Year X783
It had roughly been a year since Natsu and Happy joined Fairy Tail and a lot had changed.
But the biggest changes of them all were the ones involving the Strauss siblings. Following the disaster of the mission where they met Natsu, all of them made different resolutions.
Lisanna was perhaps the least affected by the whole affair. She had remained the same person but she did change slightly as a mage. Indeed, her main activity was now to serve as a waitress in the guild hall. She was still going on missions every now and then, mostly with her brother, but that was it.
Elfman, feeling guilty for losing control of himself and almost killing his little sister, decided he would never use a Full-Body Take Over again because the risk was to great and he would limit himself to Partial Take Over instead. Moreover, the frustration of not having been able to help his sisters caused his personality to change drastically and he developed a strange obsession with manliness along with a new goal of getting stronger to be able to protect his sisters on his own.
However, Mirajane was by far the one who had undergone the most extreme transformation. First of all, she had dropped her usual arrogant and self-important personality and had become a loving and caring person who treats her friends, and even strangers, with kindness.
To match with her new behavior, she had also changed her physical appearance. She now sported a short, upward ponytail obtained by gathering and tying the hair covering her forehead. She had also traded her gothic attire for a sleeveless, ankle-length maroon dress with a pleated skirt, the chest was adorned by a large, pink bow, and similarly colored trimmings frame the rather ample neckline, acting as straps, and circle around the waist. Mirajane also wore high-heeled shoes that matched her dress, and accessorizes with a small chain necklace with a blue oval gem attached to it, and a bracelet made of white flowers circling her right wrist.
It wasn't all good however, the trauma of almost losing one, if not both, her siblings had made her lose much of her magical ability along with her will to fight. As a result, Mirajane decided to give up on her career as a mage completely and became the guild's barmaid and posed regularly for the Sorcerer Magazine.
That being said, the Strauss weren't the only ones whose lives had taken a turn recently.
Since he joined Fairy Tail, Natsu decided he should have a proper home for the first time in centuries. Therefore, he built himself and Happy a two-story house with a living room, a kitchen, a bathroom for each of the two bedrooms. Natsu and Happy shared the master bedroom with a small hammock for the latter and a king size bed for the former, though he didn't really ever use it. In front of the house, there was a wooden sign shaped like a cat head with "Natsu and Happy" written on it. Nevertheless, their house was still pretty isolated. Indeed, it was in the middle of the forest and a good 30 minutes away from Magnolia. The reasons for that were to allow Natsu to train without the risk of blowing the whole city up and because he was so used to living in the wilderness that he felt uncomfortable anywhere else.
Natsu had also earned himself quite the reputation as a Fairy Tail wizard for his power and effectiveness, completing multi-day missions in a few hours and, unlike his guildmates, with very little if any property damage. As a result, he started being given the moniker "Salamander" in reference to his fire magic which he used slightly more than the other three.
The guild was now aware of his four different elements of Dragon Slayer Magic but other than that, Natsu was pretty secretive about both his magic and his past. Even Happy, under his partner's instructions, had not given any information whatsoever.
Many guild members were quite frustrated by this, especially since they were persuaded Natsu had secrets that could help them get stronger.
Recently, however, they weren't really concerned about it, for almost all of them were much too busy taking one job after the other without taking any breaks.
That is the sight Natsu and Happy were greeted with when they came into the guild this morning. As Natsu walked to the bar with Happy on his shoulder, both of them looked around the guild hall with confusion.
When they reached the bar, Mirajane noticed them and greeted them with a friendly wave and a warm smile.
"Hey Natsu! Hey Happy!" she exclaimed happily. She was always glad to see Natsu. She was immensely grateful to him for saving her siblings a year ago and she had worked hard to try to become his friend, despite his secretive nature. And she had succeed, to an extent.
"Hi Mira." Natsu greeted back while Happy silently waved back with a smile.
As the pinkette sat down on a bar stool, his blue-furred friend jumped from his shoulder and onto the bar itself.
"Hey Mira. Can I have a fish please?" he requested, trying to be cute. Mirajane was about to answer but her pink-haired guildmate beat her to it.
"Wha-I gave you a fish this morning for breakfast!" he exclaimed in astonishment.
