September 15, X777
Time flew by in the training room.
The Fantasia Parade was coming up soon.
After discussing it with Ultear and the others, Raizel decided to stay in Magnolia.
Their training wouldn't fall behind anyway. Last year, they missed the parade because they were on a mission, and they didn't want to miss it again.
This would also be the first major festival for Natsu and Wendy since joining the Guild.
Natsu and Gray were as noisy as ever.
They fought constantly in the Guild hall, breaking tables and chairs daily. However, they both trembled at the sight of Erza.
Unlike Gray, who feared Erza's physical strength, Natsu wasn't exactly scared of her power yet; he was just traumatized by her "Devil Teacher" mode from the study sessions.
Ur was having a great time.
After meeting Wendy, her motherly instincts ignited once again.
She felt that the best part of joining Fairy Tail was taking care of children with such different personalities.
Kagura had been precocious and serious from the start, but 5-year-old Wendy was shy and blushed easily.
It was a completely different experience for Ur.
...
Magnolia's Four Major Festivals:
The Harvest Festival (Fantasia): Early October.
The Rainbow Sakura Festival: Late October.
The 24-Hour Endurance Road Race: Mid-November.
Christmas: December 25th.
Additionally, random competitions would pop up inexplicably, such as Natsu vs. Gray duels, or Raizel vs. Whoever, which always attracted crowds.
The Harvest Festival was Magnolia's biggest celebration.
Because Fairy Tail used magic to put on a massive parade, it attracted tourists from all over Fiore, boosting the town's economy.
The Miss Fairy Tail Contest didn't exist yet.
Instead, a rock music performance by a local band had become a fixed event.
The beauty contest would likely start a year or two after Mirajane joined. If they held it now, the competition would be fierce with Ur involved.
As for the Rainbow Sakura Festival, Magnolia had a special tree.
It looked like ordinary pink cherry blossoms during the day, but at night, it glowed with rainbow colors.
It was the town's treasure.
(Raizel noted that even if Natsu accidentally uprooted the tree later, Ultear could restore it with her magic, so it was safe.)
Then there was the 24-Hour Endurance Road Race.
Raizel and Laxus had stopped participating years ago as It was boring for them.
If flying was allowed, Raizel could just Take Over: UlforceVee-dramon and finish instantly.
If restricted to running, he could use Sleipmon, and no one could outrun him and Laxus could turn into lightning.
With them around, everyone else would just be competing for third place.
Moreover, neither of them needed endurance training. As a result, Makarov had banned them from the race.
Last year's champion was the steady and reliable Erza.
...
Raizel was resting his chin on his hand, relaxing in the guild hall.
They had come back at noon to grab a good lunch.
RUMBLE...
Suddenly, the entire building began to shake violently.
"Attention. Magnolia will now switch to Gildarts Shift. All citizens, please move to the designated safety zones immediately."
Dozens of winged magical loudspeakers flew over the town, broadcasting the warning.
"Gildarts Shift! Gildarts is back!"
The town transformed.
Buildings split apart, raising high into the air to create a straight, unobstructed path from the city gate to the guild.
BOOM!
A second later, the wall beside the guild's main entrance exploded and debris flew everywhere.
Fairy Tail members sitting nearby were sent flying.
Sunlight streamed in through the massive hole, revealing a tall, rugged figure with orange hair and a tattered cape.
"Whoa!!! Gildarts is back!"
"Did you return for the Fantasia Parade?"
The guild members were astonished.
Gildarts Clive had been away on a long-term mission.
"Hey! I'm back!" Gildarts shouted with a grin. "Cana said she's participating in the parade and asked me to come watch. Where is she? Where's Cana?"
He scratched his head, looking around the hall frantically.
He couldn't stay serious for more than two seconds when it came to his daughter.
"She's not back yet," Raizel called out. "She went on a mission with Laxus."
Raizel hadn't expected them to contact Gildarts—or perhaps they arranged this meetup years ago.
"WHAT?!" Gildarts' face fell. He looked utterly dejected. "Then why did I come back so early?! I rushed back half a month early just for her!"
"Gildarts! Fight me!"
Someone clearly couldn't read the mood.
Natsu broke away from Gray. He leaped forward excitedly, his right fist engulfed in flames.
"Fire Dragon's Iron Fist!"
THUD.
It was over in an instant.
Gildarts didn't even look.
He delivered a casual chop to the top of Natsu's head. Natsu was driven into the floorboards, creating a crater.
"Oh?" Gildarts looked down. "Quite unique flames."
Though he had knocked the boy out in one hit, Gildarts noted the intensity of the fire. It was impressive for a child.
"Fire Dragon Slayer Magic," Makarov explained, sipping his beer. "He says he was raised by the Fire Dragon Igneel."
Makarov glanced at the broken wall and the crater in the floor.
He was completely unbothered.
"Ultear, if you would?"
"On it."
Ultear stood up. "Arc of Time: Restore."
The wall reassembled itself and the floorboards snapped back into place.
Ultear was now Makarov's favorite child, bar none.
She far surpassed Laxus, Raizel, and Erza in his heart for one simple reason: She saved him millions of Jewels in repair costs.
"Dragon Slayer Magic, huh? Not bad for a newcomer. He's got spirit," Gildarts laughed.
He liked Natsu immediately—not for the magic, but for the guts.
"There's more. Another one," Makarov said proudly, pointing his cane toward the table where Ur was sitting.
"That little one uses Sky Dragon Slayer Magic."
Wendy sat beside Ur, blushing furiously under the attention.
"Wow~~ So cute!!!"
Even Gildarts melted.
He wasn't particularly impressed by Dragon Slayers generally (having beaten Laxus many times), but he couldn't resist Wendy's rosy cheeks.
"Ur! Long time no see," Gildarts greeted the Ice Mage.
"Did you complete the mission? Were there any dangers?" Ur asked, showing genuine concern for her friend.
"Of course it's done! Is there any mission that Gildarts can't complete?" Gildarts rubbed the back of his head and laughed heartily.
"Really now," Ur shook her head with a wry smile.
He didn't changed a bit.
"The Guild has gained several new members. That's great, Master." Only after chatting with Ur did Gildarts remember Makarov.
Makarov didn't mind. He cared more about the unity of the guild than formalities.
"Yes," Makarov said, squinting his eyes and grinning widely. "Natsu was brought back by me. Wendy was brought back by Raizel."
He puffed out his chest.
"Finally, I scouted a genius myself!"