Chapter 31: Fairy Tail- Year X791 - Saiyan Family of Fairy Tail

Chapter XXXI: Fairy Tail- Year X791

Seven Years of Longing

The Harbor's Vigil

Seven Years Later

The salty breeze carried the familiar scent of the ocean across Hargeon Port as Romeo Conbolt stood at the edge of the wooden pier, his dark hair now longer and his frame taller than it had been as a child. At seventeen, he bore the weight of seven years without his father, without the guild members he'd looked up to as family, without the laughter that had once filled Fairy Tail's halls.

His purple guild mark, now more prominent on his shoulder, caught the late afternoon sunlight as he stared at the horizon with the same hopeless hope he'd maintained every day since Tenrou Island had vanished from existence.

"Romeo," Alzack's voice called from behind him, gentler than it used to be before loss had taught them all about fragility. "We should head back to the guild."

Bisca stepped up beside her husband, her hand resting on the revolver at her hip—a habit that had become second nature in the years since Fairy Tail had lost most of its strength. "Macao will be worried if we stay out too late. You know how things have been lately."

Romeo didn't turn around immediately, his young face marked by a maturity that shouldn't have belonged to someone his age. "Just a few more minutes," he said quietly. "I know they're out there somewhere."

The Guild's Decline

Back at the Fairy Tail guildhall, the atmosphere was far different from the boisterous energy that had once defined the strongest guild in Fiore. The building itself showed signs of wear and poverty—paint peeling from the walls, furniture patched rather than replaced, and a general sense of making do with what they had.

Macao Conbolt, the guild's fourth master, sat behind the bar arguing with Wakaba over guild finances while trying to maintain some semblance of authority. His promotion from regular member to guild master had been born of necessity rather than ambition, and the weight of leadership in such dire circumstances showed in the lines around his eyes.

"We can't keep operating like this," Wakaba insisted, his pipe smoke creating lazy spirals in the air. "The jobs aren't paying enough to cover our debts, and with most of our S-Class mages gone..."

"I know," Macao replied tersely, his frustration evident. "But we can't give up. Not when there's still a chance they're alive."

Nearby, Vijiteer practiced a new dance routine with characteristic enthusiasm, seemingly oblivious to the guild's financial woes. His movements were as eccentric as ever, but even his performances couldn't lift the heavy atmosphere that had settled over their home.

"Look at this masterpiece!" he called out, striking a dramatic pose. "I call it the 'Seven Year Sorrow Shuffle!' It perfectly captures our guild's—"

"Maybe save the interpretive dance for later, Vijiteer," Warren interrupted gently, not wanting to dampen his friend's spirits but aware of the mood in the room.

At a nearby table, Nab sat as he had for years—motionless before the job request board, though his stillness now seemed more like mourning than indecision.

"At least we have fewer jobs to choose from now," he muttered, his usual complaint lacking its former energy.

"That shouldn't matter to you," Warren replied with forced lightness. "You haven't taken a job in seven years anyway."

"That's because I was waiting for the right one," Nab shot back. "The one that would bring them back."

Physical Changes and Painful Reminders

Jet looked up from his conversation with Droy, shaking his head in amazement. "You know, it's weird how people change. Look at Reedus—he's gotten so thin since Master Makarov's giant magic wore off him completely. Lost all that magical weight he'd been carrying."

He gestured toward Droy, whose own transformation had gone in the opposite direction. "Meanwhile, you've gotten so fat I could mistake you for how Reedus used to look."

Droy's face fell at the observation, and he unconsciously patted his expanded midsection. "It's... it's comfort eating," he admitted quietly. "Every meal reminds me that Levy's not here to scold me about my diet. That she's never going to come back and tell me I need to exercise more."

The casual mention of their missing friend sent a wave of silence through the nearby conversations. Levy's absence, like that of all the Tenrou Island team, remained an open wound that refused to heal.

The Debt Collectors

The heavy wooden doors of the guildhall burst open with unnecessary force, admitting several figures whose presence immediately shifted the atmosphere from melancholy to tense. Thibault, a large man with an ugly sneer, led a group of Twilight Ogre members into the guild with the casual arrogance of those who held power over the desperate.

"Well, well," Thibault drawled, his voice carrying false politeness that fooled no one. "If it isn't Fiore's most pathetic excuse for a guild."

Macao straightened behind the bar, his jaw tightening. "Thibault. You're early. We agreed on the end of the month."

"Plans change, old man," Thibault replied, gesturing for his companions to spread out through the guild hall. "My master's getting impatient about the money Fairy Tail owes us. Seems to think you might try to skip out on your debts."

"We'll pay double next month," Macao said firmly, though his voice lacked the confidence to make the promise convincing. "You have my word as guild master."

Thibault laughed, a harsh sound that echoed off the worn walls. "Your word? The word of the master of a guild that couldn't even protect its own members?" He gestured around the diminished space. "Face it, Macao. If Twilight Ogre hadn't stepped in to help you after your little 'Tenrou Island incident,' this place would have been disbanded years ago."

