This work is an original creation and is protected by copyright. The characters and elements from the Fairy Tail universe belong to the mangaka Hiro Mashima.
Fairy Tail: New Extalia
Chapter 1: Nightmare and Farewell
Introduction Arc
It was night, the snow was falling non-stop, leaving a white blanket that covered everything it touched. We seem to be in a forest, whose silence is slightly interrupted by the rustle of branches swaying in the wind. Small footsteps can also be heard briefly. In the middle of this forest was Happy, who was walking against the snowfall, pushing aside with his hands the snow that was falling on his face.
"What am I doing here?" he thought. "Where am I?"
He kept walking through the icy snow; his vision blurred due to the heavy snowfall. He couldn't recall how he had arrived in this forest or where exactly he was, but he felt a terrible sensation, as though a knot tightened in his throat.
He only moved forward. A deep instinct within him urged him to keep going.
Ignoring his common sense, he continued walking, guided solely by the feeling that there was something he needed to see.
"But what?"
He stopped abruptly when he noticed something faintly red against the snow. He touched the crimson-stained ground, and the faint metallic smell confirmed his fears: the substance on the snow was blood. A small trail of blood extended in another direction.
Worried, Happy thought, "Whose blood is this? Where does it lead? Are they injured? Could it be an animal or a wild creature?" His mind swirled with unanswered questions.
Despite his fear, he decided to follow the blood trail. The snowfall grew heavier, and simultaneously, the trail widened.
Happy dreaded what he might find at the end of the path. The cold began to take its toll, affecting his movements; he rubbed his hands together in an attempt to warm them.
To his misfortune, daylight was waning, and dusk warned him to hurry out of the forest before nightfall made it too late. However, he couldn't leave—not because he didn't want to but because he seemed to be in a trance. Though his desire was to return, his body moved on its own, following the blood trail that grew increasingly larger.
The trail thickened, and despite his will, Happy kept walking to its end.
Finally, the trail stopped, but no one was there. In fact, the blood had disappeared. Confused yet relieved not to find a gruesome scene, he was about to leave when something moved ahead. Happy recognized his guildmate, Carla. She was bundled up in a vest, a wool hat, and a pale pink scarf.
He saw her in a rush, carrying a first aid kit in her hands. Despite Happy's shouts, she ignored him and moved further into the forest.
With quick steps, he managed to intercept her. "What's going on, Carla? Where are you headed?" he asked.
Suddenly, Carla began to speak, but for some strange reason, Happy could not hear her. He tried to respond, but he couldn't hear his own words either. He felt as if his body was acting on its own. Although he didn't understand what was going on, the interaction seemed to turn into a heated argument between the two of them. A deep bitterness filled his heart, as he had a horrible feeling that something was about to happen.
Just as Carla seemed ready to leave, a loud rumble echoed through the forest. Happy quickly ducked down, covering his ears. He asked Carla if she was all right, but to his horror, she had been shot in the chest, close to the heart. She fell to the ground immediately and blood gushed out of her wound. The warm blood melted the snow under her body. Happy was shocked.
He tried to move to help her, but he felt his strength leave him and collapsed face-first onto the ground. He then realized he had a similar wound in his chest.
"When was I struck?" he wondered as his strength dwindled, and it became harder to breathe due to the blood pooling in his mouth. Coughing blood, he dragged himself as close as he could to Carla.
At that moment, he saw her crying in pain from her wound. It broke his heart that he couldn't do anything to help either of them. Carla seemed to be murmuring something through her sobs, but for some strange reason, he couldn't hear her.
His vision blurred as he reached out to hold Carla's hand before completely losing his strength. They were both in their final moments. With her last words, Carla said, "I'm sorry for all of this." After saying that, she closed her eyes. Happy, too, began to close his eyes, succumbing to his wounds...
[...]
[...]
[...]
Happy suddenly woke up, his heart racing and covered in cold sweat. As he looked around, he realized he was at home and that Natsu was sound asleep beside him. He breathed a sigh of relief upon realizing that it had all been a terrible nightmare. A nightmare that had felt all too real.
Shaking, he got up and walked over to the mirror. There were no wounds on his body. He sighed in relief.
