Fairy Tail - Twilight Empire

Chapter 23 - Gajeel vs Juvia

Gajeel strode up to the teleportation lacrima. The crowd, restless after having to wait several hours for arena fixes and one other administrative annoyance, were roaring for the next fight. It was, Gajeel heard with his keen hearing, one that was garnering attention not because of the fact that it was two Fairies fighting one another, but a much older kind of in-fighting:

Two members of Phantom Lord, the Rain Woman of the Element Four, and their Iron Dragon Slayer were going head-to-head.

Of course, it wasn't the first time the two were set to fight. Jose Porla had the Element Four and Gajeel coming to blows all the time for training. It'd been some time since their last time sparring, as Porla started holding Gajeel back for the sake of preserving his strength.

He cracked his knuckles, eager for them to finally let them get out and get it over with. The day was running late already, and if they were still going to be fighting the next day, he wanted to get some rest.

Especially because his next fight was likely against Salamander. Though that, frustratingly, was to be determined.

Originally, Salamander and Axel were slated to fight before Gajeel and Juvia. But, apparently, Axel requested they delay his and Natsu's match to give the Fire Dragon Slayer as much time to heal his broken arm as possible. With Wendy's help that wouldn't be a problem. Gajeel wished to punch the Diamond Dragon Slayer in the face, personally, but would happily settle for getting to beat the snot out of Salamander when he got the chance tomorrow.

The lacuna lit up. Gajeel tapped it and reappeared in the arena proper, the crowd roaring at his appearance. Juvia fizzled into place in front of him. Their disguises were off, they were back to their normal, newer-styled, clothes. Juvia's hard glare fixed on Gajeel as his stoic expression settled on her. The announcer gave out the usual about their names, their history, and the rules of the fight:

To submission or to death.

The whistle blew. Juvia whipped water around her while Gajeel summoned his iron scales and launched at her. The crowd gasped as the two didn't move fluidly but fiercely.

Juvia slashed and whipped and battered Gajeel with water holding the strength of waterfalls. Gajeel dodged where he could, took the hits where he had to, and retaliated at each turn.

None of his strikes mattered. Sure, they hit her, but her body was made of water. A rock falling into a lake made no damage. Ripples, sure, but the water always came back together. The same with an Iron Dragon Sword, Iron Dragon Club, Iron Dragon whatever.

Gajeel slid back as Juvia hit him with a cyclone of water right in the chest. It didn't hurt. Neither of them took any substantial damage. When dust and mud settled around them, when they could finally catch their breath again, the two smiled. The crowd roared.

"You've gotten faster, Gajeel," Juvia said.

"Didn't think I'd be pushed around by puddles," Gajeel said and stood up straight. "Alright. Let's get serious, Juvia. We both know what's at stake here."

Juvia nodded. "Winner gets Natsu."

"Not just that," Gajeel said.

Juvia's eyebrow flicked up in confusion before she once more nodded, this time in understanding, an unspoken one that everyone in Fairy Tail was bound by.

It didn't matter who in Fairy Tail won, but they had to ensure that one of them did. Gajeel felt more attached to it than anyone, as he'd taken the burden on directly and had been helping nurse the situation all along:

They fought for Frosch and their friend, Lector.

Somewhere at the inn, Frosch was helping out. Frosch was doing their part to keep Fairy Tail in favor of those who ran the inn. Though their identities were revealed, the innkeepers were unlike other Imperials. They were kind and giving to the Fairies just looking to test their strength in this new world, and Frosch was one of their favorite helpers. Frosch was innocent, still, even in a world broken open raw by shadow.