Joya was buzzing after the preliminary exhibition. To think a mage from Fiore could defeat one of their strongest! This buzz was the exact reaction that Count Waltz wanted from the match. Kagura was wandering around Crown City, taking in the sights. Truthfully, this was a very nice city and it wasn't as crowded as Crocus was even at night. "Hm."

"Wow, it looks like this tournament is going to be super good!" A bystander stand excitedly.

"Even if Fiore is that strong, Joya is waaaay stronger!" An excited woman replied. A few others joined in with similar thoughts. At the end of the day, despite Joya's defeat, the citizens of the country had faith in their strongest.

"This country is a far cry different than Fiore." Kagura mumbled to herself. She did want to buy something as a souvenir, but the taxes in Joya were so steep she'd either be spending all of the funds she had on a single item, or simply just couldn't afford it. It was extremely disheartening and she wondered how the citizens lived like this. "For starters, I can actually buy the things I want to."

"I know right?" A familiar voice sighed. That voice caused Kagura to freeze. Daryan stepped forward, giving Kagura a smile and wave. "Yo! Fancy seeing you here, Kagura-chan."

"You've got to be kidding me." Kagura groaned. It wasn't that she didn't expect this to happen, but it was simply a matter of attempting to avoid this for as long as humanly possible. Unfortunately for her, she couldn't even make it a day in Joya before encountering the one person she truly did not want to. "You…"

"I didn't think you'd be here. But I picked up your scent and I wanted to say hey." Daryan held his usual smile. The relationship between Kagura and Daryan was strained for various reasons; reasons even they couldn't explain. Still, after all they'd been through…

"…Hi." Kagura crossed her arms, glancing away stubbornly. "I had a feeling you'd be taking part in this. I was trying to avoid you."

"Were you?" Daryan hadn't the slightest clue. "I thought we were getting along well after Alvarez!"

It was because of Alvarez that Kagura's strange feelings just bubbled to the surface around him. "…You continuously annoy me even after that. Being near you makes me feel annoyed and strange, and quite frankly, I'm tired of it."

Visible question marks appeared over Daryan's head. Clearly he was confused as to where this was coming from. "I'm not sure what you're trying to say, Kagura-chan. You don't really give me the chance to do anything anyway."

"Gh…!" Kagura wasn't making a great case for herself. But whenever she was around this idiot, she just found herself unable to properly convey any and all emotions besides her strongest one of pushing him away. "Just…don't bother me again, and I mean it. Alright?" Her tone lowered and she gave Daryan a death glare. It put a chill down his spine for sure. "Good." And with that, Kagura left. "I can't deal with being around you…it's bad for me…"

"….." Daryan stood in absolute shock. "Okay, I know I don't understand women, I know that Kagura-chan has difficulties with her emotions, but I know that was the strangest thing that's ever happened to me. Maybe Alex or Gaia know what that was about. Or the new girl…"

"You wanted to talk?" Erza was alone with Jellal. For all competitors of Ishgar's Finest, they had their own section in Crown City's Inn; its size was massive. It was so grandiose for a hotel that it could even rival Crown Palace in size. The two of them were on the roof of inn, staring at the brightly lit city below. "What about?"

"I wanted to keep prying eyes and ears away from the conversation. The queen turned in for the night and I know you plan to as well soon." Jellal said. It seemed like he and Erza only had the chance to talk about serious matters, which was extremely unfortunate since he was a free man. Still, this was for her benefit and safety, so he could make the exception. "It's about this country and its absurd tax rates."

"I know." Erza thought back to the wedding dress. "I was trying to buy a wedding dress, but the taxes made it impossible."

Jellal blinked and slowly turned to Erza. The thought of her in a wedding dress… "You…went to buy a wedding dress?"

And now that Erza said it out loud to Jellal, she realized how it sounded. A red hue appeared on Titania's cheeks and she frantically waved her hands. "N-No, it's not…I can explain!" No she couldn't, because she had no idea how to explain.

"W-Well…I think you'd look wonderful in one…" Jellal awkwardly added. Now he was starting to realize why they could only hold conversations when the topic was serious.

"Are you two done being awkward? Or should we leave?" That voice came from Ultear. She was on the roof along with Meredy.

"W-What are you two doing here?!" Erza was in shock. The awkward moment was saved by their arrival, but she also kind of wished she had some time with Jellal alone. It was complicated.

"I asked them to come." Jellal cleared his throat. "I'll be busy ensuring the Queen is safe and acting as your team's potential back up."

"So the investigation of Joya is on our shoulders." Meredy smiled while leaning forward. "Jellal filled us in on what's going on. We're going to see if there's a way to free the Queen so the pressure of winning is off your shoulders and you can enjoy yourselves!"

"And we're looking into Count Waltz. The taxes in Joya are absurd." Ultear scowled while staring down at the people below. "It makes me wonder how the citizens can live in such inflation. I've heard that the medicine sold by that Polka girl is heavily taxed."

