AN: This chapter includes some OCs introduced in the timeskip summaries published in Fairy Drabbles. If you haven't read that, you may be confused.
The day dawned early for me. An unfortunate side effect of going to sleep fretting over something meant I had dreamed about distributing my totems. But as with some dreams, something had gotten twisted and it had turned out all wrong. Not horrendous nightmare wrong but more so wondering what math system was used to make me equate Elfman with a stereotypical Magical Girl, or Natsu in a Strawberry Shortcake outfit being chased around by a ravenous Erza.
You are sure I didn't make a Strawberry Shortcake totem while sleep deprived or something?
Very sure. Such a thing does not exist within the arsenal.
Regardless, I was up bright and early since sleep was providing only limited rest. So I opted to take a walk in the gray morning. Morgana, ever the precise soul, mused that it would be slightly more cloudy today than yesterday, though it would still be warm. I opted to go out without the blue cloak I had stolen from Mystogan on my last visit to Edolas.
I did turn over the coming events in my head and assessed candidly what could be done.
Since Fairy Tail had fought Raven Tail yesterday, it was unlikely that the gamemakers would pit another of our teams against them. Not even a blind person would have missed that our guilds had beef with each other. Drama was what made people get invested and keep returning for more. If they were smart, they'd keep us from getting another crack at them for at least a day to let the tension develop.
Or that is how I would handle a rivalry if I were writing a story.
Chariot is the name of the first event today. Matches are still being decided. Quatro Cerberus has brought in their reserve member due to Warcry backing out.
Orga had been quick about his win, I would give him that much. There hadn't been much sadistic toying with his opponent to draw out the drama. But it was still soul crushing to be so outclassed.
Anyone I know as their reserve?
Yes. It's Bacchus.
I felt a tic form in my eye.
I best knew the man as a diehard Lord of the Rings fan. He'd corresponded several times with Bella Phantasia while pursuing that passion. And I'd seen him in a picture perfect cosplay during my book signing event a few years ago. But last night he'd been a menace of the highest order.
-vVv-
"I smell booze!"
The tale dark haired man burst through the door with wild eyes and a huge grin. His eyes fixed on the keg that was being tapped to celebrate our first day in the Grand Magic Games. We were lacking some wounds, but it would be a cold day in hell when Fairy Tail wasn't ready to party.
"That cherry scent- it's gotta be Fivel's!"
And it was Cana who looked the most impressed at Bacchus's nose identifying the Maker by scent alone. Fivel's Orchard and Winery were partners with Jude Heartfilia, he was their primary distributor. They had sent over the alcohol to show their support for our guild. Makarov had already shifted his necktie from its usual place to around his head in a bandana and was doling out the donation to anyone who wanted a glass. Similarly, Natsu was setting up some barrels and a large wooden board to try Barrel Surfing once again despite Freed's protests..
"It is! We're celebrating our first day in the Grand Magic Games!"
"Don't need to tell me twice!"
Bacchus fit in disturbingly well in the usual hubbub of Fairy Tail. It was like watching a piano in free fall when he plopped down on the stool next to Cana. Everyone knew exactly what was coming. I even saw some money changing hands as people began to place bets on who would pass out first.
This will not end well.
I didn't acknowledge Morgana's comment. There was no need. I just kept an eye on the pair. I had a pretty good idea of Bacchus's character from our letters. Not that he for sure knew he was writing to me. He was a good person while sober and a genial one when drunk. But he followed his instincts when inebriated and judging by how he was playfully leering at Cana, he thought she was attractive. Not just physically, he liked that she was drinking with him.
I didn't tend to join in the celebrations like this. At least not with drinking. In my experience, Story Magic was strongly linked to my subconscious. Good and bad. I'd happily trade not participating fully in the guild's wilder parties for not turning the Guildhall into Wonderland or worse.
I got a little distracted at one point when Freed went careening face first into a wall. No matter what Natsu said, Barrel Surfing was definitely a spectator sport. It was only fun for those watching. By the time things were settled again, the dynamic duo at the bar had emptied several barrels between them and were only picking up the pace.
It got harder and harder to keep my attention on the one stranger in the guild hall as everyone got more and more into the party mood. Erik was the man of the night thanks to his performance against Nullpudding. But people were more than thrilled to celebrate Jellal's throwdown against Jura. Though everyone had to remember to call him Mystogan as long as Bacchus was in the house.
Then there came a shout. Gray was looking pissed as Bacchus sauntered away from the bar where Cana was passed out and missing a certain article of clothing.
I knew this would happen.
But I also did not intend to let it slide. I planted myself before Bacchus, staring up into his face. He was clearly very pleased with himself and very drunk as he gave me a smile.
"Hey cutie, what's going on?"
"A theft being committed. Please give that back."
I thrust out an open hand for the bikini top that Cana had been wearing which he held. She was now face down on the bar top, snoring faintly as Gray hurriedly stripped off his shirt, a miracle he still had the thing, and covered his friend with it. Had Cana made a wager or otherwise consented to this, then I would have left it alone. She was a grown woman and didn't need my interfering with her choices. But there hadn't been such a thing and drunk-Bacchus was just looking for a nice trophy, and potential reason to talk to Cana later in the week. And he concluded that stealing her top was the best choice.
Bacchus blinked at me, like the words had to percolate through his clouded thoughts to reach him. He was swaying slightly on his feet. A dull spark lit behind his eyes and he leaned in closer to me, the smile turning into a friendly leer.
