Hey guys, I'm back with the next chapter of this story. I'm glad to see that you all seemed to enjoy the last chapter! We're finally jumping into the Tenrou Island arc! This chapter will pick up where the previous one left off and will introduce the S-class mage promotion trial, officially kicking off Tenrou Island! So, I hope you're all looking forward to that!

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Well, that's all I wanted to say, so let's get to the fic!

"Speech"

"Thoughts"

Magic

Disclaimer: I don't own Fairy Tail or any of its characters.


(Two Days Later: Lucy's Apartment)

"Hmmm hmmm hmmm..." Lucy hummed to herself as hot water rained down on her, reaching up to lather shampoo through her long, blonde hair. Steam filled the small shower as water cascaded down Lucy's immaculate body. She took extra care washing the streaks of pink in her hair and thoroughly cleaned where her mate mark was. They were permanent reminders that she was bonded to Natsu for life, and she wanted to make sure they looked pristine. "Ahhh...a hot shower at home is the best...but, I do wish I could share it with Natsu..." A soft moan escaped Lucy's lips as she groped her bountiful breasts. "He's been with Wendy the past few days...I can only imagine what they've been doing."

"After what I've learned about dragon slayers, they've probably been fucking nonstop." A familiar voice suddenly spoke up from behind Lucy.

"Yeah, you're probably right." Lucy said, closing her eyes and leaning her head back to rinse the shampoo out of her hair. However, Lucy's suddenly snapped open when she realized that someone else was in the bathroom with her. Whipping around, she was shocked to see Cana lounging in her bathtub. Yelping in surprise, Lucy instinctively covered her intimate areas. "Cana!? What the hell are you doing here!?"

"You've got a nice place, Lucy. No wonder Natsu and the others are always hanging out here." Cana said as she twirled her locks of pink hair around her finger, lifting one of her legs out of the bathtub. Releasing a light sigh, Cana lowered her leg and looked over at the blonde celestial spirit mage. "Do you have any booze, Lucy? I could really go for a drink right about now."

"So, you're just gonna ignore my question..." Lucy grumbled, letting out her own perturbed sigh as she climbed into the small tub with Cana. Both women had to scrunch up to make room for both of them. An awkward silence filled the bathroom as Lucy took notice of the conflicted look on Cana's face. "What's wrong, Cana? You look kind of down."

"Nah...it's nothing...I was thinking about talking to Natsu...but, he's pretty...pre-occupied right now." Cana mumbled as she rested her chin on her knees, a sly smile soon spreading across her face. "Do you usually get two people in this tub? I bet you and Natsu have bumped uglies in here, nice and tight like this."

"No, we haven't." Lucy replied, her brow furrowing slightly. "Do you usually barge into other people's bathrooms?"

"Touche." Cana said as silence once again filled the bathroom, both women simply staring at each other. After nearly a minute, Cana suddenly spoke up with an unexpected question. "Have things been going well with your father since you last saw him?"

"Hmmm, I don't really know what to say..." Lucy answered as she pressed a finger to her chin, cocking her head slightly. "It's not like thing are not, not going well...it's more like he just hasn't gotten in touch."

"I see..." Cana muttered, leaning her head back and letting out a light sigh. "I just don't know what to do."

"Cana, it's obvious something is bothering you." Lucy said with a smile as she reached out and placed a hand on the brunette's knee. "We can talk about it. I'm here to listen." The blonde celestial spirit mage was surprised when Cana suddenly stood up out of the bathtub. "Cana?"

"You know, Lucy..." Cana said with a forlorn expression, crossing her arms underneath her impressive bust as she turned her head. "I'm...I'm thinking about leaving Fairy Tail."

"Eh?" Lucy said in a confused tone as she didn't fully comprehend what Cana had just said. When it finally began to sink in, Lucy's eyes shot open in shock and she shot up out of the tub as well. "EEEEEEEHHHHHHHHHHH!?"


(Several Hours Later: Fairy Tail Guild Hall)

"I swear, that's what she said, Mira!" Lucy exclaimed, clenching her fists on top of the bar's counter. "And Cana didn't give me any reason!"

"I see..." Mirajane said with a chuckle as she wiped a glass clean. "I wouldn't get too worked up. Cana tends to say that around this time of year."

"Huh?" Lucy said in a confused tone, quirking an eyebrow. "Why would she-" Lucy was cut off when the front doors to the guild were suddenly kicked open. She wasn't surprised to see that it was Natsu who had done it. However, she was surprised to see Wendy standing beside him. Both dragon slayers seemed to be practically buzzing with energy, smiles on both their faces. "Natsu? Wendy? We've missed you two the last few days."

"Yeah, uh...sorry about that, Luce. Wendy and I have...been busy I guess." Natsu said with a grin as he chuckled nervously, rubbing the back of his head. Almost immediately, Lucy noticed the streaks of pink in Wendy's hair. But, she was mildly surprised to see the single streak of blue in Natsu's pink locks. Before Lucy could ask any questions, Natsu rushed past her toward the quest board. "Come on, Luce! We're about to go on a job!"

"Job?" Lucy parroted, watching in confusion as several of her guildmates also ran up to take a request flyer. "Yeah, sure. I'd like to go on a job."

"I'm back!" Before Lucy could get out of her seat, Gray nearly tackled her. He looked exhausted and beat up, his shirt missing as he darted toward the request board as well. "Everyone out of my way! I've got to go on another job!"

"That's my queue." Elfman said as he downed his drink in a single gulp and slammed a job flyer onto the bar. "Nee-chan! I'm heading off on this job!"

"Holy shit..." Lucy breathed out, scooting her bar stool away from the request board as over a dozen people crowded around it, all of them fighting over jobs to take. "What the hell is going on?"


