AN: Hey all, so here is the next chapter I hope you enjoy! I was previously going to update one of my HP crossovers if I'm honest, but recently I reread the books to familiarise myself with them after having not read them for years. And now I have been kind of put off for the moment. Is it me or are those books really badly written and the characterisation of most characters monumentally stupid? I mean don't get me wrong the world she created was intersting, but her writing, the sheer number of plot holes and the characters ridiculous choices, reading it now as an adult after over a decade I have to say, I was taken aback by how annoyed they made me. Not sure if that's jsut me being grumpy though.
But sorry, anyway on with this story. I hope you enjoy as I move into the next arc, and already massive changes have been made. Suffice to say I am really excited for what is to come. I hope you are too!
Thanks for all the support, I hope you all fav, follow, and review. Thanks for reading!
Disclaimer: I do not own Percy Jackson or Fairy Tail.
( - )
(Last Time)
"What did I do to deserve this?" Percy groaned audibly, even as he stepped back, avoiding swipes from both women, after which they began to fight in earnest. Both of them at least keeping their attacks none deadly, even if they didn't hold back that much. The shockwaves from their clashing weapons were evidence enough of that.
In the end though nobody answered as they were all too invested in watching the two equally beautiful red heads fight, both of them showing peerless skill in their chosen type of weapon as they fought back and forth. Neither of them bothering with taunts or words, as they instead let their blades and their skill do the talking.
"By the gods I need a drink." Percy sighed as he watched the two, exquisite, striking, and recklessly wonderful women fight, backing away until he slumped against the bar, beside the grinning Makarov and Gildarts, a freshly poured tankard of ale already waiting for him.
( - )
Chapter 22
( - )
(With Lucy)
"Ahhhh..." Lucy sighed, sinking deeper into her warm, steaming, bubble bath, the aches and pains she had received from her jaunt to Edolas washing away as she wallowed in her nice hot bath. "This is nice, I definitely needed it."
Despite only being in Edolas for just over two days, to Lucy it felt like an awful lot longer. Everything that had happened had just been so draining. They had been running around constantly, and then following on from that had been the shock of not only the long thought deceased Lisanna returning with them to Earthland, but the Edolas version of Erza too, a woman who by all accounts was a murderous psychopath.
Despite everything that had happened though, the rest of the Guild had not even realised that anything untoward had gone on, despite the phenomenon having lasted days. On top of which their reaction to the murderous Erza had been more bemused than anything, though that might also be in part because Percy had vouched for her, and more than that had asked them to not discuss her past openly, or at least to not purposefully put her in a bad light so as to 'give her a chance to have a new start, and make bonds as she settled in'.
Thankfully their shocked, and joyful reaction to the returning Lisanna Strauss had been more normal. But still, for Lucy at least, all that had gone on, not just in Edolas but over the last few months, ever since she first joined Fairy Tail, had taken a toll on her. What with all the travelling, fighting, stress and emotional turmoil. Seriously, was this what all wizards went through in their first few months as a Guild Wizard?
"Yeah." Another, familiar, female voice behind her groaned out too. "I know exactly what you mean."
"Hmm?" Lucy hummed in agreement, turning to the visitor as she did so before she suddenly froze, the stress and tension all returning to her frame in a single moment. "Wait Cana! What are you doing here?!"
"Just having a bath…" Cana sighed, somewhat stating the obvious, though her glum tone of voice did catch Lucy slightly off-guard.
"Cana? What's wrong?" Lucy asked, covering up her chest with one arm as sat up in the large bath and sat opposite Cana, her brow furrowed as she saw the pretty, dark haired girl seem to sink into herself, her gaze downcast, and the smell of alcohol on her breath noticeable, even from where Lucy was sat. "You seem down."
"It's nothing..." Cana replied, giving another sad sigh as she did so, her downcast gaze shifting up so her dark eyes met Lucy's lighter hazel ones.
"You know, if something's bothering you, I'm here to listen." Lucy said gently, real concern lacing her voice now as she had never seen Cana like this before.
Sure she didn't know the older girl that well, but from what she had seen of her she always seemed to be either cheerful or flirty, and often had a drink of some kind in her hand. Either way she never seemed down, though thinking on it now, Lucy did begin to wonder if that could all be an act, and whether Cana's drinking might be more than just because of her enjoyment of liquor and the party atmosphere that often overtook the Guild.
Cana stood up as she heard Lucy, uncaring of modesty as she instead faced away from the blonde. "I'm thinking of leaving Fairy Tail."
