Wendy blinked several times upon hearing her name. "Uh?"

"Don't you heard ? Its' up to you now" Cynthia grinned, eager to see her friend in action.

Wendy now feels a little nervous. "O-Ok. I'll do my best" She nodded before she exited the stand. But before she could do so, a hand was put on her shoulder. She turned back, seeing Shizu who lifted a thumb with shining stars all around her.

"...Good luck"

A sweat appeared on Wendy's temple "A-Alright. Then, I go"

"Aira, huh ? If I remember, she used Wind magic as well" Lucy pondered.

"This is oddly familiar" Carla replied.

"The story is repeating itself" Happy said with his usual simpleton face.

"How do you think she will do, First?" Erza asked, looking at Mavis.

"It will not be easy, but I know Wendy can win this" Mavis nodded.

"She will be fine. Look, theypull one of these heads " Natsu said smiling while pointing at White Eclipse's direction, which, indeed, were in a peculiar mood.

.

.

"Oh ! It's my turn it seems" Aira, who now realised she was the one who must fight, turned around for not making everyone wait.

"Good luck Aira, you can do it !" Selene exclaimed excitedly as her firend went way.

Meanwhile, Luke looked around, as if something bothered him"Man, don't you have a strange... I don't know, something ?" He scratched his head, completely unsure.

Kuro lifted a brow "What do you mean ?"

"Nah, must be you" Waiston shrugged his arm off, not feeling anything special.

"As usual for me" Haether replied.

Luke narrowed his eyes. He didn't know why, but something felt off. Not having answers, all he could do is ignore it and focus on the incoming duel.

This thing a numerous of White Eclipse didn't notice was because of ine little detail: Nami. Usually cheerfull and jolly, one could say she was a little sunshine, but what she heard the last night was unsettling for her.

.

[The last night]

"You're joking, right ?" Taya grunted unhappily, arm crossed and tapping her foot repetedly.

"Do I ever made jokes before ?" Arc lifted a brow, also unamused.

"Are you sure about what you say ? This is serious" Nami gnawed her fingertip from stress.

"I can't be sure, but there is not a lot of possibilities. It may be a pointless point, but her strenght is abnormal"

"Why ? Because she took one of your diversions ?" Taya rolled her eyes.

Arc shook his head. "Remember after the diner ? Sydney was trying something under the command of Calium, and could not sense her soul. For neither her or that woman in full armor"

"Yes, I remember. Sis was saying that she felt something in her, something like 'him' " Nami had a shiver just by saying the last word. "Wait, if Aura is suspicous, so is Mare as well ?"

"This is most likely the case, even if it can be hard to hear"

"This is getting worse" Taya pinched her forehead, exhaling exhaustly. "Now we have these...persons to deal with again. What a pain"

"What do we do now ?" Nami asked faintly.

"We can't do much for now, especially since we don't have any real evidence" Arc answered

Taya nodded "Unfortunately, I agree. Let's not cause more trouble than necessary. But if it happens to be true..." She didn't wan't to finish her sentance.

"Let's forget that for now. We have a tournament to win and we won't let make the others one stressed, right ?" Nami wanted to changed the mood, but she wasn't sure if she even convinced herself.

"...Right" replied the other two.

.

[Present]

Wendy stepped inside of the circular field, fist tighed and a firm expression on her face. "I'm ready !". After a short delay, Aira came as well, also determined to win. "For Whiter Eclipse, I can't allow to lose"

" It seems that both combatants are ready !" Chapati remarked "Then without waiting more, fight !"

As soon as the signal was launched, Aira threw herself at Wendy at a great speed, wind gathering around her palm. "Palm Wind !"

Wendy was surprised at the sudden attack, but managed to dodge by stepping back. She's fast ! Using this momentum, Wendy gathered widn around her hand which took a sharp form. "Sky Dragon's Crushing Fang !" She swung her hand, but Aira dodged it as well, keeping herself at a safe distance between her and Wendy.

She is a dragin slayer, so I am at physical disavantage. Fortunately, she can't heal herself. I have to end this quickly ! Aira breathed in, getting more focused into the fight. If she wanted to win, then she didn't have to hold herself back.

