Here is the thirty-ninth chapter in this story released in accordance with my upload schedule for this story. I just want to take this moment to mention that this chapter is coming out on the one year anniversary of the publication of this story so I want to thank all of you for your support that has kept me motivated and working hard on this and the other two stories in my Black Trio. In that time this has become my most successful story ever in terms of overall support so thank you, I never expected that when I first published it. At long last the Grand Magic Games are over and the winner has been declared, the Black Bulls. Now it's time for Fiore to react to their new number 1 Guild and for that Guild to show why they deserve this spot beyond their achievements in the Grand Magic Games. That is all that I have for the administrative stuff I have for y'all and while there are no questions that need answers, or that won't be answered in other responses, there is are 5 guest reviews that needs a response and an announcement to make, so I will do that now. Do keep them coming as your support is the best motivation for me to keep producing chapters at this kind of rate.
To KingKam (guest), all of them that are canon along with the entirety of 100 Years Quest and then some as I have an idea for a final conflict post 100 Years Quest to end this story on. The Black Bulls' banishment will last 6 Earth Land Years, they arrived in the year x789 which means that they will leave in x795. As the events of 100 Years Quest are currently taking place in x793 it will be part of this story. Do keep reading and enjoying my work.
To Fire turtle (guest), no he won't. Mana Zone works by using the mana in the surrounding area so there is no way that Asta can replicate that with Anti-Magic. What you're describing isn't an Anti-Magic version of Mana Zone, more an extension of Asta's own power. From what I can tell, he can do something similar when united with Liebe and using one of his swords. As Liebe won't appear in this story that won't happen. While I will likely expand Asta's general Anti-Magic control from Dweller as seen with how he beat Gray, anything that requires a union with Liebe won't happen until the sequel when Nacht appears and Asta and Liebe form a contract. Do keep reading and enjoying my work.
To Brayden (guest), that is an interesting idea and one I never thought of mainly because it wouldn't work in my story. Certainly it's one to keep out there and maybe some other author will decide to write it but my story is contingent on the clear and separate distinction between the worlds and currently only one known path between them. Even the other potential ones are small paths that wouldn't do that. Keep that in mind and see if there are any other authors who might be interested, or write it yourself, as there is potential there. Do keep reading and enjoying my work.
To KGBeastboy (guest), thank you, glad that you enjoyed it. Yes, Fairy Tail may have come second but it was a hard fought second and they more than showed that they're back, this will just motivate them more for next year, providing nothing major happens before them that changes how the next year is that is. Mavis's reaction is coming, she's already been through Erza's loss though and that was a big one so she may be ok, or not this is Mavis and she does have faith in Fairy Tail until the end. I'd say the latter hurt more. Losing in one blow is tough but he did lose to the man who was strong enough to defeat Erza, that's no small feat but the inability to bite his sword, that will hurt and he'll try to avoid telling Natsu but Natsu will likely find out as it was seen by many. Those are fair reactions, Asta is basically a nightmare to Fairy Tail with his powers but you'll have to wait and see how the reactions are and there may be a small distraction before they can show them. Do keep reading and enjoying my work.
To Guest (guest), I fully intend to reach the Alvarez Empire arc so there's no issue there though I'll admit I didn't think of those swords at all. It's an interesting suggestion, certainly Asta's Anti-Magic would dispel the enchantment if he faced them and they'd return to normal swords much to Irene's annoyance if she learns about it and after that Asta could take them. As for making them Anti-Magic weapons, he won't in this story unless he has his Devil Arm by that point and as of right now I don't see that. There are only two known canon ways for an Anti-Magic weapon to occur, either it was already a sword made by Licht's Sword Magic and in his grimoire before it became a 5 leaf and thus they became Anti-Magic swords when Liebe was bound to it or they are coated with Anti-Magic by a large concentration of it of the size Asta can only manage with his Devil Arm. So far there are 3 canon swords that Licht made and only one sword Asta made via the Devil Arm. Unless a third canon way shows up I will not add Anti-Magic swords until he gets his Devil Arm. That doesn't mean that Asta wouldn't take those swords, they're fair game especially because Irene 'dies' in the war so he can take them as normal swords, something he'll eventually realize that he will need, and make them Anti-Magic later when he realized he can. When that happens, well as shown by the Demon-Slasher Katana, the magic that had been run through the sword beforehand can shape the effect of the sword when it becomes an Anti-Magic weapon so I will consider this when the time comes but that likely won't happen until the sequel. I hope that you can understand my reasoning, this is a personal style of mine when it comes to my stories as I don't disrespect canon when it's clearly established like this. Do keep reading and enjoying my work and thank you for the suggestion, it's given me a lot to think about and will help when it comes to planning the Alvarez arc.
Lastly, the second bit of art for this story is up on Deviant Art. Once again it's by the artist spartanbender (SaiyanFury34 on fanfiction) and is of the pivotal moment in Chapter 36 so do check it out and support the artist. I can't post the link due to how fanfiction works so search either that user and you'll find it. I welcome any art from my work, all I ask is that you tell me so I can check it out, follow you on Deviant Art if that's where is, and shout it out so that others can enjoy it too.
That is it for this long pre-chapter note so it is time to sit back and enjoy the thirty-ninth chapter in Black Bull Banishment.
Disclaimer: I own nothing related to these two great animes.
Chapter 39: Fiore's Number 1 Guild
"Right, let's get to work." Yami said seriously as the announcement that they'd won the Grand Magic Games and were now Fiore's new number 1 Guild ended while the rest of the Black Bulls let out a cheer that was quickly joined by the rest of the stadium as the declaration sunk in with the exception of the other Guilds present who ranged from polite applause to glares from Sabertooth and utter shock in the Fairy Tail box. "We can properly celebrate later, especially once I get my winnings from Org minus his cut for placing the bet for me, but we just won so it's time to show that we're truly the new number 1 Guild."
"Yes Captain!" The Black Bulls said shutting up right away at their Captain's orders startling the members of Mermaid Heel who were still with them at the sudden shift.
"Good now first things first, Finral make a portal to that final fight location so that you can all head there right away, well except Finral as I need him around for a few more moments." Yami said before looking directly at Mimosa. "Mimosa, can you heal them?"
"I can, I've been practicing hard these two years and I can now pull off those magic circle things to increase the range of an area heal I learned last year." Mimosa said as she quickly ended her Dream-Healing Flower Cradle that Noelle was in, the ones for Luck and Magna had already been ended once they were healed but Noelle's had been left due to watching Asta's fights, and Noelle quickly reoriented herself to land on her feet. "So between that, my training, and my new spell I am certain that I can heal over a large area. It will take a bit of time though and a lot of mana as I have to keep using it for the spell. Any help will be appreciated and Charmy's mana recovery food is a must."
"Very well, Charmy, you're on food duty with priority to Mimosa and those who are healed." Yami said as Finral made a portal with its corresponding one appearing on the lacrima screens as the crowd cheered. "Nero, help heal where you can while the rest of you follow any orders from Mimosa or Charmy for what they need. This isn't just about Asta, we're going to heal everyone. The Grand Magic Games are nothing more than a fun competition, which we won, so let's show that that's all this is."
"Yes Captain!" The Squad said again with a salute that the Mermaid Heel girls didn't recognize before they filed out through the portal before Finral closed it again.
"Mr. Yami." Kagura said getting his attention and he turned to her and the other members of her Guild who were present. "Our Guild Master isn't here, it's just us so we don't need to go back to our box and we are willing to help. I, er, would like to make sure that Erza is ok as we have some stuff to sort out."
"Yeah same." Millianna said. "Erzy is still unconscious and wasn't in the final battle so I want to ensure that she gets the healing she needs."
"Very well, we can use the help and it will show that there is no hostility between our Guilds at least." Yami said with a nod. "Finral, send their leader to the commentators to get those lacrima vision things so that you can go to that square place and coordinate portals from there as it will be easier to have you there with Mimose and Charmy as well. Send the other four to Mimosa. I expect all four of you to listen to my Guild's orders. This is a major healing moment so follow instructions."
