Survival of the Fittest
He could still feel her skin against his palm. The very same palm that was itching right now to touch her again. She'd been so soft and warm, her skin smooth. He had just wanted to see if she'd even let him touch her, and she had! He'd been even more delirious with happiness when he'd been able to sling his arm around her shoulders. She'd leaned against him, and she smelled so good. Natsu was aware enough to drop quickly, a spiked staff whistling through the air where his head had just been. A cold fist slamming into his right check sent Natsu skidding, a blade barely missing his stomach.
"FOCUS," Gray grunted, the sword in his grasp glinting coldly in the moonlight as it sliced through Erza's staff. The shield quickly formed in ice on his opposite forearm was stopping a curved dagger from taking its prize. Gray stood panting between Erza and Natsu, his grip and stance going lax. "I'm not going to save you a second time. I don't have time to worry about a partner that can't even take care of himself."
"Don't get cocky," Natsu spat, mad at his smarting cheek, "I got it."
"Good. I need you to get us an opening. I can't keep distracting The Queen."
"The Knight isn't exactly making this easy either," Natsu grumbled back.
"Whatever just focus on the plan and blast us out an escape!"
"Escape?" Erza sounded mildly amused, "We just managed to catch back up. We had to stop and admire the work you two did on the goblin infestation, nice teamwork." The redhead praised while rushing towards Gray, her weapons shimmering faintly before being replaced by a two-handed spear. Her grip danced across her new weapon before settling, her feet twirling under her to bring the shaft of the spear into Gray's side with immense power. "I want to end this while you two are tired." The sound of shattering ice accompanied the pained grunt that escaped the sliding mage, all the while Erza continued forward at an alarming rate. Natsu was prepared to sprint to the left when black dots danced across his vision, reminding him of the second danger a little too late. His lungs fought against the condensing air and his legs strained to keep him up. With a raspy inhale, Natsu stopped fighting gravity and dropped. Erza's spear tip whispering over him as the pinket collided with the ground. Natsu wheezed out a cough and barely managed to throw his head out of range of the spear tip that thudded into the ground with deadly intent.
A wheezing cough had Gray struggling to his own feet. He found he was straining to breath, a sharp pain coming from his rib cage. Right where Erza had whacked him back into the woods. His rattling breathing probably meant broken ribs and fluid in his lungs, he'd have to take stock later, Natsu was about to become a Kabob; if that happened their team would be forfeit, meaning no advancement exam this year. Swiping his hand over his forehead, he threw the liquid that clung to his fingers, infusing the ice in his veins, and sending frozen crescents sharpened by his intent toward Erza; In the same motion, Gray decided to try something new. He dropped, his fingers curling into the wet grass, the numbing crawl of his magic seeping from his fingers into the ground had him shuddering involuntarily. "GET UP NATSU," Gray shouted as icy needles shot up around the prone man, "Jellal's distracted now your chance." The ice mage mumbled around a hiss, his arm coming up protectively in front of his broken ribs. The clock was truly ticking now. Small pops and a solid sounding hit brought Gray's attention back to the problem at hand. His vision waivered and he couldn't make out anything in the dense smoke that was blanketing the area until a dark shape was running up on him at full speed.
"We gotta go," Natsu gasped. Gray could only watch in horror as his pink haired teammate barreled toward him, fully intent on shoving him over his shoulder. "If they catch back up with us in this state we're dead." Gray wretched, his vision going black the second Natsu connected with his broken ribs.
oOo
"Please tell me I didn't vomit," Gray groaned as he regained consciousness. He struggled to sit up, fighting the urge to spew his guts again. "Fuck Erza has a mean swing, I even put a thick layer of ice between my ribs and her spear."
"You hacked up stomach acid and blood. You owe me a new pair of pants." Natsu answered from somewhere behind him. He sounded as tired as Gray felt.
"How long was I out?"
"To be honest, I couldn't tell you. Carrying your fat ass and fearing for my life meant I was focusing more on surviving than the time."
