Fairy Adventure

by Magnafeana

Join Lucy, Natsu, and the rest of Fairy Tail as they not only take on new challenges but watch as their kids take on new adventures and face new challenges! Join Luna, Nashi, and the upcoming generation of Mages on Fairy Tail and more for their never-ending adventure!

90. Adventure 090

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.

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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.

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• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

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

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

•

Fairy Adventure 090

•

Tales of Heart's Day Weekend

Short Stories

Volume I

•

ハートの日の週末の物語

短編小説

第1巻

•

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

•

Tale of Luke and Yuuma

"It doesn't tire me at all."

「ぜんぜん疲れませんでした。」

•

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

OSU's library was one of Luke's safe-havens. It was a place of reprieve from the lunacy of his home life, where he could study and read in peace. Books surrounded him in his private soundproof study room. Listless music that had nowhere to go filled his ears. It was not like he was studying anything difficult. He tried hard to focus on his studies, but intruding thoughts crowded his mind instead.

"Even if you were a Demon, you'd still be you."

Tan skin inflamed and bloody, Gale could barely part his lips as red leaked from the corners. Rubies stained in infuriating defiance. "You are not my king."

Luke tensed.

"What race you are, the family you come from, the side you are on, doesn't concern me or Fairy Tail." His sensei's words, so sure, so authoritative without a note of condescension. "We welcome anyone who decides they have seen wrong in this world, who has been alone and in pain, and we give them a home and a name, some food and good booze. Are you the bad guy or the good guy?"

Rubies fading as the spark of life dulled.

A fangy smile. "I'm sorry, Luke…but I have to break our promise."

His eyes fell shut as his elbows hit the desk, and his fingers crammed into his hair. "Shut up."

A looming shadow. His reflection. His antithesis. His opposite. Him. "You can't escape me! I am you!"

A winding scent that intoxicated and lured. Whispered words to soothe him. "Minn hjerta."

Mystogan's stern words. "I taught you to distinguish justice and evil based upon the principles of the world we live in, not on my own morals. You can still commit justice and be the 'bad guy' or do evil and be the 'good guy'. Are you the good guy or the bad guy? Decide that on your own. Don't think for a moment what you are defines you. It's what you do that defines you."

"I will not submit!" Gale's hiss that sputtered blood.

"Shut up," Luke whispered. "Shut up."

It was as though static had fitted his vision with patches of black. Fuzzy, in and out, sound and no sound. A horrible signal. But a hand had breached the focus as a rotting corpse was held by that hand, shrieking and groaning, and then—

KRRRRRRR…!

POP-POP-POP!

Luke jerked as perspiration glistened on his forehead and he panted like he had run as fast as he could. He shoveled back his hair and got his glasses righted before he looked over his shoulder. "Oh, it's you." He patted himself down to open the door with a tired smile. "Hi, Yuuma."

"Hey." Yuuma had his MagiLite in his hands, but it looked like he had cleared a level. His cattish eyes pierced Luke. "It's getting late. You didn't answer my texts."

"Oh." Luke reached for his Compact and winced when he saw the time had spiraled past eleven, and he had a history of messages and missed calls. "Ah, sorry." He scratched his cheek, sheepish. "I guess I didn't realize how late it had gotten…"

Yuuma did not look convinced. Then again, it was difficult to figure out his facial expressions with his face mask. "Are you done studying for the night?"

"Yeah, I am." Luke hurried to bag his belongings and worried, "Were you waiting for me?"

Yuuma replied, "Not really. Kei bribed me with a new game if I set for him, but there were too many people, so I left and played Magimon Go. You hadn't texted you were on your way, so I knew I'd find you here." He stuffed his MagiLite into his hoodie.

"I'm ready to go now." Luke took one more sweep of the study room as he adjusted his satchel. Yuuma stepped back, so Luke could close the door. "Are you sure it's okay if I stay the night?"

"Yeah." The pair started walking. "My roommate said they don't mind. Not like he's at home enough to really care."

Luke nodded. "Do you ever get lonely?"

"Nah." The pair of them got into the elevator, and Yuuma pressed the garage button. "I like the quiet. And even whether I want to or not, Kei comes over to annoy me." He sighed. "He's so irritating. I don't understand the point in him trying to come over. And his parents invite me to dinner every week since my parents are normally too busy with work or vacation."

Luke regarded Yuuma in curiosity. "With you being an only child, were you ever lonely at home?"

"No. Like I said, I like the peace and quiet. I'm more comfortable with it."

"Ah, I see." Luke offered an apologetic smile. "Sorry for interrupting then."

DING!

The underground garage was running on empty. After all, this was a party weekend and even if the library was 24/7, most wanted to spend their free time with their loved ones.

Yuuma got out his keys. "I don't care. I was the one who offered." He glanced at Luke. "If you were as loud as Kei or if you weren't good at gaming, I wouldn't have said anything."

Luke sweatdropped as his smile twitched. "Ah… Thank you?" I…think that was a compliment.

The car Yuuma drove was low to the ground, but he liked it that way. Kei had a wild conspiracy that Yuuma had bought a low-riding car to feel like a race care driver from his racing games. And just as he was fastidious, his car was immaculate from top to bottom. Just as they were getting in, Luke saw his reflection, and his hand came up to touch his pink streaks.

None of the black is showing. Looks like I got rid of it. He touched his glasses. My eyes look human. I…look human.

A cold frown. "But you're not."

Honeyed ambers widened. No…

Behind his shoulder stood him. Another reflection. A variant. Half naked with shadowy tattoos only those with black hearts could read, this variant had amassed red eyes drenched in black sclera. His veins were bumped with black blood, and those cherry locks were dyed dark.

"You're not human." The variant's hand to show its blood-soaked claws and rested on Luke's shoulder. His lips parted to show sharpened fangs and teethed stained red. "You were never human."

"Luke."

He snapped out of it, breathing hard, but he saw that Yuuma was on the other side with those calculating eyes that could see through anything and anyone. He swallowed. "Sorry." He got inside, buckled himself, and waited.

Yuuma was slow to get in, but he started his car and waited for it to warm up. "You've been acting off these past two weeks."

"Have I?" Luke fidgeted. "Sorry. Just dealing with some stuff. I guess not in the right way if people can tell."

"No one else noticed. I could only tell because you can't hold eye contact for as long. And when we're gaming, you keep choosing support instead of defense."

That surprised Luke. "I didn't even notice I did that."

"It's okay. We need support anyway." Yuuma's eyes flickered to Luke. "Want to talk about it?"

Luke looked at his lap. "I…can't talk about it."

"I understand."

How could you understand? Luke wanted to ask. I nearly killed a guildmate. I was kidnapped and turned into a… He bit the inside of his cheek.

"Before we head back to my place, do you mind if we stop somewhere?"

Luke shook his head. "No."

"Cool." And Yuuma drove.

Luke did not pay that much attention as his thoughts took every effort to corrupt him. As he stared at his reflection, he caught a glimpse of the variant with those gleaming red eyes and harsh face. But the second he thought that version of him fled, he could see Gale, bludgeoned and unyielding. He cringed and shied his eyes.

Maybe it is true. Maybe…I really am a Demon. He soundlessly sighed. I just wish I could remember. What happened to me in Alvarez? What did they do to me?

A sweet voice. A light scent. "Minn hjerta."

Luke clenched his hand. And on top of that, Luna said someone chained me to them, but… I don't feel different. I remember a scent and…that word, but… Nothing is adding up. I've been trying so hard to put the pieces together, but… He leaned his head on the window. I keep falling apart instead.

It took only a few more minutes before Yuuma pulled to a stop and cut the engine. "Get out. We're here."

Luke perked, confused, as Yuuma left the car to get something from the trunk. "Uh, but…" He looked up and had to squint when he saw the building was nothing more than a Josean takeout and dine-in restaurant with little to no cars. Of course, the establishment was open, but no one was inside. "Yuuma?"

The trunk shut, and Yuuma appeared on Luke's side with a duffle bag. "Come on."

"Okay…" Luke got out of the car, but in his mind, mini versions of himself were spiraling. I guess I should have been prepared for death.

At first, he thought Yuuma was going to take them through the front door, but further surprised him they were rounding the building instead. Luke's nose scrunched up at thrown-out food and smoke, and his ears caught muffled Josean. They got to the back to see two workers were conversing with each other over a few drinks and a smoke. However, Luke subconsciously moved towards Yuuma when the pair caught sight of them, and their eyes narrowed.

"Yuuma," Luke whispered. "Maybe we shouldn't…"

"Oi." The sitting worker got up with irritation written on her face. "Dadhyeossseubnida."

Luke wanted to apologize, but Yuuma said, "Menyueso ppaeso jumunhago sipoyo." He readjusted his bag as an emphasis.

Both workers glanced at each other before she nodded at her standing companion. He nodded back and gestured for Yuuma and Luke to come closer. Yuuma and Luke did so (though, Luke did so with caution) as the man knocked on the door in some sort of combination.

Luke's eyes widened when magical text appeared and rearranged itself. Woah… A Dimension Door?

The text complete, the door glowed once, and the show was over. The worker opened the door and gestured for Yuuma and Luke to go in. Yuuma nodded his thanks and entered, but Luke was a little slower to follow. His ears pricked when he heard a bass-dropping song in Josean that was a few meters downwards. They had entered what looked like to be an elevator room with the elevator already waiting. They boarded, but with only two buttons, one to go up and on to go down, Yuuma pressed the down button.

The elevator doors shut and down they went.

Luke tentatively asked, "Where are we? And you speak…Josean?"

"Not really. I only learned a little bit from a game I picked up," Yuuma answered off-handedly. "It was a pain to learn. So annoying."

You learned an entire language with a different alphabetic system off of a lacrimagame? Luke was in disbelief. Wow… Yuuma really is impressive. "Um… About where we are…?" He paused as his ears caught the music. The music is getting louder… And… Is that a crowd?

"Oh."

The elevator broke open, and honeyed ambers were overwhelmed.

"We're here."

The elevator had dropped them at the edge of an arena that was way too loud, but even the cries and shouts and cheers and curses of the crowd could not drown out the J-Pop music playing overhead nor the announcers. Unconventional gisaengs acted as servers with their hair traditional, but their state of dress was made more appealing to the wandering eye to show all sorts of leg, back, and chest. Most of the crowd was of Selan descent and a predominant portion of the crowd spoke Josean or a dialect of it. Bathed in blues with flashes of white, the room was a showdown, and Luke saw why.

A caged ring was in the center as two robots fought to the death. One robot was converted from a robotic vacuum clean (Lacrooba or Roova) and tricked out with a blowtorch and its own "teeth" and it demolished a robot that had lost much of its attack power for its alligator aesthetics. The alligator robot was being pinned against the ring as the Roova and endured a heavy amount of shredding and fire all while the crowd lost their marbles and started shouting.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

More

Know I got it so here you go (Let's go)

You look like you could use some more (More)

Know I got it and never running low (Low)

Yeah I got

More than enough add it up and away (Ayy, ayy)

You know I got it like

Bomb bomb blow your mind

Never giving less and that's how it'll stay (Ayy, ayy)

You know I got it like

All day, all the time

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Luke could not believe his eyes. "Woah…" He looked at Yuuma before looking back at the pumped-up scene before him. "So, this is…?"

"Deadalus," Yuuma named. He adjusted his bag before he started walking with Luke hurrying to keep up. He flinched back when a larger man with a cloak of tattoos was roaring as he shook his money in the air, but after pushing up his glasses and taking a beat, he fell into step with the surging crowd and the on slot of voices hoping the robot they betted on would win.

I saw things like this on RoboWars and in movies, but I didn't think they existed like this, Luke thought.

A smirk. "Beting-eul wonhasibnikka?"

Luke looked up to see a gorgeous woman with an eyepatch looking down at him, her hair in a completed array of buns with beads. She carried what looked like to be a tray where bets could be distributed. He blinked, confused about what she said, and offered in apology, "I don't speak Josean."

"Oh?" Her smirk widened. "Then, what's a preppy han-nom doing here?"

Luke's brow furrowed. "Excuse me?"

"Geuleul gage naebdwo." Yuuma had come back with a coldness in his piercing eyes. "Geuneun geugeos-eul wihae yeogie eobs-seubham. Gaso dareun mogireul chajara." He nudged Luke away. "Let's go."

"Sure…" Luke stayed close to Yuuma as they shoved and pushed against the crowd. He tried to ask Yuuma over the music, "What—?"

"She was asking if you wanted to place a bet," Yuuma told him. "And she called you a name." He glanced back at him. "Try not to interact with anyone here. All of them are annoying."

Luke gulped. "Sure." Internally, he was quietly sulking. Why did you bring me here then?

Yuuma and Luke swam closer and closer to the cage to the point where Luke caught a glimpse of the alligator robot set on fire, and his eyes widened when the thing promptly exploded a few parts. The crowd jostled him, but the flames amazed him. That fire…

Steadfast onyx.

Honeyed amber saddened, and Luke looked away.

Yuuma had found the person he was looking for as he stopped Luke near an average young man with his wavy hair in an undercut bowl cut, wide glasses, and a bomber jacket. He looked away from the fighting to perk at seeing Yuuma and enthusiastically greeted, "Oraenman-e, hoobae! Museun ir-iya?"

⌜ORCHID STATE UNIVERSITY

Name: Peikeo

Age: 21

Occupation: Year 4 Engineering (Chemical) BEng Student, gLitch streamer

Likes: League Dislikes: bubble gum

Special Note: Peikeo is a famous lacrimagamer and gLitch streamer, but he has yet to tell his mother about his side occupations!⌟

Yuuma adjusted his bag. "Mianhe, seonbae. Oneul bam-e ol jul-eun mollass-eoyo."

Peikeo looked thoroughly interested in Yuuma's bag and rubbed his hands together in excitement. "Oneul bam-e ssaunayo?

"Un." Yuuma stepped aside to show a clueless look and introduced, "Seonbae, ineun nae chingu. Geuneun OSU chulsin-ibnida."

Peikeo looked at Luke in sincere curiosity and with a friendly smile. "Mannaseo bangapseumnida." He caught Luke's confusion and switched to Minstrish. "It's nice to meet you." He stuck out his hand. "I'm 'Peikeo'. Chemical engineering major at OSU."

"Oh." Luke shook his hand. "I'm Luke. I go to OSU too. It's nice to meet you."

"You do?" Peikeo's eyebrows rose as he studied Luke. "Wow, you must be crazy smart to be in college now. You look like you're sixteen."

"Fifteen," Luke corrected, a bit bashful. "It's not really anything special, to be honest, but thank you." He looked at the cage to see what appeared to be Lacroids had come to collect the remains of the dead robotic competitor while the winner ended up being a Josean-Fioren woman with neon hair and dark violet lips. "This is pretty cool."

"Thanks! It's a bit of a secret within the Josean community here, though, and invite only to outsiders," Peikeo laughed. He ribbed an unimpressed Yuuma. "But my hoobae here says he's going to compete tonight after blowing me off."

"I had better things to do," Yuuma deadpanned. He turned to Luke and instructed, "Stay with Peikeo. Don't make any bets. The fight won't take long." And before Luke could get in a word edgewise, Yuuma slipped away.

Peikeo snickered over Luke's dumbfounded expression. "Don't worry about Yuu. He might not have the best manners, but at least he left you alone with me."

"I…guess so." Luke had to take another glance around and take it all in. "I honestly didn't think fights like this existed outside of YouView and that Magia movie, so to see all this…"

"A bit of a culture shock," Peikeo filled in over the noise with his hands jamming into his pockets. "There are legal bot fights out there where you can make some serious jewel, but the limitations suck. Blowtorches like you just saw would be illegal and you have to jump through hoops to do Magic Bots or Enchanter Bots. So, we have our own fun." He peered at Luke curiously. "No offense, but I'm sort of surprised he brought you here."

"Me too," Luke admitted in complete honesty. "I thought we were going back to his place to game."

"How did you two get to being friends?"

"Oh, that's easy." Luke shifted. "I saw him playing a game during lecture once. My other friend is a genius and knows how to do these sick combos, so when I saw him playing the same game, I told him about the combo." He laughed. "And he's tolerated me ever since."

Peikeo snickered being sighing. "Yeah, Yuuma doesn't exactly like being around too many people. I bumped into him on happenstance since he got caught gaming during class and I got in trouble for mapping out a new bot during lecture instead of paying attention." He took another look at Luke. "You're very different for a friend of Yuu's."

Luke opened his mouth to ask what that meant—

"Sinsasugnyeo yeoleobun…!"

The crowd thundered with their shouts of glee, money going in the air as they preemptively started their bids. A charismatic woman was announcing the match with her draconic metallic finger claws, violet sunglasses, and her thigh-high stockings latched up into her skirt and a harness connecting her sinful bralette.

A mic in her hand, she announced, "I konoeneun banggeum silhomsireul ttona saeroun opkkeureideureul teseuteuhal junbiga dwen silhomi itsseumnida… Stitch…and No Mercy…!"

A heavyset Frankenstein-esque robot took to the stage. Its size could be its strength or its weakness, but it came prepared with a wider variety of plated armor and blew fire to rile up the crowd. Bets were thrown and swears tossed around. The owner of Stitch (No Mercy) looked to be a quite the gorgeous woman with thick curves, spiked hair that was half-honey and half black as she pushed it into a high ponytail, and her controller was a holographic Lacrima screen held together by two rectangular end pieces.

The announcer gestured to the other side. "Geurigo i gusoge uriegeneun mupaee autssaidoga itsseumnida geuneun dunwega apttodanghaetttaneun goseul jeungmyonghamnida… Retro…and…Kenken…!"

Yuuma had pulled out a classic gamepad controller and ignored all the boos he received from negative fans close to him. He focused on the ring instead as he pressed button and…

Luke was shocked. That's…

The robot Yuuma brought out looked like a replica of those Rock 'Em Sock 'Em robots, but it was dressed a black and its eyes glowed blue as it walked into the ring. In comparison to Stitch, Retro had not a prayer to stand up to it. And No Mercy looked quite certain of her victory.

"Don't worry," Peikeo murmured to Luke with a twinkle in his eyes. "Yuuma knows what he's doing."

Luke wanted to argue, but he thought about it. "The bigger they are…" It dawned on him about Yuuma's strategy.

"Yup." Peikeo's grin broadened. "The harder they fall."

The announcer offered the genuine spiel of anything goes before she exited the ring. Four traffic lights cubed together were right above the cage and a horn blasted as the light went from red to red to yellow to blue and finally…green.

EEEEEEEEEEEEEH…!

An intense remix beat dropped.

Stitch the robot blew fire to wow the crowd before it unleashed the saw it had kept hidden. The shrill cry had people thrashing to lay down their bets. No Mercy smirked from her post and made a gesture that Yuuma could make the first move.

Yuuma's eyes narrowed.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

•

Yeah nuga nae sujeo deoreobdae

I don't care maikeu jabeum geumsujeo yeoreot pae

beoreokhae jal mot igeun geotteul seutekki yeoreo gae

geodeuphaeseo sshibeojulge seutaye jeonyeoge

•

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

To Luke's surprise and Peikeo's pleasure, Yuuma's Retro did not move like how it normally would have attached to a plastic ring. With ease, it showed off a roundhouse kick then a butterfly before it flipped and slowly got into a defensive position.

It beckoned for Stitch to come first.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

•

World business haekshim

seoboe ilsunwi maejin

manchi anchi i class gachil mankkik

joeun hyanggie akchwin banchik

Mic mic bungee

•

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

No Mercy sucked harder on her lollipop, but she decided the bait was worth it. She handled her holographic pad, and Stitch went into action. Rather than deploy itself in a full-frontal attack, it wowed the crowd as it unleashed zooming marbles that kicked around the arena, and Retro had to dodge them all.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

•

Mic mic bungee

Bright light jeonjin

manghal geo gatatgetjiman I'm fine, sorry

mianhae Billboard

mianhae worldwide

adeuri neom jalnagaseo mianhae eomma

•

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Yuuma was unfazed as his hands moved. With the precision of a master, Retro evaded every marble through jumps and flips. Though, it could not evade one surprise marble that exploded on impact.

No Mercy's smirk broadened.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

•

daeshinhaejwo niga mothan hyodo

uri konseoteu jeoldae eopseo podo

I do it I do it neon mateopneun rattattui

hok baega apeudamyeon gosohae

Sue it

•

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Stitch powered through the chaos it had unleashed and acted almost as a repellant to all the marbles. With its spinning saw unloaded, it sought the opportunity to cut down its opponent while it struggled.

Yuuma's mask shifted almost as if he was grinning beneath it.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

•

Did you see my bag?

Did you see my bag?

It's hella trophies and it's hella thick

•

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Stitch the robot lifted its spinning saw as the crowd went while and No Mercy reveled in victor—

CLANG!

Retro had defended itself against the spinning saw with its arms shielding its face and sparks flying between Retro's metal and the saw.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

•

What you think 'bout that?

What you think 'bout that?

I bet it got my haters hella sick

•

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

No Mercy growled and glared at Yuuma, but she was quick to go back to her tablet for her next strategy.

But looking down for just a second accosted her precious time when Yuuma lifted his thumb and pushed a button.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

•

Come and follow me follow me

With your signs up

I'm so firin' firin' boy your time's up

Keep on and runnin'

And runnin' until I catch up

How you dare

How you dare

How you dare

•

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Retro looked like it was about to collapse, but it bobbed from the saw, which had so much energy powered up that it crashed into the ground. Retro swung up onto the saw's arm with its hands shaping into a drill bit and unscrewing the saw. Loud Josean crowded the room, and No Mercy scrambled to have her robot buck Retro off, but Retro did not stop at the dismantled arm. The smaller robot proceeded to dismantle every part of the Frankensteined robot.

Luke was roaring with the crowd while No Mercy threw down her device in pure fury.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

•

Another trophy

My hands carry em

Too many that I can't even count em

Mic drop

Mic drop

balbal joshim neone malmal joshim

•

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

DING-DING-DING!

EEEEEEEEEEEH…!

With Stitch dismantled and No Mercy furiously speaking to the person beside her, Retro emerged victorious and lifted its fist while it stood atop the murdered opponent. Peikeo clapped, hooting, while Luke, energized, started hollering too.

The announcer called it. "Geurigo seungjaneunnyo Kenken…geurigo…Retro…!"

Bets were collected, and curses were thrown around haphazardly as the lights flashed. Lacroids who worked the event shuffled together to collect the pieces-parts of Stitch while one had deviated to retrieve Retro and bring it back to Yuuma.

Eyes aglow from the rush of the fight, Luke could not stop grinning with the energy this high and his friend's victory permanent. "That was so amazing!" he gushed. "And you guys do this all the time? Wow! Just…wow!"

"Yuuma is a bit up in the air with how often he fights," Peikeo laughed. "He finds it exhausting, so it doesn't like to come out much. But he's never lost a fight."

"That's just too cool!" Luke looked at Peikeo. But how did his robot do all of that? He. programmed and built it all by himself?"

Peikeo shook his head. "Not exactly." He snorted. "That would be too exhausting for Yuu. Nah, I know this pretty awesome Enchanter who takes commissions as little side projects. He's at a pretty prestigious Magi-Engineering school, though, so he goes by 'Mister Tinkerbell' for illicit stuff. Met him at a party." He shrugged. "But he's legit."

"So, he built and programmed Yuuma's bot? Seriously?"

"Yuuma had a lot of input on the capabilities and design. Mister Tinkerbell followed the order." Peikeo noted the excitement on Luke's face and smiled. "I think you'd like Mister Tinkerbell. He's done some sick mods on my car, and he's pretty brilliant. I could introduce you if you're interested."

"Yeah, for sure! Thank you!" Luke eagerly appreciated. "I'd like to ask him more about being an Enchanter and all the mechanisms behind it!"

Peikeo laughed. "I think he'd like that."

Yuuma had crashed through the crowd with his cold eyes making it clear no one was to touch him and he would not tolerate one more Josean congratulations and or thanks. He shifted his duffel bag on his shoulder and nodded to Peikeo. "Thanks."

"Nah, thanks for showing up and beating No Mercy." Peikeo smirked when he caught sight of No Mercy scowling over to them as her companions bagged the remains of her robot. "Her big mouth was getting on my nerves, so you wiping her ass was the wake-up call she needed to know she wasn't the shift."

Yuuma nodded and took out a wad of jewel to offer to Peikeo.

Luke's eyes bulged. "Woah…" He looked at Yuuma in wonder. "You won all of that?"

"No." Yuuma pulled out a thicker wad of jewel banded together. "I won this."

That's so much money! Luke cried.

Peikeo took the lesser wad and explained to Luke, "This is just my share. I front the money for Yuuma to compete and his entry fee and any other charges for outsiders. But I only let Yuu pay me back anything I fronted." His grin broadened. "I'll get more money back from my betting."

