The following day, Team Fairy Tail arrived back at the guild with Wendy and Carla. Upon entering the guild hall, Wendy was admitted into the guild and everyone celebrated. Unknown to the other mages, on the second floor above them, a lone masked man watched the guild celebrate as he leaned on the wooden guardrails observing the celebrating mages.
"Yo, Mystogan!" Meliodas greeted. Mystogan turned his attention to Meliodas, not expecting anyone to come up here originally.
"Ah...Meliodas. I should have expected it would have been you to find me." Mystogan said.
"How about a bottle of ale?" Meliodas asked. Meliodas raised his hand in front of him. The shape of a bottle began glowing bright yellow, forming fully in his hand a moment later. He smiled as he handed Mystogan a bottle of White Wyvern Ale. Mystogan shook his head.
"I'll have to politely decline, but thank you." Mystogan replied. "How was your mission? I assume it went well considering how loudly everyone down there is celebrating."
"Not as smooth as I would have liked it. But everything worked out in the end. We actually met Jellal." Meliodas said as he opened the bottle of ale that Mystogan had declined, taking a drink for himself.
"So you finally met him…" Mystogan said quietly.
"He has a rough past, but he kind of reminds me of you." Meliodas commented. Mystogan's eyes widened with surprise upon hearing this statement.
"How so?" Mystogan asked.
"He's the quiet type, but deep down, he's really a guy who wants what's best for his friends." Meliodas replied.
"I see…" Mystogan commented quietly. 'So he's changed.'
"Also aren't you going to say hi to Wendy? I think she knows you...in fact I think she misses you greatly." Meliodas said teasingly he leaned closer and nudged Mystogan's shoulder with his elbow.
"I'm sorry but... I can't…" Mystogan said solemnly as he turned away. There was a brief silence between Mystogan and Meliodas that was broken by the sound of a loud ringing bell.
"What's that bell? I don't think I've heard it rang once since I've been here." Meliodas asked.
"He's coming." Mystogan said. Meliodas peered curiously over the wooden guardrail and looked over towards the entrance of the guild. He stared at the entrance for several seconds as he saw nobody coming in, before turning back to face Mystogan.
"Wait who's coming-" Meliodas looked around confused as he saw that Mystogan was no longer there.
'He's as sneaky as ever. Oh well, I guess I'll just ask Mira.' Meliodas thought to himself as he jumped down over the guardrails to the first floor.
---
"Wait what's going on? Why is everyone suddenly more excited?" Lucy questioned.
"Well that's because-" Mirajane stopped mid sentence as a figure caming flying in from above, landing right next to the two of them.
"Uwahhh!" Lucy screamed. She looked at the figure that just landed and recognized who it was. "Meliodas?! Where did you come from?!"
"Up there." Meliodas said, pointing at the spot he had jumped from above them on the second floor. "So Mira what's this bell going on?"
"Gildarts is coming back. He was gone for three years so everyone is naturally excited." Mirajane answered.
'Gildarts? I think I heard his name mentioned before?' Meliodas thought to himself. Before Laxus' excommunication it was often brought up by gossiping guild members whether Laxus or Gildarts was the strongest in Fairy Tail.
"Three years?! What's he been doing all this time?" Lucy asked.
"A job of course! There is a level that is above S class quests called SS Class quests. They are also called decade quests because no one has completed one in ten years. However...Gildarts took one even above that. He took on a century quest." Mirajane answered.
"So why does he have a bell that announces when he's coming?" Meliodas asked. Before Mirajane could answer, a loud voice was heard echoing throughout the guild hall coming from outside.
"Magnolia will now undergo the Gildarts Shift. Will all citizens please take to your assigned positions!"
"Gildarts shift?!" Lucy exclaimed.
"Both of you, come outside, you'll see for yourselves." Mirajane said as she gestured for the two of them to follow her. Meliodas and Lucy both walked to the guild hall entrance with her and to their shock, they saw the town beginning to transform. The ground beneath them rumbled as buildings suddenly moved away from the main road and began to elevate, leaving only a lone pathway.
