Crash Course

00 Prologue

"Meeko," a young brunette whined, hands laced behind her head as she took long, lazy strides. "Why couldn't we have just brought Natsu along! You would give me a piggy back ride."

Meeko, an exceed much like Carly but grey, said, "You have to be responsible for yourself now, Akiko. You're eighteen." The brunette merely puffed out a cheek, and looked around. Her hands unlaced to place one over her stomach, which let out a loud growl.

"Meeeeeeeko~" The grey exceed sighed, brushing down her skirt as she flew Akiko over to a restaurant.

~~~
~~~

The duo had eaten, and were walking through the shops. There was an hour until their train back to Magnolia would be ready to board. Meeko was window shopping, though Akiko was lost in her thoughts. She could smell something strange, but wasn't sure what it was. 

A shudder ran through the small town they were in, and the people in the streets began screaming and running for cover.

"Akiko!", Meeko shouted, flying over to her friend and avoiding debris. The brunette pulled her exceed into a hug, and searched the now empty streets for a sign as to what that was. "Look! Over there!" Her blue eyes darted to where the cat was pointing. A viper-like animal was rising from a hole in the ground, curling in a heap and looking for prey. It flicked out it's tongue, then spotted Akiko and Meeko with it's beady red eyes. "Akiko!"

A grin broke onto the mages face as she released her exceed and said, "I've got this." She shot forward at a speed that was hard for her spectators to follow. When she was visible- not blurry- she was above the viper. "Earth Dragon's holy fist!" Rocks shot up from around the viper, encasing her hand. When gravity took it's toll on her, Akiko plummeted to the slithery creature below her. Her attack sent her flying back, and a loud hiss emitted from the monster. I uncurled itself to attack her. While the head was shooting towards her, Akiko cupped her mouth. "Earth Dragon ROAR!" The viper was thrown away, far into the trees, due to the force of her attack. 

"Way to go, Kiko!"

The blue eyed mage waved her exceed down, yelling, "It's not over yet!" Meeko nodded, and grabbed the back of her partners shirt, lifting her into the air. They flew after the snake. When they found it, it was digging a hole back underground. "Nuh-uh, you're on my turf now! Meeko!"

"Right!" The exceed released her hold on Akiko. A wicked grin spread across the falling mages face. She left her hands above her, and her knees were bent so that she would roll within the impact. And she did just that. Akiko's feet hit the snake momentarily, before her body rolled across it and back into an upright position. She used that opportunity to sprint towards the head. Hands clapped in front of her, she dove into the hole. Her magic willed the earth to shift aside and make room for her. The tunnel led her down. When she fell into another open tunnel, she peered up to see the snake headed for her. "Earth Dragon's Fang!" He kick sent the snake shooting back out of the ground. Akiko was quick to jump after it.

She landed, seeing that the snake's hole was nearly as big as Fairy Hills- an apartment complex she stayed in with various other guild mates. She shot over it and slammed into the snake once more. It was down, and she dusted her hands off with a triumphant smirk. 

Within the town, a bell rang. Ten minutes until their train ride would leave. Akiko looked up at the sky, squinting to see if Meeko was up there still.

"You're a dragon slayer!" Akiko jumped from fright, before turning to the younger boy who was pointing an accusing finger at her. From beside him, a red exceed placed his hands on his hips. "Fight me!"

She laughed lightly, and said, "I've got to go. My trains here."

The kid jumped in her path, finger still pointing, and shouted, "Fight me! I'll prove I'm stronger than you!"

"That's false," Meeko hummed, joining Akiko and taking a place on the ground to stare the other exceed in the eyes. "Akiko here is the best. She's an S-class mage for Fairy Tail."

"Not yet," I corrected. "S-class trials are coming up. But I'll win. No way I'm losing to Natsu or Gray." The kid's face was tinted red. Akiko tilted her head, and sniffed the air. He was definitely a dragon slayer to. She threw on another smile. "Tell you what. We'll fight after I get back from the trials, okay? I mean, you know I'm from Fairy Tail now. Just come find me whenever you're ready to fight."

"I'm ready now!"

She nodded, "But I've got places to be. I promise, we'll fight soon. But I've got to go." He paused, wanting to get the fight on with. But the blond knew he had to let her pass. He put his hands down and relaxed. She smiled and walked past him. Only a few feet past, she turned around. "I'm Akiko Adachi. What's your name?"

"Sting Eucliffe."

She grinned, "Well, Shortstack, I'll see you after the trials. You'd better root for me, okay?" He nodded sharply, but a blush was fighting it's way onto his cheeks. Akiko laughed, and Meeko took to the skies again. They were running off to catch their train to Magnolia.