The brackets were released, but the entrants could not get into the building until the officials were ready for them and the crowds began pouring in, as it truly took that much time to get them all inside. Natsu could hardly stand it. He stood alongside Gajeel as they waited for the doors to the competitor's lobby to open up. Gray strolled lazily down the street alongside Juvia while Wendy, Erza, and Lucy chatted it up.

They'd all slightly changed their disguises so it didn't seem they all wore the same clothes all the time, which was something Natsu was used to doing. Natsu wore a beanie instead of a regular cap and had a simple long-sleeve shirt on that breathed well to let his fiery body heat escape. Plus, he had simple sandals on again. What a relief.

Axel was nowhere to be seen. That giant dude that Axel said Natsu couldn't beat waited nearby, leaning against a tree as thick as he was. Natsu pranced about.

"Come on, come on," he muttered. "Let's get this competition really started!"

"The more you dance," Gajeel said, "it feels like it's less likely they'll actually open the damn doors."

"You're just nervous that you and I have to fight first," Natsu said.

Gajeel lowered his head to Natsu. "Why don't we just settle that right here, then?"

Natsu would've happily indulged the Iron Dragon Slayer, but the doors swung open. Those looking to enter the stadium glanced sidelong at Natsu and Gajeel who sprinted inside. They stumbled through to the competitor's lobby at the massive bracket on the wall. Natsu searched for his name while Gajeel tumbled over him.

"Gah, I'm at the end, come on!" Natsu exclaimed, even though he was, actually, at the perfect halfway point.

Jiemma.

"Ah, man!" Natsu exclaimed and slumped. "I don't know who that is!"

Gajeel did the same, crossing his arms. "Me neither. Ain't fair that you get to fight that Dragon Slayer, too."

Natsu flipped over. "What?"

He scanned the bracket again. Axel was in the fight after Natsu, and, if they both won…

"I can live with this," Natsu said. "And hey! You can fight Juvia."

"A little Phantom Lord reunion?" Lucy asked with a sneer. "Some of the Element Four going one-on-one."

"Who are you fighting, Lucy?" Wendy asked.

"Shiroribon?" Lucy said after fumbling the name. "Uh, cool name, I guess."

"Probably a code name," Natsu said, shifting. "A true ninja would never reveal their secret identity, and must only live by the shadows."

"Oh, you've gotta be kidding me," Gray said, and face-palmed. Erza chuckled but tried to keep it to herself. Everyone else around them gasped, save for Juvia, who was already at Gray's heels cheering him on.

"What, what?" Natsu barked and found Gray's name.

Paired with Erza.

"Oh, come on!" Natsu shouted. "You get to fight her first? Man, she'll mop the floor with you!"

"I'll last longer than you could, pal!" Gray said.

"You can last long against me, darling!" Juvia exclaimed, rather senselessly. "As long as you wish if we meet in the final."

"Doubtful, but it'll be a good fight," Erza said. "I look forward to our match in the quarterfinal, then, big guy."

"A real man knows he can't hold back," Elfman said. "Even against friends."

Natsu checked for Lucy and Wendy, to see, when they inevitably won, where they'd land. And it was against one another! Interesting, Natsu thought. The two arguably most nervous in the whole group about getting into a fight…would get into a fight.

And then have to face Erza.

Man, these guys at the tournament sure knew how to pick 'em. Gajeel and Natsu would square off if Gajeel defeated Juvia and after Natsu mopped the floor with Axel.

"It's okay, darling," Juvia said, bumping Gray's back with her fists, then doing a slight dance. "You'll figure it out. You're longtime friends, recent foes, you can strategize to beat her."

"I think I'll strategize to lighten the hits I take," Gray muttered. He shrugged. "But I should get to thinking."

"Natsu," Erza said. "I wouldn't take your foe lightly, either." Quieter, she said, "He was once a Guild Master for the greatest guild in Fiore."

"I'm not fighting Gramps."

Erza rolled her eyes. "After Tenrou. You will need to go all out from the start."

Natsu almost boiled over with anticipation. Was there a way he could speed up the fights before his? There had to be, right?

It didn't take long, about another hour, before everyone filed into the stadium, and the opening event was done. The crowd got their look at the bracket, to see what matches they could anticipate, and Captain Sting of the Dragon Division, alongside General Kiyl of the Dragon Division, were introduced as the honored guests of the remainder of the tournament.

General Axel was nowhere to be found, though he was probably up in the big seats with the other Imperials. Oh well.

