Back with the next chapter!
"Speaking"
""thinking""
On with the story
In the middle of the ocean
The participants were all currently sailing towards Tenrou Island on their private ship, as everyone was in a foul mood to the fact that it was scorching hot
"Why is it so god damn hot?" whined Lucy for the umptenth time since they left Hargeon.
She was wearing her swimsuit while sprawled on a sunbed as almost everyone else was also dying from the heat.
Levy, who was currently sitting at the table with Cana and Wendy looks at her best friend.
"Lu-chan, you're showing off too much."
"damn it's so damn hot! Is Natsu in the air making this heat?" Gray said while looking above to try and spot the Dragon Slayer
"No, it's not him." explained Cana. "The currents around this area keep clashing with each other, so it's not affected by other types of weather or climate. It's summer here all year long."
Gajeel, who continued to stare into the horizon, squinted his eyes and straightened himself in his seat. "Is that the island?"
Everyone looked at him, before turning around. Their eyes widened.
In the middle of the ocean was an island that had a giant tree in the middle of it but It was also emitting warm, powerful magic that appeared to soothe one's troubles.
"Beautiful..." gasped Lucy.
"It is said, that Fairies used to live on this island." said a voice from behind.
Makarov appeared while wearing a Hawaiian shirt, as he walked out of the cabin and gazed at the island, a warm feeling reflecting in his old eyes.
"It is also the place of rest of Fairy Tail's First Master, Mavis Vermillion."
"The hell's up with that outfit, old man?" asked Gray.
"What am I supposed to do? It's hot." sighed the elder. "Well, now that the island is in sight, allow me to explain the first stage of the exam."
Everyone focuses their attention to the old man who snaps his fingers and a magical tablet appeared with drawings forming with each second.
"First exam?" asked surprised Wendy.
"It's always divided into stages." explained Mest from behind her.
"As you can see, there is smoke rising up from that beach." continued Makarov and pointed at the place at hand.
"That is where you're headed. Upon arriving, you will find eight paths. Only one group can enter each path. This is what awaits you upon entering."
As soon as he finished, the magic table has been completed.
8 paths have been formed. 3 of them were decorated with faces of Natsu, Mirajane, and Gildarts, with HARD BATTLE written above. 4 other paths met each other in pairs at one point called BATTLE, while the last path was called QUIET.
"Hard battle?" asked Wendy.
"That's where the monsters are." explained Bickslow.
"So Battle must be us fight each other." deducted Levy.
"What does Quiet mean?"
"Battle means two teams will meet each other and fight. The winning pair will continue to Second Stage." said Makarov. "Hard Battle is the most difficult one. In order to pass, you must best an S-Class Mage in combat. Quiet is the only path where you can pass without fighting anyone."
"Master, may I ask why there are 8 paths, when there are 7 teams?" asked Freed.
"I was about to get to that." nodded Makarov.
"There will be an additional rule applied to the First Stage First, due to the uneven number of paths, two paths lead to one S-class Mage, naming Natsu" Makarov told them as they gawked at him
"since he's new to all of this, 2 teams might meet with each other to the path leading to him"
"Quiet route may be untouched, or one team will not be forced to battle yet another team."
"So, best case scenario, 6 teams will pass onto the Second Stage." pointed out Evergreen.
"No way this many of us will get further." said Elfman with a sigh.
"Worst case scenario, three teams get further." added Levy, her enthusiasm gone. Gajeel, on the other hand, was beyond excited.
"That's exactly right." said Makarov and opened his fan once again. "In this test, your luck and power will be put to test!"
"Luck, huh?" sighed Cana.
"If we're lucky enough, we will hit one of the non-battle related paths!" Lucy tried to comfort her.
"Our chances of that happening are low, though."
"Even if we have to fight, we'll pull through! I promised you, didn't I?"
The brunette couldn't help but smile at her friend's eagerness.
"Well then, now that we've talked things through!" roared Makarov. "Let the exam begin!"
Gray blinked. "Huh?"
"We're still on the ocean though." added Loke, also confused.
Their only response was Makarov's grin.
Suddenly, flapping of wings could be heard on the ship, as Freed and Bickslow took off the ship, both of them flying towards the island.
"So that's how it is." huffed Gray and ran towards the board. Only to hit something invisible. "The hell?!"
