A/N: Episode 173.

Enjoy!

edited on september 6th, 2024 @ 8:56pm

✧༝┉┉┉┉┉˚*❋ ❋ ❋*˚┉┉┉┉┉༝✧

┏━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━┓

𝓒𝙷𝙰𝙿𝚃𝙴𝚁 𝚃𝚆𝙴𝙽𝚃𝚈,
𝓑𝙰𝚃𝚃𝙻𝙴 𝙾𝙵 𝚃𝙷𝙴 𝙳𝚁𝙰𝙶𝙾𝙽 𝚂𝙻𝙰𝚈𝙴𝚁𝚂.

┗━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━┛

"𝗔𝗟𝗥𝗜𝗚𝗛𝗧! 𝗧𝗛𝗘 𝗦𝗘𝗖𝗢𝗡𝗗 𝗠𝗔𝗧𝗖𝗛 𝗜𝗦 𝗡𝗘𝗫𝗧. From Lamia Scale, Lyon and Yuka!" Chapati announced as Lyon and Yuka walked out into the arena. "And from Mermaid Heel, Kagura and Millianna are competing!"

"Feelin' spiffy!" Millianna exclaimed. "Let's feel the love for Mermaid Heel!"

"Yajima-san, what are your thoughts on this match?" Chapati asked.

"I wouldn't be surprised if either side won." Yajima replied. "I'm certainly looking forward to this match."

"Both Lyon and Yuka are strong opponents! Millianna! Don't let your guard down!" Erza called out.

"Are you rooting for Mermaid Heel?" Gajeel asked.

"Yeah. We've known each other for a long time. It's only natural that I'd want to support her." Erza responded.

"Gray, you've known Lyon for a long time, right?" Laxus questioned, looking at Gray. "Aren't you interested in this?"

"Not really. We're in different guilds now and are rivals." Gray responded.

Erza looked at Natsu, who was leaning over the balcony. "What's wrong, Natsu?" She asked.

"I was thinking that Lucy would probably like to see the matches, too." Natsu replied.

"In that case, let's watch it carefully for her. So we can tell her about it later." Erza said.

"Guess you're right... Alright! I'll do it." Natsu said, standing up.

"I hope Mermaid Heel wins." Happy commented. "I've known Millianna since the Tower of Heaven business, see."

"I guess I'm rooting for Lamia Scale. They've been a big help." Levy said.

"Certainly, we have a history with Lamia Scale..." Macao began.

"... but all of the Mermaid Heel wizards are beauties, right?" Wakaba finished, causing Levy to sigh and turn to Juvia.

"Juvia, I guess you're cheering for Lyon, huh?" She questioned.

"You've been approached by Lyon more than once, right?" Cana teased.

"Having a woman's heart, you must be interested, right?" Mira asked.

"Juvia... Juvia..." Juvia started to say. "... wanted to stay on the team and battle alongside Gray-sama... That's it! There's still a chance! If someone on the team gets injured during the match, and they become short a person..."

Juvia's imagination went wild again. "As a member of the guild, Juvia is a bad girl for wishing injuries on her comrades! But Juvia wants to be by Gray-sama's side!"

"And yet...! Juvia doesn't want her guildmates to get hurt! What should Juvia do?!"

"W-What's wrong, Juvia?" Levy asked.

"Is there something on your mind?" Mira questioned.

"We'll give you good counsel, so go ahead and share with us girls." Cana said.

"Sam, I'm guessing you're going to be rooting for Lamia?" Takashi asked.

"Of course I am. Don't ask stupid questions you obviously know the answer to, flame head." Samuel responded as Takashi sends him a glare.

"After this match is over, the next one is between Fairy Tail and Sabertooth at last." Makarov stated.

Mavis turned to him. "All we need to do is have faith in them. Let's take a load off and wait..." She tried to sit down, but she ended up falling.

"First Master!"

"Everyone, make sure you look before you sit down." Happy sweat dropped.

Wind breezed through. "Maybe... Jellal is watching this match from the stands..." Millianna thought.