They had plenty of screens to watch the fights throughout the day, so they could either sit back and relax or find a place to stretch and warm up a bit.

Lucy's name was called, along with Shiroribon, a woman, by the looks of it, who held a nodachi sword in her hand but was cloaked in all white, and a monstrous mask attached to her face. She moved gracefully yet stoically. Natsu nudged Lucy along.

"Why did I have to be first?" Lucy muttered over and over again.

"So you can get it over with quick, let's go!" Natsu exclaimed.

Lucy stopped alongside Shiroribon, who didn't even acknowledge Lucy. She touched her hand to the teleportation lacrima and vanished. Natsu gave Lucy a solid thumbs-up, wished her luck, and with that, Lucy vanished.

"Alright," Natsu said. "Time for Fairy Tail to finally strut its stuff!"


The stands, somehow, were even more packed. Had they added more seating? They felt closer to the actual fighting arena, somehow. Lucy shuffled her bag to the front and grazed her hand over the Celestial Spirit Whip.

Her strategy, given that she did not know her opponent, had to be one of deception. Her spirits were not made for combat, and most feared it quite a bit. However, they could be used as a distraction. Lyra was Lucy's key.

First, Lucy had to get in close, and she would just need to be in her base form for that. Once Shiroribon showed a hint of magic, Lucy could summon Horologium to protect her long enough to then summon Lyra, given that she was so close. Lyra, then could soothe Shiroribon long enough for Lucy to use her Celestial Spirit Whip to wrap her opponent in its magical grasp and force them to submit!

Worst came to worse, if that plan failed, she'd summon Crux to figure out what Shiroribon's magic is, and then either adapt the plan or try it again. Nobody ever expected the same strategy twice, right? That was literally insane!

The official, who stood on a platform high up, signaled for the magic to start. Lucy brandished the keys for Lyra and Horologium in an instant while her opponent stayed perfectly still. She did one final, quick, observation of her surroundings. There was certainly space for her opponent to move, so she would need to take that into consideration once she had Lyra summoned.

Maybe she could use Crux from the go?

No!

Lucy took off. She had to trust her gut, trust her plan!

Shiroribon remained motionless save for the slight adjustment of how she held her sword, moving into an offensive stance. Lucy didn't stop.

Alright! She got close enough.

"Open, Gate of the—"

Something hit her. Something that pressed against her with all the weight and power of the world, sending millions of tiny ripples throughout her body that, at once, resulted in a singular impact.

It didn't blast her back. It simply stopped her in her tracks, though her feet traveled a bit further before she dropped to her knees.

"You're in my way," Shiroribon said before everything faded to black for Lucy and she fell face-forward into the arena dirt.


The entirety of Fairy Tail gasped at the sight. Lucy was taken down in a single strike from Shiroribon, who hadn't even unsheathed her sword. She simply slammed it into Lucy, moving at an incredible speed as well.

"No!" Natsu shouted. "What just happened?"

"She lost," Wendy said, covering her mouth in horror.

"From one hit?" Gray muttered. "Who the hell is that person?"

Erza balled her fist. So, this was what they had to look forward to in fighting the Empire? The preliminary rounds were all just a joke to see who had the mettle to get to this stage. Looking around, it all made sense. Besides Fairy Tail, there was already another Dragon Slayer and a former Guild Master in their midst for the tournament. To take this any lighter would result in a swift defeat.

Not that Lucy underestimated her opponent, of course. How was she to expect they had such strength?

The crowd cheered for Shiroribon, who raised her head to the crowd, then, to the suites where the elite sat and watched the match end as fast as it started. She opened her arms to the crowd as if soaking it all in.

"Yeah, enjoy it while it lasts," Natsu muttered.

Shiroribon then reached up and removed her mask, revealing a woman with a hard, yet eerily familiar to Erza, face. Straight, dark purple hair rolled down her back while bangs fell just over her eyes brimming with hatred.

At once, the crowd gasped.

"My name," Shiroribon said, and raised her arms once again, "the one whom you all cheer for, is Kagura Mikazuchi!"

Erza narrowed her eyes. Now that was a familiar name…but why?

"And I have come to this tournament with the intent to defeat any and all of the Twilight Empire, to break down their visage of strength!" Kagura shouted.

The viewing lacrima did not shift their angles, but from all of them, it was clear to see the guards pouring in to rush Kagura, who still did not move from her spot.

