Enjoy!

19 | Are You Ready?

Gajeel

"Hey," I said, my voice coming out gruff, "Your next,"

Juvia just looked at me, "I knows" She replied simply.

Well this is great...she's speaking in first person...that means she's serious.

"So are you ready?" I ask, for some reason nervously.

"Why would Juvia be?" She replied, her eyes filled with confusion.

"You do know who you're going against right?" I asked.

"Ameonna," Juvia replied, her eyes turning cold, "One of the Shadowalkers,"

I felt my eyes narrow, "That's right," I responded, "Apparently she's the new 'rain woman', at least that's what everyone's calling her,"

"And what is Fairy Tail calling her?" Juvia asked, her eyes baring into mine.

I smirked, "Gihi, you should know this one Juvia," I said looking at her, "She's the person who you're gonna destroy,"

With that I finally got her to smile.

"Juvia is pretty good with water isn't she?" She asked cheekily.

I ruffled her hair in response, "The best,"

Then, much to my surprise, she wrapped her arms around my waist.

"Thank you Gajeel-san." She said warmly.

Before I could even wrap my arms around her let alone respond, she was running in the direction towards Gray.

Anytime sis.

Unknown

I watched the arena from afar with anticipation I had not known could even be possible for me.

I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned around to find my younger sister looking at me, concern shining in her black eyes, her dark, purple hair looking radiating in the sun.

She really does look just like her.

"Are you ready?" She asks, her voice coming out soft and sweet.

I nod my head in response, "Yes, I'm just not sure how I'm going to win," I paused, "I never was able to beat either of them in training,"

My sister just shakes her head, "Remember, we're not here to win...we're just here to get back home. The only one you have to beat is Ameonna,"

"Can you explain to me again why that is?" I ask her.

"I'm not sure I quite understand myself," She responds honestly, "I don't even know how we got here to begin with," She says, her eyes filled with sadness when she looks at me.

Then I notice her eyes start to fill with tears.

Oh no.

"Don't you dare cry," I look at her threateningly causing her to laugh.

She quickly wipes her eyes, "I won't," She says looking at me mischievously, "At least not yet," She says, then runs back in the direction of the rest of our group.

I'm glad that I'm not here alone.

"Hey!," I hear one of my friends shout from the group, her blonde hair shining in the sun, "We have to get you there fast or we won't make it in time,"

I nod my head and quickly run to her, "So what's the plan?" I ask once I'm standing next to her.

"You mean what are we going to tell the announcers?" She asks me.

I nod in response.

"Good question," She says, looking at me.

"Are you serious?!" I ask her in shock, "Do you really think they're just going to let us participate?"

"Why wouldn't they?" My friends asks, her eyebrows knitted in confusion, "They let Raven Tail and Phantom Lord participate so why not us? It's not like we tried to terminate Fairy Tail and wreck a town, or that we broke the rules in the Grand Magic Games as well as tried to terminate Fairy Tail. We just showed up," She says, looking at me.

"We just 'showed up'?" I say, using my hands as air quotations, "You and I both know that's not true. We were messing with magic that shouldn't been messed with and now look where that's gotten us," I say, gesturing to the area around us.

"Yah," My friend responds, "It's gotten us into one huge mess," She says, then looks at me and smirks, "Our parents are totally gonna kill us aren't they?"

I let out a bitter laugh, "Not if the people do it here first,"

My friend suddenly stops in her tracks and looks at me with a sad smile, "We messed up a bit too much this time didn't we?"

I look at her as her long floor-length coat hanging of her shoulders blows in the wind, "Yes, we did,"

My friend suddenly shakes her head.

"Well it's too late to go back now," She says then starts walking again, "So you know what you have to do right?"

I nod my head, "Beat Ameonna to make sure we stay in the games, but at the same time provide minimal protection to Juvia,"

"That's right," My friend says and once more turns her head towards mine, "This is quite a challenge we've set up for ourselves isn't it?"

"That it is," I respond, "I can't wait to see everyone's reactions though," I say, smiling at the thought.

"That might just make this whole mess worth it," My friend agrees, a small smile gracing her face as well.

She's not one to smile is she?...She's just like her father.

"Oi!" Someone suddenly shouts, startling us, "Are you two going to keep reminiscing or you going to come?"

