The Weakness of Fairy Tail’s Cana

S-Class Mages are the most powerful in the guild, and you have to pass a difficult trial to become one. So when Cana Alberona from Fairy Tail gives it a go, you know she’s hardcore. Though you don’t know much else about her backstory. You do find out one thing, though: she has a secret, and she’s been holding it in for years.

This begs the question, what’s the secret and why is it so hard for her to tell anyone?

To become one of those legendary S-Class Mages, there’s a rather large hoop you have to jump through, and you’d think Cana would be pumped that she was one of the eight chosen to participate in the trial. But instead she ends up drunk on Lucy’s doorstep after the announcement.

Cana dejectedly tells Lucy (another Fairy Tail wizard) that this will be her fifth attempt at becoming an S-Class Mage. And here it is, the secret that she’s been keeping: She is the daughter of the most powerful mage in Fairy Tail, Gildarts. The catch is, she’ll only rack up the courage to tell him if she passes the trial; that’s the deal she’s made with herself.

Lucy is gung-ho to help her friend, and teams up with her for the trial. Thus the awesomeness that is Fairy Tail continues on an island-wide tournament.

After a surprising twist occurs, an evil guild emerges, and Cana betrays her friend, she finds herself at the end of the trial feeling angry and determined.

I think what has been driving Cana forward all this time is fear. Fear that she is not good enough to be an S-Class mage, perhaps, but mostly fear that she is not good enough to be Gildart’s daughter, and that he won’t accept her. Cue soft ambient father-daughter reunion music here.

Personally, I know the power that fear can have over a life, especially the fear of trusting people and letting myself be vulnerable. I’ve opened up to someone and made myself vulnerable to someone I thought was a true friend, only to be shrugged aside. It feels like a slap in the face. Putting yourself out there is always a risk and Cana is definitely aware of this.

During her 12 years at Fairy Tail, Cana had every opportunity to tell Gildart the truth but, alas, this fear of rejection kept her silent.

As she reaches the end of the trial, Cana experiences a flashback to her first time visiting Fairy Tail after her mother’s death as a child, and all her attempts to tell Gildarts the truth. Then her card magic alerts her to the fact that Lucy is in danger, and she breaks down (cue violin strings of hopefulness here).

“It doesn’t matter if I don’t become an S-Class Mage anymore and it doesn’t matter if I can’t tell my father how I feel. I don’t care about any of that. I just want to protect my friends,” she says.

Upon being granted the short term use of a powerful spell called Fairy Glitter, Cana races off to help Lucy and her other friends.

Now, at this point we are all thinking: Yes! Cana has experienced her epiphany and now she can go save the day and defeat Fairy Tail’s enemies with this powerful spell. This is gonna be awesome and then she won’t be afraid to tell Gildarts the truth.

But that’s not what happens.

Against an insanely powerful enemy and facing certain death, Cana tries to rise to the challenge. She repeatedly attempts the Fairy Glitter spell but fails each time. Things look grim when Gildarts appears to stave off the attack, allowing Cana to retreat.

When the battle is over and everyone is given a chance to rest, Cana approaches her father.

In that attempt to prove her prowess and become an S-Class Mage, in her pursuit of external strength, Cana did not have the courage to discover where her true source of strength really comes from.

It is here in her weakness that she finds strength and finally reveals to her father the truth long hidden.

Bracing for the impact of rejection through a facade of anger, she waits for his response. And, after a moment of shock, Gildarts embraces Cana for the first time as his daughter.

This. This is why being vulnerable is worth it. I am weak, and when that weakness is not only accepted but embraced, I know I am truly loved (cue Skyrim soundtrack).

This guest post is written by Allison Barron, editor-in-chief of the Area of Effect magazine and its corresponding website, Geekdomhouse.com. Please check out this organization, which, like Geeks Under Grace, is also committed to bridging the gap between geeks and God.