"Bwahahaha! Wait, really?"
"Hahaha! Yep! I just woke up one morning and found myself strapped to a boulder whilst Flare was being married to an alpha Vulcan with its tribe cheering loudly!" Eric spoke in between chuckles, King Toma laughing boisterously along with Bacchus while a smiling Screecher patted the back of a bright red Flare.
"Please, end my suffering~" She whined to Veronica, who just looked amused as Hisui let out a few giggles.
"I'm afraid not. Don't worry, it won't take him long before his attention turns-!"
"So, how have you been, Veronica?"
"-to something else. Like that." Veronica said with a sigh, to which Eric just rolled his eyes as Flare giggled.
"You girls were gossiping about us, weren't you?"
"Ladies do not gossip. We simply exchange crucial information about certain people that we feel the others have missed." Veronica answered with a simple wave of her hand, Hisui and Flare nodding in agreement while Toma and Eric shared amused looks.
"Your Majesty, we should be going. You still have the meeting with Lord Caise and Lady Amerouché about your future plans with the country of Veronica."
"Ah, right. Thank you, Arcadios. It was lovely meeting you, Eric Creed, and the rest of you as well, but unfortunately, the life of a King does not give one breaks to do as you please."
"It's completely understandable, Lord Toma. It was an honour to have you with us for a simple few minutes." Eric spoke with a smile and a bow, the king chuckling as he patted the dragon slayer on the shoulder before dropping from his chair, Arcadios quickly following him along with a squad of Rune Knights as they left the terrace.
"Okay, spill. Where is the cocky & immature Eric Creed and what did you do with him?" Veronica asked with a raised eyebrow, to which Eric looked affronted as he held his heart exaggeratedly.
"Ah, I am insulted! You might not believe it, but I have grown and I know to show the right people the respect they deserve."
"Sure, you have. Flare?"
"In exchange for lying his head on my lap once a day, he's agreed to read books on social etiquette."
"…Really?" Screecher asked with a raised eyebrow as they all turned to Eric, who just stared at them before huffing as he crossed his arms.
"I shall neither confirm nor deny the allegations."
"Huh, so that's why you look so happy when the two of you stay at home on your days off."
"Oh, those are from completely different reasons." Eric spoke as he wiggled his eyebrows before chuckling as he ducked his head, crimson hair in the form of a hand just barely missing his head as Flare pouted in disappointment at Eric's triumphant smile.
"Wait, you two are actually going out? That wasn't just him trying to boast over nothing?"
"Oi, I can still hear you guys, you know." Eric grumbled with a frown, Veronica waving her hands dismissively as Flare giggled & nodded in agreement at the princess' question.
"Yes, we are, but we're still taking things a bit slow since we're both still new to this relationship thing."
"Huh, and here I thought you were experienced when you flirted with me on that escort mission."
"He managed to get you to kiss him after only a few days, so I suppose his flirting worked." Flare said with a shrug, Eric chuckling as everyone else looked surprised.
"You told her?" Bacchus, Screecher and Dante asked in surprise, Flare giggling as Eric gave them a weird look.
"We know everything about each other and I mean everything. Did you guys know-!"
"Shoosh! You do not get to tell them about that!" Flare hissed as her hair wrapped around Eric's mouth, to which he just rolled his eyes as the others just shook their heads before they turned as Hisui cleared her throat.
"Excuse me. Did you say that my cousin…kissed you?"
"…Ah right, completely forgot about you being here. Well, princess, yes, she did, but here's the full story. Firstly…"
"Hisui is never going to look at Veronica the same again." Flare said with a giggle as she sat at the window seat of the train they were on, Bacchus chuckling as Screecher nodded.
"It's not always you hear that the cousin you looked up to actually kissed a boy she only knew for a few days. Not just that, but she kissed the man who is ranked 5th on The Wizard I'd Like To Be My Boyfriend if Guy is to believed."
"Wait, what?" Flare asked as her head snapped to Screecher, who looked surprised as he and an amused Bacchus shared a look before turning back to her.
