Chapter 12: S-Class Exams
Really who ever thought that bringing a pregnant woman to Tenrou would be a good idea. The heat is making it so that I had to beg Gray to make me an ice bed that he had to remake every ten minutes or so. I thought that I wouldn't be forced to come with them considering my condition, but Laxus is part of the exams this year and he refused to leave me at the Guild without him and any of the Slayers with me. I did try to get out of coming by suggesting I go stay at Sabertooth, but that had instantly been shot down by everyone. Not that I understand why we've become great friends with them since Sting became the Master, but not good enough for Laxus to leave me in his care.
Since I had to come so did Porlyusica or rather she told Master that either she was coming with us or I was staying back at the guild where she could keep an eye on me. The old lady actually seems to be thriving in this sort of weather and she had brought Wendy along with her as an assistant saying that if she had to deal with a problem for me that she wouldn't be able to heal any injuries from the participants.
This year was scary with who all is participating and I am actually glad that I got pregnant since it gave me a reason to stay out of it. Cana was a member for the exams once again to her clear displeasure she really doesn't want to fail again and her partner this year is surprisingly Gray. I had been shocked when Master had said that Gray wasn't one of the people involved, but Gray didn't even seem to care. Actually if I didn't know better I would think that there was something going on between Gray and Cana, but even if Gray tried to keep it a secret I know that Cana would have told me. Even Mira has commented on how those two would be a cute couple and that before Juvia had joined the guild she had actually shipped them as her main couple.
Natsu was participating again this year with Happy as his partner. He had been really rude to Gray about how he had still made the cut, but Gray hadn't. Elfman was once again as well with Evergreen as his partner again, and I'm hoping that they don't have to go against Mira this year. Everyone knows how much she wants revenge about their engaged trick last time. Really the only way I see those two beating Mira is if they kiss in front of her since words won't do anything this time, that or tell her that Evergreen is pregnant babies always work against her. That would be a little too harsh of a trick for them to pull on her though even if it would be hilarious.
Freed is participating with Bickslow again saying how he won't fail his Laxus-sama this year. Truthfully I'm actually hoping that Freed will have to battle Laxus because that will be amusing to watch if Freed could even make himself attack the man he worships. Luckily if that happens I'll be able to watch it because after Natsu getting by Gildarts last year Master had decided that he wanted to actually view what was going on, so he had Lacrima recording camera's following everyone around, I believe he got that idea from the grand magic games. He also has the cameras showing feed live to Fairy Tail so that they can cheer on the competitors.
Juvia was also participating this year although she had shocked everyone when she had chosen Panther Lily for her partner. The only explanation she gave was that they worked well together and that she thought he would be useful. Levy had also been chosen again and Gajeel hadn't given her a choice about being her partner, although it didn't really seem like she minded. Bisca was also chosen, but instead of Alzack she had brought Reedus, Alzack needing to stay home and watch Asuka. There were way too many monsters on the island for the little girl to come here. The last team being Laki and Max and I wasn't even sure how well wood mage and sand magic would work together.
Really way too many of my friends were participating this year, but the one I am rooting for is Cana. She is so strong and I was certain I could have gotten her to S-Class before if it hadn't been for Grimore Heart and then Acnologia attacking us. At least with Gildarts knowing the truth she is no longer threatening to leave Fairy Tail like she has all of the other years. It seems though that Cana forgets how strong she is when she focuses on how many times she has failed the promotional exams.
Finally I could see the island in the distance and watched happily as my friends all launched off of the dock. This time they all went together since the first competition was a race to find the S-Class mages who had left an hour beforehand. Luck was a major part of this, but so was stealth because if the mage chose to they could avoid one of the S-class and try to find another one to fight. Then again if they work really well together, they could win this competition without even having to fight. The object of the race was to capture the flag that the S-class mages had and the completion itself would last until all of the flags were captured, or when the participants could no longer continue.
Bickslow and Cana had the advantage over everyone with this competition since Bickslow could use Freed's ruins to make his babies invisible and have them go around the island ahead of them to figure out where everyone else was. Cana could use her card magic by finding out which path was best for her and Gray to take, and his magic could be used very well in escapes. Actually Juvia has an advantage was well since she can hide in the water with Pantherlily if they want to avoid anyone, and he could fly around to find where to go as well. Even though Happy could do the same I don't see Natsu being quiet enough for the stealth part of this mission, so it's his strength that will determine if he wins the flag or not.
