After giving Sif the Greatsword of Artorias and working in water magic to make new techniques with my sword magic, things really took off at the guild. The first notable change was that Gray joined the guild a few weeks after which pretty much went exactly how it did in canon, with him asking Master about Iced Shell and finding out it couldn't be reversed.

Pretty much everything was the same after that and Gray even managed to worm his way into the already tightly knit group that was Cana and I, who followed my advice as soon as Gildarts returned from one of his missions.

~Flashback~

"Attention all, a Gildarts shift is now commencing. I repeat, a Gildarts shift is now commencing."

As soon as the announcement rang out throughout Magnolia the entire guild started cheering as the buildings around town were shifted so that there was a straight path all the way to the guildhall, in the distance the small shadow that was Gildarts making his way up to us.

Peering to my right, I could see that Cana had started to sweat a bit at the mention of her father. In fact, she was shivering in fear- holy crap is she turning green!

"You know you don't have to tell him if you're not ready to yet. You can wait for another day, no one would blame you for being really nervous."

"No!"

I blinked. The only time she had ever been that forceful with me was when we had gone on the job a few months ago and met Sif.

"If I chicken out now, tell myself I can do it tomorrow, then I'm always going to brush it off for another day whenever I get nervous. After listening to you talk about your parents and wishing they could see you now, I won't have the same regrets!" As she spoke, she stopped shaking and gained a fiery look in her ideas while clenching her fist.

"What regrets?" The person in front of us asked and the two of us froze, completely forgetting that he had been sitting in front of us.

Gray looked at the two of us expectantly, waiting for an answer before he started stripping down right at the table.

"Gray, your clothes." Thankfully it was the perfect distraction from what we had been saying, the two of us laughing while Gray rushed to dress again.

"What's up guys? I'm back!" A gruff voice called and the three of us turned to see that Gildarts had managed to walk into the building without destroying any walls, which almost always happened.

Immediately everyone rushed forwards and started crowding around Gildarts, asking him about the recent monsters he had vanquished or people he had saved on his SS-class mission. Cana and I waited… and waited… and waited, but so many people were asking questions that it was taking forever and I could tell Cana was getting antsy so I took matters into my own hands.

"Oi!" I threw a chair into the middle of the people crowding Gildarts which kickstarted a massive brawl between the guild members.

Quickly, I walked over to the man of the hour and pulled him over to Cana before grabbing her as well and dragged the two of them into the infirmary of the building.

"There! Gildarts, Cana needs to talk to you. Sit down, shut up and listen!" He seemed shocked that I had said this but seemed to notice how nervous she was and ruffled her hair.

"It's alright, Cana. What do you need to say? Are you in trouble or something? Need Money? Don't be shy and ask good old Gildarts anything.'

This seemed to boost her confidence a bunch, so after she calmed down again she spoke.

"You're my father."

At first, the atmosphere of the room seemed to freeze before suddenly Gildarts was suddenly going crazy at the revelation and proceeded to do exactly the same thing he had done in the manga when Cana told him he was her father.

"You're my kid! Wait a minute, which one was your mother? Chloe, Abby, Phoebe, Maria, Ellie? No, wrong eye color! Sylvia, Autumn, Grace, Sarah, the Ellis sisters?"

As Gildarts continued to rattle off names I couldn't help but face palm. I had really been hoping that Mashima was just trying to bring humor to a serious moment but holy shit. Gildarts really was that much of a man-slut!

It seemed Cana had similar thoughts to me because as he kept rattling names of and counting on his fingers her expression was becoming angrier and angrier before she seemingly became fed up with his nonsense.

"Whatever! I just wanted you to know, you don't need to change how you act around me all of a sudden. Let's head back down Zeph."

"Wait!" Gildarts reached out and grabbed her arm before she could leave and pulled her into a tight hug while Cana seemed shocked at the development.

"There's no doubt about it, you're Cornelia's daughter, aren't you? She was the only woman I ever truly loved."

~Present Time~

After a bunch of awkward and emotional talking between the two Cana ended up moving out of her place and into Gildart's house so the two could spend more time together.

Things settled down again until Natsu and Erza joined, and while she was the same anti-social mess I remembered her being at first, I allowed Gray to do his thing and she began to hang out with our little group as well, which led to my current predicament.

"Sixth Sword: Dokuga no Tachi!" Smashing into the sword clashing with my own, I released a shockwave into Erza's sword, forcing her to drop it and back away from my follow up swing.

"Circle Sword!" Dodging her counter attack I spun to the right before using my momentum to dash forward so that our blades clashed in a deadlock.

"Seems that neither of us can attack like this." She seemed smug at this, but I was going to prove how wrong she was to think that.

"It would be, if I couldn't do this. Second Sword: Rekkou!" Using the torque from my lower body, I slashed at the point-blank range we were in and sent her skidding back and went to attack again before she could recover.

"Hey guys! Master is about to make the announcement, hurry up and get in here!" Cana shouted to us from the guildhall.

