After the girl had fallen unconscious Gajeel took it upon himself to carry her to one of the sleeping mats while Natsu lit a small campfire for them all. "Oi Salamander," Gajeel started looking towards the fire mage. "Did you hear what she said back there?"
Natsu's shoulders were tense and his movements stiff, he knew what Gajeel meant. "You mean about protecting Luce? Yeah I heard." I can protect her fine, she's my best friend why would Moustache think she needs another one? Natsu thought but didn't say.
"What do you think it means? I mean a girl comes out of nowhere gets linked to Lucy through a key no one even knew existed before hand the only things we know is what she looks like, that she likes to make music, and that she wants to protect Lucy?" Gajeel started to shake his head deep in thought "There's too much unknown right now, and we're in the middle of the S-Class Trials. I don't like this."
"No one does." came the response from Erza by this point everyone had gathered around the fire Natsu had made. The others making muttering responses of agreement.
Laxus a bit further from the group leaning against a one of the camping posts looked toward Lucy; "Blondie, what do you think of this?"
Lucy took a deep breath and straightened up. "I don't know what you all are thinking or even what you saw for that matter, all I know is what I felt, and what I felt was a warmth spreading through my body The only way I could describe it would be like an embrace of light or like hugging spring." She looked toward her self-proclaimed protector and gave a small smile, ignoring the looks a majority of the group gave her; "I trust her."
When Lucy turned away, Laxus couldn't help but notice the way her tattooed hand subconsciously went to cover her heart. He let out a deep sigh thinking to himself things are about to get interesting.
~the following morning about 11~
The entire guild was gathered on the far side of the island watching Freed and Master wondering why they set up such a large barrier of runes. They got there answer shortly after Master called the eight plus the S-Class mages over into the barrier.
"Ok children this is the moment you've all been waiting for, I hope you all slept well and had time to recover." Master looked to each and every one of them he wanted to keep this challenge a secret from all of them -even the S-Class- until the last possible second. He could tell Lucy was a bit distracted and it probably had something to do with the young woman that was still passed out at the camp. Even Wendy wasn't sure when she would wake up, however this is not the time or place; he just had to hope her being distracted didn't cause her to get seriously injured. "Alright this next challenge is simple you will all be teamed with an S-Class mage in an all-out Battle Royale! If one member falls the whole team is out!" Master laughed at the looks everyone gave him the three male dragon slayers were all immediately brimming with anticipation slightly bouncing in place while almost everyone else seemed slightly terrified and -despite the runes- all of the other guild members took a collective step back. "I know what you're all thinking but I promise everything will be fine. Now here's how it's going to work all of the teams will be chosen at random by a draw of straws. Gray! Wendy! You both have a slight advantage you each get to choose whose team you're on."
"ERZA!" They both shouted at once running to the scarlet haired mage standing at the ready.
"All right!" Master continued holding up the straws, "each of you take one. Longest go to Laxus, shortest to Mira, and the medium ones go to Gildarts."
After the draw the teams were this:
Team Erza: Gray and Wendy
Team Gildarts: Natsu and Juvia
Team Mira: Cana and Gajeel
Team Laxus: Levy and Lucy
As soon and everyone was teamed up it started. It was slow at first mostly just shifting positions and plotting the best move but once Natsu caught Gray muttering something about 'Flame brain actually keeping it together this long' finally set him off and all hell instantly broke lose. Natsu roared at Gray trying to keep his distance from Erza, Gajeel jumped in to get a hit on Salamander Juvia defended Natsu trapping Gajeel in a water lock, Cana saw Wendy being distracted by Gray and Natsu and went in to take her out only to be flung into Juvia by Erza, Wendy who had and attack aimed at Juvia instead ended up hitting Gildarts, Mira went after a temporarily distracted Erza. Gildarts not wanting to go after a little girl went to fight the Gajeel who had risen up to once again go after Natsu.
Just as they were about to jump in Lucy and Levy were stopped by Laxus saying "Wait."
"But why?" They asked looking up at him briefly then back to the battle.
"Simple, let them tire themselves out, then go in stronger and with a plan. Going in now would only wear the both of you out physically as well as magically." He reasoned before getting down to their level and ginning. "Besides I have a plan."
As Laxus quickly explained the plan to the girls, things with the other teams were only getting more intense. Natsu, Gray, and Gajeel were all going at each other with everything they had Natsu would target Gajeel, Gajeel would target Gray, and Gray would target Natsu, then the next move the targets would switch; Ice, fire, and iron were all being flung around narrowly missing their teammates or bouncing off the barrier. Juvia, Erza, and Mira were battling almost as hard; Juvia's water body allowed her to absorb the attacks from Erza's swords but trying to absorb Mira's demonic magic was a completely different story just and Juvia was about to trap Mira though…
Cana, Wendy, and Gildarts were all facing each other in a stare down then Wendy and Cana make eye contact and smirk Gildarts doesn't have it in him to fight a young girl and his daughter seriously once they teamed up taking him out was easy Wendy blasted him with a sky dragon roar and Cana laid down card traps for when he landed, and when he did an explosion knocked him out.
With that Natsu and Juvia were eliminated as well. "No!" But it was too late when Gildarts was beaten Freed's runes sent all three of them to the other side of the barrier.
Master looked over at Natsu who was clearly more than a little upset; "Sorry my boy even I'm shocked he was taken out that easily but we all have our weaknesses and this last challenge was to be more focused on your overall teamwork and yet most of you split off into your own individual fights. I recommend you watch Lucy until the fight is over. Who knows you might learn something."
"Lucy?" Natsu didn't realize it at first since he was too distracted with his own fight but now looking over at her and the rest of her team he saw that they were just standing and staring at the others. He looked to the Master confused but then she started and when she started she didn't stop.
Now that they had their plan in place it was time to show them all what they could do. "Now Lucy!"
"Open Gate of the Twins: Gemini! Open Gate of the Lion: Loke! Open gate of Sea Goat: Capricorn!" Lucy summoned the first portion of their army. "Gemini! Turn into me and summon Aquarius, Scorpio, and Sagittarius!" After Gemini did what Lucy had said Lucy could feel her power starting to drain however, 'Why is my power not draining as fast as it normally does? Maybe…' Lucy raised up her keys once more and everyone's' jaws collectively dropped to the ground. "Open Gate of the Lamb: Aries! Open Gate of the Crab: Cancer! Open Gate of the Maiden: Virgo! Open gate of the Bull: Taurus!" For the first time ever all of Lucy's Zodiacs were out under her own magic...
And they were ready to fight.
Authors Note: Woo yay another cliff hanger! Sorry about all of those but there shouldn't be many more once I get this arc over with, at least not too many more. And yes I'm aware Gemini summoned a portion of Lucy's spirits but it's been stated that the spirits are only as strong as their summoner so I'm taking that to mean that their powers are pretty much linked in some way or another. Also I know you're wondering about the OC and where she is since she just showed up last chapter it will all be explained in this next chapter, this was a necessary setup.