The crowd brought the Domus Flau to life. Lucy stood high above it, much higher than she ever thought she'd get in her life. She'd heard rumors of the Grand Magic Games in her childhood and imagined coming to them with a group of her friends, the rich ones that also had wealthy parents, to take a day and soak in the festivities, maybe from one of the middle booths.
But the Twilight Empire redesigned the stadium, such that the elite could still sit in booths, but they were only somewhat high up. The true elite, those actually in the Empire and the Emperor's favor, were much higher up, in towers that were more like fortresses. The windows were tinted magically to allow them a clear view of the stadium grounds so that the fighters didn't seem quite so microscopic.
Every member of the Dragon Division in Crocus was in the room with Lucy, dressed in their finest wear. Lucy almost felt underdressed until she saw Sorano, who was in a tube top and short skirt with a small crown in her white hair. Yukino was dressed in a long gown, a beautiful one befitting a queen. Neither looked all that entertained to be there.
The Ethereal Witch was with them, too, begrudgingly standing next to Kiyl. She eerily smirked at Lucy, but not in the cheeky way Sorano did. This was with intent to murder her. Well, Lucy thought, she had already tried to kill everyone in Fairy Tail.
The crowd started to sing the anthem of the Empire before the match began.
Kiyl stepped toward Rogue as everyone stood up from their seats to observe the anthem, one Lucy still hadn't memorized. She was sandwiched between Rogue and Axel, the latter of whom had his hand still on Lucy's leg even as they stood up. He rubbed her leg. She hid her shiver.
"Thomas and Kristine can no longer find the Fairies," Kiyl said. "They've completely vanished from the area."
"Did you check the village?"
"It's empty."
"How can they know that?"
"It's been wiped out. No signs of any survivors."
Lucy set her jaw. Her friends were alive, then. But…to have wiped out all of those innocent people for what? For spite?
"Bring them home, then," Rogue said. It sounded as if he was keeping his voice down, but there were simply so many people chanting the anthem that his voice came out as a whisper. "Send Johan."
Johan. Lucy spiraled through her rolodex of names she'd picked up on, as well as their positions. Johan was in the Dragon Division as the…Gale Dragon Slayer. Yes. That sounded right. She wasn't entirely certain how that magic differentiated from Wendy's, and her understanding was that Zash Caine, the Purgatory Dragon Slayer, had similar Fire Dragon Slayer magic to Natsu. She wondered if there was a Steel Dragon Slayer to match Gajeel.
Kiyl nodded to Rogue, then rejoined Minerva. Johan was at the other end of the room with his own date, a dapper dressed woman whom Lucy did not recognize. Maybe not a date, though. She wore several rings on her fingers, one of which she thought she recognized as a wedding ring. Minerva and Kiyl bore similar bands, though, from what Axel said, that was an arranged marriage between Divisions, to honor an agreement Minerva had with the Empire.
The chanting of the anthem ended.
"Rogue," Sting said and gestured for Rogue to follow. Everyone took their seats.
Lucy excused herself for the bathroom, making up a lie that she didn't want to miss anything when the match started. Instead, she drifted by Sting and Rogue's conversation, making her way for the back of the room.
"We can't let Invel find out about this," Sting said. He rubbed his temple. "Johan better get results, Rogue, or we're going to be in a bad spot."
"We'll have Natsu or Erza by the end of the day," Rogue said.
Lucy's heart sank, but she knew it to be true. If the match went poorly and those two truly beat the crap out of one another, they could maybe even get Natsu and Erza, though what that would look like from the perspective of the crowd was likely not good.
"That will suffice for some time."
"We'll need to make arrangements soon that whoever wins this gets to fight me, understand?" Sting said.
"Why? For the pride of the division? We've already filled the stadium, Sting. Interest in the Games is higher than ever before."
"Well, we need to prove why we're the ones that run it, okay?"
Lucy left the bathroom door slightly ajar and stepped out of the way of anyone's line of sight into the bathroom.
"I need to get it all back. All of it. If I can beat Natsu or even Erza…that'll make things right. It'll set us back on track."
"How?"
"It just will, okay?"