"Even the medicine…" Erza sighed. "Being the trade capital of the continent, it makes you wonder…" How could Count Waltz put such an outrageous tax on his own people? It was a question on her mind, but not the one she should have been focused on. "Regardless, thanks you two. We appreciate your support."

"Anytime!" Meredy said, delivering a peace sigh in the process. "You focus on kicking butt!"

Natsu, Happy, and Lucy were roaming around Crown City once again. They were still trying to find where Al Dente! was, but there was no luck even now. "Darn, I was really hoping we could get their food." Natsu sighed. They found the location, but it was currently closed and not a member of Al Dente! was in sight!

"I'm sure we can find them after the first day of the tournament tomorrow." Lucy placed her hands behind her back. "It's getting late, Natsu. We should really get ready."

"Yeah, it's a big day tomorrow." Happy agreed with Lucy. This wild goose chase Natsu was going on would have to wait.

"Fine." Natsu sighed. But that's when his nose picked up something that made his eyes widen. "Huh..?! That's…"

"Natsu? Is something wrong?" Lucy knew that look. That was the look of 'I can't believe this'.

"This scent…" Natsu was frantically looking around. Without warning he started sprinting ahead. This was far more serious than looking for Al Dente and the way he ran off showed it.

"Natsu!?" Lucy had no choice but to follow after Natsu with Happy beside her. "Where are you going!?"

"This can't be right…" Natsu mumbled while frantically looking around. The source of this scent only belonged to one person, which should have been impossible. But his search was cut short, for he ran into another familiar face that he really didn't want to see: Julius Grandeur. "Tch! Outta my way!"

"Ah…!" Lucy gasped.

"It's that Spriggan from before!" Happy pointed.

Julius let out a small sigh. The corners of his lips curved up into a faux smile laced with malice. "Well, what have we here? The forces of Fiore meandering around the streets like the rats they are? I shouldn't be so surprised."

"You're walking around too." Lucy narrowed her eyes.

"Unlike you, I have purpose." Julius responded, his attention now going to his book, casually flipping through the pages. "By the way, that was a rather humorous display of strength back there. Struggling against a young girl, I pity you, Natsu Dragneel. After all your hard work, you've hardly made any leaps or bounds."

"What'd you say!?" Natsu's eyes gave Julius a fierce glare. "Are you trying to fight now!?"

"It would hardly be considered a fight." Julius responded immediately, so casually, that it irritated the Fairy Tail wizards. "How uneducated you are. It is against the rules for competitors to fight outside of the event itself. I would eliminate you here and now for Her Majesty's sake if I wasn't bound by such rules."

"I can only imagine where Emmeraude picked up such a loyal boot licker…" Lucy huffed.

Julius closed his book. The words at him, he did not mind. But he would tolerate no disrespect to the Empress. "Her Majesty has been working tirelessly to unify the land. Yet, as incapable as you are, Fairy Tail, you always find some way to stand in her way. Be it by chance or fate, your talent of getting in her way. I will personally ensure that you interfere with the Empress no more." That malicious smile of Julius' grew.

To no one's surprise, Alvarez and Fiore were starting things off as enemies. Lucy stepped forward, standing next to Natsu as they stared Julius down. "If you think we're here to lose to you, then you're wrong. Fairy Tail never backs down."

"Oh, I am well aware." Julius shrugged his shoulders casually. "Once again, I will have to personally show you your inferiority. As the strongest among the new Spriggan 12, it is my mission to eliminate any obstacles for Her Majesty's vision. I look forward to seeing Fiore flounder in the waters of this competition. If you struggle against a single mage from Joya, then Alvarez will crush you into the dirt for the world to see."

"You talk a lot, asshole!" Natsu shouted. Rules or not, he was ready to throw down right here and now for a second round. "Who cares about the rules!? Fight me here and now and you'll see what Fiore can do!"

"I already saw what Fiore can do from your fight earlier. It was laughable." Julius started to walk off. It was a chance meeting, but it was also the perfect opportunity to remind Fiore where they stood.

"Tch…" Natsu grunted.

Lucy understood why Emmeraude would be so serious about this competition. Still, she didn't enjoy the idea of having a target on their backs from the very beginning. "She always has to make things difficult…"

Unfortunately, Sting and Minerva were given the pleasure of lugging Bacchus along after he spent all of his money at the local bar. "I can't believe he spent all his money on the first day here…" Lector said, watching (mostly) Sting and Minerva carry the inebriated Bacchus.

"Neither can I…" Sting groaned.

"If he had half of his brain working, he'd realize he wouldn't be able to pay for even a 3rd mug of beer." Minerva scowled. "The taxes here are outrageous. We're not even being provided for, so we have to be extra careful with how we spend. A single meal at that hotel is half of what I brought."

"The taxes in this country make my head spin…" Lector felt overwhelmed with the drastic changes in prices once taxes were involved. "I wanted to get Frosch something, but I can't…"

"This place…wild…" Bacchus was totally out. His flushed cheeks and slurred words told the story. If he was in a battle, he'd be one of the toughest people to take down. But now? He was just any regular drunk that needed his friends to carry him home. They really needed him to focus for tomorrow after all. "But I managed to swipe a few mugs…gotta get ready for the tournament." Well, he wasn't that far gone.