"Precognition?!" Lisanna and Wendy simultaneously exclaimed as they stared at Carla in shock.

"Right. The queen of Extalia said so, didn't she?" Carla replied with a smirk as she pressed a paw against her head. "That I have the power to predict the future. Since I've learned about it, I've managed to gain a little control over this power."

"Wow!" Wendy beamed, a bright smile spreading across her face. "That's so awesome, Carla!"

"Now, you've got me interested." Lisanna said as she leaned forward, resting her head on her palm. "Will I become rich and famous when I'm older?"

"Sorry, but I can't see that far into the future." Carla explained, shaking her head. Thinking of another way to demonstrate her powers, Carla looked around the guildhall. She immediately perked up when she saw Macao seated a few tables over. "I've got it...watch this. You see Macao sitting over there? In a few moments, Wakaba will walk over and start a conversation about 'young people in the guild.' And it will be idiotic."

"Yo, Macao." Almost as if on cue, Wakaba approached Macao, a cigarette hanging from his mouth and puffing smoke. Letting out a grunt, Wakaba took a seat next to Macao. "That time of the year has come around again, huh."

"Ah, you're right..." Macao said, folding the newspaper he was reading and setting it down on the table. "Brings back memories."

"We'd do this too when we were young." Wakaba said with a smirk as he watched his fellow guildmates flock around the request board. "So passionate."

"There was a time we were on fire too." Macao said, giving his long-time friend a wink. "We really raised some hell back then."

"The newbies sure are great though!" Wakaba said with a lecherous smile as he leaned over and nudged Macao with his elbow. "Especially their butts."

"Their butts!?" Macao exclaimed angrily, his eyes shooting open in surprise as several guild members glanced in their direction. "What the hell are you talking about man!?"

"Oh, come on..." Wakaba egged on as he continued to prod at Macao. "You're a dad, aren't you?"

"Yeah, I've got a kid!" Macao yelled, slamming his hand down on the table. "So, I can't go around looking at young girls' butts!"

"Hmmm, that's understandable..." Wakaba muttered before his lecherous smile returned and he leaned in close. "How about their legs then?"

"I wanna bite into 'em!" Macao yelled, his entire demeanor doing a complete 180 almost instantly. "I wanna get stepped on!"

"Wow, it really did happen..." Lisanna said in awe as a frown quickly spread across her face. "And it was idiotic...and really gross."

"Still, that's so awesome, Carla!" Wendy beamed with a bright smile, patting the top of the white-furred Exceed's head. "Your powers will be super useful."

"I don't know about that...I can't fully control this power yet..." Carla mumbled as she leaned her head back to look up at Wendy. As the Exceed stared at the blue-haired dragon slayer, her eyes narrowed slightly. "Where exactly have you been the past few days, Wendy?"

"Well...I've been...you see..." Wendy started to stutter, her face flushing bright red as she nervously tapped her fingers together and avoided Carla's suspicious gaze. "That's uh...hard to..."

"What's going on over there!?" Lisanna suddenly exclaimed as she pointed toward the other side of the guildhall where Erza and Panter Lily appeared to be having a fierce sword battle. The sounds of their blades clashing could be heard throughout the guild as members gave them a wide berth. "Those two are going all out!"

"What are those buffoons doing?" Carla asked with an exasperated sigh, crossing her arms. "Couldn't they at least take that outside?"

"Hey..." Wendy whispered as she leaned over and tapped Lisanna's shoulder. "Thanks for the save. I'm terrible at lying."

"Don't worry, Wendy." Lisanna said with a smile, wrapping an arm around the blue-haired dragon slayer. "I know all about the little harem Natsu's got going on. Mira-nee told me all about it. She gave me a book about dragon slayers that I've been reading up on." With a knowing smile, Lisanna gently picked out one of the streaks of pink in Wendy's hair. "I'm guessing this, and the noticeable streak of blue in Natsu's hair, means you two have mated."

"Yeah, I've had a suspicion that Natsu was my destined mate for a while..." Wendy admitted in an embarrassed tone as she nervously fidgeted in her seat. "Then, I went into heat on my birthday and sort of pounced on Natsu that night."

"Now it makes sense why you were acting so weird that day." Lisanna said, reaching down and patting Wendy's knee. "Well, I'm glad things worked out for you, Wendy. You looked so happy when you walked into the guild earlier. I mean, you've been practically glowing all morning."

"Thanks, Lisanna..." Wendy said as she gazed across the guild hall, watching Natsu desperately trying to get a particular quest flyer off the board. "How could I not be happy with my destined mate by my side."


"Alright, that's enough." Erza said as she let out a soft sigh as she watched Panter Lily transform back into his smaller, Exceed form. "Thanks for the sparring session, Lily."

"The amount of time I can spend in my original form is pretty short." Lily said, his large sword dropping to the ground with a loud clang. "I'll have to work on extending my transformation."

"Regardless, that was excellent." Erza complimented with a smile as her sword de-materialized in a flash of light. "A superb showing of swordsmanship."

"HA! How's that, Erza?!" Gajeel exclaimed, suddenly popping up behind Lily and letting out a boisterous laugh. "This is Lily's true power!"

"No, no, I'd expect nothing less from Erza." Lily said as he stared up at the scarlet-haired knight and smiled. "This is the power of an S-class mage in this guild."

"I'm so confused. We've got people who are rushing off to complete jobs." Lucy said, staring at the crowd gathered around the request board before she looked back at Erza and Gajeel. "And then we've got others who are just...doing the usual. I can't make heads or tails of it."

