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Time is the Path to Strength	By : Repiece Category: +. to F > Fairy Tail Views: 47111 -:- Recommendations : 1 -:- Currently Reading : 12
Disclaimer: I do not own Fairy Tail, nor the characters from it. I do not make any money from the writing of this story.

Chapter List
- 8
- 9
- 10
Chapter 9: Natsu is a S-Class Mage?

The once loud and cheerful guild was now in dead silence and worry. The mages of Fairy Tail were all inside sitting in front of tables, heads either laying on their hands or on the tables. None of them talked to each other. For the first time in a while, Fairy Tail, the guild that was said to be the loudest and carefree guild in the world, was silent. The silence in the guild felt awkward for Lucy. Ever since she arrived at the guild, it was always rowdy and noisy. There was never a dull moment in the guild. However, after what happened to Erza, there was a good excuse for this guild to be like this.

"Something is really fishy here." Lucy broke the silence. "Can't we do something?"

"Don't be ridiculous. This is the council we're talking about." Gray responded. He sighed, placing his elbow on the table and resting his head on his hand.

"Even if something's white, once a council member says it's black, then it becomes black." Max added.

"But why?" Elfman wondered. "We've done many things in the past, so why this time?"

"Yeah...I just don't understand." Loke added, frowning.

"What's not to understand?" Makarov interjected. "Natsu, Happy, Erza, Gray and you too Lucy...you destroyed an entire town remember?" Gray and Lucy sweat dropped.

"But why are they blaming Erza when it was all of us who did it?" Lucy asked.

"Well...it was mostly Natsu..." Gray grumbled.

"Who knows what the council members are thinking?" Makarov sighed. The door suddenly opened and everyone simultaneously whipped their heads towards it. It was Happy.

"Happy?" Lucy questioned as he flew toward the table she sat in front of. "W-Where's Natsu?"

"I don't know." He replied. "He said he was going somewhere and when I asked he told me that you had a whole pile of fish waiting for me, so I came here. So! Where's the fish?" Lucy sweat dropped at the poor, easy to trick, cat.

"Sorry, I don't have any." Happy looked at her in shock.

"W-WHAT?" He felt like an idiot for believing what Natsu told him. He started to cry.

"Here you go!" Happy turned around to look up at Mirajane as she smiled and gave him a plate with two salmons on it. Happy immediately became overjoyed and started chowing down on his treat.

"But where could Natsu have gone?" Lucy asked.

"There is only one place that idiot would go in a situation like this." Gray told her, pinching the bridge of his nose in frustration. Lucy took a while before she realized what he meant.

"No way...he couldn't have..." Gray unfortunately nodded his head. "Shouldn't we stop him?"

"No...just leave him be." Makarov answered her.

"But Master..." Mirajane frowned, trying to argue with him, but she knew he wouldn't change his mind.

"Just wait this out..." Makarov told them. "...just wait quietly for the outcome."

Erza walked down the large hallway of the Council: Fiore Branch building, her hands cuffed in front of her. The messenger that was sent to get her was walking next to her. Erza didn't know why she was arrested, but whatever it was, it had to be some sort of mistake. She stopped and her eyes widened when she saw a figure hiding in the shadows in front of one of the pillars. She recognized the person and was shocked to see him meet her before her own trial. "S-Siegrain!"

Siegrain smirked at her and pushed himself off the pillar he was leaning against. "Long time no see, Erza." The messenger quickly knelt down in respect for one of the Council Members as Erza took a defensive pose. Siegrain chuckled at her. "Put your guard down. This is only a imaginary body. My real body is back at Era. Those geezers behind that door are also in their imaginary bodies." He told her, pointing his thumb at the door at the end of the hallway. "They wouldn't bother coming here for a small case like this."

"I see...so this was your doing!" Erza growled at him in anger.

