Edited by: Trying To Put Pen To Paper

Chapter 3

The next morning, Mercedes hopped out of her bed and readied herself for the day without much enthusiasm and was walking through the hall of the Sabertooth Guild. She noticed that some of the members looked a little beat up, few were even wrapped in bandages. As she wandered, she saw Lector and Frocsh walking by.

"Lector, Frocsh what happened to them?" She quietly spoke indicating to the injured Guild members.

Lector looked at her curiously before replying. "Some guy from the Fairy Tail Guild stormed the place singlehandedly and attacked the Master last night because he was angry that Yukino was kicked out. The Lady stopped him and had his cat friend as a hostage and, in exchange for letting him go without trouble told the Fairy to leave. He would have done a lot more damage if The Lady hadn't stepped in."

Frocsh the cat in the pink frog costume nodded and said with his trademark smile. "Fro thinks so too."

Mercedes gave her thanks for the information then looked away. "Wow, all that anger over someone else's problems… what did he say when he left?"

"He said for us to take care of our comrades." Lector crossed his arms.

Mercedes nodded once again, then she left the two cats who were staring after her to wander out of the guild. As she was walking through the streets to making her way to the Stadium while she smiled at what she heard from Lector.

"That person is right. We must cherish our comrades." She told herself walking along a wall overlooking a river, two people in a boat saw her and yelled out for her to be careful, Mercedes continued to smile as she waved back a thanks. "So he's from Fairy Tail, I hope I can meet one of the guild members and talk to them some day. They sound like a happy gui-...Family."

She soon arrived at the gates but stopped when she felt a presence behind her, fearing it was her sister she looked behind her to see the members of the 'Fairy Tail A Team' coming towards her. She was rather surprised to see them and even more surprised when they stopped and one of the girls who had long blond hair smiled at her.

"Hey there, are you going to watch the games today, what's your name?" She asked leaning down to her level.

Blushing slightly she whispered "…Mercedes."

"What a nice name, I'm Lucy." The blond, now named Lucy, replied.

Mercedes blushed even more and was forced to look away shyly.

"You're Fairy Tail, right?" She asked even though she already knew they were, they were all wearing matching purple uniforms with the Fairy Tail guild mark on it.

Another member that had pink hair smiled at her.

"Yep. I'm Natsu and I'll answer any question you have about our guild." He puffed out his chest with pride and held his fist over his heart.

Mercedes gathering all her courage asked "What… is a guild?"

To his credit, Natsu held his chin giving her question serious thought before grinning and answered, "A guild is like a family. We cherish each other, help each other to get over hard times and get stronger. We win or fail together."

This was not the answer she was expecting, looking up they could all see the hope in her eyes, "Really?"

"Yes, and we welcome anyone." He added, not seeing a guild mark on the child.

"Um, I was wondering something else…"

The other woman who had scarlet red hair answered her. "What is it?" her answer was brief and to the point but not harsh as her sisters surely would have been.

Shaking slightly from fear at being scolded Mercedes looked at all of them standing together and asked "Do you think… after the Grand Magic Games...I- I could, possibly join your guild?"

Natsu blinked and like the others was a little surprised at the request. But was the first to recover asking.

"Are you with a guild now?"

This was what she was afraid of, so nodding Mercedes swallowed despite her throat being as dry as a desert and replied "Yes...Sabertooth."

Natsu made no comment or look of disgust, instead he turned to the red haired girl next to him. "What do you think, Erza?"

Erza looked at Mercedes then smiled.

"We will talk tonight after this next game." She assured her putting a hand on her shoulder.

Hopeful she smiled and with excitement asked "We'll talk tonight?"

"Yes. I want you to meet me at the bridge that's by the river, it has a small fountain attached to it." Erza directed.

Mercedes nodded then she left to go to the stands while they went to their post for the day's events.

The first game was the monsters of all sorts of rank. The more defeated, the more points. Mercedes watched and was sitting next to her father in the bleachers, who didn't even bother to ask why she was late, and settles in to watch the game. She didn't have much interest in the game but then to her surprise she saw Erza accepting a full challenge to fight alone against all 100 monsters.

Astounded her eyes popping out of her head she thought 'Is she really going to do that? That would be difficult even for Minerva!'

Mercedes watched as all 100 monsters were slowly whittled down in number and defeated by Erza. She really was tireless as she changed armour so quickly and to suit each monster. The vast amount of them alone was enough to impress Mercedes. And she along with the whole crowd was cheering the announcer was talking over the intercom. Albeit her cheering was much quieter with her father in such close proximity.