"Bring forth your greatest challengers!" Kagura once more exclaimed. "I will cut them all down!"

The guards continued their rush toward Kagura, charging her with no intent of stopping. Several charged-up spells from the safety of the walls. Beams fired at her. Arrows were loosed. And yet she refused to move until she stared straight into the viewing lacrima aimed at her face.

"Now," she said.

Not an instant later, she vanished. Gone in a blur, her figure almost imperceptible. Erza blinked but did not allow too shocked of an expression to dawn on her face. The one most surprised by the proceedings, of all people, was Gray, who quickly set a contemplative expression on his face.

"Things are certainly getting interesting," Juvia said.

"And I wonder if a certain princess knows about this," Gajeel said.

Erza nodded. "You'd think maybe some small-time rebels would sneak their way in." Fairy Tail, obviously, would be such a group like that, and nobody saw them coming. "But this woman, with the reception she received…she must be one of the more at-large criminals."

"And that's who I have to fight next?" Wendy asked with a sigh, only for Gajeel to rest a gloved hand on her head in reassurance.

"We'll need to keep an eye out for her," Erza said quietly enough for only her friends to hear. Louder, she said, "Wendy, after your match go tend to Lucy in the medical area. I'm sure she'd like to see one of us, and you can support her healing."

"Right," Wendy said.

Erza sighed. Indeed, the Games had truly gotten interesting, as Juvia suggested. Given Jiemma's presence, and the plans he had only been hinting at with Erza, she wondered just how many agendas there were hidden within the walls of the stadium.

And how many of them Fairy Tail accidentally got caught up in.


Sting jumped out of his chair as Kagura removed her mask, finally revealing herself after…wow, how long had it been since they started their hunt for her? How long had it been since she destroyed their fleet of ships off the north coast? Since she singlehandedly defeated three Crystal Division Generals?

Yukino raised her eyebrow at the sight, her grip tightening around the arm of her chair.

"This is insane," Sting said. "How—how did she just sneak in here? Did nobody recognize her sword?"

"It seems," Yukino said. "That she may have had some help from another wizard."

"How many rebels are here, then?" Sting asked. Ah, this was bad. Very bad. Kiyl's happenstance arrival could turn out to be a blessing in disguise if Kagura brought friends, especially if it was those friends. "Damn it."

Sting turned to the Imperial officials all gawking at the scene of the empty arena. The entire place was buzzing with conversation, and low murmurs that added to one loud cacophony of confusion.

"I want the city locked down," Sting said. "Every supply cart coming in or going out is to undergo a thorough inspection. If I catch wind of any other rebels in the city, anymore, then you're all going back to Crocus in pieces. Am I clear?"

The officials in charge of the city watch nodded and scrambled out of the room, tripping over their own feet to get to the guard captains and inform them of Sting's proclamation.

Kagura. Of all the damn wizards…

"Yukino," Sting said. Yukino looked at him, and he was almost surprised at that. How long had it been since she actually paid him any attention? "I'll handle Kagura on my own, if it comes to it. You and Axel continue with your mission, don't let Kagura interfere."

"Will you hunt her down?"

"I'll end her."

Yukino glanced back outside. "So, what are we to do about the Games, then?"

Sting set his jaw. Did she even care? Kagura Mikazuchi was one of the strongest rebels out there. If the Empire had gotten their way, if they'd Broken her, she'd not only sit among the Twilight Division, but she would be one of their elite.

"They'll go on," Sting said. "Kagura wins if we halt proceedings. Have the next match get going already."

Yukino made no notion of accepting his words save for motioning to the MC floating on the lacrima outside that things were to proceed. And so they did, with the little blue-haired wizard Carla appearing, quite nervous, on the arena, alongside some no-name wizard that was proficient in…oh, who cared?

Kagura.

"We can't let them win, Yukino," Sting said. "The Emperor would never let me live it down."

"Of course," Yukino said, and that was the end of that.


Gray and Erza walked down the tunnel side-by-side. Wendy was already off the arena, having swept her opponent away in a fight that, with her strength, should have been over quickly, but her nerves got the better of her and she allowed her opponent to hang around a bit longer than they deserved. Still, she ultimately got the win but rushed off to find Lucy.

Erza stood next to the teleportation lacrima while they cleared away the unconscious body of Wendy's opponent. Gray stuffed his hands in his pocket.

"Before we go," Gray said, "and you knock my brains around, figured I'd tell you what I'm thinking went down with Kagura."

"Oh?"

