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.
NOTICE: This is a revision of the 2017 version, which is simul-posted to AO3. Episodes 001 through 010 are set to be replaced and other episodes edited. This may cause confusion. To read the 2022 revised edition as it is updated, AO3 is on Episode 004 as of tonight. Otherwise, all 143 (in counting) episodes will remain here and continue to be edited and updated with Episode 144 coming next Sunday.
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.
PREVIOUSLY, on Fairy Adventure: Earth Land has changed since the fall of the Black Wizard and times couldn't be more golden! But like every new era, new problems and new faces arise. Enter the next generation of Fairy Tail with new gifts and new choices to make. But one thing is for certain: these new fairies may be born in the next era, but it looks like they have their own secrets to keep.
"I'm sorry."
Oh, Gary, please be all right! And something tells me this won't be the last time Luna can use her cuteness for emotional damage…
Chibi-Nashi appears with a grin and a wave. "Hi, everyone! Ready for more Fairy Adventure? To keep your eyes safe, make sure you read with at least one light on in a low setting! Today's episode will feature potentially disturbing scenes and flashbacks in first-person past-tense due to a stylistic choice!"
She winks with a thumbs up. "See you at the end of the episode!"
It was one of those nights when the sky was dark, but the clouds dimmed the stars' bright contrast. There was no breeze, but the forest surrounding the quaint town moaned and groaned as though in pain. There was a wolf who howled to its mate. An owl gave a hoot and then flapped its wings. A stray deer cantered into the night, searching for a hollow to sleep in.
The nearby town built itself up from family-owned businesses, but, to the fault of the settlers, they were aware well-off the beaten path. It looked like only the streetlamps lived there. Not even the three bars in town were calling for last round. A dead quiet happened upon this little settlement, and it felt so wrong to even breathe in a place like this.
DING-DONG.
The church's bell tower rang for the unholy hour.
DING-DONG. DING-DONG. DING-DONG. DING-DONG. DING-DONG. DING-DONG. DING-DONG. DING-DONG. DING-DONG. DING-DONG. DING-DONG.
The twelfth strike echoed and died.
Silence.
Fog rolled in.
It was like rolling out a wool carpet, this fog. It blanketed the streets and the alleyways with its impenetrable white mist. Not even the brights from a car would pierce through this smog as though the haze was a cancerous disease that would not lift without help. Not even the white noise of the forest over yonder was allowed here.
A dreamy smile.
Her footsteps swept through the fog like a dance only she knew the steps to, barefoot and scuffed up. But she did not care. She moved through the fog in a trance with that dreamy smile. The bracelets knotted to her wrists told her more about herself than she had ever seen. They had not tied the gown in the back, but it was not like she cared.
After all, she had blood and vomit on the front.
She kept moving in her solo dance, humming a tune that sounded suspiciously like Hush, Little Baby. Perhaps that was what her waltz was too as she continued to move through the fog, its mistress. But soon enough, the fog brought its mistress a present.
A house.
She did not need to stop her dance as the fog did all the work for her. It opened the doors to the house so she could go in before it spread out to haze the single mother sleeping in her bed from a long shift at Crocus Clinic an hour away. But oh did she dance as she kept humming Hush, Little Baby. The fog, ever loyal to its mistress, opened the one door she needed to go in.
A child's room.
The boy haphazardly slept in his racecar bed. He was a big boy now, but he still needed diapers in bed since he was a bit of a random bed wetter. Tonight had been a dry night.
She glided into the room with that dreamy smile and that hum behind her lips. The bracelets on her wrists shifted as she came across the guarded racecar bed and to the sleeping toddler. With the grace of a mother, she bent over to scoop him up and hold him, tucking him into the crook of her neck.
And she danced out.
The fog made sure to clean up after itself, shutting doors and making sure the house was in good condition again. But she swayed down the misted street with the boy in her arms and she stroked his soft hair. Her mouth opened and she crooned, "And if that horse and cart fall down…"
The fog swallowed its mistress.
"…you'll still be the sweetest little baby in town."
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
— • — • — • —
Natsu ga hajimatta
Aizu ga shita
"kizutsuki tsukareru" kedo mo iin da
Tsugi no koi no yukue wa doko da
Eiga janai
Shuyaku wa dare da
Eiga janai
Bokura no ban da
— • — • — • —
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
The Fairy Tail Guild was always lively, especially on a sunny day. But the more members that bothered the guild hall meant the more chances of a brawl could start. Exhibit A—Lucy and Levy gushed over a new book from their favorite trashy series and paid no mind to their husbands duking it out ever since Gajeel insulted Natsu's taste in food. Stay here long enough and there would be an Exhibit B before you knew it.
Not that every member in this guild brawled for the Hell of it. Some of them came to relax and catch up with friends. The summer mission frenzy was alive and well, so coming to guild hall for some chitchat between assignments felt cathartic. It helped the barmaids and servers kept the atmosphere nice and refreshing. Though for as "nice" and "refreshing" the guild hall was, that certainly did not stop anyone from ordering the strongest liquor. It was five o'clock somewhere—
Nope.
Everyone knew Fairy Tail drank because, no reason required.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
« This is the Fairy Tail Guild. It is the strongest guild in the Kingdom of Fiore and the most destructive one. The name "Fairy Tail" represents a sense of adventure for one to discover more about mystery and fate. »
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Nashi hopped over to the bar and leaned against the counter. "Hmm," she hummed. "What to get…"
Mira went over to her right away and smiled at her niece. "What can I get you, Nashi?" she asked sweetly. It was easy to see how Mira was the face of Fairy Tail. Well-tended skin with flowing snow-white hair and sweet cerulean eyes to match; with Mira's kind-hearted personality, she was the mother of Fairy Tail.
⌜FAIRY TAIL GUILD
Name: Mirajane Dreyar
Occupation: S-Class Mage, Bar Manager
Magic: Take-Over Magic (Demon Soul)
Likes: cleaning Dislikes: Cockroaches
Special Note: Mira is the mother figure of Fairy Tail, but she can be a right Demon if you disrespect her family!⌟
"Can I get a pink lemonade and iced tea with mint?" Nashi ordered.
Mira raised an eyebrow. "'Iced tea with mint'?" she repeated. "Isn't that a certain Wizard's favorite drink?"
Nashi heard Mira's underlying tone and could not help it when her neck burned. Defensive, she muttered, "Yeah, so?
Mira laughed as she pulled down two tall glasses. "Just seems you and him are getting more than friendly."
Nashi shook her head. "Aunt Mira, I know you love playing matchmakers, but it's not like that."
Mira worked on the drinks, but she teased in good humor. "And this is why you two were on a date at the Heritage Day Festival in Hargeon? Because it's not like that?"
Nashi blanked and could imagine her mother's apologies. Mama, I should've known… Trying to shore up a pragmatic explanation, all that weakly came out was, "I-It was just an outing. We fought and I lost so I had to go with him."
Mira shook her head in amusement and set down the tall glasses. "You know, sometimes, I don't know which parent gave you more of your stubborn pride."
Cheeks a bit flushed, Nashi muttered, "Both. They fight like little kids. I mean honestly. They're how old?"
"I think it's cute," Mira tittered. "It goes to show how much they love each other, even if they do fight like children."
Nashi had to reluctantly agree with that. "I guess so." But I'd rather not see how much they love each other all over the house… It made her dreary dealing with her father doting on her mama, only for her to kick him away the second Nashi or her siblings walked in. Why does it feel like I'm the parent catching my daughter sneaking around with some boy—who is my papa.
"Well, here you go!"
Nashi took the drinks and smiled. "Thanks, Aunt Mira!"
"Of course, sweetie."
Nashi walked away from the bar and maneuvered her way until she found the table she shared with Gary, walking past old Macao and Wakaba swapping news. Hopefully, the table was far enough away that the bra's brash noise covered her conversation with Gary from her father. Yet, as she settled down, no words sparked between them. His eyes carried a distance to them, vague.
Nashi looked at the drinks, frowning. He's been so out of it these past two days. Ever since I found him…
Distance ceruleans reflecting the flames of Hell. "This isn't real. You're a dream. I'm the Devil."
"Thanks for the drink."
"Oh." Nashi realized Gary had taken his glass with a thin smile that could never reach his eyes. "Ah, sure."
She watched as he made no move to take a sip, not that she could drink either. Sighing, she looked down at the glass and saw a reflection of a sullen young woman. I always tell him to shut up, but… I never meant it. This quiet… It's worrying me.
Unable to remain silent much longer, Nashi asked, "What's wrong?"
Gary shook his head. "It's nothing," he dismissed. "Just me and my thoughts."
"Want to talk to me about them?"
Gary tilted his head. "Angel wants to know? I didn't think Angel would care."
The words hurt Nashi more than she cared to confess. "Of course I care. I just—" She looked down at her drink in shame. "I didn't know you felt like that," she mumbled as she stirred her drink with her straw. "I didn't mean to make you think I really hated you."
