Magical Hide and Attack!
"Okay guys be ready for anything that might happen. Remember that they always do random selections on what contest they'll have us do." Shadow pep talked with his us.
"Don't worry, we'll give those guys a Fairy Tail beating they'll never forget." Natsu smirked.
"All in all, I say we have an impressive group of wizards here! Any comments on our lineup, Mr. Yajima?" Chapatai asked.
"Yea… Mermaid Heel makes me pine for my youth." Yajima admired the beauty of the female guild.
"That's not quite what I meant?" Chapati sweatdropped confusing Yajima.
"We kept everyone waiting long enough, it's about time we unveil the official schedule for this year's tournament." Chapati said and then a giant stone tablet appears out of the ground from the field showing all the guilds' names in order they came in.
"There's going to be a lot of action in these next few days." Gray commented.
"Now we're talking." Natsu excited.
"Each one of the rounds will begin with a contest! Participants will then be ranked from first to eight-place! The teams will be awarded points depending on how they ranked in the contest. Additionally, the teams are allowed to select which of their members they want to compete. After that, we have battles: these bouts should comes as quite a treat to all you loyal fans since it was your suggestions that created these matchups!" Chapati explained the rules of the games.
"Interesting." Erza said.
"So, most of the fans here would chose who will be facing each other." Shadow wondered how this will turn out.
"So then, if you don't watch how much magic you use in a contest, you could find yourself thrown into a battle with no time to rest." Lucy figured out.
"The battle rules are simple: each team will square off as shown here! The winning teams will be awarded ten points, while the losing teams get jack squat! In the case of draw, both teams will be awarded five points!" Chapati explained the battle rules.
"Meaning we got to get ourselves some juicy ten points if we want to show everyone what our guild is capable of." Rouge stated.
"This should be fun." Gajeel smirked.
"Ready for actions? Let's get things started with the first contest of the Grand Magic Games, one that we call "Hidden"!" Chapati revealed the first contest as some audience wonder what that could be.
"At this time, we would like each team to select one member to compete! Once your selections are made, the rules will be explained in their entirety." Chapati said.
And so, one by one, each guild team sent in their member. First is Yaeger from Quatro Cerberus, second came Beth Vanderwood of Mermaid Heel, Nalpudding of Raven Tail, Eve from Blue Pegasus, Rufus Lore of Sabretooth, Lyon Bastia from Lamia Scale, Gray and Juvia from both Fairy Tail teams.
"Hold on, Gray. There's something you should be fully aware of." Shadow said with a hand on Gray's shoulder.
"Yeah, what's up?" Gray asked.
"It's pretty obvious that Raven Tail will gunning after us since that's the only reason why they're even here in the first place." Shadow glanced at team Raven Tail.
"I see, it'll be most likely they want to humiliate and destroy us in the game." Erza understand.
"Which is why I thought of a little plan." Shadow leaned to Gray's ear whispering the plan making the ice mage smile.
"Oh, that's good." Gray nodded.
"The competitor has been chosen and the long wait is finally over. Grab a refreshment and get glued to your seat because you're not gonna want to miss a single nail-biting moment of Hidden!" Chapati excited.
(With Crime Sorcière)
"All right, the games have started." Jellel said as he, Ultear, and Meredy are standing on top of a skyscraper statue that is a few miles away from the Domus Flau.
"Are you still upset that you couldn't compete in?" Meredy asked.
"A little, but Rouge made a valiant point that my identity could be expose despite telling them I'm from the other world since there aren't any proof of that since Edalos has been closed off forever." Jellal said.
"But that still leaves you upset that you won't be able to get close to your precious Erza." Ultear teased making Jellal blush.
"Let just focus on finding the unknown magic." Jellal muttered.
(Back at Domus Flau)
"Now, will each tea's participant in the Hidden game, kindly step forward?" Mato asked.
"Remember the plan, Gray." Shadow said.
"Got it, see you later." Gray walked away.
