It's been a while, but Phoenix Dawn's S-Class Exams are finally here! I hope you enjoy knowing your character may be eligible to become S-Class, although I've had the character set since I came up with the idea and I had a new idea pop up for this recently. Anyway, I hope you guys all enjoy!
March 16, X791
Over the last few weeks, many of the Phoenix Dawn wizards were taking on jobs like crazy while everyone else was lazing around the guild hall. Speaking of which, Spiral was laying his head on the table like he was a zombie, practically void of life.
"Blaise's punishment was pretty harsh, huh?" Hikari, who was sitting next to Spiral, said.
"Hey, Hikari." Sakura said as she and Flora approached the table. "Do you know where Jason is?"
"Are you going to fight him again?" Hikari asked.
Ever since Jason and Sakura's adventure in Rose Lake, she has been itching to challenge him to fights over the last two months. And every time she challenged him, he'd knock her out within a minute.
"Anyway, he's not here." Hikari stated. "He and Kagura are still trying to pose themselves as a couple to his family. But I'm curious as to what they're planning to do so they don't get married. What I don't get is why he has to use her and not a girl from our guild? I mean, Aqua's obviously interested in him and yet he doesn't even notice."
"Maybe he just doesn't care." Flora mumbled.
"Soon we'll be having another S-Class in our guild!" Sakura said. "I can't wait to see who comes out on top!"
"Hey, Sakura, didn't you say that you and Jason went to Rose Lake?" Hikari asked.
"Yeah, he kicked Sabertooth butt!" Sakura proudly proclaimed.
"Well, that's not what it says in the paper." Hikari said, handing Sakura a newspaper.
"Let me see that." Sakura said as she took the paper and read it over. "'Sabertooth wizard and new recruit stop dark wizard Arc Mana from destroying Rose Lake. The wizards, Kyo Vigil and Yukino Agria single handedly-BULLSHIT!" She crumpled up the paper and tossed it aside. "They don't even give us any credit?! THOSE BUMHOLES! I hope at least that steel jerk gets what's coming to him!"
Back at the Sabertooth guild hall, Kyo was sitting in the lounge reading the newspaper that had his and Yukino's story on the front page. The newspaper was covering up his face, hiding it from Sting Eucliffe as he approached him.
"Kyo, a word?" Sting asked.
"Whaddya need?" Kyo asked not moving the newspaper.
"I've heard some rumors." Sting continued. "Some guy has been going around posing as me in a poor ass attempt to pick up chicks… You wouldn't know anything about that, would you?"
Kyo slammed the paper own not only revealing that he was wearing Stings matching outfit , but also had his hair styled and dyed to look just like Stings.
"THAT IS RIDICULOUS!" Kyo snapped. "WHO WOULD BE DUMB ENOUGH TRY THAT?!"
"…Uh huh…" Sting glared.
"May I have your attention, please?" Blaise's voice reverberated around the guild hall.
Everyone in the guild hall looked up and saw Blaise standing on the second floor balcony, giving her their undivided attention.
"Good, looks like everyone's here." Blaise said loud enough for the entire guild hall to hear. "I know you've all been working hard this last month to ensure yourselves a spot on my list of candidates."
"Just tell us who made the cut already!" Haru shouted.
"Heh…" Blaise chuckled. "All right, then. When I call your name, please come up to the rafters with me."
"Nnnnn…"
Hikari turned her head to notice that Spiral was finally coming back to reality.
"Spiral, you got up just in time!" Hikari said before clinging onto his arm and watching the announcement unfold.
"Azusa Hirano!"
"I'll make you proud, Spiral!" Azusa said as she gave a salute by tapping her right fist right over her chestplate.
"Aqua Mare!"
"Phew, I made it in…" Aqua sighed.
"Static!"
"Heh, I knew I'd make it in." Static said to himself.
"Haru Hono!"
