A/N: Episode 164.

Enjoy!

edited on june 21st, 2024 @ 9:14pm

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𝓒𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝙴𝙻𝙴𝚅𝙴𝙽,
𝓚𝙰𝙶𝚄𝚁𝙰 𝚅𝚂. 𝚈𝚄𝙺𝙸𝙽𝙾.

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"𝗬𝗢𝗨𝗥 𝗟𝗜𝗩𝗘𝗦...? 𝗛𝗘𝗬..." Natsu muttered.

"This is getting vicious." Gray said.

"Even though that's not something you bet on..." Lucy commented.

"That's our Yukino-kun! That's why she's part of Sabertooth!" Lector cheered.

"Good luck, Yukino!" Frosch cheered.

"This is getting interesting." Sting commented.

"Does that Yukino chick have all her marbles?"

"Kagura-san..." Beth mumbled in worry.

"Even though her opponent is Kagura, the strongest wizard of Mermaid Heel, it seems she's got confidence to spare." Risley claimed.

"If you are seriously prepared to do this, then accepting it is the proper thing to do." Kagura said. "Fine. Come and get me."

"Seriously?!"

"They bet their lives, so whoever loses dies, right?!"

"Can they do that?!"

"Well, things have taken a serious turn. Just what's going on here?!" Chapati wondered as Yajima hummed. 

Jason stood up from his seat. "This is not cool!"

"I set up a good match if I do say so myself. This should be a lively battle."

Yukino pulled out a gold gate key. "It's your bad luck to be standing before a member of Sabertooth." She claimed.

Samuel widened his eyes. "She's a Celestial Spirit Wizard like Lucy-san?" He thinks to himself as the key soon shined.

"I don't believe it!" Darton thought.

"There's one more? Another Celestial Spirit Wizard..." Arcadios noted.

"Huh... A golden key. One of those 12 Zodiac Gate things?" Kagura asked.

"Gate of the Fish, I open thee." Yukino started to say.

"Gate of the Fish! I like the sound of that!" Happy claimed.

"What kind of Celestial Spirit is it?" Wendy questioned.

"I don't know..." Lucy answered with honesty. "I don't think it was in the Celestial Spirit World when we visited."

"Going by the usual pattern, it's probably something like this." Erza said as a half-fish, half-man appeared.

"That's kind of unsettling..." Wendy mumbled.

"But there are ones like the Gemini twins too, so my guess is that it'll be like this." Gray stated as two pairs of people in fish costumes appeared.

"I have a feeling you've hit the mark..." Lucy said.

"Happy will be so pleased!" Natsu exclaimed as a random thing appeared next to him.

"That's not even a fish..." Wendy informed.

"Wendy, don't waste your time contradicting that guy. His stupidity will rub off." Gray told her.

"Pisces!" Yukino shouted, holding the gate key above her head and a light green Magic Circle appeared. A door chime was heard as two large fish appeared in the arena.

"They are fish!" Happy waved his arms in excitement.

Pisces headed straight for Kagura in which she easily dodged out of the way. Beth closed her eyes.

"Don't worry!"

"Take a good look. See?" Risley added.

Kagura continued dodging Pisces attacks. "Wow!" Natsu exclaimed.

"She's dodging their attacks with just the slightest movements." Gray pointed out.

"There are all kinds, huh?" Wendy asked.

"Pisces..." Lucy muttered.

Kagura lands on the ground before jumping up again and running on Pisces. "Huh. She's not bad." Sting said.

"What? She's no great shakes. All she's doing is dodging." Lector stated.

"Fro thinks so, too." Frosch agreed.

"Just wait and see. It's not wise to underestimate Mermaid Heel's strongest wizard." Risley said.

"This looks like it's going to quickly become a fine Magic battle."

"Whoa! She's deftly dodging Pisces' fierce attacks!" Chapati exclaimed.

"Impressive." Yajima commented.

"Cool!" Jason shouted.

"Why is she escaping the fish? All she has to do is eat it..." Happy said. "What a waste."

Yukino held another gold key in her hand. "If you're so good at dodging, then all I need to do is ground you." She said.

"Two gates open at the same time?!" Lucy questioned in shock.

"Glittering gold!" Frosch exclaimed.

"That's right! That's one of the 12 Zodiac Gates, too!" Lector shouted.