His companions began their usual routine of casual destruction—overturning tables, scattering papers, and generally making their displeasure known through petty vandalism. It was a ritual of humiliation that had become all too familiar over the years.

Scattered Memories

During the commotion, Reedus's sketchbook was knocked from a table, its pages scattering across the floor like fallen leaves. The guild members froze as drawings of their missing family spread before them—detailed sketches of Natsu's grin, Lucy's determined expression, Erza's stoic beauty, Gray's casual confidence.

But it was the group portraits that hit hardest. The entire Tenrou Island team captured in moments of happiness and camaraderie that now felt like echoes from another world entirely. Gildarts with his arm around Teilanne, the Clive siblings in various combinations of protective and playful poses, Laxus and Gine in what was clearly a private moment between them.

"Seven years," Wakaba whispered, kneeling to gather the scattered papers with trembling hands. "Seven years since we lost them all."

"We searched everywhere," Alzack added, his voice thick with old grief. "Every ship, every magical detection method we could afford. Nothing."

Macao's composure finally cracked as he looked down at a sketch of his old friend Gildarts laughing at something Natsu had said. "We never stopped looking. Even when the Council declared them officially dead, even when other guilds told us to move on..."

"Romeo hasn't smiled once since they disappeared," Bisca observed quietly, her maternal instincts extending to the boy who had lost so much. "Not a real smile. He keeps watching the horizon like they're going to come sailing home any day."

The guild members began to cry—quietly at first, then more openly as seven years of suppressed grief finally found its release. They had been the ones left behind, the survivors tasked with keeping Fairy Tail alive when its heart had been torn away.

The Rumbling Returns

Their mourning was interrupted by a familiar sound—a deep, rhythmic rumbling that came from somewhere high above them. Every member of the guild froze, their faces going pale as memories of Tenrou Island's final night came flooding back.

"No," Macao breathed, his hands shaking. "Not again. Please, not again."

They rushed outside as one, their faces turned skyward, expecting to see the black wings of apocalypse descending once more. Instead, they were greeted by a sight that was both familiar and impossible—the sleek form of Blue Pegasus's magical bomber, Christina Version 2, approaching from the direction of the ocean.

Blue Pegasus Arrives

The ship's landing was as dramatic as everything associated with Blue Pegasus tended to be. Ichiya emerged first, his usual flamboyant style intact despite the serious nature of his visit.

"Men!" he called out in his characteristic manner, though his tone carried an urgency that cut through his usual theatrics.

Ren, Hibiki, and Eve descended more gracefully, their magic allowing them to float down from the ship with practiced ease. But instead of their usual flirtations with any available ladies, their expressions were serious, focused.

"Laki! Kinana!" Hibiki called out, but stopped himself before continuing his usual romantic pursuits. "Actually, we need to talk. All of you."

"What's going on?" Macao demanded, his master's instincts putting him on alert. "Why are you here?"

Ichiya stepped forward, his usual perfume-obsessed persona replaced by something approaching solemnity. "Because," he said carefully, "Tenrou Island still exists."

The Impossible Truth

The silence that followed Ichiya's declaration was absolute. Every member of Fairy Tail stared at the Blue Pegasus team as if they had announced the impossible—which, in many ways, they had.

"That's... that's not possible," Warren stammered, his telepathic abilities having found no trace of their missing friends over seven years of searching. "We looked everywhere. Every magical detection method, every satellite image, every—"

Hibiki stepped forward, producing a magical viewing crystal that began to display images as he spoke. "Our latest long-range reconnaissance mission picked up an unusual magical signature approximately 400 miles southeast of here. When we investigated..."

The crystal showed images that made every Fairy Tail member's heart stop. An island, green and lush, exactly where Tenrou Island had once stood. But more than that—massive trees that had grown to impossible sizes, magical energy patterns that suggested powerful defensive enchantments, and most impossibly of all, signs of recent human activity.

"It's been there all along," Eve continued quietly. "Hidden by some kind of protective magic that we've only just learned how to detect."

The Search

Within hours, a joint expedition had been organized. Blue Pegasus provided transportation while Fairy Tail's remaining members prepared for what might be either the greatest joy or most crushing disappointment of their lives.

Romeo stood at the front of the ship as they approached the coordinates, his young hands gripping the rail so tightly his knuckles had gone white. Seven years of hoping, seven years of believing when everyone else had given up, had led to this moment.

"There," Ren called out, pointing toward a section of ocean that appeared completely empty. "The readings are strongest right there."

But all they could see was open water, waves reflecting the afternoon sun with no trace of land anywhere in sight.

That's when they saw her.

The First Master's Guardian

A young woman stood on the surface of the ocean itself, her long blonde hair flowing around her like she was submerged in water rather than standing on its surface. She wore a simple white dress that seemed to glow with its own internal light, and her bare feet rested on the waves as if they were solid ground.

She looked up at their approaching ship with eyes that held ancient wisdom despite her youthful appearance. When she saw them, she smiled—a expression of joy so pure and welcoming that it brought tears to every observer's eyes.

Without speaking, she raised her hands toward the sky.

The ocean around her began to churn and bubble, magical energy crackling through the water like visible electricity. Then, slowly, impossibly, an island began to rise from the depths.