We both turn to see Ali looking at us irritated, "We're going to have run at this point to get there on time,"

My friend just looks at Ali, a smirk creeping on her face, "What? You afraid you can't keep up Ali," She mocks.

A smirk, one much like my friends, shows on Ali's face, "Oh I've been waitin all day to hear those words Lexi. Bring it,"

"You're on," She responds, and then they're off.

Stupid Slayers!

I quickly start to run after them.

You would think they would take the one who's participating with them.

Hopefully the others are already there.

Juvia

I watched as all the people quickly made their way back to their seats.

There's so many...I mustn't fail in front of them; not with Gray-sama watching!

Suddenly I felt a hand on my shoulder and turned to see Gray-sama.

"The announcers just postponed the round for another 5 minutes, apparently something popped up," Gray-sama said, then paused.

"Gray?" I ask, my voice urging him to continue.

I wonder what's wrong.

"Apparently there's going to be a third contender in your round," Gray-sama says, looking at me, concern glinting in his eyes.

I understand his concern, even though I told him I was fine, I'm really not. The only one who I voiced these thoughts to were Gray.

"Who is it?" I asked, my voice coming out worried.

"That's why the announcers are postponing the round, " Gray says, his eyes zoning in on mine, "They want you and Ameonna to meet her,"

"The person is a her?" I ask.

Gray nods in response, "And based off what I've been told, she's pretty strong." He says, then turns to me, "But you're strong...than both of them," He says looking at me.

"You think Juvia is strong?" I ask, my words coming out in third person out of habit.

Gray looks at me and smiles, "I wouldn't do this if I did," He says, then he leans in.

And then I feel a soft presence on my cheek.

Did he just kiss my cheek?!

Immediately I feel my cheeks turn red.

"G-Gray-sama?" I ask, seeing as I still feel his warm breath fanning my face.

"Don't freak out too much about this, ok?" He says, smirking at me as he pulls away.

He knows the affect he has on me and he's using it unfairly!

"Let's go meet this girl shall we?" He asks, holding his hand out for me.

"You're coming with Juvia?" I ask, still in a daze from the kiss.

"You know I wouldn't leave you alone unless I had to," Gray says, his eyes serious and tinted with...sadness?

He's not just talking about now.

I let out as sigh and take his hand holding it close, "I know," I respond softly, looking into his eyes.

I hear him whisper something under his breath but, not being a dragon slayer, I couldn't hear him.

I wonder what he said...

Ameonna

"Are you ready? "Rakurai asks, holding my arm in his.

"You know I am," I respond, my voice level.

"Even though you know they're here?" Rakurai asks, curiously.

"They never scared me before so why should they now?" I ask him, slightly irritated.

"Oh sweet Ameonna," Rakurai responds, shaking his head while smiling, "I never meant scared, I meant what you feel inside...they were your guildmates," He says looking at me.

I stop in my path and look at him, eyes blazing, "They meant nothing to me and you know it,"

Rakurai lets out a chuckle, "Just making sure you're not having second thoughts," He says, the looks at me seriously as we begin walking again, "You remember what you're supposed to do?"

"Take out Juvia as discreetly as I can," I say, repeating the words that I have been told for the past week.

Rakurai nods, "Exactly, and this is the perfect place to start," He says, "Your job is to take out Juvia throughout the Grand Magic Games, not in one blow...you don't want to get us disqualified or the whole plan will go to ashes,"

I smile a little at the double meaning, "Don't worry, Juvia Lockser will be gone before this whole thing is over," I say, "And Sylvia will be fast behind her," I say, spitting out her name.

You won't get away this time Sylvia, I'll make you regret ever being born. Then I'll go for that stupid sister of yours afterwards.

A:N

Hey My Lil Donuts!

I'm so sorry for not updating!

Who's enjoying the new anime season so far!?

I LOVE it so much! It's so good!

Anyone reading the 100 year quest?

Anyway!

Thoughts on this chapter?

Am I only the one who's fangirling about Gruvia as well as Juvia evolving into first person or am I just weird?

I wanted the kiss between Juvia and Gray to be simple and quick but I wanted it to be memorable.

What did y'all think?

Any guesses are who are unknown characters are?

I've been trying to drop a lot of hints!

Any thoughts on Ameonna and her story?

Leave your thoughts in the comments!

Thanks for Reading!

Buh-Bye My Lil Donuts!

-Rissa