Tenrou Island was exactly how I remembered it and the familiar energy it gave off settled into my skin the moment I placed my foot on the shore. There was no place more tranquil or peaceful, a place where I could almost feel my magical power increasing. As the sacred land of Fairy Tail, Tenrou was a place only Fairy Tail members could go, and often was the place the S-Class Trials were held due to its versatile territory, assortment of wild animals, beasts and difficult labyrinth of jungle that would have to be navigated.
Mirajane, Gildarts and my sister were already setting to work organising the trial itself, setting up magic enchantments and preparing for the arrival of the chosen wizards selected as possible future S-Class mages. I was left to take care of the basecamp, and since that was my only chore, I diligently did everything I could to make the preparations. I set up tents, had the food carefully stored so that it would keep and continued to fetch water in order to have a fresh supply for when the others would come.
We were only a few days ahead of them, so when I saw the ship appear on the horizon, I excitedly turned around and yelled back to the others who were lazing around after a hard day's work. "They're here! Big sis, I can see the ship already! They'll be here very soon!"
"Good job Zera." Erza complimented me as she came towards where I was standing upon the jagged reach of the cliff facing the ocean. Lifting aside branches and stepping through the foliage, my sister came to my side from camp further uphill and together we watched the as the shadowy ship came further and further into view. The huge sails seemed almost like clouds resting low upon the ocean floor, and as the insignia became distinguishable against the vast whiteness, I couldn't help but smile as I folded my arms.
"Make sure you don't go easy on them big sis, give them everything you've got."
"I will be certain to do just that." She assured me, smiling fondly towards the ship before her hand brushed against my shoulder. "Don't wander off whilst the trial is proceeding, Zera. It wouldn't be fair to the others if you accidentally interrupted them during the trial, or you got lost and we had to put everything on hold to find you." Giving my sister a confident salute, I whirled around with a buoyant energy.
"You can count on me big sis!" Erza smiled softly, eyes gentle and kind as she told me she had absolute faith in me before suggesting we head back. I followed after my sister with a bubbling enthusiasm and anticipation, unable to keep such emotions from my face as I practically skipped back into camp and when Mirajane looked up, she giggled at me.
"My, my, you certainly have a lot of energy today Zera."
"I always enjoy the S-Class trials, it's always great fun and maybe next year, I'll be the one of the people who master chooses to participate. I'll definitely make it to S-Class, it's my dream to be on par with big sis." I said to Mira as she finished tidying up and folding away her blankets where she had slept the night before.
"Well then, those are some pretty big shoes to fill. I know you'll do your very best, so make sure to watch and learn carefully." Mirajane advised me, giving me one of her timeless smiles before then moving on ahead. Gildarts was still snoring away, so Erza kindly kicked him awake and informed him that the trial was starting. The older Fairy Tail wizard snorted, stumbling out of sleep in a state of confusion.
"Huh? What? What's going on?"
"Master and the others have just arrived and they'll be reaching the island anytime now, so it's best if you go to your designated route and wait there for the team who'll end up your way." I said to him with a smile, bringing him a strong cup of coffee to help him wake up. "Good luck, but please don't go too hard on whoever ends up picking your route, I don't want any of my friends getting hurt." Gildarts blinked at me then laughed, taking the drink and downing it all in one.
"You know for a flat chested girl, you're pretty cute Zera. I still can't believe all you kids grew up so fast." Instantly I blushed and felt a spark of indignant anger at Gildarts' goofy grin, giving a squeak as my arms jumped to cross over my underdeveloped chest and booted the older wizard in the face with a foot.
"Shut up you pervy old man! It's not my fault I'm a late bloomer!" Gildarts went flying across the camp and smacked into a tree trunk with a rather loud crash and clatter. Both Erza and I just stared in disbelief as Gildarts lay in a daze, staring up at the sky until suddenly, he seemed to snap back into his senses. He leaped to his feet and cracked his back, laughing deafeningly in amusement.
"Now that was some kick! You got a lot of spirit kid, guess I deserved that one, huh?" Dusting himself off, I blinked a few times before recovering and recalling my annoyance with the guy.
"That's right, it's rude to comment on a lady's figure so keep your thoughts to yourself next time." Giving a huff, I turned and walked away from Gildarts to cool off for a while, though I could still hear him laughing as he too wandered off to get into position ready for the trial. Erza was also amused by my outburst, teasing me for being sensitive before she too had to go and suddenly, I realised I was all alone in camp.