Luke had the sparkles of an eager puppy all around him. "Cool…!"

"Don't encourage him," Yuuma sighed as he stuffed his winnings in his pocket. "Luke, come on. I'm tired and hungry."

"But—!" Luke had no choice when Yuuma nudged him away. "Oh, okay, but—!" He waved at Peikeo "It was nice to meet you!" He turned to Yuuma to talk his ear off about the wonders he just saw.

"You too!" Peikeo hollered. "Ask Yuu for my number!" He shook his head in amusement as Luke and Yuuma disappeared before he decided to relax for the next fight. Yeah. Now I understand why you brought the kid here, Yuu.

°•°•°•°

"And the way you just took down the saw like whoosh! And then—bam!—it just falls like that! Like-Like kaboom!"

"Mmm."

Yuuma settled his duffel bag in his trunk as Luke continued his excited rant. They both entered the car, and Yuuma warmed it up while he listened and gave hums.

"It was like nothing I've ever seen!" Luke enthused. "Oh man, you should have seen No Mercy's face!" He crowed. "She looked so pissed off that your tiny Retro could beat hers but come on! How could she think big and brawny could beat brains?" His leg jittered. "And then—oh my gosh!—the crowd! The crowd was crazy, Yuu!"

"Mmm." Yuuma backed them out and started the drive to his place. He glanced over at Luke as his hands move, his eyes lit up, and the grin could not be wiped off his face. That's better. Yuuma put on his turn signal before the car made a right. You don't look as upset as you were before. Seeing you upset was tiring. A spark of brotherly affection was in those cold eyes. But at least seeing you like this… It doesn't make me tired at all.

---

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

•

Tale of Justin and Liberty

"Shouldn't I know?"

「知らないほうがいいですか。」

•

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Justin had dressed down for the day with his hair straight and some jeans and boots with an overcoat and scarf. He waited until the elevator stopped before he came onto the floor that was an entryway alone with a shoe shelf and twin doors. He slipped off his shoes, but he did not have to open the door when one of them swung open to reveal Freed with his hair in a ponytail today and eyes slightly tired. "Morning."

"Morning, Dad." Justin came to the door to hug Freed before he stepped inside. "Is Ladybug ready yet?"

"Almost." Freed closed the door. "I have everything ready for the two of you. Come to the kitchen."

"Okay."

The condo was quite large, but Justin remembered many crucial moments of his life in this condo. His adoptive father was obsessed with color coordination and themes, but because Justin had a loud personality and Liberty had a bright one, Freed had factored in reds and blues into his grayscale theme. Photos and drawings framed the walls. Some of them captured when Justin gave fashion shows to when Liberty was insistent on tea parties with her poor black cat glued to her side. The drawings were more from Liberty. She liked to make them instead of taking her own pictures. The LV looked like it had been turned on a popular Andüsan-Meidilandian talk show host.

Freed led Justin into the kitchen where a picnic basket awaited him. "I know you both wanted to get the offerings yourself," Freed started, "but I packed everything else."

"Right." Justin grabbed the handle. "Thanks, Dad."

"It's no problem." Freed searched Justin's face. "I'll be going over to see Kinana today, but you know I'm here for you and Libby."

Justin sighed, but he could not help but feel warm at the reassurance. "I know. We'll be fine, I promise." He shot his father a smug look. "So, um… Is this the weekend we finally get to meet your partner or are you still going to be secretive about it?"

Freed blushed and grumbled, "Shouldn't you be worrying about your time with Ace?"

"I have our romantic getaway for tomorrow down-packed," Justin dismissed with a wave of his hand. "Come on…! You haven't said a word about your secret lover, and as your firstborn, I feel like I have a right to know."

Freed's lips twitched. "I could always show Ace my favorite pictures of you when you got carried away with glitter," he reminded. "Or when you had your first and last girlfriend."

"You are the worst father in the world," Justin whined as Freed chuckled. "Fine. I won't ask about your lover, but I hope Libby and I get to meet them before your wedding date."

"We're not that far into a relationship to think about marriage," Freed told his son.

"Baba!" shouted Liberty from down the hall. "Is Justin here yet?"

"Come in here, Ladybug!" Justin called.

Freed smiled. "Raising Liberty and seeing you down the aisle are my primary concerns," he told Justin. "I'm happy where I am. And besides, I'm getting old. Who would want to marry now?"

"Plenty of people." Justin leaned on the counter to give his father a soft look. "Obviously, you did amazing raising me, and Liberty's going to turn out fantastic, but think about yourself too, Dad. You deserve happiness." He added gently, "And both Libby and I understand that."

Freed shook his head, but he kept his smile. "When did you grow up and start giving me lectures?"

"What can I say? I learned from the best," Justin quipped.

"I'm ready!" Liberty came down with her hair curly today and in a pretty red and black dress with her ladybug mini bag. James kept pace with her and did not look too upset about his new bowtie. "Baba did my hair today, Justin!"

"And you look beautiful as always," Justin laughed. His eyes fled to Liberty's black cat and he sighed. "I'm guessing we're taking Cat Noir with us, huh? If we are, we have to use the cat pack for him." He smirked when James hissed at him with his tail curled around Liberty's leg.

Liberty frowned. "But James doesn't like being in the cat pack." She bent down and stroked James' back and the once-hissy black cat became docile and purred loudly. "James can walk with us."

"Libby, he won't be able to keep up," Justin pointed out. "And he might get lost. Fortunately…" His eyes gleamed as he brought out the cat pack (a backpack with a plastic transparent curved front) and he chuckled darkly when James' ears flattened. "I have the cat backpack with me. It's for the best. We don't want him to get stepped on, right?" He mocked the cat with kissy noises. "Come here, kitty-kitty. Get into the bag…!"

James let out a long and woeful meow and looked up at Liberty as though pleading with her.

"I don't want you to get stepped on," Liberty supposed. She scooped up James who meowed at her as though trying to plead his case. "It's okay. Justin will let you out when we get there." She helped James into the cat pack and zipped it up. James meowed, displeased, and put a paw to the glass. "It's okay. I'll be right here the whole time."

Justin scoffed. "Ugh. Why did you have to have the world's clingiest cat?" He mockingly cooed as he fingered the glass. "There, there, kitty-kitty, you'll be safe in here—Gah!" He started when James growled and tried to lunge for him.

Liberty giggled. "James doesn't like that, Justin!"

"Yeah, well, Chat Noir has an unhealthy attachment to you, Ladybug," Justin grumbled as he glared at James who glared right back. "Maybe we should get him a cat friend to cling onto…or make him an outdoor cat."

James hissed and made a scratching motion towards Justin, tail whipping back and forth.

Freed sighed. "Justin, stop tormenting the poor cat. I packed a can of cat food and some treats for him."

"Do we have to feel it?" Justin muttered. "I hear hunting builds character."

Liberty ignored Justin's mutters and James' hisses as she went to hug her father. "Are you going to be okay without us today, Baba?" she worried. "I won't be here to help you make lunch today."

Freed stooped down to hug her back. "I'll be just fine," he promised her. "I'll be hanging out with Auntie Kinana today for a little while, then I'll do some work. But you have to come home for dinner because I can't eat with my precious Ladybug." He looked up at Justin. "Are you and Ace still joining us tonight?"

"Yeah." Justin strapped on the backpack and ignored James' growls. "Ace has work today, but he'll be by here in time for dinner." He checked the time. "But we better go if we want to squeeze it in before the pilgrimage rush comes in." He held out his hand. "Ready, Libby?"

Liberty kissed Freed's cheek before she told him sternly, "And no tea parties without me."

"I would never." Freed kissed her forehead before caressing her cheek. "I love you. Stay close to Justin for Baba, okay?"

"I love you too." Liberty hugged him one last time.

Once she let him go, Freed drew up to his full height to meet Justin's eyes. "I'll see you both tonight."

"Yeah." Sky blues warmed. "Love you, Dad."

Freed nodded. "I love you too."

Justin took Liberty's hand and kept hold of the basket. "All right, Libby, let's go. Time for our own little pilgrimage."

Freed walked them out and waved to them as they left through the elevator. Once they were done, he leaned his head against the doorframe and sighed. I hope you both find peace today.

°•°•°•°

Kardia Cathedral was the destination for many to do their pilgrimage. Already, worshippers and nonbelievers who had lost a loved one had come to the cathedral. An organist was playing a melodic song about compassion and passion while those who entered the holy place settled on the benches or knelt and whispered their prayers and reminisced. A few had broken into tears and those who worked at Kardia Cathedral came to comfort them with tissues and kind words. The Heart's Day sermon would not take place until eleven, so there was time.

James and Liberty both came into the church with respectful words to the greeter and the decline to join the sermon. They walked through the church, through the sadness that emitted, and went to the altar rails. Candles were stacked, some lit, others left alone, but they had been lit once upon a time. Justin helped Liberty light her candle before he did his own. They left the altar rails to go to the benches. Hand in hand, they sat together in silence.

Echoed laughter titled Justin's ear. The present disappeared as that laughter followed him, and the past opened up. He looked across the cathedral, and his memories constructed a different church that was rundown but had its charm. Two adults nurtured their exuberant child with the mother beautiful with her cross pupils and dimples and the father with his sky-blue hair chopped short. And as both knelt in prayer, neither had the heart to quiet their bouncing son.

Justin turned away to close his eyes and bow his head.

Liberty leaned against him.

James settled down as though he, too, understood the emotion in the air.

°•°•°•°

It would be a little while until Justin and Liberty exited Kardia Cathedral, but they went to the indoor marketplace and strolled up and down. They purchased spring water, salt rocks, a pinwheel, three small candles before they stopped at a florist's stand to purchase four hollies. But as Justin waited for the arrangement, he turned to see Liberty taking in everything with those wide eyes of her. Someone's dog got excited and trotted over, and she giggled as it sniffed her.

Justin smiled as a voice echoed in his past.

"Justin. Come on, we have to go."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The market was luscious outside in the springtime with its seasonal fruit and all sorts of people excited to venture out now that winter was over. The focus concentrated on a silly Samoyed that had bowled over so it could get those nice, fulfilling tummy scratches, and he laughed as the dog's legs shook.

"Justin!"

The focus turned to see a young woman waiting for him in her loose pants, top, and her large purse slung over her shoulder. She smiled at him and held out a hand. "Come on. We have to get back in time for rehearsal."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"Justin?"

He snapped out of it to see Liberty had come back, clearly worried. He smiled for her. "Sorry, Ladybug. I was in the zone." He tweaked her nose. "We have one more stop and then we'll go to the lake, okay?"

"Okay." Liberty clung to her brother's leg. "But will going there make you sad? I don't want you sad."

"No, Ladybug," Justin murmured as he stroked her hair. "It won't make me sad." For just a moment, when he glanced up, he thought he could see a trace of that sky-blue hair, but he blinked it away. "I promise."

°•°•°•°

After a stop at the local bakery for a thing of sweet bread, they caught a trolly to get them as close to the outskirts of town as they could, but they had to walk the rest of the way.

Justin led Liberty down a pathway that led to Lake Sciliora. While the land was part of a park, this part of the park was deserted with a small beach. The snow had cleared away from here for the most part and the lake was brushed around with the push and pull of the wind. Nature quieted as these two humans stepped in as though giving them the privacy they needed.

The brother and sister set up on the little beach. Liberty unzipped the cat pack and helped James out while Justin unpacked the basket. He set out the cloth first before he placed their offerings of the elements (spring water for water, salt rocks for earth, a pinwheel for wind, and candle for fire) in their cardinal directions. A dish came out with the offering of bread and Liberty helped pour water into a small glass. The flowers received their own vase, and Justin took out the incense holder and placed the intense stick inside before lighting it.

And now for the final pieces.

Justin brought it out. It was a frame that you could hold in one hand and it stood on its own, but it carried two pictures. He set the frame down and in the center. The frame was mostly taken up with a picture of an extended Andüsan family with their wide smiles. They were celebrating the new baby, and the parents were dressed in their ceremonial necklaces as they held their newborn daughter together with love clear in their eye. A wallet-sized picture was also in the frame and on the bottom corner. It had some damage to it, but you could see a woman with cross pupils and a man with sky blue hair and eyes as they took the stage as acrobats.

James settled in Liberty's lap, curled up and purring soothingly.

Quiet drifted between them.

"Do you remember them?" Liberty's small question sailed between them. "Do you remember what they sound like?"

"I do," Justin replied, timbre soft. He looked at the picture of his parents. "I remember when they used to fight."

Liberty looked up at her brother. "How come they fought?"

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"We can't keep living like this!"

The focus peered out from the tent. A man and a woman stood at crossroads with each other. They matched with the sky-blue aesthetic of their costumes as she looked like a beautiful beard with a laced scarf train and a feathered crown and jewels and feathers running up her legs and masking her bodice. His outfit was vested with those same feathers and jewels zigzagging his legs, but his vest showed his scarf abdomen and the headdress fit him perfectly.

She pleaded, "Please! We can leave after the tour! This isn't a place to raise him when we've gotten threats left and right! We can't keep living in fear someone from the crowd might kill us—!"

"But where are we supposed to go?" he retorted. "We don't have the money to pack up and leave! We don't even have family to fall back on!"

"We have to think of something," she insisted. She held him steady when he shook his head, agitated. "Darling, please! Please listen to me! Touring here was a mistake! We already lost Moxxie from the troupe to one of those Spiritless gang members! We have to leave—!"

"We can't leave!" he shouted. "We have nowhere to go! This is our home!" He made a show of expanding his kinetic powers in his hands in a small force field of translucent blue. "We can protect each other with our powers."

She sadly shook her head. "But if they hired Hunters—"

"If they hired Hunters, then we'll run." He dismissed his force field. "But we are not running now." His jaw clenched. "And I'm not backing down from this."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"My mother wanted a better life outside of the circus," Justin remembered. "She didn't think it was a good place to stay since the Faction was making trouble, and they had issues with Anti-Magic Spiritless. But my father disagreed. The fights weren't frequent, but I remember them the most. But I have good memories. Like when my mother would praise me on a new routine or when my father would help me learn a new technique."

Liberty looked at the photo of Justin's parents. "They loved you."

"I know they did."

"And you love them? Even now?"

Justin nodded. "Yes, I do."

Silence.

"I don't know if I love my family," Liberty confessed. She sounded confused, upset. "I can't remember what they sounded like. I just remember Baba."

Justin squeezed Liberty's hand. "What do you remember of them?"

Liberty thought hard. "They smelled warm," she recalled. "And…like earth and flowers." She looked down at her little hand. "I remember their hands. They were so big and rough. But they were really nice and gentle." Her eyes shimmered. "But…I don't know if I love them. Shouldn't I know? I know I love you and Baba and James." She looked at Justin for answers. "How come I don't know if I love them?"

"I don't know, Ladybug," Justin murmured. "But it's okay to not feel love. It's okay to understand they were part of your life and to know they loved you and to care about them."

"Are you sure?"

Justin nodded. "Yes." He looked out into the water. "Even though we had different families who loved us, what we feel for them doesn't have to be the same as what we feel for Dad. It's different. It's a different type of care or love. The way I love my birth parents is very different than from Dad—and very different from you, Ladybug."

Liberty looked out to the water too. "Baba says when we die, we get to see everyone we cared about who died before us." She feathered James' head. "Do you think we'll see our families? Do you think…they'll want to see us? Does that mean we won't be family anymore?"

"We'll always be family," Justin promised her. "Family isn't just one set, remember? We have each other and Dad as family, but then we have our aunts and uncles and our cousins as family. And we have all our friends and Fairy Tail as family too. It doesn't matter where we are. We'll still be family. It's never about blood. It's about who you want for family."

A new breeze bristled through their hair on its travels.

"If I meet them…can you come with me to see them?" Liberty asked Justin. "And Baba? I don't want to go alone."

"Of course, Ladybug." Justin pulled her close. "And I'll introduce you to my parents too. They'll love you just like I do." His eyes shimmered as they dropped to his parents. "I'm sure they love you now."

"Will they be upset when they meet Baba?"

"No." Justin shook his head. "They'll be happy we found someone who loves us."

"And we love Baba," Liberty added.

Justin laughed. "Yeah. And we love Dad too." He reached over to the basket to pull out a toy boat and the last small candle. "Come on. It's time."

Not too many people could walk into water without getting wet, but Justin did so with ease as he exerted a field of kinetic energy. The water was pushed back as Justin and Liberty walked down the sand and stepped over buried shells and lost things until they were a good distance in where the water came up to Liberty's stomach. Candle lit, it settled comfortably in the center of the little boat. Together, Justin and Liberty cupped the boat.

"Are you ready?" Justin asked her.

Liberty nodded. "Uh-huh."

"Together, then, okay?"

In a fluid motion, brother and sister let the boat drift out of their hands and let the tide take hold of the water. The candle alone powered the little boat forward against the push and pull of the minute waves so it did not have to rely on a sail and the wind. It bounced a little as it brushed over the lake, but the water was kind and helped it on its journey.

Justin held Liberty against him as they watched their offering to the ones they lost so early in their lives drift away and give them safe passage back to where they rested. Deities willing, the journey would be a seamless one.

"Can you sing it?" Liberty tipped her head up to look at Justin. "Can you sing the song like Baba sings to me?"

Justin crouched down to drop his chin on Liberty's shoulder. "Of course, Ladybug," he told her. "Will you help me sing it? You sound so much prettier than me."

Liberty nodded. "Okay."

Together, they chorused as the winds twisted past them, their offerings stood tall and honored, and James watched with solemn eyes. "Omo o e npe dagba… Omo o e npe dagba… Kekere jojolo mo gbe temi… Omo o e npe dagba…"

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

•

Kekere jojolo mo gbe temi

Omo o e npe dagba

•

Omo o e npe dagba

Omo o e npe dagba

Kekere jojolo mo gbe temi

Omo o e npe dagba

•

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

•

In honor of my uncle

I miss you so very much

•

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

---

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

•

Tale of Jasmine and Pacer

"Thank you."

「ありがとうございました。」

•

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Jasmine never minded living alone. To be honest, she found the reprieve quite nice. She spent most of her time during the day having to listen to rowdy, prissy classmates born with silver spoons in their mouths and lived up to their "trust fund baby" title or she was at work and was trying her damnedest to play nice with some of the under-the-radar misogynists and racial fetishizers who liked to compare her skin tone to food all day long.

So, yes.

She really loved living alone.

But now it seemed these days, she never had her own home to herself.

While she had bummed in a ratty t-shirt she had stolen from one of her cousins, her hair kept up in her knotted silk scarf, and had no plans to put on pants, she darkly wished she had a wooden spoon near her. She had planned on sitting on the couch with some food and finally getting around to that Webflix series her friend was raving on about, but a man had interrupted her plans in the worst way possible.

"Please don't make me file a protective order against you," Jasmine mutinously growled as she scowled at Pacer, who sat on her couch, dressed down, and looked to be busy working. "I'm pregnant, not a child."

"I know." Pacer's brow furrowed as he studied something on his PAL. "But Pearson has to meet with someone today, and the children's center doesn't need any volunteers. Besides, if I wasn't here, I know you'd try to get in some extra work."

Jasmine froze as she chewed a mouthful of her cheesy baked potato only to swallow and mumble, "No, I wouldn't." She huffed when Pacer flashed her a look of disbelief. "I'm well aware of what the doctor told me, okay? I have to dial back." She added, "But you don't have to be here to make sure I don't work. I get you're worried about my twins—"

"Our twins—"

"Agree to disagree."

Pacer sighed. "Slugger—"

"I told you not to call me that—"

"I'm not just here because of our twins," Pacer punctuated. "I'm worried about you too." He noted the bags under her eyes and the gauntness of her face, and his concern festered into a protective need. "You're only twelve weeks, and you can barely move around without having an asthma attack."

That pained Jasmine more than she cared to admit, so she would not admit it. "Look, if you're worried I'm going to take a step out of bounds and harm the twins, you're wrong." Her tone was hard, accusing. "I'm taking the instructions seriously—"

"Slugger." Pacer closed his PAL to turn and face her. Resolved pale reds clashed with challenging amber. "Not once have I thought you weren't looking out for the twins." He wanted to make that clear, but the frequent reminder of how exhausted she looked made it hard to stand firm. "But twins or not, you're still the person going through this. I'm worried about you." He hesitated. "I've always… worried about you…"

Jasmine huffed and rolled her eyes. "Yeah, I'm sure." She put a hand on her protruding baby bump and tried to get up, but her knees buckled, her head dizzied, and she nearly fell.

"Slugger!" Pacer caught her with fear in his eyes. "Are you okay?"

Jasmine could feel herself swaying. "Yeah, I…" She tried to blink away the dizziness. "Yeah, I'm fine. I think I just got up too quickly…"

"What do you need?" Pacer pressed. "Sit. I can get it for you."

"You can't pee on my behalf," Jasmine dryly muttered. She used Pacer as a crutch, though she stumbled, and a heavy exhale whooshed out. "Shit." Her hand rubbed her stomach as nauseous whirled around. "Now I'm feeling sick again…" Her throat contracted, and she burped before covering her mouth. "Shit, not again."

"I've got you." Pacer was careful escorting her out of the living room, but he held onto her tighter when tears came to her eyes and pain raked over his face. "Okay, you're not going to make it." He saw the trashcan was closest and hurried to rip off the lid and thrust it before Jasmine. "Here."

Jasmine keeled over as she vomited, and the tears leaked. She coughed before nausea hit again.

Pacer rubbed her back with only concern in his eyes and not an ounce of judgment or disgust. "I'll make something for the nausea. I bought all the ingredients Granny Porlyusica listed for some anti-nausea potions to put into your smoothies."

By the time Jasmine finished, her shoulders were shaking, and her throat felt uncomfortably dry and thick. She tried to move, but a wetness between her legs made her grimace. Shame and embarrassment crashed over her, and she did not have the stomach to face Pacer. She could only croak a pathetic, "I'm sorry."

"Don't be." Pacer squeezed her arm in comfort. "Do you want me to help you to your shower?"

Jasmine felt like she was torn. "But…"

"I can clean. I don't mind." Pacer helped her to her feet and did not mind when she leaned against him. "I was around pregnant women a lot back in Fiore. This is nothing."

Jasmine nodded against him, and exhaustion covered her bones and pinned her down. She whispered, "Thank you."

"You're welcome, Slugger."

Jasmine's master bath had been a steal. She had the luxury of a climb-in tub that bottomed out with jets and a glass shower. Expensive? Very much so. But the rent, considering all the amenities, was worth it. She offered little protest when Pacer helped her out of her shirt, though she flinched when her shirt brushed over her nipples.

"I'll make sure your shower is warm," Pacer soothed as he took her shirt. "I can get out nursing bra too."

Jasmine swallowed, though she grimaced. "Thanks."

"No problem."

Pacer went to turn on the shower while Jasmine stepped out of her panties and threw them in the laundry bin. He made sure the temperature was lukewarm before he turned back to her. Pale reds drank in Jasmine's appearance and savored a look on her protruding stomach before respectfully darting away. "Your shower's ready. I'll clean and get your smoothie ready."

"Thank you." Jasmine kept her head down as she bypassed Pacer. She got her shower cap to cover her scarf before she cooped herself inside. She heard Pacer leave and close the door and closed her eyes as a relief spread through her at the lukewarm water. God, I'm a mess. She rubbed her stomach and thumbed the veins and unsightly stretch marks. Maybe she had pity for her skin, but there was no regret behind it.

"You two are giving Mommy some heartache," she whispered. "Cut me some slack, huh? Aren't I doing my best?" A heavy sigh. "And your dad… Goodness…" She reached for her soap and loofa. I've misjudged him from the start.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Wendy had taken control of the ultrasound procedure while Porlyusica monitored the affair. The machinery had been wiped down and thoroughly cleaned before it was brought into one of the two rooms Porlyusica had her in her tree hut with an examination table that served them well over the years. Jasmine had to wear a blank on her legs and her blouse was rolled up while Pacer had dressed casually as he sat at her side. Echo gel on Jasmine's stomach, the transducer was at a standstill.

Both were in shock.

Wendy smiled. "Say, 'hello' to your twins."

No reaction to seeing your child for the first time was a right or wrong reaction. There was no expectation for new parents to start cheering and crying and smiling wide. There was no expectation to feel anxiety and panic and maybe grief. There was no expectation to even feel attachment. And so, in that room, there was only silence as the monitor portrayed two plum-sized unborn babies in the comfortability on their own embryonic sacs, shifting only a little.

Jasmine choked a whisper. "I'm…having twins?"

Wendy hummed as shifted the transducer for a better visual and pointed. "Right here is your Scooby and here could be your Shaggy," she explained.

