Chapter Text
The Fiore Kingdom.
A neutral country with a population of 17 million.
It is a world of magic.
Magic is bought and sold there like anything else,
and is deeply ingrained in the people's lives.
There are even some who make a living using magic.
These people are referred to as wizards.
These wizards belong to many different guilds
and accept jobs brought to them.
There are many guilds in this kingdom,
and there's a certain
wizard guild in a certain town...
A guild from which
countless legends were once born--
nay, one that will continue to
create legends well into the future.
Its name... Fairy Tail.
The port town of Hargeon
The train entering Hargeon station was special, for it held a team of very powerful people. "Um Sir? Mam? Are you two feeling alright?” A very confused train conductor asks gazing at the very shaken mages. “We've reached Hargeon, Natsu! Get up! Get up!”
“Yeah come on Nix, we haven't got the time for this” Two talking cats berate the poor people, one a striking blue and the other a beautiful grey colour. The conductor addresses the cats. “Are they gonna be alright?”.
“Aye! This always happens to him.” The small blue cat, Happy, responds. The grey one is silent as she tries to get into the lap of the unwell female. “Boop," she says quietly, pressing her paw on the purple-haired mage’s nose. She giggles in response, before the nausea sets back in.
“Never again... I'm never riding a train again…” Groans the pink haired male besides her. “Agreed” the woman responds, looking a little green. The small grey cat looks up at her friend and tries to reassure her “If our information is correct, the Salamander should be in this town. Wouldn't that be something Nix.”
“Let’s go! Common Natsu,” whines Happy trying to leave the train cart. “Wait up Happy,” call’s Aster, the grey cat, flying behind him carrying her best friend in her arms - still ill from the journey here. "Bleeeeh. G-Gimme a minute first…” cries Natsu weakly from his seat.
The harsh whistle alerts the 3 to a new problem other than the occurring motion sickness. A small scream from the distance “Help me!” as the boy is almost falling out of the train window. “It left,” said Happy, stating the error they seem to have made. “Oops” muttered Aster as she gently dropped Phoenix onto the concrete ground of Hargeon station. Getting back to her senses she looks around doing a mental count “Happy….Aster….Me…..Where is Nats…..Oh no." She looks at the cats and says “Well let's go get him guys."
Walking through the centre of town the four seem to be doing better, “Man... I wound up riding the train twice…”
“We're sorry Natsu, I know Happy didn’t mean to leave you in that death trap,” she glances at the oddly calm looking cat “Right Happy?”. Startled at the mention of his name, Happy responds very quickly “Aye, say Natsu you're no good when it comes to riding things.” The man in question gags just at the thought. He takes a moment then responds to his buddy “Not to mention I'm hungry…” Phoenix stares at him, she knows he’s eaten today; for she was the one who made breakfast only to have some of it land on the walls by the sheer appetite of her companion. “And we don't have any money.” whined Happy.
“Money for more food maybe,” but there was always an emergency fund Phoenix kept away from the boys. She may be impulsive like them but a backup was always safer. “Hey, Happy. This Salamander has to be Igneel, right?” Natsu looks hopeful asking the question to the blue cat, “Aye! Igneel is the only fire dragon I can think of.” Phoenix stays quiet, she really hopes this rumour is true. The idea of reuniting her best friend with Igneel brings a smile to her face. She’d given up on finding Cassiopeia many years ago, the thought of her was painful. But just making her proud, that would be enough right now. She doesn't think she could ever face her mother again, even if she did find her.
A crowd of people caught her eye, a group of young girls seemed to be fawning over someone. “Mr. Salamander!”.....”You’re so dreamy”, cried the girls all desperate for the attention of this mysterious figure. Natsu’s head snapped at the mention. “Salamander?!. See! Speak of the devil!”
“Aye!” The boys ran off towards the crowd as Phoenix and Aster waited. They’ve known those two for long enough to understand that when they get excited sometimes it's best just to take a step back. Excited personalities clashing and igniting each other too much can lead to innocent people getting hurt after all.
“Igneel! Igneel!” She heard him yell, “Okay maybe a few steps forward wont hurt.” Getting closer to the scene was disappointing, Phoenix watched as this poser started drawing on a piece of paper and loudly exclaimed “Here's my autograph. Feel free to brag to your friends.” Handing it to Natsu, who she realised looked a little scraped, she would have to ask him about it after the crowd had settled.