For a while the quiet was rather agreeable, giving me time to relax and bathe in the tropical weather until after a few hours, I just started to feel bored and lonely. I fidgeted and paced around the camp, occasionally hearing explosions from where the teams were duking it out, but other than that nothing else really happened. When others finally began to filter back into the camp, I gladly bounced back onto my feet and began to assist everyone, tending to injuries and handing out water to everyone so that they could remain hydrated. Juvia and Lisanna, who had formed their own team, returned with Erza as they had been unable to defeat my sister. Of course they couldn't, because my sister is just way too awesome. What was fascinating, however, was when Mirajane told us the method Elfman and Evergreen had used in order to catch her off guard and defeat her, though I'm not sure Erza realised it was all just a rouse. "What?! Elfman and Evergreen are getting married?" Mira giggled sweetly, touching a hand to her cheek.
"And while I was in shock from the news, they hit me with one big attack."
"Wait a second!" Erza lifted her stirring spoon out of the soup she was making, demanding information from Mirajane immediately. "When is the ceremony? Wait, when did they even start going out with each other?" Laughing weakly, I tapped Erza on the shoulder.
"Uh…big sis? I don't think they're dating at all. They probably just wanted to catch Mira off guard so that they could move onto the next round." I told her, but Erza was not entirely convinced, and Mira was devastated at the idea of the children Elfman and Evergreen might have had, uncertain on whether they would be pretty or very ugly depending on which genes they received.
"Big brother Elf and Evergreen…they might make a good couple." Lisanna mused to herself dreamily, giggling before then looking around. "Come to think of it, where's Freed and Bickslow?" Informing her that they had already returned to the ship with Gildarts in order to go back to the guild, I pulled at the single braid at the base of my neck and flicked the shorter, boyish locks out of my face as I fanned myself. It sure was hot here, definitely bikini weather, though it didn't look as appealing on me as it did my big sis.
"What I want to know is where did Mest and Wendy go?" Lifting my head I looked around, noticing that cute little Wendy was indeed not with us. Oh no, I hope she didn't get lost. She's such a small thing, she might get frightened being in a strange place like this especially without Carla with her.
"Maybe they forgot where the rendezvous point was." Lisanna suggested with a shrug before placing her chin onto her palm, looking upwards towards the sky and wondering aloud. "Mest huh? I never met him in Edolas, so I don't know much about him. Did he join the guild in the two years I wasn't there?" Come to think of it, I wasn't sure of the answer. When exactly did Mest join Fairy Tail? Was he there when Erza and I showed up? Who knows? As Erza and Mirajane debated on how long Mest had been a member, Juvia got to her feet.
"Juvia is a little worried and will go look for them." I giggled, slinging my arm around Juvia's shoulders as Erza announced that she would go with her.
"You just want to go looking for Gray and to cheer him on from the background, right Juvia?" I whisperingly teased her as she blushed beetroot red and stuttered in embarrassment, practically steaming at the ears. "Well I'm rooting for you, go get your man Juvia!" Pumping my fists excitedly, I kept my voice quiet so that only Juvia could hear me as she blinked, blushing a little further but smiling in thanks.
"What was that you said Zera?" Straightening with a jolt, I spun around and gave a goofy grin at my sister, tugging at the halter of my bikini top a little nervously.
"Oh you know, nothing much really just warning Juvia to be careful whilst she's out there and not to get lost, but since you're going with her big sis then there's no need to worry, right?" Nodding her head with a rather satisfied smirk on her face.
"Very true. Now, I leave it to you to hold down the fort whilst we're gone Zera. I'm counting on you."
"Sure thing big sis!" Giving a mock salute I laughed as I skipped over to the giant cooking pot and gave it a sniff. Mirajane, Lisanna and I were happily chatting away to one another whilst the others went out looking for Wendy and the strange, mysterious Mest, and for a while everything was perfectly normal. That is, until Lisanna suddenly pointed to the sky.
"Look!" She sounded alarmed so I quickly directed my attention to where she was pointing, and in the bright blue sky I saw a furious burst of red explode, the flare signalling to all on the island that the S-Class trials were suspended and that there was real danger on the island. "What do you think happened? Was someone hurt?"
