Chapter 21

Gildarts Clive stood at the entrance of the newly renovated Fairy Tail guild hall, his rugged, battle-worn frame taking in the sight before him. He was still reeling from the blur of orange that had just bolted past him, a gust of wind and chaotic energy wrapped in a human body. His brows furrowed as he scratched the back of his head, confusion plastered across his face.

"W-what was that?" Gildarts muttered, watching the last traces of Naruto's extremely motivated-enhanced sprint disappear into the horizon.

Macao, lazily leaning against the bar, took a swig of his drink and chuckled. "That? That was our newest headache—Naruto. Kid's got more energy than Natsu on a sugar rush."

"And apparently, he just stole ramen from the kitchen," Wakaba added, puffing out a cloud of smoke. "Which would've been fine, if he didn't get caught by Mirajane."

Gildarts blinked. "Wait, Mira? Mirajane?"

At that moment, a melodious giggle rang through the air, like a predator toying with her prey.

"You're back, Gildarts!" Mirajane greeted, smiling innocently, her hands clasped together in front of her. "Did you see our new recruit? He's very… lively."

"Yeah, I saw him alright," Gildarts replied, rubbing his chin. "I haven't seen anyone run that fast since I told Natsu we were out of meat. What'd you do to the poor kid?"

Mirajane tilted her head, her innocent facade barely concealing the devilish glint in her eyes. "Oh, I just… suggested I could give him something even better than ramen."

Silence. Then comprehension hit.

Gildarts, Macao, Wakaba, and practically every male member of the guild collectively tensed, their minds processing the implications.

Macao choked on his drink. Wakaba nearly swallowed his cigar. Warren in the background wiped a nonexistent nosebleed.

Gildarts let out a low whistle. "Hoo boy, I hope the kid survives."

"He won't," Carla deadpanned, pinching the bridge of her nose.

Wendy, who had been listening in horror, was about as red as Erza's hair. "M-Miss Mira, that was cruel! He was just hungry!"

"He's too fun to mess with," Mira said with a mischievous smirk. "Maybe I should apologize… later."

At that moment, another presence approached, one that made even Gildarts momentarily pause. Mystogan—except this time, without his usual mask—was actually standing among the guild members, looking far more comfortable than before. He extended a hand to Gildarts, who accepted it with a firm shake.

"It's good to see you doing fine, Gildarts," Mystogan greeted, his voice calm as ever.

Gildarts smirked. "Good to see you actually hanging out with the rest of the guild, Mystogan. And uh…" He squinted. "Is that a mustache?"

Mystogan's lips twitched. "No."

"Huh. Looked like one for a second." Gildarts took a step back and crossed his arms. "So, what's this I hear about Naruto already making a mess?"

Erza, who had been quietly observing from the side, finally spoke up. "He's… an interesting one. He's strong, unpredictable, and completely unafraid of challenges. But he's also reckless."

"Sounds like half the guild," Gildarts mused.

Gray scoffed, arms crossed. "More like three-quarters."

"Hey!" Natsu protested.

Gildarts chuckled, then turned back to Mira. "So, what exactly did you say to Naruto before he ran for his life?"

Mira simply placed a finger on her lips. "That's a secret."

The rest of the guild chuckled.

Fairy Tail, Magnolia - year X784

Days had passed since Gildarts' return, and the guild was as lively as ever—maybe even wilder than usual. The veteran mage's presence had sparked a new wave of chaos, with old members celebrating and new recruits gawking at his legend. Natsu had, of course, already challenged him twice and lost spectacularly both times. The repairs for the guild's newly renovated hall were already underway (again), and Gildarts himself had disappeared on another spontaneous walk, probably knocking over half the city in his wake.

But amid all the noise, one battle had been raging in the shadows. A psychological war. A test of patience. A war Naruto was losing.

At the bar, the orange-clad ninja cautiously slurped his ramen, his eyes locked onto the smiling demon in front of him.

"Oh, don't worry, silly Naruto, I won't be teasing you from this point~" Mirajane chimed sweetly, her voice as smooth as honey.

Naruto's chewing slowed. His senses tingled. His entire soul screamed at him not to trust her. He swallowed hard, eyes narrowing. "Fo' real?"

Mirajane tilted her head, smile unwavering.

