Hello, been a long time. I bought a new pc and tbh this is so fast I motivate myself.
I hope you enjoy new chapter, I'm going to try to write more frequently.
Disclaimer: FT characters mentioned below belong to Hiro sensei!
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Chapter 16 : Complications
The start of the race was fast as both teams went down the river, padding and evading some of the rocks on the way. Natsu kept crying and padding like crazy as Jellal pointed out some orders while helping Natsu. Erza was in the middle of both, padding only when necessary, though, with Natsu doing more than he should, it was an easy task which she appreciated at the moment.
Minerva's team was slightly in front of them, trying their best to not lose speed. Sting and Orga were the ones padding while Rufus kept ordering them arround and keeping an eye on Fairy Tail's team, making sure they blocked their path.
"Yo, they getting on my nerves, let's just pass through them!" Cried Natsu, frustrated.
"Natsu, don't be impatient, we need the perfect timing to get through. Let's just wait for it. We still have time." Reassured Erza.
"I know there is a rough curve to the right soon, it's separated by a rock at the middle, knowing them, they will surely take the right path which is faster, we need to pressure them to take the left one while we get the right one, like that we could take the lead." Jellal proposed. He knew this course because he verified the course while the others were doing the first match, while Erza was at the infirmary.
Erza could see Natsu's head slighted to the left in confusion but she got what the blue haired boy meant, they were going to turn right soon in the river, if they could take that opportunity, it will be hard for the other team to get the lead later on.
"Since they are focusing on us all the time, why not lure them? We must pretend we will head left." Erza planned.
Jellal smirked, thinking the same as Erza. "Natsu, at my signal, let's head left, then when I say 'Right' we must go right as fast as we can, if we can't do it in time..." Jellal said.
"What about it?" Natsu asked, anxious.
"Nothing, we will just hit the rock probably." Jellal answered, still smirking.
Instead of being afraid, Natsu's adrenaline raised as he padded even faster, preparing for the signal.
"I will help you pad when the moment comes, our chances are better if the three of us do it." Erza said, quietly so only Jellal could hear.
The tattooed boy wanted to arge, but he knew she was right, it was better for them to not take a bigger risk.
"I agree, just..." He suddenly shut his month, regretting what he was going to say. 'Be careful', instead he just added "Let's finish this fast."
Erza nodded and concentrated on the task, they were still a bit far away from the end but they were doing fine, they could do this.
….
As the curve Jellal mentioned appeared, they were already ready to take their plan to the best.
"Natsu, let's do this." Jellal cried.
Natsu and Jellal padded to the left, taking the left side of the river. The team in front of them automatically went to the left as well, to try and block their path if they tried to take the lead.
"You guys are so predictable, always doing the same." Natsu cried, taking their attention to them.
"Good Natsu, just make them notice you more." Jellal approved.
"Well, that wasn't really my intention." Said Natsu while taking position to turn right at any moment.
"Oi, you flower head, just say something when you really are in front of us. Can't hear you all in the back." Laughed Sting, while looking at the team behind them.
"Sting, why did you turn left, you should stay right, there is a curve in front of us." Cried Rufus, worried, they were too close now.
The three of them cried as Sting realized what was in front of him. They slightly evaded the big rock standing at the middle and turned right just in time to continue the course. Pink was seen in front of Sting and he cursed as he realized it was Natsu's head, Fairy Tail's boat was in front of them, they took the lead.
"Tchh, this was a trap." Rufus cursed.
"Oi, that isn't fair you Fairies." Cried Sting, furious.
"What was that? I can't hear you in the back." Rebounded Natsu, laughing.
Sting bit his lips, padding extremely faster, almost like obsessed with getting revenge. "Orga, let's destroy them."
Orga smirked, picking up something on his pockets.
Natsu started to go faster as well. "Erza, just let me know if they try to get through."
Erza nodded looking back at their enemies, her arm was still ok even when she helped earlier at the curve.
Her eyes were suddenly wide open as she saw Orga throwing something at Natsu's head.
"Look out." She shouted, moving him just in time.
The pebble Orga threw him hit Erza's hand instead, not doing much as a slight pain.
"Erza, are you okay?" Natsu asked, worried. He picked the small rock and threw it to the river.
Jellal briefly looked back not wanting to take his eyes off the river in front of him. Another pebble was sent at them flying, this time they evaded it. But Sting took the opportunity to pad faster and get near their boat, barely touching it.
"Natsu, I can paddle, just protect the boat." Jellal frowned, wanting to just kill those Sabertooth members, he was in this school not for too long but he already had a lot of people in his dark list, how daring.
"I'm on it, Erza take the lead on paddling with Jellal, don't worry with those small fries." Natsu assured, taking his wood paddle in his hands to rebound every pebble they threw. "Take that back, it belongs to you." He said, laughing enthusiastically.
Natsu was really enjoying this, thought Erza. She started paddling in his place, slowly. She didn't have much of a choice to do so. Jellal glanced back for a second before returning his sight to the river in front of them. Erza couldn't say what expression he held at that moment, she just hoped she wasn't being much of a burden to them.
Sting, Orga and Rufus were frustrated with Natsu's counter attack, he was not only defending their boat but also throwing them back. It was like a tossing pebble war while both teams speed to the finish line.
