18

"So, we're really doing this whole training trip thing," Gray asked curiously. "I'm guessing you've got some kind of idea of what we'll be doing?"

"We all have areas we need to improve on Gray, even me," Natsu replied honestly. "That being said, the primary goal of this is for the three of you to grow stronger, and for all four of us to really get a chance to pull together, as a team."

"I'm down for that," Elise nodded. "Half the problem we've had is that neither of us are really a hundred percent sure how the other is going to handle a situation. The other half, well, that's just us leaving way too much on your shoulders Natsu."

"I agree. I for one feel we overly on Natsu to handle things, when really, if we all worked together, we'd accomplish much more," Erza chimed in, though Natsu already knew she had felt that way.

"That aside, we all have areas we need to improve, aside from teamwork. Gray, Ur left me some notes on some new Ice Make Spells she wants you to work on," Natsu said as he summoned the notes and passed them to Gray. "Erza, I've got the more intricate details of that Armor to run you through. And Elise, I'm sure Eliza will have some kind of training regimen or techniques in mind for you as well?"

"She does, though, I'll probably need you to help me with some of them," Elise admitted, eliciting a nod from the Dragon Slayer.

"Of course, that's the entire point of this trip," Natsu replied. "We're spending a few weeks to strengthen our bonds, working together to grow stronger in turn. We'll all work to support each other on this, as a team."

"How long do we have for this training trip," Erza asked curiously.

"I told gramps we'd be back before the Fantasia Parade, so around two and a half weeks tops. Keep in mind, if this trip goes well, gramps will approve more."

"Fair enough," Gray nodded. "Well, I'm all packed and ready to go."

"Same here," Elise added."

"So am I."

"I'm always packed," Natsu chuckled, surprising the trio who had clearly lined up a joke about his unpreparedness. "I store everything I'd need in my Requip Space, even food."

"You can store food in yours?"

"There's a trick to it Erza, but it might not be as useful to you as it is to me, since you carry your entire Armory around with you," Natsu replied, eliciting a nod of understanding from the scarlet-haired Mage.

"True. I don't have a lot of spare space in mine."

"That aside, since we're all packed, let's lock up and head to the station, eh?"

The trio before him all nodded, as they filed out of the living room and into the front yard of the house. Natsu locked the door, dismissing the key to his Requip Space, as they started heading toward the station.

***POTD***

The group had caught the last train out of Magnolia, and were currently settling into their compartment. Neither Erza, Gray, or Elise, had any real idea where Natsu had planned to take them, nor did they have any idea just what kind of training they were in for.

"So, where are we going Natsu," Elise asked curiously as they all settled into their seats.

"We're going where Gildarts trained me, the Kryden Mountains," Natsu replied as everyone looked between each other with varying degrees of confusion.

"Where the hell is that?"

"Very far away Gray," Natsu replied easily. "Just getting there will be a pain in the ass, though, I know you all should be able to do it."

"Surely it can't be that bad," Erza asked, prompting Natsu to chuckle in amusement.

"You just keep thinking those nice thoughts Erza," Natsu grinned in response. "Kryden is in a part of Fiore with chaotic weather, meaning that one moment it can be sunny skies, only for a snowstorm to roll in two minutes later. And, that doesn't even include the climb itself, what with Kryden being the second tallest mountain in Fiore…"

"What the hell did we sign up for," Gray groaned as he looked out the window, trying not to think about the hell that was to come.

"By the way Elise, Eliza is the one that will be helping me train."

"What!? Are you for real," Elise gasped, clearly shocked by that revelation, eliciting an amused chuckle from Natsu.

"Of course! I mean, who am I gonna train with that can handle me at full power," Natsu replied with a grin, Elise's jaw dropping in shock, only for it to be gently closed by Erza.

"He's got a point. Who else could handle Natsu at a level where he could actually grow," Erza asked with Elise nodding in understanding.

"True, he's on a whole other level than we are right now, so Mother is realistically the only one who can fight him at full power without concern."

"My training aside though, the three of you are the main focus of this trip," Natsu cut in sharply as all three snapped their attention back to him. "I'm strong enough to brawl Wizard Saints, Demons, and other powerful stuff, so the plan is to at least get you guys started on the path to being able to do the same!"

"So, what are the Kryden Mountains like," Elise asked, changing the subject. "I've never heard the Council talk about them before?"

"Hmm. Well, it's hard to describe, but let's see … There's the unnatural weather, there's the mountains themselves which we'll have to climb, and the creatures of the mountains will be good training for the three of you. Don't worry though, I'll help you guys against the creatures to start with, but by the end, you'll be able to handle them yourselves."

"Well, I'm not gonna say this'll be fun, but I am happy you brought me along," Gray said in response. "That still doesn't change the fact that I know this is gonna kill me…"

"Hey, we're a team Gray, the strongest team Fairy Tail's ever had. And, hopefully, if we're good enough, the strongest of all time. I'm just trying to help my friends reach that goal."

"And we appreciate it Natsu," Erza replied appreciatively as she looked out toward the others. "Right?"

