SSD: Okay, who's ready for this!
Lucy: I hope it's Cana!
Laxus: Well, Erza got it in the previous timeline.
SSD: We'll have to see since Kalia and Ambryn weren't participants the last time either, so it could be Kalia.
Laxus: She is my sister, and it'd make her the youngest S-Class.
Lucy: Hmm…Macao's obviously stronger than I thought also…then again, he was able to take on 20-something Vulcans before being Taken Over…
Laxus: That's nothing.
SSD: Says the powerhouse. Anyway, enough of the arguing, let's find out!
Erza: I agree. Silverserpentdragon does not own Fairy Tail, at this point it is only the storyline and the other characters that she does.
SSD: Erza? When'd you-nevermind. Onward!

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Chapter 24: S-Class

It was a week after the funeral that Makarov finally announced the resumption of the S-Class Trials.

"Now, I haven't checked on the barrier at Tenrou yet, so we won't be holding it there until I do. Instead there will be a tournament fight based on lots that will be held in one of the clearings outside Magnolia. You have until noon tomorrow to prepare for the first fight so…Macao, Cana, Casey, Mirajane and Kalia, please step forward!"

The five mages stood and approached the Master, Kalia visibly nervous as she glanced over her shoulder to Lucy and Gray, giving her thumbs up of encouragement.

Makarov held out his fist, slightly enlarged, that had five sticks in it. "Now, you will be drawing these. Due to the uneven number, the one who gets the longest straw will be pushed forward into the semifinals. Good luck. Kalia, you're up first."

Kalia gulped and hovered her fingers over the straws, closing her eyes as she plucked one. She heard gasps and some groans and took a peek, despairing slightly when she saw the small piece of wood between her fingers.

"Cana."

Cana strode forward and just grabbed one, smirking as she saw it was easily twice the size of Kalia's. "Alright, safe for now."

"Mirajane."

Mirajane sauntered up and took one, scowling as she saw it was only a few centimeters longer than Kalia's.

"Casey."

Casey walked up and grabbed a stick without hesitation, she made no reaction when she saw it was shorter than Cana's.

"And lastly, Macao."

Macao sweatdropped, realizing that all the girls had ended up going before him. "Right…" He took a breath and grabbed the last one. He blinked and stared before cheering. "Alright! I got the longest one!"

Wakaba snickered in the background, unable to resist. "I'm sure your wife'd say otherwise!"

Good-natured laughter rang out, Macao flushing as he glared at his friend. "Should I be worried on how you know? Your own wife'd probably want to know as well."

Wakaba paled at the mention of his own wife, the laughter increasing at the turnaround. "Yeah yeah…"

Makarov nodded. "Very well, the first round, Macao will sit out while it will be Cana versus Casey and Kalia versus Mirajane. The fights will take place at Joan Field. Be ready, brats!" He hopped off the banister and made his way down to the bar, helping himself since Azule was still on leave.

A whip of fire lashed out, just missing the old master. "Not so fast, gramps!"

Lucy blinked. "I know that voice…" She turned to the guild doors and blinked. "Rosa? What are you doing here? I thought you were with Azule?"

Rosa nodded as she made her way to the bar. "Yeah, sis is hanging in there, I'm just here to make sure everything is in order for when she comes back." She walked behind it and pulled off a mug of beer from the tap, sliding it to Makarov. "Consider me her stand in."

Wakaba smirked. "Hey, Macao, maybe you should dye your hair pink, apparently that's the going look for Fire Mages!" His smirk just grew as Macao rounded on him.

"And what's that supposed to mean?!"

"The guild appears to be quite lively again, Princess."

Lucy sighed as the third pink-haired person joined the conversation, Virgo opening her own gate. "Yeah, it's good to see that."

The maid spirit nodded and looked at Rosa curiously, seeing the whip hooked to her belt. "I see you found another friend that uses whips, perhaps we should compare notes?"

Lucy blinked, staring between Virgo and Rosa, comparing the two. "…pink hair…blue eyes…both use whips…uhh…Virgo? Are you sure you don't have a twin?"

"Yes, Princess, I am fairly certain I do not have a twin. I will admit that our physical appearances are stunningly similar."

Rosa looked over and blinked. "Huh? Since when do I have a twin?" She walked over and examined Virgo. "Hmm…" She reached out and groped her breasts, Virgo merely blinking at the action. The rest of the guild stared in shock, the older males gaining nosebleeds. "We're about the same size, too. Wow, this is freaky."

