The next chapter will be the Hidden event! I hope you all enjoy it!
July 1, X791
Jayden was lying asleep on a bed in an infirmary, with Porlyusica tending to his illness and Wendy sitting on a stool by his bedside with Carla sitting right next to her. She just kept staring at him for several minutes in silence until it was broken by Natsu bursting into the room.
"Wendy, are you all right?!" Natsu yelled.
"Natsu, I told you that she was fine." Lisanna said as she entered the room with Gray, Erza, Lucy and Elfman.
"Wait, isn't he with Phoenix Dawn?" Lucy asked when she saw Jayden on the bed.
"He's… not exactly the same person, though." Wendy said. "It's kind of complicated."
Just then, Blaise entered the room and everyone looked at her as she walked over to Jayden's bedside. At that moment Jayden finally regained consciousness.
"… Master Blaise…" Jayden groaned, still half asleep.
"It's all right, Jayden." Blaise said with a sincere look in her eyes. "Your friends all made it past the preliminaries."
"Where are they?" Jayden asked groggily.
"They're getting changed as we speak for their presentation later today." Blaise answered.
"Oh… Okay…" Jayden looked off to the side as if something was bothering him and mumbled to himself. "They couldn't even see me before the start of the games…"
"Elfman?" Wendy turned to face her friends. "Would you mind helping Natsu and the others for just a bit longer? I'd like to stay by Jayden's side while he recovers."
"No problem, Wendy." Elfman nodded.
Elsewhere in the stadium Domus Flau, Spiral and the rest of his team were all getting dressed in their team uniforms. They looked similar to their regular clothes, only Spiral was wearing a red jacket, Hikari was wearing a red V-neck shirt, Azusa was wearing a red cape with her armor, Sakura's kimono was red with a gold sash and Aqua had a red scarf wrapped around her neck.
"I wonder how Jayden's doing." Spiral said.
"Master Blaise said that Fairy Tail came to his aid after he was attacked." Hikari said. "Do you think someone has something against us?"
*… Kyrin wouldn't go that far, would he?* Aqua thought. *He wouldn't. He's too cocky in his guild's power that he'd never resort to cheating.*
"I can't wait to see who else made it in!" Sakura said as she pumped her fists.
"They'll be calling us out any minute now." Azusa said, looking out the door.
Outside in Domus Flaus, the stands were filled with thousands of people who came to see the games. On the lower areas of the stands, each of the guilds participating in the games had their own sections dedicated to seating the members who weren't fighting. In Phoenix Dawn's section, Flora was sitting with the other Exceeds in the guild on the edge of the stands and saw Wilbur looking downward.
"Worried about Jayden, are we?" Flora asked.
"N-no!" Wilbur looked away from Flora with a blush.
"Oh, you're so cute." Flora smiled and petted Wilbur on the head.
Wiblur groaned in embarrassment as Flora continued her teasing.
"We're just moments away from the Grand Magic Games, folks." The emcee said from a booth he shared with the other commentators. "I am your commentator, Chapati Lola, and joining me today is former Council member Mr. Yajima. Glad to have you with us, sir."
"Glad to be here." Yajima said. "Let's not forget today's special guest. Member of Blue Pegasus and current holder of the title Ms. Fiore, the ravishing Jenny Realite!"
"Blue Pegasus is bringing home the gold this year!" Jenny said into her microphone.
"Jenny's here?!" Eden stammered with Lionel sitting next to him. "Lionel, how do I look?"
Lionel rolled his eyes and sighed in exasperation.
"Now is the time to meet our competitors!" Chapati announced to the audience. "First up in tenth place, will they be able to reclaim the title of Fiore's strongest guild? Don't let their dainty name fool you! This guild is a band of ruffians! Fairy Tail!"
Phoenix Dawn cheered, but everyone else in the audience was booing at them, much to Fairy Tail's dismay.
"They're booing at us?!" Gray grumbled.
"Fairy Tail has come in last place every year, but now they've cleared the preliminaries!" Chapati continued. "This year they can't get any lower than tenth place. All of Fiore is buzzing about the return of the guild's most prominent members. Will their long-lost guildmates reclaim their former glory?"
"I'm sho happy for you." Yajima gave Fairy Tail a thumbs-up. "Congratsh, Fairy Tail."
"In ninth place, a newcomer guild started by the Wizard Saint Blaise Lianna!" The emcee announced. "Phoenix Dawn Team B!"