"I certainly do. That attack by Phantom Lord, and that stuff with those Grimoire Heart Mages, really showed me that I'm not all that strong compared to other Mages out there. I'm gonna give it my all Natsu, just you watch!"

"That's the spirit Gray!"

"Same with me Natsu. I'll prove to you I'm plenty strong on my own merits," Elise added firmly as the group slowly started to fall silent.

"All right then, now that the questions are over, I guess we should get some sleep. Once we get off the train and reach the foot of the mountains, we'll need all our strength

Everyone decided to get some sleep before the nightmarish training Natsu was preparing for them.

***POTD***

After disembarking the train in a rather backwater part of Fiore, the group had spent the next several hours following Natsu, hiking toward the mountains he'd indicated were the Kryden Mountains. Arriving at the foot of the mountains themselves, Natsu turned and indicated upward toward them with a grin.

"And here we are guys, the Kryden Mountains! Hope you all had a decent sleep, because we're tackling most of this today," he exclaimed cheerfully, shocking the trio as they looked at just how high the mountain actually stretched.

"Wait a minute Natsu … Just exactly how high are we climbing on the mountain," Erza asked slowly, already feeling her muscles seizing up, not wanting to climb all of that.

"Good question Erza. You guys see those clouds up there," Natsu asked as he pointed to the top of the mountain. "That's the spot we need to reach."

"So, we're going all the way to the summit then," Gray sighed as he started stretching. "This ought to do wonders for my muscles …"

Natsu could only grin as he turned back to face the trio, who all dreaded what Natsu told them next.

"You all think that those clouds are the summit? Oh man, you guys definitely aren't ready for what I've got in store if you think THAT'S the peak!"

"WHAT," the group shouted in unison earning them nothing but amused laughter from the Dragon Slayer.

"If it makes you all feel any better, I climbed this mountain with Gildarts when I was fifteen years old?"

"Are you serious!? Is Gildarts even sane, making a kid climb something like that," Gray asked in a mixture of shock and disbelief. "How did you even survive that!?"

"Hard work and determination Gray," Natsu replied as he looked back up to the clouds. "Oh, and of course, Gildarts helping me when I got stuck in places."

"Oh, well obviously that just makes everything okay, doesn't it," Gray snorted back.

"Come on Gray, you of all people should be excited to get stronger?"

"What's that supposed to mean!?"

"Look, I don't wanna start an argument with you now Gray. Also, I should probably tell you now that I'm not gonna be Natsu the friend. Instead, I'm gonna be Natsu the asshole who keeps pushing you all to get up and train. I'll be Natsu the bastard, the one who beats you guys down to prove a point. But, I'm gonna do it because I care about you guys-."

"Look, we knew that already Natsu," Elise replied calmly as the group all turned to face the small trail at the base of the mountain. "We're all prepared for you to kick our asses into gear so we can get stronger, even Gray, despite his constant whining."

"Shut up Elise, I'm not whining!"

"You are whining Gray," Erza responded with a small smirk. "But Elise is right, we're all here to grow both as a team and individually. We're ready for this."

"Well, I'm glad that's out of the way," Natsu sighed as they started walking toward the path. "Also, during the day, while you're all training, I'll be going around and hunting food for us to eat-."

"Can we just climb the damn mountain Natsu; we get it you're in charge," Gray snapped, eliciting a sigh from the Dragon Slayer.

"I remember when I said that Gray, and man I really wish I hadn't. There are things about this mountain that you don't know; rushing the climb isn't a good idea."

"Well, we know about the weather and some of the monsters but what else could there be?"

"Good question Elise, I'll show you. Now, the first thing you guys need to know is that the difficulty of the climb isn't solely determined by how high up we are," Natsu replied as he jumped up on a nearby ledge and sat down. "Watch this…"

Leaning back onto the smooth surface of the mountain behind him, he rapped his knuckles against it, like he were knocking on a door. The trio seemed momentarily confused, at least, until the rumbling started.

It took a few moments before the rumbling died down, and, a giant worm shot out of the side of the mountain. Almost instantly, it went to strike Natsu, who easily flipped out of its path, and kicked it into the air, the others genuinely surprised that something had been right there the whole time.

"See what I mean? Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"

Natsu struck the worm in the head, seemingly stunning it, as he sprinted toward the hole and grabbed onto its midsection. Ripping the body of the worm out of the rock face, he lobbed it out toward the forest where the group lost sight of it.

"What the hell is this place," Gray muttered as he stared at the hole in the side of the mountain that had been left behind by the worm

"This Gray, is what I call the perfect place for some training. The climb itself will be good strength training, and the various things the mountain will throw at you will keep you on your toes, a good trait to have."

"Is there anything else aside from that we should know before we continue further, Natsu," Erza asked as Natsu adopted a thinking pose.

"Hmm. Well, I told you about the weather, and I can tell you about what we'll be doing when we reach the top," he mused before shaking his head. "So no, we can start climbing."

"Yay," Gray cheered sarcastically as the group began to make their way up the mountain.

