"I'd like to join Fairy Tail Master Makarov." I spoke with a level of confidence that surprised even myself.
"Alright, let's go outside and see what you can do" Makarov replied calmly while getting up off the bar.
We continued outside, most of the guild following suit. (Including Natsu and Grey, rather intrigued about the man who stopped them from an all out brawl without magic, a feat only accomplished by Erza previously.) I felt my Magic welling up, like it knew I needed it more now then ever. "Alright young one, what is your Magic Style?" Makarov asked.
"I use a lost magic known as Archive" I replied
"Archive? Sounds interesting, please explain." Makarov replied with a surprising amount of enthusiasm.
"I think it's better if I demonstrate first. Builds tension and all that, but I'll need a volunteer first...(I look around at my choices at this time, deciding on a blonde standing near the famous Natsu) You miss!"
"Me?" The blonde replied.
"Yes you, what's your name miss?"
"Lucy. Just Lucy"
"Alright. Lucy, please show me your magic." Lucy complied, and summoned Cancer. "Ooh, a Celestial Mage! This will be a challenge." Numbers started running through my head, colurs and feelings of magic. My eyes closed and I focused on Lucy's wavelength from memory. Opening my eyes, they had turned a glowing gold, and I pointed at the floor and spoke, "Cancer". Sure enough, a black seal appeared on the ground, and from it, a shadow version of Cancer rose.
"Black Magic?" Makarov yelled.
"Not exactly." I began to explain "Celestial Mages are special when it comes to my ability, because a spirit can only be in one place at a time. So I create one that has the exact same wavelength, and by transitive, abilities and personality. But yes, my Magic is generally looked down upon for what it CAN do. Even slandered as Black Magic. Alot of people have done horrible things with this magic, and I seek to redeem the name of Archive before it vanishes from this world."
"Vanishes?" Makrov asked.
"I am the last surviving Archive user. I was also the first."
"Hang on, Archive...I remember now! A magic that can copy and store any magic for later use, just like books in a library! It's even capable of copying a user's skill with the Magic!" Makarov shouted. "But wait, what did you mean by first?"
"I mean exactly what I said. I am the man who invented Archive. I was known as Mar back then." Makarov's jaw dropped. Mar's findings were the source of many forms of magic, including his own trump card, Fairy Law.
"How are you still alive?" Makarov asked. At this point, everyone in the guild was in absolute awe.
"My final Magic went horribly wrong. I sought to transend time itself and I payed for it. I was locked into my 18 year old body, likely for eternity, and was thrown into the future. It's been four years since I came to this time, and my body has not aged a day. If I never remembered the words of my dearest freind, I would still be wandering this world pointlessly."
"Who was your friend, Mar?" Makarov asked.
"Mavis. First master of Fairy Tail. She told me, that if I ever was in turmoil, to seek out this symbol." I removed my shirt, causing a couple faces to turn red, and revealing the mark on my chest. The Fairy Tail mark was branded over my heart.
"Good lord. You're telling the truth." Makarov said in disbelief.
"I am, and I realise Shadow Cancer there probably didn't make the best first impression, so I'll do something else instead"
"No need boy, you're already a marked member of Fariy Tail. You were one of us before you even walked in. Besides, a friend of Mavis is a friend of ours." Makarov replied, a smile on his face.
I was in shock at first. Then I regained my composure, and simply stated, "Still, I'd like to demonstrate the one magic I learned WITHOUT Archive. It'll Likely leave a better taste." A yellow seal formed behind me and I angled my head at the sky. "LIGHTNING DRAGON'S ROAR!" I yelled as a brilliant cone of electricity spouted from my mouth.
At this point, hearing the word "Dragon" Natsu burst through the crowd and yelled "You're a Dragon Slayer too?"
I replied with a smile on my face, "You bet. Got my Lightning Dragon Slayer style straight from the Thunder Dragon himself. One of the nicest people I ever met."
"Did you ever hear anything about Igneel?" Natsu asked, impatiently.
"Oh crap, that's right." I remembered reading about the vanishing act the dragons pulled on July 7th, 777. That and I heard Natsu was franticly searching for any clues to their whereabouts. "Sorry Natsu, I didn't hear too much about him, and even then, this was long before your GRANDPARENTS were born."
"Awww, wait, YOU CALLED ME NATSU! How did you know my name?" He shouted.
"Hahaha, your reputation proceeds you Natsu! Heck, your entire team is already familiar to me. You, Grey and Erza over there, even Lucy here. Speaking of, (I turn to Lucy) sorry about the act earlier, I figured it would be better to ease the guild into my past. Didn't work out too well." I said rather bluntly.
