Chapter 12: Day 1- A Shaky Start

Riku considered the exterior of Bar Sun, an average two storied building made mostly of wood just off the common path. From his spot he could see four windows on the top floor and two on the bottom floor, each one carved with elaborate decorations. Carved Suns were balanced next to the sign.

What are you waiting for, Ultear's voice asked next to Riku's ear.

Riku jumped at the sound, looking around wildly to find that no one was behind him.

Calm down, Ultear said and Riku could almost hear laughter in her tone, we're not there. We've found a safe place. A bird's eye view. This is just the way we communicate.

"You could have warned me," Riku snapped, making a lone passerby pick up his pace to get away from the man talking to himself.

You don't have to talk aloud, I'm connected to your intentional thoughts right now, Ultear explained. Now he was sure she was laughing. If you need to communicate with us, simply think of us and what you want us to hear. Then we'll hear you.

Oh, that's all? Pardon me for misunderstanding such a common occurrence, Riku replied sarcastically. He pushed the door open and moved inside. Inside the bar had multiple lacrima covering the walls allowing almost any seat to get a perfect view of the games starting in the arena across town. Cana was positioned at the end of the bar and as he approached she turned, pint in hand, the other waved enthusiastically.

"You started without me, huh," he observed as she threw an arm around his shoulders and pushed him down to the stool next to her.

"Just a little early," she said. "I've still got plenty of time!"

Riku wasn't exactly sure what that meant, but decided it was best to ignore it rather than asking a drunk to explain themselves. He waved to the bartender, who brought over a pint as well.

"What did I miss," Riku asked taking a sip.

"Well, not much, it's a slow start," Cana admitted. "Let's see, they introduced the judges. Now they're introducing the teams."

"In eighth place, Team Fairy Tail," the announcer boomed. Riku was impressed by the quality of audio in the bar. It sounded as if they were right in the arena, rather than sitting in a bar. He could even hear the booing clearly. Oh wait, he looked around the bar. That booing was in the bar.

"Who do they think they are," Cana began, turning in her stool as if to stand. "I'll change those boos to boo-hoos."

Riku put his hand on Cana's shoulder, pushing her back down before she could take a step. Another drink appeared for them both and he gave her a sideways glance. "It's too early for a brawl."

Cana took a swig and grinned crookedly at Riku. "It'as never too early for a drink or a brawl, Riku. Never!"

Riku rolled his eyes back to the screen as the other teams were introduced. Team Quatro Cerbus, the all female-guild Team Mermaid Heel, Team Blue Pegasus, and Team Lamia Scale.

"Look at Gray," Cana snorted as the camera panned across the teams to show Gray and the white haired mage from Lamia Scale interacting. Riku couldn't tell what was being said, but whatever it was certainly had Gray riled up.

"As long a she stays clothed," Riku joked. "There are children watching."

"Let them see," Cana replied taking a sip. She nearly spit it out when she spotted the next team was Team Raven Tail. "That's not good. That's a dark guild, Laxus told me about it."

"Laxus told you," Riku asked skeptically.

"Laxus and I talk," Cana replied. "People like me, Riku, I find stuff out. I'm very likeable."

"Right," agreed Riku taking a sip of his own. Now it was his turn to spit it out, but his resulted in a coughing fit afterward. Cana beat him on the back with more force than she needed to, but he recovered any way. He double checked the screen.

Yup, there it was: the most impossible image. Not only was there a second fairy tail team (Team Fairy Tail B), but it was made up of Laxus, Mirajane, Gajeel, Juvia, and...Mystogan?

"What the-" Riku began but he felt Cana's sharp elbow hit his rib, silence him.

"We both know what you're thinking, but let's not address it right now," Cana said suddenly very sober in her tone as Team Sabertooth was announced.

Riku nodded, finishing his drink and getting them another round. "I'll be back, don't finish these without me," Riku told Cana. He headed towards the restroom, thinking furiously. Ultear, was anyone going to tell me that Jellal would be starring at Mystogan? Or were you hoping I'd just shit myself to death in surprise.

That's a disgusting phrase, replied Ultear.

This is my fault, Riku, came Jellal's voice in Riku's ear. I approached Makarov about the issue and he agreed. This way we have eyes from above, eyes in the town, and eyes in the arena. I didn't have time to warn you. I'm sorry. I know he was your partner.

More like my brother, Riku considered before he could stop himself. He hoped they hadn't heard that. Just don't ruin his reputation, you idiot, Riku thought.

Understood.

Hey, Jellal, Meredy's voice appeared in Riku's ear. Have you picked up anything in the arena so far?

No, Jellal said. Erza doesn't like the look of Raven Tail. They can't be the source as the Magic since we've felt it in the past and this is their first year. Still, I think we should keep an eye on them, I'm sure all of Fairy Tail is anyway. They think that Raven Tail attacked Wendy and Carla.

I agree, Ultear said. I'm not feeling Zeref's energy from any of the teams, though it could be hidden for now. Stay safe.

When Riku returned to his seat, the first challenge had begun and the contestants were in a city with copies of themselves all around.

"It's a game of hide & seek," Cana slurred. "The rules are that each member finds their opponents and hits them, but nobody knows where the others are. Whoever launches an attack first gains one point and the one who is hit loses one point. Attacking a clone will result in a one point deduction. Gray & Juvia are representing Fairy Tail."

"Who thinks of this," Riku asked rolling his eyes.