"Man, Aira is really into this. She know we're ahead, right ?" Luke asked, curious about Aira's seriousness.

"Maybe she wanted to see which one of them master the wind more, with I don't doubt even a second who it might be" Reve twirled a pistol, visibally uninterested into the ongoing fight.

Cygnus yawned "She is fighting a kid, nothing can go wrong"

"At least she seems to have fun" Kuro remarked, smiling as usual.

"Unlike you idiots, she take this seriously. Unless you want her to lose" Selene, irrited by her comrades's statements, made them flinched and overdone, making her smirk.

"Shut up !" Taya and Haether yelled at the same time "I can't get concentrate on the fight" The former continued.

Aira extended her hand backward where wind was beginning to concentrate. Upon seeing this, Wendy prepared her enchantments. "Armor ! Ver-" A small, almost invisible sharp of wind cut her through her incantations by slashing her right shoulder, causing her to yelp, Aira's attack landed when the Armor was still being placed. "I won't let you placing your enchantments !" The wind finally stood in one point in the center of her palm. "Take that ! Hurricane Ball !" The point coloring in a dark greenish-blue was thrown at Wendy. Due to it instable nature, all the energy inside it explode, strong, sharpy winds hurled themself at the bluenette, similar to an hurricane. Wendy crossed her arms, taking the hit, now being at the center of the attack. As the attack last, sharps of wind struck Wendy progressively. Her enchantment worked, but it wouldn't protect her forever.

I can't get out of this ! Wendy tried to figure out how to escape her situation. Then, a lightbulb appeared above her head.

On the tribune, Gray whistled "She's stronger and more aggresseve than I excpected"

"It's because she is afraid of Wendy, I don't see why else" Natsu huffed proudly. "Kick her ass, Wendy !"

Cynthia tilted her head "Is it really something to say about a girl ?" Natsu was then bumped by Erza for saying such words in front of a child.

Meanwhile, Shizu didn't take her eye off the hurricane where Wendy was currently trapped. Aura, on her side, laid her foot on the ledge, not as much interested. I don't see why they are so noisy about. It's just two children who play with air. And you, kid, you're a dragon slayer, so you better not disappoint me, or my lady over there.

Fairy Tail's attention was then brought by the hurricane who acted strangely. It's patter began to decelerate before starting to disperse itself, bursted out by a opposite wind. The cause ? Wendy, visibly injured by the attack, stood there, arms extended. "Sky Dragon's reversed Tornado !". Aira widened her eyes slightly. "She overcome my attack ?"

"Now it's my turn !" Wendy leaped forward, bringing her leg bacward "Sky Dragon's Talon !" She slammed her foot at Aira who blocked it with her forearm. The blond counter by swinging her other arm which was surrounded by sharp wind. The hit landed on Wendy's side, causing her to gasp in pain, but it didn't stop her. The dragon slayer spinned, using her other feet to kick on Aira's face who recoiled from the hit, panting. Without waiting more, Wendy gathered wind in her mouth. Seeing this, Aira placed her hands in front of her chest, accumulating wind as well. It was similar to the last time, but more controlled thanks to the use of her two hands.

"Sky Dragon's Roar !"

"Head-Wind !" Both girls threw their attacks at the same time, colliding each other in the middle. Both of them tried to bypass the other one, but the stalemate continue, until, unfortunately, Wendy ran out of air by releasing her attack by the mouth. Aira's Head-Wind finally go past Wendy's roar, a part of it engulfred her, letting a cry of pain.

"Wendy !" Cynthia screamed, worried. CZ tighed her grip on the edge of the balcony, cracking it.

Aira panted heavely, hands on her laps. That was quite a fight. I don't think I can't continue much longer. A sudden sound broke all her hopes. Aira lifted her head, her eyes widened when she saw Wendy still standing, clothes tattered and cuts and bruises everywhere on her body. "I will not..." She spreaded her arms, a barrier was forming all around Aira. "W-What is this ?". Slowly, Wendy moved her arms in a counter-clockwise direction, causing the wind to get dangerously closer to the White Eclipse mage, before contracting in front of Wendy. "Lose ! Secret Art: Shattering Light: Sky Drill !" It was then send off like a giant beam, completely submerging Aira, who screamed in pain at her turn. When the attack was finished, Aira stood on the ground, bruised and uncounscious.

