"demon's/ dragon's/ 'someone speaking trough a microphone' speech"

"normal speech"

'demon's/ dragon's thoughts'

'normal thoughts'

Chapter 53:

"Has anyone seen Wendy?" Erza asked as she looked around their room in Honeybone Lodge. Fairy tail made its way to Crocas this morning and after exploring the Blooming Capital participates made their way to their room to wait for further instructions. They were told that the games begin at 12 o'clock and now was 11:56 pm meaning only four minutes. The apartment itself wasn't anything special. Five plain beds in bedroom that had doors that lead to small balcony and one bathroom with bathtub, shower, toilet and sink.

"No... I thought she came back by now" Lucy answered as she stepped trough the doors of the bathroom with towel on her wet hair and blue bell-shaped skirt accompanied by white button-up short-sleeved shirt.

"It's almost 12 o'clock" Mira said sounding worried as she looked at the clock that stood above the doors. "I hope nothing happened to her"

"She probably got lost in the town" Ultear said as she turned to the doors saying "I'll go and look for her"

"We'll go with you" Happy and Annie said as they rushed after Ultear who closed the doors once the three exited the apartment.

Others nodded as Ultear walked out of the room leaving Gray, Lucy, Mira, Erza and Gajeel to wait.

"I wonder what's their plan" Gajeel commented as he looked out of the window.

"We'll find out soon enough" Erza stated and not even a second after she said that the clock struck midnight and a loud bell rang trough entire city. A second later a high-pitched, squeaky voice rang trough the city.

"To all the guilds here for the Grand Magic Tournament, GOOD MORNING!"

Five participates shared a look before they rushed toward the balcony. What they saw was not what they expected. A giant hologram of pumpkin with mouth and eyes appeared in the sky.

"In order to narrow down the competing teams from 113 to eight we're now..." The pumpkin-head started again in that annoying voice "Starting a PRELIMINARY EVENT!"

"A preliminary event?!" Gray asked shocked.

"No one said anything about that!" Erza yelled angrily as she slammed her fist on the railings.

Every guild in Crocus was shocked.

Lucy turned to look at Mira and was surprised to see her as shocked as them "They didn't have any Preliminary Event last year... any year actually" she said

'113 guilds? That's too many guilds for Fiore...' Lucy thought with a frown.

"Each year, the number of competing guilds keeps growing... and the events became a little predictable, so we made some changes." Pumpkin-head continued. "This year there will be only 8 competing teams for the official events."

"The preliminary rules are simple!"

As he said that the ground started shaking and others looked shocked around them as the earth started moving away from them. It took them only few seconds to realize that it wasn't the earth that was moving. It was them! The whole lodge was rising up in the air!

"Look! It's not just us!" Mira yelled as she tried to look around without falling flat on her face or over the railings of the small balcony. Others shakily looked around confirming what Mira said. Other lodges were also rising in the air. After few shaky minutes they stopped moving and they stood up again looking below toward far ground.

"What the-" Gajeel started but stopped as a path started to worm in front of them and a hole in the railings of the balcony appeared forming some sort of passage for them to probably use the path..

"Are we supposed to fallow that path?" Erza asked voicing their thoughts as she eyed the forming path and the giant structure that was forming in the distance.

"All five members of the team must be present once you made your way to the goal that is in this case official event grounds, Domus frau. The first 8 guilds that make their way to the goal will proceed to the finals." The pumpkin stated and then added with odd glint in his small eyes.

"We take no responsibility for anyone who loses their lives in the labyrinth"

"Labyrinth?!" The five shouted in union and as the Pumpkin-head disappeared they realized that the giant structure that was forming in the distance was in fact a labyrinth. The giant sphere-shaped labyrinth was shining in the night calling them inside.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I present you THE SKY LABYRINTH! THE GREAT MAGIC TOURNAMENT HAS STARTED!"

As the teams rushed in the Labyrinth they were fallowed by loud cheering that came form the streets as people who came to watch the tournament went to the streets or balconies of their hotels and apartments.

