Fairy x Adventure

by Magnafeana

In a new era after the Alvarez War, Lucy, Natsu, and the rest of Fairy Tail not only face new challenges but watch as their kids go on new journeys, learn new powers, and battle new enemies and old! Join Luna, Nashi, and the upcoming generation of Mages on Fairy Tail and more on their never-ending adventure!

7. Adventure 007

Disclaimer: I do not own Hiro Mashima's Fairy Tail, any work professionally associated with it, nor any pop culture or classical references. All original plots and characters are mine.

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In a land far, far away lies the kingdom of Fiore, a small, peaceful nation of 17 million, and a place filled with Magic found in every home, bought and sold in every marketplace. For most, Magic is merely a tool, a mundane part of everyday life. For some, however, Magic is an art, and they've devoted their lives to its practice. These are the wizards. Banded together into magical guilds, they ply their skills in search of fame and fortune. Many such guilds dot the landscape of Fiore. But there is a certain guild in a certain town that soars high above the rest, one from which countless legends have been born. A guild that will no doubt continue to create legends well into the future. Its name...is Fairy Tail.

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NOTICE: This is a revision of the 2017 version, which is simul-posted to AO3. Episodes 001 through 030 are set to be replaced and other episodes edited. This may cause confusion. To read the 2022 revised edition as it is updated, you can go to AO3 and look for Fairy Adventure (2022 Revised Edition). Otherwise, all 144 (in counting) episodes will remain here and continue to be edited.

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LAST TIME, on Fairy Adventure: a new month, a new adventure for our heroes. We met S-Class Mages Lance Dreyar and Mystogan Fernandes as they assembled a team with Gary, Gale, Nashi, and Luna to take on a demonic investigation of the Arborea Mountains. Meanwhile, Natsu and Lucy are off to Alakitasia for a special mission, but that doesn't mean Luke doesn't have his suspicions. The team's investigation of Arfaj Town and the mountains goes a little awry with some internal strife, but it all rears its head when they are trapped within a Labyrinth and separated from each other. Igneel decided to visit his grumpy MJ but imagine our surprise when Igneel shows an emotion we haven't seen—tears.

"Luna."

"Gale?"

I don't know what's more surprising: Gale's attitude towards Luna or Mary Jane letting Igneel stay the night. and I have a feeling the surprises will keep coming.

---

Luke stumbled into his room, exhausted. Hnngh… Why do I keep falling for Igneel's tricks?

He fell onto the bed and had a chibi recounting of his long night with his twin, which included food, arcade games, and cumbersome socialization at some party when Igneel's c'mon I'll be five minutes and we can go turned into a long two hours (and Luke had to hold Igneel back from fighting someone who insinuated he could date "your cute sister"). Then Igneel had dropped Luke off at home before hurrying off to the Dreyar residence.

A dreary aura rooted in Luke. That monster. I wish I had his energy. But it's nice to know he has days he can't deal with people either. His depressive mood furthered. I just wish that sort of day happened today. Why did he have to drag me along, the maniac?

• — • — • — • — •

"C'mon, li'l bro!"

Humiliated, Luke spluttered since Igneel had hauled him over his shoulder with a sunny grin and said, "Time for you to have some life lessons from your big bro! It's the older brother's responsibility to look at for the younger brother, right?"

"You're two hours older than me, Igneel, so put me down! People are staring at us—!"

"All right! Time to kick it into high gear! I'm all fired up!"

"What does that even—? Igneel, wait, stop, don't you da—AAAAAAAH!"

• — • — • — • — •

Luke turned green remembering how Igneel cackled speeding faster than a car with Luke dizzy, clinging for dear life and internally weeping he would never escape Igneel in Hyper Mode. He had to run like that to every place, even after I insisted we could take my broom. He nearly killed me.

Honeyed-ambers softened, warm. I know he just does that to get me out of my room. But I told him I'm fine here. Worrying about me like I'm actually his little brother, the idiot. He closed his eyes with a sigh. It's funny… He's so different now.

• — • — • — • — •

BO-BO!

The book's charred remains clattered into the ground with tears to follow.

"Hey." The sun made the little boy a silhouette, but those greens were prominent with the edges of his hair golden flames. "Don't ignore me, got it?"

• — • — • — • — •

Luke fingered his comforter. I never thought he could change. But now…

All those idiotic moments with Igneel ran through his head. From being dragged on jobs to Thursday night movie premieres for superhero and anime movies to sparring and even the less intense, quieter moments of going to a library or Igneel shooing him out of the room and hyping his twin up to nerd out about his latest project as they laid under the stars.

His pink lashes parted, half-mast, and eyes affectionate. Maybe…this is what it would be like to have an older brother. It's nice. He smiled. But I think I'll keep that to myself for now.

He rolled onto his back and took a deep breath. Then his eyes steeled, and he sat up. All right then.

Mages found spell work not in league with their Magic Spirit to be something not to think about, but Luke took fascination in Rudimentary Magic made up of unaffiliated spells that could do whatever you wanted them to. Wordlessly, the spells seeped into the air and rearranged his room while he changed into something more comfortable. Books and scrolls floated out from piles and his complex DAL system logged in and brought up all the files he had hidden away. By the time he was changed and sitting down, all his information was around him and divided into two sections:

The Black Wizard and Emperor Spriggan.

Okay then. Luke took off his glasses. Let's see here. He sat crisscrossed once more, spine straight, and his hands curled into mudras. I've been practicing a different version Gale-Force to merge with my Zen and a few studying spells. Sensei always tells me I should never give someone a spell I'd never try myself so…

He closed his eyes and took a deep breath. In and out. In and out.

DONG…

A mysterious language nonhuman mumbled from his mouth as a golden Third Eye opened on his forehead and his lashes parted to show a blinding gold from his eyes. Magic winded around him as words were copied from books and sites to be absorbed into his Third eye. On occasion, a book came before him with its entire contents absorbed into Luke's third eye before leaving him alone. The keys on his keyboard hammered out more resources and forums for him to take in.

DONG…

Slowly, Luke moved his hands upwards then down as he ended up the spell. The books and scrolls returned to their positions and all three of his eyes closed before his Third Eye disappeared for good. He took a few more deep breaths before reaching for his glasses and putting them back into place.

Honeyed-ambers opened, sharp. I barely scratched the surface. But still… If I add up all that I've heard over the years and synthesize all the information I've absorbed… The answers there, but… I just need to put it in place. A little more. Just a little—

Honeyed-ambers widened.

Luke shot up with his gamer chair about to crash to the floor had it not been a spell keeping it grounded. Disbelief rattled his features as he tried to make sense of it all. "No…" he whispered. "There's no way…" If that's true… He gripped his desk. If all of that is true, then…!

As he spiraled, he never sensed he was not alone.

Because the shadow his body cast—it rippled. And the shadow of a teenage boy wavered for the shadow of a grown man before fading back.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

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

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

There was black and then there was darker than black.

Luna was stuck in the latter.

For her comfort, she could hear her footsteps. Even if it was moot, she had out her Flashlight Lacrima which granted her a limited scope. She could see the stone beneath her, the stone she kept touching, and if she flashed the light to the ceiling, she had a small inkling of what was above her, but after she caught a glimpse of bats, she preferred not to look at the ceiling. She continued her slow walk with her breaths labored and cheeks wet.

I don't understand, she fretted. I thought I was walking with everyone, but then… I ended up here alone. No one answers when I call. She touched her earring. And I've tried using the communicator, but it's like it's dead. She stopped, trembling. I'm useless. I can't do anything right. I was supposed to help on this mission. But instead, I'm dead weight—

Her Flashlight Lacrima fell from her grasp and shut off, leaving her in this void. She crouched and patted the ground for it, but when she turned up empty, she sat against the wall with her knees drawn up and hiccupped. Maybe the darkness offered a reprieve. Not even she would see her tears and her shaking.

I shouldn't be crying like this, she told herself. I need to go find the rest of my team, but… She sniffled and rubbed her nose. I'm not brave like Nashi or Mama or Papa or my family. All I can do is cry. I need to stop crying, but I can't. She sank her head into her knees. I need to find my other teammates, but I can't even sense Magic. I don't have hearing or smell like Papa and Luke and Igneel and Gale. I shouldn't have come. I really am just…deadweight.

Her shoulders shook, but she swallowed back her cries, only feeling hot tears rush down her cheeks and drip onto her stealth suit. For a moment, all she wanted to do was go back home where it was safe and secure and bury herself under the covers with the dogs curling up with her. Mama… I don't know what to do. What do I do?

"This your decision now."

She could see her mother on the deck with her again as she had been that morning with that encouraging smile and gentle gaze.

"You're a Wizard now," her mama had told her. "These are the choices you'll have to make for yourself."

Luna sniffled and rubbed her eyes. That's right. I'm a Wizard too. And without my teammates here, I have to make these choices. I… I don't want to be deadweight. I need to be useful. But what good is a Wizard who doesn't even know what their power is? She shook her head, firming her resolve. No. I can't think like that, right? I'm a Wizard. I just… I just have to act like one.

A bout of hopelessness wrangled with her determination. I just need to figure out how. I don't want to be useless. She closed her eyes with a shaky breath. I just wish…I could find the rest of my team. I wish I could be useful. She sniffled—

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

May your wish be granted.

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Her Fairy Tail mark glowed white.

Luna's eyes shot open when she felt something shift and saw a glowing white star hover near her. Bewildered and panicked, she flattened herself on the wall and tried to defend herself—

The white star twinkled.

Luna paused before blinking. Wait… She reached out with cupped hands, and the glistening white star levitated over her palm. "Are you…my Magic? Did I just…make you?"

The white star twinkled again.

Luna's eyes widened with a sharp breath. This… This is my Magic? She closed her eyes and felt around it. It feels warm and bright. And it's mine. Hope blossomed. I don't have to wait for a miracle anymore.

She opened her eyes to look at the white star. I'm still not sure what I created. But if it's my Magic, it has to listen to me, right? She asked the star, "I'm looking for my friends. Can you help me find them?"

The white star brightened and departed from her hands to float down the tunnel and light the way.

Luna sniffled and staggered to her feet. I can be useful. I can help get back to my team now. I'm not deadweight. She went to the twinkling star and asked, "Could you help me find any of my teammates who are injured? I think I should find anyone hurt first."

The star brightened and bobbed forward.

Luna wiped her cheeks with her sleeves and followed, eyes shining. Okay. I can do this. I'm a Wizard of Fairy Tail. And as she followed the star, it was a shame she never noticed.

How her sealstone bracelet remained on her wrist.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Fairy Adventure 007

•

The Fool and the Wise Man

•

愚者と賢者

•

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Wake up. A grating growl. Wake up, drake.

Nothing.