Lucy glanced at herself in the mirror. The crowd spiked in fervor.
"Let's just get through the day. Johan will find the Fairies, and then we'll wipe them out."
Lucy glowered into the mirror and grabbed the sink with white knuckles.
She strode back to her seat, joining the others in the Dragon Division and their partners. Yukino side-eyed her as she drifted down, Axel's hand finding the small of her back to hold onto.
"Time to watch your friends do what they do best, my love," he said, in only the way a snake could.
Erza stabbed her sword into the ground. Natsu cracked his knuckles, making sure his scarf was nice and tight on his neck.
"Well, Natsu," Erza said. "Seems this is the only fitting place for our rematch, eh?"
"Definitely," Natsu said. "Ready to give these guys a show?"
"If you don't mind, I'd like to make the first move," Erza said.
Natsu sneered. "Go right ahead. I'm all fired up!"
Fire blasted around him in an aura, the wave of heat washing over Erza. Erza ushered forth a Requip, her Flame Empress Armor appearing on her as she dashed at Natsu, who remained unfazed.
She swung her blade down at him.
"Lightning Fire Dragon Iron Fist!"
He'd seen this coming from miles away. Erza thought she had the perfect counter for Natsu, but that armor wasn't going to work on him anymore. Natsu would have to thank Laxus for that later.
Erza tried to pull up at the last second, but Natsu's attack slammed into her face and send her careening in the other direction. With lightning arcing around him and giving him fuel, Natsu dashed after Erza, who finally caught herself in the air and only just in time to block Natsu's strike with her sword, then Requip out of that armor with a lightning-fast kick that sent Natsu stumbling back.
Her Black Wing armor flashed before Natsu as she brought the sword down on him. He deflected the blade with a punch, leaving them both exposed for their heads to collide. Seething pain shot through Natsu, but that melon had been bludgeoned enough to withstand a solid strike. Erza touched down, trying to push him back.
"How'd you like that, Erza?" Natsu growled.
"Going to actually put up a fight, Natsu?" Erza asked. "I thought we were going to warm up."
"I said we'd put on a show, so let's give them something to remember!"
They swung their fists out in a flurry, blocking and deflecting each other's blows in a maelstrom of black steel and lightning-infused fire. Natsu bounced back as Erza launched into a series of complex combos. He wasn't as adept with swordplay as her, but his reflexes in that enhanced form at least granted him the gift of—
"Moon Flash!"
The magic sliced at him in four different angles, boxing him in.
"Lightning Fire Dragon Roar!"
The spell blasted apart Erza's, but she wasn't done with Natsu yet, dashing through the fire with her Flight Armor, slamming her shoulder into his chest, and then landing seven solid punches and kicks on him before he could think to react.
Natsu bounced against the dirt of the stadium and dug his talon into the ground to stop himself. Blood slid down from his lips and arms from the cuts he'd taken. Erza slid to a halt in front of him.
"I see you've cut off your lightning power," Erza said.
Natsu nodded. "Yeah. Needed to use that to get rid of that flame armor or whatever. But if you wanna bring it back to give me some fuel, I wouldn't mind."
"That won't be necessary," Erza said. "When last we fought, that was my perfect counter to you. Now, my perfect counter is my mind and my experience."
"Oh yeah? Counter this, then!"
Natsu lunged her, flames and feet aflame. Erza smiled and braced herself. At the last second, Natsu kicked into the air, spinning around and launching fireballs all over the place, but none at Erza. She smiled and closed her eyes while safe from the flames.
Gravity caught up to him, and he used the flames beneath his feet to blast toward Erza.
She noticed and danced back, then dashed forward once she braced and Natsu hit the ground. Natsu balled his fist, hiding his grin.
Just as Erza was preparing to strike Natsu, all of the disparate fireballs raced back toward Natsu but went around him and slammed into Erza. She roared with pain and flew back, smoke billowing off her figure. Natsu got back up, igniting his hand.
Erza shrugged off the attack, clearly bothered by it, and Requipped into her Morning Star armor she used to defeat that Midnight punk from the Seis. She stood to her full height, flashing her blades.
"Come on, Erza," Natsu said to himself. "I know you have more in there."