( - )
(In the Fairy Tail Guild Hall, the next day)
"I'm serious, Mira, she actually said that!" Lucy said to the calm and collected, white haired barmaid, her tone somewhat anxious as she wrung her hands. "She wouldn't even say why either!"
"It's alright, Cana always get like this around this time of year." Replied Mira patiently, her tone soothing as she absentmindedly dried a recently washed tankard.
"Wait, what do you mean?" Lucy asked, a prominent frown on her face. Only for her attention to then be drawn to her fire breathing teammate, who at that very moment ran past her making a racket as he did so.
"Work, work!" Natsu shouted, rushing past her and the bar without a backwards glance, Happy flying dutifully behind him as he headed towards the exit.
"Aye, sir!" The flying blue Exceed chirped.
"I'm back!" Gray's loud voice suddenly sounded out next, even as he charged into the Guild Hall, his entrance now catching Lucy's attention as she turned around and saw the Fairy Tail Guild and its members were all far busier than normal, suspiciously so in fact.
"Welcome back." Mira smiled, looking away from Lucy now and greeting the dark haired Ice Wizard, her brow furrowing slightly at the sight of him. "Where are your clothes, Gray?"
"No time for that!" Gray shouted in response, barely even stopping as he instead ran to the job request's board. "I need to get on to the next job!"
Lucy opened her mouth in surprise at this, the Gray she knew was never so proactive, nor as hard working. Just what was going on?
"Sister!" Elfman shouted, slamming a job request down on the bar as he did so. "I'm taking this!"
Lucy again blinked in surprise at this, only to then find herself shoved over to one side as a mass of wizards converged on the white haired barmaid, all of them holding job requests in their hands, squabbling over who was first and who got to do what mission.
"Work, work!"
"I saw that first, you bastard!"
"As if!"
"Out of the way shit for brains!"
"Team Shadow Gear is disbanded during this period! Today I work alone!"
"Um..." Lucy muttered, fighting her way to the bar, after which she took shelter behind it with Mira, her eyes wide as she looked around at the ongoing chaos. "What the hell is going on, what's with everyone?"
( - )
(Elsewhere in the Guild)
"Whoa!" A random Guild mage shouted out, jumping backwards in shock and fear, with the man in question, and half a dozen other mages around him moving out of the way and barely dodging as they did so, a blurred maelstrom of steel and clashing blades.
"Hn, your sword play is not bad!" Erza Knightwalker grinned, twirling her spear, the Ten Commandments, in her hand as she did so, the weapon in question currently in its usual mode. The tip of the spear gleaming as she then brought it up to point at her opponent, her long crimson tresses falling over her shoulder, slight damp due to the sweat coming off of her brow.
"Nor is your spear work, Knightwalker!" Erza Scarlet replied, resting the tip of her sword on the wooden floor and using it as a crutch. Her own brow equally as beaded with sweat, her breaths coming out heavily, the heart kreuz breastplate rising and falling with each breath. "Though what you gain in reach from your weapon, you lose in speed and close quarter's capability."
"Accuracy is what matters most Scarlet. If you can't get close to me then you'll never hit me." Knightwalker replied bluntly, shifting her feet as she began to try and circle her opponent, with Scarlet doing the same, so that in the end they just ended up circling one another, both of them gripping their respective weapons tightly. "You rely too much on your armour Scarlet, a weapon is a warrior's greatest tool!"
"I disagree, sometimes the best offence is a good defence. You are too aggressive Knightwalker, you attack too readily and tire yourself out. This would make you easy pickings for any capable swordswoman." Scarlet replied just as bluntly, sweeping her own long, sweaty red hair behind her shoulder as she did so.
"Then we will have to agree to disagree!" Knightwalker replied, crouching down low as she looked over at her doppelganger, a smirk spreading across her beautiful face. "Ready yourself, for this time I will not go easy on you Erza!"
"The same could be said for you Erza, I will no longer hold back either!" Scarlet replied, crouching lower to the ground herself now, after which she leapt forwards, almost at the exact time as her twin. Both of them meeting in the centre again, their respective weapon's blurs as they started jabbing, slashing and hacking at one another. "This time, at least try to keep up!"
"Ha! Bold talk coming from you!" Knightwalker retorted immediately, both of them leaping off of chairs, tables and walls as they tried to use both their wits, weapons and surroundings to their advantage in order to overcome the other.
( - )
(Back with Lucy)
Sitting on the other side of the Guild's bar to all of the clamour, Percy, Gildarts and Makarov sat drinking, with the newly arrived Laxus, fresh off a recent mission, with the rest of the Thunder Legion joining them. With Percy giving the newcomers a scaled down summary of the events in Edolas as they all drank ale and chatted, an island of calm in the otherwise chaotic Guild Hall.