"WINNER IS ERZA SCARLET OF FAIRY TAIL!"

Mercedes smiled to herself as she watched Erza, beaten and battered go back to her team.

'She's strong. I bet she's stronger than Minerva. She has to be.' She assured herself.

Later that night she sat on the stone wall waiting for Erza to arrive so she could talk. It was easy leaving the guild, no one paid her much attention so when she told her father and sister she was going out to walk the streets, alone, they 'hmm'ed and let her go.

A half hour later and she was still waiting for Erza to arrive. The fountain was still shooting water into the air and dropping, splashing into the pool below. It was the only sound breaking the silence of the evening. As she began to give up hope of ever leaving Sabertooth and joining Fairy Tail, the sound of shoes hitting stone filled the night.

Turning quickly hoping it was Erza, another figure was walking toward her.

It was Natsu.

When she stood in front of Mercedes he had a brooding look on his face. "Erza wanted to come, but she was too injured. So she told me to rearrange this for tomorrow night."

All the fear that she felt left as she let out a breath she didn't know she was holding. She nodded at Natsu "Oh, okay. I will be back here tomorrow. Tell her that she was amazing taking on all 100 monsters today."

And with that she smiled, waved goodbye to Natsu and quietly snuck back into the guild. Hoping not to be questioned. Luck was on her side as she was able to go into her room without a sideways glance from anyone in Sabertooth.

Next Day

Then the next battle was up and it was a Naval battle. There was a giant water sphere suspended in mid air above the arena. Mercedes saw that there was a member from each team but she noticed that the blond frim the other day, Lucy, was in the battle and blinked.

'Lucy? I wonder what's going to happen?' She thought. From earlier battles she knew that Lucy was a Celestial Mage like Yukino, and hoped she had a water spirit.

Very soon after the battle started, Lucy and another member from her guild on the B Team named Juvia were both going head to head at each other. She witnessed Lucy summon a mermaid spirit and just stared at it, knowing that it was a Gold Key Spirit and how rare they were. After a while the mermaid spirit just abandoned Lucy as she was on par with Juvia and she took full advantage of the moment to use a….peculiar spell named after someone called Gray. It was flashy, but very powerful as it managed to knock out three opponents in one fell swoop, save Mercedes' sister and Lucy, but she summoned two more spirits that managed to save her.

'It's a good thing she had a back up plan.' She was on the edge of her seat watching the two friends battle as if their life depended on it. She was astounded at how fiercely they were fighting, even though they were from the same guild.

Juvia soon found herself outside of the water, having been distracted by something, leaving Minerva and Lucy left in the battle.

Mercedes frowned at the pairing. She knew how Juvia ended out of the arena but didn't say anything. She left her seat going somewhere else hoping to be closer to the action waiting for her sister to do something bad. She watched from the ground as the Naval battle continued on. To her shock she saw Minerva torturing Lucy even though the battle was already over, that she had already won.

Her mind was blank but for one thing repeating in her mind. 'What is she doing?! Minerva stop!'

The beating Lucy was receiving was so bad that she was covered in bruises and cuts. She MUST have had many broken bones. Minerva let her go and then she fell to the ground but Natsu and another member of their team caught her. Minerva slid down the water and landed with ease, uninjured to the ground. Mercedes and two other girls came running to Lucy to heal her wounds. Mercedes, a girl from Fairy Tail named Wendy and another girl from Lamia Scale named Chelia were healing her.

When Minerva saw her little sister helping Lucy she smiled with amusement.

"What's with that look? I only took advantage of the rule." Minerva spoke to the Fairy Tail team and glancing at her sister. "Rather, you should be grateful to me for letting her keep second place. I guess she did not understand that she was useless Trash."

'So you have healing magic as well? Well then I guess this changes thinks slightly…' Minerva thought planning something.

After healing Lucy the medical team took Lucy away for her to rest. Mercedes watched both Fairy Tail and Sabertooth do a face off in the middle of the field. They didn't fight but were very close to a confrontation and if Erza wasn't there who knows what would have happened before they left back to their posts.

Erza glared at the Sabertooth team emanating pure malice. "I don't care if you are the strongest guild here. I will only say one thing, you have made enemies of the worst guild to anger."