The participants could even go against each other to get rid of the competition if they wanted, and no one else can join in the match until it's over. I don't really think this one is a good idea though considering that if you aren't careful you can use all of your magic power against an opponent who won't even help you advance.
Looking at the lacrima I smirked as I watched the games begin. Natsu as I expected was making so much noise that I was surprised that an S-Class mage hadn't found him in an instant. Then again maybe they are making the others come to them. Bickslow and Freed were doing exactly as I thought they would, or at least I think they are considering that Bickslow's babies had disappeared and the two were hiding in the tree tops. Cana and Gray were being stealthy. I actually enjoyed seeing Gray work with someone other than our team since it showed me that he wasn't as destructive as I always thought. Natsu must bring it out in him then.
The teams just moved around for a while with nothing happening and I was sort of getting bored of not seeing action. That is until the first battle commenced Laki and Max deciding to attack Bisca and Reedus. I guess they were getting bored of not finding an S-class mage. Laki's wood make and Max's sand magic was a weird combination to watch. Laki would summon something, and then Max dredging up a sandstorm to hide where it was going to attack. Despite this though Bisca and Reedus were holding their own with Reedus drawing a tower that went over Max's sandstorm, and Bisca climbed up it to shoot. It was a really good strategy since Bisca would be able to see better above the sandstorm, and Max didn't seem to be able to see through the sand he summoned that well. That or he couldn't summon enough magic to have the tower covered in sand as well.
Eventually Bisca and Reedus defeated the other two, although they had fought quite well. Bisca's sharpshooting had an advantage over the other two's magic, and Reedus was just a good partner for her over all. Not as good as Alzack though, but still enough to be a good partner choice for her. It made me wonder if those two had partnered up before I came to the guild, or if they had just practiced a ton to get so used to each other after the exam participants were announced.
Smiling I was glad when we arrived on the island at least when we weren't in the middle of the ocean it would be a lot less hot. Luckily nothing happened between the exam participants well we were making our way to our base. Although I still felt weary of coming back to Tenroujima after what had happened to us the first time we had come here. I know that other guild members were afraid of things going wrong as well which is one of the main reasons behind why Master had allowed the lacrima to follow the participants.
We had probably been watching basically nothing for about two hours when she had shown up. Shocking Porlyusica and making me glare at her hoping that she would just leave. I should have figured that my grandfather would pull something like this, but I was hoping that he was more like my uncle personality wise. Really the one time I had actually met him he had seemed more like my uncle, but I guess he really is an over protective fool.
Porlyusica looked like she was about to push an emergency button that Laxus had given her so she could alert him to danger, but I stopped her. "What are you doing here Kyouka? I don't need the help of your kind!" I told the demon who worked with my grandfather harshly, or rather the demon who had been born from him.
"Well since you still reject becoming his heir his orders still precede over yours Lucy-sama," the demon drawled with a smirk settling down in a tree from across from us. Glaring at her I wished I could stop her from revealing my identity, but I guess I won't be able to get out of this now. Seems like sooner than I thought my guild would learn the truth, and it wouldn't be because I finally gave into the curse.
"You know this non human?" Porlyusica asked looking at me in shock.
"Of course Lucy-sama knows me, this isn't the first time her grandfather has sent me to check up on her. Why I was probably as much as a playmate to Lucy-sama as Aquarius was when she was a sad lonely child. Truly I thought with how everything was going back then that Lucy-sama would be the youngest to trigger the affliction I was terribly displeased when she joined Fairy Tail. That guild truly does keep her as it's light such a pity," the demon drawled.
Nothing she said was a lie she really had been there by my side much during my childhood. Hiding from my mother well she was still alive and convinced me that she meant me no harm. I had been naive back then and hadn't realized that the demon was waiting for my curse to awaken because she believed that I would be the one to end my grandfather. End him so that I could take over his terrible place as his strongest descendent.
Although her words filled me with hope that just maybe I won't end up succumbing to the curse. She seemed to believe that my being a member of Fairy Tail was the reason that it was kept at bay. Something to do with how I felt when I was a child versus how I feel now is the reason why I haven't given in. Here I was thinking that maybe having been frozen seven years in time had slowed down it's progression somewhat. Yet here Kyouka was telling me that I could have activated it when I was younger.