With matching jackets of gold, Melody, Frost, Haru, Static and Xanders came out to see the audience cheering for them. Frost and Haru were basking in the glory they earned while Melody ignored the crowd and Static and Xanders smirked proudly.
"I'm feeling better about getting in ninth." Static said to Xanders.
"Wait, Team B?" Natsu asked.
"One of the rules of this year's games is that each guild can submit up to two teams to compete." Chapati stated to the audience. "This is only one of Phoenix Dawn's teams that were able to make it past the prelims."
"Did Master know about this?" Lucy wondered.
They all looked to their guild in the stands to see Makarov simply shrug.
"Why are you shrugging?!" Lucy screamed at him.
"In eighth place, we have the all-female guild, the dazzling dancers of the deep! Mermaid Heel!"
Kagura, Millianna with her hood up, Risley, Beth and Araña walked into the center of the coliseum.
"I didn't know there was an all-girl guild." Happy said while Macao and Wakaba were ogling the girls.
"In seventh place, the sapphire wings that sparkle in the dark of night, Blue Pegasus!"
Ichiya, Hibiki, Ren, Eve and a guy in a rabbit costume posed when they're guild's name was announced.
"You can do it, boys!" Jenny cheered for her guildmates.
"Eve…" Heart stared at Eve with a sparkle in her eyes.
"And in sixth place, we have another newcomer guild! Striking down from the heavens, it's White Valkyrie!"
Five wizards, including Momo, came out into the coliseum with an uproarious applause. One was a woman with long, flowing silver hair, pale skin, red irises, large bust and wearing a white suit of armor with the White Valkyrie guild mark emblazoned on the back that glistened in the sunlight. The third female in the group was short and wore a green tunic with brown pants and a brown cloak over her head, though her face and braided pigtails could easily be seen by anyone who saw her. Another was a burly, muscular man with dark skin, a shaved head and only wore a pair of black trousers to show off his impressive pecs and the yellow guild mark tattooed on the left pectoral muscle. The last member of the group was a young man with spiky blonde hair and wearing a black shirt with white emblems splattered on the arms, torso and back and jeans.
"Yeah-ha!" The dark-skinned man said. "I could get used to this!" He turned to face the silver-haired woman in front of him. "Kara (Age 32), why aren't you pumped?"
"Because I'm not here for glory, Bryant (Age 25)." Kara answered with little to no emotion. "I'm here for revenge."
"What a killjoy." The young man said.
"What was that, Sora (Age 15)?!" Kara glared at the young man.
"Ah! N-nothing!" Sora yelped.
The short girl, Leah (Age 16), sighed in exasperation.
"In fifth place, representing the goddess of love and war, the holy destroyers, Lamia Scale!"
Lyon, Toby, Yuka, Jura and Chelia all came out into the coliseum.
"Fifth place? Fifth place?!" Ooba yelled as she began twirling her arm around. "Were you even trying, idiots?!"
"I'm sorry, Master Ooba." Chelia said. "It's my fault. I'm such a klutz. EEK!"
Chelia tripped and fell.
"Keep it together, Chelia." Lyon said.
After explaining to Fairy Tail that Chelia was Sherry's cousin, Chapati continued with the announcements.
"Moving on, in fourth place… What's this?! Who would've seen this coming?! It's their first time in the games, but they managed to make it into the Top 5! The Midnight Marauders, Raven Tail!"
Five wizards came out into the coliseum, most of them oddly shaped or dressed with the exception of the curvaceous red-haired women that caught Tristan's attention.
"Wooo!" Tristan gave a wolf whistle. "That's lady's smokin'!"
"Wait…" Blaise said as she examined the reactions of the Fairy Tail members.
"Let me see…" Chapati said before looking at some paperwork. "According to the official info, Raven Tail has only been around for about seven years and only recently they've been declared a legal guild."
"You're lucky the girl had protection, but we're not going to let you slip through our fingers again." The Raven Tail member in golden armor said.
"So you're the one who attacked Jay?!" Haru snapped at them with Xanders and Static trying to hold her back.
"That must mean you're the ones who tried to attack Wendy!" Natsu growled.
"Alright, we're down to our final three guilds!" Chapati continued.
The audience started murmuring in anticipation.
"Obviously Sabertooth made it in."
"But who are the other two?"
"Taking third place in the preliminary round… Phoenix Dawn Team A!"
Spiral, Sakura, Hikari, Aqua and Azusa all walked out and the crowd went crazy for them. Spiral and Azusa couldn't help but smile at the applause while Sakura jumped up and down while raising her fist in the air.
