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riverofmemoriesft · 7 years

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. Between the Lines . 168

. Between the Lines .

They reached the stadium without further trouble, much to the surprise of them all. They entered through the massive archway that stood dozens of feet over their head, made of a beautiful gray stone. Lucy kept close to Natsu, keeping an eye on him after his outburst. He didn't seem to mind. He threw an arm around her shoulders and let his eyes dart this way and that, a grin appearing when he saw who awaited them there.

"Natsu!" Sting shouted, waving excitedly when he saw them. "You made it!"

Natsu dragged his girlfriend over and she groaned her protest as Erza and Jellal went to speak with an official that waited. Gray followed Natsu and Lucy, hands pushed into his pockets. "Sting!" he greeted eagerly.

Rogue's sharp gaze swept over their team as Lyon sidled away from his group to go greet Gray. "Interesting choice in team members," he said thoughtfully, gaze lingering suspiciously on Jellal for a moment. "I didn't expect Jellal Fernandes to be allowed to compete."

Lucy raised her chin. "He's nakama now, not some criminal, Rogue. He's a good person and we like having him in our guild."

Rogue's lips twitched into a smile. "Whatever you say."

"Lucy!"

A familiar voice had her turning her head a second before her arm was grabbed by a beaming pink-haired woman. "Meredy!" she greeted warmly. Meredy beamed at her, eyes glowing with excitement. "It's been a while! How's Lamia Scale treating you?"

"Beautifully," she said honestly, flushing a little. "I was told to work with Lyon, Chelia, and Jura. Jura suggested that I compete alongside them because of it. It's the only reason I was allowed in the Games this year." Her gaze shifted to the startled Sting and Rogue. "I'm Meredy," she added, smiling in greeting.

"Sting Eucliffe," Sting drawled, eyeing her with a thoughtful look as Yukino jogged over, greeting Lucy with a happy hug. "Nice to meet you."

Yukino giggled, elbowing the guildmaster of Sabertooth. "Don't start flirting," she scolded. "We have other things to worry about."

Sting pouted, but his blue eyes twinkled as Yukino and Rogue introduced themselves to Meredy. Meredy greeted each of them warmly and politely asked them about how they were doing. As she did, Lucy turned to Sting and asked, "Where's your new member? We heard she was on your team."

His eyes flashed uncertainly, much to her surprise. "Minerva," he said, indicating a cross woman that stood near a calm Rufus. Her lips were pulled back in a hint of a sneer, dark hair piled atop of her head. "She's...strong. She's not done anything illegal, so we had no reason to not let her in, but...her attitude makes the guild uncomfortable. She was particularly brutal to Sorano the other day. I told her to knock it off, but it's like it didn't mean anything."

Natsu turned his gaze on Minerva, openly staring. "She's watching Erza," he said a moment later. "She's staring at her...she got something against her? Erza could kick her ass."

Sting relaxed, grinning as he playfully punched Natsu's arm. "Like hell - oh, shit, you've got to be kidding me."

"Ugh!" Lyon wailed, "That's not fair, you bastards!"

"Gray, my dear," a cheerful Juvia sang as she jogged over, throwing her arms around Gray's neck and practically throttling the poor guy. "We succeeded in arriving! Juvia made sure that no one touched her for you!"

Gray looked a little concerned. "What the hell does that even mean?"

"Chelia!" Wendy shrieked in excitement as she ran over, and Laxus, Cana, and Gajeel approached. The two men fought to look unimpressed, but Lucy could see the pride in their eyes, and Cana wore a grin on her face as she waved her alcoholic beverage in the air, shouting that they'd done it.

Yukino looked amused. "Congratulations, Fairy Tail," she murmured.

"You did well, too," Lucy argued.

"Ah, but only Fairy Tail will likely get two teams in," Rogue commented as Mermaid Heel entered, followed by an exhausted Blue Pegasus team.

