"The S-Class Mage Promotion Trials have begun!"
And then I overloaded everyone else's Sense Link, slamming them with the memory of three months of training's worth of exhaustion.
As our competitors collapsed with sensual overload, I grabbed Sting's and Rogue's hands, closed my eyes and concentrated. Teleportation was one of those spells that if you mess up, you'll be messed up, permanently. We lit up like shooting stars for a blazing, brilliant moment before the the energy condensed, wrapping around and consuming itself into a dense little point. Winter's fairydust swirled in the vacuum of our passage.
Eight kilometers away, next to a rocky outcropping on an otherwise barren and snowy plain, a black point formed, lighting up and expanding into our bodies, and by the time my victims were getting up with throbbing headaches, we had an established base, smokeless fire, roasting fish, and mostly-impenetrable barrier. Sightless, Soundless, and Scentless Runes marked the edge of our twenty meters of forest, divided by an icy, fast-flowing stream.
!
"So, who wants to stay behind?" Neither of them volunteered, predictably.
"Fine, let's explain our abilities to each other, then I'll choose. You, talk."
"I'm a melee and combat based mage, obviously. I have the basic Roar, Claw, Punch. If my Claw hits, then a Stigma restricts the target's movements, but it can be burned away by fire. There's a version of Roar, White Dragon's Breath, that's deadlier, where I add energy from something I consume to create a whirlwind rather than a beam of light. Holy Blast is another fast charge up attack. Holy Ray's stronger, and Holy Nova, too, but it's not going to be particularly effective because it eats up so much magic, and Natsu brushed it off last time." Sting scowled, obviously annoyed at the difference in power between him and his rival. "White Raid and Dragon Force both enhance my powers, and me and Rogue use Unison Raid together sometimes."
"Unison Raid?" That was one of the supposedly rare spells, though I had personally done it before with Juvia, and summoned Scorpio to use it with Wendy.
"Yep." He nodded. "Holy Shadow Dragon's Flash Fang!"
"Oh, good. Afterwards, I want you to practice it with Loke. He's a light-magic celestial spirit, so you should both be compatible. And you?"
"Roar, Slash, Claw. Crushing Fang is useful to surprise and disarm an opponent in hand to hand combat. Waxwing Flash is more of a surprise technique since I turn myself into shadows to attack. Shadow Drive and Dragon Force also strengthen my abilities. Also, as a passive ability I can hide in shadows."
"Really?" I asked, eyes lighting up. Oh, the possibilities that could have… "Show me!" Rogue complied, melting into a patch of darkness. "Okay, you can come out now." The irregular shadow remained, and I looked at Sting for an explanation, annoyed. He had the oddest expression on his face, when a warm breath ghosted across the shell of my ear.
"Boo."
I stiffened, biting back a cry of shock. I distanced myself from both of them, letting the tingle in my nerves fade in the light of the rising moon.
"How long can you stay hidden?" I asked, acting unaffected.
"As long as my magic lasts."
"And is there a limit to how far you can travel hidden?"
"I've never met one, as far as I know."
"All right. As you know, I'm a Celestial Spirit Mage. I'm the first to ever possess all Twelve Golden Keys at the same time, due to the defeat of Yukino Aguria. They correspond to each spirit of the Zodiac, and are the most powerful of Celestial Spirits. While not all of them are combat-based, Celestial Mages are often the most versatile, based on the number and type of keys they have. The Thirteenth Zodiac Key, having not been sacrificed to Eclipse, is currently missing in action.
"Of the Silver Keys, I have Horologium, the clock; Lyra, the lyre; Crux, the Southern Cross; Plue Nikora, one of the Canis Minors; and Pyxis, the compass. I can use four Caster-Type magic spells: Urano Metria, Maguilty Sense: Sense Link, Memory Make: Substance Retention, and Teleportation, as you've experienced. It takes a few seconds to employ, however, so in the middle of a fight it's not particularly useful, besides the drawback of sapping large amounts of magic. Physically, I am proficient with Fleuve d'Etoiles, a Holder-Type magic whip, and average in hand-to-hand combat, if I utilize black magic… approximately 80% of Natsu's strength, but it has adverse side effects. I never really specialized, because a variation of spells leaves less room for exploitable weaknesses, but I'm proficient at Jutsu Shiki," nodding at the invisible bubble cutting us off from the rest of the world, "and although I can't use them in battle, but if given time, they can effective as traps or defensive barriers.
"Considering that with me, the chance of the barrier falling or breaking is really really low, I would make the best jailer. But I am the team leader, so… You'll be the jailer." I pointed at Rogue. "I, or one of spirits, have a higher chance of performing Unison Raid with Sting on our first try, which means we will work better together, at least in the purpose I have in mind.