There came a sigh from Gary. A hand reached out and brushed against her cheek. Nashi closed her eyes when she felt coldness touch her. That winter he carried with her should have repulsed her warmth—her summer—but it felt like such a welcome contradiction.
"I'm sorry, Angel," Gary murmured, meaning it. "I didn't mean for it to come out that way. I know you care. But I'm fine, really. Don't worry about me."
Nashi looked up and unconvinced hickory connected with slightly sad blue. "I know you're lying," she admitted. "I've been around you long enough to tell."
"I'm sorry." But Gary would not say more than that.
Nashi shook her head and offered a small smile. "That's okay. But just know I… Well…" She looked away, all shy and exposed. "Well, I will always worry about you, and…"
Gary's eyes softened and his next smile looked genuine. "Angel…"
Nashi swallowed and mustered the strength to meet his eyes, possessed by them. To others, all they saw was blue, but she could see more than that. How the sky looked on a cold winter's night. Her skin prickled as she remembered what his cold did against her warmth—
"Hey, you guys, so Master said—! Oops…"
Well, that certainly killed the mood.
Nashi coughed, red-faced, while Gary looked composed. She grunted in complaint, "Give someone some warning when you're approaching them, Lady J."
A teasing grin. "Oh, don't be like that. You're just upset I caught you staring lovingly into each other's eyes."
Nashi felt like her ears were on fire. "I was not!"
"I was!"
Nashi gawked at Gary's sparkling and flowery aura. "D-Don't just say strange things like that, you dog!"
"But I love staring into Angel's eyes so lovingly!" Gary declared. "It's my favorite pastime!"
Nashi, burnt out from embarrassment, covered her face with her hands and tried to ignore Gary's soliloquies about comparing her eyes to true beauty. Why am I stuck with such an idiot dog in my life? She bemoaned, "Someone just end me now."
"Stop being so dramatic."
Nashi huffed and glared up at the person who interrupted. "You were the one who brought this upon me…"
This "Lady J" turned out to be a young lady with Juvia's navy eyes and blue hair darker than either of her brothers.
"…Julia."
And Julia simpered, navies twinkling. "Oops."
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Fairy Adventure 002
•
Fog
•
霧
•
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Julia clapped her hands together, positively delighted to see Nashi an embarrassed mess. "Did my idiot brother finally wear you down, or are you still putting up a valiant fight against his creepy determination?"
⌜FAIRY TAIL GUILD
Name: Julia Fullbuster
Age: 16
Occupation: Mage, Year 12 Student
Magic: Water and Ice
Likes: bossing around her brothers Dislikes: her brothers crying
Special Note: Julia might be a middle child, but she's the boss of both of her brothers! ⌟
Lightning struck Gary. 'Creepy'?
As Gary drew depressed circles onto the table (and mumbled how it hurt his own sister called him "creepy" and she was a plain meanie), Nashi tried to cool herself down and said defensively, "No one is wearing me down."
"Really? So I didn't get a two-hour Com-call with Silver about how someone's precious Angel went out with him and held his hand?" Julia asked.
'A two-hour Com-call?' Nashi scowled at Gary. "You—!"
But Gary merely turned his head and pretended not to hear anything.
Don't ignore me and explain your actions, you stupid dog! Nashi wanted to cry.
"Well, sorry to interrupt, but I came over here for a reason." Julia looked at her brother and her smile faded. "Master is calling. She's tied up with Number Five, so she sent me down. It's about a special assignment."
Gary's expression shuttered. "I understand." He got up and would have left had he not seen Nashi's little frown.
He gets to go on special assignments while I'm here, still living in my parents' shadows. Nashi's hands clenched. Why can't I be that strong too? She winced when a hand was on her head, but when she looked up to see Gary smiling down at her.
"Don't worry. It'll come to you soon too," he promised her.
Nashi flushed, found out, and sniffed, "Stupid dog. Don't just make assumptions about me." She shooed him. "Now go away and see what Master wants from you."
Gary chuckled, but he did as she said.
Even in her ire, Nashi could not help but watch him walk away and go to the steps. Hickories glinted, bouncing to the side. Don't just give me false hope. I know I'm not strong enough.
"Nashi?" Concerned alighted Julia's face. "Everything okay?" When Nashi did not answer, Julia hesitantly leaned closer. "You know… Not everything is a race to be the strongest." Navies sparked, but it was not positive. "I know what it's like, wanting to be stronger. But sometimes, being strong isn't everything."
"It is to me."
Julia sighed. "Nashi…"
"Lady J, I'm fine. It's okay, I…" Nashi swallowed. "I'm just…fine." She switched topics. "Have you seen Lu? I thought she'd come to the guild, but…" She grimaced. "She, um…hasn't been feeling that great."
"I heard from Silver," Julia sympathized. "It's hard for her, being Spiritless in a guild like this. Not all of us use our powers here, but, well…"
"I know." Nashi stretched out. "Speaking of powers, I could use a good workout. You want to train with me? We could do a Magic Spar. I know how to set up the practice match runes now, thanks to Mister Justine's help."
Julia, however, had stiffened at the mention of a match, but she covered it with a smile. "Ah, not right now. I have plans with some friends, but we should definitely spar later. Maybe just some regular combat? I'm slipping a bit on my skills."
"Sure," Nashi agreed. "Just let me know."
Julia nodded and made her leave.
Nashi slurped her drink, but a thought occurred to her. Huh… It's been almost, what, six-seven years since Lady J and I sparred with our powers. She shrugged it off, looking at the ceiling. Well, whatever. I'm sure we can practice sometime or another.
The streets of Magnolia during the tail-end of summer were quite a sight to behold. Now, summers in Fiore were not exactly heat-stricken, mind you, but the weather was always nice, the days stretched long, and everyone loved being outside to walk about. The market streets surged with foot traffic. A few quaint restaurants were humbled with bountiful business. A hilarious breakup ensued on a street over with both partners cheating on each other and somehow, it was always the other one's fault for the affair.
Luke sweated a bit through his smile. "So, um…"
Luna kept pace with her brother. "Yeah?"
"Um…" Luke pointed behind them. "How long are we doing to endure this again?"
"You asshole! Don't even think about buying her that! It was mine!"
"It's my money, you psycho! And I got it first!"
Igneel looked ready to light something on fire as he snarled at his opponent. "I can see right through you, you asshole! You're just trying to get in Lu's good graces so you can steal her away from me!" His fists burst on fire. "Well, that's not happening, you creep!"
A smirk with fangs. "You want a fight?" A young man bigger than Igneel by stature looked ready to throw down. His black hair could use a good brushing with his red bandana headband beneath his bangs, not to mention those eyes that looked so much like his father's, a ruby-red, and the studs in his ears. "I'll give you a fight, you freak of nature."
⌜FAIRY TAIL GUILD
Name: Gale Redfox
Age: 16
Occupation: Mage, Year 4 BSc Student
Magic: Earth
Likes: heavy metal Dislikes: Magia
Special Note: Gale is the spitting image of teenaged Gajeel, but with his bachelor's under his belt after this fall semester, he lifted his smarts from Levy—an evil genius! ⌟
Igneel headbutted him, growling. "I'll show you who's a freak of nature, you freak of nature!"
"Oh, yeah?" Gale butted his head back.
"Yeah!"
"Good luck, you shitty pyromaniac!"
"Like I'll need it, dirt-for-brains!"
Luke sweatdropped as Gale and Igneel verbally spat at each other, locked in combat. They do know we're in public, right? He slumped. An entire afternoon wasted babysitting these two. I know I should've stayed at the library.
"Luke?" Luna wrapped an arm around his, concerned (and they both ignored Gale and Igneel's scuffle in the streets). "Everything okay?"
Luke sighed. "I'm all right. Thanks for asking. My work with Sensei is just a lot. And I'll be going on an assignment with him soon for my end-of-summer exams." He could already feel his soul shaking thinking about his teacher's test. I can already tell he's going to use me to blow off steam from working at the Tower.
"You're leaving already?"
Luke blinked when he caught Luna's downcast gaze and that subtle despair scent. He smiled, assuring. "It's only for a little while, promise. It's just a test. Although I would've rather Sensei let me come with him to Academy City, since he has to go back afterward, but I guess I'll make a stop by Saint Layla's before I come home. I should be home in a week. You'll barely notice I'm gone."
"But…" Luna slipped her arm away from his for her hand to rub her other arm.
Luke stopped with her, confused. "Lu?"
"Well…" Luna mumbled, "It just seems like everyone always leaves me behind…"
That chipped Luke's heart. Lu…
But before he could say a word, Luna shoved aside her dejection for a beam. "But I'll wait for you to come home, yeah? And you'll have plenty of stories to tell me when you get back, I'm sure." She threw herself back into her walk. "I think you'll do great on your test."
Honeyed ambers caught the minute shake in Luna's hands. Lu… He hurried to catch up with her and proffered, "Well, before I go, how about we get some ice cream? Lillian's?"
Luna looked at him in surprise. "You remember?"
"Of course I would!" Luke's smile turned puzzled. "Why wouldn't I?"