"That's unexpected...I even spoke on behalf of Fairy Tail." Siegrain told her, feeling amused at her anger. "To be honest...I didn't want to do this...but those geezers were getting impatient on waiting for Ultear's report and so they arrested you in fear that they would be held responsible for what happened at Oshibana and with Lullaby."

"Ultear?" Erza asked. She then remembered the woman who Natsu went with. "So...that woman's name was Ultear. What did she want with Natsu?"

"Natsu? Sorry, but I don't what you are talking about." He responded, but Erza knew he was lying. After all, the face he made was enough proof of that. That disgusting, evil smirk he had angered her.

"Don't lie, Siegrain!" Erza yelled at him. "What does the council want with Natsu?"

"Hmph, you were never one to fool, Erza. However, the council doesn't want anything to do with Natsu. In fact, Ultear just arrived at Era only a few minutes ago." Siegrain told her.

"What about Natsu?" Erza asked, concerned for her friend.

"Don't worry...he's fine. He's probably back at that wonderful guild of yours." Siegrain told her.

"Shut up!" Erza growled at him again. He sighed.

"Alright then...I'll be quiet but I'm going to tell you the reason why I came here before your trial." Siegrain smirked at her as he approached her. He leaned his face closer to her and placed his thumb and index finger on her chin. "Never tell the geezers about 'that', okay?" He whispered to her as Erza continued to glare at him. "It's for our own good." He added before pulling away. "So..I'll be waiting for you behind that door as a member of the Council." He told her and then his holographic body disappeared.

"Y-You know...someone that important..." The messenger asked in shock.

"He's evil." She replied in anger as she continued to glare as if Siegrain's hologram was still in front of her.

"Eh?" The messenger blinked at her in confusion.

Erza didn't answer him and started walking toward the door again. Once she was inside the large courtroom, she walked toward the stand in the middle room and then looked up to see every member of the Magic Council, which included Siegrain. Below the council members were the messenger that brought Erza to the trial and the stenographer. The messenger cleared his throat and raised the paper in his hand before speaking. "We'll now start the mage trial."

"Defendant Erza Scarlet...concerning the terrorism incident with Eisenwald the other day, as well as being suspected of destroying the town of Oshibana. According to the witness' testimony...the culprit is a female mage in armor and a..." Before the Council Member could finish, a sudden explosion behind Erza interrupted him, surprising the red haired woman and the Council Members. She turned her head around to see what happened and what she saw was so surprising she couldn't find the right words to describe it.

"WRAAAH! I'M THE ARMOR MAGE! ARREST ME IF YOU CAN!" The Council Members all stared in shock as well, some even dropped their jaws. Siegrain looked on in amusement. He heard stories of how reckless Natsu was and this incident proved that. What was more amusing was the fact that he decided to wear a red haired wig and very similar armor. It was really amusing. "I'M ERZA, DAMMIT! TELL ME WHAT I'M GUILTY OF!"

Erza couldn't believe this. 'This idiot...' If she was able to, she would have face palmed, but since she couldn't she sighed instead. This was extremely embarrassing for her.

"MAKE SURE THAT IT'S EVEN MORE IMPORTANT THAN THE GUILD MASTERS' LIVES!" He finished off as the Council Member in the middle glared down at him. He then sighed. He looked at the destruction Natsu caused and he really didn't want to deal with this with all the other problems he had. So, he decided to do what he was planning on doing from the start. He turned his head to the guards below them.

"Take them to jail." He ordered them as the guards saluted and walked toward Erza and Natsu.

"I'm really sorry about this..." Erza apologized, bowing her head.

"Don't apologize to them Erza! No...wait! I'm Erza!" Natsu yelled, but it was of no use. The guards grabbed them by the shoulders and pushed them out of the room. Natsu turned his head to give Siegrain a glare in which the light blue haired man noticed and smirked in response. Once the two were gone, the Council Members all sighed and rubbed their foreheads in frustration at the new problem they had to deal with. Siegrain on the other hand didn't take long to make his imaginary body disappear from the courtroom.