"Yeah but it was too small so I'm still hungry." the cat explained. Before the conversation could go any further, both of the interlocutors' attention were drawn by a giggle from the other side of the bar.
"Coming right up Happy. And Natsu, don't act like you can't afford it. It's the only thing you spend your mission rewards on." she said while going in the reserve to get Happy's fish.
"It's what I spend all my money on Mira. Why do you think we go on quests so often." he elaborated with a sigh, loud enough for the white-haired female to hear him. And she did, if the giggle his ears picked up was any indication. She shortly returned with the fish in a plate, only to disappear from said plate as soon as it touched the bar table, and find itself in Happy's mouth. The cat mumbled a "Thank you." with his mouth full, making the girl giggle and the boy sigh.
"Speaking of which, Mira, why is everyone so hyperactive today?" Natsu asked while looking around the guild.
"Well, it must be because the S-class trials are coming up soon. They all want to distinguish themselves to be chosen as candidates." the former "Demon of Fairy Tail" explained while holding her chin in a thinking manner.
"Oh, I see." he simply said, dropping the topic. That made Mirajane raise an eyebrow.
"Aren't you going to do it too?" she asked.
"Nah, I'm not really interested in becoming an S-class mage to be honest. Besides, I've only been here a year. I'd rather let someone who's been here longer get it." he explained. Unfortunately, this gave the eldest Strauss an idea and she grew a devilish smile. And right on cue, Makarov's voice rocketed through the entire guild, from the second floor's railing.
"Erza, Mira get into my office. It's time for the S-class meeting." he called them. He then turned to his grandson who was sitting on a chair on the second floor. "You too, Laxus."
"Pff, why should I waste my time talking about any of those guys?" he scoffed with disdain. "You want my opinion? As far as I'm concerned, none of those weaklings are strong enough to be allowed to become S-class." he said and disappeared in a flash of lightning.
Makarov sighed at his grandson's attitude and looked down to see the other two S-class wizards coming up the stairs and Lisanna replace her sister at the bar.
Once the three of them got in the office, Makarov closed the door and they took a seat around the office's desk.
"Alright, so as you both know the time to pick this year's S-class candidates has come. Any suggestions?" the guild master started.
"I think we should let Cana participate this year again master. She might not be all that strong but she has all the necessary moral qualities." Erza recommended.
"I agree. Mira?" Makarov agreed and asked for the barmaid's opinion.
"I don't see why not. Although, I did have someone else in mind." she said, drawing curious looks from the other people in the room. "Natsu Dragneel." While Makarov simply began stroking his mustache in thought, Erza's eyes widened at the suggestion.
"Natsu?! I mean, sure, he's a strong and competent wizard but he's only been here a year and we barely know anything about him." the knight argued.
""Strong" doesn't even begin to cut it Erza. Remember how easily he beat you last time?" the white-haired girl teased, to which her former rival growled. "Besides, what you said doesn't even matter. He is smart, reliable and lenient. And it just so happens that he is our only guild member who the Magic Council doesn't have a grudge against, so it would be nice if he took care of some S-class quests." she elaborated.
"I'm going to have to agree with Mira on that one. The rules of the guild are clear on the subject. Time spent in the guild doesn't count. The only things that do are strength and purity of the heart. And as for the lack of information about himself, it is not our place to pry about things he doesn't want us to know. So I'm going to let Natsu take part in the trials." Makarov explained. Erza was still unsure about this but she would trust her master's judgment. "Although, if such a powerhouse as Natsu is going to participate, we'll need some contingencies for sure." he added, thoughtfully.
A few minutes later, the three mages left the office and stepped onto the stage with the guild master in front and the two women behind him.
"LISTEN UP, BRATS!" he yelled to get everyone's attention, which he did. "As you probably all know, the time for the annual S-class trials has come. The S-class wizards and I have determined that two of you were ready to take the exam. Cana Alberona."
Upon hearing her name, said woman sighed. She was a tall and slim tanned-skinned young woman with an ample bust, mid-back length wavy brown hair, large brown eyes and visibly long eyelashes. Her black Fairy Tail stamp was located on the lower left part of her abdomen, right above her hips. She was wearing a light blue bikini top which features a camouflage pattern, a pair of capri pants, with two bands hanging from each leg and a light belt covered in heart motifs loosely tied around the waist. She also had a pair of high-heeled sandals, a pair of metal bracelets adorning her biceps, and three simple, round metal bracelets on her right wrist.
