"And just like that, the tide of battle has turned once again!"
The voice of the announcer pulled Kia from her thoughts. She watched as Sting and Rogue fell from their small crater in the wall, face planting the ground. Raising to their feet, she could see Sting's mouth moving before his whole body began to glow, producing a blinding light.
"I can barely see the arena! What's happening, Mr. Yajima?"
"That kid is focusing every ounce of his magic power all onto one spot."
Verani covered her eyes grumbling, "Shouldn't that be obvious?"
Kia squinted as she tried to make out what was happening below, picking up Sting's shouts, "Here it comes, Natsu! Dragon Slayer Secret Art, Holy Nova!"
Amber and V stared on anxiously, but turned to look at Kia when she only sighed.
"Aren't you worried about him?"
The Phoenix Slayer shook her head at V's question, "Neither of them have really been using their magic yet."
They thought about what she had said, realizing what she meant as the announcer started up again. "The dust is clearing. Is he-?" Even though his gasp was small, Kia still heard it. "Wow! Fairy Tail's Natsu stopped that awesome attack with just one hand!"
Sting looked just as shocked as the announcer and everyone else in the stands, except a handful from Fairy Tail. Kia hadn't been the only one to notice her brother's actions during this fight.
"Any comments? I'm not sure what to make of this!"
Natsu and Gajeel knocked the Twin Dragons down again before Mr. Yajima could respond, "They're on a whole different level now."
Verani turned completely in her seat to face her pink-haired friend, "Are you telling me neither one of them has gotten serious yet?"
"No. They are serious." Kia shook her head, her eyes never leaving the arena floor below, "They're just actually gauging their opponent and responding instead of diving in head first."
The blonde shivered, "Why do I find that more terrifying than them just being destructive?"
"Because they could probably take you in a fight if they used their heads for more than headbutting the enemy," Amber chuckled.
"What's that supposed to mean?"
Kia held a hand up to stop them as Sting and Rogue stood to their feet again. Though the announcer had started talking again, there was a strange energy signature flickering through the magic of the Twin Dragons.
"If I wasn't watching it with my own two eyes, I wouldn't believe it! Sabertooth's Twin Dragons are completely at the mercy of Fairy Tail's Dragon Slayers! Will the match end with Sabertooth face down in the dirt?"
"I already pointed out the fact that Dragon Slayers trump Dragons." Verani mumbled.
"This isn't over yet."
"What do you mean, Kia?"
"Just watch."
On cue, Sting and Rogue both started glowing again, but their magic increase felt different. Even to those who weren't able to feel out souls with their magic, they could feel the raw power that was coming off the pair. Kia's eyes widened as she recognized now only the type of power it was, but the scales that had appeared on their bodies.
"They can activate it at will..." the words slipped from her lips almost inaudibly.
The blonde Dragon Slayer stepped forward, gesturing for his partner to hang back.
"Well, this match has certainly been one heck of a roller coaster!" the announcer said. "Do we have a two versus one duel on our hands?"
Mr. Yajima responded, "You have to hand it to the boy, at least he has self-confidence."
Then they were moving again. And it quickly became obvious that Sting had a reason for saying that he could take the other two Dragon Slayers alone. He was successfully blocking punches and kicks from both Natsu and Gajeel before knocking them into the air at each other, making them the perfect targets.
"White Dragon Holy Breath!"
Kia knew that had to hurt. Her hair was still settling as everyone gazed in awe at the giant hole that had replaced most of the arena floor. The new unexpected renovation to the colosseum went much further than anyone could see.
"We may have lost the battlefield, but the action continues underground! This just keeps getting better! Please enjoy the bout in crystal clear Lacrima vision!"
Magical screens appeared around the arena, giving everyone the opportunity to see what had continued below them. Natsu and Gajeel wasted no time in making a coordinated attack against the White Dragon Slayer. But Sting seemed almost unphased as he countered.
"Natsu and Gajeel may not be getting up from that one, folks! It was an intense fight for both sides, but it looks like Fairy Tail may have succumbed to the might of Sabertooth's Twin Dragons after all."
"He better watch his mouth," Verani grumbled.
"He's just calling it as he believes it to be." Kia said, "That's all he can do."
Amber raised a brow, "As he believes it to be?"
A smile crossed the pink-haired girl's lips, "Those two are far too stubborn for their own good."
||~x~||
A proud smile covered Kia's face as she watched her little brother make a dumb victory pose.