A fierce snarl. My damn granddrake won't die here, so wake – up!

Gale woke with a start and bubbles fled from his mouth. It took a few seconds for the shock he was suspended underwater to register. He gagged, losing air, and clutched his throat, but logic parted through his body's flailing, and he hastily searched his utility belts until he found a hexagonal piece with a Fairy Tail insignia on it. He pressed it against his lips and clicked the sides for the spell to cast. The piece expanded into a face mask curved to his nose and expanded to cover his jaw.

Gasping, he took his first oxygen-based breaths. "Fuck me." It took a moment for his ragged breaths to even out. Y'know, maybe I should take Auntie J up on her Water Magic lessons. Big Red and Genius really pulled through.

Now that breathing was a nonissue, he took the time to look at his watery prison. Huh… This must be all the rainwater trapped in some kind of nature-made reservoir. Usually, it has some kind of way to keep the water stable and drain excess out, but… The depths below looked intimidating and dark. Considering how deep it is, I'm guessing the drainage is too small for me. And I don't know any transformation spells to shrink myself.

He kicked himself upwards and swam to the top to see that thick material cloak the pool. He knocked against it before taking off his glove and feeling the material. This isn't made from something I can make. I don't even think I can bend this or deconstruct the compound and I'm not rusty with Alchemy by any means. This… This was made with Ether, but it's foreign.

He floated backward, frowning and scrutinizing. Rule of thumb with Alchemy when it comes to deconstruction—without knowing the equation and the materials necessary, you can't deconstruct it without screwing up your mind and your Magic. I could try blowing it up…

He kicked backward and made a triangle with his hands. He chanted, "Ruby Tri-Beam!" A red ruby birthed into his hands before glowing and shooting a red beam at the material. But the material did not crack or shatter, rather it absorbed the blast.

Gale stopped his attack, pensive. That was a bust. But I did learn something valuable. It's absorbing my attacks. So it's similar to Justin's Kinetic Magic. That means there's probably a limit on how much it can absorb. And that limits would most likely drain me. I can't afford that when—

Wide deep browns.

Fear rocked his core. Blondie.

He twisted his body to look below in a panic. Where is she? She fell into the water with me—!

Vague browns.

Gale's panic stopped. Wait… Suspicions arose as he thought back to it. Something was off about her. She was fine the first time we saw the pool, but then… What was it? He closed his eyes, thinking hard, then the answer slapped him in the face. She wasn't real.

It all made sense. We must've gotten swapped when we went past those stalagmites and stalactites the second time. That was the perfect time for me to lose her and my team. I wasn't focused. If we're in a Demon's Labyrinth, then the Demon must've waited until my shields dropped just enough to screw with me. His body tensed. Dammit. I was too fucking careless. And now Blondie is—

He cut himself off when he imagined Luna alone and afraid in this labyrinth. Rubies glinted. Blondie… I just wanted to tell you I was sorry for being a dick and hurting your feelings. You didn't… He shook it off. Now's not the time. He looked back up at the ceiling. I need to get out of here and find my team. As he palmed the ceiling again, he growled. No use trying this again. Then…

He looked at the depths below once more. I'll have to risk finding a drain and widening it. If I'm really in a Labyrinth, then all this earth around me might not be normal rock. But if it is, I have to try. He flattened himself onto the material holding him hostage in the pool and used it to kick off and jet further into the reservoir. It paid to have a Water Mage for an aunt since Juvia was more than a little insistent in making sure her family was well-adapted to swimming.

Rubies burned. The second I get out, I need to figure out a way to reach my team. I can't assume this Labyrinth didn't trick them too. I'm still not great at sensing vibrations, but I'll give it my all to find them. And then… Rubies shimmered. I need to tell her I'm sorry.

SUISUISUI…

He cut through the water and searched for possible holes where water could drain. Now then… He right himself to hook onto a wall's edge and began his search. Where are you—?

SUISUI!

He froze.

He did not jerk and look behind him, but he froze and waited it out.

SUISUI!

Carefully, Gale crafted a sapphire arm blade. The vibrations in the water… He closed his eyes and listened closely. Even if the water muffled sound—

SUISUI!

Vibrations prevailed.

I can feel the vibrations better in the water. He took a deep breath. And they tell me… Rubies opened, lethal, and another sapphire arm blade built onto his other arm. I have quite the little mermaid waiting for me.

---

Gary was no stranger to darkness.

If he was honest, darkness was much more comfortable than bright lights.

He braved the void without fear, each step confident. For every inhale, he exhaled frost. It would seem this Demon's strong. Unlike Orias' Labyrinth, this one seems much more complex in its curse-work. His ceruleans brightened to icy-blues and he could see the world in hues of blue and silver—winter. And unfortunately, this Demon seemed quicker in targeting our minds. I wish I could be certain Angel isn't hurt, but…

Then we should kill this Demon, the Devil growled. If it has hurt Malã'ika, we must dispose of it.

Gary sighed as he turned down another tunnel. We can't kill this one either. We need to extract information from it.

You find solace in fickle human logic and protocol because you do not want to admit you wish to slaughter this creature if Malã'ika is hurt, the Devil sneered. How disgusting to cling to such stupid human ethics.

Gary patiently reminded, Those protocols and ethics can help prevent further demonic insurrections—

Don't mock me and repeat what those humans say, Gary Fullbuster, the Devil hissed. You can repeat such words over and over again, but you and I both know deep down, I am giving the right answer to your desires. The Demon will die if Malã'ika is harmed.

Gary tightly replied, No. That's not what I want. That's what you want.

Winter howled, displeased, and the Devil rumbled, Blame me all you want. Its voice faded. But I cannot exist without you, Gary Fullbuster.

Gary stopped and calmed the howling winter storming inside. Even with the Devil's voice gone, his hands shook until he dug his nails into his palms. That's not true, he told himself. Nothing he said is true. He's just saying that to take my body. I'm a human. He would cling to such a statement with a death-like grip. I'm a human.

With that mantra playing as a soundtrack, he continued down the curving tunnel. I need to focus and find Angel and Luna and the others. Angel should be protected with her divinity. But Luna… We don't know her powers. I need to find her and protect her and…

His thoughts slowed when his journey showed him a spotlight.

And it was one a little boy, back to him, curled up with his knees drawn up.

Gary frowned. A boy? Blues steeled. I'm in a Labyrinth. This could be an illusion. Wordlessly, he summoned an ice bow into his hand. This boy could be a trap. If he's not, then I'll rescue him. But I need to be cautious. Keeping his grip on his bow tight, he trod lightly and called, "Hello? Are you lost?"

The boy gave no reply.

Slowly, Gary raised his bow and pulled back his invisible string for a glowing arrow that compressed whisper and giggles Curses and the Black Arts—the Devil's Essence. He made sure his sight was true as he gradually approached the boy. "Excuse me," he called, tone giving nothing away. "Are you lost? Do you need any help? I'm a Wizard and can get you home. Just let me know you're all right."

The boy kept quiet.

Blues hardened as he readied his arrow. If the boy is part of this Labyrinth, then I have no choice but to…

The boy got up.

Gary stopped.

It was strange, this boy. Under the spotlight, he wore slipper-like hospital clothes, loose and crumpled and white. His hair was an honest white, but it had not been kept up with. He turned around—

Icy-blue connected with cerulean.

Blatant fear stopped Gary's heart. What? That can't be…

But there the boy stood underneath the light with hair as white as the driven snow and eyes so callously blue they did not look human. But his brittle mask slipped into horror and his posture shifted like he was holding something.

Gary's bow shattered.

He took a step back and so did the boy. When he shook his head, so did the boy. No… No, no, no… He touched his face and so did the boy. No, no, no, no, no!

He looked down—

White floors.

Breaths fast and sharp, his gaze darted around—

White walls.

White floors.

White ceiling.

No doors.

He scrambled back and hit a wall, whimpering, and he spun around to see no windows or exit—no escape—existed in this Room. White walls. White floors. White ceiling. No doors. He touched his body and all the years spent growing and training were traded for the body of a child who arrogantly thought he knew the world when he knew nothing. In a fit of panic, he ripped out a strand of his hair—

It was white.

Something heavy covered his neck.

A collar.

"No, no, no…" he whispered, backing into a corner with wide, ice blue eyes. "No, no, no, please…" He sank into his corner and drew up his knees, eyes still wide and haunted. I knew it. Everything was a dream. Nothing was real. I'm still here.

BAKI…

Ice covered the room. Heavy frost breathed out from his lips. I'm still here.

BAKI…

A colder, crueler layer of ice came next, building jagged icicles and mounds from the floor, the walls, and the ceiling—a prison cell. It built another icy prison cell—cage—around him, just as monstrous and chaotic as his thoughts.

A tear of dry ice trailed down his cheek.

I'm still here, he repeated. Even the voice of an adult abandoned him for the childish one he had ridded of in his teen years. I'm still here. I'm still here. I'm still here.

•

•

•

•

I'm still the Devil.

•

•

•

•

"Lance!"

Sundays were the best for the Strauss-Dreyar family and all adoptees.

His mother and Aunt Evergreen were sticklers about attending Kardia for mass and after an hour of murmuring hymnals and stuffy collars, they would rotate Sundays between Aunt Evergreen and Uncle Elfman's large house, Aunt Lisanna and Uncle Bixslow's home, or the Dreyar house.

This Sunday, the Dreyars were hosting.

The entire family was larger than people assumed or maybe people forgot about the other older children since their paths were not necessarily with Fairy Tail. Still, it felt nice to be with all the cousins and aunts and uncles on such a warm Sunday. Uncle Bixslow enjoyed taking the mickey out of Uncle Freed and would try to needle out who the gentleman was dating now. Everyone knew Freed was getting choosier with partners now that he had an adopted sassy son and an adopted darling baby girl the entire family fell in love with. Something Penelope said while sipping her juice box had Paige red in the face and neck. There went Aunt Evergreen chasing down one of her sons before he could escape to see his girlfriend. And his mother and father were talking shop yet flirting.

This really was the perfect Sunday.

"Lance!"

He parted through the leaves of the weeping willow to see—

"C'mon!"

He smiled. "I'm coming, Janie."

Mary Jane looked like an angel in her white summer dress as she stood near the pond. Combine their mother's white locks and their father's blonde hair and she was the only sibling out of the four of them to get that perfect sun-bleached blonde. She had picked a few dried dandelions and, deciding to make a wish, she flew on them and scattered the white puffs across the water.

His smile warmed. Janie…

She laughed and turned towards him to show those affectionate violets. "C'mon! Let's make a wish together!"

He stepped towards her—

—then he stopped.

She beamed and held out a dried dandelion from him. "Lance? Make a wish with me!"

But…he could not move.

Something… Something was not right.

Mary Jane's smile fell a bit, puzzled. "Lance?"

