The year was X784.
The rebuilt Fairy Tail guild hall was a monument to its own resilience. It was bigger, stronger, and more chaotic than ever, and today, it was the epicenter of Magnolia's joy. It was the day of the Fantasia Parade.
The main hall was a sea of bodies, a riot of celebration. All the guild members were there, drinking, laughing, and fighting, their spirits higher than they had been in years. The victory over Phantom Lord was still fresh, a scar that had healed into a badge of honor. The only face missing was Gildarts, who was, as always, on his quest.
"ALRIGHT, YOU DRUNKEN LUNATICS!" Max Alors's voice boomed over the din, magically amplified. "The bar is open, the food is endless, and the mood is right!" Once the party was in full swing, "You know what time it is! It's time for the event I know you've all been waiting for! The one, the only... MISS FAIRY TAIL FASHION COMPETITION!"
A roar went up from the male half of the guild, while the female half either rolled their eyes or sharpened their figurative claws.
The stage was set. The rules were simple: show the crowd what you've got.
First up was Levy, who used her Solid Script magic to create a whirlwind of cherry blossoms and a beautiful, flowing dress made of the word "Beauty."
She was followed by Bisca, who put on a stunning quick-draw demonstration in a cowgirl outfit, leaving Alzack beet-red.
But the real competition was fierce.
"Next up, our very own water-woman, JUVIA LOCKSER!" Max yelled.
Juvia glided onto the stage, the room's temperature dropping slightly. "This is for my beloved..." she whispered, her eyes locked on a terrified Gray.
She pirouetted, and her water magic exploded. She didn't just pose; she created an intricate, life-sized ice-and-water sculpture of Gray himself, which then bowed to her. The crowd went wild.
"SHE'S A SCULPTOR!"
"THAT'S LOVE!"
"An amazing display!" Max cried. "But can she beat our next contestant? The one, the only, LUCY HEARTFILIA!"
Lucy burst onto the stage, winking. "You all want a show? I'll give you a show!"
She spun, her keys flashing. "Open! Gate of the Golden Bull! Taurus! Gate of the Lion! Leo!"
"MOOOOO! Your body is the finest in the world, Lucy-san!" Taurus belowed.
"The King is here to support his princess," Loke said, appearing in a sharp suit and wrapping a protective arm around her.
The two spirits danced with her, a stunning display of stellar magic and showmanship that had the crowd on its feet.
"How can anyone top that?!" Max screamed.
A barrel rolled onto the stage, coming to a wobbly stop. Cana Alberona unsteadily climbed out of it, her face flushed.
"Whoops. Wrong... wrong turn," she slurred, before striking a seductive pose that nearly made her topple over. She drew a card. "Behold... the real beauty... of the Sexy Priestess Card!"
She held it up... and it was upside down. She just giggled, blew a kiss to Blake (who was watching from the sidelines, his face a mask of amusement), and promptly passed out on the stage.
A wave of laughter and "That's our Cana!" filled the hall.
"And now... the titan! ERZA SCARLET!"
Erza walked onto the stage, her presence silencing the room. She wasn't in armor. She was in a simple, elegant, black evening gown. She was, for a moment, just a beautiful woman.
"My, my," Mirajane said from the bar. "She looks lovely."
Erza smiled. "Thank you. But for Fantasia... this won't do."
REQUIP!
In a flash of blinding light, the gown was gone, replaced by her Flame Empress Armor, wings of fire spreading wide.
REQUIP!
Adamantine Armor, heavy and unbreakable.
REQUIP!
Heaven's Wheel Armor, dozens of swords fanning out behind her like a steel peacock.
REQUIP!
She finished in her Armatura Fairy armor, a stunning, pink, winged set that radiated pure power and grace. It wasn't a fashion show; it was a declaration of S-Class dominance.
The voting was a formality.
"In third place... JUVIA LOCKSER!"
Juvia beamed, looking only at Gray. "Gray-sama, did you see?"
"In second place, with a stunning spiritual display, LUCY HEARTFILIA!"
Lucy squealed, "The prize money! I can pay my rent!"
"And the undisputed winner, our Queen of the Fairies... ERZA SCARLET!"
Erza nodded, accepting the crown, as the guild cheered her name.
The party roared on. As Erza was being congratulated, a new figure stepped onto the stage, taking the magical microphone from Max. It was Blake.
His deep voice didn't need the amplification, but he used it anyway, a low, resonant rumble that cut through the chaos.
"That was an incredible show," he boomed, his voice radiating a calm, powerful charisma. "We've seen the spirit, the heart, and the beauty of Fairy Tail. A round of applause for all our contestants!"
The guild cheered, raising their mugs.
Blake's face split into a dangerous, excited grin.
"Now that the most beautiful of Fairy Tail is decided... it is time for the strongest!"
The energy in the room shattered. The air pressure changed. Every brawling, drinking, and laughing mage froze. Natsu's head snapped up, his eyes blazing.
Laxus, in his corner, slowly opened his eyes, an interested smirk on his face. Erza's new crown tilted as she, too, turned, her interest piqued.
"A fight?!" Natsu roared, his fists already on fire. "I'M IN! WHO'S FIGHTING?!"
"All of us, Natsu," Blake said. "This isn't just a brawl. This is a competition."
He raised his hand. "We've all been celebrating our victory. We're getting comfortable. But I, for one, want to know. After all this—after Phantom, after our training, after all the new faces—who really stands at the top?"
"YEAAAAAAAAH!" the guild screamed as one.
"This isn't just for us," Blake continued, his voice growing. "I already talked with the mayor of Magnolia. This is for Fantasia! This is for the city!"
