So, I'm sure quite a few of you noticed the cover. My friend Ember and I made it. She made the sketch and I did all the coloring. Hope you like it.
Now onto the chapter!
101
It was the second day of the Grand Magic Games, and Harry had to say, it was painful to watch the first challenge of the day. His team had picked Gajeel while Team A picked Natsu for the start of the day, but...the game was a race, and that alone wasn't a problem. The problem lied in the fact that the race was taking place on moving wagons.
As dragon slayers, Natsu and Gajeel couldn't handle being on any form of transportation, because it gave them motion sickness. So right now, instead of partaking in the game, the two rivals are writhing in pain near the starting point of the race. It would seem, however, that Fairy Tail wasn't the only one to make that mistake. Sabertooth had also chosen one of their own dragon slayers, who had joined Natsu and Gajeel in their pain.
{I would just throw in the towel if I were them,} said Fawkes, who was standing next to Castor by the rest of his guild, watching the race.
{I know what you mean, but they have a goal and they will not stop until they get there,} said Harry.
{Which goal? The one at the end of the race, or the one to get Fairy Tail back into first place? If it's the latter, they aren't going to succeed if they land in last place.}
{They aren't in last place. Sting seems to be a little behind them.}
{Okay, third and second to last place, but that's close enough. Look at everyone else in the race. That drunk guy from last night just won first place.}
{The goal that is keeping Natsu and Gajeel going is both the end of the race and getting back into first. They may look pathetic now, but they are showing their determination and strength by not giving up, because that is the Fairy Tail way. No one would be able to help their feelings of respect for them afterward.}
Fawkes didn't say anything for a minute. Harry wasn't sure if he was going to reply any time soon or not, so for the time being, he turned his focus back onto the race. Everyone, except for Natsu, Gajeel, and Sting, had already passed the finish line, so now it was up to seeing which dragon slayer made it to third to last place.
{I guess you have a point when you said there will be respect aimed at them. I'm starting to feel it myself; however, that doesn't mean that this is any less painful to watch,} said Fawkes.
{Agreed,} replied Harry as he watched Natsu and Gajeel finally make it past the finish line. Sting didn't even bother, he gave up angrily, but Harry could see just the smallest amount of awe in the blond's eyes when he saw just how determined the fire and iron dragon slayers were.
'I should probably help get them to the infirmary,' thought Harry as he noticed that Lucy was making her way toward their two downed mages.
Harry and Lucy were able to get the two dragon slayers into the infirmary in good time. Lucy had told them to relax, and then greeted Laxus, who was awake but not yet allowed out of the room. After Laxus greeted back, Lucy bid them farewell and returned to her team.
Harry had stayed behind and told Natsu and Gajeel to rest up. He then went over to his lightning friend.
"How are you doing, Laxus?" he asked.
"I'm fine. I should be out of here within a few hours. So what happened to them?" Laxus asked, gesturing with his head toward his fellow dragon slayers.
Harry looked over to them, and saw they had fallen asleep. He grinned as he turned back to Laxus and replied, "The challenge today was a race on moving wagons. They are suffering under a severe case of motion sickness."
Laxus laughed at Natsu and Gajeel's plight. He couldn't be too loud, for he didn't want to wake them up, but Harry could see the lightning mage's shoulders shaking violently in his mirth.
"So let me guess, they ended in dead last," said Laxus after he was done laughing.
Harry shook his head. "No, but it was close. Sabertooth came in last because they had also used a dragon slayer. He didn't even bother finishing the race."
"Well, I guess it's better that these two still passed the finish line before the guild that stole our spot as number one," said Laxus.
Harry chuckled, "That's true. Well, I should be returning to our team and see who is fighting next." He turned to walk out the room.
Just before he closed the door on his way out, Harry heard Laxus say, "Let me know who won, and keep an eye out for their powers and weaknesses."
"Will do," said Harry as he closed the door.
Harry joined up with his team and saw that the match had already started. He turned to Mira and asked, "Who's fighting?"
"Toby from Lamia Scale and Kurohebi from Raven Tail," answered Mira. "Toby doesn't look like he's going to win. He's being played with."
Harry looked down and saw what his girlfriend meant. Kurohebi appeared to be playing with Toby, but when he did strike, the snake-like man moved quickly and would land a powerful blow to the dog-like man, who would yelp in pain.