"We will." Kagura said with a nod, she had a lot of personal things to deal with but the Black Bull Guild Master was right that at the end of the day this was just a game and those injured needed help. "Thank you."
Yami could tell in the woman's ki that she meant it so he nodded back and quickly Finral made a portal in front of Kagura so she could step into and then the commentator's box which startled them while they were discussing the final battle. At the same time he made a second portal for the other four women who took it to aid the Black Bulls.
With them all gone Yami turned to look at the screens that still showed the final confrontation and the four men who were now passed out in the square and allowed himself to smile at the sight. They'd won the Grand Magic Games and all that came with it, this would really boost their reputation in Fiore and with that came great chances to surpass their limits and get stronger for when they returned to the Clover Kingdom. All was going well for the Black Bulls.
The same couldn't necessarily be said for Fairy Tail. They were all staring in slack jawed shock at the results taking in the unconscious and battered bodies of Gajeel, Gray, and Laxus, as well as that of the man who'd beaten them, Asta, who looked just as banged up as they did. While they were a bit more prepared for this after Asta's shocking win over Erza there was still a sense that numbers and the bonds of Fairy Tail would help in the final battle.
Alas that had been shattered almost right away when Gajeel failed to bite through Asta's sword and was then taken out with a single blow to set the tone for the final battle. After that it quickly got worse when Gray went down with a single hit as well while Laxus was pinned less than a minute after Gajeel was beaten. To add to it, Asta had used Gray's own move against him when he replicated what Gray did to Rufus to beat Gray and set up the final one v. one.
Thankfully, Laxus had been able to withstand Asta's first attack and countered landing a strong blow with the same move that had downed Jura. However, even that wasn't enough to take down Asta thanks to one of his swords.
It did get Asta to go all out just like he had against Erza, which Laxus matched and they engaged in a furious battle that was hard to see but for the streaks of yellow and black that flew into the air and clashed over and over again until finally Asta revealed yet another new move, one he'd not used on Erza which really showed his skill as he hadn't used all his tricks to beat her, and downed Laxus. That had allowed him to land the finishing blow and end the Grand Magic Games with a Black Bull victory.
After everything that Fairy Tail had been through, all that they'd done to hold themselves together over the last 7 years, their hard work and effort that they had shown in the Grand Magic Games as they clawed back from a 1 point first day across their two teams to finally taking the lead in the Battle Royale was still not enough as they fell short. It was a tough loss to take in after everything but they couldn't deny that they had lost to a worthy Guild in end.
The Black Bulls had been a wildcard from the moment they came 3rd in the preliminary round and their win in Hidden and they continued to live up to their growing reputation by claiming victory in 2 of the 3 other events to enter the Battle Royale in the lead. Then, one member of their guildmembers had taken down four fairies all on his own including two of their strongest and between that and the rest of his Guild they'd won the Grand Magic Games by 2 points to claim the title of Fiore's Number 1 Guild.
There was no doubt that the Black Bulls had more than earned the top spot and that a 2nd place by 28 points was still an amazing showing for Fairy Tail. Hell, they'd beaten the previous number 1 Guild that had replaced them over the last 7 years by 30 so it was a true return for them as well but at the very end they'd come up just short and all because of one enigma who's strength was beyond what anything they could have predicted.
That was why they were in shock as the announcement was made and the cheer began to go through the crowd that had been led by the Black Bulls. However, as the cheer rose and those who'd purchased Black Bull flags throughout the week began waving them, the Black Bulls were already acting and not celebrating like many would expect while Fairy Tail just continued to process what happened, as did the other Guilds and their members who were present though at least some like Blue Pegasus were politely applauding the Black Bulls' victory.
Finally though their silence was broken first by a sniffle that quickly turned into a full on bawl which shattered their shock. There was no question who it was coming from and they all turned to the spirit of the First Master who was now balling her eyes out next to Makarov on the ledge, tears streaming down her face as she cried her heart out.
"We lost!" Mavis wailed looking up to the sky. "And I couldn't see it coming. All my predictions, my strategies, they were foiled by one person who I can't predict and who won the one matchup that this whole event hinged on. Just who is this Asta and why can't I understand him!"
"I don't know." Makarov said as various members tried to console Mavis as best they could but she just kept crying. "All that I know of where they come from has been shattered by him as no one should have two magical attributes from that place unless they meet an exception and Asta's show that he potentially has 3. Hopefully either Laxus or Erza have some answers as to why he's so different and where all his strength comes from."
"Not Gajeel or Gray?" Levy asked really concerned for the former as that had been a serious blow he'd taken. "They also faced Asta, they might be able to help."
"Unfortunately it would seem that Asta outclassed them utterly." Makarov said shaking his head still reeling a bit from how easily Asta had dispatched those two. "He ended both with a single blow. They were injured which likely played a role in their quick defeats but still I doubt they faced him long enough to get an answer. Even Laxus didn't have that much time in the end so I doubt he figured much out unfortunately. We will have to rely on Erza, she alone had a long fight with Asta so I bet she'll know when she comes to but her loss was what did it for us I fear. There's no question, Asta's skill level is easily at S-Class level. After all this, I'm not sure even Gildarts could beat him if Asta was fully healthy."
"Wait really?" Elfman asked his eyes wide. "How, he's our strongest? Are you saying that Asta's that powerful?"
"Because that strange sword would end Crush as soon as it's out of Asta's grimoire, it's actually a great example of how power can only go so far when dealing with a strong counter to it." Mavis said wailing. "And we just saw from Gajeel that magic doesn't work on his swords so how could Gildarts beat that with his magic? Whoever this Asta is, the only ways to beat him are either by non-magical items or some kind of non-magical attack. He's an anomaly to magic, that much I can tell, and that is why we lost to him."
"Yes but now is not the time for us to worry about that." Makarov said as he saw the Black Bulls minus Yami and Finral appear on the lacrima screens and begin to get to work in the ruined battlefield as a vermilion haired girl knelt in the center of the square her grimoire out and eyes closed as she activated a spell. "It would seem that the Black Bulls have class and are showing great sportsmanship in victory."
"Yes that's something that Sabertooth wouldn't have done in years past." Macao said. "Even if they had someone who could heal, they'd just leave the other Guilds beneath them after they won."
"What do you mean?" Freed asked Makarov and ignoring Macao surprised as a flower dress of sorts appeared on over her body complete with wing like protrusions from her back as it glowed with magic power. "What's she doing?"
"If I had to guess, healing." Makarov said and that was confirmed as the spell fully activated. "The continent where they come from is one of the few places left that still has a strong tradition in Healing Magic, any Guild from there would be foolish not to have a healer in their ranks. Same for a Spatial Magic user in fact so it's no wonder that they're better than most of us expected with that kind of support magic backing them up."
"Yes, it's clear that they had one after both Magna and Luck were healed up after their battles and I see that all 4 of their members who were knocked out or injured are back on their feet now." Mavis said with a sniffle though she was no longer wailing even if the tears were flowing. "And…oh they're going to heal everyone."
"They are and that's something that only a Guild that is truly worthy of the top spot would do." Makarov said as he turned to his children while still standing on the ledge thing. "So we're going to help them as well. Warren, contact Yami with your magic and tell him that we appreciate his help in healing our members and will lend our own just say the word. The rest of you, be ready to move out and lend aid to the Black Bulls the moment Yami confirms it. This isn't just about our own injuries, it's about all of them. We may have lost this year but all that means is that we're now the clear number 2 and have a goal for who to beat and motivate us for next year because we won't let the Black Bulls win a second time!"
This spurned the members of Fairy Tail present who quickly got over their shock and sadness and cheered at Makarov's words. Their Guild Master was right, they'd at least accomplished one thing, they'd shown that Fairy Tail was back to full strength and no longer a joke. Now they had a new goal to aim for next year so they were going to do all they could.