Erza and Natsu both sat in the prison cell they were locked in. Erza was pissed at what Natsu did and it only made it worse that he had his back toward her. She didn't know why he had his back toward her or why he tried to pretend to be her, but she did appreciate it. Sure, he looked like a total idiot, but it touched her that he would do something like that. Although, it wasn't like she was going to be put in jail. After all, they did plan to release her after the trial was finished, but thanks to Natsu, she was now in prison when she could have left a long time ago. "Hey Natsu...you do know you didn't have to do something like that. I mean it was just going to be a formality. The arrest was only a facade."

"I know." He replied, earning a surprise from her.

"You knew...then why..." Erza asked.

"Because I wanted to." He replied.

"Because you wanted...to?" Erza repeated in confusion.

"It wasn't your fault to begin with anyway. If anyone should take the blame for destroying that town it should be me." He answered. "Even if it was a facade, I was responsible for it and you shouldn't have taken the blame. I wouldn't allow a friend of mine do such a thing for me." He told her. Erza was amazed at what he said and her cheeks felt warm again. She didn't know why they got warm again, but it did feel sort of good. 'Besides...the real reason I'm here is to see that man...' Natsu thought as he looked down the hallway. He then spotted him. 'Jellal...' Siegrain smirked as he sensed Natsu noticing him. He tried to take a step forward, but a voice stopped him.

Stop...

Siegrain cringed at the pain he felt in his head. He didn't know whose voice it was, but he felt some strong magic entering his body. The voice he heard in his head was the cause of the pain he felt. The voice spoke once again.

The time to confront him is not now...

Siegrain put a hand on his head.

The time for you two to confront each other is soon...until then...continue with building the Tower of Heaven...

The pain Siegrain felt slowly went away as the voice didn't appear again. He put his hand down and looked back down the hall at the cell that Natsu was in. He closed his eyes and decided to do what the voice told him. He then released his imaginary body, disappearing from the prison.

Natsu didn't know exactly what happened, but Siegrain disappeared, leaving only him, Erza and other prisoners as the only ones left. Natsu sighed and turned around to look back at Erza. "I'm bored..." Erza sweat dropped at his statement.

"It's your fault..." She responded as Natsu gawked at her.

"What?" He shouted in surprise. "Oh...that's right..." The two became silent. "I'm still bored."

"Urusai!"

"Everyone! We're back!" Natsu roared as he opened the door to the guild, with Erza right behind him. The guild all put on cheerful faces at the arrival of their comrades.

"Natsu! Erza!" Happy exclaimed and flew toward them, giving Natsu a hug. "You're both alive!"

"Haha, of course we are!" Natsu replied. "What made you think we'd die?"

"Because everyone was talking about how the council does this and that and I thought you died." Happy exclaimed.

"What the hell is this and that?" Natsu asked.

"Don't mind him, Natsu." Lucy chuckled patting Happy's head. "It's good to see you two back!" She smiled at them.

"It's good to be back." Erza replied with her own smile and walked over to sit down. After everything that happened today, she was tired and she needed to rest.

"It's so great to be outside than in that stupid cell!" Natsu laughed. "Hey Mira-chan! I'm hungry!" Mirajane smiled at him and nodded and went to the back to get a fresh order of Natsu's favorite food.

"So, what happened?" Elfman asked.

"Hmm? Not much...we were stuck in that cell for a while before being released." Natsu answered, grinning.

"They should have kept you in there a little longer." Gray teased, chuckling.

"What was that ice boy?" Natsu growled.

"You heard me fire breath!" Gray retorted back as they glared at each other.

"You guys do know that Erza is still here." Elfman interjected and the two of them froze in fear. They both put an arm around each other and turned toward Erza.

"We're not fighting Erza! We were just having a nice debate..." Gray said as Natsu nodded his head.

