Fairy Tail, x775

"So you're telling me that you died and you woke up in this forest?" Makarov asked while looking at at Cathal with a deadpan. 

"Mhm, that is what happened." Cathal said, frantically nodding up and down. He thought about lying at first but... what would that earn him? Of course, he wasn't going to be completely honest. "I did hear a voice though, while I was... well, while I was not."

"Hm? And what did it say?" Makarov asked, raising an eyebrow in curiosity. Many would've doubted the boy in front of him but, somehow, he could tell the kid wasn't lying. 

"Something about offering me a second chance... one to truly enjoy life." He said, partially honest. After all, that was what the System had told him. That this was his second chance to actually enjoy life. 

"Well, while your story is as unbelievable as they come... I trust you, kid." Makarov said, a gentle smile forming under his mustache. "Welcome back to the living, Cathal." 

Cathal smiled genuinely at those words. He was in a world of magic. A world even more dangerous than his own. A world were being powerful gave you rights. And in this world... he now had a place. And people who would someday become his family. A family that would go the world's end for each other. 

*

"Everyone, silence!" Makarov yelled when he entered the guild's building, his face grim upon seeing the destruction it's members where causing. "We've got a new member joining us today." 

"Hello everyone!" Cathal greeted everyone with a cheerful smile on his face. "The name's Cathal Crowley, I hope we can all get along." 

Upon seeing the new member, everyone cheered merrily, immediately throwing a party for their newest member. Drinking, dancing, the occasional brawl, everything Cathal was seeing was just how he remembered seeing Fairy Tail in the series. He did notice the lack of certain members of the guild, like the Strauss siblings or Erza. Gray was already part of Fairy Tail, which meant that Ur was already dead, which did bring some slight sadness to Cathal, since he would've liked to try and help her family. Unfortunately, there was no way to do that now. He moved on from that topic quickly though, since he couldn't remain sad over something he had no control over.

The two people who did pick his attention were the still young Laxus and Cana, who would later become some of the strongest members of Fairy Tail. While he didn't know their exact ages, Cana shouldn't be older than ten, and Laxus should be around his same age, if not a big younger. Currently, Cathal was fourteen, according to some random information that somehow was in his mind. Probably some transmigration tomfoolery, he thought. 

Without thinking much about it, he approached Laxus. While he wanted to talk to Cana, he thought that maybe, just maybe, it would be better to approach her when the Guild was a bit less rowdy. 

*

Laxus was minding his own business, enjoying watching the Guild behave the way they always did, when he saw the new member approaching him. Dark blue hair that turned lighter towards the tips; sharp, shining teal eyes; sharp, eastern features, and a handsome face. He was a very unique looking person. His clothes were also quite weird, wearing a tight vest with a sash around it, a shirt with wide sleeves open at the end, and baggy pants tucked into polished brown boots. He looked like he was ready to fight at any moment, something that excited Laxus since maybe, just maybe, he would have a proper rival for once. After all, most of the strong members of the guild had retired or gone off to do their own things. The only member that he thought was strong was Gildarts... but he was out of his league, so it wasn't fun.

"So, what do you do around here for fun?" Cathal asked Laxus, his approach casual but measured at the same time. 

"We train, we do quests, we fight." Laxus stated matter-of-factly. "Pretty basic Guild stuff. Though if you ask the others, they may say drinking... bunch of losers." 

"That's not nice to say... everyone does things based on their own capabilities..." Cathal said while looking at everyone else, his eyes shining a bit as he scanned the room. 

Laxus got the hidden message in his words. It wasn't that the others were losers, just that they were weak to engage in rougher things. Somehow, Laxus started to like the new guy. 

"What brought you to Fairy Tail?" Laxus asked, surprised at his own curiosity.

"Would you believe me if I told you I just needed a place to call home?" Cathal answered, not wanting to delve too deeply into his backstory. He just left his words up to interpretation, and he would roll with whatever the other party understood.

"Many people end up here like that... not many end up making the cut for the mage life." Laxus answered, his voice laced with a hint of challenge. 

"Are you asking if I will make the cut?" Cathal answered, narrowing his eyes slightly at Laxus, who just smirked at him. 

"Take it as you will." Laxus said, before smiling widely and adding one last sentence. "Unless you want to prove yourself." 

"HA! I'm up for the challenge whenever you want!" Cathal answered. Immediately, he noticed the entirety of Fairy Tail, which had been a rambunctious bunch right up until that last sentence, was now focused entirely on them. After a moment of silence, it started.

"Heeeey, did you guys hear that?!" A man with short, blue hair yelled. "The newbie and Laxus are getting it on!" 

"Who do you bet on, Macao? My money is on Laxus!" A man with short brown hair and a cigar in his mouth asked while putting an arm around Macao's shoulder.

"I'll bet on the new guy!" Macao answered, his voice brimming with poison. "It's about time someone put that blonde monster in his place!" 

"Come on everyone, put your bets in here, the winner takes all!" Makarov immediately joined in, seeing the opportunity to make money out of the members of his guild. Certainly, Fairy Tail was anything but ordinary. 

"Guess we have to put on a show now, huh?" Cathal asked while smirking at Laxus, his eyes filled with confidence. 

"Let's take this outside, new guy!" Laxus answered, excitement and power bursting from his entire being. Not wanting to be outdone, Cathal also released his own magic power, which matched up to Laxus' own. 

Seeing that their new member wasn't weaker than Laxus –at least in amounts of magic power– the rest of the Guild started to excitedly bet on who they thought would win. Makarov's eyes had long since been replaced by two bright green Jewels symbols. 

---------------

Some may wonder why Cathal told the truth to Makarov... well, why wouldn't he? Makarov knew of Mystogan's true identity and still accepted and protected him and his secret. IF there is ONE person to be trusted, it is Makarov. He will do his utmost to protect his children, since that is what he sees Fairy Tail members as.