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!

46. Adventure 046

Disclaimer: I do not own Hiro Mashima's Fairy Tail nor any work professional associated with it. All original plots and characters are mine.

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

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Previously, on Fairy Adventure, Nashi woke up not feeling like…Nashi. With her memories gone, Nashi was left in a new world all alone…perhaps…and that didn't sit well with the winter Devil. Luna got a major surprise when not only did she get a sneak peek of the House of Vionnet, she met the store's own Coco Dior! When Gale leaves for a Com call, Coco and Luna get to it with their passion for fashion. Igneel got his own rude awakening when Laxus nearly threatens to keep him away from Mary Jane unless he increases his psychiatric care, but…what's exactly the beef between Igneel and Laxus? How is Mary Jane tied into all this? Nashi—or should I say, "Angel"—meets a Manny, a stranger who takes her to see the sights and then some. But when Gary and the Devil unconsciously come back to her, she leaves her new friend for answers. A cat out of all things leads her to the one with all the answers—Kyler, the child of an Angel and a human, who came to this paradox to stop it and free the millions trapped within it. Back at the mall, Luna sneaks away to find Gale happily in the company of his new lady friend. Stunned and feeling stupider than ever, Luna falls into another dream of her Dragon and blonde maiden, but she has a new dream about…red thread? It feels like the dreaming continues when Bleu is her rescuer alongside his cousin Carlisle. Not only is Bleu her rescuer, but he might be her first official…crush? Nashi decides to stick it to the man and help Kyler and Muta on their quest to stop the Demon, free the people, and get a team name on the way. And even with Lynn trapping the Devil somewhere no one will find him, he can still sense his Angel.

"I swear to you, I will…and I will kill anyone who stands between us."

The Winter Devil might need to stop all that murderous thinking if he wants to spend a day out with his Angel… And is it just me or is the team name Fairy's Angels too cheesy?

---

The Lucky Duck Casino had stamina for years, thank you very much. With a water show going on before it, the entire casino was alit with Lady Luck and Chance's blossoming affair. Cars never stopped pulling up for valet. The people stepping out from these cars looked more expensive than an apartment on the east side of New Azalea City. The heels looked deadly, but seduction was a worthy weapon to wield. Sly grins were exchanged as passengers left their rides in the capable hands of their chauffeurs and valets. Greeters bowed at the entrance and recited their rehearsed welcoming lines with unforced smiles on their faces. It was amazing the greeters could be this chipper without ever swapping out for their breaks or another to take their shift.

A limousine pulled up the curb which was nothing new. It blended right in with all the others. Two valets stepped up on either passenger door. The doors may have been opened at the same time, but the passengers did not come out together. A man came out first in his white tuxedo that he filled out nicely and his white hair tamed into a low ponytail. He walked like a gentleman as a gloved hand extended out the other door as though waiting for someone to help it. It did have to wait long as the white-haired gentleman offered his palm to her and helped the woman out. She was beauty, but her smile and eyes were grace. The dress was elegant, but the slit in it allowed lingering eyes and a lustful smack of lips.

She did not even look at her partner as they strode for the casino. He did not lead her—she was in charge and he would be wise to remember that. Greetings of welcome fell on deaf ears as the doormen opened the gate for this woman and her partner to step inside.

And inside was simply…exotic.

The Lucky Duck Casino had made sweet love to a traveling circus. The lobby had a concierge desk, yes, but that was the only thing normal it had to it. Enchanting music slipped into the ears of the naïve making it impossible for you not to feel relaxed under its vibrating spell. Dancers toned to become strong and fluidly took to the sky with their silks as they wound their bodies in scarves, eyes closed and confident. Floating cages were stuck in place with creatures held captive. These creatures did not pace, waiting to be freed, nor did they sink into their depression of being forcibly domesticated. They looked docile, silly to a degree. A lion was balancing all four of his paws on a ball and looked quite content doing so. A thunderbird liked making shapes out of the lightning it was born with and preened under the claps it was given. A troupe of birds had their own rings and enjoyed the little tricks they did. The floor was less interesting in terms of entertainment, but the people were far more beautiful. A bunny-eared woman playfully shouldered the chest of another female with gills and sharp teeth. A group of drunk aristocrats covered in fur bore a remarkable resemblance to dogs. A foxy woman—a literal female with foxish features—hung onto the words of a lithe man who had no issue letting everyone see his scales and horns.

She let her partner lead this time and they were swept away with the crowd. Muta. What the Hell is happening here? What are all these things? They're not human!

Act natural, Muta grumbled, though he kept his face neutral. The glamour charm ya have on ya is still adjusting. 'Course everyone here ain't human. This is a paradox slippin' between worlds. It's bound to have some weirdos. His eyes did stray when he caught the swishing tail of a wolfish woman. Then again…

Kyler piped up this time. Muta, this is not the time nor place, he hissed. Stick to the plan.

You came here to this stupid paradox to get some, Muta grumbled crudely. Why can't I?

That's why you came here? Nashi questioned. Oh, ew, you came here to get your you-know-what wet? If you even have one…

Echoes of frustration vented through their link. Muta, so help me, I will make sure you stay as a cat that can't – speak.

The only indication Muta gave at his annoyance was the flaring of his nostrils and twitch of his cat ear.

Nashi spotted a dark corner and rounded Muta towards it. The shadows concealed them for the most part, but if one of them moved the wrong way, their covers would be blown. To others, it looked like a seductress could not wait and led her man into a dark corner for ecstasy.

Okay, Nashi sounded. We're ready. She could not find Muta's form in the dark and panic choked her chest. Muta?

Down here.

Nashi looked down to see the white tomcat licking his chest as though settling his nerves. You know what to do? she checked.

Muta stopped licking his chest to glare at her throat his squinted eyes. I know the drill. Keep your fur on, he grunted. I'll go scout out the place and see if I can find your tom and the inside scoop of where the Hell the owner is.

And I'll find Aine and Lance. Nashi looked around. They should be here, somewhere, if they're really being held hostage.

Don't forget about the pills in your clutch, Kyler reminded. Drop the pill into the drink and make sure they drink at least five sips. That should be enough for the spell on them to defog, though I'll need to speed up the process for their memory gain.

Nashi's nose scrunched up in distaste. I still say this is like roofying, but I know this is the most effective and unnoticeable way we can do this, so screw it. Let's go semi-roofie-slash-save my friends.

Muta yawned and leaned back to stretch his front paws. Weird kit. With a mew, he darted into the crowd, feathery tail high.

Nashi took a deep breath. I can do this. My friends need me. Gary, the Devil—they need me. Guilt clawed at her stomach so bad, she could feel her head hurt. I just hope they can forgive me after this. With her head held up high, Nashi stepped free from the shadows and pushed herself among the masses.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Ah utsukushii sekai

Utsukushii mirai

Utsukushii kehai no suru sono saki wa

Subarashii sedai

Subarashii kitai

Subarashii sekai

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

CHA-CHING! CHA-CHING!

A casino was a labyrinth with a mask.

It was intentional that way, you see. No clocks, no watches, no Compacts, no PALs, no windows—time was meaningless when chance was right in front of you and victory was a kiss away. The waitstaff had it down to a dance of how to navigate through such an endless maze with perfectly practiced smiles and drinks and delights on trays. It was how striking everything was that would throw you off guard first. Everything was so bright. Again, intentional. Blind the eyes, make them confused in the luminescence of reds and blues and violets, make them forget how to get out and only know how to get in. Glazed eyes looked at slots as hands routinely pulled levers and pushed buttons. This was not just a game—this was an unwelcome addiction.

It was at the tables the dynamic changed and some semblance of language was heard, but even that was gruff. The dealers would patter their chips or cards while the players ordered what their next move would be. Winners were cocky while the losers were witty. They would not be bested again—or so they thought.

But what was amazing was if you looked up, you would see the muted ceiling teeming with Surveillance Lacrima. A casino was the third most-secure building outside of a prison and the homes of country rulers. There was no way to know how many Lacrima watched you, who watched you, what it was watching, what it could see. But, then, again, that was the point. The glowing light of the slots was meant to throw you off-kilter so you would never know you were being watched closely as though one too deep of breath could get you kicked out. The guards blended in with the scenery to those with the eyes of a gambler, but they stood out to fresh eyes. Eyes behind shades and ties perfectly tied, they would never speak unless the eyes in the sky made them. They were your protectors if someone wanted you to leave this maze, but they were rabid dogs if you tried your hand at cheating.

Nashi had to admit she squinted when she first got inside the casino and fumbled a bit stepping in which nearly broke her character. Ouch! Damn, this is too bright!

Casinos are designed to distract you from reality, Kyler lectured. And, with this casino being the center point of the paradox, I wouldn't put it past the maker to add Allure to ensure his guests stay fascinated within his casino.

Nashi tried not to stumble again as she went amongst the maze. What's 'Allure'?

You call it 'Charm' in Fioren-Minstrish, Kyler compared. It's an influence Charm meant to entice the bewitched into whatever effects necessary. Your souls have been working to ensure the effect isn't strong on you, but you have enough of my antibodies for this mission.

Nashi gave a subtle nod, though she covered it as she smiled over at a waiter and accepted the drink he offered. She did not dare drink it. They probably slipped something into the drinks too. Better not take my chances, she supposed. She glanced about like she was checking out the crap tables and feigned interest in a round. Damn, though. Like, I'm low-key happy my aunt Cana taught me how to play these games and a little pissed off I can't legally enter a casino until I'm twenty-one back home. This seems way too addicting and I'm still playing Candy Rush on my Com.

Stay alert, Kyler urged. It's easy to fall into curiosity. The owner has made sure this place stays entertaining for every one of his guests, human or not.

Nashi grumbled as she lifted up her glass. I know, I know, but I just need to distract myself. My own friends are in a hostage situation and this place is huge and I'll never—!

THUD.

Nashi gasped as her drink fell out of her hands and crashed onto the floor. Indignation fueled her at how close the drink had come to spilling her dress. "My dress!" Hickory snapped up with venom poisoning their cores. "What is your damage—!" She choked on her words.

Lance stood in front of her. Jade looked disoriented, hungry for more, with hair a mess and a delirious grin on his face. His cup of winnings jingled as he moved past her. Nashi's eyes followed him to see him settling down at a blackjack table and gruff words exiting his mouth.

"Oh, my God, Lan—!" Nashi covered her mouth to cover her error. Kyler, it's Lance, she hissed at him.

Get his attention without blowing your cover, Kyler commanded. He's gambling which means it'll look abnormal for him to suddenly stop. You need to propose to him something that'll top gambling. And stay vigilant. Since he's a hostage, his mind may have been messed with and he may not recognize you.

Nashi frowned as she stood off to the side. Yeah, I get that, but how the Hell am I supposed to get his attention?

Improvise, was all Kyler offered.

Nashi snorted and glared glancingly around her as she lifted the glass to her lips to pretend she was drinking. "Well, thanks a lot," she muttered. How the Hell am I supposed to distract Lance? He's not a normal guy—

Realization cracked onto her.

But he is now which makes it easier, she thought. He'll be like any typical guy... She swallowed hard and sent a prayer. Lance, forgive me.

As a server came by, Nashi fluidly picked up another glass flute and sauntered over to Lance's table. She knew how blackjack worked and Lance was losing fast. With dramatized effort, she brushed against his back to set down both drinks and whispered into his ear, "Stand for this next one."

Lance slid his hand atop his cards and both he and Nashi watched, her opening her clutch, as the five others around them scratched their cards and waved their hands only to get a bust.

Lance whooped for winning the play and collected his chips. "That's what I'm talkin' about!" With his chips in a separate cup, he swiveled to face Nashi, not even noticing her quickly retracting her hand from his drink. "Thanks, beautiful. You're my lucky charm."

Nashi tried to make her smile as sultry as possible. "Aw, you're too sweet," she laughed loftily.

Lance spread his legs. "I need a lucky charm for the next round." He patted his lap. "Would you mind?"

Aine, please don't kill me. Devil, please don't kill Lance.

Nashi slid onto Lance's lap and made herself comfortable. Tensing was her reflex, but she did everything she could to make it seem like she wanted to be on his lap as a figurative trophy. He let his arm swing around her waist and nestle her closer into him.

"Better?" Lance purred into her ear. "Is this what you want?"

Nashi hummed, letting her eyes flick to his lips. "Very."

Inwardly, Nashi raged, What I want…is to kill you!

That was that. Through rounds, Nashi would whisper into Lance's ear what she thought he would do and her reward for good work was his hand shifting farther and inward from her waist. She tried to make her chuckles at his flirting as carefree as possible, but as she shifted to get away, he only brought her closer. Many times she offered him a drink for his wins. At times, he denied her, but with how cocky he felt, he started taking swigs of his drinks.

Nashi watched in anticipation for Lance to finally realize himself, but it never happened.

Kyler? Nashi growled. Why the Hell isn't Lance changing?

Because I can't perform my Blessing on him physically, I resorted to medicinal practices. Like all medicine, the pill will take a little while until an effect has happened. I warned you of this.

Nashi snapped, Oh, no, you did n—!

"You ready to go?"

Nashi blinked and saw Lance was grinning at her in a very un-Lance way. She feigned a grin back. "Where are we going?" She inwardly winced at how breathless she sounded.

Lance's hand dipped to her ass and traced a loose circle. "There's another game I want to play…"

I am one second away from destroying your existence!

Nashi nodded and licked her lips, noting Lance's eyes focusing on the action. "Oh?" she breathed. "I'm not sure if I want to play…"

Lance leaned forward, but Nashi leaned back before he could catch her lips. His grin broadened and flashed his fangs. "Trust me. You'll want to play."

Nashi lifted herself off his lap and attached himself to his arm. As Lance led her away, Nashi inwardly found herself panicking to her souls and Seraphim. I can't do this! she cried. Kyler, Seraphim, what am I supposed to do? If I use my Magic here, I'll get us killed, but if I let Lance 'play'… I just can't do it!

Calm down, little one, Seraphim soothed.

Don't tell me to calm down! Nashi snapped. I am panicking and the last thing I need to hear is to be calm! I am the complete opposite of calm!

But you must be, Seraphim insisted. Kyler will not lead you astray nor force you into an uncomfortable situation.

Yeah, well—!

Nashi gasped when her back hit a hall. She tried to get off, but Lance had trapped her with hands planted on either side of her. This is so cliché! she hissed to Kyler and Muta. If he tries to kiss me, I'm gonna—!

"You were the perfect lucky charm for me," Lance murmured. He lifted a hand for his knuckles to brush against Nashi's cheek.

Nashi feigned a giggle, trying not to let her grimace show. "Oh, stop it!" Please stop it! "A man as witty as yourself would have won every round."

Lance chuckled huskily and shook his head. "You sure know how to inflate a guy's ego." His eyes flicked to her lips. "But I should thank you. The calls you made were spot on. Isn't there anything I can do?"

Get – off – me!

Nashi let her eyes become half-lidded as a chortle rumbled in her throat. "Hmm…" she hummed. Her hand trailed to the back of his neck. "I think I know a way…"

Lance leaned forward as a hand cupped her cheek. His eyes were falling shut.

Nashi swallowed, shut her eyes, and resisted the urge to turn away. Please, please, she prayed. Please don't—

"Nnngh…"

Nashi snapped open her eyes to see Lance touching his temples with a look of distress molding on his face. "Lance?" she fretted.

Lance groaned again. "What…? Mmm… My head…"

Nashi took this to her advantage and slipped from Lance's trap. She helped him stand up only to lead him down the hall with a concerned look. "Stay with me," she begged. "Come on. Let's get you someplace quiet." She glanced about as she and Lance swam upstream from the creatures flooding into the entertainment. She noted a family bathroom was nearby and unoccupied and hurried them both to it. As Lance groaned and nearly collapsed onto Nashi, she grunted as she turned the knob and shoved him inside first. The lights flicked on as Lance settled on the floor while Nashi locked the door.

Lance hissed as he curled over. "I'm gonna…" He held his mouth.

Nashi did not miss a beat as she awkwardly grabbed him and half-dragged half-helped him to the toilet. "No, not today. Come on, don't throw up on this dress," she pleaded. "It's something borrowed, dammit! Like really borrowed!"

Lance seemed to understand her motives and at least turned his body so he was face-first into the toilet and wretched.

Nashi shuddered as she panted against the wall. "Thank God," she breathed. As Lance wretched again, she glanced at him in sympathy and disgust. "If that's what I looked like, then ew."

Lance coughed, finished, and spat from his mouth. A blind hand reached for the handle to flush the toilet as he lifted his hand. Nashi moved to wet a paper towel just as Lance pushed himself from the toilet and onto the ground. The cool tile was welcomed for gleaming pale skin. Nashi offered him the wetted towel and he greedily took it to wipe his face.

"Feeling better?" Nashi asked.

Lance swallowed and nodded. "Yeah," he exhaled. "A lot, but…" He shut his eyes. "I feel like I have a nasty hangover…"

"As bad as the one from Alpha Chi Rho?"

Lance weakly laughed. "Oh, God, not that bad. Let's go with that house party where that chick's left boob popped. Wait." Jade shiftily went to her. "How exactly do you know that?"

Nashi was about to explain when she was interrupted.

Tell him the side effect should only last him around five minutes, Kyler told. He should be feeling nauseous and disoriented, but he'll be back to normal and start feeling his Magic soon enough.

"Um…" Nashi scrambled to remember all of that. "While I can't top the wedding recovery last year, hangover feeling should go away in, like, five minutes and you'll be feeling your Magic again."

Lance squinted as he tried to open his eyes. "Thanks, but that didn't answer my question." Lightning sparked in jade pools. "Who are you? What did you do to me? Where are we?"

Nashi blinked as though Lance said something stupid. "I'm me. I'm N—" She remembered and understood. "Hold on." Her hand came up to the ring on her finger and she slid it off. The glamour around her dropped to reveal her pink hair and hickory eyes.

"Lay-lay?" Lance grunted out.

Nashi smiled. "Ta-da. Hi, Mackie."

Lance could not help his own smile as he got to a sitting position. "It's good to see you," he told her as he sat against the wall, "but I'm still totally loss about where we are."

Nashi smoothed out the dress' skirt to settle on the ground. "What's the last thing you remember?"

Lance swallowed as he tried to regain moisture in his throat. "You might not want to know the details of my last memory," he admitted, blushing a bit.

Nashi rolled her eyes. "Gross," she decided, "but…"—she sighed, crossing her arms—"it's definitely a start. You have questions; I have answers. Let's get through this as quickly as possible because we don't have a lot of time left."

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Fairy Adventure 046

Here's the Deal…

何が起こったのかを確認してください！過去を見ると、それが私たちの未来を変えることができますか？

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

"I can't believe we're hostages," Lance murmured after Nashi explained the whole truth to him. "Don't get me wrong. I understand everything you're saying. It's just hard to believe I let Aine down like this." His eyes widened. "Aine…" He looked at Nashi in desperation. "Do you know where she is?"

Nashi shook her head. "No. Not exactly," she said when she caught Lance's terror. "Muta—the Exceed I was telling you about—and I are working on it. I was lucky enough to bump into you, but I haven't seen her iconic blue blood hair yet."

"I hope she's okay," Lance murmured. "Especially with her conditions. I promised Misty I'd protect her and look at what I was doing. I was gambling." A groan wracked him. "Oh, my God, I'm turning into Nik."

Nashi closed her eyes as she leaned back her head. "Yeah, well, at least you didn't nearly have sex with someone else," she muttered. "Our memories were stolen from us—mine more so than anyone else's. We made mistakes because we weren't us. And it sucks, but the sooner we get over it, the sooner we get everyone back and get out of here."

Lance jerkily nodded at that. "Yeah. You said Gary is the main objective for this 'Lynn' character. Would she have imprisoned Aine too?"

"No," Nashi rejected. "Muta has seen Aine here, but she was gambling and dancing—nothing really outrageous. It just bothers me there was no sighting of the Devil. He and Gary are here, but none of us know where."

"We'll find them." Lance's jade was determined and firm. "We'll find them and bring them home. We'll save these people." Jade dropped to his hands to watch lightning pass between fingers. "Fairy Tail accepted the request Kyler gave and we won't let him down."

Nashi smiled and got to her feet. As she slipped the ring on to become the persona she had created, she told Lance, "Then come with me and help me find your girlfriend and my devilish boy toy."

Slipping out of the bathroom like nothing happened was easy. To those paying attention, it looked like—by the messiness in hair and both fixing their clothes—the pair of them had a raunchy session in a bathroom, unable to contain their lust. Nashi kept hold of Lance's arm with her eyes skimming about.

"Okay," Nashi mumbled under her breath, "looking back at it, I only saw you in the casino. From what Muta told me, this place has a lowkey bar, a club, a food court, and a couple of specialized restaurants."

"Club," Lance immediately decided. "Aine may not have her memories, but I can bet she's there."

"But Aine doesn't…" Nashi saw Lance's look and gasped in amusement, slapping his arm. "No way…!"

"Secrets, secrets are so fun when Misty knows but none of them," Lance chanted. "Let's keep this between us, yeah? Aunt Erza would kill me barehanded in her pajamas if she knew I was taking Aine to clubs."

"Well, she's going with me now that I'm legal to get into most of them," Nashi said smartly. "Elle and I have been looking for someone more fun than Olivia to be our DD and Aine is such a mother figure already…"

Lance huffed without annoyance. "Stop trying to blackmail me and get help."

Nashi flagged down one of the staff members with a look and a wealthy smile. "Which floor is the club on? My handsome partner and I are in the mood for dancing."

The staff member smiled. "If you just take those elevators"—they pointed at the set—"and travel up to the third floor, you'll be in one of our own clubs. Anything else I can help you find?"

"No. That will be all, thank you."

The staff member parted ways and left Nashi and Lance to walk over to the elevator and wait for the next lift. As they did so, Lance suddenly tensed as though thinking about something. "You told me because you lost your memories, you nearly had sex with someone else?"

Shame and guilt were powerfully within Nashi. "Unfortunately." She got on Lance's train of thought. "Lance, no. Aine wouldn't do that!"

DING.

The lift opened.

Lance allowed Nashi in first as he said, "We can't know for sure." He pressed the third button. With a sigh, he leaned on the wall, arms crossed. "I don't want to think about it, but we need to look at the worst case. If she's had her memories taken away, she won't remember me."

"How can you say that so calmly?" Nashi had to know, upset. "She's your girlfriend, Lance!"

Lance sighed and closed his eyes. "I know that," he soothed as the doors closed. "I am upset about it, but I'm being realistic. In a situation like this, we need to maintain our calm and prepare for any situation." The elevator shifted upwards as Lance cracked open his eyes. "Make no mistake. If I find Aine with someone else, I'll make sure she falls in love with me again if we can't get her memories back. She'll come back to me. And I'll beg her for forgiveness for letting something like this happen to the both of us. Gary and I are both S-Class. We shouldn't have been so careless."

Nashi composed her thoughts at that. He's so calm and collected about this. His girlfriend won't remember him and could be with someone else, but…he sounds so level-headed.

"There's certain things you'll know when you become an S-Class Mage, but you should know this: you want to get to this rank, you have to understand the price."

