I woke up slowly and in a place I didn't think I would be. I was back on the couch of the Strauss home, with a bag of ice on my head because of the pounding headache that felt like it would make my head split open. I sat up a little and held my sore shoulder. "Oh man…what happened?" I asked, not remembering the previous night.
"Oh, there you are," Mirajane was sitting at the kitchen table a few meters away. "You challenged Cana to drinking contest and lost," she explained. "How are you feeling?"
"Like an idiot…" I moaned.
And so the week passed without much more stupidity on my part. Most of time I spent at the guild trying to walk again, but sadly I wasn't able to recover for the 24-hour Endurance Road Race, and Makarov appeared to be in a good mood, so he just had me commentate with him, Mira, and the reporter named Jason who said "cool" way too much.
After that, a few months passed without a hitch, Fairy Tail's Ace, Gildarts Clive even came back in a, to be quite honest hilariously overbearing manner just because of how much Makarov had prepared specifically for this guy's return. He was cool though, so I didn't exactly mind it. But anyway, then something happened.
"Attention wizards of Fairy Tail!" Makarov called form the upper balcony. "It's that time of year again, the time when we assess how worthy you as guild members are to become S-class!" he called to thunderous applause, except from one person, the person I happened to be sitting across from. "That's right; the S-Class Promotion Trial is upon us, and this time only one member will be chosen to advance!"
Shocked murmurs spread throughout the crowd. Natsu jumped up. "Enough with the foreplay Gramps; just get to who's getting in on it!"
"Yes, yes…this year's participating members; Natsu Dragneel, Gray Fullbuster, Mest Gryder, Freed Justine, Juvia Lockster, Elfman Strauss, Levy McGarden, and Cana Alberona!"
"Alright! Yes!" Natsu jumped up and down in the air. "Yeah, I'm totally gonna win!"
"In addition, every participant will be allowed to choose one partner to assist them in the trials."
"Even better! Happy!" Natsu called to his friend, who picked him up instantly.
"Aye sir!" the Exceed called.
I looked over to Cana knowing that our previous conversation was over. Lucy was sitting next to us. "Wow, congratulations Cana. It must be great to be picked for something like this."
"Yeah…great…" she muttered, seemingly too busy with her drink to notice us.
"Hey are…you alright?" I wondered. She seemed startled at the question.
"Huh? What? Yeah, fine. Why do you ask?" she asked a bit too fast.
"…" I eyed her. "No reason…"
"So Cana, who are you going to pick as your partner?" Lucy asked.
"I think…I don't know. I'd have to think about it."
"Well, everyone else is already choosing theirs. Natsu has Happy. Freed picked Bickslow, and Mest picked Wendy. Heck, even Levy chose Gajeel of all people, and- what?! Elfman picked Evergreen?"
"Alright, alright I get it. I guess I'll choose," she pointed to me. "I'll go with the Devil Boy over here."
"Me?" I wondered. "Why me?"
"You seem like you've got a good head on your shoulders" she shot a sly smile. "That is when you're not hammered over a bet."
"Oh…you're never going to let me live that down. Whatever, sure, we're partners then!"
"Oh, Gray!" Lucy said as he walked past. "Do you want to partner up?"
He shook his head. "Sorry, Lucy, but Loke already agreed to be my partner," he said, shocking her.
"Loke? But he's a celestial spirit! He can't be your partner!"
"But I'm also a Fairy Tail wizard," he said as he materialized behind her. "Which makes me totally eligible, though…these aren't very good summer clothes," he said as he started glowing his suit, and when the glow faded he was wearing what looked like more appropriate wear for the type of weather we were in. "There, much better."
Later that night, back at the Strauss residence, was got a call form Lucy from a small messenger lacrima. "Hey, could you…um…come over to my place?"
I eyed her cautiously. "Look, it's the day before we set out for the S-Class Promotion Trial; is now really a good time?" I asked, referring to…you know what.
"What? No, you big pervert! There's an emergency!"
I sighed. "Alright…I'll be right over I guess," I said as the lacrima shut off. "Mira, Elf-boy, I'm going out for a bit! Don't wait up for me for dinner!" I called as I exited. When I finally made it to my destination…
"Surprise!" Lucy said cautiously motioning to my unconscious partner.
"Cana!" I cried, rushing over to her and shaking her. "Oh jeez, what happened?"
"I'm not sure; I found her in an alleyway about to freeze to death, so I brought her in here."
I rubbed my hands together. "Well there's no fire around, so we'll have to make due," I said, about to shock her into warmth.
