The door finally open which led to a very long and very quiet corridor. The four friends walked down the corridor but as they drew closer to their destination, Nack started to lose his nerve.

"You know I think it would be better if I waited outside." Nack said.

"What's the matter with you?" Glen asked.

"He's just getting scared again." Gazel said.

"Nack there's nothing to be afraid of." Juvia said.

"I really don't want to do this anymore. I think I'm gonna go home now."

"Hold it lizard boy." Glen said grabbing his arm. "If we can face whatever is down here so can you."

"But I'm scared."

"Come on." The scarecrow urged.

Nack then jumped suddenly.

"Now what's wrong?" Glen asked.

"Somebody pulled my tail."

"You did it to yourself." Glen said pointing to the other end of the dragon's tail that was in Nack's claws.

"Oh...Did I?"

"Nack stop being so silly." Juvia said. "Don't you want any courage?"

"Yes but I'm still scared."

"Would it help if we talked to the wizard for you?" She asked.

"A little." Nack said.

"Alright that's what we'll do."

They continued walking until they reached a door at the end. The door opened.

"Come forward!" A voice like thunder commanded.

"Tell me when it's over!" Nack said hiding his face in his claws.

They cautiously stepped inside the room at the end of the hall. They expected to find some large, regal looking man inside what they saw wasn't a man at all. In the center of the room was a great ball of fire that was unlike any that had ever been seen. They gazed upon it in wonder and fear, but found themselves shaking when the flames flared up to speak.

"I am the Great and Powerful wizard that you all seek! Who are you?"

The four friends looked at each other unsure of who should be introduced first. Juvia decided that it should be her since it was her idea in the first place to come here. She couldn't help but shake a little but she still approached the fire while trying to be as brave as she could be.

"If you please, I am Juvia the small and meek." She said trying to keep herself from trembling so much. "We've come to ask-"

"Silence!" The fire thundered in his mighty voice.

"Oh! Oh dear!" Juvia cried running into Gazel's arms in fear. She could hear the sound of his iron body clanking as he held her.

"I know why you have all come." The fire said. "Step forward Gazel."

Gazel swallowed nervously then moved a few centimeters further.

"You dare come to me to ask for heart do you?" He asked in that same thunder like voice but this time with a hint of arrogance. "You clinking, clanking, clattering collection of collginous junk!"

"Not one for manners are you?" Gazel wanted to say but instead he responded with. "Yes sir. Yes your honor."

"Your honor? I am no judge!" The flame shouted as if it was an insult.

"Sorry! I didn't mean to imply that! I was just trying to show respect." He said as he willed his body to stop clanking. "We apologize for coming off as insulting or demanding but we've really been through a lot in order to see you. Awhile back we were walking down the yellow brick road and-"

"Quiet!"

"Yes sir!"

He shut his mouth and ran back toward the group. Glen was up next and due to his own shaking mixed with his straw like body he couldn't help but fall over his feet a few times when he stepped forward. Next to Nack, he was the most scared in this situation because he was dealing with something made entirely out of fire.

"Glen is it?" The fire said. "You have the effrontery to ask for a brain you billowing bale of bovine fodder!"

Normally Glen would not allow such insults to be said at him without retribution but again these insults were being spoken by his worst nightmare. He was terrified that if he made the talking fire upset it would burn him until nothing remained but ash.

"Yes your Honor! I mean your Excellency! I mean your Wizardry!" He said nervously. "If I may ask what are you exactly? I mean is fire your only form or could you take another shape that's less likely to burn? I'm sorry if this comes off as rude but I'm made of straw and when you put fire and straw together it just-"

"Enough!"

He scrambled back to the group, which led to only one member left who needed to make his presence known.

"Hmm...I do believe there were four of you who had come here and I've only seen three. Will the one called Nack kindly step up."

Poor Nack was too scared to even speak, he couldn't even move to make an approach. Glen and Gazel had to push him forward.

"Well?!" The flame said impatiently. "Talk! You rejected hand bag!"

It was too much for Nack. He couldn't hear anything except his own heart pounding and he passed out on to the floor. His friends immediately went to his aid and tried to revive him. Glen and Gazel held his head up and Juvia fanned him with her handkerchief.

"Nack speak to me! Speak to me!" Gazel called.

"Gee and I thought scared to death was just a figure of speech." Glen said.

"How pathetic." The ball of fire scoffed.

That was enough to make Juvia's fear turn to anger. How dare this...Thing insult and mistreat her friends. Great wizard indeed, just how great could he be if he was willing to be so cruel?

"You ought to be ashamed of yourself!" She said furiously. "Frightening him like that when he came to you for help! Where's your compassion?! You call yourself great but you're nothing but a bully!"

"Silence, whippersnapper!" The fire raged in his terrible voice.

But despite how angry he sounded, he was actually quite pleased with her response. Upon hearing that Juvia had earned the favor of the good witch Erza it must've meant that there was something special about this young lady. Special enough to finally put an end to battle he had been forced into fighting many years ago but he had to be sure. Now he didn't doubt Erza's judgement but with his dilemma he had to be extra sure. Soto test her, he put on a big bravado of arrogance, cruelty, and terror to see if she would be brave and kind enough to defend her friends from his "wrath". She passed with flying colors but now came the most difficult part.

"I have every intention of granting your requests." He said in a more calm manner.

"What did he say?!" Nack said regaining consciousness.

"But first you must prove yourselves worthy by performing a very small task."

"Which is?" Gazel asked.

"Bring me the broomstick of the Witch Kyoka."

"You want us to do what?" Juvia said meekly in hopes that she heard wrong.

"Bring me the broomstick of Kyoka." He repeated.

"You call that a small task?!" Glen said. "You're out of your mind if you think we can do that!"

"Yeah that crazy woman is out for blood!" Gazel protested. "We'd have to kill her to get that broomstick!"

"I don't care how you all get the broomstick! Just bring it to me and I'll grant your requests." The fire said. "Now go."

"But what if she kills us first?" Nack asked.

"I said go!"

Without another word, Nack bolted and threw himself out the nearest window. Which luckily was only two feet off the ground. The rest of them just walked out feeling greatly dishearted.