A/N: Okay the next 5 chapters after this one will be all about the Grand Magic Games. Because 5 chapters for the 5 days and yeah you get the idea.
For the ride to Crocus, Master felt he needed to explain to us what the rules were. Everyone else accompanying us, which was practically the whole guild, rolled their eyes or puffed out their cheeks.
I, personally, was glad to get a refresher course on the details of the games, being gone for the amount of time I was. Who knows if anything had changed?
"As many of you know, the games will last five days. Two events for each day, one tournament and one surprise event."
I nod, being the only one listening.
"For the surprise event, there will be the point system. Depending on how many guilds pass the preliminary event, of course. For example, first place wins 10 points, and second place wins 9, and so on."
"Do we know what any of the surprise events will be?" I ask.
"No, that's why it's a surprise." He raises an eyebrow. "Well I suppose that they have the 'pandemonium' event almost every year. Do you remember that?"
"Yes, the one that Erza did a while back." I nod.
"Hey Master," I had gotten his attention once more. "What made you pick the people that you did for the teams this year?"
"Well, I felt as if you all were the strongest."
"Not to be rude sir, but Lisanna? She didn't pass the S-class exam. Wouldn't you think that Juvia would be a better fit? And I am definitely not one of the strongest, Mirajane would likely burn me to ashes." I laugh.
"Ah." He replies shortly. I swear I see a bead of sweat roll down his forehead. He opens his mouth to say something, but then shakes his head. "It's best if you don't know all of the details, I suppose." He stands and walks away leaving me confused.
"Master, what do you mean?"
Once we reach Crocus, where the games were being held, everyone ran out into the town excitedly, splitting up down all of the streets, not to be seen for hours.
"Damn kids." Master grumbles. I chuckle, I decided not to pry anymore on what Master had said earlier, not now. But he wasn't getting out of our conversation that easily.
Evening seemed to arrive quickly, and everyone had gathered to report to their dorm rooms. I was roomed with Levy and many other girls. There were more than 300 guilds here, so we had to share a small room with a very large amount of people.
"I wish you the best of luck, Lucy." She grins at me. I scoff.
"No need to be so formal." I laugh.
I wake up in the early morning hours in search of breakfast. I sneak out of my room and quickly pad my way down the hallway. I smile when I see a dimly lit room, half-full with mages also participating.
I walk closer to one of the tables, picking up a oval-shaped pastry and an apple. I turn around and sit alone at one of the tables, digging into my small breakfast.
"Is that you, Blondie?" I hear a familiar voice behind me. "It's been quite awhile, huh?" The owner of the voice puts an arm around my shoulder. Sting Eucliffe. I roll my eyes.
"Why are you talking to me?" I murmur angrily and shake his arm off.
"Aw. Don't be so mean." He picks up a lock of my hair and flips it over my shoulder. "But to be honest, well, I missed seeing your weak ass showing up every year." He says quietly, darkly. I glare back at him.
"What makes you think I'm weak?" I cross my arms and turn to face him. He chuckles and gives me a look. The kind of look a cat might give a mouse before it pounces.
"Well if you aren't, which I'm positive that you still are, then you should prove it." He says and walks away. I sigh when he turns a corner, glad that I was confident enough to handle that situation with ease. I finish the rest of breakfast in piece, and go back to my room.
I hoped that I would be lucky enough to fight Sting in the arena, only to pummel him into the ground in less than 10 seconds.
"Wow Lucy, you're up early." Levy rubs her eyes open and stretches, sitting up.
"Yeah, I wanted to get breakfast." I look around, making sure that Lisanna and Erza were accounted for.
All of the teams were waiting for the preliminary event to be announced, patiently waiting in the arena.
The announcer's voice bursts with excitement into the arena, making some of the mages jump.
"Good morning everyone! I am glad to see everyone that has decided to join us this year. I'm sure you all are wondering what we have in store for your elimination." I look around at all of the competitors.
I would make sure that we would pass the preliminary event. There was no way that I would lose when the whole guild came all this way.
"A footrace." A different voice booms into the arena. Everyone looks around confused.
-"What does he mean?"
-"What kind of footrace?"
-"What's going on?"
I hear an array of confused voices around me, progressively getting louder.
"Silence. In thirty seconds, you will all be transported to the event. You will all follow the path, and reach the finish line, using any means possible. After the first eight pass the finish line, all else will be eliminated."
About ten seconds later, we stand on a dirt path, with a timer above our heads reading, 00:10. Then a second later, it reads 00:09. I turn forward, and look to my sides, making sure that my team was all together.
Erza nods at me, and follows suit with the rest. I could see the determination on everyone's eyes. I couldn't help but be excited.
The path in front of me was overlooked by tall trees, some growing in the path of the race.
It seemed like we were running for an hour.
When the race was almost finished, I could see the finish line in the distance. I just hoped that we would be able to be one of the eight. I looked at Erza in front of me, then at the rest behind me, making sure everyone was still there.
Eliminating the others was quite easy, Natsu was spitting flames out at them like no tomorrow.
We finally reach the finish line, and a voice sounds out to us.
"Fairy Tail. 3rd." It says. I smile, looking at my teammates, who are smiling excitedly back.
"We made it, guys." I smile at them.
The teams that passed the preliminary event:
1st - Horde
2nd - Sabertooth
3rd - Fairy Tail
4th - Blue Pegasus
5th - Mermaid Heel
6th - Lamia Scale
7th - Quatro Cerberus
8th - Twilight Ogre
"Hmm. Have you ever heard of Horde before?" I turn to Erza.
"I don't believe I have." She taps her chin.
"Well I guess besides that one, I know of all of the other guilds." I glance over the rest of the names. She nods, agreeing with me.
"Good work, children." Master walks up to Erza and I as we look at the guild names. "I'm proud."
At the end of the day, the new living arrangements were settled, and the competitors slept, anticipating the tournaments and events of the next five days.