Ember of the Starry Sky

One year had passed, dragging Magnolia from X775 into X776, and a lot had changed most of it chaotic, loud, and outrageously destructive. Hinote, the ever-flamboyant phoenix and the bane of anyone who valued structural integrity, had achieved the rank of S-Class Mage in Fairy Tail. Her ascent was nothing short of legendary, with the S-Class Trials that year being less of a competition and more of a one-sided barbecue. Not even Laxus, in all his cocky, thunderous glory, stood a chance. Hinote had wiped the floor with him so thoroughly that the guild celebrated with a party while Laxus nursed his bruised pride in a corner, glaring at anyone who dared to mention it.

As for the other participants? They didn't fare much better. Hinote had obliterated every obstacle, magical or otherwise, earning herself the nickname "Blazing Catastrophe" throughout Magnolia. She now enjoyed widespread recognition, though much of it involved merchants muttering about the sudden disappearance of five mountains and the ashes of fifteen forests. Makarov's blood pressure had skyrocketed, and he was frequently seen clutching his chest as though he were seconds away from collapsing.

Yukari, meanwhile, had spent the year leveling up in her own way. She had become a reliable B-Class Mage, taking on missions that involved fewer catastrophic mishaps though not by much, given that her partners often included Cana and Gray. The trio had become inseparable, though their missions had earned them a reputation for property damage that rivaled a hurricane's. Makarov's desk was now covered in bills, and he had taken to downing entire kegs of ale to cope.

Still, Yukari wasn't ready for A-Class missions Hinote had made sure of that, barring her from taking on anything too dangerous. "One apocalypse at a time, brat," she'd said, wagging a fiery finger in Yukari's face.

This morning at Fairy Tail started quietly, a rarity for the rowdiest guild in Fiore. Yukari was seated with Cana and Gray at their usual table. Cana was already sipping from a suspiciously large mug, while Gray had, as usual, discarded half his clothes.

"Gray, can you keep your pants on for five minutes?" Yukari snapped, tossing a piece of bread at him.

"What's the big deal?" Gray retorted, catching the bread mid-air and biting into it. "You've seen me shirtless a hundred times."

"That doesn't make it less annoying," Yukari grumbled.

Cana snickered. "Yukari's just mad because she's not getting selected for the S-Class Trials anytime soon."

"Hey!" Yukari shot her a glare. "I'll get there when I'm ready. Unlike Laxus, I'm not in a hurry to get my butt handed to me."

Cana choked on her drink, laughing. Even Gray smirked.

Suddenly, the doors to the guildhall swung open with a dramatic creak. The chatter died down as everyone turned to see who had entered. Standing in the doorway was a girl who couldn't have been much older than Yukari. She had bright red hair that fell around her face like flames, an eyepatch covering her right eye, and was dressed in a simple pale blue dress. She was barefoot, her posture straight and unwavering, with a determined expression that dared anyone to ask why she wasn't wearing shoes.

Makarov approached her with a warm smile. "Welcome to Fairy Tail! What brings you here, young lady?"

The girl's voice was quiet but firm. "I'm looking for the guild Rob told me about. He said Fairy Tail was where I'd find my place."

Makarov's smile faltered for a split second, but he quickly recovered. "Well, you've come to the right place. I'm Makarov, the master of this guild. What's your name, child?"

"Erza, Scarlet " she replied simply.

Yukari leaned over to Cana, whispering, "Why does she look like she's ready to pick a fight with the furniture?"

"Maybe she's just nervous?" Cana suggested, taking another swig from her mug.

Gray, who had been watching Erza with a critical eye, shrugged. "She doesn't seem nervous to me. She looks like she could punch a hole through a wall."

"So, another disaster waiting to happen?" Yukari muttered. "Great."

After exchanging a few more words with Makarov, Erza began to explore the guildhall. Yukari, never one to back down from a challenge, decided to approach her.

"Hey, Erza, right?" Yukari said, putting on her friendliest grin. "I'm Yukari. Welcome to the guild!"

Erza turned her single visible eye toward Yukari and stared for a long moment. Then she said, "Thanks," in the flattest tone imaginable, before walking away.

Yukari blinked, stunned. "Did she just ice me out?"

Cana snorted. "Guess you're not as charming as you thought."

"Oh, shut up." Yukari crossed her arms, glaring after Erza. "She's probably just shy."

Gray smirked. "Yeah, because 'shy' totally screams confidence and death glares."

Undeterred, Yukari tried again later, this time with Gray and Cana in tow. The three of them approached Erza, who was now sitting near the mission board, studying it intently.

"So, Erza," Yukari began, "what kind of magic do you use?"

Erza didn't even glance at her. "That's none of your business."

Yukari's jaw dropped. "Rude much?"

Gray stepped in. "Hey, we're just trying to get to know you. No need to be so cold."

Erza's gaze flicked to him briefly, her expression unreadable. "I'm not interested in making friends."

Cana raised an eyebrow. "Well, that's gonna be tough in this guild. We're all about sticking together."

Erza stood abruptly, her chair scraping loudly against the floor. "If you'll excuse me, I have things to do." She walked away, leaving the trio standing there.

"Wow," Yukari said, throwing up her hands. "She's like a walking glacier. How does someone that frosty even function?"

"Maybe she's just been through some stuff," Cana said thoughtfully.

Yukari snorted. "Haven't we all? Doesn't mean you get to act like you're better than everyone else."

Gray crossed his arms. "Give her time. She'll warm up eventually. Probably."

Yukari rolled her eyes. "Sure. And maybe pigs will fly."

As the day went on, Erza remained distant, keeping to herself and avoiding any attempts at conversation. Yukari, Gray, and Cana watched her from a distance, their curiosity growing.

"Well," Yukari said finally, "one thing's for sure: she's not boring."

Cana grinned. "And she's gonna fit right in, whether she likes it or not."