Chapter 4
Old Grudges, New Faces
"W~elcome to the opening of the first day of the X792 Grand Magic Games!" The audience rumbled, holding up handmade signs supporting their favorite guilds. "Starring your charming reporter, Chapati Lola!" Chapati winked.
"Our commentator, Yajima-san!"
"Hello again," Yajima greeted, nodding.
"And our guest judge, our reporter from Sorcerer Magazine, Jason!"
"This is so COOL!" Jason cheered.
"Everyone is here," Chapati said. "Now let's introduce this year's competing guilds starting with eighth place in the preliminaries!"
The stadium grew silent, listening for the name of the underdogs.
"Hellhounds of Hades, give it up for Quatro Cerberus!"
An arm lifted a gourd into the air as Bacchus led his team in. "Wild..."
"Four!" Team Quatro Cerberus roared.
"Ehh..." Some sounds of disappointment, and then the crowd hesitantly cheered. Why?
Semmes was covered head to toe in bandages; Rocker had an eye patch; Bacchus was even limping! It looked as though Yeager and War Cry were the only people uninjured—until Yeager opened his mouth, revealing two missing teeth.
"Um—cool?" Jason tried.
"O-kay, let's move on to seventh place," Chapati sweated. "Hopefully, they're not too disfigured," he muttered. Unfortunately, his microphone caught his words.
"Hey!" Yeager yelled indignantly.
"The azure wings that soar through heaven's heights! Blue Pegasus!"
Hibiki strode in, his arm linked with Jenny's. Eve winked at the crowd, causing an eruption of female cries. Ren looked away, muttering something about not like he had a choice.
Ichiya...no had to take a wild guess.
Once Team Blue Pegasus reached their spot, they assumed their pose: arms crossed, ring and pinky fingers bent as their index, middle, and thumbs stayed up.
"Jenny is so COOL!"
"Sixth place: their delicate wings have finally taken flight! Fairy Tail!"
Flames erupted in a line as Natsu, Erza, Gray, Wendy, and Lucy marched in. An encore of cheers exploded within the crowd.
"They're cheering for us this time," Lucy said.
"Wendy-chan!" Eve began to drift off into his own little world. "It's been too long!"
"We won't let them down then," Gray decided. "The games were cancelled last year. This year, we'll show Sabertooth."
Lucy covered her eyes just as Wendy turned red. "Gray, your clothes," she muttered.
"What—gah!" Gray hastily gathered his clothes, putting them back on.
"Fifth place! One wing can't take off without its twin! Please welcome Fairy Tail B!"
Laxus stormed in, his fur jacket billowing behind him. Freed followed suit, his arms crossed even though Mirajane tried to tell him to lighten up. Gajeel simply shrugged, and Juvia literally floated when she caught sight of her beloved Gray.
"That's how it's done in Fairy Tail!" Makarov boomed from the stands. "But how'd they get fifth?" he said to himself.
"Fairy Tail is COOL!"
"I didn't think you'd fall behind," Erza said, astonished that the group that earned second place last year had gotten fifth place.
"We were just as surprised as you," Mirajane said sweetly, looking as though she didn't mind.
"Then by elimination, Sabertooth, Lamia, and Mermaid have to be among the top four," Lucy reasoned.
"That's if they made it," Freed added.
"They made it, all right," Gajeel grunted. "But the fourth guild..."
"Now that you mention it...do you think Twilight Ogre made it?" Wendy asked.
Laxus coughed abruptly, though he did a poor job of hiding a snicker. Gajeel laughed while Mirajane whispered to Wendy, "Let's just say Quatro Cerberus looks healthy compared to them."
"Can it, will ya? You won't believe who came in fourth," Gajeel chortled.
"Oh my! This is a shocker! In fourth place—Sabertooth!"
"Ehh?!" The teams and the audience gaped as Team Sabertooth entered. It looked as though they were not happy with their current predicament. And they weren't.
From the stands, their guild master scowled at the team, displeased with their result.
"C-c-cool?"
Yeager cackled, which drew Rogue's attention to the mage. Seeing his death glare, Yeager and the rest of Quatro Cerberus hid behind Bacchus, cowering.