Cana had been selected to participate in the S-class trials a few times and had failed each time. She really wanted to become an S-class mage though, not because of the promotion itself but because of something else entirely. Her hopes went crashing down when the name of her opponent was revealed.
"And Natsu Dragneel." Makarov finished.
Everyone froze at the name and slowly turned towards the designated mage who had been talking with his blue-furred friend but stopped when he heard his name and realized what had unfolded. He slowly turned his gaze towards the guild master.
"Me? Are you sure about this?" he asked, really not convinced he neither deserved nor wanted to be S-class.
"I am. Besides, even if I weren't, the rules of the guild clearly state you should be allowed to participate so what I think is irrelevant anyway." the old man explained. "Now, you two have a full week to prepare. Furthermore, it was decided that this year's trials would take place on Tenrou Island, Fairy Tail's holy ground as well as the resting place of our first guild master, Mavis Vermillion!" he declared.
This got all the guild members to start conversations about the oncoming trials. Everyone was either complaining about not having been chosen, saying that they wish they could get a trip to the island, establishing how Cana didn't stand a chance and some other stuff. Everyone…except a particular pink-haired mage who had just been looking down at the ground thoughtfully with sadness ever since he had heard the name of a good friend of his he hadn't seen in a century.
A week later, Natsu, Makarov, Erza and Cana were all on a boat, supposedly sailing towards Tenrou Island. Usually, the participants would be allowed to bring a partner of their choosing to assist them in the trials. However, Makarov thought it best to bring as few people as possible. Moreover, the existing S-class mages are supposed to help in the exam but since Mira wasn't an active mage anymore and Laxus had no intention to help whatsoever, Erza was left to assist Makarov on her own.
As the ship got closer to its destination, the climate progressively got hotter. Cana was, by far, the most affected by the heat as she was sprawled on a chair, sweating heavily. Despite keeping her usual posture and stern expression, Erza too, sported a few drops of sweat on her skin. Makarov was at the front of the ship, seemingly unaffected by the temperature. As for Natsu, he was leaning up against the boat's railing, staring at the sea thoughtfully. As a Fire Dragon, he was impervious to heat so he hadn't even noticed the new climate.
"Here we are." Makarov announced after a while, pointed in front of him, directing everyone's attention to the island towards which the boat was heading.
It was a mildly small, rocky and steep island covered by lush vegetation, both bright yellow and green in color. One side of the island was shown to be particular rocky, possessing large formations jutting outwards from the ground, one near the shore, protruding above the sea, and the other near the center of the island, overlooking it; the latter had a pair of waterfalls falling down from it in a small lake below. Topping such second rocky formation stood the most distinctive element of the island: the Great Tenrou Tree, a gigantic tree with a gnarled, mildly curved trunk, ending in a number of large branches which sustained something like a large, flat section composed of earth and crowded by a multitude of normal-sized trees. Such gargantuan plant possessed a multitude of similarly large, curved and twisted roots, which right below the trunk sustained massive lumps of earth; something which created some sort of covered area right below the tree itself.
When the boat landed on the beach and the group walked to a clearing in the forest, Makarov started a speech in which he explained the story and characteristics of this island. "Legend has it that the First Master was born on this island over a hundred years ago but it was attacked by a dark guild. She then left the island and saved Magnolia from the same dark guild and founded Fairy Tail. The Great Tenrou Tree sinking its roots in the center of the island bestows divine protection upon those bearing the Fairy Tail crest, making it so that they cannot die while on the island, while at the same time enhancing their magic power. Such effects would be nullified in the unlikely case that the tree was destroyed."
Natsu wasn't paying much attention to what the old man was saying because the moment his foot touched the island's soil, he felt a familiar presence on the island but one that didn't make sense. 'It can't be…' he thought in surprise.
When they reached the clearing, the guild master stopped talking about his story and started explaining how the exam was going to take place. "The first step of this year's exam will be a test of strength. But you will not be fighting each other. Instead, each of you will face an opponent and try to last as long as possible."
"But how is that fair?! Natsu already defeated Erza once!" Cana protested, getting a growl from said red-haired woman.