Erza looked horrified when she saw Ichiya was among them.

It wasn't long before a massive siren rang through the air. A second later, a voice began to scream over the sirens, "Congratulations to Sabertooth, Lamia Scale, Fairy Tail Team A, Fairy Tail Team B, Mermaid Heel, and Blue Pegasus, all of which have passed onto the actual Games. We give our sorrow to the three teams expelled and hope you will participate next year! If you have succeeded onto the first day, please pay attention to the schedule that will be sent to each of your team leaders. That is all for tonight; get your rest and prepare for tomorrow. It'll be a long day for all of you."

Lucy waited until Erza had been handed a piece of paper before she joined her teammates in looking over her shoulder. "Okay," Erza said thoughtfully, dark eyes narrowed at the paper. "It looks like each day will consist of a game and a fight. We'll fight a member of each team on various days. Tomorrow, it looks like I'll be the first one to play a game. Jellal will be fighting against... oh. Jellal, you'll be against Lyon, actually, that ought to be interesting."

"Damn," Gray said with a pout.

Erza read the rest of the days off for them.

On the second day, Gray would play a game and Lucy would fight. Lucy had taken on a nervous look at that, but said nothing. Natsu had scowled.

The third, Natsu would play and Erza would fight.

The fourth would place Jellal in a game and Gray in a fight.

The fifth, Lucy would play the game and Natsu would battle.

"On the sixth day, it looks like there'll be a team fight." Erza's lips twitched in a smile. "Natsu and Lucy are going to be put up against Sting and Rogue. Gajeel and Juvia will be against Meredy and Jura."

Natsu's eyes sparkled with glee. "Yes!" he cheered, even as Lucy shifted, rubbing her arm uneasily. Loke's key heated at her hip to attempt to offer her comfort, but she said nothing, fiddling with the gauntlets that Sting had given her.

"The seventh day's going to be a huge one," Jellal realized. "We'll all go up against everyone on every team."

Natsu faltered at that, suddenly going quiet. They glanced to him curiously. "That's July 7th," he said bitterly. "I don't want to do anything that day, Erza. Can they replace anyone with Mira or something?"

There was a moment in which the group was quiet, and then Erza said gently, "No, if you are able to compete, you must. You'll have hopefully gained favor from the crowd at that point, Natsu. It wouldn't bode well if you didn't finish the Games. I understand the importance of the date, but I ask that you please push past it and finish with us."

Natsu clenched his jaw, frustrated. "Fine."

"Thank you," Lucy said quietly, rubbing his arm soothingly. He relaxed only a fraction before turning his attention elsewhere. "Anyways...doesn't that put us at a huge advantage on the last day?"

"It would...except they're taking out one of our teams," Erza explained. "They want that one to be fair, so we're going to have to pick and choose five members." She pointed to a written note on the bottom of their paper. "See? Due to the nature of what's happened, we can have up to four S-Class mages on our team so long as any newcomer has been in the guild for five years." "Laxus, Jellal, and you from the whole Games, and then Mira," Gray muttered, glancing at Jellal. Jellal's face gave nothing away in regards to his thoughts. Instead, he stayed quiet, focusing only on the paper.

"Alright, then that settles that," Erza murmured, tucking the paper away. "Jellal and I will rest up for tomorrow. You three can-"

"Wait," Natsu suddenly cut in. "If we fight a different guild each day, what about Team B?"

Erza's expression twisted into one of discomfort. Jellal looked somewhat unhappy as he admitted, "They've set Lucy up against Gajeel for a fight."

Lucy stiffened, memories of the blows he'd delivered when she'd first been kidnapped by Phantom Lord flooding into her mind. "No," she pleaded. "No, no way. I want to drop out. I'm not...no." Her hands trembled violently. "I won't fight Gajeel."

"Ain't no way around it, Bunny Girl," Gajeel said as he passed them on his way to find Levy. He stopped and gave a grimace. "Already asked. They won't change anything unless one of us is physically unable to fight."

