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.
Gary was careful as he sat on the bed in a bedroom obviously made for a set of little siblings. The two boys shared the room with their bunkbed and had finished cleaning their room. He was tucking one of the twins in with a warm smile. "All right, rugrats," he spoke, "time for some good ole fashion shut-eye." When he was met with whines and protests, he held up a hand. "Nah-ah-ah. Sleep. Now. Besides, Angel and I promised your mom you'd be in bed by nine and it's nine-oh-eight."
"Just one story," one of the twins begged. "Please?"
"Yeah, c'mon!" the other twin pleaded. "Please…?"
Gary sighed. "You sure you want me to tell you a story? Angel's a lot better than I am at it and she'll be back once she puts your sister down…" When he saw big, doe eyes thrown he was, he groaned. "Fine, fine, fine." He hunkered down on the bottom bunk, but he grunted when the second twin climbed down and pounced on him. "Yeah, yeah. What'll the story be this time around, boys?"
"Little Red Riding Hood," one of the twins demanded.
His brother agreed enthusiastically. "Yeah! Last Halloween you came to babysit, you told us you and Miss Nashi were going as the Big, Bad Wolf and Little Red Riding Hood, but we've never heard of that story."
Wistfulness dazzled in Gary's eyes. "Huh. Well, that won't do." He gathered the twins in his arms. "Fine. I'll tell you my version of the Little Red Riding Hood, but then bed, all right?"
"All right!" came chorus.
Gary chuckled. "Here we go. Once upon a time…"
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Aitai, nante
Furetai, nante
Hanashitai, nante
omowanai
Kayowai kimi to zurui boku ga
Deau sore ga owari sa
•
Zankokudatte nonoshittatte
Unmei wa kawaranai
Ah doushite - kimi ga?
Doushite - boku ga?
Ookami to akazukin, nanda
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Fairy Adventure 042
A Fairy Tail Fairy Tale
Little Red Riding Hood and the Big Bad Wolf
おとぎ話の叙事詩！赤ずきん、オオカミ、ハンツマン！
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
The scene was set. The wilderness was piping with life. Deer frolicked through the forest. The sweet berries of the earth were being plucked by the bushel by hungry bunnies. The riches of the land were being utilized by its subjects, but none more was taken than what was necessary. The brooks babbled, a mother bird took her heirs for an afternoon flight—Nature was complacent.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"Once upon a time, there was a smoking h—I-I-I mean a beautiful, angelic girl who lived in a forest near a village with her family named…"
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"Nashi Layla Dragneel!"
Nashi puttered down the steps of the kitchen to sit at the bottom two. She saw her mother was in the middle of packing a picnic basket with a concentrated furrow of her eyebrows. "What's up, Mama?" She went back to typing out a text on her Compact. "You never middle-name me unless I did something wrong. I finished my homework. I did my dishes. I cleaned my room. I did my chores—"
"No, no, it's not that," Lucy laughed off. "But I'm glad you did all those things."
"'Kay." Nashi glanced up. "Then, how can I help you, ma'am?"
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"One day, Little Red's mother asked her daughter if she could do a small favor…"
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"I need your help," Lucy told her. "I have some important meetings to go to today, but I promised Grandmama Anna I'd drop off these baked goods for her and a little something for her cold." She smiled a pleading smile to her daughter. "Would you mind…?"
Nashi was half-listening to the conversation as she waved a hand. Her eyes were more stuck to her Compact. "Sure, whatever," she supposed. "I'm taking my broom, though." She got up. "Although, I would get there faster if I had a c—"
Lucy cut her off in the sweetest tone: "If you want a car, you'll have to raise the money for the down payment as well as the auto insurance. I have to use my car today and you know how we feel about motorcycles."
"But Gary gets to—!"
"Gary doesn't still live with his parents," Lucy interrupted without missing a beat. "And don't try to use him as an example. His dad rides and fixes motorcycles." Her eyes rolled Heavenward. "Spirit King forbid."
Nashi angrily pouted. "Yeah, and my papa can't even hear the word 'motorcycle' without gagging," she grumbled. In a melodramatic manner, she flipped her hair. "I guess the broom will have to do for now," she relented as she sauntered down the steps. Inhaling through her nose, the smell of the baking got her salivating. She let her nose guide her to the smell, but she found herself nudged away.
"Uh-uh. None of that, young lady," Lucy scolded, good-humored. "For a girl without a Slayer's nose, you sure are able to sniff out the sweet stuff. And may I add this sweet stuff is for your grandmama?"
"Right, but," Nashi added in, "you know how long that flight is. I'm just giving myself some incentive to make it the whole way there—ow!" She pouted as she rubbed her hand. "Papa's right. You are stingy."
Lucy snorted. "Natsu says that because either he thinks I coupon way too much or when I cheat him out of adult time."
Nashi wrinkled her nose. "Two words: ga-ross." She padded back to the steps before pausing. "But you know… If I'm gone, Luna's gone, the twins are gone…"—a Cheshire smirk was pasted onto her face—"I did always want another little brother…"
Red was the only word to fully describe Lucy's face. "For that, you're wearing the red cloak."
Nashi spun around, pale. "No."
Lucy hmphed. "That's what you get. And, besides, you have to wear if it you're going broom-riding." She made a shooing motion with her hand. "Go get dressed. Shoo. Shoo."
