"After you all vanished on Tenrou Island I knew that where I was at wasn't going to be enough to either ward off Zeref or come close to Acnologia's power. I traveled back to Fiore, fueled by anger. He'd taken my wife, my friend, and now my son. I couldn't stand it. I spent seven years training, unlocking my Secord Origin, and finding the true power of a God-Slayer. But I couldn't do it alone. The Gods of Ishgar didn't take me seriously, so I went to one who I knew you at least had contact with: Jura Neekis.

"I trained with him for a long time after I explained your situation. He was quite understanding, and willing to help me get stronger." Ichigo at last took a break and flashed a grin. "Strong enough to replace Jellal on the Wizard Saints totem pole, too."

"Wow," Kai breathed, looking past him to a guard that just meandered down the street. Maybe he could get their attention and find out about Wendy.

"Then I realized I really didn't have any cash and he offered for me to join their guild," Ichigo said. "So here I am."

"And you're not up there?" Kai pointed to the Sky Labyrinth.

"Wasn't necessarily, we'll qualify without my needing to be there. The Games are basically over, Kai, with Jura and I fighting on the same team. You all just won't be up to snuff."

"Unfortunately we may not be able to do much of anything if I can't find my guild mate."

"Any idea where she's gone?"

"Nope. It's a big city."

"I'll look for her as well and let you know if I've found anything."

Kai smiled. For having not seen the old man in years, he still had a paternal instinct. Ichigo carried a calming, definitely fatherly, attitude about him. He didn't dress all that different from when he and Kai met on Tenrou, but Kai found it easier to accept that this man was his father.

"Sorry, I've got to get going," Kai said, and started back toward the street. He stopped. "Oh, and, you're wrong, by the way. About winning."

Ichigo chuckled. "No, Kai. This year, I will win."

Kai shook his head and sprinted down the street, blitzing around corners and trying to catch any scent of Wendy that he could. He slid to a halt at another street corner, resting his hands on his hips.

"Damn it, Wendy," he muttered. He checked over his shoulder to see if his father was following him at all. Didn't appear to be. As nice as he was, he did seem a little creepy.

Kai took off once again. Lisanna and Happy were across the city while Iggy was just up ahead, taking a left turn so Kai took a right. Anxiety gnawed at him. Wendy was more than capable of taking care of herself, and she probably had Carla looking after her, so Kai couldn't help trying to convince himself that he'd find Wendy and she'd be just—

Someone landed behind him. Kai slid and clasped the handle of his blade, spinning around. The new figure purred anxiously and emerged from the shadows, a tail waggling behind them.

"Oh, Mill." Kai rested a hand on his heart. "Startled me."

"Why so jumpy?" Millianna asked. "You just went sprinting out of the guild hall earlier."

"Wendy's missing. We're trying to find her. Elfman had to take her place tonight on the team but there's been no sign of her at all."

Millianna's expression hardened. "That can't be good. I'll help you guys."

She lowered her stance and sprinted. Good, Kai thought. With Millianna on the prowl, they would definitely find Wendy.

It was after about another hour of searching that Iggy came flying over to Kai, haggard but with wide eyes.

"We found them!"

She scooped Kai up without him even needing to say anything. They darted across the Crocus sky, flying over Millianna. Kai called to her to follow.

The three convened near Lisanna and Happy. Lisanna had a bag Wendy often wore wrapped around her while Happy tended to the two. Both were unconscious and dreadfully pale.

"You found them like this?" Kai asked.

"Yes," Lisanna said. "I don't…I don't know what's going on."

Kai nodded. "Happy, Lisanna, fly back to the inn, see if Porylusica or Levy are awake and tell them what's going on. Mill and I will carry them back."

"Right," Lisanna said. "Happy?"

Lisanna's arms turned into wings and Happy spread his, both shooting into the sky. Kai gingerly picked up Wendy, careful not to aggravate her, and she curled up like a little ball in his arms, shivering. Millianna held Carla. Iggy floated overhead.

"Keep an eye out, Iggy," Kai said. "Whoever did this to them may have been setting a trap."

"I know," Iggy said. "Honestly, I kind of want there to be."

"You do?" Mill asked.

Kai grit his teeth. "Absolutely. So I can show them what happens when you mess with Fairy Tail."

They returned to the inn after a long walk. Kai and Mill didn't want to move too fast or they could possible harm the girls. Porlyusica was awake and Levy met them nearby, checking them.

"Could be a magic illness," she'd said. "Come on!"