Cana made a sound of agreement as she took a swig, eyes never leaving the lacrima as Nullpudding of Raven Tail went after Gray for a second time. "What's his deal," she hiccuped angrily. "There's plenty of other opponents!"

Behind them another drunk seemed to think Cana's question was for him. He called back " Probably weeding out the weakest first!"

Riku saw Cana finish her drink, eyes narrowing. They darted to Riku, who shook his head. Cana slammed her empty pint down on the bar and ignored the heckler.

The peace lasted for a very short time. As Sabertooth's mage won the game, putting both Fairy Tail teams in last place, Riku could hear the boos in the arena. The drunk tried his luck again.

"I toldya," he said swaggering over and leaning on the bar. "How'd they even make it in? They're all pathetic! They might as well-"

Riku managed to grab Cana after her first punch, though it was the only punch the drunk needed before falling over backward onto the floor, knocking a table over as he went. Riku threw some jewel on the table and pulled Cana out of the bar before they got into trouble. Cana was unconcerned.

"Pub crawl," she cheered throwing her hands in the air, simultaneously smacking Riku in the nose and wiggling free from his grip. "I've got the perfect spot!"

Turns out, the next bar, the midsummer Eve Bar, was not the perfect spot. They watched the battle segment between Lucy & Flare, which started off well enough. Lucy performing multiple summonings and combining Scorpio & Taurus' attacks. Flare used her hair's magic to burn Lucy, but even then Lucy didn't stay down and she used Cancer to cut the hair. Riku was impressed.

Then it changed and Flare took the lead. Lucy wasn't even trying to fight back. Cana was practically standing on her stool, yelling at the lacrima, "that's excessive! What's she trying to do? It's torture at this point? Lucy, get her! I'll kill her and that whole Rave Tail Team!"

Riku frowned, thinking Jellal, you're still not picking up anything from Raven Tail?

No, Jellal replied. Nothing but bad sportsmanship.

At the end of the fight, Lucy summoned Gemini, who transformed into a second Lucy. With an incantation, the arena filled with 88 constellations, all coming down as spheres. Lucy seemed to aim and release, but nothing happened. The sky cleared. Lucy fell to her knees and then to the ground. Flare was declared the victor and Cana let loose so many swear words that Riku thought maybe he should take note of the most creative ones. Instead, he joined Cana in punching the next two drunks who approached them calling Lucy weak. They quickly made their retreat to the third bar, Cana wiping a bit of blood from her fist, glaring down every innocent bystander they passed.

The next few battles helped Cana cheer up a bit and that allowed them to leave the next few pubs by choice, rather than in escape. Ren of Blue Pegasus beat Arana Webb of Mermaid Heel. Then Orga Nanagear of Sabertooth defeated Warcry from Quatro Cerberus. The final match was between Jellal and Jura of Lamia Scale. Riku gritted his fist as Jellal moved from Mystogan's power into his own until he fell down laughing and sweating.

I said DON'T embarrass him, Jellal, snapped Riku. No one replied to him, but he knew they had heard him.

...

"Humiliating," Cana declared staggering as they left the bar. "Embarrassing! I can't wait to tell them what I think of that performance!"

Cana swaggered a big too far to the right and ran into a a slim woman with long, straight black hair falling to the middle of her back held in place by a white headband with a white ribbon tied at the middle in a bow, pointing straight up. She had an elaborate blazer with gold lining and a large collar.

"Sorry," slurred Cana. "Oh hey, you're on Team Maiden Wheel, huh?"

"Mermaid Heel," Riku corrected. Cana shrugged and continued on her way back to the Sun Bar to meet the rest of the guild.

"Sorry about my friend there," he added.

"No need to apologize to us, silly," said one of the girls. "Say, Kagura, do you know who this is?"

The black haired girl turned back to look Riku over more closely, saying nothing.

"It's Riku, who I told you about," the speaker pulled off her hood to reveal Millianna from all those years ago.

"Riku," Kagura said moving her eyes over Riku again. She gave him a very small bow. "Thank you for your help in defending Milianna and trying to save my brother."

"You're brother..." Riku began, but then he saw it in her eyes. "...was Simon? I'm sorry."

Kagura said nothing, simply moved her head in a small affirming nod. "You did all you could, according to Milianna. That's all we can ask in the face of such evil. I will complete what you and my brother could not." Her hand moved ever so slightly, almost unnoticeable, but Riku saw. In her hand was a sword, bandaged and sealed.

"You're saving that for Zeref then," Riku asked.

"Not Zeref," Milianna mewed. "Jellal!"

Riku used all his focus to keep his face unreadable. "Of course," he said. "Well, good to meet you and to see you, Milianna. I'd better get back to my drunken friend."

Instead of finding Cana, he continued his walk pondering the games and what had been said. There seemed to be lots of pieces in play- not just in the games but around it as well. Raven Tail was one thing, but Ultear said they hadn't sensed the ominous power yet, and now there was this Kagura wanting to kill Jellal? He couldn't blame her too much. He remembered how Simon had talked about his little sister. The affection was obvious. And yet, to lose Jellal like that? Erza wouldn't like that at all. She'd just gotten back her old friend and friendship to Erza was not something to trifle with.

He paused to look around him, finding that he had once again made his way to the castle. This time he was on the opposite side. He peered up at the turrets, a few lights on, but many darkened. A shiver ran down Riku's spine. He didn't like this place at all, but he couldn't completely explain why...

Thanks for reading! Day 2 is coming up next! Don't forget to review!