"Oh yeah!" Haru exclaimed and pumped her fists. "Time to show 'em what I've got!"
"Lionel Zenith!"
"You show 'em, Lionel!" Volt cheered.
"Eden Stormbringer!"
"So Lionel and I both made it, huh?" Eden said to himself.
"Melody Quinn!"
"Frost and I have only been in the guild for a few months and I'm already being considered for S-Class." Melody muttered to herself.
"And Frost Sokolov!"
"Yeah!" Frost exclaimed as she wrapped her arm around Melody's shoulders. "We both made the cut!"
"You do realize this means we're AGAINST each other on this one, right?" Melody pointed out.
"Meet me on the outskirts on the edge of town in one week for the examination." Blaise said. "If any of you fail to show up, you are automatically disqualified. I suggest you start training because I will put your strength to the test. That is all I have to say. Good luck."
Blaise walked into her office, leaving everyone to talk amongst each other.
"I can't believe I wasn't picked!" Vincent growled.
"Hey, you're not the only one." Ethan said, trying to calm Vincent down. "Just let it go. Maybe you'll get a shot next year."
Later that night, Aqua was at her house writing a letter to her family.
"Mom, Dad, I won't disappoint you." Aqua said. "… I can't disappoint you…"
March 23, X791
After a week had passed by, Blaise was waiting on the edge of Roseshade and she saw all eight S-Class candidates approaching her.
*I have to make S-Class!* Aqua thought to herself.
"Are you all ready?" Blaise asked.
Everyone else simply nodded or gave confirmatory hums.
"All right, follow me." Blaise said.
Blaise walked off and her guild wizards followed her.
Blaise kept walking until they were so far away from any towns or cities that they couldn't make any of them out in the distance.
"This spot should be good." Blaise said. "The first part of the exam is designed to test your strength." Blaise pulled out her rapier and took up a fighting stance. "Your opponent… is me. If you manage to land a hit on me, you pass."
"Master Blaise, what are you-" Azusa tried to ask, but Blaise quickly shot a thin stream of flames at her.
Azusa dove out of the way and everyone else readied to fight.
"Bring it!" Eden shouted, covering his arms in black flames. "Your Fire Magic won't have any effect on m-!"
Before Eden could finish, Blaise quickly closed the distance between the two and kneed him in the solar plexus. She followed up with an elbow slam to the back of his neck and knocked him unconscious.
"Fire Guard!" Azusa shouted and a giant red shield appeared in front of her.
Blaise made a mad dash for Azusa and held out the handle of her rapier toward her. Azusa managed to block the strike with her broadsword, but Blaise kicked against the flat of the blade which forced Azusa to drop the sword. While Blaise's back was turned, Lionel and Static jumped in the air and were charging electricity in their hands.
"White Lightning Dragon Holy Thunder!"
"Lightning Spear!"
Lionel shot a blast of light and electricity and Static fired a stream of lightning, both aimed for Blaise's blind spot. Blaise flipped backwards and the lightning attacks struck Azusa.
"GYAAAAAAH!"
"Azusa!" Static shouted.
"Phoenix Geyser!"
Red magic circles appeared on the ground underneath Static and Lionel and geysers of flames erupted from each one, completely engulfing them.
"GAAAH!" Both Static and Lionel groaned as they fell to the ground.
Blaise turned her attention toward Aqua, Melody, Frost and Haru. "We're only one minute into the exam and already half of you have been disqualified. I know you're all stronger than this. I have to say, I'm disappointed in you."
*It's hopeless!* Aqua thought, frozen in fear. *There's no way any of us can take on a Wizard Saint! Is she even holding back? It's… it's impossible…*
Aqua fell to her knees and stared at Blaise as if her world was ending.
"Giving up already, Aqua?" Blaise asked as she walked toward the remaining four wizards.
"Aqua, we can't give up now!" Haru said. "I know things look hopeless, but-"
Even though Haru continued talking, Aqua wasn't listening to anything as her mind was trapped in her own thoughts.
