Who Needs a Princess, When You Can Have a Queen?

Celestia193's Author's Note: Since we've gotten requests to describe the boys' clothing choices, there's a smattering of that in here (and some more detailed description regarding what Sasuke is wearing) and their appearances will be further elaborated upon in later chapters. We've gone for a mix of stylish and practical, while keeping in mind that the Uchiha boys are VERY good at strutting when they feel like it.

Silver's Author's Note: There is a lot of silliness involved when it comes to clothing and just the tiniest trace of Natsu x Gray mentioned. I love Gray, but if you call Sasuke a brat, he's going to respond. So Sasuke engages in some taunting here. (All for lols though). Happy reading.

IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT: Due to Celestia having some technical difficulties, there will be no new updates of this story until Monday. We've been trying to update this once a day, but well I'm sure everyone understands how modern technology can be fickle sometimes.

Chapter 8

It was finally the end of June, three months since Fairy Tail's formerly missing members had returned and now, the Grand Magic Games were set to begin. The Opening Ceremony would commence in just a few short hours, but there were already thousands of tourists milling about the city, not to mention all of the wizards. One could practically taste the excitement in the air. It intermingled with the scent of all the delicious foods that were displayed everywhere in colorful booths.

Most people were eagerly snatching up something sweet to eat, trying to find their lodging, or buying souvenirs. "Damn it." Sasuke pulls his brother and cousin into a nearby ally way when he sees a familiar head of blond hair nearby. "That was a close one." Sasuke was mostly dodging and searching though. Dodging Jason from Sorcerer Weekly and looking for Fairy Tail.

It was maddening, but Blue Pegasus hadn't been able to see them since their return. "Now, now, Sasuke." The distance between their guilds was vast and as Master Bob said, Fairy Tail needed time to get back on track. Not to mention, most of them had scattered across the kingdom into training camps in preparation for the games. "You know that it's customary for them to interview everyone who participates at these games." Shisui chuckles at his cousin's hiding attempts. "Best just to get it over with."

That, and the three of them stuck out like sore thumbs. After all, two of them were competing today, so they were all dressed to impress. And not much stuck out more than Shisui in his scarlet jacket. Not that Itachi's blue, wave-patterened 'cape' was any less inconspicuous. Or Sasuke's liberal use of their guild emblem. But after all, minus the colors, and those few details, they were largely a matched set, which Jason was all too happy to point out.

Not that there was anyting wrong with that, after all, dark clothes suited Shisui and Itachi's training, the plashes of color suited their flashier jobs, and, well, Sasuke just liked that it was all comfortable. That, and maybe…there was a little vanity involved. But could anyone blame them for wanting to show off the biceps a little? Even if it was Sasuke who did it most often?

He normally didn't mind giving the occasional interview, but this was different. He still remembered what they had done to Itachi last time and well, he had more important things on his mind. Like finding Erza. That or at least finding earplugs. Otherwise, he would probably slug Jason the next time the overly energetic reporter said, "So cool!"

Itachi shakes his head as the three of them 'hide' from the overly enthusiastic reporter. "It isn't nearly as traumatizing as you believe it to be, Sasuke. Though I imagine that you would prefer seeing even pink hair to blond." Though pink hair was essentially what he knew that Sasuke was looking for. After all, Fairy Tail's most destructive wizard had hair that certainly stood out in a crowd. "They'll likely be with their guild now, or getting ready for the presentation of the top eight teams."

He, of course, had complete faith that with their core members back, Fairy Tail would easily make the top eight. Itachi knew well that most of the other guilds would never expect that outcome, but Blue Pegasus knew better, and he was certain that Lamia Scale knew it too. "They'll be here, even if they are not making their usual level of noise and chaos about it."

Shisui nods at that. Itachi was right. He highly doubted that Fairy Tail was going to miss the Grand Magic Games, now that their core members were back. "He's right about that." Those who remained had valiantly competed in the games every year since they began, even when they were at an obvious disadvantage without their most powerful wizards. "They'll be here." So he could see no reason why they wouldn't compete now. "Though I must admit that I am a little worried."

