Edited by: Trying To Put Pen To Paper

Chapter 2

A week had went by. Mercedes was under harsh training of her father and her sister. She had undergone training before with them, but since Gemma wanted her to join his guild he had made the training harsher. Both of them would verbally abuse her when she did something wrong, but her father would also physically abuse her using pain as a teaching method. Mercedes didn't bother arguing with either of them because she knew what would happen if she did.

Since she first set foot in Sabertooth she met a few other members. She met Sting, Rogue, Rufus, Orga and Yukino. She was a little surprised when she met Lector and Frocsh knowing how her father was obsessed with strength, she wondered how Lector and Frocsh became members but didn't ask not wanting to get in trouble. Out of all of them she preferred the company of Yukino and as such she didn't pay much attention to the others.

As she was training to become a member of the guild she was aware that it was nearing the time for the Grand Magic Games. Mercedes never really cared for it because the result was always the same. Sabertooth had won seven years in a row, but this year she heard a rumour that the strongest mages from Fairy Tail had returned and that they were going to taking part in the games. So maybe Sabertooth would have some competition after all, if the rumours about Fairy Tail were true.

Mercedes went outside to be alone, she took extra precautions to make sure no one was watching because if anyone saw what she was about to do, then they will notify her father and sister which was the last thing she wanted to happen.

Mercedes took out two Chinese fans that had metal openings. Since she had shown signs of using magic she never had much control over which one to use and she would be scolded for it.

"I do have a strong control of this magic though." She said to herself, a little giddy at having duped her father and sister.

With that she closed her eyes and opened both fans. She brought both tips together concentrating her magical energy before quickly forcing her arms out as if opening a gate or sliding door.

"Time: Year of the Rabbit!" she called feeling a little fatigued at using her magic energy.

A lion sized dark grey rabbit with a fluffy white cotton tail and a pink nose and ears appeared in front of her and she smiled at it. The rabbit turned around and went to her and licked her cheek. Mercedes giggled and patted it on the head but turned when she heard stoned crunching under feet, she looked behind her and froze when she saw Yukino coming to them. She had seen what Mercedes could do then she smiled not in an evil way like Minerva would have done but one of encouragement.

"That was amazing to see." Yukino told her placing a hand on her summoned rabbit.

Mercedes blushed not used to this kind of praise and afraid of the consequences of people finding out.

"Thank you, please don't tell anyone." She begged her looking into her eyes.

"I won't" Yukino promised still smiling. "So this is your magic?"

Mercedes had the rabbit vanish back to whence it came then looked at Yukino.

"This is one of them but I don't like to show them off that's why I pretend I can't use my magic well." Mercedes explained, putting her fans away.

Yukino nodded then Mercedes smiled at her.

Continuing the conversation she said "This magic is kind of like you're Celestial Spirit Magic but instead of using keys I use my fans. While you have the Spirits of the Stars, I have the Year animal spirits and seasons."

"I bet you have them all." Yukino complimented surprised at such a little girl having a strong control over her power at such a young age.

"I do but I can't summon them all together unless I do a fusion with both fans."

"May I see the fans?" The Celestial Mage asked hoping she didn't overstep her boundaries.

"Yes. Here, but please be careful." Mercedes showed the fans to Yukino. One fan was black with a white dot while the other was white with a black dot, they symbolised Yin and Yang.

"What happens if you do a fusion with your fans?"

"Well from what the books told me, the fans become this gigantic fan with giant Yin Yang crest on it. Other than that I really don't know how to fuse them together." She told Yukino, hoping that she would not be scolded for her lack of knowledge on her own magic.

Yukino petted Mercedes on the head and said, "I'm sure you'll learn how to do it one of these days."

"Thanks Yukino."

Mercedes took her fan's back and then smiled back at her when a thought appeared in her head.

"Want to see another one?"

"Sure?" Yukino questioned, wondering if Mercedes was trusting her enough to willingly show her the magic she kept hidden from everyone.

With that Mercedes had her arms extended.

"Time: Birth of Spring!"

Where they were standing cherry blossoms pedals began to fall around them. The two of them were watching as they were getting covered in the sweet scent of the flower and the petals.

"Yukino are you going to take part in the Games this year?" Mercedes questioned her new friend

Yukino shuffled from side to side, slightly anxious, "Well… kind of."

"What do you mean?" She raised an eyebrow confused at her answer.

"The Lady had a mission, so I'm taking her place until she gets back."

"The Lady?" She repeated to herself confused "Oh, you mean my sister."

"Yep."

