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.

As of now, the count is off. 2017 episodes 005 and 006 are set to be combined to put the episode count back on track. Revised Episode 6 to come next Monday.

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.

LAST TIME, on Fairy Adventure: Gary and Nashi's adventures in the Demon Orias' Labyrinth take an even worse turn as Gary and the Devil work together to bleed out Orias' secrets while Nashi works on not bleeding out because of this woman and her snakes. Meanwhile, life back in Magnolia Town isn't going that well for our younger Wizards. Ena's home life might look perfect on paper, but she's still adamant about maintaining a distance from her family. Nashi's fight in this den of snakes nearly kills her. But with some faith and trust, she and the Seraph resonate souls to give Nashi her new Divine Armor: Seraph Soul. With a new power to hone and children to return home, Nashi and Gary are about finished with their job. But the end of their job is the beginning of something worse.

'I will never give up on you, Experiment six-six-six.'

You know what they say! Opposites attract, and a Devil and an Angel look pretty good together. Oh, Ena. Maybe you'll realize how much Erza has been waiting for you to cross the distance you created.

Twilight was such a civil time of day and night.

Day and night acted like snappish divorced parents with twilight as their calm child who took no sides. The day's orange and the night's blue had twilight's magenta-purple to thank for their separation. It looked so spiritual to see the blurry stars and shy moon on one side and the lazy golden sun cresting on the other.

The East Forest had the luxury of time on its side. Animals with a rigorous night schedule crawled into their burrows and nests for a day's worth of sleep. Other beasts and creatures drowsily got up to lap some water and stretch their legs. Gale trudged through the woods with his pack in tow and a Double Trouble bag in hand as he headed for the Healer's hut hidden deep in the wood.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Porlyusica's House

East Forest, Magnolia Town

Fiore, Ishgar

5:47 AM FST

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Porlyusica's personal home was off-limits, but the Healer's ward was an open door, so Gale let himself in. A comfy quiet filled the hut. He could smell all the herbs and ingredients from the potionry with the Dimension Door to his right cracked open. A full laboratory of equipment was inside with cabinets stocked. With the normal offices open and empty, he slipped to the closed door.

Luna had stayed in her floating slumber with her eyes glowing pure white. But an IV had been hooked to her arm.

Gale saw Luke at Luna's side, reading a book, so he cleared his throat. "Hey."

"Good morning." Luke found a good stopping point and bookmarked his page. "You're here for the morning shift?"

"Yeah." Gale looked away. "If that's okay."

Luke laughed, humorless. "You'd leave if I said I wasn't comfortable with you here?"

"I would."

Luke glanced at Gale before sighing. "I'm not going to do that." He brought up his messenger bag and tapped its clasp. A Lacrima Screen popped up to show his categorized inventory and he returned his book to its proper place.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« What Luke has in his hands is a Pocket Dimension Pack or a PDP. PDPs are rather expensive but worth the investment as they come with their own organization screens, locking mechanisms, inventory caps, and in various styles, from clutches to PAL bags. »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Slinging his bag across his shoulder, Luke stood up. A final, sad glance at Luna and he walked until he and Gale were toe to toe. Height difference aside, it felt like Luke was looming over Gale.

He pushed up his glasses. "I know Igneel provoked you. Unfortunately, that's what he's good at with people he has…intense feelings for," he worded. He heard Gale's snort and added, "I'm not defending him. And I'm not defending you. And I know neither of you is making excuses for yourselves or blaming each other. None of us can afford to." He glanced down. "Right now, Luna waking up comes first."

He gripped his bag's strap. "It's been three days and she hasn't woken up."

The reminder made Gale's gut twinge. "I know."

"Aunt Wendy and Granny Porlyusica said she doesn't have any internal injuries, but still… I don't even have the energy to be upset at anyone," Luke murmured. "I just… I need her to wake up and look at me."

Gale could not agree more.

But it's also not like I don't have questions I want to ask. Luke looked at his sister. Igneel wouldn't even crack under Mom asking him what set him off, and he tells her everything. So, what happened? Why did he attack Gale? Because he was close to Lu? I know that's bothered him and they fought, but… It was never like this. And why—the image of Luna streaking across the broken earth and into the fray made him gritted his teeth—did you have to run in-between them?

He shook out of his thoughts and readjusted his strap. "I have a seven AM to get to. How's your dissertation?"

"Datamining might be what kills me," Gale said dryly. "At least I'm doing it at my mom's university. I'm fine with defending my work and all the meetings and shit. But I'm not exactly looking forward to doing the educational outreach part."

Luke scratched his cheek. "Yeah, well, Sensei told me to commit to independent research like he did. I'm not exactly the social type."

"You? Really? Not a social type?"

Luke offered a withering look at Gale's grin. "Well pardon me for wanting my time to be productive rather than enjoying frivolous things like going to bars and partying."

"'Frivolous'," Gale echoed, shaking his head in amusement. "You nerds and your big words."

Luke huffed. "Maybe you'd know those 'big words' if you opened a book."

"I do open books—"

"Erotic media doesn't count."

Gale feigned being hurt. "Hey, I am a man of substance."

"Which one? Cloud, weed, or vodka?"

Gale scowled at Luke's dry rebuttal and muttered, "Touché."

Luke hmphed. "Well. My mom will be by after you. If Lu wakes up, we'll all know." He moved to pass Gale, but he thought it over and added, "About Igneel—"

"Don't sweat it," Gale dismissed. "Seriously. I know he can be a loose cannon and we get into it, but…" Rubies softened on Luna's floating form. "We can at least agree on what's the most important thing to us."

Luke huffed. "If she's that important, then stop fighting over her like she is a 'thing'. Honestly. One day, she might abandon you for someone else because she's sick and tired from all the fighting."

Lightning struck Gale. 'Someone else'?

"Oh, my darling!" Fantasy-Luna was in the arms of some dramatic-looking man with heart eyes for each other. "Take me far away from here where I'll never hear from those losers again!"

Luke sweatdropped seeing a dark aura shadow Gale. Maybe I took the joke too far? Pink lashes went half-mast. But still… I wasn't going to speak about Igneel and Gale's relationship. They might fight, but I've always known they trust each other with their lives.

He passed Gale and muttered a quick farewell. It's just that… I agree with Igneel. For some reason…

Gale settled down in Luke's abandoned chair to look up at Luna with soft eyes.

…I don't trust Luna with you.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

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 Fullbuster Household was…artsy.

Not that Gray had a choice in that.

Juvia had set the ball in motion with her interest in a Water Wizard from a Mage Guild strictly for liberal arts. Ever since then, authentic pieces from galleries hung about the six-bedroom townhouse, from paintings to masks to handcrafted figures. Not to mention Juvia's art wall that she enthusiastically showed to guests. Silver and Gary had a hand in helping her, the only Fullbuster kids who inherited her creativity, and now the entrance hallway always looked plenty colorful.

Gary adjusted the wards and came inside to call, "Dad?"

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Fullbuster Household

Magnolia Town

Fiore, Ishgar

11:46 AM FST

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

He toed off his shoes and called again, "Dad?"

"Juvia's Beloved Gray is outside!"

Gary smiled and went straight to the kitchen to see Silver and his mother hard at work with all their food. "What's all this?"

"Swim team cookout." Silver looked busy working on a stuffed appetizer with his fluffy apron on (one that happily matched his mother's), but his eyes looked comically red and puffy and he sniffed. "We've been cooking since this morning."

Gary sweatdropped at Silver's face. "Are you okay?" He noted Silver was dicing onions and remarked, "Maybe you should take a break."

"Oh, it's not from this." Silver sniffled as he kept dicing. "Lulu still hasn't woken up."

It clicked for Gary. Ah. He could already imagine his younger brother flooding the street with his tears. No one can say he's not Mom's son…

Silver rubbed his eyes with his arm and filled Gary in, "Mom's trying to one-up one of the other team moms."

"Juvia is not!" Juvia Fullbuster had not aged a day and she proudly declared to anyone who commented on her looks that the love for her Beloved Gray would make her forever young. She tied up her blue hair in a high ponytail as she prepped the Mixer Lacrima. She muttered, "Juvia just thinks Juvia makes much better double chocolate brownies that melt in people's mouths and aren't crunchy."

⌜FAIRY TAIL GUILD

Name: Juvia Fullbuster

Occupation: S-Class Mage

Magic: Water

Likes: Her Beloved Gray Dislikes: love rivals

Special Note: Juvia might have mellowed out over the years, but she's fiercely protective of her family—and her cooking recipes! ⌟

Silver sniffled and rolled his eyes. "They've had a feud going since the beginning of summer and now, Mom always tries to one-up her rival for cookouts and dinners."

"Juvia doesn't need to stoop so low," Juvia sniffed. "Being a rival of Juvia means being on Juvia's level. Hmph!" Against her annoyance, she beamed at Gary. "Welcome home, Juvia's precious Gary." She shook her spatula at him with a pout. "Juvia is hurt her precious Gary doesn't come home as much anymore."

"I'm still in the city," Gary reminded. "I've just…" His blues flicked downwards. "I'm just…busy. And, y'know, it's… It's better for me to be at my own place and…"

"Gary." Juvia rounded the island to get on the tips of her toes and hug her son. She murmured, "Juvia understands. Juvia knows Gary needs time alone. But Juvia wants to remind Gary he's not alone. And Juvia loves Gary even deeper than the ocean."

Gary's blues shimmered before he hugged her back. "I know, Mom," he said. "I love you too."

Juvia kissed his cheek before pulling back. "Juvia's Beloved Gray is out gardening."

Gary knew what that meant and suppressed his sigh, guilt itching him. "Maybe I shouldn't—"

"No." Juvia lightly shook her head. "Gary was right to talk to Juvia's Beloved. It's okay." She turned to flash her eyes to the back of the house then back to him. "Go on."

Gary kissed his mother's cheek. "Thanks, Mom." He dipped out of the kitchen to head down the steps to the "garden floor". Over the years, the space had been divvied up into a guest suite and an office for his parents' work, but he saw the doors to the garden and pushed out one of them.

SU… SU…

The garden was nothing too fancy, to be honest, but Juvia and Gray had put the time to make it a place where many memories lingered, from hosting Gary's little league hockey team party to Silver's third birthday to Julia's house party that got rudely interrupted by neighbors.

SU… SU…

Gary sighed. "'Gardening' again?"

A half-grin. "We've gotta come up with a better phrase for it or just call it what it is."

Gray Fullbuster took a blow from his pen and side-puffed. It was almost humorous the number of times Gary and Gray were looked at more like brothers than father and son once Gary's growth spurt drastically hit. Their cross necklaces varied a bit, but Gray's hair had grown out from mismanagement. I'll get it cut soon, Juvia, he would always promise, but it looked like he had put it in a short ponytail as a way of "dealing with it" until dreaded haircut day. To an Ice Mage, the heat was a killer. Seeing Gray with his Caelun shirt open wide was a miracle he had not stripped.

Oh, look, Gary's shirt was already off.

What an unfortunate trait to be inherited.

Gary shook his head and scolded, "You know it's bad for you."

Gray chuckled, but he did not put his pen to his lips again. "I know, I know. Old habits die hard, kid."

⌜FAIRY TAIL GUILD

Name: Gray Fullbuster

Occupation: S-Class Mage

Magic: Ice

Ice Devil Slayer

Likes: ice hockey Dislikes: Lyon

Special Note: Gray might have grown, but he still has a habit of stripping in the wrong place at the wrong time! ⌟

Gary rubbed his neck. "I didn't mean to overwhelm you when I told you," he murmured. He shied away. "I just… I didn't want to…" He stopped when slides were in his vision, and he looked up at his father. "Dad, I…"

"Kid, you're not overwhelming me," Gray promised.

"But the pen…"

Gray sighed and held up his vice with bitterness in his smile. "You didn't do this. Like I said, old habits die hard." He nodded his head to the door. "Let's talk inside. If you didn't know, your mom—"

"Oh, I saw." Gary followed Gray back inside to the office. "She has a feud with a team mom again? This sounds like Julia's hockey team all over again."

"This sounds like your hockey team all over again," Gray grumbled. He slid apart the doors to his office and waved Gary in. "I swear. Every single meal keeps getting more and more over the top. But you accidentally say her cooking is 'good' one time and…"

• — • — • — • — •

"Just 'good'?"

Gray sweated at the dinner table as a smiling Juvia loomed over him with an aura of death waving off her (and an awfully big and sharp knife in her hand). "Juvia cannot settle for 'good'. Juvia's Beloved Gray will test Juvia's recipes until her Beloved Gray tells Juvia Juvia's cooking is the best."

• — • — • — • — •

A violet and dreary aura preceded Gray as he leaned on the wrap-around workstation counter. "It took her three hours to believe me. I've never eaten so much chicken in my life."

It felt like Gary was saluting his father as he went off to war. Hang in there, Dad.

"All right." Gray nodded for Gary to take the other accent chair to sit to his right. The office space worked well for Gray and Juvia to share. It was obvious Juvia was much more of an abstract and surrealist creative and Gray preferred contemporary and modern, but they met in the middle with contemporary. He put his pen on the coffee table with his dark eyes committed. "Master told me about the meeting you wanted to set up."

