"speaking"

"thinking"

On with the story

Everyone watched the rest of the C Rank Students undergo their exam as they see some passing while a few failing

Éclair reached to the seat area of where Natsu and the others are as she took a seat beside Natsu

"good work" Natsu greeted her with a smile as Éclair nodded while smiling "you've surpassed my past expectation; I'm surprised that the MPC orb didn't give you an even higher score"

"thank you" Éclair said as she hugs Natsu's arm and gave the man a peck on his cheek "don't I get something?"

"what you had in mind?" Natsu asked with a raised eyebrow

"well.. the exams are for 3 days or so, and after that we get the holidays again. I was wondering if we can go on a date after it?" Éclair asked with a soft smile

"ok" Natsu said as he gives a kiss on her forehead "it's a promise"

"no fair, what do we get after training so hard?" Ultear said as she hugs Natsu's neck from behind "I want to go on a date too!"

"I too have wanting to go on another date, Natsu-han" Ikaruga said as she leans towards his chest

"me too!" Kagura exclaimed "it's not fair that you three get to have him the whole time!"

"I agree! Let us newcomers have him too!" Erza stated

"don't' you dare think that I'm not here!" Mira exclaimed

The girls soon started to bicker around while Lucy and Cana stayed silent

"here we go again" Lucy said sweatdropping before looking at Cana who was drinking as usual "I'm surprised that you're not in there"

"I don't' want to get killed in that catfight, and besides" Cana said before she chugged more of her beer "Natsu already promised me that he'll buy me some Rare Fire Corona Wine if I pass. So I'm fine already"

"no wonder" Lucy said sweatdropping

Natsu sighs while in the middle of the cat fight before he heard the teacher announcing that it was the A Rank Class turn

"alright alright, you guys pass your test and I'll go on a date with you or whatever you want" Natsu said "so stop bickering and get to the arena, it's the A Class turn"

"oh, alright then" Erza said as she, Kagura, and Ultear stand up "you better keep your promise"

"I know" Natsu said as the three soon left and followed up with their class lines, after they were gone, Éclair leans her head against Natsu's shoulder and fond over him

"my my, taking an opportunity" Ikaruga said as she did the same to Natsu's right side

"why you two!" Mira exclaimed while clenching her fists as they were way ahead of her

"I wish this exam would end quicker" Lucy said with a sigh before realizing something "wait a minute, I just realized something"

"that is?" Natsu asked while the two girls hug his arms

"since this is a Rank Advancement Exam and all, what will the Princess do? Won't she have to participate?" Lucy asked

"she doesn't, considering her high position in the kingdom" Natsu said as Lucy can already imagined Hisui passing any exam so easily

"r-right" Lucy said with a sweatdrop

"it's going to start" Ikaruga said as everyone sees Erza and their class group entering the arena


Erza and the others make their class lines as the teacher stepped on the field

"your Rank Advancement will be tested upon this" the teacher said as a giant block of black stone appeared

"isn't that…" Ultear said as Erza nodded

"a Ganketsu iron Stone" Kagura stated as the giant block stood tall

"deliver inflicting damage upon this stone," the teacher stated as a magic lacrima orb floated beside her "this Lacrima will check upon your physical progress and the power of your magic, any form of cheating will be inflicted with instant expulsion"

The students started to chatter as they know of how highly indestructible the stone is. Only a few were able to deal damage upon it and the only one in history to have ever fully destroy it was Natsu only


"this is going to be hard for redhead and the others," Mira said while crossing her arms

"Natsu, you're the only one who can destroy that thing, compared to Erza-san and the others..i don't they can" Lucy said feeling a bit worried

"they can," Natsu said "they can if we believe in them, that's how people get strong, they must believe"

"I see" Mira said before sighing a bit and looks at Natsu "but can you say those wise words in a good position, it's hard to take your word when you're like that"

By Mira's words, Natsu is currently resting his head on Éclair's lap while the girl was caressing his head and Ikaruga was fanning him with a paper fan, she got from who knows where

"I was getting bored and a bit sleepy" Natsu said as Éclair caressed and then massaged his scalp


"this might be a bit hard" Kagura said as she combed her hair and revealed the golden earring that shined on her

"possibly" Ultear said while caressing her bracelet

"we might have to go fully powered" Erza said as a red glow appeared on her chest

Minerva looks at them as she can feel their rising magic power

"what have they been training? Their magic level is rising to the limits" Minerva thought as she looks at them in bewilderment

