"Come on," Roger said, stepping forward to snap Charle out of her shock.
"I'll take you guys to meet the master first, then we'll get your guild marks stamped."
"Think about where you want the emblem on the way."
The new recruits trailed behind him, eyes wide at the over-the-top lively guild.
Wendy instinctively touched her right shoulder near her collarbone and murmured, "For some reason… I feel like I want the mark here."
"What about you, Charle?"
"Me? Anywhere's fine." Charle was still reeling from the "other world" bombshell and a vague unease, answering absently.
Makarov sat on the bar counter, eyeing Roger's group. He set down his mug with a grin.
"Good work, kids. Word from the Council—they're shocked we took down the Oración Seis so fast."
He stroked his mustache, tone a bit odd.
Then he turned, beaming kindly at the unfamiliar faces. "Of course, on behalf of Fairy Tail, I warmly welcome our new members!"
He was about to launch into a full welcome speech when his eyes landed on Cobra and Hoteye—his gaze froze, brows furrowing.
He crooked a finger at Roger. When Roger leaned in, Makarov whispered so only they could hear:
"Those two guys… don't they look exactly like 'Viper' and 'Hoteye' from Oración Seis?"
"Not look like," Roger whispered back, smirking. "Master, they are. And it's not two—it's three."
"That 'Sora' girl? She's Angel from Oración Seis."
"WHAT?!" Makarov nearly leapt off the bar, his shout drawing every eye in the room.
He flushed, coughed dramatically, and waved it off. "Nothing! Carry on! Just choked a bit!"
He yanked Roger closer, hissing through his teeth, eyes bugging out:
"You let Oración Seis join the guild?! Three of them?!"
"Relax, Master. They've turned over a new leaf," Roger soothed.
"Fine, I'll allow it—but the Council?! Aren't they supposed to be in prison?"
"You didn't fake 'em with illusions, did you?! 0_0 If they find out, I'll be buried in review forms—not ten, not twenty, a mountain!"
"They'll nag my ears off!!"
Seeing the old man's face—already picturing the paperwork avalanche—Roger couldn't help but chuckle. He leaned in, voice dripping confidence:
"Don't worry, Master. Once they get the guild mark, no one will ever think they're Oración Seis again."
"I guarantee it."
Makarov's tense face melted. He exhaled like a deflating balloon.
"Oh… that's how it works? Good, good."
He cleared his throat, stroked his beard, and nodded sagely. "Youth… if they mend their ways, nothing's greater."
"Good they're on the right path! Hurry and stamp 'em!"
"On it."
As Roger led the newbies away, Makarov grabbed his mug, chugged happily, and sighed.
"Weird, but if Roger says it's fine, it's probably fine."
He finished the drink… then paused.
"Wait—=_=?" He tilted his head, staring at the empty mug.
"Since when does the guild mark change how people see you? How did I not know this?"
He thought for a few seconds, shrugged, poured another huge mug, and gave up.
"Eh, whatever. Anything crazy happening with that kid feels normal."
"If he told me tomorrow he's a god, I wouldn't even blink."
---
Meanwhile, after stamping everyone's chosen spots with different-colored emblems, Roger tucked the tool away and turned with an easy smile.
"From now on, you're done with the wanted 'Oración Seis.' You're not the same people."
"Live new lives here in Fairy Tail—with your real names."
"YES!" Hoteye teared up, grabbing Wally (who'd rushed over for the drama) in a bear hug that made Wally's eyes bulge.
"I can finally live openly with my beloved little brother!!"
"B-BROTHER?!" The guild erupted in overlapping gasps.
"They're brothers?!"
"Kinda shocking… but look at those faces—kinda makes sense?"
Angel curtsied deeply to Roger and the staring guildmates, voice sincere and repentant: "Thank you so much, Lord Roger—and everyone—for accepting us."
"I, Sora Agria, will spend the rest of my life here atoning for my past with my actions."
Cobra tapped his weird ears, frowning. "This place… way noisier than the forest. I won't hang here much."
"If you need me urgently, just yell my name. Long as I'm in town, I'll hear it."
Roger nodded. "Got it."
The guild was chaos with the new blood—borderline out of control. Makarov climbed onto the bar, raised his mug high, and bellowed with all his might:
"Then—to welcome our new family! PARTY TIME!!"
"YEEEAAAH!!!!"
The roar nearly blew the roof off.
Music blasted, food smells filled the air—Fairy Tail's wild, heartfelt welcome bash was on.
---
Halfway through the party, Charle's curiosity finally won. She told Wendy, then fluttered off to ask about Lisanna.
