Fairy Tale

Fairy Tale (フェアリー・テール Fearī Tēru) is a one-shot manga created by Hiro Mashima as a pilot for what would later become the Fairy Tail series. It was originally released in Magazine Fresh on September 3, 2002, and was later published in the compilation manga Mashima-en Vol. 1 on December 16, 2003. The plot tells the story of Prince Silver and Princess Elle, two citizens from the rival Fire and Water Kingdoms, respectively, who team up to recover the stolen Book of Devilma from an evil witch.

The chapter is best known for introducing concepts that would influence or be reused in the main series, among other similarities.

Similarities to Fairy Tail

 * The title itself, as well as the name of the story's setting, is the basis of the name "Fairy Tail".
 * The Books of Zeref are similar in concept to the Book of Devilma, a tome with the power to summon fearsome Demons.
 * The main male protagonist, Silver, is an early concept for Natsu Dragneel, depicted here as a spirit with horns. He also shares his name with Silver Fullbuster.
 * The concept of the four classic elements—air/wind, earth, water, and fire—is shared between the Element 4 and the four kingdoms in Fairy Tale.
 * Aquarius's design is reused from the character Undine, queen of the Water Kingdom, who possesses human legs and a tattoo on her right forearm rather than her collar bone
 * Silver's father and king of the Fire Kingdom, Salamander, shares his name with Natsu's alias.
 * Erza Scarlet's name is derived from that of the main female protagonist, Elle (Eru), who also shares Juvia Lockser's ability to control and transform her body into water.
 * Evergreen's ability to transform victims into stone with her gaze is similarly used by the antagonist Barbara.