The Fairy Tail guildhall wasn't exactly as I'd pictured it in my more elaborate fantasies, which usually involved a lot more sparkle and less of a lingering smell of spilt ale. When you grow up reading the columns in Sorcerer Weekly and dreaming of the most famous guild in Fiore, it's easy to imagine something straight out of a fairy tale: magical towers gleaming in the sunlight, colourful banners fluttering, and an epic aura enveloping everything, perhaps with a few unicorns casually grazing on the front lawn. It's a very pleasant and entirely unrealistic mental image.
But what I saw was... a rather simple wooden building, albeit a huge one, with an air of 'we've survived a few wars and a great many drunken members'. A sign swung in the wind, slightly crooked, and from within came the distinct and unmistakable sound of something very large and probably very expensive breaking. It sounded less like a temple of magic and more like a pub on a promotional night.
Still, my heart was beating so fast I thought: this is it. My dream was right there, just a few steps away. This is the place.
All of this, this monumental life change, began only a very short time ago, a whirlwind of chaos that sucked me in and spat me out here. I was still in Hargeon, enjoying a normal day, well, as normal as it can be when you're covertly hunting for a wizards' guild while haggling over the price of a Plue. That's when that smarmy wizard, claiming to be Salamander of Fairy Tail, showed up, all full of fake charm, shiny rings, and a retinue of fans whose brains had clearly been melted by the heat of his Charm magic.
I thought he could help me... what a fool I was. In reality, he just wanted to use that sordid mind-control spell to kidnap me on his floating ship. Yes, a floating ship for a party that would probably end with all of us being sold on the black market for pretty, naive girls. A classic.
That's when the real Natsu appeared, crashing the party with all the subtlety of a dragon in a china shop. A fire wizard who speaks louder than thunder and acts as if the world is his giant living room. And with him, Happy, the blue cat that flies and makes pertinent comments (usually about fish).
What followed was a mess of fire magic, a partially destroyed port, the Rune Knights being completely useless as always, and Natsu saving me in the most chaotic, destructive, and noisy way possible. And after all that, the invitation:
"Do you want to join Fairy Tail?"
I didn't even need to answer. I just followed. And now... here I was. Standing before the door. My heart beating so loudly you could compose a tragic symphony to it. My hands sweating in a most unladylike fashion. And that voice in my head, the dreamer, the one that made me run away from home, screaming at the top of its lungs: (You did it, Lucy! You're about to make your dream come true!)
Natsu, obviously having run out of patience for my private dramatic moment, shoved the door with a force that nearly tore it from its hinges. "Come on, Lucy! What are you waiting for? A formal invitation from the King?"
"Aye! You'll love it!" Happy spun in the air, doing a mini magical loop and nearly colliding with my head. "There's lots of fish and lots of nice people inside!"
I looked at the door. A simple piece of wood that separated the old Lucy, the girl who wrote novels in her room, from the Lucy who had always dreamed of living one. "Alright," I murmured, taking a deep breath, the scent of adventure (and dust) already filling me. "Let's do this."
Natsu didn't open the door. He kicked it in.
"YOOOOOO!! WE'RE BACK!"
And that's when I saw what it was really like to be in Fairy Tail. It wasn't a fairy tale. It was like stepping into a whirlwind of magic, shouting, and furniture violently rebelling against the law of gravity.
A table flew inches from my head (literally!), followed by a tankard that exploded in mid-air. A dark-haired bloke, wearing only... his pants... was trading punches with a giant, white-haired fellow.
"GRAY, YOUR CLOTHES AGAIN!" someone yelled.
"I DIDN'T EVEN NOTICE!" replied the clothes-less one, as if it were the most normal thing in the world to get naked in the middle of a brawl.
I swear on all the celestial spirits, I tried to understand the logic. There was none.
The giant, white-haired man with a scar on his face was shouting "BEING A MAN IS SETTLING THINGS WITH YOUR FISTS!!" while lifting a barrel with one hand, apparently intending to use it as a projectile.
On the other side of the hall, a stunningly beautiful white-haired girl with an angelic smile gave a resounding slap to a bloke who seemed to have said something very stupid. She smiled at him afterwards, sweetly, which only made it all the more terrifying. And yes, I fell in love a little bit. Maybe.
And then... an explosion. A real magical explosion, which made the floor tremble and a shower of confetti and sparks rain down on us. I stumbled two steps back, my heart now in my throat.
