Saiyans of Earthland
"I'd say we should punish you for what you did little missy, but I think you've already learned your lesson." Mina said, scolding Eri as the girl sat between her parents at the bar. "You're lucky that your father was so generous and lenient, allowing you to stay for the rest of the job."
"Yes Mama." Eri said.
"I hope you realize, we don't punish you, because we don't love you." Kaen said, putting down his drink. "It's quite the opposite in fact. We punish you, because we want you to be able to learn right from wrong, and to be smart enough to know if this choice you make, is worth the consequences that are rought from it."
"I know Papa." Eri said.
"So, since you've already gone through so much, we'll leave it at this." Mina said. "You're grounded for two weeks, and you won't be going on any jobs with me, your father, or anyone else for that allotted time. Am I understood?"
"Yes Mama." Eri repeated.
"Good." Mina sighed. "Honestly you had me worried sick until you all came back. I thought the worst had happened, when I heard your father had turned into an Oozaru."
"That's not the only thing your husband did." Erza said. "He copied the Master's magic, and turned into some sort of… primal titan like creature."
"Oh that reminds me." Mina said, pulling a Xerox Band out from her Duplication Void.
"Oh right. The experiment. Come on, let's give it a try." Kaen said.
"Can I have my own Xerox Band?" Eri asked.
"Maybe after your grounding." Mina said, putting the Xerox Band on her wrist.
"What are you doing?" Mira asked.
"We're gonna try and see if Mina can copy what allows me and Eri to copy magic. If she can, then she can learn all the magic she needs." Kaen said, as Mina touched his arm. "Anything?"
"Yeah actually. I was able to copy the core." Mina smiled as she felt a jolt of energy rush through her.
"Now something you gotta be careful about." Kaen said. "You don't just copy the magic of the person you touch, you also copy their physical strength. So don't go beyond what your body can handle, until that limit increases."
"Right. I'll be aware of that." Mina said.
"Hey Kaen, don't you think you should get going outside now?" Mira asked. "Today's the day of that fight between you, Erza, and Natsu, isn't it?"
"Oh yeah, I guess it is that day isn't it?" Kaen asked, hopping down from his seat.
"What's going on?" Mina asked.
"Natsu had a condition about joining the job Erza requested our help with." Kaen said. "He wanted a battle between the three of us once we got back to Magnolia. We had to hold off for a couple days, and allow ourselves to recover before we could do the fight, but the day's finally come."
"Papa's gonna fight Uncle Natsu." Eri smiled getting up from her seat and spreading her wings before taking flight. "I wanna see, I wanna see."
Outside, as Kaen made his way into the fighting area, he smiled as he cracked his knuckles and took a fighting stance, while Natsu and Erza were preparing themselves, with the redhead requipping into her Flame Empress Armor. As they prepared to fight, Lucy and Grey made their way to the gathered crowd, and the blonde looked rather concerned.
"Aren't you worried this fight could tear our strongest team apart?" Lucy asked.
"What are you talking about, our strongest team?" Grey asked.
"You, Natsu and Erza you dummy. You're the three strongest wizards in the guild." Lucy argued.
"We are? Yeah right, what idiot fed you that line?" Grey asked.
Mira started balling her eyes out after hearing him calling her an idiot, indirectly mind you, but still at her none the less.
"Oh you're not an idiot Mira. I'm sorry." Grey said, trying to apologize and make it up to her.
At the present time, Eri made her way next to Happy, as the blue cat was looking at the contestant betting board Cana had set up, before they walked up to her.
"Give me fifty on Erza in the first round." Happy said.
"I'll bet on Papa winning it all against Uncle Natsu." Eri smiled, holding out her own cash.
"Eri, where did you get the idea that you'd be gambling?" Mina asked.
"But I know Papa will win. So it's not gambling." Eri said.
"Come on, don't be a prude Mina, let her have some fun. It is her money she earned after all." Cana said.
"I just wanna teach my daughter some good habits." Mina sighed. "Besides, she's grounded."
"Only from going on jobs. Mama never said anything about betting on Papa winning in fights." Eri stated, handing Cana the money.