"It was all just a dream, right?" he murmured to himself. "What a scare..." He tried to calm himself, but couldn't.
As his mind wandered, he began to wonder if that nightmare had been just a bad dream or something more, something strange like Carla's premonitions. He looked at Natsu, who was still sleeping peacefully. He decided not to tell him anything; he didn't want to worry him. And if Natsu found out, he'd probably tell everyone else, something Happy wanted to avoid.
After thinking for a while, he concluded that he should talk to Carla. After all, in the dream, they both had died.
"Just to be sure, I should tell Carla. I hope it was just that... a dream."
He looked out the window, watching the wind sway the nearby forest.
He returned to the hammock, trying to relax, but it was hard to fall back asleep. He began to think of his friends, especially Carla. Little by little, the exhaustion overcame his restlessness, and he finally fell asleep.
[...]
[...]
[...]
The next morning, the first rays of sunlight entered the house, waking Happy up. Still groggy, he barely heard Natsu urging him on. Today they were going to help Lucy with a mission to pay the rent.
"Aye..." he replied with a yawn.
Activating his Aera magic, he spread his wings and grabbed Natsu by the shoulders to fly them to the Fairy Tail guild. During the flight, Happy remembered that there was something important he needed to do today, but he couldn't remember what it was. As he soared through the sky over the forest, it suddenly came to him: the dream. He needed to talk to Carla about it.
"Hurry up, Happy, we haven't had breakfast yet, and we need energy for the mission!" Natsu exclaimed excitedly.
"Aye!" Happy sped up, but his mind was elsewhere. The word "mission" echoed in his mind. If he went with Natsu, he wouldn't be able to talk to Carla. He didn't want to put it off, but he also couldn't ignore his friend.
"Look, Happy, we can already see the guild!" Natsu pointed excitedly to the building in the distance.
"We're almost there," said Happy, trying not to show his worry.
Entering the guild, the atmosphere was alive with the usual hustle and bustle: laughter, chatter, and friendly bickering. Natsu was already in the middle of a discussion with Gray, and Happy, not paying much attention, noticed the remnants of the decorations from the Valentine's Day dance. He smiled remembering how he had asked Carla to dance, and how she had accepted.
"Hey, Happy! I'm going to have breakfast while we wait for Lucy," Natsu announced, heading to the bar where Mirajane was serving food. Happy nodded, absorbed in his own thoughts. He needed to figure out a way to get out of the mission without raising suspicion.
Determined, he began searching for Wendy, thinking that Carla might be with her. He used his wings to fly over the crowd, spotting Wendy in a corner, but Carla wasn't with her, which seemed odd. He approached Wendy.
"Good morning, Wendy! Do you know where Carla is? I want to talk to her."
"Hi Happy! I think she's upstairs," Wendy replied with a smile.
"Upstairs?" Happy was surprised. Usually, Carla didn't spend time there.
Wendy explained that Carla had received a letter from her mother, Shaggotte, the former leader of the Exceeds. Apparently, Shaggotte wanted to meet with her to discuss something important. This surprised Happy. He knew Carla hadn't been in much contact with her mother since they discovered their relationship.
"Then I'll go see her, thanks, Wendy," he said, and Happy flew upstairs. After searching through a few tables, he finally found Carla.
Happy felt somewhat happy to find her since Carla was one of the few people he was romantically interested in, even though he knew that Carla had a very tough character and an attitude that few could tolerate. Happy still liked her regardless of how she had treated him in the past. He knew he might have a small chance with her since, after he met Touka, another Exceed, during their mission with the 100-year task, Carla had acted a bit strangely when Touka was close to him. Happy suspected Carla had been jealous. Although his time with Touka was brief, she had promised they would meet again.
Although Happy knew it was wrong to imagine a love triangle between him, Carla, and Touka, he couldn't help but wonder what would have happened if Touka had been in the guild. There might be tension between the Exceed girls or something similar.
Happy quickly pushed those thoughts away as they were irrelevant and headed toward Carla, who seemed a bit upset while holding a letter.
"What a bother!" Carla appeared frustrated as she crossed her arms and sighed while reading the letter.
"Hey, Carla! Is something wrong?" he greeted cheerfully, though a bit nervous.