"Aye!" Natsu added, sounding like Happy.

"Ah! It's a second Happy!" Lucy commented.

"I see...two friends debating over something is good." Erza told them as they nodded their head furiously.

"Yep! I-It sure is...Erza..." Gray agreed.

"Here you go, Natsu!" Mirajane called as she came back with a plate of Natsu's favorite foods. Natsu got excited and ran over to the bar as she placed the food made of fire on the bar and Natsu started chowing down.

"Swo gwood!" Natsu said with food in his mouth. Mirajane giggled at the comment. She then heard Makarov groan and looked over to him in confusion.

"What's wrong, Master?" She asked.

"Nothing...just feeling a little sleepy..." He answered as he stared at the door. "...it's him." Mirajane wasn't sure what the Master was talking about before she suddenly felt drowsy. She then felt really tired and started falling forward, only to be caught by Natsu before she banged her head against the bar table.

'He's here...' Natsu thought as he leaned her head against the boxes behind the bar.

"This is..." Gray groaned as he felt sleepy as well and Elfman yawning next to him wasn't helping. The two of them fell asleep instantly as so did the other members of the guild. Even Erza was affected by the magic spell as she fell to the ground and fell asleep. Soon, everyone was sprawled all over the guild in a deep sleep as the only people who were still awake were Makarov and Natsu. However, Natsu did his best to stay awake as he forgot just how powerful his sleep magic was. Even so, he stood up and looked over to the door. He then appeared.

Mystogan walked through the doors of Fairy Tail. He noticed all his comrades that fell asleep due to his magic, but walked past them, not turning his head from Makarov. When he got closer to the Master of Fairy Tail, he noticed that there was another person who wasn't asleep like the others and was quite surprised to see that it was Natsu. "Natsu?" Mystogan spoke. Natsu grinned at him.

"Yo, Mystogan! How's it hanging?" He told him raising a hand to greet him. "You shouldn't put your comrades to sleep like this." He chuckled.

"I heard you were gone for two years. I don't know what you did, but to be able to withstand my sleep magic is quite impressive." He said, turning around to walk toward the request board.

"Yeah...but I still feel a bit tired...it's sure is a strong spell." Natsu complimented as Mystogan took a request from the board and walked over to Makarov. Makarov watched as he placed his request on the bar table he sat on. "Hey Mystogan! Let's fight!" Natsu smirked.

"Sorry, Natsu...but I can't stay..." Natsu pouted.

"Booo!" Natsu pointed his thumb down in dissatisfaction.

"That's enough, Natsu." Makarov told him. "You may have defeated Erza, but I doubt you could beat Mystogan."

"Huh? Natsu defeated Erza?" Mystogan asked turning his concealed head toward the sleeping Ex-quip mage.

"You know it!" Natsu grinned proudly. "But how do you know If I never fought Mystogan before!" Natsu pointed his finger at Makarov.

"Don't get me wrong, Natsu. I would love to fight you, but I just can't do it now." Mystogan told him. "I'm heading out." He told Makarov, grabbing the request paper and turned around to leave.

"Oi! Remove your sleep magic!" Makarov yelled.

"5...4..." Mystogan started counting down. "3...2...1..." He then left through the doors and disappeared as Natsu felt the sleeping spell slowly going away. The others instantly woke up as they felt that familiar sensation they always felt when Mystogan came by.

"Ugh..this feeling...was it Mystogan!"

"That punk!"

"His sleep magic is so powerful!"

"Mystogan? Lucy asked, feeling a bit drowsy.

"He's one of the strongest mage candidates in Fairy Tail." Loke answered her as she looked up at him in shock. Loke gawked at her before backing away from her.

"Yeah...for some reason, he hates being seen, so he always puts us to sleep whenever he comes to pick a job." Gray explained to her.

"What the? That sounds fishy..." Lucy reacted in surprise.

"That's why only Master knows Mystogan's face." He added.

