I do not own Fairy Tail.

Sorry this took so long, but have you ever had that that feeling where you went, "I wrote a sentence...that's good enough for now." Writing this chapter was like that, so if it feels disconnected or whatever that's why. Enjoy anyways.

"That concludes today's wizard trials. Decided competitors will meet at the game arena tomorrow for the first official day."

Ur watched the announcer from her position on the field. She had to admit, the competition had proven to be considered troublesome. Each of the single mage contenders were beyond average, one or two of them she'll actually have to get serious against. Then there was the other problem...

Her azure eyes were fixated on the elderly game administrator making his way from the announcement box and off the tattered grounds. She pushed past the tightly packed bodies of beaten mages in her way and strode over to him. When he was in arms reached she tapped his shoulder. The older spun around, looking at who stopped him from his departure.

"Yes? What is it?"

…

"Three cheers for Fairy Tail!"

Makarov shouted loud enough most of the visiting mages across the now ruined pasture could hear him. Applause from his brats rose up when the triumphant team came into view. Grins were plastered on the faces of each teammate, showing their pride in their own achievement. Even if bruises covered their faces their good mood was as obvious as the sun on a clear day.

Natsu couldn't contain his happiness at seeing the whole (almost whole) guild waiting for them. He flashed them all a dazzling smile. "Just wait until tomorrow. Then we'll really show them what we're really made of."

"Aye sir!"

Lucy rubbed her sore back, scraps visible across the light skin. Everyone was in such a fantastic mood now while she felt like she'd been stampeded on. She longed for the hot water of a bath. By the look of the rest of the team she wasn't the only one. Natsu might be smiling but grime streaked his cheeks. Then there was the smell of the sweat. At least there wasn't anyone from Sorcerer Magazine here. She wouldn't be caught dead looking like this.

She blinked her somnolent eyes at the moving people in her guild. The group was heading off the field, probably going to celebrate Fairy Tail style. Not wanting to be left out she unenthusiastically followed. Hopefully they wouldn't be out long.

…

"Are you insane!?"

The games commissioner had been yelling loud enough half the mages still on the field had turned to watch them.

"The games weren't designed that way for a reason. Guilds fight guilds, single mages stick to single mages."

Ur waited until the man's red face turned a shade lighter before continuing. "I understand that. But the games are to look for the best and we can't do that if-"

"Absolutely not!" He cut her off. "If the guilds are split up into single players we would have far too many competitors. Things stay the way they are."

"Listen to the kid." Ur snapped her head over to who had spoken. A mage she recognized as one of the ones who made the cut was approaching them. He was lean and stood above average height. There was a look of disgust permanently on his features. The abnormally tall man stopped a few feet away from the arguing two. The ice mage narrowed her eyes at him, recalling what she'd seen him do during the trials. His magic was as ferocious as his dark look. "It's a good idea, and it would give all the spectators something to talk about, this unexpected turn of events."

The overseer took a moment to reply. "It would be…difficult to do in such short notice. As for the spectators, it is what they're looking for. But the mages will never agree to this."

"Ignore what they say." Ur stayed silent as the man stepped in again. "We can't say who the best mage is if we don't fight each other. If they're any good they'll put up a fight."

"But lone mages can't keep up with a whole guild te-"

"Then they'll do rather poorly in this, don't you think?"

The field was silent enough you could hear a bird take flight. Onlookers had stopped moving, observed in the conversation. The commissioner's face had returned to its normal color, replaced with a contemplating look. "I suppose…the idea could be debated before tomorrow. But…" The old man bit his lip, deciding if he should continue. "It'll be debated. That's all I'll say on the matter." With that the administrator turned on his heels and walked away.

The taller mage smirked. "I think it's been decided."

Gray shuffled the papers around, straightening them, his feeble attempt to keep the war tent organized. A coughing sound made him look up. A private was standing in the tent opening, trying to get his attention. He nodded, indicating the subordinate to say what he must. "The man you requested is here, sir."

"Bring him in."

The subordinate left, going to retrieve the said man. The ice mage stuffed the files into his top drawer. The foot solider Leoncio sent out to be an inside man had come back. He wanted no distractions when he asked him what he found. He caught someone entering the tent from the corner of his eye.

Gray stared at the person coming in, caught off guard. He had expected a captain to have been sent out on this. Instead a kid that was hardly eighteen came in. He had bright red hair and tan features. He had a lean frame and the ice mage could feel magic ran through him. Gray felt himself sadden looking at him. Thick gauze was wrapped tightly around his eyes, concealing them from sight.

