What you missed

1. The Contest

There was nothing else to do. Since they came with miss pink hair and mister I-wanna-fucking-defeat-Zeref to Crime Sorciere, the Oracion Seis had been trying to adapt themselves to the new and weird circumstances. Angel had spent a whole week denying putting on that horrible blue robe, until Meredy managed to convince her somehow, the rest of the team didn't know her methods. Maybe the young could have done it because of her marvelous and really kind mouth, able to persuade the most stiff-necked person. But the girl wasn't the only one that had complained about their new attire. Racer thought that the new outfit would slow down his speed, but a few "private chatters" with Jellal had led him to finally wear the robe as everyone else in the guild.

The other three members had had no problems in order to fulfill this first duty as mages of Crime Sorciere. Hoteye was always excited about sharing love and peace with those fabulous 'comrades', as he liked to call them, including in the group not only his Oración Seis companions but also the blue-haired mage and the pinky teenager. His happiness was regarded with the skepticism that glowed in Cobra's eye, internally amused by the protesting of his allies. He was always glad to see someone refusing to accept external orders, but didn't complain much because of Midnight's command. The dark mage had make clear that, whenever they were under Jellal's jurisdiction, they wouldn't argue with him (or Meredy), and all the four of them agreed to follow the instructions of their leader, but not without grumbling a little bit. Although it was clear that their deal was in a fragile balance and in every moment they could easily break it.

Inspite of all above, they usually helped the two friends in their daily duties. But didn't put too much effort on it. The most devoted was Hoteye, and usually his strength was enough for the recquirement. But sometimes Racer also showed up to do the urgent tasks, which took him little time to carry out. Most of them were reduced to shopping, and the tall boy hated it, also because he saw his other comrades doing almost nothing while he was working. Meanwhile, Cobra started developing the spying and watching job, due to his exceptional auditive abilities, useful for those issues. Along with Angel, he gathered information about Tartaros and Zeref's movements, which were not so easy to track. But all these movements of the Oracion Seis were licensed by Midnight, the undeniable leader of the formation, and until he showed his approval at every single task Jellal imposed them, his comrades didn't make a move. Luckily, most of the times the dark mage didn't have to hesitate so much, so the argument was avoided that way. 

This was the situation when two or three weeks passed. The five of them were resting in the living room of their new dwelling, each one doing a different activity. Angel looked focused on her ongoing manicure, cautiously applying the white nail polish. Racer was utterly bored laying over one of the green sofas, visibly looking forward to doing some interesting activity. Hoteye was sipping his tea cup in silence siting next to Racer in the sofa, but he didn't seem quite bored, because his common smile was spread out over his polygonal face. Cobra simply relied arms-crossed on a window frame, his face blank with his eye closed, but he certainly wasn't sleeping, not like his partner Midnight, who was taking a nap in the second sofa, far away from the two other boys.

The doors opened unexpectedly, making an unpleasant noise as the wood dragged over the floor. This made the maroon-haired boy get up from his seat and open his eye warily, because he hadn't heard anyone approaching to the room. This occured just before the teenager that had stepped in began talking.

"Hi, guys!" she greeted them, causing Angel, Hoteye and Racer to stare at her in surprise. "Getting bored, aren't you?"

This was so unusual that the four of them froze. Yes, Meredy had always been talkative and willing to make contact with them, but she knew when to leave them alone and didn't interfere too much in their freetime. Clearly, this day was an exception.

"Not quite" answered Angel, her voice a little harsh towards the girl. "I was finishing my manicure"Meredy didn't expect that response from the angelical mage, but only shruged. She didn't give up so easily.

"I see..." the sensitive mage muttered, evaluating every member of Oracion Seis as she looked around the room.

"Just say what you've got in mind, damn it!" exclaimed Cobra, tired of her scarce chattering.The pink-haired girl gazed him firstly with astonishment, and then with resentment. But this emotion only stayed in her eyes a second until she talked again.

"Okay. I just came to the idea that you spent a long time in prison, didn't you?" she made a pause for anyone of them to answer or add a comment. As no one did it, she continued. "So it's obvious you've missed some important events that happened here in Fiore while you were confined to your cell. Even if Jellal managed to get you out of prison to fight the dragons, Cobra" she gave him a cautious look, as if he was some kind of wild animal and in every moment he could bite her. Her smile faded a little over her face. "you also missed the most important happening, that took place before you were briefly freed. The Grand Magic Games of this year."

The woman and the three awake male members of Oracion Seis started staring at each other in surprise. As if that sentence wasn't enough for them to understand its meaning. As if they hadn't heard about the Grand Magic Games before.

"Oh my gosh..." Meredy exclaimed, noticing their stunned faces. "You really hadn't heard about it! In that case... I think I must explain it to you."

"The Grand Magic Games is a annual contest by which is decided the legal guild most important and powerful of Fiore. It takes place in the capital, Crocus, and it's the most amazing magic contest, I swear it.

It has several stages. This year it had a preliminar one which was the worst, because it selected only 8 guilds out of more than 100 that were participating at the begining. And the rest of the stages (each one lasts in a day) are composed of two daily battles and a trial. At the end of the fifth day, the guild that has obteined more points is declared winner of the contest, and they are given a huge quantity of money as a reward. And the title of the most powerful guild in all Fiore, which certainly is not an insignificant recognition, as you can imagine."

Her beautiful green eyes shone brightly as she talked, really excited. She was also expecting the response from the rest, but she had to wait ten long seconds until someone spoke up.

"And what has that to do with us?" asked Racer sharply. Meredy sighed once. That wasn't the exact response she had waited for.

"I've brought with me the lacrima records of the Grand Magic Games of this year" she said, exhausted from dealing with them. "And I thought you might like a little bit of amusement, since a guild called Fairy Tail actively participated on the event..."

A grunt escaped simultanously from the mouth of every member of the dark guild. That two words seemed to atract all of them horribly, and they all watched Meredy with curiosity.

"Fairy Tail? That sounds quite... interesting, at least" Angel mumbled, leaving her manicure set aside, as she lied back on her seat, looking directly at Meredy.

Cobra nodded from the opposite corner of the room in agreement as a mischievous smile spread over his face. And as Meredy turned on the lacrima, he woke up Midnight, whispering him a "wanna see some contest thing in which Fairy Tail participates?" that instantly caused the mage's awakening.