CH31: For All the Time We Missed

This has not been Zancrow's day. First it was announced privately that he Laxus, Mira, Gajeel, Cana, Jellal, and Juvia would be on Fairy Tail's "B" team. Not the main team… but the "B" team! Unbelievable. Then on their first day of training, Lucy's spirits claimed that their realm was on the verge of destruction. That proved to be false. Turns out they just wanted to throw a surprise party celebrating the guild's triumph over Ankhseram. The gesture itself was nice. But one would think that details such as "one day in the spirit world equals three months normal time" would be mentioned beforehand. Especially since the only time the guild had to train was exactly that… three months!

To top it all off, he and some other Fairy Tail wizards have been summoned to a nearby forest upon request from none other than Jellal. That meant that his cheerleading squad would not be far behind. Sure enough, both Ultear and Meredy emerged from the shadows in the forest. As if things couldn't get any worse. They did.

Almost immediately Zancrow could feel the awkward tension in the air not just between him and Meredy, but Erza and Jellal. Erza rarely mentioned the blue haired wizard but when she did it was almost always in a depressed tone of voice. Whatever happened between them was of the past, but Erza seemed to hold onto false hope. Guess it's something she will have to sort out herself.

Zancrow was the only one in Fairy Tail who was already aware of Jellal's unofficial guild, Crime Sorcière. After all, he did run into them when he was first going to join Fairy Tail. They explained their intentions of fighting against Zeref and any dark guilds that use his power. That's what this whole meeting was about, Zeref. Jellal needed Fairy Tail's help in determining the source of a magical anomaly similar to Zeref's magic that they have sensed around the Grand Magic Games arena. Why would it originate there? Who was behind it? If they worked together they would have a better chance to find out.

To get one of their memebers on the inside action Jellal proposed to masquerade as Mystogan and join Fairy Tails team "B". He looked exactly like Edolas' Mystogan so Zancrow honestly thought it was a good idea. The preparations were made and the plans to expose Zeref's anomaly were reviewed.

Both guilds were confident in their missions, which was to win the Grand Magic Games, and save the populace from Zeref's evil influence.

Words were exchanged between him and Meredy. She asked how long he and Erza have been together and how it even happened. Zancrow merely shrugged it off and said it was a long story. When Erza wasn't looking Meredy planted a small kiss on the God Slayer's cheek and made her way back to Ultear. Clearly she still harbored feelings for him. But Erza was Zancrow's woman now. And Meredy would have to deal with it.

In exchange for Fairy Tail's help, Ultear would use her magic known as "Second Origin" to double the wizard's powers. She didn't bother to sugar coat it. The process would be long, extremely painful, and not fun to go through.

Natsu and his crew soon started the process and he decided that after seeing Salamander on the floor squirming in pain, he decided the God Force was all the power he would ever need and began to walk away. Erza had different plans in mind for him.

"If you don't get stronger, you will fail to represent our guild adequately. And frankly, I can't stand being stronger than the man I'm seeing."

Awkward tension filled the air again and Zancrow hesitated but ultimately agreed to amplify his power. After a long time of enduring excruciating pain, it was over. Both him and his Fairy Tail guildmates stood up and examined themselves. Not much noticeable difference except for the fact that their magic energy was amplified. Surely this extra power would bag them first place.

…

"Of all, the rotten, luck." Zancrow was sweating bullets. Raven Tail? Competing? That means that SHE would be here.

"It's okay. We beat them before, and we can do it again." Erza chimed in.

"That's… not what I'm worried about." Zancrow made eye contact with Flare Corona who blew a kiss at the God Slayer, immediately capturing Titania's attention.

"Zancrow…" Erza was frowning at the dark mage but Zancrow could feel her glaring daggers at him.

"It was a while back Erza. We weren't even together at the time. Ever since we fought them the first time she has kind of taken a liking to me…"

Erza's hand crushed the head of the railing she was holding onto. Zancrow immediately took the hint and went off to look for some popcorn. After all his match up wasn't for a couple rounds and he knew for a fact that he wasn't safe as long as he was in Erza's proximity.

So far the teams announced to partake in the Grand Magic Games consisted of Fairy Tail team A, Quatro Cerberus, Mermaid Heel, Blue Pegasus, Lamia Scale, Raven Tail, Fairy Tail team B, and Sabertooth. Apparently they were the team to beat. They have come in first every year during the seven years Fairy Tail lacked their most powerful wizards.

"Guess we'll have to take them down a couple of notches. Hehehe." Zancrow chuckled. "Now where is that popcorn?"

…

How embarrassing. Fairy Tail came in last place on both A and B teams. Botth Gray and Juvia got their butts handed to them by Nullpudding and then Sabertooth's Rufus changed the game when he used his memory make magic. Not only that but when Lucy faced off against Flare, she lost as well. Makarov naturally accused Ivan of cheating but no proof could be found. Therefore victory was awarded to Flare while Lucy remained passed out and motionless on the arena's floor.

