
(Chaos 0)
Sonic's POV
It had been 3 weeks since we returned from Edolas with Lisanna, Panther Lily, and Chip (they prefer to be called that). The Master gathered us to announce the upcoming S-Class Mage Exam. I was super excited, as I was going to take the S-rank exam in a week. The Master had just informed us of the long-awaited exam, one that all mages who want to prove their worth were looking forward to. Erza, Mirajane, and Gildarts were already S-Class Mages, and soon it would be my turn. There were several participants, including me, Natsu, Wendy, Reby, Jubia, Grey, Cana, Elfman... We had to pick a teammate to accompany us, and I already knew who I was going with. I didn't propose it the day of the announcement because the next day we were going to train together.
The next day, I was in the forest with Wendy, Carla, and Chip. I was going to teach Wendy new anti-dragon techniques. Chip and Carla were sitting in the middle while I was facing Wendy, 10 meters away.
Me (taking my hedgehog form): So Wendy, are you ready?
Wendy: Uh, yes.
Me: Don't worry, I won't go too hard on you.
Carla: You'd better not.
Chip: Come on, Sonic!
Me: Alright, I'll let you attack first.
Wendy: Okay, Celestial Dragon Roar!
Me: Thunder Dragon Roar!
Our roars collided, but mine was stronger and got closer to Wendy. She managed to dodge it at the last second.
Me: Well, it seems like you're going to have to work on that technique a bit more.
Wendy: Sorry...
Me: Don't worry, we still have a week to train.
Over the days, I was able to teach Wendy the Dragon Claw technique and the Dragon Wings technique, but she hadn't fully mastered them yet.
It was the last day of training, the day before our departure to Tenrō Island. We were training in the snowy area of Mount Akobe. We didn't have warmer clothes, and I had wanted Wendy to wear her usual green dress to help her adapt to the environment and strengthen her wind magic.
Me: Well, are you ready? You'll need to show us the result of all this training.
Wendy: Okay, I'm ready.
Carla and Chip were watching us from a distance. We exchanged several physical blows, then she launched a roar at me, which I absorbed. She came toward me and hit me with a circular kick, shouting: "Celestial Dragon Claws!" Her kick made me spin in the air, but I landed on my feet, still off-balance.
Me: Perfect, we can increase the level.
I began to glow with blue lightning around me. My eyes turned blue, and I assumed a running stance, charging toward her. She was about to block, but I disappeared from her sight.
Carla: Wendy, look out!
She looked into the air and saw me falling toward her with a fist wrapped in blue electricity. Instead of hitting her, I struck the ground in front of her, sending her flying backward into a portal ring I had placed behind her without her noticing.
Carla: What did you do?
Me: Don't worry, it's part of the training. Follow me.
I jumped into the portal, followed by Carla and Chip. We landed in a desert I knew well. We saw Wendy getting up in the sand and dusting herself off.
Carla (running toward her): Wendy, are you okay?
Wendy: Yes, I'm fine, Carla. Sonic, where are we?
Me: I present to you the Sandopolis Desert, the largest desert on Mobius.

Chip: Mobius? Wait, you mean we're...
Me: Yes, we're on another planet. Carla, get out of the way, the fight isn't over yet.
Carla: What? What do you mean? And why did you bring us here?
Me: Wendy needs to learn how to react to this kind of situation, a shift from cold to heat. Come on, Wendy, attack this time!
Wendy: Celestial Dragon Roar!
Me: Thunder Dragon Roar!
Our roars collided again, but this time they were more powerful. We held on for about a minute without either of us gaining the advantage. Eventually, we both stopped simultaneously, out of breath and due to the intense heat.
Wendy (out of breath): Did you see? I managed to hold on this time.
Me (out of breath): Perfect, we can continue. Spindash Fulgurant!
I charged and pushed her into another portal ring I had launched behind her when we stopped our roars.
Carla: How does he place those rings?
Chip: He's so fast we don't even notice.
I entered the portal with them, and we found Wendy getting up, realizing we were back on Earth, in the rocky mountains not far from Magnolia.
Me: Let's move to the last test. Give it everything you've got!
Wendy: Let's go, Celestial Dragon Claws!
