Chapter 22

**In the streets of Magnolia**

Natsu and Milo were making their way to the guild as they pass by the citizens who were preparing for the Fantasia Parade Natsu heard of.

"-yawn- I like it better when I was sleeping with Erza." Natsu said as he felt a little sleepy because of the lack of sleep he had, without Erza to cuddle with he didn't sleep right that time.

"Nyaa!" Milo meowed to him while walking beside him.

They then got to the guild where Makarov was organizing everyone to do their job.

"Oh, Natsu, Milo!" Makarov saw the two come in as he walks to them.

"You guys are working hard." Natsu said as he saw everyone preparing the stage and the guild

"what's the stage for?" Natsu asked Makarov.

"it is for the annual Miss Fairy Tail contest we're going to have in a few more hours." Makarov replied to him.

"Miss Fairy Tail Contest?" Natsu asked with a question mark.

"It is a contest we hold every year to see who is worthy of the title Miss Fairy Tail." Makarov said before having a perverted grin on him

"I wonder what skimpy outfit we will see~~~" Makarov said as he imagined girls in bikinis.

Natsu shook his head amused to the old man before seeing Erza off in the distance.

"Well, got to get ready." Makarov said as he waved Natsu and Milo off.

Natsu nodded before making his way to Erza

**After a few hours**

Everyone from the town and the guild were now watching the stage as Max who was in a suit came to the stage.

"HELLO EVERYONE! THANK YOU FOR COMING DOWN TO THE MISS FAIRY TAIL BEAUTY CONTEST!" Max announced from the stage.

"It's time for the beauties of Fairy Tail to shine! Let's welcome them all!" Everyone erupted into cheer as they awaited the contestants to show.

"First up is our sexy card mage that has a bottomless pit for a stomach, CANA ALBERONA!"

Cana then appeared on the stage and then held up a deck of cards. All of the sudden they then began floating in mid-air and then covered her.

"The cards are hiding her! What will she show us?!" Max announced eagerly. All of the sudden a bright light flashed, and there was Cana in her bikini as she posed for everyone.

"A BIKINI!?" Lucy yelled in distress from back stage.

"Ohh, that's a good idea." Erza said in astonishment.

"Huh?! You're entering too!?"

"Well, when there's a festival, I can't help but get excited." Erza proudly stated.

"Now it is time for the scarlet beauty! Titania Erza Scarlet!" Max announced out loud as Erza took the cue.

"That's me!" Erza said as she jumped on to stage.

Everyone cheered for her while Natsu had a camera with him.

Erza smirked as she focused all of her magic and then exploded in a flash of light as she was now wearing a goth Loli dress.

"Ooooohhhhh!"

The crowd cheered for her.

"Aren't you happy for her Natsu?" Gray asked the man as to only see his nose bleeding while taking shots of Erza.

"Never mind." Gray said with a sweat drop.

"Waaahh~! My rent is slipping away~!" Lucy comically whined. They kept on going until they finally arrived to Mirajane who smiled to them.

"Now I don't think she needs an introduction, seeing as how she won last year's Miss Fairy Tail contest..Everyone's favorite, Mirajane Strauss!" Max announced.

"I'll show you all something good~!" Mira smiled as she then focused her magic power around her body. There was a flash of light that enveloped her, and then suddenly, she reappeared with a beautiful white lingerie on her.

"OOOOOHHHHHHHHH!" All the men shouted as they felt like their noses were shooting out blood from her appearance.

Makarov had hearts in his eyes as his nose bleed was pouring out like a waterfall.

"Owww~! Mira's really bold this year everyone!" Max shouted as he jumped in the air.

"How am I supposed to compete with that?" Lucy could already feel like her chances were going from zero to non-existent.

"Go get em' Lucy!" She gave a friendly pat on Lucy's back as she hesitantly nodded and walked up to the stage.

And now contestant number 7! She's the newcomer and super rookie of the guild! Lucy He-!"