"You didn't know? According to Sorceror Magazine, Eric is very popular with women aged 21 and older for his roughish look, the wild mane of hair, his tanned & muscular physique, the few scars visible from under his jackets as well as his deep scarlet eyes that…what was it again?"
"'Make my lady parts wet and makes me want to ride him until we both die from dehydration' as Guy said the one review read. Man, this is why I'm glad I drink and have one-night stands." Bacchus spoke with a shake of his head as he downed the cocktail glass in his hands, reaching over to pick up Screecher's whiskey and making the mage roll his eyes as Flare looked down at the culprit that was lying on her lap.
"Did you know about this?"
"Can't…think. World…spinning. Why…not…fly?" Eric wheezed out as he laid with his face into her thighs, Flare rolling her eyes as Bacchus raised an eyebrow.
"I remember Scarlet saying that Dragneel gets nauseous whenever they are in a vehicle, but I didn't think it would be this bad."
"Hate…trains…Want…fly."
"Don't worry, it's just one more hour and we'll be back home before you know it."
"Uuuurggghh!", was all Eric groaned out as he went back to trying to stop himself from throwing up, Flare just smirking as she softly rubbed her fingers on his scalp before giggling at the sight of Screecher holding up a recording Lacrima while Bacchus tried to restrain his laughter.
'I should stop them…Nope, I need the blackmail material.'
"Oh, glorious flight~ I shall never abandon thee~"
"Should I ask?" Goldmine asked as he watched Eric floating happily in the guild hall, the rest of the guild joining in his singing while the S-Class mages just looked amused and Flare sighed.
"He doesn't like trains."
"Ah, the motion sickness, correct? Apparently, it's very common amongst dragon slayers."
"And if I shall ever forsake you for the land, I shall sink myself to the bottom of the sea~"
"How long does this usually go on?" Bacchus asked with a smirk as he held up Screecher's recording Lacrima, Flare looking to be in thought as she hummed before shrugging.
"Usually, he sings the song five times and then returns back, but we were stuck on the train for three hours so…give or take, another four hours more."
"Yes, this I say~For the Sky~! Oh, gravity~ Thou has not forsaken me~"
"Ignoring our newest musician, the king has sent me the results of your job. Congratulations to every single one of you. With this and Eric's ability to woo the princesses & his Royal Highness, we have risen in ranks from 10th place to 4th overall on the Guild Rankings."
"Wait, what?" Guy asked in surprise as he turned towards Goldmine with the other shocked S-Class mages turning with him, with even Bacchus stopping his drinking as he raised an eyebrow while Flare just looked confused.
"Wait, that's all it took? I thought Guild Rankings rarely change after the Grand Magic Games were created."
"Oh, they don't change at all, but with the achievements you all have been raking in this past year,-!"
"You mean Eric specifically." Warcry interrupted with a smirk, the other S-Class mages and Flare nodding in agreement as Goldmine rolled his eyes.
"Fine. After the achievements Eric raked in this past year and with your team's astounding performance at completing an S-Class job that every other guild couldn't complete, we are officially under Lamia Scale as the 4th most popular guild in Fiore."
"So, it's just Sabretooth, Lamia Scale and Mermaid Heel between us and first place, right?" Flare was surprised at the rather challenging smirk on Guy's face as Bacchus and Warcry matched it with feral grins, Goldmine chuckling as he nodded before they all looked up as Eric spoke up.
"Then, it's settled. Master, when is the next Grand Magic Games?" He asked as he floated down towards the ground, Goldmine looking amused before he answered.
"It's in two month's time, which brings me to the reason why everyone is gathered here today. I will be announcing the team that will be taking place in the Grand Magic Games of X791."
"Wild!" The whole guild cheered, Eric humming in thought as he sat down next to Flare while Goldmine smirked as he nodded towards Guy, who nodded as five large golden screens and one pitch black one appeared floating in the air in front of them.
"The five golden ones are going to be our main team and the black screen is going to be the team captain and our reserve member. Firstly, this person may not have the official rank of S-Class, but he most definitely has the power of one and if it wasn't for our little cheat code here, he would have been the one who joined Screecher and Nobarly in that final round."