Nashi grumbled to herself as she stomped up the steps. "Well don't expect me to rescue you when Papa gets all pervy," she shot down at her mother who spluttered and turned into a mess at that.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"Little Red's mother asked for Little Red to deliver a basket of goodies to her grandmother. Of course, Little Red Riding Hood accepted since it had been quite some time since she saw her grandmother…"
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Lucy opened the door and hit a button. The garage door slowly snapped open to reveal the collection it stored. Two other refrigerators had occupied the garage along with sets of tools and other junk the family had yet to get rid of. Luke's broom was gone and Igneel did not have one nor did Luna. Only Nashi's and Lucy's brooms remained. The Lacrima Car Lucy drove was a standard model that could use a wash. Nashi trudged out of the house with her red riding cloak on and looked like she wanted to light the thing on fire. Her Fairy Tail guild mark had been down onto the front, but her personal symbol that represented her Angel moniker had been sewn on the back.
"Is all this really necessary?" Nashi lamented as she went to her broom. She raised out a hand and her broom came to her on command while she looked beseechingly at her mother. "This is so embarrassing, Mama!"
Lucy went up to adjust Nashi's cloak. "Please, Nashi, I've had worse. Heck, your papa has had worse," she soothed. "And your grandmama made this for you, remember? She'll be so happy to see you wearing it!"
Nashi batted away her mother to fix her ponytail. "I look like some badly dressed steampunk cosplayer," she mumbled. She set her broom horizontal and it levitated without fail. She mounted it. "All right. I'll give the goods to Grandmama, but don't expect me to be back home. I might just be dead from humiliation and all that jazz."
Lucy chuckled and handed over the basket. "You'll be fine, baby. Just make sure you go straight to your grandmama's okay? I let her know you're on your way, but you know how air travel can be. Don't go to high up unless you have an Air Bubble on, but don't travel to low unless you want the Guard to ground you. Make sure you're periodically checking the weather, okay? I know it's warm out, but—"
"Mama." Nashi was trying not to giggle as she set the basket onto her broom basket. "I'll be fine. I've made trips to Grandmama's, like, hundreds of times. This isn't any different. She lives, what, maybe forty-minutes away by broom if I'm going five above the speed limit? I'm fine." She smiled as the broom pulled her out of the garage. "I'll be back home before you know it!"
Lucy jogged after Nashi, worry creasing her forehead. "Don't leave the path!" she warned as Nashi slowly circled higher into the area. "And please make sure you call me when you get there!"
"I got it, Mama!"
"And whatever you do, don't land in the woods!" Lucy shouted after her daughter. "Oh! And when you get to your grandmama's, there's a…!"
Nashi did not hear the rest of her mother's speech as she let the wind take her northeast. "That woman," she laughed. "Seriously. I can handle a forty-minute flight." She poured more Magic into her broom and let her zoom in the same way she always took without a second thought.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"Little Red's grandmother only loved forty-minutes away and she was more than happy to run this errand for her mother. Even after her mother warned her to stay on the path, Little Red still kept going to see her grandmother. Fly, she did over the grasslands and forest…"
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"Tiki taka little more…!" Nashi sang along, bopping her head to the beat. Headphones were her friend on long trips like this and she made the most of it through podcasts and song albums. She scrolled through her playlists to see she had another Attempt Gents podcast to listen to and selected that next. Like it was second nature, she checked the perimeter. Clear. Nothing but open sky and a Sky Boat gaining ground towards true north. She absently looked at the ground to see what she was passing…
…and failed to notice the figure gaining ground on her.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"But as she flew, she did not even notice something was creeping up on her…"
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Nashi hummed to herself as the podcast started. She adjusted her cloak and doubled check her spells were in place. And, yet, it made sense with how half-hearted her attention was into her routine checks, that she did not notice the powerful presence gliding towards her nor the flaps it gave as a warning.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"Not until…"
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Nashi was double-checking her Cushioning Charm when she noticed the sun had gone and a shadow had been cast over her. Frowning, she looked up.
Hickory widened as a grin reflected in her eyes.
"Hi, Angel."
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"…it was too late…"
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Nashi did the only logical thing anyone would do when something snuck up on them.
She screamed bloody murder.
The broom jerked as though shocked at its rider's emotions. Nashi twisted and fell clean off her broom. The broom took a nosedive with her as though trying to chase after her and her shrieks. A growl ripped through the air as the silhouette angled downwards.
Nashi found her cloak working against her as she fluttered around her. Terror braced her and her panic was not helping her in a time of crisis. She flailed about as she turned onto her stomach. Eyes widened as she saw the ground coming quicker and quicker. It was a meadow—handsomely diverse—but falling to her death was not part of her plan. She saw her broom was trying to catch up, but something zoomed even faster than that. Something with scaly wings and determination.
Nashi could not even find a clear thought or spell as her eyes shut, acceptance to her fate.
"Ha! Not so fast, Angel!"
Nashi's eyes shot open at first contact. As wind wrapped around her, she felt something icy cold star to brace her. Delicate, however, as though to slow her down to a stop. She looked up to see amused cerulean clashing with her hickory, but that worry was still there. Her jaw dropped. "Gary?"
Gary effectively slowed her to a stop yards above the forest canopy. Wings flapping, he kept them locked in the air. "Hey, Angel."
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
The twins gasped. "It's the big bad wolf!" one of them cried.
"He's going to eat her!" he other lamented. "She needs to run away!"
Gary laughed deeply. "Settle down, you two. No one's getting eaten," he assured. "No, it wasn't the big bad wolf who stopped Little Red Riding Hood; it was the Huntsman. And he wasn't about to eat her. Instead, he approached her gently to greet her. And she said…"
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Annoyance flooded through Nashi as she tried to get away from him. "Let me go, you perverted dog!" she growled, trying to ignore the heat on her cheeks. "Were you stalking me again? I should get a restraining order against you!"
