"Mira, how about I teach you how to sing from now on?" Marco asked, turning to Mirajane.

Since Lila wasn't willing, he wouldn't force her.

Besides, he felt he was finally qualified to teach.

With his current skill level, he was confident he could guide a student without leading them astray.

"O-okay..." Mirajane hesitated before finally nodding.

Learning to sing isn't the same as owing a huge favor, right? she thought.

At worst... I can just invite him over for dinner more often!

She remembered him saying he wanted to eat her cooking again.

"Great, it's settled then," Marco smiled, sealing the deal before she could change her mind.

"Mmm." Mirajane looked away while giving a soft hum of agreement.

"My teaching mission is complete, so I'll be heading back," Lila announced to the group.

In a flash, she vanished, returning to the Celestial Spirit World.

She needed some time alone to nurse her wounded pride.

Even though she'd accepted the reality of the situation, the emotional blow still needed time to heal.

She never imagined someone could push a cheerful spirit like her to the brink of depression.

Lila's sudden departure puzzled everyone.

They had assumed she was just another human, not knowing she was a celestial spirit.

"Lila is the Lyra constellation spirit, one of the best at playing instruments and singing. Marco's been learning from her this whole time," Valtava explained with a smile.

The group stared and stunned.

They never expected the old man to be a Celestial Spirit Mage.

Celestial Spirit Mages were rare.

Even a guild as prominent as Fairy Tail didn't officially have one (Marco didn't count, of course).

Their numbers were limited by the small pool of spirits, the restrictions on summoning time and the finite number of keys.

While duplicate keys for common spirits could be bought in magic shops, the twelve Zodiac keys were one-of-a-kind.

With multiple mages contracting the same type of spirit, each one could only be summoned for short periods.

Factoring out the spirits who couldn't fight, a mage's combat options were even slimmer.

Without their spirits, most Celestial Spirit Mages were poor fighters and couldn't handle missions on their own.

"Did the Lyra spirit just say she wanted to learn from Marco?" Erza asked, her voice filled with disbelief.

Before they knew who Lila was, the comment hadn't seemed strange.

She looked like any other girl, maybe eighteen at most.

But knowing she was a spirit who specialized in music, they were stunned.

Marco had only been training for a little over two months and already better than a spirit who specialize in music ? and now said spirit wanted to learn from him? It sounded absurd.

"That's Marco-sama for you," Juvia said, her eyes sparkling with admiration.

To her, it wasn't an exaggeration at all.

It seemed like he could do anything.

"Marco you're really amazing!" one of the kids cheered.

Once they understood what the Lyra spirit was, all the children gazed at him with pure worship.

He had done the impossible again, just like when he defeated Jose Porla.

Which was more impressive? They didn't know.

To them, both feats were equally legendary.

"Let's head back together," Marco said, changing the subject.

"I've been thinking about composing a theme song for the guild. When we get back, we can all brainstorm some ideas."

"A song for Fairy Tail?!"

The idea lit a fire in everyone.

The kids were buzzing with excitement.

None of them knew anything about music, but the thought of making a song for their guild sounded like the most fun thing in the world.

"Ah, the energy of youth," Valtava sighed wistfully, watching the lively children.

Their noise didn't bother him; in fact, being around them made him feel younger.

"Master Valtava, would you like to come back with us?" Marco asked, inviting him to join Fairy Tail.

Marco had mastered how to play lyre in just two months, far exceeding Valtava's expectations.

There was no real need for him to stay as a long-term teacher, but Valtava had grown fond of Magnolia.

He had friends like Mr. Lazio to chat with, a prodigy like Marco as his junior and a concert hall built just for him.

After a lifetime of wandering, he was starting to feel like he'd found a place to settle down.

"No, I think I'll stay here a little longer," Valtava replied with a smile.

He knew Marco wanted him to join the guild, but he hadn't made up his mind.

He felt there wasn't much he could contribute.

Marco had music covered and at his age, he wasn't known for his combat skills.

Joining just to retire didn't feel right.

"But you'll be alone..." Marco said, his expression turn worried.

The eastern forest wasn't completely safe.

"Don't you worry about me, lad," Valtava chuckled. "I may be old, but I'm still a Celestial Spirit Mage. I've traveled the entire continent by myself—I've still got some fight in me. Don't treat me like some helpless old man." He sat down under a tree and began plucking his instrument.

"Alright. We'll head back first, then." Marco nodded.

Valtava had a point.

A wandering bard who had survived crossing the continent alone was probably far more seasoned than he was.

If the old man was weak, he'd have ended up in a beast's belly long ago.