"Gate of the Scales, I open thee." Yukino swipes the gold key in front of her as another door chime was heard. "Libra!"

The men in the audience had heart eyes at the celestial spirit's appearance. "A-Another stunningly beautiful Celestial Spirit!" Chapati shouted with hearts in his eyes.

"She's a sight for sore eyes!" Yajima said.

"Gate of the Scales! Cool!" Jason exclaimed.

"Libra, alter the target's gravity." Yukino ordered.

"As you wish!" Libra said as Kagura was grounded and Pisces surrounded her.

"That's gravity manipulation!" Beth exclaimed.

"That Libra character can use the same Magic as me?!" Risley questioned.

"So she made Kagura heavier?" Arana asked.

"Pisces..." Yukino said as the two fish headed for Kagura, who was seen in the air.

"She blew off Libra's gravity power?!" Lector exclaimed in shock.

"How?" Frosch asked.

"That girl's awesome!" Natsu shouted.

"Her jumping ability is remarkable." Gray complimented.

"No, that's..." Erza trailed off.

"Libra... Make the target's gravity go sideways." Yukino said.

"As you wish." Libra responded as Kagura was slammed into one of the statues.

"Ouch! She was only able to escape the Celestial Spirit's gravity altering for a short time! Kagura is pinned to the statue! What a pinch!" Chapati announced.

"Gravity is cool!" Jason exclaimed.

"Pisces!" Yukino said as Pisces flew into the air.

"This is what I'm talkin' about! The highlight of two gates open at once!" Lector cheered, waving his arms rapidly.

"Highlight!" Frosch repeated.

"I guess it's all over... Or I wish it would be..." Sting said.

Pisces charged at Kagura, who sent the fish a piercing look. Pisces stopped in mid-air before dropping to the ground. "The fish stopped!" Natsu exclaimed.

"What the...?" Gray said. "Is she out of Magic?"

"That's not it. Look at that." Erza replied, causing her teammates to look down to find Libra was being pinned to the ground by gravity as well as Pisces.

"I can't move!" Libra informed.

"I see..." Yukino said.

"Don't tell me she can use Gravity Magic too?!" Lector exclaimed.

"How?" Frosch questioned.

"Kagura's the one who taught me gravity-altering Magic. Better not underestimate Kagura-chan!" Risley declared.

"That's right!"

"That's our..."

"... Kagura-san!"

"Now, finish 'em all at once!"

"This is the epitome of the Grand Magic Games!"

Kagura soon flew down from the statue. "Oh, my! Kagura is undaunted by two Celestial Spirits! This is amazing, isn't it, Yajima-san?" Chapati asked.

"Experience and grit... She certainly does have fortitude." Yajima responded.

"I'm so excited about getting to see a showdown like this right before my eyes! Cool! Cool!" Jason exclaimed.

Pisces was on top of Libra. "Heavy..." Libra muttered.

"Pisces, Libra, go back." Yukino ordered as the two Celestial Spirits went back to the Celestial Spirit world.

Kagura soon landed on the ground as her and Yukino stared at one another. "Yeesh. This is gettin' monotonous." Orga commented with his arms crossed.

"Yukino..." Frosch mumbled.

"She's fine! The fight is just startin'! Right, Sting-kun?!" Lector asked.

"That's right. Yukino's gonna bring out her real power now." Sting answered.

"You're going to make me open... the 13th Gate?" Yukino questioned as Kagura was shocked by this.

"The 13th Gate?!" Lucy repeated in shock. "Is that what she just said?!"

"What's wrong, Lucy-san?" Wendy turned to look at her.

"There are 12 Zodiac Gates and hence 12 keys... But I've heard rumors of a 13th key... and an unknown Celestial Spirit that's superior to the other 12!" Lucy explained.

Yukino pulled out a black key. "Opening the 13th Gate... That means you're out of luck." She said as the key started to glow a dark purple and it turned dark.

"Luck, huh? I haven't relied on luck since the moment I was born." Kagura claimed before rushing forward. "Everything has come about through choices that I've made!"

"Gate of the Snake Bearer, I open thee!" Yukino shouted.

"That's what's leading me to the future!" Kagura said.

Yukino held the key up into the air. "Ophiuchus!" She called out. A dark purple Magic Circle appeared above her and the sound of a door chimed once more. A large snake soon appeared in the arena, leaving the audience in shock.

