Down in the sewers of Academy City, two girls walked along, looking for something that their organization had been assigned to retrieve. These were two members of an organization called ITEM. An independently created organization that operated on the dark side of Academy City. Their leader, was none other then Shizuri Mugino, the 4th strongest esper in Academy City...aka, Meltdowner.

Meltdowner's current accompanying companion was a black haired expressionless girl named Rikou Takitsubo. Rikou looked around the area with her eyes slightly widened. Using her AIM Stalker ability to scan the surrounding area for any other espers.

"We're clear...." said Rikou. "Though I can't completely gauruntee we're completely alone.."

"Good." said Shizuri. "Then I guess we can commence the deal."

Shizuri took out a cellphone and dialed a number. "We're here.....you can come on out."

As Shizuri casually threw the phone into the sewer water, several men in dark suits came out of the shadowy end of the sewer carrying a large armored suitcase.

"We take it that you weren't followed?" said one of the men.

"Pretty much." said Shizuri with a slightly raised eyebrow. "Don't underestimate ITEM......"

"Well make sure that this gets to lab 18." said the man. "SCHOOL and STUDY have been giving us some issues about this lately, but it's nothing you probably can't handle......"

Shizuri took the case  and weighed it in her hands. "What is this? I have to imagine that this would be quite an important piece of hardware if we were hired to take it..."

"No kidding." said another one of the men. "What you're holding is the newly designed central server for Tree Diagram 2. The satalite is scheduled to launch in a couple of days... and the only part left is that central hard drive."

"Most intrigueing...." said Shizuri looking at the case with a brighter interest in her eyes. "What do you make of this Rikou?"

"It's a box...." muttered Rikou, her face still expressionless. "Other then that, I don't think I need to know much..."

"Hmph...sometimes you can be quite boring..."

Suddenly, as if out of nowhere, some strange looking looking totem-like dolls flew through the air at the men in black suits and fired off some greenish energy beams, blasting the cieling and causing an avalanche of rocks to block off the other end of the sewer.

"YEAH!! That's right my babies!! Take em' to the cleaners!!"

Shizuri and Rikou whirled around to see a man in purple robes and a strange medievel visor standing at their end of the sewer.

"Impossible!" said Rikou. "I should have sensed another esper coming!"

"That's no esper." said Meltdowner as she began to gather energy in preparation for a fight. "This guy's a magician."

Bickslow opened his mouth in a grin, letting his tongue hang out to reveal his black Fairy Tail tattoo. "Hey there gals!! Sorry that me and my babies had to butt in and all....but you have something that we'd prefer not ever get into the wrong hands......"

"He's from Fairy Tail!" said Meltdowner with a growl. "So you're friends with that Railgun aren't you!?"

"Mikoto?" said Bickslow shrugging. "Of course! In case you haven't noticed, we're all kinda family!"

"Well you were a fool to come alone!" said Meltdowner shooting off a powerful blast of energy at Bickslow.

Suddenly the beam of energy stopped in mid air as it came into contact with what appeared to be a strange transparent wall made out of purple energy ruins.

"What!?" said Meltdowner stepping back.

"Who said I was alone!" said Bicslow spreading his arms out as his dolls gathered around him and said in echoing voices. "Not alone, not alone, not alone."

"You see." said Bickslow holding up a finger. "Not only do I have my babies! But I have a few other friends as well!!"

A green haired man in red clothing emmerged from the shadows trailing a sword behind him. This was Freed Justine, and as it so happened, he had already drawn a great number of magical ruins around the area.

"I'm afraid the game is set and match for you esper." said Freed. "The ruins I have already set will not allow you to escape unless you give us that case."

Mugino screamed with fury and blasted another concentrated blast of energy at Freed. However the ruin barrier appeared again repelling the blast all around the area as it bounced off a different assortment of ruin walls before it finally dissapated."

"Like I said before." said Freed. "Those ruins are set to remain until you hand over that case to me."

Meltdowner smiled sinisterly. "Well....if that's how you feel" said Shizuri. "Then you can have it!!"