"I just… Twins?" Jasmine could barely think. "But I…"

Porlyusica groused, "You shouldn't be all that surprised. The human father of your twins is a twin himself. And his parents had another set of twins and triplets." She shifted her arms beneath her cloak. "Wendy, we'll run the first semester tests."

"Right," Wendy agreed. Before she could explain the nature of the tests—

"Thank you."

DRIP…

DROP…

Jasmine broke her stare from the monitor, but she was further surprised to see silent tears rain down Pacer's cheeks. But he did not take his pale red gaze off the monitor—off the twins.

"Thank you," Pacer whispered again as he squeezed her hand.

Maybe all these shocks were dizzying her head as she told him, "I don't know what you're thanking me for." Her eyes drifted back to the monitor as she drank in her twins. "I didn't do this by myself."

Silent.

"Then, thank you for creating this gift with me," Pacer said, voice hoarse. The corners of his lips lifted in a small smile. "Thank you, Slugger."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Jasmine sniffled as she washed her body. "Ugh." She knuckled away her tears with sudsy hands. Ever since I told him, he and Pearson keep taking turns to babysit me. She saw a cheeky chibi-Pearson and had the urge to hit him with one of her flip-flops. Although, Pearson's getting on my nerves.

Pale reds.

Jasmine finished soaping up her body and rinsed her hands to clean her face. But… As much as Pacer did seem to be like he was just another party student who dicked around… He was telling the truth… Pearson took me to see him at the children's center last weekend. A small smile slighted her lips as she remembered Pacer with his gauges and mohawk dressed in a floral apron as he played with eager little ones who had no judgment reserved for his looks.

It makes sense people embellish things. Jasmine snorted. Hell, freshman year, I was called the 'Ice Queen' since I was apparently so brutal with my rejections. Guys tried to spread rumors I did this, that, and the other thing with them, but I didn't care. It takes less effort to ignore rumors and let people see for themselves who you are than to shut down every little thing.

Sympathy toyed with her heart. I can understand why Pacer didn't feel the need to correct anyone. It never crossed his mind since he had better things to do. She slowed as she washed her face. It's not like he hasn't shown me he's changed… She shook it off. "He's just doing this for the twins," she reminded herself. "He's being a good dad to them as he should. That's all there is to it."

She finished her shower to towel herself off and lotion up when there were knocks on her door. "Yeah?"

"It's your aunt," Pacer called. "She's calling on your Com."

Jasmine's eyes widened. "Shit, shit, shit, I forgot about the Sunday family FaceCall thing." She scrambled to answer the door. Pacer was on the other side, though he looked a little taken back seeing her naked again. She had no time as she took the Com, grimaced, and answered. "Hi, Aunt Share."

"Hi, niece-of-mine-who-is-in-hot-water," Sharon chirped. "You know my mama is about to ship her old ass out to the US and beat you with her spoon for ignoring the family."

Jasmine groaned as she paraded about her bedroom for clean panties and her nursing bra. "Yeah, well, it's better for me to stay under the radar from them." She offered Pacer a quick smile when he held up a nursing bra. As she slipped it on and Pacer clasped it, she asked, "How is everyone?" She added coyly, "How's Maddox?"

"Everyone is fine," Sharon emphasized. "Though, Petey seemed a little flustered." Amusement laced her tone. "I think he had a nice weekend with his girlfriend, but Mama is demanding he bring her home."

Jasmine barked a laugh while she shooed Pacer away when he lingered. As he closed the door behind him, Jasmine murmured, "Seriously, though. Is my mom…?"

"Don't mind my sister," Sharon soothed. "She's just…not in her right mind right now."

Jasmine closed her eyes and tried to dismiss the sting of rejection. "No, I… I understand."

Sharon decided to ask, "Everything okay with the twins? Pacer?" You could hear the smile in her voice. "I just have to congratulate you again. You wouldn't stop talking for an hour about the heartbeat recording you took home."

"I was well within my right to be emotional," Jasmine defended with a beam. "The twins are fine and healthy, but they're kicking my ass with the constant vomiting and exhaustion."

"Just be careful. I read up about Spiritless-Wizard couples. A lot of the time, the child turns out to be a Dim or Spiritless, but you told me the doctor said your twins will be born with powers. You need to look out for yourself."

Jasmine rolled her eyes. "Yes, I know."

"And rely on that baby daddy of yours too."

"Auntie!"

"Shut up," Sharon hushed. "If he wants to stick by you, then you let him stick by you and cater to you. I might be child-free, but I wholeheartedly agree that both parents should be involved during the pregnancy. And if you're about to say he's only here for the twins? So what? Rely on him, Jasmine. You're going to need support."

"Wow. Tell me how you really feel," Jasmine muttered dryly.

Sharon chuckled before sighing. "I know how you are," she reminded, timbre gentle. "My sister, frankly, is a bitch. And your dad is no better. You made a successful life for yourself, and I'm proud of you. I'm not saying you need to let that young man into every aspect of your life. But don't be like your parents. Let your twins bond with him." A three-beat pause. "And get to know the father of your children as friends at least."

Jasmine opened her mouth for an argument. She was a lawyer, for goodness sakes, should she not have an argument for everything? But the arguments turned into nothing except petty disagreement and baseless accusations. "I…" She gripped her Compact. "I'll…try…"

"Good." Sharon sounded relieved. "I'm glad to hear it. Pearson has already convinced Maddox and I Pacer is a good man, so…if you ever wanted to bring him home—"

"I'm not making any introductions with him to any family whatsoever." Jasmine put her foot down at that.

"All right, all right." Sharon backed away from that. "It's just an offer. We'd certainly like to meet my potential nieces' or nephews' daddy."

Jasmine sighed and felt a headache coming home, but she decided to switch subjects. "About you and Maddox…?"

"Girl…"

"Don't you 'girl' me!" Jasmine laughed. "All this 'we' stuff goin' on. Get the Hell out."

"There is no 'we'."

"Then why are you whispering like you don't want him to hear?"

"You're lucky you can hide behind your belly right now." But Sharon did seriously confess, "I…actually had to tell Jinn she's not welcome in my house anymore."

"What? What happened?"

Sharon shifted from the other end. "She was making a lot of…inappropriate comments about Maddox being an Aberrant," she admitted. "Maddox let me know it made him uncomfortable. He didn't want to cause trouble, but she has no right to do that to him. But…"—a long exhale—"you know how it is in the news. It's disgusting what's happening to Aberrants and Wizards. Getting shot at for being 'temptations' to people or being unnatural. I'm happy enough to chase off those god-awful bitches when Maddox and I go out and they keep wanting to touch his tail or sleep with him since he's quote-unquote 'exotic'."

"Is he okay?" Concern went out to Maddox from Jasmine. "I mean with school and everything, and his graduation… Where does he plan to go?"

"Fiore's a relatively safe place for him to practice and get higher education. He briefly thought about going to the Sanctuary, but he asked me if he could extend his stay here as a housekeeper." Sharon snorted. "I told him he's more of a tenant than a housekeeper, but he insisted. I told him we can circle back to it once he graduates, but he's more than welcome to stay."

Jasmine could not help her grin. "And is he staying in his own room or…?"

"Maybe, maybe not," Sharon retorted. "But there can't be a relationship. He's very young—"

Jasmine scoffed."He is not that young. Next."

Sharon growled, but she dropped it soon after. "Look, Jasmine… Maddox and I have been talking… I know you love being in the USM, baby, but… You know there are tensions there in some states with Magic Council and the Faction, right? We're happy to have you here when the twins are safe enough to travel."

"I'm not blind to the news, but I'll be okay here," Jasmine promised her. "If things get too out of control, I'll let you know. But we'll be okay. This is a pretty safe city."

"Just be careful," Sharon warned her. "Be safe and cautious at all times."

"I will." A soft promise. "I love you, Auntie Share." She then crooned, "And I love future uncle Maddox—"

"Bye, child."

Jasmine snickered when the call died. They are totally a thing. So cute. She then frowned. I know Jinn can get out of hand, sure, but what's her ish making Maddox feel uncomfortable? He's a person, just like us. And aunt Share is crazy about him. But I'll deal with her later. After wrestling on a shirt, she came out of the bedroom and padded down the hall to see everything had been cleaned and put back in its place.

Pacer had made her a thick smoothie prepped in a glass and looked up when she made her arrival. "Here." He handed her the glass and popped in a straw. "This should help with the nausea and give you some strength back."

"Thanks." Jasmine took a few sips and felt better when she tasted the ginger and mint. "And thanks for…"

Pacer shook his head. "Don't mention it. I'm fine doing it." He looked down before he glanced over to her and confessed, "I heard a little bit of your conversation… Do you…?" Hesitation. "Do you…not want me to meet your family?"

Jasmine saved herself a few seconds of answering with a few more sips. "I mean… It would be weird, wouldn't it? We're not in a relationship. We're just co-parenting the twins, so I guess I don't see a need of us meeting each other's families."

"Oh." Pacer had not meant to sound disheartened, but he could not help it. "Pearson met your aunt, so I just assumed…"

It was not that Jasmine wanted to crush his hopes, but boundaries needed to be set. "He did so under really unusual circumstances," she reminded him. "We'll be co-parents, and I'd like for us to be friends, but that's as far as it goes. Meeting families or anything like that doesn't need to happen between us." She caught the flash of hurt on his face and a stab of pity might have hit her, but she chalked it up to pregnancy hormones. She did not want to see hurt. She wanted to see acceptance. "Pacer, we aren't in a romantic relationship, and I don't plan to entertain the idea—"

"Why not?"

"Excuse me?"

Pale reds collied with ambers.

"You know after we had sex, I wanted to apologize and have us start over," Pacer recalled.

Jasmine shook her head. His words were heading down a path of which she would not follow. "And I accept I was wrong about your personality and have since apologized, but that's it." A firmness set in her face. "We can be friends. I'd like to get along on good terms when the twins are born. But it wouldn't have mattered if I stayed or not. I wouldn't have wanted a relationship then, and I don't want that now."

"But—"

Jasmine took a step back with her chin lifted. "Respect that decision." Tone hard. Unyielding. But she offered an edged, "Please."

"Of course I respect that decision." But Pacer still toyed with his options. His words were significant and held truth, but those pale reds of his saw beyond the wall of iciness she blocked him with. He slowly said, "I want to get along too." He could see her calculating her escape and his shift instantly made her focus back on him. The second he saw her hand on her stomach that housed their gift—their twins—he softened his posture and his tone.

"But I don't want to get along with just the mother of our twins," Pacer explained with a thick emphasis on ours. Jasmine could wrinkle her nose all she wanted, but the word ours was one she would have to get used to. "I've wanted to get to know the person who doesn't put up with my bullshit." His lips quirked. "Someone who will slug me if they feel I'm acting like a dumbass, but they are the bravest and most brilliant woman I know."

Jasmine pitched up an eyebrow. "Well, you certainly aren't the most brilliant person I know considering I tutoring you," she muttered. "And your mouth was atrocious. I don't understand why people put up with that crap and still wanted you back for seconds." She held up a finger when he opened his mouth and made herself clear. "I slept with you because we were both tipsy, horny, and you finally shut up. I didn't put up with your bullshit."

"Trust me when I say I've had things thrown at me." Displeasure and a little shame mucked Pacer's stare. "Those weren't my finest moments, but that's my past. I said my apologies to them, and I've done better."

Jasmine waited for him to go on, but it hit her when his pause kept going, he was fishing for approval. Begrudgingly, she grunted, "I suppose this version of you is an improvement." She added quickly, "But it doesn't change anything. I'm lucky enough my professors are letting me drop to an online portion of my classes to get my master's. You're still a C-average undergrad student with a horrible taste in roommates."

"And I'm already looking at places, so the twins will be safe and comfortable," Pacer reminded her. "I graduate this spring." He caught her scoff and persisted. "I'm trying, Slugger. I just want to get to know the woman who threw an entire encyclopedia at me without hesitating and is willing to do it again if I step out of line."

Jasmine snorted at the memory. She had gotten him pretty solid in the chest when she launched it. No regret. "Sounds like you have a mommy complex."

"Or a you complex," Pacer quipped.

She had no idea what came over her. Call it "pregnancy brain" or her twins, regardless of how small they were, were messing with her head in the hopes they came into the world with their parents together. But she just had to laugh. All her tension left her as her shoulders shook. "You're lucky I have nothing close to throttle at you for such a corny joke."

Pacer cracked a tentative smile. "Am I still pushing my luck I could still get to know you?"

"Yes." Jasmine sipped her smoothie to watch Pacer's face fall, and the pity was back. "But," she heavily sighed, and Pacer perked, "friends get to know friends. I guess we can get to know each other as friends."

Pacer's smile was genuine. "Thank y—!"

"But you have to graduate this semester with all A's."

Pacer felt like he was on cloud nine. "That's no prob—"

"Without using the curve."

At that, Pacer paled. "What?"

Jasmine shrugged as she walked away. "Them's the rules. Get A's and we can go on a friendly date."

"B-B-But…!" Pacer scrambled after her. "But that's impossible to do without the curve! Do you know how hard these last classes are?"

Jasmine tilted her head. "I do."

"Then, you know I have to use the curve to get an A, right?"

"Not my problem."

"Slugger, please! What about a B-minus or something? C plus?"

"Get lawyer if you want to negotiate."

"Slugger…!"

"My god, I pity the twins for having this much of a whiny ass for a father. Get a tutor or something!"

"Then…could you—?"

"That's how I got the twins in the first place!"

---

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

•

Tale of Ellie and Elvin

"I understand."

「分かりました。」

•

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"AAAH!"

Elvin, in his ratty shirt and sweatpants, burst down Ellie's door with worry in his eyes. "What happened? What—?"

That was when he saw it, and his eyes widened. He could not stop him from saying. "Holy shit."

Let us make it clear Ellie's room was not a typical room for any lady. With her green thumb and Green Magic, her parents had been supportive enough to convert her room into half a greenhouse with little terrariums here and there. To her, there was nothing better than have plants surrounding her morning, noon, and night.

That being said…

Ellie looked traumatized as her once-organized organic room had sprung into an overgrown meadow and she was deemed Mother Nature. Bushels of flowers had grown out the wazoo and Ellie's perfect floats had faded into flowered vines with a flower crown adorning her head. Maybe to others, she looked like the Goddess of Spring.

But she thought she looked like a disaster.

Elvin plugged his nose when the scent was too strong and croaked, "Ellie, are you okay?"

"No!" Ellie wailed. "I'm not okay! Ines is coming to pick me up, and I keep sprouting things!" She shook her arms to show flowers had tangled around her as though clinging to their mother. "Look at me, Elvie, look at me! I'm a mess!"

Elvin shrunk when he saw her complaints had conjured up venus flytraps. "Hold on! I'm coming in!" He unplugged his nose as his body curled into a lavender hummingbird, and the scent was much more manageable. He fluttered before her and asked, "How did this happen?"

"I don't know!" Ellie whined. "I was just trying to figure out my hairstyle and make-up and then this happens!"

"You wouldn't just blossom over something like that," Elvin chided her. "What exactly happened?"

Ellie flushed deeply, but she admitted in a small voice, "I might have been thinking about how excited I was about my date with Ines, and how much I really want to be with her—" Her words stopped when she looked in horror as more flowers bloomed and cramped the room anymore. "Oh, no…! It's happening even more...! Elvie…!"

"You have to stop thinking about Ines!" Elvin cried. "You're going to flood the entire house like this, Ellie!"

Ellie whimpered pitifully. "I know… But… But she's just so beautiful, Elvie!" Her eyes widened, and she flinched when vines crawled up her wall.

"Ellie!" Elvin scolded. "What did I just say?"

"You can't just stop telling me not to think about her!" Ellie whined. "I'll just think about her even more!" As a testament, she blossomed a horde of carnations that snuggled around her person and threatened to suffocate her lower body. "Elvie…!" she cried as she pathetically waved her flower-gnarled arms. "Help me…! Nothing's working, and Ines will be here, and I still have to get ready!"

Elvin considered his options, but he flew higher when he witnessed the growth of a swarm of daisies and lilies popped up. "If you can't stop thinking about your girlfriend enough to stop blossoming, I'm getting out the white vinegar and killing your flowers," he threatened.

Ellie gaped, horrified. "No! You can't kill my flowers!"

Without her prompting, a spiked vine flew out to strangle Elvin in his hummingbird form. He dodged it, but the vine snaked back around and tried to get him again. He fluttered about the room at his peril and cried, "Ellie!"

"I'm sorry! I'm sorry!" Ellie wailed. "My emotions are all over the place!"

Elvin dodged another spiked vine and continued to zip around. "What about Ines is making your emotions this strong—? Woah!" He made a dive when another spiked vine tried to claim him. "Talk to me, Ellie!"

"I don't know, I don't know!" Ellie sniffled.

"You do know—! Ah!" Elvin flew higher to avoid the spiked vines all corralling him. "Come on, Ellie, be honest!"

"I don't know!" Ellie's eyes darted around as more flowers flooded the room and left them with less and less space to breathe. She tried to collect her bouncing thoughts as quickly as she could. "I…! I was thinking about Ines and…!" She winced when more flowers piled onto her.

Elvin found himself trapped close to the ceiling with so many flowers and vines grown. The spiked vines had gotten him in his hummingbird form and evolved back into his regular human form, but he groaned when the vines pinned him to the ceiling. A smooth vine slithered over his throat to slowly silence him, but he garbled out, "Ellie…"

"I… I…" Ellie shut her eyes as she tried to confess, "I thought about how… Nnngh!" The flowers were closing in, so she painstakingly let everything out. "I thought about how…I might not be the girlfriend she wants or needs! I…" Tears festered in her eyes as her flowers tried to swallow her and her vines snaked around Elvin to constrain him. "I started getting afraid she wouldn't want to be with me! And I…"

Elvin clenched his jaw as the vines pressed down on his throat while Ellie was about to be consumed by her own creations.

"I thought she'd never love me because I'm not a lesbian!"

The plants stopped.

Elvin greedily sucked in air when the vines on his throat loosened, but he could see the flowers that crowded Ellie were determined to stay. But they were not maliciously holding onto her. They were cocooning her. He carefully asked her, "What do you mean by that?"

Ellie sniffled from the safety of her flowery cocoon. "It happened a few days ago…"

"Daisy, meet my roommate."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Within Ines' apartment, Ellie had settled in the living room with a Wuxia romance drama on, but the focus was on Ines as she button up her flannel. Another woman had entered the apartment with a towering physique yet a lithe figure. Her eyes were a hypnotic gold with her tightly wound curls piled behind her headband, but she smiled at Ellie in both question and friendliness.

"Harley," Ines said as she struggled with the next button, "this is Ellie, my girlfriend." She shot her roommate a firm look. "Be nice."

Harley laughed. "I'm always nice. I just get anal when someone touches my chess sets." She waved at Ellie. "It's nice to meet you, Ellie." A shy glance to her roommate. "Ines pretty much pants about you twenty-four-seven. I'm pretty sure she was singing soliloquies about you—"

"Shut up," Ines scolded with a faint blush. She came over to the focus and pecked Ellie's lips before whispering, "I'll be right back. I'm sorry introductions are so rushed. Will you be okay? Do you feel okay?"

Ellie giggled. "Periods suck, but I'll live. I should've brought my tampons. I guess I was earlier than I thought." She shifted. "The pad is fine, though."

"No, I want you comfortable." Ines leaned in for another kiss. "I'll go get you some tampons and pick up my estrogen." She kissed her again before grinning. "And then we can cuddle, so I can take care of my cute flower."

Ellie laughed and shoved her away. "That's so cheesy!"

Ines pointed smugly at the two roses Ellie sprouted. "Clearly, you like it." She snickered when Ellie offered a huff in return. "I'll be right back." She went over to her roommate and explained, "I have to run a quick errand. Don't scare off my girlfriend. She's precious."

"You're just afraid I'm going to tell her about that party where you got shitfaced—" Harley chortled at Ines' glare. "Go, go! I'll be fine!"

Ines rolled her eyes before aiming a wink at Ellie. "I'll be back, beautiful." And she slipped on her slides before hurrying out the apartment.

Ellie chirped over to Harley, "It's nice to meet you, Harley. Ines told me about all your accomplishments in chess. Tellement incroyable!" She applauded without reservation.

"Thank you," Harley appreciated, humbled. She took a seat on the recliner as she set down her bags. "Chess is a big part of my life." Her nose wrinkled. "But I keep losing to this child prodigy at chess. Annoys the shit out of me, but there's always next year." She shot the focus a curious look. "You're from Fairy Tail, right?"

The focus bobbed. "Yeah!" Ellie enthused. "I'm not exactly a big name, but I love being in Fairy Tail." She curled her arms over her legs. "Being in Fairy Tail allowed me to work at WYM, and I love working there too. Mister Sequen is a phenomenal mentor, and meeting Ines there feels like fate."

Harley offered a soft smile of understanding. "I'm honestly happy you and Ines found each other. I've never seen her so happy." She nodded at Ellie. "And it's thanks to you." She crossed her legs before she readjusted her headband. "I told Ines bi women make the best girlfriends since—hello, bi and pan people are all sorts of the right chaotic—but she didn't believe me—"

"Ah, I'm… I'm not bi…" Ellie's words came out in a strained laugh.

Harley looked surprised and rightfully apologetic. "Oh! Oh, I'm so sorry to mislabel you—!"

"No, please, it's okay! C'est bon." Ellie adjusted her position to try to let out some of her tension. "I'm, um…not sure who I am right now to be honest. Ines is actually my first girlfriend, so I don't have that much experience."

"Oh, I see."

The focus honed on the troubled expression on Harley's face, and a plaguing curiosity filled Ellie. "Pardon?"

"Well, no, it's just…" Harley hesitated as she tried to place her next words. "I'm just…surprised, I guess. I mean, Ines had told me you had been in relationships before with men, but I had just assumed she wasn't your first girlfriend because, um…" She looked thoroughly chastised. "Maybe Ines and you should talk about this. Sorry. I didn't mean to say anything or pry."

"No, no, it's okay," Ellie assured, though her heart thudded, and her toes curled. "What is it?"

"Well…" Harley clasped her hands to gather herself. "It's just… Before, at least, Ines had…issues with women before who were questioning. They all sort of used her for the experience then left her for men, so she never wanted to date someone questioning…" She quickly assured, "She has nothing against anyone curious or questioning! She just…made it clear to me she couldn't be in another 'serious' romantic relationship with someone questioning…" She sucked on the inside of her cheek as her eyes darted. "I'm sorry," she apologized.

"No… No, it's okay…" The focus fell to Ellie's feet. "Thanks for telling me."

"You really do make Ines happy, Ellie," Harley wanted her to know in a quiet tone. "I'm sure things have changed, really. I'm not saying she isn't serious about you—in fact, she seems really serious about you. It's just, in the past…"

"I understand." Ellie strained to keep her voice airy and nonchalant as the focus stung and watered. "I…get it…"

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Ellie dropped to the ground when the vines that pinned him to the ceiling snaked away. He dusted off his sweats to see the flowers that had crowded the room had come to full bloom and dissipated into harmless particle of Ethernano. But his eyes softened when he saw his older sister still kept herself enshrined in her flowers and vines as though trying to block out the world. And his heart broke over her sniffles. Ellie…

"I don't want to be unfair," Ellie whimpered through her floral cocoon. "I just… I know that I really like her, Elvie. She's so gorgeous and…and she's so brilliant and kind and romantic…" Another sniffle and small cry. "But what if that doesn't matter and she doesn't want a serious relationship? What if she's just messing around?" A hiccup. "I don't know what to do, Elvie."

"Ellie…" Elvin circled the cocoon until he got to the front and touched the thistles and stems that separated him from his sister. "Have you told Ines any of this?" he asked her.

A sniffle and a croaked, "No."

Elvin sighed. "Ellie…" He took a crisscrossed seat before the cocoon. "You know you have to talk to her about this. Keeping it all inside… It won't help you or her. She'll just get confused why you keep pulling away, and you'll be upset with yourself." He looked at his lap and added quietly, "It helps me when I can talk to you and Ezra…but I still don't have the courage to talk to Mom and Dad about my stuff…"

Flower by flower, they retracted themselves into Ethernano until the cocoon unfolded and vanished. Ellie was left on her knees with her wavy hair riddled with innocent petals, her cheeks shining from her tears, and those blue-brown eyes of hers looking down at her younger brother in sympathy.

"Mom and Dad will understand," she soothed him. "But I know why you're too afraid to say anything." She played with her fingers. "I know I need to say something. I know that. I'm just afraid that…"

"She'll say something you didn't want to hear?"

Both siblings regarded each other in understanding.

Ellie wiped her eyes. "I guess I wasn't acting too womanly, huh?"

"I'm not sure about that," Elvin said, "but you were acting like my big sister who isn't certain about everything all of the time." His lips curled into a smile. "I think that's pretty womanly than anything else."