"let us begin in three pairs so that we can check in a faster pace" the teacher said while holding a board that had the paper of the list of names "come forward, Erza Scarlet, Ultear Milkovich, and Kagura Mikazuchi"

The three were soon called out as they stepped in front of the giant block of stone

"should we do this in turns?" Kagura asked as Erza and Ultear nodded "then I shall take the first strike"

Kagura stepped forward as she gently flicks her earring as the red gem on it shined bright

She soon reach out her hand as Natsu's Golden Dragon Sword appeared in her grasp

Kagura swings the sword to her side as the blade glowed crimson


"will your sword be able to give a dent on that rock?" Mira asked, seeing the sword

"don't underestimate my weapons, especially that blade" Natsu said yawning a bit "that sword is called Enryuo Kiba, the blade was said to be forged from a Fire Dragon King's own fang, and the power it holds is unmeasurable"

"but can Kagura-san use its full potential?" Lucy asked "that's the main question"

"she can, that's because that sword had chosen her for a reason" Natsu said as he sat up and looks at Kagura and the others "that blade has a reason as to why it chose her"


Kagura took a deep breath as she went into a battle stance while holding Enryuo Kiba with both hands

The blade shined crimson as steam started to come off it

"I haven't been full able to master this sword and its full potential, and I don't even know if I can truly even master it" Kagura thought as she eyed her reflection in the blade "but…it chose me for a reason"

Flashback

During the training holiday, Kagura was with a copy of Natsu as the two stood on top of a cliff

Kagura was swinging Enryuo Kiba at Natsu who uses a small dagger while only standing on his spot

CLANG!

The two weapons clashed before Enryuo Kiba went flying to the air then fell down into Natsu's hand

Kagura dropped to the ground, as she was inhaling and exhaling air rapidly from the harsh training

"this…is….impossible….for me…" Kagura said in taking breath "I won't…be able…to master….your sword…."

"it is impossible for other people, but.." Natsu said before he lifted up Enryuo Kiba as the sword floats towards Kagura "..that sword chose you for a reason"

"a…reason?" Kagura asked as Natsu nodded

"don't think that Enryuo Kiba is just a sword that cuts, destroys, burns, or anything" Natsu said as the sword glowed towards Kagura "it's a sword that also protects"

"protect?" Kagura said

"sure a shield is a weapon for protection but this sword is an exception" Natsu said "it chose you, because you have a heart of diligence and love. Enryuo Kiba choses the wielder who has that heart"

Kagura looks at Natsu then to the floating sword

She reached out her hand and grabbed the hilt of the sword

Enryuo Kiba's blade soon shined in a bright flash as the blade soon ignites in flames

Flashback

"with love!" Kagura clenched her grasp on the hilt tight as Enryuo Kiba's blade ignite in crimson flames

The flames soon rages around Kagura as they formed a flaming dragon that roared

"Haaaa!" Kagura exclaimed as she swings the sword in a single vertical cut before she swings it to the side

CRACK!

A loud crack was heard as a vertical cut mark appeared on the ganketsu stone as it was split into two before one half shattered into pieces and crumbles apart

The number 897 appeared above Kagura as it is her score of the Rank Advancement Exam

The entire crowd soon started to chatter as they were amazed by Kagura's power and skill

Kagura looks at her score as she sighs a bit when she saw it

"I'm barely able to draw out your full potential, I'm really sorry" Kagura said as the sword glowed to her before disappearing into the gem of her earring

"good job, Kagura" Erza said as she went next "I'll take the next part"

"be my guest" Kagura said with a smile as she backed away

"begin" the teacher said as she writes down Kagura's score on the name list

"yes" Erza said as the Ganketsu Stone was replaced with a new one

Erza's clothes soon shined as they were replaced with Enryuo Yoroi

The armor soon shined as its form changed into a female warrior outfit that fits Erza's body figure

"lend me your power" Erza said as the armor shined to her

Erza slammed her hands together as they ignite in flames

She soon pulled her hands apart as Erza now wields a flaming sword

"let's go" Erza said as she dashed towards the Ganketsu Stone and slams the flaming sword at it

Flames soon rages around everywhere as it burns the Ganketsu Stone, and melted it to a boiling black puddle

The number 901 appeared as its Erza's Exam Score

Some of the crowd applauded Erza's skill and power, believing that she is growing stronger

Erza took deep breathes in and out as Enryuo Yoroi disappeared and her uniform came back

"I am still in need of training with it" Erza said as she got some small burn marks on her hand "I never knew how much heat comes off of it"

