Hidden Powers
[NaLu Fanfiction]
By: JeRein_14

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Chapter 37: Preliminaries

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Normal POV

  People, both magic and non magic folk, flooded the streets of Crocus. Shops and stores were filled with busy shoppers, all wanting to get their errands done before the awaited games started. Hotels and Inns were mostly fully booked with the tremendous amount of tourists all arriving from all parts of Fiore. It'll be a busy and hectic week, most citizens reckon.

  It was that time of the year again. No. Not Christmas. The time where all wizarding guilds from across the land gathers to fight for the title as number one guild of the continent. Excitement was evident in the faces of almost everyone as they impatiently counted the hours before the event begins. Hundreds of guilds started arriving earlier that week, hoping to find a comfortable inn to rent before they ran out. North, South, East and West. No matter where they came from. They all had come to Crocus for one purpose only. To come on top. They all boasted how they're going to win this year's games and overthrow the previous champion. It's safe to say that everyone within the vicinity of the city was pretty much alive and rowdy.

  Fairy Tail had arrived a day before the games itself. Upon arrival, they had been receiving dirty looks from passersby. Some were pointing, few were laughing, most were whispering. It was no secret that they were all talking about them. Just not clear what..

  "What are they looking at?" Came the irritated response of the guild's own Ice Make Mage. Along side his guild mates, they strode through the busy and bustling streets.

  "Been wondering that myself. What are they whispering all about?" The red head and known strongest woman in Fairy Tail asked, redirecting her question to the four dragonslayers—Natsu, Gajeel, Wendy and Laxus—who were amongst their group. Seeing that they have the traits of a dragon,  including enhanced senses, the requip mage knew they can hear even the smallest sound even from miles away. The dark looks the 4 were carrying ever since they step foot in the city was enough proof of that. They, indeed knew what the people around them was talking about. And judging by their somber and glowering expressions, Erza knew that it wasn't good.

  "They're saying stuffs about our guild. Nasty stuffs." Grumbled the iron dragonslayer, Gajeel.

  "What kind of 'Nasty' stuffs?" The guild's scholar inquired, raising an eyebrow questioningly at the gloomy state the dragon slayers are at.

  "How we are a disgrace and good-for-nothing cowards. Their favorite insults so far are weak, losers and a bunch of wimps." Snarled the large and toned man who wields lightning dragon slaying magic.

  "W-Wait.. Why would t-they? I mean.. We didn't do a-anything wrong, right?" The sky maiden asked, fear was evident on her eyes. That alone made the three other dragon slayers furious. Unbeknownst to others, those three view the young girl as their younger sister. Harm inflicted on her at any way would cause havoc and despair as three raging dragons of different elements would be after the person responsible. They would show no mercy. That's how protective these brother figures are.

  "Have you forgotten what we said back at the guild? Fairy Tail is viewed as the weakest guild at the moment. Apparently, no one respects us." The former stand-in Master, Macao, solemnly said as he avoided the eyes of the spectators who were bluntly whispering and pointing at them.

  "We aren't taken seriously here. No one does anymore. That's why very few missions and requests enter the guild nowadays. Most of them were simple and stupid like helping a cat get down a tree or fixing a hole in a roof. They don't think we're capable of handling big and dangerous jobs. A reason why we can't pay off our guild's debt. They're clearly underestimating us." Wakaba snorted angrily, glaring at a bunch of kids who were laughing at them.

  This casted a rather gloomy atmosphere between the group. They trudged their way to their respected inn, a heavy silence over them. They tried to ignore the snarky and hateful comments that were thrown their way. Well, all except for Natsu and Gray who didn't bothered to restrain their anger and even tried to attack a few strangers along the way. It was thanks to Erza who had taken the liberty to stop them by bashing their heads together. The inn keeper hadn't been any different from everyone. He, as well, looked down on them.

  "You bunch should be thankful I'm nice enough to accept such low class wizards such as yourselves in my humble inn." At this, the group didn't hid their glares. It needed Gajeel, Laxus and Erza to calm a raging fire dragon slayer.

  "Do not fret. We are grateful, Sir." The guild's master, who despite his kind words, had a terrifying glare masked on his old features. The inn keeper, however, took no notice of this.

  "You should be. My wife had advised me not to take you in. I would have listened to her. Then again, business is business. Despite their poor abilities and lack of skills in their chosen field, i should accept them as I'am a professional business man myself. Can't say no to customers now, can I?—Oh, seems that you're taking much of my time. Here's your key.—And oh, please refrain from doing anything that could affect my inn's reputation. Have a nice day."  With that, the impudent inn keeper shooed them away. The greatly offended mages had gone on to their assigned quarters, resigning for the night.

  "Calm down, Salamander. We'll just have to show them at the Games." The iron dragon slayer grumbled, narrowing his eyes at the fire breather who was in the verge of having an outburst.

  "Fine. We'll show them how powerful Fairy Tail really is." Natsu growled, glaring dangerously back at the front desk, where the innkeeper was currently welcoming some guests warmly, as they walk off. The Fire Mage recalled the intense and vicious training they had gone through the past 3 months just to prepare for the Grand Magic Games. It was by far the most gruesome, horrendous and dreadful months Natsu had encountered in his entire life. The guild had went to a resort and did most of their training there. Erza, Master and Laxus supervised their training personally, making sure to pay close attention to each member.

  Whilst training vigorously, they encountered a guild they had formed alliegance with, Crime Sorciere, which composed only of three members; Jellal, Ultear and Meredy. They offered them help, feeding them knowledge about Second Origin which would gradually help them enhance their magic level and power. It was Ultear, a Time Arc Mage, who performed the spell to unlock it. A painful process but was deemed successful.

  That was how they prepared for the Grand Magic Games.

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  The preliminary round was held at exactly 12 midnight. A large pumpkin headed mascot illusion shone on the middle of Crocus, enthusiastically greeting everyone within ear shot.

  "Good Morning, Crocus! The awaited annual Grand Magic Games is now about to begin!!" Citizens emerged from their rooms, into their balconies, some were peeking from their windows and a few went out to witness the first event.

  "This year, a total of 113 guilds had participated in hopes to win the title as number 1 guild in Fiore!" The mascot started his introduction, earning himself distant cheers from the small bundles of crowd scattered all over Crocus.

  "Let's start the preliminaries, shall we?" As if signalled, a a giant sky labyrinth had appeared above the city.

  "All participating teams shall enter the labyrinth and race their way towards the exit. A complex and complicated maze is to expect inside. The first 8 teams to make it shall proceed to the actual Games that will be held tomorrow morning. Of course, magic is allowed inside. All members of each team have to reach the goal or the whole team will be disqualified." Wooden paths started to appear, extending from the competing teams lodging all the way to the sky labyrinth.

  "And before i forget. A friendly reminder to all. We are not responsible to any death." Dead silence. The usual bustling crowd grew quiet at that. The pumpkin mascot didn't seem to notice as he delivered the last bits of his instructions with the same tone he used from the beginning.

  "LET'S US NOW BEGIN!!"

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Yieeeehhhh!! It's getting exciting, guys!!

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☆JeRein_14