"Millianna... Focus." Kagura told her, snapping her out of her thoughts.

"I know!" Millianna said.

"At first, try fighting this match on your own. I'm going to hold back for a while." Kagura informed.

"I don't believe this! Why?!" Millianna asked.

"So you can gain experience... Match or not, this is a real fight. How far can you battle with just your own power? You should try it." Kagura replied.

"Alright. I will!" Millianna clenched her fist in determination.

"Our opponents are two women. But if we don't go all out against those two, it's doubtful that we'll achieve victory." Yuka said.

"That's because Kagura is one of them. But if I strut my stuff for her... I'm sure she'll think more highly of me!" Lyon declared.

Yuka sweat dropped. "Hey, that might be a little cocky..." He mumbled.

"Hey! If you don't do this right, I'll make the both of you spin!" Obaba threatened.

"The time limit is 30 minutes! Alright, let the match begin-kabo!" Mato announced as the gong was soon heard.

Millianna removed her cape. "Victory goes to the swiftest!" She claimed. "Cat Binding Tube!"

Both Lyon and Yuka dodged the orange tube. "Is Millianna fighting alone?!" Beth asked.

"Will she be okay against opponents from Lamia Scale?" Arana wondered.

"Kagura must have figured she'd be able to handle it. Let's leave it to her judgment." Risley said.

"Kagura-chan doesn't need to take part!" Millianna stated as she continued to attack Lyon and Yuka who continued to dodge.

"They're really making light of us..." Sherry muttered.

"They must be confident..." Sherria agreed.

"You... Mermaid Heel... Lyon! Yuka! Do whatever you have to do to win! Show them how strong we are!" Obaba shouted as she was spinning in circles.

"Kagura is just watching?" Yuka questioned.

"In that case, let's drag her to the party!" Lyon said, placing his fists together. "Ice-Make: Eagle!"

Ice-like eagles headed for Kagura but were intercepted by orange tubes, shattering them. "Don't ignore me!" Millianna exclaimed.

"Wave!" Yuka called out as Millianna dodged his attacks, leaping up into the air. "She's fast!"

"Kitten Blast!" Millianna shouted as a pink light appeared.

"A fake-out, huh?" Yuka guessed.

"Gotcha!" Millianna exclaimed as she began punching Yuka. "Cat punch! Cat punch! Punch!"

"There it is! The first attack that's landed is by Mermaid Heel!" Chapati announced.

"Great! You're cookin' with gas!" Happy said.

"She's totally relaxed as she fights. Maybe it's because she feels secure with Kagura behind her." Erza commented.

Millianna leaped off of Yuka. "You ain't seen nothin' yet! I train with Kagura-chan every day!" She took off her gloves, revealing her sharp nails. "Secret weapon!"

Millianna scratched both of Lyon and Yuka's faces. "Scratch attack!" She finished. "What's wrong? You're not putting up any resistance!"

"This is a surprise! Those two are the go-to wizards of Lamia Scale, but Millianna isn't giving an inch!" Chapati said.

"It seems that both of her opponents are flummoxed by her quick, cat-like moves." Yajima commented.

"Ow... That girl is better than I thought..." Yuka said.

"If she weren't, it wouldn't be interesting!" Lyon stated.

"Cat Binding Tube!" Millianna attacks with her orange tubes again.

"But..." Yuka extended his hands out and created a wave. "... my wave can nullify Magic attacks!"

"Huh. In that case, how's this?! Cat Binding Tube! Double! Triple! Uh..." Millianna began using her fingers to count. "A lot!"

"So you can produce several at once, huh?" Yuka questioned.

"My techniques are evolving, too!" Millianna claimed.

Yuka created another wave shield to block the tubes. However, one leaped around his shield and wrapped around his wrist.

"Ice-Make: Eagle!" Lyon called out, releasing Yuka. "She's doing it again!"

"You're just wasting your energy!" Millianna stated as she continued attacking Lyon and Yuka and then tying them up. "Well? How about giving up?"

"This is no good... At this rate, I won't be able to look cool in front of Juvia!" Lyon claimed.