"I see Natsu didn't tell you about what's coming up." Mirajane said with a smile as she began to wipe down the bar. Lucy looked even more confused as she quirked an eyebrow. "Well, you'll understand tomorrow."


(The Following Morning: Fairy Tail Guildhall)

"Man...this is quite the crowd." Lucy said, looking around the fully packed guildhall, the sound of idle chatter was almost overwhelming. A temporary stage was erected in the center of the guild, with white sheets acting as makeshift curtains. Looking around the crowd, Lucy was surprised to see several faces she had never seen before. "I think every member of the guild is here."

"This guild is usually quite rowdy..." Lily said as he crossed his arms, his brow furrowing slightly. "But this much commotion is new. I wonder what has everyone so worked up."

"I overheard some people saying Master was going to make some sort of announcement." Wendy revealed, practically bouncing with excitement. "I wonder what it could be?"

"I couldn't care less..." Carla said with a bored expression as she covered her ears in a vain attempt to silence the excessive noise. "Whatever it is, I'm not interested."

"Finally, the reason for all that commotion yesterday will be revealed..." Lucy said, exhaling through her nose as she crossed her arms. "It must be something big to get everyone all worked up like this."

"Juvia is excited as well..." Juvia said as she gazed at Gray with hearts in her eyes. "When she looks at Gray-sama!" However, when the blue-haired water mage glanced over at Natsu, she felt her heart beat a bit faster as she watched him crack his knuckles and roll his muscular shoulders. "But, Natsu is looking quite hot today as well...AH! Why did Juvia just think that!? Juvia's heart belongs to Gray-sama!"

"Uh, maybe you should just go home, Juvia..." Lucy said with an awkward chuckle, watching the blue-haired water mage as she appeared to be having a serious internal argument. "Now when is this-"

Before Lucy could finish her sentence, the white curtains flew open, revealing Makarov, Erza, Mirajane, and Gildarts on the stage. Immediately the crowd burst into cheers and applause. Many of the Fairy Tail members were shouting for Makarov to hurry up and make his announcement, further piquing Lucy's curiosity. Just as the crowd started to get a bit too rambunctious, Makarov coughed into his hand, immediately silencing everyone.

"Since long ago, this has been Fairy Tail's custom, and now..." Makarov said as he paused for dramatic effect, allowing the anticipation to build even higher. "The announcement of the participants in the S-class mage promotion trial!"

"S-class promotion trial?!" Lucy thought, her eyes shooting open in surprise as she looked over at her pink-haired lover. "No wonder Natsu was in such a hurry to complete jobs yesterday."

"I'm all fired up!" Natsu roared as he punched his fists together, creating a small burst of vibrant, orange flames. "This is the year I become S-class!"

"The venue for this year's trial will be Tenrou Island." Makarov announced, causing excited murmurs among Fairy Tail's members. "The holy ground of our guild."

"Holy ground..." Lucy thought as her eyes widened slightly, glancing around at her fellow guildmates. "What happens in this trial?"

"It changes every year, but it's always difficult." Gray answered, crossing his arms. "Those who pass become S-class mages."

"Strength...heart...soul...I've been looking for each of these things this past year..." Makarov said as he held out his clenched fist. "There will be eight participants." Everyone in the crowd tensed as Makarov looked out at his children. "Natsu Dragneel! Gray Fullbuster! Juvia Lockser! Elfman! Cana Alberona! Friend Justine! Levy Macgarden! And Mest Gryder!"

"So, that's why Natsu had us running ragged doing jobs..." Lucy said with a smile, gazing at her pink-haired mate as she watched him celebrate. "Those chosen were working hard to increase their appeal because they wanted to get into the S-class trial."

"Yay!" Wendy cheered as she raised her hands into the air. "Good luck everyone!"

"Now that I think about it..." Lucy thought as she glanced over at Cana, noticing her forlorn expression. "Is this why she wants to leave the guild?"

"This time, only one will be selected to pass among those chosen." Makarov announced, causing murmurs to break out in the crowd. "Get into top shape within one week's time!"

"They only have one week!?"

"You think Fried is the favorite to win?"

"Nah, I'm sure it will be Mest."

"You're both crazy, it's gonna be Natsu or Gray."

"W-What the hell..." Gajeel said as he grit his teeth in frustration, tightly balling his fists. "W-Why wasn't I picked?"

"I've learned about your standing in the guild." Lily said, giving Gajeel's leg a sympathetic pat. "Aside from a select few, looks like most people don't fully trust you yet."

"No! That's not it! I can't talk about it, but that's not it!" Gajeel exclaimed as he remembered the secret assignment Makarov had given him. Taking a breath to calm himself, Gajeel glanced over at Levy and sighed. "I just...I hate being left out."

"You don't have to worry about your little project, Erza told me about it." Lily said, looking over at the scarlet-haired knight as she gave him a thumbs up. "And don't worry, Levy will be fine."

"What are you...that's..." Gajeel began to sputter as his face flushed bright red in embarrassment. Grumbling to himself, Gajeel pressed a hand to his face and sat down at a nearby table. "Damn it...I'd just feel better if I was there to watch over her."

"*Gasp*" Carla's body suddenly went rigid, her eyes widening as various images flashed through her mind. "What...what was that?"

"What's wrong, Carla?" Wendy asked in a concerned tone as she crouched down next to the white-furred Exceed. "You look kind of spooked."

"It...it's nothing..." Carla lied, her brow furrowing as she narrowed her eyes. "Just now...for a split second..." The images appeared before Carla again, going by in a flash. But, what she saw sent a chill down her spine. Cana crying. Natsu in distress. A motionless hand. And most frightening of all, a black-haired man with menacing red eyes. "Who was that?"