Sting covered his mouth as a wave of snickers hit him hard. Even though Sabertooth was in fourth place, they had been there when Team Quatro Cerberus came in. Only two mages had been conscious, the rest had been beaten quite badly by Rogue and apparently some other guild. Bacchus and War Cry had to carry their team mates on their backs!
"Third place! Love and war's holy warriors! Lamia Scale!"
"You did better than last year, but it's not enough!" Ooba screamed.
"Can't you at least be happy for them?" Sherry asked.
"Of course I'm pleased," the old lady chuckled to herself. "This year's team will lead us to victory."
"Hey, did that doggish dude change his look?" Natsu pointed to the one unfamiliar person on Team Lamia Scale.
Suddenly, a head from the Lamia Scale section grew in size. "How could you be so stupid!" Toby yelled at the top of his lungs.
"So it's not him," Gray said. "Lyon, who's the guy next to you?"
Lyon shrugged. "Gray, you're as hopeless as your Dragon Slayer!"
"What!" Gray got into position as Lyon did the same. Until the new member stretched his arm out in front of Lyon to stop him.
"We have an example to set for the master. You can fight later," he reminded.
Ears twitched, Rogue recognized that voice all too well. Spiky tan hair, matching eyes... though the man wore clothes that resembled what a ninja trainee would wear—a black v-neck shirt, a fishnet shirt, dark pants, sandals— he recognized that bandaged right arm.
In the stands, Vóreia shook in anger. She knew that mystery person. She knew that arm—and that slash scar on his right cheek...
"Dobengal?" Orga rubbed his eyes to make sure he wasn't daydreaming.
The ninja trainee mock saluted him in greeting. "Long time, no see."
"You!" Rogue took a step towards the man who murdered the girl they loved—even though Glacia only harbored feelings for one of them.
"Uh-oh! Sabertooth and Lamia Scale are about to have a go!"
"COOL!"
But a wall of silver sand formed between Lamia and Sabertooth, separating the guilds.
"You had your fill last night. You have to throw a tantrum here too, Herr Cheney?"
The only person who called him Herr was the girl from yesterday. That meant—
"In second place! Our lovely ladies of the deep blue: Mermaid Heel!"
Silver sand poured out, dancing around Team Mermaid Heel. Team Quatro Cerberus glared at the females, until they saw Rogue's gaze on them.
The sand between Lamia Scale and Sabertooth returned to a flask that Silver held out. Once every grain of silver sand flowed back in, she screwed the flask shut. "Can you at least try to keep your Dragon Slayer on a leash, Fräulein Minerva?" Silver taunted.
At the same time one of Minerva's hands flexed dangerously, Rufus sucked in a breath as Orga chortled, "She's screwed."
"Silver sand is COOL!"
"I don't like the looks of that chick," Laxus muttered.
Natsu tilted his head. "She's wearing sunglasses. What does she look like?"
"Idiot! He meant it in a suspicious way!" Freed defended angrily.
"And last but certainly not least! First place—"
"You remember what I told you about a new guild in Fiore?" Jura muttered to his new comrade.
"Yes," Dobengal replied. "Every word."
"Oh? We have a new guild competing for the first time! Please give a warm welcome to IMPERIAL SNOW!"
"WHAT?!"
Five cloaked figures entered the arena, one of them held their guild flag proudly over their head. There was no way to discern even one's identity.
"But they're a guild on the continent!" Vóreia cried. "What are they doing here?"
"Glacia and Vóreia's old guild...that's them, isn't it?" Millianna said.
"What's your old guild doing here?" Yuka hissed to Dobengal.
"Um, yes, we realize everyone is confused," Chapati stammered. "Over ten months ago, Imperial Snow asked to be become an official guild of Fiore. Of course, we had to do background checks because of a past event. But they became a legal guild!"
"So if they're legal, then they're not dark, right?" Yajima asked. "For a new guild, they've done quite well!"
"Cool! Imperial Snow is so cool!" Jason screamed.
"Can't you tell who they are?" Lyon whispered.
"If I could, I would," Dobengal hissed back. "However, with five of them, four of them have to be Imperial Guardians."
