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Stellar Mistakes
By : Rhov
Category: +. to F > Fairy Tail
Views: 14748 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail nor do I make money from this fanfic.
Chapter List
- 37
- 38
- 39
Chapter 38
Presentation Time
The day of the competition arrived, and the team from Fairy Tail strode into the Crocus Metro Government building as a powerful, unified group, with Loke in the middle, Lucy to his right, Freed to his left, with Natsu and Gray on the edges. People whispered as they walked by. These people knew the reputation of Fairy Tail.
They stepped into a conference room, and what shocked Lucy was the sudden flash of cameras.
"Fairy Tail, a word about the contest!" a reported shouted.
"They say all jobs for the government go to Sabertooth," another called out.
Loke stepped right in, but the rest of them hesitated. Lucy had thought the presentations would be similar to what they had showed the city planning commission before, just an office with the judges, that's all.
"These sorts of things aren't usually public events," Lucy whispered.
Loke smiled back at her. "This is for the Grand Magic Games. They decided to make it public."
Not only were there reporters. Many top athletes who would be in the Games were there, as were sportscasters and critics who normally reviewed movies. The actual committee members were up in the front and also looked a little surprised by the publicity. Then Lucy caught sight of a man with a massive mustache who stuck out from the rest of the committee.
The king himself had come.
He rose and walked up to Loke. Lucy was by Loke's side and could hear them, but the words the two men exchanged were so soft, she doubted if Gray just behind her could hear.
The king had a smile for the cameras, but his eyes spoke his anger. "We can still come to an amiable understanding. I would hate for you to come all this way just to publicly disgrace yourself on television." He waved over to the committee members, as if he was telling Loke everyone would be fair, but their team knew what he was really saying.
If Loke was not his ally, then he was his enemy.
The king could ruin Loke's career, right here, in front of everyone. There were so many cameras rolling, so many flashes, network television, newspapers, internet journalists. All of them would witness this.
Loke gave a respectful bow with a small yet sly smile. His reply was just as quiet. "There is no changing the mind of a Lion. It will catch what it wants."
The king chuckled cruelly. "Even lions can have their claws crushed." His eyes briefly glanced right at Lucy. "A shame for the rest of your team, but it's your choice, Loke." Then he walked away.
Loke stood there, stiff and staring straight ahead. He had looked so bold and self-assertive a moment ago. Suddenly, he looked stricken, as if he was fearing that he really had damned all of them.
Lucy looked up to him. "Mr. Leo, it's okay. We'll win."
At her confident words, Loke's face firmed back up. "Yeah."
Freed tapped his shoulder. "We put a lot of work into this presentation. We gave it everything we've got."
"I know," said Loke. "I believe in all of you. I just really hope we'll be judged fairly, and I didn't ruin your futures by my own choice."
"We're a team," Gray told him. "What any of us does affects the others, but that's all the more reason to support one another. Your choice was something we were all proud about. No one should force you into marriage."
"That's right," said Natsu. "You did the right thing. The rest is up to how ethical the committee really is."
Loke was glad to hear their support. "To be honest, when I first heard the deal about getting engaged, I thought about going along with it. I thought marriage was, in a sense, not unlike a job."
Lucy was stunned and dismayed. "You did?"
"But…" he said, speaking slowly, with measured out thought, "if I made Fairy Tail the number one agency like that, it wouldn't make the CEO happy." He chuckled to himself. "That tiny old man would probably hit me over the head if I got married for such a stupid reason."
A moment after he finished speaking, a master of ceremonies came up to thank everyone, and private speaking had to stop. It was time now. Either their hard work would pay off, or they would be cheated by the king himself.
Fairy Tail was up first. Loke addressed the crowd and introduced the team. Lucy created the concept, so she stood in the front, and Loke helped her present. Flashes went off the entire time, often distracting Lucy from the words she had practically memorized after reading over them countless times.
"Dreaming with the one you love." That was the theme of their commercial. Sharing the joyous moment with that person.