"No, that flare means that there are enemies on the island." Mirajane's personality had flipped like a coin, becoming hard and defensive with narrowed eyes as she stood, angling herself ready to battle. "We should remain vigilant, they could be anywhere." Clenching a hand into a fist over my heart, I looked up at the flare once more as it slowly fizzled into nothing. Big sis, Erza, are you okay? Stupid question. You're the toughest person I know, you'll be fine, but I can't help but wish I was by your side right now.
Lisanna and Mirajane moved out from underneath the canopy of our camp in order to scour the treeline a little more closely, however when I received a foreboding sense from the back of my neck, I immediately flung out my hand to summon my magic power. "Above us!" A golden magic circle appeared underneath me, rising up as one of my magical bows appeared with a small cloak, a matching pair of bracers and a miniskirt over my bikini. "Huntress – Multiple Shot!" Releasing a single arrow into the sky it doubled and then multiplied, shooting directly upwards then veering off at different angles to strike these strange bubbles which fell from the sky carrying enemy targets towards the ground. "Requip, Cosmic Agent – Comet Shot!" Exchanging my weapon as quickly as I could, I continued to release arrows as they continued to fall from the skies, soon surrounding us.
Mirajane and Lisanna fought back to back and I did my best to assist them, though when I became overwhelmed by the sheer number of wizards, I had to use the Blazing Fire Bow to make an explosion and give me time to escape to a higher vantage point, a breeze lifting the miniskirt I wore so that my bikini bottoms were on full display. I seriously need to rethink my outfits at some point. This was incredibly impractical! At least with Mirajane on our side, those pawns did not last very long and soon they were either completely wiped out or had run for the trees, meaning that our camp was still safe.
"Hey that wasn't so bad, was that all? Do you think they were just some minor guild trying to cause some trouble?" I asked as I dropped down from the tree I had been perched within and dispelled my bow, lowering the hood of my cloak as all my clothes also disappeared except for my bikini suit and the pleated miniskirt I wore.
"I don't think so. I'm getting a bad sense close to us, and it's nothing like those guys we just faced." Mirajane said to Lisanna and I, purposefully standing with her body ready to shield her little sister. I looked around, unable to see or sense anything until suddenly, I noticed an odd shape in a tree. I frowned at the bark for a while until I realised that it was actually moving, taking on the shape of a man until finally he stepped free of the tree trunk and began to walk towards us nonchalantly. Immediately I felt myself become frozen with fear, knowing with only a single glance that this guy was way out of my league and that I would have no chance if I were to go up against him.
"Come on, first the little kid and the cats, now all I find is a couple of girls?" The stranger complained dryly, looking at the three of us as I hugged my shoulders and drew back, wanting to run away and hide.
"Lisanna, Zera, stay back. This guy is dangerous." Mira warned us and I was more than willing to cooperate, but Lisanna rather bravely declared that she was going to fight too. Well, if both Mira and Lisanna fight him, then I'll have to give it my all, though I don't know what kind of help my magic will be to them, even if it was support magic and enchantments of a kind. Perhaps I can serve as a distraction, but that might get me hurt. Am I brave enough for this kind of thing?
Unfortunately none of us were ever given a choice, for the moment the stranger lifted his hand, a massive explosion tore through the ground and consumed all three of us with a shockwave of force, energy and earth shattering pain. We all screamed, though the loudest I could not say, and I flew back several feet and struck the ground hard, enough to knock me out. For a while all I could register was blackness, and when I finally began to come round, it was to the sound of thunder booming around me, and only later did it register that those sounds were Mirajane fighting against that weird tree guy.
Gasping myself awake, I sat up to see Mirajane fighting in Satan Soul form and Lisanna trapped within a tree with a ticking timer on the bark. "Lisanna!" I raced to her, scrambling to my feet and immediately began to pull at the twisted roots to attempt to free her. "What the heck's going on?! Just who is this guy and what has he done to you?"
"He's crazy strong, Mira's barely keeping up with him! He said that the only way he'd let me go is if she defeats him, but time's almost up!" Lisanna was telling me as she struggled against her bonds. "I don't think there's anything we can do to stop this, you better get out of here Zera before the time runs out and the explosion sets off."