Carla looked up and stared at him, visibly annoyed.
"Hello, Happy. I'm busy with something important," she replied without much enthusiasm.
"I guess that letter is from Shaggotte, meaning your mother, right?" he asked.
"And I suppose Wendy told you," Carla said, returning her attention to the paper.
Happy laughed nervously. "Yeah, something like that... Why does that letter bother you so much?"
Carla sighed, crossing her arms. "It's because I don't understand why my mother specifically wants to talk to me. That's what bothers me."
Happy felt a little intimidated by Carla's tone, but he tried to calm her down. "Have you tried using your precognition magic to see what it's about?"
"I already did, but I didn't see anything relevant," Carla replied, calmer now.
"Maybe you should relax a bit," he suggested, feeling guilty. "How about I invite you for a cup of tea?"
"No, thanks. I'm too busy," Carla responded curtly, though not harshly.
Happy sat down in front of her, nervously fiddling with his fingers. He didn't know how to start talking about the dream. Carla noticed his strange behavior.
"Is something wrong, Happy? You're acting stranger than usual."
"Yes, it's just that I..." Happy looked away. "I want to talk to you alone about something important."
Carla looked at him, confused. "We're alone, aren't we? What's so important that you want to talk about?"
"I don't want anyone else to hear it. Please, come to the bridge near the stream." And before Carla could say anything else, Happy flew out of the guild.
Carla sighed, watching him leave. "What's going on with Happy today?" she muttered before turning her attention back to the letter.
[...]
[...]
[...]
Near the stream
Outside Magnolia, near the creek, an old bridge stretched over a crystal clear stream surrounded by green grass. Happy sat on a rock, tossing stones into the water as he waited, nervousness gnawing at his insides. He felt a bitter feeling in his stomach; he needed to calm down before talking to Carla.
In the distance, he saw Carla approaching, flying with her Aera magic. When she arrived, Happy seemed a little calmer.
"I'm here, Happy," Carla said. "What's so important that you asked me to come alone?"
Carla actually had an idea of what Happy might be planning, to bring her to a secluded place like this, and she didn't like the idea.
She thought about Happy's strange behavior, the nervousness, the attitude, and the fact that he had drawn her to this bridge—he probably wanted to confess or ask her out. Carla sighed, as she didn't consider Happy for various reasons, one of which was his carefree attitude and the immaturity he sometimes displayed.
"It's about something I saw, a situation where you and I..." he stopped, carefully considering what he was going to say.
"Stop, Happy!" Carla interrupted him, frustrated. "If this is another one of your attempts to ask me out, forget it. I don't have time for that."
Carla stood up and tried to leave. Happy quickly cut her off.
"It's not about that!" he tried to explain. "Please, don't go."
Carla looked at him disdainfully and sat down on the grass. "Fine, but I hope it's something important."
Happy started telling her about the nightmare he had the night before, describing all the details he could remember, like the snowy forest, the snowstorm hitting the area, the bloodstains, and finding Carla in the middle of that gloomy forest. His expression turned serious as he spoke about their deaths.
At the beginning of the story, Carla seemed somewhat skeptical of what Happy was telling her, but her face turned indifferent when he mentioned that they both died. Carla closed her eyes, trying to think about what Happy had said. It seemed ridiculous that Happy was worried about a dream—after all, he didn't have his precognition magic, so his dreams didn't hold any weight regarding the future. She figured he shouldn't be afraid of such a dream.
Happy noticed Carla seemed indifferent to what he had said. "So, what do you think? Should I be worried?" he asked, hoping Carla would show concern or something similar.
"Happy, I'll be honest, you shouldn't worry about something like that, it's just a bad dream," she told him. "Especially you—you can't see the future like I can, so don't get so down about something that won't happen."
Happy was surprised that Carla didn't care at all about his dream. "But Carla, that nightmare felt so real, I could even feel the fear when I saw you getting hurt," he explained.
"You shouldn't feel bad about something that's meaningless," Carla replied.
"Meaningless? Carla, I saw us dying together. Doesn't that matter to you? I care about anything that happens to the people I love," Happy said, hoping Carla would understand the gravity of the situation. "I came to talk to you because you have more experience with visions or dreams about the future," he added.