"Now that's thinking like a true member of Fairy Tail." Cana smirked.
"Fine. My mom let me make my own choices and learn from them, so I don't see a problem in doing the same for you sweetie." Eri sighed. "Just promise me you won't develop a gambling addiction."
"I promise Mama." Eri smiled.
"Alright, let the three way battle between Erza, Natsu, and our newest recruit Kaen, begin." Makarov declared, throwing his hand down.
Natsu charged at Kaen and Erza, with the duo doing the same as this three way fight, was a free for all. Stopping in his approach, Kaen leaned back, as to evade a strike from Natsu, and a swing from Erza's sword.
"I see you're just as excited to test my mettle Erza." Kaen said, bringing his arms up. "Then let me give you a taste of what I can do."
"I am prepared for anything you might throw at me." Erza stated.
"Will you be prepared for this?" Kaen questioned, before vanishing from her sight.
Looking around, Erza couldn't find Kaen, and had to deal with Natsu attacking her as well.
"Behind you." Kaen said.
Erza turned around, before she was sent flying back, rolling like a tumble weed, before Kaen quickly turned around, and slammed his knee into Natsu as he charged at the Saiyan, and was sent to the ground, knocking him out with the force to his diaphragm.
"Natsu is down for the count. It is only Erza and Kaen against one another." Makarov stated.
"You're doing well. This is turning out to be quite the challenge." Erza smiled, charging at him.
Kaen smirked and turned around, pulling out his shield as he was ready to keep fighting, before the battle was stopped by the sound of a loud and echoing clap. Kaen and Erza stopped in their tracks, and turned to who had disrupted the fight, to see a large, humanoid frog person walking towards them.
'She kind reminds me of Tsu's dad. He looked the most frog like out of anyone in her family.' Mina thought, recalling a family photo she saw of Tsu's.
"This fight is over." The frog woman stated, pulling out a rolled up scroll of paper. "May I have your attention please. I have come here on behalf of the Magic Council. As a result of the Eisenwald incident, a member of your guild has been charge with eleven counts of criminal property damage. Kaen the Saiyan, you are under arrest."
"Wait, you can't do that." Erza said.
"Kaen was the only one who actually took part in the fight against the Demon known as Lullaby, therefore the blame for what happened to the town of Clover, is his responsibility and rests solely on his shoulders." The frog woman said.
"No, you can't take my Papa away." Eri cried running out and hugging Kaen's leg. "I just got him back, please don't take him."
"There has to be some way we can fix this, without my husband facing incarceration." Mina said.
"I am sorry, but the law is clear." The frog woman said, putting the cuffs on Kaen.
"Honey, you're not even gonna fight back?" Mina asked.
"Why Papa?" Eri asked as she cried.
"Don't worry, everything will be okay." Kaen said, giving Mina a kiss, and pulling Eri in for a hug. "I'll be back before long. I promise you that I will be back before weeks end, I'll have everything sorted out."
"I'm trusting you on this babe." Mina said. "As Eri stated, we just got you back. Don't force us to endure the pain of losing you again. I don't think I could handle it."
"Believe me when I say, I'd never do that to you." Kaen said. "Erza, make sure to tie up Natsu before he awakens, I don't want him causing any problems for me or the Magic Council."
"Right." Erza said, as Kaen was escorted away to a magic mobile.
~Later~
All was quiet and solemn in the guild hall. Everyone was thinking something similar, but it all had to do with the person who'd been taken away.
"Why would the Council only target Kaen for these crimes?" Mina asked.
"We were all just as guilty as he was. If only a little less, since he was the one who turned into a monster equal to Lullaby's size." Grey said.
"This isn't fair you guys let me out. Come on." Natsu said, banging on the glass of the cup he was being held under, after he'd been turned into an actual salamander while he was still unconscious, with Eri keeping watch on it. He'd been acting like this ever since he woke up.
"Natsu, try to calm down." Mira said.
"Let me out, pretty-pretty please?" Natsu asked. "I promise I won't go there."
"You'll go on a rampage." Mira stated.
