A/N: Hello again, fellow readers and writers! Hope you're ready for the excitement to star, because we have got a multi-chapter Fairy Tail Brawl on our hands! Just a couple of quick notes for those of you who don't know, I posted one last Toa of Aincrad chapter to celebrate the one-year anniversary a few days ago. And I really should have said something about this one earlier, but if you go to my profile, you can get to a video that shows the seven rules I use whenever I write fanfictions (especially crossovers). I hope you decide to check out, and more importantly, enjoy both of these items!

Now that the announcements are done, let's get back in the game!


The Fairy Tournament

"So, you're gonna join in on the tournament, huh?" The question came from Kazuto, who was sitting at Michael's dinner table alongside Sayuri, Asuna, and Suguha.

Michael smirked from over the rim of his tea mug and put the cup down as he replied, "Have you ever known me to turn down a friendly competition?" The two brothers-in-arms were referring to the competition recently announced by Makarov that would pit all of Fairy Tail's willing wizards against one another in a battle that would determine who was worthy to be the next S-class wizard.

"You guys do know that only one of you can win, right?" Suguha said as she looked between the two boys with a slightly askance expression.

"Oh, we know," Michael chuckled. "And I for one am interested to see which of us two will emerge as the victor."

"Oh come on," Asuna grinned at him. "You're pretty good, Mataras, but we all know that Kirito can kick you to the curb no problem."

"Eh…" Kazuto said with a nervous grin.

Michael, on the other hand said, "Oh, I know he's fully capable of beating me. The real question is whether or not he'll find it in himself to take me down."

"Are you saying you have no reservations about beating up Kazuto?" Suguha asked with mild disapproval.

"I do it all the time in our sparring sessions, why should the virtual world be any different?" he replied a trifle maliciously.

"Because he'll have me by his side," Asuna grinned again. "Do you really think you can take us both on by yourself?"

"I figured you would end up being his partner," Michael shrugged. According to the rules of the tournament, you were allowed to choose a single person to support you in the battle royal. However, that person would not be qualified to become an S-class wizard, no matter how well they participated. As such, it was hard for people to find partners to help them under such conditions, but Michael was not surprised that Asuna was going to support Kirito in battle.

"I have no illusions about being able to beat you both on my own," Michael continued. "I know I would very well lose such a fight. However, I won't be alone, either."

"You're gonna help him?" Kazuto asked his sister.

"Nah, I'm in the running for S-class too, you know," Suguha grinned. "And we both already agreed that we won't fight each other in the tournament, even if we have the opportunity."

"What'll you do if you end up being the last two?" Asuna asked.

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," Michael said dismissively. Kazuto eyed him for a second, already well aware of what would happen if such an eventuality did occur. He could see Mataras forfeiting the match in order to avoid harming his girlfriend, a hunch supported by the unobtrusive wink the Red Swordsman sent him.

"In any case," Sayuri said, finally joining in on the conversation. "Big Brother asked me to help him become an S-class wizard, which I agreed to."

"So, the Sky Maiden and Salamander are teaming up, huh?" Suguha teased them, using their nicknames given to them by the gamers that had heard of their feats. "I gotta say, having a white mage is gonna stack things in you favor against most people."

"Not against us, though," Kazuto grinned. "We're Dragon Slayers with way more combat abilities than Sachi's got." Asuna bumped fists with her boyfriend in agreement.

"We'll see about that," Michael said quietly. When asked to speak up, he turned to Suguha and asked, "So, who are you asking to be your partner?"

"Well, Recon was practically begging me to let him do it," she said with a roll of her eyes. "But I asked Jellal if he'd lend me a hand in the tournament. He said yes, which surprised me."

"I already gave him permission," Michael smirked.

"Huh?!" she gasped.

"I had a feeling you'd ask him for help, but knowing him, he would have refused unless I gave consent," he explained as he got up to put away his dishes. "I didn't want to cause him any stress over the decision, so I gave him permission ahead of time."

"Wow…" Suguha blinked. "Uh… thanks, Michael."

"Of course," he grinned. "I wouldn't turn away your request for help."

"So what if I asked you to be my partner tomorrow?" she grinned mischievously.

"I wouldn't turn away your request for help," he repeated. "But I'll ask that you let me have an honest go at this tournament. Litrosh will be a more-than-adequate partner."

