04

New Member

"Everyone, we have a new member!" Master Makarov's voice thundered inside the guild. Having a new member is indeed a call for a party. Everyone cheered. They already had a clue who was it-the strange girl earlier. "Introduce yourself to these brats, child." He instructed the girl. The girl who was naked earlier now dons a simple white dress under an ankle-length black robe.

"Good day, I'm Magnilde. Magnilde Vermilion." She smiled a bit. Her surname rang a bell on everyone. "Vermilion? Like the first master's?" Erza asked and Magnilde just nodded. It makes sense to Erza how Magnilde looked a lot like their first master but what was their relationship? She can't be the first master's daughter, can she?

"She's my daughter!" The child-like first master, who appeared out of nowhere, gleefully declared. Everyone's jaws dropped. Their first master had a child? It never occurred to them this kind of possibility after all, they all see their first master as a child due to her appearance. "How mean! Despite my appearance, I was on my mid-twenties when I had her." Tears threatened to fall down from her eyes. She could tell that they don't believe her. She doesn't blame them, her appearance could really fool everyone.

Everyone panicked. Whether ghosts do cry or not, no one wants to see their first master cry. Also, nobody wants to see a child cry. "The resemblance is uncanny. Like mother like daughter. Right?" Erza said which everyone quickly agreed with. This calmed Mavis. There's nothing she would really want to hear other than her daughter looked just like her. Her maternal side was oozing with happiness. Finally, their first guild master smiled. Everyone sighed in relief.

Magnilde had her guild insignia on her nape just where her scar was. Now, her Fairy Tail-shaped scar was not just scar but also her guild mark. "Welcome to the strongest guild in Fiore!" Natsu roared, expecting a cheer from everyone but it was the opposite… the atmosphere gloomed.

"Technically, we're not anymore, Natsu." Jet said.

"After you disappeared seven years ago, many guilds rose to the top." Droy continued. Seven years was indeed a big gap. While they were in stasis for seven years, others kept moving. Others grew while they don't. Other guilds like Lamia Scale and Blue Pegasus grew stronger while other small and new guilds took advantage of Fairy Tail's main members' absence to rise in power like how Twilight Ogre thought that having Fairy Tail in their debt would do them good.

"So, who's the strongest now?" Natsu asked with his arms crossed. Fairy tail not being the strongest like how it used to before was not music to his ears. Natsu realized that it must have been hard to the remaining members to remain loyal to the guild. Leaving a falling guild was much easier after all, yet they stayed. They waited for them to return. They didn't leave the guild behind.

"Sabertooth." Jet answered.

"When their master changed and recruited five powerful mages, Sabertooth became the strongest guild in Fiore." Droy continued while eating the last of his chips. Steam came from Natsu's nose. They need to reclaim their spot not just for the glory but also for their members who suffered while they were gone.

"We need to be the strongest again!" Natsu shouted which echoed throughout the guild.

"It's not that easy, Natsu. We need to make up for the seven years that we lost. Not to mention the debt the guild needs to pay off." Erza said. It was indeed a long way to go even if the main members had come back.

"Is there no other way?" Natsu whined. Just imagining how much jobs they need to take to make up for the seven years makes Natsu tired. Not to mention, not many jobs were posted on the guild's bulletin. The job requests for Fairy Tail keeps decreasing for the last seven years.

"There is." Romeo said.

"Ah! Now you think about it, it was almost its season, right?" Max nodded to what Warren said.

"No. There's must be another way. I don't recommend it!" Macao, the fourth guild master opposed.

"You're not the master anymore, Papa!" Romeo said. Romeo returned his attention to Natsu. "There's this competition which every guild in Fiore participates in. The Grand Magic Games. It determines the strongest guild in the country."

Natsu smiled. "So, we just need to win it right?" Romeo nodded.

"What was the Grand Magic Games all about?" Gray asked.

"Only five representatives from each guild could participate but other than that, I'm not sure what will be the events." Bisca answered.

"The events of the Grand Magic Games change every year. No one knows it until the games itself. One time, they had a sharpshooting event but I and Bisca were not participants." Alzack added.

"We were always in the last place for the past seven years." Wakaba said. How funny to think that the strongest guild in Fiore seven years ago could possibly be one of the weakest guilds in the country now.

"That's why I don't recommend it!" Macao said in such a sad voice. He was tried to be ridiculed. He would always be proud to be a Fairy Tail mage, everyone is but other people don't see Fairy Tail how it used to be. They don't care about the Fairy Tail seven years ago. They only care what Fairy Tail is today. He turned to Makarov, knowing how hard-headed these brats are, only the master could make them listen. "Master, tell them we're not participating."

Makarov was still analyzing the possibilities and chances. Now that the main members were back, their chances in winning should be high but seven years is seven years. A lot happened in the span of seven years. They were out of commission for the past seven years. They didn't grow like how they should be in terms of physicality and power.

"The winning guild gets 30,000,000 jewels." What Romeo said caught the attention of everyone, especially Makarov. That was a hell of money. With that, they can easily pay off the debt and have the Fairy Tail's first building back. It has been decided!

"We're going to win that Grand Magic Games!" Makarov declared. Everyone cheered.

"We will be the strongest guild again!" Natsu roared with some fire escaping from his mouth.

In the middle of cheering, Makarov pulled out a red book and handed it to Erza. "That's the guidebook of the Grand Magic Games. Read it." He instructed and the redhead mage immediately complied. Macao saw this and sighed.

"You've been planning to join Grand Magic Games all along." Macao said in defeat. Now that he thinks about it, this would exactly what Fairy Tail all about. No matter how many times you lose, you just need to stand back up and fight again.

Makarov grinned. "I met Yajima accidentally earlier and told me about it. He gave me the guidebook just in case we decided to join." Makarov said. It was not 'just in case' actually. Yajima gave the guidebook to Makarov because Fairy Tail would definitely join without a doubt.

"To win the Grand Magic Games, you, brats, must get stronger. So, for the next three months, you must undergo training and sparring session." Makarov instructed. Everyone liked the idea, who wouldn't? Nobody in Fairy tail would pass up the chance to fight and train. "Our five representatives will be picked based on how much you've improved in three months time. Also, you will all be sparring with Magnilde." Magnilde was shocked to hear her name.

"Me? But I'm just a newcomer." Magnilde said. She wasn't really opposed in the idea. In fact, it would really help her. Her magic was sort of uncontrollable due to her eternal-like sleep and her fighting skills would probably rusty now. This would be really good training for her. However, wouldn't it be a better idea to have them fight against one another?

"That's exactly my reason." Makarov grinned. These brats have known each other for years. They have seen each other's powers and skills. But in the Grand Magic Games, they will not fight each other, they work with each other. He has no doubt with his children's teamwork, they have been fighting alongside each other for years but they have to make up for the seven years they lost in just three months. They need to fight someone who they do not know what was her power nor her skills, someone new. This might be a good way for Magnilde to become more comfortable and familiar with the guild members. Also, he couldn't risk these brats to fight with each other. Who knows just how much of a mess they would make? He definitely would like the see the guild building whole. They would have nowhere to go if this building was burned or wrecked.

"Oh, that's cool. I'm really curious how powerful our first guild master's daughter is." Natsu smirked. "Hey, Magnilde. Fight me now."