So it's been a bit longer than I thought from when I posted the last chapter of Tsunami, but hey, it's the next week, not the next month or anything. Only late by a few days!

But I'm back and my meds are fixed, so, YEAH baby.

Also, it's come to my attention that I've been neglecting Gajeel's accent. I'll try and go back and fix previous chapters, but no promises.

I wasn't expecting the song, but there's not a real official acoustic version. I've checked. I would've loved if they did a gentle version though.

Also: Happy Birth Week! While I have a lot of readers who probably have many birthdays throughout the year, a lot of the reviewers I talk with have birthdays this week.

Now: Let's get this party started!

Chapter One Hundred and Fourteen – Dragon Slayer Boot Camp, Part Four

"What do you mean, the second part of the trial is postponed?" Laxus asked.

"He means that he needs someone else to come up with the clue, because if he's the one who does it, I might already know the answer," I said, rolling my eyes.

Makarov glared at me. "Well, none of you guys have gotten this far yet!"

"So you just put it off?" Laxus asked incredulously.

"Yes," Ur said, coming up behind us. "I don't see why you can't just make them S-Class now, anyway. No one else passed the first round."

"I say we just make them S-Class and get it over with," Gildarts said, holding a piece of ice that Ur made to his head.

"'Get it over with'?" Makarov asked.

"He's still sore from the short fight," I said.

"You guys barely did anything! It's not like it was a full-on fight!" Gildarts grumbled. "I wanted to get in a good workout, and you guys just take me down before we can do anything. You didn't even banter. That's like…a fighting rule."

"Wow. We decided not to go head-to-head with one of the strongest members of our guild and instead try and take him out quick and easy. Who'da thunk, right Laxus?" I asked, rolling my eyes.

"I don't know what that means," Laxus said. "But yes. Also never say that again."

"Alright, here's what we're going to do," Makarov finally said. "When we get back to the guild, the two of you will go on an S Class Quest. Alone. If you succeed…" he shrugged. "Then you're S Class."

Laxus shrugged. "Works for me."

"Let's get back then," I said, smiling.

"You should wait until after the New Year, though," Makarov pointed out.

"Fine," I said, rolling my eyes. "Holidays first."

"Larcade, sweetie, what have I told you about putting hair in your mouth?" I asked the baby, pulling Mavis's hair out of his grip. Larcade giggled and scrunched his hands in the air, gesturing to be picked up. I scooped him into my arms and twirled around, him giggling as we spun.

"Thank you, Elle," Mavis said, her face slumping back into her arms, which were cradled on the table. Zeref sat next to her, rubbing her back with one arm and holding August in the other. "It's nice that I have a physical form, but children are exhausting."

"You're thirteen," I told her.

"I was in my twenties when I died!" she protested.

"Mavis, you're thirteen," Zeref agreed.

The girl groaned and stole August from Zeref's arms, curling around him and lying her head back down. "August agrees with Mama, right August?"

The baby made no sound, merely sat there quietly with his mother.

"Don't you dare," I said to Larcade as I saw him move from the corner of my eye. He froze, a strand of my hair wrapped in his grabby wrist.

He slowly moved his hand closer to his mouth.

"Don't," I warned him.

He stared at me and babbled a bit. And then slowly moved his hand closer.

"Larcade," I said warningly.

He froze again, before staring at me for a few seconds, before he pulled his wrist closer.

"Okay, I think that's enough," I said, pulling my hair from his grip and lifting him high into the air, out of reach. The baby squealed and giggled, trying to reach for the purple strands.

I turned to look at the young couple. "Have you guys thought of getting him a pacifier or something? It's better than eating hair…"

"What's a pacifier?" Mavis asked blankly, tilting her head.

I stared at her. "I give up."

And then there was a wave of magic.

Mavis and I stared at each other.

"What the fuck was that?" I muttered.

"Elle!" Mavis said, pointedly looking at Larcade.

I rolled my eyes and handed her the baby anyway, right as Irene ran into the room frantically, panic all over her face.

"Elle!" Irene called, frantically.