Well, almost all cheered. Cana had come to from her post-Erza loss stupor in time to see Laxus lose and hear the announcement and proceeded to drink the rest of her stash of strong liquor and was now in a worse state on the ground than she'd been when Bacchus drank her under the table after the first day of the Games.
That would be dealt with, Makarov might have to ask for a favor from Yami to get Cana healed up as he was sure that that healer could handle heavy intoxication, but that would come later. Right now they had to focus and Warren placed his fingers to his temple and contacted Yami.
"Guild Master Yami, do you read me?"
"Huh, what the hell!" Yami exclaimed almost dropping his cigarette as the unfamiliar voice came into his head and it took all his self-control not to look around though he instantly opened his senses to see if there was any unfamiliar ki nearby. "Who's talking?"
"Er Captain, are you ok?" Finral asked as the door to their box opened and Kagura came in carrying several lacrima crystals in her arms, all but one looking identical, unaware of what had just happened.
"Yeah but there's a voice in my head." Yami said. "That's not my own. Man this is freakier than Mushroom Head's projections. At least we can see him when he does that."
"Mr. Yami, I assure you that you're not crazy." The voice said again. "My name is Warren and I am a member of Fairy Tail. My signature magic is telepathy so I can project my thoughts to others, it allows for quick communication without the need for magic devices. If you look over to the Fairy Tail box you'll see me next to Makarov."
Yami grunted at that as it did explain why he was hearing someone else's voice in his head and looked over to the Fairy Tail box. There was some commotion as most were focused around a blank spot next to Makarov on the railing thing with a little girl offering the spot a box of tissues for some reason. The exceptions to this were Makarov himself and a tall, dark skinned man with black hair with his fingers to his temple, both of whom were staring intently at Yami.
"Huh, I presume you're the man next to Makarov." Yami said looking at them. "Handy trick that, can't say I've seen it before."
"Thank you." The man, Warren, said in Yami's head. "Please, use my magic to help coordinate things. We can tell what you're doing and we thank you for healing our wounded as well as your own. We'd like to lend our own aid to it as well."
"It's the right thing to do and I see Makarov understands it as well, this will be useful." Yami said, he'd already sensed Kagura's ki when she'd returned but ignored her and respected that she was waiting patiently behind him to finish his conversation. "Contact the other Guild Masters present, tell them that I want to meet them in my box so we can discuss various things as it's time I met the others who made it this far. Also tell them that we will take all help. Finral will make a portal in your box to where our field base is, the sight of the final battle as you can tell. Go there and listen to anything coming from Mimosa or Charmy, they're our healers be it physical or magical so they are in charge there, understand."
"I do." Warren said before he broadcast Yami's message to the other Guild Masters in attendance.
As Warren sorted that out Finral did as ordered and made a portal in the Fairy Tail box. At that Makarov turned and said a few things to his Guild members and they went through leaving just him, Warren, a woman with green hair in a revealing outfit, a black haired man in a poncho, and the young girl who had to be their daughter.
"I've got a response form Bob and Oba; they both agree with your idea and wish to meet you but ask for your portal guy to transport them to you and their members to the battlefield." Warren said. "Mermaid Heel's Guild Master didn't come, only their team who is either with you right now or on the battlefield helping did, so they're already sorted and Sabertooth's Guild Master is missing. I did contact them in general and they're willing to help, I think this humbled them a lot."
"Coming fourth after years on top will do that, especially when it's by that far wide of a margin." Yami said with a drag on his cigarette. "Very well, Finral, create the portals. Warren, can you go to the field healing and use your powers to coordinate. I'll send Finral there with Kagura as they seem to have the lacrima visions to aid Finral in quickly retrieving the other combatants."
"We do." Kagura said. "As well as the control one to switch between the various lacrimas in Crocus just in case there aren't enough screens for all the injured combatants."
"Good then move." Yami said. "Finral and Warren will coordinate the retrieval, Charmy, Mimosa, and Nero are on healing. To avoid any issues only they should be giving orders or relaying commands."
Yami may only be the Guild Master of the Black Bulls but now that they'd become the number 1 Guild in Fiore that position came with a lot of respect and the other Guilds were willing to help as they saw what he was up to and understood that it was the right thing to do. As such they quickly went with the plan as Finral made the portals so that the members of Sabertooth, Lamia Scale, and Blue Pegasus could go to the field healing station while the Guild Masters went through another one to come to Yami.
Warren too had a portal that would take him right to Mimosa created in front of him shortly after the other Guilds had left and he went through it. Finally, as the Guild Masters arrived Finral made one more portal and he and Kagura went through it to lend their own aid to the healing efforts.
With them gone Yami turned to Makarov, a bald man in a dress and makeup with wings on his back, and the old woman who'd caused a stir during that battle between Jenny and Mira. He knew the other two by reputation but that was it. Now they'd all chat and sort things out between four of the top 6 Guild's Guild Masters.
"Right, we need to coordinate for when the healing is done." Yami said. "So any suggestions are welcome."
With that the discussion began while the healing continued. Yami trusted that they'd get things in Crocus so for now he could focus on the logistics of various post Grand Magic Games issues as Makarov was the first to speak up and make a suggestion. All the while the commentators were now discussing the great sportsmanship that the Black Bulls were showing and how they truly deserved their new status atop the Fiore Guild ranks.
"Leave them where they're lying." Mimosa said as soon as the portal closed and the Black Bulls minus Yami and Finral were gathered in the final battlefield and could see up close just how damaged it had been though it was nothing compared to other parts of the city. "We don't know the extent of their injuries so best to leave them where they fell to avoid causing more damage. It's not an issue as I can affect a wide area but I need to be in the middle. Nero, can you start addressing the cuts and broken bones? You can seal them up, right?"
"Yes though they may need some help to remove scaring if the cut is deep enough." Nero said with a nod before she turned and headed over to Gajeel as his cut seemed to be the worst. "That's all I can do though; my healing abilities are limited to cuts, broken bones and pain relief. Anything more is on you."
"That's fine." Mimosa said as she walked to the middle of the square and knelt down there her grimoire floating up and opening to the right page next to her as she closed her eyes to focus on her spell. "Charmy, start the food."
"Don't need to tell me twice." Charmy said as her own grimoire flipped open. "Go Sheep Cooks, start getting the supplies to make that mana recovery food. I need a few people to go and aid them in getting me supplies though, just follow the Sheep Cooks. Next, Cotton Creation Magic: Sheep Cook: Master Chef!"
"Er…" Millianna said as the four other members of Mermaid Heel came out of the portal just as the cotton formed into the air and then took the shape of several anthropomorphic sheep that quickly hurried off before a final, more detailed sheep formed next to Charmy that didn't move. "That's how she makes it? How is this related to Cotton Magic?"
"Best to not question Charmy." Noelle said as she looked to Asta, she wanted to help him but right now she couldn't as there was work to do. "Just let the boys help out there, they should know how to assist Charmy in her preparations."
"Yeah come on, let's get the supplies for Charmy." Magna said and he, Luck, Zora, Gordon, and Gauche, the latter of whom needed to be dragged, headed out. "It's the manly thing to do."
"Good now we just need supplies like bandages." Mimosa said her eyes still closed as she glowed and her Princess-Healing Flower Robe formed over her body and the glow intensified. "Can you find them? There should be some around at least."
"I can make them with my Transformation Magic." Grey said her voice a little timid. "If I can go to a dark corner where I won't be overwhelmed and people bring me rubble and when needed Charmy's food I'll get to it transforming the rubble into bandages."
"That works, Vanessa can you make sure that that happens?" Mimosa asked. "Noelle, help them if you can."
"Of course." Vanessa said as Noelle nodded, she could at least use her Water Magic to move large bits of debris to Grey. "Come on Grey, let's sort this out."
Grey nodded and they went to find the shy woman a place to set up while Noelle and the Mermaid Heel girls, who decided that this was the best area to assist in, starting to collect rubble and bring it over to Grey either manually or with their magic so that Grey had a good amount to start with. After that they'd head into Crocus to help find other supplies if need be, be they for Charmy or the injured combatants.
