Chapter 1 – S-Class Trials?!
It had been almost a year since Nathan, Wendy and Carla had returned to the guild, everyone having cheered and celebrated the night way the moment the news was broken to the guild whilst finally allowing them to leave the problems and adventure of the time disaster behind them once and for all.
Since returning, life had gone rather smoothly for the team, and with a lot more enjoyment in their day to day lives with their new relationship as well. There had been plenty of times that the team had been subjected to teasing from various members of the guild causing them no end of embarrassment but as time went on everyone gradually accumulated to the change.
One of the things that had happened that certainly caused seemingly no end of teasing and comments, however, was the change of Wendy and Carla beginning to live with Nathan. Having merely started out as a temporary thing until the girls had obtained the money to pay their rent had soon turned into an experience that neither Nathan nor Wendy wanted to turn away from.
Whilst Carla had been against it, over time she eventually caved to the idea and before long, she too began to consider the place home. Whilst it had taken a little while, they had eventually made a new fulfilling life between them all and grown comfortable with, spending each day either at the guild, taking on missions or simply time alone with one another.
However, there was now finally a beginning change to those days as a certain shocking event decided to show its face…
It had been seemingly just another day; waking up, having breakfast and heading over to the guild together hand-in-hand and treating the day unlike any other, greeting the guild as they came in through the doors whilst finding a place to sit down. Mira was serving various people alongside Kinanna whilst a small brawl was beginning to get underway in the middle of the guild as plenty of other people who remained mere spectator were all sat around at a respectable distance talking amongst themselves, drinking and eating.
There was only one who was acting out of the ordinary, being Makarov that watched over the whole of the guild from the second floor, standing on the railing as he kept track of everyone that entered and left the guild, making sure that that everyone he wanted was finally present before he made himself known.
"It's about time." He said to himself before taking a quick breath as he gathered himself before jumping down from the second floor to land neatly on the guild's main stage, the sound of his figure colliding with making a loud enough sound to capture the attention of a couple of mages throughout the guildhall.
"Quiet!" Makarov yelled out, silencing the rest of the guild and managing to stop all the fighting with his voice alone as everyone was quickly intrigued at whatever the sudden announcement happened to be.
"As you would all be aware, it has been quite some time since I have last held these, but it is about time that I finally start it yet again!" Makarov yelled out, making sure that his voice was clearly heard by everyone in the guild, his vagueness leading to some confused expressions before some people began to either brighten or look back in shock.
"Wait, Gramps, do you mean?" Someone started to ask whilst a grin began to form on the master's face.
"The S-Class trials will be taking place once again this year!" He cheered out, his enthusiasm easily getting carried throughout the whole of the guild as countless people stood up excited and cheering back in response at the news, some people even beginning to rush to the request board already trying to grab as many jobs as they could.
"I would hold on if I were you all, I think you'll find I've already made my choices for this year's trials." Makarov continued, suddenly halting the efforts that were being made as everyone looked at the stage almost in shock, but mostly anticipation as many were caught off-guard from having such a sudden announcement already being made.
In the middle of this, all were Nathan and Wendy, the former being somewhat confused and interested going on whilst the latter was cheery at the return of the event, knowing that there were plenty of her friends that had been looking forward to this for some time.
"So, what are these trials about?" Nathan couldn't help but ask eventually in a low whisper so that only Wendy could hear him, not that anyone else was in the frame of mind to pay him any attention.
"If you're chosen to go on them, then you get the chance to become S-Class," Wendy quickly answered him, neither of them looking away from the master on the stage all the while. "You also get to choose a partner as well, because of that there was one time where I was asked to help out someone called Mest, and then everything went really poorly from there…"
"How so?" Nathan asked, wondering where her story was going only for her to shake her head.
"I'll tell you a little bit later if you're still interested, I wonder who the master has picked this time." She replied as she stifled a small frown before forcing it away completely with a smile as she hoped the best for her friends. Nathan simply nodded in response whilst making a mental note of it, before he did the same, giving the master his undivided attention and going along with everything else.
"The contestants are… Natsu Dragneel!" Makarov started to call out, the moment that Natsu's name was called he was already found with a triumphant grin whilst he pumped a flaming fist to the sky as people began to applaud despite the fact that the dragon slayer was one of the most predictable choices.