Tenrou Island emerged from its seven-year slumber like something from a fairy tale, water cascading from its shores as ancient magic restored it to the surface world. The massive tree at its center had grown beyond all recognition, its branches now reaching toward the clouds themselves.

Reunion

The mysterious girl began to float toward the island, and the Blue Pegasus ship followed as if drawn by invisible threads. They made landfall on a beach that looked exactly as it had seven years ago, untouched by time or decay.

Romeo was the first off the ship, his feet hitting the sand at a run as he called out names that had become prayers over the years. "Dad! Natsu! Lucy! Anyone!"

They found Natsu first, collapsed beneath the great tree in peaceful sleep, looking exactly as he had the night Tenrou Island disappeared. No older, no changed, as if seven years had been merely a long dream.

Back at the Guild

Meanwhile, back at the Fairy Tail guildhall, Thibault had returned with reinforcements and a nastier attitude. His master's patience had run out, and the debt collector's orders were simple: collect what was owed, by any means necessary.

"Listen up, you pathetic excuses for mages," he snarled, his magic beginning to manifest around his fists. "My boss is tired of waiting. You can pay up now, or we'll take it out of your hides."

Romeo, who had been left behind to mind the guild, stood as straight as his seventeen-year-old frame would allow. "We don't have the money today. Come back next week."

"Next week?" Thibault laughed harshly. "I don't think you understand your position, kid."

He drew back his fist, magical energy crackling around it as he prepared to teach the young mage a lesson about respect. The punch flew toward Romeo's face with enough force to shatter bones.

It never landed.

A sandaled foot intercepted Thibault's fist, stopping the attack cold before a devastating kick sent the debt collector flying across the guild hall to crash into the far wall. He slumped to the ground, unconscious before he hit the floor.

"That's no way to treat my family," a familiar voice said, and Romeo turned to see pink hair and a grin that had haunted his dreams for seven years.

Natsu Dragneel stood in the doorway of the guild, looking exactly as he had the night he'd vanished, with Happy floating beside him and the rest of the Tenrou Island team filing in behind him.

Explanations and Celebrations

"Why does everyone look so old?" Natsu asked with characteristic bluntness, his dragon slayer senses detecting the changes in his guild mates even if his eyes couldn't quite process them.

Lucy stepped forward, her celestial magic having protected her from aging just as it had everyone else on the island. "We've been in suspended animation for seven years," she explained gently. "That girl—Mavis Vermillion, the first guild master of Fairy Tail—she used the ultimate defensive magic to protect us from Acnologia's attack."

Mavis herself materialized beside them, her ethereal form solid enough to be seen but translucent enough to remind everyone of her true nature. "Fairy Sphere," she said with a smile that held both pride and sadness. "It protects what's most precious to the guild by freezing it in time. You've all been safe, but the world has continued without you."

Gildarts swept his son into an embrace that spoke to seven years of missed birthdays, missed conversations, missed moments of being a father. "Romeo," he said, his voice thick with emotion. "You've grown so much."

Teilanne pulled her children close, her Saiyan heritage allowing her to sense how much the guild had struggled in their absence. "We felt your love," she said to the remaining members. "Even in stasis, we could feel that you never stopped believing we'd come home."

Laxus and Gine stood together, their hands intertwined as they surveyed their guild family. The lightning dragon slayer's exile had been forgotten in the face of Acnologia's threat, and his place in the guild was now unquestionable.

The Smile Returns

As the celebration began—tentative at first, then growing in volume and joy as the reality sank in—Natsu made his way over to Romeo. The young man who had once been a small boy trying to prove himself to his father's friends.

"You've really grown up," Natsu said with genuine admiration. "You kept the guild together while we were gone, didn't you?"

Romeo tried to speak, tried to find words for seven years of longing and hope and determination. Instead, for the first time since Tenrou Island had vanished, he smiled. A real smile, wide and bright and full of the joy that had been missing from Fairy Tail for far too long.

"Welcome home," he said, tears streaming down his face as he finally allowed himself to believe that his family had truly returned.

The guild erupted in cheers, in laughter, in the sound of a family reunited after the longest separation any of them had ever endured. Fairy Tail was whole again, and the future—whatever it might bring—suddenly seemed filled with infinite possibility.

New Beginnings and Old Threats

The Guild's Restoration

In the days following their return, Fairy Tail underwent a transformation that seemed almost magical in itself. The peeling paint was replaced with vibrant colors, new furniture appeared courtesy of various guild members' newfound enthusiasm for home improvement, and the atmosphere crackled with the energy that had been missing for seven years.

Macao stood behind the bar, no longer bearing the weight of guild leadership alone as Makarov resumed his role as master. The relief in the older man's posture was evident as he served drinks with something approaching his old enthusiasm.

"It's good to have you back where you belong, Master," he said, sliding a tankard across the bar to where Makarov sat reviewing guild finances with a concerned expression.

"Seven years of debt," Makarov muttered, his small frame somehow managing to convey immense frustration as he reviewed the ledgers. "How did we accumulate this much money owed to other guilds?"