"Ah, ah, w-wait! They don't need to know my full name." Lucy nervously chuckled. "Um, I'm going to do a cheer with my spirits!" She announced as everyone cheered for her.

"Moving on to contestant number 8." A female's voice announced, leaving everyone confused.

"HUH!? Wait just a second! I haven't even done my appeal yet!" Lucy protested as she began quickly trying to cheer.

"If you want a Fairy, you want me. If you want beauty, you want me. Yes, I am the winner, me..." A woman wearing a green dress-like attire said as she slowly entered the front of stage. "Alright, this idiotic contest is done for." She closed the fan she was holding, and she revealed herself to be..

"Evergreen?!" Gray exclaimed, not expecting to see this person.

"When did she-?" Elfman was wondering the same thing as Gray.

"W-who are you?" Lucy asked nervously. The feeling this woman gave off seemed mischievous.

"Oh my, you must be the new member I've heard about."

"LUCY, DON'T LOOK INTO HER EYES!" Gray tried to warn her, but suddenly Evergreen lifted her glasses, and Lucy turned to stone in an instant.

"What is this?!"

"She turned to stone?"

"Is it over?" The audience wondered.

"Oh boy, this is bad. Everyone! run away!" Max quickly said to the audience. They stormed out like no tomorrow leaving only the members of Fairy Tail.

"Evergreen! What do you think you're doing!? Are you planning on ruining the festival!?" Makarov angrily demanded.

"You need entertainment for a festival, right?" Evergreen grinned as the curtains rose to show all the participants turned to stone.

"What?!" Elfman exclaimed.

"Even Erza?!" Gray exclaimed.

"Return them to normal this instant!" Makarov ordered.

All of the sudden a flicker of lighting began building up in between them, and suddenly it flashed to reveal Laxus.

"Hey, you Fairy Fails! This festival is just getting started!" He laughed.

"Laxus?" Gray then noticed in the upper area that two other people were watching them.

"Bickslow? Freed?" Wakaba noticed.

"The Thunder God Tribe." Elfman said in astonishment as the two and Evergreen assembled around Laxus.

"What is this foolishness Laxus!? Return those girls back to normal this instant!" He demanded from his grandson.

"Calm down old man. Whaddya' say we play?" He said with a smirk. Natsu just narrowed his eye at him as he stood next to Makarov.

"This is not funny Laxus! Return the girls back to normal right now!"

"I wonder how many will be left to be in the fantasia parade." Laxus said as a lightning bolt then shot down towards the petrified Lucy.

"DON'T!" Makarov yelled. Luckily it missed her by an inch as Laxus put his hand around her.

"Just making a point old man. These girls are my hostages. If you don't abide by my rules, I'll shatter them one by one." He smiled evilly.

"Stop being foolish Laxus! This is not funny in the least!"

"I'm being serious." Laxus said as he eased off the statue of Lucy.

"Let us just see..who's the strongest in Fairy Tail." Freed said.

"Time for fun!" Bickslow shouted as his tongue hung out his mouth.

"Fun! Fun!" Little wooden dolls said as they floated around him.

"The rules are simple, the last one standing wins." Laxus explained as all the members tensed up. "Lets get this Battle of Fairy Tail underway!" Laxus smiled.

"If you defeat us, then the girls will turn back to normal. But you have a time limit of three hours, any more than that, and they'll turn to dust." Evergreen explained.

"There's around 100 of you and 4 of us right?" Bickslow said.

"100 vs 4!" His puppets said in unison.

"Okay, fine." Natsu said which surprised the others. "I'll fight you as soon as you let the girls go."

"Sorry, but rules are rules, Natsu." Laxus smirked. "Do I need to explain them to you again? And I tried to make it so si-"

"Oi.." Natsu said as he narrowed his eye at him. "..I don't give a shit about your rules. If anything happens to Erza or ANY of them, it's on your head." He threatened as his Enryuo no Yoroi appeared on Natsu as he glared from within the helmet.