"Realsies~"

Naruto took a massive gulp of his ramen, nearly choking. He wiped his mouth, suspicious. This was too easy. Too clean. Where was the trap? The snide remark? The hellish innuendo?

He squinted at her.

She squinted back.

Staaaaaaaarrreeeeee.

Naruto could feel the sweat pooling at his temples. Any second now, she was gonna drop something nasty on him. Something that would have the entire guild laughing at his expense.

But… nothing.

No teasing. No "ara ara" moment of doom. Just Mirajane, innocently humming to herself as she turned away to clean a glass.

Naruto let out a slow breath. Maybe, just maybe, she really had given up messing with him—

SWOOSH.

Mirajane's head snapped back toward him like a damn exorcist doll, her eyes locked onto his with eerie precision.

Naruto stiffened, a deer caught in the high beams of absolute death.

He braced himself. This was it. The final blow. The sucker punch. The—

She just smiled.

Naruto was sweating BUCKETS now.

A few seats away, Erza sat at a table, pen in hand, her notepad filled with strategy notes. She tapped her chin thoughtfully. "Hoo~ so I should apply more pressure, edge Naruto, and use feints to test his mental defenses…"

Behind her, Gray groaned. "She's even getting new ideas from it."

Lucy shook her head, exasperated. "Naruto's gonna die of stress before he ever finds a wife at this rate."

Naruto barely had time to breathe a sigh of relief, savoring the brief moment of peace before Mirajane struck again.

"Naruto~ Master told me just in case, before you go to your rendezvous point…" she paused, letting the word roll off her tongue with an impish lilt that made Naruto stiffen. "Master has a special announcement later."

Naruto slowed his chewing. His instincts flared again. This felt normal, but with Mirajane, normal never really meant safe. He squinted at her, searching for the catch.

"You just have to wait~" she sang, her wink sending a chill down his spine.

Naruto groaned, slumping over his ramen. "Tch. Another mystery, huh? Feels like y'all just love keepin' me in the dark…"

Wendy and Carla in her human form strolled up and took the seats beside him. Wendy offered him a polite nod while Carla, as usual, wore an expression of mild disapproval—probably at his terrible eating habits.

"Naruto," Wendy spoke softly, "Mystogan also asked us to stay. He doesn't want anyone taking missions today. He said it was important."

Naruto blinked at that. "Huh? Mystogan too? Man, that guy barely talks and now he's suddenly making announcements?"

"Maybe he's finally realized keeping secrets is tiring," Carla muttered, crossing her arms. "Though I doubt it."

Mira giggled, wiping down the counter. "Oh, Naruto, you're quite the lucky one~ If I were you, I'd get all the rest I could today."

The blonde raised a brow. "The hell's that supposed to mean?"

Mira's expression remained sweet, but something in her eyes gleamed with a knowing amusement. "Oh, nothing~ Just a little… premonition."

Naruto gulped down the last of his broth and exhaled. "Damn, all these cryptic-ass messages. Y'all tryna set up some horror movie twist?" He glanced at Wendy. "You got any ideas?"

Wendy shook her head, a little overwhelmed by how casually Naruto just spoke to everyone without formality. "N-No… Mystogan didn't say much, just that we should all be here."

Carla, however, gave Naruto a sharp glance. "I have an idea. And if I'm right…" She smirked slightly. "We're in for a very long day, Naruto."

He furrowed his brows. "W-what does that even—"

BOOM!

The guild doors burst open with Natsu flying inside, smashing straight through a table and kicking up a cloud of debris.

"OW, DAMMIT!"

The dust settled, revealing Gildarts dusting off his hands with a lopsided grin. "Hah! You challenged me again, Natsu. I gave ya the usual answer!"

Macao, Wakaba, and a couple of other members whistled from the sidelines. "Three losses in two days… That's gotta be a record."

"Well, he did last two seconds longer this time," Wakaba added.

Lucy facepalmed. "That's not an improvement!"

Naruto cackled, pointing at Natsu's twitching body. "Heh, you really think you can take Gildarts? Guy's built like a whole ass fortress!"

Natsu gritted his teeth, staggering up. "Sh-Shut up, whiskers… I'll… I'll get stronger…"

Mira clapped her hands. "Oh my~ Natsu, you might want to recover quickly. You wouldn't want to miss Master's big announcement later~"

Natsu perked up instantly. "Wait, what?! Master's got an announcement?" He turned to Naruto. "Oi! You know what it is?"

