Disclaimer: I do not own Hiro Mashima's Fairy Tail, any work professionally associated with it nor any pop culture or classical references. All original plots and characters are mine.
In a land far, far away lies the kingdom of Fiore, a small, peaceful nation of 17 million, and a place filled with Magic found in every home, bought and sold in every marketplace. For most, Magic is merely a tool, a mundane part of everyday life. For some, however, Magic is an art, and they've devoted their lives to its practice. These are the wizards. Banded together into magical guilds, they ply their skills in search of fame and fortune. Many such guilds dot the landscape of Fiore. But there is a certain guild in a certain town that soars high above the rest, one from which countless legends have been born. A guild that will no doubt continue to create legends well into the future. Its name...is Fairy Tail.
The room was dressed head to toe and Heart's Day galore with candles lit for those they loved and lost. Red hearts and pink hearts and white hearts littered the living room with other candles staged for ambiance. Rose petals decorated the table set for two with candelabra all dolled up and pretty. The food would come soon enough, but the plates and salad plates and the forks and spoons and knives and cloth napkins were set with chalices for the iced wine. Gifts were set up, however, for this date, but one was the most important gift. It was a photo album that spelled:
TALES OF HEART'S DAY
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
•
We continue our talk of life and of memories
Of a day that brings happiness
That brings love
That brings cherished stories
•
For this is a time of giving, not to get
To remember those we've lost
And to cherish those we have
•
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Matching jewelry had been the next gift to be presented. The rings, however, were not your typical gold bands or even silver band, oh no. The bands were made out of sunstone and moonstone, respectively. But the rings looked duller than they had should, as though the rings themselves were in a dark mood.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
•
We bring you a couple that you know quite well
The story of a Beast
And a Beauty, his Belle
•
Their story isn't over for they have so many more words to tell
But some words need no words
Words like "I miss you"
And "I love you" as well
•
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK!
Curtains closed, Luna's window still spawned muffled light. She had yet to put away laundry from late last night, but she had gotten a head start on working on a few photo albums for some of her photos. Luna groaned as she turned over in her bed with Icarus curled up at the foot of it. "No… Five more minutes," she slurred.
"Yo! Time to get up!" Natsu chirped.
Luna covered her face with the comforter and groaned, "No…"
"If you're not up, I'm coming in," Natsu warned good-naturedly.
Luna moaned and shifted down to lightly kick Icarus. "Icarus, go guard the door so Papa can't get in," she sleepily ordered. "My room is closed today."
Icarus did get up, but it was only to change positions. He balled himself into a big fluff and dozed off again.
Natsu opened the door and peeked inside with a grin. "Baby girl…!" he crooned. "Time to get up…!" He chuckled when Luna tried to hide underneath her covers, but he was not above climbing on the bed and standing on the mattress. "If you're not gonna get up…"—he started jumping on the bed—"then I'll have to make you!"
Luna giggled as she pulled herself out from the comfort over her covers. "Papa…!" She smacked her father. "Can't I have five more minutes? Please…?"
"Nope!" Natsu plopped down on the mattress to tug on her cheek. "Ya gotta get up, baby girl." He laughed when Luna hid back under the comforter. "Come on…! Come downstairs for breakfast." He faked a pitiful tone when Luna was silent and bemoaned, "I'm just getting so old… One day, I'll be gone and you don't be able to have breakfast with your old man anymore…"
Luna snorted as she peeked from her comforter to roll her eyes. "It's not my fault you're four hundred years old," she muttered. "You just might go any day now."
"How dare you bring up my age!" Natsu gasped as Luna giggled. "Lucy…! Did you hear that? Your daughter is using my age against me! Can you believe this? Are you sure she's mine?"
Lucy laughed from downstairs. "Luna, you have my full permission to make fun of your papa for being old!"
"I'm being betrayed by my own wife and daughter," Natsu growled in good humor. "What's next? Is Happy going to betray me too?" But he smiled as Luna chortled. "There's that laugh. We've all been missin' that laugh."
Luna's laughter faded in solemn regret. "Sorry, Papa." She sat up and rubbed her eyes.
"You look more and more tired every day," Natsu nodded, concern heavy in his words. "I know you said you're fine continuing your training, but if you need a break—"
"I'm fine, Papa," Luna assured. "Don't worry." She clutched her comforter. "I have it handled."
Natsu frowned, unconvinced, but he knew when not to push for answers. "We're here for you, baby girl," he murmured. "Anything you need, just say the word. If you need some time off from training, it's yours. I just hate you don't like to leave your room anymore. We miss you downstairs."
"I'm sorry." Luna rubbed her arm. "I'll come downstairs more. I promise."
"Don't do it for our sake," Natsu urged. "Come downstairs when you want to. I just want you to know we're ready to help you when you feel like opening up about whatever is bothering you." He laid a hand on her head. "Whenever you're ready."
Luna wanted to look her father in the eye, but shame and guilt knocked within her and she dropped her gaze. She nodded. "Okay, Papa." She closed her eyes when her father kissed her forehead.
"You ready to come downstairs for breakfast?" Natsu gently asked. He teased, "We'll put on Poko…"
Luna brightened. "I'll come down." She crawled to scratch Icarus' side. "Come on, Icarus, time for breakfast." When Icarus refused to budge, she sighed. "There's probably bacon…"
Icarus sprung up. You should have said so earlier. He hopped off the bed and lapped at Natsu's hand in greeting before he trotted off.
Natsu and Luna followed suit to head downstairs to the kitchen. Breakfast was simple today with omelets, hash, smoked salmon slices, bacon (tofu bacon for Luke), and some juice. Actaeon was trying hard to get Lelantos to play tug-o-war, but the other hound rounded his interest excitedly onto Icarus. Plue took over to play tug-o-war with Actaeon, much to the hound's huffiness. Luke was dressed for the day with his satchel packed up and looked like he was making snacks for himself while Lucy was reading her tablet in a fluffy robe and some pajamas.
She smiled seeing her daughter. "Morning, baby." She laughed when Icarus came over and scratched his jaw. "Morning, Icarus. I made extra bacon for you, but you'll have to thank Lelantos for saving it." She added conspiratorially, "Actaeon was getting hungry."
Actaeon looked sheepish under Icarus' glare and whined his apology.
Luna bounced over to her mother for a hug. "Morning, Mama. Morning, Luke." She looked over at her brother. "Are you leaving?" She remembered. "You have lab today, right?"
"Yeah." Luke finished off his snack box and packed it away in his bag. "But I'll be staying at the library since it'll be cleared out with all the parties going on on-campus." He shouldered his bag. "I'm spending the night at Yuu's place." He snorted. And Kei will probably show up too. "What about you? Excited for your dance tonight?"
Natsu twinged and ground his teeth. "And you're coming straight home after it."
"Natsu," Lucy admonished. "We talked about this, and she understands."
"Yeah, Papa." Luna faked a smile. "Bleu and I will be home after the dance. Promise." She avoided Icarus' look towards her.
"Just as long as your home by midnight," Lucy reminded. "Your father and I have our event tonight, but we should be back home by midnight, the last at two in the morning." She said this to both of her children. "Tomorrow, we'll be leaving for our vacation, but we'll be back on Monday morning." She grimaced when she caught the hyper-pleased look on her husband's face. "And don't get any ideas, you pervert."
"But we'll be on vacation!" Natsu whined. "That means I can bring out the—!" He was still moving his mouth, but he realized no sound was coming out. He panicked and started frantically waving his hands.
Luke looked at his father in disgust as he kept up the spell. "Mom, I can keep him like this if you prefer."
"I'll give it some thought," Lucy said dryly, but she laughed when Natsu looked distraught and clung to her to beg to get his voice back.
Luna approached her brother with care and thought, How are you doing?
I'm fine. Luke rolled his shoulder. I'm…adjusting, he supposed. I've been meditating hard to try and just remember something, but… He sighed. I haven't really been able to get a hold of anything.
You will, Luna believed. I know you will.
Luke nodded, but he still looked worried. Are you sure you're okay with me going over to Yuu's house tonight? You know I'll stay with you—
It's fine, Luna assured him. Just…don't tell Mama and Papa, okay? I'll be fine on my own tonight. She offered him a half-smile. Go have fun. Seriously. I'll be fine. You don't have to worry.
You're my sister. I'm going to worry. Luke murmured to her, "Text me for anything, okay?" He ruffled her hair much to her annoyance. "I'll be back home probably tomorrow, but I'll have my Com on me."
"Yeah, yeah," Luna muttered as she tried to smoothen her hair. "See you tomorrow." Oh. Speaking of Compact… She turned to her parents. "I'll be back downstairs. I forgot my Compact." She darted up the steps and back into her room. She meant to grab her Compact and run, but she saw Mary Jane had called her and felt guilt. Oh, right… She decided to call her back.
Mary Jane chirped, "Hey! I was wondering when you'd wake up. I've gotten better at broom flying, so I can come get you and we can get ready together—"
"Um… About that…" Luna made sure to close her door before toeing over to her bed and hiding under her comforter. "There's, um… There's something I haven't told you."
Three beats. "Why do I have a feeling I won't like it?"
"Because you won't," Luna sighed. "I'm not going tonight, Mary Jane. I'm sorry."
Two beats. "He stood you up?" Mary Jane asked, affronted. "Are you serious?"
Luna closed her eyes. "He didn't stand me up," she promised. "He called me last night and said he had something to do for his papa. I don't really mind. I…wasn't really in the mood to go to a dance anyway." And all those people…
"Luna. Be honest with me." Mary Jane softened her voice. "I know Bleu's been busy, but you two are still going out. And all it seems is that he's been too busy… I just want to know. Are you satisfied with that?"
Luna swallowed. "What do you mean?"
"You know what I mean, Luna," Mary Jane said delicately. "I know I was behind you and Bleu being together, but I didn't want you to be together only for you to not be happy. I saw he made you happy in December. But you haven't had the same happiness since then." A beat. "Are you…thinking of someone else?"
Too many thoughts and feelings slammed against Luna. Fear for Hemlock. Disgust at her body. Coiling shame. "I'm not," she got out.