"That's why I'm telling you to stop worrying. I can see the future, while you can't," Carla explained. "Happy, if I had a dream or vision similar to what you experienced in your nightmare, it would be a different story because my precognition magic would have told me."
"Besides, it's not like there's anything you could do if that were the case," Carla said as she turned around and began preparing to leave.
"What do you mean by that?" Happy asked, slightly annoyed.
Carla, without turning to face Happy, said, "What I mean is that you wouldn't be able to do anything in that kind of situation. Happy, you don't have the power to protect anyone."
"I'll be honest with you. Just because you had a nightmare, you think you need to worry and protect me, but you're wrong. I don't need you to protect me. I can take care of myself, and while your concern is understandable, you need to realize that no matter how much you want to, you can't protect me or anyone else," Carla concluded.
Happy was devastated by Carla's statement, but deep down, he knew she was right. He lacked the ability to protect anyone, and this realization made him feel useless.
"That's not true! I can protect my friends!" Happy protested. "I can do it!" he said to himself, trying to keep calm.
"Happy, you need to accept that, at least for now, you can't protect anyone," Carla replied. "Now, if you'll excuse me, I have more important things to do back at the guild and no time to worry about a silly dream." Carla prepared to leave.
Happy hung his head, on the verge of tears.
"Carla, do you really think I can't protect you?" he asked, his voice trembling. "Tell me one reason why you think I can't protect you."
Carla, irritated by Happy's insistence, retorted, "You're starting to annoy me with your stupid dream. The reason you can't protect anyone is that you refuse to learn magic, and you're completely immature when it comes to taking things seriously."
Happy tried to block out Carla's words, but he knew they were the absolute truth. He was everything she said. This realization crushed him.
"I've tried to help you several times, but it was a waste of time. You couldn't even learn transformation magic when I tried to teach you. You didn't even have the initiative to learn on your own," Carla continued, still visibly annoyed. "I'm not trying to be mean, but that's the truth, and I hope you take it to heart."
Happy felt a lump form in his throat. Carla's harsh words echoed in his mind, striking his heart and breaking his spirit. He hugged himself, trying to calm down, but it was in vain.
"She's right. I'm a useless good-for-nothing who can't succeed at anything," Happy thought to himself, tears streaming down his face. How had he reached such a low point in his life? And why hadn't he realized it until someone else pointed it out? His thoughts tormented him, and Happy seemed unwilling to accept this as his reality.
Memories of his failed attempts at learning magic haunted him—no matter who tried to help him, whether it was Natsu, Lucy, or Carla, nothing worked. This overwhelming sense of failure made him feel small and insignificant among his friends.
Unable to bear any more of Carla's harsh words, Happy left without saying a word, not wanting Carla to notice his departure.
"I have to change. I need to," Happy murmured as he disappeared into the forest, seeking solitude to sort through his thoughts and make a decision about his future.
"But…" Carla hesitated, thinking about what she could have said to Happy. Even though her words were true, he had other qualities that made him a great companion, friend, and an Exceed she could trust.
"Even if it's true, you have other traits that make you special and unique. You're incredibly optimistic, always seeing the bright side and trying to keep everyone happy, even in serious situations, and that's something I deeply admire," she recalled, thinking of how hard Happy worked to maintain a cheerful atmosphere among his friends. "You're also the only one of the three of us brave enough to accompany Natsu into enemy territory on the front lines against the Alvarez Empire, risking your own life to make sure Natsu didn't die," Carla said, remembering how Happy and Natsu had boldly faced Zeref's army during the war.
"Maybe I'm wrong about you after all. What I really mean is that, even though you feel like an Exceed who hasn't mastered magic, the truth is you're a great companion and friend. And even if you don't have the power to protect the people you love, you're willing to give your life for them," Carla concluded. But when she turned around, Happy was nowhere to be seen.
"Happy?" Carla sighed, realizing she'd been speaking to no one. "Where are you?" she asked, hoping for an answer, but the silence confirmed she was alone. "Where did you go?" Carla scanned the area quickly before heading back to the guild, thinking Happy might have returned there.