"Well, um…'" Luna scratched her cheek with a finger. "It's just been so long since we've gone together. I just thought you'd forget." She beamed. "But I'm glad you didn't." She grabbed his hand to tug him forward. "Come on! Let's go get some ice cream!"
Luna's words made Luke think. It…hasn't been that long, has it? But I… I can't remember the last time we went. Honeyed-ambers glinted in guilt. And she thought I forgot her favorite place too… He opened his mouth. "Lu—"
BOOM!
BAKI!
BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!
"You damn psycho!"
"You freak of nature!"
TICK!
A tick mark twinged Luke's temple. Those two…
Igneel had his fists covered in flames with his red-hot Magic Circle glowing beneath him. "Don't think I'm holding anything back from you."
"Fine." Green energy warped around Gale as his Magic Circle broke into the ground and made the reds of his eyes glow. "Because I'm not going easy on you either."
KAN.
"And I'm"—Luke loomed over the both of them, murderous, and both Igneel and Gale cowered back—"not tolerating this anymore"—he pushed up his glasses—"so quit it."
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
— • — • — • —
And so…
— • — • — • —
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"Mmm!" A pleased flush crossed Luna's face as she sucked down a few swallows of her milkshake. "You can't go wrong with a cookie dough milkshake from Lillian's! This stuff is the best!" She cuddled her milkshake. "I'd marry this flavor if I could."
Luke chuckled, content with his vegan mint chocolate chip. "I don't doubt it."
Old-timey met modern—that was the theme here at Lillian's with sleek countertops, glass doors, and photos of the early years. Anyone with an artist's thumb could take up the coloring supplies left out and draw a picture to be posted on the pin-up board. For a summer day, it was a no-brainer an ice cream parlor would carry a heavy load of customers, from a group of teens joshing around about a new couple in their group to a flock of old ladies from the retirement center, gossiping about the latest nurse drama.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
« This is Lillian's Homemade Ice Cream Shoppe, a popular ice cream place with vegan and gluten-free options! People say it's a rite of passage to finish the 51-flavor sampler challenge! »
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Luna looked around, happily sighing. "If we ever get ice cream, it has to be Lillian's." She frowned at the scene across from her. "Igneel, Gale—aren't you guys going to get something?"
"No." Igneel sounded as grumpy as he looked, arms crossed and a scowl (more like a spoiled pout) across his face. "I hate ice cream."
"I hated it first," Gale petulantly muttered. He grinned at Luna. "But if you want to share with me, Blondie—"
"No way!" Igneel butted in. "If she's gonna share with anyone, it'll be me!"
Gale snapped back, "Stop being so clingy, you weirdo!"
"Stop being so flirty, creeper!"
"Why don't you both stop – talking"—that ominous aura was back with Luke as he adjusted his glasses—"understand?"
Both boys huffily backed down, muttering under their breaths.
Luna finished her milkshake with a sad pout. "Aw. I'm already finished—"
"I'll get you a new one!"
Luna's smile twitched, taken aback by how eagerly Igneel and Gale had offered. "U-Um, no, that's okay. I shouldn't—"
"Don't worry, Lu, I'll buy you another one," Igneel promised as she shot up.
Gale scowled. "Not if I buy one first!"
Luna's eye twitched as Igneel and Gale shoved each to get to the counter, bickering. "But I didn't…" She groaned. "Why can't they just get along?" As she put her head on the table, she muttered, "Maybe they should be a couple instead of fighting over me."
Luke was the only one out of the two of them who noticed Igneel and Gale looked white as a sheet overhearing such words. "There, there, they just…care about you a lot. That's all." He tried not to think about all the times Gale and Igneel squabbled for Luna's attention, leaving her torn and confused about what to do. Or maybe possessive is the better word…
"If they really cared, they'd be here with me."
Luke frowned at Luna's mumble. "Lu…"
Luna looked away from him. "I know Gale and Igneel do this because they pity me." Bitterness seeped into her words. "Everyone does. The failure Dragneel. The Nothing."
"You're not 'Nothing' or a failure," Luke assured her. "Having Magic isn't everything—"
"You can say that because you have it. I"—her voice broke—"don't have it. You have powers and get to go on all these adventures because of your Magic. And I…" She gathered her arms beneath her head. "I just get to stay in my room and wait for all of you to come home."
Luke wanted to protest her points, but… He looked down at his ice cream. Lu… The grip on his spoon tightened as his nose caught the heavy grief coating her scent. He worked the nerve to speak. "Luna, I—"
VRRRRRRR!
His Compact interrupted him.
"It's fine." She sat up and made sure her face was away to clear cheeks before smiling at him. "I'm just being whiny. Sorry. I don't want to bring you down. You should take that." She stood up with her empty milkshake. "I'm gonna go throw this away and hit the bathroom."
"But—"
"Luke." Luna smiled as much as she could. "It's fine." And she turned away.
Luke longed to call her back, but it was too far, and he did not want to make a scene. He tended to his Compact to see notifications from his sensei. The message read:
« I've estimated we'll be away for a week and a half. Please pack lightly. Cullen will be shadowing you. »
"Hey."
Igneel and Gale came back—it looked like Igneel won the battle for getting Luna's new milkshake—but both of them looked solemn. Igneel glanced at the bathrooms where Luna disappeared into. "Do you think we should talk to Mom and Dad?"
"And what can they do?" Luke sighed to his twin. "It's not that I don't think we should; I just don't think we could. You know how they feel about Lu's safety, even if we don't understand it. I doubt we could say anything that changes their minds."
"But she shouldn't be alone." Igneel clutched the milkshake, teeth aching. "Dad has a job for him and I lined up this week, dammit."
"And I'm leaving for a test with Sensei." Luke rubbed his temples. "And with Mom about to head to Acalypha for all her work with Granny Ann at Saint Layla's and Nashi will probably be out, Lu will be alone again." He swallowed. Have we really been leaving her alone like this?
"I could stay with her."
"No." Igneel shot down Gale's suggestion. "Not you."
"Why not me?" Gale argued back. "What, just because you don't like me? You should know by now I wouldn't hurt her, and…" Rubies flickered. "I don't want her to feel lonely either, y'know. She's close to me too."
Igneel's eyes darkened. Yeah. His teeth clicked. That's what worries me.
"I'm back!" Luna sat back down and tucked her hair behind her ears, only to beam seeing her new milkshake. "Oh, thank you, Igneel!" She reached for it—
"Aht-aht!" Igneel held it away from her, grinning. "Nope! You have to do the thing!"
Luna flushed. "Please don't make me."
"Fine." Igneel tampered with the straw, nonchalant. "I guess I'll just drink this all by myself…or maybe"—his teeth showed in a sinister grin—"I'll throw it away."
Luna looked stricken at such blasphemy. No! Not that! She swallowed her pride and scooted closer to him, cheeks darkening. "Y-You're… Y-You're my…" She felt her face on fire as she tried to look at him, "You're my favorite big brother in the whole wide world."
Igneel raised an eyebrow. "And…?"
Luna spread her hands, horribly abashed. "And I love you this much"—she looked down, shy—"big brother."
LUB-DUB!
It felt like an arrow pierced through all boys. She's so cute!
"Gah!" Igneel's hug attacked Luna, and it made her embarrassment worsen as he nuzzled her. "H-Hey! Igneel—!"
"My little sister is such a cutie!" Igneel crooned, ignoring her struggling. "Don't worry, Lu, I'll protect you from all those bastards out there trying to steal you away from me!"
Luna had a horrifying thought of being locked in a tower with Igneel as a fierce Dragon driving away all her prospective princes. She wanted to cry. No! Anything but that!
She tried to peel herself away, but her efforts were no match for Igneel's strength. "Let me go! Igneel, c'mon! People are staring!" But her pleas were to no avail. She desperately sought help. "Luke, please, help me—!"
But he looked away, looking at the board of drawings.
The wind blew.
Luna smiled through her comical tears as she gave up and let Igneel fawn over her. I've been abandoned again…
Gale watched Igneel and Luna's antics, but his red regard firmly stayed on Luna. Blondie…
Affectionate browns. "I missed you, Gale."
He cut his eyes to the ceiling. I missed you too.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
— • — • — • —
GATON-GATON-GATON!
— • — • — • —
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
A full train could mean so many things this time of day, but having your own closed-off booth to yourself meant the world more than sitting with all the others. The trolley had made its way down, offering sweeties, newspapers, and pasties. Two businessmen were getting into the nitty-gritty about their meeting with a stingy executive they needed to wind over. A little girl looked out the window in wonder as the train blitzed through farmland.
Gary and Nashi had their own sleeper for the journey, though it was Nashi's insistence that got them into this mess. Gary leaned his head against the glass and looked out the window with his EarPods on. Nashi kept her L-Tablet out as she finished up reading a difficult Josean passage for her summer course, but she glanced over to Gary.
From the way he was staring, his eyes were looking at the past and not the scenery.
She tightened her grip on her tablet and the hangul looked foreign to her now. Gary…
"I'm the Devil." Flames burned in those blues. "I'm the Devil."
