Chapter 19: The Return

Erza and the others were smiling, Tenrou Island emerged from the sea, the glowing sphere around it disappeared. The mysterious girl looked at them and smiled, and she floated towards the island.

"Follow her," Erza ordered and the others nodded.

Once they docked the ship, Erza immediately jumped off and ran into the island.

"Erza wait," Bisca shouted as she and the others jumped off.

Erza didn't listen though, she just ran as fast as she could looking for survivors "Everyone please be okay,"

Erza continued to run, she stopped though once she heard a groan, Erza turned to where the groan came from, and once she saw who it was tears formed in her eyes. Out of the dirt appeared a small old man, it was none other than Makarov.

"Ugh, What happened," Makarov groaned.

At that moment Erza jumped at the old man "Master," She cried.

"Eh! Erza," Makarov was shocked at the redhead suddenly hugging him. it was then Makarov's eyes widened seeing the girl's appearance has changed "Erza what happened, why are you older,"

Erza wiped her tears "I know, there's a lot for me to explain to you,"

"Erza is that you," Gray emerged from the forest.

"Gray," Erza smiled.

"Wait, why are you older," Gray shouted.

It was then after some time, the others were found all knocked out but uninjured, all of them greeted with hugs much to some of their annoyance. The whole group though were all shocked at their friends' sudden increase in age.

"What, it's been 7 years," The Tenrou Group shouted.

Erza and the others nodded "Yeah, after Acnologia attacked, Fairy Sphere was cast and you were all sealed for 7 years, I however managed to get out somehow, and was not sealed for 7 years,"

"I see who cast Fairy Sphere," Makarov asked.

"That would be me,"

They all turned and Erza and her team's eyes widened. It was the same girl from before.

"It was the girl from before," Max said.

The girl bowed "Hello my name is Mavis Vermillion and I am the First Master of Fairy Tail,"

"WHAT!" Everyone shouted in shock and dis-believed.

"At the time, I took the bonds you all shared and the faith you had with one another and turned that bond to magic power casting Fairy Sphere, One of the three great Fairy Spells, the Absolute Defense that protects everyone who is in the guild," Mavis explained "Though with Erza's survival I have no clue, and everyone but her was put in a frozen state and it took 7 years to dispel,"

Makarov then found himself tearing up "To think the First Master protected us,"

"No, I am currently just an astral body," Mavis said. "And all I can do is transform everyone's power to magic. Unwavering faith and a strong relationship between you all will create a miracle," she smiled but it soon disappeared. "But it seems the guild is experiencing great tragedy,"

The guild members all looked down, knowing she was speaking of Natsu.

"That man's future is now draped in shadows," Mavis said depressed, but she quickly gained a smile and started to glow. "But that doesn't change anything 3rd Master, you have turned Fairy Tail into a fine guild," it was then she vanished.

Makarov looked on as Mavis vanished "Thank you First Master,"

Erza smiled "Alright let's get to the ship and head home,"

"And when you do that you owe us an explanation," Gray said.

"Yeah, seriously I'm still confused about this whole mess," Lucy said.

Wendy nodded "You need to fill us in on the last 7 years," Happy and Carla nodded.

"Don't worry I'll explain everything," Erza smiled.

Laxus signed "This is going to be quite the story,"

Gildarts chuckled "At least we get a story,"

"Yeah, I wanna hear what's been going on," Mira smiled.

"Yeah, I bet her stories are so manly," Elfman shouted.

"Please be quiet," Lisanna and Evergreen signed.

"Laxus would you like anything," Freed offered, freaking Laxus out.

"Haha," Bickslow laughed.

"Gray-sama," Juvia jumped to Gray.

"LEVY!" Jet and Droy cheered.

"Geh," Levy jumped, and the two fans were punched by Gajeel.

"Would you two shut up," Gajeel shouted, and Panterlilly smirked.