"What is it?" I asked, unwrapping Larcade's hand which had grabbed my hair again. The baby pouted as I ran out of his reach, but I knew he'd be fine with Mavis.

"We have a problem."

I rushed outside, Irene right behind me. I absently noticed that I was pushing Venus into my legs, strengthening my strides and pushing me off the ground with each step to get me there faster.

At the back of the guild, near the waterfront, the younger generation surrounded Erza, who was having a magical breakdown.

"Stay back!" she warned, her hands up as if to warn them off. "Don't come any closer."

"What happened?" I asked Irene, who was barely keeping up with me. Which was kind of impressive with how fast I was moving, actually. Something to keep in mind.

"I don't know," she said, puffing. "I was just trying to…teach her…an enchantment!"

She leaned over on her knees and I ran ahead, towards Erza and moving the other kids out of the way.

"You'll be fine, Erza, just take a deep breath," Erik was saying, his hands held out. He was the closest to her, and was slowly approaching her inside the circle.

"This isn't fine!" she shouted. "I'm just…I'm just…" she drifted off.

"Down!" Erik yelled.

Everyone, myself included, dropped to the floor instinctively. A wave of magic rolled off Erza in all directions, passing over our heads. Luckily, the wave of magic dissipated before it could hit the back of the guildhall.

Still on the ground, I pulled myself up to Erik with my elbows. "What the fuck is going on?" I hissed at him.

He winced. "I'm not sure what started it, but her head's a mess and her power is out of control."

"Has anyone gotten hurt?" I asked him.

"Jellal," Erik said. "Wendy's healing him now, and he should be fine."

I nodded, slowly making my way to stand up. The other kids followed until I held out a hand telling them to stay down. I noticed Simon, Kagura, and Millianna near the front and realized the other Tower kids were probably packing. They were going to be upset when they find out about whatever this was.

"Erza?" I called.

She looked up, tears in her eyes. "Nee-chan?"

"Hey, Erza, it's me," I said quietly, walking forward a bit. "How are you feeling?"

"It's…it's too much," Erza said, shaking. "It's so loud. It's so bright. It won't stop." Her hands, which she had previously put her head into, came up around her ears to stop sound from reaching her, though it didn't seem to do much good.

"That happens sometimes," I said soothingly, with absolutely no clue on what was going on. "I want you to close your eyes, okay?"

Erza nodded, and closed them.

"Now I want you to take a deep breath," I continued. "And hold it for a few seconds, before you let it out for a few seconds. Can you do that?"

Eyes still closed, Erza nodded anxiously.

"Alright, breathe in," I said.

She breathed in and stopped, holding it.

"Good," I continued. "And let out."

Her magical aura wavered and stabilized again.

"Keep your eyes closed and your breathing pattern," I said. "And try to concentrate on the sounds you're hearing. Only the sounds."

She nodded frantically. "Can…can you sing, Nee-chan?"

I swallowed, thinking through songs. "Alright, I've got one that we'll sing about you and your magic."

"Me and my magic?" Erza asked, voice hitched and her magic aura wavering again. It was starting to turn a different color. Instead of the usual red, it was gathering in a dark navy blue, and I was starting to get really nervous.

Mentally, I projected a though towards Erik. We're going to sing Natural. See if you can get the other kids humming, we're doing an alternative version.

Erik nodded and backed up.

"Hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm. MMMmmmmmmmmmmmmm. Mmmmmmmmmmmm…." I started. "HmmMmm."

The other kids picked it up.

"Will you hold the line…" I started. "…When everybody else is giving up or giving in, tell me…"

Her aura flickered again, and I kept on eye on it.

"In this house of mine…" I continued. "…Nothing ever comes without a consequence or cost, tell me…"

The humming picked up behind me.

"Will the stars align?..." I stepped closer. "Will heaven step in, will it save us from our sin, tell me…"

"Cause this house of mine, stand strong…" Another step.

"That's the price you pay…leave behind your heartache, cast away…just another product, of today…Rather be the hunter than the prey…"

And since it was the acoustic, this part was quieter than in the originally version.