"No...I know it as well." The guild members all made noises in surprise at the new voice that rang throughout the guild. They all looked up to the second floor to see Laxus smirking down at them, with a cigar at the end of his mouth.

"Laxus!"

"You're here!"

"How unusual!"

"Who is he?" Lucy asked as Gray sighed and laid his head on the palm of his hand.

"He's Laxus, another candidate for the strongest mage in Fairy Tail." Gray answered. Laxus chuckled.

"Mystogan is really shy. Don't question him." Laxus told them. "Besides...the person you should be questioning is out friendly neighborhood dragon slayer over there, who managed to stay awake when Mystogan came by." The entire guild all turned their heads to Natsu in shock as he started eating his food again. He sensed their gazes at him and turned his body toward them, food in both of his hands. He stared back at them before stuffing the remaining food in his mouth and gulped it all down.

"Are you serious...?" Gray asked in shock.

"Of course...the Old Man can back me up...right?" Laxus smirk grew, eying his grandfather. Makarov closed his eyes and nodded.

"EEEHHHH!" The guild all shouted.

"Are you serious?"

"How the hell did he do that?"

"Did you see his face, Natsu?"

"What is he like?

The guild members started bombarding Natsu with questions as he sweat dropped. He didn't know which one to answer first. In fact, he wasn't sure if he should answer them at all. While on his two year training trip, he managed to find someone to help him with sleep magic, and granted that Mystogan's spell was more powerful than any of the other spells, but he did learn enough to withstand even his. At least, he hoped he did and was glad that he was able to. Natsu ignored their questions and looked up at Laxus with a glare and he chuckled in response.

"It's good to see you back here...Natsu...but I must ask where in the world have you been doing these past two years." Laxus said. "It really is intriguing after all. I mean you defeated Erza, which to me isn't much a feat, but also to be able to withstand Mystogan's sleep magic, now that's impressive." Erza felt anger growing in her at his comment as the flames around her body showed how angry she was.

"What the hell is that supposed to mean?" She growled, glaring at him.

"Calm down Erza." Natsu told her as she looked at him. "Hey, Laxus! You suck!" He told him, sticking his tongue out.

Laxus felt a vein pop in his head at the way Natsu was treating him. "You shithead..." Laxus growled. "Don't get so cocky after I praised you..."

"I don't need your praise..." Natsu replied back. Laxus started laughing, finding his new attitude amusing.

"I'll admit I find it funny how you think you can talk to me like you're on my level..." Laxus chuckled. "But don't think I'm as easy as Erza." Erza glared at him again. "If you want, we can settle this right here and right now...so why don't you come up here and we'll do just that." Natsu glared up at him.

"I've been meaning to talk to you about that Natsu..." Natsu made a noise in surprise as he turned to Makarov. Makarov opened his eyes and turned his head. "I've been thinking and I know it's not how we do it, but after you were able to withstand Mystogan's sleep magic as well as you did...it made my decision even easier." The entire guild became silent as their Master spoke. He had such a serious face that whatever he was about to say next was going to be very important. Some gulped nervously from the suspense. After a short wait, Makarov spoke again. "I've decided...to promote you to an S-Class Mage."

Natsu's eyes widened in shock at what he told him. The others also had expressions of shock on their faces. None of them, would have expected their Master to say such a thing. It was so shocking that no one was able to find the words to say anything. Some of them felt like they lost their voice. "W-What...?" Natsu spoke, shocked at his decision.

"I mean it...Natsu...I've decided to promote you." Makarov repeated, staring back at him showing no signs on his face to tell him that he was joking around. Natsu knew he wasn't. He knew the Old Man wouldn't joke around about something like this. Natsu felt conflicted. On one hand, he was excited and overjoyed that he finally the chance to become a S-Class Mage. He always wanted to join the ranks that Erza, Mirajane, Gildarts, Mystogan and even Laxus achieved. Then came the other problem. He wasn't an S-Class Mage in the past. Before he was even sent to the past by Zeref, he wasn't an S-Class Mage. He knew that he would get really strong after the two year training trip, but he didn't figure that the Old Man would promote him like this. Natsu wanted to become an S-Class Mage, but he was afraid that if he did so so soon than it would change the events of the future even more.