"Are you sure?" Mary Jane gently pressed. "I know…your feelings for Gale—"
Anger was quick to rise, and Luna snapped, "Well, what about you? What about your feelings for my brother? Are you happy with Peter?"
"Wh-Wh-What?" A flustered pitch came from Mary Jane's end. "N-No, I don't have—!"
"I know you think about him," Luna pressed on. "You're asking about my happiness, but are you even happy? Are you thinking about Peter or Igneel?"
Silence.
"I…" Mary Jane audibly swallowed. "Luna…"
Heat backed Luna's eyes and an overwhelming remorse. "I'm sorry," she choked. "I-I shouldn't have said that. I'm sorry; I just…!" She sniffled. "I'm sorry. Please have fun at the dance, okay? Forget I said anything."
"Luna, wait—!"
But Luna ended the call instead and curled in on herself. Why did I say that? I was being mean. She didn't deserve that. She rubbed her cheeks, but the tears would not stop. I just… I just want to go back to sleep. The tears dampened her sheets. I'm sorry, Mary Jane. I'm really sorry.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
At the Dreyar Residence…
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Mary Jane looked at her Compact with her hair twirled into a towel and a broken look about her. Something unsettled her, and she knew why. Luna… She sounded so upset… Her hand came up to finger her acorn button charm. I want to go over there and talk to her, but something tells me I shouldn't. She sighed and looked over at the scarf on her bed. "What do I do, Igneel?" she wanted to know. "What would you do?"
Scarlet-cerulean widened.
I know Igneel wouldn't do this, but… Mary Jane opened her ⟪ Contacts ⟫ and scrolled. Maybe…this is the best option. She looked at the contact.
GALE REDFOX
Mary Jane bit her lip. I just hope I'm not making a mistake with this.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
•
hitori ja kowakatta yoru demo
futari de nara tasukeatte
chikazukeru SATERAITO
irodoru machi o tobikoetara
sashidashita te o tsukamu "yatto aeta ne"
futatsu no kiseki ni omedetou
•
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
It was not like Gale did not have better things to do. No, he did. He most certainly did have better things to do. But he still ended up ringing the doorbell of the Dreyar Residence before shoving his hands in his pockets with his snapback twisted backward and a scowl on his face.
I can't believe I'm doing this, he grumbled. But it's not like I have that much of a choice when I get a text like that.
The door swung open and by his luck, Mary Jane was on the other side of the door with her hair down and an impatient expression. "Finally. I sent you that text message hours ago."
"Had other shit to do," Gale grunted. "You got time for me now?"
"Yeah." Mary Jane widened the door for Gale to come in. While he did that and took off his shoes, she hollered down the hall, "Daddy, Gale's here! We're going to talk in my room!"
"Knock him out if he touches you!" Laxus called back.
Gale's eyebrow twitched. The Hell is thinking I came here for?
"Got it, Daddy!" Mary Jane made her way to the steps. "Come on," she urged. "I'm still getting ready for tonight before Peter gets here and takes me out to dinner." She hopped up the stairwell. "So hurry up!"
Gale groused as he loped up the steps. "I am walking as fast as I'm willing to go."
Mary Jane guided Gale into her bedroom and kept the door open just a few inches. Her dress for the dance had been pressed and hung up against her door. It was quite the bold number, a brazen shoulder-less red thing with a high-low skirt. Her black and red heels had been buffed and sat close to her bed. But what made Gale's face scrunch up was Mary Jane's choice of bra and panties were blatantly out at the foot of her bed.
"You couldn't have warned me?" Gale asked her, sickened. "Who the Hell are you planning to wear that for?"
Mary Jane settled at her vanity stool. "Who do you think?"
Gale decided he would rather sit on the floor than on the bed. "And…" His eyes swept to Mary Jane. "You're sure this is what you want to do?" he drawled. "You know. Sleep with your bitch boy?"
"He is not a 'bitch boy'," Mary Jane huffed as she brushed her hair. "And what do you care?"
"I don't," Gale snapped. Though, he hesitated and added in a mutter, "I just want to make sure this is what you want to do tonight. Not something you're gearing up for just because your boyfriend got you both a nice hotel room and a stack of condoms."
Mary Jane's brushing slowed to a stop.
Rubies sharpened. I knew it. Gale rubbed his neck. "Look, I'm not trying to interfere with whatever you two have going on," he tried to convey. "It's not my place. It's your relationship, not mine." He studied Mary Jane. "That being said, I just want to make sure you're one-hundred percent certain about your choice."
"Why?" Mary Jane asked, voice quiet. "Why do you care?" Her eyes fell to the side. "It's not like we've been good friends."
"Maybe not," Gale conceded. "And we might never be. But you're still Fairy Tail. And…" He debated whether to say it, but he made his choice. "Igneel wants you to be happy, y'know," he murmured. "He wants you to do things that are your choice."
Mary Jane swallowed as Luna's words came back to haunt her.
"You're asking about my happiness, but are you even happy? Are you thinking about Peter or Igneel?"
I…am happy, she told herself. I am. She licked her lips. "Igneel's…gone, Gale, okay? He's just—… He's gone. He left." Her head lowered and her hair covered her red eye. "He left me."
"You know he still cares about you, though," Gale said softly. "He knows he hurt you by leaving and you can be damn sure he misses you. But he ultimately wants you happy—"
Mary Jane's grip on her brush tightened as a bout of despair hit her. "I would have been happy if he had just—!" She pressed her lips together to stop herself from saying something she would regret. No. No, I'm happy now. "I'm just… Maybe…I've been focusing too much on Igneel. It shouldn't matter…what he wants… He left and…and he didn't even say, 'good-bye'."
"You know he would have," Gale told her. "But he didn't because—"
"Because what?" Mary Jane set down her brush. "Why should I care about him or what he wants for me? He's just my friend. He's not Peter. I want…Peter. So just…leave it alone, okay?"
Gale sighed and raised his hands in surrender. "Yeah, yeah, no need to get into a tizzy. I'll leave it alone."
"Thank you." Mary Jane picked her brush back up and went through her blonde strands slowly.
Gale saddened. Igneel… I hope you know what you're doing. He cracked his knuckles. "So back to business."
"Ah, yes…" Mary Jane turned her head to give him a smug grin. "Back to business about how your cute princess is in peril and you're desperate to save her." She laughed when Gale colored, agitated. "You're so easy to tease."
"Shut the fuck up," Gale snapped, heated.
Mary Jane shrugged and feigned a dragging sigh. "Oh, all right," she drawled. "I guess I shouldn't tell you anything about her date with Bleu and what she's wearing and all the plans they made—"
"Okay!" Gale growled, clenching his hands. "Just…" He exhaled his frustration. "Just tell me, okay?"
"First of all." Mary Jane swiveled to deliver a grave look to him. "Before I say anything and while I know I did text you, you answered. But I want you to know what I tell you isn't a go-ahead for you to involve yourself in whatever relationship she and Bleu have."
"I know it's not my business," Gale said, "but she's been…quiet lately. It's like she's putting up this front when we train, but that's it. I just wanted to know if something was going on between them." I took that job privately for that asshole. He better not have hurt her.
Mary Jane sighed. "Honestly, I don't know what's going on with her," she admitted. "She called me to tell me she wasn't going to the dance since Bleu called her last night to tell her he couldn't go."
Bastard. Gale held back his snarl. I take this job and this is how you repay me? By standing her up?
"So…" Mary Jane turned to look at Gale. "What are you going to do about it?"
Gale grunted as he got to his feet. "The Hell d'you mean 'what am I going to do about it'? I got my answer about your ominous text, so I'm going to head home."
"Seriously?" Mary Jane cocked an eyebrow. "You're just going to head home when she is alone and upset?" She made a noise of contempt. "If I knew you didn't care this much, I should have tried my luck with Cane." She added poisonously, "At least he cares when it sounds like she was about to cry."
TICK!
Gale stormed over to Mary Jane. "Of course I fucking care, but what would you have me do then?" he barked at her. "Did you forget about the fact that I'm underlined banned from speaking to her outside of training? That I'm screwed up? That when she confessed, I could have—!" He looked away as the pain and regret tormented his features. "That I could have hurt her."
"I didn't forget." Mary Jane looked up at Gale with honest eyes. "But I didn't forget how she was in the bathroom with me that night. And she told me she might have felt something for Bleu…but she felt everything with you. That she loved you. I didn't forget that."
Gale scoffed and crossed his arms as he leaned against her vanity. "And did you forget she's dating someone else?" Who isn't treating her right…
"And just because she's dating someone else doesn't mean she can't have a friend to be there for her." Mary Jane twisted so she faced Gale head-on when he rolled his eyes and shook his head. "You feel it as much as I do. She's hiding something, and she doesn't want anyone to know. She isn't happy. No, she isn't dating you and, yes, you aren't supposed to be speaking to her." Scarlet-cerulean softened. "But she needs someone right now, Gale. And I think you would be the right person."
Gale hesitated then lowered his head, defeated. "I don't know…if she'd even want to see me," he mumbled. "I haven't been the nicest person in the world before. What if she just sends me away?"
"Gale." Mary Jane's voice took a stern turn. "Since when have you ever left Luna to be sad on her own? Yes, you're pushy. Yes, you can get out of control. Yes, you aren't the nicest. Yes, you did hurt her. And yes, you have a lot of issues you're working at."
Gale growled and turned away. "If I knew you were just going to insult me—" A hand on his shoulder stopped him.
Angry rubies clashed with knowing scarlet-cerulean.
"But right now, you want nothing more than to make sure she feels safe," Mary Jane said with soft certainty. "And I know you'll find a way to do that."
Gale glared at her before turning away. "You obviously gave this some thought." He crossed his arms. "If I do this… You gonna help me or what?"
"What makes you think I was going to help you?"
Gale growled. "I'm not begging you."
"We'd never want that," Mary Jane laughed. "But I do have a favor to ask you." Her eyes gleamed in mischief. "And it's a little bit…expensive."
