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!

37. Adventure 037

Disclaimer: I do not own Hiro Mashima's Fairy Tail nor any work professional associated with it. 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.

---

Previously, on Fairy Adventure, Gale ended up losing to Bluenote and costed him to get away with the medium, but don't beat up on him too hard, Gabriel! Anyways, Wolfheim barged into Draculos' office to reveal his own secret: he's been keeping tabs on Elvin Strauss and plans to go on his own journey to save him. Nashi and Luke's team made a quick pit-stop at one of the MCP rescue stations when they decide to split up…even if Luke would rather jump off a bridge than have Gary close to Nashi. Gale ended up getting filled with guilt for failing everyone only for him, Luna, Icarus, and Syra to end up farther back in time. Natsu's team runs into Lily's and friends to catch onto Gajeel's still-warm trail. Igneel and Laxus went at it for us to learn Igneel made a promise to Mary Jane when they were kids! But will that promise be enough? Dazzler tried to rally everyone to go after their missing friends only to butt heads with Nashi the second Luke showed up. Good thing Gary interrupted, but now things are totally awkward! Luna dreamed of finding Mary Jane, but she's…different than before. A good different. A changing different. Luna woke up only for her and Gale to fight it out. Dazzler and the gang showed back up at Lamia Scale and learned the full extent of what happened to their guild-mates. Mystogan's reshaped team make it the River Guardian Shrine for Andele to reveal Peter and Mary Jane could very well die if they don't snap out of their comas. Talk about heavy! Luna and Gale continued to fight it out in the past and nearly fall into the clutches of the old Black Dragon, Obscuritan. Icarus saved them with his quick plan and Luna and Gale made up just in the nick of time—because Syra pops them into the future! But, one time jump wasn't enough. Gale roped Luna and Icarus into pushing Bluenote in the present with everyone else and leaving an aged Dimaria in the hands of Monster Tamer Spezi.

"Well, Miss Yesta, guess it's just you and me. You look so parched. How about a nice glass of fresh booze?"

Don't do it, Dimaria! Honestly, Gare-bear, who calls it 'making love'…

---

When Luna, Gale, and Bluenote came out of the Time Ripple, it was all a big mess. Bluenote and Gale tumbled down a muddy hill with their bodies staining in dirt and rain and grass and cuts. Luna had nothing to fear as Icarus reappeared to grasp her by the back of her dress with his teeth and used his claws to skid to a stop. She choked and gasped at such an action with whiplash threatening to overtake her.

Pup, Icarus thought to her, though his voice sounded muffled as though by her fabric. Are you all right?

Swirls dwelled in Luna's eyes. "M'fine…" she assured in a slur. "I just…really want to get this corset off because it's choking me." She looked down at her limp wrist. "And my wrist is killing me."

BAM!

Luna snapped out of her daze to see Gale and Bluenote had landed down by the riverbanks. Bluenote had just barely stopped himself from flopping into the water while Gale had rolled to a halt and already tried to get up. His eyes saw the medium that had rolled away from Bluenote and he scrambled to get it. Once he had it in his grasp, he looked at Luna.

"Blondie!" Gale shouted before chucking the medium. "Catch!"

Icarus had to run a bit for Luna to catch the medium. It nearly slipped from her grip, but she caught it again impressively one-handed and held it tightly to her chest. "Okay, I got it! We need to go!" she urged.

"I don't think you want to do that."

Gale froze as Bluenote rose to his feet in that unnatural way where he did not even have to use his hands to get up. His silver eyes stared deep into Gale's like he could read into his very soul. "Oh, don't give me such a look, fledgling," Bluenote mocked. "Are you still afraid?"

Gale tried to control his shaking.

Bluenote took out his pocket watch and checked the time. "Looks like we only traveled a couple days into the future," he noted. He looked around and frowned. The clouds were gray, yes, but there was no thunder or lightning behind it. The water was not sloshing about. The destruction was leftover, but that was the only indication of a battle. "And, the storm the River Guardian brought has come to pass."

Luna was shocked at such a revelation.

It is quiet. Did that mean everything is back to normal?

Her eyes narrowed.

No, wait.

She looked at how the riverside shops and restaurants had all been crushed in the storm.

Everything still happened. Which means—

"So, the little girl figures it out," Bluenote drawled. "Yes, that's right, Luna Dragneel. No matter what you have done in the past, this present still exists. In the end, I will always win."

"To what end?" Gale demanded to know. "Why are you doing this? Why would anyone want to do this?"

Bluenote snapped his pocket watch shut and put it back under his cloak. "I'll tell you this. I'll let the girl and her pet dog go if you stay here with me," he conditioned.

Luna was already shaking her head. "Gale, we need to—!"

"Go ahead, Blondie."

Luna's breathing stopped. "What?"

"Icarus," Gale called, "take her to the ruins, okay? She can't be here for this."

Icarus dipped his head. As you wish, juvenile.

"Wait, we're not seriously leaving him, right?" Luna had to check. "Icarus? Icarus, answer me!"

Icarus gently set down Luna and nudged her side. Pup, get on my back.

Luna growled at him. "No!" she argued. "Think of his scar on his stomach! We can't just—!"

You will get on my back now!

Luna's entire body straightened as the bellow resonated deep within her soul. Something strange came over her. Her body shut down. No matter what command she tried to give within her mind, it was her body that was in control. She was like a computer being forced into a program. Her legs moved towards Icarus.

No, she desperately tried to refuse. No, please! I have to get to Gale!

Gale smirked, but he did not show her his eyes. "C'mon, Blondie, you'd just get in my way."

Luna froze.

"I mean, seriously, you think you could help me? You think I'd just run away?" Gale tched at the mere thought. "Don't argue and get goin'. I'll catch up once I beat the bastard. Leave it all to me."

Luna blinked at him.

Gale…

Icarus got to his paws. He offered Gale one final nod before he bolted away with Luna jostling on each bound.

Bluenote raised an eyebrow. "So, you accepted my deal," he acknowledged. "I'm surprised. You still shake, meaning you still have natural fear of me. You still believe I am a. viable threat to your safety, your life. You believe me to be your own Grim Reaper." He understood something. "Ah, I see. So, even though you brought me into the present, your fear of me hasn't changed. Interesting."

Gale locked his jaw.

°•°•°•°

When Luna felt her lighter from being confined to an order, she snapped. "Icarus!" she burst. "We have to go back! Why did you make me go?" She held the medium close to her. "What did you do to me?"

I used Command on you, Icarus informed. All Cliffords and Lupines are capable of using this Magic if they have a high enough prestige. You are under my command and submit to my every word. I apologize if you were unsettled. Guilt threaded through their link with the impression of an apology.

"I'll forgive you if you turn around and take us back," Luna reasoned. "We have to help Gale!"

No, Pup. He needs no help.

"Why?" Luna cried. "What's so different about this time?"

Icarus' eyes focused a little.

The time is different. His fear was not prominent.

Luna's eyes widened. "What? But he was shaking!"

Yes, but he did not shake in fear, Pup.

°•°•°•°

"I might not have changed the present," Gale began, "but I've changed, Warlock. You think I'm shaking like this because I'm scared of you?" He gave a sarcastic laugh. "Don't tell me you're that arrogant."

Bluenote's eyes narrowed. "Your own arrogance shows you think you can take me on. Not even if I gave you a handicap would you be able to defeat a seasoned Mage."

Gale's knuckles turned white. "You wanted to see if I can fly, right? That's what you wanted?" He took a step forward. "Then, you're going to get it!"

°•°•°•°

He shook with the fury of a male scorned, Icarus informed. And, his eyes…

°•°•°•°

Ruby filled with violent hatred clashed with cool silver.

°•°•°•°

They were the eyes of one who looked at Death without any fear.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

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 kurikaeshite 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

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Mary Jane sat on her swing with the breeze at her back and her eyes looking over the vast expanse of land she would roam in alone. She frowned as she did not swing. She just sat there on the plank of wood.

"She's right, y'know."

Mary Jane looked over to see the other version of herself comfortably swinging with her nonchalant attitude and normal cerulean eyes.

"I'm not about to become weak and pathetic," Other Mary Jane said. "People pissed me off, so I dished it back. The world is cruel unless you're cruel to it."

"But you don't have to be," Mary Jane pointed out. "I don't want to be cruel anymore."

"You could always come back to being like me."

Another Mary Jane sat on the ground, younger than her counterpart with a dispassionate look about her. She looked to be only a child, yet the lifelessness in her eyes made her look so much older.

Mary Jane saddened. "I remember being like that. I was only nine, wasn't I? Life moved so slow. I didn't feel anything." She turned to her other counterpart. "And, when I started feeling, I was so angry all the time." She looked down. "But I don't want either of those."

"Then, what do you want?"

Mary Jane looked up to see the little girl from before leaning against the tree with her eyes covered with that material. "Blue…"

"What do you want, Mary Jane?" Blue pressed

Mary Jane worked her mouth for an answer. "I…"

KURRRRRRRRRRR.

A mouth moved.

A bright red ribbon.

KURRRRRRRRRRR.

Mary Jane frowned. "I want… I want to know…"

KURRRRRRRRRRR.

A silhouette disappearing over a windowsill.

A flash of green.

KURRRRRRRRRRR.

Mary Jane hugged herself. "I want to know what it's like."

Blue cocked her head. "What it's like to what, Mary Jane?"

"What's it's like…"—Mary Jane closed her eyes—"to be happy."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Fairy Adventure 037

A Chance to Fight Back

戦う時です！私はこれまで諦めることはできない！

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The first part of a fight never begins with the battle, but it begins with the mind. It determines who wins and who loses. There is no game to this—you are fighting—but there is strategy. Anyone who has some type of honor will never blindly attack within the first minute. They will watch you as you watch them. They will access and reflect and take every spare second to make sure you do the same. They want a fair fight and a worthy opponent. Any sign that you are not and they have their answer.

Ruby clashed against silver in a battle of the mind. Wind stirred around them, but not the winds of Nature. These were the winds of Magic. What would surprise any Mage looking at this battle was the translucent aura surrounding the two of them. Black swallowed Gale and bubbled around him to show anyone he was not backing down from his fight. Silver enshrouded Bluenote, thicker and higher than Gale's aura. There were traces of black in there meant to identify a Curse, but anyone could see who was the more powerful opponent.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

« This is called Magic Aura. A strong enough Mage may conjure the Spirit of Magic around them and produce the color of their Magic. Doing so is a tough enough feat, but it also means you are a powerful Mage. »

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Bluenote watched Gale.

He's changed. He's different. Whatever I did to him before should have shaken him, but he doesn't look like a broken fledgling. No… He looks ready to fly.

His eyes went to flower gripped in Gale's hand.

I can tell the flower he's holding as a direct link to a powerful being. A God, maybe? No. Perhaps…

A new voice purred into his mind. The flower is a gift from a powerful Dragon…

Bluenote kept his cool. A Dragon? Are you sure, my Lord?

Positive, came hiss. Secure the flower. Having a Dragon's power will increase my chances to leave this wretched prison. Use the Curse I have gifted you.

Bluenote tensed as the Curse spiraled around his body until it squeezed the life out of him. As you wish, my Lord. He let out a feral grunt as his teeth sharpened.

Gale tried not to let it show he was fazed when he saw Bluenote hunch over. He witnessed the Warlock vomit black blood and cry out as ugly batwings burst from his back and ripped up his cloak. He flinched unintentionally at the mess his horns made.

Can't back down now, Gale told himself. He put the flower in his breast pocket. Gotta get through this. Gotta buy Blondie some time. Just gotta stall until reinforcements come.

Bluenote's eyes widened—the white of his eyes were black as his irises remained an inhumane silver—as he grew out his claws and thick violet replaced his tan skin.

I'm scared, Gale told himself in mantra, and that's good. It's good to be scared.

"You gotta make a choice, Pipsqueak?"

Gale caught a flash of his father's shark-tooth grin.

"What's it gonna be?"

Bluenote roared as his arrow-tipped tail burst from his body. He looked like a demon in his disgusting form. His clothes were torn from his body to reveal the tattoo of demons and his pocket watch was clutched sharply in his claws. He licked his teeth with a black tongue, purring at his new form.

"Are you gonna run away and die like a rat?"

Gale wrinkled his nose as he bared his teeth.

No. I'm not.

Bluenote cackled as his Curse crackled around him. "Are you ready to fly, boy?"

"Are you gonna flee with your tail between your legs because someone's stronger than you?"

The grating sound of metal rustled within Gale's soul. He could feel the cool burn of the symbol of his grandfather on his chest and through his clothes. But there was something new than this grate of metal. There was a soothing hum. It was the hum of Nature. It was the hum of earth.

No. I won't.

Bluenote flapped his wings to lift himself into the air. With a roar, he soared at Gale with his claws outstretched.

"Or are you gonna stand up for yourself on your own two legs and shows these bastards who you are?"

This is different than the last time.

The earth under Gale swelled and jetted him forward with his arm shielding him.

Because now…

God's Tear began to glow as Gale's Magic Circle pulsed beneath him.

…I…

CLASH!

Bluenote's eyes widened.

The fabric of Gale's shirt was torn to reveal Gale's entire body had turned into a shining diamond. Inside and out, his entire body had turned into the purest gem there was.

…am not afraid of my fear!

Gale quickly spun around into a roundhouse kick and slammed his leg into Bluenote's skull.

---

Gray Jaguar continued their move to Margaret Town. To the naked eye, there was nothing moving against the dark skies. But, to those with a keen eye, they could make out the team of humans and two dogs gliding in their broom bikes. Delgado fingered the necklace of his wife and said his Catholic prayers in his Sinnish tongue. Jackson may look like he was paying attention, but his eyes were glazed as he recounted all of his family and his thanks to each member. Riza kept her canines entertained with a virtual game of fetch. Zelda stroked her mythical cat and murmured soothing things. Oswald was doing research and analysis on his bike, considering the news around Margaret Town's disaster and the responses the Provincial Guild League were giving to the press as well as updates on the center. What caught his attention was Mayor Sabozai giving a statement to the press.

"—but make no mistake: placing Hunters within the borders of Margaret Town was nothing I nor the city's council decided," she bellowed through the countless flashes and questions piling over each other. "I have hope our Mages and Magnolia's will defend us like they have countless times."

Asuna looked around and the thundering clouds that no longer rained. "Shouldn't we be worried about this? No rain and all, I mean?"

Riza tapped her screen to bring on her Ethernano Scanner. "The Magic in this area has drastically lowered," Riza alerted. "If the Guardians were fighting, they aren't now."

"They aren't our problem," Jackson reminded. "We just need to get to Cap. How we doin' with that signal, Vanderbelt?"

Oswald swiped his screen clean and brought back up his radar. He zoomed in on the steadily moving signals labeled CAPT and LTC. "Looks like Cap and the lieutenant are on the move towards the southern quadrant."

Delgado finished his prayers to tap into his radar. He scrutinized the little dots on the screen only to see how few there were. "Huh," he hummed. "The MCPs are fewer to nonexistent. Looks like the forest gives great cover."

"Makes sense, right?" Zelda put in. "Cap wouldn't want us near the—"

"Shut your suck, Hunter," Jackson snapped with intended hostility.

Zelda took it in stride and raised her eyebrows, a smirk dancing on her lips. "No need to be salty, trooper," she teased back.

"Would you burros get along for the sake of the operation?" Delgado rumbled in his no-nonsense voice. "We're breaking it down Barrack-style meaning if anything goes wrong, expect the tree punishment." He looked pointedly at Jackson for that.

Jackson huffed and glared away. "We're not back at TBS, Gonzalez, and you ain't the top."

"No, I'm not," Delgado conceded in a deadly calm. "But you know better than to run your mouth at me, son."

Jackson flinched, but he decided not to argue.

"They stopped moving," Oswald announced. He turned to the left and began his descent. "This way."

°•°•°•°

Panther Lily could not help but pace as everyone made themselves comfortable near in the forest. Natsu kept a light for them with his fire and the same to Romeo. The forest was not comfortable at this time of night, but animals sensed Natsu and Panther Lily as apex predators they did not want to face and stayed away. Lucy was thumbing her keys and relaying instructions to them all while Levy and Cana looked closely at her cards. Alzack was checking his guns. Leandro continued to vape against a tree, ignoring Naomi's disgust. Miss Pink kept herself amused as she made pink bubbles.

"If he sent this signal hours ago, they should've made it here by now," Panther Lily growled as he checked his Compact.

"Do you think the MCPs stopped them?" Naomi innocently wondered.

⌜LAMIA SCALE

Name: Naomi Kelekolio

Age: 23

Occupation: Mage

Magic: Siren

Likes: seafood Dislikes: dairy

Special Note: Naomi has a rare voice that can get you to do practically anything she wants! No wonder they call her the Siren of Lamia Scale!⌟

Leandro puffed out the vapor from his vape. "Nah. MCPs would shit themselves if they saw the special forces anyways."

⌜LAMIA SCALE

Name: Leandro Fraser

Age: 25

Occupation: Mage

Magic: Jackpot Magic

Likes: Lolita manga Dislikes: country music

Special Note: Leandro is a laid-back guy, but the minute he sees Lolita manga, you should see his face! ⌟

RUSTLE. RUSTLE.

Panther Lily's tail twitched as his right ear flicked.

Natsu tensed and his body naturally shifted to protect his mate. Lucy noticed Natsu's behavior and frowned. "Nat—?"

"Shhh."

Everyone stopped their movements. Miss Pink's irises began to glow as she gathered her Magic in the event of needing a barrier. Lucy grabbed hold of Natsu's free hand while her other itched to get to her whip. Romeo expanded his fire into his Purple Flare and conjured a blade of fire. Alzack silently requipped his twin pistols.

RUSTLE. RUSTLE.

Everyone waited with bated breath.

They waited.

And they waited.

Panther Lily perked when his ear recognized the pattern in the grass. He stepped forward with his eyes wide.

Levy tried to stop him. "Lily—!"

Panther Lily held up a hand. "Non-hostiles," he reported. His tail flicked.