"What? Like hell I will! Just hold on Lisanna, I'll try magic of some kind. There must be an enchantment I can think of to cut through these roots, right? If not…I'll…I'll shoot them with something!" Clawing with desperation, I racked my brain before trying to piece together a rather flimsy and amateurish enchantment as a means to free Lisanna, but nothing worked. If anything, the roots only became tighter so I swiftly stopped, squeaking. "Sorry! I'm so sorry Lisanna, I didn't mean to make it worse." She managed a brave smile to me, struggling for breath before then looking at her elder sister. Mirajane was giving it her all, but she just wasn't as strong as she used to be for having locked away her true power for such a long time.
This guy was, quite frankly, kicking her butt, and there was nothing Lisanna or I could do but gape with fear. I was already almost completely out of magic power, and I'd barely even lifted a finger! This totally sucks, why won't this day just be over already? "Mira!" Snapping back to focus, I clamped a hand over my mouth as Mirajane took another explosion head on, somehow remaining upright after the blow and landing upon the ground between us and that tree weirdo. Suddenly Mirajane turned on her heel and flew straight towards us, abandoning the battle to throw her arms around Lisanna and hold onto her tightly.
"What do you think you're doing?!" The guy yelled in fury, baring his teeth in outrage before clamping them down into a grimace. "A wasted effort, you can only stop the timer by defeating me. Come on! There isn't any time left, just give me a serious fight!" But Mira ignored him, allowing her Satan Soul to fade so that she was her beautiful, gentle self once more, tenderly embracing her little sister as I worriedly looked towards the countdown. Less than twenty seconds left, what is she doing?!
"I'm sorry." Mirajane murmured, not even lifting her head as she spoke softly to Lisanna. "I hate to say it, but I don't have enough power left to defeat him. I can't do it as I am now. " Drawing herself back a little, Mirajane gave us her timelessly smile, battered, bruised and a little bloody, but nonetheless maintaining a calm exterior even in the face of peril. "But I believe that there is someone in our guild who can defeat him. Your big sister is surrendering here, but there's nothing to worry about, Lisanna." Five seconds, I have to run! Why isn't Mirajane doing anything?! Turning myself around, I quickly raced towards a sturdy looking tree and cast myself behind it, crouching down as I heard Mira's voice rise into the sky before the colossal explosion shattered the air. "I won't lose you a second time!"
"MIRA!" I quickly curled up and covered my head, wishing I had a shield or something to protect me a little better from the debris of the trees, rocks and dirt which flew outwards from the unrelenting force which continued to rage for what felt like an age. It took forever for the sound to settle once more, a quiet loom descending upon us where I dared to lift my head to find the camp had been completely blown away with Mirajane laying limply on top of Lisanna, having used her own body to protect her sister. "Mira? Mira come on, don't joke with me. Mira? Mira!"
"Lisanna!" Racing towards them both, I quickly grabbed hold of Lisanna's shoulder then checked for Mirajane's breath, ensuring that she was still alive. "Lisanna I think she's okay, just unconscious. She's breathing fine and I don't see any bleeding…Wendy will be able to help her…right?" I was in total shock, barely able to speak for the lack of comprehension which I struggled to face. That guy had totally obliterated the camp and defeated Mirajane like it was nothing. Maybe he was a problem only Master Makarov or someone like Gildarts could deal with. Where they around here somewhere? Could I signal them somehow?
"What do we do? I…I want to go find Elfman, but I can't leave Mira…" Lisanna was sobbing so I soothed her as best as I was able, giving her a hug and stroking her hair.
"We'll build up the camp as best we can. If people are able, this is where they'll reconvene so eventually someone else will come. There might be more of us injured, so we'll make a comfortable spot for them, yeah?" Trying my best to be upbeat, I helped Lisanna carry Mirajane over towards a cluster of leaves where I quickly arranged a bed for her, the tent pickets still partially standing where the canopy had stood only moments before. "I'll…get a blanket! You just sit here Lisanna, there you go. I'll find some water too, maybe that'll help Mira." I ran back and forth like a headless chicken, doing everything I could think of to help Mirajane and Lisanna.
It was better when I was able to gather up medical supplies from where they had been blown all over the place, because after Mirajane, it was Gajeel who needed the medical attention. "Zera!" Levy called to me as she staggered out of the forest with one of Gajeel's heavy arms slung over her shoulders so I quickly raced towards her and stretched out my hand.