Gary laughed at her antics. "No need to be tsundere on me, Angel," he teased her. "Besides, I caught you perfectly. I'm your hero. Heroes deserve a kiss, don't they?"
"They deserve to be hit," Nashi snapped at him without true ire. "What were you doing out here anyways?"
Gary shrugged. "Stalking."
"I knew it!"
"Not really," Gary chuckled. "I was testing out my flight capacity and duration." He glanced at his wings for emphasis. "I've been trying to go for longer distances with my wings. I'm looking at testing myself through speed, duration, and weather patterns. Multitasking with these is difficult, but I'm managing."
Nashi blinked. That's right. Having wings is considered one of the most advanced Magic. Her eyes trailed along his icy wings. He's…so powerful…and I'm…
"Angel?"
Nashi snapped out of it to see Gary looking at her knowingly. "Angel, you can't compare yourself," he chided, voice soft. "There's nothing to compare. Our Magic is different from one another."
"But Auntie Mira can make wings with her Take-Over," Nashi pointed out with a note of self-disappointment.
"She also has been practicing her Magic for years and it nearly consumed her when she was younger," Gary pointed out, "just like mine did. Black Magic is harder to control, especially Curses." Something darkened his eyes. "We have to work twice as hard to make sure we never go back to how things were."
A hand touched his cheek.
Cerulean connected with soft hickory.
Gary blinked himself out of such thoughts with a grin. "Anyways, I'm glad I caught you at a good time." He shifted her so she was more comfortable in his arms. "Got some time to stop and smell the flowers with me?"
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"The Huntsman persuaded Little Red Riding Hood to step off the path to stop and smell the flowers. Little Red Riding Hood replied…"
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Nashi chewed on her bottom lip. "Um…" She glanced forlornly at the forest. "Well, I'm actually on my way to my grandmama's… Mama gave me a basket to deliver—"
"Perfect." A devilish glint was in his eyes as he adjusted her so her cheek pressed against his chest. "Hold on…!
Nashi gasped when Gary took off. She hated admitting she got a little thrill through her bones at feeling the wind beneath her. "H-H-Hey! Wait! I need to—!"
"Relax," Gary hushed. "These flowers are too beautiful to pass up. They almost match your beauty, Angel."
Nashi flushed at that and pressed her face further into his shoulder. "Stupid dog," she muttered.
Gary's smile broadened. "And your grandma will love a bouquet of flowers to go with her goodies, so relax."
"Wait!" Nashi tried to pull away. "My stuff! My broom—!"
"I'll summon them once we land," Gary promised as he took them low. "Live a little, Angel! I've been meaning to take you here anyways."
Nashi watched as the meadow came closer and closer within reach. Her eyes rounded as she took in the sight. Bleeding hearts had made their home in this clearing and no one could tell them otherwise. Butterflies and hummingbirds of all shapes and colors fluttered in for their free meal. Nashi barely noticed that they landed or that Gary let her go. Hickory reflected the scarlets and magentas and ivories of the bleeding hearts. Her fingers trailed the flowers' petals with such tear-jerking grace. A white admiral landed on her cheek as though giving her a kiss. She giggled all silly-like at that. She had raised her arm to transfer the butterfly to her finger, but a flowerpecker perched happily.
"So?"
Nashi turned to see Gary standing there (sans wings) with a picnic basket in his hands and a hopeful, yet nervous smile. "Picnic?" he offered.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"Wait." One twin looked at Gary accusingly. "Little Red Riding Hood had a picnic with the Huntsman?"
Gary nodded. "Yup. Just because he was a Huntsman didn't mean he didn't get hungry too."
"Is he going to eat her for the picnic before the wolf gets to her?"
Gary playfully shushed them. "Listen to the rest of the story."
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
The set-up was friendly, not initiate. More magical than anything. Gary had chosen a Magic Carpet to hover over the flowers as though to preserve their use. The food had been homemade take-out with sticky rice, sweet-and-sour chicken and shrimp. Nash opted for chopsticks while Gary forked his food. Her broom and her own basket at the edges of the carpet. Gary could barely focus on his food as he watched Nashi who laughed as butterflies and birds wanted to land on her. He finished his mouth full to grin. "You're a regular Giselle, Angel," he teased.
"No, Luna is the Giselle," Nashi said back. "Every animal and creature just adore her. I, somehow, just attract butterflies and birds." She was tickled pink when a warbler got on its back and she tickled its stomach. "Silly birdy."
Gary shook his head. "See? Aren't you glad you stopped and smelled the flowers with me?"
"Oh, no, I'm not falling for that," Nashi shot without looking at him. "These flowers are gorgeous though. How did you find them?"
"I was flying," Gary said, short and simple. "I knew these were your favorite flowers and you have that whole thing of hating bouquets because you're killing the flowers, so I thought my best bet was to bring you to a meadow."
Nashi glanced at him. "You really do try too hard," she confessed loftily. "I'm sure a girl out there will love how forceful and romantic you can be."
"I was hoping she does now."
Affectionate cerulean met with disappointed hickory.
"Gary…"
He held up a hand. "I'll wait for Angel one hundred lifetimes," he said in soft vow. "And then after that? I'll wait some more." He changed the subject before Nashi could say anything. "Anyways, there's a waterfall nearby." He quirked up an eyebrow. "How wet do you want to get, Angel?"