Naruto sighed. "Nuh-uh. Nobody's tellin' me squat. It's like y'all got a cult meeting I ain't invited to."

Mira giggled. "Oh, but you are invited, Naruto~ You especially wouldn't want to miss this…"

A heavy silence fell.

Naruto froze.

His gut twisted.

The way Mira said that… The way she looked at him…

That meant trouble. Big trouble.

Naruto slowly turned to Wendy. "A-am I in danger?"

Wendy swallowed nervously, unsure how to answer.

Lucy, sensing Naruto's rising panic, patted his back sympathetically. "Whatever it is, just… brace yourself."

Erza, flipping through her notes again, hummed to herself. "Yes… Yes, this will be a valuable test of endurance…"

Naruto gulped.

Hours passed like a slow-burning fuse, anticipation crackling through the air like static. The entire guild had gathered, an unusual hush settling over the raucous crowd as Master Makarov finally stepped onto the makeshift stage at the center of the hall. Standing beside him, Mystogan loomed in his regal black and blue coat, his presence enigmatic as ever.

The masked mage shifted awkwardly, his gloved hand adjusting the ridiculously fake, fancy mustache perched on his upper lip. He let out a cough, as if to clear not just his throat but his nerves.

Makarov, ever the seasoned showman, clapped a hand on Mystogan's back with an encouraging grin. "Go on, boy! No need to be shy. Say it with pride!"

Mystogan exhaled through his nose, then finally spoke.

"As of today… the S-Class Promotion Trials are officially announced."

The moment the words left his lips, the hall erupted into chaos. Cheers, gasps, and shouts of excitement filled the space, members shoving each other, all eager to know who made the cut.

Up on the stage, the proctors stood in formation— Gildarts, standing relaxed with his signature lazy grin, arms folded. Mirajane, smiling sweetly, though her playful eyes hinted at all the mischief she was about to unleash. Erza, arms crossed, her face as serious as if she were preparing for war. And Mystogan himself, playing the role of the host, though internally, was sweating under his cool and fancy facade.

Makarov beamed at the lineup, nodding with satisfaction before stepping aside to let Mystogan continue.

"The following mages have been selected as candidates for this year's trials…"

The crowd fell silent, ears perked, waiting for the verdict.

"Levy McGarden."

A small but determined cheer came from the bookish mage, her fists clenched at her chest. Jet and Droy immediately burst into tears. "WE'RE SO PROUD OF YOU, LEVY~!"

"Cana Alberona."

Cana took a long sip from her barrel before setting it down with a sharp thunk. She smirked, but her grip on the handle was white-knuckled. Naruto caught the subtle shift in her eyes—she knew exactly what was at stake.

"Natsu Dragneel."

"HELL YEAH!" Natsu whooped, pumping his fists. "I'M GONNA WIN THIS THING!"

"Gray Fullbuster."

Gray smirked, tossing his coat over his shoulder. "Heh. Guess I'll have to carry Natsu's ass out of the rubble when he loses."

"WHAT'D YOU SAY, STRIPPER?!"

"YOU HEARD ME, MATCHSTICK!"

"Elfman Strauss."

"YES! THIS IS THE PERFECT TEST OF MANHOOD!" Elfman roared, slamming a fist into his palm, his muscles practically bulging with excitement.

"Wendy Marvell"

Wendy looked nervous blowing her palm to blow away her anxiety.

"Carla"

A small refine smirked came to her elegant human form, nudging to Wendy, a small rivalry.

"And finally… Juvia Lockser."

Juvia gasped, then immediately swooned, clasping her hands together. "Juvia… Juvia will become an S-Class Mage for my dearest Gray~!"

Gray nearly choked on his own spit. "Oi—what does that have to do with me?!"

As the guild's excitement continued to buzz around them, Naruto crossed his arms, glancing toward the two people who mattered most in all of this—Wendy and Carla.

His heart swelled with pride.

Wendy, his little student, was watching with wide, hopeful eyes. She wasn't ready for the S-Class trials yet, but her growth had been nothing short of phenomenal. And Carla, despite her usual air of refinement, had a knowing look on her face—she had already foreseen much of this in her visions.