Ellie giggled. "Peut-être." When Elvin got up and offered his hand, she took it and pulled herself to her feet. She pinched his cheek and teased, "Thanks for being such a good little brother, Elvie."

Elvin laughed as he jerked away from her. "Whatever. But you should probably get ready." He noted the time on Ellie's sundial. And yes, she adored her sundial. "Knowing you, you'll hog the bathroom until the very second your girlfriend gets here changing out your lipstick or something."

"It takes effort to look beautiful," Ellie defended. "And having the right lip-gloss is, like, a crucial thing." She smiled foolishly to herself as her cheeks tinged pink. "Plus, Ines loves it when I wear cherry lip gloss because she loves how it tastes from my lips."

Elvin wanted to say something snarky back when he noticed flowers were amassing around his sister and backed away in fear. "Um, Ellie…? Maybe you shouldn't start—"

"And then she just keeps kissing me until it all comes off," Ellie squealed as she held her cheeks. "She's so romantic!"

Dread filled Elvin the second he could see his own death by flowers as an entire meadow shadowed over him and threatened to overtake the room. "Ellie—!"

CRASH!

---

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

•

Tale of Cane

"You're still my son."

「まだ私の息子でしから。」

•

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Hangovers fucking blew.

It was not like Cane could not bounce back. To be honest, the shock of a hangover might have hit him for a few minutes with crusty eyes and residual dizziness and that sense of what-the-hell-happened, but he got over it soon enough. Scrubbing his face, he glanced around to see he had made it back to his own bedroom and no one else was with him. His room was not like what people would expect. A large bed, an LV, and a DAL, but he had more books than he knew what to do with.

As a reflex, he reached over for his Compact and cracked his neck. Ugh… Crocus women really have the good liquor, but they really are princesses in bed. He squinted at his screen to see he had a slew of texts waiting for him. One was a reminder for a job he had scheduled, and another was the reminder about registration for school, but most were from friends and unknown numbers who were more lecherous about what they sent. He hacked through the unknown numbers and deleted their pictures and lewd messages without a thought.

Sniffing, he rubbed his nose, but his eyes dropped to the group chat he had going with his friends. Jaxton was down long ago and Miles. And now Dante. He snickered when Dante had sent them a picture. It was clear Carlisle was the culprit as he took the photo, but he caught Dante putting on his shirt and the scratch marks on his back that looked like proud battle wounds. Absently, Cane twirled an upright Lovers tarot card between his knuckles.

Dante asked me to read his fortune before he went. He fanned out his hand, card gone, only for his Magic to glow in his eyes. He threw his hands upwards and within that second, a ten-tarot cards spread had formed above him. He looked at the mixture of cards over the span of his decks. I own up to sixty decks and every client resonates with something different. My Magic helps me figure out which deck to use or mixes decks by whatever sort of vibe I get from someone.

His eyes narrowed. But this reading… For some reason, the Goddess Deck was mixed together with a deck I've only used once—my Unknown Deck. And that hasn't happened since…

A gentle smile. Wide brown eyes. Sunlit locks.

Cane dropped his Compact and focused on his cards. The entire reading… I was honest about it. I've read weird fortunes before, but… His eyes narrowed. Something about this is off.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"Thanks for the reading."

The focus sat across from a calm Dante with two whiskeys placed between them. Dante's living room was low of light, and candles had been lit around the ten-spread of tarot cards to help guide along Cane's reading, of course.

Cane messed with a normal set of playing cards, bridging them and shuffling them, as he said, "Yeah, no problem, Prince, but I have to be straight with you." He waved his hands at the ten-spread. "I read fortunes, but something about this isn't right."

"What do you mean?"

"Well…" Cane dismissed his playing cards to gesture to the spread. "Your vibe told me I need to use two decks." He lifted a finger. "The Goddess Deck"—another finger rose—"and the Unknown Deck." He knocked his knuckles against the first three cards before gesturing to the inner-position card. "This is your present basically. What you're going through internally and externally and any challenges. Your inner-position card was Judgement, which isn't surprising given your question to me was asking about your potential relationship with Carlisle."

Dante nodded. "Right."

"From this, I had a feeling you and Carlisle had a strong connection," Cane theorized. "I also had a feeling that your relationship with Carlisle will bring you to manifest a self of you you've never seen before." The focus tilted. "But the card landed crooked."

"And it wasn't a mistake."

Cane shook his head. "No. Beauty of my powers is once you chose the card, the cards lay as they need to. Unlike Spiritless Tarot Readers, I get a lot more insight about you than reverse or upright. A crooked card is that gray area, like I said before. The vibe I got was that some of the anxieties and limits you put on yourself sort of popped back up."

"And I agreed with that," Dante murmured.

Cane bobbed his head. "Regardless, combined with the Wheel of Fortune and Two of Cups, your present is going to keep going, no matter how you want to resist it. Your connection with Carlisle is going in a depth you haven't felt before. You're going to learn a lot from this and from him and even from yourself. That can't stop and it won't. But the only way for you to have that sort of connection is for you to put your heart on the line. You have to accept whatever is happening in front of you. If you don't, it can cause you to go straight back to the beginning."

Dante nodded. "I understand."

Cane went to the next twosome of cards. "Next was your past." He knocked again. "You got the Three of Swords." He rolled his shoulders. "It's a little bit of me cheating since I know your history, but it's fine." His voice softened on his next words. "You have a big heart, Prince, and your exes took pieces that they never wanted to commit to."

"It's not just that." Dante shifted and sucked down a few swallows of whiskey.

"I know it's not." Cane sighed. "Off-the-record, but have you told Carlisle about what happened with your mom?"

Dante shook his head. "Not yet." His eyes dropped. "Not yet."

"Fair. But the sooner you do so, the better," Cane advised with kindness. "Don't let your past of heartbreak and grief bleed into what you have with Carlisle. Your tinkering is a good outlet to help you sort of out everything." He gestured to the other card. "The Ten of Cups confirms what happened during that time. The fight you had, instability in relationships, and that your support felt like it was nonexistent. But you repaired a lot of that and worked hard for that repair. Now, you just need to keep it stabilize."

Cane knocked on the next pair of cards. "These cards are basically guiding you on the right path, but I think we both knew what needed to happen. You know your struggles, and you know what you have to do to put a handle on them."

Dante inclined his chin. "And the last cards?"

Cane sighed as the focus swept over the last cards. "You got The World as your short-term outcome. It's not something I see every day, but that's a good thing. There's no negative rebound in the short scheme of things. Do what you want and whatever. Be natural and you'll have smooth waters. Now." His hand spread to the tenth card. "This card—"

KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK.

The focus looked up. "Expecting someone?"

"No." Dante got up and moved to the front door, only to be caught off-guard. "Lips? What's wrong?" He stepped aside and guided Carlisle inside, eyes studying him meticulously. "Are you okay?" He shut the door as his face shifted into hunger and pain. "And don't tell me you walked around in that to get here."

Carlisle had dressed in what looked like one of Dante's sweatshirts, but he had paired it with some tennis shorts. "I didn't walk, I…" He swallowed back his response as his eyes fell around only to freeze on Cane. "I didn't mean to interrupt," he apologized. He shot Dante a panicked look. "I should go—"

"Lips," Dante coaxed as he held Carlisle in place. "What's wrong, baby?" He murmured something too low, and when Carlisle dipped his head and nodded, Dante drew back. "Cane—"

"It's okay. It was time for me to take off," Cane assured.

Carlisle still looked unsure. "I really didn't mean to interrupt…" He messed with his sleeves. "I know I said it was better for me to stay at home until after the Cup, but… I-I just wanted to see you and…" He looked up at Dante as though he was prepared to say something that took a lot of courage, but the fear was back, and he stepped away from Dante. "Never mind. I should go."

"Lips—" Dante groaned when Carlisle was quick to open the door and slip out in a hurry. "Fuck." He shot the focus a look of frustration and apology. "I need to go after him."

Cane shooed him. "Go." He hollered after Dante as he fled, "And make out with him too, so we don't have to deal with your sexual frustration!" He snickered when Dante flipped him off before slamming the door shut.

Cane sighed. The focus swept back to ten-spread of cards, and his powers dispelled nine of the cards. But a hand reached out to reclaim the last card—

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Cane looked at the black card in front of him. It bore no words and needed no words. Black from the edges to the center, it carried three eclipsing circles that Cane recognized: the sun, the moon, and the world. An Eclipse card… Luna was the only other person to have gotten this card alone. He let the card drifted above him and watched as the symbols moved on their own accord. A solar eclipse projected upon the world.

A solar eclipse means the beginning of a great power that's crazy intense and brings together your past, present, and future. He watched as the sun and moon switched. But a lunar eclipse means an apocalyptic ending that's to help bring about the most dramatic of changes. The card positioned itself back to normal. The vibe I got from the card was definitely about his relationship with Carlisle, but…

He scrubbed his face before he dismissed his cards and sat up. The only interpretation I could make that night was just that. The relationship will tie in every aspect of their lives and create something intense. But with the addition of the lunar eclipse, it means that these things are going to happen simultaneously. And with the World card, it means that the ending and beginning will have no negative impact. In fact, it'll be for the greater good.

Cane got out of bed and headed for the bathroom. After doing his business, he decided to take a shower. But as the water sprayed him, he thought back to seeing Carlisle and how at ease Dante had looked. I don't understand why an Unknown Card would make itself present for a normal Spiritless relationship. With Luna, I could understand, but… He finished washing himself off. Is there something I'm missing with them? Not like I can't read my cards about them but having them ask me the question or be in front of me helps me catch their energy.

"Whatever." Cane toweled himself off. "I'll see if Carlisle's interested in a reading and have Prince do a separate reading on his future." He ruffled his wet locks. "At least Prince is happy." He snorted as he got out his toothbrush. "Thank fuck because I'm not dealing with him at the gym beating me up because he's frustrated."

After brushing his teeth and changing into some shorts, he decided to head out. The condo he and his mother lived in was more mystic than people would think with an old apothecary table his mother had lifted to vintage Tarot cards and Oracle cards and Karmic cards they had collected over the years and even a crystal ball. Books on every fortune-telling and divination method from astrology to tasseomancy had been properly shelved with their equipment in enchanted glass cabinets.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« This is Cana and Cane's condo. Filled with fortune-telling methods and divination devices, Cana taught Cane these methods to pass on her knowledge. Gildarts says Cane's skills in fortune-telling and divination are on par with Cornelia's own. »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Cane was digging out the pans when he suddenly stopped and picked up the HCL the second the first rang happened. Burying the device between his shoulder and ear, he teased, "I knew you'd call."

"I hate that you know that," Cana laughed. "This is why I stopped trying to plan surprises for you. You always have a feeling something is coming."

"Not the details," Cane pointed out as he got out the omelet plan. "Just a vague sense." He was finally able to hold the HCL like normal. "What's wrong?"

Silence.

Cane sighed. "Mom, were you pendulum dowsing again? The weather's complete shit for cloud reading." He switched the HCL to the other ear as he went to get ingredients. "I thought I told Grandpa to hold your pendulum hostage?"

"Has he come yet?"

Cane groaned. "Mom…"

"Cane, I need to know."

Cane brought out a carton of eggs and sour cream from the refrigerator. "He hasn't yet, but he will soon." The silence on the other end was deafening, and it made Cane give pause. "Mom," he said lowly, "where's Grandpa?"

"He's nearby, but Cane, I…" His mother let out a long breath. "You shouldn't have to dislike him because of me," she murmured. "He loves you. He's always loved and supported you."

Cane set his jaw. But he said as calmly as he could, "I know what you're saying, Mom, but I can't get over it." His shoulders tensed. "I have to go, but I'll call you later."

"Is he there?"

"No." Cane looked over his shoulder at the front door. "But I'm getting that bad feeling." He turned to the front door. "Mom, I'll talk to you later. I love you, but I need to go." He ended the call without a note of farewell. The doorman knows his face. I might get a call, but it should be fine. He clutched the HCL. Still… That bad feeling means it won't be.

KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK-KNOCK.

Cane's knuckles turned white. And it looks like I was right. Careful to not make a sound, he leaned against the counter and waited.

A cleared throat. "Cane, I know you're in there, Wildman."

Cane scowled, but he held in his words.

"I didn't come to see your mom. Your wild grandpa and your master made it clear the last time." A pause. "But I still wanted to talk to you…even if you don't want to respond."

Cane rolled his eyes and shifted his stance. This is bullshit. He was prepared to silently walk away—

"I still love you, Cane. You're still my son."

Cane paused, tensed.

He heard his father sigh from the other side of the door and a hand must have brushed against the material. "I know." His father gave a snorting exhale. "I know…you don't believe that. I know, in your eyes, you don't think I could love you. You're angry at me. You're ignoring me. I don't blame you. I…understand."

Cane turned to the door, but he did not make a sound.

"Nothing I say will change your opinion about me, and I don't expect it to," his father continued. "I respect that. And I don't plan to just talk to change your mind. It's your choice if you want to speak to me again. But I at least wanted you to know I still love you. You're still my Wildman. Maybe you hate that I still call you that; I don't know."

Cane backed into the counter as his chin dipped and his eyes closed. But his hands gripped the counter so hard, his knuckles had turned white.

"One of the guys let me know you've been taking on private assignments for Erza." A brusque chuckle before it fettered out. "Maybe my words don't mean anything to you anymore, but for Erza to send you on private assignments—it makes me damn proud of you, Wildman. You're talented and sharp—all thanks to your mother and grandfather."

Three beats…

His father cleared his throat. "Your Orthrus misses you. I'm not saying that for you to visit or anything; I just thought you should know. The guys at the guild have been keeping him cheered up, but we all know he misses you." A pause. "Quatro Cerberus misses you too. I understand you hate me, but please don't hate them too. My actions are solely on me. I know how much they were like a second family to you." Two beats. "Your godfather Goldmine misses the Hell out of you."

Cane clenched his jaw and held in his breath when a tear shed.

"I know…you're happy here. You're happier away from me, but Cane…" A broken tone. "Don't…let your hate of me make you miss out on your other family. Goldmine's crushed you stopped taking his calls. You've known most of those free spirits at Quatro since you were a baby. They all miss you. I hope you can visit them one day."

Cane sunk down into a crouch as he held his head in his hands. The tears seeped between the linings of his fingers and dropped down to the floor, but he could not care. He just kept quiet.

"I just wanted to tell you this. Maybe you've already walked away and ignored me. Maybe all my words piss you off. I get it if they do. But I just needed you to know that, regardless of what happened between your mom and me…I do love you. Your family at Quatro Cerberus loves you. And we're here whenever you're ready to talk." A lengthy exhale. "Happy Heart's Day, Wildman."

Cane waited for the footsteps to fade away before he staggered back to his feet. He viciously rubbed away his tears and cursed, "Dammit. Fucking… Why?" He abandoned making breakfast as he stumbled away. Bastard. Why the Hell do you have to mess with my head now?

After shutting himself in and cracking open the window, Cane might not be proud of his next actions in the future, but this was what he was used to. His hands flexed for a few cards and he dished them out like he was a dealer onto his desktop. The cards morphed into his dab pen and his THC wax. His hand shook a little as he scraped the wax into his ben, but that fuzziness so familiar to him tried to do away with his pain and anguish within the first dab. His hand shook, and his eyes stung, but with more dabs, he knew it would vanish.

Even so…

Why…? Why does he tell me this now? Anger and self-loathing fueled his next dab. Why does he care about me if he couldn't even care about Mom to—? The high that was supposed to eradicate his pain was being crossed out. He set down the pen all together to wipe away any more tears. "Fuck," he cursed. "This isn't helping."

Cane went over to grab his Compact and went through his contacts. I need to get out of here. He blinked when he saw Luna was calling him and answered without question. "Hey, sweet thing. What's up?"

"It's nothing. I just—" Quiet. "Are you okay?"

"Huh?" Cane clasped the bridge of his nose as he tried to combat the euphoric fogginess and his own hatred. "I'm fine. Just did a dab before you called."

Luna did not sigh or berate him. Instead, she remained silent until she ventured, "Do you want me to come over?" She was quick to add, "After you shower and air out your room, so it doesn't smell yucky. Mama says no one can be upset when they have food in their stomach. I can bring something from Double Trouble or make you something?"

Cane snorted. "You're a saint, sweetness, but I don't want to step on anyone's tail." He went back over to his pen to take another two puffs and blew. "I thought that boyfriend of yours would be clinging to you today since you went to the dance last night." Two puffs and blow. When all he heard was silence, he frowned. "Luna?"

"I-I'm here." Though she sounded like she was forcing her tone to be light. "I-I-I'm sorry… It's just…"

"Hey." Cane softened with concern. "I think we could both use some company, yeah?"

"Yeah…"

"And it has been a while since I've hung out with you. You can tell me what's going on in your world without Igneel breathing down my neck and Gale trying to kill me with his ugly glare."

Luna giggled. "Let me ask my mama, and I'll come over." She added sternly, "And no more smoking or else you don't get breakfast."

"You drive a hard bargain," Cane told her in faux gravity, "but I'll make an exception for you."

"Good boy. See you soon."

"Okay." The call ended, and Cane laid down on his bed. He saw a text message from his mother, but he ignored it to push the butt of his wrists into his eyes and let out a long sigh. A pathetic smile touched his mouth. Dammit, gorgeous. You really know how to pull me out of my dark spaces when it comes to my dad. He pulled back up his Compact to leaf through his photos until he saw the one he had privately tucked away.

The photo was from years past. He was small as he clung to his Orthrus puppy who loved him so. Surrounding him were his mother and guild members of Quatro Cerberus with Rocker giving the signature rocker hand signal and Goldmine with his cane and signature grin. But he saw how happy he was with his father on that day. The day they celebrated his father becoming the new Guild Master of Quatro Cerberus.

Bacchus… Cane tapped the photo, and a prompt came up if he wanted to delete it or cancel. Why did you have to do what you did? We were supposed to be a family, so why…? He stared at the photo for a minute longer. His finger came up…

…and he tapped.

---

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

•

Tale of Veronika, Spencer, Miss Chelsea, Lisa-Jane, and Ivan

"Я тебя обожаю."

「憧れています。」

•

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

It was not that Veronika meant to come home late, but sometimes, being an event planner required much more of your time when you had demanding clients and a long drive back home.

She entered her home as quietly as she could, with her feet aching from all the walking she had to do in her heels and her mind in a tizzy from the new requests and negotiations she had to endure. As she put up her coat, she sighed. I just want today to be over with. She walked down the hall as she saw a light was on and fluffed out her hair.

"Miss Chelsea?" Veronika called. "Are you still there? You didn't have to wait…" But her words tapered off when she realized the living room lights were not on and neither were the kitchen lights. The dining room lights were on, and that made her all the more curious. "Miss Chelsea? Is that you?"

Veronika bypassed the kitchen to go to the dining room—

Cerulean mixed with sunset widened then softened.

Be still her heart. She looked at her refined dining room to see a well-set dinner had been placed before her seat at the end of the table. She carried herself over to see three steel dome plate covers hid the deliciousness they carried inside. Her favorite wine had been chilled, and she smiled when the candelabra lit itself the second she was close enough. A Lacrima Recorder was settled next to her polished silverware with a decorative card atop it that read:

PLEASE PLAY ME

Veronika pressed ⟪ Play ⟫.

"Hi, Mommy!" Lisa-Jane's boisterous hello made Veronika chuckle. "Miss Chelsea said you were working late today, and we'd have to be in bed, but we wanted you to have a really special Heart's Day dinner!"

"Mommy, you need to sit," Ivan commanded, always the serious one when it came to his mother. "Miss Chelsea said you're gonna be tired-ded. So, sit right now."

Veronika set her purse by her chair as she laughed, "Yes, sir. Mommy's sitting down."

Ivan loudly whispered on the recorder, "Do you think Mommy is sitting?"

"I think she is, love," Miss Chelsea assured. "What's the next step?"

"Mommy, Miss Chelsea taught us you have to eat an appetizer first," Lisa-Jane said proudly. She stressed the foreign word, but she sounded so happy with herself she said it right. "So, make sure you eat that first before your dinner. And once you're done with dinner, you can have dessert."

"No dessert before dinner, Mommy," Ivan firmly reminded.

"I wouldn't dream of it," Veronika murmured. She saw another decorative card labeled APPETIZER on the small domed tray. The second she lifted up the dome covering, her smile widened. It was clear Miss Chelsea had helped her children make the strawberry ricotta bruschetta with the bread cut into hearts, but the littered strawberry and dollops of ricotta were the imperfect perfections she adored.

"Tell your mother about your day, dearies," Miss Chelsea encouraged. "I'm sure she's sorry she had to miss dinner with her two favorite heartbeats."

"I beat up someone today." Leave it to Lisa-Jane to be so proud of her fight. "She was being horrible and kept calling one of my friends bad words, so I pushed her. She pushed me back, so I punched her."

Miss Chelsea chided, "Lisa-love…"

Lisa-Jane sighed. "And I got in trouble, so Mommy has to sign a form for me." She quickly defended her actions. "But I don't care! I'm not sorry! She shouldn't have called my friend such a bad name!"

"You're gonna make Mommy upset," Ivan scolded.

Veronika decided to uncork her wine and pour a half glass as she listened to Lisa-Jane mumbled, "Sorry, Mommy."

"I received the call from the school when you were unable to answer, ducky," Miss Chelsea called to Veronika as she sipped her wine before she ate up another strawberry ricotta bruschetta. "Nothing too serious of a punishment for the little dear. As her caretaker, I may not agree with her fighting, but also as someone who loves her friends, I say, 'right on'."

Lisa-Jane giggled. "Thanks, Miss Chelsea!"

"Ivan, darling, why don't you tell your mum about your day?" Miss Chelsea encouraged.

"Okay." Ivan's voice sounded closer to the recording. "Mommy, I got to go on the big playground today, and Tanner brought in chocolates for the whole class, but he gave me special chocolate for my…my… Miss Chelsea?"

"Diabetes," Miss Chelsea patiently sounded out.

"My die-uh-bee-tees," Ivan repeated. "Mister Mitchell had my class go to the Heart's dance and it was okay. Tanner danced with me. I don't like anyone else in my class." Veronika could see her son wrinkling his nose. "But Tanner and I got to sawed—got see our other friends and…"

Veronika wined and dined, but the smile on her face and contentment relaxing her bones could never leave as she heard Ivan's run-on sentences and how serious he described everything while Lisa-Jane blurted whatever was on her mind and Miss Chelsea's grandmotherly encouragement towards both children. She laughed into her next sip when Lisa-Jane interrupted Ivan and her little brother was so fed-up that he immediately scolded her for being rude. Lisa-Jane's argument turned into a sheepish apology when Miss Chelsea stepped in to kindly remind Lisa-Jane to wait her turn.

The main entrée had to have been her children's idea. They had made her blini (thin Giltenan pancakes) with all her favorite toppings of sauteed mushrooms and green onions, smoked salmon and cream cheese, poached eggs, and even creamed cheese and cranberry sauce.

"Oh, my," Veronika breathed as she fell in love with her family all over again. I can't believe they remembered blini is my favorite. She helped herself to a blini topped with smoked salmon and creamed cheese. Granddaddy used to make these with us all the time. Her heart went out to her grandfather. I haven't seen him since I left home. Mom told me his Alzheimer's is getting worse. He frightened Mary Jane at their visit last month. I wonder if he'd know me… I'd love for the kids to meet him.

She sighed and took a healthy gulp of wine as she let the voices of her children string along her ears. Heart's Day was a big event back when I was younger. On Sundays, we'd make homemade chocolate and other goodies like it was a tradition and have a whole contest after we made our pilgrimage to Kardia. Her smile was lucid as memories swam in her eyes. Nik was a pain in the ass, but whenever Sprite asked him to participate, he would in a heartbeat—even if his chocolate was crap. Mom and Aunt Erza would nearly go ballistic. Aunt Erza always knew how to set off Mom's competitive streak. And Dad—

She stopped.

Cerulean-sunsets saddened a bit. No use remembering that now.

"If you force Lisa-Jane and Ivan away from your father"—gunmetal dark blues shrouded in dark sobriety—"they'll resent you for the rest of your life."

Veronika closed her eyes. I can't have him hurt them, she told herself. But they love Mom so much. I know Lisa-Jane wanted to ask about Laxus, but Ivan shushed her. A pathetic snort. He's always been so perceptive for being so little. Just like my brothers. Eyes open, she sloshed her wine around in slow rotations. Maybe he has changed, she supposed. He apologized to Sprite for hurting her feelings, and Sprite is insistent he's different than how I remembered him. A long-winded sigh. I just don't know if I could ever trust him.

"If he hurts your daughter in any way, I swear to you, Lucky, I will set him straight." Spencer's biting whisper. "But you keep saying you're so selfish for holding your kids back from meeting their family. Laxus might not be your family, but he is to them."

