AN: Thanks NinjaFang1331, Goku275, and darkxlunatiic. Also, darkxlunatiic, I'd imagine that having teammates for the S-Class Trial is about testing the ability of the S-Class candidates to work well with others in addition to their personal abilities. Fairy Tail is all about friendship and family. Then again, it might be to give those who weren't chosen to compete a chance to see what the S-Class Trial is like, or to involve other members of the guild and make the trial into an event that the whole guild can get excited about.
The fact that having partners would allow more characters to be present for the story arc, including guild members like Lucy and Wendy who weren't yet strong enough to reasonably be S-Class candidates, may have also played a role. Who knows? Not me.
As Natsu fought August, his daughter finally gathered the courage to speak with Ajeel and (hopefully) convince that the war should be stopped. Millianna and Juvia decided to watch over the conversation but not intervene unless it seemed necessary.
"Hi," greeted Blaze. Ajeel responded with a nod, his curiosity pushing him to act polite. "You don't know me, but I know you. Last year, an older version of me traveled back in time to prevent a terrible future where the world was in ruin because of Acnologia."
Blaze paused a moment and tried gauge the Spriggan's reaction. However, his expression was indecipherable to the girl, so she had no choice but to continue speaking and hope for the best.
"After we succeeded and she began to fade from existence, we saved future me by enchanting her memories into present me. Memories of growing up in a hidden village of refugees, whose population included you and a few other survivors of the Alvarez Empire's destruction after Acnologia killed your emp… my uncle and most of the Spriggan 12."
Another moment of silence occurred, the girl giving Ajeel time to process her words. This time, though, the quiet was broken by an enraged outburst from the imprisoned Spriggan.
"Do you seriously expect me to believe such a ridiculous story!? The immortal Emperor Spriggan and his twelve shields, all dead or defeated by a single dragon! Me running away and hiding instead of avenging my comrades! Do you even have any proof, or just more nonsensical claims!?"
Millianna and Juvia moved between the two, ready to intervene, when Blaze (channeling her older self to control her anger, fear, and sadness) answered in a firm tone.
"You were originally the prince of a small country in Alvarez before Uncle Zeref recruited you. Your only condition was that you would be allowed to bring some friends and family with you since you didn't want to leave them behind. And you've always imagined that, when you eventually retired from the Spriggan 12, you would become a minister like your grandpa."
"…" Ajeel gawked at the girl. That last part — his plan to become a minister once his fighting days were over — was something he had never shared with anyone. The only way that Blaze could have known was if she was telling the truth. "…Go on…"
The dragon slayer girl proceeded to explain in further detail the bad future that no longer existed. And, while she wasn't able to convince Ajeel to give up on the war, their conversation did plant a seed of doubt in the Spriggan's mind.
"Cavern Dragon's Earth Collapse!" yelled God Serena exuberantly. The Spriggan made the ground around him explode, scattering the four Wizard Saints that had been attacking him.
As his disoriented opponents started to get back up, God Serena decided to follow up with several more attacks. "Purgatory Dragon's Blazing Inferno! Sea King Dragon's Encircling Deluge! Gale Dragon's…"
"They're down," interjected Brandish, bored of the one-sided beatdown.
God Serena paused his assault, noticed that none of the Wizard Saints were getting back up, and cackled. "You think maybe I overdid it?"
"A dragon slayer with eight Dragon Lacrima makes a pretty tough enemy," observed Jacob, ignoring God Serena's derisive comment.
"Can we finally get moving?" asked Brandish, sighing. "Once this war is over, I'm going to Guiltina to get some Aldoron Parfait."
The three Spriggan began walking away from their fallen enemies. They didn't get far, however, before an overwhelming presence caused them all to freeze.
"Wh-what is this magic? Who…?" stuttered out Warrod, the only Wizard Saint who had remained conscious.
"I smell dragon," spoke Acnologia as he showed himself. The Black Dragon was missing his left arm and was currently in the form of a human, but the terrifying power he emitted was unmistakable.
