Fiore… A land of nineteen million people. This land thrives in the wake of many events many of them surrounding the city of Magnolia where special people with special skills called "wizards" have taken up residence and formed groups called "guilds" one such guild in Magnolia is renowned for their stories and history. It is called … FairyTail.
As the guild members go about their daily duties, two young girls slowly trek their way into the city of Magnolia. Exhausted from their travels they enter the city at nightfall only to see the city in a festive fashion. Both girls slowly reach a place where others have gathered to observe what appears to be a parade in progress. The girls watch silently as members of the famed FairyTail guild perform for the crowds.. as the parade reaches its climax an old gentleman foolishly entertains the young children along the parade route, his closing gesture.. a symbolic index finger and thumb in the shape of an arrow pointing skyward as he looks out over the crowd. The other wizards in turn acknowledge the old man's gesture and point their fingers to the air as well. As the old man does this he notices the two young girls and softly nods to them still holding his guild gesture proudly as a sign to them. Pleased with the parade the girls wearily find and empty stable and retire for the night.
A young girl with short silver blue hair wearily wakes up as she shyly brushes straw out of her eyes and hair. It had been quite a while since she had endured a great night of sleep. As she rolls over, she notices an imprint in the straw where someone had been laying. She frantically looks around hoping to find someone … something.
A voice cries out.. " Merqui.. Merqui ! are you okay?" Merqui turns to see an older girl with long silver hair staring back at her. "Kimi, Where did you go?" Kimi gingerly smiles "Why did someone miss me? She slowly moves towards her sister and starts playfully grinding her knuckle into Merqui's hair. "Come on admit it you missed me" Merqui giggles as her sister tortures her "Come on sis quit! If you want to know yes I was worried I thought something happened to you."
Kimi releases her knuckle from its perch, "I was fine, I was out this morning scouting the city" as she offers a small piece of food to her sister."
Merqui hesitantly takes the scrap "You didn't…?"
Kimi smiles "No, I bought it with what was left from the last job we completed."
Merqui confidently eats the scrap "How long did we make that reward last, two maybe three weeks?"
"More than it should have lasted that is for sure" Kimi retorts concerned. "There is a local café that seems safe enough for you sit at while I search the city for some freelance work for us to take."
Merqui sighs, as she knows how hard it is for freelance wizards to try to make an honest living. With the haggling over the reward and job conditions, it is amazing that she and Kimi had survived nearly two years on freelance earnings. Merqui rises to her feet and follows her sister into the city.
As the two sisters venture through Magnolia they take in the scents and scenery of this grand city that sits on the eastern part of the Fiore kingdom. As they reach the café called "The Fairy Dragon" they notice a group of wizards in the area conversing. They nervously avoid the group and sit in the back corner of the café, watchful of the group. Kimi nods to Merqui "You should be safe here, try to stay out of sight and don't cause any trouble please." Merqui nods silently still watchful of the wizards in the area.
As Kimi disappears into the city crowds, Merqui silently sits back and surveys the patrons in the cafe. As she looks around the group talking and motioning in her direction. She notices a young man with red hair conversing with a young armor clad lady with crimson red hair , another lad with dark blue hair, another young girl with blonde pigtails and another younger girl with blueish hair, all of them bearing the same tattooed insignia. Merqui huddles further into the stall afraid of being noticed by the group. When a waiter offers a plate and a glass of water. Merqui cautiously asks "Um. I don't recall ordering anything." The waiter helplessly replies " I am sorry miss but I was asked by the goup at the far table to give this to you." As he motions his head to the group that Merqui had been observing.
Merqui leans out into the aisle and notices the blonde and younger blue hair girl nod to her. Merqui shyly turns to the waiter. " I am sorry to be a bother sir but I can't accept this meal but please let them know that I appreciate the kind gesture. My sister should be back shortly."
The waiter helplessly stolls over to the other table talks with the group and leaves the plate at their table. As he leaves Merqui notices the entire group at the table look in her direction with a somber look. Merqui again huddles in the stall softly crying and muttering to herself "I am sorry". As she cries she feels a soft touch on her hand. She looks up to see the armor clad lady gently lowering her arm from her face and dabbing her tears with a handkerchief, While the younger blue hair girl sits across in the other seat with the plate and drink in hand. Merqui looks to see her sister rushing in to the café but slows as she observes the scene. She quietly walks up and gently rests her hand on the armor clad woman "Thank you and I do apologize if my sister caused you any trouble."
