Hey all! Sorry it's been so long since I updated but I've been on a road-trip before moving out of country. Hopefully by this time next week I will be regularly updating this story... Who knows? Maybe I'l even finish it before school starts (heres to hoping...).

So here's excuse time. I've not only been on a road trip before moving but I lost the outline for this story... Now I usually don't have outlines but considering this is a fanfiction that takes place between two moments of Canon and it's a tournament I needed one to keep everything straight. Aaaaaand me being me I lost it. So yay!

I know you all just want to read the chapter and will probably skip this note so, sorry about that.

And without further ado... I present this chapter!

~ Diana

Lyra awoke the next morning and her team got ready for the games. Like the day before they stood in the middle of the field while the announcer introduced them. They were sent to their provided balconies and watched a recap of what happened yesterday.

Twilight Ogre and Blue Pegasus walked onto the field and squared off. Lyra instantly decided who would be winner ("Blue Pegasus, obviously." "How can you be sure?" Sting had asked. Lyra raised an eyebrow. "They're Blue Pegasus. No way Master B's letting them loose to, what's the other team's name again?" "Twilight Ogre." "See what I mean.") and left the balcony trying to entertain herself until she was able to leave the arena.

"Hey, look!" Someone called. Lyra turned her head to find herself surrounded by spectators. Some had their faces painted with messages to the teams they supported; others wore flags and customized shirts with the insignias on them. She scanned the crowd for Sabertooth fans and found that all of the fans had her guildmark or name on them. "It's a Sabertooth Team member!"

"Can you sign my shirt?"

"Can you sign my hand?"

"Can you sign my chest?"

"Can you sign my ass?"

Questions flew at her from all sides and papers and pens were pushed into her hands. Soon she was signing everything people asked her to (except questionable body parts). Someone had, apparently a long time fan, even found her Sorcerer Weekly pin up poster she had done because of a bet, (and never did again, mind you). She signed that as well. A small child made her way to the front.

"Lyra?" She asked.

"Yeah?" Lyra bent down to her eye level.

The kid has brown hair in a braid and large purple eyes. She's young and has a small cowboy hat resting on her delicate head. "I lost my daddy and I was told to find a guild member if I was ever lost because they can take me back to my daddy and I don't know where any other guild members are and I want you to help me find my daddy!" She looked like she was about to cry so Lyra smiled at her.

"Ok kid, but on one condition."

"What?" The girl sniffled.

"No crying. Can't have anyone crying in my guild."

"In your guild?" The girl asked.

"Well, not technically my guild, but I don't like crying children, so don't cry. Ok?" Lyra asked. The girl nodded enthusiastically. Lyra gave her a hand and she took it.

"What's your name kid?" Lyra asked.

"My name's Asuka." The girl proclaimed. Asuka… where had Lyra heard that name before?

"Ok. Where are your parents going to be, Asuka?"

"In the stands." Asuka said with a shrug. Wow, Asuka, specific. Well, time to start looking. I have the entire stands to go… Lyra thought. They went into the stands near the Blue Pegasus balcony so the majority of fans rooted for the team above them.

Asuka shook her cowboy-hatted head. "They're over there!" She said pointing to a section with a flurry of mixed flags. I wonder what guild her parents are rooting for. Lyra thought. Lyra picked up the small girl and gave her a piggy back ride.

"Now, Asuka I'm going to tell you something very important." Lyra said. "Don't touch my skin. It's part of my magic," A simple lie to halt questions, "you can't touch my skin."

"How 'bout your hair? Can I touch your hair?"

"Sure, kid. But not my scalp. Only the edge of the hair." Asuka ran her tiny fingers through Lyra's pink mess and Asuka giggled.

"What is it kid?" Lyra asked as she hiked through the crowded stands, careful not to touch anyone.

"You're hair reminds me of someone. Why do you have a blue streak?"

"Dunno." Lyra said with a shrug, making the kid bounce on her back and giggle. "Always had it."

"Why's your hair so short?"

"So it doesn't get in the way of me fighting."

"Why are you a mage in Sabertooth?"