"Alright now I am confused. Mira why are some people going mental and rushing off on jobs. Whilst others are simply lounging around, or I guess in the case of the two Erza's brawling? I'm kind of confused right now?" Lucy asked, sending Mira a quizzical look as she tore her eyes away from the goings on in the Guild. "Has something happened that I've not been told about?"
In response, Mira merely smiled, looking away from the tussling Jet and Droy, both of whom seemed to be fighting to get Mira to sign them onto the same mission. "You'll understand once tomorrow comes." With that said she then turned back to helping the others, leaving Lucy more confused than ever.
( - )
(Later that night)
"So one last time, are we all in agreement?" Makarov asked to the assembled group at large, first looking to the stern looking Erza Scarlet, who like usual was clad in her gleaming armour, a sword resting on the table in front of her as she nodded her assent.
After which he looked to the bored looking Gildarts, who by this point had flung his cloak off into a dark corner of the room and now sat half naked at the table, his chest partially covered in bandages and his new prosthetic right arm clear for all to see. Seeing the look, Gildarts grunted and nodded, picking up his tankard as he did so before he then drained what was left in it.
Smiling slightly as he saw this, Makarov then looking to Mira. Only to see the white haired bar maid already looking back at him, a soft smile on her face as she nodded at him, giving her own agreement without issue.
Chuckling slightly under his breath, Makarov then looked to the last person in the room, Percy. "And what of you Perseus?"
Sipping a bit of ale out of his tankard, Percy gained a thoughtful look on his face. "I still have reservation on the maturity of two of the candidates. But you already know that, as I mentioned it before. However if the other S-Class's are happy then I am content. Let them take the trials, we will then wait and see whether any of them are truly worthy of becoming S-Class."
"As I said before Percy, I vouch for both of them. They have both grown a lot in your two years of absence, surely after the incident with Oración Seis and Edolas you have seen that much?" Erza spoke up now, reaching out and taking Percy's spare hand as she did so, squeezing it slightly as he put down his tankard with the other and met her gaze. "They are both ready, and both of them are more than worthy of at least taking the trials."
"Then I am content." Percy nodded, a slight smile ghosting about his mouth.
Taking her hand back, Erza then looked to Makarov. "I do have one concern though Master. "Should Laxus not be here too?"
"No, due to Laxus's actions at the Fantasia Parade he has been stripped of his rank and the honours and responsibility that comes with it, at least until he proves himself worthy anyway. Neither Laxus, nor Freed, Bickslow or Evergreen will be allowed to take part in the trials in any manner. Not whilst they are still on probation, instead they will remain here with all the others and continue to take B-rank and below missions until they redeem themselves." Makarov replied sharply, but not unkindly.
All those present at the table could hear the old man's underlying frustration with the whole Laxus situation.
"Right," Percy spoke up into the sudden silence that followed Makarov's words. "If that is all then I think we should adjourn. I take it we are all required to be present at the announcement tomorrow?"
"You're damn right you are, I don't want either you or Gildarts sneaking off!" Makarov snapped back, regaining some of his old humour now.
Percy smiled slightly at that, even as the others started to stand up and head off to their respective homes. Tomorrow was going to be a big day for some in the Guild, after all it was once again that time of the year.
( - )
(The next day)
It was around mid-morning the next day, just after ten o'clock, that Lucy finally made it into the Guild. The blonde in question looking around in shock as she did so, after all the Guild was packed out, with nearly every single member, over one hundred of them, all present.
This was especially surprising, not just because of the time in the morning, a time in which a large proportion of the Guild would still be snoozing in bed. That or they would have already set off on their mission for the day, or week, or month, depending on the difficulty of the mission in question, or be off on said mission.
Today however they were all present, what must be every single wizard in Fairy Tail, all of them standing around on mass in the centre of the hall, all of them standing just in front of the stage, upon which Master Makarov, Perseus, Mirajane, Gildarts and Erza Scarlet all stood, all five of them waiting around patiently whilst the Guild members continued to chatter excitedly with one another.
"Whoa..." Lucy muttered as she entered the crowded Guild Hall and looked around, pushing into the mob of waiting wizards as she searched for Natsu, Gray or another one of the Fairy Tail wizards she was close too. "What a crowd. It looks like almost all members of the Guild have gathered."
