Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail or its characters: that right belongs to Hiro do I own the rights to Xenosaga: that right belongs to Tetsuya Takahashi.

Author's Note: Time Frame: We are now at the GMG and will follow along with it according to the Manga (NOT THE ANIME) so expect changes as Chaos is replacing Lucy in the roster.

Chaos kept his face neutral as he helped Lucy push her way through the crowd of people that had gathered around a commotion. It was a surprise that Natsu had taken off towards it like a moth to a flame, curious. Something was telling him that going that way wasn't good. But, the pink-haired Slayer was impetuous and danced to his own tune. Sighing as he looked over at Lucy, who gave a low growl of annoyance as she smiled.

Crocus was definitely what he would figure a Capitol City would be like. And a part of him missed the hustle and bustle of such places since they carried their own unique energy. The past two months had been spent training out in the middle of nowhere with Team A, increasing his own repertoire of magic (ether/Anima) skills to use in battle, as well as tactics on what other mages could potentially do. And he wouldn't deny he was excited to partake in this competition against other mages from other Guilds of Fiore.

"Acnologia. You're the Dragon Slayer who couldn't defeat a dragon."

Those words rang clear across the crowd. Chaos shot a look towards Lucy, who frowned, eyes narrowing as she really began to move towards her friend and Team member. It was clear that the speaker, definitely a man, was trying to antagonize Natsu. Not that it was hard, but Chaos knew that if he went off in the middle of the Nation's Capital, the damage would be bad. But even worse, it could potentially cost Fairy Tail their right to not just participate in the Grand Magic Games... and being allowed to stay a Light Guild.

When a different man spoke up, explaining that they had killed the Dragons who had taught them their Dragon Slaying magic, Chaos bit a groan back as he began to shove people out of the way. He came to a stop after reaching the crowd's inner part, Lucy by his side as Natsu looked utterly shocked. Moving to step in before a fight could break out, Chaos was stopped by a hand grabbing him and fingers digging in painfully to his arm.

Looking over, he saw Lucy staring wide-eyed, pace pale and shaking. Knowing the open look of fear on her face, Chaos darted a look towards the trio, wondering what had triggered this response? Deciding that Lucy was more important and would probably forgive him later, Chaos cleared his throat, getting not just Natsu's attention.

"Luce?"

Glad that Natsu still put Lucy first (most of the time), Chaos gave him a worried look as small, choked, frightened whimpers escaped Lucy. It was clear that she was in a full-blown panic attack.

"Natsu, we need to go. We need to get Lucy to the inn," he said.

When Natsu stood up quickly, totally ignoring the two, he'd been ready to fight. Chaos watched the other two, noting that the Blond didn't seem to be taking Natsu, dismissing them very well. So, he moved to grab Natsu, who was now solely focused on Lucy; the dark-haired one stopped him. But that was all it took to make a strangled, panicked cry pierce the air as Chaos felt Lucy's finger pull from him as she jerked back.

It clued him in that it was the dark-haired one that triggered Lucy. However, the look of confusion crossed both of these two faces at Lucy's reaction. Her abduction wasn't well known (at least he didn't think it was) to the general public. And with the way their faces were contorting, their sense of smell was being assaulted by the fear rolling off Lucy in waves.

"Damn," Natsu muttered as he scooped Lucy into his arms. "Let's go, Chaos. Erza will kill us if we don't take care of Lucy."

Shooting a look at Natsu and nodding his head, Chaos turned, giving the duo one last look. They still looked confused while giving off that same superior air of confidence. When their eyes met his own, Chaos didn't hesitate as he smiled and let his own aura leak out a bit. The effect had them narrowing their eyes and stiffening as if readying to attack a predator in defense. With a small dip of his head, Chaos snapped his aura back to his person and walked through the crowd who had opened a path.

Lucy sat on the bed and watched in a daze as Erza lectured Natsu, Gray, Happy, and Chaos. A part of her was still trying to recall what had set her off after making it through the crowd. All she had seen was two heads, one covered in spiky blond and the other shaggy, slightly unkempt black. But when the black-haired guy lifted his head, she saw his eyes. They were crimson, and it was like she had become frozen and flooded with fear in seconds.