"Can't say for sure," Gray said. "But I don't think she just vanished from her own magic. Given the way it looked, the way the guards didn't even see it coming…I think someone got her out of there."

"Someone took her?"

"Yeah. And I've seen it before, but only once." He met Erza's confused eyes. "When I fought that guy Racer from the Oración Seis."


Sorano stooped low over her midday lover, the tips of her fingers skimming the woman's bare skin up through her breasts, stopping at her neck, where Sorano widened her hand such that her index finger slid into the woman's mouth and her thumb and remaining fingers sidled her lover's neck.

A gasp, not a painful one, escaped her lover's mouth. Sorano clenched her legs around her lover's waist, admiring the perfect build of her body. How did this woman feel in it? Did she know how beautiful she was? She worked the Twilight Division's tower day in and out, with her lone breaks coming for a brief supper and the time Sorano stole from her as the sun reached its apex. She dressed modestly in the standard Imperial garb.

Meanwhile, Sorano, the most lavish of the Twilight Division, wore often little more than a thin, feathered cloak and her white bra and underwear, with heels sharp enough to slit anyone's throat. Her white hair tumbled over her lover's face.

Sorano arched down, her lips caressing her lover's as she struggled beneath Sorano's hand pressed on her neck to move her lips up.

"No," Sorano said, using her free hand to slide down between her lover's legs. Her lover froze up. "You know how this goes, dear one."

This, Sorano thought, was all for me. For her pleasure.

Sorano touched her lover and released her hand about the woman's neck to touch herself. Warmth radiated from her body while she straddled the woman, who yearned and groaned beneath Sorano. Yet, it wasn't enough. A wicked flare claimed Sorano, who, in a wild movement, lurched forward, locking both of her lover's arms behind her head while Sorano leaned forward, still keeping her legs locked.

Part of her yearned for the other woman to take control. To fiercely hold Sorano in her grasp and claim her. And yet, that would be submissive. That would mean Sorano did not have that level of control she desired, that she would give something up.

And she was a member of the Twilight Division. Control?

She owned the world, from high up in the ivory tower from which she, in moments, made her lover scream. The woman screamed her pleasure freely as Sorano once more used her hand to touch the woman while she held her firmly in her grasp, and there, there was the release and get-off Sorano so desperately sought, found in her ability to manipulate the woman the ebb and flow of her experience.

"You like this," Sorano said, her words falling silent upon the rocking of the custom bed and moans of her lover. "You like this. You like this."

A magic circle appeared in the wall, the light blinding Sorano for a moment but it only served to slow her down, keeping her from her own personal climax. Her lover's chest rose and fell rapidly as she caught her breath, Sorano having ceased her rocking.

Libra, Yukino's Celestial Spirit, stepped forward. Sorano smiled at the new arrival.

"What is it my dear sister wants?" Sorano asked. A moan almost escaped her while her lover set to work on Sorano, at last Sorano allowed to be touched while she straddled the woman. "Speak quickly."

"There is a Celestial Spirit Wizard at the Grand Magic Games," Libra said. "And Yukino was hoping you could identify her."

Lust overcame Sorano. Ah. Was she to return to her days of the hunt? Sorano swiped sweaty hair from her face while Libra approached, holding up a crystal-clear picture, taken straight off a viewing lacrima, of a blonde woman holding a pair of Silver Celestial keys.

Sorano froze. She smacked her lover's hands away and ripped the picture out of Libra's hands. Her lover daftly sat up, biting her lower lip as she waited for Sorano's attention to return.

"This is impossible," Sorano said. "Unless…what is this wizard's name?"

"Ashley."

No, no. No, this was her. That little blonde bitch that took Aries, Gemini, and Scorpio away, the one that beat her all those years ago. The one that broke Angel.

"It's not," Sorano said. "I don't know how it's her. She should be dead. Maybe she escaped through the Spirit World. But that woman's name is Lucy."

"Heartfilia," Libra said with a nod.

"Sure," Sorano said. She stood up out of bed. "Lead me to Yukino, Libra."

"Miss Yukino is taking care of the situation," Libra said. "She simply wished for me to confirm the woman's identity. You may return to your business."

Sorano glared at Libra but was satisfied with the answer. She forced Libra's gate to close and the room fell silent, and cold, once more. Her lover begged her back to bed.

"You don't command me," Sorano said. Great, now her buzz was gone. She sighed. "Alright," she said to the woman. "Finish me off and then get back to work."