"What the hell is this?! What's the commotion about?!" Gajeel growled out as he appeared next to Lucy, his gruff face twisted into snarl as he shoved some of the more excitable wizards away creating room for both himself and the blonde mage. His red eyes flicking over to the blonde, knowing as he did that she had been in the Guild for a couple of months more than him, and so might actually know what the hell was going on.
"I've no idea. Nobody mentioned anything." Lucy replied with a shrug as the two of them continued through the crowd. With the blonde spying a familiar head of long, blue hair and a flying white cat in the crowd as she did so.
"Hey guys, do you know what's going on? I asked some of the others and they said Master Makarov is going to make some kind of important announcement!" Wendy chirped excitedly as soon as she and Carla met up with Lucy and Gajeel, the Iron Dragon Slayer once again forcibly making a space for them in the crowd. "I'm not sure what it is though."
"Not interested." Carla added her own two cents, a disgruntled expression on her face as she looked around at the excitedly jabbering wizards with distaste.
A few minutes later the group spied out Natsu's spiky pink hair, with them making their way over to where he and Gray were standing, both of them talking excitedly to one another, whilst Happy hovered about just above them.
"Natsu..." Happy audibly said as Lucy, Wendy, Gajeel and Carla approached the group, glancing down at the fidgeting Dragon Slayer as he did so. "Calm down, it's going to start soon, you don't want to miss it."
"I know, I know, I'm just so fired up! This year, this year is definitely my year!"
Gray smirked as he heard Natsu's words, looking up at the stage as he too waited for Master Makarov to start his announcement. "Hmph, we'll see."
"Finally, I will know what's going on." Lucy muttered to herself, settling in alongside the others now she had found them, noticing a resigned-looking Cana just off to one side as she did so. Maybe now she would also work out just what had Cana so down.
"Juvia's excited..." The blue haired water mage to her right said loudly, attracting Lucy's attention, only for Lucy to roll her eyes as she heard Juvia finished. "When she looks at Gray!"
"Of course that's what you're excited about." Lucy replied in a tone of resignation.
"Shush, it looks like it's about to start!" A random mage from the side hissed, her words soon spreading as the rest of the crowd clocked on to how Makarov had took a step forward, his steely gaze surveying all those present.
"Master!" Someone else in the crowd cheered. "We've been waiting!"
"Hurry up and make the announcement!" Another wizard in the crowd yelled. "Who is it this time?"
"Quiet you brats!" Makarov roared in response, his words causing instant silence to descend on the hall, after which he cleared his throat and began. "Since long ago, this has been Fairy Tail's custom. And now, at this time of year, I shall announce the participants of the upcoming S-Class mage promotion trials!"
The moment Makarov finished the hall erupted into cheers, all of them roaring and stamping their feet, the excitement in the room palpable.
"So that's what this is all about." Lucy muttered as she looked around the crowd, wide-eyed as she realised just what this would mean. "The trial to advance in rank and be considered equal to mages like Erza, Gildarts and Perseus..."
Off to one side Lucy could see Laxus, and the Thunder Legion all watching from the side. None of them looked particularly enthusiastic, instead all four of them simply looked resigned as they watched on. Similarly Erza Knightwalker was also visible standing to one side of the crowd, a partially bored look on her face as she looked intently at the stage, seemingly not getting as swept up in the excitement as those around her.
"I'm all fired up!" Natsu bellowed, slamming a fist into his palm as he glared fiercely up at the stage and the Guild Master and four S-class wizards as they stood slightly above the rest, looking down on the rest of the Guild.
"This year's promotion trials will take place on Tenrou Island." Makarov continued loudly, his deep, powerful voice quieting the crowd. "The holy ground of our Guild."
"Strength, heart, and soul..." Makarov forged on, looking out over the crowd again, his stern expression giving way to a proud smile. "For the past year, I and the other S-Class wizards have been watching over the members of this Guild, looking out for those three traits. Going forward there will be five participants."
Makarov paused after he said this, looking to Perseus and the other S-Class wizards as he did so. These five had been selected after rigorous discussions, and even then it had been difficult to convince Perseus of two of the candidates. Already two other nominations had failed to pass muster and had been rejected by Percy, with the suggestion that they be re-evaluated next year, which Mira, Erza and Gildarts all eventually agreed with. Though thankfully the other two Percy suggested not go ahead due to their maturity, both Erza and Gildarts challenged him on, with the Ace having eventually relented.
"The first candidate for the upcoming S-Class trial is, Natsu Dragneel!" Makarov continued, his words eliciting a giant roar from the Fire Dragon Slayer, and cheers from the rest of the crowd.
