The Fairy Tail wizards would be going through a trial of sorts. That's what Makarov had told them all yesterday. They would be tested without knowing it, to find out which seven wizards embodied each of the seven Heavenly Virtues. Those seven wizards would face the Seven Deadly Sins of the dark guild Apocalypse Keyes. No one knew who these wizards were. In fact, they couldn't even guess. The Virtues were diligence, charity, chastity, patience, kindness, temperance and humility. A decent amount of Fairy Tail didn't even know what those words meant.
The guild members that were set to be tested were MiraJane, Lisanna, Ember, Natsu, Gajeel, Levy, Laxus, Cana, Levy, Freed, Lucy, Erza, and Gray. Some of them, like Mira and Lisanna, had no idea why they were even in the running. Others, like Natsu and Laxus, couldn't care less and wanted to avoid these tests.
Natsu, Gray, Lucy, and Happy had gone out on a job specifically to avoid any testing. Gajeel, Laxus and Cana decided to take a trip out of town to visit Quatro Cerberus. Actually, Cana had decided to take the trip out of town, Gajeel and Laxus just saw it as an excuse to get away from Fairy Tail.
This left Mira, Lisanna, Ember, Levy, Erza and Freed at the guild hall. In a rare occurrence, they all sat together at a table. Even Mira wasn't behind the bar. And all of them were on their toes.
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Jellal, Cobra, Meredy and Makarov stood outside the guild hall in the warm Autumn sun. The Crime Sorciere wizards were at Fairy Tail on official business, they were going to help Master Makarov figure out which wizards would go on to battle the Seven Deadly Sins. But that battle was still far away, and the days to come were meant to test the Fairy Tail wizards. The four of them were actually excited. They planned on having some fun with it.
"Some of your children are choosing to avoid the guild in hopes of not being tested Makarov." Jellal laughed.
"Yes, I know. But they will find out the hard way." Makarov smiled.
"So how are we going to go about this?" Jellal asked.
"Well, Cobra, I would like you to go trail Natsu and his group. Test them as you will. Meredy, go to Quatro Cerberus after Cana, Gajeel and my good for nothing grandson. Jellal, you will stay with me here." Makarov said.
"Sounds good to me." Cobra smirked. Anything where he got to mess with Natsu's head sounded like fun to him.
"Hm, okay." Meredy nodded. Gajeel, Cana, and Laxus were not her choice of people to test.
Cobra and Meredy bid their farewells and took off their assigned directions. Jellal and Makarov entered the guild hall.
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"They are onto us, sir."
She stood in front of a man with a pale hooded cloak. The hood hid his face and any features, he was halfway hidden in shadows. The young woman ran her hand through her shoulder length choppy dark green hair, her green eyes troubled. The gold chains around her neck and waist jingled as she shifted nervously. She pulled down the hem of her short green dress.
"How do you know this, Avaria?" The cloaked man asked in a deep voice.
"I was doing as you told me. Watching them, and I listened. Not only are they onto us, but they have figured out how to fight us. Well, me and the six others. They are putting their own guild through a set of tests to find out which ones hold each of the Heavenly Virtues." Avaria, the green haired girl, explained.
Before the cloaked man could respond someone else entered the dark room. He had spiked fire red hair and brass goggles over his gray eyes, a large spike sticking out of each side of them. He wore a leather coat and cut off black shorts. One of his boots was folded down to his ankle so his guild emblem could be seen on his calf.
"Sir, I saw the salamander and the celestial wizard." The red headed young man said.
"And? Anything worth reporting?" The cloaked man asked impatiently.
"No. But sir, I'm ready to attack whenever you are! Lets do this!" the red head exploded. Smoke and flames erupted from his hands, lightning sparked on his skin.
"Calm down Ira, it is not yet time."
The redhead, Ira, calmed down. He clenched his teeth and balled his fists. Avaria crossed her arms over her chest and rolled her eyes at him. These two wizards were part of the Seven Deadly Sins. Ira, the holder of Wrath, and Avaria, the lady of Greed.
"Avaria, Ira, I need you to do me a favor. Send Luxuria out to Fairy Tail. Let us see if he can get us information." The mysterious man said.