Nashi remembered Mystogan's harsh words like they slapped her across the face. "And you don't even understand what that means! You are talking about things you clearly don't understand and clearly aren't ready for! You can't even fathom what it takes to make that call on your own life and here you are, insulting us who understand the implications and accept them!"

This is what it takes to become S-Class. Preparing for the worst-case scenario… Preparing for death… Risking everything, even abandoning your own emotions… Nashi grabbed the material over her heart and clutched it as she thought about those warm blues and those cold blues. Will I…ever be at the same level he is if I can't even do that?

DING.

Lance and Nashi straightened when they heard base-thumping music. As the elevators began to part, the duo slung their arms together with a firm nod. Stepping off the elevator, they saw what the fuss was with the club. The maker of the paradox and owner of the casino had wasted no money in making sure this club served for everyone. A DJ was pumping up the party with its techno songs while the lights coordinated with the beat. Honestly, the light show was a bit blinding, but that was part of the allure.

Tables were near the sides to make room for dancing, but the tables had no chairs to them, forcing people to stand around and talk. The bar was packed, but the cheerful bartenders had no such thing as an overlooked customer. What made the club even more interesting was the fact that professional dancers took up their own stages and cages like a strip club. These men and women paraded about in their choice of risqué clothing as they graced their poles with the elegance of a ballerina.

Lance tried to reign in his static from his agitation. "She's here," he murmured into Nashi's ear. "I sense her electromagnetic pulse."

Nashi gave him a charming grin. "Go find your girl, Mackie. I'm going to the bar for a…drink." She kissed his cheek before strutting off with poise neither knew she had.

Lance shook his head, chuckling. "Gary's sure going to kill me later." He looked into the masses of dancers. Aine… The amount of electricity is too much for me to pinpoint her exact location, but I can vaguely sense her frequency in here. Better start looking then. He shouldered his way through the throng of dancers as they beat changed to a sassy Sinnish bop with a heavy baseline. Politely pushing women off him was something he was used to. He gave them smiles when they tried to grind or throw an arm on him, but patience tested him.

C'mon, Aine. Give me a sign of something.

At a flutter of strobe lighting, Lance had a moment of clarity when he saw blue hair and felt something tingle within his body. Aine? Impatient now, he shoved himself in-between people and the closer he got, the better he saw her face and knew it was her…

…dancing with another guy.

Lance did not stop moving when his jaw locked. He watched his girlfriend as she combed through her hair to flip it to another side as she dry-humped with another guy shorter than Lance. Lightning welled up inside him and wanted to shoot out sparks, but the most it did was reflect in pools of jade. When he got to Aine and her dance partner, he forced the guy to meet his dark scowl and his upturned chin. The guy, not looking for a fight, easily moved on.

Annoyance crossed Aine's face for a moment. "Hey!" When she caught sight of Lance, she paused.

Lance's held his breath. "Yes?" Does she remember me?

Just like that, a perfected grin was aimed at him with that tempting tongue peeking out to lick her bottom lip. "You might've chased off my partner, but you're clearly a ten while he was an eight and a half," she flirted.

Hope wilted into despair within Lance's chest. She doesn't. He had a grin revving to go as he extended his hand. "Glad I meet your standards," he rumbled. "Since I won your favor, can I interest you in a drink? Your choice, of course."

Aine sauntered forward and Lance's breath choked a little when she so boldly pressed her front against his. Chin up, her hands feathered down his neck, his weakness. Amusement and something else darkened her brown eyes. "Dance with me first," she purred. "We haven't even gotten to the rap yet and my dance was ruined before it got to the good part."

Lance was under a spell and he knew it. He could not resist when it came to her and how coy she would play. She might not remember me, but…

"Anything the little fox wants," he allowed. He took Aine's hand and spun her around so her back was against his front. His hands enveloped around hers as a kiss pressed against her flesh. Aine shivered and he reveled in it.

…I'll do everything I can to have her fall in love with me again.

°•°•°•°

After being in a guild with the most reckless people in Fiore, Nashi knew how to assert herself at the bar counter and make it known to a tender she was ready to order. She caught the eyes of a female bar tender who nodded in her direction. While Nashi waited, she drummed her fingers on the table.

This is completely insane, not gonna lie, Nashi thought to no one in particular. We were supposed to be doing this simple job in Erika Town and now we're fighting for our lives in a soul-sucking paradox.

Kyler was the one who answered. I'm sorry to have gotten you involved in this mess.

Nashi mentally waved away the remorse. Nah. It's okay. It's what we Fairy Tail Mages do and all, you know? I know reaching out to me was your intention, but Lynn was the one who really screwed us over.

The bartender finally made it down to Nashi with her overly perky smile. "What can I do you for?"

"Two lemonades and tonics on the rocks. Give it some froth, please," Nashi ordered. As the bartender nodded and went straight to work, Nashi thought to herself, Okay, this is weird not having to actually buy drinks or get carded. When the drinks came, Nashi smiled, gratitude falling off her lips, and was all set to turn away when a grunt caught her ear. She looked back to see (much to her surprise) Muta in his debonair human form. "O-Oh! Mu…! Ah…" She quickly caught herself and schooled her face into indifference. "Can I help you, sir?"

Muta grinned. "Saw you across the bar," he said breezily. "If you have the time, mind sharing a drink with me in the back?" He gave her a once-over that had Nashi trying to control herself from strangling him and made it clear to anyone else watching he was being nothing more than lecherous. "We have a lot to…discuss."

Nashi curled her lip in disgust, but she forced out, "Lead the way."

Muta was gentle in taking her hand as he led her through the people. He pulled them both all the way into the back corner of the club where a couple of circular booths had sprouted. In one booth, it was obvious two women were hot and bothered with the pants coming off their mouths and how both of their hands were underneath the table. Another contained a group of drinkers taking shots. Muta slipped him and Nashi into a free one. They were close enough that intimacy was expected of them, but Muta still respected Nashi's space.

"Anything?" Nashi was desperate to ask.

Muta knocked back his double whiskey in a heartbeat. "I got as far as the seventh floor," he eventually muttered. "Got a decent layout of the next floors though. The emergency exits aren't real. The only way up or down is the elevator that stops on the seventh floor."

"Well, what's on the seventh floor?"

Muta's face darkened. "It's similar to a VIP party even more exclusive than this," he explained. "Creatures I've never even seen were there, but the Darklings I saw were no joke. Dark Creatures," he added at Nashi's confusion. "I could feel how evil they were from the tips of my fur. Caught sight of the private elevator at the center of the party. A couple of Specters are the guards." His nose wrinkled and ears pinned back. "You smell the death coming off them a kilometer away. It's even worse than my great-great-grandcat's attic."

"So, then, what do we do?" Nashi pressed. "What about Gary? Do you think we could sneak in?"

Muta barked a sarcastic laugh. "Not by a long shot, kit. We wouldn't make it past the waitstaff and I smelled some Ghouls and Wraiths. We'd need a Shadow Charmer to tame them first off. The Specters are an entire matter put together."

Nashi glowered at him. "So that's it then? We just give up? We just leave Gary behind—?"

"I never said that," Muta eased. He read her stress and mellowed down his tone. "We'll find him, I promise, so keep that fur on. We just need to proceed with extra caution from this point out. If we're caught, you can guarantee our deaths. Not to mention…" His eyes hardened. "There was this presence I felt seeping down onto the seventh floor. A powerful Curse. It only confirms Kyler's theory a Demon created this paradox. But whatever Demon did this, it's very old, very strong, and a very big pain in our asses."

I was afraid of that, Kyler projected to both Muta Nashi. Nevertheless, I prepared for the worst.

Nashi took a sip of her drink. Drink up, boys. I have a feeling we're all going to need it for this.

°•°•°•°

X - X - X - X - X

The entire floor was built for seduction with low lighting and surfaces to be bent over and held onto.

"Nnngh…!"

Old school hip-hop, pop, and rap glided over the entire floor, tinged with R&B. The pulsing bass and those synth notes vibrated in the air and sent every person listening to it into a tizzy of sex.

"Ah…!"

Creatures from all over had gathered on this floor with eyes dark and desire enflamed. Clothing was optional as messy kisses were shared and nipples were tweaked and cries of ecstasy burst. While some found interspecies coupling a sin, it was the norm in such a place. A reptilian Beastman was unafraid of teasing his horned partner. A gargoyle (they were actually pleasant creatures) had taken a male and female partner. A human male released himself into the mouth of a female with gills and webbed feet. Waitstaff and guards were on standby. Waiters would come and go with drinks and towels while the guards never left the edges of the room, keeping watch over the orgy taking place.

"Ha…!"

"Mmm…"

"I'm so clos—Ah!"

One of the obnoxiously large dual doors opened for Lynn to slip in with Pazuzu trailing after her, apathetic. She was unaffected at the amount of sex around her, be it smell or the physical aspect of it. She marched around coupling pairs and groups with gusto. She had no time to join even as she felt lustful stares on her. She was angry, yes, but she did not need an angry lay. She needed vengeance and she would get it. She went straight to the one person who would help her in her quest.

"Oh, God…!"

The cat-woman, collared and leashed, was forced on all fours as claws tore up the floor beneath her for each thrust. Wanton cries left her lips, but she said no plea to stop. It was playtime and she knew better than to beg for less. Her partner was none-too-gentle with her, but he said nothing as he had her leash wrapped around one wrist and pounded into her flesh. He was quite the man. Dominance radiated off his glistening skin. He was a master, not a servant, and everyone best remember that. His size and build rivaled that of any human male. His golden eyes were the only thing shown as a half-mask of black and gold covered his face. Dark hair was in an undercut and you could see his facial hair had grown out nicely. This man was not just a participant—he was the maker of this event as he took his plaything on a stage built for him with floor-to-ceiling windows overlooking the city right at his side.

Lynn was granted instant permission to go up the steps to the stage while Pazuzu waited on the ground. "Daddy…!" she ground out. "We have a problem."

The man graced his daughter his attention when he got off his partner. The cat-woman tried to whine, but at the look he gave her, she knew best to stay quiet. He got to his feet, naked, and went to the only king size bed on the stage, yanking on the leash. The cat-woman followed his command, crawling to him, and knelt in-between his legs when he sat down. His eyes pinned on his daughter, he told his partner, "Continue."

"Yes, Master," the cat-woman purred as her hands slid onto his thighs. She took him into her mouth without any hesitation.

The man nodded at Lynn like he did not want to do this right now. "What's wrong this time? What? Is he not as big as you wanted?" His eyes strayed to Pazuzu who did not look interested in the two collared females presenting themselves to him. "You can always let that pet Devil into your bed."

Pazuzu must have heard that for he bared fang at the man.

The man hinted at a smirk. "And I told you my bed was always welcome too," he noted to Lynn.

Lynn sighed. "Daddy, we both know that Winter Devil is a born Devil," she reminded. "He's extremely rare and powerful. He can give you the heir you need."

The man flicked down to the cat-woman. "Did you forget I have balls, pet?" he asked sharply. When the cat-woman quickly adjusted her hands, he looked back at his daughter. "Look. I warned you the Winter Devil wouldn't be compliant considering he's staked his claim on the Etherious Princess being his eternal mate. But, since he hasn't officially Branded her, his dick can still get hard with enough persuasion and, if not?" He shrugged, unbothered. "Rape him."

"And risk him shooting blanks?" Lynn groaned her frustration. "Darklings have to be willing for impregnation, Daddy." She crossed her arms and huffed like a petulant child. "Besides, I already tried sucking him off and he got soft."

The man barked his laughter. "He's playing hardball. I can respect that. I'm sure I can break him. I haven't had a decent male to challenge me and he seems to fit the bill."

Lynn glared at her father and her autumn eyes flashed. "He's mine!"

The man's golden pools swirled. "Don't ever mock my authority, mortal." Something lethal laced each syllable.

Lynn dropped her gaze. "My apologies, Daddy," she murmured out of respect. "I just want to give you the heir you've always wanted. I've been trying so hard to impress you—"

"I never asked you to," the man reminded, not really caring if his words affected Lynn or not. "You've been dancing about what you really want, so let me guess: you want to present the Devil an ultimatum and you need Daddy Dearest to help you. Sure. What's in it for me?" He lifted an eyebrow. "Sex is a good way to earn my favor since you can't really do anything else."

Lynn rolled her eyes. "A trade of some sort," she negotiated. "I get the Devil and you"—she grinned—"get his Angel."

The man could not help the lust in his eyes. "As much as I'd love her mouth on my dick, it's her father I want. He made a mockery of the Etherious Demons." A different lust swirled in his eyes—bloodlust. "I want to be the one to kill him. I want him to watch me fuck his mate on his last breath. No blanks with her. He'll die knowing his mate became mine in every way."

"Consider them yours." Lynn snapped her fingers. "I have one of my Phantoms contacting a Shadow Charmer as we speak. I'll have the Heartfilia Clan Leader delivered to you. It's only natural the Etherious-Dragon King will follow. Do as you please with them." Something sly occurred to her. "So you'll help me?"

The man smoothed his fingers into the mane of the cat-woman and forced her to go deeper with him. "You've got a deal," he decided. "What can I do for you?"

"Well, now that I think about it, in order to force the Devil into an ultimatum, we'll need to put his little fuck toy in danger," Lynn decided. "She's a justice-seeker to a fault. Put a friend in danger and she'll easily fall into the trap. So, Daddy-kins, if you could just do me this one little favor…" Her eyes glinted.

Pazuzu's eyes glanced over at Lynn and his apathetic face fell into a hard frown.

X - X - X - X - X

°•°•°•°

Lance panted as the next song slipped on—a bass-thumping banger he vaguely recalled in a foreign language he remembered Cade speaking when frazzled—and held Aine against him. He grinned, growing bolder in his touches, yet watching for any signs she was uncomfortable. He kissed the crook of her neck and lived for the slight giggle she gave him. Just like old times. "I think we danced for more than a song," he purred.

"You call that dancing?" Aine teased. She wriggled her ass against his front. "Don't think I don't feel that, buddy."

Lance's face was already flushed, but he was not ever embarrassed when Aine pointed out things like that to him. Not his old Aine. Not his new one. "You just have that effect on me, little fox," he jested back.

Aine turned around to throw her arms around his neck. His hands slipped down, but she seemed comfortable with his hands near her butt. In fact, the look in her eyes encouraged him to do more. As the song warmed up with that foreign rap and synth, the two swayed, breathless. "Hey, um… Listen," Aine began. "I know we just met and all, but…"—her eyes glanced to his lips—"I have a room close to the casino…if you're interested."

The pain was killing Lance to the point where he wanted to yell. He could not do this. Not when she was not his in her mind. "I'm very interested," he started, openly honest, "but…I have someone."

Aine did not look surprised. "I had that feeling," she murmured. "Though, you must be a pretty horrible boyfriend to resort to cheating like this."

Lance chuckled at the sore irony of it all. "She wouldn't mind this," he assured. "In fact, she'd prefer it if I was dancing with you."

"Mmm, I'm pretty sure that's a lie, but I'll go along with it," Aine decided, flipping her hair to the other side. "So tell me, lover-boy: what's she like? Prettier than me?"

Lance pretended to think about it. "Nope. You two are certainly the same level of beautiful."

"Ouch!" Aine laughed. "I mean I'm flattered, but, if I was your girlfriend, I would not want to hear that."

Lance's grin agonized. "Yeah, but I know she definitely would," he murmured, not even realizing how close their lips were becoming. "She's my little fox. She's mischievous when she wants to be and stubborn and sweet and…"—his hand slipped to cup Aine's cheeks—"is absolutely gorgeous," he whispered.

Aine licked her lips.

"Hey," Lance murmured, "about that drink…"

"Later," Aine promised, breathless, as she began to close the distance between them. "Much, much la—"

"Hey girl!"

Aine and Lance were ripped apart at that greeting. A girl with her hair stuffed into a ponytail and eyes gleaming with excitement put her attention solely on Aine like they knew each other. "Aine, you will not believe the hotties on floor six," she moaned. She grabbed Aine's wrist and pulled her away. "Come on! We've got to go!"

Lance wanted to protest, but Aine was already letting herself be tugged off with a sorry coming off her mouth. The music muted around Lance as he tried to follow after her, swimming through unfamiliar faces. "Aine!" he kept shouting. "Aine!" A ringing pounded into his ears when he lost sight of that blue hair he came to love. He ignored the grunts of anger thrown his way when he interrupted intimate dancing.

I need to find her, Lance thought. I can't let her go. I need to get her to remember!

As he stormed passed one of the poles, he failed to realize the dancer had locked her golden eyes on him from beneath her half mask as she held herself up in position. Lance was all too worried about where Aine had gone. As he pushed through the passes, he felt more and more trapped. He could hear every breath, every cycle of blood, every pump of his heart. Anxiety shot through his veins and he nearly staggered when he felt his legs tense up. Is this what claustrophobia was like?

A God with mortal anxiety.

Ragged pants distinguished themselves through Lance's lips as his eyes caught onto a lock of moving blue hair waiting at the elevator.

"Aine…" Lance picked up his pace as dancers blurred around him and the music mocked him. "Aine, wait…!"

The elevator door opened.

Aine… Aine, don't leave me!

Aine and her friend chatted seamlessly as they got in, the friend pushing the button.

Come back! I can't protect you if you don't come back!

Lance burst out of the throng to rush to the elevator doors. No! I can't lose her! I promised I'd protect her! I promised I'd make her remember!

He was so close as the jaws of the elevator began to shut. He sprinted with all his might with a hand reached out. "Aine!"

Aine, don't go!

The doors were nearly closed as Lance closed in.

Dark chocolate and jade clash—

The doors shut.

Lance hit the elevator doors with banging fists. "No!" he shouted. "Aine!" He frantically went to press the button, but it was too late. The elevator was already moving up floors. "Aine! No… No, come back!" He gave the elevator doors another bang of the fist. "Aine…" Exhaustion and heartbreak coddled him as he put his forehead to the door. Aine… I…failed you…

"You look like you could use a pick-me-up after that show."

Lance slowly turned around to assess this new person. She was a dancer—a pole dancer at that. The lingerie she had on rivaled anything Heart Kreuz put out with her bra, panty, stockings, and garter. The half mask was a nice touch and so was her voluminous black hair. Or maybe dark brunette? It was difficult to tell in this lighting. Her smile was sultry, but her golden eyes were enchanting to stare into.

Lance was not swayed. "I'm fine," he rejected, "but thank you." He was set to move around her, but she blocked his path.

"No, honey, you could really use this." She sauntered closer to him.

"I'm okay, thanks." Lance roughened his tone.

The pole dancer let a gloved hand flick invisible dirt off Lance's shoulder. "Trust me, honey, I heard you the first time, but if you want your girlfriend back, you're going to need a little pick-me-up on the fifth floor. Private dances are held there."

Lance narrowed his eyes at this dancer. "You know she's my girlfriend," he managed, "which means you know I'm not oblivious like the rest of these people. How should I know that I can trust you and you aren't part of this paradox?"

"You don't," the dancer understood. "You don't know if I'm trustworthy just like I don't know if you are. We're both taking risks here." Her gloved fingers danced onto his chest. "But, if we want to get back the person we treasure most, we're going to need to take all the risks we can." She waved a gloved hand and a business card produced itself. As she took Lance's hand, she said, "I hope you'll consider coming. While you know who you are, you don't fully understand where you are. That's where I can help you and your allies." She put her business card into his hand and curled his fingers around it. With a wink and a blown kiss, she said, "Bye, Wizard." And just like that, she sauntered away.

Lance looked at the business card given to him. It read:

LACE

LEVEL 5

"Lance!"

Lance looked up to see Muta and Nashi in her glamour making a beeline to him. Nashi smiled, relieved. "We thought we lost you. I have Aine's drink…" She frowned when she realized. "But…"

"She's gone." Lance's voice sounded hard. "She left with some girl to the sixth floor."

Nashi nodded. "Okay. Well, let's go after her and—!"

"No."

Nashi was stunned as Lance looked back at the business card. "What?" she gasped. "How can you say that—?"

"We have to think rationally here," Lance deadpanned. "Aine isn't in immediate danger, but that doesn't mean we won't rescue her. We need to think smart." He held out the business card. "One of the dancers offered me a private dance I need to attend."

Nashi gaped. "But—!"

"She has information," Lance cut in again. "It's a risk, but I'm willing to try anything at this point for our team to gain more allies, so I'll go." He looked over at the thoughtful Muta. "I'll need some help getting dressed for this."

Muta nodded. "There are some shops on the ground floor. Sure we can get you some new furs to look the part."

"This is insane!" Nashi blurted. "Lance, do you hear yourself? A private dance? What about Aine?"

"Kit," Muta growled lowly, "shut up and look at the big picture like the lad's doin'. This 'Lace' woman could be just what we need in ammunition. We need all the help we can get at this point. Intel is everything. Her intel could be the key to finding your Devil."

Nashi frowned. "I get it, but I don't like it." She turned back to Lance. "What about Aine?"

"You'll be on her trail," Lance decided, tucking the business card into his pants. "You'll be going to the sixth floor and look for her. Be as discrete as possible. If one person figured out we're not from here, easily another can, so stay alert and on your guard." He held her cheek with a hand. "I promised Gary and your parents I'd look out for you and I'm willing to do that, but right now, I need you to think and act like an S-Class Mage. It's not fair to ask that of you, but it's the only way we can go through this swiftly and efficiently."

Eyebrows set, Nashi nodded in determination.

Lance let her go to glance between her and the Exceed. "We'll have a rendezvous point in the club," he decided. "Nashi, Muta, we'll all go get me dressed for this private dance, then split off. The only reason I'm not having you go after Aine so quickly, Nashi, is to buy a little time. It'll look suspicious if you follow her this closely. We need some time to pass between. Once I'm dressed, Muta, stay with Nashi. She told me you have a Cat Form. Please use that. It's not uncommon for the rich to string along their pets everywhere."

"I'd much rather be made into a hat than be her pet," Muta grumbled, ignoring Nashi's blatant glare.

Lance turned to the elevator and pressed the down button. "Let's go. I can't believe I'm saying this, but I need to get ready to see a potential stripper."

---

"This is so much fun!" Luna laughed as she rode her merry-go-round horse.

Bleu was at her side on his own black steed with a half-amused half-exasperated smile on his face as he watched Carlisle whoop and holler in front of them. "When we get kicked out by security, it'll be a lot less 'fun'," he sighed, holding onto the pole. A head shook towards his cousin's antics. "Why he was born before me, I'll never understand."

Luna prodded Bleu's shoulder. "Oh, you love it," she teased. "Come on! He's a child at heart! Everyone needs that!"

The merry-go-round finally slowed down to a halt. Carlisle cared little about the children needing to leave first with their parents as he zipped off, energized. Bleu and Luna were slower as they gathered Carlisle's bags and headed out. With a bow to the person working the ride, Bleu told Luna, "Don't get me wrong. I love Carlisle. He's always been excited and bubbly and can be anybody's friend, but…"

Both of them watched as Carlisle exaggeratedly pointed into a hipster store. He pleaded with puppy eyes and mouthed his implores for them to go in. With a slight sigh from Bleu, Carlisle perked and darted inward. Bleu stopped Luna from following and jerked his head towards a bench. The pair spread out there and let their arms take a rest from Carlisle's things.