"How are we going to find a way out of here?!" Gajeel asked as they entered the labyrinth. Looking around Mira said "I... have no idea"

Her four teammates who expected to hear something smart couldn't help but face-palm. Though with only one look it was really obvious that it would be nearly impossible to find an exit. You weren't really sure which way was up and which way was down, not to mention sides of the world. There were ladders leading down toward a hole that went god only knows where. There were stairs turned upside down. Holes in the wall with fake background. Whole place looked like someone spilled some messed up Lego-blocks inside.

"We should head east. The event grounds are east" Erza said but before she could say anything else Lucy squealed in delight as she took out one of her keys saying "Then it's time for me to do something useful"

"Open! the door of the compass pedestal! Pyxis!"

Those words were fallowed by a sound of a bell and golden light as a bird similar to a penguin but red in color with compass on its head appeared. The needle in his compass started spinning immediately and Pyxis and Lucy pointed in one direction suddenly with Lucy exclaiming "The east is this way!"

"That's really impressive Lucy but we brought compass" Erza said not sounding impressed in the sightless.

A dark rainy cloud appeared above Lucy's and Pyxis' head as they sulked in the corner near one of those suspicious 'windows'.

Few moment later the five teammates were slowly making their way trough the labyrinth jumping from flying blocks that formed a path.

"You know we should make a mark where we go by" Lucy said as she almost slipped on the last block only to be caught by Gray.

"So you mean we're gonna make a map" he said as he pull her up.

Erza suddenly stopped walking making other looked at her confused as they stopped beside her

"There's someone down there" Erza said in hushed voice as she nodded with her head toward what obviously were five people.

"Twilight ogre?" Mira asked somewhat surprised as they got a better look at them. Five members of Twilight ogre seemed to hear her since they turned their head toward them.

"M-Mira?" One of them asked.

"My, my... I never thought I'll see you around here" she said with a really creepy smile. Gray shuddered "She's spending to much time with Natsu" he whispered to Lucy who only nodded in agreement.

Mira turned her head to look over her shoulder toward her guildmates saying "This idiots came in our guild hall asking for rent"

"Rent?" Erza asked confused.

"Y-your guild hall is on our land!" The same member who seemed to be their team leader said trying to sound though.

"Which we bought from you six years ago" Mira said trough gritted teeth though her smile didn't leave her face.

"Wait?! Aren't you a guild master? You're braking the rules!" Another Ogre member asked.

"I was a guild master. Our third master came back and he retook his position, meaning I can participate" Mira said as she let a spike of her magic out. The five members of Twilight ogre took a step back.

"Wonderful... If we're lucky enough we'll see the Nightmare roaming around" one of the members said sarcastically.

"You said that right" Mira said as she was warped in golden light 'Satan soul: Hagrevan'

When the golden light disappeared Mira's hands were turned into the black wings that had three long talons on the joints (A/N Think of the wings of those prehistoric birds) , her upper body was covered with flaming red and orange feathers and over her white hair now stood something of a hood that on top had a large beak that could be lowered over her face as a helmet since it had two holes for her crystal blue eyes. The 'hood' was connected with the feathers that covered her upper body. Her lover body was cowered with tight, black leather pants leaving her stomach exposed and on her feet were red feathery, high-heeled boots.

A second later Mira was dusting her 'hands' and the five members were lying on the ground unconscious.

"What was that?" Gajeel asked once Mira returned to her normal black kimono.

"That was mine Satan soul: Hagrevan"

The four nodded not sure what else to say. Just as they were about to move on, the ground shook again as it started moving.

"What now?!" Lucy shrieked as she lost her footing. She shrieked again as she realized that she will fall all the way down to the streets.

"I got you!" Gray yelled as he caught her foot.

"Don't let me go!" Lucy cried out

"Of course I won't" Gray yelled but before he could get a good grip on something the Labyrinth gave one last spin trowing Gray as well.

"Lucy! Gray!" Mira yelled as she caught Gray by his pants only for her to fell off as well resulting in Erza stabbing a sword with one hand in the wall of the Labyrinth and with other hand catching Mira's hand.

The Labyrinth stopped spinning as the four of them continued hanging there.

"You know we need all four of you to pass this" Gajeel said as he pulled his hand that transformed into a spear out of the floor. With that he helped Erza to pull them back up.