Gary looked distinctly uncomfortable for a beat, but he straightened out. "I told her—"

"I know. And I agree with both of you." Gray pressed his hands together. "A Demon like the one you encountered is no joke. And we can't afford to keep secrets if more of those fuckers are out there. We know by now that not all Demons are the enemy. But"—his knuckles whitened—"what that thing told you is something we can't take lying down. And the fact that this Demon wasn't made but summoned?"

"I know." A darkly grim look crossed Gary's face. "Orias—that Demon—was a bragger. And they…talked."

Gray had to ask. "Did you kill them?"

"No." Gary shook his head. "I—we—he didn't kill them. Considering all Orias said, killing them would've incited others to come."

"But keeping them alive and letting them retreat gives the same result," Gray reminded.

"I know." Gary's blues darkened. "But letting them retreat puts me as bait. So in the end, the risk is worth the reward." If I can use myself as a lure, then no one else needs to get hurt in this.

Gray studied his son. "You're not a martyr, Gary."

Gary froze.

Gray combed back his bangs with a sigh. "I know, after all these years…you still think along those lines. But you're not a martyr and I don't want you becoming one. You're more than that." He added, "Don't punish yourself for being who you are. Because we all love who you are."

Gary tried not to flinch back, but his eyes dropped. "I know exactly what I am," he said, voice even. "And I know there are things only I can do. I can't let another person suffer because of me."

A white Room sprayed in blood red. Agonized screaming that bounced off the walls. White feathers tinged in red.

Gary met his father's eyes, hard blue to hard black. "I'm not a martyr, no. Because if I was, I'd be dying for some noble sacrifice. But I'm not doing that. I know what I have to do with this…power. And I'm not backing down."

Gray searched his son's eyes. Sometimes, I look at him…and he reminds me so much of me. Those strong, cold eyes that are hiding a shivering little boy. He reached a hand to clasp Gary's shoulder. "I know you won't back down. But you're not alone in this either. I might not be like you, but I have half the power you do. And I'm not letting you do this alone, you got that?"

Darks steeled. Never.

Ice crystals frozen in mid-air like a nightmare. Crying gasps. Teary ceruleans.

Gray tightened his jaw. I'm never letting you go it alone.

Gary blinked when his father got up. "Dad?"

"Well, the meeting isn't for a little bit." Gary jerked his chin to the door. "C'mon. I'm sure your mom could use more opinions on her food."

"O-Oh. Oh, no, I-I should…" Gary looked at the floor. "I should…go." He picked up his head to gift his father a stumbling smile. "I have work to take care of and some other stuff that I need to finish."

Gray hummed, even if they both could see through Gary's act. He grabbed his pen. "Well, our door is always open." Darks gentled. "It's no pressure. You can come home anytime you want. You're still our kid."

"I'm nineteen," mumbled Gary, lame.

Gray chuckled. "Yeah? So? When I'm old and gray, you're still gonna be my kid. Shit doesn't flip just because you're on your own." He held back his sigh when Gary looked away. "Just… Visit—when you're up to it." He added, quiet, "We miss you, kid. You're family."

Gary murmured, "I know, Dad."

Both knew he was lying.

Gray ruffled his bangs. "I'll walk you out then." He left the office first and could hear Gary's footfalls trailing him. Gary… You've never been a burden. And you've never been a monster. I wish I could turn back time so you'd never feel this way. But I can't. We'll just keep showing you you're family.

A flicker of icy-blue passed through Gary's eyes.

Devil or not.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Fairy Adventure 005

•

"Welcome Back."

•

おかえり

•

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"And…done."

Lucy pressed « SEND » with her PAL on the rolling bedside desk. Capricorn had told her this morning her braided bun made her look exceedingly like her mother, and that put her in better spirits. She stretched out with a relieved sigh. "And that takes care of that. One more email chain conquered and a mountain more to go."

She looked up at the floating Luna. "Though I guess you find this pretty boring, huh?"

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Porlyusica's House

East Forest, Magnolia Town

Fiore, Ishgar

12:28 PM FST

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Lucy tried not to be disheartened when Luna did not respond. She'll wake up, she told herself. She just needs some time. Once she adjusts, she will wake up. It's okay. She's okay.

Lelantos and Plue—bless them—felt their mistress' distress and looked up from laying down near Luna's bed to frown at her, Lelantos making an odd whine-muffled bark.

Lucy fed him a sad smile. "I'm all right. I'm just…worried. That's all." She closed her PAL and pushed away the rolling desk to stand near her daughter. Her fingers brushed away some of Luna's flyaways, but she examined Luna for any hint of rousing. None came. Luna…

"I hate being like this!" Burning dark browns misted in anger and tears. "I hate being a Spiritless! I hate this house! I hate stupid Fairy Tail! I hate this family!" An angry breath. "And I hate you!"

Browns shimmered. Oh, Luna…

Luna kept floating.

Lucy looked at Luna's Fairy Tail stamp and it brought back such a cherished memory.

• — • — • — • — •

"Look, Mama!"

Little Luna looked so small, even for being 10 years of age. She was more blonde hair than physical height and Natsu had lifted her on his shoulders in celebration. But her eyes shone as she looked at her mama and showed off her white guild stamp. "Now we're matching!"

• — • — • — • — •

Lucy slid her hand with her Fairy Tail mark onto Luna's own. "Did you know…I once told your grandmama I hated her?"

Luna kept floating.

A bittersweet nostalgia tickled Lucy's eyes and smile. "I was being such a brat back then. At least I can laugh about it now. But I was just so angry and told her those words."

• — • — • — • — •

"I hate you!"

The Heartfilia Mansion was nothing short of grandeur. In another life, this would have been the house of a baron and a baroness, had Jude caved to his peers' urgings to buy his family noble titles. Not one inch of the estate was unkept with the staff fortunate to have a kind mistress of the house.

"I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!"

Five-year-old Lucy screamed those words as she cried fat tears and tried so hard to get out of her mama's arms with the maids in a panic for the disruption. "I hate you! I hate you! I hate you!"

• — • — • — • — •

"It was so long ago; I can still remember the reason I told her that," Lucy said. "But I think it was because she couldn't play with me. Your grandmama was busy with the Konzern, even while she was sick. At the time, your grandpa was sinking more with his partners and investors." Her smile twisted, sardonic. "I could always tell he never loved me. I think it had to deal with how sick Mama became after she had me. It was like he blamed me. And for a while…I blamed myself. He didn't neglect Mama, but there were certain expectations aristocrats have to follow."

She sighed. "I know my mama loved me. She always tried to sit in with my etiquette lessons." A quiet laugh. "She was even my dance partner for my lessons and my chaperon for my soirées with all the other kids. She loved seeing me dressed up and matching me. She was the most excited for my future debut into high society, actually. And every night…she made time to tell me stories of the stars."

Dark browns twinkled. "But that day…she wouldn't be able to tell me a story. I hadn't gotten to play with her in a while. Events had kept her busy. I knew I couldn't rely on my papa, but my mama… She was my everything. And I was so upset when she told me she'd be going to Crocus for the Season. I had the maids and my nanny, but my mama… I didn't understand why I couldn't go with her."

• — • — • — • — •

"I'll be good, Mama." She sniffled into her mother's neck when the anger faded and all that was left were tears. "I've been practicing my manners. I'll be a really good lady. So can't I come with you?"

Fingers thumbed her cheek. "Oh, my little light… Don't cry."

She hiccupped. "Please don't go without me, Mama."

• — • — • — • — •

"She told me I wasn't old enough for the Season," Lucy remembered, "and when I was, she'd take me to every party and event. But for now, I had to be a good girl for my nanny, Miss Spetto. Now, when I look back, the Season wasn't a place for a child, but… Back then…I just wanted my mama back."

• — • — • — • — •

"I hate you!" She wiggled so violently that her mama had no choice but to let her go. "I hate you, Mama!"

"Lucy…" Her mother's voice broke. "You don't mean that."

"I do!" Lucy stood her ground as she glared at her mother, all wet and ruddy cheeks and snot. "I hate you! You're a liar and I hate you! I don't want you as my mama anymore!"

A devastated gasp left her mother. "Lucy!"

But she ran off with her mother and nanny's worried cries hitting her back.

• — • — • — • — •

Eyes glimmering, Lucy interlaced her fingers with Luna's own. "I regretted saying those words. I don't think I ever apologized for them. My mama came home and won me over with stories from the Season. We never spoke about it again, but… Sometimes, I wish we had. I know she knew I loved her, but I still wish I could have asked for forgiveness for telling her I hated her."

She sniffed, eyes hot, and lifted a finger to brush under one eye. "Look at me. Still a mess over something that happened fifty years ago," she laughed wetly. "But hearing you say you hate me… It just brought back so much."

She squeezed Luna's hand. "I know. I know how much this hurts you. Because I've been there before. And now…I'm understanding my mama. It wasn't just the Season she was protecting me from. There were things in the world ready to hurt me, and she shielded me from them. And I want to do the same for you."

Her hand and voice trembled. "There's just so much you don't understand and can't see. I could see it in your eyes how much you wished we'd take you with us whenever we'd leave. I know you think we can protect you. But it's so much more than that."

A sharp inhale, and she could not choke out the words. It's not that we wouldn't defend you with everything we have. We don't want to think about losing, but… We have to. And losing you… It's too high of a price. I know you hate me, but…

DRIP…

DROP…

Her cheeks glistened as she gazed at her daughter. But as long as you're alive and safe, I can endure this hatred…just like my mama endured mine.

"Pun-pun…" Plue—a little snowman with a carrot nose of five rings, no more, no less—came up to his mistress with a deep frown, unhappy at her grief. He showed her the Compact in his paws with Natsu's contact on the screen, but he still sadly said, "Pun-pun-pun. Pun…"

⌜CELESTIAL SPIRIT

Name: Plue (The Nikora)

Ability: Enhanced Speed

Likes: dancing Dislikes: his owner being upset

Special Note: Plue might not look it, but he's actually a dog! ⌟

"Oh." Lucy retracted her hands to clear her face. "Thank you, Plue. I'm okay." She grabbed her Compact and petted his head, smiling when he looked unconvinced. "It's okay, I promise. I'll feel better when Luna wakes up."

Plue glanced at Luna and drooped. "Pun…"

Lucy answered the call and helloed, "Natsu. Hi—"

"What's wrong?"

Lucy paused at Natsu's serious question. Her gaze swept to Luna before her lashes lowered. "It's nothing," she dismissed. Her eyes closed. "I'm okay, Natsu, really."

Quiet.

"I'm coming home—"

"Natsu," Lucy sighed. Her eyes opened to look at the window showcasing the beauty of the East Forest at the end of summer. "I'm a little emotional. Can you really blame me? But I'll be all right. I just…"

After enough silence, Natsu told her, "She's going to wake up, Lucy."

"I know." Lucy cupped her elbow. "I know she is, I just…" She trailed off into an exhale. "I'm sorry."

Natsu groaned. "Don't sound like that."

Lucy sniffed into a laugh. "Sound like what?"

"Y'know. All sad. I can't hold ya when you're sad and I'm all the way out here dealing with Igneel being a total brat—"

"Is that Ma? I wanna talk to her! Gimme the Com—!"

Natsu growled, "Hands off, ya jerk! She's my wife and this is my Com!"

"Well, she's my mom! Stop hogging her, you perv! Gimme!"

Lucy sweatdropped hearing Natsu and Igneel's heated bickering. This again?

"Mom?"

She smiled. "I take it you won the fight?"

"He's only giving me two minutes, the cheapskate," Igneel grumbled in complaint. "Are you really sure you want him as your husband? I mean, he's clingy and possessive and—Hey! You could've hit me with that!"

"Stop badmouthing me to Lucy, jerk!"

"Stop being so immature!"

Shadows covered Lucy's eyes as she listened to Igneel and Natsu's squabbling. I wish you two would stop fighting.

Igneel huffed and came back onto the line. Settling down, he asked, "How's Lu, Ma?"

"She still hasn't woken up yet." Lucy did not need to be in front of Igneel to know what he was feeling. "I'll call when she does, and then you can talk to her if she's willing. We know you're sorry, Igneel—"

"But what if 'sorry's not enough?"

Lucy wanted so badly to hug him at his small question. Oh, Igneel… She switched her Compact to her other ear. "Then I'll help you with your apology. You know that. And you know she's always loved you, right or wrong." She teased, "Even after all the times you scared away all those boys from her and how you constantly provoke her best friend—"

"Bambi starts it," Igneel growingly insisted. "It's not my fault she can't control her temper."

"Right," simpered Lucy. "Of course." Her eyes went to the side as she remembered Igneel and Ena's legendary showdowns that could freeze even Natsu. Though I think the blame should be shared evenly…

"Time's up!"

"Hey—! Argh, you bastard—!"

Natsu popped back onto the line and sounded dead serious. "Lucy, I've been thinking. We only need one son, right?"

"Wha—! Gah! Screw you!"

Lucy laughed. "I'm sorry, Natsu, but they both have to stay. And I have it on good authority how a certain papa cried when he found out his son was a Fire Wizard—"

"Wha—! I—! N-No, I didn't!" He hissed for her ears only, "You promised you wouldn't tell anyone! You said being married meant we were loyal." He sounded pouty as Lucy giggled, but then he softly remarked, "Don't cry when I'm not there to wipe your tears away. Luna will pull through. She got her strength from you."