"If I do give it, will ya model it for me?"
I will admit. That took me off guard. It also seemed to make everyone around us go silent to watch for a reaction. To see how I would respond. I let out a slow breath.
"Excuse me?"
"Ya heard me. You're cute and got moxie. Waddya say, doll?"
He didn't take the opportunity to repent and instead doubled down. I had had perfectly pleasant interactions with him before, albeit through letters and under the mask of an author, so I wanted to give him every possible chance to not make himself out as a total ass. I was smiling tightly and feeling very small next to this drunken giant. He had to have at least a foot of height on me.
"I'm too young for you."
Gray was poised to go for the guy's throat, Laxus had grabbed Freed before he could lunge at the Drunken Master. Natsu and Gajeel were watching me, ready to take my cue. Erza had her hand placed strangely. Or strangely to someone who wasn't familiar with her poses to ReQuip a weapon into her hand. Erik...was still seated over towards the far wall with Kinana, looking like he was torn between cackling and taking his own pound of flesh.
Bacchus's eyes traced over my entire form, head tilting slightly in an obvious appraisal. Morgana grabbed hold of my automatic response so I wouldn't shiver or betray feeling uneasy. The whole guild was a powder keg a breath away from igniting. It was on me to react to this. I could defuse this, turn this into a brawl or guide it into being a funny story later.
"You're more covered up than your friends, but you look all woman to me."
I heard Pantherlily give a low warning mutter, the kind felines used to portray their most profound irritation. He was slowly standing, and growing larger just out of the corner of my eye. Simon now had both eyes fixed on our interaction as well.
But this clown wasn't done making everyone in my guild want to kill him. Nope, far from it! There was no warning from Morgana, making his next move one of pure impulse.
Bacchus dropped Cana's top and wrapped an arm around me instead. The only thing keeping me from being pressed against his chest was the fact that I'd gotten my hand on his shoulder to hold some distance. His hand squeezed my hip none too gently and he spoke with a purr, legs tensing to walk out of the inn with me, his other hand reaching up to play with some of my hair that had fallen forward over my shoulder.
"You definitely feel all woman too."
He is a member of Quatro Cereberus's active team as of this afternoon.
Which means we definitely can't afford to get into a scuffle with him. We'd be the ones under the axe for starting a fight with another guild!
Before anyone else could make a move, I shifted my supporting hand from his shoulder to his neck.
"Esuna."
There came a tremendous rush and a bright flare as a Magic Circle bloomed on his cheek. All the alcohol quickly vacated Bacchus's body, but he was still left slightly dehydrated and disoriented. When he swayed on his feet, a shudder running through his whole body. But he still held onto me without any issue. His other hand I snatched, putting the Wuxi Finger Hold on him, pinkie held high and poised. That made him stop, his instincts warning him that he was in a dangerous position. His now lucid eyes turned back to me. And he only looked more impressed and pleased than discouraged. I spoke slowly and in a forced calm tone.
"I am not going anywhere with you. Put me down. Now."
He set me back on my feet and turned to put his back to the door that opened out into the warm summer night, eyes roving over the assembled wizards who were in various states of forced inaction. And all staring at him. He glanced back at me and shot me a wink.
"We'll talk soon, spitfire. Sweet dreams~"
Then he turned and sauntered up the street. I held out my arm with Morgana's help to clothesline Natsu to prevent him from lunging at the man's back. Happy hauling backwards on his vest was all that kept him from blowing right by me and attacking Bacchus. His hands had a heat haze gathered around them and sparks were glowing between his bared teeth. His eyes were dilated, ready to hunt in the darkness.
Predatory instinct to go for the kill once the enemy's back is turned.
It seemed Natsu had reached a breaking point between watching Lucy get beaten earlier and now this.
"Save it for the arena, Natsu. Actually, all of you save it for then."
"You cannot be serious, Fae!"
Freed seethed, still being restrained by Laxus, though the Lightning Dragon Slayer looked much more inclined to just...let go.
"Absolutely serious. He's Quatro Cereberus's reserve member that they're bringing in now that Warcry is out of commission."
Simon caught on first, his shoulder loosening as he raised his voice, touching lightly on the anger to draw that dark red wrath all into himself and store it.
"Everyone listen up." Every eye turned back to the young Guildmaster. "We're not letting this go. But nothing, and I mean nothing, happens about it tonight. Save it for the Games. And whoever gets the privilege of facing him in the arena? Put him in the dirt."
-vVv-
That had been a tense situation that had almost spiraled badly thanks to some overprotective figures. It could mean some tense rivalries sparking during Chariot today.
I almost want to tip the others off so Natsu and Gajeel don't volunteer. They're both probably raring to go after yesterday.
But that would bring me back to the dilemma of yesterday and potentially cheating. No, I'd leave this be and only give a warning to my team. It would be good to see how the older Dragon Slayers tackled a challenge they were unsuited for.
I was absorbed in my thoughts as I walked through the still quiet streets of Crocus. Some windows high up were open to the summer air, and I could hear the murmur of voices in several of them. Then I heard a cheerful, familiar child's voice and a shriek.
"Fae!"
"Ricky!"
Above! Featherfall!
Morgana was the one who flung the enchantment above my head, moving my hand with a swift gesture that was completed before I even processed the sounds. A giggling, blond child floated to the ground, arms outstretched towards me
It was Rickard, 'Ricky', heir apparent to Iceberg's throne. Victor's son and my godson. I reached out and caught him, feeling the weight altering enchantment dissipate as the danger passed. Ricky cheered and gave me a tight hug, all bony elbows and a sharp chin digging into my shoulder. I let him hug me for a minute before I pulled back and met his gaze, as serious as a heart attack.