With that they all dissipated. Mercedes wanted to check on Lucy so she dragged her feet all the way to the healing room, when she saw how badly she was injured and the whole team standing around her she felt even worse and she looked behind her to see Erza coming toward her and lowered her head not able to look her in the eye.

"I'm sorry, Erza." Mercedes muttered, ashamed.

Erza smiled at her despite all that had happened she didn't blame the small cowering child.

"It's not your fault, you didn't do anything to us." Erza reassured her.

"But still, my sister..." Mercedes had tears pooling at the edge of her eyes and her voice was quivering.

Erza's breath caught in her throat. "Minerva is your sister?"

"Yes, not something I'll ever be proud of but nothing will change that. I am forever bonded to her." She glared at the floor.

Erza stepped closer to Mercedes and patted her head, gently lifting it so her gave was no longer on the floor. And reassuring her said. "True, we can never change our family but thanks to you, Wendy and Chelia, Lucy is going to be alright."

Mercedes was still upset. "Yeah but, I used my magic..."

"What do you mean?" The Reequip Mage asked, confused.

"I used the magic that was trying to keep hidden from my father and sister. Since they saw that I could heal people… I don't even want to know what they'll do to me now…" She trailed off, shaking with fear.

Erza let her eyes soften and she knelt down as she looked at the scared little girl in front of her.

"Don't worry, if they do anything, come to our guild. We will gladly accept someone that would heal a person she didn't know."

Mercedes nodded then they both saw the other members coming to check on Lucy who was starting to wake up.

Later on that day, Mercedes made her way back to the Sabertooth guild. She really didn't want to be there but then she sensed something was off. She could feel all the stares from the other guild members the second she arrived back and not wanting the stares, she quickly went to her room. When she opened the door to her room she froze in her spot when she saw Minerva looking at her, smiling, while sitting on her bed.

"Hello Mercedes." She replied grinning, clearly having been waiting and planning this moment.

"What are you doing in my room?" Mercedes asked, narrowing her eyes, but not having an aggressive stance.

Her sister just tilted her head and pouted, "Aren't you going to congratulate me for winning the Naval battle?"

This only served to anger Mercedes "Why would I do that? So what if you won, what you did was disgusting!"

"Which lead to me and Father learning that you had some magic power that you thought was a good idea to keep from us." She said looking away and out the window.

Mercedes instinctively felt for her fans that were hidden on her person but felt nothing, they weren't at her waist. So looking back at Minerva she saw that her elder sister had them in her hand holding them up mocking smiling at her.

"Mercedes, it's not nice keeping secrets from us." Was all she said, turning her head with an evil glint in her eye.

Truly scared Mercedes demanded, "Give me my fans. Now."

Taking the bait, she laughed and waved the fan's slightly "If you want them, come get them."

Not needing any more motivation, Mercedes charged at her but Minerva vanished into thin air. Mercedes looked behind her to see Minerva grinning at her, toying at her with a hand on her hip.

"So without your fans, you're weak? You're no different than that poor excuse of a wizard I beat today." She sneered.

Mercedes charged at Minerva again planning to hit her but was punched in the face, she staggered but didn't fall. She didn't have time to be surprised as her sister's knee slammed hard in her stomach. She grabbed her stomach and dropped to her knees in pain, trying to get her breath back. Minerva smiled at her little sister.

"How can you get your fans back if you can't even lay a hand on me? Such a pity that you're weak, but what's worse for you is that Father wants you out of this guild and he wants your fans broken as penance for being weak and lying to us."

Before Minerva could leave Mercedes grabbed her by the bottom of her dress. Minerva looked down at her little sister who was looking at her.

"Please…" She pleaded to her sister "Don't break them."

Minerva continued to look at her grin grew as she turned around. "On second thought, I love to hear you begging. Beg more to me and I'll give you back your little fans." She said waving them in the air.

Mercedes hated to beg but if that meant she could have her fans back then she would. So she lowered her head and pleaded.

"Please give them back. Please. I don't want to lose them."

Minerva dropped the fans next to Mercedes then left the room.

Turning at the door she said. "Good bye, weakling."

After Minerva left the room, Mercedes was on still her knees looking at her fans. Of all things that could break her, if there was one weakness she had, her sister found it and toyed with it.

"I have to get out of here before something else happens." She told herself.

So quickly forcing her body off the floor she grabbed her case and packed everything that was important to her then she left the guild without saying anything or looking at anyone.

She couldn't bare too witness the glares.