I don't know if it would have been possible to get at a worse start than we did. I am so bummed. This shouldn't be happening. It's like we're cursed or something at these "Grand" Magic Games. It should be renamed The Really Frustrating Everyone Hates Us Magic Games. We're at 0 and Team B isn't much better. They have 1 measly point.
And that wasn't even what made the games so horrible. I thought I'd enjoy myself. Our guild is finally united, and I'm in love again and with my best friend, but then he was so humiliated in the first event and I couldn't do anything to comfort him. Everyone knew that Nullpudding was purposely going after Gray, and we all know who told him to do that. My lovely father, Ivan. It's one thing for Ivan to hurt or humiliate me, but how dare he upset Gray like that. I used to feel guilty for detesting my father, but I've moved past that and it's all his fault. He probably knows we're together, and maybe wants to show his displeasure as well as wanting to hurt Fairy Tail. It must be such a bonus getting to do both at the same time.
Then Raven Tail cheated in their fight against Lucy. This Flare lady was going overboard on her attacks, and nobody did anything to stop her. I don't understand why she couldn't have been disqualified for excessiveness. Can't there be some sort of protections put in place for us? In our day to day jobs, this is a normal danger, but why should competitions be this dangerous? Call me stupid, but I don't like to see my friends being attacked excessively. Flare had outside help too, because Lucy casted a powerful spell and suddenly it was canceled. Even Flare was clearly surprised, when nothing happened. I saw it on her face. She looked to where the rest of her team was standing, like she had no clue what had happened. Then she had the nerve to threaten Asuka? Seriously? Going after a little kid? I'm surprised Bisca or Alsack didn't get out their guns. If Natsu hadn't heard Lucy say he'd name, I don't want to think what might have happened.
Then Jura fought Jellal - oh, sorry, I mean Mystegon, and I was thinking we're finally having a well-matched battle between two mature adults who don't want to kill each other, until Jellal started acting beyond strange. Erza suspected Meredy was behind it with her sensory link, and that makes sense because he was laughing hysterically at the end. It had to have been sabotage. Jura didn't look so thrilled either, because he was looking forward to a good match up.
So most of us are at the pub drowning our sorrows. At least they have that pale ale from Margaret Town I like.
Gray and Lucy aren't here yet, and Juvia's strange fantasies unfortunately aren't confined to her dreams of Lyon and herself.
"Gray and Lucy aren't here. You know I always thought of her as a love rival for his affections. I think you need to be more concerned. Lucy could easily be confusing him right now, because she clearly wants him for himself." Seriously? I think Lucy has other things on her mind right now, like her completely unfair battle she just endured, and she also would never try and take somebody's boyfriend away. Not to mention she's been crushing on Natsu for years. Even I had figured that out from when I was 13. It's pointless to try and explain all this to Juvia, however. She is one of the sweetest loyal guild members I know, but sometimes I wonder if she comes from another universe. Lyon's looking a little embarrassed, even if he's head over heels for her.
"Juvia, darling, you're so sensitive to worry about Alexa, but I don't think she has anything to worry about." And this is one of the many reasons why Lyon is an amazing friend. That was brilliant. I'd hug him, but Juvia would start calling me love rival. No, thank you.
"Yeah, especially because we're here, and heard everything you said." I turn around and see them. Gray doesn't look shocked at all, but then Juvia used to have a crush on him forever, and he's used to her by now.
"Yeah. Have you considered becoming a fiction author? You've definitely got the imagination for it." Lucy's trying to be nice, but I can tell she's offended.
Gray had changed to a completely opened button-down shirt, which is living dangerously for him. Not that I'm complaining. Lucy being Lucy has already bounced back, and I'm glad Flare didn't cause any real damage to her.
I'm feeling flirty, and I figure maybe now I'll have better luck getting Gray to smile, and he must know hw wearing a shirt completely open is going to affect me. Seriously. He has no sensitivity just showing off his abs like that and expecting me not to drool all over him. So, I'm coming over to him and doing my shadow thief impression. It's been years, but somehow that memory of her coming onto him will stick in my memory forever.
"Hey, stranger. Come here often?"
"Hey. I'm sorry about earlier."
"Don't be. Did it help being alone?"
"Not really. Especially after I watched the battles."
"Horrible, right? Did you see what that sadist tried to do to Asuka? And how she got outside help? I hate my father and I hate his guild, and I hate to see you feeling so wretched."
"I'm fine now. We need to be on our toes, though. And all our matchups can't be with Raven Tail, so that's something."
"I don't know how they weren't disqualified. Even Yajima was pissed off, and he's trying not to be biased."
"There doesn't seem to be any accountability for anything anyone does, as long as they follow the basic rules. Is this how it always is in these games? There's no concern for safety matters at all."
"It's worse this year, because of Raven Tail. I don't think Ivan even cares about winning. He just wants to humiliate us. Sabertooth is usually hardcore, but they've never done borderline abusive attacks before. They've been professional, even if their master is an asshole."
"I can't get over your language. You speak worse than I do now."
"Well, I had a great teacher." I'm smirking at him, and he taught me how to smirk too, and since imitation is the highest form of flattery, he should really be thanking me for the compliment.
"Oh, please. You're blaming me for your filthy mouth?"
'You seemed pretty happy with my mouth last time I checked." I'm getting awful here, but it has the desired effect. He's grinning.
Later in the inn, we've gotten relaxed, and we're lying down together. I love being able to hear his heartbeat, and how my legs wrap perfectly around his.
"What happened this morning when Raven Tail showed up? You looked like you were going to freak out, and you said you couldn't breathe. I meant to ask you this earlier, and then with everything going on, I forgot."
"It's called a panic attack. I haven't gotten one in a year. I usually know how to take care of them. I think I was just overwhelmed because of the shock of seeing Raven Tail."
"I'm glad it's manageable at least. I figured you'd had them before, because Lyon knew about them. That was nice of him to come check up on you."
"See? He's a nice guy. The thing with panic attack is that my body responds like I'm under attack, even if I'm not, and I feel I can't breathe, and my heartbeat starts racing."
"You didn't used to have them when you were 13, did you? You never had one when you were with me."
"I got the first one over two years ago. It was horrible. I was still with Sting then. He took me out to eat for my birthday at a fancy restaurant. He started telling me how he had arranged for me to speak to Jiemma, his guild master, about joining Sabertooth, and I really thought I couldn't breathe. It was such a nightmare. We had to leave the restaurant, and Sting was angry that I made a scene and that I was rejecting Sabertooth."
"I don't get what you saw in this guy, Alexa. He wasn't concerned about your wellbeing at all?"
"He was, but my life wasn't in danger, so he probably thought I was being over dramatic."
"And let me guess, you never told him that it was a panic attack?"
"I didn't know what it was then, but I never did, no."
"Don't do that crap to me. I want you to tell me how you feel, even if you think I won't like it."
"Deal. Right now, you've made me feel rather good." And we're so different together than the way I was with Sting. With Sting I felt this need to be strong and perfect. Everything feels more natural now. Also, we're in the same guild. I never know how challenging that could be.
"Well, that's good. And tomorrow is going to rock. Maybe they'll choose you for one of the battles, and I can't wait to see you in action."
And as we decide to have some more action of a different sort, I'm thinking of how Gramps rallied us earlier, and how things can only look up from here. It's like how Natsu said to Lucy. Zero's pretty good because there's no other way to go but up. Okay we could stay down, but that's not happening. The second day of the games is going to rock.