(Aqua's Flashback)
In the island town of Nénuphar off the southern coast of Fiore a few days after she joined Phoenix Dawn, Aqua arrived at a pure white mansion with an outer courtyard filled with miniature canals of flowing water, much like the rest of the town itself. Upon entering the house, she walked into a dining room where a blue-haired middle-aged man, a black-haired middle-aged woman and a black-haired man that looked a little older than Aqua were all sitting at a table.
"Mother, Father, Kyrin, I'm back." Aqua said.
They didn't seem to acknowledge her existence at all.
"I've finally managed to join a guild." Aqua said.
"Really?" Kyrin Mare (Age 23), her older brother, asked.
"It's, um, not Sabertooth, but it's still a great guild." Aqua answered somewhat nervously. "It's actually a new guild, Phoenix Dawn."
"… You joined a guild with absolutely no reputation at all?" Kyrin asked. "Get out."
"What?" Aqua gasped.
Kyrin stood up and revealed the blue Sabertooth guild mark on the right side of his neck.
"You're not considered the strongest unless you bear this guild mark!" Kyrin said.
"Mother, Father, you're not seriously-" Aqua said, but she stopped when they still didn't acknowledge her presence.
No other words were spoken and Aqua left the house.
(End Aqua's Flashback)
Blaise approached the entranced Aqua, pointing her rapier straight at her face.
"If you give up so easily, maybe you're not ready for S-Class." Blaise said.
"… I can't lose…" Aqua mumbled.
As she tilted her head up, Blaise could make out the tears strolling down her face and the rage and frustration in her eyes.
"I CAN'T LOSE!" Aqua screamed at the top of her lungs.
Aqua quickly formed a water sword with her magic and swung it up so hard that it snapped Blaise's rapier in two. Water then materialized around her fist and she punched Blaise in the ribs with it.
"Aqua Caestus!"
The water burst forth and released a shockwave that sent Blaise skidding backwards across the ground.
*What's wrong with her?* Blaise wondered.
"Don't hog all the fun!"
Blaise heard the voice and turned around to notice that Frost was coming in with ice forming a claw in her hands.
"Ice Dragon Claw!"
Frost swiped her ice claw at Blaise, who back-stepped out of the way and dodged the attack. While Blaise was caught off guard, Frost puffed out her cheeks.
"Ice Dragon Roar!"
Frost's breath attack struck Blaise and sent her skidding back due to the force.
*I'm losing focus!* Blaise thought.
While Blaise was still recovering from Frost's attack, Melody appeared behind her.
"Rhythm Wave!"
With a flick of her arm, Melody sent out a powerful shockwave that sent Blaise flying off the ground a bit.
"Fire Fist…"
Blaise suddenly saw Haru appear in the air with her, her palms engulfed in intense flames. She clenched her hands together and was ready to bring them down on Blaise.
"Burst Hammer!"
Haru brought down her hands and slammed them into Blaise, sending her crashing into the ground beneath her. As Blaise stood up and the dust settled, she saw Aqua, Melody, Frost and Haru standing proudly at the edge of the crater.
"… Heh…" Blaise chuckled, which was easy since she was so powerful that the attacks didn't do as much damage as they appeared to. "I guess I have to give you all credit, I didn't keep my guard up. Congratulations, you four all pass the first part of the exam."
"Yes!" Haru happily cheered.
"Heheh, yeah!" Frost chuckled as she gave Melody a high five.
Aqua simply let out a sigh of relief that she was able to make it past the first part of the exam.
After waking up, Azusa, Lionel, Eden and Static all went back to Roseshade while Blaise set up a table, a couple of chairs, and a chess board. After those were set up, she covered the area in a tent.
"Now onto the second part of the exam." Blaise said as she took a seat in one of the chairs. "The first part was to test your strength, willpower, endurance and teamwork. The second part will test your tactical abilities."