With them gone Mimosa let out a sigh and a large, green, magic circle formed under her and spread out to cover almost the entire circular public space that they were in. It had taken over a year in Earth Land to learn how to create their circles, with some help from Zora who had the basic understanding down due to his Trap Magic, and Gordon who was able to deduce how to use them, and another few months to master it.
Now, though, Mimosa could affect a wide area and heal in it and at a good rate, including exhaustion. The tradeoff was that it consumed a lot of her mana to keep it going for long enough to heal a person up, enough that even her vast reserves as a royal were taxed. However, with Charmy's mana recover food, which the little woman had set up her first station for and the Master Chef was already working at so that the Sheep Cooks there bring and feed to Mimosa once it was made thus allowing Mimosa to focus on her work, it wouldn't be an issue.
Mimosa was aware thanks to a previous trip to the Heart Kingdom that there was a more efficient way using techniques from their world to perform this spell, hell Mana Zone might work for it as well, but she didn't know either technique. As such this was the best that Mimosa could do but thanks to the magic in Earth Land and Charmy being on hand it wasn't an issue.
"Plant Recovery Magic: Princess-Healing Flower Paradise." Mimosa said opening her eyes as she activated her spell and roots extended from where she was kneeling and spread out all over the ground that was affected by her magic circle before flowers began to sprout from them and the healing began.
Mimosa's focus was on her spell as she spread it out and started to heal Asta, Laxus, Gray, and Gajeel where they lay but she couldn't help but think about Asta as she worked. She was his go to healer, something she didn't mind at all though she was also working to get stronger offensively so that she could stand by his side in battle rather than just heal him and she had plans for after the Grand Magic Games' celebration ended to push that further, but she still worried about him. Right now she wanted nothing more than to have his head in her lap as she healed him but alas she couldn't do that.
No, right now the focus was on healing everyone who needed it, so Mimosa was doing her best to cover as much area as possible and the middle was the best spot for that. Thankfully with this spell the healing would work so long as you were in the range so she didn't have to worry or move knowing that Asta would be ok in a little bit.
Still she watched him as his wounds healed up, aided by Nero who'd made it to him after dealing with the fairies and placed her hands on the cuts he'd received from Erza's swords to seal them up with the exception of the wound in his shoulder as it wasn't something Nero could reliably seal, as Mimosa healed everything. With the girls working together to speed things up for Asta and the other 3 so they should be conscious soon and could then get food from Charmy.
That was fine with Mimosa as she poured her mana into the spell and healed them as fast as possible knowing that others would come to be healed soon enough. This was her role right now, one only she could do and she was going to do it to her best ability even if she had to surpass her limits to do so.
The only real concern was her mana levels but as she felt them dip to below 50% a Sheep Cook appeared to her side and moved to stand in front of her with a spoon in its, er, hoof and a bowl of meaty stew that was had been made by the Master Chef. It was the first batch of mana recovery food and that had been made and without hesitation the Sheep Cook began to spoon feed Mimosa it as she needed it the most right now.
It wasn't the most elegant thing in the world, or the most dignified as Mimosa was kneeling on the ground in her Princess Flower Robe focused on her spell as an anthropomorphic sheep spoon fed her food to restore her mana which added to the glow around her, but right now Mimosa didn't care for something as trivial as decorum. The focus was her spell and if it meant being fed by a Sheep Cook to keep it up then so be it as it ensured that everyone who needed healing was healed.
The fact that the sheep was there feeding Mimosa was proof that Charmy had things up and running off to the side and that was clear as before her was a massive pot that Magna had found and which he and Luck had hauled here. Meanwhile Gordon and Gauche brought the food and Zora some tables and makeshift stoves.
In addition the needed cutlery and crockery had been found by Noelle and Vanessa after they'd gotten rubble for Grey and brought over as well so that the first batch of food could be prepared and given to Mimosa. As Mimosa was eating the second batch was finished and taken to Grey who was off in a dark corner using her Transfiguration Magic to turn rubble into bandages while two of the Mermaid Heel Girls collected it to avoid the bandages getting dirty and started passing them out to the other two to start dressing the wounds that Mimosa was healing.
This was just the start though and they'd need more as Nero finished with the last of her sealing and the rest broke again to either get more supplies for Charmy, who was working alongside her Master Chef to help make the food with the Sheep Cooks around to help serve, or find more rubble for Grey while the four mermaids worked smoothly to collect and take the bandages to the four wounded men. Thankfully, as this was happened, more came as a portal opened and out of it walked the members of Fairy Tail, Sabertooth, Lamia Scale, and Blue Pegasus who'd been in attendance.
"What can we do to help? We were told to ask Mimosa and Charmy for orders so just tell us what you need."
The question came from the mountain of a man in Fairy Tail called Elfman. It was a little off putting to the Black Bulls present, right now just Mimosa and Charmy as the others were off getting supplies while the newcomers stood behind Mimosa in her spell marveling at it, as he sounded just like Yami and was even more muscular than their Captain. Mimosa pushed that to the back of her mind as she swallowed the last of her food and addressed them without looking while the Sheep Cook left to go back to Charmy and await its next task.
"Split into teams and get us the following." Mimosa said loud enough to be heard, given that she was the one healing and everyone had seen Charmy in the Battle Royale no one doubt who she was. "One team goes and looks for food supplies that are around, doesn't matter what we just need it. Another needs to get more cooking supplies and materials as I'm sure Charmy will need them."
"Yes I need a full cooking station and assistants." Charmy said, her station already not bad but it only had one pot at the moment and they'd need more for all the combatants who'd need their magic restored. "So if you have any cooking skills come over to me and help set up and prepare. The fancy sheep as to cook though, that's where the special recovery comes from."
"Yes, do that." Mimosa said. "And then I need one group to help get rubble from the area around us and bring it to Grey, she's, er, well ask one of the Mermaid Heel girls where she is. She can transfigure it into bandages that we need. My healing will help but we should still wrap any healed wound just to be safe. The rest hang around and either help bandage up those who need it or pass out food when they come to. If you use magic, see Charmy for food to replenish it should it get low."
As if to prove Mimosa's point the Sheep Cook returned with a second bowl of food for her and she shook her head because she was good for the moment so it just waited there patiently until she was ready for it. While it did the newcomers set to work, those with any skills cooking headed over to Charmy to get orders from her, those who were stronger or had useful magic for the job went to get the rubble for Grey, while getting directions from Millianna as to where she was, and the rest headed out into the city to find the other supplies that were needed.
Just as they were leaving, a dark skinned man appeared behind Mimosa followed a moment later by Finral and Kagura. He moved over to Mimosa and stood next to her while Kagura activated the lacrimas before she tossed them out so that they floated into the air and screens appeared in a semicircle above where Mimosa was kneeling. Thankfully they'd been set to the corresponding lacrimas in crocus that showed them the unconscious bodies of the various remaining combatants who'd yet to come to after losing their fights, or in Rufus's case had been unable or unwilling to move after coming too.
"Looks like we've got a good few to retrieve." Finral said as he studied them and accepted a small bowl from another Sheep Cook to quickly replenish his mana just to be safe. "Seems like most remained either out cold or where they are likely due to injuries. Only Mermaid Heel and two of Lamia Scale had been able to make it off of the battlefield and return to the Domus Flau Colosseum. The others will need to be brough here as the Lamia Scale duo at least will be healed now that they've returned with their Guild. Mimosa, can Charmy make cotton pads within your spell."
"She can, my spell won't affect them as it's just Healing Magic." Mimosa said not looking at Finral as she was focused on the healing, and Asta so that she could make sure he was ok but with Noelle now heading over to him with bandages now that she'd been freed up to care for him Asta was going to be more than fine. "But she might need to leave her station to set them up, I'm not sure how her magic works in that regard."