"IS THIS A GUILD OR A WAR ZONE??" I shrieked, more to myself than to anyone, trying to protect my head with my hands. No one answered. Probably because someone was being thrown over the bar at that exact moment. What a warm welcome.
"Come on, Lucy! The Master will love to meet you!" Natsu pulled me by the arm, with an enthusiasm that completely ignored the fact that I was still processing the sight of a flying man and another freezing a wall out of pure whim.
"Aye!" Happy did a spin in the air and landed on my shoulder, as if he were my tour guide to the madhouse.
And off I went, balancing in the middle of the war zone, dodging a floating chair that seemed to have a will of its own and a table that, I was sure, was feeling some very violent emotions at that moment.
"GRAY, PUT YOUR BLOODY SHIRT ON!" a female, exasperated voice shouted from the other side.
"I'M HOT!" replied the aforementioned Gray, who now had a sock hanging from his shoulder as if it were the latest fashion statement in Fiore.
"Ah… he does that all the time," Natsu whispered in my ear, as if that were a perfectly reasonable explanation. And the worst part is, for them, it probably was.
It was then that the faces began to emerge, blurs of colour and personality amidst the chaos. A girl with light blue hair and eyes as bright and sweet as honey passed by me carrying a stack of books that was clearly taller than my dignity (and perhaps even taller than her).
"Oh, sorry! Excuse me! You must be new, right? I'm Levy!" she said with a smile so cute that for a moment it made me forget the flying table.
"Y-yes, I am! Lovely to meet you! I'm—"
"LUCY!" Natsu cut in, with his usual lack of tact. "She wants to join the guild! She's nice!"
Levy clapped her hands, the books wobbling dangerously. "Aww, how lovely! Another bookworm friend! We can show you the library later! It's the only place here that doesn't usually explode... often."
A library? Yes. By all my unfinished novels, yes, please.
Right behind her, a woman with a cowboy hat and the aura of someone who knows exactly how to use the gun holstered at her waist walked past, giving her belt a shy adjustment.
"She looks strong," commented a dark-haired young man beside her, who seemed to be trying to hide behind a pillar.
"Hi, I'm Bisca," said the cowgirl, with a slight accent and a friendly smile. "And this is Alzack. Don't mind the guns, we're in charge of the guild's armoury."
I waved back, trying not to look too star-struck. An armoury? This was getting better and better. And then... a woman walked past with an entire barrel in her hands. Yes. A barrel. With the casualness of someone carrying a handbag. She had long, dishevelled brown hair and an expression of someone who has seen it all and decided the best response is to drink.
"Brought a little blonde to liven up the party, Natsu?" she asked, looking directly at me before taking a swig of something that was definitely not grape juice. "Are you sure she can keep up?"
"That's Cana," Natsu said. "She drinks more than a fish. I don't know how that's possible, but it is."
"That's because drinking doesn't burn in your stomach like disappointment does, darling," she replied with a lopsided smile. "Welcome to the piss-up, blondie. The first barrel's on me."
…I definitely liked her.
I took a deep breath, thinking that perhaps the crazy pace was starting to slow down. That's when the universe decided to laugh in my face and he appeared.
Loki.
He emerged as if he had a personal spotlight following him, wearing sunglasses despite being indoors, and with two girls hanging off each arm as if they were living accessories.
"And who is this new star that has just begun to shine in our sky?" he said in the most caramelised voice in the world, so sweet it gave me instant cavities.
I froze. My knees went a bit wobbly. "It's… it's Loki," I whispered to Happy, who didn't seem the least bit impressed. "Loki from Sorcerer Weekly…"
Yes. The man himself. Ginger hair, a charm that seemed illegal, and the pose of someone who was born to break hearts, expectations, and probably a few laws.
"You must be new. Charmed." He smiled at me, dismissing one of his companions with a casual wave so he could take my hand and kiss it. The touch was smooth. The pose, rehearsed. "My name is Loki. But you can call me whatever you like. As long as it's with affection."
My brain short-circuited for a second, but my imaginary pen was faster. I crossed his name off my mental list of 'Prince Charming Candidates' with such force I nearly tore a dimensional hole. What a disappointment.
"LOKI, STOP BEING RIDICULOUS!" Cana shouted from across the hall, without even looking. "You've got three pending break-ups this week and you're already trying to start another one?!"
"I'm merely welcoming our new star, my dear Cana," he replied, still staring at me as if I were an expensive drink at the bar, about to be consumed.
Natsu huffed, clearly fed up with the scene, and pulled me by the arm. "Come on. That one's a lost cause. Incurable."
