I ran through the streets of Crocus without a care in the world. My mother had bought the plan hook line and sinker. Full week at the Akane Beach Resort. Sure, it was a lot of money but I always had wanted to come here.

The Grand Magic Festival in Fiore's capital. No town fair back in Clover Town came close. Awesome displays of magic, markets, shops and the Games? Who wouldn't be excited?! Some of the country's top guilds and even some foreign ones were here.

What used to be a competition for determining the best guild in the country became a celebration of magic. I had always seen videos of the celebrations or seen coverage of it in the paper but I never got to see it for myself. My mother forbade it.

At least this time I was able to pull one over on her. I was finally here. Able to wander the festivities in person. I noticed a few Guild Marks from those whose members I had seen pass through Clover Town on their way to Bosco. A few others were recognizable.

I walked past a few booths before someone stepped out in front of me, "Nashi!? What on earthland are you doing here?"

I froze, my eyes going wide in fear as one of my neighbors, Lexi, stepped out from a flower stall. She was my age, a little tall for our age and skinny but loved plants. I was pretty sure she was one of the best with plant magic in the area. Her forest green hair held a few flowers attached by clips in honor of the festival. She was looking me over in panic before exhaling, "I can't believe you and your Mom finally came! Where is she?" she began to look past me.

"Oh, it's just me. I'm by myself."

She gasped, "Miss Heartfelia relented?"

I waved a hand, "oh of course not. I just distracted her with a week-long trip to Akane Beach. She'll be too busy relaxing to remember the Festival is going on. Besides, I've been on my best behavior lately so she has no reason to suspect I'm out here right now!"

Her shoulders slump, "girl, you gonna be in so much trouble. Who is watching the store right now?"

I gave a thumbs up, "I told Aquarius she and her boyfriend could hang out as long as they kept the place running and clean. No biggie, besides, she was surprisingly eager to help me do this."

Lexi dusted off her apron, shaking a few specks of dirt off the old fabric, "yeah well, personally, I think you should head back before you get caught."

I shook my head, "no way! I am not riding a train again that soon!"

She slapped herself in the head, "you really aren't gonna change your mind huh?"

"Nope! Anyway, I'm gonna head to Domus Flau, I heard they had an event for non-guild members to participate in!"

The plant mage paused, "yeah but I don't think you should participate! It's dangerous! Even more so than when you pick on the Beasts and Golems in the woods at home! It's not your normal run of the mill fighting!"

I grinned, "so, it's a sparring event?" I placed my arms behind my head.

She went pale, "it won't be like when we spar. You are going to get hurt."

"Relax, I'll probably just spectate before exploring more of the festivities. I don't want to miss the fireworks tonight!"

I was clutching the hand rails in excitement as I watched mage after mage fall quickly to the Sabertooth Guild Master. His white coat and pale blond facial hair and hair on his head didn't even look like they had been fighting. I had been here for hours as dusk lit up the sky in vibrant shades of pink, purple and orange. He held out his arms as yet another burly man fell to his feet.

"Come on! There has to be at least one person here who can last five minutes! I'm willing to put 500,000 Jewel on it!" he shouted to the dwindling crowd. They were getting bored. He looked around, "I'll even pose for a photo afterwards if you can last! Anyone at all?"

I bit my lip. 500,000 Jewel. Was he serious? I closed my eyes and thought for a moment. That was a boatload, enough to keep Mom's bookstore open for at least a year! I was about to mentally kick myself when Sting Eucliffe's voice snapped my train of thought, "hey you there! How about it? You've been here for a few hours. Want to give it a try?"

I opened my eyes and looked to either side of me before realizing he was pointing at me. He had a friendly smile on his face, "I'll even go easy on you since you're younger than everyone I've fought today."

Screw it.

I vaulted over the railing onto the ground of Domus Flau. Excitement shaking my bones, "you're on!"

This is where the big leagues battled. This is where wizard saints were born. If only I had known then, that it was what was the first step in my life changing.

