Chapter Seven: S-class Trial
Wendy arrived at the home that Natsu built a couple years ago after a long time of doing jobs. In front of the house was a sign shaped like a cat head with the names, Natsu and Wendy (with a paper adding Happy and Carla) on it. Natsu liked to have his house stand out and people know who lived there. Wendy stepped inside with her two daggers tied to the belt around her dress. Natsu was there as he and Happy mercilessly ate their food, for Happy it his favorite food, fish. Natsu wolfed down bacon, eggs and toast. Carla meanwhile, ate her food calmly and slowly.
"Hey little sis! Where'd you go off to?" Natsu asked as she walked in through the door and joined them at the breakfast table.
"I just went to pick up these," Wendy held up her daggers.
"Whoa!" Natsu exclaimed as he looked at them.
"Look out, Wendy's turning into a mini Erza!" Happy screamed.
Carla looked at the daggers with disapproval and voiced her opinion in her usual mother like fashion. "I'm not so sure you should be playing with blades at your age, child."
"I'm not playing with them!" Wendy protested. "I had these made so I could help big brother in the S class trials! Look!"
She drew the fire dagger and ran magic through it. The blade lit up with fire and everyone's else eyes widened. Then Natsu grinned.
"Alright, I guess that S class title is good as mine!"
…
Several more days passed as the trials drew near, Natsu and Wendy tested her two daggers abilities. Wendy found out that she could increase the power of each dagger by putting more of her magic power into it. At the lowest setting she was able to attack twenty times for each dagger before feeling tired and panting. At the highest, she could only perform one attack with the two before collapsing.
"It seems these use up a lot of magic power," Carla noted. "Didn't Erza teach you to use daggers to avoid that? This seems counterproductive."
"I'm still in… huff… development," Wendy stated through pants. "The lower settings are more than I can do the sky dragon roar right now though."
"Fair point. Though I wouldn't use the highest setting unless you had too," Carla said.
"You'll both wipe the floor with all the others!" Happy declared.
…
The day came for the trial. It took place just outside of Magnolia. The entire guild (sans Gildarts and Mystogan) had gathered to watch the participants, hoping that they would get an S-class wizard once again. It was different this time though, since they were not in desperate need of any there was a chance that no one would become S-class this year. Natsu, Cana, Macao, and Alzack all stood in the center with their partners, Wendy, Gray, Wakaba, and Bisca. Their other guild members formed a circle around them.
Then Makarov spoke. "Alright, we'll determine who will fight who with this."
He held up a square object with four symbols on them, a red flame, a card, a gun, and a purple flame. "The fate lacrima! I've organized this by your magic."
It was easy for the participants to tell who was who. Natsu was the red flame, Cana the card, Alzack the gun, and Macao the purple flame.
"This will cycle between you four and pick our first match!" Makarov said.
Natsu grinned as he watched eagerly. "Please pick me first!"
Wendy stood by her brother, the eagerness she had felt till now being replaced with nervousness as she looked around at all the other participants. All of them who much taller than her, especially Macao and Wakaba as they were the only full grown adults in this years trial. Maybe Lisanna would have been better.
A fear entered Wendy as she thought of what could happen. She could get hurt in this fight! Or she could blow it, and Natsu would get mad at her! An image played out in her head of Natsu being beaten and saying You were so useless! I should have gone with Lisanna!"
The thought caused the nine-year-old girl to shake and tear up slightly. Then the fate lacrima spun between its four areas, darting between the two flames, the card, and the gun. For a few seconds it went around all of them until it finally stopped at… the gun.
"Alzack and Bisca will be up first!" Makarov declared.
"Aww!" Natsu whined.
"Don't worry flamebrain! You still got a chance… to lose to me!" Gray stated.
Natsu growled at him.
"And they face…"
The fate lacrima went to… the card.
"Cana and Gray!" Makarov said.
"Yes!" Cana said.
"Aww, I was hoping to fight Natsu!" Gray said.
"That means the next fight will be Natsu and Wendy versus Macao and Wakaba!" Makarov went on.
Up in the circle of guild members, Happy and Carla watched the event on the shoulders of Lisanna and Erza respectively.
"I hope those two men don't try anything with Wendy," Carla said. "We all know how perverse Wakaba can be! Uggh! And he'll probably give her second-hand smoke with that magic of his!"
