Danny had been relaxing when a group of costumed strangers ran onto the wall-walk carrying two people and a white cat. Danny frowned. A kidnapping was occurring in front of him. "Hey, what do you think you're doing?" Danny called as he clenched his fists in anger. He knew something was going on at the games, but this was getting ridiculous.

"Oh, crap!" One of the kidnapper's shouts. Danny glares, and he can feel his eyes glowing green. "It's that creepy wizard from that first match. What is he doing up here?" The kidnapper ponders. Danny hated that word. It had been used so many times on him and his sister. It was always a negative term, and now these kidnappers had the nerve to call him creepy. If they wanted creepy, he could give these jerks creepy.

Danny's eyes glowed brighter, the toxic greens turning to frigid blues. The raven black of his hair started to take over the white. His skin lost some of its color. The air around them grew cold, dark, and heavy. "Leave him to me! I'll get him out of our way. This is the best way to deal with wizards!" One kidnapper shouts as he pulls out dual guns. Danny's eyes narrow on the weapons.

The kidnapper hisses as he drops the gun, only for him to stumble to the ground a few seconds later. "I recommend you put those nice ladies back where they come from, or things are going to get a lot worse," Danny growls. He can feel his heart thumping in his chest. His mark burns, and he can feel his energy seeping away.

"What is He? That crazy bastard is scary! What do we do?" The kidnapper carrying the cat asked. The three standing kidnappers huddled together. They glanced back at their fallen comrade. He still hadn't gotten back up. The trio shivered.

"No other choice! We dump these two and head back the other way!" The kidnapper carrying the blue haired girl offered as he shivered. He backed up a little and went to turn, only for his teammate to grab his arm. The temperature spiked to an even lower climate.

"D-don't be an idiot! The order was to get the girl in the infirmary!" The kidnapper carrying the older lady argued. None of them noticed the ice forming under their feet. Danny's eyes switched back to green, and he had to swallow back the vomit he felt climbing up his throat. Too much power, but this wasn't over yet. His hair was shading back to white, and his skin darkened a little.

"Who gave you the order?" Interrogated Danny as he stepped closer to the trio. He didn't feel well, but he's fought in worse conditions and even more terrible situations. Danny stepped closer to the trio that had pushed him to this. He growled, realizing that this fight probably ruined Val's match. The kidnappers still hadn't said a word as he stalked closer.

Danny planted a smirk on his lips. "Phantom fajro," Murmured Danny as he held his hand in front of him and his captured villains. A green fire sparks to life above his hand, rising towards the trio. "You know, this power is a little volatile right now, and if you don't start talking you might feel what burning toxic acid feels like as it erodes your body," Danny threatened, and the trio gulped.

Valerie stared at the man in front of her. He was tall, muscular, and loud. His name was Elfman, and he was skilled at using take over magic, more specifically Beast Soul. She could do a play for time. Work up his emotions so he would get sloppy. Valerie frowned. No, that might not work. If she hit the wrong feeling, he might try too hard, and she could get caught. Valerie sighed as she looked over to her team.

Sam was smirking. She always looked forward to a good fight. Jazz looked calm; she was probably running down strategies in her head. Tucker was fiddling with his device. He was so obviously nervous for her, as his fingers would stop continuously to back-track. Danny wasn't there. He had left a while ago. Valerie looked to the ground. He was bothered, by something. No one could really help him, though.

Valerie looked back up at her opponent. She couldn't beat him. He would eventually transform, and she would be at a disadvantage to whatever beast he was. Valerie pursed her lips, and then the gong sounded. She let the familiar black energy leak out of her dress. Valerie stared at Elfman. He hadn't moved, yet.

Valerie frowned in confusion. Why hadn't he attacked? "Shouldn't you have attacked by now Elfman?" Valerie asked as a long chain formed in her hand. Her dress was almost all red, but the very bottom of her dress still had a little black on it.

"A man always lets his opponent get prepared for a fight!" Elfman declared. Valerie's eyebrow twitched, and her free hand rubbed the bridge of her nose. Danny was right, definitely a light group. Valerie let loose a sigh and lowered her hand. She would love to show this doofus that you should never show kindness to your enemy, but she was unwilling to give that much effort to this fight.

"How gentlemen like. Unfortunately, I see little point, as you are in no way, my opponent. You, Elfman, are a stepping stool that I have to use. This fight is nothing more than me letting you have a few more points. If I had intended to really fight you, I would have already struck you from behind," Valerie informed, as her chain popped up from the ground behind him and pulled his feet out from under him. The chain smoked out as a knife appeared in her hand.

Valerie sighed as she waited for him to get up. She could hear his teammates growling at her disrespect. Yet, they didn't understand. She really was giving this match to them. She saw no use in fighting an opponent if she was going to hold back. "Don't tease him!" Jazz scolded. Valerie raised an eyebrow. Elfman got up and ran towards Valerie and started to throw punches. Valerie ducked under the first, swung herself over the second, and flipped herself over Elfman as he threw his third.

