Edited by: Trying To Put Pen To Paper

Chapter 6

It was the last day of the Grand Magic Games. Mercedes was running through the halls to the Fairy Tail stands so she wouldn't be late for the match but was forced to skid to a halt when she saw Minerva not too far from her smiling. It wasn't a normal smile it was one of her smiles that made her feel discomfort.

"Hello Mercedes, there have been a change of plans." She told her in a sickly sweet voice that Mercedes knew was fake.

Mercedes took a step backwards considering running there were other ways to the stands. "What are you going to do?"

Minerva had her little sister back against the wall. She smiled as she looked into her little sisters eyes. "The deal we made is off. You are going to help me to get Sabertooth to victory."

"Why would I want to help you?" She hissed, glaring at her older sister.

Minerva grabbed Mercedes by the jaw, pulling her head upwards, which one of the things she hated.

"That wasn't a request, Mercedes. You are coming with me whether you like it or not." Minerva told her, her smile gone, replaced by a sneer.

Mercedes just looked at her sister in fear.

With Erza

Erza was walking with her team out onto the competition field. As she was walking, her mind began to wander.

'I know I should stay focused on winning but where is Mercedes? She thought to herself, worried for the little mage. 'Knowing her, she would have followed me here or told me she was going to be late. She already told me that Sabertooth is very prideful that they demand to win the games, and they would not take kindly for one of their own joining a rival guild. Well, for now I'll stay focused on the games.'

Soon Erza and her team stood on the field, waiting for the starting bell. They everything planned out, with help from First Master Mavis and then they headed out to carry out their tasks.

Team Fairy Tail go on the move, as guided by Mavis. Rufus, sensing this from his hiding place, fires a lightning attack at them, but, thanks to Mavis, the team manage to avoid it. Mavis then proceeds to move the team around the city to find opponents: Erza finds Jenny and quickly defeats her; Gajeel locates the Trimens and manages to knock out Ren and Eve; Hibiki manages to get out of his line of fire only to run into Gray, who freezes him, putting Fairy Tail back in the lead. As Mavis continues her strategy very composed and focused as she gives out her orders, Marakov remembers that she was known as the "Fairy Tactician" during her tenure as the guild leader.

Ichiya, upon finding that the Trimens are defeated, vows to avenge them, only to get knocked out by Jura from behind, effectively knocking Team Blue Pegasus out of the game with all their members defeated. Elsewhere Chelia manages to beat Risley, putting Lamia Scale in a tie for first with Fairy Tail and Sabertooth. Seeing this and being questioned by the other members if she has a plan for Jura, Mavis admits she doesn't know how to deal with him yet.

Fairy Tail takes the lead after Gray's victory over Rufus. As the team proceeds, Juvia is found by Chelia, just as Mavis predicted. Elsewhere, Erza heads to another area, expecting to fight Minerva but much to her surprise, encounters Kagura instead. While Mavis begins tearing up over her failed prediction, the two Mages fight. Suddenly, a wormhole opens between the two and Minerva materializes through it and attacks the two, wanting to join the battle. With that, the trio of the three strongest women from Fairy Tail, Mermaid Heel, and Sabertooth were getting for a showdown everyone in the audience was shocked. The next thing that took place was to see the female trio fight each other.

"I won't back down regardless of who my opponent is." Erza told the two that stood in front of her.

'Erza… Why do you protect Gerard? According to Millianna the amount of pain he caused you… was something that should have been unforgivable.' Kagura thought looking over at the scarlet haired mage.

"You've caused the pillars of my guild to become quite unsteady." Minerva told them confident in her power "In the meantime, your guilds, Erza, Kagura… Try to desperately claw their way back up the food chain. I'll have to make your delusions of grandeur end here."

"You talk too much" Erza told her.

"Enough Chit Chat. Come" Kagura exclaimed.

