Hello again everyone. I hope everyone has been well and as always I don't own Fairy Tail or any of its characters. Enjoy

It had been a month since the trip and as much as Lucy didn't want to admit it in the back of her mind it still bugged her that Lisanna was with Natsu instead of her but she liked Gray. So she decided that if Natsu could be happy so should she. When they weren't on missions Gray and Lucy tried to go on a date once a week. Slowly Lucy was learning that Gray wasn't just her striping friend who liked to fight Natsu. But he could actually be sweet when he wanted to be. She did want to keep it slow before rushing to make anything official between her and Gray. She had never had a boyfriend before so she wanted to make sure and Gray was fine waiting. As long as he got to see her smile and spend time with her he was happy. But that time of the year was coming up and they would have to put their dates on hold for a little while.

*Flashback*

It was raining that day so Gray and Lucy had decided to stay in and relax at her house.

"Lucy is it ok if we hold off on dates for a couple of days?" Gray asked which caused the blond to look at him with wide eyes.

"Why? Did I do something wrong?" She asked with worry in her voice.

"W-What!? Of course not. It's just that Im gonna be busy going on constant solo missions for a while." Gray explained. Making the celestial wizard look at him with a confused look.

Knowing her next question he went ahead and answered before she asked. "You see in a few days Master will announce the next selected members of the guild who will be competing to become the next S-Class wizard. So almost everyone who wants to be picked will be running around taking solo missions to prove why they should be chosen and why they deserve to be the next S-Class wizard."

*End Flashback*

It had been Three days since Lucy had seem many of her friends and guild mates. After Gray had left from her place three days ago Lucy had decided to go to the guild since the rain had lightened up to just a sprinkle. Of course as she had walked through the door Natsu and Happy had greeted and bid their farewell to her as they ran off with a mission in hand. She had spent a lot of time with Wendy and a few of her friends who weren't running around like crazy people.

It had now officially been a week and today was the day. Everyones nerves were on edge as the Master stood on the stage of the guild with Erza, Mira and Gildarts on both sides of him awaiting the list of names for this year.

"Since long ago, this has been a Fairy Tail custom. And now, the announcement of the participants of this years S-rank mage promotion exam."

Cheers could be heard throughout the guild as everyone was ready for names to be called.

"This years venue for this years exam is Fairy tails own Tenrou Island! The whole ground of our guild. Strength, heart, soul are some of the things I have been watching for throughout the year. There will be 8 participants and these people are... Natsu Dragneel, Gray Fullbuster. Juvia Loxar, Elfman, Cana Alberonia, Freed Justine, Levy MacGarden and Mest Gryder."

Chatter could be heard around the guild. Some disappointed that they weren't chosen and others excited for who were chosen and discussing which one of the 8 would come out as the winner.

"This time, only one will be selected to pass from among them. Get into your best condition within a weeks time. There are some newbie's here, so ill explain the rules. Within a preliminary time period of one week, the chosen are to select one partner. There are two rules when choosing a partner: First they have to be a member of Fairy Tail. Second they cannot be any of the current S-rank mages. The rest of the details of the exam will be revealed after the arrival to Tenrou Island, but this time, Erza will attempt to block you all from proceeding."

Gasps and shocked reactions could be heard all around at that last statement.

"Mira will also be a troublemaker in proceeding to the next step."

More gasps could be heard.

"And lastly Gildarts will also be helping out with this exam. If you want to become the next S-rank wizard you will have to go through one of these three. The chosen 8 will take their partner with them and gather at the port of Hargeon in one week from now. That is all!"

After the Masters announcement everyone went on about their normal business. Sitting together Lucy, Gray, Natsu, Happy, Lisanna, Elfman, Wendy and Juvia were discussing the S-ranked exams.

"Looks like this year's gonna be pretty tough as well." Gray spoke.

"Im surprised you guys are first-time challengers." Lucy said looking at them.

"Im all fired up! Im definitely gonna win and be the next S-rank." Natsu said with excitement.

"Everyone do your best" Lisanna said.

Looking over her shoulder Lucy could see Freed chatting with Bixlow about being his partner. Which didn't really surprise her. They were on the same team and really close so it was an obvious choice.

Looking back at her friends chatting she glanced at Gray from the corner of her eye. She wondered if he would ask her to be his partner. They were kind of going out now right? But then again Lucy didn't see herself as strong as the others so she wouldn't blame him if he chose someone else.