Porlyusica, when they arrived, had them brought into their rooms. Makarov rushed to join them, no longer in his PJs but in his official attire. And his face seethed with rage.

"Do you have any idea what has happened?" Makarov asked.

"No clue," Kai said. "We're hoping to at least get a diagnosis."

"I'll begin running tests, go wait outside," Porlyusica said.

Kai stepped out into the hallway and Lisanna shut the door. To his surprise, almost everyone in the guild waited near the hallway, arms crossed with mixes of rage and sadness on their face.

"No point standing around all gloomy," Makarov said. "May as well get our rest, it could be a while."

"I'll wait here," Kai said. "In case someone tries anything."

"Me too," Lisanna and Mill said at the same time.

Makarov sighed. "Fine. Everyone else get to sleep, and keep me updated on what's happening with the others!"

Kai sat against the wall, laying his sword across his knees. Millianna paced about the hallway while Lisanna sat next to a standing Makarov. Kai rubbed the sleepiness from his face.

"Thank you for going out and finding them," Makarov said. "It's maddening that this should've even happened."

"I didn't think we had enemies anymore," Kai muttered, and glanced at Millianna.

She had changed over the last seven years. Her tail was the same length but she'd grown more into her body and definitely had a more muscular form about her, as if she'd been doing some training. Normally she'd be purring with her worries, too, but she managed to bottle it in a bit more.

"No," she said. "I mean, for the last seven years we've mostly just been tossed aside and forgotten."

"No point casting blame on anyone either," Makarov said. "If we find the culprits, trust me, they will pay. Otherwise we must do our best to take care of Wendy and Carla."

Kai nodded, and waited outside patiently like the others.

Porylusica, after some time, came out and advised Makarov to move Wendy into Domus Flau, in the Fairy Tail infirmary, where she'd be exposed to more magic. She believed the root cause of Wendy's ailment to be Magic Deficiency Disease, with her magic power being sapped all at once and causing this fatigue.

Kai went with them as a bodyguard, and to see if he noticed any familiar scents from the day before. He was quite a bit wiped out, having stayed up for a good part of the night to watch over the others. He could sense Mill and Lisanna trailing not that far behind while Happy and Iggy stayed behind to fill in the others and help them prepare.

He stood in the infirmary room with Wendy as she at last came to. She wrapped Kai in a meager hug, whatever her little arms could muster.

"I'm so sorry, Master," she cried. "I don't remember anything except for a tiny black creature and I—"

"None of this is your fault, child." Makarov held Wendy's quivering hand. "We'll get you better soon."

"Absolutely," Porlyusica said. "MDD is nothing for me."

"Will she be better before the tournament is over?" Makarov asked.

"Hard to say, but with a good bit of luck on our side, I'd say our girl has a good chance of that," Porlyusica said.

Makarov sighed, clearly quite relieved. Kai knelt next to Wendy and held her other hand.

"Hear that? Just a temporary setback. You'll still be able to help us get to the top, Wendy."

"Then…will you fill in for me until I get better?" Wendy asked.

Kai's eyes widened and he glanced up at Makarov, who, despite his hardened expression, nodded.

"Master I—"

"You're a once-criminal. A Dragon Slayer. Someone who seemingly abandoned his guild for seven years. What the crowd will see in you is what they see in the rest of us. Where they would have seen our shining and bright soul in Wendy, they'll instead see our resilience. Kai, you need to join our team."

Kai's mouth hung open but no words could come out. What could he even say to that? Wendy squeezed his hand.

"For me, Kai," she said. "For all of us."

Tears welled up in his eyes and he squeezed her hand back. Determination spilled through his veins and he rose up, turning toward the others who'd only just arrived to see Wendy. Kai wiped his face and smiled at them.

Erza instantly knew what'd happened. Makarov approached from behind Kai.

"Wendy will remain incapacitated until Porylusica can confirm her condition is fighting-fit," Makarov said. "Though Elfman's participation is noted and more than welcome, I've decided that Kai should take Wendy's place on the team for now."

"Good," Erza said. "Now that's no chance we can lose."

"Then get going!" Wendy said, pointing out the door. "Won't the games start soon?"

The others quickly rushed the bed while Kai hung back by the door. When they turned back, Erza flung her arm out at Kai, and instead of his normal clothes, a purple and white version of them appeared, emblazoned with the Fairy Tail logo on his chest.

"Wanna be on the team then you better have a uniform," Gray said.

Kai sneered. "True that."

"Alright, let's go kick some butt!" Natsu exclaimed. "I'm fired up!"