Lucy's jaw dropped, trying and failing to work properly, especially as Virgo repeated the Gesture on Rosa.

"Yes, so it would seem. I also note that you are skilled with the whip, we should compare technique sometime."

"Sure thing. Hey, what's with your guild?" Rosa blinked, looking at all the passed out men.

Lucy twitched, although slightly relieved to see Laxus wasn't part of those trying to clean up their own blood. "…you both groped each other…in public…"

"Oh, that? That was just breast comparison. The girls do it in Eagle Claw all the time."

"Such practice is common among close female friends, no?"

Both pinkettes looked at the blonde innocently. Lucy just slammed her head to the table. "…why do I get the feeling I'm going to get a major headache the next couple days?"

Erza walked up and patted Lucy on the back. "Fear not, Lucy, I shall stay by your side through this ordeal."

"Erza…you're one to talk when you tried to invite Natsu and Gray to bathe with us that one time."

Erza flushed. "A-ahh…I have learned my lesson?"

Lucy laughed. "Alright, we have a day to hang out…what have you been up to, Rosa?"

Rosa sat down, shrugging. "Not much, really, just helping get the guild sorted out since we still don't really have a Guild Master. We're still recognized as being a legal guild, thanks to Grampa Winmore, but otherwise…ugh, all of our top mages are arguing about who should lead instead of putting it to the other members to vote on."

Virgo turned to Lucy. "I came to check on you after everything. If everything is well, then I shall take my leave." She bowed and vanished.

Lucy nodded. "Bye, Virgo…so, they won't let the other members decide? How are they keeping the guild running then?"

Rosa shrugged. "They aren't." She sheepishly scratched her cheek. "I…may have gotten a few of our more booky types together and set them to the finances and job roster assignments…we're still in the black at least."

Erza nodded thoughtfully. "You took charge where the others failed to. By that reasoning, they might fear that putting the subject to vote would result in none of them being chosen as Guild Master."

Rosa blinked and sputtered. "Me? Guild Master? No way, I'm not fit for that kind of roll, let alone having to deal with the Council, they'd eat me alive!"

Cana strolled up and wrapped an arm around Rosa's shoulders. "Cheer up! It can't be all that bad, Makarov's been at it for a long time, so there's gotta be some good in it."

"I guess…but, I would be too busy. I wouldn't be able to keep looking for Verde."

Lucy blinked. "Your younger sister? Hmm…have you thought about asking the other guilds? They might know something."

Rosa blinked. "…why didn't I think of that earlier?"

Erza smiled. "Because you were too focused. While it is good to have that determination, if you utilize it to the point your own vision is clouded, then you need to step back."

Rosa looked at her oddly. "…I guess? Anyway, I better tend to the bar unless I want Azule coming back to empty stores." She got up. "Nice talking with you girls, and thanks for the advice." She pulled out her whip and lashed at another eager Fairy Tail member. "Hey! That isn't an open bar!"

Lucy sweatdropped and looked over slightly, where Levy was rousing Jet and Droy from their hormone induced coma. Droy snapped out of it just fine after a smack, but Jet…Jet was still staring in a daze at Rosa.

"I think I'll make her my girlfriend…"

Lucy sweatdropped, Cana beside her. "Well, I haven't done a reading in a while, should be fun." Cana sat at the table and pulled out her tarot cards, laying them out in a prediction. "Let's see…" She flipped the cards over and blinked.

"What is it?"

Cana tapped the Lovers card. "Apparently Lover-boy will luck out more than he thinks…at least there's a lot less of an age difference with them than you and Laxus." She grinned slyly at Lucy.

Lucy blushed as Erza gave her a critical look. "Lucy…what does Cana mean by that?"

The blonde sunk in her chair, mortified. "…it's complicated…shouldn't you be getting ready for your match tomorrow?" She looked at Cana, hopping the subject would change.

Cana blinked. "You're right, I should stock up on more cards just in case." She got up and left.

Erza pinned Lucy with a stare. "You aren't getting out of this. What did Cana mean about you and Laxus?

Lucy sweatdropped. "...can't I leave it at complicated and be done with it?"

"No, now start talking."

The air swirled dramatically around the field that was Joan Park. Wendy stood on standby in case the matches went too far and watched as Casey and Cana faced off against each other. Makarov was directly between the two girls, on the sidelines, and held up his arm.

"First match for the title of S-Class, Cana Alberona versus Casey Echer…begin!" His arm came down in a chop and the two girls leapt into motion.

Cana flung out the cards at the other Mage. "Summon lightning!"

