The Council's flags fluttered in the wind as the magical airship advanced along its predetermined course toward Magnolia.
In a corner of the spacious deck, Lucy was comforting Éclair, who was still lost in sorrow.
Éclair fully understood the old village chief's true intentions. To keep the villagers from worrying about her too much, she had outwardly accepted Lucy's invitation.
But after boarding the Magic Boat, she had revealed her true thoughts and the destiny of a priestess she had remembered—wanting to go her separate way, to find the mage Caland in another part of Bondari Forest on her own, and completely eliminate the threat of the Phoenix Stone.
Chase and Lucy naturally wouldn't stand by and do nothing. So with Ultear's help, the Magic Boat changed course and soon found Caland's former home, protected by a broken-down magical formula.
There, Éclair viewed a recording left on Magic Crystal by Caland—her biological father who had died over four hundred years ago—and learned that the magical weapon capable of destroying the Phoenix, the Evil-Crushing Arrow, was currently kept within the Magic Council!
Though she now had both a method and a tool, she only possessed half of the Phoenix Stone. She needed to find the other half to begin the removal ritual.
With this in mind, Chase once again invited Éclair to join the guild. His reasoning: whether for gathering information or becoming stronger, a mage guild was absolutely the best place to be.
He naturally knew that the other half of the Phoenix Stone was currently in the hands of the Fool Duke of the northern Lonica Kingdom.
But things had to be taken slowly. First, he needed to help Éclair integrate into the guild environment.
After all, the so-called "removal" formula Caland had developed was actually a form of demon-killing magic—a spell that would not only destroy the Phoenix but also erase Éclair, who carried the Phoenix's blood within her!
Though that outcome might have been a liberation for Éclair, it would also be far too regrettable an ending.
Under Chase's bold declaration—"A mere magical beast like the Phoenix? If it shows up, we'll kill it"—Éclair, who had already been yearning to join the guild Lucy had spoken of, finally let go of the forced strength she had been clinging to and burst into tears in Lucy's arms.
The matter was resolved.
"Chase, this box contains the Evil-Crushing Arrow. Keep it safe, just in case something unexpected happens later."
At the deck railing of the Magic Boat, Ultear handed Chase an antique box sealed with tape.
"You brought something like this with you?" Chase was somewhat surprised.
He didn't stand on ceremony with Ultear. He simply took the box and stored it inside a card.
Since he had decided to invite Éclair to join Fairy Tail, he had absolute confidence that he could ensure the Phoenix Stone's seal would never be broken.
In fact, he was already formulating a plan to sneak into the Lonica Kingdom and swipe the other half of the Phoenix Stone!
But as Ultear said, having an extra layer of protection never hurt.
"When it comes to legendary magical creatures like the Phoenix and the Demon King, one has to be cautious."
Ultear raised her eyes to watch the sun gradually sinking below the mountains in the distance. "Time is short. I haven't had a chance to tell those stubborn old men on the Council about this yet."
"So you stole it..." Chase suddenly felt the card in his hand grow rather hot.
In a sense, by accepting the Evil-Crushing Arrow, he was now an accomplice. If the old man (Makarov) found out, he'd probably get an earful.
Even though in the movie, it was Makarov himself who had stolen the Evil-Crushing Arrow!
"Don't worry. No one's going to check something that's been sitting around for hundreds of years."
Ultear spread her hands indifferently. "Besides, since when have you ever been the type to worry about things like this?"
"Haha, true enough." Chase grinned and scratched his head, not bothering to argue.
Their conversation came to a natural halt, followed by a brief silence.
Ultear glanced back at Éclair, who was gradually calming down under Lucy's comfort, then at the relaxed Council troops. After hesitating for a few seconds, she finally spoke:
"A priestess with the Phoenix bloodline joining Fairy Tail... is going to bring no small amount of trouble."
"Only those with potential have the right to cause trouble. That's what power looks like."
Chase followed her gaze toward Éclair, then asked in return, "Besides, does our guild have any shortage of problem children?"
Beyond personal reasons, inviting Éclair to join also served to increase the guild's overall combat power. If they could properly utilize the Phoenix's power, its strength would be certainly no less than that of an ordinary great dragon!
"...The biggest problem child of all is you, isn't it?" Ultear couldn't help but shoot Chase a look of exasperation.
She wasn't particularly surprised by his answer. Or rather, Fairy Tail had never been a guild that cared about such things.