He held his hands out, "easy! You have to sign a waver first! Just in case."

I rolled my eyes as a few semi enthusiastic whistles of support came from the crowd. The waiver was relatively quick. Before I walked out to the near middle of the arena.

He smiled, "so what's your name?"

"It's Nashi, sir. Um, thank you for letting me spar with you!" I bowed quickly before taking up my stance.

He readied himself in a slightly different position than his last few fights. He had been taking this stance all day when he was going to go on the offensive. A mistake on his part. He readied his hands, "think you got what it takes to last against one of the best mages in Fiore?"

I smirked, "an old has been like you? I'm starting to blaze just thinking about it!"

"A trash talker huh? I'll make you eat those words."

The bell sounded and he immediately shot forward as I vaulted to my lower left before bringing my foot up, catching him in the stomach. He slid back a couple inches as I flipped backwards and positioned behind him. He spun and lashed out with a beam of energy, "HOLY RAY"

I crossed my arms and shielded myself from the brunt of it. Stung like a bitch though. I saw the outline of his shadow come through the air in the dust that had been kicked up and I instinctively lit my fists and met his. Fire and White exploded upon impact. The shockwave blew away the dust as spectators started going nuts.

"A fire mage huh? Isn't this nostalgic!" He pushed me forward before I got blindsided by his kick. I stumbled backwards as I saw him inhale, "WHITE DRAGON….ROAR!"

Two could play at that game, I jumped as high as I could over his attack, "FIRE DRAGON ROAR!"

The cone of flame coming from my mouth nearly made its mark as he quickly shielded himself with his cloak before looking over his arm wide eyed, "okay. I was not expecting that."

I landed and taunted him with my hands, "what's the matter? Scared of a teenage girl?"

"4 MINUTES REMAINING!" a voice from the speaker shouted.

Sting gritted his teeth, "a Fire Dragon Slayer huh? Guess I don't have to hold back then."

He ran forward, his fist glowing white, "White Dragon IRON FIST!"

I stepped to the side and extended my right hand, letting the flames form the spell I needed, "FIRE DRAGON FLEUVE D'Ă©TOILES!"

Sting reeled back, "Fire Dragon excuse me!?"

I snapped the whip at his feet, forcing him prone as he crawled backwards. I kept it up, forcing him further and further back til I made a mistake.

I got too close. He pushed off the wall and slammed a fistful of white energy into my gut. Before slamming his elbow into my face. The flaming whip faded as I rolled backwards, his assault continued as I took attack after attack.

I fell to my knees as he finally stopped and faced the crowd. I couldn't hear what he was saying. Time seemed to slow as I slowly looked up. If I wanted to keep fighting, I would have to pull out all the stops from here on. No more mistakes.

"I didn't say I was done," I spoke, causing him to flinch and turn as I staggered to my feet, beams of light shot down from the sky and into me as I felt my strength return. I felt the burning sensation I had only felt twice before as I watched part of my skin mirror the night sky, my flesh replicating a starry field.

Sting took a step back, "what is this? That beating even gives the newer members of my guild a hospital visit!"

I looked at him, half my face looking like the night sky, my fist ignited, its orange and red flames beginning to burn gold and silver, I launched myself forward, "FIRE DRAGON STAR MODE: BULL PUNCH!"

I jumped back as he regained his footing, a flaming bow in hand, "FIRE DRAGON CENTAUR VOLLEY!"

The conjured arrows found their mark as his coat was torn apart. He still stood, white creeping onto his features, "I know it was stupid of me to offer half a million Jewel but I didn't think there would be a risk of getting beaten."

White Drive.

I would have to play defensively.

Which was hard when my magic power was burning out fast. He vanished from sight only to reappear behind me with a fist aimed for my back. I quickly ducked, "FIRE DRAGON STAR MODE: MAIDENS SWEEP!"

I lashed my leg out and attempted to trip him, the earth below it getting torn up into angular bits as I passed over it. He dodged quickly and came in again, "WHITE DRAGON: CLAW!"