"Yet you still somehow have energy to be a smart ass," Gray huffed, turning to face the grumpy fire mage. The tree at the pink haired man's back was taking most of his weight and his hands were shoved into the river between the two of them. His hands were a mottled shade of purple and green.
"Sorry," Natsu blew out. "We got the worst draw of Rank ten mages to outrun."
"No shit."
"My magic is useless against them," a sigh before Natsu pulled his hands from the stream and winced at them, "They're too in control of their emotions around me."
"Tell me about it. Erza is crazy strong and fast…add in Jellal's insane elemental magic mastery and we're outclassed."
"Jellal can fuck with physics!" Natsu growled, "I'd rather face Laxus and Mira!"
"Or Makarov and Gildarts. I'm sure they wouldn't actually be trying to kill us."
"Gildarts wouldn't have to try, he'd kill us by accident." Both men sat in defeated silence.
"We just have one more target and then we just have to survive till sunrise." Gray broke the silence. "We've already relocated the imp and exterminated the goblin nest."
"Repaired the trolls bridge," Natsu ticked off tentatively. "That took forever, and he kept trying to get me to answer his riddle!"
"We exterminated the werewolf pack," Gray continued unbothered.
"I'd die of happiness if I never had to deal with another werewolf again." A groan accompanied by a splash, Natsu once again submerging his hands in the cold stream. "That just leaves the hell hounds that have been spotted on the west side of the mountain."
"Along with watching out for Erza and Jellal," Grey chimed in. The entrance exam for those testing to be level seven hunters and up was said to be intense; level seven was considered an elite hunter, the start of the real challenge. It was commonly known that few level seven hunters survived to test into Rank eight. "We only have less than one day left."
"We've barely managed to survive the past three and a half days." A long pause, "We should probably get moving."
"Only for a little, you look like shit." The dark-haired mage commented, taking in the dark circles under Natsu's eyes, "the lack of sleep is starting to show."
"Shut up, I wasn't lucky enough to nap while being carried."
"Sorry."
"Don't sweat it. Let's get moving before our time is up. If we're lucky there will be a cave I can nap in while you keep watch," Natsu exclaimed while jumping to his feet. Gray could only watch in weary amusement as his partner stretched thoroughly before taking off at a jog into the gloom.
"Where is this energy coming from?"
"It's desperation and a little bit of spite. I wish Fried's cursed script hadn't shoved Juvia back out of our reality." Natsu groaned from up ahead, "She would have come in handy." Gray didn't bother to answer, he was also annoyed at that. He'd hoped to have found a loophole within the prequalifying round that he and Natsu now found themselves struggling through. He understood that they wanted to test everyone on their own ability, but it still sucked; this was the only time Gray wished he could perform manifestation type magic.
They'd been jogging at a steady pace for what felt like hours, the minutes ticking away noisily in Gray's mind. They were going to fail the first half of the Ranking exam at the rate they were moving. They hadn't laid eyes on a singular hell hound or a possible cave to rest in and figure out something else. The sky was glowing brighter with the moon slowly disappearing. How long did that leave before they had to forfeit?
"We should have run across something by now." Gray groaned, coming to an abrupt stop. "I have a feeling we've missed something."
"What do you mean missed something?" Natsu huffed from the left of him, "have you not been following the charr marks too?" Before Gray could ask he noticed a black smudge marring the otherwise tall grass around them.
"Fuck,"
"You sure your head is okay? You usually notice stuff this obvious," Natsu grumbled, taking back off at a run, "We don't have time for this, ask questions while you move."
"My head is fine," a lie maybe. He was still tired, and his ribs were giving him problems but that was the life of a hunter. Nothing was guaranteed unless you fought to guarantee it yourself. "I was too focused on the time passing." Gray answered truthfully. On his next inhale his throat burned, and he coughed violently.
