Life might be difficult, but it does have fun and games to it. Even games can hold some purpose to it.

"I'm late! I'm late!" Lucy said as she was hurrying back to school as fast as she could. She ran through the front entrance of the school, but she noticed that no one was around. "Where is everyone?" She found it strange that no one was around until she heard some strange sounds coming from the library. She made her way up there and saw her class gathered around with Hibiki and Natsu playing a fighting video game.

"Come on, Hibiki!" Gajeel said. Hibiki was playing the game pretty well. He even had these special glasses he was wearing that allowed him to gather data on the game to come up with new strategies, counter maneuvers, and more.

"What's going on?" Lucy asked Levy as she was recording on her phone.

"Tryouts for the team of Mega Battle Z." Levy said.

"The video game?" Lucy questioned.

"There's this tournament happening that involves the game." Gajeel said. "Winning team gets some cash prize that goes to their school. In actuality, the tryouts are to see who can partner with Hibiki. Hibiki's the best player around. He's been training and waiting for this tournament for a really long time." They all watched Natsu and Hibiki played the game with Natsu using a dragon-themed character while Hibiki used a pyramid-themed character. The two characters fought each other and the more damage that was dealt, the more points are earned. When a player is beaten, the winner takes the points they earned to level up and upgrade their character. Hibiki did his best to fight off against Natsu, but Natsu's character launched a red blast and beat Hibiki's character.

"And Natsu is the winner." Macao said with everyone cheering for him.

"Good game, Hibiki. You've got some serious skill. It was a close match." Natsu said.

"You too." Hibiki said.

"As it stands now, Natsu holds the lead with the highest score." Macao said as he showed the scores with Natsu and Hibiki at the top.

"Let me get this straight. If someone can beat Hibiki's score, they get to team up with Natsu?" Lucy said as she liked the idea of partnering with Natsu.

"No way anyone can do that. Natsu barely beat him." Gajeel said. Levy knew what Lucy was thinking, but she didn't agree this time. She grabbed a hold of Lucy to talk in private.

"I see where you're going with this, little lady. It's a bad idea." Levy said. "This is about representing the school, not snuggling with Natsu."

"Relax. It's all going to be okay." Lucy said to assure her, but Levy had her doubts.

"If there is no one else..." "Wait!" Lucy called to Macao.

"Can I still tryout?" Lucy asked.

"Well, I suppose we do have time for one more." Macao said. Lucy took a seat and held out her hand. Natsu gave his controller and Lucy got ready.

"Let me explain the game." Hibiki said.

"Please. I'm not a newbie." Lucy said. It's true since she played against her father many times and won all the time.

"Well, let's see if you have what it takes." Hibiki said as he put on his special glasses. The game started and the two of them selected their characters with Hibiki choosing his pyramid character and Lucy went with a star-themed character. Hibiki was doing his best to fight off against Lucy, but Lucy had complete control of the fight. Hibiki tried using his glasses to help, but Lucy acted faster than he can process the data. Lucy was beating him in the game and it soon became game over for Hibiki with Lucy's score taking the top spot.

"She beat him?!" Gajeel said.

"Beat him?! She pulverized him!" Levy said as everyone was impressed with what Lucy just did. Hibiki was crushed. He had a chance to compete in his favorite game.

"I... I accept the results." Hibiki said as he got up and was heading for the door.

"Hibiki? Are you okay?" Natsu asked.

"I'm fine." Hibiki said, but he didn't sound fine or seemed fine when he left.

"So, Natsu and Lucy will be representing our school for the Mega Battle Z tournament." Macao said. Lucy almost couldn't believe it. She was going to be on the same team as Natsu.

"Cool. I'll see you at your place to practice, Lucy." Natsu said as he walked out of there. Lucy was practically in a daze.

"You are aware you have to compete and win for the school, right? You need to focus!" Levy said, but that appeared to be easier said than done with how Lucy was now.

...

Hibiki

"I can't believe this." Hibiki said as he gripped his glasses in anger as he walked down the streets. "I should be in that tournament. I spent days training for it. I deserve to be there." He was pretty upset he's not competing in the game tournament. However, his frustration can lead to a fun new game for a certain someone.

...

Black Wizard

"So he likes to play games, huh?" Black Wizard said as he could sense Hibiki's anger and frustration. "I have a fun game this boy can play." He took an etherious and filled it with evil power. "Flyaway, my evil little etherious, and evillize him!" He released the etherious into Paris so that Hibiki can play a whole new game.