Natsu clenched his fists tightly as he came up with a decision. He stared at the Master of Fairy Tail with a serious face. Makarov saw this and he waited for what Natsu was about to say. This decision was not that hard to make after what happened the past few days. After he saw how Natsu progressed over the past two years, the destruction he caused at Oshibana, his win against Erza and the ability to withstand Mystogan's spell magic that not even Erza was able to, made his choice clear. Makarov knew this wasn't how they normally promote members to such a rank, but he felt it had to be done. Now, he waited for Natsu's response, which he figured to be that of excitement.

"I'm sorry...Old Man...but I can't accept it..." Makarov's eyes widened in shock. Everyone was shocked by Natsu's decision. Natsu hid his face behind his bangs so that none of them could see the conflicting emotions he showed through his face. Makarov was sure Natsu would be dancing and yelling in celebration. He was sure that Natsu would be making this guild all lively again with his fiery antics. But he declined a promotion that he knew Natsu wanted. It just didn't make any sense.

"Natsu..." Makarov spoke to him. "Why are you declining?" He asked, narrowing his eyes at him.

"Yeah, Natsu!"

"You can finally be a S-Class Mage!"

"Are you an idiot?"

"Natsu..." Happy muttered, frowning at his friend.

"Sorry...I just can't..." Natsu told them and started walking toward the exit. Everyone stared at him with their own frowns as Natsu left the guild. Happy followed his friend out leaving the guild quiet.

"Hahahaha! Were you really considering him to be an S-Class Mage?" Laxus laughed, earning some glares from the others. "Yo really must be becoming senile old man!" Makarov ignored him and continued to stare at the doors that Natsu left through. Something was wrong and he knew it. He had his suspicions, but Natsu declining the promotion only intensified them. He had to admit that he did find it weird. He didn't look much into it at first, but he was curious as to why Natsu decided to go on a two year training trip. He knew Natsu wanted to be strong, but to go on a trip like that was not like him at all. He had to look into it. "But still...I must say that I am impressed at how strong he has become." Laxus added. "But, it doesn't matter...because I am the strongest mage in this guild and I won't lose to anyone!"

"Shut up!" Erza yelled, surprising some as she glared at him. "I will only tell you this once...Natsu is stronger than you!" Laxus glared back at her and bit down on the cigar in his mouth, as it fell. Laxus felt anger build up at her words. Erza wasn't lying. She knew after seeing what Natsu did back at Oshibana, the Dragon Metamorphosis. He was stronger than her. She will admit that. However, she also knew that Natsu was stronger than Laxus. She could tell that Natsu didn't go all out on the monster that transformed from Lullaby. She wondered just how strong he was, but she also hoped she never get to see it. Natsu's life was on the line by using that technique and she didn't want to see what would happen if he kept on using it all the time.

"What did you say...?" Laxus growled at her. Erza wasn't fazed by his glare. Why should she be?

"I-I agree with Erza..." Everyone turned their heads in shock at Lucy. She didn't know why she said it, but she did. She tried her best to stay strong, but she did feel a little fear at the glare that Laxus was now giving her.

"Lucy..." Erza whispered her name in shock and then smiled at her bravery.

"Oh...?" Laxus narrowed his eyes at her. "And just who the hell are you?" Lucy made a slight noise in fear at his glare, but she knew she had to stand her guard against him.

"I-I'm Lucy! I'm a new mage that joined Fairy Tail a couple of days ago..." She introduced herself. Laxus continued to glare at her and Lucy did her very best to stand her ground. "...and I really do think Natsu is stronger than anyone."