One Boat Ride Later

After returning to the guildhall, the Tenrou group was showered with hugs and tears, all of them happy seeing them again. The Tenrou Group was dropped with a lot of bombshells, like Alzack and Bisca getting married and having a child, Fairy Tail no longer being the number one guild, and other things.

Erza took a breath "Okay take a seat, time for an explanation on what I've been doing,"

The Tenrou Group all sat down in their seats and listened in anticipation.

One Long Story Later

"Wait, wait talking toads,"

"Mt. Myoboku?"

"Fox Spirit?"

"Jinchuriki?"

"Okay calm down," Erza told the ones clamoring her with questions "I know it a lot to take in,"

"You have no idea," Gray slumped in his chair.

"Seriously I still don't get it," Lucy groaned.

"It's a lot to take in," Wendy signed.

Levy smiled "don't worry I wrote it all down,"

"Thank you, Levy," All of them said.

"But wow, I can't believe it's been 7 years everything changed so much," Lucy said.

Wendy nodded "Everyone besides us have aged over 7 years,"

"There's a lot for us to catch up on," Levy smiled.

It was then the doors to the guildhall burst open, the guild looked at the door and saw a group of 4 men and one woman.

"Well, well, it seems the rumors are true, you are back," a male voice said.

Gray perked up at hearing the voice "You're,"

Members of the former Team Natsu fully recognized the group who had entered the guildhall.

"Lamia Scale," Lucy said, shocked.

"It's been a while Lucy," Sherry smiled.

"Woof," Toby barked.

"I am glad you are safe and sound," a now bearded Jura smiled.

"Hmm, you guys haven't aged a day," Yuka said.

"With you guys back are you going to go back to a boisterous guild," Lyon smirked.

Gray scoffed "Hmm, this guy,"

"Gray, don't be rude," Erza told him "Lamia and Pegasus were a big part of helping us finding you guys,"

"Wow really," Wendy asked and Erza nodded.

"Guess we're in debt to you guys now," Gray said.

Lyon smirked "Don't worry about it, Pegasus may have overtaken us but we have more powerful members,"

Gray groaned "So that's what you mean to say,"

"The 7 years you guys have been gone, Lamia has become the number 2 guild in Fiore," Sherry said.

"Number 2? Does that mean Blue Pegasus is Number 1," Lucy asked shocked.

Erza shook "No, Pegasus is currently Number 3,"

"Then who is number 1 now?" Wendy asked.

"That would be Sabertooth," Max answered "Seriously, they are really strong,"

Yuka nodded in agreement "It's a guild full of powerful wizards,"

"Sabertooth? Never heard of them," Gajeel scoffed.

"Well they didn't stand out 7 years ago so it's no surprise," Warren said.

"Now now, that's a conversation best saved for another time," Jura smiled.

Lyon's eyes then fell to Juvia, and he felt himself go red, mesmerized by her beauty "is this love at first sight," he smiled as he faced Juvia.

"EH?" Juvia went red and started to shake.

Fairy Tail and Lamia then started to catch up and have some fun together, having a couple of drinks. After a couple of hours of more partying, Lamia left.

"Erza, have you guys heard anything about Natsu these past 7 years," Gildarts asked her, and the entire guild was silent. The ones who held the fort for 7 years all looked down.

"We heard nothing, only rumors," Erza simply answered.

"What? Nothing even after 7 years," Elfman said, shocked.

Max nodded "even Lamia and Pegasus helped us but they turned up nothing solid as well,"

"And what about these rumors," Makarov asked.

"Nothing good," Erza said, and the master's eyes darkened fearing what she was about to say "The rumors we all heard say that a fire wizard with pink hair and his team have been slaughtering dark guilds,"

The Tenrou group's eyes all widened in shock and horror.

"Slaughtering," Mira shook, covering her mouth.

"He's been killing dark guilds," Elfman said, shocked.

"Yes, barely anyone in the dark guilds he attacked made out alive," Bisca said.

"He even destroyed Raven Tail," Erza said.