Lucy warmed. "I'd say she got it from both of us." She turned her attention back to the floating Luna. "I know she'll wake up. But she's going to want her papa there. So come home soon."

"Wait for me?"

Dark browns gleamed. "Always."

A beat. "I love you, Lucy."

She closed her eyes with her smile true. "I love you too."

"Hey! I love Ma more!"

Natsu growled as Igneel sounded closer. "No way! I love her more! She's my wife!"

"She's my mom!"

"I met her first!"

"No, you stole her—"

"I didn't steal her, ya damn brat!" Natsu gnashed his teeth. "Sorry, Lucy, but I'll call ya back later. I need to teach my son a lesson." And he hung up.

Lucy pulled her Compact down. Those dummies… Deep browns twinkled. How did I get so lucky?

"Mama?"

Lucy looked over to the door to see Nashi had come by with her hair in low twin tails. "Nashi…"

"I brought you some lunch." Nashi held up a to-go bag from Double Trouble Diner. "So let's eat."

°•°•°•°

A burger, fries, and a milkshake went a long way.

Both Heartfilia-Dragneel's set up camp in the waiting era with Luna's door partially open. Plue and Lelantos volunteered to be Luna's guardians while their mistress and mistress' daughter took a break for lunch.

Nashi finished up her salmon and shrimp burger with Lucy slurping on the last of her milkshake. "Ah…" Nashi chased down her last bite with her drink. "That's the spot. Restaurants on Tri-C's campus are okay, but if you want something good, it has to be Double Trouble."

Lucy agreed. "Their food truck is a hit at Saint Layla's. The students love them." She gathered all her trash to put in her to-go bag. "How's your summer semester? I feel like we've all been so busy that we've hardly seen each other."

"I'm going to be grateful for break," muttered Nashi. "I can't wait to be finished with this year and graduate next spring."

Lucy hummed. "Everything is so different now," she commented. "When I was your age, it wasn't common for Guild Mages to receive a formal education. At my all-girls academy, we talked about the wizarding schools, but they were a taboo subject to bring around. And Guild Mages just needed a GED. But now, this Current Era has changed so much."

"Like what?" Nashi asked before munching on a fry.

Lucy chuckled. "Well, it was certainly a shock for some of us to receive honorary degrees after the war. When your grandmama Anna and I decided to open Saint Layla's, we realized how much education was lacking for Guild Mages. Anna had already been teaching and trying to work with the League of Sorcerers to develop a better educational program for Guild Mages. And now, all of you can still go to and train without worrying about one thing or the other. Times certainly have changed in these last thirty years."

Nashi swallowed her bites and looked into Luna's room. "Things have gotten busier too."

"Yes," Lucy sighed. "Things have." She looked at the ceiling and lifted her hand to see her guild mark. "It's not just us going on jobs. Erza's both a Guild Master and a Dame. Levy stepped back to go into research and being a professor. Gray and Natsu have their own projects. And with Saint Layla's… Anna and I can let Celestial Spirits choose their Summoner and learn how to fight alongside their Celestial Spirit. We're still Mages of Fairy Tail, but… Our world is a bit bigger now. And I'm happy for it."

"Wow, Mama, that's…really deep."

Lucy could have fallen over, but she puffed her cheek at Nashi's sniggering. "Come on! I really meant it!" She lost her ire to take a good look at Nashi. "And just as the world is changing and adapting to this Current Era, so are powers. Like the power to become an Angel."

Nashi felt humbled beneath her mother's proud stare. "It's not much," she downplayed. "Anyone could do it."

"Not just anyone," Lucy disagreed. "You've learned enough from Mira that Soul Resonance is a tricky business. For Mira, she completely absorbs her souls into her own. But you don't. Your souls are within you, and you resonate with them like they're your partners. That's extremely rare."

"No, you're wrong." Nashi touched her heart, hickories affectionate. "They're not partners. They're my family too."

Dark browns widened before softening in sparks. Nashi…

Nashi looked up Lucy laid a hand atop hers.

"Then"—Lucy squeezed Nashi's hand—"I am proud to welcome another Angel into the family."

'Tell her I thank her.'

That startled Nashi. Seraphim?

'Tell her I thank her,' Seraphim persisted. 'The Ishim Cael and I are both grateful to you for allowing us to continue our walk on the path of Life. But we are also grateful to this priestess for raising such a fine daughter.'

Lucy noticed Nashi's flush. Her lips quirked. "What is it?"

"Ah… W-Well…" Nashi could not look her mother in the eye. "Cael and Seraphim wanted to thank you for being my mom. They're grateful to you." She mumbled, "And really embarrassing."

Lucy tittered. "Well. Thank you, Cael, and Seraphim, but I'm grateful to you too. Because you're both fighting alongside my daughter. And that's what family does. So thank you."

Nashi could feel both her souls warm her and relayed, "They say you're welcome."

"Good." Lucy sniffed before laughing. "Oh, gods. I'm getting emotional again." She stood up and told, "I'll be right back."

"'Kay." Nashi saw her mother lock herself in the bathroom before getting up. The urge to be at Luna's side was too strong for her to ignore. The door quietly opened, and she placed her finger to her lips when Lelantos' tail thumped. The moment she was near Luna, anguish crossed her face. "Please wake up soon," she whispered. "We're all waiting for you." And she pressed a kiss to Luna's temple.

The moment I found out about what happened to Luna, I wanted to fight Igneel for putting her through this. She pulled away, face contorted. I know it was an accident, but… Lu… Why did you put yourself in danger, running into those attacks? What were you thinking? And why haven't you woken up yet?

'…so She is…'

Nashi frowned. Seraphim?

'Apologies. I spoke aloud.'

Her frown deepened when she felt Seraphim retreat, but there was no point in calling him out on anything. Luna took priority. And the more she stared at her—

"Give him back to me!" Venomous reds. "Give me back my baby!"

Chills pricked her skin. That woman and the Demon she summoned… They stole and killed children. They were true monsters, monsters I've never seen—and monsters that could come again.

"Nashi!" She could imagine Luna shoved into the dank hospital with a den of snakes and that woman holding her hostage. "Help me!"

Nashi's shoulders stiffened before forcibly slackening. I won't let those monsters touch anyone. Not my friends. And not my family. She touched Luna's hand. Mama's right. The world's changing, Lu. True monsters like that could be out there. But—she could feel her Calm warm Luna—I'll make sure to protect you.

And she never saw it.

But Luna's pinky twitched.

Erza kept a bow on her mantle.

The Master's Quarters of any guild hall reflected that Guild Master. Some would strip down what the old master had done and renovated the space and others seamlessly moved in with little adjustments. Had Makarov not been of sound mind, Erza would have left his office as it was. But with his permission, she kept much of his personal library and added her own. Pictures of family and friends served as reminders of why she did what she did.

And she also kept her retired golden bow upon her mantle encased in glass. The same bow that had killed the apocalyptic Alchemical Phoenix from the Duke Cream Incident and dear friend Éclair, the Phoenix Priestess.

"All right." Erza sat at her desk, poised and chin lifted. Her gaze swept around the room to catalog all the participants. "Let's get down to business."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Master's Quarters, Fairy Tail Guild Hall

Magnolia Town

Fiore, Ishgar

1:30 PM FST

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

A square pulled up on Erza's two-monitor DAL and portrayed the name LAXUS DREYAR with his video off. She glanced down at the glowing Lacrima Crystal Ball and asked, "Let's make sure everyone is here. Laxus? Mystogan? Are you with us?"

Laxus grunted, "Here."

"Present, Master," Mystogan diplomatically answered.

"Good." Erza looked back to the room. "We're here to discuss formally Gary's request to Mallow Town. More explicitly"—browns obscured—"about a Demon that was summoned. And…about it's Labyrinth."

Laxus chimed in, "We've seen Demons born from written-out Curses, but do we have any information about summoned Demons?"

"Not as much as we should." Levy Redfox spoke up with her Gale-Force glasses folded and tucked into her neckline with her glasses chains keeping them up. Growing up was not synonymous with physically growing up, and her height had seen no change over the years (much to her disappointment). But with her bandana headband holding back her bangs, she looked as young as she felt. "I'd need some more time to research such a thing. I'll do some outreaches."

⌜FAIRY TAIL GUILD

Name: Levy Redfox, Ph.D.

Occupation: S-Class Mage, Researcher, Professor

Magic: Solid Script

Likes: editing Dislikes: jokes about her height

Special Note: Levy might be tiny, but she's no damsel in distress! Just ask Gajeel! ⌟

"I'll do the same," Mystogan reported. "I'm sure the League will be most interested in summoned Demons."

Erza nodded and looked at Gary. "If you don't mind, Gary, could you make another verbal recount of what the Demon told you? And about its Labyrinth?"

"Yes, Master." Gary sat forward, blues dark. "The Demon said its name was 'Orias'. They were some sort of Marquis, I think, from wherever they came from. But wherever that was"—his hands tightened, clasped together—"it wasn't Hell."

• — • — • — • — •

Winter was cold, but the Devil was colder.

Blood turned the white snow black like elderberries in the summertime. Orias crumbled in a horrendous combination of their male and female forms with their hoofed leg scattered somewhere in the blizzard. They vomited up more black blood as their Curses tried to recreate their lost leg for them.

"Haha…"

Orias snickered as they wiped the blood from their chin. "Hahaha…!" They looked up at the Devil with their goat eyes and a bloody grin. "So—the little baby Devil is just playing with me." They spat blood at his feet. "Leaving me alive is a big mistake."

"Why?" The Devil sounded bored. "Killing you isn't worth the effort. You are nothing more than an ugly little ant. I pity you, Demon. How awful it must be to be so weak."

"'Pity'?" Orias echoed with a snarl. Their Curses completed the new leg, and they staggered to their feet against the blistering cold. "'Weak'? How dare a creature like you pity the great Marquis! I have been roaming the cosmos since before that bitch birthed your kind into the universe!"

'That bitch?' Gary echoed.

"'Weak'?" Orias spat. "I have legions of Demons at my command—!"

"Yet here you stand, alone," the Devil cut in. "Don't lie to be petty, Demon, it's not attractive. Binding yourself to a pathetic human only proves you're nothing more than a weak, attention-seeking whore. The reason I don't kill you now is that you – are not – worth it." He turned his back on Orias—

"Don't you dare turn your back on me!"

The Devil could feel it.

He ducked down when the Curses lurched for him, but he moved like lightning with his claws flexing to create ice javelins. Orias did not stand a chance when they and the Devil came into blows. The Devil got the upper hand as he pierced one of Orias' shoulders with a javelin and forced them down. As they seethed and raged, the Devil shoved the other javelin into their shoulder and knelt on their legs so they could not try to kick him off.

The Devil sneered. "Perhaps you shouldn't turn your back on me, weakling."

Orias spat in his face. "I am the Marquis Orias! You are nothing more than a frigid pawn," they retorted scathingly. Baring their teeth, they professed, "Everything you have done to me, you'll receive a hundred-fold if you let me live. Now we know you exist. And they'll come for you." They looked down at the Devil's crotch and licked their lips before looking back into his eyes with a crude glint. "I wonder what they'll have you do first. Be their pawn or be their slut."

The Devil snarled and wrapped his claws hands around Orias' neck.

Orias broke into a choking chortle. "So sensitive! We'll enjoy breaking you and we don't drug you like we do those Unnaturals. No, no, they'll want you to feel and see every single second of them mind-fucking you…or maybe just fucking you—"

The Devil double-downed on his grip and snapped, "Shut your mouth!"

'Unnaturals', Gary echoed.

Orias still laughed; their bleeding goat eyes pinned on the Devil. "Oh…how I envy them. Bael's already got the first call to break you and that sick bastard is going to leave you brainless. What a pity. You'll be out of your mind by the time I get my turn. I want to see the hatred in your eyes when you're at my feet on your knees like you belong. Oh, they'll come for you. They're coming."

The Devil bristled when he saw the world waver and shadows pieced off the smirking Orias. "From where I'm standing, I have nothing to worry about if they're like you," he jeered. "Contracted to a weak, little human just to come all the way here. What disappointing prey."

Hatred flared in Orias' eyes, but they softly hissed back as the shadows tore them apart and the world around them started fading. "You never know, baby Devil." Their goat eyes shifted as the shadows consumed them. "Maybe your humans are more dangerous than Demons."

• — • — • — • — •

Gary elaborated, "From my understanding, the Labyrinth the Demon was created had its anchor to Earth Land through its human contractor."

"And do we know where that woman is?" Mystogan asked.

Gary tensed. "She's been…handled."

"'Handled' how?"

Gary did not like Mystogan's tone. "Angel dealt with her accordingly."

"Is the woman around to be interrogated?" Laxus demanded to know.

Gary's cheek twinged. "No."

Mystogan sighed. "We could have used her as an immense help to all this. She's the first Demon summoner we encountered. She was a key witness and resource to all of this, Gary."

"I'm aware of that," Gary tersely gritted. "And I take full responsibility for the failure in capturing that woman. This was my mission. I didn't handle it according to protocol." He looked straight into his Guild Master's eyes. "So I'll handle the consequences."

Erza nodded in approval.

"Even without her physically here, we can still trace her origins," Mystogan muttered in suggestion. "Gary, what was notable about her? Perhaps Nashi could provide her testimony—"

"No." Gary rejected the offer harshly. "She told me everything she heard and saw, so there's no need for that." He glanced at his father then looked at Erza. "But if we brought in Reedus for Angel, she could describe the woman for a sketch."