"If he does anything inappropriate, I'll step in," Erza assured the white cat.
"Ready!" Makarov ordered.
Gray and Cana faced Alzack and Bisca, both of whom used requip magic like Erza. But while Erza's specialty was swords and melee fighting, these two both used magic guns. A pair of pistols for Alzack and a rifle for Bisca.
"Set!"
The weapons appeared in the hands of their owners in flashes of light. Cana drew her cards and Gray put his hands close to each other, preparing to counter.
"Go!"
"Stunning shot!" Alzack and Bisca said together as they aimed their respective guns.
Bullets of light shot from the two western mages weapons. The bullets wouldn't kill, not unless enchanted with high level magic powers. The two gun wielders didn't use that much force unless they had to, and this was not one of those times when going against their own guild mates.
"Ice make shield!" Gray said.
A shield of cold ice appeared in front of Gray and Cana. The card mage then threw her card.
"Card Magic: Lightning Bolt!"
A bolt of lightning shot from the card Cana threw, hitting Bisca and causing her to scream. The sniper fell to the ground, not too badly hurt but rendered unconscious. This drew the attention of her partner.
"Bisca!" Alzack shouted in concern. "Fire bullet!"
This time fire shot from Alzack's pistols, breaking Gray's Ice Shield and hitting both him and Cana simultaneously.
"Dammit!" Gray said as he struggled to get up.
"Too bad your magic is only one type, Gray!" Alzack said. "I can use different types of magic bullets to counter the attacks of my enemies!"
"Well… that… makes two of us!" Cana panted as she tried to get up.
But not quick enough.
"Stunning shot!"
The shots hit their targets who were too hurt to dodge properly. Gray and Cana fell to the ground and lay still.
"Round one winner, Alzack!" Makarov said. "Unfortunately, you will have to continue on without a partner for the rest of the trial!"
Alzack gritted his teeth nervously while Bisca, Gray, and Cana were all carried off to the sides to make room for the next match.
Natsu looked at Wendy. "You ready, little sis?"
She nodded, though her eyes showed a lack of confidence. They walked up and faced the two adult mages.
"Come on Natsu!" Happy called.
"Be careful out there, child!" Carla shouted at Wendy.
"Win this one for your wife and son!" Lisanna said.
That caused Natsu to form a slightly weirded out expression. She was still playing that game of husband and wife with him. But he appreciated the support nonetheless and gave her a grin, not noticing Mira giving him a death glare.
"So, my little sister thinks she's gonna marry him huh?" the she-devil muttered. "We'll see about that."
Laxus just sighed. "I probably shouldn't have bothered coming. There ain't no way any of these weaklings are gonna be able to beat us… especially not when they're already beaten up. Fairy Tail is growing weak!"
Natsu stood ready as he faced the two veteran mages.
"Wendy, you stay back. Use those support spells you've been working on," he told her.
"What about my daggers?" she asked.
"Save them for now," Natsu told her. "We'll probably need those for when we take on Erza or one of the others."
"Right!" she agreed.
The two older mages watched the two dragon slayers with eager grins. Then Macao pointed from Wakaba to Wendy. Understanding his long time friends silent instructions, the smoke mage nodded.
"Ready, set, go!" Makarov stated.
Natsu charged at the two older mages with a shout. Wendy, meanwhile, hung back and began to chant her incantations for the support magic she had studied ever since joining Fairy Tail. They commonly used this strategy whenever they went into combat jobs. Wendy would use her support magic to boost Natsu's defense, offense, and speed.
"O strengthen of arm to cleave the heavens! ARMS!"
Natsu immediately felt a surge of power rushing through him as Wendy's offense enhancing enchantment took effect. He leaped as he was near Macao and began the fight with his bare hand. Macao blocked the attack, but felt the strength behind it, increased by Wendy's first enchantment.
"Armor!" Wendy continued.
With that single word, she increased Natsu's defense. Now Macao's attacks would have less damage as though Natsu was wearing armor. Things weren't looking good right now for the veteran. Now Wendy only had to perform one more incantation.
"O swift wind that dashes through the heavens!...VERNI-"
Wendy's final enchantment was interrupted as Wakaba put a hand over her mouth. She'd closed her eyes while performing her enchantments and hadn't seen him coming. She mumbled, trying to break free.