"That's fine she has help and really the only thing needed there is her Master Chef, so long as that spell is active the food will restore mana, er, Ethernano." Finral said as he turned and shouted at Charmy. "Hey Charmy, can you take a moment and use your raw Cotton Magic to set up cotton pads for me to drop people on?"
"Huh, yeah why?" Charmy called back not looking up from her cooking as the first few people with a lot more food and two large cooking pots arrived giving them to her new helpers who began to set them up on makeshift stoves that someone with some handy magic was making out of the stone ground and high enough to not interfere with Mimosa's spell. "I'm busy."
"The safest and fasted way to get the injured here is to use my Spatial Magic on them now that I can see where they are but I'm going to have to drop them from a few inches off the ground and they're injured so they need a soft landing." Finral responded. "Which is where your cotton comes in as it's the softest thing around as we don't have that hot blonde with the keys who has one of those Spirit things with Cotton Magic."
"Oh ok sure, how many do you need?" Charmy asked as she understood what Finral was getting at and could accommodate it though she did down a bowl of the mana recovery food just to be safe, and to enjoy it of course as her Master Chef did live up to its title. "Sheep Cooks, take charge and make sure these people know what to do. Everyone, once the food is ready put it in the pot the Master Chef is at, he's the one who can make the food special. When the people here start coming to make sure to bring them a bowl or two of the stew."
"We need at least 10 pads." Finral said looking over and noting that something wasn't adding up. "I've got one Fairy Tail, 5 Blue Pegasus, 2 Lamia Scale, and 2 Sabertooth members that I need transport here. Two others are still in your spell so when they arrive dispel it. The others either made it out or in the case of Minerva and the two Dragon Slayers aren't present."
"I don't know where m'lady is but we're here." A voice called out from the same direction that Asta had walked into the area from before the start of the battle and Kagura, Finral and Charmy turned to it, while the helpers now being coordinated by the other Black Bulls with the aid of Warren's telepathy as he'd reached out to some of the Black Bulls to get relay orders, continued working. "Er, Rogue needs some help. It took a lot for Gajeel to beat him."
Walking towards them was Sting with his arm around Rogue's waist and Rogue's arm around Sting's shoulder, his head down as he shuffled clearly conscious but in pain from his wounds following his loss to Gajeel. Two exceeds, the red one in a blue vest who'd ended up in the Black Bulls's box and an adorable green one in a pink frog skin onesie were with them as they made their way to the edge of Mimosa's spell.
"Just bring him into the spell." Finral called out as Mimosa had resumed eating as her mana was once again below 50% which was the minimum threshold that she wanted to have and Charmy was setting up the cotton pads all over the square while keeping them within Mimosa's spell but spreading them out at the same time. "Once he's fully in it will start working."
"Wait, this flower field is a healing spell?" Sting asked as he helped Rogue into it and almost at once it became clear that Rogue was relieved and he quickly removed his arm from String's shoulder and moved a few more feet into the circle before sitting down on the ground, shuffling to get deeper into the spell as the exceed in the frog onesie moved over to him. "I guess it is. Damn, this is impressive magic."
"It's the girl in the center, she's in the Black Bulls." Lector said pointing Mimosa out. "She's got Healing Magic; I saw it after I ended up in their box."
"Well damn." Sting said as he looked at the girl Lector was pointing to. "They're even more impressive than I thought and they just won the Grand Magic Games so that's saying something. Man that fight with Laxus was something else."
"You should have seen the one with Erza." Lector said. "It was almost as epic as when you fight Sting."
"If you're done can you come here and get your friend a bowl of food as it will help, and get one for yourself as well as you did use a bit of magic to try an intimidate Asta." Finral called out interrupting them as there was a groan and the first of the fairies to come to, Laxus, began to do so while Freed and Bickslow, who'd taken over from Beth, continued to bandage him. "Warren, tell Laxus not to move with your magic, he may be conscious but the healing is far from done. Also get one of them to come and get food for him."
"Food?" Sting asked as he and Lector began to walk through the spell to them as Warren raised his fingers to his temple and contacted Laxus, Freed, Bickslow, and Evergreen wherever she was regarding what Laxus needed right now. "Why food?"
"Because it will restore his Ethernano." Kagura said, she'd noted that the Black Bulls tended to call it mana before correcting themselves which was likely due to them not being from Fiore originally so likely they had a different word so she was helping out, plus she could actually attest to the food thing. "I'll vouch for it; I had some when I left the battle and it restored my Ethernano entirely. It also got Millianna right back on her feet after what your guildmate did to her. I'm not forgiving that by the way."
"I understand." Sting said as he made his way over. "Hopefully m'lady is alright and the coming changes to Sabertooth help."
"Someone might want to get a bowl ready for Gray." Mimosa said as she finished her bowl ignoring the chatter as Kagura just huffed at that while two Sheep Cooks took bowls from one of the helpers who was on serving duty and brought them to Sting and Freed, the latter of whom had quickly hurried over to get the food for Laxus. "I saw what Asta did to him, I bet that nullified all of his mana, er, Ethernano."
"Good idea." Finral said as he began to focus on the images. "Warren, can you sort that out as well. I need to focus now."
Warren answered in the affirmative, in their minds not vocally, and did just that as Finral began to open portals at the spots where the downed combatants were, and the two still held in Charmy's restraint spell. It wasn't a hard task; he just opened a portal beneath them tied to one just above the pads and dropped them a few inches onto the pads while dropping the balls of cotton in open spaces before closing the portals.
The only slight issue was that Finral had to do it one by one to ensure that everyone was move safely but he knew that once they were on the cotton pad they were safe and he could focus on the next retrieval. That was because Charmy either removed the spell in the cases of Juvia and Sheila or slowly dissolved the cotton so that the people, most but not all of whom were unconscious, could fall to the ground and the healing began.
"Can you also get Erza's weapons from where they fell during her duel with Asta." Kagura said handing Finral the command lacrima to use as Charmy returned to cooking station and resumed her command there making sure that food was brought to anyone in need of it now that all the injured were in one place. "I'd like to make sure they're all in one place so that I can return them to her once she's back on her feet and we have a moment."
"Yeah but you're going to have to help me identify them." Finral said as he used the command lacrima to switch to the destroyed area where Erza's two fights had occurred and began to look for the weapons in the lower part in which most of her duel with Asta had taken place. "Because I don't know them."
"That's fine, start with that katana there, that's Archenemy which is mine." Kagura said pointing to hit, the katana was just on the ground in the pillared area where Asta had tossed it the end still red with Erza's now dried blood from the hit that Asta had landed on her with it. "I'd like it back; I have no issues with Asta using it in that battle, it was an impressive display of swordsmanship and a smart use of my mistake in leaving it there, but I should sheath it again. After that, start with that, it's from Erza's…"
With that Kagura began to instruct Finral who dutifully began to retrieve the weapons and after making sure Kagura got her katana back putting them in a pile to the side for the Mermaid Heel team leader to sort out. By this point everyone one was in the area or nearby getting supplies or provisions for the food and the whole system was working well, the 6 Guilds working smoothly as one to make sure that everyone was healed up physically and magically all thanks to the new number 1 Guild.
Erza groaned as consciousness returned to her and with it pain flared all over her body, mainly her head, cheek, jaw, breasts, and back but it wasn't as bad as she'd have thought it would be. That was confusing as for a moment she wasn't sure why she thought she would be in even more pain than she was. That confusion only deepened when she felt a small, soft, clearly female, hand on her left cheek that clearly been there since before she came to while a strange sensation emanated from the contact. As it did the pain began to fully recede, at least from that part of her body.
"Don't move, you're in a healing spell and should be fully healed, at least physically, soon." The voice, which was near monotone and almost emotionless but still feminine said. "I'm just speeding things up a bit by healing your cheek and jaw as I can seal the bones back into place and close the cut on your cheek but it may leave a faint scar. You'll need to see someone better to remove it if that's the case."