"Maybe you're right, Captain," Veronika whispered to herself. "But I just don't know." She sniffed. "Ugh. Reds always make me weepy."

"Mommy, we're gonna go to bed now!" Lisa-Jane announced. "Miss Chelsea said it's our bedtime, so we'll shower and brush our teeth, but I really hope I get my Heart's Day present soon!"

"Don't stay out too late," Ivan cautioned like he was the parent and his mother was the child. "We miss you, Mommy."

"We love you, Mommy," both children caroled. "Happy Heart's Day!"

Silence came, and Veronika hummed. "Mommy loves you too, my precious heartbeats." She lifted her glass to her lips for another swig—

"Lucky."

Veronika's eyes popped wide open, and she drew back her wine when she heard Spencer's voice. What the…?

"I'm sorry I had to miss Heart's Day with you and Miss Chelsea and the kids," Spencer apologized smoothly. "I'm recording this before we had out. I'll have to go no-contact during the fun part of this contract, but I wanted to make sure I got to speak to you on Heart's Day." He chuckled. "Miss Chelsea helped me. And so did the kids. But don't get mad at them. This was my idea."

Veronika leaned forward as though steadying herself.

"I miss you, Lucky," Spencer confessed in raw honesty. "You've been on my mind since I met you at that mandatory have-fun. And being around you for that entire week in December… It was like a dream for me." He shifted. "I'm sorry if I pushed you into a situation you weren't comfortable with. I respect your privacy and your friendship more than that."

You didn't push me, Veronika wished she could say to them.

"I wish I could see you now." Spencer's tone took a wistful note. "I'm sure you look beautiful." He chuckled. "You always do. And I can say that since I've seen you at your supposed 'worse' when you had a hangover."

Veronika flushed at the memory. It was not her finest moment.

"I'm sure you just got off work. Miss Chelsea said she'd play this once you were alone." Spencer's tone dropped. "Are you alone, Lucky?"

Veronika shivered as she struggled back from crossing her legs when that baritone timbre shook her core.

"To be honest, I'm a little pouty," Spencer admitted. "I love what I do, but damn, I wish I was having dinner with you right now. I'd compliment you on how gorgeous you look." He snickered. "And you'd probably tell me I clean up well enough. You'd pretend to hate it when I pull out your chair, but I'd see that blush of yours…and if I'm a lucky man, I'd get to see that breathtaking smile of yours too."

Veronika offered a shy and silly smile as she looked down at her lap.

"Do you like the wine?"

Veronika froze before her eyes darted to the wine bottle.

"Did you take a look at the inscription?"

Shakily, Veronika reached to grasp the wine with both hands. Her eyes roamed the title and which vineyard it had come until she saw the cursive imprinted onto the label, and her heart sighed:

To my very own lucky charm

Will I be lucky enough to be your heartbeat?

"Oh, Spencer," Veronika breathed. She felt water cloud her eyes.

"Miss Alberona of Fairy Tail was kind enough to help me select your favorite red and have it personalized," Spencer explained with such gentility in his voice as though he could somehow see the emotion that whittled down Veronika's walls. "You deserve a lot more than that. Speaking of which…have you eaten your dessert yet?"

Veronika put back the wine. With her dinner finished, she only had one dome-covered plate left. With a hard swallow, she took the plunge and took off the dome—

A sharp intake. How…?

She beheld a plastic carton of creamy ice cream that was still chilly and a spoon right next to it. But when she saw the label of the ice cream, nothing could have prepared her. The dome was set down, and she cupped the carton with her hands.

"Do you like it, Lucky?" Spencer asked her, timbre burningly sweet and low. "During our time in the Greenheart Alps, your mom let it slip your grandfather made a deal with a stand owner on one of his trips to Giltena to be able to buy his ice cream. Apparently, his ice cream was something even Giltenan royalty ate. It took some negotiation, but I guess your grandfather talked about how much he loved sharing this ice cream with you."

DRIP…

"So, I wanted to give you back that moment." Spencer sighed. "Your grandfather might not be the man he used to be with his condition, but he is a man I truly respect and admire. You didn't have to say it to me for me to know he means that much to you and your family."

DROP…

"I'm sorry I can't be there for you right now, Lucky, I really am. Heart's Day or not, you deserve to be treasured. You deserve more than just words or gifts—you deserve all of it." Four breaths of silent. "When I come back from my contract, I know we agreed to have a serious discussion. I still want that discussion. I want to speak to Lisa-Jane and Ivan and Miss Chelsea about us too. Your kids are your life. And I want them to accept me, so they can become my life too."

Veronika peeled off the lid and could smell the vanilla bourbon in heaps as more tears drenched her cheeks.

"I have to go soon, Lucky." Softness. Affection. "I hope you enjoyed your gifts. And I hope you'll give me a chance to prove to you every that you're my first thought, and that you deserve to come first." His voice faded for a moment, and a warm silence lulled over.

Veronika opened her mouth—

"Whatever you have to say to me, say it to me when I come home, okay?"

Veronika closed her eyes, but she took a deep breath to steady herself. "I will," she promised him even though he could not hear her. "I promise." Just come home safe.

"And Lucky, can you do one thing for me? Can you…say my name?"

Veronika clutched the carton of ice cream as she whispered, "Spencer."

A few moments of silence briefed the recording before Spencer spoke with a smile, "Thank you, Lucky. I might not be able to hear you, but I'm going to assume you did it. And it means a lot to me." A pause. "I have to go. I'm so sorry, Lucky."

Don't go, Veronika whimpered as she trembled.

"I already sent Lisa-Jane and Ivan and Miss Chelsea Heart's Day presents." Another long pause. "I'm sorry." A choked apology that bordered despair. "This is harder than I thought. My teammates warned me how much it hurts, but I hate feeling like this. I wonder if you feel it too."

I do. Veronika hunched over the carton. I hate it, but I do.

"I'll see you as soon as I can," Spencer vowed. "Ah… There is one more thing I wanted to say." A shift. "Don't laugh at me," he warned her. "My pronunciation isn't that great yet. It's pretty terrible, but… Well, here is goes." He audibly cleared his throat. "Lucky… Ya obozhayu tebya."

Veronika's breath caught. Her eyes flew open as she looked at the recording. Spencer…

"That was all I wanted to say," Spencer said with a hint of embarrassment. "Good night, Lucky. Sweet dreams."

The recording ended.

For a moment, nothing could move Veronika. Not time. Not anything. But she gathered herself up. She peeled off the lid and took hold of the spoon. After a healthy dig into such creamy goodness, she helped herself to a spoonful and savored the table.

He's right.

Cheeks wet, she allowed herself a small smile.

His pronunciation really is terrible.

---

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Tales of Heart's Day Weekend

Short Stories

Volume II

•

ハートの日の週末の物語

短編小説

第2巻

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

---

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

•

Tale of Kang, Florica, and Wolf

"Yeah."

「ん。」

•

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Kang was fucking exhausted.

A twenty-four-hour shift at the rescue station was enough to drive him wild. Sure, the payoff was nice. He got to train the young little shits who clearly could not hold themselves in a fight (in his opinion). He went through the drills and got a dark thrill from terrifying the newbies by hitting them with every single possible thing that could go wrong in a rescue scenario. And twenty days off a month was nothing to sneeze at, obviously.

But when you and your girlfriend had an inverted schedule, it blew hard.

Kang and Florica's (and Wolf's) ranch house was nothing special. A typical four-bedroom, two-and-a-half-bath, with an open kitchen, and a patio that Kang had built by himself to keep his mind off his rage. It drained his soul when Florica was adamant they have separate bedrooms at the beginning when they moved in, and he had to bite his tongue whenever she escaped him to barricade herself in her own bedroom for the night, but eventually, she had caved to rotating. Some nights, they slept in his room, others they slept in hers, but very rarely had they slept apart.

Especially when Kang was exhausted.

The only reason he woke up from his slumber was not that his beautiful girlfriend had decided to surprise him in bed like he dreamed. No, it was his obnoxious wolf who decided his back was the perfect place to sit and howl until he got his way.

"Shut the fuck up, asshole," Kang grunted as he shifted. "I'm awake, dammit." As he got up, Wolf scrambled off him only to prod and probe him with a wet nose and cheeky licks. Kang shoved Wolf's muzzle away from him as he tried to blink open his eyes. Ruffling his hair, he turned onto his back. Wolf plopped down and laid his head on Kang's chest and, with great reluctance, Kang scratched Wolf's jaw.

Wolf's tail thumped as one of his back legs twitched.

"Why do you have to wake me up?" Kang grumbled. "Would've been better if Florica was on top of me than you and your fatass."

Wolf huffed, insulted, and got up. He deliberately hit Kang with his tail before he bounded off the bed, and his claws scraped the wood floors upon his escape.

Kang pinched the bridge of his nose as he tried to keep himself away when his Compact went off. His eyes fell shut as he grabbed the device, swiped to answer the call, and grunted, "Yeah?"

"You're awake."

"Not like I fucking want to be," Kang growled. He heard Florica's dainty laugh, though, and it made his agitation alleviate somewhat. "How's your shift?"

"Not that bad," Florica told him in that hypnotic, airy lilt of hers. "It's the same. We keep getting accidental calls for the fire department. There's always paperwork to fill out. Today's an easy day."

Kang grunted.

"Do you want to go back to sleep?"

"Nah." Kang groaned when his back cracked as he sat up. "I need to get up and do shit anyway." He pulled his Com away to check the time. "And it's getting to be around dinnertime soon, so I'll have to make our dinner." He heard a palpable silence. "What?"

"Um…" Florica noticeably hesitated. "You… You don't have to cook this year. We're both not that great at cooking. I can bring home takeout—"

"No." Kang swung his legs out of bed and got to his feet. "I'm cooking this year." More silence made his skin prickle, and he muttered, "You still don't trust me to cook, do you?"

"A-Ah, well… Y-You don't have the best track record with cooking…" Florica quickly proffered, "If you could wait until I'm home, we could cook together—"

"Weren't you the one who banned for us to stop cooking together?" Kang drawled. "Because we kept going at it like dogs in heat any time we were in the kitchen together, remember?" He offered a throaty chuckle when he heard Florica's quickened breath and her slight cough. "But if that's an offer—"

"N-N-No, no, it's not," Florica put to bed.

Kang could not help but grin. "You're sexy when you're shy, sweetheart."

Florica cleared her throat, and Kang wished he could see her adorably flustered expression. "Just… Try not to cook anything too fancy, please?" she asked of him. "Keep it simple, and I'll love it." A pause. Then, her voice came back, shy and sweet, "I love you."

"I love you too." Kang openly groaned when he heard Florica's quiet giggle. "Fuck, sweetheart, do you know how turned on I get when you laugh like that? I'm already half-hard and you're making it worse." When Florica's laughter increase, Kang playfully threatened, "You're gonna make me have to take a cold shower in a second, sweetheart."

"I'm sorry," Florica ruefully said. "Keep it simple. I'll be home soon."

"I'm look forward to it, sweetheart."

"I love you."

"I love you too. See you soon." Kang waited for Florica to end the call before he threw down his Compact on his bed and lifted his arm to stretch. He offered his half-hard cock tucked into his boxer briefs a mournful look. Not until tonight. He sighed as he headed to the bathroom. Not until tonight.

°•°•°•°

Kang had to pride himself on the kitchen. He had done most of the work himself as a way to be "productive" with his anger, as Chief West insisted. The kitchen was open to the living room, and he had built a little nook for Wolf to curl up in to be close at all times. Neither if he nor Florica cooked much outside of the bare basics and preferred ordering in that cooking, if they ever sold the house, at least the kitchen would be sought-after.

Dressed in some old work out shorts and nothing more, Kang had his L-Pad propped up as he brought out the ingredients and kitchenware for it. "'How to make seafood and chorizo paella with bell peppers in these easy steps'," he read aloud. He shrugged. "Sounds easy enough."

Wolf snorted from his curled-up position in his little den.

Kang shot Wolf a middle finger. "The Hell do you know?" he muttered. "You chase your own tail."

Wolf huffed and put his tail over his nose.

Kang read the instructions carefully. "Let's see here… 'Heat one tablespoon of oil in twelve-inch cast-iron skillet over medium-high heat. Add shrimp and cook, turning once, until browned, two to four minutes, then transfer to a plate. Reduce heat to low. Add chorizo and one tablespoon of oil to the skillet. Cook, stirring constantly until chorizo begins to crisp, and release its oil for one to two minutes. Transfer half chorizo to a plate'." He straightened himself and muttered, "A lot of steps for a first step."

Wolf gave a huffy breath that Kang knew was amusement, and he warned, "Laugh at me and you get to starve."

Wolf growled low, miffed, but he did not dare laugh again.

The first step was quick to follow. The shrimp had pinkened with hints of brown before he got out a paper-towel-covered plate for the shrimp to settle on. The chorizo cooked nicely and sat to the side, waiting to be added to the final dish.

Kang grinned to himself, proud. See? This is easy. He puffed himself up. She's going to be so impressed when she comes home tonight for dinner. He went to follow the next instruction when his Compact rang. The second he saw who called, he debated on declining it, but he answered it with a reluctant grunt of hello. "What."

"Don't 'what' me," Block grumbled. "Thought you might want an update about the Boundary Forest situation we got laid into."

Kang went to follow the next directions as he asked, "What happened?"

"Higher-ups finally allowed us to process the missing Mages," Block explained. "But the kicker is, while we can process those Mages are missing and the system reflects it, MBI is barred from taking the cases for a full-on investigation."

Wolf must have smell Kang's agitation as he came out of his nook to rub his fur against the back of Kang's legs. Still, Kang growled, "What the fuck? How the Hell is that legal?" The onion, bell peppers, and saffron combined with the salt and pepper in mouthwatering nonsense.

Block huffed. "You think I didn't ask that? But fuck if I know. Asked Aryal, but he told me that because all those people were Wizards, they call under Council jurisdiction. And if the Council says get on your knees and suck me, you get on your knees."

"Bullshit," Kang scoffed. He let the mixture sit while he went to get a treat for Wolf. "What about the kid?"

"Records of him in the forest have been scrubbed clean." Block sounded like he had a lot of strong language to say to that and struggled to keep his mouth shut. "And Aryal warned me if I opened my mouth to riot, I'd be hit with walking papers. Same goes for you."

Wolf pranced when Kang brought out a treat-covered bone. He offered a slight growl when Kang taunted him with it, but he was quick to claim his prize and hide with it in his nook, eyes warning Kang not to try his hand at teasing again lest there be consequences.

Kang snorted. "Keep our nose out of their business and settle with kissing their ass and staying silent about it." He added garlic to the mixture. "That's the end for us? We brought the kid out, and he looked traumatized. We're not supposed to contact him either?"

"The branch officer implied us speaking to the kid wouldn't end well for us," Block groused. "Sergeant Anbessie let me know she'd slip me what she could, but she was supposed to be tight-lipped if she wanted to keep her rank. Guess the Council isn't happy with her for contacting the kid's daddy since he was an MC captain back in the day, and he rose Hell." A shift. "Black Steel might not be a captain, but the Council knows he has deep connections and secrets they can't afford to let loose."

"Think they'll try to crawl into his good graces? Seriously?"

"They can't afford to lose favor with him. He's one of the few Dragon Slayers" A break. "But Aryal made it seem like the Council is more desperate to keep Gale Redfox in good company, and I have to say he's right. Something about that kid… It isn't natural."

Kang's lips quirked in a smirk as he added the rice and paprika. "Don't tell me you're believing the propaganda out there that Wizards are some sub-class of human, Old Man."

"Don't put words into my mouth, son," Block threatened. "You explain to me how the Hell a kid like him enters the Boundary Forest and comes back alive when no other Wizard could. Aryal might be right about the kid hiding something."

"I get what you mean. Wolf and I could sense something off about the kid."

"Magically?"

"No. Physically." Kang stopped stirring as he thought back to it. "His scent… He smelled a little…wild."

"Like an animal?"

"Maybe…" Kang went back to stirring. "Whatever. I'll keep quiet about it."

"Good." Block snorted. "Not like we had a choice. That was all I called about. Try not to knock up your girlfriend, son."

"Fuck off, grandpa." Kang ended the call and let his Compact clatter on the counter. Dick. He remembered Gale, and the gears started shifting. Taking in his scent closer, he smelled human, but he had a forest smell to him. A wild scent. He bit down his frustration. I don't understand what. He shot Wolf a sidelong glance before he got out the wine. Wolf liked him enough. He stays away from humans. He hates the way they smell. But he liked Gale which means he didn't smell human. But even if he liked Gale enough, there's still one person Wolf whined at.

Yellow-ambers that pierced like blades.

Kang refused to dwell as he continued on with the dish. The rice had absorbed the stock and lemon juice and now it needed to simmer. Just when he got the covering on, he heard the doorbell ring. Wolf was far too invested in gnawing on his prize to keep Kang company as he went to the front door. Who's that?

He opened the door—

Goddammit. It's them.

"Hi, neighbor!"

A couple stood before Kang, and he cursed he had not liked the screen door before he went to bed. The wife had that big smile on her face with her hair cut a little past her ears, and she made a show of her wedding ring. Her husband had definitely had his teeth whitened and looked like the type he was proud of his million-jewel watch and how many polos he owned.

The wife offered an irksome humming giggle. "Going to let us in, neighbor?"

⌜AMARANTH PARK RESIDENTS ASSOCIATION

Name: Flutter and Michael Daley

Ages: 47 and 49

Occupations: Stay-At-Home-Mom and Marketing Director

Likes: LV time together Dislikes: N/A

Special Note: Flutter and Michael are leaders of the APRA to help make their neighborhood a close community and are proud of their children's accomplishments!⌟

"No," Kang rejected as he crossed his arms. "What do you want, Misses Daley?"

Flutter gave another humming giggle. "Well, Mister Li…" She showed him her clipboard with signatures from the entire neighborhood and a list of items. "We noticed you and your fiancé still haven't signed up for the neighborhood Heart's Day party, and we just thought you might've forgotten it." Her smile widened. "Just as you and your fiancé forgot about our winter wrap-up party."

"We didn't forget." Kang kept his face neutral. "And I'm Florica's boyfriend. We're not engaged."

The couple laughed, and Michael teased, "Don't be coy, son. I'm sure a proposal is just around the corner, right?"

"I'm not your son," Kang said coldly. "There isn't any proposal." He had to restrain himself from shoving them away from the door when they laughed like he said the funniest joke in the world.

"I'm sure the both of you would love to come," Flutter cheered as she showed him the clipboard. "The others have been dying to get to know you and your fiancé ever since you moved in. We just want you both to know and feel the joys of living here in our little neck of the woods."

Kang arched an eyebrow. "We're not engaged," he emphasized. "And we don't want to be disturbed."

"Son—"

"Don't call me 'son'."

"—if you're worried about being the youngest couple on the block, you shouldn't be," Michael assured. "There's another nice young couple a few houses over who would love to get to know you and your fiancé. Just got married, and the husband is already coming out with the boys for drinks next week."

"What does that have to do with me?"

Michael gave a booming laugh as he ribbed, "Come on, son, I'm sure you want a night away from the old ball-and-chain. You could come out and spend it with the guys and me. We have weekly gatherings and biweekly nights out."

"And your fiancé is more than welcome to join me and the others," Flutter hoped. "She looks like a little darling, and her figure! My!" Another agitating humming giggle. "What I'd give to have her figure! I'm sure once you two have kids, she'll go right back to it!"

"We aren't having kids," Kang told her.

Flutter waved a dismissive hand at him with a smile and a wink. "That's what all the kids say," she told him like she was letting him in on a big secret. She nudged her husband with a knowing look. "I told my hubby the same thing, and now we have six angels."

Kang could not care less. "That sounds like a nightmare."

"You get used to it, son," Michael said earnestly.

"Don't – call me 'son'," Kang growled as his muscles bunched. Don't rage. Don't rage.

Michael ignored him as he widely grinned. "So, can we expect you and the future missus at the party?"

"No." Kang backed in and took hold of the front door to close it, but his lips curled in a snarl when a foot stopped him. He kept his hold firm and snapped, "I have nothing more to say to you."

"Come now, aren't we neighbors?" Flutter tittered. "You both moved here two years ago and have barely gotten to know everybody. We just want you to feel welcomed here and make a couple of new friends."

"We don't need friends like you," Kang bit as he tried to force the foot away from his door.

"We're just trying to be neighborly, son—"

Kang swung the door open with such a force it would have come off the hinges if he had not reinforced them a year ago (after several times, he came home angry and broke down the door in his warpath). The second he stepped outside, the Daley's looked a little fearful with their hesitant smile. "I don't give one fuck about any of my neighbors," he snarled at them. "Especially the two of you. What Florica and I do is our business. We're not joining your cult, and we don't want to get to know any of you."

Michael tried to push his luck. "Son, if you just—" He ate his words when Kang fisted his shirt and made sure to get in his face.

"Call me 'son' one more time," Kang growled darkly in blatant threat. He shoved Michael away in disgust. "Get the fuck off my property before I call the Guard and don't come back here. You're not welcome."

Flutter and Michael swallowed, but Flutter quickly told him, "We'll try this again for our winter wrap-up party in spring." And they fled like dogs with their tails curled and their heads low.

Kang spat on the ground with his heart pounding and his body geared towards a fight. Nosey fuckers. I knew we shouldn't have moved here. He turned back to the house when his nostrils flared—

Wolf howled.

Kang rushed back inside just as the fire alarm bleated in panic. Charred fumes assaulted his nose so much so that he coughed, but he kept his cool as he got to the kitchen. To his disbelief, the paella he had been making had charred over. "No, goddammit, no!" Pouncing into action, he turned off the stove and rummaged around to find a big enough lid. He smothered the charred-beyond-repair paella with the lid and moved the skillet onto a pad.

Wolf rubbed his nose with a paw as though the smoke agitated him.

Kang clipped his hands to the counter as he scowled at the covered skillet and the haze of black that should have been his romantic dinner for Florica. "Dammit. And those were all the ingredients for the paella." He rubbed his face. "And I told her I could do this too. The fuck am I supposed to do now?" He looked over at Wolf. "You have any ideas?"

Wolf offered a breathless bark before he returned to his nook.

Kang's Compact started flying off the handles, and he answered it with an aggravated, "Yeah?"

"The food is burnt, isn't it?"

Kang clenched his jaw at the knowing in Florica's voice, but he answered honestly, "Yeah."

Five beat pause. "Should I pick up our favorite?"

Kang ruffled his hair in frustration. "Yeah."

Another long pause. "Kang?"

"Yeah?"

"I love you."

Those three words from her lips could melt away a majority of his anger. "I love you too, sweetheart." His scowl softened hearing her airy laugh. "Come home soon."

"I will," Florica promised, and she ended the call.

Kang sighed and cast a petulant look at his burnt food. He offhandedly told Wolf, "Florica is bringing dinner."

Wolf's tail thumped happily and looked ready to sing his pleasure—

"You're not getting any steak."

Wolf placed his head between his paws and huffed. Woah was him to have such an unfair human companion.

---

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

•

Tale of Ezra

"Would you like to delete your inbox?"

「受信トレイを削除しますか。」

•

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

A studio apartment was not all bad.

Araza City in Melandia was an expensive place to live, especially when you wanted to live close to USA. The city was jampacked so much so that you constantly rubbed elbows with someone. Minstrish was passed around in a variety of accents as people boarded the trains, trams, and busses for their commute. Terrace housing was common with red brick everywhere, until you had to look up at skyscrapers and expansive apartment buildings that were costly. The Araza Oval—an athletic stadium—was covered as the city hosted citywide flu vaccinations. The Messenger dominated newspapers in Araza, and its home base was churning in and out with editorials and calls going off.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« Araza City is the cosmopolitan capital of Southern Melandia, a state in the southern central part of Melandia. Azarans are used to refer to the residents of Araza. It spearheaded citywide WIFI, is home to a number of research institutes such as the University of Southern Araza, and is rated in the top ten of the world's most livable cities. »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The studio apartment was not at that small, to be honest. It had more square footage than the average studio apartment with vaulted ceilings, plenty of windows, and the bedroom had its own little lifted space you could reach by a mini staircase. Tall bookshelves helped divvy up the space to make it seem more private, but the bookshelves were always necessary—what with all that books and research notes and artifacts preciously collected. The furniture was sturdy and modern, but the apartment was a little cluttered. But it counted that dishes were put away and all leftovers were put into Tupperware and appropriately stored.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« This is Ezra's studio apartment. Esme and Ellie helped him decorate it—even if he was insistent he didn't need help. »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Ezra slept like the dead in his bed with his classes thrown onto his nightstand, and one leg sticking out while he buried his head in his comforter. He did not snore or drool, but he had enough luck to have a silent deep sleep.