"Yeah." Sasuke's obsidian eyes look around warily. "It's quiet." Well it wasn't silent. There were far too many people around for that to ever be the case. "Too quiet." Though the atmosphere was certainly cheerful and festive, it was far too calm for Fairy Tail to be involved. So where were they?

"Weren't we here because you were hungry, Sasuke?" Itachi smirks at the sight of Sasuke's confused and panicked face. "Fairy Tail will show themselves on their own time. Relax." His brother was so transparent that it was painful. "I'm sure that they're fine, they're simply being quieter than usual."

The youngest Uchiha gives Itachi an incredulous look. "Fairy Tail is being quiet and you're telling me to relax?" Sasuke gives him a look that told him quite clearly what he thought about that. Itachi had lost his damn mind.

"He does have a point." Shisui shakes his head at the thought. He would have expected a lot of explosions or brawls by now. "Though maybe, they're on their best behavior for Games though. That or Erza has beaten them into conducting themselves properly. I do hope that Gray has outgrown his stripping habit though." Now, that would cause quite the scandal...

"Gray will never outgrow his stripping habit." From what Itachi understood, he and Lyon of Lamia Scale were in the habit of tripping off their clothes because it comprised part of their training in ice magic when they were young. An interesting sort of training, if you asked him, but some teachers were simply more eccentric than others, he supposed.

"Gray! Your clothes!" A girl's voice rings out across the concession area as a muttering crowd gets louder. Along with more than a few giggling girls.

Itachi blinks upon hearing the voice. Was that…Lucy? "…Shisui, I do believe that I'm right. Again."

Shisui rubs the back of his head sheepishly. "Yes, that does appear to be the case. Well...at least Sorcerer Weekly can get his measurements accurately." Oh boy. This was going to be a long tournament.

"I really don't get how he can strip and not notice at all." Sasuke shakes his head. "Come on. We should go and see them." After all, Gray was a man like him. There was nothing Gray Fullbuster had that the three of them didn't. Now, if Gray had been Grace or something, then Sasuke would have waited longer out of a sense of courtesy, but in his mind...they had all waited long enough.

Fortunately for all of them, Gray's stripping habit didn't always involve his boxers. And today was one such day when the underwear had STAYED on. Though Lucy was none too pleased as she held out his clothes for him as he was pulling his pants back on. "Honestly, Gray, could you try NOT to make their opinion of us any worse?"

"Oh I don't know." Shisui chuckles as they make their way over to them. "His stripping habit might improve your reputation with at least some of the women."

Sasuke was walking by his brother's side. It had been nearly seven years. "I think they'll be more shocked that you all returned from the dead than Gray being...Gray." So he doubted that he'd be recognized by the other guild at first. Though the stamp on his shoulder, left bare by a dark blue sleeveless, turtlenecked shirt marked him as a Blue Pegasus Wizard at the very least.

That is, if you weren't distracted by the flames twirling up the sides of his shirt, and over his shoulders, a personal touch to go with his nickname. And the dark leather belts around his hips that held up slightly baggy black pants were similarly marked with their guild's emblem. As were the dark wrist-guards that extended towards his elbows. One of the few places the emblem wasn't present was on the knee-high boots that matched the wrist-guards. But, of course, you had to stop somewhere.

Lucy glances at the two and blinks. "Who…" Then, her eyes find Itachi as well, and they flick between Itachi and Shisui. "You're from Blue Pegasus." And judging by the profusion of emblems, so was the third member of their party. "Shisui and Itachi, and…"

"No way!" Gray pulls his shirt over his head, before finally reaching for his jacket. "You've gotta be the brat right? Sasuke, Itachi's kid brother."

Itachi covers his mouth, trying not to laugh at the comical pair. His brother was NOT going to like being addressed like THAT.

Sasuke twitches ever so slightly. It was bad enough to be addressed in such a way when he was actually a child, but now that he was the same age as Gray physically, well that was a bridge too far.