Alzack lowered his guns but only a little. "Allies? Military? MCPs?"

"No. Better." Panther Lily smiled. "Friends."

In only seconds, two dogs crashed out of their positions and onto Panther Lily. It was Walt and Roy with their eager licks and whining and careful sniffs of the man they deemed one of their masters. Everyone lightened up as Panther Lily laughed at the canine assault and scratched the boys' flanks. "No need for that, you two," he rumbled affectionately. "Didn't you ever hear cats and dogs don't mix?"

"But you're not a cat, are you?"

The task force crept out of the shadows like it was nothing. The Fairy Tail Mages let down their guard at the friendly company while the Lamia Scale Mages found themselves a bit on edge. Gray Jaguar was filled with unfamiliar faces. Riza was the first human out of the task force to get close to Panther Lily. "Hello, sir," she purred with an affable twinkle in her eye.

Panther Lily stood up with a grin. "My kittens," he greeted, tail flicking. He smelt the air and his grin dropped to a scowl. "And one unwanted stray."

Zelda slunk out of the shadows with her mysterious cat perched on her shoulder. She offered Panther Lily one of those old-times-grin that meant something. "Hello, Lily."

Panther Lily clenched his fists and his ears flicked at his irritation. "Zelda," he practically snarled. "Or should I say—?"

"Hunter," Natsu finished, glaring at Zelda. He puffed himself up to protect Lucy and Levy. "Don't tell me you're on our side."

Zelda shrugged. "Relax," she soothed. "I'm one of the good guys."

Natsu instantly dropped his aggression with a cheery grin. "Great! Welcome to the team!"

Naomi and Leandro nearly fell over. He adjusted so quickly!

Lucy came to Natsu's side. Her grip on her whips handle was gone and her keys were limp at her side, but she touched Natsu's hand. Trust did not come easy in times like these, even if it was warranted. A Mage had every right to be suspicious of a friendly Hunter. Still, she offered a polite smile. "A Hunter on our side might be just what we need," she educated to the incredulous younger Mages. She stopped their protesting with a quick, stern look. "A Hunter can find another Hunter easily and we need easy. Time is running out."

Panther Lily growled under his breath as he tried to keep his claws sheathed.

Lucy shot the great ex-warrior of Extalia a sharp stare. "Isn't that right, Lily?"

Panther Lily itched to flash his teeth, but when he saw the warning behind Natsu's jovial look, he begrudgingly nodded and rumbled something too quiet for anyone to hear.

Zelda was amused at all the trouble she caused with her being there, but she did not dare laugh. Not with how dire the situation was. "Well," she breathed loudly, drawing attention to herself, "I think we should skip the pleasantries and get right to it. Now. The good captain got himself captured—"

"He was taken," Jackson hissed in interruption.

"Captured. Taken. The difference is nothing," Zelda said offhandedly, ignoring the way Jackson's face reddened at her blatant dismissal. "The point is? He's gone and we have no way of finding him."

Romeo narrowed his eyes at her. "Sorry, but isn't the point of having someone like you around is so you can find others like you?"

Zelda rolled her eyes. "Mages," she muttered. "Let me put this in terms you can understand"—Miss Pink, Naomi, Romeo, and Leandro all bristled at the lack of respect—"Mages seek out Mages by sensing the spirit inside. Hunters sense others the same way. But you don't sense Mages a great distance away on your own." She scratched her mythical cat's head and it purred. "That's where she comes in."

Levy studied the cat in peculiarity. "A familiar," she concluded. "I didn't think a Hunter could make one."

"Aren't familiars, like, the bad guys?" Miss Pink fretted. She now eyed the feline like it would jump at her any second.

Leandro deliberately puffed his next smoke at the cat and smirked when it hissed viciously at him. "Doesn't seem all the scary to me, do you, pretty kitty?" he mocked.

Zelda gave an exasperated look at Lucy and Levy. "How old are these kids? What, twelve?" She turned back to the younger Mages. "Familiars aren't all bad. In fact, in some regions of Earth Land, familiars exist. They're companions of those who use Ethernano. They're an extension of us and take the form of whatever our spirit feels."

"They were used centuries ago," Levy informed. "Familiars have the power to track down others of its kind. They were used a lot for reconnaissance." She tipped her head at Zelda. "But, how can a Hunter conjure a familiar?"

Zelda looked proud as she said, "It's a rare ability, but only the strongest of Hunters can make one." She did not brag; she stated the facts. "My sweet Sheik can track Hunters easily."

Jackson had to throw this out there. "And just how do you know which Hunters to track?" he spat at her. "How do we know this isn't a trap?"

Zelda snorted. "Oh, Summers, I feel like all this aggression you have towards me is sexual tension," she mused. "Haven't gotten laid recently and you take it out on me?"

Jackson looked ready to lunge, but Delgado held him back. Instead, he sneered at Zelda, "Don't play games, Hunter. We all know the Hunter-way. You could turn on us any minute. You're all nothing more than second-rate hounds with the instinct to maim. Oath breakers and hunting dogs."

For once, Zelda did not have that air of superiority around her. She lost the amusement in exchange for something more violent. She stalked forward to Jackson. "Do not – call me – a hunting dog," she snarled at him. "I am a Hunter with honor just as you are a soldier with honor. My word on my hunting license should guarantee I will not double-cross you. I value the oaths I make immensely the same as a Celestial Spirit Mage values their promises."

Lucy looked at Zelda with admiration at that.

"So, don't you dare call me a damn hunting dog," Zelda hissed, "when you're nothing more than a mangy military mutt yourself." She whipped around and walked away.

Jackson tried to lunge at her and struggled against Delgado's hold. He had to get in the last word. "You may value your oaths, but we all know your father doesn't!"

Zelda froze.

Jackson was all set to smirk in triumph when a soft hand touched his chest. He looked down to see Riza's face full of disappointment at his words. He softened and looked away in his shame and anger. "Sorry," he mumbled. "Took it too far."

Zelda relaxed her shoulders as she crouched down. She let her mythical cat sprig out of her hands. "Sheik"—her voice was emotionless and cold—"go."

Sheik tasted the air.

"The Hunters in the city have left, but it doesn't mean they aren't nearby," Zelda explained as she slowly stood up. "They must have set up base in one of their hidden territories close by to keep prisoners close." Something occurred to her as she turned to Panther Lily. "Fairy Tail… Word on the market is you've housed two aliens."

Panther Lily thought nothing of it. "We do."

Something changed in Oswald's eyes. "I didn't take them into account properly."

Zelda hummed, pressing her lips together. "Good news: I'll find the captain easily. Bad news: you just lost two guild members."

The team of Mages fell disbelieving. "What?" Romeo snapped. "What do you mean?"

"I'm saying," Zelda hissed, "that we are dealing with Black Hunters. I don't care if they were given fancy badges from the government as their"—she shot a look at Jackson—"hunting dogs"—Jackson shuffled his feet—"but they have no honor. The aliens you have in your guild? The human and the Vanhallan?" She shook her head. "In the hunting community, we fight over the rarest treasure. I don't think you understand how high class of a treasure extraterrestrial life is."

Leandro hacked out a laugh. "This is such bullshit!" he claimed. "What, you're trying to tell me what? What, that essentially my friends were kidnapped by bounty hunters, put on eBazaar or Danslist, and sold to the highest bidder?"

Lucy's eyes were wide in horror and she curled into Natsu for support. "You can't be serious…"

Leandro looked at the other Mages. "You know this is bullshit, right?" he checked. "People don't just sell people like that. I mean, yeah, human trafficking exists, but—"

"You think this is just human trafficking?" Zelda shook her head in disbelief. "This is far worse than that. Black Dogs don't just do human trafficking. And, in this case, with your friends being gone for over forty-eight hours, I'd think human trafficking is a kinder fate than being sold into an auction house."

"Wait a minute, just hold on now," Alzack stepped in with his southern drawl, thoroughly spooked. "Auction houses like that… They don't exist here."

Zelda shook her head. "Earth Land has houses in the black market, but nothing like the one your friends were taken too. We're talking a place where intergalactic trafficking and commerce is welcomed."

Asuna fiddled with her glove for a projection to appear of Earth Land from space. She used her free hand to zoom out all the way until they left their current galaxy and onto the next. The words TSUGA COSMOS appeared to show a galaxy thick and full just like the hemlock (Tsuga) trees. A circle appeared over a clump of matter with coordinates. Asuna tapped on them for information to stream. "The closest one to us is called the House of O," she explained. "It's a galactic auction house and it looks like an auction is taking place soon."

The silence was louder than anyone would have hoped.

Naomi looked like she need an inhaler. "What is happening?" she whispered. "Why is this happening?"

Miss Pink tried not to look shook, but she could not help the dull look in her eyes. All the Mages were processing this information in their silence and wide stares.

Sheik came back into the light and let out a mrrow! She took several bounds west before giving her Hunter an impatient look.

Zelda nodded. "Sheik has the trail. We need to move." She darted to her familiar who, in turn, broke into a run. Panther Lily and the task force bounded after her. With Natsu pushing them, the Mages tried to keep up through their grief and strife.

Lucy could not believe it as she held Natsu's hand. "Another planet," she whispered. "What are we doing to do?"

"We'll get them back, Lu," Levy promised. She had hope in her voice, but not enough to convince everyone around her. "We have connections, remember?"

"Lucy," came Natsu's solemn voice, "do you still have it?"

Lucy patted her key holder. "Of course I do. I never leave home without it."

"Good." A fanged smirk. "After all this time…" Natsu's dark eyes flickered with emerald and red.

Have you really made friends with everyone in the cosmos…Shiki?

---

Ludvig found himself waking up to murmured arguments and pleas for silence. He was lucky enough that there was no blinding light that made him cringe, but he did get stuck with that parched feeling down his throat. He was relieved when something cool wetted his tongue and stung the back of his throat. The first three swallows hurt, but the pain lessened as he took a few more gulps. He blinked and blinked until the picture became clear and he understood a woman of hazel eyes and dark hair hovered above him.

"Sir Ludvig," Eliza said in relief. "You've awoken."

Ludvig coughed. "Me… Meira… I-I-Is she…?"

Eliza frowned somberly. "I have no idea what has come to pass with Miss Heartfilia," she admitted. "We are still in the chamber of the River Guardian."

Ludvig's eyes glistened a bit. "Meira… My Queen…"

Eliza stiffened when the muttered arguments got a bit too loud and whipped around. "Hush," she hissed. "Keep your voices down."

The argument halted for a moment, but it started right back up in hushed anger.

Eliza turned back to Ludvig and sighed. She took a wet rag and dabbed Ludvig's sweaty forehead. "Gabriel and Jäger have been arguing for our next move," she explained. "Luna, Gale, Luna's Spirit, and the ikenga all vanished into another timeline. You were shot only hours ago by a man Gabriel claims is a Warlock. If it was not for Luna, you might not have survived. Meira…" She paused. "Gabriel sent his golems out to help Meira fend off those creatures the Warlock summoned, but the storm has gotten too severe for any of us to travel. Meira, at the moment, is on her own."

Ludvig grunted as he struggled to push himself up.

Eliza's eyes widened. "What are you doing?"

"Meira," Ludvig gritted out as he sat up. He held his chest at the dull ache, but he persevered. "Have to…get to her…"

Eliza softened. "Sir Ludvig, please," she pleaded. "Lay back down. If she saw you in the sorry state you were in, she would be too busy defending your honor instead of fighting."

Ludvig looked pained at that. "I can help her," he panted. "Please. I must help her."

"A Heartfilia is a capable woman," Eliza reminded. "She is the next Clan Leader. With strength like hers, she needs no help from ones like us."

"You d-d-don't understand," Ludvig hissed at her. "I need to see her. I need to tell her—" His eyes closed as pain wracked his body and his heart thudded against his chest. "I n-n-n-need…"

Eliza gently pushed Ludvig back down so he would lay. "There, there, Sir Ludvig," she shushed. "I am positive Miss Heartfilia already knows."

Ludvig did not mean for a tear to slip out, but it did regardless. "I never told her," he whispered in a bitten back sob. "I never told her…how much she meant to me."

"But, she knew." Eliza's eyes shimmered with something. "Trust me. I am positive she knew just as I am positive you will see her again. You will not die today, Sir Ludvig. You have much more to do and see and learn. Gabriel tells me you are engaged and—"

"Not anymore."

Eliza was surprised at that.

Ludvig coughed. "I could never marry a woman who would hate me," he confessed. "Maria… She always looked down upon me. My Magic and research… She thought I was just a child playing with toys. She would never accept me." He coughed again. "But, Meira…" His eyes began to shine at just the thought of her. "If she asked me to, I would gladly give it all up to follow her to the ends of the stars and back."

Eliza smiled at the look in Ludvig's eyes. "She sounds very special."

"She is." Ludvig could not help but beam as another tear came out. "Gadzooks, meeting her was like yesterday. She had no regard of title or status. She came to me with an offer of partnership and bought me dinner at a pub." He chuckled. "Mother and Father would have a heart attack knowing their sole heir was in a lowly pub. And, to see a beautiful Heartfilia playing drinking games with patrons and cursing up a storm with the sailors?" He sighed dreamily. "It was like… It was like something from a fantasy."

"But you were to be married," Eliza came in.

Ludvig's shine dimmed at bit. "I was," he sighed. "I held loyal to Maria, even though I knew she was never loyal to me." At Eliza's inquisitive look, Ludvig explained, "I knew she had joined with one of her guards. She held no love for me and held only attraction for those with a firm hand on her. She speaks ill of those who commit adultery, yet she is an adulterer herself." He clutched his heart. "My parents will be disappointed I refuse marriage with Maria, but they will understand. They are the few nobles who understand Magic has its place."

Eliza was silent for a few moments.

Then…

"My parents quite actually adore Magic."

This caught Ludvig by surprise.

Eliza smiled a little. "They are already fond of spells and wizardry," she admitted. "My whole family is constantly inspired by great Mages. My grandfather met the Clan Leader of the Heartfilia's once. He came home completely smitten and wrote letters to a Heartfilia every day."

Ludvig was perplexed. "What of your grandmother?"

"My grandmother passed away in her thirties," Eliza admitted, "due to her obsession with becoming a witch. My grandfather was saddened for a long time at her death. So, when I caught him smiling at the letters he would receive back from this mysterious Heartfilia, I knew his heart was on the mend and believed the rumors of the elusive Heartfilia women were true."

"What do you mean?" Ludvig wondered.

"Legend told once a person laid eyes on a Heartfilia, they were susceptible to their siren song and instantly became mesmerized." Eliza grinned at Ludvig. "You and my grandfather are proof of such theory. No need to blush so hard, Sir Ludvig. While many chased after these women, it was rare to see these women give chase back. You have proven worthy enough to capture the attention of a Heartfilia, making you a remarkable man."

Ludvig grew a bit uncomfortable with that. "Yes, well…"

Eliza saw this and changed the subject. "My brother may not have been fond of Magic, but he respected its usefulness. None in our family could really do anything more than a simple spell they teach you as a first year in wizarding school. But, Lavender…"

Eliza sighed at the mention of her sister-in-law. "She changed everything. She invested heavily into Wizard movements, wanting to promote them and their cause. She donated to a few wizarding schools and sits on a couple of their education boards as a benefactor. She introduced my brother to a rebellious world in which society could not tie them down." She chuckled behind her hand. "She may sound quite mad, but Lavender is a rather down-to-earth woman filled with interesting ideals. She never shied from herself and from giving her opinion. The first time she met my brother, actually, was after one of her horse races."

Ludvig's eyebrows shot up. "Gadzooks! She horse races?"

"Aye," Eliza confirmed. "That she does. Ambrose thought she was a male and went to her room for a private congratulation and an offer to become a representative of his company. Imagine his bloody shock to see a half-naked woman coming out of the bath."

Ludvig's eyes went comically round. "Meira would have had a field day."

"You think Lavender didn't?" Eliza challenged with a quirked eyebrow. "She cared little that Ambrose saw her half-naked. She grew ridiculously insulted when Ambrose accidentally came off as sexist and told her racing was a man's sport." She sighed, shrugging. "The rest is history, I suppose. Ambrose continuously tried to apologize and became flustered at how free-spirited Lavender was, but she held his interest. She was very frank to admitting her attraction and she joined with him before marriage."

"Gadzooks!" Ludvig gasped. "How could she get away with something like that in the noble society?"

"She didn't," Eliza assured. "She was not fond of the idea of marriage as society often tells us men should 'handle' their women." She huffed at that. "Poppycock to that, I say. When Lavender finally realized Ambrose would never take her away from her aspirations, she became much easier to marry and they have lived happily ever since."

Ludvig peered curiously at Eliza. "And, you, my fair lady?" he inquired. "Does your marriage fare well?"

Eliza closed her eyes. "I am…unwedded and not affianced."

"Do your parents not require such a thing from you?" Ludvig asked. "I assume since you bare your family name and crest, you must meet the many requirements of a noble."

"My parents push little for myself to marry," Eliza explained. "Ambrose and my father would be pleased if I stayed single. But, I remain unwed more out of personal choice." She hesitated into saying anything more.

Ludvig softened. "There is someone you love, isn't there?" he murmured knowingly. "Someone not of your status?"

Eliza took a deep breath, then a loud exhale. "Her name…"

Ludvig's eyes widened.

"…was Tilda Andrews," Eliza continued. "I called her 'Tilly'. She was my best friend and confidant. She was the maid of a boy I was supposed to be engaged to at the time." There was love and grief sharing her eyes and her smile. "She was full of life, but even I could tell she was in pain. Her father abused her. A no-good drunkard who blamed his daughter for their low status, even though he was in the brig half the time. Her mother was sold as a slave to a noble for him to procure money."

Ludvig looked outraged. "How dare he," he snarled. "A significant other should be treated like the finest jewel! Not as a transaction!"

"If only the world was like that," Eliza said wishfully.

Ludvig nodded sagely. "And, what of Miss Andrews with no parents? Was she placed in an orphanage before maid-hood?"