Yuka sweat dropped. "Hey, you're still worried about that?"

"But... I have brains as well as techniques! This is the only thing to do against a cat opponent!" Frost covered Lyon's fist. "Ice-Make: Mouse!"

Millanna began following the ice mouse. "A mouse! Whee! Wait for me!" Millianna soon stopped chasing the mouse. "Don't insult my intelligence!"

"Next up is this! Blow, blizzard!" Lyon shouted as a blizzard soon appeared and Millianna shivered.

"I-It's cold... Cats don't like winter..." She soon spots a warm place. "A kotatsu! Cats love kotatsus... It's comfy and warm..."

"Would you stop treating me like a cat?!" Millianna shouted.

"I didn't think they'd trick Millianna with that kind of method!" Risley said.

"That's Lyon of Lamia Scale for you. You can't be too cautious with him." Arana commented.

"Um... Are you guys really that impressed?" Beth questioned.

"Did you see that, Juvia? My beautiful brain play!" Lyon exclaimed as Juvia looked horrified. "She's turned off..."

"Lyon Vastia... You haven't directly attacked Millianna yet." Kagura noted.

Mato was jumping back and forth. "Great! Great! This is a tough battle for both Mermaid Heel and Lamia Scale! Kabo! Kabo! Kabo!"

"Hey! Lyon and Yuka, quit standing around! If you don't win this right now, I'm gonna make you spin!" Obaba exclaimed.

"What happens if you get spun?" Sherria whispered to her cousin.

"I can't really describe it, but anyway, it's really bad for sure!" Sherry sweat dropped.

"Obaba's right. At this rate, we're gonna run out of the 30-minute time limit and it'll be a draw." Yuka informed.

"Then I have no choice. I intended to save Kagura for last, but..." Lyon placed his fists together. "Ice-Make: Snow Tiger!"

Millianna freaked out as the ice tiger attacked her before she began running away. "I love cats, but tigers are another thing!" She claimed before running right into the arena wall, falling to the ground. "Kagura-chan... I'm sorry..."

"I suppose I have to participate after all..." Kagura stepped forward.

"So you've finally decided to play, Kagura!" Lyon exclaimed.

"I'll go first!" Yuka said. "Wave!"

Yuka's attack flew right by Kagura. "An attack that nullifies your opponent's Magic, eh? However..." Kagura destroyed his attack. "... it's meaningless if your opponent doesn't use Magic attacks!"

Kagura charged at Yuka. "Good heavens! Mermaid Heel's Kagura... is overpowering her opponent with her sheathed sword!" Chapati said.

"Wave!" Yuka called out once again.

"You're slow!" Kagura exclaimed before finally taking Yuka down.

The audience soon cheered. "Incredible! She's downed Yuka by not giving him a moment to retaliate! At last, it's just Kagura and Lyon! One on one!" Chapati said.

✧༝┉┉┉┉┉˚*❋ ❋ ❋*˚┉┉┉┉┉༝✧

"She beat one of them without even drawing her sword? Impressive..." Laxus complimented.

"Yeah. Kagura is an expert with a sheathed sword." Erza agreed.

"Maybe she'd be a worthy opponent for my Iron Dragon's Sword." Gajeel grinned as Gray stayed silent with his arms crosssed and leaning against the wall.

"W-Will Lyon be okay?" Sherria asked.

"Even though he had a hard time against Millianna, going one on one against Kagura..." Sherry trailed off.

"What? Lyon hasn't unleashed his true strength yet. Lyon! No matter what, you better win!" Obaba shouted. "Show her your true power!"

"I've heard about you. You once went by the name 'Reitei'. You attempted a dangerous ritual in order to fight Deliora." Kagura said.

"That was a long time ago. Now, I'm Lyon, a wizard with Lamia Scale. Nothing more or less. But something about you reminds me of the way I used to be. Back when I was driven by hatred and had lost sight of something..." Lyon stated.

"Let me ask you one thing. Why didn't you attack Millianna directly? Did you hold back because she's a woman? Or just because you didn't want to reveal your strategy to me?" Kagura asked.

