"Sir! Ma'am! The girl's magic energy... we sensed its strong presence in the city's main square."
Just outside of Crocus' entrance, Vetani knelt on one knee, bowing to the two people who sat atop a trees branch. Both were shrouded in by the tress' shadows, but one could easily tell that one contradicted the other yet they somehow work well together. One had silver hair as bright as the moon and eyes as grey as the soft shadows of a marshmallow. The other had hair that was a deep navy blue violet like that of a blueberry and blackberry with eyes that was as black as obsidian. One was calm and silent. The other was brash and loud.
"Is that so..." The silver haired spoke. "Are those brats with her?"
"She's sticking close to them, yes!"
"Why don't we just snatch her while they're not looking!?" The other asked.
The silver haired person just chuckled in a low tone, a smile full of malice adorning their face. "We must be patient... young one." They said as they dismissed Vetani to further spy their target. "We will have what is ours soon..."
It wasn't long after Natsu, Erza and Gray woke up that they heard someone barge into their room. Lucy was still in her pyjamas, but she looked like she had just ran a marathon just to get to their room. She closed the door in a hurry and grabbed her clothes and threw the others' clothes in a rush. Because they had just woken up, they were still semi-conscious. Luckily, Erza was the first to fully wake up and followed Lucy in getting ready and changed for the day.
"Lucy? I know it's the first day, but why exactly do you look so rushed?" The scarlet mage asked.
The blonde girl popped out of their shared washroom after quickly changing her clothes and drank a glass of water to catch her breath. After slamming the poor glass on the countertop, Natsu and Gray finally got up as well in alarm. "We have to go to our guild's infirmary room at the coliseum!" She said urgently. "They found Wendy and Carla! But they had been attacked!"
At those words, the three immediately changed in just a few seconds and the group of four ran all the way to the coliseum. Lisanna, Elfmen, Happy and Nashi all stood by the sky dragon slayer and the exceed's bed, their faces showing great worry. It had been silent since they brought Wendy and Carla there so they were quite startled when Natsu slammed the door open, his concern evident on his face as he picked up Nashi and simply greeted her with a hug.
Lucy was the next one to go in and she immediately went to check Wendy and Carla's temperature via the back of her hand, something Grandeeney had taught her to check on someone when they are injured. Happy then informed them that they had found the both of them knocked out in the palace's gardens, which made the group all the more suspicious. Lucy's eyes narrowed after feeling Wendy and Carla's pulse as well as sensing their magic power.
"Well Lucy?" Lisanna asked, her fatigue from watching over Wendy throughout the night surrounding her body (though she didn't dare show it). "Did you figure something out?"
"This was no accident, I can tell you that." Lucy said, angering the fairies at the thought someone purposely did such a thing to Wendy. "It's as if whoever did this deliberately drained them both of magic power until only the smallest drop was left."
Everyone became silent at her words, the blonde grabbing a damp cloth to wipe the bluenette and exceed's foreheads. Nashi looked around, not liking the serious and worried faces of her nakama and parents. She was so used to seeing Wendy and Carla taking care of her, that it was weird to just see them so still and unconscious. Clutching the hidden locket underneath her clothes, Nashi's expression turned blue and she began to worry about the other thing she had seen when she found Wendy and Carla.
It was at that moment that Wendy's body began to stir and a painful moan came from her mouth. Everyone's eyes turned to her immediately while Lisanna placed a glass of water on the bedside table for the sky dragon slayer to drink when she was ready to move. "...Huh...? Natsu...?"
"Wendy! Are you okay!? What the heck happened to the both of you?"
Wendy's pained expression softened as she looked to the ceiling, thinking about what had happened the night prior. But all she could see were faint and blurry images. She shook her head in disappointment. "I'm sorry... I'm not sure since it was all a big blur..."
"Hey... don't be sorry." Gray reassured.
"Gray's right." Erza agreed. "The ones who should be apologizing are the ones who did this to you."