"And you're standing on the edge, face up, 'cause you're a natural. A bitter heart of stone, You've gotta be so cold, To Make it in this world. Yeah, you're a natural…living your life cutthroat…you gotta be so cold, cause you're a Na. Tur. Al."

I took another step closer.

"Just breathe, Erza," I said softly. "It's only magic. You're a natural at this."

"I…" her breath hitched. "I can't! Stay back!" Her aura wavered again, turning a dark, navy blue, and her magical energy increased, pushing her down and creating a crater in the ground.

To my surprise, Erik ran forward and held out a hand, stopping me, and shouted over the rushing wind and magical pressure.

"ERZA, TAKE A DEEP BREATH AND GATHER YOUR MAGICAL ENERGY IN YOUR THROAT. THEN OPEN YOUR EYES, TURN TO THE COAST, AND LET IT GO."

Lyon, who was right behind me, muttered, "That's my line."

And then chaos erupted.

Erza opened her eyes, with an odd glowing in them that I recognized. Her hair billowed out behind her, and for a second, she almost looked possessed by something other. And then I took in Erik's words, and all of a sudden, everything clicked into place.

What.

Her now navy-blue aura blazed with her eyes, and she shifted to look out at the sea, the kids blocking that direction scattering out of the way to leave a hole for her.

"SPACE DRAGON'S ROAAAAAAAAAAAAR!" Erza screamed, and a sparkling navy-blue wave burst out of her mouth, rushing over the ocean and dissipating as it went.

And then her eyes rolled back up into her head and Erik caught her before she could hit the ground.

"How did you know?" I asked Erik. He was laying the twelve-year old redhead down on a bed in the infirmary, near where Jellal was resting. Everyone downstairs was gossiping over Erza's new status, and Irene was having a very deep discussion with Zeref on anything she might have told him about her powers. Simon, Kagura, and Millianna took off to find the other kids from the Tower and tell them what happened.

"Know what?" he asked.

"That she's a slayer?" I asked.

"I didn't," he said, stepping back and shrugging. "Not really, in the beginning. But then I heard her dragon, inside. Her body's still adjusting to the change."

We stared down at her, and the rest of the slayers rushed in.

"What the fuck happened?" Laxus asked. He had taken Natsu and Gajeel out to the forest to spar with them, Sting and Rogue tagging along, of course.

"Erza's a dragon slayer," I said.

He halted. "What?"

"Erza's a dragon slayer," Sting repeated, confused. "Is there something wrong with your hearing, Laxus?"

Laxus stared down at Sting. "I heard it perfectly fine, I'm just not entirely sure that that sentence makes sense. Wouldn't we know if she was a dragon slayer? Also, wouldn't Elle know?"

At that, everyone turned to me.

I shrugged. "I probably should have seen it coming, but no, I didn't know ahead of time."

"What do you mean?" Laxus asked.

"I mean, Irene was a dragon slayer, and then she had Erza, who also gestated in a dragon for centuries, so…" I shrugged again. "Not that surprising."

"But Space?" Natsu whined. "What does that even mean?"

"It's Spatial Magic," I said, shrugging. "Requip is a spatial magic. And I know Irene is skilled in that and enchantments."

Irene's biggest spell was Universe One, which reorganized an entire landscape if she wanted too. In the other timeline, she reorganized all of Fiore. If that wasn't considered Spatial Magic, I wasn't quite sure what was.

"I can't believe we've got another dragon slayer," Laxus muttered.

I sighed. "Irene won't be able to train her in this. All her memories about dragon magic is gone, and she's talking with Zeref to see if she had shared something in the past, but it seems like a dead end. Luckily, Erza's already got most of her magic down, but we should be careful, take her out to train."

"Like you did with us?" Sting piped up.

"Yep," I said, messing up his hair. "Considering she can control space, if she ends up ripping a hole through it I don't want her destroying Magnolia."

Laxus snorted. "Just the forests nearby?"

I shrugged. "They can take it. They've done it so far."

There was a knock on the door, and we all turned around to look at Irene, and Zeref.

"Got anything?" I asked her.