"The whole town...split in two?!" Lucy yelled out. Meliodas was impressed as he watched the entire town move around and adjust itself in one smooth transition.
"Gildarts' magic takes anything he touches and turns it into dust. If he's not paying attention, he could accidently touch a house and completely destroy it." Mirajane explained.
"This guy sounds pretty strong." Meliodas said.
"He's the strongest in the guild!" Natsu yelled from behind Meliodas. "And I'm going to fight him!"
"Aye sir! Even stronger than Laxus!" Happy mentioned. "Although I'm not sure how strong he is compared to Meliodas who is also stronger than Laxus." Upon hearing this, Natsu froze briefly and his eyes began to light up.
"You're right Happy! I should fight both Meliodas and Gildarts at the same time!" Natsu yelled out enthusiastically.
"It's always fighting with you." Lucy sighed.
"Look he's coming!" Natsu shouted.
In the distance, walking down the single path that split the town, was a single man. He had shoulder length orange hair that was slicked back and a stubbly beard, with most of his body hidden underneath a dark colored, high collared coat. As he walked closer to the guild, everyone got noticeably more excited.
"Gildarts! Fight me!" Natsu yelled out excitedly with a large grin on his face as Gildarts took his first step into the guild hall.
"Welcome home!" Mirajane greeted him.
"Huh?" Gildarts looked around confused. "Have you seen Fairy Tail around here young lady?"
"This is Fairy Tail right here! And I'm Mirajane." Mirajane replied.
"Mira…" Gildarts took a closer look at her. "AH! Mira! You've changed a lot! And so has the rest of the guild!" Gildarts exclaimed as he turned his head and looked around at the new building. "And I see there are a lot of new people too!"
"I said fight me!" Natsu shouted again as he charged in at Gildarts. Gildarts turned his head and smiled at Natsu who was approaching him fast.
"Good to see you again Natsu." Gildarts grinned. As Natsu jumped towards Gildarts, he swatted Natsu upward towards the ceiling of the guild with only one hand, causing Natsu's body to become planted in the wood above, leaving his lower body dangling down.
"Gildarts." Makarov said as he walked up to him.
"Master!! It's been a while!" Gildarts greeted enthusiastically.
"How was the job?" Makarov asked.
"Couldn't do it!" Gildarts laughed, leaving everyone else in the room dumbfounded and murmuring amongst themselves.
"You're kidding right?"
"Even Gildarts failed a mission?!"
"Sorry, I sullied our name!" Gildarts laughed nervously. Makarov shook his head.
"No it is quite alright. All that matters is that you returned safely. In fact, you are the only one who has taken that mission and came back alive…"
"Well I'm gonna go head home. I'm beat after that mission. Also, Natsu." Gildarts said as he looked up back at the ceiling at the dangling pair of Natsu's legs. "I got a present for you. Stop by later."
Natsu freed himself from the ceiling, falling on the ground as bits of wood fell around him. He nodded at Gildarts. Gildarts waved goodbye as he walked through a wall out of the guild.
'A century quest huh...those must make a lot of money. I do need more money for booze right now...although at my current strength, if a guy like Gildarts wasn't able to complete it, I wouldn't stand a chance. I have to regain my original power back.' Meliodas thought to himself. 'That way, I'll also be ready for Cath…just in case...'
"I hope you're not thinking of taking that century quest." Erza said from behind Meliodas. Meliodas turned around and grinned.
"Nope, I don't think I can take a quest like that yet." Meliodas replied.
"I see. However, I don't doubt your strength. Why don't we go on an S rank mission sometime?" Erza asked.
"Right now?" Meliodas asked.
"No not yet. I need time to get my armor repaired and I want to see the new selection Heart Kreuz has released recently. I'll let you know when I find an appropriate mission." Erza responded.
"Sounds good!" Meliodas smiled.