Dawn broke over Magnolia, but Fairy Tail's guild hall was already alive with noise.
The air buzzed with energy; laughter, cheers, and bets filled every corner. Today wasn't just another mission. Today, Fairy Tail's S-Class Promotion Trial candidates were setting out for Tenrou Island.
The guild was a storm of chaos.
Fairy Tail's guild hall was packed to the rafters. Mages of all ages filled every table, stood on benches, and even hung from the rafters. Bets were flying, drinks were flowing, and laughter echoed like thunder.
Some are saying encouraging words.
"Come back with the S-Class title, Natsu!" someone shouted from across the hall.
"You mean Macco should come back with the S-Class!" another quipped, earning laughter.
"Oh..."
Some are making Bets.
At one table, bets piled high with gold, jewels, favors, and even someone's enchanted boots. A chalkboard had been set up by Lucky's clones with categories like "First eliminated,""Who pukes first," and "Final Winner." Names were scribbled under each, and arguments erupted every thirty seconds over odds.
Natsu practically vibrated with energy, bouncing from foot to foot like a firework ready to explode. "I'm fired up! This is it, I'm going S-Class for sure!"
Gray sat nearby, arms folded, shirt already gone. "You're going to trip over your own feet before you even get there. And you are going to help others to be S-rank, not you."
"What was that, droopy eyes?!"
Cana leaned on the Table with her mug, grinning ear to ear. "Doesn't matter which of you clowns fights first. I'll wipe you all out." She raised her drink. "S-Class Cana has a nice ring to it, don't you think?"
Laxus's brows twitched about what Cana said, but he still had that smirk, leaning against a pillar with his arms crossed, lightning faintly sparking around him. He didn't say much, but his expression screamed: I've already won.
Lucky sat at the counter, sipping juice as usual. Behind him, his clones were a mess of activity. Some packed supplies into neat crates, others waved ridiculous banners like "Team Lucky For S-Class!", and a few tried sneaking towards the door with travel bags.
Lucky glared. "You're not coming."
Clone #12 pouted, pointing at his packed lunch. "But boss, what if you need extra hands?"
"You're me. Stay here. And if I wanted help, I could teleport you guys here."
At the center of it all stood Master Makarov, puffing out his chest with pride.
The guild's noise quieted when Master Makarov climbed onto the bar counter, his staff in hand. His jovial face was more serious than usual. "Listen up, brats!"
He boomed, silencing the chaos.
"This isn't just another job," Makarov began, his voice heavy with the weight of years. "Tenrou Island is Fairy Tail's most sacred ground. It is the resting place of our first master, Mavis Vermillion. For generations, it has been a place where only the strongest of Fairy Tail may tread. To set foot there is an honor and a responsibility."
The rowdy energy dimmed to a hush. Even Natsu stopped bouncing, his fiery grin faltering slightly at the gravity of the words.
Makarov's gaze swept across the candidates Wakaba, Macao, Laxus, Lucky, and their chosen partners. "Remember this. The S-Class Wizard title is more than strength. It is trust. It is the weight of this guild's pride on your shoulders. Fail, and it reflects on all of us. Succeed… and you will carve your name into Fairy Tail's history."
Makarov raised a hand. "Candidates! Step forward!"
One by one, they stepped up.
Macao & Gray
Wakaba & Natsu
Laxus & Cana
Lucky & Erza
He slammed his staff on the counter. "Now board the ship. Your trial begins the moment you set foot on Tenrou!"
Cheers erupted again, but the tone had shifted. Beneath the excitement was something sharper, heavier. Every candidate felt the weight of Fairy Tail's legacy pressing down like a mantle.
Lucky sipped his juice one last time, then set the glass down. "…Guess it's time."
His clones saluted in unison. "Go, Boss!"
————————————————————————————
The guild spilled out of the hall and onto Magnolia's docks like a flood. The morning air was sharp and salty, gulls wheeling overhead, waves lapping against the wooden pier. And tied to the dock, gleaming in the sunlight, was the guild's ship.