Shizuri threw the case into the air, and just as Freed caught it, Shizuri shot out a blast of energy powerful enough to reduce a truck to a puddle (it's said that Shizuri's most powerful move is actually powerful enough to one shot the Railgun. However it would also be fatal to Shizuri.)

"Baryon Formation!!" Bickslow's dolls flew in front of Freed and rotated around in a vertical circle, causing a huge blast of energy to colide with Meltdowner's electron beam. A massive explosion erupted from the area, causing a huge dust cloud of smoke to erupt from the area. When the smoke cleared, Bickslow and Freed had dissapeared, along with the case.

"NO!!" shouted Meltdowner in absolute fury. "THAT'S it! I'll show them to interfere with the affairs of ITEM!!!"

On the surface of Academy City, in one of the alleyways of District 7, Bickslow and Freed stood watching for any pursuers.

Freed brought a cellphone up to his ear. 'Master.....we have it."

"That is so amazing!!"

It had been 3 hours since Mikoto and Elli first met, During that time Lucy, Happy and Natsu had asked Mikoto if she would like to hang around town until Master Markarov decided to announce the team that would be competeing in the Grand Magic Games.

During that time Mikoto and Elli had done nothing but talk to each other as they walked through the town, either laughing at each other's silly jokes or talk about the many ancient ruins Elli had visited on her treasure hunting exploits.

"Wow..." said Lucy with a grin on her face. "Those two are getting along well."

"Eh.." said Natsu. "I still can't see it...I always imagined Mikoto's partner would be yellow instead of pink!"

Happy was looking at Elli with a sort of worried expression. "You don't think that I won't be able to sit on Mikoto's head again will you......?"

"Why are you so obsessed with Mikoto's head?" said Lucy.

"He hair's so soft and comfy! It's like sleeping on silk!! Maybe Plue should try it too!"

Lucy put a hand on her pouch where she kept the keys for her celestial spirits. "Don't be ridiculous, that would only creep Mikoto out!"

"AHHHHHHHH!!!!!" shouted Happy suddenly. "NOOOO!!!!! ITS HAPPENED!!!"

"Huh?!" everyone turned to look at Happy in surprise.

Happy was pointing at Mikoto who now had Elli sitting on her head.

"What's wrong Happy?" asked Mikoto looking at him with confusion.

"M-my spot has been taken...." said Happy a little tearfully. "On that comfy comfy head...."

"Huh?" said Elli. "Well it is soft and comfy...what kind of conditioner do you use Mikoto?"

"I just use whatever I've got at the time." said Mikoto shrugging. "Though lately I've been using more of that conditioner Lucy's got since I've been staying with her over the summer...."

"Well whatever you do." said Elli cheerfully. "It's working for you, this hair is so silky soft!"

"Why thank you."

"Hey!" said Happy grumpily. "Every time I compliment your hair, you always tell me I'm being creepy, but when Elli compliments it, you're all just like 'thank you'. What gives!?"

Mikoto just smiled. "Well for one thing, she actually asked permission before she decided to climb onto my head. And another thing, she doesn't dig her claws into my scalp."

Happy looked at his paws. "Aye, they have been getting long lately....."

"Well I think it's pretty cute that you two are getting along so well!" said Lucy. "Hey Elli, I know that you're an explorer and everything, but have you ever thought about settling down somewhere, maybe joining a guild?"

"Wh-what!?" said Elli. "A-are you offering me a spot on your guild!?"

"Why not!?" said Natsu with a huge grin. "We've already got Happy, Charle, and Lilly, I'm sure it wouldn't hurt to have another exceed in the guild."

"Hmmm..." said Elli with a thoughtful expression. "On one hand, I would'nt be able to travel around as freely as I used to.......on the other hand, everyone here is so nice, even that Lilly cat kept giving me flowers and giving me some sort of lovey dovey expression (Panther Lilly has a crush on Elli)..........then on the other hand I would probably need to find a permanent place to live................but on the other hand I would get to hang out with Mikoto more.................M-Mikoto? W-would you hang out with me more i-if I joined.....and would you be alright with that?"

"Of course I would!" said Mikoto cheerfully. "And if you're looking for a place to stay permanently....you could live with me if you like!....though I would probably need to find a way to get my dorm supervisor to be okay with it."