"Geez, I was kidding," Suguha sighed. "You really need to work on your sense of humor…"

"I gave up on trying to help him with that over a year ago," Kazuto chuckled.

"Yeah, but as his girlfriend, I have certain leverage that you don't," Suguha grinned.

Michael flushed red while Kazuto slapped his hand over his eyes and said, "I'm gonna forget I heard that."


The next day, the Moonlit Black Cats Team was gathered on Tenrou Island, where the tournament was set to take place. All of them were equipped with their battle gear, Jellal, Mataras and Kirito in their outfits from when they had attacked the Tower of Heaven, and Asuna, Leafa, and Sachi in new gear. Yui was wearing only a pink sweater, and she would be spectating the matches from the sideline.

Asuna's new outfit had a blue vest was draped over a tight black undershirt that left her toned midriff bared. Her pants were white down to her thighs, where a pair of black boots went up to meet the fabric. Two long blue gloves covered her arms all the way up, just shy of her white Fairy Tail emblem.

Sachi was wearing a simple one-piece dress that was an alternating stipe pattern of yellow and blue, with a white bow on the neckline. Mataras thought it was an appropriate choice of clothing, not too flashy, but also suited to her gentle personality.

Leafa's outfit was a two-piece outfit, technically three if you counted the open jacket that covered her arms. However, it left little else to the imagination, as her short skirt exposed her long, fit legs and her top piece only covered her assets and part of her back. Her boots came up just shy of her knees. Mataras frowned at the outfit as he said, "You couldn't have chosen something less… revealing?"

"What?" she pouted. "You don't like it?"

"Not really," he said bluntly, causing her to flush furiously.

"Wh-Why not?!" she shouted angrily.

"It looks like something-" Asuna slapped her hand over Mataras' mouth before he said something that would hurt Leafa's feelings.

"What he's trying to say," she said in a kinder tone. "Is that he's more partial to outfits that don't show everything to all the other guys in the crowd. I don't think he likes the idea of other men ogling you, right Mataras?" With her hand still on his mouth, he frowned at her, but nodded once.

"Yeah, sis, you really should change that outfit," Kirito said with a bit of sweat on his brow. "He's got a good point, you're gonna turn way too many heads with that getup."

"But I dropped some good jewel on this!" she complained.

"Get a refund," Mataras said as soon as Asuna took her hand down. She put it right back up with a little more force this time.

"He means, do you have anything else that you can wear for the fight?" she said mildly.

"Well, yeah, I guess…" she sighed. "Man, most guys jump at the chance to see their girlfriend to show a little more skin…"

"Not this guy," Kirito grinned as he clapped Mataras on the shoulder. "He's about as old-fashioned as it comes when it comes to treating his girlfriend."

"Tell me about it," Leafa sighed as she started changing her gear to a more conservative outfit. "Four months we've been going out, and he still hasn't kissed me…"

Mataras frowned as Asuna took her hand down, though she kept it near his head in case he needed another slap. "I've kissed you several times," he protested.

"I meant on my lips, not my head," she muttered. "Asuna, are these guys always this dense?"

"Mataras is usually sharper that this, but then again, he's never had a girlfriend before," she giggled. "It's new water for him, give him time."

"Do you have to talk about me while I'm right here?" Mataras muttered, though secretly he was touched that Asuna would speak in his defense.

"Yes," the girls said simultaneously.


"So, what kind of training have you guys been doing in order to get prepped for this thing?" Kirito asked Mataras and Sachi as they walked towards the Tenrou Tree, the starting point of the tournament.

"I've been maxing out my MP gauge," Leafa grinned. "And I think you guys might be surprised at what I can do now." Even though they were a team, there were missions that they took separate from one another, so it was very possible that each of them had secret techniques up their sleeves, Mataras reflected. He grinned at the thought- he certainly had a few new tricks in store for everyone.

"Mataras has been getting combat training with someone, but he hasn't said who, even to me," Sachi said. "Litrosh and I have gone on several quests together, so I feel fairly confident in my abilities to support Big Brother."

"What about you?" Jellal asked the couple. "What have you been up to? You haven't logged in with the party in two weeks."

Kirito and Asuna shared a look before grinning and Kirito said, "We've been training to master a new phase of our Dragon Slayer magic."