"Let's hear it for Natsu, who single handedly took down Sabertooth's Twin Dragons!" Even with the sound system, he could barely be heard over the cheering crowd. "It's a huge win for Fairy Tail! They've moved into first place! What an exciting way to end day four of the Grand Magic Games! We're giving the fighters a day to recuperate, and then it's on to the thrilling conclusion! It's all culminating in one ultimate match! A game that puts every team member on the field to duke it out in a battle royale! Only one guild gets the title, folks! So.... you won't want to miss it!"
"That crazy ass actually pulled it off," Verani chuckled.
Kia elbowed her, "Hey! Watch what you say about my little brother."
"He sure knows how to give someone a heart attack." Amber sighed, "Facing down a Dragon Force powered Unison Raid was a bit much even for him."
"You could say that again." No matter how much faith Kia had in Natsu, her heart had almost stopped when she saw him just watching that attack get closer to him.
Their conversation was interrupted though.
"This guy's about to explode over here!"
The three turned to see a dangerous amount of magic leaking from the large man a few rows in front of them.
"That's Sabertooth's master!" Someone else shouted as those around him began to back off. There was no telling when or how he was going to go off.
Kia sighed, "Can you two handle the crowd if need be?"
They both turned to her, sharing a look before nodding. They hadn't expected Kia to react, but she was worried about where he would direct his anger.
"You should leave the area before he throws his temper tantrum." Kia spoke firmly and clearly as she crossed her arms over her chest. The bystanders looked at her in wonder as the man in question turned to face the worm who had spoken.
"What did you say?"
"Sorry," she didn't falter under his gaze. Keeping her onyx eyes locked with his beady ones while crossing her left leg over her right, her guild mark now easily on display for anyone who looked, "was your hearing the price you paid for your bigotry?"
Jiemma's aura crackled dangerously as he remained unmoving. Their staring contest did not waver as everyone else continued to back away from the impending fight.
"You see, my hearing is perfectly fine and I heard your little comment earlier." Kia didn't even blink, "The only guild being laid to rest is yours and that's because you're running it into the ground."
No one saw what happened. Debris from the shattered bench rained down around them as they all stared in shock and fear. Jiemma was buried almost to his elbow in the wreckage he had just caused. Now two rows further up the stands, Kia sat with her arms still crossed.
"A prime example." She casually stood to her feet. "If you ever decide to grow up, maybe I'll take the time to give you some pointers on what a guild really is. Because it isn't something you hide behind to stroke your own ego."
Without a second thought, Kia turned and headed for the exit. Even with her back turned, she could still clearly picture the look of pure rage on his features. It radiated from the magic that was still seeping from his entire body.
"And learn to control your magic, children tend to get the hang of that about the time they stop having tantrums."
She pushed his buttons again.
"Kia!" Verani yelled, hoping her friend had enough time to respond to the attack headed for her back.
Flames coiled around her body as she pushed back her elbows. Her fiery wings erupted from between her shoulder blades in time for them to block the incoming fist. Knowing her magical limbs couldn't hold the full force of his attack, she pushed herself into the air a few feet. Another crater forming where she had just stood.
She scoffed as she landed at the top of the steps, near the exit. "A bigot and a coward."
||~x~||
For being near the infirmary for their guild, there was quite a bit of noise coming from where the injured were supposed to be resting, but that was Fairy Tail.
"Let's win the thirty million jewel!" Makarov posed like an idiot on Lucy's bed.
Everyone looked at him dumbfounded, shouting, "That's not why we're here!"
Before anyone could respond, one of Master's discarded shoes bounced off the back of his head. He ungracefully face planted the bottom of the bed as the others turned to the door. Three figures stood there in varying degrees of amusement and embarrassment.
Verani scratched the back of her neck as she held the Master's other shoe, "Sorry, Grandpa. Didn't think I threw it that hard?"
"Well, he shouldn't just leave them lying in the doorway like he owns the place." Amber tried to contain the smirk that was peeking through.
"Sis!" Natsu cheered as he crossed the room, but he wasn't prepared to be flicked in the forehead. "Ow. What was that for?"
"For shoving your partner down a mineshaft," Kia crossed her arms. "You'll be lucky if I don't let him do the same to you."
"I thought I felt your magic spike on the way down here." Having recovered from his fall, Makarov stepped in front of the three. "None of you are hurt are you?"
"Aw come on, Grandpa," V whined, "Have a little faith in us."
Amber gently pushed the blonde's shoulder, "We were on crowd control while Kia dealt with him."
"Him?" Gray asked as he shoved his hands in his pockets.
Kia sighed, beginning to feel a little off after using her magic earlier. "Jiemma Orland."