Lucy whirled on Natsu, eyes blazing. "Break my leg."

He jerked back, shocked. "No way, Luce, I'm not going to break your leg! What the hell, woman!"

She rounded on Gray, who held his hands up and took a few steps back, shaking his head hastily. "Lucy, we're not going to break your leg, okay?"

Gajeel looked somewhat offended. "I ain't gonna break you in half or beat the shit out of you like before, Lucy. This ain't an undercover mission with Juvia. We've got ten minutes to try and get the upper hand and then they either declare a draw or one of us loses."

Lucy turned her sharp brown eyes on Gajeel. "...you promise?" she pleaded. She shivered, practically tasting the blood in her mouth, remembering the heat of flames as Natsu knelt over her, shocked.

Gajeel rolled his eyes. "If I do more than leave some nasty bruises, I'll let that bastard electrocute me." He jerked a thumb in Laxus' direction and then wandered off, leaving Lucy to hug herself uncertainly.

Sure, she'd learned magic over the course of the last few months.

But this…

Someone had some cruel sense of humor.

"You good, Lucy?"

Lucy glanced up to discover an anxious Natsu looking at her, Happy looking just as worried as he sat on the dragon slayer's shoulder. He held two plates of food, onyx eyes studying her. "Yeah," she said finally, scooting over a bit so he could join her on the bench.

Fairy Tail had gone to a bar to celebrate, and it was clear that mostly everyone was having a blast. The commotion had earned hateful looks from various other occupants, though Fairy Tail hadn't cared. Cana was loudly singing in a drunken slur with a giggling Levy joining in.

Gajeel had his face in his hand, a groan leaving him every few minutes.

Natsu dropped onto the bench beside her and shoved one plate in her direction. Lucy picked up the fork and took a bite, thoughtful. "Thanks," she murmured. "Sorry, I know everyone's excited, but…" He blinked quietly at her, recognizing that she wasn't in the mood for his wild antics.

She sat back. "This is going to bring back bad memories. I don't want to think of Gajeel like that because I know it's not his fault and I know he's not truly like that, just...the idea of fighting him isn't pleasant."

Natsu shoved a chicken leg in his mouth and replied, "Gotta face your fears, Luce. You'll be okay. I'll be cheering for ya, okay?"

Her lips twitched. She didn't think he really understood what the issue she was having was, but she could appreciate his attempt to be good about it. "Thanks, Natsu. I...Natsu." She blanched at the sight of his empty plate. "How on earth did you do that?"

"He's really good at eating fast," Happy told her as he hopped over to seat himself on her head, purring loudly. He rubbed his cheek against her hair. "I'll cheer for you, too," he promised.

Lucy smiled. "Thanks, Happy. Natsu Dragneel, if you touch my dinner, I swear on Loke's key that I will shave that pink hair of yours right off…"

"Is it ready?"

"Yes," the serious man beside her confirmed. "Shall we begin the process of bringing them in, your Highness?"

Hisui E. Fiore leaned forward, resting her elbows on the balcony and gave a curt nod, thinking of how people expected that she was in Bosco. Instead, she was home, dealing with something much more important.

"Yes. Begin the search for Yukino Auguria and Lucy Heartfilia if you would. Be careful. I don't think the Twin Dragons of Sabertooth or Natsu Dragneel will appreciate it."

His lips curved into a smirk. "Don't worry, your Highness. We always appreciate a challenge." He turned and walked away.

And Hisui felt a flash of guilt as she buried her face in her hands.

I'm sorry, Lucy.

#fairy tail #fanfiction #au #between the lines #riverofmemoriesft #nalu #natsu x lucy #natsu dragneel #lucy heartfilia #gray fullbuster #erza scarlet #jellal fernandes #gajeel redfox #sting eucliffe #rogue cheney #yukino auguria #lyon vastia #juvia lockser #hisui fiore

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