Wrathful red swarmed Nashi's cheeks as she raised a hand. "You…"
PUNCH.
Gary flew off the Magic Carpet with a red handprint on his cheek as the butterflies and birds scattered away.
"…PERVERT…!"
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"In time, Little Red Riding Hood had to leave. She had to be at her grandmother's house soon and could not afford to keep stalling…"
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Gary watched in a pout as Nashi put an extra spell on her broom. "Why can't I come with you?"
"Because"—Nashi mounted her broom with her red riding hood firmly on—"she's my grandmama—not yours. Go do something proactive like seeing how long you can hold your breath underwater and never coming back up."
Gary laughed off her jab. "I've met your grandma before, Angel." He shoved his hands in his pockets to move closer to her. "And you shouldn't be traveling alone, y'know. A big bad wolf might get you before you reach your granny's house."
Nashi rolled her eyes at his lame joke. "I'll be safe, Daddy," she snapped back with no real ire.
"Careful."
Nashi looked up as was taken back when icy-blue-silver met her stare. She shivered and tried to focus on her broom. "Perverted Devil," she muttered. "Whatever." She started lifting off. "I'm going…!"
Gary shouted after her. "Be careful, Angel! There's a…!"
Nashi scowled as she slowly rose up, his words getting muffled through the distance. "I can take care of myself, thank you," she muttered to herself.
Gary watched her leave with his hand shading his eyes. She's around thirty minutes away…
His Devil surfaced. We can be there in twenty.
Cerulean in one eye and icy-blue-silver in the other watched as their Angel flew away from them. And a fanged smirk grew on their lips.
Time to play.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"So Little Red Riding Hood kept up her journey to her grandmother's house, not knowing she might have given the Huntsman a vital piece of information…"
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
The cottage her grandmother lived in was a quaint little thing out on the countryside near the water. She had her own little garden that was occupied in spirits. The Lynx Spirit was sunning itself in the grass with its tail going on and about at a lofty pace. The Lepus Spirit (the Hare) was a feminine looking man in overalls and bunny ears to boot and he was patting down the soil. He stroked the chin of a Canis Major that was a pink-tinted version Plue before looking up. He waved a hand in greeting as Nashi circle.
Nashi soon touched down with the odd bunny man come out to greet her with a choker and a sunhat. "Hey Velvet!" she called as she dismounted.
Velvet smiled at her with a gap in his teeth. "I should've known we'd be getting visitors! How have you been, Angel-face?"
⌜CELESTIAL SPIRIT
Name: Velvet the Lepus
Occupation: Celestial Spirit of the Hare
Magic: Power Foot
Likes: overalls Dislikes: Carrots
Special Note: Velvet loves gardening, but he cannot stand planting carrots! Don't get him started—his foot might start thumping! ⌟
Nashi got the basket from the back of her broom. "Good. Nothing new, really. Just the errand girl." She held up her basket to show him. "Homemade baked goods from Mama herself."
"They sure smell good," Velvet admitted, nose twitching. He tried to stop his foot, but it was already tapping away. "Don't they, Sana?"
Sana nodded eagerly as she reached out for them in her little jean dress. "Pun! Pun-pun!"
⌜CELESTIAL SPIRIT
Name: Sana the Nikora
Occupation: Celestial Spirit of Canis Major
Ability: Enhanced Speed
Likes: cupcakes Dislikes: dogs
Special Note: I don't think Sana realizes she's a dog too… She has an awful fear about them! ⌟
Nashi chuckled and moved to scratch underneath Sana's chin. "Such a cutie," she cooed. "One of these days, I hope to adopt a Nikora too. It seems like our family always had one at our side."
"You did," Velvet confirmed. "The Heartfilia Nikora were specially star-touched, though. They were like communicators within the family." He nuzzled the top of Sana's head. "Ain't that right, girl?"
Sana hummed, enjoying the affection she was receiving.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"I didn't know Red Riding Hood knew Celestial Spirits," one twin grumbled.
"Of course she did," Gary assured. "Before Little Red could get to her grandmother's house, she met with some of her grandmother's friends. And then she decided to approach the house…"
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"Grandmama home?" Nashi wondered. "I haven't seen her in a while and I was hoping she would share some of the goods with me while we caught up."
Velvet nodded and gestured to the cottage. "Yeah, she's in the house. Should be in her room. Go on now."
Nashi flashed him a beam as she brushed past him. "Thanks, V! If we have any left, you and Sana can have some!" she let them know. There was nothing wrong with approaching her grandmother's house…
…even when the door was slightly ajar.
Nashi pushed the door open with a shake of her head. "Grandmama," she caterwauled, "you left your door open…again…" She set the basket down on a nearby table without thought and took off her red riding hood. "Y'know, Grandmama… I love the red riding hood you made me, but could you tell Mama that it's not necessary to wear on every single ride?"
CREEEEEEEEEEEEEAK…
Nashi stiffened at that. Her eyes narrowed. The cottage was technically two-storied, but all the main rooms resided on the first floor except for her library. The LV was off, the kitchen was barren, and the lights were off. Hickory darkened.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"But when she came inside, everything was clean… Too clean… Little Red Riding Hood walked further into her grandmother's cottage and called out to her…"
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"Grandmama?" Nashi said even louder.
A dry cough. "In here, Nashi," came scraggly call, distanced and nearly muffled. "Your mama told me you'd be on your way with the basket. Come! Let me see it!"
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"…said the grandmother. But Little Red Riding Hood was suspicious. Her grandmother did not sound right… But, still, she went to find her."