"Gray Fullbuster!" Makarov continued, to the added cheers and talk of options going around, which generally agreed on that the first two picks were hardly something to be surprised about whilst Gray coolly grinned towards the news, likewise excited for the chance to show what he was made of.
"Gajeel Redfox!" The next name was called, much to the iron dragons grinning delight as he bit through a screw before giving a "Gihi" in response as Levy hugged him with a warm smile, knowing just how much that Gajeel himself had been wanting the chance to try and one up some of his closer rivals in the guild.
"Freed" Makarov shouted out again whilst the calm collected man simply nodded in response, internally making a vow to join Laxus as an S-Class mage, whilst the rest of the guild felt like the rest of the list was becoming predictable, not that it didn't kill the excitement of possibilities.
"Cana Albarona!" The master called out the drunks name, getting her to turn away from her drinking before giving a wink, whereas she usually would have felt anxiety and worry towards the trials she had managed her real reason for wanting to complete the before. Now it was purely for the title.
"Juiva Lockerster" The water mage's name was called, to no one's surprise but Gray's dread the moment that she had flung herself at the ice-make wizard, crying all the while whilst proclaiming her desire to have been his partner instead.
"Levy Mcgarden!" As her name was called out Levy was in a moment of disbelief as she didn't expect to be given the chance at all, much less the second time that it was now. Slowly she looked up to face Gajeel who was standing beside her, the two looking conflicted for a moment with the change that was partners to rivals in the competition until Gajeel broke the moment ruffling her hair, the two having come to a silent agreement between them.
"Elfman Stauss!" And the moment the name was called the mountain and 'truest man' of the guild shot out of the crowd, rising up and flexing himself with pride, proclaiming himself the chance to prove himself a real man all over again. It was also at this announcement that people had begun to simmer down, thinking that everyone was finally called out, but to their faint surprise, the master didn't stop.
"Nathan Blueshook!" The master yelled out, making Nathan go slightly wide eyed as all attention quickly turned to him in wild cheers. Wendy was among one of the greatest celebrators as she cheerily hugged him the moment the news was broken with a wide smile on her face that lifted Nathan's mood from bewildered to simply pleased.
"And finally, Wendy Marvel!" The master then finished, quickly shifting the behaviour between the young couple as Wendy almost recoiled in shock, looking almost in disbelief, like she had misheard something but the continued cheering their way made it all too real. Nathan on the other hand now took his turn to hug her back tighter, despite the roaring noise of the guild he made it known to her his pleasure at the scenario.
It took a few moments before Makarov said anymore, letting the guildhall settle over the new news before he started to talk again. "For everyone taking part in the trials, be aware be sure to find a partner before the end of the week, one that isn't already S-Class and from this guild and then present and ready by the end of this week!" he finished, soon stepping down from the stage to signal the end of the announcement, allowing everyone to either return to what they were doing or start talking about the trials.
"How did I end up getting picked, I haven't been here long." Nathan couldn't help but ask whilst he and Wendy were sat back down at the counter of the bar, pondering over the recent news that they had just received.
"It's because it isn't based on how long you have been in the guild, only on if the master thinks that you are ready for it." Wendy quickly answered him whilst she lowered her head towards the counter. "I'm wondering how I was picked, I'm not a prominent fighter like you,"
"I'd say you're plenty incredible compared to me, you're by no means weak and you have all your enchantments and dragon senses." Nathan pointed out in return.
"You shouldn't be questioning how child, honestly, the reason why the pair of you were picked should be rather clear I would think." Carla added on from her position on the counter, looking up at the two slayers that looked at her in a way that almost seemed to question what obvious trait had them both considerable for S-Class.
"I have to agree with Carla, it's been almost a year now but don't you remember doing something rather incredible soon after meeting one another?" Mira had joined in as she smoothly made her way over to the three with a cheery smile on her face, something that they had all grown used to as Mira had come to view Wendy and Nathan as one of the cuter couples of the guild for her to keep her eye on, alongside helping Wendy with her occasional dating worries and problems.