Wendy was about to reply when she began to feel pain all over body and Lucy tried to soothe her with a simple healing light that had the same effects as Ichiya's healing parfum. "I suggest you not to waste your strength." A voice said from behind the fairies. "She is simply suffering from Magic Deficiency Syndrome."
When everyone turned around, Porlyusica stood with a small smile on her face. She moved passed the fairies and stood next to Lucy, who got up from her seat so the pink haired woman could examine her. Nashi stretched her arms up so that Lucy would carry her, Natsu handing the child to her mother. "Magic Deficiency Syndrome? I assume what I said earlier is correct then?" The blonde asked.
Porlyusica nodded and placed a hand on Wendy's head. "Both of their physical strengths have been weakened due to their depletion of magic power." She explained. "Luckily, it is not dangerous and they will recover with enough bed rest."
"That's good to hear..." Lisanna said, sighing in relief.
Upon hearing that, Nashi's troubled expression returned and she hugged her mother's neck tightly. Lucy, sensing that there was something bothering her daughter, was about to break the hug and ask but Nashi stopped her by whispering in her ear in a low volume that Natsu couldn't hear. "Mama... I sensed something else where we found big sister Wendy... Something bad..."
Lucy's eyes narrowed, knowing Nashi wouldn't be so secretive in telling her this for no reason, and they both quietly stepped outside while everyone else talked. After walking quite the distance and making way to a corridor that was void of people, Lucy placed Nashi down so she could stand and knelt down to meet her eye level. The peach haired girl's troubled expression made Lucy greatly concerned, if it was as bad as Nashi made it seem to be, Lucy wanted to return the favour.
"Tell me what you sensed when you found Wendy, Nashi."
Nashi stayed quiet for a moment, whether due to fear or nervousness Lucy did not know before looking at her mother with narrowed eyes. "It felt like black magic... it was super small but I saw some kind of weird doll watching us from a roof before it ran away..." The child explained. "It was scary..."
The blonde empress' eyes widened when Nashi said it was black magic. The only one she knew to have black magic was Zeref, which meant that it was possible a creature of Zeref's was responsible for Wendy and Carla's pain. She gnashed her teeth and brought Nashi into a comforting hug, caressing her head gently to calm her nerves. It took a few minutes, but Nashi calmed down and felt better after seeing her mother's reassuring smile. It always made her feel better whenever she was scared.
"Good girl." Lucy said as she stood up as she pointed back to the infirmary. "I want you to stay with Auntie Lisanna while Mama goes to punish the bad guy that hurt your big sister and Carla, okay?"
"Should I tell Papa?"
Lucy shook her head and opened a small portal that led back to the infirmary. "Keep it a secret for now. Tell him that I'll be back just before we have to enter the arena, understand?"
Nashi nodded and ran through the portal, Lucy dismissing it right away as she sighed. Her eyes glowing gold after taking in a short breath. She recalled that Jellal had spoken about a growing presence of magic power that is similar to that of Zeref and if that creature is anything related to that, Lucy knew that she would not be able to kill it. But she had another idea as to what to do and smirked. She was excited to return the 'favour' to the culprit responsible Wendy and Carla's attack.
"A weird doll and traces of black magic..." Lucy thought as she began to make her way through the long corridors. "It seems I'll have to inform Jellal of this when I encounter him..."
It was only moments before Natsu, Lucy, Erza, Gray and Elfmen entered the arena (Wendy had asked Elfmen to take her place until she is completely recovered), but there was no sign of the blonde girl. So far, only four teams had been introduced. In eighth place was Quatro Cerberus, seventh was Mermaid Heel, in sixth place was Blue Pegasus and in fifth place was Lamia Scale. The team didn't have to worry about it for awhile since they were the last to reveal themselves, but they still found it odd that Lucy hasn't shown up yet.