"Ricky, that was very bad. You scared your mom and you could have gotten hurt. Come on."
Bands of amber runes wound around my legs in the classic Superman jump that carried me up to the open window the child had just tumbled out of.
Victor's wife, Evelyn made it to the window in record time, blue eyes wide and horrified, her long brown hair tousled from her mad dash to the window. Then it was like watching a marionette sag after the puppetry released it when she saw me with her child on my arm. She slumped over the sill with a soul deep sigh.
"Thank the Maker that it was you he saw, Fae."
"Fly, Fae, Fly!"
Ricky bounced in my arms, turning begging baby blues on me. I remained unaffected. I couldn't afford to spoil him with this. Not when he had either fallen due to carelessness or if he had purposely stepped out the window, confident that I would catch him.
"No, you are gonna go back to your mom and say sorry for scaring her."
I handed the squirming boy, who was now doing a fantastic impression of a clinging barnacle, back to his mother.
"No, we go fly!"
"No, young man. You are going in time out." The future Queen of Iceberg said firmly, her voice barely wavering even after her scare. "I know Fae was outside and you wanted to see her. But no jumping! If she didn't catch you, you would have been very badly hurt. That was wrong, Ricky."
His face screwed up on the verge of a childish tantrum, and he protested vehemently, but she marched him to a corner of the room and placed him facing it. I was used enough to this practice that I started the timer for her. He was to stand like this only for a few minutes. But to a child, it felt like eternity.
Evelyn was bound and determined to not raise a child that was spoiled rotten. She couldn't stop his grandparents from spoiling him but she did enforce rules and expectations rigidly. And she was drilling safety into him every chance she got. Which was crucial to a young child who grew up around magic and enjoyed its benefits without having any of their own to protect them. My sense of danger was warped beyond repair compared to the average person's sense of self preservation. Ricky had the wide eyed wonder of a child for magic without any of the reality checks that I'd gotten observing the negative sides of active magic in my youth in Fairy Tail.
Might need a refresher course on magical safety.
While the mother was occupied with her son, kneeling before him and speaking in a stern, low voice just for the two of them. I tiptoed over to the bassinet and glanced down at the baby girl inside. She was no longer swaddled like she had been when I had last seen her. So I guessed that meant she was figuring out how to roll over. Her hands were trapped in some tiny mittens to keep her sharp nails away from her skin. And, judging by the fact that her hair was coming in thick and brown just like her mother, I'd bet they were to keep her from pulling her own hair. I couldn't resist cooing at her.
"Hello Celes. It's been a while."
The large blue eyes of my namesake blinked up at me in the wide eyed, surprised look of an infant who didn't yet recognize me as a familiar presence. She was far more formed now than I'd last seen her, some days after her birth. She'd put on a healthy amount of weight and looked every inch a happy, healthy baby girl.
I tapped the mobile that was suspended over her head, black cats chasing silver foxes and blue birds in a loop, checking the enchantments on it. It moved easily and the baby gurgled, eyes fixing on the dangling toy. The protective runes on the gift warded against intrusion, harm and disease, as well as some to ward away bad dreams or presences. She was being raised in a former hotspot for ghosts, so I wanted her to be able to sleep without being disturbed. A gift for both her and her parents.
"She loves that thing. We couldn't get her to settle down the first night we were traveling and couldn't figure out why. Her nanny realized we'd left it and we had to send a messenger back to fetch it for us."
Evelyn told me, her son clinging to her neck as he sniffled his way through his punishment and scolding.
"I'm glad that she likes it. And while it is good to see you, Evelyn, I am somewhat surprised that you are all traveling as a family. Victor didn't mention you were coming during our lessons."
I was especially confused at their decision to travel with a baby who was still less than a year old. Saying this outright would have felt like criticizing the parenting choices of my friend and I didn't want to do that.
The young mother sighed, one hand drifting up to card gently through Ricky's hair.
"I don't think it was planned until you told him that your guild was going to be putting a team together for the games. He's hooked most of our magic users into coming along to observe you all in action. They were incredibly impressed by events thus far."
That was an aspect of the games that was underutilized I thought. The fact that you could see such a wide variety of skills showcased all at once. It did also help raise awareness for those whose magic altered them physically over time to see others with similar traits.
"I'm fairly certain I didn't mention that there would be multiple teams or that I was participating."
"I don't think you needed to. He's been wanting to visit Fiore even before you came into our lives."
"Mama...?"
Evelyn stepped away and placed her son on his feet and knelt to be at eye level with him.
"Ricky, you know why you were just in time out?" He nodded, eyes flitting everywhere but at his mother. "Tell me."
"Cause I went through the window to say hi to Fae."
"That's right. I don't want this to happen again, alright. If you see Fae out the window, you can call to her. But no taking a short cut just to try and fly with her for a little."
Ah a boy after my own heart.
I kept my expression neutral as Evelyn finished reinforcing the punishment for her son's reckless behavior, finishing with a tight hug and a murmur that she was glad he was unhurt. I let her have some privacy in that moment and turned my attention back to Celes. She was still staring at me with rapt attention, more exactly at my hair.
"Guess you don't see too much green hair in Iceberg. Makes sense."
