" ": You talking

' ': You thinking

* *: Narrator/Voice-off

Your POV:

Erza: You guys... Where have you been wandering around up till now ?!

Gray: Just another boring diner...

Lucy: Well... It's complicated... Well, I mean... Err...

Sting: If the main event ends up being a battle, I'll show you what the true power of a dragonslayer is.

Natsu: Ngggghhh...

Lector: That cat that's with that outdated dragonslayer reeks of stupidity, doesn't he ?

Frosch: Fro thinks so too.

Happy: Ngggghhhh...

Rogue: It's too bad you aren't taking part in the Game. We were looking forward to the opportunity of "Slaying" you. Dragon...

"... Tch."

Happy/Natsu: I'M GONNA GET THOSE GUYS BACK, NO MATTER WHAT !!

"Yeah, you do that."

Erza: Anyways, where's Wendy ?

Lucy: That's right...

Gray: She's late...

Happy: She should be with Carla, so I don't think they're lost

"It's almost 12, though... She's out there all alone..."

Lucy's mind:

Lucy: Aaahh... What should we do...

Gray: Do all writers have this overactive imagination ?

"Not all... Mine is lame. But anyways, I already told Mew to inform the master of the situation. Just so he can take measures."

Elfman: Yo ! We brought snacks.

Lisanna : Tomorrow's almost there.

Natsu: Elfman, Lisanna ! You're back from your mountain stay ?

Elfman: We planned on it to increase our strength a lot... But we made a bad choice... Uwaah ! Me, too !! me, too !! I wanna show off for Lisanna !

"There, there. Don't worry, you'll get you occasion to shine, eventually."

Lucy: hey, do you mind if I ask you something ? Wendy hasn't come back to our lodging yet...

Gray: And we probably shouldn't go anywhere after 12:00... the rule said to be here at midnight...

"... Yes... Understood."

Natsu: What are the news ?

"Wendy hasn't be found yet, but everyone's searching. Master said you don't need to worry about that right now, and concentrate on what's ahead of you."

Gray: Speaking of... It's already 12. What's gonna happen ?

Announcer: TO ALL THE GUILDS HERE FOR THE GRAND MAGIC GAMES ! GOOD MORNING ! IN ORDER TO REDUCE THE PARTICIPATING TEAM FROM 113 DOWN TO 8... WE WILL NOW BEGIN A "PRELIMINARY EVENT" !

Gray: Preliminary ?!

Erza: No one said anything about that !!

Natsu: What's that ?! It's huuuuuge !!

Lucy: It's like a 3D projection !

Happy: A pumpkin !!

"113 guilds... That sounds like too much, even for all of Fiore..."

Erza: 'if they were going to have a preliminary event, they should have told us... This whole setup is mysterious... And too many guilds... A mysterious magical presence... Maybe it's the event organizers we should be suspicious of ?'

Pumpkin: EVERY YEAR MORE AND MORE GUILDS COME. THAT'S A SIGN THIS EVENT WAS STARTING TO BE TAKEN TOO LIGHTLY~. THIS YEAR, WE'VE BROUGHT THE NUMBER OF FINAL COMPETING TEAMS DOWN TO 8~. THE PRELIMINARY RULES ARE SIMPLE !!

*BROOOOOOOOOM*

Gray: What's happening ?!

Natsu: UGHP !!

"This is..."

Pumpkin: YOU WILL ALL NOW COMPETE WITH EACH OTHER. THE GOAL IS THE EVENT GROUNDS, DOMUS FLAU.

Erza: The whole place is transforming ?!

Pumpkin: THE FIRST 8 TEAMS TO MAKE IT WILL PARTICIPATE IN THE EVENT.

Lucy: Look !! the other lodgings, too !!

Elfman: Transformations are what being a man is all about !!

Gray: A path is forming !

Erza: So we're supposed to follow that ?