She could no longer focus on her work, but she kept her tablet in her hands. It's been six years. I know six years can be a lot of time, but… It can be too little time too. Six years since he came home… Hickories downcast. Six years…since he returned from his torture.
• — • — • — • — •
"Gary!"
All her excitement at the young age of 11 felt wrong when she saw him, pale as a ghost and gaunt in the eyes. Sure, he was sitting in his living room with Silver beside him. Sure, he was there—he was home and back with them—but nothing about him looked alive.
"Gary?"
• — • — • — • — •
Nashi pushed away the bittersweet memory. And last night… He just looked so terrified. And he called himself 'the Devil' because of his—
"Angel?"
She blinked up at Gary. "Um, yeah?"
"I'm sorry." Gary took off his EarPods and put them back in their case. "I asked Angel if she wanted to come with me on my assignment, but I've been an incredibly rude leader and didn't explain the logistics."
"It's fine," Nashi dismissed.
Gary gave her a stern look. "Angel shouldn't accept an assignment without reading the fine print."
"I know that," Nashi muttered as she locked her tablet and stuffed it in its case. She did not add, But I knew I needed to come just in case you… Dismantling that thought, she turned back to him. "All right. So. What's the assignment from Master?"
Gary sighed, leaning forward with his elbows on his thighs. "Apparently, throughout the last three months, children have been stolen from Mallow Town. Mallow is a Spiritless town, so there's no AMU around to help and, while the CID is on the case…" Blues darkened. "It's been three months and all they could give to the victims' parents was that the kids were most likely in a human trafficking ring. An anonymous request to help came for me to help. And I accepted."
Nashi crossed her arms under her chest. "But why would they specifically request you and not take this to the AMU?"
"That's another thing." Gary's lips pinched in a frown. "I asked Master the same question. I don't like that they're singling me out. But there's evidence of the children disappearing. That's legit. But as to why I'm specifically being summoned? That's another thing I have to be careful of. And I have a feeling"—his hands clasped together before his mouth—"it involves what I am."
Something sharpened inside Nashi. "Someone could know?"
"It's plausible," conceded Gary. "It'd be naïve for me to think otherwise. Children are disappearing and I'm being summoned." Ceruleans lit with bitter humor. "Not long ago, I was to blame for similar tragedies. So this mission might be legitimate, but it could also be a lure."
"You shouldn't have taken it," Nashi protested. "W-We could've given this job to someone else or alerted the Council or—!"
"Master has made the necessary arrangements," Gary eased. "I was the one to push for me to be on this mission. And she agreed with me."
"But why?" Nashi did not understand. "It's obvious what they want from you, isn't it? Someone out there is bating you with a bogus rescue mission—!"
Gary gently cut in, "It's not bogus when real children are being stolen."
"So it's a hostage situation—"
"And even in a hostage situation, we still do our jobs with caution." Gary smiled when Nashi huffed, dismayed. "I know Angel is arguing with me out of concern. I know…" He briefly bounced his gaze to the side. "I know…last night showed Angel a side of me I didn't want Angel to see. But children are in danger, hostage situation or not." Blue connected with brown. "And I need Angel's help to get them back."
Nashi searched his eyes, jaw locked. I don't like this. It's obvious someone is bating him. The second we come close to those kids, he'll be kidnapped again. And it could be another three years of that torture. I want to shut him down, but… She exhaled, irritated. "I'll go along with whatever you want to do. But the second you're in danger, I'm pulling us both out."
Gary chuckled. "I thought I was the one in charge?"
"And I'm the back-up, I know." Nashi served him a charged look. "And as your back-up, I'll be able to see things you can't see. So if anything happens to you, I'm taking us both out of there, and I'll handle the consequences. Nothing will happen to you, got it? So don't needlessly put your life on the line."
Blues glinted. Angel…
He smiled, resting his chin on his hands. "That almost sounded like a love confession, Angel. Should I confess my love back?"
TICK!
Frustrated and flustered, Nashi snapped, "Dammit, you stupid dog, I'm trying to be serious here!"
"And I'll be serious about my love confession to Angel! Oh, Angel, how I love thee—!"
"Shut up!"
Gary chortled as Nashi fumed, red-faced, and muttered insults about her stupid dog. Honestly, Angel… I can't take it when you're serious about me. Because when you are… He looked outside and could see in the glass reflection a young man with the ice he cocooned himself in starting to crack. It makes my heartbreak all over again.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
— • — • — • —
Fairy Adventure
— • — • — • —
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"Come on, Luke, you can do it!"
"No, no, I really can't—Ah!"
The park, today, had a full crowd. Children dominated the massive playground, but considering all the fun games to play, it was natural. The park had built a wooden ship front with a rope all for a sail and the kids could not get enough. But no need to leave the adults out of the fun. Swings for kids and swings for teens and upwards had been separated with everyone knowing who was for who. A pavilion had a daycare center inside, rounding up their wards for their snacks and a couple of kids needed their medication. A fountain pool had a few splashing about inside, giggling.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
« This is North Gate Park, one of the five parks in Magnolia Town where people can play pick-up games of basketball, bring around their magical creatures, and, every Friday evening and Saturday afternoon, food trucks come by! »
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
The belly-laugh Luna coughed up would give her defined abs one day, but she could not help it with Luke flat on his back, glass askew. "That was h-h-h-horrible!" she gasped out.
Luke scowled and fixed his glasses before glaring at the pole. Normally, it was used for tetherball, but the tether was not on it today. "One more time," he determined. "Show me one more time and I can get it."
Luna got her fit of giggles controlled. "Okay. One more time." She took to the pole with both hands and swung around to show her brother before slowly clinging to the pole with her legs crossed. Without missing a beat, she unraveled herself and hung horizontally from the pole, then threw herself back into an elegant spin to come back down. "See? Easy."
Luke looked at the pole menacingly as he pushed up his short sleeves. "You won't beat me this time, pole." Like Luna had done, he took to pole and tried to mimic her.
Igneel and Gale watched on a bench as Luke tried horribly to do the same fitness technique Luna had done. He made a valiant effort, but he still stumbled and dropped to the ground with Luna in tears at his frustration.
Gale snorted. "I wonder when she'll learn he's doing it to make her laugh. I've seen him at Inter-Guild. I know he knows how to climb a pole." He sweatdropped at how graceful Luke looked managing a pole and keeping the ball out of reach from his enemy team. Maybe he was a pole dancer in his past life.
"Shut up. She could use a laugh right now." Igneel observed Luna help Luke up as he feigned being disheartened. Luna…
"I know Gale and Igneel do this because they pity me. Everyone does. The failure Dragneel. The Nothing."
Luna decided to take pity on Luke and clambered onto his back so he could take her to the swings. Pretending to be exasperated, he served as her pack mule.
Igneel's jaw clenched. I thought we'd been there for her, but… It must not be enough. No, that's not it. I knew how much she wanted to leave Magnolia, I just…didn't want to think about how much I was hurting her every time we left. Making it up to her isn't enough, but… Onyx wavered with guilt. I can't bring myself to fight against Mom and Dad's words.
"You all right?"
Igneel instantly shot off, "You in the mood for a fight?"
"No need to bite my head off," Gale muttered. "It's not like we're not thinking the same thing." He, too, watched Luke and Luna. They made it to the swings, but Luke pushed his little sister like they were kids again, and he considerably relaxed hearing Luna's laugh. "You're not the only one feeling guilty."
"Yeah. And you should feel guilty." An edge cut Igneel's words. "I smelled your stench in my backyard. What the Hell were you at my house that late at night? I thought you just got back from a job."
Gale held his ground against the picante anger plugging up his nose. "Yeah. I did. And it's been two weeks since I last saw Blondie." Rubies brought about a declaration of challenge. "That okay with you?"
"No. It's not," Igneel growled.
"Fine." Gale nodded to Luna. "Then you go and tell her you don't want me around. Let's see what happens."
Igneel snarled, hackles raised. "Stay away from my sister, Gale. I mean it. Whatever feelings she has for you will go away, but you need to leave her alone."
"No."
"No?"
Gale flashed his teeth, unyielding. "No. Did you ever think my feelings wouldn't go away? Or maybe her feelings wouldn't go away? How would she feel if she learned you were chasing me off? I thought you cared about her."
"It's because I care about her that I don't want you near her," Igneel hissed. "Don't make me regret"—onyx sneered—"that I could've left you to die."
Gale stood up, reds blazing, but he kept his voice level. "And I don't forget that. Trust me. I don't. You know I'd ride or die for you, Igneel. Been that way for years." He rid himself of his anger for something worse—grief. "But you're not the only one who needs her."
"Gale—"
But Gale was done and walked away.
Igneel restrained his need for a fight. Not here. Not in front of Luna. Instead, he was forced to watch Gale approach Luke and Luna. He took the swing next to her, lighting up when she smiled at him, and she even slowed down to grab his hand so they could swing together. Luke looked pensive, but he kept his mouth shut, and Igneel knew why.