Flashback

At the hotspring, Erza was dipped in the hot water as her skin was turning red

"hold it for another 10 minutes, then you can go out and cool down" Natsu said while with her in the hotspring

"is this…r-really training?" Erza asked as her vision was getting clouded from the heat getting into her head

"it is, Enryuo Yoroi isn't just an armor for defensive purpose, it's also for offense" Natsu told her "my armor can take any type of attack, may it be cold or hot. But that doesn't go the same to the wearer"

"i-I see, this is training for my body to be able to withstand the heat" Erza said while taking deep breathes while her skin was going to the same shade of red as her hair

"it is" Natsu said as the water's temperature soon rises even more

"isn't…this….a bit…hotter?" Erza asked her eyes going into swirls from the heat

"just a bit, hold it in" Natsu said while yawning

Flashback

Erza sighs as she thought that might have to train in a boiling hot spring again

"next" the teacher said as Ultear stepped forward next while Erza went back and stands beside Kagura

A new Ganketsu Stone soon appeared as Ultear looks at it

She raised her right hand up as the gem on her bracelet soon shined and Natsu's Crimson Black Gauntlet soon equipped on her

The gauntlet soon shined red as it shrinks a bit to fit Ultear's grasp

"with my magic, I could just turn it into ash but since this is a Ganketsu Stone; I can't take the risk" Ultear thought as the gauntlet glowed crimson

"begin" the teacher said as Ultear nodded before taking deep breathes and place her hands on the stone's cold surface

"concentrate" a voice spoke out in her mind as Ultear closed her eyes and her hands soon glowed white while the gem on the gauntlet glowed crimson

Flashback

"my magic corresponds with this gauntlet?" Ultear asked as she and Natsu were by a river stream

"yeah, don't know why but it does" he said as Ultear looks at the gauntlet, she wore on her right hand "your magic, Toki no Arc; is a powerful magic but it doesn't work on sentient beings, or anything that can reflect magic. This gauntlet will help you in taking down those limits..well on the thing that can reflect magic but not sentient beings. This thing has a rule on it after all"

"so, how am I going to train with it?" Ultear asked

"you don't" Natsu said "it's going to train you"

"it's going to train me?" Ultear said as she looks at the gauntlet and sees the gem glowing to her

"let's begin, Milkovich" a voice spoke in Ultear's mind as she looks around thinking that there was someone calling out to her "I am here, where are you looking?"

"his name is Drac, better get friendly with him" Natsu said as Ultear looks to him then to the gauntlet

Flashback

"concentrate your magic and let me do the rest" Drac spoke out as Ultear's magic power soon flared and before long, the Ganketsu stone started to have cracks all over the surface

The cracks soon spread as the whole stone block shatters and crumbles down

Minerva and the other students looks surprised as they knew of Ultear's magic but they had thought that she would do something else rather than use it on a stone that can deflect magic

The number 899 appeared as it is Ultear's Exam Score

"you are still lagging in some aspects of your magic"Drac spoke out as Ultear sighs

"I know" she replied as to have a voice speaking in your mind time to time can truly be a bit annoying


"they passed!" Lucy said with a smile

"heh! There's no way redhead and the others would fail!" Mira said grinning

"I already predicted on what Erza and Kagura would do, but Ultear did something that surprised me" Natsu said while rubbing his chin "guess it's hard to predict some of your girls"

"isn't that obvious?" Ikaruga asked before giggling


Irene watched from her throne as she had a very displeased look on her

"not only that brat….but Erza and her friends too!?" Irene gritted her teeth as she had saw the power they possessed, rather Natsu's power "why….why must they have him!?"

"not liking what you see?" a voice spoke as Irene took a glance behind her and sees Kyria coming out of the shadows "Headmistress?"

"Kyria…" Irene muttered out before she looks forward "I believe that your trip with Zeref gave some results?"

"it was painful" Kyria said while rubbing her abdomen before smirking "but it gave me something very good in return"

The glowing red eyes appeared in the shadows as a person came out and he is a man who has an exact appearance with Natsu, only difference that his hair is blonde, and his eyes held no life

"this is fate, huh?" Irene said before sighing as she heard the echoing loud thumps from a far "this plan better succeed perfectly, I've paid nearly a decade of planning"

"I know" Kyria said with a grin and then licks her lips in delight "I'll make it a delicious feast"

"by the way" Irene said as she took a glance to the Natsu look alike beside Kyria "what might his name be?"

"I never thought of a name for him before" Kyria said while rubbing her chin then looks at the man beside her "I think I'll name you…."

"Draak, my beloved son"


That's a wrap!

Bye bye