"Get your ashy hands off her you smoky pervert!" Carla yelled at Wakaba from the circle of guild members.
"That's relatively harmless. He's just preventing her from casting a spell and restraining her," Erza said.
Carla frowned. She knew Wakaba was doing his best not to actually hurt Wendy, but she still didn't trust the smoke mage. He was known for flirting with younger woman in Fairy Tail despite being married.
Natsu turned around and noticed Wendy had been bound.
"Wendy!" he shouted in concern.
"Don't worry Natsu, I won't hurt her!" Wakaba assured him.
"You better not!" Natsu roared. "Ow!"
He received a punch from Macao. It didn't hurt as much as it would have thanks to Wendy's defense boosting enchantment.
"Don't let your guard down Natsu!" Macao stated.
Natsu growled. Macao couldn't use his purple flare spell against Natsu since the dragon slayer would be immune to or simply devour it to grow stronger. That left him with hand to hand combat. Of course, Natsu could incorporate that into his dragon slayer magic. He raised his fist and lit it in fire.
"Fire dragon, Iron fist!"
He struck at Macao with the fiery fist.
"Purple Flare palm!"
Purple fire surrounded Macao's palm, protecting it from getting burned by Natsu's fire. Natsu then threw a series of punches and kicks while Wendy watched with Wakaba's hand still over her mouth. She looked at the fingers, and reluctantly opened her mouth, biting down.
"Oww!" Wakaba screamed waving his hand. "Hey, didn't your mother ever teach you about biting?"
"N-not really!" Wendy said, tears forming in her eyes the mention of Grandeena.
"Hey hey, no need to cry there, sweetheart!" Wakaba said as he noticed this, taking the other hand keeping her restrained off.
He'd fallen for the crybaby trick! She immediately jumped away and drew her daggers. Wendy ran magic through both blades at the lower setting, sending out a combination of fire and wind at the smoke mage.
Wakaba was hit and thrown back, groaning from the burn. Wendy looked at him in remorse.
"I'll heal you later!" she promised.
Macao was now fighting Natsu with everything he had. The armor enchantment Wendy had put on him cushioned the blows, but he couldn't take many more.
Wendy picked up where she had left off. "O swift wind that dashes through the heavens!...VERNIER!"
Her speed enchantment took effect. Natsu lit up again as Wendy's magic hit him. He grinned as Macao threw another purple flare punch at him. He easily dodged it since Macao seemed to be moving slower now. Natsu flipped over him and-
"Fire Dragon Roar!"
Macao was hit in the back with the fire spell. He fell to the ground, defeated.
"That leaves Alzack vs Natsu and Wendy!" Makarov declared.
Alzack looked at the pair who stood ready to face him. The guns mage shook his head.
"I forfeit," he said. "Its two against one, I know I'm not as strong as Natsu even without that enchantment. Especially if I get him mad by hurting Wendy."
"Ah come on!" Natsu complained.
"Well look on the bright side Natsu!" Makarov said. "Now you won't have to worry about sustaining more damage before you face an S-class. Get ready! We are going to determine your final opponent!"
The fate lacrima had changed its appearance. It now had three pictures inside it that were different from last time. A sword, a devil head, and a lightning bolt. Each symbol representing Erza, Mirajane, and Laxus respectively. The three S class wizards stood by Makarov. Laxus had his arms folded in disinterest. The lacrima lit up and moved its light between the three symbols, landing on… the devil. Natsu and Wendy shook.
Mirajane grinned as she stepped forward.
"Alright Pinkey, it's you and me!" the she-devil said as she transformed.
"Don't hurt him too much, Mira!" Lisanna shouted worried.
Mirajane hissed. "My sister really has a thing for you! But don't I'm going to hold back cause of that!"
Wendy hugged Natsu in fright as she saw the she-devil in her Satan Soul form. Mira had transformed into a revealing reddish pink outfit, her hair standing upright, batlike wings protruding from her back, her ears pointed, and she had gained a lizard-like tail as well. She came at Natsu who just barely managed to jump back and dodge as Wendy clang to him. It was only thanks to the enchantments that were still active that he had managed to pull that off.