I was not about to let her try and touch it. Not when she was still at an age where everything she was curious about went into her mouth first. I felt a small weight impact my legs and looked down at a blond child blinking watering eyes up at me, missing one of his teeth but the next one was already growing in.
"M'sorry Fae. I ask next time to go flying. Won't jump again."
I ruffled his flaxen hair before picking him up and letting him snuggle me in a tight koala-like hug.
"Thank you for apologizing, Ricky. We'll talk about flying with your Mom and dad."
I was shamelessly throw8]ing his parents into the role of being the deniers here. Because at this age, he wasn't in the right condition to fly. I wanted him to at least have enough core strength to not simply hang like dead weight in my grasp. And he was a healthy, strong child, not enough so as not to get hurt. So I'd placed that limit on his coming to fly with me and discussed it with his parents. No matter how much trust there was, taking a young boy flying was not without risk. There were already activities that could result in accidents. For example, How Ricky had lost his tooth.
Ice-skating in the catacombs under the Iceberg palace had gone wrong. Nothing major, just a little boy losing his balance and knocking out a baby tooth on a wall. I'd turned the once haunted area into a gathering place for the community, opening a large space with a smooth, perpetually frozen floor.
There was something petty and satisfying knowing that the place where a homicidal ghost had been lurking for hundreds of years was now a natural indoor ice rink frequented by the children of the palace and capitol. The joy and laughter of those who used the ice rink would help change the energy of that area for good and further lessen the likelihood of another return of the Decimation.
"I'd normally ask if you've been a good boy, but I think I already know the answer."
Evelyn smothered her chuckle, moving around the bassinet to pick up her baby. Celes' face broke into a smile as she recognized her mother and her wrapped hand came out to pat her cheek.
"Good morning, my love." She crooned, tapping her baby's nose with a gentle finger tip. "Let's go wake your father."
"He's not awake yet?"
I fell in step beside Evie, aware that one of Ricky's hands had wound into my hair where he was playing with it with obvious fascination.
"He observed the preliminary rounds with the Princess and her advisors, then stayed up quite late last night after the showing your teacher made with your handiwork. If I'm not mistaken, wagers were made about more of your tools being showcased."
I grimaced. Victor's perception was nothing to sneeze at, so he did have a knack for turning games of chance into calculations. Adding his passive ability of Darkness magic being Clairvoyance and he could make some astounding calls when making wagers on events like this. It had not become anything more than a neat party trick, but if he was making a wager...
He either intends to lose and get some rapport built. Or he intends to win and the stakes are something unique and beneficial.
The latter.
"I can't stay long, Evie, I've got to meet my team well before they announce the group competition."
"I'll see to it that you're on your way in time."
And when this woman made a promise to keep to a schedule, it happened. Her husband could get very enthused when talking about a subject he was passionate about and it was easy to lose track of time. Evie had a very precise internal clock that master watchmakers could set their wares by.
"Ricky, go with your Mom and wake Papa, ok? I'll wait in the sitting room."
As visiting royalty, they had gotten the entire upper level as a suite for themselves and their guests. Ricky did release me to scamper into his parents room, his mood already recovering from his scolding and ready for his next bout of mischief. I didn't have to wait long before I heard a muffled sound of pain.
Ricky jumped on the bed and landed on his father's stomach.
Ah children.
I bit back snickers at the innocent image as Victor's alarm settled into laughter as he groaned and flipped his son over his shoulder to say good morning to his wife and daughter.
I waited in the small sitting room, reviewing my totems to sort out those that were ready for use by others and ones that would need more revising before I trusted them with my friends. Just focusing on those with my team.
Erik and Kinana both participated yesterday, so they're not going to get tapped today. That leaves Wendy, myself and Kagura.
I won't worry about myself. I'll have my spellbook. But those two... Wendy would need a defense option in case she ever gets pinned down and can't dodge. Kagura needs a focus.
She had a bad habit of straining her weapons with her intense, potent magic. Her glaive had needed maintenance after her clash with Minerva during the preliminaries.
Lucky I have an option for her. Wendy will be the tough part. Dragon Slayer magic is resistant to change. It may have to be a single spell instead of a whole item.
"Fae, I'd hoped to be able to surprise you."
Victor emerged from his room with Ricky still slung over his shoulder, giggling the whole while. He bent slightly and I accepted and returned the familial greeting of cheek kisses. Then Ricky protested that he wanted to do so as well, so Victor obligingly held his son so he could place polite pecks on my cheeks.
"Well, you managed if not how you wanted to. When did you arrive?"
"Three days ago. This scamp has been running his Nan ragged without snow clothes to weigh him down."
"I'm not a scamp, I'm Ricky!"
We both chuckled at the expected distraction and Ricky latched onto my arm. Not for any reason that I could tell, just for something to hold onto.
"Is Cassie here too?"
"She had to stay in Iceberg with the rest of us coming here."
"You totally sacrificed her so your mother wouldn't pout with you taking her grandbabies away for a month."
This grown man gave a very boyish grin.
"Mother misses Cassie terribly during the school year and she can't tolerate the heat in Desier to visit her."
Yeah, I'm totally right.
Evelyn cleared her throat quietly, linking one hand into her husband's arm.
"Dear, Fae has someplace to be this morning for the day's events. Why don't we meet sometime tonight and catch up properly?"
Bless you Evie! Bless you!
Victor and his son wore matching frowns.
"She just got here, we've barely even said hello."
"No, no leave, stay for breakfast!"