"Miss Five?" Erza murmured to her assistant. "Can you contact Reedus and Nashi and schedule an appointment?"

Number Five nodded, taking down all the minutes on her tablet. "Yes, Master."

"Very good." Erza looked at Gary again. "If you don't mind, can you describe what Nashi shared with you?"

"Right." Gary found the memory with ease. "From what she understood, the woman had given birth when her baby was immediately taken away from her. It's assumed that the staff took the baby away because there were medical complications, but he passed away in the process. From how obsessed she was with stealing and even killing those children, we guessed she hadn't been allowed to see her baby's corpse. She still wore her hospital gown and bracelets."

"And the child disappearances started three months ago?" Mystogan wanted to verify.

Gary nodded. "That's right."

"We'll need to ask Nashi if she can remember anything about the gown and bracelets," Mystogan decided. "I searched for LDRs near Mallow Town and the one I see closest looks to be some sort of clinic connected to—"

Erza frowned when Mystogan cut himself off. "'Connected to' whom?"

"The clinic is connected to a certain convent," Mystogan said with care. "And investigating there will cause a broader issue with us. A Council-issued warrant won't hold up. We would need to overturn this to the CID."

Levy proferred, "I'll check in with Gajeel. We might've been part of the Council for a little bit, but we frequently worked with the CID on minor cases with Independent suspects. I'll see what he can do."

"Then we'll count on you for that," Erza decided. "In the meantime, we'll bring Nashi in to sit with Reedus and do a sketch while the memory is fresh. Levy, Mystogan—find what you can about summoned Demons and their contractors. Mystogan, hand over what you found about the LDR to Laxus and Gray. If Gajeel does indeed have contacts in the CID, Laxus and Gray can handle investigating."

Gray nodded. "We can do that."

"I'll inform others crucial to this later," Erza replied. "Gary, for now, I implore you to stress this to Nashi to keep this a secret until we have more information." Her gaze sharpened. "She did lose us a valuable resource."

Gary clenched his jaw.

"However, it's not her fault for not understanding certain protocols in the first place," Erza gave. "As you have taken responsibility, there is no need for me to speak to her."

"I…" Gary kept his gaze even. "I understand, Master."

Erza stood up. "I'll pass word to the Chairman and to others we can trust. We cannot allow this to instill panic until we have corroborated all claims, understand?" When words of agreement passed, she lifted her chin. "Dismissed."

Laxus and Mystogan simply dropped their calls while Levy left, already brainstorming several ways how to attack her research. Gary was about to leave when he saw his father lingering, but he pushed on when Gray nodded for him to go. Number Five excused herself and closed the door behind her.

And then it was just Erza and Gray.

"A Demon." Gray shook his head. "And not an Etherious or Galuna Demon."

"I know." Erza walked to one of the windows overlooking the back of the guild hall. Summertime had residents visiting the Fairy Tail Guild to sit on the patio for a cold drink and conversation. Lake Sciliora had people out swimming and boating. It reminded her more of what she had to protect. "But we all knew such peace wouldn't last."

Gray snorted as he brought out his pen. "Since when have we ever been in peace?" He took a drag. "There's always a war out there, Erza. We're just the idiots who get involved in every one of 'em."

Erza hummed quiet laughter. "That we do. But we've never backed down from a fight."

Gray puffed again. "Just a matter of which one will be our last." He looked at the ceiling, all sprawled and dark. "You can feel it too, can't you?"

"I won't deny it," murmured Erza. People say we have lived in peace for these last thirty years since the war. But that 'peace' has been a façade people want to believe in. The world has never been at peace. We may have defeated our enemies. But…they're never truly gone. They just change their face and their names.

"So." Gray puffed again before glancing over his shoulder. "How are you going to tell them?"

Erza did not move for a beat before she pulled away from the window to tend to one of her shelves filled with frame pictures. Her eyes dropped to one picture in particular. Natsu and Lucy's wedding had been quite the event and the reception even crazier. But the photos had been tamed…enough. Poor Lucy looked so mortified Natsu had her in a bridal hold as he laughed. But the picture was an Animate Pict. Natsu's laughter died down for a sweet smile and Lucy looked more shy than embarrassed. Still, she set aside her abashment to meet Natsu in the middle for a chaste kiss.

Her fingers traced the edge of the frame. "It would be cruel for me to put this off because of recent events."

Gray spoke as he blew out smoke, "He isn't going to take this well," he forewarned. A snort. "The dumbass. You know how he can be around this. And he's the king of Demons." He was about to smoke again, but a pinch of guilt hit him. "Lucy will be unhappy too."

"I know." And she did. "But if there's a summoned Demon… We don't have a choice." She watched the image move again. "Because Natsu's the only one who can access Zeref's old study."

Okay, yes, maybe Gale was not as much of a nerd as Luke was, and, yes, he might have enjoyed partying over voluntarily holing himself up in a library unlike some people, but he did like reading.

He certainly was never going to read questionable manga, but he loved nonfiction.

Luna had not awoken, even when he came as a shift change to relieve Nashi from her duties, but now was as good of a time as ever for him to work on his capstone. Never on his life would he allow his friends to see him wearing glasses, but he put them on to zip through his datamining and drum up substantial summaries for each citation.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Porlyusica's House

East Forest, Magnolia Town

Fiore, Ishgar

3:59 PM FST

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Gale spread out all his research with books he checked out from the library floating around and some of their key statements coming to life. As he typed on his DAL, his eyes rapidly darted around to catch words before flitting back to his screen. Synthesizing literature, however, was better than field research.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« What Gale is wearing are Gale-Force Reading Glasses. They allow wearers to increase their reading and comprehension speed at rapid paces and come in various frame styles and speed models. The highest model is 120x. »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Gale retrieved one article after another, but one article showed a scanned image of a Wizard cloaked in black painted into Nuhasian art. Another showed a Wizard with a cloak of white and a staff, but the artwork looked like it had come from medieval times. His fingers moved as he captured quotes and quickly hammered out paraphrases and synopses, but at some point, all the data made his head pound.

"Ah!" He pushed his glasses into his hair and pinched the bridge of his nose. "Dammit." He blinked away the strain as he reached for his energy drink. "Mom was right. Wearing these things too long gives me a headache."

An inaudible sigh.

Gale perked at the noise and looked at Luna, but she was still floating, unconscious. Disappointment nicked him and with no one around, he could display it baldly. Blondie…

A blinding smile. "I missed you."

He pushed aside his notes and the rolling desk to stand and come to her side. Her glowing eyes stared at nothing, and he wished he could see her true colors. "This…wasn't how my homecoming was supposed to go," he murmured. A dry laugh. "Y'know… I worked up a lot of sweat and courage telling myself to come see you that night. I'm pretty sure your dad knows. Before he left for his job, we sparred, and I feel like I still have the bruises to prove it." Rubies christened with affection. "But fuck it. It was worth it…just to see you."

Luna said not a word.

Gale sighed. "This is going to sound really fucking sappy of me, but… I just really couldn't wait to see you." He rolled his eyes. "Even if it meant Igneel kicking my ass. Seriously. I could sneeze in my own house and I'd piss him off." He might have sounded a bit grouchy, but he was not hurt. Amusement was underneath all his grumbles. "He's such a two-faced asshole. And definitely greedy."

He looked at her face and that involuntary smile—you know the one, that soft sort of smile you could feel creeping up on you when the person you liked was close—came upon him. "But… He cares about you a lot. Enough to go nuclear if you were ever in danger. We have that in common, I guess."

A sharp-toothed smirk. "Ya got a lot more in common than that, Pipsqueak."

Gale hung his head. "Why are you even here, Old Man?"

"Ghihi—don't be like that, Pipsqueak." Heavy boots stopped at the entryway, combat, black, and studded. "I care about Squirt too. Maybe even more than you."

Gale growled—

"Stop teasing your kit." Black paws came beside those boots. "Luna's still in her stasis. Agitated emotions and Magic might prevent her from waking up." A low mutter, "And there's no need to interrupt his time with his crush."

Gale flushed. "I-It's not a crush!"

"He's in denial—can I screw with him now?"

"No, Gajeel."

"Well, that's no fun." Gajeel Redfox leaned against the doorway, a mountain of a man and the one responsible for almost all of Gale's features. His hair had been tamed into a ponytail with a red bandana. Those snake-like red eyes and piercings were enough to make people rightfully wary. If only they knew all it took to bring him down was his 149cm wife. "Screwing with him sounds pretty good right about now, Lily."

⌜FAIRY TAIL GUILD

Name: Gajeel Redfox

Occupation: S-Class Mage

Magic: Iron Dragon Slayer

Likes: cooking Dislikes: insults on his singing

Special Note: Don't be fooled by Gajeel's looks! This former Council Captain has a heart of gold beneath all that iron! ⌟

"Don't be crass, Gajeel." Panther Lily stood in his Battle Mode Shift and looked as grumpy as always. The white on his muzzle was a stark contrast to his black fur, but it was such a shame he had to keep his weapons outside. He felt naked without a sword on his back. "You could stand to be a little nicer."

⌜FAIRY TAIL GUILD

Name: Panther Lily

Occupation: Mage

Magic: Aera

Shift

Likes: kiwis Dislikes: thunder

Special Note: Panther Lily might be a grumpy ole kitty, but that's only because he hates noise! ⌟

Gajeel barked a laugh. "I am nice! C'mon, Pipsqueak, back me up here!"

Gale deadpanned, "You're nice. Just like it's 'nice' for me to put my dick in a blender."

"Look at your influence," Panther Lily grumbled. "You're fortunate he inherited Levy's intelligence." His tail twitched, low. "I think I'd quit if I had to deal with another you."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« Panther Lily is an Exceed, a magical race of cat-like beings capable of flying and shifting who existed throughout the cosmos. However, they were originally from the planet Extalia. »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Gajeel's smirk broadened as he smacked Panther Lily's back. "Oh, don't be such a downer, Lily! I bet ya could handle three of me without even trying. Or maybe not. You are getting a bit up there in age now, aren't ya? Maybe you should retire."

Gale sweatdropped as a seething lethal aura took over Panther Lily. If you're not careful, old man, you'll be retired permanently. He combed back his bangs and drawled, "Listen. I don't know what you're doing here, but I'm alive and Blondie hasn't woken up yet—"

"Pipsqueak."

Gale faltered under his father's serious look. "Yes, sir?"

"We're not here to fuck around." Gajeel jerked his chin. "Step outside. We need to talk."

°•°•°•°

Gale kept his ears perked for Luna's breathing and heartbeat as he stood outside. He looked between Panther Lily and Gajeel and asked, "What's this all about?"

"You know what." Gajeel crossed his arms. "I put it off because I had other shit to deal with. But if I know Salamander, he's going to be busting his ass home with the little prince in tow. So be straight with me. Tell me exactly why Igneel got out of control." Sanguineous snake eyes narrowed. "And why the Hell she's in this place because of you two."

Gale's hands clenched.

It was so warm here like a good dream.

Never had such warmth existed.

No color existed here. Not at first. Shades existed but never colors.

But then…everything exploded.

Colors never dreamt of burned in this place. They melded together before separating and going their own paths. Some tried their hand at perfecting shapes and got more and more artistic with their morphing. It was decided then. Black would be the void these colors would live in then.

Harmonious song agreed.

Creation could be so overwhelming. Land, sea, and air had been mere concepts, but then they were birthed into the world, always divided, always coexisting. The beasts arrived like a storm. Some looked silly. Others looked tough. Who could say why they looked how they looked, but they did it—they coexisted with their differences.

But something was missing.

The first creation came out rough with more hair than intended. The next ones were up to snuff with more skin than hair, even if they did look particularly unpleasant to look at. But the artist grew more confident as the next generation came about. A couple of tweaks to their bones there. Perhaps more teeth here. Ah, and maybe get rid of those ghastly tails and give them a firmer structure. It took some time, but the artist had done it.

This race would be called humans.

They were different from the other masterpieces, but they would be more amusing this way. Let them have their worship. Oh, it was particularly funny when they realized separate tribes spoke different languages with different customs. Now what would these little things do if they could not communicate? If they worshipped different gods?

What would they do…if they had powers?

How funny, these humans. With great power also came great responsibility, and it was a divide between the magical humans who wanted justice and the magical humans who thought with their greed. Other masterpieces had been created with greater powers and, sure, they all squabbled and fought, but these humans were much more entertaining given how weak they were in comparison.

Oh, look at them, summoning dark forces and enslaving creatures to do their bidding. Hilarious. They wanted a war? Fine. This war would be one this insignificant race would remember—that was, if their realm even survived. Honestly speaking, it would be funnier if they demolished their realm for the sake of their useless ideals and greed than if they survived. This was such a fun game!

Maybe if the other masterpieces were just as outraged and greed-driven…

Oh. Oh, this was good. This was positively pure entertainment. Look at them, bleeding out and dying. How cute! It was so easy to turn these creatures against each other, but such a volatile outcome was not anticipated. Nevertheless, it was wonderful. Truly a spectacle. At this rate, all would be wiped out under the strain of this war. The Sisters would laugh about this, surely. Well, time to start the next masterpiece—

Wait.

What was…?

No.

NO!

