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!

26. Adventure 026

Disclaimer: I do not own Hiro Mashima's "Fairy Tail", but all original plots and characters are mine.

---

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

---

Last time, on Fairy Adventure, Luna woke up from a vivid dream only to find herself still in the past. To cheer her up, Gabriel took her into town to meet Sir Ludvig Krause the Third, executive runologist for the Archaeologist Society! Meanwhile, Yuka and his team didn't do so hot against a seething suzaku, but Master Ooba gave all of Margaret Town the pep talk they needed! Well, except for Gale. Looks like he's down for the count, isn't he? Meanwhile, Ludvig took Gabriel and Luna to the ancient runes he and his team have been studying. When Luna makes a connection, it turns the whole place around like it was given a new set of runes! Ludvig quickly figures out that these runes aren't just runes, but they confirm that there's some type of medium that lets the Guardians to and from their dimension to Earth Land—whatever that means! Mary Jane finds herself stuck with her two least favorite people, but at least one of them comes in handy when they decide to take a chance in an abyss that could lead them to their doom! Gale finally wakes up only to realize how bad his body was beaten up. But, have no fear! He's not one to go down without a fight!

'This isn't a game. This isn't a story where the Power of Friendship and Family and Love swoops in to save me and unlocks some hidden power. I'm fighting to live right now because I have to live. This…is the power of me.'

All right, Gale! Time to get back in action! And, don't worry, Luna! The present will still be there when you get back! Well…hopefully…

---

Bluenote's eyes may have been closed, but he was still seeing. He could feel himself standing. He was no longer inside the classroom. Or, at least, his mind was no longer in the classroom while his physical body remained stuck on Earth Land. Bluenote looked around. He found himself in a library. It was vast, bigger than the Library of Parliament, bigger than the Minstrish Library. It was an enormous expanse of knowledge well looked after.

"Have you succeeded?" came a deep drawl.

Bluenote turned around to find himself nowhere in the vicinity of the library. He was stranded in a field with nothing more than an oak tree to keep him company. "He was sleeping," he answered, "but, I think the fledgling will be a good exercise for me. I could feel a stir in his Magic Power. He woke up. I'm interested to see what his next move will be."

A deep chuckle. "Playing with your prey. I can respect that. The torture is only half of the fun."

Bluenote watched as a black orb appeared before him. He held out his hands to catch it.

"Take this," came insistence. "When you're ready, use it."

The black orb shifted into a post horn before it touched Bluenote's hands. It was a circular horn without any valves or added tubing to it. It might have looked small, but with slick black brass, it looked dangerous.

"I understand," Bluenote said, not looking up.

The whole world flickered when a bang vibrated in the air.

Bluenote's eyes flashed. "He's awake. I have to go."

"Of course."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Bluenote's eyes opened. He was back in the destroyed classroom. There was no inclination he had been anywhere else except for the post horn that had made a home in his hands. His eyes landed on Gale.

Except Gale was gone.

Bluenote got to his feet, his Magic Circle disappearing. "So, the fledgling woke up," he remarked. He walked to the spot Gale had once preoccupied. His eyes were drawn to the sizable hole left in the floor where Gale once sat. The hole let him see another hole on the second to the first floor. "Don't worry, fledgling."

Lightning flashed.

The storm howled.

Bluenote showed a hint of a smile. "I'll make sure you show me you can fly."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

As I close my eyes

Nokosu ato naku kobosu oto naku iku ate mo naku

I know that this is what I want, this is what I need

Ima mo kurikaeshiteku zanzou

•

Kizutsuita kako no bokura wa

Ienai mama de

Sonna karamawari kawaranai hibi wa

Mou tozashite ikun da

•

So now

Kore wa boku ga nozonda

My Nevereverland

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Gale felt like a damn worm as he tunneled underground.

For an Earth Mage, being underground and being surrounded in earth was a blessing. You were in your natural element, the element of your Magic. You could feel the spirit of your Magic giddy at being encased in its element.

Yeah, Gale felt pretty fucking stupid digging a tunnel.

Black flirting with gold surrounded his body as he took the nutrients from the earth and fed them to his body. He gritted his teeth as he let his hands run over the earthy floor, moving the ground in front of him like it was nothing.

Just a little farther and I should be able to get out of the school district and somewhere safe. Would be best if I could stay underground, and I'm lucky enough healing the way I am, but I need oxygen. And S-Class help.

Gale continued sifting his hands against the ground, crawling through his tunnel.

If I can survive against him for at least five minutes and get him to make a scene, it'll attract attention. Whether it's the good kind or bad kind, it doesn't matter. Anything is better than dying. But, maybe if I run for it…

Gale stopped when he felt vibrations shake the earth, causing some rocks to dislodge. He tried to bear it as he continued to clear a path for himself. He began his uphill climb.

But, is it even better out there? What about those things? What about the Guardian Duo? Lamia Scale, Fairy Tail, my family… All of them are fighting for their lives. And all of them better be alive when I see them.

He could see her golden hair. He could see her smile. He could not suppress his growl.

And Blondie… Syra's safe, but I need to get to her. I have to bring her back from whatever time she is. The future could be altering, and I wouldn't even know it.

His eyes hardened with unrestricted rage.

I don't have a choice but to survive this crap if I ever want to get her back.

°•°•°•°

The place Gale dug himself into was a front garden of a house. It was not much—yards in general were rare when it came to life in Margaret Town—but it was something. He dragged himself out of his hole to crawl onto the moist grass. He flopped onto his stomach (he flattened several hydrangeas), panting, before turning onto his back (oh, those poor flowers). The rain was welcome to cool him down physically, but, as an Earth Mage, he preferred something more solid.

Maybe he would swim in rubies when he was not being hunted.

"I…made it," Gale breathed. He wiped his bangs out of his eyes. "I'm…alive…" For now, were those two words he could not get out.

CR-CRACK. CR-CRACK-CRACK.

The devastating sounds of two deities—one on a murder path and the other sticking to its guardian path—trying to dominate the other while terrified screams and cries intermingled with incantations. The hum of Magic was turned into something unpleasant, something booming and ear-hurting. The scent of fear was distasteful and made him scratch his nose but could be downright addictive to sadists.

Gale sat up to get to his feet. He looked at his wounds. His bruises were healing nicely and so were his cuts. The blood, dirt, and dried sweat matted his body and ripped clothing, but he did not care about that.

My Magic Power replenished just enough for my plan to work. And, without so many injuries and my energy restoring, I can at least find the nearest Mage.

He turned around to see he was on one of those wide streets with a small park that split the left from the white. The park was subjected to the horrors of battle and was trampled, though not recently.

Gale let his eyes linger over the fallen plant life before breaking into a run.

Gotta think. I need to get somewhere high up, but it needs to be hidden. I can't afford to be—

His eyes widened as he slowed to a stop. He turned back around to stop before an alleyway.

He wished he had not.

For two soldiers of the Anti-Magic Unit lay dead in the alleyway.

Gale found himself taking a staggering step towards the two who lay dead. They were not murdered with much blood to show for it. It was obvious both had been drowned in water without a means of breathing again. Though, the one on the left that was laying half on the wall and half on the ground had obvious boil marks on it, meaning he had been burnt through means of seething hot water. The other was left untouched with diluted blood tried from the corner of his mouth. Maybe if you looked closer, you would see that his skin was untouched. Scorching water had been forced down his throat and charred it to a reprehensible mess.

Gale tried to find his footing, but he could not take his eyes off the two lifeless soldiers before him. He found himself swaying towards them.

I can't… I can't hear a heartbeat… I can't…

He dropped to his knees before them. His eyes were wide and glistening. He could feel them burn but stopped them from doing else much. He tried to get a grip on himself but could not find the means to.

They're…. They're dead… Shit, they're dead…

He felt his body shaking.

I… I-I never… This… This wasn't…

The focus zeroed on terrified chocolate eyes.

He shut his eyes, locking his jaws.

I'm…sorry…

Gale opened his eyes and crawled to the deceased soldiers. He found their ankh cross necklaces with their name and identification numbers etched into the backs.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« These ankh crosses are the symbol of the Magic Council, each worn by a soldier like a military dog tag. When a soldier dies, their ankh cross is collected and given back to their loved ones along with their uniform. »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Gale ripped the ankh crosses from their chains.

You didn't deserve to die like this. And I'm sorry you had to die in an alley like rats.

He took the crosses and gripped them. He stood up to look over the corpses in steeled grief, even if he tried to reign it in. "I'm not religious," he murmured, "but, I at least hope you guys make it to a world where you don't have to deal with shit like this. We'll make sure your deaths mean something." He stepped a distance away before clenching his fists. He spat onto the street. "Serge, obey the will of your master and come to my aid," he chanted.

The stone began to bubble and boil as it built itself upwards. A golem was formed right in front of Gale's eyes and looked down at his master with a stare of swirling black and gold.

Gale raised a hand and his Magic Circle bloomed from his hands. "I give you the gift of Human Speech," he chanted.

Serge glowed for a moment as a mouth was cut for him. He opened and closed it as he tried to grasp the concept of a mouth. "Master," he spoke with a voice of restless rock.

"Protect those two bodies behind you until someone of Lamia Scale or Fairy Tail or another Anti-Magic soldier comes to reclaim them," Gale ordered. He lifted the ankh crosses for Serge to see. "Take these. Give them to whoever comes to reclaim the bodies, you hear me?"

Serge nodded his stony head and took the crosses from his master. "I understand, Master," he assured.

Gale turned his back on his golem, on the corpses. "Once you have completed this job, continue your search for other bodies and defend them until someone reclaims them. If I don't have any use to you, you will be summoned back."

Serge blinked and nodded. "I understand, Master."

"And, tell this to the people who come for them, okay? Tell them—" His words cut off when he felt his body shaking and something threatening to escape his lips. He swallowed it back, whatever it was. "Tell them these soldiers defended Margaret Town with everything they had," he relayed. "They were nothing short of the perfect soldiers. And, their death won't be in vain. This is from the Earth Dragon of Fairy Tail."

Serge nodded. "I understand, Master."

Gale let his body tense. He could not bring himself to turn around. Instead, he sprang out of the alleyway and back on his path. He blocked out the sounds of thunder and rain and the pitiful shrieks and the wails of the two deities who caused this pandemonium, this…this war. His eyes only focused on the road ahead.

I can't think about that right now. I have to find a high point in the ground.

His eyes jerked when he saw a cathedral with a bell tower closing in.

There. That should give me a perfect view.

Gale jumped with his arms going outwards. The earth responded to his Magic, rising up to give him a platform. The platform zoomed closer to the cathedral and progressively got higher and higher. The second Gale was at the height of the bell tower, he leapt from his platform and into the bell tower, rolling to a knee. He stood up to move around the giant bell for his eyes lay witness to the battles in Margaret Town.

Gale watched as he saw explosions of the elements climb above rooftops. Sections of Margaret Town had been destroyed, but was it from a Mage defending themselves or was it from the two deities who wrestled and roared in the sky? Smoke piled up in the air, dauntless in the face of the storm. It did not matter what side of the river you were one; you were equally susceptible to fighting for your life. In the sky, he could see Erion defending himself in a sphere of clouds as Nayda blurted dark energy at him, trying her best to get to her prey.

So, the pixiu and suzaku still fight for the fate of this place and the Mages and foot soldiers suffer. Whoever did this wanted people to get hurt, for people to die. It's just like back home and the summit. This has the scent of a demon written all over it. If I could even smell one. The storm is screwing with my nose and I can't sense any massive Curse Power.

Gale pressed his hands together before spreading them apart. A spyglass telescope was made for him, glittering in gemstones. He peeked through the telescope to take a slow look around. He looked on the other side of the river and paused when he saw the flag of Lamia Scale.

So, he put me on the other side of the river. Figures. Wouldn't want to keep me close to there on the off-chance of escape.

He brought his attention to the bridge itself. He could see Anti-Magic Unit soldiers lining the bridge with their Magic Guns and swords and weapons of all-sorts. He watched as a few were brought in to help set runes up around the bridge with Mages of Lamia Scale helping out. They wrote in mid-air like it was normal. Some used swords as their utensil, some used quills, some used pens, some use paintbrushes, but they all served their purpose.

I see. They're setting up protection for the bridge. Good. The second that bridge falls, getting back to the other side won't be easy or probably without Flight Magic or a magical creature that can fly. Huh?

He could see his mother among the ranks. Levy was helping directing the Letter Mages with her knowledge of runes.

So, Mom is helping out. She would. Since Uncle Freed is back in Magnolia, she's our best bet in protecting the bridge.

He began to find a route to Lamia Scale, to the bridge.

If I can just make it to the bridge without Bluenote trying to kill me, I'll be fine. I just have to keep heading north-northwest.

°•°•°•°

Boots splashed into puddles laboriously. Drops of blood dripped onto one puddle. It spread out in the water and stained it red, like water being turned into wine.

°•°•°•°

Gale let his spyglass telescope dissolve. "All right." He hopped up on the ledge and leapt to his platform of earth. "Time to go."

°•°•°•°

There was a staggering grunt. The boots stifled and stumbled but kept marching through pools of dirtied water.

°•°•°•°

Gale lowered himself to the ground. He looked around. "I don't sense any Mages around here," he muttered. "But, if I keep using Magic, someone's bound to find me." He began to take off down the street in a light run. He avoided any puddles and kept close to the edge of the street.

°•°•°•°

The boots stopped as a rumbling wet cough erupted. Like raindrops, blood splattered onto the street like it was their job to taint Margaret Town.

°•°•°•°

I have to warn everyone. I have to make it to the bridge. If I don't—

Gale skidded to a stop.

His eyes widened.

The world was still.