***POTD***

Several hours later, the group had made decent progress. The base of the mountain was now out of sight, and the clouds they were aiming for were inching closer and closer. After enduring multiple attacks from strange creatures, and almost falling dozens of times, they finally found a ledge where they could take a breather.

"This place is messed up," Gray panted as he flopped onto his back. "I don't think I've almost died so many times in one day before!?"

"Come on Gray, it wasn't all THAT bad," Erza replied, though she also sat down, clearly fatigued.

"Yeah Gray, you guys are actually doing great," Natsu agreed. "We've made it a decent way up the mountain in just a few hours!"

"A decent way up… The top is still ages away!"

"Come on Gray? If we really hurry, we could reach the top by tonight. Doesn't that sound appealing?"

"Come on man this is absolute-."

Everyone fell silent as a large screech cut Gray off, powerful wing-beats snapping all of them out of their funk as they got to their feet.

"Well, guess the breaks over," Natsu sighed as he looked up above him. "Ah, one of those."

"What the hell is that!?"

A large bird was dive bombing straight towards the group. Natsu jumped off the ledge and sat on a tree growing out of the side of the rock face.

"Get ready everyone," Erza barked firmly as they all prepared to fight.

"What the hell-!? Just how big is this thing!?"

"Gray's got a point," Elise admitted over the loud screeching. "How can we fight something so large in a position like this!?"

"Don't worry, I've got a plan," Erza replied sharply as she started to glow in that familiar golden light. "Requip – Giant Armor!"

Erza emerged from the light in her new Armor. Said Armor was large and bulky, reminiscent of a Giant, and painted a bright yellow color. In her right hand was a powerful spear, with many ornate markings covering the blade.

"Berserker Impact!"

Erza spun around and smashed a sizeable hole into the rock face behind them, opening up more space for them to maneuver around. The trio instantly backed into it, with the massive bird screeching in protest.

"We can use this space to avoid its attacks!"

"A good idea in theory Erza. However, it appears you have already forgotten what I told you," Natsu cut in, as the trio looked at him in confusion.

"What do you mean Natsu, I don't-?"

It took Erza several moments to consider what Natsu meant. And, upon realizing, it was already too late. Several of the large worms smashed through the rock wall behind them, having been attracted by the shock-wave that traveled through the mountain, courtesy of her attack.

Shit! Elise, Gray, distract the bird," Erza snapped as the two pushed forward whilst Erza prepared to take on the three worms. "Requip – Black Wing Armor!"

Changing into an Armor more adept at speed, Erza easily blitzed around the worms, slicing them apart with ease, before spinning around to see Gray fire off an attack at the massive bird.

"Ice Make – Freeze Lancer!"

Gray fired several large lances made of solid ice at the bird. However, to his shock, they simply shattered upon impact, dealing absolutely no damage to it whatsoever.

"What type of bird is this thing!? My attack didn't do anything!?"

The bird tried to claw at Gray, but missed, as both he and Elise retreated back to where Erza was standing. The trio looked between one another, before looking over at Natsu, who was still sitting comfortably, watching the fight.

"Natsu, what is this thing," Elise asked as the three watched the bird fly back and forth outside their little hollowed out cave.

"That's a Zu, Elise. Honestly though, you won't really be seeing many of those until we get higher. But, at least it's only one, so I guess we can see how you stack up."

"You heard him," Erza said as she pointed a sword at the Zu. "Let's give this thing everything we've got!"

"War God's Elemental Lances!

"Good idea Elise! Seeing if the enemy has any potential elemental weaknesses to exploit is something all Mages should consider," Natsu chimed in as Elise surrounded herself with dozens of floating lances that each bore a different element upon their bladed edge.

"Midnight Slash!"

"Elemental Flurry!"

"Ice Make – Ice Cannon!"

The three rushed the Zu, and began to bombard it with a series of attacks that managed to push it back slightly. The Zu however was far from done, screeching loudly, as it flapped its wings to blast the trio back to where they had started.

"Gah! We can't even get close!"

"I've got an idea guys," Elise cut in. "War God's Stalwart Song!"

Erza and Gray were surprised as Elise started to sing in a language none of them could understand, as Magic Circles enveloped the trio. All three felt much better because of it, prompting Gray to ask her what it was.

"What did you do Elise?"

"Support Magic. This spell raises our defense; I'm focusing the spell on creating a barrier against wind."

"You can do that?"

"Well, I can only focus on one type of element at a time, but yeah, I can. Just don't ask me to do it on the fly though, because I doubt the enemy is gonna grant us a reprieve, just so I get a chance to sing."

"Hey, we can all move normally again so I'm not complaining," Gray grinned. "Let's kick this thing's ass!"

"Gray's right, let's move!"

"Ice Make - Geyser!"

Gray summoned a solid geyser made of ice from the side of the rock face, impaling the Zu and pinning it in place as Erza came charging in.

"Midnight Razor Wind!"

Erza swung her sword in front of her and sent several slashes made of wind at the Zu, which slashed at its face, dealing significant damage.

"War God's Eight Lance Elemental Barrage!"

Elise made a forward motion with her right hand as eight of the lances shot out and started orbiting the pinned down Zu, blasting it with eight different kinds of elemental attacks.