No, you can't do this to me! You can't! How dare you take away my fun! No! Give it all back to me! This wasn't even my fault! How dare you! I was tricked, you can't do this to me! I'm the—!

• — • — • — • — •

Luna knew nothing one moment and the next, she was looking at a ceiling.

How strange.

Nothing felt wrong, per se, but nothing felt right either. All she knew was that one minute, she was looking at nothing, feeling nothing, doing nothing, and the next moment, she was staring at a ceiling and laying in a bed.

What just…happened to me? She lifted her hand and saw her Fairy Tail guild mark still stamped onto the back. I feel fine, but…

Roaring flames.

A violent earthquake.

Luna sat up with a gasp. "Oh, no." Instant fear glinted in her eyes. I remember. Gale, Igneel—the park—Luke! I was… I was trying to stop them. Her shaking hands covered her mouth. I have… I have to talk to them. I have to—!

"Blondie?"

Her gaze snapped to the door—

Wide deep browns connected with shocked reds.

There Gale stood without a burn mark or bruise to his name. "Blondie?" He stepped into the room in slow motion as though this were all an elaborate dream and a harsh footfall would shatter it.

She lowered her hands. "Gale?"

He stutteringly laughed in disbelief. "Blondie-girl…" Forget sitting; he kneeled at her side with a large, disbelieving smile. "You're awake. You're okay."

Luna felt overwhelmed. "What do you—?"

"She's awake."

Porlyusica stood at the entranceway with her face always scowling, but she looked at Luna with a blink-and-you-miss-it relief. "Good. Maybe that'll mean all you idiots won't be invading the clinic." She turned with a flourish of her cloak. "I'll sound the alarm then."

"Wai…!" Luna looked from the (now) closed door then back to Gale. "Wait, what…? What happened? What do you mean I'm awake? What's going on?" She cupped his cheeks and checked him over. "Are you okay? Are you hurt? The fight with Igneel—!"

"Was three days ago."

Luna froze. 'Three…days ago'? Her fingers slipped from his cheeks. "What?"

"I'm doing this all wrong," Gale realized in a groaning laugh. "I'm not supposed to be overwhelming you when you first wake up. Amnesiac care one oh one." He reclaimed her hand and pressed it back to his cheek. "I know you have a lot of questions. Let's get you checked over first and when that's done, your folks will be here to tell you the whole story, promise. But for now, you woke up. The fight between Igneel and me is over and the damages are repaired. Everything's fine."

"A-Are you sure?" Luna had to know. "And Igneel? Is he—?"

"Yes." Gale smiled. "He's fine. He's on a job with your dad, actually, but you can bet he's going to come running once he hears you're awake. I told you. Everything's fine. Well, it's fine now, now that you've woken up."

Luna tried to wrap her head around it all. I've been asleep for three days? But… I feel fine. So much of this doesn't make any sense. What happened to me? Why did I fall asleep for so long? But I… Her fingers flexed against Gale's cheek. I'm just so relieved everything's okay.

Gale's ears reddened when Luna rested her forehead on his. "B-Blondie—"

"I'm back."

Rubies widened before softening.

"Right." Gale closed his eyes and pressed against her. "Welcome back…Luna."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Fairy Adventure

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Luna followed the light with her eyes—left, right, up, down—until Wendy clicked off the light and smiled at her. "Well, everything is looking good so far. Let's just take one last look at your vitals."

Luna nodded and sat still as Wendy's diagnostic spell took effect. A Lacrima Screen showed up as light blue glowed in Wendy's eyes. But once she was finished, the spell was dismissed, her eyes were back to brown, and she settled back at her rolling workstation.

Luna fidgeted with her blanket. "So, um… I'm okay?"

"In perfect health," Wendy assured. "But if you feel tired or dizzy or even feeling more hungry or thirsty than before, that should be normal. Perfect health or not, I still recommend for you to take some time to rest and relax."

Luna nodded and looked at her lap. "So what…happened to me?"

Wendy finished her last sentence before rolling her chair over to sit beside Luna. "In normal circumstances, late-bloomers with born Magic often receive very volatile Awakenings," she told Luna. "Late-bloomers are, admittedly, not as common in the Magic Community as you'd think. What normally happens is that someone manages to cultivate a Magic Spirit through work and dedication."

"But I'm a late-bloomer." Luna frowned and looked up at her aunt. "I'm…a Wizard? I've always been a Wizard?"

"Not necessarily." Wendy explained, "There are many people in this world that have latent powers. For some, that latent power morphs part of their body, but that's as far as it goes. That's how we get Aberrant. But for some like you, their latent powers don't manifest without the right conditions being set. The saying that 'Magic has a mind of its own' isn't just a myth. Magic picks and chooses its wielder, not the other way around."

Her eyes went to the side as she sighed. "Unfortunately, Latents, or late-bloomers, don't have a great reputation."

"Why?"

"Because Magic is power." Wendy sagely looked back at Luna. "Magic can act on its own. And when its user is in danger, it might make a Wizard do something they have no recollection of."

That resonated with Luna. Like me…

"Magic isn't an inherited skill at its core. How a power reacts to you is completely separate from your parentage. Of course, that's not always the case," Wendy alluded. "Your mother and grandmother are examples that Magic can choose a bloodline if blessed by a powerful being. But Magic Bloodlines were made in the Old and Old-Middle Era when Gods and Spirits were active. Now, it's more of a luck of the draw for children to inherit their parents' gifts."

"Igneel got my papa's fire," Luna pointed out. "Silver has Aunt Juvia's Water."

But Wendy patiently countered, "They did and they didn't. Igneel can create and control many different types of flames. And his connection to his Rainbow Fire is very different than Romeo's connection. Just like how Gary has Gray's Ice, Silver has Juvia's Water, and Julia has both. Powers can be passed down, but it's not a guarantee and no two Wizards, blood or not, will have the same abilities within their power."

Luna's eyes swirled. "Aunt Wendy, I'm getting confused."

Wendy chuckled behind a hand. "That's how Latents come into play, unfortunately." Her laughter faded. "Some people might be descended from a powerful Wizard or born from a powerful Wizard parent and be a normal person—a Spiritless," she explained. "But people in power or maybe even that child might consider them a Latent, someone who simply has their abilities dormant. And so"—browns weathered—"Latents will put themselves in life-or-death situations to kickstart their powers. And many of them die."

Luna felt cold now. What?

Wendy crossed her legs, arms crossed beneath her chest. "It's barbaric," she said with a slight growl. "From what our history books tell us, such a thing was normal in the Old and Old-Middle Era. And those ways exist today. Potential Latents will put themselves willingly or unwillingly in peril to get their Awakening. Some get desperate and look for the Enhancer drugs Dims take to increase their Magic Power. Overall, it's horrible."

Luna's bottom lip trembled as she looked at her lap. People were killed…just for a chance of being a Wizard? It hit her hard. "Is that what everyone thinks I did?"

"Oh, Luna, no," Wendy soothed. "We don't think that at all." She rubbed Luna's head. "We all know how much you wanted things to change, but we wouldn't accuse you of doing something like that to yourself."

Chocolates shimmered. But then… Luna gripped her blanket. Why did I…?

Wendy could see stress pinch Luna's face. "I'm sure you have questions for yourself. So do we. But right now, you mustn't work yourself up. An Awakening is a beautiful thing and your power has perfectly attuned to you."

"But… What is my power?"

"Not even I can tell you that," Wendy said. "When a Latent Awakens their powers, we normally see that ability in motion. But for you…"

Luna latched onto that. "'But' what?"

"Well…" Wendy exhaled. "From the accounts given and even from our investigation…we couldn't find any traces of foreign Magic at the park whatsoever."

Luna's brow slowly furrowed. "But… I thought I'm a Wizard now? You… You couldn't find anything?" Her hand came up to rub her arm. "Are you sure? You're sure there was nothing there?"

"Master already put out word for Constantine to return from his mission to check, but… No, they couldn't find anything right now." Wendy sympathized seeing Luna's downcast look, and she cupped her cheek. "You are a Mage now, Luna. We confirmed you had an Awakening. But you know Magic Power isn't everything—"

"It is to me," Luna murmured. "If I have Magic, that means I have a chance of leaving. But you're saying you couldn't even find any traces of my power." Her lips twisted. Am I just that weak that my power doesn't even show? I thought having Magic would solve everything, but now… I'm just back to where I started.

Wendy could scent her niece-in-heart's grief and started, "Luna—"

"Aunt Wendy." Luna rubbed her arm. "C-Could I rest for a little more? I guess I'm just a little more tired than I thought."

"That might be difficult."

Luna frowned at her smiling aunt. "What do you…?"

"Well." Wendy's eyes sparkled as she got up to her door. "You didn't think you could sleep for three days and not have people worry about you, did you?" She opened the door—

"Lulu!"

"L!"

Her eyes widened when bodies crushed her into a hug. She choked, "H-Hey! I can't…breathe!" She coughed when both bodies pulled back from her. "Wh-What—?"

"We were so worried about you, Lulu!"

SHOBOSHOBO!

Luna gawked seeing Silver's puffy, red eyes and his sniffling. I'm worried more about you right now!

"We really were." Ena smiled with her eyes glistening, but she shed no tears. "You had us worried sick. I think Fullbuster tried to fake having an ulcer to stay in the clinic with you. Porlyusica nearly beat him with her broom."

The memory made Silver shiver. An angered Porlyusica was deadly with her broom. "W-Well, I didn't want to leave Lulu alone!" he argued. "I was really worried! And I didn't know when you were going to wake up and…." He sniffed.

Luna and Ena panicked when he started bawling. Don't flood the room!

Luna tried calming them. "It's okay, you guys, I'm fine, really. You…" Lashes lowered, half-lidded. "You didn't need to worry about me. Really. I'm okay."

"Out of the question."

Luna was startled when hands pressed her cheeks, and she was forced to meet Ena's stern gaze. E…

"You were asleep for three days. Of course we're going to worry about you," Ena scolded. "You're our best friend, so get it through your head we're going to worry and care about you regardless of what you want."

"That's right," Silver agreed. "You had us all scared, Lulu. I even had to help my mom with cooking for her feud with one of the team moms so I didn't cry so much."

Both Luna and Silver shivered thinking of Juvia's maniac cooking state with a large knife. Scary…

Ena muttered, "You were such an inconsolable mess. How foolish. What good would all your pointless crying do?"

Silver glared at her. "Well, sorry I actually show emotion unlike you, ice queen. Or maybe you don't know what 'feelings' are."

"I know what they are," Ena scathingly retorted. "Oh, I apologize I don't turn into an inconsolable mess or daydream stupidly about some wayward crush, but there are things called etiquette and decorum. What you do should have you locked behind bars for disturbing the peace."

"Y'know, Fernandes, Constantine is a Lacroid and somehow, he's more human than you!"

"Excuse me?"

Luna sweatdropped as Silver and Ena bickered on either side of her, her smile twitching. Well… I guess it would've been a miracle if they changed within these three days.

Browns twinkled as Ena jabbed a finger at Silver and the look on Silver's face when she touched his chest was one of pure offense and disgust. But still… They were worried about me. And they rushed over here when they heard I woke up. She mentally laughed. I'm sure Silver was crying a river. And now, they're here with me like nothing's changed. And I guess nothing has. I might have Magic, but I don't know what it is. I'm just…the same person I was three days ago. Even so…

Silver and Ena's arguing was cut off when Luna wrapped her arms around them for a hug.

Silver blinked. "Lulu?"

"L?" Ena looked worried. "Is everything okay?"

"Yeah." Luna nuzzled them both. "I just… Please don't worry." She squeezed them. "I'm back."

Ena and Silver exchanged surprised glances before they softened and hugged her back just as fierce.

"Welcome back, Lulu," Silver murmured.

"Yeah." Tears formed on Ena's lashes as she smiled. "Welcome back."

Nashi stepped out of the office with words of thanks and shut the door as she left. Crossing down the hall, she could already hear the normal hustle and bustle of her guild mates with their tipsy conversation and brawls about to break out.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

The Fairy Tail Guild Hall

Magnolia Town

Fiore, Ishgar

4:48 PM FST

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Hickories lowered, half-mast. Describing that woman… I hope it was helpful for them to track down who she was. Huh?

She lifted her head and slowed to a stop when she saw Gary leaning against a wall. "Gary? What are you doing here?" She readied herself for a rumble. "Stalking me again? Wanna fight?"

"No." Gary pushed himself off the wall—

Nashi blinked at his tired smile and extended hand.

"I was just waiting for Angel." He moved his hand closer. "Would Angel take a walk with me?"

°•°•°•°

"Oi! Watch that dog!"

"Ah, so sorry!"

"Mama, can we go get candy today?"

The streets of Magnolia Town rarely relaxed. Boatmen sailed across the canals, some with cargo and some giving a ride to a couple or two. Civilians marched up and down the street. A couple of girls rushed by with their Saint Kardia uniforms as they wanted to make it to their favorite sweets place. South Sciliora students never got along with their Magnolia High peers, but at least they could agree Saint Kardia had very cute girls. Workers who commuted were coming home to pick up ingredients for dinner. The market stalls had another successful haul.

Gary and Nashi walked down one of the stone paths, and neither said anything to the other. Or, at least, Nashi was unsure what to say or do. She kept her hands clasped behind her and kept stealing glances, but all she concluded was exhaustion written all over his face.