No… he thought to himself. But… Just how…?

A fanged grin masking pain. "Hey"—pant—"pipsqueak…"

Gale's eyes narrowed as he readied himself for a fight. "Hey…"

Just before him stood Gajeel. He looked battered and bruised with blood stains on his dark clothing. His hair was soaking wet, but it bothered him little as he pushed it out of his eyes.

Gale allowed a dagger made of diamond to be conjured into his hand. He readied his arm and sneered, "Imposter!" And, he threw the dagger.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Fairy Adventure 026

Gale VS Bluenote! I Wonder if I Can Fly?

ゲール VS ブルーノート！神話を話す人は過去に到着！

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Gajeel's eyes widened. "Pipsqueak, the Hell are you thinking!" he barked. He raised a hand as iron scales hardened over them and caught the dagger before it could pierce his heart. He eyed the dagger before looking at his son in the eye. "If we're saying 'hey' with knives now…"—he was quick to conjure an iron dagger and throw it at his son—"then don't count me out!"

Gale dodged the dagger before smirking at his dad. "Just had to make sure you were the real deal, Old Man," he tried to explain. "I've met an imposter of you before. Who's to say it'll happen again?"

Gajeel chuckled as he crushed the diamond dagger with ease, letting it dissolve back into Magic. "Taught ya well, pipsqueak," he had to admit. "Have to admit I thought the same. I was about to sick ya with my roar."

"That would've killed me, Old Man!"

Gajeel barked a laugh. "Quit whining! I would've gone easy," he assured.

Gale tched and rolled his eyes. "Your version of 'easy' and mine are very different," he grumbled as he walked to his father.

Gajeel was quick to frown. "But, how are you doing, pipsqueak? Haven't seen you or squirt since the battle got crazy," he said. "With the little Salamander and Sparky's little girl missing, I was worried about you."

Gale chuckled as he looked over his father's wounds. "What about you? What happened to you?"

Gajeel looked at his battered body. "Iron isn't such a great bet against water," was all he told.

"Same with earth," Gale grunted. He put Gajeel's arm around his shoulder, taking the burden of his father's weight. "Come on. We need to get back to the guild. I've got some news to share." He started slowly moving, helping Gajeel walk forward. "We've got some unfriendly company who likes playing with his food."

Gajeel growled at that. "Great. Just what we need. Got a name?"

"Bluenote Stinger," Gale identified. He felt his father tense, so he eyed him. "Ring a bell?"

Gajeel snorted. "More than a damn bell," he grunted. "When we were on Tenrou Island way back when for your mom's S-Class Trials, Grimoire Heart blindsided us. Crazy strong, sure, but they were just flat out crazy."

"Then, you know what he's capable of," Gale figured. "If he tracks us down, think you could take him?"

Gajeel did not have to think about his answer. "No way in Hell."

Gale raised his eyebrows at that and his jaw dropped. "The Hell do you mean, Old Man? You can't?"

Gajeel responded, "The guy is fucked up, pipsqueak. He murdered his ex-guild mates in cold blood without breaking a sweat. We're lucky Salamander is still standing after all this time. Gildarts could take him, no sweat, but that guy would kill us before we could get the party started."

"But… Your iron," Gale tried to argue. "You could—!"

Gajeel stopped him right there. "I could turn my whole body into iron and still be killed by him without him even trying." He did not mean to sound morose, but it came out that way. "Iron ain't that dense. Your bro and sister have a better shot with osmium on their side and could live to tell the tale, but they wouldn't live without any serious injuries."

"So, we're screwed then," Gale muttered and angrily so.

Gajeel guffawed his odd laugh. "Nothin' like I haven't seen before," he tried to sate. "Odds have always been against us." His eyes sought the warring sky. "We won't die," he promised. "We can't die."

"Two soldiers are dead."

Gajeel looked down at the forlorn expression his son wore.

"I saw them. I saw their bodies," Gale murmured, his voice hush against the raging rain. "They were dead, Old Man. Killed off in the streets like they were nothing more than rats. Anyone of us could die right now. We could die alone without anyone even—"

"Shut up."

Gale's words stopped in surprise. He looked up at his father who stared determinedly down the road.

"You know I hate saying things twice, but I'll say it anyways. We won't die," Gajeel reiterated in firm belief. "Doesn't matter that we're bleeding. Doesn't matter that there are two gods in the sky fighting it out. We won't die."

Gale was taken back. "Dad…"

"I'll save my lecture for later." Gajeel gave a side-glance to his son. "Just like you're saving your freak out for later."

Gale felt a tick mark burst on his forehead. "The Hell is that supposed to mean, Old Man?"

"You saw death, but you knew your responsibilities and accepted it. You moved on."

Gale snapped out of his anger to furrow his eyebrows.

Gajeel further went to say, "I know you, pipsqueak. What you saw—it terrifies you. But, you're numbing it out for the greater good. Movin' on so you can keep fighting until there's time for you to think about it." He smirked. "Damn. You're just like me. Don't know whether that's a good or bad thing."

Gale snorted. "Probably a horrible thing to inherit your ugly genes," he insulted, grinning.

Gajeel barked a laugh. "Sucks for you, pipsqueak. You got that vile look in your eye from me!"

"Shut up, Old Man!"

Gajeel's laughter resolved into coughs. Gale went rigid when he saw a bit of blood leak out of Gajeel's mouth, though Gajeel wiped it away like it was nothing. Gale stopped altogether, forcing his father to stop as well.

"How about we rest for a second?" Gale suggested. "Might help you catch your breath."

Gajeel coughed again and blood spat from his mouth and onto wet pavement. "Might not be a bad idea."

Gale helped his father hobble over to a nearby store. He was careful in helping Gajeel sit against the glass and slide down to the ground. Gajeel put a hand around his mid-section as he continued to cough.

Gale took a step back, concern in his eyes. "Just stay here, okay? I'll make sure we're making good progress getting to the bridge."

Gajeel gave a shaky nod and his fanged smirk. "Don't you worry 'bout me, pipsqueak," he wheezed.

Gale rolled his eyes and began to walk away. "Don't give me a reason and I won't, Old Man," he countered back in a shout. He was a good distance away before scanning the rooftops. "All right," he murmured to himself. "I have to find another place where I can get a clear view, but no one is watching me."

°•°•°•°

STEP… STEP… STEP…

°•°•°•°

Gale's eyes flitted to a corner apartment building that towered over its friends.

Could use that. Wouldn't be ideal to be in a closed space and breaking and entering ain't my style, but it's better than nothing.

°•°•°•°

STEP… STEP… STEP…

°•°•°•°

Gajeel roughed some more and violently so. He wiped his mouth of blood. "So, pipsqueak," he called, "what happened to the squirt? She all right?" he wanted to know. "Last any of us checked, she was with you."

Gale said offhandedly as he raised a hand to flip back his hair, "She's fine. Promise. She's with a friend."

Gajeel coughed again and shifted. "Good," he croaked. "Salamander's gonna be happy to hear about that. Which friend?"

°•°•°•°

STEP… STEP… STEP…

°•°•°•°

Gale dropped his hand. "Friend of Fairy Tail."

Gajeel growled at that as his hand shifted over his stomach. "Don't play smartass with me, pipsqueak," he snapped, coughing again. "We're all worried sick about squirt, 'specially her parents."

°•°•°•°

STEP… STEP… STEP…

°•°•°•°

"I know that," Gale said. "Trust me, I get it, Old Man."

"Then, where is she?"

CR-CRACK. CRACK. CRACK.

If the storm were an orchestra, the conductor led it into a forceful crescendo that blared fortissimo before calming back down to a mezzo piano.

Gale let his fingers twitch. "I'll be straight with you, Old Man. I…" His fingers rolled to press into his palms. "I don't know where she is."

Something crossed Gajeel's face. Something like a thunderstorm. He let it go as quickly as it came as he lifted his chin, frowning. "That right?"

Gale nodded, though did not face his father. "Yeah. We got caught up in the craziness that we were separated. I thought she might've made it back to the guild hall or something."

The frown deepened. "Really now?" Gajeel drawled.

Gale nodded.

Gajeel gave a humorless laugh as he shifted his arm. "Y'know, pipsqueak, you're bad at telling lies."

°•°•°•°

STEP… STEP…. STEP…

°•°•°•°

Gale let a loose smirk touch his lips. "Well, y'know, Old Man—"

°•°•°•°

STEP…. STEP… STEP…

°•°•°•°

"—you're bad at hiding the noise of a gun."

CR-CRACK. CRACK. CRACK.

It was true. Gajeel held a gun up to his son's back like it was as casual as giving his son a clap on the shoulder. The safety was off, and a pointer finger made all the different between silence and the noise of a bullet.

Fake-Gajeel grinned largely. What a peculiar and unsettling grin. It was too big for his face, too sharp, too wide. He cackled. "I was that obvious, huh?" His thumb twitched. His grin enlarged. "Oh, well." He pulled the trigger.

The reaction was instant.

Gale's body lurched forward from the shot to his back.

Two more shots rang out.

Gale's body twitched and jerked as he fell to the ground in a pile of torn clothing and limbs.

Fake-Gajeel stood up like he was not bleeding, like he had not been fighting, like he was not injured. He made his way to Gale with the gun in his hands and his trigger-happy finger itching for another chance to kill. "But, they also said you left your back open," Fake-Gajeel cackled. He stood over Gale.

His eyes widened.

There was no blood to prove Gale had been viciously shot. There were bullet marks, yes, but no holes piercing skin, nothing to show for Fake-Gajeel's work.

Because something nearly transparent was clinging to his back.

Gale let a grin slip onto his face, flashing his canines. "This is what an Earth Mage can do, Old Man."

Fake-Gajeel growled as he aimed the gun for Gale's head. He was about to pull the trigger, but he stopped when he saw the same material cover Gale's head and slip over his skin.

Gale's chuckles rang freely into the air. "Lonsdaleite," he named. "It's basically a diamond, but it's harder." He shifted as the Lonsdaleite went through his clothing to rise up.

Fake-Gajeel shook his head and began shooting at the hard jewel.

Gale had no problem making his Lonsdaleite form into a dome that let him get up. The bullets pelting at the dome did nothing more than bounce away, not even leaving a scratch on the precious gemstone. Gale turned around to face his imposter-father shooting uselessly at his shield. He let himself smirk. "You were convincing with the speech. Kudos to you, asshole. Kudos to you," Gale praised mockingly.

Fake-Gajeel threw down his gun in exchanged for turning his arm into a darker version of an iron chainsaw. He pounced on the dome of Lonsdaleite and tried to force his way in like a rabid dog.

Gale only watched in dark amusement. "And, now, here's where the detective who outsmarted the mastermind villain gives a bit of expository on how he deduced it," he said. "Well, since my life is on the line, let's skip the meaningless trope in exchange for some advice for next time, since I'm the good guy who wants his villain to improve."

Fake-Gajeel leapt back when he realized his chainsaw was not working. Instead, he conjured a darker, accursed version of an Iron Dragon's Roar and belted it at the dome shielding his prey.

Gale watched as the darkness bathed his gem shield like water. "Well, my old man doesn't really bleed when it comes to life-or-death battles like this. He likes to use his iron scales and they're impenetrable. Why not give it a shot next time? Oh, and my old man doesn't carry weapons, so… Maybe no gun next time?"

Fake-Gajeel quit using his roar to snarl at Gale. He got on all-fours to circle his prey, snapping and snarling like a feral beast.

Gale had no interest in watching him circle but continued to give pieces of wisdom. "You do realize when I offered to rest, that was just enough test, right? My old man is too damn stubborn and has too much stamina to rest." He ticked off a finger. "Another test was asking about what happened. My old man has been besties with my aunt Juvia since I don't care how long. He might be shit when it comes to dealing with Water Magic, but he's got tricks up his sleeve." He ticked off another finger. "And, yeah, it's normal for him to care about Blondie and all, but you were getting a bit too obsessive for my liking." He ticked off another finger and sighed. "For God's sake, get your facts straight before you try and imposter someone I give a shit about. And stop faking to be my old man." He shivered. "Be a bit more original. Like, be my mom or something."

Fake-Gajeel snarled as he rounded to face Gale.

Gale's smirk broadened. "Nice pet familiar. Good boy," he jeered.

Fake-Gajeel only snapped at him.

Gale laughed.

I need to get out of here and fast. I can only stall for so long.

°•°•°•°

STEP… STEP… STEP…

"Good job, Abraxas," came a praise. "You did enough."

°•°•°•°

Fake-Gajeel-Abraxas sat down obediently. It was comical to see Gajeel's body sitting like a well-behaved dog, but Gale did not have the luxury to laugh when he looked in the direction of the voice.

He tensed.

°•°•°•°

STEP… STEP…

The footsteps stopped.

°•°•°•°

Gale gritted his teeth and was inwardly cursing himself one-hundred times over. "So, you set your little pet to stall me. Slow me down."

"Don't look so unhappy, fledgling." Bluenote stepped to Fake-Gajeel-Abraxas, though his eyes were always on Gale. "Don't be so arrogant to think I didn't plan for you to escape the cage I trapped for you. After all"—a small smile could be seen on his face—"all birds will look for an escape from their cage if it means they can fly."

Gale loudly growled. "What is up with you and flying, you maniac?" he snapped.

Bluenote ignored the question. "I'm happy you brought out your little shield, actually," he confessed. "I was told from the weaknesses we have listed on you that harder, denser, and more complex rock and gemstones take more Magic for you to use, let alone sustain them for a long time. You said you made Lonsdaleite? One of the hardest diamonds?"

Gale narrowed his eyes.

