When Alex and Kaoru arrived the next day, they found the building as a hub of activity. On one side of the room, Cana and Macao were taking bets on whether or not Alex would pass (most were for him passing due to Cana's threats to maim the other wizards). On the other side, Mira and Max were trying to sell flags and shirts with Alex's name on them.
"Hey, Mira!" he called as he walked in.
"Hey Alex," said Mira after handing a couple of flags to Lucy and the team. "You ready for your test?"
He nodded. "You bet. I just don't get why everyone's acting like it's a birthday or something."
"Well it's not everyday someone has a test from the Master," explained Mira.
"And speaking of said test," said Makarov as he walked over. "I hope you're ready Alexander. This is not some walk in the park."
Alex gave the smirk Natsu was infamous for. "You bet I am! Just you watch, I'm going to pass with flying colors!"
"Well then, let's see if you're right." He called to everyone present. "Everybody, let's head out back. It's time for the main event!"
The Guild was excited as they all walked to the sandy beach Alex used for training. They all filed on to the bleachers Laki had made the night before and watched Alex and Makarov stand opposite each other.
"Alright Gramps, what's the test?" asked Alex.
"Your test, is to fight me," said the Guild Master. Everyone gasped. "And should you succeed in my test, I will give you a little privilege: you'll have a spot in this year's S-Class promotion trial."
Everyone gasped at what he said. He was literally promising a spot in the second most important part of the year for a Fairy Tail wizard. Alex's eyes widened in shock before filling with energy. "Well, let's do this!" (Cue Deep Drive from 358/2 Days) Immediately, he pulled out a Gate Key. "Open- Gate of the Fire Bird: Phoenix!"
She appeared in her usual blaze of fire. "You rang Boss?"
"Yeah. We're going to fight as a team." Requipping his Keyblades, he charged forwards while Phoenix took to the sky. As he charged, Oathkeeper became wrapped in white energy and Oblivion in black. Jumping into the air, he swung his blades in a scissor motion. "Eclipse Blade!"
Raising a hand, Makarov hit the crossed blades with a yellow light and shot Alex back. Phoenix swooped in from above while he was focused on Alex. "Phoenix Flame!" She released a bombardment of fire on the small man, and created quite a lot of smoke. "Did I get him?" she asked. Beam of light flew out and pierced her. "Maybe not..."
As she vanished, Alex grabbed a second key. "Open-Gate of the Wolf: Lupus!" As he appeared, the silver-haired Spirit ran at Makarov with his light blade. Alex immediately started some cover fire. "Fairy Machine Gun: Leprechaun!"
Much to his shock, Makarov blocked his lights with yellow Magic Circles and retaliated with three powerful lights. Lupus met the same fate as Phoenix as Alex partially blocked with his Scripture Magic.
"So far, you're not doing so well, my child," said Makarov. "Are you sure you're trying?"
Alex let out a chuckle. "Don't count me out yet, Gramps." Charging forwards, he flicked out Vulpecula's key and Requipped his claymore. "Open- Gate of the Fox: Vulpecula!" With the fox spirit running alongside him, he ran in with a spin slash.
Vulpecula followed over him with his hands and feet wrapped in darkness. "Shadow Claws!" He got close enough that Makarov had to dodge the dark-based spirit. With some footing, Alex and his spirit put Makarov on the defensive. Their attacks were so unrelenting that he had almost no time for a counterattack.
"Well, you're obviously capable of putting me on the defensive," he said, "but can you take point-blank magic?" Raising both hands, he blasted the duo with powerful beams of light.
Vulpecula returned to the Spirit World while Alex slammed into the ground with a large dust cloud.
Lucy and the team were terrified for their friend. "Alex!" screamed Kaoru as he clung to Lucy. She herself didn't understand why, but she felt a couple of tears threatening to fall and a clenching terror for the teen.
Makarov landed and looked at the cloud in concern for his newest child. His concerns, however, were put to rest when a pair of burning chakrams came flying out of the dust. Getting blocked by a pair of magic circles, they flew back to Alex as he flew out with scripture wings. Catching his weapons, Alex became a flurry of fiery blades as he tried hitting his Guild Master. All he got was the right peak of his hat, but that was enough to boost his spirits.