As Bleu relaxed, he confessed to Luna, "Whenever he's going through a really hard time, he gets like this."

"Like what?" Luna questioned.

Bleu shrugged and waved a hand. "Y'know… Overly-excited and laughy and shi—mmm, stuff," he corrected with a lopsided smile of apology. "He tries hard not to be serious if he can help it. He'll keep himself happy and deny he's ever sad and I don't know why."

Luna nodded her head as she listened. "Well… I don't know him personally, but my brother Igneel can be like that sometimes. He doesn't want to be too serious. Luke—my other brother—told me it's because he's afraid if he's serious, he'll start letting his uglier feelings show and he doesn't want that. Maybe Carlisle's like that too?"

Bleu took off his hat to run his fingers through his hair. "Maybe," he supposed. "I don't know. I just want him to know he can let his guard down around me. He was pretty fu—I mean freaking nervous coming out to me and I hate that he felt like he had to hide it. I love both of his moms. I still love him no matter what. But I get it."

Luna hummed and cast a glance at him. "You know… I grew up in Fairy Tail. You don't have to worry about language." She smiled to herself. "I'm pretty sure my papa alone taught me more swear words than my mama ever wanted me to know."

Blue chuckled and put his hat on backward. "Yeah, I heard Fairy Tail was the place of ruffians," he jested, earning Luna's chortle. "But, no, really, I don't mind. My dad hates it when I swear anyways and I'd rather not swear around you." His cheeks warmed a little. "You deserve a gentleman, not an upper east side, entitled rich boy."

Luna simply found Bleu blushing adorable and scooted closer to pinch a cheek. "You come from money? Why didn't you say so! Now I'll never have to work again with you around!"

Bleu grinned through his growl and wrestled her into his side, both of them laughing. "I knew it! Girls always want to stick with me after I tell them I'm rich!" he bemoaned. "You'll just use me for my money and suck my wallet dry!"

Luna giggled, a hand on his chest. "I wouldn't just you use for your money," she chastised, a glint in her eye. "Food's important too." A frown marred her features. "But, speaking of money… I think I need to go back."

Bleu frowned with her. "What? Why?"

Luna's smile was sheepish. "Um, well, I may have left my Com and my bag back with my new friend Coco. I promised her I'd go find Gale, but I ended up here instead. Not that I regret hanging out with you and your cousin," she hurriedly added to cover up the misconception.

Bleu sighed melodramatically. "Then I guess we'll have to take you back," he supposed. His grin widened at Luna's giggles as he pulled her even closer to him. "But, next time, Ace, I'm callin' dibs on you for a whole Friday night. We can do what you suburban white girls do and watch YouView about that Jeffrey guy and Dawson and get pumpkin spice lattes—ow!" He guffawed when Luna jabbed his stomach hard and fought off her offenses. "And we can go pick out new UGHs for you and—ow, Ace, watch it, girl, I am fragile!"

Luna huffed, but her smile was real. "'Fragile' my ass!"

Bleu gasped with his eyes widening, a hand slapping over his face, the works. "Hunty," he whooshed out and that made Luna peel with laughter. "A delicate, blonde flower like yourself should not be saying such words!" He sprung up from his seat only to lean his face down towards Luna and looked her dead in the eyes. In a whisper, he told her, "I'm telling on you."

Luna sprung up from her seat to try and capture Bleu. "No…!" she laughed. "Bleu, don't you dare, you jerk!"

"She did it again!" Bleu said loudly, attracting attention. "Oh, my God, she's being mean again! Someone arrest her; she's using obscene language!"

Luna latched onto Bleu (more so he opened his arms and let her tackle into him) and grabbed his ear, yanking on it. She smirked when he hissed in mock pain. "That's for ratting me out, rich boy," she taunted.

Bleu easily pried her hand off his ear with an easy grin. "Come on, honey, you like that I'm rich," he teased. "It's my best feature."

Luna pretended to think about it. "Mmmm… Well, when I think about it—"

"I think his real name is his best feature."

Luna and Bleu broke their locked gaze to see Carlisle smirking like the Cheshire cat at them with two bags from the hipster store in his arms. Bleu had gone horrified while Luna looked flummoxed. "'Real name'," she echoed. She looked back at Bleu and he looked like he had been caught. Eyes narrowed, she challenged, "I thought 'Bleu' is your real name?"

"It is!" Bleu insisted. He winced when Luna's eyes went to slits. "Okay, technically it's one of my middle names that my family calls me," he exhaled in confession.

Luna pulled away from him to give Bleu her back, crossing her arms in a hmph. "I can't believe you lied to me about your own name!" she huffed, fighting down a smile.

Bleu tried to touch her. "Ace, I—!"

Luna marched off. "Carlisle!"

Carlisle flounced after Luna with a wink at an astounded Bleu. "Sorry, coz. I like her better." To Luna, he called, "Yo, Legally Blonde, wait for me!" As he caught up to Luna, he had to ask, "You're not really angry with him, right?"

Luna snorted. "'Course not," she denied. But then, she paused. "But is it strange I don't even know his last name?"

This time, Carlisle snorted. "Probably for the best."

Luna perked. "Oh! Do you guys have the same last name? What's yours?"

"Sorry, Lu, but my mom—Bleu's dad's sister—took on my mama's last name, so my little brother, older sister, and I are officially Justino's and proud of it!"

She pouted. "Bleu probably knows everything about me, but I don't even know his last name or his real name or whatever or even if he has any siblings!" she whined, leaning her head on Carlisle's shoulder as they linked arms. "Why are boys confusing…!"

Carlisle shrugged. "Tea, sis. I am right there with you," he assured. "Zack was pretty sketch too. I mean you'd think after I introduced him to my family, he'd do the same, but no…! Why do that when he could keep me completely hidden from his home life, shut me out, and blame me for his misery? We don't stan that."

Luna blinked up at Carlisle to see a blank look on his face. "He blamed you for his feelings?" she echoed.

"I don't even know what to think," Carlisle admitted. "His dad passed away from cancer and that was just awful, I know. I didn't really push him for anything. I gave him space, comforted him when he wanted me to… I didn't really ask for anything except for him to tell me if he needed anything. But…"—his shoulders sagged—"I guess I was one of the sources of his stress and all since he blamed me for everything wrong in his life and dumped me over text. No biggie."

Luna was trying to wrap her head around everything Carlisle was saying. "It's amazing how stupid people can be," she murmured.

A smile broken and contrived painted his face. "Fuckin' preach. I'm not going to be like 'guys are so bad' or 'I'm swearing off men' or anything. Good people are out there. It just sucks he wasn't one of them. I mean he was my first and everything."

"First boyfriend?" Luna guessed.

"My first time."

Luna went quiet as she thought about it. One beat. Two beats. Three beats.

Her face flamed. I-I-Is he talking about…?

She could have fainted.

Carlisle did not seem to notice Luna's comical heatstroke as he said, "Yeah, in terms of that, he was okay, but he never…"

Luna covered her nose when she felt a prickle, eyes swirling. Th-This is so mature!

°•°•°•°

Another round of laughter split between the group. They were mixed in every aspect of the way. It was heavily black or Sinnish, but there were two with paler skin. Regardless, they all looked like family as they formed a circle with Gale as their new member.

Gale looked at his Compact again. "It's been great with you guys, but I really gotta get back to my girl."

The group collectively groaned with words of him staying longer. India spoke up, "We were about to go out and get some food. You two should join us!" With a saucy smirk, she wriggled off one of his gloves. "Take off the gloves and come out for some fun!"

As the group agreed vigorously, Gale smiled with a shake of his head and took back the glove. "Nah, it's cool." He pocketed his glove. "I promised her some time with just the two of us and I'm not doing a good job of it."

She's probably wondering where I am and thinks I ditched her which is fair. I deserve the passive-aggressive Hell coming my way.

Gale ignored the pleads for him to stay as he pried India off him to walk away. "Have a good night, guys!" he hollered. Picking up his speed, he jogged back down the same way he came.

I hope Coco isn't too mad I was gone for so long. I didn't want to ignore India or her friends, but I should've put my foot down sooner. Now I'll have a pissed off blonde and pissed off Perench woman on my ass.

He got back to the plastered doors of House of Vionnet and went in with no preamble. "Blondie…!" he boomed. "I'm…!"

He stopped.

Ruby glared. "What the Hell is going on here?"

Luna and Coco were there, but two new additions joined the ladies. Bleu was finishing putting Luna's new clothes into bags while Coco and the other new boy were watching a YouView channel. Luna was the only one who saw Gale and perked at his arrival.

"Gale!" Luna walked over to him to meet him in the middle. "Hey! I'm so glad you're back!"

Gale raised an eyebrow. "You are?"

Luna nodded, swinging her shoulders. "Mmm-hmm! I mean, yeah, I was pretty upset when I went to find you and saw you ditched me for India, but then I found Bleu and his cousin!"

Gale's eyes slid to Bleu who spoke perfect Provincial-Perench to Coco as she squealed over something. "Uh-huh…" He dragged his gaze back down to Luna. "I didn't mean to ditch like that," he explained. "It's just India—"

Luna raised a hand for quiet. "Say no more. I completely understand."

Gale crossed his arms. "You do?"

Luna's nod was solemn. "Mmm-hmm. I do. Look, you had plans to see India before anyways and you wanted to see her, but you didn't want to make me upset. So, you brought me here and kept me here so you could sneak out and see her," she figured out. "I would've understood if you said you couldn't hang out, you know. You didn't have to ditch me like that."

Gale ran his hands down his nose and kept them there, shaking his head while his eyes went to the ceiling. "Oh, that is so not what happened," he promised. "Blondie, I didn't mean to—"

Luna shrugged, a lazy smile on her face. "Gale, it's fine…!"

Gale heaved a breath and looked both impatient and irked he was interrupted. "Mmm-hmm. Oh, it is now?"

"Well, yeah! You got to see your crush and…"—pink sprinkled on her cheeks as she glanced at Bleu—"I got to see mine."

A snarl was waiting to be unleashed when Gale scented the air and noticed a trace of a scent that was not around Luna before. "Blondie—"

"Anyways, you can go back to her now." Luna glanced back at Gale, but that spark she held for Bleu was nowhere in her stare. "Bleu and Carlisle offered to hang out with me since you're busy"—she hissed the word with disdain—"so have fun. Oh, and, by the way," she mentioned when Gale opened his mouth, "Bleu took care of everything here. Coco bent the rules for him. I still don't like I can't pay for my own stuff, but now, you can save your money to buy her things." Her back was to him.

Gale growled and seized Luna's shoulder to yank her back to him. "That's what you think?" he rumbled. "You think I planned for all this to happen? I manipulated you into coming here just to see someone else?"

Luna narrowed her eyes and batted Gale's hands off her. "Why else would you abandon me here? You said you were handling a Com call and I found you with other people instead. You're smart. You do the math. You tell me right now you weren't—!"

"I wasn't manipulating you!" Gale winced when Bleu shot them a cursory look and lowered his voice. "I came here to be with you—"

Luna huffed and turned to the side. "You have a funny way of showing it—"

Gale glared at her. "Blondie, I'm sorry if it came across I was bailing on you for other people, but I'm telling you you're making shit up! What, is it because you want to feel better about yourself hanging out with that asshole over there?"

"Bleu is a nice guy," Luna hissed.

"Who you know jack shit about!" Gale argued. "You're accusing me of bailing on you when you're doing the exact thing!"

Luna felt her eyes sting. "At least he was there when you weren't!"

"Bullshit! How has he been there for you—?"

"Because I fainted and he was the one who caught me!"

Gale went deadly silent as Luna wiped a tear from her cheek. "You passed out?" he asked lowly.

Luna sniffed again. "Yeah," she mumbled. "I was upset with you. You ditched me and India was literally hanging off you—"

"She can be clingy sometimes, but she's good people," Gale defended.

"How should I know?" Luna snapped back as angry tears fueled her. "I knew about her, what, today?"

Noticing Luna's tears made Gale's stomach twist. He beckoned her as his arms reached out. "C'mere, Blondie…"

"No, don't touch me!" Her voice broke as arms pulled her into a chest. "Don-Don't…! Get away from m-me…!"

Gale ignored her weak commands. "I'm sorry I wasn't there. That must've sucked going through that alone. I should've done a better job."

With an unceremonious shove, Luna was out of his arms and rubbing her cheeks harshly. "Don't bother," she growled at him. "I didn't need you then and I don't need you now. Bleu was there for me." She turned her back on him again. "Go party with India and Dash. I wouldn't want to get in the way of that."

Gale tried again as Luna briskly walked away. "Blondie—!" He groaned to himself, messing up his hair. "Fuckin' passive-aggressive…" With heavy steps, he followed her.

Bleu was relaxing on one of the couches when he noticed Luna approach him and saw the look on her face. He got up instantly and moved towards her. "What's wrong?" He held her cheeks. "You were crying."

Luna shot him a half-hearted smile. "Nothing," she dismissed. "I'm better now that you're here."

Bleu smiled a little, though it seemed dipped in sadness. "Trust me. You're better without me."

"Why would you say that?"

"I'm not exactly 'normal'," Bleu began. He sighed, shaking his head. "No, that's not the right way to start. I—" His eyes zeroed in on the finger on his lips.

Luna shook her head. "Not now." Bleu tried to protest, but Luna spoke over him. "Well, not like this. My mama says people should talk when they're ready, not when they feel like they have to." She retracted her finger. "Just tell me one thing: is my life or the lives of my family in danger?"

Bleu laughed. "Not even close."

"Then, don't worry about it," Luna brushed off.

Bleu raised an eyebrow. "Really?"

"Well, yeah." Luna blinked at him. "I'm not going to push you. That's not how it works, right?"

Bleu could not help himself as he planted a kiss on Luna's cheek, shocking her. "You really are my winning Ace."

Luna beamed, tucking back a lock of hair. "Don't get all soft on me now. I'm still holding you to all that food you promised."

Carlisle looked up from his Compact to see Luna teasing Bleu and Bleu catching her hands, interlocking their fingers. His eyes swiped to Gale and the rage in his scowl.

An idea formed.

Carlisle handed Coco his Compact as he announced, "Bleu, Lu, why have I not been introduced to your friend?"

Bleu and Luna were brought out of their own little world as Carlisle strode over to Gale who finally noticed him. Gale scowled while Carlisle grinned, sticking out a hand.

"Hi! I'm Carlisle Justino, Bleu's cousin," Carlisle introduced himself. "And you are…?"

Gale had enough decent to shake Carlisle's hand, though his eyes were settled on Luna. "Gale Redfox," he grunted. "Thanks for taking care of her. She can be a handful."

Carlisle chortled and pulled back his hand. "Oh, I wouldn't say that. She's just what I needed now that I'm single." He mock-pouted at Bleu. "Too bad I lost my shot."

Bleu and Gale's eyes clashed.

Carlisle beamed. "So, to commemorate our new friendships and a toast to new beginnings, I propose we all hang out and get to know each other!"

Luna rolled her eyes and muttered under her breath, "Yeah, so he can ditch again."

Gale slowly squared up. "Want to say that again, Blondie? Or are you too busy being passive-aggressive to tell me what you actually think?"

Luna refused to back down and threw a glower in his direction. "Carlisle, don't waste your breath. He has other people he can hang with," she shoved out with a flick of her hair. "He wouldn't want to hang out with us. He'd just bail when he gets bored."

"Doth my ears hear jealousy, Blondie-girl?" Gale taunted.

"What you hear is me calling you out like you wanted," Luna seethed.

Gale refused to let it go. "C'mon, Blondie, you can do better than that. What, you gonna ice me out? Give me the silent treatment like you did with your folks?" Sick satisfaction coiled a smirk on his face at the taken back expression on Luna's. "I thought you were better than that? C'mon. Express yourself."

Bleu tried to pull Luna behind him. "Dude. Back off," he cut in. "No need to be an asshole to her."

"And she can fight her own battles, dude." Ruby settled on cracked chocolate. "It's cute. She's already running to you when things get shitty. Just like she always does. I'm so glad you showed some character development."

Fury washed over Luna. She wrenched herself from behind Bleu to meet Gale, flaming chocolate to baiting ruby. "You want me to express myself?" Something sparked in her eyes. "Leave me alone!"

Gale went dead quiet.

Luna whirled to look up at Bleu, agitated. "Can we just go? Please?" she tacked on when Bleu looked hesitant.

"You sure?" Bleu wanted to confirm.

Luna nodded and her hands wrapped around his arm. "I don't want to be near him right now." Disgust dripped off her words like he was the dirt on her shoe.

That stirred something inside Gale and he did not realize how red his eyes became. He could feel something shift, something…basal. Canines aching and skin itchy, he felt something thunder inside him.

A Beast rejected was never a Beast civil.

Sycaña came out of her melancholy to reach out to him. Calm yourself, little gem, she pleaded. You're not ready for your Nature to come out, not around mortal humans!

Steadily, she fed him a stream of peace over his snarling emotions. Gale felt that stirring within him fetter out until all that was left was human emotions of annoyance and jealousy. His canines and skin quickly cooled and his eyes were back to simple ruby.

Gale eased back his shoulders and stood tall. Delight purred within his chest when Luna could not take his staring, a hand going to her shoulder to rub it while her chin turned down and closer to Bleu. "Like it or not, Blondie, you're stuck with me."

One step forward.

"You see, I heard something funny today… Something about your old man and training?"

Another step.

Luna's wide eyes. Her hand clutching her arm.

The tables had turned.

Hard truths made one weak to face them.

"So," Gale continued, "I suggest you start losing the attitude because I'm being considerably generous right now."

Luna tried to glare at him. "You're blackmailing me?" Words angry, but voice weak, helpless. They both knew the answer.

Gale shrugged and shoved his hands into his pockets. "Blondie, Blondie, Blondie," he tutted. "Of course I am." He stopped.

One more step and they would be molded together.

Gale raised his chin while Luna could not meet his daring eyes. "Carlisle," he called, "I can't wait to get to know you. And, Bleu, was it?" His eyes roamed around Bleu's face like he was not a threat, but his grin said otherwise. He held out a naked hand. An offering of peace outwardly, but a challenge had been brought. "Can't wait to finally see you in action."

Blue's chin was up, his eyes sharp, but his smile lazy. "Believe me, Redfox, I can't wait either." His face showed no fear as he did not hesitate to grab Gale's hand—

Gale froze as darkness clouded his vision.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

The voices were muffled, but some of the angrier ones came out in a language that felt familiar. Why was it so familiar? Darkness cornered the focus on all four sides until it adjusted. Lavish rugs and shiny things were in this dark hallway, but with no light, the objects were just wasting away.

'Huh?' Gale recognized the sound of his thought-voice. 'Wait… What the Hell? What's going on?'

The focus stalked forward until a peak of golden light came from a twin set of doors. The odd voices were more rampant, but the focus did not care. It crept forward until part of it was looking through the light. It barely could make out the sitting room. A fire was roaring as silhouettes paced on an ornate rug.

'Just what is this?' Gale wondered aloud. 'Is this…me? A memory? Or some dream?'

"Itai de daekàn to!" came exclamation. The flames showed the silhouette's actual features as she slammed her hand on a table. She had a light violet glow to her skin and her hair a deeper shade. The bat wings on her were out in agitation and her nails were more than claws. Still, she looked dangerously attractive in her dress. "Et avaoru mandeul-xīn én néo genus de Dèmónida! Zhè eṅkaḷ esse na su casukalā!"

'What language is that?' Gale wanted to know. 'Some sort of Old Tongue? I can kinda make out maybe an article… A Demon?'

A deep sigh. "Wǒ to xéro id," came patient, yet gravely grumble. "Allá nām ad xūneun cautus. Hārṭḥpiliyā wicca ut ji gwanlyǚwū terr-iss quae léget zhōng."

'Wait a second. Did that guy say something about "Heartfilia"?' Gale gnashed. 'What the Hell is going on? What is this place?'

"Navrn Kuru?" came stern call.

The focus turned back to see a lantern coming down the way with a soft face slit with it. Only her cat eyes showed and nothing more with a scarf around her mouth and nose. She came up the focus and bent over with a wiggling finger. "Ti zài zhè mwo Iṅkē?"

'What the Hell is she saying?' Gale wondered as she shook her head and took a little hand, leading him off. 'What's going on? What just happened?'

Darkness swamped down on him and it felt insatiable rage being shoved down his throat. It was as if he was surrounded in molten lava of fury. Being spun this way and that in the bouts of madness, he finally found himself settling when a pair of cosmic eyes cast judgment on me. "Get out!"

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Gale blinked to see his hand was freed from Bleu's. He saw Bleu turn his back on him to go over to Luna with suave words and a smooth smile. He looked down at his hand as though it held the answers to the question. What the Hell was that? Sycaña, did you see that?

Confusion fizzled in his head, both his and hers. No, Little Gem, she answered. Until we have completed your training and you accept my soul as your power, our minds are still separate. I must admit your mind went blank for a moment.

Gale flexed his fingers. Something doesn't add up here. I heard a bunch of weird words I couldn't make out and that certainly didn't feel like a dream… More like a memory. He fished out his glove and slipped it back onto his hands. But it wasn't my memory. That's for damn sure. Ruby flicked up to watch Bleu. So whose memory was it?

---

Walking around was nice to do in December in Fiore. Ena and Silver had hit the streets with their traveling mugs in hand and bliss towards their strife at home. "Seriously?" Ena insisted. "How can she not see he likes her?"

"Because Lulu is clueless," Silver told matter-of-factly, "but we love her anyway."

"Aye, sir," Ena chuckled. She watched Silver laugh with her and had to comment, "It's weird."

Silver took a sip of hot chocolate. "What?"

"This." Ena gestured to the two of them. "Us. We're not trying to kill each other and L isn't even here."

Silver reflected on that. "I mean… Do you want me to start calling you 'witch' again?"

"No." Ena's response was too quick. "Well, not now. It's…nice just talking without me wanting to stick my sword through you."

"Ditto," Silver said loftily. "Underneath all that rage, you're actually decent. But don't take that to heart, okay? Can't have people thinking we're friends all of a sudden."

Ena brought her mug to her lips. "Agreed." She took a long swallow. Now was as good as a time to ask. "But I've been meaning to ask… The whole thing with you and Paige…" She felt Silver look at her in question. "What's going on exactly?"

"I'm in love with her." Silver said the hardest words people could say so easily. "I'll do whatever it takes to earn my beloved's love back."

"And if she never gives it to you?"

Silver narrowed his eyes. "Trying to start a fight?"

"Not this time," Ena confessed soothingly. "I'm curious. Like, you're so obsessed with her, it's uncomfortable, but I'm more confused as to why you are."

Something soft and touching was on Silver's face. "It was like love at first sight. The second I saw my beloved"—a dreamy look overcame him—"I knew I had to make her mine and become her only love!"

"Stop being creepy!"

Ena sighed to dispel her anger. "I'm not one to believe in 'love at first sight', so sorry for being skeptical. It just seems like such a wasted effort to chase after a person who hasn't shown interest back."

"I know."

At this, Ena drew a sharp look to him in surprise.

Silver's laugh was small and quiet. "What? I knew people wouldn't understand this. My mom warned me. But, to me, it's not wasted time. Chasing after the one I love isn't a waste. And my beloved does show she cares about me," he added, "in her own way. Every day, I learn more and more about her and fall more in love with her."