Everyone cheered in agreement and Team Fairy Tail headed back into the hallway, toward the massive double doors in front of them.

"Glad to see you guys qualified," Kai said. "How'd it go?"

"Could've been better," Lucy said.

"Got to beat the crap out of Twilight Ogre," Gray said.

"Oh, wow, that does sound fun," Kai said, and the doors creaked open, revealing a blinding white light and a chorous from the crowd, as well as the loud voice of the announcer, Chapati Lola, echoing all around:

"Now, the time has come to meet our competitors! First up, in eighth place, an old school bunch of wild wizards from Magnolia! They had luck in the prelims, and now they're looking to take back first place by force. It's Fairy Tail!"

They emerged from the tunnel. Natsu raised his arm while everyone else walked focused next to him, only to be slammed by a storm of boos from the crowd.

"What the hell?" Natsu asked, spinning around.

"Didn't see that coming," Gray said.

Lucy just sighed. "Oh, come on."

"It's fine," Kai said, nodding to Erza. "Let them boo us. We'll hear how many boos there are when we win."

"Scared by the crowd?" Erza asked. Natsu spun around to her.

"No way, bring it on!" he exclaimed.

When the boos settled down, Chapati Lola announced the next few teams: Quatro Cerberus, Mermaid Heel, and Blue Pegasus.

"Good to see you guys!" Kai shouted, waving at Ichiya, who only winked at Erza.

The crowd only got more and more into it the further into the rankings they went, erupting into massive cheers for the fourth-place team: Lamia Scale.

Kai tilted his head up and Gray chuckled at the sight of them. Striding out from a puff of pink smoke was the guild, including Lyon, Jura, and of course, Ichigo.

"They've got two Wizard Saints this year!" some in the crowd shouted.

"Hey, where's that dog guy, Toby?" Lucy asked.

"Looks like he got replaced by my dad," Kai said. "Must be waiting in the wings as a reserve member."

"They probably wanted to put their full strength on display now," Erza said, and the crowd erupted in more cheers as Jura and Ichigo waved to them. "Seems to be working."

Ichigo turned and pointed toward Kai. "That's my kid!"

A unanimous, "What?" waved across the crowd, which immediately settled down as a haze billowed out from another tunnel. Several black feathers fluttered to the ground.

"Now for third place, and what a shocker! This dark and gloomy bunch are making their debut in this year's games. Give it up for Raven Tail!"

Nobody in the crowd cheered at all. Everyone on Team Fairy Tail stiffened at the sight of them. Ivan Dreyar, Makarov's kid, was their Guild Master. Not only that, but they were a Dark Guild once, something Natsu was all too happy to ask about.

The woman in the red dress with red hair cackled. "Oh, we were, but you've been gone a long time! The council legitimized us a while ago."

"Great," Gray muttered.

Then, a tiny black creature skuttled about them, leaping up onto the one in the golden armor's shoulder.

Kai twitched. "Wait, didn't Wendy say she saw something like that?"

"You don't think—"

"Oh, that thing with your little friend?" the big, spiky purple one asked. "That was just a little welcoming from us to you. Glad you got the message."
Silence fell through the team. Lucy instantly reached out and grabbed Natsu before he could jump across the arena.
"We'll get our chance," Erza said.

Kai sucked in a long inhale and let it out, trying to stay calm. He found the only way to do that was to just look away and agree with Erza.

Of course it was Raven Tail. He glanced back at them, curiously. Wait…Raven Tail. A former Dark Guild. Could they be the ones doing something with Zeref?

"And now for our first runner-up team!" Chapati Lola exclaimed. "And…oh, wow! What a surprise. This year's competition just a whole lot more interesting, folks!"

A flag of lightning appeared from the entrance, only to flash the Fairy Tail logo before bursting apart and revealing Laxus, Juvia, Mirajane, Gajeel, and…Mystogan?

"Mystogan?" Kai muttered.

"How it this even possible?" Natsu burst. "And how's Mystogan even here?"

"It can't be…" Erza murmured, and 'Mystogan' raised a finger to his lips.

Kai said nothing, but couldn't help laughing at Jellal, hiding in plain sight. Fairy Tail Team B settled into place, which was near Fairy Tail. Jellal turned at them, shrugging.

The commentators discussed the legitimacy of Fairy Tail B overhead while Kai and Erza leaned in toward Jellal.

"How'd you pull this one off?" Kai whispered.