"**I will participate if you keep those conditions."** Natsu told to him

"Hoh? At least one of you wants to do this." Laxus mused.

"Natsu?" Makarov said.

"**it's a festival."** Natsu said as he walked towards Laxus.

**"At least this way, I will have an excuse to send him and his gang to the hospital."** Natsu smirked in his helmet as he pounded his fist and flames sparked from the pound.

"That's the spirit, but..you lack flair." Laxus all of a sudden shot a lightning bolt down at Natsu. Natsu simply sidestepped it and then jumped at Laxus. But all of the sudden a bright flash of lightning obscured his vision as he landed and tried to shield his vision.

"IT'S THE FOUR OF US AGAINST ALL OF YOU! THE BATTLE FIELD IS MAGNOLIA! COME AND FIND US IF YOU DARE! LET THE BATTLE BEGIN!" Laxus shouted as it got brighter and brighter. After a few moments Laxus and his group vanished.

"Damn it!"

"Laxus is totally asking for it!"

"Lets go take him down!

"Get Laxus!" All the members shouted as they ran out the doors.

"That fool.." Makarov gritted his teeth. "I'll..I'LL STOP YOU!" He began running but for some reason was going anywhere. He then looked back and Natsu was holding him up like a kid by the hood.

"LET ME GO NATSU! I NEED TO STOP LAXUS!" He shouted in anger.

**"...Okay."** Natsu simply said as he dropped and Makarov ran straight into an invisible wall. Natsu winced as he watched Makarov hit the invisible wall.

"Huh? Hey gramps, get a move on!" Gray said as he picked up Makarov and tried to pull him through whatever was holding him in place.

**"Hold up Gray."** Natsu said as he walked up to them. **"There's something here."** He said as Gray stopped and looked up.

"What are those..runes?" Gray wondered.

"Establishment Magic." Makarov said in surprise. "Those who enter its territory are bound to its rules. If you don't obey them, you can't get out." He explained.

**"Hmm.."** Natsu hummed as he walked forth and reached out and suddenly his hand stopped and was pressing against something.

**"Huh?"** He made a sound of surprise. He then read the characters.

**"Those who are 80 or stone statues may not participate. "...Tch, at least he has a sense of humor, freaking smart ass."** Natsu scowled. **"But why the hell can't I get through!?"** He pounded his fist on the wall.

"Are you over 80?" Gray asked dumbfounded before getting kicked on the butt by Natsu.

**"AS IF! AND IF YOU GOT TIME FOR DUMB ASS QUESTIONS, THEN GO FIND THAT JERK AND HIS LACKEYS!"**

"Ow! That hurt!" Gray fired back.

**"We'll try to deal with this, you just go deal with Laxus and his team."** Natsu said.

"..Alright..Gramps?" Gray suddenly said. "I don't care if he is your grandson, I ain't holding back. He's gone too far this time." He seemed to have a determined look as he ran off to go find Laxus.

"Gray.." Makarov said worriedly.

"**Milo, follow Gray and try to find some help"** Natsu told the little Vul cat who nodded with a meow and then he was off.

**"So Gramps."** Natsu asked him. **"You wanna smash this barrier down?"** He asked him.

"The rules are absolute Natsu. I can't break this down without endangering the girls in their present state." He said with a sigh. "By the way, you can read runes?"

**"you're talking to a wizard saint like you, you know?"** Natsu said as he crossed his arms. **"But still.."** He just stared at the wall with curiosity. **"..Why can't I get out?"**

"maybe you are over 80?" Makarov said as Natsu had a tick mark appeared.

"Do I look as old as you?" Natsu said as Enryuo no Yoroi disappeared as he points to his face.

Makarov sighed before hearing some explosions happening from the town.

"What was?!" Makarov said before seeing some letters appearing on the runes that said.

Alzack Vs Jet Vs Droy

"What is going on?!" Makarov exclaimed as he could hear more explosions coming from the town.