There it is. Magnolia.
This story is set during a time before Fairy Tail was born.
We made it.
Blue Skull, the guild that stole the Tenrou Jade is here, right?
It's a tale about a girl who pursued her dream, overcame hardships,
Let's gather information first.
and formed a guild with her friends.
I want to see Kardia Cathedral.
I hear that's a huge church, right?
Kardia Cathedral is one of the three great churches of Fiore,
and a long time ago, the angel Saint Mikardia...
Hey! Over there...
What...?
What is that?!
Kardia Cathedral is...
...a dragon with a blue skull!
What... What the hell is that?!
The blue skeleton of a dragon on top of the church...
And this town...
It's wasting away...
Do people even live here?
Blue bones...
Blue Skull!
Zera...
Blue Skull
Why do we have to sneak around like this?
Our purpose is to steal the Tenrou Jade back from Blue Skull.
If they see us,
it'll be harder to move around later.
We don't want to stand out until we've pinpointed their base.
I get it already.
But isn't Blue Skull's base Kardia Cathedral back there?
Even if that's true, we don't have enough information.
They may have other hideouts too,
and we don't know where they're keeping the Tenrou Jade.
Getting info is our first order of business.
You heard the man, Mavis.
Where's Mavis?
She's way ahead of us.
What the heck? It's just a regular little bird.
This place has an abundance of nature, doesn't it?
Yep.
But the town was decrepit, and we don't know what all could be here.
W-What's wrong?!
Did she find a Blue Skull den?!
Come on, you guys!
Keep your voice down!
Look at that!
What, it's just a big-ass puddle!
It's a wonderful spot.
It is a nice place.
The trees are picturesque, and the lake has an air of mystery.
Just looking at it makes me feel peaceful.
I sense something special here.
Well, now that you mention it,
I do feel kind of refreshed.
Right!
Why don't we make a vacation home here?
That's a great idea!
I agree!
Hey, hey! Run, run!
Mavis!
Should we leave her?
Guess not...
All right!
Who are they?
That emblem...
Blue Skull!
What?!
A stationary target is boring. Get your asses up!
Please, stop this!
If you want to someone as target practice for your magic, let it be me!
But please, leave my child alone!
Mama!
All right, we'll start by snuffing you.
And then we'll snuff your daughter, too!
C-Crap!
Run!
We have to get out of here, too!
That isn't necessary.
Mama...
W-Who are you people?
What do you mean, we don't have to run away?
That was my guardian animal eagle.
But actually, it was only an illusion.
It's gone...
Looks like that worked well.
Impressive.
Magic that produces illusions...
Here.
I'm Mavis.
Are you okay?
Yeah.
You saved us.
Thank you!
Hey, I've got a question.
What is it?
About Blue Skull...
Let's get away from here before those men come back.
Then we can talk.
A kitchen?
It was a bakery before?
Yes. You wouldn't be able to tell now,
but this used to be a thriving shop.
There were once a lot of travelers coming and going,
and many shops all in a row.
Plenty of people from other towns
would gather here for the annual harvest festival.
Why has this happened to Magnolia,
a town once overflowing with vitality?
Did Blue Skull do it?
Yes.
One day they just suddenly appeared.
Against a gang of wizards who attacked with magic,
ordinary people like us had no way to defend ourselves.
The town was overtaken in no time.
Before long, they seized distribution of food and medicine,
imposed heavy tax liabilities,
and every time people got behind with those impossible payments...
...they punished us with violence.
And if someone showed them even a glimmer of a rebellious attitude,
they'd make an example of them.
That's why they murdered Miko-chan's father?
Yes...
That's vile...
The bastards...
Papa made me that bread for my birthday.
Th-That's bread?
Hush.
It's very cute.
It's not only cute, but also really yummy!
He always made all kinds of bread as presents for my birthday.
In the shape of forest animals
and tree leaves...
Now I feel like having some of that.
I was going to make bread
as a present for Papa's next birthday...
The membership of Blue Skull increases day by day.
They have several hundred members now,
and have become a huge guild that has an iron grip on everything.
Several hundred members...
