Fairy 8: Over the past year - Makarov POV

"It has been a year huh… since that brat has joined us." Makarov went, feeling his hair has grown less. Of course, that is just all inside his head. As he recalled the last year since Zack Smasher when he had joined Fairy Tail.

When Makarov was about to stamp the Fairy Mark on Zack, to prove he is part of the Fairy Tail guild. He had to undo the ropes that bounded Zack, and that was Makarov's first mistake yet.

The old man was overwhelmed by Zack's fast-paced speech, and even forgot what Zack said. It cannot be helped, after all. He swears the boy asked this old man to become part of his harem!

Of course, most of his speech also had many questions that also made the poor old Makarov's head hurt. He is in his 80s! He should be retired already! But who else going to be the next guild master? Who else going to look after those troublemakers!? That why he decided to acknowledge that Zack said nothing, and deal with him after he has joined them.

But that was a mistake, if he listens what he firstly said in his quick pace speech. He will notice what will happened next, in fact Elfman given a big hit by covering Lisanna's eyes.

Then it happened, Makarov that has the Fairy Tail's guild marker in hand, and ready to mark Zack. Only to turn around to see a naked boy, standing proudly without the care in the world, while he is being watched by the whole guild.

At first, everyone thought this: 'Are you Gray's brother!?'

However, they knew that stripper only goes down to his boxers. But this boy takes everything off! He even refused to wear clothes! It was that moment when Erza and Zack met for the first time, and like the half-dragon girl she is. She pulled him by the ear and made him put the robe back on.

Of course she was the only one recovered first, besides Mirajane and Elfman that oddly used to him getting naked every chance he gets.

However, the sole reason why it took everyone a long time to recover, isn't because they are surprised to see the naked boy. No, it was the shock between his legs that stunned everyone in the guild. Besides Ezra that shows no care of such things, Natsu and happy that also has no clue, and the Strauss siblings that got used to it.

However here the reactions of the male guild members seeing that 'monster' attached between his legs.

'You sure he's a kid!?'

'He's… why!?'

'Harem he said, right…? Did he just asked Master to be part of his harem, no one else heard that, right?'

'Bahahaha, I pity his wife in the future!'

And here's the female member reactions.

'I wish I was younger…'

'His wife won't be able to tame him… with that monster of his'

'He's… about 14, right? Or maybe 15?'

'He is bigger than my husband's…'

Of course, Zack who heard them mentioning of a monster, looked around innocently not understanding what they meant. Seeing this, Makarov could only sighed for this second stripper their guild just earned.

After placing the stamp of Faily Tail guild mark on his right side of his chest, a red coloured Fairy Tail symbol stood out on the once again naked boy. Only to have the naked boy to gained Erza's iron fist to his head.

Like that, weeks went past, and then months with Zack Smasher being part of the guild. In this past year, Zack didn't train much, instead he gain knowledge that he wanted, even common knowledge given to him by his new family.

Makarov notice many things strange about the boy, who he still believed was brainwashed by a cult. To his information of Zack Smasher, the leader of God's Cult is a mage called Status.

Status is the leader of the cult, as he had given Zack his name. He also given him Quake Magic and Gravity Magic, as well sent him to this world. Makarov pitied the young boy, as he sighed and swear to show him the right way. (Which his plan to make him into a good kid failed, thanks to the other troublemakers of the guild.)

First thing he noticed about Zack, not only he is a fool, but also very smart. No matter you tell him, he will soak up that knowledge up like a sponge. And his understanding of Ethernano shocked even Makarov, in fact what shocked him the most is his Quake Magic.

Makarov has seen Quake Magic before. And he also knows that magic system only effects the ground. But for some odd reason, Zack's Quake Magic effects everything, the air, himself, basically anything he touches or connects to him as a whole. He never heard or seen magic like this. However, as a senior wizard himself, he knows there are countless types of magic in this world.

Of course no one knows, and even Zack himself forgets that his Quake Magic is in fact this world's version of Gura Gura no Mi Devil Fruit power. When he activates his Quake Magic, he becomes a Vibrating Human being.

Oddly enough, Makarov finds out that Zack himself knows a lot of magic. But lacks everything else, he knows about survival skills and even martial arts as well. Making surer that Zack Smasher was kidnapped as a baby into a cult and got himself lost from it.

He even contacted his old friends in other guilds. Trying to find this so-called cult with their leader Status! After all, it is common knowledge that wizards normally have a second name. Like Ezra's mage name is Titania. Natsu's also has one called Salamander.

But there was no information about Status and his God's Cult, even the countless Dark Guilds out there. None has a guild name after that. Even if they did find a good number of cults among them… however, needlessly to say, none has Status among them. Making Makarov and his circles of friends wary of this cult even more.

In the past year, besides knowledge. Zack had other improvements.