"I bugged Meredy's Link, and I can sense everyone on the move. Sting, I want us to ambush at least one team before they establish base, so Rogue, here's how the barriers work. There are two layers. We three can pass through the inner one freely." I walked over and stuck my hand through it to emphasize, ripples spreading out and vanishing from the point of entry.
"The outer one is keyed to your magical signature, so only you can let people in and out. Just say the name, and 'open' or 'close'. That way, if you fight someone and lose, they won't be able to reach our flag. Unless I'm beaten, it's not coming down, which is why I will, if compromised, surrender more often. And be careful when and who you let in; if you choose to do nothing, they will walk around it without seeing, smelling or hearing anything. But if, for example, you let in Gajeel, and Levy sees him vanish, there's a possibility she could then rewrite the outer wards and collapse it. So if I'm right, and Pantherlily is their jailer, let Levy in first and knock her out quickly. That reminds me. See that?" I pointed to a large magic circle in the area between the two invisible walls. "Keeps 'em knocked out if they touch it. Careful you don't do the same.
"Two more things. The Gate of the Twins, Gemini!" Gemi and Mini popped out. In the week of preparation, I had wondered which two mages Gemini should copy in advance. Not any of my team, since they'd be readily available. I wanted someone versatile and support-oriented, preferably long-ranged to lessen the chances of taking damage, one preferably S-Class, though that meant only a partial Copy. Levy could work, since she could create almost anything with Solid Script and my power was more than enough to sustain her Copy. Erza? No, too much stronger than me, and I did not have the material items necessitated by her fighting style. Mira? Her transformation wasn't efficient enough, eating up magic like a tank. Gildarts? Yeah, right, he wasn't even there! Well, the last S-Class member, besides Spark-Boy, was Mystogan, the Edolas version of Jellal, whom the Earthland version of had also been a Wizard Saint… oh, there was an idea!
"Okay, Gemini, here's what you need to do. That's Rogue, and that's Sting. You'll be staying here with Rogue and supporting him. If he's low on magic, transform into Levy, use Solid Script: Shadow for him to eat. If he's losing, transform into Jellal, and help him, preferably from a distance, with the goal of knocking them out."
"We're sorry, Lucy, but the partial transformation we have can only use Meteor." The blue little spirits looked downcast.
"Even with Second Origin released?"
"Then we can also use Altairis." I groaned in frustration. I still didn't have the magic available to be a powerhouse like Natsu, who claimed he pulled out "tomorrow's magic."
"So… a close range melee boost, and deadly, power-wasting attack. Gah."
"Lucy, you know, we think that since it's only a partial transformation, it might not be quite as deadly…" suggested Gemini in unison.
"Nuh uh. No. No way. Over my dead body. Oh, um, that came out wrong. Just… just, use your own judgment. And take care of yourself, even if you are immortal."
"We understand, Lucy. We remember how much you care. And we think Lucy should spend more time taking care of herself."
"I will." I stood up. I breathed. "Last thing." I withdrew a slim metal case from a hidden pocket in my jacket. "For emergencies only, if we're separated."
!
The non-competitors had retreated within the house the moment the exams had begun.
"Strategic indeed. They get a headstart and temporarily disable their enemies," commented Erza, watching through the kitchen window while the Teams Natsu, Gajeel, and Cana lay limply on the ground. "I didn't think Lucy would play dirty, though."
"She didn't. She's still inherently honorable," corrected the Fairy Tactician, Mavis. She was making a batch of hot chocolate. "If she was "playing dirty", she would've taken everyone's flags and run. Her skill at Jutsu Shiki, while not instantaneously usable like the Solid Script Mage or the Letter Magic specialist is good enough that their team could hold for three days. But that wouldn't be much fun, and we wouldn't be able to see more of her abilities, which is rather the point of this exercise."
"Hey, Er-chan, Mavis-san! We've set up the table, you wanna watch?" Meredy called out from the living room.
"Yeah, sure, can you help us with these?" Erza held two mugs in each hand, gesturing towards the last two; Mavis being too busy glomping several bags of extra-large marshmallows. With Meredy's help, everyone was soon warm and comfortable, watching the table that Jellal and Meredy had set up to mimic the movements of the competitors, using her Sense Link and the same tracking spell he used in Tower of Heaven.
A sip. A plop. Yet another soft, fluffy, white sugary confection vanished. Murmured noises of approval and a quiet "I told you so" as a pair of iridescent hemispheres shimmer over three small glowing avatars. A soft witch's giggle at a shadow mage's gentle flirting. Interest peaking at the wide description of abilities, Makarov commenting, "If I didn't know better, I would say he was teaching her survival skills."
And then one cobalt head snapped up at the mention of a rather unique magic. Only to pale in horror at the revival of a technique he had sworn to never use again. He relaxed marginally when a hand clasped his beneath the table.
"They wouldn't."