"Are they trying to kill us?!" Lucy yelled angrily once her feet touched the ground. Gray ignored her yelling as he fixed his pants that were now barely covering his underpants. Grunting he turned around and saw something interesting on the floor next to one of Twilight ogre members that was lucky enough to stay up here.

He lifted it off the floor examining it before smiling wickedly.

"I think I found our way out" Gray said as he showed the paper to the others. Others looked at it for a second before they gained similar smile to Gray's. Lucy who was standing beside them looked at the paper and realized it was a map of the Labyrinth.

"Your eyes look creepy" she said sweating slightly as their eyes shined in red color.

"All right guys. We have a lots of work to do" Erza said as she sprinted down one trough one of the corridors.

Others nodded as they fallowed her.

Half and hour later, ten guilds beaten, eight maps taken, they made their way to the doors where that Pumkin-man form before stood though this time it was the real one.

"Congratulations" he said in that squeaky voice "You made your way to the exit"

"We're the first one to get here, right?" Erza asked smugly.

The small man scratched the back of its head(?) saying "Not quite"

"You're the eight. You barely made it"

There was silent thud as their jaws touched the ground.

"I'm getting kinda nervous" Lucy said as she stepped from foot to foot nervously while listening to the cheering outside of their entrance.

"No need to be nervous Lucy" Mira said with smile.

"Yea! Mira's right! We came here to prove that Fairy tail is still the best!" Gray said with grin as his eyes shined with determination.

"I don't really get this clothes though" Gajeel whined as he tugged his purple shirt.

"Master wanted us to wear the same color" Mira explained. She was wearing purple boots and a purple kimono that did little to hide her nicely curved body.

"And honestly, I like them" she said with smile.

"I agree with Mira" Erza said.

"What ever" Gajeel muttered.

Outside on the stadium they could hear commentator starting his speech "I'm Chapati Lola here. I'll be covering today's event"

"I have privilege to say that beside me sits Mr. Yajima. Former member of the magic council. Good to have you here Mr. Yajima"

"The pleasure is all mine" An elder voice of Yajima was heard from the speakers.

"And as for today's guest we have privilege to say hello to Miss Fiore, Jenny Realight from Blue Pegasus" Chapati said

"We're gonna win this year!" Jenny said pumping her fist in the air as some of the male population of the crowd started whistling.

With the Fairy tail team others looked at Mira with raised eyebrow "You're not Miss Fiore anymore?" Lucy asked surprised.

Mira smiled slightly as she scratched her cheek. "I didn't really have time for that after I became the master"

"Oh" was all Lucy said.

Back to the stadium- "Alright folks! The moment you all have been waiting for!"

Stadium erupted in cheers.

"This is it guys" Erza said.

"On the eight place of the Preliminary events is a guild that was once number one in Fiore. Can they reclaim their glory from the old days?" Chapati asked the crowed who in return quieted slightly.

"Ladies and gentlemen, I present to you FAIRY TAIL!"

Five members of Fairy tail team stepped out as they walked proudly toward the center of the stadium. Crowd cheered as they walked but Gajeel was able to hear some of them saying things like "Why didn't they give up already? They are worse and worse each year"

"Yea"

Growling, Gajeel turned around and glared at them. Two teenagers realized he was watching them as they stared back in shock.

"He heard us?" On of them muttered.

"Damn right I heard you" Gajeel growled under his breath so only his teammates could hear him.

"What?" Gray turned toward him.

"Those punks are badmouthing us!"

"Leave them be, Gajeel" Mira said with smile though Gajeel couldn't help but gulp as he felt the aura behind her "We'll shove them not to mess with Fairy tail"

"Right!" the other four said in union.

Up in one of the boxes reserved for guilds Fairy tail hung giant poster saying 'FAIRY TAIL-VICTORY' and their screams and cheers were probably louder then the entire stadium combined.

Mira looked toward the guild with smile, before her eyes opened in shock. Confused by her reaction her four teammates fallowed her look only for their eyes to widen as well.

Makarov, who was standing on the railings of their box look with raised eyebrow to his right only to almost fall of the railings.

"Master Mavis?!" Members in the box yelled not believing their eyes. Makarov pulled himself on the railings with some difficulty since he was still staring at young ghost not believing his eyes.