Neither of them would be the one to take her smile away today.
Igneel rubbed his black wristband and tried not to glare as Gale and Luna held hands, swinging. The action looked obviously harmless, but the small blush on Luna's face made Igneel want to lunge for Gale. I don't get it. His flames buzzed beneath his skin. Why does it make me feel so fucking pissed when I see them together?
He smelt him before he saw him and warned, "Sneak up on me like that again and your cards won't be the only thing I fry."
A smile. "Temper, temper, Igneel, I'm one of the good guys, remember?"
To Igneel's credit, he kept his flames muzzled and did not snarl and bare fang as someone sat next to him on the bench. Don't snap. Not with Luna close. Composed, he reminded, "Your definition of 'good' is different than mine, Cane."
Cane looked like a rake and—surprise, surprise—he was one. That McJagger smile and mystifying violet eyes—it was no wonder he was a lady killer. He looked fresh from a tête-à-tête with his black hair mused and tugged and his shirt a bit ruffled, but, like always, he kept shuffling his deck of playing cards in his hand. "Tell me something, Igneel. Does Luna know how deeply mistrusting you are?"
⌜FAIRY TAIL GUILD
Name: Cane Alberona-Groh
Age: 16
Occupation: Mage, Year 12 Student
Magic: Magic Cards
Likes: rum Dislikes: his father
Special Note: Don't be fooled by Cane's swagger! His fortune-telling prowess is second to none, but a good Magician always has an extra card up their sleeve! ⌟
Igneel lifted an eyebrow, his face neutral. "Does she know who you actually think about when you're with those girls?"
Cane chuckled, bridging his cards. "Touché." He cocked his head to watch Luna and Gale. Whatever Gale had said, Luna responded by jumping off the swings and running away. And Gale, in time, gave chase. "But it seems to me you're trying to protect her from something you know nothing about." He pulled his hands apart and jumped one card to another hand. "Care for a fortune-telling?"
"You know I don't believe in that bullshit."
Cane laughed at Igneel's blunt statement. "I know you don't. But I figured you could use it." He showed Igneel one of his cards.
Igneel's eyes narrowed when he saw a Lovers tarot card. But rather than showing the concept of love, it showed Luna dressed in white, older and happy as she sunk into the arms of a silhouetted man with his white smile and jawline the only thing visible. And as the card slid upwards, the image inverted to show Luna unconscious in the arms of her mystery suitor, his black suit torn and bloody and his harmless smile and a bloodstained grin.
Igneel jumped his regard back to Cane. "What the Hell is this?"
The rough snarl in Igneel's tone did not daunt Cane as he shuffled his deck again. "I know you don't believe in fortunes, but don't you find it funny." He collapsed his deck and only the Lovers tarot card remained. "The way I see it, it looks like whoever she ends up with leads her to her death. And don't you find it extremely funny…" He showed a new card to Igneel.
Igneel's nostrils flared as he glared down at the card. An upside red sun showed on the card with chaos enslaving the earth. And the master of this case walked with black hair gnarled and down to his waist and tan skin. But a sliver of his profile showed one gleaming red eye.
"…that he looks similar to someone?"
For a moment, emerald took over Igneel's eyes and they went from the card to viciously seek out—
"Gale!"
And there they were, playing together on the grass. Gale had caught his prize—one Luna—and he smiled as she squealed being hefted over his shoulder and spun around. And, yes, it seemed like innocent fun—
• — • — • — • — •
The world warped into utter unprepped devastation. Nothing could live. Nothing could survive. The world had been condemned to die and it would take all its subjects with it. The earth opened up to show the truth of damnation and Hell. But the chasm did not open on its own. Someone had cracked it open with every step. Their shape was blurry, but they seemed to understand they were being watched.
Their head turned to show one red eye—
• — • — • — • — •
Igneel shot up with his fists blazing in fire. The cold look of fury on his face could startle a Demon and he did not care who flinched back when the flames licked his skin, urging him to burn burn burn.
Cane sat back as he felt the full force of Igneel's sweltering heat threaten to drag him under. His wrath came about so fierce and unhinged that it felt like Cane had been shoved down into the seventh ring of Hell. But he had to endure it.
I'm sorry, Igneel. Cane turned his card to show a new one—The World. But it's time.
Ghost town felt like an inappropriate description. Perhaps in mourning was a better explanation for the village. The virtue of the town, all the color and noise and people, had all fizzled out for grayed decadence. Cars stayed in their parking spots, some covered in dust and others looked so neglected that going to a shop might not be an option anymore. A fog had set in, but it felt unnatural like the town was trying hard to cover up the fact that its own citizens did not come into the streets and stores anymore. Well, that was not true. People did leave their houses, but they were adults dressed in black and looked like they needed a good meal and several hours of sleep.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
« This is the Mallow Town. »
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Nashi and Gary stepped out of the train station, but they did not go in any closer. They watched this phantom town try and move on, but it was all pointless with no one willing to talk unless it was necessary and grief so heavy in the air that it felt illegal to smile.
"I don't like this," Nashi murmured, coiled back. "The air is thick with despair. I can feel it."
"I feel it too." Gary tried to keep it in how intimately he felt it. This despair and dread… It's almost like an aphrodisiac. Disgust sneered within him. How disturbing. But at least it tells me I'm in the right place. He calmed his stuttering heart. Now, if I could just… He closed his eyes and reached for Nashi's hand.
Nashi pinkened and tried to pull away. "Wh-What are you—?"
"I need Angel to keep me grounded," Gary said tightly.
Nashi lost her flush for solemnity. "Okay." She squeezed his hand. "I'm your anchor, don't worry."
Gary sucked in a breath and quelled his nerves. Please let this work. Slowly exhaling, he could feel that internal winter swirl inside him with echoing yet faint howls of the wind and a cold so frigid that not even his father's power could compare. His chin dipped down. Okay. He opened his eyes, but those deep ceruleans were gone. In their place, sharp icy-blue glossed with silver. Let's take a look.
The world looked different under these eyes. He could see the levels of darkness in every living thing, but not just that. He saw violet-black trails march up and down the streets of the town. A few times, trails branched off to stop at homes and apartments, but they merged back onto the main paths. The scent bothered his sharp nose. I can see trails, but… That's not Black Magic and neither is the smell. That's—
TWINGE!
Gary flinched back and the icy-blue-silver of his eyes darkened back into cerulean blue.
"Gary?"
"I'm fine," he tersely assured. "I just…got carried away." He shook off the ache in his head. "But I did find something."
"What is it?"
Gary looked around, his skin prickling. "Let's start asking some questions. See if we can recognize a pattern. And we'll rent a hotel room."
Nashi frowned. "Shouldn't we try and find the requestor?"
"We don't need to find them, Angel." Gary looked at her. "They'll find us."
°•°•°•°
Small towns tended to have poor and old inns.
Mallow Town was no exception.
The inn was nothing you would want to stay at if you were planning a weekend getaway, but it was decent for its age. It took no genius to understand the inn had once been some sort of bar back in the day, and the innkeeper looked older than kingdom come as he got them old-fashioned keys to unlock their suite. Though the inn did come with its own mouser, a magical cat creature with four ears, twin tails, and seemingly empathic.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
« This is the Blue Nose Inn. »
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Gary and Nashi settled in, which meant their packs were down, but they would not be taking anything out unless they needed it.
Nashi sat on the edge of the bed, on edge. "Did you see how all those people reacted to our questions?"
"Yeah. I know." Gary thought about their investigation. They came across as a young couple, curious about the town's decrepit state. The townspeople had offered few words before shuffling away. "All they told us was to get out now. They didn't even mention their missing children." He glanced at her. "See anything with your Soul Sight?"
"Yeah. Darkness." Nashi sat forward. "Something looked…attached to their souls. Black Souls aren't things I'm familiar with, but Aunt Mira taught me what they looked like. These souls looked affected, but I'm not sure what."
"Hmm…"
Nashi sharply looked up at him. "What?"
Gary kept quiet.
She tried to get a grip on her annoyance. "Look, just because I'm not S-Class doesn't mean you can't keep me in the loop—"
"That's not why I'm hesitating, Angel," Gary put to bed. "That's not it at all." He drifted to the window.
"Then what is it?" Nashi pressed, testy
Gary leaned against the window, watching the outside. "I don't think we're dealing with Black Arts right now. We're dealing with something worse than that." He crossed his arms. "Possibly something demonic."
Nashi froze. 'Demonic'? She could not sit anymore and launched to her feet. "Are you sure? Didn't the Demons all die when the Black Wizard was defeated? Remember?"
"I remember." Something hitched Gary's words as though he were playing chess and had to dictate the next right move. "But the Black Wizard invented Demons off grimoires and forbidden texts he read, remember? And those texts came for old times when Demons weren't made—they were summoned."
"But…" Her eyes darted, trying to place everything together. "Why would anyone summon a Demon?" Such a question she could not answer even in her wildest dreams. "I mean we all know Demons are pure evil. And the fact that this Demon is kidnapping children and doing…something to the townspeople, I mean—!" She shook her head. "There's just no way someone would summon a Demon."