"From that face, fledgling, you must have. A poor creature trapping itself in another cage," Bluenote sighed. "From here, you have only two choices: you can make a diversion and try to run in which Abraxas and myself will get you or you can show me you can fly and we all get by this peacefully."

"I can't fly," Gale cried. "I will never be able to fly! Earth Mages stay on the ground because we're freaky like that, don't you get that? Your creepy obsession with Flight Magic isn't going to be satisfied with someone like me!"

Bluenote reached into his pockets. "On the contrary, fledgling, I think it will. In another list of weaknesses we found on you, we found this picture." He pulled it out to show Gale.

Gale felt time, space, his thoughts, stop.

"Familiar to you?" Bluenote assumed.

Gale tried to grasp the situation. "Where…?" He swallowed and pure rage shook his very core. He could feel his hands balling into shaking fists. "Where did you get that?"

"Your wallet," Bluenote answered simply. "Why? Does it bother you?"

"Give it back," Gale snarled. "Give it back to me right now!"

Bluenote pocketed the photo instead. "Show me you can fly, fledgling," he insisted. "I want to see you fly. Though I assure you... Refusing to fly…"

Gale snarled.

Bluenote let his eyes flash. "…will result in something precious to you being taken away."

---

Gray reinforced his icy shield, watching as rogue Water Mages and water creatures hacked at it, eyeing their prey.

I can't keep holding them off forever.

Linus came up to his uncle, breathing frost like it was natural. "Uncle Gray, we have to get these people out of here," he said. He glanced at the mass of people they had under their protection. Many had huddled with loved ones or friends, their teeth chattering as they tried not to focus on the creatures trying to kill them or the ice slowly chilling them. "We don't have anything to keep them warm. If they stay in here any longer—"

"I know," Gray gnashed. "It's the people outside of my barrier I'm worried about." He flinched when a rabid Juvia let her hands turn into searing hot water to drill into the icy barrier. "Our choices are pretty limited. Either I drop this and we're screwed or keep this up and we're still screwed."

"What about a distraction?" Linus offered. "I could lead them away—"

"And, where would you lead them to? The outside world?" Gray shook his head. "They'll run off to try to find someone or something to kill. And, it'll be worse with the Water Mages on the loose. I know what's it like when you've got no choice but to fight your friends."

"We can't let these people suffer," Linus argued. "We have to get them out of town. We have to risk letting everyone run loose." He brought out his Compact to curse when he saw the NO SERVICE at the corner of the screen. "Dammit." He was quick to think on his feet. "If we can get to Lamia Scale and get to my master—"

"Who's 'we'?" Gray wanted to know. "There isn't any 'we' here. All of our skill is going to be used to keeping these guys away and making sure they don't kill anyone."

"I'll do it."

Linus and Gray turned their attention to Ultear. She had a bored look on her face as she approached her brother and uncle.

Linus raised an eyebrow. "You?"

Ultear nailed her elder brother with a look that could chill even Father Winter. "Look, my Magic isn't that great for fighting. I'm practically useless if a Mage or a monster tries to kill me. But, I'm fast and this town is my home. I can get to Lamia Scale no problem. Just tell me what to tell Master."

Linus wasted no breath. "Fine. Tell her the Water Mages and creatures we held down here went out of control. She needs to warn everyone else about them as quick as she can. Rest assured, they're not doing this on purpose."

Ultear nodded quickly. "Got it."

Julia approached the trio. "I can help guide these people closer to the train station," she offered.

"Linus can help you with that," Gray planned. "Here's what we're going to do: I'm going to keep up my barrier, but I'm going to be used as the distraction. I'll lead these guys out of here and outside and try to isolate as many as I can before they take-off. The second the last person or monster is outside, Linus, lead everyone out a different exit."

Linus nodded. "Got it."

"From there, Ultear, make a run for it to Lamia Scale. Linus, Julia, defend those people and get them somewhere safe. Got it?"

Linus, Ultear, and Julia nodded. "Right."

Gray nodded tersely. "Okay." He put down his hands, the mist coming off them promptly ending. "Let's do this then." He allowed ice to spring from his palms and onto the floor. In a sheer second, he was propelling himself to the top of his barrier and broke free from it without any injury.

And, the second he was free, he was under attack.

Gray gave a grunt when steaming water smacked him against a wall. He made quick work to put a fist in an open palm. "Ice-Make: Kite!" he chanted. He threw down his hands for a kite to appear underneath him made purely of ice. He nearly lost one of the wings to another blast of boiling water but hurriedly steered his kite towards the exit. He was storing through the air, dodging every attempt made on his life. "C'mon now! I thought you guys were better than this!" he taunted.

That taunt nearly drowned him in seething hot water.

Gray pressed his fist into an open palm. "Ice-Make: Cannon!" He extended his arms as ice wove to create a massive cannon, aimed at the exit and ready to fire. He fired it without preamble onto the dual doors. Snow and ice intermingled with smoke, but Gray flew right through it without flinching. When he emerged, the first thing he could feel was a tremendous amount of rain and the first thing he could hear was the cracks of lightning. He looked up to see the horrific storm waging war above Margaret Town.

Shit. This is bad.

Gray let his cannon dispersed along with his kite. He landed on the ground and swept around.

The Water Mages and creatures were storming towards him.

Gray closed his eyes as he put a hand on the wet pavement. "Ice-Make: Prison!" he chanted.

The Water Mages and creatures did not stop storming when a massive Magic Circle glowed beneath them. They stopped when icy bars rose up, corralling them like cattle. They hissed and snarled when a roof of ice was formed and successfully stopped their escape. Though, that did not make them give up. They attacked their jail cells with blasts of hot water and roared their need for blood.

Gray gritted his teeth as he stood up.

Gotta reinforce it if I have to keep them in longer. Linus, Julia, Ultear, I hope you made your move.

°•°•°•°

There were the small, commercial streets that no vehicles could pass through, barricaded off. It was deserted and drenched in rain, but that was fine. It was better that way. One of the doors opened to reveal a cautious Linus who looked ready to take on the offensive. He looked left. No one was there. He looked right. It was all-clear. He ventured out further, scanning around while he beckoned his hand.

"Come on," Linus whispered. "Coast is clear."

The people trickled out as quietly as they could. Their eyes darted around for the first sign of trouble, for the first sign to run away. They gathered together. That was a human instinct. With being such social creatures, when the danger level was high, they banded together. Julia and Ultear were the last out and met with Linus.

Linus turned to his sister. "I have a gift for you." He pressed a palm into an open fist. "Ice-Make: Sword!" he chanted. He let his hands come apart as a Magic Circle appeared before him. The hilt of a cutlass appeared in the center of the Magic Circle and Linus pulled the rest of the blade out. He handed the sword to his sister. "Take this for protection and get out of here," he ordered. "Be careful."

Ultear took the sword. "You too." And, she sprinted with a clear purpose in mind.

Linus turned to Julia, his eyes softening a bit. "I'll take the lead. You take the rear. If we run into any trouble, I expect you to take the people and guide them to safety. Leave me behind."

Julia worked her mouth, and something bubbled out, but she ended it with a nod. "Right," she forced out. "Let's get a move on." She whirled around.

Linus reached out a hand. "Wait!"

CR-CRACK. CRACK. CRACK.

Lightning streaked the sky as the roars of the beasts of sky and sea shook the air.

Julia stopped.

Linus stepped closer to her, close enough to touch her. He reached a hand to touch her shoulder, but, at the last second, his hand made up its mind and retracted. A sigh escaped his lips. "Be careful," he wished softly.

Julia nodded. "Yeah." A soft voice that spoke volumes over the whistling winds. "You too." She jogged to the worried people and gave them smiles of assurance to ease their panic.

A frown crossed Linus' face, lips trembling, fighting, wanting to do something. His lips pressed into a thin line and he eventually pressed forward.

°•°•°•°

Gray sat upon his prison. The sparkling mist of winter rolled off his body like steam, but it bothered him none. He kept himself firm on the roof of his prison. He was the warden. None of his prisoners would escape. He gave another side of crystalized breath.

Strong enough to hold a lot of them, but with the way they're getting, won't hold off the strongest.

His lips molded into a frown.

Won't hold—

BANG.

Like ice, Gray was not rattled at one push. But, with continuously bangs, he found himself leaping away from his spot. He could see his ice melting fast with a warm spot glowing, mocking him. Gray put a fist in an open palm with mist foaming from them.

CRASH.

Putting up a shield was only natural when something abrupt happened in your life. It was an instinct, a reflex, nothing you thought about consciously. Gray's ice shield went up like an automatic system defense, protecting Gray from shards and steam.

BOOM.

Gray flinched when he felt something slam into his defenses. His eyes narrowed when he caught what it was.

The enraged face of a watery Juvia.

Gray locked his jaw.

Crap.

Juvia, in her boiling glory, struck a hand through Gray's icy defenses and let her hand and arm dissolve into a tentacle. She wrapped it around Gray's wrist and, within that instant, Gray's icy shield broke. Being burned was a sensation you felt from the tips of your split ends to the ends of your toes and it hurt like a son of a bitch. Gray could feel his skin being boiled, reddened, and blistering as the knee-jerk reaction kicked in and he fought to get away. Ice crept up his arm to freeze the water, but none of his Magic could hope to pierce Juvia's scalding water. Juvia thrusted another tentacle to trap Gray, but he jerked his arm out of the way with ice already covering his skin.

But, Juvia was not one to give up.

Juvia jerked her tentacle back to throw Gray onto his back, but Gray was quicker than her with ice winding up his legs and feet to bolt him to the ground. Juvia slammed into Gray with every intention to absorb him. Gray let his ice disperse as black began to cover his body. He blew frost from his mouth onto the tentacle, onto Juvia.

Juvia shrieked the second ice began to form on her and dropped Gary in her panic.

You would have to be a fool to not get away while you could and Gray Fullbuster was no fool. He glided off the roof of his prison and jumped to the ground. His landing might have been graceful, but the blistering wrist he was sporting was a horrifying sight. He cradled his arm and glared at the wound.

Well, can't do anything about it now.

Ice crawled over the infected area, making Gray hiss softly in his pain.

My demon ice will have to do. But, to use it on Juvia…

Gray let out a terse breath as thunder and lightning prattled along, snapping at each other.

I never wanted it to come to this.

A feral squeal sent shivers down Gray's spine. His eyes snapped up to the roof of his ice prison to see a watery Juvia on the edge of it and glaring at her beloved. Rows of shark teeth filled her mouth and her eyes—those night sky eyes always filled with love—pinned him with such a predatory glower, the flight instinct was making his fingers twitch.

"Juvia," Gray called. Maybe he could reason with her. "This isn't you, Juvia!"

BANG.

Gray's eyes jerked down to see the familiar sight of his youngest son heading banging the bars. Silver did not care if he bled. His bluebell eyes thirsted for prey to sate him and he had his eyes on Gray.

Gray could not help it when he softened at the sight of Silver. "This isn't you either, Silver," he tried to tell him. "You're my kid; not my worst enemy." His eyes flicked up. "Juvi—!"

BOOM.

If Gray had not leapt back, Juvia would have killed him in a mass of roasting water.

Juvia gave another feral squeal, excited at the chase of her prey, and began her rapid flight to kill him.

Gray took off without hesitation weighing him down. He leapt in the air and ice was there, forming underneath him. With every step he took, ice forged his pathway, so he would not fall.

He could hear Juvia's wild squeal powering behind him.

Gray kept his sprint.

God… If there is a god out there… Why the Hell would you let this happen?

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Let's go back to the past to see how Luna's doing!

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Luna, Ludvig, and Gabriel road into town, Ludvig on his faithful pinto and Luna holding onto Gabriel as they rode Himeros with Icarus at their side and Hugo taking the rear. A few murmured at such an odd group and unnecessarily pointed at Hugo (it was just so uncouth to bring a dirt monster into town these days), but they dared not stop them.

"The discovery is such a blessing to my research," Ludvig gushed, his lion's tail twitching. "Gabriel, may you send word to your master at this discovery? I invite her to come to the tunnels to investigate, if she wishes?"

Gabriel chuckled. "I shall bring word to Master this evening," he assured. "She had me promise to bring her niece to her to exchange pleasantries and give a review about the town."

That was news to Luna. "She did?"

Gabriel chuckled even more though it was forced. "Yes, Miss Lucy, she did as one of the requirements for staying with my father and I. Remember?"

Luna flushed and nodded fervently at Ludvig's curious look. "Ah, right! Right, I remember! Silly me and all that… Ha-ha…"

Gabriel nudged her a bit with his shoulder in warning before turning back to Ludvig. "I am sure she would enjoy a fair bit of good news on your headway."

"Marvelous," Ludvig praised. "You have my thanks." He looked at Luna and bowed his head. "To you as well, Miss Lucy. Due to your insistence to see the tunnels, I have made a ground-breaking discovery. You have my eternal gratitude."

Luna laughed. "Really, I didn't do anything so there's no need to thank me."

Gabriel laughed quietly. "You really did do nothing but get your hand cut. How useless," he teased.

Luna puffed her cheeks irritably at Gabriel. "You jerk," she muttered.

"Do you think what he means is true?" came a floating murmur.

"Who may say? The idea sounds absurd."

Luna looked over at a pair of women walking about their daily business. They were obviously from money with their parasails and fancy make-up powder, but they did not look like their personality reflected their wealth.

Luna turned to a man talking to three others as he spoke, "I ain't takin' any chances. I say we take the old man for his word."

"Yeah," one of the men agreed. "Better safe than sorry."

Luna furrowed her eyebrows. "Looks like something's got everyone talking," she murmured.

"I can hear some mad man raving in the town center," Gabriel muttered back. "He preaches the coming of the apocalypse. Nothing horribly new. We always get a few raving lunatics who allegedly know the exact date of the end of the world. Pay no mind to his tomfoolery, miss. Like a child crying for not getting his way, he ought to be ignored."

