Hey Everyone,

So chapter 24 is here! Only one more before we are halfway done! I have to say this section of chapters will cover the Grand Magic Games which is my favorite arch within the Fairy Tail universe, so I'm kind of excited to be writing about it. Hope you enjoy the chapter and hope that everyone has been having a wonderful holiday season.

-Singed

Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail

Lucy

Lucy was a bit confused. Natsu should have been back by now, it wasn't that far to Erza's place. She glanced over at the plate of eggs, toast, and bacon, before sighing and pulling out a small plate shield. She covered the plate and then tapped the shield twice. It instantly started to glow a nice sunshine yellow. It was a magical device that kept food at the perfect temperature. It was handy and Lucy had been happy to invest in one a few years ago when Levy had bought her own after she and Gajeel had moved in together.

That done, she walked over to her bedroom, deciding that now would be a good time to finish some packing. She still had a few objects in her closet that needed to find themselves in the thrift store, the trash, or a box. She pulled a large, dusty case from the shelf and placed it on her bed. She sat down next to it, only to immediately stand again as she had sat on something hard. It was a box and a card. The envelope had her name written on it in Natsu's somewhat legible script.

Picking them up, she saw that the box was a chocolate box. She opened it and saw her favorite, chocolate bonbons. She smiled softly and opened the card. It had a picture of a sunset over Crocus on the front and the inside had been blank before Natsu added a personal message.

Hey Luce,

Thought you could use some chocolates. You are doing great and in a few days, all this work will be worth it.

- Natsu

Sighing, because that man could be unbelievably sweet and romantic without trying and at other times a complete and total idiot, she walked over to the writing desk and sat. He still wasn't back and that meant that she could at least start a letter.

Piece 24 - My Failures Never Seem So Complete with You Around

Natsu,

I just got your card and box of chocolates. It was very thoughtful and just what I needed, thank you. Even though you can be really dense, you have always known just what to say when I've been down and out. I would say that you, my love, are gifted to be an encourager, though probably one of the most obtuse ones I've ever seen.

I just laughed at my own joke and yes, I will explain what obtuse means when you get to this letter. But, seriously, you have always known just how to support me. The odd thing is, that I never realized this until my battle with Flare during the Grand Magic Games. I remember going into that battle understanding that I might be outmatched, but I was hopeful. I knew that if I put my mind to it and did not hold back any of my strength that I could win. What I didn't know was just how dirty she was going to play. Even though we are friends now, when I think back on that battle, I still get mad at the idea that she would stoop to such low measures as threatening Asuka with a broken neck if I didn't throw the match.

I've heard of and seen plenty of sore losers, but that moment, at least in my opinion, takes the cake. I fully understand that she was going to be punished for losing to me, but still. I guess a part of me just doesn't understand how someone who wasn't truly evil could stoop to that level even in an extreme moment. But, we'd have to ask her and quite frankly, it is a moot point now, after all these years. We still get Christmas cards from her every year and so I'd like to think that she'd never even dream of hurting us now, especially since she just started her own family last year.

But I digress. Let's get back to the battle. I'm going to start just after I've been forced into silence and she is simply torturing me since I can no longer fight back for fear of Asuka's life. I remember wondering what I was going to do. I could not let down my guild! The guild that had put up with so much since our disappearance 7 years earlier. I had to show everyone what we could do! That we were anything but a laughing stock! But I couldn't allow her to kill little Asuka! She was a member of my guild and a living little girl, the gleam in her parents' eyes. By losing I would let down the guild, but if I fought back and caused Asuka to get hurt, or worse, then I would ultimately destroy the guild for nothing more than my pride. So I let her torture me.

I could feel the crowd's confusion and their displeasure at the showing. Some were displeased because they were disappointed that we were there when in their opinion they thought some other guild was more worthy, but most did not like the brutal display. I kept hoping that the buzzer would sound. I just wanted it to be over, but another part of me wanted a miracle to happen. Luckily, it was a miracle that happened.

I always forget about your super senses, or at least, I should say your super hearing. I always remember your super nose, but only because you never let us forget it. The rest you kind of let fall by the wayside until you use them to save the day. When you burnt her hair and saved Asuka, I was so thankful and so filled with affection, that if you had been closer, I think I would have kissed you. And I'm not just saying that in retrospect. I really would have kissed you.