"You better not lose, snowflake! Ya hear me, pal?" Natsu cheered for his teammate, soft of.
"There are probably two questions on everyone's mind. First and foremost, just what kind of game will Hidden be? And who would you say is the favorite in the mysterious competition? Chapati asked for everyone in the audience.
"Hmm, it's safe to assume Rufus is probably the odds-on favorite, but Gray from Fairy Tail is a dark horse in the running." Yajima said.
"Let's ask today's special guest: Miss Jenny Realight from Blue Pegasus!" Chapati looked over to Jenny.
"I'll be rooting for Eve, of course." Jenny winked.
With the competitors, after questioning about who and what Mato is.
"Just so you know, Juvia, I ain't gonna hold back my fist against you." Gray declared.
"Oh my, even your harsh words make my heart racing." Juvia blushed.
"Damn you, Gray. Just you wait and see, I'll win Juvia's heart in this." Lyon muttered.
"(Those stupid fairies will be easy picking.)" Nalpudding thought smirked evilly.
"Open the field!" Mato yelled and a bunch of buildings appear around them much to their shock.
"Whoa, they can put in an entire city here!" Happy surprised.
"I never seen anything like this before." Makarov said.
Once the entire town is finish, Gray and the rest of the chosen competitors found themselves separated from each other and realize this might be the Hidden game like a giant game of hide and seek.
"Those of you in the stands can catch all the exciting action in crystal-clear lacrima-vision." Chapati announced with lacrima hologram screen appearing around the town.
"I bet the eight contestants in the arena wish they had that luxury, but that would make it too easy." Chapati joked.
"Speaking of easy, here are the rules of the game. All the players are hiding and seeking at the same time! The main objective in the Hidden is to locate the other players. Once you've done that, you'll have to land an attack on them! The player that successfully connects their attack whether or not it does any damage, will be awarded one point." Chapati explained and suddenly, several dozen clones of all the competitors in this game appears all over the city.
Then Natsu look sick.
"You okay?" Shadow asked.
"The thought of that many Grays gross me out." Natsu said, feeling like he's gonna vomit.
"Even knowing Gray for all these years. I'd have trouble finding the real one." Erza admitted.
"I know these clones look pretty, but they aren't just for show, folks. Attack one of your fake competitors by mistake, and it'll cost you one point." Chapati revealed the purpose of the clones.
"(Good, this is better than Shadow hoped for.)" Gray thought smiled as he put his hands together to start his Ice-Make Magic.
"It's time to disappear like a black cat in a dark alleyway. Fade into your surroundings and hide in plain sight. Let's play Hidden!" Chapati declared as a man rang the gong and the crowds ger excited.
"Oh, there are so many beautiful Grays to feast my eyes on, but I don't just have to look, surely I can wrap my arms around at least one!" Juvia hugged one Gray clone feeling Heaven in my mind.
Then a buzzer noise alert over Juvia and she is teleported to somewhere else in the city.
"And that there, Juvia from Fairy Tail B loses one point." Chapati said as the scoreboard shows Juvia with negative one point.
"She will be put into a ten second time-out and then forced to start again from another part of the arena. The same is true if you are attacked by another player; one point taken off, time-out, and then it's starting all over again from somewhere else!" Chapati explained the rules with the points and time-out.
"What an idiot." Gajeel said angry a little.
"This could prove to be a little bit of an issue for poor Juvia." Mira pointed out.
"And after all that warning I gave." Rouge sighed.
"We wouldn't be having this problem if I were playing the game." Laxus stated.
"You are allow to restart as many as you need, but the clock is ticking. The game will last for thirty minutes, and of course, whoever has the most points at the end takes first place!" Chapati informed.
"Okay, this is going to pickle for me since I stink at hide and seek when I was kid." Gray said looking around, seeing all the clones.
"Foolish boy." Nullpudding mocked walking up to Gray.
"You don't got a snowball chance in Hell for you to last long in this game." Nullpudding smirked.
