The Shadow Goddess

7

The streets of Crocus bustled with life, buildings adorned with decorations as everyone was gearing up for the Grand Magic Games, which were just the next day. Everywhere one went, people were talking about the games, from the challenges to the guilds who would be participating. A hot topic was the Fairy Tail guild, some ridiculing them for daring to participate again after their previous humiliations and others more open, even hopeful, for them to come back on top.

Gajeel, Della, and Pantherlily walked the streets of the Flowering City, which were lit with the street lamps as the sun had just gone down. The blonde of the group had her arms crossed with a pouty look on her face as she stalked behind her brother and his partner.

"Della, pouting about it isn't going to do anything. It's best to let it go and support the guild." "Easy for you to say, you'll probably be out there fighting as well, with Master's grand plan to have two teams to double our chances of winning, and I didn't even get chosen for that team! Laxus got chosen and he was exiled before Gildarts let him come back!" "Do you still have a grudge against Laxus or something?"

The woman narrowed her eye towards her brother, her expression darkening. "It's been seven years for me, I'm over that."

The duo couldn't help but feel a shiver go down their back at the tone of voice and her serious expression. She wasn't one for emotions, but she could get pissed off really quickly and frighten even the most hardened wizards.

"Then why bring him up?" The iron mage asked after clearing his throat, showing he didn't get scared at all, even if it was a little. "I'm just saying it's unfair that he gets to participate right after joining the guild again, especially when I worked my ass off for this! I even trained to use my shadows underwater and use the current to my advantage!"

Gajeel sighed and patted her head. "Look on the bright side, you got much stronger in general, so even if not this year, you can still kick that Cheney kid's butt next time you see him." That thought immediately made the woman smile, or rather smirk, thinking of being able to beat Rogue into the ground after the games. The sudden shift made the black-haired male chuckle while Pantherlily rolled his eyes.

"Like brother, like sister, I guess," he said, his arms crossed in front of his chest. The iron dragon smiled widely and wrapped his arm around Della's head, pulling her close to him and squishing his cheek on her head. "Yup, got that right!" "Please let me go, you're annoying me now."

"A fight!"

The yell about a fight caught the trio's attention, looking over to see a large crowd in an open courtyard.

"Now that sounds like some fun," Gajeel smirked, letting go of his sister. "Gajeel, you shouldn't, we don't need you getting in trouble the night before the games- aaaaand you're ignoring me." The male was in fact ignoring her as he began walking towards the crowd, making her groan and follow behind him with Lily.

"Gajeel, what the hell are you doing here!?" The obnoxious voice of a certain fire dragon filled their ears, making the iron dragon's mood drop. "The same as you, we have the games tomorrow. I may not be in it, but I still want to see some fighting." "But why are you here!? Are you following me!?" "No, you moron! I was just close by and heard there was a fight!"

While those two bickered, Della looked at them annoyed before she felt a surge of magic, making her look to the crowd and becoming even more annoyed. "You have got to be kidding me."

The dragons stopped and looked at the young woman, their eyes widening as they smelt a familiar scent. "Dragons," they spoke in unison.The three wizards hurried over to the crowd with their exceeds, the dragon slayers pushing through with ease with the god slayer close behind. As they reached the center, they spotted two male figures standing over a few unconscious people, two other exceeds making fun of those on the ground.