He looks so tired. And so deep in thought. She looked away. I wonder if he's really okay. But something tells me I shouldn't ask him about the Demon.

"I heard Looney woke up."

Nashi perked at Gary's soft words. "She did. Papa and Igneel are making a break for it." She snickered. "She refuses to speak to Igneel. Though knowing him, he's going to dump a bunch of her favorites at her feet for forgiveness and she'll give it to him." She sweated a little remembering how extreme Igneel's apology gifts would be. Let's just hope his gifts aren't stolen ones this time.

"He can't help it," Gary chuckled. "He loves her."

"Yeah, well, you don't see him bending over backward to get into my good graces," Nashi huffed. She shook a fist. "That little jerk! He doesn't even try to—!"

"Doesn't he go all the way to Crocus to get Angel vegan ice cream from her favorite ice cream place if he upsets Angel?"

Nashi's anger deflated. "Oh. That's right."

Gary hummed his mirth. "I don't think I've ever fought with my siblings. Silver and I just get each other." Shadows covered his eyes. "And Lady J is just our bully."

Nashi recalled how Gary and Silver hugged each other in fear whenever Julia came around to scold them. Her eyebrow and smile twitched. "Yeah, that's Lady J…" Hickories sparked. "I was reminded how busy this summer has been for all of us…and how lonely Lu felt. I guess…I just never realized. She always looked so happy, and…" She sighed, cupping her elbows. "I don't know. Before, I didn't understand why she had to stay here. But after that mission…"

A storm battled through hickories. With monsters like that in the world, I get it. Without Magic, Lu's defenseless. And I… Her grip on herself tightened. I can't stand to think about what would happen to her if she met a monster like that.

"About that mission…"

Nashi looked at him. "What about it?"

"I…" Gary messed with his cross necklace. "Angel… Angel did…beautifully on that mission," he slowly spoke. "I was impressed. Master was impressed. Angel managed to defeat that woman and save both the living and the dead children from that Labyrinth."

"That's not true," Nashi negated. "I had help. I had Cael and Seraphim"—hickories softened—"and I had you too." She realized what she had done and turned away with a sniff. "But yeah, what I did was impressive."

Gary chortled. "Angel praised me too. I should mark it down in my calendar so we can celebrate this for an anniversary!"

"No more anniversaries!" Please. Nashi's eyebrow twitched remembering how her soul nearly left her body when Gary ravaged her in flowers and candy to celebrate the anniversary of when she said "bless you" to his sneeze for the first time.

"Happy anniversary, Angel! To our first 'bless you'! Isn't it romantic?"

"Wh-What! Get away from me, you stupid dog!"

Nashi felt dreary all over again. I don't think my social life could survive another anniversary.

A fading frown. "What Angel did truly was impressive, but…"

Nashi stopped when hickory caught solemn blues.

"…it wasn't…right."

She failed to understand. "What?"

Gary sighed and glanced around. "Come on." He guided her away from the heavy traffic and down one of the narrow paths.

Nashi rapidly blinked. "What do you mean it wasn't right?" Anger buzzed her. "I didn't kill her if that's what you're accusing me of—"

"Do you know where she went?"

"I—!" Nashi swallowed. Seraphim?

'The Wayward has gone to wait for the Prosecutor to pass Judgment on her being,' Seraphim explained. 'She is not dead. But she does not live in this realm anymore. Once Judgment is passed, she may return here, if that is the will of the Prosecutor.'

Nashi tried her best to relay that. "Seraphim said she might return her, depending on—"

"That's not the right answer."

Nashi scowled and stepped back from Gary. "What do you mean 'that's not the right answer'? You weren't the one fighting her and protecting those kids—I was. I was the one who nearly died making sure those kids could live. And she won't ever touch them again. What more do you want? Didn't you finish off the—?"

"I didn't."

That surprised Nashi. "You…didn't?"

Gary walked down the narrow alley.

Nashi was hot on his heels when she snapped back to attention, and she hissed, "How could you just let it go? That monster was the reason children died! And you just let it go—?"

"Yes." Gary kept calm as they emerged. "I did."

The square was nothing special. It was one of those back-alley squares with a stone water fountain that beheld a little clocktower. Someone obviously tended to the gardens and hopscotch and four-square had been painted on the ground. Dedicated benches were there for the weary.

Gary snapped his fingers and a heatwave of Magic expanded.

Nashi snapped, "I can't believe you would let that monster go—!"

"I let it go because I saw the bigger picture."

Nashi wanted to argue, but her fight halted when Gary drew up to his full height and looked down at her with cold eyes that flickered icy-blue.

"I know Angel has a temper, but Angel can't talk about Demons so lightly out in public," Gary warned her. "Not without doing a Mute Charm like I just did. The public thinks Demons are their enemy, especially after the war our parents fought. It doesn't matter if a civilian jokes about Demons. We can't talk about them when there is a very real possibility unfriendly Demons are here. We could incite panic. Does Angel understand that?"

Nashi wanted to swallow her tongue, hot from chastisement. "I'm… I'm sorry. I didn't think…"

Gary pressed on. "The reason I didn't kill that Demon is that it's better to us alive than dead. I goaded it into talking to learn more about its intentions. Letting it live and retreat—letting it hate me—means it'll be back. And that's what we need. Because that Demon is a key source in how it was summoned and why it was summoned. And so was the woman Angel sent away."

Nashi flinched, but she stood her ground. "I saved those kids—"

"Angel did; I won't deny that." Gary lifted his chin. "But there could be another woman like her out there. We needed her here with us to interrogate her. How did she summon a Demon? Why did she summon a Demon? What was in her contract with the Demon? Analyzing whatever Curse she received and the power source. Even just finding out her history—we needed her here. Because she was a valuable resource in trying to figure out about summoned Demons and if there were more of her out there."

It was never the same when someone was mad versus disappointed. Disappointment felt like much more of a stinging punishment than wrath. "I…" Nashi's mouth dried and burning shame rose. "I didn't… I thought…" But the words would not pass. I thought…I did the right thing. I saved those kids. I thought…

A cold hand cupped her cheek. "Angel."

She did not want to look at him.

Gary sighed and let go of that cold expression for one much sweeter and gentler. "Angel was amazing," he murmured in praise. "Angel did an amazing job. She saved those children and defeated the person responsible for their kidnapping and for some of their deaths. I'm proud of Angel. And I didn't mean to be harsh. I know Angel doesn't deserve to be scolded. Angel really did a beautiful job."

"But there could be more people like her out there." Nashi's words sounded hollow. "And more kids could die because of me."

"No." He tipped up her chin so glossy hickories could meet tender blues. "That's not it at all. We're still going to investigate her. Angel giving information to Reedus for the sketch and our combined testimonies will help with our search, I promise. Whatever happens next isn't Angel's fault, not by a long shot. Because Angel saved those children. She gave back those parents their kids and gave others closure. So Angel shouldn't take this as a defeat. This is a victory and a lesson learned."

"I…" Nashi put away those words for new ones. "C-Can I help with the investigation?" It hurt when Gary shook his head, and she appealed, a tad crestfallen, "But I can—!"

"Angel has done enough," Gary hushed her. "Right now, Angel needs to work with her new soul. I know Angel has been tired since we came home."

Nashi's gaze went to the side. "A little."

"That's because Angel's new powers need time to settle in." He thumbed her cheek. "Angel did beautifully," he emphasized. "So leave the rest to me. Okay?"

"Okay," she mumbled. "But you…" Her ears burned. "You should rest too."

"I will." Gary beamed as he showed his Compact with his lock screen set to a sleeping Nashi on the train. "And I can fall asleep with ease with Angel!"

"What!"

Gary twirled away when a red-faced Nashi tried to grab his Compact. "Angel looks so cute when she's sleeping," he dreamily cooed. "Maybe I can ask Genius to print Angel's picture on a body pillow so I can hold her all night long—!"

"Gimme your Com, your perverted dog!"

Nashi jumped to swipe it and looked both panicked and aggravated as she tried to figure out his passcode to change his lock screen with insults flying out every other sentence—how do I change this? Stupid dog! Dammit, dammit, that was wrong too! Damn perverted dog!

Gary laughed under his breath, regard warm. Oh, Angel… You're so much stronger than you think you are. And every day…you've become more and more precious to me. That's why I…

"Ah!" Nashi felt victorious she had guessed his password. "See? So easy!" She went for his « Settings » with a maniacal laugh. Idiot. Like Hell I'm letting you use a picture of me for a lock screen.

"That's okay." Gary showed another Compact with a different image of Nashi sleeping. "I have more! See, Angel, look how cute Angel looks—!"

"Give me the damn Compact, you perverted dog!"

"Chase me, my darling Angel, chase me!"

"Get back here!"

No one batted an eye anymore seeing Gary frolic through the streets with Nashi charging after him with a vengeance. Perhaps they would share a laugh and an eyeroll, but no Magnolia civilian had not seen the Ice Devil and Angel Princess running around.

Nashi's insults hit Gary's back as he ran. Blues darkened. That's why I'll do whatever it takes to keep you safe. A flash of icy-blue. Even from me.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

And so…

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

POP-POP-POP!

Luna could not help being startled when confetti and streamers poppers went off and rained down on her with the whole guild giving her massive grins. "Welcome home, Luna!"

"O-Oh!" Luna could feel some confetti land on her head, bewildered. But she grinned with her guild and hollered, "I'm home!"

POP-POP-POP!

Ale mugs sloshed around as everyone cheered.

Now, parties in Fairy Tail were a commonality. It could be as simple as a littler guild member learning to tie their shoes for the first time, and the guild would riot with the drinks nonstop, and they would party from dusk till dawn. And tonight was no exception as smiling employees came out with more drinks and food for the guild to share.

"There's our girl!" Macao Conbolt had grown out his violet beard, but it would be some time until he started salt-and-peppering. He raised his mug to Luna. "Nothing like a cold brew to kick off celebrating, eh?"

⌜FAIRY TAIL GUILD

Name: Macao Conbolt

Occupation: Mage

Magic: Purple Flare

Likes: boasting about his son Dislikes: talking about his divorce

Special Note: Old Man Macao isn't out of fighting spirit yet! He's still got it and he may or may not have a girlfriend! ⌟

"Don't you dare," Wakaba Mine laughed in a scold. He took a hit from his cigar and shook his head at Luna. "Don't listen to this old geezer, Luna, or he'll have you drinking under the table!"

⌜FAIRY TAIL GUILD

Name: Wakaba Mine

Occupation: Mage

Magic: Smoke

Likes: boasting about his daughter Dislikes: marriage

Special Note: Wakaba is quite the supportive parent, much to his poor daughter's embarrassment! ⌟

"Hey! You two bozos, stay away from my niece!" It was phenomenal Cana survived drinking from the keg, but no one dared tried to ask her to share her liquor. Her brunette hair had grown over the years, but now, she left it half up and half down. It would be a cold day in Hell when she traded in her bustier top for much else (and poor Lucy had to deal with a tipsy Cana singing how much she was a MILF and deserved to show off her body).

⌜FAIRY TAIL GUILD

Name: Cana Alberona-Groh

Occupation: S-Class Mage

Magic: Magic Card

Fortune Telling

Likes: alcohol Dislikes: dry spells

Special Note: Daughter of Cornelia and Gildarts, Cana offers professional dukkering services—as long as you buy her a keg! ⌟

Her violet eyes twinkled at Luna. "You ever want the good stuff, Luna, you know where to find me, yeah? Or my son." She winked. "But he might be a little too soft on you."

Luna giggled. "Right, Aunt Cana—Gah!" Red steamed her face when someone apprehended her from behind to touch her chest. "Wh-What—?"

"I was worried." Penelope sounded as apathetic as ever as she squeezed. "My favorite doll had been away for three days. It would have been concerning if your figure altered. My cosplays are tailored to your precise measurements."

Luna wanted to cry. Then don't use me as your human doll!

"Penny, you can't just grab people!" Paige pulled Luna to safety with a scolding look at her twin. "Stop harassing her in public!"

Penelope squished her hands as though memorizing the sensation before looking blankly at her sister. "So I may do so in private. Understood."

No, I don't understand! Luna cried.

Paige sighed and turned to Luna. "I'm sorry for her. She's been working pretty late, so I'm guessing she's stressed out. But it's good to see you're back." She smiled. "We were all worried about you."

"I was very worried."

Luna's soul nearly left her body with Paige's smile twitchy and she tried to ignore the perverse aura radiating from Penelope. Please stop terrorizing her for your stress relief, Penny.

"My Beloved Paige!"

Paige choked at the sudden hug. "What the—!"

"I missed you so much, my beloved!" Silver cooed with hearts in his eyes. "I hope we're never apart for so long again—Ah!"

BAKI!

Tick mark on her cheek, Paige seethed from her throw with Silver slammed into a (now) broken table. "I told you not to touch me or talk to me, you weird stalker!"

Woozy, Silver dreamily smiled as Chibi-Luna's swirled around his head. "My beloved loves me so much it hurts," he slurred.

Ena sneered. "Oh, look, a disgusting worm on the ground where it belongs."

Silver shot up (apparently over his brutal injury) and glowered at Ena. "Oh, Fernandes, I know exactly where something like you belong. Down in—!"

"Guys."

