"Still so young!!"
"It's completely different from seven years ago!!"
"What exactly happened?!"
Everyone explained the events on Tenrou Island. They never expected such a miracle—that even after seven years, those on Tenrou Island remained exactly as they had been back then, while the rest of Fairy Tail had aged by seven years.
Before long, they started a celebration to mark both their reunion and the fact that everyone was still alive. Even though the guild's numbers were smaller, the tavern felt lively again. For those who had stayed behind in Fairy Tail, it was like returning to old times—a scene they had only dreamed about during these seven years.
"Romeo, you can use fire magic, too?" Natsu was thrilled to see Romeo's flames, practically licking his lips as though they were something tasty.
"Happy" chimed in, "The guild's temperature is gonna shoot up even more now!"
Romeo said, "I can also do an icy flame, a purple sticky flame like Dad's, and a weird-smelling yellow flame."
The fire flickered between his hands, shifting colors as he showed how skilled he'd become.
Gajeel commented, "You've definitely got more talent for magic than your old man. And these flames look really familiar…"
Romeo explained quietly, "I secretly studied at Master Totomaru's magic class without my father knowing."
"That guy ended up doing stuff like that, huh?" Gajeel chuckled, recalling someone he knew from the past.
Meanwhile, Makarov perched on a table, grinning as he learned that Macao had become Fairy Tail's fourth master. "So you're the fourth-generation Fairy Tail master…"
Macao turned red. "Just an acting master, at best! I'll give it all back to you right now!"
"No need. It sounds kinda fun. You can stay in that post a while longer."
"Really?!" Macao looked both shocked and delighted. "Well…if that's what you want, I'll keep at it…"
Wakaba muttered to Makarov, "That sense of difference really makes me want to laugh."
"Right? Pfft!" Makarov snickered.
They recalled how the first master, Mavis, had founded Fairy Tail and created its three supreme magics; how the second master, Precht, had turned down a dark path yet remained fearsomely powerful; and how the third master, Makarov, had been among the Ten Wizard Saints, though age and health limited him. Then came the fourth master—Macao—who had no great reputation at all. His strength certainly wasn't weak, but nothing compared to those three giants.
Across the room, Erza exclaimed, "Y-you got married?!" She was astonished to learn that Alzack and Bisca had tied the knot—she'd been the one who used to tease Bisca about such things long ago.
"Yeah…six years ago," Alzack admitted.
Bisca added, "I'm the one who proposed. Um, Miss Erza…"
"Stop it," Alzack mumbled, turning bright red.
"Congratulations," Erza said, sounding flustered, as if she were some new bride herself.
Elfman blinked. "What are you going on about, Erza?"
Mira laughed. "She's imagining her own future wedding." She couldn't help glancing at Su Yan, wondering what her own wedding would be like someday.
Su Yan also congratulated Alzack and Bisca. "It's a bit late, but still—congratulations."
Lisanna beamed. "That's wonderful. Do you have children?"
Alzack nodded. "A daughter named Asuka."
Wendy stood trembling before Reedus with a painting in hand. "Um, Mr. Reedus …what's this?"
"Oh, it's a drawing of you if you'd aged seven years. I was imagining how you might've turned out," Reedus answered.
"M-my chest…" Wendy whimpered.
"Huh? What'd you say?" Reedus asked, confused.
"Even if seven years had passed, it wouldn't have gotten bigger, would it?" Wendy pouted, tears welling up.
Reedus scratched his head. "Something wrong with how I drew it?"
He had painted Wendy as a slim, grown young lady—but utterly flat-chested.
Just then, the guild's door opened. In walked several members of Lamia Scale.
"Greetings, everyone!" Sherria waved, beaming. "I come bearing love and congratulations on your return!"
Sherria was far prettier now, no longer wearing her heavy makeup from before.
"Quack—um," Toby mumbled in agreement. He looked only slightly older than before, still shirtless but more mature.
"Quite the noisy place," Lyon remarked with a smile. He seemed more refined, handsomer than he'd been seven years ago.
"Everyone's literally younger," Sherry (known now as Sherria's relative, or "Shelia," in some versions) said, still sporting her bald head and black beard. She couldn't help staring at the Fairy Tail group who hadn't aged.
Yuka added, "Seven years passed for us, but not them. It's really something." His eyebrows had grown thicker, giving him a sterner appearance.
"You guys—" Gray recognized them.
"Lamia Scale?!" Lucy exclaimed.
Max explained, "Yeah, both Blue Pegasus and Lamia Scale pitched in during the Tenrou Island search."
Gray sighed. "So we owe you a favor, huh?"
Lyon waved dismissively. "Forget it. Sure, Pegasus might have found it first, but in terms of actual strength, Lamia Scale stands above them."
"You're really hung up on that?" Gray sweat dropped. Fairy Tail, after all, had once been the strongest guild in Fiore…