Wait. Why was Gray the same age as him?! He should be like Shisui's age! "Yes, I"m Sasuke and what happened to you?" Well it was more like what didn't happen to him! The Fairy Tail Members hadn't aged a day!

"I think what my cousin means to say is that it looks as though no time has passed at all since we last met." It was disturbing even to Shisui. "It's been over six years, but you look the same today as the day you disappeared. How is that possible?"

As Gray tugs on the last of his clothes, he shares a look with his guildmate. "That's…complicated." Glancing around at the crowd, he shakes his head and motions over towards one of the hallways carved into the walls of the arena.

Shisui and Sasuke got the point. The two Uchihas dart into the hallway, knowing that Itachi would follow them. One way or another, they were going to get to the bottom of this.

Making sure that the coast is clear of nosy onlookers, Itachi brings up the rear behind his brother, cousin, and the two other wizards. "This must be rather…interesting, if you'd rather not talk about it where people can overhear us."

"Understatement…" Lucy sighs, shaking her head. "More like it's better not to cause a panic. Mentioning Acnologia could do just that."

Acnologia? Sasuke had heard that name before. "Acnologia? As in the dragon?" They had actually seen the dragon?!

"Uh, yeah, as in the dragon." Gray rolls his eyes. "Didn't the Magic Council say anything about the fact that Acnologia tried to blast Tenrou Island out of existence after we threw down with Grimoire Heart?" It was bad enough that they had to contend with a spy from the Magic Council, Zeref, and Grimoire heart all crashing their S-Class exam, but then a dragon? Come on, that just wasn't playing fair.

Itachi nods. "There were rumors floating around that Acnologia had been spotted from Hargeon, but the authorities decided neither to confirm or deny the rumors. Hibiki confirmed the attack with his Archive Magic, though."

The eye roll irritated Sasuke, but he decides he'd get payback later. In the Arena. "The dragon just attacked the island and disappeared for six years?" There were far more important things to focus on than Gray being annoying. He'd prove that he wasn't just Itachi's kid brother soon enough.

"Seems so." Lucy sighs, glancing at the sky, remembering the day that black wings blocked out the sun itself. "Anyway…what happened was…we tried to fight that thing, but even with four dragon slayers…" She shake her head. "It was only thanks to the power of our first master that we all survived. But it turns out that we were stuck inside Fairy Sphere a lot longer than we thought." And they'd lost a lot. Not just time, but people too.

Itachi frowns. He'd seen that expression before. "For what it's worth, I'm sorry for your loss."

Lucy blinks. "Ah…I…" Then, she smiles softly. "Thanks…" She wanted to say that she'd be okay, but that still felt a long ways off after finding out that her father had died a few months ago.

Shisui's eyes soften at that. As did Sasuke's. They all knew what it was like to lose someone. "For what it's worth, I'm sure that he knows you made it out. Somehow." Sasuke nods at her. "And he would have been proud of you for making it out with your sanity intact." He smiles at her.

"And of course, I'm sure that he would also think that you look quite lovely in purple." Shisui smiles at her, trying to lighten the mood. "It's not a color that everyone can pull off, you know?"

The compliment makes her laugh, though she cringes at the uniform. "Yeah…but it's not really my color. Or Elfman's." Seriously, that was a rather terrifying color on their giant guildmate. And honestly, it clashed with Natsu's hair too. "But Gray and Erza pull it off well."

"Well to be fair, Elfman is a man who is rather unique when it comes to what looks good on him and what doesn't." Shisui nods conversationally. "That's true about Gray though. It's a shame that he keeps taking them off so much." He chuckles. "And I'm sure that Erza looks quite lovely as well."

"Gray, put your damn clothes on." Sasuke smirks. Gray hadn't actually stripped this time. He just wanted to mess with him.

"They ARE on you moron!" Gray crosses his arms, eye flicking down just to make sure that they really hadn't come off again. "Jeez, learn a thing or two from your cousin about giving out compliments."

Shisui chuckles at Gray's outrage. "He knows they were on. Sasuke...what was the expression again?" He frowns as he tries to remember. "Oh yes, he made you look. He was teasing you, Gray and rather effectively, I must say."