Casey flowed out of the way and began running at her, hand clasping at her gauntlet and not caring as it shattered under an apparent pressure. The pieces levitated around her and she spun, sending them spiraling away from her and at Cana. Cana leapt back, a card falling from her satchel as she threw another four at her opponent, deflecting the shards away from her. Casey crouched down, hands cupped at her side as a ball of darkness seeped into the small space, white dots filtering in in some places. She then flung the still forming orb at Cana, watching it implode and dragging the Card Mage to the blast.

"Altairis."

Cana gave a grim smirk, standing shakily as she rubbed a cut on her cheek. "Got ya...Prayer Fountain!"

Casey's eyes widened minutely as the ground below her erupted into fountains and jets of highly pressurized water. She grimaced faintly, but most of the damage was neutralized by her armor. She raised her hands to the buckles of her armor and undid them, the heavy plate falling with wet thuds into the muddy ground.

Erza's eyes widened on the sidelines. "That outfit..."

Natsu tensed slightly as well, remembering. "No way..."

Casey glowed a faint yellow and sped towards Cana, faster than even Jet. She landed a single punch on the shocked Card Mage, sending her flying through the Fairy Tail group and colliding with a tree.

Cana groaned as the tree cracked, falling behind her. She lifted her head wearily, trying to get up, but fell limp as unconsciousness took her.

"Winner: Casey Echer!"

Casey crouched and put her armor back on effortlessly. "...too much power...good fight." She smiled faintly at the unconscious girl, Wendy rushing to tend to her.

Erza clenched her fists. "I didn't realize...that she could utilize Heavenly Body Magic..." She turned her eyes to the field as Kalia and Mirajane took their places, determined to question the girl at a later time.

"Next match: Kalia Dreyar versus Mirajane Strauss! Begin!"

Kalia crouched down and pulled out her darts, throwing them at the white-haired girl. Mira weaved to the side, narrowly avoiding the quick attack and her eyes widened as Kalia raced up to her with a punch, lightning trailing in her wake. The Take Over mage grunted, folding over from the sudden strike and gripped Kalia's arm, using it to hold her in place as she lashed a kick into the girl's side. Kalia took in a breath and let out a roar, point blank. Mirajane flew back, confused and surprised in the sudden gale.

Lucy stood up straighter, eyes wide. "That was a Sky Dragon Roar!"

Wendy blinked in surprise, looking down at her own hands. "Did…I do that?" She thought back to when she first met Kalia and offered to heal her voice. "…"

Mirajane stood up, wiping away a small trickle of blood from the corner of her mouth. "Not bad, I didn't know that you had learned Wind Magic too…HAH!" She glowed, skin flaking away as she used her Satan Soul. Her tail lashed behind her. "Time to get serious." She spread her wings and launched at Kalia with blinding speed, uppercutting her into the air. She took off after her and winced as a bolt of lightning tore through the membrane of her wing, Kalia twisting her body like a cat as she landed back on the ground in a crouch. Mirajane frowned as she was forced to land from the injury and glared at Kalia.

"Alright, you're better than I thought you were. Try this!" Mirajane lifted a hand above her head, drk energy clustering just above it in a hovering ball. Kalia moved towards her, pulling out her darts and coating them in lightning as she let them fly to boost their speed. They struck Mirajane just as she unleashed her attack. "Satanic Blast!"

A beam of solid dark energy, crackling with black lightning struck Kalia, the screaming in pain before the area exploded. The Lightning Mage was sent flying, tumbling and rolling along the ground before coming to a stop. The guild waited with bated breath, saw the girl still breathing and sighed in relief. Mirajane's Take Over faded, leaving her swaying as she took the dart that got her out of her arm.

"Winner: Mirajane Strauss!"

"Hah! Beat…ya…" She fell over face forward, unconscious from the sleeping draught on the dart.

Wendy hurried over to Kalia, healing her injuries and staying away from her throat.

Laxus shook his head, smirking slightly. [Not bad, should've been a draw by all rights, but the timing was just off."

Lucy sighed in relief. "At least Kalia's alright…I was really worried for her there…" [Mira's really strong, and she was able to go toe-to-toe with her!]

Makarov chuckled. "Due to obvious reasons, next up will be Casey versus Macao Conbolt! Someone get Mira off the field for a nap, please?"

Freed stepped forward and walked over, blushing a bit as he picked her up. He headed back to the main crowd and set her to rest against a tree. Laxus smirked at him, the green haired teen just flushing in mortification as Mirajane's arm slipped and fell across his lap.