So it seems my curse is different from my mother's which took her life with every failed chance of birthing a new life. Even different from my grandparents who the more they love life the more they take it away. Just what is my trigger so that I can stop it from ever happening so I can stop myself from taking lives? Obviously if it activates with me I will be just like my grandfather if Kyouka believes me to be his heir, so it won't be my own life force that is affected.
Then suddenly Kyouka stiffened and I could feel the massive curse power bubbling around the demon. Perhaps there was more to my grandfather sending her here then for paranoia. My hand grasping on my whip I turned to look at Porlyusica who didn't yet seem to realize that something was wrong. Not that I can really blame her since she doesn't know Kyouka and at the moment everything seems calm except for the yells from the lacrima suggesting there was another battle happening. A quick glance at it showed me that Mira was fighting her brother and Evergreen once again.
A blast of magic that I quickly dodged was all the warning the three of us had before a group of at least twenty cloaked figures surrounded us. Their wide eyes at seeing Kyouka made me certain that they were the ones after my children, and yet they also seemed like Zeref worshippers. Why else would they react so strongly to seeing her here with me? Unfortunately her presence didn't seem to deter them for wanting my twins.
From the corner of my eye I could see Porlyusica press the button before she started whacking those who got too close to her with a broom screaming her hatred of humans at them. Kyouka jumped down so that her back was to mine doing her best to protect me well fighting those who attacked her. My whip was swinging through the air hitting any who I could get it close to as I silently prayed that Laxus would arrive soon. In the back of my mind I also wondered where Master was, and why Porlyusica and I had been left alone with only a button to summon help.
It wasn't even like our battle would draw attention to us since none of the S-Class exam participants knew where the base was. They would just end up assuming that it was another battle that had to do with the trials and ignore it. Please Laxus hurry I pleaded in my mind knowing that without access to my magic that it was very unlikely for the three of us to win. Especially since Kyouka was held back since her primary duty was too protect me she couldn't take the necessary pause to increase her power or take away theirs.
"Just give us the girl or die," one of the cloaked figures demanded as he used fire magic to try and force us apart.
"Not going to happen puny human," Kyouka said and by the scream that followed I figured that she used her curse power on him.
I was starting to get short of breath my pregnancy draining most of my energy from me and I could see black dots in the corner of my eyes. Maybe a few more minutes longer, but after that I doubted that I would be able to do anything. I'd end up passing out from exhaustion and then I'd be a sitting duck for them.
Just as I was giving up hope screams that followed streaks of lightning filled me with hope as I looked around and realized that Laxus had finally arrived. From the corner of my eye I could see his murderous presence before I passed out strong cold arms catching me alerting me to Kyouka for only a second before everything was a blur. Although for a moment I thought I heard Laxus call me his mate.
Laxus had been sitting waiting for someone to find him watching amused as his guild mates fought. Then he smirked as he realized that the path Natsu was following would led him directly to him and started pumping up itching for a fight. Sometimes he wished Natsu would take his challenges in the guild hall more seriously because Laxus knew it Natsu tried harder that he might actually have a chance of beating him on his own.
Natsu had just crashed through the foliage in front of him when Laxus felt the pulsing at his side and his eyes went wide in horror. Porlyusica had activated the button and despite Natsu's protests Laxus found himself teleporting away. With frustration he realized that he had forgotten where Lucy and Porlyusica were supposed to set up camp so he teleported back to the beach. From there he sniffed out Lucy's scent his eyes widening even more as he smelled twenty or so other scents he didn't know as well as a scent that screamed danger at him.
Running swiftly Laxus was angered when he saw a bunch of cloaked figures taking on his mate and the old bat. There was also a strangely dressed woman who was back to back with Lucy, but since Porlyusica and Lucy seemed to be fighting with her he ignored her in favor of the others. With a sadistic smirk he sent bolts of lightning around hitting each of the cloaked figures with enough magic power to stun an elephant. Pleasure was coursing through him as he heard them scream, although he was disappointed that they didn't pass out.
"Get the hell away from my Mate!" he growled at them feeling scales crawling up his neck as he went forward.