Pumpkin: YOUR LODGINGS WILL BE THE STARING LINE FOR THIS PRELIMINARY EVENT. FEEL FREE TO USE ANY MAGIC YOU LIKE, THERE ARE NO RESTRICTIONS, AS LONG AS YOU'RE ONE OF THE FIRST 8 TEAMS TO MAKE IT. BUT IF ALL 5 MEMBERS DON'T MAKE IT THERE, YOU STILL LOSE. AND~ ONE~ MORE~ THING~... WE TAKE NO RESPONSIBILITY FOR ANYONE WHO LOSES THEIR LIFE IN THE LABYRINTH~...

Natsu: LABYRINTH ?!

Pumpkin: THE GRAND MAGIC GAMES' PRELIMINARY EVENT !! SKY LABYRINTH, HAS BEGUN !!

Natsu: What is that ?!

Lucy: So we're trying to make it up there to the goal...

Gray: If this is a competition, we'd better hurry...

Erza: Wait. The rules are that "Five members" need to be at the goal. Wendy is still missing.

Natsu: WENDY !!

"And suddenly, I'm very glad I had Mew inform the master a few hours in advance..."

Erza: What do you mea- H- Hey? What are you doing ?!

"No time to worry about that, we've got a labyrinth ahead !! Elfman, Lisanna, we're counting on you too ! Find Wendy, at all costs !!"

Elfman: It's a man's job to look out for their friends !!

Lisanna: We'll go see who all the guild members are here !

Happy: Good luck, everybody !!

Erza: Are you sure about that ?

"It's not like we've got much of a choice here. And don't worry, even with a crutch, I can still kick ass."

Gray: Look ! The labyrinth's entrance !!

Natsu: More like the entrance to being the top guild of Fiore !! TEAM FAIRY TAIL !! LET'S GO !!

Gray: The inside is a giant 3D maze...

Natsu: GAAAAAAAH ! I'm awful at things like this !!

"No shit. First things first, we need to determine the general direction we're gonna follow."

Erza: In that case, it should be East. That's where the event grounds were.

Lucy: In that case, leave it to me ! Open ! Door to the compass constellation, Pyxis !!

Pyxis: PIKUUU !! ... ... ... ... PIKKU !

Lucy: East is that way.

Erza: Thanks, Lucy. So you brought a compass.

Gray: We should take notes while we go, and make a map.

"I can fly, if that's of any help. But don't expect me to carry you guys through the entire labyrinth."

Erza: Shh. Someone is there...

Gray: Twilight Ogre ?!! They're participating in this too ?!

Thibault: I NEVER EXPECTED WE'D BUMP INTO SOMEONE THIS SOON !! TAKE'EM OUT !! WE'VE GOT A SCORE TO SETTLE WITH YOU !!

Natsu: PISS OFF !!

*BROOOOOOOOOM*

"Uh-oh... That doesn't sound good... The floor... No... The entire labyrinth is spinning !!"

Natsu: Beugh !!

"Oh shit... Hang in there !"

Gray: It's spinning vertically ! Everyone, head for the other side !!

"Natsu, I swear if you barf on me I'm dropping you."

Erza: ...It stopped. What a labyrinth this is...

*Flap*

Gray: Ogre must have made this map. How lucky. If we put this together with the map we made, we should get a much clearer picture of this place.

Erza: ... He he he... Ahaaah, I think we've figured out another way to deal with this preliminary event.

"And we can even improve it. After all, the shortest way would be a straight line, Fairy Tail style."

Natsu: I'm all out for that. Walls or teams, we blast everything in the way.

Lucy: You guys look scary...

Gray: Let's go take everyone else's maps !!

"And while we're at it, take as many shortcuts as we can !!"

Natsu: WUOOOOH ! THAT'S MY SPECIALTY !!

Pumpkin: Congratulations on completing the preliminary event. Despite those... Unorthodox methods.

"You did say there was no restrictions."

Natsu: All right !! It totally worked out for us... So I bet we got first place, right ?

Pumpkin: Nope. You just barely made 8th place.

All: ... Ehh ?!

Erza: Listen to all that cheering...

Lucy: there's so many people...