"You mean, when we were separate from the guild for a bit, and everything that happened to time?" Wendy guessed, only able to remember one thing that they had managed to do together that would have resulted in an achievement worthy of S-Class.
"That's right, you know what you did back then was considerable for a 10-year quest or even a 100-year quest right?" Mira cheerily replied.
"But Zabost was with us and helping us out! You saw how incredible he was!" Wendy argued back, completely hesitant to accept all the praise that was being given.
"That is true, he gave everyone in those teams a hard time even when on his own, but you two were still also very impressive. Erza, Laxus and I have all told the master about the things you have done." Mira replied whilst continuing to do her job, putting various mugs and plates back where they belonged whilst starting to clean some dirty ones.
"Anyways, I'm sure that everything will be decided on the test so you should make sure to choose a good partner and get ready! It's a shame that you will have to compete against one another, however…" she pressed on, no longer giving Wendy the chance to say anything in return but forcing her to accept the facts of everything that was happening.
"So we have to directly compete against one another then? What kinds of things does the master test us on in the trials then?" Nathan asked, having an almost half-hearted hope that there was some chance that he could find out what was going to happen before the actual trials.
"Sorry, but the details of what the master has in store usually change every time and he only reveals them when the trials begin. But you can be certain that there will be a chance of fighting one of the guilds S-Class mages." Mira said with a smile, seemingly almost taking some kind of amusement from the question.
"Wait, does that mean we're expected to fight either you, Erza or Laxus then?" Nathan said in realisation.
"That's only a possibility, only three different teams will be split up and have to fight us and even then it will likely be luck based." Mira replied.
"Last time when I was helping Mest we choose a tunnel that ended up having us fight against Gray and Loke." Wendy started to speak up as she remember how the last trials had gone.
"How did you do?" Nathan asked.
"Um… Mest was knocked out by them leaving to me to fight them…" Wendy began to hesitantly answer, acting almost as if he was embarrassed whilst at the same time ashamed. "Then they ate a bunch of pickled plums and the mere sight of their puckered lips was too much, I felt it was like some kind of telepathy magic… Just remembering it…" she said before quickly clasping her hands to her mouth as if she could once again feel the sensation.
"Just how much can't you stand pickled plums? I mean I'm not a fan but…" Nathan said with a vague sense of disbelief as he watched his girlfriend's horrified reaction to the mention of the sour food.
"You'll find that Wendy is bad with any kind of excessively sour food but pickled plumbs are the worst of them." Carla mentioned whilst resisting shaking her head in disapproval, it wasn't like she could hold it over the girl since she quite happily ate anything else without complaint.
"So, that was how you failed to complete the trial the first time round…?" Nathan replied whilst taking note of the newly acquired information, now knowing in the possible horrible situation of being put against Wendy how he could easily handle her without doing any harm.
"The best that can be said is that you find a partner that you can work with that covers your weaknesses, however since Wendy is also completing you can't team up like usual…"Mira added to the conversation. "Is there anyone you already have in mind to ask for help in the trials? You could try going it alone but I wouldn't recommend turning away help when you can have it."
"Um, would you be willing to be my teammate Carla?" Wendy then asked in response to the question that had come up, with the exceed simply turning around with a smile.
"Of course child, but that does mean that you really need to find someone instead." Carla replied before shifting the attention back to Nathan as he lapsed into thought about all the possible choices he could have for partners.
Since coming back to the guild he had been given many more chances to better get along with the rest of the members of the guild and as a result now had a good idea on who everyone was and what they were capable of, yet because of all the time that he had spent with Wendy, there were few outside the chosen selection of mages that he was particularly close to.
"Well, I've already fought all of the S-Class mages once before so I know what they will be like…" Nathan mentioned whilst he gazed over the guild, already noticing that some of the other S-Class candidates were already asking people to be their partners.
"That is an advantage you have, you should be able to plan accordingly more than the other's." Mira said in agreement whilst she beamed at the teenager that was running his mind over the problem.
'If it comes to Laxus then I'm really going to need some help when it comes to firepower… and perhaps Mira as well, and I'm sure that Erza is no slouch either… but when it comes to the others likes Freed and Cana, they have versatility…'
"At this point, it feels like I'm going to need some kind of jack of all trades…" he couldn't help but sigh in response.