...

Hibiki

The etherious flew to Hibiki. It entered his special glasses. When it entered, Hibiki was now connected to Black Wizard.

"Player, I'm Black Wizard. You will become the best game player ever, and your objective will to bring me Celestria's and Salamondra's miraculous and reach the ultimate high score. What do you say?"

"Game on, Black Wizard." Hibiki said. He put on his glasses and began to transform. He was given a black pyramid for him to ride in with a green window. Player himself had his blonde hair all spikey with him wearing black spandex with a green circle on his chest with a triangle in it and wore wing-shaped glasses.

"Hahahah! Let's have some fun!" Player said. His pyramid was able to move on its own. He fired beams at people and turned them all into green orbs. Once he was close enough, he absorbed them into his pyramid. "I'll level up in no time, and no one will challenge me!"

...

Lucy

"I can't believe I get to spend the whole day hanging with Natsu!" Lucy said as she felt as happy and carefree as she could be.

"If all you wanted was to hang with Natsu, there are other ways." Stella said.

"What do you mean?" Lucy asked.

"Being in that tournament meant a lot to Hibiki. He was obviously crushed when you took his spot." Stella said.

"You're right." Lucy said as she thought how inconsiderate she acted. "All I could think about was hanging out with Natsu." She did feel bad, but she realized another problem. "Wait! Natsu is coming to MY house! My room!" She screamed as she hurried back. When she got there, she realized that there were photos of Natsu all over her walls. If he sees that, she'll die from embarrassment.

"That's the other thing." Stella said.

"Oh no! He can't see this!" Natsu said.

"Calm down. You've got some time." Stella said.

"Lucy! Natsu is here!" Layla called. Lucy panicked as she and Stella got all the photos out of there as fast as they could. While they were trying to clean her room, Natsu was talking with her parents.

"Lucy and I got partnered together for this Mega Battle Z Tournament." Natsu said.

"I can't believe they actually made this video game into a tournament." Jude said.

"Lucy never told us about this." Layla said.

"We were just partnered today." Natsu said.

"You two are a team? That's nice. Lucy thinks highly of you." Layla said.

"Mom!" Lucy groaned as she came down from her room. "This way, Natsu." Lucy showed him the way up with her parents finding them adorable. When the two of them got in her room, they got Lucy's computer set for the game. Of course, when they reached for a controller, their hands accidentally touched a couple times. When they finally grabbed their controllers, they got serious and started playing.

"Your parents seem nice." Natsu said.

"Thanks, but they can be a little nosy." Lucy said. She was right as she caught glimpses of her parents trying to look into her room.

...

Player

Player continued to absorb people. The more people he absorbed, the stronger his power got. Just like in a video game, he got stronger with more points he got. When he got enough, his pyramid leveled up. His pyramid grew legs that caused him to tower over most of the buildings.

"Leveling up accomplished. I think it's time to hit bigger targets." Player said as he had his sights set on something else, or rather someone.

...

Lucy's Room

Lucy and Natsu continued practicing for the tournament. It seemed like it was going well, at least for Lucy. Not only is she hanging out with her crush, but she's won most of the games.

"We win again." Lucy said.

"We? That was mostly you. I'm no good compared to you, Lucy." Natsu said.

"I wouldn't say that." Lucy said as she thought Natsu was great at everything.

"Cookies?" Jude asked as he let himself in her room. He was trying to get a look to see what was going on in his daughter's room.

"No thanks, Dad. Out." Lucy said as she was getting annoyed. He stepped out, but Natsu actually wanted a cookie. "I'm sorry about my parents."

"Don't be. They seem really nice, and it seems like they care about you." Natsu said. "It's been a while since I had the feeling of watchful parents." Lucy knew all about how his parents were gone and felt so sorry for him. "I do got to know, Lucy. How do you win like that?"

"Anyone want a freshly made cake?" Layla asked as she let herself in the room like Jude.

"No thanks, Mom." Lucy said. She looked at her and told her to get out. Layla left, but Natsu did want some cake.

"You want to know a secret?" Lucy asked as she reached for something. "This is why I win. It's a bit of a lucky charm." She pulled out a red thread with pink and blue beads and the center piece being a green square with a clover on it.

"Are you messing with me?" Natsu asked.

"Try playing a game with it. You can actually keep it if you want." Lucy said. Natsu took it and was wondering if it would really work.

