"A pincer attack?"
"Yes that's correct. They said the King will have an audience with us about her release if we win the Grand Magic Games, but we can't count on that. We'll have two teams. One is an infiltration team to rescue Lucy and this Yukino from the shadows. That'll be Mirajane, Wendy, the Exceeds, and-"
"Let me go, Gramps!" Natsu pleaded. "I wanna help Lucy!"
"You already have a responsibility in the Grand Magic Games, boy," Makarov insisted.
"But-"
"I'm sure the others can take care of your teammate, Natsu," he said. "Now then, the last member will be-"
"Just put Cloud Nine in for me! I trust him well enough, and I wanna help Lucy myself!" Natsu continued.
We were all sick of his begging at this point and admittedly it wasn't a bad idea, but…well, it wasn't my decision anyway. Still, the Master considered this. He turned to Mavis. "What do you think, First Master?"
"I think you should let your children follows what they believe is right," she answered. She turned to me. "I trust that they won't disappoint," she shot me a smile.
Makarov nodded. "Alright then, Natsu will be the final member of the infiltration team. Perhaps this works out for the best. Inigo, how far along is your telepathy magic?"
"It's adequate," I answered. "If we can meet up for me to set up a quick link, I'm sure city-wide communication between the actual fighters won't be a problem.
"Good, then we can also use Warren to help communicate. Warren, you'll also have the job of keeping in contact with the infiltration team."
"Got it," the man replied.
"Then, I suppose it's settled. Team Fairy Tail members, meet with Mavis for the strategy for tomorrow."
We all nodded and the members met up with Mavis waiting for us. She pointed to me. "Set up your link if you will, Alter Fairy."
"Yes ma'am," I said. "I'll…" I tried to remember what to do from the book. "Um…just hang on."
Soon I remembered, placing my hand atop their head and linking our brains in a sense with a magic circle, and in turn the brains of the rest of the members too.
"There, that should do it."
"Good. Now then, onto strategy."
It took about an hour and a lot of debating on who was the best fit for which opponent, but we all eventually came to our clashes. Guess who mine was…that's right, it was Jura, obviously…no, but seriously; I got stuck with Kagura.
"Are you sure that you can handle her?" Gray had asked when Mavis chose me.
"You have my permission to use your Shine," Mavis said. I smirked.
"Yeah right; I won't even need it."
"Inigo, it's that misguided confidence that got us a narrow draw in the first place," Erza reminded.
"Yeah, but this time…I'm going to dominate her; I swear on my parents' grave."
"Good, that's something you can't argue with. I'll leave you that task then," Mavis said before continuing with the strategy.
With the meeting adjourned and all of us relatively tired and having to rest for tomorrow, I, like the smart guy that I am, opted to not go to sleep. I actually tried to sneak out, but I was caught by the Fairy Queen. "What do you want?" I questioned quietly, so as not to wake the others.
"I want to know where my teammate is going at two in the morning," she replied, equally quietly.
"…"
"Inigo, you're going to talk to Kagura, aren't you?"
"…I'm going to try one more time to convince her to back off from this pointless obsession that she has, but if it doesn't work, then I'll have to free her of her inner demons by force, literally."
"That sounds painful."
"I meant inner as in in her sword," I clarified. "Anyway, I'll be back before long. I promise," I said, turning my back to her.
"…Alright, but don't get her too angry. You've seen what she can do."
"I won't; that'll be your job if she ever finds out about you and Simon," I said back walking off.
I went to a nearby window and hopped out and onto a thundercloud. I flew around the stadium for a bit until I found the Mermaid Heel rooms, and soon found Kagura's room.
I slowly made my way in, and, as silently as possible, walked over to her bed.
And so it seemed the day had arrived. The final day of the Grand Magic Games, with the final teams already scattered for the Grand Magic Game, a battle royale between every team to determine the winner. Since one team could potentially defeat everyone else, everyone had a fair shot of winning.
