"We either make ourselves miserable or we make ourselves strong. The amount of work is the same."
"Will you ever take a break?"
I paused halfway through reading the next request I was preparing to take, and looked up at the sound of the familiar voice. Lucy had fixed me with a frustrated glare, and I could only shrug in return.
"There's no time for breaks." I stated and nonchalantly folded paper the request was on, shoving it into the pocket of the cloak I was wearing. Lucy rolled her eyes.
"You've been spending every spare second on jobs ever since Lisanna returned. I swear, you haven't even said a word to her this entire time." She huffed, and I crossed my arms.
"I'm busy, and it's not like the requests aren't going to do themselves." I pointed out, earning a frown from the blond.
"Just take a break for a second Xandria. Relax. I'm sure you have enough cash to pay rent for the next ten years."
"It's not about the money, Lucy. I'm trying to get some work done. Get a bit of practice in. Do a few personal errands for Makarov." I explained in indifference. Lucy sighed.
"Whatever. I know that you're obviously busy doing whatever duties that must be required of someone of your magical stature. Sorry I ever interfered. I was only trying to help." She pouted, turning on her heel and stomping away from me. I rolled my eyes at her theatrics and returned my attention to where it had been before I was so rudely interrupted. There was, after all, nothing I could do about whatever was going on between Lucy and I. Hopefully it would work itself out. Right now my focus was on pleasing Makarov and racking up as many jobs and as I could before December 15th.
I strode across the dining hall to the bar where the ever beautiful Mirajane stood cleaning some glasses. Flashing a smile, I pulled out the two slips of paper from my coat pocket, waving them in front of her.
"Translating a few Latin manuscripts in Kunigi, and dealing with a dark guild in Onibus. Nothing big, but it all pays well, and Makarov needed me to meet with his friends in Kunigi." I announced with a flourish. Mirajane shook her head with a laugh.
"Well aren't you the busy mage?"
"You wouldn't expect anything less, would you?"
"I suppose not. " She muttered. "The early bird gets the worm after all."
"Screw being an early bird. I'd rather sleep in late and get to eat pancakes." I teased. She frowned, obviously not completely pleased by my spin on things.
"I've never really thought of it that way, Xandria, but-"
"Anyways, I'll need to be going soon." I interjected, and she glanced back up at me, her eyes clearing as I interrupted her train of thought. "I'm taking Bickslow along with me, by the way. Levy was, regrettably, busy with her own matters, and the rest of my friends were off doing their own things, so I had no choice but to go with the madman. So, please send your prayers to me while I'm away."
"You're friends with Bickslow?" She blurted in surprise, and I only shrugged.
"Not really—we're more like business partners. His friends were busy, my friends were busy, and we both were looking for a job. He's a pretty funny guy, albeit overtly sexual, but I can handle myself and he generally stays in line so I figured what would it hurt me to take him along?"
She nodded, and I turned, scanning the area around the bar for the masked man. He suddenly appeared in the corner of my vision, a wide grin on his face from his seat a few feet away.
"Ready to go?"
I ran my fingers over the rich mahogany desk that sat in Makarov's regal office. Intricate patterns had been carved into the shiny surface, and I traced my fingers over them, swirling in and out of each twist and furl. It was peaceful—calming—so different from the storm I had been swept up in my entire life. I memorized the surface, the pads of my fingertips learning the impression that the original craftsman had made upon the dark wood so long ago when this elegant piece of furniture had first been created.
"It's a rather beautiful piece of woodwork, isn't it?"
A deep voice pulled me from my reverie, but I continued staring at the dark desk, moving my hands across the surface. The only response I had for my master was a slight nod.
"But that isn't what we're here to talk about today, is it?" He mused, moving away from the back of the room and towards the seat across from me. I glanced upwards, looking through my lashes at Makarov. "No, I called you here to discuss more pressing matters, not to simply titter over my lengthy collection of spell books and impressive array of woodwork. Maybe some other time."
I smiled slightly and removed my hands from his desk, folding them and placing them softly in my lap. He nodded at me.
"First of all, I'd like to begin by saying how proud I am of you." The elderly man said, a solemn expression on his wrinkled face as he peered at me with a pair of surprisingly youthful blue eyes. "You have spent the past month doing everything imaginable that you could to prove your trustworthiness to me. And, although I will admit in some ways it will always be hard for us to look beyond our past, I believe that I will be able to pay no heed the sins you have committed. You have been, and will always be, fully accepted as a member of the Fairy Tail family. It has been an honor watching you grow. You gave us all a beautiful display of your magic when you took down the Dragonoid, but I enjoy watching as you become more comfortable with your gifts and unlock more of your potential each and every day. You have shown me a new side to magic that I had never imagined to exist. So thank you. Thank you for making an old man feel young in some ways again."