Anyway, finally free to do something, anything, I fought back all the harder and had decided not to hold back anymore. I called on Gemini and together we pulled off one of the most impressive spells we have. Or we would have, if those jerks in Raven Tail hadn't cheated and used a magic cancellation spell on me, sucking all my magic away just before it hit. I remember being shocked. I had no idea what had just happened. All I knew was that something terrible and unforeseeable was in play. I remember falling over just as the bell rang.

I had lost. I couldn't believe it. No, I hadn't lost. That spell would have worked and I had plenty of magic left. It shouldn't have just disappeared. But somehow it had. As I heard the announcers declare Flare the winner and the crowd cheer for her but jeer and boo at me, I broke. I just started crying without any ability to stop. It just wasn't fair! I had played by the rules, been the better wizard, I should have won! Instead, I was humiliated by cheaters.

I should have demanded justice, I should have been a raging inferno, furious. Instead, I was heart crushingly sad. So, I wept. As I laid there, I heard someone approaching, and at first, I thought it was a ref coming to tell me that I had to move. Then I realized it was you.

"Hey now, no crying," you whispered. I'm still not sure how I was able to hear you over the crowd. You said it gently enough, but there was a firmness to your command, steel. You were trying to be strong for me and make me strong for myself.

"I can't help it," I gasped back. "It's just not fair!" Somehow, I was able to pull myself together enough to sit up and kneel before you while I wiped my eyes. I guess, in a weird way, your firmness did make me stronger.

"No, it's not. That's why we'll pay them back one hundred times over." It was a challenge that you were setting for yourself and I knew that you never lost a challenge. Then with more warmth and affection I'd ever heard in your voice, at least directed to me, you continued. "You were amazing. You proved that that seven-year gap means nothing." You held out your hand to help me up and I reached for it as you said. "We've still got a fighting chance. Zero points sounds great to me. This is our chance to make our epic comeback."

I finally looked up at you, tears still streaming down my face, but I couldn't stop the warmth and hope I felt at having you there with me. Winning would have been great, the best thing I could have done for my guild, but suddenly I didn't feel like such a loser.

"Yeah," I whimpered, "I'm all fired up now." You smiled at me after that and pulled me up. I staggered to my feet and still not able to see where I was going, you threw your arm over my shoulder and led me off the area floor. I remember wanting a hug, but with the crowd there I didn't want to risk pulling you in for one. You marched me back inside and to the lady's locker room, where I decided to take a shower. I knew that it meant I'd miss some of the battles, but I still had a lot of crying I had to do and a shower is a good place for that.

You made sure I was settled and then left, while I turned the water up as high as it would go and continued my cry. When I could finally stop crying, I washed with some soap and then dried off. I changed into a different outfit and applied some magic eyedrops so that my eyes weren't so red and puffy. I was just about to leave when in walked Arana Webb from Mermaid Heel. She was covered in dirt and bruises but looked pretty okay for the most part.

"Hey, you're Lucy right?"

"Yeah, did you win?" I asked, not knowing what else to say.

She just smiled and shrugged. "Nah, Ren got me pretty good. Of course, it doesn't help that Sherry was in the stands cheering him on. Once he realized she was there, he had to impress her. I should have known it was over then."

"Oh man, well sorry about that."

"Nah, I lost fair and square." Here she gave me a long, appraising look, "unlike your loss." She dropped her change of clothes on the bench and stood to look me in the eye again.

"For what it's worth, we all think that Raven Tail is a group of slime balls and if we could we'd ask they be removed. It's obvious they cheated."

I was warmed at her stance and for the first time since being defeated, I smiled. "Thanks."

She shrugged again. "Yeah, it's a shame too that you won't get a second chance to fight. I'd love to see what that spell of yours can actually do."

"It is rather spectacular when it goes off." Suddenly, her leotard dropped to the floor and I politely looked away. I didn't mind with guildmates, but someone I barely knew had me a little embarrassed. She chuckled, probably reading my face, and turned on her shower.

"Well, you'll get a chance. Only, this time before you enter the arena, ask that hunky guildmate of yours to call to you. I think it will go much better."

"Hunky guildmate?" Your face instantly popped into my mind and I shook it away. Normally when anyone talked about a hot male guildmate they were talking about Grey.

