A/N: Hello, readers! We're finally at the start of the Tenrou Arc!

Enjoy!

CHAPTER FIFTY-SIX: S-CLASS PROMOTION TRIAL

While Lucy relaxes in her apartment taking a bath, Cana suddenly shows up in her tub. Cana asks Lucy about her father and looks quite troubled. When Lucy offers her help, Cana states she's thinking of quitting the guild.

In the guild the next day, Mira tells Lucy that Cana is always depressed like that around this time of year.

Later, Natsu and Happy show up, take a job and then leave, claiming they'll do the job themselves. Then, Natsu bumps into Aira.

"Watch where you're running, you hothead!" Aira growled.

"And you're in my way, water breath!" Natsu fired back.

"Do the two of you have time to be fighting?" Happy questioned.

"Why can't we get a mission without you having to insult Natsu, Aira?" Cain sighed at his best friend.

"You've got a point!" They both said in unison.

"I'm back!" Aira approached Mira at the bar.

"Welcome back, Aira. How was the job?" Mira asked.

"There's no time for that! This is my next job!" Aira quickly leaves the guild with Cain flying behind him.

"You sure can be rude sometimes, Aira..." Cain commented.

"Got it. Have a nice day." Mira watches him leave.

Soon enough, most of the guild are scrambling over each other taking on jobs and fighting each other over job requests, making Lucy curious. Meanwhile, Carla demonstrates her ability of Precognition to Wendy and Lisanna while Erza and Lily in his Battle Mode have a short sparring match with Satsuki and Boris watching them. Mira tells Lucy that she'll discover the reason why there are people who are rushing to get jobs done the next day.

The Next Day...

Every Fairy Tail Mage gathers in the guild for the Master's important announcement. The curtain rises as Erza, Mira, Gildarts, and Master Makarov appear on the stage.

The Master clears his throat. "Fairy Tail! As we have done since days long past, I will now announce the participants in this year's S-Class Mage Promotion Trial!" The guild members cheer on.

"S-Class Mage Promotion Trial?!" Lucy exclaimed.

"I'm all fired up!" Natsu engulfs his body in flames.

"Everyone, quiet down!" Erza ordered.

"The Master isn't finished speaking yet." Gildarts added.

"This year's exam will take place on Tenroujima! It is holy ground for our guild."

"So, what kind of test is it?" Lucy asked, whispering to Max and Warren.

"It changes each year, actually." Max responded.

"But it's always something extremely hard." Warren added.

"I mean, anyone who passes gets to be an S-Class Wizard, after all!" Alzack said.

"Each of your powers, hearts, souls... I have judged them all this past year... There will be eight participants!" Master Makarov announced. "Natsu Dragneel!"

"All right!" Natsu yelled.

"Good for you, Natsu!" Happy cheered.

"Airavata Mizuki!"

"Finally, the time has come..." Aira grinned.

"I wish you the best of luck, Aira." Cain said.

"Juvia Lockser!"

"Huh? Juvia is participating?" Juvia asked herself.

"Elfman!"

"Those who are Men, should become S-Class!" Elfman said.

"Good luck, Elf-niichan!" Lisanna cheered.

"Cana Alberona!"

Cana has an emotionless expression with no words to say.

"Freed Justine!"

"To follow in Laxus' footsteps..." Freed mumbled.

"Levy McGarden!"

"Finally, I..." Levy gasped.

"Levy's time has come!" Jet and Droy said in unison.

"Mest Gryder!"

The unknown Mage stands there.

"This year's no good either?" Alzack said with disappointment.

"There's always next year, right?" Bisca reassured him.

The guild cheers for the chosen eight, but Lucy notices that Cana doesn't seem excited at all.

"This time, only one of you will pass. The exam will take place in a week, so each of you, prepare yourselves!" Master Makarov said.

"W-Why aren't I included? Even Juvia is, so..." Gajeel is surprised that he wasn't chosen for the trial.

"Juvia-chan also wasn't the one who attacked the guild and injured Levy, Jet, and Droy. That was us. I can't blame the Master for not trusting either of us. Cry yourself a river and get over it." Satsuki scolded him.

"Satsuki makes a good point." Lily agreed.

"And there's also Erza..." Boris added.

"You both aren't ready." Erza coldly said.

"Damn you!" Gajeel yelled while Satsuki rolled her eyes.

During the commotion, Carla suddenly has an unfortunate vision. She sees a large, tree-like structure crumble, as well as the sorrowful faces of Cana and Natsu, Aira being struck by a massive wave of black water and someone's hand. At the end of a vision, Carla preceives an unnamed young man in dark clothing.

"As this is the first time for some of you, let me explain the rules." The Master announced.

"Each of the eight selected participants, please select a partner within the week of preparation." Mira said.

"There are two rules for the partner you can choose. One: They must be a member of Fairy Tail. Two: You cannot partner with S-Class wizards." Erza continued.

"In other words, you can't form a team with Erza, Mirajane, or Gildarts." Lily explained.

"Being with Erza-san would make you far too powerful, after all." Wendy added.

"The contents of the exam itself will be announced once you arrive at Tenroujima. But this time, Erza will be blocking your progress." The Master informed.

"I'll also help out to get in your way!" Mira smiled innocently.

"D-Don't tell me... You can't become S-Class without defeating Erza and Mira-san?!" Lucy exclaimed.

"Well, I'm sure they'll hold back a little, but..." Max nervously chuckled.