"So he wasn't completely useless. But we're not lending you any money. You're on your own." Minerva made sure to get that point across.

"We're almost back." Sting said before his nose picked up something. A familiar scent that nearly made him drop Bacchus. "What the…!?"

"Sting, is something the matter?" Lector asked.

"Seriously, don't give me all the weight." Minerva groaned, as if she was carrying Bacchus at all.

"…This smell…" Sting was frantically looking around. "It can't be…!"

"Sting, what is the matter with you?" Minerva turned to Sabertooth's guild master. Her expression was both concerned and irritated. "Who are you smelling?"

Sting was about to answer, but the scent suddenly vanished, leaving him at a loss. "What…? It's gone…?"

"You must be stressed." Minerva pinched the bridge of her nose. "You need to rest just like this drunken idiot."

"Ah…yeah." Sting let out a heavy sigh. This whole situation was different than a Grand Magic Games. He was about to fight against the world and while it was exciting, it was also nerve wracking. Maybe the stress of what was getting to him.

"You'll be fine." Minerva told Sting.

"Thanks." The Drunken Falcon assumed those words were for him. Of course Minerva was annoyed by this.

"No, you're right. We can do this! I can't let anything distract me from our mission." Sting pumped a fist into the air.

"Yeah, that's the spirit!" Lector did the same.

"Still…that scent…" This was going to bother Sting. But for now, he had to focus on what was ahead of him. Fighting for Fiore.

Unlike the others roaming about, Luke and Reve were in their hotel room. The copycat was looking outside the window, staring at the city. "We've got a lot of hard work ahead of us, don't we?"

"Not at all." Reve responded. "We'll be fine. But we're going to have to carry Fairy Tail and the others. After what I saw today, I doubt they're up for the task. Just leave the heavy lifting to me."

Luke laughed a bit. Since he and Reve were the only ones from White Eclipse, Luke was the only one who understood where Reve was coming from. "Yeah, I hope people aren't thinking Fiore is up the creek just because of Salamander's performance earlier."

"Like I said, we'll be cleaning up after Fairy Tail, although I don't care much for the job itself." Reve shrugged his shoulders. "Regardless, the rest of the competition doesn't stand a chance once I step out there."

"Yeah. Not falling behind anyone ever again." Luke remarked while staring out of the window once again. It was odd, but the longer he stared at Crown City, the longer he felt some strange feeling of nostalgia. It was odd because he had no recollection of ever being in Joya before. "We've got a lot of work to do. But even the Queen can see that White Eclipse is up to the task." He then let out a sigh. "Man, I wanted to buy a souvenir, but I can't…"

Hisui was quietly listening in from outside. While Jellal assumed her to be asleep, the truth was that the tournament starting filled her with all sorts of anxiety. Probably because at the moment, her life was riding on their performance. There was a bit of a sweat drop on her forehead at the borderline arrogance the White Eclipse mages were displaying. Still, she knew it wasn't completely unfounded. "I hope such confidence won't be their undoing…"

Zelos was somewhere he wasn't supposed to be: the roof of Crown Castle, happily relaxing with his arms behind his head, lying back on the roof while staring up at the quarter moon. A few moments passed before he was found by Lucia, Yumia, and Yukia. "Oh, ladies! Welcome to the best spot in Crown City."

"I'm not surprised to find you lazing about here." Yumia placed her hands on her hips, mirroring her twin's actions.

"Always lounging around." Yukia huffed.

"Now girls, that's not true." Lucia waved a hand. "Our little worm has been doing fantastically keeping us updated on Fiore's growth. After that display earlier, I'm very certain they'll be a nonissue."

"They've grown pretty fast in a month, but they're still playing catch-up with the rest of the world." Zelos said while closing his eyes. "But don't count them out yet. They tend to surprise people."

"Still, why are you apart of that guild?" Yumia asked. "Your mission didn't require you to…"

"It was the only way." Zelos replied. "Truth be told, I wasn't expecting to get a spot, but it seems my own glorious radiance caught the Queen's attention. I can't very well say no to such a request, you know?"

"Gross." Yukia shook her head. "Regardless, just keep doing what you're doing. We've got everything we need from you. You really are a pretty good worm."

"Why thank you." Zelos grinned, crossing one leg over the other. "But there is something else I'd like to worm in-"

"And that is where our conversation ends." Lucia cut that off for she knew where it was going. Zelos may have had luck with other women, but Lucia would not allow herself, Yumia, or Yukia to be caught dead with this man. A friendly smile crossed her lips as she led the way. "See you tomorrow. I wish your team the best of luck, for they're going to need it."

Zelos remained quiet, opening his eyes to stare at the night sky. "Yeah, this won't be easy for them." His lips then curled up into a coy smile. "But that's what makes watching them so enjoyable."

.

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Next Time: Ishgar's Strongest Begins.

**I hope everyone is going to have a happy new year! This next year may very well be the last one for this series, as the second to last arc is now officially underway!