"Scar, what…oh." Erza said her eyes still closed as everything suddenly came back to her and she remembered why her cheek hurt, Asta had sliced her there from just below her lip to her temple with Kagura's katana, along with the soreness on her chest and shoulder as those too had been caused by Asta though the back and jaw pain, and head for that matter, were new to her. "Yeah I'll think on that when I'm fully recovered."
"I see that you at least recall that part of your duel, good." The voice said and as the other woman spoke Erza was sure she'd heard the voice before but couldn't place it. "What else do you remember?"
"I, I remember facing Asta in the toughest duel that I've had in years." Erza said a small smile gracing her lips at the memory of the fight she'd recently had. "Given where I am I take it that I lost that duel. I'm not surprised, the last thing I remember was Asta nullifying Requip right before he reached me so it's clear that he knocked me out."
"Yes and that means that it was the knee to the jaw that beat you, interesting." The voice said. "You don't seem upset at losing though."
"Why would I be?" Erza asked. "I lost against an opponent who's stronger, there is no shame in that nor is there shame in admitting it. It's coming back to me; the fight was fast paced despite being longer than most I engage; you don't forget one like that."
"Well yeah we all watched it." The voice said. "Though that can't compare to being in it. Only you and Asta can attest to what that's like."
"It was something else." Erza said still smiling. "Asta, he's a true swordsman and skilled warrior and to think he did it all without magic but Anti-Magic, and even then he didn't use that all that much against me, we truly underestimated him though how does he do that prediction thing without magic? That still confuses me."
"So, you learned about the true nature of Asta's power." The voice said as the hand was removed from Erza's cheek and she noted that there was no pain there. "How?"
"Huh?" Erza said as she slowly opened her eyes and was confused to find herself in what was a glowing flower field as the moon shone down on her as it had been daylight and she'd been in a covered area when she'd been defeated. "Wait, who are you and where am I?"
With that and a slight groan of pain as Mimosa's spell was still healing the multitude of injuries Erza had taken, almost all of them from Asta, not that she knew what was healing her, she turned her head and blinked up to see a girl in a black dress with matching hair cut in a bob but for a cowlick on top and a pair of horns kneeling next to her. The girl's red eyes looking down and meeting Erza's brown ones and there was a serious look in them as the black haired girl introduced herself.
"I'm Nero, I'm one of the Black Bulls and my magic allows me to seal and unseal things included cuts and broken bones, an aspect I've been focusing on more over the last few years." Nero said and as she spoke Erza saw the robe over the girl's shoulders that denoted her as a member of the Black Bulls. "As for where you are, you're in the area where the final battle between Asta and three of your Guild took place. We came here the moment that it was over and Mimosa, she's one of my guildmates, used her Healing Magic to cover the area in these flowers. So long as you're in them you'll be healed up but it will take a few moments before you can move again and a fair bit longer before you're fully healed up."
"Wait but I didn't end up here after I lost." Erza said her mind now foggy; the fight was clear up to the end when she'd been knocked out but she was sure that the final rendezvous point was far from where she'd fought Asta. "So…oh right you have a Spatial Wizard don't you."
"Yes he moved you here and Charmy used her Cotton Magic to ensure you didn't suffer any more damage though Finral was as gentle as he could be." Nero said as she looked down at Erza who was still in the position that she'd ended up in after she'd come to a stop. "As soon as you arrived I came over to heal your wounds to speed things up for you, you had some that I could easily heal, but now it seems that it's a good thing I'm here.
"I see." Erza said still a little hazy but her mind was clearing by the moment.
"Now back to my earlier question." Nero said seriously. "How did you learn that Asta had no magic?"
"He told me." Erza said simply. "At the end, after he blocked what was supposed to be my finishing blow as that really shocked me."
"That halberd thing." Nero said. "We saw your expression when Asta stopped it, you weren't expecting that at all. I take it Asta blocking it was not supposed to happen."
"No, that halberd can cut through even space itself so it shouldn't be blocked by anything and that armor, my Nakagami Armor is supposed to nullify any magic." Erza said. "Asta's transformation should have been removed as well, that I don't understand. I get what he can do even if I don't really know what Anti-Magic is but that transformation seemed a little different."
"It's part of his Anti-Magic." Nero said and left it at that as there was no point in explaining the whole devil thing to Erza. "But I see, so it was supposed to be your ultimate weapon then. You're guaranteed victory so to speak."
"Yes, my strongest armor and one I was saving only for if I knew I couldn't beat my opponent without it or if they had a magic that I needed to counter like Minerva's Spatial Magic." Erza said. "By the time I landed that hit on Asta to set up our final clash I knew that he too strong for anything else so I thought that that would work. I didn't realize that he was basically the one person it wouldn't work on."
"Pretty much, it's kinda Asta's thing to defy what would normally work." Nero said and Erza noted a small smile on the other girl's face and while it was clear that Nero didn't have romantic feelings for Asta it was clear that she had complete faith in him. "From there Asta easily won. It was the turning point though we didn't know why. Now we do."
"The Nakagami Armor drains my magic, it's not an excuse for why I lost in the end but it's double edged sword so when it failed and I learned of Asta's true power I knew that I had one change left, and even then that was only because he hit me with his sword and nullified the magic that was enchanting my armor." Erza said. "But if I recall he hit me with that Black Slash of his. That's the last thing I remember though. How did I get knocked out? You said something about a knee to the jaw but I was still coming too so I'm not sure if I heard you correctly."
"That's right, Asta kneed you in the jaw and then you both crashed through a wall, headfirst in your case though Asta had weakened it with his Anti-Magic, and then fell down to the street below." Nero explained. "You were likely out cold from the moment his knee hit you. You hit the street back first with Asta's knee still on you and then slid on it on your back, by the way I've sealed that outfit to you as it will call off if you get up without changing so you won't risk flashing people as you don't have a back part left, until you came to a stop. Once the smoke cleared it was clear who'd won."
"I see, thanks for telling me." Erza said as the sealed clothes to skin seemed familiar as well, she was sure that Gray had gone through that recently but couldn't remember when, not that anyone had been complaining as it meant that he couldn't strip for a while. "Can, can you tell me who won the Grand Magic Games? We had three left after I fell which means that we won the other battles we had set up and were still in the lead despite my loss so surely it was close."
"I think there's someone better to tell you how things ended." Nero said looking up and seeing that the person in question was already up. "He's the only one who has the right. Once you're done, go see your friends and get bandaged up, I'll remove the sealing then so they can work on you. You're going to be healed magically and physically but, well, it is still healing so you need to avoid infection and for support. Also your weapons are back."
"I'll have to store them when my magic returns." Erza said. "Which will be a while, I was fully drained in that fight."
"Actually, that will be sooner than you expect." Nero said as she rose and Erza recalled that the Black Bulls had a way to restore a person's Ethernano through food which explained why her magic would return soon. "For what it's worth, you were the only one we truly feared in the battle given your fighting style and overall skill. It showed and you pushed Asta to surpass his limits and get stronger so thank you for that, he needs to be as strong as possible and facing strong opponents like yourself is a must on that front. That said, please, for the moment, keep what you learned when you faced Asta to yourself. We'll reveal it to all of Fairy Tail in a bit but when we're ready. For now treat it as a battle secret."
With that Nero turned and walked away to see where she was needed next leaving Erza still on her back and a little confused by what Nero had said. As she lay there a shadow fell over her and she looked up and smiled, now she understood at least part of what Nero had said to her, there really was only one person who could tell her how the Grand Magic Games ended and the rest fell into place. Erza understood and swore that she'd keep what she'd learned to herself, it wasn't her secret to tell and she'd earned it the hard way, the least she could do was respect it to preserve it until the time was right.
Asta groaned as he came too and blinked his eyes open confused as to where he was and what he was looking at as it wasn't what he'd expected. He was lying on his back, that he remembered as he recalled falling backwards after his victory over Laxus that ended the Battle Royale and the Grand Magic Games with their victory so coming too on his back made sense.
