The second day of the Grand Magic Games ended quickly after Yukino and Kagura from Mermaid Heel's battle. Lucy had watched the battle in full concentration, completely silent, because Yukino was not only a celestial mage but holder of the two remaining golden zodiac keys and they mysterious black zodiac key. Just holding the thirteenth key alone, Lucy knew, was an amazing feat since it was a key that held the snake spirit known as the thirteenth gate: Ophiuchus.
However, making everyone but Mermaid Heel in awe, Kagura had easily beat Yukino. Earning Mermaid Heel ten points and making an embarrassment out of Sabertooth. Even though Fairy Tail wasn't particularly fond of Sabertooth's guild, the fairies couldn't help but feel sorry for the silver haired woman since she had bet her life to Kagura before their battle started. Nashi looked at her mother with a worried expression, but Lucy only hugged the child while carrying her, patting her back so that the peach haired girl might feel drowsy.
Chapati then announced the current rankings of each guild: Raven Tail had taken Sabertooth's spot in first place, Fairy Tail Team A catching up to second, third place going to Sabertooth and Lamia Scale, fifth place is Mermaid Heel, sixth being Blue Pegasus, seventh Fairy Tail Team B and Quatro Cerberus in last place. Once everyone was dismissed, the fairies made their way out to eat dinner and then retire to the bar. The guild soon rejoicing at their wins and was even more motivated to continue winning. But...
"Excuse me?"
When Natsu, Lucy, Wendy, Nashi, Happy and Carla turned around, Yukino stood behind them with luggage in hand. She had a look of sorrow on her face, but Lucy knew better than to question it. So there Yukino was, sitting in front of Lucy in Team Natsu's hotel room. She hadn't said anything, except for the fact that she would like to talk to Lucy somewhere not in the open. Nashi sat on Lucy's lap while the other four fairies stood behind her with suspicious looks since they were talking to a saber.
After a long moment's silence, Yukino placed her Pisces, Libra and Ophiuchus keys on the table. The three mages and two exceeds' eyes widened while Nashi's spoke her confusion. Lucy took a look at the silver haired woman and saw her expression hardened. It was obvious Yukino was trying to not show how sad she was feeling and whatever was bothering her, it had something to do with the reason why she placed her celestial spirit keys in front of her.
"Please... I'd like you have these." Yukino said as she refused to meet eye contact.
Lucy looked at her with a raised eyebrow, not understanding the saber's actions. "Not to sound suspicious, but for what reason?"
"There is no need to further keep them in my possession and I was planning to give them to you when the games were over anyway." Yukino stated. "When you fought with Flare on the first day, I just knew that you would be able to use them to their full potential and use them properly as a superior celestial mage."
"Regardless if she's superior or not, they are yours." Lucy replied. "Watching you fight, I know you treat your spirits as I do mine. I can't take your friends away from you."
"Even if you planned to leave them with Lucy when the tournament ends, why not wait 'til then?" Happy asked.
Yukino's eyes downcast themselves from meeting the fairies' eyes and Lucy could see her shake. "The games... they were over for me the second I lost to Kagura."
At those words, Natsu, Wendy, Nashi, Happy and Carla felt sorry for the girl again. But Lucy could still sense that it was more than just the defeat that drove her to do this. Something as trivial as a defeat, it didn't seem like something that could bring the girl down despite betting her life on the outcome. No... Lucy knew better and the sorrow coming from Yukino went much deeper. Her sorrow was similar to that of her own after she and the others learned of the Tenrou Island incident. That's when it hit her.
"What happened?" Lucy then asked, her voice becoming serious as the others looked at her with curiosity because of the change of her tone. "What did those sabers do to you, Yukino?"
When the silver haired woman heard the question, she couldn't hold her tears back any longer. Yukino began to cry, startling them and Nashi immediately went to hand her a couple of tissues, much to the celestial mage's pleasure. After sniffling a couple of times, Yuki no just hung her head low. "I... I was ex-communicated... because of my loss..."
The group of fairies immediately felt their anger boil. To ex-communicate a member just because of a mere loss? Sting had pathetically lost the Chariots race before Yukino's battle and he was for sure still in the guild, so what was the difference!? Natsu gnashed his teeth and bare his fangs, Lucy and Nashi following suit. Wendy just gasped while Happy and Carla just had very disapproving looks about the matter. They just couldn't believe it.
"I usually don't worry about what happens inside other guilds, but..." Natsu said as fire burned through his pupils. "Any guild who makes a friend cry, doesn't deserved to be called a guild!"