"R-really!?" said Elli. "That's so...never in my wildest dreams...me living with.....!" Elli fainted on the spot and fell off Mikoto's head and into her arms.

"Oh no!" said Mikoto. "Not again. Elli...? Elli....? Are you alright?"

Elli woke with a start. "Oh! sorry.....I guess this is just so......oh I feel faint again....." Elli shook her head a little in an attempt to clear it. "O-of course I'll join your guild! Anyways, it sounds like you guys have a lot of neat adventures here too!"

"YES!!!!!!!!" Panther Lilly jumped out from a spot behind a trash can that was nearby, pumping his fist like had just won the lottery.

Elli, Mikoto, Natsu, Happy, and Lucy stared at Lilly. Lilly seemed to notice the stares and a bead of sweat traveled down his black furry head. "Uhh.........ummm...........Master sent me to tell you that he needs everyone back at the guild now.......hem........that's all."

Lilly activated his wings and hastilly flew away while cheeks blushed red.

Mikoto looked at the others. "You don't think he's ready to announce do you?"

"Let's go find out!" shouted Natsu with a jubiant expression. "Come on Happy! I'll race ya!!"

"Aye sir!!"

Natsu ran off with Happy flying close behind.

"We should probably catch up with him before he runs over some tourists or something." said Lucy.

"Y-yeah!" said Elli. "I-I guess we should...." Elli looked at Mikoto.

MIkoto smiled. "Do you want to sit on my head again?"

Elli's eyes sparkled with delight. "Oh yes!!"

"Then climb aboard."

Elli cheerfully flew up and settled on top of Mikoto's head again while Mikoto and Lucy went to catch up with Natsu and Happy.

Back at the guild hall, the entire place was extremely packed. Every single guild member had gathered. Mikoto could even make out Accelerator, Fairy Tail's only completely non-wizard guild member in the crowd. (Accelerator joined up after Gildarts offered him a position back in the epilogue of the second book. He, and the two MISAKA sisters, Last Order and MISAKA Worst, live together in Gildart's home. Accelerator still doesn't socialize much with the rest of the guild...prefering to go on either solo jobs, or with Gildarts. As a result, he's sometimes considered as Fairy Tail's "Second Mystogan".)

"Has Master said anything yet?" Mikoto asked the blue haired girl Juvia who was standing next to her in the crowd.

Juvia, who had been busy scanning the crowd fervently for Gray, shook her head. "Master still hasn't made the announcement....Oh Juvia hopes both she and Gray get to be on the same team!!! Then we would wipe away the competition with our unchallenged love!!"

"Hmm..." said Elli from atop Mikoto's head. "She seems obsessed with this Gray person."

"You haven't seen anything yet..." Mikoto muttered remembering the time that Juvia had once purposefully locked both herself and Gray in a closet in an attempt to get a kiss.

"Do you have anyone you like?" asked Elli curiously.

"Well........." said Mikoto going slightly red and thinking of Touma Kamijou. "There is one guy..........but he's so dense, I don't think he would notice even if I told him myself."

"Have you ever tried telling him?" asked Elli.

"Er....................well...............erm...."

"Well I think you should tell him." said Elli. "After all, the worst thing he can say is no right?"

But what if he does say no!? Said a voice in Mikoto's head. What would happen then?!

You will die a lonely widow in a hut on a mountain top scraping the shattered fragments of your love life, said another voice.

Shut up, said the first voice. You don't know anything!........but could that happen?

"Hey Mikoto!" said Elli excitedly. "I think they're starting!!"

"Huh?" Mikoto snapped back to reality to see that Master Markarov and Mirajane Strauss were standing on the guild hall's large stage.

Master Markarov cleared his throat. "Hello everyone! As you all well know, I have decided on the team that will be representing Fairy Tail while we attend the games this year!"

Everyone cheered in response to this, all except for Accelerator, who wore his usual bored expression and shrugged. "Eh....I guess it sounds interesting....."

"This year I have selected a team of 5 who will represent us!" said Markorav. "Now where did I put that list.......I swear I had it on me a moment ago......"

