Back with the next chapter!
"Speaking"
""thinking""
On with the story
The next day
The crowd goes crazy upon seeing the large ball of water floating in the middle of the arena, a purple ring around it and a magic circle of the same color below it. Chapati, with a fancy blond wig on, begins the commentary.
"And... We've started! Day four, game part. One participant per team!"
"It almost seems like a water sumo match."
"It looks fun. Thank you very much." Today's guest; Rabian, the Sherzad Theater Group chairman adds onto what Yajima said.
"Team after team, they're diving right in!"
"I'm going to give it my all!" Cheria swims around.
"I'm not losing this time!" Jenny announces.
"Never underestimate a mermaid!" Risley looks around with a smirk at her opponents.
"If it's water, then it's Juvia. This is Juvia's expertise." Juvia said while swimming in
"Haha. Sabertooth's Minerva... Has arrived." She looks at her opponents as if they are below her, eyes seeming to pierce into their souls.
"She shows herself, Minerva! This heavy wave of cheering!"
"She is one of the top five in Sabertooth."
"THANK YOU VERY MUCH!"
"I can't lose either." Lucy gives a look of determination. "I have to make up for the first day's shame!" She looks at Minerva with a gleam in her eye.
"LUCY! Do your best!"
"She can use Aquarius in the water." Gray smiles at the assured victory.
"This is a good match for her."
"Yes!" Wendy agrees with the ex-quip mage.
"This has become quite the beautiful picture. A girl from every team here with their swimsuits!"
"THANK YOU VERY MUCH!"
"Um... I'm also here with a kind of wild..." Rocker said.
"a man, huh? Tch!" Rabian said with a dark face
"DID YOU JUST TCH! ME!?" Rocker exclaimed
"The rules are simple! If you leave the water, you lose! Naval Battle commence!"
"Right off the bat but... SORRY EVERYONE!" Lucy pulls a golden key from her waist.
"Open! The gate of the Water Bearer! Aquarius!" Lucy exclaimed as the mermaid spirit appears
"AGHHHH! THE WATER IS MY PLAYGROUND!" Everyone except a select few look in shock. Except Minerva who holds a small smirk at the sight of the spirit.
"I won't let you!" Juvia announces.
"WATER CYCLONE!" With the movement of her hands she makes a tornado of water race towards and collide with the spirit's attack.
"go! Lucy!" Gray cheered from the sidelines
"you can do it! Lucy-san! Juvia-san!" Wendy cheered for the two
Erza smiles as she crosses her arms and look at the battle
"looks like those two are at a stale mate" Erza said before she looks at her husband who was being silent as he looks to be in thinking
Natsu was thinking about his encounter with the other Lucy from last night as that Lucy was actually the Future Lucy
""on the last day of the GMG, Eclipse will open and the world will end""
Her words rang in his head as he keeps thinking of her words
""1000 dragons will come and appear from the gates, and the culprit is the princess of this kingdom"" END appeared as the demon was in thinking as well
""do you believe in her words?"" he asked Natsu
""I do"" Natsu replied to his other self
"Natsu?" Erza called out to him as Natsu looks to her
"yeah?" he replied
"what were you thinking of?" Erza asked him
"just trying to think on how we're going to beat Sabertooth, that's all" Natsu replied to his wife with a smile
"looks like you really are determined to win fast" Erza said with a smile as she bought Natsu's lie
""so, the gate needs the 12 Zodiac keys to be activated, huh?"" END said while Natsu watches the fight
""then my suspicion is correct,""
""which is?"" Natsu asked him
""someone planned all of this, someone not from here""
In the Naval Battle, only Juvia, Lucy and Minerva were left as the rest of the participants were blown away by Juvia's new attack
"this is so embarrassing" Gray said while face palming to hide his blushing red face
"this just shows how much feeling Juvia has for you" Lucy told him
They then watch the fight before they gasped in surprise as they see that Juvia was out
"Juvia!" Lucy shouts out to her guildmate. Up on the balcony with Fairy Tail team B, they're throwing comments around.
"That idiot." Gajeel says through gritted teeth.
"She fell out..." Rogue adds on.
"how?" Mira questions.
"Despite a very good showing, Juvia has been eliminated. We are now down to our final two: Lucy from Team Fairy Tail A and Minerva from Team Sabertooth!" Lola announced.
"That was a bit of a dirty trick." Sting smirked.
"It certainly was." Rufus grinned.
"She could have done that at the start if she wanted. She really does like to play with her food." Orga commented.
"This one's in the bag." Lecter said.
"Fro thinks so too." Frosch added.
Rogue remained silent.
"Which of these two fierce females will come out on top?" Lola asked rhetorically. "Which team will start day 4 with a win?"
A pillar next to the sphere began to glow. Above it appeared a clock that began ticking down from 5 minutes.
"We will now begin the 5-minute rule." Lola announced. "Whoever is eliminated within that time limit will automatically receive 8th place."
""Ok I made it this far."" Lucy thought as she looked ahead at Minerva.
""If I can beat her, I'll win. Even if I can't, all I have to do is wait out the five minutes and we still receive 8 points.""