Giving a small shake of her head, Lucy dragged her knees up and wrapped her arms around her knees and rested her chin on them. Gajeel had red-eyes, so did a few other Guild members, so why did that guy's eyes make her freak out? Lifting her eyes, Lucy looked at the clock on the wall and noted that it was almost midnight.

"Erza, where is Wendy?" She asked, drawing Erza's attention from the guys, who looked grateful.

"I think she should be with Carle at this time," Happy piped up.

Before anyone else could speak up, the door was opened, revealing Lisanna and Elfman. Then it happened, the chime of the clock as it struck the witching hour, and a voice floated on the air, announcing a preliminary round as there were 113 teams for the Games this year.

Shifting herself, Lucy moved to the window with Natsu and Happy, as Gray complained about them not mentioning a preliminary. A soft chuckle drew her attention to the other side of Natsu, where Chaos was looking out the window into the sky, where a massive labyrinth had appeared.

"Let's do this!"

At the excitement, Erza stated that Elfman could take her spot for the prelims since Wendy wasn't there. Then Lucy stepped back as a wooden path appeared at their window. It was now a race to finish the labyrinth. Smiling her warm wishes to her team and friends, she watched as they made a mad dash up it. She knew that they'd make it past; Lucy had faith that they would.

"Should we go find Wendy?"

Turning to look at Lisanna, Lucy smiled even wider and nodded her head. It was a bit worrisome that Wendy hadn't returned. Slowly Lucy walked to Lisanna, who gave her a concerned look, but Lucy lifted her hand and clapped the Take Over Mage on the shoulder as she passed.

"Happy, come on," Lucy said, not wanting to be a burden. "We need to find Wendy and Carle. The more, the better, right Lisanna?"

"Yeah, sure," Lisanna said, her voice showing she was still concerned as Lucy heard the door to the room shut and lock behind them.

Chaos felt a rush course through him as they fought various other Mage teams. Well, more like demolish them. It was being proven that Fairy Tail members didn't do things halfway. And with each new piece of a map, his mind created a clear path to the goal. He loved puzzles and stuff like this, and it was best to let the known members of his Guild fight instead of him. Being new, an unknown had its benefits, and after letting his aura, or rather Anima, leak earlier, he was well aware that other mages had felt it. In fact, that had been part of what Erza had personally ripped into him about.

"So, got an idea?"

Flashing a toothy smile, Chaos responded to Gray's query, "Yeah, we go straight and make two lefts and one right. From there, we follow the path and should reach the goal. We are moving at a fairly decent path, so unless there are stronger Teams other than our second team out there, we should place."

The looks he was getting were appreciative. Chaos was still under no illusions of where he stood with Team Natsu, especially where Lucy was concerned. But after that day before they'd all got assigned to their teams, he had trained hard with the members of Team A, mostly Team Natsu. A few of his ether drives had impressed Natsu, who had eaten them with a Gusto, especially Lunar's Wheel. And more-so when Natsu somehow converted his Anima to improve the strength of his own Fire Based attacks.

The mad dash had begun, and any Teams that got in their way were literally being tossed out of the way. Memories floated up from the depths of his mind at similar actions by his friends in the past. And letting himself go, Chaos grabbed one of the mages, and judo flipped him while laughing. He could say that the group's energy levels were infectious to an extreme as he made sure they turned where they needed to until the path opened to a clearing.

"Congratulations on completing the Preliminary event!"

Chaos blinked as his mind recognized the voice that made the announcement, to begin with. But seeing the short, pumpkin head, the cape-wearing person before them had Chaos blink.

"So, we got first place, right?" Natsu asked.

The pumpkin-headed man tilted his head before announcing that they barely made eighth place. The shocked look on the rest of the group's face made Chaos look away to keep from bursting out. He didn't have the heart to tell them when they got their last piece of the map that there he had felt other teams already finished, one of which was Team B for Fairy Tail. Part of that was because Elfman wasn't a normal member of Team Natsu and believed what had been told to the Guild, that he, Chaos, was just an elemental mage.

"Well, at least we made it past the preliminary round," he spoke up, trying his best to cheer up the group.

TBC!

NEXT STORY TO UPDATE is Glass of Dieserto