"Exactly and the idiot fell for it because he knows that he's an idiot who can't keep his clothes on." Sasuke smirks, feeling rather victorious.

Itachi stifles another laugh. "Shisui, are you really so disappointed that Gray keeps taking off his clothes? You didn't seem to mind so much earlier."

And now, Sasuke felt rather disturbed as Shisui gapes at Itachi. "And what exactly are you trying to imply?" Good grief, Itachi could be sadistic sometimes! "I'm saying the color favors him, but no one is going to notice that...if he never wears it." Or anything.

"I am implying nothing, I simply asked a question." But Itachi smirks rather smugly at the reaction. Not only did he have a foolish little brother, but he also had a rather foolish cousin as well.

Lucy giggles softly. "Yes, it does suit him, doesn't it?" She clucks her tongue as Gray rolls his eyes. "Though if he would stop stripping down every chance he got, then maybe people wouldn't STARE so much!"

"Hey, I can't control it!" It had been an ingrained habit since he was like…eight! Gray blamed Ur for that, always had, always would. Oh, and Lyon, that idiot encouraged it. "And it was for TRAINING! You know that!"

As far as Sasuke was concerned. Ur should have been named Cougar. "Yes, training. Of course." It was perfectly normal for teachers to ingrain a stripping habit into their young student's psyche, Sasuke thinks to himself sarcastically.

Shisui swats Itachi upside the head playfully. "My cousins are both feeling mischievous today. You'll have to forgive them." He smiles at their friends. "This is their first time competing in the Games as well."

As Itachi waves Shisui's hand away, Lucy's eyes widen. "You're competing in the games, too?" She was still having trouble reconciling the young man in front of her with the little boy she remembered. And the last time she saw them, Itachi was her age. "Oh, then good luck. We're aiming for first place this year!"

Sasuke bites back his natural competitive impulse a bit. Normally, he'd say that Lucy would have to settle for second, but she was just too nice to say such things to. "Yes, I am." Gray on the other hand, well the youngest Uchiha would have no issue putting him in his place! "And I'm sure that you'll do well." After all, second place was still good.

"Yes, the both of us will be competing this year." Normally, Itachi would be perfectly happy watching from the sidelines, but Sasuke had seemed so eager to compete, and Shisui had pushed just hard enough to get him to agree. After all, Sabertooth's winning streak had to come to an end sooner or later. Though it appeared that there would be more than two guilds gunning to unseat the reigning champions.

"Well it's good to see that your competitive spirit is still intact." Shisui smiles at her. Ever the gentleman. "Though we shall have to see about that." Or not. Sasuke barely refrains from snorting at the unexpected display of competitiveness from Shisui, civil as it was.

Gray raises an eyebrow, his smirk quick to return. "That so? You should know that Fairy Tail doesn't do anything in by half. And we owe it to our guild to bring them home a win this year."

Itachi saw that this was likely to start getting out of hand, so this time, it's him holding back his brother and cousin. "Yes, I'm sure that we'll all compete well. But let's save the confrontations for the arena floor, shall we?"

"Sounds good to me." Sasuke smirks. "So where is your boyfriend, Ice Princess?" He had started it. Sasuke would finish it.

Unexpected to everyone in attendance, Gray's cheeks flush, and he shoves Sasuke away. "Shut up! Like I'd ever date that flame-brain!" Lucy stares as the ice wizard stalks off, nearly losing his shit in the process.

"Well…" Itachi blinks at the sight. "That was…enlightening."

Shisui chuckles as he looks at Itachi. "Well they are certainly an entertaining guild." One had to give them that much.

"Wait!" Sasuke blinks as he darts off after them for a moment. "Where is everyone else?" Specifically, he meant Erza, but he wasn't foolish enough to say that.

"She's with Natsu." Lucy watches as Gray starts to disappear. "There's some stands selling barbecue in the next concession section and Natsu smelled them. So she went after him to make sure he didn't set anything on fire." She glances into the crowd again, seeing nothing of Gray. "Sorry, I have to go!"