"What?" Avaria gasped.
"What can that pink haired freak do that we can't?" Ira shouted.
"You would be surprised what Lust can do." The man chuckled and then sent Ira and Avaria out of his presence.
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Natsu, Happy, Lucy and Gray sat in a field and enjoyed the warmth of the sun. They ate packed lunches and relaxed. The job they had gone on was far too easy, and they had completed it quickly. Now they just had to kill time, a lot of time. None of them wanted to get back to Fairy Tail early. They wanted to remain as far away as possible, for as long as possible.
"You know, maybe the tests won't be so bad." Lucy said, picking the grass out of the ground.
"No. It's all bad. Everything about it." Gray said, chomping on a sandwich.
"Aye!" Happy agreed.
"I want nothing to do with it. Unless it's fighting, I don't care." Natsu grumbled.
"I guess." Lucy sighed.
Cobra watched the three wizards and the exceed from the edge of the field. He hid himself in the trees and stood against the wind so his scent wouldn't read Natsu's dragon slayer nose. A sly smile crept across his face. The gears in his head were already moving and creating ideas.
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Cana burst into a bar called Skinny Puppy that was right down the street from Quatro Cerberus's guild hall. Upon her entrance a bunch of rough looking wizards raised their mugs and glasses into the air and chanted her name. She raised her fist in the air and chanted back to them. Baccus was seated at the bar, and Cana went over and took a seat next to him. Laxus and Gajeel shuffled over to the bar as well and ordered drinks, they didn't care to socialize.
"Cana! Wonderful to see you again so soon." Baccus winked, he was already tipsy and smelled as strongly of alcohol as a brewery.
"It's always wonderful to see me." Cana said and winked back.
Gajeel and Laxus glanced at each other and rolled their eyes. The bartender put mugs down in front of them and they grabbed them at the same time, and started chugging. They didn't know what was worse, being at Fairy Tail and worrying about a stupid test, or being at a bar surrounded by the idiots of Quatro Cerberus.
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Meredy walked along the trail at a quick but steady pace. She wasn't in a rush to get to Quatro Cerberus, she didn't even have any ideas of what to do to the Fairy Tail wizards in order to test them. She knew which virtue she was to be testing for, but not exactly how to test for it. She let out a sigh.
"Nice hair."
Meredy stopped walking. The voice came from behind her. It was smooth like honey, but male. She turned around and on the trail behind her was a tall and slender young man, his hair the same pink shade as hers but made up of coiled curls tied up in a high ponytail that went down his back. His eyes were a deep pink and she felt weak looking into them. He wore a perfectly tailored black suit, with a red rose in his lapel.
"Who are you?" Meredy asked, her hands on her hips.
"Don't worry about who I am. I just wanted to compliment your hair." He smiled charmingly.
"Well, thanks. Yours is nice as well." Meredy smiled.
"Clearly, we both have good taste."
"I would say so."
"So, why is someone as lovely as you traveling alone?"
"I'm perfectly capable of being on my own."
"I didn't say you weren't. Where are you headed?"
"None of your business."
"If I tell you my name, will you tell me?"
"Maybe."
"Well, my name is Luxuria. What's yours?"
"Meredy."
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Levy and Lisanna sat in silence. Not because they had nothing to talk about, but because Levy had her face buried in a book, as usual. Lisanna sighed of boredom. She didn't want to go over to her sisters table because Erza was over there, and Erza was friends with Lucy. So Lisanna assumed that meant Erza probably hated her too. Of course, she was wrong, but she didn't know this. So she sat in silence by herself, as Levy read through pages upon pages of text.
Mira sat with her face in her hands and her elbows resting on the table. She kept sighing. She didn't want to be part of this trial. She had been part of the S-class exam, but she was there testing the wizards, not being the one tested. Freed kept looking at her from under his pale green hair. He couldn't stop thinking about telling her about how he felt, but he knew now wasn't the time. Ember squeezed his forearm with her hand, as if she could read his mind. They smiled kindly at each other. Erza tapped her fingers on the table, thinking.
"We have some bad news."