Ena steadily watched him. "And if she falls in love with someone else?"

He did not even frown at the notion. "Then she does. And I won't stop her. I'll fight for her, but if she's happy with someone else, then I'm happy too."

"But why?" Ena did not understand this logic. "You chase after her, you go through Hell for her, and you're okay if she still walks away?"

"Yeah." Silver nodded as they began their trek across a bridge. "Because I love her enough that I want her happy every day even if I'm not. It'll make me depressed I can't be the one to earn her love, but I'll get by knowing she's happy. But…"—blue flashed down to see somber dark chocolate—"you're not asking about Paige and me."

"How could my dad just walk away from my mom like that?" Ena whispered. "My mom went through Hell trying to save him and find him and he still walked away from her."

"I'm sure there's a lot your mom doesn't tell you," Silver put in. "Adults always have secrets."

"I figured that, but I just…" Ena bit her lip. "Maybe if he stayed, Misty wouldn't be so angry and we could be a family again. We could be normal and…"

"And Mystogan would finally see you," Silver finished.

Ena looked away. "It's stupid—"

"No. It's not." Silver looked both ways before pulling Ena aside and away from pedestrian traffic. Ena leaned on the side of the bridge to stare at the water and Silver joined her, but his eyes were pinned on her. "What Misty's doing to you isn't fair…but I know he doesn't see it that way," he explained. "He knows you're strong and capable—"

"But he doesn't care about me. Only Aine." Jealousy and bitterness came in an ugly twinset. "You know, I didn't even want to be a Mage—not like this. I wanted to put my Magic in the fashion world, join a Fashion Guild. I joined Fairy Tail because I thought if I did, he would notice me and think I deserved to be his sister. That he'd be proud of me."

"He is—"

"He isn't!" Ena could not hold back her growl. "He will never be proud just like Dad's never coming home. They don't care about me."

Pauses of silence.

"I…care about you."

Ena blinked back tears of fury for dark chocolate to clash with quiet blue.

"Lulu does too," Silver added. "You have a lot of people who care about you." His hand raised to rub off a loose tear from her cheek. "So quit being bratty, Fernandes, or else I really will think you're a witch."

Ena sniffed a laugh. "Well, everyone already knows you're a stalker."

Silver laughed with her. "Shut up."

Their chortles continued to match until they tapered off. Dark chocolate was caught deep into blue. His hand did not immediately move from her face. It rested there, nearly caressing her cheek. Warmth spread to the tips of Ena's ears at the contact, but she did not pull away just yet.

Silver could not find the power for his eyes to tear away. It was like something was telling him to look, but for what? What was he searching for? It was subtle and deep within, but something stirred. He could feel a trickle of power seep into his own Magic, like raindrops dripping off a leaf. It was cold and refreshing, but it felt…natural.

Neither of them noticed the water beneath the bridge began to shift.

Ena glanced away. "U-Um…" She began to pull away. "Fullbuster—"

"Wait." Silver caught her face with his hand, trapping her there. For once, the fairy was caught off-guard by the prince of the sea. Blue radiated an intensity unlike before.

The water began to swirl into a whirlpool.

Ena blinked away her shock. "What are you doing? Are you okay?"

Silver would not stop staring. He would not let go.

Ena scowled and slapped his hand. "Silver, cut it out!"

That was what it took to snap him out. A pounding surged in his head like punishment for leaving the spell too soon. He hissed and his hands attended his pained head.

The wrath Ena held dissipated at Silver's anguish. "Whoa. You okay?"

Silver winced. "Uh, yeah… Yeah, I'm fine." He massaged his forehead. "Sorry. Just a headache."

"Well, I think that's our cue to get back." Ena checked her Compact to grimace. "My mom's been calling nonstop. I need to get back." Her eyes went back to Silver. "Do you need help getting home?"

Silver could stand up straight, but he still flinched. "Nah, I should be fine. Take some medicine when I get home." He nudged Ena away. "Go on. Get home before Master calls for reinforcements." He nodded at the mug. "And I want that back, Maleficent."

Ena rolled her eyes. "Whatever, Diaval." She whirled around and easily traveled with the mass back to her home.

Silver brushed fingers to his temple as he watched Ena go. "What was that?" He shrugged at his own question. "Oh well. Time to make sure my beloved ate dinner yet." Pleased, he strutted away and did not even notice the water swirling around stopped.

…nor did he notice the small droplets tailing him.

---

Mary Jane laughed from across the table after sipping her milkshake. "I'm telling you it's true!" she insisted.

Peter laid back on the booth. "Wow," he breathed. "Fairy Tail's wild…"

They had been sitting in this quaint diner with an old-timer feel to it and even a Jukebox Lacrima playing classic hits. The waiters roller-skated around with drinks and food and even wore chic uniforms matching the theme.

"Tell me about it," Mary Jane giggled. "How Luna survives Uncle Natsu as her dad shocks me."

"How Misses Dragneel survives shocks me!" Peter exclaimed. "Mister Dragneel is a living legend and his stats are impressive as heck, but dang!"

"Uncle Natsu could wreck a country if he wanted," Mary Jane admitted. "He's a powerhouse, but Aunt Lucy keeps him under control."

As Mary Jane took another swig of her milkshake, Peter leaned forward. "Well, if Luna is anything like her mom, she'll be perfect for Bleu. He's pretty laidback, but he wants someone to keep him in check. He needs someone like Luna to give him a dose of reality." His eyes flickered down to the table. "I'm sorry I acted pretty rude back then. I shouldn't have accused her."

Mary Jane waved the apology away. "It's okay. Just please don't do it again."

"I won't." Peter meant it. "I'm just surprised you're so protective of her. When I first met you, you didn't really seem to care much about…anything, really."

Mary Jane fingered her acorn button charm. Her head angled and locks of her hair fell to cover her red eye. "I guess I didn't," she mumbled like she was talking about a funeral. "I remember how cold and callous I was. I never want to be like that again."

"What changed then?" Peter gently pried.

Mary Jane's eyes slid to the tiled floor. "Luna." One word, delicate and caring. "And…"—a smile lifted her lips—"Igneel too."

Gold guarded itself. "Igneel, huh?" Peter shook his head as a hand came up to scratch his neck. "He's your friend and I really respect that. To me, it seems like he'll stick with you through anything and protect you. What he did for me in the tunnels was heroic—I'm not gonna lie—but what he did for you? It went beyond heroic. It's like he…"

Mary Jane's visible eye flicked back to Peter, head tilted and frown curving her features. "What?"

His fingers drummed against the table as he said, "Well…" Eyes determined, he decided to just come right out with it. "Mary Jane. I like being your friend. If you and Igneel already have something going on, that's fine—"

"What?!" Mary Jane looked completely thrown for a loop at that. "Igneel and me?" Awkward laughter fell off her lips. "Oh, no, no, no, there's nothing going on!" Shaking her head, she tried to explain more thoroughly, "Igneel and I are best friends, but that's really all we are. He actually has feelings for someone else. Or, well…" Her brow furrowed. "Well, he does, but… It's just really complicated. Like makeup guru drama complicated."

Peter lifted an eyebrow. "You two aren't a thing or anything?"

Mary Jane's head shake was firm, making more of her hair cover a side of her face. "Nope. Just friends." She was about to say more when her eyes widened as Peter reached across the table. She stayed perfectly still with his eyes gazing into hers as he pushed back her hair to see both scarlet and cerulean. A smile adorned his face.

"That's good to know," Peter said softly.

Mary Jane snapped out of her reverie with a blush on her cheeks and eyes rapidly blinking. "So," she said after coughing, "um, the results to your Affinity Test. You said we'd talk about them in one of your texts?"

Peter retreated from this round. "Yeah. The results were pretty confusing," he admitted. "I'm told I'm an Alchemist and an Alkahest."

"Wait." Mary Jane scrunched her nose. "I thought you could be one or the other. I know knowing both Magic and Alchemy or Magic and Alkahestry isn't unheard of, but Alchemy and Alkahestry are impossible."

Peter sighed. "Well, that's what the doctors told me." He shook out his hair and combed it down. "Doctor Mothersbaugh told me there hasn't been a case like this in a while. The board of directors for the Department of Magic Education has recommended a bunch of Alchemy and Alkahestry schools and told me to focus on one of the two, but…" He pulled down his hands and peeled off both of his fingerless gloves. Gold narrowed onto the symbols embedded into his palms. "I don't know. I can't just choose." His fingers curled into his palms.

Mary Jane was hesitant at first, but her fingers slipped over Peter's to unravel them. She, too, stared at the symbols. "Then, don't." Her eyes flicked up to Peter's face. "Don't choose. Do them both."

Peter overturned their hands so he was covering hers, rubbing her knuckles with his thumbs. "How can I do that?" he wondered. "No school offers both—"

"Find a way," Mary Jane encouraged. "Doctor Mothersbaugh is part of Triple A—Allied Alchemists and Alkahests. From what I know about him from Andy, he's pretty high up and a world-renown doctor in Alkahestry. Go to school for Alchemy but learn Alkahestry from him. Besides, Alkahestry is basically med school and you have to go through a program before you can even get to the official Alkahestral schools."

Peter twisted his lips. "He did say to call him if I had any questions," he murmured. Nodding to himself as a decision was formed, he said, "I'll do it. Though…" He sighed. "Ugh. Now I have to explain to my parents I'll be going to a boarding school. They'll love that."

Mary Jane noticed sarcasm and frowned. "Aren't they Mages? Or even Alchemists or Alkahests? They're not?" she added in confusion when Peter shook his head.

"At least, my adoptive parents aren't," Peter confessed. "I'm not too sure about my birth parents. From what my parents tell me, my birth parents died three days after I was born, so I'm not really sure if they were. And don't tell me you're sorry," he tacked on, grinning at Mary Jane's ashamed blush. "Really, I'm fine. I can't exactly miss them when I never even knew them, you know?"

"Still," Mary Jane protested. "They were your parents… Do you know anything about them or your birth family?"

"Zilch," Peter denied. "My adoptive parents have some burnt up christening thing with my name and my birthday, but anything else was destroyed." He shook out his hair again. "I'll start looking at schools for Alchemy when I get home. Maybe my parents won't take it too hard when they see I have a plan and…" He tried to catch Mary Jane's eyes when they fell from his. "Hey… Did I say something wrong?"

Mary Jane took back her hands to tuck back her hair. "No, no, it's nothing…" she assured.

"Sweets," Peter warned.

Mary Jane sighed. "It's stupid," she mumbled. She risked glancing up at Peter to see him waiting patiently. "It's just… I don't know. Boarding schools mean you'll live on campus somewhere far away and you won't be able to leave campus until your breaks and—"

"You're worried I won't really see you," Peter finished for her.

Mary Jane's cheeks flushed and her fingers clasped her charm. "I know it's selfish of me to even say that," she rushed out. "Please don't think I'm being unsupportive, Peter. It's amazing you'll be going to school—!"

"You do know me going to a different school doesn't mean I won't have time for you, right?" Peter checked. "Yeah, I'll be busy and you'll be busy, but it's going to be fine. NJ, Ekho, Nolan, Bane—all of them go to different schools, but we still hang out and talk to each other. Bleu is pretty much my only friend who goes to my high school, but even with me changing schools, we'll still see each other. And with you?" He grabbed her hands to interlock hers with his, reveling in her flustered look. "Sweets, I'll still have my Com and my PAL just like you'll have yours. We'll still text and call and we can even FaceCall and sync up Webflix and do friend-dates. You're not going to get rid of me, Sweets."

"I want you to do well at school, Peter." Mary Jane said that with sincerity coming from the bottom of her heart. "I want you to get the answers you're looking for and I support you—a-a-as my friend, anyways," she put in hurriedly. "Please don't hold yourself back on my account."

"I'm not holding anything back," Peter promised. "I'm going to kick major butt at school and figure out why I have these powers. Who knows? Maybe I'll figure out something about my birth parents along the way. But I'm still going to make time for my friends—especially you." He held Mary Jane's hand even tighter. "If you're really sure there's nothing going on between you and Igneel…" He licked his lips.

Mary Jane swallowed. "There isn't," she assured hoarsely.

"Then…" Peter tensed. "Sweets… Mary Jane… I really li—"

"Cousin….!"

Mary Jane shook off Peter's hands in her startled fright as Justin strutted over to their booth on Ace's arm. "Justin…!" she greeted with a forced beam as Peter coughed and scratched his nose. "Hi!" She got up to hug Justin who swept her into his arms. "I thought you were out with friends today?"

Justin pulled back. "Mmm, I was. We just finished with one of my squads," he told her. "We were taking a little stroll back to my place when we saw you and your…"—he swiveled to face Peter with a dazzling smile—"secret boyfriend, I take it?" he guessed, his smile widening when both Peter and Mary Jane blushed. "Cousin, don't be embarrassed! I totally get it! Especially with a dad like Laxus, I'd hide a relationship too." He gently pushed Mary Jane towards Peter's side of the booth. "Sit, sit! We need a formal meet and greet and this'll be great practice before the family meets our men!"

Mary Jane plopped next to Peter as she spluttered, "Justin, he's not—! I mean—! He's not my—!"

"I call it as I see it, Cousin," Justin shushed as he slid onto the other side with Ace at his side. "So." He looked at Ace with a big grin. "This hunk of man-candy is my sugar daddy. Cousin, meet Ace Jansen. Daddy, this is my cousin, Mary Jane Dreyar."

Ace's smile was one of those comforting Duchenne smiles. "It's nice to meet you, Mary Jane," he greeted. "I've heard a lot about you."

Mary Jane returned the smile. "It's nice to meet you too, Ace." After realizing what she had to do, she went on with the introductions. "Oh, right! Um, Justin, Ace, this is Peter Shuusei-Thompson, a friend I met at the Hallow's Eve Spell-tacular."

Peter's wave was a little self-conscious. "Hi. It's nice to meet you both." He nodded at Justin. "One of my friends is a big fan of your drag and the YouView videos you do."

Justin beamed, chest puffed with pride. "My dear cousin told me about a friend of a friend who wanted me to meet me. Nolan is his name?" He jerked his chin at Mary Jane. "Dear cousin, give him my snap, yes? My personal one, not my professional account. Let him know he can snap me anytime he wants."

Ace wrapped an arm around Justin. "You're too sweet."

"My fans made me who I am today," Justin pointed out. "I love meeting them as often as I can and responding to their Twits and DMs when possible."

"That's pretty cool," Peter piped up, feeling more at ease. "It's nice to see such down-to-earth celebrities. I can't say I know too much about drag and makeup, but from what he showed me, it seems interesting and fun."

Justin shared a surprised look for Ace. "Oh my God, there's some hope left for the straight boys after all," he whispered. He looked back at Peter. Not just looked—he was observing. "I like you so far, but let me ask you this: are you one of those straights who say 'that's gay' to shit you think only girls should do?"

Peter quickly shook his head. "No. I was raised better than that, though if I do accidentally say something offensive, I promise it's not me trying to call someone out."

Justin nodded, leaning back into Ace. "I like him." He told this to Mary Jane. To Peter, he said, "So, since you and Mary Jane are dating—"

"We're not—!"

Justin talked over Mary Jane's protests. "—you'll have to excuse my intrusive questions on your background. My dear cousin is precious to the entire Strauss-Dreyar-Justine fam and is the baby girl of the Thunder God and the Demoness of Fairy Tail. I think you understand what I'm getting at."

"I do." And Peter did. As he dipped a hand under the table to lace his fingers with Mary Jane's, he nodded at Justin. "Ask me anything."

Justin's grin was downright sinful. "Oh, little boy, you have no idea the chaos you just unleashed."

---

DING.

Lance stepped off the elevator. He looked fitting in his new clothes. Slacks, dapper dress shoes, a button-down with the cuffs to his elbows, and a nice vest. Even his hair was slicked back for this.

The line to get inside the main room was not a line and more like a crowd. Two bouncers had made sure everyone stepped back from the curtained main room entrance, letting those on the list in. With confidence, Lance maneuvered through the crowd to make it to the head of it.

"Name," one of the bouncers demanded.

Lance simply took out the card and flashed it to them both.

Without any further words, the bouncer opened one half of the curtains and Lance ushered himself inside. The main room was everything he expected. It was a club, yes, but one more refined and tailored for exotic dancers. Poles had been set up on a stage with the dancers exercising such grace through their routines. Pole dancing was an art in itself and needed to be more respected for the amount of muscle and precision it took. Hostesses both male and female had taken to pleasing the rich with their charming smiles and aim for pleasant conversation. Booths were lined at the wall, some with their curtains closed, others with their curtains open. Dancers in their lingerie strutted about, reeling in clientele with lap dances. Some snuck them off to another part of the club.

Lance knew he would be going there.

Before he could cross to that part, a hostess stopped him with an alluring grin. "What brings you here, sir?"

Lance showed her the card. "I'm looking for Lace. I have a private dance with her."

The hostess pouted. "Of course you're here for her. She gets the good guys." She turned and gestured. "Right this way."

Surprisingly, Lance was led in a different direction. This hostess took him to a door by the bar instead that had translucent glass and another bouncer guarding it. He saw them approach and opened the door for them with no nod of acknowledgment. When Lance stepped through this new threshold, he was surprised to see he had been led to a hallway. Granted, it only had four sliding doors, the smell of sex and liquor was thick, and the music was muted…

The hostess showed him to the second sliding door. "She's in there. Have a good time, sir." Her grin was sly as she walked away. "Lace doesn't disappoint."

Lance waited until she was gone to sag his shoulders. "What am I doing?" he whispered. "I know this is for intel, but still… It feels like I'm cheating willingly going into a private room with a dancer."

But I have to. If Lace has any information on Gary, then I have to do this.

Deep breath drawn out, Lance opened the sliding door.

A smirk. "About time you showed up, sir."

Lance closed the sliding door. The private room was rather large for being private. A full bar, a couple of comfortable chaise lounges and couches, and a pole at the center to tie the room together. The music and lighting were a tad cheesy, but Lace did not seem to care. Dressed to the nines in lingerie, this raven-haired beauty had relaxed behind the bar with a drink.

Lance steeled himself over as he walked further inside. "Sorry. I had to get ready." He seated himself at the bar as Lace took out a can for him. He saw it was water in a can. Smart. "I had a feeling if I wanted access into the private room, I'd need to look a little nicer." He opened the can. "But I didn't think they would escort me here."

"Other room is the Champagne Room," Lace educated. "In the real world, it takes a lot of money to even consider going there. Private rooms cost a lot more, but the buyer gets a lot more. Don't worry," she soothed when she saw a glare in his eyes. "I'm not the slightest bit interested in you, boy. You're too young for me and in a relationship. Congrats, by the way."

Lance grunted. "You said you had information."

Lace nodded, features hardened. "Plenty of it," she clipped. "But before we get to talking…" She snapped her fingers.

Lance waited. "What was that?"

"He has ears and eyes everywhere," Lace told him cryptically. "If the guards didn't hear noises of sex, they'd alert him. Right now, it sounds like I'm giving you one Hell of a blow job."

Lance flushed and shifted. "Thanks?" he appreciated uneasily.

"No worries. Now." Lace hopped onto the other side of the bar to sit beside him. "Let's talk."

°•°•°•°

DING.

Nashi swept off the elevator with Muta curled in her arms and her glamour still holding strong. There was a small lounge with open doors to the main room. She noticed it was a ballroom of all things to suit the finer things in life. Slowly, she dipped inside. The creatures inside were dressed so royally in their own way as they took to dancing steps she had only seen Libra do on occasion with Luna. The band was a live chamber orchestra and live singers, the chorus set to the sidelines for now.

This is weird, Nashi whispered.

Muta grunted. The casino tailors to everyone's needs, including the snooty bunch. His tail flicked. Ya see yer friend?

Nashi frowned as she looked for blue hair. No sign yet, she reported. Come on. She adjusted Muta in her grip. Let's go look some more. She's got to be around here somewhere. A dark presence stopped her, however, stopped her before she could search.

"Malã'ika… I have been waiting to see you again."

Nashi was so excited hearing the moniker, the voice did not register. "I've been waiting for you t…!" When she whirled around, her beam was drowned into a frown. She noted this man was not the Devil—her Devil. "You're not…"

The man stepped closer with interest glinting in his glazed eyes. "Not who, Malã'ika?"

Nashi scowled, holding Muta tighter. Scowling was all she could do to suppress her fear. He knows, she quivered. Who is this guy? How does he know that name?

Steady, kit, Muta warned. Keep your fur on. Don't get intimidated. He smells like another damn Devil.

I sense him through you, Muta, Kyler rumbled. That is Black Panther Devil Pazuzu, Lynn's Devil.

Nashi paled. We're screwed.

Oh, you'll get screwed, all right.

Muta!

A feigned smile parked on her face when she realized Pazuzu awaited her answer. "You're not the man I was hoping you were," she half-answered. "Now, if you would excuse me…" So I can get the Hell out of here!

She was set to march off when a low chuckle reached her ears. "Is it because I am not your Devil, Princess?"

Nashi stiffened.

Pazuzu sidled up behind her with his lips close to her ear. "I smell your fear, Malã'ika. Not as much of a turn on as I wish. I didn't mean to offend you."

Nashi gulped. "Wh-Who are you?" she whispered. "Why do you know me? How do you know me?"

Pazuzu merely laughed. "Put the kitten down and let's play, Malã'ika." His nose brushed against her neck and his amusement rolled off in waves at the way Nashi tensed. "A dance is all I ask, princess. Is that too much?"

Nashi let out a shaky breath. Muta… Go look for Aine.

Muta looked up at Nashi and showed his gray eyes. Worry married them. I'll be around if ya need me, kit. He wriggled down from her arms, shook out his fur, and slowly slunk away.

Nashi closed her eyes, took a deep breath, and turned around. When she opened her eyes, Pazuzu was there, grinning at her with expectancy. She tried her best to school her features into something akin to determination. "I won't be intimidated by you," she claimed. "Just because you're Lynn's Devil doesn't mean—!"

"Shhh, Malã'ika," Pazuzu calmed. "Unlike what you think, that Cambion is not my boss. I have no loyalty to her or anyone here. All I have is interest in you and your pet Winter Demon."

Nashi was set to argue. "Listen here, you—!"

Pazuzu grabbed her hands, ignoring her blush of anger, and set themselves into a dancing position. "Temper, Malã'ika," he chided. "I am feeling generous tonight. Dance with me and perhaps I will feel even more generous."

Nashi processed those words. Which means he has information if he knows about Gary and his Devil. I can't afford to lose a lead like this. She stared straight into Pazuzu's arms and awarded him a winsome smile. "Lead the way."

Let's play, Devil.

°•°•°•°

Lace continued: "I am very aware of what is happening here along with your situation. Nashi Heartfilia-Dragneel is one I could never forget. She is the firstborn of two powerful bloodlines and possesses a Lost Magic others can only use a sliver of by efforts of losing their lifespan. I have an obligation to protect her. Don't ask why. I won't tell you."

Lance nodded at the information. "So you know her and, by extension, me, Aine, and Gary," he concluded. "Do you know our current plan or our allies?"