Eliza shook her head. "Her father must have cared about her a little at the time because before he sold his wife, he had the noble agree to give Tilly sanctuary and occupation at the Flitwick House."

Eliza swallowed heavily. "My parents believed me eager to see my fiancé for they saw I wrote letters and smiled in my daydreams. But I sought Tilly's presence in secret when I hid from my intended. She talked often of buying her freedom back. We talked like silly girls in-love do of buying our own land to be free to do as we pleased without society to bare its hand on us."

Ludvig saw how torn up Eliza looked. "Eliza…"

"He found our letters," Eliza blurted. "We were mad to think he wouldn't, but he did. He knew I never came for him and it angered him of my betrayal. He threatened to have Tilly hanged."

"No, please! Please, let her live! I will do anything for her life!"

Eliza wiped away a tear and sucked in a breath. "I should have known he toyed with me. He knew I would do whatever I could to keep Tilly safe. So, he forced my hand into commitment. So long as Tilly was free to live, he would have my total submission." She blinked away tears. "But what he did not tell me was that she would live in a brothel as 'disgusting sapphists' we are should." She hissed in a deep breath.

Ludvig treaded carefully on the subject. "And, did you…? Did you not proceed with the wedding?"

Eliza nodded her head. "My parents found me too distraught for matrimony and allowed me to grieve quietly without prying my secrets. My fiancé was not saddened in the slightest of my departure or our disengagement. Karma worked with misfortune to strike him with an unexpected heir through one of his other maids. He brought shame to his family for such a criminal act."

Ludvig glanced over to where the other two McGarden's were. "And… Do they know?"

Eliza gave a wet gulp and sniffled. "My brother was the one I cried to when I realized I was a woman who loved women in the same manner men loved them," she confessed. "My aunt Helen was the second." She bubbled out a laugh. "She told me she loved me for me and gave me my first taste of Grandfather's whisky. Lavender always suspected and so had my grandfather. My grandfather never outright said a word, but he told me after I rejected another marriage proposal that I perhaps was not born in the right century. I am inclined to agree."

"As do I," Ludvig added. "From what Miss Luna told me of the future, acceptance has furthered itself through Magic and people. The blatant selling and buying of slaves has been labeled 'illegal'. Even though it exists, it is a step in the right direction. People have communed into 'guilds', little communities to share and spread knowledge and work together."

Eliza's eyes sparkled. "Gale told me, in the future, arranged marriages become outlawed in most countries."

"The future is a bright one indeed," Ludvig had to admit. His gaze softened.

I could have married the one I love and given her children.

He could envision his future-never-to-be. He could see a heavily pregnant Meira inside a cozy cottage. He could see himself rubbing her stomach and feeling the kicks of their unborn child. He could see children of blonde and blue hair demanding their attention and the smile he would share with his beloved at this being their life.

Eliza's gaze shimmered.

Tilly and I could have found a place in the country and adopted. We could've been happy.

She could see her future-never-to-be. She could see Tilly reading in their shared library and being wonderfully surprised when she offered her tea and coffee. She could see them sharing kisses under the stars and being interrupted by the big, fluffy dog they always wanted.

The wistful gleam in their eyes died when they realized the present they were stuck in.

Eliza cleared her throat and went back to dabbing Ludvig's forehead. "Even though I have no such luck in pursuing the one I love, I hope you and Meira find happiness."

Ludvig smiled sadly. "We never will." He closed his eyes. "For she will leave me and find someone worthier to bear her name and crest, someone who will understand her far better than I ever could. And, I shall remain the simple runologist in her memories whom loved her as the wolves love the moon—whom loved her from afar."

---

Luna took in the destruction of Margaret Town as Icarus bounded towards the ruins. She saw how ugly the bloodshed was and could practically envision how every crack and broken building was created.

"This is so awful," Luna breathed.

This is war, Icarus thought to her as he crossed out of the confines of the town through a bridge. War is not meant to be pretty.

The forest had not been touched by the destruction, but the Mûre River was silently eating up its land to gain more ground. Luna tried to ignore it as she saw the three hares guarding the entranceway to the ruins. They perked at her arrival, but rather than become defensive, they welcomed her eagerly.

Icarus slowed to a trot, then a walk, and finally stopped to crouch down. Luna abandoned him to head over to the three hares who twitched their noses and let their ears rise in happiness.

Luna smiled. "Hi to you too," she greeted.

The hares pointedly looked at Luna's limp wrist.

Luna gave a frown and tried to cover it. "Yeah, I fractured my wrist. But, don't worry, okay? I'll be fine." She turned to beckon Icarus with her head. "C'mon!"

Icarus bounded after her. Luna froze when she saw the dark abyss before them and gulped. "How are we going to see?"

A nudge.

Luna looked over to see one of the hares nudging her. It began to shimmer with Luke's Magic and climbed down the spiral steps, lighting the way. Luna followed after with Icarus taking the rear. By the time, they got down, Luna could not help but to shiver.

"This place feels weird," she admitted.

Black Magic lingers, Icarus growled, ears flat. I dislike you being in such a position, but I must endure it.

Luna looked at the hare. "Can you stay with us until we get to the chamber?"

The hare nodded and began to walk to the left and down the tunnel. Icarus stayed a bit behind Luna's right shoulder with his ears pricked and on alert. Luna kept the medium close to her. She looked down when she felt a surge of Magic Power and the orb began to flash as though excited. She smiled.

"Don't worry, Nayda," Luna murmured, rubbing the medium. "You'll be home soon."

There was nothing eventful about the walk to the chamber up until Icarus seemed surprised at something.

"What's wrong?" Luna asked.

Icarus snorted and shook his head. I scented your Mother Star and Father Dragon. Their scents are old. But there are other scents that are new, renewed, and a bit stale.

"Who do you smell?" Luna asked. "What do you smell?

Flames, Icarus responded. Flames that are juvenile and wild. Tinged with bloodlust. Static that is old. An intertwined scent of darkness tinged with light. A scent of light tinged with darkness. There is also a tranquil scent of spirits. He flicked his ear. I smell Lelantos and Actaeon. Old friends. There is also a scent of dog and an Alkahest. Ancient Magic scent as well. He frowned. There is a scent of One-Who-Does-Not-Shine.

Luna's eyes were swirling with information until that point. "Wait. What does that mean?"

In Human terminology, you refer to them as 'Spiritless'.

Luna was surprised. "Someone like that is down here?"

Yes.

"Huh." Luna was thoughtful of that. "Wonder who it could be?"

The hare stopped when the light of the chamber became apparent. Luna offered it a gratuitous pet before she and Icarus headed for the chamber. They crossed the threshold for Luna to be surprised at what she saw. "Nashi? Luke? Igneel?"

The two of the siblings brightened when they saw their sister. "Luna!"

Luna laughed when she felt all two of her siblings smother her in hugs and kisses and voiced their worries and scolds for her. "I'm okay, I'm okay," she promised. She looked up at them. "I'm so happy to see all of you!"

"When Mom and Aunt Levy told us what Gale told them, we were all so worried!" Nashi told her. She pinched Luna's cheek. "Would you stop running into trouble? We have brothers for that."

"I object to that," Luke complained. He smiled at Luna and leaned down to kiss her cheek. "Missed you, Lu."

Luna kissed his cheek. "Missed you too, Lu." At incessant whining, she affectionately looked at the Hunting Dog Spirits and crouched low. She giggled as she took in their nuzzles and licks. "I've missed you both too. Hi, boys."

Nashi pointed at her sister's outfit. "So, uh… What's with the get-up? You look kinda like a princess."

Luna sniffed at her. "Because I am," she said. She looked down at her dirty and torn dress and cringed. "But I really need new clothes and shoes." She tried to let her hand feel the material. "I just—Ow!"

Nashi and Luke's eyes zoned on the the wrist Luna tried to cradle and their stares darkened. "You got hurt," Luke rumbled.

Luna ducked her head. "It's not that bad," she tried to assure.

"Andy will heal it for you," Nashi dictated. "And we'll get you in some new clothes while we're at it. No objections, got that?"

Luna sighed. "Fine."

GRRRRR.

All eyes snapped to Icarus who affectionately rubbed Luna's hair with his head.

Luna laughed. "Guys, this is Icarus, the Canis Minor Spirit." At Icarus' subtle growl, Luna amended, "My Canis Minor Spirit." She smiled when Icarus eagerly licked her face.

Luke was taken aback. "Wait. He's yours?"

"He's a Canis Minor?" Nashi questioned.

Luke's brow furrowed. "But, isn't Plue Canis Major?"

Both siblings could see the comparison of the travel-size Plue and the large-as-a-horse Icarus and sweatdropped. Maybe they were misnamed…

"Well, as great as it is to see all of you," Luna confessed as Icarus, Lelantos, and Actaeon took curious interest in each other, "I was actually hoping I could see Mary Jane. And where's Igneel?" She looked around for the two. When she saw Igneel's blonde hair peeking on the other side behind a stone, she brightened. "Never mind, I found him." She raced off to meet him. "Igneel!"

Nashi and Luke were quick to chase after her. "Luna, wait!" Luke pleaded.

Luna ignored them as she saw more and more of her other brother and smiled big for him. "Igneel! I've missed you so much! How are you…?"

Her smile faded.

Her eyes widened.

Her stare focused on the pale corpse of Mary Jane.

"Mary…Jane?" Luna whispered. "No, she… She can't be…"

Nashi put a hand on Luna's shoulder. "She isn't," she assured in a murmur. "She's in a coma right now. She—" She decided to say it. "She doesn't have a lot of time left."

Luna looked up at Nashi in horror. "What?" she whispered. She began to shake her head. "No…"She looked back at Mary Jane and noticed Laxus and Igneel. She saw how her uncle was murmuring prayers under his breath as his effort to help his daughter. She saw Igneel hunched over Mary Jane's body with trembling lips whispering desperate pleas for her to wake.

"From what we gathered, she had a seizure." Mystogan was the one to announce this. "From that, her mind is trapped in a stasis only she can break. If not…" He refused to say she will die.

Luna straightened at that. "So, you're telling me she can still make it?" A light question.

Andele turned her ear in Luna's direction. "Anything is possible," she said softly. "She could survive; she could not. The choice to live is up to her." She lifted her hand. "Come. Let me heal you."

Luna glided over to Andele. She set down the medium and put her fractured wrist in Andele's hand. To everyone else, she said, "All of you need to leave now. Gale's in trouble."

Mystogan hardened. "What happened?"

"It's Bluenote," Luna informed. "To let Icarus and I escape, Gale's fighting him at the park by the river." She turned to look at Mystogan and Gary. "Please, help him."

Mystogan nodded and looked at Gary. "We're going." He looked at Nashi and Luke. "Both of you are with us." He looked at his apprentice who was surprised he was included. "I was told of what happened. Whatever you did may be useful now." He jerked his head towards the exit as he moved. "Let's go."

Nashi and Luke moved to their little sister to embrace her.

"We just got you back," Nashi murmured, "and we're already leaving you."

Luna closed her eyes. "I know," she murmured back. "But Gale needs you. Please save him."

Luke drew back to glance at his grieving twin. "And Igneel needs you." He turned to see Luna looking at him. "I can sense so much pain coming from him and Uncle Laxus. They'll need you to be their strength." He leaned in closer to whisper, "And if anything goes wrong, please keep Igneel alive." He kissed her cheek before getting up and walking away.

Nashi shot Luna a warning look. "Don't leave until reinforcements come. New clothes are in the bag. Be safe, okay?"

Luna nodded. "You too, Sissy."

Nashi smiled and kissed Luna's forehead. "I love you. I'll see you later. And, take good care of these guys." She got up to see Gary had waited for her. She moved over to him. When he offered his hand, it was after a couple moments of hesitation that she accepted it and let him guide her away.

As Luna watched them leave, Andele said, "You're calmer than I imagined."

Luna turned as she felt Andele's Alkahestry sink into her skin with that overhead aura. She relaxed a bit at how soothing that spell was. "What do you mean?"

Andele massaged the swollen area. "I mean, when everyone found out about Mary Jane's situation, their reactions felt of deep sadness. But, you? You are very collected for one so young."

Luna exhaled deeply. "I shared a dream with her."

"A dream?" Andele echoed, intrigued.

Luna nodded and watched as Alkahestry mended her bone. "Yeah. A dream. It felt so real though. It was like… It was like I was seeing into her soul or something."

Rolling grass of gold.

A blue sky with trained clouds.

A tree with two swings.

"And, you saw her?" Andele asked.

"Mmm-hmm." Luna coughed and cleared her throat. "She wasn't anything like she was before, though. It was like she changed. She was so sad and sorry. I've never seen her like that before."

The goddess in violet with tears dribbling down her chin.

Luna's eyes softened at the memory. "I've never seen her cry before," she admitted. Her free hand went to touch her temple. "And, her eyes…"

Mary Jane… Everything about you seems a lot more complicated than I hoped.

Luna turned to Igneel. She saddened as she watched her brother beg and beg Mary Jane to open her eyes.

His Nature feels restless and grieves. Icarus took to settling down around his mistress with the Hunting Dog Spirits taking up guard at the entry way. He nosed Luna's back. He has anger and sadness and something else in his heart.

Luna was surprised. How can you tell that without a connection to him?

Beasts understand other beasts.

Luna was perplexed at that. What are you talking about? He's a human. She realized it. Oh! You mean our demon half.

Now Icarus was perplexed. What? No, not at all.

Luna was about to question it when Laxus surprisingly spoke. "So, little blonde…" His voice was hoarse. A god that could barely speak. A Dragon with no roar left. "Is she…? Is she okay?"

Luna turned to Mary Jane and frowned. "I don't know," she admitted, honest. "She's so confused and I don't understand why."

"Your bond with her is deep." Andele smiled as she finished. "It's odd to think you two can share dreams. Dream Sharing is similar to a Unison Raid. Those with hearts close can achieve it." She let go of Luna's wrist.

Luna rubbed her wrist and reveled in its healing. "When I think about it, Mary Jane was never mean to me or cruel." Facts. Straight facts. "For some reason, we had this understanding. And, I guess it just stuck." She smiled at Andele. "Thanks, Andy."

"It's no problem," Andele said warmly.

Luna looked past Andele to see an unconscious Peter and a barely conscious Dimaria who looked drastically older. "What happened to them?"

Andele tipped her head. "Peter is in a coma as well," she informed. "It is not a severe as Mary Jane's, but a coma nonetheless. And, Miss Yesta…" Her lips twisted. "Miss Yesta underwent traumatic experiences. I found her blood laden with toxins. Thankfully, all of her burn marks were healed—"

"'Burn marks'?" Luna echoed.

Andele nodded. "I was told Igneel attempted to kill her."

Luna's eyes went wide. "What?"

"Miss Yesta, apparently, attempted murder on Mary Jane," Andele reported. "Igneel defended her and, in his rage, nearly killed her. He also nearly killed Jacob Lessio if it was not the bargain for Mary Jane's life."

Luna could not resist the urge to look at her brother in horror.

He tried…to kill people?

Icarus shook out his fur. Do not judge too quickly, Pup, he chided. A Beast protecting his Female is honorable. I am surprised he resisted killing Miss Yesta.

Icarus! Luna looked at her spirit in disgust. Killing isn't okay!

Perhaps not to a pure human like you, Icarus supposed, but to a Beast, killing whatever threatens you is the law of Nature. If he had not defended her in such a way, all three would surely be dead.

Luna sighed. I guess you're right, she grunted, but I don't have to like it. She studied her brother. I've honestly never seen him like this. He's always been fun and gentle to me and overprotective. I heard he had anger issues, but it all changed when he met her. But I wonder… If he's willing to kill for Mary Jane, then does he…? Is she…?

She shook her head.

No. Impossible.

Luna looked back at Mary Jane and felt her mood dim to sadness all over again.

It was weird, though. It didn't feel like a dream I shared with her. It felt…real.

Something occurred to her.

"Andy?"

Andele hummed inquisitively.

"You said people with hearts close can Dream Share and my bond with her must be deep, right?"

Andele bobbed her head. "Yes."

"Do you think it's possible for me to do it on purpose?" Luna wondered. "Do you think I could reach out to her if I wanted to?"

Andele frowned. "If you've done without knowing, then you have a better chance on success. Do you remember how you entered her dream?"

Luna hunched her shoulders as she thought about it.

Was I doing anything either time when we dreamed together? When I dreamed with Gale, I just thought about him. So, maybe if I think about Mary Jane…

"I want to try something," Luna said aloud. She got up to step over the Clifford and towards Mary Jane. Laxus and Igneel did not seem to notice her arrival as she sat above Mary Jane's hand. However, when her hands moved towards her, she found heated hands grabbing her wrist.

"And, what do you think you're doing?" came low rumble.

Luna looked to see Igneel's eyes—

—and was stunned.

Glinting emerald held shocked chocolate. Never had she seen so much hostility in Igneel's glare towards her. But, everything was different now.

Luna kept calm. "I'm going to try and reach out to her," she told him. "I'm going to wake her up. So, can you please let go?"

Silence.

Luna swallowed.

Igneel kept glaring at her.

What do I do if he refuses? Luna whispered to Icarus. She let her trepidation pass between them. I can't fight him. He's my brother.

Icarus growled warningly at Igneel and pinned him with his stare. I will hold him back if necessary, but worry not, Pup. His skin knows better than to dismiss help.

To Icarus' point, Igneel let go of Luna. His emerald gaze went back to Mary Jane's resting face and he softened tremendously. "Do whatever is takes," he croaked. "She has a family here waiting for her. She can't—" He looked sickened at his unspoken words.

Luna nodded. "I won't let her," she promised fiercely. "She doesn't just have family waiting for her. We're waiting for her too." Her eyes glanced at the necklace around Igneel and the acorn button pendant.

That necklace… I feel like I've seen it before…

"Can you…? Can you just tell me one thing before you start?"

Luna looked at her brother who looked at Mary Jane. There was something lurking behind that fondness in his stare, but it was nothing evil. It was… Could it be…?