Mira held out a peice of paper to Markarov. "You gave it to me remember? Your mind's going a little with age Master."

"Nonsense!" said Markarov stubbornly as he took the sheet of paper. "I'm still quite young-Ow! My back!"

As Marorav rubbed his back ruefully, he began to read from the list. "Hehem......these are those who will represent Fairy Tail." (Let it be noted that Accelerator is still allowed to participate despite the fact he doesn't use magic, thanks to the fact that he bears the guild insignia. Accelerator's guild insignia is on the left area of his neck, just beneath his choker.)

"First! Is Natsu Dragneel!"

"Yeah!!" Shouted Natsu pumping his fist. "I'm totally going to show those guys whose boss!!! I'm ALL FIRED UP!!!"

"Second! Gray Fullbuster!!"

Gray, who was standing near the entrance of the guild grinned, as if he had been expecting this. "Finally, all that training I've been doing lately is going to pay off."

"Third! Erza Scarlet!!"

Erza nodded. "I am most eager to see who the competition is this year."

"Fourth! Laxus Dreyar!!.....Hmmm? Where is Laxus?"

Mirajane leaned in and whispered in Markarov's ear.

"Oh, I see." said Markarov. "So he, Evagreen, Bickslow and Freed won't be back for a coulple of hours.....odd, considering Freed just called me to say it was a success....oh well, I'm sure he'll be back in time."

Markarov cleared his throat again. "All right....back to business!"

"Last but not least, we have Mikoto Misaka!!"

"Wait....me?!" said Mikoto feeling absolutely surprised. "But I'm a newbie!"

"No shocker there." said Natsu clapping Mikoto on the back. "Way to go Mikoto!!"

"To be honest..." said Mikoto. "I thought they might pick Juvia, or Gajeel, or maybe even Gravix."

"You're Fairy Tail's strongest Dragon Slayer and Academy City's 3rd strongest esper!" said Elli. "If they didn't pick you it would be a crime!"

"W-wow!" said Mikoto. "I guess I should start training or something....."

Natsu suddenly grabbed Mikoto by the arm. "No kidding!! LETS START RIGHT NOW!! HAHAHAHAHA!!!"

Natsu ran out the door of the guild at top speed with a surprised Mikoto in tow as Happy and Elli flew after them.

Back in Academy City, things weren't as cheerful. Bickslow and Freed were staggering through the alleyways with bruises on their bodies.

"Darn it!" said Bickslow. "This started easy at first, but that ITEM doesn't mess around.....how did that Meltdowner girl find us so easily?"

"Don't give up now..." said Freed holding up the large armored suitcase. "Laxus and Evagreen are on their way, we'll have the backup we need soon........."

Suddenly the twosome stopped in their tracks....and with good reason, because a twelve-year old girl in an orange hoodie had just appeared at the end of the alleyway.......this was Saiai Kinuhata, one of the members of ITEM.

"Found you." said Saiai with a serious expression on her face (don't let the seriousness fool you, when not on missions, Saiai acts quite cheerful and carefree.)

"Dang it!" said Bickslow as his dolls came out and flew around in preparation for the fight to come. "There's old nitrogen girl again.....which means..."

"She's here as well." said Freed looking behind them.

Sure enough, Meltdowner was coming from the other end of the alley way with a bloodthirsty smile on her face. "Well, well, well......How long do we have to keep meeting like this.......Fairy Tail?" (Because of Mugino's grudge against Mikoto, she holds an almost equally intense dislike towards Fairy Tail...however she does have a 'thing' for Gray...)

"Dark Ericture!!" Freed embeded a magic ruin on himself and instantly became covered in full body sinister demon-like armor. Freed readied his sword. "In any case....this will not be our last fight."

"That's right!!" said Bickslow, regaining his composure. "My babies won't go down so easily!!"

Bickslow's dolls echoed in unison. "Won't go down, won't go down!!"

"Now that's quite the fighting attitude you've got there..." said Meltdowner as she began to glow with energy. "But can you back it up....?"

It could be said that the alleyway lit up with lights and sounds of a desperate battle that day......whether the fight would have a winner...who could say?"