He pointed to the shattered (and newly repaired) front doors. "So, everyone... start moving to the place where the games will be taking place! The Grand Fantasia Tournament begins... NOW!"
The exodus was immediate. The entire guild, a thundering herd of mages high on adrenaline and ale, poured out of the guild hall and marched through the streets.
The whole town was already waiting. This wasn't a surprise to them; it was the main event. Blake had organized this with the city for weeks.
A massive, open ground inside Magnolia—usually used for magic Knight drills and farmers' markets—had been converted.
Everyone from Magnolia was eagerly waiting. The stands were packed. This was better than the parade; this was a live-fire demonstration. There were dozens of food stalls lined up, selling takoyaki, roasted wyvern, and kabobs. They knew there would be a lot of people, and the competition would take a while.
Once everything was set, Blake took the center stage. The roar from the crowd was deafening. He was a hero, the man who had brought down several dark guilds, and the man who, as rumor had it, had single-handedly ended the Phantom Lord war.
"MAGNOLIA!" he addressed the crowd cheerfully. "Are you ready to see some real magic?!"
The crowd went ballistic, hyping up in response.
"I know I am!" Blake laughed. "Fairy Tail is the strongest guild in Fiore! But today, we find out who is the strongest in Fairy Tail! The guild will be divided into teams, each team containing 4 members!"
He pointed to a massive, magically-projected tournament bracket.
"And then there will be team battles! A full-elimination bracket! We fight until only two teams are left standing! Those two teams will be qualified for the next round... which will be 2-on-2 battles! The winners of those matches—the final four mages—will then enter the Battle Royale final round, which will determine, once and for all, the strongest S-Class-level mage in the Fairy Tail guild!"
Hearing that, everyone, mages and civilians alike, was excited. The air crackled.
"NOW!" Blake roared. "FORM YOUR TEAMS!"
The guild floor became a mess of frantic negotiation.
"Natsu! You're with me!" Erza declared, grabbing the Dragon Slayer before he could run off.
"Hey! I'm not on a team with this stripper!" Natsu yelled, pointing at Gray.
"WHO ARE YOU CALLING A STRIPPER, FLAME-BRAIN?!" Gray shot back, already shirtless.
BONK! Erza slammed their heads together. "We are a team. Lucy, you're with us. Your spirits will provide tactical support."
Lucy sighed, "I feel like the weak link..."
Team 1: Natsu Dragneel, Gray Fullbuster, Erza Scarlet, and Lucy Heartfilia. A powerhouse of chaos.
"Hmph. Pathetic," Laxus sneered, not moving from his spot. Freed, Bickslow, and Evergreen assembled at his side, as they always did. "Let them tire themselves out. This is a formality."
Team 2: Laxus Dreyar and his Thunder Legion. The undisputed favorites.
"Well, this is a drag. I suppose I have to participate," Brandish yawned, stretching.
"If Brandish-san is participating, Juvia will, too!" Juvia declared, hearts in her eyes. "Juvia will show Gray-sama's teammate how strong she is!"
"This looks like a fiery good time!" Flare Corona cackled, her red hair seeming to burn. "I'll join you!"
"I suppose my Wood-Make magic could provide a... solid foundation," Laki said, joining the group of eccentric, powerful women.
Team 3: Brandish, Flare Corona, Juvia Lockser, and Laki Olietta.
Gajeel Redfox crunched on a piece of iron, watching. Levy, Jet, and Droy were standing nearby, looking nervous.
"Alright, you three," Gajeel grunted, walking over. "You're with me."
"Us?!" Levy squeaked. "But... but Gajeel, we're Shadow Gear! We're not... front-line..."
"You are today," Gajeel said, a predatory grin on his face. "I'm gonna show 'em what this 'new guy' can do. Gihi."
Team 4: Gajeel Redfox, Levy McGarden, Jet, and Droy.
"Alright, siblings! It's time to show the real power of this guild!" Elfman bellowed.
"Right, Elf-niichan!" Lisanna cheered.
Mirajane just smiled, her eyes closed.
"We need a fourth!" Elfman looked around. "Reedus! You will join us! And you will paint our manly victory!"
Team 5: The Strauss Siblings (Mirajane, Elfman, Lisanna) and Reedus Jonah.
The veterans huddled. "Macao and Wakaba" looked at their partners. "Alzack and Bisca."
"Well," Macao sighed. "This is going to be one hell of a competition.' What do you say?"
"I say," Alzack said, spinning his pistol, "we show them how real mages get the job done."
Team 6: Macao Conbolt, Wakaba Mine, Alzack Connel, and Bisca Mulan.
Blake smiled as he watched the teams form. Cana, who had been at his side the entire time, looked up at him. "So, who are we getting, big guy?"
Blake said. He pointed. "Max! Vijeeter! You're with us."
Max's jaw dropped. "Me?! With... with an S-Class?"
"You're the Sand-mage, right? And you," he said to Vijeeter. "You're the dancer. Speed. We'll need both."
Team 7: Blake Corvus, Cana Alberona, Vijeeter Ecor, and Max Alors. A dark horse of S-Class power, ace-level drinking, sand control, and... dancing.
Finally, the remaining mages—Warren, Nab, and other members who were not shown in anime- form a final team.
Team 8: The "Fairy Tail Remaining" Squad.
The teams were set. The crowd was screaming.
Blake held up a box. "Lots will be drawn by the Master Makarov! The lineup is... FINAL!"
Makarov turned to the massive magic bracket.
"FIRST UP!" he roared. "TEAM VETERANS VS... TEAM STRAUSS!"
The stadium erupted. The Fantasia Tournament had begun.