Dodging several beams of light, he sent back his chakrams as he transformed his hands into sapphire spikes. Flying in, he tried cutting Makarov with his spikes. He clipped the older wizard's loose shirt, but got hit by a massive fist in retaliation.
Stabilizing himself, he took a deep inhale. "Crystal Dragon's Roar!" Blasting his dragon roar, he flew closer to Makarov while the smaller man was busy blocking the power of a Dragon Slayer. When the crystal vortex vanished, Alex swung his foot. "Crystal Dragon's Emerald Claw!" Much to everyone's surprise, he actually landed a hit on Makarov and sent him back. (End Song)
The older man grunted as he got up. "Not bad," he said. "But you're nowhere near passing, my child." He looked at Alex. "Quite frankly, I'm surprised it took you so long to hit me. As for your time standing, I figured you'd have given up a while ago."
Alex growled as he landed, his wings dissolving. "Don't count me out yet, Gramps."
"I already have," he said. "I know the weaknesses to all of your Magic types. Take that into account with the fact that you're using so many types of magic, I'd say you're using up a lot your magic energy."
Alex chuckled. "Well then you're wrong, Gramps. Because I've got one last trick up my sleeves." (Begin Natsu's Theme) Raising his hand, a fire red Magic circle appeared. "Fire Avatar: Eagle!" Everyone gasped as an eagle made of pure fire flew at the Guild Master. He jumped aside as it slammed into the ground.
"What the hell was that?" asked Natsu.
"It looked like Lyon's Ice Magic," said Gray in shock. "But he used fire instead of ice."
A brown circle flashed on the ground before Alex as he took a stance. "Earth Avatar: Serpent!" Spinning, he delivered a firm kick to the sand. To everyone's shock, a large earthen serpent flew into the air and struck Makarov's shields.
"Well now, I never expected a new magic from you," commented Makarov.
"This is just a little something I figured out when I tried using Bixnii-san's magic," explained Alex as he got into a ready stance. "I call it Elemental Avatar Magic. I can create tangible creatures from raw elements." Bringing his right hand to it's opposite shoulder, a green circle flashed as he swiped it back across. "Wind Avatar: Hawk Storm!" A series of air hawks flew out of the circle and repeatedly struck at the guild Master. Those that got past his shields dealt concussive damage to his body.
Tired of taking his child's attacks, he sent a beam of light at Alex. "Earth Avatar: Tortoise Shell!" The rocks rose with his hands in time to block the attack, but the attack still sent him reeling. "Go on, old man. I don't care how hard you hit, I'll keep on coming!" Charging, his fist wrapped itself in flames. "Fire Avatar: Lion Emperor!" His punch missed Makarov and he received a swift punch away for getting too close.
Skidding to a stop, he noticed the water behind him. Pulling out another key, he turned and placed it in the water. "Open- Gate of the Water Serpent: Hydra!"
"Finally," muttered the Spirit. "It's about time you summoned me."
"Less complaining, please," muttered the wizard as he charged up a blue magic circle.
"Fine," groaned Hydra. Moving his arms, he made a massive pillar of water start moving around in the air over the beach.
"Water Avatar: Kraken Tendrils!" As he commanded, a series of watery tentacles shot out of the writhing pillar. To any observer, it looked like some watery centipede of sorts. The tendrils themselves swung at Makarov from all sides. The Master himself was the epicenter of the multiple light spells he was blasting at each tentacle.
Waving his hands, Hydra made the pillar of water collapse on Makarov. "Now, Alex!"
"Right!" Alex wrapped the water around his hands. "Water Avatar: Crab Claws!" With said claws, he smashed the ground where his Guild Master had been.
Makarov swung a huge fist at the younger wizard while Alex met it with his own fist. "Fire Avatar: Lion Emperor!" The two fists collided, and the explosion blew everyone's hair back. Kaoru held on to Lucy while Happy clung to Natsu's head. (End Song)
When the dust settled, the whole guild saw Alex panting in front of Makarov. Their fists were against each others' as they had been in the contact. Alex himself looked absolutely exhausted. Staggering, he stepped away from the Guild Master.