Gary's smile looked lifeless. "Not everyone is pure and good like Angel is."
"But it doesn't make sense," Nashi insisted. "That's just…! Demons are evil!"
Gary's blues went downward. "Does that make me evil too?"
"No." Nashi surged for him without hesitation. "No. You're not a Demon. You're just…different."
"I'm not a Demon, no," Gary quietly agreed, "but I'm just as dark as they are."
Nashi firmly countered, "You're not even close to that. You aren't like them. You'd never be like them. you aren't evil at all, you're…!" Pink pinched her cheeks and a bout of shyness swayed her. "W-Well, you're stupid and kind. You could never be one of them because…" Her cheeks heated under Gary's low laugh, and she yanked herself away. "Never mind, you—!"
"Thank you."
Nashi looked back to see a tenderness on Gary's face that would make anyone woman feel woozy.
"I guess, sometimes…I feel like there's no 'me' versus 'them'. It just feels like…us." His blues dusted in foul memories. "Like nights like last night. sometimes, I just feel…like I have to prove I'm better even when I feel worse. So it's nice to hear Angel thinks so highly of me." His smile widened. "It really makes me happy Angel has such faith in me."
Hickories sparked. Gary…
Nashi turned away and tried to hide her pink ears. "Wh-Whatever. We should focus on this assignment, shouldn't we?" She went for her pack. "I think we should go ask more questions. Someone is bound to crack, right?"
"Let's go out but stop asking questions."
"What?" Nashi threw him a perplexed frown. "Why?"
"I told you. Someone anonymous sent us. They'll find us." Gary pushed away from the window. "All we need to do is make a show of our presence here. And they'll seek us out when it's convenient to them." He offered his hand. "So stay close to me."
Nashi looked at the hand, hesitating, but she eventually slipped her hand in his. "Don't make it weird, okay?" she mumbled. "This is just so you can feel better. I'm pitying you."
"I know." Is it bad of me to still feel happy you pity me enough to hold my hand? He looked around the room and snatched the keys. "Also, keep concealing your Magic."
Nashi frowned again. "Okay, but…" It reached her. "If they feel we have Magic, they won't talk."
"Exactly." Gary reached for the doorknob. "We need to keep up pretenses we're just passing by. Low profiles. From the way these townspeople were looking, they can't even recognize our faces. We have to use that at all costs. And we need to lure out our mark."
Nashi nodded. "Right."
Gary pulled back the door and they left the room together. But he could not get the knot burdening his chest to loosen. It's just like the fire. It all adds up. I should've seen this coming. I should've known I'd never seen safe.
• — • — • — • — •
Flames erupted around like he had been given his own funeral pyre. No. Like he was back there, in that place, in that Room, with rogue flames trying to drag him down and eat everything inside until he was nothing more than a charred skeleton.
A gas mask pierced through the flames with bloodlust in those gray eyes—
• — • — • — • — •
Nashi bumped into Gary at his abrupt stop. "Ow…" She rubbed her nose, but concern filled her at Gary's tension. "Gary?"
"Ah. It's nothing." He pulled them back into a walk. Keep it together. Angel is my anchor. I just need to keep it together. I'm not the Devil. But as he exhaled, he could feel anxious frost leave him. I'm not the Devil.
GURAGURAGURA!
What was worse: an earthquake or a fire?
MERAMERA!
The answer was simple.
GURAGURAGURA!
Both.
MERAMERA!
It had been such a happy day, hadn't it? It had. Luna could have sworn they were all happy. They had gotten ice cream, stopped by a bookstore, and went to a park. She had taught a fumbling Luke some of her pole fitness. She swung on the swings. She had even gotten the chance to be near Gale after long weeks of him gone between his jobs and his training and his education.
It had been such a happy day, hadn't it?
So why was it Hell?
GURAGURAGURA!
MERAMERA!
Luke had taken control of the situation with spells flying out to defend the innocent from all the blasts and splatters of hate-filled spells. He looked so composed even as he shouted orders to evacuate the area. Luna had stayed frozen in the grass, trying to make sense of it all as heat saturated the air in waves and the earth shook and rumbled, displeased.
What…? Why are they…?
Combat locked Igneel and Gale in battle. Now, normally, people were used to the recklessness of a Fairy Tail Mage, often rolling their eyes and shaking their heads another brawl had sparked (notably between Natsu and Gray). But both postured differently. This was no brawl where they used minimal Magic and resolved conflict with good ole fashioned fists. There was no touch of friendliness between them. Need for blood locked their eyes as Igneel threw himself into a flaming wheel and charged for Gale. A shield he made of Rose Quartz kept him protected and the earth locked his feet to keep him in place.
They were not fighting for fun.
They wanted someone to die.
GURAGURAGURA!
MERAMERA!
Luke had come back to her with his hands on her shoulders and he blocked the battle from her sight. But his words—he incessantly called her name—felt muffled, like they were underwater, and he was shouting. Maybe they were. Maybe she was drowning. She felt like she was drowning with her body heavy and stuck. He cursed and said more words to her, but someone must have come, because he backed her into someone else's arms before rushing off.
Luna opened her mouth, but creaks of syllables came out, not ready to form words.
Igneel broke off from his flame wheel, but he was not finished. He got on to his hands and his legs spun out as a tornado of flames followed his movement. He consumed Gale in his heated hurricane, hellbent to keep him there, but Gale dismantled his fiery cage when he dug underground to pop up. Smoke and ash smeared his face and some of his clothes were burnt, but he gave it his all when made a sardonyx hammer and lunged for Igneel.
GURAGURAGURA!
MERAMERA!
A voice whispered in her ear. "Do you see that?"
Igneel was thrown across the street. Thanks to Luke's thrown ward, the building did not suffer the devastating blow when Igneel crashed into a parked car. A Spiritless would have died from the impact, considering the car bent from the sudden bombardment, but Igneel spat up blood and his heat pushed out the car so he could slip out.
No more onyx touched his eyes. Pure greens filled with the need for blood held him captive and an animalistic roar ripped from his mouth.
Flames built around him—burn burn burn—and cackled and danced as they kept growing and growing into a monster with green in its eyes and hatred filling it. Igneel acted as the anchor for such a fiery monster and when he roared, his flaming vassal did as well.
Luna's throat bobbed. "Yes."
Gale, sweaty and panting, would not take this declaration of challenge lying down. His fingers dug into the earth and rock and grass spiraled and climbed atop each other to build his own monster, his own vassal for his rage. The creature clawed the ground as green filled its eyes. When Gale opened his mouth to fire back his own declaration of challenge, so did his beast.
"They are going to kill each other." A hand touched her jaw. "Is that what you want?"
Luna could not breathe let alone think, but the word came out. "No."
Both beasts—a monster of fire and a monster of earth—would take vengeance for their masters without question.
A hand curved Luna's back and pushed her forward. "Then go."
Luna stumbled in her first step, but then the next step came. And the next. And the next. Until she was running forward and could not stop herself.
Luke whipped his head around when he noticed a streak of blonde and pure terror filled him. His mouth moved into a resounding NO, but all he could do was throw out his hand and pray his spell reached her in time.
The beasts of fire and earth charged for each other.
Luna could not feel the broken earth and muddled grass beneath her feet. All she knew was that she was in motion.
KAN… KAN… KAN…
What am I doing?
KAN… KAN… KAN…
The beast of fire sucked in a breath before roaring its flames.
KAN… KAN… KAN…
The beast of earth sucked in a breath before roaring lava.
KAN… KAN… KAN…
For a moment, the outside world faded to Luna for nothing more than white. She could not hear Luke's scream for her. She could not even hear the monsters. All she heard was the racing of her heartbeat as she kept running.
I'm…not a Wizard. I can't do anything here. I'm nothing. I'll get in the way.
She kept running.
But I can't let them do this.
She kept running.
What am I supposed to do? If I get between them, I'll die. So why can't I stop running?
She kept running.
Someone, tell me… Is all I can do here...is to die? Is that how…I can be something?
She kept running.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
— • — • — • —
LUB-DUB!
— • — • — • —
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
It was too late.
Igneel noticed it first.
It was too late.
His mouth tore open as he shouted in horror.
It was too late.
Gale might have thought about victory until it saw it. All his earned rage exchanged for terror as he screamed.
It was too late.
The beasts of earth and fire were already locked in their predestined battle. Their attacks could not be called off now.
It was too late.
Luna's stride fell in the dead center of those attacks. Earth to crush her to death or flames to squeeze her into ash—which would be a more fitting end?
It was too late.
She could feel Igneel's heat and Gale's power blind her on either side, but all that fear that paralyzed her traded for an overwhelming sense of peace as a tear shed. At least…I won't be nothing anymore.
The attacks barreled close and consumed her—
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
— • — • — • —
LUB-DUB!
— • — • — • —
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
He felt…strange.