Lucy spoke to the crowd. "Our athletes aren't going in alone to compete in the Grand Magic Games. There are people who have supported them, watched over them, loved them. Our dreams are carried by the athletes. We want to focus on this, something all people feel."
Gray spoke of the ways they carried the themes message into the commercial, Freed explained the costs, Natsu talked about television slots, and Lucy got the demo commercial going, playing it for everyone on a huge screen up front.
Lucy had watched it dozens of times, and even weeks after she got approval for the concept of this commercial, she could hardly believe that she had created something so emotional.
When it finished, the audience was momentarily in silent awe. Then the athletes in the back broke into an uproarious applause, and gradually everyone began to clap. Loke patted Lucy on the arm. The whole presentation went flawlessly. This was the culmination of all their hard work.
Just as Lucy felt a wave of relief, it was Sabertooth's turn. A group of strong, proud people stepped up. Two were polar opposites, blond with a boisterous grin of confidence, the other dark-haired and quiet, along with a slender woman with short white hair and an elegant lady in a mandarin gown.
Their concept was good, but … it lacked something. Lucy saw it right away now. A few months ago, she would have only vaguely sensed the weakness, but now her awareness was heightened. She saw the missing element right away.
Their concept was Strength in Hard Times. It focused on the most powerful athletes, leaving the viewer in awe at their physical power and personal determination. Their budget had not been cut, so they had a famous actor as the narrator, the filming was all high quality, and they had even gotten many popular athletes to showcase. Still, it was missing something the audience could relate to. It was missing that emotional connection.
There was a loud but general applause this time, more like a polite acknowledgement of their hard work rather than the excitement of earlier. Lucy was confident that their commercial was better than Sabertooth's. If it was an ordinary competition, she was positive they would win … but it wasn't.
Lucy took her eyes off the presentation and looked over at the committee. The king was still smirking.
Sabertooth finished, and the committee left to deliberate
Gray murmured, "The king has probably attempted a backroom deal, so committee member won't vote for us."
Lucy looked over in concern. "A backroom deal?"
Freed seemed to have already come to the same conclusion. "It happens all the time. Promises of money, power, favors, royal support."
Natsu looked glum. "You're kidding me."
"Blackmail can even be involved," Gray said dourly. "I bet the committee members can't disobey the king."
Freed corrected, "They could, but they would face financial hardship if they did. We're just lucky the committee isn't chosen by the king himself."
Not even thinking, Lucy grabbed Natsu's hand and hung on in worry. All their work, an obviously superior result, and they could still lose.
Loke came up behind her and whispered, "Don't worry. The entire audience saw both presentations. No matter what happens, at least they know Fairy Tail was the best."
She let go of Natsu's hand and straightened up. Loke was right. Even if politics got in the way, there were reporters here, athletes, coaches, people who could judge without royal influence. They would all realize which was better. Fairy Tail had already fought its best.
She was confident again knowing that in a fair fight, they had dominated over Sabertooth.
It was not long at all before the committee returned.
"See," Freed muttered. "Short deliberation. It's probably unanimous."
The head of the committee went forward to a podium with a mic. "The committee has made our decision."
Lucy was sure it was unconscious, but right at that moment Loke grabbed her hand and held it tightly. She could feel his the anxiety in his trembling fingers, although his face was a blank, confident, unperturbed mask.
"In a nine against two result…"
Natsu hissed softly beside her. It wasn't even a close vote! Beside her, Lucy felt Loke jolt at those numbers, and she squeezed his hand, wishing she could comfort his anxiety. She was still hopeful, but she also felt nervous. This could not only decide Loke's fate, but that of all of Fairy Tail.
"… the winner of the Grand Magic Games advertising account…"
Lucy slammed her eyes shut, praying with all she had.
"… goes to…"
- 37
- 38
- 39
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Stellar Mistakes	By : Rhov Category: +. to F > Fairy Tail Views: 14748 -:- Recommendations : 0 -:- Currently Reading : 0
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail nor do I make money from this fanfic.

Stellar Mistakes