From across the hall, Gildarts looked up from where he was helping Cana organize job requests, his expression sheepish. "That might be partially my fault. S-Class jobs don't exactly come with damage insurance."

Teilanne, who was seated nearby reviewing their family's own financial situation, raised an eyebrow at her husband. "Partially?"

"Okay, mostly my fault," Gildarts admitted. "But in my defense, how was I supposed to know that destroying an entire mountain to catch one dark guild would affect the local ecosystem so dramatically?"

Family Dynamics

The Clive family had settled back into guild life with varying degrees of adjustment. Kizuna found himself gravitating toward the bar area where Mirajane worked, their relationship continuing to develop from the foundation they had built during their time on Tenrou Island.

"It feels strange, seeing how much the guild changed while we were gone," he said, watching her serve drinks to members who looked significantly older than when they'd left.

Mirajane nodded, her expression thoughtful as she wiped down glasses. "Lisanna looks the same as when we left, but everyone else..." She gestured toward where Romeo sat with some of the other remaining members, his seventeen-year-old frame a stark reminder of how much time had passed.

"At least we experienced it together," Kizuna replied. "All of us who were on the island - we're processing this together."

Kizuna followed her gaze, his analytical mind processing the subtle changes in dynamics. "And now?"

"Now we figure out how to be a family again," Mirajane replied. "All of us."

Developing Relationships

Across the hall, Cumber was engaged in what could generously be called conversation with Wendy, though the interaction consisted mainly of him nodding at appropriate intervals while she explained the intricacies of Sky Dragon Slayer magic recovery techniques.

"The important thing is to maintain proper breathing patterns during magical exertion," Wendy was saying, her hands moving animatedly as she demonstrated the concepts. "Most people don't realize that dragon slayer magic puts stress on the respiratory system in ways that—"

She paused mid-sentence, noticing that Cumber was staring at her with an expression of focused attention that made her suddenly self-conscious.

"Am I talking too much?" she asked, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Carla's always telling me I ramble when I get excited about healing magic."

"No," Cumber replied in his characteristically economical manner. "Continue."

The simple response somehow carried more encouragement than a lengthy compliment might have, and Wendy found herself smiling as she resumed her explanation.

The Lightning Couple's Integration

Near the guild's main entrance, Laxus and Gine were having a more complex conversation about their place in the restored guild hierarchy. The lightning dragon slayer's exile had been officially lifted, but the question of his role remained unresolved.

"I could take on S-Class missions again," Laxus said, though his tone suggested the idea held less appeal than it once had. "Help with the debt situation."

Gine shook her head. "That's not what you want, though. I can see it in your posture—you're suggesting it because you think you should, not because you actually want to."

"What I want," Laxus replied, his voice dropping to a more private level, "is to figure out how to be part of this guild without falling back into old patterns. Without letting my pride make decisions for me."

He gestured toward where Makarov was arguing with Erza about guild policies, their discussion animated but lacking the underlying tension that had characterized such interactions before his exile.

"I spent seven years learning who I am without the guild's expectations defining me," he continued. "Now I need to figure out who I am as part of the guild, but on my own terms."

Gine's hand found his, their fingers intertwining automatically. "Then we'll figure it out together. No rush, no pressure to be anyone other than who you've become."

Unexpected Visitors

Their conversation was interrupted by a commotion near the guild's main doors. A delegation from the Magic Council had arrived, led by a stern-faced woman whose official robes marked her as someone of considerable authority.

"Master Makarov," she announced formally, "I am Councilwoman Belno. We need to discuss the legal implications of Fairy Tail's seven-year absence."

The guild hall fell silent as members turned their attention to this unexpected development. Makarov approached the delegation with the wariness of someone who had dealt with the Magic Council's bureaucracy for decades.

"What implications?" he asked carefully.

"Your guild was declared legally dissolved three years ago," Belno replied, consulting a thick folder of documents. "Your assets were redistributed, your legal standing was revoked, and your guild registration was cancelled. Technically speaking, Fairy Tail no longer exists as a recognized magical guild."

The silence that followed this declaration was deafening. Guild members looked between each other with expressions ranging from confusion to outrage.

It was Erza who stepped forward first, her voice carrying the authority she had earned through years of leadership. "That's unacceptable. We never agreed to dissolution."

"You were declared dead," another council member interjected. "The standard procedure in such cases is—"

"The standard procedure," Teilanne interrupted, her Saiyan heritage making her presence suddenly more imposing, "assumes that the people in question are actually dead. Since we're clearly not, perhaps the dissolution was premature."

Legal Complications

Belno consulted her documents again, her expression suggesting she had anticipated this argument. "Be that as it may, the legal reality is that Fairy Tail currently has no official status. If you wish to reform as a guild, you'll need to go through the standard registration process."

"Which includes?" Makarov asked, though his tone suggested he already suspected the answer wouldn't be pleasant.

"New guild marks, new registration fees, new facility inspections, and most importantly, a probationary period during which your activities will be closely monitored by Council representatives."

She gestured to several younger officials who had remained silent until now. "These inspectors will be stationed here permanently to ensure compliance with all current magical guild regulations."

