AN: Thank you for your reviews Goku275, NinjaFang1331, Kriim-Sauce786, AliceCullen3, Wadeparker, InstinctMW, and Skyalpha.
Kriim-Sauce786, Blaze would have to be at least a few years older before Natsu takes her along on his S-Class Jobs, though he would totally take his 3-4 year old daughter on regular jobs. Also, while neither of their ages were specified, I personally believe that Minerva's age is somewhere between Sting/Rogue's and Natsu's (which would make her older in canon due to the 7-ish year time skip).
This chapter is more like two shorter chapters in one, the first part taking place mid-December of X788 and the second occurring early January X790. I just wanted to mention this now to avoid potential confusion. Anyway, I hope you enjoy.
X788
"White Dragon's Holy Breath!" shouted a Dragon Force-enhanced Sting as Lector carried him through the sky. The White Dragon Slayer's attack rained down on Minerva, overwhelming her defensive Territory and knocking her unconscious.
"Yes!" exclaimed Lector, ecstatic. "You did it!"
"No, we did it!" replied Sting, grinning. A fire burned in his eyes. "Now, all that stands between me and S-Class is Master Natsu."
Fairy Tail was undergoing its annual S-Class Trial. The candidates this year were Sting (partner: Lector), Minerva (partner: N/A), Rufus (partner: Max), Orga (partner: Warren), Jet (partner: Droy), and Alzack (partner: Bisca).
In X785, the guild had not performed a trial, as the Fairy Tail-Sabertooth Guild War had left everybody feeling that they needed to be stronger and weren't worthy of the title S-Class Mage just yet. The next year, Natsu ended up making the trial too hard and nobody passed (he judged S-Class as the level of Erza in X784, rather than when she first became S-Class). It wasn't until X787, in a trial toned-down by Macao and Wakaba, that Rogue became Fairy Tail's newest S-Class Mage.
Incidentally, this fact had been a sore point for Sting, especially due to the fact that he had been eliminated when Minerva exploited his crippling motion sickness. The embarrassment was further exacerbated since Romeo, his fellow admirer of Natsu, and Blaze, who was like a little sister to him, had both been watching.
"Our fight will be tomorrow at 10," announced Natsu, smiling with pride for his disciple. The Fire Dragon Slayer had begun training Sting not long after the boy entered Fairy Tail, mainly sparring with him and taking him on S-Class Jobs. "I'm all fired up."
The next day approached Sting quickly. Despite feeling a mixture of excitement and apprehension, he was able to get a good night's sleep and recover from the previous portions of the trial. Sting and Lector arrived at the battleground at 9:55, meeting Natsu and a crowd of spectating (from a safe distance) Fairy Tail mages.
Preparing for the fight, the three of them stretched and talked casually.
"Minerva's finally paid for what she did during last year's trial," gloated Sting. "I mean, seriously! She teleported me onto the roof of a moving train!"
"Yeah, but things would've been different if she'd taken a partner," Natsu pointed out. "Even after a few years, Minerva's still affected by her asshole of a father. She's fine making friends and helping others, but she feels like accepting help herself is a sign of weakness and tries to do everything herself."
"Her dad really did a number on her," commented Lector. "I was bullied back before I met Sting, yet I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like for somebody you love, who should love you unconditionally, to be that cruel."
"Hopefully she can overcome it one day," said Natsu wistfully. "On a lighter note, I believe that you can make S-Class. Like my advisors told me, I won't be using any Dragon Slayer's Secret Arts or the Dragon Force."
Sting and Lector unconsciously breathed sighs of relief. Those two things had been the biggest reason why the X786 S-Class Trial had been so terrifying and painful.
"It's not like you've ever needed those to defeat me, master," said Sting, smiling at his memories of them training together.
"True," admitted Natsu. "Anyway, let's begin!"
"White Drive!" exclaimed Sting causing a white light to envelop him. "Dragon Force! White Dragon's Iron Fist!"
"Going all out from the start," observed Natsu as his opponent leaped toward him, white scales growing across Sting's body. "Not bad. Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"
The two dragon slayers' fists collided, sending out shockwaves. However, Sting found himself pushed back while Natsu remained where he stood. This didn't faze the White Dragon Slayer, though.
"Holy Ray!" shouted Sting, bringing his hands together and producing a sphere of light. From this sphere, many beams of light shot out, curving towards Natsu.
"Fire Dragon's Claw!" yelled Natsu, obliterating the beams with a flaming kick. "Is that all you got?"
Rather than responding to his master's taunt, Sting smirked.
"Now Lector!"
The Exceed grabbed onto Natsu's back, using his Aera to fly them toward Sting. The Fire Dragon Slayer had forgotten about Lector, too focused on his disciple.
"White Dragon's Claw!" shouted Sting, uppercutting Natsu with his holy attack. The attack didn't harm Natsu, but it did restrict his movement as Lector began flying upward.
"Now for the finisher!" declared Sting as he gathered an enormous amount of Magic Power in his right hand. Lector broke off his ascent, releasing Natsu and flinging him even higher. "Dragon Slayer's Secret Art: Holy Nova!"