"Is she still waiting?" came Igneel's soft query.

The question surprised Luna. "What?"

"The swing…" Igneel elaborated. "Is she still waiting?"

Luna's brow furrowed as she slowly nodded. "Yeah, she's waiting for someone." Confusion boggled her. "But, how did you know—?"

"You should get started."

Luna decided to leave it be when Igneel's tone demanded she did so. She closed her eyes and exhaled.

I don't know how he knew that, but I can't be asking questions when someone needs me.

She put her hands on Mary Jane's temple.

I need to feel her. I need to feel her heart, her mind, and her soul. Focus, Luna. Block everything else out.

She could feel the darkness encroaching upon her. She no longer heard her uncle's prayers or the pants of her spirit. She no longer felt the heat of Igneel or the coolness of Andele. She felt nothing. She heard nothing.

LUB-DUB… LUB-DUB…

I heard it just now. I hear her heartbeat. She's alive, but it's so faint.

Luna's brow furrowed as white pulsed beneath her finger tips.

Mary Jane… You can't keep this up any longer. You have people here who need you to wake up. You have a future waiting for you and I won't just sit by and watch you make them suffer.

Luna's body pulsed in her white Magic. The winds of Magic swirled around the room, ruffling hair and fur and clothing. But, everyone was in awe of the blonde maiden who conjured it.

You are stubborn and fierce. You were mad, but I know better now. Sometimes, we're mad to mask all the pain we're really feeling. So, let me feel you, Mary Jane. Let me help you.

Something flickered in her stomach.

She felt something begin to tingle over her body. She felt niggling confusion. She felt gut-wrenching despair. She felt odd contentment. She felt piercing anger.

And it took her a moment to realize that what she felt was not even hers.

Mary Jane… I feel you.

That warmth burned brighter.

Visions flashed amongst Luna that she had never seen. It was like she was reliving memories herself. She saw someone blurred walking up the marbled steps to a temple. She saw the nighttime and a hand pointing up at the stars with a ribbon tied to the wrist. She saw candles and the gleam of a smile. She saw a tombstone with a name beginning with a Z on it. She saw the rolling golden grass. She saw the swings. She saw a boy and a girl holding hands as they swung. She saw their necklaces.

Luna gasped as the pressure from such emotion and sights broke her and tears were shed. Her eyes snapped open, covered in glowing white, with her guild mark pulsing. Her mouth dropped two words.

"Mary Jane."

And, just like that, Mary Jane's body jolted.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Mary Jane stood confused when she found herself at an odd temple made of pure marble. She looked around. No one was there. There were no priests or acolytes or any sign of life to be seen or heard. All she saw were the rolling clouds and nothing more.

She looked down to see her violet dress stayed on her. But her eyes widened when she saw the the temple was floating. She walked to the edge to see a loose staircase spiraled down using stone to get back to the golden grass plains.

"Where am I?" Mary Jane could not help but ask. "Why am I here?"

"You have so many questions."

Mary Jane whirled around to see—

"It's you! Blue!"

Blue smiled at Mary Jane. She looked much more mature like she was a smiling mother in a little girl's body. "Hello again, Mary Jane."

"What's going on?" Mary Jane asked. "Why am I here?" Fear gripped her. "I'm dead, aren't I?" Her hand went to grip the charm on her necklace. "I'm dead because of my sins. I've been a horrible person."

Blue chuckled. "You haven't died," she promised. "But you do have a guest."

"Mary Jane?"

Mary Jane turned to face the steps and saw Luna standing there in confusion in her white dress. "Luna? You're here again?"

Luna hesitantly crossed into the temple. "Uh, I…think so?" She shrugged. "You weren't waking up and neither was Peter, so I—"

"Peter?" Mary Jane's heart began to race. "Wait, what's wrong with him? Is he okay?"

Luna frowned. "He hasn't awoken up," she said sadly. "Both of you are in comas right now."

Mary Jane's eyes widened. "What?" She began to shake her head. "No…" Her body trembled.

"Mary Jane…"

Blue stood at her side, watching her in sadness. "You will die if you continue to hold on. And so will Peter."

Mary Jane let out a strangled cry. "I-I didn't mean for this to happen," she spluttered. She looked at Luna to Blue pleadingly. "I didn't mean to drag him into this!"

Luna softened and extended her hand. "Then, come with me," she requested. "Once you leave—"

"I can't!"

Luna frowned at Mary Jane's sob. "Why not?"

Mary Jane shook her head, backing away. "Don't you see? This is my punishment for being a h-ho...horrible person," she insisted. "I was so rude and cruel! I… I don't deserve a second chance!"

Luna's gritted her teeth.

Her hand clenched into a fist.

"How dare you…"

CRACK!

Mary Jane's eyes widened.

Her face was to the side.

A red mark stung her cheek.

Luna glared at Mary Jane. "How dare you!" she shouted. "I can't believe you! I've watched my friend nearly die and it wasn't his choice! And you have the nerve to choose death? You want to choose it when you have an amazing life ahead of you?"

Mary Jane looked down at Luna in surprise. "Luna…"

"I'm so sick and tired of people choosing the wrong thing to do!" Luna blurted. "Ludvig can't choose who he marries! He can't choose anything in his life because it's all told to him!" Her eyes glinted. "He was forced to engage to someone he doesn't love! He is being forced to give up Magic and studying when he loves it! He was forced to be close to d-d-death!" She gasped—it came out as a near hiccup. "How can all of you be so selfish when you can choose what you want to do? You can choose who you marry and what you want to do! You have the choice to live or die!" Tears poured from her eyes.

Mary Jane looked away.

"Can't you think of the people who love you and need you?" Luna demanded. "Think about your parents! Your family!"

Mary Jane could see them all before her eyes at their Sunday gatherings.

"Think of Fairy Tail!"

Mary Jane saw her wreck of guild brawling and drinking like it was their livelihood.

"Think of Igneel!"

Mary Jane blinked. "Igneel?"

Luna furiously rubbed away her tears. "Ugh! You would think I'd stop crying at this rate!"

"No, no. What about Igneel?" Mary Jane had to know.

"He's worried sick about you," Luna snapped at her. "Even looking at him, he couldn't stop looking at you like it was all his fault."

"'All his fault'?" Mary Jane echoed. She shook her head. "No, none of this was his fault. I couldn't blame him for anything. All he wanted to do was be my friend." Her eyes were crestfallen. "And I was so cruel to him."

"Then, fix it," Luna insisted.

"But, how can I?!" Mary Jane cried. "How can I fix something like that? How am I supposed to ask him for forgiveness when I can't even ask myself for that?" She curled in on herself. "I can't leave," she sobbed. "I can't. I can't, Luna. I can't try and face everyone when I know I've been such a bitch to all of them. I can't face Igneel when I know he's done all he could to see the good in me and I just stepped on him like he was nothing."She sunk low to the ground like a goddess on her knees and hunched over. She covered her face as she wheezed and hiccuped her weeping. "Why couldn't I have been a better person?" she whispered. "Why couldn't I have been the daughter my parents deserved? Why couldn't I have been a friend to Igneel? What is so wrong with me?"

Luna softened. She brushed her skirt to get on her knees in front of Mary Jane. Like her mother and sister had done to her so many times before, she wrapped her arms around Mary Jane and pulled her head into her chest. She stroked Mary Jane's hair as she sobbed and shook and cried.

…a defeated goddess seeking retribution in the arms of a maiden.

"I ca-can't go ba-ba-back to Fairy Tail," Mary Jane gasped out. "I don-don't deserve this guild mark." She sniffled violently. "I hurt my own fa-fa-family, Luna. I nearly ki-ki-killed Igneel." She nuzzled further into Luna's chest. "I deserve to go to Hell."

Luna closed her eyes. "Did you know that Igneel is willing to kill for you?"

Mary Jane sobbed.

"He's ready to give up his humanity for you," Luna said quietly. "He'll give his life to you because he'll never give up on you. Fairy Tail will never abandon you even if you abandon them because that's not what we do. We take care of family. We live for them and we die for them." She opened her eyes to look down at Mary Jane. "Would you live and die for us?"

Mary Jane nodded without hesitation.

"You are a fierce person, Mary Jane, and I can't understand you, but, at the same time, I get you completely," Luna confessed. "I get why you're upset. I get why you feel like you don't deserve what you have. I get why you're so hard on yourself right now. I like you talking about how you feel. It's good for you." She wiped Mary Jane's cheeks of tears. "It may have been two days, but I've realized something. The monsters you have in your head can't be defeated if you just reject them. You have to accept them and talk about them. Sometimes, it's okay to be alone to figure them out. But, even when you think you're alone and the whole world is against you, know there are people waiting for you to take their hand."

Mary Jane sniffled and looked up at Luna. "But, I'm a bad person," she whimpered.

Luna smiled. "Whenever I used to cry and tell my mama I was a bad girl, you know what she told me?"

Mary Jane shook her head and rubbed her nose.

"She told me I wasn't a bad girl. I was a good girl who made a mistake that can be fixed," Luna recited. "Mary Jane, you were never a bad person. You just made mistakes. But you have that choice to fix them."

Mary Jane sunk her teeth into her bottom lip. "I made so many mistakes… I did so many bad things…"

"Then, ask for help," Luna encouraged. "No one said you had to fix everything on your own. Just ask."

Mary Jane's gaze flickered downwards. "Will…? May I…? I…?" She looked back up at Luna. "May I have some help, please?"

Luna laughed. "Well, duh! Of course I'll help you!" She brushed back Mary Jane's hair. "You're a valued friend to me, Mary Jane. And, to Igneel too." She looked down at Mary Jane's necklace and the thimble pendant.

"Is she still waiting? The swing… Is she still waiting?"

The glint of an acorn button.

'Now I know I've seen this,' Luna thought to herself, 'but from where?'

"I hope…I find them."

Luna snapped out of her daze to see Mary Jane looking out into the sky.

"Wherever they are, I hope I can find them," Mary Jane murmured. She clutched her pendant, closing her eyes. "Every time I touch this, it's like I feel closer to them. Maybe then, I'll understand…" Her eyes abruptly opened when she felt Luna's forehead on hers. "Luna…?"

Luna smiled, pressing her forehead more into Mary Jane's. Tears gathered in the corners of her eyes. "I'm sorry. I'm just so happy that you'll start being happy too. It's silly to cry over, right?"

Mary Jane blinked her surprise. She could feel the world around them compress and lighten at the same time. She felt warmth bath over her as she closed her eyes. "No," she said. "It's not at all." The world began to blur and blur in a mixture of scarlet and cerulean that converged into violet.

"And, Mary Jane?" came faint echo.

The world blackened.

"You'll find them."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Fairy Adventure

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Mary Jane's body lurched as her mouth gasped for air and her eyes snapped open. She could not really see or understand a thing, but she understood the urge to breathe. Words foreign to her jumbled around her, but she did not care. She needed to breathe. She needed water. She need to feel life.

…the goddess brought back to mortals.

Shadows etched at her vision and something cool pressed against chapped lips. She felt water and greedily drank it, defying how sore her throat was. She began to understand the words around her. She heard a soothing rumble, like a lightning storm, whisper affections. She heard heavy panting and doggish whimpers and barks. She heard gentle chants and statistics. But she felt a familiar presence. It was so familiar to her, it hurt.

Her lips moved to say the name.

"Peter."

Everyone was shocked when Mary Jane choked out the name.

Igneel looked like his entire world shattered.

Mary Jane had help when she struggled to regain feeling and control in her body. She heard her father and Andele try to soothe her and get her to lay back down, but her eyes painfully sought for her target.

…and he lay unconscious next to her.

Mary Jane fought off the hands trying to keep her down when she saw the boy beside her.

…and not the one gazing at her.

Mary Jane's arms shook as she tried to support herself to hover over Peter. She took every detail of him in." P-P-Peter," she whispered. She raised an unsteady hand to him and let her middle finger touch his forehead. Cerulean blossomed underneath her finger as she gasped the next word, "Wake."

Like a doll, Peter's eyes snapped open and he took his first gasping breath.

Luna could not hold in her sharp inhale. "His eyes…"

She had the right to be shocked. For Peter's eyes were no longer the same shade they had always been. Gold pierced his irises, but an odd symbol captured his left pupil. It was a tilted hexagram crested in blood red.

"Both of their eyes," Laxus whispered. His eyes were wide. Disbelief for his daughter being awake. Disbelief in the situation at hand. Disbelief and joy.

Peter coughed and breathed in stammers like he was close to having an anxiety attack. His body fidgeted and his heart rate was dangerously high. Andele was sharp and on the move. "Luna," she barked, "you need to calm him down."

Luna jerkily nodded and scooted over to Peter. She put her hands on his templ—

"I can do it."

Luna watched as Mary Jane shook off any remnant dizziness and let her eyes stay on his face. She lowered her forehead to rest it on his, closing her eyes. "You're okay," she whispered. "You're safe. You're alive. Just breathe."

Peter shut his eyes and he tried to take in deep breaths like instructed.

"That's it," Mary Jane encouraged. "Just breathe in and out and it'll be over soon."

Peter's shaky inhales and panting exhales slowed and slowed and slowed until he no longer felt lightheaded and the world was back on its axis. A sweaty hand reached up to grab Mary Jane's and to give it a tight squeeze as though to ground himself.

Mary Jane picked herself up and opened her eyes. "Open your eyes, Peter."

Peter huffed a cough as his eyes fluttered open. He caught Mary Jane's eyes. "Mary Jane?"

Mary Jane nodded.

Peter smiled back, even if it was a little weak. "Mary Jane…" There was a tenderness that had been there before, but it was larger and more noticeable. He lifted up an unsteady hand with a symbol carved into his palm and tucked hair behind her ear. "You're okay…"

"No thanks to me." Guilt wracked Mary Jane's eyes. "Peter… I'm so sorry—!"

Peter cut her off. "Don't be, sweets." The pet name dripped in innocent affection. "Nothing to be sorry for." He grunted as he shook off his drowsiness and sore muscles to sit up as she moved back. He ended up nearly toppling her as he embraced her and nuzzled into the crook of her neck. "Just don't scare me like that."

Mary Jane closed her eyes and sunk into his embrace. She merely nodded into his shoulder as her hands reached to cling onto his shirt.

Laxus and Luna had their jaws dropped comically while all four dogs tipped their heads at the scene, Dimaria was asleep, and Andele was oblivious.

Uh… Icarus and Luna thought together. What just happened?

Laxus swallowed nervously and cleared his throat. "Mary Jane?"

Mary Jane broke away from Peter to look at her father. Her eyebrows furrowed and she tipped her head. "Daddy?"

Andele sensed the two needed their time together and coughed. "Peter?" she called politely. "Would you please come to me? I'd like to examine you."

Peter nodded and shuffled away from the intimate affair about to happen.

Laxus looked like he wanted to choke out a cry as something swam in his eyes. He settled for a smile and a nod. "I've missed you, Butterfly," he croaked.

Mary Jane's eyes swam with tears as she launched herself at her father. "I've missed you too," she murmured into his chest. "I'm so sorry I worried you, Daddy. I'm so sorry I—"

"Shhh-shhh-shhh," Laxus shushed. He rubbed her back and kept her pressed firmly in his chest. He refused to let himself cry—not when he had his little girl in his arms. "Don't apologize," he told his daughter. "I love you, Butterfly. I want you to always know that. Don't say 'sorry', got it?"

Mary Jane nodded into his chest. "Mmm-hmm."

Luna beamed as she watched the God of Thunder and his youngest. "Things are finally starting to look up," she sighed as she leaned against Icarus and took to scratching his neck. Icarus sniffed her face and licked the side of her nose quickly. Luna giggled, trying to wipe off saliva from her face, when her eyes caught Igneel's form. He looked down at the ground like he was deeply wounded. Luna frowned.

Igneel…

Igneel studied the ground.

She's awake. I should be happy, right? I should be…

He could still see Mary Jane and Peter sharing that same look. Bitterness filled him and doused his flames.

It's for the best. I shouldn't have even hoped for anything else. It was stupid.

His eyes widened when an arm wrapped around his neck and nearly choked him. He spluttered as his little sister smirked and called, "Hey, Mary Jane! Aren't you going to thank the guy who defended your honor?"

Igneel blushed and shoved his sister away from him. "Luna," he growled. "Would you shut up?"

"I'm just trying to help," Luna said as though it were so simple. She nudged her brother's ribs with her elbow. "Besides…"—she craned her neck to whisper obnoxiously in Igneel's ear—"I think I know what's going on between you two."

Pink flames burst onto Igneel's hair as he frantically waved his arm at a smug Luna. "Wa-Wa-Wait! No, there's nothing—!"

"Igneel?"

Igneel stopped his panicking and looked ahead.

The thimble glinted.

The acorn button glinted back.

"MJ," Igneel murmured as he lost his pink flames. He dropped his arms and just watched her.

Mary Jane's head was bowed to him. "I am honored that you fought this hard for my life," she began with high respect in her timbre. "You've valued me even when I didn't value you. I am grateful for everything you've done for me and plan to repay back your eternal kindness in any form you see fit."

Igneel blinked. "Uh… Why aren't you looking at me?"

Mary Jane bowed even lower. "I don't deserve to ask for your forgiveness or even look at you," she responded, light. "I don't want to insult you any more than I have. My cruelty doesn't deserve any type of apology since it's unforgivable. If you would like me to leave Fairy Tail so you can live in peace, I'll understand."

Now Igneel was bewildered. "'Leave Fairy…'." He shook his head at such a ridiculous notion. "MJ, stop being weird and c'mere."

Mary Jane winced. She sucked in a deep breath as her hands came up. She faced Igneel with her hands splayed across her eyes.

Igneel chuckled into his fist. "What are you doing?" he sighed in amusement. He scooted closer to her. "Look at me, weirdo."

"I am," Mary Jane protested.

"I need to see your eyes," Igneel laughed. He placed his hands atop hers. "Geez. You take 'notice me, senpai' desperation to the next level."

Mary Jane trembled. "Please don't make me do this."