The guild members exchanged glances that spoke to their collective opinion of having Council representatives as permanent residents in their home.

The Clive Family's Response

Uruk, who had been analyzing the situation with his characteristic thoroughness, stepped forward with a question that cut to the heart of the matter.

"What happens if we refuse the reformation process?" he asked. "If we simply continue operating as we always have?"

Belno's expression grew more severe. "Then you would be classified as an illegal magical organization. All activities would be subject to immediate Council intervention, and individual members could face imprisonment."

Kizuna's jaw tightened at the implied threat, his Super Saiyan heritage making him instinctively protective of his family and guild. "And if we comply with your reformation process?"

"Then Fairy Tail will be recognized as a legitimate guild again, subject to all standard regulations and oversight requirements."

The councilwoman's tone suggested this was a generous offer rather than the bureaucratic maze it clearly represented.

A Master's Decision

Makarov studied the Council delegation for several long moments, his aged features revealing nothing of his thoughts. The guild members waited in tense silence for his decision, knowing that whatever he chose would affect all their futures.

"We'll comply," he said finally, his voice carrying resignation and determination in equal measure. "Fairy Tail has always operated within the bounds of the law, and we won't start breaking that precedent now."

"However," he continued, his tone hardening slightly, "the inspection process will not interfere with our day-to-day operations or our treatment of guild members as family. Is that understood?"

Belno nodded curtly. "As long as your activities remain within legal parameters, the inspectors are only here to observe and report."

New Challenges

As the Council delegation settled into their temporary quarters within the guild hall, the atmosphere shifted subtly. Conversations became more guarded, laughter came less freely, and the sense of being watched affected everyone's behavior.

"This is going to be a problem," Lucy observed quietly to Levy, both women speaking in voices too low for their official observers to overhear.

"We can't exactly have family arguments with government representatives taking notes," Levy agreed, glancing toward where one inspector was already documenting the guild hall's layout.

Near the bar, Gray was having a similar conversation with Juvia, though her attention seemed divided between the topic at hand and her continued fascination with his every movement.

"At least they can't regulate how we feel about each other," Gray said, then immediately looked uncomfortable at how that statement might be interpreted.

"Gray-sama is so romantic!" Juvia gushed, apparently finding deep meaning in his words that he hadn't intended to convey.

The Strongest Team's Reunion

Later that evening, after the Council inspectors had settled into their quarters and the guild had returned to something resembling normal operations, Team Natsu gathered around their usual table to discuss their changed circumstances.

"So we're basically starting over," Natsu said with characteristic bluntness, though his tone suggested the prospect didn't particularly bother him. "New guild marks, new paperwork, new rules to follow."

"At least we're together," Lucy replied, her hand unconsciously moving to where her Fairy Tail mark had been. The prospect of getting new guild marks felt like losing a piece of their history, but she recognized the necessity.

Erza nodded agreement, though her expression remained troubled. "The real challenge will be maintaining our guild's character while operating under Council oversight. We've never been good at following other people's rules."

"We've never needed to be," Gray added. "But if it means staying together as a guild, we'll figure it out."

Happy, who had been unusually quiet during the evening's events, finally spoke up. "At least the fish here is still good."

The simple observation somehow managed to capture the essence of their situation—some things had changed dramatically, but the core of what made Fairy Tail special remained intact.

Private Moments

As the evening wound down and guild members began to disperse to their homes, the couples found opportunities for private conversation away from official observation.

Gildarts and Teilanne walked along the river that ran behind the guild hall, their steps synchronized despite their very different backgrounds and fighting styles.

"Bureaucracy," Gildarts said with disgust. "I'd rather fight a hundred dark guilds than deal with one government inspector."

Teilanne's laugh carried genuine amusement. "Says the man who once destroyed an entire town because he forgot to control his crash magic during a celebration."

"That was an accident," Gildarts protested, though his grin suggested he wasn't entirely sorry about the incident. "And technically, I only destroyed half the town."

"The other half was evacuated," Teilanne reminded him. "By people who recognized the signs of impending Gildarts-related destruction."

Their comfortable banter continued as they walked, two powerful individuals finding peace in each other's company despite the complications surrounding them.

The Next Generation

Back in the guild hall, Romeo was having his own conversation with some of the returning members, his seven years of growth evident in both his physical development and his magical abilities.

"I kept training," he told Natsu, pride evident in his voice. "Every day for seven years. I knew that when you came back, I wanted to be strong enough to stand beside you as an equal."

Natsu studied the young man who had once been a small boy eager to prove himself. "You've definitely gotten stronger. But more than that, you've gotten wiser. Leadership suits you."

The compliment carried weight coming from someone who had watched Romeo grow from childhood, and the young mage straightened slightly at the recognition of his development.

"I learned from watching Master Macao," Romeo replied. "And from wondering what you would do in difficult situations. It helped, having examples to follow even when the examples weren't physically present."

Signs of Trouble

As the guild members settled into their first night back together, none of them noticed the figure watching from the shadows outside the hall. Dressed in dark clothing that rendered them nearly invisible, the observer took careful note of which rooms contained sleeping guild members and which areas remained unguarded.