She shrugged. "Not really. As long as there's magic in whatever she's eating, it works as fuel though."

"So air, like Wendy?" I asked. "I mean, there's Ethernano."

Zeref nodded and sat down. "Yes, that would work."

"So what, we have eight slayers now?" Laxus asked.

Plus Acnologia and Serena, I thought, but that's all, right?

For a second, I felt a wave of déjà vu and remembered the last time I thought that. I had heard a voice that said 'for now'. It was all the slayers we had 'for now'.

My gaze drifted down to Erza.

And now we had gotten another one.

Wherever that weird voice had come from, it was right. And this was something I hadn't seen coming at all, even with all the knowledge I had from my first life. Using knowledge can change a lot, and while I knew that most of the biggest events were locked into place, these new events were muddling the waters.

Erza was a dragon slayer.

I remember what the book said about side effects of using the dwarf planets too much. And I had put the voice then down as using too much Pluto in one session. But maybe…

Maybe the voices are right?

In that case…I should use Pluto more, right? In order to know more.

A shiver ran down my spine and I decided to put the thought out of my mind. For now.

We (meaning the (now eight) slayers, and I) made our way back into the forest. A lot more people wanted to come with (Kinana, Jellal, Levy, etc), but it was decided that it'd just be the slayers and I so we could (hopefully) make it back in time for Christmas.

"Ah. The woods," Gajeel said as we walked back to the same area we were all training in only a few months before. Though he, Laxus, Natsu, Sting, and Rogue had been there earlier today. "Good ole woods."

"I swear, we've spent more time here this year than in previous years combined," Laxus muttered under his breath.

Though the only other time we really used it was when I first showed up and started training Laxus a few years ago.

Doesn't mean he's not right, though.

I dismissed the thought and clapped my hands once. "Alright guys, time to start training!"

"Yay," Erik, Gajeel, and Laxus deadpanned.

"You sure this will work?" Erza asked. She had woken up around thirty minutes after she passed out, and after reassuring Jellal and everyone else that she was fine, but just had to train, they finally let her leave.

"Yep," I said. "Let's start with a Roar. You've already done it once."

"Let's see ya aim for this tree," Gajeel said, shooting a piece of metal into a tree about 50 feet away.

"Okay!" Natsu said, lighting up.

Laxus grabbed the back of his collar to keep him in place. "We're here to train Erza, dumbass."

"Oh yeah!"

"Maybe we should have left the idiots behind," Erik muttered.

"And leave the little terrorists alone at the guild without anyone to keep them in line?" Laxus pointed out quietly. "Gildarts is on a quest, Ur is celebrating Silver's birthday, and Master already has his hands full with the Alvarez….Alvarezens? Alvariens? Alvarese? Alvaronians?"

"Stop talking," I said.

"Yeah, I'll stop now," Laxus said.

"No, keep talking," Erik grumbled. "If I have to hear this continuing in his head, you need to hear it aloud."

"Yer just grumpy Teeny ain't here," Gajeel muttered.

"Stop calling her that!" Erik growled.

"Gihiiihii," Gajeel said, right before he was socked in the jaw.

"Alright!" Natsu yelled, joining in on the brawl. Sting stood on the outside, cheering them on. Which one he was cheering on was unknown.

I sighed. "Erza, honey, just ignore them."

"They shouldn't be fighting," Erza said darkly, glaring at them.

Like they could sense the glare, the boys all froze for a second, looking more than a little comedic with Erik frozen mid-air in the middle of punching Gajeel. Even Sting was frozen in his cheering.

I shook my head. "They're going to fight no matter what. Might as well let them let off steam."

The boys resumed and turned into a dust cloud of shouting with arms occasionally shaken from within.

"You sure, Nee-san?" Erza asked.

"Yeah, let's focus on you, for now," I said.

"You can do it Erza-nee!" Wendy cheered.

Erza took a deep breath, before turning to face the tree Gajeel had marked. We could feel her energy start to gather, before she unleashed it again. "Space Dragon's Roar!"

