Chapter XXVI: Who's the Lucky One?[Tenrou Island Arc]
Before we begin our story in earnest, we must first flash back to a few days before the S Class trials....
Family Council
Three days before the S-Class Trial departure
The Clive family's meeting space had evolved considerably since their arrival in Earthland. What had once been a simple arrangement in Magnolia's outskirts had become a sophisticated tactical planning area, complete with magical viewing screens, dimensional mapping equipment, and communication arrays that could reach across multiple realities.
But tonight, the technology was secondary to the people gathered around the central table.
Teilanne sat at the head of the arrangement, her crimson aura subdued to create an atmosphere of serious discussion rather than intimidation. To her right, Kizuna had positioned himself beside Mirajane, their chairs close enough that their hands could intertwine naturally. The Take-Over mage had been formally invited to participate in family strategic discussions months ago, her integration into their unit complete in all but the most technical sense.
Across from them, Cumber sat next to Wendy, both sixteen-year-olds displaying the analytical focus that had drawn them together. While their relationship remained more cautious than Kizuna and Mirajane's established partnership, Teilanne had already begun thinking of the Sky Dragon Slayer as another daughter—a fact that had influenced tonight's invitation.
Gine and Uruk flanked the arrangement, their scholarly minds already working through the implications of what they'd gathered to discuss. Gildarts occupied a position that suggested both respect for the family's privacy and recognition of his own importance to the upcoming conversation.
"Before we begin," Teilanne said, her voice carrying the authority that had commanded armies across multiple star systems, "I want to establish the ground rules for this discussion. Everything said here remains within this group. No exceptions, no modifications, no partial truths shared with guild leadership."
She looked directly at Mirajane and Wendy. "You're both here because you've become family, not just allies or friends. That means you have access to information that could reshape how this world understands power, conflict, and survival. Are you prepared for that responsibility?"
Mirajane's expression was steady, her demonic heritage giving her an instinctive understanding of the weight behind Teilanne's words. "I accept whatever responsibilities come with being part of this family."
Wendy's response came after a moment of careful consideration. "I understand that knowledge can be dangerous, but hiding from truth is usually more dangerous than facing it. I'm ready."
"Then let's begin," Teilanne said, activating a magical privacy barrier that would prevent any outside observation or eavesdropping. "Carla's precognitive visions have shown us fragments of what's coming. A crumbling tree-like structure, sorrow and loss, and most significantly—a figure in dark clothing whose presence suggests external threats to the trial."
Gildarts shifted uncomfortably. "The trial is supposed to be internal guild business. Current S-Class mages testing candidates on sacred ground. If there's an outside threat—"
"Then the trial becomes a battleground," Kizuna finished, his ikari abilities creating subtle reality distortions as his protective instincts flared. "With our family members in the center of whatever conflict is brewing."
Cumber's golden aura began manifesting geometric patterns that mapped potential threat scenarios. "The precognitive fragments suggest the danger isn't random. Someone or something is specifically targeting this event."
"Which brings us to the real question," Uruk interjected, his scholarly analysis cutting through the emotional undercurrents. "Do we allow Wendy to participate in a trial that our intelligence suggests will become something far more dangerous than advertised?"
The question hung in the air like a blade. Everyone present understood the implications—this wasn't just about preventing Wendy from facing danger, but about whether the Clive family would interfere with Fairy Tail's internal processes based on incomplete information.
Wendy spoke before anyone else could answer.
"I appreciate the concern," she said, her sixteen-year-old voice carrying a maturity that came from surviving dimensional wars and facing impossible odds. "But I can't make decisions based on fear of what might happen. Mest asked me to be his partner, and I accepted that responsibility."
"Mest troubles me," Gine said bluntly, her analytical abilities having catalogued numerous inconsistencies in the quiet mage's behavior. "His magical signature contains elements that don't align with his stated background or abilities. He's either hiding significant power or he's not who he claims to be."
"Both possibilities suggest danger for his partner," Teilanne observed, her maternal instincts warring with her respect for Wendy's autonomy. "Especially if his deception is connected to whatever external threat Carla's visions have detected."
Mirajane had been listening quietly, but now she spoke with the conviction of someone who had made difficult choices about family and loyalty.
"Wendy's right about not making decisions based on fear," she said, her Take-Over magic creating subtle energy patterns that reflected her emotional state. "But she's also family now, which means she doesn't face dangerous situations alone."
"Meaning?" Cumber asked, though his golden ki suggested he already understood his girlfriend's implication.
"Meaning the S-Class trial is about to have some very powerful unofficial participants," Kizuna said with a smile that carried distinctly non-human predatory undertones. "We can't stop Wendy from going, but we can make sure she's protected."
Gildarts looked alarmed. "You can't just insert yourselves into a guild trial. The protocols, the traditions, the testing procedures—"
"Can all be maintained while we provide strategic oversight," Teilanne interrupted smoothly. "We're not suggesting interference with the trial's legitimate aspects. We're suggesting preparation for the illegitimate threats that seem to be targeting it."
"How?" Wendy asked, her analytical mind already working through the logistical challenges.
Uruk activated one of the viewing screens, displaying a three-dimensional map of Tenrou Island that he'd compiled from guild records and magical surveys.
"Tenrou Island is approximately fifty square kilometers of varied terrain," he explained with professorial precision. "Multiple approach vectors, numerous concealment opportunities, and most importantly—dimensional instabilities that could mask our presence from conventional detection methods."