"Acnologia!" exclaimed God Serena excitedly. "I never thought you'd come to me! I can't wait to take you down. That's why I… huh?"
One moment, Acnologia had been standing in front of the Spriggan. The next second, the dragon was behind him and a large chunk of his torso was gone. The eightfold dragon slayer unceremoniously fell to the ground, life rapidly fading form his body.
"Only nine more now," stated Acnologia. "I will wipe all traces of the dragons from this world!"
Fury filled Jacob as he watched the Black Dragon walk away. He could not accept what had just been done to his comrade. He pulled tight the glove on his right hand, preparing to attack Acnologia, only to be stopped when Brandish grabbed that arm.
"Don't," said Brandish, her arm shivering. When Jacob looked at her, he saw an expression of absolute terror. "You'll only be throwing away your life. We have to go to Fairy Tail and get the Fairy Heart. It's the only way to stop this monster."
Jacob lowered his arm, which Brandish then released. And, once the Black Dragon was far away, the two continued their journey to Fairy Tail's guild hall.
As night fell, the Fairies traveling to Hargeon Town made camp for the night.
"We'll arrive in Hargeon Town tomorrow," Erza told the others. "We should rest up as much as possible today."
"I will," replied Wendy.
"Got it," responded Romeo.
"You shouldn't push yourself to hard either," retorted Carla, referring to how Erza hadn't fully recovered from her fight with Ajeel. "After all, Wendy's done her best to heal you."
The Exceed's complaints were ignored, the conversation instead moving onto their plan for the next day.
"That long-range attack came from the south, so we know that Wall's real body is in Hargeon Town," said Laxus. "After what he did to the Thunder God Tribe, I'll be dealing with that bastard myself."
"With you handling Wall alone," spoke Gray. "The combined forces of Lamia Scale, Mermaid Heel, and the rest of us should be able to deal with the remaining two Spriggan, as well as the soldiers they're commanding."
"Then our plan of attack is settled," stated Yukino with a smile. "That only leave one more matter before we turn in for the night."
"Huh?" went Gray, unable to think of any important matters other than tomorrow's fight. "What are you talking about?"
"Isn't in obvious?" answered Sorano dryly. "You're in nothing but your underwear again, you pervert."
"When did this happen!?" exclaimed Gray, noticing his state of undress. He then turned to Sorano and glared. "And you're the last person who should be calling a pervert, Miss Always-Wearing-Skimpy-Dresses!"
"I am being fashionable! You, on the other hand, are just being a flasher!"
"Fashionable? You're showing just as much skin as I am!"
Suffice to say, this argument between barely-dressed Fairies carried on for several minutes before Erza forced them to stop and go to bed.
To the north, Fairy Tail's other team of reinforcements had also set up camp for the night. They talked for a bit before quickly falling asleep. Mostly.
"Hey, Rogue," whispered Sting loudly.
"Urgh… What is it?" asked the Shadow Dragon Slayer quietly, groaning as he woke up.
"I got up to piss and then, on my way back, I caught sight of Gajeel and Levy flirting! Did you know they were together?"
"I think that everybody other than you knew," replied Rogue, his words a bit sharp from having his sleep interrupted.
"Are you kidding me?" hissed the White Dragon Slayer. "Are there any other secret couples I don't know about? Are you dating someone without telling me?"
"Actually, I was wondering the same thing," piped up Mirajane. The dragon slayers' conversation had woken her and her siblings up. "After all, you and Minerva go on quite a few Jobs together, and the two of you would make a cute couple."
The color drained from Rogue's face. "Um… I… don't know what… what you're talking about."
His denial was so nervous and stiff that not even Frosch (had the Exceed been awake) would have believed it. As for Sting, this news only fueled his fire.
"Seriously?" complained the White Dragon Slayer, no longer whispering. "Why didn't you tell me?"