"Sorry!" yelled Freed. "I'd rather be the first one to choose a path. They will disappear after 5 minutes!"
Gritting his teeth, Gray started to look for another way of getting out. On the other side of the ship, Evergreen chuckled to herself and pulled out a pen.
"What are you laughing about?" asked her Elfman.
"I've known Freed for long enough to learn a thing or two." she said while doing something with the runes. "Something of this caliber...I can bypass with my eyes closed!" she exclaimed and created a hole in the runes.
"Let's go, Elfman!" she said before jumping into the water, with grinning Elfman behind her.
"The hell geezer, they're going to cover the island in runes!" yelled Gray.
"It's not like this is a race, you know..." Makarov told them
"Yes! I can rewrite it!" exclaimed happy Levy.
"Levy- chan..." started glad Lucy
"But only for me and Gajeel!" added the bookworm, before jumping into the water with Gajeel, the gap closing behind her.
Lucy did not say anything.
Everyone then went back to their seat and waited for the time to ran out
Four minutes later
The runes on the ship glowed before disappearing
"it's gone!" everyone exclaimed
Gray and Loke jumps out of the ship before Gray uses his magic on the sea water
"Aisu Maku: Floor!"
In one quick move, Gray turned water beneath his feet into a footing, as he and Loke slid their way towards the island.
"Are you kidding me?" deadpanned Lucy at the sight of the males in the distance. Then, she felt something brush her leg, as Juvia and Lisanna swam towards their destination underwater, with Lisanna turned into a fish.
"Don't tell me we're the last ones..." started Lucy.
"Mest and Wendy should still be on the ship." Cana said only to be wronged as they see on the ship that Mest and Wendy were nowhere to be found
"Damnit! Let's go Lucy! We're way behind!" Cana shouted as she and Lucy swims as fast as they could to the island
A few minutes later
In a cave
Lucy and Cana had arrived to the island and were in a cave that will lead them to their test
"please be a safe!" Lucy prayed out loud as she and Cana reached to a cave opening
"eh?"
The two women said as they blink two times before their face pales in horror and fright
"yo"
It was Natsu, and he was sporting a smirk to the two women
Lucy and Cana look around and spotted Lisanna and Juvia on the ground, defeated
"we couldn't win" Juvia and Lisanna said as it only took Natsu only one minute to defeat them
"we're doomed" Cana said in horror
"now" Natsu said as Enryuo no Yoroi and Reiter no Yoroi appeared beside him in flames
"shall we begin, ladies?"
Lucy and Cana hugs each other as they screamed
"IIIIIIyyyaaaaaaaaaaaaa!"
at the ocean
Pantherlily and Carla flew above the quiet, peaceful island, the sound of the ocean and birds being the only distractions. Having arrived on the island earlier, they helped the S-Class mages to set up the first stage of the exam. With the exam finally taking place, they had some time to look around the island.
They flew beside each other, circling the island for the second time. Each time they did so, they managed to find something new, be it a new animal, or piece of nature.
Pantherlily seemed to be more interested in the island than his companion. Carla simply hovered in the air beside him, her face stuck in a gentle frown.
Having noticed her mood, Lily decided to finally address the issue. "Is something wrong?" he asked her. "You've been quiet for a while now."
Carla shook her head. "No. I'm fine."
Not buying it, Lily decided to pressure her a little harder. "You're worried about Wendy, aren't you?"
His plan worked wonders. "I told her I'm against it, but she still went through with it!" blew up Carla, getting a small smile from her companion in return.
"She gave you the silent treatment for a whole week? Now that's stubborn." Lily stated with surprise, although he couldn't hide that he was slightly impressed. "Are you that scared of this Mest person?"
Carla sighed and shook her head. "No, I know he wouldn't hurt her. I just have a very bad feeling about this whole exam thing."
"You mean that future related ability of yours?"
"Yes. But all I've seen were small fragments, so I can't say for sure. Call it a hunch, if it makes it easier to understand."
Pantherlily grabbed his chin with his paw. "I'm curious and interested in this Mest person."
Carla blinked. "Why so?"
"He claims to be Prince's disciple. Something is fishy about this."
This statement only made Carla feel more anxious.
At another route
"I can't believe we've had to run into her, of all people..." cursed Elfman as he and Evergreen was face to face with the she demon herself
"How many times are you going to repeat that?"