His boyfriend chattered to him about his academy woes. He knew he should be listening. This was the only time they had together until his boyfriend came up with more believable excuses for them not to spend time unless it was convenient. But that was all right. He knew his boyfriend loved him, even if he had never been allowed to kiss him in public. He knew now was the time for him to make his boyfriend feel special, flirt it up, kiss him until his lips stung, and not waste their time together.
But he felt so…strange.
Turning away from his boyfriend, he looked out the café window. And by the time he realized why he felt strange, his lips quirked in a smile half-happy and half sad.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
— • — • — • —
LUB-DUB!
— • — • — • —
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Gale had never seen so much white.
For a moment, he felt like he was tripping, suspended in mid-air with nothing to do, nothing to say, nothing to feel. The white blinded him and cocooned him like he had been thrown into a heavenly prison. But then the white traded for a place further than the universe. Stars burned and constellations shifted. Yet someone lived in this place further than the universe. He could see Her there, beautiful and smiling.
And then reality set in.
It was when his eyes blinked for the fifth time that he even realized his eyes had been shut in the first place. The earth had been a friend to him since birth, but it felt so uncomfortable, like it scorned him for his misdeeds. The fog in his mind pushed aside little by little as he tried to find his tongue. What…? What the…? Hurting, he sat up and saw all the destruction around him with not one casualty in sight.
No, wait, there was a girl before him…
His focus snapped to attention. No.
His get-up needed some work as he damn near tripped back onto the ground, but he did not care about the pain his legs were in and did everything in his power to get to her. He belatedly realized Luke had already made it, holding her in his arms, and Igneel had managed to right himself to crawl over with such a broken look smeared across his face. Gale could not give two fucks how brokenhearted Igneel looked right now.
Because Luna was not waking up.
No, no, no… Gale did not care Luna was in a shaking Luke's arms. He strained his ears to listen for something—anything—that could come from hr. He waited for a heartbeat that was not his own. He waited for small breaths. He waited and he waited.
There was nothing.
Luke was saying something as his Zen Magic pulsed around Luna. Tears crowded his eyes, but he kept himself steady as he did everything in his power, rocking her and him back and forth.
There was nothing.
Igneel could not speak, all his words stolen, but he looked like he was breaking into pieces as he watched Luna remain unresponsive. Gale could not breathe as he waited—he so fucking waited—to see Luna breathe and to hear her pulse.
That silence was deafening.
It had been such a happy day, hadn't it?
Luke was the one to freeze. His tears sprung in his eyes, but he had frozen and brought up Luna's chest to listen close. His relief hit in waves as he held Luna close. Igneel scrambled to get closer, and Gale could not help it. Please, please, please—
LUB…DUB…LUB…DUB…
She had a pulse.
It was not too late.
Luke stood up with Luna in his arms, but when Igneel and Gale scrambled to get up, he chilled them both with a tear-stained glare. "Don't." His lips trembled, but he pulled them back to show his twin and his friend his teeth. "Don't – you – dare."
Igneel and Gale stayed rooted in their spot as Luke gave them his back with Luna curled into his arms. Neither one felt the right to move. If Gale looked like a wreck, Igneel looked destroyed.
They had done that.
They had almost killed the one thing they needed.
"I'm sorry."
It was a toss-up who said it first because both had it on the tip of their tongue. This was not how it was supposed to go. This was not how it was supposed to go.
"I'm sorry too."
Because right now, that was all they could do, say their sorries now. Because once they left behind their destruction, no amount of sorries could clear away this grief that weighed them down like gravity.
This was not how it was supposed to go.
If it was not obvious nighttime in a grieving town would be worse than daytime, someone was naïve.
For a phantom town, the sky opened and showcased its brilliant constellations made from Heaven's light. But not even the stars' burning light could make this sleepy town awaken. It added to the gray misery of the people. No cars passed through, no bars were open, but at least the streetlamps turned on. But what did those lamps matter when a thick fog tumbled through and covered the ground.
Nashi and Gary had swapped out their civilian clothes for something more agile. Black touched their skin with utility belts tied around their waists. Black Fairy Tail logos were embedded into the chest and Gary's suit had left his hands untouched while Nashi option for gloves. A pull on their hoods would also give them black masks to cover their nose down.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
« These are Fairy Tail stealth suits by Ena Fernandes. Fairy Tail allows members to use stealth suits on a permission basis to make sure they are not misused on the field. »
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Nashi retied her combat boots, but she watched as Gary kept an eye on the window. When she made sure her boots were snug, she got up to go to the window, but she only glanced out of it. Her primary focus was on Gary. "You're tense."
"Am I?"
Nashi sighed. "You know nothing helps us if we're tense, right?"
"I'm sorry." Gary heaved his shoulders as he took a deep breath. "I'm just…thinking. This place, it just…"—he searched for the word—"agitates me. I know something's coming. I just…can't relax until it's here."
"And when it's here, it's game time."
Gary locked his jaw.
She banished her gaze across the room for a moment, then swept her eyes back to him. Delicate, she questioned, "What happened to you last night?"
If Gary could get any tenser, he did now.
Nashi softened her gaze as she rested a hand on his arm. "Gary…"
He pinched his eyes close for a moment. "I was… He was…" A sigh, and he opened his eyes to look at her, blue to brown. "We were getting out of control," he confessed to her, tone hushed. "I just…" His mouth moved, but the words did not come to him immediately. Shaking his head, he looked back out the window. "I just… I couldn't handle it. I thought I was doing well. I just… I thought I could handle this."
Nashi knew what he meant, but she would not pry him into spilling every gritty detail. Instead, she asked, "Why were you at the grocery store and in that fire?"
Gary's throat flexed. "Because that's where they wanted me."
• — • — • — • — •
'I can't stay here. I need to get out.'
Crashing through people wasn't what I wanted, but that was what ended up happening. Some squawked their indignance and I tried groaning my pardons and apologies, but I couldn't… I just couldn't.
'I can't stay here. I need to get out.'
I hated this—I hated this—when I couldn't get it to calm down. I hated this feeling of a cold more freezing and terrifying than Dad's was running through my veins and threatened to freeze me too if I wasn't careful. My body was mine. I knew that. I did. I knew that. But it felt like I was driving and someone was trying to force me into the backseat, a hostile takeover. Moments blurred between me consciously feeling the world around me and that floating feeling that my body did all the work and my mind took the credit.
'I can't stay here. I need to get out.'
It wasn't like I knew Hargeon like the back of my hand, but I could tell the direction I traveled had fewer people. Cobblestone traded out grass and dirt, and I looked around to see, to my horror, I had made it into the town instead of away from it. Sure, the lights were off and this was a commercial district, so nothing was open, but it didn't calm my nerves. I was inside a town. I was inside a place people might come back to.
Why couldn't I calm down?
I know I should've gotten Angel and taken her with me, but that fear—that crippling, suicidal fear—made me keep my mouth shut and hide away. I didn't want her to see me like this, not again. Not after she put up with so many nights of me doing this. Part of me—the hopeful dreamer that seldom saw the light of day—wanted her pity if it meant she'd stay with me, but I stomped it down time and time again.
Why was I like this? Why couldn't I just be a normal human?
I kept fumbling and stumbling down the streets and I wanted to throw up. I didn't want to accept this rising power threatening to yank me out of my own body and trap me in the back of my head. But the more I pushed back, the more it fought me, like a vicious cycle. I hated this cycle. I hated this. I hated myself. I hated this power. I just…hated it all.
But I feared him more than I hated myself.
I crashed into the next street, bent to keep exiling myself out of the town, but someone else was in the street with me. I was so certain that this street was empty too. Hargeon Town might have had late-night taverns and stores, but this part was supposed to be free of humans. I thought so.
But then I saw him.
He stood there beneath a streetlamp like he owned the town. Cultural locs went down his back, black yet something silvery gray intertwined with his locs like threads. Big and tall felt too flat to describe him and never once had I seen his skin.
But I saw his gas mask.
And I saw his gray eyes.
And I saw his gun.
Again, he was here. Again. Again.
He raised one hand—
—and he beckoned me forward.
I walked like my body had a mind of its own, and maybe it did. Maybe my body had replaced me again. Maybe this was a movie and I was just a watcher this time because I couldn't feel the stone beneath me.
The moment I was under the spray of light with him, he pointed his gun across the street.
I turned my head.
A prim and proper grocery store was there, family owned. But that was not what he wanted to see. Even I knew that. I watched as the protagonist of this film inside my head enhanced his vision. Life was inside—humans. None of them moved, but the protagonist and I could see their steady pulses. Asleep—they were all asleep, unconscious. The vision went a step further and I could see the black strings woven around them.
These were the puppets.
And this man was the master.
His juddering breath sounded worse with his gas mask. Sometimes, I wanted to rip it off him just to see what he would do. That was the Rebellion Me, the one who lived so far deep inside me that he only surged when I blacked out from the rage. But he wouldn't show up today. I was the only one in this movie theater, watching this horror film play out like I wanted my money's worth.
He showed me a detonator.
I knew what that meant too.