After a long silence, making sure than there was no second 'wind', Chapati announced the winner "The winner is Wendy Marvel". The crowd encouraged her, maing her blush in front of such a number of people.

"I knew you could do it !" Cynthia flailed her arms, almost falling over at Wendy's victory.

"That was kinda close" Gray scratched the back of his head, shirtless.

Aura smiled "Not bad, not bad" while CZ closed her eye, her way to show her relief.

"Aira !" Selene ran back to pick her friend, concerned about her.

"Impressive" Yuri.

"They're getting closer" Kuro stated.

Zalen fixed his glasses, albeit it was not necessary"But we still have the lead, nothing is settle"

"Hope the next one is me, this will be already the end" Cygnus clenched his fist, grinning confidently.

Selene finally managed to reached Aira, she was still counscious, but can't do much. "Aira !Are you alright ?" She didn't give an answer. Selene kneeled to see Aira looking away, purposely evading her. "...I'm sorry"

Selene shook her head. "It's not yout fault, or anyone else's. You did your best. Come on, better not make the others wait" She lifted the blonde and supported her to the infirmary.

"You did it !" Cynthia hugged tighly Wendy who winced in pain.

"Good job" Erza patted her head"

"I knew she would win" Mavis nodded.

"We are getting closer now" Lucy put the score in her mind, counting how many fighters left.

"That's only the beginning of our comeback" Natsu grinned.

Cynthia opened her eyes in realisation of something. "Wait" She broke up her hug "Your enemy used wind, right ? So why didn't you eat herattack ?" The balcony fell into a dead silence, with everyone looking at the void and Aura slamming her head against a wall, cracking it. "Seriously ?"

Wendy giggled nervously "Hehe. Guess I forgot about that" She smiled sheepishly, this would make the fight way more easy.

"That just proof that she didn't have to use that to win" Natsu tried to justify that oversight. But in his place, he would forget that too. The times when he fough another fire mage, he couldn't somehow eat their flames.

"It's too late for that. Go see Porlyusica and rest" Erza advised, which Wendy did.

.

"That's the first time I see one of these dragon slayer at work. It sure is something" Lupusregina had her hand above her eyes. Hen she heard faint mumbles, she turned around and lifted a brow upon seeing Galadriel frantically writing things on a notepad. She looked at Narbe who only shook her head. She got closer to Narbe, whispering to her "Do you think we should stole this kid ? Surely it would please our lady" Narbe was actually thinking about that, but someone broke her thoughs.

"Meeeeeeeeeeeen" A large, and rather small figure stormed at them. By pure instinct, both girls hit it at the same time, smashing it to the ground.

"What is that ?" Galadriel was distracted by the sudden crash sound. When she looked at the figure, her face twisted by whzt she was seeing. What. Is. That ?

"Hello, young beauties" This person was no other than Ichiya, leader of the Trimen and the handsome guy from Blue Pegasus. He pointed his fingers as he usually do, whith glitters aroun him and a smug face... tainted in blood and disfigured. "It was a pleasure to make your acquaintance, the white light is too blinding. Goodbye"

"Regina, please"

"Yes, I know" Regina placed her hand just hight enough to not touch Ichiya, a green aura surrounding him. He got up like new, keeping his seducive face. "It's been a while since I heard about you, but I couldn't smell your parfum. So, when I can finally smell yours, I couldn't resist"

"Ewww, are you a perv ?" Regina covered herself dramatically with her arms while lightning was crackling inside Narbe's hand. "Can i kill him"

"Wait, both of you" Galadriel sweated inside, now afraid for the strange person in front of them.

"And you!" Ichiya got past the two other girls, looking at the armor with passion "Your parfum...It's not like anything I ever smell before: Power, beauty, whoever is under this helmet should not hide her face. He took a different stance. Sweat appeared on Narbe and Regina, the later having a tensed face. It was Galadriel who broke the awkward silence. "Who...are you again ?". Ichyia grabed his heart like he was stabbed here. "It hurt, you know" He fell on his knees and his other arm. "Never a lady tallked to me like that. It... I can't"

"That's cool and that, but can you leave ? The next match is about to begin and I don't want to miss it because of... someone like you" This sinked another knife on the poor Ichiya.