As the girl takes after her guildmate like a bullet, Itachi chuckles, shaking his head. "Sasuke, you have quite the talent for hitting rather sore spots, don't you?"

"He started it." Sasuke didn't refrain from rolling his eyes this time. "He called me a brat when he's the same age as me! Physically." It was bad enough that he had to put up with references to his age for years when he was actually a kid. At eighteen, he had had quite enough of that. "He deserved it."

"Perhaps, but teasing him about such a thing was…hitting below the belt." Though Itachi couldn't decide if this new development was completely unexpected, or tragically inevitable.

Shisui shakes his head and sighs. "Well I doubt that it's the first time such a thing has happened. Those two really do need to stop living in denial." He shakes his head again. "The reaction was rather comical, but you should probably apologize later."

"I don't see why I have to apologize for stating water is wet, but if you think I should humor his delusions, alright." Sasuke didn't particularly care that the Ice Stripper and Loud Mouth had a thing for each other. "Once they get together, it'll be less likely that they'll destroy their guild. Their efforts will be more focused on the bedroom. So really, I was doing them a favor."

"Yes, but they've been fighting with each other since the first day that they met." Or so Itachi had heard on one of their visits to Fairy Tail. "It's likely an idea that neither of them wants to entertain for fear of being shut down."

"Yeah." Sasuke nods. "Someone had to give them a push." It might as well be him.

"Then let us hope that your next comment doesn't shove them off a cliff." Itachi shakes his head, giving his own brother a shove to the back. "Now go on, you have a pair of Fairies to find, do you not?"

"You mean we have a pair of fairies to find." The younger Uchiha shoots him a quizzical look. "But you're right." Sasuke gestures for them to follow him. "Lets go find them. Do we have a gag for Natsu just in case?" He looks at his family hopefully.

Shisui couldn't help but laugh at that. "I think we can manage in the worse case scenario." The Bubble Eyes, they still existed. It was just rare that they came out. "Come on, Itachi. It would be rude to keep our friends waiting."

"Yes, I suppose it would." Itachi chuckles as he sniffs the air. His nose was far from that of a dragon slayer, but he could smell the scent of barbecue in the air well enough, and it was getting closer with every step. "They shouldn't be too far, now. And I suppose…if Gray and Lucy haven't aged in the time they've been away, it's likely safe to assume that Natsu and Erza have not aged either."

Itachi knew, Sasuke realizes. He knew or at least suspected and his elder brother was digging around to confirm his suspicions. "Most likely." He tries to sound casual. The last thing he needed was to give Itachi any sort of proof.

He knew that he was being ridiculous. Proof of what? That he was attracted to a beautiful woman who really knew how to handle swords? Wait. He shouldn't have thought that. That was bringing to mind some rather inappropriate images. Damn Itachi's mindfucks were powerful, even when he wasn't trying...he still managed to mess with Sasuke's mind!

"I would say that's a safe bet." Shisui smiles as the three of them heads off. "Though I wouldn't say no to what do they call them? Oh yes, a hot dog." The food in this realm could be rather delicious, even if it wasn't always the healthiest.

"Yes, I imagine that we'll find Natsu shoving many of those into his mouth." Itachi could imagine the expressions on the faces of the vendors when they became witness to the mountains of food that that boy could eat. "Will you be wanting one Sasuke? They do cover them in ketchup." And as Sasuke was rather fond of tomatoes…

"Yeah. I don't see why not." It was going to be a little while before the ceremony. They might as well eat. "And you're right, Natsu is likely eating the poor booths out. We should hurry." Or there wouldn't be anything left.

Shisui nods in agreement as they head off. The three of them walking together, side by side as they always did. "I have to confess it is rather flattering to be recognized." He whispers so lowly that only his family members could hear him as Shisui feels hundreds of eyes on them. Probably courtesy of Sorcerer Weekly.

Itachi was used to the stares by now, after all, they'd made names for themselves in Blue Pegasus. Itachi the Tsunami, they called him. Not entirely inappropriate, of course, after all, it had caught on after an…incident on a job, involving quite a large wildfire, and an even larger amount of water.