"Imperial Guardians?" Chelia wondered.
"They're S-Class mages and the top four fighters under the guild master. Glacia used to be part of them: the Imperial Guardian of the North."
"North? So I'm right if I say the others are East, West, and South?" Yuka asked.
"Absolutely."
"I'll hand the responsiblities off to our referee, Mato!"
"We're back, pumpkin! And here's the schedule!" A large slab erupted out of the ground.
Day 1: Hawk Eye & Battle
Day 2: ? & Battle
Day 3: ? & Battle
Day 4: ? & Tag Battle
Day 5: ?
Day 6: ?
Day 7: ?
"And now, will the contenders for Hawk Eye step up?" Mato called.
"From the name..." Bisca started.
"It makes us wish we had entered," Alzack sweated.
"Um...I want to try," Wendy said nervously, except Natsu was louder.
"Can I go? Please please!"
"Why don't you go, Wendy?" Erza encouraged, having heard the little Dragon Slayer.
"What? Why can't—"
"Natsu, you will allow Wendy to compete!" A fiery aura surrounded Erza, one that even her team mates backed away from.
Fairy Tail A: Wendy Marvell
"A-aye," Natsu sweated.
"Sucks that Salamander's not going." Gajeel stepped up, smirking. "I'm gonna go anyway, gihihi..."
Fairy Tail B: Gajeel Redfox
"I'll go—"
Minerva held out her arm to stop Rogue. "Not you. Rufus, why don't you go?"
Rogue scowled, but held his tongue. He knew better than to go against Minerva.
Sabertooth: Rufus Lohr
One of the hooded figures of Imperial Snow inclined his head towards another. "The cloak is no longer necessary, Sasori."
Nodding, the man called Sasori threw his cloak into the air. He was rather tall with dark purple hair on his head, streaked with venomous blue highlights. It appeared as though life couldn't decide between blue or purple, as his eyes differed from each other. His appearance was not unlike a Roman gladiator's—a chestplate, gladiator sandals, and fortunately, he had pants instead of an long tunic.
Imperial Snow: Sasori
"Imperial Guardian of the West, Sasori," Dobengal murmured. "He's quite fond of using poisons."
"If it's poison, I should go," Shelia reasoned. "I can heal myself if he attacks me."
"No." Dobengal stepped up. "I'll go. I have a score to settle with Sasori."
Lamia Scale: Dobengal
"My perfume will accurately lead us to victory~!" Ichiya declared. "Men~!"
Blue Pegasus: Ichiya Vandalay Kotobuki
"Go, sensei!" Hibiki cheered.
"That's senpai for you!" Eve and Ren applauded.
"I'll take this! We'll take the lead!"
"Wild!"
"FOUR!"
Quatro Cerberus: Yeager
"I don't think Quatro Mutts had a choice. Just look at their members!" Arania snickered. "They won't last a minute in battle!"
"Judging by the name, we need someone with sharpshooting—" Beth was cut off.
"I'll go," her newest team mate said. "Victory vill be ours."
Mermaid Heel: Platina Gaci
"So that's her real name? Platina?" Sting wondered out loud.
"Will everyone step on this warp panel, pumpkin?" Mato asked, standing on a large blue tile. "We'll be on our way to the game field."
"You mean, it won't be here?" Wendy said.
"No, no, pumpkin. Domus Flau is much too small."
The competitors were at the edge of the city, near the stables.
"It's been too long, Dobengal." The mage turned to face Sasori, who held a hand out.
Not one to disregard manners, he shook his former comrade's hand. "Sasori."
"If I recall correctly, Vóreia and Glacia joined Mermaid Heel, yes? Where's our dear Princess Glacia? She would never give up a sharpshooting contest."
Wincing, Dobengal looked away, biting his lip.
"You just missed her. She's dead." Yeager jumped down from the fence, which surprisingly held his weight. "Of course, no one complained when he killed her." He pointed to Dobengal. "By the way, thanks! You helped the world by getting rid of that psychotic dragon princess!"
Half of Domus Flau was in uproar.
