Chapter 17 – Forces To Be Reckoned With

Juvia

Juvia watched as all the people gathered around the arena. The first challenge was about to start.

Juvia cannot mess this up. Juvia will not mess this up.

Juvia had been the one chosen to participate in the first challenge. She couldn't believe that first challenge was so….pedestrian. She had expected something much more challenging than simply moving from one spot to another.

Juvia wondered what 'bright mind' had come up with this little challenge. Maybe Juvia shouldn't say much though, the buckets were extremely large, meaning like the size of a house large.

Juvia wondered how the mages who weren't water mages would get through this challenge.

Surely it would take a while for them to complete it?

Suddenly Juvia felt a cold rush overcome her as she turned to face one the Shadowalkers, Ameonna. Juvia had learned from Gray-sama that she was nothing but trouble.

As Juvia made eye contact with her she could understand why….but, for some reason those cold eyes of hers seemed familiar as well as her face….Juvia couldn't quite out her finger on it. It was rather unsettling.

"Ladies and Gentlemen please make your way to your seats as the Tide Walkers challenge is beginning now!" The announcer's voice came through the lacrimas speakers, making Juvia's attention easily focus on the priority: winning.

"Are you ready for this?" A voice came from next to her, which she turned to see Gray-sama looking at her, concern showing in dark, almost black, blue eyes.

"Yes," Juvia answered, her tone firm in contrast to her usually gentle tone, "Juvia is ready to this win this challenge for Fairy Tail Team B," She says, looking at Gray-sama, giving him a confident smile.

"What about you Gray-sama?" Juvia asks, "Has Fairy Tail Team A chosen a member to participate?" She asks curiously, wondering what guildmate she'll have to go against.

"Wendy," Gray said, a proud smile apparent on his face, then looked at Juvia, amusement sparking in his eyes, "You'll have quite a challenge with her," He says.

Juvia returns his smile, "Yes, Juvia will have quite a challenge with that little one," Juvia said, looking over at Wendy who was looking at the arena nervously.

"What does Gray-sama think about Ameonna?" Juvia asks, voicing her thoughts to Gray-sama.

Gray-sama just let out a deep sigh, "I'm not exactly sure with that on Juvia," He said, then paused to look at Juvia, "All I know is that she is danger and you need to be careful out there. She'll be the one you will go against," He said, gesturing towards Ameonna near the Shadowalkers.

"What?" Juvia let out a surprised gasp, "Juvia didn't know that the challenge would be one on one,"

"It wasn't supposed to be," Gray said, looking at the arena where Juvia would be within minutes, "But for some reason, the rules have changed," He said, looking at Juvia once again, "Two guilds will be eliminated from the Grand Magic Games today,"

"So, if Juvia loses, then there's a possibility that Fairy Tail Team B will be eliminated from the games?" Juvia said, her voice coming out shaky.

Juvia doesn't think she'll be able to operate properly with that knowledge.

Gray-sama apparently noticed this.

"Shoot," Gray-sama said, running his fingers through his hair, "Juvia I'm so sorry, I shouldn't have said that. I should've known that would stress you out. I wasn't thinking," He said, looking up at me his eyes filled with remorse.

Juvia smiled as his reaction to her feelings, "Gray-sama, it's ok. Juvia knows you would never do something like that intentionally," She said, a soft smile on her face.

"Will the first two competitors from Guild's Mermaid Heel and Sabertooth please come to the arena," The announcers voice once again came from the Lacrimas.

"C'mon," Gray-sama said looking at me with a smile on his face, "We don't wanna miss Minerva kicking whoever's butt," Gray said, mischief shining in his eyes.

"Who's to say that Minerva will be the winner, Gray-sama?" Juvia, a spark of mischief shining in her eyes as well.