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Nashi took up her basket, but her Divine Sword was conjured without a verbal spell. Treading lightly, she walked across the floorboard and to the hallway. Her eyes caught on to the silhouette cast from the open door of her grandmother's bedroom. Something did not add up.
"Grandmama," Nashi said carefully, "looks like you've gotten…thicker…"
Another round of dry coughs. "Oh, Nashi," came hacking chuckle. "It's because of all that cooking Miles does. But I didn't think I'd put on too many pounds…"
Nashi watched as the silhouette turned its back to her and noted the pointed ears. "Grandmama… Your ears have gotten bigger too."
An awkward pause. "I suppose they're big… But they do help me hear better," came slow perhaps.
Nashi took up post against the wall. Basket set down at a slow pace, she put her back against the wall with her sword poised. She kept her eyes locked on the silhouette and watched large hands emerge. "And Grandmama? What big hands you've got there too," she noted.
A dying giggle. "All the better to hug you with, child," came tease. "Are you coming in? You sound close."
"Yeah, Grandmama, it's just…" Hickory widened when the silhouette turned its head and opened its mouth, fangs protruding. Nashi gripped her sword even tighter. "Nice big mouth you got there."
"Oh, Nashi, please," came scoff. "I know I have a wide mouth, but I personally think it's better to eat—"
In reckless abandon, Nashi swiveled into the doorway with her sword up, her stance firm, and her eyes locked on her target. She tried not to let it get the best of her when she saw the hulking figure leaning over her grandmother's bed. Shaggy hair, scruffy beard be damned. Perked ear and low tail—to Hell with them! She knew what she saw. A threat.
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"But when she tried to find her grandmother, she saw the big bad wolf!"
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"All the better to eat me with, you monster!" she snarled. Magic swirled around her as her sword hummed beneath her fingertips. "Not today! Get away from my grandmama!"
The figure turned and dark eyes widened in successfully in fright. "Wai—!"
"Nashi—!"
Nashi waited for no one as her sword came down. Her target was surprisingly agile for one so large. Still, she was not after to hurt him…yet. Her sword swung and swung as she growled at him, baring her teeth like her father had taught her. She manipulated the room to her advantage, rotating with each sword swing. The creature panicked and let her lead their dance until he was at the door frame.
"Nashi, plea—"
"Don't worry, Grandmama!" Nashi's irises glowed magenta. "I'll protect you!" She let her sword disintegrate as she raised her palms. Balls of light pink shot from her palms. The first hit her target in the chest, but she would not stop until he was down and defeated. She glowered at the monster as it stumbled back and tried to run off, leaving hurried scratch marks on the wall.
Another cough. "Nashi," came wheeze. "I can expl—…"
"Stay here, Grandmama!" Nashi ordered, voice stern. "I'll get him." She rushed out of the hallway only to hear—
"Ice-Make: Net!"
A cold blast blew back Nashi's hair and she shivered at the familiar Magic vibrating around her. Eyes rounded on—"Gary?!"
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"The Huntsman!" the twins cried. One of them looked up at Gary with wide eyes. "Did he kill the big bad wolf?"
Gary shushed him playfully. "Not quite…"
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Gary's chest heaved as icy-blue-silver went from his prey to his Angel. Somehow, in the process, he lost his shirt, but no one seemed to mind. Velvet and Sana watched from the doorway with heavy worry in their eyes. Cerulean returned once the Ice Devil saw Nashi was safe. "Angel…" Voice gruff. Still part Devil. He was still too worried to go back under the surface. "Are you okay?"
Nashi swallowed and nodded. "Yeah, but… How did you…?"
Gary let go of his Magic Stance and kept glancing at his prisoner. "That's what I was trying to tell you. There were sightings of a large wolf around this area which is why I didn't want you going alone," he chastised.
Nashi scowled at him and crossed her arms. "I was taking care of it," she sniffed.
"Yeah?" Icy-blue-silver returned as winter frosted the air. "Then, I will finish it," came grumble of a scorned Devil.
"No, you will not!" Cough. Cough.
Nashi turned, but her grandmother had not come out of her room. Instead, she stayed in her room and let her voice carry. "Grandmama?"
"Nashi, child, please let go of my newest Spirit," came diplomatic command.
"'Spirit'?" Nashi and Gary echoed.
"Um… He-Hello…"
Their eyes simultaneously went to the large creature Gary had netted. He dismissed the spell with a wave of the hand. The creature got to his feet, tail low, ears flat, and hands jittery. A large man, he was, but not in a bad way. He had muscles for days and looked more adorable with his nervous expression than sexy with his five o'clock shadow. He bowed before Nashi. "N-Nice t-t-to meet you, Lady Nashi…" He straightened and shot an anxious glance at Gary. "He's not going to kill me, is he?"
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"So, the Big Bad Wolf wasn't big or bad and certainly didn't eat the grandmother. He was a guest and friend of Granny after all…"
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"So, you're Grandmama's new Spirit?" Nashi questioned once more. They sat at the table with shared goods around them. Sana was happily munching on a biscuit while the lynx indulged in cookies. Velvet still worked outside without complaint and Gary was in-love with his own sweets stash.
The wolf man laughed, nervous. "Yes. My name is Therium. H-H-How do you do?"
⌜CELESTIAL SPIRIT
Name: Therium the Lupus
Occupation: Celestial Spirit of Wolf
Magic: Moon's Eye
Likes: antiquing Dislikes: moving
Special Note: Make no mistake! Therium is no werewolf…but he certainly is as handsome as one! ⌟
Nashi was still displeased with a popped-up eyebrow. "Where exactly did she find you from?" she questioned. "And why were you in her room? Trying to, I don't know…eat her?"
