(3rd Person)

After that encounter, the group led by (Y/N) decided to take up Zeke's offer and were currently at the table, still stuffing their faces with both food and drinks. (Y/N) sighed, sipping the beer from the mug as he thought about the member of the Elite Four who decided to wait in Marigold for them. He couldn't help but frown at that person, they were the member who didn't fight however, that didn't mean they weren't strong.

Natsu: Hey (Y/N)! You've lost your cocky smirk, anything wrong?

(Y/N): Huh? Oh, nah! Nah! It's nothing! Just thinking of the hundred and one ways I can kick the next two's ass since Zeke doesn't seem too interested!

Zeke: Only once you're fully healed and ready to fight, I'm not like those brutes who wait when your guard is down.

Erza: So... who are the other two? If you don't mind me asking?

Zeke: In respect to a fair fight between you and them, I cannot say much, in fact, I can only say that one of them is the weakest in terms of fighting, but has the strongest magic ability out of all of us and then there's the other who is terrifying in a fight. In fact, you could say that in a serious fight, I wouldn't be able to tell if either she or Miss Athena would win.

Happy: Woah! She's that strong!?

(Y/N): Heh, think about it like this Cat: there was a point in time before she met my father that not only did every guild want her, but so did the Magic Counsel!

At that, both Erza and Natsu spat out their drinks, respectively at either Happy who sat next to Natsu or (Y/N) who luckily dodged in time since Erza was sitting right next to him.

Natsu: All the guilds!?

Erza: The Magic Counsel!?

Zeke: Oh yes, our leader is a strong one, it wasn't that surprising to us since we all decided to spar with her one time, what terrifies me about that woman is that I know I used my magic ability on her during our fight, yet her blows continued to be the same strength as always.

Happy: Sounds like an even scarier version of Erza!

Erza: Huh!?

Happy instantly shrunk in fear from catching Erza's irritated face, silently eating away at the fish on the table and avoiding eye contact with the devil herself, (Y/N) chuckled in amusement, holding his mug in hand and swirling it around.

(Y/N): Yep, she's strong. I know all about her magic ability and her strength, I don't exactly fear her but... she's definitely a strong one, there was even a rumour that if you put all the guild masters against her, she'd still win.

Natsu and Happy couldn't help but gulp at hearing that, even Erza looked down, troubled slightly while Zeke kept an indifferent expression with (Y/N) still having a smirk on his face.

Erza: It amazes me that you're not worried about her? Are you that confident about your ability against her?

Zeke instead answered for (Y/N).

Zeke: At the end of the day, our leader's ability is to do with her physical abilities, and I'm sure you're aware that physical attacks are practically useless against (Y/N). However, as for the member who does not fight... her ability is powerful, so powerful in fact that not even (Y/N)'s ability can protect anyone against it.

Both Erza and Natsu instantly stopped eating at that, their eyes wide while they quickly glanced over at (Y/N), only to grow even more shocked when they saw him looking away, and the most concerning part was the fact that he wasn't even acting cocky or smirking.

(With Athena's group)

Both Cana and Lucy breathed a sigh of relief as they exited the carriage, landing straight onto the grass below.

Lucy: I've forgotten what grass feels like!

Cana: I need a drink...

Athena looked at them disapprovingly, thanking and then tipping the driver of the carriage as she stepped forward and making the two jump in surprise before quickly following after her... they had to endure a long road of Athena suddenly switching what was going to take them, between carriages, walking, trains and even a hot air balloon at one point, there were just sudden moments where she changed her mind...

Athena: Marigold, we're here, and I can easily guess we're first too. After all, there's no doubt (Y/N) and his group ran into another member of the Elite Four, I just really hope it's Zeke since he doesn't attack foes who are not at their best.

Lucy: Uhh... Athena?

Athena: What?

Lucy: Have you ever been to Marigold?

Athena: What kind of question is that? (Y/N) and I visited a long time ago, it was the place we went to unwind after a daily training session.

Cana: So... you know your way around?

Athena: Of course. All we need to do is find another carriage...

Lucy and Cana: No!!

Athena turned back to them, eyebrow raised in confusion and a surprised look from their sudden shouting, only for both of them to suddenly grow nervous smiles.

Lucy: I mean uh... maybe we could find a place to rest first?

Cana: And somewhere to get a drink as well, besides, it will take a while before (Y/N) and his group get here since they're probably fighting like you said.

Athena: Hmm, very well... I see your point. But, it would be best to head to the casino, it is a... favourite sight of mine to see.