"Shadow thought you Raven Tail punks would come after me first, do you really hate us that much?" Gray asked, his eyes quickly look over to his left and back before Nullpudding notices.
"Master Ivan said that you fairies are weak with stupid ideas like friendship and other garbage, he said that he was glad that he was kicked out by his own father." Nullpudding said.
"Is that so? Well, in that case… See ya!" Gray ran and turn to a corner shocking the short purple man.
"Hey, get back here!" Nullpudding shouted, pushing his own clone he was hiding behind and ran after him.
Nullpudding's body becomes all spiked up and jump at Gray.
"Needle Punch" Nullpudding punched Gray in the back knocking him down.
"Thanks for the point, loser." Nullpudding smirked, but then he gasps when he saw Gray shattered into little pieces of ice.
"What that was fake?" Nullpudding gasped.
"Made from my own." Gray appeared behind his opponent with his magic ready to attack.
"Hiding behind your copy was a smart move, I'll give you that much." Gray said.
"But how did you saw through my plan?" Nullpudding confused.
"My ice clone saw the reflection of the window while I was hiding on top of that building." Gray revealed.
"Nice try, but you'll have to give me the first point. "Ice-Make Hammer" Gray slammed his ice-hammer on Nullpudding knocking him down and he is transported to another part of the arena.
"Awesome! Gray got the first point!" Lucy cheered.
"Pretty clever of you to advice Gray to make dozens of ice clones for this challenge, Shadow." Erza complimented.
"I always try to stay one step ahead of my enemies." Shadow grinned.
"Damn it, that ice fucker is going to pay." Nullpudding promised revenge.
After his ten second time-out, Nullpudding is carefully walking around the fake town with two of his copes walking beside him trying to find Gray or Juvia, then he spots Gray trying to sneak up on the farm girl.
"Got ya!" Nullpudding charged at Gray with another Needle Punch to the back, only for that Gray is a clone to vanish.
"What? I could have sworn I saw him use magic?" Nullpudding confused and disappear again into another part of the fake town again.
Meanwhile, Gray is seen putting a glow misty glowing ice in one of the copies' hands to make it look like that it is him about to perform his magic.
"Man, adding magic to the fakes to set up a trap. That Shadow got a bright mind." Gray impressed with Shadow's plan.
"Amazing! Amazing! Shadow has the mind of a strategist like me!" Mavis amazed.
"Well, he has been battling back in his old world and can have a cool head under pressure too." Makarov bragged.
"Damn it, Nullpudding, you're making yourself look like an idiot." Alexei angered, so too is Ivan.
"Okay, looks like things are getting heated up. Maybe I should cool things down a bit." Eve thought of an idea.
"I don't think so." Juvia said.
"Water Ray" Juvia blasted Eve with her water magic.
"Oh man, at least it was from a pretty girl." Eve said before he disappears.
"Yes, back to zero. Now I just need to get some points and find Gray." Juvia remembered the promise Master Makarov.
"Seriously, Makarov made a promise allow the losing team to do whatever the winning teams want?" Shadow shocked when Rouge came to them sharing what Makarov told them.
"That's right, and the same can be said about your team beating us." Rouge said.
"Mira will probably make m her maid for the day." Erza sighed.
"Well, I know what I want." Natsu imagined having Gajeel and Laxus doing a Happy impression.
"That's all you want?" Shadow asked.
"Hey, it's pretty funny to me." Natsu stated.
Back in the game, Gray is now squaring off with Lyon and Juviva after both Beth and Yaeger are taken out.
"I don't plan on losing here, my beloved Gray." Juvia declared who currently has one point.
"Me either." Gray said, who also has two points
"Ha! Two Fairies for the price of one!" Nullpudding charged at Gray and Juvia to attack them.
"Lyon!" Juvia faked cry for help.
"Oh no, you don't! Ice-Make Puffer Fish" Lyon, falling for Juvia's trick, attacked Nullpudding with his ice animal magic.