"I'm here to cheer for you" She said like it was perfectly normal for ghost to be here waving its feet happily as she sat on the railings.

"You came... to cheer?" Makarov asked slightly bewildered.

"Don't worry only those with guild insignia can see me" she replied as she waved back and fort with her legs.

"Em... That's not what I'm worried about" Makarov said with sweat-drop.

"I got bored on the island" she whined.

Before they could say anything else Chapati continued "Next... Let's welcome the 7th team in the Preliminary event... The hounds of hell's army, QUARTO CERBERUS!"

Five members of Quarto Cerberus stepped out yelling "WILD"

In the background you could hear master Goldmine yelling "Let's win this year!" from their box.

"The 6th place is a female guild... Dancers of the ocean, MERMAID HEEL"

Cheers (though male once much louder) erupted yet again.

"Coming up in the 5th place is the wings that sparkle in the dark, BLUE PEGASUS"

As crowd erupted in the cheers once again as it did after every guild was announced it wasn't hard to recognize feminine squeals that erupted in the crowd at the sight of five members (Though it was mostly directed toward Eve, Hibiki and Ren)

"The 4th place, goddess of love and war, sacred destroyers. LAMIA SCALE!"

Fife members stepped out as several gasps left the crowd.

"Isn't that Jura? One of the ten wizard saints!"

"Oh my god! It's really him!"

Lyon walked toward Fairy tail as he turned to Gray "I hope you didn't forget our agreement"

"I don't remember agreeing to that but it doesn't matter since we won't lose" Gray said with smug grin.

"And on 3rd place, what a surprise, newly formed guild made it into a top 3 on their first try. Say hello to the Midnight rider, RAVEN TAIL!"

Makarov's face twisted in anger as he leaned over the railings yelling "Who the heck agreed to this?! They are a dark guild!"

"They were but they were acknowledged as a legal guild since they exist more then seven years"

Makarov calmed down somewhat as he kept muttering something under his breath.

"We got two more teams from the Preliminary" Chapati said "On second place are... They're not the first?... You all know who this is! It's the beast! The undefeated! The ultimate king! SABERTOOTH!"

Well now this is what people call cheering. Those down on the stadium could say without hesitation that they felt the ground shaking from all the clapping, screaming, jumping, kicking and anything else you could think of doing as Sabertooth walked to the arena.

"Wait but who's the first?" Mira asked as she looked toward the lest doors.

"And now... there is only one left..." Chapati started as he looked toward his papers that stated who is the first.

Down in the arena five members stepped out as the stadium went quiet in seconds.

"Maybe this is the chance for Fairies to get their wings back and fly again?"

"I present to you FAIRY TAIL TEAM B!"

"WHAT?!" yelled five Fairy tail members that were there before. Five members of Fairy tail team B stood proud and tall. Aura around them confident. Lucy couldn't help but shudder when she saw the members.

Laxus. Wearing the black coat, black sleeveless shirt, red pants and black boots. You could almost taste the electricity he brought to the stadium.

Meredy. Wearing black, knee-length, bell-shaped skirt (much like Erza's regular one), red combat boots and red button-up sleeveless shirt with bow tied around her neck and her headphones on her head, small black wings pocking out of her pink hair. She hoped from foot to foot happily.

Arthur. Wearing black shirt without left sleeve, red baggy, knee-length pants and black sandals (imagine something similar to what the cannon Natsu is wearing in the GMG). Proud smile almost splitting his face.

Jellal. Wearing black sleeveless hoodie, red baggy pants that were tucked in his black combat boots. Confidence radiating out of him.

And...

Natsu. Waring black sleeveless shirt with red markings, dark red coat over the shirt, Black baggy pants tucked in black knee-length boots. His long spiky hair tied into a pony-tail. His face was emotionless as ever as he looked at each guild member with his cold dragon-like eyes.

"We didn't know this!" Erza said turning to look at the master.

"Their uniform is better" Gajeel muttered.

"This isn't fair" Jenny huffed.

"Well... It seems many of you are confused about this new addition to the rules. Every guild was allowed to send two teams in the Preliminary. Though I think this is going to make the things harder for Fairy tail... Not easier..." Chapati said.