Ricky's big blue eyes begging me to stay. And for all that Victor had a mature lavender hue in his eyes, his son had totally learned how to perform his puppy dog eyes from him.
"I was just taking a quick walk this morning. I'd be happy to meet and chat after the last match of the day."
I shot a desperate glance at Evie.
Back me up, girl, they're ganging up on me!
-vVv-
I agreed to meet Victor and his family in the evening and ended up skipping over some rooftops to land back at the inn before my team had to ship out for the colosseum. I had made my choice on what to offer up to Wendy for the remainder of the week's events. Kagura's item would take a few last minute tweaks before I felt secure putting it in her hands. Her loaned gift was irreplaceable and something of a work in progress.
I did give my team the name of the event. I was seeing large rolling platforms that would transverse a circuit. Everyone would pass the finish line eventually, but the challenge was to balance on the precarious footing while dodging enemy attacks. Falling off meant being disqualified.
"Is it falling off or touching the ground that gets you out of the game"
I checked that with Morgana and conveyed her findings.
"Touching the ground outside the course."
Wendy smiled at that, holding very still as Kinana carefully placed a final pin in her braided updo.
"Well if it's a race of some kind, then I should do it. Even if I'm not the fastest, it is really hard for someone to make me touch the ground if I don't want to."
The strand of earth tone threads that wrapped around a strand of her hair was showcased, a spot of unusual color in her navy locks. White for her status as a mage, orange for the healing skills, brown to signify adulthood in the tribe.
"I have no objection." I glanced at Kagura who nodded her approval as we. "Decided then. Good luck Wendy."
Taking an objective view, that means either Kagura or myself is on for the afternoon single battles.
And judging by the gleam in the Gravity Mage's eye, she had calculated that as well.
"Do you know what guilds are going to be pitted against each other?"
"Not yet. They use votes from the morning event, so I won't be able to tell how things shake out until Chariot's points are tallied."
-vVv-
Wendy had to tamp down a smile when Natsu and Gajeel were announced as Fairy Tail A and B's contenders for Chariot. She knew Fae did too. But hearing Sting's name get announced as Sabertooth's contender made the Rune Mage collapse with silent laughter. She could see why she was so entertained. Half of the racers would have a massive handicap if they didn't think of some way around their motion sickness.
Even her. As she grew older, the nausea she felt when she was moved by something else became more and more profound. She needed her Troia patches to even stand on a boat for a few minutes. But she had come prepared so she was certain she could make a good showing if not win if she played her cards right.
Wendy checked her pack of Troia stickers in her pocket as she walked down to the main arena with Gajeel and Natsu. It wouldn't buy her more than a few minutes of time without being queasy, but that was all that she needed. She might not be able to use her healing magic directly on herself. But she could use Runes, with a lot of tutoring from Fae, and get around that gap in her skills.
What wins this game isn't going to be strength. It's going to be who can get and keep the lead. It seems stupid to have a race where three teams cannot compete.
She wasn't looking at Bacchus Groh. Deliberately. Her irritation at the man's disrespect towards her friend the night before would cloud her mind and interfere with her ability to fly. Sky Magic required a steady hand on her magic and her emotions. Anger brought in too much of the biting, slicing winds and not enough of the uplifting steady air currents she used to get airborne. And that was the only way she would be able to do anything at all.
"You're gonna be sicker than a dog the whole time."
"Oh like you'll do any better you overgrown fridge magnet."
She dropped back to where Gajeel and Natsu were flanking her. If Fae could hand out weapons and spells of her making like candy as she was intending, then she could give a few spell stickers.
"I can do something about that." She kept her voice low and soft, feeling both the taller Dragon Slayers look at her. The roll of stickers were pulled from her pocket and she quickly placed them on the sides of their necks. "These hold my Troia spell."
"The spell you used to stop my motion sickness."
Natsu remembered the spell. How surprising
She had only used it one time on him. Gajeel's face looked constipated.
"You're pulling Fae's stunt from yesterday and giving handouts."
She gave a small smile.
"And today. She hasn't told me everything but she's got plans to share some more stuff."
The Iron Slayer huffed in response, conveying his usual grouchiness.
"You could shot yourself in the foot with this."
"He's right, Wendy. We're your opponents for this round."
Natsu was in a rare serious mood. The leader of their small pack of First Generation Dragon Slayers. She drew up her fierce stubbornness and met his gaze without wavering. They were her family to protect as much as she was theirs. That meant she would do what she saw fit.
"Opponent does not equal enemy. This is a game, not a battle. You won't be able to do your best if you can barely stay upright." She tilted her head slightly, a playful lilt entering her voice as she regarded them. "It won't mean as much to leave you in the dust if that were the case."
It was not her entire drive to do this. Wendy did just want to help her guildmates enjoy the competition with everyone. But phrasing it like this would ease any stinging pride and turn it into a friendly competition between them. The Iron Dragon Slayers sharp toothed grin proclaimed he was reading her intention. And he approved. But Natsu was still level and serious. He hadn't decided yet.
A long moment later, Natsu reached out and gave her hair a rough pat.
"If that's what you want, then we'll follow through."
Despite the heavy handed touch, his fingers barely brushed her braid, obviously respecting that it was important. And any flyaways were carefully smoothed back in place with a soft gesture. She couldn't deny the flutter of happiness the contact sparked or hold back the smile at the first other Dragon Slayer she had met.