Lucy smiled and said "Not a problem, but, could you please put your shirt back on? Cana might faint if you don't."
"Hm?" I said as I turned around, noticing that there was a brunette, likely drunk, woman with love in her eyes behind me. "Whoops. Sorry bout that ma'am." I put my shirt back on and continued my conversation with Natsu. "Anyway, I heard about Lullaby, and how you four toppled an entire Dark Guild AND killed one of Zeref's demons. It was all over the news. If possible, I'd even like to join your team."
This caused alot of jaws to hit the floor, and I never did forget the expression on the woman I would later learn was Mirajane. Turns out it was incredibly rare for her to lose her cool.
"Another Dragon Slayer? Gladly! But, I'll have to fight you later to get a general grasp of your strength. Likely Erza will want in too, she's been stre-" Before he could finish his sentance, he was knocked out cold from a punch to the head delivered from Titania herself. She then walked up to me and offered her hand. I was overcome with emotion to be accepted so readily into the family, and I hugged the scarlet haired woman.
That was my introduction to Fairy Tail. Little did I know I would be a key factor in many adventures to come. In the following weeks, I drank, I fought, I went on jobs with my new friends, even outside my team when our team was scattered doing odd jobs. I even served as a human firework launcher for a big festival when the actual fireworks got lost on the road.
One night, I was leaving the guild, my mind at ease after a job well done, Natsu approached me and asked "Hey Mar, where do you live?"
I replied honestly "I don't live anywhere, I usually just sleep at my favourite hotel. It's run by a nice old lady I helped a week or so back, so I get a discount."
Natsu picked up on the odd bit of my statement, and replied "Usually?"
I smiled, and said, "Sharp ears. There are some nights when nature calls me, so to speak, and I sleep under the stars."
"Bah! We can't have that!" Natsu yelled. "You should stay with me and Happy!"
The blue cat popped up yelling "Aye sir!"
I was shocked. Pleasently so, mind you. I said "That's a great idea, I think I'll take you up on it. Room is still bloody expensive after a discount anyway."
Natsu raised his fists in victory and yelled "Happy! We have a new room mate!" I just laughed and told him to lead the way. That night, I had an odd dream. A premonition maybe. It was vague, but still there. A moon, great magic, a shell, a demonic island, with a great pair of glowing red eyes above them. I dismissed it as just a weird dream.
The most odd thing that happened, however, is a mission I went on with Elfman and Mira. A great beast had Elfman cornered and outmatched, and Mira was yelling at him to use his Beast Soul, but he just wouldn't. He gripped his head and started yelling "NEVER AGAIN! I'D RATHER DIE!" I realised since Mira hadn't already acted, she likely couldn't for some reason, so I acted instead. I grabbed the minotaur-esque beast by the horn and fired a Lightning Dragon's Roar down it's throat. Knowing what happened last time I did that, I threw the bastard across the woods we were in, and while he was still in the air, he exploded in a brilliant tangle of electricity. I helped Elfman to his feet, and asked him what happened. Elfman pulled up a nearby log and told me to sit. Mira joined us. They explained what happened two years ago, to Lisanna. How Elfman had gone berserk and struck her dead. How Mira could do nothing but stand and watch, having sealed her own magic. I explained I could relate. I explained how Mavis was like a little sister to me, and how my only regret for abandoning my time was that I would never get to see her again. We all began to cry, and in a moment of madness, I saw Mavis in Mira's face, so I embraced her. Mira had no real objection to the company, so she hugged back, and Elfman even managed to get his arms around both of us. Mira acted rather odd around me after that. I guess spilling your guts to someone you don't know that well does that. Elfman, on the other hand, started treating me like a brother.
Eventually, Elfman actually offered me to stay with him and Mira as a permanent resident, since they've had a free room no one had entered in two years. I was honored, and knowing my alternative, (Natsu's cramped house full of crap and devoid of a thermostat) I accepted, however I made it a point to crash on the fold out couch. I know Lisanaa was important to them, and I was not about to touch anything related to her, let alone live in her room.
That night, I slept in nothing but some pajama bottoms, letting my scarred body be visible to anyone who cared enough to look. I had the same odd dream I had at Natsu's, but this time more vivid. The red eyes had a form behind them. It looked like Lulaby. I knew it was nothing but an odd dream now, so I was rather content. Lullaby was dead and gone forever, it couldn't mean anything. I was awoken early that night, with someone standing over me, eyes filled with tears. I squinted through the dark and recognised the person standing before me.
"Mira?..."
To Be Continued.