"Oh, come on!" Nullpudding complained before disappearing and Lyon got two points now.
"There, you are safe now, Juvia." Lyon said in a 'Prince Charming' way.
"Water Slicer" Juvia attacked Lyon with her magic gaining herself two points.
"I am sorry, Lyon. I hope you can forgive me, but not to love or anything." Juvia apologized then she notices snowflake is falling.
Everyone looks up at the sky seeing snowflakes falling from some clouds that was appearing.
"Wow, would you look at that? Our city is turning into a winter wonderland." Chapati surprised.
"That's got to be Eve." Jenny recognized that spell anywhere.
Eve plan is to use the cold to see the cold breath from the others that the copies can't make since they're not real and anything.
"I got you!" Eve attacked Beth, Yaeger, and Nullpudding at the same time.
"Hope that wasn't too cold for you." Eve said with a shiny smile then got attack by Lyon and his Ice Eagles.
"Unfortunately for you, I trained in the cold." Lyon stated.
"Yeah, kinda figured." Eve chuckled.
And for the past several minutes, everyone has been doing their best to find and attack each other to get some points for themselves while also trying not to get attack as well. Most of them, actually as there is one who hasn't made a move yet.
"We're still yet to see any movement on the board by the top-seeded Rufus of the Sabretooth guild. He hasn't lost any points, but he hasn't scored any either." Chapati informed.
"(He's planning something, I know it.)" Shadow thought.
Rufus is now seen standing on top of tower thinking this game to be boring for him.
"I committed this song to memory. The rhythm of their heartbeats, their footsteps, the tone of their magic." Rufus said.
"That's a pretty conspicuous hiding place if you ask me." Lucy commented.
"He's there because he's about to do something big." Shadow said.
"What do you mean?" Natsu asked.
"Just a gut feeling, but it looks like Rufus may have already got a winning plan." Shadow concerned.
"It's all there, inside my mind." Rufus begin channeling his magic power and cover the sky of the fake city into night sky and the competitors are glowing gold.
"What is this magic? I never heard of it." Erza shocked as everyone is.
"Memory Make: Night of the Shooting Stars" Rufus fired beams of lightning bolts at all the targets hitting them, except for Nullpudding who dodges it and jump toward him.
"You got learn a thing or two about hiding." Nullpudding threw a punch at Rufus who vanish into mist.
"Oh no, a fake?!" Nullpudding panicked.
"Not quite." Rufus reappeared at the same spot. "You didn't lose a point, that was just the memory of me being there." Rufus revealed and blasts the purple man away.
"I find that more effective than using mere decoys." Rufus grinned.
"And the hits rain down from above, turning the scoreboard upside-down! This is what you'd expect from a guy like Rufus! Sabretooth takes the lead!" Chapati announced.
"I think I'm starting to see why they're the number one guild in Fiore." Lucy worried.
"Damn, was that some kind of Maker Magic?" Gray asked and heard the bell ringing.
"And with that, the game is over!" Chapati announced and the fake city disappeared.
"So, let's take a look at the ol' scoreboard."
Sebretooth: 10 P
Lamia Scale: 8 P
Blue Pegasus: 6 P
Mermaid Heel: 2 P
Quattro Cerberus: 4
Fairy Tail B: 2
Fairy Tail A: 1
Raven Tail: 0
"Well, at least we didn't end up in last place this time." Max sighed in relief.
"Next up is the battle game, we'll have get serious if we want to win this." Shadow said, sending a glare at Ivan who felt a cold shiver down his spine.
"Now, onto the Battle!" Chapati said.
KO a new chapter is done and hope you all enjoy it!
The game Hidden was a difficult game for everyone as they try their very best to hide and then attack, and Sabretooth have won this round getting more points than the others. I made this different than in the anime with Gray being a little smarter this time with Shadow's help and the point gaining difference, but now it's onto the Battle round as I intend to make it a little different too.
KO comment, favorite, and follow through of how this story will go!