“No thanks. It wasn't him after all.” He shouted the last part over his shoulder, locking eyes directly with Phoenix. Gold gazed into onyx for a few moments, it told her all she needed to know. Glancing away Phoenix vaguely heard the man talk about some party on a boat, but she didn’t really care for people who thought it acceptable to steal titles. She walks in the direction Natsu left in, ready to come back together and maybe find a way to scrounge up some lunch. The effects of her earlier illness finally subsiding just enough to want some food. Phoenix is cut off by someone who is talking to her friend, “I'm Lucy. It's nice to meet you!”
She silently side steps the perky blonde and gets closer to the male, “You alright Natsu, you look a little banged up and I know you didn't look like this five minutes ago.”
“I'm fine Nix, stop worrying so much. The guy was a fake and his ‘fans’ didn't like me that much.” Natsu responds, trying to tug his scraped arm away from her. Letting it go she makes eye contact with the new figure.
“Umm, Natsu and Happy, was it? And your Nix?”
In a small restaurant in town, bits of food are flying everywhere. Two very content men are stuffing their faces with the meal in front of them “You're really nice!” gargles one of the boys in between giant mouthfuls of food. “Okay, just slow down a little. Stuff is flying everywhere.... Is that enough for you Phoenix?” She glances at the purple haired girl who is slowly eating a bowl of ramen, whilst occasionally passing a slice of beef to the grey cat beside her. “Oh, yeah I'm fine. Still a little queasy from the ride here."
Placing the chopsticks down onto the holder before she waves over the waiter to order Aster a fish, seen as Happy was hogging the entire basket they were meant to be sharing. Lucy smiles at the girl before she starts to speak. “So that Salamander guy was using a Charm spell. It can attract people to you, even against their will.” Her face falls as she relays this to the table. The idea chills her to the bone.
“Sale of it was banned years ago, though. What a creep, going that far to be popular!” She slams her fist onto the table, jolting all the food. “But I broke free of the spell thanks to you barging in! So this is my thanks!” She shyly smiles at them, hoping to have made a good impression. Phoenix grins at the blonde, truly seeing the passion behind her statements.
Natsu looks up from behind the mountain of bowls “I see.” He gazes at Phoenix and lifts a rectangle plate of onigiri at her. She pauses before grabbing the plate, lightly brushing against his warm hand as they pass the plate between them. A silent action of reassurance and understanding.
Lucy, oblivious to the exchange, carries on talking to the group, “Believe it or not, I'm actually a wizard myself!” Popping his head up from a fish Happy adds “Oh, yeah?”
“I haven't joined a guild yet, though.” She continues, the look on her face reads almost enthralled by the idea. “Oh, guilds are organisations where wizards gather to share information and find work.” Gazing off out the window she starts to go on a full tangent about wiziding culture. “You can't be considered a full-fledged wizard unless you're in a guild. There are lots of guilds all over the world, and it's apparently really tough getting into the popular ones!”
She brings herself back and Phoenix can see a glint in her eye as she finishes the story. “The one I want to join is filled with amazing wizards! Oh, my! I want to join it, but I bet it'll be tough!” She glances back at the table of basically strangers “Oh, sorry! This wizarding talk must sound like nonsense to you, huh?”
Phoenix wants to interrupt, to tell her the truth and get the information dump to stop. However, before she can finish chewing Lucy is off again. “But I'm definitely going to join that guild! I bet I can find lots of big jobs there!”
“You talk a lot.” Mentions Happy. By now the waiter had passed and given Aster her fish. So both talking cats have settled as they continue eating the lunch selflessly provided by the women sitting opposite them. “Come to think of it, it sounded like you were looking for someone.”
“Aye! Igneel!”
“We're here 'cause we heard a Salamander was coming to this town, but it was someone else.” Phoenix tries to explain to the confused blonde. Happy continues for Phoenix by adding “Yeah, he didn't look like a Salamander at all.”
For possibly the first time since being served, Natsu stops eating to talk. The mention of Igneel makes the conversation interesting again. “A Salamander's a fire dragon, so we thought he'd be Igneel.”
“What kind of person looks like a fire dragon?” Lucy asks innocently. The answer returned not being the one she expected, “He's not a person. Igneel is a dragon.” Phoenix cant help but smile at the shocked expression, not many believed them when mentioning looking for a dragon. “And if Nix wasn’t so damn stubborn we would be looking for Cassiopeia as well.”
“Natsu. I said drop it” She glares at him, voice cold and stern. Lucy doesn’t want to pry into what is probably a difficult topic for the girl in front of her. “Even in this world of magic, dragons are very rare creatures that are hardly ever seen. Why would there be a dragon in the middle of town?!” Natsu and Happy's faces drop at the same time, the realisation of their mistake now dawning on them.