"You're talking about a covert deployment," Gildarts realized, his own S-Class experience allowing him to follow their tactical reasoning. "Positioning yourselves to respond to threats without interfering with the actual trial proceedings."
"Exactly," Gine confirmed, her analytical abilities already calculating optimal positioning strategies. "We establish a perimeter that monitors for external threats while allowing the trial to proceed normally. If nothing dangerous happens, we remain undetected and uninvolved. If something does threaten our family members, we respond with appropriate force."
Cumber's geometric patterns shifted to display potential deployment configurations. "The island's layout actually favors this approach. Multiple concealment positions with clear sight lines to all major trial locations."
"And if the trial goes wrong?" Mirajane asked, her demonic instincts understanding that planning for the worst case was often the most practical approach.
"Then Fairy Tail discovers why Saiyans were once feared across the galaxy," Teilanne replied with quiet certainty. "But only if absolutely necessary to protect our family."
Wendy had been studying the tactical displays with growing understanding. "You're essentially creating a security perimeter that I won't even know exists unless something goes catastrophically wrong."
"That's the idea," Kizuna confirmed. "You participate in the trial completely normally, face whatever challenges the S-Class mages present, support your partner as best you can. The only difference is that if external threats manifest, you won't face them alone."
"What about the other participants?" Wendy asked. "Cana, Lucy, Natsu, the others—they're family too."
"They'll benefit from the same protection," Teilanne assured her. "Our perimeter will monitor threats to all trial participants, not just you specifically."
Gildarts was quiet for a long moment, clearly wrestling with the implications of what he was hearing. Finally, he spoke with the weight of decades of guild experience.
"I don't like the idea of hidden agendas during a sacred trial," he said slowly. "But I like the idea of external threats targeting our children even less. If you're committed to non-interference unless absolutely necessary..."
"We are," Teilanne confirmed. "This is defensive positioning, not offensive action. We hope to remain completely undetected throughout the entire trial."
"Then I won't report this conversation to Master Makarov," Gildarts decided. "But I will be watching for any signs that you're overstepping the boundaries we've discussed."
"Understood and acceptable," Teilanne replied formally.
Wendy looked around the table at the faces of people who had become her extended family—brilliant, powerful, dangerous individuals who were willing to risk exposure and political complications simply to ensure her safety during a guild trial she had chosen to participate in.
"Thank you," she said quietly. "All of you. I know this isn't a simple decision, and I appreciate that you're respecting my choice while still looking out for me."
"That's what family does," Mirajane said with a warmth that had become characteristic of her interactions with the Clive children. "We support each other's decisions and watch each other's backs."
"Speaking of which," Kizuna said, his expression becoming more serious, "there's something else we need to discuss. The political implications of our presence in Earthland are becoming more significant. The Magic Council has been making inquiries, and our actions in Edolas have drawn attention from organizations we haven't identified yet."
"Meaning?" Cumber asked, though his analytical mind was already calculating the implications.
"Meaning that after the S-Class trial, we may need to make some formal decisions about our status in this world," Teilanne explained. "Are we refugees seeking asylum? Are we immigrants looking to establish permanent residency? Are we visiting dignitaries from another dimensional authority?"
"Each classification carries different responsibilities and different protections," Gine added, her research having uncovered the complexities of interdimensional politics in magical societies. "And our choice will affect not just us, but everyone we're connected to."
Mirajane and Wendy exchanged glances, both realizing that their integration into the Clive family came with implications they hadn't fully considered.
"We'll face that challenge when it comes," Mirajane said firmly. "Right now, our priority is making sure everyone comes home safely from Tenrou Island."
"Agreed," Teilanne said, beginning to deactivate the privacy barriers around their meeting space. "The trial deployment begins in two days. Everyone knows their roles, everyone understands the parameters. We protect our family while respecting their choices."
As the meeting dispersed, Wendy found herself walking alongside Cumber toward Magnolia's center, both of them quiet as they processed everything they'd learned.
"Are you worried about the trial?" Cumber asked finally.
Wendy considered the question seriously. "I'm concerned about the unknown variables, but not afraid. I have good people watching out for me, strong abilities of my own, and a partner who asked for my help specifically. That's more support than most people ever get."
"And if Mest turns out to be hiding something dangerous?"
"Then I'll deal with that when it happens," Wendy replied with quiet confidence. "But I won't let fear of what might be prevent me from facing what actually is."
Cumber's golden aura flickered with what might have been admiration. "Spoken like a true member of this family."
Their conversation was interrupted by Mirajane and Kizuna catching up with them, the older couple having concluded their own private discussion about the upcoming challenges.
"Ready for tomorrow's departure?" Mirajane asked, her demonic magic creating subtle patterns that reflected her own mixture of excitement and concern.
"As ready as anyone can be for a trial that's supposed to test our limits," Wendy replied. "Though I suspect it's going to test more than just our magical abilities."
"The best trials always do," Kizuna observed, his ikari abilities creating brief reality distortions that suggested his protective instincts were already heightening in preparation for potential threats. "They test character, loyalty, wisdom, and the strength to make difficult choices under pressure."
"Then let's hope we're all worthy of the tests that are coming," Mirajane said quietly.
As the four of them walked back toward the guild hall, none of them noticed the figure watching from the shadows—someone whose presence on Tenrou Island would soon transform a guild trial into something far more dangerous and significant than anyone had anticipated.