Then Naruto's gaze drifted to Cana, and the pride in his chest twisted into something more cautious.

He knew.

He knew exactly what this trial meant for her. The stakes she carried weren't just about rank—they were personal. A battle of self-worth, of unspoken burdens, of proving something not just to the guild but to herself.

His eyes flickered to the modified wristband she wore—his gift to her. A crutch, a safety net…

As the initial excitement settled, Mystogan took a step forward, clearing his throat. His usual enigmatic presence held firm, but there was an almost unspoken amusement in the way he watched the eager candidates.

"Moving on, each S-Class prospect will form a team with a partner of their choosing. Keep in mind," he continued, his voice even, "this is not merely a test of individual strength, but teamwork, adaptability, and trust."

The candidates nodded, already scanning the room for their ideal teammates.

Levy barely had a moment to think before a shadow loomed over her.

"Tch."

She turned to see Gajeel standing there, arms crossed, his signature scowl plastered across his face.

"Oi, Shorty. We teamin' up or what?"

Levy blinked, stunned for a second before a soft chuckle escaped her lips. "You sure about that? I mean, I do have other options, you know?"

Gajeel smirked, eyes gleaming with confidence. "Hah. Yeah, but you ain't pickin' anyone else. We both know it."

Levy rolled her eyes but smiled nonetheless. "Fine, fine. Let's do this, you big brute."

Meanwhile, Natsu had no doubts, no hesitation.

"Happy! You're with me!"

"Aye, sir!"

Gray, on the other hand, had already sorted things out ahead of time. Before anyone could approach him, Loke emerged from the celestial realm in a flash of golden light.

"Loke?" Lucy blinked. "What are you doing here?"

The lion spirit gave her a roguish grin, adjusting his shades. "Sorry, Lucy, but Gray and I already had a little chat about this." He turned to his chosen partner. "You sure you still wanna go through with it, buddy?"

Gray smirked. "Damn right. Let's show 'em what we got."

Lucy pouted. "Geez, and here I thought you'd help me in this trial!"

Loke shot her a wink. "I'll make it up to you, princess~"

"Tch. Whatever." She crossed her arms, exasperated.

Juvia looked lost but a helping hand came in need in the form of Fried Justine.

On another side of the guild, Elfman felt an intense stare drilling into him.

Evergreen had stepped forward, arms folded, her usual air of haughty confidence surrounding her.

"I'll be your partner," she stated matter-of-factly.

Elfman froze. Oh no.

Evergreen? Evergreen?!

The manliest of men found himself suddenly unsure of how to respond. It wasn't that he disliked her—no, no, she was powerful, respectable, a fellow pillar of the Thunder God Tribe.

But her presence unnerved him.

"W-why?" he stammered, rubbing the back of his head.

Evergreen smirked. "Because I feel like it."

"GUH!" Elfman felt sweat roll down his temple. This was going to be interesting.

Across the room, Wendy was approached by an unfamiliar face.

"Mest," the man introduced himself casually, hands in his pockets. His face looked friendly enough, but there was an odd air of secrecy about him.

"You're… Mest?" Wendy tilted her head. "I don't think we've met before."

Carla, now in her human form, narrowed her eyes. "I don't recall seeing you much around the guild."

Mest simply chuckled. "I guess I tend to keep a low profile." He looked at Wendy. "Master suggested we team up, so I hope you don't mind."

Wendy hesitated, but then nodded. "Alright! Let's do our best!"

Mystogan, still overseeing the partnerships, was about to wrap things up—

Until Cana and Carla simultaneously turned toward Naruto.

"Naruto!" Cana called out, confidence in her voice.

"Naruto," Carla said more formally.

The blond raised an eyebrow as both of them approached him. "Huh?"

Cana stretched, placing a hand on her hip. "You down to be my partner for the trials? I could use someone reliable to have my back."

"And I would like you as well," Carla added. "Your capabilities would ensure success."

Naruto blinked, feeling an odd weight settle in the air. Two people, at the same time? He scratched the back of his head. "I mean, I wouldn't mind, but—"

Mystogan interrupted, raising a hand. "Naruto is not allowed to be a partner."

Silence.

Naruto blinked. "Wait, huh?"

The entire room turned toward Mystogan.

The elusive wizard sighed. "His strength is already far beyond S-Class. Pairing him with a candidate would be an unfair advantage. The trials are meant to test the applicants and their partners. Having Naruto in the mix would disrupt that balance."