And what was the First Master's grand plan to lead us to victory? We wait in one spot…yeah, that's the gist. We waited for our enemies to get into the proper positions to strike.
"What are they doing?" Makarov demanded. "They're supposed to be winning here!"
Relax Makarov; we've got this.
Time passed and only a few participants were being knocked out, exactly as planned. Finally, we got the word; move out.
We all sprang into action, quickly separating and dashing toward our specified opponents. Fortunately I only had one opponent other than Kagura; Sherria Blendy, who I ran into as she defeated Risley form Mermaid Heel.
We stood facing each other for only a moment before we both agreed. "One attack," we both said, charging straight toward each other. She unleashed her signature Heavenly Gathering of Clouds toward me. The sheer magical power apparently astounded Erza and the like, but to me, it was child's play. I dove straight into the attack, using my own clouds to negate any damage that would've been done to me had I not. I trust my hand forward into her face.
"Sorry, but it seems like my clouds are stronger," I said as I smashed her into the wall forcefully. As she fell to the ground, unable to heal herself until she had done so, I made a chop at her neck, knocking her out cold. "You may be able to heal, but a one-hit-knock-out will still get you every time," I said before moving onto my next objective.
"What's everyone's status? Gray, have you engaged yet?" I asked.
"Trying to concentrate here!" he yelled through his mind just before an explosion went off in the library, where he was fighting. I nodded to myself.
"What about everyone else?"
"I wasn't able to get Sting and he got Lyon," Laxus admitted. "On my way to the Lightning God now."
"I'm heading to my position," Erza replied.
Gajeel didn't reply, which I took to assume that he had begun his fight with the Shadow Dragon. As I jogged, I saw the person Laxus had missed. I was tempted to fight him. "Are you looking for trouble?" I questioned, stuffing my hand in my pocket to mimic him. He looked disinterested.
"You'd be too much trouble. I don't have time to deal with you now," he said, starting to walk. I followed his example, with us simply walking past each other. I couldn't afford to waste precious magic energy dealing with him alone.
I soon got to my position, where I was supposed to meet Kagura, but strangely, she wasn't there.
"Not good!" Erza's voice was in my head.
"What is it?"
"I've engaged Kagura!" she yelled.
"What?" I questioned, quickly hopping onto a stormcloud and flew up to the highest point I could find, one of the clock towers. I landed on it and looked around, soon finding a Parthenon being quickly demolished from their fight. In fact, it was a three-way battle between Erza, Kagura, and Minerva, Erza's proper opponent. "First Master, what are the odds of this?"
"…Only 10%, but don't worry, it can still be salvaged," she answered. "In fact…yes, this may prove to be an advantage so you two can work together to defeat two separated opponents."
"Wait," Erza stopped me from pursuing. "Minerva is leaving for now. Let me…soften her up for you," she offered.
Reluctantly, I allowed this, sitting on the edge of the clock tower and watching the battle. "While I'm here, what's the rescue team's status?"
"We're having trouble reaching them. There must be interference within the palace," Makarov stated.
I nodded. "It wouldn't surprise me; that's where all of the government's dirty secrets are," I said as I continued to watch the ongoing battle between Erza and Kagura, reminiscing on the words Kagura and I shared the night before.
Author's Note:
Yes, there is a reason I left out Inigo and Kagura's conversation, don't worry. It's for dramatic effect, so just bear with me. Anyway, next time, the finale of the Grand Magic Games arc and then onto the Dragon Festival arc...I don't get why they aren't separate in canon, but you guys know what I mean.
Actually, this particular story is quickly coming to a close. I'll go into more detail next time, but after this we won't have all that much, but I promise that I'm going to put my damnedest into making these last arcs the best they can be, especially the Tartarus arc, or...well, you'll see.
Anyway, I'm not going to specifically ask for reviews this time because they'd be much better off for next time. See ya then by the way!
