[X784, Fairy Tail Guild Building]
— Wendy Marvell —
"Everyone welcome Wendy Marvell, our newest member!" Mira introduced Wendy to the guild with bright smiles.
Wendy pressed her hands together, bowing deeply. "It's nice to meet you all!"
At her feet, Carla flicked her tail and turned away, clearly uncomfortable with all the eyes on them.
"Woah!"
"She's so cute!"
"Hey look, there's a female Happy!"
The guild exploded with cheers, laughter, and exclamations.
Wendy felt her chest swell at the warmth and cheer in the guild. She had heard how crazy Fairy Tail really was, but this was crazier than she expected.
It was overwhelming, but in a way that reminded her of home, of Cait Shelter. Except Fairy Tail was noisier. Much, much noisier.
The cheer lasted all of ten minutes before it inevitably turned into a brawl, sparks flying as bottles smashed and tables overturned. Wendy nearly tripped over a chair trying to avoid a stray fireball from Natsu, clutching Carla in her arms as Cana and Elfman laughed like it was normal, joining in on the fun. The heat suddenly disappeared as cool air emerged, courtesy of Gray.
"Come get some, flame brain!"
"As if, stripper!"
The people who weren't involved simply laughed, cheered, and drank. Until a stray spell hit their table, and they participated in the brawl as well.
It was… chaotic. Ridiculous. And somehow warm.
Then again, it might just be Natsu's flames that's making it that way,
She was forced to hunker down and join Erza, who remained on the booth by herself munching on a strawberry cake.
"Welcome to Fairy Tail, Wendy." Erza said fondly. "I'm guessing this is very different from your experience in Cait Shelter?"
Wendy smiled faintly, though the reminder of her old guild had her looking down slightly. It had only been a week since Nirvana, since she found out the truth of her old guild.
It was a miracle really.
The fact that the alliance of light guilds went against one of the heads of Balam Alliance, and came back unscathed and alive, is a miracle.
Wendy was proud of her efforts. Her main role in the whole fight against Oración Seis was mainly a supportive one. She was quite pivotal in the survival of the Light Alliance at large.
Even so, she couldn't help but feel frustrated at her overall lack of combat skill. Wendy had no issues in being the support if the situation calls for it, but she had felt helpless standing beside powerhouses like Jura, Erza, Natsu, and Dannis. A Sky Dragon Slayer shouldn't have to hide behind others.
She had heard just how powerful both Natsu and Gajeel were, and she had seen first hand what a proper and experienced Dragon Slayer mage looked like.
She wanted that. She wanted to achieve that level of power too. Not to be babied or left behind, but to stand equal to those she admired. She doesn't want to be looked down upon simply because she was a little girl.
Wendy wasn't blind to the reactions that everyone had made the moment she arrived at Bob's Villa back then. They were expecting a powerful mage, not a little girl.
She doesn't want to be coddled, rather she's quite sick of it. Sick of being told to stay on the sidelines and let the others do the fighting for her. She knew they came from good intentions, especially considering her young age. But they forget one thing.
She is Wendy Marvell, the daughter of Grandeeney. She also has the desire to stand at the pinnacle. She wants to be strong, to show others what she's capable of. Like Erza, she wants to be strong enough to be an S-Class mage one day.
She wants to make Grandeeney proud, wherever she is right now.
Her eyes strayed to the second floor, where Dannis and Laxus stood in quiet discussion with Master Mavis. Both radiated strength so effortlessly it was suffocating.
'That's the level I want to reach,' she thought. 'No, even beyond it.'
Wendy had no illusions that achieving her dream will be a long and arduous journey. Sky Dragon Slayer magic was different from Natsu's or Gajeel's. Their personal brands of Dragon Slayer magic was simplistic in a way that they only needed to increase the potency of flames and hardness of iron scales to be more powerful.
Of course there was a little more to it than that, but that was the gist of it.
Gajeel and Natsu had certainly tried to help, but in all honesty, their style of combat didn't really mesh well with hers.
Sky magic was so versatile and vast that she doesn't even know where to start. She could heal, enchant, manipulate winds and the atmosphere itself. But where should she begin? What should she focus on?
A loud booming laughter in the guild hall caught her attention. One that belonged to Gildarts, the Ace of the Guild.
Wendy let out a gulp. The sheer density and volume of magic that he possessed was staggering, it was even greater than Dannis or Laxus.
From what Mira had told Wendy, Gildarts' position in the guild is what Dannis aims to inherit one day, something he'll become the moment Master Makarov retires.
The position of next Guildmaster was something that was still in heavy debate. But according to everyone, Laxus was currently the strongest contender.
Speaking of Dannis and Laxus, whatever it is they are discussing with Master Mavis seems to be serious. Laxus had his arms crossed, a no-nonsense expression on his face.
The moment she had arrived in the guild and had her guild mark stamped on her right shoulder, a girl that looked to be as young as Wendy had materialized on the second floor.
When Master Makarov explained who she was, Wendy had to gape in awe. To think the First Master of Fairy Tail remained as a wandering spirit after 300 years of her death.
