Yukari walked briskly through the busy streets of Hargeon, her sharp violet eyes scanning for anyone willing to take her to Galuna Island. The port buzzed with activity as sailors unloaded crates and merchants hawked their wares, but her inquiry about the island was met with uneasy glances and quick refusals.
"No way, lass," one grizzled old captain grunted, scratching his unkempt beard. "Galuna Island's cursed. Anyone who sets foot there don't come back the same."
"Great," Yukari muttered under her breath, moving to the next docked ship.
The response was the same: shaking heads, murmurs about dark magic, and superstitions that bordered on absurd. Yukari was patient at first, but after the fifth rejection, her temper flared.
"What is wrong with you people? It's just an island!" she snapped at a nervous deckhand who quickly scampered away.
Standing at the edge of the pier, she crossed her arms, considering her options. She could fly using her flame wings, but the thought of expending so much energy just to reach the island was less than appealing.
"Figures this would be difficult," she grumbled, kicking at a loose pebble.
"Looking for a ride to Galuna?"
Yukari turned sharply, spotting a man leaning against a weathered fishing boat. He was middle-aged, with tanned skin and a face weathered by years at sea. His dark eyes were sharp, but there was no fear in them only curiosity.
"Yeah," Yukari said cautiously. "You offering?"
The man smirked. "I'm not scared of a little curse. Long as you're paying, I'll take you there."
"Deal," she said, wasting no time. She hopped onto the small boat, tossing the man a bag of jewels as he started the engine.
The journey to Galuna Island was long and uneventful, save for the growing unease Yukari felt as the crescent-shaped landmass appeared on the horizon. The dense forest, jagged cliffs, and eerie silence gave it an unnatural air.
When the boat finally docked, the man barely gave her time to step onto the shore before speeding off, leaving Yukari coughing in the cloud of smoke from his engine.
"Rude," she muttered, brushing off her shirt.
She turned to face the island, her gaze narrowing. It was exactly as Makarov had described: an unforgiving landscape of steep rocks, vines, and an oppressive atmosphere. But what caught Yukari's attention was the faint shimmer she could sense in the air a layer of magic blanketing the island, invisible but unmistakable to someone as attuned as her.
"Interesting," she said softly, reaching out to test the magic with her hand.
Before she could investigate further, a sharp pang of urgency struck her. She needed to find those idiots before something worse happened. Concentrating, she closed her eyes and let her senses expand, searching for familiar magic signatures.
Within seconds, she pinpointed several: Gray, Erza, and Happy were close together, their magic strong but tense. There was another signature nearby, unfamiliar but weaker, and distinctly human.
"Gotcha," Yukari said, summoning her flame wings with a snap. The blazing appendages flared behind her, sending a gust of heat into the surrounding air. With a powerful leap, she launched into the sky, soaring toward their location at breakneck speed.
She landed in the middle of a dense forest, her wings dispersing in a shower of embers as she spotted the source of the magic. Gray and Erza were locked in a heated argument, the Ice Mage glaring at Erza while she leveled her sword at him.
Happy, on the other hand, was tied to a blonde girl Yukari didn't recognize. The Exceed was sobbing dramatically, his tears soaking his blue fur.
"Why are you like this, Erza?!" Gray snapped, his voice dripping with frustration.
"Because someone has to keep you all in line!" Erza retorted, her tone commanding.
Before the argument could escalate, Yukari stepped into view, her arms crossed. "Well, isn't this a lovely reunion?"
The group froze, their heads snapping toward her.
"Yukari!" Happy cried, his eyes sparkling with relief. "Save meeeee!"
Gray let out a long sigh, muttering, "Finally, someone with common sense."
Erza blinked in surprise before a rare smile graced her lips. "It's good to see you, Yukari."
Yukari waved a hand dismissively. "Yeah, yeah, I'm here. Now, what in the world is going on here? And who's the blonde?"
The girl tied to Happy looked completely baffled, her brown eyes wide as she stared at Yukari. "Wait... you're Yukari? As in Yukari Hoshizora?"
"Last I checked," Yukari said, raising an eyebrow.
The girl's jaw dropped. "You're in Sorcerer Magazine! Everyone talks about you! There's even a rumor that you and Mirajane are—"
Happy's ears perked up. "Oh! You mean the rumor that Yukari and Mirajane are secretly dating?"
Yukari felt her face go hot. "Shut it, Happy!"
"I've heard it's because you two spend so much time together!" Happy teased, grinning mischievously. "And Mirajane does smile more when you're around—"
"I said shut it!" Yukari snapped, her face now burning as brightly as her flames.
The blonde girl, meanwhile, looked between Yukari and Happy, her shock turning into a mix of awe and amusement. "This guild is so weird."
"Who even are you?" Yukari asked, exasperated.
"Oh, right! I'm Lucy Heartfilia," the girl said quickly. "I'm... new."
"Well, Lucy, welcome to Fairy Tail," Yukari said dryly. "Now, someone untie her and explain why she's tied up in the first place."
"It wasn't my fault!" Lucy protested. "This little furball said it was necessary!"
Happy huffed. "You tried to leave!"