"So we have to beat you at chess?!" Haru questioned, almost like she was shocked by this revelation.
"I won't say what the conditions are, but when we fight and I deem you a worthy enough opponent, then you will be made an S-Class wizard." Blaise answered. "Haru, you're first."
Haru didn't look particularly excited about the chess game and went inside the tent. Once Blaise entered, she closed the door to the tent while the others were forced to wait outside.
About five minutes had passed before Haru finally left the ten, with a defeated look on her face.
"Thank goodness it's all over…" Haru cried, almost like she had just escaped some sort of painful torture.
"Frost, you're next." Blaise's voice spoke from the tent.
"Well, here goes nothing." Frost said as she entered the tent.
Unlike with Haru, Frost came back out only two minutes after she went in.
"It's impossible to beat her!" Frost shouted. "Melody, watch out."
"Well, chess isn't your game anyway." Melody said, giving Frost a comforting pat on the shoulder.
"Melody?" Blaise's voice said from within the tent.
"Good luck, Melody." Frost said.
Melody went inside the tent and her trial began.
About thirty minutes had passed until Melody came out of the tent. While she didn't look as tormented as Haru or Frost, she still left the tent looking exhausted.
"Wow, I'm surprised I managed to last as long as I did." Melody said. "Aqua, if this is based on how well we handle the game, then it seems your only competition in this last trial is me."
Aqua looked toward the open door of the tent, swallowed and walked in, ready for whatever was waiting for her.
Upon entering the tent, she saw Blaise sitting on a chair with all the chess pieces back in their original positions.
"Aqua, please take a seat." Blaise said.
Aqua took her seat and examined the chess board.
"Before we start, can I ask you something?" Blaise asked. "During the first trial, I could see the desperation in your eyes. Do you mind telling me why?"
"… I'd rather not talk about it." Aqua replied, turning her head away from Blaise.
Blaise just looked at Aqua's pained face for a few seconds. "… Very well. If you don't want to talk about it, I won't force you to. Anyway, let us commence."
"… All right." Aqua said.
A few hours later back at the guild hall, everyone was eagerly waiting for the return of their guild mates and find out who would be the newest S-Class wizard for Phoenix Dawn.
"What's taking so long?!" Sakura exclaimed. "I'm getting bored!"
"This is a test." Flora pointed out. "It's obviously going to take a while."
A few seconds after Sakura's outburst, the doors to the guild hall opened up and Blaise walked in with a blinding light behind her.
"The X791 Phoenix Dawn S-Class Examination has ended and I have promoted the top wizard to the rank of S-Class!" Blaise announced.
Haru and Frost walked past her with defeated expressions on their faces.
"It's not us." Haru said as she and Frost slumped themselves down onto one of the tables.
"If Azusa, Static, Lionel and Eden came back early, then that means either Aqua or Melody made S-Class." Spiral said.
Melody walked past Blaise and right up to Spiral.
"Was it you?" Spiral asked.
Spiral and Melody stared at each other for several seconds before she finally scoffed.
"Huh?" Spiral asked with an eyebrow raised.
Blaise stepped to the side to show Aqua standing behind her. "May I present to you Phoenix Dawn's fifth S-Class wizard, Aqua Mare!"
"Congratulations, Aqua!" Hikari exclaimed as she ran over to Aqua.
"Welcome to the club." Spiral said and congratulated her with a handshake.
"Now I get a new sparring partner!" Sakura said.
Aqua simply giggled at the excitement of her friends and guild mates while something else was running through her thoughts.
*Maybe my family will stop looking down on me…*
A/N: Sorry this took so long. I'm being punished for not doing as well in school as my parents think I should and I'm not allowed to write during the week anymore, at least until winter break. I plan to put up the next chapter by tomorrow, if not then it'll be next weekend. In regards to Aqua's story, I will reveal more in the future. Anyway, I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Stay tuned for next time!