He saw Lucy pass out and get caught by the strangely dressed woman who jumped up into a tree keeping Lucy where he could see her. Obviously she knew not to take a dragon slayers mate out of his sight when he got angry. The next few minutes were a blur as he allowed his claws out to tear at the skin of those who had dared try and steal his mate from him. He only stopped after he had tied all of them up and took out his lacrima calling the council to the island. They could take the trash away and figure out exactly who was after his mate.
"Who the hell are you?" he asked the woman who had jumped out of the tree after she was certain that the threat was contained.
"I am Kyouka Lucy-sama's grandfather sent me to help her. We were ambushed when I was explaining to Lucy-sama and that old woman over there why I was here," the woman said with a smirk and a slight bow. Something about her scream danger and power, but if she was here to protect his mate he wouldn't object.
Although his Jiji was going to be in so much trouble he had assured Laxus that Lucy would be fine well he participated in the exam. He thought his grandfather would be here with her not leaving her alone with the old bat, who although she was a good healer wasn't good enough to protect someone. Not to mention that Wendy and the Exceeds were nowhere to be found either.
"Where are the shrimp and the cats?"
"I don't know. We had to stop early because the girl was getting tired, maybe they didn't realize we stopped and continued on without us and then couldn't find us afterwards."
Sighing Laxus wondered why these things always happened to his mate. Now that he looked around he realized that this couldn't be the base camp, and wondered why Jiji or someone else hadn't come here yet looking for them. Really you would think that the old man and the others would be more concerned when they got separated from the pregnant woman who had already been targeted once before this.
"Come on I'll escort you guys to the base then come back and bring the trash to the council people," Laxus said taking his mate out of that woman's arms and gently holding her to his chest. He hated feeling like this hated knowing that she meant the world to him, but she didn't believe in his love for her. Just what did he have to do to prove to her that she meant the world to him? Without making her feel obligated to stay with him because she was his mate?
When I woke up I was shocked to find a teary eyed Wendy leaning over me, and even more shocked when she threw herself at me in a hug. I had completely forgotten about Wendy, Happy, and Charle where had they been when we had been attacked and why hadn't I thought about them. Seriously this pregnancy has to be really messing with my brain if I hadn't even realized that we were missing three members of the camp we were supposed to be setting up.
Scanning my eyes over the camp I could see a guilty looking Master staring at me. Obviously he felt guilty that he hadn't been able to help us when we had been attacked. Actually I'm a little surprised that Laxus isn't here, and maybe a little upset over it as well. I thought that he would be here to make sure I was ok, but I guess he's just finally realized that I'm not worth his time even if I am carrying his children.
"Your mate really is strong Lucy-sama," Kyouka's voice startled me I had forgotten for a moment that she was here. Or maybe I was hoping that she had left, it was then that I realized what she had said.
"Mate what do you mean?"
"The Dragon Slayer he easily dispatched of those foolish humans within seconds. He truly is worthy of one of your noble blood Lucy-sama."
"Oh you just think that because I'm carrying his children," I said thinking it was funny that I had put more stock in her words. Obviously demons saw mates as those who humans had offspring with not in the actual meaning of Dragon Slayers, as their mates being their soul mates. It actually made my heart feel a little heavy knowing that Laxus couldn't be mine in that way.
"No Lucy-sama I mean that you are his mate. He even told them to stay away from his mate," Kyouka informed me.
She couldn't be right there is just no way that Laxus had called me his mate. That had just been something I had heard in my exhaustion earlier. Then again I don't really see how Kyouka could have misheard him as well if that was the case.
"It's true child you are Laxus's mate. The stubborn boy just didn't want to tell you until you believed him on your own that he loved you, and he didn't want you to decide to be with him because you knew. Truthfully I am fairly certain that the both of you are just to blind to see what's in front of your eyes," Master said with a huff.
I can't believe it here I was going to let Laxus go because I believed that he loved someone else or was destined to love someone else. Then I find out that he was keeping the fact that I was his mate from him. It filled me with happiness, but at the same time dread because I was still afraid of what he would do when he found out Zeref was my grandfather. Even with the mate bond how was he supposed to love someone who was basically a monster? Maybe it would have been better for us if we had never found out what we meant to each other, or maybe if I tell Laxus the truth he will still want me.
There's no more running I have to tell Laxus and the rest of the guild the truth and let them decide if I can still be a member of Fairy Tail. If they can't accept it then I will leave, and if they can then maybe I can actually be happy remaining as the light of Fairy Tail.