"I'll be good I swear." Natsu said. "Now please just turn me back to the way I was before."
"The second we turn you back, you'll rush off to save Kaen." Mira said.
"Give me a break, I couldn't care less what happens to him." Natsu stated.
"Even if you wanted to help him, it's not like we could face off with the Council." Grey stated.
"But doesn't the Council realize that Kaen did what he had to do to save the Guild Masters from those bad guys and their Evil Death Flute?" Natsu asked.
"If the magic council says you're guilty, then you're guilty, end of story." Grey said. "They don't care about what we have to say."
"I just don't get it." Elfman said. "We've destroyed plenty of stuff in the past, and they've never made a big deal about it. Our destruction's even gone down thanks to Mina's efforts over the past six months."
"It might be because we have a non-human member in the guild." Loki said. "They could have possibly figured out, he's an alien from beyond our stars."
"If that were the case, then they'd have come for Mina a long time ago." Lucy said. "They referred to him by his species, not his last name. I don't think they know what he actually is, and believe that the word Saiyan, is his last name. That could explain why they didn't come for Mina."
"Then I guess all we can really due from here, is speculate as to what the true reasons could be." Erza said.
"This is wrong." Lucy stated. "We should be there to testify."
"But Lucy…"
"We're not going to court." Makarov exclaimed.
"Why not Master?" Lucy questioned. "We all know he's innocent."
"Lucy we shouldn't intervene. Kaen will be back." Mina said.
"You too? How do you know they're not just gonna lock him up and throw away the key?" Lucy asked.
"Kaen made me a promise." Mina said. "He made Eri a promise."
"So? What does that have to do with it?" Lucy questioned.
"Kaen hates making promises. He only ever does it, when he knows for certain that he'll be able to uphold it." Mina said. "An' so far, his track record on keeping promises, has been nothing but spotless."
Hearing that, Lucy could understand why Mina is remaining calm, at least on the surface. But Kaen was up against the Magic Council, a government he'd never spoken or dealt with before today.
"Besides, even if we left this very second, there's no way we'd make it to the court house in time to testify." Makarov added. "So Kaen's fate, is up to the stars and the powers that be."
"Come on guys it's getting low on air in here, and it's getting super hard to breathe, let me out." Natsu cried out.
"You sure you want out?" Makarov asked.
"Yes I'm sure. Please Macao you gotta let me out." Natsu called to the blue haired man, sitting with Romeo.
"Sorry kid, but I owe Kaen for the Mount Hakobe thing, so letting you go wild and run after him, would be a disgrace to the kindness he showed, despite not knowing me." Macao said.
"Please I just wanna breathe again. There's hardly any air in here." Natsu stated.
"Okay, but only if you promise to not go after Papa." Eri said.
"I promise, please just let me breathe again."
Eri looked at Natsu skeptically, before she began removing the glass, and keeping her gaze on Natsu.
"Oh sweet air, sweet-sweet air." Natsu gasped, turning back to human.
~Magic Council Fiore Branch~
"Pretty big place just for holding a trial." Kaen said, walking through the hall with the frog woman. "But then again, it probably holds multiple trials at once with lesser judges proceeding over them."
"Very astute of you to deduce." The frog woman said. "We have a judicial system in which the Council appoints representatives to handle the cases that aren't deemed worth their time."
"Their decree?"
"No, the cases are sorted through by a team of delegates who've dedicated their lives to choosing how the Council spends their time, and what cases they deem worthy of the Council's time."
"Makes sense I guess." Kaen said. 'We've got a similar system back home. Though it's a bit more complex given that Quirks are involved, and there's no magic in our world.' He thought before stopping, when seeing a blue haired young man with red markings on his face over his right eye. "Can I help you?"
"I am Councilman Siegran. You're Kaen Saiyan, correct?"
"It's Yagi actually. Saiyan is the name of my race, not my family." Kaen said. "But the people of this country have taken to calling me, the Saiyan, as a title of power, when I defended one of the cities that had been under attack."
"I see. You're not shy about hiding your true nature, are you sir?" Siegran asked.