The Zu screeched out as the attacks continued to bombard it, before breaking the ice holding it in place, and taking a wild swing at the group. Natsu, realizing enough was enough, appeared in front of the Zu and blocked the strike.

"Fire Dragon King's Crashing Iron Fist!"

Natsu punched the Zu in the face, stunning the beast from the sheer force of the blow, as it stopped flapping its wings. The Zu fell out of the sky, veering down toward the base of the mountain. Sighing, he turned around, only to have Gray practically in his face.

"Why'd you interfere Natsu, we almost had that damn thing!?

"Because, I got a decent idea on what you three are capable of Gray, so there was no need to drag out the fight."

Shouldn't we have killed it though?"

"Maybe? But we still have a decent climb ahead of us today, Elise," Natsu replied knowingly. You sure you could do that after expending most of your Magical Power?"

"Wait … We still have to climb more? It's gonna be dark soon Natsu!?"

"Day and night are irrelevant Gray. I'm training you guys to get stronger, and part of that means operating in the dark in shit conditions."

"Natsu's right Gray. After fighting that bird, it only confirms it. By the way Natsu, how common is that bird? You said it was more common higher up on the mountain, so I want to know what we're dealing with as we get higher?"

"When I was here years ago, there were a few separate colonies up there," Natsu replied with a shrug. "Might be more now though, but who knows?"

"We're so dead you guys," Gray sighed as he flopped onto his back once more.

"Hey, you guys did good Gray, no need to get so down. By the end of this trip, the three of you will be able to take one Zu out much faster."

"Just one? And here I thought we were going to reach your level, Natsu," Erza teased.

"That's a pretty big goal, might wanna try Laxus's level first?"

"Are you saying he's stronger than us?"

"By a pretty big margin Gray."

"Well, it's a start at any rate," Erza sighed.

"So, how much further up the mountain do we have to climb today Natsu?"

"I reckon we'll try and hit that cave up there Elise. Sound good to you guys?"

"I'll take it," Gray sighed tiredly as they started making their way up toward it.

They cleared the distance between the spot they'd been attacked and the cave without incident. Upon arriving, none of them were willing to just blindly walk inside, which earned them a small smirk from Natsu.

"What do you think is in this cave," Erza muttered as she looked to the others. "More of those worm things?"

"You'll see Erza," Natsu said as he ignited his hand for light.

"Wow," the three gasped in unison, as the cave lit up to reveal the ruins of a small, primitive looking home.

"It's like someone used to live here?"

"That's because someone did used to live here Elise. In fact, people used to live all over this mountain a long time ago."

"What type of people?"

"Well, from what I found out, they were a nomadic tribe that believed in pacifism. Now, you're probably wondering how that was possible, considering all the hostile creatures all over this mountain, right?"

"That's just the start. What about the awful weather," Gray asked prompting Natsu to nod in agreement.

"See, this tribe had a special kind of Magic, one that would be considered a Lost Magic by today's standards. This Magic was called Mental Adjustment Magic. Supposedly, years ago, when the Council was first formed, they had it essentially removed from existence by way of exterminating the people living here."

"Wait, how would that work? You just said they had that Mental Adjustment Magic, right?"

"That they did Erza, but this was around the time that the Etherion Cannon was completed. So, naturally, they needed a target to test it out on."

"Wait … So, you're saying the Council wiped the people here out … for a weapons test!?"

"Well, yes and no. While yes, they needed to test the weapon's power, this tribe possessed Mages who were naturally strong, both in raw magical power, and in general. This was largely due to the environment in which they were raised in. The Council saw them as a threat to their rule, and decided to remove them before they could take a stance against them."

"You know, the Council really sound horrible after you learn about all the terrible things they do, both in the past, and in the present."

"You're right on that one Elise. The Council have always been shady at even the best of times. But you see, there's a point to why I'm telling you all this, do any of you get it?"

The three shook their heads eliciting a small sigh from Natsu.

"Look. These people were strong, and, by all accounts, were some of the strongest in Fiore during their time. My point with this is to tell you that you can be the strongest Mage of all time, but you can be defeated before even being given a chance to act. Gildarts taught me that lesson a long time ago. Now, I'm not saying that there isn't a point being strong, in fact, I'm saying the opposite. Power should be used for the sake of others; this nomadic tribe was wiped out before being given a chance to do any good for our world."

"Power for the sake of others … Natsu, we already do that, don't we?"

"I know we do, but I'm telling you a bit about my journey up the mountain and its history. You guys are always pestering me about my past, and I'm telling you about a few things I learned here."

"Well, I thought that it was quite interesting Natsu," Erza replied with a small smile as the others nodded in agreement.

"Yeah, it is nice to hear about something you did for once," Gray added as Natsu returned their smiles with a small one of his own.

"Thanks guys."

"Hey Natsu? What's above the clouds? You said the mountain doesn't stop there, so I'm honestly curious?"

"I can't answer that Elise, it'd ruin both the story I just told you, as well as the surprise to come."

"Ruin the story? What do you mean by that?"

