"There are some newbies here," Makarov announced. "So we'll explain the rules."

"Within a preliminary period of one week, you eight are to select one partner," Mirajane stated, hugging some papers to her chest.

"There are two rules to partner selection," Erza said. "First, they must be a member of Fairy Tail."

"Second, they cannot be an s-class mage," Kai continued with a rare serious look on her face.

"Which means Erza, Kai, Katelyn, Mirajane, and Gildarts can't be chosen," Lily stated.

"Yeah, having Erza-san or Kai-chan as a partner would make you too powerful," Wendy remarked, clasping her hands together.

"The details of the exam will be revealed after arrival to Tenrou Island. But this time, Erza will attempt to block you from proceeding."

"EEHHHHH?!"

"I'll also be a troublemaker this time!" Mira exclaimed happily.

"EEEEHHHHHHHH?!!"

"Y... You mean no one will become an s-class unless they can defeat Erza and Mira?" Lucy asked in shock.

"Well... I'm sure they won't go all out..."

"You understand now that this is hard, right?"

"Enough whining," Gildarts interrupted. "This is a path all s-class mages have to go down."

"Wait a minute..." Elfman started.

"No way..." Happy muttered, floating next to Natsu's head.

"GILDARTS IS TAKING PART, TOO?!!" Natsu exclaimed in excitement.

"Don't be happy!!" Gray gawked at Natsu.

"The chosen eight will take their partners with them and gather at Hargeon Port one week from now. That is all!!!!" Makarov finished.

After the whole speech, the guild went back to its regular behavior. Kai, Wendy, Charle, Juvia, Gray, Lucy, Natsu, Happy, Lisanna, and Elfman were all sat at a table. They were all talking about the upcoming S-class trials, Natsu yelling the loudest over them.

"Oh yeah, has everyone chosen a partner already?" Lucy asked.

"I'm definitely going with Happy," Natsu answered quickly.

"Aye!"

"Happy? That's not fair if the exam turns out to be a race. He can fly, so it's no contest," Elfman remarked.

"What's the big deal?" Lisanna asked.

As the "grown ups" were talking, Kai and Wendy started their own conversation.

"What're you going to to be doing during the trials, Kai?" Wendy asked.

"I'm going to be watching the island with Katelyn just in case someone tries to get in during the exam," Kai explained. "Master says I'm still too young to be fighting against the participants."

"You're already stronger than them though," Charle said. "What would it matter that you're younger?"

"That's what I told master, but all he wants me to do is help out with the trials without beating up any of our guild mates..." Kai anime cried. "Onee-chan, Mira-senpai, and Gildarts get all the fun..."

"Kai, it's okay," Wendy reassured, petting Kai's ears. "You might be able to next time."

Kai purred quietly. "Yeah..."

"Kai, I've been meaning to ask this, but where's Katelyn?" Charle asked, confused to why she wasn't with Kai.

"She's... *purr*... hanging out with Lily and... *purr*... Soul. She said she'd meet me back... *purr*... at home," Kai said in between purrs. She leaned more into Wendy's petting, getting a warm smile from said girl.

"I see..." Charle said with a smirk on her face.

"What is it Charle?" Wendy asked, noticing Charle's expression.

"Oh nothing~" Charle answered with a similar tone to Katelyn when she's teasing Wendy and Kai.

"O...kay...?" Wendy said, unsure of herself. She was still unconsciously stroking Kai's hair. The young girl had fallen asleep on Wendy's shoulder, but they could still hear her quietly purring in her sleep. Wendy looked down at Kai's sleeping figure. Her ears occasionally twitched when there was a relatively loud noise in the room. Kai's tail was swinging slowly behind her, and her face held a small blush. Kawaii~...

"Wendy?" Charle asked.

"Hm?"

"You're staring."

"H-Huh?" Wendy immediately snapped out of it. She looked up at Charle, her face quickly growing red from embarrassment.

"You were staring at Kai," Charle repeated bluntly.

"W-Was I?"

•••

Later in the evening, the girls decided to finally head home. Kai and Wendy were allowed to sleep over, so they both headed to Kai's place. The girls walked side by side in the snow with Charle in Wendy's arms. Wendy wore a long winter coat with boots and Charle had a scarf and coat. Kai wore a white winter coat and a beanie that had holes for her ears.

"What's wrong Charle? You've been quiet since morning," Wendy asked, concerned for her friend.

"A little maybe. I just have a bad feeling... about this exam..." Charle explained. "You absolutely cannot get involved, okay?"

"There's no one who would make me their partner, it's okay," Wendy replied.

"That's not true!" Kai exclaimed. "I would be your partner!"

"T-Thanks Kai," Wendy blushed slightly. "But even if by some impossible chance I was chosen for the S-class trials, I still couldn't choose you as my partner. You're an s-class already."

"Who cares! I'd find a way to be your partner!" Kai exclaimed, earning a giggle from Wendy and Charle.

"Sky Goddess," a voice called out form behind them. The trio turned and saw one of the participants of the S-class trials.

"Ah... Er..." Wendy mumbled.

"You're..." Charle started. Kai said nothing, glaring at the mysterious man.

"I am Mest. Previously Mystogan's disciple."

•••

Meanwhile, Katelyn was walking home with Soul and Lily. Katelyn was in her human form with Lily on her head while Soul walked next to her.

"Soul, what're you gonna do during the S-class trials?" Katelyn asked.

"I dunno... Maybe train a bit more... Find clothes that are less... Menacing..." Soul answered, shrugging her shoulders.

"Yeah... Red and black isn't such a friendly combination," Lily commented.

"I might get some new clothes, too. I've been wearing the same stuff for a while, and Kai says she has some stuff for me," Katelyn added.

"Sorry to interrupt, but I should go now. Gajeel wanted to meet with me," Lily said, summoning his wings. "Goodbye Katelyn, Soul" The girls said goodbye to Lily as he flew in the opposite direction.

"We could go tomorrow," Soul said, resuming their previous conversation. "We still have a week until the exam."

"Yeah sure, it's a date then~" Katelyn cooed with a smirk on her face.

"It's a w-what?" Soul stuttered, a small blush growing on her face.

"See you tomorrow~"

With that Katelyn walked away, leaving a blushing Soul standing there.

What just happened...?

A/N: Salutations! I decided to give y'all the first chappies of Part II early. You'll still have to wait two weeks or so for the actual regular updates of this arc though. Also, not all, if any of the fights in this arc will be written out since neither Kai or Katelyn will be there so it'd be exactly the same. Kai and Katelyn will have their owns fights with new characters so there'll still be epic battles. For example, Kai nor Katelyn will be in the Erza vs. Azuma fight or the Team Natsu vs. Hades fight. But trust me, the fight they will be included in will be just as good and will span multiple chappies. Until then, see y'all in the next chappie!

~DarkArts