"I have a bath you know!" she cried, freaking out slightly. And so we put her into a hot bath and waited. "So…do you have any idea what caused this?" she asked.
I shook my head. "I have no clue. She's been acting weird lately, but she would never tell me why, which is why it shocked me when she asked me to be her partner."
"Oh yeah, about that, Juvia asked me to be her partner, so it looks like we'll all going together!"
"That's great news!" I agreed. "Although…"
"What is it?"
I knocked on my head, frustrated. "I still can't remember who taught me my magic! I should find him and learn more!"
"You're already destructive enough, Cloud Nine."
"Oh yeah, where'd that nickname come from anyway?"
Lucy shrugged. "Gray started calling you that a while ago. When I asked he said that's what you called yourself, so I thought it was like your title or something."
"That'd be…a pretty lame title. Wait, myself…? Oh! He must've meant my Edolas counterpart. Oh yeah…that guy was a hassle, I'll tell you that."
"Tell that to yourself," she said, annoyed.
"I just did," I said back as a certain someone came strolling into the living room with an extra towel draped over her shoulders.
"Ugh…where am I?" Cana asked herself.
"You're currently in Lucy bedroom," I answered.
"Then what are you doing here?!" she demanded, reaching for her magic cards just in case.
"Whoa there, you drunkard; Lucy asked me to come by because she found you at death's door in an alleyway. I just came to make sure you were okay, and from the looks of it," I poked her arm roughly, causing her to flinch. "You aren't okay at all."
Cana swatted my hand away. "Alright, alright, fine. You wanna know the truth? This makes four."
Lucy and I looked at each when she didn't continue. "What?" Lucy asked.
"I said that this makes four; this'll be the fourth time I go for S-class. I've failed three times already and…if I don't make it this time, then I'm quitting Fairy Tail."
"What?! Why?" I demanded. "It can't just be your pride."
"Well…it's complicated, okay?"
"Well, we're family, right? That's what Fairy Tail is."
Cana considered this and soon explained. "Gildarts Clive, Fairy Tail's Ace is…my father," she said, which got the raise of an eyebrow. "I've told anyone, not even Gildarts. I've told myself over and over again that I would confess to him, but I could just never do it. Four years ago, I was called to try out for S-class, and I said that when I made S-class, I would tell him; only after achieving that honorable title would I be worthy to be his daughter."
I chuckled a little. "So it is your pride, huh?"
"What's that supposed to mean?"
I shook my head, standing and flexing my arm a little. "Alright then it's settled. Lucy, you're going to sabotage the entire trial so that Cana and I can-"
"I won't do any such thing!" Lucy countered, looking visibly shocked.
I chuckled again. "Alright then Cana, I'm gonna help you to the best of my ability to make S-class. If you don't make it, then I'll quit with too. I don't care who your real family is; no one deserves a life alone!"
"You're gonna…what?" Cana only looked confused as I sat back down. "So…you're just gonna do what you were going to anyway?"
"That's right!"
"Well…that's good I guess. It's good to know that my partner can leave such a…encouraging impression on people. Though sometimes, I swear that you're just like-"
"Oh!" I yelled, popping a fist onto my palm. "I remembered!"
"Remembered what?"
"That name of my teacher! His name was Precht Gaebolg. He came to Rosemary village one day and said I have a lot of latent magical power, and then he taught me for over a year."
"Well what happened to him?"
"He…I'm not sure. I think he just left; said he had to 'continue his journey'. It was a long time after Simon was taken, a few years actually. Simon hid me, and someone else hid Kagura, so we didn't get taken, but almost everyone else did."
"Whoa, whoa, slow down. What are you talking about? Who's Kagura, and who's Simon?" Cana demanded.
I chuckled nervously. "It's actually kind of a long story, but Lucy knows who Simon is."
"He was one of Erza's friends while she was trapped on that island with the tower. He died protecting her."
My light smile turned to a frown at the memory, but it soon lightened. "He died for someone I would give my life for as well. And besides, his killer got what he deserved…I hope…"
Author's Note:
Yay, getting onto my favorite arc thus far. Truth be told, I took a break from Fairy Tail midway through the Key of the Starry Sky arc, so I haven't seen it, and I wasn't impressed with the last anime-only arc, the Daphne one, so I was wondering if you guys want me to do that one or if you just want me to get on with the Grand Magic Games arc. Leave a review to tell me your answer, as well as constructive criticism.
Hope you all enjoyed and are looking forward to the next chapter!