"Back off, girls!" Hikari proclaimed to the audience while holding onto Spiral's arm. "He's mine!"
Aqua looked into the audience to see Kyrin in the stands, the two leering at each other.
Kagura looked over at the group and was a bit surprised. "Where's Jayden?"
Spiral overheard what Kagura said, looked at her, but then twisted his lips.
"Supposedly, Phoenix Dawn's ace, Jayden Oceari, is unable to participate at the moment." Chapati announced. "But their guild master assures us he'll be ready to fight by tomorrow."
"… What happened?" Kagura muttered to herself.
"Now, in second place…" Chapati said. "Wow! This IS a shocker! I never would have seen this coming! It's Fairy Tail Team B!"
To the surprise of Natsu, Lucy, Gray, Erza and Elfman, a group consisting of Laxus, Mirajane, Gajeel, Juvia and Mystogan (really Jellal in disguise, of course) came out into the stadium.
"Why weren't they told about the two teams rule?" Spiral wondered.
After overhearing the conversation for a few minutes, Spiral looked at them like they were doing something stupid.
"Really? They're THAT childish to their own guildmates?" Spiral questioned.
"And in first place, once again, the powerful and undefeated Sabertooth!"
As confetti was strewn about the stadium and people screamed, Sabertooth members Sting with his hands raised in the air, Rogue, Olga and Rufus followed suit, along with the mysterious Yukino. The crowd was relentless and wouldn't let up the cheers for their favorite team. Everyone was excited for Sabertooth, except for two of their fellow members who were sitting in the stands, Kyrin and Kyo, the latter slumped over the empty seat in front of him and sulking with a dark cloud over him.
"This is complete bullshit…" Kyo muttered.
"You would think you'd be proud of your little protégé for being accepted so quickly." Kyrin said.
(Begin Flashback)
Outside the Sabertooth guild hall, Kyo in his Steelbody was punching a bag filled with bricks hanging from a tree while Yukino looked on.
"This is my chance!" Kyo said as he continued punching the bag. "With Minerva out on a job, they're gonna need someone to fill in until she comes back for the games! I'll show these bums how strong I really am!"
He punched the bag so hard that the branch broke off the tree, the bag fell and all the bricks poured out of it.
He turned to Yukino. "And you're going to see what true strength is all about!"
Yukino rolled her eyes. "I wish you luck." She said sincerely.
As Kyo began to pick up the bricks, Rogue and Frosch walked up to both of them.
"Yukino, we've discussed it and we would like you to be on our team for the games." Rogue said. "At least until the Lady returns."
Yukino was flushed with embarrassment. "I-I would be honored. Thank you." She bowed respectfully.
As Rogue walked away, Kyo blocked him off.
"W-Wait a minute!" Kyo said. "Haven't you guys tried considering someone with more experience?" He pointed at himself. "You know? Someone who can actually take a punch?"
"Well, we did." Rogue replied. "Olga and Rufus were on your side, but Sting was adamant about leaving you off the team. Something about stealing his clothes and pretending to be him."
Kyo began to sweat bullets. "Heheh… It's a long story…"
"I'll bet." Rogue said before walking away.
"Fro thinks so, too." Frosch said as he followed Rogue.
When they were gone, Kyo fell to his knees in defeat.
Yukino bowed to Kyo. "I'm sorry."
Kyo just held up his finger to her. "Just… Don't embarrass us…"
(End Flashback)
"Yeah… What were you doing wearing Sting's clothes, anyway?" Kyrin asked. "Do I want to know?"
Kyo sat back up as the guy in front of him returned to his seat. "Well… There's this woman-"
"Sorry, I forgot I didn't care." Kyrin said.
"Jackass…"
Kara angrily glared at all of the Sabertooth participants.
"Now that we've seen all the teams, what do you think of the lineup, Mr. Yajima?" Chapati asked.
"It musht be nice to be sho young." Yajima said.
"Uh… That's not what I meant." Chapati said. "And now, the moment you've all been waiting for! It's time to announce how this year's games will work!"
A/N: This chapter has gone on long enough, so I'll just stop right here since all the teams have been introduced. Again, I would like to thank lordsoftheRoses for writing the scene with Kyo and Kyrin. And what Spiral heard from the Fairy Tail wizards was the bet where the loser would have to do what the winner tells them to do for an entire day. Anyway, I hope you all enjoyed it! Stay tuned for next time!