Without an author as a best friend, the feeling might have gone unnamed. But Fae had identified it as dragon social behavior. Most creatures that lived in groups with a familial structure had behaviors that were meant for bonding with one another. Grooming. An expression of care. Likely entirely unconscious on Natsu's part, as strongly instinct driven as he could be for those he cared about. Or to use human terms: her love language definitely included physical touch when it came to her loved ones.
Gajeel watched the two of them with his usual scowl, but he fell in on Natsu's left side as they entered the arena together. Wendy slid into place on his right in a formation that felt...right. They walked in together.
Bacchus Groh was Quatro Cerberus's contender for Chariot. Already waiting. And she could smell the wafting of perfume that signaled Ichiya of Blue Pegasus was approaching as well. And across the arena she thought she saw Yuka, Lyon's friend from Lamia Scale. The eyebrows were distinct even at this distance. The Emcee of the game was reviewing rules as well as introducing all contestants.
The race track would be laid out through a projected replica of Crocus. And there would be a continuous line of rolling platforms that would continually be moving towards the exit. You could race on the ground, but then you wouldn't have the benefit, however small, of the course moving you towards the goal line. It likely was the organizers way if ensuring the race kept moving in the right direction instead of getting bogged down in a brawl half way through. The points would be distributed the same as in Hidden. First place would get ten, second through fourth would get eight, six and four respectively. Fifth through last, would get three to one in descending order.
We have 13 points. And our team is second to Sabertooth in the rankings.
Wendy heard the name and saw Sting entering the arena at the same time.
Sting can fly with his light repulsors. And he can use those to fight too. He could be tough competition assuming he can keep his head together enough to get a start.
And Sabertooth was the person to overtake right now. She sensed more than saw Gajeel's shoulders turn slightly towards an unseen figure. She followed his gaze to Kurohebi, the Black Snake of Raven Tail who was eyeing them all with a dead eyed smile. Their gazes met and Wendy felt a thrill of warning. A bird had caught the eye of a snake. Gajeel shifted and placed himself between them, his look promising pain. Kurohebi looked away first.
Another person to watch out for.
In the line up, she was separated from her guildmates. Contestants were staggered in four rows, two a piece, last to first place. So she was way in the back with Sting. He gave her a nod and a grin.
"How's it going?"
She met his grin with an answering smile.
"I'm ready to go. You?"
His gaze dropped to the sticker on her neck. And Sting definitely recognized that. She had given both him and Rogue their own packs of Troia stickers to make the long train rides to visit them more bearable.
"I'm ready to hold our lead."
"Don't count on it."
She could smell wood in the air. But she doubted that Sting had caught it yet. Since scent relied on the air currents anyway, she had concluded that she had a more discerning palate for this than the White or Shadow Dragon Slayer that relied on light and shadows for their boosts. It was an overcast morning, so Sting wouldn't be getting his usual top off from the sun. But that source of the scent led her to conclude that there wouldn't be a choice about getting onto the chariots. They would bring them up right underneath their feet.
The ground began to tremble as the race was called. Her stomach lurched once before Troia kicked in and helped to steady her sense of balance. She inhaled and brought her arms down, building a cocoon of winds around her to help carry her. This would take the longest.
"Racers! On your marks, get set! Aaaaaaand Go!"
Wendy hurriedly jumped over the blue spirals of magic as Yuka from Lamia Scale proclaimed 'Wave Boost' and sent neutralizing Wave Magic spiraling behind him. It also sent him rocketing forward, taking an early lead. Bacchus sent a hasty elbow at Natsu that knocked him back into Gajeel. Right on time for Ichiya to spray something at the Iron Slayer's face, this catching both of them. He then dosed himself with another of his concoctions that boosted his speed enough to allow him to rapidly catch up to Yuka.
Sting caught the tail end of the Wave Boost, but it was much weaker than normal. It did prevent him from getting enough power to lift off. Wendy didn't have as much time to worry about him though. Yuka's magic canceling Wave Magic would send her plummeting into a painful fall if she got clipped by it, and the closer she flew to the front, the more compact it became.
"It looks like Natsu and Gajeel are both struggling through whatever Blue Pegasus's Ichiya targeted them with. In a bizarre twist, all of the Dragon Slayers are lagging behind in the second half of the contenders."
Another sense Wendy had the advantage over her fellows due to her element
Hearing. Of the Dragon Slayers only Erik had better ears than she did. And she could hear laughter and jeers from the crowd. And that burned. The useful senses they enjoyed were now hindering their forward progress. Wendy altered her trajectory, going down instead of forward, weaving around errant strands of Wave Magic and aiming for the lingering cloud of Ichiya's perfume around her friends.
A lesson she had learned about Sky Magic and her ability in it. Waiting for air to be pure didn't get her very far. But there was nothing but a roiling stomach between her and purifying it herself. And she still had Troia's protection. The strong scent of Ichya's Parfum would be uncomfortable to process in the air but it wouldn't disable her. Far from it. If she managed to choke it down, she could even turn the lingering magic into a boost.
And it will get Gajeel and Natsu out of a bind.
She snagged the scented cloud from around them with her wind bubble, drawing it around herself and away from them, inhaling deeply.
Her head throbbed at the intensity of that much concentrated Parfums. But the power already was filling her system as her Dragon Slayer magic started to process it
Up ahead in a tight tangle of magic and limbs, there came a mighty crack as Bacchus destroyed several of the carts they were running on with on stomp. Yuka and Ichiya went up into the air alongside splinters, rubble and twisted metal. Kurohebi managed to skip out of the danger zone with incredible agility.