"Alright everyone, pay attention! There are some newbies here, so we'll explain the rules!" Makarov shouted as he clapped his hands, causing the chattering crowd to quiet down quickly. "Go ahead, Erza, Mirajane."

"As previously stated, you'll have a preliminary period of one week. Within that time..." Mirajane explained, clutching a stack of papers against her chest. "You eight are to select a partner."

"Partner?" Lucy parroted as her eyes widened slightly. "That means there will likely be two-man team battles. They must be trying to test the bond between partners."

"There are two rules for partner selection." Erza continued, holding up two fingers. "First, they must be a member of Fairy Tail. Second, they cannot be an S-class mage."

"Makes sense." Lily said as he nodded his head. "That means Erza, Mirajane, and Gildarts can't be chosen as a partner."

"Yeah, that wouldn't be very fair..." Wendy said with a chuckle, clasping her hands behind her back. "Having Erza or Mira as a partner would make you too powerful."

"The details of the trial will be revealed after arrival to Tenrou Island." Mirajane explained as she gestured toward Erza. "But this time, Erza will be attempting to impede your progress." This caused shocked gasps from those in the crowd. The scarlet-haired knight would be truly a formidable obstacle in anyone's path. However, the surprises continued when a large smile suddenly spread across Mirajane's face. "I'll be causing some mischief as well."

"This is insane..." Lucy said, feeling a chill run down her spine as she looked between Erza and Mirajane several times. "You're telling me no one will become S-class unless they can beat both Erza and Mira?"

"That's enough. I don't want to hear any complaints from you guys." Gildarts finally spoke up, crossing his arms as a smirk spread across his face. "This is a path all S-class mages have gone down."

"Hold on a second..." Natsu breathed out as he sported a massive grin, looking more pumped than before. "Gildarts is taking part too!?"

"Don't be happy about that idiot!" Gray hissed, releasing a heavy sigh as he rubbed the back of his head. "If Erza and Mira are roadblocks, Gildarts is a literal wall."

"Those chosen eight will take their partners and meet at Hargeon port one week from now!" Makarov concluded before he began to walk off the stage. "That is all!"


"Looks like this year is gonna be pretty tough." Gray said as he leaned back in his seat and crossed his arms. "Erza and Mira are bad enough, but I seriously hope I don't run into Gildarts."

"I'm honestly surprised this is the first time you're all taking place in the S-class trial." Lucy said, looking between Natsu, Gray, Juvia, and Elfman. "I thought for sure Natsu and Gray would have participated before."

"I've been close the past few years, but this is the first year I'll actually get to compete." Natsu said with a devious grin as electricity literally buzzed in the air around him, crackling along his skin. "I'm really charged up now! I'm definitely gonna become S-class!"

"This trial looks like it will be really tough." Wendy said with a chuckle, rubbing the back of her head. "I wish you all the best of luck."

"RAGH! Damn it!" Elfman exclaimed as he slammed his fist onto the table. "The road to S-class grows longer and longer!"

"Calm down, Elf-niichan." Lisanna said, reaching over and patting her brother's shoulder. "You just need to give it you all."

"So uh..." Lucy said as she began to fidget slightly, her face flushing a light pink. Scratching her cheek, Lucy looked directly at Natsu. "Has everyone picked their partners?"

"Oh yeah...about that..." Natsu said, rubbing the back of his neck. "Sorry Luce, but I'm gonna pick Happy as my partner." Seeing his mate's disappointed face, Natsu quickly moved over and sat down next to her. "Look, normally I would have picked you as my partner, Luce..." Tapping his blonde mate's shoulder, Natsu gestured toward the bar, where Cana was visibly sulking. "But, I was hoping you could work with Cana. I'd do it myself, but since we're both participating in the S-class trail, I can't."

"Ah, I see..." Lucy said as she perked back up, her disappointment quickly fading away. "Sure, I'll talk to Cana later. She was actually at my apartment earlier."

"Oh?" Natsu said in an intrigued tone, quirking an eyebrow. "What was she doing there?"

"I don't know exactly...she just kind of showed up...sort of like you all do." Lucy teased, causing Natsu to chuckle and rub the back of his head. "She was acting a bit strange...said some weird stuff."

"Would you two stop ignoring the rest of us!" Elfman exclaimed with a frown as he shot Lucy and Natsu an annoyed glare. "It's not fair if Natsu has Happy as his partner! If this trial turns out to be a race, he'll have a massive advantage! He'll win, no contest!"

"I don't think it's a big deal." Gray said with a smile, pointing toward the blue-furred Exceed. "They'll be in trouble when it comes to fighting."

"Hey! I resent that...no matter how true it may be..." Happy said as he broke out into a sweat. "Please don't be mean, Gray. I'm gonna make Natsu an S-class mage no matter what!"

"I know we're all friends..." Natsu said with a faux angry expression, leaning forward as electricity crackled around him. "But, this is one thing I won't back down on! I'm going all out!" Slapping his hands onto the table, Natsu shot out of his seat and began to sprint toward the guild's front door. "I can't be wasting any time! Let's go, Happy! We're training! Catch you guys later!"

"Aye sir!" Happy cheered as he quickly flew after the pink-haired dragon slayer. "Bye everyone!"

"He's barely changed in the two years I've been gone." Lisanna said with a smile, resting her head on her palm as she watched Natsu sprint out of the guild. "But, he's definitely gotten so much stronger. I can't believe he's taking part in the S-class trial. Natsu always believed that if he became S-class, he'd be strong enough to find Igneel and Valinor. So, he's got a lot more passion for these trials than anyone else."

"That sounds just like Natsu..." Lucy said as she gazed at the door Natsu had bolted through, a loving expression on her face. "Give it your all, Natsu. I know you'll do great."

