a/n

I don't own FairyTail or any of it's characters.

I pushed open the heavy doors to the Fairy Tail guildhall and smiled at the familiar rowdy sight before me. Laughter could be heard from all around as everyone gathered at their usual tables to talk about their latest adventures.

I made my way to my favorite barstool, "Hey Lucy!" Mira beamed at me from the table she was clearing. I gave her a wave, "Hi Mira! Have you seen Natsu and Happy today?"

"Yes they came in about an hour ago. I think they went out to do some fishing before Master's announcement begins." I nodded and took the iced tea Lisanna handed me. I bet the announcement will be the chosen nominees for this year's S-class trials. The guildhall was packed with almost every member, it was only this full for major announcements or for our famous Fairy Tail celebrations.

Future Natsu and I had taken the morning train back to Magnolia and had arrived in town about an hour ago. We first took a trip to the clothes shop to get Natsu a cloak to help hide his face. Then we swung by my apartment for him to inspect and ensure nobody had broken in. To my relief, everything looked untouched.

He walked me most of the way to the guild, promising to stay close in case I needed anything and we parted ways. My face has been flushed all day from the heated gazes I caught him sending my way. It still felt so strange to be around him, he definitely seemed more mature than his current self. I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I appreciated finally getting the attention I'd been longing to have from my fiery partner.

My thoughts were interrupted by said dragon slayer bursting through the doors and shouting a boisterous greeting to the guild. Happy flew in close behind him and promptly made his way to me.

"Lucy! We missed you yesterday!" I narrowed my eyes at the blue feline, "Well you guys wouldn't have missed me if you brought me on the job with you." I started sipping at my tea.

"Hey there Luce!" Natsu smiled and I blushed a little remembering that same face leaning in for a kiss only last night. "Hi Natsu, what job did you guys take?"

"Ah just a good old monster hunt. We had to take down fifty Vulcans that were terrorizing a local village. I took em out with one wing attack and then Happy and I spent the rest of the day spending our reward money on an all-you-can-eat buffet in town. It was great!" He beamed at me and I felt my heart flutter a little. Leave it to the two of them to finish a job that would take an average wizard a week, and then go and blow the large reward on food.

He sat in the stool to my right and I could feel his natural heat emanating off of him. It was surprising he wasn't our residential stripper with how hot he must feel all the time. But truthfully I don't think my heart could handle seeing him strut in his boxers like Gray tended to do.

"That sounds about right for the two of you" I chuckled and watched as Happy snuck through the kitchen door to snatch a fish while Mira's head was turned. "I take it fishing didn't go too well?"

"Well this big dummy had to go ahead and scare away all the fish in Magnolia with a fire dragon roar! He apparently thought it was necessary after a fish stole his fishing pole out of his hands" Happy grumbled as he settled on the bar with a fresh trout in his paws. I stifled a laugh as Natsu glared at him.

"The fish had it coming! It was my lucky fishing pole that I've had since I was a kid!"

"Yeah well you just ended up burning your pole to ashes along with our potential dinner!"

I crossed my arms, "Well you two wouldn't have had to catch your dinner if you hadn't blown all your reward on gorging yourselves yesterday." Natsu stared at me accusingly, "Lucy, what part of 'all you can eat buffet' do you not understand? Happy and I couldn't ignore an opportunity like that!"

I rolled my eyes at the dynamic duo as they continued their bickering. Being around my best friends melted some of the stress of everything that had happened in the past couple days. It almost made me forget about the impending doom I was facing unless future Natsu and I could change the outcomes of the next few months. My thoughts were interrupted as my attention was drawn to the stage at the end of the hall where Master Makarov approached it's center.

"Listen up you bunch of troublemakers! As you all know there is an announcement I need to make!" The room instantly went quiet and I saw that Mira had snuck away from the bar and was now standing beside him with a polite smile as she held a stack of note cards in her hands.

"As you all I'm sure are aware, it's that time of year again for the Fairy Tail S-class trials!" He paused for a moment as everyone cheered, "alright, settle down, I want to note that there has been a few changes to this year's trials." Natsu and I exchanged confused glances and returned our attention back to listen in.

"With the unprecedented challenges we've faced these past few years, including the Fairy Sphere incident, the Tartaros attack, our temporary guild disbandment and of course - our war with Alvarez. Our trials have been suspended for quite a few years." Yeah I'd definitely agree that our guild never has a dull moment; that's for sure.

"That being said, I have decided that not one, but four wizards shall be promoted to join our S-class rankings." My eyes widened, four people will become S-class?! At our last trials I was not interested in the slightest at the promotion, but with my improved skills and spells, as well as my ever-rising rent, a promotion was definitely in order.

"Since there will be an increase in promotions, I've decided we will make these trials a team event. Each nominee will team up with another nominated wizard and together they will fight to win together. Therefore, only those that I list now will be permitted to join us on Tenrou island this year." I eyed the cards that Mira handed to Master Makarov and he cleared his throat. "Natsu, Gray, Elfman, Mest, Bixlow, Juvia, Evergreen, Laki, Cana, and Lucy." I gasped when my name was called, I was hoping to be nominated but was shocked I actually was!

I snuck a peak over to where Levy and Gajeel were sitting. I saw the grumpy look on the iron dragon slayer's face as he would not be able to participate this year. Levy had recently given birth to their beautiful daughter Metalia, named after Metalicana, a few months prior and they had agreed neither of them would want to be away from her for more than a day. Levy placed a hand on his arm and he smiled down at her reassuringly and my heart melted at the sight of the two love birds. I then turned to Natsu as he exclaimed that he was 'all fired up' with a flaming fist in the air.

I sighed, if even the tough iron dragon slayer was capable of showing such love and affection, surely Natsu was too, right? My thoughts drifted to the way future Natsu gazed at me with such passion and an intensity of an emotion I couldn't quite place, I knew my answer.

"As a final note, each team will be composed of one male and one female wizard. Be sure to choose your teammate wisely and let Mira know by the end of the night. We leave for Tenrou at dawn in ten days, and good luck to you all!"

Everyone applauded and I quickly swung my head to Natsu and smiled when I saw he was already beaming at me. "Let's do this and win together Lucy!"

"Sounds like a plan Natsu!" I smiled as we high fived.

*Outside the Fairy Tail guildhall*

"Well that settles that then. Lucy, I hope you're ready for what's to come because it's going to change everything" future Natsu smiled to himself, "Let the games begin."