Cana, who'd been watching, smirked like a fox.
She grabbed her half-empty mug and her dog-eared Naruto manga, sauntered over with that post-drink lazy sway, and plopped into the empty seat next to Wendy.
"Hey there, little lady~"
Wendy, sipping juice and people-watching, jumped at the voice—her tiny body froze.
She turned sloooowly, meeting a slightly tipsy face, and squeaked:
"H-Hi—"
"Ara?" Cana fake-pouted, flipping her brown hair dramatically, cheek on hand, eyeing Wendy with a grin. "Do I look that scary? You seem terrified of big sis~"
"N-No!" Wendy flailed, but her eyes locked on Cana's… assets when she leaned in. They went wide.
"S-So… big! "
She realized what she said—face exploded red like a boiled shrimp, hands waving frantically:
"Ah! N-No—I mean—Miss Cana, you're really pretty! Super pretty!"
Steam practically shot from her head. Cana's grin widened—a devil tail practically wagged behind her.
Just like newbie Levy—too fun to tease.
She waved it off casually. "Haha, no biggie! We're both girls—what's to be shy about?"
Wendy exhaled a tiny bit, clutching her juice and sipping to cool her burning cheeks.
But her eyes kept drifting to the other women in the guild.
Why's everyone so… curvy?
She偷偷 glanced at her own flat chest.
When I grow up… will I be like them?
Cana caught the fidgety, darting eyes and hid a mischievous glint.
She traced the rim of her mug lazily with a finger, voice low and secretive—like sharing forbidden lore:
"But y'know… big sis does know a couple little tricks to make 'em grow~"
"Interested, little Wendy?"
Grow bigger?!
Wendy froze again, juice halfway to her mouth.
Inside: I wanna know! Ask! But how do I even say it?!
She squirmed, ears red, totally torn.
Cana barely held in a laugh at the "wanna ask but scared" face scrunched up like a pretzel. She drawled:
"Method one: Papaya milk. Mash papaya, mix with milk, drink three big glasses daily."
"Pa…paya?" Wendy's head sprouted two giant question marks, blinking innocently.
Cana slapped her forehead like she just remembered. "Whoops—habit! It's 'Starfruit'! Roger calls it that, now everyone does."
Starfruit! Wendy knew that—super sweet! She vowed silently: Gotta drink starfruit milk every day! Tons of it!
"Method two…" Cana dragged it out, savoring Wendy's starry-eyed stare, then enunciated clearly:
"Work hard to boost your magic power."
"(!O!) Boost… magic?" Wendy's head tilted, face screaming disbelief.
How does magic make that grow?!
Cana sipped her beer leisurely, letting Wendy fidget until she was practically curling into a ball, then pointed casually at standout figures around the guild.
"See? Erza, Mira, Lucy, Kagura, Lisanna… and me~"
"Pretty impressive, right? And their magic? Insanely strong."
Wendy followed the finger, nodding like a bobblehead.
"Y-Yeah… it does seem that way!"
Cana snrk'd into her mug, then leaned in conspiratorially, whispering:
"Fun fact—when Lucy first joined, she was about your size~"
"She powered up a ton lately—that's when they grew."
Wendy: "(O_O!!!) For real?!"
"Cross my heart!" Cana swore, whipping out her Naruto manga and flipping to Tsunade's debut—those assets nearly bursting off the page.
"Your 'Tsunade template'? This lady. Look—huge, right?"
Wendy's head bobbed like a dashboard toy. "Y-Yes! Super huge!!"
Cana magically produced another volume—teen Tsunade.
"And this is her younger. Same as you now, huh?"
"She got crazy strong later—that's when they blew up to that size!!"
"Ohhhh!!!" Wendy's mouth formed a perfect "O"—world shattered and rebuilt in sparkles.
Strong magic has this bonus?!
She snuck a glance at Lucy chatting with Kagura, then down at herself, muttering: "Lucy was like me at first…?!"
"But Happy said she just joined recently… does that mean I could grow fast too?"
Cana sighed dramatically, arms crossed, shaking her head sadly.
Wendy's heart dropped—voice cracking: "D-Does that mean… I'll never grow…?"
"Not hopeless~" Cana sipped, dangling the carrot. "It's mostly about your base potential."
"Good foundation + fast magic growth = fast development, easy growth."
"Average base = takes longer, more effort."
"But bottom line—faster magic growth = bigger boost to all development. No question!"
Wendy thought hard, then looked up—eyes blazing with newfound fire:
"Th-Then… Cana sis—any fast ways to level up magic?"