MERAMERA!

A being born of golden flames stood behind her with a hand on her shoulder.

Mary Jane shook the dried dandelion like it was a temptation, not at all aware this being of fire was holding her captive. "Lance, c'mon! Make your wish before we lose the breeze."

"Janie." He could feel his lightning head his call, cracking and hissing around him like venomous snakes. "Come to me, okay? Very slowly."

Mary Jane's smile completely fell now. "What? But this is the perfect spot." She backed into the being of golden flames instead of moving towards her brother. "I'm… I'm fine right here, Lance. Why can't you see that?"

The being of golden flames grinned.

"Janie." Lance prepared his lightning for battle. "I know you think you're fine, but you're not." He held out a hand. "Please. I need you to come with me right now. You're not safe here—not with that monster."

"Lance." Mary Jane was no longer that strong, confident teenager. She was back to being a child and so was that being of fire. She held the monster's hand and her violet eyes looked so much wiser and more mature for her years. "He's not a monster. He's my friend. Please don't tell Mom and Dad."

"Lance?" He could hear his mother's soft call. "Where's Janie?"

"Lance." Child Mary Jane shook her head, firming her grip with the fire monster. "Please. He's my only friend."

Those gold flames took over her shoulder.

"Janie, come here now," he commanded. "That monster isn't your friend; it's trying to kill you and take you away from us. Please, come here!" He stepped back and he was nothing more than a blooming adolescent. "Or I'll tell Mom."

"No!" Mary Jane looked at him so desperately, tears clouding her eyes like she cared more for him to stop than the gold flames crawling on her body from that thing holding onto her. "Lance, please, h-h-he's good and he's really nice and he's my friend and I…!" She came out with it. "I-I love him. Okay?"

The monster's grin widened.

"Mary Jane, that thing is a monster!" Lance shouted. "You need to let him go and come here! He's killing you! He's taking you away from us!"

"Oh, is he now?"

Vivid scarlet.

The world burned scarlet—madness. This was madness. Nothing made sense in such discord. The sun and moon chased each other as day and night blurred together like an endless red eclipse. Water turned to blood. Some trees stayed grounded, but others had uprooted from the lack of gravity. Even the animals did not act the same as a deer hunted down a bobcat for its dinner and a small bunny sprung to brutally kill an owl.

"He never stole me." Cruel red nails squeezed his chin.

Vivid scarlet.

Mary Jane floated before him as that scarlet—that madness—burned around her like she was damned. Those kind and gentle violets traded for pupils of glowing red and irises of scarlet with her lips red and her smile pretty and large. She captured his lightning like it was nothing and broke it in half, leaving him powerless. "You freed me."

His skin prickled when she fled from his vision, but he could feel her breath in his ear.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

'Who's the monster now?'

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"Lance!"

His eyes shot open with lightning winding around him—

"Whoa, whoa, hey, it's Nashi, I'm a friend!"

It took a moment for Lance to stop panting and realize a balming light washed over him. All the adrenaline spearing him fizzled out into nothing, and his lighting coiled back under his skin when he recognized a worried Nashi hovering over him. Was he lying down? "Nashi?"

"Yeah, it's me." Nashi set aside what looked to be a teapot and reached for him. "Take it easy—"

Lance snatched her wrist and looked her hard in the eyes. "Tell me something only I would know about you."

Nashi said without hesitation, though red pinched her cheeks, "You were with me when I got my first period and you gave me your sweatshirt and called my mama for me."

Lance released her with a relieved breath. "Good. Sorry. I just had to make sure." He closed his eyes with a heavy pant.

"I get it," Nashi assured. "But still, you need to chill for a minute. You're all right, but you might feel like you have a small hangover or you'll feel high. I had to use a lot of Healing Sand on you, sorry. I don't know its effects to high dosages."

Lance sat up and wiped his face with his hands. "No, you're fine. Thank you, though." Emotions in check, he took a look around and realized they were in no ordinary tunnel considering the train tracks, old beams, and set aside equipment. "We're in one of the abandoned mining shafts."

"I think so, yeah." Nashi glanced around as well. "This is where you brought us too, anyway."

That startled Lance. "I brought us here? Where's the team? What happened? I thought you and Gary were together—how are you and I together?"

"First. Drink water and eat. You need to stay hydrated, and you need the energy." When Lance complied and took out his emergency water, Nashi filled him in, tone heavy. "All right. I'll go as slow as I can. I'm not sure how we got separated, but… I think I got separated when I let go of Gary to look for Luna." Hickories tarnished with anger. "I couldn't find her. When I turned around, she was gone and I started panicking. I let go of Gary because I was so desperate to find her, but when I turned around…he was gone."

Lance finished his sip to soothe, "It's not your fault—"

"It is," Nashi tersely cut him off. "Gary's lost in here and Luna—!" She took a sharp inhale and released it. "After that," she continued, "I couldn't find any of the team." She gestured to her Heaven's Light. "Cael helped me stay calm and figure out the situation. You were the first one I could find, but you didn't answer me when I talked to you. You just kept walking and…" She looked down the mining tunnel.

"And we ended up here." Lance considered all the information. So—we can safely assume this Demon is capable of incredible illusionary and psychic powers. Misty's the psychic specialist out of all of us here, but my defenses were up. But the Demon must've slipped past them still and taken control of my mind. And then… He looked down the dark tunnel. It had me walk here. But why?

He closed his eyes as he listened to the hum and buzz of his electricity. Static clacked against his own, feeding him more and more information, but it was not enough. He kept expanding his electrifying senses, going deeper and deeper—

PIKA!

Lance winced with a grunt, and Nashi fretted, "Lance! Are you okay?"

"Yeah." Lance rubbed his temple. "I'm okay." He looked at the tunnel with guarded eyes. "Wherever I was walking is heavily warded to block out my Radar," he informed her. "I can't sense a thing as to what's down there."

Nashi steeled. "Do you think the Demon's down there?"

"It's my best guess," Lance told her as he put away his water and emergency energy snack. "Or it could be another trap. We'll need to tread cautiously."

"Right." Nashi nodded. "Let's go find the others—"

"No."

Nashi frowned as Lance dragged himself to his feet. "What?"

"Right now, we are an S-Class and non-S-Class team and we have a lead," Lance told her. "Our teammates are a priority. But we also can't forget our mission here. We're not leaving anyone behind. But we can't ignore this lead either." Lightning sparked in his eyes. "The Demon wanted me to walk down here. Be it a trap or its location… We need to follow it."

Nashi clenched her jaw, wanting to argue, but she managed, "Fine. We'll do things your way. But if I see Luna—"

"Then we'll assess and get her," Lance promised. "She's our youngest and most inexperienced teammate. I know that, Nashi. And believe me, I want her safe too. But we need to multitask for now. Your divinity right now is our only buffer and saving grace from the Demon's influence. We need to use that and investigate."

Nashi stiffly nodded. "All right." She looked down the tunnel. "Then let's go."

"Right."

And they were off.

Lance glanced at Nashi, oranges dark. I know I say that, but… Her divinity can only get her so far here in a Demon's Labyrinth. I'm sure her souls recognize it too. And if she dropped her guard even once, then… Lightning sparked around his hands. I'll need to be careful. Because now…

Nashi marched on with her Heaven's Light banishing the shadows.

…her other power might Awaken.

[]

[]

People called Mystogan many things.

"Compassionate" was not one of those (unless you were his apprentice).

Sirius the bright light continued roaming around to light Mystogan's path. A curious thing, this bright light, as though it had a mind of its own. As if it truly was a dog Mystogan took for a walk, stopping to smell everything and anything before its owner wordlessly commanded it back into a steady stride.

Separating us, Mystogan decided, would have been the quickest way to prune the weakest links. I can't feel any of them with my Magic. I'll have to assume none of us are together.

Dark oaks stormed. This was to be an expected but undesirable outcome. Gary being a Devil, Nashi's divinity, and my own powers would be a considerable setback for a Demon's influence. I'm sure the Demon plans to isolate Gary the most. Nashi would be the second the Demon would want to control. But she had expectations to prepare last time. I'm not so sure she's as prepared this time. Which means it's crucial for me to find her as her examiner. She would be the second one to show her suppressed genes. And the first would be…

He briefly closed his eyes. Well. I'm certain they've figured it out by now. But until they approach me, my Vow remains in place.

He looked around and touched one of the walls of the tunnel. I was told the Arborea Mountains were once mined for their minerals and a prominent railway, but it was shut down due to the sudden deaths. Rumors claim ghosts lived here and one of the abandoned tunnels would lead you to Hell. How childish.

He was set to pass by another tunnel entrance—

SHIKUSHKUSHIKU!

A hospital room existed instead of a tunnel room where a woman softly cried. The A&E had curtained the room to give the couple inside the room privacy, but hearing the woman's sobs and her husband's soothes would move anyone to tears and worry the worst had happened. A red-headed boy stood outside the curtains as he held his younger sister's hand, both of them too frightened to go in.

Mystogan walked on by.

As expected, he sighed. This Demon must be well-versed in trauma-oriented torture. They used my moment trying to stop the Labyrinth from enclosing the team to scan my mind and find what to draw out negative emotions to confine me. Dark oaks flickered. How simple.

Another scene built up before him. Another hospital scene, actually. This time, a frail and gray Aine, six years of age, was in her hospital bed as she struggled to keep down her breakfast, tearing up and shaking as her nausea rocked her. She looked too thin for such a young girl, and he worried over her like the dutiful brother he was in this scene of the past.

But Mystogan could not care less and kept his pace.

The scene warped into darkness.

He ignored the various scenarios trying to entice him, all equally painful. One was his mother, drunk and crying in Mira's arms. This was a memory he accidentally caught, a scene he was not supposed to see in his youth. Another memory taunted him about Aine collapsing on the floor, blood and vomit close by, and she cried for help with the nurse button too far away. A third memory showed how broken and listlessly his mother looked as she stared out a hospital window with a hand on her now-barren stomach. The hospital was a recurring setting in this hall of haunting memories with that overbearing clinical scent stained with metal and uncomfortable heat prominent in the air.

And he passed them all.

Sirius had fun gliding through the memories.

Mystogan twirled a lock of his bangs. How droll. When will this end?

He took another step—

Dark oaks.

He stopped.

A door had opened, full of white light, and the silhouette of a man blocked it. A cloak was on his body to hide his features except for those eyes, the eyes he and Mystogan shared. And then his smile was shown. "Oberon."

Mystogan suppressed a sigh. So—they took the bait. He remained composed. "I have nothing more to say to you…"

The man drew back his hood to show that blue hair trapped in a short ponytail and that tattoo he had earned from the trials and tribulations of his youth.

"…Jellal."