Makarov, Laxus, Gildarts, and Gajeel went wide-eyed.

"What? Even Raven Tail," Makarov said.

"Yeah, a majority of their members have been killed, the only survivor being their master Ivan," Max told them.

"He's currently in prison, but he won't talk," Warren said. "And the council can't do anything because of no hard evidence or leads,"

"I see," Makarov looked down "I may not agree with how he did it, but I'm glad he took care of a future problem,"

"Hmm, so that deadbeat is still kicking," Laxus signed.

"So what do we do about Natsu," Gray questioned.

"I honestly don't know," Makarov answered "But as First said, his path is his own right now,"

"So we just leave him," Gray shouted.

"I know you want to find him, Gray, I do too but there are other things we need to worry about," Erza told him.

The others didn't want to say it but they knew it was true, they can't find Natsu, not at the state they are in now.

"Natsu," Happy cried, and Lucy hugged him.

"So what do we do then," Elfman asked.

"First our guild needs funding, as you see we haven't had lots of jobs lately," Erza said.

"And how do we solve it," Lucy asked.

"The Grand Magic Games," Erza answered.

"What," the Tenrou group went.

"A new annual competition that has been happening for the last 3 years," Max explained.

"And you want us to enter," Wendy said.

"Yeah, the competition determines whoever wins is the strongest guild in the country," Bisca explained.

"The current number 1 is Sabertooth," Romeo told them.

"What about us," Wendy asked.

"Well we never entered, but people consider us the weakest guild in Fiore right now," the guild groaned. "That's why we lacked in job request lately,"

"Well I'm hesitant to enter as well, winning something like that doesn't prove we're strong," Makarov said.

"The prize is 30 million jewels," Romeo told him.

"LET'S DO IT!" Makarov jumped.

"You've changed your mind so quickly," Lucy shouted.

"Yeah with Gildarts on our side we can't lose," Makarov smiled.

"Yeah, he left,"

"What?" Makarov and the others went.

"Yeah, he left after the whole Raven Tail story," Lisanna pointed out.

"WHAT!" Makarov shouted.

"Well he also left his note," Mira handed the old man.

Makarov read the note "I see, he says he's going to continue his journey and try to dig up anything on Natsu,"

Erza smiled "I see, thank you Gildarts,"

"So we enter the Games without Gildarts," Gray said.

"But we still got a majority of our strongest members back. With them here we can't lose," Jet and Droy jumped.

"Yeah, we'll show Sabertooth whose boss," Romeo cheered.

"YEAH! LET'S WIN THAT 30 MILLION!" Makarov cheered loudly.

Erza smiled at the guild celebrating, all of them full of confidence in their victory.

"The games take place in three months, use that time to train, we also have to decide on a 5 person team to enter," Erza explained the rules.

"Well that settles it, everyone will go on a three-month training journey and once you all return we will decide the teams," Makarov ordered. "Now all of you train and we will win the Grand Magic Games!"

"YEAH!"

…

Elsewhere in the headquarters of a dark guild.

"Damn it, who are these guys,"

The man's words turned to be his last, as he was stabbed through the back killing him instantly.

"Seriously these guys weren't too much fun," Sora groaned.

"Why does it matter, we got the job done," Juzo said.

"Hmm," Sora scoffed.

"Sora, behave yourself," Hitomi told him.

"Shut it Hitomi," Sora shouted. "Oh hey Natsu, heard your old friends are back after a 7-year of absences,"

"Hmm," Natsu scoffed.

"Sora-san, I don't think it's best to bring them up to Natsu-san," Kagura told him.

"Oh come on Natsu, aren't you happy that they're back," Sora smirked.

Natsu began to walk out of the dark guild HQ, "Hmm, those guys mean nothing to me now, now let's go we have another mission,"

An hey guys another quick chapter, everyone from Tenrou is back, sorry for it being short and the reaction on the status on Natsu. Couldn't think of anything good to put. Anyway be sure to review and I will see you next time.