"CANA HAVE YOU SEEN GRAY?" Juvia asked, approaching the brunette who was drinking.
"I drank him!" The brunette barked, slamming down her drink and laughing. Although, Juvia didn't find it so funny as the very next thing she did was try and look into Cana's mouth.
"If you're looking for Gray, I saw him following Erza and Mest. He was with Natsu and Lucy." Mirajane smiled. Juvia let go of Cana's mouth and began a daydream revolving around where the five could've been heading. She was bobbing her head up and down as her crazy imagination spun wild when someone came up from behind and elbowed her face into the table.
"Gajeel..." Juvia grumbled, trying to get the iron dragon slayer of her head.
"Oh? You wanna drink, too?" Cana asked her mind immediately traveling back to different beverages.
"I'm putting the B Team back together." Gajeel declared with a smirk. Mira walked up closer to the table, now interested in the conversation.
"The B Team?" She asked, her voice light and airy.
"Our team during the Grand Magic Games?" Cana added, pausing in her movements.
"We're gonna look for our old thunder pal, and that Gray fanatic." Gajeel elaborated, a small smirk overtaking his features. Behind him Panther Lily exclaimed something about thunder, as the exceed was frightened of it.
"What brought this on?" Mira hummed in confusion, she was all for the idea, but was confused as to why they needed to reform their team.
"Do you know where Laxus and Vel are?" Cana asked. If Lucy couldn't reach the pair then it was highly doubtful that Gajeel could, well that's what she thought at least. Instead of answering either of their questions the male simply let out a scary laugh.
***
"Now, we will begin the practical exam. Of course, it is possible to fail this exam. If you want to go to the training camp then don't make any stupid mistakes." Aizawa mumbled. We had all changed into our hero costumes, and were gathered just outside the school in one of the training grounds. Aizawa was opposite us along with most of the first-year teachers.
"There are a lot of teachers..." Jirou whispered. I nodded in agreement, and I noticed a couple others bob their head as well.
"I expect that you all have gathered information ahead of time and have some idea of what you will be doing." Aizawa asked, making everyone break out talking.
"We're fighting robot warriors like at the entrance exam, right?" Kaminari yelled in excitement, him and Ashido running around pumping their fists in the air.
"Fireworks! Curry! Test of Courage!" Ashido cheered, Kaminari joining in with the chant.
"Too bad! For various reasons, the exam will be different starting this time!" Nezu announced, his voice muffled as he popped out of Aizawa's scarf. Everyone let out a gasp in surprise and yelled out his name in surprise.
"Different?" Yaoyorozu whispered under her breath, mulling over the possibilities.
"From now on, we want to focus on person-to-person combat and hero work, and stress teaching that is closer to actual fighting. So... We'll have you form teams of two to fight against one teacher!" Nezu cheered excitedly.
"Against the... teachers?" Uraraka gasped, her eyes going wide in surprise.
"In addition, the pairs and who each pair will be up against have already been decided. These were determined at my discretion based on various factors, including fighting style, grades, and interpersonal relationships, so here they are:
First, Todoroki and Yaoyorozu are on a team, and they're fighting me. And Midoriya and Bakugou are a team, and their opponent..." Aizawa explained, trailing off at the end.
"I... will do it." A booming voice announced. Someone from the sky dropped down at an alarming rate revealing the current number one hero...
"All Might?!" Bakugou and Midoriya exclaimed.
"Work together to beat me, you two!" All Might grinned, flashing the pair a thumbs up.
A few days ago
"With the connection between Hero Killer: Stain and the League of Villains, there is the possibility that the villains will be reinvigorated, huh?" Nezu chuckled, intertwining his paws as he spoke. A couple of the staff members had gathered for an impromptu meeting to discuss the upcoming final exams--although Vlad King wasn't here as he and Aizawa had decided to hold separate meetings regarding the matter.
"Of course, it would be better to prevent that before it begins, but as a school, it would be best to be completely certain. If we consider how fights against villains will continue to intensify in today's society, then combat training against robots is not practical." Snipe declared sitting at the end of the table.