"Alright!" Natsu shouted, fisting pumping the air as Happy flew joyfully through the air above him.
"Gray Fullbuster!" Makarov continued, to yet more cheering from the crowd.
Gray smirked as he heard that, playing it cool with his reaction. "The time has finally come."
"Cana Alberona!" Makarov called out next, once again provoking the loudest cheer yet.
In response the brown haired girl merely looked away, her forlorn expression not wavering as she looked away from the stage, as if trying to avoid eye contact. Even as those around her cheered and slapped her on the back, all of them calling out encouragement and support.
"Levy McGarden!" Makarov called out next, his smile widening as he felt the excitement in the hall continue to mount.
"Me..." Levy gasped, the quiet, spikey blue haired girl looking around in shock. Surprised that she was the one being chosen, especially when there were plenty of older and more powerful wizards in the Guild than her, Gajeel, Juvia, Elfman and the Thunder Legion, all coming to mind. Still she wasn't one to reject such an opportunity. "Finally...!"
"And then last, but certainly not least, Mest Gryder!" Makarov shouted out, his voice pitching as he called out the last of the candidates for the trials. His dark eyes searching out the faces of those who were considered but not selected. With Juvia looking unbothered as she instead fawned over Gray. Whilst Elfman looked devastated, even if he tried to hold it together and clap for the others.
Losing his smile slightly as he saw the large, white haired man's disappointment. Makarov then tore his gaze away and instead looked to the last candidate, Mest. His dark eyes taking in the sight of the tall, thin man with short black hair and several scars around his left eye. The man in question holding a confident air about him as he calmly met Makarov's gaze.
"It's Mest!" Someone in the crowd cheered. "Last year he was so close!"
"Damn it!" Alzack moaned, sagging in disappointment as he did so. "I didn't make it this year either!"
"Oh don't worry, there's always next year, Alzack." Bisca replied soothingly, patting him on the back as she did so.
"Levy was chosen!" Jet cheered fist pumping as he did so. "And Natsu's in too!"
"Gray as well!" Droy shouted as well, both the young men throwing and arm around on another as they cheered for their friends. "Yahoo!"
"So that's it..." Said Lucy, looking over to those who were selected as she did so. "Those guys were working hard to have better chances of getting chosen."
"Good luck, everyone!" Wendy cheered out, smiling around at those who were chosen.
Lucy smiled as she heard that, not at all disappointed with not having been chosen. Just as she wasn't surprised that wizards like Gray and Natsu had been selected instead, S-Class wizards after all were the best of the best.
With that thought in mind she glanced over at Cana, who still hadn't reacted or come out of her funk. "Come to think of it, is this why she wants to leave the Guild?"
"This time only one of the candidates will pass." Makarov spoke up again, his tone just as strong as ever as he looked to each one of the selected candidates. "You have one week. Prepare yourselves!"
"One?" Someone in the crowd muttered in surprise. "So who do you think it's going to be, Natsu?"
"Nah, it has to be Mest." Someone else observed. "And Gray is in it too."
"Why wasn't I included?" Gajeel scowled, looking to the others as he did so. "I mean I'm better than the flame brain and the ice pick any day!" He continued, glaring over at the smirking and grinning Gray and Natsu as he did so.
"I heard about your standing and position in the Guild." Erza Knightwalker spoke up, the red head in question making her presence known as she approached the only members of the Guild that she sort of knew. "I guess they don't trust you yet."
"That's not it!" Gajeel protested, before he paused as he recalled a certain mission given to him by Makarov. "I can't talk about it, but that's not it! Besides how can someone like you say that?!"
"Are you trying to make a point?" Knightwalker replied, a suddenly dangerous expression passing across her face.
"No, no point, just saying that you weren't pick either!" Gajeel replied quickly, he wasn't scared of the Edolas Erza, but at the same time he had enough common sense not to piss her off.
"Well considering I've only been a member of the Guild for a few days is that really surprising?" Erza replied dryly, her expression lightening somewhat as it became slightly more amused. "I suppose it just isn't our time yet."
Wendy smiled slightly as she saw this interaction, it wasn't often that someone was able to cow the abrasive Iron Dragon Slayer, but it was certainly amusing whenever it did happen. Her smile though soon turned into a frown as she turned around, and suddenly noticed Carla stare off into space, her expression fearful. "Carla, what's wrong?"
"N-nothing..." Carla replied quickly, forcing a smile, even if internally her feelings were in complete turmoil. 'What was that... just now, for a second?'
Cana wailing at the sky, tears running down her cheeks.
