Previously:

"And with that, let me introduce to you, Lucy Heartfilia, Goddess of the Stars and the new queen of Aecronica!"

Now:

• NATSU'S POV + Time Skip ~ 10:00 pm, July 11th, X796 •

Weeks turned into months. Months turned into 1 year. 1 turned into 2. It's now been a little over 3 years since Lucy left us. As the months passed, everyone slowly got over it, even me. If she ever decides to return to Fairy Tail, we'll welcome her with open arms, though that sliver of hope that she'll return has slowly disappeared over the years. I still remember what happened a few months after Lucy's 18th birthday made that hope reignite. 

"Jura? What is it you need of Fairy Tail?" Gramps questioned the 4th ranked wizard saint.

"I'm sorry I couldn't arrive sooner. I've been busy with the magic council," Jura apologized as he stepped towards the master of Fairy Tail.

"No worries. Now, what is it you need?"

"A few months ago, Que- Lucy sent me to give you this." Jura reached into his satchel to look for what he needed. The name Lucy immediately drew the attention of the guild to the wizard saint, though it made everyone curious as to what he really wanted to say.

"Lucy? You saw Lucy? Where is she?!" I questioned as I ran up to the tall man. It's been months since anyone's seen her.

"Unfortunately, that is classified information. I only saw her the day of her birthday," Jura explained as he took a golden flower out of his bag. "She told me to give this to you as a way to say 'Never forget me'." He held the golden flower out to me, as if knowing that out of all people, I would want to be the first one to hold the flower their former guildmate requested be delivered.

I hold the golden flower in my hand, feeling the stares of my guildmates, both out of sadness and sympathy. I hug the flower close to my chest as I start to feel tears well up in my eyes. Stupid Luce. How could I forget you?

It's now time for the Grand Magic Games (of course). Gramps decided to participate this year. We didn't participate in the games the year Lucy left then the year after, but after Fairy Tail started losing its reputation again, we decided to participate last year, and now we're participating this year.

We're only having one team this year, to let the other guilds have a chance. Team Fairy Tail consists of Erza, Gray, Laxus, Gajeel, and me, of course. The preliminary round is tonight at midnight so right now we're just exploring Crocus. Man, the memories of our first Grand Magic Games are flooding in.

• LUCY'S POV •

"You sure you have everything you need?" Cassandra questioned, checking Callista and mine's bag for the 100th time. 

"Yes Cass. Don't worry about us. I've been training for the last few years. Have a little faith," I giggled as I put a comforting hand on Cassandra's shoulder. Over the years of my training, I've grown fond of Cassandra. She's like a big sister to me. She may be a little too stern and assertive sometimes but she's only looking out for us, kind of like Erza. She's almost like a mother figure.

"And I'll be there to protect Lulu when she needs it!" Callista exclaimed as she pulled Cassandra into a hug. "I'm gonna miss you."

"I will too. Make sure to visit you guys," Cassandra sighed into the hug as I joined the hug as well. Today's the day I return to Earthland. Right now, we're standing in the open gardens of the castle. All the zodiacs are here to send me off as well, though they stepped back to give us a moment with Cassandra as they can see me while I'm in Earthland while Cassandra cannot.

Callista and I are both wearing hooded cloaks that can cover our magic energy so that no one gets too scared. Of course, our magic power levels might leak through if we let it. At this moment, both of our hoods are down.

I wore a black hooded cloak lined with a sparkling gold fabric. I wore a dark purple long sleeve jacket with fingerless gloves connecting to the sleeves. Yellow strips of fabric reached across the jacket, closing off my body. More golden fabric lined the jacket and I wore matching tall boots, reaching mid-thigh. (this is too intricate to describe. here's a picture \/) 

Callista wore a blue hood with a matching blue shirt that was almost like armor with golden buttons going down the middle. She had yellow shoulder pads and a black belt with a golden accent. She wore dark purplish-black leggings with yellow striped on each leg. The leggings had a yellow kneepad-like thing on her knee. She had blue wedges reaching to just above her ankles. She wore pastel yellow fingerless gloves, a deeper, more golden yellow lining the gloves. (again, too intricate. picture :P \/)

After a little more hugging, we finally pull away. "I'll make sure to keep a lookout for the Scepter of Divinity while you're away," Cassandra told me. "Your Highness." She joked as she bowed. I playfully roll my eyes as Callista and I step back. 

I wave my hand to the zodiacs behind Cassandra. "Bye everyone!" I waved one more time before turning away. I lift my arms up in order to cast a spell and open the portal. I remembered the Grand Magic Games were soon so I figure where I wanted to go. "I call upon the gods of every religion, open gateway between Aecronica and the Flower Blooming Capital of Fiore! Crocus!" And with my final words, the same golden gateway from 3 years ago opens to Earthland. 

"Goodbye!" Callista and I exclaimed as we walked through the portal, on our way to our long-awaited journey. We fully disappear into the light of the portal, leaving Aecronica to Crocus.

We travel through the pillar of light, the whole universe surrounding us. As we fly up the pillar, we pass by planets and stars from our solar system. I look ahead to see a sphere with both water and land. My home. Earthland.

Me and Callista step out of the golden gateway in a little forest just on the outskirts of Crocus. As soon as we step out, the gateway disappears and leaves us in the forest. "Ready to watch the Grand Magic Games Calli?" I asked my cheerful companion.

"Of course Lulu! I can't wait to join the guild you call family!" Callista squealed with excitement. 

"Yes, but let's wait until after the Grand Magic Games. We can't ruin the surprise, now can we?"

"No way! Surprises are the best!"

