Kind of a filler chapter I suppose. The action starts next chapter.
Breathless.
That was the only word to describe how he felt staring at the crowded streets of Crocus all decked out for the upcoming festival. Various guild banners flew from the rooftops. Strangely enough, there were dozens of holograms of some pumpkin man.
It was Natsu's first time at the capital, and it lived up to the stories bandied about Fairy Tail's mess hall.
A sense of wonder, amazement, and excitement filled Natsu as members of Fairy Tail pushed down the thick and bustling streets of Crocus. The cobblestone pathways were alive with people. Vendors, shoppers, wizards, performers. It looked like the whole country had come to watch the games.
When Lucy had said this tournament was popular, Natsu wasn't quite expecting such a large turnout. Seriously, did everyone in Fiore show up for this?
Luckily, everyone in front of them moved out of the way when they spotted the Fairy Tail banner, carried by Mirajane because she was one of their more iconic members and her smile made people fall over themselves to make her happy, which the guild walked behind, moving down the street.
No one approached them. They were given space even as a million eyes followed their progress. Unfortunately, Natsu caught every word they whispered thanks to his superior dragon-like hearing.
"Can you believe it?"
"I didn't think they'd ever fight."
"So it is true! Fairy Tail's finally competing."
"This year's games is going to be the best one yet!"
"I'm going to be cheering for Fairy Tail!"
"Do you think they'd let me join?"
"That's the strongest guild in Fiore!"
"They're going to get crushed."
"Sabertooth will win again."
"Why did they pick this year to join?"
"Who's the hot pink haired man?"
Natsu adamantly pretended he never heard that last one, but all the ruckus about Fairy Tail's participation unnerved him.
Fighting between guilds was forbidden by the magic council. So, while each guild built its reputation on completing dangerous jobs, having S-class mages or mages with unique magic, and bragged that it was the better one to join, there had never been concrete, physical proof that one guild was better than another. Unless he counted the scuffles with Phantom Lord and Grimoire Heart.
This competition didn't sit right with the Dragon Slayer. He saw absolutely no reason to abandon the injunction against guild wars. Especially since the same three guilds ranked top three each years since the Grand Magic Games founding. He couldn't help feeling that there was more to the Grand Magic Games than the fame and accreditation that came with winning.
"Hey! You! Salamander!"
Natsu paused, pulling Erza who was linked to him by their interlaced fingers to a stop as well. He hadn't been called by Salamander in over seven years.
He was suddenly confronted by a slim young man with spiky blond hair bearing the symbol of Sabertooth on his left shoulder. Natsu blinked, taking in the slight frontal cowlick hanging in front of his face, slanted dark blue eyes, and diagonal scar above his right eye that pointed towards his cheek. To his right was a dark haired companion, also male, whose shaggy hair hung to his shoulders and covered the right half of his face.
Their posture, relaxed yet authoritive, demanded attention. Had he been that confident at their age? Filled with the belief that he was invincible?
The Twin Dragon Slayers of Sabertooth. The blonde had been pestering his guild for Natsu's whereabouts for the last four years. Natsu was curious about them. Given that they were seven years younger, he wondered how they learned Dragon Slayer magic.
They claimed to be Third Generation Dragon Slayers. Ones that had been taught by a dragon, like himself, Gajeel, and Wendy, but also possessed a lacrima like Laxus did. Perhaps once the dragons came out of hiding, no longer fear their demise at Acnologia's hands, they resumed sharing their magic with humans.
"Did you really kill that dragon? Acnologia? We killed our dragons, too."
A cold sensation settled in his stomach. "No." Immediately the bright, open face before him hardened to diamond. "I don't know what you heard, but I didn't kill a dragon. I killed a man."
Erza, catching the faint stress in his voice, placed a warm hand on his arm to comfort him, gently rubbing her thumb in a circular motion, while the two Dragon Slayers exchanged confused looks. Natsu had had a hard time coming to terms with the fact that not only had he killed a dragon, an act he had sworn never to do, he didn't give a damn if that's what his magic was called, but Acnologia had once been as human as he was. Technically, he had killed a person. It had haunted his nightmares for months afterwards.
The second part filtered through the cotton that filled his ears. We killed our dragons, too.
"Killing is nothing to be proud of." Natsu's tone was as glacial as Gray's ice. "Especially not your parents."
Sting, who Natsu recognized based on descriptions from just about everyone in the guild, took a half step back, wounded look coming up to cover his face like he had been struck. "But . . . we're Dragon Slayers!" he said hotly, and a little crudely.
Natsu studied the pair. They looked lost, floundering almost, like he had crushed their dreams or ripped the floor out from underneath them. "You don't understand what it means to be a Dragon Slayer. You should learn your history."
With that he walked around them, leaving them dumbfounded and frozen in the middle of the path, to catch up with the guild.
"Why does that matter? What do you mean, Natsu?" Sting called after him.
The fire Dragon Slayer responded without turning around. "Acnologia was once a Dragon Slayer."
Sting watched Natsu and his companion walk away, back stiff with anger. "You don't think that could be true, Rogue?"
"Natsu did not appear to be lying. In fact, he has no reason to," he pointed out calmly.
"But how would he know that?" Sting pressed.