"That's for you three to decide. Now, I'm going to get some sleep; we're hitting the top tomorrow, so get ready for a hard day of climbing."

"Oh great, as if today wasn't hard enough," Gray sighed, prompting Natsu to try and cheer him up.

"Hey, you all did great today! When I came up here with Gildarts, the two of us didn't reach this far in half a day, so you should be proud of that!"

"Are you being serious when you tell us we're actually doing a great job, or are you just saying it for motivational purposes," Gray asked curiously, as everyone looked toward him in shock.

"Gray!"

"Leave him Erza, it's a fair question," Natsu said as he placed a hand over hers. "I'm not just saying it to mess with you guys Gray, I genuinely mean what I'm saying. You guys are doing a great job so far. And, although the true training hasn't really begun yet, I can tell you'll be able to handle that too. Sure, I am trying to motivate you all, but I'm glad to see my friends are handling it better than I did."

"I'm sorry for sounding like a whiny little bitch Natsu," Gray sighed as he laid down on his back, looking up at the roof of the cave with a hard gaze. "I've-I guess I've just been a bit out of it since all the stuff that went down on Galuna…"

"Which part, the Deliora bit, Ur, or Lyon?"

"Take your pick," Gray snorted as the others listened to the Ice Make Mage closely. "I spent so long thinking Ur was dead, that Deliora was gonna return one day, and that I'd have to stop him. I finally got that chance, but I was so weak that I couldn't even take out Lyon by myself, let alone Deliora!"

"Now hold on Gray, you were the one who primarily fought Lyon," Natsu cut in. "Sure, I stepped in at the end, but most of that was your fight-?"

"But I didn't beat him by myself," Gray cut in, clearly upset. "I don't really know how to say this without sounding like a prick, but sometimes I sit there and wonder what the hell I'm supposed to do with my life now, y'know? I spent so long focusing on the past, that the future never really mattered …"

"I get what you're saying Gray," Natsu replied gently as he moved to sit down next to the Ice Make Mage. "When I came back from Scarlione, and Gildarts got hurt because I was too weak to help him, I questioned the last decade and all I'd done. I wondered what the point of it all was, if I still wasn't strong enough to do the one thing I ran away for in the beginning."

"So, how'd you get over it?"

"I got back home, back to Fairy Tail, and I was reminded that I've got a massive family who need me. Even though I was a little shit and ran off, they all worried about me that whole time. When I walked through those doors, and everyone celebrated my return, I got that drive back."

"Damn," Gray muttered as Elise and Erza listened with rapt attention at the conversation. "I must sound like a whiny bitch to you, huh?"

"No Gray, stop saying that. You're just as entitled as anyone else to express how you feel, especially to us! I'm not some special exception, and your problems are no less valid than mine. We're all family, and we work together to get through the tough times Gray. You've been through a lot recently, and we're all here for you, right?"

"Yeah Gray, we've got your back," Elise grinned as Erza smiled in his direction.

"That's what family is for, Gray. We share the burden, so no one has to bear it all alone," Erza continued. "Sometimes, someone bears far more than they realistically should, but ultimately, even the strongest need a shoulder to lean on every once and awhile."

"Erza … You guys …"

"You'll find your reason to go on Gray, you just haven't looked hard enough yet. Also, Ur would probably flail us alive if you went and did something stupid," Natsu half joked as he placed a hand on the Ice Make Mage's shoulder firmly. "If you need to vent, or anything else, just come to us, and we'll listen."

"I get it man," Gray chuckled softly as the two met each other's gaze for a moment. "Thanks, Natsu."

"Anytime Gray."

"Isn't this a great first team bonding experience," Elise asked as she completely shattered the moment with all the subtlety of a sledgehammer.

"I think it was, in a weird way," Erza added with a small giggle as Natsu shuffled on over to the pair.

"I mean, half the point of it being a training trip was to work on that," Natsu grinned as he pushed both of them over. "But you two really need to learn to read the mood!"

"Hey! I can read the mood plenty," Elise whined as she started kicking Natsu in the chest, making no move to get up.

"I didn't even do anything," Erza huffed as she sat back up and glared at Natsu. "Why'd you push me over!?"

"Thought it'd be funny."

"Oh really? Well then, I suppose that makes everything okay, does it?"

Before Natsu even had a chance to respond, both Elise and Erza tackled him to the ground and started trying to tickle him.

"OI! CUT IT OUT! S-STOP!"

"Get his ribs Elise, he's vulnerable there!"

"You're done for now Natsu," Elise laughed as Natsu was brutally assaulted from both sides.

"N-NO MORE! STOOOP!"

After several more minutes of being tickled, they got off of him, and allowed Natsu to compose himself. Panting slightly, all four of them started laughing at the silliness of it all.

As they all recovered, Natsu's mind wandered to what lay above the clouds and what kind of training they would need to go through. As he eyed each of their laughing faces, he shook his head.

'I wonder if these guys are ready for what's up there, I sure as hell wasn't but it all worked out. Hopefully he doesn't mind me coming back after all these years?'

The group stayed up for a little longer before finally deciding to get some well-earned rest. Come tomorrow, they would most certainly need it.