The two watched each other for a moment, or at least one of them did. The teen was more or less standing still with his head almost turned in Gray's direction. "There's a chair right in front of you." Gray mentioned. "If you need help I can-"

"No, I'm fine." The teen held up his hands in a 'no' type gesture. He slowly reached out, patting along the table surface and side, until finally finding the chair next to it. He cautiously pulled it out and patted the seat, then gradually lowered himself down. Gray eyed the sightless teen carefully. A wizard emblem was located on the teen's shoulder, no doubt the reason he had been sent.

"So, Mr…"

"Katen."

"Katen, when you were clandestine you reported that you couldn't find any suspicious activity. Are you positive about that?"

The teen tapped his chin in thought. "You know…" he drawled. "It was actually kind of strange. For the most part no one talked about anything. Except for a couple guys that mentioned one or two things about some sort of project. That was it though."

"Project?" Gray questioned.

Katen nodded. "The night before I was supposed to head back to camp I decided to check out exactly what they meant by that. I got pretty close before I was attacked. That's when this happened." He tapped the gauze over his eyes. "After that I had to escape before it got too serious. I tried destroying everything on my way out; don't know if I did though."

Gray raised an eyebrow. Not that the blind mage could see it. "I'm sorry, did you say destroy?"

The teen gave him a sheepish smile. "Yeah, kind of a habit of mine. I'm sort of reckless that way." A few moments passed in silence. Katen squirmed in his seat, wondering if he had said something. "Why? Should I have not done that?"

The ice mage gave a laugh. "Don't worry about it. You just remind me of someone I used to know that had that same habit."

The teen let out a relieved sigh. "That's good. I thought I made you mad for a second."

"You're fine" Gray reassured. "If you could spare a while longer, could you describe the building they were using? As far as layout goes."

"I can do better. I can try to draw you a map if you've got anything to write with." Gray opened the desk drawers once again and pulled out a blank page. He slid the material over to the younger mage, followed by a pencil he had dug up. Katen ran a hand over the desk until he found both. He sloppily began to sketch. "The second floor was where they kept the project. Next to that was this sort of charging room." He drew two messy rectangles on the page. "Then there was a series of rooms underneath." He drew a deformed pentagon that might have meant to be a square next. "There was also this sort of passageway that leads from there to a nearby village. That's where they get all their supplies." He scribbled a few last shapes and lines on the page before sliding it back over to the ice mage.

Gray studied the paper for a moment. It looked more like a chicken wrote this instead of a person. Then again for a blind man it was pretty detailed. "Thank you, Katen."

"No problem." The teen stood back up. "Umm…could you tell me which way the exit is? I kind of forgot already."

Gray smiled to himself. He kid was just forgetful as his old friend too. "Straight behind you."

"Thanks old man."

The ice mage frowned. Old?

Wendy trudged back to the crowded lodge she was sharing with all the other guild members. Her long, deep sky blue hair blew behind her, tangles forming where ground in grime from the day was smeared. The dirt had been wiped off her cheeks but until she got to that warm shower she'll feel like she was pulled behind a train. Carla flew lazily behind her, making sure her lifelong friend wouldn't collapse on the solitary streets.

The she-cat bit her lip from verbally scolding the girl when she almost tripped. Fatigue didn't begin to describe the mage. Wendy looked like she couldn't even gather the strength to roar. She silently landed on the ground beside her.

"Wendy," She looked up into the human's tired brown eyes. "You shouldn't push yourself so far."

The dragon slayer let out a sigh, too weary to discern if that was a warning or a threat. "Everyone's trying their best. I have to too; the guild's counting on me."

Carla let out a sigh. She gave the blue haired girl a sweet smile nonetheless. She wouldn't admit it out loud, but she was unbelievably proud of how far the dragon slayer had come since they first joined their guild. She was a little bolder and more persistent then she was when she was younger.

Wendy continued walking forward with the white feline close behind. Carla froze in her tracks when a familiar feeling washed over her. She blanked out and her vision went dark. Vivid pictures flashed through her mind, imprinting their selves into her keen memory. An audible gasp left her, catching the attention of her companion.

Wendy looked down at the feline, concern in her eyes. "Carla…" She kneeled down so she was closer to her friend's height. "What did you see?"

The sky mage's voice snapped her out of her premonition. She blinked a few times to clear the images out of her head. "It's…nothing. Let's get back already." The cat brushed past the blue haired female. Wendy watched her small comrade for a moment. It wasn't often Carla had a vision she didn't tell her about, but when she did…

Wendy put the idea out of her head. Maybe it was just 'nothing.' She stood back up, following the Exceed back to their temporary residence.