A pale Natsu, trembling as he stared at something Carla couldn't make out.
A hand, reaching out weakly before slumping motionlessly.
Perseus, his face slicked in blood, his sword in one hand as he raised it as if to defend himself from a mighty, overwhelming foe.
A scowling man with short black hair, saying something to an unknown listener.
Carla felt her body shake as she dwelled on the images that had just assailed her. 'What was that, what were those, memories of things that had happened, or images of things yet to come. And who... who was that man, who was he to push someone like Percy so far, if it was even he who was responsible?'
Whatever it was, it felt very real, and Carla couldn't help the shiver of fear that ran down her back. Something bad was going to happen on Tenrou Island, she wasn't sure what it was, but she knew that something terrible was going to happen.
"So, for the sake of the new members of the Guild, and for those few who might not remember, we will now explain the rules for the S-Class trials." Makarov spoke up once more, though only after the cheers had died down a bit.
"The participants have one week of preparation, in which time you five are to choose a partner." Mira announced, stepping forward as she did so, a smile on her face.
"There are two rules to partner selection." Erza Scarlet spoke up next, making her own presence known as she glared around the hall. "First, they must be a member of Fairy Tail. Second, they cannot be an S-Class mage."
"Which means that Scarlet, Mirajane, Makarov, Percy and Gildarts can't be chosen." Knightwalker remarked dryly, which made sense as with one of those wizards on someone's team, then the competition would be very unfair.
"Yeah, having Percy or Erza as a partner would make you too powerful." Wendy agreed, nodding her head with a grin as she saw Knightwalker smile down at her, after which the older woman ruffled her blue hair.
"On top of that you cannot ask someone who is on probation, as they are forbidden from taking part in the exam." Percy chipped in here, his gaze finding Laxus and the Thunder Legion, all of whom met his gaze, before they nodded. They remembered well enough that until they had redeemed themselves they were forbidden from taking part in the S-Class trials.
"The rest of the details of the exam will be revealed after your arrival on Tenrou Island." Makarov took over once again. "But I will say that this time, Erza, will be one of the ones who will attempt to block you from proceeding."
"Wait what!?" The masses wailed, as the enormity of what Makarov said sank in.
"I'll also be a troublemaker this time around too." Mira smiled cheerfully, waving to the chosen participants as she did so. With this announcement bringing forth another wave of wailing and shock.
"Enough whining." Gildarts smirked. "This is a path that all S-Class mages have gone down."
"Wait a minute..." Gray paled, clocking onto the smirk on the older, bearded man's face.
Happy's jaw dropped. "No way..."
Natsu though merely cheered out gleefully. "Gildarts is taking part too?"
Gray turned to him with wide eyes, an incredulous expression on his face. "Don't be happy about that!"
"Don't forget about me either!" Percy tagged on, his grin almost predatory as he rested a hand on the golden hilt of Backbiter and gazed around the now silent room. His expression not changing for a moment, even as the rest of the Guild erupted in shock and horror at the thought of facing off with the legendary Ace of Fairy Tail. This year the S-Class trials sounded next to impossible.
"The chosen five will take their partners with them." Makarov finished, trying to fight off an evil smile at the chaos the most recent announcement had caused. "And gather at Hargeon port one week from now! That is all you need to know for now!"
( - )
(A little while later)
"Ha! I'm all fired up now!" Natsu exclaimed loudly, letting loose another roar, fire bursting forth from his mouth as he did so. "I'm definitely gonna become an S-Class!"
"I'm actually kind of surprised all of you are first-time participants." Asked Lucy, glancing around the table the group had snagged for themselves after the mass of wizards had broken up once Makarov had finished his announcements.
"Well the trials are pretty difficult. Though it looks like it is going to be an especially tough one this year." Gray muttered, crossing his arms as he did so, whilst still trying to ignore Juvia's cloying attempts at clinginess.
Wendy smiled sheepishly. "Yeah I can imagine trying to get past Erza and Mira would be difficult, even with two of you, let alone Gildarts or Percy."
"Mirajane and Scarlet would not be too difficult to defeat two on one!" Knightwalker replied bluntly, her gaze moving back to the stage where all the S-Class wizards and the Guild Master were still talking. "But your point about this Gildarts, and Percy is true. The pairs who face off with those two are doomed!"
All of those present nodded solemnly at that statement, including those who may end up in that very situation.
"Oh, yeah." Lucy spoke up, suddenly thinking of something. "Has everyone chosen a partner already?"
"I'm definitely going with Happy!" Natsu announced right away.