"Originally, robots were used to avoid complaints about people being injured in the entrance exams." Power Loader spoke up, sitting beside Snipe.
"We can just ignore those. Let them say what they want." Aizawa grumbled, he looked like he really wanted to sleep, after all it was fairly late. They held the meeting during the night time to avoid the risk of a student overhearing their plans and blabbing to everyone.
"We can't exactly do that now, can we?" Midnight sighed.
"I understand why you want to change the exam, but having the students fight us in teams of two..." Cementoss argued that he, like many others, viewed the exam as unfair since the hero's had much more combat experience.
"Yes, I think that is a bit unfair." Thirteen agreed, Present Mic nodding as well from a couple seats down.
"If we win too easily, we won't be able to give them grades." The loud hero stated cockily.
"Of course, we would take that into consideration and give the students a handicap." Snipe sighs.
"Principal Nezu, what do you think?" Aizawa asked, casting a side-glance in the creature's direction.
"Of course, I also agree with changing the practical exam. What should we do to keep the students from being in even more danger? The answer is simple. We must have the students themselves become stronger." Nezu smiled.
"That's true. I have no objections." Thirteen stated, moving around in her seat in order to get a better view of Principal Nezu and Aizawa who sat at the head of the table.
"Then, to determine the teams. First-- Vel Solon. She's generally strong, but has a one track mind, although her fighting spirit is definitely not something to be reckoned with. I'm pairing her with Tsunami, the blue cat that's her partner." Aizawa explained, jotting down a couple more things as he spoke.
"Eh? Is that even fair, the cat's not even a person." Midnight asked, she had forgotten all about the incident from a couple weeks ago when someone accidentally bothered the exceed.
"Oh, that cat's definitely scary..." Present Mic shivered, making the others sweat-drop. While a majority of the teachers stayed in the dorms a couple had family they stayed with or lived on their own, so must had not yet faced the wrath of Tsunami--she gets really angry when you wake her up.
"They'll be up against Colossus." Aizawa elaborated, re-organizing the stack of papers he held.
"He's a second year teacher though." Snipe protested, the second-year teachers taught harder classes and their teachers were usually harsher on them, well Aizawa was mean regardless.
"Vel views him as an older brother, and she tends to have a hard time fighting people she cares about, I think." Aizawa grumbled, making the others sweat-drop at how little he cared--or rather how little he showed how he cared.
Present
"And now, we'll announce the teams and the teachers they'll be up against all at once!" Nezu began, throwing up a small sign with the teams on them.
Kiri + Sato vs Cementoss
Asui and Tokoyami vs Ectoplasm
Ojiro + Iida vs Power Loader
Momo + Todoroki vs Aizawa
Vel + Tsunami vs Colossus
Uraraka + Aoyama vs Thirteen
Kaminari and Ashido vs Nezu
Jirou + Koda vs Present Mic
Shoji + Toru vs Snipe
Mineta + Sero vs Midnight
Bakugou and Midoriya vs All Might
"The time limit for the exam is thirty minutes! Your objective is either to put these handcuffs on the teacher, or to have one of you escape from the stage!" Nezu explained after announcing the teams.
"Capture the teacher or escape... It's kind of like the combat training." Kaminari said, thinking out loud again. Of course, it'd be natural for most heroes in training to wonder whether or not running away was a good option. There's always the problem that if you run away something even worse could happen, but more times that not running away and gathering more supplies is due for success.
"Is it really okay to run away?" Ashido pressed. Nezu nodded and gave another word of confirmation.
"But it'll be different from the combat training! You'll be up against someone waaaaaay better than you!" Present Mic announced cockily, his voice was several pitches higher than everyone else, and it made perfect sense that he would be paired against Koda and Jirou--both who have sound related quirks.
"Better... than us? I can't really imagine it, though..." Jirou mumbled, ticking the blonde hero off. Behind her Koda was waving his hands around nervously, trying to stop his teammate from further ticking off their opponent.