***POTD***

"Are we there yet?"

"For the fifth time Gray, no, we aren't," Natsu sighed, as the Ice Mage's constant nagging began to grate on his nerves. "Surely you've had experience climbing mountains before?"

"Natsu, it's not that Gray hasn't climbed before, it's just that he's a bit tired. We all are, actually. Gray just ignores fatigue by voicing it," Erza explained, prompting Natsu to shake his head.

"Look, I was joking. Besides, we're almost there anyway, just another half hour tops," Natsu replied which elicited a groan from Gray. "Shut up Gray!"

The quartet spent the next fifteen minutes climbing at a slightly slowed pace. Between Gray's constant groaning, and Erza and Elise constantly bugging him for details regarding the summit, his patience was beginning to wear thin.

Fortunately, the clouds were now within sight, and he could breathe a sigh of relief. Halting the group just before the clouds, he turned around to address them directly.

"Oh, look at that, we're here," Natsu said as they finally made it to the top.

"Finally! Now, let's see what's above these clouds that make it worth the climb," Gray sighed.

"Hold up Gray, there's just one thing I have to let you all know about before we go beyond this point. At this height, the air is much thinner, so don't try and do too much yet. Well, at least not until you get used to it."

"How long will it take for us to get used to it?"

"Not too long Erza. You're already at this level and doing fine, so I'd say maybe a day or two at the most. I'm only really warning you guys because if you overwork yourselves up there, I'll have to haul you back down here. And, being completely honest, that's just a pain in the ass."

"Gee, thanks coach," Gray scoffed earning him a cuff over the head from Erza.

"I could throw you off the mountain if you like Gray," Natsu joked as he walked toward an elevated portion of the rocks. "Right then! If we're all done with the questions, I'll show you how to get up here. First, stand on this particular rock and-!"

Natsu jumped upward, and disappeared into the clouds, leaving the others waiting for him to come back down. After several minutes of waiting, and with no sign that he was going to come back down, Gray finally spoke up.

"Guess we just follow his lead then," Gray shrugged, as the three followed Natsu, taking turns jumping on the rock Natsu had shown them.

As they slipped through the cloud, they expected to slip right back through, but were shocked to find that they had landed on solid ground.

"What the-!? We were just jumping through a cloud just now … So how the hell did we get here!?"

"It's because the clouds were just an illusion Gray. In fact, this entire mountain is full of different types of Magic."

"If that's the case, then where are we now then? This place looks like we're at the bottom of the mountain again?"

"Remember that nomadic tribe I was telling you all about? This is where they all came together to meet. This, I suppose, could be called a shrine, or temple, to their Gods. You already know the fate of their people, but there is one thing I need to show you."

Natsu motioned for the group to follow him into the entrance of a nearby, temple-like, structure. As they made their way inside, the trio felt like something was watching them.

After some walking, they found a room which was adorned with all sorts of gold and jewellery. Erza went to touch the surface of a wall, only for Natsu to gently slap her hand away.

"No one touch any of this! Just trust me on that..."

"Why not?"

"You'll see Gray," Natsu replied evasively, as he walked toward a golden throne.

"This must have been where they worshiped, right," Elise asked with Natsu humming in agreement.

"I know you have questions and you'll get your answers, just not from me," Natsu said as he stopped at the foot of the stairs leading toward the throne, and knelt on one knee.

"Uh … Should we be worried guys," Gray asked as the girls remained silent.

The flames that had been silently burning were now being drawn toward the throne itself. The fire soon entered two holes adorning each side of the ancient seat, as a rumbling voice echoed all around them.

"The Solar Throne speaks of travelers seeking audience, rousing me from my slumberous vigil once more. The travelers bear one of recognition amidst their rank …"

"That would be I, Natsu Dragneel," Natsu replied in an overly dramatic manner. "Just as I told you last time, I've returned!"

"Indeed. Just as foretold. You have returned, and with several others I do not recognize."

"To be fair, I didn't foretell my return, I just promised I'd be back," Natsu replied as a figure started to form from flame that burst to life in the seat of the throne.

"Regardless of how you decree your return, Kryden welcomes you once again!"

"And the others?"

"Undecided. Are they here to take the trials of Kryden, just as you and your mentor Gildarts Clive once did?"

"Yes. I have summoned you to request that they be given permission to train here, just as Gildarts and I have in the past."

"Have the three been tested?"

"They survived the journey here with no real interference from myself. And, although the only truly difficult foe they faced was a Zu, I believe that they are capable of taking on the trials, based on experiences outside of these sacred lands."

"I wish to see these experiences for myself," the voice replied as a spectral figure manifested itself atop the throne, its features almost indistinguishable save for the ornate golden armor they wore. "Let them be judged by the radiance of the Eternal Lord Of Kryden!"

The Last Remnant Of An Ancient People

The Eternal Guardian Of The Kryden Mountains

An Echo Of Lost Magic

Lord Of The Day

The Great King

"Alright guys, here's the deal," Natsu sighed as he turned around to face them. "He wants to look into your minds, and determine if you are worthy of training here."

