Well, here we go. Before we begin, I should of course mention that Fairy Tail is owned by Hero Mashima and not myself. I only claim my own characters.

It was real.

My small, shaking hand held a copy of the iconic magazine Sorcerer Weekly. On it was a woman who was smiling brightly, though I wasn't sure who she was. Not that I really had time to mind that. I was solely focused on the date on the top left corner.

March 17th, X772

It had really worked.


Beep… beep… beep…

The machine measuring my heartbeat was the only thing I could hear now. Yesterday, I could still hear the sound of traffic outside my window, or the white sheets rustling beneath me when I moved slightly. It might have been unnerving for other people, but I had come to terms with my death months ago. When I had lost my dad.

It was a shame, really. I was laying here with, but moments left to live, yet no one would be by my side. Not even a nurse. Though to be fair, that had been my own request. It felt wrong to spend your last moments alone with a stranger. Especially when you knew that same stranger was going to take care of your body after your passing. I'd rather die on my own terms.

Beep… beep…

I took a raspy breath. The disease was incurable. I had known that since I was a kid. Can you imagine that? Growing up knowing you would die young, but at an unknown date. At least most kids still had the illusion of invulnerability. And when they got older, the idea of a long life. I didn't. I knew I was going to die ever since my mom passed when I was little.

Beep… beep… beep…

I closed my eyes again. In my head, I went through all of the good things I had in life. Playing games with my dad. Travelling all across the world, since we both knew I wouldn't get to see it when I got older.

I was 18 now. At least my dad got to see me as an adult. At least I got to spend a whole 18 years in this place. I smiled.

Beep… beep… beeeeeeeeeee…

A high-pitched ringing noise pierced through my skull. I put my hands over my ears, concentrated, and let it fade. I opened my eyes. Then closed them again instantly due to the sheer brightness. It took a few seconds for me to get used to the light, but once my eyes settled, I wondered why it seemed so bright.

Stretching out underneath me was and endless, flat surface of no particular colour. At least not a colour I had ever seen before. It was lit up, contrary to the black ceiling above. Or at least I assumed it was a ceiling. All I could see was this bright plane that seemingly went on forever.

Puzzled, I stepped forward. Was this Heaven? Or some kind of Pandemonium? I bent down to touch the ground. It felt almost like smooth glass. I decided to continue walking forward, my steps making sticky sounds as I moved, barefooted. At least it wasn't some kind of outer space, then.

I had to stop after a moment, however. Having been in a hospital bed for most of my life had not done wonders for my stamina or physique. I looked like a skeleton. But as I looked up, something had appeared not far from me. A throne of the same material as the floor. In it sat a woman that faintly reminded me of my mother, with black hair that spilled out over the sides of the throne. I wasn't sure what drew me to that comparison, since her face was covered in a white, motionless mask of some kind.

"Welcome, Ayla." her voice sounded out. It probably would have surprised me to suddenly hear such a loud sound in any other case, but her voice was so soothing to listen to. "It looks like you have come to join me."

"I... Uh… Not to sound rude, ma'am, but where… are we." I added the last part after a moments hesitation. My voice sounded hoarse, like I hadn't used it in weeks. It almost made me embarrassed next to her magnificent voice.

"Medium," she answered. "A place in-between, you could call it." she paused for a second. "This is my domain. I watch over the souls of the dead, and make sure they get to wherever they belong... Or desire."

There was something ethereal over her voice. Like one of those female movie villains with way too much echo on their voices. It was rather unnerving to actually hear it in person, however. I slowly nodded my head.

"And so, the question remains. Where would you like to go now, Ayla? You have an almost endless amount of options. Would you like to be re-incarnated? Pass on to Heaven? Or perhaps, go into a fictional universe? That one is quite popular." She added.

"… A fictional universe…?" I asked slowly, almost forming it more as a question.

"Yes," she said, "Movie universes, books, video games, even anime or manga worlds."

"Why?"

"Why what?"

"Why do you offer that?"

"Because despite what you might believe, being an immortal god is rather boring." she gestured at the empty air. "My only real entertainment are mortals, and despite your politics being absolutely marvellous, you aren't always all that creative. But presenting you with a choice like this… usually creates something interesting." she said, then paused. "Well? What would you like?"