First thing is the most important thing. Finally, after weeks of explaining to him, that unless he likes men, a harem is group of lovers. However… Zack got even more confused what's even a lover is, and even asked everyone around the guild he wants to be his lover… it was a nightmare! However, in the end, Makarov, and Mirajane's who oddly jumps in when Zack talks to any female members wants to be his lover. Stopped him asking everyone in the guild to become his lover.

Makarov has noticed it, everyone in the guild did as well. That's Mirajane has slightly changed a little, they say slightly because. Unlike everyone else, she still cold to everyone besides her siblings. However, they notice how she often looked at Zack with a strange look on her face.

They had seen her bullied him more than anyone else. Of course Erza with her sense of justice normally jumps in to stop her. Oddly enough, it was Zack that just laughed it off, and says it's all okay. In truth, most of the guild members and Makarov himself had noticed, that Mirajane the tomboy she is, is a like a little boy that is picking on her crush.

And it doesn't help that Zack always hang around her each time he gets. But shocking to everyone, she who normally pushes everyone besides her siblings away. Doesn't push him away, sometimes she just picks on him, ignored him, but when they alone, Makarov has seen them talking. He was happy for Mirajane to gain another friend besides her siblings.

Of course, Mirajane is a shy tomboy that doesn't understand her feelings much. So she just bottled her feelings, but unknowingly herself, she is slowly accepting Zack.

Second thing about Zack's improvement that Makarov notices. Is how matured he is becoming each passing day. With the nakedness issue, that was fix when winter came. It was a funny sight, seeing an overclothed boy complaining to everyone, 'why is it so cold!?', or 'why didn't did no one tell me about this!'

Of course, everyone either shouted or think of this when he said that: 'We did!'

Thanks to the cold weather, Zack finally accepted the importance of clothing. Another thing, he begun to think twice now when he asks a question.

'But… it's odd…' Makarov thought, he recalled personally seeing Zack's personality changing slowly over the year. At first, he is like a child, that doesn't understand anything. But each week he noticed it, Makarov sees the young boy maturing when he is around others.

'It like he learning to act from seeing us from acting… learning how to behave. Of course… this guild is not really the best place. But it was strange but good feeling watching over the boy.'

Makarov thought of that, as he drinks his wine. But Zack not the only one that had changed in this year. Natsu, Gray and the rest of these kids also begun to change slightly when Zack came, after all, it cannot be helped. It wasn't long since Zack came here, that Natsu asked him for a fight.

Zack was happy when Natsu ask for a fight. However, it was Natsu the one the won their first fight. Of course Zack did mention some nonsense like how come his stats are higher. But Makarov and the rest of the world, just regard that to Zack crazy talking.

However when the next time Natsu and Zack fought, their fight ended in a draw. And the time after that one, Zack wins. In fact Zack seems to be learning through each fight, growing at a very past pace. Showing that Zack has talent as a wizard is vastly.

From that alone, Makarov could tell his talent for being a wizard is either around the same or greater level as Mirajane and Erza's. To the point, he has actually trained in this last year instead of studying, he will properly supressed or be Laxus's equal. That how frighting Zack's talents are.

Of course, this quickness of growth was thanks to the cheat that Zack has, Growth Rate. Which is no matter what Zack did, he will improve ten times more than others. No matter what that is.

However, Makarov could only sigh knowing the boy has been holding his talent back, why is that?

"He has gained a family… but he does not want to go far ahead of them… but I hope one day, Zack you will realise sometimes you needed to be strong enough to protect others. It is fine to grow along with others… but do not drag your own talent down… you will regret it." Makarov said, as he looked outside of his office.

Makarov worries that holding back his talents only will make him regret his choice… specially when he seen 'that'.

One day, when Makarov seen Zack passing out in the guild after going on a mission in Magnolia. He was about to leave the boy be, but the boy moaned something, something that frighten Makarov, and his hatred towards Status and his cult.

'Please… don't father… please… don't touch… them…' When Makarov heard that in his sleep, he felt his heart tightening, and rage boiling, it was a frighten voice that unfitting to the cheerful Zack. He does not remember himself, but his memories are slowly returning. Unpleasant ones at that, but when Makarov asked him about those nightmares. He does not remember, unlike the one that he seen when Mirajane knocked him out.

But when he awakens from those dreams, for a few seconds Makarov notices it. His grassy green eyes, that normally full of such innocents, was nothing like that. Darkness, eyes of a killer, stared at him full coldness. It wasn't eyes that a kid should have, which made Makarov's parent instincts to help the boy.

However, soon afterwards. Zack's eyes turn back to normal and show his cheerful self. The kind of person that want to know of others. Treat them fairly, even if that meant ruining his own talents.

"I just… hope you be fine Zack my boy." Makarov sighed, as he drunk the rest of his wine in his wineglass.