They all looked up to the voice that rang through the silence of the guild hall. It was Makarov, and Jellal stood at his side. Erza and him glanced at each other, and she blushed when he smiled at her. Actually, she full on swooned.
"What is it Master?" Mira asked nervously.
"It turns out Natsu, Lucy, and Gray have been attacked by one of the Sins. Same with Cana, Gajeel, and Laxus on their way to Quatro Cerberus." Makarov lied.
The wizards all gasped. Erza instinctively put her hand on the hilt of her sword. Mira put her face in her hands. Freed and Ember stared slack jawed at their Master and Jellal. Lisanna bit her lip and closed her eyes letting out a sigh, and Levy finally looked up from her book.
"What did you just say?" Levy asked.
"I said, Natsu's group and Cana's group have been attacked by some of the Sins." Makarov repeated.
"Gajeel!" Levy gasped, jumping up from her seat.
"Sit down Levy." Jellal ordered.
"You are not my Master, Jellal. I have to go to Gajeel." Levy said, angry.
"No, it's too dangerous." Makarov shook his head.
"The Master is right, I'm afraid." Erza sighed.
"I'm really not scared of those jerks, but…..whatever you say." Freed sighed.
"Wait, what? No. We are just going to let Laxus and the others be attacked?" Ember shouted.
"I know this isn't easy for you guys. But I am sure they will be able to handle themselves." Makarov sighed.
"They might need help!" Ember growled.
"Well as of right now they don't. They are only being tracked." Jellal said.
"I thought you just said they had been attacked?" Lisanna asked confused.
"They….they have. Natsu's group. But Cana's group is only being trailed at the moment." Makarov stammered. He looked at Jellal nervously.
"Even better. I'm going to tell Gajeel. He needs to know this information." Levy said. She grabbed her book and walked towards the door.
"Levy, it's too dangerous!" Erza called out.
"I don't care. They need to know the truth. We can't just sit here and not do anything." Levy said, shaking her head.
Levy walked out of the guild hall doors, slamming them behind her. No one followed her. They didn't know what to do. Freed and Ember wanted badly to go defend Laxus, but they did not want to disobey their Master either. Lisanna, Mira, and Erza just didn't know what to do. Makarov looked at Jellal, and Jellal went after Levy.
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Cobra still hid in the shelter of the forest that bordered the field Natsu, Lucy, and Gray were relaxing in. He noticed that Lucy was coming towards the trees so he hid himself better. He had an idea, a wicked one. One that he probably shouldn't utilize, but he was going to do it anyway. If only to see Gray and Natsu's reaction.
Lucy walked into the trees, humming a tune under her breath. Cobra strategically placed a broken tree limb in her way so that when she walked by it the thin fabric of her shirt caught on it. She didn't notice and it ripped off of her. She let out a shocked cry and rushed to cover her breasts. Cobra struggled to keep in his laughter as Lucy looked around totally shocked and confused. She had totally forgotten that she had come into the trees to go to the bathroom away from the boys prying eyes. Now she was embarrassed at her lack of clothing.
She ran back to Gray and Natsu, making sure to hold her breasts tightly to her chest. The two young men looked at her in shock, and their faces instantly turned red. Her blonde hair hung in front of her flushed face, and her knees shook. Natsu and Gray just stared.
"Why are you staring? Stop staring? Give me one of your shirts!" Lucy pleaded.
"Well, I can't because I'm not wearing one. Sorry." Gray smirked.
"No way! I will not be like Gray and strip. Apparently you have been hanging out with him to long." Natsu laughed.
"Natsu, please! I'm…..I have no shirt! I don't know what happened!" Lucy thought she was going to cry.
"You can always just walk around like that." Gray chuckled.
"YOU PERVERT!" Lucy yelled.
Just then a pink haired girl in a maid outfit with shackles on her wirsts and ankles popped up out of thin air. She bowed at Lucy and handed her a folded shirt.
"Here's some clothes from the celestial spirit realm, princess. Do I need to be punished?" The pink haired girl said in a monotone voice.
"No! Thank you so much Virgo!" Lucy beamed and grabbed the shirt quickly. She turned around and put it on.