Gray rolls his eyes playfully, "C'mon Juvia, it's not like anyone could win against Minerva in a challenge like this. With her magic, she'll be able to complete this challenge within a minute,"

Juvia nodded in agreement. Minerva-san's magic was truly something. Her Territory magic allowed her to manipulate space as well as the properties of space. Juvia almost pitied the person going against her. Minerva-san was truly indeed a force to be reckoned with.

Sting

"M'lady," I said, looking at Minerva, "I know you like winning, but please just show a little sympathy when you go out there," I all but begged.

Minerva just looked at me, a smirk apparent on her face, "I'm not making any promise I can't keep young master," Then she walked away into the arena to join her competitor.

"This otta be fun," Olga said, looking at m'lady as she sauntered out into the arena like she owned the place.

I just scowled in response.

"Sting?" A soft voice from my left came and I turned to see Yukino, beautiful as ever in her Sabertooth uniform, "Is there something you are worried about?" She said, her brown eyes shimmering with concern.

"No," I said, despite the stressful sigh I exhaled.

Yukino put her hands on her hips and her eyes narrowed, "That doesn't sound very convincing,"

Although I still felt stressed out I couldn't help the smile that began to show on my face.

She's so adorable when she's angry.

"What are you smiling about?" Yukino asked, her eyes filled with suspicion.

I felt the word 'you' slipping from my mouth but I quickly caught myself and returned to my previous position.

"Nothing, I was just remembering something," I said smoothly, hoping that she didn't ask anything.

Luckily, she didn't…..but that didn't mean didn't pursue an answer for her previous question.

"What's got you so worked up then?" Yukino said, referring to her previous question.

Once again, I let a deep sigh, "I'm just worried about Minerva," I admitted.

"Why?" Yukino asked confused, "It's not like she's going to anything like she did at the last Grand Magic Games and you know this," Yukino said, almost as if she were defending Minerva.

"I know, that's not what I meant," I muttered, then smirked, "I'm just worried how much she's gonna rub it in the other teams face when she kicks their butts at this challenge," I said, a cocky grin forming on my face.

Yukino just shook her head as she began to smile and sweet, little giggles escaped her mouth, "Oh Sting, you're quite confident of m'lady aren't you?" She asked, her eyes showing amusement.

"Why of course," I said smiling, "She is m'lady after all, nothing can deter her," I said smiling.

Yukino just nodded in agreement as we watched our guildmate take her place between the two very large buckets, one of which contained water. Just from across m'lady was her competition: Kagura Mikazuchi.

Kagura

I looked at Minerva across the arena from me, who simply returned the action with a smile.

It's hard to believe that this is the same woman who once stabbed me with a sword.

I heard someone shout my name and I turn to see Erza giving me an encouraging smile. I don't return it but simply acknowledge her with a nod.

I need to focus on the task at hand: defeating Minerva.

We were originally going to let Risley handle this one, considering we both used Gravity Change Magic, but once I heard that Minerva would be the competitor I had to step in.

I need to prove myself.

Last Grand Magic Games, Minerva had defeated me, that won't be happening this time.

"One more thing before this challenge starts," The announcer's voice came through the lacrimas surrounding the arena as the thirty second countdown began, "Throughout this challenge you are allowed to attack your opponent, good luck ladies!" The announcer said, then continued to talk. About what? I'm not exactly sure, probably introducing his guests' or something like that.

It didn't matter to me, though, I was focused on one thing and one thing only: winning, and now that the announcer said we could attack each other this task just got more difficult.

I knew I was in for quite a challenge when I looked at Minerva to see her looking at me, a Cheshire grin on her face as well as challenge sparking in her green eyes.

This was going to be fun.

Erza

I watched as the two women had a stare down, just ten seconds away from attacking each other. To say the least, I was quite jealous of both Kagura and Minerva. They were both very worthy and formidable opponents. Ones that I did not mind battling against, especially when it was competition.

I wonder who will win. Obviously Minerva has the advantage with her Spatial Magic but Kagura also has quite an ability with her Gravity Magic to simply use gravity as a force to transfer the water between the two buckets.