"Ichiya-san" The women saw three men running at Ichiya calling him in sync. Without wasting time, they lifted him like he was going to the emergency.

"That was something" Regina scratched the back of her head, before turning her head when Chapati spoke again.

.

"Are you ready now for the next fight ?" Chapati exclaimed eagerly, so was the crowd. "Then here we go !" The mages's portraits were scrolling again before stopping. "Gajeel Redfox vs Mare Bello Fiore !... Wait" The crowd went silent when theyheard Mare's last name. "A-Anyway, we have our

competitors !"

"Gihehehe, finally" Gajeel cracked his knuckles. "And even before you, Salamander"

"Argh ! Not fair !" Natsu yelled, frustrated.

"You can do it, Gajeel-kun" Juvia encouraged him.

"No need to say it twice !" Gajeel hop off theegse, landing on the ground in a loud crash.

"Good luck" Levy whispered.

"Don't worry about him" Lily smiled.

"He's right. Look who is his foe. This kid is gonna be crushed" Natsu tighed his fist, strengthening the word 'crush'. Without anyone noticing it, Aura wears now a knowing smile.

"Wha-?"

"It's yours now, kid" Luke smirked.

"He-he's a dragon slayer too, right ?"

"What are you afraid of? You are surrounded by dragon slayers" Waiston retorted, while Takeru didn't reply and Haether shrugged.

"Don't be a whimp. You're just about to be seen by hundreds of people" Cygnus laughed while tapping Mare's back, so much that the boy was staggering before tripping over the edge of the balcony, letting a distressed cty of help while falling ungracefully. Once he fell loudly, he winced before getting up and dusting himself off, tears at the corner of his eyes. Cygnus raised his shoulders in apology "...Whoops"

"Anyway, tell me when it's over" Reve was laiding back, playing with a pistol.

"You don't want to see where it will turn out ?" Luke raised an eyebrow.

Reve didn't look at him "Nah, I know exactly how this will end" His answer made the other ones stared at each other. It was not the entence itself, but the tone he gave, no snarky or over-cocky voice, like is was an evidence.

"Are you ready ? Then fight !"

Gajeel wasted no time and rushed at Mare "Don't matter if ya're a kid, I won't hold anything back ! Iron Dragon's Lance" Gajeel's arm morphed into a pike and striked at Mare, who panicked by the sudden attack and fell on the ground, completely evading Gajeel. "Huh ?" The dragon slayer turned back, seeing his foe clumsily on the ground again. "Whats' up with this one ?" Mare got up again, this time ready to face Gajeel. "Are you ready ?" The dragon Slayer rushed at him again. "Iron Dragon's Sword !" His other arm transformed into a chainsword, which the twins found that absloutely badass, swinging it at Mare, who tapped his staff on the ground, where thed irt began to rise itself [E-Earth Wall !] Gajeel's chainsaw connected with the wall without much success. Fearing that his adversary may profit of this, Gajeel stepped back, enfling his lips. "Iron Dragon's..." Once he saw Mare's silouhette, he parted his lips "...Roar !" A funnel of sharp iron flew at Mare, who didn't seems to react at the attack., allowing the roar to engulfed him. Seeing this, Gajeel smiled. Sees like I got 'him. However, his eyes narrowed when the dust was clearing out. With his sharp eyes, he saw a colored shield all around Mare.

"A magic shield ?" Lucy observed. "Since when is it active ?

"He must have activate it at the last second. His reaction time is amazing. Gajeel must not underestimate him." Erza explained.

"He's Aura's brother, no ? So who will she choose to encourage ?" Mira placed a hand on her cheek, At her place, between her sibling or her own guild, the choice must be tou-

"What a question, Mare, of course" -or maybe not. Aura didn't hesitate to reply.

"Aura is a traitor" Happy said.

"That is... wow !" Jaxon was quite delighted by the scene before him.

"A prob, Jax ?" Luke asked.