As the women face off, the members of their respective guilds are confident in the victory of their guild mates. Analysing their opponents, the three Mages rush into battle. Despite their attempts, none of them are able to overpower the others. Catching her off guard, Erza kicks Kagura through a wall and takes herself along with her. Minerva attacks Kagura at point-blank range but fails to inflict significant damage as she returns to deliver a blow. Minerva activates her Magic and summons Yagdo Rigora to attack, creating a large explosion which engulfs the area and attracts the attention of other participants. However, Erza and Kagura remain, injured but steady.

"I see… I had no idea the two of you were so… Durable." She told them, smiling "There'll be no end to this if I keep toying with you too. I'm going to change things up a little."

Minerva had her magic appear and showed her prey that she had gotten a hold of. "I caught a stray kitten just now. And my sister earlier."

Erza and Kagura were both in shock to see that it was Millianna and Mercedes.

"Millianna...Mercedes...what are you doing to them?"

Minerva smiled at Erza. "Can't you see it? Their faces writhing in agony? Their magic is continuously being sapped from her within this space" As if in response both of the captured occupants convulsed and screamed in pain. "Spare me your rage, I have no intension of using them as bait."

Both Erza and Kagura gave her a look of loathing.

"Those are the expressions I wanted to see." Minerva returned their look with glee. "So delicious… the looks on your faces."

"Release Millianna" Kagura demanded. "I will not ask again, release my comrade while you still breathe."

"If you want her, come and take her." Minerva challenged.

Kagura, as quick as lightning, closed the gap and drew her sword part way intending to kill Minerva. "You shall be the second Tiger I devour."

"I do hope this one tastes better than your last." As Minerva finished her speech, Erza was suddenly in her place. Her instincts kicked in to block the attack from Kagura.

'I got switched in' Erza thought.

"Why don't you two claw each other's eyes out? The victor shall become my prey." And with a swish of her arm, both Millianna and Mercedes vanished "If Kagura wins then I'll release the cat, but if Erza wins I'll release my little sister. However if both of you lose to me, you'll never see them again."

"How shameful… you were the one who interrupted our fight to begin with." Erza told her, still struggling with Kagura.

"Pulling the strings and making others move on your whim… That is what defines a king. "Minerva told them over her shoulder. "The two of you should be flattered… Even for someone as heralded as myself, I'd be lucky. To leave unscathed if I took on both of you on at the same time. See I just paid you both a compliment. Remember this… A king must win using any means necessary."

"Give Millianna and Mercedes back!" Erza shouted.

"Don't you dare…" Kagura took on a dark look "PRETEND TO BE HER FRIEND!"

"It seems you two have a lot to talk about." Minerva said, walking away "I'll leave you be."

"I shall accept your conditions, release Millianna at once!" Kagura shouted as Minerva vanished.

Erza clenched onto her swords even tighter. "Millianna, Mercedes." She whispered "It seems she got the best of us." She told Kagura.

"Silence." Kagura demanded "I'll cut you down… Then I'll devour the Tiger-Lady."

Erza looked over and saw Kagura charging at her then they began to fight again.

In the Dimension of Minerva's magic.

Minerva watch in amusement as she went to Mercedes and lifted her chin.

"Well Mercedes, how was that?"

Mercedes glared at her. "Why are you doing this? Did Father tell you to do this?"

Minerva giggled at her question. "Father had nothing to do with it. I'm just doing a little experiment. I guess I should also tell you that Father will no longer be the Guild Master of Sabertooth."

Mercedes was struck when she heard that, but the strange thing was, she wasn't sad. "What? Why?"

Her sister smiled at her. "It's another test I have for my experiment."

"Experiment?" the young Fairy asked, nearly afraid of the answer.

"Yes, the power of feelings. I'm sure you saw the battle of the dragon slayers and how the combatant, the flame head, from Fairy Tail won. Well later that evening Father 'killed' Lector and Sting struck him down with his magic. I was impressed but I wanted to see more of it. I wondered if there really is such a power would come so easily from emotions, so after seeing you with Erza for a time during the games, I wanted to see what the result of it being." She told her sister, who struggled to break free from her grasp but was unable.