"Yeah, you know. The one who came out and got you. He may not be the hottest guy in your guild but he and you obviously have a connection." She looked at me all the harder and my face grew red. She suddenly smiled all the more and chuckled as she stepped in and disappeared in the steam. "Yes," she called out. "You'll do much better next time if he cheers you on."

"Maybe," I muttered, gathering the rest of my things. The weird thing was that I knew she was right. I stored my things in my locker and raced out to see the final score of the day. It disheartened me but I knew that your words were true. We only had one direction to move from there, up.

Of course, whether we actually won at all is dependent on your view. Sure, we won the games, but everything else that happened to us during that time was crazy and we sure went through some heartache. Still, I never truly lost hope because I kept replaying your words over and over again. I just wish that I had remembered Arana's advice and asked you to make sure you yelled all the louder during my next time in the arena because with that one I needed all the extra advantage I could get, but that is for the next letter.

Love,

Lucy

Lucy sealed the letter and dropped it in the box, just as Natsu walked through the door. He was putting something in his pocket, but he looked less tense than he had before.

"Hey, you were gone quite a while. Did Erza get home okay?"

"Yeah. We talked for a time, that's all." He sat at his plate and dug in as Lucy sat across from him.

"You guys cool now?"

"Absolutely. Everything is good." Lucy smiled and stood to finish her make-up.

"I'm glad. Let me know when you're done," she called as she walked to the bathroom. His only response was a muffled yes.

Natsu

Natsu stayed just long enough to make sure that Erza was up the stairs before he turned on his heels and sped down the slope. He was hungry and in a mood now. He was glad that he'd patched things up with Erza, but she had taken him away from Lucy and he still had a nagging feeling at the back of his mind that he needed to be with her today.

Just as he reached the bottom of the hill and the cobbled streets, he was hailed with a familiar, "Yo."

He turned to see Grey walking up to the trail that led to Fairy Hill. He was probably meeting Juvia. Natsu was tempted to wave and just keep going, but things had been strained with Grey since the day before thanks to his big mouth, so he just swallowed his annoyance at the timing and smiled. "Hey man, off to see Juvia?"

"Yeah, she needs some supplies for the wedding and I promised I'd help her set up some of the stuff. I mean, what are boyfriends for?"

"That I guess," Natsu smirked, but an awkward silence took over and Natsu was trying to find a way to excuse himself when Grey took a deep breath and asked a question.

"Hey Natsu, are you looking forward to it?"

"Uh? Looking forward to what?"

"The wedding you idiot! Are you looking forward to the wedding?"

Natsu, who was unbelievably confused, scratched his head. "Well yeah, I mean I'll be marrying my best friend, why wouldn't I be excited?"

"I don't know man. It's just all these preparations and everyone in your business and people always on edge and expecting so much of you. Doesn't that just rub you the wrong way?"

Natsu thought for a moment before rhythmically nodding a small consent. "Yeah, it can be annoying, but every time I start to get mad, I just remember what that day will mean and I tend to calm down."

Grey looked at him for a moment before he nodded. "I guess it is all about perspective."

"For sure. I just can't imagine not being with Lucy, yeah know."

Grey sighed and looked up at Fairy Hill. "Yeah, I know the feeling."

Natsu smiled, not even trying to hide it, making Grey scoff. "Anyway, Lucy is waiting for me, I have to go."

"You know Natsu, once you're married you'll always have to be there for her. No more of this shirking your responsibilities." Grey had meant it as a joke, but it lodged sharply into his chest and he coughed to hide its effect.

"I always am, when I'm thinking properly," he answered back as he continued towards Lucy's. He didn't make it very far though as he turned back into the little park and sat on the same bench, pulling out the lacrima.

Piece 24 - I Would Have Traded Places if I Could.

"Hey Luce, I just finished dropping Erza off and I ran into Grey on my way back." Natsu sighed in agitation and leaned forward. "You know, I love being a part of Fairy Tail and I love all my guildmates, but sometimes there are disadvantages. I mean, why is it that people always seem to bring up those times you messed up? I know that there were moments in our time together that I wasn't there for you like I should have been and I wish I could take those back, do it all over again, but I can't. I'm sure you know which times I'm talking about, but Luce compared to everyone else in the guild, I've been there for you the most. Well, maybe Happy has you beat, but I've known him longer." Natsu sighed and sat back, again.