"Not my style." Kaen said. "I don't much like keeping secrets, or making promises, so no I guess you could say that."
"You're a bold one. Because of that, I thought I'd come and greet you personally before the trial." Siegran said.
"I'm honored. I'm assuming though, that you're not actually here in person." Kaen said. "I can sense your Ki is distorted, even-more-so then the rest of the Councilmen in the trial hall."
"The cuffs you're wearing should be blocking you from using magic." Siegran said. "How could you tell that?"
"What I just demonstrated, had nothing to do with using magic." Kaen said. "Ki, is life force. Something all living people, magic or magicless, possess. The ability to sense and manipulate Ki, is a martial arts technique that even a novice martial artist can learn, with enough concentration and training accompanying the right instructor. But for a Saiyan, sensing Ki isn't so easy, manipulating it is a natural born talent, but learning to sense it takes time."
"I see. Well I should at least forewarn you about what's been collectively decided. The elders fear that the blame for Clover's destruction will fall into their laps. An' the only way to avoid that, is to place the blame on someone else entirely."
"So you chose the strongest new recruit, to show that no one is except from the law, not even those who've barely been a member for a month." Kaen said.
"Basically. You're their scapegoat." Siegran stated.
"Gracious of you to give me this information." Kaen said. "What's the catch?"
"Oh don't be like that. I've always been a staunch defender of Fairy Tail, but as I said, the incident in Clover, is something that can not so easily be overturned and dismissed." Siegran said. "So consider this my gift to you, for a successful joining of the Fairy Tail Guild. An' for managing to find your girlfriend, and child. Though I do suppose she's your wife now."
Kaen's eyes widened when hearing this, and his expression turned into one, that would make even wild beasts tremble in his presence. With his anger rising, so to did his power, and the rocks and pebbles began defying gravity, with the ground trembling a bit
"If you do anything, to harm my family, I'll…"
"I believe I've entertained you long enough out here." Siegran said, interrupting Kaen's threat. "I'll see you inside when the trial begins."
"What an honor." The frog woman said as Siegran disappeared. "To be given a personal visit from Councilman Siegran, you must truly be worth the council's time."
"I guess so." Kaen said, his expression calming down, with the tremors halting, and the gravity working normally again.
Heading in towards the trial hall, Kaen stood at the defendant stand, and was addressed by the ten councilmen and women of the court, the head of which, being concealed in shadow at a position Kaen couldn't see him clearly. With everyone set in their places, the court began.
"This courtroom will now come to order." The frog woman said. "Before us, is the defendant, Kaen Yagi. Thought to be Kaen Saiyan, he clarified the error, and has been properly amended."
"His charges?" The eldest Councilwoman said.
"11 counts of criminal property damage, and the destruction of the Clover town Great Hall." The frog said. "Kaen Yagi, please take the stand."
Once Kaen did, the leader of the council wasted no time in addressing the issue.
"Kaen Yagi, you stand here before us facing charges stemming form the incident with the Eisenwald Dark Guild." The Head Councilman stated. "These charges include extensive damage to Oshibana station, collapse of the gorge railway bridge, and as previously mentioned, the complete destruction of the Clover Great Hall. There are eleven property damage charges against you. According to eye witness reports, the perpetrator is described as a hulking young man, wearing a military suit of some kind, with the ability to turn into a giant ape monster, that rivaled the size of the Lullaby Demon."
"Your honor, I do admit that my actions were rash, and I understand that punishment must be delivered. So I admit while my actions helped to stop anyone from dying, they were still my actions, and I shall take responsibility for them." Kaen said.
"So you admit you were the culprit." The Councilman with cat ears asked.
"Yes, I confess that I did to that." Kaen stated.
"Currently, after having searched through the collective records of birth through the town, we could not find any records of you." Councilman Yajima said. "Can you explain why that is?"
"I can, but first… let me tell you the story of how I gained my magic." Kaen said. "It all started, when I woke up and in pain, and came face to face with monster Acnologia."
~That Night~
"Enjoy your cell, you devil spawn." One of the guards said, closing the door behind Kaen as he was sitting in a cell under the courthouse.