"Does he always walk around with... 'accessories' like that?" I asked, already being dragged away.
"If he doesn't have at least two girls fawning over him, he thinks he's having a bad day," Happy replied, with the wisdom of one who has seen this scene a thousand times. And just like that, what had been a brief fit of "oh my god, Loki from the magazine!" turned into a crystal clear: Loki, completely off the list. With pleasure. At least he was handsome. A handsome disappointment, but handsome nonetheless.
"Now, be careful with this one," Natsu pointed towards the bar. And there she was, the girl from before. The one with impeccable white hair, with light eyes that shone with a restrained malice, and that smile that made me question if I was actually straight. She was wiping a glass with a cloth, as if in an oasis of calm in the middle of a category five hurricane.
"Hi, Natsu," she said, her voice sweeter than any I'd ever heard. It sounded like camomile tea with a generous shot of rum.
"Hey, Mira!" he replied, waving.
"Did you bring me a present?" she asked, her eyes finally turning to me with the kind of look an enchanting snake gives before deciding whether to hypnotise you or devour you alive.
I froze again. I think freezing was my new default state.
"This little blonde," Mirajane said, her smile gaining a feline, dangerous edge. "Looks... delicious."
"M-me?" I nearly tripped over my own words for the third time since entering the guild. My face was hot.
"She wants to join the guild!" said Natsu, as if that explained why I looked 'delicious'. His logic was a mystery.
"Hmmm... a newbie, then. Welcome," she winked at me. Yes, she winked. And I swear my heart stopped for half a second. "I promise to be gentle with you. For the first day, at least. If you need anything... just call."
Her smile was sweet. The kind that punches you in the gut, apologises, and you still thank her for it. Natsu pulled me away again, probably to save what was left of my sanity.
"Come on, come on. The Master's waiting upstairs."
"Did… did she just bite me with her eyes?" I whispered to Natsu, still half-hypnotised.
"Oh, no. That was just the 'fresh meat' look. The bite comes later, if she likes you," he replied, with a terrifying casualness.
"WHAT??"
"Nothing! Let's go!"
As Natsu dragged me through another corridor of overturned chairs, I saw a girl with very short white hair, trying to tie up what was left of a table with a piece of rope. She had the energy of someone who had dealt with this kind of mess more times than she would have liked.
"Lisanna!" Natsu called, waving. "Where's the old man?"
The girl looked up and smiled at him. It was a light, sincere smile, with a glint in her eyes that reminded me of quiet mornings. "Hi, Natsu! He's upstairs, but—"
She didn't even get to finish her sentence. Because the floor trembled. The ceiling creaked. An intense light exploded on the floor above and a thundering voice echoed through the hall:
"SILENCE, YOU UNCONTROLLABLE, INSUFFERABLE BRATS!!!"
I froze. The entire guild froze. Even the chair that had been flying seemed to pause in mid-air. I looked up and saw a giant. Huge, white-bearded, and with an aura that screamed: "If I had a magical slipper, you'd all be unconscious by now."
"O-OH MY GOD! IS IT A MONSTER?! I-I'LL CALL MY SPIRITS!" I yelled, already fumbling for my keys.
"Relax, it's just the Master," said Natsu with the calmness of someone saying "it's just raining" during a hurricane.
The giant looked at the chaos, then saw me. His gaze softened. And, like a magical balloon being deflated, he began to shrink. In seconds, the colossus became a little old man, just over a metre tall, with a warm smile on his face. "What a pleasure, my dear! Welcome to Fairy Tail. I hope you weren't too frightened by... the staff's warm reception."
"J-just a little..." I replied, with a crooked smile.
"That's GOOD!" he laughed. "It means you still have your sanity. Don't worry, it won't last long here!"
The little old man gave an agile leap, returning to the second-floor railing as if he had magical springs in his feet. He looked down on us, with the energy of someone about to launch truths in the form of a spell.
"LISTEN UP, YOU INCOMPETENT, DESTRUCTIVE OAFS!" he shouted once more, his voice thundering through the hall and making the remaining glasses tremble on the tables. He pulled out a roll of parchment from somewhere, holding it up dramatically for all to see.
"THE MAGIC COUNCIL HAS SENT ANOTHER ONE OF THEIR RIDICULOUS LETTERS! FULL OF COMPLAINTS ABOUT 'COLLATERAL DAMAGE', 'INAPPROPRIATE BEHAVIOUR', AND AN ENDLESS LIST OF THINGS WE'VE BROKEN! BLAH, BLAH, BLAH, BUREAUCRACY!"