"I explained the situation to Makarov," Jellal said. "He understands my concerns and agrees to a more direct approach in this fashion. If one of the teams is harboring Dark Magic, I'll be able to spot it faster this way."

"Meredy and Ultear are on standby?"

Jellal nodded. Erza sighed.

"This is insane."

"This is the Grand Magic Games, honey." Kai flashed her a smile. "We're here to win at all costs."

He looked toward his father, who gave Kai a supportive thumbs-up. Kai blushed and returned the gesture.

Once Chapati and Mr. Yajima, former Council member, agreed that Fairy Tail was only continuing to prove itself by having multiple teams in the Games, the crowd showered the field with boos. Kai took the opportunity to ask, plainly,

"Is it Raven Tail?"

Everyone around him leaned in as Jellal shook his head and said, "It's their debut year. We've noticed it before."

The crowd quieted down but anticipation buzzed. Kai nodded. That made sense. Still, they were already proving a thorn in their side.

"And last but certainly not least, it's the team that came in first place in the preliminaries! That's right, you know them, you love them, now get on your feet and scream for the most powerful guild in all of Fiore…"

The crowd did just as Chapati asked, leaping to their feet, raising their signs, and hollering out loud cheers for:

"Sabertooth!"

Sting threw up both arms as he led the guild out of their tunnel. He was followed promptly by Rogue, a woman in a white cloak, a buff man with green hair, and a dapperly dressed masked man, all of whom the crowd drank in and recognized.

"So glad to be on this team to take them down," Kai muttered as Sting and Rogue glowered at Fairy Tail's Dragon Slayers.

"They don't look so bad," Lucy said. Kai nodded.

"Especially not after we're done with them," Natsu said, and slammed his fists together, spurting out some flames.

With all the guilds in place, Chapati explained the rules: the days will be compromised of one major event followed by four battles, with the fighters of the battles decided by the sponsors of the event (the Fiore royalty). It gave Kai pause that he wouldn't be able to decide who he fought, meaning he may not get a shot at Sting or Rogue. Still, given perhaps the sponsors would want to see him fight his father, which would be neat.

The event participants, though, would either be volunteers from the guild or members chosen by the Guild Master. The scale of points earned in the event depended on the place the guild took in the event, while winners of a fight get ten points and if they end up in a draw it's five points for each team.

Simple enough, Kai thought, and the first event was announced to begin. Kai stayed back, glancing at Makarov, who shrugged (and also, surprisingly stood next to First Master?). They could decide amongst themselves, but once Lyon stepped up for Lamia Scale, it was pretty obvious that Gray would go for them.

The remaining four settled in their own balcony overlooking the arena while several lacrima appeared overhead. Kai smiled at the rest of his guild across the way in the stands, with Iggy, Happy, and Lily all waving small flags for Fairy Tail while Mavis led the charge for the human cheer squad.

A city magically appeared in the arena, and the event got under way!

Kai bowed his head once the city vanished and the final scores appeared on the tablet overhead: both Fairy Tail Team A and B were in last, due to horrible shenanigans caused by both Raven Tail and Sabertooth. The guild tried to comfort Gray as he sulked into their balcony.

"We'll be alright," Kai said, patting Gray on the back. "We'll get Raven Tail back."

"First up in our round of combat, we have: Fairy Tail Team A's Lucy Heartfilia versus Raven Tail's Flare Corona!"

Lucy jumped, a bit startled, but everyone around her hollered at her. Kai and Gray created stairs for her to run down from the balcony to sprint out onto the field, cheering her on with every step of the way.

And they cheered ever louder during the fight, as Lucy continued to lay into Flare, expertly using her magic and abilities, showing off the incredible progress she'd made with training and the unlocking of her Second Origin.

However, that all came to a grinding halt as Lucy, at once, froze in place and Flare turned the tides, wrapping her hair around Lucy and flinging her around, putting a thorough beatdown on the poor girl. Everyone called for her to do something but Lucy just couldn't! Natsu snarled and ran over to the Fairy Tail stands while Gray, Erza, and Kai watched in horror.

Before Lucy could be taken out by one big hit, though, Natsu hollered out at her and Lucy immediately snapped of whatever funk she was in, summoning her spirit Gemini and preparing a massive spell, one that ushered in massive amounts of power Kai didn't even know Lucy had within her.

"Go Lucy!" Kai shouted, and just as she was about to cast the spell, it was as if the lights went out in her body and she dropped back, unmoving but alive…and lost the match.

The wind and energy sucked right out of the balcony, Kai even faltering back a bit in surprise. Natsu rushed onto the field while Flare limped away.