Minerva smiled at her efforts but in this dimension, she was the ruler. "Oh Mercedes, your struggling never ceases to amuse me."

Mercedes stopped her struggling and lowered her head not wanting to look at her sister anymore.

"What would happen if your experiment fails?" She asked, if only to placate her sister.

"It wouldn't bother me but it will bother you." She warned.

Minerva leaned closer and whispered in her ear. "I hope you're prepared to come with me when the Grand Magic Games are over. If you're very lucky Erza might be able to save you, little weakling."

Minerva caressed her sister's cheek in some form of affection and chuckled but then frowned a little.

"Their fight is taking too long, I may as well entertain myself while I wait." She told Mercedes, stepping away from her and looking at the distance.

Looking up the young mage saw Minerva go to Millianna who was passed out and was also being held captive.

"Minerva, what are you about to do?" her voice quivered as she asked.

Minerva grinned sadistically as her hand was covered in white aura then looked back at Mercedes. "Right now, I just want to play with the little kitten."

With that said she struck Millianna across her back, causing large gashes to appear making her scream out in pain. Mercedes struggled to break free but couldn't as began to beg Minerva to stop.

After a while Millianna was passed out from the torture and Mercedes had tears streaming down her face. Minerva went to her and lifted her chin up then smiled as the distressed Mercedes looking up at her.

"What's with the tears? You don't even know this weak mage." She scolded.

"Why are you so cruel!? You're just like Father!" Mercedes screamed as she struggled with all her might to free herself from her bonds.

"Not quite." Minerva turned away from Millianna and back at her sister "An apple doesn't fall too far from the tree but this one isn't fully the same. Making people suffer is like music to my ears and amusement to my eyes."

"..." Mercedes refused to respond but glared at her sister.

"Don't worry, I wouldn't put a harmful hand to you though." Minerva told her, a half joking expression on her face.

Mercedes' expression hardened as she said "...you already did."

"I don't recall striking you…" She said putting a hand on her chin "but I should go back and get the points and win the tournament."

With that Minerva turned to leave and using her magic she opened a portal out of her dimension to the tournament. When her sister was gone, Mercedes looked at Millianna then lowered her head closing her eyes.

"I'm so useless. I couldn't do anything to help you." She whispered, angry at herself.

"It's okay... kid." Came the reply.

Mercedes blinked then looked up to see that Millianna was fully conscious, looking at her with a weak smile, despite the pain she must have been in. Her back was still bleeding from the wounds.

"You cared... and that's enough... for me." She comforted Mercedes, knowing that the kid was blaming herself for everything that had happened.

Mercedes nodded, blinking back tears. "I wish there was some way to get out of here, but I already know that only my sister can release us."

Not too long after that Millianna and Mercedes were both released by Minerva. Mercedes had saw Kagura on the ground bleeding from what she assumed was a sword wound. She looked behind her to see that Minerva was Erza were about to start fighting. They took their battle somewhere else while Mercedes went to Kagura and Millianna.

Mercedes checked them then she placed her hands over both of them.

"Time: Power of the Horse." She said, pooling every bit of strength into the spell, a spectral horse appeared, raised itself on its hind legs and neighed before disappearing. She hoped that this would be strong enough without her fans.

Since she didn't have her fans, her powers were severely diminished, she could only stop the bleeding on them both. Kagura looked at her and Mercedes grabbed her hand.

"It's going to be okay." She told the Mermaid Heel mage "I managed to stop the bleeding and your wound isn't life threatening."

"Thank...you." Kagura whispered, her breathing was laboured and she was tired from blood loss.

Mercedes nodded then she looked up to see the medical team rushing towards them. They took Millianna and Kagura to the resting room so that their wounds would get treated even more. After they left, Mercedes ran to look for Erza.

'This isn't about winning anymore! I got to find sister Erza and fast!' She thought sprinting as fast as she could in the direction of loud bangs and destruction.