Gray: They couldn't be just the mages from Fiore... There's probably a lot of regular people here, too...

Natsu: Anyway, what's with these clothes...

"Master said we should all be dressed in matching team colors."

Erza: I think it's a cute idea, I like it.

Gray: Yeah, me too.

"Try saying that again once you're actually wearing clothes..."

Gray: Gah ! Again ?!

Lucy: Speaking off... That you're not wearing Wendy's clothes, I can easily understand, but... How come you already have a set of the correct size ?

"That... is a question that will be answered soon enough. But in the end, me joining the team wasn't exactly expected... What happened to Wendy, that's what we should ask ourselves."

Natsu: WENDY !!

Happy: She was passed out by some bushes.

Lisanna: There's no sign of external wounds...

Wendy: E- Everyone...

Natsu: Wendy, are you okay ?! What happened ?!

Wendy: I'm sorry... I can't remember very well... Hhng !

Porlyusica: This must be magic power deficiency. Losing such a huge amount of magical power at once causes the entire body's physical strength to suffer. If she rests for a while, she should recover. Well, you already know about that, don't you ?

"Heeey..."

Lucy: P- Porlyusica ?! What are you doing here ?!

Porlyusica: Am I not allowed to come cheer you on ?

Lisanna: Uh- of course you are...

Erza: A huge amount of magical power ? What could have happened...

Wendy: I can't remember to clearly... But I seem to recall some black creature... Unh...

"Don't push yourself."

Wendy: Everyone... I'm sorry... Even after, everything with the training... I can't be a part of the team... Y/n... Please go in my place...

"You can leave that to me. I'll make it you can hear it even from here."

Porlyusica: Alright then, get out of here !! She needs rest !

Porlyusica: Don't sulk. The Grand Magic Games last for 7 days. If you recover, you should be able to make it to the main event. As fairy Tail's advising pharmacist... I'll get you fixed up, without a doubt.

Wendy: ... Thank you, Grandeeney...

Porlyusica: Don't call me that.

Natsu: Is the culprit who hurt Wendy in this event somewhere ?

Lucy: It's still too early to tell... But I think that it's very likely.

Gray: Was their aim to try and lower our battle power, or something else ?

"Whatever it is, all we can do for now is give it our all, for Wendy, too."

Erza: Let's go.

Announcer: The time has finally come, this year !! the annual festival of magic !! THE GRAND MAGIC GAMES !!

Chapati: I'm your announcer, Chapati Lola. And former council member Yajima has joined us as commentator. Thank you for being here, Yajima.

Yajima: My pleasure.

Chapati: For day one's guest, we've invited the sparkling miss Fiore, Jenny Realight of Blue Pegasus !

Jenny: We're gonna win this year, so look out~ !

Chapati: The team members have finally entered...

Yajima: yes, thank you, I'll have a coffee.

Chapati: Yajima ! Your microphone is still on and broadcasting !!

Chapati: First off is the preliminary round's 8th place. Will the be able to reclaim their past glory ? Contrary to their name, they're the wild, rowdy FAIRY TAIL !!

Crowd: *Booing*

Natsu: AGH !!

"They're booing us... Like I said, memorize their faces..."

Chapati: Even though they've gotten last place every single year, fairy Tail managed to claw their way through the preliminaries. Though of course, they made it in 8th place. But, with the return of "Team Tenrou" who have been causing trouble all over the place... Can they possibly become the top of Fiore once again ?!

Yajima: i'm so glad to see you all... Congratulations, Fairy Tail.

Lucy: Uuuu...

Erza: Keep your cool, Lucy. All we need is the cheering of our friends.

Guild: HOORAY !! HOORAY !! FAIRY TAIL !!!

"Wait a sec... Is that... ?"

Gray: Hmm ?

Lucy: No way ?!

Erza: Could that be...

Mavis: Hooray !! Hooray !! Fairy Tail !!

Guild: MASTER MAVIS !!

Mavis: I came to cheer you on.

Makarov: You came to cheer us on ? But... You...

