The crowds in Domus Flau cheered as the competing teams were introduced by a rather excitable "Mato." Standing on the balcony with the rest of Fairy Tail, Hisui smiled. Freed and Evergreen were standing next to her. Freed was particularly amused by his father's clear excitement, although only he, his parents, his sister, Laxus, Mira, and the Magic Council were aware of "Mato's" true identity. Hisui leaned forward, her silk-gloved hands tightening around the stone. She still hadn't told Laxus about the baby. As he and Fairy Tail Team B entered the arena, Laxus looked up and smiled at her. She smiled back. Behind her, Siegrain laughed upon the commentators trying to determine if, in fact, it was alright for Fairy Tail to have entered two teams. Hisui smirked, turning towards him. Despite the tension still in the air, she couldn't help but enjoy the atmosphere.

"Well," She said teasingly. "Seems like you've finally changed your mind about Makarov's decision."

"Maybe," Siegrain replied. "I'm curious to see how this will turn out. It's not as if any of the other guilds competing are weak."

"They aren't," Freed agreed grimly. "I don't like the look of the Raven's Tail Guild. I thought they were a dark guild. Are they?"

"No," Siegrain said, frowning. "But they were only recently given legal status. I believe they were independent before that."

As the competitors from each guild were chosen for the first event, the others stepped off the grounds. Hisui (and the Thunder Legion) saw Laxus glare at his father, who stepped off with his team. She could hear Makarov starting to curse Ivan out from where he was sitting, but his booming voice was becoming more distant to her as she descended the stairs to intercept Laxus in the inner halls. He embraced her tightly when he saw her. The other members of Fairy Tail Team A and Team B slipped off to join the rest of the guild and to give them space. After a moment, Laxus looped an arm around her and they began to walk slowly towards where the others were.

"I have something to tell you," Hisui said, pausing him just before they stepped through onto the balcony. "Something I think you'll be happy about, actually."

Laxus raised an eyebrow. "You do, princess?"

"Yes," She said, unable to hide her smile. Laxus smiled too, holding her close in his arms. "I'm pregnant."

Laxus stared at her for a long time and then pulled off his coat to wrap it around her. Hisui laughed, a little surprised.

"We're going to have a baby…" Laxus held her tightly. "God, 'Sui, when did you find out?"

"A few days ago," She admitted, blushing a little bit. "I was waiting for the right time to tell you."

"You waited to tell me?" Laxus smirked. "Hm, I never thought my wife could be so deceptive."

Hisui rolled her eyes. "You're worried about me, don't lie."

"I am," Laxus agreed, adjusting his cost around her. "Don't take that off. You should stay warm."

"I won't," She said, laughing behind her hand. "And, before you tell him, no, I haven't told my father yet. I wanted to tell you first."

Laxus kissed her cheek. "I love you, 'Sui."

"I love you too," She said, leaning into him. "I want us to wait to tell the kingdom, though. Not until after the coronation."

"I agree," He said, lightly squeezing her. "And after you-know-what."

Hisui sighed. "Exactly," She said quietly. "I'm worried about it, I really am."

Breaking into their quiet moment was Freed, who beckoned them to follow them onto the balcony. On the lacrima screen, one of the strange girls from Raven's Tail was brutally fighting Lucy. Hisui tensed upon seeing it, and Laxus pulled her a little closer.

"What the hell is wrong with them?" Laxus muttered, seeing his father eyeing Fairy Tail smugly on the other side of Domus Flau.

"Do you really want to know?" Caitlin asked darkly, her eyes narrow behind her glasses. "I don't think I do."

"They're cruel," Erza said, crossing her arms. "It's nothing's more than that."

"Ivan…" Makarov clenched his fists, looking ready for a fight. "What are you after?"

Lucy all but collapsed into the table in Bar Sun, where Fairy Tail had taken up "residence." To little surprise, at least so far as she was concerned, they were all acting the same way the would in the guild hall, nevermind the fact they would have to pay for anything they broke, unlike in the guild hall. Freed and Mira were sitting on either side of Lucy, trying to reassure her that she hadn't cost them anything. Lucy was more embarrassed than anything else. She knew she had gotten her ass kicked by the strange girl from Raven's Tail, no matter what her teammates had said. Natsu had vowed to help her get them back. Caitlin had assured her it had been completely unprecedented and, now, they knew what they were up against. Erza had agreed to train her harder before her next event, and Gray had told them he would help.

"Are Erza and...Mystogan going to join us here?" Freed asked, looking between Mira and Lucy. "Or are they still tending to Wendy?"

"They're with Wendy," Cana giggled and plopped down beside them, a small barrel of wine in her arms. "But enough about them! Who else wants to know why Laxus isn't here with us? Is he in trouble with his father in law or something, ya know the kiiiiiing?"

"Laxus and Hisui are at the palace," Freed told her. "I believe she wasn't feeling well."

"Cana, scooch," Evergreen said, a glass of wine in her hands. "Some of us like to drink too, you know."

"You'll end up a giggly mess if you aren't careful," Freed reminded her. "Oh, damn, where did Bickslow go?"

"Out with a girl," Mira whispered with a faint smirk. "Can you believe it?"

"I'll believe it when I see it," Freed replied, motioning the other teammates over to them. "Juvia, Caity! Come join us!"

Juvia laughed, embracing Gray from behind, while Caitlin adjusted her glasses and butterflies before she sat down beside her sister. Evergreen poured her sister a full glass of wine and jokingly threatened Siegrain when he joined them. Lucy perked up a little, happy to see her friends.