---

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

Fairy Adventure

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

---

It was inaccurate, in Mystogan's perspective, to say he and Jellal shared many attributes. He got his build and eyes from his biological father—he reluctantly admitted as much—but that was where the similarities end.

And he was particularly glad about it.

Mystogan looked at Jellal in disinterest. Another illusion or perhaps a perfect mimic. I feel a considerable amount of power from it. Attacking it now in an enclosed space with anything long-range would be suicide. His lenses glinted. But this is the perfect space for experimentation.

"You don't have anything to say to your own father after I've come home?"

Mystogan replied, blunt, "No. There has never been anything I've felt the need to say to you, Jellal."

Jellal chuckled, bittersweet. "I see. I suppose you don't call me 'father' since you're angry at me. I deserve that."

"And in that, you'd be mistaken." Mystogan adjusted his classes. "For me to bear anger towards you, I'd have to feel something for you. And I feel nothing for you at all."

Jellal blinked, taken aback. Then he smiled. A chuckle came next. Then another. And another. Until he keeled over with a hand covering his scarred tattoo as he burst into ridiculous laughter.

Mystogan kept quiet.

Jellal drew himself up with his grin far too wide and when he spoke, a raspy voice accompanied him. "Wow. You really are such a tough human to crack," he said. "You don't even feel a thing for the father who abandoned you. How cruel. But your mind said you heavily resented him. Was that a lie? Or are you that good at hiding your emotions?"

"I don't believe I owe a creature like you an answer." Mystogan crossed his wrists together and chanted, "Rings of Saturn!" When he pulled them apart, circular blades hovered around his wrists with ice and rock moving so fast like a chainsaw. "So let's skip this nonsense, shall we?"

Jellal barely managed to escape when Mystogan disappeared and reappeared to slam down his Rings of Saturn. He went closer to the entryway of light with a mad grin. "Willing to kill your own father—you humans truly are callous."

Mystogan righted himself. "Let me show you how callous I can be."

"Then you'll have to keep up, human." Jellal disappeared into the light.

Mystogan whistled. "Sirius!" As the bright light speared ahead, Mystogan followed. This is an obvious trap. But considering the trap I laid for it—the white light near-blinded him as he crashed into it—nothing should surprise me.

He crossed the threshold…

…and landed into a meadow.

And no one was here.

Mystogan kept his Ring of Saturns locked as he told Sirius, "Transform. Now."

Sirius flashed bright and came beside its master was a large mastiff made of stardust. It bared its teeth as it protected its master.

Mystogan sifted through the meadow. Spring had sprung with wildflowers healthy and grass lush. The skies beheld lazy clouds, but the rolling round hills went for kilometers with no end in sight. Nothing recognizable. I'm still in the Labyrinth. There's light but not even a false sun as a source. I'm wasting time. He told Sirius, "Go find Luna. She needs you now."

Sirius did not like that as it whined, tail low. It did not want to leave its master unattended.

Mystogan gave the Dog Star a sharp look. "Go. Howl once you have her. I'll hear it. Now, go. That's an order."

Sirius could not disobey a direct command. It turned tail to run off before bursting into stardust and disappearing from this place.

Mystogan sighed. Such a clingy creature, worrying so much about your master. Does it find me that incompetent?

Dark oaks sharpened as they scoped this new environment. It's a calculated risk to find Luna. I doubt the Demon has found her. She's too well-protected, so I'm sure it considers her an inconsequential human. But if I'm not even in the tunnel portion of the Labyrinth, Sirius will be able to protect her until I can find them again. It's too late to regret not bringing Cullen, but I needed him to shadow Luke.

He kept his eyes and open as he circled. Now. Where are you, cretin? And what do you plan to do with me this time?

A maddened grin. "This form is much nicer."

Mystogan pivoted—

Dark oaks clashed with dark oaks.

They had created a carbon copy of Mystogan, everything down to his glasses and shoes. Mimic Mystogan refused to upkeep that ice-cold façade and looked much younger and freer than the original with madness in his eyes. He hit his wrists together and chanted, "Ring of Saturn!" Black circular blades whirled around his wrists in response.

Mystogan readied for battle. "You know, they say imitation is the sincerest of flattery. Should I presume a creature like you desires to be a human like me?"

The mimic snickered, not bothering to hide the demonic tones from its voice. "How amusing you'd think I'd want to stoop to humanity," it jeered. "You have the power of survival, yet you choose to fight amongst yourself instead of doing the one thing that could make you powerful. Your race makes no sense to me."

'The one thing to make us powerful'. Mystogan felt his Magic strike the air. "I suppose why you mimicked me is of little importance." His circular blades thickened, abuzz. "You'll disappear anyway." And he charged.

The fight bled into hand-to-hand combat as Mystogan and his mimic tried to slice the other with their Rings of Saturn. The mimic grew confident with every beat drawn out of their fight, but Mystogan received the upper hand when one of his blades slashed the mimic's arm. The mimic was quick in its comeback, but all it did was cut off a few millimeters of Mystogan's hair when he dodged what could have been a decapitating blow. The mimic gritted its teeth and took an opening to slash down Mystogan's arm—

BAKI!

The mimic grunted when the explosion blew him back and it dug its blades into the earth to ground itself.

"What a shame."

The mimic glared at an unharmed Mystogan with those calculating eyes.

"Imitation is indeed a high form of flattery," Mystogan supposed, "but it's quite the travesty you're nothing more than a cheap copy. How insulting."

The mimic snarled, still winded from the explosion. What was that? His arm should have cut off—I had him! But my attack was rebuffed with Magic. But I didn't hear him cast a spell.

It got up and increased the power on its Rings of Saturn. "Silent spell work—how boring. Don't you know a Wizard can't use stable spells without words? Or are you that arrogant—?"

Dark oaks seared it.

The mimic's mouth drooled blood.

Mystogan wielded a large seversword that pierced through the mimic's chest. Not a trace of emotion or remorse beseeched him. He stared at the mimic like he was nothing more than an ant on his shoe. "I've never been arrogant," he said, cool. "That's where your mimicked flattery becomes an insult." He yanked back his blade and made sure to step back when the mimic, wide-eyed, dropped to its knees. Eyeing the black blood on his blade, he noted, I see. Black blood—demonic blood.

He summoned a vial in his hand and tipped his blade to extract an untampered sample of the blood. How interesting. I'll need to take this back to the lab for further study. As he capped the vial, he commanded, "Clean yourself, Malachy. You're filthy. It's unbecoming."

Malachy the seversword gleamed and expunged the remaining black blood from its blade.

Mystogan dismissed the secured sample and looked at the mimic with its fatal wound oozing more blood. Its skin started tearing into bits of black, graying out as though its skin had been made of paper. "Such a shame, really," he told the mimic. "Had I captured you alive, you would have been an interesting subject for study for myself and my apprentice. A waste of resources." Dark oaks stormed. "I despise wasting resources."

The mimic throatily laughed. "Is that all I am to you? A test subject?" Its shoulders shook in sinister mirth. "Maybe you aren't human. Because you both sound so similar. It's quite annoying."

'You both'? Mystogan pushed up his glasses. "Spare me your nonsense." He re-gripped his seversword and tipped the blade to the mimic's head. "While your body is decomposing, I'm sure your head is quite salvageable for research."

The mimic broke into further dark laughter as its flaking hand reached up to grab the blade. "You both really do sound so similar." Its fingers tightened their hold. "But I'm not sure"—a jagged smirk crossed its face—"your imitation is a compliment." He looked up—

A fit of Cursed rage attacked Mystogan's mind—

• — • — • — • — •

Childish laughter.

The picnic today was one we really needed. It felt like the perfect summer's day for it, and Mom, finally showing her baby bump, had been insistent her sensitive nose could handle a picnic at the national park as long as she brought some of Wendy's Troia candies. She looked so radiant as she skipped lunch to indulge in chocolate cake with all the fervor of a little girl.

"Attack!"

Aine giggled, but she put on a strong front with her wooden sword as she sparred against her opponent, and I would recognize him anywhere with that scar and smile. 'Father.'

I was there too as my child self got the drop on him with my wooden sword, but he came prepared as he whipped out his dual wooden blade to take us both on at once. He let us dish in a few swings and hits before he overtook us and tackled us to the ground, sending us all into a fit of laughter. Happiness seduced me to cling to this moment and make it last forever—

'No.' I gritted my teeth as I drudged up boring memories to counter this invasion, memories of long field observations and hours of studying in libraries. 'You won't—!'

But a brutal blow shattered my counterattack, and I clashed against the Curse seeping into my memories, my heavens against this hell. We battled for which memories I watched as this Curse slammed happier moments of Jellal and me together—as he trained me and coached me and made me feel like he was my forever father—but I bit back with memories of my long acceptance into the League of Sorcerers and the irritating memory of meeting that damn Magician who shared the ceremony with me and was the only other person in the League and at the Tower with a fraction of competence at our level.

But then I slipped.

The Curse battered against the protective shields in the recesses of my mind and bit down on it like a Pitbull clasping the leg of its prey. I could not shake it off with brute force, but I gathered my power for one final blow—

I was cast into a void.

A little girl waited for me with scarlet hair and a few locks braided on her side. Beautiful monarch wings drooped from her back, glowing and colorfully kaleidoscopic perfect and hers. She turned around to look at me with those innocent eyes that could own the world—that owned me—and she opened her mouth—

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

'Big brother?'

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Mystogan ripped the creature from his mind as he dismissed his blade, but when he tore off his glasses, burning gold covered his eyes. He sucked in a breath the blast burst from his eyes with such raw and pure energy that looked like streams of the universe, and the creature could not even screech as the energy consumed it and broke it down into nothing but flecks of Curses and darkness.

Mystogan closed his eyes to stop the attack, but the blast left such a deep blow into the ground that it looked like a fallen meteor had skidded and crashed into the earth. But that did not bother him. He took a moment to pinch the bridge of his nose and take one cleansing breath after the other.

With care, he put on his glasses and when he opened his eyes, they were back to being those dark oaks that looked at the aftermath coolly. "I take it back."

The environment wavered as the bright sunny sky faded into the darkness of the tunnels again.

Mystogan turned his back on the flickering meadow and strayed back into the shadows of the Labyrinth, cold frown back in place. A creature like you doesn't deserve to be researched.

[]

[]

SUISUISUI!

Gale stayed calm as he floated in the water, eyes scanning above and below. His peripherals caught moving shadows, but every time his gaze darted to where he last saw movement, nothing would be there. Vibration brushed his ears and pricked his suit.

SUISUISUI!

Gale's jaw twitched. Where are you hiding?

"Gale…"

He looked down—

His heart stopped. Blondie?

Luna swam with her hair spun of melting gold and floating like a cloud. Not a scrap of clothing touched her as she fluidly cut through the waters to get to him. "Gale." She smiled. "Did you miss me?"