Kaen didn't heed any of their words, nor did he care for them. At the moment, all Kaen cared about, was making contact with those within his mind. Sitting in a meditative position, Kaen focused on calming his mind, and letting himself relax. Opening his eyes once again, Kaen found himself sitting on the steps to the resting place of the 47Ronin.
"Strange. It's not the USJ plaza anymore." Kaen said. "The mindscape should be reflecting a place I'm strongly drawn to, but with having only been to the USJ once, and not having the greatest experience being there, I guess this makes sense." He stated, going to the back of the temple. There he found Asura, the personification of Oozaru, and Pinach, all surrounding something.
"Welcome back young master." Asura said.
"It's good to be back Asura."
"So, I take it, you were locked up for the night?" Oozaru asked.
"It's what the bugger gets for spilling his beans to the council." Pinach said. "What was even compelling you to do that?"
"It was the best course of action. I had to inform them of everything, every detail." Kaen said, joining them at the table. "What are we looking at?"
"This." Oozaru said, unclasping his hands from a diamond shaped ruby no bigger then his palm. "It's a piece of the Wukong gem buried in your chest."
"Then what are you waiting for? Put it back where it was broken from." Kaen stated.
"That's the thing Bruv." Pinach said. "The gem in your chest is indestructible. So there's no way in hell it could be broken."
"This is something else entirely. You didn't feel it, but during the fight against Lullaby, your body overlapped with pain, and power, hiding the appearance of this gem manifesting itself. It's like an anchor, it even forced your subconscious back to the Temple and erased the USJ." Oozaru stated.
"Oozaru examined it thoroughly, and found something interesting my Lord." Asura stated.
"What's going on?" Kaen asked.
"This gem, is linking you to another Wukong Gem, in the main timeline of reality."
"Eh?"
~Reality The Following Day~
"Yes. Kaen is back and he's a free man." Mina cheered, hugging Kaen with Eri joining in.
"Papa kept his promise." Eri smiled. "I'm so happy you're not gone forever."
"I'm just glad I got a cell all to myself." Kaen said.
"Didn't drop the soap, did ya?" Natsu laughed.
"That joke is old and not funny anymore." Kaen said.
"So the Council wasn't using him as a sacrificial lamb, but rather a scapegoat." Grey said.
"They wanted to show that if you break the law, you get punished for it, no matter which guild you're in, or how long you've been a member." Kaen said. "But one of the Councilmen, I've never met any of them before, and yet Councilman Siegran somehow knew I was looking for Mina and Eri for quite a while."
"You said Siegran?" Erza asked. "If you met him, then it's most likely your arrest was his idea. Nothing but a show to put the council's minds at ease."
"No doubt." Kaen said. "But the way he spoke of Mina and Eri, even though he was just congratulating me on finding them, it made my instincts flare up, and put me on high alert, like he was threatening to do something to them."
"Come on Kaen, let's go another round. The last fight didn't count because it was stopped by the Council's messenger." Natsu said, breaking his train of negative thinking.
"No Natsu. You lost fair and square." Kaen said. "If anything the rematch would be between me and Erza, since she was still standing during that time."
"I get the feeling, if we had continued, we might have leveled the entire town." Erza said.
"You might be right about that." Kaen said.
"Come on man. Please let me fight you one more time." Natsu pleaded.
"The answer, is no." Kaen exclaimed, slamming his fist on Natsu's head, knocking him out. "Geeze, it's like he's running on adrenaline or something." He said, making everyone else in the guild laugh.
"Master, you okay?" Mina asked, noticing how Makarov was looking drowsy.
"I'm fine, just sleepy." Makarov said.
"Now that you mention it, I'm feeling sleepy too." Mira said.
"Same." Mina yawned.
"I'm gonna have a nap." Eri said, leaning into Kaen.
"What's with everyone feeling sleepy all of a sudden?" Kaen asked, looking around and noticing how the entire guild was falling asleep.
"It must be… Mystogan." Makarov yawned. "He's back for a few more jobs."