Igneel stopped at the plea in Mary Jane's tone. He softened. "You really need to quit being so not confident," he chided as he smiled. "Eyes are just eyes, MJ." His fingers pried Mary Jane's own from her face. "And, I happen to think…that your eyes…"

Both of their hands fell away.

Fond onyx-emerald connected with one scarlet and one cerulean, both shy.

"…are really awesome."

Mary Jane stiffened as something picked at her brain. "What did you say?"

Igneel frowned. "What, that your eyes are awesome?"

Mary Jane's eyes shimmered at that.

Hearing him say that… It sounds…so familiar…

Mary Jane found herself speaking before she could stop herself and moving on her own. Her hands went to Igneel's cheeks, making him blush and spluttered weak protests. "Are you…? Are you them?" she questioned.

Igneel scrunched his eyebrows. "Am I 'who'?" He squeaked when Mary Jane invaded more of his personal space. She was nearly in his lap as she observed every inch of his face, ignoring how red he was becoming. "H-He-Hey! Stop that!" he protested. He wrestled Mary Jane as he tried to get a hold of her wrists and pry her off his body. "Seriously! I-I-I'm warning you!" At being forced back so much, he lost his balance. "Wuh—! Wuh—! Whoa!"

BAM.

Igneel grunted as he rubbed his head. He was forced onto his back and none of that fall felt too comfortable. "Ow… My head," he whined. He opened his eyes to see Mary Jane straddling him, hovering over him with a hard curiosity in her eyes. Igneel gulped nervously as he tried not to look at her.

Don't look, don't look, don't look.

He could not help it, though.

His eyes strayed even when his mind shamed him for doing so. They were captivated on her hips with the skirt of her dress threatening to show a peak of her panties. The gaze followed up her stomach to see her chest. Absently, he wondered the appeal for flouncing breasts and miles of cleavage when what he saw was perfect.

She really looks good in that. If she did a Darkstar cosplay…

He frantically shook his head.

Gah! What am I saying? I can't think like that!

Mary Jane leaned down and Igneel's eyes zipped onto her lips. They were a bit chapped—being down in the dark for two days, going through a seizure, and fighting off enemies is a plausible excuse for not taking care of one's lips—but they were not thin or fat, they were a medium full. Steam was coming off him in waves at how red he was and his hair was threatening to become pink flames.

She's not going to kiss me, right? She's my friend! She can't kiss me!

Igneel turned his head with his eyes flicking this way and that. He could not help swallowing again before shutting his eyes and holding his breath.

Don't breathe, don't breathe, don't breathe…

He felt Mary Jane shifted over him for better balance. He could the warmth of her breath. He could inhale how sweet her scent was and how it wrapped around him.

Igneel could feel his pink flames consuming him as sweat poured off him.

Dontbreathedontbreathedontbreathedontbreathedontbrea—

"Um… Igneel?"

Igneel snapped his eyes open to look at Mary Jane. She tuck a strand of hair behind her ear as she looked at him in concern.

"Are you okay?" Mary Jane asked in worry.

Igneel could barely swallow at this point. He forced a smile. "Mmm-hmm."

Mary Jane frowned and shifted off Igneel. As she sat on her knees and swept her hair to one side, she did not notice Igneel had bounced back up on his knees and turned away from her, clutching his heart in rapid pants. "Sorry," she murmured. "I guess I'm just feeling a little weird. Everything's so confusing right now."

Igneel tried to calm down the redness on his body. "Yeah, I… I totally get it."

She nearly killed my heart!

At tiny noises of frustration, Igneel turned around to see Mary Jane trying to get hair out of her face. That reminded him… "Oh, uh… You want your ribbon back?" At Mary Jane's surprised look, Igneel rummaged through his pocket with a sheepish grin. "Yeah, uh… Sorry that I, uh…that I took it from you." He brought out the red ribbon.

Mary Jane shook her head. "Oh, no! That's okay! Really… I, um…" She looked away, abashed. "I should be thanking you for all the saving you did. You really didn't give up on me. You don't know how much I'm grateful for that."

Igneel grinned. "C'mon, MJ, I'd never leave a friend behind," he reminded. He scooted closer to her—his body temperature was back to normal—and tugged at her hair. "Here. Let me put your ribbon on."

If Mary Jane was surprised at Igneel's offer, she did not show it. Obediently, she turned around and let her hair fall down her back. She felt heated fingers massage her scalp and gave a little breath of surprise. The hands hesitated, but they carried out their duty. It felt like a combed blow-dryer was sweeping through her strands. She closed her eyes and sighed.

This feels really nice…

Igneel felt at ease as his fingers ran through Mary Jane's hair. It had been washed and dried and combed just before, but it needed to be combed once again. He brought up a lock of hair and sniffed it. He blushed a little and smiled like a little boy as he looked at the pale gold in his hands.

She smells good… And, her hair is still silky…

Igneel gathered locks of hair into his hands as he began to form the ponytail. He caught sight of Mary Jane's Fairy Tail mark, but he looked through that. He saw the outline of her scar. Sadness overtook him.

I should've done a better job. I should've been stronger.

His nose twitched as he scented Mary Jane's neck.

Her scent is changing. Something about it is…different…

Onyx gave way to the will of feral emerald. The call of Nature gnawed at his belly. It was an instinct dwelling within the back of his mind and deep in his bones. It was that feeling compulsion that slowly drove him forward. It was his flames humming to the beat of Nature. He could feel his fire yearning for something, something that would satisfy whatever hunger they had. He could feel Nature whisper to him and urge him, but he did not know for what. It was a compulsion, a push for something severe. His eyes had honed in the juncture between Mary Jane's neck and her shoulder, untouched and pure.

He licked his lips.

…the Drums of Nature beat louder.

His onyx eyes were swallowed into emerald.

…the Stare of Feral locked in on his target, his prey.

His canines flashed, sharper than before.

…the Teeth of Nature were prepared.

ZZZZZT.

A deep crack of static.

"Igneel."

Igneel flinched when he felt the impression of warning and sternness electrify his body. He blinked to see his mouth was dangerously close to Mary Jane's neck. He reared back as shock and embarrassment coursed through him. Regret tried to hide itself, but it gnawed at him and swelled his tongue. He gulped and avoided Laxus' glower. Panic flared inside his chest. He could feel anxiety and question run through his mind, but a single sentence stood out:

Pops is gonna kill me.

Igneel was quick in tying the ribbon in a neat bow to keep the ponytail in place. He cleared his throat. "All done!" he reported as he feigned cheeriness. He could feel Laxus' electrifying eyes pinned on him and hunched his shoulders.

Mary Jane tugged at her new ponytail. "You were…really gentle." She shook her ponytail as she turned her head to meet his stare. "Thank you." She blushed and looked away. "I really mean it. Thank you…for everything."

Igneel really wished he had grabbed his scarf from where Mary Jane had laid for he blushed like the dickens. He covered his cheeks and mouth with a hand and looked away. "Uh… No problem, MJ," he assured in a mutter. "You know I'd do anything for you."

Mary Jane side-eyed him and raised an eyebrow at him. "Like burn off my shirt to save us both?"

"WHAT?!" Laxus looked livid at that as his static clacked. He tried to lunge for Igneel, but Luna attached herself to his arm. "Girl, let go of me so I can kill your brother!"

"Uncle Laxus, stop being such a grouch!" Luna whined. "They're having a moment!"

"To Hell with 'moments'! That's my daughter!"

They went ignored.

Igneel blushed ridiculously at the mere mention and memory of that moment and tried to stammer out an excuse. "Okay, we-we-well…! All right, look here, I didn't mean to…! Wha-What I'm trying to say is…!" He groaned and rubbed his hands up and down his face. "You must think I'm a total pervert," he bemoaned.

A musical chuckle.

Igneel looked in Mary Jane's direction to see her hiding her giggle behind her hand.

"I don't think that at all," Mary Jane assured. She flashed her eyes up to him with pride. "I think it took courage to still want to defend me after how cruel I was to you." She frowned deeply. "You stayed with me even though you knew I could've killed you." Her voice trembled, laden in insecurities and doubt. "You stayed with me after I kept pushing you away and calling you horrible names." She had to ask this question. "Why?"

Igneel would have fiddled with his scarf, but he settled for his necklace. His eyes shifted off Mary Jane's to meet Laxus'. The Thunder God was arguing with Luna, but he felt Igneel's stare and looked at him.

That finalized what Igneel had to say.

"Because everyone needs someone who won't give up on them." Igneel turned his stare back onto Mary Jane's. "You may have hated me from day one, but I knew, one day, you would need a friend to be there for you. And, I wanted to be that friend when you were ready."

Lies.

So many lies.

The guilt was turning him cold.

Mary Jane twisted herself so her whole body faced Igneel. Her hand went to her pendant and she took a deep breath, eyes closed. "Okay, then."

Igneel perked when Mary Jane's eyes opened determinedly. "'Okay'…what?"

Mary Jane held out her hand. "Igneel… Do you think we could officially become friends?" she requested like she was making a business deal.

Igneel blinked twice. His lips threatened to turn into a grin, but he sobered himself with a hard look and nod. "On one condition," he reasoned, holding up a finger.

"Anything," Mary Jane instantly agreed.

"Smile."

Mary Jane blinked. "Huh?"

Igneel crossed his arms to keep his serious look. "You heard me the first time. Smile."

"But…" Mary Jane was trying to wrap her head around this. "Why?"

Igneel adopted an annoyed look. "You want to be friends or not?"

Mary Jane flinched and worried her bottom lip with her upper teeth. "Mmm-hmm." She took a deep breath.

I can smile. I can smile, right? I have to smile. I… I want to be his friend. I can—

Her thoughts stopped when she felt something warm on her head. She tilted her head up—

—and scarlet-cerulean clashed with onyx-emerald.

Igneel's smile was a delicate one. "Don't stress yourself," he murmured to her as he rubbed her head. "We're friends even if you never smile, got it?"

Mary Jane blinked at him in astonishment. "Igneel…" Her eyes glinted and became watery. She sniffled.

Igneel sighed and tucked Mary Jane underneath his chin and into his chest. "Stain my shirt and you get me a new one," he muttered.

Mary Jane began to cry.

Igneel smiled and rubbed her back like Laxus had. "Weird goddess," he teased. "Don't you know it's rude to cry after just starting a friendship? What's with all these sad tears?"

"Nuh-Nuh-Nuh… N-N-N-No…" Mary Jane whimpered. "These aren't…s-s-s-s-sad tears…" She sniffled and pulled back.

Igneel's eyes widened when Mary Jane beamed at him as she cried.

"These are"—Mary Jane hiccupped—"happy t-t-tears…" She sniffled again.

Igneel brushed his knuckles over her cheek to wipe away a few tears. "Well, as long as you're crying happy tears…"—he brought her back into his chest and welcomed her sobs—"then you keep on crying until you can smile without the tears, got it?"

"A-A-Aye, sir…" Mary Jane hiccupped.

Luna sighed gushily as she slouched against her uncle. "See?" she nudged. "Look at that. You wouldn't have gotten that emotional scene if you had killed my big brother."

Laxus propped his elbow on a knee and let his chin drop in his palm. "Mmmph," he rumbled, still clearly displeased. "Still wanna bash the kid's face in. And, maybe smack you for stopping me."

Luna rolled her eyes. She was not at all threatened at that. "Keep this up and I'm telling your wife," she singsang in her own threat.

Laxus began to sweat bullets at that and grumbled expletives under his breath.

Luna found herself lurching forward when Icarus roughly nosed her back. She laughed and patted his nose at his incessant whining. "Okay, okay, what's wrong now?"

Icarus pointed his nose over to Mary Jane. I want to meet that Female, he whined. I need you to introduce me, but I know your brother won't want his time interrupted by a stranger.

Luna rolled her eyes as she got up. "Come on, you lazy hound," she teased as she led him away.

Peter, finished with his examination, turned to watch the commotion. He watched as Luna ripped Mary Jane away from Igneel and forced her attention on the eager Canis Minor Spirit. He watched as Icarus tentatively sniffed Mary Jane's outreached hand before lapping at her palm, then her face, eagerly bowling her over. Igneel and Luna laughed at her misfortune like siblings would. Peter softened as he watched Mary Jane giggle as Icarus prodded and licked her face, tail wagging.

She looks so peaceful now… And, somehow…it suits her a lot more than how she was before…

"Your examination is done, Mister Shuusei-Thompson."

Peter jolted and turned to Andele. He bowed to her. "Thanks, Miss Mothersbaugh," he said politely. He meant it.

Andele smiled. "No need for thanks. I have no answers as for your new Magic Power, but, if you would like, you should meet with my father. He has a vast amount of expertise in this more so than me."

"Thanks." Peter meant it again.

Andele nodded her head towards the noise. "Go," she urged. "Be with your friends. I need to help Miss Yesta."

Peter murmured a small farewell as he shuffled over to the group. He hung back, awkward, but it was Luna who noticed him and roped him in. She yanked on his wrist and he toppled over, landing on Mary Jane. Both of them froze a bit from their position, but once Mary Jane flushed and bit her bottom lip, Peter smirked. He rolled off her and teased her with how messy her hair was. She tried frantically to fix it, but Peter had taken to smoothening it out all on his own. Mary Jane blushed even more with Luna cooing and teasing the duo.

Laxus was brought out of his sulking when he caught the look in Igneel's eyes as he watched Peter and Mary Jane interact. He sighed.

Ah, kid… You don't deserve this…

Andele smiled as she stroked Spirit.

Things are starting to look up.

She frowned.

Although… Peter feels different. It's nothing like Alchemy or Alkahestry, but it feels like it. So, what is it?

A lowly cough.

Andele turned her ear to Dimaria as she woke herself up. "Miss Yesta?"

Dimaria began to cackle. "And, so, it begins," she murmured. "What will she do this time? Will she pass? Fail? Future? Past?" She bubbled with shrill laughter. "She will leave! She will always leave!"

Andele scowled darkly.

So, I was right. She was Cursed with her Magic. She was forced to See. But, what did she See?

Her ear turned towards the children.

How much more can these children take before they snap?

---

Bursting debris threatened to shower against the constructing clock tower.

"Wool Wall!"

Fluffy wool the tinted color of pink blossomed into the world and covered the clock tower. The debris hit the wool, but nothing came from such beating. All the scattered rubble did was cling to the wool.

Meira sighed her relief in her Star Dress: Aries Form from atop Endymion. "That was too close for comfort," she told her trusty steed. She looked at the destruction about the town. It was obvious that the destruction had been minimized, but that did not mean that the destruction had not happened. Some buildings had been broken off with windows shattered and rooms damaged beyond repair. The river had begun to overflow at the rage of the River Guardian. She had seen both Virgo and Taurus dig out a trench and make a barrier, but the more aggravated the River Guardian became, the higher the river became.

ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAR!

Meira watched with a broken heart as the suzaku tried to drag the pixiu down into the deep blue. The pixiu roared and kicked the face of the suzaku to gain higher ground, but the suzaku was not deterred. She hurled a wing attack at her counterpart. The pixiu missed the attack, but he realized his mistake when the wing attack damaged part of the city.

Meira frowned.

It's far too late to evacuate the people outside. But, with the flood and the chaos, we need to find a way.

Meira snapped Endymion's reigns. "Take us—"

She never finished her command.

For she found herself thrown off the Pegasus and hurtling into the earth.

Meira had enough sense to cocoon herself in wool to lessen the blow, but she still gritted her teeth. She could hear Endymion's neigh of worry for his rider as she bounced around in her woolly cocoon. When she stopped bouncing, she broke out of her shell, then hissed. She looked down at her bicep to see claw marks invested into her skin. She applied some pressure to them when Endymion settled on the ground and galloped to her side.

"Meira!" Endymion began to walk when he got close and lowered his head. He inspected her wound in worry.

Meira offered him a warm smile and butted her head against his nose. "Don't worry, you mule, I'm fine," she soothed.

What worries me is I never saw the attack coming. What attacked me?

She looked at the jagged claw marks.

What possibly has claws like this?

"Mistress," came hiss.

Meira looked at Endymion to see his eyes were elsewhere and were glaring.

"We have a guest," Endymion informed her under his breath, "and not the attractive type."

Meira looked to see Endymion was correct and their guest was, indeed, not attractive. It was downright foul. It looked something like a gargoyle with a large overbite, twin horns, and talons. But, what separated it from looking like the creature atop churches was the acidic saliva dripping from its mouth. The gleam in its eyes told Meira that clawing into her skin was not all it wanted to do.

"What in the name of the Heavens is that?" Meira whispered.

"It reeks of a Curse," Endymion growled, snorting. "Similar to that Warlock."

Meira narrowed her eyes.

Could it be one of those 'familiars' Luna talked about?

It shocked her more when the creature spoke to her in its gravelly tongue. "You smell like stardust," it hissed. "Master said kill one who smells like stardust."

Meira's gaze darkened. "I will not allow you to kill me," she seethed. "I have too much to do for my life to be at your mercy, cretin." Her Magic Circle glowed beneath her. "Transform! Star Dress!" she chanted. She felt her Aries Form disperse from her body. "Leo—!"

Endymion's eyes widened when he saw talon's pierce through his neck. "Meira!" he got out before he poofed back into the Celestial Spirit Realm.

Meira found herself hunched over and pinned to the ground with a rather larger weight atop her. She exhaled through her teeth as the pain and turned her head to catch a glimpse of her attacker.

CR-CRACK!

Her eyes widened as lightning flashed, illuminating the face. It was a larger familiar than the one who attached her, more man than gargoyle. It grinned at her with its large fangs and that wicked glint in its eye. It dipped its nose to her hair and sniffed it as she struggled against its hold. "Stardust," it purred. Huh. So, it was a male. "Master wants me to kill you."

Meira growled when she felt a talon slide down her throat in a light trace.

"But Master says I can play with my food first," the familiar said in dark delight.

Meira glanced up before looking back at the familiar with a wild smirk. "Then, I hope you extend the same courtesy to me."