"These matches are relentless…" Zancrow couldn't help but ponder that the odds were against them. So far they had no moral support until Natsu and Gajeel beat Sting in the chariot races. There was no more booing of the Fairy Tail guild but support from the crowd was scarce. Raven Tail seemed to be out to destroy them while Sabertooth seemed to be out to humiliate them. Either way, two powerful guilds had it in for Fairy Tail, and Zancrow was about to crush them. Or at least he was before his teammates beat him to the punch.

Both Erza and Cana won their competitions earning great praise from the crowd. Laxus managed to take out all of Raven Tail by himself exposing Alexei as their guildmaster Ivan all along earning the guild a swift disqualification. Fairy Tail was making a swift comeback in this competition and all of Fiore was about to know it.

…

Wendy was still recovering from her injuries courtesy of Raven Tail. Apparently Obra had drained her of all her magic power leaving her in a catatonic state. To make things even more accommodating for her, during Elfman's matchup against Bacchus several hired mercenaries broke into the infirmary she was in and attempted to kidnap her. Their efforts however were thwarted by Natsu.

To make matters worse, Wendy was supposed to go up against Lamia Scale's Shelia Blendy. So far most of Fairy Tail's team A and B participants have battled. All but Zancrow. With Wendy being in the state she was in, someone had to sub in for her.

"Zancrow, you're up." Makarov stated plainly. "Hit her hard and fast, but most of all… don't kill her."

The rest of the guild anime sweat dropped. Master wanted to win, but he didn't want Zancrow to send that poor guild to the hospital either.

"Fine." The God Slayer made his way to the arena where he was greeted by cheers from adoring fans. On the field was Shelia waiting to meet her opponent. Olga observed from the stands curious to what Zancrow had in store for them. To think that the other two God Slayers in existence would be gathered here in a place like this. Ankhseram told Zancrow about their existence during the battle of the shrine. But he had no idea he was going to encounter them this soon.

"What's this? I thought I was going to fight Wendy." Shelia sounded disappointed that her dragon counterpart would not be competing in this battle.

Zancrow calmly pointed towards the announcer who immediately was filled in to what was going on.

"Sorry folks. Due to extensive injuries, Wendy Marvell will not be participating in this match. Taking her place however is Fairy Tail's Zancrow."

The God Slayer looked at his opponent unamused. She looked arrogant, cocky, and to top it all off her personality was annoying. He couldn't wait to crush her.

"I wish you luck. You're going to need it." Shelia taunted Zancrow further by blowing kiss his way. Why did Zancrow attract all the weirdos?

The match began and Shelia was quick to attack. She use the wind to zoom beside Zancrow at an astonishing speed.

"Oh northern wind become the breath of a god who races across the land. Sky God, Boreas!"

Zancrow shielded himself by using his cross guard technique but the wind attack send him flying backwards. Zancrow recovered fairly well and tried to get his bearings. He saw Shelia coming straight for him.

"Wind o wind, rouse the sky, and rip the land asunder. Sky God Dance!"

A geyser of wind emanated from the petite girl and launched him vertically into the sky.

"Now for the fun part." Shelia rose to the altitude Zancrow was at and she launched several devastating punches. Some collided with his ribcage, others on his chest. The last blow sent him flying into the wall of the arena. The audience gawked in awe.

"Unbelievable. Lamia Scale's Shelia just embedded Fairy Tail's Zancrow into the wall of the arena. To think that there would be such a difference in their magic power." The announcer summarized.

Shelia took the time to wave at the audience. Fans were going wild but Fairy Tail knew Zancrow was far from out.

"She can't compare to him." Erza smirked from above the stands where the rest of Fairy Tail was observing.

Natsu and Gray smugly smiled, silently agreeing with Erza as the dust settled below them.

The sound of moving rubble emanated through the stadium and up from the broken stone of the wall rose up a pissed off Zancrow. Shelia looked petrified.

"H-how are you standing? Every attack I unleashed hit you dead on… so how is it you're still on your feet?

"It's repulsive…"

"…"

"To think that such powerful magic could be wielded by a child. Do you have any idea what I went through to obtain my power. How many hurdles Hades made me leap through to obtain the power of a god. And then you come along thinking you are hot shit because you utilize the same type of magic. Let me tell you something, you're nothing compared to me!"

"What… power of a god? Same type of magic? What do you mean?"

"Oh, that's right, you have no idea what kind of power I wield do you? Allow me to show you to the epidemy of fear."

Zancrow began to power up and the arena began to shake. The audience was hushed as they observed in awe the black aura that consumed Zancrow in no time at all.

"Black…flames?" Shelia looked petrified. She herself had no idea that there was more than two people who utilize this kind of magic.

"This can't be…" Olga thought to himself within the Sabretooth's stand.

"Behold, the power of a Black Flame God Slayer!"

Shelia clenched her fists. She never felt power like this before. What could she do?

"I hope you enjoyed your premature victory wave. Because from this point forward I'm going to pound you into the dust. And not in a fun way."

Shelia didn't even have time to react as Zancrow phased in front of her catching her off guard. He grabbed her by the face and slammed her whole body into the dirt arena.

"You made a grave mistake underestimating me. You better make peace with your own fast. Because at this point even the gods couldn't save you.

"Flame God…"

Shelia braced herself for the devastating attack.