Secrets Can Kill, chapter 29!

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We're finally getting to the exciting part! The Grand Magic Games! EEEEEE I can't wait! I hope you enjoy!

Chapter 29: The Grand Magic Games, Part 1

Nicole's POV

It was so unfair!

I wanted to be part of the Grand Magic Games team, but Master and Porlyusica aren't letting me. It's so no fair. I'm healed enough to be in the games! I've got new powers, kind of! They've got to let me!

And of course, they didn't.

We were sitting in a carriage that was taking us to the city- Crocus. Obviously,Natsu and I had bad motion sickness, so I spent most of my ride with my head hanging out the window, struggling to hold down my lunch. The odd time I opened my eyes, however, the scenery along the way looked beautiful. Trees and open, sprawling fields. Oh, what I would give to jump out of the carriage and leap through those fields…

I was in my traditional green sweater and jeans, with black boots and my hair pulled up in a pony tail. No different than normal, really. Lucy, Erza, Wendy, and Gray were all in the carriage as well, grinning pitifully at us. Lucy was massaging Natsu's back, and Natsu was actually looking slightly better with Lucy there. I tucked my head in from the window and brought my knees up to my chest.

"Ughhhhhh," I moaned, tilting my head back to rest against the seat. Erza smiled down at me, sympathy in her gaze.

"Why did you insist on coming with us?" Erza asked. "You're, uh…"

"Not part of the team?" I snapped. Erza raised her eyebrows and I sighed. "Sorry. Just-" the carriage lurched forward and my stomach hissed at me. "-not in the mood!"

Gray grimaced. "She's got a point though. Why'd you come along?"

"Because-" I winced as the carriage took a bump- "why not?"

Gray shook his head, grinning. "You're definitely stubborn, all right."

I managed a weak smile before collapsing again. Wendy groaned a bit from her crouched position in the corner and Erza patted her back (it's so unfair, how come she doesn't have motion sickness?). Lucy smiled at me, a hint of blush on her face as Natsu lay with his head out the window. Lucy rolled her thumbs around Natsu's back, massaging him. The small blush on Lucy's cheeks told many different stories.

Lolling my head to the side, I knew instantly my face was turning greener and greener. I sat up again and a wave of nausea washed over me and I lay back down- on top of something. I looked straight up and saw Gray's face. I'm laying on his legs.

"Sorry," I whispered, pulling myself up, but he put one hand on my forehead and pushed me down again.

"Rest. You're tired and sick."

I want to argue, but in all honestly, I'm exhausted. So I close my eyes and try to sleep on Gray's lap. When I open my eyes, I see he's blushing, and I'm pretty sure I am too. At one point I bolt straight up and hurl over the side of the carriage, causing Natsu to laugh before throwing up himself. Wendy giggled before feeling ashamed she couldn't help, causing her to go on a guilt trip that Lucy and Erza had to talk her out of. Yes, her Troiah spell didn't work on me for some reason.

I would've fallen out the window if it weren't for Gray's strong hands gripping my waist. As I fell back I fell against him again and passed out.

***:::~~~…

We finally arrived in Crocus and met the rest of the guild. The ground felt so much better than the carriage and I was so happy that I almost ran into several people. Meeting with the rest of the guild was comforting, but many people kept shooting me pitiful looks. I glared at everyone, my happy mood ruined. I don't need pity- I need a way into these games! A chance to prove myself! I've done nothing for this guild except cause trouble!

Then we explored.

Wendy and Carla said they would go out to sight see. Lucy dragged Natsu out with her. Erza disappeared somewhere. Soon, the entire guild dispersed.

I found myself with Gray again. "Want to look around?" Gray shrugged, nodded, and together we ventured off into the city.

"It's nice here, isn't it?" he said with a smile.

It turns out, it was hard to go anywhere with Gray. He subconsciously kept stripping off his shirt and I had to slap him in order for him to put his shirt back on. My stomach was aching- my knife wound hurt again. But nobody needs to know that, right?

"There's so many flowers!" I squealed, looking through rows of tulips and lilies. Gray sighed from behind me.

"You're such a girly girl."

I whirled around to glare him down. "Say that again."

"You're a-"

I nailed him in the face with my fist. Gray went flying backwards into the nearest building, knocking down several rows of flowers. When his head reappeared, he had a ring of gold flowers around his head and he was grinning madly. "Good to see you're still as good as normal."

I blushed. Then someone spoke. "Nice hit."

I turned around to see a tall man with spiky white hair and small, beady eyes. He was a bit taller than Gray and wore a long coat and pants. I cocked my head to the side. "Do I know you?"

"No, but you should!" He bent down on one knee and grasped my hand in his. "Oh, fair maiden from the heavens, bless me with your name!"