Heat flamed Gale's face and he turned away. She's an illusion. She's not real, he told himself.

"Gale." A giggle. "C'mon. You have to look at me."

Gale tensed when soft hands slid up his abdomen. His growl was sharp, but he still would not turn his gaze to look at her. He flinched back when her fingers danced up his chest, but the tingles shocking his body were too much and he glared at her face with his arm blade under her chin. "I don't know what you are, but you're screwing with the wrong person," he warned.

Luna softly laughed. "It's just me." She feathered his neck. "I really missed you, y'know? Even after how you treated me."

Gale snapped, "Don't look in my head!"

"But I didn't." Luna swam in front of him, browns warm. "I'm right here, just like you wanted me." She closed the distance again with her chest brushing his. "Like how I know what you think about me," she breathed. "And how much you wanted to see me like this."

Rage and guilt warred with Gale as he bit, "It's not like that."

"Oh, Gale." Luna thumbed his mask—

He jolted feeling her other touch below his waist and whooshed, "Don't—"

"Why?" Luna cocked her head as though curious and amused at the same time. "I told you. I know what you think about me. Isn't this what you want?" She continued her movements. "Isn't this what you wish we could do?"

Gale twitched as sparks tracked down his spine, but a fit of anger drove him to roughly elbow her away from him. "Get off of me!" he seethed. He flexed his arm blades. "Don't you fucking disrespect her like that! You are nothing more than some cheap fake."

Mimic Luna's smile turned pleased as her eyes dipped down. "Are you sure?" She worried a nail between her teeth and looked much more like a mature vixen than the innocent bunny. "Because you react to me like I'm real."

Shame spurned Gale to motion as he raised his arm blades and chanted: "Sapphire Torpedo!"

Mimic Luna laughed as she easily dodged the attack, spinning in the water. "Gale, c'mon—"

"Corundum Javelin!"

Mimic Luna was throttled back with a gasp when the javelin grazed her cheek and tore off some of her flesh, an ear, and some hair. The moment the fatal hit leaked black blood, the mimic's glamour wavered and faded with its two legs melting together to make a fishtail, and her nimble fingers ugly and webbed. She snarled at Gale, partially still Luna and the other part an inhuman scaly face woman with hatred in her eyes.

"Insolent child," it hissed like a viper.

Gale assessed her. A siren. He launched himself off the stone behind him and made a break for her. An emerald glow birth between his hands as he chanted, "Emerald…!"

But the siren sucked in a breath before letting loose a high-pitched scream.

Gale's growing attack faltered under the force of such a scream with Gale wincing when his ears ached, and his entire body was wracked with pain. Desperately, he wildly swam in another direction, but the siren followed him with her scream that shook the earth and water. He threw out a spell as he curled into a ball: "Rose Quartz Full Shield!"

An octahedron of Rose Quartz shielded him from the hateful screams of the siren—at least enough to muffle the noise. He shook off the ringing in his ears, though there was no point trying to rub out the noise considering the water submerging him. He had to think quickly. So—my opponent is a siren. What do I know about them? They shapeshift, sure, but they have really weak Water Magic and a really strong Scream and Song. But what can I—?

He squinted as he watched the waves of the scream shake the earthen walls and chip off weaker bits of rock. Wait… His focus sharpened as he watched the Scream shake down more of the earth, but he could see it. A small little tunnel widened the more the scream piled onto it. A drain… It's breaking. That Scream should be enough to break through the softer rock. She's doing my work for me. He turned to glare at the screaming siren. I just need her to do it more.

The siren's Scream cut off when the shield exploded in a flash of life—

"Sapphire Torpedo!"

She snarled when one of the torpedoes nicked her fin. With the precision of a shark on the hunt, she speared into the water and charged for him. A few times, she unleashed her Scream, but he gave her the annoying slip and fired back more sapphire torpedoes that she could barely dodge, and a couple skidded across her scales. She screamed again and again as she chased after him in the water, but he would lead her into a wall before launching off and rocketing in a different direction.

And she just about had it.

Gale backed himself into a corner and he could feel the tug of the draining tunnel behind him. All right. I just need one good Scream from her. But she's gonna play it safe and not get close to me and that distance is too far. He called, smirking, "Y'know, there's something pretty sad about a siren who can't even seduce a man. We're pretty much easy targets"—rubies glowed—"and you couldn't even get me to beg for it."

The siren hissed before sucking in a breath—

Gale abandoned his sapphire arm blades and prepped his spell. Here we go.

She released her scream:

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH!

Gale could feel his ears tingle, wanting to bleed. I have to do it now! He gripped his wrist with an arm as his sigil blossomed, and he chanted: "Diamond Grappling Hook!"

PYU!

TAK!

The siren screamed in utter fury when the grappling hook pierced through her stomach, her shriek so loud and violent that the surrounding rocks rumbled and collapsed.

Gale winced back. "Nnngh…! Retract!"

The grappling hook lured her in.

The siren flailed as she kept up her screaming with the sound waves detrimental and Gale could feel his nose bleed and his ears pop, but when he managed a look back, the closer the Scream came, the more the rocks shivered and quaked until something had to give—

DON!

The drainage was instant.

The earth exploded, and Gale was instantly sucked into the vortex with a fog of debris and fallen rock all over him. The siren's Screams shook the air, but he tried to hang on as the intensity of the pull battered him around in this widening tunnel until—

BAKI!

He hit his head.

And he was out.

---

DOTA-DOTA-DOTA…

Heaven's Light continued showing the abandoned mine, and Lance and Nashi kept to their path.

POTSU… POTSU… POTSU… POTSU…

Nashi flinched and looked up to see cracks in the earth and drips of water seeped out. "Do you think everyone else is all right?"

"I can't be sure." Lance was honest in that. "A Demon's Labyrinth, from what I understand, is powerful and complex. We still don't know who summoned the Demon and why, so we don't know their influence on this Labyrinth. It's safe to say Misty can handle himself. His Heavenly Body Magic should be diverse enough to keep him grounded."

Nashi could not disagree, but she hedged her question. "So… Why does he use that as his Magic if he, y'know… Everything with his papa, and…" She fiddled with her sleeves. "I'm sorry. I know you guys are close, but…"

Lance quietly chuckled. "It's fine." He snuck her a sly grin. "I'm sure I can divulge a few things to his former admirer."

Nashi turned red as she flailed. "H-Hey! Th-That was a long time ago and—!" She pursed her lips when he snickered, hmphing when she turned away. But she mumbled, "And it's not like I have time liking someone else when I'm dealing with a pitiful dog, so…"

"Oh, yeah?" Lance raised an eyebrow, grin widening. "And do I know that 'pitiful dog'?"

"O-Of course not!" Nashi cleared her throat behind a fist, cheeks a baby pink. "And anyway, just forget it. I didn't say a word."

Lance hummed a laugh. She's so transparent. Sighing, he looked up to follow the cracks in the roof. "Who can say about Misty? He was adamant to get rid of anything and everything dealing with his dad when that day came." Sunset oranges shimmered with memories. "And if I'm being honest…he did want to get rid of his Heavenly Body Magic."

That shocked Nashi. "Wait, seriously? But getting rid of your Magic…"

"I know." Sunset oranges dimmed. "It's practically suicide."

• — • — • — • — •

PIKAPIKA!

"Stop it!"

The Lacrima crystal looked jagged and unrefined in such an old cave, but lightning bolts of power warped around it, the atmosphere laden with animosity and intensity. Regardless of being nothing more than a child, Lance did everything in his power to stop his best friend as Mystogan shouted and shed every drop of Ethernano in his body into the Lacrima. His hands were scratched with tears of desperation and spritz of blood on his lips staining his face.

"Misty!" Lightning wound around Lance as he poured everything he had into dragging Mystogan away. "Stop it—!"

"Let me go!" Mystogan turned his head to show Lance one brown eye full of hatred and pain. "I don't want anything that man gave to me! So let me go!"

• — • — • — • — •

Oranges flicked to the side.

Lance murmured, "He only stopped trying because Master told him Aine had come down with a high fever and she needed him to be at her side. I made sure he stopped visiting the caves, but he never promised he would stop. Not even Aine could get him to promise to stop trying to get rid of his Magic."

"Not even Aine?" Nashi echoed.

Lance's smile twisted, melancholic. "He might move mountains for her, but back then… Not even she was capable of stopping him. He wouldn't respond to 'Oberon', not even to Master, and he changed his name the second he could. He wanted to change his last name to Master's maiden name 'Scarlet'. He really…wanted to erase his dad from his life."

Nashi hung onto every word. "So what happened? I mean, he's still a 'Fernandes' and his powers are still…"

"Your guess is as good as mine," Lance told her. "I'm not sure why he decided to keep his powers or his last name. He never gave anyone a reason if they asked. All he said was it wasn't our concern."

Nashi huffed. "Yeah. That sounds like Misty."

"Go easy on him," Lance said good-naturedly. "It's not easy being him."

"Well he certainly makes it sound easy," Nashi muttered. "Honestly, he can be so…clinical." She tapped her chin. "Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever seen him smile—or if he even can smile."

"That's not true," Lance chirped. "If I remember correctly, you certainly blushed when we were kids if he smiled at you and patted your head—"

"Why are you bringing that up now!"

Nashi tried to cool her flushed cheeks, mumbling about how stupid it was to dwell on the past, while Lance simpered. I'm sure it does feel like he never smiles. But… Sunset oranges glinted. From where he's standing… He doesn't have a reason to smile anymore.

"And don't turn this around on me!"

Lance blinked when a finger poked his cheek and Nashi was sending him an accusatory look. "Huh?"

"If you want to talk about love interests, then you should fess up and tell Misty who you're dating," Nashi commanded.

Lance smiled his mother's smile. "Oh, I have—multiple times. Aine and I both have. But it seems he doesn't seem to understand regardless of what we do or say."

• — • — • — • — •

"Mystogan."

Lance and Aine stood as a united front in front of Mystogan with their clasped hands. He worked diligently on his research for his magic studies, but Lance gently told his friend, "Aine and I are in a relationship."

Mystogan carried on with his work as he said, "I know. You've been best friends since you were children. If that's all, you may go."

Aine tried, "Misty, we're in a romantic relationship."

"So I see." Mystogan examined a scroll. "A platonic romantic relationship is crucial in mental and emotional development. And it's natural between two close friends."

"Mystogan." A tick mark twinged Aine's cheek as she tightly smiled. "We're in love with each other."

"I understand." Mystogan pushed up his glasses with that scholar glint. "It's important for close friends to love each other. Good work."