"Angel…" Gary reprimanded as he gnawed on his cookie.
Therium waved his hands in apologetic abandon. "N-No, no! Please! I understand all the uneasiness towards me!" His eyes betrayed his understanding with sadness. "A-Actually…most people get apprehensive with me around. For a world full of Magic, people don't like to see it."
Gary swallowed his mouthful to speak. "Hey," he said softly, "I get how you feel. My Devil… He isn't well-accepted into society. When people see him—us—it's clear they'll never accept what we are fully." Cerulean turned to Nashi in knowing. "But Angel was the one to help me see it doesn't matter what the world thinks. It only matters who the ones who love us think."
Shocked hickory met gentle cerulean. Nashi relaxed herself to look on at Therium. Guilt for her actions flooded her at seeing the way he curled in up on himself, the way he tried to hide from the world. "I'm sorry for being so harsh to you," she apologized. "I should've handled the situation better."
"No, please, Lady Nashi, it's all right," Therium assured with a weak smile. "I'm sorry for what you saw. Your grandmother has been quite sick, so I thought I could relieve Betas Miles, Velvet, and Sarafina so they could continue their tasks while I watched over Queen-Alpha. Beta Miles went with Beta Sarafina into the village. Beta Sarafina has been substitute teaching while Beta Miles has been keeping the house stocked. And I've been…here," he added lamely.
Nashi nodded. "How did she find you?"
"Well," Therium started slowly, "I was being kept around by this cruel band of thieves. One of them was a Magician and cast a spell to bring me through the portal. They forced me to transform into a beast and…"—his eyes darkened as his chest heaved—"and hurt people…" A hard swallow. "Queen-Alpha Anna was my savior. The thieves were going to steal from a family in a nearby and forced me to 'take care' of them. Queen-Alpha Anna stopped them and freed my key from them. Since then…"—pink spread on his cheeks—"I've been so grateful to her and would do anything for Her Lightness."
A smile touched Nashi's face. "Yeah. Grandmama and my mama definitely are heroes," she complimented. "My mama saved most of her spirits from fates worse than death. Others wanted her to be their mistress because they saw how loving and brave she is." Her lip sank into her teeth. "I'm happy you've been taking care of Grandmama and all. I know she likes her life of solitude and her spirits certainly help her and everything. I just wish she would've said something about her sickness sooner."
"Please don't be upset with Her Lightness," Therium rushed to say. "She didn't wish to alarm you or your siblings. She mentioned something to Queen-Alpha Lucy, but she didn't want to stress her out. Did Queen Lucy not…mention me?"
Nashi's eyebrows furrowed as she began to shake her head, but then everything clicked with a groan. "She did," she lamented, "but I was too busy flying off to really pay attention." She shot an accusing stare at Gary. "And you did too, didn't you?"
Gary's smile was too innocent. "Me? I know nothing, remember? Just a dog happily devoted to his mistress?"
Nashi narrowed her eyes. "If you knew, then why did you attack Therium?"
"Just because your mom told me your grandmother adopted a new Spirit doesn't mean I knew what he looked like," Gary pointed out. "The second I felt your Magic and emotions, my Devil was trying to surface. Casting that net was me being more generous than he would ever be. Uh, no offense," he quickly shot to Therium.
Therium's canine smile was light. "None taken. I'm just happy to be here. Queen-Alpha Anna doesn't mind what form I take, so I can be man, wolfman, or wolf whenever I want. I've been keeping her warm with Pup Sana in my Wolf Form at night, but I like my Man Form the best." He fiddled with his ears. "I need to work on the ears and tails though. The human women in the village seem to like them for some reason."
Nashi snorted. "I bet. As much as people get scared of magical creatures, everyone goes gaga over the canines, the sexy facial hair, those…rippling pectorals," she added as she eyed him, making the poor Lupus Spirit turn red.
Gary cleared his throat as his hand slipped to Nashi's knee. "I'm not exactly sure why you thought taking care of a sick grandmother meant you needed to be shirtless."
Nashi pointed looked at Gary's shirt that was on the floor. "May the pot call the kettle 'black'," she muttered dryly.
Therium scratched his stubble. "I promise it wasn't anything horrible," he assured. "But the Queen-Alpha… Well… She wanted to be comfortable in my own spirit…" The redness dove for his neck. "And she told me it would make her feel better seeing me this way…"
Nashi lifted a hand with loud laughter coming off her lips. "Grandmama!" she guffawed. "What did we say on embarrassing the Spirits like this? You're making this adorable thing be half-naked for you? Have you no shame? He's not the pool boy!"
Crinkling chuckles. "You try having a gorgeous thing like that around you every day? You'd be doing the same thing!"
"Grandmama, please…" Electricity sparked between hickory and cerulean. "You have no idea." She turned her gaze back to Therium. "Be careful with that one," Nashi teasingly warmed with a thumb-jerk down the hall. "She might look like she's forever twenty-one due to that crazy time jump, but she's pretty wild. She's got some grabby hands."
"It's true," Gary put in with a wistful smile. "Pretty sure if she wasn't still angry at Uncle Natsu for the whole last name situation, she'd be raring to see him half-naked. I know she's happy my dad and I strip accidentally so much."
Nashi saw his pants underneath the table and lifted an eyebrow. "Yeah. She might be the only one."