Hands grabbed her shoulders, bringing her focus back to them.
"Stupid girl." Gajeel grumbled on her one side. "You could already have crossed the line if you'd just kept flying."
Uh, no I could not have genius. Maybe reached 3rd, but not the finish line. She didn't focus on that. She lifted her chin and glared back at him instead.
"I don't let anyone make a fool of my friends."
The spell that had made the Sky Labyrinth safe and easy for them to navigate was not present here. And in her opinion, having it in one event while seeing to it that it did not affect the other made no reasonable sense.
"Fine. You can do what you want." Natsu's hands were warming rapidly, the air gaining heat and becoming more lively. "But what we want you to do is win this thing!"
Fire bloomed around her further infusing the air with power and intensifying the scent and magic of Ichiya's lingering Parfums. Feathers bloomed from Wendy's ankles and wrists. Gajeel knelt, got his hands under feet. Wendy read what he intended and hurried to spin her magic into a conical shield that would let her slip through the air more easily
"Iron Dragon Club!"
A beam of metal punched out from Gajeel's arm and carried Wendy with it in a rush of speed. The superheated winds came in behind her and Wendy caught them with her small wings to shape them and she screamed through the air towards the fast moving conflict. She'd be heading right through the center of it, but she fortunately had something to protect herself. She spun as she flew, reaching for her borrowed spell.
"Naryu's Love."
A shield made of air and crystal appeared around her with a ringing sound as Wendy shot through the hazardous airspace above the fighting wizards. Stray magic, rubble, a lash of sand from Kurohebi, it all simply bounced off the shield. Somd offhanded attempts to grab it were likewise repelled. Wendy jumped from fifth place to competing for first with Bacchus, who was running for all he was worth. And she was rapidly catching up. She didn't hear the bell, the shield muffled a lot of sound, but she passed the finish line almost neck and neck with the Quatro Cerberus wizard. She shattered the shield before it could hit anyone else, dispersing her winds to make her land lightly and instantly turning back towards the racers.
"I'll get you back for this!"
She called in promise to her Fairy Tail competition, uncaring whether they could hear her or not.
"I thought your teams weren't supposed to help each other."
Bacchus asked, squinting down the race track as a sour-faced Kurohebi crossed the finish line in third place. Her reply was rueful.
"There's a reason we're lucky that Natsu and Gajeel fight as much as they do. No one can stop them when they both decide they want the same thing."
Sting had managed to get just enough altitude to take the edge off his motion sickness, light magic streaming from his palms and feet. Natsu and Gajeel were running, the smaller, lighter Fairy Tail wizard pulling ahead steadily as Gajeel's metallic frame slowed him down.
Troia would only last them a few minutes. But it was enough to run the race fully. They didn't throw spells at each other, focusing instead on yelling. As something of an expert on wind, Wendy thought it more impressive that they could run that fast whole shouting at that volume. She went back to the line to wait for them, ready to give them a hug and then a piece of her mind for their stunt. They had all agreed to give it their all during competitions like this and it didn't sit right with her that they'd killed their own chances of pulling ahead to throw her ahead of them.
And what does that say about what you did?
The little voice in her head that sounded like her friends combined called her out on the hypocrisy.
That's different. I could use what they were trapped in for myself. And sharing items doesn't count against anything.
Yuka and Ichiya pushed themselves and managed to come in inches ahead of Natsu. Gajeel followed a beat later and then Sting. It seemed the time he had needed to fight through the Magic Cancellation Wave had cost him. He couldn't have taken more than a single step without collapsing with dizziness and a rebelling stomach.
Wendy had a lot she wanted to say to her guildmates, but Chapiti the Emcee was being projected live over the screens, his face split into a wide grin. And wearing a completely different wig from the day before.
"And that's the race folks! We've had to look at our vision lacrima on the finish line to determine our winner and talk about a photo finish!"
The image shown was of Wendy in her crystal shaped bullet coming in beside Bacchus. Her fingers were extended over her head in the shot, the peak of her crystal extending over the line as Bacchus's foot came down.
"As your judges we've reviewed the rules and determined the first place winner of Chariot is Quatro Cerberus with Fairy Tail C's Wendy Marvel in a close second!"
Wendy had to plug her ears as the large man behind her whooped for his victory, so she didn't hear the rest of the announced winners.
Raven Tail took third, Lamia Scale Fourth, Blue Pegasus Fifth, with Natsu, Gajeel and Sting bringing up the rear.
The scores were updated and displayed and Wendy felt her heart lift with triumph.
Fairy Tail C: 21
Sabertooth: 20
Raven Tail: 16
Lamia Scale: 15
Blue Pegasus: 11
Quatro Cerberus: 11
Fairy Tail B: 9
Fairy Tail A: 6
They were in the lead.
Her team was in the lead.
Possibly at the expense of their other teams. It was a single fly in the ointment and for her, it was a major one. She'd given them Troia so they would be able to run fully and participate fully, not so they would feel obligated to help her when she already had a plan. She started for them as Chapati reached the end of the list. And then she heard it.
Jeers and laughter.
Feathers flared out of her wrists as her rage flared crimson, scanning the crowd for those who dared mock her family for sacrificing to help her. She hadn't wanted it, and had not asked for it. But they had done it and there was no changing that. So why was it worthy of ridicule?
A floating lacrima hovered before her, about the size of a marble, a squawky, distorted voice emitting from it. She couldn't tell if it was a man or a woman who was speaking.