It wasn't the largest vessel in Fiore, but it was sturdy, runed with enchantments along its hull. A proud Fairy Tail insignia spread across the sails, fluttering in the breeze like a challenge to the world.
"Wooahh!" Natsu shouted, running to the edge of the pier. "Look at this thing! We're sailing straight to the oslan!"
"Or straight into the ocean if you burn the ship down," Gray said dryly, strolling behind him.
"Huh?!" Natsu barked.
The guild collectively groaned.
As they boarded, chaos. The moment Natsu stepped onto the deck, Natsu turned green. His legs buckled, his head dropped over the railing, and he started retching into the waves.
"Uh-oh," Gray said. "He's gonna blow."
"I'M FINE!" Natsu roared
"Bleeeghhh..."
Gray smirked, folding his arms. "Called it."
"Boss says if you puke on the deck, you clean it," one clone said, tossing a bucket to Natsu.
After all, this is Lucky's ship. At this moment, if Lucky said he was the richest in the guild, no one would doubt it. After all, with all of these clones everywhere, money will never be an issue.
Cana leaned against the railing, sipping from her ever-present mug. "Pathetic. At least drink enough first to make it look impressive."
Gray Rolled his Eyes. "Didn't Gildarts say no drinking?"
Cana first gets startled, then stares at Gray and gives him a Smirk with mehivious "As long as no one tells him, he wouldn't know"
Meanwhile, Wakaba and Macao argued over who had the better "captain's stance" as they stomped around the deck, puffing their chests like seasoned sailors.
"Hands behind the back, chin high!" Wakaba demonstrated.
"You look like you're about to choke!" Macao barked, copying him poorly.
Lucky stood on the gangplank, watching the chaos with his juice in hand. His clones had tried sneaking aboard, but he'd dragged them back one by one and left them sulking on the dock. Even so, Clone #8 was waving a little banner: "Good luck, Boss! Don't die!"
He shook his head and stepped onto the deck.
That's when he noticed Laxus.
Unlike the others, Laxus wasn't posturing or mocking. He wasn't even visible. Lucky's eyes narrowed, following the faint hum of lightning magic through the ship until one of the passenger cabins.
Laxus had shut himself away.
Lucky's lips twitched into a grin. He knew why.
'Of course he'd hide. Motion sickness hits dragon slayers harder than anyone.'
It wasn't common knowledge, not yet. To most, Natsu was just "bad with boats," but Lucky, with his sensory magic and memories of Fairy Tail's quirks, could feel it. The same nausea clung to Laxus's aura.
Leaning against the rail, Lucky muttered under his breath, "Guess the great Laxus has a weak stomach too, huh?"
A chuckle slipped out before he masked it behind his usual calm expression. The mental image of Laxus, the thunderous powerhouse of Fairy Tail, curled up and groaning in a cabin was too good.
"Something funny?" Erza asked, stepping up beside him, her scarlet hair swaying in the sea breeze.
"Just thinking," Lucky replied smoothly, hiding his smirk behind his juice.
She gave him a sidelong glance but didn't press
Cana sprawled on a crate, lazily shuffling her cards. Wakaba and Macao's rivalry had already turned into an arm-wrestling match on deck. Natsu lay face down by the railing, groaning like he was dying, while Gray drew a little ice figure of Natsu vomiting beside him.
"Perfect likeness," Gray muttered.
"You're dead when we hit land…" Natsu wheezed.
Above them all, the sails filled with wind, and the ship lurched forward. Magnolia shrank into the horizon as Fairy Tail's chosen began their journey toward destiny.
The deck quieted slightly as the guild members not chosen waved from the dock, their cheers growing faint. The ocean stretched before them, endless and untamed, carrying them toward the holy ground of Fairy Tail.
Lucky leaned against the railing, eyes narrowed at the waves, his juice untouched. 'Tenrou Island… hopefully No Third Dragon Slayer'
Behind him, the voices of his guildmates rose again, arguments, laughter, and determination blending into one chaotic melody. Despite the noise, despite the rivalry, he felt something under it all.
A unity.
Makarov, who seemed to be overly excited, said, "Set Sail!"