So he decided to trust them, for now, though he will be paying much closer attention to the bastardized spawn of the mage that had haunted him for the better (or worse, as the case may be) part of his life. Oh, wait, it had actually been a mother-complexed Ultear turned dark by a disillusioned ex-Fairy Tail Master? Bah. Technicalities.
But then, "For emergencies only." He focused his attention on back on the enlarged magical image. And it was Erza's turn to be gasp, saying, "I recognize those!"
Within the case on Lucy's palm lay six rows of five little lacrimas, each the size of a marble. The crystals glittered and sparked with electrical energy. Then Makarov came to the same realization as Erza, and the spluttering, "Impossible, when did he—but that's, wait how?!" only furthered Crime Sorcière's confusion as the pretty little frown on Mirajane's face indicated she had worked out the same solution. Lucy's seeming confirmation of their thoughts, "The Miniature Thunder Palace", didn't clear up the perturbation any.
"Take ten," she said, and her teammates complied. As soon as their fingers touched them, the lacrima crystals flew up and haloed their heads. "Releasing the lightning all at once will result in a perfect defense in a three meter radius for one minute, but those are now all Organically Linked to protect you, and since they're one-time use, probably more efficient as a last-defense. Those hit by all the lightning strikes will be knocked out for twenty-four hours, halving the strikes halves the efficiency. Seeing this is based off of a spell with the destructive capability of an average Abyss Break, I think he did a pretty good job on it."
"Who?" asked Sting.
Lucy opened her mouth in shock, then closed it again and shook her head. "I'm sorry. Promised not to tell. Not, that I bet the judges listening in haven't figured it out already." The girl cocked her head and smiled, rather deprecatingly and eerily accurately. "Right, Master?" She frowned suddenly. "Sting. We gotta go. Come on." And thus began the first day - ahem, night of the S-Class Trials.
!
Sting and I ran lightly through the sparse forest, taking cover where we could to blend into the stark white landscape. Unfortunately, the magical exhaustion of teleporting while I had Gemini out already wasn't worth it. "Team Cana is currently farthest away, at eleven kilometers from base. Team Natsu and Team Gajeel are respectively less than four kilometers to the northeast and less than three kilometers to the west from base. Which of the latter two would you like to attack?" It was a mainly rhetorical question since we both knew who he'd prefer to fight.
"Natsu."
"This way, then. He has Happy; be wary of aerial combat, though his honor may require he stay on an even footing with his opponent. I'll take Gray. Whoever has an opening grab the flag; it's priori A. Priori B: incapacitation of Team Natsu."
"Of course."
"We'll be splitting up and ambushing in a pincer movement, bright and loud, ETA thirty minutes."
"I know."
I had been babbling to fill the silence, and both of us knew it. The rest of the trip passed in a silent diffusion of tension, saving our breath, until the clearly audible sounds of "Flame-baka!" and "Ice-stripper!" echoed out from a gully right under our feet.
"Back up!" I hissed. If they kept shouting as they normally did, the thin ice we treaded would collapse from the vibrations. "Where are they, exactly?" Sting led the way, turning his head back and forth every few steps. Then the ice beneath him exploded, and the ice of Gray's magic lit up dazzlingly bright with the reflection of Natsu's blazing fist—aimed right at my face.
Now if that didn't just screw all my plans up. "What the hell, Natsu!" I yelled, flipping backwards and across the other side of the chasm. "Fight Sting, you overpowered deus ex machina!"
"No way!" He charged up a flaming punch. "I wanna see how strong you got! I already beat him." I dodged to the side and rolled with the momentum, sparing a glance at my partner. Ooh, ouch. His White attacks, based on light, were reflected back from the ice, leaving him to resort to good old-fashioned face-pummeling. Speaking of which, I lashed out with Fleuve d'Etoiles and caught Natsu's oncoming fist, sidestepping and jerking him off balance. He rolled in the snow, bouncing back up with a grin. "Alright! I'm all fired up! You better get serious, too!"
I scowled. Happy must have their flag now, which meant there was absolutely no chance to snag it and run. Not to mention that last punch had singed my clothing and hair. There were already small puddles here and there throughout the otherwise pristine snowy landscape. Good. As expected, Natsu lunged again, fiery claws extending rigid fingers. I feinted left and swerved right while yanking his feet out from under him, key ready at the other hand, "Aquarius!" I shouted, and Natsu's attack buried itself in the water spirit's scales.
"You!" snarled one tempestuous spirit.
I took in her appearance, more provocative (if possible) than normal, and was that a prettier circlet? I had just ruined one of her dates, hadn't I.
"You dare burn my scales, you pathetic excuse of a boyfriend!"
"He's NOT—" I interjected, only to be cut off with a glare, "—meep."