"I assume his dragon told him. Either way, what does it matter?" Rogue asked. "You got what you wanted. Whether Natsu considers Acnologia a human or a dragon, he confirmed that he killed him."
A wicked smile split the blonde's face. "That's right. He did." His eyes tracked the pink hair that stuck up in every direction as Natsu moved further away, taking note of the inn he entered flying Fairy Tail's red banner.
"I hope I get a change to fight him. He's probably as strong as us."
Rogue said nothing in response. Chances were, if Natsu's claim was true, he was strong than Sabertooth's Twin Dragon Slayers. But he saw no need to clear that matter with Sting, who would only become angry and insist that he could beat Natsu.
"What about you, Rogue?"
The dark haired teen shook his head. "No. I'd rather fight Gajeel."
Despite the whole guild (aside from Gildarts who was off on another 100 year mission, which was probably for the best since his Crash magic would turn Crocus to rubble) making the journey to the kingdom of Fiore's capital, only ten members would be able to participate in the highly prestigious and most celebrated competition.
It was a new rule for the Grand Magic Games, which had previously only allowed one team, consisting of their best five people, admitted per guild. This year they were allowing each guild to enter two teams. It had the potential to double the number of teams participating, with each guild thinking they stood a better chance with twice as many wizards. Although Natsu believed the more renowned guilds like Sabertooth and Blue Pegasus would only enter one team composed of their best.
For those guilds, selecting the team members was probably tough. For Fairy Tail, it couldn't be easier. The only stipulations were that all team members had to be part of the guild and the master was forbidden from participating.
Team Natsu's reputation was legendary across Fiore. His, Erza's, Gray's, and Lucy's spots were guaranteed. As was Wendy's, since she had become a member of the team while the pinkette was training with Igneel. The young woman certainly deserved it. She had come a long way from a girl that only used her magic to support and heal to a true Dragon Slayer capable of fighting.
Surprisingly, the second team was agreed upon easily. There was no doubting Laxus's strength. He was the master's grandson and a Dragon Slayer. In that regard, Fairy Tail really loved their Dragon Slayers because Gajeel was also a member of the team. There was also Juvia, Cana, and Mirajane, and if Natsu was honest, that combination of women scared him. Mirajane was a demon, Juvia thought Gray was handsome, and Cana could drink two dozen barrels of mead and still throw those cards with pinpoint precision.
He supposed that entering a second team could be seen as a sign of weakness on their part. As if ten of them were needed to beat a team of five. But Natsu didn't see it that way. Fairy Tail was going to grab the opportunity given to them by the wings and showcase their best.
Makarov had debated over admitting the second team. Pride weighed heavily on his choice, as well as how his guild would be perceived if they were the only major guild to enter two teams. Ultimately, he had put Natsu's mission as priority over his pride.
Zeref wanted Natsu to make a statement and the Dragon Slayer was going to deliver. It would be made all the easier by having a second team that ensured only the next strongest six made it to the finale to be their opponents.
The Grand Magic Game consisted of two main parts. A preliminary game, in which eight teams moved on to the actual tournament part.
The preliminary game would start with short notice. As would all the games, actually. According to the official mascot and referee Mato, a short man wearing a giant pumpkin mask, the rules of each game would only be announced right before the start.
That meant they couldn't choose the best wizard suited to the task.
The anticipation more than anything else would be what killed him. He sat in the pub of the inn Fairy Tail had been assigned, knee bouncing rhythmically under the table. The Dancing Sun wasn't anything fancy, but it was warm and cozy, and surrounded by the guild he considered family, Natsu could pretend it was home.
Seven years with his father had curbed his attack first plan later style of fighting. Not that he wasn't still impulsive. Natsu measured possible outcomes and unhesitatingly followed through on the one he liked best, even if it might not be the most appropriate or effective method. It was a process which usually involved relying on his gut instincts.
"Are you ready for tomorrow?" Erza asked, sitting down beside her mate.
"Would you believe me if I said yes?"
"If you truly meant it," she was her rejoinder.
Natsu attempted to smile but only managed to life the corner of the right side of his mouth. There was a tremendous amount of pressure riding on tomorrow's preliminary game. Only eight out of the two hundred teams competing would move onto the main event, and they had to be one of them.
"You'll be with me?"
"Always."
"Then I'm as ready as I'll ever be."
Natsu turned sideways to straddle the bench, intent on kissing Erza until she was breathless, but was interrupted by Mato's voice.
"Attention all participating teams! If you would please step outside your lodgings, kabo!"
Fairy Tail's ten chosen competitors trekked outside the Dancing Sun. Mato's pumpkin face was painted across two hundred holograms above the city.
"The preliminary game is about to being, kabo! This one's called the Labyrinth of Lies. All you have to do to qualify is be one of the first eight teams to reach the stadium, Domus Flau. As always, no killing, but don't be afraid to knock out competitors, kabo. All five members of a team must reach the finish line. Best of luck to you all, kabo!"
The holograms switched to show each team. Natsu assumed they would somehow track their progression through the labyrinth.
The ground before them shook, a large square of dirt crumbling to reveal a rough staircase.
"Begin, kabo!" echoed Mato's voice, and two teams shot into the darkness.