Stellar Mischief
[NaLu Fanfiction]
By: JeRein_14

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Chapter 21

Lucy's POV

  "Welcome to the fourth day of the annual Grand Magic Games!!" Announced the pumpkin guy who enthusiastically greeted the audience once everyone got settled down on their seats. Me and my team were on our usual spot overlooking the arena. It was just the 5 of us; Natsu, Erza, Gray, Wendy and Me. Together, we're considered as the Fairy Tail Team A.

  "To start of our games for today, let us begin with the day's event!" Mixed emotion was felt. Anticipation, nervousness, anxiety, and uneasiness. It was nerve wracking.

  "Who should participate?" Our red head teammate asked, glancing at each one of us.

  "I will—"

  "Let me—" Both Natsu and Gray volunteered at the same time. They stopped mid sentence, sending the latter a glare. Before they could even start a fight, Erza had interfered.

  "Don't even start." She hissed, narrowing her eyes at the two who had retreated and was now cowering in fear.

  "I'll go.." It took a second to realize that it was me who actually spoke. I guess i accidentally spoke my thoughts out loud. Since last night, i've been thinking. During the first day, i had a humiliating lost, dragging my own reputation, the guild's and all Celestial Mages down. I tainted their already stained image. How guilty i was. It had been on my mind the past day which is why i need to compete. To not just regain what was lost, but to redeem myself. To gain back my confidence and to be able to trust and believe in myself once again.

  "Are you sure, Lucy?" It was my hot headed best friend who asked. He had crossed his arms in front of his chest and gazed at me seriously with his deep onyx eyes.

  "Yeah. I want to prove myself worthy of representing our guild." I wasn't going to back down. Once Natsu finds even a trace of doubt or hesitation in my features, he won't let me compete at all.

  "Don't speak that way, Lucy-san! Y-You're strong—"

  "I'm not really doubting my skills, Wendy. Don't worry." I smiled down at the shy dark blue haired dragon slayer.

  "Then there's n-no need to prove yourself to everyone!" She reasoned out which made me giggle. I ruffled her hair and smiled warmly at her.

  "I'm not competing to prove myself to anyone. I just want to prove something to myself. That's all. And truth be told, i don't care what others think of me. They can talk behind my back for all i care. As long as the ones i love and care about believes in me, then screw everyone else! My friends are all that matters to me anymore." They gave me proud smiles which i whole heartedly returned. It's decided then.

  "For the fourth day's event, each team has to select a person to participate. The event will occur in a large, aquatic dome-like sphere inside the arena. The rules for the event are simple, a participant automatically loses when they leave or falls out of the sphere. Using of magic is, of course, allowed." A naval battle? It will be underwater then. Smirking, i started to come up with a great strategy. I need to win this..

  "Once the battle narrows down to two people, there will be a special match. A one-on-one battle with a five-minute time limit so that both can compete for victory. The loser of the match will be awarded the least points, which is 8. BUT if a participant falls out of the water sphere before the 5 minute limit ends, he or she will come last with zero points." Woah. That's harsh.

  "Will all participants of the event kindly change into their swim wears before proceeding into the arena. Thank you."

~☆~

  "And there they go, folks! All contestants had entered the water sphere." Looking around the dome-like area, i carefully analyzed my opponents. All girls—err, except for the Quatro Cerberus guy. A gravity mage, sky god slayer, rain woman, take over mage and the girl that replaced Yukino in Sabertooth. Seems like i have quite a competition here. Above all, i'm quite queasy about Minerva. With that cryptic smirk playing on her lips, she's bound to hide something. I'm sure, though. She's strong. Probably the one i need to look out for the most, given that i don't know her magic. She's surely planning on catching us all by surprise. Unfortunately for her, she's not the only one who has the element of surprise on her side. I need to make my move before she does.

  "I'm sorry!! Gate of the Water Bearer! I open thee! Aquarius!" With a graceful swipe of the golden key, a magic circle appeared before me where a blue haired mermaid emerged from. As expected, she glared unhappily at me. She glowered and started yapping about her interrupted date and how i should get my own boyfriend.