"I don't know how I feel about that Natsu," Erza muttered quietly as the others looked between each other, with varying degrees of hesitance.

"If it makes you guys feel better, I had to do it too when I first came here."

"Why does he want to look into our minds though," Elise asked curiously, only for the spectral King to answer the question himself.

"The trials of Kryden are sacred rites that go back thousands of years. Every prospective Mage must lay their greatest claim before me, if they wish to prove themselves up to the challenge."

"And that's all you will look at," Erza asked in response. "Just our greatest 'claim' as you call it?"

"Indeed. Abuse of the Mind Arts is an offense punishable by Physical Death and Soul Torture within the lands of Kryden. I shall only view the memory each of you offers forth, no more, no less."

"Well then, that sounds a lot more reasonable," Elise sighed in relief as the spectral King extended an arm outward.

"Who shall I judge first?"

"I'll go first," Erza sighed as she stepped up to where Natsu still knelt, and mimicked his actions.

"Very good," the King hummed, as Erza felt a monstrous presence brush up against her mind.

She couldn't believe the sheer size of the spectral King's mental presence, the weight behind it would be thousands of years at the bare minimum!

"Erza Scarlett of Fairy Tail, you pass," the spectral King's voice boomed as she felt the colossal presence vanish. "I have judged you to be worthy of the Kryden trials!"

"Thank you," Erza replied as she returned to her previous position with Elise stepping up and taking her place.

"I'll go next."

Just like before, the spectral King reached out, and entered the mind of the person before him. However, this time, he was shocked to see what lay within. The King made a low humming sound for several minutes before deigning to speak.

"You are the chosen of a God Of Terminus, Elise Faulkner. Though War God Eliza is not the God Of War of my own time, she is still the current standing one, and as such, holds significant sway over my judgement."

"Is that … good, or bad?"

"Answer me this question. Who was the God Of War that stood before Eliza?"

"That would be War God Sozin, Twelfth Patriarch of the Ares Clan," Elise replied confidently, as the spectral King seemed to hum, with gentle vibrations washing over the room.

"That is correct. War God Sozin was the one the people of Kryden spoke with long ago… You speak the truth. You are worthy of the Kryden trials."

"Uh … thanks," Elise muttered, as she returned back to where Erza was, with Gray taking her place.

The spectral King did the same for Gray, just as he did for Erza and Elise, viewing what Gray had pushed to the forefront of his mind. The King hummed as he reviewed the memory, intrigued as to why he'd chosen this one in particular.

"This memory of yours, Gray Fullbuster, shows naught of victory, but of harrowing defeat? Pray tell, why would you use such a memory as your test?"

"Because I'm not as strong as these guys, I'm the weakest one here," Gray sighed, with Natsu, Elise and Erza looking at him in shock. "I showed you that memory because I wanted you to see why I want to train so badly, what I want to stop from happening again!"

"The Demon Deliora, a vile creation by the Black Mage Zeref. Though we have no personal recollection of Zeref as he was before our time, we are perfectly aware of another vile Black Mage capable of the same feats. The Demons of Etherious are indeed a worthy adversary to desire the strength to face. But, I wonder, are you truly dedicated to the path? Can you truly destroy and rebuild yourself for its sake?"

"I have to," Gray muttered in response as he clenched his fists. "I thought I lost Ur to them … and they took my real family from me … I have to do whatever it takes to grow stronger, so I can stop Demons just like Deliora!"

"I see determination in those eyes of yours," the King hummed, before suddenly rising from his throne, and walking down the steps toward Gray. "Such a goal is worthy."

"Wh-what-!?"

"When Natsu was tested, he was quite similar," the King continued, as everyone looked over at Natsu in shock.

"It's true, I was probably at about Gray's level when I got here," Natsu admitted with a slight nod. "I also held a similar drive to what Gray does now."

"Though his foe was different, the end goal of protecting others from suffering and chaos was the same. Yours is a worthy goal, Gray Fullbuster. See to it that you do not lose sight of what you fight for, however. I deem you worthy to face the Kryden trials."

"So, now that you've judged them, are you happy for us to begin?"

"Indeed, I am. You may make the request, Natsu Dragneel…"

"Great King… I humbly request the power to command your lands, in exchange for tribute," Natsu said formally, summoning a massive Lacrima Crystal from his Requip Space. "My tribute, eight years of my own Fire Magic, stored within, for you to disperse across Kryden."

"A heavy tribute, Natsu Dragneel," the Great King hummed, as the Lacrima floated out of Natsu's hands, and was placed onto a nearby table. "It is accepted. Do you remember the restrictions of being granted this power?"

"I do. The power can only be granted when the sun's rays are within reach. Any left within a trial after the sun's rays are no longer blessing us will be trapped within, and forced to survive on their own. And the third restriction, attempting to harness the power for evil will result in death."

"The conditions have been met," the Great King hummed, seemingly bursting into embers, though his voice still echoed all around them. "Be seated upon the Solar Throne, and prepare for the transference of power!"