After several minutes of surveillance, the figure melted back into the darkness, leaving no trace of their presence except for a small magical signature that would be undetectable to anyone not specifically looking for it.

The next morning would bring new challenges, new threats, and the beginning of conflicts that would test the restored guild's unity in ways their seven-year separation never had.

But for now, Fairy Tail was home, whole, and ready to face whatever the future might bring—together.

Dawn of a New Era

As the first rays of sunlight struck the guild hall's windows, illuminating the Fairy Tail symbol that had been repainted with loving care, the building seemed to pulse with renewed energy. The magic that bound this particular family together had survived seven years of separation, bureaucratic dissolution, and the threat of permanent oversight.

Whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them as they always had—as family, united by bonds that no government inspection could document or regulate.

The age of Fairy Tail's second chapter was about to begin.

New Beginnings and Old Threats

The Celebration

The guild hall had been transformed for the celebration - streamers hung from the rafters, tables groaned under the weight of food and drink, and the atmosphere practically vibrated with joy and relief. Every remaining member of Fairy Tail had contributed something to the party, creating a feast that rivaled any festival in Magnolia.

Macao stood behind the bar, serving drinks with genuine happiness for the first time in seven years. When Makarov approached and gestured for him to step aside, the fourth guild master shook his head firmly.

"Master," Macao said, his voice carrying newfound confidence, "I kept this guild together for seven years. I'd like to keep the position, if you'll let me."

Makarov studied his longtime guild member with surprise and growing respect. "You've earned it," he agreed finally. "But I'll be here to advise when you need it."

The exchange drew attention from nearby guild members, and soon word spread through the party that Macao would remain as guild master. The decision was met with approval from both the returning and remaining members - he had proven himself in their absence.

"Seven years of debt," Macao muttered to himself as he reviewed some paperwork behind the bar. "But we'll figure it out. We always do."

Romeo's Growth and Totomaru's Legacy

Near the party's center, Natsu was engaged in animated conversation with Romeo, whose fire magic created small flames that danced between his fingers with impressive control.

"You've really improved," Natsu said, watching the precise manipulation of the flames. "This technique... it's not like anything I taught you before."

Romeo's expression grew slightly embarrassed. "Actually, I've been training with someone else. Don't tell Dad, but I've been studying under Totomaru from the old Element 4."

Natsu's eyebrows shot up in surprise. "Totomaru? The guy from Phantom Lord?"

"He opened a fire magic school after Phantom Lord disbanded," Romeo explained, his flames shifting colors from orange to blue as he demonstrated different techniques. "He's actually a really good teacher, even if he still complains about you constantly. Something about you ruining his 'artistic vision' during your fight."

"He's still holding a grudge?" Natsu asked with a mixture of amusement and exasperation.

"Oh yeah. He makes all his students practice the 'Anti-Natsu Dragneel Flame Techniques' every Tuesday."

Marriage and New Beginnings

At a nearby table, Erza was staring in amazement at Bisca and Alzack, who sat together with easy familiarity that spoke to years of partnership.

"You two are actually married?" Erza said, her voice carrying disbelief that such a thing had happened during their absence.

Bisca laughed, her hand finding Alzack's automatically. "Seven years, Erza. A lot can change in seven years."

"And we have a daughter," Alzack added proudly, pulling out a small photograph. "Asuka. She's with her babysitter tonight, but we'd love for you to meet her tomorrow."

Erza studied the photo with the same intensity she once reserved for battle plans. "She looks like both of you. Strong features, determined expression. She'll probably be a handful when she's older."

"She already is," Bisca replied with fond exasperation. "Yesterday she tried to 'help' with target practice using my guns. Nearly blew up the neighbor's fence."

Kinana's Mysterious Voice

Near the guild's main bar, Makarov was speaking quietly with Kinana, his grandfatherly concern evident in his gentle tone.

"How have you been, child?" he asked. "Any progress with your memories?"

Kinana shook her head, but her expression wasn't entirely discouraged. "Nothing specific, Master. But lately, I keep hearing this voice. It's kind and gentle, and it keeps asking me to share my thoughts, to tell it how I'm feeling."

She paused, touching her temple lightly. "I can't tell if it's a memory trying to surface or something else entirely. But the voice feels... familiar somehow. Like it belongs to someone who cares about me."

Makarov's expression grew thoughtful, though he kept his suspicions to himself. Some mysteries, he had learned, revealed themselves in their own time.

Lamia Scale's Arrival

The guild's celebration was interrupted by the arrival of five figures at the main entrance. Lyon Vastia led the group, his white hair and confident posture immediately recognizable despite the years that had passed. Behind him came Sherry Blendy, Toby Horhorta, Yuka Suzuki, and most imposingly, Jura Neekis himself.

"Well, well," Lyon announced with his characteristic dramatic flair, "look what the tide washed back to shore."

The older Fairy Tail members rushed to greet them warmly, with Macao stepping forward first. "Lyon! Everyone! Thank you for coming."