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
•
Fairy Adventure 081
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Tales of Heart's Day Weekend
Tale of Luna and Gale
Beauty and the Beast
•
ハートの日物語
ルナとゲイルの物語
美女と野獣
•
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
A soft J-Pop song in the background, Luna laid in her bed with Icarus at the foot as she leafed through her camera at the photos she had taken. Even though she needed to transfer the photos onto her PAL, she decided to stay in bed and just look through them. The pictures were nothing too serious. She had taken a series of nature shots and others were of her daily life with Icarus, but nothing captured her interest. She sighed and threw her head on her pillows.
Are you upset due to not going to your dance? Icarus asked.
Luna shrugged. Not really. If Bleu hadn't canceled, I probably would have. Chocolates dulled. Not like I've left Magnolia since we came back. Mama and Papa keep suggesting for me to come on jobs with them for experience, but… She shut down her camera and moved to place it back in its case.
You will have to leave Magnolia, Icarus told her. I will be with you when you do, Pup—
But what if something like last time happens? Luna asked him. What if…? What if they put you back in the Void? Or what if they do something to my food and kidnap me again? What if they don't keep up their end of the deal or—?
Pup. Icarus wriggled over to nudge her side. Your fear is warranted. You suffered through a terrible experience. I understand your hesitation to leave home. The world is dangerous.
Luna snorted as she zipped up her camera bag. Not helping me, Icarus.
Let me finish, Icarus coaxed. The world is dangerous. But that is why we take the time to prepare ourselves for the unknown. We prepare ourselves for danger. We have learned from this experience to exercise more caution when leaving the den. And this is a lesson we will not soon forget.
Luna's shoulders sagged. So I'm supposed to be paranoid now? I'm not supposed to trust anything I see or touch or taste anymore?
Caution and paranoia are two different terms, Icarus told her. You exercise caution to probable scenarios. As of now, we know that Alvarez will no longer attempt in kidnapping you. However, through our experience, we understand that drugging is a possibility from other enemies. To practice caution, I would advise you to practice spells that alert you of hidden elements in your food and drink. Paranoia would mean you would never eat again. He playfully nudged her. And I know your stomach. That would be impossible.
Luna giggled. "Yeah. I guess so." She scratched Icarus' jaw. Thanks for being the best friend I could have, Icarus. You always know what to say.
I have been alive since before even your sire's inception, Icarus reminded.
Luna wrinkled her nose. "Ugh, don't remind me. Papa's a cradle robber."
Icarus huffed his amusement. These terms you use grow stranger by the day. I suppose the equivalent would be a pup-snatcher. Though, many Dragons, Demons, and Gods often took mates of various ages. It's considered common. The Sun Spirit I fell in love with was significantly older than me. He cocked his head. Mortals have such a latch onto age.
Luna pitched up an eyebrow. "So you'd let me go on a date with some twenty-seven-year-old?"
Of course not, Icarus negated. At Luna's smug look, Icarus justified, That is very different. You are my Pup. No mortal is good enough to steal you from this den, and you are too young.
PLINK! PLINK!
Luna looked at her window, curious, while Icarus' ear twitched. Though I suppose they can try…
Luna scooted over to her window and opened her curtain. To her surprise, Gale was underneath her window as he hurled innocent pebbles, but he stopped when he noticed he got her attention. At his gesturing, Luna opened her window and peeked outside. "What are you doing?" she whisper-shouted. "And…" That was when she noticed what Gale was wearing. A black suit and coat fitted him from top to bottom with his hair tamed for once. His red eyes stood out amongst his color scheme. "What are you wearing?"
Gale cupped his hands to whisper-shout back, "I've come to rescue the princess from her tower."
"I'm not stuck here," Luna sighed. "You shouldn't even be here. Papa said—"
"Right now, I don't give a damn about that," Gale responded with a grin. "I heard your crappy prince stood you up. As your Dragon, it's pretty much my duty to make sure the princess is cared for. So go put on your dress and get all fancy. I'm stealing you from your tower tonight. Even if it goes against your dad's rules."
Luna rolled her eyes. "I am not doing this with you," she told him. "You could get in trouble if Papa finds out and…" Her eyes fell, downcast. "I like staying here. Honestly…not going to the dance was a good thing." She rubbed her arm. "I can stay here…where it's safe."
Gale softened. Blondie… He broke into a low murmur. "I know it hasn't been easy between the two of us. After you and me…" He rubbed his neck as both of them vividly remembered the Snow Ball perfection turned aggression. "I don't know what's been going on with you just like you don't know what's been going on with me. We're not as close as we were before, but…" He looked up at her. "If it's just for one night—this night—I want to make you feel safe again."
Chocolate shimmered. Gale…
Still, Luna hesitated. "I… I don't know." She looked over at Icarus. "My parents—"
"Are at some Heart's Day party with my parents by now," Gale recalled. "Your sister is at Gary's. And Luke is sleeping over at a friend's." His lips twitched when Luna looked bewildered. "Don't ask. I have my own private source." His eyebrow twitched as he remembered Mary Jane, but in his mind, her chibi-rendition looked like some mystic madwoman with a smug smirk. And she cost me a damn fortune.
Luna bit her lip in thought. "My parents said they'd be home by midnight," she told him. "They'll leave for their little Heart's Day vacation tomorrow, and I'm stuck with the babysitter brigade." She smiled when Icarus whined. "No offense, Icarus."
"So then I have to get you back home by midnight." Gale shrugged as he tucked his hands into his pockets. "We still have hours until then, so you better get moving, Blondie." His eyes flashed in amusement. "We only have one night before we go back to being strangers. I don't know about you, but after all the bullshit I've been through…"—his cheeks reddened—"I could use some time with a friend."
Luna softened before she turned back to her Celestial Spirit. Icarus? What do you think?
I think if you trust him then you should leave the den, Icarus encouraged. It has been two weeks since you have left the den. If you are not ready, I understand. His eyes warmed. You still fear for the unknown. It isn't easy to travel alone and shouldering that fear. But perhaps your fears will lessen when you are with someone you trust implicitly.
I was with Luke when they stole us, Luna brought.
Icarus chuckled. Oh, my Pup. His eyes sparkled. You know what I mean.
But… Luna scrambled for an excuse. But I'm with Bleu now. I can't just go out there with Gale. It would be wrong, wouldn't it? She glanced outside her window and caught Gale's eyes. It would be…
Right, Icarus completed for her. It would be right.
Chocolate shimmered into ruby.
Decision made, Luna told Gale, "Give me fifteen minutes and I'll come downstairs." Then, she tacked on, "And Icarus is coming with us." She held up a finger. "And this isn't a date. This is between friends who haven't gotten to hang out in a long time." She shut her window and closed her blinds.
Gale chuckled. That princess. He sighed. I missed you too.
°•°•°•°
Luna did not feel all the confident when Icarus slowed to a steady walk in front of BC Towers. Packed with couples and groups and singles, it was a hotspot for people to catch flash sales in honor of Heart's Day or to spend time there with a variety of events going on. In fact, BC Towers had a sponsored event going on for pairs of two and the prize looked like something quite big.
Icarus stopped them and settled down. Gale dismounted first before he held out a hand. "Princess?"
Her hand slipped into his. "Are you sure this is okay? I mean… We didn't exactly have the greatest time here before…"
"Which is the perfect reason why we should come back," Gale reasoned. "So we can make new memories, and so we can leave together this time." He held onto her hand. "What do you say, Principessa?"
"Well…" Luna looked up at the shopping mall. Ena being her personal fashion designer had its perks. She stood out in a floral pink spaghetti strap dress with a knee-length swing skirt. The heels that came with it were a bubblegum pink with bows and did nothing to get her close to Gale's height. Still, she enjoyed the pink peacock coat, the floral clutch, and the pink headband Ena had gifted her. "I suppose making new memories isn't a bad thing." She looked back at Icarus. "Stay close to me."
Icarus nodded. Always. And he poofed.
Luna tucked Icarus' key into her clutch before she turned to Gale, a little nervous. "So, um… Anything in mind?"
"Not a clue," Gale admitted. "I figured we could take a walk and figure things out as we go. They have bowling here, a movie theater, an arcade… Sky's the limit until we have to get you home." He noticed Luna's nerves and gentled his expression. "I've got you," he murmured.
"I just…" Luna looked around and clutched Gale's arm for support. "There's…a lot of people…"
Gale shook off her hand only to grab it with his gloved hand. "I won't force you in there if you don't want to go," he promised. "We only have tonight where we can go back to how things used to. I want you to feel safe." He gave a humorless chuckle. "Even if I sound like a fucking hypocrite saying this considering I…"
Luna knew where this was going and wanted to comfort him. Before, she knew what to say, but now… She held back from trying. "I feel safe right now," she told him. "I…want to go in. Just, um…" She shifted. "Just don't leave me alone."
"'Course not," Gale promised. He looked at their joined hands. "Is this okay or…?" He cleared his throat. "Don't wanna overstep or anything. I just thought it might be easier this way…"
"O-Oh, um…" Luna looked at their hands. "No, um… This is…fine, I think." She squeezed his hand. "We can't get separated like this if we don't let go, right?" She scanned again. No one can get me if we stay close, right? Maybe this was a mistake. I should've stayed home. Her thoughts froze when she felt Gale readjust their hand position so their fingers interlaced. She looked at their hands before she looked at him. "What…?"
"We won't be separated." Gale tugged their intertwined hands for good measure. "Are you ready?"
Luna swallowed. "Mmm-hmm."
The inside of the mall had tinsel and balloons and streamers of pink and red and white and gold and that felt like it was understating a lot of things. The balloons were shaped in hearts or they had little messages on them such as Be Mine or You're the Sweetest or something that made you both laugh and cringe at the same time. Special Heart's Day buns and icicles and other snacks were being sold for the weekend. It was humorous watching people try to catch the flash sales. A few of the lingerie shops had ropes of people waiting to get inside to get quality lingerie for a cheaper price. The jewelry stores had accumulated happy couples and those who wanted to treat themselves as they brought out rose quartz and rubies and diamonds. The Magia Store was streaming all their classic Heart's Day cartoons while a pop rendition of So This is Love played overhead.