Mirajane struck the ground behind her, using her tail like a whip and stared her brother down. "I told you many times before – if you run into me, do not expect me to go easy on you. You being my brother doesn't change a single thing."
"I'm here too, you know!" Ever shouted at Mira
"Now then, what will you do?" she taunted the two as she smirks evilly that made the two shivers in a fright
Back with Lucy and Cana
Lucy and Cana were sitting on the ground with Natsu looking at the two while his Armors were standing beside him
"so, you're his daughter. No wonder you have a faint similar smell to him" Natsu said while crossing his arms
Cana nodded to him while having a sad look
Natsu sighs as he looks at her
"so, did you think that by passing this exam you can tell him that you're his daughter?" Natsu asked her as she nodded
"I need to prove myself to him, so that I can tell him what I had been holding down for so long" Cana muttered out in a low voice that was still hearable to Natsu due to him having enhanced senses
Natsu looks at her for a moment before snapping his fingers as his armors disappeared
"go" Natsu told them as he stands up and walks towards the still unconscious Lisanna and Juvia
"you pass"
"eh?" Cana looks at him with confusion written on her face
"if you think that by passing this exam, you will have the courage to tell him, so be it" Natsu told her as he carried up Lisanna and Juvia up to his shoulders
"consider yourselves to be lucky"
"Lucky?!" Cana repeated his words while getting angry.
"Like hell we are!"
Lucy blinked in confusion. "Cana…?"
"I didn't come here to become S-Class out of pure luck!" yelled angry brunette. "How can I face him after all that, when things are given to me on a silver platter?! I've come here to prove myself, not to pass by pure luck!"
Natsu looks to her and sighs
"Do you honestly think you are the only person in this exam who feels this way?" Natsu asked her, his tone surprisingly cold.
"I can name at least five different people who'd agree with you, but I think the old man had already told the two of you that this exam will test our resolve and luck. So move forward. And tell him, tell him the truth that you had been holding in for years"
Natsu turns around and started to walk away with the two first challengers knocked out
Cana looks at him as tears started to form in her eyes
She gritted her fists before falling to her knees as she cries out her tears
Lucy went to her as she comforts her
""you don't need to pass this exam to prove yourself to him, Cana"" Natsu thought in his mind before taking one last look at the two as he did a smile to them
With Gray and Loke
Loke slid on the ground from a blocked kick, his arms crossed in front of his face. He shook his sore arms off and looked around the area, searching for his opponent.
"Troublesome bastard." cursed the spirit under his nose.
Gray, who was right behind him, punched his hand, before creating a set of ice spears.
"ICE MAKE: Lance!"
The weapons launched themselves at Mest, who appeared for a second, only to then teleport away, unscathed. Gray scoffed in annoyance and joined Loke in the search.
"Doesn't he get tired? He's been jumping like that for over 5 minutes now." wondered aloud the Maker.
"Since he travels very short distances, he can probably keep this up for a long time. His magic hasn't dropped that much since the beginning of this fight." explained Loke. "At this rate, we can either tire him out, or somehow manage to hit him once, but heavily."
"I'll go with one, strong hit." said Gray and punched his palm. "I'd rather avoid long fights for the time being, and there's still Wendy"
He sent an ice hammer in Mest's direction, who teleported away and jumped back, creating some distance.
"Looks like it won't be that easy." noted Loke.
Gray smirked. "Nope, it'll be over before you know it."
He once again punched his hand and placed both of his palms on the ground.
"ice make: floor!"
Ice has quickly spread all over the ground of the area, making Loke almost slip in his spot.
"Well then, now what?" asked the spirit.
"Useless. You won't be able to catch me." said Mest and vanished once again.
"Tenryu no Hoko!" Wendy appeared as she fires a breath attack at Loke who dodged her attack
Gray let his guard down and loudly breathed out, his eyes closing themselves. He knew he'd never be able to catch Mest with eyes alone, so he has given up on using them. Focusing his senses, as well as thinking of all possible patterns of teleportation he has seen up until now, he'd decided to put it all on one card – prediction.
Loke did not say anything in order to not interrupt his partner, so he simply watched the area, anticipating an attack.