"*Sigh* This is terrible..." Juvia said with a frown, lowering her head and staring at the floor. "Juvia wants to forfeit the trial."

"Eh!?" Wendy exclaimed as her eyes widened in shock. "Why would you do that?!"

"Because...Juvia...wants to be..." Juvia muttered, her face burning red as she began to fidget. Raising her head, Juvia looked between Gray and the door Natsu had left through. "Juvia...want to be partners with..." With steam literally blowing out of her ears, Juvia turned completely around in her seat and hid her face in her hands. "It's too embarrassing! Juvia can't say!"

"This girl." Lucy thought, letting out a light sigh as she shook her head. "She needs to figure out what her heart really wants. Being torn between Natsu and Gray must be tough for her."

"Well, I've got my partner picked out already." Gray said just as Loke appeared behind him. "We made a promise last year."

"Long time no see, everyone." Loke said with a smirk, resting his hands in his pockets. He couldn't help but chuckle when he noticed Lucy's shocked expression. "Apologies Lucy, I'll have to cancel our contract during the exam. But, you don't need to worry. I created a gate using my own magic, so I won't need to use yours."

"Good grief..." Lucy grumbled as she released a heavy sigh, turning her head away from Loke. "You're one selfish spirit."

"Hold on a second..." Elfman said in a confused tone, scratching the back of his head as he stared at Loke. "How will you pass for a member of the guild?"

"I'm still a member of Fairy Tail." Loke replied as he partially took off his shirt, showing the Fairy Tail guild mark on his back. "On the pride of the guild, I'll make sure Gray becomes an S-class mage."

"I'm gonna be counting on you." Gray said, leaning back in his seat and smirking at Loke. "The trial is going to be tough this year."

"When the hell did those two become so buddy-buddy?" Lucy huffed under her breath as she pouted and puffed out her cheeks. "Loke is my spirit, damn it."

"I hope you're all ready." Gray said, looking at everyone gathered at the table. "I hope you'll all fight me seriously. I expect heated battles from all of you."

"Well, since Natsu has Happy and Gray picked Loke..." Lisanna said as she wrapped an arm around Juvia's shoulders, surprising the water mage. "I'll be Juvia's partner!"

"What?!" Elfman exclaimed in shock, shooting up out of his seat. "Are you serious, Lisanna?!"

"I was good friends with Juvia in Edolas." Juvia said with a smile as she flashed her brother a 'peace' sign. "And this Juvia's pretty cute. I just want to help her out."

"Lisanna-san..." Juvia breathed out, staring at her new partner with wide eyes. "Juvia is touched."

"Please, Lisanna!" Elfman pleaded as he reached out and grabbed his sister's hand. "Without you, who will be my partner?!"

"Really? You haven't noticed?" Lisanna asked with a smile, gesturing toward the bar. "Someone's been giving you a heated stare for a while now."

"Huh?" Elfman grunted in a confused tone as he looked where Lisanna was pointing. His eyes shot open when he noticed Evergreen was glaring at him. "E-Evergreen?"

"I think she's pissed that Fried chose Bickslow as his partner." Lisanna said, patting Elfman's shoulder. "So, go talk to her, Elf-niichan."

"H-Heated..." Elfman said as he gazed at Evergreen, feeling a chill run down his spine. "It looks more like the stare that will turn you to stone!"


"Woohoo! Levy was picked!" Jet exclaimed as he excitedly bounced from foot to foot. "This is awesome!"

"Amazing! She might become an S-class mage!" Droy cheered, setting off a party popper which fired out a burst of confetti. "Our Levy, an S-class! So, I'm gonna be your partner, right?"

"As if!" Jet shouted as he roughly shoved Droy out of the way. "It's gotta be me! I'm the faster runner!"

"My magic is more suited for battle!" Droy fired back, butting heads with Jet. "Just step aside!"

"If you want to become S-class..." Both Jet and Droy were silenced when a menacing figure suddenly appeared behind Levy. Leaning her head back, Levy was surprised to see Gajeel looming over her. "Then, I'll lend you a hand."

"Gajeel!" Levy exclaimed in shock as she stared wide-eyed at the iron dragon slayer. "Are you serious?"

"For sure, geehee." Gajeel replied with a frightening grin, causing Jet and Droy to take several steps back. "I'll blow away any guy who looks at you funny during the trial."

"I don't know why you'd want to help me." Levy said in a dejected tone as she released a heavy sigh and stared down at the floor. "My body is small and I don't really have many redeeming features. I'll probably end up losing quickly."

"Oi, I don't want to hear another word like that out of you." Gajeel said, grabbing the back of Levy's dress and effortlessly lifting her into the air. "Putting yourself down like that before the trial even starts isn't gonna help you."

"HEY!" Levy exclaimed as she kicked her feet and slapped at Gajeel's hand in a useless attempt to break free. "Put me down!"

"I'll make you shine like a star." Gajeel said, causing Levy to gasp in surprise as her cheeks flushed slightly. "Only then can I start earning forgiveness for how terribly I treated you."


(Several Hours Later: Streets of Magnolia)

"Hey, is everything alright, Carla?" Wendy asked as she held the white-furred Exceed in her arms, walking back toward Fairy Hills as snow gently fell around them. "You've been unusually quiet all day."

"I suppose I have." Carla said, her brow furrowing slightly as images flashed through her mind. "I...I just have a bad feeling about the upcoming trial. Please, you absolutely cannot get involved."

"As much as I'd like to go..." Wendy said as she hugged Carla a bit tighter, her quickly pink-haired mate popping into her head. "I don't think anyone would pick me as their partner. So, you don't have to worry."