The ship sailed on.
———————————————————————
The ocean stretched endlessly, glittering under the sun like a sheet of liquid silver. Seagulls cried overhead. The wind carried the scent of salt and adventure.
But the first few hours on the ocean were… chaos.
Natsu had practically fused with the railing, groaning like a man on his deathbed. His face was pale green, his hair drooping like wilted fire. Every time the boat rocked, he gagged so violently that half the crew jumped in panic.
"Ghhhaaa kill me now…" Natsu whimpered.
Gray crouched beside him, smirking as he sculpted little ice fish and let them flop around in front of Natsu's face. "Here, eat. Maybe it'll help."
Natsu lurched over the railing again.
"Pfft...!" Gray toppled over laughing.
"GRAY." Erza's voice cut like a blade. She stood behind him with her arms crossed, her glare sharp enough to sink the ship.
Gray froze, the ice fish melting instantly. "S-sorry, ma'am.".
Natsu lay there, pale and sweating, but still managed to smirk, "( ͡° ͜ʖ ͡°)…"
Cana snorted into her mug. "Never gets old watching those two get smacked down."
Meanwhile, Macao and Wakaba were having the time of their lives.
"Check it out, arm wrestling, round ten!" Wakaba slammed his elbow onto a barrel, pipe clenched in his teeth.
Macao locked hands with him. "Loser swabs the deck!"
Their roars shook the planks as the guild gathered around to cheer them on, betting snacks, drinks, and even chores on the winner.
And Laxus?
He hadn't been seen since they left port. The storm of his magic was faintly detectable below deck, but his pride had locked him away. Not a single soul went to poke around his cabin.
Not that Lucky didn't know exactly what was happening.
Every so often, a low groan would slip through the walls. If anyone listened closely, they'd hear the muffled scrape of boots shifting restlessly against the floorboards.
Lucky leaned on the railing, watching the waves, his juice swirling in its cup. A quiet chuckle escaped him.
His clones lounged around, some napping, some reading, one even fishing off the side with another clone as the bait.
One of his clones, leaning nearby, whispered with a smirk, "Want us to 'accidentally' crack open his door, Boss?"
Another clone nodded eagerly. "We could paint a lightning bolt on a bucket for him. Call it a thunder puke bowl."
Lucky pinched the bridge of his nose. "No. I'd rather leave the fight to the competition."
The clones sulked, muttering about "missed comedy gold."
Erza, who had been watching, arched a brow. "Something amusing?"
Lucky shook his head smoothly, his expression unreadable. "Just the sea air. Refreshing."
Her eyes lingered, suspicious, but she didn't press.
Hours passed, the waves growing calmer, the sun sliding higher into the sky. By the time noon came, the ship's chatter dulled slightly. Even Natsu had passed out cold, snoring into the railing with drool dripping into the ocean.
Then, suddenly....
"LAND HO!" the Gray shouted from the crow's nest.
The guild members surged to the railings, eyes widening.
There, on the horizon, a speck of green shimmered. Slowly, steadily, it grew larger. The sea wind carried the scent of untouched forest, the glint of sunlit cliffs. And soon, Tenrou Island revealed itself in all its glory.
A vast emerald jewel rising from the sea, crowned with ancient trees that touched the sky. White cliffs carved like blades jutted along its shores, waves crashing dramatically against their base. Mist curled around its roots, lending the entire island a sacred, ethereal glow.
The guild fell silent.
Even the rowdiest of them, the loud gamblers, the laughing drinkers, hushed as their eyes drank in the sight. The weight of Makarov's words, spoken the night before, suddenly settled on them.
The resting place of Mavis Vermillion, Fairy Tail's First Master.
Their holy ground.
"…Whoa." Natsu, barely conscious, lifted his head just enough to whisper. His flames of excitement briefly flared even through his nausea.
Gray crossed his arms, eyes showing something like respect. "So this is Tenrou Island…"
Cana lowered her cards, her smirk fading into a rare seriousness. "Kinda feels like the air itself is thicker here."