"Hmph, whatever. It doesn't matter what any of you say. I am the strongest mage in this guild and I'll never give that position to anyone." Laxus told them before turning around and walking away from the balcony and out of sight. Lucy let out a sigh and felt herself falling back down to her seat.

"I'm impressed...Lucy." Erza told her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "You sure do have some guts."

"T-Thank you..." She blushed slightly at the praise.

"I don't like it..." Gray grumbled. "Why does that idiot get a promotion when I'm better than him." Erza chuckled as she turned her head toward the door that Natsu left through.

"And I'm better than you and him!" Elfman argued, crossing his arms. Gray's eyebrow twitched. Soon, the guild became rowdy again as the events that transpired in their guild was gone.

"Natsu! Wait up!" Happy called out to his friend. Natsu stopped walking and turned around to allow his feline friend to catch up. Once he did, he landed on the ground in front of him. "Natsu...why did you decline?" Happy asked.

Natsu frowned and turned away from his friend. "Sorry, Happy...but I can't even tell you..." Happy frowned.

"But...I thought we were friends..." He said, his ears drooping down.

"We are!" Natsu suddenly yelled, surprising Happy. "Sorry...we are Happy...but it's just something that I can't go around telling people about."

"Oh? You mean like a super secret?" Natsu chuckled.

"Yeah...just like that..." Happy nodded at his friend in understanding. Natsu smiled down at his friend and knelt down to pat him on the head. He then decided to ask Happy to do that. "Hey, Happy...I want you to do me a favor..." Happy looked up at him in wonder.

"That was brave of you, Lucy." She complimented her as Lucy thanked her, Plue shaking like he always does, next to her.

"Say Mira-chan..." Lucy began as Mirajane looked at her in wonder. "What's up on the second floor?"

"It's still too early for you, Lucy." Mirajane began and then looked up to the second floor. "But the request board up there has far more dangerous and difficult jobs compared to the jobs here on the first floor. They're S-Class jobs."

"Huh?" Lucy exclaimed in shock. "S-Class!" Plue was just as shocked as Lucy was.

"They're so dangerous that even the smallest mistake can lead to your death, but the pay is good." Mirajane told her as Lucy sweat dropped.

"Uwahhh!" Lucy responded to the info.

"Only mages that have been approved by the Master can do these jobs." Mirajane added.

"Huh? So then...if Natsu didn't decline the promotion then..." Mirajane nodded her head.

"Yeah...but it was weird..."

"Huh? What do you mean, Mira-chan?" Lucy asked noticing the worried expression she showed.

"Well...Natsu always wanted to be stronger. He wanted to become an S-Class Mage because he believed that being an S-Class Mage meant that he would be the strongest and with that strength he could protect his friends. It's just weird to see him decline a promotion that he strived for." Mirajane explained with a sad smile. Lucy frowned and looked down.

"The Master mentioned something about not doing it like this...what did he mean?" Lucy asked.

"Oh...he was talking about how a member of the guild becomes an S-Class Mage." Mirajane told her. "The Master doesn't always just promote someone to that rank. We usually do this other thing to promote them, but it's too early to tell you about that." Lucy raised an eyebrow in confusion, but understood why Mirajane wouldn't tell her. She saw how late it was and decided to call it a day and go home. She said goodbye to Mirajane and the others and headed home.

Along with Plue, she balanced herself on the stepping stones near the river, making sure not to fall. "I heard of Mystogan and Laxus before. Fairy Tail is a great guild." She said to Plue. "Now I can finally understand the chain of command in Fairy Tail..." Lucy smirked as she drew a chart of the power rankings of the guild. She grinned. "I'll work even harder starting tomorrow!" She shouted as Plue yelled along with her.

Lucy finally reached her home and as soon as she opened the door, someone greeted her. "Yo! Welcome back!"

"Welcome!"

