A Star Removed from the Sky

City of Flowers

"Alright everyone, we have one week until the Grand Magic Games, but I say we head over to Crocus early. The journey to the capital will take a few days, and then I figured I could show you around with our free time! I lived there for a while so I know it well, it's an amazing place, so full of people and life." Lucy said while sitting at the breakfast table with her guildmates.

"I'm so excited! I've heard Crocus is called 'The Flower Blooming Capital', and it's filled with beautiful flowers of all colors and species. I can't wait to admire them all! Ooh, maybe I'll buy some seeds to plant more of my own!" Jess said warmly, imagining what a city filled with flowers would look like.

"I've been once before with my father. I assure you, the flowers are beautiful and cover every inch of the city. The King and Princess are extremely kind, as well I'm sure we could ask to visit the castle garden while we're there." Antonio said with a smile.

"Yeah well, I'm not a big fan of crowds. Aren't there gonna be people everywhere cause of the Games?" Jamie spoke up.

"Well... it is the capital of Fiore, and The Grand Magic Games is no joke. It attracts thousands of people to watch and pick a favorite guild to root for, so there's going to be a big crowd wherever we go. But Jamie I promise you, you'll have fun too. We're going up against the strongest wizard guilds in Fiore, with magic you've never seen before. Now that you've gotten accustomed to magic battles, I guarantee you're going to love being in the Games, even if it's just the preliminaries. Plus, Jess is going to be sad if you don't go flower viewing with her." Lucy explained.

"Yeah Jamie you have to come with me to explore!" Jess said cheerily.

"I agree, it will be more fun if we all go together. What else would you do, stay in the hotel all day?" Antonio teased.

"Well, yes, that's exactly what I'd do. Besides Princey, why do you wanna go flower gazing so bad?" Jamie retorted.

Antonio faked a sniffle. "Is it so bad to want to make memories with my dearest friends? It won't be any fun if our beloved rainbow beam stays locked inside. You bring so much color to our lives."

"Why the puns with you? It only ticks me off more and you know it." Jamie rolled her eyes.

"Oh come on bestie, we'll go find your pot of gold while we look around." Antonio joked. He and Jamie were very close friends now and teasing between the two of them was mostly their way of communicating.

"Do I look like a leprechaun to you? I'll go just to find you a white horse to ride around on, your highness. Maybe even a few peasants to step on." Jamie challenged him with a smirk. She loved to tease him about his royalty. On one mission, she pretended to be a servant he forced to go with him everywhere and do any task he ordered, no matter how demeaning. She successfully made an entire village think so lowly of him they chased him away to "set Jamie free". His revenge was finding out puns drove her crazy.

"Perfect, so you're going with us then, my plan was a success!" Antonio and Jess high-fived and laughed when Jamie groaned and let her head fall to the table.

"Jamie we were all going to force you anyway, we wouldn't just leave you in the hotel. You're our precious friend, of course we want to spend time with you." Yukino said with a smile.

Jamie gave a thumbs up while she kept her head down. "Don't get sappy with me, I get it. You guys are cool too." She mumbled.

Lucy smiled while she watched her friends laugh and talk with each other. They were each excited for the Games for different reasons, with different goals pushing them towards a spotlight they'd been training for months to be in. Antonio would prove his strength to return to his country and retake his throne, Jess and Jamie would finally find peace with their magic, and Yukino and Lucy would break the curse upon them and reclaim their old lives. As for Ragus, when Lucy had asked what he would do when they were able to accomplish their goals, he said his goals would be accomplished too.