"I wouldn't be so sure of that." An unfamiliar voice spoke up from behind Wendy, stopping her in her tracks. Turning around, Wendy saw one of her guildmates who had been chosen for the S-class trial, someone she hadn't met before. "Sky goddess."

"Uh..." Wendy said as she rubbed the back of her head. "I'm sorry, I think this is the first time we've ever spoken. You're..."

"I'm Mest." Mest introduced himself, placing a hand over his heart. What he said next caused Wendy's eyes to widen in surprise. "I used to be Mystogan's disciple."


"Natsuuuuu!" Happy exclaimed as he ran outside with a spatula in his paw. "Dinner is ready!" Spotting the pink-haired dragon slayer sitting on a hill that overlooked Magnolia, Happy quickly approached him. "Did you hear me, Natsu?"

"Yeah, I did buddy...I was just thinking." Natsu said with a smile, staring up at the falling snow. "I finally have the chance to become an S-class mage. I'm not gonna let this opportunity go to waste!"

"Aye sir!" Happy cheered as he ran over and sat down next to the pink-haired dragon slayer. "We'll win for sure!"


"Hmmm, the snow is so pretty." Lucy said, holding out her hand to catch some flakes as she walked back to her apartment. "I had no idea snow fell in Magnolia." Pausing her walk, Lucy let out a long breath, watching as it hung in the air. "I was gonna talk to Cana like Natsu said, but she bolted out of the guild before I even had the chance. I wonder where she ran off to?" Hearing a groan from a nearby alley, Lucy immediately perked up. Looking at where the sounds were coming from, Lucy's eyes widened in shock when she saw Cana passed out in the snow, surrounded by several wine bottles. "Are you kidding me!? Where the hell do you think you're fainting?!"

Knowing she couldn't leave Cana out in the snow, Lucy called Taurus to help carry her back to her apartment. Once they were safely back in her apartment, Lucy quickly wrapped Cana in a blanket and made them both some hot chocolate. By the time Lucy set down the mugs of hot cocoa, Cana was already starting to sober up as she tightly clutched the blanket draped around her.

"Man, I'm getting serious Deja Vu, Natsu had to fish me out of an alley as well." Cana said as she sniffled, feeling a terrible chill run through her entire body. "Anyway, you're a lifesaver, Lucy. If no one had come by, I probably would have froze to death."

"Geez, you've been acting so strange lately, Cana." Lucy huffed, sitting down on a sofa across from the brunette card mage. "Just what the hell is going on with you?"

"I'm sure Mira told you." Cana replied as she pulled the blanket around her a little tighter, turning her head away from Lucy. "It's like S-class blues or something."

"She is so full of shit. Who does she think she's fooling?" Lucy thought, rolling her eyes as she let out a soft sigh and took a sip of her cocoa. Setting her mug down, Lucy leaned forward in her seat. "Just tell me this. Does this have to do with you saying you were going to quit the guild?"

"I've failed four times already..." Cana said as she brought her knees close to her chest, her expression solemn. "I'm a disappointing mage."

"For real?" Lucy said in a surprised tone, quirking an eyebrow. "Who cares how many times you've failed? I doubt anyone in the guild thinks any lesser of you."

"But, I'm the only one who's failed so many times..." Cana continued as she hugged her knees against her chest, resting her head on them. "So, I'm making this my last time. If I can't become an S-class mage this time, I'm leaving Fairy Tail."

"Why though!?" Lucy exclaimed, standing up out of her seat and locking eyes with Cana. "Why are you so hung up on becoming S-class!?"

"Because I have to become one!" Cana snapped as she glared at Lucy, causing the blonde celestial spirit mage to flinch slightly. "If I don't become S-class...I'll have no right to meet that person?"

"That person?" Lucy parroted, cocking her head slightly as she scooted closer to Cana. "Who are you talking about?"

"..." Cana said nothing for several moments as she simply stared at Lucy. Eventually, Cana let out a heavy sigh. "Fuck it...I already told Natsu, so it couldn't hurt to tell you too. By 'that person' I meant...my father...Gildarts."

Lucy's eyes shot open in shock when she heard this. Cana began to tell Lucy her situation with Gildarts. How, as a very young girl, she came to Fairy Tail after the death of her mother to find her father. Though her mother had left her in the custody of Gildarts, he was unaware that he had a daughter. Cana became too intimidated to tell him that she was his daughter upon learning what a powerful Mage he was. Gildarts gave her little attention, even during the brief times he was at the guild, and Cana had joined the guild in hopes of someday working up the nerve to tell him that he was her father. However, as time went on, it became more difficult for Cana and she eventually decided that she would tell Gildarts the truth when she was able to become an S-Class Mage. However, despite having the potential to become an S-Class Mage, she began to despair after failing the exam four times, feeling she had been surpassed by Erza and Mirajane, both of whom had joined the guild after her.

"So...that's my story..." Cana said as she lowered her gaze and hugged her knees tightly. "If I don't become an S-class mage, I'll leave the guild. I've already made up my mind."

"Natsu already asked me to help you, but after hearing all that, there's no way I could abandon you." Lucy said, getting out of her seat and gripping Cana's hands. Looking into Lucy's eyes, Cana saw the determination blazing within them. "I'll be your partner, Cana! I refuse to let you quit the guild! I'll make sure you become an S-class mage!"

"Lucy..." Cana breathed out as tears formed in her eyes, flashing a small smile and giving Lucy's hand a squeeze. "Thank you."


(One Week Later: Waters Off Tenrou Island)

"God damn it's hot!" Lucy grumbled, leaning back in her seat as she sat on the deck of the boat they were all taking to Tenrou Island. Even stripped down into a bikini, Lucy's body was covered in a sheen of sweat. "It's supposed to be winter, what the hell is up with this heat!? I'm gonna melt!"