"Aye, sir!" Happy nodded, as if he didn't expect anything else.
"Happy?" Elfman scowled irritably, the larger man obviously still a little peeved that he himself had not been selected to go the island. "That's not fair! If the exam turns out to be a race, he can fly, so it'll be no contest!"
Lisanna, who was stood beside her brother, previously to comfort him, now waved his comment off. "What's the big deal?"
"I don't mind." Gray agreed, sending Lisanna a smile as he did so. "You'll be no trouble when it comes to fighting."
"I'm gonna make Natsu an S-Class mage no matter what!" Happy declared proudly, ignoring the naysayers.
"Yeah!" Natsu stood up. "I know those I'm going up against are my Guild mates, but this is one thing I can't back down from! I can't stay here any longer! Training time!"
"Aye, sir!"
With that said both Natsu and Happy shot out of the Guild, no doubt shooting off to the nearby forest where they could start training.
"I sometimes can't believe it." Lisanna muttered as she watched the duo run off. "In the mere two years I've been gone, Natsu's grown strong enough to participate in the S-Class exams..."
"I think it's because Natsu thinks he'll be able to meet Igneel, his foster father, if he becomes an S-Class mage." Lisanna continued, glancing sideways at Lucy as she did so. "He's got twice the passion of a normal person in regards to this exam."
Lucy smiled sadly as she heard that.
"So Gray do you have any ideas on who you want to be your partner?" Asked Wendy, turning away from the strangely quiet Carla, as she instead looked over at the currently half naked ice wizard.
"Oh no!" Juvia spoke up now, a look of shock and betrayal on her face as she pointed at Wendy dramatically. "The little one asks because she wants to be Gray's partner. Juvia has a new love rival!"
"What no!" Wendy replied, her face going bright red. "I was just asking, I wasn't offering!"
"Well I wouldn't have said yes anyway, sorry Wendy." Gray smirked. "I mean I've already decided on my partner."
As if in answer to this statement, a familiar young man, dressed in a black suit, white shirt, black tie, and pair of sunglasses stepped up next to him. "Long time no see, everyone." The man said cheerfully, giving a half wave to the assembled group as he did so.
"Loke." Lucy shouted, her eyes widening as she looked down at her Celestial Keys, all of which were present and correct. "How are you here?"
"We made a promise last year." Gray replied, by way of explanation.
Loke nodded. "You know it, first one of us to make it to the trials the other helps out. But don't worry Lucy, I'll be using my own magic for this."
"But how will you pass for a member of our guild?" Wendy asked, recognising the ginger haired man for who he was, Leo the Lion, one of Lucy's Celestial Spirits, one of her most powerful ones in fact.
"Well little lady, that's because I'm still a Fairy Tail mage. For the pride of Fairy Tail, I'll make Gray an S-Class mage." Loke explained, before he turned, unbuttoned his shirt and showed the assembled group the large Fairy Tail mark on his back.
Gray smirked at this. "I'm counting on you."
Loke smirked right back at him. "Leave it to me."
With that said both men did a manly high-five and then a fist bump.
"Huh, I wonder who everyone else will partner up with." Wendy mused, a smile on her face as she saw Lucy arguing with the laughing Loke and grinning Gray. Even as Lisanna continued to comfort both Elfman, who was disappointed about not being chosen for the trials, and Juvia, who was disappointed about not being chosen by Gray.
( - )
(Elsewhere in the Guild)
"Levy was chosen!" Jet cheered, hugging his much shorter teammate as he celebrated. "You might become an S-Class mage now!"
"Our Levy!" Droy shouted, just as joyfully. "An S-Class, can you imagine it!"
"So..." Jet asked, as he released the girl and then looked down at her. "I'm gonna be your partner, right?"
"No way!" Droy retorted. "It's gonna be me!"
"I your dreams!"
"My magic is more suited for battle!"
"But I'm a faster runner!"
"Oh, that's your reason? You're just after Levy!"
"Who's the one after her?"
In response to this childish argument, Levy merely shrank back in her seat and sighed.
"If you really want to become an S-Class, then I'll lend a hand." Gajeel declared resolutely, forcing his way into the conversation now as he stepped up behind the blue haired girl and crossed his arms, the expression on his face fierce and uncompromising.
"Gajeel!"
"I'll blow away any guy you don't like during the exam." Gajeel smirked darkly.
"Are you sure? I'm not sure I'll do very well, I mean I'm probably the weakest amongst those selected..." Levy sighed sadly. "So I might lose quickly."
Gajeel frowned and lifted her by her collar. "Don't go sounding so weak before it's even started."