Suddenly, Gray snapped his eyes open and threw a quick right jab to the side, his thumb scratching Mest's cheek. The man gasped in shock, as he was grabbed by the collar by smirking Gray and tossed over his shoulder. Mest turned around in the air and landed on his feet, only to then slip on the ice and fall onto his knee.
Loke did not waste this chance and rushed the man, catching him with a light enforced punch to the face. Mest was blown away, his back smashing into a nearby rock.
"What?" he gasped, shocked.
Gray clenched his right fist and grinned. "I have some experience when it comes to fighting people who can teleport. I just put it into use."
Mest wiped his mouth and stood up. "Miracles don't happen twice."
"Why don't you come here and find out whether it was a miracle or not by yourself?" taunted him the Maker.
Mest scoffed and dashed at Gray, who remained unguarded. Just 3 meters away, Mest vanished. A second later, Gray quickly turned around in his spot and readied a left straight, with Mest doing the same just behind him.
"Wha-" gasped Mest, before being hit straight in the face. Gray quickly followed with a left kick to the ribs, and finished with a right kick to the stomach. Mest slid on the ice, his hands clutching his abdomen.
He was then ambushed by Loke, who threw a quick right hook at his head, which was evaded with Mest vanishing once again. He appeared behind Loke and tried to kick him, only to be blocked. The spirit brushed the strike off and threw one more punch, once again avoided. Mest teleported to his right side, however, instead of trying to block or counter, Loke smirked and lit his hand up so much ir blinded Mest.
Gray used this chance to create an ice bazooka, aimed at Mest and ready to launch at any moment.
"Ice cannon!"
A giant ball of ice launched out of the weapon, hitting Mest straight in the torso. A powerful explosion of ice covered most of the cave, ice and frost spreading all over the rocks. When the icy mist went down, it revealed a defeated Mest, as he sat against the rock wall, his head hung low.
"Well, I'll be damned." whistled impressed Loke. "That was excellent." he added and raised his hand.
The two then looks at Wendy who was the only one left
"I rather fight Mest all over again than hurting Wendy, but!" Gray said as he reached behind his pocket
"I will pass and become and S-class!" Gray shouted as he pulled out a jar full of pickled plums
"Pickled Plums!?" Wendy screams as Gray eats the pickled plums and his mouth puckered up that made Wendy feel that she was the one eating it
Wendy runs away before Loke appears in front of her with a jar of pickled plums that was shining
"Regulus Shining Star!" Loke exclaimed as he eats the glowing pickled plums and showed Wendy his glowing puckered face
Wendy screams as she had nowhere to run
Before long she fainted as she laid on the ground knocked out
Gray grinned as he and Lyon hi fives.
"First Stage, cleared!" he exclaimed happily.
The two then grabs their bags and head to the tunnel where the second exam lies up ahead
"With Mest and Wendy out, it definitely makes things easier." noted Loke, as they walked down the path.
Gray hummed and ducked to walk under a rock sticking out of the ceiling. "I have to say, I don't exactly remember him fighting anyone."
Loke laughed. "A memory loss joke? Lucy would love it." he walked under the rock as well and continued. "He got pretty far in the last exam, don't you remember?"
Gray turned around to face him. "Then who was his partner?"
Loke opened his mouth, but nothing came out. He closed it and focused his eyes on the ground, trying to remember.
"Who...was it, indeed?" he asked and grabbed his head with his hand. "I can't remember anything."
"Looks like memories regarding Mest are always pretty hazy" pointed out Gray.
Loke's eyes widened. "Now that you mention it, whenever I try to remember something about him, it always cuts off at some point."
As they both continued to try and remember something, they walked out of the cave and got blinded by the sun.
"Gray, Loke!" someone called out to them.
After getting used to the light, Gray spotted Lucy and Cana standing right in front of them, both grinning. Behind them sat Gajeel and Levy, their expressions being polar opposites of each other, with Gajeel's face twisted in a scowl, and Levy's in a happy smile.
"So, you guys have made it through huh?" asked them Lucy and raised her hand.
"Yeah." nodded Gray and gave her a high five, with Loke doing the same a second later.
"Well, congratulations." smirked Cana.
Gray returned her smile and looked around. "Is this everyone? No one else made it through?"
"we don't know what happened to Freed, and Elfman yet" Lucy replied before Makarov came in
"Is this everyone?"