"Whenever he comes… he puts the entire guild under a sleep spell." Mina said, laying her head down. "It usually wears off… right after he leaves…"
"Question is… why aren't… you affected by it?" Mira asked, before everyone fell asleep, minus Makarov as he was still partially awake.
Kaen Looked around, noticing that this was the quietest he'd ever heard the guildhall be, since joining. The sound of a single persons footsteps echoed through the guildhall, as a masked man entered, and made his way to the job board.
"Mystogan." Makarov groaned, as the man in question walked past them.
Kaen kept his eye on the masked man, and watched as he pulled down a request poster, worth 800,000 Jewels, from the board and came back, showing it to Makarov.
"I shall return." Mystogan said.
"That voice." Kaen gasped.
Mystogan looked to Kaen, and was surprised himself to see the Saiyan was wide awake.
"Siegran?" Kaen asked.
Mystogan lifted up his hood and removed his mask, revealing Siegran's face. Looking back to Makarov, the blue haired man put the Master fully to sleep.
"My name is Jellal. Like you, I am from another world, but the world I call home, is known as Edolas. I guess you could say, I'm Siegran's Edolas counterpart." Jellal said in a soft and quiet voice. "Can I trust that this information stays between us?"
"You can trust, that I won't say a single word about this, to anyone." Kaen said. "But I'll need a favor from you when next we meet, in return."
"Fair enough." Jellal stated, before pulling up his hood, and putting his mask back on.
"Aren't ya gonna remove the sleep spell?" Kaen asked.
"The spell shall be removed in 3…" Jellal said, as he began to count down with ever two steps he took. "2…" Kaen could feel the magic of the spell dispersing as Mystogan left through the guild's entrance. "1…" Once he was gone, the spell was lifted, and everyone awoke instantly, except for Natsu as he was still knocked out from Kaen's hit to the head.
"Oh man, was Mystogan here?" Jet, a member of Team Shadow Gear questioned.
"What a jerk." Droy, another member of Team Shadow Gear added.
"Does he have to put us to sleep, every time he comes here?" Levy, the third and only female member of Team Shadow Gear asked.
"Who's this Mystogan guy?" Lucy questioned, feeling groggy.
"For one, he's a contender for Fairy Tail's strongest Wizard." Elfman said.
"Really?"
"Yeah, and for some reason, he really doesn't want anyone to see what he looks like." Grey added. "So, whenever he comes here to take a job, he casts a sleeping spell."
"That's kinda creepy." Lucy stated.
"Master Makarov's the only person here who's ever gotten a good look at his face."
"That's not true. I've seen him before."
Kaen looked up from the bar, as he gave Eri some soda, and spotted a man on the second level, with spiky blonde hair, wearing a Leopard spotted shirt, spiked headphones, and a fur trimmed jacket. He was muscular, and he had a lightning shaped scar over his right eye.
"Laxus." Elfman said.
"Talk about rare." Macao added.
"You're never here." Wakaba said.
"An' here's another contender." Grey said.
"Who's he?" Kaen asked.
"That's Laxus, an S-Class Wizard of Fairy Tail, with lightning magic, and he considers himself to be the strongest in Fairy Tail, claiming his strength far surpasses both Erza and Mystogan's." Mina said, rubbing one of her eyes. "He's said, that even if they teamed up against him, he could kick their asses effortlessly."
"An' I thought I was prideful." Kaen said, looking up at the man.
"Aw don't be like that. After all, you are one of the few who knows what Mystogan actually looks like, bringing the total people who know, up to three, four if you count Mystogan himself." Laxus smirked.
"You were listening in?" Kaen asked.
"I saw the interaction, but he spoke so softly I couldn't hear a word he said." Laxus stated. "Gotta say, you seem like quite the strong fighter. How's about you join my team, the Thunder Legion?"
"I'll pass. I'd prefer to either work alone, or with Natsu and Erza's group." Kaen said.
"Suit yourself. Offer still stands though, if you ever change your mind." Laxus said with a confident smile. "But either way, we both know Mystogan's just a little shy. The rest of you should all respect his privacy."