"You mastered your Shadow Drive again, didn't you?" Mataras guessed. When they had all reset their avatar's stats, their abilities- while still respectable in terms of raw power- had been reduced to the basics.

Kirito and Asuna's grins widened, so Mataras figured that not only was he right, Asuna would have a new trick up her sleeve as well. The thought set his warrior's blood stirring with excitement. "Excellent," he said with a fierce grin. "I'll be sure to give it my A-game as well."

"Oh yeah?" Asuna chuckled. "All right, spill it, tough guy. Who'd you train with?"

"If you can find me in the tournament, I'll tell you then," Mataras replied.

"Sounds fair to me," Kirito nodded.

"Mommy, Daddy?" Yui piped up. She and Jellal had been mostly quiet the whole time, but now she spoke up. "Do you need any help remembering the rules?"

"Why don't you go over them again so we don't miss anything?" Asuna suggested, to which the little exceed nodded and moved to hover in front of the group as a whole.

"The rules are that the last person or two-man team standing in the battle royal will be declared the victors, and the leading competitor will be declared an S-class wizard by Master Makarov," she began. "If the leader in a pair is defeated, their supporting partner will be forced to teleport out of the battle zone so that they can't affect the battle anymore. The supporting wizard cannot become an S-class wizard via this year's trial. Because of the tournament's settings, once your health falls into the red zone, you will be teleported back to the island's safe zone, and you will be disqualified from the remainder of the tournament. No items are forbidden from use, and no spells are restricted from being used, either."

"So we don't have to hold back our magic, then," Mataras grinned. His recently reacquired Crimson Lotus Arts had levelled half of a town, much to the anger of the NPC's in the area. He was now actually banned from the area by the system via the guards that patrolled the town. If he went back, he would have to fight them, and he would be marked as a criminal player, something he wanted to avoid. The news that he could go all-out with no repercussions was a welcome one. "Now I'm getting fired up." He cracked his knuckles loudly with a fierce grin while the others looked askance at him.


"Attention, Fairy Tail wizards!" Makarov's voice rang out from a microphone above the assembled wizards. "The competition is about to get underway! You have five minutes to prepare yourselves before you will be teleported to random sections of the island! Spend them wisely!"

The competing Moonlit Black Cats all grinned at one another. The boys bumped fists and the girls hugged and exchanged words of encouragement. And Mataras gave Leafa a kiss on the cheek before he whispered something in her ear that made her eyes go wide and blush madly. They pulled apart, and Kirito eyed his brother-in-arms uneasily.

"You and me, we're cool," he said once Mataras raised an eyebrow at him. "But we never, ever, talk about this."

"You're the one that keeps bringing it up," the Fire Dragon Slayer shrugged.

Before Kirito could utter a retort, Makarov's voice rang out again. "Competitors! The match will begin in one minute! As some of you may be aware, this tournament is being broadcasted to pubs all over Fiore! As such, we have with us as a pair of commentators, Misters Yajima and Chapati!"

"Good to be here, Mokie," an elderly voice said.

"I'm absolutely thrilled to be here as well!" exclaimed a younger, more energetic-sounding voice. "Thank you for allowing us to bear witness to the rise of the newest Fairy Tail elite wizard!"

"They're making a show out of this?!" Mataras demanded angrily. "I thought that the S-class trial was supposed to be a sacred thing to this guild!"

"I know Master Makarov likes to make a few extra jewel to spend on the hall every now and again, but come on…" Leafa groaned. There was a general chorus of mild abuse directed at the three men, who were seated in a host box up in the branches of the Tenrou Tree.

"Do you kids want a shot at that promotion or not?!" Makarov shot back, and the voices stopped quickly enough. "Good, then. Now, other than the starting area and the Tenrou Tree top, you have full run of the island to do battle with one another. The top is off-limits because we have some select guests watching from there via lachryma vision."

That last part came as no surprise. There were certainly many Fairy Tail wizards who would want to watch the matches despite not taking part in the contest, and perhaps they had brought along some of their friends as well. As a matter of fact…

Mataras grinned as he whispered to Asuna," By the way, before I forget, your father and brother are here to watch you."

"Wha-?!" she squawked. "Why?! How-?! What?!"