"Ah!" Levy gasped, struggling as her feet no longer touched the floor. Both of them oblivious to the put out and shocked expressions on Jet and Droy's faces as they watched on helplessly. "Let me down!"
"It's time you toughen up!" Gajeel announced, the grin on his face now downright frightening.
( - )
(Sometime later, outside of the Guild)
"What's wrong, Carla?" Wendy asked, carrying the Exceed in her arms as they headed towards the Fairy Hills dormitory. "You've been quiet since morning."
"A little, maybe." Carla conceded after a few moments of silence. "I just have a bad feeling about this exam... you absolutely cannot get involved, ok?"
"Oh don't worry. There's no one who would make me their partner anyway, so it's ok." Wendy nodded, rolling her eyes at her friend's overprotectiveness.
Before Carla could reply to that, the two of them walked around a corner only to see Mest, one of the competitors, talking quietly with Erza Knightwalker. The tall, dark haired man obviously asking/ pleading with the red head about something. Whilst Knightwalker just listened on, an amused smile playing around her face, even as her spear hung limply at her side.
"I wonder what those two are talking about." Wendy muttered to Carla.
"Never you mind what that woman gets up too. No, now let's get along, it's getting late and you should be in bed." Carla replied snippily, already dismissing the odd duo and whatever they were discussing.
( - )
(Elsewhere in Magnolia)
"Heh." Lucy chuckled, catching some snowflakes in her glove as she strolled along the side of the canal on her way back to her apartment. "So snow falls here in Magnolia too."
Smiling at this, Lucy then glanced down a narrow side alley and paled at what she saw. Or rather who she saw. Half naked, like usual, and half conscious and clearly very drunk, and partially buried in rubbish and snow was one Cana Alberona. "Cana, what on Earthland are you doing? That's a really bad place to pass out in you know!"
( - )
(A few minutes later)
"Ahhhh..." Cana moaned out. "You're a lifesaver Lucy. If no one had found me, I'd be dead now."
"So, are you ready to tell me why you have been acting all gloomy lately, Cana?" Lucy asked, ignoring Cana's previous comment as she eyed the older girl from across the table, taking a sip of her tea as she waited for her to answer.
"Hasn't anyone told you?" Cana frowned. "You could call them S-Class exam blues, I guess."
"Does this have something to do with you saying you would quit the Guild?" Lucy asked, recalling their conversation from the night before as she did.
"This is my fifth attempt at S-Class." Cana looked down at her knees, her expression now hidden from view. "I've failed four times before now. I'm a disappointing excuse of a mage."
"I don't think it matters how many times you fail." Replied Lucy, reaching across the table to comfort the older girl.
"I'm the only one who failed four times." Cana countered. "So I'm making this time my last. If I don't make it to S-Class this time, then I'm leaving Fairy Tail."
"Sounds like the title means a lot to you." Lucy replied, uncertain just why it would mean so much to her, she never really seemed the type to worry about such things.
"It does." Cana nodded. "If I don't become an S-Class, I'll have no right to talk to that person, to tell him who I am."
"I..." Cana began to continue, before pausing for a moment, after which she just sighed and decided to explain everything. "I..."
Staying silent, Lucy listened to Cana's story, her expression going through a myriad of emotion as the older girl poured her heart out and told the blonde all of her troubles and worries.
"And that's my story." Cana finished. "If I don't become an S-Class this time, I'm leaving the Guild. I've already decided that."
"I'll be your partner then, Cana." Lucy declared after a few moments, the expression on her face firm and resolved. "I won't let you quit the Guild! I'll make sure you become an S-Class wizard!"
"Lucy..." Cana replied, beginning to tear up, a genuine smile spreading across her face now.
( - )
AN: So as I am sure people have noticed, this chapter was very much a setup as I move forward into the next arc. That being said it is quite important too as it sets up all the changes to come, and also sets the platform for some of my original plot points and plans to come to frution, which I think some of the more observant of you will have picked up on!
Either way there is a lot of stuff to come. Plenty of aciton and drama, maybe a bit of romance and passion, definetly conflict and anger. After all we now reach perhaps one of the most interesting and intense arcs in the Fairy Tail story, as well as very large deviation from canon.
Hope you all enjoy the chapter and leave a review.
Also if you have some time please check out my stories on my other accounts, my Seagate one which is mainly Harry Potter crossovers and Naruto crossovers, and my Greed720 one which is mainly Percy Jackson crossovers.
Thanks a lot for reading and I'll catch you later.
Seagate.