"Convection keeps the air like this year round." Wendy explained, using a hand fan in a useless attempt to cool herself off. The rest of the Fairy Tail mages, minus Juvia, were wearing their swimsuits as well. But, the lack of clothing did little to lessen the sweltering heat. The blue-haired dragon slayer was seated next to Lucy, with Natsu splayed out in a chair between them, looking like he was seconds away from throwing up. However, Wendy and Lucy running their fingers through his hair seemed to be soothing him somewhat. "Don't worry, Natsu. We're almost there."

"Aren't you hot in all those clothes, Juvia?" Lisanna asked as she paused to take a sip from her cold drink. The blue-haired water mage was the only person not wearing a swimsuit and was still dressed in her usual, heavy attire. "I'm sweating just looking at you."

"No. Juvia is fine." Juvia replied calmly, standing near the center of the deck. While Juvia appeared to be calm and collected on the outside, her mind was anything but. To her left was Natsu, the pink-haired dragon slayer's muscles completely exposed for her to ogle. Then, to her right was Gray, who had fully stripped naked, putting everything on full display. Juvia didn't know where to look, her eyes darting between both men as she desperately fought the urge to melt into a puddle. "Gray-sama's naked body! Natsu's sweaty muscles! They're both so hot! This is too much for Juvia!"

"Man, I don't know how much more of this I can take..." Lucy groaned as she leaned her head back, looking toward the front of the ship. However, her eyes lit up when she spotted that they were approaching a large landmass with a massive tree at its center. "Hey guys! I think I can see it!" Quickly, everyone, minus Natsu, rushed to the side of the ship to get a look at the island. "So that's Tenrou Island? That tree is something...almost looks like its and island on top of an island."

"It's said that Fairies used to live on this island." Hearing a familiar voice, everyone turned around to see Makarov standing on a railing above them. "And Fairy Tail's first master, Mavis Vermillion, rests here. Now pay attention, I will announce the details of the first exam."

"First exam?" Wendy repeated as she quirked an eyebrow. "So, the test is split into multiple parts."

"Look toward the shore. Do you see that smoke rising up from that beach?" Makarov asked, pointing toward Tenrou Island where a large plume of white smoke was visible from the boat. "Head there first. To get to there, you'll need to take one of eight paths, and only one group can take each path. Here's what's waiting for you down each path." Gesturing to his side, a projection appeared next to Makarov, displaying what each path held. Of the eight paths, three of them led to battles with Gildarts, Mirajane, and Erza. Two pairs of paths would intersect, leading to a battle between the teams that met each other. With the final path seemingly being the only safe one. "Only the teams that get through this will clear the first exam!"

"The battles against Gildarts, Erza, and Mira are labeled as 'hard.' That's an understatement." Lucy thought as her brow furrowed, closely examining the chart. "Ideally we'd want to take the safe path. But, we absolutely have to avoid having to fight Gildarts, Erza, or Mirajane."

"In the 'battle' routes, two teams will meet up and only the winning can proceed. In the 'hard' battles, you'll have to defeat an S-class mage to proceed. And the 'quiet' route is where you can proceed through the exam without fighting anyone." Makarov explained, pointing a hand fan at the participating teams. "Your goals during this part of the trial are power and luck!"

"I want to believe we'll be lucky..." Cana muttered as she let out a light sigh. "But we only have a 1/8 chance of getting the safe route and avoiding a fight."

"Logically, only a maximum of six teams can clear this exam." Evergreen pointed out, resting her hands on her hips. "But, those 'hard' routes are sure to lower that."

"So, worst case only three teams will pass..." Levy said as she felt a nervous chill run down her spine. "I do not like our odds."

"Geehee, don't worry shrimp." Gajeel said with a smirk, resting his arm on top of Levy's head. "I'll blow away anything that stands in our way."

"Gajeel..." Levy said as she stared up at the iron dragon slayer, a smile spreading across her face. "I'll be counting on you then."

"Now that you all know the rules..." Makarov yelled out, pointing toward Tenrou Island. "Let the exam begin!"

"Hold on a second!" Gray exclaimed as he looked at how far away the island still was. "We're still out on the ocean." Makarov simply nodded his head and smirked. "Damn it, this is part of the test too!?"

"Let's get to it, Happy!" Natsu cheered, suddenly bursting with energy as he hopped onto his feet. "We can choose the first path!"

"Aye, sir!" Happy called out as he grabbed Natsu's back and flew him into the air. However, before Happy and Natsu could get off the boat, they were stopped by what seemed to be an invisible wall. "OW! What did I hit!"

"It's a rune!" Cana pointed out, noticing the symbols forming around the outside of the ship. "It's gotta be that bastard Fried!"

"Relax!" Fried called out as he and Bickslow flew away from the ship. "The runes are set to dissipate in five minutes!"

"Why don't you just lock'em on the boat forever?" Bickslow asked, riding atop his wooden dolls as he flew through the air. "Let's make this a breeze!"

"Then it won't be an exam." Fried replied as he glanced back at the ship. "I'd like at least some challenge."

"Hey gramps!" Gray exclaimed, whipping around to look at Makarov, who was aggressively fanning himself. "Is that really fair?!"

"I don't see a problem." Makarov said as he shrugged his shoulders. "It's not like this is a race."

"That's not the point!" Evergreen huffed, stomping her foot in frustration. "If Fried gets a headstart, he's gonna cover the whole island in his damn runes!"

