"A promotion trial? Don't you guys just promote people once they're ready? What's the point of a trial?" Rogue asked, peering at the Fairy Tail mages curiously, he and Sting having never been around for the trial before.

"Do you have to kill some big scary monster?!" Wendy and Sting shivered, eyes wide as they looked at the group of older teens.

"No, usually the master just has us go through an obstacle course of sorts, with the current S-class mages causing trouble as we try to get through," Elfman explained. "At least that's what Mira says,"

"C'mon, baby brother, it won't be so bad," Mirajane grinned, draping an arm comfortingly around her brother's shoulders, who pouted.

"Still, nine participants. That's a big number compared to last time!" Lisanna shook her head in wonder.

Wendy, Sting, and Rogue sat beside Erik, the three looking up at them with their Exceeds resting on their heads. The Poison Mage thought they looked identical doing that- the trio had easily fallen back into step with each other, Wendy, as always, in the middle.

"Who will you pick as a partner, Erik?" Wendy asked.

"Kinana?" Rogue asked.

"Or Gajeel?" Sting grinned. "Or me! I could help, Erik! Please? You know I've gotten way, way stronger now!"

The second eldest smirked, though to the rest of the guild it appeared he was snarling at the young trio.

"Old metalhead's taken," He jerked his chin to the other side of the guild.

o - o - o

"Pick me Levy!"

"No! Me! I can get you to S-Class, Levy! I'm way stronger than Jet!"

"No! Pick me!"

"No, me!" Levy rolled his eyes as her two teammates switched between kissing up to her and bickering. She wouldn't be choosing either of them, obviously.

"Oh, will you two quit begging and kissing up to Levy? Maybe the reason you two weren't picked for this year is because you focus on trying to date her instead of getting stronger! And she'd never date either of you anyway! Levy has standards, and she's already told you guys she only sees you both as friends so knock it off!" Belletokia finally snapped, sitting in Levy's lap and smiling when the two mages hunched over in silence, lines going down their faces.

"You knew I wouldn't pick you, Toki?" Levy's voice was soft, a smile on her lips as she spoke to her best friend.

"Please. You'd be nuts to go on this crazy quest with anyone but him at your side. He's already on his way over anyway," Belletokia said. "Bring me back a peach, yeah? I've missed our home,"

"Of course," Her partner smiled, hand smoothing over her head gently, eliciting a purr from the purple cat.

"Gajeel," Levy said confidently when she felt him near her, just loud enough for him to hear. "Are you sure you wouldn't rather help someone else? My body is frail, and weak. I'm not as strong as the other mages. And I can't use my Dragon Slayer magic without a price, as you saw,"

After returning from Edolas, Levy was confined (alongside her sister) to the den, and had been ill for nearly two weeks before she was back on her feet again.

He snorted. "I ain't fallin' for that trick, Shrimp. Besides, what's talkin' all pessimistic like that gonna do? And if anything, you'd have the advantage, considering you were raised on Tenrou. And you're strong enough without Dragon Slayer magic,"

Levy grinned secretively, "I'll meet you at Hargeon Port in two weeks, then. Yeah?" He grunted in response before walking off, arms crossed.

o - o - o

"Juvia cannot believe her name was on the list for S-class!" Juvia smiled in greeting as she carefully walked over, finally free of her crutches and bed rest. Erik narrowed his eyes and growled lowly while an exasperated Kinana followed after her from the infirmary, carrying Lilith and getting a much louder growl.

As of yet, only Kinana and Eric were allowed to handle Lilith without Mirajane being close by. She was quite protective of the infant girl after Laxus left a handful of days ago, and only her husband's second and his mate were deemed safe.

Gray's eyes darted to the Water Dragon Slayer as soon as she entered, but glanced away quickly.

"Juvia, why are you on your feet?" Mirajane said worriedly. "And Kinana-"

"Kinana and Juvia are fine, Mira, promise. Besides, it's been over two months, Juvia should be allowed to use her legs again," Juvia smiled softly as the triplets shot towards her, hugging her tightly.

"You're aware that for four of those weeks you were passed out in a coma?" Monmo frowned as Kinana passed the now fussy infant to her mother, who cuddled her baby happily.

"Juvia would've been fine with just two weeks. Besides, she's been in worse condition," Juvia protested.

"Perhaps, if you hadn't been so foolish as to overly exhaust your magic and almost die," Charla crossed her arms and turned up her nose, to which Juvia waved her hand dismissively.

Down the table, Gray choked on his drink, slamming his head on the table in exasperation and earning a weird look from Cana.

"You had us all really worried, Juvia," Lector added.

"Yeah!" Frosch exclaimed, tearing up. Erik just growled deeply again, watching his pride members before a flick on the nose drew his attention.

"She's fine. Her natural healing ability is very high, and with the added expertise of Wendy, Mirajane, Porlyusica, and myself, there's nothing to worry about. And Juvia herself is a healer. And I am fine, love. My mind is completely healed. You worry too much, maybe that's why your pretty face is cursed with wrinkles," Kinana teased before gliding over to the bar, leaving the triplets giggling, Juvia smiling, and Erik gawping openly at his mate.

"K-Kinana!" He frowned, ears tinged red.

"Aw, is Erik self conscious?" Levy teased, sitting on Juvia's left, brushing her arm against the bluenette's as Belletokia and Monmo chatted excitedly.

"Enough," Mira smiled and shook her head, raising an eyebrow when Lilith stretched her arms and sparks of lightning flew from her fingers. "I'll go and feed this one, then." The white haired woman strode to the back, talking soothingly to her hatchling in Draconic.

"Juvia, have you chosen a partner for the trial yet?" Lucy asked quizzically, leaning on the table.

The bluenette flushed suddenly, looking down at the table. "J-Juvia does not really, uhm- Juvia does not really want to participate, or fight her, uhm-" Her voice got lower and lower as she spoke, and Levy snorted.

"That's insulting Juvia, completely insulting. You need a mate who can keep up with you. Protect you and love you, but not be put off by your strength and independence,"

"But if Juvia fights her Gray-sama then that's the beginning of the-" Her light blushed turned into a deep red. "You know! The thing!"

Erik snorted and Kinana slapped a hand over his mouth while the triplets wore near-identical looks of confusion.

"I'll be your partner, Juvia!" Lisanna smiled kindly. "I was great friends with Juvia in Edolas. Besides, you seem cute,"

Juvia smiled at that. "Juvia looks forward to fighting beside you, Lisanna-san!"

"W- Bu- Then who am I supposed to partner with, Lis?!" Elfman sputtered indignantly, staring at his sister. The youngest Strauss smirked into her hand, pointing at the bar.

"Someone's been eyeing you up for a while now," Lisanna withheld her laughter at the look on her brother's face.

"You wanna be my partner, Rogue?" Erik grumbled eventually, raising an eyebrow. The triplets whipped to look at him, eyes wide.

"Woah!"

"What?!"

"Are you sure?" Rogue asked instead, not asking why. He already knew why his brother had chosen him instead of someone else.

Erik nodded. "Yep. We'll get to training, Runt, and then we'll head to Hargeon," Rogue beamed up at his brother.

"Yeah!"

"Good luck!" Wendy smiled, squeezing Sting's hand, the blond having been thoroughly disappointed.