"Because they were the only guild who would accept me."

"Why were they the only guild who would accept you?"

"Because I had been denied joining a guild by a very powerful guild Master."

"My old guild Master was super powerful."

Lyra raised an eyebrow. "Oh really? You're in a guild?"

"Mommy and Daddy are."

"Oh yeah? What guild?"

"Fairy Tail." Lyra almost dropped the kid. Asuka noticed the change in tone and frowned. "What's wrong, Lyra?"

"I, um," Lyra shook her head, trying to clear her thoughts. This sweet child who she was helping was from the Fairy Fucker's guild. She was one! After everything Makorav did to her and how she treated every Fairy Floozy she had seen since, she was downright horrible to them and they were the same way to her. This probably wasn't a good idea. Hell, she had insulted their new Master M only a day or two ago. "Asuka, I don't know if I can help you find your parents."

"Why not?"

What the fuck do I tell her? Lyra wondered. I hate everyone one in your guild and everything you stand for? "They're on a rival team, I don't think it would be appropriate."

"Come on, pleeeeeaassse! I'm really scared and I can't find them…" Asuka sounded like she was going to cry. Lyra may have been a heartless, bitchy, Witch Hunter, but she couldn't stand and watch a small child cry. Even if the child was a Fetus Fairy.

"Ok, but I'll only go until we can see them. Then you're on your own."

There was a violent nodding of a head from Asuka and Lyra trudged on.

"Lyra, what's your magic?"

"I, um, I actually don't have magic."

"You don't? How can you be in the Games?"

"They said you have to be from a magic guild and you need a guild emblem. They never said you had to be a wizard. I'm called a Witch Hunter, or a Void."

"Why?"

"Because what I do is I can take a mage's power and drain it from them. That's why you can't touch me."

"Because you'd take my magic power?"

"Yup."

"Why?"

"I don't really know a lot of the mechanics, but basically, everyone born has something called Magic Energy."

"So?" Lyra really hadn't planned on explaining this but if she asked…

"So, I don't. Instead I have none. So when I touch someone I take their Magic Energy."

"So how did you get allowed into a wizard guild?"

"My Master just allowed me in."

"Oooooh." There was a silence and then, "Hey Lyra, do ya think I could be a Witch Hunter?"

"I don't think you can become one kid. I think you just are when you're born."

"Why?"

"I dunno."

"Why?"

"I dunno."

"OK." Asuka allowed this without an explanation. Lyra finished her hike to the Fairy Tail side and put Asuka down. She overheard a handful of Fairy Tail wizards running about, talking feverishly to each other. She covered her guild mark with her hand.

"I don't know where she is! That's why I'm asking you!" Someone was saying.

"Calm down Laki, I'm sure we'll find her."

"Bisca and Alzack are almost in tears. Come on Warren! Don't you sense anything?"

"I can't sense anything with all these people! She's a little girl Laki, there are thousands of people here!"

"Hey! Reedus! Do you see her?"

"I can't tell."

"Do you think they're looking for me?" Asuka asked.

Lyra nodded. "I think so, kid."

She tapped one of the Fairy Flowers on the shoulder. The girl had dark purple hair and a white dress. She looked shocked at Lyra speaking to her. Lyra didn't directly remember her… She was never in Sorcerer Weekly.

"Uh, are you looking for a kid named Asuka?" Lyra asked dumbly.

The girl slammed two fingers to her forehead and shouted. "A Sabertooth has Asuka!"

Lyra raised her gloved hands. "Woah woah woah! I don't have her kidnapped or something! I-"

The Fairies surrounding Lyra whirled on her. "Where are you keeping Asuka?"

"Why did you take her?"

"Her parents are worried sick! Have you no heart?"

"How horrible!"

"What do you gain from taking Asuka?"

"You dare challenge the Fairies?"

"We will do anything to get that girl back you Sabertooth monster!"

"I'm trying to help her!" Lyra roared, cutting off the demands from the guildmembers.

"Lyra?" Asuka asked shyly. She hid behind Lyra's leg, camouflaged by the stands. The Fairies looked down and all simultaneously looked like they were going to cry from joy.

