𝙏𝙃𝙐𝙉𝘿𝙀𝙍 // 𝙧𝙤𝙜𝙪𝙚 𝙭 𝙧𝙚𝙖𝙙𝙚𝙧

𝙖𝙣 𝙞𝙣𝙩𝙧𝙪𝙨𝙞𝙤𝙣

Crocus, the Blooming Capital of Fiore. Year X792, a year since the battle with Tartaros.

And I'm still not dead yet. In fact, I'm livelier than ever.

Sting Eucliffe, my best friend of over a year now. Rogue Cheney, my boyfriend of six months. Both are on a commission which directly requested that the Twin Dragons of Sabertooth were to take up, and only them.

It was a disappointment to learn I wouldn't be able to go, but I had another thing to look forward to. The Grand Magic Games.

Don't get too excited; Sabertooth wasn't taking part. It would be no fun without Fairy Tail - someone at our level.

So instead, while Sting and Rogue did their quest, Kuschel and I went to watch the games.

"It's the moment of truth, folks... the final day of the Grand Magic Games!" Chapati Lola's, the announcer, voice rang out through the arena. "Today we'll see who's the top guild in Fiore! Only two guilds left in the final! First, headed by the overwhelmingly poweful Crixak... Dullahan Head!"

The names were not relevant to me, nor were the people. All I could think was how easily I, or Sting, or Rogue, or Natsu or Gray or anyone would be able to beat them so, incredibly easily.

My mind left the scene before me, Chapati Lola's and Mr. Yajima's voices becoming simply background noise as I remembered how, this time last year, I had been fighting for my life against dragons... and Future Rogue.

Although Rogue had promised that he would never be the man I had met that day, I... still can't help but fear for the worst. Some say fate is called as such for it cannot be changed, nor can it be reversed; it can only but be accepted, I don't believe that for one minute. I am supposed to die, around this time, in Rogue's arms. Yet I sat, now, watching the Grand Magic Games. Sort of.

I tuned back in to witness a figure enter into the arena, and my nostrils were flooded with a strangely comforting scent.

"[Y/N]..." Kuschel said in a low tone from beside me.
"I smell that too." I confirmed, narrowing my eyes at the stranger.

I heard a voice gasp from where Chapati Lola and Mr. Yajima were announcing.

"Some kind of intruder?!"

I felt my stomach clench. That sounded an awful lot... like Lucy. I glanced around towards the booth-area where they watched from and, sure enough, I could spot her beautiful blonde hair from a mile away. Speaking of miles, my heart was doing hundreds.

"That's serious magic power!" yelled she. "Hurry, evacuate the stadium, now!"

And suddenly, I was engulfed by screams as everyone tried to leave. My head began pounding wildly as I glanced around, trying to find somewhere to escape the noise.

Kuschel's tight grip around my hand were the only thing keeping me clinging to consciousness as I stumbled down to the arena, away from the ground, albeit nearer to the stranger.

"You guys the top guild in Fiore?" they spoke. He was a man, and the voice scared me by how familiar it was.

"Who's asking?" Scarmiglione, the winner of the Grand Magic Games, sneered.

"Me." the male stranger said. "The challenger!"

A sudden burst of flame erupted around Scarmiglione and the rest of his team, so hot the very clothes on my body began to melt off. I let out an indignant cry and made an attempt to cover myself up.

And suddenly, the stranger's hood fell down and my jaw fell slack.

"Natsu?!" I heard Lucy shriek.