The stage for the magic contestants was still in the arena itself but was a fancy raised platform, propped up by a Sand Wizard's magic to create powerful pillars that allowed the platform to sit at the eye level of people high up in the stadium. Few wizards were thrown off by the height, as those there had to survive a jump and fall from a much greater height during the preliminary rounds.

Gray was to go first of the Fairies, and then Elfman, followed by Erza, and Lucy rounded them out. Erza's hand twitched while she continued to consider her strategy that would both satisfy the likely-stingy judges and not blow her cover.

Requip magic wasn't the rarest form in the world, but Erza had armors she liked to cycle through commonly. They'd stand out. Some were quite specific to her persona, like her Armadura Fairy or her Heaven's Wheel Armor.

She let her hand rest on her sword resting on her hip.

Her name in the contest was Kaitlin Willow, based on the Knightwalker moniker. It was time she lived up to that, she figured and prayed it would be enough.

Gray was not just the first to arrive on stage for Fairy Tail but for the entire contest. He showed no sign of nerves and maintained a level attitude as he went forth and put on a brilliant display, dazzling the crowd with his ability to manipulate ice in all forms. Best of all, he didn't relent in using his Ice-Make magic.

In a way, Erza felt bad for him. Ice-Make was his instinct, it was his home. The form of Ice-Make magic he learned from Ur was so entirely his own, so unique in style, that to tell him to pull it back to mere Ice Magic went against his pride. Yet, Gray's pride didn't lie entirely in his magic, Erza knew. It was in his friends, in the value he had for their safety and protection. Thus, he did his absolute best and received high marks for it.

Elfman went not long after, ready to go out and,

"Show them how a real man can perform!"

His first Beast Soul transformation was a standard one, the large red one with a red chest and horns whose roars reverberated around the entire arena. Erza wanted to smile at the powerful display, but the haunted looks on the crowd informed her enough: the Empire had more than enough Takeover wizards in their employ.

Elfman changed strategy, then, quickly transforming into his Belcusas Form that was far more resplendent with its incredible armor, a set that almost seemed a more heroic version of what the Imperials wore. Elfman, just as he displayed a feat of strength in the armor, quickly transformed once more into a complete Lizardman Takeover.

Erza raised her eye. He had to be tapping into his Second Origin for some of these, and the speed and control with which he moved through them was absolutely incredible. If the judges knew Elfman's history with Full-Body Takeover magic, they'd give him the highest marks.

As it stood, as Elfman showed yet one more, the judges gave him marks slightly lower than Gray, yet still in the top-end. One judge, who appeared in a more militaristic uniform, indeed gave Elfman a perfect score.

Erza, who stood in the lobby alongside Lucy as they watched the event and waited for their turn, nodded in understanding about why they didn't have a battle Royale between all contestants.

Some magic wasn't meant for fighting. Their old friend Warren was not one who could be great in a fight, necessarily, but was a vital tactical asset. Gray's magic could be used for combat but he didn't receive great marks from the military man, but an official who was older, seemed to be living a more luxurious life. He'd be great at parties.

The magic contest weeded out useful tools for the Empire. Elfman could be recruited to the military. Erza, too, in all likelihood. But Gray and Lucy? They'd be great party tricks.

The battle royale, especially given that they had one of their own powerful military Generals in there, was the true recruitment test for combat. The only reason some of the more strictly performative wizards, like Lucy once they would see her Silver Key spirits, were sent to the final round to fight was out of the traditional spirit of the old Grand Magic Games. Otherwise, they'd be found by an Imperial recruiter.

Erza shifted where she stood. Then again, all of that could be conjecture on her part. But given the sharp eye the judges had, given the personnel all keeping their eye on the wizards and not so much the crowd…

She'd gotten so lost in thought that Lucy had to nudge her back to the lobby, where Erza realized a games official was calling for Kaitlin Willow. Erza nodded to Lucy and headed out of the tunnel. She touched a lacrima at the tunnel entrance, then vanished and reappeared on the platform all by herself.

