A disclaimer is probably about due right about now. I don't own Fairy Tail. I wish I did. I wouldn't have stopped producing the anime.
Natsu naturally picked Happy as his partner for the S-class promotion trials. The flying blue Exceed had been at his side every day since he hatched from his egg. Working together was as easy as catching fish or annoying Lucy for them. There was no other choice. Although he definitely would have chosen his mate if they could pick an S-class mage.
That decision made, the pinkette kept his eyes trained on Mest Gryder. Natsu knew everyone in his guild, every single member was a part of his family. Mest Gryder was not one of them. He looked vaguely familiar, but Natsu had never seen him in Fairy Tail. He didn't know what magic he used or how he convinced the entire guild that he was one of them, but he didn't belong, and Natsu was going to prove it.
So, with Erza busy for the week with preparations for the test, which he couldn't wheedle out hints about even when he offered to polish her many armors, Natsu stalked Mest. However, his reconnaissance dug up nothing. The scarred man chose Wendy as his partner, another reason for the dragon slayer to keep a close eye on him; the girl was too young and too inexperienced to be participating in the S-class trials. He came to the guild every day and chatted, went home to a cheap but comfortable apartment, Natsu remembered the address for Lucy; maybe he could get her to stop complaining about her rent and then they could take the dangerous and fun jobs or he could spend more time kissing Erza, and packed a bag. Not once did he ever see Mest casting magic.
By the time the eight participating wizards, their partners, the challengers, Laxus, recently returned from a job, as a last minute challenger, and the Master had boarded the boat and set sail for Tenrou Island, Natsu's information gathering had turned up something interesting.
A week of discretely following the man, and it was his nose that sparked recognition. Mest Gryder's magic and overall person reeked of the Enforcement Unit.
But what was a member of the Magic Council doing pretending to be a Fairy Tail wizard?
Natsu raised his suspicions to Erza, the red head was contentedly curled up against his chest as they lounged on the bed in her cabin. She had listened patiently, knowing despite her own memories of Mest's three years at the guild that something wasn't right about the situation.
"Natsu, this is serious. It's against the Law to lie about or pretend to have guild allegiance. If I take this to the Master, and I should," she warned, "he would have to cancel the trials. It would ruin everyone's chance of being promoted."
He laughed. "I'm not worried. I don't need to be an S-class wizard. I just wanted to fight Gildarts. I was totally going to beat him this time." Natsu swore. "But you should warn Makarov. Let Gryder stay though. It's better that we keep an eye on him. If we expose him the Magic Council will know that, whatever their plan, they've be found out."
The S-class wizard nodded. "Besides, I'd just misplace another S-class mission."
"Natsu Dragneel! You will do no such thing!" Erza reproached. The pinkette flinched. "I'll choose one and bring you along as my partner." She winked.
Natsu gaped at her unbelieving. His mate had made a joke! About breaking the rules. "I've corrupted you!"
Erza kissed him sweetly. "Just opened my eyes a little is all. I don't need to be domineering and in charge all the time. I like to have fun, too. You just reminded me of that."
"But you'll still beat up Gray? I love watching you beat the crap out of him."
She chuckled. "Sure, Natsu, whatever you want."
His black eyes gleamed. The dragon slayer rolled over so that he was hovering above Erza, pressing her into the bed. "Whatever I want?" He kissed her before she could take it back and proceeded to ravish his mate.
xxxNatsuErzaxxx
The heat was sweltering. Lucy felt like she was going to melt. She desperately wanted to dive into the cool glittering water. With a groan she removed the arm shielding her eyes, giving up on tanning, and sat up.
Almost all of the competition was gathered above deck. Apparently, the challenges and location of Fairy Tail's S-class promotion trials changed every year, and none of the current participants had ever seen the guild's holy ground, the resting place of their First Master Mavis Vermillion.
Lucy passed her eyes over her temporary competition, all of whom were faring about as well as she was in the heat.
Happy sprawled next to her. Next to Natsu and Erza, she seemed to be the cat's favorite person. Probably because she let him rile her up all too easily. It had come to no surprise to Lucy that Happy was Natsu's partner. When she first met the dragon slayer Happy was with him. She never saw Natsu go anywhere without his flying companion. Though she imagined he would have chosen Erza if he had been allowed to.
Another unsurprising pairing was Freed and Bickslow. They had been on the Raijinshū, one of Fairy Tail's strongest teams, for several years. Like all members of Raijinshū, they had a unique ability involving their eyes. Their teamwork would be matched only by Natsu and Happy. She wouldn't be surprised if they were capable of performing a Unison Raid despite how different their magics were.