However his head was raised and on something surprising soft, smooth, warm, and nice. His face was also slightly shadowed as while he see the night's sky and the moon above him he could also see a pink thing wrapped in white with a black cloth over it that was edged in gold and the swell of something over part of his face that hid the moon from his eyes.
It was really odd but not unpleasant. Hell, he wasn't even in that much pain and he could feel the familiar texture of bandages wrapped around his chest and arms as a final one was being wrapped around his head by delicate, caring, hands and finally things came into perspective.
"Er, Noelle, what's going on?" Asta asked. "Why am I in this position?"
Instantly Noelle stiffen as she finished tying off the bandage around Asta's head, the last she'd applied. She hadn't been sure why she'd done what she'd done, certainly not because she liked Asta like that and wanted to know what this felt like, and it certainly didn't feel nice, not one bit, that was definitely not the case.
It was simply a matter of once she'd gotten the medical supplies and Nero had confirmed that Asta's cuts were healed, they weren't deep enough to scar with the exception of the hole in his shoulder which would be healed but likely scar, and there was now enough help that Noelle didn't need to help in the hunt for supplies, she'd had gone over and dressed the multitude of freshly healed cuts on Asta. The final one had been on his head and to better work it she'd knelt down and put Asta's head in her lap to wrap it.
Yes, that was it, that was why she'd had Asta's head in her lap, to make sure that the final bandage was properly applied and not because Noelle was enjoying this, not one bit. Why Mimosa was glowering at her she didn't know, naturally it was because Mimosa had wanted that but not gotten it due to her own task and swore the next time she got the chance she'd let Asta use her lap as a pillow as well, as what Noelle was doing had all been just to help Asta. Now that he was conscious again Noelle could back up, which she did.
Unfortunately she did so in her usual quick, sharp, manner that came with physical contact with Asta, or in this case physical contact that Asta had noticed, and he fell back and thumped his head on the ground. He let out a yelp of pain in that because despite Mimosa's spell being in effect there was still plenty of paving stones.
"Ow." Asta said blinking stars away though his thick skull had protected him. "What was that for Noelle?"
"Sorry." Noelle said and she meant it though she did get defensive right away, it was her natural state. "You startled me Dorksta, I was just finishing your last dressing so you should have remained still."
"Oh, ok, thanks." Asta said the pain quickly healed by Mimosa's magic and he sat up. "Woah I'm not in pain anymore. This never gets old."
"Thank Nero and Mimosa, they patched you up." Noelle said as she gestured around the area. "Everyone in fact. We've been making sure that all those who were in the Battle Royale and unable to be healed like I was could be healed at the same time."
Asta blinked and looked around stunned at what he was seeing. The whole area where his final fight had happened was awash with people from the various Guilds that had participated in the Grand Magic Games as they moved through the glowing green magic circle on the ground and the plant life growing from it bringing food and bandages to the various combatants from the Battle Royale. Most of the earlier ones were conscious and being helped by their guildmates though the last three were either barely conscious or still not there yet.
Only Laxus was up, sitting up and eating from a bowl of food as three people, a green haired man, a masked man, and a honey brunette in a green dress, fretted about him to make sure that he was ok and that he ate every last bite. He was heavily bandaged, his whole chest covered and as well as his neck and down the center of his face but as Asta looked at him Laxus noticed and caught his eye. The big blond man simply bowed his head to Asta in respect and acknowledgement which Asta returned before he looked away and around the area leaving Laxus to himself and taking in the other two from the final clash.
Gajeel was on his back, his head in the lap of a blue haired girl who was tending to his teeth and mouth while a red furred exceed helped Sting wrap Gajeel's chest. Behind her two men, a thin man with red hair in a high ponytail thing and a fat, tanned, man with black hair and eating from a bowl of stew, stood watching as the blue haired woman tended to Gajeel.
Elsewhere Gray was also on his back where Asta had defeated him as another blue haired women though this one Asta recognized as Juvia, was lying on top of him as she tried to wrap him up though it seemed like she was using the time to be close to him. Well that or she was still not fully healed from her own defeat at Charmy's hands, well her sheep's but same thing, and was just using Gray as support for some reason Asta didn't know. All the while a shirtless man with pale hair who Asta vaguely recognized from Hidden sat nearby being bandaged up by the pink haired girl who'd fought Wendy with mixed emotions on his face.
Asta took all this in and suddenly realized something and what Noelle had said really sunk in. Everyone who'd been knocked out and not retrieved was here and being cared for. If he had to guess Captain Yami had ordered that they help out. They were the best for it, Mimosa could heal everyone with some help from Nero to lessen the burden on Mimosa while Charmy could replenish their magic with her food and Finral could safely get people here. It was an easy system and he smiled at it; it was what a Magic Knight Squad should do.
"Here, eat this." Noelle said getting Asta's attention as she thrust a bowl of stew in his face almost hitting him with it as she was pointedly not looking at him her cheeks bright red as she recalled that she'd actually had Asta's head in her lap and he'd better not get the wrong idea about that, whatever that idea way. "I know it won't work on you but you could use the food in general given the battles you had."
"Thanks, yeah Charmy's food is great and delicious even if I have no magic to restore." Asta said as he proceeded to tip the bowl into his mouth and drain it in seconds in a very Asta way that irritated Noelle's proper manners to see before he lowered it and sighed in relief. "Man that really hit the spot. So everyone's here then?"
"They are, well other than the Guild Masters who are having a discussion back in the colosseum apparently and Minerva who's disappeared." Noelle said. "But you should rest for a moment. you have been through a lot today. We all have but you more than most Asta."
"Nope, there's something I gotta do." Asta said as he hoped up before Noelle could stop him, or help him up which she wanted to do…because she was his friend and squadmate and not because she wanted physical contact with Asta again of course. "Thanks for looking after me Noelle. You should go help some of the others now."
"Oh, er, you're welcome." Noelle said blushing at the thanks as her usual internal war raged in her with her denial winning out as usual.
"And thanks Mimosa, you're doing great." Asta called out to Mimosa who was nearby still keeping her spell up as she was fed more food to replenish her mana. "None of us would be better without you, you're magic is really amazing and keeps getting stronger."
Noelle huffed, that had really annoyed her and she didn't know why. Thankfully she wasn't looking at Mimosa who blushed furiously at Asta's complement and doubled her efforts as his words motivated her like they always did.
"Right, time to find her." Asta said as he headed of, the reference to a 'her' startling and annoying Noelle and causing her to get worried.
She wanted to know who this her was but as she saw Asta get a bowl of food from a passing Sheep Cook and head to one of the areas where a fallen combatant had been brought she let out a breath she didn't know she was holding, or why she was holding it. This wasn't because the person was a woman, it was because it was a warrior who'd more than earned Asta's, and all of theirs for that matter, respect this week and he was going to show it.
It had nothing to do with gender and this was Asta, when you fight him like that you forge a specific bond that was different to the one Noelle had with him so she wasn't threatened by it as she went back to work. She was part of Fiore's number 1 Guild now after all so they all had to live up to their reputation.
"Here, you'll need this." Asta said as she reached Erza and looked down at her smiling, Nero had already headed off to see where here help was needed. "It will bring your magic back and you never know when you might need that. Plus Charmy's food always tastes great."
"So it's the little Charmy woman who makes it, I was wondering who made it." Erza said from the ground as she looked up and smiling back at Asta. "Er, one moment."
Asta nodded understanding the sensation in Erza's ki as she was still in pain and backed up a bit as she moved her arms in, slow at first but as soon as she realized that it wasn't painful, just sore, she sped up and then pushed herself up into a sitting position in the field of flowers and roots. Once she was Asta crouched down and passed her the bowl of stew.
"You've had her food before then?" Asta asked remaining crouched so that he was on her level as Erza raised the bowl to her lips and began to eat it just like Asta had though with a little more dignity. "I recall that you vouched for it back when we offered some to Millianna after what happened."