He and Ena sweated as Luna loomed over him with her smile and lethal aura. "You wouldn't happen to be fighting with each other"—her dark rage intensified as her smile tightened—"would you?"

Ena and Silver gulped. "N-No?"

"Good!" And Luna was back to shining as she patted their shoulders. "Because it'd be so rude of my best friends to fight at my homecoming." She cracked down on her grip on their shoulders. "Almost like I should get new best friends."

PIKA!

Lightning struck the par. N-New best friends?

"Lulu!" Silver clung to Luna's arm. "Don't be like that! Fernandes and I were just talking, right, Fernandes?"

"Right! Y-Yes, of course!" Ena took hold of Luna's other arm. "It was just a silly conversation since Fullbuster is such a silly little thing, right, Fullbuster?"

TICK!

Silver's smile sharpened as he laughed. "You're such a riot, Fernandes. Seriously. As in you should be against the law."

TICK!

Ena's smile strained. "Oh, how charming of you to say that. So hilarious someone of your mental incapacities can even make a joke."

Luna sweatdropped as lightning crackled between Silver and Ena like a dog and cat on the verge of war. I should've known.

She got out of their holds to take hold of their wrists and pull them. "C'mon, you guys! It's been so long since we've all been together. So let's enjoy it, okay?"

How could they refuse that? "Aye, sir!"

And the guild roared.

Partying in some bar might have meant shots and grinding, but Fairy Tail parties were the stuff of legends. A drunk Elfman wanted to prove how manly he was by gathering up memories on a table and bench pressing them, much to wife Evergreen scolding him (though she was tipsy herself). Gajeel could not help but rile up Gray. If the ice bastard wanted to marry Gajeel's pseudo-sister, that was all fine and well, but Gajeel enjoyed giving him more shit than ever, and Gray was ready to throw hands. Nashi would have shared a drink with her friends, but Gary accosted her and nearly made her spray her alcohol with all his embarrassing doting. Lucy did not know whether to laugh or cry when Cana put her in a bustier top to show off those mom titties, Lucy!. A tipsy Silver clung to an agitated Paige's leg, sobbing soliloquies about her, but Luna was in no better standing when Penelope got a hold of her.

But hey—such was a crazy Fairy Tail party.

The front doors barraged open again—

"BABY GIRL!"

Luna gasped into a laugh when Natsu crowded her to swing her around. "Papa! You're home!"

"'Course I'm home!" He smooched her cheek before setting her down, eyes aglow. "Been waitin' for you to wake up, baby girl! I sure as Hell don't want to miss your own party!" He hugged her arm and murmured into her hair, "You all right?"

Luna melted into her father's embrace. "Mmm. I'm okay, Papa."

"Good." Natsu grinned at Luna's surprised squawk when he lifted her again. "Because I'm putting you back into training, baby girl! Get ready to fight your papa!"

Luna's eye twitched. Training…with Papa? Oh, she knew how her father trained her siblings—with utter brutality at ungodly hours of the day and he had such a happy smile as he turned his children into absolute trainwrecks (though she gawked when Igneel looked head to toe covered in soot). "O-Oh, on second thought, Papa, m-maybe we could wait—?"

"Luna!"

Natsu set Luna down as Igneel skidded to a halt with his arms loaded in presents. "Y-You're awake and okay—!"

Luna hmphed and cross her arms, upturning her nose. "I'm mad at you," she told her firmly. "Gale's your friend and there were innocent people ar that park, Igneel. You really could've hurt someone."

"I, er, well…!" Igneel shed all his bags and hurriedly got out one of the presents—a punk rock edition of Poko. He held it out to her as a peace offering. "I-I bought you something! And I'm really sorry," he promised. "I made sure to pay the damages with my own money and I won't do it again, okay?" He deflated when Luna hmphed at him. "I'm really sorry, Lu." His eyes went to the floor. "I… I didn't mean to nearly…"

He blinked when the Poko stuffy was stolen from his hands and into Luna's arms. "Lu?"

"Dummy." Still, Luna smiled at her brother. "You're lucky I like Poko."

Igneel beamed, relieved—

"But!" Luna prodded his chest with a finger. "You better apologize to Gale. And if you do it again, I'm not talking to you for a week, got it?"

Lightning struck Igneel at such a threat. A whole week? He whined, "But why should I say sorry to that asshole—?"

"Igneel…"

He pouted and mumbled, "Fine. For you." He would have still pouted had it not been for Luna rubbing his head.

"Good." Her smile softened. "Because I missed you, big brother."

Igneel grinned and scooped Luna into a nuzzling hug. "I missed you too!" he crooned. "My cute little sister! How could I stay away from you for so long?"

"Igneel!" Luna tried and failed peeling herself away from him. "Stop it! Down! Down, Igneel, down!"

"But my sister's such a cutie!" Igneel cooed. "And she's all mine! How could I let you go?"

Guild mates watched with sweatdropped as Luna drowned in Igneel's overzealous affections. Why does this feel like someone could misunderstand this situation?

Ena muttered as she lifted her stiff drink, "Should we be worried someone has a sister complex?"

Igneel's ear twitched, but he was sweet as he put down Luna. All his warmth shuttered for coldness as he looked at Ena. "Bambi. That wasn't very nice."

"Oh, dear." Ena eyed him in contempt. "I'm doing something wrong if you think I'd be nice to the likes of you."

Igneel narrowed his eyes, a flash of emerald over onyx. "Believe me." Heavy animosity fed into his icy stare. "Not even in my nightmares would I want you to be nice to me."

CLAP!

Igneel broke from his chilling expression to see Luna pointing at him with a puffed cheek. "Luna—"

"No – fighting," Luna sternly insisted. She walked away and muttered, "No wonder Luke's my favorite brother. At least he's nice to my friends."

Igneel's heart—it died. He was withering away into the void with his soul leaving his body. I'm not…your favorite brother? Luna… I think I'm dying.

And the party raged on.

Natsu jumped into the fray as he combatted Gray and Gajeel with fists swimming. Lucy and Levy had gotten frisky with their drinking and flushed red as they read from one of Erza's spicier novella collections she had lent to Levy. Erza and Mira toasted at the bar with Orochi unfazed by someone looked like they had died from alcohol overload. Luna thought she was in the clear from Penelope's perverse tendencies, but she looked so ashamed in her new princess cosplay with Penelope considerably relaxed and Igneel, Ena, Silver, and Paige giving the ensemble a glinting two-thumbs-up.

Cane kept to himself as he shuffled his cards at the end of the bar. A glance over his shoulder showed him Luna clinging to Ena before Penelope could pin her down and put her into another cosplay. Well. It's over now. He fanned out his cards and chose one. When it flipped over, his card was no ordinary playing card. It was dark than black with white strokes painting Earth Land on it. It's been decided.

He slipped the card back and bridged his deck as someone came to lean against the counter beside him. "So—I was wondering when you'd seek me out."

"I was busy." Igneel kept firm eyes on Luna with his arms crossed. That aggression was back the longer he stood near Cane, but he kept the intensity down when a glance from his father made it clear if he could scent it, others could too. "I don't know what game you're playing." His thumb slipped upon his pointer finger to make a flame of Hellfire. "But I don't appreciate it."

"Hmph." Cane shuffled his cards. "I won't insult you and lie and say I don't know what you're talking about."

"Good." Igneel let go of his flame and glanced at Cane, the emerald peeking out for a mere moment. "I would've set your cards on fire if you tried to lie to me."

"Such a temper," Cane remarked with no mocking, just humor. "Did you come here to simply threaten me or do you have a point to make?"

Igneel rolled his head before turning a bit towards Cane to say in a low rumble, "We both know you wanted to piss me off. We're not friends, but you've never pissed me off before. This was part of your plan. I didn't rat you out not because I'm nice, but because I want to know why you thought it was a good idea for me to nearly kill Luna. Because either you just wanted to see me mad"—his lips curled to show his teeth—"or you knew what would happen."

"How could I know what would happen?" Cane asked breezily. "I'm a simple fortune-teller." Violets sparked. "And I thought you said you didn't believe in my bullshit?"

Igneel growled. "I'll be watching you—closely." He stood up with his final words. "Don't make it a habit to fuck around with your games, Cane." Emeralds burned in his eyes. "I'll make you regret it."

Cane continued shuffling his cards as Igneel walked away. Such a vicious temper. He set down a card and another, one after the other. How ironic someone so violent received such ancient and rare power. But I'm sorry, Igneel.

He looked down at his laid-out cards, violets dark. His cards created a circle of different symbols, and the center was clasping hands in prayer. I'm going to keep playing this game. A ring of glyphs glowed within his eyes. And I'll never regret it.

°•°•°•°

KAN… KAN… KAN…

Luna stirred as she felt movement.

KAN… KAN… KAN…

"Mmmm…" She cuddled into the warmth. "Five more minutes…"

A grin. "Sure. We'll be at your house in thirty."

That voice. Luna roused herself and blearily realized she was moving through the streets of Magnolia. The sky had gone to bed and left behind dotted stars and a shy moon. The movement before her came from hardened muscle, and it took her a few blinks to realize who was carrying her on their back. "Gale?"

"Yeah." Gale adjusted Luna in their piggyback. "Evening, Blondie."

Luna nestled into him again. "What happened?"

"The usual. Fairy Tail party is still raving on," Gale told her as he walked beneath another streetlamp. Passersby whispered how cute it was seeing him carry her home, but he ignored their words. "You passed out, but that was pretty expected. You just woke up after your Awakening. Igneel and Red nearly duked it out for who was taking you home, but Mary Jane and my cousin did me a solid to distract them." He sweatdropped. It was like watching kids fight over a toy.

• — • — • — • — •

"She's mine!" Igneel held a sleepy Luna in his arms, positively venomous as he hissed at Ena. "Go away, stupid Bambi, she's all mine! Mine, mine, mine!"

"Stop hogging her all to yourself, you irritating arsonist!" Ena unsheathed Lunagr'an. "Give her to me and no one gets hurt! She's mine!"

• — • — • — • — •

He grimaced. "But Janie wants cold hard cash as payback. And Silver…" He made a face. "I'm stuck paying for his secret spa treatment. Whiny ass."

Luna sleepily giggled. "Don't be mean, Gale."

"How am I being mean?" he complained. "And he's my cousin. It's, like, biological or some shit that I get to be a little mean. You're not the one who woke up with bright pink nail polish on your fucking toenails all because he got petty when I told him Magia movies are lame."

"They're not!"

"Agree to disagree."

Luna smiled against his shoulder. "Silly." Lifting her head, she looked at the starry sky. "Where were you?"

"I had some stuff to finish up. Final papers are no joke for your last year of uni, FYI."

"You and Luke and E and Penny are so smart." Luna mumbled into his shirt, "You all make me feel like some stupid pig."

"You'd be a cute pig," Gale teased. He snickered when she grumbled. "Nah, don't be like that. It's not that impressive."

"Really?"

Gale's grin tugged wider at Luna's flat tone. "Honest." He adjusted her again and made a note he needed to feed her more since she was far too light. "Red was never in this to make friends. Neither was Luke or Penelope."

"And you?" Luna's smile pressed into him. "You don't have any friends?"

"I do," Gale said in his relaxed defense. "Here and outside the guild, all right? But I just didn't see the point of me learning shit I already knew. My mom got worried I'd get bullied going to university so early. Had all these articles about me missing out on my child, burning out, y'know."

Luna laughed. "I think you'd bully others."

"That's what my old man said too," Gale chortled. "Told me with that vile look in my eyes, those students should be more worried about me. And I've never had to deal with any talk. They more want to cozy up to the Geo-Dragon of Fairy Tail than shit on me."

"Mm." Luna's lashes lowered. "Mama was always worried about Luke getting bullied. That's why Igneel takes university glasses with him. But I know he's just as smart as Luke."

"Eh, our track ain't for everyone, Blondie."

"And a real smarty won't use the word 'ain't'."

"It is in the Minstrish language dictionary officially, y'know," Gale grunted. "It's been in use since the five-hundreds and is used in informal speech. I'm so sorry wordsmiths like you and the king of nerds don't like it."

Luna snorted. "Don't call him that."

"What! It's true! And he knows it!" Gale insisted. "And there's nothing wrong with being a nerd and living D-and-C and Miku. It's not like I'll be mean to him." He muttered, "He'd probably poison me and get away with it."

Luna simpered and melded into Gale's hold, feeling his melodic gait. It was hard to say how late at night it was, but it must have been late since not as many civilians were out tonight. "I'm a Wizard now. And I don't even know what my powers are."

Gale pricked his ears, but he stayed quiet.

Luna continued: "For so long, I thought Magic was the answer. I thought if I had it…I could be like everyone else. I could go on adventures like the rest of you. And I wouldn't be left behind anymore. But I'm stuck back to where I started. Nothing's changed." A smile crafted from melancholy. "I'm still as useless as before." She meant to close her eyes, but she paused when Gale stopped. "Gale?"

"Why do you think you're useless?" Gale asked her, voice tight. "Is Magic really that important? If my mom never had Magic and stuck to her research…does that make her useless?"

"N-No, but—!" Luna's eyes lowered, ashamed and guilty. "It's just…" She looked away. "You don't understand," she murmured. "I know Spiritless aren't useless. There are more of them than there are Wizards. But…when you're around such amazing Mages all the time, it just makes me feel…" She sighed. "Never mind."

Six beats.

