Italic = narrating

"Speak"

- Thought

"CAPS LOCK" = SCREAMING

Disclaimer: not owning Fairy Tail nor the original fairy tales


Jellal and the armor clad princess

Standing left alone in the waiting area, Erza waited impatiently, trying to understand how her sister was doing from the audience. Her tries were in vain as the audience's screams told her nothing.

"Winner, Gray Dragbuster!"

Hearing the voice call out, Erza nodded to herself. Although her sisters had performed magnificently, they had much left to learn. The fact that they had made it as far as they had with so little training was something Erza actually found a bit troubling. Were the swordsmanship in her country so bad that two women with so little practice belonged in the eight best? She wondered if some had chosen not to participate after all. When thinking this, Erza remembered that both Laxus and Freed who were acting as referees also were between eighteen and thirty, meaning they should have entered.

- Well, I don't really mind them being an exception.

After all, the only one she really had wanted to lure to the tournament was Jellal.

"Next up: Natsu Dragbuster and Ezra Titan!"

Pulling her helmet on, Erza entered the field. She cast a glance upon the stands to see if she could spot her sisters, but she wasn't surprised when she didn't. There were many people standing up on the stands and there were even more than there had been in the beginning of the day – most likely had the audience been growing as participants who'd lost joined. But even if she couldn't see her sisters, she knew she had their support.

Turning her gaze forward, Erza took in her opponent – the one who had beaten Lucy. Not very tall nor very broad – most likely one of the younger participants, around eighteen such as herself. Laxus was the referee this time.

"Stick to the rules", Laxus reminded them. "Get ready", both of them unsheathed their swords. "Begin."

Natsu Dragbuster was the first to attack. Lunging forward, Erza easily dodged by moving back slightly. She was quick to counter but her opponent blocked her. She was just trying him out, seeing how skilled he was, but he seemed to be going full force already. Seeing his style, she couldn't help but to think that he was moving rather sloppy – however, he was quick which meant he wasn't left unguarded for too long. He seemed inexperienced – something about his style reminded her about both of her sisters.

Feeling that she had made a complete analysis, Erza somewhat knew how to defeat the man. Letting Natsu strike first, she dodged the attack by jumping to the side. While doing so, she spun around and kicked him in the back before he had turned around again and was in a position where he could block her. The kick had him stumble forward and she quickly closed the distance between them once again. He turned around while stumbling but he had no chance of blocking Erza's sword. She put the flat side of the blade against his upper body and pushed, having him once again stumble as he already was unbalanced. Even though he barely stood, he still tried to swing the sword in order to have her back off. But Erza was far too skilled for such a move and used the moment to unarm him as he had to split his concentration between the sword and regaining his balance.

"Winner – Ezra Titan!"

Erza reached her hand out to Natsu who was sitting on the ground, fallen over. He grabbed it and pulled himself up.

"Good luck in the final", he said cheerfully and Erza bowed as an answer.

He exited the arena and she returned to the waiting area, preparing herself for the final. As she entered the waiting area, she heard the name of the other semi-finalists.

"Gray Dragbuster and Siegrain Fernandez."

Siegrain felt as if he was cheating when he met Gray in the middle of the field. He had been there to train Gray and had watched his progress, whereas Gray hadn't seen Siegrain fight even once – Gray didn't even know he was facing his brother. Siegrain figured whether he should lose on purpose, but then he imagined how things would be at home and how much Gray would tease Natsu. And if either of them found out he was the one who had fought them and lost so easily all hell would break loose. No, he needed to try to win and if Gray was better than him, then Gray would win.

The green-haired referee was waiting for them in the middle.

"Prepare for battle", the participants unsheathed their swords. "Begin."

However, neither of the fighters attacked. Siegrain waited for Gray since he already knew his brother's weak points. But Gray was one to play it safe and thus both of them stood in defensive position.

Figuring his brother probably wouldn't attack first, Siegrain went for an easy, straight on attack which Gray could easily block – just to get them both started. Gray followed up by slashing with his sword and the two of them clashed over and over, getting into a sort of rhythm. Siegrain could win by doing a maneuver and changing the pace in a way that Gray wouldn't see coming but he didn't feel right doing so. And instead they clashed their swords – the one to lose concentration first would be at a disadvantage.

And then the moment came, where Gray was just a bit late and blocked instead of attacking like earlier. After so many fights, the fighting had become something Siegrain didn't have to think about. By now his body moved on its own. As Gray blocked Siegrain's sword once again, Siegrain quickly closed the distance between himself and his brother. Gray had barely noticed Siegrain closing in on him before getting a fist in his face.

Taking a step back, Gray then received a kick to the back of his knee; just as he himself had done to Julien Titan, and his knee folded automatically. Looking up at his opponent, thinking that he would surely block the next attack, Gray received a hit in the back – without his notice, Siegrain had moved to his back.

Holding his sword to the neck of his brother, Siegrain realized he had won.

"And the winner is Siegrain Fernandez!"

Siegrain sheathed his sword, feeling guilty to have beaten his brother – he had trained him, and Gray did not even know he had fought his own teacher. However, Gray rolled around and pulled off his helmet. Siegrain helped his brother up and Gray shook his hand.

"You got the better of me. Now win so I have a better excuse than my brother."

Siegrain squeezed Gray's hand and bowed as if telling him he would do his best. Gray then left the fighter's grounds and Siegrain was left with the blonde referee. Another voice, the one telling the rules, echoed in the arena as the crowd's clapping had died out.

"Coming up is the finale between Siegrain Fernandez", the voice had to wait for Siegrain's fans to quiet down, "and Ezra Titan." Again the referee had to wait for the crowd to go silent. "But before that, there'll be a short break where the two finalists will get some rest."

And returning to the waiting area, Siegrain had a little to eat and drink (this had been available for the contestants all along). He laid down on a bench, waiting for his final match to begin, slightly shocked of how he managed to get so far. Just when had he ever learned to fight?

A flash of scarlet and metal being reflected in sunlight popped into his mind, but disappeared just as quickly as it had appeared. Siegrain shook his head, focusing upon the next match.

"If Siegrain had seen your fight, he'd been proud."

As soon as Gray arrived in the spectator's booths he heard Natsu's voice. He smiled at his brother, and it was a rare sight as it wasn't a malicious grin nor a taunting smirk.

"That guy sure got the better of me", was all Gray answered before making his way towards the infirmary.

"Oi, you're not going to watch the finals?" Natsu caught up to him.

"Of course I will, idiot, I'm just going to check up on the guy I fought in the semifinals."

"Why? What happened?"

"I'm not quite sure", Gray muttered.