Without waiting another second, the fire dragon slayer dashed out of the hotel room with Happy flying right behind him and if the other's knew him, which they do too well, he was heading straight for Sabertooth's lodge to pick a fight with them. Lucy looked to Yukino, who was baffled by Natsu's words, and placed a hand atop her own. The silver haired girl looking at the blonde with wide eyes as Lucy smiled at her sympathetically.
"As much as you insist to give me your keys, Yukino, I can't take them." She said, Yukino's tears still running down her face. "I don't know your spirits personally but I can definitely sense that they love you. I wouldn't be where I am today if weren't for mine so don't go selling yourself short and let them be by your side."
Yukino dried her tears and nodded as she got up and bowed in thanks. Lucy nodded in return and the celestial mage left soon afterwards. Once she was gone, Lucy sighed as she stretched her arms. She had a feeling that Natsu and Happy would soon arrive to Sabertooth's lodge and if she didn't get there fast enough, Natsu would get in to trouble by Makarov's hand. She opened a portal that led to Sabertooth's lodge and turned to Wendy and Carla.
"I'm gonna get Natsu back before he causes too much trouble." She said. "Watch Nashi for me?"
"We will wait until you get back." Carla replied.
"Go get Natsu and Happy back before he breaks a building or something." Wendy added with a smile.
Nashi pouted at the fact she had to stay behind, but Lucy knelt down so that she could kiss her forehead and boop her nose in a teasing way, making the child smile just a little bit. "I know you're a big girl now, but Sabertooth is full of really strong bad guys and I need to make sure that both Papa and Happy don't get hurt." She explained. "You understand, right Nashi?"
The child wished that she didn't so that she could insist on following her mother, but she knew that it probably wasn't a smart idea. So Nashi simply nodded and saluted to the blonde empress and watched as Lucy disappeared through the portal. But once the portal disappeared, the peach haired girl giggled, realizing that Lucy was going to get Natsu (and Happy) herself. She hoped that they could bond more on their way back. The sky dragon slayer and exceed looking at her in worry as she laughed.
When Lucy stepped out of the portal, she could already hear the sounds of tables breaking and glasses shattering, which meant Natsu was already wreaking havoc. She could see Happy stand on the sidelines as the fire dragon slayer did his work. Lucy leaned against the wall as she watched Natsu fight the saber's guild master, Jiemma, very impressed at Natsu for holding out his own and embarrassed at the fact that the so-called powerful master of Sabertooth was getting beaten by Natsu.
It was when Jiemma's daughter and the princess of Sabertooth, Minerva, revealed herself by getting in between Natsu and Jiemma to stop the fight for continuing. "Minerva!" Jiemma said, not liking how she stopped the battle.
"As much as I'd like to see my dear father clip this fairy's wings, we must keep up appearances." She said, smirking wickedly at Natsu, agitating his anger even further. "As for you, I'm willing to let this go if you leave peacefully."
"You better let me go, lady." Natsu growled. "You will pay for what you did to Yukino."
Minerva smirked and she moved away from Natsu while the said slayer got into a defensive stance, his angered expression not wavering once. Lucy could then sense magic energy forming next to Happy and she immediately placed a smaller version of her protection barrier around him, causing the exceed to yelp in surprise. "Whoa what!?" He cried.
His cry drew the saber's and Natsu's attention, Minerva's eyes widening as she saw the exceed was being protected. Noticing this, Lucy smirked. She had a feeling Minerva was going to use Happy as leverage to get Natsu to leave, a cowardly move if she had ever seen one, and decided to reveal herself by standing beside Happy with crossed arms. Many of the Sabertooth guild members gasped when they saw her while Team Sabertooth and Jiemma looked at her with narrowed eyes.
Lucy bowed, channeling her empress persona and placed an elegant smile upon her face. "Forgive me for causing surprise, but I sensed a small piece of magic energy next to my guild mate and placed the barrier around him as just a precaution."
The saber princess gnashing her teeth, not liking how the blonde empress implied that her magic power was weak. She decided to dismiss it and as to not lose face, she forced a cunning smile upon her face. "Of course, that is understandable but to what do we owe the pleasure of the ever so famous Athena? Surely, there's no reason to come here."
"Yeah Luce, what gives?" Natsu asked, a sulking look forming on his face. "I was just about to-"
"I simply came to take back my partner before he caused too much trouble." Lucy replied, cutting him off. "Like you, Fairy Tail must also keep up appearances while the games are still in play. So we shall be taking our leave."
"What!?" Natssu cried, not believing that his best friend was gonna just allow Sabertooth to go free. "You're gonna just let them get away with what they did to Yukino, Luce!? I thought you were just angry about it as I was!"