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
"So no one ate anyone?" one of the twins complained. "I thought this was going to be a cool story!"
"I never promised that," Gary reminded. "But we're nearly at the end. Now that Little Red Riding Hood and the Huntsman knew the Wolf and the Grandmother were just friends, they decided to have lunch together before Red and the Huntsman had to go home…"
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
Nashi finished packing up her belongings with Therium, Velvet, the lynx, and Sana to see her and Gary off. Therium looked apologetic as he said, "I'm sorry the Queen-Alpha not being able to see you off."
"Don't worry about it," Nashi soothed. "I already said my goodbyes to her. It's nice seeing everyone, though. Tell Miles and Sarafina I stopped by and they have some goodies waiting for them." She let her broom levitate as she went to hug the Spirits. "It was so nice to see you all."
"Stop by anytime, Nashi," Velvet encouraged warmly with Sana humming in agreement.
Nashi beamed. "You know it!" She blinked and looked down to see the lynx nudging her leg, purring. She scratched the creature between its ears. "Aw…! I'll miss you too, Leuka," she cooed.
Velvet shot a displeased look at the Spirit of the Lynx. "Damn lazy feline," he muttered.
While Leuka growled, overhearing Velvet's words, Nashi turned to Therium. She walked up to the monster of a man and roped him in for an unexpected hug. "Thank you for taking care of Grandmama all this time," she murmured. She pulled away to dazzle him with a soft grin. "Seriously, Therium. I know Grandmama hates asking for help, so, truly…thank you."
Therium blushed at Nashi's attention. "I-I-It's no problem, My Lady," he assured. "It's an honor for any Celestial Spirit to be part of the Queen-Alpha's immediate pack. And it's definitely an honor to meet you, one of the future Queen-Alphas of the pack." His eyes brightened. "I will happily be at your beck and howl when that time comes, Lady Nashi."
Nashi was about to say something back, but Gary pulled her away with a sharp smile. "Don't worry. You won't have to." Icy-blue-silver flashed in his eyes to meet Therium's darkening moss-green ones. "We have it covered…"—the Devil surface to flash his fangs and the air turned crisp and cold—"phiri-shiru."
Therium's hackles raised as a rumble and power expanded from his chest.
Nashi awkwardly laughed. "Oh-ho-ho-kay then… It's time we skedaddle," she announced. She wrapped her arm with Gary's with a tense smile. "Calm it down," she commanded through gritted teeth, "now. These Spirits are my family which means Therium is family." She let him back to her broom as she waved to everyone. "Bye…!"
Gary whispered in her ears, "We can smell him on you, Angel."
"Because I hugged him, idiot," Nashi snapped back. "But the fangs, the nose, and the jealousy away. I hug whomever I damn well please." She released him to mount her broom in agitation.
Gary's fingers got to her chin and tipped her head towards him. "We could smell your interest," he rumbled lowly.
"So?" Nashi challenged with a raised eyebrow. "What are you going to do about it?"
Gary's smirk had the entire impact of his Devil. "Oh, Angel… I'm—"
• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •
SMACK!
"Ow!"
Nashi hovered over the bed with her hand raised a stern look on her face. "Stop telling them lies!" she snapped at him. "And they should've put into bed thirty minutes ago!" She shot glares onto the boys who shrunk back into Gary. "Boys. Bed. Now." Both twins tried to protest and whine, but Nashi clenched her jaw. "I wasn't arguing."
Gary smiled down at the pair. "Does as Angel says, boys. You were supposed to be in bed by nine and we were being generous with that." He scooped up one of the twins to help them onto the upper bunk. "Up we go."
Nashi helped the twin on the lower bunk get comfortable. As she tucked him in, he asked, "Are the Huntsman and Little Red Riding Hood gonna live happily ever after?"
Nashi tittered. "Oh, sweetie, I don't think so." She ignored that puppy look Gary gave her. "Besides, the Huntsman was once a big bad wolf himself. He used to trick Little Red all the time with his pranks and teasing."
"Really?" The twin on the upper bunk peaked down. "How did the big bad wolf become the Huntsman then?"
Nashi got up and rustled his hair. "That's a story for another time. We'll tell that story together the next time you two need a babysitter." She kissed his forehead as Gary made sure the nightlight lamp was turned on. "Night night, boys." She left them as she swept out of the room and grinned to herself when she heard yawns.
Gary shut the door and followed Nashi down the hall, watching her as she stretched. "I was a wolf once?"
"You think you're the Huntsman?" Nashi snorted. She gave him the side-eye. "Honey, please. You're still as much as a wolf as you were before." She gasped in surprise when Gary blindsided her and pushed her against a wall, pinning her there.
Gary let his fingers feather her neck and his Devi let out a purr when she shivered. "If that's still the case…"—intent-filled cerulean flamed into lust-stricken hickory—"you will have that hood, Little Red?"
[]
Dārin, Dārin
Kono mama zutto tōku de mi te iru
Yowamushi na watashi ni
Sotto mahō kake te dōka kono
Kyori o motto chikaku e
TO BE CONTINUED…
Wow! I've never heard of the story of Little Red, the Wolf, and the Huntsman like that before! To see if Red and the Wolf-turned-Hunstman lived happily ever after, tune in next time to Fairy Adventure!
Chibi-Luna is surprised when she sees the cameraman once again. "O-Oh! Hello! You're here to record the Fairy Lesson?"
The camera nodded.
Chibi-Luna hums to herself thoughtfully. "Hmm… Well…" She perks. "Oh, I know! I was saving this for the next episode of the arc, but… Now's a good of a time as ever!" She goes to the board. "Are you aware of the different types of schools there is for Magic?"