She jumped at me with a right kick that I blocked with both hands crossed, but she followed up with a left kick that hit my head and sent me flying 10 meters away. I landed sliding, then I cast a lightning spell that formed a bubble around her. She countered by pushing back with wind.
Wendy: Celestial Dragon Wings!
She spun her hands, but the wind didn't appear, and she lost her balance. I caught her at the last second.
Me: In the end, the training paid off. Let's stop here for today.
Wendy: It's just the Celestial Dragon Wings I haven't mastered yet.
Me: You know, some techniques need you to be in danger to be unleashed.
Wendy: Really?
Me: You'll understand better when you're on the island with Carla.
Wendy: Okay, but I'm not going with Carla.
A silence fell.
Me (panicked, hands on her shoulders): WHAT??!! Who are you going with then??? Do I know them?? How old are they?? Are they a girl or a boy???
Wendy: Uh, it's Mest. He asked me the night of the exam announcement.
Me: And you accepted this, Carla?
Carla: I warned her, but you know how she is, she's stubborn.
It's true that I haven't interacted much with Mest recently, but that doesn't mean anything. Why is he suddenly interested in Wendy? Don't tell me...
Me (extremely serious): Wendy, change your partner!
Wendy: Huh? What?
Me: Change your partner immediately! I don't want anything to happen to you.
Wendy (pouting): What? He's not mean, plus we already registered our names.
Me: Oh no, I can already imagine the worst: Wendy being attacked on some unknown island by a pedophile. (looking at Carla) And I'm wondering why Carla didn't play her role as a protective mother hen at that moment.
Carla: Hmph.
Me: Anyway, I just hope everything goes well. Either way, I'll be keeping an eye on this Mest.
[The next day]
We were on a boat heading toward the island, and we saw the island from a distance.
Makarov: You'll all head into caves that will lead to a trial, which may be either a combat trial between teams or a calm course.
The boat stopped, and we were supposed to swim the rest of the way to the island. Natsu and Happy flew off but collided with an invisible wall around the boat. It was a chain of Freed's magic that kept us from leaving for 5 minutes. Reby and Evergreen were able to alter the spell, but only to their advantage.
[Time skip: The first trials were completed. Sonic and Chip took the calm course, just like Gajil and Reby. The second trial was to find the grave of Mavis, the founder of the guild. The remaining teams scattered while the Master sensed the presence of an enemy guild approaching.]
Sonic's POV
I was speeding through the forest. I needed to find Wendy; she had been eliminated, but I was worried about what would happen to her next. She was supposed to return to the camp, but Mirajane said she hadn't arrived yet. I'm sure Mest has something to do with this.
Chip: Sonic, slow down, you're going too fast.
Me: We don't have time to slow down, time is running out.
Chip: But aren't we supposed to find a tomb?
Me: The faster we find Wendy, the faster we can focus on our mission.
A giant mushroom monster emerged from the ground, but it didn't have time to attack because I used a roar that made it explode. We continued our escape until the sun was about to set, and still no sign of Wendy. I couldn't sniff her out because there were too many unfamiliar smells. I suddenly stopped when I saw a shadow approaching us.
Chip: Sonic?
I held my hand out to stop him from speaking or moving forward. The shadow came closer, and it wasn't a person, it was a transparent, almost liquid monster, with green eyes and a mini brain visible inside its head.(Check Chaos 0)
Me: What is that thing?!
Chip: The water is alive!!!
It stretched its hand and tried to attack us. We dodged by scattering.
Me: Wow! Okay, it wants to fight. Thunder Dragon Fist!
I threw a right punch, but it turned liquid at the moment of impact, becoming a puddle under my feet. Tentacles emerged to immobilize me, but I covered myself with blue lightning, cutting the tentacles and backing off.
Chip: How do you hit something that's liquid?
Me: We'll see if this someone isn't actually something. Who are you?
???: ...
Its right hand took a form. It was the sign of a guild, and I recognized that mark. It was a dark guild...
Me: Grimoire Heart!
Chip: Huh?
Me: It's one of the Dark Guilds of the Baram Alliance, I thought I already told you about them.
Chip: What is it doing here?
Me: That means one thing, we're being attacked on the island.