"Yes, we stopped by your store in Fiore after we returned from our, er, time in stasis I guess." Erza said as she lowered the bowl that was now only half full and sighed as she felt her magic return to her. "Though it was delicious cakes that time not a meat and vegetable stew but this is still very good. I am already sure that I could use a Requip now if I wanted to."
"Charmy is a great cook." Asta said as Erza returned to the food before finishing it and setting the bowl to the side as she let her Ethernano levels return to max which the food would do though she might get another bowl just to be safe, and because she could use more food after the day she'd had. "And Mimosa's a great healer, you should be fine soon."
"Yeah I need to get bandaged up but I can tell that my wounds are healed." Erza said as she raised a hand to her left cheek and Asta say a faint scar there where he'd cut her before he looked down and noted a new scar on his chest in the hollow of his left shoulder where he'd taken that spike from Erza's mace. "I'll have to decide about this though. Few can leave such a wound on me and even fewer can beat me in a duel."
"That duel could have gone either way." Asta said. "We were both fighting with our Guilds and friends behind us, it wasn't just us there. You pushed me more than anyone or anything has since we came to Fiore so thank you, I needed that to surpass my limits and you forced me to do that multiple times in that fight."
"I can assure you the feeling is mutual." Erza said lowering her hand and noticing the scar she'd left on Asta as well though the other cuts were all healed up. "I did as well and even then you were able to adapt and counter. In the end I couldn't beat you because we truly underestimated you. We won't underestimate you again so I want a rematch when all this is over. That and I want to learn that perception ability. The fact that it doesn't use magic only makes it stronger."
"My Captain, er what you'd call Guild Master, can teach it better than I can but I'll take that rematch." Asta said. "Your skills with a sword are unlike any that I've seen; I learned a lot in our duel and I'll learn more in a rematch."
"As will I, your sword skills are easily comparable to mine." Erza said. "So even though I lost, thank you for that duel and I promise you I'll get stronger for the next one."
"So will I, I know that I can't slack off with someone like you wanting to even the score." Asta said grinning. "And I expect a rematch to be very interesting, especially if it comes in the next Grand Magic Games. I think after our duel, if they have the same format we might face each other in the arena."
"They'll need a protective barrier to keep the crowd safe I feel." Erza said and her smile fell a bit. "But as you mentioned the next Grand Magic Games, what happened in the end of this one? Who won? By my count only 5 should have been left after I fell and Nero implied that the one who wasn't in either of our Guilds had been bested before the final confrontation in this location."
"That's right, it was me, Sting, Laxus, Gajeel, and Gray left after our fight ended." Asta said with a nod unaware that what he was about to say next had already been resolved, by him. "I decided to go straight to Sting and spoke with him; he had no hope of winning and was in despair for personal reasons but I'm going to help him out there. In exchange he surrendered to me and that just left your guildmates and me in a final fight."
"That does explain why it was you four left, so how'd that go?" Erza asked. "I'll be honest, our plan for victory hinged on three key battles. Gray v. Rufus, Laxus v. Jura, and me v. you. The first two went our way but the third didn't and that was the one we feared above all others. You're a wildcard Asta, likely because of what you don't have now that I think on it, so we figured, rightly, that the only reliable way to bring you down was by the sword and not the spell. If I failed then it was going to be a lot harder and I did fail. So, were we right in that? Was I the best shot at winning it for Fairy Tail?"
"Yes." Asta said simply his expression neutral and no arrogance or triumph in his eyes. "You're not the only ones who had a fear, we feared you above anyone else in Fairy Tail because unlike the others you can fight me without magic and frankly you're better with swords than I am so we were worried. Course I was still eager to fight you and test my skills against you as you're a true challenge for me but we were under no illusions that the entire Battle Royale, and because we rightly assumed that like me you were the designated leader, the Grand Magic Games came down to the outcome of our duel. Whoever won it would win the Grand Magic Games and that was indeed the case."
"I see so we were right, that doesn't make me feel better but as Natsu would say it lights a fire in my belly to get stronger." Erza said smiling at what Asta had said even if she felt bad at being the only one who could have won it for Fairy Tail and not delivering. "Did we at least put up a good fight. They wouldn't have known about what you lack so you had advantages against them, especially Gajeel, but I hope that we acquitted ourselves well in the end."
"Gajeel did try to eat my sword so he wasn't the best to face me and he was the first to fall." Asta said. "Then I took our Gray the same way he did Rufus only with Anti-Magic not ice. He did inspire me there just as you and Kagura have inspired me and I used that inspiration to create a new move that took down Gray."
"That is good to know, I'll make it clear to him that that is a high honor." Erza said with a small smile. "And Laxus, how'd he do?"
"He was a challenge; I'll give him that." Asta said grinning at the memory as his hand went to the bandage on his jaw. "He landed a good punch on me right after I beat Gray that if I didn't have Destroyer would have probably beaten me due to the lightning effects of it. He forced me to use Black Asta again and break out a move even you couldn't get me to use though our duel wasn't conducive to that particular move. That was how I beat Laxus in the end. I was at the end of my strength though; I didn't last much longer so it was really close between our Guilds."
"You were still the last standing and that's what counts." Erza said. "We gave it our all but you lot were a wildcard from the start when your Guild came out of nowhere just to qualify and you in particular really showed us that we're almost back but not quite. Next year though, we won't lose to you lot."
"Bring it." Asta said as he lent down and held out his hand to Erza while still crouched before her. "Now that we're all friends it will be even more fun. Well we are at least but we'll get to know the rest of Fairy Tail soon and I'm sure that we'll all be good friends in no time."
"I look forward to it." Erza said her smile broadening as she grasped Asta's hand and let him haul her to her feet as he stood up so that they were standing face to face hands clasped. "And I agree, sometimes friendship has to be forged in battle and what we had today will go down in kingdom lore for years to come. Man, Natsu's going to freak when he learns Gray and I lost to you though especially that I lost. You're going to get challenged by him pretty soon."
"I can't wait." Asta said as he let go of Erza hand and then clenched his fist before moving his arm so that he could place his fist on the back of Erza's hand before she moved it. "Where I'm from this is an exchange between warriors who've earned each other's respect the way we have today and a promise that we will fight again and get strong for our families, as well as an exchange of friendship."
"Agreed." Erza said as she clenched her fist and pressed back against Asta's their eyes locked. "To the future of our Guilds and Fiore. Tomorrow dawns on a new day and a new number 1 Guild, the Black Bulls. You lot more than earned it."
"And you returned to second so to a good future of cooperation and friendship." Asta said as they held the exchange for a moment while the rest of the square continued to be sorted out.
Erza would get her own bandages soon; Millianna and Kagura were waiting to help there with Nero ready to unseal the dress but they were being respectful about the moment between arguably the two strongest warriors who graced the Battle Royale and whose duel had decided it in the end. Little did any of them know that while the Grand Magic Games had come to an end, the day had not as the events that had been running parallel to the Battle Royale were about to come to a head and plunge the entire city into a whole new and more terrifying battle as the hour of the Dragon King Festival neared.
I think that's a good place to leave this chapter off. I know it's not as big a reaction chapter as many were expecting but it does show that the Black Bulls deserve their ranking and that they understand the nature of the Grand Magic Games. Don't worry, Natsu, Lucy, Wendy, Mira and the exceeds still need to learn and I'm sure their reactions will be priceless. This chapter is also the first to show a Black Bull utilizing a form of magic unique to Earth Land without an evolution in his or her magic in Mimosa using a magic circle. This is done to replace what she learned in the Heart Kingdom for area heals and is why she has to have her mana replenished while doing it as it's all her mana but the result is the same new spell. Other than that this is a pretty straightforward chapter so there really isn't much more to say about it as the Grand Magic Games officially come to a close and we move onto the next thing that the will befall Crocus. As such that's all that I have for y'all so I will leave this chapter off here. If you liked this please favorite, follow, leave a review, or let me know in a PM and I will try to answer any questions posed in reviews and PMs as best I can. Until next time.
Stringdog