"Hands off!" I brought my boot to his face and he hit the wall next to Gray. But Gray wasn't there anymore- he was standing up and towering over the man I just hit.

"What do you want, Lyon?" He asked stubbornly. I vaguely remembered Lyon from Gray's stories about his training with Ur. Lyon sat up and rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

He stood up and faced Gray. "It's been seven long years, and that is how you greet me?"

Gray smirked. "Yeah, I guess." They embraced quickly before I waved my hands.

"Hey, guys, I'm still here!"

Gray turned to face me. "Nicole, Lyon. Lyon, this is our newest member, Nicole. She came just before we fell asleep for seven years."

Lyon sighed blissfully. "Ah, she looks like the perfect companion for me." He placed a hand on my shoulder and Gray knocked it away.

"You keep your hands off." Gray's raven black hair brushed across his face and heat ran to my cheeks. He's defending me…

"Gray-sama!"

"Eep!" Gray cowered as Juvia skipped onto the street. Her blue hair brushed past her shoulders and she glared at me when she saw me. "Love rival! What are you doing here with Juvia's Gray-sama?"

"Juvia-" Gray began, before (to everyone's surprise) Lyon stepped in.

"Ah, does this fair woman go by the name Juvia? Beautiful." Lyon kissed the back of a startled Juvia's hand. "A beautiful name for a beautiful woman."

"Ah… Juvia is sorry…" Juvia, bewildered, took a step back.

Thinking quickly, I shoved Gray down another street and ran after him while Lyon occupied Juvia. We collapsed against a wall, breathless, then stared at each other and broke down in giggles.

"I can't believe Lyon likes Juvia as much as she likes you," I whispered, giggling. Gray chuckled.

"Thanks for saving me there. Let's go." And so off we went.

~~~:::***

We arrived into large open square in a few minutes. In the middle of the square, a crowd had drawn, and I heard shouting and yelling. I saw a flash of pink hair and determined Natsu was there. Sighing, I pushed my way into the crowd, Gray not far behind. There was a tall, blond boy alongside a tall, dark haired, pale skinned boy. There were two exceeds next to them- one burgundy coloured one, and another green one in a pink frog suit that made my breath hitch in my throat. It looks so much like Lucky.

"What the hell is going on?" I barked, staring at Natsu, who had his anger face on with his hands at his sides.

"These two are saying they killed their dragons," he rasped. "They're dragon slayers."

He didn't even need to mention the last part. I was already yelling. "What do you mean, they killed their dragons?!"

"He means what he says," the blond boy chuckled. "I'm Sting. This is Rogue. Third generation dragon slayers."

"How could you kill your own dragons?" I roared. "They were your family!"

"How would you know anything?" Sting whispered, stalking up to me and glaring down at me (oh come on, I was only a few inches shorter than him!). "You're not a dragon slayer."

"Actually," Natsu interrupted, "she-"

"Isn't a dragon slayer," I said quickly. "But I know what it's like to lose everything you love, but killing them?" Quick save.

Gray stared at me questioningly, but kept his mouth shut. I sent him silent thank yous- he knows partially why I don't reveal that.

Natsu on the other hand, did not understand. "But you-"

"Natsu!" Lucy emerged from another side of the crowd. "Why'd you run off? I-" She saw me, Gray, Sting, and Rogue, and knew something was up. I sent Lucy a Natsu-is-an-idiot-and-now-we're-in-trouble stare and she nodded like she understood. Ah, my best friends.

"Listen," Natsu hissed to the two dragon slayers, "I don't care who you are. But nobody messes with Fairy Tail. Got it?"

The exceed laughed. "Ooh, Fairy Tail! Weak, little, Fairy Tail!"

Natsu was about to land a hit on the exceed's face when Sting scooped him out of the way. Lucy was having trouble restraining him. "Fight me and I'll show you who's weak!" Natsu howled.

Sting smirked. "We're the Twin Dragon Slayers of Sabertooth. Nobody defeats us. I'd like to see you try." He spread his hands. "We're winning this tournament."

"Fat chance," I retorted. "We'll kick your ass." There was collective gasp as I challenged the guild members.

"We're leaving," Gray retorted, grabbing my arm gently and tugging me out of the crowd. Lucy was doing the same with Natsu. But Sting wasn't done. He grabbed my other arm and tugged me towards him, yanking me out of Gray's grasp. He brought his face close to mine and I began to tremble.

"Listen, sweetie," he purred. "Be nice or I might kill you. Understood?"

Mustering up some courage, I slammed my fist into the side of his face. Sting reeled backward and was caught by Rogue. I ignored the crowd's shock and told him the same two words I told Lyon.

"Hands off."

And with that I marched away, Gray walking beside me, smirking, with Natsu slamming me a high five and Lucy smiling. What a nice first impression.