"I suggested it to your father," Mataras chuckled. "He seemed like he was missing you, so I suggested that if he came and saw you in action here, it would give you something to talk about. And when your brother heard about you fighting in a tournament, he decided he wanted to see how much his little sister had grown up, I guess." There was another reason Mataras wanted Shouzou to watch the fight, but he would keep that part to himself until things played out a little more.

"You should have told-"

"Let the tournament begin!" Makarov declared, unwittingly interrupting the girl. "Good luck, my children!" And suddenly, with a blinding flash of light, they were all separated.


Mataras found himself back-to-back with Sachi in a cavern lit by many fireflies and glow stones. There was also enough sunlight to make is easy enough to see after a moment of adjusting to the dimmer lighting. "Where are we?" Sachi asked.

"One of the tunnel networks that leads underneath the island," Mataras answered. "Let's keep to the shadows, see if we can get the jump on someone."

"Camping, Brother?" Sachi clucked her tongue in mock distaste. "I thought you were better than that."

"People only hate it because it works," he shot back. "Now, come on, unless you want to get taken by surprise." She grumbled something under her breath, but she followed his lead and quietly went into a darker corner next to his own hiding place.

"The key to hiding?" he prompted her softly.

"Stay completely still and silent, even if you think you've been spotted," she recited. "Why are we talking right now, then?" Mataras's reply was a silent grin.

A few minutes later, the pair heard arguing voices. "I told we shoulda gone up top!" a nasally, familiar voice echoed.

"Shut your trap unless you want people to hear us coming," a more masculine voice snapped. "These tunnels are the perfect place for an ambush."

"Then why are we down here?" the first voice whined. Mataras recognized it, and a wicked grin split his face. He was going to enjoy this first bout much more than he thought.

"Because the chances are that very few or no one else will be down here," the second voice replied. "It's a safe place to lay out a trap, especially while everyone else up top wears each other down." The voice was familiar, but Mataras couldn't quite place it yet.

"Still, I feel like this is a bad idea," Recon whined as he stepped into the lighting of the chamber. "Someone could already be down here…" Mataras' eyes widened as he recognized Recon's partner, then he realized that he really shouldn't be surprised- after all, Gray was Recon's brother.

"Sharp instincts," Sachi said as she strode out of her hiding spot. This was one of Mataras' standard player-hunting tactics, though in the past, Sachi had not been the one filling the role, usually Kirito or a client would do that. The other member would draw the enemy's attention and then…

"S-Sachi?" Recon stammered, surprised. "W-Wait, who were you paired up with again?"

"Fire Dragon ROAR!" The flames shot forth from Mataras' corner and slammed into both Recon and Gray nigh simultaneously, sending them crashing into the cave wall.

"Ah man, you really have the worst luck," Gray grunted as he got up, Recon whining as he did the same. "We had to go and run into flame-brain first. Great."

Mataras stepped out of the shadows, fire in his hands, and a confident smile on his face. "Well, well, you managed to get an S-class wizard to help you, eh?" he chuckled. "Not bad, Recon. But having an ace card doesn't mean jack squat if you don't know how to play your cards the right way."

"Can we start fighting already?" Gray sighed, ripping off his shirt and exposing his lean, muscular frame.

"You and I will fight, I'm sure," Mataras grinned. "As for Recon, it won't really be fighting… More like flailing angrily…"

"That's it!" Recon shouted, his voice cracking. "I've had enough of you! Ice-make LANCE!" Twelve spears shot out to impale Mataras, who simply sighed in annoyance. Without even reciting a proper incantation, he waved his hand dismissively and melted the spears into puddles with minimal bursts of fire.

Several different spells the two boys cast at their opponent, but each time, his response was the same, to ward off their magic with minimal effort, though Mataras got the sense that Gray was holding back considerably.

"Sachi, do you mind hanging back for this one?" he asked.

"Don't you need me on hand to support you?" she asked, though she started backing up obediently. "Would you at least like an enhancement before I back off?"

"Nah, it'd end too quickly if I did that," he chuckled. "This might actually prove to be briefly entertaining if I let him think he has a chance."

"I'm an S-class wizard," Gray snapped. "And I've got Recon's back. Don't think that this'll be easy."

