The morning sun filtered through the canopy, rousing Shun from his sleep. He prepared a simple breakfast from the stored meat, his movements efficient after five years of routine. Today was the day. He needed a vantage point to finally plan his escape. Finding the tallest tree in the vicinity, he scaled it with a practiced ease that belied his age.
When he broke through the canopy, the view stole his breath. He was on an island, that much was clear. But it was the island's centerpiece that made his heart lurch in recognition. It was a tree of impossible proportions, a giant sacred tree that towered over everything, its sprawling branches blanketed in a perpetual, magical bloom of pink blossoms.
Tenroujima.
A wave of pure relief washed over him. "Fairy Tail," he whispered to the open sky. This was the homeland and final resting place of Mavis Vermillion, the first guild master. This world was infinitely preferable to the grim, unpredictable Dark Continent of Hunter x Hunter he had dreaded.
A flicker of concern crossed his mind. "Mavis's spirit is supposed to be able to wander the whole island. I wonder if she's been watching me all this time?" He shrugged after a moment's thought. "Probably doesn't matter. She can't harm me, and I can't see her unless I join the guild. For now, I'll just focus on getting stronger until I find a way off this rock."
---
Five Years Later
The boy who stood in the clearing was no longer the helpless toddler of five years past. At eight years old, Shun was tall for his age, with a lean build and sharp features that hinted at the young man he would become. His black hair was tousled by the wind as he focused, his palms raised.
'Repel the air... compress it... use it as a springboard.'
For years, he had been trying to replicate Bartholomew Kuma's signature high-speed movement, which in the anime had been so fast it appeared as teleportation. He could now repel himself in short, explosive bursts, but true, effortless high-speed travel remained just out of reach.
He lowered his hands, a sigh escaping his lips. "Awakening a Devil Fruit is as difficult as I feared," he mused aloud. "Even the old Emperors in their world didn't seem to have managed it easily."
Still, his five years of solitude had been productive. He had mastered every application of the Paw-Paw Fruit that Kuma had demonstrated. It was time. He had long since confirmed that the one weakness of his Devil Fruit—seastone—didn't exist here, and water held no special power over him. He could simply repel the air and fly away from Tenroujina whenever he wished.
A strange melancholy settled over him. This island had been his home, his training ground, his entire world. Leaving it felt like closing a significant chapter.
His introspection was interrupted by a dot on the horizon. A ship. It was moving slowly but deliberately towards the island.
---
On the deck of the small vessel, Makarov Dreyar stood, his small, elderly frame steady against the gentle rocking of the waves. The Third Guild Master of Fairy Tail was making a pilgrimage. He had come to Tenroujina to silently ask the spirit of his predecessor for permission to one day hold the S-Class Promotion Exam on this sacred ground. He couldn't see or speak to her, but he felt her presence, and it felt right to ask.
As the ship drew closer to the shore, his sharp, experienced eyes caught movement. A child? A boy, no older than seven or eight, was standing calmly on the beach as if he had been expecting them. Makarov's brow furrowed in profound confusion. How could a child be here, alone?
Shun, for his part, felt no panic. He had done nothing wrong but survive. He had become the unofficial "boss" of the island's wildlife, always careful to show respect around the giant tree that was Mavis's grave. Seeing Makarov was a stroke of luck. The old man was famously kind-hearted. If Shun explained his situation, he was sure to get a ride to the mainland.
Makarov leapt from the ship, landing lightly on the sand despite his age. He approached Shun, his expression a mixture of concern and bewilderment.
"What are you doing here alone, boy? Where are your parents?" Makarov asked, his voice gruff but not unkind.
Shun was relieved to find he understood every word. The system must have handled the language barrier, he thought. "I don't have any," Shun replied casually. "I've been here alone for the last five years."
Makarov's eyes widened. "What? How did a child your age survive here for five years without food or shelter?"
"I know a bit of magic," Shun said with a shrug. "In a forest, it's survival of the fittest. With magic, it's easy to become the boss."
"A bit of magic?" Makarov repeated, skepticism dripping from his words. "The monsters on this island are far stronger than those on the mainland. They're not the kind a child can beat. What kind of magic do you use?"
Shun put his hands on his hips, feigning childish indignation. "What's this, an interrogation? Who are you, old man?"
Makarov had the decency to look chastised. "That was my bad. I was just… surprised. My name is Makarov Dreyar, the third guildmaster of Fairy Tail. This island is the property of our guild. What's your name, kid?"
"Shun."
Makarov crossed his arms. "Well, Shun. This 'magic' that made you the boss. Can you show me?" There was a hint of a challenge in his tone.
"It's simple. It can repel anything," Shun stated.
"Repel, huh? Sounds simple enough. Show me."
"Sure." Shun turned and walked toward a large, therapod-like dinosaur that was basking nearby. The moment the beast noticed Shun approaching, it froze, a visible tremor of fear running through its massive body. It didn't growl or attack; it simply waited, like a dog awaiting its master's command. Makarov's eyes narrowed, his initial skepticism giving way to genuine curiosity.
"Attack," Shun commanded the dinosaur.
Terrified but obedient, the creature let out a roar and lunged, its massive jaws gaping wide enough to swallow the boy whole. Makarov tensed, ready to intervene.
Shun didn't flinch. At the last possible second, he simply raised his hand, presenting his palm. The moment the beast's snout touched the pink pad, Shun pushed.
BOOM!
There was no impact, only a silent, overwhelming force. The dinosaur vanished from its spot, and a split second later, the far-off wall of a cliff exploded in a cloud of dust and rubble. The creature had been sent flying across the island at an unimaginable speed.
Makarov stood utterly still, his jaw slack. It took him a full ten seconds to find his voice. "H-how…?" he stammered, his eyes wide with disbelief. "How did you learn such magic here, alone?!"
Shun had prepared for this. "I learned it from a book," he said casually, brushing dust off his shoulder. "It was in a treasure chest I found. The title was 'Lost Magic: Repel'."
"'Lost Magic: Repel'?" Makarov murmured, stroking his mustache. "In all my long years, I've never heard of such a thing."
Shun offered a lopsided grin. "I guess it's called 'Lost Magic' for a reason."
"You cheeky brat..." Makarov grumbled, but a fond smile was tugging at his lips.
They shared a brief, easy laugh. Then, Shun looked out towards the sea. "Since this is your guild's private property, I should leave. Could you give me a ride to the nearest city?"
Makarov studied the boy—a child who had not only survived but conquered one of the most dangerous islands in Fiore, all on his own. "Do you have anywhere else to go?" he asked, his voice softening.
"No," Shun answered truthfully.
"Then come to Fairy Tail," Makarov said, his tone becoming profound. "There are people in this world who enjoy being alone, Shun. But there isn't a single person who can truly bear a lifetime of solitude."
Shun felt a genuine pang of emotion at the old man's words. He's giving me the 'Will of Fire' speech! He had planned to find his own way, but the offer was so earnest, so kind, that correcting him felt wrong.
He met Makarov's gaze and gave a small, sincere nod.
"Sure," Shun said. "I'll join."
---