Makarov walked out from behind the bushes and slowly strolled to the candidates. "I guess it's safe to assume it is. Time to announce the official results."
The elder cleared his throat and pointed with his hand at Gray and Loke.
"Gray and Loke defeated Mest and Wendy in Battle and passed!" Makarov announced as the two smirks
"Gajeel and Levy, pass the Quiet Route and passed!" he announced as Levy raise a victory sign while Gajeel grumbles
"I wonder what happened to Juvia and Lisanna?" Gray asked out of the blue
"Juvia and Lisanna with Lucy and Cana, entered the intertwined path that lead to Natsu as the two were defeated earlier by Natsu before Lucy and Cana came and passed" Makarov replied to him as Gray gawked at the two
"how did you two passed that monster!?" Gray exclaimed at the two
"fufufufu, it's a secret" Cana told him as she and Lucy smirks
"Freed and Bickslow went through Hard Battle Against Gildarts and failed" Makarov said as Gray smirks
"talk about bad luck" Levy said
"That leaves Elfman and Evergreen." noted Cana.
"And the only route left they could take is..." added Lucy, before her face dropped, with Cana doing the same beside her. "...Mirajane's." they finished with lifeless voices.
"Poor things." sweatdropped Levy.
"We would've beaten her." smirked Gajeel.
"Hold on a second!" yelled someone from behind trees.
The group turned around to the sight of Elfman and Evergreen, both of them injured and supporting each other, but happy nonetheless. "You forgot about us! We defeated Sis!"
"What the-" Makarov failed to supress his shock.
Gray facepalmed in disbelief, with Loke laughing behind him.
"You've bested Mira?" frowned Cana. "How?"
As soon as she asked the question, the giant's face took the shade of pure scarlet. "I-I can't tell...as a man." he stuttered.
Cana did not buy this, but decided to drop the topic.
Makarov cleared his throat. "In that case, it is time to make it official. Gray and Loke, Cana and Lucy, Elfman and Evergreen, Levy and Gajeel. These four teams shall advance onto the Second Stage, which will begin in 20 minutes. Allow me to explain the details of this exam."
Makarov snapped his finger, and a magical drawing of the island showed up. "Somewhere within this island, there is a grave of Fairy Tail's founder – Mavis Vermillion. Your objective is to find this grave within 6 hours. There are no clues, no headstarts, no checkpoints. You have 6 hours to find it. Those, who find it, will become S-Class. If all of you fail to stumble across the grave, the exam will be ended with no one taking the rank. That is all. You have 20 minutes to restock your supplies and treat your wounds. You will need it." he finished with a sinister smirk and canceled the table.
The teams started to whisper to each other.
"No clues? This place is too big to search through everything." noticed Lucy.
"Looks like this stage is also dependent on luck." Cana bit her lip.
"What a boring exam." yawned Gajeel, all of his interest gone.
As they were discussing, Natsu with Juvia and Lisanna on his shoulders came out of a tunnel path
"yo." Natsu greeted Makarov as he gently put down the girls.
"Gramps, Gildarts carried Freed and Bickslow back to the ship. He said he will join us soon."
The elder nodded. "Good work. You could have gone easy on them, though..." he added with a sigh.
Natsu smirks as he shrugs his shoulders
"Erza told me that the road to an S-class isn't easy, and that there are no shortcuts when it comes to being one. And told me not to hold back, so I didn't"
Makarov sighs as he heard his explanation
"you two are really meant for each other" he said as he walks away
Makarov was about to go to the first Master's grave before he realized something
"what of Mest and Wendy?" Makarov asked Natsu who shrugs his shoulders
"they weren't at their path when I got there" Natsu replied to him
"this is bad, even if they are just sightseeing this place is still quite dangerous" Makarov said as Natsu nodded
"I'll go get them after I bring this two to the camp" Natsu said as Makarov nodded
Natsu then carried the two knocked out participants and started walking to the base camp
As he was walking down the path that was leading to the base camp, he stopped for a moment as he sensed a dark magic presence
"what was?" Natsu muttered out as he can feel that this magic was dark and corrupting
He looks out in the horizon and saw a figure disappearing into the woods
Natsu looks at where the figure disappeared before deciding to find the figure after bringing Juvia and Lisanna to the base camp
That's a wrap!
Bye bye