Luna frowned as they turned into another street. "Right…"

"But, know this!" came a faraway shout. "Know you are all in terrible danger! For I have seen the future of this town! And, the future is full of raging waters and darkened skies!"

Luna peered over Gabriel's shoulder as the voice got closer. A crowd had gathered with mutters ranging from "lunatic" to "savior". From noblemen to common folk to a soldier, from women to men to children, all had gathered to listen to what whomever spoke.

"Huh. Wonder what's going on?" Luna mumbled.

Gabriel gave an unhappy frown and pulled Himeros to a halt, Icarus, Ludvig, and Hugo doing the same. "Sir Ludvig, I believe this is when we part ways," he called. "Miss Lucy, if you would?"

Luna took to dismounting as Ludvig did the same. "Actually, Gabriel, I, too, am curious about this mysterious person, so I think I shall accompany a little longer," Ludvig said, grabbing the reins.

Gabriel dismounted and took the Himeros' reins. "As you wish."

Icarus stood at Luna's side, eying the crowd. Another madman telling lies, perhaps? he guessed.

Luna grabbed a handful of Icarus' fur before pushing on to the crowd. Not sure. Better check it out.

Icarus, Luna, and Hugo took the lead while Gabriel and Ludvig led their horses to hitching posts. The sound of grave preaching wafted closer to them as they drew closer to the crowd.

"And, I warn you, people of Margaret Town, the sky shall fall and water shall turn to blood!" came raving. "For the gods have spoken to me, friends! They have spoken and told me the God of the River shall emerge and bring suffering and bloodshed onto the humans it was sworn to protect!"

Luna was taken back.

He's talking about Nayda and Erion!

She let go of Icarus to run into the crowd.

Icarus was quick to follow her with Hugo at her heels. Pup, wait! he gnashed.

Luna ignored Icarus in favor for pushing her way through the skeptical crowd.

"We must defend ourselves from such gods bring havoc to our homes!" came a cry. "We must kill the gods before they decimate this land for all that is it worth!"

Luna finally pushed her way in-between to women who were more than a little displeased at her appearance. She got a good look at the person shouting such words. Or, well, she would have liked to say she had. Instead, all she saw was a hobbled form of a man under the guise of a tattered cloak.

"Believe or not, friends, this destruction shall come and signal the end times!" he preached. "The god of the river shall bring with it the god of sky. Both gods shall battle and destroy your home! Kill your loved ones!"

"Why has this man not been locked up for such folly?" the woman to Luna's left muttered to the woman on Luna's right.

The other woman tittered, "He speaks such nonsense, it's more amusing than agitating. I am certain the soldiers enjoy hearing such madness."

A man behind Luna shook his head, a proud farmer with his boy right beside him. "Pah. Nothin' but horse fodder," he grumbled. "'Nother one of them Tzolk'ins preachin' 'bout the end of the world and other shit." He clapped his son on the shoulder. "Come on, boy. Back to errand-runnin'."

As people began to leave, the old man tried to keep their attention and desperately so. "Wait! You must listen!" he begged. He grabbed onto the cloak of a nobleman who shook him off in disgust. "Please! We cannot ignore the signs of the gods! They shall come! The god of the river shall come in malice and will wreak havoc on your homes!" He tried to stop a lady. "Miss, you must listen to me!" he tried to get her to understand. Still, the lady gave a shriek and batted him off.

Her fiancé sneered at the old man and shoved him away and onto the ground. "Back to the slums for you, scum," he spat before guiding his "oh-so-frightened" fiancé away.

The older man found himself stumbling to get back on his feet. With no man wanting to help him and nothing for him to grab onto, it was a struggle indeed.

Luna found herself surging forward to tend to the old man, helping him to his feet. "Here, sir, let me help."

The gentleman gave a few dry coughs as Luna helped dust the dirt off him. "Oh, thank you, my dear. Bless your heart," he told her kindly.

Luna offered him an embarrassed smile. "No problem, sir," she dismissed.

Icarus growled as he stalked to Luna's side with Hugo in tow. He gave her a growl as he nudged her head with his nose. I told you to stay at my side, pup. Not engage with strangers, he reminded her none-too-gently before side-eyeing the stranger.

Luna laughed, scratching her cheek. Sorry, but I couldn't just not do something.

"Miss, may I touch your hands?"

Luna turned to the old man and her eyes widened at his odd request. "Uh…" She hesitantly lifted her hands. "Sure, why not…"

The elder gentleman reached out to Luna's hands and held them with a dainty touch. He rubbed her knuckles with his thumbs. "Fascinating," he breathed.

Icarus growled. If he does not release you, he may lose his own paws.

"Miss Lucy!"

Gabriel and Ludvig appeared at Luna's side, Ludvig looking at the man in wonder while Gabriel looked like he was on the offensive, glaring at the gentleman.

"Is this man bothering you, Miss Lucy?" Gabriel wanted to know.

Luna shook her head. "No, he's not. He just wanted to see my hands."

"I sense such a power inside you, my dear," the gentleman whispered. "Such a power that the gods envy. How wonderful, child."

Luna gently withdrew her hands and a not-right smile adorned her face. "Um… Thanks, I think?"

"Sir, if I may," Ludvig interjected. "You spoke of the gods of Margaret Town, yes? Do you mean to say the Guardian Duo?"

"Is that what you have named them?" the gentleman wanted to know. "Gods, guardians—however you put it, these great beings exist and will wreak havoc onto this town."

"How do you know such a thing?" Ludvig persisted. "Will they truly appear?"

The gentleman nodded vigorously. "I have seen it," he assured. "This was predicted many moons ago. The god of the river would emerge to destroy the town. In its wake, it would give rise to the god of the sky who would battle it, angry. These two will cause utter devastation and chaos to the land before you. You must leave this place at once!"

Luna frowned. "Are you sure the River Guardian will come on its own?" she questioned. "And, why should she—it be angry?"

"There are those among you who disrespect nature," the old man said, shaking his head in woe. "They walk and live amongst you with their lack of care for magical creatures and the land provided to them by the Creator. They have angered the god of the river with their interference, laying their waste near the river and harming it."

Ludvig gaped. "But, sir, that is absurd!" he argued. "No one would dare disrespect nature here!" He paused. Then, he frowned. "Although, the noblemen who walk the streets do not care much for Magic," he supposed. "And, the soldiers… They have a bad habit for leaving their ale to bleed on the streets…"

Luna watched Ludvig think.

Maybe that old story was right then. It might not have been Margaret Town, but some people here did disrespect nature and Magic…

A warm hand intertwined with Luna's own and Luna whipped her head to see Gabriel glaring at the old man.

"Miss Lucy, I believe we should retire to my master's house," Gabriel suggested smoothly. "Master does not like to be disturbed late at night and, with the news we have for her, it is best we leave now."

"O-Oh. Okay then." Luna allowed Gabriel to tug her away but managed a wave at the old man. "Bye, sir! Thank you so much!"

"Thank you, dear child! Save yourself from your impending death!" came the cry of the old man.

Luna turned to Gabriel, confusion written on her face. "Why'd you take me away?" she demanded. "I could've asked more questions!"

"Do not listen to such a Tzolk'in," Gabriel muttered. "They bring nothing but madness and, in their wake, they implant seeds of doubt and chaos."

Luna's frown deepened. "What's a 'Tzolk'in'?"

"An old civilization," Ludvig educated. "They are mainly from Sin and their civilization is praised for such inventions like the calendar. Though, their now-descendants are known to be nothing more than raving lunatics who try to preach the apocalypse every year. Fickle people." He frowned. "Even if the man is a Tzolk'in, the fact that he knows about the River and Sky Guardian is something worth investigating."

"Save your breath, Sir Ludvig," Gabriel pleaded as they arrived at their horses. "A man like that ought not to be sought for information. He speaks as though he is a soothsayer, but he is merely a snake in sheep's clothing."

Luna let go of Gabriel so he could gathered the reins, though she crossed her arms. "No need to be rude," she muttered. "He's just an old man. And!" She leaned in closer to whisper to Gabriel, "He knows about the Guardian Duo which means he might know something that could get me home. Maybe he knows why the suzaku attacks the town."

Gabriel snorted and walked to the saddle, effectively pushing Luna back. "Miss Lucy, if you honestly think that man brings truth, you are more naïve than those noble girls who live lives behind gates." He mounted Himeros without a problem as Luna scowled at him.

"I might not be that smart as you, but I need information about them and he can give it to me," Luna snapped.

"He gives you nothing more than lies," Gabriel brushed off. "Now, mount."

Luna lifted her chin and hmphed. "I refuse."

Gabriel let out a loud exhale through his nose. "Miss Lucy, I insist you get on my horse," he persisted in low hiss. "We have to go visit your aunt. I am certain she would be delighted to hear about the man you are foolishly worshipping."

Luna gritted her teeth as she came close to Himeros and struggled to mount him. "I'm not 'worshipping' him," she growled. She finally mounted Himeros and wrapped her arms loosely around Gabriel. "Let's just go see my auntie," she muttered.

Gabriel held back his own growl. "Gladly." He steered Himeros around to see Ludvig mounted on his horse. He offered the man a fake yet polite smile. "We will be off, Sir Ludvig. Shall I come by your home tomorrow?"

"Please do," Ludvig insisted. "If Lady Meira would like to join, I encourage her presence!" His eyes drifted to Luna and softened. "Shall I see you tomorrow also, Miss Lucy?"

Luna gave him a genuine smile. "Yeah, of course! It was really nice to meet you, Mister Ludvig!"

Ludvig bowed his head slightly. "You as well." He made his steed turn. "I shall see you both tomorrow and, hopefully, without this disastrous tail! Good day!" And, with a slight hyah!, he and his steed were off to trot back home.

Gabriel guided Himeros in the opposite direction. "Let us go visit your aunt, Miss Lucy. I am positive she will have an opinion about the man you think you know."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

And, now, back to the present!

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Magic was capable of anything and everything so long as the Mage held enough power to power their spell.

Lonsdaleite was strong and so was the spell it was woven from, but with Gale unable to hold that much power, it was turning weak. The complex diamond gemstone cracked and would cave as the Fake-Gajeel-Abraxas continued his assault, bathing the jewel dome in Curse Power. Gale felt his arms quake as he held them, trying to keep his dome together.

"I hate," Gale panted, "everything—shit!" His eyes widened when he saw more cracks in his shield. "This won't hold forever." He flinched when another wave of black crashed into his dome.

Think, dammit. Think.

Gale's eyes dropped down to the ground.

BOOM.

Gale flinched and let himself take a knee at the pressure. He dropped his hand to smooth it over the ground.

Perfect.

BOOM.

°•°•°•°

Fake-Gajeel-Abraxas continued bathing the gemstone shield with all he had, roaring black. Bluenote watched with passive eyes at the explosions and smoke swirling around his prey. He may have been the hunter with his hunting dog doing its work, but that brought no satisfaction to his face. He merely watched, waited, took his time. He was being patient like a good hunter.

So, when Fake-Gajeel-Abraxas's roar completely shattered the dome protecting the prey, Bluenote was patient for the smoke to clear. His loyal hunting dog growled, wanting to lung after the prey and bring him back to his master dutifully, but, without orders, he stayed put and glared at the smoke.

The pouring rain and whipping wind might have moved along the process of clearing the smoke, but they did not help that much. The smoke took its time and cleared. But, what made Fake-Gajeel-Abraxas growl and bound over to his prey was that, well…

There was no prey.

It was like nothing had been there.

Fake-Gajeel-Abraxas stuck his nose to the ground and sniffed around. The sight rivaled downright ridiculous to see Gajeel's clone trying to scent Gale like a dog would, but there was no laughter from Bluenote. He walked to the empty space with a sense of purpose. His eyebrows were not furrowed; his lips were no pursued; his eyes were not angry. He remained as calm as ever. He looked almost…proud.

Fake-Gajeel-Abraxas whined and sat on his butt. "He's gone." He whined the words like an upset child.

"When a fledgling is backed into a corner, it will do anything for freedom," Bluenote noted. He pointed at the ground. "Look at that."

Fake-Gajeel-Abraxas looked at the ground with a frown. "Look at what?"

"It's warped," Bluenote heeded. He pointed at the ground and was right. The stones were not as neat and orderly as they had been before the battle. They were slightly off—a rushed job, no doubt, to make it seem like it had all been a disappearing act. It was too bad Bluenote had too much of a great eye to not regard it. "He's underground like before, most likely digging his way to freedom."

"The bridge," Fake-Gajeel-Abraxas snarled. "Shall I go, Master?"

"No need, Abraxas." Bluenote began to walk down the street and Fake-Gajeel-Abraxas followed. "He's turning out to be a good exercise partner. I hope he doesn't let me down."

°•°•°•°

Gale tunneled in the same direction he was supposed to be running. He gritted his teeth as he shifted his hands, clearing the dirt in front of him and covering his tracks as he refilled his tunnel. He panted. Not that type of I'm claustrophobic pant, but that I'm friggen dying pant.

Bridge. Just reach the bridge. Reach the bridge and you're safer than right now.

Gale shut his eyes as the earth trembled, frightened from the surface. Dirt unsettled and dusted Gale, but it felt more comforting than unsettling. He kept digging at a slower pace.

Goddammit, I'm completely blind.

"What's something only an Earth Mage could do?"

Gale let out a laugh with little to no humor. "Apparently, dig tunnels and run into Mages who could kill us. Bet you're real proud of me, Mom."

The focus blurred onto the girl in the photograph.

Gale growled to himself. "Stupid asshole. I should've known he'd get out my—" He stopped digging.