"I can't do it," he panted. "I can't beat you, Master Makarov." He collapsed on the ground. "I failed the test."
Lucy felt a tear welling up, and the team gasped at what Alex said. Makarov himself chuckled. "I wouldn't say that, Alexander. I expected that you would be incapable of beating me after your short training period. Not only that, but you were using too many different types of magic, with no specialization or expertise," explained the orange-clad man. "However, you proved you had what I was looking for."
Alex was beyond confused as he sat up. "Just what were you looking for then?" he asked.
The man extended a hand. "I was looking for drive. The motivation to keep going and keep trying to win. Not only that, but I needed to see if you were capable of accepting defeat in the face of inevitable defeat." He gave a broad smile. "And you my child have only proven that to me."
Alex's eyes widened at what the old man was saying. "Does that mean...?"
"Yes Alexander. You've passed your test." At the final sentence, the crowd erupted into cheers. Team Natsu were screaming in support, with Mira and Cana joining them. Getting off their seats, the Guild ran out to him as he stood up. Mira and Cana got to him first and both wrapped him in tight hugs. Natsu and Gray got there next and while Natsu clapped him on the shoulder, Gray wrapped an arm around his neck.
When Lucy and Kaoru got there, Lucy wrapped her arms around his neck while Kaoru hugged Alex from his shoulder. When Lucy hugged him, the praise from his nakama became a blur. He couldn't figure out why he loved Lucy's hug, or why he hated it ending.
But even then, he was just as happy as his Guild mates. Following the crowd, he wound up in the massive building once more. Mira broke out the drinks, and he took one from his white-haired nee-chan.
Cana called out to everyone. "Hey, I'd like to have a toast!" Everyone grabbed a drink and got ready to raise it. "To Alex: our newest nakama and a real Fairy Tail Wizard!"
"To Alex!" cheered the Guild. Even Alex took a mug from his nee-chan and chugged it. Unfortunately, Cana got him to have a little more and he was drunk in a few minutes.
"Hey nee~chan," he slurred as he hung onto Cana. "I'm having such a blast!"
She laughed drunkenly with him. "I can tell! You're picking up my drinking, and I can tell we'll be the best of siblings."
He wrapped his arms around Cana. "Yay! Cana-nee and I are drinking buddies!" he cheered.
"C'mon Gajeel!" yelled Macao. "Get up and sing for us!"
"Please," snapped Gajeel. "If I feel like singing, I'll do it. But if you tell me to like that, I won't!"
"Gajeel sings?" Alex asked his "big sister".
"Yeah," she replied while taking a swig from her bottle. "He's pretty good, you know?"
"Is that so? I want to hear him." Drunkenly, he walked over to Gajeel. "Hey Gajeel, can you sing for us?"
"Dammit!" he yelled. "Why is everyone trying to make me fricking sing right now!"
"Cuz I haven't heard you sing yet!" he whined. "C'mon! If you want I'll sing too!"
"Really now?" Gajeel thought it over real quick. "Gihihi. Alright, let's do this!" Pulling out his guitar, he made his way on stage with the drunken Alex.
As the two Dragon Slayers made idiots of themselves, Mira walked over to Makarov. "Master, I think I figured out what that masked wizard meant by "prayers six times"," she said.
He raised an eyebrow at the guild's bar keep. "Oh? And what would that be?"
"He was referring to a dark guild," she said seriously. "In particular, one of the Balam Alliance. And that particular Guild is mobilizing."
The Guild Master put a hand to his chin. "Well then, I'll contact some of the other Guild Masters. We'll need to put them down and stop whatever it is they're up to."
"I'll draft the letters," said Mira before going back to serving drinks.
Author's Note: And BAM! The prologue is done. The canon begins now! Up next, plans against Oración Seis and the team is set up. Also, the Elemental Avatar Magic was inspired by the Fire Fist monsters in Yu-Gi-Oh! and Lyon's Ice-Make Magic. Also, funny thing about Natsu's theme. When my friend and I were playing Yu-Gi-Oh one time, right as he drew the card that beat me, the first note of Natsu No Theme (Natsu's Theme) started playing. And it was one hell of a combo turn too. Just found that funny.