Luna flinched when someone bumped her, heart racing, but Gale snarled as he pulled her close. "Asshole." He looked down at her in concern. "You okay?"
"I'm fine," Luna whooshed. "I'm just, um, I… Sorry, I didn't…" She looked at the ground. "I'm sorry."
"No need to apologize," Gale soothed. "I've got you." He frowned when Luna nodded, but he could hear her heartbeat. She's not normally this skittish, but she has been these past two weeks. What happened?
Light eyes.
Gale locked his jaw. If that bastard touched her, I don't care about the stupid job. Her safety comes first.
"Are you okay?"
Gale looked to see Luna worriedly looking up at him. "What do you mean?"
"It's just…" Luna reached up a hand, but she thought the better of it. "I-I don't know. You seem…angry or something, but…" She treated. "Sorry. I haven't sensed you in a while. I probably got it wrong."
Gale sighed. "Nah, you got it right. I was thinking of something that pissed me off."
"Oh." Luna nodded. "I see…"
"Yeah."
Both of them fell quiet and thought, This is…so awkward.
It's been so long since we could go out together, Luna recalled. It's like I don't know what to say. And I keep messing up with thinking about… The fear tingled her as she remembered Hemlock. I… I know Gale isn't like Hemlock. He won't hurt me. He's my friend. But what if…? Her eyes darted around and the sea of people began to blur. What if …?
Gale wanted to kick his feet. It's been so long since we've been like this. I don't know what to say without making her uncomfortable. It didn't use to be like this. I could just hold her or something, but she has him now, and she's freaked about something. He stared at his gloved hand before he gritted his teeth. No. I can't look at her memories. Not like this. If she wants to tell me, she'll tell me. It's not like I have room to judge about keeping secrets, but… His nostrils flared.
Gale whipped his head to see Luna's eyes glassed over as her breathing pitched. He did not think. He just acted. His hand came to her cheek and tipped her to look up at him. "Look at me," he soothed. "Right at me, Blondie. Just me. No one else."
Luna vaguely focused on him, but at least she had heard him.
"Tell me five things you see around," Gale asked of her. "Five things, Blondie."
"I-I-I…" Luna took a hard swallow. The panic and the confusion of the request combatted each other. "I see…balloons? And, um…" She blinked as she tried to clear the blurring. "There's an ice cream stand, um… And that tree… There's a stroller and a bookshop."
"Good girl," Gale praised. "Four things you can touch."
"The ground," Luna spoke without thinking. "My coat." She squeezed his hand. "Your hand." Her free hand clutched his jacket. "Your coat."
Gale nodded. "Three things you can hear."
"You." The ugly panic was fading, and the blurring receded. "The mall music. A baby crying."
"Okay. Two things you can smell."
Luna inhaled deeply. "You." Her nose twitched. "And the sweet buns."
Gale's lips twitched. "One thing you can taste."
"My gum."
"Good girl." Gale knuckled her cheek. "How ya feelin', Blondie? A little better?"
"Yeah." Luna was surprised she did feel better. No more panicking or spiraling. No more feeling like she was in an ocean of white noise and fear. "Yeah, I do." She looked at Gale in wonder. "How did you do that?"
Gale gave a one-shoulder shrugged. "It's called the five-four-three-two-one technique," he explained. "Whenever I start getting too far into my head, we do different coping stuff. I thought this method was stupid, but it helped me out once. Figured I'd give it a try. Guess it has good results."
Luna shook her head. "I don't think it would've worked if it wasn't you."
Both froze.
Red heated their cheeks.
"Well, um, now that I'm feeling better," Luna carried on, abashed, "we can go walk around now."
"Uh, sure, yeah, cool." Gale started untangling their hands.
But Luna latched onto him. "Please don't let go." She offered him a beseeching look. "Don't let go."
How could Gale refuse that? "Never, principessa." He brought her knuckles up to kiss them. "You have me." Then he froze again. Shit, shit, shit, I did that without thinking. Dammit, she's probably going to get angry at me like last time—
Luna giggled behind a hand. "Yeah." She smiled. "And you have me too."
DOKI-DOKI.
Gale coughed and turned away. Dammit, she's just so friggen adorable. "L-Let's just start walking." He unraveled their hands only to wrap his arm around her waist and lace his hand with her other one. "Here. This way you can stick close," he mumbled. "So don't go wanderin' off, okay?"
Luna blinked, surprised, before she softened, warm with amusement. It's been so long that I get to see this side of him—when he acts like a pouty little kid. I've missed it. "I won't. Lead the way."
Their lazy stroll through the mall was nothing short of a drifter's route. This was where Gale and Luna differed. Luna's curiosity heightened at almost every store they passed by and Gale practically had to drag her away when she wanted to go into an underwear and pajamas store, only to cave when Luna pouted and he hated himself for it while she happily hummed along. She did get a little confused when she had brought them into the men's section and picked up quite the strappy thing—
Gale stole it from her and shoved her out the door. Natsu was not going to kill him for letting Luna be exposed to jockstraps.
Unfortunately, Gale could not say no to them going to the Magia Store and he did not care he looked grumpy when Luna put on Nikki-nyan ears on him. The next store was Create-A-Creature Workshop that gave children and adults the joys of making their own customized stuffies with their own clothes and accessories. And again, Luna's got her way when she gasped the prices had gone down and they absolutely had to make one. By the time they walked out, Gale had been settled with a black Dragon with a no-nonsense expression and customized wings while Luna had made her creature to Icarus' likeness.
They strolled past an old-school bookstore when Gale jerked them to a stop and rushed them inside. Luna had no idea what the thrill was about when Gale brought them over to the fantasy novel section and picked up the last book in an anthrology. He raved about it, thrilled he could find it, when he saw Luna trying and failing to keep back her amusement. She laughed when he looked adorably mortified and agitated and tried to leave her behind with her clinging to him.
After stops at a music store, a gothic store (where Luna had tried on a spiked collar and gave Gale a heart attack), and a candle store that made Gale nauseous (though, he sulked and waved away Luna trying to console him, much to her hilarity over his situation), the pair of them had decided to stop and sit at the edge of one of the grand water fountain as it performed quite the water show.
"This has been fun!" Luna cheered. "I'm really having a great time!"
"Me too." Gale rubbed his stomach. "But I'm starting to get hungry. You wanna get something to eat?"
Luna paused for a second, then her smile became forced. "Oh, no, that's okay! But you should eat something if you want to."
Gale's eyes narrowed. A lie. "You sure you're not hungry?"
"Oh, I'm okay, really, I just—"
GUUUUUUUUU…
Luna and Gale looked at Luna's stomach.
"Not hungry, huh?" Gale jested with a quirk of his eyebrow. "Come on. Let's get some food." He stood up and scanned. "We can head up to the food court—"
"Wait."
Gale looked down at Luna and took in the subtle fear scent. "Yeah?"
"Do you…?" Luna shifted. "Do you know any spells that…?" She shook her head. "Never mind."
Gale crouched before her. "Blondie…" He prodded her cheek. "C'mon. Spit it out. I'm not going to judge you. Unless…" He gave her a shark grin. "Were you thinking of some cutesy shit like us feeding each other? Damn. Didn't think you had it in you, Blondie."
"Shut up," Luna huffed, her nerves breaking. "I was just going to ask if you knew any spells to check food."
That surprised Gale. "Check food?" Why would she want a spell like that? 'Course I know 'em, but why would she want to…? Something unsettling nested in his chest. "Yeah, I do," he told her. "Not that hard. Why?"
Luna looked undeniably relieved. "Okay. Then we can go get food." She gathered her things. "How about a snack or something? I'm not in the mood for a big meal."
"Sure thing." Gale took her hand once she was settled. "Ready?"
Luna nodded. "Mmm. Yeah, let's go."
Before they could step back into the traffic, someone approached them with flies and a kind smile. "Oh! Are you two a couple?" he asked the pair of them. "Did you want to participate in our couples event this evening? The first-place prize has been claimed, but there are plenty of prices left! We have gift baskets, gift cards for the movies and restaurants…!" He gave a flyer to Luna. "It's worth your while."
Gale intended to correct him. "Sorry. We're not a—"
"We'll do it."
Gale gawked at Luna. She gave in so fast! "Uh, Blondie? What are you trying to do?"
Luna looked at the flyer with utmost seriousness. "Gale. We need to do this. They have…"—she showed him the flyer with the fire of resolve in her eyes—"a Poko plushie on the line in his Royal Edition."
Gale sweatdropped. How could I forget her obsession with that thing? He rubbed his head, sighing. "Do we really have to? I'm hungry."
"Gale."
He looked down at her, and his heart stopped.
Brown doe-eyes wholesome, Luna looked up at him with that cute pout and her hand came up to feather his cheek. "You will help me win…won't you?"
Gale's eyebrow twitched. "I don't…"
Chocolates widened.
Gale roughly swallowed. "I don't…"
Chocolates shimmered.
"Ugh…" Gale lowered his head, defeated. "Fine."
"Yay!" Luna checked the flyer as flowers and rainbows blossomed all around her to combat Gale's beaten and shameful aura. "Let's see. Oh, it looks like this is supposed to be a scavenger hunt today. Tomorrow is some special obstacle course featuring lacrimagames and puzzles and stuff, and Sunday is some eating contest." She beamed. "We're so lucky we get a scavenger hunt, right?"
This is fucking painful, Gale lamented as Luna muttered about what the eating contest had in-store. The fuck did we get stuck with some stupid scavenger hunt? I don't want to do that. I hate scavenger hunt unless it's a puzzle game or a clue hunt.
Glittering chocolate eyes. "You will help me win…won't you?"
Gale growled to himself. Goddammit. Who else suffers from not saying, 'no' to people this fucking cute?
("Achoo!" Dante, Nashi, and Jaxton sneezed at the same time.)
"Hey, I think this will actually be pretty easy," Luna realized. "We sort of have most of what we need." She listed off the item, "It stays here we need something borrowed, something blue, something old, something new, something for me, something for you, something for us, and something of two."