"No, you don't understand. You will face Erza, and Natsu will face me." he clarified which got Cana to gasp and Erza to widen her eyes. For the guild master to personally fight a participant meant he believed Natsu to be even more powerful than they had ever suspected. As for Natsu, he wasn't worried in the slightest. He knew he could beat Makarov in the blink of an eye but he wanted to keep as much of his true strength as secret as possible. So his real challenge would be to use just the right amount of power in his fight.
The first fight was Cana against Erza so they positioned themselves on opposite ends of the field and the two males stepped aside.
"Requip: Heaven's Wheel Armor!" Erza started and was covered in her usual golden light. When it died down, plated armor covered her chest, with a large metal flower over it, and she wore a large billowing skirt that has metal plating in the upper area. Her stomach and neck were uncovered, and she had large metal wings that appear to be made of individual blades, as well as a wing-like headpiece. She also had a large broadsword in each hand.
As a response, Cana simply threw a bunch of cards at Erza who effortlessly either dodged or blocked all of them.
"Blumenblatt!" Erza yelled and requipped a massive amount of swords, she then charged at Cana and tried to slice her with the two swords she was holding but her opponent narrowly avoided the attack. The knight then flew past the brunette and sent the swords she had requipped into her at the same time. Again, the card wizard avoided serious damage but she did get a few cuts here and there.
"The Prayer's Fountain!" Cana called out and threw a single card with a fountain-like design printed on it on the ground. Right after, several beams of water were summoned from it, striking in all directions.
"Requip: Flight Armor!" Erza shouted and requipped into a cheetah printed outfit with a large collar around Erza's neck and a tail hanging from the back of her shorts, both made of bushy fur, plus a pair of large cheetah's ears adorning both sides of Erza's head. For her weapons, she had a pair of short swords with elaborate hand-guards similar to a rapier's, shaped like rose's thorns. The enhanced speed this armor granted allowed Erza, not only to dodge all of the water beams, but also to get close enough to Cana to hit her on the back of the head, knocking her out.
"Looks like it is our turn, my boy." Makarov announced to Natsu who nodded in acknowledgment and agreement. Both wizards got where their guildmates previously stood while Erza helped Cana, who had regained her consciousness, and both girls stood on the sideline, paying close attention to the fight that was about to unfold.
As soon as the fight started, Makarov emitted a soft golden glow and grew in size until he got to the same height as the Fairy Tail's guild hall. Natsu didn't appear intimidated whatsoever. The guild master then repeatedly tried to strike Natsu with brute strength. The Triple Hybrid dodged each of the attacks effortlessly but quickly got bored of the ordeal.
"If you're just going to try to kick me wildly into the ground, you're in for a surprise. Water Dragon's Roar!" Natsu stated and then a huge torrent of swirling water was expelled from his mouth and hit his opponent dead on because he was too close and slow to dodge. Much to the girls' shock, Makarov was pushed back significantly by the attack which was a testament that Natsu had already won this step of the trials. Nevertheless, Makarov decided to get a better look at Natsu's abilities.
"Rain of Light!" he used as soon as the water dissipated and created his Magic Seal in front of himself, from which multiples light blasts were generated and sent flying at his opponent. Natsu was unfazed by the oncoming attack.
"Ice Dragon's Iceberg." he simply said, swiping his hand to the side and a huge pile of ice emerged from the ground in front of him. When Makarov's attack hit it, it exploded and chunks of ice were sent flying left and right but the main goal had been achieved: the light never touched Natsu. That was enough for Makarov who reverted back to his usual form.
"I think we can all agree who has won this round. Sorry Cana, better luck next time." he said with an apologetic look towards the card mage who surprisingly didn't look too upset.
"It's okay, I wasn't really expecting anything else anyway." she reassured. Both women then walked back to the ship, leaving the men to continue the trials on their own.
"Very well, Natsu. As you know, being an S-class mage isn't about strength alone. For your next test, you will have to find the ruins of the library on this island. I'll be waiting you there. You have before dusk." he explained and disappeared in a flash of gold.
Simply shrugging, the Dragon Slayer started walking in a random direction in the woods. After a few minutes, he stopped and grew a small smile as he felt a familiar presence behind him. "I was wondering when and if you were going to show up." he stated as he turned around to face his new interlocutor.