"How about you try my newly made custard pie?" Layla asked as Lucy's parents just kept letting themselves in with Lucy getting annoyed.

"Lucy, a little snack break wouldn't hurt. I actually would like to try that stuff." Natsu said. Lucy couldn't say no to Natsu.

...

The Park

Natsu and Lucy took a break and headed for the park for some fresh air. They even took some of that pie with them.

"Wow. Your parents really know how to bake." Natsu said. "You're lucky that you get to eat this great stuff practically all the time."

"There are some perks to being a baker's daughter. Should we head back?" Lucy asked, but there was no time for that. They felt the ground shake and could see Player with his mobile pyramid in the park. "Tell me this is some publicity stunt for the tournament." She was proven wrong when she saw more people get turned to green orbs and absorbed them. Player shifted his pyramid around and soon spotted Lucy and Natsu.

"There you are, Lucy!" Player said as he took aim at her. Natsu pushed her out of the way just before the blast hit.

"Come on!" Natsu said as he grabbed her hand and the two of them ran out of there. Player kept blasting at them with them running for their lives. Natus held on to Lucy's hand until a bench got between them and they were forces to separate. Player kept firing away at them and caused them to run in separate directions. Still having a grudge towards Lucy, he went after her as he cut her off.

"Nowhere to run, Lucy!" Player said.

"That voice... Hibiki!" Lucy said as she realized it was him. "I guess he wanted to be the tournament badly." She tried running from him, but Player chased after her. As for Natsu, he found a spot to lay low so he can transform.

"I've got to help, Lucy." Natsu said as he let Igneel out. "Igneel, Fire Up!" Igneel was pulled into his ring and he became Salamondra. Lucy kept trying to run for her life as Player kept trying to get her. She ducked down from one blast behind a car. Player was about to finish her, but Salamondra tripped him up by extending his staff. "Can I play?" Salamondra asked.

"Salamondra, over here!" Lucy called and got his attention. Salamondra moved fast as he raced to her and was able to grab her and hurried out of there. Player tried to blast them, but Salamondra was able to get them far enough away. Salamondra kept moving until they found a spot for Lucy.

"There you go." Salamondra said. "You should be safe here."

"Thank you." Lucy said with Salamondra ready to head back there. "Wait, Salamondra! My friend Natsu was back at the park! We have to go and help him!"

"Uh... Don't worry. He's safe, and you should stay here to do the same. Maybe watch as a I do a cool barrel roll." Salamondra said as he jumped off the building just like he said.

"He's always over the top." Lucy said.

"Time to shine, Lucy. It's time we take things up to the next level." Stella said.

"Stella, Twinkle!" Lucy said as Stella was pulled into her earrings and she became Celestria.

...

Player

Player was still absorbing people to make them stronger. Salamondra is doing what he can to fight him off, but Player keeps trying to blast him as well. Salamondra landed down on the streets and got ready.

"Nowhere to run, Salamondra. Time to clear my main objective and get your miraculous." Player said as he got ready, but Celestria made it in time. Celestria tied her whip around the robot's legs and pulled tight. He lost his balance and fell to the ground.

"Way to trip the guy up." Salamondra said.

"It looks like his robot is getting stronger with more people absorbed. It's just like the characters in Mega Battle Z." Celestria said.

"You know that game?" Salamondra asked.

"Duh." Celestria said. Player wasn't beaten yet. A bus with people was coming around. Player activated his beam and turned the bus and everyone on it into those orbs. He absorbed them and his robot began to transform. His machine became a full fledge giant robot with arms.

"Hahahah! It's game over for the both of you." Player said. He tried to stomp down on them, but the both of them moved fast and got moving. They jumped over one building to the next.

"We need to lure him somewhere he won't cause so much damage." Celestria said.

"But where could be big enough to hold something big like that?" Salamondra questioned. They tried to think of a place like that until they spotted a sign for the tournament.

"The stadium!" They both said. The stadium is big enough for Player's robot to be in without causing so much damage.

...

The Stadiium

Celestria and Salamondra made their way to the stadium. Once they got inside, they waited around for Player to show himself. They didn't wait long as Player's robot jumped inside and landed down. Player continued to laugh as he was having a great time.

"Did you two honestly think you could escape from me?" Player said. He kept trying to blast or stomp them, but the two of them stayed out of reach.