"Because we didn't officially get together until recently," said Rogue tersely, his face growing red. "We went on a few dates when we were both between Jobs, but we weren't sure if it was going anywhere. Then the Alvarez Empire attacked Caracole Island and we decided that the news should wait until there wasn't an imminent crisis."
"…Fair enough," acknowledged Sting reluctantly. "Congrats, by the way. I'm happy for you two."
"Thank you."
"Oooh," went Mirajane, the romantic inside her stirring. "I have so many questions! What was your first date? When did you first realize you liked her? Have you kissed yet? Have you done more…?"
Rogue's blush became brighter than the sun. The Shadow Dragon Slayer soon realized that it would be a while before the questions ended and he could go back to sleep.
"So, Natsu's plan to kill Zeref failed," observed Mavis grimly. Happy had brought the unconscious dragon back to the guild hall and then explained what had happened while Porlyusica treated Natsu. The Exceed had just finished explaining that August, the most powerful of the Spriggan 12, had died by the dragon's hands.
"Um…" said Happy, shifting uncomfortable. "There's one more thing that happened. Before passing out, Natsu told me August's dying words. I think you need to hear them."
"Hmm?" went Mavis, curious. "What did say?"
"Well… you see…" started the Exceed nervously. "Apparently… his parents are… I mean, August was…" Happy gulped "…he was your and Zeref's son that neither of you knew existed."
"…"
"First Master?"
"…"
"Did you hear me?"
She did not hear Happy. The information had overloaded her brain. Feelings of shock, love, and grief warred within her heart. The Fairy Tactician was completely paralyzed and would remain that way for several minutes, after which she would break down crying for a bit.
As this took place, Happy passed on the information to the rest of the guild members present. Warren considered using his Telepathy to relay the information to the reinforcement squads but ultimately decided that it would just distract them.
"Back already?" Ajeel asked Millianna and Blaze. The two had left to visit the injured Natsu upon his return, leaving only Juvia to guard him. However, now they were back, with sad looks on their faces. "Thanks to his loss, you've finally realized how badly outmatched you are, haven't you? The Fairy Heart is all we're after, so if you just hand it over—"
"He didn't lose," interjected Blaze.
"I bet Zeref will… huh?"
"I said… Daddy didn't lose!" shouted the dragon slayer girl. "He fought August, the biggest and baddest of the Spriggan 12, and he won!"
"What?" said Ajeel, confused. He didn't believe that August could lose to someone from Ishgar. Even if it was possible, it didn't explain why the mother and daughter were upset. "Then why do you look like somebody died!?"
"Because August did die," answered Millianna, causing the Spriggan to gawk at her. "After Natsu beat him, August used a suicide attack to try and take my Fireball with him. It failed, leaving Natsu badly injured but alive, and August expired soon after."
"That still doesn't—"
"Because somebody died!" snapped Millianna. "He may have been an enemy, and we might be at war, but it doesn't change the fact that a person has died! Even if Happy hadn't told us that August is apparently Natsu's nephew, we'd still be sad that a life is gone forever!"
Ajeel flinched, cowed by the woman's outburst. Unable to refute her words nor ready to ask for more information about his comrade's death, the Spriggan latched onto the one remaining escape from this situation.
"Natsu's… nephew?"
Millianna sighed, her rage subsiding. This gave Blaze a chance to speak up.
"We have a lot more to talk about."
Omake
"Can we please talk about anything else?" asked an exasperated Rogue, his face crimson. The dragon slayer was desperate to change the topic from him and Minerva. "What about Elfman and Evergreen's relationship?"
"I-I don't know what you're talking about," denied Elfman poorly. He wore the expression of a kid whose hand had been caught in the cookie jar.
"No," said Mirajane, shooting down Rogue's suggest. Her brother sighed in relief. "After all, everyone already knows that they both like each other but are too shy to admit it."
"We do not!" shouted Elfman, his relief gone and his face now as red as Rogue's. To his disappointment, the rest of the Fairies simply laughed at his outburst, (rightfully) not believing a word of it.
AN: I don't really have anything to add to the end of this chapter. Bye!