• — • — • — • — •

So in short…

Nashi felt dreary imagining Chibi-Mystogan adjusting his glasses like a scholar. He has great book smarts, but he lacks all street smarts. No wonder he's Luke's teacher. She patted Lance's shoulder in consolation. "I'm so sorry."

"Thank you."

And they carried on.

Nashi clasped her hands behind her back as she watched her Heaven's Light. I wonder what made Misty keep his powers. He doesn't even call his papa 'papa' anymore. If he was so certain he'd want to give up his powers, why change his mind? She tightened her hands. I don't think I could understand that, wanting to give up something so precious and yours…just because of something like that. Your powers are a part of you. I could never give mine up.

She jerked when Lance grabbed her arm. "What—?"

"Look."

Nashi looked down the tunnel—

Hickories widened. What the…?

Out of all the things to see in a deserted mining tunnel, a two-story house was not a predictable sight. And especially not one with strobe lights and people inside.

Lightning clacked off Lance as he put himself before Nashi. "Stay behind me," he ordered in low tones. "Unless it's dire, don't transform. Your divinity would be too big of a beacon right now."

Nashi nodded. "Right."

Lance eyed the house in steep suspicion. I've had my shields up since I woke up. And that house isn't familiar to me. So if that's the case… He told Nashi, "You should—"

"I'm coming with you." Nashi would not budge, stare defiant. "I looked at the proposal too. I know this assignment is also an assessment for me too." Her hands balled. "I screwed up in Mallow Town. I saved those kids, and I don't regret that. But I also didn't think carefully about the criminal. This situation we're in could've been avoided if I'd been more aware of the situation. I know that now."

She lifted her chin. "So I'm coming with you. And I'll show you I've learned to see the bigger picture." She grinned. "You're my examiner, right? So watch me pass this test."

Lance sighed, crossing his arms. "Y'know, I don't see how Gary is so obsessed with you. Your persistence isn't cute at all."

Nashi felt like a stone statue, and she was cracking. Huh?!

"But."

Nashi blinked when Lance sternly looked down at her.

"I'll let you come." Lance added before Nashi could get excited, "I'm not the official proctor of this assignment—that's Misty. Gary and I are his assistants. Still, I see your point. You have something to prove after last time. It's not that you failed—"

"But in the end, I should've captured her so we could figure out how and why she did what she did," Nashi listed, tense. "I know. I'll do better this time."

Lance nodded. "Okay." They both looked at the house, and lightning twitched around his knuckles. "Then don't leave my side for a second. This is an obvious trap to lure us in. But we need to find out why and for what. Put out your light. We don't need it."

"Okay." Nashi waved her hand and her Heaven's Light dismissed.

Lance raised a hand before pointing two fingers forward.

And their approach was at a crawling pace.

The muffled music and joyous shouts boomed louder and louder as they came closer to the house. Fresh grass layered the front lawn, and the porch lights showed a few teenagers were "outside" passing a blunt or drinking. None of them bothered from their conversation to look at the two Wizards in stealth suits coming up to the house. Nashi and Lance climbed up the steps as the music and noise were about to burst out of the seams of the house. With a nod from Nashi, Lance opened the door—

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

— • — • — • —

You… You love it how I move

You—you love it how I touch you, my one

When all is said and done,

You'll believe god is a woman

•

And I… I feel it after midnight

A feelin' that you can't fight, my one

It lingers when we're done

You believe god is a woman

— • — • — • —

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The first floor shook with noise as the partiers threw up their hands and their cups. Cutoff shorts, bikini tops, Caelun shirts—this was a party for the forever young in the summertime. A questionable punch seemed to be the common drink, but it was more common to swap pills with someone you just met. Thick bands of sweat and sex and liquor made the house feel like a desert, but the partiers were on top of the world and felt nothing more than a euphoric high.

When the bass dropped, the house shook and the heat was on.

Lance and Nashi stuck together.

Both surveyed their surroundings, but a house party was a house party no matter where you went. One boy led his date off the dance floor as he twirled a condom and she looked ready to devour him. A shier boy looked enthused to speak to quite the barrel-chested rugby player about a new lacrimagame, but his best friend, swarmed with his own mates and ladies, frowned seeing such an interaction. The grinding and dry-humping were abysmal to look at, but then again, the point of a party was to get so drunk or high that you ignored everyone else but yourself.

Nashi shouted to Lance over the music, "Anything?"

"No." Lance scanned the crowd. These kids… They're all high school students, aren't they? Then why are we…? He felt Nashi shift and went to check on her, only to frown when her face paled as she stared. "Nashi? Nashi, what's wrong?"

But she never answered him.

The music muffled in her ears and so did his calls.

Because her eyes were on a pretty brunette sipping some water as she spoke to a boy.

Lance kept calling her name.

Nashi kept staring.

The brunette laughed at whatever the boy told her with his cap backward and features sharp. It was easy to see why other girls eyed him when he grinned, considering all his swagger. And yet he used all his charm on this blushing brunette, and she stared into her water as she teased him. When he bent over to whisper something, she reddened and quickly nodded before downing her water. The boy left her alone while she fanned herself.

Nashi moved.

"Nashi!"

She ignored Lance's call and shouldered through the partiers until she got to the brunette and grabbed her shoulder. "H-Hey!"

The brunette flinched and turned around, frowning. "What?"

"You need to listen to me," Nashi whispered, urgent. She eyed the boy as he went to stand by his friends, cracking jokes. "Okay?" She turned back to the brunette. "You need to get out of here, you hear me? You're not old enough to be here."

The brunette protested, "I'm—"

"You're fourteen, yeah, I know, I know, but please—" Nashi grabbed both the girl's shoulders and tried to smile through her hysteria. "Please just listen to me, okay? I know you think you're old enough to be here, but you need to leave. They were right. Justin, Chi-Chi—y'know?—they were right. You need to go back home right now, okay—?"

The brunette tried shrugging her off. "I don't know what you're talking about, so let go—"

"No!" Nashi tried to keep the girl with her. "No, please, just listen to me, please, don't stay here—!"

"You ready?" The boy had come back and ignored Nashi for the brunette. He offered a gentleman's hand to the girl.

The brunette smiled, flushed. "Uh-huh." She took his hand and slipped free from Nashi's grip.

"No!" Nashi tried aimlessly to get to her, but she staggered as her bottom lip trembled and her hands violently shook. "No, please, don't go with him, please—!" She broke into a high-pitched sob and fell—

"Nashi!" Lance slowed her fall, holding her, and took in her cloudy, desperate eyes with severity. "Nashi, what's wrong—?"

"Lance, you need to help me," Nashi insisted. "You need to help me stop her from going upstairs—"

"Nashi, this is an illusion—"

"She can't go upstairs, Lance, please—!"

"Nashi—"

"Listen to me!" Nashi grabbed his suit as tears cornered her eyes. "Please, Lance, please, she can't go upstairs!" She turned her head and witnessed the brunette eagerly follow the young man as he pulled her to the staircase. "Stop! Stop it!" Nashi shouted with cries between. "No! No, please!" She struggled in Lance's hold and screamed, "Don't go up there! Please! Please!" She thrashed, sobbing, "Let me go! Let me go! No! NO!"

"Nashi, you can't do anything—this is an illusion," Lance insisted as he held her taut. Yet her desperate weeping pierced his heart. I can't calm her down. But her Magic becomes unstable the more she stays here. I need to get her out. He stood up and hauled her with him. "We need to go—"

"No!" Nashi fought against his restraints, trying to reach for the staircase. "She needs to go home! Let me fucking go, Lance, you asshole, please, she needs to leave!"

Lance took a steady breath as he dragged Nashi with him. I'm sorry, Nashi. But this place isn't safe for you anymore.

Nashi clawed with her leaps to get away aborted by his hold. "Let me go! Let me go!" Her lips twitched and showed a hint of fang. "Let me go."

That almost made Lance freeze. Her voice…

Nashi dug her nails into Lance's suit. "Let me go…"

Sunset oranges clashed with jarring reds.

"…human."

Lance tensed. She's—

DOSHADOSHA!

The ceiling broke and water spewed.

All Hell broke loose.

Screams pierced the air as the gush of water exploded into the house and no one had any warning to prepare for the watery onslaught. The pressure and amount were so large, it took a matter of seconds for the house to submerge with water and throttle people this way and that. Lance kept his hold on Nashi tighter than ever and wiggled out from her utility pockets her breather and clicked it on her face as they tumbled through the water before fudging around and finding his own.

They might have been able to breathe, but water churned around them.

The vacuum of water tossed them back and forth as though playing a game until Lance hit one of the abandoned mining carts. He grappled the cart and clung him and Nashi on it as they rode out violent wave after wave until the storm withered and died, leaving them drenched messes. Lance kept Nashi hunched into him as they gathered back their land legs. Nashi coughed and sputtered, shivering, and Lance did his best to warm her, soothing, "Give it a second. The suit will start drying out in a moment. Can you make us some light?"

Nashi weakly nodded and sniffed, raising a hand, "Heaven's Light!"

The pink sphere appeared and lit the space.

As Nashi trembled and hugged herself, Lance rubbed her back and looked at the space. So… We're back in the tunnel. Not in the same position. I'm sure the illusion had us walk further into the tunnel, but… Why is the Labyrinth leading us this way? He looked at all the water around them. And on that note, it looks like the water isn't fake. So this wasn't planned by the Demon. Then what…?

PIKA!

Eyes water, Nashi sniffled and looked up at him. "Lance?"

"Don't worry." Lance took off his breather. "We're with a friend."

A lazy drawl came from the shadows. "Y'know, it's pretty shitty for you to leave behind a teammate."

Nashi brushed aside her wet bangs. That voice… But her relief traded for being guarded. She took off her breather, and she demanded to know, "What's your background on your Compact?"

A pause. "Shit, for reals?" A grumble. "It's a selfie I have of Blondie, and you better not tell Igneel about it or I'm telling Gary what your password is." Another pause. "Which is…?"

"I-I'm not telling you that!" Nashi snapped in a stammer.

Lance nudged. "Nashi…"

She huffed and mumbled, "It's just some stupid dog's, y'know…"—she sunk her head—"birthday."

Lance blinked before giving a blinding smile. "Maybe Gary does have a chance."

"Shut up!"

"All right, we've confirmed I'm me, you're you, and the sky is blue. Red rover, red rover, can I fucking come over?"

Lance chuckled. "Sorry. It's always best to verify."

"It's fine." Boots crept upon the tunnel until the shadows could not contain him anymore. Gale stepped into the light, already steaming dry thanks to his suit, but he looked like he had seen better days. And dragged with him looked to be a dying and hissy sea creature with a grappling hook piercing its midsection as it tried and failed in healing itself. "Listen. I've got a monster headache, a siren wanting to kill me, and several thousand questions. But I just need one answered."

He took off his breather. Rubies intensified. "Where is she?"

