Fairy Tail: Metal and Threads

Earth Land, Ishgar, Kingdom of Fiore, Crocus.

July 5, x789.

"Welcome back, Master Alfonzo." Grayfia, who, along with the rest of the maids, accompanied the Fairy Tail wizards to Crocus, said with a polite bow as Alfonzo, with Cana and Ultear unconscious in his arms, exited the Blackbird after it landed on the roof of the Sixth Sense Hotel. "I trust you and your wives enjoyed the joyride."

"Yeah, it was a flight like no other." Alfonzo replied with a radiant smile. A moment later, however, his smile turned a bit awkward. And had his hands been free, he would have scratched the side of his head as he continued. "But the interior will need a bit of cleaning…"

Her lips twitching as she tried to hold back a smile, Grayfia bowed once again.

"I understand." Grayfia said. "I will bring Ai and Miyuki to take care of it."

"Thanks." Alfonzo replied with a slightly embarrassed expression on his face. "Anyway, did anything happen while I was away? Is everyone back from Ryuzetsu Land? And how are Amar'e and my little girl?"

"Yes, everyone has returned." Grayfia replied. "Everyone has had nothing but good things to say about Ryuzetsu Land since they returned. Madam Mirajane has also returned from her outing with her younger sister, as well. And both of the children are currently asleep."

"I see." Alfonzo said with a nod. "Well, I'm glad they all enjoyed themselves today."

"As for your other question, a woman named Yoruichi came by looking for you." Grayfia said, continuing her report. "Two of her guild mates, Sui-Feng and Rangiku Matsumoto came with her. And Miss Matsumoto made a deal with Madam Elicia for a few sets of custom outfits."

"*Sigh* I see. I guess what's gonna come will come, huh?" Alfonzo replied in an understanding tone. "Well then, I'll go inside. These two really need the rest."

"Understood." Grayfia said as eh bowed once more before taking her lPhone from a pocket in her apron. "Then, I shall summon Ai and Miyuki to begin cleaning the Blackbird. Maria should be in the kitchen working with your employee, Miss Nakiri, to prepare dinner."

"Got it." Alfonzo replied with a smile. "It's been a while since I saw Erina, I'll probably head down to the kitchen to talk to her after I get these two in bed."

Instead of replying verbally, Grayfia simply nodded her head. Then, she began texting Ai and Miyuki as Alfonzo stepped past her and into the door leading to the roof access elevator.

And with that, the rest of the night went by peacefully. Though, many of Alfonzo's wives and girlfriends looked at Cana and Ultear with envy while Alfonzo was tucking them into bed. And the worst offender was Elicia, who was still reeling at the fac that she did not think of joining the Mile High Club sooner.

July 6, x789.

Early the next day, the entire city of Crocus was bustling with activity and excitement. Today was the last day of the Grand Magic Games, after all. On top of that, for the first time, Fairy Tail was not in the lead heading into the last event.

Even more exciting than that, the scores were so close that predicting the victor would be nearly impossible, as both teams had shown just how strong they were through the first four days of events.

So, with many people wanting to see who would come out on top while quite a few people were looking forward to Fairy Tail's loss, people from all over Fiore filed into the Domus Flaw, looking forward to the explosive ed to this year's Grand Magic Games.

"Do you think today's event will be the same as it has been every year?" Lucy asked from the Fairy Tail viewing area in the Domus Flau's audience stands.

"Probably." Elicia replied with Amar'e in her lap.

"Yeah, if it ain't broke, don't fix it, right?" Alfonzo added.

"I guess." Lucy replied with a shrug. "Still, I'm kinda nervous, do you think Laxus and the others can make a comeback?"

'Part of me hopes he can't.' Alfonzo and Elicia thought simultaneously. Though, that thought did make both of them feel a bit guilty.

"Of course they can!" Chico, Laxus' second fiancée, said energetically from a few seats down. "Laxus and the Thunder God Tribe are the strongest team in Fairy Tail. And Saya is probably the smartest."

Hearing that, Alfonzo, Elicia, Marin, and Sun turned and smiled at Chico, causing her to flinch.

"Oh, sorry, I forgot about you guys." Chico said while smiling awkwardly as her eyes swam to avoid eye contact. She then quickly changed the subject as the stares from the four were starting to get painful, doubly so for Alfonzo. "Still, I don't understand why you guys stopped participating in the Battle of Fairy Tail tournament as soon as it started being linked to participation in the GMG."

"Well, it's because of my work with the other guilds and the Village Hidden in the Leaves." Alfonzo replied with a shrug. "I just had too much shit going on."

Immediately after Alfonzo's words fell, Elicia started glaring at him, which caused him to wear an apologetic expression. He knew, now that Amar'e had started talking, he would have to be even more careful about the things he said, as children were quick to learn the things that parents did not want them to. He was a prime example, after all.

Luckily, before Elicia's glare could start to hurt him, the announcement of the beginning of the event drew everyone's attention. And like that , the last day of the x789 Grand Magic Games began. And to the surprise of many, Fairy Tail was not declared the winner when it came to an end.

"What an upset!" The Grand Magic Games announcer, Loli Chapati, shouted with so much vigor that the wig he was wearing was sent flying. "It seems the Fairy Tail guild was toppled from its throne! Now, everyone join me in crowning the new strongest guild in Fiore, Mermaid Heel~~~~~~~~~!"

As the announcement was made, Yoruichi could be seen standing over the Laxus' unconscious body while breathing heavily. And next to the screen, it could be seen that Mermaid Heel had only a three point lead. Meaning, the fact that Yoruichi defeated Laxus is the only reason they won.

