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*Behind Fairy Tail Guild Hall - Miss Fairy Tail Contest*
The makeshift stage had been transformed into something approaching professional quality, with magical lights creating a warm, inviting atmosphere for the unconventional beauty contest. Damian found himself genuinely entertained as various Fairy Tail members took the stage, each bringing their own unique interpretation to the competition's categories.
Cana Alberona had performed what could generously be called a "drinking talent," managing to consume an impressive amount of alcohol while maintaining perfect balance on one foot. Mirajane Strauss had demonstrated her transformation magic in an elegant evening wear presentation that somehow managed to be both stunning and slightly terrifying. Erza Scarlet had given a weapons demonstration that was equal parts graceful and intimidating, her various armors creating a dazzling display of martial artistry.
Through it all, Damian watched with polite interest but found his attention more focused on Levy beside him than on the contestants themselves. She seemed genuinely excited by her guildmates' performances, cheering enthusiastically and offering running commentary on each person's particular strengths and personality quirks.
"And now," announced the contest's host—a cheerful local resident who seemed to know everyone in attendance—"our final contestant of the evening... Levy McGarden!"
Damian felt his breath catch as Levy squeezed his hand briefly before making her way toward the stage. She had changed into a simple but elegant dress that seemed to shimmer with subtle magical energy, her blue hair styled in a way that caught the stage lights perfectly.
"For my talent presentation," Levy announced as she reached the center of the stage, "I'd like to demonstrate the artistic applications of Solid Script magic."
"**Solid Script: Symphony!**" she called out, her hands moving in complex patterns as golden words materialized in the air around her.
What followed was breathtaking. The magical words didn't just hang in space—they began to dance, swirling around Levy in intricate patterns that created both visual beauty and actual musical harmony. Each word contributed its own note to a melody that seemed to capture the joy and warmth of the festival itself.
Damian found himself smiling without conscious thought, his heart swelling with pride and something deeper as he watched her transform magic into art. She wasn't just demonstrating technical skill—she was sharing something beautiful with everyone present, creating a moment of wonder that would linger in memory long after the festival ended.
The crowd responded with genuine appreciation, applause and cheers filling the evening air as Levy's magical symphony reached its crescendo before fading into sparkling motes of light.
"Beautiful," Damian murmured, meaning it on levels that went far beyond the magical display.
Levy returned to his side with flushed cheeks and sparkling eyes, clearly pleased with both her performance and the audience's response.
"That was incredible," he said softly, taking her hand again. "I've never seen magic used quite like that."
"I've been working on it for months," she admitted. "Turning words into music is much harder than it sounds, but I thought tonight would be the perfect opportunity to try it publicly."
The contest continued with the judging and final presentations, but Damian found himself only half-listening. He was content to stand beside Levy, enjoying her excitement and the simple pleasure of sharing this moment with her.
Then everything changed.
A brilliant flash of lightning illuminated the stage, followed immediately by the distinctive crackling of electrical magic being discharged at high levels. When Damian's vision cleared, he saw two figures standing on the stage where moments before the contestants had been taking their final bows.
Laxus Dreyar, Fairy Tail's infamous Lightning Dragon Slayer, stood with casual arrogance in the center of the stage. Beside him was a woman Damian didn't recognize—tall, with elaborate hair and glasses that seemed to gleam with their own inner light.
And around them, scattered across the stage like grotesque statues, were the petrified forms of every contest participant.
Including Levy.
Damian's first instinct was pure, incandescent rage. Magical energy began to swirl around him as his World Magic responded to his emotional state, reality itself seeming to waver as his power sought targets for the fury that consumed him. For a moment, the very air around him began to take on the characteristics of a Prison World, ready to trap and crush whoever had dared to harm the woman he—
*Stop.*
The word cut through his rage like a blade, spoken not by anyone else but by his own rational mind. This was a Fairy Tail internal conflict. Levy was a member of this guild, and whatever was happening here was guild business. His interference—no matter how justified his anger—would only complicate matters and potentially make things worse for everyone involved.
Damian forced himself to take a deep breath, his magical energy slowly stabilizing as he imposed control over his emotions. Around him, the crowd was beginning to panic as they realized what had happened, but most were fleeing rather than approaching the dangerous situation on stage.
"**Lightning Magic: Thunder Palace!**" Laxus declared, his voice carrying easily across the confused crowd.
Instantly, magical lacrima began appearing throughout Magnolia Town—dozens of them, each one crackling with electrical energy and positioned to create a devastating magical barrier around the entire settlement.
"Citizens of Magnolia!" Laxus announced, his voice magically amplified. "You have three hours to determine who the strongest member of Fairy Tail truly is! Until then, no one leaves this town!"
Damian watched with growing concern as most of the festival crowd dispersed, leaving only a handful of Fairy Tail members to deal with what was clearly an internal power struggle. He recognized Natsu Dragneel and—surprisingly—Gajeel Redfox among those who remained, both of them looking ready for battle.