The familiar looked confused for a mere moment before he began to yelp as large claws clipped his right wing to lift him up in the air. Staralia watched the squirming familiar in amusement. "Where do you find these creatures?" she wanted to know. "You attract such oddities."

Meira huffed as she got to her feet, clutching her arm. "You should speak for yourself," she snapped. "You hoard lingerie!"

Staralia offered a shark-like grin. "For when I walk on two legs when I desire to feel weak," she reminded. "When you find your mate, I shall enrich you in the wonders of human lingerie." She snapped her teeth at the familiar who had the gall to snap back. She snorted. "Can I eat it now?" She felt something snack on her tail and lifted it up to see the other familiar trying to bite its way through her scales. She narrowed her eyes. "Never mind. I think I'll just kill them."

"As you wish," Meira said sarcastically as she began to limp off. "Meanwhile, I need to check the shelters. Perhaps—Ah!" She was bowled over and found her body being attacked with furious claws before she could even blink.

"Meira!" Staralia thumped her tail, killing one familiar, before ripping off the wing of the other. She did not stand to watch either disappear as she raced towards her mistress. She watched in panic as two more of those disgusting creatures tore at her clothing to bite and claw at her skin. Meira put up a good fight, but she was no match for a rapid double attack. Staralia tried to bite down on the familiars, but she would hesitate when the familiars skittered away and left her nearly biting the flesh of her mistress.

Meira let out a cry when she felt something bite into her already-wounded bicep. Her eyes stung, but her teeth gritted.

If I keep losing blood like this, I will not last much longer.

It was as if a miracle was bestowed upon her when the hounding weights tearing her apart were ripped off her. She turned her head to see two golems were holding the familiars hostage. If they had emotion, they would possibly look smug and angered at the same time with their capture. She panted as she sat on her knees and gathered her breath.

The golems… There are more here. Are they Luna's friends?

"Gabriel sends a message to Meira Heartfilia," said one of the golems in his rocky voice. "Message: 'In chamber. Found Gale Redfox and others. Attacked by Warlock. Ludvig has been shot. Luna, Gale, and Warlock escaped with medium. Four familiars are after you. Do not come for us. Fight your hardest'." It blinked. "End of message."

Meira's eyes were wide as she took in the information. Then, they narrowed to become firm and calculating.

If he sent this message, it means he was at least unharmed enough to get back to the surface. But the Warlock is gone and so is Luna and Gale. Icarus is probably with Luna. But, then, the medium has disappeared too and Ludvig was shot. He must be okay if I'm not to send for help in their direction.

Staralia curled around her mistress and let her nose sniff Meira. "How are you feeling?"

Meira looked down at her torn and bloody clothes. "I've lost a lot of blood, but not enough to stop me," she diagnosed. "We still have so much work to do. We need to figure out a way to evacuate the town." She brushed back her hair to reveal a dangling ear piercing of Stellanium. "Alarick, have you finished the tunnels?"

°•°•°•°

Lost seemed happy enough to give violet lighting with the tattoos on his fur. He watched his master curiously. Alarick slowly continued his walk as his arms made breaststroke motions. Each movement pushed more and more dirt away and to the side to continue the underground tunnel. What was the oddest thing was that his only foot was bare. Lost carried the shoe in his mouth.

Alarick's own piercing glinted as he grunted out, "Perfection takes a gracious amount of time, my Queen. You should know."

"And, you should know I am an impatient woman," Meira snapped. "How much longer?"

Alarick stopped manipulating the earth to center himself. He took a deep breath as he raised his arms and lowered them at his core in deep prayer. Almost abruptly, he lifted up and slammed his only foot down with his arms pulling back into a fighting position. Except, there was no fight. In his vision of black, he saw things. He could feel things. He could feel the wriggling of the worms. At the very tips of his toes and fingers, he felt the rain battering down on the earth. He could feel the weight of the world above him. He did not need to see to see. He needed to feel to see.

Alarick opened his eyes, breathing steadily. "Not much. Another minute and the tunnel is complete," he told Meira. He grinned. "Do I get a reward for doing you this service, my Queen? I'll have you know I am a retired Mage, after all."

A pause.

"All right then. How about I let you keep your good leg?" Meira decided. "I have to move. Let me know when you are ready."

Alarick sighed when he knew the conversation was over. He looked at Lost. "That philomath got to her heart before I did, didn't he?"

Lost only tipped his head and whined.

---

"Hiyah!"

CRASH.

Bluenote growled when he leapt back. He looked down at his arm to see black blood dripping off it. He looked back at Diamond Gale who held twin daggers in his hand. "So, the fledgling is trying to learn to soar before he can even fly," he mocked. "I have to admit, for a child, you put up a good fight." He danced away when Gale threw his dagger at him and it plunged into a tree.

Bluenote landed elsewhere as Gale darted for his dagger.

The fear in him is nearly gone, but how? He was terrified of me.

Gale got back his dagger and turned to Bluenote. He let the ground propel him to his target as projectile of rock appeared out of nowhere. Bluenote's wings carried him and he skillfully dodged from of the projectiles while he crushed others with the weight of his gravity. He pivoted around and sliced a hand with bands of black being created and shoved towards Gale.

Gale dodged the bands and did not look to see them crash into a tree, crushing it within an instant.

Bluenote gritted his teeth.

I need to catch him off his guard and take him down before he becomes a nuisance. He may fly, but that's all he is—a fly.

Bluenote smirked. He lifted both hands and easily changed the gravity of two trees behind him, uplifting them from their homes, and sent them flying towards Gale. He did not stick around for the outcome as he flew into the forest.

Gale jumped and plunged into the earth as though he were diving into a pool. When the trees passed over head, he lifted himself out to see Bluenote had disappeared. He growled to himself as he looked into the dark forest. "Running away, are we, Mage Killer?" he taunted.

We both know he's leading me into a trap. But I have to figure out what it is.

Gale dismissed his daggers. He flexed his fingers and amber claws appeared at the tips of his digits. He looked down at the God's Tear. "Think you can shed some light?"

The God's Tear began to glow. It was not as burning bright, but it was enough to get by.

Gale slowly trekked into the woods. He knew better than to lower his guard, but he also knew better than to glance all around him in paranoia. If a predator saw you as anxious, as paranoid, you were dead. You had to keep cool. Keep your head level. Your eyes scanned everywhere without your head moving. You stepped without really moving. You glided onto the forest floor. Gale kept his ears pricked and nose alert. He would need all he senses in this.

A deep chuckle came next Gale and made him stiffen. "I hear that flower is a Dragon's flower."

Gale threw his hand as a quick reflex, a garnet shuriken disappearing into the night. He tried to calm his rapid pants as his eyes darted this way and that.

The chuckle floated farther. "Oh? Is the fledgling scared?"

Gale snarled. "I'm not scared of you." Though, that voice crack certainly did nothing to help him. "Come out and face me, coward!"

The chuckle came farther away. "Oh, fledgling… You have so much to learn."

Gale swallowed thickly and had to bite his lip to keep it from trembling.

C'mon, asshole, get it together. So what if he nearly killed me? I have to finish this.

He could see vibrant chocolate eyes.

Gale's resolve hardened as he flexed his amber flaws.

Blondie is counting on me to finish this.

Gale continued his trek into the forest with apprehension. His breathing was semi-steady, but his heart beat was wild. He knew he would be considered prey with the amount of fear and anxiety wafting off him. He was practically inviting predators to challenge him. He did his best to swallow it down, but with each footstep he took and each moment of silence, he felt more and more restless. He knew nature was not supposed to spook him. He, just like his siblings, had practically been raised to live in the wilderness alone. But he could not help but shake a little at a noise. At one point, he jumped at something rustling only to see a fox peek out of the underbrush and bound away with a dead rabbit hanging in its jaws.

Gale took a shaky breath.

Keep it together, Redfox. You're the freaking Earth Dragon of Fairy Tail. Act like it.

If Gale had been a bit more attentive, maybe he would have noticed eyes watching him from the shadows and waiting for his next move.

Gale kept up his walk when he felt something move to his right. He stopped and whipped around. "Wh-Wh-Who's there?" he shouted. His voice embarrassedly echoed, but the sharp intent in his tone was clear. If someone was hiding, he would find them and hurt them.

But no one answered.

A scuttle came to his left and Gale whipped around for it.

But there was nothing.

Gale swallowed his nerves.

C'mon, man. Stop freakin' out. This isn't any different than training with your old man.

Gale closed his eyes and let out a breath. "Focus, Redfox. Focus." He reopened his eyes—

—and was startled at what he saw before him.

Standing right on the edge of his light was a woman a bit taller than him but not as tall as Galileo or Gajeel in the slightest. She had grown some from the photo he carried. Her messy black hair was forcibly straightened and grew a bit past her shoulders. She had her back to him, but from the skirt and blouse he saw on her, he could only assume she was dressed as some sort of professional.

Gale froze up and felt his Diamond Form fade—

He did not even sense it coming.

The blow to his head would have killed him if he was anyone normal. He was lucky not all of the diamond inside him left. But Gale found himself knocked to the ground and in agony as his vision blurred and everything felt light. He clutched his head, but he could at least see in his double vision that his hands were trembling. His fingers touched his forehead.

He felt something wet.

Gale pulled back his fingers to see blood on them.

No. This was not good.

"I can't believe you humans fall for the same trick every time."

Gale tried to keep himself conscious when he saw Bluenote slink out of the shadows in his demonic form. The Warlock watched Gale in his own version of mirth, tail whipping back and forth.

"I knew you wouldn't fall for anyone else besides her," Bluenote told him. His voice was going in and out. "You've proven your heartless enough to kill the girl and have backbone to try and kill your own father, but her?" He showed his fangs. "You thought your precious partner was your weakness? She is, but you have an even bigger one. Her."

Gale bit his lip so hard to break skin. He felt the sting of pain—he wanted it to be enough that he would stay away—but nothing was working. "B-B-Bas…st-st-stard," he gasped out. He tried to move his head, but everything to him felt tiresome. He wanted to sleep. He needed to sleep.

Bluenote watched Gale's struggle. "Come now, fledgling. The easier it is for you to surrender, the more likely you will live after this."

Gale blinked, but the movement felt heavy and he wanted to close his eyelids for good.

No, he tried to fight. Have to… Have to get him… Can't give up…

He felt his eyes begin to roll to the back of his head.

No… Can't…

His mouth opened in his last gasp with only the whites of his eyes showing.

Bluenote observed Gale for a solid three beats. He watched the boy's chest rise and fall. There was no twitching, no squirming, no signs of struggling. His heart beat was steady and his Magic Aura weak. He was unconscious. Bluenote sighed as he shifted over to Gale. "What a pity," he had to admit. "You would have made a great flier." He reached his hand to pluck the—

A hand shot up and grabbed Bluenote's wrist.

Bluenote's eyes widened.

Gale's head moved, but his bangs covered his eyes. He steeled his grip on Bluenote's wrist to the point where he could snap it if he so pleased.

Bluenote gritted his teeth and wrenched himself away from Gale, gliding back to gain some ground. He rubbed his wrist—it surprised him to feel pain—and he glared at the boy as Gale casually got to his feet. "You should be out cold," he sneered. "What are you trying to pull, fledgling?"

Gale said nothing as he swayed. He lurched forward to hunch over, but he said nothing. For once, his vulgar mouth had nothing to say.

Then, like an animal, he sprung.

Bluenote was unimpressed with such a display and was ready to face Gale head on. He braced himself and focused changing the gravity around Gale's legs.

Nothing happened.

Bluenote's eyes widened.

What—?

BOOM.

Silver was in disbelief.

Bluenote's head was turned painfully to the right. It looked like he was about to twist his head in a complete rotation and, if it was not for the Curse driving through him, he would have. He fought against the fist on his cheek to peer down at it.

He still could not believe it.

No… This shouldn't be possible.

A metal gauntlet encased a fist like MMA gloves would surround the fist of the fighter. The insignia etched into the gauntlet's back was something Bluenote had seen once. It was the symbol of a Dragon's mighty head.

Gale still said nothing.

Bluenote's lips pulled into an unhealthy smirk. "Now you really intrigue me, fledgling. How many more tricks up your sleeve can you have before you're put down?" He forcibly turned his head to try and meet Gale's eyes head on, but he could not find his eyes. "You shall be an opponent I won't soon forget." In the blink of an eye, he raised his claws.

But Gale was one step ahead and hit him with a bone-snapping uppercut.

---

Gary bristled in the air. He flew alongside Mystogan and Nashi in her Divine Soul: Seraphim Armor. Luke found himself being carried in Nashi's arms.

Mystogan noticed Gary's look. "You sensed it too?"

"That was a dangerous power shift in the air," Gary growled. "I'm still sensing Gale's Magic, but there's something wrong with it. It's making me anxious."

Nashi noticed they were about to fly overhead the forest part of the park near the Mûre River. "Maybe we should land here. If we fly overhead, we'll give them too much of an advantage."

Mystogan agreed and angled his descent. "Yes. Good idea."

The three landed just before the gated entrance to the park. As Nashi set Luke down, Mystogan looked into the darkness of the forest. "Is it just me or does it feel like multiple eyes are on us?" He put a hand onto the side of his glasses and tapped it once. His lenses shifted color and he was blessed with Night Vision. He saw no woodland creatures, but instead, he saw two hulking beasts pacing just a bit inside the gates. He recognized their stature in disgust. "Chimeras," he informed. "Two of them are at the entrance and they wait for their prey."

Nashi closed her eyes as she descended back into her civilian clothing. She took a deep breath. "I sense a lot of souls in the area… I can vaguely sense Gale's and a Cursed soul."

"Bluenote," Luke presumed. "He and Gale must be pretty far in the park."

Gary tucked in his wings and had his black tattoo replace them. "Spezi might be arrested, but he must've planted his Chimeras here on special assignment. The Tamer knew someone would come here."

Did he know Gale and Bluenote would fight in here? Did he leave the Chimeras here to make sure they weren't disturbed? We don't know how much time traveling they've been doing.

"We can avoid these two easily," Mystogan announced. "We'll have to assume every entrance is blocked, so we'll simply sneak in from a blind spot. From there, we'll split off into teams."

"I'll take Nashi/Angel!"

Gary and Luke looked at each other, Luke in annoyance and Gary in unease.

Mystogan lifted an eyebrow, but he said slowly, "It would be best if one S-Class Mage goes with a non-S-Class. Wouldn't you agree, Luke?"

Luke looked very much like he wanted to retort, but he knew better than to challenge his teacher. He muttered with heavy reluctance, "Yes, Sensei."

Mystogan nodded his approval. "Good. Nashi, you are to come with me. Gary and Luke, you two are the other pair."

All three were wide-eyed at such a casual decision.

Mystogan acted like nothing happened as he walked away. "Come on. Let's keep moving."

Nashi snapped out of her trance to race after Mystogan. "Misty, are you insane?" she hissed at him. She offered a backwards glance at the other two who trailed behind them, but they opted not to look at each other (Luke, more or less, glared at the ground and Gary found the sky particularly interesting).

"I am perfectly sane, thank you," Mystogan said dryly.

Nashi rolled her eyes. "You know those two have tension," she snapped at him lowly. "Why would you partner them up?"

"This is a good exercise for them," Mystogan informed matter-of-factly, raising a finger. "Often, the times we find ourselves overcoming differences is in dangerous situations. This will be a good lesson for Luke to learn about working with someone he dislikes."

"This isn't about education! Lives are on the line!"

Mystogan looked off to the side. "Besides…" He gestured for Nashi to come closer. When she did, he whispered in her ear, "There may be a Hunter in the park."

Nashi's eyes widened and she reeled back. "What?!" she almost shouted. "Are you su…?" When Mystogan gestured for her to lower her voice, she did. "Are you sure?" she hissed.

"I'm not certain of it yet, but I could tell Gary knew," Mystogan told her. "It's just a hunch. With Gary having as big of a target on his back as he does, a Mauthe or two have probably been tailing him."

Nashi's lips twisted into a frown. "I see…"

"We both know if you and Gary were to be partners, the Hunter would see you as the only way to trigger Gary," Mystogan lectured. "He can't control himself with you." He ignored Nashi's steaming blush. "They'll use that as leverage and his will to be clouded by emotion. I need him reasonable." He looked back at Nashi with a grin on his face. "Don't take this the wrong way, but I'm happy he's found a distraction. But we can't have him distracted right now. Don't take that personally. You being his distraction might make him unreasonable, but it also gives him a greater incentive to fight. You're his double-edged sword."

"You're right. You're my greatest weakness."

Gary's firm but gentle look of adoration came to Nashi's mind.

"But, you're my greatest strength too. You're the reason I keep pushing myself to become stronger."

Nashi swallowed, trying hard not to take a lock of hair and bite it. "Yeah," she agreed uncomfortably. "I guess I am."

Mystogan led them to the blind spot where the gate was too high to climb but not too high to fly over. He turned to them. "I can fly everyone over." He held out of his hand to his student. "Luke, let's go."

Luke padded to his teacher and grabbed onto Mystogan. As soon as Mystogan was levitating in the air, Gary turned to Nashi. "Look, Angel—"

"I know, I know, Misty told me," Nashi cut in.

Gary's knuckles turned white as he clenched them. "I want to make them pay for threatening you," he growled. "But I never want you to see me like that again."

Nashi smiled and let her hand caress the back of Gary's head, messing with his messy strands of hair. She watched as her hand moved over his hair, subtly watching as her movements quelled his swollen anger. When his gaze finally lifted to hers, she smiled and said, "You really need to get a haircut."

Gary smiled a bit at that, partly in disbelief at such a random statement and partly in his own amusement. "Is it really getting that long?"

Nashi shrugged and let her hand wander to Gary's jaw. She rubbed her knuckles along his bristles. "Not too long," she drawled, "but are you planning on growing out facial hair?"

"Maybe." Gary's smile turned into a devilish grin. "What would you do if I had a bit of stubble?"