"Lux Corpus!" When Gajeel was floating, Levy instantly exhaled with relief as his weight was taken off her and I drew him to rest next to Mirajane in the rudimentary camp we had re-established. "What happened Levy? How did you and Gajeel get so beat up like that? Were you attacked too?"
"There was this sword wielding dog guy and a giant chicken man. They're wizards from the dark guild Grimoire Heart, and they're not the only ones." Levy said to me after she had caught her breath and taken a drink of water, filling Lisanna and I in on the entire situation. This was too crazy. Grimoire Heart? What did they want with us? And how did they even know about the island? There were just far too many questions left unanswered, and it was starting to give me a headache. "Well, at least they're both breathing, so I guess they'll be alright. Still, for Mira and Gajeel to be defeated…"
"It's my fault." Lisanna whispered, head bowed in shame. "It's all my fault…it's my…"
"It's nobody's fault!"
"Elfman!" Whirling around with a gasp, I was once more horrified to see the pair of them so grievously injured, far worse even than Mira and Gajeel, and Evergreen was in just as bad a shape.
"They're strong. I don't want to admit it, but they're too strong! There was nothing I could do, damn it!" Elfman wailed as I stood there rooted to the ground, unused to seeing Elfman look so…defeated. "As a man, I'm pathetic, I couldn't protect my big sister or even my partner!" Hopelessness started to dim the light inside me, all but extinguishing it, and not even Levy's heartfelt speech was able to pick me up after she declared that we had to work together and trust in one another's strength, because we were Fairy Tail.
Flopping down onto the ground I sat cross legged and nursed my wounds for a little while, wondering just how we were going to get out of this mess. Something really didn't feel right about all this, the others should have made it back here by now after seeing the signal, so that means that they must all be caught up fighting. I just hope everyone's okay, though I'm worried about them all. When Levy called out to Lisanna and I, she pointed to two shapes in the sky, one did not remain long, but the other descended and revealed itself to be Pantherlily, who was a little beat up but otherwise okay and on his feet.
"I am glad to see you all unhurt. Or at least mostly. How is Gajeel? Is he alright?" Lily questioned as he landed beside his friend.
"He'll be okay, though it wouldn't hurt to let Wendy take a look at him soon." Levy assured him, smiling a little more calmly now. "Was that Carla with you? What are you guys even doing here?" Getting up I joined the other two to listen to Lily, who rubbed his ears as the rain began to fall. Strange, the rain felt rather odd. I could not quite tell whether or not it was cold or warm, but when it washed over me I felt a distinct sensation of desperation mixed with determination. This must be Juvia's rain. I bet someone threatened Gray, that always pushes her over the edge.
As Lily explained how Carla was receiving premonitions about a danger on the island, Lisanna, Levy and I put up a tarp over the wounded to keep them dry, not wanting to get cold in the rain. Lily told us how he had agreed to go with Carla in order to ensure Wendy's safety, only for the attack by Grimoire heart to happen. "We were attacked by a strange man who could merge with trees. He was too strong for me to overcome by myself, and almost destroyed us all." It was a story like all others, a rather pitiful attempt at fighting back only to be severely injured, drained of our magic. I was shocked to learn that the Master had been hurt badly and was yet to wake up, but at least Natsu and Wendy were on their way over here with Lucy, Carla and Happy.
I'd feel much happier knowing that fist ready, fire eating Dragon Slayer was nearby. There was practically nothing that could keep Natsu down for long. Except for my big sister of course. "Natsu's coming here?! Lu-Lu and Wendy will both be with him, right?"
"Yes. Assuming nothing happens, Carla should guide them here." Lily affirmed with a positive nod of his head, allowing me to breathe a little easier.
"That's a relief. Now all we need to do is find out where Erza, Gray and Juvia are then we'll have everyone back, right? Once we're all gathered together again, we'll stand a much better chance at defeating anyone who comes across us, because our strength will be unstoppable!" I cheered, lifting my arms to stretch my back casually. I was all lax and loosened when I realised that someone was approaching, causing all four of us to snap our heads around to see, already on high alert.
"Surrender is important too. There are levels of superiority in this world that can never be overcome, and our superiority makes my heart tremble." Great, another whacko, just what I needed to brighten my day. "Every single fairy shall be consumed, and these little morsels shall be my treat, Rusty Rose is my name! Remember it as I send you all to your tragic doom." Well, that doesn't sound too promising.