The Laxus Question
Later that evening, after Kizuna and Mirajane had departed for their private walk, and Cumber had escorted Wendy back to her lodgings
The family meeting space felt different with only four occupants remaining. The tactical displays had been deactivated, leaving the room illuminated by soft magical lighting that cast gentle shadows across the faces of those who remained. Gildarts sat across from his wife Teilanne, their positioning reflecting decades of partnership in both combat and family decisions. Beside them, Uruk had activated several analytical screens, though his attention was focused entirely on his sister.
Gine sat with her arms crossed, her fiery energy barely contained as emotions swirled visibly around her like heat waves. Even at rest, she radiated the kind of restless intensity that made her so compatible with Natsu's chaotic energy. Her attempts at sitting still were undermined by the way her foot tapped against the floor and her fingers drummed against her bicep.
"We need to address the elephant in the room," Teilanne said gently, her crimson aura subdued to avoid adding pressure to what was already a delicate conversation. "Laxus will be on Tenrou Island as one of the S-Class supervisors. That means there's a strong possibility you'll encounter him during our perimeter operations."
Gine's entire body tensed, her ki flaring briefly before she wrestled it back under control. The emotional storm was written clearly across her face—hurt, longing, frustration, and anger all competing for dominance.
"Of course he'll be there," she said, her voice carrying the edge of someone trying not to explode. "Perfect timing. Just when I was starting to get over—" She cut herself off, running her hands through her hair in frustration.
Uruk looked up from his screens, his scholarly mind immediately recognizing his sister's emotional volatility. "Gine, you're trying to logic your way through something that's fundamentally emotional. When has that ever worked for you?"
"I'm not trying to logic anything!" Gine snapped back, then immediately looked frustrated with herself for proving his point. "I just... I don't know what I'm supposed to feel about seeing him again, okay?"
Gildarts leaned forward, his expression carrying the weight of someone who had made his share of difficult emotional decisions. "Gine, I've known Laxus since he was a child. He didn't leave because he was running from you or because he was ashamed of losing to you. He left because he finally understood what it meant to be worthy of someone he cares about."
The statement hit Gine like a physical blow, her ki flaring briefly as she struggled with the emotional impact. Her hands clenched into fists, and for a moment it looked like she might either punch something or burst into tears.
"That's what makes it worse!" she exploded, jumping to her feet and beginning to pace with the restless energy that always accompanied her emotional turmoil. "If he left because he was angry or bitter, I could deal with that. I could fight that. But he left because he thinks he's not good enough for me, and I can't fight his own insecurities!"
Teilanne's expression softened with maternal understanding. "Sweetheart, you've had feelings for Laxus since you were twelve years old. That's not going to disappear just because you're on a mission or because he's been traveling for months."
"It's been seven months, two weeks, and four days," Gine said before she could stop herself, then immediately looked mortified at her own emotional transparency. "Not that I've been counting or anything."
Uruk's analytical screens flickered as he watched his sister's emotional pacing with the detached fascination of someone studying an interesting phenomenon. "You know, statistically speaking, the fact that you've been counting suggests the emotional attachment is stronger than you've been admitting to yourself."
"Shut up, Uruk," Gine snapped, her ki flaring again. "I don't need statistical analysis of my feelings right now."
"Actually, you might," he replied calmly, pulling up a holographic display. "Because your emotional volatility regarding Laxus is going to be a significant operational variable. If seeing him causes you to lose control of your power output—"
"I won't lose control!" Gine interrupted, her voice rising as her frustration mounted. "I'm not some child who can't handle seeing an ex-crush!"
"Ex-crush?" Teilanne raised an eyebrow. "Is that what we're calling it now?"
The question hit the heart of what Gine had been trying to avoid confronting. She stopped pacing abruptly, her shoulders sagging as the fight went out of her.
"I don't know what to call it," she admitted, her voice suddenly small. "I defeated him. I showed him exactly how big the gap was between us. He looked at me afterward like I was... like I was some kind of monster. Then he left to 'become stronger' or whatever, but what if he comes back and still looks at me that way? What if nothing's changed?"
The pain in her voice was raw, unfiltered by her usual fiery bravado. Gildarts and Teilanne exchanged glances, both recognizing the depth of hurt their daughter had been carrying beneath all her emotional storms.
"Gine," Gildarts said gently, "did you ever consider that he didn't leave because you were too powerful, but because he realized he wasn't the kind of person who deserved to stand beside someone like you? Not because of strength, but because of character?"
"That's what makes it hurt so much," Gine said, finally sitting back down but unable to stay still, her legs bouncing with nervous energy. "Because he was already good enough. He was always good enough. I didn't care that I was stronger than him—I cared about him. But he couldn't see that."
"And maybe that's exactly what he's been learning to see," Teilanne suggested, her maternal instincts reading the vulnerability beneath her daughter's emotional armor. "Maybe his journey wasn't about becoming physically stronger, but about learning to value himself the way you valued him."
"But what if it wasn't?" The question came out as almost a whisper, revealing the fear that had been eating at Gine for months. "What if he comes back still thinking that the only way to be worth my time is to prove he can beat me in a fight? What if he's spent all this time getting stronger just so he can challenge me again?"
Uruk looked up from his screens with uncharacteristic gentleness. "Then you'll know he missed the point entirely, and you can stop wasting emotional energy on someone who doesn't understand what actually matters to you."
"But I don't want to stop caring about him!" Gine burst out, her emotions finally breaking free completely. "I've been in love with him since I was twelve years old! He's stubborn and prideful and sometimes he makes terrible decisions, but he's also loyal and protective and he has this stupid noble streak that makes him want to sacrifice himself for everyone else. I don't want to get over him—I want him to come back ready to let me stand beside him instead of feeling like he has to prove he can stand in front of me."