Lucy grew a sweat drop at hearing that, she turned towards Cana.

Lucy: A drunk...

She thought about Natsu.

Lucy: A hothead...

Then Erza.

Lucy: A strong but strict person.

Lucy turned back to Athena who was looking at Marigold in front of them.

Lucy: A gambler... and finally...

(Y/N) with his cocky smile and spinning his bo staff appeared in her mind.

Lucy: A cocky bastard who doesn't take anything seriously... I just realised how doomed our group is from having this many problem invoking people on board!!!

However, she was taken out of her thoughts from seeing Athena and Cana head into the city without her, she of course ran after them quickly so that she wouldn't be left behind.

Once they were inside, Lucy and Cana looked around seeing all the busy streets, huge buildings and most importantly: so many signs that talked about the casino... they even had offers on the amount of money you spend there!!

Cana: It's a gambling city...

Lucy: Not good...

Athena: What do you mean, not good? We all agreed on Marigold, did we not?

Lucy: That was before I knew it's basically the easiest place to get stabbed, robbed, raped or all of the above!!!

Athena: Huh? What're you talking about? Marigold's not a nasty place to be in? I've never been stabbed, robbed or anything of the sort while here...

Lucy and Cana: Probably cause they're too scared you'd beat them to death if they tried.

Athena: What's that supposed to mean!? I may be a fighter, but I'm no brute!

Athena grew irritated as both Lucy and Cana gave her a stare of disbelief, she huffed and stomped further into the city to find the casino so she could let off some steam, Lucy and Cana both sighed, following after their leader while the whole city was giving them strange looks for that sudden outburst from Athena... had they been more aware, they would've seen a rather strange person wearing a suit grin to themselves before following after them slowly.

(With (Y/N))

As soon as the meal was done, (Y/N) couldn't help but smirk in amusement at seeing both Natsu's rather large stomach and Erza's red face. Zeke sighed, standing up and looking at (Y/N) while resting his arm on his katana in its scabbard.

Zeke: I suppose I should fetch the medicine for drunk people, your friend's stomach will most likely deflate after some time though... make sure the light drinker doesn't get out.

(Y/N) nods allowing Zeke to leave the room to fetch the medicine necessary to cure Erza of her current state.

(Y/N): Hehehe, alright, let's...

But before he could do anything, (Y/N) was surprised when he felt someone grab his arm, throwing him to the floor before sitting on his back making him blink in confusion before he looked up to see Erza looking down at him with her red drunken face.

Erza: You know... you're... so cute... and powerful... that's why I love you...

(Y/N): Love you too Beautiful, but uhh... can this conversation wait for when you're sober and for when you can actually remember what you're about to say?

Erza: Noooo... it needs, to be now...

(Y/N) looked over his shoulder, spotting Erza getting closer and wrapping her arms around his chest and hugging herself closer to him while at the same time using her body weight to trap him beneath her.

Erza: I can never... say... what I'm feeling when I'm normal. I let... my own insecurity and personality get in the way... it's not fair!! Why do I have to be so stupid!!!

(Y/N) chuckles in amusement, straining his arm as he somehow managed to pet Erza on the head making her tilt her head in confusion.

(Y/N): Beautiful, you're not stupid, you're just taking a longer time than the others to be honest with yourself, I really want you to just be yourself... even if that yourself is someone who is really, really strict about basically everything.

Erza: Hehehe... headpats...

Erza gripped (Y/N)'s hand, trapping it in place on top her head, however, all that did was make (Y/N) wince slightly from the pain and chuckle as he continued to rub her head... soon enough it got to the point where (Y/N) was forced to stop considering Erza's face got redder and started panting making (Y/N) try to pull his hand out of her grip but was met with strong resistance.

Erza: Hey... don't stop rubbing my head!!! Uhh...

Her expression suddenly became bashful once more, letting (Y/N)'s hand go gently but keeping him trapped under her.

Erza: Do you... like me?

(Y/N): What a stupid question, I wouldn't call you Beautiful if I wasn't interested in you that way Erza, I'm the kind of guy who can't be just satisfied with one girl though, but, if ya want I can make you the head girl!

Erza: Huh...

She suddenly fell over, her head landing next to (Y/N)'s making him blink once again, only to see someone lift her off him and place something in her mouth. (Y/N) sighed through his nose, shaking his head in amusement.

(Y/N): Come on, Zeke, that was getting good! I was so close to getting Beautiful to open up on me.