"I just wish I could get you to understand how hard I tried to be the best partner I could be, how hard I tried to be the best friend I could be when you needed it. I even remember the first time I knew that I had to be there for you. I mean, it wasn't instinct like all those other times, but I had to make a conscious decision to not do other things I would have preferred to do, like burning some things down."

"You had just had your battle with Flare. I still get burnt up when I think about it. I mean, everything about that battle was unfair and at times, evil. Still, I helped you as best I could, short of jumping into the arena to beat her to a pulp like I wanted to. I continued to watch and my heart swelled with pride as I watched you pull off Urano Metria. It was beautiful and showed me just how much you had grown as a wizard … and then it was gone."

"I was shocked and so was everyone else. What had just happened? Then, as I watched Flare, I realized. Raven Tail had cheated. They had cheated and had stolen your victory. I watched you fall to the ground and I wanted badly to race out there to you, but I wasn't sure what the rules were." Natsu grew silent for a moment, reliving that time before he stood up and started walking, the lacrima following.

"I stopped caring about the rules when I heard the crowd's ignorant comments, Flare's unfounded boasting, and just below it all, your sobbing. I entered the area calmly, like an approaching storm and I watched Flare's look change from gloating to fear. I must have had quite the impressive glare because even the refs stayed away when they saw me."

"I approached you and all I wanted to do as I heard your tears, was go knock some heads together and burn the smiles off of Raven Tail's face. But I remember thinking, I remember making the decision that you were the important thing right then and there and what you needed was for me to be by your side not go to battle, which would ultimately hurt all of us."

"What I actually said, I don't remember. I just know that it worked and that for the first part of it, I had to make fists to keep myself grounded. I do remember though, when you took my hand and looked up at me, tears still flowing as you said, 'Yeah, I'm all fired up now.'"

Natsu smirked and looked up at the sky, the lacrima still following and recording. He didn't even notice the crowd as they parted around him, some ignored him while others gave him odd looks.

"I remember taking you back inside and you wanting a shower. I didn't want to leave you, but I agreed to your wishes and went back to Erza and Elfman. I continued to watch the rest of the matches and was just glad that you weren't there to see Jellal get beaten so ... oddly. Still, I was relieved when you showed back up, looking a lot better, if a bit down. Of course, we were all down that day but if we knew what was coming we might not have been." Natsu suddenly stopped as he gazed up at Lucy's apartment, wondering if he should use the window or the door.

The landlady suddenly cleared her throat, as she held open the door with a meaningful look in her eyes. Natsu smiled sheepishly and walked in. She had caught him entering and exiting from Lucy's apartment through the windows more than once and had always expressed her displeasure.

"Anyway Luce," he added as he began walking up the stairs, "I knew from that day forward that I'd have to actively put your needs before my own. I'd always been protective, but that usually meant using my fist and my magic, meeting your needs meant I had to use my brain, which is hard." With that, he stopped at Lucy's door and turned off the lacrima before entering and putting the lacrima in his pocket.

"Hey, you were gone quite a while. Did Erza get home okay?" Lucy called as she entered the kitchen.

"Yeah. We talked for a time, that's all." Natsu said as he sat at his plate and dug in. He was starving and Lucy sat across from him.

"You guys cool now?" She asked.

"Absolutely. Everything is good."

Lucy smiled and stood, heading to the bathroom. "I'm glad. Let me know when you're done."

Natsu could only muffle a yes through another forkful of food as he shoved it in. He was just rinsing his plate and fork, when Lucy came back in, ready for the day.

"Hey," she said leaning on the counter next to him. "You want to go about town and check on our wedding registry?"

"I thought you didn't plan anything for today?"

"I didn't, but this gives us something to do and we can see what people got us, even if we don't know who."

Natsu smiled and leaned forward so his forehead rested on hers. "Isn't that cheating?"

She smiled back. "Maybe, but the way I look at it, it gives us an idea of what we might have to buy after the wedding, even though people do have a few more days." Natsu smirked and kissed her quickly before pulling back.

"Sure, that sounds fun." Lucy grabbed her bag and Natsu followed her out. He was closing the door, when he stopped, his instincts suddenly blazing to life. He looked quickly behind him, but there was nothing. The feeling was gone too, though unease lingered. Something wasn't right but having no idea what it was, he decided the only thing he could do was keep an eye on Lucy. He closed the door behind him and rushed after her.