Desolate

The expression on Droy's face changed instantly when he realized what he had said. 

Jet trembled, and everyone in the guild fell silent. Before, they had believed everyone who disappeared on Tenrou Island might still return someday—maybe they were just trapped somewhere. 

But now seven years had passed. If the ones from Tenrou Island were ever coming back, they would have done so by now. Everyone knew the truth, deep down, yet no one dared speak it. 

Suddenly, a voice rang out: 

"Ah ah ah, still the same lazy bunch! A weak guild is so pitiful!" 

"Hahahahaha!!" 

"No backbone at all!!" 

A group of thugs barged into the Fairy Tail guild. 

"Tebo…" Wakaba muttered, recognizing the leader in front. 

Macao said nervously, "Didn't I tell you not to show your face here again?!" 

Tebo sneered. "Hey, is that any way to talk to us? We're Twilight Ogre, Magnolia's premier mage guild now. I don't care if you used to be the strongest in Fiore—those days ended a long time ago. Now you're just holed up in this rundown old tavern. 

"In this new era, Twilight Ogre is the guild that's driving Magnolia's prosperity, right?" 

Max scowled. "So your building's a bit bigger—big deal." 

Warren agreed, "Yeah! We still have our pride!" 

"That glory doesn't put food on your table," Tebo replied coldly. 

Macao gritted his teeth. "What do you want this time, Tebo?" 

"The money for this month." 

Wakaba whirled on Macao. "You still haven't paid them, Macao?!" 

"Call me Master!" Macao barked. "We haven't gotten any decent jobs this month! I told you to wait until next month." 

"Oh, and who was it that saved this ramshackle place from collapsing?" Tebo retorted. 

"We covered your debt for you!" 

Jet muttered, "If we'd known it was a loan shark scam, we'd never have asked for your help." 

"You trying to start something?!" 

Jet moved forward as if to teach Tebo a lesson, but Macao held him back. "Stop, Jet." 

"But—" 

Macao turned back to Tebo. "I'll pay it all next month. Promise." 

Tebo's mouth twisted into a sneer, and he kicked Macao in the chest. 

"Ah!" Macao flew back, crashing into a table and smashing it. 

"Macao!!" 

"Master!!" 

"You bastards—!" 

Macao shouted, "Don't fight back!!!" 

Those in Fairy Tail who were ready to retaliate forced themselves to stand down. Twilight Ogre's members snickered, mistaking their restraint for cowardice.

"Hahaha!!" 

"What a joke!!" 

"This is Fairy Tail?!" 

"Pathetic!" 

"Hey, miss, why not come to our guild?" 

"Hahahaha!"

After trashing a few things, Tebo said, "Don't forget, next month." 

Then he led his men out, leaving the place in a mess.

All of Fairy Tail stood there in silence.

With a clatter, Reedus's sketchbooks fell to the floor. 

They were filled with drawings of Fairy Tail members from before—happy faces that would never be seen again.

Wakaba took a long drag on his cigarette. "Seven years now…" 

Max forced a melancholy smile. "I miss those days." 

Warren bit his lip, tears in his eyes. "Everything changed after that."

Jet nodded grimly. "Once word came that Tenrou Island had disappeared, everyone frantically searched." 

"But no one ever found anything," Vijeeter added. 

Nab said mournfully, "If the Council's right, Acnologia wiped out the entire island." 

Reedus sighed. "We had plenty of groups helping us look, but nothing turned up. 

"That day, they recorded a huge concentration of magical particle energy near Tenrou Island. 

"That was no normal creature's power—it was Acnologia's roar! Such unbelievable devastation." 

"Long ago, they said a single dragon's roar could destroy an entire country. How could humans survive that?" 

"Why take our friends away like this…" 

Max's shoulders shook. "Ever since those guys vanished, our guild's gone downhill. And now Magnolia has a new guild in charge…" 

Wakaba tried to comfort him, "Maybe things will get better." 

"Stop talking like that!!!" Macao cut in abruptly. 

"What's wrong, Macao?" 

"I can't handle it anymore." Macao trembled all over. 

Wakaba gave a sad smile. "You've done your best, Master." 

"Romeo hasn't smiled once these seven years…!" Macao choked on his tears, covering his face. 

Just then, a thunderous roar filled the air, interrupting them. 

"What was that sound?!" 

"You think Twilight Ogre's back again?" 

They rushed outside and looked up, seeing a gigantic flying warship overhead—its prow shaped like a Pegasus. 

"That…that's…!" 

"Christina, from Blue Pegasus?!" 

A voice called from atop the winged figurehead: 

"Sniff, sniff—I smell sadness. How tragic! I'm jumping down!" 

Someone leaped from the ship, landing headfirst on the ground. 

"Boom!!" 

"Whoa ah!" 

"He fell on his head!" Everyone in Fairy Tail watched, dumbfounded.

Even sprawled on the ground, the new arrival tried to look cool. "My dear ones, your knight in shining armor—arrives all night long." 

"It's you…"