"It would take an idiot to not see the truth," Lace snorted. "The Winter Devil being held here is no secret between us. Lynn is one of two living human daughters to the Demon-slash-maker of this paradox. If she produces a powerful heir, she gains the favor of her father to eventually take on his mantel should he pass. The Winter Devil is the best contender to knock her up. He's powerful, ruthless, and cunning, even without a name." She knocked back more of her drink. "I know you and the girl are hostages. It's all a ploy, by the way. Lynn wanted Nashi to stupidly throw herself here to rescue you both and use Nashi against the Devil in her plot."

"I figured that," Lance admitted. "It would make sense Nashi is the real bait considering the Devil is captured, but it doesn't make sense why she isn't the main hostage."

Lace seared him with an irate look. "You really are young," she supposed. "Natsu Dragneel, as you humans call him, is the Etherious Demon King as well as the Dragon King by ascension. It's a known fact provoking him would cause instant death and, by extent, his mate and offspring." She stirred her drink. "Lynn's smart. She knew if she captured Nashi, she would be signing her death warrant with the King. While she disapproves of the way the King tamed the Earth Land Demons, she doesn't want to die."

Lance processed this. "You know so much about this." A fact. Not an accusation.

Lace held his gaze. "I do." That was it. That was all he would get.

"You clearly came to me because not only did you think you could help me, but you came to me thinking I could help you." There was an accusation. "I know information comes at a price. Name it."

Lace took a sip of her drink. "I like you," she declared. "Young but not too naïve." She leaned back and crossed her arms. "You're right. I wanted you indebted to me. I need help and you'll give it to me. You'll persuade Nashi to join me. I need her powers to get closer to the Maker."

"So you can do what?"

"Do what is necessary." Lace's eyes hardened. "Kill him."

°•°•°•°

The song was a romantic waltz that the piano-led. No singers were needed when the instruments spoke for themselves of what the song was about. Many had gotten up to dance, somehow knowing the steps.

Nashi looked quite uncomfortable in Pazuzu's care as he led her through the dance. She did not look him in the eye, but she sifted through the crowd for a sign of blue hair.

"Come now, Malã'ika, I thought you wanted to play," Pazuzu taunted.

Nashi threw a glare at him. "Don't call me that," she snapped. "Only he can call me that."

"So he's just a 'he' now. Oh, yes… The Winter Devil doesn't even have a name," Pazuzu remembered quite mockingly.

Nashi frowned. This was the second time naming was brought up. "What does it mean for him and you to have names? Everyone has a name."

Pazuzu blinked. He was caught off-guard at the natural confusion in her tone. Then, he burst into laughter.

Nashi reddened. "I'm so happy I'm such a jokester to you people," she seethed.

Pazuzu sobered. "I'm sorry, Malã'ika, I didn't mean to laugh. I see why the Winter Devil finds you enticing. Your innocence is attractive." He cleared his throat. "Not every creature is born with a name, little Female. Those born nameless need to be named in order to gain their true potential, but not just anyone can name a person nor can they be named just about anything. The name must carry the truth and weight of the soul."

Nashi hummed thoughtfully. "So… Devils have to be named by someone else?"

"Everyone is named by someone else," Pazuzu answered. "But Dark Creatures were Cursed to be nameless unless someone names them. Even Demons are born without names—your father included."

"Weird," Nashi muttered without thinking. "Who named you then?"

Expressions changed to something negative. "My maker remains my secret, Malã'ika. Quite bold of you to ask for such an intimate piece of information without trade."

Nashi tried hard not to roll her eyes. "Okay, then how about this?" she asked, venom seeping. "Why are you so interested in me, huh?"

Pazuzu flashed playful fang. "Malã'ika, you don't understand the weight in this game we play. You're the Winter Devil's queen, but to me, you are a pawn."

"So what do you want?" Nashi gnashed. "What do you want from me?"

Pazuzu took his time answering that. "Before, when I learned from Lynn I would be there to taunt the Winter Devil into an agreement by doing something unspeakable in human eyes"—he noticed something like fear flashed in Nashi's stare—"I thought nothing of it. Relax, Malã'ika. I won't touch you as Lynn wanted."

Nashi was still alarmed. "Okay. So now what? You said I'm a pawn to you."

"You are," Pazuzu said. "The Winter Devil now sees me as the thing standing between him and a potential mate. The business I have with the Winter Devil is my own and I had planned to use you to get it. But now that I have met you…"—his hand came up to brush Nashi's skin—"I understand the Winter Devil's obsession."

Nashi trembled. "So now what?"

"Now, sweetheart," Pazuzu purred, "I am inclined to help you…if only to, someday, make you my queen."

°•°•°•°

"Killing a Demon isn't easy," Lance tried to warn. "In fact, I've only known two Demons actually killed."

"I know," Lace assured. "How I'll kill him is my business. But I realized I'll need allies if I hope to kill him and his daughter. I couldn't care less about the people in this paradox, but I know you do. Our goals align. We take out the Maker, we get rid of the paradox."

"Okay, I understand that, but your motive for killing him and Lynn isn't clear," Lance reminded. "Killing Demons is different than killing humans. Fairy Tail doesn't kill."

Lace rolled her eyes. "It amazes me you still trust your guild so blindly," she regarded. "You think just because your parents told you Fairy Tail doesn't kill, it means they haven't killed in the past?"

"Of course not!" Lance snapped. "I would've seen it in the archives if that happened!"

Lace sighed. "Look, kid, not even S-Class things like you see everything that goes on or gets access to everything. When you go home, ask that Thunder God dad of yours if you can check the Vermillion Archive Wing."

"What?" Lance was conflicted. "We don't have an archive section named that."

Lace shrugged and began to drink again.

Lance thought, Master told us all guild history and records are accessible to S-Class, including S-Class villains we've had in the past. I can't go doubting that now.

"Your motive," Lance tried again. "Killing a Demon is noble, but I know you're not doing it to be noble. Tell me the truth."

"The 'truth' is that it's my business," Lace hissed.

"You want me to help you establish an alliance with my guildmate, your last hope. You want her to help you kill a Demon and risk all of our lives. Your business is now mine if there's a chance Nashi could get hurt," Lance snarled back.

Lace glared at him for a moment or two before looking away. "You want the truth? Fine. I want to kill that son of a bitch Demon because he took my daughter away from me."

Lance was stunned. He was not expecting that. "Why would he take—?"

"All you need to know is I'm here for two things only: to get back my daughter and kill the Demon," Lace interrupted coldly. "You don't need to know anymore detailing than that."

Lance bit his tongue to stop himself from arguing. I see what her motivation is, but for a Demon to kidnap her daughter… What powers does her daughter possess? Why is Lace so important?

"I won't ask any more questions," Lance promised. "You said enough. I'll make sure you meet Nashi and get her on board, but you'll have to come with us."

Lace smirked. "I was counting on that." She finished her drink and got up, unashamed of her half nudity. "Well then. Escort me to your rendezvous point. The sooner we meet, the sooner I can kill the bastard."

°•°•°•°

Nashi narrowed her eyes. "I don't want to be anyone's 'queen'," she snapped. "I don't belong to anyone either."

Pazuzu chuckled. "I keep forgetting human females are on an independence kick. I'll table this for now. I smell your anger. We wouldn't want to cause a scene."

Nashi brushed back her anger into annoyance. He had a point. "So then, if you're so keen to help me, then help me and stop taunting me."

Pazuzu tilted his head and lost his amusement. "It would be easier if I showed you rather than told you." The hand on her waist moved to cup her cheeks.

Nashi floundered. "Wait. Don't touch m—mmph!"

Memories poured on Nashi intrusively. She never asked for them or accepting them into her mind, but she felt their weight and their importance. There were too many, but she understood the impressions they left. Eyes and conversations flashed before her in tongues she could not understand, yet she did at the same time. At one point, she saw a beautifully crafted man with stunning gold eyes, but the amount of darkness seeping off him was alarming. She saw an entrance with three statues: a cat, a man, and a frog. She felt only darkness, never light. She could feel herself drowning in it as a set of gold eyes pierced h—

Pazuzu pulled away, not even looking the tiniest bit affected, while Nashi panted, woozy from the information she received. "I have to admit the amount of control it's taking for me to not bring you to my bed and kiss you again is ridiculous," Pazuzu admitted in a strained voice. "Your taste is…something."

Nashi leaned on him accidentally for support, breathless.

Pazuzu's glazed eyes focused on her. It would be so easy to do it. She's so weak.

"That was…a lot of info," Nashi wheezed, legs shaking. "Geez, you didn't have to go that hard." She grunted as she straightened herself to meet his glazed gaze. "Honestly, though, now that I'm understanding what you showed me, finding Gary and Aine is more important than ever. And Lynn"—she spat the name—"I'll kill her before she touches Gary and the Devil like that again."

"She's strong, Malã'ika," Pazuzu warned. "And her allies are just as strong. Be careful. The light inside you is growing, but it's still no match for her and her desire to please Father Demon."

Nashi frowned. "So what you're saying is she's unbeatable?"

"For you, yes," Pazuzu said, "for others, no. You have allies on your side too. Use them. Fighting against Lynn directly would kill you and I want you alive."

Nashi hummed, dismissing his last words. "Ky—one of my allies," she amended, "told me it's rare for Dark Creatures to take on mates instead of consorts. Do you…?"

Pazuzu's grin was absolutely rakish. "Yes, Malã'ika, I have my own willing fucktoys." His grin broadened when he saw Nashi's schoolgirl blush. "I've lived a long life. My collection has grown."

"How can you force innocent people to be your sex slaves?" Nashi demanded. "Are you like Lynn and her dad too? Is r-r-r…?" She felt sick and ashamed she could not say it.

"My pets come willingly and are free to leave my protection when they want," Pazuzu made in firm point. "I might be a Devil, but I have pride. There's no pride in forceful taking." His grin was back. "Don't worry, Malã'ika. You'll be very willing too to share my bed."

Nashi scoffed. "I'm not a whore and I'm not feeling very happy you think that's what I want to be. I'm worth more than that."

"You are." Pazuzu regarded her with an intense stare. "You should be more than a simple consort…"

Nashi felt uncomfortable with the way he stared and blurted, "Why do you look blind?" Mortification took root in her body, then fear. Oh my God, this is it. This is me getting killed for saying something stupid.

Pazuzu did not look the least bit angry. In fact, he looked entertained. "I suppose I do look blind," he had to give. "It was a long time ago. A man in another realm had fallen in love with me."

"I see where this is going," Nashi declared dryly. "You didn't return his feelings, he got pissed, and tried to Curse you."

"I think his judgment was blinded. A Dark Creature can't really be Cursed," Pazuzu explained. "So, the Curse manifested into a physical ailment resulting in what you see now. I can still see, just in different ways."

Nashi searched his gaze. "Then—"

Pazuzu stopped their rocking when irritation washed over his face.

Nashi noticed. "What?"

"Lynn's calling me," Pazuzu growled.

Nashi noticed the hatred in his tone. "If Lynn wants a Devil so much, why won't she have sex with you?"

Pazuzu scoffed. "I'd never touch that creature," he muttered in disgust. "She has nothing that appeals to me. She's tried her hand at breeding with me, but Dark Creatures have the ability to release without impregnation."

Nashi pales. "So she…" Nausea rolled in her stomach. "She r…"

"You don't have to say it," Pazuzu shushed her. "But yes. It's not really anything we consider a 'crime'." Irritation flared up again. "She calls me again. I can feel her intentions. She plans to use me to bait the Winter Devil."

Nashi snapped out of her revulsion for panic. "Take me with you," she begged. "I need to see him and make sure he's okay."

Pazuzu brushed her cheek with his knuckles. "You'll see him soon," he assured. "Right now, you need to leave. I saw through your glamour. Lynn will too. Go."

Nashi hesitated. "I don't understand. You say you want me to be your queen and use me against the Devil, but this is your shot. So why help me escape? Why not take me to Lynn?"

Pazuzu studied her. Then, he did something Nashi did not anticipate.

He kissed her again.

Nashi shoved him back once the shock blew away, furious. "What was that for?" she spat.

Pazuzu's grin was blithe. "I normally Brand through biting, but this Brand isn't permanent, just temporary. Call me and I will come."

Nashi touched her lips. "Wait. Brand? What do you—?"

"See you later, Malã'ika." Pazuzu misted away…

…leaving Nashi stranded in the middle of the dance floor.

Nashi took to wiping her lips, disgruntled. "I don't know whether to be confused or angry, so how about both?"

Kyler, she reached out. What does it mean when a Devil brands you?

He did what?! Kyler snarled.

Nashi winced as she made her way off the dance floor. Is it like Marking? Like what Dragon Slayers do?

In every way, Kyler growled, agitated. Dark Creatures are capable of Branding their prey as a sort a tracker and erotic point. It wards others off from their prey.

Nashi held her mouth as horror crept up on her. What am I going to do? she whispered. He Branded me, but for what? He said it was temporary, but still… The world felt dizzy. I think I need to sit down.

Muta was already bounding towards her. Easy, kit, he soothed. Don't get too worked up. We'll get ya out of here and back to the shop.

For some reason, Nashi could feel tears well up in her eyes and shut her mouth to keep the cry she has bubbling out. I'm such a whore. I cheat on them and then this happens. What is wrong with me?

DRIP.

Breaths became shorter as her legs wobbled.

DROP.

Tears dusted her cheeks as Nashi sniffed. The world blurred and she felt herself lower to the ground. She needed to be grounded when her head felt like it was flying away.

DRIP.

Muta swirled around her, whiskers twitching in agitation. He purred as he took to nuzzling her face with her head and licking her skin. Easy, he soothed. Just breath, kit. Breathe.

DROP.

Nashi could not breathe. This dress was choking her. This room was choking her. The air was choking her. Desire to flee was strong in her mind, but it was not with her body. How could she run when she could not even stand?

"Laylay?"

Nashi could not even register Lance was on the ground beside her. Jade looked over her in high worry as his hands rubbed down her shoulders and back. "No one can hurt you," Lance soothed. "Hear my voice, Laylay. I'm right here with you. No one can hurt you while I'm here."

Nashi found her hands gripping onto Lance as her chest ached and her heart pounded. She could feel herself slipping away from reality. Flashes came to the forefront of her mind. The rush of a party filled her ears without permission. Tears uncontrollable, she lurched forward, gagging on nothing.

"We've got to get her out of here."

Lance held Nashi close to him as he looked up at Lace. She had changed swiftly into a turquoise dress that somehow clashed yet went well with her golden eyes. Effortlessly, she stooped down to observe Nashi. "This paradox is full of darkness. If she keeps going like this, she'll eventually cave to the fear inside her and we'll have no hope for bringing her back without taking extreme to life-threatening measures."

Muta did not care if anyone saw him as he spoke to them both, "Kyler's shop leads to the outside world. We need to get back and hurry." Gray flickered over Nashi in heavy concern. "Her heart is racing too fast. We don't have much time until she goes unconscious."

Lace stood up. "Then, we have no time to waste."

Lance scooped Nashi up bridal fashion and nuzzled her face into his neck. As he rushed to follow Lace out of the ballroom with Muta on his heels, he murmured to Nashi, "Don't worry, Laylay. We'll get you somewhere safe soon."

Nashi could only snivel as she felt memories' hands press on her body like a leech and grab onto the one thought that was keeping her sane. Mama…

°•°•°•°

Aine had never been in this section before and she did not care. She vaguely even realized how a cocktail dress had misted onto her the moment she crossed the elevator with her hair pulled up and her makeup light. She danced and loftily laughed with her partner with the music making her thoughts so carefree, so liberated. The atmosphere was just right. Nothing could hold her back now. She felt like the master of herself. She never wanted that feeling to go away.

Static emerald.

Her footing stumbled, but she did not let it get to her. She kept dancing, but her beam went weak. What was that? The music weaseled its way into the last of her thoughts. Huh… Never mind then…

"Excuse me?"

Aine and her partner were stopped when a divine woman bore them with her icy stare. Icy was underrated. She looked like she was made of ice with white skin and glacial hair. Even her eyes were arctic. They went to Aine and pinned her. Perhaps manners were lost on her as she offered her hand. "Come, child. You have a special invitation to meet the owner."

Aine blinked. "Me? Meet the…owner? But why…?"

Static emerald.

"Why would I need to meet the owner?" Aine slowly questioned as the fog cleared. "Owner of what? I'm not a…"

Winter snatched her hand. Her thoughts and the greens were clouded back with music and fun and independency with no consequences. "Come, little human," she insisted. Her walking pace was slow, but she was successful in leading Aine away. "You are meeting the owner."

Aine's nod was lucid. "Yes… The owner…"

The woman ducked them to a side of the ballroom. Two guards pulled back a curtain for the pair of women to cross. The hallway was velvety with low lighting and more shadows to hide your dirty secrets and memories. The woman came to a set of twin doors that showed promise and power rolled into one. The woman let go of Aine's hand but her palms drifted to the sides of Aine's neck.

"Humans are so easy to manipulate," she exhaled with frost blowing on Aine's face. "Your minds are so easy to mold. I could make you hump my legs and you would. Because you're weak and couldn't fight back."

Aine dopily smiled and nodded. "Mmm-hmmm…"

"I want you to know how much I despise you all as a species, as things," the woman said, tilting her head, licking her upper lip. "I want you to know you're a puppet. You have a purpose because I'm giving you purpose. And once that's over…" Her nails skimmed Aine's neck. "Once that's over, you'll drop dead." Words, so poisonous and said so casually. "No one will remember you. No one will love you. And no one will come to look for you." She tipped Aine's chin up. "Understand?"

Aine nodded again.

"Good." The woman flung a hand and the doors opened. Nothing put darkness thrived inside them. She grabbed Aine by the neck and was not fazed when Aine did not struggle, not with the glaze in her eyes. The woman picked up Aine and let her feet dangle. A little squeeze would not kill her. She moved Aine into the darkness. "You're nothing more than a doll. My son was at least a fighter. But you…a sick and diseased slave with nothing to offer…" Her nails dug into skin. "Disgusting."

She dropped Aine.

And Aine fell into the pit of darkness as the glaze began to fade…

…and static green filled her mind.

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Fairy Adventure

• — • — • — • — • — • — • — • — •

Luke was nearly done eating his cereal and scrolling through a glowing review on a new superhero movie set to release next week when his left ear twitched at footsteps. Slurping up the milk, he went to wash his bowl out just as the door unlocked and opened. A murmur came from his mother and he could visibly sense the emotions within his family. Sadness wafted off all three. The sheer pain he felt piercing his twin could have made him stagger. He put his bowl in the dishwasher as his father swept into the kitchen looking worse for the wear with grocery bags clinging to his arms.

Luke awkwardly put down his eyes. "Hey."

Natsu unloaded the bags onto the island counter. "'Sup, brat?" he responded in a somnolent sigh.

Luke fiddled with his Compact. "I, uh…thought you were going out with Mom?"

Natsu started taking the meat out of the bags. "We'll go out later," he grunted. He moved to put the meat in the refrigerator. "Lucy's gonna make sure Igneel's feelin' okay."

"What's wrong?" Luke's concern overrode any discomfort he felt. "What happened? I can feel a lot of pain and grief from Igneel and—" Things fell into place like a completed puzzle. "Something happened to him and Mary Jane."

A sigh escaped Natsu as he closed the fridge. "You could say that," he supposed. He eyed his son. "So, uh… I felt the shield change. You have somethin' to do with that?"

"I had to let him in somehow," Luke grumbled as he lumbered over to the grocery bags. He took out the frozen. "Whatever happened after that, I don't really know."

Natsu began to take out the dry foods to put in the pantry. "I felt the enchantments change and Nashi leave the forest. Guess she and Gary went out somewhere." He shrugged. "She sent a text about some sort of thing Aine wanted to do, so there's that."

"And you just let her go with him?" Luke asked, disbelieving. "Dad, he's—!"

"Luke. Not now."

Luke felt his temper rise at the dismissive way his father addressed him. Bristling, he protested, "Dad—!"

"Igneel needs you." Natsu's shoulders sagged. "Igneel needs someone right now. Your hate can simmer down enough to talk to your brother, okay? We'll talk later."

Luke wanted to argue even more at that, but he held his tongue. With an eye roll and dropping his bowl into the sink, he left the kitchen to climb up the steps and onto the second floor. He briefly saw his mother standing outside Igneel's closed door with a look on her face. "Mom?"

Lucy turned over to Luke with a forlorn smile. "Hey, Luke." Her arms crossed with hands cupping her elbow. "Once your father and I put away the groceries, we'll be leaving for our movie. Did you figure out any plans?"

Luke shook his head. "Nah. There's a party in Shirotsume, but I'm not interested." Honeyed amber glanced over at Igneel's door. "I have to finish my paper and brush up on some stuff anyways, so going out wasn't really in the plan."

It was peculiar neither of them spoke the true weight of the conversation, but they never knew what sharp ears picked up.

Lucy nodded and walked over to Luke. She kissed his forehead and hugged him to whisper, "Have a good night, my sweet prince. We'll talk later." She pulled back. "I love you."

Luke softened. "I love you too, Mom."

Lucy smiled and headed down the kitchen steps. Luke's eyes went back to Igneel's room. With a sigh, he went over to it and knocked on his twin's door. "Hey, um… You okay in there?"

Silence.

Luke crossed his arms as he leaned on the door. "Not sure what happened, but I'm here. I'm not going out tonight. I have too much to do, so…"

Silence.

Luke shrugged and walked over to his room. Best I can do. He won't talk to anyone unless he wants to. Better leave him alone for now. Before closing his own door, he glanced back at Igneel's. "I just hope he doesn't do anything stupid," he prayed. And his door shut.

---

Kyler was surprised when Muta rushed through the cat door. He was in the middle of polishing two necklaces with one charm a white wing and the other a black wing. "Muta," he greeted. "I can't reach Na—"

Muta transitioned from cat to man in seconds. "No time," he grunted tersely. He whipped around to open the door. Lance strode in with a hyperventilating Nashi in his arms. Muta ordered, "Take her downstairs to the basement. Door to reality is down there."

Lance gave a short nod and made it for the stairs with Muta hurrying after him.

Kyler was becoming more and more alarmed. "What's going on?" he demanded to know. "What happened?"

SLAM.

CLICK.

"Well. You're as clueless as ever."

Kyler looked at the d—

His eyes widened and a name fell off his lips. "Mirella."

°•°•°•°

Lance took the last step into the string workshop. He had no time to impressed by it all as Muta blurred past him to the door leading to outside. The second he opened it, Lance was flying onto the back porch. Ketchum City was truly a beautiful city at night. Christmastime in Ketchum was a spectacle with all the bright lights and snow. On this chilly night, gentle snow fell from the clouds to dust the town with its caress. Lance went straight to the ground of the porch and laid Nashi down to rest against him. Muta gave them privacy, shutting the door as Nashi sobbed and shook.

Lance cooed, "You're safe, Laylay. No one will hurt you. You're safe."

Nashi held back a sob.

Lance softened as he rubbed her back. "Think about how good your life is now," he prompted. "Think about how, this year, you got promoted to A-Class. Do you remember that?"

Progress was made when Nashi gulped and nodded.