Gale narrowed his eyes as he stole the flyer. "How original can you get?" He grimaced as he scanned the flyer. "Well, let's get this over with," he groused. "You said we have most of it?"
"Right!" Luna settled them at the fountain to prove her point. "So the rules say that we can't use anything that we brought into here and we can't cross an item over with two genres, but it's fine because we bought stuff here that meets almost everything." She gestured to their Create-a-Creatures. "Something of two." She took out their shared back of her CD and his vintage vinyl. "Something old and something new." She took out his new fantasy novel and gestured to the cover. "Something blue." She grinned as she took out the Nikki-nyan and Nina-nyan ears, much to Gale's disgust. "Something for us."
"Put that shit away before someone sees," Gale grumbled. "And I am never wearing those."
Luna hummed as she put the ears away. "But we're still missing something for me and something for you and something borrowed," she realized. "They put down examples of what things could be and mentioned stores… Oh!"
Gale did not like that smile on Luna's face. "What?"
"Nothing," Luna chirped. "But I think I know where we can get the last items." Her smile widened. "Ready?"
Gale hesitated and narrowed his eyes. "Where are we going?"
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Fairy Adventure
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"Wow! You guys seemed to have collected all the items!"
Gale looked like he was dying while Luna was happy as a whistle in front of the event booth. "Thank you!" she appreciated. "Can we see the prizes now?"
"Of course!"
As Luna inspected the prizes, Gale tried to sap back some life into him. If Uncle Natsu finds out what we just did, I'm so screwed. Thank god Igneel isn't home. If he was… He winced at not just Natsu ready to lay into him, but with Igneel's temper unleashed… He clutched his heart. I'd be a dead man walking.
"Here you are!"
"Thank you!"
Gale sighed. "So are you happy now that you got your plushie?"
"Actually…"
Gale cocked his head to see Luna holding up to him two movie passes instead with a sheepish look.
"Someone got to the Poko plushie before I could," Luna told him. "But they still had movie passes left, so I thought…" She flushed. "Well, um… Maybe we could catch a movie or something tonight. It's been a while since we've seen a movie together, so I just thought…"
Gale blanked.
"It was stupid," Luna decided, feeling foolish. "I'm sorry. Let me ask for something else—"
"Nope." Gale swiped the movie passes. "Too late. I'm pretty sure the flyer said the prizes aren't exchangeable." He guided Luna away. "Come on. Let's go see a movie. We can load up on food for it too."
Luna beamed. "Sure! Sounds great!"
And she never checked that on the flyer, it did say prizes could be exchanged.
°•°•°•°
Luna might have been pleased as punch, but Gale was grumpy as they filed into the empty movie theater with their belongings and the food they brought in from the food court. This theater came with reclining seats, plenty of space, and a sound that rivaled other theaters.
Gale sneered as he saw a commercial for a Magia movie come on and had to grouse, "I should have never let you choose the movie. You always pull me into the stupidest shit."
"Beauty and the Beast is a classic," Luna told him as she found the sweet spot in the theater. "It's the animated movie with the extended scenes. How could anyone not see it?"
"Ask that to the empty movie theater," Gale grunted as they set up shop. Both of them took off the shoes and made sure their belongings were in place before they settled down. Gale made sure to put their drinks in the holders and Luna's milkshake on her other side before he passed her the dinner she chose. "I hate this movie so much."
Luna laughed. "Why? It's so cute!"
"It's about Stockholm syndrome," Gale deadpanned. "Blondie, it's romanticizing kidnapping and falling in love with your kidnapper. How is that cute—? Ow!"
"Don't ruin this movie for me," Luna scolded as Gale rubbed his arm. "You always do this. You start complaining about the movies I love and then I can't watch them anymore because the Magic is gone."
"What Magic? It's Stockholm syndrome," Gale emphasized. "I'm doing you a favor. Remember when you made me watched that stupid musical series about those high schoolers?"
Luna groaned. "I can't believe the main girl is actually the villain all along…! Now I can't watch those movies without getting angry every time she's on screen, you butt!"
"I simply opened your eyes," Gale snickered. "But fine. I won't touch your precious Beauty and the Beast even though it romanticizes a disorder." He opened the lid on his container before he went for his chopsticks. "But just so we're clear—"
"If you tell me Gaston is suddenly the good guy, I will murder you," Luna threatened.
Gale pretended to be offended. "I would never make such an unsound argument for that nutcase." He held a hand in surrender. "But, fine. Fine. I won't ruin your weird romance movies that capitalize on a child's innocence while it romanticizes unhealthy habits just because I want you to be naïve and happy like the good person I am."
"Thank you." Luna paused. "Hey—!"
Gale burst into laughter.
Luna huffed as she made sure to eat her burger over her container. "Jerk," she muttered between bites.
Their dinner went by fast with no conversation between them. By the time both were finished, Beauty and the Beast started with its overture that would tell the tale of an arrogant noble boy and his descent into the Beast. Gale glanced over to see Luna had been quickly engrossed with the opening title sequence with her seat reclined, but he was more transfixed on her. It's been almost a month and a half since we've been close like this. I know it's for one night. If her dad figured out I trespassed and stole her away, Hell would break loose. He looked down at his hands. It's not like I'm better with only a few sessions. I just started…to talk about Emma and what happened. I know I've got a long way to go, but still…
"Are you okay?"
Gale looked up to see Luna giving him a concerned expression. "Sorry. Were you saying something?"
"Mmm-mmm." Luna scanned him as she turned to curl on her side and draw up her jacket that she had been using as a blanket. "What's wrong? You look like you have a lot on your mind."
Gale teased, "What is this, Blondie, pillow talk?"
"Gale…"
He sighed and ran a hand down his face. "It's nothing," he dismissed. "Just caught up in my head, I guess."
"Do you want to talk about it?" Luna offered. "You don't have to tell me everything. You can tell me as much as you want."
Gale raised an eyebrow. "And the movie?"
"You're more important," Luna told him. She made room on her recliner. "Come on. We can talk instead. It's not like we could talk back home."
Gale was still skeptical, but he did get up. "You sure about this? I mean, you know, considering…"
"I'll use the Lacrima Spray Nashi gave me," Luna assured. "And about Bleu…" Something darted across her expression. "I…" She shook her head. "Don't worry about him. You need a friend right now. I'll talk to him later. So, come on."
Gale sighed. "You're so stubborn." Even so, he climbed onto her recliner. He had to give it to this movie theater. The recliners felt like smaller loveseats, but he had seen couples share the recliners before. It was discouraged by the theater to do so, but not everyone had a theater code of ethics they followed. Between him and Luna, the recliner held them moderately, though it forced him on his side with one arm thrown out and another on his side. "Here I am. Happy?"
"I'd be happier if you'd tell me what's going on," Luna said softly. "I know we haven't actually spoken since the Snow Ball. It's February now. I know things happened to both of us. Things that…"—her eyes lowered—"we might not be able to talk about. But if we only have tonight to be like how we used to, then I want to talk like we used to."
Gale shook his head, smiling. "God, you say the sappiest shit ever." He thumbed her cheek. "Guess that's what makes you such a cute, little princess."
Luna blushed. "Gale…"
"Yeah, yeah, I know." Gale brought his hand back to his side as he shifted. "Hell, where do I even start?"
"Something simple," Luna suggested. "Easy. We don't have to be too serious yet."
Gale hummed. "Okay…" It came to him. "Did you know Carlisle's dating one of my good friends?"
Luna's eyebrows shot up. "Really? That's great!"
"What do you mean 'that's great'? This is horrible," Gale complained. "He's such a pain in my fucking ass. I have to put up with him because if I don't, Dante will kick my ass and probably beat me all the way to Hell." He rolled his eyes while Luna simpered. "I hope they're having sex or something because Dante was a pain in my ass this week and last week."
"How come?"
Gale blew out a breath. "Guess Carlisle told Dante they couldn't touch or sleep in the same bed until whatever he does was over with. I've seen Dante get frustrated, but I never want to deal with that level of frustration again."
"You must be talking about Carlisle's figure skating," Luna assumed. "He came in first place at his competition. I watched both of his programs, and he was so amazing!"
Gale huffed. "Great. Now I have to hear about you fawn over him too. How do you people like him? He's annoying as fuck."
"He's really great," Luna laughed. "You just hate people just because." When Gale snorted, she told him, "Well, here's something I want your opinion about, but this stays between us, okay?"
"Cross my heart and hope to die."
Luna giggled. "E and Silver—"
"She'd kill him. The end."
Luna gawked as Gale reached over to slurp some of his drink. "You didn't even hear what I was going to say!"
"It's no shit your water boy has the hots for Little Miss Scarlet Witch," Gale told her point-blank, "but that's never going to happen. I mean, she even terrifies me. Him?" He wrinkled his nose as he thought about Silver. "Yeah… Your boy is like a twink. He's just so…shrimpy."
Luna whacked Gale's chest. "Come on. Silver is an amazing person, and he has a lot of talents. You can't see it?" Her brow furrowed. "And how did you know he likes her?"
Gale tapped his nose. "All in the schnozz. Water Boy gives off some really strong pheromones whenever I see him around Red. Put two and two together and you have a stable boy pining after a queen."
Didn't Luke say something about Silver's scent? Luna dismissed the thought. "Don't be mean," she admonished. "Don't you think they'd be cute?"
"Nope." Gale shook his head. "She'd kill him, Blondie, and she wouldn't even have to think about. She would straight-up murder his ass." He ticked off three fingers. "Listen. Scarlet Witch, Lady J, and Janie are three women I do not fuck with. Igneel's the right amount of insane to go for Janie. I try not to think about Lady J's love life. But your water boy has a snowball's chance of getting Red to notice him unless he's in it for the long game." Now that I think about it… Nashi's scent is more of a mated one now and Gary stalked her for years. And didn't Aunt Juvia stalk Uncle Gray for years? He sweatdropped. Damn. Maybe Silver does have a chance…
Luna sighed. "Fine. I'll drop it for now." Two beats. "Well, um… How's everything else going for you? School…okay?"