"If you are aware of the fact that they can be plenty stronger than you and you don't think any one of those buffoons will be helpful in a fight, then you should simply focus on finding a partner that will help boost your own capabilities." Carla then tried advising him, giving her own thoughts on the matter.
"Yeah! You can eat light as well as the fact your super-fast and agile. I'm sure that there's someone who can help you like that!" Wendy cheerily mentioned.
"Someone to play the role of support… no one really does that as well as you thought…" Nathan couldn't help but reply with a faint smile as he glanced up at Wendy, earning one in response whilst the mood between the two began to threaten to drown out Carla and Mira completely from their perspective.
"Well, you're going to have to find someone, you won't be passing the trail if you don't." Carla then cut in, making sure that they didn't start to go too far and make anything any more troublesome.
"I guess I should just ask someone that I think I can fight alongside to any extent, and hope that I get a good matchup." Nathan replied as he and Wendy broke eye contact thanks to the interruption, his mood like usual hardly depicting any kind of worry or care at all to the mixed reactions among the girls yet they had all expected it…
For the members of the guild, the day had either been a long or short one in the long lived celebrations and uproar about the revitalisation of the S-Class trials, with plenty of people being excited about the contestants and already guessing about who they thought were likely to beat the trials this year.
The chosen members were either of two groups, completely excited and looking forward to the presented challenge or trying to ride out the storm of otherwise excited members. Members of the excited group quickly knew who their partners were going to be and wasted no time in asking them to accompany them, with everyone quickly finding someone to bring to the trials before having spent the rest of the day in high spirits.
On the other end of the spectrum, there were people that merely tried to spend their time relaxing instead of the high spirit, fast action that the rest of the guild was caught up in, yet such things proved nearly impossible to avoid. A fact that went especially strong for Wendy and Nathan as plenty of people went out of their way to congratulate the pair and ask for their thoughts all day, including on whoever they were thinking of bringing with them as their partners.
Eventually, the sun began to set as dusk started to take over the town marking the time when everyone started heading home at their own paces, and finally giving the teenagers the chance for a break that they had been almost longing for.
"Goodbye, Mira," Wendy said as she picked up Carla before getting to her feet with Nathan who simply waved at the barmaid who smiled back in response.
"Take care getting home you three! And make sure to get plenty of rest, I'm sure that everyone has left you feeling plenty exhausted." Mira replied with her usual, ever cheerful smile before resuming finishing cleaning up the last of all the dirty dishes that had accumulated throughout the day, leaving the three to make their way through the large guild doors before closing behind them.
Quite naturally Nathan and Wendy joined hands before they started walking through the streets of Magnolia, neither of them needing to say a word as they simply enjoyed the quiet, gentle atmosphere between them while it has been a journey that had made what felt like countless times already together.
As a result of that, the sight of the two gradually became a sight that was more and more well known by the people that either frequented or lived down the roads that they walked through. As they walked the occasion person called out wishing the two a good evening before they wished the same in response as they passed by, not that they had always been simple, gentle greetings. During the time when their relationship was still new and people had begun to figure them out from the mere sight of them, they had instead cheerily teased them instead, much to their embarrassment.
Yet it had also managed to become one of Wendy's favourite times of day, as she enjoyed making the peaceful trip with a smile on her face where she quickly found herself forgetting anything that may have happed to have dragged her mood down during the day.
And it was whilst submerged in the blissful feeing in the cold night did time begin to lose meaning as it started to pass by in no time, and for what always felt like too soon they had made it back to the house.
"Do you feel like having dinner already?" Wendy asked whilst Nathan unlocked the door for them, soon opening it and holding it that way for the girls to follow him inside before closing it behind them. "I thought that you might also be a little tired because of how everyone acted today." She continued, putting Carla down whilst she removed her shoes at the doorway.
"I wouldn't mind if that's what you want." Nathan nonchalantly replied as he followed her example before stepping out into the main corridor. "What about you Carla? You didn't each that much today."
"I think I would like to have it sooner today, after everything I think I would quite like being able to get to bed sooner." The white feline admitted, already walking towards the kitchen with her own agender in mind.