Wait. Wait a second…

Gale was frantic as he patted himself down. "Shit, shit, shit, please no!" he whisper-cursed as he kept patting himself. He rolled himself onto back and lifted up his leg. He pulled up his leg and groaned in utter relief when he saw a rectangular lump in his sock. "Yes!" he shouted. "Oh, Hell yes!" He dug into his sock to pull out his Compact. "Oh, sweet mother of Jesus, thank you!" He kissed his Compact. "Thank you, past me, for remembering to put it in my sock," he praised. He paused. "And, piss off, past me, for forgetting such technology exists." He pressed his thumb into the screen for the Compact to awaken at the touch of its master. "Oh, please have service, please…"

He eyed the corner of the screen.

There was half a bar.

He crowed, "Fuck yes, Fiore!" He moved to unlock his Compact, but he stopped when he saw his screen. It was automatic reaction to soften at the picture of Luna. His hand strayed to caress the screen and his eyes glinted with something akin to promise.

Don't worry, principessa. Wherever you went, you better be safe or I'm locking you in a tower.

Gale unlocked his Compact to get to his contacts. "All right, idiot, think. Would Mom answer the Compact?" He scoffed at his own question and rolled his eyes. "'Course she would. She's Mom." He was quick to tap his mother's contact and the CALL button and put it on speaker. As he listened to that annoying ringing, he turned back onto all-fours and began to dig once again with his Compact uncomfortably in one hand.

BRRRRRRRRRRRRR… BRRRRRRRRRRRRR…

°•°•°•°

Work on the bridge was orderly, yet it was chaotic. Soldiers and Mages dabbling in runes were careful as they wrote them in thin air. Levy monitored them, gave comments and critics when a rune was misplaced, or the grammatical structure made no sense. With the storm blustering about, two magical deities tearing apart the entire town apart, and rogue creatures of water with bloodlust, the threat level was high and so was everyone's attentiveness. Soldiers and Mages took to protecting the bridge from either end, fighting back against the weather and murderous creatures with everything they had.

Levy gave a stern nod to a few soldiers and Mages. "That's enough for now. Thank you," she told them. "The protective ruins should hold."

The soldiers nodded and drew their weapons to defend the bridge while the Mages rushed off. There were battles to be had and a town to protect.

Levy could see the runes, if only just. They were mainly invisible, but a trained eye and accomplished Mage could see the thin veil of violet runes. Her eyes were drawn to the storm that seethed with fury and the two deities tearing into each other, one with remorse while the other was ruthless. Her eyes hardened.

I just pray we all make it out of this alive.

VRRRRRRRR…

Levy jumped when she felt her Compact vibrate from her breast pocket.

VRRRRRRRR…

She pulled it out to check the caller ID when her eyes widened. She answered it without hesitation and pressed the Compact to her ear. "Gale?" she shouted over the storm. "Honey, what's going on?"

°•°•°•°

Gale panted as he kept digging through the earthly tremors. "Uh, hi, Mom!" he wheezed. "Mom, I need help!"

"Wait, what?" Levy barked, though the storm threatened to drown her out. "Hone—? —re y—? Ga—!"

"Mom, I need your help! I'm on the east side! There's a Mage after me!" Gale informed. "His name is Bluenote Stinger and he's—"

A violent shake of the earth made Gale stop. He completely tensed up as though the shaking would stop based on how quiet and frozen he was. The shaking eventually stopped, but he did not stop digging. He collapsed onto the ground and rolled onto his back.

"Mom, please! Can you hear me?" Gale demanded.

°•°•°•°

Levy put her hand over her free ear as she looked around wildly. "Honey?" she shouted. "Gale, you're breaking up! Where are you? Stay right there, so I can get you!"

"Mo—! I'm on—…west—…! —ere's a Mage—…! H—…Bluenote...! Mom, plea—…!"

Levy's eyes widened at the name. "Wait, Bluenote is here?" She could feel the headache pounding at the front of her head and her heart drop. Her feet were desperate to get to her baby, but she held back. Her eyes caught the eyes of a Lamia Scale Mage—it was Toby—and she waved him over. "Honey, please listen to me," Levy croaked. "Where are you? I'm coming to get you."

°•°•°•°

Panic flooded Gale when he felt the earth shift around him. It was not your average oh, tectonic plates are just adjusting, but it was entire ground shifting and convulsing as it was pushed up. Gale could feel himself moving up with the earth, moving to the surface.

"Mom, I'm on the other side of the river where Miss Meredy's school is! East," Gale reported quickly. "Get help!"

The entire earth broke and the surface was well within sight.

Gale clung to the earth beneath him as he screamed into the Compact. "Mom? Mom! Mom, can you hear me?" His eyes widened when he saw his call had failed as the words NO SERVICE. He nearly threw his Compact at his frustration, but all he could do was let out a loud curse at his misfortune. "Fuck! No!"

°•°•°•°

Levy tried to listen closer with Toby looking at her in great worry. "Gale? Gale!" She took the Compact away from her ear to see the call failed. "Dammit," she cursed. It was rare for Levy to curse. She tried to hold her tongue in her household to keep her children from swearing (Gajeel and Fairy Tail was to blame for their bad language).

"Levy?" Toby offered. He had changed in a lot of ways, but, then again, he had not. He was still tan, still carried that canine look in him, still wore those shades. His drenched hair had been pulled into a bun. He did not go just bare-chested, but he wore a jacket and protected the sock dangling around his neck.

⌜LAMIA SCALE

Name: Toby Horhorta

Occupation: Mage

Magic: Paralysis Claw

Likes: Sashimi Dislikes: Socks

Special Note: Toby is known for his rather eccentric personality but trust me when I saw this dog's heart is in the right place! ⌟

"That was my youngest. Bluenote Stinger is inside Margaret Town and he's attacked my son," Levy confided. She tried not to let her voice shake, tried to be strong, but goddammit that was her son, her baby. "He needs me. I have to get to him."

Toby nodded in understanding. "Were you able to make out where he was? It's next to impossible tracking down a scent in a storm like this."

Levy shut her eyes and gave a rattled exhale. "I think I heard east, other side, school, and Meredy. He must be at the school Meredy teaches," she figured out. She opened her eyes and started running. "I have to get to him!"

Toby easily caught up to her and stopped her. "Levy, wait! If Bluenote really is here, we can't go in alone," he reminded her. "He's a Mage Killer with extreme power that could kill us."

Levy tried not to go there, she really did, but all she could see was her son's broken body. "I have to get to him, Toby, or he'll kill Gale." She felt her eyes watering but blinked away the possibility of tears. This was not the time for such morbid thought, but dammit all if she felt like breaking down when her son could die.

Toby put a hand on Levy's shoulder. "The guild link is still up and running. I'm telling Master to send some reinforcements towards that way." His eyes might have glazed a bit, but his mouth still settled on Levy. "We'll get Gale before Bluenote can. He won't die."

DRIP.

Levy clutched her Compact. "My baby…"

DROP.

And a tear slipped.

°•°•°•°

Gajeel (the real Gajeel, mind you) finished off his enemies when something disturbed him. It was an impression upon his soul rather than his mind. He felt something that he was not necessarily feeling. He could feel the impressions of anger intermingled with grief and doubt and that nauseating impression of fear. That was the power of the Mate Bond. There was none of this telepathy bullshit. It was pure empathy, but not in your mind; in your soul. You felt what your mate felt. Your souls were intertwined. There could be no lie passed between the two of you when your souls were bare to each other to the point of feeling the other's pain.

Gajeel growled as he looked up at the thundering skies.

Levy.

Pantherlily dropped back down besides his Chosen, his partner, in his Battle Mode, his Musica Sword at the ready. "Gajeel," he rumbled, "what's wrong?"

"Levy," Gajeel rumbled back. "Something's wrong."

Pantherlily sheathed his sword and shifted back into his normal size. He grabbed the back of Gajeel's jacket with a firm grip in his paws. "Let's go." It was easy for him to spread his angelic wings and lift Gajeel up with a great flap of his wings.

"Head for the bridge," Gajeel shouted over the sounds of war of the sky and sea, the sounds of thundering clouds and agitated lightning. "I feel her there."

Pantherlily flapped his wings again and angled them for the west. "Got it."

Gajeel forced soothing impressions through his Bond to smother the fear and grief Levy fed to him.

I'm coming, Shorty. Don't you worry.

°•°•°•°

Gale twisted his head for his eyes to widen as he saw the outside world and could feel the pelting of raindrops. He gritted his teeth as he tried to claw his way back underground. It was pointless. Nothing he did would ground him.

How ironic. An Earth Mage who could not ground himself.

Gale growled as he floated in mid-air with rubble surrounding him. It trapped him. His body still wanted to float, to fly away, but the rocks above him kept him from such a fate. He growled as he tried to grab onto floating slabs of rock to guide himself out of the gravitational shift and back to ground, but that proved fruitless.

"Oh, fledgling. I wish you wouldn't fight me on this."

Gale turned his head to see Bluenote and the poor sonofabitch who copied his father outside of his gravitational prison. He could not shake the dread he felt, but he could fake it with a growl on his lips.

Bluenote was not moved. "Are you sure you do not want to fly?"

"Go fuck yourself!" Gale spat. It was probably a stupid and petty thing to say in his moment of childishness, but he snubbed it with as much loathing as he could muster.

Bluenote was still not moved as he raised his hand. "Very well then." His Magic Circle blossomed beneath him and glinted in his silver eyes. "Fall."

Gale barely registered the spell as gravity became heartless and pulled him back to the ground—

—and buried him in rock.

°•°•°•°

Levy's eyes widened.

The world, in her mind, muted.

There was no rain.

There was no fighting.

There were no guards running to their positions.

There were no guardians dueling for the fate of the town.

The world was mute.

Then, hazel blanked as Levy fell forward.

Toby was quick to catch her, but she did not notice him do it. She could not feel him and that frightened him. "Levy?" he fretted. "Levy, can you hear me?"

°•°•°•°

Olivia stopped dead in her tracks in her Iron Beast King Mode. She did not care she was in the heat of battle. She did not care not moving, not doing anything could get her killed. She just stopped.

She dropped her sword.

She let her enemies descend upon her as her hazel eyes rolled heavenward.

And tears were brimming in her eyes.

°•°•°•°

Galileo felt like something gutted him when he fell to his knees. He heaved air. His bones felt like lead, not like the metal with to he was accustomed. He could not register the calls Amani was giving to him as he banged on his djembe and his hair elongated to shelter them. He could not register the vrykolaka sniffing him and whining, pleading for him to get a grip and fight.

All of a sudden, Galileo just felt so…

…empty.

°•°•°•°

Calls were given to Levy. A few soldiers had seen it happen and were falling her "ma'am" and "Misses Redfox". Words, words, words piled against her like bees buzzing, the syllables blurring from audible to not. It was like cotton was in her ears. She could not hear anything. She just…felt.

DRIP.

Another tear slipped down her cheek.

DROP.

A name parted from her mouth, covered in the shilling air and breaking through the sounds of calling, of war. "Gale…"

°•°•°•°

It was warm there, wherever there was. There was no storm. There was no battle. There was no bloodshed, no confusion, no corpses sprung to life by water. The apartment was small and compact, enough for two people to live comfortably even if only one person lived there. Everything was clean and orderly. The shoes were lined by the door by color and season. The dishes lay on the dish rack, drying. Sheets were pinned to a clothesline on the balcony. There was no room for there to be anything out of place. That was not how things were done.

She sat at her desk as she worked. Her study was nothing too special. It was not barren—it was definitely lived-in—as it had shelves filled to the brim with books and books. There was slight noise coming from outside her window. It was just the school children as they walked home in their uniform and maybe a few neighbors getting their mail. She did not mind. She was busy in her work, her research. A rag-doll cat lounged lazily on her desk with no intentions of getting up. She reached a hand to pet the lazy house-cat when she stopped.

Her body froze.

The rag-doll picked up on this and meowed to her as it sat up on its paws.

DRIP.

She shakily brought her hands to her cheeks.

DROP.

Tears. Endless tears rained on her skin.

°•°•°•°

The soldiers cleared out when Black Steel Gajeel and the Black Panther of Fairy Tail dropped onto the bridge. Pantherlily just barely let go of Gajeel when he charged forwards to reach Levy. Toby relinquished his hold on Levy for Gajeel to sweep her in his arms. Her eyes were wide as she looked up at her husband. Blank hazel connected with glimmering ruby. So, he knew. He felt it too.

Levy's mouth opened as two more tears streaked her cheeks. "I can't…feel him anymore, Gajeel," she whispered. It was quiet, too quiet, and full of so many unhappy things. "I can't… I can't feel our baby."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Fairy Adventure

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Bluenote and Fake-Gajeel-Abraxas-Abraxas did not even flinch as Gale was lost in the messy pile of rock with gravity compressing it down and down until it sunk further into the floor of the earth. They watched the rocks break and snap to comply to the force of nature. There was no sound of human screaming, no sound of bones snapping, for all was lost as the guardians of sea and sky roared at each other and the unforgiving storm wailed even louder. Smoke and debris kicked up from the sudden avalanche, but it was all snuffed out as gravity would not even allow smoke to live free from his pull. All would bow low to him.

Including the Mage it just took.

Nothing dared move.

Bluenote and Fake-Gajeel-Abraxas only watched as the rocks continued to compact themselves, pushing and shoving each other to meet gravity's hard pull. They only watched. They were the observers, after all, not the part-takers.

So, they watched and waited.

And waited.

And waited.

And there was…

…nothing.

°•°•°•°

Gajeel held Levy firmly in his arms as she tried to speak. There were too many tears for her to speak.