Quatro Cerberus was cheering their comrade on. Mermaid Heel was screaming in outrage.
"How dare that bastard!" Arania screamed.
Hands twitching, they quickly balled up into fists surrounded by shadows.
"Take it back."
"Sorry?" Yeager tilted his head.
"Take everything back." Dobengal stepped forward. "True, Glacia Patin was a host for something she never agreed to welcome. But insulting a fallen comrade of mine—right in front of me—that's something I don't forgive very easily."
You're the person who murdered her! Vóreia thought furiously.
Like you have any room to talk, Dobengal, Rogue thought.
"Uh-um, it looks like a fight between Lamia and Cerberus might start soon!"
"What's the best you can do with that arm?" Yeager pointed to Dobengal's right arm.
"Why you—!"
Platina stretched her arm out to stop him. "I must be completely honest," Platina said. "I never knew Glacia. Her age, her appearance, not even her personality. But I know how important she vas to my comrades. And I know," Platina stepped up, standing just a few feet away from Yeager. "It is my guild you insulted."
"But...I seldom hold grudges against anyvun. So please, vill you forgive Glacia if I overlook vat you just said?" she asked politely.
For a moment, the world stopped. The other contestants, the referee, and the audience at Domus Flau watched the representatives of the two guilds.
"Did she hit her head too hard?" Risley muttered.
"Fine by me," Yeager said on the Lacrima Vision.
Platina smiled. With sunglasses, it looked slightly out of place. "Oh, good. For a moment, I thought you vould refuse. Shall we shake?"
"Uh, sure." Yeager held his right arm out. But Platina grabbed it with her left hand.
Holding Yeager's wrist in a vicegrip, Platina forced him to his knees as her right arm came down with a slim stick in its grasp. The end of the rod jabbed a spot on Yeager's arm that caused him to yell out in pain.
"P-p-pumpkin!"
"Men~! What are you doing?" Ichiya exclaimed.
"Oi! Can you hold off the violence? We have a squirt here!" Gajeel barked as he spun Wendy around.
"I don't care—" Platina's sunglasses glinted dangerously. "—if you forgive me. You never knew Glacia. Never speak as if you did!"
"Argh—ow! It hurts!" Yeager grinded his teeth, wishing he had a bullet.
"It should," Platina spat. She added more pressure to the spot where she had jabbed. "This is the meridian valve. It protects the heart and sexual organs." She applied more force to the pressure point. "But if I press any harder, this arm vill be paralyzed! Say another vord against her and you'll lose more than this pathetic twig!"
"Arg—aih! OWCH! Stop it, will ya?"
"Take it back!"
"Huh—aghh!" Yeager screamed as Platina pressed the spot to the point where it bled.
"Take vat you said about Glacia being a psychotic dragon princess back this instant!" Platina prompted.
"Like hell I—aaaiiee! I'm sorry I called Glacia a psychotic dragon princess!" Yeager squeaked, trying to grab for Platina's hand to force her to release him. But it drove the foreign mage to press down on the pressure point so the end of the stick was soaked in blood. "Ow! I really do! I didn't mean a single word! What was I thinking?"
Platina, eyes narrowed, twisted the rod, sending more pain waves up Yeager's arm. "Argh! And I'm sorry, Mermaid Heel!"
Satisfied, Platina removed the rod. Yeager sighed in relief, but forgot that she still held his arm. With incredible strength, Platina flipped him over, causing him to land on his back on a wagon.
"W-wild—I think?" War Cry said, scared for his life.
"Yeah, Platina! Show those mutts who's the top dog!" Arania yelled.
"Spunky, knows how to kick ass—just my type," Laxus murmured to himself.
"H-holy crap, pumpkin," Mato sweated.
"She certainly knows how to be remembered," Rufus admitted.
"That was awesome," Gajeel muttered.
Wendy attempted to peek. "I-is it all ov—"
"No!" he barked.
Brushing imaginary dust off her hands, Platina turned back to Mato, who cringed. "Vell, sir? Aren't you going to explain the game?"
Literally, Platina means 'little silver' or 'platinum'. And the part about the meridian valve...I learned that from a Korean drama called Horse Doctor.