The admission hung in the air, raw and honest and completely characteristic of Gine's inability to hide her true feelings for long. Her family members recognized the courage it took for someone as emotionally intense as Gine to voice fears that had been tormenting her for months.
"Then that's how you'll handle seeing him again," Teilanne said with maternal authority. "You'll be honest about how you feel and what you want. No games, no pretending, no trying to protect yourself from potential disappointment. Just Gine being Gine."
"Even if it makes the mission more complicated?" Gine asked.
"The mission comes first," Gildarts said firmly. "But that doesn't mean you have to pretend your feelings don't exist. It means you handle them like the strong, mature woman you've become instead of the twelve-year-old girl who first developed a crush."
"Speaking of mission parameters," Uruk interjected, his analytical mind returning to tactical concerns, "we need to discuss how to position you strategically if you do encounter Laxus. Your emotional state will affect your power output, and that could create either advantages or complications depending on the circumstances."
"Meaning?" Gine asked, grateful for the return to more concrete planning.
"Meaning we need contingency plans for multiple scenarios," Uruk explained, activating tactical displays. "Scenario one: You encounter Laxus and your emotional response enhances your combat effectiveness. Scenario two: Your emotional response compromises your tactical judgment. Scenario three: He initiates contact and wants to have a conversation in the middle of a mission."
"And scenario four?" Teilanne asked.
"Scenario four: He's genuinely changed and grown, and you have to decide whether to risk your heart again while maintaining operational security," Uruk concluded with characteristic bluntness.
Gine stared at the tactical displays, seeing her personal emotional crisis laid out in strategic terms. It should have felt cold or clinical, but instead it felt... manageable. These were variables she could plan for, responses she could prepare.
"Okay," she said finally, her voice steadying as she found her emotional footing. "I can work with that. I prefer honest confrontation to uncertainty anyway. If Laxus wants to talk, we talk. If he wants to fight, we fight. If he wants to pretend nothing happened between us, I'll set him straight. But whatever happens, it happens after we make sure everyone gets home safely."
"That's my daughter," Gildarts said with paternal pride. "Lead with your heart, but don't forget to use your head."
The conversation was interrupted by a subtle shift in the room's magical atmosphere—someone was approaching their location with considerable stealth and power. The family's defensive instincts activated automatically, with Teilanne's crimson aura expanding to encompass the room while Gildarts prepared for potential combat.
But instead of an enemy, Wendy appeared in the doorway, her sixteen-year-old face carrying an expression of determination mixed with uncertainty.
"I'm sorry to interrupt," she said politely, "but Carla's visions have become more specific. She's seen something about the trial that you need to know before we finalize the deployment plans."
Gine was on her feet instantly, her emotional turmoil transforming into protective focus. "What did she see?"
"She saw Laxus fighting someone in dark clothing," Wendy replied quietly. "Someone whose magical signature doesn't match anyone currently known to be on Tenrou Island. And in her vision, he was losing."
The words hit Gine like lightning. Every emotional complication, every uncertainty about seeing Laxus again, every question about their relationship—all of it became irrelevant in the face of a much more immediate concern.
"Then we're going," she said, her ki beginning to flare with protective fury. "I don't care what's between us personally. I don't care if he hates me or loves me or never wants to see me again. Nobody threatens him while I'm still breathing."
Her family members recognized the tone—this was Gine at her most dangerous, when her protective instincts overrode every other consideration. The emotional heart of their family had just transformed into something much more primal and focused.
"The mission parameters change," she continued, her power continuing to build as she spoke. "We're not just providing perimeter security anymore. We're hunting whoever thinks they can hurt Laxus on our watch."
"Gine—" Teilanne began.
"No," Gine interrupted, her voice carrying absolute conviction. "He's family to this guild, which makes him family to us. And family protects family. Whatever personal stuff exists between us can wait until after I make sure he's safe."
The declaration carried the ring of finality, and her family members recognized that Gine had just resolved her emotional conflicts in the most direct way possible—by channeling all her feelings into determination to protect someone she cared about.
"Then we adjust our operational approach accordingly," Gildarts said with approval. "The mission expands to include active threat elimination as well as perimeter security."
"With special emphasis on protecting identified high-risk targets," Uruk added, already revising his tactical calculations.
"And emotional preparation for whatever personal complications arise during combat operations," Teilanne concluded, her maternal concern extending to the relationships that would inevitably be tested by the trials ahead.
As the family began revising their operational plans, Gine found herself feeling oddly calm about the prospect of seeing Laxus again. The uncertainty and emotional turbulence had been replaced by something much simpler and more familiar—the fierce determination to keep someone she loved safe, regardless of the personal cost or complications.
It was a feeling that defined her completely, and one she was prepared to act on without hesitation or doubt.
*End Flashback*
The Trial Begins
Present Day - Fairy Tail Ship en route to Tenrou Island
The complaints about the oppressive heat had been echoing across the ship's deck for nearly an hour. Guild members fanned themselves with whatever they could find, shed outer layers of clothing, and sought any shade available on the vessel. The magical energy radiating from their destination seemed to intensify the natural warmth of the ocean air, creating an almost suffocating atmosphere.
"This is unbearable!" Gray groaned, his ice magic creating small cooling clouds around himself that dissipated almost immediately in the intense heat. "How is it this hot when we're still over water?"