"Do you want to do something simple as well?" Nathan then asked as he faced Wendy, "You're also a bit tired as well right?"
"Mm, maybe just a little." Wendy replied with a weak yet grateful smile. "We could have curry today, and you can rest whilst it's simmering Carla. We'll wake you up when it's finished."
"I suppose that is fine, you have gotten better at cooking on your own now haven't you?" Carla replied as they walked over to her whilst she continued to grab some teacups as water began to boil.
"Well, I have been cooking a lot more since leaving the dorms after all." Wendy said as she remained indifferent, whilst already knowing at the possibility that the exceed was hinting at.
"You could have cooked more even when you were staying there and when you did you burnt the occasional things. Now since living with Nathan, you haven't burnt anything, and even started experimenting slightly as well." Carla continued, her smile not fading as she continued to dig at the sky dragon, knowing that she was likely to soon reach her limit again, despite the tolerance that she and Nathan had started to build up over the past year.
And true to her predictions Wendy was beginning to lose her composer despite trying to hold it together, and Nathan could see it as well as when Wendy immediately began to move towards getting some pots to start cooking the curry in.
Unlike his girlfriend, Nathan could find it in himself to smile at the sight of her, simply admiring her for a bit whilst he went rather unfazed by Carla's words, with the accepting of a fluttering happiness in his chest. Instead, the sight of Wendy beginning to get flustered for them was enough to help keep him calm from any embarrassment
"Well, I've simply found some enjoyment in cooking and like doing it, is there something wrong with that?" Wendy countered, almost in a huff as she tried to busy herself to better take her mind off of things.
"You enjoy cooking for Nathan?" Carla responded, making Wendy's movement go rather stiff, contrary to Carla's own smooth movements of now pouring hot water into her teacup, quickly supplying herself with some Darjeeling.
"That's! That's…." Wendy started as her cheeks openly went red as she tried to find the words to say. "I… do." She then admitted, not wanting to have to say a lie despite her embarrassment of it, an embarrisment that managed to slightly find its way over to Nathan who could tell he was heating up.
"Even after all this time, you are still so prone to light teasing like that." Carla said with a slight shake of her head before taking a sip of her drink whilst sprouting her wings to fly out of the room.
"It's only because Nathan's currently here!" Wendy almost shouted back as she watched the exceed leave, plenty pleased with what she had achieved and guessed what was likely to ensue as a result of it.
Rather quietly and smoothly did Nathan then move up to Wendy from behind before wrapping his arms around her and pulling her into a gentle hug, one that despite her feelings she couldn't bring herself to even want to try to escape it, but simply lean back into Nathan's own warmth and chest.
"Thank you for doing all of though." Nathan gently said, "Even if it isn't for me, thank you for it all."
"Mm," Wendy could merely hum in response as she enjoyed the moment despite her bright red face that burned with a warmth that Nathan could feel even if he wasn't directly touching her.
"I think that she just teases us like that at times as to remind us of our efforts for one another." He then continued before remaining in silence for a few moments for Wendy to begin to calm down again.
"But does she have to tease us at the same time?" Wendy couldn't help but ask.
"She just wants to have some fun for annoying her at times, despite having Happy." Nathan quickly replied. "Wanna start the curry with me now?" he then asked.
"Yeah," Came the simple reply before she received one last squeeze from Nathan before he pulled apart to instead stand beside her, getting a knife for the pair of them to start cutting up the ingredients together.
"It should just need to be left alone for a little bit now before it's ready." Wendy said as she and Nathan entered the living room after having finished the majority of the cooking for the curry, finally reaching a point where they could begin to take a break.
"That's good." Nathan simply replied as he quickly sat down on the sofa, making sure to get comfortable before looking back at Wendy, already guessing what she would likely be wanting to do. And true to his predictions Wendy showed little hesitation in joining him, choosing to even sit down on his lap whilst welcoming his arms around her as she fully leaned into him with an almost blissful smile.
For a little bit they said nothing to one another, as they remained in a comfortable silence, merely enjoying the gentle, warm feeling of each other and even the steady rising and falling of their chests as they breathed.