"And you," Aquarius raged, "would summon me in a puddle! I'm going to wash you all away!" She raised her jar high and a torrent of water gushed out, yanking both of Natsu and I off of our feet. I didn't have anything to grab onto, and—"Lucy!" A hand grabbed me as I spun in the watery vortex; I slammed into Sting's very nicely muscled chest with all the centrifugal force of Aquarius' attack. As soon as the dizziness wore off, I stepped back almost violently, blushing and refusing to make eye contact.
Gray was stuck, floundering upside down in a snow drift farther away, Aquarius had returned to her date, and Natsu…
"Ew. That wasn't even a vehicular form of transportation, seriously!" I looked up, saw Happy circling with the scarlet ripple of a flag trailing behind him and groaned. "Are you kidding me? I need aerial combat skills so bad." I glanced over at my partner, still not making eye contact, which meant I was instead focused on his—I mentally slapped myself. "Do you have something to pull out of your (nonexistent) sleeves?" Okay, I didn't actually say that, but it was fully implied, since he was, you know, dressed in what amounted to a skintight tank top with accessories. Might I reiterate, very nicely muscled.
"Nope, sorry." I got the feeling he was taking his sweet time looking me over, dripping wet and clothes clinging in hypothermia-inducing ways. What, were you thinking I was implying something? It's the middle of the night in winter!
"Fine, then. Let's go before they recover." I sighed. Nothing had been accomplished. I do not like losing, and taking advantage of Natsu's, of all people, weakness was like kicking a puppy. Aww. Adorable mental images aside, I asked, "Who are we going to target now?" We turned away, and that was when a streak of magic shot out, binding our feet in ice.
"This isn't over yet! Get back here and fight me for real, kitty cat!" taunted Gray. Sting twitched. Calmly breaking out of the ice, he turned.
"Let's see if your ice can keep up with my claws, then." A sphere of light formed around both of his hands as he raced towards Gray. I cracked my whip on the ice, and it shattered obligingly.
"Same here, Lucy. Fight me." Natsu stood, recovered.
"You know, Natsu," I said, shifting one hand towards my keys. "It's not a 'fight' if it's one-sided. Open, Gate of the Paired Fish!" With that, the duo celestial spirits appeared, in their human form.
The mother and Natsu met in a hissing crack of shin bone against shin bone, steam furling away from their respective elements wreathing their legs. The son followed up with a jab of his trident and a wave of water to the side, but Natsu sent a swath of blazing heat to dissipate the attack. Pisces the mother feinted her fists straight at Natsu's face then jumped, using the previous water she had created to boost her over his head while Pisces the son twirled the trident around, slamming the staff soundly into Natsu's shins. He didn't so much as flinch and spun, whipping up a firestorm of heat and steam. Both Pisces backed off with reddened skin, caught their breath, and dove at Natsu again, cool streams of water arcing from limbs and weapons.
Meanwhile, I had not been wasting my time.
Survey the Heaven, Open the Heaven;
All the stars, far and wide
Show me thy appearance
With such shine.
O Tetrabiblos,
I am the ruler of the stars.
Aspect become complete,
Open thy malevolent gate
O 88 Stars of the Heaven,
Shine!
URANO METRIA!
Eighty-eight shimmering orbs of pure celestial magic crashed through Natsu's flames, crushing his body. Ribbons of light extended towards the night sky in a brilliant beacon as Natsu's silhouette shuddered under the magical pressure. He staggered, before collecting himself shakily.
"W-wow, Lucy… but sorry, that's not—" His eyes rolled up and he collapsed as Pisces the mother snapped his head back with a kick, meeting the swing of Pisces the son's trident to the base of his head.
I fell onto knees, mentally thanking Pisces as they disappeared back to the spirit world. Without Gemini, Urano Metria had scraped out every last bit of my magic, and I was exhausted. Sting appeared next to me, wrapping a crimson flag around me like a blanket.
He sighed at my wobbly legs and turned around, crouching. "Hop on," he offered. What the-I could walk on my own! Not. My attempt at walking failed as my legs gave out and I collapsed on Sting's back, exactly as he wanted. I gave in; he was warm, I was tired. My head rested on his shoulder, and my eyes fluttered closed contentedly.
"How'd you get the flag?"
"Happy got worried when he saw you preparing Urano Metria, and tried to fly down and warn Natsu. When he was within range, I shot Holy Ray at both him and Gray; it was stronger than his ice, in the end."
"Idiot… could've destroyed flag."
"Nah, my aim's good. Hey, you're really light," he offered, changing the subject. "Just like carrying Lector."
I managed one last retort before falling to the depths of slumber. "M'not a cat, you are."
!
A/N: Bit of Sticy fluff for those fans out there, and for the rest of you, I'm planning ahead, so if you have any drabble-esque requests from approximately January to June (hint, hint: Valentine's), now would be a good time to make them.
If there are those who don't agree of Natsu-Lucy power ratio, review or PM, I have my reasons, but I don't want to extend this note too much.
Next update: 7/26