"Good morning, Ezra," came an automated voice from his Goggle Assistant. "Time to wake up. You have XX new voice messages. Would like to listen to them?"

Ezra groaned as he woke up, but he grunted an affirmative.

"Okay. Playing message from…Esme…"

BEEP!

"Happy Heart's Day!" Esme cheered. "I'm calling all the family to say it now before I get swept away with my date today." She huffed. "But since I'm pregnant, Guil and Ye-ji are killing all my usual fun." A long sigh. "But I love them. Oh! And you better call in for the family virtual get-together, so I can share my news! It's good news and nothing that will make Dad faint again, I swear! Love you! Oh!" Her tone dropped. "I know today's hard for you, but please…please don't do anything stupid, okay? I get I'm not supposed to talk about Saudade, but… Just please, Ez."

BEEP!

"Message ended," Goggle Assistant said. "Playing message from…Evie…"

BEEP!

"Happy Heart's Day, doofus," Evie joked. "Ola, did you want to say it?"

"Happy Heart's Day, Ezra!" Ola called from the distance.

Evie chuckled. "We're getting ready since Ola wants to surprise me this morning, and my surprise is later at night, but just wanted to call you and wish you a happy holiday. Love you. Bye."

BEEP!

"Message ended. Playing message from…Ellie…"

BEEP!

"Ezra, Happy Heart's Day!" Ellie crooned. "Elvie doesn't have his Com on him, so he's wishing it too, and same with Elouise."

"Hey, Ez. Happy Heart's Day," Elvin called.

"Happy Heart's Day, Ezra!" Elouise cheered. "I got a bunch of candy from school!"

Ellie laughed. "Mom and Dad are too busy being nasty on their little getaway, but they probably texted. If not, they wish you a happy Heart's Day, big bro. Oh, yeah, Esme wanted me to tell you that if you don't accept the invite for the family virtual thing and don't log on, she's coming to Melandia and making your life miserable, so be warned about that. 'Kay, bye!"

BEEP!

"Message ended. Playing message from Gary…Fullbuster…"

BEEP!

"Hey, Ez." Gary's tone took a concerned turn. "Um… You called me last night. Sorry I wasn't able to answer or anything. Angel and I have been pretty busy for the holiday weekend, but I got around to listening to your message. Are you okay? I could tell you had been drinking and…you had said some things that…" A sigh. "The things you were saying were pretty…messed up. And you were crying. I just wanted to check in and see how you were doing. Call me when you can, okay? Please be safe."

BEEP!

Erza cracked open his eyes as Goggle Assistant said, "Message ended. Playing message from…Orochi…"

BEEP!

"Ezra…" Orochi paused. "You…called me last night and didn't sound in good shape. I was in the middle of doing a tattoo, so I couldn't answer. Are you okay? You started crying…about Saudade, Ezra. I had hoped you might've gotten over her, but from how you were sounding…" It sounded like Orochi was shifting. "Call me back when you can. I'm worried."

BEEP!

Ezra sat up and looked at his Goggle Assistant as he said, "Message ended. Playing message from…Chace…Duchenne…"

BEEP!

"'Allo, mon amie," Chace said through the noise of traffic and pedestrian conversation. "I'm carrying you back to your place, but I thought you might want a recap of events. You're blacked out, so I don't know how much you'll remember. You got drunk, Ezra. I know you drink around this time of year, but… Mon amie, your drinking was worse. You got into a bar fight when they stopped giving you alcohol." His voice went distant when he spoke in rapid Perench to someone nearby. "You almost went in Beast Mode. Thankfully, ma chérie knocked some sense into you, but…"

Ezra waited.

"You did say your ex's name when you started crying," Chace revealed. "I just…thought you should know that. I made sure to cover your tab. Since we have tomorrow off, focus on recovery. We can talk later when you're ready. We're all worried about you, mon amie. Please don't shut us out."

BEEP!

"Message ended. End of messages. Would you like to delete your inbox?"

Ezra scrubbed his face before he reached for the device—

"Message recently received. You have…one…new message from…Kitten."

Erza paused.

Saudade's voice clouded his head as she breathed, "Ezra, hi, um… I guess…this is your same number. I, um… Well, I wasn't going to call, but… You had left me a few voice messages, and I felt like I should at least respond. I just…wanted to see…if you were okay?"

Ezra sat back.

"Look, I… I know we broke up…and I really am happy with Majime, Ezra."

He closed his eyes and gripped his sheets.

"But your voice messages… I'm just worried for you, Ezra," Saudade confessed. "You broke up with me so suddenly, but…even though we aren't in a relationship, I'm still worried about you, and, well… Your Beast… He c-came out and said some things…and…" A sniffle and a sucked inhale. "Ezra, what is going on? There was the event back in December, but I thought that was just a fluke, but your voicemails… Ezra, I'm really worried. I don't want you upset, let alone to this extent. I just—!"

Saudade gave a strenuous exhale. "I just want you happy," she confessed in a small voice. "What would it take to make you happy? You broke up with me, so I thought…I didn't make you happy anymore. You left, Ezra. That's why I don't understand your voice messages. You miss me and you're still in love with me, but you broke up with me and you blocked me and wouldn't let me see you. I don't know what's going on with your head anym-m-more."

Ezra put his face in his hands when he heard her sniffles and choked back cries.

"I'm sorry I couldn't make you happy, but I'm happy now," Saudade said. "Oh goodness, I'm probably going to get stopped by the machine. Please, just… Your voice message said you wanted to explain why you dumped me. I-I don't think it'll change things, Ezra, I really don't. It won't change things. But…if it can help you move on, I'll…I'll listen. Just please be okay, okay? I'm…sorry. I can't, I—… I'm sorry."

BEEP!

"Message ended. End of messages. Would you like to delete your inbox?"

Ezra took a hard swallow as he looked over at his cylindrical Goggle Assistant. Three main buttons controlled the unit, but only two of them would respond to this inquiry if he pressed them. His fingers hovered, unsure and ashamed. With the close of his eyes and one cleansing breath after the other, he made his choice.

BEEP!

"Understood. Your messages in your inbox have been—"

---

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

•

Tale of Orochi

"Did the snake love the butterfly?"

「ヘビは蝶を愛していましたか。」

•

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The streets were in the gray when it was past midnight. What that meant was there was no black and white of the street was safe or unsafe. It was in the gray. Heart's Day weekend proved to be a deterrent to people walking about, but that did not mean there were no exceptions to the rule. A few sirens went off blocks over, and you could hear the loud voices of a couple fighting about her cheating on him with his best friend. But you also saw many had ducked into restaurants for a sweet moment with your Heart's Day heartbeat or with friends and family.

The tattoo parlor was in its own little space between a brunch nook and a cigar bar, which felt a little ironic considering the owner. It was its own little entity, with its neon lighting that might have made it look broken in, but the interior was nothing like the exterior. Smooth steel gray walls with violet back lights offered a mysterious vibe with perfectly framed pictures of creations clients could look at that were complex in one area and simple in the next. Awards had been nailed to the wall for competitions the parlor had one and other certifications they had passed. But it intrigued anyone who came here that the tattoo parlor that a ball python, and its enclosure had been seamlessly built into the walls, so it had full access to the pain portion of the parlor.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« This is the XX Tattoo Parlor. Many stop in to see the prized ball python that the store owner named Sweater since the ball python often wore knitted sweaters when it was younger. This tattoo parlor is unique considering its odd hours. »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Orochi sat at the reception counter as he continued sketching out a tattoo for a client. No one outside of him was in the shop, but he always liked being here during the night hours if he was not bar tending or at Fairy Tail. He did not need the money, but tattooing people was his own reward.

DING-A-LING.

"Good evening. Welcome to XX Tattoo Parlor," Orochi greeted. He took a pause to his sketch to smile at a potential client. "How can I help you?"

The potential client was not what Orochi normally saw. To be fair, the client this time of night was fairly standard without the outliers. Most who came for impromptu tattoos this late at night were tipsy, and they had to pass a sobriety test to even sign the release form, or they were older teenagers and university students who were here on some sort of dare. But this potential client was a middle-aged woman whose smile lacked luster and her burnt yellow eyes spoke she had cried. Her hair flowed like a river and was a deep blue to match as it was given traditional braids.

"H-Hello," she greeted albeit hesitantly.

Orochi was sure she was eyeing his ink and the parlor and was unsure if this was a "safe" establishment.

"Sorry to come in so late," she tried to apologize. She adjusted her purse. "But I… Well, my coworker told me this parlor is the only one open this late at night…"

Orochi nodded and tried to make himself as nonthreatening as possible. "We are. I normally work the graveyard shifts whenever I have the chance." He closed his sketchbook. "How can I help you this evening, miss?"

"Well…" She paused and licked her lips several times. "I… I'd like to get a tattoo. Oh, um, please."

"Is there a tattoo you have in mind?"

She hesitated, then shook her head almost in utter shame. "I'm sorry," she murmured. "I should have thought about that before I came here."

"Not at all." Orochi shook his head. "It's common for clients to want a tattoo, but the art hasn't spoken to you yet." He gestured to the well-organized consultation area with a nice leather couch, an accent chair, and a coffee table that housed binders upon binders of tattoo concepts. "If you're feeling a little overwhelmed, we can have a consultation to help narrow down concepts."

She bobbed her head. "Yes, I'd like that, Mister…?"

"Orochi," he finished for her as he came from behind the counter. He escorted her to the consultation area and offered, "Would you like some water? Or tea or coffee?"

"Oh, no thank you, but thank you for the offer." She seated herself on the couch, but it was clear her thoughts were fighting for dominance if she should flee or if she should stay. Bucking up her courage, she asked Orochi, "How exactly do these consultations work?"

Orochi settled in the accent chair. "It can be as superficial or as deep as you'd like it to be," he told her truthfully. "I'll ask you some standard questions to help understand which direction you want to go with your tattoo. If at any point you have a more complex creation in mind, you can describe it to me, and I'll make mock-ups and hope one of them is to your taste. I can work with pictures, but I'll still need to draw it beforehand. Depending on your tattoo, we can do it today or we can set up an appointment later."

"An appointment later sounds good," the woman quickly intervened. "I honestly don't know what I'm doing here. I…" A pathetic chortle. "I might be doing something stupid, but I couldn't help myself."

"Would you mind telling you why you want a tattoo?" Orochi asked her with kindness and a little concern.

The woman worked her mouth before those burnt yellows flashed to her lap. She set her purse beside her feet before she tucked back her hair and tried to collect herself. "My husband…passed away long ago." Her words did not sound like that of a grieving widow without a sense of peace. The hint of sadness was swept in the undercurrent. Death was no longer numb to her or a target for her agony. She had accepted its cruel game.

Orochi spared no apology or offered sympathies. Instead, he quietly asked her, "What was he like?"

"Stupid." Her smile was a ghost, but her eyes brightened. "Amusing. Brave." Her smile dimmed. "Stubborn." She further explained, "He didn't care that I was older than him. I didn't want to be with someone who was immature, but he never gave up on changing my mind on him." She tittered. "Though, he did get on my nerves from time to time."

Orochi smiled at the fondness he felt. "But you loved him anyway."

"Stupidly, yes."

"If I may," Orochi broached, "how did you two meet?"

"Entirely not by my choice," she laughed. "It was a complete mess and accident." Burnt yellows turned amusedly wistful. "We weren't supposed to meet ever. It was…forbidden for us to meet."

Orochi jested, "A classic Romeo and Juliet tale."

"Something like that," she supposed as her smile widened. "We weren't as dramatic and had no feuding families to separate us." She shifted as she made sure her shirt was wrinkle-free. "My job is very demanding," she explained. "I can't afford distractions, and my job is very intense and fast-paced. But the work environment is very friendly."

"That's good," Orochi chimed in.

She hummed. "My superior isn't against any of us having families. She's the most supportive if she found a relationship and was more than happy to accommodate us. But my husband…" She crossed her legs and flattened her hands on her pants. "I suppose in my eyes our meeting seemed forbidden. He was young and carefree. I…wasn't like that." She offered a rueful smile. "My children think I'm a bit of a perfectionist, and I have to say I agree."

They shared a chuckle.

"I was blindsided when my husband had approached me back then," she continued. "Truthfully, I never saw us meeting face to face. I had seen him in passing, but I kept my distance. He had just popped up, and no matter what I did, I couldn't get rid of him."

"Sounds like he wore you down," Orochi said.

"He did, after quite some time." She was quiet for a few moments as she basked in the memories. "A coworker of mine has tattoos," she told Orochi. "I rarely meet him in person, but I had seen his tattoos one day. He's an artist, actually, and the designs were beautiful. But when I saw one of his tattoos, I couldn't help but think it had special meaning to it."

"And did it?"

"Yes. He had told me the tattoo I was interested in was one he had done to carry with him the love he had for his partner." Burnt yellows softened. "He's the younger coworker in our workplace. I had known his story, but I had misjudged him about his feelings due to his age. But the way he spoke about his tattoo reminding him of his love was very intimate and romantic."

Orochi nodded as though he agreed. He questioned, "May I ask what the tattoo was?"

"Two feathers," she described. "One feather was inked white while the other was inked black. They crossed each other. He had foreign words placed on both feathers, but he didn't translate them for me. I could assume they meant something too precious for him to share."

Orochi considered her words. "And you would like something similar that represents your love for your husband?" When she nodded, he added in question, "But you aren't sure what sort of design you'd like?"

She hesitated. "I'm sorry…"

"That's okay," Orochi assured. "Not everyone has the right design in mind for their tattoo. Some people do but not everyone." He gestured to the binders on the coffee table. "The tattoo designs in here aren't too complex, but they might help you with your thought process. Why don't you take a look?" He got up. "I'll be right back. Are you sure I can't get you something to drink?"

She took to one of the binders. "Water, thank you." She leafed through the binders as Orochi walked away. She saw the binder designs were sectioned off. She could pass through Magia designs, cartoon designs, musical designs, and animals. But what surprised her was a guild section. "People ask for tattoos of guilds?"

"Yeah." Orochi set down her fresh water bottle on the coffee table as he came back with his sketchpad. "But when it comes to tattooing replica guild marks, there are certain things we can and can't do. Guild marks are a Magic Brand, so we can't infuse any sort of Magic onto replica tattoos. We also can't do them the same size of an actual guild mark. But people like to get them in support of their favorite guild."

She smiled. "How loyal." Burnt yellows curiously observed Orochi as he opened his sketchpad, but her intrigue heightened on one of his sketches. "Excuse me, I don't mean to pry, but…"

"Hmm?" Orochi gestured to his sketchpad. "I work on client orders with my pad," he explained. "Before I can tattoo someone, I have to stencil it first and be confident in it before I put it on their skin."

"That makes sense, but… One of your tattoos…"

"Caught your interest?" Orochi filled in. He was slow to flip back and showed her each page. "Which tattoo?"

The moment Orochi flipped to it, she stopped him. "This one."

Ah… Darkened violets gentled. I should have known. The butterfly he had drawn was impressive. The wings were far more complex because they were not a set of matching wings. One of the wings had been tampered with and part of it was missing, but that did not make the butterfly look unattractive. It looked all the more beautiful, like a rarity to be coveted.

"Your artistry is wonderful," she complimented. "And your client will be happy with it for sure."

"This isn't for a client."

She looked at him in surprise. "This isn't?"

"No. I had inspiration from a story and had to draw it."

He had her full attention now, and the binders were long forgotten. "What was the story?" she wanted to know.

"It's just a fairy tale," Orochi told her, "and there isn't a happy ending." Darkened violets studied the broken butterfly. "It's called 'The Butterfly and the Snake' The story goes like this. There once was a lonely snake that lived in the woods. Because its body could hurt anything that touched it, it preferred to travel alone. But one day, the lonely snake met a beautiful butterfly with the most unique wings. The butterfly didn't mind the lowly snake with dangerous, so they became friends and journeyed together. Then…"

Darkened violet went torrid. "One day, the beautiful butterfly met another snake. The lowly snake could tell this new snake wasn't good, but the beautiful butterfly didn't listen."

"Nana, please!" A young man with the breaking voice of a teenager. "Don't go!"

"I'm going!" She was full of fury for one so young. "You can't stop me!"

"The beautiful butterfly decided to journey with this new snake," Orochi continued. "The lowly snake tried and tried to warn the beautiful butterfly, but it shooed the lowly snake away. But the lowly snake was worried this new snake would hurt the beautiful butterfly. So, it followed after her."

Burnt yellows sparkled. "What happened next?"

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"Nana…"

Blood.

Blood and a white substance had crowded her thighs as he held onto her with tears in his eyes. Those hickories were glazed, watered, and her mouth tried to move, but the action was sluggish. She whispered a pained, "It…hurts…Chi-chi…"

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Orochi took off his glasses to clean them. "The beautiful butterfly was injured badly by the new snake. The lowly snake had gotten to the butterfly too late. Its wing had been damaged, and the new snake who had injured it disappeared to be never seen again." He put his glasses back on.

Burnt yellows saddened. "What happened afterward?"

"The butterfly no longer wanted to fly," Orochi explained. "It pleaded for the lowly snake to take it back to its home and never wanted to fly again. It found itself too broken and damaged to fly." Darkened violets traced the butterfly. "But the lowly snake would always find the butterfly beautiful and would want it to fly again." His lips quirked. "Terribly romantic, the lowly snake."

"It's sweet the snake stuck by the butterfly," she had to hand it to him. "I'm sure it wasn't easy."

"No, it wasn't," Orochi agreed softly. He eyed his gloved hand. "The snake was dangerous, even if it did not want to be. That's why it stayed away from most people and preferred to drift. Following the butterfly was difficult because it could never get close, even if it wanted to comfort the butterfly."

"Did the snake love the butterfly?"

Darkened violets connected with burnt yellows steadily.

"Maybe," was Orochi's answer. "What do you think?"

She replied, "I think he did. And he might still love her."

Both knew they had long since stopped speaking about a snake and a butterfly.

She closed the binder she had been leafing through and settled it back onto the coffee table. "I'd like to have some more thought about my tattoo," she decided. "I want to look through what I have left of my husband's belongings and the memories we shared." Burnt yellows flickered to the beautifully broken butterfly. "But I'd still like to come back to you for the tattoo if that's okay."

"Of course." Orochi closed his sketchpad, and they both rose together. "I'll give you my business card. Once you have a design in mind, feel free to email me, and I'll come up with some designs. We'll narrow it down, then you can set up an appointment for the first session."

"I'd like that."

Orochi made quick work of retrieving his card and handing it to her once they got back to the front counter. She took and examined it with a smile before her eyes sought his in curiosity and question. "I can see why my coworker recommended you. He said you understand the art you design and the purpose of it better than most."

"I'm just a humble tattoo artist, miss," Orochi negated. "I'm nothing special. But I'm happy that he likes his tattoo. Please give him my thanks for the recommendation."

She nodded. "I will." She stuck out a hand. "It was nice to meet you, Mister Orochi. Thanks for taking me on."

"It's my pleasure." He shook her hand before he let it go.

She lingered, as though trying to understand him. "You never asked me for my name."

"It's not something I need to know until you sign the release forms," Orochi supposed. "I don't ask for names until that point. I prefer to meet their personality instead of them giving me a name during consultations." He bowed his head. "I'm sorry if you think that's rude. I just don't like to press."

"That's all right." Her smile turned warm. "I like your policy. Names are just names. A personality speaks more than a name ever could." She adjusted her purse. "Have a good night, Mister Orochi."

"You too, miss."

She walked to the door and was about to push it out before those burnt yellows swept to him one more time. "Call me 'Euboea', Mister Orochi."

He offered a nod and a pleasant smile. "Have a good night, Miss Euboea."

"You as well." She pushed the door and disappeared into the night.

Orochi hummed to himself as he took up his place behind the counter. His sketchpad was opened back up, and he palmed the butterfly. Darkened violets made sure to memorize every stroke he had done that had crafted such rare wings. Did the snake love the butterfly, she asks me. He flipped until he got to his sketch of two feathers, one of light and one of darkness, intersect each other in an intimate touch. I don't think that's something I can answer out loud.

And he closed his sketchpad.

---

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

•

Tale of Thirteen

"Bang."

「ガ。」

•

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The bar was empty—just as Thirteen liked it.

The speakeasy was none-too impressive without all the frilly things like those couches a mobster and his favorites would covet nor those hoity-toity chandeliers. Bathed in some sort of mist that smelled thick and like finely aged whiskey, the bar was stained dark from the stools to the floor to the stone. Fuzzy neon lighting was pinned behind the corner stage that would house some wandering musicians from time to time and a usual harmonica player. The upright piano was old, but the tuner would be here next week to check it out. The Jukebox Lacrima played a classic jazz number with the bars low and the progression simple. The shelves were well-stock, and their backlights showed all sorts of rums and whiskeys and vodkas and liquor.

The bartenders were too drastically different men in terms of height. Their uniforms were uniformed; from their aprons to their sleeve garters, they dressed like bartenders had a long time ago. The taller man wore circular glasses that bridged his nose while the shorter man was balding and had a thick mustache that covered his lips.

Thirteen sipped out of his rock glass with his broad form fitting into his trench coat. He had taken off his hat out of respect as he sat at the bar with the bartenders leaving him to his own devices in the meantime. A dated picture with a tear at the corner was flat on the bar counter that kept his mind preoccupied. A tanned little girl sat on a swing as she played a harmonica with creatures great and small crowding around her to listen to her beautiful song.

Thirteen took another sip of his drink.

THWAP…

The bartenders greeted their next guest with a chirped, "Good evening, sir. What can we get you?"

"Godfather with a splash of malt and a lemon peel, please."

The shorter bartender nodded. "Right away, sir."

Thirteen kept nursing his drink as Coeus took a seat beside him with his trenchant and that mask of his. Coeus asked, "Reminiscing tonight of the good ole days, Old Timer."

"Not like there's much to do." By the time he finished his drink, another was scooted over to him for his convenience. "If I go to a church, I'd most likely burn and get dragged down to Hell."

Coeus hummed, and the sound of his drink being shaken filled the air between them. He then said, "I've got some photos for you, Old Timer." He withdrew an envelope from his trench coat to lay it before Thirteen. He tapped them with a finger before he thanked the bartender for his drink. "I had a lot of questions pop up this time around."

"And you always find the answer." Thirteen opened the envelope.

Coeus sipped his drink. "But the question is how I got the answer."

Thirteen uncovered the first photos. The photos were a little blurry, but he could see half-masked figures hiding beneath their hoods as they walked among the crowd. Other pictures unveiled that these figures came to a warehouse. But the next picture zoomed in more to show that a tattoo inked on a palm was a silhouette of a bird as it flapped its wings.

Thirteen hardened. "Deathhawk."

"Looks like the birds are going in over their heads," Coeus noted as Thirteen caught the photos that showed Miya Matsumoto, Calamity Oakley, and Oleg with their secret guards. "The Wild Child Gang, the Chernobog Brotherhood, the Kakushibori Syndicate—big names in the underworld are gathering for something even bigger. And they aren't the only ones. Rumors of other gangs, cartels, mafias—you name it—have been huddling together in the US and in Andüsa." He glanced at Thirteen. "Anything familiar?"

Thirteen grunted and pulled out a carton of cigarettes—

"Please, sir, no smoking," one of the bartenders lightly reminded.

Thirteen raised a hand in apology and put his cigarettes away. He longed for a drag. He tapped Miya's photo with his Pomeranian. "The Kakushibori is a powerful unit in Sela, but Matsumoto can't conquer Sela's entire underbelly unless he took out Immortal Yang."

"Another gangster?"

"No. She isn't." Thirteen studied Miya's profile. "No doubt they're collecting more bodies for blood sacrifices and rituals." He made a noise of disgust before taking a swallow of his drink. "They're the type of creeps that think bathing in blood gives you immortality. Matsumoto's always been obsessed with demonic lore."

"And he might get his wish." Coeus pulled out another photo to show an abandoned church. "About a week ago, some activity stirred up here in this abandoned church. Normally, I wouldn't look into it. But I had to ask the question why people would flock to an abandoned church in a bad part of town." He pulled out another photo.

Thirteen's eyes flared when he saw a silver pocket watch gleam. "Shit." He looked over at Coeus. "Does Master know?"

"Of course not." Coeus looked at his drink. "This is on international territory, and I wouldn't want her reputation to be further damaged. Besides"—another swig of his drink—"you have more need for this information."

Thirteen understood. "So, what's the story? Another discrete cult trying to summon a Demon?"

"Maybe. That's the question. But why do they keep forming these little cults and summoning demonic creatures?"