At Natsu and Happy's Home
Happy was in a dismal state. His eyes were red from the tears he had shed, and his blue fur was messy. He lay slumped against a wall in his home, staring out at the encroaching night. He hadn't left the house all day, and Natsu had probably gone on a mission with Lucy, traveling with her alone.
His mind was overwhelmed with thoughts about his own uselessness and immaturity as an Exceed. Carla had been right about him, and that truth weighed on him more heavily than he had anticipated.
Happy began to reminisce about moments when either he or someone else was in trouble and the times he had actually been helpful. Other than his ability to fly using Aera, he couldn't think of many occasions where he had truly been of use.
Unlike his fellow Exceeds, like Carla or Pantherlily, they were far more capable thanks to their transformations. Compared to them, he lagged far behind.
He truly felt insignificant to everyone else. He was just a small Exceed with an uncommon blue coat, no real useful abilities beyond flying with Aera. What could he possibly do to change all of this?
As he looked at his hands, he recalled the time he had saved Natsu's life during the war against the Alvarez Empire, in the battle against Zeref. Despite burning himself on Natsu's fire magic, he had carried Natsu away, risking severe injury to ensure his friend's survival.
"Natsu almost died that time," he murmured, recalling the memory. "I managed to stop that from happening, but I ended up severely hurt in the process." He gazed at his small hands, remembering how close they came to being scorched beyond use by Natsu's power. "I wish I had magic and strength like Natsu's, but I know it's impossible. He worked hard, training and fighting to become stronger."
Then, a realization struck him. "No, Natsu did become stronger, but it came at the cost of training alongside him and completely isolating himself from others. He had a motivation—to avenge his father, the Fire King Dragon, Igneel, and to defeat Acnologia and Zeref." Happy realized that what he lacked was a motivation to achieve what he wanted.
"I want to protect the people who are most important to me!" he exclaimed, his determination growing.
"This is my own determination and my goal; and to achieve it, I need to train just like Natsu did," he declared resolutely.
He began to think about all the factors he needed to consider if he planned to leave for training. Training secretly nearby wouldn't work; he wouldn't be able to focus or take the necessary time since Natsu would likely ask him to join missions. If he repeatedly refused, Natsu—or Lucy, especially her—would start questioning his refusals. Eventually, they'd uncover the truth about his argument with Carla.
He also realized that if Carla mentioned anything about their argument, the guild members would start digging into what led to it. Happy didn't want the guild to know about his struggles with magic, nor did he want their pity.
All these factors led Happy to a decision. "While Carla is at the guild, it's only a matter of time before she tells Wendy, and then others might find out about our argument." He pictured a possible scenario where the guild discovered his issues with magic, and he didn't want anyone to feel sorry for him.
"Maybe I should leave the guild, at least for now," he sighed. It seemed like the best option if he wanted to train without major complications. "If I leave the guild, maybe I should leave Natsu a note explaining why I'm going."
Happy grabbed a piece of paper and wrote a letter explaining his reasons for leaving, his motivations, and the estimated time he'd be gone. He also included additional instructions for Natsu, like a message to give to Carla after some time.
Next, he had to choose a training location. After weighing several options, he decided to return to the same island where he had trained before—Tenrou Island.
After reading the letter repeatedly, he felt it was ready. He began preparing, gathering important items like clothes, communication lacrimas, and food such as fish, fruits, and canned goods.
"I'll need fish, fruits, canned food, fish, water, and more fish," Happy said, satisfied with his choices for the journey.
He also needed money—specifically, half of the savings he and Natsu had stored in their little safe. "I worked for it, so I deserve half," he reasoned, taking about 370,000 Jewels.
He grabbed some tools that might be useful, though he didn't know how to use them properly. "Whatever, it's better to be prepared," he said, packing items like a map, a small pocketknife, and other essentials into his green backpack. "The expansion magic on my backpack is super handy in situations like this," he remarked, recalling the spell he had purchased to increase its capacity.
At the Fairy Tail Guild
Carla was sitting at the guild's bar, sipping a cup of Darjeeling tea. Beside her, Wendy was chatting with Mirajane about a job.
Wendy noticed that Carla seemed quite distracted and had barely touched her tea.