Thus, her previous question had merely been a lead-up to what she actually wanted to say.
"Mr. Yajima has submitted his resignation due to old age. I don't know if I'll be able to stay on the Council much longer either. Though the Chairman and the other councilors have changed their attitude toward you somewhat, they can't unconditionally protect Fairy Tail. So, Chase..."
"In the future, please be more mindful of your image."
Thanks to her recent "brainwashing," Jellal's mental state in prison had completely stabilized. He had come to realize the gravity of his past sins.
Though staying with the Council would allow him to better atone, there were some things Ultear simply couldn't avoid.
For instance, Grimoire Heart's summons this time.
Ultear still had some affection for Hades, who had taken her in and taught her the Arc of Time. She wanted to return and persuade him to return to the right path.
Even though she knew Hades's personality well enough to understand that the chances of success were vanishingly small!
And then there was Meredy, whom she had misled since childhood...
"You sound like you're saying goodbye. Are you in some kind of trouble?" Chase asked.
Given the original timeline, it was easy to guess that Ultear had decided to return to Grimoire Heart.
Ultear gently shook her head and didn't answer.
She still held the same conviction as before. She didn't want to drag Fairy Tail down because of the sins she had committed in the past.
Seeing that she didn't want to talk about it, Chase didn't press further. Instead, he said seriously, "No matter what happens, stay alive. Not just to atone for your sins, but also for Ur, who already lost you once."
With Ultear as a wild card, dealing with Grimoire Heart wouldn't be particularly difficult. The only ones who posed a real threat to him were the deputy master Bluenote and the master Hades (Precht).
Leaving Bluenote aside for now, with his current strength, going head-to-head with Hades would likely end in defeat.
But Hades, also known as Fairy Tail's second master Precht, had a fatal flaw.
That was the "Demon's Heart" that supplied him with magic power. If they could destroy the heart in advance, they could simply wear him down until he expired!
The real problem was the "evil presence" that Hades emitted.
According to Zeref in the original story, it was this very presence that had attracted the Black Dragon Acnologia. Did that mean that if they went to war with Grimoire Heart, the Black Dragon would appear?
Chase wasn't sure about this.
Though Tenrou Island was protected by the First Master (Mavis), this was the real world. The lives of his comrades were at stake. Relying too heavily on the original plot was still far too risky.
Therefore, Chase felt it was necessary to deal with Grimoire Heart—this potential hazard—before going to Tenrou Island.
Fortunately, there was still some time before the S-Class Mage Trial—time to grow even stronger.
Based on this assessment, perhaps having Ultear return to Grimoire Heart early to stir up trouble might be a good idea?
"Mm, I understand what you mean. I won't throw my life away."
At the mention of Ur's name, Ultear's eyes visibly flickered. She gave her assurance, her voice firm.
"Words aren't enough. Though I don't know exactly what you're planning to do..."
Chase grinned as he drew a card from the void, pretending not to know. "Take this. It might save your life in a critical moment."
Ultear's expression shifted slightly. Just as she was about to politely refuse, Chase had already shoved the card into her arms.
Left with no choice, she accepted the gift.
"Thank you, Chase."
"Hey, we're friends. And you've helped us plenty too."
"By the way, how's Sabertooth doing these days? You've probably been discussing work quite a bit with Ur, its new master, haven't you?"
With the important matters settled, Chase began chatting with Ultear about relatively lighter topics.
Thinking of her mother, who came to the Council every few days, Ultear sighed heavily, clearly exasperated. "I really don't know what goes on in that woman's head. She comes to the Council to report every time the guild buys a new dining table."
"Once, it was even more ridiculous. She showed up wearing a swimsuit. And since it was work, I had no choice but to receive her..."
Though her words were full of complaints, Chase could clearly see a faint smile on Ultear's face.
"Haha! That definitely sounds like something she'd do!"
Time quietly passed as they reminisced and chatted.
By the time the Council's magical airship finally arrived in Magnolia, it was already late at night, the moon bright and the stars sparse.
After saying goodbye to Ultear, Chase decided to head home and rest for the night. Considering how late it was, plus the exhaustion and mental fatigue from the past two days, he would return to the guild tomorrow to introduce their new comrade and submit the completed quest.
Éclair and Momon, being girls, temporarily stayed the night at Lucy's rather shabby little rented apartment.
The next day.
Chase and Lucy took the nervous Éclair and Momon to a famous local breakfast spot. While eating, they briefly introduced the city of Magnolia.