Macao and Casey took their positions, the older mage already warming up. He brought his fists up and waited for Makarov to bring down his hand.

"Begin!"

Macao quickly dodged the girl as she rushed at him, Meteor active. His hand lashed out, purple fire blazing around it as he attached the flame to Casey's armor. He tugged his hand, using the fire as a rope as he managed to yank her off trajectory. Casey blinked in surprise and smiled, unbuckling her armor for freer movement again. She blinked and crossed her arms over her face as a large blast of fire was sent her way. She frowned when she didn't see the Fire Mage and kept her guard up.

"Hah!" A snake burst out of the grass behind Casey and wrapped around her, coiling tightly.

Casey blinked, breathing out sharply. "...hah?"

Snake!Macao slithered his tongue out. "I've been practicing, and thought this was the perfect time to bring my trump card to the table."

The guild gasped in surprise, Wakaba's pipe dropping out of his mouth. "Damn, I didn't think he had it in him to go for the Advanced Level…"

Lucy blinked and bit her lip. "I didn't realize Macao was actually this strong…"

Laxus nodded. "He's normally too caught up in lazing about the guild while boasting about his son."

"…true…"

Macao smirked as much as he could, tightening his hold on Casey. The Heavenly Body Mage grimaced as she was squeezed uncomfortably tight, feeling her ribs start to give some. "...I forfeit."

"Winner: Macao Conbolt!"

Macao unwound from her and turned back into his regular self, bent over and supporting his weight on his knees as he breathed heavily. "Oh, good…didn't think I could hold that form for much longer…"

Casey blinked and stared, mouth hanging open slightly. "…bluff?"

The man grinned cheekily, rubbing the back of his neck. "Just a bit…Transformation Magic still takes a lot more out of me than my Purple Fire magic…"

Makarov shook his head, laughing in amusement. He looked over at Wendy, seeing her trying to rouse Mirajane…and with no success. "Wendy, how is Mirajane?"

The Sky Maiden blushed, removing her hands as the glowing stopped. "I tried neutralizing the potion, but it's very potent and beyond my ability right now…"

Makarov sighed. "…I suppose that I must announce, by the inability to wake, Mirajane is unable to battle, Macao Wins the title of S-Class!"

Macao blinked, staring and wavered in his shock. "I-…I'm S-Class?"

Natsu whooped loudly. "Alright! Grats, Macao!"

The rest of the guild started cheering loudly at the surprising upset.

"To the guild! Time to celebrate in Fairy Tail fashion!" Makarov's shout was met with answering cheers as they headed back.

Lucy shook her head. [I can't believe it…and here I thought for sure it would be Kalia or Mira…] She smiled and walked beside a bemoaning Cana as the older complained about "the only guy winning and it had to be sexist". Lucy laughed. "I think it would be the other way around, since he was lucky to win when up against the likes of Kalia and Mira, though that Casey girl took me by surprise also."

Cana blinked. "Eh…I suppose that's true. Casey beat me hands down, although the fight with Kalia and Mira was super close."

Laxus fell into step beside Lucy. "It should've been a draw between them anyway, so Macao had a chance of winning either way."

Both girls blinked at that. "Huh…who knew he had it in him?"

They headed back to the guild, Laxus barely catching sight as Gray talked to Kalia in concern…and growling as he got just a little too close.

[Icicle better watch himself…]

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SSD: Wow…I definitely didn't see that coming…
Lucy: Macao being S-Class this time around?
SSD: Yeah, when the dice rolled the outcome of his fight against Erza, it really surprised me.
Laxus: Tch, he'll have to keep up his training if he wants to stay S-Class then. He barely even passes as that.
SSD: Eh, we'll see. Obtaining that rank should help bring out his X791 self…I think…minus the pessimism…
Lucy: I guess we'll have to see. Although Romeo will be happy, his can actually claim his dad is an awesome mage now.
SSD: Yeah. Don't forget to review, my darling readers! I will see you all again, probably later tonight with another chapter. See you then!

Edit: By the way, to any who are wondering why Erza didn't electrocute herself in her attack, Prayer Fountain conjures pure water. To anyone who's familiar with hydroelectric science...pure water, water that doesn't contain any of the electrolytes or mineras found in normal water, doesn't conduct electricity. Just a bit of info there.

Edit, Edit: Changed up the fights so it's the proper combatants...I can really care less about the AN dialogue right now...And yes, Erza is supposed to be S-Class already, she got the rank the year while Lucy was training.