"Think about how your birthday was," Lance encouraged. "Remember that? The party we all threw for you for going into adulthood?" He chuckled. "Remember the cake Justin got?"

A laugh bubbled out of Nashi as she took slower breaths. "Where did he even get a penis cake?"

"I'm more concerned about how it was so detailed," Lance had to admit. "I remember your sweet seventeenth. Justin death-dropped, Cade got piss-drunk and had whiskey dick, I was a mess because I kept hitting on Aine even though she kept telling me she was in a relationship with me and I didn't need to hit on her, and…" He blinked as he tried to remember. "Oh… What happened to Dazzler again?"

Nashi inhaled deeply and brought a shaky hand to wipe her eyes. "That was the night she and Cade nearly slept together, but—"

"He got whiskey dick," Lance chimed in with her, both of them breaking into laughter. As Nashi coughed and sniffled, Lance questioned, "Do you feel better?"

Nashi jerkily nodded. "Y-Yeah," she chattered. "I'm just cold now." She looked around and perplexity took over when she saw she was not surrounded in casinos and strip clubs. "Woah… Are we in Ketchum City?"

"Yeah, it would appear so," Lance acknowledged, taking a look around himself. "We had to take you out of the paradox or else the fear in you would've turned into something that would have paralyzed you." He looked back down to see Nashi having shame written on her face. "Don't beat yourself up over it," he soothed.

"Why shouldn't I?" Nashi whispered, eyes stinging. "I ruin everything."

"You do not," Lance hushed. "Nashi, you didn't ruin anything."

A humorless chuckle escaped her lips as she wiped her cheeks. "But I did. I ruined the plan. I couldn't even find Aine. I cheated on Gary. I got Branded. I just—…" She shook her head with her smile sarcastic. "God, I'm so pathetic. How did I think I could do this? I'll never be good enough to be S-Class if all this emotional shit is holding me back."

Lance sighed. "Laylay, being S-Class doesn't mean erasing any feelings. It means controlling them."

"And I can't even do that!" Nashi cried as tears escaped her. "Dammit, Lance, I can't even stop having panic attacks to find your girlfriend. Why are you even consoling me? You should be pissed at me for not finding her!"

Jade hardened. "Nashi," he rumbled, "your safety and mental stability is the priority. If Aine and Gary were here, they'd agree with me. You're not okay right now. I want you to be okay before we do anything."

"You should've just left me and gone after Aine," Nashi muttered. "I'm nothing but dead weight. I've been nothing but dead weight."

Lance pulled away to sear Nashi with an irate look. "I can understand you being upset, but now you're throwing a pity party for yourself and that's not how this works," he said, timbre stern. "I'm sorry if I'm coming across rude, but we're not here so you can feel pity for yourself over a panic attack. Attacks happen, Nashi. Was it ideal that it happened just then? No. So, what? They happen. You have to accept that there are just times your emotions spiral out of control. You've been convincing yourself you're fine for two-three years now, but you're not. And that's okay."

Nashi threw at him, "You don't understand."

"Then, make me understand," Lance countered. "What don't I understand?"

"I cheated on him!" Nashi thundered. She ripped off her glamour ring and threw it onto the porch floor. Her pink hair was back in an instant along with the hickory of her eyes and the complexion of her skin. Rapidly blinking her eyes to hold back tears, she sniffed. "Oh, God, you don't even understand how shitty I feel for that."

Lance blew out a breath. "From what you explained to me, you didn't even know any of us existed," he reminded. "He might be upset, but he can't fault you when you didn't even remember—"

"No." Nashi shook her head as she buried her face in her heads, raking her fingers down until they cupped her nose. "No, not that."

Now Lance was wary. "Okay…?"

Nashi sniffled again and drew hair wisps from her face. "After Halloween, after Gary and I had sex, I… I was terrified and there's really no excuse for it," she whispered in confession. "I felt trapped and I was back there and I couldn't do it. I went back to Galileo, and I—!" She closed her eyes, hiccupping.

Jade softened indefinitely as Lance swept her into a hug. "Laylay," he regarded softly, "I wish you told someone sooner. I can tell this has been bothering you for a while."

"I d-d-didn' wan' you to ju'"—hic—"me," Nashi cried into his chest.

"I wouldn't judge you. I'm not judging you," Lance tacked on. "From what I know about Halloween, you and Gary never made any commitment to each other. Yes, he has strong feelings for you, but neither of you agreed to a relationship or even a date afterward. I'm not really sure about you and Galileo. All I know is you've both been distant from one another, but that's not my business. That's between the two of you." He pulled Nashi away to thumb away her tears. "As for you and Gary, that's your business too."

"Tell me what to do," Nashi pleaded. "I don't know what to, I—!" She broke off into a sniff, closing her eyes as more tears fell. "I don't know what to do, Mackie."

"I can't tell you what to do," Lance said in soft apology. "What I do think you should do is have an honest talk with Gary about what you feel comfortable sharing. I'd definitely tell him what happened in that paradox. With Galileo, that's up to you if you want to tell him or not. You decide, okay? No one decides for you."

Nashi sniffled and lifted her eyes, hickory and jade clashing as she nodded. "Okay."

Lance offered her a half-smile. "Good. Do you feel better enough to go inside?"

Nashi nodded again, wiping her eyes.

Lance helped her to her feet and went to knock on the door. The porch door swung open to reveal a somber Muta. Lance led Nashi back into the shop to see Kyler and Lace had taken respective seats within the workshop. Lace looked disinterested while Kyler looked properly upset at something as he sanded wood for his violins. When Kyler noticed Nashi was back, he sprung up from his chair to go over to her and hold her face in his hands. "I felt the channel drop," he explained. "I was so worried about you."

Nashi's smile was awkward. "I'm sorry."

Kyler was already shaking his head. "No. I'm sorry. I sent you unprepared. That's on me." He thumbed her lips and his turquoise eyes darkened. "I can't believe he Branded you," he growled. "A forced Branding is considered high disrespect to your bloodline which means your father." He let go of Nashi. "Pazuzu had a lot of nerve to do that to you knowing who your father is."

Lace snorted. "Oh, please…" she drawled. "Zuzu knew exactly what he was doing. He sees the princess as a challenge, a tease. To make her his primary consort or even his mate would mean he's untouchable to the Etherious-slash-Dragon King but also gives him power over the Winter Devil."

Nashi blew her nose into the tissue Muta offered her. "What do you mean?"

"Branding isn't something you can get removed," Lace supplied, raking her hair through raven locks. "Only the Brander has the right to remove his or her Brand, unlike Marking when anyone can erase the Mark. Any attempt to remove a Brand results in your death. Sad, isn't it?"

Nashi curled into Lance, repulsed at the knowledge imposed upon her. "So…I'm stuck with this Brand on me? I can't let Gary see this. His Devil—!"

"Will irrevocably feel challenged and will probably Brand you on the spot," Lace dismissed, checking her nails. "Honestly, I'm surprised a Devil at his caliber let his human half have you first. Normally, Dark Creatures are possessive fuckers and Devils are no different. Who knows? Maybe, if you're lucky, he'll fuck you right then and there to show Zuzu who you belong to."

"Mirella," Kyler snapped when he saw fear flare-up in Nashi's eyes. "You're not helping!"

"Sorry I'm not like you and sugarcoat every little detail," Lace/Mirella snapped. "I'm helping the princess face the truth. What exactly are you doing? Oh, wait. You let her do exactly what that bastard and his bitch daughter wanted and rush headfirst into the casino and play straight into their hand. You think Pazuzu Branding her wasn't part of their scheme to lure the Winter Devil onto their side?"

"We needed information," Kyler retorted. "I couldn't exactly waltz in there myself, now, could I?"

Lace/Mirella gave a short, snarky laugh. "Don't get pissy with me because you're useless. I'm actually making headway and here you are, trapped in your little shop because the second you step outside, you're exposed."

Lance physically got between the pair before Kyler could snarl his counter. "Hold on. What's going on here?" His eyes swiveled to Lace. "Your name is actually 'Mirella'?"

Mirella rolled her eyes. "I haven't gone by that name is a long time," she dismissed. Gold glared into turquoise. "You lost the right to call me that name."

"Why?" Kyler boomed. "Jesus, Mary, Joseph, Mirella, why did I lose that right? Who was the one who disappeared on me all those centuries ago, hmm?" He stalked closer to her. "It certainly wasn't me," he hissed, "who slipped out of bed and disappeared without a trace. It wasn't me who went off the face of this realm without a note—!"

Mirella's eyes flashed. "I don't have to answer to you," she hissed back. "Don't get any closer to me. I don't want anything to do with the likes of you."

Kyler stopped dead at that. All the rage on his face broke into sorrow. "Why do you hate me so much?" he whispered. "It breaks my heart hearing you say that, Mirella."

Mirella hmphed and crossed her eyes, defiantly staring into his eyes with such coldness, it was frightening. "Good," she seethed. "Look. I'm not here to make amends or really even speak to you. I'm here because I want to kill the fucker running this paradox and I am here"—she pointed at Nashi—"to protect her at all costs. You're nothing more to me than a peon in my plans. If you get in my way, I'll take you down like anyone else. I assure you I haven't gotten lax in all these centuries, so don't – fucking – test me."

The grief in Kyler's eyes steeled over into something equally cold as his body straightened. "Fine." One word so clipped, so calloused. "We have a common goal: kill the Demon. That's it. We're nothing more than tentative allies. We won't talk about anything besides our mission."

Mirella's nod was curt. "Good."

"Just remember, Lace"—Kyler drew out the name with such a vile hiss—"this is what you wanted. I'm gladly agreeing to your request."

Mirella shook her head to brush back her hair and shot Kyler one last glower. "Wonderful," she bit. "If you're done making a scene, I suggest we share our information, being our plotting, kill a Demon, and never see each other's faces for the next couple of centuries."

Kyler held her gaze with ease. "Let's."

Lance and Nashi looked between the two of them, puzzled. What the heck is going on?

°•°•°•°

The Devil hung his head from his chains and his ears did not even perk when he heard that familiar click of heels. Gary's pants and underwear had been shredded before him and left him stark naked, but it did not bother him in the slightest.

Lynn observed him, always glancing down at his soft member in hunger. "Come now, Winter Devil, can't we let bygones be bygones?" she tried again. "I've been nice enough to you—"

"You deny me my Female, wench," the Devil snarled, hands tightening into fists.

Lynn rolled her eyes. "She's a child," she argued. "She hardly knows what she wants and doesn't even know how to properly please you."

"I do not care for the readily submissive," the Devil loftily put out there. "Training her gives me greater pleasure." He lifted his face to send a smirk at Lynn's annoyed face. "Is the wench upset I would never touch her?"

Lynn marched up to him and boldly made a grab for his cock. "You never Branded her," she growled. "You will Brand me and you'll give me what I want."

The Devil snorted. "Ha. You have already tried that, wench, and we saw what happened with that."

Lynn bristled, but she did take her hands off him. "You want to play like this? Fine. Let's play." Over her shoulder, she called, "Pazuzu!"

The Winter Devil arched his back as all sense of reasoning was lost in the face of unfathomable rage. Like a rabid wolf, snarls thundered out of his chest as Pazuzu slunk into the light. He flexed and fisted his fingers as his body shook in rage, jerking at his chains.

An Alpha challenged for his territory will never back down from a show of claws and teeth.

Lynn watched the spectacle like she was turned on by it. "You can deny me, defy me, reject me—that's fine. But the more you do it, the less you'll ever see of that child." She patted Pazuzu's shoulder. "Already my Devil Branded her."

The Winter Devil's eyes glinted as he looked at Pazuzu with emotion much worse than hatred and murderous intent. "MINE!" he snarled in such a feral voice, it barely sounded human.

Lynn grinned. She got to him. "This wouldn't have happened if you had fucked me," she tsked. "Now you have to face the consequences, Devil." She dusted invisible dirt off Pazuzu's rigid shoulders. "I'll give you some time to think about my offer, but remember, the more you stall, the worse it'll be. As we speak, I have allies on the hunt for the last pure Heartfilia Witch to be a new pet to my father while he keeps Aine Fernandes as a close hostage. You can be sure your precious Angel will come swooping in to save them both as reckless as she is and when that happens, who will stop my father from breeding her?"

The Winter Devil roared at that, shaking the entire prison.

Lynn did not look affected as she sashayed away. "Think about my offer." She disappeared into the shadows…

…leaving Pazuzu behind.

The Winter Devil gnashed his teeth at Pazuzu, growling, and foaming, and wishing to sink his claws into his competition's throat.

Pazuzu did not even look remotely dangerous. He simply stared at what the Devil had become. "You know, I had planned to make her one of my consorts," he spoke in their native tongue. "Having the Etherious-Dragon Princess as a pet is an enviable thing to add to my collection. But as I spoke with her more…perhaps merely adding her to my collection isn't enough. She is mate material. You'd be a fool not to Brand her when you had the chance." He narrowed his eyes. "So why didn't you?"

"I don't have to answer to you," the Winter Devil snapped back, trying to sound coherent.

"Would it make you more talkative if I told you the Brand is temporary?"

The Winter Devil's eyes widened. Then, they narrowed. "Why Brand my Female if you don't plan to keep her?"

"You're not the only one who finds her important," Pazuzu responded. "She and her siblings are important to many in their own way. I Branded her as an act of protection—"

"Bullshit!" the Winter Devil had no issue calling out. "You Brand her to make a mockery of the King and challenge me! I will end your life as slow as possible for Branding my Female! You claim to protect her, but the lust I smell on you disgusts me!"

Pazuzu stormed forward. "You had every opportunity to Brand her and keep her under your protection. But you didn't. I have my orders. The Brand I gave her helps me keep track of her and know when she's in life-threatening danger. Whether you like it or not, you need me if you want to see her again."

The Winter Devil snarled loudly at that. "You want me in your debt," he put together. "A trade. You offer protection to my Female." He inclined his chin. The hatred still burned, but suspicion rose with it. "What is it you want from me?"

Pazuzu straightened. "That's for another time. I'll collect your debt when I feel like it. In the meantime, I will protect your Female since you're unfit to do so."

The Winter Devil curled his lip. "Watch how you talk to me."

"I don't think you get it. I have the power here. I have Branded your Female and placed her under my protection since you're incapacitated." Pazuzu lifted the Winter Devil's chin with a bruising grip. "I'll talk how I want. You're powerful, but you're young and impulsive. Recognize when one of your kind is an ally." He let the Devil go with a warning fang his way. "Lynn is right. Your Female is naïve and reckless. Once she hears news of her comrade's blatant hostage situation, she will rush here and there won't be an escape for her—not without my help. If you want your pride, have it. Your Female will die and remain mine because of it."

Heavy reluctance rolled within the Winter Devil as he understood what Pazuzu was saying. There was rebellion too, that stubborn pride he had. Still, he could not ignore what was being said. "I…"—his fists clenched—"cannot protect my Female while here. But…you can."

Pazuzu managed a nod. "I have orders to ensure her safety, but I will protect your Female with my life." He walked away when the Winter Devil rumbled again.

"Make no mistake, Old One. When this is said and done and I am free, I will get retribution for you defiling my Female with your Brand. She is mine and she will carry my Brand in time."

Pazuzu grinned. "I accept your challenge. Perhaps, by then, you'll have a name. That's when it'll actually be a challenge." He misted away into the shadows.

The Winter Devil hung his head with only his smirk showing. "A name," he tested. "I quite like the sound of that."

---

Luna was fed-up and wanted to scream her frustrations.

If testosterone was a human, she would have beaten the crap out of it for making her life Hell.

She and the boys had settled on a game retail store—Gamer Spot—as their next venue, but that did not mean everything was smooth sailing. While Carlisle had sauntered off to check out the MagiX games, Luna had found the MagiSwitch section and was trying hard to choose between two games she knew Luke would love. Automatically, when her indecisiveness became her downfall, she called Bleu to help her choose.

But Gale came as well.

And this was where Luna's frustration was pushing a limit.

"Who could go wrong with Magimon? Ace, you said Luke likes it? Get him both the Let's Go Fulgimon! and the Let's Go Eevemon! editions."

"Blondie, you can't go wrong with Smash, I'm telling you! Luke's gonna like that way better than stupid Magimon."

"Yeah because melee is so much better…"

"Because catching magical monsters is oh-so-fun too."

"Magimon has a large fanbase—"

"And, what, Smash doesn't? Do you even game?"

"What the He—heck is that supposed to mean?"

Luna shut her eyes, growling as she listened to the pair of them bicker above her. When she had enough, she stood to her full height angrily. "Enough!" she snapped. "Oh, my gosh, you both are acting like children!"

Gale huffed. "He started it," he snubbed.

Bleu got heated. "I did not—!"

Luna hmphed and stomped away, ignoring both boys frantically calling her back for her attention. She weaved down the aisles, cheeks flushed in annoyance. Why are boys so stupid? she lamented. This is so dumb! They're literally fighting over games I'm going to buy!

Males competing over the attention of a female is nothing new, Pup, Icarus chided. I've witnessed Father King compete for the attention of his own mate while she spoke to the one you call 'Uncle Gray'.

Luna brushed that off as she got into the MS section and drifted through the new games on display. Again, 'dumb', she scoffed. Papa knows Mama only loves him. She shook her head as she crouched down to eye Animal Forest: City Crossing. Besides, I don't get why Gale and Bleu would be like that anyway. Gale obviously has a crush on some girl.

Icarus sighed. Pup, you are so clueless in so many ways.

As Luna rolled her eyes, Carlisle sidled up to her with a self-inflicted smirk. "I take it your suitors are fighting again?"

Luna sagged. "Yes," she groaned. "It's so annoying…! Like, seriously, Gale's been digging at Bleu this whole time! What's his deal anyway?"

"A little thing called 'jealousy', Lu."

"And he has a crush on someone else, Car," Luna hissed back. She flipped her hair to one side and pulled out MagiDogs + Cats. "I have half a mind to track her down and serve Gale to her on a silver platter if he keeps this up. I just wanted a nice time with you and Bleu."

Carlisle rolled his head back and forth. "I mean he did come with you first," he pointed out. "And, to be fair, he did ditch you too…"

"Thank you!"

"But it's whether he meant to ditch you or not that should be your judgment call."

Luna groaned. "He totally did!" she exclaimed. "Carlisle, you weren't there. I saw him. India was hanging off his arm and he was with some group laughing it up. He didn't look like he was in a real big hurry to get back to me." She stood up as Carlisle did.

"Lu, my mama always told there are sixteen sides to any story," Carlisle told her. "You're only seeing it from your point of view which I totally get. But…"—he glanced back to see Gale glaring at some game while Bleu spoke to one of the two workers about a choice between Magimon editions—"unlike my ex, Gale seems sincere when he tells you he didn't mean to bail on you. Hear me out," he pleaded when Luna looked ready to ignore him. "It's the same thing with Bleu, okay? Someone will find him and he'll try to be polite and at least talk with them a little. He'll try to get out of long conversations, but he can't without being rude. Hasn't that ever happened to you?"

Luna hated to admit that it did. "Well, if that's the case, I still can't say, 'sorry' and just let it go like that. I'm still annoyed about him being like this right now and…"—she looked away—"it'd be too embarrassing apologizing now after I said all that."

Carlisle laughed and wrapped an arm over Luna's shoulders as Bleu came up to them. He smiled at Luna and held out his choice to her gift-getting. "Here. I scrapped the idea of Magimon for now. This is an indie game with a bunch of good reviews."

Luna took the game and read the title aloud: "'Professor Bronev and the Diabolical Baron'?"

"It's a puzzle game," Bleu explained. "You told me your brother likes that kind of stuff, so I thought this might suit him."

Luna smiled, blown away. "Actually…it totally does," she confirmed. "I remember an animated movie came out and Luke and Igneel loved it…" Shaking her head in disbelief, she looked up and Bleu and asked, "How did you…?"

"A Magician never tells his secrets," Bleu teased.

Luna smiled. "It's called Wizard Academies, Bleu, but nice try." She nodded at the game. "I'll definitely get this for Luke, though. Thanks a lot." She glanced around. "Now to find another game…"

"Here."

Luna was startled when another game was thrust into her face. She gave Gale a stink eye while he simply grinned like an innocent and she swiped the game from him. She checked out the title. "'Legend of Avatar Koji'?"

As she read the back for details, Gale summed it up. "It's based off that Bender series you and Luke like. It's something you can both play or do it solo." His grin broadened. "You're welcome."

Luna hated to admit Gale actually had a good idea and merely looked away. At Carlisle's nudge, she forced out, "Thank you." Her demeanor softened when she turned to Bleu, something that made Gale scowl. "I'm going to go pay for these, okay?"

"I'll come with," Bleu decided. "I have a rewards card here and I might be able to get you a discount."

Luna shook her head to dismiss the idea. "Oh, no, that's o—!"

Carlisle suddenly pushed both Bleu and Luna towards the checkout counter. "Great idea! Bleu, accompany the lady, would you, and get her that discount? 'Kay, thanks!" He grabbed Gale's wrist. "Want to help me look for a good MagiX game? Awesome."

Gale growled and yanked back his wrist, but it was too late. Bleu was guiding Luna to the counter and had already said something to make her giggle. "I'm the one who brought her here and she thinks I'm that replaceable?" he grumbled to himself. He started stalking over to the counter when Carlisle got in his way.

Carlisle saw the look on Gale's face and raised his hands. "Easy, Prince Adam," he soothed. "I come in peace."

"Get out of my way," Gale snapped.

"Not until you calm down," Carlisle refused. "You need to control your temper around your princess and being an asshole to the dude she's crushing on is not helping your game."

Gale kept his eyes on Luna and Bleu and narrowed them when Bleu interlocked his fingers with Luna's. "She needs to be focused on training," he hissed. "She just needs a reminder."

Carlisle blocked Gale's path when he tried to move around him. "I know you're upset Luna won't listen to you, but did you try telling her what happened?"

Gale finally glared at Carlisle. "She wouldn't listen to me!"

"Then try harder!"Carlisle argued back. "From what you look like, you aren't the kind of guy to just take this lying down and acting like an asshole isn't helping your case!"

Gale glanced to see Bleu had wrapped an arm around Luna's waist and Luna smiled goofily, eager to rely on his touch. Anger stabbed at him. Jealousy laughed in his ear. "You're right. I'm not a guy who'll take this shit lying down," he agreed. "But I'm not about to stand here and deal with this shit." His eyes went back to Carlisle. "She wants to go home with him? Fan-fucking-tastic. She got her wish. Cheers."

Carlisle's eyes widened when Gale stormed off with loathing in his gait. "Gale! Wait! You can't just leave!"

Gale shot up his middle finger as he went out of the store.

Carlisle dropped his arms. "And he left," he narrated, exasperated.

"Carlisle?"

He froze and turned to see Luna with her new Gamer Spot bag and Bleu behind her. She looked at Carlisle in confusion. "Did Gale leave already?"

Carlisle winced. "Yeah, um…"

Luna shook her head to cut him off. "Don't even worry about it." She snorted, a loveless smile on her lips. "Believe me. I'm not."

Carlisle could hear the hidden hurt in Luna's tone. "Luna, c'mon now…"

"Carlisle, it's fine," Luna assured. "I don't care what he does. He can go off and party and get drunk for all I care. I'm having fun with you and Bleu." She turned to Bleu with a big grin. "Actually, there's another store I wanted to check out. Box Bento. Is that okay?"