His attack struck my chest as the stigma glowed over my skin. I grabbed a hold of his wrist, "bad move old timer. FIRE DRAGON STAR MODE: RAMS HEAD!"

He shouted in pain as my headbutt left his hair ablaze. He took a few steps back and I raced forward, the stigma burning away as I knew one final attack from me would be it. He smothered the flames and glared at me, "I'm finishing this NOW!" he jumped high in the air, "WHITE DRAGON HOLY BREATH!"

I held out my hand. It was now or never.

"FIRE DRAGON METRIA!"

His attack raced downwards as the starlight raced down, mixing with the fire in my palm before pushing back at his attack. The two met in an explosion that I'm sure was felt for miles around. Not to mention what was probably seen by the populace as well. The dust cloud obscured my entire vision as I felt my magic power run out. It was all I could do to stagger around. Hobbling on my feet. I heard the timer go off as I placed my hand against the wall to support myself. Spots clouded the edge of my vision as I gulped. The dust settled slowly to reveal Sting standing, scratched up, dirty and clothes singed. It was silent for a moment before someone pointed me out, "there she is! She is still standing!"

The roar was deafening. I wasn't aware of how many people had rushed in to see the fight. I waved weakly before falling forward. I felt two arms underneath me quickly and looked up to see Sting there with a bewildered expression on his face.

I gave a thumbs up, "I get the Jewel right?"

Sting looked me over, eyes still full of bewilderment and confusion, "who is your father?"

I coughed weakly, "I don't know."

It was roughly half an hour before the wizard from Lamia Scale finished patching me up. A few potions helped to restore my magic power a little so I wouldn't hit Magic Deficiency Syndrome. It still hurt to walk around but thankfully I was cleared before the fireworks began. I hobbled out in crutches, I would only need them for the next day but it was worth it. Sting was waiting by the stadium entrance.

I blew a few strands of my pink hair from my face as he caught sight of me, "Nashi, about time you got here!"

A tall, middle aged woman stood across from him with jet black hair and a long dress that reached her shins. Her hair was split into two buns, one on either side of her head. She looked me up and down, "you got beat by this girl?"

Sting winced, "beat? No. She just won the challenge. Didn't expect another Fire Dragon Slayer to show up," he turned towards me, "and that Star mode is something else."

"Thanks. I've been working on trying to get my magic power up to sustain it but it hasn't been going well. Most of any ordinary attacks I learn are from watching videos of dragon slayer fights from the last decade."

The woman sighed, "I see. Well, luckily for you Sting just wagered the money he was putting up for an expansion wing on our guildhall."

"Minerva, don't be rude."

"Well then hurry up and take the stupid picture with her so I can drink to forget that you wasted guild money on this! Lector, Frosch and Rouge are already waiting!"

I limped next to Sting and gave a wide, eyes closed smile for the camera. I heard the flash go off twice as two copies were printed. One was thrust to my chest as the woman grumbled trotted off.

"She seems...kinda like a jerk."

Sting chuckled, "don't worry. She's like that with most people," he paused as a few moments of silence passed between us, "so anyway, I wanted to ask you, where are you from? I'd love to give you some tips if I run into you again."

I blinked, "I'm from Clover Town. It's up near the border by Lullaby Lake."

He nodded, "how would I find you there anyway? Is it a large town?"

I shook my head, "no. Just look for Heartfelia Books."

"...Heartfelia?"

"Mhmm. It's my Mom's bookstore."

He looked me dead in the eye as the first of the fireworks lit up the night sky, "your mother...she wouldn't happen to be named Lucy would she?"

TO BE CONTINUED

Author's Note: It's finally here! The Fairy Tail NX Version I am most confident with. I went through dozens of possible ways to start this story but in the end I wanted to do something a little more fun and make Nashi less...grumpy/edgy than the prior version. Anyways, I hope you enjoyed it, I know Nashi seems a little OP to start it will get explained later on. Thanks for reading and see ya next time! -Jay