"Dummy! Hey girl, watch your mouth! You hear?" Present Mic screeched loudly, now sporting a newfound will to win the exam.
"This time, your exam will be very similar to a real battle. Please think of us as villains." Thirteen stated politely.
"Assuming you come across the enemy if you think you can win a fight against them, then that's fine. However--" Snipe started, only to be interrupted by their homeroom teacher.
"In cases where there's too big a difference in your abilities, it would be smarter to run away and get help. Todoroki, Midoriya, Iida, Vel. I'm sure you four understand this well." Aizawa lectured, making me avert my eyes in guilt.
'why is he looking at me like that, I never even ran after the hero killer plus I'm hired to fight or something' I thought, trying my best to avoid his piercing stare.
"That's right Your decision-making skills are being tested! But with these rules, you're probably thinking the only chance is to run, right? That's why we had the support course make these for us! Ultra compressed weights!We'll put on about half of our body weight. It's to give you a handicap. It's old-fashioned, but it makes it hard to move and eats up stamina! Oh shoot, they're heavier than I thought..." All Might explained, although he got a bit carried away at the end.
"All right, each team will take the practical exam in order on the prepared stage. Sato, Kirishima, get ready. Those waiting their turn can watch the exams or think of strategies as a team. Do what you want, that's all." Aizawa mumbled, turning on his heel and walking towards the stadiums with the rest of the teachers.
Before they all left Colossus walked up to me, and offered a warm smile.
"Hey, don't be so down I'm sure you'll pass one way or another." He stated, making my mood brighten instantly.
"You really think that?" I asked, practically beaming with excitement. I had no doubt I'd manage to pass the practical, but the written was... another story to say the least.
"U-um, sure... after all I did help you study for the written exams." He replied, blinking rapidly at the bright aura I displayed.
"Thank you for that, I don't think I would've been able to answer even five questions without your help, you made everything so easy to understand." I thanked.
"Haha, well good luck. I'll see you in our match." Colossus mumbled, turning to run towards the waiting room for the teachers.
"Hmm, I'll crush you! And make my family proud..." I yelled back as he walked away. I wonder what they're doing now anyway...
***
"I'm surprised you knew about this secret little hot spring, Gajeel." Cana sighed, leaning back into the warm water.
"Gihi. Don't assume I'm like ol' Salamander." Gajeel growled, slandering the said mage's name.
"Believe it or not Gajeel loves his hot springs." His exceed, Panther Lily, added helpfully. It was a wonder how he wasn't too hot with all that fur and the heat of the water.
"Man." Ichiya Vandaley Kotobuki stated. He was a mage of the renowned guild, Blue Pegasus, and his personality was well, a wonder. He was constantly flirting and saying weird things about peoples parfums and going on about 'men' or something.
"This is not a pretty picture at all. And why are you here, Ichiya?!" Elfman complained, a tic park appearing on his head as he regarded the strange mage.
"Oh, were you not aware? Blue Pegasus owns this 'Celestial Horse Abode' hot spring. " Ichiya informed helpfully, catching the attention of the females resting on the other side.
"Your guildhall is nearby, then?" Lisanna called out, fumbling with her older sister's hair.
"That's correct." The adult replied, an aura made up of sparkles surrounding him.
"I wonder how Jenny is doing." Mira wondered, stretching her arms out since they had become quite sore after resting in the water for so long.
"Mm. Her parfum is as lovely as ever. She and Evergreen get along quite well." Ichiya mumbled, sending Elfman into shock. "Freed and Bickslow are popular, too. They're on their way to becoming Blue Pegasus's aces."
"Wait... Huh?" Cana gasped, blinking rapidly in surprise.
"What are you talking about?" Mira asked in her sickly-sweet voice.
"Dammit! I was planning to surprise them about it!" Gajeel scowled, readying his fist to punch someone.
"Are you saying... the Thunder Legion joined Blue Pegasus?!" The normally drunk brunette asked, her imagination doing leaps and bounds at the theory.
"Even Laxus, too?!" Mira exclaimed her mouth hanging open in shock.