"So, has everyone already chosen a partner? Lucy asked with curiosity.

"Happys definitely going to be my partner." Natsu stated with confidence.

"Aye!" Happy said in a cheerful tone agreeing with his pink haired friend.

As happy responded Lucy glanced at Lisanna who for a split second showed a bit of disappointment that Natsu didn't ask her but she quickly wiped the look off her face before anyone noticed. Of course in her mind she was also happy that he didn't ask Lucy.

"Happy?" That's not fair! What if the exam turns out to be a race, then with his flying there would be no contest." Elfman pointed out.

"I don't mind" Gray said interrupting Elfmans rant "You'll be in trouble if the exam is fighting."

"You don't have to say it like that Gray." Happy said a bit disgruntled for a split second before changing his attitude. "Im gonna make Natsu an S-ranked wizard, just you watch!"

"I know you guys are my friends but this is one thing I will not back down from." Natsu said standing tall next to his blue feline friend "I can't stay here any longer! Come on Happy training time!"

And with that the two of them left zoomed out of the guild hall.

Hearing some shuffling in the seat next to Gray Lucy turned her attention to the blue haired water mage and she looked like she was struggling with what she was wanting to say.

"U-Um, Juvia wants to forfeit the exam.."

"Huh? But why?" Wendy asked

"B-Because... Juvia wants to... partner..."

"What?" Gray said a bit impatient waiting for her to speak.

"Because, Juvia wants to be..."

Lucy knew where she was going with her sentence and it kind of made her a bit uncomfortable given the current situation between her and the ice mage but she decided to try and act as normal as she could around her other friends.

Pulling him a bit closer she said "It's because she wants to be your partner"

"Huh?" Gray said a bit confused.

Seeing the close proximity between the two Juvia went into love rival mode. "I knew it! So you are after him, Lucy"

This caused a slight dust of pink to spread across the celestial mages face and her eyes went wide. Lucy knew that if Juvia knew what had progressed between the two she knew most definitely she would not live for long for Juvia would without a doubt kill her. Gray was also just as shocked at Juvias statement but was well not to show it.

"N-No Im not" Lucy couldn't help but let the stutter pass her lips and wanting more then anything to change the topic she was about to get up and go talk to Mira but Gray halted her plans when he quickly spoke "Sorry, but I already have a partner."

Just as Juvia was wining over Gray picking Lucy over her Loke walked up behind them. "Gray and I had made a promise a while back about if he needed a partner when his time came for the S-rank exam that Id help out. And don't worry Lucy, I came here on my own so you don't have to worry about your magic draining."

Since when have these two been so buddy buddy Lucy thought as she watched the two talk.

While all this was going on Lisanna kept a tab on how Lucy acted around the Ice mage. Ever since her plan to make it seem like Natsu was interested in her to keep Lucy away had worked she had been keeping notes on the two to make sure that Natsu would stay hers and given time he would see it that way too.

After hours of chatting and laughing everyone decided to call it a night. Gray had offered to walk Lucy home but she declined. She told him to get a good rest so he could start his training with Loke bright and early.

Its not that Gray didn't want her to be his partner. He really did but he and Loke had made their promise long before he met the blonde and he couldn't just break that promise.

On Lucys way home in an ally Lucy found Cana passed out next to a whole bunch of bottles. Not wanting her friend to freeze Lucy helped her up and decided that since she was almost home Cana could stay there for the night.

After reaching her house Cana seemed to sober up and fill Lucy in on why she was acting like this and why she always get like this around this time every year.

1 hour and a long story later Lucy couldn't believe what she had just heard. She never would have imagined something like this. And, it was at this point Lucy was determined to be Canas partner and help her become an S-rank mage.

Who knows what will happen in a weeks time when the exam starts.

Alright so just a heads up for the next few chapters to come. I will be copying a good portion of what happens in the anime into my story. But the conversations will be different but the fights will be the same. Im not going to include all of them detail by detail. Just the main fights that have to do with the plot of my story like the (*SPOILER ALERT for anyone who hasn't seen it*) the Kain fight where he fights Natsu and Lucy. Stuff like that. So please when I get there don't give me any reviews like "you are copying the anime" or "quit stealing idea from the show" or I don't know something to that effect.

I appreciate all the positive reviews so far. I know Im not the best updater with this story but I am very thankful to everyone who has reviewed, favorite and followed this story. So again Thank You All