He managed to prop her up and it was quite clear, from where they stood, that Lucy was crying. Kai glanced over to the Sabertooth and Raven Tail stands, where both sets of wizards were laughing, and balled his fists. Damn them…

Natsu stayed behind with Wendy as the next couple of fights progressed. Kai was somewhat impressed by the guy Orga from Sabertooth who employed some sort of lightning magic and took out a member of Quatro Cerberus handily.

The fight after that, though? Kai crossed his arms, watching as Jellal leapt into the arena against Iron Rock Jura.

"Oh, this should be interesting," Gray said.

Kai couldn't help but mentally cheer Jellal on as the two titans clashed, dazzling the crowd and hopefully gaining back some respect for Fairy Tail. In the back of Kai's mind, he knew he had to check on Lucy and Wendy soon, but was all too curious about what Jellal would do. He recognized several of the spells as those that Mystogan would use, impressed that Jellal even knew them.

But they were holding him back quite a bit, and Jellal soon switched to his Heavenly Body Magic, able to stand toe-to-toe with Jura. Neither gave any ground and the crowd remained just as amazed, if not even more, by their bout.

Jellal stopped, though, and got into a stance that signaled one of his most powerful attacks. Kai's eyes widened, but before he could do anything, he stopped, grabbing his stomach, and keeled over. Kai leaned forward, leering his eyes at what was going on.

Was he…laughing?

Kai pursed his lips. What could cause this to…

He rolled his eyes.

Meredy! She was protecting his cover and forcing him to lose the fight? Kai groaned. Ah, man. Who would've won that fight? He'd have to call her out on it later.

After checking in on Wendy, everyone in the guild met back at a small tavern. Kai consoled Lucy, who was still shaken up from her fight, but was angrier at Raven Tail for constantly playing dirty against them.

The members of Team Fairy Tail went to sit together as the rest of the guild poured in, and Makarov appeared before them, standing on the table, looking each of them in the eye.

"Last place is a great place to begin building up," Makarov said. "From here, there is nowhere to go but up! We know how are opponents, our enemies, are playing, and that's fine! Did you think this was going to be easy? We're Fairy Tail. Challenges are breakfast for us. We don't know the meaning of giving up, and there's plenty of time for us to catch up and clobber the rest of the competition! Today is over, tomorrow, we'll stand victorious!"

Everyone stood with Makarov and cheered with him, prompting the rest of the guild to do the same. It freaked out a few members of the tavern who were not with Fairy Tail, but quickly got sucked into the festivities too.

Kai quickly moved to talk to Erza and Millianna, who were sitting together at a small table over drinks. Millianna, too, was blushing. Kai raised an eyebrow.

"What's going on here?" Kai asked.

"Mill was just telling me about her boyfriend and some of the, um, activities they like to partake in…" Erza muttered.

"You've got a boyfriend? That's awesome. Who?"

His answer was questioned by the boyfriend himself, who emerged from the crowd wearing his disguise still.

"Jellal?" Kai asked under his breath.

Millianna quickly pulled down his mask and kissed him, then Jellal affixed it to his face.

"It's true," she said, leaning against him. "Jellal came to check on us for a bit after you guys vanished. I found my shining knight. My lover."

Kai tried to ignore that last part. "You didn't…"

"I worried it may have distracted you," Jellal said. "Also…Ultear and Meredy like to make fun of me for it. We needed to be focused."

"I'm just so jealous of you," Millianna said. "Three months with this man? Ugh. I mean, I've spent years with him but…still!"

"Well, I'm happy to hear—"

A table tipped over and the room hushed a bit while surprise rippled throughout.

A woman was toppled over on the ground, beer spilling from around her. Erza, Kai, and Millianna stepped over while a man in blue-armored plates covering his arms and shoulders with dark hair and dreary eyes stepped away, taking a few more sips of beer.

"I told you, honey." He then hung a blue bra over his shoulder. "Ain't nobody in Fiore that can outdrink me."

"Impossible," Macao muttered. "Cana…lost a drinking contest?"

"Guy's a monster," Wakaba said.

Cana couldn't even get up. A dumb smile was on her face. Her bare chest was exposed, leaving some of the tavern patrons drooling. Makarov threw his jacket over her and just shook his head.

"Damn kids."

The drunk stopped and sneered at Master Makarov. "What'd you say, old man?"

"Why the hell you'd have to go and do that?" Macao asked, pointing at Cana. "Disrespect her like that?"

