Chapter 19

December 8, X794, third day of the Grand Magic Games, noon; Lucy was definitely pissed. Laxus made her wake up at the ungodly hour of 3 AM just to practice her in her hand-to-hand combat and he didn't take no for an answer. He even added that she's getting all rusty considering on how she relied on her Spirits and whip to defeat that Sabertooth's more-annoying-than-Natsu-guy, Sting Eucliffe. The blond even reiterated in her face that what she did was what a coward and weakling would surely do.

"Stupid Laxus…" Lucy mumbled. Currently, she and together with her team mates were standing in their team spot, waiting for the start of today's event.

"Ahem, ahem, ahem…Mic test, mic test…One, two…" Chapati Lola tested his microphone to see if works. And it did. "Hellooo! People of Crocus!" He greeted as loud cheers emitted for the audience. "Today is our third day of Grand Magic Games but before we could get this day started, let us all first recap the scores for yesterday!" Four large connected translucent screens appeared in the mid-air center of the arena, carrying the same scores.

Sabertooth = 10 + 1 = 11

Fairy Tail B = 9 + 1 = 10

Fairy Tail A = 7 + 1 = 8

Mermaid Heel = 4

Blue Pegasus = 2 + 1 = 3

Lamia Scale = 3

"Well, it seems like Fairy Tail might be losing this year-kabo!" The pumpkin head finally spoke up while the crowd booed.

"Awww for them but the fight's not yet over so they might make a comeback." Chapati intervened. "Okay, today's event is Pandemonium. You all know about that and practically, who wouldn't? We've done that for four years. But this year, our king has decided that it will be a group of four but it comes with a condition." Just then, a large, dark, grotesque-looking inverted castle appeared in the sky.

"And what would that be-kabo?" Mato or Toma E. Fiore pretended. Ever since, the king's slip-up in saying "kabo", that identified him as Mato the mascot three years ago, the mages decided to keep it a secret to the people.

"It's a surprise but for now, we will have to draw lots to see who will be the first team to enter. Team representatives, you may now, descend here." Chapati finalized.

"Wendy, is it okay if you'll be a standby?" Erza approached their youngest member.

"It's okay besides, I need to be in full strength for me to be able to heal your wounds." The blue-haired girl replied. Truth be told, it didn't even crossed her mind to participate in this event. The monsters were freaking scary. "Although, I'm quite curious on why does it have to be four members per team…" She trailed off. Erza can finish 100 on her own so why does it have to be four when it was strictly said that the king wants the mages to really fight for the trophy.

"Me too, I have a sneaking suspicion that this won't be…"

"Erza, considering Luce's still mumbling over there and cursing Laxus in all language, be the rep." Natsu cut in just as the redhead could finish speaking with the Wendy. Titania looked over Natsu's shoulder to see if Lucy's alright but didn't succeed. Damn, men and their growth spurt. Instead, she took a step sideward and sure enough, their blonde team mate was sulking. Erza sweat-dropped.

"Erza, you should head down there. All of the team rep was already assembled." Gray said.

'Never imagined that they'll fight…' Erza thought as she jumped down from their team area to the battle field where a referee holding six papers was waiting along with the other representatives.

"Okay, now that we are all gathered here, I want to you to pick a paper and see what number you got." The referee announced.

"Okay!" Everyone's reply came with much enthusiasm and excitement, all were thinking on what was the king's surprise. Considering that he's a king, it might be something grand like thousands of jewels or a new building for their guild. Thinking about all of those riches made their mouths water even if the surprise wasn't even a food to begin with. They each took a piece of paper, hoping that they'll get one since one means first, right? First as in first place and first placers always, always have the biggest surprise or in their delusional minds, prize.

"I got number 1." Erza spoke up nonchalantly. She's been getting these weird vibes since the emcee announced this Pandemonium tournament.

"What!" came the collective gasps of the other representatives, envious on what the Fairy Tail Mage will receive.

"Wow! As expected of Titania, another first!" Chapati shouted in his microphone as Erza's fans squealed in delight. "Okay, now that you've all picked yourselves a number, I will now announce what is the surprise!"

"The surprise will be…" Mato started, pausing to create the anticipation. "…1,000 monsters-kabo!" if possible, everyone would have turned to stone. And in that moment, the jealousy of the other guilds suddenly evaporated and turned to gratitude to all the governing forces of Earthland and Edolas.

"You have got to be kidding me." Erza exclaimed, incredulous.

"How many will you fight?" The referee asked.

"Go! Go! Erza! Go! Go! Erza! Go! Go! Erza!" All the other guild representatives cheered for their opponent. "You can do it, defeat all of those one-thousand monsters!"

"All? Wow!" the referee then recorded it in his notes and gestured for the other people in the arena to exit and go back to their respective places.

"Wait…" Erza started to protest but they already have left. "I didn't even say anything…"

"Okay, may we invite the other three participants to please go down here and join your team mate to..." The emcee started calmly but when he saw who jumped down to the battlefield, he can't believe his own eyes. Could it be? Though he should be unbiased as a speaker, he can't stop himself from squealing internally. His idols will participate all at once. Finally, he will see all of Team Natsu in action. "OH MY GOD! TEAM NATSU WILL TAKE ON ONE-THOUSAND MONSTERS! TITANIA! SALAMANDER! FROST! AND THE CELESTIAL MAIDEN! " The sheer loudness of the audience cheers deafened Team Natsu.

"One-thousand? Can we even survive one-hundred?" Lucy blurted.

"I'm all fired up!" Natsu jumped at the fact that he will have to fight that many of monsters.

"Wow, Erza, can we even defeat that many?" Gray inquired.

"TEAM NATSU! TEAM NATSU! TEAM NATSU! TEAM NATSU! TEAM NATSU!" The audience started to stand up and repeated those two words.

"I didn't even have the time to reply." Erza said solemnly. And here she thought, she'll be able to finally catch a break and held Lucy prepare for her wedding. Oh, the wedding dress! That image suddenly went out of reach.

"Oh, come on, you guys! This'll be a piece of cake. We're all S-Class, you know." Natsu interjected, adrenaline rushing in his system at the thought of the destruction.

"Easy for you to say, you're destruction incarnated." Gray teased.

"What's that, Ice Princess?!"

"Stop it, both of you!" Erza's aura suddenly darkened.

"Aye!"

"There are 500 D-Class monsters, 300 C-Class, 150 B-Class, 45 A-class, 4 S-Class, 1 SS-Class. Participants, you may now enter-kabo." Mato ordered.

"Oh, that pumpkin will surely pay." Lucy muttered, another person has just pissed her.