"Not bad," murmured Natsu as he used his flames to burn away the stigma restricting his movements. "Powerful attacks, decent strategy. Now to test his resolve. Fire Dragon's Roar!"
White light met fire, creating a blinding explosion. Sting and Lector (along with the spectators) were forced to avert their eyes.
"Did we get him?" asked Lector, him and his partner looking around as the dust began to settle. Sadly, the two caught sight of Natsu, completely unharmed.
"Not even a scratch," muttered Sting, his ultimate attack brushed off by a spell that he knew contained barely a fraction of Natsu's full power. "Just how big is the gap between us?"
"Sting…" said Lector quietly, concerned for his friend. Ever since seeing Natsu's true power, Sting had lost a degree of confidence in himself. He constantly claimed that he would surpass Natsu, but Lector could see the traces of doubt in his eyes. Heck, Sting fell into Minerva's trap during last year's S-Class Trial because he was so desperate to prove himself that he rushed ahead without thinking.
"Maybe I should surrender…" spoke Sting to himself.
Lector clenched his hand in frustration.
"I'm almost out of Magic Power, and there's no chance of winning…"
The Exceed's eyes began to tear up.
"…I could always try again next year…"
"Natsu," Sting said more loudly. "I—"
"Shut uuuuup!" screamed Lector, a mixture of upset and enraged.
"Lector?" uttered Sting, confused.
"You promised me that you'd defeat the Salamander! And now… now that you have the chance, you're just giving up! What happened to the Sting who'd fight anyone who challenged him? Who'd face all his opponents, certain that he'd win? When did my best friend become a coward!?"
"Lector," said Sting as he gazed at his partner, touched. His fear remained, but it was now dwarfed by a sense of determination. "Thank you."
"Natsu!" shouted Sting, turning toward the Fire Dragon Slayer. "I… no… we're not giving up until we beat you! Even if it takes 100 years, we'll keep fighting! I'M ALL FIRED UP!"
Sting and Lector charged at Natsu, the former pulling his arm back to throw a punch and the latter sprouting wings to fly toward the guild master. They might not win, but the two of them would go down fighting.
And later, when they regained consciousness in Porlyusica's house, Porlyusica informed them of two things. The first was that they were morons; especially Sting, who kept on battling Natsu even after his Magic Power ran out. The second was that Sting had been promoted to S-Class. Apparently, whether or not Sting would give in to despair when faced with overwhelming power was the final part of his S-Class Trial.
X790
Minerva sighed as she walked into Fairy Tail's guild hall. It was the first day of the new year, yet she couldn't bring herself to feel happy. She was depressed over the results of the X789 S-Class Trial half a month ago. Even though she was the last candidate remaining (still without a partner), Minerva ultimately failed to become an S-Class Mage.
However, she snapped to attention upon hearing a familiar boast in a familiar voice.
"Today is the day that I defeat you! Nekōsoku Tube!"
A cat-like rope of Binding Magic shot toward Minerva, only to miss when she teleported to the caster and trapped them in her Territory.
"Better luck next time, Blaze," teased Minerva, the hint of a smile on her face.
"Mya!" huffed Blaze, the 4 year old giving a pout. "If I could use Daddy's Fire Dragon Slayer Magic, then I'd beat you for sure, Big Sis Minerva!"
Despite her young age, Natsu and Millianna had begun teaching their daughter magic. Minerva suspected that this was the result of Sting and Rogue mentioning how they learned magic from their dragon parents around that age.
Whatever the cause, Blaze proved herself to have the potential and drive to learn magic, quickly picking up her mother's magic. Sadly, the same could not be said about her father's magic. The prevailing theory was that only a dragon could teach Dragon Slayer Magic, although it was also possible that Natsu was just a bad teacher.
This didn't stop Blaze and Natsu from trying, though. It was clear that Blaze had inherited her father's stubbornness. Also, the fact that they would always do something fun together after failing probably softened the blow.
"I'm sure you'll become much stronger than me one day," Minerva told Blaze, releasing her from the Territory. Minerva then looked around the guild hall. "By the way, where is your mother?"
"Mommy took Iggy to a play-date with Asuka," explain Blaze. Igneel "Iggy" Dragneel was her younger brother, born in X787 with brown hair and his father's eyes about a year and a half after Blaze. "Since Daddy and Happy won't be back from their job until later today, I'm staying here."
"Ah, I see," replied Minerva cheerfully. "Well, I suppose I'll watch over you until then. Is there anything in particular you want to do?"
"Hmm," went Blaze as rubbed her chin, as deep in thought as a child could be. However, before she could think of something, an unfamiliar teenage girl entered the guild hall.
"Um, hello," spoke the girl somewhat awkwardly. "My name is Yukino Agria, I'm a Celestial Spirit Mage, and I've come to Magnolia Town to join Fairy Tail."
"Mya-ha!" exclaimed Blaze triumphantly, drawing everybody's attention. "We can give our newest member a tour of Magnolia and show her all the best places in town."