I thought for a moment. I had spent so much time in a bed, watching movies and anime, reading books and manga, playing games… But a lot of those universes were rather disturbing to live in. Though, I would love to be somewhere with magic. I always had. So what kind of magic universe would be the least dangerous…

"Would it be possible for me to go to Fairy Tail?"

"Of course, dear. Do you have anything specific you'd like? You're welcome to shape your life however you want, really. Within certain limitations."

"I… I would like to be a mage. But would it be possible for me to keep my current memories? And not be born into the universe, just kind of… pop in at a certain time?"

"It would, yes. Just a warning, though. Some things are meant to happen." she said, her voice ominous as ever. "Well then. What kind of magic would you like?"

I felt a little embarrassed. I had thought about things like these often, as I'm sure most people have. If you could have any type of magic you'd like, what would you pick?

"I did actually make something of my own… if it's possible to use that." I looked down, "And if it's not too much trouble."

"Hmm," she said, sounding amused, "We can certainly do that. Other things you have in mind?"

"Could… could I have a house of some kind? Near Magnolia, but not quite. Kind of like Natsu or Gildarts. And… could I have my second origin opened?"

She nodded her head slowly. "Is that all?"

"I… think so."

"Lovely." she cocked her head to the side, "So, to better help you fit in, I will revert your age. In a moment, you will be born into Fairy Tail as a 7-year old girl named Ayla. Though keep in mind, I am not just giving you this magic out-right. I am merely giving you the tools to get started." She cocked her head back in place. "Are you ready?"

"… Yes."

I wasn't sure if I had closed my eyes. All I knew was that in that moment, the world went black, and I was falling.


Thankfully, it didn't last. For a moment, I thought the masked woman and endless plane had been a dream, due to the familiar feeling of laying in a bed. But after a moment, I realized that this was way more comfortable than my hospital bed, simply because I couldn't hear the loud heart monitor.

I opened my eyes.

The first thing I noticed was the bed. It was definitely too big for a kid. Though that was probably for the better, unless I wanted to stay a 7-year old for the rest of my life. Next was the room itself. Small, soft colours, a desk, closet and a book case. I spotted a closed book on said desk, with what looked like a sticky note attached to it. I made a move to get out of bed. The shorter limbs were rather disorienting, but I actually felt a lot… stronger.

That was a frightening thought.

Moving over to the desk, I looked at the yellow piece of paper attached to the cover. 'To get you started,' it read.

The book itself had a green cover, it almost looked like leather of some kind. And with silver letters, the title read… "Wild Spirit magic". It looked rather thick as well. That might have been off-putting for some people, but this was as book that would actually teach me magic. So, I don't think anyone would blame me for immediately grabbing it and jumping back into bed, forgetting about the entire rebirth and Fairy Tail.

It did not disappoint.

In my… previous life, I had eaten through more books than I could count. Fantasy, sci-fi, historical fiction, thrillers, crime, even biographies, history books, books on different animals, plants, medicinal plants, poisons, even a few cook books… Safe to say, this would have a hard time boring me.

And so, I read. Or tried to, at least. Unsurprisingly, it proved itself rather difficult to follow, when you were not already aware of what I guess people here would probably consider the basics. So, after around 20 pages, I had to put it down with a sigh. For now.

Walking around the house, I discovered it had two almost identical bedrooms, an attic, a bathroom, a living room and a joined dining room+kitchen, as well as what I assumed was a small herbal garden. The whole place was mostly empty, save for the most necessary furniture. I also discovered a bag of 50.000 Jewel. Not that great, but it would do.

That aside, I made my way towards the town itself. I needed to buy some shit if I wanted to survive, and food was on the top of my list. But this whole place, the wind, the sun, and the crunch of dirt beneath my small boots… It was wonderful, to say the least. I hadn't been outside in weather this lovely in… ages.

I only had to walk for about two minutes, and I could already see the top of the Fairy Tail guild peeking over other houses in its way, though I wouldn't go there just yet. It was a lovely town though. To my immediate left, I could easily see the huge body of water, lake Seliora, with the city itself on my right. And just ahead was Fairy Tail. In about twelve years, Lucy Heartfilia would find her way to this place. Hopefully, things would be different this time around. I would make sure of it.