"Oh boy, look who finally woke up." Mina said, as the pink haired Dragonslayer ran past Kaen.
"Alright Laxus, you and me, right now." Natsu declared, jumping up on a table.
"Getting your ass kicked once today, wasn't enough?" Grey asked, putting a 10J bill in Eri's swear jar when she held it up to him.
"Yeah pal, if you can't even win against the monkey, why bother with me?" Laxus asked.
"Laxus." Mina called him out. "I've told you countless times, how racist it is to call a Saiyan, a monkey. An' what are you trying to say about Kaen?"
"No need to get all worked up Mina, let it be." Kaen said, trying to calm his wife down.
"I'm saying that I'm the Guild's strongest Wizard." Laxus stated.
"Then come down here and prove it." Natsu stated.
"You come to me little man." Laxus countered.
"With pleasure." Natsu cried out, jumping off the table and heading for the stairs.
"Hold it there scaly." Kaen said, grabbing Natsu by the scarf, as the Dragonslayer jumped on the bar counter, heading for the stairs behind them. "It's sad that I'm the newest member here, yet I know that we who are not S-Class, are not allowed on the second floor of the guildhall. That includes you."
"You're not allowed on the second floor Natsu, not yet at least." Makarov added.
"Think you made gramps and the newbie grumpy." Laxus chuckled.
"Shut up." Natsu choked out.
"That's enough out of you Laxus." Makarov stated. "Stop provoking Mina and Natsu."
"The most powerful one in the guild, isn't some chick or some hooded weirdo. You wanna know what the strongest wizard looks like? You're looking right at him." Laxus declared.
"He's giving me some serious, Endeavor vibes." Kaen said.
"I had the same feeling when Eri and I first met him too." Mina added.
~That Night~
"Hey, Mirajane. Let me ask you something." Lucy said, sitting at the bar counter. "What were Kaen and the Master talking about earlier, why can't we go up to the second floor?"
"You wanna handle this one Mina?" Mira asked, looking to the pink haired girl working the bar with her.
"I got this." Mina smiled. "So you're wanting to know about that restriction huh?"
"I am. It's got my curiosity piqued."
"Well, to put it simply, that area's reserved for advanced members of the guild only, like Erza, Mystogan, and Laxus." Mina said. "The jobs listed up there, make the jobs listed down here, look like jobs Eri could handle on her own, in comparison."
"They're that dangerous?"
"They are, and they're called S-Class quests." Mina explained. "They're jobs so dangerous, one wrong move could be your last. Their decided based on the size of their rewards, as with the risk of S-Class, there's also a greater reward to be given at the end."
"Whoa, so how is it decided on who gets to go on these jobs, and who doesn't?" Lucy asked.
"The master hand picks the wizards he believes are capable enough to handle these jobs." Mina explained. "There are only five people in the entire guild, who are considered S-Class. That includes Laxus, Mystogan, and Erza, and Mira is one of them as well."
"That was a long time ago Mina." Mira said.
"It's been three years. Don't you wanna go on another job?" Mina asked.
"We've had this discussion before, and the answer is no." Mira stated.
"Why's Mira so adamant about not going on another job?" Lucy asked.
"It involved an incident that happened three years ago." Mina sighed.
"What incident?"
"It used to be, that those of us who aren't S-Class, could go on S-Class quests, so long as we're accompanied by an S-Class Wizard. It happened long before the accident that brought, Kaen, Eri, and myself to Earthland, but after the incident resulting in the death of a guild mate happened, the Master forbade anyone that wasn't an S-Class Wizard, from accompanying one on an S-Class quest." Mina explained. "But, I wouldn't worry about the second floor, if I were you. In our personal opinion, there's no amount of money that's worth risking your life over."
"Yeah, no kidding." Lucy chuckled.
All the while this was happening, neither of them noticed as a certain white haired girl, and a blue furred cat, flew along the surface of the ceiling, and onto the second floor, both of them having the same idea, as they reached the S-Class request board.
"This'll show Laxus, that Papa's the strongest in the guild." Eri whispered, pride for her idea gleaming in her eye.