“You just now realised that?!” Lucy exclaims, truly baffled by the density of the boys. She glances at Phoenix who looks uncharacteristically stoic. Lucy thinks that it doesn't suit the girl, her face too pretty to be frowning. “Well, I should be going. Enjoy your food.” Getting up from the table, placing a pile of jewel down and waving goodbye, Lucy hears the staff thanking her as she approaches the front door.
“Thank you for the meal!” exclaims Natsu on his knees thanking her “--For the meal!” Copies Happy, ever grateful for someone willing to pay for lunch. Phoenix and Aster are sitting frozen at the table, she calls to the blonde “Thank you for paying, I hope you get into that guild you wanted.”
“We ate so much!” burped Natsu leaning back on the railing, pivoted away from the water. He looks down at Nix who is sitting with her legs between the bars hanging off the edge of the cliff, the hem of her skirt fluttering in the light breeze. She looks almost peaceful like this, entranced by the sparkling water beneath them. “Aye!” Happy exclaimed leaning against Aster, she almost struggles to keep him upright but does end up stabilising him.
Phoenix looks up, seeing Natsu already gazing at her “Say, is that the ship where that Salamander is having his party?” Natsu looks away, suddenly looking very pale “I feel sick”. Aster looks up at the man and sighs “Stop feeling nauseous just from the thought of it.”
“Since when were you so mean to me Aster, you’re meant to be the nice one” Aster rolls her eyes at his childish behaviour before bursting into a fit of giggles. Infectious laughter spreads across the group, soon the cats are on the floor and Phoenix has a tear in her eye. Natsu grins at them, happy that his group is together.
“Look! Look! That's Mr. Salamander's boat!” a gaggle of females huddle around the railing and gossip to each other. “I wish I could've gone!” She sounds jealous. One of the girls, a red head, inquires “Salamander?”
“You haven't heard?” exclaims the first. Horrified by her friend's incompetence. “The famous wizard Salamander is in town!” Another gossips “I heard he's a member of Fairy Tail!”
That comment quiets the giggling group, Phoenix stands up and stretches her arms above her head. “Fairy Tail…” Natsu mutters under his breath, so soft it's a miracle Phoenix even heard him.
Sat in a room on the boat, a dolled up Lucy is facing the ‘Salamander’. She stands defiant against him, fighting tears she tells him “Using magic for evil to fool people...You're the worst kind of wizard there is!” Before the man can respond a crash echoes across the room, as two figures fall through the roof. Planks of wood splintered on the ground as the pair stood tall, before toppling over.
Before she could realise what was going on Lucy is hoisted into the air, “What are you doing, Lucy?” exclaims a lifted tone. “Aster!” Lucy exclaims, happy to see the grey cat holding onto her. A few feet in front of her was the unmistakable face of Happy. “I was tricked! He said he'd get me into Fairy Tail!”
“Wait, you have wings?!” Both Happy and Aster sigh before making a move, knowing the situation was too dangerous for Lucy to be in, under strict orders from Phoenix to keep the mage safe no matter what. “We can talk later! Let's go!” Cried Happy.
Back on the boat a few of the men who captured the girls get worried, “We can't let 'em report us to the council!” Explodes the Salamander, furious at the cat's nimble escape. “You're not going anywhere! Prominence Whip!” The attack narrowly misses the cat’s escape.
Lucy is alarmed by them not going back “Hey...! We have to save Natsu, Phoenix and the other girls!” Aster and Happy looked at each panicked, “Ummm, Lucy!” Nudged Aster, “What?! This isn't a good time!” she snapped back, still fearful for the friends she left behind.
“Our transformations are over” she cried, falling mid sentence, the trio dropped down into the ocean. Crashing against the waves. falling deep into the water. Amongst the darkness, Lucy notices a glint of gold, she swims down and picks up her celestial spirit keys, rescuing them from the rocks and depths of the ocean.
“Here goes! Open, Gate of the Water Bearer! Aquarius!”
In a flash of gold and swirling stars, a figure appears from the golden key. A mermaid of long blue hair and eyes, in her arms she braces an urn. Happy looks with hearts in his eyes “A fish!” Aster hits the back of his head, “No Happy, that's a celestial spirit, and a strong one at that. Who does not take kindly to insinuations of being eaten.” Lucy looks at her surprised, “Um yeah that's right, I am a celestial wizard! I can use Gate Keys to summon celestial spirits from another world! Aquarius! Use your power to push that ship back to the port!”
“Ugh” Aquarius rolls her eyes at the command, “Heed this, annoying child. Drop my key again and I'll kill you.” Her face is serious. Lucy squeals as she nods and tries to apologise. Before responding, Aquarius draws up water into her urn and shoots towards the ship, producing a tidal wave pushing the ship and Lucy back towards port.