Gale snickered. "Here I thought you wanted us to kick it like before, but now you sound like you're on some awkward first date. School? Seriously?"
"It's not my fault we don't talk anymore," Luna snapped. "You're the one who—!"
Both held pause before they avoided each other's eyes.
"Sorry," Luna whispered.
"No. I am." Gale ran his fingers through his hair. "If I could take back what I did, I would, but I can't. And it is my fault." He shook his head. "Igneel was the one telling me to stay away from you too. He's gonna be pissed as shit hearing about this."
Luna's brow furrowed. "I know he wasn't all that happy with us being friends…"
Gale scrubbed his jaw. "Before Igneel left, he warned me to stay away from you."
"What?" Agitation pinched Luna's face. "What's his problem? Why would he—?"
"Because—!" Gale let out a terse breath. "Because Igneel knew stuff about me no one else knew. Not my parents. Not Master. Not siblings." His eyes flicked to her. "Not even you."
Luna backed down from her annoyance and traded it for understanding. "The girl in your wallet…is Emma, isn't it?"
Gale nodded. "Yeah."
"Igneel knew about her?"
"He did."
Luna knew well enough not to press. I always saw Igneel and Gale fight. They'd talk sometimes, but still… A thought occurred. "You talked to Igneel before he left? When?"
"That night of the fire," Gale confessed. "When we were put up at Granny Porlyusica's hut. He came back to tell me he was leaving."
Luna could not believe this. "You knew he was going to leave, and you didn't say anything? You didn't stop him?"
Gale bristled under Luna's accusations. "You and I both know Igneel does what he wants," he replied. "And he had good reasons to leave. It wasn't my place to hold him back."
"But you could have told me!" Luna countered. "I would have—!"
"And what would you have done?" Gale retorted. "Told him to stay even when he wanted to go?"
"But why would he want to go?" Luna challenged. "Why would he just leave like that? He just left all on his own like we didn't even matter!"
Gale wanted to snap something, but something made him stop and assess her, and somehow, his memory of Mary Jane came back to him.
"Igneel's…gone, Gale, okay? He's just—… He's gone. He left." Despaired cerulean. "He left me."
"He left and…and he didn't even say, 'goodbye'."
Why didn't I see it before? Gale realized. I'm an idiot. He cradled Luna's jaw. "You're not upset he left," he murmured. "You're upset he left without saying, 'goodbye'." He chuckled when Luna sniffled. "Aw, Blondie." He pulled her in for a hug she reciprocated. "Igneel and I might've fought a lot, but I know for a fact you mattered to him. I know it hurts he didn't say, 'goodbye'. But I'm sure why he didn't was because he wouldn't have been able to leave if you were crying."
"I wouldn't have cried." Gale's shirt muffled Luna's defensive mumble. "I would have understood if he just told us."
"He didn't see it that way," Gale murmured. "And I don't either." I get it now. It sucks, but I get it. He knew Mary Jane and Luna were the two people capable of making him stay. But he had to leave. He pulled back to thumb away Luna's stray tears. I know I would have stayed too if it meant she wouldn't cry. "I promise if I leave, I'll give you a two weeks' notice, all right? Get all your crying out of the way so you can send me off properly."
Luna sniffed. "Why would you be leaving?"
"Just for future reference," Gale told her. "I'm not going anywhere, Blondie." Not yet. Not until I pull myself together. He nuzzled her under his chin. "You're so sentimental. Geez. Crying on our only time to be together."
Luna sniffled. "Well, it's not like I meant to do it, you jerk."
Gale chortled when he felt Luna hit him. "Okay, I'm sorry, no teasing," he promised. "You're just so cute being all touchy-feely that I couldn't resist."
"I could tell Papa you kidnapped me," Luna threatened with no real heat.
Gale snorted. "Like you have the balls to do that." He shifted to check his Compact and his heart plummeted at the time. "Damn."
"What?" Luna lifted her head to see the time as well. The screen read 10:57 PM. Disappointment stung her. "We have an hour until midnight, huh?"
Gale hummed. "Yeah. It'll take some time for us to get back to your home too." He darkened the screen and shoved his Compact back into his pocket before he turned to Luna. "You know. While this movie about bestiality and Stockholm syndrome is clearly a classic"—he smiled when Luna laughed—"why don't we do something a little better?"
"What do you have in mind?" Luna asked.
Gale's smile widened. "It's a surprise."
°•°•°•°
The East Forest of Magnolia had rid itself of a good chunk of snow due to the weather. What once was inches of powder white had dialed back. Snow still blazed the forest floor and the night weather kept the small streams and rivers frozen, but the trees got some relief from the snow.
Icarus settled down before the gazebo at Dragon Pond. The pond was still frozen over for the winter and would not start thawing out until March, but that did not matter for now. Gale helped Luna down before escorting her into the gazebo that had been cleaned out and enchanted to keep the interior warm and fresh.
Luna frowned as she took a look around. "What's the surprise?"
A piano and a cello lay down the chords in Eb major before a flute and xylophone carried the main motif in the introduction.
Luna turned around, shaking her head in amusement. "Seriously?"
"Why not? The last time we were here and the last time we danced together were pretty rough memories. So, if we only have one night…" Gale held out his hand with his jacket folded on the bench and his Compact playing the romantic instrumental. "Let's make some new memories."
Luna shrugged off her jacket and laid it on the bench. "So you feel confident enough to dance with me without your mask now?" she goaded as she accepted his hand. "How brave of you."
"Shut up," Gale grumbled as he laid a gentle hand on her waist. "You should be grateful I stepped in on Hallow's Eve." He guided her in a lilting waltz.
"I am," Luna assured. "I just don't understand why you never told me you could dance. I mean, you always complained even when I wanted to play Just Move."
Gale huffed. "'Cause that game is stupid and rigged." He rolled a shoulder. "'Sides, you technically never asked me if I could dance." He offered a knowing smirk. "You just made an assumption about me. And you know what they say about assuming."
"You are such a jerk," Luna laughed.
"A jerk who's good at dancing, right? Right?" Gale prodded while Luna giggled. "C'mon, Blondie, ya gotta give it to me I'm a pretty great dancer. Maybe the best you've ever had."
Luna feigned contemplation. "I don't know… Cane is a pretty great dancer, to begin with." Her mind flashed back to Alvarez and she could see it again when Jay transitioned into Cane in a series of painful movements. Cane… How did Jay do that? Where did he go? Is he connected to Aamon too?
"Blondie?"
Luna was pulled back into the present. "Sorry. Yes?"
Gale searched her eyes. "Where did you go just now?"
"Oh, uh…" A withering smile. "Nowhere. The past, I guess." She looked all around them. "Everything feels like it happened so long ago, but it also feels like it happened yesterday."
Gale had to side with her. "I get what you mean," he murmured. "Time is a pretty wonky concept." He snorted. "Then again, we have Time Magic, so maybe our perception of time is changing from everyone else." He felt Luna tense a little in his hold. "Have you been having any visions?"
Luna's eyes pulled down. "A few," she admitted, timbre small. "None of them were good. In the end, people got hurt. It's been pretty overwhelming." She chewed on her bottom lip before she confessed, "I missed being able to talk to you about them."
"You can talk to me about them now," Gale offered. "I'll listen."
Luna sighed. "I… I can't."
A disheartened feeling weighed heavy on Gale's chest. "You can't?"
"It's not that I don't want to," Luna quickly assured. "But I…" She struggled for a plausible reason. "I…made a promise on a few of them not to tell. I'm sorry."
"No worries. It's okay," Gale soothed and shook off the hurt. "Don't break your promise."
"Okay." Luna hesitated before she added, "But there was…one vision that I could tell you about that has nothing to do with my promise. It had something to do with some underground laboratory, I think. And there was a man there…" Her eyes widened, and she looked up at Gale. "A man with your sunstone band."
Gale's eyes widened. "What?"
"Do you still have it?"
Gale shook his head, eyes clear with guilt. "No, I don't. I…lost it while I was on a job in the Boundary Forest." He sighed. "But I can't really remember the job at all except that something happened to me and I ended up hospitalized." And Bleu's old man was involved with it. Not like I can say that…
"What?" New worry festered within Luna. "What happened?" She cupped his cheek as she checked him for signs of injury. "Are you okay? When was this?"
Gale chuckled. "Easy there, Mother Hen, I'm okay," he calmed her. "It happened a little over two weeks ago." His chuckles died as he tried to remember the job. "I don't know what happened. My memories blacked out. Sycaña told me she took over my body to help escape, but she doesn't recall who stole me or where I ended up. I have a clean bill of health, though, so don't worry about me."
"It's hard not to worry about you when you get into trouble like this," Luna muttered. "Seriously, Gale, you need to be careful. What if something horrible had happened and you didn't come home? I can't…" Her hand fell from his cheek to rest on his chest. "If you didn't come home…"
"Hey, hey, no getting sad," Gale rumbled. "I'm not going anywhere and neither are you."
Quiet.
"But what if I did?" Luna swallowed. "What if…there came a day I had to go if it meant…if it meant I could protect everyone?" If Alvarez wanted us back, we'd have to go.
"Then I'm coming too."
Luna closed her eyes. "It's not that easy."
"Nothing's easy." Gale dropped his hands for his arms to surround her waist and broke them into a sway. "Shit's going to be difficult. Life is full of hard choices. And I think we know by now that life isn't fair." He lifted his chin as the memories danced before him. "Igneel could have died in Kardia because of Forneus. Bellum was a train wreck. The souls and power Bael stole from people can't be taken back. We could have been stuck in the past." Rubies shone. "I could have died." Words solemn. "You could have died. We had to make hard choices or else people could have died. That's not going to change. Things are going to get harder for us."
"So what are you supposed to do?" Luna whispered.
"Well…" Gale took in a deep breath then exhaled. "We do what we have to do. And that's all we can do. Do what we think is the best option."
"Even if people get hurt?" Luna questioned. "Even if innocent people with families and kindness who don't even know they're on the wrong side…get hurt?"