With a snap of his fingers, the edges of the parchment caught fire, the flames dancing and consuming the formal words with a glorious contempt.
"DO YOU KNOW WHAT I SAY TO THAT?!" he bellowed, his voice filled with a passionate conviction that seemed to set the air ablaze.
The silence in the guild was total. Even those who were passed out on the tables seemed to hold their breath.
"TO HELL WITH THE COUNCIL!!!"
The entire guild erupted. Not in a brawl, but in deafening applause, war cries, and laughter. Tankards were raised, tables were pounded in approval. And me? I was standing in the middle of the commotion, wide-eyed, like someone who has just fallen into a revolutionary musical where everyone is a little bit (or a lot) mad. Was this... illegal? Probably. Incredible? Absolutely.
The Master raised his arms as if he were a conductor leading an orchestra of chaos and rebellion.
"Let them worry about their rules and their papers! Let them talk! We are Fairy Tail! We don't follow the ridiculous rules of people who sit in comfortable chairs and have never truly gotten their hands dirty!"
The guild's roar in response was even louder. I could feel the floor vibrate beneath my feet.
"Here, magic is important," he said, and his voice, suddenly, became calmer, deeper, descending from a thunderclap to the chime of a temple bell. The noise ceased instantly, as if everyone had been waiting for those words. "It is our power, our strength, the tool with which we change the world. But more than that..."
He looked at everyone, at the bloke in his pants, at the woman with the barrel, at Natsu, at the white-haired girl with the dangerous smile, and even at me, the stranger lost in the middle of it all. And even though he was so small, at that moment he seemed bigger than anyone there.
"More than magic... here we are a family."
A different kind of silence spread through the guild. It wasn't the silence of fear from before, but of respect. Of recognition. Even those who were passed out on the tables seemed to have stopped snoring.
It was one of those moments that hits you deep down, where your heart aches, but in a good way. A wave of warmth spread through my chest, a feeling I hadn't felt since... well, since never, actually. A home. A family. It was all I had ever wanted.
I was really here. In the middle of this passionate mess. In Fairy Tail.
Then, the silence was broken, like everything in this guild.
Makarov waved the scroll, which was still on fire. "Ah, you know what?! This has given me heartburn." He looked down, a mischievous glint in his eyes. "Natsu, do something useful for the first time today!"
"Huh?" the Dragon Slayer blinked, confused.
Makarov tossed the rest of the flaming scroll towards him as if it were a little snack. Natsu, without a second thought, opened his mouth like a hungry little dragon and snatched the paper with a satisfying snap.
"MMHHM… tastes of inflated ego and a lot of bureaucracy!" he said, chewing as if it were a chicken kebab.
"Good. Because it was enough to give me indigestion," the Master grumbled.
I couldn't help it. I had to laugh. A loud, genuine laugh that escaped me before I could contain it. "Is this place for real?" I whispered, more to myself.
Happy, who had landed on my shoulder like an angel of chaos, gave me a little pat with his paw. "Aye! It's like this every day! Isn't it great?!"
And I hadn't even gotten my guild mark yet. But my stubborn, dreamy heart already knew.
Despite the madness, despite the chaos, despite the bloke in his pants... this was my place.
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✨ Author's Note ✨
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And we made it, folks! 🎉 We finally stepped into the canon Fairy Tail timeline! This chapter was super special to write because it's one of those moments that marked my teenage years when I first watched/read Fairy Tail: Lucy's very first time walking into the guild. Of course, here I had to add my own flavor of humor, chaos, and a little bit of sudden crush (because honestly, who didn't instantly fall for Mira? 💕).
I really wanted to capture that mix of "dream come true" + "what on earth did I just get myself into?", because that's exactly what Fairy Tail is: a loud, chaotic, messy, loving family. 💥🍻
From this point on, the story will dive deeper into blending the canon with my own shenanigans and reinterpretations. Get ready for a lot of nostalgic moments (with that familiar Fairy Tail vibe we all love) but also brand new scenes that will expand the universe and add new layers to the relationships.
Thank you so much to everyone who's been reading up to this point, seriously, you're amazing! 💖 Tell me in the comments:
👉 What was your first impression of Fairy Tail when you discovered it?
👉 And which character are you most excited to see interacting with Azra'il (besides Erza, of course 👀)?
See you in the next chapter, and may the chaos continue! 🐺✨