The vortex of navy-blue escaped again, completely obscuring the tree and a few others, before stopping. There was a giant hole left, that had torn through the ground and carved chunks out of trees resulting in a perfect circle of empty space.

The boys stopped their tumbling.

"Woah," Natsu breathed. Erik and Gajeel were similarly stunned, but were too much of tsunderes to make any sort of admittance.

"It's like it was vaporized," Laxus said, frowning. "Not destroyed."

My eyes widened as I noticed something to my right. "Not vaporized."

They looked at me.

I pointed at the remnants of her attack. "Just displaced."

We all stared at the cut out of trees that had crashed into the forest to the right.

"So what, it just carved a hole out of a section of the forest and moved it?" Erik asked incredulously.

"She is a space dragon," Rogue pointed out quietly.

"Can she do a roar without moving stuff?" Natsu asked. "Like if she roars at a person, she doesn't want to move the person, she wants to kick their ass!"

Every once in a while, Natsu manages to demonstrate the intelligence he has.

"Well, if she displaced them a few dozen feet in the air, I'm sure it would cause the same effect," I pointed out.

"Unless they can fly," Erik countered.

"Okay," I said, turning to Erza. "How about we try again, but maybe try solidifying the magic rather than just pushing it out?"

She nodded, taking another deep breath and turning until she faced an undamaged part of the forest. The rest of us all watched in silence.

"Space Dragon's Roar!" Erza tried again. This time, rather than cutting a hole in the targeted area, it knocked down the trees.

The younger slayers cheered.

"I think that was actually easier," Erza muttered.

"Can you feel the difference?" I asked her.

"I think so," she said.

"Then how about we try moving this tree," I said, pointing to a tree in front of me, and cutting an X in it with strong slashes of Saturn.

Erza took another deep breath, before gathering her magic energy again. "Space Dragon's Roar!"

The tree disappeared in the roar and reappeared around twenty feet to the right.

The younger slayers cheered.

"The spell sounds wrong," Erza said, frowning.

"You think that your Dragon Roar is the solid one?" I asked her. "And this one is a different spell?"

Erza nodded. "The incantation is bothering me. Actually, I don't think it's supposed to be a roar at all."

I frowned. "Alright, Erik and I will work on finding the proper incantation."

"We will?" Erik asked.

Laxus slapped the back of his head.

"We will," Erik said.

"For now, since the roar still works, why don't you try picking up the tree again, and try to aim it a certain place?" I suggested.

"Like make it appear where you want, rather than just.." Laxus just sort of waved his arm to the right as he trailed off.

Erza nodded, understanding anyway. "I'll try to move it over there!"

She pointed to a spot still in her line of sight, all the way to the left.

Natsu dashed forward and set the grass on fire.

"Natsu!" A lot of us yelled.

He backed away from the grass, and the fire disappeared in a whoosh. Left behind, in the grass, was what looked vaguely like an X.

"How did I do?" Natsu grinned.

I gave him a smile. "Good, though some warning would be nice. You're getting better at controlling your flames."

Natsu whooped and jumped on Laxus, trying to climb up him.

"'The hell? Get off!" Laxus shouted, trying to grab the wayward dragon slayer, who was acting much closer to a monkey than a dragon.

I tuned them out, and turned to Erza, who had followed my lead on ignoring them. "You ready?"

She nodded, and turned to the tree. "Alright. Space Dragon's Roar!"

The wave hit the tree and it disappeared, before it reappeared maybe five feet to the left.

We stared at it, even Natsu falling off of Laxus's back.

"Well, you're going in the right direction!" I said, patting the younger girl on the shoulder. "Erik and I will work on the incantation. For now," I glared at Laxus and Gajeel, "these two will lead you through wing attacks."

I wondered away, watching discretely as Laxus and Gajeel tried to teach her positioning for wing attacks, and Natsu copying their lead and trying to run drills with the younger three.

"Why are we trying to find the incantation?" Erik complained.

"I figured you can try and search her inner dragon," I said. "See if you hear something. I'm going to pop by Irene for a bit, see if she can help. Even if she doesn't remember, she might still be able to guess the incantation."

Erik nodded, and I disappeared with a pop.