Bleu smiled. "Lead the way, Ace."

Luna giggled and practically skipped out of the store. Bleu went to follow her, but Carlisle stopped him by grabbing his arm. Bleu gave his cousin a look. "What?"

"B, you're not serious, are you?" Carlisle hissed. "C'mon, Bleu, this isn't right and you know it."

Bleu wrenched his arm out of Carlisle's grip. "I am not forcing her to chase after him," he hissed back. "Don't act like you don't see it. He likes her, I like her, she likes me. He's jealous because I'm his little rival. Period. That's not my fault and it's not any of our faults if he acts like a dick."

"I never said it was!"

"Then why are you keeping me here?"

Carlisle huffed. "Because, after seeing how hotheaded the guy is, he's bound to do something stupid and something he'll regret."

"Then you follow him," Bleu suggested. His patience was tested. "I'm not exactly his fan favorite, but Carlisle, this really isn't our business." He clapped his cousin's shoulder. "You do this, don't expect a 'thank you' for butting in." He left Carlisle with those words.

Carlisle's eyes hardened.

°•°•°•°

Gale was still fuming as he slammed himself out of the doors of BC Towers with his Compact out and his fingers flying with his message thread to Jax.

« Where the fuck is that party at again »

« Thought you were with our lovely maiden? She find her prince? »

« Stfu wheres the party »

« dude chillax »

« it's in Shirotsume. I'll send you my location »

Gale paused on the nice front BC Towers had with outdoor tables and chairs and benches to text back.

« c u in 20 »

He went to the Ryde app in his Compact and angrily began setting up his ride. "Stupid asshole," he muttered to himself. "She wants to be with him? Fine."

Sycaña surfaced at the rising of his temper. Little Gem, green is not a good color for your scales.

Shut up, Gale snapped. I'm not jealous. I'm giving her what she wants. He saw his Ryde was set up and already had a driver close in the area. She chose him over me. He opened his messages to start a new one…

…to Natsu Dragneel.

I'm just returning the favor, Gale snarled, already typing.

« Might want to check on your youngest daughter. She ditched me for some dude »

Little Gem, Sycaña snarled back. This is not the way we treat our mates!

Yeah, well, she isn't mine, Gale snapped back. She chose him!

She is young! Sycaña countered. You are both young! Control your temper before it controls you!

Gale gritted his teeth as his thumb hovered over the send button. His finger shook, but he did not press it.

"Hey! Gale!"

Gale closed his Compact and stuffed it in his jacket as he whipped around. Carlisle was barreling down the brick road with a hard look on his face. Gale rolled his eyes, muttering, "Not this guy…"

HONK-HONK!

Gale looked up to see a Lacrima Car pulling up to the curb with the Ryde sign glowing in the windshield. The four-door came right up to Gale for the passenger window to roll down and a kind lady to smile at him. "Gale?"

Gale managed a menacing smile. "That's me." He opened the backseat door and slid inside. He tried to close it, but a hand stopped him.

Carlisle's hand.

"Let go," Gale growled, jerking the door.

Carlisle flinched, but he held his ground. "No," he said strongly. "You're about to do something stupid and it's going to hurt her."

"Why do you care?" Gale spat. "What I do isn't her or your business. She chose him. She can't have both. That's not how life works." He tried to shut the door—

—only to be completely shocked when Carlisle left him to round onto the other side and open the door.

Gale bristled. "What the fuck are you—?"

Carlisle slid into the backseat and shut the door. "I'm coming with you," he decided.

"No, you're n—!"

Carlisle buckled up his seatbelt while giving Gale a look. "Honey, listen. I know temperamental men when I see them. Don't fight me on this."

Gale ground his teeth as he angrily buckled himself. Red glared into the rearview mirror at the highly amused driver. "Drive," he demanded, huffing as he turned his gaze to the window. To Carlisle, he added, "You can come, but stay out of my way."

Carlisle snorted as he got comfortable. "As long as your way doesn't involve you doing anything you'll regret, I'll be as nonexistent as Judy Andrews' imperfections."

---

DING-DING.

Mary Jane waved back as Justin and Ace went further down the street, hand in hand. When they were far enough away, she whirled back around to be at Peter's side. It was evening time, yet it looked like it was eleven at night. Mary Jane sighed as she put her hands in her jacket's pockets.

"Sorry about that," she apologized. "I didn't mean for us to get sidetracked and then my parents want me home—"

"Hakuna matata," Peter laughed. "Honestly. It's okay. Meeting Justin and Ace was pretty fun anyway. Nolan's gonna be so jealous I met his idol."

"Make sure to give him Justin's personal snap," Mary Jane reminded.

"It's really cool he's that down-to-earth with his fans," Peter admired. "I was hoping I didn't offend him or his boyfriend. My parents aren't people to accept LGBTQ. I have to thank Bleu's parents for raising me to really accept people." He glanced at Mary Jane. "Was it hard for Justin to come out? Your family's okay with it, right?"

"Oh, totally!" Mary Jane assured. "But coming out? I honestly don't remember. I've always known Justin this way, but our family is really progressive."

"That's amazing," Peter complimented.

Mary Jane hummed her agreement.

The pair walked in silence. Peter kept glancing at Mary Jane as her eyes wandered over the storefronts and reflected the lights in her eyes. Gold glistened and a fond smile formed on his face. He cleared his throat. "So."

Mary Jane turned to him, interested.

"You learned a lot about me from Justin's little interrogation. Do you have any questions for me?"

Mary Jane giggled behind a hand then shook her head. "Mmmm… Not really. You were adopted, only child, older parents, part-time job, plans to go to NAU, study abroad… Pretty much covers it."

"Don't you want to know about any exes?"

Mary Jane's cheeks flushed more so than the cold made her. "'Exes'?" she repeated, high-pitched.

Peter broke into chortles. "I'm just joshin'. I've never had a girlfriend or even a crush. Wait." He tapped his chin. "Hold on. I did have a fiancé back in pre-k."

Mary Jane's smile was infectious and positively radiant. "Really? A fiancé?"

Peter shrugged. "What can I say? I was a family man back then too," he joked. "It was pretty serious. A ring and everything. Granted, my mom was pretty pissed I stole one of hers."

"Naturally," Mary Jane teased. "Is this engagement still going on?"

Peter made a face. "We never broke it off, so we've been engaged for now…over ten years? Dang. I need to figure out where she is now so I can break it off."

Mary Jane feigned a gasp. "Peter!" she scolded. "That girl has been engaged to you for over ten years!"

"And she's probably cheated on me," Peter shot back, grinning. "I think it's best we break the engagement. I don't feel as much as I did with her back in pre-k. I feel something stronger for someone else."

"Oh?"

The pair of them passed by a Christmas tree.

Peter's eyes widened at what he saw.

Mary Jane glowed with the lights of silver and white and red and emerald and the red and blue of her eyes gleamed beautifully. She looked simply angelic. "Who would that be?"

Peter sniffed, trying to hide the warming of his cheeks, and stopped.

Mary Jane belatedly realized she was walking alone and stopped, looking back at him with a tilted head. "Peter?"

Peter swallowed. "Sweets… When I met you back on Halloween, I meant what I said about being your friend. Same in Margaret. I'm always fine being your friend. I like being your friend."

Mary Jane fully turned around to face him. "I like being your friend too."

"But…" Peter stared at her determinedly. "But I want to be more than friends and I feel like we could be."

Mary Jane's mouth opened into a surprised o. A hand came out to fiddle with her charm. "'More than friends'?" She pressed her lips and looked away. "I don't think we could. It's better if we're friends."

"Why?"

Mary Jane winced. "Please, Peter. It's better if we're just friends. You don't want someone like me."

A firm frown. "If you told me you didn't like me, I would've been okay with that. Being just your friend would still make me happy. But you didn't say that."

Mary Jane pressed her lips together even tighter. "I've been a horrible person to so many people," she whispered. "I can't just let that go. I can't even do a simple spell anymore."

"You think I care about that?"

Mary Jane's eyes darted upward to see Peter right in her face, gold clashing with scarlet cerulean. "Peter—"

"Sweets, I don't think you realize how much of a good person you really are," Peter started. "Luna laid it all out for me. She told me how you were the person to give her inspiration at the Harvest Festival. I heard how you defended Igneel, made that Time Mage heal him and me first before you."

Mary Jane clenched her teeth. "I hurt my own family."

"But you're trying to rectify that!" Peter countered. "You're trying, Mary Jane. When you told me you were considering taking Igneel's offer to relearn Magic, do you know how happy that made me? Do you know how happy it made me to hear you're staying in Fairy Tail? I was happy because you're trying, Sweets. You want to become a better person and you're doing it."

Peter took her gloved hands into his. "That's what I like about you—your attitude. Yeah, you're not as bold as you were before, but it doesn't make you weak. Your attitude hasn't disappeared—it just took a different form. Yeah, you gave up for a little bit and I was worried you'd let go of Fairy Tail. But look at you now. You're trying."

Scarlet-cerulean watered. "What if I stop trying?"

"You have a lot of good people around you, Sweets," Peter reminded. "They'll let you do your own thing, but they'll push you when they think you need it. I owe Igneel a lot for pushing you." He intertwined their fingers. "Sweets, I like you—a lot. But I'm okay being friend-zoned too. You've gone through a lot and you'll be going through a lot. I'm heading off to some academy next semester. A lot's going to change—"

"I like you too."

Peter blinked when he saw Mary Jane's eyes drop and a shy blush dusted her face. "Say that again?"

"No…!" she whined. "You heard me the first time."

A slow grin morphed on to Peter's face. "You took me by surprise. How am I supposed to know you really said that?"

Mary Jane threw him a frazzled look before looking away. "I…like you too," she whispered.

Peter's eyes lit up and his grin broadened. "Really?"

Mary Jane nodded, still abashed.

Peter let out a happy laugh. "We have the absolute worst timing to do a confession," he realized. He tugged Mary Jane into walking with him with their hands linked. "I'll be transferring to my new academy come mid-January."

"I have a lot to do too," Mary Jane admitted. "The guild has a lot of events and I have to do new training." Her eyes fell to the ground. "Maybe this was a mistake," she lamented.

Peter squeezed her hand. "It wasn't," he declared. "I might not look it, but imagine me as when Aladdin said, 'goodnight' to Jasmine and literally fell off the balcony and onto the Magic Carpet because he was that happy. That's how happy I am and, yes, I watched a lot of those movies as a kid," he tacked on to answer Mary Jane's silent question.

Mary Jane's chuckle quieted within seconds. "But, Peter," she tried to bring up.

"Hey, none of this doubt and 'but's and stuff," Peter decided. "You like me and I like you."

"That doesn't mean everything will automatically work out," Mary Jane dejectedly pointed out. "Peter, you'll be leaving for boarding school. You'll need all that time to study and focus. You'll meet new people—"

Peter rounded on her to stop her. "Hey. I want to make this work," he rumbled, piercing her with serious eyes.

"I'm just telling you it won't be as easy as you think," Mary Jane breathed out. "I told you what happened with—"

"I know you did," Peter cut in, "but I still want to try with you. I don't think you realize how much I really like you and like talking to you about anything and everything."

"You'll find someone better to talk to," Mary Jane put out there.

Peter furrowed his eyebrows. "You're already doubting us before there can be an 'us'. Why so pessimistic?"

"I'm being realistic," Mary Jane mentioned quietly. "Not everyone gets what they want, okay?"

Irritation flickered through Peter's eyes. "Yeah, I know that," he ground out. "Mary Jane, if you don't want to be with me, then just say it."

Mary Jane flinched. "You're angry."

"I'm annoyed," Peter corrected. "You're being this pessimistic about something you haven't even tried. I'm willing to try and put effort into this, Sweets, but you won't even let me get that far."

Mary Jane's eyes watered and a cry bubbled deep within her throat. "I'm sorry," she whispered. "I just don't see how this can work. I don't think you realize how much Magic Academies make you focus on just Magic. Some academies forbid inter-student relationships or even outside ones. I want you to succeed."

"So you're scared you'll be holding me back," Peter tried to decipher. "You're scared you'll be a distraction to me or…" His eyes widened when he figured it out. "You're scared I'll find a girl better than you."

DRIP.

Mary Jane let out her tears at that.

DROP.

Peter softened. "Aw, Sweets, that's what you're afraid of?"

Mary Jane sniffled and rubbed away her tears.

Peter brought her closer, a smile on his face. "C'mere, Sweets, I didn't mean to make you cry," he promised, laughing a little. "You've been so worried about me finding someone 'better' that you didn't think I was worried about the same thing."

Mary Jane sniffled again and looked up at him with big eyes. "Why? I'm not all that great."

Peter snorted, rolling his eyes. "Yeah, right," he teased. "I don't think you realize how much attention you get. You're beautiful, Sweets. Even before all that crap happened with Margaret, you got a lot of attention."

Mary Jane decided not to argue and instead asked, "So how can this all work if you think that?"

"Easy. I trust you."

Mary Jane blinked. "What?"

"What?" Peter parroted. "Yeah, I trust you. After watching Bane and Ekho, I learned real quick trust is a pretty great thing people should have in each other. Bane has some deep trust issues and he takes them out on Ekho in a toxic way."

Mary Jane scrunched her nose. "I thought they hated each other?"

"Ekho honestly doesn't like Bane," Peter informed. "Bane's a different case. Ekho's really pretty and her personality attracts people around her. Bane sees that and gets jealous, but his jealousy is pretty ugly and he takes to bullying her."

"That's horrible," Mary Jane breathed. "What is wrong with him?"

"I'm not sure. I just know Ekho is ready to end the engagement and we're trying..." Peter shook his head. "Getting off-topic. Anyways, yeah, I trust you. I trust you enough to make the right call if a guy starts flirting with you or asks you out."

Mary Jane flushed with a different type of embarrassment. "Oh."

Peter smiled. "What? Don't you trust me?"

"I…do." That realization caused Mary Jane's eyes to glimmer in giddiness. "I do trust you."

Satisfaction rolled across Peter's face. "Good." He pulled them into walking again. "So. That takes care of that. Like I said, I want to try this with you, Sweets. But I can't do this unless you're willing."

"I am." Something exciting stirred in Mary Jane's stomach and radiated in her smile. "I really am. I like you, Peter. I want to try with you."

Peter let out a strained sigh. "I'm trying really hard to keep my powers in check right now," he confessed. As Mary Jane giggled, he said, "So we've confessed to each other, decided to try this… All that's left is for me to ask you out."

"We're not boyfriend-girlfriend yet?" Mary Jane wondered, confused.

"You're so adorable." Peter chuckled when Mary Jane looked away, abashed. "At my school, it's pretty much a thing to start being bf-gf without any dates, but my parents are old school. When I got to high school, they told me if I'm with a girl, we go on dates first—none of this insta-love business."

"Oh…" Mary Jane drawled out.

Peter nodded. "So. Mary Jane Dreyar. Sweets. Would you do me the honor of going on a date with me?"

Mary Jane wasted no time nodding, giggling all the while. "Yes. I'd love to go on a date with you."

"Again. Powers in check," Peter gritted out. With Mary Jane laughing, he commented, "You laugh at my struggle now, but I'll get you back. I'll remember this."

"Oh, I'm sure you will," Mary Jane assured. "So. What are we doing on our first date?"

"I have my license, so I can drive," Peter suggested. "I have some ideas about what we can do. Everyone that goes on dates does the whole movie-dinner thing. I want to do something less…normal."

"We'll figure it out," Mary Jane claimed. "You know, it's weird. I feel…really happy knowing you like me. Like really happy." She touched her stomach. "My belly feels the whole butterflies thing."

"Careful. My ego's gonna shoot up if you keep saying stuff like that," Peter teased. "Since I leave mid-January, we have around a month for dates. Since our schedules are busy, I say we get to planning. I'm asking you to be my girlfriend before I leave, but I want to take you on a few dates first."

Mary Jane's smile was shy and cute. "How can you say that so casually?"

"Oh, trust me. I'm just acting cool. I'm a complete wreck on the inside and, when I get home, I'm going to scream into my pillow and dance around listening to my anthem," Peter remarked seriously.

"Are you really?" Mary Jane tested, skeptical.

Peter cracked a smile. "And I'll call my friends and scream at them I finally got a date with my dream girl." He watched as she turned red for his smile to broaden. "There's that blush."

Mary Jane bumped his shoulder. "Moron."

"A practically perfect moron in every way," Peter jested back. "So these dates…"

And for the rest of the walk to Mary Jane's house, laughter and teases were shared between two young souls just experiencing something more than crushes for the first time. They did not stop on their stride, too immersed in their conversation for anything else. Calabash Avenue crept upon them and they were walking up to Mary Jane's porch in a matter of minutes.

Mary Jane spun around after unlocking the screen door. "Today was really fun! Sorry I have to go." Her eyes were apologetic. "I know Daddy worries."

Peter chuckled. "It's okay," he calmed. "You're their baby. Parents worrying over their youngest kid isn't unheard of. Just wish we had some more time together. We could've seen that new movie Crashing King: Kong Wrecks the LacriNet."

"Next time," Mary Jane promised.

Peter stepped closer to her, touching her flushed cheek. "Tomorrow," he decided. "How about it? I know this great auto-rama."

"I'll have to ask my parents," Mary Jane began, "but if they say, 'yes', then definitely tomorrow."

Peter hummed, pleased, gold staring into scarlet-cerulean. "You know, it's taking a lot for me not to kiss you right now," he suddenly said.

Mary Jane turned scarlet at that. "Wh-Wh-What?"

"You're so cute," Peter chortled. "And that's why I want to kiss you. But I won't kiss you yet."

Mary Jane found herself pouting. "Well, why not?"

Peter grinned and booped her nose. "Because I have that really weird feeling your dad is watching us through that window over there and I'm not about to get electrocuted."

Mary Jane whipped around and caught the flutter of a curtain closing. She narrowed her eyes. "Daddy…" she growled, knowing full well her father heard her. With a huff, she turned back to Peter. "Sorry about him. He's…protective."

"It's okay," Peter eased. "Once he gets to know me, maybe I'll risk kissing your cheek." At her titter, he softened and patted her cheek. "Goodnight, Sweets."

"Wait! Um…" Mary Jane glanced away when Peter focused his attention on her. "Um… W-W-Well… The guild is doing a masquerade dance a couple of days before Christmas, if…if you want to…to…"

Peter noticed Mary Jane's struggle and spoke up. "There's a winter formal at my high school coming up in January. I wasn't planning on going since I'll be transferring, but I'm still allowed to attend. How about fair trade? Be my date for the formal and I'll be your date for the ball."

"W-Wait! 'D-D-D-Date'?" Poor Mary Jane looked like she would pass out. "A-Are you sure? This doesn't have to be a date! W-We could just go as friends or—!"

Peter busted in laughter.

Mary Jane blew out her cheeks as annoyance prickled her. "No need to laugh at me," she grunted with her shoulder angling to the door.

Peter moved forward to stop her with his hand. "Sweets, I'm sorry for laughing. You were just getting all cute with your flustering," he said aloud. "It doesn't have to be a date, but we'll be each other's dates. The social kind, not the romantic kind." Gold glinted. "Not yet anyways." He tipped his chin down to her. "Okay?"

Mary Jane's nod was timid and content.

Peter beamed. "Cool." He waved at her. "I'll talk to you later. Goodnight, Sweets." He turned to pad down the steps of the porch.

Mary Jane smiled, sighing. "Night, Peter." As she watched him walk away from her h—

"Butterfly, it's getting cold outside."

Mary Jane sighed, this time annoyed, and turned to face the stern look of her father who kept his gray-jade eyes on Peter's retreating figure. "I'm coming in," she supposed.

Laxus made room for her to step inside, though he glanced back at Peter's figure and narrowed his eyes. "Weren't you going to introduce me to your friend?" he groused.

Mary Jane rolled her eyes as she took off her boots. "Daddy… Mom says you need to keep calm because of your blood pressure, remember? And you already know Peter anyways."

Laxus finally closed the door and locked it. "I'm just worried about your safety, Butterfly," he reasoned. "You've never really shown interest in guys—"

"Then, isn't it great I finally like someone?" Mary Jane questioned.

"Of course," Laxus backpedaled, "but, Butterfly, I just want you to be careful. It's going to be a transitional time for you and for him. Are you sure it's a good idea to try anything?"

Mary Jane fluffed out her hair after taking off her jacket. "What's that supposed to mean?"

"You know how boys are," Laxus went on. "You're both so young and with him going to school in a month, maybe you should both wait a little. I don't want your heart getting broken."

Mary Jane finished hanging up her coat to give her father a look. "Daddy, I'm not her," she pointed out. She shrugged and took off her earmuffs. "Besides, I trust Peter and he trusts me."

Laxus growled. "Mary Jane, you're too young to know what you're saying. I just want you to think this through. You both will see each other for a month and then what? He'll be shipped off to some school for the next couple of years!"

"So what?" Mary Jane snapped. "I trust him—!"

"It takes more than a month to build trust—!"

"I am not – Veronika!"

Laxus' eyes widened when both of Mary Jane's eyes swirled scarlet, glinting in her anger. "Butterfly…"

Mary Jane flinched, a hand coming up to massage her temple. "I'm sorry," she exhaled, eyes turning heterochromic. "Just…stop…treating me like her. So she made a mistake. It doesn't mean I'm going to make the same one."

Laxus softened and came to hug his daughter. "I just want you to think carefully," was all he said.

Mary Jane elbowed out of her father's hold. "I'm not really hungry," she decided. "I'll be in my room." With that, she darted up the steps.

Laxus winced when he heard a door slam as Mira emerged from the hall, wiping her hands on a towel. She looked at the banister. "What was that all about?" She shot her husband a knowing look. "Did you say something about Peter?"

Laxus growled lowly. "This is like Veronika all over again," he preached. "I'm not letting her go through that same heartbreak. Guys are dogs and only care about one thing. What happens when some girl offers Peter that one thing while he's away?"

Mirajane sighed and went to her husband to peck his lips. "Laxus, she's fifteen," she tried to reason over her husband's scoffing. "She's still our baby, but we can't control everything she does."

"Yes, we can," Laxus countered. "It's called 'parenting'."

"Helicopter parenting," Mira corrected as she stroked her husband's chest. "Veronika left because of that exact reasoning, Laxus. Don't do the same to Mary Jane. Let her breathe a little, date if she wants to. We can discuss more about her relationship with Peter when it gets closer to him leaving and should it get serious. Maybe invite him over for dinner?"

Laxus found him relaxing at Mira's touch and seared her with a weak glare. "Woman, you really are a Demoness," he grunted. "Fine. We can invite the kid over for dinner. But if I—!"

"Great! I'll tell the others!" Mira decided, giddy. "Since Mary Jane won't be joining us for dinner tonight, how about we have a quiet night with a movie? I was thinking Sunpiercer?"

Laxus wrapped an arm around his wife. "Only you would want to watch some action-horror for a quiet night in."

---

The kitchen table was occupied with hand-drawn layouts and blueprints and messy notes. Everyone had been given some tea and snacks as the night progressed and had changed into something more comfortable, courtesy of Kyler.