"Don't worry guys!" Levy said with a grin as she used her magical pen to begin dispelling the runes. "I can rewrite them!" Without warning, Levy and Gajeel suddenly burst through the invisible barrier and dove into the ocean, leaving everyone else trapped. "But only for me and Gajeel! Sorry, Lu-chan! Bye bye, everyone!"

"GRAH! Gajeel you bastard!" Natsu growled, slamming his flamming fist against the barrier. "You better pray you don't run into me on one of those paths!"

"Heh heh..." Evergreen chuckled as she rewrote a portion of the runes herself. "I've known Fried for long enough. I can rewrite runs of this caliber quite easily."

"Nice work, Evergreen!" Elfman cheered, diving headfirst into the water with his partner. "Let's do this!"

"I guess the rest of us are stuck here..." Lisanna said as she released a light sigh. "How many minutes are left."

"Still four." Juvia replied, crossing her arms. "Juvia supposes we'll just have to wait." After an awkward few minutes of silence, the barrier was dispelled with a loud pop. "It's gone!"

"Let's go, Lucy!" Cana exclaimed as she grabbed her pack and ran toward the side of the ship. "We need to hurry!"

"Yeah!" Lucy said, taking her own bag and celestial gate keys. "Right behind you, Cana!"

"Now, Happy!" Natsu cheered as he flew off the ship at an incredible speed. "See you all on the island! HAHA!"

"We need to get moving too, Loke! Ice Make..." Gray called out, slamming his fist into his palm as the air around him began to chill. "Floor!" Hopping off the side of the ship, the ocean in front of Gray began to freeze, creating a path to the island. Landing on the ice, Gray and Loke began to skate across the water. "We can't let the others get too much of a lead!"

"Are you kidding me!? He froze the fucking ocean!?" Lucy exclaimed in astonishment as she watched Gray and Loke speeding away. Feeling something brush past her legs, Lucy looked down and was surprised to see Juvia, who had melded with the water, and Lisanna, who had transformed into a fish, swim past them. "I don't want to freak you out, Cana, but I think we're the farthest behind!"

"Mest and Wendy are still-" Cana stopped mid-sentence when she looked back at the boat and saw that both Mest and Wendy were gone. "What!? They're gone!? Since when!? We need to hurry or there won't be any paths to pick!"


"This island..." Happy said as they landed on Tenrou Island, spotting the smoke signal ahead of them. "I can feel a ton of magical power coming from the land."

"I feel it too..." Natsu said, scanning the area ahead of them. It didn't take him long to spot the eight paths leading deeper into the island. "Let's go, Happy!"

"Four of the paths are already closed off!" Happy pointed out as they got closer. "Which one do we choose?"

"Give me a second..." Natsu said, closing his eyes and sniffing the air several times. After a few moments, Natsu opened his eyes and pointed toward one of the open paths. "Erza is down that path..." Next, the pink-haired dragon slayer pointed toward a closed path. "Mira is down there..." Turning toward an open path labeled 'E', Natsu's brow furrowed slightly as he sniffed a few more times. "And down there..." Finally recognizing who the scent belonged to, a feral grin spread across Natsu's face as embers formed in the air around him. "Happy...we're going down that path."

"Wait..." Happy said as he watched Natsu sprint down the path without a second path. "If Erza is there...and Mirajane is over there...then that means..." When the dots finally connected, Happy's eyes shot open in shock as he quickly chased after the pink-haired dragon slayer. "Are you insane, Natsu!?"


"Guh, we're finally here..." Cana grumbled, approaching the paths that would take them further into Tenrou. "Damn it...seven are closed off. We really were last."

"That's alright!" Lucy cheered as she tried to lighten the mode. "They say luck comes to those left over! Luck is one of my specialties. We're gonna become S-class no matter what, Cana."

"Yeah..." Cana said with a smile, before walking down the only path they could choose. "Thanks, Lucy."

"It's brighter than I expected." Lucy said after they had been walking for several minutes as the path around them began to brighten up with small spheres of light. "What are these things?"

"These are spirit light bugs." Cana explained as she reached out and let one of the bugs land on her palm. "They really only come out in the summer. But, their bodies light up."

"Oh! I recognize that voice!" Hearing someone further down the path caused Cana and Lucy to tense up.

"Oh, man...don't tell me this route is a..." Cana said as she looked up, spotting a banner overhead with 'battle' written on it. "Damn it."

"I knew it!" Bickslow said with his tongue out, stepping out in front of Cana and Lucy, with Fried beside him. "It's Cana and the cosplayer!"

"Looks like you two picked wrong." Friend said with a smirk as he glared at Lucy and Cana. "Looks like we have to fight you."

"What did you say about those left over, Lucy?" Cana asked, feeling a chill run down her spine. "Because I gotta say, I really ain't feeling the luck right now."

"Don't worry, Cana..." Lucy said as electricity and embers began to crackle in the air around her, causing the brunette card mage's eyes to widen in surprise. Lucy's mate mark began to glow as she grabbed her whip. With a deafening crack, the whip was coated in scorching flames and sparking electricity. "I said you'd become an S-class mage...and I meant it!"


And done! The Tenrou Island arc has officially begun! I hope you're all excited to be starting a new arc because I sure am! Next chapter we'll have Cana and Lucy vs. Fried and Bickslow, with Lucy getting a nice power boost courtesy of her mate. We'll also have several other fights as well, so get ready for an action packed chapter! As usual, I'll be working on another chapter for this story. Remember to follow/favorite if you enjoyed, PLEASE REVIEW, PLEASE CONSIDER SUPPORTING MY P ATREON (EVERY LITTLE BIT HELPS), check out my profile and other stories if you haven't already, and feel free to PM me if you have any questions or ideas for my stories. So, until next time, I'm outta here!