knew this whole event was a setup.
"Mest, he found out and passed the message on to us," Gajeel said as he ran his fingers through Levy's wild hair.
"Why would he do that?" Erza asked as both couples looked to their left to find the rest of their team standing in the corridor.
Wendy rushed forward and with glowing hands made sure that Levy had sustained no injuries due to the blast.
"Because the idea is that you dangle hope in front of their faces, but they want those lacrima to rewrite the runes so fast that the mages have no time to compensate and spend the rest of their sentence in a state of agony," Levy said as fresh tears spilled out of her eyes "that's why I rigged the lacrima to explode the moment I stepped away from the barrier so that way they can't take the rewritten lacrima and use it to make them stronger, I just hope that the virus I sent thought their communication cables destroyed their system all together," the blue haired mage spat venomously surprising most of the people on her team.
"Well look on the bright side," Lucy said after several tense moments.
"What is that Lu," the solid script mage asked as she looked over at her best friend.
"You busted out of that trap in seven minutes, which means they are nowhere near done," Lucy said with a smile that caused Levy to start laughing that set off a chain reaction causing the entire team to join in on the mirth.
After several minutes they all stood up and walked back to their waiting area as the announcer began to speak. "Alright up next we have the battle portion of our day and it looks like our first match will be between Lamia scale's Lyon Vastsia and Fairy Tail's Juvia Lockser."
Juvia and Lyon stood across from each other, the ground had been transformed and where once dirt sat was now covered in a thick coat of ice but underneath the water mage could feel the push and pull of water. Several holes no larger than six inches in diameter were litter all over the field, as water seemed to jump out of them begging to be used.
"Juvia my love you will finally fall for me," Lyon said smugly as the rain woman frowned at the comment.
"And why does Lyon believe that?" Juvia asked as she kept her mask of indifference on her face.
"You fell for my idiot brother after he defeated you, and now I will win not only this match but your heart as well," the ice make mage said as he bowed deeply to the girl across the field from him.
"You are wrong!" as the blue haired mage shouted the water seemed to jump out of the hole in the ice shooting up several feet. "Juvia and Grey's love began when Gray made the rain go away!" Juvia shouted with conviction as a loud slap filled the stunted silent crowed as Grey rubbed his hand down his face while muttering under his breath.
"We shall see," Lyon said with a smirk.
"I will not let my beloved down!" Juvia shouted as her face moved from indifferent to the determination that she had gained since joining Fairy Tail.
"Alright…" the announcer spoke awkwardly. " let's get this battle started, remember winner gets fifteen points, if there is a tie they each get ten, you have thirty minutes…. Begin!"
It didn't take long for the battle to begin, almost as soon as the bell rang both mages threw their attacks at each other. Juvia would surround Lyon's ice with water heating it up so the ice would melt long before it reached her, and whenever Juvia sent water at Lyon he would freeze if and remold it sending it back to the rain woman, but after the toll of doing so continuously wore on both wizards after a while.
"Were at the fifteen minute mark folks and despite some very impressive magic from both of these mages, neither one of these talented mages has been able to land a hit, but it looks like Juvia is starting to fumble," the announcer spoke as the rain woman dropped a freshly melted bird to the ground breathing heavily as she sent another volley of water whips at Lyon.
"Dearest Juvia if you are tired we can forfeit this match together," Lyon spoke as he simply side step the water one skimming across his chest slicing through his shirt.
"Never," Juvia shouted breathlessly as her hand went to the trail of buttons on her dress, "Juvia is a Fairy Tail wizard and we never give up!" the rain woman shouted as she threw her dress on the ground standing in only her boots, slip and bra. The slightest flicker of something round and silver lay against her throat on a long chain.
"Darling please cover yourself," Lyon gapped in shock as a pink tingle filled his cheeks, a little drool dripping out of his mouth.
"See I told you Ice dick's stripping is contagious," Natsu pushed as he looked over at Grey, who looked both annoyed and turned on.
"Is it just me or does it look like Juvia has gained a little weight?" Wendy asked as she looked up at Lucy.
"Maybe but she has been training right?" the blonde asked as she looked over Juvia, the water wizard seemed a little thicker in her waist than she normally was, by what would cause her to gain weight there?
Soon Juvia began to sweat profusely, her breathing became more and more struggled as she held her eyes tightly closed.
"Juvia are you alright?" Lyon asked cautiously.
"Heated water lock!" Juvia shouted raising her arms above her head.
Soon the ice under Lyon's feet began to crack as he was consumed by large amount of heated water trying desperately to escape his ice melted the moment it formed and not to long after he passed out due to the excessive heat. Letting go of the spell Juvia watched as Lyon fell to the un-enchanted ground.
"And Fairy Tail wins!"
Juvia smiled as the crowd cheered for her guild, but soon the fatigue the blue haired mage had been feeling over whelmed her and she passed out.