Nashi pursed her lips and hummed as she examined Gary's jawline, running a finger over his flesh. "A little bit is sexy, but I could never see you with a full-grown beard. It's not you," she reported, though her eyes were drawn to his parted mouth.

Gary knew this and could not help licking his lips for her. "Oh, really…? Do I not look sexy with facial hair, little hood?"

Nashi hummed at the title, leaning closer to him. "Sorry, wolfie, but I don't think I could let you kiss me if you had a wizard's beard," she jibed good-naturedly.

Gary let his thumb caress Nashi's bottom lip. "Careful, Angel. You're teasing a predator."

Nashi did not shy away from that. She cupped Gary's cheeks and brought his lips down to hers. "I know what I'm doing, Ice Devil," she whispered in promise before taking the kiss she wanted. Gary wrapped his arms around her possessively as he reciprocated at full force, moving with her in a rhythm only they knew. His hand traveled up to her cheek and stroked it as he led her into another ardent kiss. When they both needed to come up from air, they pulled apart with pants coming off their lips.

Gary raised an eyebrow at Nashi's rather forward behavior, intrigued. "Not that I'm complaining, but what brought this on?" he had to wonder as he tucked a lock of hair behind her ear.

Nashi shrugged as she took to playing with Gary's clavicle. "Maybe this was incentive for you to play nice with my brother."

"I always 'play nice'," Gary said in defense of himself.

Nashi bit her lip and deliberately let her eyes flick down. "And, maybe this is a little bit of an apology for freaking on you," she told him. Her eyes flicked back up to catch a bit of silvery-ice blue in Gary's eyes. She tilted her head up when Gary tilted his down. "And, maybe…"—she pressed her front against his and a smirk tugged at her lips at what she felt and his dilated eyes—"this is just me liking to tease you, Devil."

Gary's eyes flashed down to her lips. "I can deal with teasing," he whisper-growled before leading her into another heated kiss. When she tried to pull away from air, Gary barely let her before claiming her lips again. He pulled back just to memorize every detail of her blissful face. "I like this so much more than when you were playing hard-to-get," he panted to her before stealing another kiss.

Nashi drew back with desire darkening her eyes. "Who said anything about playing?" she whispered back, feigning innocence.

Gary growled as his Devil peeked through his eyes, lustfully delighted at this banter. "You hot, little tease, c'mere," he hissed before bringing her into another—

"Uhuh – hum?"

Nashi jolted and tried to spring away, but Gary's hold on her was too tight. She looked up to see him giving a smug Mystogan a glare of mixed cerulean and icy-blue that could be translated as I want to kill you. "What?" Gary gritted out.

Mystogan shrugged. "Nothing at all. Just wanted to remind you of our job here that yields no distractions."

Nashi's cheeks turned a furious red. "He's right," she whispered and became suddenly shy at Gary's desire-filled stare. "We don't have time to make out and foreplay and shit. And, besides, my brother is right there, so…"

Gary groaned and thumbed Nashi's cheek. "I've waited so long to kiss you like this though," he whined.

"W-Well, you can wait until we're finished," Nashi admonished in slight stutter. She glanced down before looking back up at him, grinning and tipping up her chin. "And, if you wait nicely…"—she ground her front against his and reveled in his sharp inhale—"I can finish you."

Gary groaned even louder at that and dropped his head on her shoulder. "Don't say stuff like that when one of my best friends is right there," he moaned. He sighed as his hands played with her hair. "What am I going to do with you, woman?" he murmured. "No, I know what I'm going to do to you and how much I'm going to do it—I just need a when." His hands slipped down her back to squeeze her butt.

Nashi's cheeks turned pure red and she jumped away from him. "Y-Y-You perverted dog!" she accused.

Gary accepted the title with pride. "Only for you, Angel," he purred.

Nashi tched in her disgust, even if it was not true disgust, and marched over to Mystogan. He took her into his arms and, just to spite Gary, held her tighter. At the flicker in Gary's eyes, Mystogan took off into the air and tried to hold back his own laughter.

Gary grumbled and adjusted himself. "If he wasn't the Master's son, I swear to God…" He gave himself his own boost as he put a palm in an open fist at his side and conjured ice to propel him upwards. He hurdled over the fence and touched down just as Mystogan and Nashi did.

As Nashi rolled out of Mystogan's arms, Mystogan tapped his glasses and scan the area. "So far, so good, but be on the look-out." He looked at Gary. "Take the right side with Luke. Flares if needed. Protect my student."

Gary gave a firm nod at that. "Protect my Angel."

Mystogan nodded back. He looked at Luke, but he did not soften. "And, you watch his back." There was a bit of warning in his voice as though daring Luke to go against his command. "Don't use any light. Let Gary be your eyes and you'll be his ears."

Luke nodded. "Yes, Sensei."

Mystogan turned to Nashi. "Let's go."

Nashi nodded. Her eyes fell to Luke first. When she caught his eye, she offered him an encouraging smile.

Luke huffed and turned away like a petulant child.

Nashi frowned before turning and bounding after Mystogan, leaving Gary all alone with Luke.

Gary shoved his hands in his pockets. "So—"

"I still don't like you." Luke's tone was unceremoniously blunt. "But I'll watch your back for her sake and Sensei's sake." And, he marched into the dark wilderness.

Gary had to slowly nod at that as he followed him. "Right. I can at least work with that."

---

Gale danced on his feet before he spun around in a poised roundhouse kick. Bluenote blocked the kick, but he did not expect Gale to use that momentum to pivot with his ground foot and use the earth to launch himself in the air. He swung himself on Bluenote's shoulders and locked him into a chokehold.

Bluenote flapped into the air as he tried to gain ground. He flipped and dove straight down to smash Gale into the earth.

Gale let Bluenote go at the last second and dove into the ground like he was diving into water, letting the earth swallow him up.

Bluenote landed on the ground with a snarl. He rubbed his neck as his eyes scanned the ground.

I can't feel him. It doesn't make sense. The fear he had is completely wiped out. There is not a trace of emotion left in him. What changed?

Bluenote managed to reach out a hand and change the gravity at the projectiles whistling towards him. He saw their metallic glint and narrowed his eyes at them.

Somehow, he awakened the Iron Magic deep inside him. A self-defense mechanism? But, how is that possible? I have heard of Mages unconsciously using Magic, but from what sources say, he displayed not a trace of the same Magic as his father.

Bluenote barely avoided the iron ropes trying to tie him down.

Focus on the plant, Bluenote, came impatient snap. A Dragon's Gift of such magnitude is the greatest source of Magic next to a God's sacred weapon. Do not disappoint me and you will be rewarded.

Apologies, my Lord. It has been quite some time since I had an opponent so intriguing. My objective has not been lost.

Bluenote's eyes glowed as he clenched his fists. The ground shook as he changed its gravity and broke into chunks to begin to float.

I have you now, fledgling.

HSSSSSSSS.

Bluenote turned his head to see only a bit of his hair had been clipped off due to a metallic arrow whizzing by him.

WHOOSH.

Bluenote whipped his head back around.

There was no one there.

SHING!

Bluenote quickly evaded a wave of arrows plundering towards him. He roared when a couple pierced his skin before his Magic Aura burst around him. His Curse lashed out, swatting away at arrows. Any arrows that got passed his defenses found themselves suddenly heavier and slamming into the ground.

What an amateur strategy. I could bring down this whole park with my gravity and he thinks he can—

WUH-CH!

Bluenote's eyes widened when iron rope spring up from the ground and captured his limbs in a vice like grip. His eyes glowed as he tried to adjust gravity around the area when rope coiled around his throat. He lost the glow when he felt the rope tighten and begin to cut off his oxygen.

Gale came up from the ground. He shook out his arms for his boxing gauntlets to expand and give him arm blades. He spun his hand and a scythe formed in his grip. He struck down with the scythe, but the blade curled around Bluenote. There was the threat that if Bluenote escaped, a hungry blade would be in place to cut him down.

Bluenote observed Gale. "You've managed to impress me, fledgling," he drawled. "You awoke the Iron Magic inside you and you carry the gift of a powerful Dragon. I just want to know how and why."

Gale was silent.

Bluenote smirked. "Shall I kill the girl in the photo? Would that be incentive?"

Gale was silent.

Bluenote noticed. "I could find her, you know," he taunted. "I could find her for you. You wouldn't have to keep searching."

Gale was silent.

"I know how much you would give for the information," Bluenote taunted. "I know how much you've searched. I know all the fights you've had on your parents. But I can help you, fledgling. I can guide you."

Gale was silent.

Bluenote's demeanor fell into satisfaction and smugness. "Oh, I see… But, just one more thing." His eyes glowed.

Gale began to lift off the ground.

Metal and earth reached up and yanked him back onto the ground to steady him.

His hair flared up.

Silver caught blank dark ruby.

"I knew it," Bluenote said. "You were knocked unconscious, but your determination to beat me woke the Iron Magic inside of you. You just blocked out all your emotions." He chuckled. "You just get more and more interesting, fledgling. You truly can fly." His eyes narrowed. "But you can't keep this up much longer." His eyes went to Gale's abdomen.

The girl mentioned his scar, meaning the flesh should be a bit tender.

His eyes glowed.

If I apply enough pressure…

For several moments, nothing happened. From the light of God's Tear, you could see Gale's jacket being pushed by an invisible force.

Still, nothing happened.

His jacket pushed even more into his skin.

Gale's eyes began to water.

Bluenote's eyes narrowed.

The jacket twisted as the pressure became more intense.

The blankness in Gale's eyes began to fade as hot tears fell from them. The life flooded back into his eyes only for anguish to take over them.

The jacket looked like it was a dent into Gale.

Gale's mouth opened in a scream.

Bluenote watched as the iron surrounding him evaporated. The iron on Gale and his scythe disappeared back into Ethernano as Gale screamed at the sheer torment he felt.

Bluenote tutted. "Oh, fledgling… You thought you could stand a chance against me?" He held out a hand.

Gale found himself being raised from the ground as pressure was applied to his throat. He bit back any more screams, but it did not lessen his pain.

Bluenote smirked. "As fun as this match has been, I think it's time for you to understand your place."

Gale could feel hypoxia hit him as he gurgled out a sobbing laugh. "Fu-Fu-Fuck…you…Bluenote!" he gasped out.

Bluenote hummed his laughter. "And, as always, I'll miss your defiance." He let his claws slowly fold into themselves.

Gale hacked as he felt like something was about to give. He could feel his chest heave. Instincts wanted him to survive. He wanted to live. His body shook in a weak attempt to fight back.

Gale shut his eyes.

Please, don't let me die, he pleaded to someone, anyone. I have to live. I have to get stronger.

The God's Tear quietly brightened itself.

Bluenote began to reach for the flower. "Good-bye, fledgling."

Gale found it inevitable. He found himself fading. He found himself being lulled to sleep.

Let me live so I can get stronger, Gale prayed in a whisper. Please—he shut his eyes—let me live!

The God's Tear exploded into light and blinded everything around it.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"How strong do you need to be?"

Gale found himself blinking awake in a place he very much recognized. He was standing atop train tracks in an endless field. He saw houses in the distance—probably farmhouses—but he did not see any station near by. He was back in grayscale, back where color never existed. He looked around.

"I won't ask again, little gem."

Gale whipped around to see—"Sycaña?"

Sycaña stood before him cloaked in full color from the tip of her tail to her violet eyes. She lay with a smile on her face and a loving twinkle in her eye. "Hello, little gem."

Gale looked around as though still in disbelief. "How are you here?" he had to know. "I know I keep seeing that black Dragon, but you too?"

Sycaña rumbled her amusement. "You see us because you asked for our help."

Gale raised an eyebrow. "'Our'? 'Us'?"

"Yes. Us, you brat."

Gale blinked and he suddenly felt drastically small. He looked to his left to see a new Dragon with a body made of pure iron like he wore full-body armor. His eyes were a soulful black. The only reason Gale knew he was being watched was the silver pupils that focused on him curiously.

Gale blinked again and, somehow, he recognized this Dragon. "Grandpa…Metalicana?" he presumed.

Metalicana gave a grating laugh. "Can't believe I'm a grandsire," he chortled. "Didn't think the brat had the guts to get a mate and have some drakes." He looked at Gale curiously, but there was still that quiet affection in his gaze that Gajeel often gave his son. "Hello, Gale."

Gale ran his hands through his hair and tugged at the strands. "This isn't happening," he whispered. "You're dead."

Metalicana snorted. "I didn't need a drake to tell me what I already knew. I'm dead and would like to stay dead."

Gale looked to Sycaña wildly for answers. "Okay, what the fuck is going on, Mama Dragon, because I'm very close to losing my shit."

"Vulgar brat," Metalicana muttered. "Got that from your dad."

Sycaña ruffled her wings for a more comfortable position. "When I gave you my flower, what did I tell you about it?"

Gale thought about it while trying to calm himself down from seeing two Dragons. "Uh, some crap about it helping me as long as I believe in it or something? I don't know."

Sycaña nodded her approval. "I have to admit while that is the normal purpose for God's Tear, this is no normal flower."

Gale threw his hands up in the air and let them slap down. "Great," he said flatly. "Just great. Because, you know, nothing in my life is 'normal'. Oh, no. Everything is something else entirely because reasons because life."

Metalicana was unimpressed at Gale's rant. "You done, brat, or are you going to keep up this little temper tantrum stunt?"

Gale's eye twitched as he looked at his adoptive grandfather. "I'm done."He said those two words like they were a sharp insult. He turned back to Sycaña. "Okay. For the sake of reasons, why did you give me a non-normal flower?"

Sycaña tossed Metalicana a look full of mirth. "Your granddrake really is your granddrake," she teased.

Metalicana huffed as he crossed his claws and settled his head upon them. "Hmph."

Sycaña turned back to Gale. "When you questioned me on my knowledge, I answered you in half-truths," she confided. "I should elaborate. As I waited for my precious Roserary to hatch, Fate came to me. I was told of your and the little star's adventures as well as the fall of our race." A flicker of anger passed in her eyes. "I was outraged to be told the great Dragons would die in centuries to pass. We are a noble race as powerful as the Gods you worship and the Gods who abandoned you." Mourning came next in her stare. "But the truth was in front of me and shown to me. The Dragon King Festival, the Black Dragon's apprentice, the abandonment of the Gods, the hunting and extermination of Slayers—it would all come to pass."

"Wait. 'Extermination'?" Gale echoed. His brow furrowed. "Slayers weren't killed. The Dragons died off, Demons were sealed away, the Gods stopped responding, and no one was around to teach the next generation." He saw the two Dragons share a look and grew apprehensive. "Right?"

Metalicana shook his head. "You're half-right and half-wrong," he conceded. "Slayers were trained by powerful beings, given our Magic, and adopted our anatomy due to the Seed or Curse or Weapon growing inside them. Wouldn't it make sense they adopted our longevity?"

"Those gifted with Magic live longer lifetimes than anything normal," Sycaña educated. "But those who were blessed by a God or touched by a Dragon or cursed by a Demon were given the same lifespans. A Slayer could easily live past a millennium and stay young."

Gale was being to put two and two together. "And, some Slayers can turn into what they slay," he remembered. "A God Slayer can become a god. It's been proven. So, people would want to kill off high-class threats like that if they got the chance."

"You think they just killed them?" Metalicana snorted at the mere thought and his tail thumped in his mild fury. "Humans with no Magic in their belly hunted and murdered what they clearly did not understand. Slayers became a dying breed. The last of them went into hiding and exist among you today, but you would not recognize them. Only a well-seasoned Slayer can sense another Slayer."

Gale blinked widely. "Well, shit," he said. "I mean, yeah, it all adds up. Humans are kind of known for killing what they don't understand. I mean, look, ya got the whole witch trial era and the whole thing with the elves and the fae…" He rubbed his cheeks. "Just, wow, though. To actually hear it…" His gaze flickered up to the two Dragons. "Sorry for my race being a bunch of dicks to you guys."

Metalicana shrugged. "We're over it," he assured. "Well, I am. If you were to ask—"

"So, where do I supposedly fit into this whole plot?" Gale interrupted.

"Impatient like his father," Metalicana muttered to Sycaña, tail thumping in annoyance. "Same vile look in his eye too."

Gale bristled. "I can hear you!"

Sycaña lowered her head. "To have hope for the future against Obscuritan's successor, a woman named Anna Heartfilia chose seven Dragon Slayers. Five of whom she had chosen were raised in the presence of Dragons. The other two came from your timeline."

"'Anna Heartfilia'?" Gale questioned in an echo. "Wait a tick… That's Blondie's grandma, right? She's not… She's not from my present?"

"Anna is a special human." Metalicana sounded a bit wistful, a bit fond, remembering her. "She is tougher than my mother's scales and has a roar even I would submit to." A gleam entered his dark eyes as he thought of the smiling Anna. "And, that body of hers was phenomenal back in the day!"

Gale threw a rock at Metalicana as two tick marks pounded on his temple. "Quit being such a perv!"

Metalicana chuckled. "Calm down, brat. We all had a soft spot for the woman," he admitted. "Igneel more than any of us. The king himself would have never willingly shed scales for any Dragon, but he certainly hummed a different tune with Missy Anna."

Gale groaned. "Okay, okay, we get it, she was a special snowflake. Can we get on with the story?"

Metalicana sighed. "To answer your question, no, she's not from your present. More than four-hundred years ago in your past is when she's from."

Gale's eyes widened.

'She's… She's that far back in the past?'

Something else dawned onto him.

"He understands," Sycaña whispered.

"So… So, my old…" Gale looked a bit pale. "My old man, Uncle Natsu and Aunt Wendy and Uncle Rogue and Sting and Laxus… They're over four-hundred years old?"

"Not Luxar or Toxia's hosts, no," Sycaña divulged. "The drakes of King Igneel, Grandeeney, Weisslogia, Skiadrum, and Metalicana are from the past. Star Queen Anna brought them into the future to stand a chance against the Black Dragon of your time, Acnologia."