"Use your Dragon Fire on that thing!" Celestria said.

"Dragon Fire!" When Salamondra activated his power, he slammed his hand against the robot. He caused it to malfunction and break apart. The robot ended up completely destroyed with Player falling out. His giant robot did end up becoming a giant blue sphere. "Cool. Looks like we got some bonus points."

"Game over, Player." Celestria said.

"Not quite." Player said. "Just like any good gamer, I saved my work." He tapped a button on his glasses and his giant robot came back at full power.

"No fair! That isn't in the game!" Salamondra said.

"Yeah, but he used his glasses to bring it back. That might be where the etherious is." Celestria said. "Luckily, we have something to even the score." They both placed their hands on the giant blue sphere and got a giant robot of their own. A giant blue robot with a dragon head and giant stars on the shoulders. They jumped on it and were ready. "We leveled up too."

"But we better make this fast." Salamondra said as his ring was running out of power. Both of them jumped inside and got themselves ready.

"Okay. This makes things more interesting." Player said. The two of them went at each and fight like it was an actual fighting game. They threw punches and kicks at each other and kept trying to take on the other.

"Star Fire!" The miraculous bot breathed out sparkling fire.

"Laser Barrier!" The pyramid bot fired a laser at lightning speed that blocked the entire fire. "Pyramid Missiles!" Player fired a series of missiles, but they were all blocked by a shield.

"Star Thunder!" The stars rotated and fired lightning at Player. They closed the distance and grabbed the pyramid bot and tried a suplex move, but Player caused his bot to break apart and reassemble. The pyramid than spun around like a drill and smashed against them.

"We're not going to last much longer like this, especially since I'm about to change back at any minute." Salamondra said.

"There is one thing left. Try and hold him down." Celestria said. The two robots went at each other and smashed against the other. When Celestria saw they were stuck, she climbed out and stood outside. "Time for this game to end, Player!"

"What is she doing?" Player questioned.

"Open the Celestial Gate!" Celestria called on her power and it ended up being a can of Aquarius paint. "Paint?" She tried to figure that out until she saw the window on Player's robot. Celestria jumped as far as she could, open the can, and threw the paint with it splashing on Player's only line of sight.

"Hey!" Player complained. He opened it up, but that was what Celestria wanted. She reached inside and took out his glasses. When she did, she broke the glasses in two with the etherious flying out.

"No more evildoing for you, little etherious." Celestria said, activating her whip and started twirling it. "Time to de-evillize!" She threw her whip and caught the etherious. "Gotcha! Bye-Bye, little guy." She said as she released it. "Miraculous Starlight!" She tossed the paint can in the air and all the damage was restored, the robots disappearing, and the people being revived. Player also turned back into Hibiki.

"Pound it!" The heroes celebrated with them bumping fists.

...

Black Wizard

"The game is far from over, Celestria." Black Wizard said as he still refused to be defeated. "You can't win every time. Eventually, I will be the big winner."

...

The Tournament

The time came for the tournament. It was almost time for Lucy and Natsu to go up and represent the school, but Lucy decided to back out of the tournament.

"You bent over backwards to get on a team with Natsu. Now that it's here, you want to back out?" Levy said.

"It just wouldn't feel right. This tournament means so much to Hibiki." Lucy said as they could see he was still sulking about it. "I just can't do it knowing it upsets him that much."

"You're doing the right thing, but it's not everyday you get to partner with Natsu." Levy said, but Lucy made up her mind. She took her controller and went to talk to Hibiki.

"Hibiki... I thought about this a lot and... I want you to take my spot on the team." Lucy said with Hibiki getting surprised by the offer.

"Are you sure?" Hibiki asked.

"I do love gaming, but this means more to you than it does to me." Lucy said. "I insist." She held out the controller. Hibiki really didn't know what to say as he took the offer and the controller.

"I don't know how to thank you." Hibiki said.

"By winning the tournament with her." Natsu said as he gave her his controller. Lucy couldn't believe this herself. "Lucy, you're much better at this game than I am. You two together would make a much better team." Lucy wasn't sure about that since she wanted to be a team with him, but she also wanted to represent the school. By doing this, she's playing for the right reasons now. She took the offer and it was now her and Hibiki.

"Let's do this." Hibiki said with him and Lucy stepping forward for their school. In the end, the two of them together won the tournament for their school. Goes to show you that you can have fun and get serious at the same time. It helps when you compete for the right reasons.