He paused, inhaling sharply before continuing.
"You probably know already of the more pressing event that is about to occur. I've seen your recent performance; your activity level in the past month has skyrocketed above many of your peers. I can only assume that this would be the reason why. And if it isn't, then don't let me be the one to inform you of these upcoming events. You'll find out soon enough." He went on. "But I need to know one thing before the next week rolls around. A few things actually. That's why I've called you here today."
I couldn't contain the excitement that welled up within me—an ecstatic grin broke out across my face. I knew what this meant. I knew that because of my hard work, and my skill, Makarov had at least started considering me for the S class trials. After Levy had given me the heads up a month ago, I had withdrawn myself from my friends, who had, in turn—strange as it was—already withdrawn themselves from me. I focused all my efforts on pleasing the master of the guild and shaping up the areas of my magic that I still lacked in. (My defense could still use a rather drastic tune up if you asked me.)
"I'd like to know if I can trust you." He stated, and I nodded.
"Well of course-" I began.
"No, it's not just like that." He cut me off, causing my open mouth to stupidly snap shut, the air inside of it filling my head. "I need to ask you a few questions, and I need you to answer them one-hundred percent truthfully."
"Okay, shoot."
"There's a catch. You can only answer each question with one word. It can be anything, any word, but it has to completely describe your answer to that question."
"Alright. Go ahead." I announced, and he nodded.
"Question number 1, What is your name?"
"Alexandria."
"Where are you from?"
"Fiore."
"Who do you love the most?"
I paused.
"Fairies."
He nodded, a slight smile on his face.
"Who do you hate the most?"
"Hades." That one came easily.
"Have you ever done something unforgivable?"
"Yes."
"Have you ever killed someone?"
I hesitated again, causing his former smile to be replaced by a frown.
"Soon."
"Soon?"
"Hades." I stated, the look on my face hardening, and the old man nodded in understanding.
"You have a bonus—an extra word—it can be anything you want, so be careful to use it wisely."
I bit my lip, searching for the right word to use. It had to be something that the master would understand, and it had to be something that he'd find significant enough to trust me. It'd obviously have to be relatively personal—something that'd hit home, but something that didn't offend him. But what could I possibly say that was only one word?
Suddenly it hit me.
"Laxus," I announced.
A look of surprise filled the master's face as he took in the name I had just uttered.
"What did you just say?"
"Laxus."
"Why would you-"
"Because." I cut him off, earning yet another confused frown from Makarov.
"You're free to go." He stated with an exhausted wave of his hand, and I nodded.
"Thanks."
And with that I stood from my chair, leaving both the quaint little room and Makarov behind.
"So you've finally decided to return home for once?" Lucy inquired as I crept in the front door. I hissed in annoyance, trying to hide the swear that escaped from my mouth when I realized that she was still awake.
"It's two in the morning Lucy! Why the hell are you still awake?" I exclaimed, fumbling around on the wall as I looked for the light switch. My desperate hand finally found it, and I flicked it on, noticing not only Lucy, but a bleary eyed Cana lying on top of my bed. My eyes rose in surprise—had I interrupted something?
Wait, didn't Lucy like Natsu anyway?
"Luce, what's goin' on?" The drunkard mumbled, sitting upwards from her spot on my mattress. I continued scowling, but turned my attention to the blond across the room.
"Yeah 'Luce' what's going?" I mimicked, earning a rather exaggerated eye role from Lucy.
"Cana came over to have a sleepover with me." She spat. "It gets lonely after a while, you know."
"Oh, well…" I trailed off, unsure of what to say next. "It's still my bed!"
Lucy shook her head in a resigned kind of annoyance and rose from her mattress.
"Why don't you just take mine then? I'll sleep on the couch downstairs. As long as you're actually going to stay, otherwise I'd rather keep my warm and cozy bed and just let you run off and do whatever errands it is that you've been so busy doing."
"Lucy I'm sorry, I didn't know I was causing you so much turmoil by not being at home much the past month, but honestly, sometimes you've just got to get a better handle on things. You've never relied on me, so why does it suddenly matter now?" I leaning against the wall on the side of the room, watching her.
"It's just lonely. Natsu and Gray and everyone, they just haven't been paying me any attention recently. And now you too. It's not easy Xandria."
"I'm sorry Lucy, really, I am. I didn't mean to push you to the side. I've just become so engrossed with work. I haven't really had time for any relationships. But I promise, I'll fix this, once this next week or two are over with, I'll be able to focus on all my friends again."
"Good, it's about time you got your priorities straight." She stated.