"Well I don't care!" Gajeel yelled attracting almost everyone's attention.

"Even if we are from the same guild I still gonna kick your ass, Souleater!" he yelled as he ran to Natsu stopping right in front of him.

"We're screwed..." Lucy muttered as she looked at the team.

"Well it could've been worse" Mira said with smile.

"How?" Lucy asked as she looked at her.

Mira put a finger on her chin thinking for few seconds before replying. "Imagine a team whit Natsu, Jellal, Ultear, let's say Gildarts and I"

Lucy paled at the mare thought of that.

"Mr. Yajima, you've been quiet for a while. Care to share your opinion on this matter?" Chapati asked.

Yajima smiled as he said "This year Fairy tail is a force to be reckoned with"

Chapati looked at him slightly confused "What do you mean by that?"

"Let's just say that few certain wizards finally decided to appear" Yajima said with mysterious smile.

Chapati looked at him still not understanding it as he said "Could you be more specific?"

"Aside form Mirajane Strauss, Jellal Fernandes and Natsu Souleater, Fairy tail core members returned" Yajima explained as he gave Fairy tail thumbs up "Great job, Fairy tail"

"How did you came to the finish first?" Lucy asked curiously. Hearing this others turned toward team B waiting for someone to answer.

"Natsu used 'Chaotic void' to get us to the main event grounds in the first few seconds of the Preliminary" Lisanna said with smile that only widened when some of the participates had to pick up their jaws from the floor.

"And who is this Natsu?" Bacchus, member of Quarto Cerberus asked as he looked over team B.

"Him" Meredy pointed happily toward the ever stoic pinkhead.

Bacchus looked at Natsu with raised eyebrow while Sting's eyes widened. A reaction his team members noticed.

"Is something wrong Sting? You know this guy?" Yukino asked looking at Natsu.

"He's the one I told you about. From that mission whit Oracion seis" Sting whispered as Yukino's eyes widened while Rogue looked him with bored look successfully hiding his own uneasiness.

"You recognized him just now?" he asked his 'brother'.

"Well his hair is a lot longer" Sting said with huff.

Rogue pulled his hair backwards and said with blank face "Look Sting. I know you don't recognize me but it's me, Rogue"

Yukino giggled while Sting went red. She wasn't sure if it was due to the anger or embarrassment. Maybe both.

"I remember you were more confident in your skills before, Sting" Rufus said as he walked to the trio.

"So that's that Natsu-guy you've been talking 'bout, eh?" Orga asked looking at Natsu who had his back faced to them as the dragon watched his guild mates arguing over something.

"Yea..." Sting muttered.

"He doesn't look so tough to me" Orga said arrogantly as he turned toward Sting who was behind him.

"Didn't you know it's not nice to talk behind someone's back" A silk baritone voice spoke behind Orga who froze.

Sabertooth slowly turned to look behind Orga only to find Natsu looking at Orga with those piercing eyes. Even though Orga was almost head higher he felt as tiny as an ant under that gaze.

"It's been a while brats" Natsu said nodding toward Sting and Rogue. Sting went red once again while Rogue narrowed his eyes.

"Where's the third?" Natsu asked looking over their team.

"You mean Minerva?" Sting asked. Natsu looked at him with blank face but Sting was sure there was this 'Duh' look in his eyes mocking him.

"She will be here later and then you'll regret calling Young Lady a brat. Remember that" Rufus said.

Natsu gave Rufus one of those wicked smile as he said "I doubt that"

"Seems like the relationship between Fairy tail and Sabertooth didn't improve much since last year" Chapati said with awkward laugh.

"Well sorry for keeping you waiting"

A giant Lacrima lit up in the sky. "This is the program of the Grand Magic Tournament"

DAY 1- HIDDEN + BATTLE

DAY 2- ? + BATTLE

DAY 3- ? + BATTLE

DAY 4- ? + TAG BATTLE

DAY 5- ?

Cheers echoed trough the stadium once again.

"Battles on the first day" Gajeel said with smirk.