However, when the guild who came in fourth place was revealed, all the guilds and even the audience silenced themselves as Raven Tail walked into the scene. Makarov was so angry, he nearly popped a vessel. Luckily, Macao was able to hold him back while Nashi just stared at the group with narrowed eyes, the rest of the guild noticing how quiet she had gotten. Happy, who was sitting beside her, felt a shiver much like the one from when they encountered Sabertooth and decided to not bother her until her silence ceased.
Mavis, who had appeared with no one realizing and was concerned for Raven Tail's malicious aura, diverted her attention to the peach haired girl. Just moments ago, Nashi was cheering for Blue Pegasus and Lamia Scale since she had met the mages participating whenever they visited the guild. But when the ravens stepped onto the arena, her stare grew cold and her demeanor changed. Figuring that Nashi had a very sensitive sense when it came to such dark energy, she concluded that she would return to normal soon.
Natsu, who was about to run out there and demand what the heck was going on, was then stopped by a hand grabbing on to the edge of his scarf and nearly choking him to death. When they let go, he coughed for a few seconds and was about to pick a fight when he turned around and Lucy was standing in front of him with an innocent smile on her face. She had changed into her purple outfit, that matched with everyone else's, and acted as though she had done nothing.
The pink haired slayer was about to ask her where she had been since suddenly disappearing from the infirmary (Nashi wouldn't budge no matter how much he or the others begged), only to be silenced by her raising a finger to her lips and winking in a sly manner. "You're not going to ruin the surprise are you? I went to a lot of trouble to repay a favour."
"Favour? She disappeared because she was doing someone a favour?" The rest of the team thought, Natsu calming down after a few seconds and decided to wait until they were announced to pick a fight.
After announcing that third place belonged to Fairy Tail, the team consisting of Gajeel, Mira, Juvia, Laxus and Mystogan (surprising the first place team of fairies and the audience who still insulted them), Mavis made herself known and watched as everyone in the arena was shocked to hear that it was Sabertooth who had come in second. The audience and the participating guilds, excluding Fairy Tail, were completely confused as to who was in first place but the crowd still cheered for the fan favourite guild.
It was finally Team Fairy Tail A to make their grand entrance and blow the crowd away for being in first place and everyone felt nervous. However, they had to stand tall and fight hard for Wendy, Carla and everyone who held down the fort while the Tenrou Team were away and that was all it took for them to walk out with pride. "Let's go!"
"It's... This is amazing!" Chapati, one of the MC's, announced as they walked in the arena floor. "The first place winner of the preliminary round, featuring the Athena herself... is Fairy Tail's Team A!?"
When the crowd heard and the other participating guilds heard that, the group of five revealed themselves as they shocked everyone with their presence. While everyone questioned how they were able to get first, Fairy Tail's B Team greeted them with a smile (a frown in Gajeel's case). It was then that the Sabertooth team met eye contact with Lucy and upon seeing Sting and Rogue, she greeted them with a smirk as they felt their guts churn uncomfortably and they turned away.
"Well now, I was wondering if you guys even made it during the preliminary round." Gajeel said with a scoff.
Natsu just taunted him with a laugh while pointing at him. "I don't get why Gramps decided to make two teams, but you're just mad that we got in first while you guys got third!" He replied. "Just watch, a part of the guild or not, I'm gonna beat you in every battle."
"One of you mind telling me how Mystogan is even here please!?" Gray finally asked, but it was Erza who recognized him as Jellal which made the rest of the team freak out about the whole situation.
Mira, on the other hand, greeted her brother with a cheerful smile. "Why so nervous, Elfmen? Are you scared?" She asked, to which the male Strauss nodded in confirmation.
After the MC's Chapati, Yajima and Jenny commented about the rule to allow two teams from each guild to participate, Hibiki took noticed of Lucy's presence and began to stare at her. "Hold on just a moment... I could be wrong but aren't guild master's forbidden from entering the tournament?" He asked. "Why are you on Fairy Tail's team, Lucy?"