"Gajeel," Levy whispered. Her hand gripped his jacket like he could keep her grounded and safe.

Gajeel shut his eyes as his jaw locked. The amount of emotion he felt from not just him but from his wife was overwhelming him. There was that impression of loss and despair that shook his very being. He had to force himself to overcome those impressions, those emotions, as he opened his eyes to see Pantherlily in his Battle Mood, eyeing his partner in nothing of pity or sympathy but of loss and grief.

"Lily," Gajeel called, choked, whatever it was, "take Levy back to Lamia Scale."

Pantherlily wordlessly nodded and gathered a grief-stricken Levy in his arms. He conjured his wings and soared away without saying anything.

Gajeel looked at Toby with wild eyes that were desperately trying to contain themselves. "Where is he?" he thundered, spilling on the edge of a roar.

Toby swallowed. "Meredy's scho—"

Gajeel wasted no breath as he broke away from the circle gathered around him to run to the west side of the bridge. He could feel his iron scales hardening over his skin. He could feel iron steel his entire body. He could hear the grating sounds of metal snarling in the back of his mind.

Salamander, he growled.

°•°•°•°

Natsu was in the air with Happy attached to his back. He roared flames at his watery enemies. Even when the number of his foes lightened up, he was not going to stop while he was ahead. He would keep pushing, keep fighting, until he and Happy came out alive and Margaret Town was a safer place. Lelantos and Actaeon were on the ground and fended off weaker enemies with supersonic howls, working in-synch.

It was little surprise to him when Natsu felt something against his mind. He could hear the chinks and clanks of grating metal and a growl resonated with him.

Salamander.

What's up, Metal-head? Natsu thought back, breathing fire on those he dared try to kill the Dragon King.

Go to where Meredy teaches.

Natsu finished his roar. There were none left to challenge him, but that did not mean there would not be more. He glanced back at Happy. "Happy, can you get us to the east side? Where Meredy's school is?"

Happy gave a firm nod and powerfully flapped his wings to get them going. "Aye, sir!"

Natsu looked down at the two hound spirits and whistled.

The twin hounds were quick to abandon their prey to follow their mistress' husband.

Natsu locked his jaw.

On my way. Don't do anything stupid.

The only response he got was another growl.

°•°•°•°

Fake-Gajeel-Abraxas pressed his lips into a tight line and a noise of uncertainty came out from the back of his throat. "Master," he started, "His Highness wanted the human…alive."

Bluenote was not moved. "He's a fledgling born to fly. He will not let me down."

Fake-Gajeel-Abraxas shifted on his feet. The worry was in his eyes was not for the human they have killed. The worry was selfish and for his own life. "I don't want His Highness to be upset with us," he vocalized. "He will be most angry if he hears we killed the prey."

"He'll live," Bluenote said. "Don't worry, pet. You won't die by his hand. If anything, you'll die by mine."

Fake-Gajeel-Abraxas gave a low whine at that and lowered his head.

Bluenote watched as the rocks broke through another layer of earth as they yielded to gravity's will. He watched and he waited, but nothing happened.

Where are you, fledgling? Don't disappoint me.

He watched. He waited.

And, still nothing.

"We killed him," Fake-Gajeel-Abraxas wailed in his misery. "We killed the human we were supposed to bring home. His Highness will kill us for our treason!"

Bluenote only closed his eyes. "You disappoint me, fledgling," he remarked. "I had higher expectations." He turned around and walked away. "Stay on guard, Abraxas. The fledgling may rise. Should he rise, stall him."

"Yes, Master," came a mutter.

Bluenote sighed internally as he opened his eyes.

Disappointing. So, he would not fly. What a waste of energy.

Bluenote took another step, but even he could not calculate what happened next. The rock pile did not burst for Gale to crawl out of it and demand retribution. The earth right in front of Bluenote shattered open the same time the stone crawled up Bluenote's body and captured his hands and arms. Fake-Gajeel-Abraxas was pierced in the chest before he could save his master and died in a huff of black smoke. A body emerged from the earth, but not a body Bluenote was expecting. This body was different. This body was not one he had seen before.

Bluenote's silver eyes glinted. He could not move. His legs and his arms were surrounded in stone, keeping him defending himself. But, the faintest of smiles appeared on his face. "So… The fledgling could fly after all. I take my disappointment back."

Gale stood before him in a body that was not flesh and bone anymore. His body was made of pure basalt rock in and out. Even his hair had converted into solid rock. His clothes remained untouched, but he did not care about his clothes even if they were tattered even more and were coming apart. He looked like a monstrosity with even his eyes solidified into rock. He looked like those ancient terracotta warriors you read in myths who rose to the occasion when evil was afoot. He did not look like the perfect rock warrior. He carried with him dents in his rock, dents to remind everyone he had been injured and injured badly. But, one dent was unique. One Gale's low stomach and to the right law a deeper dent, an injury worse than anything. An injury that could kill him if he bled out.

Gale panted, but he held his smirk at Bluenote, a smirk full of teeth turned into Cassiterite gemstones. "Fuck you." He pulled back his fist.

And, he landed his first punch on Bluenote.

---

Linus led the group through as many back streets as he could. He was a swift man with a great feeling for danger. He would hear the blood spilling and stop the band of refugees. He would not lead them down a street he thought unsafe and, on several occasions, would herd them back to go down a different route. He kept them moving at a decent pace and inspired others to keep up. When one would stumble, others would keep them going, whispering encouragements and soothes. It was the hysterical ones that needed the most consolation. Tears streamed from their eyes and an attack threatened to leave their lips. They kept quiet as their eyes darted about. They knew better than to draw attention to themselves. But, that did not mean that would stop them from their frantic crying and rigid breaths.

Linus stopped the group when he sensed a presence. It was strange. It was not human or creature, but it was just…magical.

Julia shouldered her way to the front of the pack to survey their location. They had ended up in a small enough park with four ways for them to leave. It was surrounded by long-abandoned buildings with grass, a few trees, a bench here or there and a picnic table, and sidewalks. Nothing out of the ordinary. A swing set that only creaked because of the raging winds. Chairs overturned and beading with rain. A puddle was underneath a slide.

"What is it?" Julia whispered. "We have to keep moving."

Linus let his eyes wander. "Something's here." He crept forward. "Stay here."

Julia tried to reach him. "Linus—!"

Linus turned his head to the side to put a finger to his lips.

Julia bit her lips, but gave him a pleading look.

Linus ignored her as he crept into the abandoned park. He noted the rain splattering on the windowpanes. He noted as an autumn-touched tree lost another leaf to the storm. But, he did not see anything.

That did not mean he could not sense anything.

Linus kept walking, eyes all around him. The refugees and Julia watched him, they in trepidation, Julia in determination. They were all waiting for something, anything, to happen.

The puddle under the slide rippled.

A window broke as a shadow leapt out of it.

Julia gasped. "Linus!"

Linus pivoted and raised his hands.

And the shadow slammed into him.

The refugees broke into a frenzy while Julia's eyes widened at what she saw in disbelief.

It was not Linus she stared at, even if he looked different. He had taken on a chilling ice form. His entire body glittered in ice, even his hair. He looked like an Ice Man in those old superhero stories and winter surrounded his very existence.

But everyone did not stare at that.

They stared at his opponent.

Julia took a step forward. "Elvin?"

Elvin looked like a deranged man in his state with fins and gills and rabid, sharp teeth. His claws tried to pierce Linus's arms, but all they pierced were freezing ice. He bared his teeth at Linus as he jumped away for his body to land on all-fours. His back arched and he hissed like a threatened cat.

Linus narrowed his eyes.

Elvin Strauss. I thought he was a Stone-Make Mage, not a Water Mage.

"Linus, be careful with him!" came Julia's shout. "He's family!"

Linus nodded as his eyes watched Elvin pace before him. "Get out while you still can!" he shouted back.

Julia nodded and turned back to the people. "All right! Let's go, everyone, move it!"

The refugees were quick to turn tail and run away. Julia was about to run with them, but she hesitated. She glanced behind to see Linus gauging Elvin's first strike. But, that was it. She fled after the others without second thoughts dogging her.

Linus kept Elvin within his sights at all time.

He's of Fairy Tail and possessed by the River Guardian. Subduing him will be easy.

Linus opened his mouth. "Elvin! If you can hear me, I don't—!"

And, Elvin lunged for Linus' throat.

---

"What he said was obvious fallacy."

Gabriel smirked at Luna's shocked face. He raised his glass to his lips. "Did I not say so?" he teased.

Luna scowled at him. "Shut up."

"If that means 'silence', forgive me for ignoring such an order."

Luna, Gabriel, Icarus, Himeros, and Hugo ended up at Meira's house. Himeros was free to graze at will with Hugo keeping watch outside. Icarus lay at Luna's side, front paws crossed with his head resting on them. Gabriel and Luna sat at the kitchen table with snacks and tea set between them with Meira bringing over more sandwiches.

Meira did not hesitate to smack the back of Gabriel's head in a careless manner, making him spit out some of his water. "Watch your tongue, child. That is my descendant to whom you are speaking," she reminded with threat light in her voice.

Gabriel gave a side-glare to his master, mumbling soft curses underneath his breath while Luna stuck her tongue out, satisfied.

"That being said, I am rather disappointed with my own blood would even believe the fragrant untruth of a Tzolk'in," Meira continued as she sat at the head of the table.

Gabriel imitated Luna's childish tongue sticking out while Luna glared at him.

"Honestly, Luna dear, why you indulged his behavior is beyond me," Meira sighed. She raised her teacup and the teapot came to the cup to pour in tea while the sugar and honey added itself accordingly. A spoon danced to life to stir in the contents of the teacup. "Those people are highly incorrigible. No Heartfilia in this day and age should even consider intermingling with such—thank you," she said, raising her hand to stop the teapot and her comrades. She took a sip of her tea. "As I was saying," she continued, "such mongrels."

Luna sighed and let her cheek rest on her hand. "That's a little harsh."

"Well, the truth is not a pretty maiden," Meira mentioned. "Now, do not think I am prejudice to them in any way. I respect all people and their ways of life. If you ask me about the Tzolk'in Civilization in their prime, I would wholeheartedly stand by them and defend them with my own honor." She absently slapped Gabriel's hand when he tried to take a sandwich, making him yelp. "They were highly intelligent people." She eyed her apprentice. "Unlike some," she added dryly.

Gabriel frowned. "No need to be so rude, Master." Slyly, he tacked on, "Having such a temper may give you premature wrinkles and damage your beauty." He snickered as Meira growled at him. "That royal knight you are so fond of would turn the other way if he saw you."

Meira gritted her teeth as her face turned red. "I am sure your father would thank me if you went missing. The spirits may thank me as well."

"I just don't get it," Luna exhaled loudly, stopping the student-teacher bickering before it could start. "What's so bad about the Tzolk'in people? And, that man? I mean he was talking about the Guardian Duo and Nayda's appearance! And, he was right! Nayda does get really angry and tries to destroy the town and—!"

"Just because a horse jumps once does not mean it will jump again," Meira lectured.

Luna cocked her head. "Huh?"

Meira smiled. "Just because someone tells one truth does not mean they are always truthful," she explained. "This man you met may tell one truth, but the rest he may say could reside in lies."

"But he could be telling the truth the entire time!" Luna persisted, looking from Meira to Gabriel. "Doesn't he deserve the benefit of the doubt?"

Gabriel waved the question away. "He is a mere Tzolk'in. No need to believe his words."

"So what?" Luna gnashed, huffing. "Why are you guys being so mean about him just because he could be a 'Tzolk'in'? What's so bad about that?"

Icarus raised his head to place it in Luna's lap. Did your tutors never educate you on the history of Tzolk'ins, pup?

"Luna, the Tzolk'ins are not the people they were accredited to be," Meira confessed. "They are not the intelligent civilization who we held in high regard. They are sacrilegious cults. They have a goal of spreading disaster where they go and preach such profane teachings—"

"So what?" Luna glared at her ancestor. "You're not being very fair! Not all people from one race are like that, okay? Mama says you have to give people a chance! You can't just be rude because of the reputation their race gives! You have to get to know the person first!"

"And you are right," Meira agreed. She met her descendant's glare levelly. "We do not judge a person based upon their race. It is not right." She sighed. "All right. I shall give this man the benefit of the doubt just this once."

Luna squealed her delight while Gabriel looked properly befuddled. "Master, you cannot be serious!" he spluttered. "His words are mere myth!"

Meira smiled at her descendant. "While they may be, he may be speaking his truth. I cannot afford to be closed-minded at the moment. Even the stars have warned me of troubles to incur on this town. If this man knows more of the guardians and their anger towards man, we should investigate." She let her hand touch Luna's and clasped them together. "My child, if you wish, I give you permission to seek out this man for more information and report back to me on his words. I wish to be as involved as you."

"Thank you, Auntie!" Luna said, a beam on her face. "I'll be careful, I promise." She snuck a smug look at Gabriel's grumpy face. "In your face, Gabriel," she mocked.

Gabriel growled at her. "If Master says it, so be it. I shall take you back into Town Centre to speak with this false prophet." His words mashed reluctancy and displeasure and his eyes were curiously annoyed, but he gave an honorary bow to Luna.

Luna lifted her chin, feeling giddy and right. "I most appreciate it, good sir," she teased, though the gratitude was sincere. She looked at her ancestor. "Thank you. I mean it. I'll find out as much as I can."

Meira nodded. "I know you shall not disappoint me. You are of my blood after all." Her brow furrowed as a somber feeling crossed her. Her hand drifted to tuck away some of Luna's free hair. "But I know being a Heartfilia means we wade into trouble. I ask of you to be careful, Luna. I could not bear you becoming harmed and neither could your parents. Do not take too many unnecessary risks."