"What is this?! I didn't know a Celestial Spirit like this existed!" Happy exclaimed.

"It's humongous!" Natsu shouted.

"Serpent Bearer?! The thing itself is a serpent!" Gray added.

"This is... Ophiuchus?!" Lucy said.

"The 13th Gate... This is outstanding as well." Arcadios thought.

"This doesn't bode well... Not only are there two Celestial Spirit Wizards here, but they both own the 12 Zodiac Gates." Darton thinks to himself.

Ophiuchus headed towards Kagura, who clenched her sword. "Blade of Resentment, Archenemy." Kagura said, causing Erza to widen her eyes. "Style of the Unsheathed Sword."

Kagura easily defeated Ophiuchus as the sky went back to normal. "Is she for real?!" Sting exclaimed in shock.

"Unsheathed..." Erza mumbled.

"You really wouldn't want Kagura-chan to unsheathe her sword."

Kagura was soon in front of Yukino. "I don't believe it!" Yukino said.

"You made a cheap bet." Kagura claimed as Sabertooth stared in shock. Yukino was on the ground, defeated. "Sometimes, mermaids eat tigers."

Everyone continued to stare in shock as it fell silent in the arena. "T-T-The match is over! The winner is Kagura Mikazuchi of Mermaid Heel!" Chapati announced as the audience cheered.

"I knew Kagura-chan could do it!"

"Yeah!" Beth cheered.

"Told you not to underestimate Kagura!" Risley claimed.

"That Celestial Spirit Wizard is powerful in her own right, but Kagura is just too tough." Arana commented.

"It's unbelievable, but Sabertooth got zero points on the second day!" Chapati said.

"This is getting interesting." Yajima commented.

"Cool! Kagura-chan is cool!" Jason exclaimed.

"Was the Saber woman weak? Or was the Mermaid woman strong?" Gray asked.

"The latter..." Erza responded. "I didn't know somebody like her existed..."

"I-I lost... Sabertooth lost..." Yukino sobbed.

"Yukino..." Frosch muttered. Sting clenched his fist in anger, breaking part of the railing.

"Sting-kun..." Lector said.

"Your life... Your life belongs to me. Understand?" Kagura asked.

"Yes. As you say..." Yukino replied.

"I can't help but worry for her." Samuel admitted as his team glanced at him.

"What makes you say that?" Laxus asked.

Samuel looked at him. "Let me put it this way... Sabertooth is the kind of guild you wanted to make Fairy Tail seven years ago. You know, kicking out the weak, keeping the strong." He replied, catching Laxus by surprise.

"You mean they kick out their members just because of one lost?" Gajeel questioned.

"That's... quite cruel." Juvia said.

Samuel nodded as he sighed. "Unfortunately, not every guild can be like Fairy Tail is." He stated. "Being with Sting and knowing what his guild is like taught me that."

"And thus ends the second day of the Grand Magic Games! Raven Tail gained ten points today, giving them first place with 36 points! Sabertooth gained zero points today, but their 20 points from yesterday keeps them in second place! Lamia Scale is tied in second with 20 points!" Chapati announced.

"And Mermaid Heel is moving up. They gained ten points, putting them in fourth place with 19 points."

"In fifth place, one rank down, is Blue Pegasus with 17 points! Cool!"

"And in sixth place, one rank down them, Quatro Puppy!"

"S-Seriously?! Um... Our guild name has become Quatro Puppy..."

"Can't help it. A promise was made between two men." Bacchus said. "Alright! I'm gonna drink again tonight! Wild..."

"... Four..."

"And getting ten points each, but still tied in last place, are Fairy Tail A Team and Fairy Tail B Team, both with 12 points! What kind of battles are in store for us tomorrow, the third day of the tournament?!" Chapati said.

"Those were some fine Magic battles."

"Another Celestial Spirit Wizard... It must be destiny... Now the project is even more certain to succeed." Arcadios thought, walking down the darkened hallway as Darton watches him.

"This can't go on. I have to do something quickly..." Darton noted.

"It is strange... Even though the second day is over, I haven't sensed the magic power that I perceive every year." Jellal thinks to himself.

The second day of the Grand Magic Games ended. Five more days until that fateful day...

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Bar Sun . . .

All of the Fairy Tail members were passed out drunk. "Alright, another round! My soul is always Wild..." Bacchus started to say.