*Gajeel is part of Fairy Tail now?* Damian thought with surprise. *When did that happen?*
Master Makarov appeared on the scene with the speed of someone who had dealt with guild crises before, his small form radiating the kind of authority that came from decades of leadership.
"Laxus," Makarov said, his voice carrying disappointment rather than anger, "release the girls immediately. This conflict is between us—innocent people shouldn't suffer for your ambitions."
"They're not suffering, old man," Laxus replied with callous indifference. "Evergreen's stone magic doesn't cause pain, just... inconvenience. They'll be fine as long as you acknowledge reality."
As the confrontation continued to unfold, Damian made his decision. He would not interfere with Fairy Tail's internal politics, but he could address the immediate threat to innocent civilians.
Moving carefully to avoid drawing attention, he positioned himself where he could observe both the guild conflict and the magical barriers that now surrounded the town. The Thunder Palace lacrima were sophisticated constructs, designed to discharge devastating electrical attacks against anyone who tried to destroy them from the outside.
But Damian's World Magic didn't work from the outside.
"**World Magic: Nullification World,**" he whispered, creating a small dimensional pocket around the nearest lacrima.
Within the Nullification World, the magical construct simply... stopped existing. Not destroyed, not discharged, but rendered null and void as if it had never been created in the first place. The lacrima vanished without triggering any defensive responses.
*One down,* Damian thought grimly. *Thirty-seven to go.*
He began moving systematically through Magnolia, using his dimensional magic to erase each Thunder Palace lacrima with surgical precision. The process was mentally exhausting—each Nullification World required perfect understanding of the target's magical structure—but it was far safer than trying to destroy the devices through conventional means.
*Thunder God Tribe Hideout - Elsewhere in Magnolia*
"The Thunder Palace network is failing," Bickslow reported with confusion, his dolls circling anxiously around his head. "Lacrima are going offline one by one, but there's no evidence of external attacks."
"What do you mean, 'going offline'?" Freed demanded, his sword already half-drawn as he prepared for battle.
"I mean they're just... disappearing," Bickslow replied, his usual casual demeanor replaced by genuine concern. "Not destroyed, not discharged. They're just ceasing to exist."
Freed's eyes widened with alarm. "That should be impossible. The Thunder Palace lacrima are designed to be indestructible except through Laxus's own lightning magic."
"**Letter Magic: Pain!**" Freed called out, creating a magical barrier around their position. "We're under attack by someone with reality manipulation abilities. Prepare for—"
"Wait," Bickslow interrupted, studying the readings from his remaining dolls. "Whatever's doing this isn't heading toward us. It's systematically removing the Thunder Palace but avoiding any other magical signatures."
"Someone's protecting the civilians," Freed realized with growing unease. "But who has the power to counter Laxus's magic so completely?"
*Back at the Guild Hall*
By the time Damian had finished erasing the last of the Thunder Palace lacrima, the confrontation between Laxus and the other guild members had escalated into open combat. Natsu was trading explosive attacks with the Lightning Dragon Slayer while Gajeel provided support, their combined efforts creating enough chaos to clear the immediate area of bystanders.
Makarov had moved to check on the petrified contestants, his weathered face showing deep concern for his guild members' welfare.
"**World Magic: Restoration World,**" Damian whispered from his concealed position, creating a small dimensional pocket around Levy's petrified form.
Within the Restoration World, the stone magic that had transformed her was simply undone—not countered or overpowered, but restored to its natural state before the transformation had occurred. Levy blinked in confusion as her mobility returned, looking around in bewilderment.
"What happened?" she asked, her voice carrying the disorientation of someone who had lost time.
"Stone Eyes magic," Makarov explained gently, helping her steady herself. "Evergreen petrified all the contestants as leverage against me. But somehow the magic has been dispelled."
Damian repeated the process with each of the other petrified women, using his World Magic to restore them to their natural states without revealing his presence. Within minutes, all the contestants were mobile again, though clearly shaken by their experience.
"Master," Levy said as she helped Mirajane and the others regain their bearings, "what's Laxus trying to accomplish?"
"He wants to prove he should be the guild master," Makarov replied sadly. "He believes strength alone should determine leadership."
As the guild members dealt with the aftermath of the stone magic and prepared to confront the ongoing threat posed by Laxus, Damian began to withdraw from the area. His intervention had been as minimal as possible—protecting civilians and freeing the hostages without taking sides in the internal conflict.
But he didn't leave entirely. Instead, he found a concealed position where he could maintain watch over Levy specifically, ready to intervene again if she faced direct danger from the ongoing battle.
*She's part of Fairy Tail,* he reminded himself as magical explosions continued to echo through the night. *This is their fight, their family business. But I'll be here if she needs me.*
As lightning and fire painted the sky above Magnolia in brilliant colors, Prince Damian E. Fiore settled in to watch over the woman he loved, respecting her guild's independence while ensuring that some promises—like always being there when she needed protection—would never be broken.
Even if she never knew he was there.
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*To be continued...*