Earth Land, Ishgar, Kingdom of Fiore, Crocus.
July 1, x791.
{"Hello, hello!"} Mato said as his face appeared on all the Lacrima-Vision screens in the Domus Flau. {"I hope you're ready for another great show of magical prowess from the best wizards our kingdom has to offer!"}
*Cheer~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~!*
In response, the audience cheered loudly in excitement. For most of the citizens of Fiore, the Grand Magic Games were the highlight of their year. So, no matter what, the answer to Mato's question was a resounding yes.
{"Good!"} Mato shouted back just as excitedly. {"Well then, I won't keep you waiting! The first event of this year's Grand Magic Games is…"}
As Mato drew out his last word, all the screens in the stadium changed, revealing the name of the event.
{"The Hidden."} Mato said in time with the changing screens. {"Now, each team should choose their competitor. Once that's done, I'll tell you all the rules."}
And with that, Mato fell silent. Meanwhile, every wizard in the arena turned to Team Steel Threads to see who they would send into the event.
"Are we seriously doing this again?" Alfonzo groaned exasperatedly as he looked around at everyone who was staring at him. "Can't we just play it like we're supposed to? I mean, you're not supposed to know who the other team is sending up, right?"
"Stop acting like that, Alfonzo." Laxus said while rolling his eyes. "After what you showed last year, everyone here wants to compete with you. That should be no surprise. And you should know that."
In response, all the other wizards, other than Team Steel Threads, nodded their heads, the determination to test themselves against one of the strongest wizards in Ishgar shining in their eyes.
"Oh, don't get it twisted." Alfonzo said, his exasperation giving way to a self-confident smile. "It's not that I don't' get it. In fact, if I were in your shoes, I'd probably be doing the same shit."
As he spoke, Alfonzo shrugged his shoulders while letting his gaze land on every member of every team other than his own.
"Hey, Lici, I don't' think I've ever seen him smile like that before." Marin said, whispering into Elicia's ear. "But it's kinda hot."
"*Sigh* That smile means the old Fonzie is about to come out." Elicia said while shaking her head. "And I thought he was gone."
"What do you mean?" Sun asked while tilting her head in curiosity.
"Well, do you remember when Fonzie lost his arm and Erza… um… slapped me for what I said about it?" Elicia asked, sounding a little embarrassed to bring up such a thing.
In response, Sun tilted her head to the other side while thinking about that day nearly ten years ago. Ur, on the other hand, wore a contemplative expression, as she, too, tried to remember the story she heard back then.
*Clap!*
A moment later, Sun clapped her hands as she remembered what happened while Ur raised her head with realization in her expression.
"Back then, you used to always say he was being arrogant." Ur and Sun said in unison.
"Really?" Marin asked curiously. "Arrogant? Fonzie?"
"Yeah, I was wrong back then." Elicia said while covering her face with her hands. "But he really was arrogant at one point. Because of his talent. And that smile…"
"But you have to understand." Alfonzo said having finally making eye contact with all the other wizards. "It's not gonna make a difference. No matter what you do, I'm not gonna lose. So, if you all wanna get spanked that bad, I'll join this first game."
"… means he's gonna say something really arrogant." Elicia continued as Alfonzo's words ended. "Then again, it's not really arrogance since Fonzie can usually back up what he says."
At the same time, with Alfonzo's declaration, some of the more hot-headed wizards in the crowd were ready to rush him immediately. Luckily, their teammates were there to keep them from getting themselves disqualified.
"Nice job painting a target on your back, Kid." Ur said while shaking her head with an amused grin on her face.
"Well, I'm just trying to motivate the competition." Alfonzo replied with a shrug. "Honestly, after my breakthrough, there really aren't many people on the continent, let alone the kingdom, that can fuck with me, you know?"
"*Sigh* I really wanna call you out on that and say you're getting too big for your britches." Ur said while once again shaking her head. "But I know you're telling the truth. So, I'll just keep my mouth shut."
"Anyway, we'll head up to our seats." Elicia said as she placed her arms on Alfonzo's shoulder before raising up on the tips of her toes and kissing him on the cheek. "There's no reason for us to stay here anymore since our participant has been decided."
Despite saying that, Elicia looked deep into Alfonzo's eyes, the two sharing a silent conversation. Then, they both smiled before breaking eye contact.
As a matter of fact, this outcome was already decided. In other words, Alfonzo and Elicia had discussed what they would do if the games were the same as the ones in the canon version of the x791 Grand Magic Games, Alfonzo would participate in the first game. And if they were different, Elicia would enter.
After breaking eye contact, Elicia started walking towards the stands. Marin and Sun then both gave Alfonzo a kiss for good luck while Ur walked way and waved over her shoulder.
Meanwhile, the stronger members of each team were arguing about who would participate in the game and make Alfonzo eat his arrogant words. The worst among them being the other two teams from Fairy Tail. Though, there were two teams who did not even have to think about who would participate.
The first of those two teams was Lamia Scale, who sent Jura. As one of the Ten Wizard Saints, he was the only choice. And the other team was Quatro Cerberus. However, instead of sending out their ace, Bacchus, they sent out Guy.
'That's about what I expected from Lamia Scale. Jura is the only one on their team who could even think about keeping up with me.' Alfonzo thought to himself as he watched the wizards from Lamia Scale and Quatro Cerberus return to the stands. 'But I wasn't expecting that from Bacchus. It looks like he's gotten better at keeping his head. With him participating in an other event, it raises his chances of getting a win. Though, Guy could probably give me a run for my money in my base form if he opened the [Seventh Gate]. But that won't help in an event like this.'