"It's the island's magical aura," Levy explained, wiping sweat from her brow as she studied a magical theory book despite the uncomfortable conditions. "Tenrou Island is saturated with concentrated magical energy. That kind of power generates heat as a byproduct."
Near the ship's rail, Natsu was experiencing his own particular form of misery. The Dragon Slayer who could withstand the hottest flames was doubled over with motion sickness, his usual energetic demeanor replaced by queasy groaning.
"This is so unfair," he moaned to Happy, who was trying to provide comfort by fanning his partner with his small wings. "I can eat fire that would melt steel, but I can't handle a stupid boat ride."
"At least you're not complaining about the heat," Happy pointed out optimistically.
"Can't complain about heat when I'm too busy trying not to throw up," Natsu replied miserably.
Across the deck, the partnerships were dealing with the journey in their own ways. Fried and Bickslow had claimed a section of shade and were engaged in quiet strategic discussion. Gray and Loke were using a combination of ice magic and celestial power to create a more comfortable microclimate around themselves. Juvia and Lisanna had discovered they could create cooling water sprays that provided temporary relief.
In a quieter corner of the ship, Mest and Wendy stood at the rail, both seeming less affected by the heat than their guildmates. Wendy's Sky Dragon magic allowed her to create subtle air currents that provided natural cooling, while Mest appeared focused on something beyond the immediate discomfort.
"You seem nervous," Wendy observed, her sixteen-year-old intuition picking up on her partner's tension.
"Not nervous," Mest replied carefully. "Focused. This trial is more important than most people realize."
Wendy tilted her head curiously. "What do you mean?"
Before Mest could answer, excited shouts erupted from the front of the ship. The oppressive heat was momentarily forgotten as everyone rushed to see what had captured their attention.
Tenrou Island rose from the ocean like something from a fairy tale, its massive tree-like structure dominating the landscape with an otherworldly majesty. The tree's trunk was easily a kilometer in diameter, its branches stretching impossibly high into the sky. But most impressive was the magical aura surrounding the entire island—a shimmering, almost visible field of energy that made the air itself seem alive.
"It's beautiful," Wendy breathed, her Sky Dragon senses picking up the incredibly complex magical currents flowing around and through the island.
"It's home," Erza said quietly, though her voice carried clearly across the amazed silence that had fallen over the ship. "The heart of Fairy Tail's power."
Master Makarov appeared on the ship's central platform, his small stature somehow commanding complete attention from the assembled candidates and partners. Despite the heat, he maintained his usual composed demeanor as he prepared to explain the trial's first stage.
"Children," he began, his voice carrying the authority that had guided Fairy Tail for decades, "what you see before you is our sacred ground. The source of our guild's strength and the testing ground that will determine which of you has earned the right to become S-Class."
He gestured toward the island, where eight distinct paths were now visible leading from the shoreline into the interior.
"Your first trial is simple in concept but challenging in execution," Makarov continued. "Each team will choose one of eight paths. Two pairs of these paths will intersect, forcing the teams that meet to battle each other for the right to continue. Three paths lead directly to encounters with our current S-Class mages, who will test your abilities personally. One path—and only one—is free of obstacles."
The implications were immediately clear to everyone listening. Only half the teams would advance past the first trial, and there was no way to know which path offered which challenge.
"But Master," Levy called out, "how do we choose if we're still on the ship?"
Makarov's expression became slightly mischievous. "Who said you had to wait until you reached shore? The first trial begins now."
The announcement hit like lightning. Natsu immediately forgot his motion sickness, leaping to his feet with renewed energy.
"Happy! Let's go!" he shouted, preparing to launch himself toward the island with his partner's flight assistance.
But before they could leave the ship, glowing runes suddenly appeared around them, forming an invisible barrier that prevented their escape.
"Sorry, Natsu," Fried called out with polite satisfaction, "but I prepared for this possibility."
The rune mage had positioned himself and Bickslow at the ship's edge before anyone realized what was happening. With their path clear and the other teams trapped by his letter magic, they launched themselves toward the island with significant advantage.
"That's cheating!" Gray protested, ice magic flaring as he tested the barrier's strength.
"That's strategy," Bickslow replied with his characteristic laugh, his dolls already carrying him and Fried through the air toward Tenrou's shoreline.
Levy and Evergreen immediately began working to counter the runes, their respective magical specializations allowing them to understand Fried's spell structure.
"Give me thirty seconds," Levy muttered, her solid script magic creating characters that interfaced directly with the runic barriers. "I can rewrite the containment parameters to exclude our teams."
"Make it twenty," Evergreen replied, her fairy magic providing enhancement to Levy's counter-spell work. "I'd rather not give Fried any more advantage than he already has."
True to their word, within twenty seconds both teams had broken free of the runic containment. They immediately launched themselves toward the island using their respective abilities—Levy and Gajeel combining solid script transportation with iron magic propulsion, while Elfman and Evergreen used beast soul transformation and flight magic.
This left the remaining teams to deal with Fried's five-minute timer on the original containment spell. Natsu paced like a caged dragon, his motion sickness completely forgotten in his frustration at being trapped.
"This is so unfair!" he complained loudly. "By the time we get free, all the good paths will be taken!"
"Define 'good paths,'" Gray said sarcastically. "We don't even know which ones lead where."
"The one that leads to Erza!" Natsu declared with absolute confidence. "I want to fight Erza!"
"How do you know any of them lead to Erza?" Happy asked reasonably.