"Five, four, three, two, ONE!" The crowd roared as the two women immediately charged for each other.

They had at least thirty minutes to get the water from one bucket to the other, the one with the most water won: it was rather simple. However, the announcer hadn't told us that we would be fighting each other at the same time.

Kagura had immediately pulled out her sheathed sword as she went for Minerva, trying to get in a blow, but Minerva had seen this coming.

Kagura shouldn't have been so predictable. Then again, she and Minerva had fought on more than one occasion.

Minerva quickly teleported herself behind Kagura, landing a kick in her back causing Kagura to stumble, but not fall.

Kagura quickly recovered but Minerva had already teleported herself back to her two large buckets.

That was clever.

Minerva had gone to her enemy instead of making her enemy come to her. She had roughened up Kagura, not for long, but long enough for her to get a head start on transferring the water.

I watched as Kagura realized this two. It was quite obvious when her eyes filled with rage.

I let out a small laugh, this battle was just beginning.

Kagura looked at her buckets then Minerva. She would have to make a choice. Try to slow Minerva's progress, or try to catch up.

Kagura didn't waste a second when she charged for Minerva.

Minerva had her back turned to Kagura.

Not a smart move.

Kagura immediately attacked Minerva from her back. To say the least, she was going out all out.

Kagura had activated her Gravity Magic, pushing Minerva to the ground who was gritting her teeth.

Then Kagura did the unthinkable: she used her Gravity Magic to tip Minerva's bucket over, all the water spilling out like a flood.

Luckily, there were mages, such as Freed and Rufus, who had created runes to create a sort of dome around the two competitors and their buckets.

I heard a vicious growl come from Minerva as she teleported herself from the grip of Kagura's Gravity Magic.

Then Minerva did the unthinkable: she teleported to Kagura's full bucket of water which hadn't been emptied an inch and tipped it. However, Kagura had used her Gravity Magic to keep the bucket from tipping over completely, as well as taking her focus off of everything else.

Goodness gracious! This was going to last forever!

Minerva, taking advantage of Kagura's vulnerability immediately teleported in front of Kagura, once again landing a blow on Kagura. Only this time, she made sure to land more than one. Minerva landed blow after blow, however it was not done in a vicious way as she had when she fought Lucy. Instead, it was done in more of a way that were guarantee her victory.

Kagura blocked Minerva's blows weakly, but managed to block them nonetheless.

Twenty minutes had passed now with ten more left.

They have to rush back to their buckets and fill them with water or no one's going to win this!

Suddenly, once Minerva was convinced that Kagura was shaken up enough. She rushed back to Kagura's bucket, tipping out as much water as she could before Kagura got back up and used her Gravity Magic once again to stabilize the bucket.

Minerva, then, teleported back to her bucket and started to fill it with water as quick as she could.

Although Kagura could've just turned around to her bucket and fill it with water. I knew that there was no way she would just take a beating like that without retaliation.

To say the least, I was right.

Kagura immediately charged for Minerva, her speed lightning fast, and delivered blow after blow to a shocked Minerva.

Minerva recovered quickly, though, and started blocking all of Kagura's advances with such grace that it was unbelievable.

Did anything deter these to women?

Although, Minerva had recovered. Kagura's persistence to win had grown immensely.

Kagura once again pulled out her sheathed sword and began deliver harsh, precise blows to Minerva's stomach. Using every advantage skill she had, Kagura slowly began to take down Minerva. Not many seconds later, Minerva had fallen to her feet much to my surprise, making Kagura turn around and return to her bucket leaving a motionless Minerva laying on the dirt in the arena.

Surely Minerva wasn't beaten that easily?

Minerva

Fool. I can't believe she bought it.

Don't get me wrong, Kagura Mikazuchi truly is a force to be reckoned with: but so am I.

There's no way I'm losing this battle.

Sting

I watched with concern as m'lady fell to the ground, motionless.