As time passed, the other teams were also able to choose their participants. However, it was obvious that not everyone was okay with the choices. Most notably, Natsu and Gajeel, who really wanted to fight Alfonzo after his declaration.
As for those who would be participating, it would be Alfonzo from Fairy Tail Team A, Yoruichi from Mermaid Heel, Laxus from Fairy Tail Team B, Erza from Fairy Tail team C, Rufus from Sabertooth, Jura from Lamia Scale, Ichiya from Blue Pegasus, and Guy from Quatro Cerberus.
{"Well, it looks like you've all made your decisions."} Mato said excitedly, his voice once again ringing around the Domus Flau. {"Then, let's not keep these people waiting. Here are the rules for the event!"}
At the same time, a list of rules for the event showed up on all the lacrima-Vision screens while Mato spoke them aloud.
{"The event will take place in a magically created town."} Mato continued, beginning his explanation. {"Each participant will start in a random location in the town. The objective is to land attacks on the other wizards. And for each attack landed, the attacking wizard will receive one point while the attacked wizard will lose one point. The player with the most points after thirty minutes will be the winner."}
Hearing that, seven of the eight contestants started eyeing up the rest of the competition, forming battle plans in their heads. Of course, Alfonzo was the exception. Instead of sizing up his opponents, he stood with his arms crossed and his head raised proudly, making most of the competitors annoyed by his arrogance.
Though, there were two people, the only female participants in this event, Erza and Yoruichi, who were looking at Alfonzo with stars in their eyes.
'When he shows such confidence, he really is attractive.' Erza thought to herself while sneaking the occasional glance at her husband. 'And that was one of the reasons I fell in love with him in the first place.'
'Damn it… Seeing him every year is not making things easy for me.' Yoruichi thought to herself. 'I really need to find a way to get those women of his, especially Cana, to forgive me. Otherwise, I'm going to end up driving myself insane.'
While everyone was lost in their thoughts or creating plans for the event, they were pulled back to the here and now when Mato spoke once again.
{"But there's a catch!"} Mato exclaimed loudly. He then lowered his volume back to normal as he continued. {"And that catch is that there will be numerous magical clones of all you roaming the town, as well. And guess what!"}
A frown appeared on most of the contestants' faces when they heard that. And the reason was simple. They all felt like they knew where this was going."
{"If you accidentally attack one of the clones, then you'll lose a point."} Mato said, making all the contestants, other than the three from Fairy Tail, groan. {"So, you better be careful~~~~~."}
"Great…" Yoruichi said with a pout. "It's almost like this event was made for you Fairy Tail wizards."
"Indeed." Guy added with a smile. "But I know that your guild is far too youthful to fix the games like that."
"What the hell does being youthful have anything to do with it?" Laxus asked, genuinely confused by Guy's statement.
Instead of replying, Guy only raised a thumb in Laxus' direction while smiling so brightly that his teeth sparkled.
"Miss Yoruichi is right, though." Jura said in a peaceful tone. "That ability you have to track magic power signatures will definitely be useful in an event like this."
"It matters not!" Ichiya said, his usual dramatic flare on full display as he held up his hands. "For as long as we give it our all and leave no regrets, we can be proud of our showings in today's event, no matter the outcome."
*Smack!* x 2
"For the last time, please don't try to touch my wife, you little gremlin." Alfonzo said as he appeared next to Erza in a burst of speed and slapped the hand Ichiya was using to reach for her hand.
"Seriously, don't touch me either." Yoruichi added as she slapped Ichiya's other hand away. "And you call yourself a gentleman. But you're always trying to touch a lady without receiving their permission."
While he was used to having his hands slapped away, Ichiya never really took it to heart. However, when he heard what Yoruichi said, his whole body stiffened. Then, his eyes widened in realization.
"You're right." Ichiya said in a despondent tone as he fell to his hands and knees. "How could I have not noticed such a thing? To think I've been acting in such an uncouth manner. How disgraceful… Men…"
Seeing Ichiya's reaction, everyone stared at him dumbfoundedly for a few moments. Even Mato, who was ready to continue onto the beginning of the event stayed silent, not knowing what to do.
A moment later, however, Guy was the first to move. After forging a friendship with Ichiya during last year's Grand Magic Games, he hurried over to check on his friend.
Meanwhile, Erza, after finally hearing something that might keep Ichiya away from her, turned to Yoruichi with stars shining in her eyes, and immense gratitude in her expression. She then rushed forward to Yoruichi and grabbed her hands.
"I must thank you!" Erza said with heartfelt emotion in her tone. "For so many years, Ichiya has harassed me with his notion of gentlemanliness. And no matter how many times I reject him, or Alfonzo intervenes, nothing has stopped him from trying again. But now, I can finally see hope. Hope of the harassment ending. Thank you! Thank you so much, Yoruichi."
Overwhelmed by Erza's enthusiasm, Yoruichi did not know what to say at first. Yet, when she saw the relieved tears that were welling up in the swordswoman's eyes, she smiled gently.
'Well, it wasn't my intention when I said it.' Yoruichi thought to herself. 'But this might be the first step to gaining their forgiveness.'
*Clang!*
So overcome with emotion, Erza, while Yoruichi was lost in her thoughts, pulled the Mermaid Heel ace into a hug. Unfortunately for Yoruichi, that meant her head was slammed into Erza's chest plate, leaving her completely dazed.
Meanwhile, all the Fairy Tail wizards in the arena, even Cana and the Lucy from the future, all felt some level of pity for Yoruichi, since most of them had experienced something similar in the past.