"We couldn't miss the celebration," Jura replied, his deep voice carrying genuine warmth. "Lamia Scale has been searching for Tenrou Island alongside Blue Pegasus for years. Seeing you all return safely... it's the best news Fiore has received in seven years."

Sherry clapped her hands together excitedly. "Oh, the romance of it all! A guild lost to the depths, returning home after seven years of separation! It's like something from a fairy tale!"

"Speaking of fairy tales," Yuka interjected with obvious pride, "you might be interested to know that Lamia Scale has risen to become Fiore's second strongest guild during your absence."

The announcement drew impressed murmurs from the Fairy Tail members, though it also served as a reminder of how much the magical world had changed in seven years.

Lyon's Love at First Sight

Lyon's dramatic entrance came to an abrupt halt when his eyes fell upon Juvia, who was standing near Gray and chatting with some of the other guild members. His expression transformed from casual confidence to stunned amazement in an instant.

"By the frozen heavens," Lyon breathed, his hand dramatically placed over his heart, "who is that vision of aquatic beauty?"

Before anyone could react, Lyon was striding across the guild hall with purpose, his ice magic unconsciously creating small crystalline flowers in his wake. He approached Juvia with the fervor of someone experiencing a religious revelation.

"My dear, radiant water goddess," Lyon announced loudly enough for half the guild to hear, "I believe I am experiencing love at first sight! Your beauty rivals the morning dew, your presence makes my heart race like a winter storm!"

Juvia's reaction was immediate and spectacular. Her water magic began swirling around her as her mind raced through the implications of suddenly having two ice mages interested in her attention.

"Juvia doesn't understand!" she exclaimed, her third-person speech becoming more pronounced as her emotional state escalated. "First Gray-sama ignores Juvia, then Lyon-sama declares love, but what about Gajeel-kun's kindness, and now there's this new attention, and—"

Her rambling devolved into increasingly frantic speculation about potential romantic scenarios involving various guild members, causing Lucy to cover her face with her hands in exasperation.

"This is getting way too complicated," Lucy muttered, while Gray looked between Lyon and the increasingly flustered Juvia with growing alarm.

"Why do all the crazy ones target me somehow?" Gray asked the air in general, receiving unsympathetic looks from several nearby guild members.

Kizuna followed her gaze, his analytical mind processing the subtle changes in dynamics. "And now?"

"Now we figure out how to be a family again," Mirajane replied. "All of us."

Developing Relationships

She paused mid-sentence, noticing that Cumber was staring at her with an expression of focused attention that made her suddenly self-conscious.

"Am I talking too much?" she asked, her cheeks flushing slightly. "Carla's always telling me I ramble when I get excited about healing magic."

"No," Cumber replied in his characteristically economical manner. "Continue."

The simple response somehow carried more encouragement than a lengthy compliment might have, and Wendy found herself smiling as she resumed her explanation.

The Lightning Couple's Integration

"I could take on S-Class missions again," Laxus said, though his tone suggested the idea held less appeal than it once had. "Help with the debt situation."

Gine shook her head. "That's not what you want, though. I can see it in your posture—you're suggesting it because you think you should, not because you actually want to."

He gestured toward where Makarov was arguing with Erza about guild policies, their discussion animated but lacking the underlying tension that had characterized such interactions before his exile.

"I spent seven years learning who I am without the guild's expectations defining me," he continued. "Now I need to figure out who I am as part of the guild, but on my own terms."

Gine's hand found his, their fingers intertwining automatically. "Then we'll figure it out together. No rush, no pressure to be anyone other than who you've become."

The Destroyer's Recognition

The jovial atmosphere took on a different quality when Jura's eyes fell upon Teilanne, who was standing beside Gildarts near the guild's main bar. The Wizard Saint's expression shifted from casual friendliness to something approaching reverence mixed with wariness.

"Gildarts," Jura said carefully, his deep voice carrying across the conversations around them, "I see you've brought your wife to the celebration."

The way he emphasized 'wife' caused nearby conversations to quiet as guild members turned their attention to the exchange. Lyon, temporarily distracted from his pursuit of Juvia, looked between Jura and Teilanne with growing curiosity.

"You know Teilanne?" Gildarts asked, though his tone suggested he already suspected the answer.

"Know of her," Jura corrected, inclining his head respectfully toward Teilanne. "The Destroyer's reputation precedes her, even among the Wizard Saints. Though I confess, learning that she married into Fairy Tail is... concerning news for the magical world's balance of power."

Teilanne raised an eyebrow at the formal address, her Saiyan heritage making her instinctively assess whether Jura represented a threat. "Concerning how, exactly?"

"With respect, ma'am," Lyon interjected, his usual dramatic flair replaced by genuine nervousness, "when Lamia Scale received word that Fairy Tail had returned, Master Bob immediately called an emergency meeting. Half of Fiore's guild masters are probably holding similar meetings right now."

Sherry nodded enthusiastically, seemingly oblivious to the tension her words were creating. "Oh yes! The romantic tragedy of the Destroyer's seven-year disappearance had become quite the legend! Star-crossed lovers separated by magical catastrophe, only to return stronger than ever!"