"I'm glad that the Athena understands reason, so we bid you-"
"However, I do admit that I am quite peeved to hear that such unjustified expulsion has befallen a kind and strong celestial mage such as Yukino, so I can't help but also want to avenge her in some form of way." Lucy said as she smiled, the sabers' eyes widening at her confidence and Natsu smirking at her words. "So I hope you would agree to this foolish request of mine."
Minerva's eyes narrowed but because of her pride, she didn't dare back down. "What is the request?"
Lucy was glad that the saber's princess took the bait and placed a hand on her hip as she let her magic power surround her by a small amount, her eyes turning gold as her hair floated in the air. "On the fourth day, you and I shall volunteer to participate in the game's event and whoever is higher than the other in the ranking shall be the victor."
Minerva's interest sparked at the sound of the request, however, even if she believed herself to be stronger than every mage participating in the games, this was Fairy Tail's Athena she was dealing with. Everyone in Fiore knows to fear her without even knowing what type of magic she has. The saber had already caught word of Lucy's use of the Star Dress, but she knew that there was more to her magic than just an evolved form of celestial spirit magic.
She thought for a second before scoffing, not convinced of the challenge. "And what of it?"
"Of course this request comes with benefits." Lucy added. "If I win, once the games are over, all of you shall bow down in front of Yukino, apologize to her and offer to reinstate her into the guild as it should be her choice whether to rejoin or not."
Jiemma growled at the conditions. If Minerva were to lose, she would not just be losing to the Athena but to a mere fairy. Sabertooth, in turn, would have to have to face great embarrassment and would lose respect as the strongest guild. However, regardless of the fact that the risk was high, he could not tell Minerva to outright refuse as that would look like he was scared of the blonde girl in front of him. A far greater act of shame than the embarrassment of losing.
Minerva's eyes mirrored her father's but she didn't voice her concern. "And if I win?"
Lucy looked to Natsu and Happy, smiling at them in a reassuring fashion as she could sense their worry for her. She had suggested a risky condition, so it was only fair to suggest the same level of risk to the other side. "If you win, I shall bow down to you and admit your superiority over the other guilds, quit being a member of Fairy Tail and... I'll leave Ishgar. Forever."
"What!?" Everyone in the room thought in unison.
All the Sabertooth members, Natsu and Happy's eyes widened in utter shock at Lucy's words. She was not just suggesting utter embarrassment for herself but also the membership to her guild and self exile from the continent. The risk was far too great and was worse than what the sabers would have to deal with if they were too loss. Minerva's mind shook like an earthquake, the reason the blonde was willing to bet her life in Fiore meant that Lucy was absolutely confident that she would emerge as the winner.
"Luce! You can't be serious about this are you!?" Natsu asked.
"Is this chick crazy?" Sting thought, completely bewildered. "All this... just because of Yukino!?"
"Lucy..." Happy mumbled in a soft voice, his tone completely laced in worry.
"She's so confident that she's willing to risk her current lifestyle!?" Rogue thought. "No one could ever be that sure of victory!"
Lucy just ignored Natsu's protests and the sound of Happy's doubt. She just continued to look at Minerva with a determined look and wondered if she was going to concede to her pride and agreed. The blonde empress knew that what she offered was just too tempting for the famed princess of Sabertooth. Whether or not Minerva agreed to the bet, Lucy was sure she would be the ultimate winner. When Minerva continued to just stare at her in uncertainty, she sighed and shut Natsu up by pulling him by the arm to stand behind her.
"Of course, I didn't expect a straight answer right away as it may be inconvenient." Lucy said while shrugging her shoulders, Team Sabertooth and Jiemma becoming agitated by her taunt. "Which is why I shall give you up until we volunteer for the fourth day's event to decide. I will still volunteer regardless of your answer, but if you join the game, I shall assume you've accepted my bet."
"And what makes you so sure that you will emerge triumphant?" Jiemma asked sternly.
"That is-"
"Your majesty." Two voices spoke from behind Natsu, Lucy and Happy, Sting and Rogue's eyes widening at the familiarity of them.
Lucy took one long breath before releasing it, rolling her eyes in annoyance at the two men that had appeared behind her. They didn't have to address her by her formal title, especially in front of Sabertooth, and it didn't help that they were kneeling down on one knee as they bowed their heads. At the same time, she couldn't blame Weisslogia and Skiadrum acting the way they did. They hadn't exactly been happy with their son's behaviour and their pride as dragon parents was most likely shaken quite a bit.
Sting and Rogue stared at the two men that knelt before Lucy, their eyes shaking as their scents reached their nostrils. Everything about their voices and scents, it was definitely that of of their dragons that they vividly remember slaying fourteen years ago. They had even went so far as to address Lucy as if she was a queen. The dragon slayer duo didn't understand anything of the situation, but watched silently as Lucy turned around, allowing the two men to raise their heads and stand up.
