It's the stadium we fought at for the Grand Magic Games!
That sure brings back memories.
Why is there all this rubble?
Because of what happened after the Games, of course!
All those dragons came out of that gate!
Don't you remember?
Now that you mention it, I vaguely remember.
But it's incredible.
They've brought the city a long ways back to normal since the last time we were here.
Yeah.
It's like, "Don't underestimate humans!"
Aye!
So, Happy...
Yes, Natsu?
Where are we headin'?
I don't know.
I'm just walking in the same direction you are.
I'm just walking in the same direction you are, Happy!
Where should we go from here, and what'll we do?
I dunno...
Wait a second!
I think I'm on the verge of realizing a profound truth!
What is it?
It's been a week since we've embarked on our training journey...
...but when you think about it...
...we've just been walking, sleeping, and eating!
We haven't been doing any training!
You're right. I just realized that, too.
All we're doing is traveling on the cheap!
We never thought about what to do for training in the first place!
What are we doing?
Crap...
Natsu...
Why don't we at least stop walking around aimlessly?
Let's decide on a destination or a theme or something.
Easier said than done.
I've got it!
Tenroujima, huh? You may be on to somethin'.
Right?
It's the place we were in suspended animation for seven years
and also where the first Master is buried!
In a way, it's our origin!
All right! Then let's go!
Yep. We can rent a boat down there.
A boat?
That's right... To get to an island...
...you've gotta take a boat!
Are you okay? We're almost there.
Look!
Tenroujima!
There's nothin' better than land!
Let's start by going to the founder's grave.
Do you know the way?
Cana once gave me directions.
We're lost all of a sudden.
Relax! This should be the right way.
What did Cana say?
I don't remember exactly, but I think she said something about there being
a bunch of trees or rocks or bushes along the way.
Trees or rocks or bushes?
Then it should be around here.
Right?
Wait, this whole island is full of trees, rocks, and bushes!
Cana's the type who doesn't bother with details.
She didn't say anything else?
Huh?
A town.
It's really old.
It's become like part of the forest,
so it isn't visible at sea.
So this is part of Tenroujima...
Come to think of it, we haven't been to this area before.
That's pretty big.
Is it a guild building?
"Red Lizard..."
It looks like a stable.
Someone must've had animals here a long time ago.
There are signs that somebody was livin' here.
Look, Natsu!
Somebody was studying?
Maybe a child was living here?
I wonder what kind of people lived here a long time ago.
Maybe adults and kids, men and women were here,
working, playing, laughing, and crying.
I see...
The same as us, huh?
Natsu! Are you all right?!
N-Natsu...
Ow-ow-ow-ow! That hurts!
It hurts, you bastards!
Sheesh...
What's wrong?! Where you goin', Happy?!
Stay away from me!
Why are you running away?!
That's...
A grave?
This is it! The grave of the first Master, Mavis!
We actually made it!
I knew we would!
I'm gonna get a lot stronger, so watch me, Number One!
And please watch over everyone else too, while we're not there.
Well, shall we go?
Aye!
If this is where her grave is, maybe the founder was also born here.
Who knows?
Let's ask Gramps when we get home.
If I remember...
I bet you'll forget.
From here on out, the story will be set during a time before Fairy Tail was born.
It's a tale about a girl who pursued her dream,
overcame hardships, and formed a guild with her friends.
How was that last job?
That kind of thing is simple.
I heard another guild poked their nose into it.
Yeah, and I beat the crap outta them.
That's what happens to anybody who gets in Red Lizard's way!
I'll drink to that!
Fairy in the Heart
How long are you gonna slack off, girl?!
I'm sorry!
But I'm done cleaning inside the guild.
I told you to clean the outside too, scum!
O-Okay!
You really are a useless brat.
You don't have time for readin' books!
Don't tell me she intends to learn magic!
No way!
Just clean this joint!
And take a bath! You stink!
Hey, Mavis!
Who bought you those shoes?
You, Master Zeeself-sama.
That's right. But they don't suit you, after all.
Give 'em back.
But... this is the only pair of shoes I have...
You're not gonna do what I say, you good-for-nothing?!
I'm back, Papa!
Zera! Did you have fun at school?
It was boring! And they're all dummies!
You're just too smart!
Here. You can have these new shoes.
They're dirty!
I don't want dirty shoes!
I see. Okay, I'll throw them away.
Don't tell me they're Mavis's shoes...
What if I caught some weird bacteria from them?
Sorry about that!
Jeez, be more careful!
I'm not going to cry.
If I cry, I won't be able to meet any fairies.
Papa and Mama told me something a long time ago.
They said fairies won't come where there's a crybaby.
Papa and Mama worked at this wizard guild, Red Lizard.
They died just recently...
...but I guess they owed the guild a debt,
so now I'm working here
in order to pay it off.
I can't do wizard work yet,
so I do things like cleaning and grocery shopping.
I have to work hard every day,
but I'm grateful to the Master.
