CHAPTER 2: Goodbye Team Natsu and Hello S-Class

Written by: tsuruii

Words: 2,532

Date Released: August 22nd, 2012

Normal POV

"W-what are you talking about?" The blond mage anxiously asked. "This isn't making any sense to me!"

Master nodded. "Do not worry," he said. "It'll all make sense in due time."

"I want an explanation, Master." Lucy demanded. She knew very well not to question him but at this point, when nothing in the world made sense to her, she thought it was quite a good reason to. "What training? What magical power? I'm a celestial mage – nothing else and nothing more."

"Your magic powers are of a little child's, Lucy," Master remarked, staring intently into Lucy's eyes. "It is not weak, but nor is it your full potential. You must be trained."

"Why?" The blonde replied. "This is the first time I ever heard of special training with S-Class Mages!"

"You're the first in quite a while," Gildarts stepped up and said. "25 years ago, I trained another mage like you."

"What's the purpose of this? Why one hundred nights?" Lucy asked. She thought that her brain would explode with all these questions. She hardly had questions - she was an intelligent girl, after all, but all this just made her want to go insane.

"You're capable of more things you can imagine, my dear child," Master answered. "And it must be trained under good hands."

Before Lucy could ask any more questions, the old man raised his hands, silencing her.

"You should go back to your house and pack your essentials. You are only allowed to bring one bag with you."

"Wait, we're leaving now?!" Lucy shouted.

"The faster you begin, the more time you will have to prepare yourself," he replied.

"What are y-"

"Lucy," Mirajane, who was still in her Satan Soul, looked at Lucy. "We'll answer your questions a long the way. Right now, go pack."

"But Mir-"

"Lucy," Mira repeated, her eyes turning into a glare.

"I-I get it."

At Lucy's place, she grabbed a small bag and started to fold her clothes – clothes suitable for all weathers.

"I can't believe I'm doing this." Lucy muttered to Plue, whom she called out to vent out her anger on.

"Pun pun!" Plue shook her head and said.

"What?" Lucy asked as she stopped folding her clothes. "You think that I should go to this 100-night weird training?"

"You should go," a voice exclaimed behind Lucy. The blonde whipped her head around to see a familiar spirit standing before her.

"I never remembered summoning you, Loke," Lucy said as she turned back around to start folding her clothes once more. "What are you doing here?"

"I'm here so you could understand the importance of this training, Lucy," Loke answered, his voice unusually serious. "This training means more than you think it does."

"What are you talking about? How is it that you know?"

"I've been a spirit under countless owners, Lucy," Loke started. "I know how these things work. By far, you are definitely the strongest – the one that is meant to take your power as a Celestial Mage to the next level."

"Woah wait," Lucy said, shaking her head. "You spirits can like, level up or something?"

Loke smiled, glad that his owner was starting to loosen up. "Something like that, I guess. But it's not us that'll level up. It's you."

Lucy's eyes widened. "But I'm just a Celestial Mage – one who's able to summon spirits. That's my magic. I can't learn something new! That's abandoning the spirits!

"Didn't you hear what Master said?" Loke shook his head and said. "Summoning spirits are just a base, Lucy. To be honest, it's never the spirits that you should fully depend on - it's your own self. This training will make you learn to depend on yourself when it comes to battles."

"How do you know? Do you know what comes next after learning to summon spirits?"

"I've only heard about it from the Spirit King but I've never saw it, myself."

"What happens?" Lucy asked, excited.

"You'll have to wait and see." Loke smiled and replied. "Train hard, Lucy. I'll always be by your side."

And with that, the leader of the Zodiac Keys vanished into thin air.

"Thank you, Loke." Lucy said under her breath. She couldn't believe how lucky she was to have such amazing friends.

The mage than stood up and stretched her arms, new determination filling her up. "Since I'm done packing, I guess I should go. Gambatte Lucy! You can do it!"

Lucy was filled with mixed emotions. She didn't know what to feel when Mira, Laxus, & Gildarts said to meet them at the mountains – hundreds of miles away. They all ended up teleporting away and back as soon as they noticed that Lucy couldn't teleport. Nor did Lucy know what to feel when the S-Class Mages finished up to 2 S-Class Missions during their way to the mountains – and didn't even know they did.

At the very end, the group finally listened to Lucy's suggestion and decided to take the train, much to Laxus' dismay.

"Sorry, Laxus." Lucy apologized when she saw Laxus turning slightly paler as the train started to move.

"This is nothing," Laxus toughed out. "Natsu's just a wimp."