"What is so important that you had to come here?" She asked.
"We had gone to your lodge, but Miss. Wendy had told us you were here... Hekima has requested your presence." Weisslogia informed, the trio of fairies' eyes widening at the law dragon's name. "It is about the matter we have been discussing with the council."
"Kumiko and Mirai are also with him, which as you know, means it is of utmost importance." Skiadrum added, making Lucy pinch the bridge of her nose. "Miss. Wendy has also tasked us to inform you that a messenger of the Rune Knights has asked that you present yourself to the magic council while the games play out tomorrow."
"The council?" Everyone in the room thought.
The blonde empress recomposed herself and nodded. "Very well, I shall depart tonight." She said, grabbing Natsu by the ear to drag him out of the lodge and releasing Happy from the barrier. Weisslogia and Skiadrum ready to follow her as she turned to look at Minerva one more time. "I look forward to your answer."
"She did what!?" Erza, Gray, Wendy and Carla cried after Natsu and Happy explained what happened.
After exiting the lodge, Lucy opened two portals: one leading back to Fairy Tail's lodge and one leading to the Dragon Realm. She had told Natsu and Happy to tell the rest of the team and Nashi that she might take awhile before returning to Earthland, probably returning around halfway through the day's games after visiting the magic council, and that she would be staying in the Dragon Realm for the night. She didn't tell them what the big issue was and just asked them to trust her.
She quickly pushed Weisslogia and Skiadrum through the portal, in fear that Sting and Rogue would come out to demand answers concerning the said dragons and ushered Natsu and Happy to go through their portal as well. Wishing her team luck during the third day's events. When the dragon slayer and exceed appeared back in the room, Gray and Erza had already returned and they explained what had happened from when she appeared in Sabertooth to when she left with the white and shadow dragons.
"How could she just go and make such a ridiculous bet like that with such grave conditions!?" Erza shouted in anger, summoning a sword to her hand as Natsu and Gray shook in fear.
"I'm worried..." Wendy said as Nashi sat on her lap. "Not only does Lucy have to worry about the dragons and the magic council, but she might also have to leave Fairy Tail forever! What if she loses!?"
"Calm down, child." Carla said, trying to reassure the bluenette. "We should all have faith that Lucy won't lose."
"Yeah!" Nashi cried, jumping down from Wendy's lap and climbing the bed so that she could stand proud and tall on it. Her eyes narrowed in utter disgust as the group before her doubted her all powerful mother. She may have expected this from Happy, Gray and Wendy but not from her father, Erza and Carla. "Mama is the strongest person ever! She won't lose!"
"Nashi, we know that you think Lucy could never be beaten, but think about it." Wendy said. "If she loses, she will have to leave the guild and you won't ever be able to see her again!"
"I hate to agree with her, but Wendy's right." Gray said, sitting on the edge of his bed. "The bet is just far too risky."
The peach haired girl became very annoyed and faced towards the open window that led to the terrace, unleashing a Fire Dragon's Roar to silence Team Natsu. "How could you doubt your own nakama!?" Nashi cried, making the group gasp. "I trust that Mama will win! I believe she will! You should be too! She's a proud Fairy Tail mage and the Empress of Dragons after all! She's Fairy Tail's Athena!"
Natsu looked at his daughter in awe. He felt something fill in his heart while looking at her and he soon realized it was pride. She believed in Lucy's victory with all her heart, just as a Fairy Tail mage should. He couldn't even believe himself for even doubting his best friend's power. Like Nashi had said, she is the Athena of Fairy Tail (like Erza is the Titania) and is the Empress of Dragons. She could have killed his and Gajeel's dragon parents in a spar, so Minerva will be an easy foe to defeat.
With those thoughts in his mind, he grinned and lifted Nashi in the air, looking up at her with pride. "Of course, Mama is gonna win!" He said, the others looking at him with slightly wide eyes. "She has all of us cheering for her and she's a proud Fairy Tail mage! Once she's done with that Sabertooth lady, those guys will think twice before doubting us!"
At those words, the rest of Team Natsu could only surrender and agree, knowing that those words were the truth. Erza crossed her arms in satisfaction, Gray smirked, Carla just nodded while Wendy and Happy smiled while laughing. They would fight hard tomorrow so that they could tell Lucy about their wins when she comes to the arena and she could congratulate them with pride - making her glad that she chose to stay in the guild and not leave during the seven years they were gone.
Natsu made eye contact with Nashi and both of them raised their fists into the air. "I'm all fired up now!"
Erza, Gray, Wendy, Happy and Carla raised their fists, following suit as they smiled in determination. "Aye sir!"