The Book of Gajevy

9. Right of Passage

Day two, exam three, started with a trip to Hargeon as instructed by the master. The pairs boarded a small ship with only their master and fellow S-class aboard. "There you go." Levy said with a smile as she placed a steady on Gajeels stomach, giving him an affectionate pat before taking his hand and following the others. "They're so cute it's almost nauseating." Loke murmured as he watched the pair. "Aye." Happy said with a chuckle as he hovered above his sick comrade. "I think it's cute." Lisanna said, a nod of agreement from Lucy.

"What are you guys talking about?" Levy asked as they approached the group. Lucy shook her head with a grin. With the rest of their passengers now on board, the ship set off for its destination.

"Where are we going master?" Lisanna asked after nearly an hour of sailing. The master simply grinned from his spot beside Erza at the wheel. After another thirty minutes, the ship drifted to an easy stop, simply bobbing on the waves. In the distance they could make out a lone island but not much else. "That is the Island of Calypso." He called to the contestants. "Long ago, a village dwelled there. They were a tribe of people who worship the goddess of the sea, whom they named their island after. When young men of the village were of age, they would dive into the sea in search of the legendary Leviathan. Once found, the men would pluck a scale from its massive hide and bring it back. It was a beast of their goddess, sent to protect her villagers from pirates and pilagers. Now, the tribe long dead, many believe that the leviathan died along with them."

There was a quiet murmur, though there was one who paled at the mention of the beast. "Rumor has gone round that the beast still lives. Many S-class requests have come in for the collection of said scales. This exam is simple and straight forward. Find the beast, if it exists, and take your own right do passage by claiming one of its scales. We are not of its tribe, so if it is real it will most likely attack. The S-class mages and myself will be there to make sure things don't get out of hand. If you resurface your exam is over, scale or not. So another piece of your exam is to find a way to stay in the depths until your task is complete. You have ten minutes to prepare yourselves."

The pairs huddled together, murmuring plans to their team mates and thinking of ways to breath underwater. "Ya alright Shrimp?" Gajeel asked his very pale girlfriend as she stared at the water. She gripped his arm and pulled him away from the rest of the group. "It's real." She said quietly,  causing him to raise a studded eyebrow. "Shrimp it's just a story, I'm sure gramps just has some old trinkets down there for-" "No Gajeel!" She nearly shouted, shocking the slayer. "Iv seen it." She said more quietly.

"It was with Shadow Gear, just before the seven year skip. I remember it like it was yesterday though." She was whispering now as she clamped her hands together to keep them from trembling. "It's huge Gajeel... And all we saw was it's tail! It's massive!" Gajeel knelt down in front of the terrified mage, gently grasping her shoulders. "Levy, the master wouldn't be having us do this if he though something bad was going to happen right?" He asked, trying to calm her. She nodded slightly, "And everyone here, including you, is crazy strong. It's nothing we can't handle, but... If it makes you that nervous, I'll stay out of this one." She stared at him wide eyed. She knew this exam meant everything to Gajeel, being able to participate as a contestant meant he was finally accepted into the guild. She knew he would never admit it, but being accepted meant so much to him. And he would throw it away... For me?

Levy clenched her fists as she shook her head. " No, I'm ok." She grinned at him. "Iv got a dragon on my side." Gajeel grinned at that, ruffling her hair before he stood. The pairs changed into their swimwear before standing on the edge of the boat, Natsu hovering with Happy. Levy made air masks out of solid script for herself and Gajeel, Lucy got aid from Aquarius, Lisanna turned into a mermaid, Grey made regulators out of ice for himself and Loke. Natsu, being Natsu, said he would wing it, though Happy got an ice regulator out of pity from Grey. "Begin!" The master shouted.

The pairs dove into the ocean, the bright sky disappearing behind them. Levy stuck close to Gajeel as they swam deeper, clutching at his hand so she wouldn't lose him. She could see the other pairs spreading out farther away, but she couldn't bring herself to leave Gajeels side.