"What was that I heard about Bickslow being out with a girl?" Lucy mumbled. "That sounds made up."

"It does," Juvia remarked, her arms around Gray's neck. "What do you think, darling?"

Gray shrugged. "Who knows what Bickslow's got going for him? I'm still haunted by the day he got the guild mark on his tongue."

"I was the only one able to do it," Cana loudly whispered to Siegrain, who grimaced at the thought. "Everyone else was too squeamish."

"I would be more amused if the master had done it," Caity casually remarked, sipping her wine. "Horrified, but amused."

"I do like a good horror story," Evergreen slyly turned to Elfman. "I told Laxus to punish you for all those horrible things you did during our mission a few months ago. Seems to me like he's waiting."

Elfman shuddered. "Don't scare me, Ever."

"Because your sisters already do a good job of it?" Evergreen said, running her fingers down his chest.

"She's gone," Mira jokingly said, shaking her head. "How much has she had to drink?"

"Not enough!" Cana joked. "Who wants to try and beat my tolerance?"

Natsu smacked his fists together. "I will take that action!"

"Oh no…" Lucy buried her face in her hands. "I already know this is going to end badly."

"You think?" Gray chortled. "Still, I'd pay to see Natsu run while drunk."

"Sounds fun to me!" Happy yelled.

"You're insane!" Lucy exclaimed incredulously. "I've seen what he does sober and, believe me, I don't think he'll be better drunk!"

"I am," Cana slyly offered. "Ask Levy."

Lucy glanced around, but couldn't find her. Just as shocking, she couldn't find Gajeel either. Something felt wrong.

"I don't get it," Lucy said, eyeing her strangely. "Did they disappear too?"

Cana stood up and looked around, her brow furrowing when she realised that they must have left.

"Weird," She said, reaching for the barrel and throwing another at Natsu. "I bet they'd get a real kick out of this."

Gray grinned. "I'm about to, that's for sure."

Lucy slumped back and said nothing. She decided she was just paranoid because of what had happened earlier during the Games. It didn't help, though, that she couldn't shake the feeling something awful was on the horizon.

Erza and Jellal were alone with Porlyuscia in the infirmary, sitting on either side of the bed Wendy was still unconscious on. They had spent every moment they could with her since they found out she had been attacked but, until she came to, they wouldn't know who attacked her. It was worrying to everyone that Ivan was a competitor in the Games, and Makarov had just about blown up when he had found out his son was competing, knowing full well Ivan couldn't be in Crocus for an innocent reason. He was no angrier than Laxus had been, however. Erza sighed, remembering how Laxus had declared he would be willing to fight his father. Just thinking of Ivan Dreyar having a hand in harming Wendy made Erza physically angry, and Jellal, sensing her tension, reached across to briefly pat her hand. He was unmasked, as there were no cameras and Porlyusica was keeping a tight eye on the entrances to help keep their secret.

"Your girl will be okay," Porlyusica assures them, her clipped voice cutting into the silence. "But I must ask: how is she your daughter when the two of you have spent nearly twelve...thirteen years apart? Forgive me for being so blunt, but that seems absurd at best even with the evidence."

"That's exactly what Elder Belno wants to know," Erza picked at her nails, her stomach churning. "I never imagined she wouldn't report this but she hasn't. I think curiosity got the better of her."

Porlyusica snorted. "I used to know her quite well when we were younger. She must've seen something in your child that caused her to set aside both her increasingly negative view on Fairy Tail and her strict adherence to the law."

Jellal looked to her, startled. "That doesn't explain why she didn't put me under arrest."

"I cannot attest to any of Belno's actions, Jellal," Porlyusica sighed, pausing for a moment in thought. "But I will say this: in all the years I've known her, the only things stronger than her trust in law and order are her own convictions and what she has seen with her own eyes. You two — and I suppose Wendy as well — must have made quite the impression on her."

Jellal met Erza's gaze. "It did strike me as odd when she first spoke with us about Wendy."

"It was," Erza agreed, brushing the hair away from their daughter's eyes. "It's been months since then...but I can't stop wondering what she must be thinking."

"I could always ask Siegrain," Jellal mused.

Erza shook her head. "Your brother won't want to tell you what goes on within the council. Not after the Tower of Heaven."

"Sieg is reasonable —" Jellal argued.

"I agree with Erza," Porlyusica put in, her arms crossed and her back to them. "I highly doubt Siegrain would be willing to risk his position for you. He's worked far too hard to get where he is."

Jellal swore under his breath. "Then what do you recommend?"

"If you truly care about your daughter, then you both will protect her at all costs," The healer said shortly. "I don't imagine you both ending up in prison would do her any good."

Erza sighed. "Once again, you're right. Thank you, Porlyusica."

She glanced towards them, faintly smiling, and nodded curtly. "I'll leave you be."

"Wait," Jellal called as she stepped towards the door. "Tomorrow is only the second day of the Games. Do you think she'll be able to compete?"

"Unlikely," Porlyusica said.

The door slammed shut behind her, leaving the two of them and their daughter alone.

"I'm with you," Erza said quietly, taking Jellal's hand. "No matter what happened in the past, no matter who possessed you, I won't leave. It hurt you enough the first time."

"I loved you, Erza," Jellal said, staring at her hand in his. "I still do."

Erza managed a small smile. "Then let's get through this together...as a family."