Lucy's mood fell as he mentioned her partner's name.

In the end… I couldn't even say goodbye to them.

"Cheer up, Lucy," Mira smiled and said from beside. "Master will explain everything to them once they come back from their mission."

"But didn't this happen all to fast?" Lucy asked. "I could've at least gotten another day or so to say goodbye."

"You don't understand, Lucy," Mira replied, eyes turning serious. "This training isn't for show. You need it."

"Why is it so important for me to go through this training?"

"Celestial Mages are rare," Gildarts spoke up. "But it's even rarer to bear 10 Zodiac Keys out of the 12."

"What does that have to do with anything?"

"To put it simply," Laxus remarked, trying his best to ignore the sickness in his stomach, "your life is in grave danger."

"D-danger?"

"Many, many dark guilds will want your keys, Lucy," Mira said. "It pays very well and of course, to get your keys, they will either have to ask you to give up your keys – or kill you. That's the only way a contract can end."

Lucy shuddered as she unconsciously squeezed her keys by her side.

"I would never give up my keys." She replied.

"So they'll kill you." Laxus stated as the blonde shot him a look.

"Not only that," Gildarts continued, ignoring the two arguments, "but those that can use Celestial Magic are strong. As Master said, summoning the spirits is just a base. They may even brain-wash you into working for them. It happened to countless mages I've known."

"How do you guys know so much about Celestial Magic?"

"We studied them." Laxus simply shrugged his shoulders and answered.

Mira nodded and looked at Lucy, a smile appearing on her face. "We're your trainers, after all."

Somehow, Lucy felt a feeling of reassurance and excitement brew up inside of her.

"Get up." A dark voice of a female exclaimed. Her glistening-white hair was up, looking wild around the mage. Her killer body was clothed with a revealing & tight armor.

"T-time out, Mira," a blonde below her squeaked out. "I'm really going to die!"

"It's only been 2 minutes and 32 seconds," Mira, the devil, replied. "Get up."

"Give her a break, Mira," a large-figure said from beside. His arms were crossed and leaned back against the mountain.

Mira sighed as she transformed back to her regular clothing. She shot a look at the celestial mage. "You have a long way to go."

Lucy sighed as she struggled to get up. "I stand no chance against Natsu. How do you expect me to beat you, an S-Class Mage?"

"Let's discuss some things first," Gildarts offered. "We should get to know each other better instead of battling first-hand."

The beat-up Celestial Mage liked the idea a lot. She might be able to live just 10 minutes longer.

When they all sat around a fire as it was starting to get dark, Gildarts introduced himself first.

"Elders first as they say," he grinned and started. "So, kid. My name's Gildarts and I've been a Fairy Tail Mage for 29 years. I became an S-Class Mage the first year I joined – when I was 16 years old. Don't even try to do the math. I am very aware of how old I am, thank you very much."

Lucy chuckled. He doesn't seem too bad. She thought, I thought he'll be scarier since he's the strongest in Fairy Tail.

"My magic is Crash and Disassembly," He explained. "I tend to destroy things when I'm not focused – that's why the whole city was re-constructed for my entrance."

Lucy sweatdropped. Yes, she remembered that day. The whole city was divided into two, creating a pathway for him. It was quite an entrance, indeed.

"Than I guess I'm next," Laxus grunted. "Name's Laxus and I've been a Fairy Tail Mage ever since I was born. I became an S-Class Mage when I turned 16. My magic is Thunder but I also have the abilities of a dragon slayer."

Lucy nodded. She knew about Laxus' evil Father who forced him to become a dragon slayer.

What a horrible father… She thought. Just like mine…

"You already know me," Mira smiled and said, "but I'll do it just in case. Name's Mirajane and my magic is Take Over. Like any other Take Over Magic, I have many different types but they're all one form - Satan Soul. I became an S-Class Mage when I turned 16, like Laxus and Gildarts."

"I-If you don't mind asking," Lucy asked, "at what age did you start training your magic?"

Gildarts put his hand on his chin and thought about the question.

"I guess… when I was about 8 or 9," he started. "I remember blowing up my 10th birthday cake so I know it wasn't when I was 10."

"Though I knew about magic ever since I was kid, I never started my official training until I was 10." Laxus answered.

"I've been learning magic since I was 10, as well." Mira smiled and said.

Lucy's eyes widened. She felt… ashamed. They weren't that far off from when Lucy started learning magic. They became S-Class when they only had about 7-8 years of training! Lucy was turning 18 this year. She didn't feel one bit happy that she was like this.