Shisui for his part was quite happy with his own name. Hurricane Shisui. "Just keep looking for a head of pink hair. Natsu should stick out." He'd been given that nickname because the winds that his abilities could produce were as powerful as any hurricane. "Even in a crowd this large."

"That or wherever the loudest noise is coming from." Sasuke doubted that even Erza could keep Natsu quiet for long. "Assuming that we can hear it over the giggling." He mutters as he tries to ignore the giggling and pointing that always accompanied the three of them during public appearances. He might have been named Inferno, but it was the Dragon Slayer who the very embodiment of the destructive powers of fire. The same Dragon Slayer that they now had to find, if they were going to find Erza.

"Happy! Catch!" A bunch of grilled fish go flying into the air not twenty feet away, followed by a bright blue cat, held aloft with pure white wings.

"Aye, Sir!" Tumbling deftly through the air, the cat swipes up every fish, shoving one into his mouth to munch on. The people of Earthland were used to strange creatures roaming about, but Happy was something of an oddity among them, along with the other flying cats, Exceeds, that found themselves a home in the Fairy Tail guild.

Itachi chuckles at the sight. "Well, I do believe that we've found them."

Only Fairy Tail would have flying, talking cats." Sasuke snorts in amusement. "Well them and Sabertooth." He shakes his head at the thought of that guild. "Though you're right." He heads over with Shisui and Itachi towards the blue feline.

In the midst of the chaos and mumbling, some of the mutters none too pleasant, are Natsu, Erza, and the blue bundle of flying, purring joy, Happy, who makes himself a place on top of Natsu's head in order to eat his fish.

Erza shakes his head, her ponytail swinging through the air. "Honestly, you two, you're drawing far too much attention to yourselves." They were getting enough attention as is, thanks to their guild's diminished reputation. No one had any idea what they were doing here, since the official teams in the games hadn't been announced yet.

"Well in all fairness, I believe a talking, flying cat would have gotten people's attention anyway." Shisui strides over. "If Natsu's pink hair or your beauty didn't do it."

Sasuke tries his best not to twitch at that. It was all true of course, but he felt a flash of jealousy at that. Still, he dutifully continues on forward alongside his flirtatious cousin and brother. Though Itachi was far less of a flirt than the former was.

Natsu's eyes fall on the three as he swallows the food shoved into his mouth. Five hot dogs, all stuffed to the brim with toppings. All at once. "Hey there, we know you guys or something?"

Shisui chuckles. Some things never changed. "Well it has been awhile. So I can't fault you for not recognizing us on sight." He smiles at them. "I'm Shisui and you might remember my cousins, Itachi and Sasuke. We're from Blue Pegasus."

Natsu blinks, sniffing the air as his eyes widen. "Whoa! Seriously!?" He stares at Sasuke like he'd grown an extra head, or two, or three. "Whoa, man, you grew! You're taller than me now!?" That was so not fair!

Sasuke wasn't sure whether he wanted to smirk or swat Natsu for his observation. "Yes, that tends to happen to most people over the course of almost seven years." So he settled on smirking, Erza might not approve of him swatting her teammate, even if she smacked him around like a ping pong ball all the time.

The dragon slayer isn't the only one to raise an eyebrow. Erza is more than a little intrigued herself. "The Uchiha boys. Yes…I remember you. It doesn't seem like all that long ago since we last saw each other, but…" The proof was staring her in the face. They'd grown. Sasuke, most of all.

"Yes, to us it has been quite some time, hasn't it?" Itachi couldn't blame them for being surprised. He was quite surprised himself, to see them both so young. And most importantly, alive.

"Well we prefer the title men now." Shisui shakes his head good-naturedly. "I'm closer to my 30th birthday these days than my 20th." He felt a bit self-conscious about that really. "Though it seems that your guild has done the impossible. You've frozen time itself...well at least when it comes to your physical forms." He probably shouldn't have been that blunt, but it was amazing. "How are the two of you feeling?" Was it painful to be frozen for that many years? Weren't their muscles stiff?