The crowd silenced in anticipation of Erza's display. She brandished her blade, its metal glistening in the brilliant sunlight.

"Requip," she said, and with a swing held a lance that arced with golden-red light. She twirled the spear with ease, creating a pattern in the air before she changed her weapon again to twin swords that sparkled with the light of the distance moon, yet in the sun shone a refractive light all around, like great searchlights.

Each Requip had its own potency in battle, clear enough to see with the sheer expertise with which Erza handled the weapons.

She easily moved through the weapons. After all, she was only summoning enough magic to need the swords and weapons, not full sets of armor. Erza Knightwalker had shown her that even such a minute change could cast a large impact, and each time she felt she reached the fringe of the weapon's interest in the judges, she changed.

Erza moved through dozens of weapons in her arsenal. If her theory that the judges wanted to watch her for purposes of utilization was correct then this would certainly wow them.

When at last she flourished her final blade, Erza slid her basic sword into its scabbard and did a slight bow to the judges.

Imperfect marks. But a round of applause from the audience. It was enough to impress the Empire and get her one step closer to Crocus.

And helping Frosch free Lector.

Yukino approached the window of her suite as the Celestial Spirit Wizard, Ashley, emerged on stage. Yukino fiddled with the Capricorn key in her hand while Ashley used one of her Silver Keys to summon a Spirit.

She'd been unsuccessful in summoning Capricorn. Celestial Spirit contracts were hard to break. It was also impossible to get the word out of Capricorn as to the nature of his master's strength, whether or not she hid more of it away or not. Libra and Pisces had done their best to try and speak with Capricorn in the Celestial Spirit World but he was tight-lipped about it.

Ashley put on a fine if pathetic display of magic, considering how she was capable of wielding one of the Zodiac keys. Yukino placed the Capricorn key to her lips.

"Libra," Yukino said, and Libra manifested into being next to her. "This woman. She is not what she appears to be, is she?"

"I don't believe so," Libra said, voice calm as ever. The Spirit seemed more distant, off-put, since Yukino asked her to interrogate Capricorn as if it were a betrayal.

"We need to discover if she has further Zodiac keys," Yukino said.

"Will you kill her?"

"I wasn't sent here to do that."

"Yet you have shown far more interest in her than your true mission," Libra said.

Yukino moved the key away from her lips. Ashley performed a simple double summon of a harpist and a clock, dancing along to a soothing tune that struck the hard walls surrounding Yukino's heart.

"She is a Celestial Spirit Wizard, of course I'd be interested."

Libra nodded but did not fade away. She only stuck around if she had something to say, yet Libra did not wish to speak, clearly. Yukino would have to usher her into doing so.

"Do you believe I wish to kill her?"

"I believe you would take her keys and claim her spirits otherwise," Libra said. "Given that you have not returned the Key of the Goat."

"I can't trust this one," Yukino said. "What if she is a spy or a rebel?"

"She's courting the Diamond Dragon Slayer," Libra said.

"It doesn't rule her out as a spy."

"Yet it keeps her close enough that, should she be an enemy, you could deal with her. Do you fear her power, then?"

"No," Yukino said, snapping a glare at Libra. "I am the most powerful Celestial Spirit Wizard in the world, Libra, and only with three of the Zodiac keys. I'd give these to Sorano."

Libra raised her head, a flash of frustration appearing. "So she may abuse them as she did Gemini and Aries?"

Yukino set her jaw, and with a swipe of her hand, forcibly closed Libra's gate.

However, she could not find an argument there. Sorano enjoyed tormenting the men and women in her life, save for Yukino, simply to get off on the pleasure she derived from it. Celestial Spirits would suffer no greater fate than humans. So, why did Yukino wish to give the keys to Sorano?

For redemption? Please…

Please, Sorano.

Yukino wrapped a tight fist around the Capricorn key that once belonged to the woman who had just earned high marks in the contest. A pathetic little Celestial Spirit Wizard too afraid to use any of her Zodiac Keys, as if she knew someone was watching.

