"She is so stubborn; her heart has an argument with her head every time it wants to beat"
"Get the hell up!"
"No!"
I snarled my fingers around the blanket that covered my body; a bastard at the end of the bed tried to yank them off. I kicked out, and he swore, and the blankets shot up over my head, covering the light. Everyone in the room knew better than to interrupt my sleep. Doing so would be an unforgivable offense. The idiot trying to yank my covers off obviously didn't realize this.
I cursed, and with a great tug I felt the blanket being ripped from my vice-like grip. I was exposed, clad in little more than a tank top and shorts, and a great shiver tore through my body as a wave of cold air hit my bare legs.
I grabbed the nearest object – a pillow – and hurled it as hard as I could at my assailant. A smirk crossed my face when I saw it smack him, and reluctantly I rose from my now empty mattress.
"You're a real jerk you know that?" I announced, a wretched expression on my face as I glared at Laxus. He returned the look.
"So are you. Now hurry up, you're going to make us all late."
"Since when were you such a morning person?" I retorted and kneeled over to extract my bag from underneath the bed.
Laxus scoffed. "I'm not. But, unlike you, I can actually wake up on time for something as important as the Grand Magic Games."
I snatched my clothes up from my bag, and returned my attention to the dragon slayer in front of me. "Guess we can't all be as magnificent as you, can we Dreyar?" His jaw tightened in anger at my comment, and I bounced up from my mattress, striding past a fuming Laxus and into the restroom.
Freshening up was easy, and I did so very quickly. Just not quick enough for some.
"Hurry up Xandria!"
Cana's voice boomed from the other side of the door as I scrambled to pull on a pair of thigh-high stockings, a sweeping purple cloak, and black thigh high boots that had been provided for me by my Grand Magic Games Head of the Style Department. And by that I meant Evergreen.
The clothes were a pain, especially when it came to fastening the two belts that encircled my middle, one round my hips and one right underneath my breasts. The boots were a hassle too, though thankfully I'd won the battle as to whether we'd get heels on them or not (we didn't—take that Evergreen).
I glanced in the mirror. The effect was formidable, but was it really worth it? Sure I could look intimidating, but at what cost? I would've rather been in sweatpants and a baggy T-shirt. I pulled on a pair of fingerless gloves and chuckled. There was another pounding on the door. I ignored it. With a great huff of air I gathered my hair into a high ponytail on my head.
Another bang on the door, and a shout, "Alexandria I swear!"
"I'm coming, I'm coming." I rolled my eyes and burst out of the bathroom. Laxus blinked at me, and for a moment I thought I might've seen his cheeks redden a little. I shrugged, he was probably just angry.
A wolf whistle came from my left, and I turned to see Cana smirking at me. "You look hot," she said, and I grinned at her. Laxus cleared his throat.
"We need to go, now." Laxus' beefy hand was around my arm, yanking me towards the open door. I made an odd noise of protest as he jerked me forward, but all he did was shoot me a confused look before continuing to drag me down the hall. I yanked my arm from his grip.
"Watch the merchandise," I blurted, and he frowned as I brushed past him.
It was 10:57 when we finally made it to the eleven o'clock check-in. Laxus was furious; I was facetious. The coordinators shot us disdainful glances as they directed us towards the passageway we'd be entering from once 'Fairy Tail Team B' was announced at the preliminaries.
We were ushered into a large stone passageway on the ground floor of the stadium, the woman who had led us there squawking about entering on cue. I ignored her, and walked towards the entrance, trying my hardest to hear what the announcers were going on about.
Realization dawned over my features. "Everyone! Listen, they've started," Cana blurted, waving a wild arm to beckon her teammates.
"Starting with the eighth-ranked team! Can they recapture their past glory? The group whose name clashes with their rowdiness; Fairy Tail!"
My face fell.
"They're in eighth?" Laxus echoed. I stole a glance behind me. Everyone except for Gajeel and Jellal had utter dejection written across their features. Gajeel was grinning; I couldn't see what exactly Jellal was doing.
"Fairy Tail has come in last place every year, but they survived the elimination round, though even in that they were eighth place. Will the Tenrou Island bunch that created a sensation with their homecoming now become Fiore's number one?"
I shrugged. "At least they made it."
"The more points we have the better. I'm just looking forward to ordering Natsu around for a day," said Laxus. The thought of bossing around Erza for a day danced across my vision. What a wonderful idea.
The announcer droned on, "Alright! Let's move on to the team that finished seventh, the hounds of hell, Quatro Cerberus!" I didn't recognize the name, and my teammates didn't show any interest. "In sixth-place, the all-female guild, the dancing girls of the great deep, Mermaid Heel!"
I cocked my head. "There's an all-female guild?"
"Yes, and they're quite a strong one too. I doubt they could beat us, but they're nothing to be laughed at."
