July 3rd, X784.
For the golden-haired girl Lucy, this should have been a day worth remembering—she had finally arrived at the Mage Guild she'd dreamed of: Fairy Tail.
But why… is this place nothing like she'd imagined? The guild hall had looked so friendly moments ago, yet in the blink of an eye everyone was at each other's throats—tables, chairs, and stools flying everywhere, even someone's discarded clothes drifting about amid the magical blasts.
The Mage Guild she'd always idolized was actually like this?
Lucy's heart was on the verge of collapse.
Looking at the brawling crowd, she saw impulse freaks, a stripper, a female drunk, a playboy, a muscle-bound giant, two western cowboys showing off their love for no reason, and a blue cat taking a one-sided beating—wasn't there a single normal human here?
"Are you the new recruit?"
Just as Lucy's rosy image of the guild was about to shatter completely, a gentle voice sounded behind her.
She turned to see a white-haired girl in a wine-red gown with a lovely face, followed by a handsome black-haired bartender.
As a die-hard fan of Fairy Tail, Lucy instantly recognized the girl.
Mirajane Strauss.
One of Fairy Tail's S-Class Mages—powerful and frequently featured in fashion magazines, the very picture of beauty and strength combined.
Another female Mage, Lucy turned starry-eyed the moment she saw Mirajane, though the surrounding clamor quickly sobered her up.
"Hello, Mirajane, I'm Lucy. What on earth is going on? Why did they suddenly start fighting?"
"Everyone's always like this; did it scare you?"
Mirajane's concern felt odd, but Lucy answered honestly, "I'm fine, but aren't you going to stop them? The guild's getting wrecked."
"Why stop them? Isn't this fun?"
With a smile Mirajane took Lucy's hand and said sweetly, "Lucy, brawling is the fastest way to fit in—so fight!"
Before Lucy could react, Mirajane shoved Hope forward.
"Lucy, I've picked your opponent!"
"Go, Hope!"
That gentle voice sounded to Lucy like the whisper of a devil, sending chills through her.
She'd been so naïve.
In a guild like this, of course Mirajane would be a battle maniac too.
The handsome guy named Hope clearly meant trouble.
And why the heck did fitting in require a free-for-all?!!
She hadn't even gotten the guild stamp yet, but her inner Make complaints was already blazing.
Right now she felt she was walking on thin ice, wondering if she'd leave the building upright.
Meanwhile Mirajane's words reached the hall, and the brawlers froze.
"What?!"
Elfman's voice boomed loudest: "The girl Natsu brought back is gonna duel Hope—how manly!"
Natsu, still grappling with Gray, broke off and gave Lucy a thumbs-up. "Way to go, Lucy—I'm fired up!"
Gray quietly put his clothes back on. "Then those two are fighting for the title of strongest rookie?"
Happy fanned the flames. "Hope, Lucy, c'mon—get fighting!"
Cana took a huge swig and shouted, "In that case, I declare the First Fairy Tail Strongest Rookie Tournament officially open!"
"Ooooooh—"
Oh, your heads!!!
Lucy screamed inside at their cheers.
Still, she realized the bartender hottie was a rookie like her—maybe she could win.
While Lucy was being rapidly assimilated, Hope turned black-faced, set his hand atop Mirajane's head, and gave it a little shake.
"Mirajane, you threw me out again."
"Eh? Did I? You didn't refuse, so I thought you agreed to spar with Lucy."
Mirajane looked innocent; Hope's fists clenched.
If this had been his first few days, Hope would've believed his gentle "savior" Mirajane without question.
But two days ago, during the usual guild brawl, Mirajane had used him as a human shield, and the unsuspecting Hope had seen stars—teaching him one thing.
What looks black isn't always evil; it might just be a century egg.
But an angel-faced, devil-hearted White-Cut-Black is definitely Mirajane!
Makarov was away visiting friends; no one could rein these maniacs in. Was he really being dragged into a fight with the heroine?
Hope only had Wing Magic; against Lucy's Celestial Spirits he'd have a hard time.
But if he bypassed the spirits and targeted Lucy herself, he was 100% confident.
He hadn't wasted his time in the Magnetic Field World—under the tutelage of the great philosopher-king "Great Commander of Hell," he'd trained several martial arts and honed decent combat sense.
Magnetic Lunatics still wiped the floor with him, but bullying the just-introduced Lucy would be child's play.
Feeling Hope's gaze, Lucy's tiny spark of confidence shattered.
He hadn't done a thing, yet she sensed an inexplicable pressure, as if he'd walked through mountains of corpses and seas of blood.
Had Hope known her thoughts, he'd have praised her spot-on intuition.
"Lucy, right? I'm Hope."
He spoke first. "Don't be nervous—everyone's joking. If you're scared, I can make Mirajane apologize."
Mirajane: "Eh? Just me?"
Hearing that, Lucy felt Hope wasn't so scary after all; she rubbed the back of her head and flashed a sunny grin. "It's fine, I'm okay."
Naïve girl.
Too bad she's joined Fairy Tail's big dye vat.
Just as Hope relaxed, thinking the ridiculous "Strongest Rookie" farce would die down—
Bang!
With a thunderous crash the guild doors burst open.
A imposing figure stood silhouetted against the sunlight, casting a long, oppressive shadow across the entrance.
The raucous, market-like hall froze; every fighter's movement locked, voices caught in their throats, as if someone had hit the world's mute button.
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