"... Four!" Natsu, Gray, Lucy, Wendy, Plue, and Happy replied.

Bacchus laughed. "You guys are good sports!" He said.

"Same goes for you!" Happy stated.

"It's gettin' pretty late. We better start headin' back to the inn." Rocker said.

"Erza hasn't come yet!" Bacchus exclaimed.

"Now that you mention it, she is late..." Natsu realized.

"She mentioned having something to do." Gray informed.

"Are your hands okay?" Wendy asked.

"Nothin' a good night's sleep can't fix!" Bacchus replied.

"We're wild, right?" Rocker added.

"Oh yeah, I almost forgot. That guy's name is Takashi, yeah?" Bacchus questioned. "Give him a message for me. Tell him it was a wild battle... An' I'm lookin' forward to goin' up against him again during the tournament."

"I'll tell him." Samuel promised.

"I wanna fight you myself." Natsu added.

"We're gonna beat you next time, too!" Happy said as Plue agreed.

"Man!"

"Four!"

Levy rubbed her eyes. "Jeez... Enough already..." She mumbled.

"By the way, where's Gramps?" Natsu questioned.

"He was having a drinking contest with Bacchus-san..." Wendy answered.

"He's probably on the floor over there." Gray claimed.

"Lu-chan?"

Lucy turned. "Sorry we woke you up..." She apologized.

"Never mind about that. What's wrong? You look down." Levy noticed.

"Yeah... I was thinking about Saber's Celestial Spirit Wizard..." Lucy said.

"Yukino-san, I think her name is, right?" Wendy asked.

"That was amazing. The 12 Zodiac Gates and the 13th one... I think? Even though she lost..." Levy trailed off.

"They said they bet their lives, so I was wondering what's gonna happen now..."

"True, it is worrisome..."

"Even though we're in no position to be worried about other people..." Gray stated.

"What? We've still got three days left!" Natsu said.

"You're right. First, we need to focus on winning and do our best!" Lucy said.

"Hey! You guys got a visitor." Rocker called out. "They're in here."

Lyon and Sherria soon arrived as Gray turned pale. "Lyon and... Sherry's cousin." Natsu said.

"Sherria-san, right?" Wendy questioned.

"This looks like it's gonna be a pain..." Levy commented.

Samuel pats his older brother on the shoulder. "Well, have fun dealing with whatever Lyon-nii wants." He said.

"Sabertooth's meeting should be done by the time I'm able to sneak into Sabertooth's inn... Hopefully. I don't want to cause more problems."

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Later that night, Sabertooth's inn . . .

This is Crocus Garden, the inn where Sabertooth is staying.

All of Sabertooth's members were standing in front of a man with their hands behind their backs. "It's so pitiful that I can't even cry, you scum. Remember why we're the top wizard guild. Don't look at the insects around you. Don't talk to them. Just crush them. Our eyes are on something far greater. Making the heavens roar. Setting the land aflame. Silencing the seas. That's Sabertooth." He spoke.

This man is Sabertooth's master, Jiemma.

"Sting..."

"Yes?" Sting walked forward.

"I'll give you just one more chance. Don't you ever make such a pathetic scene again." Jiemma told him.

Sting bowed slightly. "Thank you. I swear that I'll measure up to your expectations." He promised.

"Yukino..." Jiemma called her next.

"Yes." Yukino said as Sting walked back in line while Yukino walked forward.

"You have no excuse. You do know that?" Jiemma asked her, holding a vine of grapes.

"Yes." Yukino bowed her head before continuing, "I lost to the member of another guild. I brought shame to Sabertooth."

Jiemma through the vine of grapes at her head in anger, letting the purple juice cover her light blue hair. "That's not what I'm talking about! You wagered your life and lost, and not only that, the enemy took pity on you! On Sabertooth!" Jiemma said.

"Yes. I will submit to any punishment." Yukino stated.

"Then throw away everything." Jiemma ordered.

Yukino bowed. "Yes. I will do exactly as you say." She said.

And so ended the second day of the Grand Magic Games. Somehow, Fairy Tail emerged as a contender, even while staying in last place, but on the underside of the spectacular festival, something most of them never dreamed of was slowly set into motion.

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A/N: Another chapter is done! Thanks for reading!

Word Count: 2556 words.