That said, Laxus managed to take down Kagura, Sui-Feng, and Rangiku in that fight. In fact, had Laxus been able to feed on just a little more of Yoruichi's [Lightning Magic], he would have undoubtedly won.

Meanwhile, the crowd was in an uproar over the outcome of the most exciting Grand Magic Games to date.

"Hmm?" Alfonzo hummed in interest while looking around at the excited crowd. He then nudged Elicia before pointing at a pair in the crowd seated near the section where the rest of the Fairy Tail guild sat. "Look, Lici."

Following the direction of Alfonz's pointing finger, Elicia noticed a man and a young woman she knew from her meta knowledge.

"Jiemma and Minerva Orland?" Elicia muttered quietly enough that she would not be heard over the cheering crowd.

Realizing that Elicia recognized the people who caught his attention, Alfonzo's expression turned into a battle hungry grin.

"Looks like next years games are gonna be interesting, don't you think, Lici?" Alfonzo asked.

"Yeah." Elicia replied with a smile. She then kissed Amar'e on the top of his head before continuing. "And the best part is that we'll be able to participate."

With that said, Alfonzo and Elicia wore matching anticipatory smiles that made all the other guilds shiver for an unknown reason.

After the award ceremony that officially named Mermaid Heel as the strongest guild in Fiore, all the members of the participating guilds as well as the innumerable number of spectators returned to their lodgings. In two days, there would be a banquet to honor all those who participated in the Grand Magic Games. But until then, everyone was free to enjoy the festival that had been going on since the day before the Grand Magic Games started.

"Our deal still stands, right?" Alfonzo asked in an excited tone.

Currently, Alfonzo and Elicia were seated in Ur's suite with Ur and Gildarts sitting across from them.

"What deal?" Gildarts asked with his right arm wrapped around Ur's waist and his hand resting on her right thigh.

"He didn't know, either?" Elicia asked while tilting her head in curiosity.

"No, I didn't tell him." Ur replied while shaking her head. She then turned to look Gildarts in the eyes as she continued. "Didn't you find it strange that neither Alfonzo nor Elicia ever participated in the Battle of Fairy Tail tournament to gain the right to represent the guild in the Grand Magic Games?"

"Not really." Gildarts replied while shaking his head. "I know just how busy Alfonzo has been over the last few years, what with accepting jobs to upgrade the other guilds' training facilities, doing the same for the Village Hidden in the Leaves…"

When mentioning the Village Hidden in the Leaves, Gildarts could not help shivering at the thought of Tsunade, who almost killed him… twice… in the past.

"*Cough* And taking care of his kids whenever he could." Gildarts continued while trying to shake off the thought of his near death… or was it life after death… experience. "So, it made sense that he wouldn't have time to worry about something like the Grand Magic Games."

"That's exactly what I wanted the rest of the guild to think." Ur replied after nodding her head in understanding. "In reality, it was to give the rest of the guild a chance."

"What do you mean?" Gildarts asked.

"In no uncertain terms, Alfonzo is the second strongest member of the guild." Ur said in a serious toen. "The only one who surpasses him is Irene. And I still think it's only a matter of time before that changes. And Elicia, though not on Alfonzo's level, is close. She'll probably surpass even you by the end of he year if she keeps training hard."

Though a bit uneasy at the fact he was no longer the ace of the guild, Gildarts nodded his head in agreement. Then, he gestured for Ur to continue.

"Therefore, I wanted everyone else in the guild to have the opportunity to show what they got." Ur continued. "Because when those two, with the rest of their selected team, which would probably include Marin and Sun, and probably Cana, forma team, the only ones who would be able to give them any kind of challenge would be Laxus and his team… But that's only if you wee to join them and replace Saya."

"I see." Gildarts replied with a nod. "And that means that those five would have been the only ones to ever go to the Grand Magic Games on behalf of the guild, right?"

"Exactly." Ur replied. "And for that reason, I made them promise that they would not take part until our guild lost in the Grand Magic Games. But now, thanks to our deal, I have to let go of the reigns."

After saying that, Ur sighed. But then she put on an excited smile before she started speaking again.

"but now, until they decide to stop participating, or until another super genius appears in Fiore's guilds, Fairy Tail will become and remain the strongest guild in Fiore."

"*Sigh* I see." Gildarts replied with a weak smile. "I kind of feel sorry for the rest of the guilds. But it's too bad each guild can only enter one team in the Grand Magic Games. I mean, just think how great it would be if the Games were dominated by teams from Fairy Tail."

"Who knows, that might change in the future." Alfonzo said with a nod.

"Yeah, and then we'll be able to show everyone that not only Team Steel Threads and the Thunder God Tribe have wizards to worry about." Elicia added while pumping her right fist into the air.

Smiling at Elicia's enthusiasm, Ur and Gildarts could only hope the kids of their best friends were right.

After a bit more conversation, Alfonzo and Elicia bid Gildarts and Ur goodbye. Then, they left the two's suite and returned to their own. However, just as they entered the corridor leading to their room, they both stopped when they saw a relatively short, brown skinned woman with long purple hair pulled into a ponytail, an even shorter, black-haired woman with a bob cut and two long ponytails, and a taller, blonde woman with an extremely voluptuous figure standing outside of their suite's door.

"Well, I guess I can't avoid this forever." Alfonzo said while shaking his head, his voice drawing the attention of the three women standing outside of the door to his suite.