Luna softened and leaned into Meira's touch. "I won't, Auntie," she said, soft promise dripping in her words.

Meira nodded and retracted her hand. "All right then." She stood up. "Gabriel, you are to come with me. I have a bit of work for you to do. Then, escort my heir back to Town Centre."

As Meira walked away, Gabriel grumbled as he stood up. "You are an insufferable female," he muttered to Luna. "My descendant whom with you are familiar… Does he tolerate it?"

Luna laughed. "In a way. But, he gets annoyed with me when I get into bad situations. He's all for protecting me." She rolled her eyes. "Honestly, it's annoying."

Gabriel offered her a fanged smirk. "Hmm. If you are even more trouble in your timeline, perhaps my heir should lock you in a high tower and feed you ambrosia," he suggested in good fun.

Luna shook her head in amusement. "No thanks. If anything, I'd rather be fed cookie dough milkshakes."

Gabriel's brow furrowed. "Shakes of milk?" He shook his head and walked off. "I hope you will humor me in an explanation of how shakes of milk are so delicious, you wish to have them daily."

Luna could only giggle as Gabriel disappeared out of the kitchen. Her laugh ended with a sigh, then a giddy squeal. "I get to do my first investigation!" She clapped her hands. "This is so exciting! If Mama and Papa could see me now, they'd be so proud!"

Icarus snorted and his nose prodded the side of her thigh. I hope you know what you are getting into, Pup. That man… He smells too strange for my liking.

"Good thing I don't have a nose like you." Luna let her hand drop to stroke in-between Icarus' ears. His tail thumped in appreciation and he closed his eyes. She smiled.

I'm sorry, but I have to do this. I have to figure out why I'm here and why Nayda is angry. I have to take risks.

---

Never fight with your wife when she wants to kill you.

Gray just barely put up a shield of his demon ice for a crazed Juvia to slam against him. She let tentacles of boiling water branch off her and slither towards Gray. With black on his skin, he need not worry about being in pain for the tentacles began to freeze just for touching his skin. Juvia screeched and retracted her tentacles. Gray took the opportunity to crush his shield into an icy mist. Juvia shut her eyes, shrieking in a tongue he could not understand as she tried to clear away the mist.

Gray took that as his escape and sprinted away with black ice creating a path for him.

Demon ice was different than elemental ice. Elemental ice was natural (as natural as Magic could be). It felt like ice you would get from cold days and wintry nights, though maybe you could feel it being a bit colder than the average ice. Demon ice was just unnatural. It was accursed ice with deep Black Magic rooted into it. For a normal Mage, it was uncontrollable. Ice Magic, if you were not careful, could freeze you inside out. But, demon ice showed no mercy. If it felt the heart of its Mage was not dark enough, strong enough to wield it, it would turn you into ice and shatter you without remorse.

Gray was no pushover.

He slid on his black ice in his state of half charred skin and red peeking in his eyes. He looked behind him.

A livid Juvia was chasing after him in a furious wave of water waiting to boil him alive.

Gray locked his jaw.

Dammit.

A round of cyan lightning burned the searing hot water and exploded it into mist.

Juvia reared back at that. Uneasiness worried her face when she saw lightning.

Gray did not have to wait for the Mage to drop in on him. Lance stood next to his senior with cyan static sparking off him and raging in his eyes.

"That's Aunt Juvia?" Lance wanted to know.

"Possessed," Gray felt the need to add. "She's not in her right state of mind."

Juvia lunged forward, but Lance shot off a bolt of lightning in warning. Juvia faltered and hissed as she drew back.

"My lightning will hold her off," Lance said. He glanced at Gray. "Think you could calm her down?"

Gray snorted. "She might kill me before I can even try. She's been trying to kill me for a while now. I'm beginning to think she has a secret grudge against me that she's taking out." He glance at Lance. "Mary Jane?"

"Missing." Lance bolted lightning against when Juvia came too close. "My dad is trying to get in-touch with her lightning, but there's too much interference for a clear signal. Uncle Natsu said she was most likely with Igneel. If she is, she's in good hands."

"And, if she's not?"

Lance bolted another round of lightning when Juvia lunged forth.

"Then, I have to trust my baby sister won't go down without a fight," Lance said. "She's powerful and smart, even if she isn't feeling great. I have to trust she'll be okay."

Gray nodded to that. His eyes watched his wide circle them, hissing and waiting for an opening. "We need to get her back to her human form," he told Lance. "If we do that, we can get her unconscious and get her somewhere safe."

Lance nodded. "Got it." More static rippled off him. "Sorry about this in advance." Lightning charged Lance's entire being to the point that he became one with it. He bolted towards Juvia in a giant field of blue lightning.

Juvia screeched and tried to flee.

Lance closed his eyes.

Sorry, Aunt Juvia.

Juvia let out a hair-splitting shriek when Lance slammed into her back.

---

Levy was given a blanket and a hot beverage, but none of that mattered. Her eyes were void of any emotion as she stared into her hot tea. She was in the Lamia Scale Guild Hall, the polished first floor turned into a sick bay. Mages and soldiers alike were quarantined in the posh guild. Air and Wind Mages were littered among them, weak but still functioning. Wendy had Cheila watching her as she tended to a soldier's wounds, sweat on her brow and a glazed look in her eye.

Levy sat at a table with Pantherlily as her only company. He stood watch over Levy and made sure she was left in peace to gather her thoughts. He was back in Battle Mode with a towel around his shoulders, fur still damp. He watched the guild hall and scented their fear, their tears, their hopelessness.

"Gale."

Pantherlily looked at Levy. It was the first word she had spoken since she came to the guild. The name of her youngest popped from her mouth and was filled to the brim with grief.

"Gajeel will bring him home," Pantherlily rumbled to her. He truly did believe that. "Gale will come home, Levy."

Levy's grip around her mug tightened. "I… I couldn't feel him, Lily." Something glinted in her eyes. "My baby… I felt him gone."

"He's alive," Pantherlily insisted.

"For how long?" Levy lifted her gaze for her hazel eyes to look at the Exceed in nothing shy of anguish. "How long does my baby have?"

Pantherlily could not say anything to that.

A light cough startled both of them from their staring and they turned to see Lucy and Meredy. Lucy looked ready to rejoin the others while Meredy was wrapped in a blanket. Lucy's eyes softened on Levy, but she did not have a look of pity about her.

"How're you doing, Levy?" Lucy asked.

A bland smile wove onto Levy's face. "I'm scared, Lu."

Lucy settled down next to Levy in a heartbeat and pulled her in for a hug.

Levy buried her head into Lucy's neck as tears streamed her cheeks and she let loose the sob she wanted to let out. "He's my baby," she cried.

Lucy ran her hand through Levy's messy locks. "I know," she murmured. "I know he is."

"I'm his mother and I can't even protect him." Levy let out a louder sob. "What kind of mom am I if I can't protect my kids?"

Lucy chose her next words with care. "Just because this is out of your hands does not mean you're a bad mom," she soothed. "I know you and I know you love your kids. You love them so much, you would die for them. You and Gajeel trained them fight their own battles with everything they had. You showed them heart. You taught them well."

"He could die, Lucy," Levy wept. "Just like the Harvest Festival, he could die, and I can't do anything."

"You are doing something," Lucy assured her. "You're loving him. You're worrying about him. You're not abandoning him. The second he's in the guild, he's going to need his mom right at his side, holding his hand and loving him. He needs your bravery, Levy. He needs you." Her eyes went up to Pantherlily and she extended a hand. "You too, Lily," she added. "You're his family too."

Pantherlily could not keep it together as he poofed back into his Exceed Form and flew into Lucy's arm. She took him in without question and stroked his head, feeling him shake against her.

"He'll need your love," Lucy told them both. "He'll need your love and your strength. And I know you can give him both."

Levy only cried harder while Pantherlily trembled and nuzzled into Lucy's consoling hold.

Meredy looked away from the private affair with pain in her eyes and despair in her heart.

Bluenote… Is this what you wanted? Did you want everyone around you to lose what they loved and feel despair?

To that, there was no answer.

---

It was a miracle Gale was still standing with the amount of Magic Bluenote threw at him.

Bluenote's Magic Circle blossomed underneath Gale and his silvery eyes glowed. "Fall," he chanted.

Gale staggered, but he did not falter. He gave a cold smirk to Bluenote as he held his hands up in a triangle. "Ruby Tri-Beam!" he chanted.

Bluenote dodged the attack, but he had to keep his eyes on Gale. He snorted to increase the pressure of gravity.

Gale's legs nearly gave out, but, this time, he let it happen on his own terms. He slammed rocky fists onto the ground and the stone responded to his orders. Jagged earth pierced the surface and raced towards Bluenote. Bluenote was forced to shift his eye contact to adjust his position. Gravity bared down on the jagged stones and forced them to break.

Gale switched tactics as his Magic pulsed in his hands. "Garnet Shurikens!" he chanted. His hands twitched for ninja shurikens made of pure garnet to appear. He pelted them at Bluenote.

Bluenote was prepared when a shuriken made of garnet tried to gauge his eyes. Gale conjured the garnet shurikens out of thin air and followed Bluenote as the elder Mage avoided each one with agility a man of his build could only have with decades of battle experience.

Bluenote switched to the offensive as he laid his palms out towards Gale.

Gale felt what Bluenote threw at him. They were gravitational projectiles and hurt like a bitch. Gale avoided them the best he could, but two knocked into the same shoulder. He gritted his teeth when his right arm felt heavier than the rest of his body and threatened to dislocate itself, but he quickly ducked out of instinct to avoid the next one. He put a hand to the ground and his Magic Circle blossomed. "Quicksand!"

Bluenote looked down to find himself ankle-deep in quicksand. He tried to yank himself out of it, but the sand had a firm grip on him and would drag him into his death. His irises lit up in his Magic aura as he shifted the gravity around him. The sand trying so hard to drown him like a siren drowning her pirate prey was now rising up in the air.

What Bluenote did not expect was the blade of a scythe to try and behead him.

Bluenote bent backwards to avoid the scythe, but Gale was not finished with him. He twirled his scythe around as he landed on the sand. Instead of sinking, he was right on top of his pit of quicksand. He pivoted and brought down his sword on Bluenote.

Bluenote just barely caught the scythe in-between his hands.

Blank silver met feral rock.

Blood dripped from Bluenote's palms.

If Bluenote had the time to smirk, he would do it right then and there. "Did you really think this would stop me, fledgling?" His palms glowed.

Gale was forced to drop his onyx scythe as the sand unwillingly took it as prey.

Bluenote did not even flinch. "You're a much better work-out than before. I applaud you, fledgling."

Gale gave a loud snarl. "Rose: Quartz Sword!" The rosy sword appeared in his hand and he tried plunging it into Bluenote's back.

Bluenote grabbed the sword and watched as Gale was forced to drop it. Instead of letting go, Bluenote looked at the rosy sword in bland interest. "Your gemstones grow dull, fledgling," he remarked.

Gale moved.

Bluenote's eyes darted to him.

Gale's movements slowed. He sunk into his own sand, something that felt wrong and unnatural. His steps were restricted, and he took his strides slowly and unevenly. The sand slowed him while gravity weighed him down.

Bluenote fingered the rosy sword. "From what they tell me, Gemstone Magic is nothing ever seen. It is the secret art, the Lost Art, of Earth Magic."

Gale tried to raise a fist as his Magic gathered around him.

Bluenote's stare widened.

Gale gave a grunt as he was further shoved into the sand. Now, he was knee-deep and going nowhere.

Bluenote continued his lecture. "Imagine to everyone's surprise when a child learned such rare Magic when he was only a novice, a fledgling. It was unheard of, even by standards held to Earth Mages. It was like a fledgling fresh from his nest new how to fly before his parents pushed him into it." He cocked his head, his stare still on Gale who tried his damn hardest to trudge through the sand. "Did you know Gemstone Magic is outlawed in many countries, fledgling? Just as Gold Magic is forbidden, and Alchemists and Metal Mages are not allowed the creation of gold. It is because the government fears economic inflation with too much gold circulating. The greed would be too much of a sin for humans to bear," he said.

Gale kept trying to move.

"The same goes for Gemstone Magic," Bluenote further said. "Never once have you thought of creating diamonds and rubies for monetary means. You have access to any jewel you desire. You can create them out of thin air, make millions, if you chose, and yet you stay in such a weak guild where your power is wasted."

Gale's jaw locked at the dig at Fairy Tail. "Fuck…y-y-you," he snarled.

Bluenote said nothing.

Gale shut his eyes in pain as he became waist deep in sand.

"You can't fool me, fledgling." Bluenote broke the sword in his hands. "As angry as you are, you can't fool someone who can fly. You can't play pretend like you don't feel it too."

"Shut up!" Gale snapped. He paid for it as he winced, sinking a bit more in the sand. He tried to move his fist forward, but his arms shook and shook until he could not shake anymore. His eyes opened and darted to his arm. He tried to move it, but it would not budge.

Oh, no. Shit, not now.

Bluenote blinked.

The sand beneath compacted and abandoned him. He was left standing atop the sand while Gale sunk into it. He turned his body towards Gale and walked.

"I see," Bluenote hummed. "Now I see why you didn't take this form earlier. If you're in it for too long"—something flashed in his eyes—"you turn to stone."

Gale glared at Bluenote with as much hate he held.

"You took this form as your last resort," Bluenote went on when he knew he was in the right. "You were right, by the way. I had to dip into my Magic Reserves a bit more to get you like this. Basalt rock is very dense and hard to move. But, you miscalculated." He moved closer to Gale, close enough to bend down and his face nearly touch Gale's. He whispered carefully, "Your stone will only delay your death, fledgling, not stop it. You know it too. When I buried you in stone, you were critically hurt. I could see the dents in your body. You were left to die. With your last shred of consciousness, you gathered enough nutrients to turn your body into stone and your interior into Cassiterite."