Harry narrowed his eyes at the sight in anger. To him, there was no need to make your opponent lose hope before defeating them. 'They are just like Voldemort. No wonder he joined their guild; although, I'm shocked that dear old Tom hadn't stolen Ivan's place as guild master,' Harry thought.
He watched as Toby went at Kurohebi with green claws, trying to paralyze him. Harry remembered how Toby lost to...was it him or Natsu? The wizard shook his head, 'Whatever,' he thought. What it was that he remembered was that Toby stabbed himself with his claws and that was how he lost back on the island full of demons. He had a feeling that Toby, like last time, wasn't going to win this fight.
Kurohebi dodged all of Toby's attempts, and striked out like a snake, each of his attacks hitting. The fight itself didn't take long at all, not that Harry expected it to. When he saw the dog-like mage fall to the ground crying, the Master of Death knew the young man wasn't going to get back up and fight.
What shocked Harry, however, was that Kurohebi seemed to have been a tad bit concerned. His green eyes narrowed in suspicion. He heard what Kurohebi said, which was asking Toby what he was crying about. Harry knew the man had to be up to something. It was most likely to mock him.
Toby was able to stop crying for a moment, so he could answer. "It's my sock. I lost it and I can't find it anywhere." Harry made a face at hearing that. He didn't know how to react, and he didn't want it to be a reaction that ended with him believing the dog-faced man to be utterly stupid.
{He does realize that his lost sock is on a bit of string that is around his neck, right? He's pulling our legs, right?} Harry heard Fawkes' question uttered in disbelief. {How can he not smell it?}
{That's not very nice, Fawkes,} Harry told his familiar, but it was a half-hearted scolding. He can't help the small part of him that agreed with the phoenix, but there was the bigger part of him that pitied Toby for his lack of brain cells.
Kurohebi coughed to get Toby's attention, and once he had it he pointed at his chest. Harry watched as Toby looked down and saw his sock. Toby howled and cried in joy at finally finding his sock, but Harry felt like something bad was about to happen to the dog-faced mage.
He was right to listen to his feelings. Kurohebi took the sock and began to tear it to shreds. Harry felt anger when he saw the expression on Toby's face. He had to grab hold of the railing to stop himself from going down there and cursing the black snake. The poor puppy had watched in frozen horror as his long lost sock had been destroyed, and once it was nothing but strips of cloth, Kurohebi started to beat Toby even farther.
Harry growled and felt his magic react to his anger. His teammates had backed away from him, but didn't bother to calm him down. If he could pull off hexing Kurohebi without anyone noticing, then so be it, they thought.
Kurohebi stopped beating Toby mercilessly when he felt a deathly chill roll up and down his spine. He looked around and met eyes with Harry. Harry knew that his expression must have been dark, because Kurohebi looked scared for just a moment. He had quickly turned away. Harry could feel his fear still, and planned on finding a way to get payback. He hated those who preyed on the weak.
The Pumpkin had announced that Kurohebi won the match, not that Harry was really paying attention. He watched on in concern as Toby was carried away to the infirmary.
TBC
Sorry to all Toby Fans. At least I have Harry plotting to get revenge for him, right?
This was a bit of a slow chapter. Sorry that the fight sucked, but it sucked in cannon as well so don't complain please.
To guest Matt: Don't worry, I plan on Laxus still beating the heck out of Raven Tail. I myself love that part - I don't think there is anyone who doesn't. I just have to make sure I make it just as good if not better. So I'll have to plan it out before writing it.
Voldy: This doesn't count for our bet. You don't like this Toby all that much.
Enj/Dark: I know it doesn't count. Don't worry I'll have you torture someone I don't hate sometime before Raven Tail gets kicked out. *eye roll*
Harry: I can't believe you're still doing this. :(
Zeref: After reading her other fanfics…
Natsu: And the one about me being cursed every chapter…
Zeref&Natsu: We can see it.
Zeref: After all, she is also trying to make sure that Voldemort no longer complains about requesting the readers to review.
Natsu: Even though we hardly get those.
Enj/Dark: I don't count the flames.
Harry: -_-
Enj/Dark: Also, it is Voldy's turn, ironically.
Voldy: ...Please review… *hack, cough*