"Ah, but see, that's the thing," Mataras said as he raised a finger with his trademark hunter's grin. "I don't have to beat you- just Recon. Because if I take him out, I don't have to worry about you, remember?"

"Yeah, well good luck with that!" Recon said defiantly. "I'm stronger than I was when we fought together at the Tower of Heaven!"

"Okay, if you're really feeling lucky, then have at it," Mataras said as he made a beckoning gesture with his hand. "I'll give you one free shot. Go for it, as hard as you can."

"I wouldn't do that if I were you, man," Gray grinned. "My bro may be a bigger talker than his magic can back, but I'd still stay away from his strongest move."

"Hey!" Recon snapped.

"I'll be the judge of that," Mataras said flatly. "Come on, Recon. Give me your best shot. And if you hold back, I will make your subsequent defeat much more embarrassing."

"How would you do that?" Despite his anger, Recon was curious.

"I wonder if Leafa's ever seen you get thrown in a dumpster?" Mataras grinned viciously. "You know, other than in real life."

"That's it!" Recon shouted, his hands coming together, fist against palm. "You've mocked me, belittled me, and stole the heart of the only girl I ever cared about right out from under me! Now I'll finally get you back!" Cold began to radiate from him, so much so that ice began to form around them in the caverns.

"Hey, I can actually feel that one," Mataras taunted him further, wanting to see just how far Recon's wrath could take him.

"In a couple of seconds, you'll only be feeling the sting of defeat!" Recon cried as his power neared its peak.

"That, or the stab of disappointment," Mataras shrugged. "Go ahead- try your luck."

"Ice make…" Recon seethed, his teeth bared and his eyes wide. "Unlimited CHAOTIC DANCE!" Blades and other various weapons formed purely out of ice surrounded Recon to create an armory of magic power. He thrust his fist and palm forward, commanding the blades to surge forth and cut Mataras to ribbons.

True to his word, Mataras simply stood there and took the attack, making no move to retreat or dodge. The ice energy built up around him until he was encased completely in ice and snow. When the attack was finished, Recon was panting heavily as he grinned and said, "Hard enough, Dragon Slayer?"

"Uh-oh," Sachi said from off to the side.

"Looks like your friend is all talk nowadays," Gray grinned. "All that fire magic must have cooked his head."

"I wasn't saying that for my benefit," Sachi said as the ice cracked in several places. "I was saying it to save you the trouble…" The ice shattered and Mataras walked out, radiating intense heat.

"Not bad," he nodded. "You got me down by about one-fifth of my health and managed to trap me for a moment. Not bad at all. I'm proud of how far you've come, Recon." Gray had a sinking feeling in his stomach as Recon took a step backwards in fear.

"Y-You mean that?" he asked hoarsely. He had been on the verge of congratulating himself, but now he felt that such a move would be incredibly dangerous on his part, if the look in Mataras' eyes was anything to go by.

"Of course I do," Mataras said, that cold smile of his returning. "Unfortunately, it's being overshadowed by all of my unyielding rage!" And he smashed an Iron Fist into Recon faster than any of them could follow. The blow sent him face first through a cavern wall, and into another chamber entirely.

"Ice make HAMMER!" Gray shouted as he made the weapon and dropped it on Mataras in the time it takes to blink. The Dragon Slayer responded by using a Wing Attack to simultaneously destroy the magic and the wall that was still partially between him and his adversary.

"A word of advice," he growled as he grabbed Recon by his shirt and lifted him off the ground. "Don't try anything funny with Leafa, and we'll get along fine."

"Okay…" the boy groaned. "Please just… Don't hurt me."

"Okay," Mataras shrugged.

"Really?" The light of hope was back in Recon's semi-conscious eyes.

"No." The light was gone. Mataras threw Recon at Gray just as the older boy leaped through the rubble and created and ice-make Blade. The blade cut into Recon, but whether this was by design or by accident, Mataras refused to say. This was followed up by the spell: "Fire Dragon BRIALLIANT FLAME!" The fire bashed into them, and the resulting explosion brought down a ton of rubble on them.

Before he could check and see if they were still alive, two red markers that indicated a player's knockout status appeared on top of the rocks. Satisfied that the problem had been dealt with, he melted hole in rocks to climb through and rejoin with Sachi, who treated his wounds quickly with her healing magic.