"You got this, Lucy!" Gray shouted.
"You can do it!" Wendy encouraged.
As Fairy Tail began cheering on their teammate, Yukino's body began to shake more. "No." she said under her breath. "She can't win."
"With the magic I wield I could easily remove you from the sphere and ensure my victory…" Minerva's said as her hands began to glow. "But that would be no fun. Would it? So let's see how you fare against this, Fairy Tail."
A small green sphere appeared next to Lucy. "Huh?" she noticed it sizzling. "That's…" suddenly it exploded, hitting her ribs.
"Such heat." Erza observed. "In the water?"
""hey"" END said as Natsu nodded
""that heat is from our attack from two nights ago""
Another sphere appeared this one striking Lucy in the head. Lucy cried out in pain as she regained her bearings.
""That one was heavy."" She thought as she rubbed her head
"It felt like it was made of lead.""
"What kind of magic is that?!" Gray asked.
"hang in there, Lucy-san!" Wendy cheered for her
""I'm not gonna let her push me around."" Lucy reached to her waist to summon one of her spirits but to her shock.
"My keys?! Where are-"
"Excuse me" Minerva said as she held Lucy's pouch in her hands, dangling it as she continued to smirk.
"When did she…gaah?!" Lucy was once again got attack as this one sent her flying back.
"If Lucy exits the sphere, she'll be in last place." Lola said.
Lucy waved her hands around as she manages to stay in the sphere
"Lucy-neechan!" Rose looks in concern to the blonde mage.
"Without her keys she's can't use magic." Charla pointed out.
"Don't give up, Lucy!" Jet yelled.
"I'm not giving up! No matter what you throw at me! I won't ever give up!" Lucy shouted in determination as Minerva lowered her arm.
"Minerva's attacks have stopped," Lola said. "If she doesn't act quickly the five minutes will expire."
"If Lucy can hang in there a bit longer she can still win this," Gray said before his eyes widen in shock as Minerva started attacking Lucy without mercy
"Know your place!" Minerva shouted. "You dare mock Sabertooth?! We are the greatest guild in all of Earthland! A petulant child like you could never hope to stand against us. You should stay in the dirt where you belong!"
"Lucy!" Gray shouted.
"Lucy-neechan!" Rose cried out as the Celestial spirit mage was being tortured in there
Mary cries as Ikaruga went to comfort her
Everyone looks in shock and horror as the attacks continued.
The shock of the last explosion sent Lucy flying to the edge of the sphere once more.
"There can be no doubting that Lucy is out now," Lola said. Suddenly Lucy vanished. "Where did she go?"
Lucy appeared in front of Minerva, her blonde hair in the sadistic wizard's clutches. Minerva kneed Lucy in the ribs, causing the fairy tail wizard to gasp in pain.
"Did she do that with her magic?" Droy asked.
"But she was almost out. Why bring her back?" Levy asked, frightened by the punishment Lucy was receiving.
Minerva continued beating Lucy. A good majority of the crowd looked away in fear and disgust.
"What is she trying to prove with this? Making her suffer…?" Gajeel questioned through gritted teeth.
"This fight was over a long time ago," Laxus said, trying to hold back his anger.
"Disgusting. There is no honor in this." Kagura said.
"Dammit! Stop it!" Gray yelled.
"Minerva, stop this! Please!" Yukino cried out. "She'll die!"
Sting, Orga, and Rufus looked over to Natsu, Erza, and Gray with arrogant and superior expressions. The three Fairy Tail wizards shook with rage as, Natsu and Gray baring their teeth.
"Sabertooth." They snarled.
Minerva began to laugh maniacally as she continued to beat Lucy within an inch of her life.
She continued to beat the living out of Lucy before she stops as Enryuo no Yoroi appears behind her while holding Enryuo no Kiba as its blade was at her neck
Reiter no Yoroi floats towards Lucy as the armor caught her and brings her out of the sphere where it landed gently to the ground
"stop the match," Natsu said as he entered the arena with the rest of the team
Mato nodded as the winner of the Naval battle was Sabertooth as they gain their points
Fairy Tail ran to the center of the arena as Lucy wasn't moving at all
"Quickly! Call the medics! This is an emergency!" A guard shouted as he and his comrades ran to the infirmary.
Yukino turned her head, looking away from the sight in both shame and sorrow.
Orga and Rufus smirked in triumph, all the while Sting laughed loudly.
"she's not moving!" Gray exclaimed as Lucy wasn't even breathing at all
"let me heal her!" Wend exclaimed as she kneels beside Lucy and started healing her with her magic
"I'll help too!" Cheria joined in as the Sky God Slayer helps Wendy in healing Lucy
Natsu squinted his eyes as he sees bruises and burns marks on Lucy's body
Erza looks at her friend before looking to Minerva who was sliding down the sphere
"what is with that stare?" Minerva asked her as she landed on the ground
Erza gave no audible reply, her eyes speaking for her in volumes.
"You should be grateful that I allowed you to receive second place," Minerva said. She looked down at the still unconscious Lucy. "Even though she's just a worthless fairy."