The woman looks up at Kimi." She wasn't any trouble at all. If anything we were worried about her." Kimi offers her hand. " I do thank you for your concern my name is Kimi"
The armor clad women replies with a soft smile. "Erza." She motions to the younger blue haired girl, "and this is Wendy." Kimi nods "Again I think you for your concern but my sister and I need to go." As they stand to leave the red haired boy stands in their way "I wouldn't leave without eating that plate, Erza gets easily mad at those that take her kindness for weakness."
Erza turns. "You may be right Natsu but it is their decision. I may be hurt by their refusal but I can't make them eat if they don't want to."
The dark blue hair lad emerges behind Natsu. "That is true but that would be a shame to let it go to waste, but we can at least give them a gift for hearing us out." Erza turns "What did you have in mind Grey?"
Grey chants "Ice.. Make …. Flower!" as he chants two crystalized flowers emerge in his hands. He offers each flower to Merqui and Kimi. The flower quickly melts in Merqui's hand but stays pristine in Kimi's hand. Kimi softly utters.. "Your.. wizards..!" Natsu with a cheesy grin replies. "What were you expecting us to be, pirates or something?"
Kimi giggles at Natsu's remark as Wendy observes the flower. Wendy softly smiles "I don't think we are the only wizards here though," Erza smiles as she also observes the flower. "Hmm it should have melted like Merqui's but it hasn't." As the others discuss the possible theories, Wendy offers the plate again to Merqui. "It's okay to eat, if you are wondering I bought it. I bought it for you.
Merqui shyly eats "How did you manage to afford this" she asks in between bites.
Wendy replies with a cheery smile "I had some extra jewel left over after all of my expenses and wanted to treat my friends to a nice lunch," she suddenly sighs "But I couldn't help see you here alone and felt it was the right thing to offer you a meal."
Kimi looks to Wendy "But you barely know us, how do you know we were safe to approach."
The blonde hair girl whom had been observing the others chimes "That was easy. I saw you trying to go shop to shop looking for work near where I live. And I overheard your situation and heard that you left your sister here at The Fairy Dragon, when we saw her alone we knew that she was your sister and we couldn't just let her sit there alone and not do anything to help." She offers the ticket to Wendy "Here is the tab Wendy, let's hope you have enough to cover it all, or just make Natsu pay for his share of the bill."
Natsu glares at the blonde "Why should I have to cover my part of the bill Lucy, Wendy said it was her treat."
Lucy sighs " It might have been her treat but you ate more than all of us combined and Erza was even being greedy and had second helpings." Erza turns to Lucy smiling. "I am not ashamed of it.. it was a great meal." Wendy looks at the bill. "Wait this isn't right." They all look at the bill and notice the café did not charge Wendy for the meal she offered as a gift to Merqui. Erza takes the bill and tells Wendy "I'll see why this isn't right. In the meantime try to talk to them and see what you can learn about them. Master felt some special connection with two girls last night during the parade they may be the two he felt the connection with."
Wendy nods "Will do." She turns back to see Natsu and Grey nose to nose. "What did you call me you asshole." Natsu grits as he stares down Grey.
"I didn't stutter Flame boy I said you were a fucking pig for eating so much." Grey grits back
Natsu grits back "Just wait till we are back at the guild I am so going to kick your iced shell ass all over the hall." Grey grins back " Will that be before or after I mop the floor with your spit embers you call flames." Natsu rages "Want me to light your ass on fire right here snowboy!." Grey grits again "Bring it on Flame Bitch!"
Erza grabs both by the shirt and bang their heads together "Not here in the café damn it. We are lucky we even get to eat here since Mirajane is friends with the owner." Nastu offers Erza a cheesy grin " That and since we helped the owner with the name of the place."
Merqui sips on a glass of water "A….guild…. You guys are all part of a guild?"
Lucy nods "Umm hmm we are part of what is known as the strongest guild in Magnolia and in all of Fiore."
Kimi softly utters "Salamander…."
Natsu perks at the utterance "Only a few close people call me that how did you know that is my name"
Merqui turns. "It was a name we were given a few jobs back. We were told that if we wanted safety, security and a good family to seek out Salamander."
Erza shudders at the explanation as she returns from the ticket holder. "I think then it is safe to say you should come with us"
Kimi defensively replies " Why have we done or said something wrong."
Erza smiles. "Quite the opposite, in fact we have someone that would be interested in meeting you" she offers Kimi a foam box. " The chef says it is on the house."
The entire group departs The Fairy Dragon and slowly makes their way to the majestic guild hall overlooking the city of Magnolia.. The name of the guild hall…. FAIRYTAIL…