"Who knows? Maybe you'll find out when you fight me!" Lyon readied his Magic. "Ice-Make: Dragonfly!"

Kagura easily moved through the attack. "Ice-Make: Eagle!" Lyon shouted before Kagura knocked him down on the ground.

"Kagura really is strong! Is Lyon powerless to do anything?!" Chapati said.

"What are you doin', Lyon?!" Lyon looked over upon hearing Gray's voice. "And you were Ur's disciple?!"

"Nii-san's right!" Samuel's voice was heard next as Lyon looked towards the Fairy Tail stands. "Looking at you right now, I wouldn't think you were the same guy who taught me everything I know about Ice-Make Magic! You're stronger than that, Master!"

"Get your act together now!" Gray and Samuel shouted in unison.

"They're right. Show me what you've really got, Lyon Vastia!" Kagura exclaimed.

"Yeah. Besides, looking uncool in front of my student would be lame of me." Lyon agreed. "Ice-Make: Snow Tiger!" An ice tiger appeared. "Ice-Make: Snow Ape!"

An ape made of ice appeared on his other side. "Ice-Make: Snow Dragon!" Lyon shouted, the ice dragon appearing behind him. "I bet not even you will be able to escape this!"

The three ice sculptures charged forward as Kagura jumped in the air and landed on the ground.

"You can create all these at the same time? Still..." Kagura's sword glowed as a dark pink Magic Circle appeared above the arena. Kagura was also glowing the same color as Lyon was in the air.

"There it is! Her ace in the hole, Gravity Change!" Beth said.

"Yep! That's Kagura's Magic!" Risley stated.

"Still, for Kagura to use Gravity Change, it proves that Lyon guy is a tough opponent." Arana commented.

"W-What power!" Lyon said as Kagura jumped and destroyed the ice sculptures.

"It ends here!" Kagura shouted, appearing from the Magic Circle.

Just as she was about to strike Lyon, the gong rang out. "Time's up! 30 minutes have passed! It's a tie-kabo!" Mato announced.

"The result is a draw! It wasn't settled after 30 minutes!" Chapati said.

"So close!"

The Magic Circle soon disappeared as both Kagura and Lyon landed on the ground.

"Just a little more time and Lyon would've been toast!"

"But a tie's a tie."

"Ah, well, it looks like Kagura isn't too bothered by it..." Risley commented.

"He squeaked by with a draw."

"But what a close call..."

"This is what happens when you've got girls on the mind! When you get back here, you're going to spin and spin and spin! I'm gonna spin you like never before!" Obaba claimed.

"Kagura really is strong, you know?" Yuka commented.

"And I don't think she was pulling out all the stops..." Lyon said.

"It's the same every year. Nobody's seen Kagura get totally serious before." Yuka reminded.

"Kagura-chan, I'm sorry..." Millianna apologized.

"That Lyon has natural aptitude. If this was a life-or-death battle instead of a match, you'd be dead right now." Kagura stated. "Get stronger, Millianna. I'm going to train you harder."

"Right!" Millianna agreed.

"The crowd is still pumped up here at the arena! But don't take your eyes off of the next battle!" Chapati announced.

"At last!" Mavis exclaimed.

"Yep. At last..."

"At long last!"

"Finally..." Levy began.

"... the time has come!" Cana finished.

"Natsu-san, Gajeel-kun, don't get hurt! No injuries! Nobody is allowed to get hurt!" Juvia shouted.

"Why are you so obsessed with injuries?" Mira questioned.

"I'll be right back." Samuel told his friends before walking away.

✧༝┉┉┉┉┉˚*❋ ❋ ❋*˚┉┉┉┉┉༝✧

"Sting."

Both Sting and Rogue turned, seeing Samuel walk up to them. Samuel turned to Rogue. "Sorry. I know you have a match. But can I have a moment alone with Sting real quick?" He asked.

Rogue nodded, glancing at Sting. "I'll meet you in the arena." He informed, taking his leave.

Sting smirked upon seeing his other earring dangling from Samuel's right ear. "Wearing my other earring, huh? You're getting pretty bold, Sam." He teased.