Gale sighed through his nose. "We defend the innocent," he gave to her. "Sometimes, people are misinformed or ignorant. Anti-Magic Spiritless apologists and the Faction spew their bullshit daily. But if a Warlock took over an Anti-Magic Spiritless town, I'd still defend them. Even if they hated me, called me a Magi, called me names—I'd still defend them. I hate bullies and racists. I know for a fact if the positions were reversed, assholes like that wouldn't think twice before leaving me behind. But," he continued, "when I became a Fairy Tail Mage, I agreed to defend all life that can't defend themselves. I'll take on a Warlock any day. But Spiritless can't defend themselves, so I have to do it for them, even if they're ignorant little shits."
"It just doesn't seem right," Luna whispered. "People who are on the wrong side… Some of them can be so kind and nice, but it's like they want to believe what they want to believe."
"Yeah, people can be like that," Gale agreed. "And it sucks when nice people turn out to be horribly wrong about the world. And it's not right whatsoever. We could tell them they're wrong until we pass out or give them proof, but they believe whatever the Hell they want to believe. Shit's painful to watch and deal with." He rubbed her back. "But we're the suckers who fight for their right to live, anyway."
Luna swallowed. "Thank you."
Gale smiled. "For what, Blondie?" He blinked when Luna pulled away to look up at him. Surprised ruby connected with soft chocolate.
"Just for being you," Luna supposed. "I missed you."
Gale faked a laugh. "I'm sure you've been fine. You had Red and Water Boy to keep you company and your Balto over there. And…"—he had to make himself say it—"you've had Bleu too." He tried to meet her eyes when she looked away. "What? What is it?"
"Nothing," Luna tried to dismiss.
"Blondie," Gale warned.
Luna rolled her lips, but she stayed quiet.
Kang's words came back to Gale. "Are you sure she moved on from you, or is she dating to force herself away from you?"
I want to ask her if she's happy…ask her if she loves him, but… Gale refrained himself from doing so. No, I know she doesn't. Love has a distinct scent. But whenever I bring him up, she smells sad. And…it's not really my right to ask anymore. Not if she loves him. But as a friend…
He told her in soft tones, "I made a choice to try to help myself heal. For so long, I tried to pretend I was fine and that…I deserved everything that happened to me before." His eyes fell to the side. "I accepted a lot of things that I shouldn't have. I thought I had it handled. But I never did. And because of that, I screwed up. I picked fights I shouldn't have." Rubies fell to pain. "I hurt you when you just wanted to love me. When I saw your memories, I…"
He closed his eyes, body tense with shame. "It was like everything came back to me. Everything that had been done to me suddenly came back up. But I know you never took that advice. You weren't telling me you loved me just to hurt me. You w-w-weren't…"—he swallowed thickly—"h-her."
"You don't have to do this," Luna hushed.
But Gale shook his head. "I want to." He leaned into her hand when she touched his cheek. "Thing is, I need to talk about it. I know that. It's going to be a bitch to talk about." He let out a half-laugh half-exhale when Luna thumbed away a tear drifting down his cheek.
"I don't know what happened, but I know it'll be hard for you to talk about," Luna murmured. "Trust me. I understand." Her own eyes stung. "Sometimes, it's like I can see the memories, but I can't say what happened. It's not easy."
"It isn't," Gale agreed. "As much as I hate it when Doc says it to me, we just have to take it one day at a time."
"Right." Luna huffed her face into Gale's chest. "I missed this. I missed talking to you."
Gale hugged her back. "I missed you too, Blondie."
"I'm sorry for all the fighting," Luna apologized. "I'm sorry I got mad and I wasn't being nice."
Gale hummed. "I'm sorry for all the fighting too." He rubbed her back. "It wasn't fair of me to get angry at you and snap at you. You might've gotten on my nerves"—he broke into a chuckle when Luna pinched him in retribution—"but it doesn't excuse me for acting shitty." Rubies darkened. "I should have never left you alone when we went to BC Towers the first time. Doesn't matter that you know the guy. I didn't trust him. I still don't. I should have stayed instead of gone all shitty and left you behind and…"
"And…sleeping with someone?" Words small.
Gale exhaled out of his nose. "Yeah." He nuzzled her. "I wanted to wait until I was with someone I respected and cared about and they felt the same about me. Not bashing on people that don't. That was just my thinking. And I didn't. I regret that." A heaved sigh. "And I hurt you. God." He shook his head. "I did a lot of shitty things."
"I did too," Luna murmured.
Not like this, Blondie, Gale wanted to say, but he held back.
"I know…I shouldn't, but…" Luna's shoulders dropped as she pulled away, eyes done. "Never mind."
Gale observed her for a few moments before he pulled her to the surrounding bench. "Here. Come on." He helped her sit before he took a seat beside her. Her hands clutched her dress while he rubbed the back of his next. A tense silence dwelled between them, unsure where to toe the boundary—unsure where the boundary was.
"You feel it as much as I do." Mary Jane's words tickled his ears. "She's hiding something, and she doesn't want anyone to know. She isn't happy."
She smelled sad on occasion before, but…these past two weeks, it's like she carries a sadness with her, Gale observed. I know her old man noticed, but he probably hasn't said anything to try not to make her freak out. I shouldn't either. But…
"You're just going to head home when she is alone and upset?"
Gale clenched his hands. "Hey, um… Blondie?"
"Yes?"
"Are you…?" Gale risked laying his hand atop hers and watched when her nimble fingers slid between his bigger ones. "Are you…happy?" He added haltingly, "Are you happy with Bleu?"
Luna could not meet his eyes as she answered, "Yes…" Her eyelashes fluttered when Gale's hand guided her chin so sullied chocolate connected with somber ruby.
"What is it?" Gale asked. "What's wrong?" When she sighed, he tacked on in a soothing murmur, "You don't have to tell me everything. You can tell me as much as you want."
Luna briefly looked up at him as pain wrote across her face. "I just…" She leaned into his hand when it cupped her cheek. "I miss not being like this," she confided. "I miss…not being so scared." A deep breath. "Today was the first time I left Magnolia in the last two weeks. I hate that I…" A thick swallow. "I hate that leaving Magnolia makes me nervous now."
"Why didn't you tell me?" Gale questioned. "I shouldn't have pushed you—"
"No, it's okay, I…" She gazed at him. "I felt s-s-safe…with you, but…" Her eyes turned crestfallen. "But I don't think I'll want to leave for a while, and I hate myself. I just miss not feeling like this. I just want to go back when I didn't have all these memories." She shook her head and shakily exhaled. "I miss how everything was before."
Gale opened his mouth, but he stopped himself. I miss it too, but…at the same time, I like where I am now. But I get what she means. Going back to when she didn't carry this sadness… And then it hit him. "Blondie… There is a way to see how things were before."
"How?" Luna sniffed. "We can't just go back to the past—"
"No, we can't." Gale let go of her to slip off one of his gloves. "But we can see it."
Luna looked at him then his hand. "Gale, I…" She pulled away. "But I thought you can't control it. And the last time we touched…" She did not need to say more. They both knew what happened the last time they touched.
"I know, but… I want you to see you the way I do," Gale told her. "I'll try to control it. I haven't had much practice, but I just want you to see." He held out his hand to her. "Let me show you what you miss."
Luna heisted, eyes flashing from his encouraging eyes to his naked hand. She offered a tiny nod after a split-second decision. "Okay." Her hand hovered over his. "Show me." She locked her fingers with his—
Visions burst between them.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Unlike before, the visions were not wild cards that dashed across with no rhyme or reason. They did not fast forward so you could not catch the meaning behind them. These visions of the past were clear and concise. They showed memories of a pure childhood when they were oblivious to the world. They showed times of kindness from both of their perspectives from when he came inside, injured from another fight with Igneel, and she was happy enough to use her Poko band-aids on me, even if he looked begrudged at the aspect with his cheeks pink. It showed simpler times when Luna, Silver, and Ena hung out with Silver and Ena ready to murder each other while Luna did her best to intervene. It showed those summer nights when Gary was missing when she would climb into Nashi's bed to comfort her sister. It showed times where peace felt limitless.
Time flashed forward. The visions spiraled to how they celebrated in the victory of Luna's first mission on the Arborea Summit. It danced around to their joy watching Fantasia together with her settled in his lap and the way both of them were dazzled at the fireworks. But the visions took a turn. Peace was the theme, but it showed times were there was more than just peace between them. The visions flashed of their flushed cheeks, the way their hands interlaced, the way their lips brush. And it came back with a force. The vision that ended it.
The vision of her confession.
Luna felt trapped in such a vision. She was forced to watch from her perspective and his and it pained her. "Gale, stop it!"
"I…! I can't!" Gale lamented, agonized. "I'm sorry…! I…!" He bit back a groan when he was forced to watch Luna take the leap and he met her halfway with their first kiss. "I'm sorry," he choked. "I'm sorry." Grief wound in him when he had to watch rage blacken his heart and slaughtered him when he saw the fear splashed on Luna's face. But the vision warped itself. No longer was a scaly Gale enraged was taking up their vision. A man with his eyes covered and a smirk had taken over.
"Come here, Princess," he purred. "Are you ready for your bath?"
"NO!" Luna screamed. "Get out! Get away from me!"
Gale felt covered in Luna's fear. "Blondie—!"
"Ah…!" A pressure built in the back of Luna's head. "I…! I can't…! Ah!"
White burst forward like a bullet train over the visions of the past to show a vision of the future. Colors and sounds and smells overlapped, and Luna felt like she was drowning in the current of visions. "I…can't do this! Gale!"
"Hold on!" Gale called as he grunted through the pain of being overwhelmed. He could barely keep his lock on her as the future forced itself before his eyes. "Blondie—!"
Like a puzzle, pieces came together to build one final picture. Darkness had shed into the East Forest as a car sped down the winding private drive. But inside the car was a well-dressed young man with light eyes and a stricken look on his face—
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Hands ripped apart, Luna fell into Gale's chest as they panted, pupils blown out, hearts racing. It felt like they had just been resuscitated from drowning. That was the only way to describe it. They had not been able to breathe or think much when they were trapped, but they had their freedom back to see their present. Gale hugged her as he tried hard to get rid of the black spots in his eyes. A cotton ball tasted landed in his mouth that made him hack and cough and a sickness rolled through his stomach, but he kept himself together.