"Is something wrong, Carla?" Wendy asked her companion. "You've been unusually quiet, and you haven't even drunk your tea."
Carla seemed to realize that her argument with Happy had left a bad taste in her mouth. Now, she felt somewhat guilty about what she had said.
"It's about something I talked to Happy about," Carla admitted.
"I guess you told him about the letter—and I don't mean the meeting part, but the part where Shaggotte mentions that Happy is supposed to come along," Wendy said, watching Carla closely to see if she was being honest.
"We didn't talk about that part. We only talked about dreams, child," Carla replied, trying to keep Wendy from asking more questions.
"Well, in any case, you should tell him tomorrow. You know you'll have to, no matter what," Wendy said before walking back to the bar.
Carla drank the rest of her tea and pulled out the letter, revealing its contents:
Dear Carla,
I hope this letter finds you well and in good spirits.
I am writing to you about a matter of utmost importance. Due to recent events, I must ask you to meet me at the Exceed settlement near the kingdom's border. At this location, we will have everything we need for our discussion without worrying about outside interference.
Additionally, I ask that you make the necessary preparations to inform Happy about this meeting. There are circumstances that concern both him and you, and his presence is crucial.
Thank you for taking the time to read this letter. I hope you will consider this matter with the seriousness it deserves and take the necessary steps so that we can meet as soon as possible.
With love and care,
Your mother, Shaggotte.
P.S.:
I have notified Pantherlily with a later meeting date than ours, so he is already informed. However, please keep this information strictly between you and Happy.
After reading the letter, Carla told Wendy she would retire to her room early. On her way to her room, she began to wonder why her mother had specifically requested Happy's presence.
"Why him?" she asked herself. "What does she need from Happy? And more importantly, what concerns us both?"
Carla couldn't find an answer to her doubts.
"There's only one reason I can think of, but that can't be possible. No one but me knows," she said, trying to dismiss a scenario she hoped wasn't the case.
Carla arrived at her room quietly, unaware that the tranquility she knew was about to change.
At Natsu and Happy's Home
Happy had finished packing and left a farewell letter on the table for Natsu. After placing it down, he activated his Aera magic, lifting himself into the sky. Looking back at his home one last time, he bid farewell to Natsu, Lucy, his guildmates, and especially Carla.
As he flew past the Fairy Tail guild, Happy wondered if leaving was the right choice for something as trivial as training. He thought back to the time he and Natsu left for a year to train. It had been tough, but it was the right thing to do. Now, he found himself in a similar situation.
But this time, it was different. He wanted to change, and now was the time.
As he glanced at the guild one last time, tears fell from his eyes, accompanied by a small smile.
"It's not goodbye—it's see you later, Fairy Tail," he whispered.
Wiping away his tears, Happy flew onward with determination, his goal clear and his resolve unwavering, heading toward Tenrou Island.
?
In an unknown place, the sky had turned gray, dense and heavy, as if the world was about to crumble. Small specks of burning ash were falling from the sky, faintly illuminating the surroundings. In the distance, there was a glimpse of what appeared to be an ancient building, barely discernible amidst the shadows and the glow of distant flames.
"Apparently, the wheel of fate has begun to turn, and soon the Exceeds will be embroiled in a conflict that will affect not only them, but the foundations of the Exceeds' own realm," a high-pitched voice murmured, echoing through the echoes of that forgotten place. In his hand, he held a dusty book that spoke of the fall of the ancient kingdom of the Exceeds, Extalia.
"The time is coming when the Exceeds will show what they are made of, and when that time comes... we will be ready," the voice concluded coolly, slamming the book shut. The echoing sound mingled with the whisper of falling ashes, as if fate itself had been sealed.
End of the Chapter 1
Good evening, my dear readers, if you are wondering why this story is in English, the answer is simple... After finishing the first serious story arc, I wanted to bring this story to more English speaking readers. I will probably upload the chapters gradually, but it is extremely complicated to translate these chapters with DeepL and with a phone.
If you liked this story let me know with a review or a private message, if you want to be aware of each story I write just put that favorite heart. I will be waiting for you.
InsideBlu says goodbye, until next time.
Bye bye!