Once he finished his question, the rest of the participating guilds all stared at the blonde in an accusing manner, his thought suddenly creating a chain reaction as the rest of the crowd noticed her presence. Regardless of her reputation as Fairy Tail's Athena, a nickname she never acknowledged, everyone only knew her as Fairy Tail's feared guild master. She never publicly announced her demotion since she made her decision in the Dragon Realm, so this made everyone antsy.
"Now that he mentions it..." Lyon thought aloud.
"He's right!" Sherria shouted.
The crowd began to throw insults at Fairy Tail for already breaking the rules and allowing Lucy to participate, but the blonde empress just crossed her arms completely unbothered. This was the first time the fairies heard people calling her 'Athena' and both teams turned to her for an explanation. She didn't want to have to explain it herself, since she knew the MC's would do it anyway, but when she heard the sabers insult her and the fairies of their stupidity... she became annoyed.
So, Lucy decided to shut everyone up by scaring them a little and smiled innocently. "I was only guild master to fill in the seat of Master Makarov." She simply stated. "Of course, now that he has returned, I relinquished my title and am lucky enough to participate in the games. But if anyone is to doubt my right... I suggest they stop being cowards and come tell it to me straight."
Her final words were threatening enough for the crowd to silence themselves, not daring to argue with Fairy Tail's unmerciful protector as they call her, and fairies' allies only smiled at the expectation of her actions. It was Lucy no less, the girl who took over the seat of guild master for five years and a half and was the most rational, calm and frightening guild master the council had known (despite her frequent absences). None of them expected any less from the Athena.
"Why the heck do people call you Athena?" Natsu asked with a raised eyebrow.
"It's the first I've heard of it." Gray added.
"If I remember correctly, Athena is a goddess known for her wisdom and courage." Erza said. "I also heard she is quite strong and skilled in many different types of aspects."
Lucy laughed and waved the her hand in front of her face. "Just like how Erza is known as the Titania, I'm known as Athena." She explained. "My wisdom was recognized through my work as a guild master, apparently I was the 'calmest' one, while my courage was acknowledged whenever I took side jobs with Nashi and punished anyone who slandered Fairy Tail's name!"
"Oh yeah! Lucy's the realest man here!" Elfmen cheered, making the team sweatdrop at his enthusiasm.
As the Mc's explained the Grand Magic Games' schedule for the next few days and introduced the first game, the blonde empress made eye contact with Alexei. Her eyes narrowed and soon, the entire team made their way over to the two fairy teams with scheming looks in their eyes. The blonde empress stood in a leaned back posture, stuffing her right hand in her pocket, as she stood in front of her guild mates and was face to face with the armored man.
"Fairy Tail..." Alexei spoke up in a raspy voice. "I trust your friend is recovering?"
Natsu's face grew dark as he gnashed his teeth and narrowed his eyes. "You were the guys who hurt Wendy?" He asked in a low voice. "I'm gonna make you pay."
Before he could do anything else, Lucy blocked him with her arm and smirked as she took something out of her pocket. "If that's what you call a greeting, I'm so glad to be able to return the favour." Lucy said, her words taking the ravens aback, albeit only slightly.
"Excuse me?"
The blonde empress smirked as she threw something on the ground with a lot of force, landing right next to her foot, and the ravens' eyes widened when they saw their member Obra completely paralyzed and unmoving, everyone on the team except for Alexei looking at the creature's large blue puppet with shocked eyes. Lucy's eyes glowed gold, which went unnoticed by everyone except the ravens, as her warning pierced right through their souls like arrows.
"The next time you decide to hurt my nakama... I will gladly return the favour without hesitation."
Alexei scoffed as Nullpudding grabbed the small creature and Lucy turned around as if nothing had happened. A childish and bright smile on her face. Her team blinked twice before returning the smile and their anger ceased. They were definitely excited to get the games going and everyone was now even more determined to keep their winning streak for the next few days. But in the back of her mind, Lucy had a bad feeling that everything would not turn out the way she wanted.