Jellal took a look at Erza, sensing she was overdoing it as usual, not getting mistaken when he spotted some of her blood appearing again in her arm.
"You should stop!" He said, alarming.
Erza frowned. "I have to help my team, it's even worse for me to feel useless than to being injured." She greeted her teeth, while paddling faster. Jellal felt he lost to her again and knew he couldn't change her mind anyway, so he just gave up and did the same.
Sting was getting near and managed to get an impact on their boat from behind, making them stumble for a second.
"Natsu watch your feet" Jellal warned, since he knew the pink haired boy was standing in the back.
Natsu almost fell out of balance but managed to get in his two feet again, though, before he could do it, a pebble passed through him to Erza's, hitting her injured arm.
Erza cursed, letting her paddle go and grab her arm with her own free one.
"Erza!" Natsu shouted, feeling guilty he didn't protected her after telling her not to worry.
"It's ok, I'm okay." She tried to tell him but blood could be seen spreading even more.
Natsu frowned confused but didn't gave much of a thought when he heard Sting's laugh as their boat was getting beside their own.
The last meters could be counted. Orga stopped casting them the small objects as trees were cleared from the view. They chose this opportunity to get the lead, while Erza couldn't paddle. People could be seen now that they were close to the end.
Sting and his team slowly took the lead while Natsu was starting to paddle again, at the same time looking out for Erza and Jellal was trying his best to concentrate and not looking back. He knew he had to do his best in order for Erza not being seen as defeated.
Sting and Orga were turning the boat to the right, making Jellal and his team slow down as to not to collide with the enemy. The blue haired boy cursed, but didn't have a choice but to admit defeat as the team in front crossed the final line before them.
They approached the land now slowing down as they heard Sabertooth's members cries of victory.
Natsu didn't seem to bother. He helped Erza getting on off the boat and apologized while security workers took off their equipment. "I'm sorry I couldn't protect you." He could see Gray and Lucy at the back, with a worried face, waiting for them to be free of all the equipment so they could approach their friends.
Erza bit her lip, knowing it wasn't his fault they lose, but hers.
"Natsu.. This wound…"
But before she could tell him the truth, Gray and Lucy were already at their side.
Jellal was hiding her arm as best as he could, staying beside Erza.
"Erzaaa." Lucy said with a worried expression. "It's… it's okay, you all did what you could."
"Yeah, we still have other opportunities anyway." Added Gray, not really worrying too much over the defeat, but more worried about how could have they lose with Erza and Natsu on their team.
The scarlet haired girl looked down. "I'm sorry guys, they got us at the end."
Natsu frowned and asked himself why wasn't either of them talking about how the others cheated, but decided to trust Erza, he knew she had a good reason, probably.
"It's okay, we are tied. Let's win the next one." Gray said, knowing Sabertooth must've done something.
Ultear sensing something was wrong came to the rescue, taking Erza and Jellal with her.
"Excuse me guys, the car is waiting, let's all meet at the center, shall we?"
Gray and Lucy called over their friends, confused but decided to get in the other car.
Ultear got inside at the front seat, while Erza and Jellal were going in the back seats.
"Thanks." Jellal said, getting in the car just after Erza.
But before Jellal could close the door, Natsu got inside and close it himself, pushing Jellal to the middle, with a surprised face.
Feeling the blue haired boy that close made Erza confused. She glanced to the side to see Natsu sitting with them, with a frown on his face, his arms crossed, like waiting for an explanation.
"So, why didn't you guys mention them cheating?" Natsu asked, a little angry but not with them. With their enemy.
"Natsu..." Erza started, only to be interrupted by Jellal.
"Obviously it was because she didn't want to worry the others."
Natsu stared at him. "She is bleeding... And they are her friends." He implied.
"That is exactly why..."
But this time Jellal was the one who got cut.
"My lesion wasn't made because of the rocks." Erza blurted.
"Erza..." Jellal looked worried, he didn't know if it was the best, telling the pink haired boy the truth. Assuming he would just tell everyone and make things worse.
"It's ok. I can't lie to him. He doesn't deserve that." Erza explained, knowing Natsu still thought it was his fault. She bit her lip, thinking of how to start.
"Earlier today..." She finally told him. "Minerva asked Sting, Rogue and Orga to follow me..."
Natsu, confused, nodded slightly to motivate Erza to continue.
"When I was all alone, they took the opportunity to attack me. They didn't really hurt me aside from this." She quickly added, to not make Natsu too worried. "They just wanted to assure they were going to win this competition."
Her pink haired friend meditated for a while before getting into the realisation. "So… was this a trap?"
"Yes, Minerva already knew you guys were going to include Erza into the team, so she planned all this before asking us." Jellal finished.
Natsu frowned again, getting angry. "They will pay for this."
"Natsu, please don't play their game." Erza plead. "We will win the 'tournament' and finish this war once and for all."
Erza held a dark expression that made Natsu and Jellal a little worried, her words didn't match her mind.
The red head had this revenge plan in her head, they wouldn't forget. But first, they had to finish this game.
She wouldn't let them laugh at their backs, by the next day, she would make sure her arm wouldn't stand in her way anymore.
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SN: Ok guys we reached the end of ch16, next chapter we will have the next stage. Who will prevail at the end?