"Laxus is rarely ever around. Apparently he's out training somewhere." Ichiya continued, further ruining Gajeel's already ruined surprise.
"He's manly." Elfman declared with a grin, imagining the different training regiments the lightning mage was going through.
"Shut your yap! You're ruining my big surprise!" Gajeel screeched, getting all up in person in Ichiya's face.
"Oh, I'm sorry!" Ichiya apologized, pointing his fingers out and about making the dragon slayer even more angry.
"I never knew Gajeel was an event planner at heart." Panther Lily mumbled, sinking deeper into the sauna as chaos broke out in the small sauna.
***
"Ayo~ Tsu~na~mi~" I sang, calling out the irritated blue cat. "Wanna come up with a plan?"
She simply clicked her tongue, and stuck her nose up in disgust. I deflated and ran towards the viewing rooms so I could watch everyone else's matches.
***
"My, my seems they're in a pickle." A certain lightning mage snickered from on top of a ship. He held his hand out and a powerful bolt of lightning appeared, he extended towards the ground. A storm of yellow appeared and the clapping sound of thunder followed.
"Laxus!" Makarov Dreyar, the former guildmaster of Fairy Tail, exclaimed putting a name on the newcomer. He had used his magic to gigantify himself and shield his precious guild members from Ajeel, the dessert king of the Spriggan Guild.
"He disintegrated that sandstorm with one attack?!" Erza gasped, squirming in her guildmaster's grip. She still had on the fake Cait Shelter mark they used in order to trick a couple guards and save Makarov.
"The guy's as flashy as ever." Gray chuckled.
"Awesome!" Natsu smiled, a flame igniting in him. He now really wanted to fight the lightning mage, well more than before that is.
"You've gotten much older, old man..." Laxus whispered, a happy look sparkling in his eyes. His cloak was fluttering in the wind, and despite not being fully worn it managed to stick to his body.
"We're in enemy territory! We gotta pull back! Hop on! Although it's technically his ship!" Gajeel Redfox announced, pointing to a glimmering Ichiya. Gajeel was yet another member of Fairy Tail and furthermore an iron dragon slayer.
"Gajeel?" Happy squinted his eyes in order to get a better look, trying to confirm he wasn't mistaken.
"I smell Levy and Lily, too. Wait, but that's a ship! How are you and Laxus not sick?!" Natsu said, yelling the last part loudly. He began to try and figure out how his fellow dragon slayers weren't keeled over.
"L-let me say something too!" Elfman Strauss said nervously, feeling obliged to say something cool since it seemed everyone else was. He had a magic that allowed him to use the traits of other beasts he comes across he can also fully transform into them, but doesn't have great control over them when he does so.
"Stop, Big Brother Elf." Lisanna Strauss scolded from somewhere beside her brother. Lisanna was a mage who also had a 'Soul Transformation Magic' that allowed her to borrow the traits of other things, specifically animals.
"This ships customized so dragon slayers can ride too." Mirajane Strauss, the final Strauss sibling added in reply to Natsu's earlier question. Mirajane-- usually called by her nickname Mira-- had a magic that allowed her to take on the shape of different demons, it was honestly quite scary, and before she lost full control over her magic she had been one of the scariest mages in Fairy Tail. Luckily, she was able to regain her magic recently with the help of Freed and Cana.
"Oh? Have you gotten a little bigger Wendy?" Bixlow asked, leaning over the railing of the ship.
"She's gone from a girl to a lady!" Freed commented, making the sky dragon slayer blush.
"Everyone's grown this past year." Evergreen finished, her eyes gazing over all her guildmates. All three of them were members of the Raijinshuu Tribe, a team of Fairy Tail mages who were basically Laxus' personal bodyguards(although both parties would deny this).
"Umm... I haven't changed much, actually." Wendy replied modestly, her face breaking out in blush. The poor girl was overwhelmed by the amount of compliments she had received in the past couple days.