As if she knew someone would have their eye out for it. Yukino leered.

With a flick of her hand, she summoned Libra again.

"I apologize for my earlier actions," Yukino said, a look of surprise dawning over Libra. "I was acting out of turn, and was disrespectful."

"What is it you summoned me for?" Libra asked.

"I'd like for you to travel to my sister," Yukino said. "To discover the truth of this woman's identity. We can have a sketch of her done up. Sorano was once a hunter of other Celestial Spirit Wizards, and I'm certain she encountered her in the past or would have, at least, perhaps had her in her sights."

Libra nodded, then, before going, Yukino reached out a hand to grab Libra's wrist.

"I will not allow harm to come to her beyond the purview of the Games," Yukino said. "This is simply a curiosity of mine."

Once more, Libra nodded, then vanished of her own volition. Yukino returned her attention to whatever wizard was next in the Games. She almost placed Capricorn's key on her belt with her own, then, stopped, and had a servant summoned to bring it to their weapons cache.

It was useless to Yukino, anyway.

Natsu and Happy waited for Erza to let them out the door, quite a few minutes after Lucy and that Diamond Dragon Slayer went out on the town again. Natsu just didn't understand why Lucy couldn't tell the guy no.

Yeah, yeah, something about getting information out of him, but couldn't they just do that from some other guy who wasn't a total creep?

He and Happy were off on their own, anyway. Happy begrudged that he couldn't fly anywhere outside of their hotel, but Natsu enjoyed having the little cat rest on his head and shoulders. The last time Lucy went on one of her dates, it'd been he, Happy, and Elfman, and it'd been incredibly difficult not to start up fights with a bunch of the other wizards. With just Happy, it'd be, theoretically, easier to ignore that call.

The two stopped for a nice dinner at a popup stand that was serving surf and turf food, so both Natsu and Happy could enjoy. They had some leftover change from helping around the hotel since the guild wizards had done such a good job outside of their efforts in the Games at keeping the place all nice and tidy (a strategy created by Erza that kept Natsu, Gajeel, Gray, and Elfman away from one another).

Natsu eased back against a wall as he and Happy sat along a side street. He considered what was to come for the tournament: a chance to fight everyone. They didn't know what the brackets were going to be until the next morning when they'd all arrived in the lobby. Maybe it was going to be Gajeel, or Gray, or even Erza! He could run the whole Fairy Tail gambit if he got lucky, or maybe he'd get to punch that Axel guy straight in the face.

Happy took his time with his fish and the two cracked jokes to one another the entire meal. They didn't keep their voices down, and only a few soldiers passed them with curious looks. But nobody really made anything of the two. They just didn't care. Maybe a tough guy would try to start something. Natsu almost hoped they would, but, then Erza would be mad at him, and he did not want that on his plate.

He eased back on the wall as Happy bit the fish down to a skeleton, slumping against his friend.

"Can't believe Gramps and the other old guys used to come out here all the time," Natsu said. "Thought we'd never have the chance. Do you think they actually did anything, or did they just vacation out here and call it work?"

"Definitely just a vacation," Happy said. He almost sat up, then moved to all fours. "I wonder what it was really like before it became basically a place for a tournament."

"Probably more of an actual town," Natsu said.

Sure, there was some urban life in town, but the size of the arena dwarfed most other life. Everything was in the shadow of the arena, it reminded you of why the town was so different everywhere one looked.

"Come on," Natsu said, offering his arm to Happy. "Let's see some sights."

Erza sent them off as if to keep an eye on Lucy, but she asked Natsu and Happy to wander. Just to stay out of trouble, but, knowing that they'd stray from the path, gave no real direction.

There was a small fountain, one that Natsu recognized from another town, not far from there. Some people were gathered around the fountain, sitting on it in silent conversation while whatever was left of daylight whittled away. Curfew was coming up, after all. What a stupid thing curfew was.