I don't have any relatives, so he's given me a place to sleep.
There's not much food, but at least he doesn't make me pay for it.
At night, I can even practice the letters and calculations Papa and Mama taught me.
Thank you! You're so kind.
That's why I don't cry.
I won't until I meet a fairy.
I want to see a real fairy!
To school?
That's right. 'Cause Zera forgot her lunch.
Deliver it to her.
School...
If you don't hurry, lunch will start before you get there.
But if you go through the forest, you should make it in time.
The forest...
But the forest is dangerous...
Quit your gripin', Mavis!
I don't care if you get hurt or croak!
Zera's lunch is more important!
Okay!
After you drop it off, get your ass back here right away.
If you loiter along the way, there'll be hell to pay!
Okay!
School...
Yeah, that's right.
I get to go to school!
I've never been to school.
But Papa and Mama told me it's a place that has teachers, lots of books,
and you can learn about anything you want there.
I want to go to school at least once!
If I get there before lunch,
I may be able to get a glimpse of everyone studying.
The lunch is still safe...
I'm sorry!
Um... I lost my bearings...
The annual tree rings are big over here.
Then this area gets more sunlight,
which makes the trees grow well,
so that way is south!
Knowledge is wonderful.
If you learn a lot about various subjects, you'll never be at a loss in any situation,
and you'll be able to do things you couldn't before.
You can even understand the feelings of
people you've never spoken to, from countries you've never been to.
Um, I know I read about that lizard in a field guide...
I remember!
Go away!
Like the guide said, it's afraid of loud noises.
Sorry to startle you.
You have nothing to be afraid of now. It's all right.
I'm going to school.
Want to come with me?
So this is the school...
I want to hear it. What are they studying?
I want to listen!
You!
I'm sorry!
Um, I came to deliver Zera's lunch.
Oh, Master Zeeself's daughter.
She's studying right now in the library over there.
Library?
Books!
So many books!
Mavis?!
What are you doing?
Um, the Master told me to deliver your lunch.
You should've gotten here earlier!
I almost missed my chance to eat it.
What is that? It's cute!
Is it your pet?
No.
We became friends in the forest...
Its tail looks so soft!
Let me touch it!
If you're done here, then go home!
Kids like you don't belong here!
But...
I told you to go!
Do you understand? I'll tell Papa on you.
Okay...
Are you sure about this?
It's fine. She's a sassy little wretch.
That's what all of you thought too, right?
Now that you bring it up...
...that's how she seemed, yep.
Zera's right.
School looked like fun.
I want to go to school, too.
Study a lot, read many books,
learn about various things...
Your mother has come to pick you up.
Bye!
After that, I just drifted off.
I'd worked late the previous night.
Oh no! It's evening already!
The Master will scold me!
Those are... signal flares?
What does it mean?
Maybe if I go to the library, I can look into it.
What's that noise?!
It's coming from the direction of the guild!
Blue Skull is attacking!
I'll take 'em all on!
Kill 'em! Kill 'em!
Kill 'em all!
In that age, the wizard guilds were often at war with one another.
They would fight here and there over trading rights
and to settle social status.
Blue Skull was the attacker that day.
That guild had a longstanding antagonism towards Red Lizard.
It looks like this is the end, Zeeself.
Go to hell!
Z-Zera...
No... Master!
Zera!
Mavis...
We'll be killed if we stay here! Let's get away!
But...
This way! This way!
Let go!
I don't want to leave here!
I don't want to run away!
Papa is here, the guild is here...
All of my beautiful clothes are here!
I have all of that in my heart!
Memories of Papa and Mama,
wonderful clothes,
even fairies are in my heart.
So let's live, Zera!
Even after all of the terrible things I've done to you...
It's okay. I don't care about that.
Listen... Maybe...
...we can be friends...
Friends...
Sure!
Zera?
Are you okay? Zera...
Come on... Answer me, Zera!
Zera!
Zera!!
I cried for a long time.
Maybe I won't be able to meet any fairies now.
After that, I returned to the village,
but all of the wizards and villagers had been slaughtered.
There weren't any survivors.
That's what happened on Tenroujima in the year 679.
Then seven years passed.
So this is Tenroujima, huh?
Nice fresh air... Maybe I'll live here.
We're not here on vacation, Warrod.
I was only joking.
We're here!
The noisy one has awakened.
Are you bastards ready?
It's gotta be on this island.
The Tenrou Jade will be ours!
The year 686...
Fate was set in motion that day.
This is a tale that ends where Fairy Tail begins.
In the seven years since the nightmarish attack on Tenroujima,
Mavis didn't give in to suffering,
but grew up in a cheerful, straightforward way.
Then, one day, three treasure hunters visited Tenroujima.
Mavis's life had been full of ups and downs,
but this one encounter would determine her future.
It would become a great beginning.
Next time: Beginning of the Adventure.
Beginning of the Adventure
The gateway to a journey opens.