"Mest! I assume you're down there! Teleport onto the ship!" Cana called out, the normally drunk brunette making an appearance. Mest Gryder was a former member of the Military Police and a member of Fairy Tail that Makarov had entrusted the secret of Fairy Tail with. He had also accidentally infiltrated Fairy Tail despite having been a part of Fairy Tail the whole time--Yeah, it's kind of complicated.
"Got it!" The scarred raven-haired mage replied. His magic allowed him to teleport a large group of people to different locations as long as he knew where. A whoosh sound thundered through the air, and within seconds the group found themselves safely on the ship.
"You're not getting away!" Ajeel yelled, alerting the Fiore mages that the sand mage was up and running once more. Without warning a column similar to that of a tsunami appeared and directed itself towards the ship.
"Running? We're just going home. We don't wanna miss supper." Laxus replies, staring the mage down as another bolt of lightning sparked in front of him. This time it was even bigger than the last and much larger than the column of sand racing towards them. It completely swallowed it up, and provided them with the perfect cover to escape.
"You guys made it out okay!" Elfman sighed, once they were far enough away from the enemy continent.
"Nice work!" Evergreen smiled, swinging her arm around Freed who glared at her and pushed her off much to her disdain.
"Master rescue mission, complete!" Bixlow declared his little puppets repeating the last part again like an echo.
"What are you guys doing here?" Gray asked, trying to push a worried Juvia off of him. While the girl wasn't all that annoying today she was still being her worried self.
"We hatched our own plan to rescue Master, too." Lisanna answered truthfully.
"And Laxus was one part of it." The oldest Strauss sibling finished, holding out a tray of refreshments.
"How dare you run off without us!" Gajeel growled, a murderous aura surrounding him. A couple people backed away from him afraid to face his wrath, but the ever unfazed Erza simply shrugged it off.
"It was a covert operation." She mumbled, feeling quite embarrassed that so many people were able to find out about the mission despite it being a quote on quote 'covert operation'.
"This ship is awesome! I don't feel sick one bit! Anyway let's fight, Laxus!" Natsu stated, directing the last part towards the blonde who was standing beside him.
"You're annoying." Laxus grumbled, immediately shutting down the idea. The dejected fire mage sighed in exasperation clearly not expecting that answer.
"Erm, where is Vel?" Natsu asked, sauntering over towards where the majority of the group was currently gathered.
"Actually I've been wondering that too." Mira chimed, she had avoided asking the question because she didn't want to bring up an uncomfortable subject.
"I wouldn't know." Evergreen said saltily, still annoyed that their missing teammate just disappeared without a trace or helpful message.
"Eh? but didn't she go with you?" Cana asked. The brunette had one arm slung against Lucy and was leaning on the blonde ultimately dragging her down.
"She upped and disappeared a couple months in. Haven't been able to contact her for a while." Freed explained awkwardly.
"I did. She told me too 'kindly fuck off'." Gray mumbled, an embarrassed blush painting his cheeks. A booming laughter came from a certain salmon-haired teen, sparking everyone else into laughter as well.
"Hahaha! Sounds like her!" Natsu laughed, clapping Gray on his back. Gray sent him a glare and tried to attack the salmon-haired mage for laughing.
"Everyone... Fairy Tail is the finest family I could ever ask for!" Makarov cried out, happy tears streaming down his face. Everyone laughed and hugged their guild master.
***
"I'm all fired up!" I mocked, cracking my knuckles as I waited for the go ahead to begin. I was kind of worried since I didn't know all too much about how Colossus's power worked.
" 'Aye sir!' Tch, as if I'd ever say that." Tsunami scowled, crossing her arms across her chest. I pouted at her reply.
"Aw c'mon, you ruined the ending!" I whined, making a grab for my partner. She flew to the side, and hit me on the head with her paw.
***
Words: 3691
A/n
Would you call this short? Anywayz, we'll actually do shit about final exams next chapter, fairy tail'll appear again...eventually....
I can't write mha shit without crying anymore the liberation arc was terrible, it broke my heart.
thanks for reading, comment errors, vote if you enjoyed
(this took so freaking long to write, I'll update next tuesday or earlier if i feel like it)