The camera watches as she draws the symbols of a rose cross, an ankh cross, the squared circle, the caduceus, the Eye of Providence, a pentacle, and a doubled-headed Dragon. She taps the chalk at the cross. "This Magic School is known for producing sorcerers. A sorcerer is a Magic Council-approved high-level Wizard who focuses on research and theory of Magic, similar to doctors with a Ph.D., or can continue to practice the knowledge they have to help others and become magi-medical professionals, like getting their MD or DO.
"Getting into these schools are difficult processes. All students start these schools are called 'Neophytes'. As they move up, they earn different titles and graduate as Mage. From there, they take their MCAT which stands for Magic College Admission Test. If they pass and get accepted by a college, they take up an apprentice residency before they can become a full Sorcerer." Chibi-Luna beams. "Neat, huh?"
Chibi-Luna goes to the ankh cross. "This is a Magic School for Magic Knights. Essentially, they learn more about Magic Weaponry and how to bond with which weapon they choose—or whatever chooses them. There are two pathways to choose from: becoming a Guard or a Knight. Becoming a Magic Knight might sound easy since there's a lot more, but a Grand Knight is what people are after. Those are the most powerful knights with specialized weapons that were once ancient artifacts."
She goes to the squared circle. "This represents Alchemy. Like the symbol states, this is for Alchemic Academies. Once you graduate from your academy, you don't necessarily have to move on to university. Graduating an Alchemic Academy automatically licenses you as an Alchemist—albeit a lower-ranking Alchemist. If you want to take the Alchemy Admissions Assessment and apply for Alchemic universities or an all-Magic university."
She goes to the caduceus. "Normally, this is the Spiritless medical symbol, but it is also used for Alkahestry. Like sorcery, Alkahests can go to schools to be researchers and theorists or practitioners of what they were taught. These schools teach valuable lessons in healing the soul so it can reflect the body. However, like all Magic, Alkahestry cannot be learned. You are born with wielding its power or you are not. Like Alchemy, Alkahestral powers can't be transferred like normal Magic. The reason why Alkahests are so few and far between is because it's becoming a 'dying art', some might say. Honestly, I think it's the reason Lost Magic came to be. It's not that people aren't inheriting the Magic or Alkahestry. It's that people aren't aware of what they are."
Chibi-Luna swings onto the next symbol: Eye of the Providence. "This is called 'the Eye'. It's the symbol for Magician Academies. Magicians are people who have Magic, but they can't wield it like a Mage. We call this Magic 'rudimentary'. Mages can use this Magic every day, but Magicians perfect this Magic. Most Magicians can only wield their Magic through Magic objects such as wands like Minstrish Magicians or even top hats or familiars. Magicians can take up work as Enchanters, Magic Engineers and Technicians, workers of the Ministry of Magicians, and what have you." She nods to herself. "Even Guild Magicians, but that's extremely rare and circumstantial. Dazzler's father was actually one of the most famous and powerful Magicians with a connection to Fairy Tail and the Magic Council and Dazzler upholds his legacy by being the first Fairy Tail Guild Magician."
Chibi-Luna then goes for the pentacle. "This is the symbol for Wiccans. Wiccans are Magic-touched beings who mainly have contracts with Wizards so they can have powers of their own. Most of them work in herbology and potions, but their Magic is weak. Wiccan schooling is predominantly Catholic teachings and doesn't require any licensing and exams. However, if they want to go into potion-masking and herbalism, they are required to go through the proper training and have to take their nation's HG exam or PT exam."
Chibi-Luna then moves onto the double-headed Dragon. "This is the symbol for all Magic. Magic Academies can be integrated with any sort of magical education. You see, Mages cannot be taught through one structured education on what they'll become. A Mage's Magic is what the Spirit of their Magic takes form to. For example, my sister has Take-Over: Divine Soul. It wasn't something she just decided to learn or major in. She felt a pull towards divinity. And even those who practice the same types of Magic use it differently. Igneel is a Rainbow Fire Mage, but he uses his flames very differently than Uncle Romeo or even my papa. Magic Schools essentially teach rudimentary Magic, history, theory, basics in herbology, and help students figure out what they want to do with their powers. It's like a community college. Once you figure out your skillset, you transfer into that type of school to continue your journey."
She sets down the chalk to wipe off her hands. "So that marks the end of—Huh?" She listens to the words of the cameraman, but then she begins to blush. "Oh! You're completely right!"
She hurries back to the chalk to draw the last symbol: a circled upside triangle. "This mark represents the school of Aberrants. An Aberrant is someone who might be Magic-touched physically, but they have no Magic powers. This could mean a human was born with wings can fly, but naturally and without Flight Magic. Or a human could be born with crystalized skin or maybe scales or even a strong tail. Schools for Aberrants teach them how to control what they were born with."
She pauses as the cameraman says something, but then she hardens. "No, we don't call them 'mutants'. They aren't mutants; they're human beings. We should treat all life equally and not like science experiments." She lets out a deep breath. "Anyways, we should wrap this up."
Her beam is back. "Today's opening theme is called 'Ookami wa Akazukin ni Koi wo Shita' or, in Fioren-Minstrish, 'The Wolf who was in-love with Little Red Riding Hood'. You'll be seeing the opening theme reflected the fairy tale for our fairy tale shorts. And I promise, after one more filler, you'll start the new arc of Fairy Adventure!"
She waves at everyone. "Bye, everyone! Peace!"