  "You Brat! Can't you go on a day without my help?! And when will you learn about 'perfect timing'?! You insufferable—"

  "I promise to not call you for a month! " That got her to stop. She glared at me before losing herself to her thoughts. She seems interested with my offer. I guess she really got annoyed with the constant summoning. After a few seconds, she narrowed her eyes at me and lifted her water jug. At first, i thought she was going to blast me with water. It turned out that she actually considered my word.

  "I'll hold you on that." With that, she swerved her jug and upon instantly, the water was in her command. She directed the agonizing water towards my enemies who went to defensive form. It was Juvia who exerted a spell to intercept Aquarius.

  "Water Cyclone!" She casted, willing the water around her to follow her command. It only not shocked me, but Aquarius herself when both attacks were impartial and even. I know this isn't the right time but i feel a sense of pride at the sight, how strong Juvia had become over the past years. She had managed to held her own against Aquarius. Wow.. She's improved a great deal.

  "Such great display of power over water! This two Fairy Tail Mages aren't joking around! They surely taking this seriously—AND THERE GOES ROCKER FROM QUATRO CERBERUS!" I didn't dare glance away from the heated battle in front of me. Both water wielders were fighting vigorously for dominance. It was terrifyingly beautiful.

  "Tch." My head snapped up towards the sweating blue haired mermaid. Juvia must be giving her a hard time..

  "What is it, Aquarius?"

  "There's no point in continuing this. Clearly, our powers are equal. It's a waste of time. Besides, i have a date to get back to." She gave me a side glance which allowed me a view to her gleaming eyes and smug smirk.

  "Don't y-you dare leave me, Aquarius!" I squeaked, panicking at the thought of being abandoned in the middle of a match for a freakin' date.

  "Remember, Brat. You can't call me for a month unless necessary. By that i mean when you're about to die or get your ass kicked. Got that?" Shivering in fright, i loosened by grip on her tail and reluctantly allowed her to leave. I gave Juvia a sheepish smile. She understood the situation and almost smiled in triumph and victory. She openly attacked me with water, sending me to the edge of the sphere.

  "Gates of the Maiden and Ram! I open thee! Virgo! Aries! Onegai! HELP ME!" As i was about to fall out, two arms caught me and hosted me away from the edge. Opening an eye, pink wool clouded my vision.

  "You called, Princess?" Sighing in relief, i thanked them. That was close.

  "Thanks." I murmured my gratitude. Breathing in and out, i mentally prepared myself. I need to get it together. Focus and concentrate on winning. For the guild.

  "Oh wow! Juvia seems to be unstoppable! She just sent out three of the participants in one go! Chelia of Lamia Scale, Jenny of Blue Pegasus and Risley of Mermaid Heel!" That fast? Glancing around the sphere, my eyes landed on Sabertooth's participant. From what i heard, her name was Minerva. It made me uneasy, watching her just floating there as if she was just watching her favorite show. It made me wonder why she wasn't affected by Juvia's spell. There's also the fact that she hasn't used magic since we entered the sphere. Or did she? Maybe she had, i just didn't noticed or detected it.

  "Oh my, Juvia's out of the sphere!! How did that happened?" What? Glancing up, i saw her fall out of the water dome. She was dumbstruck. I think everyone was. How did it happen? She was perfectly in sync with water. I honestly thought she was going to win this match. Then, how? I doubt that she didn't noticed that she was near the edge. Maybe..

  I stared at the only remaining participant aside from me. Minerva. She had her right arm outstretched, exactly at the direction where Juvia was last at. Squinting my eyes, i see faint traces of magic aura encircling her hand. Somehow, i knew it. She used magic to push the water mage out.

  "We're down to the last two participants!"

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Helloooooooo!!

Happy New Year, guys!!

Wanna hear my New Year's Resolution? *clears throat*

I'm looking forward to write and read more books this year.. Good enough?
And well, i'm determined to find my own writing style and trademark.. Hope i find it soon. 😀😀😀

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☆JeRein_14