"Ask you sure?" asked Minerva, confused. "If you just want to go to several places, you don't need to make up an excuse about it."
"No!" shouted Blaze. "If she's joining Fairy Tail, then she's our nakama and should know all the best places in town!"
"You really are your father's daughter," thought Minerva, somewhat impressed by the girl's forceful kindness. Blaze was going to help Yukino, whether she wanted it or not.
"Alright then," acquiesced Minerva, turning toward Yukino. "Once you've filled out the paperwork, me and Blaze will show you around town, Miss Agria."
"Yukino," replied the girl nervously. "I feel like I'm a bit too young for "Miss Agria." So, am I really in Fairy Tail? Just like that?"
"We haven't had particularly strict requirements for a few years now," piped up Macao. "Not since that article on our guild's X786 S-Class Trial was released. By the way, my name is Macao Conbolt and I'm one of Guild Master Natsu's personal advisors. Come right this way Yukino.
The registration process went quickly. By the time Yukino was accepted, her nerves had melted away completely. With that out of the way, Blaze and Minerva began her tour of Magnolia.
The tour itself consisted of the girls visiting several restaurants and sweets shops, some Magic Shops, a pet store, and Fairy Hills (where Yukino would be staying, having made a fair bit of money prior to arriving in Magnolia). During this time, the girls talked about various things and bonded.
Blaze and Minerva learned that Yukino was a Celestial Spirit Mage, with two golden keys and a special black key. Zeref worshippers had killed Yukino's parents and kidnapped her sister, a girl named Sorano. This event motivated her to become a strong mage and, hopefully, find her sister one day.
"That's so sad!" cried Blaze, weeping. "I swear that, as your new nakama, I will get stronger so that I can help you find your sister! Come on, Big Sis Minerva! You too!"
"Alright," agreed Minerva, amused by the little girl's reaction. Her face turned serious, and she brought a hand to her chest. "I swear, on my honor as a Fairy Tail mage, that I will do everything in my power to help you find your sister."
Their words brought tears of joy to Yukino's eyes.
"Thank you *sniff* thank you so much" said Yukino earnestly. "Though I have to say, it's hard to believe that you can do so much for me despite us only knowing each other for less than a day."
"That's Fairy Tail for you," said Minerva. "The guild is a second family to its members, if not their first."
"Yeah, mya!" agreed Blaze. "Besides, Big Sis Minerva could use a new friend. She's been reaaally mopey since the S-Class Trial, and I had to fix that!"
"Wait a second…" trailed off Minerva, eyes widening. "Was this tour your way of making me feel better?"
"Aye, mya!" replied Blaze, emulating a certain Exceed. "Even if the guild is your nakama, you don't act like it. You don't spend much time with anyone other than me, so I thought making another friend might make you feel better."
Minerva and Yukino both smiled at this.
"Thank you," said Minerva, full of gratitude. "Making friends doesn't come easily to me, so I appreciate the help."
"You could've fooled me," responded Yukino lightly, putting her arm on Minerva's shoulder. "I'd say that, with only a little work, you could become friends with everyone in Fairy Tail!"
That day, a friendship was born, and another scar faded from Minerva's heart. In the following weeks, she grew closer to her guildmates. And, at the end of the year, Minerva became an S-Class Mage with the assistance of her partner and best friend, Yukino Agria.
Still, that was not the only major event to occur that day. When Natsu returned, he brought important news. During his quest, he heard about a place called Sun Village, full of giants. In the center of this village lies an Eternal Flame, which, according to the rumormonger, has been reported to occasionally take on the form of a dragon.
Omake
"Your ribs are almost healed enough for you to leave," Porlyusica told Sting, her scowling face making it clear that this couldn't happen soon enough. "You will need another week before doing anything strenuous— which includes training— though you should wait an extra day to be safe."
"Make sure that he follows my instructions," continued Porlyusica, turning her head toward Lector, who nodded. "He may be S-Class now, but this idiotic human is by no means undefeatable. If anything, he's more likely to die now that he can take on S-Class Jobs alone."
"Grumpy old lady," muttered Sting.
"I heard that!" shouted Porlyusica, furious. "Get out! Now!"
She then grabbed a broom and began whacking Sting with it as he struggled to move his injured body out the door and away from her. Lector, terrified of the woman, abandoned his partner and flew away as quickly as possible.
Sting Eucliffe: newly-minted S-Class Mage. Defeated by a non-magical old woman with a broom.
AN: The S-Class Trial of X786 was a huge disaster, one that became a running gag within the guild. It was (predictably) reported by Jason in Sorcerer Magazine, and scared away most potential applicants to Fairy Tail. The remaining ones were arrogant jerks who, shortly after joining, got their pride crushed and left. Yukino is the first person (excluding Romeo) to truly join the guild since Tenrou Island.
Also, the Omake takes place after Sting and Lector woke up in Porlyusica's house following the X788 S-Class Trial.
Next chapter will be the Dragneel family's (which includes Happy, who, while absent this chapter, has returned from the Exceed Village) trip to Sun Village. Until then, bye!