"Those were the rules," the drunk said. "I win I get her bra. I lose she gets my armor. Fair's fair."

"Just get out."

The drunk shook his head and stopped. "Why don't you two make me, then?"

Kai rolled his eyes as the two wizards approached, leaping in to attack him, but he effortlessly dodged the two and struck them down.

"Wait a second," Erza muttered. "He looks different but I think that's…"

The drunk hollered another laugh, dropped the mug on the crowd, and sauntered out of the tavern.

"Bacchus," Erza said.

"Wait, the Bacchus?" Kai asked.

"You know him?" Mill asked.

"We've fought several times in the past," Erza said. "And each time was to a standstill. He's Quatro Cerberus's S-Class mage."

"And he's our competition tomorrow," Makarov muttered, gesturing at Kai. "A word?"

Kai followed Master over, his heart thumping as he knew what was coming. Makarov set down his own drink and Kai sat next to Makarov.

"We've been asked by the sponsors to promote the fight between Bacchus and the one who transforms on our team," Makarov said. "That's you, Kai. I thought they would've meant Elfman but maybe they never received an updated roster. Or, perhaps, they mean your Takeover Spell."

"Right, right," Kai said, holding back the nerves bubbling from excitement.

"Bacchus is an S-Class wizard, top of his game," Makarov said. "There's no room for error against him. I'm throwing you to the Wolves. Go home and get some rest."

Kai nodded, straightening his back. "For sure, Master. I won't let you down."

Erza arrived later that night to cheer Kai on for his fight and to sleep—with him—and the two set out the next morning into the arena for the first event, which Natsu happily volunteered for when he realized Sting and Gajeel would also be going.

Kai was far too focused on his fight to watch the event, and was all-too-happy when he realized it was a race atop a moving vehicle. He could just feel Natsu's suffering as he tried to crawl toward the finish line ahead of Sting and Gajeel, but he shouted out at the rest of the guild, declaring that they'd been waiting way too long for him to let them down.

The race finished far after it really should have, since the Dragon Slayers were effectively immobilized, but Natsu's words rang out and rang true in Kai, who at last settled down and sighed.

"I won't let us down," he said, and repeated it a few times.

The fights began after Natsu was taken to the infirmary. Lucy returned, after bringing him there, to point out Raven Tail members bullying and jabbing at Flare, who appeared even more bruised up.

Thankfully, Raven Tail was set to receive a beating, as one of their members stepped into the arena against Ichigo.

"About time," Kai muttered. "I can see what—"

The Raven Tail member leaped at Ichigo, who easily evaded him and summoned a torrent of water to slam down on the Raven Tail member and then blast him into the wall, ending the fight.

"O—oh," muttered Chapati Lola. Then, with a raised voice, "Your winner is Ichigo, of Team Lamia Scale!"

Ichigo turned to Kai with a smile and another thumbs-up. "I've got you, kiddo!"

"That's nice, someone else in our corner," Gray muttered.

"Yeah, guess so," Kai said, and smiled back at his father. He exhaled when Ichigo turned back around and started for the exit. "Guess I'll go get ready."

Erza seized his arm and kissed him. "For luck."

Kai kissed her back and she let him go. He headed downstairs as Chapati Lola hyped the crowd up for the next match.

To his surprise, Iggy waited for him at the other end of the tunnel, standing in the center, casting a long silhouette.

Kai stopped in front of her and knelt. She held out a paw and Kai tapped it with his fist.

"You're freaking out," she said.

"Only a little."

"Why? Nervous to fight this guy?"

Kai shook his head. "No. Nervous because I don't want to let the guild down. If I lose, what help am I to everyone else?"

Iggy stepped out of shadow so Kai could see her face. She grinned at him.

"You're a member of Fairy Tail. Right now that's all that matters. It doesn't matter who you're fighting out there. What matters is that you have the opportunity right now to show the entire world that Fairy Tail will not lose or back down."

Overhead, Chapati called Bacchus's name and the crowd went nuts for him. Kai sighed.

"Remember your training," Iggy said. "Stick to your instincts, and remember who you are, Kai. You were born to slay dragons, so, what's this guy to you?"

"And now, from Team Fairy Tail A, hoping to follow in the footsteps of his father, here comes Fairy Tail's cold-blooded mage, Kai Hope!"

The crowd booed, and Kai grinned.

"Just another person in my way."

Iggy stepped aside, satisfied with his answer, and he pushed forward, out into the arena, where Bacchus, and the world, waited for him.