Ember of the Starry Sky

The train rattled along the tracks as Yukari sat by the window, staring out at the passing scenery. She still wasn't sure why they were doing this. Phantom Lord had been a total disaster creepy guild master, even creepier mages, and not to mention that whole "twisted evil vibe." Yet here they were, on their way to check out another guild.

"Fairy Tail, huh?" Yukari muttered. "Do we really need to visit another guild?"

Hinote stretched out in her seat, completely at ease. "Of course we do. Can't judge a guild by one experience. Besides, this one's supposed to be... less weird. I hope."

Yukari raised an eyebrow. "Is that a fact, or just wishful thinking?"

Hinote grinned. "A little bit of both."

They spent the rest of the ride in relative silence, with Yukari quietly brooding over their earlier encounter with Jose Perla. There was something seriously off about that guy, and Yukari couldn't shake the feeling that they hadn't seen the last of him.

When they finally arrived in Magnolia Town, Yukari felt a sense of relief wash over her. The town was bright and bustling with life, a stark contrast to the dark, ominous feeling Phantom Lord had given off. People smiled, laughed, and waved at one another as they went about their day.

"Well," Yukari said, stretching as she stepped off the train, "this is already a lot better."

Hinote nodded. "Agreed. No weird, dark vibes. Just normal people doing normal things. Boring, but in a good way."

They made their way down the central path, stopping occasionally to ask for directions. Everyone they spoke to seemed friendly enough, but when Yukari mentioned Fairy Tail, a few people chuckled.

"Oh, that bunch?" one man had said, scratching his head. "They're... lively, that's for sure. You can't miss their guild hall. It's about four or five kilometers that way. Just follow the noise."

"The noise?" Yukari asked, puzzled.

The man just grinned. "You'll see what I mean."

As they continued walking, Yukari began to hear what the man had been talking about. There was shouting, cheering, and what sounded like something or someone being thrown across the room. When they finally arrived at the guild hall, Yukari couldn't help but blink in surprise.

Fairy Tail's headquarters was unlike any building she'd seen before. It was a mix of styles, like a pagoda slapped on top of an Arabian palace, and the whole thing looked like it was trying to decide whether it wanted to be an inn or a fortress. The guild's symbol was proudly displayed on a large banner, and Yukari could make out the shapes of carved fairies decorating the walls.

"Well, this is... unique," Yukari muttered.

Hinote chuckled. "I like it. It's got personality."

They stepped inside, and Yukari was immediately hit with the overwhelming smell of food, sweat, and something else she couldn't quite place. The guild hall was packed with people some eating, some drinking, and some very enthusiastically trying to punch each other in the face.

"Is this... a guild or a bar brawl?" Yukari muttered, her eyes wide as she watched a chair sail across the room.

Hinote laughed, clearly enjoying herself. "Both, by the looks of it. Now this is my kind of place!"

Yukari's attention was drawn to two kids in the middle of the chaos a boy with spiky black hair and dark blue eyes, and a girl with long, wavy dark brown hair. The boy was shirtless, his Fairy Tail guild mark proudly displayed on his chest. Yukari raised an eyebrow.

"Is it just me, or does that kid have a serious problem with wearing clothes?"

Hinote snorted. "Maybe it's hot in here?"

Before Yukari could comment, the girl punched the boy square in the face, sending him flying across the room and crashing into a table. Yukari blinked in shock as the boy groaned and tried to sit up, only to be met with the girl standing over him, hands on her hips, looking absolutely furious.

"I said stop stealing my dessert, you idiot!" she yelled, her voice carrying over the noise of the guild.

The boy, to his credit, managed to look both confused and defiant as he wiped the blood from his nose. "I didn't steal anything, Cana! You're just paranoid!"

"Paranoid?" The girl Cana looked like she was about to explode. "I saw you take it, Gray!"

Yukari shook her head, watching the scene unfold with a mixture of amusement and disbelief. "Is this... normal here?"

Hinote grinned. "I hope so. This is hilarious."

As they made their way further into the guild, the chaos around them seemed to die down, and Yukari suddenly realized that everyone was staring at them. The mages who had been fighting just moments before were now frozen in place, their eyes fixed on the newcomers.

Yukari swallowed, feeling a wave of awkwardness wash over her. "Uh... what's everyone staring at?"

Hinote shrugged. "Maybe they're not used to visitors?"

Yukari glanced around nervously. The stares were making her uncomfortable, and she was starting to question whether this was a good idea after all. Just as she was about to suggest leaving, a figure pushed through the crowd.

He was... short. Very short. In fact, he barely came up to Yukari's waist. He had a bald head, save for a ring of white hair around the edges, and a thick mustache that looked like it could double as a broom. He was dressed casually in a white shirt, orange shorts, and a ridiculous jester hat that only added to his strange appearance.

Yukari stared down at him, her brain struggling to process the sight. "Is... is that a gnome?"

The little man crossed his arms, looking up at them with an air of authority. "I am not a gnome," he said gruffly. "I am Makarov Dreyar, master of this guild. And who might you two be?"

Yukari blinked, her mouth opening and closing as she tried to find words. Makarov? This was the guild master? After dealing with Jose, she had expected something... more. Not someone who looked like he could fit in her pocket.

Hinote, however, seemed completely unfazed. She smiled down at Makarov, her tone light. "Nice to meet you, Makarov. I'm Hinote, and this is Yukari. We're, uh, exploring our options."

"Exploring, huh?" Makarov raised an eyebrow, his gaze sharp despite his small stature. "Well, you've come to the right place. Fairy Tail may be a bit... rowdy, but we're a family here. Everyone looks out for each other."

Yukari glanced around at the mages, many of whom had resumed their brawling, and couldn't help but wonder what kind of "family" beat each other up on a regular basis. "Seems like a violent family," she muttered under her breath.

Makarov chuckled, clearly having heard her. "We have our... moments, but trust me, there's no better guild in all of Fiore."

Hinote smiled, but Yukari could see the wheels turning in her head. Makarov was clearly very different from Jose he radiated warmth and camaraderie, whereas Jose had felt cold and calculating. But was this really the right guild for them?

Makarov seemed to sense their hesitation. "Take your time to decide," he said, waving a hand dismissively. "No need to rush. If you're meant to be part of Fairy Tail, you'll know it."

Yukari bit her lip, her mind racing. This place was so different from Phantom Lord, but was it really what they were looking for? The atmosphere was chaotic, but in a weirdly welcoming way. And then there was Makarov he didn't have the same dangerous aura as Jose, but he was still clearly powerful in his own right.

Hinote gave Yukari a nudge. "What do you think?"

Yukari looked around once more, her eyes landing on the boy with the black hair, who was now bickering with the girl, Cana, again. Despite the chaos, there was something... appealing about this place. It felt alive, full of energy and potential.

"I don't know," she said slowly. "But maybe... just maybe, this could work."

Makarov grinned, his eyes twinkling with amusement. "Good answer. Now, how about we get you two a drink? You look like you could use one after your travels."

Yukari wasn't sure whether to laugh or cry, but as she followed Makarov toward the bar, she couldn't help but feel like she was stepping into something much bigger than she had anticipated.