"Go on, go on," Valtava waved. "And remember to come find me when you've written something new."

"Don't worry, Master, you'll be the first to hear it," Marco promised with a smile and a wave.

As the beautiful notes of the lyre followed them, Marco led the children of Fairy Tail out of the forest and back towards the guild.

.....

The moment they returned, news that Marco was writing a theme song for Fairy Tail spread like wildfire.

Natsu and Gray, being the loudmouths they were, shouted it from the rooftops, getting everyone hyped up.

The idea just sounded too fun to pass up.

Guild members who could play instruments gathered around, eager to help.

The problem was, none of them had a clue how to actually compose a song.

Most of them were just hobbyists, not professionally trained like Marco.

They were an enthusiastic amateur cheering squad, but the actual songwriting would have to fall on Marco's shoulders.

Marco had studied music theory properly under Valtava, a master renowned across the continent for his own compositions.

The first few songs Marco arranged were done with Valtava's guidance and he had learned enough to start creating on his own.

"Fairy Tail... Fairy Tail..." Marco mumbled to himself, trying to sort through his thoughts.

He sifted through his mental library of melodies, searching for something that felt right.

"If it's a song for our guild, it has to be about our strength!" Makarov boomed. "It should shout to the world that we're the number one guild in Fiore!"

The master never missed a chance to declare their greatness.

His pride in the guild was immense; it was why he had clashed so fiercely with Jose.

The guild and its members meant everything to him.

"The strongest... huh?" Marco paused, an idea starting to click.

"It's gotta have fire in it!" Natsu yelled, demanding his signature element be included.

Macao, another fire user, nodded in agreement.

"Okay, how about this?" Marco said, cutting through the noise. "Why don't we go one by one and share what Fairy Tail means to you? Your feelings about the guild, what kind of place you think it is."

The chaos was just scrambling his thoughts.

He needed to hear from their hearts.

Valtava had taught him that the most genuine emotions were the most moving—and the best source of inspiration.

"I'll go first," Erza said, stepping forward onto the small stage.

"I think Fairy Tail is a place that can heal loneliness."

As soon as the words were out, her face flushed with embarrassment.

Saying things like that in public was embarrassing!

But no one laughed.

Instead, they all looked at the slightly shy Erza with gentle smiles.

"A place that heals loneliness..." Marco repeated quietly.

It was true.

He remembered how withdrawn Erza had been when she first arrived, and how much effort it took to help her open up.

"Me next, me next!" Natsu leaped onto the stage.

He stood there under everyone's expectant gaze, his face turning bright red as he struggled to find the words.

"Get on with it, Natsu! If you can't think of anything, get down and let someone else go!" Gray taunted from the side.

"Shut up, you popsicle! Fairy Tail is a place that makes your heart burn with passion! Haah!" Natsu retorted, shouting out his feelings before breathing a plume of fire into the air.

"Nice one, Natsu!" Macao cheered.

"Aye! Natsu's amazing!" Happy added, clapping his little paws.

Natsu puffed out his chest, basking in the praise—right before Mira kicked him clean off the stage.

"What the—?! Mirajane!" Natsu yelled, ready for a fight, but the combined glare from Marco, Erza, and Mira made his anger fizzle out.

He grumbled and returned to his seat.

"Fairy Tail is a place that can change your life," Mirajane said, her eyes resting on her younger siblings.

The girl who usually as fierce as a delinquent now wore a gentle expression.

Coming to Fairy Tail, being taken in by the master, and getting help from Marco had completely transformed their family's fate.

"Fairy Tail is a warm place, just like home," Cana added, her eyes scanning the room for someone who wasn't there.

"Fairy Tail is a place where it's always sunny..." Juvia whispered before scurrying off the stage, her face so red she was practically steaming.

"Fairy Tail is a place where you can become the person you want to be."

"Fairy Tail is a place that helps you see the path ahead."

"Fairy Tail is a place where you can chase your dreams!"

One by one, his friends shared their heartfelt thoughts.

As Marco listened, a long-buried memory began to surface in his mind.

Suddenly, it hit him.

He had seen the name of this world, Fairy Tail, somewhere before.

It wasn't from a clip of the anime or a snippet of its BGM, but... a dance cover video.

Masayume Chasing.

"Chasing a True Dream"... that song is from Fairy Tail? Marco realized.

He'd never watched the show, but he knew the song by BoA and had always liked it.

The familiar melody bloomed in his mind.

A lyre appeared in his hands, and as he plucked the strings, a rich sound filled the guild hall, like an epic story being told on a warm summer night.

The entire guild fell silent, listening together as the music began.

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Which fairy tail opening is your favorites ?

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