Being a Chang

Chapter Nineteen

*Mammon Star Dress Above*

Natsu wasted no time in declaring that Happy would be his partner for the trials before taking off to pack and get some rest for tomorrow. Mest had also been quick to single out Wendy.

Which reminded me of the fact that he was a real member acting like a spy for the Rune Knights.

A fact that got a bit complicated since he kept messing with his own memories on that front.

He had been someone I had originally found shady even after learning the truth about him near the end of the series. Not that it mattered since he'd be the one to share the secret of Mavis.

"Panther Lily," called out Gajeel while sharing a look with the exceed as they both got up from the table. "We're gonna head home to pack, see you in the morning."

Nothing else was offered as he reached out to pull me into a tight hug before leaving.

After that I watched as everyone paired up for the S-class trials.

This wouldn't be like normal set of trials since the previous Second Master of Fairy Tail would interrupt with his new dark guild. They'd attack us and we'd fight until we won.

Even if we'd end up almost half dead doing so.

Part of me still wasn't sure about this considering we'd be losing seven years and our guild would struggle with us gone. But it wasn't like I could stop it from happening.

And as an S-class member I had to be there for the trials.

"Sometimes you'll have to follow what's already predetermined," warned Lucifer as he appeared while I worked on making me a dinner after returning home. "Mainly as there are things already written in the stars that cannot be changed, this is one of them."

Meaning I'd just have to leave my book of ideas with Macao and hope he puts them to good use.

It was all I could do without being here in person to help.

~ Time Skip ~

We had to get there before the others and pick a tunnel to wait for the challengers who would be coming soon after. This time around there wouldn't be any empty tunnels with me being here.

I couldn't help but smirk when noticing it was Gajeel and Panther Lily who ended up finding me.

This time I could go out fully against him unlike that fight from before.

From the way he grimaced it seemed he wasn't as thrilled.

The two celestial spirits that I chose to call out for this fight was Lupus, to go against Panther Lily, and Asmodeus. Only then did I swap into Mammon's star dress form.

This time I wouldn't hold back against him.

"Ya look pretty stunning like that," mused Gajeel with a wide smile even as he shifted into his iron scaled form. "Let's do this, yeah?"

Instead of offering a response aloud, I instead shot forward with swords drawn.

This time the fight was more than even, each of us taking hits and yet not giving in for even a moment. A grunt left me as I shifted and kicked Gajeel hard enough to send him flying into the wall making dust explode out around him.

We'd be leaving this fight with bruises that was for sure.

Asmodeus also wasn't giving him any room to really get off any close distance attacks as we tag-teamed against him. But that was the whole point of this fight really.

To test just how much Gajeel had changed and if he could overcome unfair situations.

Leviathan also showed up on his own to go against Panther Lily with Lupus.

"I wouldn't try that," taunted Asmodeus as Gajeel went to eat the sword he was using making him jerk back as it began to glow. "We are the Seven Princes of Hell, what would make you think we'd use ordinary weapons?"

Now that was a terrifying thing to think on.

It was as we attacked, back to back, that I began to notice Gajeel struggling and starting to evolve as a fighter. Just as he would have when going against Grimoire Heart.

Which was what I was hoping for.

"Stop," I called out with a bright smile while closing Asmodeus and Lupus' gate, "you've passed this test and can move onward now."

Because in the end it wasn't about winning against us, not really.

We each were given free reign of choosing how one would pass our tests by Makarov.

Though it made me wonder who would face Laxus.

"You're celestial spirits are truly something," stated Panther Lily as he returned to his smaller form and moved closer to where we stood. "Please give them my thanks for the fight."

Ah, it seems he has also learned something from this.

Nothing else was said as Gajeel shot me one last look before moving forward making me smile as I watched them leave. Even if no one would gain S-class status this time, at least they'll grow.

Not that it made up for the crap we'd have to deal with soon.

"Did it go well for you?" wondered Erza the moment I left the tunnel area and headed for the resting spot we were told to wait at.

"Yes," I answered with another smile before it fell away as the feeling of something being off filled my very being. "Something isn't right, I think we should take a look around the island."

Erza didn't think twice of questioning my words, only nodded and took off.

It seemed it was time to face Grimoire Heart.

I had to fight back the urge to curse since I just knew this would be a truly trying issue and would see many of those I cared for on the brink of exhaustion.

Not that we'd get time to rest up before Acnologia showed up.

Which didn't even go into the fact that Zeref was here as well and would be awoken from his 'slumber' by Grimoire Heart. More so by Ur's daughter in fact if I remembered right.

Truly, this was a trying time...

Everything was a blur from there as I arrived to help Gajeel with the two Grimoire Heart members who were fighting against him. Lucifer and Leviathan were quick to arrive when summoned making this a fight of two against four.

These two were annoying and deserved the ass kicking coming their way.

Nothing would stop me from doing the best I can to remove the threat to my guild and those I cared for. Especially since they were also after Zeref and Fairy Glitter.

They'd not get what they came for and that was a fact.

"Breathe," I whispered what felt hours later as I finished bandaging Gajeel's stomach as I had Nick teleport us to the area set up earlier for us to relax at. "Leviathan is dealing with them."

What wasn't really shown on the screen, that was glanced over, was the fact that we didn't just defeat them. No, we killed them as it had been their lives or ours.

And I wouldn't let anyone judge us for that choice as Leviathan dealt with the bodies.