Phoenix

Return

"And now, the Naval Battle! All participants on the field."

"I know you can do it, Lucy and Juvia!" Emi yelled from the stands.

Everyone smiled at the woman's enthusiasm. Emi beamed when she saw that it was only Lucy and the new Sabertooth team member left in the bubble. All Lucy had to do was last the time limit and she'll get at least second place, earning Fairy Tail valuable points. Emi frowned slightly as she looked at Minerva. She suddenly had a bad feeling. Her feeling proved right, as Minerva started to harshly and sadistically attack Lucy. Everyone in the Fairy Tail section looked on in horror.

"Lucy!"

Everyone looked over to the Sabertooth balcony and saw that they were all smiling as they watched.

"Sabertooth."

After the pumpkin man stopped the match, Lucy's body went crashing down to the ground. Chelia and Wendy quickly started administering medical attention until they could get her to the infirmary. The Fairy Tail team was on the field, protectively standing in front of Lucy as they approached Minerva. Sabertooth quickly made their way in front of Minerva. A staredown ensued. Emi looked down with tears in her eyes before rushing down to the infirmary.

"Lucy..."

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"Natsu! Gajeel!"

Emi hadn't left Lucy's side since the incident, but she sprinted down to the tunnel that led to the arena. She leaned over as she tried to catch her breath.

"Good luck."

Gajeel grunted before walking down the tunnel. Natsu stayed behind and gave Emi a grin before turning towards the arena.

"Natsu?"

The dragon slayer looked over his shoulder and waited for her to continue. He saw her looking at him with concern.

"If you're here to tell me to go easy on them, I'm not listening."

Natsu playfully blocked his ears and went to walk away again.

"Natsu, please. You have to win. For Fairy Tail. You have to do it for Lucy and for all of us."

Natsu looked at her a little surprised and gave her a huge grin and a thumbs up.

"Don't worry. I wasn't planning on losing."

Emi smiled and let Natsu enter the arena as she rushed back up to the Fairy Tail section.

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"How's Lucy doing?" Levy asked Emi as she sat down in her seat.

"She's still in rough shape, but she's awake and cheering for Fairy Tail to win!"

"Emi," Mira spoke up, "are you going to be okay with this?"

"Of course! I have no doubt in my mind that they'll win."

"I don't think that's what she meant," Lisanna stated.

Emi turned around with a fire in her eyes and nodded towards the two, signalling that she was rooting for Fairy Tail with her whole heart. Makarov looked at the woman before making eye contact with Master Mavis, who looked on in amazement.

"I admire her dedication, even if it means opposing her mate. That's not an easy thing to do."

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It was a back and forth battle, each team taking turns overwhelming the other.

"Come on Natsu! Show them what Fairy Tail can do!" Emi shouted from the stands.