"The grand magic games?" Ara asked Romeo, "That's what determines the number one guild?"

"Yep, that's how Sabertooth became number one."

"So does that make us number two?" Wendy asked innocently.

"Ha, not quite. That would be Lamia Scale. We've come in dead last every time."

"And that's why we aren't doing it!" Macao slammed his fist onto the bar. "I won't let Fairy Tail get humiliated again."

Romeo looked at his dad in frustration. "But it's different now. We have the Tenrou team. They can get us the win and make Fairy Tail number one again!"

Ara felt her heart squeeze. The pain they must have gone through with their loss. The humiliation they experienced to keep Fairy Tail together while everyone was gone. The hope they continued to hold in their hearts and the search they never gave up on.

"And there is a cash prize too!" Romeo added. This made Master Makarov perk up.

"We're doing it!"

And this is how Ara remembered Fairy Tail joining the Grand Magic Games.

...

"Zip, do you need to bring all these books to Crocus?" Ara asked as she helped hull the luggage into the said city.

After three months of training, it was time for the games. Ara hadn't been chosen for the team that would compete but that was alright, she was fine cheering on the others and exploring the city. She was sure there were fun boutiques here with pretty jewelry to buy.

During the time training Ara had built her bank account up again with some missions she and Zip went on. Unfortunately, her apartment wasn't available again, the landlord was nice enough to have stored her and Zip's personal belongings.

They were able to get another apartment closer to the guild hall but it cost 800 jewels a month. The price made both Ara and Zip want to cry.

"Of course I do. You never know how much downtime we will have between the games."

"Oh my."

"Here Ara, you can put yours and Zip's luggage with the rest of the cart, it's going to the tavern we are staying at." Lisanna smiled as she helped move the bags onto the wagon cart.

"Thanks, Lisanna!" Zip hopped around her.

"Zip, you should watch how you move, you may run into other visitors here." Carla chastised standing by Wendy.

"Oh Carla, I thought Happy was teaching you to let loose a little." Zip laughed hopping around her now.

"Oh, you frog!"

Ara laughed behind her hand walking beside Lucy and Natsu. They were listening in as Levi read out a list of the main rules for the games. Once it was settled that the main team had to be back in their room by midnight they were let loose to explore the city.

"Hey Ara, I'm gonna tag along with Levy to look at some bookshops." Zip said as they walked looking at some stores.

"That's fine. I'm gonna look around to see what items I can find."

Ara and Zip waved parting ways. Ara looked down at her map of Crocus tracking the different shops. "So if I keep going west this way there should be a whole lane of—"

"Ah.."

Ara looked up at the wall. In reality, it was an armored soldier with a hard look on his face.

"Sorry..."

"Tis alright. Though it's best to watch our steps in Crocus." Ara had a feeling from the glare he sent down her way it wasn't alright. "It can be dangerous at night so I would find where you are going and get there."

They parted ways then, Ara bowing to be polite, though she felt a sort of irritation in the way he spoke to her. Something weird was going on in this town.

Ara continued her path through the city, taking in the lights and flowers all over, she smiled. It was called the Flower City for a reason, huh? At some point she found herself in a part she wasn't familiar with, it was fairly dark and quiet, and came out to a balcony where the stars could be seen. She leaned on the balcony looking up at them in wonder. So much was out there that they didn't know about, things they had yet to discover. Sometimes she wondered if there was magic in the universe that was waiting to be learned.

In truth, Ara had been experimenting with her Black Hole manipulation magic. There was a secret art to it that even her Master could not teach her.

The ability to move through time. She had read about some of the magical documents Master Bonca had left for her after her passing. Ara promised never to use the spell, yet her curiosity kept growing. What if she could go back? What if she could stop the cult that killed her family and tortured herself and Zip?

The pain they experienced didn't seem fair. Why did they have to lose everything while some lost none in the wake of Zeref's demons and fanatics?

Ara felt a tear roll from her cheek. She quickly went to wipe it but something else had before she could react. She turned behind her to see what it was but nothing was there.

Just the wind then? Ara wasn't so sure.

Whatever it was she thanked it for its comfort before deciding it was time to move on.