"Because it's destiny!" Natsu replied with the kind of circular logic that only made sense to him.
Meanwhile, Mest and Wendy waited with unusual calm for the runes to dissipate. Wendy noticed that her partner seemed to be studying the island's layout with intense focus, as if he was seeing more than just the obvious geographical features.
"Do you know something about the trial setup?" she asked quietly.
Mest's expression flickered briefly before returning to neutral. "Just trying to choose the most strategic path when we get the chance."
When the five minutes finally elapsed and Fried's runes dispersed, the remaining teams exploded into action with desperate urgency. Each partnership used every advantage at their disposal to reach the island as quickly as possible.
Natsu and Happy launched skyward, the Exceed's flight magic carrying them toward what Natsu insisted was "Erza's path." Gray and Loke created an ice slide that carried them across the water's surface at tremendous speed, Gray's magic constantly reinforcing the frozen path while Loke provided propulsion through celestial energy manipulation.
Juvia and Lisanna chose a more direct aquatic approach, with Juvia transforming into her water form while Lisanna used her take-over magic to assume the shape of a large fish. They moved through the ocean itself, taking advantage of currents and underwater routes that the aerial teams couldn't access.
But the most mysterious departure belonged to Mest and Wendy. One moment they were standing on the ship's deck, the next they had simply vanished without any visible magical effect or transportation method.
"How did they do that?" Gray called out from his ice slide, having witnessed their disappearance.
"Mest's magic is memory manipulation," Levy shouted back from her solid script platform, "but that shouldn't include teleportation!"
The question would have to wait for answers, as each team was now committed to reaching the island and making their path choice before the competition became even more disadvantageous.
Cana and Lucy found themselves the last team still aboard the ship, watching as their competition disappeared toward Tenrou Island's shoreline. Cana had been unusually quiet during the journey, her typical drinking absent as she focused on something internal and intense.
"Well," Lucy said with forced optimism, "at least this means we'll get whatever path nobody else wanted. Maybe that's the quiet route!"
Cana's expression was skeptical, but she activated her card magic to create a transportation platform that would carry them toward the island. "Lucy, when has anything involving Fairy Tail trials ever been quiet?"
"There's always a first time," Lucy replied, though her own confidence was wavering as they approached the imposing magical aura surrounding their destination.
They landed on Tenrou's beach to find that seven of the eight paths had already been claimed, leaving them with the final option by default. The path entrance was marked with the letter C, and both women felt their hearts sink as they realized what this meant.
"Path C leads to a battle with another team," Lucy said, reading the magical indicators that had become visible once they were on the island itself. "We're going to have to fight Fried and Bickslow."
Cana's expression darkened with memory. "Last time I fought Fried, I couldn't even scratch him. And you barely survived Bickslow when you had Loke helping you."
"Then we'll have to get creative," Lucy said with determination that surprised both of them. "You said this trial was your last chance to prove yourself. Well, this is mine too. We're going to win this, Cana. Together."
The resolve in Lucy's voice seemed to break through some of Cana's emotional barriers. For the first time since they'd boarded the ship, the card mage smiled with genuine warmth.
"You know what? You're right. Let's show them what Fairy Tail's newest partnership can do."
They entered Path C with renewed determination, unaware that their trial was about to become far more complicated than either of them anticipated.
Meanwhile, on Path E, Natsu was growing increasingly frustrated with the lack of immediate opposition.
"Erza!" he shouted into the forest surrounding the path. "Come out and fight me! I know you're here somewhere!"
"Natsu," Happy said patiently, "we don't actually know it's Erza. It could be any of the S-Class mages."
"It's definitely Erza," Natsu insisted with unwavering confidence. "I can feel it!"
His certainty was about to be tested in the most unexpected way possible. As they rounded a bend in the path, a figure emerged from the trees ahead—tall, powerful, and radiating an aura of strength that made even Natsu pause.
But it wasn't Erza Scarlet waiting for them.
It was Gildarts Clive, and his presence on the trial ground was about to reveal secrets that would change everything the guild thought they knew about the S-Class examination.
The Trials Begin in Earnest
Route D - The Test of Water and Steel
The clash between water and steel echoed through the forest as Juvia and Lisanna faced their greatest challenge yet. Erza stood before them in her Sea King Armor, the aquatic-themed requip perfectly designed to counter Juvia's water-based attacks. Steam rose from the clearing where their battle raged, each exchange of blows creating dramatic shifts in the local weather patterns.
"Water Lock!" Juvia called out, attempting to trap Erza in a sphere of pressurized water, but the armor's magical properties allowed the S-Class mage to move through the attack as if it were merely thick air.
Lisanna tried to capitalize on Juvia's distraction, using her Take Over magic to assume the form of a large jungle cat. Her enhanced speed and agility should have given her an advantage in close combat, but something was wrong with her depth perception. Her pouncing attacks consistently fell short, as if she was misjudging the distance to her target.
"Having trouble adjusting to your transformation?" Erza asked, effortlessly sidestepping another of Lisanna's charges. "Your time in Edolas seems to have affected your muscle memory more than you realized."
The observation was accurate and devastating. Lisanna had spent two years using a different body, living as someone else, and now that she was back in her own form, the subtle differences were throwing off her combat effectiveness.
"I can do this!" Lisanna insisted, shifting to a bird form and diving from above. But again, her attack missed its mark as she misjudged the angle and distance.
Erza's expression grew concerned rather than triumphant. "Juvia, are you holding back because you're worried about your partner? Or because you think this is just a test where nobody gets seriously hurt?"