"As you know, I'm a mage who can control the weather, but to think that Mare could do this. I'm not even sure if I can do this"

"It seems like our little blondie still have some tricks under his sleeves" Waiston stated.

"You're tougher than I expected" Gajeel smiled, a strong foe didn't displease him. He covered his entire body with iron scalesand jumped forward. "Iron Dragon's Hard Fist !" He placed his arm backward before swinging it at the magic shield, who held on. "This is not over !" He prepared to swing again, but he felt something at his feet. Upon looking down, he saw vines starting to restrict his legs."What the ?" He saw Mare lifting his staff, the round part glowed in green. Then, the sky began to darkened, but not in a natural way. Next, it started to rain, but it seems that this water...hurt him?

"Huh ? It's raining ? But the sky was clear a minute ago" Chapati said, unknowing what could cause such a change in the weather.

"This isn't normal" Wendy came back from the infirmary with bandages at some places. She had a serious face when saying that. "This weather isn't natural". Conveniently, the rain didn't affect the tribunes but only the round field where Mare and Gajeel was currently fighting. Erza placed her armored hand for it to get touched by the rain. Not only there was a hissing sound, but smoke started to trail off from where the driplet landed. "This... is not water". It was acid !The vines, them, didn't seems to be affected by this acid, the said vines continued to restrained him more, despite Gajeel's attempt to cut them down. Erzathen looked up where the greenish clouds were standing. "Just what has he done ?" She was now unsure if Gajeel could defeat Mare intact.

"Hey, Gajeel !" Natsu screamed. "You better not lose to him ! Show him what we are made for !"

"Gajeel..." Levy had now a worried expression on her face

"D-Don't worry about the acidic rain, I-I made it so only us are within" Mare explained, but without context, it was difficult to believe him with his insure voice..

"Don't play with me" Gajeel growled. At this point, he was unable to move his body, and with that acidic rain, time is against him. "Rah ! Fuck it !" He concentred until spikes came out of the entirely of his scaled body. He then let them move freely on his scaly armor in the same way as a chainsaw. The vines were finally cut down, his he's starting to feel pain. I have to end this. He jumped, morphing his legs into a giant drill. "Secret Art : Karma Demon: Iron Spiral !" He hurled himself toward Mare, who was ready to face him. The small blonde slammed his staff into the ground agaon, but this time, Giant pillar made of earth elevated from the ground, directly toward Gajeel [Earth Pulse !] The two attacks made contact, ending in a stalemate. Gajeel frowed "Harder, Harder !" He spinned faster, being now inseparable from the drill itself, but suddenly, the earth pillars broke themself. He was now hurling directly at Mare's face, but the White Eclipse mage put his staff in front of him, and while he succeeded, the law of physics made his pushed back until he collided with the walls. Once it was finished, Gajeel stood in front of Mare, his eyes shadowed, without his scaly armor. As for Mare, he stood, himself... completely unharmed. He stared at the Fairy Tail mage, who hasn't move since his attack was finished. He poked him with his staff, making Gajeel fall hard in his back, eyes white.

After a silence, Chapati announced the results "The winner is Mare Bello F-Fiore from White Eclipse !" With that, the acidic rain stopped, same for the clouds. The sky was clear like it was sighed before smiling, proud of his victory. M-Maybe I should heal him ? He placed his staff above Gajee's body, but he raised his head, seeing Galadriel making a 'No' sign with her head, so he stopped before going back to White Eclipse.

"Gajeel !" Levy and Lily screamed at the same time, going after him.

"I told youto not-Raah" Natsu screamed, frustraded by Gajeel's defeat "Meanwhile, Aura was thinking about that last attack. I wonder why his [Earth Pulse] broke like that, this guy wasn't even close to do this...! Unless ! Her eyes was now on Mare, barely visible now. You wanted to face him ? My brother is starting to have balls now... If she could, she wouls cry in proud.

Fairy Tail : Natsu, Wendy, Cynthia, Erza, Shizu, Aura, Cana, Gildarts

White Eclipse: Luke, Reve, Selene, Haether, Cygnus, Takeru, Yuri, Mare, Jaxon, Sydney