Wendy had been picked by Mest. Lucy didn't know much about him, for he had joined the guild a few years before she did and tended to work solo, but she thought it made an interesting team. He would certainly be hard to beat with Wendy at his side to strengthen, support, and heal him.
Another pairing that surprised her was Gray and Loke. Apparently, her King of the Zodiacs had promised to be Gray's partner if he was nominated and vice versa. But that was when he was masquerading as a human and before he nearly died because he was banished from the celestial world. If it wasn't for that promise, Lucy would have been hurt that her teammate hadn't chosen her. Given Natsu's and Erza's personalities, they tended to pair up on missions when he didn't go charging off, leaving her with Gray. The duo could work really well together now.
But even that match was nowhere near as surprising as Elfman and Evergreen or Juvia and Lisanna. Their magics just didn't mesh well. Elfman was Take-Over magic, with a few dangerous forms focused on strength, and Evergreen petrified. On the other hand, Juvia's Water magic and Lisanna's cutesy style of Take-over didn't work well together either. Lucy didn't see either pair making it far.
Lucy had seen Levy and Gajeel coming. It was rather odd watching their sparse reactions and skittish and awkward relationship as colleagues develop into an actual friendship. Both were unnaturally defensive of the other.
What had surprised her was Cana asking her to help. She imagined that after four attempts at this Cana wouldn't want to team up with a newbie. Lucy would only drag her down. But after hearing her reasons, she couldn't deny the woman.
Lucy would see Cana named an S-class Mage.
xxxNatsuErzaxxx
Natsu first woke when Wendy's spell wore off and he got violently sick. Cursing transportation, the idiot that invented and his mother, and the natural inherency for dragon slayers to become nauseous from even thinking about transportation. . .
He clapped a hand to his mouth as his whole face turned an unhealthy shade of green and bolted for the deck.
Once up top, he cursed the fact that he was the only dragon slayer feeling seasick. He understood that Wendy was too young, and he didn't envy her. When the time came she wouldn't be able to use her own magic to ease it, but shouldn't Gajeel be suffering, too?
All thoughts of his metal headed brother flew from his head as the boat bounced on the waves. Natsu sagged against the railing, pleading to Igneel that they were close to their destination.
His prayers were answered.
Makarov cut the engine and the boat stopped powering across the water. Natsu could handle the slight rocking.
The Third Master stood on the railing. It was an attempt to look taller and stand above them that didn't work. But he could look them directly in the eye, and the look in his eyes alone was enough to depart the seriousness of the test they were about to face.
Behind him Natsu could see Tenrou Island. It was magnificient. The Great Tenrou Tree was so huge that it looked like an island floating above an island.
"I will now announce the details of the First Exam. You see that smoke rising up from the beach, right? First, head there. There are eight paths there, and only one group can enter each path. And here's what waits for you behind each path." Makarov waved his paper fan and a map of the paths popped into existence. He very much enjoyed their wide eyed looks and exclamations of dismay. "Only the teams that get through this will pass the First Exam."
Natsu studied the map while the Master went on to explain how each of the battles worked. Gildarts, Erza, Laxus, and Mirajane would pass or fail whoever they fought based on their own criteria. One tunnel was labeled calm and meant the lucky team would proceed to the Second Exam without having to fight. Three of the tunnels lead into a three way battle from which only one team could emerge.
At minimum, at least two teams would continue on and at most would see six teams in the Second Exam.
"Your goals in the First exam are "power" and "luck!" The first team to the island has an advantage."
Natsu had a one in eight chance of selecting the calm route and a quarter chance of facing off against Gildarts or Erza. Actually those chances applied to everyone else. With his stronger sense of smell he would be able to tell which tunnels hid an S-class wizard. He had to pick first.
"Begin!" The Third Master shouted.
Natsu jumped, Happy grabbing him by the back of his waistcoat, and cat and man were speeding toward the island.
"But aren't we still on the ship?" Lucy asked. "Wha. . Natsu where are you going? It's a race!" The blonde placed an arm on the railing and tried to swing over, only to smack into a green barrier.
"Runes," said Cana as Freed and Bickslow followed after Natsu. "Don't worry, it will fade in five minutes."
"He's going to cover the whole island in runes." Evergreen muttered.
"I don't have to wait," announced Levy, pulling out a quill, "I can rewrite it! Let's go, Gajeel!"
"Gihihi!"
"Wait, Levy! Let us out, too!"
"No can do, Lucy," she called, swimming, "this is a competition."
"Come, Elfman." Evergreen ordered.
"What? Come where?"
