Where's My Cat?

The Exceed departed in great numbers, to find their home in this new world.

In a clearing in the forest, Jiang Bai and the others were preparing to return to the guild.

"Wait!" Gajeel suddenly shouted.

Where is my cat? Where did Panther Lily go?

"Hmm?" Natsu sniffed the air, then pointed to a small black cat at Gajeel's feet.

"The kitten next to you smells exactly like Panther Lily."

Gray couldn't help but mutter, "Is this guy really Dragon Slayer, or is he some kind of dog?"

"What did you say? I heard you, you exhibitionist!" Natsu immediately bristled.

Gray retorted without backing down, "Am I wrong, you fire-breathing man!"

Gajeel ignored the two idiots who were bickering as usual. He squatted down and stared at the little black cat at his feet. "Are you really Panther Lily?"

The black cat nodded and spoke, "That's me! After arriving in this world, I needed to constantly consume magic power to maintain my previous battle form. Once my magic power was depleted, I turned into this."

Gajeel didn't care what Panther Lily looked like; he grinned and revealed a big smile.

"It's okay, we're partners from now on!"

A hint of emotion flashed in Panther Lily's eyes. "Yes! Please take care of me, Gajeel!"

Gajeel scooped up Panther Lily and ran towards Natsu and Wendy.

"Fire Dragon, Sky Dragon, let's see whose cat is stronger!"

Wendy weakly raised her hand. "Carla... isn't suited for fighting."

"Yoshi!" Natsu was full of fighting spirit.

"Happy won't lose!"

Happy, perched on Natsu's head, complained resentfully, "Natsu, we can't even take one punch."

The group chatted and laughed as they walked towards the guild.

On the way, Erza walked up to Jiang Bai and asked, "Jiang Bai, aren't the guild members who were absorbed with us?"

Jiang Bai explained, "They were teleported back directly from the Magic Crystal, so they are exactly the same as they were before they went there. They have no memory of what happened in between."

After saying that, Jiang Bai seemed to remember something and paused in his steps.

He turned to Lisanna beside him. "Lisanna, let's hurry up and give your sister and brother a surprise."

They should still be at church praying for you.

Lisanna nodded emphatically.

Jiang Bai waved to Erza and the others. "Erza, we're leaving now. You guys go back to the guild."

"Okay!" Erza replied.

Afterwards, Jiang Bai took Lisanna directly to the Cardia Cathedral.

Mirajane and Elfman were indeed still there.

However, Mirajane was in no mood to pray at this moment.

Because she clearly remembered that just before she was turned into light by "Anima," Jiang Bai personally promised that he would bring Lisanna back.

Just as she was in a state of utter confusion, a voice so familiar that it made her soul tremble came from the church entrance.

"Sister! Brother Elfman!"

Mirajane and Elfman turned around abruptly.

The two of them burst into tears instantly.

They saw Jiang Bai standing at the door with the figure they had been longing for, smiling at them.

"Lisanna..."

"It really is Lisanna!"

The three siblings hugged each other tightly and wept uncontrollably.

After a long while, Jiang Bai finally spoke, "Let's go back. It's time to let everyone in the guild know this good news."

The three wiped away their tears, nodded vigorously, and walked together toward the guild.

When Jiang Bai returned to the guild with Mirajane, Elfman, and Lisanna, the place had already returned to its usual bustling state.

Natsu and Gray got into another fight over some trivial matter, and the tables and chairs were smashed all over the floor.

Cana was holding the barrel of wine, a suspicious blush on her face.

Everything was exactly the same as before they left.

The guild's doors were pushed open.

Jiang Bai walked in leisurely, hands in his pockets. Behind him were the three siblings, Mirajane and her brother, who were still somewhat agitated.

"Oh, Mira and Elfman are back too!"

"Huh? Who's that girl behind them? She looks so familiar..."

"Short, silvery-white hair... I feel like I've seen it somewhere before..."

The guild members glanced at it casually, then went back to their own business.

After all, two years have passed.

For a guild where all sorts of bizarre events happen every day, two years is enough time for some memories to become blurred.

Jiang Bai consciously stepped aside, completely exposing Lisanna behind him to everyone's view.

He said nothing, he just watched quietly.

Lisanna looked at the familiar faces before her, her heart filled with mixed emotions.

She took a deep breath, mustered her courage, and, with all her might, shouted out the words she had practiced all the way to the entire guild.

"Everyone, I'm back!"

The voice was clear and crisp, with a slight tremor, yet unwavering in its resolve.

These words, like a thunderclap, instantly shattered all the noise in the guild.

The entire guild fell into a deathly silence at that moment.

All eyes were fixed on the shy yet radiant girl standing at the doorway.

Lisanna...

This name, this appearance, instantly awakened everyone's long-dormant memories.

That was their youngest sister.

They were family members they thought they would never see again.

After a brief silence, an explosion like a tsunami erupted!

"Lisanna--!"

"It's Lisanna! It really is Lisanna!"

"Am I dreaming?!"

The next second, everyone in the guild went crazy, like a flood bursting its banks, all rushing towards the door, wanting to witness this miracle with their own eyes.

"Hey! You bunch of guys!"

Elfman spread his arms wide, standing like a wall at the front, and shouted loudly at the onrushing crowd.

"Don't scare my sister!"

Although he cried his eyes out, protecting his sister was a man's instinct!

The crowd surrounded Lisanna, some crying, some laughing, and some too excited to speak.

Just then, a huge figure descended from the sky and landed heavily on the bar counter.

It is a gigantic Makarov.

The old man looked at the figure surrounded by the crowd. His face, which always wore a kind smile, was now streaked with tears, and his eyes were blurred.

He wiped away the tears from the corners of his eyes, and with all his might, unleashed a deafening Roar at the entire guild.

"You little brats!"

"To celebrate Lisanna's return, let's have a party!"

Makarov's voice is the highest command of Fairy Tail.

"Oh!!"

The entire guild erupted in thunderous cheers once again, nearly lifting the roof off.

At this moment, both sorrow and joy transformed into anticipation and fervor for the banquet!