"Dr Marvell! Would you like to comment on the other Fairy Tail team's performance?"
Wendy stared at it, feeling her anger deflate like a balloon and leaving only bitter sadness. She didn't recognize the voice, but there were ways to alter how one sounded. So there was the chance, however small, that this was someone she knew. And if it was someone she knew, they wouldn't hesitate to come talk to her directly. So this likely was someone trying to tear at their guild from the inside by pitting their teams against each other. It seemed that they could not do anything just for fun any more. It all had to be a big thing. She resisted the urge to swat the lacrima like an irate cat and send it flying into a hard wall.
The Sky Dragon Slayer instead grasped it firmly and moved to the side where one of the security officers, a Rune Knight in a lighter uniform than the usual tabard and cloak. He was still a full story up, but could easily see what she held.
"It seems a paparazzi managed to sneak a drone lacrima inside the coliseum."
"Yes ma'am. Please keep hold of it, I'll be right down."
He vanished from sight and Wendy was left holding the lacrima, pointedly ignoring every word that came out of it. Her focus was broken by Natsu's voice booming out over the dying taunts of the crowd and the drone of the probing questions of the speaker who was piloting the lacrima. He was still close enough to the race track to have his voice registered by the lacrima they had there to capture all the action. And true to Natsu, he sounded furious.
Facing Kurohebi, who had apparently slid over to throw some barbed remarks his way, Natsu stood, Gajeel at his back, and let the man have it.
"We're not here for us. We're here for them!"
He pointed upright as a short clip of Fairy Tail's teams was shown. The moment after the preliminaries where we all mingled together to walk home. All in obviously high spirits. The crowd fell silent, and Wendy remained fixed on Natsu. She couldn't look away. No one could. Kurohebi seemed taken aback, but Natsu didn't let him start talking again. He only shifted his stance slightly, but the Black Snake took a step back without seeming to notice that he did so. The Fire Dragon Slayer wasn't done though as tremors of emotion entered his voice.
"They could have written us off as dead. It would have been a lot easier for them if they did. But no matter what came at them, no matter how much it hurt or what it cost: they kept our guild alive. We still had a home to come back to because of them."
No one seemed to breathe as Natsu's voice resonated in the arena. Wendy knew she couldn't breathe right now. And then, all the shaking seemed to vanish from his tone, it sounded almost frank. His hand was on his neck, peeling off the spent Troia sticker. He crumpled it in his hand as he finished.
"We can't ever repay that."
Natsu...
His seriousness burned away into a grin that seemed to display all of his teeth in a bright grin.
"They had to be careful for years. Always holding back, hiding what they can really do, but afraid every day that they weren't doing enough. But we're here to wipe that notion away. So many of our guild wouldn't be here without their sacrifice. So yeah, I'll score badly in a game so they can get a win after we lost each other for so long."
Natsu set the sticker in his palm alight with a flick of his fingers, embers drifting around him.
There was a pause of three heartbeats. Then there were a few scattered claps. Like drops of water on dry ground. Those drops built into a scattering. Some people rose to their feet. Then it seemed, in a torrential wave, everyone was standing and applause rang out like thunder, filling the arena, bouncing off of every wall.
Wendy came back to herself, standing not too far away from the wall of the arena. The lacrima that had sneakily tried to grab a statement from her for some reporter was still in her hand, vibrating gently against her palm. She glanced down at her closed palm.
No fear or worry.
It sounds like a dream.
But for that instant, Wendy decided to believe. And that was what made her roll the lacrima into her fingers. And she made up her mind.
"No comment. And since you're not supposed to be here in the first place, come and find me if you take issue with this."
She smashed the lacrima into the wall, the dust of the solidified ethernano crumbling like sand on her palm.
Tomorrow will come soon enough and we'll have new problems to deal with.
Looming in her future was a clash with more wizards, with whoever had the nerve to try and stalk her friends through mirrors, and ultimately Acnologia. Though she didn't know how near or far that draconic encounter would be. But she knew this much: letting those problems change what Natsu and Gajeel did for her today into something negative was giving them too much power.
For today, I'll dream again.
Buoyed by the applause, Wendy ran to her friends, jumping on a whim and letting Gajeel catch her. He barely grunted or swayed but he still gave her a hard stare.
"Watch it kid."
"No." She told him, smiling smugly, head tilting as she glanced at them both. "My team is in the lead. I'm celebrating that. You gave us this."
Gajeel set her down but she wasn't done yet. Leaning in, and baring her teeth in a grin.
"So if you want to avoid Makarov's penalty round you better stop handing out points and bring your A-game."
Both of them froze.
"Master's thought up a penalty? You serious?"
"That conveying old man isn't even the guild master anymore! What does he get out of this?"
Wendy chuckled, shrugging and turning to leave the coliseum floor.
"No idea. But whatever he had planned made Fae book herself solid for two weeks to avoid it, just as a precaution."
And with the seed of mischief planted, Wendy studiously ignored any other questions they threw at her. And when they reached the rest of their guild, she honestly forgot she had even riled them up like that. At least until Natsu went at Makarov full tilt demanding to know what he was plotting for them to suffer through.
Fae stood aloof from the crowd after giving the three of them their congratulations, gazing into the distance. Likely parsing out some new information. Whatever she saw amused her heartily. She turned back after a moment and gave a shrill whistle that sliced through their noise.
"They're announcing the matchups for the afternoon."