It reminded her of Master Roubal in a way.
She had known that Fairy Tail was considered to be the strongest amongst all the Light Guilds. She had seen it herself. But she had assumed all of their firepower was sent to fight Oración Seis.
But no, they still had so many S-Class mages on hand. It was the reason why they could send so many of their members.
According to Erza, Dannis and Laxus were supposedly equal in strength. Wendy had seen just how strong Dannis was in the fight against Oracion Seis. To think that there was somebody else in Fairy Tail that could match him in power was frightening.
Not only that, Laxus was a Dragon Slayer as well, albeit a fake one.
From what she understood, all S-Class mages had some sort of role in the day-to-day workings of the guild.
Gildarts was the Ace, the strongest. He was the person everyone looked up to, the person most people strived to become.
Erza was the disciplinarian, getting everyone who acted out of line back in shape.
Mirajane acted as the Master's secretary, handling many of the administrative duties as well as the 'face' of the guild, being one of the premier models of Sorcerer Magazine and the guild's most famous member.
Laxus was the one the master sent whenever there was an important meeting and the Master needed a representative. Whether as an envoy to the other guilds or even to the magic council itself, if Makarov couldn't attend, Laxus was sent in his stead.
Mystogan, the last S-Class mage of the guild that she hasn't met yet, was mentioned by others as the most studious of the members. He was the one most often tasked by Master Mavis in researching odd or obscure magics.
Dannis was the instructor and magical tutor, his responsibilities mainly involved being the person to help teach and train the newer and younger mages of the guild. If anyone needed help fine tuning their magic, he was the person you would go to.
Mirajane herself was the proof of Dannis' abilities, having tutored her personally into reaching S-Class. The only other person who is currently learning under him is Romeo, who was still really beginning his career as a mage.
If there was anyone who could guide her path, it was him.
"Wendy?" Erza's calm voice brought her back. "Are you alright?"
"It's nothing…" Wendy admitted, cheeks warm. "I was just thinking about ways to get stronger. But I… I don't know where to start."
"You're already plenty strong, Wendy." Erza smiled gently. "Certainly stronger than I was when I was your age."
"I somehow doubt that." Wendy muttered, sweatdropping.
"Aye sir! When Erza was twelve, she was already throwing A-Rank monsters around!" Happy chimed cheerfully from the table.
Wendy groaned, her forehead meeting the wood with a dull thunk.
Mira giggled as she set drinks down beside them. "How about try asking Dannis for help?"
"I mean I want to…but he seems really busy." Wendy said a bit shyly, glancing up at the second floor again.
"Nonsense, come on. Let me take you to him." Mira said, taking Wendy's hand.
"M-Mira-san! W-wait, he's still talking—!"
The barmaid ignored her concerns as she dragged Wendy up the stairs, Carla following them. The three reached the second floor, where Dannis and Laxus were just finishing with Master Mavis.
"Dannis!" Mira called out happily as she bounded to him.
"Hey." Dannis smiled before giving a nod to Laxus and Master Mavis. "We'll continue this later?"
"Yeah, I got a job with the Thunder God Tribe anyway." Laxus replied, adjusting his cloak with a smirk. His eyes slid to the both of them. "It's good to see you Mira, Wendy."
"Good luck with the job, Laxus!" Mira greeted back. With that, his cloak billowed as he turned, striding off to the ground floor.
Mavis hovered down with a warm smile. "Welcome, Wendy. I hope you'll be happy here."
"Th-thank you, Master Mavis!" Wendy squeaked, bowing deeply.
The First Master's laughter was light as she floated down to join the others, leaving them alone.
Dannis turned his gaze to her. "What did you need?"
"Uh, um…" Wendy's throat tightened as she fumbled for words.
Mira chuckled and answered for her, ruffling Wendy's hair. "She wants advice."
"You do?" Dannis tilted his head, curious.
"Y-Yeah!" Wendy stammered as she could feel her bad habit kicking in. She forced herself to look up. "I wanna get stronger, but I'm not really sure where to start."
Dannis studied her for a long moment, then nodded. "I see. Come on then, let's get to the training ground so I can see what you're capable of."
"E-Eh?" Wendy blinked, startled by the immediate response.
Dannis chuckled at her expression. "Why are you so surprised? This is literally my job as an S-Class mage here. Come on."
She glanced at Mira, who gave her a reassuring smile and a little push forward.
Wendy swallowed hard, her nerves sparking with excitement. She took a step forward, following Dannis out of the hall.
…
[X784, Edge of Magnolia, Dannis' home]
— Mystogan —
A heavy downpour swallowed Magnolia as thunder rolled faintly across the horizon. The sky above churned with dark clouds. Mystogan narrowed his eyes from beneath his hood.
'So… it's beginning. We don't have much time left.'
He approached the secluded home on the edge of town. Dannis had sure chosen a quiet place, far and away from the bustle of Magnolia. A small dirt path led to the back training yard, where Dannis and Wendy were training.
Wendy was panting heavily as she and Dannis were completely drenched from the rain.
