The guild of Fairy Tail hadn't looked so good in over seven years. The members from Tenrou island had finally returned seemingly out of nowhere after presumed dead for almost a decade after the Black Dragon Acnologia seemingly destroyed Tenrou island. After the founding members dealt with Fairy Tail's debt problem, they were now discussing how to get back on top after so many years down at the bottom.

"Y'know dad, we could try-"

"No Romeo! I know what you're going to suggest, but it's too risky!"

"No hold on Macao, let's at least hear the young lad out first. What was it you were going to say again, Romeo?"

"Well after you guys vanished, the king made this thing called the Grand magic games! Almost every guild in Fiore competes in it every year, to see who's the best guild in Fiore!"

"The reason I don't want us to compete is that we come in dead last every year," Macao explained.

"Really? I knew Fairy Tail was weakened, but dead last?" Makarov asked skeptically.

"Yeah, every year the games are totally random. There's no rhyme or reason to them at all." Wakaba added.

"One year I stepped out and they had a footrace." Jet said.

"Another year I didn't enter, they had a painting competition."

The third master of Fairy Tail stroked his chin in thought after hearing some of the news the old guildmates were giving him.

"Well if that's what the fourth master desires, then Fairy Tail shall not intervene in the games." Makarov decided.

"There's also a 30 million jewel reward for top place." Romeo suddenly added.

"We're joining!" Makarov hollered.

"What happened to what the fourth master wanted, old man!?" Macao yelled in annoyance.

"I don't think you should be calling anyone here old fourth," Wakaba said.

"Shut up! You're the same age I am!"

Natsu was bouncing up in the air with excitement upon hearing the news. Lucy seemed lost in thought, Gray was stripping (and Cana called him out for it.) A moment later though, someone knocked on the door of the guild.

'Now who on Earthland would be courteous enough to actually knock? Probably not any of my children that's for damn sure!' Makarov thought. The white-haired dwarf leapt from his spot on the bar and walked up to the door. He opened it up using his titan magic to reach the door and was only mildly surprised to see who had knocked.

"Yajima? Is that you?" Makarov asked.

"Long time no see Mackie, I heard the founding members were back in town and decided to pay a visit. Seven years is a long time to go dark y' know, care to explain to me just what happened to you all over the years?" Yajima asked. Makarov nodded, and he led Yajima to a nearby table where they could chat. Erza smacked Natsu and Gray over the head before they could start fighting and possibly interrupting the master's conversation.

"So what gives Mackie? How on Earthland did you pop up to the land of the living again after seven years? None of you seemed to have aged a day since then either, although it's a bit hard to tell with you being an old-timer already."

"Hardy-har laugh it up...in all seriousness though it was a miracle any of us survived the attack. Fairy Tail managed to beat back Grimoire heart by some ungodly miracle, but when Acnologia came, none of us stood a chance. The ghost of master Mavis saved us Mackie, my godmother...she cast the Fairy sphere spell over Tenrou island right as Acnologia unleashed his attack."

"Ah, well apart from the strangeness of a ghost protecting you all that clears up some confusion in my old noggin. So his attack was so strong it kept Fairy Sphere up for Seven years huh? That's downright terrifying."

"You don't know the half of it, I'm not sure there's a single man alive who could take down that monster. Even our own dragon slayers and the whole guild combined didn't even phase it."

"I wonder what caused him to show up now of all times. Oh, wait, one of your own disturbed the beasty didn't he?"

"Damn that Gildarts. Although it clearly wasn't all his fault, that monster doesn't play by any rules but his own."

"Strange though, after Acnologia attacked, he also went dark for seven years. Same for Zeref, no one's seen either of them."

"Acnologia went dark? Hmm, I suppose it makes sense. Commonfolk even began to question his very existence till Tenrou, he clearly doesn't appear very often."

"Anything else?"

"...Second master Precht was the master of Grimoire heart."

Yajima's eyes widened enough that Makarov could see them. He just stared at Makarov blankly for a few moments before looking to the ground.

"I know you wouldn't joke about something like that...hard to believe though."

"Believe me, it was just as shocking for me when I saw him up close. He went down a dark path Yaji, a dark, dark path."

"Hmm, well his body or whereabouts were never recovered either. Grimoire heart went dark too actually. Things around Fiore went unusually quiet when Fairy Tail went under."

"I suppose my guild makes everything louder then?" Makarov asked sarcastically.

"I thought that was the motto of the guild."

"Oh shut up! Anyways, what about your side of things? Ever get back in the council?"

"No, and I never plan to either, especially after what happened with Siegrain."

"Good idea."

"That doesn't mean I don't still have some connections though. I tend to keep up to date when I can. Not too much to mention, but I did hear a special lacrima went missing a few years back."

"Hm? What's so special about it?"

"Well, it may have been a slayer lacrima, that's all I know though. I simply found it interesting since I thought all the lacrima's were used up after the whole hybrid theory fiasco."

"Ah yes, God Serena, hope I never have to see him again."

"He was rather...eccentric, I suppose."

"That's putting it lightly at best."

The two friends took the time to catch up with each other after that, and the guild members who had to struggle for seven years finally saw hope shine through the misery they were forced to endure for far too long.