---

KIRAKIRA…

Luna followed the white star, less afraid and more curious about her environment. She peeked down a tunnel they passed to see abandoned mining equipment all covered in dust and cobwebs with nothing to show for it. She got on her tiptoes to see water sluggishly drip into a little high-up pool. One side of the tunnel dropped, and her white star showed her a dangerous cave below of thickened stalactites and stalagmites.

We've been walking for a while now, Luna noted. But we haven't had any sign of my team. Dark chocolates fretted. I know it's stupid to worry about them. I'm sure everyone can handle themselves, but… It's been so long. What if something happened to them? She rubbed her arm. What if they're hurt or if they met the Demon? What if they're fighting right now? I know I can't do much, but…

Such a thought sobered her. What…can I do if they're fighting the Demon? I still don't know anything about my powers. All I know is the basic aid Aunt Wendy and Granny Porlyusica taught me. And… I could run, I guess, but… How will that help any of them if they're in danger?

She slapped her cheeks. No. I can't think like that. I need to stay positive and figure out what I can do. Papa always says feeling bad about things won't change the fight in front of you. I have to look at things head-on.

She looked at the white star. So far, it looks like I can make light. A glance at her hands showed her nothing. But… I can't remember how I made it. Still, that has to be something, right? Making light is still useful. And it's even listening to my command to find my team, but… She looked around and her walk slowed to a stop. We really have been walking for a while… What if we're walking in circles? What if…? What if my light is lost because I'm lost? What if I—?

KIRAKIRA…

Luna blinked when the white star drifted back to her. She cupped her hands and let the star rest on her hands. "I'm sorry," she murmured. "I created you, and I'm still acting like this. You don't deserve that. I'm sorry."

The white star glittered.

Luna smiled. "You feel so warm," she told it. "It's like how I feel when Mama hugs me. My first spell."

The white star brightened as though proud.

Luna simpered. "I know I'm not the best Wizard, but… Thank you for coming to me now. Please help me find my friends, okay? Just a little longer."

The white star gleamed and floated away to lead her back down the hall.

Luna kept her sigh to herself and followed. More walking… She clasped her hands—

KIRAKIRA!

A breeze nearly knocked over Luna and she watched as a spiral of stardust circled her. What is…?

The stardust broke from spiraling to forge into a starry golden retriever. Luna giggled as the starry retriever barked with a wagging tail, but she staggered and fell on her rear when the retriever jumped on her and nosed her for licks and sniffs. "Hey! Ew, I get enough of this at home!"

The starry retriever whined and nuzzled her.

Luna giggled some more and calmed the retriever with a few scratches behind its ear. As it panted, tail going a mile a minute, she thought in wonder, It's so soft… It…almost feels like fur, but it's something more. She asked the dog, "Who are you?"

The starry retriever ruffed.

"'Sirius'?" Luna pieced it together. "You're the light Misty summoned? The Dog Star?"

Sirius barked and tried bowling her over in licks again—

"Down, boy, down!" Luna smiled, warm and fuzzy when Sirius reluctantly backed down to sit like a good boy. As she got up and brushed herself off—you would think being around celestial hounds who could not shed would mean she never brushed fur off herself, but it was a force of habit—she looked at Sirius. "Wow… Misty must be really strong to summon a star."

Sirius sat up proudly, tail thumping, and he barked again.

Luna blinked. "He told you to howl when you found me."

Sirius ruffed, licked his chops, then barked again.

"Oh, I see." Luna considered this. Misty must've seen Sirius to me since I'm the weak link on the team. But—she looked at the white star hovering in the distance—I'm not as weak anymore. And I can do things too. She asked Sirius, "Would it be okay if we waited? I'm on my way to find my teammates. It shouldn't take long."

Sirius had the right to be doubtful and relayed as such as he ruffed.

Luna puffed a cheek. "Well, I'm not going to break! And I'll have you know I cast my first spell to help me find my time." She pointed at the white star. "See? I can do things too—"

GORO…

Sirius went from a friendly, neighborhood retriever born from stars to a large mastiff with bared teeth and raised hackles. He stood before Luna and barked warnings before growling again, tail low and ears pinned back.

Luna frowned. "Sirius?"

The white star raced to hide behind Luna, and Sirius followed it, snapping his teeth and barking up an angry storm. Luna's frown deepened and she commanded, "Sirius, no! This is my spell to help me find my teammates! Stop it!" When Sirius kept barking, Luna snapped, "If you don't stop, I'll tell Misty you were a bad dog!"

Lightning struck Sirius.

Whining, Sirius shifted back into a starry golden retriever and laid down, head between his paws.

Luna huffed with a firm nod. "That's better." She gave the star attention. "It's all right. Sirius is a friend. I guess different Magic types meeting for the first time can be a little shy." She whispered to the white star, "And since Sirius is Misty's, he might be a little stuck up."

Sirius snorted with his whole body.

The white star peeked before drifting back down the tunnel and waiting.

"See?" Luna smiled smugly. "My spell will get us to the rest of the team. So you can howl to Misty after we find my other teammates." When Sirius looked away from her, still stinging with betrayal, she cooed, "I'll tell Misty you were the gooddest boy of them all…?"

Sirius perked and imagined his master finally giving him well-deserved belly rubs (or perhaps the nice-smelling apprentice would dote on him since his master was quite stingy with affection). He got to his feet and circled Luna, sniffing her, before standing by her side. He lapped at her hand when she petted his muzzle.

"Okay." Luna looked ahead. "Let's go."

And they soldiered on.

Sirius shifted into bloodhound, sniffing every crack and crevice to make sure the area was clear. He insisted if they come through some sort of rocky intersection that he crossed first, checked the area, and then monitored Luna's steps as she crossed. A few times they were led into thin tunnels that required some finagling and maneuvering, but Sirius shifted into stardust to get to the other side and spotted Luna as she came through. Other times, Luna had to use her dancer's feet to cross thin bridges of rock else she could plummet into voids of blacks or hardened minerals.

Luna rubbed her arms with her breath scarcely in front of her as they continued their march. "We shouldn't be much further." Whether this assurance was for herself or Sirius or the white star, it was a pretty good guess who it was for. A bit of sweat clumped her face. Now I know why Papa's been forcing us for harder endurance training. I'm a little tired, but a month ago, I don't think I'd be in good enough shape to continue.

She rubbed her hands together and breathed on them. Maybe when I get home, I should ask Papa to up my training a little. Should I ask Aunt Wendy to teach me more than basic aid? I'm still not sure what's my position on a team and…

A shiver crawled down her spine. It's so cold.

She stopped. Wait…Her breath clouded before her. It's…cold? She rubbed her arms with tremors controlling her body and her skin sensitive and pebbled. As she looked around, it occurred to her all the rocks she had been following had been stained in ice crystals. Stalactites had been locked in ice and frost. This doesn't make sense. Nashi said these stealth suits would keep me warm. So why do I feel so cold?

One word came to her, and she called, "Gary?"

Sirius growled and Luna reeled when the ice around them thickened.

But that fortified Luna's belief. Gary… This must be his doing. But why? Is he hurt? Or worse? She stepped forward, but Sirius teethed her hand and pulled her back. Sirius… She turned to him, and he dropped her hand, gruffly ruffing at her as though lecturing her. She laughed behind a hand. He sounds just like Misty.

Luna petted Sirius' head. "Thanks for worrying, but I'll be okay. Gary would never hurt me or anyone. He's my friend."

Sirius was unconvinced.

Luna added, softly, "Please trust me on this, okay? And when I come out with him, howl for Misty. Please?"

Sirius looked mighty reluctant, but he laid down.

Luna took that as his approval and turned back to the ice and frost. The white star showed she had a mist of winter to get through, but the star would stick with her until the end. Determined, she started her journey inside this winter wonderland. The wintry fog was dense and thick enough to chill her lips and a few times, had she not been actively reaching out and using her light, she could have made fatal mistakes of hiding icy stalagmites. The ice burned her hand and lashes, but she drew up her mask to keep her lips from freezing off. The suit warmed her as much as possible, but nothing could counter Gary's cold.

Luna shivered even more, the tips of her toes freezing. He can't be too far away. He could be seriously injured. She called, "Gary?"

It took her back when the ice once against thickened. She went to touch it, but she quelled her cry when it burned her through her gloves. This ice…

"It was all a dream…"

She perked. That voice… Nodding at the white star, she continued maneuvering through the sharp pillars of ice and frost, but it startled her when her food planted in thick snow that would sink her like quicksand if she was not careful. Grunting, she fished out her foot and had to drag herself through the snow.

"It was all a dream. Nothing's real."

Luna charted the source of such solemn slurs, digging her foot out before the snow could consume her and avoiding bumping into the ice before it could freeze her inside out. The murmurs sounded closer as she continued such a perilous trek through such a mist, but her white star went ahead. She followed after it and crossed through the last layer of mist to see a scene that took her back.

Ice showed its teeth from every angle with individual ice crystals and snowflakes frozen in mid-air. This was not protection from a monster. This was a prison for one. A prison of ice and snow—of winter.

And a little boy with white hair was imprisoned.

Luna blinked when she saw the little boy with his gaunt icy-blue eyes and his knees drawn up. He repeated his mumble like those words were all the words he knew. But Luna knew better and she whispered, "Gary?"

The ice sharpened and slowly closed in.

Luna shut her mouth. Saying his name is what makes this all worse. But I can't just leave him here. I need to get him out.

"It was all a dream. Nothing's real."

Luna tried, "What was a dream? What's not real?"

For a long moment, Gary was silent. But then he spoke in that same emotionless voice, "None of you are real. Everything was just a dream. I'm still in my Room. You aren't real. Nothing is real. Everything was just a dream."

"Why do you say that?" Luna asked, soft, breath chilled and labored. "Why aren't I real? Why was everything just a dream?"

Gary tightened his hold on himself. "Because I'm the Devil."

HAA…

Winter oozed as the ice grew even more.

Luna took another shaky breath as the cold turned into an alarming warmth. She briefly closed her eyes. I see.

Eyes open, she trudged as close as she could to those bars of ice before her legs shook and she could not walk anymore. With care, she sat against an ice pillar and take a moment to rest. "You know something?" she asked. "Sometimes, I liked to think this life was a dream. And my dreams were reality." Her chest stuttered. "For so long, I wanted Magic. So I dreamed about it. I dreamed I didn't have to keep waiting for a miracle. I was a Wizard just like everyone else in my family. And that dream…was my reality. So when I would wake up, all I'd want to do is go back to sleep in that world where I was useful."

