"Lucy, run faster!!"
Lucy and Cana were sprinting through the forest of Tenrou Island, pursued by a massive, lizard-like creature smashing through trees and tearing up the ground.
"Why is this happening?!" Lucy wailed, panting as she dashed.
Cana shouted back, "Stop complaining and move! That thing's on our tail!"
Elsewhere, Gajeel and Levy crouched behind a large boulder while a monstrous behemoth lumbered around, sniffing for them.
"What's with this island?" Gajeel muttered, wiping cold sweat from his brow. "So many giant beasts! This is already our third."
Levy shook her head, voice trembling. "I-I'm starting to wonder if we'll make it out alive…"
Meanwhile, Gray and Loke were also fleeing from a horde of giant creatures.
"My future as an S-Class depends on beating these things, got it?!" Gray shouted bravely.
Loke sighed. "You can be so reckless sometimes…"
In yet another part of the island, Elfman and Evergreen were being chased by a monstrous pig-like creature.
"This way!" Elfman yelled.
"Quit bossing me around!" Evergreen snapped, but followed, as the massive hoof of the beast slammed down, shaking the earth.
Natsu and Happy, on the other hand, had a bit more luck.
"This is an exam—get out of my way!" Natsu roared, slamming a flaming fist into a huge creature. With one punch, he sent it crashing to the ground.
"Wow," Happy said, impressed. "Bad luck for it to appear in front of Natsu."
"Phew…" Natsu exhaled, brushing sweat from his forehead. Even so, the beast was large enough that defeating it wasn't exactly easy.
Happy fluttered beside him. "Let's keep moving."
But Natsu suddenly dashed to the monster's head, grabbing its face. "Hey, do you know where the first master's grave is?! Speak!!!"
"Gaaaaah!" the creature howled.
"It spoke!" Happy cried in shock.
Natsu dropped the creature's snout in frustration. "Says it doesn't know anything…"
Happy patted his shoulder. "We're not getting any clues out of that. The second stage is turning out to be rough."
Natsu glanced upward toward the giant tree towering over the island's center. "Wait, I didn't realize it before, but the shape of this island… That top part is suspicious."
"You mean that big mass of branches?"
"Yeah. Let's head for the top!" Natsu declared.
"Gotcha! Off we go!" Happy grinned.
Tenrou Island – Temporary Base
A small campsite had been erected, supplies courtesy of Erza's spatial magic. She, Mirajane, Lisanna, and Juvia were present.
"What?! Elfman and Evergreen are…getting married?!" Erza nearly dropped the spoon she was using.
Mirajane, still nursing a bruise, nodded with a wry smile. "Apparently. They told me they were a couple, right at the critical moment. It rattled me for a second, so they exploited that opening."
Erza's eyes widened, serious. "When's the ceremony?! Wait, since when have they had that kind of relationship?!"
Mira shrugged. "I'm sure it was just a tactic. But I suppose it's not impossible… If they really did get married and had a kid—" She paused, imagining a baby with Elfman's brawn and Evergreen's fairy-like features, tears welling up at the thought.
Erza gently patted her. "Don't cry, Mira. Another way to look at it, it might be…cute."
Lisanna chimed in, "I think they might be a good match, actually."
Next to them, Juvia was lost in her own fantasy of having children with Gray, swirling hearts in her eyes.
Mira changed the topic. "Anyway, Freed and Bickslow decided to head back with Gildarts after losing. Didn't want to stick around till the end."
Erza frowned. "So impatient. They could've watched the final results."
She glanced around. "Where's Su Yan?"
"Oh, he went wandering around the island. The master brought him here long ago. Guess he's just reminiscing." Mira shrugged.
"Where are Mest and Wendy?" Erza added.
"They're late. Juvia, maybe you can go look for them?"
Juvia nodded softly. "Juvia will do so."
"I'll come too," Erza said, untying her apron. "Mira, Lisanna, stay here and keep an eye on things."
Meanwhile – Elsewhere on Tenrou Island
Elfman and Evergreen were sprinting away from a lumbering beast that bellowed behind them.
"As a man, I can't run from an enemy—!" Elfman started.
"Shut up!" Evergreen snapped. "Don't you see it's huge?!"
A massive hoof smashed down. Elfman yanked Evergreen aside, both of them tumbling into a broken section of ground. They slid down into a dug-out pit.
"Ugh…" Elfman groaned, noticing he was clutching Evergreen. She shoved him off, scowling. "Those marriage words were just to shake Mira. Don't think I actually like you."
Elfman rolled his eyes. "I'm just glad you went along with such a cheap trick."
"Don't call it cheap!"
Suddenly, they heard approaching footsteps.
"Huh? Another person? On this deserted island?" The voice belonged to a figure dressed in black, with a white cloth draped over them. "I didn't realize anyone else was living here…"
Elfman and Evergreen, startled, moved into a defensive stance.
"Who are you?" Elfman demanded. "Only our guild members are allowed here!"
"Oh, a guild?" The stranger seemed curious. "So this is a guild's island—"
"Hey!!" Elfman snarled. "Stay right there!" He prepared to subdue the stranger. This was Fairy Tail's sacred ground, after all, and any intruder needed to be reported to the master.
But the figure suddenly shouted in alarm, "No!!! Don't come any closer!!"