DRIP.

A tear painted Gale's rocky cheek.

DROP.

"You were so wrong if you thought that would stop me." Bluenote put a hand on Gale's chest and there was nothing Gale could do. "My powers let me control and bend gravity to my will. So, it is without saying, fledgling"—his hand shifted to over Gale's heart—"I could change the gravity of your internal organs."

DRIP.

Another tear painted Gale's rocky cheek.

DROP.

"I could increase gravity on your heart. It will tear out from your body and you would die from the insane amount of blood loss." Bluenote's hand shifted to Gale's temple. "Maybe I lighten gravity around your brain. It would press and press against your skull until it broke free and you would die instantly. That would certainly get your body to return to normal." How could someone so casual talk about this, talk about death and blood like they were speaking about a shift in the weather?

DRIP.

More tears rained on Gale's cheeks.

DROP.

"Return back to your human form, fledgling." Bluenote's words were not just words—they were orders. His hand swept to underneath Gale's left eye and brushed away his tears. "Don't cry. I don't like seeing fledglings cry. Just do as you're told or else I'll have to do what I told you."

Gale only closed his eyes. This was it. This was his stand. This was his refusal to orders.

Bluenote certainly did not get upset when his hand drifted down to Gale's throat. "Why do you defy me, fledgling?" He wrapped his hand around Gale's throat. His irises lightened.

Gale's eyes shot open and dilated as excruciating pain set inside him. It shocked him as he felt his throat constrict. Bluenote did not even need his fingers to press on Gale's throat; his gravity did it for him. It pressed against Gale's neck, slowly squeezing the air out of him. He opened his mouth as he choked and gagged. Being choked to death was even worse than a bullet to the head or being stabbed in the heart. You could feel your body lighten and resist as you lost oxygen your body so desperately needed. You could feel terror rush at you and bang on your mind. You could feel a sense of I'm dying crashing as your heart sped up and you tried hard to fight against that urge to give in.

"Doesn't matter now," Bluenote supposed. "It might not be willingly, but you'll give in." His stare sharpened. "Now."

The second Gale could feel his throat nearly collapse he lost touch to his Magic. The Cassiterite inside him and the basalt outside him turned back into organs, flesh, and bone. A normal tongue and teeth were shown in his gasping mouth. The ruby and white in his eyes were back, though bloodshot.

Bluenote stood up and pulled Gale with him. Gale slipped away from his sand like he was never there and floated in mid-air. He was at Bluenote's unloving mercy as he levitated.

His wounds…

Oh, Heavens, his wounds!

All those wounds he had tried so hard to close up reopened and stained the sand with drips of blood. The dent on his lower abdomen and on the right was by far the worst and the bloodiest. His skin had been torn apart, ripped and shredded so carelessly. It nauseated streams of bloods, but it seemed that blood was the least of his worries. Muscle and fat deposits were exposed to the stormy air were torn with the wound screaming Survival of the fittest. And, what was worse? The wound was dirty. It was infected. Brown smoothening into black crusted around the wound. A repulsive yellow puss made its nest on the wound and dripped onto the sand, intermingling with the blood.

This wound would kill him.

And it took no idiot to see Bluenote knew that too.

"Has the fledgling gotten hurt?" Bluenote sounded like he was playing coy.

Gale said nothing as tears stained his cheeks. He knew what was about to happen. "Just…k-kill…m-m-me," he got out in a high-pitched croak. "Kill…m-me…"

"I told you, fledgling, that I need you to fly first," Bluenote reminded simply. "Show me you can fly. Don't disappoint—"

"Iron Dragon's Lance: Demon Logs!"

Bluenote could not even finish his statement and dropped Gale unceremoniously as he was pelted with a number of iron spearhead. He was pinned to the ground by a few spears and deflected others, shifting their gravity upwards or downwards.

Gale landed awkwardly on his side, but, thankfully, not where his main wound lie. He felt himself nearly blacking out from the amount of pain he was in and could not even afford to move himself onto his back. Wet noses prodded at his back and he could hear doggish whining. The sound of flapping and a gust of wind brushed over him along with a flurry of footsteps. He heard most of them rush past them and Magic thrummed in the air. He could barely open his eyes to even consider what was going on around him. Everything hurt so much. He felt so much pain.

Then, he felt comforting heat and heard a sharp whistle.

The wet noses and whines were gone.

"Hey," came a panicked rumble. "Gale, you need to stay awake right now." The heat backed up to shout, "Gajeel!"

Gale groaned as tears stung his eyes and flooded down his cheeks.

Warm hands soothed his hair. "No need to cry, kid," came a warmhearted mutter. "You did amazing. Let the others take it from here, so you can rest." The heat left him.

Something cool and familiar surround him and smelled of earthy rain and metal. Gale could feel calloused hands stroke his neck and brushed against the bruise marks. He could feel burning eyes inspect his body.

"Pipsqueak." It was a cracked whisper. It sounded grief-stricken and angry at the same time. "Pipsqueak, open your eyes for shitty old man, okay?"

Gale felt compelled to obey, like it was a feral instinct. His eyes cracked open. They hurt. The tears hurt. If he was more awake, he would notice blood mixed with his tears and leaked out of his eyes, but he was too out of it to really notice. Blanking ruby met pained ruby.

"Dad," Gale mumbled, blood leaking from his cracked lips. More tears spilled from his eyes as pure shame froze his body and made his dull eyes shimmer. "I'm…s-s-sorry."

"Shhh," Gajeel hushed. He offered his son a half-broken smile as his hand thumbed Gale's wet cheek. "Don't talk, pipsqueak. Don't be sorry. You did amazing."

Gale sniffled. He was ashamed he was crying in front of his old man, ashamed he was crying because he was in pain, ashamed he was crying at all. "I-I'm n-not-not…strong enough," he rasped. "I… Sor-rry…"

Gajeel leaned forward to nuzzle forehead against Gale's cheek. Gale could just vaguely hear his father's unsteady intakes of air and his heartbeat was anything but calm.

"You were so strong, pipsqueak," Gajeel whispered to him. His voice the only thing Gale could clearly hear. "I'm so pr-proud of you."

Something warm hit Gale's jaw. A tear.

"Don't ever say you weren't strong enough." Gajeel's whisper turned fierce to mask how much he wanted his voice to break. "You're my kid, pipsqueak. I've watched you grow stronger every day and, today, you proved you were even stronger than me."

More wet and warm tears hit Gale's jaw and dribbled down his chin.

Gajeel lifted his head and Gale watched as Natsu came into blurry view, his pink hair matted down by the rain. He looked down at Gale. There was always something about those onyx eyes that made Gale feel subservient, but in the good way. Nothing in Natsu's gaze was in Gajeel's own. Onyx and ruby only reflected gravity at the same time, but something darker was in Natsu's gaze. His own personal storm was brewing.

"Gajeel, we have to," roughly dropped from Natsu's mouth. His eyes traveled to something that was not Gale's eyes. "We can't move him without him dying."

Gajeel's eyes snapped angrily to Natsu. "You don't think I know that, Salamander?" he seethed. "He's going to feel one-hundred times worse—"

"But, he'll live." Onyx flicked up to ruby and something sacred past between dragon brothers. "They said Wendy was feeling better. Still weak, but she's better. It'll get infected, but she'll be ready for him. She can get rid of the infection and bandage him. But, we have to do it now or else he won't even get that chance. You know that, Gajeel."

Gajeel locked his jaw and looked away from Natsu.

Gale's eyes drifted to his father. He opened his mouth, dry in comparison to how wet the world was. "It's…s'okay, Dad," he hoarsely whispered.

Gajeel looked back down at his son. Something raged in those eyes that had seen Hell like he was fighting with himself. "Okay." He looked back at Natsu. "Let's do it." He led out his arm and it made a fluid transition from flesh and bone to thick iron sword.

Natsu raised his hand and grabbed the sword. His heat wrapped around the sword and made it lighten. Gajeel showed no pain to his iron burning. His eyes stayed on his son.

Natsu let go of the sword and nodded at Gajeel.

Gajeel took a deep inhale and closed his eyes. "I'm sorry, pipsqueak."

Gale wanted to question his father as Gajeel's sword came down, but something stopped him. His eyes widened as tear mixed with blood sprung from his eyes even faster and his mouth trembled as it widened.

And a ragged scream tore from Gale's lips before the world fell still and he could not feel anymore.

---

Love you Love you Love you

himitsu no I love you

naisho no kisu wa imitation?

toke nai mahō mitai ni torawarete so crazy for you

•

kimi wa marude illusion

shibireru love session

aimai na sono motion

sō sa konya wa fiction

kimi wa marude illusion

tame rau love session

gōin na sono motion

Unbreakable magic

---

TO BE CONTINUED…

Woah… Poor Gale! I really hope he's okay! I hope everyone's okay, but it just seems like things are only going to get worse from here. To find out if things get anymore worse, tune into the next episode of Fairy Adventure!

---

Chibi-Mary Jane stands in front of the classroom with an irritated look, her eyebrow twitching, and unnecessary glasses hanging low on the bridge of her nose. She looks the part of the teacher and looks unhappy about that.

"Hello," she practically growls at the class. "I'm Miss Dreyar. I'm here to teach your Fairy Lesson. If you would like to live through this lesson, don't piss me off."

The students chorus nervously. "Aye, sir…"

Chibi-Mary Jane gives a nod and waves her hand. A LV box appears on top of a rolling cart. She presses the ON button. The video is silent, but it begins to show cult-like images. Wizards levitating in drawn Magic Circles with candles surrounding them and people in robes bowing down to a satanic being are shown.

"Today, we're talking about the Black Magic," Chibi-Mary Jane explains flatly. "Black Magic has many variants."

The video shows Bixslow fighting Gray in the first. Battle of Fairy Tail with his dolls. Then, the video switches to a pained Lucy in her Star Dress: Virgo Form with Avatar member Mary giggling at her.

"For example, Bixslow of Fairy Tail uses Seith Magic that can trap wandering souls. Then, there's Virus, a Curse Power that can create permanent illness from the common cold to brain death," Chibi-Mary Jane explains.

The video shows more examples of Black Magic. It shows Zash Caine using his Eye Magic: Mind Control on the White Tiger Squadron.

"Black Magic is just a synonym for Curse Power, but don't think Black Mages are evil people," Chibi-Mary Jane drones on. "Curses can be used any way a person sees fit. However, it has its drawbacks."

The video shows a young Jellal Fernandes being tormented by a scarlet soul, gaining his scar.

"People driven by Curse Power also bear the responsibility they could succumb to its sinister nature," Chibi-Mary Jane continued. "For example, my mother, Mirajane Dreyar, uses the accursed Satan Soul."

The LV shows an enraged Mirajane using her forbidden Magic against Freed Justin in the first Battle of Fairy Tail.

"As such, she has the same powers of a demon," Chibi-Mary Jane went on. "She has explained to me, if there's ever a time she gives in too much to anger or sadness, she'll hear whispers. Those whispers come from the Curse itself. A Curse has always been meant for sinister means unless the Mage wielding it has strong willpower to tame it into their own Magic. But, if the Curses senses you to be weak enough, it will whisper things to you." Chibi-Mary Jane's eyes darken at that. "These whispers can tell you all sorts of things or so my mom says. They'll tell you what you want to hear. Maybe you've been wanting to make sure your family is safe. The whispers could tell you to murder everyone around you to keep your family safe. It's the nature of a Curse to manipulate the weak and vulnerable."

The class is dead silent at that.

Chibi-Mary Jane heaves a sigh. "Anyways, Black Magic or Curse Power is the exact opposite of White Magic. That shouldn't be news to you. For one to exist, the other has to. It's all in the nature of balance. Circle of life and all that fun stuff I didn't sign up to teach you."

The class begins to snicker.

Chibi-Mary Jane raises an eyebrow, but she otherwise ignores it. "Now, that just about covers it," she decides. "Questions, comments, or concerns will be taken now."

A student raises their hand and she nods at them.

"Um… Miss Dreyar?" He looks like he is about to burst out laughing. "Are you really that close to Mister Dragneel?"

Chibi-Mary Jane's brow furrows as more snickers and chuckles ring around the room. "What the heck are you—?" She looks at the LV.

The entire video has paused on a picture of her and Igneel sharing her bed. She looks dead asleep, hair pulled into a bun, and an old band shirt hanging loose on her body. It's Igneel who grins for the camera with her in his arms and a wink on his face. The video shifts to a new picture that has the entire class bursting into laughter and Chibi-Mary Jane silent. The photo is of her sleeping on her bed with sunglasses haphazardly on her face, an empty wine bottle shoved into her arms, and the words WHEN SHE GETS WASTED ON RED WINE scrawled in the corner.

Chibi-Mary Jane grits her teeth. "This…"

BANG.

Everyone stops laughing, horrified when they see a broken LV and a murderous Chibi-Mary Jane.

"…is pissing me off," Chibi-Mary Jane snarls. "He is going to die. He is going to die with me using my bare hands. No Magic needed. He'll be squealing his pain and begging for help in a place no one can hear his pathetic cries."

Everyone sinks in their seat.

Holy crap, this lady is terrifying.

Chibi-Mary Jane turns to the class and clears her throat. Next time, on Fairy Adventure: DO IT FOR HER!" She stalks away. "Class dismissed. I have a moron to kill." And, she leaves the room.

It's only a few seconds later they hear a high-pitched scream and the sounds of maniacal laughter that has them shivering violently.

Poor Mister Dragneel…