Dark chocolates half-lidded with her blonde hashes flecked in a few ice crystals. "It's funny, y'know? Without Magic, I was normal like the rest of the world. But being like the rest of the world made me feel like I wasn't normal when it came to my family. And even now that I have Magic, I thought I'd feel different…but I just feel normal. I didn't inherit Papa's senses or Mama's strength. I'm just…me. I'm not special. I'm normal. And I thought if I was normal, I'd be left behind."

She adjusted her mask. "But…that's not true at all. Even when I think I'm all alone and I've been left behind, I have so many people who care about me. And they don't care if I'm normal or not—they just care about me."

She closed her eyes as her breathing slowed. "You're not normal; I know. But it's the same for you. Even if you think you're alone, you have so many people who care about you. They don't care what you are; they just care about who. Because after all…" A shaky breath. "We're all in this together."

Gary bit his bottom lip, tense.

Luna could feel that cold-warmth entice her into a hibernative slumber. "So please… Don't feel sad alone. Because if you do…" A slow inhale. "Nashi…will be sad."

A warm smile during summer. Lips pulled back into loving words. Silken feathers.

Icy-blue widened before they clouded.

Luna felt herself slip away under winter's lullaby. Gary… I'm sorry…I was so useless… And she let out a prolonged exhale as she caved into sleep.

Silence.

SAKU… SAKU… SAKU…

Hands came to dig around Luna and picked her up, tucking in her body.

SAKU… SAKU… SAKU…

Past on ice pillar, he had grown into an adolescent still months younger than her. His hair still looked religiously white and a killer's eyes existed in those icy-blues, but he carried her with ease as winter parted the way for its master. Past another pillar, he had grown more into a teenager with his build and height bigger and firmer. His winter receded.

And past another ice pillar…

Sirius rose to its paws as the white star returned, and it came with guests.

He appeared, free from his icy cage and back in his stealth suit and adulthood. He cradled a sleeping Luna in his arms like she was nothing more than breakable glass. Sirius whined, sniffing at her like a mother hen.

He looked down at Luna's sleeping face. She is as important to protect as Malã'ika. The Devil looked into the darkness with callous eyes. I understand his insistence on human logic. Very well. I will play along. He walked with Luna in his arms, but he told Sirius, "Dog Star—howl. Tell your master she is safe."

Sirius barked before turning into a starry wolfdog. He tipped back his nose and…

WAOOOOOOOOOOOOOON!

The Devil's icy-blues glowed as he saw the world in hues of blue and silver. The trails of Curses with their faint whispers all seemed to seep out of one place, and he would follow to the source. No longer will this Demon harm this oneaña. I will keep her safe as I have promised the Etherious King. And I will keep you safe as I have promised you…

(It felt like a dream.

It all felt like a dream.

But he curled up in the grass under the summer sun, a person shedding boyhood for adolescence. He slept peacefully in this valley with his battish wings still too large for him, but he would grow in them with time. He waited beneath this tree—this great tree where it all began, where their initials were carved—and for a boy who was the Devil with hair as black as soot and skin ice cold to the touch, he slept like an innocent angel.)

…Gary Fullbuster.

---

— • — • — • —

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)

— • — • — • —

---

It was common to overlook the Kingdom of Magar, and that was such a travesty.

Then again, who could blame people for not wanting to traverse the Wastes where the monsters cruised beneath the dunes and the desert had an unmerciful mind of its own. Brave caravans with layers of protection spells and charms might have tried their hand to cross if they could not afford a commercial airship, but only those with a death wish went about the Wastes.

Even so, the stoned-in kingdom never succumbed to the Wastes' ideals of nothing but sand. The stone houses made from dry masonry held up to this day as the people traveled in tunics and scarves. The farms were fertile with healthy livestock relatively unbothered by the heat. Technology was not necessarily uncommon, but it was dependent on what you were looking for. LVs and Radio Lacrima were commonplace, but a car meant travelers. And at the center of the kingdom was a fountain and pond so large scale that all walks of life came to drink from it. Statues safeguarded the water as a goddess with her hijab cried endless tears as she wept into the side of a large canid creature protecting her.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« This is the Kingdom of Magar, a smaller kingdom in Alakitasia yet still under the financial aid of the Alvarez Empire and belongs to the United Alakitasian Alliance or the UAA. It is said Magar started the domestication of horses and dogs. The Kingdom of Magar is one of the only kingdoms that can live inland of the Wastes and legends say the reason Magar is prosperous is due to an ancient fertility god's prayer for the kingdom's longevity was heard by an ancient Guardian Spirit, who protects it to this day! That fountain you see is said to be made from the fertility god's tears! »

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Two travelers thanked the innkeeper for their room. They only needed something humble for their stay, and they were certain the innkeeper knew they had much more journeying to do. Their new domicile was rustic with a bed big enough for both of them and even an old LV for entertainment. They set down their belongings, of course, but it was all too soon a knock came on their door.

They looked at each other.

The larger one of them tended to the door and opened it.

A grin. "It's about time. I was getting worried."

A low growl.

"Calm down." Lucy loosened her headscarf covering with a tense smile. "I'm sorry. It was a long flight and, well…" She cast her gaze to the side. "This trip… It isn't going to be an easy one for either one of us. We've both had a few memories coming over here. Please forgive us."

Sandals moved into the room. "I understand. I know there's nothing more I can say or do right now. It's been almost thirty years, but it might as well have been yesterday And for that, you still have my sincere remorse and apologies."

Lucy waved her hands. "No, no, it's okay. We've discussed it. Water under the bridge, y'know? And we have more important things to worry about." Her features softened in appreciation. "Thank you for agreeing to our request, Dimaria. It means a lot to us."

"Yeah, well…" Dimaria Yesta looked nothing like the haughty Spriggan Shield with a monster's eyes. Her cloak exposed her balloon capris and a simple bandeau, but she concealed her hair beneath a loose headscarf. Her scimitar was sheathed and at her side, but no one would dare question her strength even without it. Emblazoned golds glinted in amusement. "Brandish is quite fond of you after all."

⌜ALVAREZ EMPIRE

Name: Dimaria Yesta

Occupation: Mage, Lieutenant Governor

Magic: Âge Seal

Likes: dark humor Dislikes: Brandish's disappearing act

Special Note: Dimaria might be a pacifist, but she'll certainly start a fight over Brandish's random disappearances! ⌟

Lucy's smile brightened at the mention. "How is she doing, by the way? She popped up at Saint Layla's for a drink and wanted to share a bath after I finished work, but…" She scratched her cheek with a finger. "She didn't seem all that willing to talk about how her home life was going."

• — • — • — • — •

"Why does it matter?"

Lucy sweated a fair bit as the other woman accosted her in the bath and pleas of w-wait please we don't need to be this close fell on deaf ears.

"Home is fine," her friend told her, blunt and looming over her in a compromising position. "I didn't come here to talk about home. I came to bathe with my cutest pet. So come here." She held up a loofa ominously. "Let me wash your front, Lucy. And I'll be sure to be thorough."

Lucy wanted to cry, 'Why can't you wash my back!'

• — • — • — • — •

Lucy tried not to despair (though Chibi-Lucy wept for her virtue). Why do all my friends have disturbing tendencies?

Dimaria sighed. "Yes, well, she'll be on the farm with me one moment and the next morning, she'll be gone. At least she leaves notes this time. Before, she'd just vanish if we so much as fought over our grocery list." She added with a smirk, "Fine. She can keep disappearing all she wants. If she gets arrested, she won't see me breaking her out. I might go visit her just to rub it in her face she got herself in jail when she could've been on the farm with me. That'll show her."

Lucy sweatdropped, smile twitchy. I suppose their relationship hasn't changed one bit…

Another growl. "Why did you come early?"

Dimaria's expression faded for gravity. "We'll need to leave before sundown. Magar has closed its borders at sundown." Emblazoned golds darkened. "The Wastes are becoming more and more mischievous and at night, it's gotten just another worse for King Zeina to head the High Reeve's suggestions and keep the citizens inside."

Lucy frowned, worried. "Is it anything serious?"

"Nothing official," Dimaria told her. "But unofficially, there have been some rumors among the UAA." She splayed her hands in a shrug. "But you know me. I don't enjoy listening to rumors. And I'm nothing more than a lieutenant governor of an agricultural district for the empire, living on my farm. I don't come into Vistarion unless the Reeve wants me there." Emblazoned golds sharpened. "But that doesn't mean I don't have my own eyes and ears. These rumors aren't baseless. Even after Yajeel's ascension and quieting the radicals, displeasure has risen among the people…and among the officials."

Lucy took a step back. "So that means…"

"It's nothing serious right now," Dimaria assured. "But that doesn't mean you shouldn't take it lightly. Yajeel may be the current king, but to the people and this entire continent, there has only been one true emperor. And… It looks like the rumors are starting again that His Late Majesty had family. And"—a grim look crossed her—"it doesn't seem the Reeve is squandering those rumors like before."

Lucy froze. No… An arm circled her waist and drew her close in consolation.

Dimaria continued: "Only a small group of people know the truth of the next successors, including the High Reeve." She turned to face the other traveler. "For now, you're safe. But since you can't abdicate because of the late emperor's will and Yajeel's request, you need to watch yourself and your family even closer…"

A scarred hand lifted his hood with his pink hair unruly. But gone were those loving onyx eyes; replaced only by that demonic red.

"…King Etherious Natsu Dragneel."

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Voices of Characters in Order of Appearance

— • — • — • —

Luke Dragneel – Alan Lee

Igneel Dragneel – Bryce Papenbrook

Luna Dragneel – Brynn Apprill

Gale Redfox – Greg Cipes

Gary Fullbuster – Griffin Burns

The Devil – Sean Schemmel

Mary Jane Dreyar – Erica Lindbeck

Lance Dreyar – Johnny Young Bosch

Nashi Dragneel – Laura Ladna

Mystogan Fernandes – J. Michael Tatum

Jellal Fernandes – Robert McCollum

Ena Fernandes – Xanthe Huynh

Aine Fernandes – Carrie Keranen

Lucy Heartfilia-Dragneel – Cherami Leigh

Dimaria Yesta – Meli Grant

Brandish μ – Amber Lee Connors

Natsu Dragneel – Todd Haberkorn

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Additional Voices

Opening Narrator – Mary McGlynn

Description Narrator – Mary McGlynn

Closing Narrator – Melissa Fahn

— • — • — • —

⌜OPENING THEME

⟪ Ao To Natsu! ⟫

Mrs. Green Apple

Lyrics by & Composed by

Motoki Ohmori⌟

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⌜INSERT SONG

⟪ God is a Woman ⟫

Ariana Grande

Lyrics by & Composed by

Airana Granda, Ilya Salmanzandeh, Max Martin

Rickard Bertil Goransson, Savan Harish Kotecha⌟

•

⌜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 008

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HE WHO CASTS THE FIRST STONE

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LIFE IS BUT A DREAM