Chapter 69

Next Generation is the sixty-ninth chapter of Hiro Mashima's Fairy Tail.

Full Summary
In the meeting of the Council, the Council are presumably talking of the Fairy Tail – Phantom Lord Incident, and Makarov, while hearing the verdict, has fallen asleep. After he is woken up, he learns that Fairy Tail has been found totally innocent. This might be because elder Yajima, a member of the Council and an old friend of Makarov’s, has spoken on Fairy Tail's behalf. Yajima tells Makarov that he has grown old, and for his health’s sake he should retire.

Meanwhile, back at the guild, Mirajane announces that the request board is up. Every member of Fairy Tail runs to get a job, and Lucy asks of Loke, who found her keys. He is not around. Moments later, Erza is shown to be arguing with Laxus. He is chastising Levy, Jet and Droy for being weak and Lucy for being the culprit. He thinks that in his guild there is no place for weaklings, but Mirajane interrupts, by saying that with his absence, he has lost any opportunity to speak. He says that if he were there, everything would have gone smoother. He also goes on to proclaim that once he has inherited the guild, he is going to rid it of the weakling. With that said he disappears. Lucy asks herself why he would say that and Mirajane answers that he is Makarov’s grandson. Lucy states she would be against someone as him as a guild master. Then, Erza finally “discovers” that since the Lullaby incident, they have been together. Everybody is shocked to hear it, as they knew it from the beginning. Nevertheless, they make it official. The strongest team, consisting of Natsu, Happy, Lucy, Erza and Gray is formed. They begin their life as a team by taking a job.

Elsewhere, the master is meditating about his options. He considers Laxus as a Master but says that he has attitude problems, and then considers Mystogan, but he is too much of a recluse. Erza is also an option but she is too young to take the job. Mirajane then comes and informs him that Erza’s team has gone and destroyed half a city. Makarov shouts out if how can he retire with this.

Characters
*Note: Bold+Italicized=First Appearence