Gale went back to walking.

A hush.

Luna pressed her eyes shut. It just makes me feel…that they'll keep getting stronger. And I'll be left behind like I'm nothing.

Gale crossed one of the bridges over the canal to connect to the central part of Magnolia. The brick bridges were a common place for lovers and friends to write their initials together. Pergrande had their love locks; Fiore was old school in writing. Rather than walk directly across the bridge, he stopped in the center. "Blondie."

Luna did not want to look. "I know I'm being a brat," she said, words muffled by his shirt. "I'm sorry."

"I'm not going to scold you," Gale laughingly sighed.

"Really?"

Gale turned his head towards her. "I'm not."

Luna tightened her hold. "I know it's pathetic. I told my own mama I hated her."

"You did?"

Luna nodded.

Gale asked, delicate, "Did you apologize?"

She shook her head. "No."

"You should."

Luna sunk lower. "I know."

Gale looked up at the sky. "I can't pretend to know how you feel," he murmured. "As much as I want to, I can't. But you're wrong that nothing's changed. Everything's changed."

"Like what?" she mumbled.

"Well…" Gale pretended to hem and haw. "In some part of the universe, a star probably died. Pretty sure you gained, like, half a millimeter and, y'know, yer a Wizard—"

Luna broke into giggles. "Gale!"

"Well, I'm not wrong, right?"

She shook her head. "You dummy."

He warmed at her laughter. "Everything's changed. I know you think it hasn't, but it's just because you can't feel it. Change kinda hits you when you least expect it. That's what my old man tells me when he tries to be all smart and philosophical and a good dad for once. It's why he runs me through drills. It feels monotonous to me, but the day I actually nail an attack? I've been growing and changing to get there; I just couldn't see it."

He kept her steady with one arm and pointed at the stars. "See that? Those stars up there? They're always changing. We might see 'em like this and think they're just bright balls of light. But stars don't just shine, they burn and they shift. Some of those stars might've burned out already or a new star could be born. Constellations shift slowly over time. They're changing even when it looks like nothing's happening. We just can't see it yet." He put his arm back to adjust her. "You're just like those stars. Maybe to you, nothing's changed. But you'll see it."

"When?" Luna breathed.

"I don't know." The least Gale could do was be honest. "But one thing is true. Fairy Tail's never been about what power you have. It's just been about discovering things on this grand adventure. Whether or not you have Magic, you'll still have the Fairy Tail spirit. And…" Pink dusted his cheeks. "I can…"

Luna gasped. "Gale—down!"

"What—? Whoa, whoa, easy!" Gale struggled when Luna wriggled until he set her on two feet. "What are you—?"

Luna pointed upwards. "Shooting stars!"

Gale looked up—

Rubies widened as a streak reflected in them. "Whoa…"

Meteors sprinted across the starry sky in reckless abandon. Each one burst in its own direction, some chasing others while some ran all alone. They burned and churned through space as though haughtily giving their admirers a snippet of their beauty before vanishing.

"This must be the Perseid meteor shower," Luna named. "I guess I lost track of time since I was asleep. Granny promised to come and see me so we could watch the shower, but I guess that's not happening now." It felt too whimsical to be true as she caught the light trails in all their beauty. So pretty.

"If you want to wish for something, now's the time to do it."

She glanced up at Gale.

He was as entranced with the meteor shower as she had been, but he told her, "Y'know, the whole wishing on stars things." His lips shaped into a faint grin. "Make a wish, princess. And if you don't tell anyone, it'll come true."

She puffed a cheek. "I'm not a kid. I know better than that."

"Well, I'm making a wish."

That surprised her. "Really? You—?"

"Shh!" Gale closed his eyes and put a finger to his lips. "I'm wishing on a star."

Luna puffed both cheeks. "Hrmm…" Turning away, she looked back up at the meteor shower showing off its fleeting, finite colors. Make a wish, huh? She closed her eyes. Then I wish…

Gale opened his to catch her praying in earnest. He hid his laugh. She can be such a princess sometimes. He turned back to the stars. But… That's what I like about her. So, please. Rubies shimmered with Heaven's light. Grant me my wish.

Luna released a breath and reopened her eyes. I hope it comes true, my wish. She glanced at Gale, and she could see the light of the stars reflect in his eyes.

LUB-DUB!

Her hand curled over her heart.

"Well—I should probably get you home," Gale supposed, scratching his cheek. "Not even Janie can stall that possessive douche forever and he'll catch my scent trail before long. And I'm so not in the mood for him to start a fight with me. So." He offered his hand to her. "Ready to go home?"

LUB-DUB!

Pink tickled Luna's ears. "Mm." She slipped her hand into his. "Yeah. I'm ready."

"Cool."

He tugged her along as they crossed the bridge, the meteor shower as they back group and the quiet hum of Magnolia as their soundtrack. With both their gazes averted, neither saw the other one had warmth flushing their cheeks and the rigidness set in their shoulders.

LUB-DUB!

Gale covered his mouth, ears burning. Her heart's beating fast. Maybe she… He canceled the thought. No. I shouldn't go down that road. But still… He lowered his hand with his black Fairy Tail brand proud on his shoulder. My wish…

Luna watched their intertwined fingers, her white guild mark on her small hand compared to his large one. My wish…

SHING!

A particularly bright meteor powered across the sky in its constricting black and white glow melting into a burning gray.

It surprised Gale when Luna charged, making him stumble as she got the drop on him and let him go. But her giggling made him playfully growl as he gave chase and catching up to her meant scooping her up as she squawked and laughed to be put down. Those traveling so late could only shake their hands Fairy Tail was at it against as Gale raced down the street with Luna over his shoulder.

…is to be with him/her on this grand adventure.

The winds of change breezed about, shifting the water and playing temptress. But white particles like bits of stardust danced with the wind before fading.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

May your wish be granted.

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

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)

— • — • — • —

Parties were not his thing.

Yes, Luke preferred libraries to late nights on the town and the only "bar" he liked was a book bar where he could daintily sip a watered-down cocktail and enjoy a riveting story in a cozy one-person room—

But that did not necessarily make him a "nerd".

His room was his proud design since his parents would not let him attach a Dimension Door. People got it backward he was the clean twin and Igneel lived in chaos. Truth be told, Igneel was the cleanest Dragneel, but it came with the price he would meltdown if one piece was out of place. He could not leave the house without making sure everything was in order.

But Luke liked his organized chaos, much to his mother's exasperation. His clothes were always clean—they had a schedule for everyone's laundry days, so weekly washes were enforced—but his books and scrolls and knickknacks lifted from past jobs were a bit of a mess and, well, everywhere. But he argued cleaning was pointless when he could spell the material he wanted to come to him.

His mother was not impressed with that, but she stopped fighting him.

He sat crisscrossed—yes, crisscrossed—on his gamer chair as he spent tonight off the books and going through A Zhōnguánese Ghost Story side quests to clear his mind. His Cultivator character used a guzheng as he defeated a ghost who would tell him about the infamous Silver Butterfly Ghost King. With his headset on, he listened to the dubbed-over Minstrish as the ghost promised the Silver Butterfly Ghost King would show wrath for this exorcism.

But his mind was elsewhere. That day…

Flame and earth engaged in heated battle as a winged creature born from fire and a wing beast birthed from earth charged for each other—and a streak of blonde flashed to get between them.

Honeyed-ambers narrowed. I still don't understand it. Igneel gets aggressive, but… He's calmed down since when he was a kid. He and Gale fight, but they're always careful if there are civilians around. And if they do want to get intense with a mock battle, Igneel always makes sure Luna's not around. So why would he do such a thing with civilians and Lu present? And Gale…

He remembered the pure destruction seething in those reds. He was fighting…like he wanted to kill Igneel. Why? And Luna running into them…

He pressed his lips together and rapidly typed so his Cultivator could play a song that would put the ghost into a gourd bottle. There are just so many things that don't add up. Let's look at the facts. I was watching Gale and Luna. They looked…fine. Nothing out of the ordinary or at least, nothing that would've pissed off Igneel to that extent. Let's take a closer look.

He closed his eyes.

Gold circled his body as his hands shifted through mudras. Magic blustered about and pushed up his bangs for a golden third eye to open on his forehead. His hands moved for a golden sigil to be born, but he condensed to a line and scattered the spell.

And when he opened his eyes, he was back in the park.

Not actually there, but he stood above the memory like he was a god. The park had been recreated down to each blade of grass with the scene frozen from his perspective of the memory. He could see Gale and Luna playing together and life went on at the park.

Memory Recall—I'm still mastering the spell, but this is as good as it gets. Now… Luke threw out a hand and it looked like a remote control panel came before him. What am I missing? Let's shift the focus.

The memory shifted and he could see Igneel sitting on the bench. He took the motion down to ⟪ 0.25x ⟫ and pressed ⟪ ▶️⟫. Watching with critical eyes, he saw Igneel's line of vision was focused on Luna and Gale. But as the scene went about in slow motion, Luke saw Igneel's mouth move and he hit ⟪ PAUSE ⟫. Wait a minute. What's he saying? I couldn't hear him since I was passive listening, but if I could read his lips.

Luke rewound and pressed ⟪ ▶️⟫. He narrowed his eyes as he watched Igneel's lips move and tried to piece it together. 'Sneak up on me like that again and your cards won't be the only thing I fry.'

Confused, he paused the memory. 'Cards'?

He played it forward.

Igneel did not move for a moment, but then his lips moved, but the action was too blurry and the memory wavered. Dammit. I must've been focusing else. He rewound the memory to Igneel's first spoken words and paused. Who is he talking to? He paused the memory and moved up the enhance button. A pinch hit his brain until—

Wait. His gaze sharpened when he recognized a blur. Someone else was with him. But who? He kept moving up the enhance slider to try and make out the blur, but for every notch he passed, he gritted as his head started pounding. His hands shook and his nose tingled, a bloody nose coming, but he kept pressing forward as the blur formed a silhouette. Almost…there…

GASHAN!

The memory shattered so abruptly that Luke nearly knocked back in his chair. The spongy headache numbed with the spell gone, but Luke felt woozy and checked under his nose to make sure he had not started bleeding. When he realized he was in good health, he bashed his desk. "Dammit! I was so close!"

Someone provoked Igneel. There's no other way around it. I don't care that Igneel said he lost his cool; we both know that's a lie. So who provoked him that day? And for what purpose? He sifted through his newfound facts. He said 'cards'. So the person with him had cards. Aunt Cana? No, I know she was away on a job. So then who—?

Honeyed-ambers widened. But then… Why would he—?

DING-DONG!

Luke flinched at the doorbell. What in the…?

He pushed out of his chair and made his way out of the room and downstairs. But… Why would Cane provoke Igneel? To my knowledge, they don't even talk or run in the same circles. The only time they've spoken is when Cane comes to hang out with Luna and it's always brief. He jogged down the steps. What did Cane have to gain from that? Why would he do something so reckless? And why did he risk Lu?

He got to the first floor and undid some of the wards as he unlocked the door. Whatever the cause is, if Igneel didn't say anything, then he knows Cane knows something. I can't confront him. So that means I'll need to watch him. He swung open the door—

He froze.

Gloves hands came up to the cloak's hood. "Well, now. I'd think after all these years, you'd know how to greet your teacher."

Luke broke out of his freeze and bowed. "I'm sorry. Good evening…"—he lifted his head to catch scarlet hair against the starlight and that honorable patch that represented the League of Sorcerers—"Sensei."

Voices of Characters in Order of Appearance

— • — • — • —

Gale Redfox – Greg Cipes

Luke Redfox – Alan Lee

Luna Dragneel – Brynn Apprill

Gary Fullbuster – Griffin Burns

Juvia Fullbuster – Brina Palencia

Silver Fullbuster – Yuri Lowenthal

Gray Fullbuster – Newton Pittman

Lucy Heartfilia-Dragneel – Cherami Leigh

Plue – Monica Rial

Natsu Dragneel – Todd Haberkorn

Igneel Dragneel – Bryce Papenbrook

Nashi Dragneel – Lauren Landa

Seraphim – Jameison Price

Erza Fernandes – Colleen Clinkenbeard

Laxus Dreyar – Patrick Seitz

Mystogan Fernandes – J. Michael Tatum

Levy Redfox – Kristi Kang

Orias -

Gajeel Redfox – David Wald

Panther Lily – Rick Keeling

Porlyusica – Linda Young

Wendy Blendy-Marvel – Britney Karbowski

Macao Conbolt – Brian Mathis

Wakaba Mine – Charles Campbell

Cana Alberona-Groh – Jamie Marchi

Penelope Strauss – Cristina V

Paige Strauss – Erica Mendez

Cane Alberona-Groh – Clifford Chapin

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Additional Voices

Opening Narrator – Mary McGlynn

Description Narrator – Mary McGlynn

Closing Narrator – Melissa Fahn

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⌜OPENING THEME

⟪ Ao To Natsu! ⟫

Mrs. Green Apple

Lyrics by & Composed by

Motoki Ohmori⌟

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⌜ENDING THEME

⟪ MOMI MOMI Fantastic Feat. Ai Haruna ⟫

ASIA ENGINEER

Lyrics by & Composed by

Takashi Yanase, Asia Engineer⌟

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Next time, on Fairy Adventure

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Episode 006

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ARBOREA SUMMIT

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OKAERI