S-class Trial

Woods near Magnolia, Year: 780,

Sun peeked down on coniferous trees, jittering its gentle warmth below as an old man lead two confident and one tentative group toward the depths of the forest.

Shadowing behind, the heavy footsteps of Katakuri clanked roughly on the rough soil of the winding earthly path.

Stopping in a small clearing with a checked flag, three paths splintered off as Makarov turned back, facing the crowd.

At some point, a shiny pearl appeared between his two forefingers which he held high demonstrating.

"This is the target of the exam, there is only 1 and it will be guarded by a fierce monster."

With a start, Makarov began to explain the trial as Natsu's eyes shone with a competitive fire and Mira and Erza glared at each other.

"You can work together however, remember the is only one pearl, one winner in the end."

Taking on a grim voice, Makarov uttered as Erza and Mira's glares narrowed, Cana watching sheepishly in the background.

"I'm all fired up!" Natsu's cheerful voice

sang out behind her causing her to put on a slight smile.

"Hmph! Don't get in my way or don't blame me for being impolite!" Snorting with an inflection, Mira stared roughly at a dissatisfied Erza

"The only one passing Brother Katakuri's test is me!" Erza retorted as she began to step toward the right path reminiscent of the previous S-class exam she took part in.

Strutting behind, Gray gave Natsu one last contemptuous glance as he stepped into the darkness and cover of the trees.

Mira and Elfman followed suit, dashing in the middle path as they disappeared in the fog caused by the morning dew.

"Let's go, they're going to get ahead!"

Natsu exclaimed excitedly leading Cana on the lighter left path which had the sun abating back the shade through whirlwinds of leaves making up the canopy of the forest.

With a brisk walk, time passed as three paths slowly converged centrally.

BOOM!

Occasional crescendoing explosions blasted off in the distance wind rushing past Cana's silky brown hair as she staggered through the uneven forested terrain.

Sweat bared down her forehead in the sickly humidity stuck in the air as Natsu ran around cheerfully.

"Come on! We're going to be late, I can't lose to that pervert!" Yelling back, Natsu leads, guiding the slightly panting Cana on the trail as she put up a wry smile.

*Boom* *BOom* *BOOM*

The wind continued to rush past as they entered a sizable glade, shrouded in light as the trees retreated cautiously.

Now in the light, fog stepping back gave a clear view of the situation as Cana began to get her bearings.

Jade-like grass kneeled Northbound leading the way to a rocky expanse that formed a dismal crack of a cave.

Potholes littered the floor growing in intensity as the cave grew closer.

Dust kicked up in the East of the glade as four figures could be seen competing with a humungous 40-foot humanoid.

"Ice make: LANCE!" Roared out a voice as various debris scattered from impact.

"Keep going, Gray! Lock up its movements!" Erza's commanding voice bellowed out as her dirt-covered figure appeared in the gaps of the dust.

BOOM BOOM BOOM

Turning slightly with fierce eyes, she glowered at the other two figures shrouded in a deeper level of dust, one large-looking male with a smaller female shape behind.

"Elfman watch ou-!"

BOOM

Mira's flustered voice shouted out as the male figure flew out skidding on the grass, dripping blood, as Elfman's embarrassed figure emerged.

He arched his head slightly, giving a wide, hearty smile filled with fighting intent at Cana before charging back into the clearing cloud of debris.

Wide eyes appeared on Cana's silky skin as Natsu's panicked voice rang out behind.

"That pervert is going to get the pearl!" Running with a start, Natsu abandoned Cana in the clearing as she watched on.

Looking tightly, the hindrance vanished as the scene now appeared clearly.

Erza and Gray on one side, Mira and Elfman on the other surrounded a large creature.

A humanoid figure, bound in muscles standing nearly 40 feet tall looked down, staring with 6 blood-red eyes with a sinister grin stuck on its pale white face.

Long arms with flowing blade-like protrusions leading to oversized fist-like hands swung out half-haphazardly as the Erza and Gray dodged back.

Two firm legs planted in the soil as the creature's head spun around 180° facing the stern-faced Mira and Elfman, the sinister grin still etched on the creature's head.

Shook, Cana's face paled almost as white as the creatures as she stopped in fear, contrasted with Natsu who charged past Erza, fire shimmering on his fist as he started with a leap.

"Fire Dragon's fist!"

BOOM

Fire punched through the creature's muscley torso as Natsu flew past, landing harshly on the ground before looking back.

"Natsu! Careful!" Gray's concerned voice rang out

*Swoosh*

Fists and blades cut through the air as Natsu rolled back away from the creature with a shrinking hole in its chest, a grin still on its face.

"Mira! Let's work together!" Erza's unhappy voice came out toward the silver-haired woman opposite her.

"Hmph! I don't need to work with a woman like you!" Mira's annoyed voice retorted.

"Mira, we should work together until we get the pearl and then we can fight it out"

Elfman's tiredly persuaded as Mira looked into his eyes before turning with a snort.

"Just this once!"

In the distance, Cana watched on with a gloomy face before analyzing the situation again.

Suddenly, her face lit up as a small smile spread across her face.

The pearl! She thought.

Erza and Mira were fighting the creature however, the creature itself did not have the pearl, it was merely guarding it as Makarov had said.

Judging from the pits in the ground, the creature started in front of the cave, Erza and Mira had gotten carried away in the fight and forgotten.

Sneaking sideways through the gap of the damp cave, Cana pushed on, jutting rocks scratching her shoulders as she shimmied deeper.

The darkness took on a waning blue-hue as Cana struggled on, closer and closer to the light.

"Few, made it!" Cana exhaled excitedly as a shiny pearl floated a few inches from a stone altar in the center of the cave.

Water dripped down from either side forming a small pool that shone in the blue illumination.

Carefully reaching out, the pearl floated softly toward her palms sending out a warm, relaxing pulse.

"Hahaha! Got it!" Cana let out a confident smile as she looked back at the gap before braving it out again, turning sideways to slide back out toward the sunlight.

Appearing out in the clearing, Cana walked a few steps before looking sideways back toward the battlefield.

Surprisingly, the monster had vanished as Erza, Mira, Natsu, and Elfman panted tiredly before looking at Cana in horror.

"Behind you!" A panicked voice rang out as Natsu pointed.

In confusion, Cana quickly whipped around as her face paled in horror.

Two eyes met 6 as her frightened face met a large sinister grin.