Coral rose up around them, and rocks rose in large arches. Sea life scattered at the intruders, but otherwise there was no movement. Levy wasn't sure how long they swam before Gajeel tugged on her hand, pointing below them. She stared wide eyed at the dark mass, slowly writhing and stirring the water. The massive being slowly rose out of its hiding place, green scales shimmering erily in the dark water. Gajeel quickly pulled Levy aside as massive jaws made for them. He was awed by its sheer size, easily bigger than Acnologia and his father combined. Crystal clear eyes stared at them, easily the size of his small companion, and it opened its jaws to roar. Levy wrote a script, her movements slowed by water and pressure,  but the cyclone came easy and knocked the beasts jaws away.

Gajeel grabbed her, turning his legs to iron so they could drop below the beast. They quickly swam around its monstrous form, most still hidden in the hole it emerged from. A blast of heat rushed by them, followed by a flash of pink as Natsu tried to fight the monster. Salamanders gonna get himself killed! Gajeel thought as he watched the younger dragon slayer, but he knew the master wouldn't let the idiot hurt himself too bad. A tug on his hand brought his attention back to Levy as she pulled him towards the monsters hyde, pointing towards some scales that were being loosened by the rocks around it. They swam forward, having to swerve as it thrashed about in its fight with the fire dragon, but they soon reached their destination. A green scale easily came loose, Levy grinning in her bubble as she handed the scale to him.

He grinned in return before grabbing her hand. The beast suddenly surged, all the rock around it breaking loose as its massive body thrashed, sending the pair tumbling through the water.  They made for the surface as more rocks fell about them, but a large tail came flying towards them. Gajeel tried to pull Levy aside, but the water made his movements slow and her hand was ripped from his as the tail smashed into her. The air left her body in a hard gush, causing her solid script bubble to release. Her hands flew to her mouth moments before the tail slammed her into rock, causing her vision to go dark before large arms gripped her. She tried to hold on to what breath she had left as Gajeel made for the surface, but the pressure on her lungs was painful. Consciousness was slowly slipping away from her as blackness crowded her.

It felt like an eternity before they broke the surface and Levy gasped for air, coughing hard. Hands grasped her shoulders and hefted her out of the water before gently laying her on the deck of the boat. "You gonna live Shrimp?" Gajeel asked, trying to keep the worry out of his voice. Levy nodded as she gasped for breath before peeking up at him. "Did... we get it?" She asked, making him roll his eyes before holding up the scale. She grinned and relaxed, finally calming her breathing.  "You two were the first ones to make it this time." Mirajane said from beside them as she took the scale from the dragon slayer.

The trio waiting before something shot out of the water. They watched as Natsu, exceed in hand, landed hard on the deck of the boat. "Ow..." He groaned, causing the three to laugh. "Aye..." Happy moaned in return. "Did you get it Natsu?" Mira asked as she stood beside the pinkette. He weakly held up a green scale similar to their own which the bar maid took. The next pair to arrive were Lucy and Lisanna, "Gajeel give me a hand!" Lucy cried. Gajeel stood and leaned over the side, reaching out as Lucy helped the youngest Strauss sister out of the water. "Lisanna!" Mira gasped as she hurried over to her sister.

Lisanna clutched her leg, where a large nasty bruise was already forming. "What happened?" Levy asked as she stood beside them. "When those rocks collapsed she got caught." Lucy said as she tried to take care of her teammates leg. While Mira and Lucy fussed over Lisanna, the last of their party emerged from the water. Once everyone was on board, injuries were tended and the ship was headed back for Hargeon, the master spoke. "Gajeel, Natsu and Lucy have passed, all able to collect a scale. Grey, you were unable to collect, so you are out of the running. After speaking with the other S-class, we have decided to skip the next test and move to the final. I'm sorry Lucy, but with Lisanna injured you will be teaming up with Natsu. You will still be able to achieve S-class." He called.

"Sorry Lucy." Lisanna said sheepishly. Lucy shook her head with a smile. "Don't worry about it! You just get better." Lisanna nodded. "So what's the last test gramps?" Natsu asked, earning a grin from the old man. "A battle. A test of strength and power between the last two teams." Gajeel grinned, wrapping his arm around Levy, "Me and the shrimp will kick your ass!"