She gave him a smug smile. "I've known Freed for a while. I can rewrite a rune of this caliber." Elfman leapt after his partner, screaming "man!" until he hit the water.
Four minutes later the barrier faded. "Alright, Lucy, let's go!"
"C'mon, Loke. I can't let that flying oven beat me."
"At least put on some underwear, first!"
"Ice Make Floor!" A strip of ice froze the sea between the ship and Tenrou Island. Loke and Gray skated ahead, the ice crumbling into the sea as they crossed it.
Lisanna use her Take-Over magic to transform into a small but quick fish, and followed Juvia who moved through the water easily as she was part of it. Mest and Wendy had completely vanished. By the time Lucy hit the water and looked back up, all she could see was a dotted outline of where the two had been standing.
"Let's move, Cana! We're going to be the last ones!"
The brunette shook off her feelings of inadequacy and threw herself into swimming. She could not fail again. She would not.
xxxNatsuErzaxxx
Natsu inhaled deeply as soon as he and Happy reached the beach, the magical power of the island washed over him. He could hear and smell the others coming. "That one, Happy!" he cried pointing to tunnel E.
"Aye aye, Sir!" Happy chirped. A barrier sealed the entrance behind them and a giant red ex hung above the entrance.
xxxNatsuErzaxxx
Cana stared despondently as the seven red exes and closed tunnels before her. She and Lucy had reached the shore last, apparently. With no other option left, the two girls entered tunnel B.
It was rather dark. Neither girl spoke a word as they navigated the poorly lit tunnel. After a while, Lucy spoke. "I think this is the calm tunnel, Cana. How lucky! We don't have to fight anyone."
"I don't want to win with luck. I need to prove myself."
"But, Cana," Lucy said, "Master said this was a test of "power" and "luck." This is actually good. No matter what comes in the Second Exam, you'll be the most prepared and least exhausted one. Then you can really show off. You've got this in the bag, Cana."
Cana smiled. "You're right. Thanks, Lucy."
Something glittered in the corner of her eye, so Lucy stopped to look at it. For a second all she could do was stare. She slowly wrapped her hand around the gold zodiac gate key for Capricorn. What a find. It was no wonder she could never find it for sale, locked away on an island only accessible only to Fairy Tail wizards.
It was a stroke of luck, her finding that key. Now she had ten of the twelve. Perhaps it was a good omen.
xxxNatsuErzaxxx
Natsu raced down the tunnel, Happy flying at his side. He quickly reached a cavern.
"Gildarts!" he exclaimed, seeing the man standing in the center of the room.
"Natsu!" Happy shrieked. "How did your nose fail you?"
"What are you talking about? I wanted to find Gildarts."
"Why on earth would you want that? Now you'll never be made an S-class wizard," bemoaned Happy.
"It's your choice, Natsu. We could fight and you might win the right to proceed. Or we can sit down and finish our discussion." Gildarts offered.
Natsu became serious.
"I already know you have what it takes, Natsu. I never planned to make my opponent win against me. I want them to face their fears. You've done that many times lately. You're still doing it. Fight or not, I will let you leave."
"I'm not going to fight you, Gildarts. As much as I would love to finally beat you, I have a more serious matter to deal with."
"Ne," interrupted Happy, "a more serious matter? What's going on Natsu?"
"I see." Gildarts sat cross legged on the floor, motioning for the dragon slayer to join him by patting the ground next to him. "So tell me, how do you plan to deal with Acnologia? He's heading this way."
The pinkette quietly filled in both to his plan to deal with the King of Dragons. Neither was happy with the plan. It was dangerous, and would like result in Natsu's death at worst and he's never being able to cast magic again at best. But Natsu refused to be swayed from his decision.
And he would not accept their help. He would see Acnologia ended by himself. After all, he was a dragon slayer. There was no better man for the job.
xxxNatsuErzaxxx
Charla had demanded to be allowed to go to Tenrou Island with Wendy. Even if she was not allowed to participate, she could not leave the girl. The least she could do was offer silent support.
She was waiting at the rest camp with Pantherlily and Makarov, anxiously awaiting the results of the First Exam. As wrong as it was, she prayed that Wendy did not make it to the second one. Charla wasn't in position to protect Wendy in this exam, and she really did not think the young girl should be competing in the first place. Wendy just wasn't a fighter.
Charla trembled and sweated as a vision captured her. Quick but clear images. An enormous black and blue dragon. Erza crying. A lifeless hand. In the space of a second she saw the destruction of Tenrou Island.
Alright. We're entering the home stretch. The battle this whole story is building up too. And you might have caught it, but there won't be any Grimoire Heart in this story.