For the Tenrou team, parting from Charles felt like something that had just happened, but for Charles and the rest of the guild it had already been seven years.
The Tenrou team still bore wounds from their battle with the demon's heart and weren't yet back to the look Charles was used to.
But the feeling after reuniting was the same as ever, and the group noisily returned to the guild.
Charles hadn't expected the paperwork in his hands to be especially troublesome, so by the time he got back everyone had already started the celebration feast.
Before Makarov could even feel relieved that the guild hadn't run into major trouble over these seven years, he got buried under a pile of documents.
Seeing that stack of familiar paperwork, Makarov's whole person turned gray.
While Makarov was questioning his life, everyone else had already blended into one big, happy mess.
That's the magic of Fairy Tail—no matter how briefly you've known each other, as long as you bear the same mark you feel like family.
Tipsy Kagura burrowed into Erza's arms calling "Big Sis," never mind that Erza was still wearing hard, clanking armor.
Wiene, Sherria, and Wendy formed a little loli trio, cupping their juice and chatting about girlish topics.
Gildarts and old-timers like Macao bragged about Cana, the daughter they had acknowledged, making the always bold Cana feel awkward enough to want to sock her old man.
Natsu and Gajeel were clinking glasses with their fanboys Sting and Rogue, but a moment later Natsu was brawling with the sneering Gray.
Lucy and the others on the side feared getting dragged in, so Stella stepped out and, with one in each hand, directly subdued the rowdy few.
When they learned Stella and Charles were already engaged, Lisanna and the others immediately swarmed over with endless questions.
Charles leaned against the counter in his familiar pose, and couldn't help but smile at the familiar scene.
"Can't stay quiet for even a moment, can you!"
Charles glanced back at Makarov, who was sitting cross-legged off to the side talking, and said, "But isn't this exactly how Fairy Tail should be?"
Makarov laughed. "You're right! Thank you for all your hard work while we were away!"
Charles picked up his cup and clinked it against the one Makarov handed over. "Not at all! I didn't do much. Besides, this is my home too."
Makarov drained his cup in one go. "That's right—the guild is home to all of us. Still didn't expect we'd be sealed for seven years—it feels like we just took a nap.
"And to come back and run into something this interesting right off the bat!"
Seeing the Grand Magic Games invitation in Makarov's hand, Charles said, "The Grand Magic Games are about to start again! We don't need to prove anything anymore, but it's just right to let everyone stretch a bit.
"But you'll have to arrange the entrants carefully, Master!"
At that, Makarov showed a troubled face. Fairy Tail wasn't short on firepower—if anything, there was too much.
Just counting Dragon Slayer mages, the guild had eight. Add in Erza and the rest, and they had more than enough to field three main teams.
But deciding who to send and who to bench was a real dilemma.
New members like Kagura and Sting had been fighting for the guild for six years; it wouldn't do to have the Tenrou team come back and immediately take their spots.
And the Tenrou team, after six years away, wanted to contribute to the guild again.
Though Makarov trusted none of them would grow resentful over such things, looking after everyone's feelings was a parent's duty.
Charles looked at Makarov. "There's still some time before the Games start. We can take it slow—and with their current strength, having Natsu and the others compete is dangerous!
If it comes down to it, settle it with a fight. That way no one will have any objections to the result."
Makarov's eyes lit up at first—clearly interested in Charles's suggestion—but then he sighed. "True enough—after all, there's a seven-year gap."
After that night's celebration, everyone went home.
Most of the Tenrou team had lived in the guild dorms; their rooms were still kept, and someone even cleaned them every day.
Charles had also kept Natsu and Happy's little house.
Lucy was the most special. The room she'd rented in Magnolia—her father had continued paying the rent for these seven years, ready for her to move back in at any time.
Speaking of Lucy's father, Charles hadn't forgotten to send medicine when the man was ill. He was still alive and well, so Lucy didn't have to lose her father without even a final goodbye.
The next day, Natsu and the others heard Makarov bring up the Grand Magic Games.
Natsu instantly blazed up. "I'm fired up! I'm definitely taking the championship this time!"
Charles rapped Natsu on the head with a fist, scattering his flames.
"Get real. As you are now, you'll only drag us down."
Clutching his head, Natsu protested, "No way! Charles, you know how strong I am!"
Charles sighed. "Sting, have a bout with Natsu. Let him see where things really stand."
Sting agreed, rolled his shoulders, and came over. "Fight Natsu-nii? I've been looking forward to this."
Natsu had lost his memories of Sting, but the feeling of familiarity, plus being guildmates, meant he got along quite well with this "little bro."
In Fairy Tail, though, how well you get along doesn't keep you from fighting—in fact, the better you get along, the freer you swing.
So Natsu said eagerly, "Bring it on!"
They got ready at the same time—and then Natsu was caught completely off guard by Sting, who vanished into a streak of white light.
As a Light Dragon Slayer, Sting already held a speed edge; Natsu, unguarded, took a straight punch and went tumbling.
"Natsu-nii, don't underestimate me. I haven't slacked off for a second these years."
With Sting and Rogue's exploits, the name of the new Twin Dragons had grown louder and louder.
But with Charles around, they hadn't developed the arrogant bad habits they did in the original timeline under Sabertooth.
With vision and mindset set on the right path earlier, the two were far stronger now than their counterparts at this point in the original.
As he was now, Natsu truly wasn't Sting's match.
But Natsu is Natsu; he never admits defeat.
Planting his hands, Natsu launched a flaming Rising Kick, booting the charging Sting back a few steps.
Sting steadied himself. "As expected of Natsu-nii!"
Natsu's expression grew serious. "You're really strong, kid. Time for me to get serious!"
Sting looked delighted. The next instant, light and flame blazed, and the two crashed together.
Watching the fight, the Tenrou team's faces grew solemn.
They could tell Natsu was at a disadvantage. It wasn't just the difference between a third-generation and a first-generation Dragon Slayer, as Sting had said—it was also gaps in magic power and basic skills in magic use.
Everyone understood why Charles had arranged this match.
He wanted to show them that in the seven years they'd been sealed, mages of their generation had grown tremendously—and even the newcomers had surpassed them.
Those seven blank years had left them behind other mages.
But despair has never been a Fairy Tail mage's style. Faced with this, fighting spirit surged instead.
The Tenrou team now had only one thought… So what if we lost seven years? There are still three months until the Games. Let's use these three months to catch up!
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