"Looks like we're close up on the den," Natsu said from behind his raised hand. "The stench of sulfur is really strong." Growling and loud snapping noises had both men slowing down to enter the small clearing ahead of them cautiously. The sun was starting to peak over the horizon, shafts of light piercing through the darkness and effectively trapping the hell hounds within the cave in front of them. The largest three were pacing the mouth of the cave, fur standing on end and swirling red eyes trained on both men. Their bloodlust was intense, but the rising sun forced them further into the depths of the cave.
"Well aren't we lucky that the sun's trapped them in there."
"OR unlucky, depending on which one of us is going in there after them," Gray countered, sighing.
"Can't be me, their drool and blood are acidic and I'm pretty sure their claws contain a form of venom….so uh range attacks are better suited." Natsu fired back, ticking off everything he knew on his fingers.
"You forgot that they could merge with shadows and become intangible for short periods of time, meaning we still need light."
"That's what the sun is for,"
"You are extremely stupid," Gray was ready to strangle this fire idiot. "If they're in the cave the light won't touch them idiot."
"Right. At least they're angry. I can work with Angry."
"Your hands aren't in any condition to be on demolition duty. Listen we don't have time for this, it would probably be better if we just rush –" Gray jerked back as a throwing knife whistled past his face, nicking the bridge of his nose. "Your timing really is shit!" ground out with frustration as he pivoted, already forming daggers from the frost on his palms.
"You've gotten faster at your ice sculpting," Erza stated, bringing her broadsword down hard on his newly formed daggers.
"I figured learning fast was better than dying," Gray quipped, trying his best to hide his internal panic at his daggers fracturing under the strength of Erza's swing. Moving quickly, Gray dropped his nondominant hand and went to slice Erza's thigh. The redhead moved back from him in a flash. Just what Gray was hoping she'd do; she'd jumped back into range of some very cranky hell hounds. As if on cue, one of the larger hounds growled loudly before risking the sunlight and making a lunge for the unconcerned woman; burning fur and seesawing fangs leapt right into Jellal's path. Gray hadn't noticed the serious mage step between the hell hound and Erza, the air around him shimmering like a mirage before it seemed to vibrate. The hell hound's fur separated from its muscles and blood, compressing into an impossibly small lump of flesh, and hitting the grass with a wet plop; the blood splattered in an abstract pattern across the mouth of the cave.
"You should be paying attention to the threat in front of you Gray," Erza practically sang as she rushed forward, "A word of advice: a real partnership allows you to focus on the problems in front of you. Your trust in your partner means you know they'll watch your back no matter what's going on."
"You…should have realized what we were doing from the start," Gray stuttered out around the jostling force of parrying Erza's attack. "I just needed to be a strong enough distraction to let Natsu do what he does best."
After watching Jellal use a minuscule amount of power to turn a fairly large hell hound into a boneless bean bag Natsu had to admit that Gray was right, they were extremely outclassed. Though they had agreed to use Gray as a distraction for Erza since his fighting style could keep her at bay for a little, Natsu still felt like he got the shit end of the stick. Having to keep an eye on Jellal and figure out a way to exterminate the four remaining hell hounds wasn't something he felt capable of doing in his sleep deprived mind. While the hounds were definitely throwing off enough rage for his magic to be effective he couldn't touch them; his hands were beyond damaged from him using them like a battering ram with no magical assistance against Erza and the hounds cause damage upon physical contact. He had to come up with another method and quick from the look of Gray's sloppy movements and the way he was wheezing with each shallow breath.
"Come on think Natsu," the pinket grumbled to himself. "I only have one more smoke bomb left and I think maybe two flash grenades…" but what good were flash grenades if he couldn't then go in and flash cook the pests. "Fuck! FUCK!"
"I still don't see what Erza saw in recommending you for the Rank advancement. Sure you have power but I think that's all. Power doesn't amount to anything if you can't figure out how to use that to your advantage." Jellal sighed from his position between Erza and the cave opening, his eyes on the remaining hell hounds that were slowly retreating further into the depths. "You have five minutes left before this part of the exam is done."