Gale's expression grew vulnerable and he shuffled his feet. "My old man never told me that," he admitted. "I knew he and the other Dragon Slayers defeated Acnologia, but he never… He never told me…"

Metalicana really looked at Gale. "It was nothing you need to know then." His grating voice softened. "Things change. Situations change."

Gale had to agree with that. "So, how did Miss Heartfilia find the other two Slayers?"

Metalicana rolled his eyes. "Ask the damn woman yourself. We need to hurry up and explain to you what's about to happen."

Gale had a tick pounding against his forehead as he slowly rose his shaking fist.

I want to punch you so – badly…

"Gale."

Gale looked at Sycaña.

"Those seven Dragon Slayers did their part to not only stop Dragons from entering an age they were not ready for but also to save the world from a ruthless Dragon from conquering it and seal away five Dragon Gods."

Gale's eye twitched.

This sounds like the opening to Super Rangers…

"For a time," Sycaña continued, "there was no need for Slayers to be created and the world could rest. Your Gods grew silent. The Demons were locked away. The Dragons were killed. The Era of Slayers was put down." Her gaze darkened. "But times change. You face Warlocks now, humans in league with Demons, contracted to them as children of the night. You face Demons. Your Magic will not be enough to stop their terrorism."

Gale looked down in self-loathing. "I see that," he acknowledged. "I'm powerless to stop Bluenote. It terrifies me how easily he can kill me. But…" His fists tightened. "But my old man taught me I have to be the one who steps up when no one else is around. I have to be the one who fights back because I have people I want to protect."

Sycaña and Metalicana shared a brief look before Sycaña looked back at Gale. "Little gem, do you still carry my flower?"

Gale looked up in confusion. "I don't…" His eyes shot to his hand that somehow carried the God's Tear. "I, uh… I guess so?"

"As you should realize by now, I am dead in your present," Sycaña said calmly. "The flower you carry around you only took the form of a flower because that is how I wanted you to see it." She lowered her nose and breathed upon the flower.

Gale's eyes widened as the deathly flower curled and expanded into a ball. The ball was glossy, like a Lacrima Ball, but it carried a weighty Magic Power inside it. It was a vibrant green with violet at its center. He was in awe at what he held. "What is this?" he whispered.

"Humans call this a 'Dragon Lacrima'," Metalicana explained. "But any Dragon knows this to be our Heart of Hearts."

"A 'Heart of Hearts'," Gale echoed, intrigued.

"A Heart of Hearts is sacred to Dragons," Sycaña explained. "Gods, Demons, Dragons—we all have Soul Techniques we use to preserve our lives. A Heart of Hearts carries our souls, our Magic, our memory. Gale, you have carried my soul and my Magic with you through the span of four hundred years," she broke to him. "My Heart of Hearts recognized my death the moment you reunited with your timeline. For each action you asked of, I have granted and aided you."

Gale was dead quiet for a solid minute. "And, all this is supposed to mean what?" he asked, voice quiet.

"It means," Metalicana hissed softly, "that we are giving you humans another chance."

Gale looked at his grandfather. "A chance for what?"

"Another chance to fight back," Metalicana answered. "Humans are naturally weak. Your Magic makes you a little stronger. But you can't expect your spells to defend you much longer. The Gods have made their choice to be idle. They abandon the mortals they were supposed to protect. With the Gods ignorant, the fae extinct, and Dragons dead, Demons saw this as their chance to reenact their plans. The Curses spread in the war fought long ago are becoming active. The little human girl you fawn over—Luna—is a match for them. The Slayers of old are as well. But, as the numbers of the enemy grow, yours must too." He nudged the Heart of Hearts in Gale's hand. "With this, we will give humans a chance to fight."

"Starting with you," Sycaña added in quickly, "should you choose to accept."

Gale exhaled loudly. "This is...a lot to process," he tried to say.

"Well, process faster," Metalicana said like he was asking for a walk in the park. "We don't have the time to let you adjust at your own pace."

Gale grew irritated at that. "Okay, listen," he snapped. "Do you know how much crap I've gone through in the span of twenty-four hours? I've nearly died, went back in time, nearly died again, nearly died a third time, I'm fighting my murderer and now you just want me to accept this"—he gestured to the Heart of Hearts and to the two Dragons—"like all this is normal?" He shook his head. "I was hit with too much at once. Let me think this through."

"Peace, little gem," Sycaña soothed. She touched Gale's brow with her snout. "I know how much you struggle. You feel betrayal towards your father, towards the other Slayers. You feel fear for the one you face. You feel worry for your Female. But I assure you once all is said and done, the answers you seek, your family will willingly give you."

"How could you know that?" Gale's voice cracked. "My dad is over four-hundred years old and had the balls to never tell me. If he's been keeping this, then—…" He sucked in a breath. "He'll never tell me a damn thing," he muttered.

"He will," Metalicana promised, confident. "Once you accept, he'll understand and have no choice but to answer you."

Gale rolled his lips, tossing his head side to side. "Okay, say I do accept." He looked between them. "What am I accepting?"

Sycaña puffed warm air on Gale. "Your body is not ready for the Seed inside you to blossom. But, with my help, I will nourish the Seed inside to grow until you are ready. You will be a different generation, you and the others that will fall after you. Our minds and souls will bond as I teach you about the power you will possess. When you are ready, I shall merge with you and turn you into what you were born to be."

Gale was quiet for two beats. He looked at his grandfather. "What about you?"

"Well, when you decided to pass out—"

"I didn't just 'decide' to pass out, asshole!"

"—and used iron, you awoke me for the first time," Metalicana answered.

Gale hesitated. "Will I…? Will you teach me too?"

Metalicana shook his iron head. "I signed up to teach one annoying human. No more."

You're such a go-getter, Gale thought dryly.

Metalicana tipped his head. "Besides," he rumbled, "I know how strong you are." He softened as he looked at Gale. "You don't need this old Dragon breathing down your neck with all these loose bolts and rust. I'll always be here as your encourager and look out for you like I just did. But I have faith you'll be fine on your own. Especially with Sycaña as your mentor."

Gale looked down at the Heart of Hearts in his hand. His fingers ran over the glassy ball and he could feel the hum of power searching for a compatible meister. "So, then… I'd become a Dragon Slayer like my dad?"

He looked up in time to see Sycaña shake her head. "You would differ from the Slayers of old," she answered. "They were taught by live Dragons while others were given Heart of Hearts of broken Dragons who were too grieved to interact with their human host. With hard-work, perhaps you could attain the same power as a traditional Slayer. Maybe even surpass them."

Gale snorted at that. "Yeah. Like I could surpass them," he muttered.

"You can," Sycaña insisted. "But you have to want it to make it so."

Gale looked back at the Heart of Hearts in his hands. "If I do this," he said quietly, "everything will change, won't it?" He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.

This is my chance to fight back. This is my chance to make a difference.

He sighed out an exhale. "Okay," he murmured. "I'll do it. I'll take the chance." He opened his eyes and looked up.

Ruby stared into ruby.

The Black Dragon sat in front of Gale now with no Plant Dragon or Iron Dragon in sight. He looked at Gale like he was proud.

'Are you ready?' the Dragon rumbled.

Gale smirked. "I think you know the answer to that."

The Dragon got to its claws to crouch before Gale. 'Arise, Slayer.' Its ruby eyes glowed.

Gale found his eyes glowing back as red overtook his vision.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Bluenote blinked away the glare in his eyes to see Gale's limp body dangling in the air. His eyes danced in satisfaction. "Apologies, fledgling, but it had to be this way." He was about to reach his claws for the flower when he saw it was not there. He snarled. "What?!" He suddenly clutched his head when he felt something tear into his mind and dropped Gale.

Where is the flower, Bluenote? came demand.

Bluenote tried to hold back the raw agony of being ripped apart. "I-I don't know, my Lord," he whimpered. He actually whimpered. "Please. Allow me another chan—" He dropped to his knees when he felt rage pour into his mind. His eyes cried blood and his claws dug deep into his cheeks to lessen the pain.

Your failure will result in your death, human. You are expendable.

If Bluenote had not been in so much pain, he would have noticed Gale's body lurch as he got back up.

Perhaps it is time for me to claim your body.

Bluenote cried out and heaved as his Curse revolted against him. He could feel his Curse strangle his very soul and wriggle for control.

Another human soul to feast on, came purr. You are tainted but I am not a picky one. And I grow so very weary of your playing.

"I will win, Master," Bluenote promised in good favor. "Let me prove my worth."

The pain receded, but some of it lingered as though a reminder.

Your chances are numbered, human, came cool warning. Remember that.

Bluenote shook off the fuzziness surrounding his head as his Curse released his soul. It slithered like a cobra ready to strike at any moment. Bluenote cared little. He only knew he was out of trouble and away from pain for now.

A grin. "How ironic for a murderer to plead for mercy."

Bluenote found himself focused enough to whirl around. He saw Gale standing before him, a bit hunched over. "Fledgling…"

"You sons of bitches and your sick games," Gale hissed. "You think you can get away with messing with humans?"

Bluenote smirked. "Humans are weak with no chance against our power," he leered.

Gale smirked. "You're right," he purred. "Humans are weak." His hand moved from his chest—

—revealing a jewel of emerald with violet at its center hanging from a necklace.

Bluenote's eyes widened. That can't be—-

"So, let's up the fucking ante." Gale sucked in a deep breath—

—and let loose an earth-shattering roar.

---

Natsu stopped running for his ears to perk and he looked at the moon in surprise.

Is that…?

Lucy stopped running to eye him. "Natsu?"

Natsu slowly shook his head. "Nothing." He took Lucy's hand. "C'mon. Let's keep moving." He led her back into a run. "You sent the message, right?"

"Of course." Lucy was confused by Natsu's sudden change. "Natsu, what's wrong? What's going on?"

Natsu offered his mate a grin. "Nothin' to worry about, Lucy. You'll get wrinkles if you keep up your nagging."

Lucy puffed a cheek and glared away from him. "Hmph! Well, don't expect any cuddling from me when this is over," she grumbled.

A laugh rumbled from Natsu's chest at Lucy's annoyance, but he could not shake what he heard.

That sound… It's really come to this.

A glint of emerald passed in Natsu's eyes as he grinned.

Now I'm all fired up.

---

Gajeel's ears twitched in his lowly prison cell. His eyes opened wide as he listened.

Juvia noticed this and became worried. "What does Gajeel here?"

Gajeel smirked and sat back. "Nothin' but a stupid rugrat callin' for war."

Pipsqueak… Looks like I couldn't keep you from it after all…

---

Laxus and Igneel tipped up their heads. Igneel's brow furrowed at the noise. "What's that?"

"It's a battle cry."

Igneel turned to Laxus who grinned as static came off him. "Someone's getting in the mood to kick some serious ass."

---

The Lamia Scale Guild Hall might have been filled with people and creatures alike, but most were on the mend. Those well enough were helping with whatever need doing, from washing blankets to distributing food. Doctor Mothersbaugh and Aceso made good progress with their patients and were giving clearance to many of them to join clearing parties and rescue teams.

Wendy was in the middle of checking the vitals of a young Mage when her ears twitched and she shivered.

That sound… It's like it's imbedded into my soul.

Sherria noticed her wife's pale look and grew worried. "Wendy?" she fretted. "Wendy, what's wrong?"

Wendy pressed her lips together and shook her head.

Sherria gathered the Sky Maiden in her arms and whispered soothing words as she stroked her hair. Wendy, however, could not respond with too many thoughts reeling in her head.

There's no way, she thought to herself. It can't be time yet.

---

The Master's Quarters of the Sabertooth Guild Hall was as messy as you would predict it to be with paperwork to finish and books to be placed. Pictures of the guild over the years were plastered to the wall and given frames on shelves. There was one of Minerva offering a ladylike smile at her first-place trophy for the annual eating contest while everyone else was knocked out from too much food. Another picture held a couple of the younger Mages ganging up on their guild master with snowballs and his childish grin at their antics.

Sting stopped in his signing of papers and shared a look with Rogue who sat across from him with his own pen.

"Did you hear that?" Sting had to know.

Rogue had changed over the years with his signature bang was gone as he buzzed the sides of his head but kept the top at a good length and curled into a bun. He wore something crossed between a kimono and a toga with no need for his katana.

⌜SABERTOOTH

Name: Rogue Cheney

Occupation: S-Class Mage

Magic: Shadow Dragon Slayer Magic

Likes: cats Dislikes: losing to Minerva

Special Note: Rogue may not look it, but he loves to fawn over stray cats! Sounds like another Dragon Slayer…⌟

Rogue nodded at Sting. "I didn't expect now of all times." He looked a little troubled. "What are we supposed to do? We aren't ready."

Sting sat back in his chair and looked up at the ceiling. "How in the Hell should I know?" he muttered. "The kid made it clear there's Hell to pay." He flashed fang as he grinned. "So, I say… We haul some ass to congratulate him on his first win."

---

Wherever they were, it was by the sea and the sun was still sleepy. Tents were pitched properly alongside the cliff with only grass, rocks, and wildflower as padding. Seagulls swulled as they swooped and soared against the sea breeze. A curious butterfly landed on a wildflower before fluttering away at the slightest zephyr.

A man sat at the edge of the cliff like it was an everyday sort of thing. A black armband with a red gem clung to his bicep, but what was more interesting was the tribal tattoo of an Ouroboros inked into his arm. A hood covered his head, but you could see the trimmed mustache and beard against tan skin.

He inhaled deeply as the winds ruffled his clothes.

He paused for a moment.

Then, he grinned, showing fang. "I hear you loud and clear, kid." He got to his feet. The wind blew harder, knocking over flowers. His cloak fluttered as his hood fell. His maroon hair was exposed had lengthened over the years, a bit tamer. He gathered his hair in a low ponytail with his pointed ears being shown.

"My time here isn't up yet," he rumbled, "but congratulations, kid, on joining the kingdom."

"Hey!" came distant call. "Are you coming?"

He shoved his hands in his pockets. "Yeah, yeah. I'm coming." He turned his head to show—

—the eye patch with a scar leading under it.

---

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…

Was that who I thought it was? Man, oh, man, is Gale in for the ride of a lifetime! To find out what happens next, tune into the next Fairy Adventure!

---

Space was a beautiful haven.

Countless of stars, of life, of energy drifted for as long as the universe would allow. Space was silent, relaxing. It was cold and unyielding, but once you understood the flow of space, it became a warm and inviting place for you to explore, to travel, to make it your own.

BEEP. BEEP. BEEP.

On the inner workings of such a complex vessel, a new screen sprung to life in front of the captain's seat. The symbol was one familiar, the same symbol that was represented on a pink flag elsewhere on the ship. A unique fairy popped onto the screen, a blaring red.

A hand tapped on it.

A B-Cube appeared to display a blonde woman. She had lived her decades in laughter, courtesy of those laugh lines, but her blonde hair was as silky and lengthy as ever and her eyes as piercing as ever. She looked straight at the captain.

"Listen. We need your help," the woman began. "Two of our own have been captured by Hunters. They were technically illegal aliens and have been taken to a planet called the House of O. Please, if you get this message, help them. You're their only hope now."

"Lucy!" came hiss. "We've gotta move out! You ready?"

Lucy turned to the side and shouted, "Be right there!" Her soft eyes turned back to the captain. "I wish I was messaging you on better terms and had more time, but we have to keep moving." She raised her hand branded in her guild mark and gave the infamous symbol of Fairy Tail. "Good bye."

The video ended.

A snort. "So. Looks like the hot mom needs our help—Ouch!" came male yip.

A grumble. "Don't be such a perv," came female reprieve.

"Captains?" came delicate ask. "Our response?"

Legs crossed. A chin rested on manicured hands and a grin touched a soft face. "Shiki…?" came drawl.

A hearty smirk. Scarred arms folded over a chest. "C'mon. You know my answer already, Rebecca."

The grin broadened as a bit of a simper came out. "You're right. I do." Fierce sea-blue eyes stared into the vast expansion of space. "We'll do a jump to the Tsuga Cosmos."

"Head for Zenith's third moon," the man commanded. "We'll have a better vantage point from there."

The flutter of fingers. Black lips twisted in a knowing smile. Coordinates reflected on shades. "Right away, Captains. Plotting course now. Calculating number of jumps…"

Rebecca reached into her breast pocket to pull out a small B-Cube with the Fairy Tail insignia etched into it. She had changed over the course of her adventuring lifetime with her steely blonde hair pulled back into a regal bun and locks of hair framing her face. But the glint in her eye, the glint of an adventurer, had never died.

Lucy… I've missed you more than you know.

She clutched the B-Cube.

I promise. We'll bring your friends back to you.

---

Chibi-Luna happily takes her place at the podium. "Hi, class!"

"Welcome back, teacher!" everyone cheers.

Chibi-Luna smirks. "Time for a pop quiz!"

…and the class groans from such bad news.

Desks are open and shut and mutters are passed around as everyone tears out notebook paper. They begin their numbering from one to five with some eyerolling and glaring at their beloved teacher. Others are confident and beam at the boost in their GPA.

Chibi-Luna clears her throat as she moves a part of the chalkboard over to reveal the five questions. "All right! Let's begin! Question one: which Defense Minister of Fiore has it out for Mages?"

The students scribble down their answers. When eyes are back up on their teacher, Chibi-Luna goes to the next question. "Number two: what type of creature is Constantine of Fairy Tail?"

The sounds of pencils, frustrated sighs, and a cough invade the room. Eyes up are the only indicator for Chibi-Luna to continue. "Number three: who holds the current position as the youngest wizard to make it to S-Class in Fairy Tail?" Another pause. Another round of pencils. Another round of eyes up. "Number four: name the type of wizards that exist within Earth Land. And, number five: state two differences between a 'Coven' and a 'Guild'?"

Chibi-Luna waits until she is certain everyone is finished. "All right, everyone pass up your quizzes up front! Don't worry! This is all a little bit of extra credit just to make sure you're all paying attention!" As the students shift their papers from desk to desk, Chibi-Luna announces, "We'll have our Fairy Lesson tomorrow, so make sure you bring your notebooks! Next time, on Fairy Adventure: LAST STAND!"