Being a Chang

Chapter Eighteen

(Lupus Star Dress)

Things mainly stayed the same during this Arc in Edolas as I focused to help take out the soldiers while Natsu, Wendy, and Gajeel attacked the King. Then it was a scramble to keep the large lacrima from hitting the flying island that the Exceeds lived on.

Everything happened so quickly that I really didn't have much time to think about things.

Though seeing how the Edolas Levy was actually the original Levy McGarden, personality wise, wasn't something that shocked me as much as I thought it would.

Mainly as in that way she was the opposite of me.

But seeing her close bond with Jet and Droy, them having become Shadow Gear in this world, was a bit interesting to note in between everything else going on.

"Sucks that he'll be stuck here," I muttered while watching with the others as Gajeel, Natsu, and Wendy played the bad guys to Mystogan's good guy. "Either way, he'll always remain a Fairy Tail member even in Edolas."

I also knew that he needed to be here for his people.

That didn't mean I didn't want him to stay with Fairy Tail though.

"What was that form?" wondered Lucy with a huff as she leaned against me. "You called it Star Dress, but which form was that?"

Right, I can't remember if she was ever around when I used Star Dress or not.

"I had to train a lot to unlock it," I answered with a light wince while remembering what my celestial spirits had put me through. "But that form was the Star Dress for Lupus."

Mainly used when needed extra speed and better senses to track.

We had gone through a lot to save Edolas from the mad king who wanted to destroy the exceeds. He had also been the one behind stealing from our world to gain magic.

Something I could never forgive the other for.

"Seems it's time to go," mused Erza from a bit away from where we were as our bodies began to light up and lift off the ground. "They did well."

This also reminded me that Lisanna would be returning as well.

It made me happy for Mira and Elfman who had missed their sister.

Though they wouldn't be the only ones happy for her return.

"Ouch," I grumbled when landing roughly on the ground in the forest in Magnolia, seems we had returned safely. "That could have gone better."

I was just about to stagger to my feet when a yelp left me as Gajeel reached down to pull me to my feet first. He stuck close to me even as he began to look around.

Likely looking for Panther Lily.

~ Time Skip ~

Lisanna's return had really brightened up the guild as everyone celebrated her return and that she was still alive all this time. Many were also excited to hear stories of the other Fairy Tail.

Lucy had also become a close friend to Lisanna due to Natsu.

"It's time," stated Natsu with a wicked grin as he ambled over to the board to grab a few jobs that would last a few weeks. "I'll be back for more once these are done."

Gray muttered something about finishing before him as he also took a few jobs.

"What's that all about?" wondered Lucy as she took in how active the guild had gotten around her. "Did I miss something?"

Right, because she had been here for less than full year at this point.

"The S-class trials are coming up," I answered even while offering Lisanna a bright grin when she stopped by to place some food in front of me. "In order to possibly gain the chance to try to make S-class, the other guild members will take as many jobs as possible before then."

Selection was left up to Makarov, but S-class mages could recommend others.

I was actually going to recommend Gajeel in fact.

Mainly since he had changed a lot since joining our guild.

Though I knew the other members to be picked would be Elfman, Cana, Juvia, Natsu, Gray, and Freed. That meant Evergreen, Lucy, Lisanna, Happy, Loke, and Bickslow would also be going.

Since they would become their partners.

That also reminded me that Mest would be picked as well, and he'd ask Wendy to be his partner.

If Gajeel made it in due to my recommendation, then he'd likely take Panther Lily as his partner.

Which would stay canon since originally Gajeel would have been Levy's partner and Panther Lily would show up later with Carla due to her having a vision.

In truth, I was a bit nervous about this due to what would come after.

I had no wish to be frozen in time for seven years.

"Oh," mused Lucy with slight surprise even as she turned to face the guild hall. "Do you think maybe next time I could gain a chance at the S-class trials?"

"I don't see why not," I answered easily since I knew just how strong she would become in the future. "Though you'd need to put more focus on your physical training."

In that area she had been slacking more than I thought she should.

Especially considering who her team was.

They would continue to drag her into battles that were on another level, and if she didn't work to grow stronger, then she'd always need to be saved.

Something I knew she hated.

Ah, that reminded me that the Grand Magic Games would start next year as well.

Nothing else was said as I chose to also take an S-class job with Erza, though I stopped in to speak with Makarov about my recommendation, and we'd be back in a few weeks.

~ Time Skip ~

Ugh, I forgot how hard it was doing jobs with Erza when it was S-class.

A fact I won't forget again.

"You seem to be having it rough," teased Gajeel with a smirk as I settled down across from him at the guild, in one of the many booth like tables in the corner. "Rough job?"

"Just a rough S-class one," I answered honestly since we had to take out a wyvern nest. "Erza did help me figure out how to better use my swords in Star Dress form."

Lupus wasn't the only form that came with swords after all.

"It's time," called out Makarov catching everyone's attention from where he stood on the stage facing the guild, I was truly loving the newly built guild. "Those who have been selected for the S-class trials are as follows; Elfman Strauss, Cana Alberona, Juvia Lockstar, Gray Fullbuster, Mest, Natsu Dragoneel, Freed Justine, and Gajeel Redfox."

Ah, it seems my recommendation worked.

From there Makarov went over how each would need to find a partner, one that wasn't S-class, for the trials to come. Then they'd meet up at the docks first thing tomorrow morning.