[ON HIATUS] Dangerous - A Romeo Conbolt Fairy Tail FANFIC

Chapter 1: Tenrou Trial [ROMEO]

Today's my eighteenth birthday.
Will I spend it celebrating? Of course not. I have plans.

"Romeo?" It's my dad. I don't answer. "Romeo, come on. Let's go to the guild! We're going to be late." My hands stop moving. Previously, they had been working furiously, finishing a little project I had started two years ago.

My dad keeps knocking on my bedroom door, but I can only vaguely hear him. The only thing my brain processes is three words, spoken over and over again in my mind.
I'm almost done.
I'm almost done....
I'm almost done!

My hands tremble anxiously. If I complete this....then that means that I'll have to leave. It means that I might not come back.
Can I really do that to my dad? To the guild?

My hands hover over the final piece of my project. They're too shaky to do the job successfully, and I drop the tool in my hand onto the surface of the desk.

Macou finally opens the door. "You alright?" he says. I straighten up. "Yeah..." I say, "Yeah, I'm good. Let's go."

As we arrive at the guild doors, I can feel a small flutter of anxiety in my chest. For a split second, all I can feel is fear. Natsu....I have to find him....I can't let him down. No fear. No fear. No fear.

My dad smiles warmly and says in a soft voice, "Scared?" I nod wordlessly. "It's ok. You don't have to be. The members of Fairy Tail aren't just friends, they're family. We are one."
"But....the test....maybe we should go home."

Things have changed in these past five years. Now, when a young member of the guild comes of age(eighteen), they have to take a test to evaluate their skills and potential. If you fail, it doesn't mean you'll get kicked out, but you won't be considered an official wizard, and you won't be able to take any requests. Not until you manage to pass the test.

My stomach churns. "We'll do it together," Macou promises. He lays his hand across mine to steady it, places my hand against the wooden door, and finally places his own hand against the other side. "On three," he says, "One....two....three!"
We open the door.

"SURPRISE!!"
I stand there, stunned, and one by one, everyone begins to clap. First slowly, but faster and faster until it's a full on applause.

Erza, the guild Master, is at the top of the second floor smiling warmly at me. It looks almost strange with the armor she has equipped. Wait....it's the armor she used long ago against Natsu! Fire Empress Armor! Am I....am I going to have to fight her?

Gray, seeming to read my mind, gives a devilish smirk. The fear inside my chest becomes larger and louder than I have ever known before.

I stumble back against the guild doors. "Are you ok?" Macou whispers to me. Again, I nod silently. "I'm ok," I whisper hoarsely.

"Romeo Conbolt," projects Erza, "Today, you have come of age. Today, you will go through a test much like the one used to pick an S Class wizard. Except....in this test, you will eventually fight me. And I, personally, will assess your abilities as we duel. Until that time comes, I have picked three wizards to test your skills. Lisanna Strauss. Gray Fullbuster. Gajeel Redfox." Erza gestures to each one as she says their name.

"No need to be so formal," says Gajeel. He cracks his knuckles. "Yeah, let's have some fun," says Lisanna.

Erza plows on as if Gajeel and Lisanna hadn't spoken. "Due to our, um, destructive nature, this test will take place at Tenrou Island. Good luck." She pierces me with her sharp brown eyes. "You'll need it."

I bristle in indignation. "I'll beat them," I mutter. "I have to."