"Fairy Tail! As we have long done since days past, I will now announce the participants in this year's S class Wizard Advancement Exam." Makarov bellowed to the sea of my gathered Fairy Tail brethren. "This year's exam will take place on Tenrou Island; it is holy ground for our guild. Each of your powers, hearts, and souls—I have judged them all this past year and have therefore decided that there will be eight participants in the trials." He paused and began to read off the list of names. "Natsu Dragneel! Gray Fullbuster! Juvia Lockser! Elfman Strauss! Cana Alberona! Freed Justine!"
Loud cheers followed the six names that he had read off in rapid succession, but he paused before he read off the seventh, swallowing slightly before glancing at the throng of people in front of him.
"Alexandria Douglais!" He bellowed, and a look of utter surprise overtook not only my face, but also the faces of many in the audience. Makarov, however, did not have as much time as I did to be shocked, so he went on, reading the last of his names. "Mest Gryder!" He paused, took in a breath, and continued speaking, "This time only one of you will pass! The exam will take place in one week. So, each of you, prepare yourselves."
"Each of the selected participants must select a partner in this week of preparation," Mirajane said.
"The contents of the exam itself will be announced once you arrive at Tenrou Island. But this time, Erza will be blocking your progress." Makarov went on, but it was hard to pay attention. After all, I had actually been chosen. This was a lot for someone to take in. "The eight selected participants and their chosen partners will assemble at Hargeon Port in one week. That is all!" The master declared, and with that he strode off stage, along with the rest of the S class mages.
And in that moment I was swallowed whole by the congratulations of my guild mates.
"Sorry Levy." I muttered, shaking my head at the blue haired girl, but she only gave me a resigned sigh.
"Don't be. I was hoping to get picked this year, but honestly with you coming like you did, I should have expected it to turn out this way." She took another withdrawn swig from her mug. That's how I knew that something was up. Levy rarely drank. She'd get a mug sure, but she'd never actually drink from it, not unless she was seriously in need of a pick me up. And if someone as cheerful as Levy was in need of a pick me up, then something was wrong with your world.
"Still, at least let me chose you as my partner or something." I pressed, but she shook her head.
"I told you no already. At least not until you ask Gajeel. If I can't be in this thing, then I at least want you to win it for me. And you can't do that if someone as weak as me is dragging you down the entire time." She continued. I rolled my eyes at the girl.
"Levy, honestly, I keep telling you you're one of the most determined, courageous, and brilliant mages I know."
"Look, just go over there right now and ask Gajeel if he wants to partner up with you. I'm sure he'd be willing. Fighting is his thing, after all."
"He doesn't trust me." I countered, earning a scoff from the girl sitting across from me.
"Well we don't trust him either, so I think we all stand on pretty equal ground."
"Fine." I grumbled, pushing myself upwards from my seat at the bench. Taking a few swaggering steps in the general direction of Gajeel, I casually approached him, a passive look on my face. He turned his head, looking up from where he currently sat at the bar devouring a rather large hunk of iron. (Fairy Tail mages were a strange bunch.) Giving me a once over, he slowly swallowed, an irritated glare crossing his face as he stared at me, as if I had interrupted him from some inconceivably important activity.
"What?" He demanded, his many piercings glinting in a pleasant way against his tan skin as he spoke. I folded my arms.
"I was wondering if you'd be willing to be my partner during the S class trials. I know we may not be close friends, but I believe we'd make a rather formidable team. We'd be a force to be reckoned with." I explained, earning a decisive nod from the dragon slayer.
"Yeah, I was actually thinking of asking you the same thing myself. I want to be involved in all the action, and what better person to fight alongside with than one of the top four—no—top three for sure." He answered, and I grinned.
"Thanks Gajeel. I'll be looking forward to it."
"Yeah." He grunted, and quickly turned back to his meal of metal. I sighed, and returned to where Levy sat.
Black and purple. At first glance that was all you could see when you looked at me. A flash of skin here, a glint of brown hair there, but the moody ensemble that I was covered from head to toe in was the domineering factor of my appearance
To me, this was what I needed to wear to become a champion. Clothes like these, ones I would have only worn in my previous life—these were what I ought to wear on my quest to finally become S class and defeat all of my demons. I was ready for whatever hell was going to be thrown at me today. Whatever I had to do to win, I would. No one was going to get in my way. From here on out, there was no holding back.
With a final glance in the mirror, I pulled on my cloak and was out the door in a flash.
A/N: Yay! We've finally reached the Tenrou Island Arc! Next chapter we'll be picking up at the very start of the trials, right before the games really begin. And you know what this means? Laxus is about to show up!