"According to the Preliminary event each team has varying points according to their ranking in the Preliminary event"

1st- 10 pt

2nd- 8 pt

3rd- 6 pt

4th- 4 pt

5th- 3 pt

6th- 2 pt

7th- 1 pt

8th- 0 pt

"Ah?" Lucy exclaimed looking at the table "The games didn't even start and we're on the last place"

"For the games each team select one of their members while for the battles the participates are selected by the sponsor"

"If you win the battle your team gets ten points, if you lose you get 0 points and if its ended as a tie each team gets five points"

"Now let the first game of the tournament..." Chapati continued "'HIDDEN' START!"

"So we need to choose a member" Erza said looking around.

"I'll go first!" Gajeel said just as Gray opened his mouth.

"Right!" Erza said as she banged her fist on her chest saying "You better win!"

As the teams started discussing the matter between them the Pumpkin man from earlier walked to the center of the arena saying into the microphone he was carrying "The contestants for Hidden game please step forward"

Crowd started cheering at the sound of the new voice.

"It's finally starting" Chapati said rising the tension in the air.

"I wonder what kind of game is hidden" Yajima commented.

"Mr. Yajima, do you have any favorite players?" Chapati asked looking at the elderly man.

"Well... I guess that would be Rufus but I must say I like Natsu as well" Yajima answered and then added whispering "Though the kid scares the shit out of me sometimes"

Chapati sweat-dropped as he said "Your microphone is still on Mr. Yajima and... Natsu is not participating in Hidden"

"Really?" Yajima asked as he looked at his microphone suspiciously. Chapati though wasn't sure if the man was surprised his microphone was still on or the fact that Natsu isn't participating in the first game.

Crowd laughed at that while some of those who ignored the funny part of what the man said looked toward Natsu skeptically.

"Jenny, what about you?" Chapati asked stifling the laughter and covering it with a cough.

"Do you even need to ask? It's our incredible Eve" Jenny said as she laughed slightly.

Down in the arena eight people stood around the Pumpkin-man listening as he started explaining. All of them excitedly waiting the rules of the game.

From Fairy tail team A came Gajeel.

From Fairy tail team B came Arthur.

From Blue Pegasus came Eve.

From Mermaid heel came Beth.

From Quarto Cerberus came Jäger.

From Sabertooth came Rufus.

From Raven tail came Nullpudding.

From Lamia Scale came Lyon.

The eight competitors started speaking among each other when Arthur suddenly turned to small man asking "I've been wanting to ask... What the hell are you?"

The small man looked at Arthur surprised before answering in sing-song voice "I'm a Pumpkin... kabo"

"Err..." Arthur continued staring at it for a while before shrugging "What ever you say"

"Wait a second" Nullpudding said as he stepped forward.

"While I don't have any idea what's going to be in this game I'm sure that Fairy tail will have great advantage considering they have two members."

Arthur and Gajeel narrowed their eyes at the ugly man.

"While that may be true it is quite an achievement to have both teams pass the Preliminary-kabo" Kabo said.

"I'm fine with it" Eve said smiling at Arthur and Gajeel as Gajeel smirked in return and Arthur smiled.

"Me too" Beth said with bright smile.

"I've nothing against Fairy tail having two members in the team. My memory is telling me that having a friend in a competition like this can be... troublesome to say the least" Rufus said with smug expression.

"I don't see any problem either" Jäger said.

Nullpudding growled silently as he said "I didn't said I'm bothered by the fact... I was merely trying to point it out in case someone else wasn't comfortable with this situation."

"Now that everything is clarified... kabo" Kabo said as he turned his back to them and raising his hands in the air he shouted "FIELD OPEN!-kabo".

End of chapter 53.

Yo guys! I'm happy to say my school is finally over (for this term anyway) and that I'll finally have more time to publish *Hooray, Hooray!* .

I hope you like this chapter cause I'm currently having a nasty writer block so I've been sitting in front of my laptop for quite some time before I decided what I'm going to write.

For those who didn't notice it it's been exactly one year since I published the first chapter of this story. I'm thrilled to see how many people have fallowed, favored and reviewed it!

One big THANK YOU for reading this story so far and I hope you'll continue reading it. I would love to hear your opinion of this story so far.

For my story recommendation this time you'll hear from me The Lives Worth Saving written by cywsaphyre

And as always; pleas review and thanks for reading :)