"In fifth place are the bright blue wings in pitch dark, Blue Pegasus!" The descriptions were getting a bit dramatic; the announcer certainly had a flair for the flamboyant. "Continuing with fourth place! The goddess of love and war, the holy destroyer, Lamia Scale!"
"We're almost up," Juvia blurted.
"Next up, finishing third in the elimination round…" There was an audible gasp from the commentator, and I leaned forward as he resumed speaking, "Oh my! This comes as a surprise!" My interest was piqued. "The first appearance of the guild, and in third place! The midnight mobile force, Raven Tail!"
From his place beside me, Laxus swore. Loudly.
"Fuck."
My brows lifted, and I turned to him with what might have been concern. "What is it?"
"They can't be participating… They can't. Raven Tail is a dark guild – the one my father made in an attempt to destroy Fairy Tail." He explained, more to himself than me.
"You're serious?"
"Do I look like I'm kidding?"
"Why would they let a dark guild into the Grand Magic Games?" I inquired. "I thought the rules were very strict."
"They are, but I don't doubt that Ivan was able to weasel his way in anyway." Laxus paused and added, "He's always been good at lying and cheating."
I opened my mouth to say something, but the chatter of the announcer cut me off.
"There are still two more teams that made it through the elimination round!" A loudspeaker crowed.
Gajeel darted in front of me. "That's us!" I feel in stride behind the iron man, and Laxus appeared at my side, followed by Juvia and Jellal at my other.
The speaker crackled. "The second place finisher—" The announcer gasped in delight. "Ooh this is a shocker! Will they become the soaring key with tattered wings?"
Laxus caught my eyes, and I fixed him with a quizzical look. "The soaring key with tattered wings?" I mouthed, and he shrugged. Gajeel shot me a derisive glare.
"The unbelievable, the improbable…"
"Get a move on!" Gajeel barked. I increased my pace, and all too soon my teammates and I were vomited out onto the field.
The announcer bellowed, "Fairy Tail B Team!"
A collective gasp was issued as we marched onward. Everyone in the stands stared with gaping mouths, everyone on the field stared with mocking derision. On a whim, Laxus drew up a display of lightning around us, throwing magnificent sparks in the direction of the crowd. I lifted my chin. We pressed onward.
When one is placed in a situation as joyous and magnificent as the Grand Magic Games, directly in the center of the festivities and eyed by the entire crowd, it is hard not to smile. I found myself doing exactly that, and I beamed at the entire stadium with an expression of unmitigated elation covering my face. I didn't want to—the expression was the opposite of formidable—but I didn't mind; Juvia was beaming too. Even Laxus had a smile on his face. He turned to me and reached out for my hand, and I let him. Laxus lifted our linked arms above our heads, and my grin grew even broader.
Within seconds we'd reached the center and were greeted with abundant shock from the A team.
Natsu was the first to speak, "And what's Mystogan doing there?!" His tone was one of unbridled shock. Feral.
Erza mimicked his expression, "Don't tell me, you're Jellal?"
"Relax," Laxus interjected. "He's on our side."
There was a moment of charged silence, in which Erza and Jellal stood staring one another down. I rolled my eyes and stepped in between them.
"You can have your reunion later," I blurted, causing both stares to snap up to me. "We've got more things to worry about now."
Juvia nodded. "Yes. Like winning the Games."
"Oh give me a break! Winning the games?" Natsu exclaimed. "We may be in the same guild, but I go all out in a showdown and show no mercy! You guys are competing as another team, so you're the enemy! I ain't gonna lose to you bastards!"
Gajeel cackled. "You're in eighth place. I don't think we're the ones who need to worry about losing." The two of them burst into a spiel of snide remarks, and I turned away, my attention falling upon a young blond woman. Lucy stood several feet away, a smile on her face and a twinkle in her eye. She caught my eye as I looked upon her.
My lips lifted. "It's good to see you again."
"I could say the same to you."
"I missed you," I said, and she returned my grin with one of her own.
"It is rather strange not having someone around to annoy me all day," remarked Lucy. We both laughed.
Another crackle ripped across the stadium, and I turned my attention to the announcer in his booth. He was smiling like a madman.
"Alright, we've just got one more team left to introduce!" he bellowed. The crowd cheered as he spoke; their favorites were coming. "That's right, you already know who it is! They're the strongest, invincible, indisputable champions! Sabertooth!"
Five mages entered the arena, each one remarkably attractive. A woman slunk behind four men, her eyes heavily lidded and her lips painted with a smirk. Minerva Orland. Daughter of the Guild master. I cocked my head thoughtfully and observed her. Of the many articles I'd read regarding Sabertooth, Minerva had received honorable mention. She was one of the most talented, if not the most talented mage in her guild. Second only to a young pair of men – the twin dragons.
Sting and Rogue were the favorites of women all across the country. Poster boys and sex icons. It was obvious why. Both were handsome to the point of unfairness, and regardless of their looks they were two of the strongest mages in Fiore. Either would make a formidable opponent.