Even Erza's sharp gaze softened with awe. "It's beautiful… and yet, that huge Tree is intimidating."
Lucky said nothing at first. He stood with his clones fanned behind him, the wind pulling at his cloak, his eyes locked on the emerald silhouette. For once, the ever-calm mage allowed himself a faint smile.
"…Great Tenrou Tree," he murmured.
The ship pressed onward, the island drawing closer with every wave.
And though the guild would return to noise and rivalry soon enough, for that single moment, every member stood united in silent awe.
Tenrou Island awaited.
———————————————————————
The ship scraped gently against the shore, its anchor dropping with a heavy splash. A hush swept across the deck as every eye turned toward the island looming above them.
Tenrou's beaches were unlike any other, with fine white sand that glittered faintly, like powdered starlight, as if the island itself radiated magic. Towering trees with roots like pillars rose high into the sky, their canopies so vast they blotted out the sun in patches. The air hummed faintly, thick with magic particles, as though the island was alive and aware of its guests.
"Whoa…" Natsu's voice cracked in awe. "It's… huge." His fists tightened on the railing, not with the urge to fight, but with raw excitement.
Gray exhaled slowly, his usual smirk gone. "Guess it's real, after all."
Cana tucked her cards away, for once not shuffling them mindlessly. "It feels… Amazing."
Wakaba let his pipe dangle, forgotten. Macao's eyes narrowed, respect softening his usual gruff demeanor.
Even Erza, whose composure rarely cracked, whispered softly. "The aura here is unlike anything in Fiore. It's… majestic."
Lucky stood still, eyes narrowed slightly as he let the sensation wash over him. His clones lined the railing, all uncharacteristically quiet. A few of them traded glances, one finally muttering, "...For once, words don't cut it."
And indeed, the ethernano in the air was so thick that it was ridiculous, and the most amazing part about it was that it seemed as if the ethernano was cheering and started to rush to the guild members without them noticing anything.
'Ohhh, so Lucky is the only one who felt it?' Makarov, on the side, was impressed.
From the upper deck, Laxus crossed his arms, smirking faintly, but if you look closely, you will see his legs shaking.
For a long moment, the guild stood together in silence, the weight of their history pressing down.
Then Makarov finally broke the hush with a softer tone than usual. "Go. Set foot on Tenrou. From here, the trial begins."
The gangplank lowered with a heavy thud.
Natsu was the first to dash forward, only to stop short as if some instinct told him not to trample the sacred ground.
Natsu clenched his fists, fire sparking around them. "I can't wait! Let's land already!"
Gray followed with steadier steps.
Gray smirked despite himself. "Try not to burn the sacred forest down in the first five minutes, flame brain."
"Shut it, droopy eyes!" Natsu barked back.
Erza shot them both a glare so sharp it nearly split the air. They shut up instantly, though the fire in their eyes hadn't dimmed.
Cana squared her shoulders, her eyes sharp. Wakaba and Macao marched like soldiers. Laxus jumped off the ship with lightning buzzing faintly at his shoulders, arrogant even here.
Lucky shook his head, though the faintest smile tugged at his lips. His gaze drifted back to the island, where ancient trees swayed in a wind no one else could feel.
The closer they walked to the center, the stronger the magic became. It seeped into their bones, filled their lungs, pressed against their skin. Some guild members shivered. Others grinned with adrenaline.
Finally, one of Lucky's clones broke the silence.
"Guess this is it," he said quietly. "No turning back now."
The ship pushed through the final stretch of waves.
And Tenrou Island loomed before them.
———————————————————————
The sand of Tenrou crunched beneath their boots as the candidates assembled just beyond the treeline. The island's aura pressed down heavier here, the air thick with old magic. Sunlight streamed through the canopy, cutting beams of gold across their faces.
Makarov waddled forward, his staff leaving little marks in the earth as he stopped in front of the gathered groups. His usual twinkle of humor was dimmed, replaced by the sternness of a man carrying centuries of tradition.
"Listen well," he said, his voice carrying unnaturally far. Even the gulls circling above seemed to quiet. "The S-Class Promotion Trial is not a game. This island will test your body, mind, and soul. It is Fairy Tail's pride…."