"Not bad, Wendy," Dannis said with a smile, "Take a breath and rest up. We'll continue tomorrow."
"I-I can still go on!" Wendy stammered, a pinch of stubbornness leaking through her voice.
Dannis chuckled, shaking his head. "I'm sure you can. But training in this weather isn't healthy for you." His eyes lifted to the swirling clouds.
"R-right…" Wendy relented, shoulders drooping.
On the patio, Carla waited with a towel already in paw. "Wendy, you're soaked!" she scolded sharply, wrapping her partner up without hesitation. "How could you keep training in a downpour like this?!"
Mystogan allowed himself a small smile behind his mask. He remembered that lost, frightened girl when he had first found her in the woods years ago. She had grown. Not in height, perhaps, but in spirit.
He stepped forward, Dannis immediately turning to see him. It seems the Darkness mage sensed him coming.
"Mystogan," Dannis greeted simply.
Mystogan inclined his head. "I came to inform you about our mutual mission."
But Dannis waved a hand toward Wendy. "Before that… Wendy, this is Mystogan, Fairy Tail's other S-Class mage."
The girl blinked up at him, wide-eyed. "You… sound familiar…"
"Of all the guilds in Fiore, I never thought you'd come to this one." Mystogan sighed. Of course she would recognize him instantly. Dragon Slayer senses were not to be underestimated.
Slowly, he reached up and removed the bandana covering his face. His blue hair spilled loose in the rain, revealing the crimson tattoo on the right side of his face.
"Jellal?!" Wendy gasped, voice breaking. Carla's eyes widened.
"I go by Mystogan of Fairy Tail now," he said quietly, shaking his head at the name. "I'm sure you've heard what happened with my namesake."
Dannis raised an eyebrow at the interaction. "You two know each other?"
"Remember when we first met, after the Vulcans?" Mystogan asked. Dannis nodded once. "A month before that, I found a little girl alone in the forest. I brought her to Cait Shelter."
Dannis eyes widened as well in understanding as he looked to Wendy. "Is that why you recognized Wraith Jellal back in Bob's Villa?"
Two small arms suddenly wrapped around his torso. Wendy buried her face into him, tears streaming freely. "It's you… it's really you…"
Mystogan's expression softened as he crouched to her height. "I'm sorry I never came back for you."
"I-I always wanted to see you again," Wendy sobbed. "All this time…"
His gloved hand rested gently atop her head. "Well… I'm here now. And I'm not going anywhere. We'll talk later, alright? There are things you need to know. But for now… trust me."
Wendy nodded hard, wiping her tears but smiling so brightly it almost hurt. "I'll see you at the guild!"
She and Carla hurried off toward Magnolia, leaving only the sound of rainfall between the two men.
"What's this about?" Dannis turned the moment they were alone.
Mystogan straightened, his face turning grim once more. "My father, King Faust… he's increasing the frequency of the Anima. The power, the scale…it's growing. Whatever he's planning, he'll attempt it within the month."
Dannis furrowed his brow, "That's not a long time, but more than enough for us to figure something out. Do you have any idea what he's after?"
"Probably something big." Mystogan admitted. "He must know by now that the Anima is being disrupted. I've been interfering for years. If his researchers have detected it… then he knows it's me."
Dannis took on a thinking expression, one hand on his chin. "Edolas doesn't have the wizard population Earthland does. But what they lack in magic, they make up for in technology. Years of reliance on magic tools… it forced them to advance in ways Earthland never did."
Mystogan nodded grimly. "Exactly. They have constructs, weapons, even cities powered entirely by magic. I wouldn't be surprised if Faust has already created something massive."
"If that's the case… then we should probably prepare for a potential fight."
As the rain pounded around them, Mystogan's thoughts drifted back to his home. the barren skies, the scarcity of natural magic, the desperation that had shaped his people. Earthland was so different. So full of life and energy. He had sworn to protect it.
Mystogan murmured. "If Faust has his way… Earthland will be at risk."
Dannis placed a steady hand on his shoulder. "Then we'll be ready. A month is enough time." He turned toward the glowing lights of Magnolia in the distance. "I'll speak with Master Mavis. Whatever Faust plans… we'll handle it."
…
AN: As I've previously established as well, all S-Class mages serve a purpose in the running of the guild. Something I've said multiple times in previous chapters, this is just the one that confirms each and every one of their duties.
Edolas will also go pretty differently, just the simple fact that Master Mavis is here makes all the coming arcs go differently. It's the thing that always challenged me with the canon arcs.
'How will everything go now that Fairy Tail has another S-Class Mage, as well as Master Mavis working with them?'
The answer I got was to dial everything up by involving almost every established faction in a single arc as much as I can.
Expect craziness and tomfoolery in the coming Edolas arc, though I will take the recent reviews into consideration and not make it too much of a POV festival. I'll stick to the important ones if I can.
Anyways, more chapters ahead on my Patreon and all that jazz. Chapter 99, should be available by the time this chapter was posted. Check it out if you're interested.
Anyways, hope you enjoyed the chapter, cheers!