The two of us made eye contact, a silent agreement to continue our spar later, before dashing up to where Master was going to announce who was going to take part in this year's S-class trials. It had been four years of training since I first started expanding my arsenal of techniques and magic and I felt ready for anything (I was going to regret those words deeply wasn't I?).

Once inside, we immediately sat at our groups usual table where I pat Sif's head while she chewed on a steak and Natsu noisily ate a pile of meat that had been placed in front of him. Master immediately yelled at everyone to quiet down before clearing his throat.

"Alright brats, listen up! This year's S-class trials are going to be at Mount Hakobe!" This immediately put everyone on edge. We were nearing wintertime, so depending on the time given to prepare we would be in the coldest season at one of the coldest locations in Fiore.

"So here are the rules! The first part of the trial is going to be a race to the mountain from Magnolia, the first two people there will be allowed to move on to the second part of the exam which will be explained at the site. Now, here are this year's candidates: Laxus Dreyar! Macao Conbolt! Wakaba Mine! And Zephyr Halliwell! These four will meet me at the entrance to Magnolia in one week for the start of the trials. Dismissed!"

After a round of congratulations and well wishes from the members the four of us who were chosen for the trials were the only ones left standing together.

"Well, I'm going off to train some more! I'll see you guys in a week for the trials." Macao immediately ran off with the other two saying similar things about training before heading off as well.

I simply sat there as Sif continued to enjoy her food and turned back to my friends who were all looking at me expectantly.

"What?" I was confused at the shining look in their eyes and all the hope leaking off them was beginning to blind me.

"You need to become S-class so you can take us on jobs!"

"Yeah!"

"What she said! You got to go and train!"

"I think you guys are confused about something. Other than some regular exercise and technique training I'm not really going to do any last-minute training for the trials."

The three of them immediately began to badger me about my reasoning as I sighed and shook my head.

"Listen, you go to bed early before a big day so you won't be tired right?" They all nodded at what I said before I continued.

"Well it's the same principle as that. I don't want to train to much or exhaust myself right now or I won't be at full power for the exams. That's why I'm going to rest my magic and only do some light physical training. Besides, a week isn't suddenly going to make me S-class level if I wasn't already there to begin with, you know?"

"I don't get it."

Aside from Natsu's usual dumbass response, a round of nods was my answer as we all began to order and tuck into our food, but despite what I had said I was still going through everything in my head. Clothes I would need, water bottles, anything to make sure I passed what would probably be my biggest challenge yet, especially since this was the year Laxus was supposed to be promoted to S-class.

~x~x~

After spending the week getting all the supplies I would need, I showed up at the gate to Magnolia, where Master and Gildarts where already waiting and having a hushed conversation. Once they noticed me the two stopped and gave me grins.

"Ah! Zeph! I should have known you would be the first person to show up. You all set to take the exam?"

"Yes Master. I have all the supplies I need and the others offered to watch Sif while I was gone so everything is set."

"Good, good! Now all we need to do is wait for the others to show up and we can get this year's S-class trials underway."

Fortunately, that wouldn't take long. As soon as Master said that Laxus strolled up to us and just leaned against one of the trees while listening to his music. A few moments later the dynamic duo of Macao and Wakaba showed up as well, both with super serious looks that would normally be out of place on the two, but I knew why they were so determined.

I had found out a few days prior that this was going to be the last time the two of them were going to be attempting the S-class trials, ever. Macao's wife was heavily pregnant, and as is common, babies cost a lot of money. All the time he could be using for training would be going towards jobs to pay for everything his kid would need and Wakaba wasn't really any different. His wife wanted them to start a family, and if that happened, he wouldn't be able to go off for the weeks or months it could possibly take for an S-class mission. If the two didn't pass now, family life would prevent them from trying again.

But as much as I sympathized with them, I wasn't going to hold back. I had wanted this since I first realized what world I had been reborn in and everything I had done, the training, the studying, the missions, it was all leading up to this. I would be pulling out all the stops and I was going to bulldoze over anyone who thought they could stop me.

Master walked over to the gate a dragged a line with his foot before speaking.

"All right, here's the deal! I already told you that this was going to be a race to Mount Hakobe but there are a few rules that need to be made clear. First, no sort of instant teleportation magic of any kind! So, no disappearing in a bolt of lightning for you Laxus."

The confidant grin that Laxus had plastered on his face lowered slightly but remained all the same.

"Secondly, the only items that you're allowed to take with you are ones required for your magic! So, all of you will be leaving your bags with Gildarts and I and won't get them back until we finish the first section of the trials. Other than that, everything goes. Are you all ready?"

The atmosphere, if it was even possible, got even more tense as all of us lined up at the gate. Laxus began to spark with lightning, Macao lit his fingers with fire, Wakaba placed his pipe in his mouth and I gripped my newest sword so hard that my hand started shaking and crouched in a ready stance with my other hand on the hilt.

"Start!"