I chuckled at Callista. "Summon your wings. The prelims are about to start," I told her. With just a thought, I feel two large stick-like things growing out of my back. Spread out behind me were my large feathered wings. Our clothing was made for us to be able to summon our wings without ruining it. My wings were large angel wings with a rose gold tint to it. Of course, since we're angels we have angel wings, and since I am part fairy, I'm sure the first master will be happy to see me again.

"Okay Lulu," she responded as she summoned her wings as well with just her thoughts. Her wings were a smaller version of my wings, though her's were pure white instead of tinted rose gold.

"Keep close and stay hidden," I tell Callista as I flapped my wings, a huge gust of wind charging towards the ground beneath us.

"Of course Lulu." Callista flapped her wings, a small gust of wind soon following. Our wings flapped as we flew through the night sky, making our way to the Domus Flau, the arena where the Grand Magic Games were held, passing by the magical labyrinth for the preliminary round. I guess the were too lazy to figure out a different challenge that'll knock out more than 100 guilds. 

Callista and I landed on the tall stone statues of the arena, getting a good view of the whole city. Surely, no one would see us from up here. We also got a good view of the labyrinth. 

I looked up towards the sky, looking at how high the moon was. I learned how to tell time from using the position of the moon and the sun. The moon rises from the east and sets in the west. I look up to the sky to try and find the north star. Once I find the north star, I turn to the left. That's east. I look up to the sky once more see the moon is not in the middle of the sky yet. I look down at my shadow, which is facing west. My shadow is almost perfectly lined up under my feet, and that's how I know what time it is.

"We have a few minutes until the prelims. If I remember correctly, they'll put up a lacrima-vision to show an inside view of the labyrinth," I said to Callista as I took a seat next to her, facing the labyrinth as we wait to see team Fairy Tail on the lacrima-vision.

• NATSU'S POV •

"Everyone ready?" Erza asked as everyone as we sat in the inn, waiting for the prelims to begin. 

"Yup," Gray replied as I nod. Laxus and Gajeel just simply grunt as an answer, indicating they agree with Gray.

After a few seconds, a giant screen shows the Grand Magic Games' referee and mascot, Mato. "Everyone, welcome to X796's Grand Magic Games, kabo!" The pumpkin man exclaimed on the screen over the magical labyrinth. "Of course we're starting with the preliminary round. The first 8 guilds to make it to the end will be competing in this year's games! We will also not be responsible for any deaths in the labyrinth, kabo!" 

I hear crowds cheer as the inns are lifted into the air. "When the firework explodes, the round will begin!" Mato exclaimed. After a few seconds of intense silence, a burst of color is splashed in the night sky, indicating the round's begun. 

We run up the long steps as fast as our legs could take us. After a long way of running, we finally made it to the labyrinth. "Which way?" I asked the team as we look around the floating steps, paths, and doors. 

"I think I memorized the way from the 2 other times we've competed. It has to be the same, right?" Erza tells us as she leads the way up a few steps. The labyrinth starts to spin on its axis, causing the team to hold on the pavement they were standing on.

"2 years of dealing with this shit ball and I'm still not used to it," Gajeel grumbles as the labyrinth stops spinning, making him pull himself up onto the steps he held onto.

"This way!" Erza exclaimed once the whole team was standing on the stone steps. She ran up the stairs and down a path. She quickly turned left to lead us into a door. We end up on a path just under a roaring fire, the path leading all the way to the other side of the room. Yes. Under a roaring fire. The fire was a few 100 yards over our heads but you could still feel the heat from here, though it didn't affect me.

"Awesome food!" I cheered as I tried to jump to the fire.

"Cool it, fire breath. We're here to compete. Not eat," Gray hissed as he hit the back of my head.

"What'd you say, ice princess?" I retort, smashing my forehead against Gray's.

"I said-."

"Will you two zip it?" Erza scolded as she turned to us, glaring deep into our souls, sending me a chill down my spine.

"Let's hurry up. We don't want to get caught in here when the labyrinth spins again," Laxus calmly said, quickly moving down the path. We immediately follow behind him, running to the door on the other side of the room. 

When we opened the door, we were greeted with another wizard guild. They instantly spotted us and tried to speak. "Oh, well isn't-"

"Fire dragon's iron fist!" I yelled, punching one of their team members off the edge.

• LUCY'S POV •

"Woah! That's Fairy Tail?! They're amazing!" Callista exclaims next to me as we watch the lacrima-vision showing Natsu sucker punch a wizard off the edge.

"Haha, you could say that," I chuckled as I watched team Fairy Tail quickly get rid of the opposing team. The labyrinth then spins, throwing a few more teams off out of the floating sphere.

"Who's the fireball?" Callista asked, referring to Natsu.

"He's Natsu Dragneel. The fire dragon slayer," I answered as I watched Fairy Tail continue through paths and doors.

"What about the nudist?" Callista questioned as she continued to look at the screen just over the magical labyrinth.

I giggle before responding. "Gray Fullbuster. The ice-make wizard," I responded. It hasn't even been 30 minutes yet and Gray's only in his boxers.

"What's the scary one's name?" 

"Which one? Laxus or Gajeel?"

"The red one."

Oh. Even Callista knows the wrath of Erza. "Erza Scarlet. Requip wizard and skilled swordswoman."

"Okay. I need to steer clear of Erza."

"You got that right," I chuckled as I see Fairy Tail reach the end of the preliminary round, obtaining 1st place.

"What about mister sparky sparky boom boom?" Callista asked.

"Laxus Dreyar. Lightning dragon slayer," I giggled a little bit, immediately stopping. "Never call him that to his face."

"How about metal brows?"

"Never call any of them these names." I shake my head as I watch Sabertooth obtain 2nd place for the prelims. "Gajeel Redfox. Iron dragon slayer."

"When will I meet them?" Callista asked.

"Soon."