"Wendy let go! I need your help!"
"I'm scared, Natsu!" she cried.
"Aww… what's the matter? Is the weak little girl scared?" Mira mocked.
Everyone in the guild sweat dropped as Wendy started crying (for real this time) and Natsu growled and pulled Wendy off. Fire surrounded him as he went into Berserk Big Brother mode. They remembered how it had been enough to fight Erza evenly the first time. Now Natsu was even stronger with Wendy's enchantment strengthening him. He ran at Mirajane.
"No one calls my sister weak! Fire Dragon Iron Fist!"
The Take Over mage flew, avoiding the attack, she sent down beams of darkness upon him. Natsu screamed as he was hit.
"Too bad you didn't choose Happy as your partner! He can fly!" Mira taunted as she flapped her wings.
More darkness beams shot down at Natsu who countered with a wave of fire. He then shot fire from his feet to propel himself up at the she-devil. He punched at her while she blocked, able to keep up with him since his magic power (which was what caused him to move right now) had not been increased by an enchantment.
"I still got this!" Natsu said.
Mira smirked. "Can you beat me before you run out of magic power though?"
She swatted him, sending him crashing to the ground. Mira was much more experienced with flying on her own, while Natsu was more used to flying with Happy whenever the cat summoned his wings.
"Natsu!" Lisanna cried.
"Big brother!" Wendy looked up in concern.
Natsu got up just in time to see Mirajane fly at him. He threw a punch at her, but she easily caught it, even Wendy's strength enhancing enchantment wasn't enough to let him beat her, and she had already shattered his defense.
"Is that all you got? I expect more from my sister's husband! You'll never be worthy of her!" Mirajane said. "Looks like I win!"
Laxus scoffed. "Just as I expected, that kids all talk. This whole guild is going to ruin!"
Natsu struggled, trying to break free of her grip. Wendy watched and knew she had to do something. She drew her daggers again, this time bringing them to the highest power level. There was no choice now!
"Natsu! Take this!" she said as she pointed her daggers and unleashed their power.
Another joined blast of fire and wind flew at both Natsu and Mirajane who was forced to let go and fly up to avoid the inferno. Natsu opened his mouth and devoured the fanned flames. When the blaze cleared and everyone could see him, they were astonished to see he had acquired the scales of a dragon.
"That's dragon force!" Makarov said in astonishment.
"Huh?" Laxus exclaimed as he watched with sudden interest.
Natsu came at Mira who tried to block the attack… only to be thrown back by it. Everyone gasped at the great increase in strength.
"Behold… the power of a dragon!" Makarov said.
Mira threw a ball of dark energy at Natsu, who countered with a Fire Dragon Roar. It burned the dark energy away and went on to hit Mira. She stood up for a moment, her mouth open in shock before she collapsed from the burns and returned to her normal form.
"I win!" Natsu raised his fist in triumph.
"Mira!" Lisanna screamed.
She and Elfman ran to their sister's side. Lisanna then looked at Natsu with a frown and tears in her eyes. Natsu's enthusiasm at the victory vanished, was Lisanna mad at him now?
"Well, we now have another S Class wizard!" Makarov stated as he walked up beside Natsu. "Congratulations Natsu!"
"Well done, Natsu!" Erza said.
"You did it, buddy!" Happy flew into Natsu and hugged him.
"Not bad, flamebrain!" Gray said.
"Wendy!" Carla flew over to the younger dragon slayer who had used up a lot of power in the daggers.
Wendy's back was turned to her brother but she smiled, glad he had made it. A few tears of joy escaped from the girls eyes.
Laxus approached Natsu. "Well, congratulations kid. I might have underestimated you."
Natsu grinned at the lightning S-class mage. He then looked over to Lisanna who was busy helping Elfman support their older sister. The Fairy Tail Mages headed back to the guild hall to celebrate their newest S class wizard promotion.
Author's Notes: Well here's another chapter. I would like to thank Amanny for all his reviews. I updated the previous chapter as I went over it and noticed several errors and one thing that was left in complete. Please review when you can! I love to know what you guys think. I updated the previous chapter to fix grammar errors or stuff that I left out, and made sure to go over this. Sorry for skipping Natsu and Wendy vs. Alzack but I wanted to get this done.