If you're on a journey,
I suggest you leave this town as soon as possible.
Wait!
What's wrong?
Um...
Thank you for saving us.
I baked this myself.
Thank you for the lovely present.
Miko-chan...
What do we do?
What do you mean?
If you know what I mean, don't ask me what I mean!
I'm talking about Blue Skull!
She said they already have hundreds of members...
Mavis...
This doesn't change our objective.
Yeah, right?
Well, I feel sorry for Miko-chan.
Our goal is stealin' the Tenrou Jade back,
not destroying Blue Skull.
I agree with you there.
Wait.
People are suffering in this town.
What are we supposed to do about it?!
Are you saying we should just ignore Blue Skull's tyranny?
That's right! That would be irresponsible!
They're a wizard guild!
We're totally outnumbered.
And we've got no way to defend ourselves if they use magic!
B-But...
Are you travelers?
There's nothing for you in this town.
Get out while you can.
I hear you, but this town does have somethin' that we want.
Old man, I'd like to ask you a few questions...
I have nothing to say.
After all, this town is dying.
Dying?
No.
It's already dead.
Ever since Blue Skull arrived,
this town has...
Dying?
No.
It's already dead.
Ever since Blue Skull arrived, this town has...
Old man!
Hey!
W-What happened?!
A magic bullet!
Who did it?!
By calculating the trajectory...
...it came from the top of that building!
Yeah! Direct hit!
I loved the way he fell!
All right! I'm aimin' for that brat next!
What?!
Them...
You got no right to come into our town!
Die!
The bread...
That was precious to me!
What the hell do I care?!
The next shot is gonna hit you, brat.
Scumbags...
Speaking of bread, we executed the guy who had the bakery, remember?
Yeah. That taught 'em a good lesson.
They're the ones who murdered Miko-chan's father!
I'll make you pay for that!
As will I.
Let's get 'em, Yuri and Warrod!
Yeah!
I'm in!
They killed a person without a second thought.
My papa and everyone on the island, too...
Everyone... everyone...
Zera...
Hey, by "let's get 'em"...
...you mean us?
We'll teach you what happens when people try to stand up to us!
Crystal bomb!
Let's pay 'em back for all the misery they caused Miko-chan!
Now it's your turn to feel the fear
of being shot by a magic bullet!
All bark and no bite.
These punks are wizards?
What's the ruckus?!
Seems some travelers are causin' havoc!
What?! On our turf?!
Reinforcements...
Please leave this to me.
Mavis!
Come forth!
Tenrou soldiers!
W-What is this?!
How many soldiers are there?!
Where the hell did they come from?!
Whoa...
W-We're in trouble!
Are they an army from somewhere?
Summoning Magic?!
I want to speak to your master.
What should we do?
Would you call him here?
That isn't necessary.
Master!
What is all the commotion?
All right! He came out on his own.
Quiet.
He's the master...
We've come to take back the treasure you people stole
from Tenroujima seven years ago... the Tenrou Jade.
If you refuse to return it...
If I refuse, what?
These soldiers will...
Those soldiers...
Kill them.
Wait, but...
The soldiers outnumber us...
They're illusions.
Oh, no...
You tricked us!
Take 'em down!
This is bad!
Retreat!
Right!
We're surrounded!
Break through!
Mavis!
Zera...
Don't stand around in a daze! We have to get away!
Right!
My reserve crystal bomb!
Don't underestimate wizards.
Yuri!
Magic bullets, fire!
Precht!
Yuri!
You...
Fire!
I'm not lettin' anyone die!
Mavis!
Right!
They got through!
Don't just stand there!
Get after them!
Enough.
I'm sure they'll never come near Magnolia again.
We ran away in defeat.
But that was the true beginning.
We escaped into the forest...
...and had a fateful encounter.
After Mavis and the others lost a battle against Blue Skull,
they hide in a forest west of town.
Mavis blames herself for committing an error in judgment.
At the shore of a lake,
she meets a solitary wizard.
It's a fateful encounter
that ties into Mavis's life and the founding of Fairy Tail.
Next time: The One Who Teaches Magic.
A kind intersection of light and darkness.