— Start of Penultimate Arc —
…
[X784, Three weeks later, Fairy Tail]
— Lucy Heartfilia —
A lot had changed in Fairy Tail.
Lucy paused near the entrance of the newly rebuilt guild, letting her gaze sweep across the familiar-yet-different sight before her. Sunlight streamed in through stained glass windows on the upper floors, casting soft kaleidoscope colors across the stone-tiled floor. It was busy, noisy, chaotic—but it was home.
Fairy Tail had always felt alive, but now… it breathed with renewed purpose.
"It's really something else," she murmured to herself, stepping inside.
The guild building had been completely redone after the chaos of the last few months—the whole lullaby mission, the Phantom war, and the Tower of Heaven. And yet, despite everything, they came out stronger.
Now the guild had four floors, each serving its own purpose. The first was still the heart and soul of everything: the bar, the job board, the clatter of mugs and boots and laughter. The second floor, once restricted to S-Class mages, was now open to everyone—filled with private booths, small reading nooks, and a balcony that overlooked the training yard. The third floor held the Master's office and a newly added planning hall. The topmost level, Lucy heard, was still under construction—a secret project Makarov hadn't even shared with Erza yet.
The basement had been converted into a reinforced indoor training space. The library, now located on the second floor, was three times its original size thanks to Levy's constant campaigning for new books. Max now manned the gift shop near the entrance, hawking branded Fairy Tail trinkets and "official" merchandise to tourists who passed by Magnolia.
Oh, and there was a pool.
That part still felt like a dream to Lucy. A proper, sparkling pool right by the lake. It was open to all guild members, and on hotter days it became a second base of operations, complete with floating drink trays and inflatable animals shaped like Happy. Somehow Cana had turned it into her new favorite drinking spot.
Lucy wandered further in, waving to Alzack and Bisca as they engaged in a pretty private small talk behind the bar, sidestepping Warren who was deep in some magical radio broadcast, and ducking as Nab stumbled by juggling two overflowing job request scrolls.
It was loud. It was chaotic. It was Fairy Tail.
She smiled.
It had been a busy three weeks after the whole debacle in the Tower of Heaven, but everything had turned out okay. Bickslow had recovered from his injuries, even if he had to go through two weeks worth of physical therapy. The Thunder God Tribe was now also a familiar face to see socializing in the halls of the guild, no longer do they disappear for months on end.
Lucy didn't understand it back then, but apparently Dannis was also a member of that team and had a major falling out with the other founder, Laxus.
It surprised her when she found out he was the master's grandson.
The moment they arrived back in Magnolia, Dannis and Laxus had walked away to a nearby clearing north of the lake. The master had said that Laxus and Dannis needed to straighten out their differences and settle old wounds, and there was no better way of doing so than fighting.
Natsu and a bunch of others wanted nothing more than to watch the fight. But all the S-Class mages had stood as a unit as they barred anyone from interfering.
Mirajane, Erza, and Mystogan had stood in a line, gazing at all the would-be spectators with steeled features. The kind and caring Mirajane, the friendly and respectful Erza, the cool and reliable Mystogan. None of them were present at that moment.
Even Master Mavis merely looked at everyone with an unknowable gaze as she stood beside Makarov.
It was then that everyone finally realized that this was serious. It was important, not like the many brawls within the guild where people tested their strength amongst one another. This was a fight with their beliefs and memories on the line.
When they understood, everyone nodded in respect and left them alone, yet still eagerly waiting for the results.
The shockwaves of magic that could be felt during the fight were crazy. What was crazier was the fact that Master Makarov said that the fight ended in a tie.
That had Lucy laughing awkwardly. She had seen herself how strong Dannis was. From the fight against Lullaby, to his efforts in the Phantom war, and the battle against the Wizard Saint, Jellal.
To think Fairy Tail had someone else of that calibre. There was no more doubt in her mind that it really was the strongest guild.
Gajeel and Juvia have also fully integrated into the Fairy Tail. While a few still held the Iron Dragon Slayer and the Rain Woman at arm's length, it was barely an issue after Dannis had announced them both being part of his team.
Lucy was there when Dannis approached Levy to recruit her, saying that he needs a friendly face to balance out the two ex-Phantom mages. The script mage was initially hesitant, considering she was already in a team. But Jet and Droy, in a surprising feat of maturity, told her to go for it.
"We know we've been holding you back, Levy." Jet admitted. "You've been forced to take milder jobs because of us, right? Otherwise, you would've made A-Class a long time ago."
"That's not going to happen anymore." Droy said. "We promise to get stronger until we can accompany you on those jobs. Until then, being on a team with Dannis is a great opportunity for you."
Tears had appeared on Levy's face before she hugged her childhood friends hard. The next day, she became part of the team. Thus, Team Shade was born. It was a funny name since it only incorporated Dannis' magic, inaccurate as it is, but the others didn't mind.
Speaking of Dannis, it seemed like a weight had finally been lifted off his chest. He was easier to laugh now, his smiles looking more genuine. The mending of his friendship with Laxus had turned him for the better.
Mira was visibly very happy for him. She and Dannis didn't shy away from acts of romance even in public. Even now, Lucy looked up at the second floor to see them both sitting together at a table overlooking the main hall.
The two were deep in conversation, soft smiles tugging at their lips. Mira's fingers toyed with the collar of his coat. Dannis whispered something, and she laughed—gentle and genuine.
It warmed Lucy's chest. She'd always known Mira to be gentle and motherly, but this side—the way she glowed around him—was new.