I didn't know about the others, but I had been amassing magic power into my blade since Master had started talking and immediately released it behind me when I had the slightest lead on the others.

"Melforce!" If I could take inspiration from my past life and the manga I had read, then why couldn't I also take inspiration from one of Mashima's other works, Rave? The sixth sword of the Ten Commandments, Melforce the Vacuum Sword. It could either blow away enemies or paralyze them, but if it could push them back than why couldn't it launch me forward? That thought had led me to think of differing uses for all the Ten Commandments, but this had been the easiest to implement to not only impede the others, but to give me the lead.

Unfortunately, Melforce also took up a lot of magic power in order to have the force required to propel me forward. This would be the one and only time I could use it unless I rested to regain the magic I lost.

Once the magic power I had amassed ran out, I requipped my trusty grosse messer and used my momentum to turn and slash in the same motion, the force of my swing turning me back around as I kept running.

"Yakkodori!" Not bothering to look back, I kept running as angry shouts could be heard from behind me, chasing to catch up.

"You brat! Get back here!"

"That was the last of good tobacco! When I catch you you're going to buy me a new stash!"

It almost didn't register that Laxus didn't respond until the air became saturated with magic and the resulting smell of ozone and the hair on the back of my neck standing gave me a warning as to his plan.

"Raging Bolt!" I dove to the right, where I was standing previously having become blackened from the strike, but that was the chance Laxus needed apparently as he sped past me.

Not one to be let up, I immediately dashed after him, intermittently sending attacks behind me in order to slow down Macao and Wakaba while trying to keep up with Laxus. However, his lightning magic gave him a greater advantage in both speed and readability.

Laxus could use his magic to supercharge his body for a speed boost, but it also made him capable of limited flight, which for the life of me I couldn't figure out how that worked, the easiest explanation being magic. On the flip side, while my magic had great destructive potential and versatility after I added elements to it, I couldn't change its base nature as sword magic which was a weird combination of holder and caster. My magic was innate, but I could only use it if I had a bladed weapon in hand to channel it or else I would severely weaken whatever spell or technique I was trying to use.

It was bullshit and right now that same downside was making me come in second to the biggest douche I knew. The gloating if he beat me to S-class would go on for years, every time he saw in the guild if he beat me. Yeah, no. I wasn't going to let that happen.

Changing out my current blade for a different sword, I began to channel light magic into the eight form of the Ten Commandments before throwing it forward so that it was ahead of Laxus and closing my eyes before releasing the spell.

"Million Suns!" While I couldn't see it since I closed my eyes, the darkness was interrupted by a flash of holy light, Laxus' shout of pain was my only indication it worked.

Using the opportunity, I dashed forward and grabbed the blade as I passed by Laxus, who had slowed down in order to rub at his eyes.

"You bastard! I'll gut you like a fish!"

"What was that, I couldn't hear you over the sound of me passing you!"

A sudden hand on my ankle made me realize Wakaba and Macao weren't as far back as I had thought they were. I was tripped while the two of them passed the both of us.

"You know what they say! Experience before talent. See you little kids when we make it to the mountain!"

"Yeah, maybe we can have Master make it up to you with a juice box after we win."

Laxus and I made a split second of eye contact before an agreement was struck.

"Slash!"

"Raging Bolt!"

The next few hours were a blur as the four of us ran full speed towards Mount Hakobe, until eventually Master and Gildarts appeared over the last hill towards the mountain, standing in front of the path that led to frozen hell.

And I wanted nothing more than to run right into it. As we neared, all of us got a second wind and sped up but I had one last idea that would let me get ahead. I stopped fully once I was close enough for my idea to work, giving up my slight lead before coiling like a cobra, poised to strike.

"First Sword: Saegeki!" My attack with the most piercing power, but it also launched me forward passed both Wakaba and Macao before passing the line that had been dug in the dirt at the same time as Laxus and rolling to a stop, taking deep breaths as if I had been starved of oxygen.

"All right! Laxus and Zeph will be the two moving on to the next part of the trials. Macao, Wakaba, good job even if you didn't make the cut, but if you want to you can stay and watch the rest with me.

The two seemed to hesitate for a second before nodding in agreement with Master and sitting on the rocks next to him. Once he saw they were settled he turned to us.

"Both of you can take a rest and grab any supplies you think you will need for the next portion of the exam. The next part of the exam is to find this!"

Pulling out a poster, Master gestured to the flower depicted on the paper, a pale white flower with three petals and a light gray stalk with leaves shaped like snowflakes. Next to it was the picture of a monstrous creature that looked like a deformed giant made of ice.

"This here is the Laufey flower, it is most commonly used in powerful burn ointment and the guild has been running short on them ever since that little pyromaniac joined the guild! I want the two of you to both gather a bundle of these and meet us back here for the third part of the trial, but be warned. The usually peaceful ice giants will become very aggressive if you take them. You will have eight hours once you start. Any questions?"

The two of us shook our heads.

"Then take an hour to rest from the race. You two are going to need it!"