By the time she had put on the fancy celestial style shirt, Virgo was gone. Lucy smiled, happy that her spirits were able to come and help her in times of need without her having to use her own magic power to do it. She silently thanked Virgo again in her head, and then turned to Gray and Natsu angrily.
Cobra sat in the shelter of the forest, laughing so hard almost no sound came out of his mouth. Priceless, simply priceless. Those two fools will be lucky if they pass any of the tests that are put in front of their faces.
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Ira and Avaria sat on a set of rocks not far from where their guild had set up base. They looked out into the distance, watching the sun set. Ira was angry that his Master had sent Luxuria out on a recon mission. In his mind there was nothing Lust could accomplish that Wrath could not. Avaria wasn't angry, she just wanted to be sent out on the mission. She always wanted to be sent out on the missions, every single one of them. She didn't care if any of her guild mates ever left the guild.
"So stupid. Luxuria is such a wretch." Ira growled.
"Mmm. Yes." Avaria nodded.
"How do you think the other's are doing?" Ira asked, turning to the green haired girl.
"Who knows, and honestly, I don't give a shit." Avaria chuckled.
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Jellal dragged Levy into the Fairy Tail guild hall by her arm. She struggled against his pull but he was too strong. He gently placed her down in a seat at one of the tables and ordered her to stay there. She gave him the nastiest look anyone had ever seen Levy give before. Ember sympathized with the girl, because she knew how she felt. Laxus was out there, and possibly in danger. She wanted to help him as well, but she wasn't going to go against her own Master's orders to do it.
"That's enough." Makarov said in a loud voice.
"Why are you being so rough Master?" Erza asked with a raised eyebrow.
"Well, the test is over." Makarov said, a huge grin on his face.
"WHAT?" All the wizards shouted.
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The man in the suit walked closer to Meredy. He stopped only when he was close enough to her that she could feel his body heat, and his breath. She didn't move away, she felt as if she couldn't. She wasn't able to pull her eyes away from his stare. His face was so smooth, so handsome. Those deep pink eyes staring right into her soul. She felt as if she could melt into a puddle of mush right at his feet.
"Meredy, what a beautiful name. So, Meredy, where are you going?" He asked her again.
"I was just going to find some of my friends." Meredy answered.
"For what purpose?"
"Uh….because…"
Meredy struggled to not tell this man what she was doing. She didn't trust him, and she knew she shouldn't say anything but it was as if she had been charmed. But Meredy knew that charm magic lost it's effect as soon as the person being charmed knew of it. And since she felt that she was being charmed, the spell should have been broken, but it was not. She struggled against the magnetic pull of this man. It took everything in her to keep her lips sealed.
"I see you are resilient. No matter. You don't need to tell me anything." The man smirked.
"Who are you? And what do you want with me?" Meredy whimpered.
"I want nothing with you, dear. I'm done here." He said.
"What?" Meredy gasped. All of a sudden she felt free of his grasp. She didn't feel like melting and she felt like herself again.
The man with the pink curly hair and classy suit smiled once more at her, but this time she could see the malice in his eyes. It all clicked in her head in that moment. She brought her hand to her mouth and gasped. She had just come face to face with Lust himself. And she had almost fallen into his trap, but in the end she was strong enough to resist.
"Oh, and the name is Luxuria. I am sure we will meet again soon, Meredy." And with that he disappeared.
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Cana, Gajeel, and Laxus stumbled into the guild hall, all of them drunk. They found the closest seats to the door and took them. Cana slammed her head down on the table, and Gajeel almost fell backwards since there was no backrest on the benches. Laxus almost slipped onto the floor. Levy ran to Gajeel and supported him so he was sitting straight up. Ember just shook her head and laughed, Laxus wasn't a baby, and she refused to treat him like one.
Natsu, Gray, Happy, and Lucy had returned an hour before. Lucy was in a sour mood and not talking to Gray and Natsu, but the boys kept looking at her and making jokes and laughing with each other. Rare, since they were usually fighting instead of joking with one another.
Meredy and Cobra came in together. Meredy had a look of anger and defeat on her face, and she walked to Jellal and Makarov with her head down. Cobra followed behind her, but he had a sly look on his face, as if he was cracking up with laughter on the inside. He looked at Lucy and smiled at her. Her blood felt as if it was boiling when he did that, because now she knew that he was the cause for her embarrassment earlier that day.