"I'm not that bad, right?"
"You tend to stand out amongst the crowd." Flare answered Eric's question with a sheepish smile, to which he just sighed but nodded in agreement as the rest of the guild turned to the shocked person Goldmine was talking about.
"Therefore, it would be a waste to not let you take part. Leo Lyonas, come to the front as the first member."
"That's our wild buddy!" Some of the guys around him cheered as a stunned Leo walked to the front of the group, Eric chuckling at the happy grin on the man's face before turning as Leo appeared on the first of the screens.
"Next up, he has always been a staple member of our GMG teams. Warcry, to the front." The guild cheered as Warcry smiled and stood up, nodding at Leo as he stood next to him and Leo just nodded back as Warcry appeared on a second screen.
"Thirdly, he's never taken part in these, but with his growth over the past year, it would be a waste to let him pass on this year. Screecher, to the front."
"That's my wild buddy!" Eric chuckled as Buffer cheered the loudest of the guild, Screecher just groaning as he stood up from the bar and walked to stand next to the others, appearing on a third screen as Warcry gave him a sympathetic pat on the back.
"Next, we all knew he was going to be up there just because he's the reason we are now popular now. Eric, get your behind to the others."
"Hah, that's my cue." Eric whispered with a smirk, Flare giggling as she leaned in and gave him a quick kiss. The two ignored Goldmine's exasperated sigh and the loud cheers from the guild as they slowly broke apart before Eric smirked as he stood up and came to a standstill next to the other three.
"Really?" Warcry asked with a smirk, Eric shrugging as his face appeared on a fourth screen before Goldmine cleared his throat.
"The last member of the main team is someone that dominated the first year of the Grand Magic Games for us and with Fairy Tail's return, it is only logical that we send him onto the battlefield. Bacchus, you don't get to say no this year. Get next to the others."
"Oh, come on~" Everyone laughed at Bacchus' groan as the man picked up his pitcher of beer and walked towards them, stopping with a groan next to Eric before taking a swig from his drink as he appeared on the final golden screen.
"Now, for the captain and reserve member, I had to choose between two members who I know is not only strong enough to keep up with you five but also smart enough to know how to use you five to the best of your abilities in the GMG. However, I feel that Flare is a bit too inexperienced and still a bit too shy to take on the role of captain…"
"Wait, what?" Eric's eyes widened along with everyone as they all stared at a blushing Flare before a proud grin appeared on his face as he puffed his chest.
"Eric, shut up. No boasting from you."
"Oh, come on~Can't a guy be proud of his girlfriend's achievements?"
"Usually, yes, but with you, it's less boasting about her achievements and more boasting of how good your teaching skills are."
"…Fair point. Everybody, round of applause for Flare!"
"Whooo~! That's our wild buddy!" Flare gave Eric an embarrassed glare as the guild's cheers echoed throughout the hall, to which he just smirked and shrugged as Goldmine rolled his eyes.
"Enough. Now, as I was saying, since I ruled her out, that left the one other guy who I know can control you five." Goldmine said as he turned to their captain, the five Quatro mages turning to Guy who smirked as he gave them a wink.
"No pun intended."
"The next two months are going to be hell with his puns, aren't they?" Bacchus muttered with a groan, the other four looking just as miserable as they nodded in agreement while Guy chuckled as Goldmine smirked.
"And there you have it! Our team for Quatro Cerberus' participation in the Grand Magic Games! Now, we all have only one objective for you. What's that objective, guild?"
"Dominate! Conquer! Victory!" The guild roared in unison with feral grins, the GMG teams matching their grins as Flare sighed while Goldmine smirked.
"You know you just unleashed a living hell on Earthland, right Master?"
"Oh, but of course. With them, we either win or we showcase enough power that we get more jobs. It's a win-win."
A/N: A short & sweet chapter since there's no immediate action for now, but next chapter, leaving for training and the start of the GMG.
As always, read, enjoy, review and until the next time…
Ba-Bye~!