"Don't you think you were a little too harsh with him?" she asked with a mildly disapproving tone in her voice.

"No," he replied honestly. "Why, was I?"

"Mataras!" She slapped him on the arm angrily. "He's got a crush on Leafa, so what? She's with you, and he knows it."

"Which is why I want him to stop hitting on her," he grumbled.

"I know you do, but people don't just get over crushes like magic, you know," she sighed. "It takes time. And you're not giving him that time. The more you tell him to stay away from her, the more he's going to miss her, or at least the idea of her."

"So you want me to apologize for what I did just now?" he asked resignedly.

"No, I think the damage has already been done," she sighed. "Just… Try to be more sensitive from now on." Mataras made a face, and Sachi finally giggled at him. "Come on," she said. "Someone probably heard that fight, so we should get a move on. Maybe we can meet up with Leafa and Litrosh."

"We're really going to have to get used to calling him Jellal, though…" Mataras sighed as they exited the cave.


"Want me to handle this joker?" Asuna grinned her boyfriend, who shared the smile.

"By all means," he chuckled. "I guess you wanna show off to your family a little, huh?"

"Well, yeah," she admitted. "And Yui's watching, so, you know…"

"Ah, got it," he chuckled. "You don't Daddy to get all the hero worship, is that it?"

"Hey!" Their opponent, a scantily-clad female card-wielder named Cana snapped. "Are we gonna do this or not?!"

"Yeah, yeah," Asuna rolled her blue eyes at the other girl. "Man, you're lucky Mataras didn't run into you. He'd have made you change before he fought you."

"That or he'd have beat her with his eyes closed," Kirito laughed.

"Probably more likely," Asuna grinned.

Cana's eyebrows met in a dark frown. "I've had enough of this," she snapped. "I've been in the finals for the guild's S-class trials for four years running now. Don't take me lightly!" She unleashed a trio of cards, each one laced with a different element- one was water, the second wind, the third, light.

Asuna eyed the cards' trajectories carefully before she dodged the first two and snatched up the third one with unnerving speed and precision. What came as even more of a shock to the caster was that Asuna ate the card right after she stopped moving. "What the hell?!" she shouted. "What was that?!"

"Well, maybe if you spent more time out on jobs and getting to know your guild mates, and less time at the bar, you'd know more about who you're facing," Asuna grinned as she wiped her mouth. "Pretty decent magic though, I'll give you that."

"What are you?!" Cana demanded, even as she readied another trio of cards to unleash.

Asuna's answer was to breathe in deeply, then exhale a brilliant white beam that engulfed Cana instantly. When she closed her mouth, the light vanished, and she shot a wink at Kirito. "Told you she'd be no problem," she grinned.

"You missed her bag," he teased her as he pointed at the ground, where the item in question lay, minus part of its strap.

"So sue me," she giggled.


Asuna: All right, things are looking to be exciting for this last arc!

Mataras: And I hope everyone enjoys it, because it's only going to be a few chapters- maybe four or five in total.

Sachi: Any particular reason?

Mataras: Well, I have a number of things on my plate, both writing related and not. It's kind of slowing down some of my story productions, not to mention my computer reset put a couple of stories back by several weeks in their release.

Kirito: Tell me about it, man. There's this one guest reviewer that doesn't seem to have any sympathy for you at all. It's like every time you update a story, all they do is whine about how you haven't started Star Sword II yet. What's up with that?

Mataras: Buggered if I know... In any case, I've decided to revise my plans for the future a little. Once I've finished this story (which, God wiling, should be in a month or so) I will begin releasing updates for Star Sword II: Return to the Stars. And then once I've finished my original Fanfiction for Fire Emblem Awakening, I will return as the Red Swordsman in Shattered Fragment. Hopefully, our readers can find a little peace in the schedule and knowing what is to come now.

Sachi: Hey, come on! Most of your readers are great!

Mataras: True, and I do appreciate them with all my heat. It just gets a little hard sometimes when you've got IRL shenanigans abounding, and then you've got people being ungrateful for your hard work. Bah, whatever, I'm good now! Hope to see you all next time, and may God bless you until then!

Asuna: Bye, everyone!

Sachi: Hope to see you real soon!

Kirito: Next time- Holy Shadows and Scorching Skies.