Amber rested a hand on her shoulder, "Kia, you're going pale again."
"I'm fine," she waved a hand. "It should pass in a minute."
"I agree with Amber, you don't look good." Erza stepped up beside their Master. It was very clear that Kia now had no room to argue.
She sighed, "Fine. I'll sit down if it will make you all feel better."
Makarov looked at her concerned, "Did he manage to hit you with something?"
Kia shook her head, "No. I've just been feeling off since we arrived in Crocus this morning."
"Natsu?" Wendy asked, seeing the Fire Dragon Slayer in his thinking pose.
"Why did that name sound so familiar?"
Verani slung an arm around his shoulders, "From the gossip we heard, because you tried to knock his head in a few nights ago. Unless something or someone else blew a fiery hole in Sabertooth's hotel."
His brain cell kicked on as he stared at his sister, "Sabertooth's master?"
Kia nodded as the others gaped.
"Was it because of their loss?" Erza asked.
The pink-haired girl shrugged, "Partially. I might have also wounded his pride." She let out a sigh before muttering to herself, "I just hope I didn't make it any worse for them later."
||~x~||
Wendy and Porlyusica were healing geniuses. All the members of Fairy Tail had been able to make it to the bar to celebrate their rise to first place. It almost felt as though they were back home. Cana was downing who knows what number drink as Macao and Wakaba reminisced about the old days. Even Natsu and Gray were butting heads, the usual elemental nicknames and jabs flying through the air with their fists.
Kia sighed as her back rested against the wooden column, mumbling to herself, "I feel like I have too many little brothers for my own good."
Though her eyes were on Natsu and Gray, she was also worried about Gajeel, Sting, and Rogue. The Iron Dragon Slayer should have been back by now, unless that old mine shaft was far larger than she could imagine, but he wasn't the one that was really worrying her. Even with not seeing them for so many years, Kia still worried about the two from Sabertooth. Would they still face Jiemma's wrath? And had she made it worse?
The presence of someone leaning on the column behind her broke her thoughts. "I'll trade you?"
Thinking about what she had muttered beforehand, she replied, "Natsu for Verani? Would either of us actually benefit from that?"
A half-chuckle escaped Laxus as he leaned on his shoulder with his arms crossed, "I don't mind knocking Natsu flat."
"I think Erza's already got that covered."
They watched as the Requip wizard knocked Natsu and Gray's heads together. She was furious that they had managed to ruin her cake in their petty squabble.
"Laxus!" A sparkle shot across the room, skidding to a halt in front of them. Verani's hair didn't even have time to settle from the static, "You got to sucker punch the deadbeat and I missed it?!"
"Yeah. It was kinda nice."
His little sister stomped her foot, "That's no fair! I've been dying to knock him into next week since we were kids!"
"Too bad," Laxus teased, "You snooze, you lose."
Kia slipped out from between them as V stuck her tongue out, "You don't have to be an ass about it."
He reached forward, ruffling her already wild hair, "That's my job, Sparky."
"Don't call me that," she batted his hand away. "I'm not a little kid anymore."
Shaking her head, Kia continued across the bar, not wanting to intrude on their moment. She decided that it would be safer to talk with Happy about what she had missed than trying to get near her brother while Erza wanted his head. But the door swung open just as she reached the group of Exceeds.
"Gajeel?!" the three Exceeds all said together.
A slight scowl adorned his face, "If I ever see another mine car, it'll be too soon."
Happy summoned his wings, beginning to hover next to Natsu, "Where you been?! You missed all the cake!"
"Yeah, jerk!" Natsu crossed his arms, "Why'd you take off in the middle of our match?"
Kia sighed as Gray muttered, "Here we go..."
"For real...?!" Gajeel leaned over toward the Fire Dragon Slayer, "I just spent half the day crawling out of a hole in the ground because the lava-brained tool in front of me put me down there!"
An inquisitive look crossed Natsu's face as he turned to Gray and Kia, "Ooh. Is that true?"
"I seriously worry about your lack of brain cells."
Kia sighed in agreement, "You and me both."
But both of their comments seemed to not affect Natsu as he started laughing, "That must've been real rough for you!"
"What's your deal?!" Gray exclaimed.
Kia stepped over to Gajeel, about to put a hand on his shoulder, but decided against it since he was a few inches taller than her now. "I will hold nothing against you if you want to do the same to him."
"Ugh, just forget it. Anyway..." His demeanor seemed to shift as he looked at Natsu and Wendy. "You two come with me....now. Got something to show ya."
||~x~||