Naruto groaned, slumping forward. "Man, y'all really out here banning me from everything."

Cana clicked her tongue. "Damn. Guess that means I gotta pick someone else…"

After a brief moment, she turned toward Lucy.

"Oi, Lucy. You free?"

Lucy blinked, pointing at herself. "Me?"

"Yeah. You game?"

Lucy hesitated but then nodded, smiling. "Sure! Let's do it!"

Carla, still needing a new partner, looked around until her eyes settled on Laki Olietta, the quiet yet skilled wood-magic user.

"I will partner with you," Carla declared.

Laki adjusted her glasses. "Ooooh~ That sounds fun. Alright, let's make it a good one."

And with that, the final teams were set.

Mystogan nodded, satisfied. "The teams are now finalized. Your trials begin soon. Prepare accordingly."

As the excitement of team formations settled, Mystogan's gaze shifted to Naruto, who was still standing off to the side, arms crossed, visibly sulking at being banned from yet another guild event.

"Oi, Naruto," Mystogan called out.

The blond looked up, raising an eyebrow. "What? You gonna tell me I ain't allowed to watch either?"

Mystogan sighed. "No, I'm telling you to get ready. You're coming with me."

Naruto blinked. "Huh?"

The guild members who had been listening in turned their attention toward the exchange.

Mystogan continued, voice calm but firm. "Master Makarov and I have already discussed what to do with you. Since you're not an official S-Class, but undeniably stronger than one, letting you participate normally in the trials would be pointless. So instead, I'll be taking you along for a separate matter."

Naruto narrowed his eyes. "Separate matter?"

Mystogan gave a slow nod. "We have something planned for you—an alternative trial, of sorts. Something that might actually challenge you."

The room grew quiet.

An actual challenge for Naruto? That was a bold statement.

Natsu scoffed, crossing his arms. "Tch, what the hell's that supposed to mean? Ain't no way you guys are really testing this guy."

Gray let out a small chuckle. "It's true, though. If Naruto wanted to, he'd have soloed the S-Class trial already."

Cana huffed, adjusting her modified wristband—the very one Naruto had given her for support. "Guess even the Master doesn't know what to do with our Orange Leech."

Naruto clicked his tongue. "Oi, stop callin' me that, dammit."

Mystogan ignored their comments. "Regardless, you're coming with me. Pack whatever you need. We leave when the trials begin."

Naruto scratched his head. He wasn't really mad, but man, did it feel like they were just throwing random ideas at him now.

He sighed. "Yeah, yeah. Guess I don't got much of a choice, huh?"

Mystogan shook his head. "No, you don't."

A few days later, beneath the scorching sun, the candidates for the S-Class Trials, their designated partners, the proctors, Master Makarov, and Naruto all boarded the guild's ship, setting sail toward their sacred island—Tenroujima, Fairy Tail's private, hallowed ground. The salty sea breeze mixed with the bubbling anticipation as the ship cut through the waves, carrying them toward what would be a defining chapter in their lives.

The journey was anything but quiet. Natsu, much to no one's surprise, spent most of the trip hunched over the railing, groaning from a combination of seasickness and barely-contained excitement. Gray and Elfman debated strategies, while Levy sat with her nose buried in a book, absorbing every bit of knowledge that could give her an edge. Cana drank in silence, her eyes distant, her grip on her barrel a little too tight. Wendy nervously twiddled her fingers, while Carla, ever poised, reassured her with a knowing glance.

Naruto, leaning against the ship's railing, let the sun warm his skin as he kept an idle eye on the recruits. This was their moment, their chance to prove themselves. But his mind kept drifting back to Mystogan's cryptic words. Something that might actually challenge you.

He huffed. "Hope it ain't some glorified babysitting mission."

Mystogan, standing nearby, chuckled under his breath. "You'll find out soon enough."

What none of them knew—what no one could have predicted—was that the storm brewing beyond their vision was far deadlier than any trial the guild had prepared.

Far from the island, beyond the reach of any watchful eyes, a certain dark wizard lay in deep slumber, undisturbed, his power coiled and waiting. And high above the clouds, an ominous black airship drifted silently through the sky—Grimoire Heart, its course set for Tenroujima.

Chapter End