They blasted at one another, but Erza pivoted from Natsu at the last second, tossing one of her blades into the ground behind him. Natsu could hardly believe his luck at the sudden dodge and redirected his attack at her, kicking at her with two flaming feet that she was forced to block. They hardly did any damage to her.
She raised her blade.
"Photon Slicer!"
A single arc of magic rushed at Natsu, one he easily avoided again. He almost laughed at her, but his senses were just too slow to realize there was an attack coming from behind him. It slammed into his back, rocketing him into Erza's welcome fist. She drove him to the ground, picked him up, and threw him aside.
Natsu slammed into the opposite wall and tore himself free in time to dodge a beam that eradicated the wall and sent debris flying everywhere. Natsu flung debris and balls of fire at Erza in rapid succession, all of which she easily sliced through. He rushed at her once more. She stayed in her Morning Star Armor, and he got close, it flared to life with a blinding light. The entire world turned white for Natsu, giving Erza the perfect opening to obliterate him. A beam of magic slammed into him, and his whole body screamed in pain. He crashed to the ground, finally recovering his vision.
A shadow overcame him. There, in the skies above, relentless as queen of the fairies should be, was Erza, already Requipped into her Adamantine Armor, as she hurtled with impossible weight and strength at Natsu. He leapt away. She swung her shield out, catching him on the leg at the last second, and it sent him spiraling away.
He bumped onto the ground, feeling the air rush from his lungs. He took a second to get it back, to recover himself, before pushing up to his knees. Erza stalked toward him.
"Can't imagine you've had enough yet, have you, Natsu?" she asked.
Natsu responded with an attack, one that slammed into the armor's shield to no effect. His flames fizzled out. He sighed, then tried again.
But the impossibly strong shield would not relent. Once, twice, thrice more did Natsu strike to no avail.
"This shield withstood Jupiter, Natsu," Erza said. "You will not break through its defenses."
Sweat poured down Natsu's face. His muscles already ached. He had no idea if Erza was as beat as he was, but it really didn't matter. He was still standing. She was still standing.
That had to change somehow.
Natsu stepped back. Erza lowered her arms, the shields breaking apart. Natsu wiped away his sweat and shook his head with a smile.
"It's always been like this though, Erza," Natsu said. "You, your shields up, unable to let any of us through. Even when we're fighting, side-by-side or against each other, I always feel like I'm having to break through something here."
Erza didn't say anything, but let her face soften a bit, even as she clearly kept braced with her guard up.
"All my life, I've never felt like I could just break through and really fight you." He balled his fists. Lightning sparked. "But with this power, with my Second Origin, I think I have my best shot yet. My only shot. And I'm not going to miss it."
"I want to see your best, then, my dear friend," Erza said. She closed the shield. "Adamantine Barrier!"
A magic circle popped up in front of the armor. Now, he had to bust through not only that barrier but the unbreakable steel as well. Lightning came to life as fire roared all around Natsu, melting the stone he stood upon.
"Alright then," Natsu said. "Here I come, Erza! Everything I've got, right here!"
He saw Erza brace. Actually brace. She knew he wasn't bluffing, and knew, maybe, he could get through. She believed in him.
What else were friends for?
"Dragon Slayer Secret Art!" Natsu summoned up everything he had, every fiber of his magic, every ounce of power. "Crimson Lotus: Lightning Phoenix Blade!"
He rushed forth, and swung his fist up, blasting heat and lightning and shooting sparks everywhere as he made contact with the barrier. It shuddered, but held, yet Natsu was not done. There was more, always more!
His roar filled the stadium, waking the memory of the dragons that once lived there. The ground shook beneath him and Erza—an unstoppable force meeting an immovable object. Etherion itself broke from the barrier, dancing into the sky in thousands of beautiful, crackling lights. Even Erza had to shout back, exerting her magic back against Natsu's.
"This is…IT!"
A last surge, a burst from within Natsu that popped his strength up, and his arm lunged forward as the magic barrier gave way and the adamantine shield shattered in Erza's hands. She stood back, amazed, but Natsu's strength hadn't failed him yet. He had it all, in his hands, for only a short time. He captured it, and flung it at Erza with,
"Lightning Fire Dragon Iron Fist!"
