User blog comment:FairyRaven/Exceeds and Earth Land Counterparts/@comment-904888-20120820112643/@comment-5268982-20120821110312

I've thought about this too, but then Laxus or Makarov or Gildarts would have a pet Exceed as well. Or maybe even Ultear, who, as a child, had a big amount of magic power, enough to make her sick. About your Gajeel theory, I admit that it makes perfect sense!