What would the main character of this film do now? Would he use my body correctly? Or would my body be utterly useless again?
He pressed the button—
BOOM!
I didn't need to look to know the grocery store had caught fire and the glass had all but shattered.
I hated this.
My body turned.
I hated myself.
My body crossed through the glass and went through the flames. My ears fell numb to the people as they woke up amid this fire—their demise—and started screaming for them to be saved. And as I collected the first person, they looked at me like I saved them.
All I did was damn them.
The speed my body went to get the bodies out was nothing I could do on my own—nothing I wanted to do on my own. I didn't have Speed Magic, so moving like this didn't make me feel human.
I was a human.
There was one more human inside, or so the film showed me. My body rushed in to get them out, but when I saw that the spot the human was in was empty, the movie was gone, and my body took me back like I was the second choice it didn't want. And now I was here, stuck in a burning building with flames snapping at my heels like damn hunting dogs and I was the red fox.
I couldn't think.
I couldn't breathe.
I hated this. I hated myself. I hated I couldn't just pick myself up and leave. No. Instead, I couldn't breathe, and I couldn't think. The heat lashed me, itching my skin. I couldn't even stand. I collapsed under the pressure, gasping for breath, because the past and the present connected right here, right in this Hell, and here I was, damned.
The man with the gas mask looked down at me. He didn't care about the flames threatening to burn us until we felt nothing. He just looked at me with those monstrous gray eyes and I knew—I just knew—he loved every moment of seeing me gasp and tear up and hate myself.
And all he spared me was a few words. "You're the Devil—don't forget that."
• — • — • — • — •
Gary pulled himself free from the memory as his exhale of frost besmirched the window.
"Gary?"
He did not want to look at Nashi, so he fed her a quick glance before looking away. "Angel should rest while we can. I can feel something coming, but we should still have a few hours left. I'll take the first watch."
She hesitated. "Gary—"
"Nashi."
That stung.
He sighed, cringing at his word choice. "I'm sorry. Angel, please, get some rest. I'll be okay taking first watch."
No more hesitation this time. Nashi's eyes skipped to the ground. "All right." She quietly toed over to the bed and laid down, her back to him. A tense quiet frothed between them, but neither one had the strength or the right words to break it. He's just nervous. Everything will be fine. I won't let him get hurt by this. Everything will be fine.
Maybe she did deserve to be compared to her mother after all.
She was a horrible, horrible liar.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
— • — • — • —
And so…
— • — • — • —
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Nashi woke up like she had just blinked. Short naps for night shifts were trained into her, so a two-hour nap was nothing to her. When she woke up, she was ready to start her own night watch and stretched out. "Gary, I'm ready to go if you want to rest."
Quiet.
Dread kicked in.
Nashi got up when she realized the room was too quiet and too empty. Again, she cautiously called, "Gary?"
No answer.
DING-DONG…
Nashi was spooked hearing that ominous chime. Was that…a bell?
DING-DONG. DING-DONG. DING-DONG.
Nashi counted. One, two, three, four…
DING-DONG. DING-DONG. DING-DONG.
Five, six, seven…
DING-DONG. DING-DONG. DING-DONG.
Eight, nine, ten…
DING-DONG.
Eleven…
DING-DONG.
Nashi stiffened as the last bell echoed. Twelve. It's officially midnight.
Quiet thickened.
And then Nashi felt it deep in her bones.
The fog blinded the window first.
Nashi backed away with her heart lurching, but she did not dare trigger her Magic right now. She needed to keep it concealed and controlled.
Someone was humming.
Pulling on her hood and mask, Nashi forewent all her fear and doubt. Thankfully, the door did not announce its movement as she pulled it open. The official mouser, however, looked to be awake and alert, hissing at the doors to the inn as Nashi went to the lobby.
And she understood why.
An ominous blanket of white hit the doors like winter had come and trapped them inside.
Someone was humming.
Nashi filled her eyes with power and let the world blacken around her. When she looked to her right, she could not see a single soul, not even the souls of the people in town. But when she looked left, she saw it—one soul. It was smothered in a black essence and tinged with a maddening red, but a soulful harpy gold remained underneath it all, even if it was struggling for survival.
That soul—it's going insane.
Nashi had to bite the bullet and take her chances in the smog. She abandoned the sanctity of the inn, but the fog felt so…off. That surprised her. It was not poisonous or toxic and she certainly did not feel disgusted. But it was like the world had shifted its axis one degree or gravity went up by half a percent. It just felt off.
Someone was humming.
Nashi followed the soul's stroll as the humming mocked her ears. Every step drove it home that she should be inside, safe, waiting for Gary, but she kept following the wandering soul until it stopped.
She stopped.
The humming stopped.
The soul blinked out of existence.
A whimsical voice crooned, "I left my baby lying here…"
Nashi whipped around.
"Lying here, lying here…"
She backed up, chest burning.
"I left my baby lying here to go and gather blueberries…"
A choir of fairy-like voices compounded around Nashi with the fog feeling like it had her in its jaws and was waiting to bite down.
Bare feet danced onto the pavement.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
— • — • — • —
Hovan, hovan gorry o go, gorry o go, sorry o go,
Hovan, hovan gorry o go…
— • — • — • —
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
A blood-crusted finger pressed onto Nashi's lips with colorful bracelets shackling a slender wrist. An IV had yet to be taken out of the hand, but all she could focus on was a hand shooting out of the fog to cover her mouth.
A smile. "I've lost my darling baby…"
Nashi felt nothing.
Someone was humming.
— • — • — • —
Mezasu mirai wa omae shidai da
Te wo kakagete Everybody MOMI DANCE
Hi ni natte Cool & Fresh daijoubu sore de Let's Go!
(LOVE ni nareru mono sagase M.O.M.I Yeah)
•
Yukeba ii no sa shinjita yume ga
Real naraba Everybody MOMI DANCE
Dare mo kare mo Let's get, are you ready?
•
MOMI MOMI (C'mon)
MOMI MOMI (C'mon)
MOMI MOMI
Yeah MOMI MOMI (C'mon)
MOMI MOMI (C'mon)
MOMI MOMI (C'mon)
Yeah MOMI MOMI (C'mon)
— • — • — • —
Just because Cane smoked Cloud did not mean he did not have depth.
He would not portray himself as a stoner, per se, but he was not clean. His mother would smoke Cloud with him too on her good and bad days. Oh to Hell with those old biddies who would clutch their pearls such a young man had gotten into drugs. Cloud, at least, was not addictive and scored above weed, which, if he was being honest, yes, he did smoke that too.
A new moon was out tonight, not that any normal people cared. To be fair, it was not much to look at. The moon was this dark, ominous void in the cloud with religious white gleaming from its outline. It showed a smidgen of its beauty, but this moon was new, young, and it was a bit unsure of herself. The sun had been incredibly rude, hogging up the sky so long, so she had a right to be nervous on her first night.
HYU…
Cane watched the new moon from a tall peak. Magnolia Town had the luxury of mountains around it and the large lake that provided the canals life—such a combination needed to be used. So he watched from a grassy peak as he blew out a literal small cumulus cloud and let it fade away into the night. His empty hand came out, but with a flourish, he had a card in his hand that did not look like his usual tarot cards.
KAN-KAN…
Cane took another hit as someone stood beside him and side-puffed. "I had a feeling I'd meet you tonight. Sorry for all the trouble. But it was time." He twirled the card in his hand before offering it to his new friend. "Don't you agree…"
His new friend took the card and looked down at it. The howling winds ruffled his silvery mane, but do not get the impression all his silver-gray hair came from age. He looked quite young for his age, thank you very much. But he looked down at the card that looked blacker than black. A woman in white painted the card in some sort of interpretive silhouette, showing her profile. But she rubbed her pregnant stomach.
"…Catalyst?"
And this new friend smiled.
Voices of Characters in Order of Appearance
— • — • — • —
Nashi Dragneel – Lauren Landa
Mirajane Dreyar – Monica Rial
Gary Fullbuster – Griffin Burns
Julia Fullbuster – Michelle Ruff
Luke Dragneel – Alan Lee
Luna Dragneel – Brynn Apprill
Igneel Dragneel – Bryce Papenbrook
Gale Redfox – Greg Cipes
Cane Alberonah-Groh – Clifford Chapin
• — • — •
Additional Voices
Opening Narrator – Mary McGlynn
Recap Narrator – Melissa Fahn
Description Narrator – Mary McGlynn
— • — • — • —
⌜OPENING THEME
⟪ Ao To Natsu! ⟫
Mrs. Green Apple
Lyrics by & Composed by
Motoki Ohmori⌟
•
⌜ENDING THEME
⟪ MOMI MOMI Fantastic Feat. Ai Haruna ⟫
ASIA ENGINEER
Lyrics by & Composed by
Takashi Yanase, Asia Engineer⌟
•
•
•
•
— • — • — • —
Next time, on Fairy Adventure
•
Episode 003
•
IN SICKNESS AND IN HEALTH
— • — • — • —
•
•
•
•
ROCK-A-BYE BABY…