"Asuka!" They chorused as they lifted her into their arms and onto their shoulders.

"We were so worried!"

"Your parents were so worried!"

"Master was worried!"

"Don't run off like that!"

"You know to always go somewhere with someone in the guild!"

"We're so glad you're OK!"

Lyra's throat tightened. This was the Fairy Tail guild. These were the unaccepting monsters that turned her into the badass she was today, why are they acting so kind?

"Lyra helped me." Asuka proclaimed proudly.

The Fairies turned to the blushing Saber. "Huh." Said Wakaba. "Who would have thought? A Fairy and a Tiger working together."

Lyra blushed. "We're not complete assholes." She said defensively.

"Apparently not." The old geezer said. He grinned, and took a puff from his pipe. "You have our thanks Saber."

"Whatever, gramps." Lyra said, waving her hand. Wakaba scowled resentfully. She turned to Asuka. "Stay out of trouble kid."

"Bye Lyra!" The kid yelled, waving her hand wildly.

"Oh, and old man?" Lyra said over her shoulder. "Tell your Master that Sabertooth's gonna win. And tell that to old Master M when he gets back too."

"You knew Makorav?" Wakaba called.

Lyra laughed. "Knew is one word for it."

"How are you sure he's gonna come back?" This comment was made by a kid. Older than Asuka, younger than Lyra. He was about twelve or so. He wore a scarf like that damned Dragon Slayer. His blue eyes glaring into Lyra's.

"Excuse me?" Lyra said, raising an eyebrow. The kid looked like New Master M, probably his kid or something.

"It's been six years. How do you know?" Baby Master M demanded.

Lyra shrugged. "I dunno. You're Fairy Tail, a pestilence that never dies, the ongoing failure with pride out the wazoo. You always come back, whether you should or not. That's the Fairy Tail curse."

"You call it a curse. We call it a blessing." Macao said. So the old man finally decided to show up. He stood his ground and glared at Lyra who just returned with a watchful gaze. "Because that's what Fairy Tail is. We never die because as long as there are good, honest wizards in this world, there will be a Fairy Tail!" The guild roared in acceptance behind him and Lyra giggled.

"Whatever you say, Fake Master M. But you're last, again. So when you wanna talk to me about Fairy Tail's might, maybe you should at least beat Twilight Ogre. After all, they took your city, didn't they?" At the mention of the loss of their city the Fairy Twerps grew restless.

"You speak boldly for a guild that came from nothing and will end up as nothing by the end of these Games." Macao hissed.

Lyra smiled. "You say that Fake Master M, but it ain't true. Sabertooth will become number one guild in Fiore. I swear that on my life. Number one or bust." She winked at the broken guild before her. "You'd best get ready, because Sabertooth is gonna take Fiore by storm." She began walking away from them, waving as she went. The crowd around her roared in response to something on the field and Lyra giggled.

"See you at the finish line Fairy Tail! If you can get there!"

And with that dramatic closing, Lyra's encounter with the guild of Fairy Tail ended, as well as Twilight Ogre's competition with Blue Pegasus. They laid defeated, and wounded on the field as Master B's guild paraded around, high on victory. Beating Blue Pegasus is going to be fun. Lyra thought. She glanced at the brackets at the bottom of the lacrimas. Sooo… tomorrow would be my fight versus the girl guild. Lyra thought, her grin was one of malicious Sabertooth intent. God I love this guild, and god they have no chance. Lyra giggled. I wonder how Master J is gonna thank us for winning? Angry lecture about how we could have fought better, or a workout he supervises because Sting tripped once… Tomorrow is going to be a good day.

MORE ME TALKING, AREN'T I ANNOYING? I know you talkative bunch love my little notes.

ooooo Dramatic! What's going to happen next? That would be Sabertooth's first fight in the GmG (SPOILERS!). Soo if anyone would like to review, I wouldn't mind...

Also anyone wants to see two characters in Sabertooth and Mermaid Heel go up against each other in a certain challenge, or would like to just suggest a challenge I'm all ears!

Work with me people,

Until next time!

~ Diana