"so, you want a war?" Natsu said as he glares at Minerva before Sting and the rest of Sabertooth appears in front of Minerva
Everyone in the crowd stood on the edge of their seat, the tension from the two guilds stand-off permeating the entire arena.
"What's this?" Lola said over the mic. "Will we get see Sabertooth and Fairy Tail go at it right in front of us right now?!"
"Whether you are the strongest guild in Fiore, or in all of Earthland. It makes no real difference to me." Erza said. "However..." Her glare narrowed, her brown eyes darkening. "Know that you have chosen the wrong guild to make an enemy of."
"Oh?" Minerva replied with an intrigued inflection. After staring at Erza a few more seconds, Minerva turned around and walked away. Her team followed close behind. "You are proving to be interesting prey, Titania. I hope you won't disappoint me."
"let's go" Natsu said as Reiter no Yoroi carries up Lucy gently
"we need to get her to Porlyusica quick"
Everyone nodded as they started to give way to the armor to bring Lucy to the infirmary
A few moments later
In the infirmary
Lucy slowly wakes up as everyone went to her
"Lucy-san" Wendy called out to her as Lucy wakes up and sees everyone with her
"I'm sorry..." Lucy speaks up, getting herself in a more comfortable position. "I've lost... again."
"What are you saying! You got second place, that's 8 points!" Gray smiles down at her.
"You did great," Erza told her with a smile
"My keys. Where are my…?" Lucy muttered out before seeing Milo jumping beside her bed as the cat has Lucy's key pouch in his mouth
"Meow" Milo meowed as the cat gives Lucy her keys
"thank you…Milo" Lucy thanked the feline while petting his head
"is she alright?" Mira and the rest of team B came in as the woman sported a worried look
"Laxus?" Gray said as Laxus nodded
"so, how is she?" Gajeel asked
"she will survive, thanks to Wendy and that Cheria girl, her life is saved" Porlyusica replied
Yukino bowed. "I'm so sorry, Lucy." She apologized as her voice full of guilt. "You were put in so much pain because of me. It's my fault that Minerva did this to you."
"Don't be so hard on yourself." Lucy reassured weakly. "It wasn't your fault."
"But I-"Yukino began.
"Hey, we're friends right?" Lucy asked.
Yukino's eyes widened in shock. "Friends?"
Lucy nodded. "So you don't have to…apologize." Lucy trailed off, closing her eyes with her smile still on her face.
"Lucy?" Yukino called, receiving no response.
"It seems she went back to sleep," Mirajane said a small smile on her lips.
"Yeah, those guys really did a number on her," Cana commented.
"Sabertooth." Gray said.
"Those guys really piss me off," Gajeel commented.
"looks like everyone is here" Makarov came in as he had a serious look
"gramps" Gray said as they look to the old man
"The game administration has ordered us to combine both of our teams together." He told them as this got them surprised
"Combining teams A and B?!" Laxus speaks up in obvious shock.
"Why would they...?" The previous demon of Fairy Tail tries to solve the mystery.
"They said that because of Raven Tail's disqualification, it would be troublesome to have an odd number of teams in the matches and battles. So we must reorganize a new team with five members..."
"What will happen to our points?" Charla asked
"the lowest point will carry over, that means A team's 35 points" Makarov told her as this got everyone more serious
"if this is the administrator's decision, then there's nothing we can do about it," Erza said while crossing her arms
"well, looking on the brighter side, we'll be able to put together an even stronger team" Cana chimed in
"gramps" Natsu said as Makarov nodded
A few moments later
Back in the arena
"The Fairy Tail team has finished reorganizing. And finally, we enter the battle portion of day four."
"The day four battle portion is a tag team battle, right?" Yajima asks, only for the odd-one-out to voice after him.
"It will be 2 vs. 2. This sounds fun! THANK YOU VERY MUCH!" Rabian replied with an excited smile
"We have already posted the official match ups." Chapati continues, everyone reading just what it will be.
Blue Pegasus vs. Quatro Puppy
Mermaid Heel vs. Lamia Scale
Sabertooth vs. Fairy Tail
"As expected, the most exciting moment will be Fairy Tail vs. Sabertooth, am I right?"
"I was wondering what would have happened earlier." The eldest of the three contemplate.
"It was a hot moment. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!"
"Well, folks... Let's see the new Fairy Tail!"
"Good luck everyone..." Lucy mumbles from the infirmary, Lucky sitting patiently by her side.
"I'm counting on you guys." Elfman stares at the ceiling above his resting place.
"This is the real meaning of 'strongest team'." Mira tells her younger sister.
"I'll be cheering for you!" Wendy pumps her fist with Charla agreeing
"The thoughts of the guild have become one," Makarov said as Fairy Tail's new team entered the arena
"we're entrusting them to you!"
"It is time to show them, the power of our bond!" Mavis said with a smile
"The grounds are shaking! We present to you... TEAM FAIRY TAIL!"
Everyone cheered as Natsu, Erza, Gray, Gajeel, and Laxus enters the field as a team
The strongest team in Fairy Tail history.
That's a wrap!
Bye bye