East Forest of Magnolia
Makarov walked through the forest, followed by a noisy child with spiky cherry-pink hair and a white scale-patterned scarf.
The boy was a ball of energy, asking him questions left and right.
Makarov answered each one patiently, his chest puffed out with pride.
Makarov was in a fantastic mood!
While Raizel had brought back many talented children over the years, Makarov had finally managed to scout a gem himself.
And this one used Lost Magic—Dragon Slayer Magic.
He was determined to show off in front of Raizel.
That was why he had taken a detour through the East Forest instead of heading straight to the guild from the train station.
Raizel hadn't been to the guild in a few days.
Makarov knew that if Raizel wasn't on a mission, he could almost always be found at his training spot in the woods.
"Wow! So cool!"
Natsu stopped in his tracks.
Through the trees, he spotted a figure floating cross-legged on a large rock.
It was a suit of majestic white armor with dragon wings. Even though Natsu could only see the back, he thought it looked incredible.
"So fast!"
Natsu shifted his gaze.
To the left of the white armor, two girls wielding swords were sparring with three fiery, floating objects. Their movements were so swift that Natsu could only see afterimages.
Sniff. Sniff.
"Hmph? Such a familiar scent."
Natsu sniffed the air vigorously.
He caught a scent coming from the right of the white armor, where a small girl with blue hair was meditating.
It felt incredibly nostalgic, like home, but he couldn't quite place it.
Hearing Natsu's loud voice, the group stopped.
Ultear and Wendy opened their eyes.
Erza and Kagura halted their sparring with the Three Blade Spirits.
Raizel stopped hovering, turned around, and saw the Master.
"Take Over: Release."
The white armor of Jesmon vanished, revealing Raizel.
"Just as I thought. If I want to find you brats, this is the place to look." Makarov smiled, his eyes crinkling.
He couldn't be prouder seeing the children training so diligently.
Everyone greeted Makarov, but Natsu ignored the formalities.
He bounded over to Wendy, sniffing her left and right, hopping around her like a curious puppy.
"So familiar... but I can't remember!" Natsu ruffled his own pink hair in frustration. "Why do I know this smell?"
If Natsu hadn't arrived with Makarov, Ultear would have already attacked him for being so rude.
"It... it is familiar," Wendy whispered.
She wasn't afraid of Natsu getting so close to her because she felt the same nostalgia from him.
Makarov grinned while stepping forward. The wrinkles on his face deepened with anticipation.
"This is Natsu Dragneel. Can you guess what kind of magic he uses?"
Makarov waited for their confused guesses.
He was ready to drop the bombshell!
"Dragon Slayer Magic?" Ultear asked casually, pinching her chin.
Crack.
You could almost hear Makarov's ego shattering.
"HOW IS THIS POSSIBLE?!"
Makarov stood frozen, his jaw hanging slack.
He had planned this moment perfectly. He wanted to boast about bringing back a genius, to flaunt his find before Raizel.
But Ultear had ruined the surprise instantly.
"How did you guess?" Makarov whimpered.
Ultear shrugged.
She had deduced it based on Natsu and Wendy's reactions.
Wendy was shy.
Over the past few days, Ultear noticed that Wendy stuck close to Raizel and avoided strangers. Yet, when this loud boy got in her face, she didn't flinch.
She seemed comfortable.
Ultear remembered Wendy mentioning that Dragon Slayers have keen noses. It was an educated guess, but she hit the mark.
Ultear gently patted Wendy's head. "This child name is Wendy. She uses Sky Dragon Slayer Magic."
Makarov and Natsu stared at the little girl.
Wendy's face flushed red under their intense gaze. She lowered her head while clutching her shirt.
"NANIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIII?!"
Makarov and Natsu shouted in unison, grabbing their faces in shock.
Natsu was excited to meet another of his kind.
Makarov was shocked that after 400 years of silence, two Dragon Slayers had appeared in his guild at the same time.
"I'm Natsu! I use Fire Dragon Slayer Magic!"
Natsu ignited his right fist, grinning broadly as he introduced himself.
Wendy mustered her courage.
She nodded and whispered, "I... I'm Wendy."
...
"That armor you had earlier was awesome! Can you teach me that?"
Natsu quickly abandoned thinking about why Wendy smelled familiar.
His brain didn't handle complex puzzles well; he preferred action. He turned his shining eyes toward Raizel.
"You should just focus on your Dragon Slayer Magic," Raizel said, crossing his arms with a smile.
"That magic is plenty strong already. You can't learn my magic."
"Ah man... what a pity." Natsu's arms hung limply, looking disappointed.
But a second later, he bounced back. He clenched his fist, his fighting spirit burning.
"You're strong, right? Let's have a match!"
"How about another day?" Raizel chuckled. "Let's settle you and Wendy's guild membership first."
Truthfully, Raizel wanted to fight Natsu too, even though right now it would be a one-sided beatdown.
He admired Natsu's passion.
'I'm getting fired up,' Raizel thought, adopting Natsu's future catchphrase in his mind.
Seeing that Raizel didn't refuse outright, Natsu nodded in agreement.
"Since everyone is here, let's go to my place first. We need to compare notes." Raizel could tell Makarov was bursting with questions.
...
Raizel's Living Room
"So... it was all on July 7, X777?"
Makarov sat on the sofa, arms crossed, looking grave.
They compared their stories. Raizel explained when he found Wendy while Natsu also told his story.
Only when they put the pieces together did they realize the terrifying coincidence: Igneel (The Fire Dragon) and Grandeeney (The Sky Dragon) had both disappeared on the exact same day.
"So there really are Dragons still alive in this world?" Ultear sat nearby, frowning thoughtfully.
She was starting to believe it.
Skepticism was natural for one claim, but two children appearing with the same lost magic, claiming to be raised by dragons who vanished on the same day?
That was too much to be a lie.
"Of course! I was raised by Igneel!" Natsu stood up, pointing his thumb at his chest proudly.
"Why this particular date? And why did we have no information about them before?" Makarov muttered.
He couldn't wrap his head around it.
Aside from Raizel, who knew the plot, no one could understand it.
"If they exist, they'll appear eventually," Raizel interrupted, saving Makarov from spiraling into overthinking.
"We can ask them when we see them."
Raizel turned to the Master. "I want Wendy to join our Guild. I've arranged for her to live in the Girls' Dormitory. I'll cover her rent until she can take on missions."
Raizel had already discussed this with Wendy.
After spending time with Ultear, Erza, and Kagura, Wendy had grown fond of them and agreed to stay.
"Of course!" Makarov jumped down from the sofa. "I brought Natsu back intending for him to join, too. Let's all go together."
The group set off toward the guild in a grand procession.
Makarov and Natsu walked in front, they were loud and boisterous, while Raizel followed behind with Ultear, Erza, Kagura, and Wendy.
The Fairy Tail family was growing.