Natsu nodded, and rose from his kneeling position, making his way up the steps to stand before the throne of the Great King. Turning around, he saw worry on the faces of his three friends, but knew he wasn't in any real danger.

Taking a seat upon the throne, the Great King re-manifested himself within Natsu, as he felt all the abilities of the Great King now at his command. Taking a moment to adjust, Natsu looked at his right hand before nodding.

"Such a strange feeling, just like Gildarts said…"

"I trust that will be all, Natsu Dragneel," the voice of the Great King asked, prompting Natsu to nod stiffly.

"It is. Thank you for this opportunity, O Great King. I shall be sure to use the time you have granted us wisely.

"Then we shall speak again soon," the Great King muttered, his presence fading away, as the others scrambled to their feet.

"What just happened Natsu," Erza asked with concern greatly evident in her voice. "What did the Great King do to you!?"

"Well, this is how I will train you," he replied simply. "Using the mountain's power, I can create three trials for all of you to complete. You won't be doing them by yourselves though, simply because we don't have years to do this."

"So, what are these trials Natsu?"

"Well, I haven't decided yet Elise; I still have to create them from scratch. If you'd all follow me outside, I'll show you what I meant earlier about the Magic of the mountain."

Natsu disappeared, as the trio ran outside to see what Natsu was talking about, their jaws dropping in unison.

"As you can see, the Magic of the Kryden Mountains is right here."

Natsu waved his hand, the area changing to his will, as he started phasing everything in an area out of existence, replacing a section with a modest looking house. He then waved his other hand, and created massive stone structures of the trio before dispelling them and returning everything to its original state.

"How in the world are you doing that Natsu!?"

"It's rather simple Elise. The Great King has granted me power over the Magic embedded within these mountains, and, with this power, I can see everything on these mountains and can control all of the creatures here. This is how I plan to train you all."

"So, this is how Gildarts trained you in the past?"

"After I was strong enough to make the trip up here, yes."

"So, basically, you can make whatever you want within the Kryden Mountains, just by using the Magic of this place?"

"Within reason. Remember that the Great King is always watching over these mountains, so we need to be respectful. This power isn't mine, and misusing it would be a great abuse of trust."

"Well, at least you should be able to make some great training scenarios for us, right?"

"That's the plan Elise," Natsu nodded in agreement. "While we're here, we'll be working on teamwork. Since we are a fairly new team, I'll start small scale, and work my way up on the scenario scale."

"So, we won't be doing individual training then?"

"On a small scale, yes. Large scale training will be done as a group. As it stands, we don't have a lot of time here, so we need to make the most of what we do have. My plan is to focus on filling in shortcomings in regards to teamwork, and, for the small portions of individual training, new techniques and mastering current ones will take all priority."

"I think I get how this is going to work. By having us team up, you can throw a tougher enemy at us, and have them test our tactics," Elise replied slowly as she began to put the pieces together. "Working our way up from scrubs to actual monsters together means we should all stay somewhat relative to each other, and be able to work out the flaws in individual techniques where needed, right?"

"That's the basic idea," Natsu nodded in agreement. "Of course, I'll be helping all three of you individually over the course of this trip too. But remember, we're a team, and I think that takes precedence for the moment."

"So, what's first on the agenda?"

"I want to make sure I have a proper understanding on how to control the creatures of the mountains, so, I'll be under that tree over there meditating. I want you three to do some individual training for the next three hours, and then we'll reconvene, discuss it, and then do some team building exercises."

"Sounds like a plan then," Gray nodded as he walked off toward a nearby river to start his own training.

"I'm going to work on my striking power then," Elise replied, as she looked over toward Natsu expectantly. "Can you make something for me to hit that won't break, but will still show me some kind of result?"

"Tricky request," Natsu muttered as he held out his right hand, and summoned a solid block of Obsidian. "I doubt you'll slice through that, right?"

"Not easily," Elise replied with a grateful smile. "Thanks Natsu! If I do break it though, can I ask you to fix it?"

"If you manage to actually slice through that, then we'll be looking at something else for you to improve on, unless you'd like to level up to trying to cut Diamonds?"

"Hah! Good one Natsu," Elise grinned, before running off toward where the Obsidian block was.

"And what about me?"

"You're training with the Armor Of The Brilliant Flame, as well as the sword. That means you'll need an area like this," Natsu said as he waved his arm, and morphed a section of the area into a fiery hellscape. "This area will be useful for you to test the limits of the flame durability on the Armor, as well as some of its features."

"I see, thanks Natsu," Erza smiled gratefully, as she walked off to begin training within the fiery zone he'd made for her.

With the individual training for the three laid out, it was time for Natsu to meditate, so that he could better utilize the power of the Kryden Mountains. Walking over to the nearby tree, he sat down and leaned back against its trunk.

'Clear my mind,' he mimed to himself internally as he felt the Magic of the Kryden Mountains flow through him. 'Just let it in … and relax …'

Closing his eyes, Natsu seemingly fell asleep, but was actually sensing everything on Kryden as if it were his own body.

It was a surreal experience, and one he most certainly wouldn't forget as he further immersed himself into the Magic of Kryden, eager to help his team grow stronger.