"KYAAAHHH!" Lucy screamed in shock at the sight of Natsu and Happy exercising on her bed. She immediately kicked Natsu in the face. "You're sweat stinks! Why don't the two of you go home and exercise?"

"But we're a team, aren't we?" Natsu told her. "Here this is yours!" He grinned and showed her a pink dumbbell.

"You like pink, don't you Lucy?" Happy added.

"What the hell am I going to do with dumbbells?" She yelled at them. She sighed from all the exhaustion she felt from today. She opened her eyes to look at Natsu and noticed that he had no article of clothing above his waist and blushed. She was able to see his well toned muscles and she had to admit that he did kind of look...hot. She immediately shook her head at such a thought.

"What's wrong?" Natsu asked, noticing her shake her head. He also noticed her face was red, but before he could ask, she spoke.

"Nothing!" She shouted, turning around to avoid looking at him. "Why?" She suddenly asked as Natsu raised an eyebrow.

"Hmm? Why what?"

"Why did you decline the chance to be an S-Class Mage?" She clarified. Natsu stared at her before lowering his head, concealing his eyes with the bangs of his hair. Natsu stayed silent for a while as Happy looked at his friend with a frown and concerned eyes. When he didn't respond, Lucy turned her head around to look at him. "Natsu?"

"It's because..." Natsu started as he raised his head. Lucy's eyes widened. "...it's boring..." He pouted as Happy and Lucy fell to the floor from the shock.

"What kind of reason is that?" Lucy shouted at him.

"I think its a pretty good reason." He responded.

"No it's not! How could you decline a chance to be an S-Class mage of Fairy Tail! Wasn't that what you wanted?" Lucy shouted. Natsu's eyes widened slightly. "Mira-chan told me that you wanted to stronger so that you can protect everybody! So..why?"

"She's right about that..." Natsu muttered. "I do want to become stronger so I can protect everyone...but I realized that, a title won't give me strength. It's only a title and it doesn't make you stronger." Lucy looked at him in awe at his reason. He looked back at her and pouted once again. "It's also boring." Lucy sweat dropped.

"Okay then, why is it boring?" Lucy asked.

"Because, I'm not the only one who wants to be an S-Class Mage." Natsu told her.

"Aye! There's Gray, Elfman, Loke and a whole bunch of our friends." Happy agreed.

"It would be best to fight it out amongst each other so that we can see who is strong enough to be a S-Class Mage. It's way too boring to just be given to me without everyone else getting a chance to fight for it." Natsu explained, grinning.

"I see..." Lucy sighed and suddenly felt extremely tired.

"Oh, by the way..." Natsu spoke as he took out a piece of paper from his pant's pocket. "We're doing an S-Class job." He grinned at her and showed her the job request.

"WHAT?" Lucy shouted in horror. "H-HOW DID YOU GET THAT?"

"Happy borrowed it from the second floor." Natsu told her.

"Aye!"

"You mean you took it without anyone knowing!" Lucy shouted, correcting him.

"You could say that..." Natsu stood up and put the job request on her table. "But...you should pack quickly because we leave in ten minutes." Lucy gawked at him and started pushing both him and Happy toward the door.

"I'm not doing an S-Class job! I'm too young to die!" She yelled at him.

"But I picked this one out because I thought you would like to do it." Happy told her. Lucy stopped pushing them and forced them to turn around.

"What are you talking about?" Lucy asked.

"It's because the reward is not only Jewels, but a golden key similar to the ones you have." Lucy's eyes widened and she ran over to her table to look at the paper. She picked it up and read it carefully. It was then that she saw it. A golden Zodiac key was definitely a reward.

"Natsu..."

"What?" He asked. He grinned knowing what she was going to say.

"Let's go!" She turned around with a new look of determination and pumped her fist in the air.

"Yeah!"

"Aye!"

To Be Continued...
- 8
- 9
- 10
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Time is the Path to Strength