Zeke: You don't have time for romance, (Y/N), it's about time you all left. My hit would only allow her to be unconscious for about ten minutes, once she wakes up, she'll have a massive hangover, so be ready for her to be quite troublesome for that.

(Y/N): Heh, I know what ya mean...

Natsu: Oh, man... I'm still hungry...

Zeke: You're still hungry after eating out the entire kitchen's stock? Perhaps I should kill you to save the trouble of anyone billing your friend's high prices for the food you'd eat...

(Y/N): Zeke, Zeke, come on man. He's not bad, Natsu... get Happy and be ready, we're going straight to Marigold.

Zeke: Oh? Even though I told you all how 'she' would be there...

(Y/N): Yeah... but still, I'm gonna beat her at her own game either way! I just gotta hope that Lucy or Cana don't run into her since only Athena and I know what each of the Elite Four looks like.

(Y/N) one again placed Erza on his shoulder, ready to move out as Natsu got Happy, dragging him across the floor before he finally decided to fly. (Y/N) bid farewell to Zeke who simply nodded, and headed back inside the house.

(With Lucy)

She... was lost, Lucy Heartfilia was lost and that's because her group decided to go off on their own ways!! As soon as they entered the casino, Athena gave them each a bag filled with Jewels that amounted to about 300,000. And then decided to run off and try her luck in the gambling section... Lucy sighed, remembering how straight after Cana ran off to find a bar to get her drinks from. And now, Lucy was walking past people, not even bothering to look up while trying to find something to do...

Her walk was interrupted as she accidentally bumped into someone, causing them both to fall down, Lucy dropped her bag with the Jewels luckily still inside while the person in front of her dropped their cards.

Lucy: Aah! So sorry! I wasn't watching where I was going and... and...

Lucy looked up and for some reason was enthralled at who she was seeing: a woman with long silver hair, a pair of purple eyes that stared at her with a rather mischevious smile... not to mention her... assets were only being held back by the yukata she was wearing while also wearing white stockings and black shoes.

???: Oh my... I do so apologise... I'm so clumsy, could you be a dear and help me with my cards~?

Almost on instinct, Lucy went for the cards, quickly scooping them up before she could even think. Once she held her hands out to show the gathered cards, that's when Lucy was aware of her actions while the woman merely smiled at her.

???: Thank you so much, I'm still ever so sorry for bumping into you... I just wished to be away from the noise, never helps me concentrate...

Lucy: Y-yeah... I know what you mean...

Again, Lucy was surprised at how she was acting towards this woman, who got uncomfortably close to her, humming in agreement while Lucy just grew even more enthralled from smelling what she deducted to be perfume.

???: You understand hmm? Such a good child, aren't you? Tell me... would you perhaps be interested in playing some card games with me? Only for a little bit~?

Lucy went to refuse, but suddenly found herself sitting down, two cards in front of her face down on a random table while the woman sat across from her, her own two cards in hand while the deck was between their cards.

Lucy: What the?

???: Oh my... are you spacing out, dear? Not to worry, we're simply playing Blackjack, you know, right? Where you must get your cards to 21 before your opponent does? Of course, going over would instantly be game over for you... since I'm the dealer after all...

Lucy: W-what?

???: Look at your cards, dear... the game won't start unless you do~.

And just like that, suddenly Lucy found herself looking at her cards with her hand raised making her confused as she saw a King of Diamonds and a Ten of Clubs, she didn't know what was happening, but she knew she would win with this hand... although, she couldn't help but give the King card a second glance as it seemed to be staring right at her, it's eyes wide with fear... almost as if...

???: Now, are you going to stay with that hand? Or perhaps... try your luck with another card~?

Lucy: I want to stay...

She slapped her mouth, the words coming out before she could think as the woman chuckled, nodding.

???: Ok... then I shall do the same as well...

She placed her cards down, their backs to her as she smiled, Lucy gulped, placing her cards down as well, this time out of her own will...

???: Show your cards~.

Again, suddenly both cards were face up with the woman's cards also face up and her smiling as Lucy saw she had the Ace of Hearts and the Queen of Hearts... however... the Queen didn't even have a face!

???: Lucy Heartfilia... you. lose~.

The last thing Lucy saw before her vision went black was the woman slowly leaning towards her with a suggestive smile.

To be continued...

(A/N): I... I think this is the longest I've gone without updating a book... sorry!!! But! It's fine now! Why? Because I have the week off! Hehe... yeah, of course my flatmates are not ones for spending weeks off with each other so we've all gone home for the week! Anyways, thank you guys and gals so much for the continued support and as always: eat one or more brownies every day!!!!