The matches are set

Chapter 26

"We need to be careful about this so we will do as they ask. This means we need four group of two to go to each location. You will most likely be faced with a strong opponent so be prepared my children," Everyone started discussing who went with who.

"Well I've been looking for a fight anyways," Zeke said stepping forward stretching his arms

"I will accompany you on your mission," Erza stepped forward and the two grabbed one of the lachrimas. Zeke looked up and down his new temporary partner.

"Damn. I could think of worse people to work with me," Zeke said and smirked. The two began to go to the location specified on the lachrima. Laxus walked up, grabbed another one without hesitation, and went on his way alone.

"Laxus! Are you not going to need a partner," Makarov insisted.

"Why would I need someone who's going to slow me down?" Makarov rolled his eyes. He then looked at Orga who nodded and started following Laxus who simply made a displeased grunt noise. Kai looked at Lucy and tapped her on the shoulder.

"You're coming with me," He almost demanded. She looked at him a little confused but followed him nonetheless. Natsu started protesting.

"Hey! Why do you get to have Lucy huh?!"

"Calm down my child. This is not the time to be fighting each other," Natsu calmed down a little but still crossed his arms grumbling swearwords in Kai direction. Thus, there was only one left. I hesitated a little on picking it up and Gray got to it before me.

"I'll take the last one I guess. Who's coming with me?" He turned and looked at the rest of us and I could tell he cringed when he saw Juvia squeezing her way through the crowd.

"I'll go with you," I quickly said and I saw the relief on his face. I felt something stinging into my back. I turned around to see Juvia giving me the 'if I'm ever alone with you I will literally kill slowly and very painfully' stare. I cringed upon seeing her penetrating glare. I hurried after Gray before Juvia could get a hold of me.

"Thanks Jack I owe you one."

"You're welcome. And um…Gray? Your clothes," He looked down and saw his bare chest. He let out a low 'dammit' and looked around for his discarded shirt and pants. The two of us walked down the street.

"Good luck my children. Please bring back your brethren safe!" Makarov shouted after all of us.

Zeke and Erza

Zeke and Erza were walking down the street among the citizens. Zeke was avoiding people who didn't see him and almost stepped on him.

"Dammit these freaking people!"

"Is something the matter Zeke?"

"You bet it is. People are almost stepping on my tail. I have a very sensitive tail," Erza giggled and Zeke was not amused.

"Can I sit on your shoulder?" Erza raised eyebrow. She picked up Zeke and placed him on her shoulder.

"There is that better?" Zeke took in the view of his new vantage point.

"Yeah a lot better. Thanks hot stuff," Erza blushed a little at the nickname but didn't pay it any mind. After a while, they came to an open plain a little to the north of the city. On the field, a little boy was running around with his arms out to the side pretending to be an airplane and making the appropriate sounds. He saw the pair of Fairies and stopped. The kid looked exactly like Will from the Gear Chronicle.

"Yay! Yay! Yay! Finally someone came! I've been waiting for forever and now you're here," He was jumping in the air.

"Who are you and what have you done with our members!?" Erza demanded more than asked.

"You're no fun! Let's have some fun instead. Come on let's play!" He starts running around again. The two wizards just stand there and look at him.

"Are we seriously going to fight this kid Erza?" Erza looked just as confused as Zeke.

"I suppose so."

Laxus and Orga

The two large men walked down the street in complete silence. Everyone moved out of their way when they saw them coming.

"Let's get one thing clear black lightning, you're only here cause the old geezer told you that you had to be. I don't need any of your help," Laxus said out of nowhere.

"…" Orga didn't talk but merely kept walking. They arrived at a square in the east of Magnolia where the lachrima had lead them. There was a man sitting on a turned off fountain grumbling. He looked up and noticed the two.

"Grr… So you did decide to send someone to help your members," the man revealed to be Nick the leader of Gear Chronicle.

"I'm here because I need the exercise. Not because I care about the other members. Black lightning go sit on the side. I can handle this guy," Orga did as he was told and stood back. He did respect Laxus for who he was. Laxus started emitting an electric charge and Nick stood up and was now standing on top of the fountain.

Kai and Lucy

The two celestial mages walked down a path towards a nearby opening in a forest to the west of Magnolia. Lucy was clearly feeling uncomfortable in Kai's presence.

"What wrong Lucy? I'm not that scary."

"No it's not that at all. I was just wondering… why me? Of all the people you chose me," Kai turned his head.

"That's because Pisces is in the sky right now and I doubt I'll need Libra for this fight," Lucy raised an eyebrow.

"That doesn't explain why I'm your partner."

"Also our magic complement each other very well," they arrived at the opening. There were no one around so obviously Kai was on full alert for an ambush. Then a strange noise came from the middle of the opening. The two went closer and saw he looked like that guy Billy from Gear Chronicle taking a nap in the sun.

"Should we just attack him while he's sleeping?" Lucy asked.

"I might not be the best at manners but we'll definitely have to wake him up before we strike," Kai poked him in the side.

"Hey you wake up!" Billy opened one of his eyes and looked at the two wizards.

"Aw man you're here already. Fine. I'm getting up, just give me a second," Billy started standing up. Lucy and Kai jumped back, Kai took his glove off getting ready for his perfect midnight spell, and Lucy grabbed her keys.

"Woah easy there I'm not even up yet and you're already getting ready to attack me," He yawned and rubbed his eyes.

"Well let's get this over with."

Gray and Jack

We were walking down the street going southwards to an old unused harbor that was under renovation. I decided to try to have a heart to heart with Gray since we never talk.

"So Gray what is up with you and Juvia. She really likes you," Gray started fidgeting with his shirt clearly uncomfortable with the choice of subject.

"Well it's just sometimes I just don't understand her. She's so weird when she's around me."

"I think I know exactly how she feels and what she wants. Maybe you should try to ask her out," Gray had taken his shirt off without either of us noticing.

"Why would I do that? Then she's just going to think I like her even more!"

"Well you know, I think she just wants your attention. Tell me. what do you normally do when she stalks you."

"I ignore her until she goes away."

"Exactly my point. She just wants to be included a little bit more in your life," Gray thought for a moment and then he grinned.

"You know this because that's where you are with that Sapphire girl right?" I blushed.

"Yeah I guess so," I laughed awkwardly. We arrived at the harbor. No one was around. There was a girl sitting on the edge of the pier looking over the ocean. She heard the two of us coming and turned to look at us. She looked like Kate the girl from Gear Chronicle. She sighed upon seeing us.

"So Fairy Tail sends some of their hottest wizards to get their guildmembers," Gray and I got ready for whatever she had up her sleeve.

The matches were set. It was to overcome another unknown adversary of Fairy Tail!