Jellal, Makarov, Cobra, and Meredy discussed something in low voices for a few minutes before turned their attention to the wizards of Fairy Tail. They didn't have to do anything to catch their attention, since they already had it after the events of the day.
"Well, congratulations. The first test has been completed." Makarov smiled.
"R-really?" Mira stammered.
"What even was the test?" Freed asked.
"It was for Chastity." Jellal answered.
"Chastity? I don't get it. Makes no sense." Natsu said shaking his head.
"Well it wouldn't to you Natsu. You, Gray, and Lucy failed this one. The way you all acted in that situation in the field didn't earn you any points. Virgo would have passed though, if she had been a contestant." Cobra laughed.
"T-that was a test?" Lucy stammered.
"Oh! You are a jerk!" Gray shouted.
"Not fair!" Natsu growled.
"Not my fault the two of you are immature perverts and Lucy isn't modest enough to figure it out on her own. Anyways…." Cobra shrugged.
"Gajeel, Laxus, and Cana didn't get to be tested. But let us be honest for a second. Not a damn one of them would have passed this test to begin with." Makarov laughed.
"Screw you old man!" Laxus slurred. Cana and Gajeel just raised a hand in agreement, to drunk to respond.
"So….did anyone pass?" Lisanna asked.
"Yes. Levy. You embody the Virtue of Chastity. At your core. Knowledge, wisdom, and honesty. Be proud my girl. You did well." Makarov smiled.
"Seriously? I….wow." Levy was in shock.
"What Sin does that put her against?" Ember asked.
"Lust." Jellal answered.
"Which brings me to this. I ran into Lust today. His name is Luxuria, and his charm magic is not the same as any other charm magic. The spell doesn't break even if you know you are being charmed. He didn't attack me, but he did try to find out information. I didn't give him any, because my willpower was on my side. But I have a feeling he wasn't being completely serious either." Meredy explained.
"You actually met one of them?" Mira gasped.
"Yes. And it was intimidating, and even I was scared. Levy, this guy isn't a joke. He uses extremely powerful charm magic, but so far that is all I know. You are the key to his defeat. So I suggest you prepare in the time you have." Meredy said, turning to Levy.
"Of course." Levy nodded, but she was extremely nervous.
"Well, that's that. Have a good night children." Makarov said with a wave, and he left the guild hall for the night.
One wizard had passed a test. Levy McGarden, a solid script wizard. She was the embodiment of Chastity. Her knowledge, wisdom, and honesty her biggest assets. These would be what would help her battle and defeat Lust. She just had to figure out how to do it. But the rest of them weren't out of the woods, and now they knew that leaving Fairy Tail didn't necessarily mean they would be exempt from tests. But, since Laxus, Cana, and Gajeel got out of this one, it gave the others hope that they could get out of tests as well.
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"You wanted to see me Mistress?"
The petite girl stood in front of a shadowed woman. The girl had boy cut short pale blonde hair that fell over her blue eyes. She wore a sweater that was so baggy it almost swallowed her, and short shorts with dirty sneakers. The woman in the shadows was hard to see. All that could be seen was the lights reflection off the silver crown on her head, and the emerald and ruby jewels that adorned it.
"Yes, Acedia. You have been doing nothing to help in the efforts of finding out information about Fairy Tail." The shadowed woman said.
"I-I know. I apologize." Acedia stuttered.
"Don't apologize. Don't be weak. You are stronger than that, child. Go forth Sloth, and fetch me your brother." The mysterious woman said in a stern voice.
"But….You know Gula, he goes overboard." Acedia said quietly.
"Of course he does. That is the curse of the Glutton. That's what I need right now. Also, get me Invidia, her Envy may be useful." the woman cackled.
"What about Bris?" Acedia asked.
"Oh, Bris. His Pride makes him almost useless most of the time. I will save him for a later date. Now go." the woman ordered.
Acedia pulled the oversized sleeves of her sweater over her hands with a nod, and she exited her Mistresses chambers to find her brother Gula, and Invidia. Gluttony and Envy, respectfully.