"Sherry," Yuka said quietly, "perhaps this isn't the time for—"

"No, let her continue," Teilanne interrupted, her voice carrying the authority of someone accustomed to command. "I'm curious about what version of events has been spreading through the magical world."

The Legend Spreads

Toby stepped forward, his mask making his expression unreadable but his body language suggesting discomfort. "The story goes that the Destroyer vanished during a battle so intense it erased an entire island from existence. Some guilds thought you'd been killed. Others believed you'd gone into hiding to prevent collateral damage to innocent people."

"Both theories," Jura added gravely, "assumed that your return would signal either celebration or catastrophe, depending on the circumstances that brought you back."

Kizuna, who had been listening from his position near Mirajane, moved closer to his mother with the protective instincts that defined Saiyan family bonds. "And now that we're back?"

"Now," Lyon replied with brutal honesty, "every guild master in Fiore is trying to figure out whether Fairy Tail's return represents a shift in the magical balance that they need to prepare for."

The Clive siblings exchanged glances that spoke to years of dealing with their mother's reputation and its consequences. Uruk stepped forward with his characteristic analytical approach.

"Quantify 'prepare for,'" he said, his tone suggesting he already suspected the answer wouldn't be pleasant.

"Some guilds are considering alliances," Jura admitted reluctantly. "Others are discussing whether Fairy Tail's return, combined with the Destroyer's presence, represents a threat that needs to be... managed."

The temperature in the guild hall seemed to drop several degrees as the implications sank in. Gildarts moved closer to his wife, his crash magic beginning to manifest unconsciously around his prosthetic limbs.

"Managed," Gildarts repeated, his voice carrying the kind of deadly calm that preceded volcanic eruptions. "That's an interesting choice of words."

Family Unity

Cumber appeared at his mother's other side, his quiet presence somehow more menacing than overt displays of power might have been. Gine stepped up beside her brothers, her recent mastery of Full Powered Super Saiyan making her ki fluctuate in response to the implied threat.

"Let me make something clear," Teilanne said, her voice carrying the authority that had earned her the title of Destroyer, "my family and I have no interest in conquest, domination, or whatever other scenarios your guild masters are imagining. We're here because this is our home."

She gestured toward the guild hall around them, encompassing the celebration that had temporarily stalled as the political implications became clear.

"However," she continued, her power beginning to manifest as a barely visible aura around her body, "if other guilds decide that our existence is a 'problem' that needs solving, they'll discover exactly why I earned my reputation in the first place."

The Lamia Scale members shifted uncomfortably, clearly caught between their desire to maintain friendly relations with Fairy Tail and their awareness of the broader political situation developing across Fiore.

Lucy's Departure

The tension was broken by Lucy's voice from near the guild's entrance. "I'm going to head home," she announced, her tone suggesting she wanted to avoid the political complications that were clearly brewing. "It's been a long day, and I need to... well, figure out what happened to my apartment after seven years."

Natsu looked up from his conversation with Romeo, his dragon slayer senses detecting the underlying stress in Lucy's voice despite her casual tone. "Want us to come with you?"

"I'll be fine," Lucy replied, though her expression suggested otherwise. "I just need some time to process everything. Seven years is a lot to catch up on."

As she left, several other guild members began to disperse as well, the political revelation having cast a shadow over what had been a joyful reunion celebration.

The Debt Reality

Macao approached Makarov with a ledger that contained seven years of accumulated financial obligations. "Master," he said quietly, "we need to discuss the Twilight Ogre situation. Their representative will be here tomorrow to collect what we owe them."

Makarov studied the numbers with growing dismay. "This is worse than I thought. Seven years of protection fees, plus interest..."

"We'll handle it," Erza said firmly, her strategic mind already working through possible solutions. "Whatever it takes."

Mirajane nodded agreement from behind the bar, her demonic heritage making her protective instincts flare at the thought of anyone threatening their guild family. "Fairy Tail takes care of its own. We always have."

Teilanne stepped forward, her earlier display of power fading as her maternal instincts took precedence over her warrior nature. "What's the total amount?"

"More than we can pay through normal jobs," Macao admitted reluctantly. "Unless we take on S-Class missions exclusively for the next few years, which would mean..."

"Which would mean putting the guild in constant danger to pay off debts incurred while we were gone," Gildarts finished grimly.

The financial reality was sobering, but the Clive family had dealt with worse situations before. As they looked around at their guild family—returned members still processing seven years of change, remaining members who had sacrificed everything to keep Fairy Tail alive—they knew that whatever challenges lay ahead, they would face them together.

Rumors and Consequences

As the evening wound down and the celebration devolved into smaller conversations about the practical realities of their return, word of the Destroyer's reappearance was already spreading beyond Lamia Scale's members.

Messages were being sent to guild masters across Fiore, magical communication networks were buzzing with speculation, and somewhere in the shadows, darker forces were taking note of Fairy Tail's return to full strength.

The reunion had brought joy and hope, but it had also announced to the world that one of the most powerful families in magical history was back in play. The consequences of that announcement would ripple across the magical world in ways none of them could yet imagine.