Kagura couldn't have beaten her up that badly, could she?

No! That's impossible! M'lady has only grown stronger over the years, there was no way she could be beaten by Kagura's simple attacks. Not even a chance.

"Those two are putting up quite a fight aren't they?" A voice came from behind me and Yukino. I turned around to see….Yukino?

It can't be.

I looked at the real Yukino to my left, and realized that there was no way that the woman standing beside me was the real Yukino but then….who was she?

The woman must've realized my confusion, "My apologize, Master Sting, you probably don't know me. My name is Sorano Agria, Yukino's older sister." She said, a smirk evident on her face.

I had only one thought when I looked at this woman in shock.

"Who?" I asked in utter shock as I turned to look at Yukino.

Yukino just looked at me flushed, "Sting, meet my sister Sorano," She said, giving me a sheepish smile.

"You have a sister?!" I ask in shock and then turned to look at Sorano, "Not to mention that your sister is part of the Oracion Seis?!"

"Um, yes?" Yukino said.

Before I could say anything I heard the crowd scream loudly.

The battle! How could I forget about it?

I turned around to see Minerva up on her feet again, with only two minutes left on the clock. Kagura's bucket that was filled with water was almost empty and her other bucket was almost halfway filled, and Minerva's had nothing.

How was she going to pull this off?

Minerva

As soon as I stood back up on my feet. I swirled around to my bucket and raised my hands.

Let's have a little fun shall we?

Sting

I watched as Minerva's form began to change drastically.

Olga let out a loud laugh as he realized, like myself, what was happening, "She's gonna use her part demon form?! Kagura's sure gonna have a lot of fun with that!" He said, still laughing.

Oh Minerva please don't her Kagura too bad.

To be honest, I didn't mind Kagura. I'd considered her a friend ever since we fought side by side at the Alvarez battle, when they defeated Larcade.

I still want to win, but I don't want Kagura to want to kill me when this battle is over. Goodness knows she could do it. She was consider to be Erza's 'little sister' after all.

Minerva didn't seem to care about this as usual, though, as she quickly changed into her Neo form. Although Porlyusica had healed Minerva, she wasn't able to fully cure her, leaving Minerva part demon.

Minerva hadn't mind this little feat too much to say the least.

Minerva, now standing, her eyes a shade darker. She quickly fills her bucket up with water, much to the crowd's surprise.

Nothing stops M'lady.

I thought with a smirk on my face.

Forty-five seconds were left on the clock when Minerva teleported to an unsuspecting Kagura and landed, once again, blow after blow, but this time they were even harder considering her change in magic.

Minerva then quickly teleported to Kagura's bucket to tip it over, but without luck as Kagura once again used her Gravity Magic to stop her and then attacked Minerva herself.

"Ten! Nine!" The crowd roared as the ten second countdown began.

Hurry up Minerva!

Kagura attacked Minerva swiftly and gracefully, not even a trace of her initial shock.

These women were undoubtedly forces to be reckoned with.

"Eight! Seven! Six!" The crowd continued to shout as the two women continued to battle, the buckets of water long forgotten.

They're matching blow for blow.

"Five! Four! Three! Two! ONE!" The crowd screamed, as the ladies immediately ceased their fighting, both landing feet away from each both grasping for breath.

Who won?!

"Ladies and Gentlemen," The announcer's voice came from the lacrimas, "After a quick deliberation the winner is!"

A:N

Hey My Lil Donuts!

I'M SORRY FOR NOT UPDATING ON FRIDAY LIKE I SAID I WOULD!

But despite that...

Did you enjoy this chapter?

I tried my best to describe the battle (but as you can see, that's not really my strong suit)

Um...about that

Sorry not sorry for the cliffhanger (^u^)

I'll have the next chapter up as soon as I can so that y'all don't have to suffer to much ;)

Anyway, post your thoughts in the comments down below!

Who do you think won?!

Thanks for Reading!

Rissa