The question hit deeper than any sword could. Juvia's attacks had indeed been restrained, more focused on proving herself than actually trying to defeat one of Fairy Tail's strongest mages.
"Juvia would never want to hurt Erza-san," Juvia admitted, her water magic faltering slightly.
"And that," Erza said firmly, "is exactly why you're not ready for S-Class status yet."
Without warning, Erza's blade flashed forward, cutting through Juvia's defenses and leaving a shallow but painful slash across her arm. The water mage cried out in surprise and pain, her concentration broken.
"S-Class mages don't have the luxury of holding back," Erza continued, her voice carrying the authority of hard-won experience. "When lives are at stake—your guildmates' lives, innocent civilians, people you've sworn to protect—you fight with everything you have, regardless of who stands in your way."
Route A - Siblings in Conflict
In another part of Tenrou Island's trial grounds, Elfman and Evergreen found themselves facing an opponent who knew all their strengths and weaknesses intimately.
"Hello, little brother," Mirajane said with her characteristic gentle smile, but her demonic aura was already beginning to manifest around her. "I hope you're prepared to show me everything you've learned."
Elfman's jaw set with determination as he activated his Beast Soul transformation, his body expanding and reshaping into his signature Beast Arm configuration. "I won't hold back just because you're my sister, Mira!"
"I would be disappointed if you did," Mirajane replied, her own transformation beginning as her Take Over magic activated. But unlike the partial transformations she typically used around the guild, this was her full demonic form—Satan Soul in all its terrifying glory.
Evergreen positioned herself strategically, her Fairy Magic creating a support framework that enhanced Elfman's physical capabilities while providing defensive barriers against Mirajane's demonic energy attacks. The partnership had grown stronger through their developing romantic relationship, their magical energies now naturally synchronizing in combat situations.
"Stone Eyes!" Evergreen called out, attempting to petrify Mirajane temporarily, but the demonic transformation's magical resistance rendered the attack ineffective.
"You'll need to be more creative than that," Mirajane said, her voice now carrying the otherworldly tones of her demonic form. "S-Class challenges don't allow for simple solutions."
Route E - The Ultimate Test
But it was on Route E where the most significant trial was unfolding. Natsu stood before Gildarts with every muscle in his body tensed for combat, his fire magic already beginning to flicker around his clenched fists.
"You're not Erza," he said, stating the obvious with characteristic bluntness.
"Sharp observation," Gildarts replied with amusement. "Are you disappointed?"
"Are you kidding? This is even better!" Natsu's grin was pure predatory excitement. "I've been wanting a rematch ever since you got back from your mission!"
Without any further preamble, Natsu launched himself forward with explosive force, his Fire Dragon Roar creating a massive column of flames that would have incinerated most opponents. But Gildarts simply stepped to the side with casual grace, the devastating attack missing him by inches.
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!" Natsu followed up immediately, his flame-wreathed punch aimed directly at Gildarts' center mass. Again, the S-Class mage avoided the attack with minimal effort, his crash magic creating small spatial distortions that redirected the force harmlessly away from his body.
For several minutes, the pattern continued—Natsu attacking with increasing desperation and intensity, Gildarts responding with effortless defensive maneuvers that made the Dragon Slayer's most powerful techniques look clumsy and predictable.
"Fire Dragon's Roar!" Natsu called out again, pouring everything he had into the breath attack.
This time, Gildarts decided to actively counter rather than simply dodge. His crash magic activated, creating a barrier designed to negate the incoming flames. But something went wrong with the magical interaction—instead of simply dissipating Natsu's attack, the crash magic affected Natsu himself.
The result was both spectacular and ridiculous. Natsu's body split apart into dozens of tiny duplicates, each one only a few inches tall but retaining all the original's personality and determination.
"What did you do to me?!" multiple tiny voices shouted in unison, creating a chorus of indignant Natsus.
Gildarts stared at the army of miniature Dragon Slayers with bewildered amusement. "That... wasn't supposed to happen."
But if he expected the size reduction to end the fight, he had seriously underestimated Natsu's determination. The tiny duplicates immediately coordinated their attack, swarming toward Gildarts with the kind of tactical thinking the full-sized Natsu rarely displayed.
"Fire Dragon's Roar!" they called out in tiny voices, their combined breath attacks creating a surprisingly effective barrage that forced Gildarts to actually pay attention to his defense.
The small size that should have been a disadvantage became a tactical advantage—the mini-Natsus were too small and numerous for Gildarts to target effectively, and their combined magical output was actually greater than the original's individual capacity.
"This is getting ridiculous," Gildarts muttered, his crash magic activating again to restore Natsu to his original form and size.
The moment his transformation reversed, Natsu seized the opportunity for his most powerful attack. "Crimson Lotus: Exploding Flame Blade!"
The technique erupted with devastating force, flames spiraling around Natsu's limbs as he launched a combination assault that would have leveled most buildings. The magical explosion shook the entire forest, sending shockwaves that could be felt across multiple trial routes.
When the smoke cleared, Gildarts stood exactly where he had been—completely unharmed, his clothes not even singed. But there was one crucial difference.
His feet were positioned slightly differently than before the attack.
"I made you move!" Natsu shouted with genuine triumph, pointing at Gildarts' shifted stance. "You actually had to adjust your footing!"
It was a pathetic accomplishment by most standards, but for Natsu, it represented genuine progress. Every previous encounter with Gildarts had ended with the Dragon Slayer being completely overwhelmed without the older mage even shifting his weight.
