Fairy Tail - Twilight Empire

Chapter 15 - The Sword of Fate

The brackets were released, but the entrants could not get into the building until the officials were ready for them and the crowds began pouring in, as it truly took that much time to get them all inside. Natsu could hardly stand it. He stood alongside Gajeel as they waited for the doors to the competitor's lobby to open up. Gray strolled lazily down the street alongside Juvia while Wendy, Erza, and Lucy chatted it up.

They'd all slightly changed their disguises so it didn't seem they all wore the same clothes all the time, which was something Natsu was used to doing. Natsu wore a beanie instead of a regular cap and had a simple long-sleeve shirt on that breathed well to let his fiery body heat escape. Plus, he had simple sandals on again. What a relief.

Axel was nowhere to be seen. That giant dude that Axel said Natsu couldn't beat waited nearby, leaning against a tree as thick as he was. Natsu pranced about.

"Come on, come on," he muttered. "Let's get this competition really started!"

"The more you dance," Gajeel said, "it feels like it's less likely they'll actually open the damn doors."

"You're just nervous that you and I have to fight first," Natsu said.

Gajeel lowered his head to Natsu. "Why don't we just settle that right here, then?"

Natsu would've happily indulged the Iron Dragon Slayer, but the doors swung open. Those looking to enter the stadium glanced sidelong at Natsu and Gajeel who sprinted inside. They stumbled through to the competitor's lobby at the massive bracket on the wall. Natsu searched for his name while Gajeel tumbled over him.

"Gah, I'm at the end, come on!" Natsu exclaimed, even though he was, actually, at the perfect halfway point.

Jiemma.

"Ah, man!" Natsu exclaimed and slumped. "I don't know who that is!"

Gajeel did the same, crossing his arms. "Me neither. Ain't fair that you get to fight that Dragon Slayer, too."

Natsu flipped over. "What?"

He scanned the bracket again. Axel was in the fight after Natsu, and, if they both won...

"I can live with this," Natsu said. "And hey! You can fight Juvia."

"A little Phantom Lord reunion?" Lucy asked with a sneer. "Some of the Element Four going one-on-one."

"Who are you fighting, Lucy?" Wendy asked.

"Shiroribon?" Lucy said after fumbling the name. "Uh, cool name, I guess."

"Probably a code name," Natsu said, shifting. "A true ninja would never reveal their secret identity, and must only live by the shadows."

"Oh, you've gotta be kidding me," Gray said, and face-palmed. Erza chuckled but tried to keep it to herself. Everyone else around them gasped, save for Juvia, who was already at Gray's heels cheering him on.

"What, what?" Natsu barked and found Gray's name.

Paired with Erza.

"Oh, come on!" Natsu shouted. "You get to fight her first? Man, she'll mop the floor with you!"

"I'll last longer than you could, pal!" Gray said.

"You can last long against me, darling!" Juvia exclaimed, rather senselessly. "As long as you wish if we meet in the final."

"Doubtful, but it'll be a good fight," Erza said. "I look forward to our match in the quarterfinal, then, big guy."

"A real man knows he can't hold back," Elfman said. "Even against friends."