Lucy sighed, resting her chin on her palm. When will she get to experience something like that?
The table next to her was destroyed as body crashed through the wood in a blur of pink and black, splinters flying in all directions. Not a second later, Natsu got back up no worse for wear. "Oh, hey Lucy!"
She just sighed giving him a small smile. "What did you do this time, Natsu?"
From across the room, Elfman crossed his arms. "A real man doesn't steal someone's food!" he roared.
Happy floated overhead, giggling. "He took Elfman's chicken!"
Natsu licked sauce from his fingers, unbothered. "Totally worth it."
Lucy groaned, rubbing her temples. "It's way too early for this…"
Still… she couldn't help smiling.
Even after abandoning her name and titles as heiress of the Heartfilia Family. She wouldn't want to be anywhere else.
…
— Makarov Dreyar —
"Oh, Yajima…"
Makarov raised the small ceramic cup toward the quiet stars beyond the guild balcony, head bowed. The wind whispered gently across the rooftops of Magnolia, but in his heart, the silence felt heavier than any gale.
A soft clink of the cup against the wooden railing echoed faintly.
"To you, old friend," he murmured.
The attack at the council took everyone by surprise. Yajima had died when the stone roofs crumbled and crushed him instantly. It was quick and painless, small mercy as it is.
The culprit had already been named of course. Ultear Milkovich was apparently a co-conspirator of Siegran—or Jellal in this case— regarding the events of the Tower of Heaven.
The woman had knocked out the entire Council with a wave of her magic, all so she could fire Etherion against their unanimous decision. And when that wasn't enough, she had cast a forbidden technique that aged the Council building centuries in seconds. Time itself withered the walls. Support beams turned brittle. Roofs gave way.
It was no wonder everything crumbled. It was only due to the quick response by Commander Crust as well as Lahar and Mest that everyone inside was evacuated before more casualties could pile up.
Makarov took another swig of his drink, the liquor burning his throat before settling in his chest like a second heart. Behind him, the lights of Fairy Tail glowed warm and golden—muffled laughter, crashing tables, Cana's cackling, Gajeel singing off-key by the stage. It was comforting. Alive.
But the world outside was changing.
After three weeks of recovery, the surviving councillors had finally salvaged enough to get back on business, though not without consequences.
The first week was the worst. With no proper chain of command, the Rune Knights struggled to muster properly and many dark mages utilized the chance to run amok.
Plenty of villages had burned before the Light Mages picked up the slack and sent out teams to clear them.
Fairy Tail's newly minted Team Shade earned much recognition due to it, especially after the people found out it was being lead by the Dark Swordsman himself.
And now, with the Council being reformed, Fairy Tail was being called to answer questions regarding the event back in the Tower of Heaven. Makarov took another swig of his cup.
Oración Seis.
The name still left a bitter taste on his tongue. According to Ivan—once pressed with Levy's Truth spell—Oración Seis was already moving. They were after something called Nirvana.
Ivan hadn't known what it was, only that it was dangerous and ancient Dark Magic.
But Mavis…
Makarov looked up at the moon, the light pale against the ink-black sky. Somewhere in the library—probably surrounded by a mountain of tomes and half-finished notes—Master Mavis was reading. Searching.
She had gone quiet when the name Nirvana came up. Her eyes had narrowed—not in confusion, but recognition. And that worried Makarov more than anything.
When the First remembered something, it usually meant trouble.
He exhaled slowly, placing the empty cup on the railing. His fingers curled around the wood, rough from decades of spellwork, battles, and too many nights like this one.
If the dark guilds were organizing—forming into something like the Balam Alliance—then it might be time for the Light Guilds to do the same.
He still knew the other Guild Masters. Most of them were old friends—tough, stubborn, arrogant bastards, but honorable ones. Blue Pegasus. Lamia Scale. Quatro Cerberus. Even Cait Shelter, small as it is.
Makarov hated politics. Hated the idea of bureaucracy bleeding into the sanctity of their guilds. But he hated watching innocent people die even more.
Perhaps it was time.
Time to form a United Front.
Not for the Council. Not for the Rune Knights. But for the people.
The door to the balcony slid open with a gentle creek. Footsteps padded softly, and a familiar presence joined him at the railing. He didn't have to turn around.
"It's already late, gramps. Still working?" Laxus asked, voice low and calm.
Makarov smiled faintly. "I'm done for the day, don't worry."
They stood in silence for a while, grandfather and grandson. Two Dreyars, side by side beneath the stars, neither speaking of the pain still healing between them.
"Has the brawl finished yet?" Makarov asked.
Laxus nodded. "Yep, they're all out like a rock. No doubt they'd all wake up tomorrow with headaches and hangovers."
The old Master chuckled.
It still felt surreal—having Laxus home again. Truly home. The fire in him hadn't dulled, but it no longer burned those around him. Makarov didn't know what words were said between him and Dannis—what fists carried what regrets—but it worked.
They were family again.
Another breeze swept over them, this one cooler. Makarov pulled his robe tighter around his shoulders and stepped away from the railing.
There were still many things that require his attention. Problems that require careful handling.
But they'd all still be there tomorrow.
Tonight, Fairy Tail was whole. His grandson was home. And somewhere behind those walls, laughter still echoed.
That was enough.
Makarov walked back inside, leaving the stars and shadows to watch the night.
…
AN: A small setup chapter. A bunch of small, new information that happened in the small timeskip. This is all to set up the return of Gildarts as well as the following festival.
Hope you enjoyed the chapter, cheers!