Mavis: It's fine, don't worry. Only people with the guild crest on them can see me.

Makarov: Err... That's not what I was worried about.

Mavis: Well, being stuck on Tenrou island forever is really boring. Especially since I had company for 7 years.

Natsu: Having the first master here looking over us is reassuring !!

Gray: Even as a spirit.

Chapati: next up... Is 7th place in the preliminaries... The hounds of hell's army, QUATRO CERBERUS !!

Cerberus: WIIIIIIILD !!! OOOOOHHH !!!

Goldmine: Let's take this thing over this year, boys !!

Chapati: Coming in sixth place, we have the all-female guild... The dancers of the deep blue seas, MERMAID HEEL !!

Happy: A guild like that existed ?!

Macao/Wakaba: Agaaaaaaa~

Chapati: Fifth place is the azure wings that sparkle in the darkness, BLUE PEGASUS !!

Jenny: Everyone, do your best !!

Chapati: Fourth place... The goddess of love and war's sacred destroyers. LAMIA SCALE !!

Babasaama: Why were you 4th in the preliminaries ?! Are you guys even trying ?!

Sherria: Sorry, grandma... It was because i'm so clumsy... Kyaah !!

Lyon: Geez, Sherria...

Natsu: Who is that ?

Gray: Where's the usual "Love" at ?

"It's nice to meet someone Wendy could get along with. On another note, why is there a rabbit in Pegasus' team ?"

Yuka: Sherria is Sherry's little sister.

Toby: Ooooonnn, she's really strong.

Sherria: Yeah, my "Love" isn't nearly good enough.

Toby: I was complimenting you !!

Sherria: Ah, I'm sorry, Toby !!

Yuka: Calm down.

"They really haven't changed much, even after 7 years. But why is she making me uncomfortable... I can't put my finger on it, but something about her feels... frightening..."

Lyon: Gray, don't forget our promise. If we win, Juvia joins our guild.

Gray: I don't remember promising you anything... But it's not like we're gonna lose to you, anyway.

Ichiya: okay then, in that case, I'll have a taste of lady Erza ! *Sniff*

Erza: Quit it !!

Ichiya: Mmm~ A lovely perfume, as always.

Ren: I'll take you. Though I didn't pick you 'cause I liked you or anything.

Lucy: You've been acting this cool these past 7 years ?

Eve: Okay, then I'll take Wendy-chan~... ... ... ... Eh ?

"Piss off."

Eve: Y- Yes sir...

Hibiki: I'm gonna go join mermaid Heel !

Toby: YOU'RE WAY OFF THEIR THEME !!

Chapati: Moving on, coming in third place, we have... Now this is quite a surprise, in third place we have a first-time competing guild !! The midnight raiders, RAVEN TAIL !!

Natsu: Raven Tail ?!

"That's... Master's Son, Ivan..."

Erza: But, that means...

Makarov: A DARK GUILD !! The Grand Magic games are okay with letting a dark guild participate ?! WELL ?!

Mavis: I do feel a malicious force.

Crowd: Did they say dark guild ? I've definitely never heard of that guild before.

Chapati: Well, according to our official information, raven Tail existed over 7 years ago, but had only been approved as an official guild recently.

Yajima: If they're approved by the magic council, then that means they're not a dark guild, right ?

Makarov: Damn that Ivan... He's messing with me... How did he pull this off...

Ivan: ... I've waited patiently and quietly, father. All for this day. Fairy Tail. That little girl was our way of saying hello.

Natsu: You're the ones who did that to Wendy... I won't forgive you...

Ivan: Enjoy the festival.

Makarov: Ivan...

Chapati: There's only two teams left that made it through the preliminaries.

Crowd: Huh ? One of them is Sabertooth, right ? Then who's the other one ?! All the major guilds have already been accounted for.

Gray: It looks like another powerful guild is still hiding.

Erza: I wonder if they have anything to do with that mysterious energy Jellal mentioned ?

"I doubt it. But you're about to get the answer to your previous questions."