"Do you still have no idea who you will ask?" Wendy eventually asked, breaking the moment as she chose to voice her thoughts.
"Your thinking about the S-Class trials again?" Nathan replied.
"Mm," Wendy hummed in response with a small nod of her head. "It's just that it's a big opportunity that I thought that you wouldn't want to miss out on it. I also don't really know what to do if we happen to have to fight one another…"
"Maybe it will be something that will never happen." Nathan replied as he tightened his grasp on Wendy, yet still to her comfort. "But maybe it's better for us to view each other as rivals for the time being. I know that you rarely do it but when you have fought against our friends you have always given it you're all in competition."
"I know, but you're different." Wendy briefly replied, those few words being enough for Nathan to understand the kinds of thoughts that she was having.
"Then why don't we add something to it then?" Nathan then suggested, gaining Wendy's interest as she shifted slightly in his grasp to look back up at him, waiting for whatever he was about to say. "If it does come down to us fighting, then we can have our own person competition. Whoever loses faces some kind of penalty towards the winner."
"But then what kind of penalty?" Wendy couldn't help but ask, unable to not find such a potential offer enticing.
"Depends on you, I'm willing to go as far as anything." Nathan said back with a beaming confident smile, his words leaving a spark in Wendy that had her mind running and thinking about various possibilities.
"Then, how about we do whatever the winner wants for a day?" Wendy then suggested with a smile of her own coming to her face as she began to look forward to the prospect that came with it.
"High stake's then? I'm up for it." He replied with amusement before trying to think of anything that he would have Wendy do for such a reward, yet few particular things managed to come to mind when he tried. 'I should make sure to at least think of a few things by then… but then what would Wendy have me do if I lost?' he thought to himself, remembering the alternative possibility that he had now signed up for.
'It's unlikely that she would ask for something overwhelming but… there is the chance that Wendy has been holding onto a few things that I've been unaware of…' He continued to think to himself until he felt Wendy shift about in his arms again, now with a content and excited smile that he couldn't help but find her adorable.
"So now finding a partner became even more important huh?" Wendy almost cheerily mentioned snapping Nathan back into a reality with a question that had suddenly begun to bare more significance.
"I guess so… not that I have an overwhelming amount of ideas of who it will be still…" Nathan said a faint sigh, yet it was nothing that managed to make it past Wendy.
"I'm sure that you'll find someone, everyone in the guild has their own talents and would love to help you out. I'm sure of it!" Wendy replied.
"I'm sure of that… but in the meantime, how about the curry?" Nathan responded with an easy voice, before quickly shifting the subject as he could feel his stomach begin to delve further and further into hunger.
"It might be done, do you want to go and get Carla?" Wendy said whilst getting to her feet again, pulling away from Nathan who soon quickly followed whilst in the same smooth action, quickly managed to lean into her face before giving her a gentle kiss on the lips.
"Sure thing." Nathan then replied, almost as nonchalantly as usual as he wasted no further time in walking away towards the stairs to find Carla, leaving Wendy in a slight daze with blushing cheeks before breaking into an awkward smile, his spontaneous actions never failing to strike her in the heart.
She would have to make sure to get back at him somehow sooner or later…
And here's the first chapter to really kick off the story. It really shouldn't have taken this long and I feel like I could have still have done a little more, yet at the same time I'm already setting up for a fast-paced start, but for those knowing the inspiration of this story, it's an equivalence to how it starts and hey, time skip, how could they not deserve it?
I hope that people enjoyed reading this start and are looking forward to the trials and everything they bring. Also for those who haven't seen the prequel, The End Of Time, I recommend it. Glittering skies will be continued as random events within the time skip and will be mostly fluff so that isn't something that you should have to overly worry about, however.
Reviews:
Reader of 1000 stories: Well I'ma not spoil things about any possible pain trains, but fluff is assured (at least I shall try my hardest with a not a bad start). I hope that you continue to enjoy the series, as well as mythic djinn.
Midnight423: Glad to hear, and I hope that I meet expectations!
Scatman SSJohn EX: Well it would be quite the scene to write in, yet I can say for certain things will go exactly that.
Ushindi: Glad to hear and I hope that I don't let you down!