The first dragon, Sting, started babbling away to Rogue. His blond head of hair bounced up and down as he spoke, the spikes shooting through the air like lightning bolts. I could just make out his face from where I stood. The shock of blond hair, the cold, confident eyes. He even had a scar – just above his right eye.
My grin broadened and I turned to punch Laxus in the arm.
"Hey, what the hell?"
"Look!" I made a frantic motion to Sting. "Do you see that guy over there?"
"Which one?"
"The blond."
"What about him?"
"He looks like you."
Laxus scowled down at me, "He does not."
"He's got your eyes, your hair, and your fashion sense," I blurted. "Look at the fur vest – and the scar above his-"
"My fashion sense?" Laxus echoed in a tone that suggested he was deeply offended. "I dress with class and style. This guy's hardly even covering his chest, and he's wearing – wait are those capris?"
Laxus' extraordinary aptitude for fashion would never cease to amaze me.
"Alright maybe he doesn't have your chin, and your cheekbones are definitely more pronounced…"
"We hardly look anything alike," Laxus retorted, and my jaw dropped as I observed Sting.
"Oh my God!"
"What? What is it?"
I turned to Laxus, my eyes alit. "He's got Natsu's face and frame. You know, if you and Natsu were to have a baby it would be him!"
Laxus stared at me with unabashed horror. "What the hell is wrong with you?"
Our conversation was cut short by the announcer.
"Okay everyone, you've waited long enough. I'm going to announce the program of the Grand Magic Games!"
A gargantuan stone slab rose front the center of the stadium, words etched into its front. I read over it, taking in the events for the next five days, which were yet to be revealed to us. Every day an unnamed competition and a battle were scheduled to take place. The events were marked with placeholders. I placed a thoughtful finger to my lips, observing.
The announcer yet again chimed in. He explained the rankings, the rules, the competitions, and the battles – fan votes would play a large role in choosing who would fight whom. I wondered who I'd compete against if I were to be placed in a battle.
Something was shouted about our first event of the day, and I started as the word 'Hidden' scratched itself against the stone tablet that towered before me. One person from each team would be competing, the announcer said. The rules would be explained once each representative was on the field.
Mages stepped forward from each team, and the announcer called out their names. I didn't notice anyone remarkable – the only one who really stood out was the mage from Sabertooth that looked like Freed.
Gray was called from Team A, and Juvia nearly had a fit.
"If Gray is going to be in it, then so is Juvia!" She blurted, and I blanched. No one else seemed terribly happy about the idea either. Gajeel attempted to snatch her back and go in her place, but she was too far gone. "I'm coming my love!"
Her name had been bellowed over the loudspeaker before any of us had a chance to protest.
The rules were called out, and the game commenced.
Our worst fears were confirmed; Juvia lost it once she was flung into the arena. Doppelgangers of the assorted players ran about, with no short supply of Grays everywhere. Juvia clung to first one she laid eyes on. She lost a point before she even had the opportunity to claim any.
Laxus was the only one who spoke, "If I knew it'd be like this, I would've done it."
The rest of the match dragged on, each second just as shameful as the first. The moment she finally managed to control her Gray-centered impulses, she was savagely attacked by the Sabertooth mage, a talented man named Rufus.
Fairy Tail Team B dropped from second to seventh place. I was mortified.
Juvia shuffled her feet as she made her way to our viewing box, sulking in with unmitigated embarrassment. Her cheeks were a flaming shade of red, a color I'd rarely, if ever, seen on the water mage before. I wished to offer a reassuring smile, but neither my lips, nor my will would cooperate. My features were impassive and cold, and I had no choice but to turn my gaze once again forward. No one said a word about Juvia's arrival, and no one said a word when she left. There wasn't much to say.
The day surged onward, and the single battle before lunch began commenced.
"The first match of the day!" The announcer bellowed. "From Fairy Tail A, Lucy Heartfilia versus, Flare Corona from Raven Tail!"
I shouted a cheer as the celestial spirit mage made her way to the field with an almost sheepish expression. My teammates did the same.
However, Gajeel did express some doubt; it was to be expected. "Do you think she can win?"
My response was automatic, "Of course she can." He quirked a brow and I grinned. "Lucy's a strong mage. Maybe she lacks in physical strength, but the bond she has with her spirits and her magical capacity certainly makes up for that. Besides, have you even seen the spirits she has? Ten of the golden gate keys. I don't see how she couldn't win."
"You really think so?" Laxus rubbed a hand over his chin, obviously deep in thought.
"I know so."
Unfortunately, though, it would seem as though I was wrong.
A/N: I know. I know. Terrible. I wish it would've turned out better, but honestly, I didn't see any way around it. Chapter 23 is a little bit like this too (although not as bad). Bland. Underwhelming. But occasionally you just have to suck it up and write filler chapters. So I did. BUT, the good news is that chapter 24, 25, 26, and 27 were all WAY more eventful and a joy to write. So you've got something wonderful to look forward to *wink wonk*