Thirteen cocked his head. "The answer?" He waited as Coeus pulled out another photo and showed it to him. But his brow furrowed seeing a nervous yet well-dressed woman exiting a limousine with her alleged assistant. "And this is…"

"Hendrika." Coeus tapped the photo. "Hendrika Sandström, Lady Magic-Speaker of Bellum." He rolled his drink around. "And interesting question about her came up, and I couldn't help but find multiple answers about her." He showed a picture of the esteemed Prime Minister. "The Bellish Prime Minister has been swapping out magical parliament members with interim parliament members. Leaves the Lady Magic-Speaker all by her lonesome."

Coeus tapped the picture of Hendrika. "But what's wrong with her shadow?"

Thirteen took a closer look and saw the shadow was slightly bigger than Hendrika's own form. "A Shadow Charmer? A Shadower?"

"Questions I don't have answers to, but they're a dedicated shadow and more than likely a threat to keep Miss Hendrika quiet," Coeus presumed. "Politics in Bellum look murky as it is. More Anti-Magic propaganda has sprung up to make the magical and Aberrants a sub-class of humans on these mental games alone. The Magic folk relying on Hendrika to defend their rights have been going on unrest."

"But what does she have to do with the abandoned church?"

Coeus snuck out another photo to show a hoodie Hendrika in a seedier part of town as she met with a trio of people. "Miss Hendrika has been naughty lately. Looks like she's been batting for both teams." The next photo shows her entering an abandoned church with the trio.

"A double agent and also a Curse informant." Thirteen shook her head. "Last I checked, she had White Magic with no background in anything Black." He eyed the picture of her bigger shadow. "But if whoever is in her shadow is feeding her the information, she might know more. Why her, though?"

"That's the question." Coeus swallowed another gulp of his drink. "Her job is on the line, but that's the same everywhere with Magic-Speakers. More and more Magic Council branches are under fire and a majority of world leaders are Spiritless. But, like Fiore, Bellum has a history of royalty possessing Magic." He took out another photo. It was a clip of the painting of the late royal family of Bellum.

"The Bellish royal family died except for the son, who became the king," Coeus explained.

"But he's pretty much a ghost since he's too sick to show his face," Thirteen recalled. "Always talked about, but he's never seen."

Coeus nodded. "Rumors tell me the prime minister might have been more involved with the king's current condition. The king inherited a Magic called Chess like his ancestors before him. He could rule Bellum with a thought."

"But with him out of the way, the Prime Minister is the acting head and proxy."

"But there's something even more interesting about the Prime Minister."

Thirteen accepted the new photo, but the second he caught that glimpse of silver, he cursed. "He's one of them?"

"More than likely."

"No wonder he's controlling Hendrika," Thirteen murmured. "But the connections are still fuzzy."

"All I've got for now." Coeus finished his drink. "The syndicates, the brotherhoods, gangs—they're plotting something big. Something that is going to take time, so they need absolute secrecy until they're ready to go public. We might be looking at the early stages."

"I can agree with that." Thirteen gulped more of his drink before he asked a dark question. "With Deathhawk involved… Any sign of Vicious?"

Coeus shook his head. "No. But I'll have the answer to your question soon enough. I've got my own questions to answer."

Thirteen snorted. "Don't get too far into your conspiracies."

"Why? Conspiracies have some sort of fact based around them. They are the questions I need the answer to."

Thirteen shook his hand with a bland smile as he gathered the photos into the envelope. "Just don't get Master in trouble with those conspiracies. Like the crop circle thing."

"It's obvious the farmers make them to attract naïve tourists," Coeus defended. "Aliens have a far superior method of communicating with us."

"Right." Thirteen was about to pick up his glass when he noticed the liquid waver a little without his touch. It inched back and forth as though something had rocked it. His eyes zeroed on the stashes of liquor and could see they were trying to keep their trembling as minimal as possible. A thick tension coiled in Thirteen's back, and his ears kept on alert. The bar jazz faded away as he strained to hear the outside world.

VRRRRRRRRR…

Coeus looked at his drained glass, but he was careful in rolling a black marble between his fingertips. "Do we have some guests coming?"

"Heh." Thirteen crept into his coat to pull out a baton, and a mirthless smirk crept onto his face. "You're not gonna like the answer."

RATATATATATATATATA…!

Both dove onto the other side of the bar with the bartenders ducking as bullets infested the establishment. With little direction, the bullets barraged the walls, the chairs, the liquor—even the upright piano was not safe from such a violent affair. The glass screeched under duress and succumbed to its brutal murder while chairs were blown back and had no chance to recover.

The four covered their ears to block out the deafening roar when—

BAM!

Door kicked open, gunfire pounded harder. Bottles shattered and the counter was slaughtered in bullets. Debris and shards and freed liquor unceremoniously dropped to the ground. Smoke and flame and the sting of strong alcohol smoldered them as their impending demise inched closer and closer.

Coeus pulled out two black marbles and risked it as he chucked them over the counter. Two seconds passed before pops were heard. Frantic yelling came over the shooters as smoke blinded them. They shot blindly in the hopes they would meet their target, but a call for retreat was summoned.

But they were not given that option.

Without warning, a hand came out to bunch the chest of one of the shooters. He had turned with his gun, but his mouth dropped, and his heart was beating so rapidly that he could not stop shaking. His gun could not stay in his hands as he clasped his throat, choking on the air he could not breathe. He stumbled back into a companion as he gagged and his mouth foamed, but his companion had no time to feel confused when the symptoms were passed on, and he too could not feel anything out of a harsh heartbeat and a thick throat.

Another shooter that still went on got the wind knocked out of him when a baton cracked his throat. He twisted with his gun and maybe a bullet landed on the assailant, but he could not bask in it when electricity terrorized his body to the point he was paralyzed. On the ground and twitching, not a word could leave him as his gun was kicked away.

VRRRRRRRRRRR…!

Thirteen was the one to stumble out of the bar to see a beat-up car was trying to make an escape. Gritting his teeth, he dropped his baton for his gun. Safety off, he took aim and blew out the back tires. The car skidded and veered, but it could not continue the journey like this. Guns were out, and Thirteen ducked behind a ledge to save himself from a body full of bullet holes.

He looked at his gun, but it was no use against a machine gun. His baton was worthless. But…

His hand dipped into his breast pocket to pull out a gold harmonic that had been polished and well-kept all its life. But as the harmonica garnered a reflection, he did not see himself. He saw the little girl in the photo.

RATATATATATATATATA…!

His gun was slow to put back in the hostler. He gathered the harmonica in both hands. Brick was being trimmed off with every new round of bullets, but all he could think about was the harmonica. His eyes closed as he brought it to his lips…

…and he played.

The harmonica was not just a pocket-sized little thing that was as easy as breathing to play. It had long told the tales of the trials and tribulations as its users faced adversity. It swung low and picked it up high as it wailed those blues until the cows came home. It gave you winding licks until it carried a high paused note, hastened the pace, then slowed it down to give you a rest from the exhilaration.

Coeus emerged from the bar. To be fair, the speakeasy was in a place that was no picnic to navigate. It was not as if it was where the poorhouses were built, but the people here were more in touch with their roots and did what they could to survive as they lived off the skin of their teeth. But as a silent snowfall came as though to wash away the horrors that ensued, Coeus watched. He disregarded the getaways as they clutched their heads as their ears and eyes and noses bled out.

No, he watched Thirteen.

He watched the man with just as many secrets as him, who had come to such a prestigious yet reckless guild with one eye that saw the past and the other that saw the future, as he wailed away on his harmonica, his weakness, his Achilles' Heel—

His disgrace.

The melody wove a tale. In this story, it only ever rained. It always rained. It rained and rained and rained in Thirteen's story as he looked over at a gravestone with drooping flowers and the clothes on his back. It rained and rained and rained as he stood there in his past as a husk, as a shell, as the sole survivor.

It rained in the past.

It rained in his soul.

The song ended on a trill that faded out as the past melted back into the present. In a quiet motion, Thirteen pulled the harmonica away from his lips and let his hand drop. For just a moment, he was a husk again, alone, a shell—a sole survivor.

"The guys inside?" Thirteen's question was a low rumble as he pocketed his harmonica.

"You can never bring too much rope. I put them in my Room tied up. I have too many questions only they can answer," Coeus replied. "A Zhōnguánese fortune cookie told me four would be my unlucky number. I had four ice cubs in my drink." He passed a dismissive stare over the open-mouthed getaways. Paralyzed, blood dripped down from their blown-out ears, their eyes, and their noses. They had all been dressed in black suits as though a laughable attempt to look like grim reapers, but it looked like they were the reaped souls instead. "Should I put these others in the Room?"

"Do what you want." Thirteen sunk a hand in his pockets as he tipped his hat down low. "Just make sure others don't come around asking questions I'll have to answer." He clapped Coeus' shoulder as he bypassed him. Coeus had manned clean-up himself, but he was a particularly meticulous fellow like that. The speakeasy itself was in tatters, and he felt like he needed to say something to the barkeeps as they started their sweeping.

"Sorry for the mess, gentlemen," Thirteen apologized. "I can pay for the damages—"

"It's all right, sir, there's no need for that," the taller barkeep assured. "We're no strangers to violence in this town, and insurance will do just fine. We just hope for your continued patronage." He nodded at the counter. "Your friend, however, ordered you a drink. It's on the house."

Thirteen nodded and headed to a debris-free chair to see he had been given another rock glass with his preferred choice of drink. After sitting down, he took a swig and looked before him. His scattered reflection painted on the broken bottles. He could see the husk of a man staring back at him. He could remember the rain. He could remember the pain. He remembered that little girl on her swing as she played harmonica.

And now he was the sole survivor.

Hand steady, he made a finger gun as he pointed at his shattered reflection that had been stained in blood and rain. He pulled the trigger on his past—on his survival.

"Bang."

---

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

•

Tale of Gray and Juvia

"It's gonna be okay."

「大丈夫。」

•

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The remains of your destroyed village stayed with you.

Unlike Erza, who could rebuild her hometown into something new, there was no hope for Gray's village to go back to the same. But that was fine. Gray's home grew from the destruction Deliora had caused. Winter's will had befallen the land—winter's harsh love was persistent in these parts—but nature had grown back in the form of trees and bushes. In the springtime, you could see the greens of the grass and the perkiness of the flowers. It was as if the destruction had never happened in the first place. Nature had claimed the stone that would have been homes, a bakery, a toy store—oh, and over there, where he had to go to school. Broken down and coveted, those who swept through the place thought these remnants were part of a dying past world centuries old.

No one would know this was a place where a Demon had massacred all but one.

No gravestones had been erected to celebrate the lives that had once lived here. The late village had been amassed into a nearby city's property and all had forgotten the original name—the true name. All had forgotten the devastation.

But Gray would remember.

Together, Juvia and Gray climbed up a subtle hill with flowers in their hand. A barren tree had grown atop the hill, but they were grateful for the new life born from the ashes. The tree had been cloaked in ice that dripped down like the rains themselves had been frozen. It made as a beauteous resting place for the twin tombs that remained clean and pristine, free from the winter's harsh love.

The couple came to the tombs in silence to read the chiseled inscriptions:

SILVER FULLBUSTER

X747 – X774

His legacy lives through us all. May he finally know rest.

MIKA FULLBUSTER

X746 – X774

A friend who helped, a wife who loved, and a mother who nurtured

Between the twin tombs was the grave that the late Silver Fullbuster had forged in his revenge, in his anguish, in his self-loathing. The grave he made to remember his wife and son and the promise he made when he was cursed into his half-life. A cross post with scrapped in letters, but Gray's name had been clawed away. Because he was alive. Because he had survived.

Gray set the bouquet at the tombstones before he stood back with Juvia. She stuck close, fingers threaded with his as she rubbed his arm. Gray kissed her temple in appreciation and as his gentle nudge.

Juvia nodded and smiled at the tombstones. "Juvia wishes Miss Mika and Sir Silver a happy Heart's Day," she started. She pulled away to bring out the photos she had brought along. "Juvia wanted to update Miss Mika and Sir Silver on their grandchildren." She did not mind crouching in the snow to show the tombstones the pictures. She proudly displayed an image of Silver in his swim gear as he wore a gold medal and a shy but goofy smile.

"Silver came in first place at the championship conference for his specialty in swimming," Juvia cheered. "Juvia and Gray are so proud of Silver! He worked very hard, and Juvia is excited for him to go to the national conference!" She swapped out another picture. She had not taken this one. This was Gary's doing of him with Nashi snoozing on his shoulder. "Oh, Miss Mika and Sir Silver wouldn't believe it, but Gary is officially dating Nashi!"

The wind blew as if the late grandparents were expressing their happiness and approval.

Juvia tittered. "Juvia and Gray are so happy! Nashi has always been part of the family, and now she is officially Gary's girlfriend!" She sneakily added, "Juvia can't wait until Nashi is her daughter-in-law."

"Juvia…" Gray teasingly warned.

"Juvia knows Juvia is getting ahead of herself, Beloved," Juvia supposed. "But Juvia is just excited! Juvia always knew Gary and Nashi were meant for each other!" She swapped the pictures to show Julia trying to get out of her mother's grip in effort to avoid her photo taken. "And Julia might have a boyfriend too…"

Gray grunted, disgruntled. "No way in Hell."

Juvia deftly ignored him. "Juvia has a hunch Julia might be seeing a boy, but Julia doesn't want to tell Juvia, so Juvia won't press…yet." She showed another picture of Silver and Ena from the Snowball. "And guess what, Miss Mika and Sir Silver? Silver is an assistant for Ena! Do Miss Mika and Sir Silver remember Ena from Juvia's Precious Silver's visits?"

She playfully rolled her eyes and giggled before she whispered conspiratorially, "Juvia's Precious Silver talked more about how much he didn't like Ena more so than his love for Paige, so Juvia always thought her Precious Silver would like Ena. Juvia smells romance happening." She took out another picture and got excited. "Oh! And this picture…!"

Gray smiled as he listened to his wife happily go on about the happenings the late grandparents had missed from their last visit. His eyes drifted over the winterscape, but he did not feel an aching in his heart that desolation could be revoked just at the snap of Mother Nature's hand. But just for a moment, he could see the faint outlines of the church that he had went to in his youth and hated it when his mother forced him to wear those obnoxious church clothes. He remembered goofing off with the neighborhood kids, trying to steal sweets, only to rush off when the shop owner came out with that broom of his. He remembered his competitive streak and how much his father entertained him with it while his mother was always tiredly amused.

"I've missed you too, son." His father's words blew in the wind like that had that day. That day where they met to be ripped apart again. Where full death was the better option than a half-life. "I'm proud of the man you've grown up to be—so proud." Shaken words that were said with a smile and cluttered with pride and love, but grief cut them up as the Pendulum of Death swung. "I wish your mother could see who you've become."

Gray pulled his hand out of his pocket and watched as black festered his skin and ice colder than the tundra itself chilled within its body.

"You have to finish my story."

"Beloved?"

Timbered darks collided with understanding oceans.

Juvia had finished her talk with Silver and Mika to rise up again and put away the photos. She kissed her husband's jaw, then his cheek, and offered his arm a squeeze. "Juvia will make sure her Beloved is undisturbed."

"Thank you, Juvia." These words went above appreciation. Never had there been a year they could not stay together.

But these past eight months changed so much.

Juvia left him with a comforting look and trudged down the hill.

Gray was alone.

No spell had to be thought when he made a block of ice for him to sit on. He needed to sit. He just needed to. He sat hunched forward, elbows on his thighs, hands clasped. His winter different from his son's in so many ways because it was mature, refined, scarred, and tempered. And it had been slashed with unease and sadness.

"Happy Heart's Day, Mom and Dad," Gray lamely started. He shook his head with a pathetic snort. "But I know Dad wasn't one for me to start with beating around the bush." Time to get to the meat of it. "Gary was arrested in December."

A silence spread quick as though both deceased parents were alert and worried, craving for good news to follow the bad.

"A different type of Demon is back terrorizing Earth Land, but it's a lot more subtle," Gary further explained. "From what I understand, Demons are interested in Gary because he's a Devil. I might have the Black Magic portion, but he's a natural born. He's the only one of him. And they want him. He got dragged to Bellum because of that, but he got arrested because he was blamed for the chaos the Demon caused."

A long exhale. "My kids are growing, and I feel lost." An honest confession. "Gary carries so much darkness with him he has to battle. When he moved out, I couldn't sleep. He was kidnapped and tormented for three years. All because I…" He pressed his hands together. "All because I was so scared. Because of my fear, he suffered for it. I can't forgive myself for that. He's my son. I'm his father. I should have been protecting him and training him to handle his gift—and I failed him—"

Gray closed his eyes with a cooling breath. "I think you'd like Nashi," he told them. "She's an Angel—in a literal sense. I admit I was a little worried. It's normal for White powers to want to seek out and purify Black powers and for Black powers to want to possess and dominate White powers, but… They're a very balanced couple. I can't sense any power struggles." He chuckled. "It helps they're in love with each other. Saw that coming a mile away. He acted just like me when I was younger and had a crush. Always in denial and embarrassed. Then, he comes home, and he's just like his mother and persisting every chance he gets."

A ghost of a smile touched his face. "They're too young to even think about marriage, but I do hope everything works out for them. For years, Gary was at odds with Skade, but with Nashi's help, I hope he starts to see Skade was always a part of him. And with time, he can be one with himself again."

Gray roughly scrubbed his face. "I can't tell you what's going on with Julia. She's normal at home, but… Her Magic is gone. She tries to make all these excuses that she's not interested in training her Magic, but Juvia and I can sense she doesn't have Magic anymore. And she just disappears…" A groan. "Maybe Juvia's right and she does have a boyfriend, but…" His movements slowed.

"One day…a year or so ago…Silver came and got me because he found something," Gray narrated in a low tone. "He said it hurt him when he tried to pick it up. He found it in Julia's room, and obviously, I wasn't happy he was snooping in her room, but that's when I found it under her bed." Darks hollow. "A dagger. It was an Anti-Ether dagger."

Frost expelled from his mouth.

"Silver didn't understand Magic Hunters or Anti-Ether back then, but I explained to him it was an enchanted dagger meant to ward off people. Thankfully, he believed me, and we left, but…" Gray shifted. "It still haunts me to know she had a dagger like that in her room. I wanted to ask her, but Juvia and I thought it was for the best to not bring it up. We trust her. I trust her, but…"

He swallowed. "During one Sunday dinner with the Vastia's, Linus had told me something. He asked me if I truly knew my own daughter. Hearing that… It terrifies me to think she would give up her powers for something like that. I don't want to believe it." His jaw clenched. "I can't believe it. I want to trust and believe her. And if she ever tells me why she had a dagger like that in her room, I'll believe her." He barked a sad laugh. "But shit, it stills sticks with me to this day about that situation."

Gray quieted down and took a few moments to himself before he said his next words. "Silver is having the dreams now."

The wind bristled as though dismayed.

"He's fourteen. He's just fourteen." His voice cracked, stricken. "We were told he wouldn't have any dreams until he was an adult. We could have our son grow up normal. He would be here on land with us—his family. But ever since Margaret Town…" He trailed off and had to take a beat to collect himself.

"Juvia cried when I told her." An admission devoid of emotion. "We knew the risks. We agreed to them when we had Silver. But…" His teeth gritted. "We thought…we'd have more time. We were promised to have time, but now… He's having dreams. Gajeel broke it down for me how his change would go, but they were kids when those Dragons adopted them. He'll be in pain… And he…"—his voice broke—"won't be able to leave the sea for a long time."

Gray bowed his head as he pressed his hands around his nose and took a wet inhale and shaky, frost-filled exhale. "There are so many times I just wanted to hold onto the kids and tell them, 'I can't lose you'. So many times. I just wanted the times of us talking and laughing and taking up space and being at peace. But the reality is it can't happen."

Darks wavered, watery.

"Gary is an Ice Devil, and with Demons and Warlocks and people with their own agendas, he won't be able to have one night to sleep at peace," Gray whispered. "My daughter—I held Julia in my hands, and I listened to her when the first thing she did was cry…and she might have given up her powers to do something unspeakable, and I can't understand why. And Silver…"

He sucked in a breath. "I'm going to lose him too. It doesn't fucking matter how much I want him to stay." He blinked away the tears. "Ur and Mercuphobia promised me he'd be safe. He'd live a full life, but he's my son… They're my kids, and I'm losing them." He shook his head. "I lost you and Mom and Ur to that fucking Demon. I nearly lost Juvia, Fairy Tail—my family. And now I'm losing my kids.

"And I can't lose them—not again." Gray closed his eyes as the winds feathered his hair and ears. "I know Gary's an adult. He'll be twenty now—damn, I feel old. But he's still my son. He's still my kid. Silver's just fourteen." He dropped his chin to scan the tombstones. "How do I do it?" he asked them. A father's love combatted the Choice his children had. "How can I let them go?"

Silence.

PYUUU….

His flashes fell. Renegade snowflakes churned through the bluster and freckle his cheeks. They lingered, however, and Gray understood why. His son's winter was powerful but immature and rooted with self-loathing and uncontrolled rage birthed by a vicious trauma. His winter had aged as he had with its temperament mellow as ice and strong. Invel's winter had chilled out whatever came its way as it wreaked of Death's Breath.

This winter… He had felt it in battle and savored it since. This winter had conquered vengeance and replaced it with justice and peace. It fed him the story of an old soul who had found rest and contentment. It was as though those snowflakes were that rough hand that had hugged him once more time.

"It's gonna be okay." Those words tickled his ear as they did before and echoed the true belief it would be okay. "Even after all this…I know you'll be just fine."

Gray sniffed as he knuckled away a tear. "You're right, Dad." He stood from his block of ice and let it evaporate. Eyes dry, he looked onto the snowy plains with the only smile he could muster. "It'll be okay." He offered his parents a nod and a soft look. "I love you both."

His piece was said.

He turned away.

Juvia waited patiently for him at the bottom and wordlessly opened her arms for him to step in. He fell into her embrace and hugged her tight before he whispered his gratitude and adoration and kissed her cheek, then kissed her lips. Juvia thumbed his cheek and offered a smile to him before they turned away from the hill to trek back to their waiting car.

PYUUU…

Juvia's skin pricked as a few snowflakes buzzed against her ear.

Take care of my boy…of my family.

Juvia leaned against Gray's shoulder and nuzzled it with a sad little smile playing on her lips. Juvia will, Sir Silver. Juvia promises.

---

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

•

Tale of Natsu and Lucy

"Take me to see the stars."

「星を見に連れて行ってください。」

•

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Once you came to Stella, you felt like you could never leave.

The land had indulged in modern-day technology—make no mistake—but the food of Stella was made in the ways of old with little to no preservatives or artificial ingredients added and cooked lovingly with kitchenware that had stood against time. The country seldom subjected itself to skyscrapers. To be honest, more royal cathedrals plotted Stella than a skyscraper. The current ruler had been firm in keeping Stella similar to the old country, even though the younger generation was vocal in their hopes for luxury apartment buildings. Fresh air impressed upon the kingdom as the earth raised it higher than its neighbors. Breathing in one lungful somehow made you feel young and energized.

The greens of Stella were rich and prosperous, but the Stellanium of Stella beat any sort of green. Raw Stellanium grew up like the trees and stuck around more stubbornly than weeds. Starlight fused with these crystals to make them glow like the moon had torn off pieces of her sky and sprinkled them across this great nation. The people of Stella happily paraded about in their refined jewelry of Stellanium. This was their pride and joy, and they would be the envy of others for how ethereal they looked.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« This is Stella, home of the Magic mineral Stellanium crystals and known to be called "The Land of the Stars". After the fall of King Animus, Stella has transitioned in a republic, but the transition has not been made easy due to the religious doctrine and some in Stella believing it should be a theocracy. »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

An unconquered forest bore more fruit than a conquered one. The tree could sigh deeply without fear as they sunk their roots, spread them out, and new trees would spiral above ground for decades to come. The vines were wild and docile as they snaked upon the trees, unthreatened. The fruit was an unusual type that needed to be cooked in just the right way. You chose an inflamed fate if you chose to eat them raw. Squared and glowing, they hung from the arms of the trees to tempt tourists.

Natsu had pitched the fire, but he had done so the old-fashioned way, so he could have a snack. The tent pitched as big enough for the cot Lucy had been adamant in bringing because no, Natsu, I'm not sleeping on the ground. Before they had cut through the forest, groceries had been bought for their vacation. Natsu pouted a little, slighted he could not hunt for the both of them, but Lucy's promises of feeding each other more than had him in a happy mood to start dinner.

"Of course we would go camping on our vacation," Lucy sighed with a fond little smile woven upon her lips as she fed Natsu a piece of steak. Golden-tinged chocolates floated around this place, this forest, this memory. "It's been so long since we've been in Stella." Her flushed cheeks glowed from the amorous fire as she accepted Natsu's offering of chicken.