It was a pretty lifeless place. It was as if they'd walked into a library. Lucy and Levy were probably into that sort of thing. There was only a slight buzz around because of the Grand Magic Games, but, that was only around for a few days. Natsu couldn't imagine how dreadfully boring the town was without it year-round.

"Maybe tomorrow we'd have a chance to go out of town for a bit tomorrow," Natsu said. "Maybe even go to Bosco."

"That's pretty far away, right?"

"Not too far, I think. Besides, if we do that, you can fly around!"

"Oh! Aye, sir!"

Happy sat on Natsu's capped head while they turned another corner around town, entering a smaller alleyway. It was pretty much empty, not much of a surprise. Natsu and Happy giddily walked down it, as Natsu was pretty sure he saw something else down in that direction.

They reached an intersection and he was right! A statue was in town, and a bunch of people were gathered around it, picking through a small pool that was around the fountain.

Beggars, it looked like, trying to get at any coin they could find that people left at the statue. It was hard to see who the statue was made for, particularly since shadows loomed pretty long over it. Natsu stepped closer to get a better look at the statue when three soldiers came into view, slamming into the beggars with unnecessary force and laughter.

They called the beggars names, kicked them, and dropped coins over them before shoving them away. The soldiers used the butts of their weapons to batter the beggars. One swung hard at one, a kid.

"Hey," Natsu said, catching the weapon with ease. "Cut it out. What'd they do to you?"

"Who are you?" the soldier growled.

"Who are you?" Natsu asked. "Why don't you leave them alone?"

The soldier tried to pry the weapon free from Natsu but only regained control of it when Natsu relinquished his grip. The beggars all scuttled away and behind Natsu. The other soldiers flipped their weapons around.

"Shouldn't have done that," the soldier said. "I'd consider it acting unlawfully, wouldn't you, men?"

"I would," another said. "Acting against the Emperor's will is a grave offense."

"Very grave!" the first soldier shouted before plunging his weapon at Natsu.

Natsu slapped it aside and punched the soldier in the helmet, jarring him, and then spun around with a flaming elbow to catch another in the side before blasting another away with a fireball from his mouth.

The three scattered. Happy sighed.

"Yeah," the Exceed said. "It was bound to happen."

The soldiers scrambled to their feet, getting their weapons again.

"Hey now," a voice called from the Main Street not too far away. "What's all this?"

Natsu smelled Lucy nearby but didn't see her. Another scent came through as it approached, and he saw the bearer of such scent approaching: Axel.

"They were beating up on some helpless people," Natsu said. "I asked them what was up with that."

"He attacked us, sir," the soldier said, but Axel waved him off.

"I'm sure it was some beggars, we get them around the time of the Games," Axel said. "Let it go…oh, you're that Bora guy, right? Ashley's friend. You almost got smoked at the games earlier."

"Smoked? By what, that big guy?"

Axel sneered. "Oh yeah. He's one you and your friends wouldn't want to run into at the Games. He's a known rebel, after all."

"I wonder who it was," Happy muttered.

"I'd get out of here before this gets messy," Axel said. "Attacking soldiers is a crime punishable by death under the right circumstances. You're lucky you're a friend of my date, and that we can settle business like this in more official capacities."

"If you're looking for a fight," Natsu said, "I don't need an arena."

"Oh you are all fired up," Axel said. "Keep that flame, Bora, and we'll see how it holds up against diamond."

Axel flicked his wrist and with a salute the soldiers filed into quick formation and then stomped out of there. Natsu thought he smelled yet two more Dragon Slayers, but with a search, he didn't find anything.

"Come on, Happy," he said as Lucy's scent got away, mixing with Axel's. His stomach roiled.

Sting leaned against a chimney from one of the houses, watching as the guards, Axel, and that other guy with flaming fists walked away. He had a weird cat on his head, too. Looked like an Exceed, but, that couldn't be. Frosch and Lector were the only ones left alive.

Good for Axel, though, Sting thought. He spotted the emergency and with just his presence he managed to quell it. The guy would have no problem not only winning the Games but also with killing Jiemma.