Not wanting her friend to loose Mercedes told her "I wish you the best of luck, Yukino."

Yukino smiled at her then she left to go back inside the guild building.

'I wish you were my sister, you're so nice, Yuki-chan.' She said mentally, wishing with all her might that it would be true.

Mercedes blinked when she remembered the flower petals and had them to vanish as well, then she went inside Sabertooth to go to her new room to hide and protect her fans from her father.

When the time for the Grand Magic Games came around, Mercedes was permitted to watch from the crowds next to her father as the Games were being played out. On the first couple of days of the Games she watched Rufus completely decimate the first 'Hidden' round, tried not to laugh as Sting got motion sickness along with two other dragon slayers. And on the second day watched as Orga fought in combat against a member of Quatro Cerberus and win with apparent ease. Not to mention Orga's singing which made her want to rip her ears off. Soon enough she got to see Yukino fight against a wizard that was from Team Mermaid Heel.

'Do your best, Yuki-chan.' Mercedes silently cheered.

Yukino was fighting at full power using her two Celestial spirits against her foe who had jet to draw her sword. It appeared as if she was going to win the match quick and easily.

She was amazed at the dual summon. 'Yuki-chan, summoned them at the same time?'

That match didn't take long but Mercedes was shocked when Yukino was defeated by her enemy so easily when just a few moments ago, Yukino seemed to be victorious. After that match Mercedes glanced at her father and saw that he was furious but stayed quiet. She moved as far away as the crowd allowed.

'Tonight is not going to be well.' She anticipated

She was right, that night all of Sabertooth was gathered in the main hall for a meeting. The meeting was just to watch Yukino being told to strip from her clothes in front of every member the guild. Her Guild Mark was removed as well. Mercedes was torn apart inside as she was forced to watch Yukino go through this. After Yukino left the guild Mercedes quietly snuck away and went to her room.

She crawled onto the bed thinking. 'I don't want to stay here anymore. Not if that's how they treat their Nakama.'

As she sat on her bed she then heard her door open and looked up to see Minerva standing, silhouetted in front of her.

"What do you want?" She nearly hissed at her.

Grinning delightfully Minerva replied walking further into the room, her features becoming clearer "Is that any way to greet your older sister?"

"..."

"I'm going to take part in the games." She stated.

"Why are you telling me this?" Mercedes asked not understanding why her sister was giving her this information.

"Why not? We are sisters after all." Minerva faked at being hurt, even going so far as to put a hand on her chest, over her heart.

"That has nothing to do with what happened before?" She asked, incredulous.

Minerva was close enough to sit on the bed and grip her little sister's chin and pull it upwards against her will forcing Mercedes to look at her.

With a slight quiver in her voice she asked "What are you doing, Minerva?"

Minerva simply smiled at her. "What's wrong with me wanting to look at my little sister's face?"

Mercedes moved her head back out of her sisters hand then looked away. Minerva frowned a little then she placed a hand on the back of Mercedes head and brought her head to her stomach in a show of sisterly affection. Mercedes was taken by surprise as she was pulled close to Minerva then she closed her eyes.

"Stop it, Minerva." She pleaded, as she didn't want to go through the routine.

Unknown to her, Minerva was smiling wickedly at her then she began to stroke her head next running her fingers through her sister's hair.

"Don't worry Mercedes, tomorrow I will show you how a real mage of Sabertooth fights. No matter what tomorrow's event is, I'll be victorious."

Mercedes forcer herself away from her sister then looked at her. "It wouldn't be surprising if you won, Minerva."

"You already know I'm going to win, yet you don't show that you're happy about it." She said, in a slight scolding tone.

Mercedes lowered her head and closed her eyes.

"Just leave me alone." She softly spoke.

Minerva put a hand on her hip. "Is this sulking because Yukino was kicked out? Have you forgotten that Sabertooth doesn't need losers in this guild?"

Whispering, she questioned "Would you still say the same thing to me if had been me instead of Yukino?"

Minerva just grabbed her sister's chin again making her look her in the eye.

"I'm pretty sure that Father would but as for me, I would think you were too weak to even be allowed to wander around, the guild like you are right now."

Minerva rose from the bed, released her sister and turned to leave.

Pausing at the door she looked over her shoulder with one more parting piece of advice "Get some sleep, Mercedes. It's going to be a big day tomorrow."

Minerva left the room and Mercedes just looked at the floor. She clenched her fist then got ready for bed.

'Yuki-chan... I promise I will meet with you again.'

With that she grabbed her fans from their hidden place and went to sleep with them in her arms.