"You aren't helping," Natsu spat. He couldn't stop pacing, his hands shaking uselessly at his sides. The combined rage from the hounds collecting in his stomach, and his own self-directed rage was making his throat burn; wait that was a new feeling.
"You aren't trying hard enough. Gray tried something new in the clearing, it was quick thinking – reckless but action. What have you got to show? Three minutes."
"I," Natsu started but his words came out guttural. He knew the time was ticking but he still didn't have a solution. His helpless anger was starting to swamp him, he couldn't stand being the reason he couldn't advance; not with how much work he'd put in. He worked for his scars and his reputation, and he'd be damned if his hands stopped him from moving one step closer to his goal. "I'm n-" Natsu choked, his throat feeling like he swallowed the sun, scorched and unusable.
"Two minutes," Jellal continued, unaware of Natsu clawing at his throat with his hands, the drool escaping the sides of his mouth hitting the ground with a sizzle. The pinket gasped, a glob of bright light dribbling over his lips to start a small fire at his feet.
"c-can't" Natsu was sure his throat was in ruins, the heat passing over his lips baking them, burning the sensitive skin.
"One minute left." Jellal sounded, though to Natsu it sounded muffled, his ears ringing from the lack of air he was able to draw into his throat. Suddenly he felt the urge to vomit, his stomach heaving.
oOo
"Natsu Dragneel and Gray Fullbuster have passed the survival portion of the Ranking exam." Erza's voice boomed out from her position in the center of the room; her steely gaze trained on Master Makarov. "Both Rank six hunters have displayed tenacity and innovative problem solving during the four-day trial period."
"They managed to clear the job list given to them: Relocation of local trickster or Imp, Bridge repair request by the regional troll, extermination of the large goblin nest, eradication of stray werewolf pack and lastly the extermination of a small hell hound hunting party." Jellal chimed in. "As well as survive a constant assault from Erza and I."
"Innovative problem solving how?" Laxus chimed in from Makarov's right.
"Gray's gotten faster at his ice make magic, he's fast to analyze a situation and act accordingly. He made a needle garden to keep Jellal and myself from Natsu; that's the only time I've seen him interact with liquids not from his own body. His only downfalls are his physical limitations, but he's demonstrated an ability to push his limits when the situation calls for it." Erza answered matter of fact.
"Natsu's a bit of a loose canon but he's strong and reliable," Jellal added, "He's shown stubbornness can carry a team. While he's prideful he doesn't let his desires blind him to the realities of a situation, he was quick to distract Erza and Myself in order to carry Gray to safety." A short pause before a barely there smile tugged at Jellal's mouth, "He blew fire like a dragon and incinerated the last few hell hounds. He incorporated his knowledge of hell hounds' aversion to light and his inability to hit them into an…interesting extermination technique."
"It was completely accidental." Erza added, "But very resourceful. I, Erza Scarlet."
"And I, Jellal Fernandes,"
"Recommend both Natsu Dragneel and Gray Fullbuster, Rank six hunters, to be promoted to Rank seven." Both continued, eyes serious and voices strong.
"You kids never cease to amaze me," Makarov said around a chuckle before sobering entirely, "I grant permission for those two to move on to part two. Upon completion and passing of the written exam both will be granted Rank seven status."
"Thank you Master," Erza said around a smile.
"I want to see the damage that boy did to his throat," Gildarts chimed in, standing fully and heading toward the door.
"He breathed fire, his throat his currently bandaged and his skin is peeling from self-inflicted third-degree burns." Erza sighed.
"Sounds like a pretty risky trick. What about Gray?"
"He, like Natsu, has been unconscious for the past twelve hours. His arms and ribs are bandaged. He's currently recovering from frostbite."
"Tenacious," Gildarts chuckled while slipping from the room, "I'm excited to see how they grow."