"Lucy!" Mira said. "It's your turn to introduce yourself."

"Oh, right!" Lucy said. "My name is Lucy Heartfelia and I'm a Celestial Mage. I'm 17 years old which would make me the youngest here."

The group kept quiet and kept staring at the blank-faced Celestial Mage.

"Keep going." Gildarts said, motioning his hand.

"About what?"

"Your magic." Laxus answered, as if it was obvious. "How many spirits can you summon at a time?"

"As of now, only 2," she said. "But only for a short period of time."

"Can you do forced closure?"

"Yeah."

"Which keys do you have in your possession?"

"7 Zodiac Keys and 5 Silver Keys - Aquarius, Leo, Aries, Cancer, Sagittarius, Virgo, Taurus. I also have Nikora (Plue), Pyxis, Lyra, Horologium, and Crux."

"And I heard that you met the Spirit King before?" Laxus asked.

"Y-yes."

"And that you once opened up all your spirits." He continued.

"But that lasted for a short time."

"But you still did it," Laxus remarked. "It means that you have the ability to open up all your keys. You'll only need to open 10, your Zodiac Keys, for combat fighting."

"Wait, what?"

"Your first step in training will be able to open all your 7 keys, one after the other." Laxus finished.

"Start now." Gildarts said to Lucy. "Summon as many spirits as you can in order."

Lucy looked at her trainers like they were crazy. "You want me to what?! They're resting! I can't just bother them!"

The three trainers before Lucy were acting differently from before – like a switch turned on in their minds. They did not have the spark in their eyes as they usually did nor did they have a tone to be joking. They seemed dead-serious about everything they said.

"They are already informed of this training," Gidlarts said. "They promised to cooperate for the next 100 nights."

Lucy sighed. There was no use arguing. She stood up and took a deep breath, concentrating on her magical power.

She than extended her hand in front of her, holding tightly on her Golden Key.

"Open! Gate of the Maiden! Virgo!"

"Hime. How may I help you?" Virgo replied as she appeared.

"Force closure it." Mira said, her eyes serious.

Lucy easily forced the door to close, after giving Virgo an apologetic look.

"Next." Laxus announced.

Lucy sighed and took out another key.

"Open! Gate of the Lion, Leo!"

"I see you're in your training," Loke smiled and noted.

"Forced closure." Lucy said and Loke dissolved to thin air.

"Keep going." Mira said.

"Open! Gate of the Bull, Taurus!"

"Moo! Lucy! You have a mootiful body, as always!"

"Forced closure." Lucy exclaimed, forgetting that Taurus was a perverted spirit for a split second.

"Open! Gate of the Ram, Aries!"

"Please excuse me!" Aries exclaimed.

"Forced closure." Lucy said, her voice now barely audible.

"Open! Gate of the Twins, Gemini!"

The spirit came in, dressed exactly like Lucy.

"Forced closure."

Lucy was now panting and sweating. It was difficult calling 6 spirits and forcing a closure on them, especially when they weren't expecting it. She glanced at her trainers, who were looking intently at Lucy.

"Is that the most you can do?" Laxus asked, raising an eyebrow.

Lucy huffed as she extended her hand out. Though that may have been her limit, she could find more magic somewhere in her body. Nobody mocks me like that. She thought.

"Open! Gate of the Goat, Capricorn!"

"Lucy-sama. I see that you're in a middle of training. I could help you out-"

"Forced closure!"

Laxus smirked.

"You're just like Natsu." He said. "Your magical power increases depending on your emotions."

Lucy glared at Laxus. She didn't quite like how he was making fun of her on purpose.

"Open! Gate of the Arch-" Lucy than fell to her knees, not able to summon any more. "I-I'm done."

"8." Mira said. She was different from her usual self. She didn't even crack a smile. "Out of 10 you can only summon 8. Not only that, but they weren't even out for a minute. You'll have a hard time through combat battle."

"S-so what do I have to do?" Lucy asked, tired out.

"Get up." Mira said as she stood up herself, "You're first night: You'll learn how to open all your Zodiac Keys and each spirit will fight me." And a dark and large magic circle appeared, as the once-friendly bartender Mira had turned into the demon, Mirajane.

Gildats and Laxus stood up as well. Lucy reluctantly followed.

The sides of Gildart's lips tugged upwards as he announced: "Let the 100-Night Fairy Tail Training officially…begin."

A/N: Thank you for reading!

QUESTION: If Lucy could learn another magic, what do you think it should be? (If you would like, you can give a brief explanation of it, as well)