"You did," Gildarts acknowledged with a proud smile. "That means you pass."
"No way!" Natsu protested immediately. "If I can't actually beat you, then being S-Class doesn't mean anything! I won't accept a victory I didn't earn!"
The response surprised Gildarts, revealing a maturity in Natsu's thinking that hadn't been there during their previous encounters. The young man was no longer satisfied with merely surviving challenges—he wanted to overcome them completely.
"You want to see the real difference between us?" Gildarts asked quietly.
Without waiting for an answer, he released his magical aura.
The Weight of True Power
The effect was instantaneous and overwhelming. Gildarts' magical pressure spread across Tenrou Island like a tsunami, causing the ground to crack and split beneath his feet. Trees bent away from him as if pushed by hurricane winds, and the very air seemed to thicken with the weight of his power.
On Route D, Erza paused mid-swing, her enhanced senses detecting the magnitude of magical energy being released across the island. Juvia and Lisanna both fell to their knees, the oppressive aura making it difficult to even breathe properly.
On Route A, Mirajane's demonic transformation flickered as she struggled to maintain her form against the overwhelming pressure. Elfman and Evergreen found themselves pressed against the ground, their own considerable magical abilities utterly dwarfed by what they were experiencing.
But nowhere was the effect more pronounced than on Route E itself, where Natsu stood directly in the epicenter of Gildarts' released power. The Dragon Slayer, who had never backed down from any challenge, found himself frozen in place by an emotion he rarely experienced.
Pure, instinctive terror.
His body trembled as every survival instinct he possessed screamed at him to run, to hide, to do anything except stand in the presence of such overwhelming force. This wasn't just magical power—it was the aura of someone who had faced the kind of dangers that most people couldn't even imagine, who had survived encounters that would have destroyed entire guilds.
"This is the difference between us," Gildarts said gently, his voice somehow carrying clearly despite the magical storm raging around him. "Not just power, Natsu. Understanding. Acceptance of what you can and cannot control."
Natsu tried to take a step forward, his pride warring with his fear, but his legs wouldn't obey his commands. The gap between them wasn't just about magical strength—it was about fundamental understanding of what it meant to be truly powerful.
"I... I can't..." Natsu whispered, his voice barely audible.
"And that," Gildarts said, immediately restraining his aura, "is exactly why you pass."
The Lesson of Fear
As the oppressive magical pressure lifted, Natsu collapsed to his knees, gasping as if he'd been holding his breath underwater. The experience had shaken him to his core in a way that no physical defeat ever could.
"I don't understand," he said, tears beginning to form in his eyes. "How can surrendering mean I pass?"
Gildarts sat down beside him, his demeanor shifting from overwhelming force to paternal gentleness. "Because you finally understand fear, and more importantly, you understand when to feel it."
He gestured toward the cracked ground around them, evidence of the power he'd briefly unleashed. "S-Class isn't just about being strong enough to protect people, Natsu. It's about being wise enough to know when you're outclassed, when retreat is the better option than charging forward and getting everyone killed."
"But that's not who I am," Natsu protested. "I never give up. I never back down."
"And that fire inside you, that refusal to quit—that's your greatest strength," Gildarts agreed. "But it's also your greatest weakness if you can't temper it with wisdom. Fear isn't your enemy, Natsu. It's a tool that helps you recognize when the people counting on you need you to be smart instead of just brave."
The words struck deep, connecting with experiences Natsu had lived through but never fully processed. Times when his reckless courage had put his friends in danger, when charging ahead had made situations worse instead of better.
"An S-Class mage has to make impossible decisions," Gildarts continued. "Sometimes that means fighting enemies you can't defeat to buy time for others to escape. Sometimes it means swallowing your pride and retreating to fight another day. And sometimes it means accepting that you're not the strongest person in the room, but finding ways to contribute anyway."
Natsu wiped his eyes, his emotional breakthrough creating space for genuine understanding. "So the fear... it's not weakness?"
"Fear is information," Gildarts corrected. "What you do with that information determines whether you're wise or foolish. Today, you felt genuine fear and chose not to throw your life away in a hopeless attack. That's wisdom, Natsu. That's what S-Class really means."
The Dragon Slayer sat quietly for several moments, processing everything he'd learned. When he finally looked up, his expression held a maturity that hadn't been there at the beginning of their encounter.
"Thank you," he said simply. "I think I'm ready to move forward now."
"Then go," Gildarts said with a proud smile. "Show me that this understanding can coexist with that incredible fire that makes you who you are."
As Natsu and Happy continued deeper into Tenrou Island, neither of them noticed the subtle magical disturbances in the distance—signs that the trial was about to become far more dangerous than anyone had anticipated.
High above the island, concealed by advanced magical camouflage, the Clive family maintained their protective perimeter. They had felt Gildarts' demonstration of power and recognized it for what it was—not just a test, but a teaching moment that would help shape the next generation of Fairy Tail's leadership.
"The boy learned something important today," Teilanne observed, her crimson aura carefully contained to avoid detection.
"But the real tests are still coming," Gine added, her emotional intensity focused entirely on scanning for the external threats Carla's visions had warned them about. "I can feel them building. Whatever's targeting this trial is getting ready to make its move."
The trials were progressing as intended, but underneath the guild's sacred ceremony, darker forces were preparing to reveal themselves. The true test of strength, wisdom, and loyalty was about to begin.
To be continued in Chapter 27: Mest