Plus, it was good to see these other Second Generation Dragon Slayers taking action, stepping up in service of the Dragon Division to show who ruled the roost around the Grand Magic Games. Sting felt no need to intervene regarding, well, much of anything if Axel was to continue acting like this.

He unfolded his arms, but stopped, sniffing out another alley that approached by descending from a rooftop slightly higher.

"Didn't think you were also invited to all this," Sting said.

The new arrival, Kiyl the Sea King Dragon Slayer, nodded to his Captain. He had a dark blue cloak on, as usual, with hair pulled back greasily to expose his pale face. He wore naught but pants beneath his open cloak, revealing a firm, musculature physique. Green flares lined his hair and outfit.

"I was on assignment in the area wiping out a rebel supply chain," Kiyl said. "I wanted to stop by when I heard there were new contestants. I'm glad I did."

Kiyl pointed to the guy that Axel confronted as he walked away.

"That's Natsu Dragneel."

Sting's smile immediately dropped and his heart sank. "What?"

Kiyl was a tad older than Sting and likely had a better memory of the days before Fairy Tail, including Natsu, vanished. But Sting knew Natsu; or, at least, looked up to him, from quite a young age, too. He was the most famous Dragon Slayer in the world. When he died, Sting and Rogue ascended that throne.

And he did die. Sting had been assured, countless times, that the Emperor would not simply let Natsu vanish. Something about a connection they had or something.

"You're mistaken," Sting said, waving Kiyl off. "So, what, you showed up here to mess with me? Get outta here, Kiyl. Check your vision."

Kiyl said nothing while Sting shoulders by him. Natsu. Here? Back from the dead? Yeah, right.

Yet, the entire walk home, all Sting could think about was that cat on Natsu's head. That looked just like an Exceed.

"Hey!" Lucy exclaimed while Axel gleefully strolled down the street. She finally stopped them before an intersection. "I've been talking to you. Are you just going to ignore me? I know the way home."

"What?" Axel asked. "What's the matter."

"Those soldiers were beating up innocent civilians," Lucy said. "And you were going to let them? At least…Bora!…stopped them."

"Bora doesn't have the right to do that," Axel said. He took a step toward Lucy, who did not back down from him. She grabbed her purse, though, as if she could reach a Zodiac key in time to do anything.

"So you're saying being a bully is okay, then?"

"Hardly bullying," Axel said, stepping back. "Those people were stealing from the Empire. It was just undoing a crime scene, that's all the soldiers were doing. I don't see the big deal. The Empire has an image to keep up, okay?"

"Of what? Making people grovel for some coin?"

"Hoisting up the people that are able to just live the life they want," Axel said. He gestured around them, and then at Lucy. "What really makes us different from them? It's our power and our intelligence, Ashley. Come on. Don't think like them. Then you start getting unrealistically ideological. Besides, then you might fear losing respect."

"From who? You? I don't want respect from a bully."

"I'm no bully," Axel said. He couldn't face Lucy, though. "You're just mad you couldn't go off with Bora, aren't you? What, is he your boyfriend? Are you sleeping with that ice guy, just trying to play nice with the Imperial?"

"Boyfriend…sleeping with…oh, come on. That's rude."

Axel considered the words. He nodded, and with a genuinely soft expression, at last faced Lucy.

"I'm sorry," he said. "I just…I get defensive about the Empire. My entire life I've been looked down on and kicked just like them, but I worked and found my way out. They lazily look for answers to come to them, not to go get them. Now I have respect from the Empire. The only thing that's ever shown me respect. I can't let people insult it."

Lucy wanted to retaliate that she wasn't just people, that she was his date, but she didn't want to hear herself say those words. It wasn't much of a date if it was something held over her, nor if she was really there just for information gathering.

Besides, then she'd be looking to justify getting respect from him.

This guy told Natsu to keep it in the arena, to wait for their chance to fight.

Lucy, more than ever, looked forward to seeing the brackets in the morning and prayed as she went to sleep that Natsu could knock this guy's lights out the first chance he got.