During this time, the residents' unabashed disdain for Chase left Éclair and Momon thoroughly confused: Chase's reputation around here... doesn't seem too great?
At Chase's request, Éclair called him "big brother," just like Lucy did, rather than the more distant "Mr. Chase."
Lucy, however, was used to how the residents treated Chase. She enthusiastically recounted Magnolia's "Chase's Rules" and various amusing stories she had heard from Mirajane.
Chase's mysterious and powerful image as a Card Mage thus crumbled.
As they talked and laughed, the group soon arrived at Fairy Tail, situated at the far end of town.
Staring at the imposing guild building, Éclair and Momon couldn't help but grow somewhat nervous.
Though Lucy kept telling them that everyone in the guild was super friendly, they remained visibly tense, a mixture of awe and anticipation flickering in their eyes.
If nothing unexpected happened, this would be their new home.
At that thought, Éclair and Momon stood still, wondering how they should introduce themselves to a crowd of strangers.
And then—
"Hey! We're back!"
BAM!
Chase had already raised his foot and kicked the closed door wide open.
"Th-this is how you greet people in the guild?" Éclair jumped in surprise.
"Éclair, even if it seems a little rude, since we've decided to join, we'll have to follow this rule too from now on."
Momon looked completely serious as it mimicked Chase's door-kicking motion.
"There's no weird rule like that! It's just Chase and Natsu who make these kinds of dramatic entrances!"
Lucy quickly explained, terrified that Éclair and Momon might pick up bad habits.
What she had meant to convey was that most people in the guild were actually very polite. But the moment she walked into the guild alongside Chase, she immediately felt a sense of despair, her eye twitching uncontrollably.
Scanning the room, all she saw was utter chaos. Tables, chairs, and cutlery flew everywhere.
Amid shouts, curses, and loud arguments, a bunch of ruffians were passionately beating each other up.
Among them were a completely naked pervert, a drunken brute swinging his fists, a large man constantly yelling "Manly!"—and so on.
"Um, Lucy... I'm suddenly thinking that joining a mage guild is something we might need to reconsider." Éclair was recoiling from the terrifying scene before her.
Momon clung to her pant leg, at a loss.
There wasn't a trace of friendliness, warmth, or welcome here!
Anyone who didn't know better would think they had stumbled into a gang war!
"Ah ha, ahahaha. D-don't judge them by how they look right now. They're all... well... they're all very nice people. Yeah. Right!"
Lucy's vision went dark. She could barely string a sentence together.
What words could possibly explain this scene?
"Don't worry, this is just an ordinary day for our guildmates"?
That would be even more terrifying!!
Suddenly—fwip—Natsu's sandal came flying straight at them, smacking Lucy precisely in the forehead with a sharp, loud smack.
That was the last straw for Lucy, who was already mortified.
"WOULD YOU ALL JUST CALM DOWN FOR ONE SECOND?!"
"Celestial Spirit Dress: Taurus Form! "
A golden magic circle flashed. Donning the Cow Uniform, Lucy strode forward with large steps, charging straight into the crowd and into the thick of the fight where Natsu and Gray were going at it the fiercest.
Before everyone's eyes, she forcefully pried apart their fists—which were locked in midair—then thump, thump, delivered a Lucy Iron Fist to each of them.
The utterly astonishing sight left all the brawling guildmates completely dumbfounded.
"Wait, no way... that weakening Lucy actually stopped Natsu and Gray with pure physical strength?!"
"Ow! Owowowow! Damn it, Macao! What the hell did you punch me for?!"
"That's weird. If it hurts, that means I'm not dreaming... but is that really the Lucy I remember?!"
"Lucy-chan came back from her trip and got super strong! She's got Erza's vibe now~!"
"Now that's manly! Lucy, that outfit is incredibly manly!"
But the two most shocked were, of course, the parties involved... well, victims.
Natsu and Gray—these two brothers—were completely dumbfounded by the heavy violent punches. They stood there frozen in place, their eyes wide as saucers.
I... I got punched by Lucy? x2
The chaotic, noisy scene ground to a halt, as if someone had hit the pause button, falling into an eerie silence.
A few seconds later, from behind the bar, Mirajane—with a broken chopstick sticking out of her forehead—tilted her head and smiled warmly.
"Chase, Lucy... welcome back."
"...HUH?! Isn't your reaction way too slow?! And is this really the time to be saying that?!" everyone shouted in unison.
***
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