"Fastest way?" Cana's eyes flicked to the request board plastered with jobs.
"Take jobs nonstop. Real combat builds experience, hones skills—fastest growth."
"Extermination quests especially juice up magic big-time."
"E-Extermination?!" Wendy shrank like a spooked quail, voice trembling. "B-But… I don't really like fighting… Does that mean… I can't grow…?"
Tears welled up.
"Someone who hates fighting?!" Cana blurted, shocked—then coughed to cover. "Ahem. Fair, people got preferences."
"But for us mages contracted with Roger? Extermination jobs are the direct fast-track to power."
She leaned in, voice turning mentor-like, heavy with experience:
"But listen, Wendy—you can hate starting fights, but you can't be weak in one."
"Huh?" Wendy blinked, confused. "If I hate fighting… why need strength?"
"Huge reason!" Cana's face got serious.
"Imagine—Charle's in mortal danger. You're the only one who can save her."
"No power—what do you do?"
Wendy clenched tiny fists instantly. "I-I'd save her no matter what! Even if I can't win!"
"But then?" Cana said coolly. "You both end up in danger—or dead."
"You can hate fighting, but you must have power."
"Only then—when someone you care about, something you wanna protect is threatened—can you actually save them. Not just watch… or die pointlessly."
"Oh…" Wendy murmured, nodding slowly, starting to get it.
Cana pressed the iron while hot, slinging an arm around Wendy's skinny shoulders, whispering:
"So you hate fighting—means you love peace, hate conflict, right?"
Wendy thought—yeah, that tracks—and nodded cutely.
"Yup. I want everyone happy and peaceful."
Cana's grin screamed plan working. She leaned closer, noses almost touching, voice silky and tempting:
"Then… how do we get that 'peace' you love?"
"Don't we fight the chaos-makers, the peace-wreckers? Trade battle for peace?"
"If fighting creates the peace you want… Wendy—shouldn't you like fighting?"
"'Cause it's the tool to make your wish real."
"H-Huh????" Wendy's brain blue-screened.
I hate fighting! But… Cana sis says I should like it?
Two tiny angels brawled in her head—eyes spiraled into mosquito coils, steam poofed from her scalp. She nodded dizzily.
"I… guess… I should like fight…?"
Cana's head sprouted tiny devil horns. She purred like a demon whispering sweet nothings:
"Great! So, Wendy—wanna protect your friends? Protect Charle?"
"Y-Yes!" Firmer this time.
"How to protect better?"
"I-I'll heal everyone! Buff them with support magic!"
"Nope~" Cana wagged a finger, grinning mysteriously.
"For a top-tier support like you? There's a better, more direct way. Wanna know?"
"Y-Yeah…?" Wendy was too spun to resist.
"Take 'em out yourself. Clean, fast—boom, no enemies left!"
"HUH?!" Wendy jolted. "B-But support mages stay safe in the back, healing and buffing, right?"
"Wrong!" Cana shot down.
"Think—if you drop the enemies first, your friends don't get hurt at all."
"Same result as healing and buffing—or better."
"Plus—you protect them with your own hands, keep the 'peace' you love, gain magic from fighting… and that magic growth makes 'em—ahem—grow!"
"See? Every wish—through fighting—comes true!"
The dizzying, seemingly-logical-but-off chain fried Wendy's brain.
She sat frozen, eyes blank, mouth open, processing the info-dump.
Cana sis… makes sense?
But… something feels weird…
Under Cana's eager (mischievous) stare, Wendy nodded robotically.
"Y-Yeah… seems… like that…"
"Perfect!" Cana clapped, triumphant.
She spotted Charle flapping back. Quick as a cat with cream, she snatched her mug and manga, slinking into the crowd—voice floating behind:
"Wendy~ Got questions later? Come find big sis anytime~"
"I'm always happy to 'clear things up'~"
Wendy stayed frozen, eyes vacant, nodding blankly at empty air.
Inside, "hate fighting" and "should like fighting" duked it out—she was totally zoned.
Charle landed lightly on the table, waving a paw in front of Wendy's face.
"Wendy? Wendy? You okay? Why're you staring at the table?"
After a long pause, focus returned. Wendy turned—dead serious—tiny fists to chest like she'd made a life-altering vow:
"Charle! I've decided! I gotta fight from now on!"
"Only by getting stronger can I protect you! Protect everyone!"
Charle: "???????"
She turned to stone—pupils shrinking like an 8.0 earthquake hit.
What the heck happened while I was gone?!
Wendy—the shy, gentle, soft-spoken, violence-hating Wendy—wants to fight?!
Am I dreaming?!