"Shut up! I'm not wearing it for you." Samuel scoffed. "I shouldn't even be here. I should be pissed at you for laughing at Lucy-san. And defending that... witch who hurt her."

"I know."

"Tch!" Samuel muttered under his breath before kissing Sting, who returned it.

Samuel soon pulled away. "Good luck out there." He said.

"With you kissing me like that, I won't lose." Sting claimed.

"Enough! Don't keep Rogue waiting any longer!"

Sting chuckled before entering the arena.

✧༝┉┉┉┉┉˚*❋ ❋ ❋*˚┉┉┉┉┉༝✧

"I'm sure all of our viewers have been eagerly looking forward to this battle." Chapati announced as Natsu, Gajeel, Sting, and Rogue entered the arena. "A fateful showdown between the guild that was called the strongest seven years ago and the strongest current guild! Fairy Tail's Natsu and Gajeel versus Sabertooth's Sting and Rogue! And all four of them are Dragon Slayers. All four possess anti-dragon Magic."

"Sting-kun..." Lector muttered.

"I've been waiting for this moment." Sting thought.

Somewhere warm and fiery stood Igneel. "The White Dragon, Weisslogia... The Shadow Dragon, Skiadrum... Show me... Have humans surpassed dragons? Or is that just a fleeting dream? It is almost time for us to act... The Festival of the Dragon King is almost upon us." He spoke.

"The dream Dragon Slayer showdown is finally happening!" Chapati said as Samuel soon rejoined Takashi and Kali in the Fairy Tail stands.

"Sock it to 'em!" Gray encouraged.

"Get 'em for us, too!" Laxus said.

"I have faith you'll win!" Erza added.

"It's about to start." Wendy stated.

"I'm sure Natsu will be okay. I'm sure he'll win!" Lucy claimed.

"The time to clash is here at last! Who will win, Fairy or Tiger?! All four dragons are on the battlefield!" Chapati said.

"Fight to the best of your ability. There's nothing else to say." Makarov claimed as Jiemma said nothing.

"I've been waiting years for this, Natsu-san." Sting thinks to himself as the four Dragon Slayers stared at one another.

"I've been looking forward to it, too-kabo! The time limit is 30 minutes! Let the match begin!" Mato called out as the gong rang out.

"Here I go!" Sting said.

"Yeah!" Rogue agreed as Sting and Rogue paused, seeing that Natsu and Gajeel were already charging at them. Natsu punched Sting while Gajeel grabbed onto Rogue's cloak. Natsu then kicked Sting to the side as he skidded on the ground.

"White Dragon's Roar!" Sting made the first move, shooting out a white laser beam at Natsu, who moved out of the way.

"A laser?!" Natsu exclaimed as Gajeel jumped out of the way.

Shadows came from Rogue's hand. "Shadow Dragon's Slash!" He called out as Gajeel's arm transformed into a sword, blocking Rogue's attack and sending him crashing into the arena wall.

"Rogue!" Sting shouted.

Natsu slammed Rogue into Sting as flames came from his hands.

"Fire Dragon's Wing Attack!" Natsu shouted, sending Sting and Rogue into the air.

"W-What's this?! Sting and Rogue... The Twin Dragons of Fiore's strongest guild are on the ropes!" Chapati exclaimed.

"He really is strong... But I'd be disappointed otherwise." Sting commented.

"Gajeel..." Rogue muttered.

"Did you two really defeat dragons with power like that?" Natsu asked.

"Not defeat... I killed a dragon with this very hand." Sting replied.

"Wasn't it your parent?" Natsu questioned.

"It's got nothin' to do with you. From now, I'm gonna show you the power that killed a dragon!" Sting responded. "White Drive..."

"Shadow Drive." Rogue said, activating his Drive as well.

Sting and Rogue glowed their elements as they got into a fighting stance.

"Let's go!"

✧༝┉┉┉┉┉˚*❋ ❋ ❋*˚┉┉┉┉┉༝✧

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

Word Count: 2979 words.