Fairy Tail - Twilight Empire

Chapter 37 - Natsu vs. Erza

The crowd brought the Domus Flau to life. Lucy stood high above it, much higher than she ever thought she'd get in her life. She'd heard rumors of the Grand Magic Games in her childhood and imagined coming to them with a group of her friends, the rich ones that also had wealthy parents, to take a day and soak in the festivities, maybe from one of the middle booths.

But the Twilight Empire redesigned the stadium, such that the elite could still sit in booths, but they were only somewhat high up. The true elite, those actually in the Empire and the Emperor's favor, were much higher up, in towers that were more like fortresses. The windows were tinted magically to allow them a clear view of the stadium grounds so that the fighters didn't seem quite so microscopic.

Every member of the Dragon Division in Crocus was in the room with Lucy, dressed in their finest wear. Lucy almost felt underdressed until she saw Sorano, who was in a tube top and short skirt with a small crown in her white hair. Yukino was dressed in a long gown, a beautiful one befitting a queen. Neither looked all that entertained to be there.

The Ethereal Witch was with them, too, begrudgingly standing next to Kiyl. She eerily smirked at Lucy, but not in the cheeky way Sorano did. This was with intent to murder her. Well, Lucy thought, she had already tried to kill everyone in Fairy Tail.

The crowd started to sing the anthem of the Empire before the match began.

Kiyl stepped toward Rogue as everyone stood up from their seats to observe the anthem, one Lucy still hadn't memorized. She was sandwiched between Rogue and Axel, the latter of whom had his hand still on Lucy's leg even as they stood up. He rubbed her leg. She hid her shiver.

"Thomas and Kristine can no longer find the Fairies," Kiyl said. "They've completely vanished from the area."

"Did you check the village?"

"It's empty."

"How can they know that?"

"It's been wiped out. No signs of any survivors."

Lucy set her jaw. Her friends were alive, then. But...to have wiped out all of those innocent people for what? For spite?

"Bring them home, then," Rogue said. It sounded as if he was keeping his voice down, but there were simply so many people chanting the anthem that his voice came out as a whisper. "Send Johan."

Johan. Lucy spiraled through her rolodex of names she'd picked up on, as well as their positions. Johan was in the Dragon Division as the...Gale Dragon Slayer. Yes. That sounded right. She wasn't entirely certain how that magic differentiated from Wendy's, and her understanding was that Zash Caine, the Purgatory Dragon Slayer, had similar Fire Dragon Slayer magic to Natsu. She wondered if there was a Steel Dragon Slayer to match Gajeel.

Kiyl nodded to Rogue, then rejoined Minerva. Johan was at the other end of the room with his own date, a dapper dressed woman whom Lucy did not recognize. Maybe not a date, though. She wore several rings on her fingers, one of which she thought she recognized as a wedding ring. Minerva and Kiyl bore similar bands, though, from what Axel said, that was an arranged marriage between Divisions, to honor an agreement Minerva had with the Empire.

The chanting of the anthem ended.

"Rogue," Sting said and gestured for Rogue to follow. Everyone took their seats.

Lucy excused herself for the bathroom, making up a lie that she didn't want to miss anything when the match started. Instead, she drifted by Sting and Rogue's conversation, making her way for the back of the room.

"We can't let Invel find out about this," Sting said. He rubbed his temple. "Johan better get results, Rogue, or we're going to be in a bad spot."

"We'll have Natsu or Erza by the end of the day," Rogue said.