"Perfectly fine." Erza smiles kindly at him. "We emerged from our battle relatively unscathed. So there's no need to worry. We will be perfectly capable of competing in the tournament."

"Yeah, takes more than some dumb dragon to take us out." Natsu shoves another handful of hot dogs into his mouth. That thing hadn't scared him, he was the first to rush back into battle against it.

Shisui grins widely. "I'm glad to hear it." Well it truly seemed as if they were no worse for wear! Miraculous really!

"Never doubted that for a moment." Sasuke smiles as well. "That you would be capable of competing, I mean."

Erza's expression falls slightly. "Yes. Though I suppose that we have given our friends many reasons to doubt us." They all had their reputations to earn back. That to once again prove that Fairy Tail was the strongest guild in Fiore. That much could not be in dispute.

Shoving a bit more food into his mouth, Natsu rolls his eyes at them. "If you're just gonna stand here yacking, I'm gonna go find Lucy and the Ice Princess. My nose is itching."

"That'lll change soon enough. "Sasuke smiles at her. "Once they see you fight, and Lucy is done dealing with Gray's most recent trauma." The youngest Uchiha shrugs. "He bit off more than he could chew, but he's fine."

Natsu's eyes narrow, nose twitching. "What'd you do to him?"

Itachi raises an eyebrow. That was…an interesting reaction. Natsu looked like…well, like a dragon that had been poked with a sharp stick, and was debating on whether or not to eat the unfortunate soul who thought such a thing was a good idea.

"Nothing too much." Sasuke shoots him a flat look. "I just pointed out the obvious. I didn't lay a hand on him."

Sensing danger on the horizon as Natsu's nostrils flare, Erze elbows the pink-haired dragon slayer. "Go and find the others, the opening ceremonies will be starting soon. And Happy, make sure to ask the master and Porlyusica for updates."

"Aye, Sir!" Happy waves his paw in the air as Natsu turns around, grumbling. "And I'll make sure Natsu is back before it all starts, okay!?"

"That's perfectly fine, Happy." Erza shakes her head with a soft snort as the contrast of pink and blue wanders off into the crowd. "Luckily, Natsu is more focused on the games, than on picking a fight with friends."

"Yes, that could have gotten quite messy otherwise." Itachi didn't really fancy watching his brother and the dragon slayer throw down in the middle of the booths. Mostly because even with such a long blank period, he wasn't sure that his little brother could win.

"Yeah." Sasuke shakes his head in amusement. Luckily, Natsu's attention span was even shorter than the amount of time that Grey could keep his clothes on. "So how are you...settling back in?"

"It is…an adjustment. But in some ways, it is like we never left." The adjustment part was difficult, though. They'd simply missed so much time, and Erza wasn't sure if they could make all of it up. "However, we have spent what time we've had preparing for these games, and I believe that we should put on quite the show. That will be adjustment enough."

Smiling knowingly, Itachi tugs on Shisui's collar and motions to the food stands. "We'll go and purchase the food. I'm sure that you have…catching up to do."

"Yes, we'll pick you up some hot dogs for later." Shisui smiles at Sasuke as he slips off with Itachi.

"If it's anything like you did to that criminal wizard, I'm sure the audience will enjoy the fireworks." Sasuke nods at them, barely noting their departure at all.

"After they finish booing us." She could already see how their reception was going to go, if the attitudes of the general public were any indication. "They will remember soon enough what Fairy Tail is capable of."

"If they boo you, then we are going to need a lot of medics." Sasuke shakes his head. If they couldn't recognize a Queen when they saw one, they needed their eyes checked. "If their vision is truly that poor that they don't recognize a placing team when they see one, then Fiore is going to need many, many medics and just as many new pairs of eyeglasses will have to be forged."

"Not likely. I will be there to remind Natsu that we're not allowed to attack the crowd." And he would listen, if he didn't want to be on the receiving end of Erza's wrath. "Besides, we wouldn't want to create any more work for Wendy and Ms. Porlyusica."