"I'm sorry," he breathed. "I'm so fucking sorry, Blondie."
"I… I'm sorry," Luna whimpered. "I… I couldn't control it." Her shoulders shook. "I hate this power so much. I don't want to see the future. I hate the past too. I just want to stay right here." She looked up at him. "Can we do that? Just stay here?"
Gale let out a stream of air as he finally could collect his thoughts and process them. "We can't," he told her regrettably. "As much as we want to live in the present, we can't, Blondie. We can't…forget our past." He cradled her jaw when her bottom lip quivered. "We can't outrun the things that haunt us," he murmured to her. "I'm starting to get that. I can't outrun it. But…I can try and accept it."
"But what if what happened wasn't fair?" Luna asked. "What if it was wrong? What if…it hurt? We just have to accept that?"
Gale sadly nodded. "It's not fair, I know," he murmured. "Shit's never fair when it hurts you. It fucking sucks. I can't speak on this like I'm a professional because I'm not. And I can't speak about what you should do." Rubies sparked. "But things between Emma and I… I let that shit just stay with me for so long. I kept denying it. I kept…lying to myself it happened. I thought it was my fault. And maybe it is—I don't know; I haven't gotten to the whole 'healing' part. But I started accepting what she did to me. She…" His nostrils flared as he took in a shaky breath. "She…hurt me…and she kept doing it." He swallowed. "And I can't run from that. I'm accepting she did that to me."
"I'm so sorry," Luna whispered. "I'm so sorry, Gale."
Gale shook his head. "Don't sweat it. I'm…learning to accept it happened." He hesitated, but he added in soft tones, "I can't speak on what happened to you. I can guess, but I don't know. And I won't ask. I won't get preachy and tell you what I think you should do. Acceptance is fucking hard to do. But I can at least say it helps me."
Luna nodded, but she offered no more on the subject.
Gale chuckled. "Come on, Blondie. I know we were just dealing with something heavy, but I could use one of your smiles right about now for a pick-me up." A laugh bubbled involuntarily out of Luna, and it made Gale grin. "There it is. The famous smile. That's my girl."
Luna gently shook her head. "You asked me…if I was happy." She searched his eyes. "Are you happy?"
"No." Gale smiled when Luna looked disheartened. "I will be. Things take time. I'm not happy, but I'm a work-in-progress. And I'm okay with that." He shook his head in subtle disbelief and hilarity combined. "But god, I've missed you, Blondie-girl," he laughed.
Luna smiled. "I—"
But her words were cut off when they bought saw her Compact light up.
Luna pulled away to tend to it and saw Bleu was calling her. Her heart plummeted. "It's…"
"I know." Gale slipped on his glove as he avoided her eyes.
"My vision," Luna remembered. "That's what I saw. He was driving, but…" She looked at her Compact. "He must have been driving here to talk to me." The call ended, but a new call took its place only a few seconds later.
"Then…" Gale breathed out all the words he wanted to say. "You should go to him, Blondie."
Luna looked at him in partial disbelief. "What?"
"You should go." Gale turned his face away from her. "Our time is almost up anyway, Blondie." He stood up to shrug on his coat, but he did grab hers. "Come on. It's time."
Luna wanted to say something, but what could she say? She got up and turned around as Gale helped her put on her jacket. In a forlorn quiet, they left the gazebo together where Icarus was patiently waiting for them. Both of them could remember the last time this happened. Last time, their emotions were high and everything was on its axis. Now, their emotions were brewed in regret and with guilt. She messed with one of Icarus' saddlebags to take out Gale's belongings. But when she tried to hand him the Create-A-Creature bag, he declined it and gently pushed it back to her.
"Keep it," Gale told her with his smile despondent and his eyes reluctantly understanding. "I won't do much with a stuffed Dragon anyway, so you keep it." His hand came up to touch her cheek and brushed down as her watched her golden strands slip between his fingers. "Think of it as a cute li'l souvenir from me busting you out of your tower for the night." He winked at her. "Just make sure you have a good story if someone asks about it. I'm not in the mood to have my ass set on fire by your old man."
Luna hummed a note of laughter. "Right. I'll think of something." She looked in the bag to see the black Dragon plushie staring back at her. "Thanks for tonight. Really. I had fun. It felt like…"
"Yeah, I know. It did," Gale completed for her. "But it…won't be happening again." He quieted her with a finger to her lips when she looked on the on-set of distraught. "Don't worry. I'll still be training with you. I'll follow the rules. You better do the same. I still have shit to figure out on my own." He raised her chin before she could lower it. "And you do too."
Luna's eyes glimmered. "Thank you," she whispered. "I'm sorry."
"Hey, don't beat yourself up about it," Gale rumbled. "Just do what makes you happy. I…" He sighed. "I fucking hate I can't make you happy." He added before Luna could contradict him, "I know I make you happy now, but… I still need to figure out things with my past. I'm not better. I don't want to snap at you like before. I just want one day when I wake up and I can actually be okay with looking at myself, y'know?"
Luna offered, "I know that'll happen."
"One day. Not now. But one day." Gale smiled when Icarus whined and bumped his snout to his hand. "Hey, mutt. You not angry at me anymore? Gonna let me get away with being close to Blondie?"
Rather than respond, Icarus rumbled, Your journey will be long. You may find yourself go backwards as well as forwards. You may stay still too. But your journey is taken at your place, young Drake. Be will.
"Yeah." Gale rubbed Icarus' jaw. "Thanks, Icarus." He looked back at Luna. "Come on, Blondie. Time to go."
Luna dipped her head. "Right."
Gale was the one to put his dragon plushie and bag back in the saddlebag. He helped Luna mount Icarus' saddle and made sure she was adjusted. The past buzzed between them. The past filled with love and tears and regret and savored touches. But the present had dissolved into understanding and a quiet pain. He took a step back and shoved his hands in his pockets with a nod to her. But it was more than that. It was not just a step back. It was his division from his past self. He would not try to press his luck and get a last touch, a forbidden kiss. He and the Wild were in agreement. They accepted…and let go.
No tears spread on Luna's face. She glanced at him on more time, but her hands were on the reigns. Her past with silent cries and the urge to not let go, to beg and beg and beg for them to stay—it disintegrated for the present where she knew better. She knew he was right…and she accepted it. She rubbed Icarus' neck and, without question, he growled and broke into a run.
The past Gale was beside Gale now. The agony of losing half of himself destroyed him and the Wild. They were an inconsolable beast doused in grief. But the present Gale was not a beast in mourning. The Wild was not thrashing, straining to give chase, hunt her down, beg for forgiveness. The Wild was dejected but accepting as it laid down. The ground rose from beneath Gale, but the movements were fluid and calm. He rose above the trees as the wind galloped around him. His eyes gleamed as they cut through the darkness to see Luna and Icarus go.
The past Gale howled.
But the present Gale…
He opened his mouth.
RAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAW…!
Icarus jumped over a fallen log as he raced through the forest with Luna on her back. She looked back when she heard the roar, but it did not sing a lonesome song that the animals of the forest crooned with him as though lamenting his loss. The sound was nothing worrisome or aggrieved. But it spoke to her none the same. Turning away, she faced front as she saw the house in the distance.
"Are you happy?"
Chocolate darkened. No. I'm not.
Icarus threaded into the backyard, but he did not stop. He sprinted around the house.
I'm not happy. Not with myself or…
They rounded to the front of the house where a spiffy car parked in the driveway. Bleu was on the porch and looked torn between relief and pain the moment he saw her.
…or with him.
Icarus slowed from a run to a trot to a walk, but he stopped on the pathway and lowered himself for Luna to dismount. She readjusted the saddle straps as Bleu told her, "Treasure. We need to talk."
"Yeah." Luna adjusted the final strap. "I think so too."
The two rings—one of sunstone and one of moonstone—looked a little brighter than before. Perhaps they are not back to look brand spanking new, but they still looked rejuvenated and buffed up.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
•
Not all stories have a happy end
But they still tell of acceptance
Between a Beast and his princess
They have long to go
Both together and apart
But they'll still have each other
In both mind and in heart
•
In our next tale of tales as two people you know
A red riding hood who is stubborn
And a wolf who wants to atone
You'll see them soon when the time is right
Until then, Happy Heart's Day to all
And to all a good night
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Kakato de RIZUMU totte
Mawaru yo taiko ni awasete
Shiroi tsuki TANBARIN
Te ni totte uchi narashite miru
Fue no hibiite...
•
Negaigoto hitotsu
Tsuki ga shizumu made
Kuchi ni dasa nakereba kanau hazu
Takanaru mune no koishisa wa
Anata ni mo himitsu no mama
•
Gaku no ne ni ukare
Orite kita hoshi ga
Gin-iro no hane wo furuwase
Kyou wa mahou no yoru dakara
Kutsu no suzu no ne ga
Owaranai...
TO BE CONTINUED…
Next time
On Fairy Adventure
Episode 082
TALES OF HEART'S DAY WEEKEND
LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD
Voices of Characters in Order of Appearance
— • — • — • —
Narrator – Kelsey Grammer
Luna Dragneel – Brynn Apprill
Natsu Dragneel – Todd Haberkorn
Lucy Heartfilia-Dragneel – Cherami Leigh
Icarus – Christopher Sabot
Luke Dragneel – Alan Lee
Mary Jane Dreyar – Erica Lindbeck
Gale Redfox – Greg Cipes
Lucifer "Bleu" Demiurge – Xander Mobus
• — • — •
Additional Voices
Opening Narrator – Mary McGlynn
Description Narrator – Mary McGlynn
Closing Narrator – Melissa Fahn
— • — • — • —
⌜OPENING SONG
⟪ Prism ⟫
ClariS & GARNiDELiA
Lyrics by
Ryosuke Shigenaga⌟
•
⌜ENDING SONG
⟪ Moonfesta ⟫
Kalafina
Lyrics by
Kajiura Yuki⌟