"Now you see what I meant by 'hard'?" Warren said.

"No complaining! All S-Class wizards have gone through the same path..." Gildarts said.

"H-Hold on a second..." Elfman stuttered.

"You're gonna participate too, Gildarts?!" Natsu asked with an excited expression.

"Don't be happy about it!" Aira yelled.

"The eight selected participants and their chosen partners will assemble at Hargeon Port in one week. That is all!"

Later on...

"This year's gonna be tougher than ever." Aira commented.

"I'm surprised that it's the first time for all of you." Lucy said.

"I'm fired up! I'm gonna become S-Class for sure!" Natsu exclaimed.

"The path to becoming S-Class just got farther away for Elfman the Man!" Elfman shouted.

"Everyone seems to be having a rough time." Wendy stated.

"Good luck, everyone!" Lisanna wished them luck.

Lucy looks over and sees that Freed partners up with Bickslow. "So Freed's partner is gonna be Bickslow... They seem like a powerful team, sure."

"She seems skeptical!" Happy muttered.

"So then, has everyone decided on their partners?" Lucy questioned.

"I'm partnering with Happy, of course." Natsu responded.

"Happy?! That's not fair! If the exam is a race, then flying would make it a breeze!" Elfman argued.

"What's wrong with that?" Lisanna asked.

"I don't mind, myself." Aira said, pointing a finger. "Because if it comes down to fighting, you'll be in trouble."

"Aira, that's just mean." Happy gasped. "I'm gonna make Natsu an S-Class wizard, for sure!"

"I'm not holding back, even on my friends." Natsu claimed.

Happy flies away. "And so..."

"...we can't hang around here! Trims to train!" Natsu runs after him.

"So in two years I've been gone, Natsu's good enough to take the S-Class exam, huh?" Lisanna smiles to herself. She looks at Lucy who's smiling back. "Natsu thinks that he'll be able to meet Igneel if he becomes a great wizard. He feels twice as strong about this exam as most people."

"I see." Lucy said. "Good luck, Natsu!"

"Um... Juvia would like to be partners with..." She begins to mumble under her breath.

"What is it, Juvia-san?" Wendy asked.

"J-Juvia... wants to be partnered up with G-Gray-sama..."

"Huh? It's too late, Juvia..." Aira claimed. "I've already decided on my partner."

"Is it gonna be Satsuki-san?" Wendy questioned.

Aira gave Wendy a look of horror. "Why in Mavis's name would I choose her?" He asked, causing Lucy and Wendy to sweat drop. "But no. It's someone else."

Gray soon approaches them at the table standing next to Aira. "Gray-sama?!" Juvia exclaimed. "Hold on!"

"We promised each other a year ago. If the other becomes an S-Class candidate, we would be each other's partners." Aira explained as he shrugged. "It's no surprise, really."

"With pride in my guild, I'll make Aira an S-Class wizard." Gray declared.

"I'm countin' on ya!" Aira told him, pounding his fist against Gray's chest.

"Leave it to me." Gray said.

"And there you go. You'd better give us your best shot." Aira smirks at Juvia.

"Let's have a passionate battle like the old times." Gray added.

"Passionate... Passionate Battle?" Juvia blushed madly and imagined herself with Gray romantically.

"Um, Ma'am..." Carla tries to snap her back into reality.

"I'll partner with Juvia." Lisanna offered.

"You serious, Lisanna?!" Elfman exclaimed.

"I got along great with Edolas' Juvia. And the Juvia over here is kind of cute!" Lisanna said.

"Lisanna-san..." Juvia mumbled.

"It's decided!" Lisanna agrees to help Juvia become an S-Class wizard.

"Don't tell me... She's also after Gray-sama..." Juvia mutters under her breath.

"How obsessed can you get?!" Lucy exclaimed.

"Wait, Lisanna! Then what will I do for my partner?!" Elfman cried out.

"Oh? But you've been getting a passionate stare down for a while now..." Lisanna points out Evergreen at the bar sitting alone. "Looks like she's pissed that Freed chose Bickslow as his partner."

"Evergreen?" Elfman's voice trembled as he feels the chills climb up his spine. "Passionate state? More like the one that turns you to stone..."

Gajeel chooses himself as Levy's partner.

Meanwhile, Satsuki had an intense aura around her as she shot daggers at Aira. Boris gave her a knowing smirk. "Satsuki, it's written all over your face." He commented as Satsuki scowled. "It seems you're upset that Aira had chosen Gray as his partner for the trial."

Satsuki stood up from the table. "Shut up. Like I give a damn about some stupid promotion trial. It just means it'll be quiet in the guild for a few weeks, thankfully." She claimed before walking towards the exit.

Boris sighed to himself before following her.

While traveling on the streets of Magnolia, Carla warns Wendy that she has a bad feeling about the trial and that Wendy absolutely shouldn't go. Wendy assures Carla that it's okay because no one will partner with her. Suddenly, Mest shows up, saying that she shouldn't think like that.

Elsewhere in Magnolia, Lucy finds Cana passed out in an alley and takes her to her apartment. When Cana comes to, she tells Lucy about how she failed the trial four times and that if she fails for the fifth time, she'll leave the guild because she has no right to see "that person". Cana then continues to tell her story to Lucy. Lucy, shocked, decides to be Cana's partner, promising her that she will do all in her power to help Cana become S-Class and not leave the guild.

A/N: Another chapter is completed!

Thanks for reading!

~ Kaleb.