Natsu grinned, though the draconic and demonic parts of him wrestled for dominance to see his Choice accept what he provided. "Yeah, I know." He looked up at the canopy. "That was pretty crazy fighting Animus and the whole thing with the Dragon Cry." His grin turned positively teasing. "And you did your weird dance at that bar."

"It wasn't weird!" Lucy defended as Natsu snickered. She smacked his chest in retribution before she sighed and had to laugh herself. "But, yeah, it was a weird time. I never thought we'd be recruited to go to another country." Gold-tinged chocolates befell the lingering Stellanium, and Lucy could feel the starlight thrum. "But I got to see the stars, thanks to you."

"Nah. You would've seen them either way." Natsu knuckled her cheek as he softly murmured, "But I was happy we could see the stars together."

"I was too," Lucy agreed as she leaned into his touch. An old worry gnawed at her when she pulled away. "Are we sure we should have taken a vacation?" she wondered. "With Luke and Luna…"

"I thought about it a lot too," Natsu told her as he handed her a drink. His brow furrowed as onyx drew to the flames and watched their dance. "The fact that I can't smell a human scent on Luke even after several days when we came back."

"I know." Lucy could not drink at a time like this. "So… He's become what was predicted." Her hands clutched her drink. "He's a Demon." She looked at Natsu. "But he's not like you."

Natsu shook his head. "I still remember the stink of those Etherious Demons more than I want to. Same with the Galuna Demons. And I could smell the scents of those other Demons that they've faced. But Luke doesn't smell like them." He shifted as an agitated hand messed with his hair. "But when I smell him… I can smell he's our kid, but the type of Demon he is isn't like me."

"It's stronger." Lucy's gaze broke into sadness and concern.

Natsu nodded as his jaw went taut.

"I'm scared for him." A hushed confession. She needed to say it aloud. "He's fifteen, Natsu."

"Igneel was younger when his scent changed."

Lucy shook her head. "I know that, but it isn't fair to any of them." When Natsu offered his lap to her, she settled into it and curled into his chest. "I want to know so badly what happened," she told him. "But Nashi avoids us. Luna hates leaving her room, and Luke keeps telling us everything is fine." Her hands wrapped in his shirt.

"Whatever happened, they used something to block my nose from figuring it out," Natsu said. "At least, wherever the Hell they went. But what I can smell from them now isn't something that will go away." His thumb dragged down Lucy's arm. "I could smell Nashi's power, and I could smell the bond between she and Gary is solid. I could smell that Luke had a tie to someone." His lips curled as a rumble vibrated in his chest.

The flames withered, fearful.

"Everything's changing faster than we thought." Lucy rubbed his chest to soothe him. "I know we were younger, and the battles we fought were difficult." Gold-tinged chocolates gleamed as the blood, death—war—it all infiltrated her present to help her fear for the future. "We lost so many friends. We lost family. And we survived to see tomorrow." She licked her lips as though trying to prepare for her next words. "It's been thirty years since our last war."

"Wars don't stop, Lucy."

Lucy closed her eyes. "But I can wish they could," she whispered. "I can wish and hope and pray that we could keep living in an era of peace. I can keep asking the stars to let everyone finally not have to worry if we don't hear from someone that they're gone or have to shed so many tears." Her shoulders dropped. "But in the end, I know it's just a fairy tale."

A silence wafted over them, never impenetrable or uncomfortable or solemn. Just a quiet that knew where it was needed.

Natsu spoke in a low rumble that affected the flames, the wind, and the forest itself. His words were spoken as a king. "We've always lived like our lives were on the line. Maybe we were arrogant to live like that. Maybe we were heroic to take those risks. Maybe we weren't. We fought to live so that others wouldn't die. We stood up when others were pinned to the ground. We fought for our future. And we didn't stop until the fight was over."

Emerald swirled and intermingled with blood-red.

"There will always be another fight." A king's wisdom may not be fact, but they were true. "We don't live in a world without hatred. This world of ours isn't perfect, and it sure isn't always beautiful. Changes happen for the stupidest and bravest reasons. Wars happen for the same reasons. Not a damn thing we can do about it, no matter how much we want to. We can keep resisting it or we can run to it and face it head-on.

"The kids have about as much choice in it as we do," Natsu continued. "The world wasn't going to stop for them then and it won't stop for them now. It's not fair that they're kids having to live in a world like this—I know. It's not fair that they'll have to stand up and fight for people who wouldn't do the same—I get that. But if life was built fairly, Acnologia would have never existed. I would have stayed in the past with Igneel until I died." He kissed Lucy's forehead. "And I never would have met you and had a family to love and protect."

Lucy looked up at him and cradled his jaw. "I know the world isn't fair, Natsu," she promised him. "And I know you know that more than everyone. I know that because of the unfairness we endured, we got to create something beautiful from it. But still, I…" Her eyes dropped.

Natsu would not let her go and cocked his head so he could hold her eyes.

"How much unfairness do they have to face until they can create something beautiful?" she asked of him. A queen's sadness and sensibility. "They weren't born for all of this. They were born to live their lives, Natsu. But not this."

"No one was born to fight." Natsu kissed her nose. "But you become made to fight." He could scent his words saddened her and nuzzled her. The Wild one out against the Darkness with the need to comfort. "Igneel and Luke will be stronger than me because of this. They weren't born. The power was there, but that power wouldn't have come out if it felt they weren't the right ones to bond with. They were made in who they are."

"They're so young," Lucy whispered with a hitch.

"I know." Natsu held her tight.

Lucy sniffled as she clung to him and selfishly cocooned in his warmth to fight the coldness of her pain. "I hate this." Not a cry. Not a sob. Not a tantrum. A queen's sadness. A mother's love.

"Do you remember the first thing you told me when we came home with Luna? What you said that night?"

"I wanted to run away." The memory was fresh. The scent of a newborn—of a future. A mother's vicious fear to let her future be close to anyone—even her future's father. The warmth he had provided to keep her from snapping at him to leave her alone with her future and how the Wild had postured as small as possible as he could imprint on his future. "I told you I wanted to take the kids and run and hide. I never wanted them to get hurt."

"And what did I say back?"

Lucy smiled a little. "You asked me if you could come with you."

"I did." Natsu breathed a laugh. "You were ferocious, y'know. Almost as fierce as a Dragon with how much you were ready to protect our kids." He gave her a moment to find her amusement at her innate mother's love. "But then I asked you if that if you ran, if that meant they'd never get their knee scraped or a paper cut or a stomachache. If you ran and hid, would all the danger really leave?"

Lucy sighed. "It wouldn't," she answered, timbre weak. "Even if I wanted to hide them and keep them safe, the danger would come in a different place."

"That's right. The dangers can be gods, Demons, and Dragons or it could be them getting sick or bleeding. Are they on the same level? No, they're not. It's unfair that the dangers they have to face aren't paper cuts and tripping over their feet."

Natsu pulled back for sanguine-infused emerald to connect with gold-tinged chocolate. "But it's just like when they scrape their knee. We're going to teach them about the dangers they can face for being who they are. And if they scrape their knee, we'll bandage them, help them to their feet, and teach them some more.

"Our job isn't just to prepare them. We're here to pick them back up when they fall. When they fall, Lucy, not if they fall, because they will fall. It's unfair, but it'll happen. And we'll be there for them again and again. Because we can't let them stay down. We were there once. We fell, and we caught each other. We had to deal with unfair and we had to get up and keep moving for a better future. We have to show them they have to do the same.

"We have to show them that it's unfair. It's unfair that they have enemies for being made into who they are. It's unfair they can't rest easy. It's unfair they'll lose people along the way. There's no sense in why it happens. They can't try to make sense of it either. But we have to show them for every unfair thing that knocks them down, there's something beautiful they have to get up for."

Natsu kissed Lucy's jaw. "I got up for a lot of beautiful things," he murmured. "I got up for my friends. I got up for my family. I got up for you." He kissed away a salt tear that wetted Lucy's cheek. "And I got up for myself. And they'll learn that. They weren't born to know it—they're made to know it." He rocked her slightly as his forehead touched hers and he scented her despair and her hope.

"We'll teach them." A queen's voice did not crack or waver. Underneath that sadness was strength. "We'll teach them to get up for themselves—for the beauty they'll see past everything they'll face." She pulled back for her hands to splay on his cheeks. "Natsu—"

"Thank you for giving me another beautiful thing to stand up for," Natsu told her as the Wild and Darkness communicated in his eyes the shared primal need to worship and love. "Thank you for making me into who I am now."

"Natsu…" More tears slipped past her cheeks, but she did not have the heart to give into them. Her smile was beautifully sad, and her eyes could only give him love. "You've given me more than I could ask for. You understood me when I didn't even understand myself." Her hands slid past his cheeks as she partially rose to hug him.

"I promised you a future where you'd only cry because we won," Natsu remembered. "I'll still fight for that future where the only time you cry is when you're happy."

Lucy buried his nose into Natsu's neck. "I'll fight for that future too. I'll fight for our friends and family to see as many sunsets as they want to and have a future where they can have joy." She pulled to kiss his cheek. "I love you, Natsu."

"I love you too, Lucy." Natsu pulled back to search her eyes. "Are you ready?"

Lucy nodded. "Yeah, I'm ready." Her eyes ascended to the cloaking canopy. "Take me to see the stars."

°•°•°•°

The journey was filled in a quiet who knew when it was needed. Their fingers threaded each other as they kept to the other's side. Those who dwelled in the forest did not dare cross paths with this unnatural male who excused dominance and tasted of fire, and the Stellanium grew a little excited a Star Queen was in its presence whenever Lucy passed by, as though the starlight inside recognized the one who had been made to cherish the stars.

The climb was not that much. The Wild and Darkness could not help keeping sharp eyes on Lucy's every step. This forest was not his, and the Wild and Darkness were on a feral edge on soil he had not marked. But Lucy soothed him with her smile and touch.

Natsu had gotten to the top first, but he made sure Lucy had come not a few steps behind. Gold-tinged chocolates swirled in wonder. The Stellanium they had approached cascaded like a giant's staircase, but their surface looked like pools of the universe, almost as though walking on them would drop you further into space and you would float amongst the stars.

The couple embarked onto the Stellanium, but they did not venture too far. They found an edge to sit on as Lucy warmed under the watchful eyes of these naked stars. Fiore's night sky was freckled in those pesky stars, but Stella had this way of seducing every ball of light that had existed in the sky into performing. They clustered together in massive groups of blue and violent before breaking off, independent, unafraid.

Lucy sighed as Natsu nuzzled her cheek with his nose. "We're living in a future we put ourselves on the line for," she told him, "and I couldn't be prouder of everyone for creating this future we're living in." She raised their joined hands to kiss his knuckles and smiled softly when he repeated the action with her own.

"I'm sorry I could give you a fairy tale." Natsu breathed those words into her skin.

Lucy shook her head. "You gave me one. A fairy tale of knights and Magic and Dragons and adventure—Natsu, you gave me the best fairy tale I could ask for. And that's because it never ends. We don't need a happily ever after for a fairy tale that will keep writing itself." Gaze to the unyielding stars who told of past, present, and future. "Even if they're tears of joy, I can cry them later. We'll teach them how to get back up again."

"We'll teach them," Natsu vowed, "to speak only of the future and let that become their will to live." His hand tightened onto hers. "And I'll give you and everyone as many sunsets as you want to see. I'll make sure you can always see the stars." He added, "I'll make sure I'll always see my North Star."

Lucy turned her head to brush her nose against his. "And I'll make sure your flames never go out," she promised to him. "Because I see you, Natsu. I've always seen you." She lifted her hand to touch his shoulder. "And I will always want to see those sunsets and the stars together with you, Natsu." Her head tilted up, and her lips slanted over his.

And he kissed her back with the moon sealing a promise and the stars twinkling as witnesses.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Toki wa doko he

Kimi no namida wo

Tsuretekuno

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The snowy oasis that had birthed from Gray's home, the winds whistled promises and disturbed loose snowflakes who had tried and failed to burrow into their new home. The destruction gone, but the memories and the blood would remain. Yet on that hill—that lone hill with a winter-touched tree and the graves of those gone—the flowers that had come to honor death and life found themselves prey to the wind—to winter.

Quicker than falling asleep, frost climbed over the flowers to make them immortal in this winter. Shadows loomed over the frosted flowers of a man and a woman as though to admire them, but when the winds picked up, the shadows left.

And a tear fell onto the frosted flowers.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Soko de itsuka

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Jaxton was awake long before Tesla. It was a fact. She never woke up earlier than him, but he never minded. He enjoyed this time with her sleeping in his arms as he memorized every detail of her body, of her breath, of her heartbeat. His eyes closed as he tightened his hold on her and kissed her neck as his silent affirmation of his love for her.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Kimi no egao ni

Aeruno

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Mirella had come downstairs to check on Kyler and make sure he had packed everything. But when she took a good look at him in his string workshop, those golds softened when she saw him snoozing with his head on his workbench. She crept over to him, silent as a shadow, and a delicate finger moved locks of hair from his face as she admired the Angel she had fallen in love with.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Itsumo mieta

Sora ga yokuiuyo

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The flight back to Fiore from Zvonvratia would only take a little over an hour or so, but that did not matter. The competition's emotional highs and physical lows had taken a toll on most of the skaters and their support. As Aphtan read and Christophe tried his hand at antagonizing a pissed-off Mellow, Carlisle had fallen asleep the second they were soaring into the air.

Dante entertained himself with some homework not due for a few weeks, but he smiled a little when Carlisle jostled and fell asleep on his shoulder. He kissed Carlisle's forehead as his hand came up to thumb Carlisle's knuckles.

And their matching rings glinted in the presence of each other.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Yume no tsuzuki

Keshite owaranai

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Lance looked at his divusiometers as though he willed it to work, but when nothing happened, he pocketed the device and abandoned his room. He smiled when he saw Aine was up and ready and waiting for him to explore more of the waterfront together. He kissed her cheek, much to her laughter, and fingers intertwined. They left to explore more and enjoy their vacation together.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Zutto Zutto

Omoide wa yasashii kara

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Mary Jane lounged in her bed with a silly smile on her face as she spoke with Peter over the Compact with all the ticks of an excited schoolgirl as she curled a lock of hair with her fingers and bounced her knee at the eagerness to speak to her boyfriend. But as she spoke, she never realized her copy of Peter Pan that had been preserved and coveted at fallen onto the side of her bed with part of it dipping underneath as though there was a genuine threat it would be lost and forgotten.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Kitto Kitto

Yuku yo tsugi no mirai

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Silver had rounded into Ena's office with a tray of tea and snacks and an announcement on his tongue, but he held back when he saw Ena had slumped into a dreamless slumber with the knitted blanket he had made for her clutched tightly around her.

He was careful to set down his tray before he tended to Ena. He made sure the blanket was secure before those blues drank in the sight of her. He turned away from her with a smile on his face as he tended the tasks he had set for himself. But he neglected to see the Rainbow Rose Ena had kept on her desk was crowded with dual flowers.

°•°•°•°

The world was changing no matter where you turned, no matter if you wanted it to or not.

Ezra sat on his couch with a strong drink on his coffee table. He knew he should not be doing it. He knew that. But he and the Beast were too far gone to understand right and wrong anymore, even if that was not an excuse at all. The picture in his hand was him and Saudade in their younger years, frozen in time and hopelessly devoted to each other in such a deep way no teenager could ever feel.

Thirteen knocked back the last of his drink. He deposited more jewel than his drink was worth at the bar that hosted only him and tipped his hat to the two bartenders who never batted an eye at his past, at this violence. Hands in his pockets, he soldiered on down the cleaned-up street alone as a sole survivor.

Orochi came into Mara's room with his mother already there, and both women were enthusiastic to greet him from his long night. As his mother fussed over him, Mara had noticed the sketchpad in Orochi's hand, and her eyes saddened in gentle knowing.

Gajeel was all too happy to have his wife to himself for once, and Levy did nothing to resist him. Like children, they played in the snow with harmless snowballs and little games of chase that had Levy giggling while Gajeel was eager for his prize. Once he caught her and swung her around, she threw back her head to laugh and pretended to struggle, but she could not pretend when Gajeel pulled her down for a soul-melting kiss she eagerly returned.

The jungle never rested, never cooled, and never showed mercy. The laws of the jungle were executed without flaw. But he sat at the edge as he overlooked this jungle, this kingdom—his new home. The blazing wings did not faze him as he mourned—as he grieved—in silence. And the loyalty of the two who had followed him here was evident as they stood from a respectable distance from their king to share the burden of his grief and present him with the comfort of their friendship and the comfort a Thunder could give to their king.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Zutto Zutto

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Gale sat on his bed in only his sweats as he roughly towel-dried his hair from his shower. He grabbed his Compact for good measure, but before he could unlock it, he stopped just shy of his lock screen. His lock screen had photographed Luna as she fawned over her new Create-A-Creature with unadulterated joy lighting her eyes and her smile.

Rubies softened.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Tokimeki wa kienai kara

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Luna turned over in bed with Icarus snoozing at the foot. But those browns found the Dragon Gale had created from their one night of freedom. With hesitant fingers, she brought the beast close to her. She felt its faux scales and familiarized herself with them before her eyes fell shut, and she embraced the plush Dragon with all she had.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Kitto Kitto

Yuku yo tsugi no mirai

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Gary stood upon the ledge in simple shorts as he felt winter all around him and his own winter hummed under his skin. His black wings flexed to match the changes of the breeze and had stretched out for flight. His smile brightened when Nashi had stepped next to him in those majestic white wings of hers that he would never get tired of watching. She shot him a pleased smile as her wings flexed, but she needed no running start as she jumped off the ledge and trusted her wings to carry her high.

Gary watched her for a moment before he followed and let his wings guide him to his Angel.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Zutto Kitto kimi to

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

A white feather from an Angel fluttered down into the snow, abandoned and forgotten. But as the sun caressed the feathers, the shadow that had clung to the feather did not seem like a shadow at all. It was almost as though it manifested into its own creation to comfort the white feather in an intimate embrace. As though the darkness was adamant to stay by the light.

Forever, the darkness told the light, it would always be with it.

And the winds were tickled with the laughter of two children from long ago.

---

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

•

The weekend is over; decorations put away

But that does not mean the love we feel should not be shared

It should be showed regardless of the day

For a love between friends

Between family

and lovers too

Need a reminder every day that the love is there and that it is true

•

Our tales are over and done

But the stories of these heroes still carry on strong

I hope you found a bond you could connect with

And I hope you have a bond with someone of your own

•

To the next arc of this adventure, I shall raise a cheer

A toast to love

To the future

And most of all, a toast to you

For it was all of you who brought this story here

•

A farewell to these stories and to you

Thank you for your time; it's been a delight

Happy Heart's Day to you

Happy Heart's Day to all

Have a safe adventure

And to a pleasant, sweet-dream-filled night

•

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

---

•

You make me feel special

Sekai ga watashi taoshite mo

Itai kotoba mune sashite mo

Kimi ga ireba warau

That's what you do

Again, I feel special

Imi no nai sonzai de mo

Kiesou na sonzai de mo

Kimi no koe ga sureba

I feel loved, I feel so special

•

I feel so special

I feel loved, I feel so special

---

SEE YOU ON THE NEXT ADVENTURE, FAIRIES…

Next time

on Fairy Adventure

Episode 091

THE COMPOUND

---

Voices of Characters in Order of Appearance

— • — • — • —

Luna Dragneel – Brynn Apprill

Gale Redfox – Greg Cipes

Igneel Dragneel – Bryce Papenbrook

Mystogan Fernandes – J. Michael Tatum

Luke Dragneel – Alan Lee

Yuuma Yamaguchi – Rylan Strachan

Peikeo –

Justin Justine – Ian Sinclair

Freed Justine – John Burgmeier

Liberty "Libby/Ladybug" Justine – Mela Lee

Jasmine Strother – Jasmine Brown

Pacer Strauss – Josh Keaton

Wendy Marvel – Brittney Karbowski

Porlyusica – Linda Young

Sharon Shuusei – Aja Naomi King

Ellie Strauss – Alexis Tipton

Elvin Strauss – Micah Solusod

Ines Sharabi – Michelle Hendley

Harley -

Cane Alberona-Groh – Clifford Chapin

Dante Princeton-O'Neill – Adrian Petriw

Carlisle Justino – Eric Scott Kimerer

Cana Alberona – Jamie Marchi

Bacchus Groh – Chris Hury

Veronika Strauss – Hilary Haag

Vasilisa "Lisa" Jane Strauss – Laura Woodhall

Ivanushka "Ivan" Strauss – Tara Sands

Chelsea Goolsby – Joan Plowright

Spencer Lates – Christopher Wehkamp

Kang Li – Crispin Freeman

Block – Richard Epcar

Florica Wenman – Venus Terzo

Esmeralda "Esme" Strauss-Depardieu – Megan Hollingstead

Evangeline "Eve/Evie" Strauss – Colleen O'Shaughnessey

Ola Wright – Kamali Minter

Elouise Strauss – Cassandra Lee Morris

Gary Fullbuster – Griffin Burns

Orochi – Aaron Roberts

Chace Duchenne – Ezra Weisz

Saudade Mixa – Enuka Okuma

Euboea – Hetty Abbott

Thirteen – Matthew Mercer

Coeus – Grant George

Juvia Fullbuster – Brina Palencia

Gray Fullbuster – Newtown Pittman

Silver Fullbuster (Sr.) – Matthew Mercer

Lucy Heartfilia-Dragneel – Cherami Leigh

Natsu Dragneel – Todd Haberkorn

• — • — •

Additional Voices

Opening Narrator – Mary McGlynn

Description Narrator – Mary McGlynn

Closing Narrator – Melissa Fahn

— • — • — • —

⌜OPENING SONG

⟪ Prism ⟫

ClariS & GARNiDELiA

Lyrics by

Ryosuke Shigenaga⌟

•

⌜INSERT SONG 1

⟪ More (Feat. Seraphine, Lexie Liu, Jaira Burns & League of Legends) ⟫

K/DA, Madison Beer & (G)I-DLE

Lyrics by

Rebecca Johnson⌟

•

⌜INSERT SONG 2

⟪ Mic Drop (Steve Aoki Remix) ⟫

BTS

Lyrics & Composed by

Steve Aoki, Pdogg, Supreme Boi, 방시혁,

제이홉, 랩몬스터, Tayla Parx, 플로우식(Flowsik), Shae Jacobs⌟

•

⌜INSERT SONG 3

⟪ Omo ⟫

Abimbola Alao

Originally by

Blackman Akeeb Kareem⌟

•

⌜INSERT SONG 4

⟪ Eastside Story ⟫

Trevor Duncan

Lyrics by

Trevor Duncan⌟

•

⌜INSERT SONG 5

⟪ Zutto Kitto ⟫

Aya Hirano

Lyrics by

Nobuo Uematsu⌟

•

⌜ENDING SONG

⟪ Feel Special (Japanese Version) ⟫

TWICE

Lyrics by

J.Y. Park, NATSUMI WATANABE⌟

---

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

TRANSLATIONS

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Josean → Minstrish-Fioren

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Dadhyeossseubnida

We're closed.

• — • — •

Menyueso ppaeso jumunhago sipoyo.

I'd like to order off the menú.

• — • — •

Beting-eul wonhasibnikka?

Would you like to place a bet?

• — • — •

Geuleul gage naebdwo. Geuneun geugeos-eul wihae yeogie eobs-seubham.Gaso dareun mogireul chajara.

Let him go. He isn't here for that.

• — • — •

Oraenman-e, hoobae! Museun ir-iya?

Long time, no see, (junior)! What's up? (inf.)

• — • — •

Mianhe, seonbae. Oneul bam-e ol jul-eun mollass-eoyo.

Sorry, (senior). I've been busy.

• — • — •

Oneul bam-e ssaunayo?

Are you fighting tonight?

• — • — •

Seonbae, ineun nae chingu. Geuneun OSU chulsin-ibnida.

(Senior), this is a friend. He goes to OSU.

• — • — •

Mannaseo bangapseumnida.

It's nice to meet you. (f.)

• — • — •

Sinsasugnyeo yeoleobun…

Ladies and gentlemen…

• — • — •

I konoeneun banggeum silhomsireul ttona saeroun opkkeureideureul teseuteuhal junbiga dwen silhomi itsseumnida… Stitch…and No Mercy

• — • — •

Geurigo i gusoge uriegeneun mupaee autssaidoga itsseumnida geuneun dunwega apttodanghaetttaneun goseul jeungmyonghamnida… Retro…and…Kenken

• — • — •

Geurigo seungjaneunnyo Kenken…geurigo…Retro

And the winner is Kenken…and…Retro…

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Perench → Minstrish-Fioren

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Tellement incroyable!

That's incredible!

• — • — •

C'est bon.

It's okay.

• — • — •

Peut-être.

Maybe.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Gordost → Minstrish-Fioren

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Я тебя обожаю.

I adore you.