The words sank like stones in their chests.
Lucky's clones stood behind him in an almost military line, their usual chatter absent. Erza's hand rested lightly on her sword hilt, eyes scanning the trees as if expecting the island itself to attack.
Makarov raised his staff, and with a tap, the ground trembled. The sand in front of him shifted, peeling away as glowing lines etched themselves into the earth. Slowly, the faint image of a map appeared, an outline of Tenrou Island, with five distinct paths marked in light.
"The trial begins with this," Makarov said, gesturing. "5 paths lead into the island. Each one will take you through trials designed to test different qualities of a mage: strength, cunning, and heart. You may not choose the path yourselves. The island will choose for you."
Gasps rippled through the crowd.
Natsu leaned forward, eyes wide. "Wait, what do you mean the island chooses?"
Makarov chuckled softly, though it held no mirth. "You'll see soon enough, boy."
The map shimmered and then faded back into sand as if it had never been there. Makarov's gaze swept over the candidates, Macao and Gray, Wakaba and Natsu, Laxus and Cana, Lucky and Erza. Each pair stood straighter under the weight of his eyes.
"Know this," he continued, "no matter how powerful you are, this trial cannot be passed by strength alone. You will need trust. Discipline. And the resolve to face what you fear most. Fail to respect this land… and it will swallow you whole."
Even Laxus's smirk faltered, though only for a heartbeat. Cana's hands tightened on her deck of cards. Gray gave a sharp exhale.
Natsu, of course, punched his palm with a fiery grin. "Bring it on!"
Lucky just sipped from a drink his clone had handed him, deadpan. "He's either going to win by accident (Plot Armor)… or burn half the island."
His clones muttered in agreement, one scribbling odds on a piece of parchment.
Makarov lowered his staff. "You'll depart once the paths reveal themselves. Until then, prepare yourselves. This is your final moment to breathe before the trial claims you."
As if responding to his words, the jungle stirred. The wind carried a low hum, like the heartbeat of the island itself. The trees creaked, branches shifting unnaturally as five glowing trails of light carved themselves into the forest, each path shimmering with a faint aura red, blue, green, white, and black.
"The test has started," Makarov said. His eyes hardened, though pride still glowed faintly in them. "From here, it's up to you."
The clones who had come to watch stayed behind on the beach, cheering, clapping, and even crying as they shouted encouragement to everyone.
"Don't die out there!"
"Gray, don't trip!"
"Cana, Good luck."
"Bet on Boss!"
But after all, they were Lucky's clones, they immediately unfurled banners that read 'Go, Original! Make us proud!' before Lucky snapped his fingers and dismissed them into smoke with an exasperated sigh.
One by one, the teams approached their assigned paths. The glow shifted subtly, drawing them toward different entrances, as if the island itself were tugging their feet.
Macao and Gray were the first, their glow pulling them toward the red path. Gray cracked his knuckles, muttering, "Figures. The hardest-looking one."
Wakaba and Natsu were drawn to the blue path, Natsu bouncing like a spring. "YEAH! Let's go already!" Wakaba muttered something about regretting his life choices as he followed.
Laxus and Cana's trail shimmered green. Laxus smirked, hands in his pockets, lightning crackling faintly around his shoulders. "Try to keep up, kid." Cana shot him a glare but followed, determination in her stride.
That left Lucky and Erza. The final two glow spread before them, a white and black trail winding deeper into the forest.
Lucky adjusted his coat and gave Erza a nod. "So, any idea which Path to take?"
Erza drew her sword with a quiet hum of steel. "white seems safe... but Master may think we will choose this, so it is harder, so maybe... Black?."
Lucky nodded but was still deep in thought 'Maybe Master also knows we will think of this, so maybe White is a safe passage, but anyways, I am getting that S Rank no matter what'
And with that, the four teams stepped into Tenrou's heart, the glowing paths fading behind them like doors shutting closed.
The trial had begun.
But if someone followed the Path, they would have found out that this Path was a free pass for anyone who stepped on it.