“What were you thinking?! Why did you sweep me with it?!” Lucy growls at the stubborn spirit. “Whoops. I accidentally swept the ship up, too.” She smiles secretly.
An argument ensues between the two, during which Happy and Aster gaze towards the wrecked ship. Silently hoping that their friends are safe.
At the shipwreck two figures stand looming over the crew of the Salamander, across the way Lucy spots them shouting “Natsu, Phoenix!”. She smiles at seeing them safe. The look on their faces is ominous, Natsu looks pissed, he screams at the Salamander “You’re a Fairy Tail wizard?” This gets his attention, turning towards the pair he responds, “Yeah, so what?” Phoenix responds with her own glare, “Let me get a closer look at you.”
Lucy is scared for them, she knows the power and rules these men are willing to bend to win. Yet Happy looks calm, he turns to Lucy and gently says “It's okay! We should've mentioned earlier, but Natsu and Phoenix are wizards too!”
“Huh?!” Lucy is shocked, but looking at them now she can see it, the muscle definition, the scars on Phoenix’s arms, the fire behind their eyes. A look she has only seen in the mirror, A known look of defiance and pride in their skill.
“Im Natsu of Fairy Tail and this is my partner Phoenix”
“And we’ve never seen you before in our lives!” Natsu’s jacket has been lost in the turmoil, exposing the red guild sigil on his right shoulder, Phoenix’s long skirt has a split down the side showing off the light blue mark on her upper left thigh.
“Their Fairy Tail wizards?” Lucy exclaims, freaked at the idea. One of the henchmen stares in fear “Th-That emblem! He's the real deal, Bora!”
“You fool! Don't call me by that name!” Bora retorts, feeling fear start to creep into his lungs. Happy turns to Lucy “Bora... Bora the Prominence. He was kicked out of the Titan Nose wizard guild years ago for bad behaviour.” Aster just nods, staring intently at the battle about to begin.
“I don't care if you're a good guy or a bad guy or what...But I won't let you tarnish Fairy Tail's name!” Natsu steps in front of Phoenix protectively. “And what are you gonna do about it, kid?!” Bora boasts, shooting a spell at the pair, a typhoon of fire aimed directly at them.
Turning around he exclaims to his men “The bigger the talk, the weaker the man.”
“This tastes horrible. Are you really a fire wizard? This is the worst fire I've ever tasted. Thanks for the meal.” The fire ball has disappeared as Natsu has consumed it, standing strong, not a single hair on Phoenix’s head has been disrupted.
“Wh-Wh-Who is this guy?!” freaks the crew, knowing that defeat is all but imminent.
Aster starts to explain to Lucy “Fire won't work on Natsu.” The cat smiles, gazing upon the battle. “Now that I’ve eaten, I’ve got a fire in my belly” he grins and turns back towards Phoenix, “You wanna do this together Nix?” She nods.
“Fire Dragon….” - “Celestial Dragon….”
“ROAR”, a mix of fire and golden energy rushes towards the crew.
“B-Bora! I've seen this guy before! That pink hair and scaly-looking scarf! No doubt about it! He's the real......Salamander!”
“And that chick standing next to him, the golden energy, and purple hair. It's gotta be….Andromedea?!”
Lucy stares in disbelief. “He eats fire and punches with fire...Is this really magic?!” Happy continues to explain “Natsu has dragon lungs for breathing fire, dragon scales for dissolving fire, and dragon talons that are wrapped with fire... It's an ancient spell that lets his body take on all the qualities of a dragon.”
“And what about Phoenix?” Aster just smiles and doesn't answer the question. “It was originally used for taking down dragons. It's Dragon Slayer magic. Igneel taught it to him.”
“And so Cassiopeia?” Lucy questioned cautiously “Phoenix’s dragon mentor” Aster confirms with a smile.
Back in the battle, Natsu is pommelling Bora, whilst Phoenix cleans up any stragglers and helps any women found in the wreckage of the ship. A large explosion indicates their victory, Phoenix runs towards Natsu, they embrace and laugh slightly.
“Wow! That was great...but also going a little overboard!” Lucy conveys to the pair. “Aye!” responds Happy, Aster is pulled into a victory cuddle as Phoenix spots the approaching mass of the army.
“Okay It’s time we leave Natsu” She pulls on his wrist as she begins to run, Natsu grabs Lucy and they all bolt away from the destroyed port. “Why do I have to?!” pleads Lucy as she's dragged along. Natsu grins at her.
“You wanna join our guild, don't you?!”