Erza's eyes widened as she took the attack head-on, blasting across the entire arena in a single shot. The crowd leaped to its feet, but even Erza was not done. She emerged, bloodied, and bruised, but smiling, in her Heaven's Wheel Armor.
"Come, Natsu, let's finish this!"
"I'm all FIRED UP NOW!"
Natsu and Erza met in the air, their collision sending a shockwave through the lower level of the stadium. They exchanged blows and glancing shots, each one suffering punishing returns to the ground yet they both got right back to their feet. Erza danced around Natsu's impulsive, insane shots as she slammed her elbow into the side of his head but he didn't let it deter him and punched her in her exposed belly.
Four swords shot at Natsu that melted upon contact with his aura and he blasted fire in her direction that was ultimately swatted down.
He was losing magic. Fast.
"Lightning Fire Dragon Brilliant Flame!"
Lightning in one hand. Fire in the other.
Victory in both.
He dodged around Erza's spells as she Requipped one final time into her Sea Empress Armor, stepping into the hand of fire and allowing Natsu's lightning fist to blast by her. Natsu's flames turned to steam in her hand as the lighting fizzled out of his magic repertoire. Erza let Natsu's hand go and Requiped one final time into her base Heart Kreuz armor.
Natsu stepped back.
"Forgot about that one," he said.
"Wanted to save it for the end," Erza said. She sighed. "It would seem you've run me dry as well, Natsu."
Natsu let out a huff of a laugh and felt his legs give out beneath him. The ground rose up to meet him.
Erza stepped forward and caught him in his arms, letting him hear as he drifted off into the world of the unconscious,
"Next time, I fear I may not be so lucky."
The crowd couldn't have been on its feet faster if it tried to celebrate Erza for her victory as she gently set the unconscious Natsu on the ground. She could only imagine how bad she looked, given all of the battering and bruises his body had taken on in their exchange. She summoned her sword back to her side and clipped it to her side.
Guards poured in from the entrances into the arena, and a light descended on her from on high in one of the towers. The light took form as the guards stopped, standing to attention in a circle around Erza. Sting emerged, alongside another woman, perhaps his wife or a fellow Dragon Slayer.
"Well done, Erza," Sting said. "I'll be honest, I didn't see that one coming."
"Let me go," Erza said. "It's the least I deserve. After all, we both know I won't be getting the true prize."
"You already have it," Sting said through clenched teeth. "Of course, you're free to go. We can't just capture our champion. Him, on the other hand…"
A guard knelt down behind Natsu and slapped cuffs on him, then another heaved Natsu up.
"Don't rough him up," Erza said. "I'll find out, and you'll regret it."
"Then do something about it," the woman said. "Save your friend."
"I know a trap when I see one," Erza said. "Natsu asked me to let him go, and he would have done the same for me."
"Well, thanks for turning a Dragon Slayer over to us," Sting said with a sneer. "You're free to go."
"In the Empire, there is nowhere free to go," Erza said.
The woman turned her eye to Erza. "You're right about that."
Erza raised an eyebrow at her as Sting snarled at that, guiding the guards away.
"My name is Yukino," she said and held a hand out for Erza. "Of the Twilight Division. It would be best if you stayed in Crocus, at least for the night, to recover from your injuries. Then, you may be off."
"It doesn't seem like they're that interested in letting that happen," Erza said, gesturing at the guards still lingering.
Yukino snapped her fingers, and without hesitation, the other guards marched off, back to the entrances they came from.
"Go."
Erza let her hand fall to her blade and relented. A small voice wanted to rush after Natsu and get him back, but she was outnumbered. The guards were no problem, but if other Divisions were in attendance, she would truly be staring down the might of the Twilight Empire. That was a challenge better accomplished with her magic, and with her friends.
"Thank you," Erza said.
"My pleasure."
It was such a genuine expression, such genuine words, that it gave Erza pause. Yukino was following after Sting, not bothering to look back about what she said. Erza relinquished the tension from her hand about her blade, then followed the way out of the stadium toward her suite.
But not to relax. To recover.
And then get to work.