He shakes his head. It was going to be strange to see Wendy. She was roughly his age, Sasuke was almost sure of it, but she wouldn't look it. "I"m sure you'll change their minds quickly. People love to cheer on winners." Any loyalty they felt to particular guilds usually vanished, if that guild did poorly enough. "Any place in the top three should restore your guild's reputation to its former position."

"Perhaps, but our guild deserves nothing less than first, after everything we put them through." And it was her job to put them there. "After we allowed them to sink so low, it is the least we can do for them."

"You didn't allow anything." Sasuke caresses her cheek. "It's not as if you had a choice. Lucy and Gray told us what happened." The dragon. "No one could have done better against such a foe than your guild. It's a miracle that you're all still alive. Fairy Tail might have been a far cry from what it once was, but you're back now." He tilts his head at her. "And any damage to your reputations can be fixed as long as your hearts are still beating. Even if you get second place." He smiles slyly at that last part.

"Is that so?" She knew a challenge when she heard one, despite the gentle touch. "Then I look forward to competing with you. You are going to be representing Blue Pegasus, isn't that right?"

He nods and gestures to his arm. "That's right." His brother and cousin were in the guild, so it really wasn't a surprise that he was. Then again, the leader of Raven Tail was the son of Makarov and they weren't in the same guild. "And I'm sure that Fairy Tail will be lucky to have you represent them." So maybe, in hindsight that wasn't always a safe assumption. That family members would always be in the same guild.

"So that's where you were hiding it." She laughs at the motion. "Good. I'm sure that you will do your guild proud. As I will do my best to do the same." She returns his gesture, touching his cheek lightly, and comparing the young boy she knew, to the man now standing before her. "I look forward to seeing how your abilities have progressed."

"Thanks and you too. I haven't seen everything you can do yet." Sasuke smiles at her. Suddenly, he was really glad his nosy relatives had left to get food. "I've only seen you use one move so far." They would take that the wrong way about moves and what she could do. The damn perverts.

Erza's eyes twinkle amusedly at him. "Then I hope that I will impress. After all, it wouldn't do to hold back too much in a competition like this." Her hand reaches up to ruffle his hair, before falling away. "Be sure to put on your best performance as well." She backs away, turning with a smile. "My team will need me soon, but I'll see you at the opening ceremonies."

The hair ruffling again?! "Alright. I'll see you then." Damn it. She still saw him as a damn puppy. He wasn't a member of that Quatro Ceberus Guild though! "And good luck!" If Sasuke was, that analogy might make more sense, but he belonged to Pegasus! He was just going to have to do well in the competitions, he supposed. It was hard to call someone a kid, after they've won a few battles.

An even brighter and more determined smile graces her face as she turns away. "And to you as well, Sasuke." She waves goodbye, quickly disappearing into the crowd to search for her wayward teammates.

Itachi and Shisui return, and looking at his little brother's expression, Itachi shakes his head. "You will have to do better than that if you want to catch the attention of a woman as powerful as her."

"Stop implying things and seeing things that aren't there." Sasuke rolls his eyes at his brother, trying to feign mild annoyance rather than the terror he felt at being 'caught'. "You're better off giving that kind of advice to the stripper or loudmouth." Gods and Goddesses only knows what Itachi would do, if he sincerely thought he had 'proof'.

Shisui just shakes his head along with Itachi. "If you say so. Well I got us plenty of food." He smiles at his family. "One shouldn't fight on an empty stomach or one that is too full." He pauses and clarifies. "It's never a good idea to eat just before a match." Shisui had found that out the hard way a few years ago, right before his own match.

"Yes, I remember." Itachi chuckles at the memory, after cringing to a suitable extent, his nose wrinkling slightly. "That's right, Sasuke, it's best to eat lightly, snacking here and there, until it's certain that you won't be competing today." He, of course was going to do the same.

"Yeah. I remember." Sasuke nods and winces the memory. "We don't want a repeat of Shisui's first time in Games." That hadn't been pretty to put it mildly. Though Shisui had still won his match. Barely.