"Are you sure you want me to stop teasing him?" Valerie called up to her teammate and jazz flinched. Valerie cartwheeled forward avoiding an attack and looked towards her opponent. Valerie licked her lips. Elfman cried out his takeover. Now he was a weretiger, although Valerie thought he looked more like a leopard. So, maybe Jazz was right.

Then a gasp escaped her before she hissed in pain. Valerie drops her weapon, letting it smoke out and return her dress to black. Her hand grasped her guild mark, and she took a step back. Her team was also grabbing their marks as well. Valerie growled. "Kio idioto provokis la spektron?" Valerie questions. She looks up to her teammates and sighs. "I forfeit," Valerie submits. The crowd grows quiet in shock.

"What?" Elfman questions. Valerie rubs the bridge of her nose in annoyance.

"Didn't I tell you earlier? You are a stepping stool. I had no intention of winning this fight, and a draw is no longer worth the effort. I have to check on my team," Valerie answered calmly as she walked away from Elfman. She can hear him grinding his teeth. The crowds were quietly conversing. Valerie sighed as she spins to block his attack and holds a red dagger at his throat.

"No offense, but I am not here to bring about your calamity. Now, stop delaying me by making me repeat myself," Valerie orders. She continues walking away, and whether or not Elfman sees the blood running down her arm soaking her gloves, she leaves him standing there speechless. She barely makes it to a garbage can before she throws up.

Danny gently shook the older woman's shoulder. Red eyes blinked open and narrowed on him. "Hi, I'm Danny from Midnight Calamity, and I just wanted to make sure you were alright. I know you are an independent woman that can fight for yourself, but seeing as you and your friends were passed out, I figured it would be okay to help out. I know you are supposed to be a healer so I figured it would be the wisest to wake you up first. I recommend you treat the idiots that tried to kidnap you last, if you have too," Danny rambled, as he helped Porlyusica to her feet.

Red eyes glared at him. "Sorry, nervous. Women tend to be scary. I-I-I mean, not that you're scary. I just mean-" Danny tried to apologize. Porlyusica shook her head. She released a small snort as she watched Danny fumble over himself. His mismatched eyes looked her over frantically. One of his hands rested under her arm, while the other tightly gripped his belt.

"It's fine. Why don't you help me by getting the guards? If these two aren't awake by the time you get back, you can help me bring them to the infirmary," Porlyusica ordered. Danny nodded eager to help, his hand unclenching from his belt. He was just letting go of her arm when a dragon came roaring in.

"There!" Natsu shouts as he slides onto the walkway. Ebony eyes narrow on Danny. "Scum!" Natsu screams as he races towards Danny. Danny's eyes blow wide open as he quickly lets go of Porlyusica and moves away. He could not fight again. He had just thrown up. Luckily he had found some rope by the garbage can, so he had gotten some strength back by absorbing his ice back. He didn't get enough back to fight off a dragon slayer though, and he would prefer not vomiting in front of everyone.

"Natsu, don't you dare start your useless fighting in front of me! You can help this mage bring the guards over for those idiots over there. Do you understand?" Porlyusica huffed. Natsu nodded as his face lost a little color. Natsu hustled over to Danny. The two headed down to security together.

Danny rubbed the back of his neck as he looked at the ceiling for the third time. He took a breath and looked over to his heated companion. "So, this is about the third time we've run into each other, I think. I'm Danny by the way from Midnight Calamity. I already know who you are, and I figured you might not know who I am so, yeah…" Danny trailed off. Natsu stared at him, and Danny fidgeted.

Danny didn't like Natsu's aura. Danny hadn't noticed before, but Natsu's aura was cracked. He'd seen others with auras that were faded, broken, or reforming. Danny had never seen one cracked like this before, though. "Do you know what those guys wanted with my family?" Natsu asked, and Danny bit his lip.

It was a good question. "They said that they were hired to take the girl that was in the infirmary by Raven Tail," Danny states before pausing. Should he fill him in on his theories too? Natsu narrowed his eyes on Danny.

Danny raised his hands in innocence. "It's just; I'm not certain if this is right. Something about there story is off. I mean, Ravenclaw shouldn't be going after reserve members. It would make more sense to go after active members. Besides, Ravenclaw seems too eager to use violence. It seems weird they would pick something like outsourcing to pretty harmless kidnapping. This is all theories of course," Danny gulped as he finished explaining.

Natsu nodded. "Well, thanks for helping out. It's nice of you to stick your neck out for your competitors," Natsu offered with a smile. Danny smiled back, and the atmosphere calmed. He would always prefer another friend over another enemy. Besides, this was all a game, right?

"Hey, what fun would the games be if one of the better teams wasn't playing? I mean, your guild is not as good as mine, but you guys put up a pretty good fight," Danny teased. Natsu snorts in response and throws an ineffective glare at Danny. Danny simply blows a raspberry.

"I'm fired up now!" Natsu exclaims, and Danny can't help but stare as he notices the cracks had receded from Natsu's aura. What was with these cracks?

Author's Note: Summer is being tainted. A 2 Z