Mirella pointed at the blueprint of the seventh floor. "The elevator takes people directly to the eighth, ninth, and tenth floor. The eighth floor is a higher-end casino. The ninth is more like a lounge. The tenth, however, is where the orgy is."

Nashi wrinkled her nose in disgust. "Why's there an orgy in this place?"

Mirella sighed out her nose. "Considering the maker is a Demon and pretty much a king of Hel, it doesn't surprise me a constant orgy had its own floor."

"What about these floors? What's on them?" Lance pointed at the three remaining floors.

Mirella pursed her lips. "This is where it gets intense. The eleventh floor is filled to the brim with guards. They protect the upper levels. The twelfth floor is dedicated solely to Lynn, but the thirteenth is a mystery."

Muta looked comfortable in his Exceed form. "Let's just assume that the thirteenth floor is the Demon's secret lair. That doesn't explain how to get to the Winter Devil."

"Wait." Betrayal was written on Nashi's face as she looked at Kyler. "You knew where he was this whole time and you didn't say anything?"

Mirella suddenly snorted. "Oh, you're really gaining some brownie points," she derided.

Kyler ignored Mirella's comment. "I do recall telling you there are layers to the paradox. It's very complex and takes the form of a labyrinth. While we're aware the labyrinth exists, getting down there is the issue."

"And even down there, we could easily get lost and killed," Muta put in. "We'd need a guide."

Mirella waved that away. "Don't worry about that. I can handle navigation. We just need to get down there." She tapped on the thirteenth floor. "My guess is to get down there, we need to go up here. Getting to the thirteenth level is our best bet."

"Which is pretty much impossible," Lance mentioned.

"Improbable, not impossible." Mirella turned to Nashi. "You have the Brand of the Black Panther Devil. If you summon him, he'll come. Use him as your in."

Everyone looked quite disturbed at the idea and protests were instantly met with such an idea. Lance slammed down a hand with a snarl at Mirella while Muta's ears twitched and he slunk off and out of the kitchen. "Are you out of your mind?" he seethed. "No. We're not doing that."

Nashi tugged at Lance's arm. "Lance—"

"You're seriously wanting to use Nashi as bait?" Lance hissed. "What the Hell is wrong with you? I thought you were here to protect and now you want to serve her on a silver platter to the enemy?"

Mirella's gold eyes flashed. "You asked how we get to the thirteenth floor. This is our only option." She looked at Nashi who could not meet her gaze. "Princess, it's your choice. If you want to find the Winter Devil, using that Brand to your advantage is our best shot."

Lance stood up as static clacked off him. "This is unacceptable!" he gnashed. "I don't care that the Demon had your daughter. We are not using Nashi as bait!"

"Wait." Kyler turned his stare onto Mirella who stiffened. "Did he say…'daughter'?" Voice hard, eyes even harder.

Mirella only glowered back at Lance. "Don't give me attitude, child," she snapped. "Open your eyes. The princess is our best bet to gaining access to the seventh floor. By now, Pazuzu exposed her real identity to Lynn and the Demon. She's the only one who will be able to get close to the Demon and give us the advantage we need!"

"Wait a minute." Kyler grabbed Mirella's shoulder. "Why did he say, 'daughter', Mirella? The Demon has your child hostage?"

Mirella snaked her hand to grab Kyler's wrist. Freezing gold clashed with firm turquoise. "Touch me again and I'll personally pluck out your wings," she said lowly, seductively dangerous. She dropped his limb and turned away from him with a locked jaw. "The matter doesn't concern you, Kyler."

"It does," Kyler hissed viciously, "when it could be—!"

"Oh, don't fucking kid yourself," Mirella snapped, cutting him off. "You really thought it could be yours? That's funny considering I've taken many more dicks. You really don't know me as well as you think, Cupid."

Kyler wavered in his anger when something forsook crossed his gaze. He was back to being cold within seconds. "After seeing you now, I should've figured you weren't the same person," he bit. "Wow, Lace. Turning into the very thing you so desperately hated. You're right. I don't know you at all." He turned his eyes away from her. "I wouldn't want to get to know something like you."

For the tiniest moment, Mirella let that cut her deep. But she regained composure and glared away at the wall. Silence befell on the entire kitchen with both Kyler and Mirella stewing in their emotions, Lance reeling his annoyance, and Nashi confused out of her mind.

Muta came back into the kitchen with a flyer in his paws. "Well," he huffed, "moving along from the plot-thickening drama, looks like we have to speed up the plotting." He laid the flyer out for everyone to read it.

Nashi's eyes widened as she summarized the flyer. "It's a VIP event on the seventh floor. It says the owner is supposed to make his appearance with his new queen."

Lance's face darkened. "And how much do you want to bet his 'new queen' is Aine?"

Nashi reeled back from shock. "What? How could you think that?"

"Aine is the current hostage, but the goal here is to get you back into that casino," Lance broke down. "This is just a ploy to get you back there. Lace said it before. The Winter Devil's submission is the goal here and they can only do it once they have you in their clutches." He glared over at Mirella. "So, I stand by my statement. I'm not letting Nashi be bait."

Mirella sighed, crossing her arms. "Fine. She's not an option now anyways if the Demon's going to be there. She'll be too easily captured." She brushed back her hair. "I didn't want to resort to plan b, but I guess I'll have to."

"What's plan b?" Nashi tentatively asked.

"I'll go," Mirella decided.

Nashi frowned. "But…how will you get in?"

Mirella grinned. "I have some tricks up my sleeve, Your Highness, don't you worry. It's more of a risk, but it's our best shot. But, if I'm going in, Lance, you'll need to sneak in as well to break your girlfriend out of the casino."

Muta inclined his head. "You're talkin' like you already have a plan."

Mirella's grin broadened. "I may have one or two ideas…"

°•°•°•°

Nashi yawned as the session came to an end. "We have some time before the event," she noted. "Can I take a quick shower and a power nap?"

Kyler gestured to the hall. "You're more than welcome to stay in the guest bedroom," he suggested. As Nashi stumbled down that way, he looked at the other Fairy Tail member. "Lance, I have another bedroom if you wish to stay in there."

Lance nodded, got up, and wandered down the hall. Muta transition into his Cat Form and mewed as he padded after Nashi and Lance.

…leaving Kyler and Mirella alone.

Neither was keen to break the silence first. They stewed in their feelings with their eyes elsewhere and their minds reaming from their thoughts. Mirella waved her hand for a cigarette to appear between her fingers. As she was about to summon light, Kyler surprised her in lighting it for her with his thumb. With a stiff nod in his direction, Mirella took her first hit.

Kyler opened his mouth, but Mirella beat him to it. "There's no point in trying to hide anymore," she said quietly. "We both know he knows we're here. He knows the paradox hasn't left Earth Land yet. Might as well step out now."

Kyler sighed, then turned to Mirella with unwavering hurt in his eyes. "You have a daughter?"

Mirella sighed out smoke. "That's none of your business."

Kyler tensed. "It is my business when you're involving the first princess in your plot to take down a Demon out of all things."

Mirella rolled her eyes, tapping the butt of her cigarette into the tray before her.

Kyler tried to loosen himself up, the butt of his palm hitting his eye. "Mirella…" Turquoise saddened as he reached a hand. "Arezodi…"

Mirella stiffened. Her jaw clenched. "Don't call me that—!" Her angered lashing was frozen on her tongue when she felt Kyler run his hand through her locks.

"Why didn't you tell me?" Kyler's whisper was filled with desperation. "Why did you leave?"

Mirella closed her eyes. "We need," she began steadily, "to prepare for the event. Lance will accompany me—"

"No. I will."

Mirella's eyes shot open and gold connected with turquoise. "Kyler—"

"I'm accompanying you, Mirella," Kyler said with authority. "You're right. Hiding is pointless. I'll be your date for the event." His eyes softened. "But are you sure you can do this?"

"I have to," Mirella bit. "You don't understand the horrors that monster put me through to use her against me. I will take her back and I will kill him." At the flare in her hatred, her cigarette burned itself into ashes. "I don't care what I have to do or who I have to kill. I'll get her back." She stood up, breaking away from Kyler. "I need to prepare," she said tersely.

Kyler dropped his hand. "Your old room is still intact," he mentioned, watching her. "I…couldn't get rid of it."

Mirella only nodded and moved to the hallway.

"Mirella."

She paused.

"Tell me one thing," Kyler asked.

Mirella inclined her head. "You can demand all you want, but if I answer or not and answer honestly, it's my choice."

Kyler's eyes dropped to the floor. "Did you ever plan to see me again?"

Mirella's shoulders went rigid. Then, she relaxed then. "No. Satisfied?" Without further word, she walked down the hall leaving a broken Kyler in her wake…

DRIP.

…and wiped away her only tear.

°•°•°•°

KNOCK. KNOCK.

"Lance? Can I come in?"

"Sure."

Nashi opened the door and shut it behind her. This guest bedroom was comfortable with a nice sized bed, a dresser drawer, and even a desk with a printer and old Archive Lacrima. A boxed version of a Lacrima-Vision was playing reruns of I Love Lacey. Lance had taken to sitting at the foot of the bed as he welcomed Nashi with a smile.

"Hey, Laylay. What's up?" Lance asked. "I thought you were going to take a power nap?"

Nashi nodded demurely, out of sorts. "I laid down for a bit after my shower, but I just kept thinking about everything." She met his eyes for a few seconds before looking away. "I'm sorry with how everything turned out."

"Hey…" Lance shushed. "I told you. Don't beat yourself up on it. Things happen."

Nashi's eyes softened in remorse. "Yeah, but I cost us the mission," she mumbled. "I could've found Aine. We could all be here planning to break out Gary and his Devil, but it's just us. Aine's in greater danger than before."

Lance's face was withdrawn as he looked down at his lap. "C'mere. Let me tell you something." When Nashi settled beside him on the bed, he explained, "While using Magic strains her heart, you should know Aine has never been defenseless."

Nashi's brow furrowed. "What do you mean? I know Master trained her in martial arts."

Lance shook his head. "Not just martial arts—espionage."

Her eyes widened. "Wait, what?! Aine's trained as a spy?!"

He put a finger to his lips, eyes glancing around. "It's not public knowledge, but Master had Coeus give her a little training in regard to espionage," he briefed. "It was nothing intense, but enough to make up for her limited use of Magic and training."

Nashi shifted on the bed. "So, like, why didn't I know about this?"

"It's something Aine wanted to be kept a secret," Lance confessed. "You know how Misty is. It's not that we didn't trust everyone, but the fewer people knew, the better. But…"—he folded his hands—"even with her training, I'm still worried about her. She's a hostage and a Demon is her kidnapper."

Nashi saw Lance's hands. He's shaking… He's really that scared…

"I don't blame you for anything that happened," Lance promised. "No ones at fault. We didn't know any of this would happen. But it did and we have to pay the price. We're going to save Aine. We're going to bring Gary back. We're going to save these people and kill a Demon. We have to believe that."

Nashi swallowed and nodded. "It's ironic. In times of crisis, I always think back to my parents and Master and their speech on hope and determination and fighting to the end," she murmured. "I always believed we could find a way out. But lately…I guess I find myself wavering a bit."

"Well, I would be too," Lance soothed. "Laylay, a lot hit you in a relatively small time span. Two weeks ago, we were looking Death in the eye with Hunters and familiars and Warlocks on every corner. Your sister was throttled back in time with seemingly no way of returning home. You were poisoned. It's natural for faith to waver a bit. Just don't let it die."

"I won't," Nashi vowed. "It doesn't matter if the odds aren't in our favor. We're Fairy Tail. We make them in our favor."

Lance beamed. "Attagirl," he teased. "Get some sleep, okay? Recharge your Magic and focus yourself. This time, we'll need to be more than ready."

As Nashi got up from the bed, she asked Lance, "Hey… Don't you find it weird we call Gary's Devil 'the Devil'?"

Lance thought about it, frowning. "I mean… Not really. Isn't he just 'Gary'?"

Nashi opened the door as she hummed. "No, he is Gary, but he's not… Maybe it's time we all started acknowledging that…"

Bewilderment hit Lance. "By doing what?"

Nashi's eyes twinkled. "By giving our Winter Devil a name." She slipped out of the room and click went the door.

---

Kotoba ja umaku ienai omoi wo

Kimi ni uchiakeru to shitara nante

Tsutaeyou?

Saisho de saigo

•

Itsuka issho ni kaetta michi wa

Watashi ni totte tokubetsu na omoide

Wasurenai yo

Sayonara memoriizu

•

Haru ga kitara sorezore no michi wo

---

TO BE CONTINUED…

I wonder what sort of name Nashi could even give a Devil? Damon, maybe? And first Luna, now Gale with the dreams? What's going on here? To find out, tune in to the next Fairy Adventure!

---

Pazuzu took to walking around a hall made of dirt and stone. Torches lit the way, but it was still dark and dank in this place. Odd life crew where it could. Moss and weed seeped through the cracks. A bioluminescent butterfly fluttered on when a lizard-like creature with an exoskeleton that gleamed caught it. Two enflamed beetles scuttled along the walls.

Pazuzu halted.

Before him looked like they could be considered gates. Floor-to-ceiling stone doors covered in dust with the symbol of the reverse pentagram etched in Ancient Language. The faces of a cat, a toad, and a man made a triangle inside the symbol. Two skeleton guardians made of terracotta stood at the entrance. He knew if he moved too close, they would spring to life. He stayed where he was. He could feel his shadow extend with the help of the light. Eyes and a grinning mouth appeared on the shadow that looked nothing like him.

"Well, well," came rasp. Male and female were was mixed into it. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"You named me for this, didn't you?" Pazuzu muttered. "The hybrid isn't going to get this done and we both know it. If we want to succeed, we're going to need to use every playing card, right?"

"You're right. I gave you your name and I can take it away just as easily," came cruel agreement. "You wouldn't want to go back to being a pathetic Shifter, would you?"

Pazuzu kept his cool as the shadows swirled around him. It was like the darkness was trying to intimidate him. He could feel the shadows wrap around his legs.

"Finding you on Panthera… So weak. So…mateless…" A cackle. "Play your part correctly, Black Panther, before I find another one to replace you."

"Is that a threat?" Pazuzu challenged as the shadows caressed his cheeks.

"Why would I threaten my most valuable pet?" came teasing purr. "My own little key. Besides…don't you want to see the Winter Devil be collared and leashed? It's in the way anyways. It needs to be removed and away from that Star Child."

Pazuzu did tense at that. "And she won't get hurt?"

The shadows squished his jaw. "Of course not," came unconvincing promise. "Keep your end of our deal and she'll live. As will your little homeworld. Now go on, Black Panther." The shadows let him go as the eyes and mouth vanished.

Pazuzu let out a breath and his eyes closed. He could envision the tamed jungles, the savannah, the desserts from his home. He could envision mortal body and feline throughout the streets of his home, side by side, with no language barrier between them. He could remember his home. He could see the faces before his eyes. He saw his mother in her Aso-Oke Gele in various blues and her warming eyes as she overlooked their city. He could remember how ghastly her face looked when death claimed her. He remembered the gunshots and the piles of mangled bodies of man and panthera. He saw his home a wasteland, a disgrace.

He opened his glazed eyes and looked between both of the still guards. All right then. Shadows snapped over his body and tore apart his Man Form. Bones melted and restricted as his muscles took on a new form. Darkness hardened into fur and a tail with two tips was born. He lurched over to walk on all fours as his shoulders broadened and back elongated. Claws scraped the ground and paws took to a running start.

The two skeleton warriors broke their stance with weapons in hand. Inhuman shrieks left them as they protected the gate.

Pazuzu did not care as he charged forward. Gone was man. In place was a monstrous panther with shark teeth and bloodlust. Glazed eyes remained, but it did not stop him. A snarl rumbled deep within his white-tuft chest. For Panthera! His lips curled back.

ROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOAR!

---

Chibi-Luna welcomes the class as she pulls down a screen. "Hi, class! Are you ready for today's Fairy Lesson?"

"Yes, teacher!"

Chibi-Luna giggles as she runs over to hit the lights. She goes back to her Archive Lacrima to start her lesson. "Today, I want to teach you more about the founding of Fiore," she explains. She shows an old footage reel of explorers venturing their way through the forest. "Long ago, Fiore was unexplored territory due to explorers never coming back. It wasn't that they were killed—it was that they were enchanted by all the Magic." The next scene shows the explorers amazed as they watched a young Fire Mage. "Magic wasn't as popular back then and, while people had Ether, some natural-born Mages would never know they had powers because there were very few to teach them."

She shows a beautiful Water Mage attempting to teach a young fellow how to push and pull the tides. "Back in those times, Magic was water, ice, earth, air, fire, lightning, telepathy, telekinesis, and, of course, the Heartfilia Clan had Celestial Spirit Magic. Covens had been disbanded and Mages were terrified to show their powers in front of strangers. This uncharted forest would be called, by natives, the Garden. The natives—we call them the Gardeners—called it this because, to them, this was their haven to use their powers at free will and a haven for fae and magical fauna alike."

She shows the next clip, another black and white montage of the explorers and scientists going from noble to noble to a government official with maps and charts and diaries of their adventures. "These adventurers would go back to their home countries to tell them about their discoveries. Other countries explored Magic, but their Mages were few and held in high regard. Most of them weren't all that impressive. Some of them made straight-up mockeries of Mages. So, when the monarch of Minstrel, the dictator or Bosco, and a few chiefs from Caelum would come to the Garden to not only lay claim to such a magical land, but they would also try to poach Mages."

She shows a mockumentary of the event with women and children screaming and crying as families were torn apart. Many escape the carnage of their homes, but some were unlucky and captured in nets. However, with Magic on their sides, their captures are short. "Capturing the Mages wasn't so successful with any sort of sealstone which would be discovered on an archaeological dig within the next decade, but when Minstrel, Bosco, and Caelum realized all of them were after the same land, they abandoned trying to get the Mages and turned on each other."

The next clip shows soldiers of all types in the grubby uniforms as they shared a smoke, a song, and a fire along the warzone. A sniper shot takes out a comrade and everyone is up and arms as another battle takes place. "The war for the Garden was Hellish and the Gardeners were caught in the crossfire. Some received offers to join respective militaries for safety. Others would be captured or killed. The Heartfilia Clan smuggled out the rest. The War of Three would nearly trample the Garden and killed many magical creatures living inside it."

She shows a poster of a glowing man with the elements of water, earth, fire, and air surrounding him with each type of fae around the poster and the land beneath him glimmering under the dawn of a new day.

"But, miraculously, the fighting stopped when an incredible Mage named Fioro stepped up," Chibi-Luna educates. "Our legends say he displayed amazing Magic that nullied the forces without killing a single soul. He brought Magic Rain onto the land to revitalize it. Through his display of power, his words are said to have reached the hearts of the soldiers to stop their fighting. Fioro would invite their leaders to learn from the Gardeners and, in turn, the Gardeners would learn from them. Caelum parted from the Garden, not all that interested. Minstrel was, but it was Bosco would secretly want to enter some of the Gardeners into their slavery.

"Minstrel officials would step onto the Garden land and teach the Gardeners about their literature, art, language, fashion, philosophy, and architecture." Chibi-Luna shows a clip of the Garden finishing off one of their cities with Fioro shaking hands with a Minstrish official. "In return, the Gardeners helped teach the Minstrish how to not only identify someone who could use Magic but teach them their methods for training and education. Over time, the Minstrish would slowly fill the Garden with their people and essentially convert the Garden into New Minstrel with Fioro as its duke."

She shows her next footage of a young Minstrish man interviewing both colonizers and Gardeners. "While it was great, the original Gardeners weren't thrilled about their land being overtaken by colonizers. And some were growing worried as their population shrank. What they didn't know was Bosco was kidnapping their people to sell to other countries. Fioro noticed his people were going missing when his own wife went missing and he finally saw that the Gardeners were losing their individuality by the Minstrish. Outraged at what the Minstrish were trying to do, Fioro wanted to stage a coup d'état, but his advisor suggested a tête-à-tête with the King of Minstrel.

"Duke Fioro would meet with King Rupert to discuss how the Garden transitioned into New Minstrel and the disappearances of his people," Chibi-Luna continues. "The King's military would report about Bosco's misdeeds along with a sighting of his wife as a slave to a Sevonian official. King Rupert would make Duke Fioro an offer: he would offer the full support of his military to find Duke Fioro's wife if Fioro surrendered his power back to the monarchy. Disgusted, Fioro met with those he trusted with a plan. His people would divide into two teams. The first team would recover Fioro's wife in Seven with the help of Caelum since they were friendly traders. The others would stage a coup to get back their land."

The next scene is an in-color war reel of Minstrish soldiers unable to resist the Magic of the Gardeners and blood splattering all over the land. "Fioro drew away his team while the rest battled for the annexation of New Minstrel from Minstrel. Much to their surprise, the colonizers fought with them instead of against them. This quickly turned the tide in the civil war along with their allies in Caelum."

She shows the burning Minstrish flag being lowered. "Fioro would return to New Minstrel with the Gardeners waiting for him to lead with his hunt for his wife successful. History gets a bit fudgy here, but, basically, Fioro would establish the Garden as a monarchy and name the nation Fiore and mark it on the World Map. By then, both Minstrish and Gardener lifestyles had integrated into a brand-new way of life with Magic and modernization. Fioro and his wife would have three children in which their firstborn son would become our next king and so on." She shuts off the projection. "And that's the story of our independence. We celebrate our Independence Day every August fifteenth, and our Memorial Day March first, and November eleventh, we celebrate our veterans—"

"Teach, what's the difference?"

Chibi-Luna nods at the student. "Good question. Independence Day marks the official day we not only declared our independence from Minstrel, but the day we signed a treaty with Minstrel that would forever seal our independence and recognition of our nationhood and new monarchy. Memorial Day is set aside to recognize fallen military personnel who died during any war Fiore took part in. Veterans' Day celebrates both living and dead military personnel since veterans can me retirees and not just the deceased." She looks around the room. "Any more questions?"

Silence.

Chibi-Luna goes over to turn on the lights. "Good! I know the topic is heavy, but I promise we'll have some lighter topics for class! In the meantime, on the next Fairy Adventure: OPPORTUNITY!"

---

Voices of Characters in Order of Appearance

Nashi Dragneel - Laura Landa

Muta the Exceed - Jason Douglas

Kyler - Ray Chase

Lance Dreyar - Johnny Young Bosch

Mystogan Fernandes (in flashback) - J. Michael Tatum

Aine Fernandes - Carrie Keranen

Lynn - Grey DeLise

Bael - Paul St. Peter

Lace/Mirella - Edie Mirman

Bleu - Xander Mobus

Carlisle Justino - Eric Scott Kimerer

Gale Redfox - Greg Cipes

India - Mela Lee

Silver Fullbuster - Yuri Lowenthal

Ena Fernandes - Xanthe Hunyh

Mary Jane Dreyar - Erica Lindbeck

Peter Shuusei-Thompson - Joe Zieja

Justin Justine - Ian Sinclair

Ace - Billy Kametz

Pazuzu - Patrick Seitz

Luke Dragneel - Alan Lee

Winter Devil - Griffin Burns

Sycaña - Lydia Mackey

Unknown Voice - Luci Cristian